Bót Lv 1II
Judith Jesch (ed.) 2009, ‘Bótólfr begla, Lausavísa 1’ 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, pp. 629-30.
text and translation
Ferr at foglum harri
— firar neyta vel skeyta —
— vôn á heiðar hœna
hnakkadytts — und bakka.
Þar verðr almr, es olmir
undlinns stafir finnask
— land verr lofðungr brandi —
lynghœsn, dreginn kyngjum.
Harri ferr at foglum und bakka; firar neyta skeyta vel; {hœna heiðar} á vôn hnakkadytts. Almr verðr kyngjum dreginn þar, es {olmir stafir {undlinns}} [ok] {lynghœsn} finnask; lofðungr verr land brandi.
‘The lord has gone to hunt birds beneath the slopes; men are using shooting-weapons well; the chicken of the heath [GAME BIRD] has expectations of a neck-blow. The bow is being frequently drawn, where the frenzied poles of the wound-serpent [SWORD > WARRIORS] [and] the heather-chicken [GAME BIRD] meet; the prince defends the land with his sword.’
notes and context
Erlendr Haraldsson, who has just seen off Haraldr Maddaðarson in a fight nearby, arrives at Knarrarstaðir where Rǫgnvaldr is staying with Bótólfr. When they ask where Rǫgnvaldr is, Bótólfr replies that he had been there the previous night and recites this st. when the troop insist that he must know where Rǫgnvaldr is. They head off to chase him and Rǫgnvaldr escapes.
This event takes place in 1154 (ÍF 34, lxxxix). Rǫgnvaldr has made common cause with his fellow jarl Haraldr Maddaðarson, while their rival Jarl Erlendr Haraldsson is supported by Sveinn Ásleifarson. While Erlendr and Sveinn plan an attack on both of the other jarls, Rǫgnvaldr slips away to his own estates during a storm. Erlendr defeats Haraldr the next day and then pursues Rǫgnvaldr. Bótólfr’s st. misleads the pursuers and gives Rǫgnvaldr a chance to escape.
readings
sources
Text is based on reconstruction from the base text and variant apparatus and may contain alternative spellings and other normalisations not visible in the manuscript text. Transcriptions may not have been checked and should not be cited.
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AM 325 I 4° (325I) — 18r/7 - 18r/10
imagesFeʀ at foglvm haʀi firar neyta vel | skeyta van a heiþar hæna hnacka dytz vnd backa. þar verþr almr er | olmir vndlinz stafir fiɴaz land veʀ lofþungr brandi lyng hæsn dregiɴ | kyngivm.
(JJ)
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GKS 1005 fol (Flat) — 142rb/1 - 142rb/3
imagesFerr at foglum harri
— firar neyta vel skeyta —
— vôn á heiðar hœna
hnakkadytts — und bakka.
Þar lætr almr, es olmir
undlinns stafir finnask
— lǫnd verr lofðungr brandi —
lynghæns dregit, kyngjum.Feʀ at fuglum haʀi firar neyta vel skeyta van a heidar hæna hnac|ka dyz vnd backa þar lætr ꜳlmr er olmir vnnlinz stafir finnaz laund verr lofdungr | brꜳndi lynghæns dregit kyngium.
(JJ)
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