Edith Marold (ed.) 2017, ‘Eilífr Goðrúnarson, Þórsdrápa 18’ in Kari Ellen Gade and Edith Marold (eds), Poetry from Treatises on Poetics. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 3. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 115.
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svát (conj.): so that, so as
[1] svát ‘so that’: The stanza continues without interruption from the previous one.
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hraðr (adj.; °compar. -ari, superl. -astr): [swift, fast] < hraðskyndir (noun m.)
[1] hrað‑: om. W
[1, 2] hraðskyndir gunnar ‘the swift hastener of battle [WARRIOR = Þórr]’: This is another instance in which Þórr is referred to by a warrior-kenning (see Introduction); the apposition langvinr þrǫngvar ‘the old friend of the tight spot (þjálfi ‘enclosure’ = Þjálfi) [= Þórr]’ (see Note to l. 4 below) clarifies it as a designation for Þórr.
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skyndir (noun m.; °dat. -): hastener < hraðskyndir (noun m.)
[1, 2] hraðskyndir gunnar ‘the swift hastener of battle [WARRIOR = Þórr]’: This is another instance in which Þórr is referred to by a warrior-kenning (see Introduction); the apposition langvinr þrǫngvar ‘the old friend of the tight spot (þjálfi ‘enclosure’ = Þjálfi) [= Þórr]’ (see Note to l. 4 below) clarifies it as a designation for Þórr.
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hǫnd (noun f.; °handar, dat. hendi; hendr (hendir StatPáll³ 752¹²)): hand
[1-2, 3, 4] svalg lyptisylg síu … hrapmunnum handa ‘swallowed the raised drink of the spark [PIECE OF IRON] … with the hurried mouths of his arms [HANDS]’: This stanza continues the food metaphors from the previous stanzas, which are expanded here into a drinking metaphor for Þórr’s and Geirrøðr’s fighting it out with red-hot iron. The metaphor encompasses the verb ‘swallowed’ for ‘caught, parried’ as well as the instr. dat. hrapmunnum ‘with the hurried mouths’. The metaphorical quality of the latter is extended by the determinant ‘of the arms’, resulting in a kenning for ‘hands’. The object of svalg ‘swallowed’, lyptisylg síu ‘raised drink of the spark [PIECE OF IRON]’ adds to the metaphorical dimension. Lyptisylg refers to a raised, filled drinking cup (Kiil 1956, 153).
[2] hrap‑: hrapp‑ W
[1-2, 3, 4] svalg lyptisylg síu … hrapmunnum handa ‘swallowed the raised drink of the spark [PIECE OF IRON] … with the hurried mouths of his arms [HANDS]’: This stanza continues the food metaphors from the previous stanzas, which are expanded here into a drinking metaphor for Þórr’s and Geirrøðr’s fighting it out with red-hot iron. The metaphor encompasses the verb ‘swallowed’ for ‘caught, parried’ as well as the instr. dat. hrapmunnum ‘with the hurried mouths’. The metaphorical quality of the latter is extended by the determinant ‘of the arms’, resulting in a kenning for ‘hands’. The object of svalg ‘swallowed’, lyptisylg síu ‘raised drink of the spark [PIECE OF IRON]’ adds to the metaphorical dimension. Lyptisylg refers to a raised, filled drinking cup (Kiil 1956, 153).
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munnr (noun m.; °-s, dat. -i; -ar): mouth < hrapmunnr (noun m.)
[2] ‑munnum: munnar W
[1-2, 3, 4] svalg lyptisylg síu … hrapmunnum handa ‘swallowed the raised drink of the spark [PIECE OF IRON] … with the hurried mouths of his arms [HANDS]’: This stanza continues the food metaphors from the previous stanzas, which are expanded here into a drinking metaphor for Þórr’s and Geirrøðr’s fighting it out with red-hot iron. The metaphor encompasses the verb ‘swallowed’ for ‘caught, parried’ as well as the instr. dat. hrapmunnum ‘with the hurried mouths’. The metaphorical quality of the latter is extended by the determinant ‘of the arms’, resulting in a kenning for ‘hands’. The object of svalg ‘swallowed’, lyptisylg síu ‘raised drink of the spark [PIECE OF IRON]’ adds to the metaphorical dimension. Lyptisylg refers to a raised, filled drinking cup (Kiil 1956, 153).
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1. svelgja (verb): swallow
[1-2, 3, 4] svalg lyptisylg síu … hrapmunnum handa ‘swallowed the raised drink of the spark [PIECE OF IRON] … with the hurried mouths of his arms [HANDS]’: This stanza continues the food metaphors from the previous stanzas, which are expanded here into a drinking metaphor for Þórr’s and Geirrøðr’s fighting it out with red-hot iron. The metaphor encompasses the verb ‘swallowed’ for ‘caught, parried’ as well as the instr. dat. hrapmunnum ‘with the hurried mouths’. The metaphorical quality of the latter is extended by the determinant ‘of the arms’, resulting in a kenning for ‘hands’. The object of svalg ‘swallowed’, lyptisylg síu ‘raised drink of the spark [PIECE OF IRON]’ adds to the metaphorical dimension. Lyptisylg refers to a raised, filled drinking cup (Kiil 1956, 153).
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gunnr (noun f.): battle
[1, 2] hraðskyndir gunnar ‘the swift hastener of battle [WARRIOR = Þórr]’: This is another instance in which Þórr is referred to by a warrior-kenning (see Introduction); the apposition langvinr þrǫngvar ‘the old friend of the tight spot (þjálfi ‘enclosure’ = Þjálfi) [= Þórr]’ (see Note to l. 4 below) clarifies it as a designation for Þórr.
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lyfta (verb): lift, raise < lyftisylgr (noun m.)
[3] lypti‑: so Tˣ, W, ‘sypti’ R
[1-2, 3, 4] svalg lyptisylg síu … hrapmunnum handa ‘swallowed the raised drink of the spark [PIECE OF IRON] … with the hurried mouths of his arms [HANDS]’: This stanza continues the food metaphors from the previous stanzas, which are expanded here into a drinking metaphor for Þórr’s and Geirrøðr’s fighting it out with red-hot iron. The metaphor encompasses the verb ‘swallowed’ for ‘caught, parried’ as well as the instr. dat. hrapmunnum ‘with the hurried mouths’. The metaphorical quality of the latter is extended by the determinant ‘of the arms’, resulting in a kenning for ‘hands’. The object of svalg ‘swallowed’, lyptisylg síu ‘raised drink of the spark [PIECE OF IRON]’ adds to the metaphorical dimension. Lyptisylg refers to a raised, filled drinking cup (Kiil 1956, 153).
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sylgr (noun m.; °dat. -): drink, draught < lyftisylgr (noun m.)
[1-2, 3, 4] svalg lyptisylg síu … hrapmunnum handa ‘swallowed the raised drink of the spark [PIECE OF IRON] … with the hurried mouths of his arms [HANDS]’: This stanza continues the food metaphors from the previous stanzas, which are expanded here into a drinking metaphor for Þórr’s and Geirrøðr’s fighting it out with red-hot iron. The metaphor encompasses the verb ‘swallowed’ for ‘caught, parried’ as well as the instr. dat. hrapmunnum ‘with the hurried mouths’. The metaphorical quality of the latter is extended by the determinant ‘of the arms’, resulting in a kenning for ‘hands’. The object of svalg ‘swallowed’, lyptisylg síu ‘raised drink of the spark [PIECE OF IRON]’ adds to the metaphorical dimension. Lyptisylg refers to a raised, filled drinking cup (Kiil 1956, 153).
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3. á (prep.): on, at
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loft (noun n.): air, sky
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langr (adj.; °compar. lengri, superl. lengstr): long < langvinr (noun m.): old friend
[4] langvinr síu: so Tˣ, W, síu langvinr R
[4] langvinr þrǫngvar ‘the old friend of the tight spot (þjálfi ‘enclosure’ = Þjálfi) [= Þórr]’: Unlike other eds, who have interpreted this Þórr-kenning as ‘friend of Freyja’ (see below), the assumption here is that þrǫngvar is an onomastic play on one of the names of the persons involved: þrǫng f. means ‘tight spot, narrowing’ (LP: þrǫng 2) and it is synonymous with þjálfi ‘sth. that encloses and holds together’ (LP: 2. þjalfi). The latter in turn is homophonous with the name of Þórr’s servant Þjálfi, who is with him on this journey. Hence Þórr is referred to periphrastically here as ‘friend of Þjálfi’. For Þjálfi see st. 10/4 and Note there. Sveinbjörn Egilsson (1851, 23) takes þrǫngvar to be Þrúngva, an alleged name for the goddess Freyja found in the þulur (Þul Ásynja 3/4); the mss, however, have ‘þungra’ or ‘þrungra’, which Finnur Jónsson emends to Þrungva (Skj B, 661). Even though the gen. form of the name Þrungva cannot possibly be Þrǫngvar, the resulting interpretation of ‘old friend of Freyja’ as a periphrasis for Þórr has been adopted by most subsequent eds. Þórr is nowhere depicted as a friend of Freyja, however.
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vinr (noun m.; °-ar, dat. -/(-i OsvReyk 92.17); -ir): friend < langvinr (noun m.): old friend
[4] langvinr síu: so Tˣ, W, síu langvinr R
[4] langvinr þrǫngvar ‘the old friend of the tight spot (þjálfi ‘enclosure’ = Þjálfi) [= Þórr]’: Unlike other eds, who have interpreted this Þórr-kenning as ‘friend of Freyja’ (see below), the assumption here is that þrǫngvar is an onomastic play on one of the names of the persons involved: þrǫng f. means ‘tight spot, narrowing’ (LP: þrǫng 2) and it is synonymous with þjálfi ‘sth. that encloses and holds together’ (LP: 2. þjalfi). The latter in turn is homophonous with the name of Þórr’s servant Þjálfi, who is with him on this journey. Hence Þórr is referred to periphrastically here as ‘friend of Þjálfi’. For Þjálfi see st. 10/4 and Note there. Sveinbjörn Egilsson (1851, 23) takes þrǫngvar to be Þrúngva, an alleged name for the goddess Freyja found in the þulur (Þul Ásynja 3/4); the mss, however, have ‘þungra’ or ‘þrungra’, which Finnur Jónsson emends to Þrungva (Skj B, 661). Even though the gen. form of the name Þrungva cannot possibly be Þrǫngvar, the resulting interpretation of ‘old friend of Freyja’ as a periphrasis for Þórr has been adopted by most subsequent eds. Þórr is nowhere depicted as a friend of Freyja, however.
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2. sía (noun f.; °-u; -ur): spark, molten substance
[4] langvinr síu: so Tˣ, W, síu langvinr R
[1-2, 3, 4] svalg lyptisylg síu … hrapmunnum handa ‘swallowed the raised drink of the spark [PIECE OF IRON] … with the hurried mouths of his arms [HANDS]’: This stanza continues the food metaphors from the previous stanzas, which are expanded here into a drinking metaphor for Þórr’s and Geirrøðr’s fighting it out with red-hot iron. The metaphor encompasses the verb ‘swallowed’ for ‘caught, parried’ as well as the instr. dat. hrapmunnum ‘with the hurried mouths’. The metaphorical quality of the latter is extended by the determinant ‘of the arms’, resulting in a kenning for ‘hands’. The object of svalg ‘swallowed’, lyptisylg síu ‘raised drink of the spark [PIECE OF IRON]’ adds to the metaphorical dimension. Lyptisylg refers to a raised, filled drinking cup (Kiil 1956, 153).
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þrǫngr (adj.): tight, pressed
[4] langvinr þrǫngvar ‘the old friend of the tight spot (þjálfi ‘enclosure’ = Þjálfi) [= Þórr]’: Unlike other eds, who have interpreted this Þórr-kenning as ‘friend of Freyja’ (see below), the assumption here is that þrǫngvar is an onomastic play on one of the names of the persons involved: þrǫng f. means ‘tight spot, narrowing’ (LP: þrǫng 2) and it is synonymous with þjálfi ‘sth. that encloses and holds together’ (LP: 2. þjalfi). The latter in turn is homophonous with the name of Þórr’s servant Þjálfi, who is with him on this journey. Hence Þórr is referred to periphrastically here as ‘friend of Þjálfi’. For Þjálfi see st. 10/4 and Note there. Sveinbjörn Egilsson (1851, 23) takes þrǫngvar to be Þrúngva, an alleged name for the goddess Freyja found in the þulur (Þul Ásynja 3/4); the mss, however, have ‘þungra’ or ‘þrungra’, which Finnur Jónsson emends to Þrungva (Skj B, 661). Even though the gen. form of the name Þrungva cannot possibly be Þrǫngvar, the resulting interpretation of ‘old friend of Freyja’ as a periphrasis for Þórr has been adopted by most subsequent eds. Þórr is nowhere depicted as a friend of Freyja, however.
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þás (conj.): when
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ǫrr (adj.): generous, brave < ǫrþrasir (noun m.)
[5] ǫrþrasis ‘of the passionate lover’: In Old Norse this word is only attested here. The meaning of the cpd can be explained by its etymology and its use as a base-word in a giant-kenning. It is formed from the adj. ǫrr ‘swift’ or ‘generous’ and the agent noun þrasir, derived from the weak verb þrasa ‘race along’ (Þrasir is also a name of a dwarf in st. 19/4 and in Þul Dverga 4/8); hence the meaning of ǫrþrasir could be ‘the swift racing one’. In the present stanza, ǫrþrasir is the base-word in a giant-kenning and has a kenning for ‘giantess’ (drósar Hrímnis ‘of the lady of Hrímnir <giant>’) as a determinant; it is therefore likely that the whole kenning belongs to the kenning pattern ‘lover, husband etc. of a giantess’ (Meissner 256). Hence ǫrþrasir has been translated here as ‘passionate lover’ (cf. LP: ǫrþrasir).
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Þrasir (noun m.): [lover, Þrasir] < ǫrþrasir (noun m.)
[5] ‑þrasis: ‘‑þvrsis’ R, þrasir Tˣ, W
[5] ǫrþrasis ‘of the passionate lover’: In Old Norse this word is only attested here. The meaning of the cpd can be explained by its etymology and its use as a base-word in a giant-kenning. It is formed from the adj. ǫrr ‘swift’ or ‘generous’ and the agent noun þrasir, derived from the weak verb þrasa ‘race along’ (Þrasir is also a name of a dwarf in st. 19/4 and in Þul Dverga 4/8); hence the meaning of ǫrþrasir could be ‘the swift racing one’. In the present stanza, ǫrþrasir is the base-word in a giant-kenning and has a kenning for ‘giantess’ (drósar Hrímnis ‘of the lady of Hrímnir <giant>’) as a determinant; it is therefore likely that the whole kenning belongs to the kenning pattern ‘lover, husband etc. of a giantess’ (Meissner 256). Hence ǫrþrasir has been translated here as ‘passionate lover’ (cf. LP: ǫrþrasir).
[5-6] ós eisa ‘the sparking fire’: The mss’ eisu (R, Tˣ; esju W) has been emended to eisa nom. because it is the subject of the sentence (Finnur Jónsson 1900b, 396). The adj. óss is not attested in Old Norse, but New Norw. os means ‘crackling, sparking’ (Aasen 2003: os adj. 1.).
[5-6] ós eisa ‘the sparking fire’: The mss’ eisu (R, Tˣ; esju W) has been emended to eisa nom. because it is the subject of the sentence (Finnur Jónsson 1900b, 396). The adj. óss is not attested in Old Norse, but New Norw. os means ‘crackling, sparking’ (Aasen 2003: os adj. 1.).
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Hrímnir (noun m.): Hrímnir, sooty one
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Hrímnir (noun m.): Hrímnir, sooty one
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fljúga (verb): fly
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drós (noun f.; °-ar; -ir): lady
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drós (noun f.; °-ar; -ir): lady
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til (prep.): to
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þrámóðnir (noun m.)
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Þrúðr (noun f.): Þrúðr
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þjóstr (noun m.; °dat. -i): rage, anger, rancour
[8] þjósts: þjóst all
[8] þjósts ‘of anger’: The mss’ þjóst has mostly been interpreted as a dat. (nom. þjóstr) and translated as ‘in anger’ or ‘out of anger’ (Kock, NN §2252), but the dat. of þjóstr is þjósti. Kock (ibid.) assumes that the ‑i could have been dropped during recitation; however, such an elision (þjósti af) is not possible in this metrical position. Sveinbjörn Egilsson (1851, 31) suggested a cpd þjóstbrjósti ‘out of an angry mind’ (tmesis), which is unlikely, because brjósti must be combined with greipar ‘of the grip’ to form the kenning brjósti greipar ‘the breast of the grip [HAND]’. The simplest solution is to emend þjóst acc. to þjósts gen. and combine it with eisa ‘fire’.
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af (prep.): from
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greip (noun f.; °; -r, -ar): hand, talon
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brjóst (noun n.; °-s; -): breast, chest
Interactive view: tap on words in the text for notes and glosses
svát hraðskyndir handa |
so that the swift hastener of battle [WARRIOR = Þórr], the old friend of the tight spot (þjálfi ‘enclosure’ = Þjálfi) [= Þórr], swallowed the raised drink of the spark [PIECE OF IRON] in the air with the hurried mouths of his arms [HANDS], when the sparking fire of anger of the passionate lover of the lady of Hrímnir <giant> [GIANTESS > GIANT = Geirrøðr] flew from the breast of the grip [HAND] at the one longing for Þrúðr <goddess> [= Þórr].
See Context to st. 1.
[5-8]: This helmingr refers to the two opponents, Þórr and Geirrøðr, with kennings containing the analogous base-words ǫrþrasir ‘passionate lover’ and þrámóðnir ‘desirer’. Whereas a giant being called the lover of a giantess follows a common kenning pattern, there are no comparable Þórr-kennings that refer to him as the lover of any goddess. The Þrúðr named in the kenning is Þórr’s daughter, who was allegedly kidnapped by the giant Hrungnir; cf. the Hrungnir-kenning þjófr Þrúðar ‘the thief of Þrúðr’ in Bragi Rdr 1/3, 4 and Note (see also Reichardt 1948, 382; LP: þrámóðnir); hence Þórr can be paraphrased as ‘the one longing for Þrúðr’.
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