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skaldic

Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages

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Sigv Lv 2I

R. D. Fulk (ed.) 2012, ‘Sigvatr Þórðarson, Lausavísur 2’ 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. 701.

Sigvatr ÞórðarsonLausavísur
123

text and translation

Hlýð mínum brag, meiðir
myrkblás, þvít kannk yrkja,
alltíginn — mátt eiga
eitt skald — drasils tjalda,
þótt ǫllungis allra,
allvaldr, lofun skalda
— þér fæk hróðrs at hvôru
hlít — annarra nítið.

Hlýð mínum brag, {alltíginn meiðir {myrkblás drasils tjalda}}, þvít kannk yrkja — mátt eiga eitt skald —, þótt nítið ǫllungis lofun allra annarra skalda, allvaldr; fæk þér at hvôru hlít hróðrs.
 
‘Listen to my poetry, most high-born destroyer of the dark black steed of awnings [SHIP > WARRIOR], because I know how to compose — you can have one skald —, although you refuse completely the praise of all other poets, mighty ruler; I shall deliver to you nonetheless a sufficiency of praise.’

notes and context

When he is almost fully grown, Sigvatr comes to Norway, where he meets King Óláfr Haraldsson. He has composed a poem about the king, and he asks him to listen to it. The king says he does not like having poetry composed about him, and he does not understand it (Hkr version; ÓH similar). Sigvatr delivers this stanza nonetheless, and the king rewards him.

[1-2]: The lines are echoed in Ótt Hfl 1/1-2 (see Note). 

readings

sources

Text is based on reconstruction from the base text and variant apparatus and may contain alternative spellings and other normalisations not visible in the manuscript text. Transcriptions may not have been checked and should not be cited.

editions and texts

Skj: Sigvatr Þórðarson, 13. Lausavísur 2: AI, 265, BI, 246, Skald I, 127, NN §1872; Fms 4, 90, Fms 12, 77-8, ÓH 1853, 35, 263, ÓH 1941, I, 82 (ch. 38), Flat 1860-8, II, 39; Hkr 1777-1826, II, 45-6, VI, 74, Hkr 1868, 248 (ÓHHkr ch. 41), Hkr 1893-1901, II, 62, IV, 118, ÍF 27, 54-5, Hkr 1991, I, 287 (ÓHHkr ch. 43); Konráð Gíslason 1892, 35, 169-71, Jón Skaptason 1983, 184, 313.

234
Hkr 235 (II 34)
236
447
Flat 448
449
33
ÓHHkr 34 (II 34)
35
38
ÓH 39 (37)
40
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