Martin Chase (ed.) 2007, ‘Einarr Skúlason, Geisli 15’ in Margaret Clunies Ross (ed.), Poetry on Christian Subjects. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 7. Turnhout: Brepols, pp. 19-20.
Fregit hefk satt, at sagði
snjallri ferð, áðr berðisk
— drótt nýtr dǫglings máttar —
draum sinn konungr Rauma.
Stiga sá standa fagran
stjórnar fimr til himna
— rausn dugir hans at hrósa —
Hǫrða gramr af jǫrðu.
Hefk fregit satt, at {konungr Rauma} sagði snjallri ferð draum sinn, áðr berðisk; drótt nýtr dǫglings máttar. {Gramr Hǫrða}, fimr stjórnar, sá fagran stiga standa af jǫrðu til himna; dugir at hrósa rausn hans.
I have heard truly that {the king of the Raumar} [= Óláfr] told the clever band his dream before they fought; the court enjoys the prince’s might. {The king of the Hǫrðar} [= Óláfr], adept at leadership, saw a beautiful ladder ascending from earth to the heavens; it is fitting to praise his greatness.
Mss: Flat(2ra), Bb(117rb)
Readings: [1] sagði: segði Bb [2] berðisk: ‘bardizt’ Bb [5] sá: kvað Bb [6] stjórnar: styrjar Bb
Editions: Skj AI, 461-2, Skj BI, 430-1, Skald I, 212-13; Flat 1860-8, I, 2, Cederschiöld 1873, 3, Chase 2005, 65, 137.
Notes: [2] berðisk ‘they fought’: Flat’s form must be preferred here to give a subj. after áðr. — [5-6]: Óláfr’s vision of the ladder ascending to heaven is said to have occurred on the eve of the battle of Stiklestad (see Chase 2005, 30-4, where there is a discussion of the typological significance of the ladder as a means of entry to heaven). On the parallel between Christ’s Cross and a ladder, see also Anon Líkn 34 and Note. Óláfr’s vision is not found in the early vernacular accounts of his miracles, and is likely to have been a learned borrowing rather than a popular addition to the legend. — [6] fimr stjórnar ‘adept at leadership’: Skj B and Skald adopt Bb’s reading fimr styrjar ‘adept at fighting’.
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