Eskál Vell 28I
Edith Marold (ed.) 2012, ‘Einarr skálaglamm Helgason, Vellekla 28’ 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. 318.
Þrymr ‘The din’
(not checked:)
þrymr (noun m.; °-s): din
kennings
Þrymr logs Þriðja‘The din of the fire of Þriði ’
= BATTLE
the fire of Þriði → SWORD
The din of the SWORD → BATTLE
var ‘’
(not checked:)
2. vera (verb): be, is, was, were, are, am
við ‘’
(not checked:)
2. við (prep.): with, against
varð ‘came about’
(not checked:)
1. verða (verb): become, be
[1] varð: var F, FskBˣ, við J1ˣ, 61, 53, 54, Bb
kennings
Þrymr logs Þriðja‘The din of the fire of Þriði ’
= BATTLE
the fire of Þriði → SWORD
The din of the SWORD → BATTLE
kennings
Þrymr logs Þriðja‘The din of the fire of Þriði ’
= BATTLE
the fire of Þriði → SWORD
The din of the SWORD → BATTLE
ór ‘’
(not checked:)
3. ór (prep.): out of
þars ‘where’
(not checked:)
þars (conj.): where
[1] þars (‘þar er’): er J1ˣ, 61, 53, 54, FskBˣ, FskAˣ, ór Bb
notes
[1] þars ‘where’: This is selected here, being the reading of the main ms. (so also Hkr 1893-1901, I; ÍF 26; Hkr 1991). The variant es ‘when’ is also possible (so Fms 1; Vell 1865, 81; Konráð Gíslason 1895-7, I, 163; ÍF 29; Skald). Skj B gives es in the stanza, but þars in the prose order.
sǫgðu ‘’
(not checked:)
segja (verb): say, tell
leið ‘’
(not checked:)
leið (noun f.; °-ar, dat. -u/-; -ir/-ar): path, way
liðs ‘’
(not checked:)
lið (noun n.; °-s; -): retinue, troop < liðsmiðjungr (noun m.)
leik ‘of the game’
[2] leik‑: liðs‑ J1ˣ, leið‑ Bb
kennings
odda leikmiðjungar‘game-miðjungar of arrow-points’
= WARRIORS
the game of arrow-points → BATTLE
the miðjungar of the BATTLE → WARRIORS
leik ‘of the game’
[2] leik‑: liðs‑ J1ˣ, leið‑ Bb
kennings
odda leikmiðjungar‘game-miðjungar of arrow-points’
= WARRIORS
the game of arrow-points → BATTLE
the miðjungar of the BATTLE → WARRIORS
miðjungr ‘’
(not checked:)
Miðjungr (noun m.; °; -ar): Miðjungr, giants < leikmiðjungr (noun m.)
miðjungar ‘the miðjungar’
[2] ‑miðjungar: so F, J1ˣ, J2ˣ, 61, 53, 54, FskBˣ, FskAˣ, ‑miðjungr Kˣ, ‘‑miðiu(nn)ar’(?) Bb
kennings
odda leikmiðjungar‘game-miðjungar of arrow-points’
= WARRIORS
the game of arrow-points → BATTLE
the miðjungar of the BATTLE → WARRIORS
notes
[2] miðjungar ‘the miðjungar’: This word is mentioned in the Þulur (Þul Jǫtna I 6/4III) as a giant-heiti. However, it commonly appears as the base-word of warrior-kennings such as KormǪ Lv 30/4-5V (Korm 34) Hildar hreggmiðjungr ‘miðjungr of the storm of Hildr <valkyrie> [BATTLE > WARRIOR]’, where it cannot mean ‘giant’, because, according to Snorri (SnE 1998, I, 40), it would be an insult. This has led to the assumption that miðjungar are intermediaries between gods and giants (e.g. Meissner 348-50; LP: miðjungr).
Þriðja ‘of Þriði’
(not checked:)
Þriði (noun m.): Þriði
kennings
Þrymr logs Þriðja‘The din of the fire of Þriði ’
= BATTLE
the fire of Þriði → SWORD
The din of the SWORD → BATTLE
Þriðja ‘of Þriði’
(not checked:)
Þriði (noun m.): Þriði
kennings
Þrymr logs Þriðja‘The din of the fire of Þriði ’
= BATTLE
the fire of Þriði → SWORD
The din of the SWORD → BATTLE
arn ‘the eagle’
(not checked:)
1. ǫrn (noun m.; °arnar, dat. erni; ernir, acc. ǫrnu): eagle < arngreddir (noun m.)
kennings
arngreddir‘the eagle-feeder ’
= WARRIOR
the eagle-feeder → WARRIOR
greddir ‘feeder’
(not checked:)
greddir (noun m.): feeder < arngreddir (noun m.)
kennings
arngreddir‘the eagle-feeder ’
= WARRIOR
the eagle-feeder → WARRIOR
varð ‘became’
(not checked:)
1. verða (verb): become, be
oddum ‘’
(not checked:)
oddr (noun m.; °-s, dat. -i; -ar): point of weapon
oddu ‘’
odda ‘of arrow-points’
(not checked:)
oddr (noun m.; °-s, dat. -i; -ar): point of weapon
[3] odda: oddu J1ˣ, FskAˣ, oddum 61, 53, 54, Bb
kennings
odda leikmiðjungar‘game-miðjungar of arrow-points’
= WARRIORS
the game of arrow-points → BATTLE
the miðjungar of the BATTLE → WARRIORS
odda ‘of arrow-points’
(not checked:)
oddr (noun m.; °-s, dat. -i; -ar): point of weapon
[3] odda: oddu J1ˣ, FskAˣ, oddum 61, 53, 54, Bb
kennings
odda leikmiðjungar‘game-miðjungar of arrow-points’
= WARRIORS
the game of arrow-points → BATTLE
the miðjungar of the BATTLE → WARRIORS
and ‘’
[4] and‑: ‘aund‑’ FskAˣ
saman ‘together’
(not checked:)
saman (adv.): together
randi ‘’
(not checked:)
randi (noun m.)
randir ‘shields’
(not checked:)
rǫnd (noun f.; °dat. -/-u; rendr/randir): shield, shield-rim
[4] randir: randi or ‘randr’ J1ˣ
sun ‘’
Sund ‘of the channel’
(not checked:)
sund (noun n.; °-s; -): sound, strait; swimming < sundfaxi (noun m.)
[5] Sund‑: ‘sun‑’ FskBˣ
kennings
Sœki-Þróttr sundfaxa‘The attacking-Þróttr of the channel-horses ’
= SEA-WARRIOR = Hákon jarl
the channel-horses → SHIPS
The attacking-Þróttr of SHIPS → SEA-WARRIOR = Hákon jarl
Sund ‘of the channel’
(not checked:)
sund (noun n.; °-s; -): sound, strait; swimming < sundfaxi (noun m.)
[5] Sund‑: ‘sun‑’ FskBˣ
kennings
Sœki-Þróttr sundfaxa‘The attacking-Þróttr of the channel-horses ’
= SEA-WARRIOR = Hákon jarl
the channel-horses → SHIPS
The attacking-Þróttr of SHIPS → SEA-WARRIOR = Hákon jarl
faxa ‘horses’
(not checked:)
faxi (noun m.): steed < sundfaxi (noun m.)faxi (noun m.): steed
[5] ‑faxa: ‘‑(?)axa’(?) 54
kennings
Sœki-Þróttr sundfaxa‘The attacking-Þróttr of the channel-horses ’
= SEA-WARRIOR = Hákon jarl
the channel-horses → SHIPS
The attacking-Þróttr of SHIPS → SEA-WARRIOR = Hákon jarl
faxa ‘horses’
(not checked:)
faxi (noun m.): steed < sundfaxi (noun m.)faxi (noun m.): steed
[5] ‑faxa: ‘‑(?)axa’(?) 54
kennings
Sœki-Þróttr sundfaxa‘The attacking-Þróttr of the channel-horses ’
= SEA-WARRIOR = Hákon jarl
the channel-horses → SHIPS
The attacking-Þróttr of SHIPS → SEA-WARRIOR = Hákon jarl
kom ‘drove’
(not checked:)
koma (verb; kem, kom/kvam, kominn): come
Sǫxum ‘the Saxons’
(not checked:)
1. Saxi (noun m.; °; -ar): Saxon
lœki ‘’
(not checked:)
lœkr (noun m.; °-jar, dat. -; -ir): brook, stream
sœki ‘The attacking’
(not checked:)
sœkja (verb): seek, attack < sœkiþróttr (noun m.)sœkja (verb): seek, attack
[6] sœki‑: lœki‑ 54
kennings
Sœki-Þróttr sundfaxa‘The attacking-Þróttr of the channel-horses ’
= SEA-WARRIOR = Hákon jarl
the channel-horses → SHIPS
The attacking-Þróttr of SHIPS → SEA-WARRIOR = Hákon jarl
þróttir ‘’
Þróttr ‘Þróttr’
(not checked:)
2. Þróttr (noun m.): Þróttr < sœkiþróttr (noun m.)2. Þróttr (noun m.): Þróttr
[6] Þróttr: ‘þrottir’ FskAˣ
kennings
Sœki-Þróttr sundfaxa‘The attacking-Þróttr of the channel-horses ’
= SEA-WARRIOR = Hákon jarl
the channel-horses → SHIPS
The attacking-Þróttr of SHIPS → SEA-WARRIOR = Hákon jarl
á ‘to’
(not checked:)
3. á (prep.): on, at
flótta ‘flight’
(not checked:)
flótti (noun m.): flight, fleeing
notes
[7] þars svát ‘where’: Literally this collocation means ‘where it is so that ...’. Konráð Gíslason (1895-7, I, 165-6) views it as emphasising Hákon jarl’s preparedness for battle.
notes
[7] þars svát ‘where’: Literally this collocation means ‘where it is so that ...’. Konráð Gíslason (1895-7, I, 165-6) views it as emphasising Hákon jarl’s preparedness for battle.
gramr ‘the ruler’
(not checked:)
1. gramr (noun m.): ruler
með ‘with’
(not checked:)
með (prep.): with
gumna ‘’
(not checked:)
gumi (noun m.; °-a; gumar/gumnar): man
gunnum ‘’
(not checked:)
gunnr (noun f.): battle
gumnum ‘men’
(not checked:)
gumi (noun m.; °-a; gumar/gumnar): man
[7] gumnum: ‘gunnum’ 61, 53, gumna FskBˣ, FskAˣ
garð ‘the palisade’
(not checked:)
garðr (noun m.): enclosure, yard
ý ‘’
(not checked:)
ýr (noun m.): yew, yew-bow, bow < ýþjóð (noun f.)
ó ‘’
(not checked:)
ó- ((prefix)): un- < óþjóð (noun f.): evildoer, evil tribe
yr ‘’
[8] yr‑: ý‑ F, ó‑ J1ˣ, 61, 53, 54, Bb
notes
[8] yrþjóðum ‘against the troops’: This refers to the aggressors, the army of Emperor Otto II. On yrþjóð see Note to st. 21/8.
þjóðum ‘the troops’
notes
[8] yrþjóðum ‘against the troops’: This refers to the aggressors, the army of Emperor Otto II. On yrþjóð see Note to st. 21/8.
varði ‘defended’
(not checked:)
3. verja (verb): defend
Interactive view: tap on words in the text for notes and glosses
|
Þrymr varð logs, þars lǫgðu |
The din of the fire of Þriði <= Óðinn> [SWORD > BATTLE] came about, where the miðjungar of the game of arrow-points [(lit. ‘game-miðjungar of arrow-points’) BATTLE > WARRIORS] set their shields together; the eagle-feeder [WARRIOR] became aggressive. The attacking-Þróttr <= Óðinn> of the channel-horses [SHIPS > SEA-WARRIOR = Hákon jarl] drove the Saxons to flight, where the ruler with his men defended the palisade against the troops.
In Hkr and ÓT’s account of the battle for the Danevirke, Hákon’s forces defend both wall and gates. A large part of the emperor’s army falls, and he breaks off his attack. Fsk (which lacks sts 25-7) summarises the campaign before citing st. 28.
Although the historical sources report that the Danish king was defeated, Vell claims Hákon jarl was victorious. Historians explain this either as evidence that the stanza does not relate to the battle of the year 974 (see Note to st. 26 [All]; Skovgaard-Petersen 1977, 167) or that Hákon jarl was indeed able to defend his part of the wall (Ussing 1928, 147; Bolin 1931, 205). — [1-3]: The distribution of the determinants in the kennings used here has been handled in various ways: (a) The arrangement adopted above is also that of most other eds. (b) Vell 1865, 81 and Konráð Gíslason (1895-7, I, 163) have þrymr odda ‘din of spears [BATTLE]’ and leikmiðjungar logs Þriðja ‘the miðjungar of the game of the fire of Þriði <= Óðinn> [SWORD > BATTLE > WARRIORS]’. Here l. 2 remains a unit, but l. 1 is split into three parts, Þrymr varð, logs, þars/es lǫgðu. (c) Kock (NN §2245) reads the two kennings as þrymr logs ‘din of the sword [BATTLE]’ and leikmiðjungar Þriðja ‘the miðjungar of the game of Þriði <= Óðinn> [BATTLE > WARRIOR]’; but this involves taking log in the sense of ‘sword’, which is otherwise unattested.
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