Þorm Lv 20I
R. D. Fulk (ed.) 2012, ‘Þormóðr Kolbrúnarskáld, Lausavísur 20’ 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. 833.
Þér ‘your’
(not checked:)
þú (pron.; °gen. þín, dat. þér, acc. þik): you
[1] Þér: nær DG8, ‘ytr’ 142ˣ(104), yðr 761bˣmarg
eðr ‘still’
(not checked:)
eðr (adv.): still
notes
[1] eðr ‘still’: This older form of enn (the reading of the mss), used in verse only, is required by the skothending, as first noted by Jón Þorkelsson (1884, 71); also Konráð Gíslason and Eiríkur Jónsson (Nj 1875-8, II, 563).
unz ‘until’
(not checked:)
2. unz (conj.): until
ǫðrum ‘other’
(not checked:)
1. annarr (pron.; °f. ǫnnur, n. annat; pl. aðrir): (an)other, second
all ‘mighty’
(not checked:)
all- ((prefix)): very < allvaldr (noun m.): mighty ruler
[2] all‑: al‑ Flat, Tóm, 142ˣ(104), alls papp4ˣ
valdr ‘ruler’
(not checked:)
valdr (noun m.): ruler < allvaldr (noun m.): mighty ruler
náir ‘you get’
(not checked:)
1. ná (verb): reach, get, manage
[2] náir: so J2ˣ, Bæb, 68, Holm4, 61, 75e 4, 325V, 325VII, Bb, Flat, Hb, 142ˣ(103), 566aˣ, papp4ˣ, náit Holm2, 972ˣ, Tóm, Kˣ, DG8
þú ‘you’
(not checked:)
þú (pron.; °gen. þín, dat. þér, acc. þik): you
[3] þú þeirra: ‘[…]’ 75e 4, þú þróttar 325VII
þeirra ‘them’
(not checked:)
hann (pron.; °gen. hans, dat. honum; f. hon, gen. hennar, acc. hana): he, she, it, they, them...
[3] þú þeirra: ‘[…]’ 75e 4, þú þróttar 325VII
þing ‘assembly’
(not checked:)
þing (noun n.; °-s; -): meeting, assembly < þingdjarfr (adj.)
notes
[4] þingdjarfr ‘assembly-bold’: The sense is ‘bold in legal assemblies’. Grammatically, the word could instead refer to the poet himself.
djarfr ‘bold’
(not checked:)
djarfr (adj.; °compar. -ari, superl. -astr): bold < þingdjarfr (adj.)
[4] ‑djarfr: ‑djarfir Kˣ
notes
[4] þingdjarfr ‘assembly-bold’: The sense is ‘bold in legal assemblies’. Grammatically, the word could instead refer to the poet himself.
fyr ‘before’
(not checked:)
fyr (prep.): for, over, because of, etc.
[4] fyr: so 972ˣ, J2ˣ, Bæb, 68, 61, Bb, Hb, 142ˣ(104), papp4ˣ, um Holm2, Holm4, 75e 4, 325V, 325VII, Flat, Tóm, Kˣ, DG8, 566aˣ
kné ‘knee’
(not checked:)
kné (noun n.; °-s; -, gen. knjá): knee, lap
hvarfa ‘pace about’
(not checked:)
2. hvarfa (verb): stroll, wander
[4] hvarfa: hvarfla Bb, Flat, 142ˣ(104), 566aˣ
Braut ‘away’
(not checked:)
1. braut (noun f.; °dat. -/-u; -ir): path, way; away
[5] Braut: brott 972ˣ, J2ˣ, 61, Bb, Hb, burt 325V
komumk ‘shall come’
(not checked:)
koma (verb; kem, kom/kvam, kominn): come
[5] komumk: ‘kommz’ Holm4, komum DG8
þótt ‘even if’
(not checked:)
þótt (conj.): although
[5] þótt veitim: þótt veittim 972ˣ, þótt veitum 325V, Tóm, papp4ˣ, ‘þott veiteím’ Bb, þó veitim Flat, en vættir Hb, ef veitum 142ˣ(103), 566aˣ, 761bˣmarg
veitim ‘we provide’
(not checked:)
2. veita (verb): grant, give
[5] þótt veitim: þótt veittim 972ˣ, þótt veitum 325V, Tóm, papp4ˣ, ‘þott veiteím’ Bb, þó veitim Flat, en vættir Hb, ef veitum 142ˣ(103), 566aˣ, 761bˣmarg
val ‘corpse’
(not checked:)
1. valr (noun m.; °dat. -i; -ir): corpse, the slain < valtafn (noun n.): [slaughter-food]
tafn ‘prey’
(not checked:)
tafn (noun n.; °-s; *-): carrion < valtafn (noun n.): [slaughter-food]
[6] ‑tafn: ‑fall 75e 4
frekum ‘for the greedy’
(not checked:)
2. frekr (adj.; °compar. -ari, superl. -astr): greedy
hrafni ‘raven’
(not checked:)
hrafn (noun m.; °hrafns; dat. hrafni; hrafnar): raven
víksk ‘fail’
(not checked:)
víkja (verb): turn
[7] víksk: so J2ˣ, ‘vizk’ Holm2, 321ˣ, 68, Holm4, 61, 75e 4, 325VII, Bb, Kˣ, 142ˣ(103), víst 972ˣ, Flat, DG8, 566aˣ, papp4ˣ, ‘vínnz’ Bæb, veizt 325V, Tóm, vex Hb, ‘vikz’ ‘vist’ and ‘vizk’ 761bˣmarg
eigi ‘not’
(not checked:)
3. eigi (adv.): not
[7] eigi: eigum Flat, 142ˣ(103), 566aˣ, papp4ˣ, 761bˣmarg, eigu DG8
þat ‘that’
[7] þat: þér Bb, þeir DG8, þar Hb, því 142ˣ(103), var papp4ˣ
kennings
vága viggruðr.‘steed-bush of the waves’
= SEAFARER = Óláfr
the steed of the waves. → SHIP
bush of the SHIP → SEAFARER = Óláfr
notes
[7-8] vága viggruðr ‘bush of the steed of the waves [(lit. 'steed-bush of the waves’) SHIP > SEAFARER = Óláfr]’: The vocative is construed here with the intercalary clause. An intercalary occupying the third line of a helmingr and the beginning of the fourth is common in Þormóðr’s poetry; see Note to Lv 23/7-8. Previous eds have generally construed the vocative with the first clause of the helmingr, though ÍS is an exception.
kennings
vága viggruðr.‘steed-bush of the waves’
= SEAFARER = Óláfr
the steed of the waves. → SHIP
bush of the SHIP → SEAFARER = Óláfr
notes
[7-8] vága viggruðr ‘bush of the steed of the waves [(lit. 'steed-bush of the waves’) SHIP > SEAFARER = Óláfr]’: The vocative is construed here with the intercalary clause. An intercalary occupying the third line of a helmingr and the beginning of the fourth is common in Þormóðr’s poetry; see Note to Lv 23/7-8. Previous eds have generally construed the vocative with the first clause of the helmingr, though ÍS is an exception.
vigg ‘of the steed’
(not checked:)
viggr (noun m.): horse < viggrunnr (noun m.)
[8] vigg‑: víg‑ 68, Bb, papp4ˣ
kennings
vága viggruðr.‘steed-bush of the waves’
= SEAFARER = Óláfr
the steed of the waves. → SHIP
bush of the SHIP → SEAFARER = Óláfr
notes
[7-8] vága viggruðr ‘bush of the steed of the waves [(lit. 'steed-bush of the waves’) SHIP > SEAFARER = Óláfr]’: The vocative is construed here with the intercalary clause. An intercalary occupying the third line of a helmingr and the beginning of the fourth is common in Þormóðr’s poetry; see Note to Lv 23/7-8. Previous eds have generally construed the vocative with the first clause of the helmingr, though ÍS is an exception.
vigg ‘of the steed’
(not checked:)
viggr (noun m.): horse < viggrunnr (noun m.)
[8] vigg‑: víg‑ 68, Bb, papp4ˣ
kennings
vága viggruðr.‘steed-bush of the waves’
= SEAFARER = Óláfr
the steed of the waves. → SHIP
bush of the SHIP → SEAFARER = Óláfr
notes
[7-8] vága viggruðr ‘bush of the steed of the waves [(lit. 'steed-bush of the waves’) SHIP > SEAFARER = Óláfr]’: The vocative is construed here with the intercalary clause. An intercalary occupying the third line of a helmingr and the beginning of the fourth is common in Þormóðr’s poetry; see Note to Lv 23/7-8. Previous eds have generally construed the vocative with the first clause of the helmingr, though ÍS is an exception.
ruðr ‘bush’
(not checked:)
runnr (noun m.; °dat. -i/-; -ar): bush, tree < viggrunnr (noun m.)
[8] ‑ruðr: ‑runnr 61, ‑roðr Tóm
kennings
vága viggruðr.‘steed-bush of the waves’
= SEAFARER = Óláfr
the steed of the waves. → SHIP
bush of the SHIP → SEAFARER = Óláfr
notes
[7-8] vága viggruðr ‘bush of the steed of the waves [(lit. 'steed-bush of the waves’) SHIP > SEAFARER = Óláfr]’: The vocative is construed here with the intercalary clause. An intercalary occupying the third line of a helmingr and the beginning of the fourth is common in Þormóðr’s poetry; see Note to Lv 23/7-8. Previous eds have generally construed the vocative with the first clause of the helmingr, though ÍS is an exception.
eða ‘or’
(not checked:)
eða (conj.): or
notes
[8] eða liggjum hér ‘or we shall lie here’: I.e. ‘lie dead’. (a) This edn, like most others, assumes that the alternative is vér komumk braut ‘we shall come away’ in l. 5, with þat víksk eigi ‘that will not fail’ an intercalary clause, an arrangement that is encouraged by the Context provided in Fbr (see above). The helmingr thus states ‘we shall either live or die’: not a very acute observation, in Finnur Jónsson’s view (1932-3), yet a plausible variant on the theme of ‘victory or death’, in which the þótt-clause may imply that if the skald’s side get away alive it will not be before they have slain some of the enemy. (b) Under the other main arrangement, the alternative to eða hér liggjum is þat víksk eigi. The point is then that either they will show their mettle on the battlefield by feeding the ravens on their enemies’ corpses or they will die trying. The alternative to dying is thus not simply living, but acting boldly (and, as a result, living).
hér ‘here’
(not checked:)
hér (adv.): here
[8] hér: so Bæb, 68, Holm4, 325V, Tóm, Kˣ, DG8, Hb, 142ˣ(103), 566aˣ, papp4ˣ, þar Holm2, 972ˣ, J2ˣ, 61, 75e 4, Bb, Flat, ‘har’ 325VII
notes
[8] eða liggjum hér ‘or we shall lie here’: I.e. ‘lie dead’. (a) This edn, like most others, assumes that the alternative is vér komumk braut ‘we shall come away’ in l. 5, with þat víksk eigi ‘that will not fail’ an intercalary clause, an arrangement that is encouraged by the Context provided in Fbr (see above). The helmingr thus states ‘we shall either live or die’: not a very acute observation, in Finnur Jónsson’s view (1932-3), yet a plausible variant on the theme of ‘victory or death’, in which the þótt-clause may imply that if the skald’s side get away alive it will not be before they have slain some of the enemy. (b) Under the other main arrangement, the alternative to eða hér liggjum is þat víksk eigi. The point is then that either they will show their mettle on the battlefield by feeding the ravens on their enemies’ corpses or they will die trying. The alternative to dying is thus not simply living, but acting boldly (and, as a result, living).
liggjum ‘we shall lie’
(not checked:)
liggja (verb): lie
notes
[8] eða liggjum hér ‘or we shall lie here’: I.e. ‘lie dead’. (a) This edn, like most others, assumes that the alternative is vér komumk braut ‘we shall come away’ in l. 5, with þat víksk eigi ‘that will not fail’ an intercalary clause, an arrangement that is encouraged by the Context provided in Fbr (see above). The helmingr thus states ‘we shall either live or die’: not a very acute observation, in Finnur Jónsson’s view (1932-3), yet a plausible variant on the theme of ‘victory or death’, in which the þótt-clause may imply that if the skald’s side get away alive it will not be before they have slain some of the enemy. (b) Under the other main arrangement, the alternative to eða hér liggjum is þat víksk eigi. The point is then that either they will show their mettle on the battlefield by feeding the ravens on their enemies’ corpses or they will die trying. The alternative to dying is thus not simply living, but acting boldly (and, as a result, living).
Interactive view: tap on words in the text for notes and glosses
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Þér munk eðr, unz ǫðrum, |
I shall still pace about before your knee, assembly-bold mighty ruler, until you get other skalds; when do you expect them? We shall come away even if we provide corpse-prey for the greedy raven, or we shall lie here; that will not fail, bush of the steed of the waves [(lit. ‘steed-bush of the waves’) SHIP > SEAFARER = Óláfr].
In ÓH and Hkr, Þormóðr before the battle reiterates his determination to remain with King Óláfr, and he wonders aloud about the whereabouts of the king’s skald Sigvatr Þórðarson (who was at this time in Rome with Óttarr svarti). In ÓHLeg, the stanza follows Lv 19. In Fbr, the king responds briefly to the second helmingr of the preceding vísa (Lv 20/5-8; see Note to Lv 20/8), saying it is true that the men assembled will either come through the battle or lie here afterwards. Then the poet delivers the vísa (i.e. Lv 20/1-4 + 15/5-8).
In the mss of Fbr, ll. 5-8 are found instead as ll. 5-8 of Lv 19. In their place stand ll. 5-8 of Lv 15. Gaertner (1907, 341-2) seems to be alone in his belief that the arrangement in Fbr is correct. Certainly the arrangement in ÓH is correct if Finnur Jónsson is right that ok Finni is the original reading in Lv 15/6 (to which see the Note), as seems most probable. Finnur (1932-3) also points out that the clause in Lv 15/7-8 exhorting men to board ships is not pertinent to the present context, where seafaring is irrelevant.
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