Martin Chase (ed.) 2007, ‘Einarr Skúlason, Geisli 38’ in Margaret Clunies Ross (ed.), Poetry on Christian Subjects. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 7. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 39.
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1. fregna (verb): hear of
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hafa (verb): have
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4. at (conj.): that
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sœkja (verb): seek, attack
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síðan (adv.): later, then
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malmr (noun m.; °-s, dat. -i; -ar): metal
[2] stríðir malma ‘enemy of weapons’: The kenning formula ‘enemy of weapons’ was used in Viking Age poetry to designate warriors (who break weapons in battle). It seems out of place here, and Einarr may be playing on the meaning of the words: stríðir malma can be interpreted literally to signify an enemy of strife, a peaceful Christian man.
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stríðir (noun m.): opponent, fighter
[2] stríðir malma ‘enemy of weapons’: The kenning formula ‘enemy of weapons’ was used in Viking Age poetry to designate warriors (who break weapons in battle). It seems out of place here, and Einarr may be playing on the meaning of the words: stríðir malma can be interpreted literally to signify an enemy of strife, a peaceful Christian man.
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heimr (noun m.; °-s, dat. -i/-; -ar): home, abode; world
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2. er (conj.): who, which, when
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hjǫlp (noun f.; °hjalpar; hjalpir/hjalpar): help, salvation
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gefa (verb): give
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aumr (adj.; °compar. -ari, superl. -astr): wretched, poor
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1. harmr (noun m.; °-s, dat. -i; -ar): sorrow, grief < harmskerðandi (noun m.)
[4] harmskerðanda: so Bb, ‘hardskerdand[...]’ Flat
[4] harmskerðanda (gen. sg.) ‘of the harm-diminisher’: The Bb version of this hap. leg. must be the correct reading. Flat reads ‘harskerdand[…]’ (the final letter in doubt, probably either ‘a’ or ‘i’), which is nonsense in context. ‘Harm-diminisher’ emphasises the image of Óláfr expressed by the stef, and is analogous to fárskerðandi ‘misfortune-diminisher’ in 63/7.
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skerðandi (noun m.): diminisher < harmskerðandi (noun m.)
[4] harmskerðanda: so Bb, ‘hardskerdand[...]’ Flat
[4] harmskerðanda (gen. sg.) ‘of the harm-diminisher’: The Bb version of this hap. leg. must be the correct reading. Flat reads ‘harskerdand[…]’ (the final letter in doubt, probably either ‘a’ or ‘i’), which is nonsense in context. ‘Harm-diminisher’ emphasises the image of Óláfr expressed by the stef, and is analogous to fárskerðandi ‘misfortune-diminisher’ in 63/7.
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ferð (noun f.; °-ar; -ir/-arMork 196¹²)): host, journey
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hér (adv.): here
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2. fá (verb; °fǽr; fekk, fengu; fenginn): get, receive
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hann (pron.; °gen. hans, dat. honum; f. hon, gen. hennar, acc. hana): he, she, it, they, them...
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2. en (conj.): but, and
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2. byrja (verb; °-að-): begin, begat, please
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3. hár (adj.; °-van; compar. hǽrri, superl. hǽstr): high
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kvæði (noun n.; °-s; -): poem
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skulu (verb): shall, should, must
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báðir (pron.; °gen. beggja (báðra), nom./acc. n. bǽði): both
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snákr (noun m.): snake
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snákr (noun m.): snake
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1. vangr (noun m.): field, plain
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1. vangr (noun m.): field, plain
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3. ok (conj.): and, but; also
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slunginn (adj./verb p.p.): encircled, coiled
[8] slungins: so Bb, slungin Flat
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slunginn (adj./verb p.p.): encircled, coiled
[8] slungins: so Bb, slungin Flat
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1. mál (noun n.; °-s; -): speech, matter
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3. ok (conj.): and, but; also
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tunga (noun f.; °-u; -ur): tongue, language
Interactive view: tap on words in the text for notes and glosses
Frétt hefk, at sá sótti |
I have heard, that that enemy of weapons [WARRIOR = Kolbeinn] then sought the home of the harm-diminisher [SAINT = Óláfr], the one who gives help to wretched men. Here he received both speech and tongue; and I shall deliver an elevated poem about the distributor of the field of the coiled snake [GOLD > GENEROUS MAN].
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