Arn Þorfdr 25^II

Ættbœti firr ítran
allríks, en biðk líkna
trúra tyggja dýrum,
Torf-Einars, goð, meinum.

Goð, firr {ítran ættbœti allríks Torf-Einars} meinum, en biðk trúra líkna dýrum tyggja.

God, keep {the splendid kin-ennobler of all-powerful Torf-Einarr} [= Þorfinnr] far from harms, and I ask true mercies for the precious prince.

Mss: R(36v), Tˣ(38r), W(82), U(36r) (SnE)

Readings: [1] Ætt‑: At Tˣ, ‘Et’ W;    firr: so U, fiðr R, Tˣ, W    [2] líkna: liknar U    [3] trúra: trúrar U;    tyggja: ‘ti[...]a’ U

Editions: Skj AI, 348, Skj BI, 321, Skald I, 163; SnE 1848-87, I, 464-5, II, 339, SnE 1931, 164, SnE 1998, I, 83; Whaley 1998, 267-8.

Context: The helmingr is cited because of the kenning ættbœtir Torf-Einars ‘kin-ennobler of Torf-Einarr’ in the same context as Arn Rǫgndr 2 and sts 4 and 16/5-8 above.

Notes: [All]: On prayers in Arnórr’s encomia, see Note to Rǫgndr 3. — [1, 2, 4] ættbœti allríks Torf-Einars ‘kin-ennobler of all-powerful Torf-Einarr [= Þorfinnr]’: Einarr, youngest son of Rǫgnvaldr Mœrajarl, enjoyed a long and successful rule in the Orkneys c. 900. Orkn ch. 7 explains that he gained his nickname ‘Turf’ or ‘Peat’ since he was the first to cut peat for fuel at Tarbatnes (Torfnes) (cf. Note on this p. n., st. 9/2, and Crawford 1987, 153 on peat-cutting). See also TorfE Lv^I and Anon (Hhárf) 1^I. — [1] firr ‘keep far from’: Firr, imp. sg. of firra e-n e-u ‘keep sby far from sth., save, defend from’ (so U) fits the syntax and meaning of the context well, while fiðr ‘finds’ in R, Tˣ, W produces a highly unlikely sentence.

References

1. Bibliography
2. SnE 1848-87 = Snorri Sturluson. 1848-87. Edda Snorra Sturlusonar: Edda Snorronis Sturlaei. Ed. Jón Sigurðsson et al. 3 vols. Copenhagen: Legatum Arnamagnaeanum. Rpt. Osnabrück: Zeller, 1966.
3. Skald = Kock, Ernst Albin, ed. 1946-50. Den norsk-isländska skaldediktningen. 2 vols. Lund: Gleerup.
4. Whaley, Diana, ed. and trans. 1998. The Poetry of Arnórr jarlaskáld: An Edition and Study. Westfield Publications in Medieval Studies 8. Turnhout: Brepols.
5. SnE 1931 = Snorri Sturluson. 1931. Edda Snorra Sturlusonar. Ed. Finnur Jónsson. Copenhagen: Gyldendal.
6. SnE 1998 = Snorri Sturluson. 1998. Edda: Skáldskaparmál. Ed. Anthony Faulkes. 2 vols. University College London: Viking Society for Northern Research.
7. Crawford, Barbara E. 1987. Scandinavian Scotland. Scotland in the Early Middle Ages 2. Leicester: Leicester University Press.
8. Internal references
9. (forthcoming), ‘ Unattributed, Orkneyinga saga’ in Kari Ellen Gade (ed.), Poetry from the Kings’ Sagas 2: From c. 1035 to c. 1300. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 2. Turnhout: Brepols, p. . <https://skaldic.org/m.php?p=text&i=47> (accessed 24 April 2024)
11. Kari Ellen Gade (ed.) 2012, ‘Anonymous Lausavísur, Lausavísa from Haralds saga hárfagra in Heimskringla 1’ 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. 1070.
12. Russell Poole 2012, ‘ Torf-Einarr Rǫgnvaldsson, Lausavísur’ 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. 129. <https://skaldic.org/m.php?p=text&i=1490> (accessed 24 April 2024)
13. Diana Whaley (ed.) 2009, ‘Arnórr jarlaskáld Þórðarson, Rǫgnvaldsdrápa 2’ in Kari Ellen Gade (ed.), Poetry from the Kings’ Sagas 2: From c. 1035 to c. 1300. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 2. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 180.
14. Diana Whaley (ed.) 2009, ‘Arnórr jarlaskáld Þórðarson, Rǫgnvaldsdrápa 3’ in Kari Ellen Gade (ed.), Poetry from the Kings’ Sagas 2: From c. 1035 to c. 1300. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 2. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 181.