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Laufás Edda (LaufE)

Skaldic vol. 3; ed. Edith Marold

part of: Snorra Edda

verse introduction manuscripts contents

Vol. I. Poetry for Scandinavian Rulers 1: From Mythological Times to c. 1035 > 8. Volume Introduction > 3. Sources for skaldic poetry cited in the kings’ sagas: manuscripts, facsimiles and editions > 3.3. Other sources > 2. Laufás-Edda (LaufE)

Stemma (adapted from LaufE 1979, 51)

Manuscripts: X branch

758ˣ: AM 758 4°ˣ (c. 1609, Magnús Ólafsson’s autograph copy). Not used in SkP I.

papp10ˣ: Holm papp 10 4°ˣ (c. 1650-1700).

1494ˣ: Thott 1494 4°ˣ (c. 1650-1700). Not used in SkP I.

164ˣ: AM 164 8°ˣ (c. 1650-1700). Not used in SkP I.

Manuscripts: Y branch

2368ˣ: GKS 2368 4°ˣ (c. 1650).

743ˣ: AM 743 4°ˣ (written by Ketill Jörundsson (1603-70)).

21 6 7 IIˣ: Adv 21 6 7 IIˣ (1750-3, written by Jón Egilsson á Stóra Vatnshorni í Haukadal). An interpolated ms. (see LaufE 1979, 129-31).

Edition: LaufE 1979.

LaufE is a seventeenth-century adaptation of SnE by Magnús Ólafsson of Laufás based on the W ms. of SnE, but probably including material from now lost parts of this ms.; he also used other sources including more than one other lost ms. of SnE (Faulkes, LaufE 1979, 159-77). Both the X branch and the more extensive Y branch mss ultimately derive from Magnús Ólafsson, with the Y version most likely representing an earlier draft (ibid., 53).

Poetry

LaufE contains medieval poetry not recorded in other sources (see SkP III), together with a wealth of material from poems otherwise preserved in the kings’ sagas. Of this the majority comes from the period after 1035 and hence is edited in SkP II (see p. lxxviii), but eighteen verse fragments come from the early period and are edited in this volume. Most are not of independent value, being copied from extant parts of W, but Þjóð Yt 18, Eskál Vell 35, Eskál Lv 3 and Ólhelg Lv 2 are of textual value; see also Note to Eskál Vell 7/5-6.

Vol. II. Poetry from the Kings’ Sagas 2: from c. 1035 to c. 1300 > 8. Introduction > 4. Sources for Skaldic Poetry Cited in the Kings' Sagas > 3. Other sources > 2. Laufás Edda (LaufE)

Stemma (adapted from LaufE 1979, 51)

758^x
- m
  - papp10^x
  - n
    - 1404^x
    - 164^x

Manuscripts: X branch

758ˣ: AM 758 4°ˣ (Magnús Ólafsson’s autograph copy, c. 1609).

papp10ˣ: Holm papp 10 4°ˣ (second half of the C17th).

1494ˣ: Thott 1494 4°ˣ (second half of the C17th). Not used in SkP II.

164ˣ: AM 164 8°ˣ (late C17th). Not used in SkP II.

Manuscripts: Y branch

2368ˣ: GKS 2368 4°ˣ (mid-C17th).

743ˣ: AM 743 4°ˣ (C17th, by Ketill Jörundsson (1603-70)).

21 6 7 IIˣ: Adv 21 6 7 IIˣ (1750-3). An interpolated manuscript of LaufE, written by Jón Egilsson á Stóra Vatnshorni í Haukadal (see LaufE 1979, 129-31).

Edition: LaufE 1979.

LaufE is a C17th adaptation of SnE by Magnús Ólafsson based on W, but he also used a manuscript related to A and B (LaufE 1979, 159-60, 170-1). Both the X branch and more extensive Y branch manuscripts ultimately derive from Magnús Ólafsson, with the Y version most likely representing an earlier draft (LaufE 1979, 53).

Poetry

LaufE contains medieval poetry not recorded in other sources (see SkP III), but all the stanzas edited in SkP II found in LaufE are also transmitted elsewhere. The following stanzas are found in both the X and the Y branch: Arn Þorfdr 1, Arn Hryn 6/1-4, Ill Har 1, Rv Lv 7/1-4. In addition, the Y branch mss contain Hharð Gamv 2/1-4, ÞjóðA Sex 27, ÞjóðA Magnﬂ 1, Arn Magndr 12/5-8, 17/5-8, 19, Arn Þorfdr 2, 4, 24/1-4, Arn Hryn 16/1-4, Arn Hardr 17, Eldj Lv 1/5-8, Balti Sigdr 4. Except for Arn Þorfdr 2 and Rv Lv 7/1-4, which are found in Orkn, and Eldj Lv 1/5-8 from MberfH-Hr, all these stanzas are transmitted in SnE as well. The editions of the above stanzas in SkP II include variant readings from 758ˣ, papp10ˣ, 2368ˣ and 743ˣ, and, for Arn Þorfdr 14, also 21 6 7 IIˣ.