Cookies on our website

We use cookies on this website, mainly to provide a secure browsing experience but also to collect statistics on how the website is used. You can find out more about the cookies we set, the information we store and how we use it on the cookies page.

Continue

skaldic

Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages

Menu Search

Auðunn Lv 1III

Margaret Clunies Ross (ed.) 2017, ‘Auðunn illskælda, Lausavísa 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. 18.

Auðunn illskældaLausavísa1

Maðr ‘man’

(not checked:)
maðr (noun m.): man, person

Close

skyldi ‘ought’

(not checked:)
skulu (verb): shall, should, must

Close

þó ‘Yet’

(not checked:)
þó (adv.): though

Close

moldar ‘of the earth’

(not checked:)
mold (noun f.; °-ar, dat. -u; -ir): earth, soil

kennings

kenniseiðs moldar.
‘of the testing coalfish of the earth.’
   = SNAKE = Ormr

the testing coalfish of the earth. → SNAKE = Ormr

notes

[1, 3] kenniseiðs moldar ‘of the testing coalfish of the earth [SNAKE = Ormr (ormr ‘snake’)]’: This snake-kenning plays on the common noun ormr ‘snake’, which can also be a pers. n.

Close

megja ‘to be able’

(not checked:)
mega (verb): may, might

notes

[2] megja ‘to be able’: Instead of mega (see Context above). Krömmelbein (TGT 1998, 105 n. 4) wondered whether this ‘barbarism’ might not be Auðunn’s way of exemplifying Ormr’s bad poetry.

Close

hverr ‘each’

(not checked:)
2. hverr (pron.): who, whom, each, every

Close

of ‘’

(not checked:)
4. of (particle): (before verb)

Close

þegja ‘to remain silent’

(not checked:)
þegja (verb): be silent

Close

kenni ‘of the testing’

(not checked:)
kenna (verb): know, teach < kenniseiðr (noun m.)

kennings

kenniseiðs moldar.
‘of the testing coalfish of the earth.’
   = SNAKE = Ormr

the testing coalfish of the earth. → SNAKE = Ormr

notes

[1, 3] kenniseiðs moldar ‘of the testing coalfish of the earth [SNAKE = Ormr (ormr ‘snake’)]’: This snake-kenning plays on the common noun ormr ‘snake’, which can also be a pers. n.

Close

seiðs ‘coalfish’

(not checked:)
2. seiðr (noun m.): coalfish < kenniseiðr (noun m.)

[3] ‑seiðs: meiðs W, ‘selds’ B

kennings

kenniseiðs moldar.
‘of the testing coalfish of the earth.’
   = SNAKE = Ormr

the testing coalfish of the earth. → SNAKE = Ormr

notes

[1, 3] kenniseiðs moldar ‘of the testing coalfish of the earth [SNAKE = Ormr (ormr ‘snake’)]’: This snake-kenning plays on the common noun ormr ‘snake’, which can also be a pers. n.

Close

þótt ‘even though’

(not checked:)
þótt (conj.): although

Close

kunni ‘he knows’

(not checked:)
kunna (verb): know, can, be able

[3] kunni: kynni W, B

Close

klepp ‘the lump’

(not checked:)
kleppr (noun m.; °; -ar): [lump] < kleppdǫgg (noun f.)

kennings

kleppdǫgg lǫggvar Hôars
‘the lump-dew of Hárr’s cask-rim ’
   = BAD POETRY

Hárr’s cask-rim → VAT
the lump-dew of the VAT → BAD POETRY

notes

[4] kleppdǫgg lǫggvar Hôars ‘the lump-dew of Hárr’s <= Óðinn’s> cask-rim [VAT > BAD POETRY]’: Editors have found difficulty with this kenning and made various suggestions for its interpretation (cf. SnE 1848-87, III, 137; TGT 1884, 166-7; TGT 1927, 90-1; LP: kleppdǫgg, lǫgg; NN §1006), but, although the lexical elements are unusual, it conforms to standard references to the myth of the mead of poetry as Óðinn’s possession and his alcoholic drink (cf. Meissner 427-30). Lǫgg ‘the rim or ledge at the bottom of a cask or barrel’ or ‘the inside of a cask’ (CVC: lögg; Fritzner: lǫgg; ModIcel. lögg ‘drop left in a bottle’) must be understood as pars pro toto for a vat or cask, in which the mead of poetry is stored. However, the kind of poetry Ormr can produce, Auðunn alleges, is not of a mellifluous, free-flowing type, but rather kleppdǫgg ‘lump-dew’ that can stick to the bottom of the barrel, that is to say, dregs. Auðunn does not use the scatological imagery of kennings like leirr arnar ‘mud of the eagle’ (Arngr Gd 2/7IV; cf. SnE 1998, I, 5), but the effect is similar.

Close

dǫgg ‘dew’

(not checked:)
dǫgg (noun f.; °-var/-ar, dat. -/-u; -var/-ar/dǫggir/daggir (cf. [$1242$])): dew < kleppdǫgg (noun f.)

[4] ‑dǫgg: ‑dǫggs B

kennings

kleppdǫgg lǫggvar Hôars
‘the lump-dew of Hárr’s cask-rim ’
   = BAD POETRY

Hárr’s cask-rim → VAT
the lump-dew of the VAT → BAD POETRY

notes

[4] kleppdǫgg lǫggvar Hôars ‘the lump-dew of Hárr’s <= Óðinn’s> cask-rim [VAT > BAD POETRY]’: Editors have found difficulty with this kenning and made various suggestions for its interpretation (cf. SnE 1848-87, III, 137; TGT 1884, 166-7; TGT 1927, 90-1; LP: kleppdǫgg, lǫgg; NN §1006), but, although the lexical elements are unusual, it conforms to standard references to the myth of the mead of poetry as Óðinn’s possession and his alcoholic drink (cf. Meissner 427-30). Lǫgg ‘the rim or ledge at the bottom of a cask or barrel’ or ‘the inside of a cask’ (CVC: lögg; Fritzner: lǫgg; ModIcel. lögg ‘drop left in a bottle’) must be understood as pars pro toto for a vat or cask, in which the mead of poetry is stored. However, the kind of poetry Ormr can produce, Auðunn alleges, is not of a mellifluous, free-flowing type, but rather kleppdǫgg ‘lump-dew’ that can stick to the bottom of the barrel, that is to say, dregs. Auðunn does not use the scatological imagery of kennings like leirr arnar ‘mud of the eagle’ (Arngr Gd 2/7IV; cf. SnE 1998, I, 5), but the effect is similar.

Close

Hôars ‘of Hárr’s’

(not checked:)
Hár (noun m.): Hárr, the High One

kennings

kleppdǫgg lǫggvar Hôars
‘the lump-dew of Hárr’s cask-rim ’
   = BAD POETRY

Hárr’s cask-rim → VAT
the lump-dew of the VAT → BAD POETRY

notes

[4] kleppdǫgg lǫggvar Hôars ‘the lump-dew of Hárr’s <= Óðinn’s> cask-rim [VAT > BAD POETRY]’: Editors have found difficulty with this kenning and made various suggestions for its interpretation (cf. SnE 1848-87, III, 137; TGT 1884, 166-7; TGT 1927, 90-1; LP: kleppdǫgg, lǫgg; NN §1006), but, although the lexical elements are unusual, it conforms to standard references to the myth of the mead of poetry as Óðinn’s possession and his alcoholic drink (cf. Meissner 427-30). Lǫgg ‘the rim or ledge at the bottom of a cask or barrel’ or ‘the inside of a cask’ (CVC: lögg; Fritzner: lǫgg; ModIcel. lögg ‘drop left in a bottle’) must be understood as pars pro toto for a vat or cask, in which the mead of poetry is stored. However, the kind of poetry Ormr can produce, Auðunn alleges, is not of a mellifluous, free-flowing type, but rather kleppdǫgg ‘lump-dew’ that can stick to the bottom of the barrel, that is to say, dregs. Auðunn does not use the scatological imagery of kennings like leirr arnar ‘mud of the eagle’ (Arngr Gd 2/7IV; cf. SnE 1998, I, 5), but the effect is similar.

Close

Hôars ‘of Hárr’s’

(not checked:)
Hár (noun m.): Hárr, the High One

kennings

kleppdǫgg lǫggvar Hôars
‘the lump-dew of Hárr’s cask-rim ’
   = BAD POETRY

Hárr’s cask-rim → VAT
the lump-dew of the VAT → BAD POETRY

notes

[4] kleppdǫgg lǫggvar Hôars ‘the lump-dew of Hárr’s <= Óðinn’s> cask-rim [VAT > BAD POETRY]’: Editors have found difficulty with this kenning and made various suggestions for its interpretation (cf. SnE 1848-87, III, 137; TGT 1884, 166-7; TGT 1927, 90-1; LP: kleppdǫgg, lǫgg; NN §1006), but, although the lexical elements are unusual, it conforms to standard references to the myth of the mead of poetry as Óðinn’s possession and his alcoholic drink (cf. Meissner 427-30). Lǫgg ‘the rim or ledge at the bottom of a cask or barrel’ or ‘the inside of a cask’ (CVC: lögg; Fritzner: lǫgg; ModIcel. lögg ‘drop left in a bottle’) must be understood as pars pro toto for a vat or cask, in which the mead of poetry is stored. However, the kind of poetry Ormr can produce, Auðunn alleges, is not of a mellifluous, free-flowing type, but rather kleppdǫgg ‘lump-dew’ that can stick to the bottom of the barrel, that is to say, dregs. Auðunn does not use the scatological imagery of kennings like leirr arnar ‘mud of the eagle’ (Arngr Gd 2/7IV; cf. SnE 1998, I, 5), but the effect is similar.

Close

lǫggvar ‘cask-rim’

(not checked:)
lǫgg (noun f.): [cask-rim]

kennings

kleppdǫgg lǫggvar Hôars
‘the lump-dew of Hárr’s cask-rim ’
   = BAD POETRY

Hárr’s cask-rim → VAT
the lump-dew of the VAT → BAD POETRY

notes

[4] kleppdǫgg lǫggvar Hôars ‘the lump-dew of Hárr’s <= Óðinn’s> cask-rim [VAT > BAD POETRY]’: Editors have found difficulty with this kenning and made various suggestions for its interpretation (cf. SnE 1848-87, III, 137; TGT 1884, 166-7; TGT 1927, 90-1; LP: kleppdǫgg, lǫgg; NN §1006), but, although the lexical elements are unusual, it conforms to standard references to the myth of the mead of poetry as Óðinn’s possession and his alcoholic drink (cf. Meissner 427-30). Lǫgg ‘the rim or ledge at the bottom of a cask or barrel’ or ‘the inside of a cask’ (CVC: lögg; Fritzner: lǫgg; ModIcel. lögg ‘drop left in a bottle’) must be understood as pars pro toto for a vat or cask, in which the mead of poetry is stored. However, the kind of poetry Ormr can produce, Auðunn alleges, is not of a mellifluous, free-flowing type, but rather kleppdǫgg ‘lump-dew’ that can stick to the bottom of the barrel, that is to say, dregs. Auðunn does not use the scatological imagery of kennings like leirr arnar ‘mud of the eagle’ (Arngr Gd 2/7IV; cf. SnE 1998, I, 5), but the effect is similar.

Close

lǫggvar ‘cask-rim’

(not checked:)
lǫgg (noun f.): [cask-rim]

kennings

kleppdǫgg lǫggvar Hôars
‘the lump-dew of Hárr’s cask-rim ’
   = BAD POETRY

Hárr’s cask-rim → VAT
the lump-dew of the VAT → BAD POETRY

notes

[4] kleppdǫgg lǫggvar Hôars ‘the lump-dew of Hárr’s <= Óðinn’s> cask-rim [VAT > BAD POETRY]’: Editors have found difficulty with this kenning and made various suggestions for its interpretation (cf. SnE 1848-87, III, 137; TGT 1884, 166-7; TGT 1927, 90-1; LP: kleppdǫgg, lǫgg; NN §1006), but, although the lexical elements are unusual, it conforms to standard references to the myth of the mead of poetry as Óðinn’s possession and his alcoholic drink (cf. Meissner 427-30). Lǫgg ‘the rim or ledge at the bottom of a cask or barrel’ or ‘the inside of a cask’ (CVC: lögg; Fritzner: lǫgg; ModIcel. lögg ‘drop left in a bottle’) must be understood as pars pro toto for a vat or cask, in which the mead of poetry is stored. However, the kind of poetry Ormr can produce, Auðunn alleges, is not of a mellifluous, free-flowing type, but rather kleppdǫgg ‘lump-dew’ that can stick to the bottom of the barrel, that is to say, dregs. Auðunn does not use the scatological imagery of kennings like leirr arnar ‘mud of the eagle’ (Arngr Gd 2/7IV; cf. SnE 1998, I, 5), but the effect is similar.

Close

Interactive view: tap on words in the text for notes and glosses

Óláfr Þórðarson introduces this helmingr in ch. 11 of the Málskrúðsfræði section of TGT on faulty style (De Barbarismo). He comments that barbarismus may occur with the addition of a letter, and gives the example of megja for mega ‘to be able’ in l. 2. The reason here, as he observes, is to make a long syllable of a short one and thus provide aðalhending.

Nothing is known of the original context of this helmingr, but it appears to insult an unidentified poet named Ormr (see following Note). Kock (NN §134) understood the helmingr to mean that Ormr was a man whom no skald could praise. Finnur Jónsson (Skj B) understood the import of the helmingr similarly to this edn, although he does not venture an interpretation of the kennings.

Close

Log in

This service is only available to members of the relevant projects, and to purchasers of the skaldic volumes published by Brepols.
This service uses cookies. By logging in you agree to the use of cookies on your browser.

Close

Stanza/chapter/text segment

Use the buttons at the top of the page to navigate between stanzas in a poem.

Information tab

Interactive tab

The text and translation are given here, with buttons to toggle whether the text is shown in the verse order or prose word order. Clicking on indiviudal words gives dictionary links, variant readings, kennings and notes, where relevant.

Full text tab

This is the text of the edition in a similar format to how the edition appears in the printed volumes.

Chapter/text segment

This view is also used for chapters and other text segments. Not all the headings shown are relevant to such sections.