Edáð Banddr 4I
Russell Poole (ed.) 2012, ‘Eyjólfr dáðaskáld, Bandadrápa 4’ 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. 461.
meirr ‘’
(not checked:)
meirr (adv.): more
Mærr ‘The renowned’
(not checked:)
2. mærr (adj.): famous
[1] Mærr: meirr F, J1ˣ, J2ˣ, 61, 53, 54, Bb, Flat
vann ‘fought’
(not checked:)
2. vinna (verb): perform, work
miklu ‘many’
(not checked:)
mikill (adj.; °mikinn): great, large
kennings
miklu fleiri aðra malmhríð, —‘many more other metal-storms, ’
= BATTLES
many more other metal-storms, → BATTLES
fleiri ‘more’
(not checked:)
fleiri (adj. comp.; °superl. flestr): more, most
kennings
miklu fleiri aðra malmhríð, —‘many more other metal-storms, ’
= BATTLES
many more other metal-storms, → BATTLES
malm ‘metal’
kennings
miklu fleiri aðra malmhríð, —‘many more other metal-storms, ’
= BATTLES
many more other metal-storms, → BATTLES
notes
[2, 3] aðra malmhríð ‘other metal-storms [BATTLES]’: Lit. ‘another metal-storm’ (sg.). Mss 53 and 61 give clear pl. forms of the noun but not of aðrar. Jón Þorkelsson (1884, 60) argued that the form fleiri ‘more’ was scarcely possible as a sg. and proposed an original pl. *malmhríðr aðrar, with hríð declined as a consonantal stem, parallel to vík (nom. and acc. pl. víkr).
hríðar ‘’
(not checked:)
hríð (noun f.; °-ar; -ir): time, storm < malmhríð (noun f.): weapon-storm
hríðir ‘’
(not checked:)
hríð (noun f.; °-ar; -ir): time, storm < malmhríð (noun f.): weapon-storm
hríð ‘storms’
(not checked:)
hríð (noun f.; °-ar; -ir): time, storm < malmhríð (noun f.): weapon-storm
[2] ‑hríð: hríðir J2ˣ, 61, ‑hríðar 53
kennings
miklu fleiri aðra malmhríð, —‘many more other metal-storms, ’
= BATTLES
many more other metal-storms, → BATTLES
notes
[2, 3] aðra malmhríð ‘other metal-storms [BATTLES]’: Lit. ‘another metal-storm’ (sg.). Mss 53 and 61 give clear pl. forms of the noun but not of aðrar. Jón Þorkelsson (1884, 60) argued that the form fleiri ‘more’ was scarcely possible as a sg. and proposed an original pl. *malmhríðr aðrar, with hríð declined as a consonantal stem, parallel to vík (nom. and acc. pl. víkr).
jǫfurr ‘leader’
(not checked:)
jǫfurr (noun m.): ruler, prince
síðan ‘then’
(not checked:)
síðan (adv.): later, then
eðr ‘’
(not checked:)
eðr (adv.): still
áðr ‘earlier’
(not checked:)
áðr (adv.; °//): before
[3] áðr: so F, 61, 53, 54, Bb, Flat, áðr corrected from ‘æðr’ apparently in a later hand Kˣ, eðr J1ˣ, J2ˣ
notes
[3] áðr ‘earlier’: The variant eðr ‘again’ is also possible, but áðr has stronger ms. support and is more compatible with the pret. verb frôgum ‘we [I] learned’.
um ‘’
(not checked:)
1. um (prep.): about, around
ek ‘’
(not checked:)
ek (pron.; °mín, dat. mér, acc. mik): I, me
frá ‘’
(not checked:)
1. fregna (verb): hear of
þar ‘’
(not checked:)
þar (adv.): there
þat ‘that’
[3] þat: þar F
aðra ‘other’
(not checked:)
1. annarr (pron.; °f. ǫnnur, n. annat; pl. aðrir): (an)other, second
kennings
miklu fleiri aðra malmhríð, —‘many more other metal-storms, ’
= BATTLES
many more other metal-storms, → BATTLES
notes
[2, 3] aðra malmhríð ‘other metal-storms [BATTLES]’: Lit. ‘another metal-storm’ (sg.). Mss 53 and 61 give clear pl. forms of the noun but not of aðrar. Jón Þorkelsson (1884, 60) argued that the form fleiri ‘more’ was scarcely possible as a sg. and proposed an original pl. *malmhríðr aðrar, with hríð declined as a consonantal stem, parallel to vík (nom. and acc. pl. víkr).
Eirek ‘’
(not checked:)
Eiríkr (noun m.): Eiríkr
Eir ‘’
(not checked:)
eir (noun n.): copper coin?
und ‘under’
(not checked:)
3. und (prep.): under, underneath
sik ‘himself’
(not checked:)
sik (pron.; °gen. sín, dat. sér): (refl. pron.)
geira ‘of spears’
(not checked:)
geirr (noun m.): spear
þar ‘’
(not checked:)
þar (adv.): there
garð ‘of the enclosure’
(not checked:)
garðr (noun m.): enclosure, yard < garðváli (noun m.)garðr (noun m.): enclosure, yard < garðváli (noun m.)
[5] garð‑: graf‑ 54, Bb
kennings
Virfils vala garð-Váli‘enclosure-Váli of the horses of Virfill’
= WARRIOR
the horses of Virfill → SHIPS
the enclosure of SHIPS → SHIELD
the Váli of the SHIELD → WARRIOR
garð ‘of the enclosure’
(not checked:)
garðr (noun m.): enclosure, yard < garðváli (noun m.)garðr (noun m.): enclosure, yard < garðváli (noun m.)
[5] garð‑: graf‑ 54, Bb
kennings
Virfils vala garð-Váli‘enclosure-Váli of the horses of Virfill’
= WARRIOR
the horses of Virfill → SHIPS
the enclosure of SHIPS → SHIELD
the Váli of the SHIELD → WARRIOR
nala ‘’
(not checked:)
nál (noun f.; °dat. -/-u; -ar): needle < grafnál (noun f.): grave-nail(?)
Váli ‘the Váli’
(not checked:)
Váli (noun m.): Váli < garðváli (noun m.)
[5] ‑Váli: ‘‑vala’ Kˣ, F, J1ˣ, J2ˣ, 61, 53, 54, Flat, ‘‑nala’ Bb
kennings
Virfils vala garð-Váli‘enclosure-Váli of the horses of Virfill’
= WARRIOR
the horses of Virfill → SHIPS
the enclosure of SHIPS → SHIELD
the Váli of the SHIELD → WARRIOR
gerði ‘had’
(not checked:)
1. gera (verb): do, make
Got ‘of Got’
(not checked:)
(unknown) < Gotland (noun n.)(unknown) < Gotland (noun n.)
land ‘’
(not checked:)
land (noun n.; °-s; *-): land < Gotland (noun n.)
lands ‘land’
(not checked:)
land (noun n.; °-s; *-): land < Gotland (noun n.)
[6] ‑lands: ‑land J1ˣ, J2ˣ, 61, 53, 54, Bb, Flat
vala ‘of the horses’
(not checked:)
3. valr (noun m.; °; -ir): horse
kennings
Virfils vala garð-Váli‘enclosure-Váli of the horses of Virfill’
= WARRIOR
the horses of Virfill → SHIPS
the enclosure of SHIPS → SHIELD
the Váli of the SHIELD → WARRIOR
vala ‘of the horses’
(not checked:)
3. valr (noun m.; °; -ir): horse
kennings
Virfils vala garð-Váli‘enclosure-Váli of the horses of Virfill’
= WARRIOR
the horses of Virfill → SHIPS
the enclosure of SHIPS → SHIELD
the Váli of the SHIELD → WARRIOR
vala ‘of the horses’
(not checked:)
3. valr (noun m.; °; -ir): horse
kennings
Virfils vala garð-Váli‘enclosure-Váli of the horses of Virfill’
= WARRIOR
the horses of Virfill → SHIPS
the enclosure of SHIPS → SHIELD
the Váli of the SHIELD → WARRIOR
stranda ‘’
(not checked:)
strǫnd (noun f.; °strandar, dat. -u/-; strandir/strendr): beach, shore
strandar ‘’
(not checked:)
strǫnd (noun f.; °strandar, dat. -u/-; strandir/strendr): beach, shore
strandir ‘the coasts’
(not checked:)
strǫnd (noun f.; °strandar, dat. -u/-; strandir/strendr): beach, shore
[6] strandir: strandar F, J1ˣ, J2ˣ, 61, 53, 54, Flat, stranda Bb
vir(ní)ls ‘’
Virfils ‘of Virfill’
(not checked:)
Virfill (noun m.): Virfill
[7] Virfils: ‘hvírfíls’ F, ‘vir(ní)ls’(?) Bb
kennings
Virfils vala garð-Váli‘enclosure-Váli of the horses of Virfill’
= WARRIOR
the horses of Virfill → SHIPS
the enclosure of SHIPS → SHIELD
the Váli of the SHIELD → WARRIOR
Virfils ‘of Virfill’
(not checked:)
Virfill (noun m.): Virfill
[7] Virfils: ‘hvírfíls’ F, ‘vir(ní)ls’(?) Bb
kennings
Virfils vala garð-Váli‘enclosure-Váli of the horses of Virfill’
= WARRIOR
the horses of Virfill → SHIPS
the enclosure of SHIPS → SHIELD
the Váli of the SHIELD → WARRIOR
Virfils ‘of Virfill’
(not checked:)
Virfill (noun m.): Virfill
[7] Virfils: ‘hvírfíls’ F, ‘vir(ní)ls’(?) Bb
kennings
Virfils vala garð-Váli‘enclosure-Váli of the horses of Virfill’
= WARRIOR
the horses of Virfill → SHIPS
the enclosure of SHIPS → SHIELD
the Váli of the SHIELD → WARRIOR
vítt ‘far and wide’
(not checked:)
víðr (adj.): far
of ‘’
(not checked:)
4. of (particle): (before verb)
herjat ‘raided’
(not checked:)
2. herja (verb): harry, ravage
Veðr ‘Storm’
(not checked:)
2. veðr (noun n.; °-s; -): weather, wind, storm < veðrmildr (adj.): storm-generous
mildr ‘generous’
(not checked:)
mildr (adj.; °compar. -ri/-ari, superl. -astr): mild, gentle, gracious, generous < veðrmildr (adj.): storm-generous
ok ‘and’
(not checked:)
3. ok (conj.): and, but; also
semr ‘contrives’
(not checked:)
2. semja (verb): befit
hildi ‘warfare’
(not checked:)
1. hildr (noun f.): battle
Interactive view: tap on words in the text for notes and glosses
|
Mærr vann miklu fleiri |
The renowned leader then fought many more other metal-storms [BATTLES], — we [I] learned that earlier — Eiríkr under himself of spears … when the Váli <god> of the enclosure of the horses of Virfill <sea-king> [(lit. ‘enclosure-Váli of the horses of Virfill’) SHIPS > SHIELD > WARRIOR] had the coasts of Gotland raided far and wide. Storm-generous and contrives warfare …
According to Hkr (similarly ÓT), Eiríkr, now based in Sweden, gains the support of Norwegians fleeing from Óláfr Tryggvason and undertakes raiding expeditions to Gotland so as to build up resources.
Lines 4 and 8 belong to the klofastef ‘split refrain’ and stand outside the syntax of the stanza; see st. 9 and Notes. — [5-7]: The text as it stands in the mss is difficult. There seems to be a clear statement that Eiríkr raided Gotland, but the mss differ as to whether strandir Gotlands ‘the coasts of Gotland’ belong together. The remaining nominal elements might well form a kenning for ‘man’, ‘warrior’ or ‘ruler’ as grammatical subject, but the base-word is elusive and other elements ambiguous, especially the duplicated vala (ll. 5, 6). The problems are hardly to be solved without emendation (cf. Jón Þorkelsson 1884, 60). (a) Adopted in this edn is the solution reached by Finnur Jónsson (Hkr 1893-1901; Skj B). This involves emendation of ‘vala’ in l. 5 to Váli, while vala in l. 6 is interpreted as gen. pl. of valr, a heiti for ‘horse’. Though not attested elsewhere in skaldic poetry, the god’s name Váli occurs in eddic poetry (LP: Váli 1) and is probably ancient (McKinnell 2009a, 190-1). (b) Kock (NN §553) points out that only the elements garð(r) ‘enclosure’ and Virfils ‘of Virfill <sea-king>’ are needed for the shield-kenning, which he appears to combine with Finnur Jónsson’s Váli to form a warrior-kenning. Kennings for ‘shield’ with the base-word garðr are exemplified in Eskál Vell 14/7, 8 and 27/2, and the combination with Virfils is possible, though the name of a legendary hero would be more usual: cf. Meissner 170-2. Kock takes l. 6 as a single phrase, Gotlands Vala strandir, which he translates as gotlänningarnas stränder ‘shores of the Gotlanders’. He does not explain gen. pl. Vala, but presumably takes it as a generalised application of the ethnic name Valir, often used of the Franks. Such a phrase would, however, be unparalleled. (c) Bjarni Aðalbjarnarson in ÍF 26, while acknowledging that the helmingr can barely be interpreted, likewise starts with garð- Virfils ‘shield’, suggesting that its vǫlr ‘staff/stave’ (represented by vala in l. 5) might be ‘sword’. (d) Hkr 1991 tentatively suggests that vala in l. 6 represents an indeclinable adj., equivalent to einvala ‘choice, excellent’ and describing the Gotland coast.
Stanza/chapter/text segment
Use the buttons at the top of the page to navigate between stanzas in a poem.
Information tab
- text: if the stanza has been published, the edited text of the stanza and translation are here; if it hasn't been published an old edition (usually Skj) is given for reference
- sources: a list of the manuscripts or inscriptions containing this stanza, with page and line references and links (eye button) to images where available, and transcription where available
- readings: a list of variant manuscript readings of words in the main text
- editions and texts: a list of editions of the stanza with links to the bibliography; and a list of prose works in which the stanza occurs, allowing you to navigate within the prose context
- notes and context: notes not linked to individual words are given here, along with the account of the prose context for the stanza, where relevant
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.