Eskál Vell 26^I

Ok ‘And’

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

við ‘at the time’

(not checked:)
2. við (prep.): with, against

notes

[1] við frost ‘at the time of the frost’: (a) The phrase is taken here (as in Konráð Gíslason 1895-7, I, 159; NN §406; ÍF 26; Hkr 1991) with the main clause, since it seems unlikely that Hákon jarl would have taken his fleet to Denmark at the beginning of winter, but conceivable that Haraldr charged him with defending the Danevirke at that time. Moreover in Hkr (ÍF 26, 254) Snorri reports that the jarl came to Denmark on King Haraldr’s invitation in the spring, which need not be a misreading of the stanza on Snorri’s part, as assumed in ÍF 26. (b) Other eds have related the phrase to the subordinate clause (ÓT 1892, 378; Hkr 1893-1901, IV; Skj B); however, that would produce abnormal word order.

fóstr ‘’

(not checked:)
fóstr (noun n.): foster-

frost ‘of the frost’

(not checked:)
frost (noun n.): frost

[1] frost: fóstr Bb

notes

[1] við frost ‘at the time of the frost’: (a) The phrase is taken here (as in Konráð Gíslason 1895-7, I, 159; NN §406; ÍF 26; Hkr 1991) with the main clause, since it seems unlikely that Hákon jarl would have taken his fleet to Denmark at the beginning of winter, but conceivable that Haraldr charged him with defending the Danevirke at that time. Moreover in Hkr (ÍF 26, 254) Snorri reports that the jarl came to Denmark on King Haraldr’s invitation in the spring, which need not be a misreading of the stanza on Snorri’s part, as assumed in ÍF 26. (b) Other eds have related the phrase to the subordinate clause (ÓT 1892, 378; Hkr 1893-1901, IV; Skj B); however, that would produce abnormal word order.

at ‘to’

(not checked:)
5. at (nota): to (with infinitive)

notes

[1] at ‘to’: Normally the inf. is not preceded by at in a construction with vilja ‘to desire’. Konráð Gíslason (1895-7, I, 157) analyses it as a deictic particle, hence ‘(to put the jarl to the test) at (it)’, but this is unlikely since the particle is not stressed.

freista ‘test’

(not checked:)
freista (verb): attempt, tempt

fé ‘’

(not checked:)
fé (noun n.; °fjár/féar; -): cattle, money < fémildr (adj.): generousfé (noun n.; °fjár/féar; -): cattle, money < fémildr (adj.): generous

kennings

mildum ‘’

(not checked:)
mildr (adj.; °compar. -ri/-ari, superl. -astr): mild, gentle, gracious, generous < fémildr (adj.): generous

mildr ‘the generous’

(not checked:)
mildr (adj.; °compar. -ri/-ari, superl. -astr): mild, gentle, gracious, generous < fémildr (adj.): generous

[2] ‑mildr: ‑mildum F

kennings

konungr ‘king’

(not checked:)
konungr (noun m.; °dat. -i, -s; -ar): king

kennings

vildi ‘wanted’

(not checked:)
vilja (verb): want, intend

merkr ‘’

myrk ‘of the dark’

(not checked:)
2. myrkr (adj.; °-an/-jan/-van; compar. -(v)ari/-ri, superl. -(v)astr): dark, murky < myrkmǫrk (noun f.)

[3] myrk‑: merkr 61, 53, 54, Bb

kennings

notes

[3] Hlóðynjar myrkmarkar ‘of the Hlóðyn = Jǫrð (jǫrð ‘earth’) of the dark forest <= Myrkviðr> [JUTLAND]’: Except for Kock (NN §406) all eds analyse myrk- … ‑markar as tmesis (see Reichardt 1928, 9, 93 n. 20, 207-8). The cpd appears to refer to the Myrkviðr ‘Dark Forest’ that lies between Jutland and Holstein (Fms 1, 111; ÓT 1958-2000, I, 123), and if this is correct its ‘earth’ is Jutland. However, the numerous instances of the ON Myrkviðr refer to forests at various borders (Eggers 2002, 460-1), and the cpd here could refer to any wooded country (Finnur Jónsson 1891a, 174). Some interpreters have accordingly assumed it refers to Norway and conjoined it to morðalfs ‘battle-elf [WARRIOR]’ or simply to alfs ‘elf’ as a kenning for Hákon jarl (Fms 12; NN §406; Ohlmarks 1958, 381-2); Konráð Gíslason (1895-7, I, 159) rejects this.

myrk ‘of the dark’

(not checked:)
2. myrkr (adj.; °-an/-jan/-van; compar. -(v)ari/-ri, superl. -(v)astr): dark, murky < myrkmǫrk (noun f.)

[3] myrk‑: merkr 61, 53, 54, Bb

kennings

notes

[3] Hlóðynjar myrkmarkar ‘of the Hlóðyn = Jǫrð (jǫrð ‘earth’) of the dark forest <= Myrkviðr> [JUTLAND]’: Except for Kock (NN §406) all eds analyse myrk- … ‑markar as tmesis (see Reichardt 1928, 9, 93 n. 20, 207-8). The cpd appears to refer to the Myrkviðr ‘Dark Forest’ that lies between Jutland and Holstein (Fms 1, 111; ÓT 1958-2000, I, 123), and if this is correct its ‘earth’ is Jutland. However, the numerous instances of the ON Myrkviðr refer to forests at various borders (Eggers 2002, 460-1), and the cpd here could refer to any wooded country (Finnur Jónsson 1891a, 174). Some interpreters have accordingly assumed it refers to Norway and conjoined it to morðalfs ‘battle-elf [WARRIOR]’ or simply to alfs ‘elf’ as a kenning for Hákon jarl (Fms 12; NN §406; Ohlmarks 1958, 381-2); Konráð Gíslason (1895-7, I, 159) rejects this.

hlóðynar ‘’

lóðynjar ‘’

follðynjar ‘’

folðynjar ‘’

Hlóðynjar ‘of the Hlóðyn = Jǫrð (jǫrð ‘earth’)’

(not checked:)
Hlǫðyn (noun f.): Hlóðyn, Hlǫðyn

[3] Hlóðynjar: so 61, 53, ‘folðyniar’ Kˣ, J2ˣ, ‘follðyniar’ F, ‘loðyniar’ J1ˣ, ‘hloðynar’ 54, Bb

kennings

notes

[3] Hlóðynjar ‘of the Hlóðyn = Jǫrð (jǫrð ‘earth’)’: Hlóðyn (or Hlǫðyn) is attested as a name of the goddess Jǫrð (LP: Hlǫðyn) and as a heiti for ‘earth’ in Þul Jarðar 1/2^III (see Note) and in Vsp 56/2 and VSt Erf 2/4^III. Finnur Jónsson conjectured Hlǫðvinjar in his eds (Hkr 1893-1901, I and Skj B), but this is not supported by any ms., nor by metrical considerations (contra Olsen 1962a, 47 n. 1). This edn follows the majority of others in choosing Hlóðynjar, found in mss 61 and 53. — [3] Hlóðynjar myrkmarkar ‘of the Hlóðyn = Jǫrð (jǫrð ‘earth’) of the dark forest <= Myrkviðr> [JUTLAND]’: Except for Kock (NN §406) all eds analyse myrk- … ‑markar as tmesis (see Reichardt 1928, 9, 93 n. 20, 207-8). The cpd appears to refer to the Myrkviðr ‘Dark Forest’ that lies between Jutland and Holstein (Fms 1, 111; ÓT 1958-2000, I, 123), and if this is correct its ‘earth’ is Jutland. However, the numerous instances of the ON Myrkviðr refer to forests at various borders (Eggers 2002, 460-1), and the cpd here could refer to any wooded country (Finnur Jónsson 1891a, 174). Some interpreters have accordingly assumed it refers to Norway and conjoined it to morðalfs ‘battle-elf [WARRIOR]’ or simply to alfs ‘elf’ as a kenning for Hákon jarl (Fms 12; NN §406; Ohlmarks 1958, 381-2); Konráð Gíslason (1895-7, I, 159) rejects this.

Hlóðynjar ‘of the Hlóðyn = Jǫrð (jǫrð ‘earth’)’

(not checked:)
Hlǫðyn (noun f.): Hlóðyn, Hlǫðyn

[3] Hlóðynjar: so 61, 53, ‘folðyniar’ Kˣ, J2ˣ, ‘follðyniar’ F, ‘loðyniar’ J1ˣ, ‘hloðynar’ 54, Bb

kennings

notes

[3] Hlóðynjar ‘of the Hlóðyn = Jǫrð (jǫrð ‘earth’)’: Hlóðyn (or Hlǫðyn) is attested as a name of the goddess Jǫrð (LP: Hlǫðyn) and as a heiti for ‘earth’ in Þul Jarðar 1/2^III (see Note) and in Vsp 56/2 and VSt Erf 2/4^III. Finnur Jónsson conjectured Hlǫðvinjar in his eds (Hkr 1893-1901, I and Skj B), but this is not supported by any ms., nor by metrical considerations (contra Olsen 1962a, 47 n. 1). This edn follows the majority of others in choosing Hlóðynjar, found in mss 61 and 53. — [3] Hlóðynjar myrkmarkar ‘of the Hlóðyn = Jǫrð (jǫrð ‘earth’) of the dark forest <= Myrkviðr> [JUTLAND]’: Except for Kock (NN §406) all eds analyse myrk- … ‑markar as tmesis (see Reichardt 1928, 9, 93 n. 20, 207-8). The cpd appears to refer to the Myrkviðr ‘Dark Forest’ that lies between Jutland and Holstein (Fms 1, 111; ÓT 1958-2000, I, 123), and if this is correct its ‘earth’ is Jutland. However, the numerous instances of the ON Myrkviðr refer to forests at various borders (Eggers 2002, 460-1), and the cpd here could refer to any wooded country (Finnur Jónsson 1891a, 174). Some interpreters have accordingly assumed it refers to Norway and conjoined it to morðalfs ‘battle-elf [WARRIOR]’ or simply to alfs ‘elf’ as a kenning for Hákon jarl (Fms 12; NN §406; Ohlmarks 1958, 381-2); Konráð Gíslason (1895-7, I, 159) rejects this.

Hlóðynjar ‘of the Hlóðyn = Jǫrð (jǫrð ‘earth’)’

(not checked:)
Hlǫðyn (noun f.): Hlóðyn, Hlǫðyn

[3] Hlóðynjar: so 61, 53, ‘folðyniar’ Kˣ, J2ˣ, ‘follðyniar’ F, ‘loðyniar’ J1ˣ, ‘hloðynar’ 54, Bb

kennings

notes

[3] Hlóðynjar ‘of the Hlóðyn = Jǫrð (jǫrð ‘earth’)’: Hlóðyn (or Hlǫðyn) is attested as a name of the goddess Jǫrð (LP: Hlǫðyn) and as a heiti for ‘earth’ in Þul Jarðar 1/2^III (see Note) and in Vsp 56/2 and VSt Erf 2/4^III. Finnur Jónsson conjectured Hlǫðvinjar in his eds (Hkr 1893-1901, I and Skj B), but this is not supported by any ms., nor by metrical considerations (contra Olsen 1962a, 47 n. 1). This edn follows the majority of others in choosing Hlóðynjar, found in mss 61 and 53. — [3] Hlóðynjar myrkmarkar ‘of the Hlóðyn = Jǫrð (jǫrð ‘earth’) of the dark forest <= Myrkviðr> [JUTLAND]’: Except for Kock (NN §406) all eds analyse myrk- … ‑markar as tmesis (see Reichardt 1928, 9, 93 n. 20, 207-8). The cpd appears to refer to the Myrkviðr ‘Dark Forest’ that lies between Jutland and Holstein (Fms 1, 111; ÓT 1958-2000, I, 123), and if this is correct its ‘earth’ is Jutland. However, the numerous instances of the ON Myrkviðr refer to forests at various borders (Eggers 2002, 460-1), and the cpd here could refer to any wooded country (Finnur Jónsson 1891a, 174). Some interpreters have accordingly assumed it refers to Norway and conjoined it to morðalfs ‘battle-elf [WARRIOR]’ or simply to alfs ‘elf’ as a kenning for Hákon jarl (Fms 12; NN §406; Ohlmarks 1958, 381-2); Konráð Gíslason (1895-7, I, 159) rejects this.

Hlóðynjar ‘of the Hlóðyn = Jǫrð (jǫrð ‘earth’)’

(not checked:)
Hlǫðyn (noun f.): Hlóðyn, Hlǫðyn

[3] Hlóðynjar: so 61, 53, ‘folðyniar’ Kˣ, J2ˣ, ‘follðyniar’ F, ‘loðyniar’ J1ˣ, ‘hloðynar’ 54, Bb

kennings

notes

[3] Hlóðynjar ‘of the Hlóðyn = Jǫrð (jǫrð ‘earth’)’: Hlóðyn (or Hlǫðyn) is attested as a name of the goddess Jǫrð (LP: Hlǫðyn) and as a heiti for ‘earth’ in Þul Jarðar 1/2^III (see Note) and in Vsp 56/2 and VSt Erf 2/4^III. Finnur Jónsson conjectured Hlǫðvinjar in his eds (Hkr 1893-1901, I and Skj B), but this is not supported by any ms., nor by metrical considerations (contra Olsen 1962a, 47 n. 1). This edn follows the majority of others in choosing Hlóðynjar, found in mss 61 and 53. — [3] Hlóðynjar myrkmarkar ‘of the Hlóðyn = Jǫrð (jǫrð ‘earth’) of the dark forest <= Myrkviðr> [JUTLAND]’: Except for Kock (NN §406) all eds analyse myrk- … ‑markar as tmesis (see Reichardt 1928, 9, 93 n. 20, 207-8). The cpd appears to refer to the Myrkviðr ‘Dark Forest’ that lies between Jutland and Holstein (Fms 1, 111; ÓT 1958-2000, I, 123), and if this is correct its ‘earth’ is Jutland. However, the numerous instances of the ON Myrkviðr refer to forests at various borders (Eggers 2002, 460-1), and the cpd here could refer to any wooded country (Finnur Jónsson 1891a, 174). Some interpreters have accordingly assumed it refers to Norway and conjoined it to morðalfs ‘battle-elf [WARRIOR]’ or simply to alfs ‘elf’ as a kenning for Hákon jarl (Fms 12; NN §406; Ohlmarks 1958, 381-2); Konráð Gíslason (1895-7, I, 159) rejects this.

serkjar ‘’

(not checked:)
1. serkr (noun m.; °-s, dat. -/-i; -ir): shirt < merkrserkr (noun m.)

markar ‘forest’

(not checked:)
2. mǫrk (noun f.; °merkr; merkr): forest < myrkmǫrk (noun f.)2. mǫrk (noun f.; °merkr; merkr): forest < merkrmǫrk (noun f.)

[3] markar: serkjar 53, 54, Bb

kennings

notes

[3] Hlóðynjar myrkmarkar ‘of the Hlóðyn = Jǫrð (jǫrð ‘earth’) of the dark forest <= Myrkviðr> [JUTLAND]’: Except for Kock (NN §406) all eds analyse myrk- … ‑markar as tmesis (see Reichardt 1928, 9, 93 n. 20, 207-8). The cpd appears to refer to the Myrkviðr ‘Dark Forest’ that lies between Jutland and Holstein (Fms 1, 111; ÓT 1958-2000, I, 123), and if this is correct its ‘earth’ is Jutland. However, the numerous instances of the ON Myrkviðr refer to forests at various borders (Eggers 2002, 460-1), and the cpd here could refer to any wooded country (Finnur Jónsson 1891a, 174). Some interpreters have accordingly assumed it refers to Norway and conjoined it to morðalfs ‘battle-elf [WARRIOR]’ or simply to alfs ‘elf’ as a kenning for Hákon jarl (Fms 12; NN §406; Ohlmarks 1958, 381-2); Konráð Gíslason (1895-7, I, 159) rejects this.

markar ‘forest’

(not checked:)
2. mǫrk (noun f.; °merkr; merkr): forest < myrkmǫrk (noun f.)2. mǫrk (noun f.; °merkr; merkr): forest < merkrmǫrk (noun f.)

[3] markar: serkjar 53, 54, Bb

kennings

notes

[3] Hlóðynjar myrkmarkar ‘of the Hlóðyn = Jǫrð (jǫrð ‘earth’) of the dark forest <= Myrkviðr> [JUTLAND]’: Except for Kock (NN §406) all eds analyse myrk- … ‑markar as tmesis (see Reichardt 1928, 9, 93 n. 20, 207-8). The cpd appears to refer to the Myrkviðr ‘Dark Forest’ that lies between Jutland and Holstein (Fms 1, 111; ÓT 1958-2000, I, 123), and if this is correct its ‘earth’ is Jutland. However, the numerous instances of the ON Myrkviðr refer to forests at various borders (Eggers 2002, 460-1), and the cpd here could refer to any wooded country (Finnur Jónsson 1891a, 174). Some interpreters have accordingly assumed it refers to Norway and conjoined it to morðalfs ‘battle-elf [WARRIOR]’ or simply to alfs ‘elf’ as a kenning for Hákon jarl (Fms 12; NN §406; Ohlmarks 1958, 381-2); Konráð Gíslason (1895-7, I, 159) rejects this.

morð ‘the battle’

(not checked:)
1. morð (noun n.; °-s; -): killing, battle < morðalfr (noun m.)

kennings

alfs ‘elf’

(not checked:)
alfr (noun m.; °; -ar): elf < morðalfr (noun m.)

kennings

sér ‘’

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

þess’s ‘who’

(not checked:)
1. sá (pron.; °gen. þess, dat. þeim, acc. þann; f. sú, gen. þeirrar, acc. þá; n. þat, dat. því; pl. m. þeir, f. þǽ---): that (one), those

[4] þess’s (‘þess er’): þess sér 53

kom ‘came’

(not checked:)
koma (verb; kem, kom/kvam, kominn): come

norðan ‘from the north’

(not checked:)
norðan (adv.): from the north

þás ‘as’

(not checked:)
þás (conj.): when

val ‘of the slain’

(not checked:)
1. valr (noun m.; °dat. -i; -ir): corpse, the slain < valserkr (noun m.)1. valr (noun m.; °dat. -i; -ir): corpse, the slain < valserkr (noun m.)

kennings

notes

[5, 6] valserkjar veðrhirði ‘the keeper of the weather of the shirt of the slain [(lit. ‘weather-keeper of the slain-shirt’) MAIL-SHIRT > BATTLE > WARRIOR = Hákon jarl]’: (a) Normally hirðir ‘keeper, protector, owner’ appears in connection with weapons, precious objects or the like, rather than with battle (see LP: 1. hirðir; cf. also Fritzner: hirða). For this reason most interpreters (Fms 12; Finnur Jónsson 1891a, 176; Hkr 1893-1901, IV; Konráð Gíslason 1895-7, I, 160; LP: veðrhirði) reverse the order of the kennings that form the determinant: hirði serkjar valveðrs ‘keeper of the shirt of the slain-weather [BATTLE > MAIL-SHIRT > WARRIOR]’. (b) This edn (with Vell 1865, 73; ÓT 1892, 378; Hkr 1991) leaves the kenning unaltered, understanding hirðir in the sense of nærir ‘nourisher’, cf. Glúmr Gráf 6/3 nærir naddskúrar ‘nourisher of the point-shower [BATTLE > WARRIOR]’. (c) In ÍF 26 veðr is rendered as a ‘ram’ charging the mail-shirt (valserkjar ‘of the shirt of the slain’), and this results in a sword-kenning which is conjoined to hirðir ‘owner’ to form a warrior-kenning ‘owner of the sword’. But this is unlikely because an animal name used as the base-word of a sword-kenning is always that of a harmful, aggressive animal such as a wolf, hound or bear (Meissner 155).

val ‘of the slain’

(not checked:)
1. valr (noun m.; °dat. -i; -ir): corpse, the slain < valserkr (noun m.)1. valr (noun m.; °dat. -i; -ir): corpse, the slain < valserkr (noun m.)

kennings

notes

[5, 6] valserkjar veðrhirði ‘the keeper of the weather of the shirt of the slain [(lit. ‘weather-keeper of the slain-shirt’) MAIL-SHIRT > BATTLE > WARRIOR = Hákon jarl]’: (a) Normally hirðir ‘keeper, protector, owner’ appears in connection with weapons, precious objects or the like, rather than with battle (see LP: 1. hirðir; cf. also Fritzner: hirða). For this reason most interpreters (Fms 12; Finnur Jónsson 1891a, 176; Hkr 1893-1901, IV; Konráð Gíslason 1895-7, I, 160; LP: veðrhirði) reverse the order of the kennings that form the determinant: hirði serkjar valveðrs ‘keeper of the shirt of the slain-weather [BATTLE > MAIL-SHIRT > WARRIOR]’. (b) This edn (with Vell 1865, 73; ÓT 1892, 378; Hkr 1991) leaves the kenning unaltered, understanding hirðir in the sense of nærir ‘nourisher’, cf. Glúmr Gráf 6/3 nærir naddskúrar ‘nourisher of the point-shower [BATTLE > WARRIOR]’. (c) In ÍF 26 veðr is rendered as a ‘ram’ charging the mail-shirt (valserkjar ‘of the shirt of the slain’), and this results in a sword-kenning which is conjoined to hirðir ‘owner’ to form a warrior-kenning ‘owner of the sword’. But this is unlikely because an animal name used as the base-word of a sword-kenning is always that of a harmful, aggressive animal such as a wolf, hound or bear (Meissner 155).

val ‘of the slain’

(not checked:)
1. valr (noun m.; °dat. -i; -ir): corpse, the slain < valserkr (noun m.)1. valr (noun m.; °dat. -i; -ir): corpse, the slain < valserkr (noun m.)

kennings

notes

[5, 6] valserkjar veðrhirði ‘the keeper of the weather of the shirt of the slain [(lit. ‘weather-keeper of the slain-shirt’) MAIL-SHIRT > BATTLE > WARRIOR = Hákon jarl]’: (a) Normally hirðir ‘keeper, protector, owner’ appears in connection with weapons, precious objects or the like, rather than with battle (see LP: 1. hirðir; cf. also Fritzner: hirða). For this reason most interpreters (Fms 12; Finnur Jónsson 1891a, 176; Hkr 1893-1901, IV; Konráð Gíslason 1895-7, I, 160; LP: veðrhirði) reverse the order of the kennings that form the determinant: hirði serkjar valveðrs ‘keeper of the shirt of the slain-weather [BATTLE > MAIL-SHIRT > WARRIOR]’. (b) This edn (with Vell 1865, 73; ÓT 1892, 378; Hkr 1991) leaves the kenning unaltered, understanding hirðir in the sense of nærir ‘nourisher’, cf. Glúmr Gráf 6/3 nærir naddskúrar ‘nourisher of the point-shower [BATTLE > WARRIOR]’. (c) In ÍF 26 veðr is rendered as a ‘ram’ charging the mail-shirt (valserkjar ‘of the shirt of the slain’), and this results in a sword-kenning which is conjoined to hirðir ‘owner’ to form a warrior-kenning ‘owner of the sword’. But this is unlikely because an animal name used as the base-word of a sword-kenning is always that of a harmful, aggressive animal such as a wolf, hound or bear (Meissner 155).

serkja ‘’

(not checked:)
1. serkr (noun m.; °-s, dat. -/-i; -ir): shirt < valserkr (noun m.)

serkjar ‘of the shirt’

(not checked:)
1. serkr (noun m.; °-s, dat. -/-i; -ir): shirt < valserkr (noun m.)

[5] ‑serkjar: so J1ˣ, 61, 53, 54, Bb, ‑serkja Kˣ, F, J2ˣ

kennings

notes

[5, 6] valserkjar veðrhirði ‘the keeper of the weather of the shirt of the slain [(lit. ‘weather-keeper of the slain-shirt’) MAIL-SHIRT > BATTLE > WARRIOR = Hákon jarl]’: (a) Normally hirðir ‘keeper, protector, owner’ appears in connection with weapons, precious objects or the like, rather than with battle (see LP: 1. hirðir; cf. also Fritzner: hirða). For this reason most interpreters (Fms 12; Finnur Jónsson 1891a, 176; Hkr 1893-1901, IV; Konráð Gíslason 1895-7, I, 160; LP: veðrhirði) reverse the order of the kennings that form the determinant: hirði serkjar valveðrs ‘keeper of the shirt of the slain-weather [BATTLE > MAIL-SHIRT > WARRIOR]’. (b) This edn (with Vell 1865, 73; ÓT 1892, 378; Hkr 1991) leaves the kenning unaltered, understanding hirðir in the sense of nærir ‘nourisher’, cf. Glúmr Gráf 6/3 nærir naddskúrar ‘nourisher of the point-shower [BATTLE > WARRIOR]’. (c) In ÍF 26 veðr is rendered as a ‘ram’ charging the mail-shirt (valserkjar ‘of the shirt of the slain’), and this results in a sword-kenning which is conjoined to hirðir ‘owner’ to form a warrior-kenning ‘owner of the sword’. But this is unlikely because an animal name used as the base-word of a sword-kenning is always that of a harmful, aggressive animal such as a wolf, hound or bear (Meissner 155).

serkjar ‘of the shirt’

(not checked:)
1. serkr (noun m.; °-s, dat. -/-i; -ir): shirt < valserkr (noun m.)

[5] ‑serkjar: so J1ˣ, 61, 53, 54, Bb, ‑serkja Kˣ, F, J2ˣ

kennings

notes

[5, 6] valserkjar veðrhirði ‘the keeper of the weather of the shirt of the slain [(lit. ‘weather-keeper of the slain-shirt’) MAIL-SHIRT > BATTLE > WARRIOR = Hákon jarl]’: (a) Normally hirðir ‘keeper, protector, owner’ appears in connection with weapons, precious objects or the like, rather than with battle (see LP: 1. hirðir; cf. also Fritzner: hirða). For this reason most interpreters (Fms 12; Finnur Jónsson 1891a, 176; Hkr 1893-1901, IV; Konráð Gíslason 1895-7, I, 160; LP: veðrhirði) reverse the order of the kennings that form the determinant: hirði serkjar valveðrs ‘keeper of the shirt of the slain-weather [BATTLE > MAIL-SHIRT > WARRIOR]’. (b) This edn (with Vell 1865, 73; ÓT 1892, 378; Hkr 1991) leaves the kenning unaltered, understanding hirðir in the sense of nærir ‘nourisher’, cf. Glúmr Gráf 6/3 nærir naddskúrar ‘nourisher of the point-shower [BATTLE > WARRIOR]’. (c) In ÍF 26 veðr is rendered as a ‘ram’ charging the mail-shirt (valserkjar ‘of the shirt of the slain’), and this results in a sword-kenning which is conjoined to hirðir ‘owner’ to form a warrior-kenning ‘owner of the sword’. But this is unlikely because an animal name used as the base-word of a sword-kenning is always that of a harmful, aggressive animal such as a wolf, hound or bear (Meissner 155).

serkjar ‘of the shirt’

(not checked:)
1. serkr (noun m.; °-s, dat. -/-i; -ir): shirt < valserkr (noun m.)

[5] ‑serkjar: so J1ˣ, 61, 53, 54, Bb, ‑serkja Kˣ, F, J2ˣ

kennings

notes

[5, 6] valserkjar veðrhirði ‘the keeper of the weather of the shirt of the slain [(lit. ‘weather-keeper of the slain-shirt’) MAIL-SHIRT > BATTLE > WARRIOR = Hákon jarl]’: (a) Normally hirðir ‘keeper, protector, owner’ appears in connection with weapons, precious objects or the like, rather than with battle (see LP: 1. hirðir; cf. also Fritzner: hirða). For this reason most interpreters (Fms 12; Finnur Jónsson 1891a, 176; Hkr 1893-1901, IV; Konráð Gíslason 1895-7, I, 160; LP: veðrhirði) reverse the order of the kennings that form the determinant: hirði serkjar valveðrs ‘keeper of the shirt of the slain-weather [BATTLE > MAIL-SHIRT > WARRIOR]’. (b) This edn (with Vell 1865, 73; ÓT 1892, 378; Hkr 1991) leaves the kenning unaltered, understanding hirðir in the sense of nærir ‘nourisher’, cf. Glúmr Gráf 6/3 nærir naddskúrar ‘nourisher of the point-shower [BATTLE > WARRIOR]’. (c) In ÍF 26 veðr is rendered as a ‘ram’ charging the mail-shirt (valserkjar ‘of the shirt of the slain’), and this results in a sword-kenning which is conjoined to hirðir ‘owner’ to form a warrior-kenning ‘owner of the sword’. But this is unlikely because an animal name used as the base-word of a sword-kenning is always that of a harmful, aggressive animal such as a wolf, hound or bear (Meissner 155).

virki ‘the rampart’

(not checked:)
virki (noun n.; °-s; -): stronghold

notes

[5] virki ‘the rampart’: This is a reference to the Danevirke, the Danes’ array of defensive structures in southern Jutland (see ÍF 26, 257 and n.).

veðr ‘of the weather’

(not checked:)
2. veðr (noun n.; °-s; -): weather, wind, storm < veðrhirðir (noun m.)2. veðr (noun n.; °-s; -): weather, wind, storm < veðrhirðir (noun m.)2. veðr (noun n.; °-s; -): weather, wind, storm < veðrharðr (adj.)

kennings

notes

[5, 6] valserkjar veðrhirði ‘the keeper of the weather of the shirt of the slain [(lit. ‘weather-keeper of the slain-shirt’) MAIL-SHIRT > BATTLE > WARRIOR = Hákon jarl]’: (a) Normally hirðir ‘keeper, protector, owner’ appears in connection with weapons, precious objects or the like, rather than with battle (see LP: 1. hirðir; cf. also Fritzner: hirða). For this reason most interpreters (Fms 12; Finnur Jónsson 1891a, 176; Hkr 1893-1901, IV; Konráð Gíslason 1895-7, I, 160; LP: veðrhirði) reverse the order of the kennings that form the determinant: hirði serkjar valveðrs ‘keeper of the shirt of the slain-weather [BATTLE > MAIL-SHIRT > WARRIOR]’. (b) This edn (with Vell 1865, 73; ÓT 1892, 378; Hkr 1991) leaves the kenning unaltered, understanding hirðir in the sense of nærir ‘nourisher’, cf. Glúmr Gráf 6/3 nærir naddskúrar ‘nourisher of the point-shower [BATTLE > WARRIOR]’. (c) In ÍF 26 veðr is rendered as a ‘ram’ charging the mail-shirt (valserkjar ‘of the shirt of the slain’), and this results in a sword-kenning which is conjoined to hirðir ‘owner’ to form a warrior-kenning ‘owner of the sword’. But this is unlikely because an animal name used as the base-word of a sword-kenning is always that of a harmful, aggressive animal such as a wolf, hound or bear (Meissner 155).

veðr ‘of the weather’

(not checked:)
2. veðr (noun n.; °-s; -): weather, wind, storm < veðrhirðir (noun m.)2. veðr (noun n.; °-s; -): weather, wind, storm < veðrhirðir (noun m.)2. veðr (noun n.; °-s; -): weather, wind, storm < veðrharðr (adj.)

kennings

notes

[5, 6] valserkjar veðrhirði ‘the keeper of the weather of the shirt of the slain [(lit. ‘weather-keeper of the slain-shirt’) MAIL-SHIRT > BATTLE > WARRIOR = Hákon jarl]’: (a) Normally hirðir ‘keeper, protector, owner’ appears in connection with weapons, precious objects or the like, rather than with battle (see LP: 1. hirðir; cf. also Fritzner: hirða). For this reason most interpreters (Fms 12; Finnur Jónsson 1891a, 176; Hkr 1893-1901, IV; Konráð Gíslason 1895-7, I, 160; LP: veðrhirði) reverse the order of the kennings that form the determinant: hirði serkjar valveðrs ‘keeper of the shirt of the slain-weather [BATTLE > MAIL-SHIRT > WARRIOR]’. (b) This edn (with Vell 1865, 73; ÓT 1892, 378; Hkr 1991) leaves the kenning unaltered, understanding hirðir in the sense of nærir ‘nourisher’, cf. Glúmr Gráf 6/3 nærir naddskúrar ‘nourisher of the point-shower [BATTLE > WARRIOR]’. (c) In ÍF 26 veðr is rendered as a ‘ram’ charging the mail-shirt (valserkjar ‘of the shirt of the slain’), and this results in a sword-kenning which is conjoined to hirðir ‘owner’ to form a warrior-kenning ‘owner of the sword’. But this is unlikely because an animal name used as the base-word of a sword-kenning is always that of a harmful, aggressive animal such as a wolf, hound or bear (Meissner 155).

harðr ‘’

(not checked:)
harðr (adj.; °comp. -ari; superl. -astr): hard, harsh < veðrharðr (adj.)

hirðir ‘’

(not checked:)
hirðir (noun m.; °hirðis/hirðirs, dat. & acc. hirði; hirðar/hirðir): guardian, keeper, pastor < veðrhirðir (noun m.)

hirði ‘keeper’

(not checked:)
hirðir (noun m.; °hirðis/hirðirs, dat. & acc. hirði; hirðar/hirðir): guardian, keeper, pastor < veðrhirðir (noun m.)

[6] ‑hirði: so J1ˣ, 61, 53, 54, Bb, ‑hirðir Kˣ, F, ‑harðr J2ˣ

kennings

notes

[5, 6] valserkjar veðrhirði ‘the keeper of the weather of the shirt of the slain [(lit. ‘weather-keeper of the slain-shirt’) MAIL-SHIRT > BATTLE > WARRIOR = Hákon jarl]’: (a) Normally hirðir ‘keeper, protector, owner’ appears in connection with weapons, precious objects or the like, rather than with battle (see LP: 1. hirðir; cf. also Fritzner: hirða). For this reason most interpreters (Fms 12; Finnur Jónsson 1891a, 176; Hkr 1893-1901, IV; Konráð Gíslason 1895-7, I, 160; LP: veðrhirði) reverse the order of the kennings that form the determinant: hirði serkjar valveðrs ‘keeper of the shirt of the slain-weather [BATTLE > MAIL-SHIRT > WARRIOR]’. (b) This edn (with Vell 1865, 73; ÓT 1892, 378; Hkr 1991) leaves the kenning unaltered, understanding hirðir in the sense of nærir ‘nourisher’, cf. Glúmr Gráf 6/3 nærir naddskúrar ‘nourisher of the point-shower [BATTLE > WARRIOR]’. (c) In ÍF 26 veðr is rendered as a ‘ram’ charging the mail-shirt (valserkjar ‘of the shirt of the slain’), and this results in a sword-kenning which is conjoined to hirðir ‘owner’ to form a warrior-kenning ‘owner of the sword’. But this is unlikely because an animal name used as the base-word of a sword-kenning is always that of a harmful, aggressive animal such as a wolf, hound or bear (Meissner 155). — [6] -hirði ‘keeper’: Mss Kˣ and F give both -hirðir and gramr ‘ruler’ in the nom. form. Because only one of these words can be the subject of the sentence, this edn follows the majority of other mss, which have the nom. gramr and the acc. -hirði.

hirði ‘keeper’

(not checked:)
hirðir (noun m.; °hirðis/hirðirs, dat. & acc. hirði; hirðar/hirðir): guardian, keeper, pastor < veðrhirðir (noun m.)

[6] ‑hirði: so J1ˣ, 61, 53, 54, Bb, ‑hirðir Kˣ, F, ‑harðr J2ˣ

kennings

notes

[5, 6] valserkjar veðrhirði ‘the keeper of the weather of the shirt of the slain [(lit. ‘weather-keeper of the slain-shirt’) MAIL-SHIRT > BATTLE > WARRIOR = Hákon jarl]’: (a) Normally hirðir ‘keeper, protector, owner’ appears in connection with weapons, precious objects or the like, rather than with battle (see LP: 1. hirðir; cf. also Fritzner: hirða). For this reason most interpreters (Fms 12; Finnur Jónsson 1891a, 176; Hkr 1893-1901, IV; Konráð Gíslason 1895-7, I, 160; LP: veðrhirði) reverse the order of the kennings that form the determinant: hirði serkjar valveðrs ‘keeper of the shirt of the slain-weather [BATTLE > MAIL-SHIRT > WARRIOR]’. (b) This edn (with Vell 1865, 73; ÓT 1892, 378; Hkr 1991) leaves the kenning unaltered, understanding hirðir in the sense of nærir ‘nourisher’, cf. Glúmr Gráf 6/3 nærir naddskúrar ‘nourisher of the point-shower [BATTLE > WARRIOR]’. (c) In ÍF 26 veðr is rendered as a ‘ram’ charging the mail-shirt (valserkjar ‘of the shirt of the slain’), and this results in a sword-kenning which is conjoined to hirðir ‘owner’ to form a warrior-kenning ‘owner of the sword’. But this is unlikely because an animal name used as the base-word of a sword-kenning is always that of a harmful, aggressive animal such as a wolf, hound or bear (Meissner 155). — [6] -hirði ‘keeper’: Mss Kˣ and F give both -hirðir and gramr ‘ruler’ in the nom. form. Because only one of these words can be the subject of the sentence, this edn follows the majority of other mss, which have the nom. gramr and the acc. -hirði.

bað ‘bade’

(not checked:)
biðja (verb; °biðr; bað, báðu; beðinn (beiþ- Martin¹ 573‡, bỏþ- HákEirsp 661‰, cf. ed. intr. xl)): ask for, order, pray

stirðan ‘the unbending’

(not checked:)
stirðr (adj.): stiff

kennings

fyr ‘against’

(not checked:)
fyr (prep.): for, over, because of, etc.

hlið ‘’

(not checked:)
1. hlið (noun f.; °dat. -/-u; -ar): side

hlunn ‘’

(not checked:)
hlunnr (noun m.; °-s, dat. -i; -ar): rollerhlunnr (noun m.; °-s, dat. -i; -ar): roller

hlym ‘of the din’

(not checked:)
hlymr (noun m.): din < hlymnjǫrðr (noun m.)hlymr (noun m.): din

[7] hlym‑: hlunn‑ 61, 54, Bb, ‘hlid‑’ 53

kennings

hlym ‘of the din’

(not checked:)
hlymr (noun m.): din < hlymnjǫrðr (noun m.)hlymr (noun m.): din

[7] hlym‑: hlunn‑ 61, 54, Bb, ‘hlid‑’ 53

kennings

morðum ‘’

Njǫrðum ‘the Nirðir’

(not checked:)
Njǫrðr (noun m.): Njǫrðr < hlymnjǫrðr (noun m.)Njǫrðr (noun m.): Njǫrðr

[7] Njǫrðum: morðum 53, 54, Bb

kennings

hǫrða ‘’

(not checked:)
Hǫrðar (noun m.): the Hǫrðar

hurðar ‘’

(not checked:)
hurð (noun f.; °-ar, dat. -u/-; -ir): door

hurða ‘of the doors’

(not checked:)
hurð (noun f.; °-ar, dat. -u/-; -ir): door

[7] hurða: hǫrða F, hurðar J1ˣ, 61, 53, 54, Bb

kennings

hurða ‘of the doors’

(not checked:)
hurð (noun f.; °-ar, dat. -u/-; -ir): door

[7] hurða: hǫrða F, hurðar J1ˣ, 61, 53, 54, Bb

kennings

hurða ‘of the doors’

(not checked:)
hurð (noun f.; °-ar, dat. -u/-; -ir): door

[7] hurða: hǫrða F, hurðar J1ˣ, 61, 53, 54, Bb

kennings

Hag ‘of Hag’

(not checked:)
(non-lexical) < Hagbarði (noun m.)(non-lexical) < Hagvarði (noun m.)(non-lexical) < Hagbrati (noun m.)

kennings

notes

[8] Hagbarða ‘of Hagbarði <legendary hero>’: The name is normally an a-stem, Hagbarðr, in which case its ending in -a here would make it a gen. pl. This edn therefore follows most others in assuming Hagbarða to be gen. sg. of the nom. Hagbarði, an n‑stem.

Hag ‘of Hag’

(not checked:)
(non-lexical) < Hagbarði (noun m.)(non-lexical) < Hagvarði (noun m.)(non-lexical) < Hagbrati (noun m.)

kennings

notes

[8] Hagbarða ‘of Hagbarði <legendary hero>’: The name is normally an a-stem, Hagbarðr, in which case its ending in -a here would make it a gen. pl. This edn therefore follows most others in assuming Hagbarða to be gen. sg. of the nom. Hagbarði, an n‑stem.

Hag ‘of Hag’

(not checked:)
(non-lexical) < Hagbarði (noun m.)(non-lexical) < Hagvarði (noun m.)(non-lexical) < Hagbrati (noun m.)

kennings

notes

[8] Hagbarða ‘of Hagbarði <legendary hero>’: The name is normally an a-stem, Hagbarðr, in which case its ending in -a here would make it a gen. pl. This edn therefore follows most others in assuming Hagbarða to be gen. sg. of the nom. Hagbarði, an n‑stem.

brata ‘’

varða ‘’

(not checked:)
varði (noun m.; °-a): °varde, (pyramide-/kegleformet) stendynge (som vejafmærkning el. mindesmærke) < Hagvarði (noun m.)

barða ‘barði’

(not checked:)
(non-lexical) < Hagbarði (noun m.)

[8] ‑barða: ‘‑brata’ J1ˣ, ‑varða Bb

kennings

notes

[8] Hagbarða ‘of Hagbarði <legendary hero>’: The name is normally an a-stem, Hagbarðr, in which case its ending in -a here would make it a gen. pl. This edn therefore follows most others in assuming Hagbarða to be gen. sg. of the nom. Hagbarði, an n‑stem.

barða ‘barði’

(not checked:)
(non-lexical) < Hagbarði (noun m.)

[8] ‑barða: ‘‑brata’ J1ˣ, ‑varða Bb

kennings

notes

[8] Hagbarða ‘of Hagbarði <legendary hero>’: The name is normally an a-stem, Hagbarðr, in which case its ending in -a here would make it a gen. pl. This edn therefore follows most others in assuming Hagbarða to be gen. sg. of the nom. Hagbarði, an n‑stem.

barða ‘barði’

(not checked:)
(non-lexical) < Hagbarði (noun m.)

[8] ‑barða: ‘‑brata’ J1ˣ, ‑varða Bb

kennings

notes

[8] Hagbarða ‘of Hagbarði <legendary hero>’: The name is normally an a-stem, Hagbarðr, in which case its ending in -a here would make it a gen. pl. This edn therefore follows most others in assuming Hagbarða to be gen. sg. of the nom. Hagbarði, an n‑stem.

gram ‘’

(not checked:)
1. gramr (noun m.): ruler

gramr ‘the ruler’

(not checked:)
1. gramr (noun m.): ruler

[8] gramr: gram 53, Bb

varði ‘’

(not checked:)
3. verja (verb): defend

varða ‘to defend’

(not checked:)
2. varða (verb): defend

[8] varða: varði Bb