[2] liði mjúku: This edn follows Finnur Jónsson (Skj B) in interpreting this phrase as describing the Spirit’s aid, and is translated ‘with gentle help’. This interpretation relies on taking liði as dat. sg. of lið, n. meaning ‘help, assistance, care’ (Fritzner: lið 2). It is also possible to interpret lið, n. in the sense ‘people, folk’ (Fritzner: lið 1), and to take the phrase as a reference to those cleansed by the Spirit (pace Kock, NN §1407).
References
- Bibliography
- Skj B = Finnur Jónsson, ed. 1912-15b. Den norsk-islandske skjaldedigtning. B: Rettet tekst. 2 vols. Copenhagen: Villadsen & Christensen. Rpt. 1973. Copenhagen: Rosenkilde & Bagger.
- NN = Kock, Ernst Albin. 1923-44. Notationes Norrœnæ: Anteckningar till Edda och skaldediktning. Lunds Universitets årsskrift new ser. 1. 28 vols. Lund: Gleerup.
- Fritzner = Fritzner, Johan. 1883-96. Ordbog over det gamle norske sprog. 3 vols. Kristiania (Oslo): Den norske forlagsforening. 4th edn. Rpt. 1973. Oslo etc.: Universitetsforlaget.