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skaldic

Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages

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Sigv Lv 15I

R. D. Fulk (ed.) 2012, ‘Sigvatr Þórðarson, Lausavísur 15’ 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. 717.

Sigvatr ÞórðarsonLausavísur
141516

text and translation

Gerðisk hilmis Hǫrða
húskarlar þá jarli,
er við Ôleifs fjǫrvi,
ofvægir, fé þægi.
Hirð esa hans at verða
hôligt fyr því máli;
dælla es oss, ef allir
erum vír of svik skírir.

Þá gerðisk húskarlar {hilmis Hǫrða}, er þægi fé við fjǫrvi Ôleifs, ofvægir jarli. Hirð hans esa hôligt at verða fyr því máli; oss es dælla, ef vír erum allir skírir of svik.
 
‘Then the housecarls of the ruler of the Hǫrðar [NORWEGIAN KING = Óláfr] who would accept payment for Óláfr’s life would turn out too compliant towards the jarl [Hákon]. For his retinue it is not noble to be the subject of this talk; for us it is easier if we are all cleared of treason.

notes and context

Immediately after the two preceding vísur it is said that people discuss how ill it became Hákon jarl Eiríksson to be leading an army against King Óláfr, since the king had spared his life when the jarl had come into his power (see ÓH 1941, I, 64-5; ÍF 27, 37-8). But Sigvatr has been on close terms with the jarl, and when he hears such things said, he speaks this stanza.

[2]: The line recalls Sigv Austv 18/4 (and Hharð Lv 6/8II). 

readings

sources

Text is based on reconstruction from the base text and variant apparatus and may contain alternative spellings and other normalisations not visible in the manuscript text. Transcriptions may not have been checked and should not be cited.

editions and texts

Skj: Sigvatr Þórðarson, 13. Lausavísur 18: AI, 270-1, BI, 250, Skald I, 129; Fms 4, 377, Fms 12, 92, ÓH 1853, 173, 287, ÓH 1941, I, 458 (ch. 153), Flat 1860-8, II, 291; Hkr 1777-1826, II, 285, VI, 98, Hkr 1868, 431 (ÓHHkr ch. 171), Hkr 1893-1901, II, 383, IV, 149, ÍF 27, 295-6, Hkr 1991, II, 468 (ÓHHkr ch. 161); Konráð Gíslason 1892, 38, 180-1, 231, Jón Skaptason 1983, 200, 323.

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