Lausavísur §

Bôrum ‘We bore’

3. bera (verb; °berr; bar, báru; borinn): bear, carry

[1] bôrum, Ullr ‘we bore, Ullr <god>’: The diagnosis of collisio applies to the final [m] in bôrum, which is preceded and followed by a vowel. Such placement would certainly be a blemish in Latin verse, but not in Old Norse.

Ullr ‘Ullr’

nom.

Ullr (noun m.): Ullr

[1] bôrum, Ullr ‘we bore, Ullr <god>’: The diagnosis of collisio applies to the final [m] in bôrum, which is preceded and followed by a vowel. Such placement would certainly be a blemish in Latin verse, but not in Old Norse. — [1, 2] Ullr ímunlauks ‘Ullr <god> of the battle-leek [SWORD > WARRIOR]’: The addressee of this vocative remains unidentified (cf. Hkr 1893-1901, IV; ÍF 26) but could conceivably be one of the ‘friends’ (vinum, Lv 13/8) who assist Eyvindr during this period of hardship. The repeated mention of the god Ullr here and in Lv 9/3 seems deliberate, but its significance is difficult to pin down. Although Ullr must have been a major deity, his story is poorly documented in SnE and other medieval texts. Attestations of his name in the toponymic material are confined to Mälaren in Sweden and Viken in Norway (Brink 2007a, 116). It is therefore possible that Eyvindr alludes to him as a favourite god of the people of Viken who were opposed to Haraldr gráfeldr (see Note to Lv 7/2).

Ullr ‘Ullr’

nom.

Ullr (noun m.): Ullr

[1] bôrum, Ullr ‘we bore, Ullr <god>’: The diagnosis of collisio applies to the final [m] in bôrum, which is preceded and followed by a vowel. Such placement would certainly be a blemish in Latin verse, but not in Old Norse. — [1, 2] Ullr ímunlauks ‘Ullr <god> of the battle-leek [SWORD > WARRIOR]’: The addressee of this vocative remains unidentified (cf. Hkr 1893-1901, IV; ÍF 26) but could conceivably be one of the ‘friends’ (vinum, Lv 13/8) who assist Eyvindr during this period of hardship. The repeated mention of the god Ullr here and in Lv 9/3 seems deliberate, but its significance is difficult to pin down. Although Ullr must have been a major deity, his story is poorly documented in SnE and other medieval texts. Attestations of his name in the toponymic material are confined to Mälaren in Sweden and Viken in Norway (Brink 2007a, 116). It is therefore possible that Eyvindr alludes to him as a favourite god of the people of Viken who were opposed to Haraldr gráfeldr (see Note to Lv 7/2).

á ‘’

3. á (prep.): on, at

of ‘during’

3. of (prep.): around, from; too

[1, 4] of alla ævi Hôkunar ‘during the whole of Hákon’s lifetime’: Cf. the closely similar phrasing in Lv 9/3, 4. 

allan ‘’

allr (adj.): all

alla ‘the whole’

allr (adj.): all

[1, 4] of alla ævi Hôkunar ‘during the whole of Hákon’s lifetime’: Cf. the closely similar phrasing in Lv 9/3, 4. 

imum ‘’

ímun ‘of the battle’

ímun (noun f.): battle < ímunlaukr (noun m.)ímun (noun f.): battleímun (noun f.): battle < ímun (noun f.): battle

[1, 2] Ullr ímunlauks ‘Ullr <god> of the battle-leek [SWORD > WARRIOR]’: The addressee of this vocative remains unidentified (cf. Hkr 1893-1901, IV; ÍF 26) but could conceivably be one of the ‘friends’ (vinum, Lv 13/8) who assist Eyvindr during this period of hardship. The repeated mention of the god Ullr here and in Lv 9/3 seems deliberate, but its significance is difficult to pin down. Although Ullr must have been a major deity, his story is poorly documented in SnE and other medieval texts. Attestations of his name in the toponymic material are confined to Mälaren in Sweden and Viken in Norway (Brink 2007a, 116). It is therefore possible that Eyvindr alludes to him as a favourite god of the people of Viken who were opposed to Haraldr gráfeldr (see Note to Lv 7/2).

ímun ‘of the battle’

ímun (noun f.): battle < ímunlaukr (noun m.)ímun (noun f.): battleímun (noun f.): battle < ímun (noun f.): battle

[1, 2] Ullr ímunlauks ‘Ullr <god> of the battle-leek [SWORD > WARRIOR]’: The addressee of this vocative remains unidentified (cf. Hkr 1893-1901, IV; ÍF 26) but could conceivably be one of the ‘friends’ (vinum, Lv 13/8) who assist Eyvindr during this period of hardship. The repeated mention of the god Ullr here and in Lv 9/3 seems deliberate, but its significance is difficult to pin down. Although Ullr must have been a major deity, his story is poorly documented in SnE and other medieval texts. Attestations of his name in the toponymic material are confined to Mälaren in Sweden and Viken in Norway (Brink 2007a, 116). It is therefore possible that Eyvindr alludes to him as a favourite god of the people of Viken who were opposed to Haraldr gráfeldr (see Note to Lv 7/2).

leiks ‘’

1. leikr (noun m.; °-s, dat. -/-i; -ar): sport, play < ímun (noun f.): battle

letrs ‘’

lauks ‘leek’

gen.

laukr (noun m.; °-s; -ar): leek, mast < ímunlaukr (noun m.)laukr (noun m.; °-s; -ar): leek, mast

[1, 2] Ullr ímunlauks ‘Ullr <god> of the battle-leek [SWORD > WARRIOR]’: The addressee of this vocative remains unidentified (cf. Hkr 1893-1901, IV; ÍF 26) but could conceivably be one of the ‘friends’ (vinum, Lv 13/8) who assist Eyvindr during this period of hardship. The repeated mention of the god Ullr here and in Lv 9/3 seems deliberate, but its significance is difficult to pin down. Although Ullr must have been a major deity, his story is poorly documented in SnE and other medieval texts. Attestations of his name in the toponymic material are confined to Mälaren in Sweden and Viken in Norway (Brink 2007a, 116). It is therefore possible that Eyvindr alludes to him as a favourite god of the people of Viken who were opposed to Haraldr gráfeldr (see Note to Lv 7/2).

lauks ‘leek’

gen.

laukr (noun m.; °-s; -ar): leek, mast < ímunlaukr (noun m.)laukr (noun m.; °-s; -ar): leek, mast

[1, 2] Ullr ímunlauks ‘Ullr <god> of the battle-leek [SWORD > WARRIOR]’: The addressee of this vocative remains unidentified (cf. Hkr 1893-1901, IV; ÍF 26) but could conceivably be one of the ‘friends’ (vinum, Lv 13/8) who assist Eyvindr during this period of hardship. The repeated mention of the god Ullr here and in Lv 9/3 seems deliberate, but its significance is difficult to pin down. Although Ullr must have been a major deity, his story is poorly documented in SnE and other medieval texts. Attestations of his name in the toponymic material are confined to Mälaren in Sweden and Viken in Norway (Brink 2007a, 116). It is therefore possible that Eyvindr alludes to him as a favourite god of the people of Viken who were opposed to Haraldr gráfeldr (see Note to Lv 7/2).

ok ‘’

3. ok (conj.): and, but; also

á ‘on’

3. á (prep.): on, at

hauga ‘’

haugr (noun m.; °-s, -i; -ar): mound, cairn

hauka ‘of hawks’

1. haukr (noun m.; °-s, dat. -i/-; -ar): hawk

fjǫllum ‘the mountains’

dat. pl.

1. fjall (noun n.): mountain

Fýris ‘of Fýris’

fýri (noun n.): fir-tree < Fýrisvellir (noun m.)fýri (noun n.): fir-tree < Fýrisvǫllr (noun m.)

[3-4] fræ Fýrisvalla ‘the seed of Fýrisvellir [GOLD]’: The legendary Hrólfr kraki, king of Denmark, is said to have scattered gold rings and treasure on the plains of Fýrisvellir in order to distract the Swedish king Aðils (cf. Þjóð Yt 16/2) and his army, and delay their pursuit of him (SnE 1998, I, 59; Yng, ÍF 26, 57; Hrólfs saga kraka, Hrólf 1960, 105). For this reason he is spoken of as ‘sowing gold’. See Meissner 228 for further kennings alluding to this legend. Concomitantly, the base-word ‘seed’ may hint at an underlying theme of the fertility of the land and at the traditional connection of fertility with good rule. The theme of the land is maintained by the choice of the (contrasting) kenning base-words in l. 3: valla, from vellir ‘plains’, and fjǫllum, from fjǫll ‘mountains’ (Hkr 1893-1901, IV).

vallar ‘’

vǫllr (noun m.; °vallar, dat. velli; vellir acc. vǫllu/velli): plain, field < Fýrisvǫllr (noun m.)

valla ‘vellir’

vǫllr (noun m.; °vallar, dat. velli; vellir acc. vǫllu/velli): plain, field < Fýrisvellir (noun m.)

[3-4] fræ Fýrisvalla ‘the seed of Fýrisvellir [GOLD]’: The legendary Hrólfr kraki, king of Denmark, is said to have scattered gold rings and treasure on the plains of Fýrisvellir in order to distract the Swedish king Aðils (cf. Þjóð Yt 16/2) and his army, and delay their pursuit of him (SnE 1998, I, 59; Yng, ÍF 26, 57; Hrólfs saga kraka, Hrólf 1960, 105). For this reason he is spoken of as ‘sowing gold’. See Meissner 228 for further kennings alluding to this legend. Concomitantly, the base-word ‘seed’ may hint at an underlying theme of the fertility of the land and at the traditional connection of fertility with good rule. The theme of the land is maintained by the choice of the (contrasting) kenning base-words in l. 3: valla, from vellir ‘plains’, and fjǫllum, from fjǫll ‘mountains’ (Hkr 1893-1901, IV).

fræ ‘the seed’

acc.

fræ (noun n.): seed (= frjó)

[3-4] fræ Fýrisvalla ‘the seed of Fýrisvellir [GOLD]’: The legendary Hrólfr kraki, king of Denmark, is said to have scattered gold rings and treasure on the plains of Fýrisvellir in order to distract the Swedish king Aðils (cf. Þjóð Yt 16/2) and his army, and delay their pursuit of him (SnE 1998, I, 59; Yng, ÍF 26, 57; Hrólfs saga kraka, Hrólf 1960, 105). For this reason he is spoken of as ‘sowing gold’. See Meissner 228 for further kennings alluding to this legend. Concomitantly, the base-word ‘seed’ may hint at an underlying theme of the fertility of the land and at the traditional connection of fertility with good rule. The theme of the land is maintained by the choice of the (contrasting) kenning base-words in l. 3: valla, from vellir ‘plains’, and fjǫllum, from fjǫll ‘mountains’ (Hkr 1893-1901, IV).

Hô ‘of Há’

3. hár (adj.; °-van; compar. hǽrri, superl. hǽstr): high < Hákon (noun m.): Hákon

[1, 4] of alla ævi Hôkunar ‘during the whole of Hákon’s lifetime’: Cf. the closely similar phrasing in Lv 9/3, 4. 

kunar ‘kon’s’

1. kyn (noun n.; °-s; -): kin < Hákon (noun m.): Hákon

[1, 4] of alla ævi Hôkunar ‘during the whole of Hákon’s lifetime’: Cf. the closely similar phrasing in Lv 9/3, 4. 

ævi ‘lifetime’

ævi (noun f.; °-/-ar): life

[1, 4] of alla ævi Hôkunar ‘during the whole of Hákon’s lifetime’: Cf. the closely similar phrasing in Lv 9/3, 4. 

hófir ‘’

Nú ‘Now’

nú (adv.): now

hríð ‘’

hríð (noun f.; °-ar; -ir): time, storm

full ‘’

2. fullr (adj.; °compar. -ari, superl. -astr): full, complete

hefr ‘has’

hafa (verb): have

folk ‘of the people’

folk (noun n.): people < folkstríðir (noun m.): afflicter of people

[5] folkstríðir ‘the afflicter of the people [= Haraldr]’: Haraldr gráfeldr, who, in reality, may have enjoyed greater popular support than this invective would suggest (cf. Bagge 2004, 194).

fjǫl ‘’

fjǫl- ((prefix)): very- < fjǫlglýjaðr (adj.)fjǫl- ((prefix)): very-

stríðir ‘the afflicter’

nom.

stríðir (noun m.): opponent, fighter < folkstríðir (noun m.): afflicter of people

[5] folkstríðir ‘the afflicter of the people [= Haraldr]’: Haraldr gráfeldr, who, in reality, may have enjoyed greater popular support than this invective would suggest (cf. Bagge 2004, 194).

glýara ‘’

gyljaðra ‘’

Fróða ‘of Fróði’

Fróði (noun m.): Fróði

[5-7] meldr fáglýjaðra þýja Fróða ‘the flour of the little-satisfied bondswomen of Fróði <legendary king> [= Fenja and Menja > GOLD]’: The reference is to a legend attested in Grott, which is cited following a prose version of the story in Skm (SnE 1998, I, 52-7; and see Meissner 228 for further kennings alluding to this). Two slave-women, Fenja and Menja, are forced to grind gold for Fróði, the king of Denmark celebrated for his long reign of peace and plenty, but eventually sabotage his scheme (in SnE by grinding salt instead). The allusion may be intended as a hint to Haraldr gráfeldr that his oppressive rule could lead to rebellion.

Fróða ‘of Fróði’

Fróði (noun m.): Fróði

[5-7] meldr fáglýjaðra þýja Fróða ‘the flour of the little-satisfied bondswomen of Fróði <legendary king> [= Fenja and Menja > GOLD]’: The reference is to a legend attested in Grott, which is cited following a prose version of the story in Skm (SnE 1998, I, 52-7; and see Meissner 228 for further kennings alluding to this). Two slave-women, Fenja and Menja, are forced to grind gold for Fróði, the king of Denmark celebrated for his long reign of peace and plenty, but eventually sabotage his scheme (in SnE by grinding salt instead). The allusion may be intended as a hint to Haraldr gráfeldr that his oppressive rule could lead to rebellion.

þylja ‘’

þylja (verb): recite

fá ‘of the little’

3. fár (adj.; °compar. fǽrri/fárri(Mág² 11ˆ), superl. fǽstr): few < fáglýjaðr (adj.)3. fár (adj.; °compar. fǽrri/fárri(Mág² 11ˆ), superl. fǽstr): few

[5-7] meldr fáglýjaðra þýja Fróða ‘the flour of the little-satisfied bondswomen of Fróði <legendary king> [= Fenja and Menja > GOLD]’: The reference is to a legend attested in Grott, which is cited following a prose version of the story in Skm (SnE 1998, I, 52-7; and see Meissner 228 for further kennings alluding to this). Two slave-women, Fenja and Menja, are forced to grind gold for Fróði, the king of Denmark celebrated for his long reign of peace and plenty, but eventually sabotage his scheme (in SnE by grinding salt instead). The allusion may be intended as a hint to Haraldr gráfeldr that his oppressive rule could lead to rebellion.

fá ‘of the little’

3. fár (adj.; °compar. fǽrri/fárri(Mág² 11ˆ), superl. fǽstr): few < fáglýjaðr (adj.)3. fár (adj.; °compar. fǽrri/fárri(Mág² 11ˆ), superl. fǽstr): few

[5-7] meldr fáglýjaðra þýja Fróða ‘the flour of the little-satisfied bondswomen of Fróði <legendary king> [= Fenja and Menja > GOLD]’: The reference is to a legend attested in Grott, which is cited following a prose version of the story in Skm (SnE 1998, I, 52-7; and see Meissner 228 for further kennings alluding to this). Two slave-women, Fenja and Menja, are forced to grind gold for Fróði, the king of Denmark celebrated for his long reign of peace and plenty, but eventually sabotage his scheme (in SnE by grinding salt instead). The allusion may be intended as a hint to Haraldr gráfeldr that his oppressive rule could lead to rebellion.

moldar ‘’

mold (noun f.; °-ar, dat. -u; -ir): earth, soil

meld ‘’

glýjaðra ‘satisfied’

glýjaðr (adj./verb p.p.): satisfied, cheerful; delighter < fáglýjaðr (adj.)glýjaðr (adj./verb p.p.): satisfied, cheerful; delighter < fjǫlglýjaðr (adj.)

[5-7] meldr fáglýjaðra þýja Fróða ‘the flour of the little-satisfied bondswomen of Fróði <legendary king> [= Fenja and Menja > GOLD]’: The reference is to a legend attested in Grott, which is cited following a prose version of the story in Skm (SnE 1998, I, 52-7; and see Meissner 228 for further kennings alluding to this). Two slave-women, Fenja and Menja, are forced to grind gold for Fróði, the king of Denmark celebrated for his long reign of peace and plenty, but eventually sabotage his scheme (in SnE by grinding salt instead). The allusion may be intended as a hint to Haraldr gráfeldr that his oppressive rule could lead to rebellion.

glýjaðra ‘satisfied’

glýjaðr (adj./verb p.p.): satisfied, cheerful; delighter < fáglýjaðr (adj.)glýjaðr (adj./verb p.p.): satisfied, cheerful; delighter < fjǫlglýjaðr (adj.)

[5-7] meldr fáglýjaðra þýja Fróða ‘the flour of the little-satisfied bondswomen of Fróði <legendary king> [= Fenja and Menja > GOLD]’: The reference is to a legend attested in Grott, which is cited following a prose version of the story in Skm (SnE 1998, I, 52-7; and see Meissner 228 for further kennings alluding to this). Two slave-women, Fenja and Menja, are forced to grind gold for Fróði, the king of Denmark celebrated for his long reign of peace and plenty, but eventually sabotage his scheme (in SnE by grinding salt instead). The allusion may be intended as a hint to Haraldr gráfeldr that his oppressive rule could lead to rebellion.

þýja ‘bondswomen’

gen. pl.

þý (noun f.; °-jar/-ar, acc. -ju; -jar): bondswoman

[5-7] meldr fáglýjaðra þýja Fróða ‘the flour of the little-satisfied bondswomen of Fróði <legendary king> [= Fenja and Menja > GOLD]’: The reference is to a legend attested in Grott, which is cited following a prose version of the story in Skm (SnE 1998, I, 52-7; and see Meissner 228 for further kennings alluding to this). Two slave-women, Fenja and Menja, are forced to grind gold for Fróði, the king of Denmark celebrated for his long reign of peace and plenty, but eventually sabotage his scheme (in SnE by grinding salt instead). The allusion may be intended as a hint to Haraldr gráfeldr that his oppressive rule could lead to rebellion.

þýja ‘bondswomen’

gen. pl.

þý (noun f.; °-jar/-ar, acc. -ju; -jar): bondswoman

[5-7] meldr fáglýjaðra þýja Fróða ‘the flour of the little-satisfied bondswomen of Fróði <legendary king> [= Fenja and Menja > GOLD]’: The reference is to a legend attested in Grott, which is cited following a prose version of the story in Skm (SnE 1998, I, 52-7; and see Meissner 228 for further kennings alluding to this). Two slave-women, Fenja and Menja, are forced to grind gold for Fróði, the king of Denmark celebrated for his long reign of peace and plenty, but eventually sabotage his scheme (in SnE by grinding salt instead). The allusion may be intended as a hint to Haraldr gráfeldr that his oppressive rule could lead to rebellion.

meldr ‘the flour’

acc.

meldr (noun m.): flour

[5-7] meldr fáglýjaðra þýja Fróða ‘the flour of the little-satisfied bondswomen of Fróði <legendary king> [= Fenja and Menja > GOLD]’: The reference is to a legend attested in Grott, which is cited following a prose version of the story in Skm (SnE 1998, I, 52-7; and see Meissner 228 for further kennings alluding to this). Two slave-women, Fenja and Menja, are forced to grind gold for Fróði, the king of Denmark celebrated for his long reign of peace and plenty, but eventually sabotage his scheme (in SnE by grinding salt instead). The allusion may be intended as a hint to Haraldr gráfeldr that his oppressive rule could lead to rebellion.

í ‘in’

í (prep.): in, into

[7-8] í holdi móður dolgs mellu ‘in the flesh of the mother of the enemy of the giantess [= Þórr > = Jǫrð (jǫrð ‘earth’)]’: The mother of Þórr, who waged war on giants and maimed giantesses, was identified as Jǫrð, which as a common noun means ‘earth’. To hide treasure in her flesh was therefore to hide it in the ground. Cf. the closely parallel kenning structure in Lv 9/6, 8. It would perhaps be possible to take holdi ‘flesh’ here and líki ‘body’ in Lv 9/8 as further kenning elements producing kennings for ‘soil’, though that is not a standard referent.

moldu ‘’

mold (noun f.; °-ar, dat. -u; -ir): earth, soil

móður ‘of the mother’

gen.

móðir (noun f.): mother

[7-8] í holdi móður dolgs mellu ‘in the flesh of the mother of the enemy of the giantess [= Þórr > = Jǫrð (jǫrð ‘earth’)]’: The mother of Þórr, who waged war on giants and maimed giantesses, was identified as Jǫrð, which as a common noun means ‘earth’. To hide treasure in her flesh was therefore to hide it in the ground. Cf. the closely parallel kenning structure in Lv 9/6, 8. It would perhaps be possible to take holdi ‘flesh’ here and líki ‘body’ in Lv 9/8 as further kenning elements producing kennings for ‘soil’, though that is not a standard referent.

holdi ‘the flesh’

hold (noun n.; °-s; -): flesh

[7-8] í holdi móður dolgs mellu ‘in the flesh of the mother of the enemy of the giantess [= Þórr > = Jǫrð (jǫrð ‘earth’)]’: The mother of Þórr, who waged war on giants and maimed giantesses, was identified as Jǫrð, which as a common noun means ‘earth’. To hide treasure in her flesh was therefore to hide it in the ground. Cf. the closely parallel kenning structure in Lv 9/6, 8. It would perhaps be possible to take holdi ‘flesh’ here and líki ‘body’ in Lv 9/8 as further kenning elements producing kennings for ‘soil’, though that is not a standard referent.

mellu ‘of the giantess’

2. mella (noun f.): giantess

[7-8] í holdi móður dolgs mellu ‘in the flesh of the mother of the enemy of the giantess [= Þórr > = Jǫrð (jǫrð ‘earth’)]’: The mother of Þórr, who waged war on giants and maimed giantesses, was identified as Jǫrð, which as a common noun means ‘earth’. To hide treasure in her flesh was therefore to hide it in the ground. Cf. the closely parallel kenning structure in Lv 9/6, 8. It would perhaps be possible to take holdi ‘flesh’ here and líki ‘body’ in Lv 9/8 as further kenning elements producing kennings for ‘soil’, though that is not a standard referent.

mellu ‘of the giantess’

2. mella (noun f.): giantess

[7-8] í holdi móður dolgs mellu ‘in the flesh of the mother of the enemy of the giantess [= Þórr > = Jǫrð (jǫrð ‘earth’)]’: The mother of Þórr, who waged war on giants and maimed giantesses, was identified as Jǫrð, which as a common noun means ‘earth’. To hide treasure in her flesh was therefore to hide it in the ground. Cf. the closely parallel kenning structure in Lv 9/6, 8. It would perhaps be possible to take holdi ‘flesh’ here and líki ‘body’ in Lv 9/8 as further kenning elements producing kennings for ‘soil’, though that is not a standard referent.

folgit ‘’

2. fela (verb): hide

dolgs ‘of the enemy’

gen.

dolgr (noun m.; °dat. -; -ar): enemy, battle

[7-8] í holdi móður dolgs mellu ‘in the flesh of the mother of the enemy of the giantess [= Þórr > = Jǫrð (jǫrð ‘earth’)]’: The mother of Þórr, who waged war on giants and maimed giantesses, was identified as Jǫrð, which as a common noun means ‘earth’. To hide treasure in her flesh was therefore to hide it in the ground. Cf. the closely parallel kenning structure in Lv 9/6, 8. It would perhaps be possible to take holdi ‘flesh’ here and líki ‘body’ in Lv 9/8 as further kenning elements producing kennings for ‘soil’, though that is not a standard referent.

dolgs ‘of the enemy’

gen.

dolgr (noun m.; °dat. -; -ar): enemy, battle

[7-8] í holdi móður dolgs mellu ‘in the flesh of the mother of the enemy of the giantess [= Þórr > = Jǫrð (jǫrð ‘earth’)]’: The mother of Þórr, who waged war on giants and maimed giantesses, was identified as Jǫrð, which as a common noun means ‘earth’. To hide treasure in her flesh was therefore to hide it in the ground. Cf. the closely parallel kenning structure in Lv 9/6, 8. It would perhaps be possible to take holdi ‘flesh’ here and líki ‘body’ in Lv 9/8 as further kenning elements producing kennings for ‘soil’, though that is not a standard referent.

of ‘’

4. of (particle): (before verb)

folginn ‘hidden’

2. fela (verb): hide