Hár Lv 1I/7 — kann ‘know’
Ráðit hefk at ríða
Rínleygs heðan mínum
láðs dynmari, leiðar,
lǫngum, heldr an ganga,
þótt leggfjǫturs liggi
lundr í Eyrarsundi
— kann þjóð kerski minni —
Knútr herskipum úti.
Hefk ráðit at ríða heðan lǫngum dynmari láðs Rínleygs mínum, heldr an ganga leiðar, þótt lundr leggfjǫturs, Knútr, liggi herskipum úti í Eyrarsundi; þjóð kann kerski minni.
I have resolved to ride from here my long resounding steed of the land of Rhine-flame [GOLD > SEA > SHIP], rather than to walk on my way, though the grove of the limb-fetter [ARM-RING > MAN], Knútr, may lie with warships out in the Øresund; people know my spirit.
notes
[7] kann ‘know’: Kunna frequently governs a dat. object, especially when it refers to knowing or understanding someone’s character or behaviour (see examples in Fritzner: kunna 1b), here kerski minni ‘my spirit’ or perhaps ‘cheerfulness, sense of humour’.
grammar
Verbs: Preterite-present verbs
The present tense of these verbs is like the past tense of strong verbs, and their past tense is weak.
| eiga | mega | kunna | skulu | munu | muna | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| indic. pres. | sing. pl. | 1st 2nd 3rd 1st 2nd 3rd | á átt á eigum eiguð eigu | má mátt má megum meguð megu | kann kannt kann kunnum kunnuð kunnu | skal skalt skal skulum skuluð skulu | mun munt mun munum munuð munu | man mant man munum munið muna |
| indic. past stem subj. pres. stem subj. past stem | átt- eig- ætt- | mátt- meg- mætt- | kunn- kunn- kynn- | skyld- skyl- skyld- | mund- myn- mynd- | mund- mun- mynd- | ||