Alison Finlay (ed.) 2012, ‘Bjarni gullbrárskáld Hallbjarnarson, Kálfsflokkr 8’ in Diana Whaley (ed.), Poetry from the Kings’ Sagas 1: From Mythical Times to c. 1035. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 1. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 889.
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1. fregna (verb): hear of
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2. Finnr (noun m.): Finnr, Fiðr
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hvé (conj.): how
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mágr (noun m.; °-s, dat. -i/-; -ar): brother-, father-, or son-in-law
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2. Kalfr (noun m.): Kálfr
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3. of (prep.): around, from; too
[2] of dylgjur (f. acc. pl.) ‘into battle’: Here, as in Skj B and ÍF 27, dylgjur is taken in the general sense of ‘battle, enmity, hostility’ (see LP: dylgja, and cf. dolg ‘battle’). The ModIcel. sense of dylgjur is ‘insinuation, innuendo’, and ÍF 34 translates er hann hafði ögrað þér með svívirðingum ‘when he urged you shamefully’, taking this to refer to Þorfinnr’s persuasion of Kálfr to reject Magnús’s offer of reconciliation (see Context above).
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dylgja (noun f.; °; -ur): hostility
[2] of dylgjur (f. acc. pl.) ‘into battle’: Here, as in Skj B and ÍF 27, dylgjur is taken in the general sense of ‘battle, enmity, hostility’ (see LP: dylgja, and cf. dolg ‘battle’). The ModIcel. sense of dylgjur is ‘insinuation, innuendo’, and ÍF 34 translates er hann hafði ögrað þér með svívirðingum ‘when he urged you shamefully’, taking this to refer to Þorfinnr’s persuasion of Kálfr to reject Magnús’s offer of reconciliation (see Context above).
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3. ok (conj.): and, but; also
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láta (verb): let, have sth done
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snekkja (noun f.; °-u; -ur): warship
[3] snekkjur: ‘sneckr’ 61, snekkjum R702ˣ
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jarl (noun m.; °-s, dat. -i; -ar): poet, earl
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áræði (noun n.; °-s): courage
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2. vinna (verb): perform, work
[5] vannt (‘uant þu’): so 61, Bb, Tóm, váttu Holm2, nátu R702ˣ, vartu Flat(133ra), Flat(135rb)
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2. óðr (adj.; °compar. -ari, superl. -astr): raging, furious < óðfúss (adj.): [desperately]
[6] óð‑: all‑ 61, odd‑ Bb, ó‑ Flat(133ra), Flat(135rb)
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fúss (adj.; °compar. -ari, superl. -astr): eager, willing < óðfúss (adj.): [desperately]
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sonr (noun m.; °-ar, dat. syni; synir, acc. sonu, syni): son
[6] sonar: syni 61, R702ˣ, Flat(133ra), Flat(135rb)
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Brúsi (noun m.; °-a): Brúsi
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hlýja (verb): protect
[7] hléði: hlœði 61, Tóm, Flat(133ra), Flat(135rb), ‘hlędut’ Bb
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hugr (noun m.): mind, thought, courage
[7] hugr: ruðr 61, Flat(133ra), Flat(135rb)
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2. en (conj.): but, and
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tjá (verb): to put in order, prepare
[7] téðuð: tœðit Tóm, tœðuð R702ˣ, ‘h(ly)dut’(?) Flat(133ra), réðut Flat(135rb)
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heift (noun f.; °-ar; -ir): hatred, enmity < heiftminnigr (adj.)
[8] heipt‑: hept Bb
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minnigr (adj.; °compar. minngari, superl. -astr/minngastr): mindful < heiftminnigr (adj.)
[8] ‑minnigr: ‑minnigum 61
Interactive view: tap on words in the text for notes and glosses
Frôgum, Finns hvé mági |
We [I] have heard, Kálfr, how you followed the son-in-law of Finnr [= Þorfinnr Sigurðarson] into battle, and quickly had warships steered against the jarl [Rǫgnvaldr Brúsason] at sea. You succeeded in destroying the attack of the ragingly eager son of Brúsi [= Rǫgnvaldr] and, intent on hostility, you supported Þorfinnr; your courage protected [you].
In Orkn ch. 26, the context is the sea-battle of Rauðabjǫrg (probably Roberry) between the joint jarls of Orkney, Þorfinnr Sigurðarson and his nephew Rǫgnvaldr Brúsason. Kálfr is present with six large ships but at first holds back because of divided loyalties: King Magnús has offered to restore his estates in Norway if he supports Rǫgnvaldr, but Þorfinnr is related to Kálfr by marriage, and makes a persuasive speech after which Kálfr orders his men to join battle on Þorfinnr’s side. The stanza is repeated in Flat, along with Arn Þorfdr 19II, 20II and 24II, in a strangely inappropriate context at the end of Orkn ch. 56, which deals with Þorfinnr’s son Páll. The context in ÓH is a compressed account of the events of Orkn, and refers implicitly to a version of Orkn as a source: oc er fra þvi laung saga ‘and there is a long saga about that’.
The battle of Rauðabjǫrg, fought in the Pentland Firth c. 1044, is also commemorated in Arn Lv 1II and Arn Þorfdr 19-22II. On the identification of the site, see Note to Arn Þorfdr 20/8II. — [6] óðfúss sonar Brúsa ‘of the ragingly eager son of Brúsi [= Rǫgnvaldr]’: On Rǫgnvaldr jarl Brúsason, see Arn RǫgndrII and SkP II, xciv-xcv. The reading of Flat, ófúss syni Brúsa, is likely to be influenced by the identical line Arn Lv 1/4II; that stanza immediately precedes Bjarni’s in Orkn.
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