Þul Vargs 1III
Elena Gurevich (ed.) 2017, ‘Anonymous Þulur, Vargs heiti 1’ in Kari Ellen Gade and Edith Marold (eds), Poetry from Treatises on Poetics. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 3. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 903.
Vargr ‘Wolf’
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vargr (noun m.; °dat. -i; -ar): wolf
[1] Vargr: ‘[…]argr’ C, Ylgr A, ‘[…]lfr’ B, Ulfr 744ˣ
notes
[1] vargr, ulfr, Geri ‘wolf, he-wolf, Geri’: In mss A and B this line is given as Ylgr, vargr, vitnir (A) and Ulfr, vargr, vitnir (B) respectively. The heiti ylgr ‘she-wolf’ (so A) does not belong in this stanza, however, because m. and f. heiti in this þula are listed separately (see ylgr in st. 2/2 and Introduction above).
notes
[1] vargr, ulfr, Geri ‘wolf, he-wolf, Geri’: In mss A and B this line is given as Ylgr, vargr, vitnir (A) and Ulfr, vargr, vitnir (B) respectively. The heiti ylgr ‘she-wolf’ (so A) does not belong in this stanza, however, because m. and f. heiti in this þula are listed separately (see ylgr in st. 2/2 and Introduction above).
notes
[1] Geri: Lit. ‘greedy one’. One of Óðinn’s wolves (Grí 19/1; Gylf, SnE 2005, 32). Geri is a poetic term for ‘wolf’ in general. The name is also recorded in Þul Hrafns 1/8 but never occurs elsewhere as a heiti for ‘raven’. — [1] vargr, ulfr, Geri ‘wolf, he-wolf, Geri’: In mss A and B this line is given as Ylgr, vargr, vitnir (A) and Ulfr, vargr, vitnir (B) respectively. The heiti ylgr ‘she-wolf’ (so A) does not belong in this stanza, however, because m. and f. heiti in this þula are listed separately (see ylgr in st. 2/2 and Introduction above).
notes
[1] Geri: Lit. ‘greedy one’. One of Óðinn’s wolves (Grí 19/1; Gylf, SnE 2005, 32). Geri is a poetic term for ‘wolf’ in general. The name is also recorded in Þul Hrafns 1/8 but never occurs elsewhere as a heiti for ‘raven’. — [1] vargr, ulfr, Geri ‘wolf, he-wolf, Geri’: In mss A and B this line is given as Ylgr, vargr, vitnir (A) and Ulfr, vargr, vitnir (B) respectively. The heiti ylgr ‘she-wolf’ (so A) does not belong in this stanza, however, because m. and f. heiti in this þula are listed separately (see ylgr in st. 2/2 and Introduction above).
vitnir ‘watcher’
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vitnir (noun m.): wolf
[2] vitnir ok hninnir grádýri: so C, vitnir ok hninnir ok grádýri R, vitnir grádýri Tˣ, ilmr skǫll geri A, ‘[…]oll geri’ B, ‘j́l … skoll geri’ 744ˣ
notes
[2] vitnir (m.) ‘watcher’: This heiti could also be translated as ‘aware one, observant, keen-scented one’ (SnE 1998, II, 430), from a Germanic weak verb *witan ‘observe, watch’ (cf. Goth. *witan, OE bewitian ‘observe, watch; AEW: vita 4). See also ‑vitnir in Hróðvitnir (l. 3). This wolf-heiti is frequently used in skaldic verse. Along with vargr ‘wolf’ and ulfr ‘he-wolf’, vitnir is also a sword-heiti (Þul Sverða 6/7). — [2] vitnir ok hninnir, grádýri ‘watcher and hninnir, grey-beast’: So C. In both R and C the line is hypermetrical and has an extra heiti. In Tˣ (adopted in Skj B and Skald) the obscure word hninnir is omitted, while mss A and B give the entire line as ilmr, skǫll, geri (A), where ilmr must be a corrupt form of ímr ‘dusky one’ (l. 9 below). Skǫll f., lit. ‘noise’, is the name of a mythical wolf, one of the two wolves that pursue the Sun and the Moon (the other is Hati, l. 3). Because skǫll is f., the name most likely does not belong in this stanza.
vitnir ‘watcher’
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vitnir (noun m.): wolf
[2] vitnir ok hninnir grádýri: so C, vitnir ok hninnir ok grádýri R, vitnir grádýri Tˣ, ilmr skǫll geri A, ‘[…]oll geri’ B, ‘j́l … skoll geri’ 744ˣ
notes
[2] vitnir (m.) ‘watcher’: This heiti could also be translated as ‘aware one, observant, keen-scented one’ (SnE 1998, II, 430), from a Germanic weak verb *witan ‘observe, watch’ (cf. Goth. *witan, OE bewitian ‘observe, watch; AEW: vita 4). See also ‑vitnir in Hróðvitnir (l. 3). This wolf-heiti is frequently used in skaldic verse. Along with vargr ‘wolf’ and ulfr ‘he-wolf’, vitnir is also a sword-heiti (Þul Sverða 6/7). — [2] vitnir ok hninnir, grádýri ‘watcher and hninnir, grey-beast’: So C. In both R and C the line is hypermetrical and has an extra heiti. In Tˣ (adopted in Skj B and Skald) the obscure word hninnir is omitted, while mss A and B give the entire line as ilmr, skǫll, geri (A), where ilmr must be a corrupt form of ímr ‘dusky one’ (l. 9 below). Skǫll f., lit. ‘noise’, is the name of a mythical wolf, one of the two wolves that pursue the Sun and the Moon (the other is Hati, l. 3). Because skǫll is f., the name most likely does not belong in this stanza.
ok ‘and’
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3. ok (conj.): and, but; also
[2] vitnir ok hninnir grádýri: so C, vitnir ok hninnir ok grádýri R, vitnir grádýri Tˣ, ilmr skǫll geri A, ‘[…]oll geri’ B, ‘j́l … skoll geri’ 744ˣ
notes
[2] vitnir ok hninnir, grádýri ‘watcher and hninnir, grey-beast’: So C. In both R and C the line is hypermetrical and has an extra heiti. In Tˣ (adopted in Skj B and Skald) the obscure word hninnir is omitted, while mss A and B give the entire line as ilmr, skǫll, geri (A), where ilmr must be a corrupt form of ímr ‘dusky one’ (l. 9 below). Skǫll f., lit. ‘noise’, is the name of a mythical wolf, one of the two wolves that pursue the Sun and the Moon (the other is Hati, l. 3). Because skǫll is f., the name most likely does not belong in this stanza.
hninnir ‘hninnir’
[2] vitnir ok hninnir grádýri: so C, vitnir ok hninnir ok grádýri R, vitnir grádýri Tˣ, ilmr skǫll geri A, ‘[…]oll geri’ B, ‘j́l … skoll geri’ 744ˣ
notes
[2] vitnir ok hninnir, grádýri ‘watcher and hninnir, grey-beast’: So C. In both R and C the line is hypermetrical and has an extra heiti. In Tˣ (adopted in Skj B and Skald) the obscure word hninnir is omitted, while mss A and B give the entire line as ilmr, skǫll, geri (A), where ilmr must be a corrupt form of ímr ‘dusky one’ (l. 9 below). Skǫll f., lit. ‘noise’, is the name of a mythical wolf, one of the two wolves that pursue the Sun and the Moon (the other is Hati, l. 3). Because skǫll is f., the name most likely does not belong in this stanza.
grádýri ‘grey-beast’
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grádýri (noun n.): [grey-beast]
[2] vitnir ok hninnir grádýri: so C, vitnir ok hninnir ok grádýri R, vitnir grádýri Tˣ, ilmr skǫll geri A, ‘[…]oll geri’ B, ‘j́l … skoll geri’ 744ˣ
notes
[2] grádýri (m.) ‘grey-beast’: An otherwise unattested cpd from the adj. grár ‘grey’ and dýr n. ‘animal, beast’. — [2] vitnir ok hninnir, grádýri ‘watcher and hninnir, grey-beast’: So C. In both R and C the line is hypermetrical and has an extra heiti. In Tˣ (adopted in Skj B and Skald) the obscure word hninnir is omitted, while mss A and B give the entire line as ilmr, skǫll, geri (A), where ilmr must be a corrupt form of ímr ‘dusky one’ (l. 9 below). Skǫll f., lit. ‘noise’, is the name of a mythical wolf, one of the two wolves that pursue the Sun and the Moon (the other is Hati, l. 3). Because skǫll is f., the name most likely does not belong in this stanza.
grádýri ‘grey-beast’
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grádýri (noun n.): [grey-beast]
[2] vitnir ok hninnir grádýri: so C, vitnir ok hninnir ok grádýri R, vitnir grádýri Tˣ, ilmr skǫll geri A, ‘[…]oll geri’ B, ‘j́l … skoll geri’ 744ˣ
notes
[2] grádýri (m.) ‘grey-beast’: An otherwise unattested cpd from the adj. grár ‘grey’ and dýr n. ‘animal, beast’. — [2] vitnir ok hninnir, grádýri ‘watcher and hninnir, grey-beast’: So C. In both R and C the line is hypermetrical and has an extra heiti. In Tˣ (adopted in Skj B and Skald) the obscure word hninnir is omitted, while mss A and B give the entire line as ilmr, skǫll, geri (A), where ilmr must be a corrupt form of ímr ‘dusky one’ (l. 9 below). Skǫll f., lit. ‘noise’, is the name of a mythical wolf, one of the two wolves that pursue the Sun and the Moon (the other is Hati, l. 3). Because skǫll is f., the name most likely does not belong in this stanza.
Hróð ‘Hróð’
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hróðr (noun m.): encomium, praise < hróðvitnir (noun m.)
notes
[3] Hróðvitnir: A mythical wolf and father of Hati (see the previous heiti; cf. also Hróðrsvitnir in Lok 39/2, where it may be another name for Fenrir). This name most likely translates as ‘famous (or praised) wolf’, from hróðr m. ‘fame, glory’ and vitnir ‘wolf’ (see Note to l. 2 above). It is never used as a heiti for ‘wolf’ in general.
vitnir ‘vitnir’
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vitnir (noun m.): wolf < hróðvitnir (noun m.)
[3] ‑vitnir: ‘‑[…]tnir’ B, ‘‑uitnir’ 744ˣ
notes
[3] Hróðvitnir: A mythical wolf and father of Hati (see the previous heiti; cf. also Hróðrsvitnir in Lok 39/2, where it may be another name for Fenrir). This name most likely translates as ‘famous (or praised) wolf’, from hróðr m. ‘fame, glory’ and vitnir ‘wolf’ (see Note to l. 2 above). It is never used as a heiti for ‘wolf’ in general.
heiðingi ‘heath-dweller’
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1. heiðingi (noun m.; °-ja; -jar): heathen
[4] heiðingi: ‘heidin[…]’ B, ‘heidíngi’ 744ˣ
Freki ‘Freki’
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Freki (noun m.): Freki
[5] Freki ok: om. Tˣ, freki kinni A, ‘[…]kí kínnir’ B, ‘freki kinnir’ 744ˣ
notes
[5] Freki: Lit. ‘greedy one’; one of Óðinn’s wolves in Old Norse myth (see Geri, l. 1 above; Grí 19/1; Gylf, SnE 2005, 32). In skaldic poetry the name is used as a heiti for ‘wolf’. Freki is also listed as heiti for ‘fire’ and ‘ship’ (Þul Elds 3/1, Þul Skipa 3/1). In mss A and B this name is followed by kinni (‘kínnir’ B); cf. the eagle-heiti kinnarr ‘one with distinctive cheeks’ (see Þul Ara l. 5 and Note). See also Introduction above.
ok ‘and’
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3. ok (conj.): and, but; also
[5] Freki ok: om. Tˣ, freki kinni A, ‘[…]kí kínnir’ B, ‘freki kinnir’ 744ˣ
viðnir ‘forest-dweller’
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viðnir (noun m.): forest-dweller
[5] viðnir: vitnir C, ‘v[…]nir’ B, ‘vidnir’ 744ˣ
notes
[5] viðnir (m.) ‘forest-dweller’: This heiti is also found in Þul Orma (see Note to st. 4/3) and Þul Hauks 2/5, but it does not occur elsewhere. Ms. C has the variant vitnir (see l. 2).
notes
[6] Fenrir: The mythical monster wolf (e.g. Vsp 40/4), son of Loki and the giantess Angrboða, otherwise called Fenrisúlfr (see also Þul Jǫtna II 3/3). The etymology of Fenrir is obscure. For Fenrir, see also Notes to Þjóð Yt 7/5-6I, Eyv Hák 20/3I, Eyv Lv 6/1I and Anon Eirm 7/4I. In skaldic poetry, this mythical name appears as a heiti for ‘wolf’ in general.
hlébarðr ‘hlébarðr’
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2. hlébarðr (noun m.): bear
notes
[6] hlébarðr (m.): Hlébarðr is never used as a heiti for ‘wolf’, and the cpd is also given in the þulur as a heiti for ‘bear’ (Þul Bjarnar 1/6; for a discussion of this word, see Note there).
Goti ‘Goti’
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Goti (noun m.; °-a; -ar/-nar): person (or horse) from Gotland
notes
[7] Goti: The name of Gunnarr Gjúkason’s horse and hence a poetic term for ‘horse’ in general (see Þul Hesta 1/7). As a wolf-name Goti is not attested elsewhere. Most likely it is a half-kenning, since it occurs as a base-word in kennings for ‘wolf’ of the type ‘horse of a giantess’ (e.g. goti flagðs ‘horse of the troll-woman’, Egill Hfl 10/5V (Eg 43)).
gildr ‘worthy one’
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1. gildr (noun m.): [worthy one]
[7] gildr: gildir A, ‘gylld[…]’ B, ‘gýlldir’ 744ˣ
notes
[7] gildr (m.) ‘worthy one’: A substantivised adj. (gildr ‘worthy’) and not attested elsewhere as a heiti for ‘wolf’. According to LP: 1. gildr, the heiti could be a variant or a corrupt form of gylðir (see l. 8); cf. the variants gildir (A) and ‘gýlldir’ (B), although those variants produce a hypermetrical line.
glammi ‘noisy one’
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glammi (noun m.): babble
[7] glammi: so C, A, glami R, Tˣ, ‘[…]la[…]’ B, ‘glanne’ 744ˣ
notes
[8] gylðir (m.) ‘howler’: This heiti is perhaps related to the weak verbs gaula, góla ‘howl, cry’ (Noreen 1912a, 12), although Olsen (1942b, 8) connects it with gol n. ‘breeze’ referring to the breath of the animal. Gylðir is attested as a heiti for ‘wolf’ in skaldic poetry (LP: gylðir).
ímarr ‘combatant’
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ímarr (noun m.): [combatant]
notes
[8] ímarr (m.) ‘combatant’: The name is a hap. leg., which either is derived from the noun íma f. ‘battle’ with suffixed ‑herr m. ‘host, troops’ (AEW: ímarr) or means ‘dusky one’ (see the next heiti).
ímr ‘dusky one’
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ímr (noun m.): dark wolf, dusky one
[9] ímr: ‘rimr’ C, ‘jm[…]’ B, ‘j́mr’ 744ˣ
notes
[9] ímr (m.) ‘dusky one’: The heiti ímr (from ím n. ‘dust, ashes, embers’) is also given in Þul Jǫtna II 1/4. — [9] ímr ok egðir ‘dusky one and edged one’: Although the conjunction ok ‘and’ is absent in all mss, it has been supplied in earlier eds (Skj B; Skald) to avoid a hypometrical line.
ímr ‘dusky one’
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ímr (noun m.): dark wolf, dusky one
[9] ímr: ‘rimr’ C, ‘jm[…]’ B, ‘j́mr’ 744ˣ
notes
[9] ímr (m.) ‘dusky one’: The heiti ímr (from ím n. ‘dust, ashes, embers’) is also given in Þul Jǫtna II 1/4. — [9] ímr ok egðir ‘dusky one and edged one’: Although the conjunction ok ‘and’ is absent in all mss, it has been supplied in earlier eds (Skj B; Skald) to avoid a hypometrical line.
egðir ‘edged one’
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eggðir (noun m.): [edged one]
notes
[9] egðir (m.) ‘edged one’: This heiti, which refers to a wolf’s sharp teeth, does not occur elsewhere in poetry, but egðir is also listed among the eagle-heiti (see SnE 1998, I, 92 and Note to Þul Ara l. 5). — [9] ímr ok egðir ‘dusky one and edged one’: Although the conjunction ok ‘and’ is absent in all mss, it has been supplied in earlier eds (Skj B; Skald) to avoid a hypometrical line.
egðir ‘edged one’
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eggðir (noun m.): [edged one]
notes
[9] egðir (m.) ‘edged one’: This heiti, which refers to a wolf’s sharp teeth, does not occur elsewhere in poetry, but egðir is also listed among the eagle-heiti (see SnE 1998, I, 92 and Note to Þul Ara l. 5). — [9] ímr ok egðir ‘dusky one and edged one’: Although the conjunction ok ‘and’ is absent in all mss, it has been supplied in earlier eds (Skj B; Skald) to avoid a hypometrical line.
skol ‘dark’
[10] skol‑: so A, skǫll‑ R, Tˣ, C, ‘skoll‑’ B
notes
[10] skolkinni (m.) ‘dark-cheeked one’: A hap. leg. The meaning of skol- is most likely ‘dark’ (AEW: skólkinni; Ásgeir Blöndal Magnússon 1950, 123); cf. the adjectives skolbeinn ‘brown-legged’ and skolbrúnn ‘swarthy’. The second element, ‑kinni, is perhaps derived from kinn n. ‘cheek’ (see Notes to Freki, l. 5 above and Þul Ara l. 5). The first element is (normalised) skǫll- in R, Tˣ, C and it is also possible that skolkinni is not one, but two names, i.e. Skoll, or Skǫll, a mythical wolf (see Note to l. 2) and kinni (see Note to l. 5). The lack of alliteration in l. 10 suggests that this heiti was originally preceded by some other wolf-name with an initial vowel.
kinni ‘cheeked one’
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1. -kinni (noun m.): [cheeked one] < skólkinni (noun m.)
[10] ‑kinni: ‘‑kini’ all
notes
[10] skolkinni (m.) ‘dark-cheeked one’: A hap. leg. The meaning of skol- is most likely ‘dark’ (AEW: skólkinni; Ásgeir Blöndal Magnússon 1950, 123); cf. the adjectives skolbeinn ‘brown-legged’ and skolbrúnn ‘swarthy’. The second element, ‑kinni, is perhaps derived from kinn n. ‘cheek’ (see Notes to Freki, l. 5 above and Þul Ara l. 5). The first element is (normalised) skǫll- in R, Tˣ, C and it is also possible that skolkinni is not one, but two names, i.e. Skoll, or Skǫll, a mythical wolf (see Note to l. 2) and kinni (see Note to l. 5). The lack of alliteration in l. 10 suggests that this heiti was originally preceded by some other wolf-name with an initial vowel.
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