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skaldic

Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages

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Lausavísur — Eskál LvI

Einarr skálaglamm Helgason

Margaret Clunies Ross 2012, ‘ Einarr skálaglamm Helgason, Lausavísur’ 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. 330. <https://skaldic.org/m.php?p=text&i=1182> (accessed 23 April 2024)

 

Gerðak veig of virða
víðis illrar tíðar
(þat vann ek, meðan aðrir)
ǫrr Váfaðar (svôfu).
Komkat þess, þars þótti,
þingsættis, fé betra
— meiðr sparir hodd við hróðri
hverr — en skald it verra.
 
‘At an unfortunate time I composed, eager, strong drink of Váfuðr <= Óðinn> [POETRY] about men of the ocean [SEAFARERS]; I did that while others slept. I have not come to that assembly-reconciler [RULER] where money seemed better but the poet worse; each tree [man] withholds treasure from praise poetry.
Sœkjum jarl, þanns auka
ulfs verð þorir sverðum;
hlǫðum við borð á barða
baugskjǫldum Sigvalda.
Drepr eigi sá sveigir
sárlinns, es gram finnum,
— rǫnd berum út á andra
Endils — við mér hendi.
 
‘Let us visit the jarl who dares to increase the wolf’s food [CORPSES] with swords; let us load shields with bosses onto the side of Sigvaldi’s ship. That wielder of the wound-snake [SWORD > WARRIOR] will not push me away with his hand, when we [I] visit the ruler; let us carry shields out aboard the skis of Endill <sea-king> [SHIPS]
Þat kvað jarl at æri
unnviggs fyr haf sunnan,
þás á seima særi
sárelda spor vôru:
‘Ǫllungis hefr illa,
eybaugs, ef skalt deyja,
— víst hyggjum þat — viggja
valdr, þinn faðir haldit.’
 
‘The jarl said that to the messenger of the wave-steed [SHIP > SEAFARER = Þorleifr skúma] south of the sea, when tracks of wound-fires [SWORDS > WOUNDS] were upon the wounder of riches [GENEROUS MAN]: ‘Your father has undergone extreme hardship if you must die, ruler of steeds of the island-ring [SEA > SHIPS > SEAFARER]; we [I] think so certainly.’
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