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Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages

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Bjbp Jóms 20I

Emily Lethbridge (ed.) 2012, ‘Bjarni byskup Kolbeinsson, Jómsvíkingadrápa 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. 976.

Bjarni byskup KolbeinssonJómsvíkingadrápa
192021

Ok ‘And’

(not checked:)
3. ok (conj.): and, but; also

Close

hǫfðingjar ‘chieftains’

(not checked:)
hǫfðingi (noun m.; °-ja; -jar): chieftain

[1] hǫfðingjar: so 65ˣ, RCP, RFJ, 61, 54, Bb, ‘havfþingi[…]’ R, hǫfðing 53

notes

[1, 4] þrír hraustir hǫfðingjar ‘three bold chieftains’: It is not entirely clear who the three men commanding each troop are or which side they are on, but to judge from ÓT the reference may be to the Norwegian leaders, three heading each of three sections of the battle-line, and if that is correct the reading hverjum flokki ‘each troop’ is preferable to hvárum ‘each troop (of two)’. ÓT (1958-2000, I, 186) says that the Jómsvíkingr Sigvaldi jarl is in the centre of the troop formation; against him is Hákon jarl together with the chieftains Þórir hjǫrtr ‘Stag’ and Styrkárr. One wing is headed by the Jómsvíkingr Búi digri and his brother Sigurðr kápa; against them is Eiríkr jarl with the chieftains Guðbrandr hvíti, Þorkell leira, and a man called Ármóðr, a great champion. On the other wing is the Jómsvíkingr Vagn Ákason, and against him is Sveinn Hákonarson together with Skeggi and Rǫgnvaldr.

Close

hraustir ‘bold’

(not checked:)
hraustr (adj.; °compar. -ari, superl. -astr): strong, valiant

notes

[1, 4] þrír hraustir hǫfðingjar ‘three bold chieftains’: It is not entirely clear who the three men commanding each troop are or which side they are on, but to judge from ÓT the reference may be to the Norwegian leaders, three heading each of three sections of the battle-line, and if that is correct the reading hverjum flokki ‘each troop’ is preferable to hvárum ‘each troop (of two)’. ÓT (1958-2000, I, 186) says that the Jómsvíkingr Sigvaldi jarl is in the centre of the troop formation; against him is Hákon jarl together with the chieftains Þórir hjǫrtr ‘Stag’ and Styrkárr. One wing is headed by the Jómsvíkingr Búi digri and his brother Sigurðr kápa; against them is Eiríkr jarl with the chieftains Guðbrandr hvíti, Þorkell leira, and a man called Ármóðr, a great champion. On the other wing is the Jómsvíkingr Vagn Ákason, and against him is Sveinn Hákonarson together with Skeggi and Rǫgnvaldr.

Close

heyra ‘hear’

(not checked:)
2. heyra (verb): hear

[2] heyra: heyri 53, 54, Bb

notes

[2] heyra (3rd pers. pl. pres. indic.) ‘hear’: The subj. reading heyri ‘let (men) hear’ in 53, 54 and Bb is also possible.

Close

menn ‘men’

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

Close

at ‘that’

(not checked:)
4. at (conj.): that

Close

væri ‘were’

(not checked:)
2. vera (verb): be, is, was, were, are, am

[2] væri: váru 61, 53, 54, Bb

notes

[2] væri (3rd pers. pl. pret. subj.) ‘were’: The indic. counterpart váru ‘were’ in the ÓT mss is also possible.

Close

hefr ‘hold’

(not checked:)
hafa (verb): have

Close

at ‘in’

(not checked:)
3. at (prep.): at, to

[3] at: í 61, 53, 54, Bb

Close

minnum ‘memory’

(not checked:)
1. minni (noun n.; °-s; -): memory

[3] minnum: so RCP, RFJ, 61, 54, Bb, ‘[…]’ R, minnask 65ˣ, ‘minn[…]’ 53

Close

þrír ‘three’

(not checked:)
þrír (num. cardinal): three

[4] þrír: ‘[…]’ 53

notes

[1, 4] þrír hraustir hǫfðingjar ‘three bold chieftains’: It is not entirely clear who the three men commanding each troop are or which side they are on, but to judge from ÓT the reference may be to the Norwegian leaders, three heading each of three sections of the battle-line, and if that is correct the reading hverjum flokki ‘each troop’ is preferable to hvárum ‘each troop (of two)’. ÓT (1958-2000, I, 186) says that the Jómsvíkingr Sigvaldi jarl is in the centre of the troop formation; against him is Hákon jarl together with the chieftains Þórir hjǫrtr ‘Stag’ and Styrkárr. One wing is headed by the Jómsvíkingr Búi digri and his brother Sigurðr kápa; against them is Eiríkr jarl with the chieftains Guðbrandr hvíti, Þorkell leira, and a man called Ármóðr, a great champion. On the other wing is the Jómsvíkingr Vagn Ákason, and against him is Sveinn Hákonarson together with Skeggi and Rǫgnvaldr.

Close

með ‘with’

(not checked:)
með (prep.): with

Close

flokki ‘troop’

(not checked:)
flokkr (noun m.): group, flock

Close

hverjum ‘each’

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

[4] hverjum: so 53, 54, Bb, hvárum R, 65ˣ, 61

Close

þar ‘where’

(not checked:)
þar (adv.): there

Close

er ‘’

(not checked:)
2. er (conj.): who, which, when

Close

hregg ‘of the storm’

(not checked:)
hregg (noun n.): storm < hreggviðr (noun m.)

kennings

hjálma skóðs hreggviðir
‘storm-trees of the harm of helmets’
   = WARRIORS

the harm of helmets → SWORD
the storm of the SWORD → BATTLE
the trees of the BATTLE → WARRIORS

notes

[5, 6] hjálma skóðs hreggviðir ‘the trees of the storm of the harm of helmets [(lit. ‘storm-trees of the harm of helmets’) SWORD > BATTLE > WARRIORS]’: Hreggviðir ‘storm-trees’ forms part of another kenning for ‘warriors’ in st. 30/3. See Note to l. 8 for Kock’s proposal to emend gen. sg. skóðs to gen. pl. skóða

Close

hregg ‘of the storm’

(not checked:)
hregg (noun n.): storm < hreggviðr (noun m.)

kennings

hjálma skóðs hreggviðir
‘storm-trees of the harm of helmets’
   = WARRIORS

the harm of helmets → SWORD
the storm of the SWORD → BATTLE
the trees of the BATTLE → WARRIORS

notes

[5, 6] hjálma skóðs hreggviðir ‘the trees of the storm of the harm of helmets [(lit. ‘storm-trees of the harm of helmets’) SWORD > BATTLE > WARRIORS]’: Hreggviðir ‘storm-trees’ forms part of another kenning for ‘warriors’ in st. 30/3. See Note to l. 8 for Kock’s proposal to emend gen. sg. skóðs to gen. pl. skóða

Close

viðir ‘the trees’

(not checked:)
1. viðr (noun m.; °-ar, dat. -i/-; -ir, acc. -u/-i): wood, tree < hreggviðr (noun m.)

[5] ‑viðir: ‑undir 54, Bb

kennings

hjálma skóðs hreggviðir
‘storm-trees of the harm of helmets’
   = WARRIORS

the harm of helmets → SWORD
the storm of the SWORD → BATTLE
the trees of the BATTLE → WARRIORS

notes

[5, 6] hjálma skóðs hreggviðir ‘the trees of the storm of the harm of helmets [(lit. ‘storm-trees of the harm of helmets’) SWORD > BATTLE > WARRIORS]’: Hreggviðir ‘storm-trees’ forms part of another kenning for ‘warriors’ in st. 30/3. See Note to l. 8 for Kock’s proposal to emend gen. sg. skóðs to gen. pl. skóða

Close

hittusk ‘met’

(not checked:)
hitta (verb): meet, encounter

Close

hjálma ‘of helmets’

(not checked:)
1. hjalmr (noun m.; °-s, dat. -i; -ar): helmet

kennings

hjálma skóðs hreggviðir
‘storm-trees of the harm of helmets’
   = WARRIORS

the harm of helmets → SWORD
the storm of the SWORD → BATTLE
the trees of the BATTLE → WARRIORS

notes

[5, 6] hjálma skóðs hreggviðir ‘the trees of the storm of the harm of helmets [(lit. ‘storm-trees of the harm of helmets’) SWORD > BATTLE > WARRIORS]’: Hreggviðir ‘storm-trees’ forms part of another kenning for ‘warriors’ in st. 30/3. See Note to l. 8 for Kock’s proposal to emend gen. sg. skóðs to gen. pl. skóða

Close

hjálma ‘of helmets’

(not checked:)
1. hjalmr (noun m.; °-s, dat. -i; -ar): helmet

kennings

hjálma skóðs hreggviðir
‘storm-trees of the harm of helmets’
   = WARRIORS

the harm of helmets → SWORD
the storm of the SWORD → BATTLE
the trees of the BATTLE → WARRIORS

notes

[5, 6] hjálma skóðs hreggviðir ‘the trees of the storm of the harm of helmets [(lit. ‘storm-trees of the harm of helmets’) SWORD > BATTLE > WARRIORS]’: Hreggviðir ‘storm-trees’ forms part of another kenning for ‘warriors’ in st. 30/3. See Note to l. 8 for Kock’s proposal to emend gen. sg. skóðs to gen. pl. skóða

Close

hjálma ‘of helmets’

(not checked:)
1. hjalmr (noun m.; °-s, dat. -i; -ar): helmet

kennings

hjálma skóðs hreggviðir
‘storm-trees of the harm of helmets’
   = WARRIORS

the harm of helmets → SWORD
the storm of the SWORD → BATTLE
the trees of the BATTLE → WARRIORS

notes

[5, 6] hjálma skóðs hreggviðir ‘the trees of the storm of the harm of helmets [(lit. ‘storm-trees of the harm of helmets’) SWORD > BATTLE > WARRIORS]’: Hreggviðir ‘storm-trees’ forms part of another kenning for ‘warriors’ in st. 30/3. See Note to l. 8 for Kock’s proposal to emend gen. sg. skóðs to gen. pl. skóða

Close

skóðs ‘of the harm’

(not checked:)
2. skóð (noun n.): harmer, scathe

[6] skóðs: ‘[...]’ 53

kennings

hjálma skóðs hreggviðir
‘storm-trees of the harm of helmets’
   = WARRIORS

the harm of helmets → SWORD
the storm of the SWORD → BATTLE
the trees of the BATTLE → WARRIORS

notes

[5, 6] hjálma skóðs hreggviðir ‘the trees of the storm of the harm of helmets [(lit. ‘storm-trees of the harm of helmets’) SWORD > BATTLE > WARRIORS]’: Hreggviðir ‘storm-trees’ forms part of another kenning for ‘warriors’ in st. 30/3. See Note to l. 8 for Kock’s proposal to emend gen. sg. skóðs to gen. pl. skóða

Close

skóðs ‘of the harm’

(not checked:)
2. skóð (noun n.): harmer, scathe

[6] skóðs: ‘[...]’ 53

kennings

hjálma skóðs hreggviðir
‘storm-trees of the harm of helmets’
   = WARRIORS

the harm of helmets → SWORD
the storm of the SWORD → BATTLE
the trees of the BATTLE → WARRIORS

notes

[5, 6] hjálma skóðs hreggviðir ‘the trees of the storm of the harm of helmets [(lit. ‘storm-trees of the harm of helmets’) SWORD > BATTLE > WARRIORS]’: Hreggviðir ‘storm-trees’ forms part of another kenning for ‘warriors’ in st. 30/3. See Note to l. 8 for Kock’s proposal to emend gen. sg. skóðs to gen. pl. skóða

Close

skóðs ‘of the harm’

(not checked:)
2. skóð (noun n.): harmer, scathe

[6] skóðs: ‘[...]’ 53

kennings

hjálma skóðs hreggviðir
‘storm-trees of the harm of helmets’
   = WARRIORS

the harm of helmets → SWORD
the storm of the SWORD → BATTLE
the trees of the BATTLE → WARRIORS

notes

[5, 6] hjálma skóðs hreggviðir ‘the trees of the storm of the harm of helmets [(lit. ‘storm-trees of the harm of helmets’) SWORD > BATTLE > WARRIORS]’: Hreggviðir ‘storm-trees’ forms part of another kenning for ‘warriors’ in st. 30/3. See Note to l. 8 for Kock’s proposal to emend gen. sg. skóðs to gen. pl. skóða

Close

á ‘in’

(not checked:)
3. á (prep.): on, at

[6] á víðum: so 65ˣ, RCP, RFJ, 61, ‘a viþ[…]’ R, om. 53, viðjum 54, Bb

Close

víðum ‘wide’

(not checked:)
víðr (adj.): far

[6] á víðum: so 65ˣ, RCP, RFJ, 61, ‘a viþ[…]’ R, om. 53, viðjum 54, Bb

Close

fundr ‘meeting’

(not checked:)
fundr (noun m.): discovery, meeting

[7] fundr þótti: so RCP, RFJ, 61, 53, 54, Bb, ‘[…]ndr […]’ R, ok undr 65ˣ

Close

þótti ‘seemed’

(not checked:)
2. þykkja (verb): seem, think

[7] fundr þótti: so RCP, RFJ, 61, 53, 54, Bb, ‘[…]ndr […]’ R, ok undr 65ˣ

Close

fyrðum ‘to men’

(not checked:)
2. fyrðr (noun m.; °-s, dat. -): man

[7] fyrðum: yrða 61, 53, 54, Bb

notes

[7] fyrðum ‘to men’: The ÓT reading fyrða gives sá fundr fyrða var frægr ‘that meeting of men was famous’, which is also satisfactory.

Close

frægr ‘famous’

(not checked:)
frægr (adj.; °-jan/-an; compar. -ri, superl. -jastr/-astr/-str): famous, renowned

[8] frægr: ‘fragr’ 53

Close

Hjǫrunga ‘Lia’

(not checked:)
Hjǫrungar (noun m.): [Lia] < Hjǫrungavágr (noun m.)

[8] Hjǫrunga‑: so RCP, RFJ, 61, 54, ‘hior[…]’ R, ‘hirvnga’ 65ˣ, Hjǫrungar‑ 53, ‘hiorro᷎nga’ Bb

notes

[8] Hjǫrungavági ‘Liavågen’: A small inlet south of Ålesund, Møre og Romsdal. The location of the battle is disputed: see Megaard (1999). Kock (NN §2818) adopts the 61 reading á Hjǫrungavági ‘at Liavågen’ to improve the metre of l. 8, in which resolution of Hjǫrung- is suspended (cf. Note to st. 9/6); but the line remains unmetrical. Further, l. 6 has á ‘at’, so in order to avoid duplication Kock has to emend l. 6 skóðs á to skóða ‘of harms’.

Close

vági ‘vågen’

(not checked:)
vágr (noun m.; °-s, dat. -i/-; -ar): sea, wave < Hjǫrungavágr (noun m.)

notes

[8] Hjǫrungavági ‘Liavågen’: A small inlet south of Ålesund, Møre og Romsdal. The location of the battle is disputed: see Megaard (1999). Kock (NN §2818) adopts the 61 reading á Hjǫrungavági ‘at Liavågen’ to improve the metre of l. 8, in which resolution of Hjǫrung- is suspended (cf. Note to st. 9/6); but the line remains unmetrical. Further, l. 6 has á ‘at’, so in order to avoid duplication Kock has to emend l. 6 skóðs á to skóða ‘of harms’.

Close

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

Hákon jarl and Eiríkr jarl reach Hjǫrungavágr (Liavågen) where the Jómsvíkingar are. Those leading the Jómsvíkingar, the number of ships they command, and the positions of their ships are enumerated, as are those in the Norwegian fleet (see further Note to ll. 1, 4 below).

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