Stanzas from Snorra Edda — Anon (SnE)III
Anonymous LausavísurKari Ellen Gade, Margaret Clunies Ross and Matthew Townend 2017, ‘ Anonymous, Stanzas from Snorra Edda’ in Kari Ellen Gade and Edith Marold (eds), Poetry from Treatises on Poetics. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 3. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 512. <https://skaldic.org/m.php?p=text&i=3196> (accessed 19 April 2024)
Bæði ák til brúðar
bergjarls ok skip dverga
sollinn vind at senda
seinfyrnð gǫtu eina.
bergjarls ok skip dverga
sollinn vind at senda
seinfyrnð gǫtu eina.
‘I have both, my swollen wind of the wife of the mountain-jarl [GIANT > GIANTESS > THOUGHT] and the never-forgotten ships of dwarfs [POEMS], to send in the same direction. ’
Aura stendr fyr órum
eik fagrbúin leiki.
eik fagrbúin leiki.
‘The beautifully dressed oak of riches [WOMAN] prevents our [my] pleasure. ’
Ógnrakkr, skalat okkur,
álmr dynskúrar málma,
(svá bauð lind) í landi
(líns) hugrekki dvína.
álmr dynskúrar málma,
(svá bauð lind) í landi
(líns) hugrekki dvína.
‘Battle-brave elm of the din-shower of weapons [BATTLE > WARRIOR], our boldness of heart must not diminish in the land; thus the linden of linen [WOMAN] commanded. ’
‘Heill komt, handar svella
hlynr!’ Kvaddi svá brynja.
hlynr!’ Kvaddi svá brynja.
‘‘Welcome, maple of ice-sheets of the hand [SILVER > MAN]!’ Thus was the greeting of the byrnie. ’
Odda gnýs við œsi
oddnets þinul setja.
oddnets þinul setja.
‘Place the rope-edging of the point-net [SHIELD > SHIELD-RIM] against the inciter of the din of points [BATTLE > WARRIOR]. ’
Hnigu fjandr at glym Gǫndlar
grams und arnar hramma.
grams und arnar hramma.
‘The enemies of the ruler sank down beneath the claws of the eagle at the din of Gǫndul <valkyrie> [BATTLE]. ’
Svá skaut gegn í gǫgnum
garð steinfarinn barða
— sá vas gnýstœrir geira
gunnar hæfr — sem næfrar.
garð steinfarinn barða
— sá vas gnýstœrir geira
gunnar hæfr — sem næfrar.
‘The capable one shot through the painted fence of the ship [SHIELD] as though [it were] birch-bark; that increaser of the din of spears [(lit. ‘din-increaser of spears’) BATTLE > WARRIOR] was able in battle. ’
Baugr es á beru sœmstr en á boga ǫrvar.
‘A ring is most seemly on a shield and arrows on a bow. ’
Troll kalla mik,
tungl sjǫt-Rungnis,
auðsúg jǫtuns,
élsólar bǫl,
vilsinn vǫlu,
vǫrð náfjarðar,
hvélsvelg himins.
Hvats troll nema þat?
tungl sjǫt-Rungnis,
auðsúg jǫtuns,
élsólar bǫl,
vilsinn vǫlu,
vǫrð náfjarðar,
hvélsvelg himins.
Hvats troll nema þat?
‘They call me troll, moon of dwelling-Rungnir [TROLL], wealth-sucker of a giant [TROLL-WOMAN], trouble of the storm-sun [TROLL], delightful company of a prophetess [TROLL-WOMAN], guardian of the corpse-fjord [GRAVE > TROLL], swallower of the wheel of the sky [(lit. ‘wheel-swallower of the sky’) SUN > TROLL]. What’s a troll if not that?’
Ǫrgildi* vask (Eldis)
áls Fjǫrgynjar (mála)
dyggr (sé heiðr ok h*eggi)
hrynbeðs (áar steðja).
áls Fjǫrgynjar (mála)
dyggr (sé heiðr ok h*eggi)
hrynbeðs (áar steðja).
‘I was faithful to the generous giver of the resounding bed of the eel of Fjǫrgyn [= Jǫrð (jǫrð ‘earth’)] [SERPENT > GOLD > GENEROUS MAN]; may honour also come to the cherry-tree of the speeches of the Eldir <mythical servant> of the anvil of the river [STONE > GIANT > GOLD > MAN]. ’
Hreggskornis vilk handa
háleitan mjǫð vanda.
háleitan mjǫð vanda.
‘I wish carefully to prepare the sublime mead … for … of storm-cleaver <eagle>. ’
Erum á leið frá láði
liðnir Finnum skriðnu;
austr sék fjǫll af flausta
ferli geisla merluð.
liðnir Finnum skriðnu;
austr sék fjǫll af flausta
ferli geisla merluð.
‘We have set out to sea from the land traversed on ski by the Saami; from the path of ships [SEA] I see mountains in the east illuminated by a beam of light. ’
Hrauð í himin upp glóðum
hafs; gekk sær af afli;
bǫrð, hykk, at ský skerðu;
skaut Ránar vegr mána.
hafs; gekk sær af afli;
bǫrð, hykk, at ský skerðu;
skaut Ránar vegr mána.
‘The embers of the ocean were thrown up towards heaven; the sea moved powerfully; I believe that prows pierced the clouds; the road of Rán <goddess> [SEA] dashed against the moon. ’
Boði fell of mik brálla;
bauð heim með sér geimi;
þák eigi lǫð lœgis …
bauð heim með sér geimi;
þák eigi lǫð lœgis …
‘A wave suddenly crashed around me; the sea invited [me] home; I did not accept the hospitality of the ocean … ’
Eldr brennat sá sjaldan,
— svíðr dyggr jǫfurr byggðir —
— blása rǫnn fyr ræsi
reyk — es Magnús kveykvir.
— svíðr dyggr jǫfurr byggðir —
— blása rǫnn fyr ræsi
reyk — es Magnús kveykvir.
‘That fire, which Magnús kindles, does not burn seldom; the reliable prince torches settlements; buildings belch smoke before the ruler. ’
Haki vas brenndr á báli,
þars brimslóðir óðu.
þars brimslóðir óðu.
‘Haki was burned on the pyre where they advanced on the surf-tracks [SEA]. ’
Allvalda kannk alla
austr ok suðr of flausta
(Sveins es sonr at reyna)
setr (hverjum gram betri).
austr ok suðr of flausta
(Sveins es sonr at reyna)
setr (hverjum gram betri).
‘I know all mighty rulers east and south across the abode of ships [SEA]; Sveinn’s son [= Knútr] is better to deal with than any other ruler. ’
Stendr, þats stórum grandar,
sterkviðri mér Herkju
í hneggverǫld; hyggju
hefk stríð borit víða.
Þar kømr enn, ef unna
ítr vildi Bil skaldi,
at blíðr of grœr Gríðar
glaumvindr í sal þindar.
sterkviðri mér Herkju
í hneggverǫld; hyggju
hefk stríð borit víða.
Þar kømr enn, ef unna
ítr vildi Bil skaldi,
at blíðr of grœr Gríðar
glaumvindr í sal þindar.
‘A strong storm of Herkja <troll-woman> [THOUGHT], which hurts greatly, resides in my heart-world [BREAST]; I have carried my grief of mind far and wide. Yet it will happen, if the precious Bil <goddess> would love the skald, that a sweet pleasure-wind of Gríðr <giantess> [THOUGHT] will grow in my hall of the diaphragm [BREAST]. ’
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