Þjóðólfr Arnórsson (ÞjóðA)
11th century; volume 2; ed. Diana Whaley;
1. Magnússflokkr (Magnfl) - 19
2. Stanzas about Magnús Óláfsson in Danaveldi (Magn) - 14
3. Runhent poem about Haraldr (Run) - 4
4. Sexstefja (Sex) - 32
5. Stanzas about Haraldr Sigurðarson’s leiðangr (Har) - 7
6. Fragments (Frag) - 5
7. Lausavísur (Lv) - 11
Þjóðólfr Arnórsson (ÞjóðA) is listed in Skáldatal (SnE 1848-87, III, 254, 262) among the poets of Magnús inn góði ‘the Good’ Óláfsson and Haraldr harðráði ‘Hard-rule’ Sigurðarson, and virtually all his extant poetry seems to have been composed in honour of them, or in association with them; hence it dates from the period 1035-1066. The text of Skáldatal in AM 761 a 4°ˣ (SnE 1848-87, III, 259) also credits Þjóðólfr with poetry for Haraldr Þorkelsson, son of Þorkell inn hávi ‘the Tall’ and one of the Dan. magnates present in Norway during the reign of Sveinn Álfífuson (1030-35). No identifiable fragments of this remain, but if true the tradition would suggest that Þjóðólfr was born not much later than 1010. Hemings þáttr Áslákssonar (Hem) has him die at the battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066, and there is no record of him after that date, though Lv 11 has the air of being composed after the battle. Þjóðólfr was, according to Skáldatal and Fsk (ÍF 29, 245), the brother of another skald, Bǫlverkr Arnórsson (Bǫlv), and according to Sneglu-Halla þáttr (Snegl) in Flat (1860-8, III, 415), was from an undistinguished family in Svarfaðardalur, northern Iceland. The same þáttr (p. 421) names his father not as Arnórr but as Þorljótr, in the context of a scurrilous anecdote told against Þjóðólfr by Sneglu-Halli (SnH), who also taunts him with having composed the otherwise unknown Sorptrogsvísur ‘Dustbin Vísur’. The þáttr nevertheless describes him as accomplished (menntr vel) and courteous (kurteis maðr), highly favoured by King Haraldr and chief of his poets (haufutskꜳlld sitt, p. 415). Þjóðólfr’s poetry, rich in allusion and imagery, has continued to be widely admired, and it gains colour and vigour from the fact that he participated in many of the campaigns he depicts. It undoubtedly also reflects the fact that he was one of an exceptional circle of poets patronised by Haraldr (see Turville-Petre 1968), and much of his poetry shares topics and imagery with that of his contemporary Arnórr jarlaskáld (Arn), though there is no account of the dealings between these two. Þjóðólfr figures in several anecdotes centring on poetic composition: see Contexts to Lv 2-6, though we have no way of knowing whether he was so touchy about his reputation as the Context to Lv 4, and Snegl, would suggest; he also features as a go-between figure in Brands þáttr ǫrva, which cites no poetry. For brief biographies of Þjóðólfr see, e.g. SnE 1848-87, III, 578-9; LH 1894-1901, I, 627-32; Hollander 1945, 189-96.
In addition to the works edited here as Þjóðólfr’s, there have been further attributions to him. Þfagr Sveinn 7 is attributed to Þjóðólfr in Mork (1928-32, 165-6) and Flat (1860-8, III, 341), but to Þorleikr fagri in other sources; ÞKolb Eirdr 17I is attributed to Þjóðólfr in the U ms. alone, and Þfisk Lv 3 is attributed to him in F. Further, Flat, by citing Okík Magn 1 after ÞjóðA Magnfl 18 without announcing a change of skald implicitly assigns the latter to Þjóðólfr. We might perhaps also imagine Þjóðólfr having a hand in Anon (HSig) 2, the st. collaboratively composed by Haraldr’s men. A further set of six sts presented are anonymous in the medieval sources but are presented in this edn as Halli XI Fl (for reasons explained in Halli Biography below). These are printed among Þjóðólfr’s works in CPB II, 210-11 and listed under his name in SnE 1848-87, III, 583-4; Poole also finds ‘the ascription to Þjóðólfr Arnórsson … tempting, on stylistic grounds’ (1991, 75).
Preserved mainly in the kings’ sagas, above all in Hkr, Þjóðólfr’s oeuvre presents exceptional problems of reconstruction, which are discussed at some length in the Introductions to the individual poems or sets of sts. The chief problem is that Þjóðólfr certainly composed a major dróttkvætt poem for each of his patrons Magnús (Magnússflokkr, Magnfl) and Haraldr (Sexstefja, Sex), but that in each case there is also a set of sts that may or may not belong in the main encomium. The decision has been taken here to print them separately: fourteen sts depicting the aftermaths of Magnús’s major battles at Århus (Áróss) and Helgenæs (Helganes) are presented as ‘Stanzas about Magnús Óláfsson in Danaveldi’ (Magn), and seven describing the launch of Haraldr’s great levied fleet from Nidelven (the river Nið) as ‘Stanzas about Haraldr Sigurðarson’s leiðangr’ (Har). As a reference aid, the arrangement of Þjóðólfr’s oeuvre in SkP and Skj is shown here.
SkP | Skj | 1-14 | 1-14 | 15 | Náði jarl at eyða | 19 | 16 | Rǫnn lézt, ræsir Þrœnda, | 20 | 17 | Hizig laut, es heitir | 21 | 18 | Flýði jarl af auðu, | 22 | 19 | Háðisk heilli góðu | 25 | Stanzas about Magnús Óláfsson in Danaveldi (ÞjóðA Magn) SkP | Skj | 1 | Hrauð leifs mǫgr áðan | Magnfl 15 | 2 | Misst hafa Sveins at sýnu, | Magnfl 16 | 3 | Gær sák grjóti stóru | Lv 1 | 4 | Spurði einu orði | Magnfl 17 | 5 | Saurstokkinn bar svíra | Magnfl 18 | 6 | Hrindr af hrókalandi | Lv 2 | 7 | Menn eigu þess minnask, | Lv 3 | 8 | Skjǫld bark heim frá hjaldri | Magnfl 23 | 9 | Bauð leifs sonr áðan | Magnfl 24 | 10 | Nú taka Norðmenn knýja, | Lv 4 | 11 | Brum jǫrn at œrnu | Lv 5 | 12 | Svíðr of seggja búðir | Lv 6 | 13 | Fjǫrð lét fylkir verða | Lv 7 | 14 | Ek hef ekki at drekka | Lv 8 | Runhent poem about Haraldr (ÞjóðA Run) SkP | Skj | 1-5 | 1-5 | 6 | Þjóð veit, at hefr háðar | 7 | 7 | Stólþengils lét stinga | 6 | 8 | Ok hertoga hneykir | 25 | 9 | Reist eikikjǫlr austan | 8 | 10 | Vatn lézt, vísi, slitna, | 9 | 11 | Gegn skyli herr, sem hugnar | 10 | 12 | Frn hefr sveit við Sveini | 11 | 13 | Lét vingjafa veitir | 12 | 14 | Fast bað fylking hrausta | 13 | 15 | Alm dró upplenzkr hilmir | 14 | 16 | Flest vas hirð, sús hraustum | 15 | 17 | Sogns kvðu gram gegnan | 16 | 18 | Sveinn át sigr at launa | 17 | 19 | Nús of verk, þaus vísi, | 18 | 20 | Létu lystir sleitu | 19 | 21 | Tók Holmbúa hneykir | 20 | 22 | Gagn brann greypra þegna; | 21 | 23 | Fœrði fylkir Hǫrða, | 22 | 24 | Áræðis naut eyðir | 23 | 25 | Refsir reyndan ofsa | 24 | 26 | Mǫrk lét veitt fyr verka | 26 | 27 | Ǫrð sær Yrsu burðar | 27 | 28 | Lét hræteina hveiti | 32 | 29 | Blóðorra lætr barri | 30a | 30 | Geirs oddum lætr greddir | 30b | 31 | Gera vas gisting byrjuð | 29 | 32 | Hár skyli hirðar stjóri | 35 | Stanzas about Haraldr Sigurðarson’s leiðangr (ÞjóðA Har) SkP | Skj | 1 | Skeið sák framm at flœði, | Lv 18 | 2 | Slyngr laugardag lǫngu | Lv 19 | 3 | Rétt kann rœði slíta | Lv 20 | 4 | Sorgar veit, áðr slíti | Lv 21 | 5 | Eigu skjól und skógi | Lv 22 | 6 | Hléseyjar lemr hvan | Lv 23 | 7 | Haraldr þeysti nú hraustla | Lv 24 | SkP | Skj | 1 | Nús valmeiðum víðis | Lv 9 | 2 | Jarl/Ǫrr lætr, odda skúrar | Sex 28 | 3 | Ganga él of Yngva | Sex 31 | 4 | Snart við sæþráð kyrtat | Sex 33 | 5 | Útan bindr við enda | Sex 34 | SkP | Skj | 1 | Leiða langar dauða | Lv 10 | 2 | Sumar annat skal sunnar | Lv 11 | 3 | [Logit hefr Baldr at Baldri] brynþings fetilstingar | Lv 12 | 4 | Mildingr rauð í móðu | Lv 13 | 5 | Varp ór þrætu þorpi | Lv 14 | 6 | Sigurðr eggjaði sleggju | Lv 15 | 7 | Haddan skall, en Halli | Lv 16 | 8 | Út stendr undan báti | Lv 17 | 9 | Ǫld es, sús jarli skyldi | Lv 25 | 10 | Skalka frá, þótt fylkir | Lv 26 | 11 | Ǫld hefr afráð goldit | Lv 27 | Reconstructions of the Þjóðólfr corpus are offered by Finnur Jónsson in SnE 1848-87, III, 579-90, which is the basis (almost unchanged) for Skj (AI, 361-83, BI, 332-53), and the Skj ordering is retained in Skald (I, 168-77); other major contributions are by Guðbrandur Vigfússon in CPB (II, 198-212) and by Fidjestøl (1982, 133-43, 172).
The principal eds consulted in the course of re-editing Þjóðólfr’s poetry for SkP are listed for each st., and are of two main types: eds of the skaldic corpus (Finnur Jónsson’s in Skj AI, 361-83; BI, 332-53 and Ernst Albin Kock’s in Skald I, 168-77, supported by numerous NN) and eds of the various prose works in which the poetry is preserved. Extracts are also included in anthologies, articles and other works including (with ten or more sts): CPB II, 198-212; Kock and Meissner 1931, I, 57-60; Hollander 1945,190-6 (annotated translations only), Poole 1991, 59-63; and (with seven sts) Turville-Petre 1976, 97-102. Such works as these, together with others containing comment on the poetry, are cited as appropriate in the Notes.
notes
|
Lausavísur —
ÞjóðA LvII
Diana Whaley 2009, ‘ Þjóðólfr Arnórsson, Lausavísur’ in Kari Ellen Gade (ed.), Poetry from the Kings’ Sagas 2: From c. 1035 to c. 1300. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 2. Turnhout: Brepols, pp. 163-76. <https://skaldic.org/m.php?p=text&i=1445> (accessed 26 June 2022)
stanzas: 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Skj: Þjóðolfr Arnórsson: 4. Lausavísur (AI, 377-83, BI, 347-53); stanzas (if different): 1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
26 |
27
in texts: Flat, Fsk, Gramm, H-Hr, Hb, Hkr, HSig, MH, Mork, Skm, SnE, Snegl, TGT
SkP info: II, 163-76
|
old edition
introduction
edition
manuscripts
transcriptions
concordance
references
search
files
1 |
Vol. 2. Þjóðólfr Arnórsson, 7. Lausavísur, 1 [Vol. 2, 165] — ÞjóðA Lv 1II |
The following text is from a superseded edition and is not the work of the editor(s) named on this page. It is included for reference only. Do not refer to this site when using this text but rather consult the original edition (Skj where relevant).
Leiða langar dauða
limar illa mik stillis,
bôrut menn enn mæra
Magnús í grǫf fúsir. |
Skj: Þjóðolfr Arnórsson: 4. Lausavísur 10 (AI, 379; BI, 349); dróttkvætt; ed. DW; group: A2; mss: 761bx, A, W; texts: TGT 31 |
|
2 |
Vol. 2. Þjóðólfr Arnórsson, 7. Lausavísur, 2 [Vol. 2, 165-6] — ÞjóðA Lv 2II |
The following text is from a superseded edition and is not the work of the editor(s) named on this page. It is included for reference only. Do not refer to this site when using this text but rather consult the original edition (Skj where relevant).
Sumar annat skal sunnar
(segik eina spô) fleini,
vér aukum kaf króki,
kaldnefr furu halda. |
Skj: Þjóðolfr Arnórsson: 4. Lausavísur 11 (AI, 379; BI, 349); dróttkvætt; ed. DW; group: A2; mss: 301x, 39, 51x, 761bx, E, F, Flat, FskAx, FskBx, H, Hr, J2x, Kx, Mork; texts: Flat 0, Fsk 202, H-Hr 127, HSig 26, Mork 30 |
|
3 |
Vol. 2. Þjóðólfr Arnórsson, 7. Lausavísur, 3 [Vol. 2, 167-8] — ÞjóðA Lv 3II |
The following text is from a superseded edition and is not the work of the editor(s) named on this page. It is included for reference only. Do not refer to this site when using this text but rather consult the original edition (Skj where relevant).
[Logit hefr Baldr at Baldri]
brynþings fetilstinga,
linns, sás land á sunnar,
láðbrjótr, fyrir ráða;
þó's sjá Njǫrðr enn nørðri
(norðr) glymhríðar borða
(gramr est frœkn) ok fremri
fastmálari (hála). |
Skj: Þjóðolfr Arnórsson: 4. Lausavísur 12 (AI, 379-80; BI, 349-50); dróttkvætt; ed. DW; group: A2; mss: 301x, 51x, Flat, FskAx, FskBx, H, Hr, Mork; texts: Flat 1046, Fsk 211, H-Hr 136, MH 77, Mork 39 |
|
4 |
Vol. 2. Þjóðólfr Arnórsson, 7. Lausavísur, 4 [Vol. 2, 168-9] — ÞjóðA Lv 4II |
The following text is from a superseded edition and is not the work of the editor(s) named on this page. It is included for reference only. Do not refer to this site when using this text but rather consult the original edition (Skj where relevant).
Mildingr rauð í móðu,
mót ilt vas þar spjóta,
(dǫnum vôru goð) geira
(grǫm) en þat vas skǫmmu;
setti niðr á sléttu
Serklandi gramr merki,
stóð at stillis ráði
stǫng, en þat vas lǫngu. |
Skj: Þjóðolfr Arnórsson: 4. Lausavísur 13 (AI, 380; BI, 350); dróttkvætt; ed. DW; group: A2; mss: 761bx, F, Flat, H, Hr, Mork; texts: Flat 1076, H-Hr 195, MH 107, Mork 75 |
|
5 |
Vol. 2. Þjóðólfr Arnórsson, 7. Lausavísur, 5 [Vol. 2, 169-71] — ÞjóðA Lv 5II |
The following text is from a superseded edition and is not the work of the editor(s) named on this page. It is included for reference only. Do not refer to this site when using this text but rather consult the original edition (Skj where relevant).
Varp ór þrætu þorpi
Þórr smiðbelgja stórra
hvápts eldingum hǫldnum
hafra kjǫts at jǫtni;
hljóðgreipum tók húða
hrøkkviskafls af afli
glaðr við galdra smiðju
Geirrøðr síu þeiri. |
Skj: Þjóðolfr Arnórsson: 4. Lausavísur 14 (AI, 380; BI, 350); dróttkvætt; ed. DW; group: A2; mss: 593b, 761bx, Flat, H, Hr, Mork; texts: H-Hr 186, Mork 65, Snegl 2 |
|
6 |
Vol. 2. Þjóðólfr Arnórsson, 7. Lausavísur, 6 [Vol. 2, 171-2] — ÞjóðA Lv 6II |
The following text is from a superseded edition and is not the work of the editor(s) named on this page. It is included for reference only. Do not refer to this site when using this text but rather consult the original edition (Skj where relevant).
Sigurðr eggjaði sleggju
snák váligrar brákar;
en skapdreki skinna
skreið af leista heiði;
menn sôusk orm, áðr ynni,
ilvegs búinn kilju,
nautaleðrs á naðri
neflangr konungr tangar. |
Skj: Þjóðolfr Arnórsson: 4. Lausavísur 15 (AI, 380-1; BI, 350); dróttkvætt; ed. DW; group: A2; mss: 593b, 761bx, Flat, H, Hr, Mork; texts: H-Hr 187, Mork 66, Snegl 1 |
|
7 |
Vol. 2. Þjóðólfr Arnórsson, 7. Lausavísur, 7 [Vol. 2, 172-3] — ÞjóðA Lv 7II |
The following text is from a superseded edition and is not the work of the editor(s) named on this page. It is included for reference only. Do not refer to this site when using this text but rather consult the original edition (Skj where relevant).
Haddan skall, en Halli
hlaut offylli grautar,
hornspôn kveð ek hônum
hlýða betr an prýði. |
Skj: Þjóðolfr Arnórsson: 4. Lausavísur 16 (AI, 380-1; BI, 350); dróttkvætt; ed. DW; group: A2; mss: 563ax, 593b, 761bx, Flat, H, Hr, Mork; texts: H-Hr 190, Mork 70, Snegl 8 |
|
8 |
Vol. 2. Þjóðólfr Arnórsson, 7. Lausavísur, 8 [Vol. 2, 173] — ÞjóðA Lv 8II |
The following text is from a superseded edition and is not the work of the editor(s) named on this page. It is included for reference only. Do not refer to this site when using this text but rather consult the original edition (Skj where relevant).
Út stendr undan báti
ilfat, munt þú nú gilja. |
Skj: Þjóðolfr Arnórsson: 4. Lausavísur 17 (AI, 381; BI, 351); dróttkvætt; ed. DW; group: A2; mss: 563ax, 761bx, Flat; texts: Snegl 13 |
|
9 |
Vol. 2. Þjóðólfr Arnórsson, 7. Lausavísur, 9 [Vol. 2, 173-4] — ÞjóðA Lv 9II |
The following text is from a superseded edition and is not the work of the editor(s) named on this page. It is included for reference only. Do not refer to this site when using this text but rather consult the original edition (Skj where relevant).
Ǫld es, sús jarli skyldi
ógnteitum lið veita,
(sterkr olli því stillir)
Steinkels gefin helju;
en þvít illa reynðisk
afls-vôn þaðan hônum,
fyrir lét Hôkon hǫrfa
hvatt, segr hinn's þat fegrir. |
Skj: Þjóðolfr Arnórsson: 4. Lausavísur 25 (AI, 383; BI, 352-3); dróttkvætt; ed. DW; group: A2; mss: 39, 761bx, E, F, Flat, H, Hr, J2x, Kx, Mork; texts: Flat 1073, H-Hr 178, HSig 69, MH 104, Mork 64 |
|
10 |
Vol. 2. Þjóðólfr Arnórsson, 7. Lausavísur, 10 [Vol. 2, 174-5] — ÞjóðA Lv 10II |
The following text is from a superseded edition and is not the work of the editor(s) named on this page. It is included for reference only. Do not refer to this site when using this text but rather consult the original edition (Skj where relevant).
Skalka frá, þótt fylkir
falli sjalfr til vallar,
(gengr sem goð vill) ungum
grams erfingjum hverfa;
skínnat sól á sýnni,
snarráðs, an þá báða,
Haralds eru haukar gǫrvir
hefnendr, konungs-efni. |
Skj: Þjóðolfr Arnórsson: 4. Lausavísur 26 (AI, 383; BI, 353); dróttkvætt; ed. DW; group: A2; mss: 301x, 761bx, E, F, Flat, FskAx, H, Hr, J2x, Kx, Mork; texts: Flat 1092, Fsk 239, H-Hr 214, HSig 82, MH 123, Mork 91 |
|
11 |
Vol. 2. Þjóðólfr Arnórsson, 7. Lausavísur, 11 [Vol. 2, 175-6] — ÞjóðA Lv 11II |
The following text is from a superseded edition and is not the work of the editor(s) named on this page. It is included for reference only. Do not refer to this site when using this text but rather consult the original edition (Skj where relevant).
Ǫld hefr afráð goldit
ilt, nú kveðk her stiltan,
bauð þessa fǫr þjóðum
þarflaust Haraldr austan;
svá lauk siklings ævi
snjalls, at vér rom allir
(lofðungr beið enn leyfði
lífs grand) í stað vǫndum. |
Skj: Þjóðolfr Arnórsson: 4. Lausavísur 27 (AI, 383; BI, 353); dróttkvætt; ed. DW; group: A2; mss: 301x, 326bx, 744x, 761bx, A, B, C, E, F, Flat, FskAx, H, Hb, Hr, J2x, Kx, Mork, R, Tx, U; texts: Flat 1098, Fsk 243, H-Hr 218, Hb 0, HSig 84, MH 129, Mork 97, Skm 410 |
|
|
|