Eskál Vell 29I
Edith Marold (ed.) 2012, ‘Einarr skálaglamm Helgason, Vellekla 29’ 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. 319.
flota ‘’
(not checked:)
floti (noun m.): fleet
kennings
Felli-Njǫrðr flótta‘The slaying-Njǫrðr of the fleeing ones ’
= WARRIOR
The slaying-Njǫrðr of the fleeing ones → WARRIOR
fekk ‘’
(not checked:)
2. fá (verb; °fǽr; fekk, fengu; fenginn): get, receive
gekk ‘sought’
(not checked:)
2. ganga (verb; geng, gekk, gengu, genginn): walk, go
[1] gekk: fekk FskAˣ
til ‘’
(not checked:)
til (prep.): to
frettjar ‘’
notes
[1] fréttar ‘an augury’: Because of the appearance of ravens in this context, the frétt ‘intelligence, forecast’ will have been specifically an augury, a divination based on the flight of birds (on this cf. Pesch 2003, 136-7; ARG I, 428-9; ARG II, 61-3). It is unclear whether this was also typically accompanied by a sacrifice such as Hkr describes (Düwel 1985, 25-6).
felli ‘The slaying’
kennings
Felli-Njǫrðr flótta‘The slaying-Njǫrðr of the fleeing ones ’
= WARRIOR
The slaying-Njǫrðr of the fleeing ones → WARRIOR
týr ‘’
(not checked:)
Týr (noun m.): Týr < fellitýr (noun m.)
týs ‘’
(not checked:)
Týr (noun m.): Týr < fellitýr (noun m.)
Njǫrðr ‘Njǫrðr’
(not checked:)
Njǫrðr (noun m.): Njǫrðr < fellinjǫrðr (noun m.)
[2] Njǫrðr: týs FskBˣ, týr FskAˣ
kennings
Felli-Njǫrðr flótta‘The slaying-Njǫrðr of the fleeing ones ’
= WARRIOR
The slaying-Njǫrðr of the fleeing ones → WARRIOR
á ‘on’
(not checked:)
3. á (prep.): on, at
velli ‘the field’
(not checked:)
vǫllr (noun m.; °vallar, dat. velli; vellir acc. vǫllu/velli): plain, field
drengr ‘’
(not checked:)
drengr (noun m.; °-s, dat. -; -ir, gen. -ja): man, warrior
drjúgr ‘’
(not checked:)
drjúgr (adj.; °compar. -ari (drýgari [$1033$] ms. 56v, superl. -astr): very, excessive
draugr ‘the log’
(not checked:)
2. draugr (noun m.): ghost
[3] draugr: drjúgr 53, 54, Bb, drengr FskBˣ
kennings
draugr váða Heðins‘the log of the clothes of Heðinn ’
= WARRIOR
the clothes of Heðinn → ARMOUR
the log of the ARMOUR → WARRIOR
gat ‘got’
(not checked:)
2. geta (verb): to beget, give birth to, mention, speak of; to think well of, like, love
dolga ‘of enmity’
(not checked:)
dolg (noun n.): battle, enemy
kennings
Sôgu dolga.‘for the Sága of enmity. ’
= VALKYRIE = Hildr
for the Sága of enmity. → VALKYRIE = Hildr
Sôgu ‘for the Sága’
(not checked:)
Sága (noun f.): [Sága, for Sága]
kennings
Sôgu dolga.‘for the Sága of enmity. ’
= VALKYRIE = Hildr
for the Sága of enmity. → VALKYRIE = Hildr
dag ‘advice about’
(not checked:)
dagr (noun m.; °-s, dat. degi/dag/dagi(Thom¹ 332¹n.); -ar): day < dagráð (noun n.): °favourable day, propitious moment
ráð ‘a favourable day’
(not checked:)
ráð (noun n.; °-s; -): advice, plan, control, power < dagráð (noun n.): °favourable day, propitious moment
notes
[4] dagráð ‘advice about a favourable day’: Lit. ‘day-advice', either an indication that a day will be favourable for a particular act, or the fortunate day itself (Fritzner: dagráð 1, 2).
heiðins ‘’
(not checked:)
heiðinn (adj.): heathen
kennings
draugr váða Heðins‘the log of the clothes of Heðinn ’
= WARRIOR
the clothes of Heðinn → ARMOUR
the log of the ARMOUR → WARRIOR
kennings
draugr váða Heðins‘the log of the clothes of Heðinn ’
= WARRIOR
the clothes of Heðinn → ARMOUR
the log of the ARMOUR → WARRIOR
valla ‘’
(not checked:)
vǫllr (noun m.; °vallar, dat. velli; vellir acc. vǫllu/velli): plain, field
kennings
draugr váða Heðins‘the log of the clothes of Heðinn ’
= WARRIOR
the clothes of Heðinn → ARMOUR
the log of the ARMOUR → WARRIOR
kennings
draugr váða Heðins‘the log of the clothes of Heðinn ’
= WARRIOR
the clothes of Heðinn → ARMOUR
the log of the ARMOUR → WARRIOR
Ok ‘And’
(not checked:)
3. ok (conj.): and, but; also
hall ‘’
hald ‘’
(not checked:)
halda (verb): hold, keep < haldboði (noun m.)
[5] hald‑: hall‑ 53, 54, Bb, FskAˣ
kennings
haldboði hildar‘the provider of battle ’
= WARRIOR
the provider of battle → WARRIOR
boði ‘the provider’
(not checked:)
boði (noun m.; °-a; -ar): messenger, breaker < haldboði (noun m.)boði (noun m.; °-a; -ar): messenger, breaker < hallboði (noun m.)
kennings
haldboði hildar‘the provider of battle ’
= WARRIOR
the provider of battle → WARRIOR
hildar ‘of battle’
(not checked:)
1. hildr (noun f.): battle
kennings
haldboði hildar‘the provider of battle ’
= WARRIOR
the provider of battle → WARRIOR
hræ ‘corpse’
(not checked:)
hræ (noun n.; °; -): corpse, carrion < hrægammr (noun m.)
kennings
ramma hrægamma;‘powerful corpse-birds; ’
= RAVENS/EAGLES
powerful corpse-birds; → RAVENS/EAGLES
gamma ‘birds’
(not checked:)
gammr (noun m.): vulture < hrægammr (noun m.)
kennings
ramma hrægamma;‘powerful corpse-birds; ’
= RAVENS/EAGLES
powerful corpse-birds; → RAVENS/EAGLES
sá ‘saw’
(not checked:)
2. sjá (verb): see
hramma ‘’
(not checked:)
hrammr (noun m.; °dat. -i; -ar): claws
ramna ‘’
ramma ‘powerful’
(not checked:)
rammr (adj.; °compar. -ari, superl. -astr): mighty
[6] ramma: hramma F, ‘ramna’ FskBˣ
kennings
ramma hrægamma;‘powerful corpse-birds; ’
= RAVENS/EAGLES
powerful corpse-birds; → RAVENS/EAGLES
Týr ‘the Týr’
(not checked:)
Týr (noun m.): Týr
kennings
Týr teinlautar‘the Týr of the sword-dale ’
= WARRIOR = Hákon jarl
the sword-dale → SHIELD
the Týr of the SHIELD → WARRIOR = Hákon jarl
notes
[7, 8] Týr teinlautar ‘the Týr <god> of the sword-dale [SHIELD > WARRIOR = Hákon jarl]’: The word teinlautar in this kenning has been subject to numerous interpretations. (a) Teinlautar ‘of the sword-dale [SHIELD]’ is assumed here and is one of the explanations considered in LP: teinlaut, ÍF 26 and Hkr 1991. One objection to this interpretation is that teinn ‘twig’, though it is often the base-word of a sword-kenning, is not known as a simplex denoting ‘sword’. In favour of it, however, is the similar hjǫrlaut ‘sword-dale’ in st. 30/4 below, and the fact that other solutions are still more problematic. (b) Týr teins lautar tíra ‘the Týr <god> of the twig of the dale of swords [SHIELD > SWORD > WARRIOR]’ (Fms 12; Vell 1865, 84) can be rejected since it requires emendation of týna to tíra. (c) Týr teinlautar ‘the Týr of the dale of the sacrificial twig [SACRIFICIAL BOWL > SACRIFICIAL PRIEST]’ (given as an alternative in LP: teinlaut, ÍF 26, ÍF 29 and Hkr 1991): Here tein- is equated with hlautteinn ‘sacrificial twig’. However, hlautteinn probably did not occur in the sense ‘sacrificial blood twig’ until the C13th; see (d). (d) Týr teinlautar emended to Týr hlautarteins ‘the Týr of the sacrificial blood twig [SACRIFICIAL PRIEST]’: Although the prose context favours this kenning, this interpretation is not tenable, as all mss give ‘lautar’ except for F. Further, the word hlaut assumed here is otherwise always n., with gen. sg. in ‑s not ‑ar, and its original meaning was probably just ‘lot’ (Düwel 1985, 28). The sense ‘sacrificial blood’ appears to have arisen through Snorri as a Christian reinterpretation (Düwel 1985, 32-8).
valdi ‘’
(not checked:)
velja (verb): choose
vilðri ‘’
(not checked:)
vilðr (adj.): desirable
þá ‘then’
(not checked:)
2. þá (adv.): then
[7] þá: so F, FskBˣ, FskAˣ, sá Kˣ, J1ˣ, J2ˣ, 61, 53, 54, Bb
notes
[7] þá ‘then’: This reading is preferable here, because the demonstrative sá in Kˣ and other mss would be isolated from the noun it determines and because sá was most likely caused by sá in l.6.
týna ‘to destroy’
(not checked:)
týna (verb): lose, destroy
teins ‘’
(not checked:)
teinn (noun m.; °dat. teini; teinar): twig, rod < teinslaut (noun f.)
tens ‘’
tæm ‘’
tein ‘of the sword’
[8] tein‑: ‘tens‑’ 53, teins‑ 54, Bb, ‘tæm‑’ FskAˣ
kennings
Týr teinlautar‘the Týr of the sword-dale ’
= WARRIOR = Hákon jarl
the sword-dale → SHIELD
the Týr of the SHIELD → WARRIOR = Hákon jarl
notes
[7, 8] Týr teinlautar ‘the Týr <god> of the sword-dale [SHIELD > WARRIOR = Hákon jarl]’: The word teinlautar in this kenning has been subject to numerous interpretations. (a) Teinlautar ‘of the sword-dale [SHIELD]’ is assumed here and is one of the explanations considered in LP: teinlaut, ÍF 26 and Hkr 1991. One objection to this interpretation is that teinn ‘twig’, though it is often the base-word of a sword-kenning, is not known as a simplex denoting ‘sword’. In favour of it, however, is the similar hjǫrlaut ‘sword-dale’ in st. 30/4 below, and the fact that other solutions are still more problematic. (b) Týr teins lautar tíra ‘the Týr <god> of the twig of the dale of swords [SHIELD > SWORD > WARRIOR]’ (Fms 12; Vell 1865, 84) can be rejected since it requires emendation of týna to tíra. (c) Týr teinlautar ‘the Týr of the dale of the sacrificial twig [SACRIFICIAL BOWL > SACRIFICIAL PRIEST]’ (given as an alternative in LP: teinlaut, ÍF 26, ÍF 29 and Hkr 1991): Here tein- is equated with hlautteinn ‘sacrificial twig’. However, hlautteinn probably did not occur in the sense ‘sacrificial blood twig’ until the C13th; see (d). (d) Týr teinlautar emended to Týr hlautarteins ‘the Týr of the sacrificial blood twig [SACRIFICIAL PRIEST]’: Although the prose context favours this kenning, this interpretation is not tenable, as all mss give ‘lautar’ except for F. Further, the word hlaut assumed here is otherwise always n., with gen. sg. in ‑s not ‑ar, and its original meaning was probably just ‘lot’ (Düwel 1985, 28). The sense ‘sacrificial blood’ appears to have arisen through Snorri as a Christian reinterpretation (Düwel 1985, 32-8).
tein ‘of the sword’
[8] tein‑: ‘tens‑’ 53, teins‑ 54, Bb, ‘tæm‑’ FskAˣ
kennings
Týr teinlautar‘the Týr of the sword-dale ’
= WARRIOR = Hákon jarl
the sword-dale → SHIELD
the Týr of the SHIELD → WARRIOR = Hákon jarl
notes
[7, 8] Týr teinlautar ‘the Týr <god> of the sword-dale [SHIELD > WARRIOR = Hákon jarl]’: The word teinlautar in this kenning has been subject to numerous interpretations. (a) Teinlautar ‘of the sword-dale [SHIELD]’ is assumed here and is one of the explanations considered in LP: teinlaut, ÍF 26 and Hkr 1991. One objection to this interpretation is that teinn ‘twig’, though it is often the base-word of a sword-kenning, is not known as a simplex denoting ‘sword’. In favour of it, however, is the similar hjǫrlaut ‘sword-dale’ in st. 30/4 below, and the fact that other solutions are still more problematic. (b) Týr teins lautar tíra ‘the Týr <god> of the twig of the dale of swords [SHIELD > SWORD > WARRIOR]’ (Fms 12; Vell 1865, 84) can be rejected since it requires emendation of týna to tíra. (c) Týr teinlautar ‘the Týr of the dale of the sacrificial twig [SACRIFICIAL BOWL > SACRIFICIAL PRIEST]’ (given as an alternative in LP: teinlaut, ÍF 26, ÍF 29 and Hkr 1991): Here tein- is equated with hlautteinn ‘sacrificial twig’. However, hlautteinn probably did not occur in the sense ‘sacrificial blood twig’ until the C13th; see (d). (d) Týr teinlautar emended to Týr hlautarteins ‘the Týr of the sacrificial blood twig [SACRIFICIAL PRIEST]’: Although the prose context favours this kenning, this interpretation is not tenable, as all mss give ‘lautar’ except for F. Further, the word hlaut assumed here is otherwise always n., with gen. sg. in ‑s not ‑ar, and its original meaning was probably just ‘lot’ (Düwel 1985, 28). The sense ‘sacrificial blood’ appears to have arisen through Snorri as a Christian reinterpretation (Düwel 1985, 32-8).
hlautar ‘’
lꜹtr ‘’
lautar ‘dale’
[8] ‑lautar: ‑hlautar F, ‘‑lꜹtr’ J1ˣ
kennings
Týr teinlautar‘the Týr of the sword-dale ’
= WARRIOR = Hákon jarl
the sword-dale → SHIELD
the Týr of the SHIELD → WARRIOR = Hákon jarl
notes
[7, 8] Týr teinlautar ‘the Týr <god> of the sword-dale [SHIELD > WARRIOR = Hákon jarl]’: The word teinlautar in this kenning has been subject to numerous interpretations. (a) Teinlautar ‘of the sword-dale [SHIELD]’ is assumed here and is one of the explanations considered in LP: teinlaut, ÍF 26 and Hkr 1991. One objection to this interpretation is that teinn ‘twig’, though it is often the base-word of a sword-kenning, is not known as a simplex denoting ‘sword’. In favour of it, however, is the similar hjǫrlaut ‘sword-dale’ in st. 30/4 below, and the fact that other solutions are still more problematic. (b) Týr teins lautar tíra ‘the Týr <god> of the twig of the dale of swords [SHIELD > SWORD > WARRIOR]’ (Fms 12; Vell 1865, 84) can be rejected since it requires emendation of týna to tíra. (c) Týr teinlautar ‘the Týr of the dale of the sacrificial twig [SACRIFICIAL BOWL > SACRIFICIAL PRIEST]’ (given as an alternative in LP: teinlaut, ÍF 26, ÍF 29 and Hkr 1991): Here tein- is equated with hlautteinn ‘sacrificial twig’. However, hlautteinn probably did not occur in the sense ‘sacrificial blood twig’ until the C13th; see (d). (d) Týr teinlautar emended to Týr hlautarteins ‘the Týr of the sacrificial blood twig [SACRIFICIAL PRIEST]’: Although the prose context favours this kenning, this interpretation is not tenable, as all mss give ‘lautar’ except for F. Further, the word hlaut assumed here is otherwise always n., with gen. sg. in ‑s not ‑ar, and its original meaning was probably just ‘lot’ (Düwel 1985, 28). The sense ‘sacrificial blood’ appears to have arisen through Snorri as a Christian reinterpretation (Düwel 1985, 32-8).
lautar ‘dale’
[8] ‑lautar: ‑hlautar F, ‘‑lꜹtr’ J1ˣ
kennings
Týr teinlautar‘the Týr of the sword-dale ’
= WARRIOR = Hákon jarl
the sword-dale → SHIELD
the Týr of the SHIELD → WARRIOR = Hákon jarl
notes
[7, 8] Týr teinlautar ‘the Týr <god> of the sword-dale [SHIELD > WARRIOR = Hákon jarl]’: The word teinlautar in this kenning has been subject to numerous interpretations. (a) Teinlautar ‘of the sword-dale [SHIELD]’ is assumed here and is one of the explanations considered in LP: teinlaut, ÍF 26 and Hkr 1991. One objection to this interpretation is that teinn ‘twig’, though it is often the base-word of a sword-kenning, is not known as a simplex denoting ‘sword’. In favour of it, however, is the similar hjǫrlaut ‘sword-dale’ in st. 30/4 below, and the fact that other solutions are still more problematic. (b) Týr teins lautar tíra ‘the Týr <god> of the twig of the dale of swords [SHIELD > SWORD > WARRIOR]’ (Fms 12; Vell 1865, 84) can be rejected since it requires emendation of týna to tíra. (c) Týr teinlautar ‘the Týr of the dale of the sacrificial twig [SACRIFICIAL BOWL > SACRIFICIAL PRIEST]’ (given as an alternative in LP: teinlaut, ÍF 26, ÍF 29 and Hkr 1991): Here tein- is equated with hlautteinn ‘sacrificial twig’. However, hlautteinn probably did not occur in the sense ‘sacrificial blood twig’ until the C13th; see (d). (d) Týr teinlautar emended to Týr hlautarteins ‘the Týr of the sacrificial blood twig [SACRIFICIAL PRIEST]’: Although the prose context favours this kenning, this interpretation is not tenable, as all mss give ‘lautar’ except for F. Further, the word hlaut assumed here is otherwise always n., with gen. sg. in ‑s not ‑ar, and its original meaning was probably just ‘lot’ (Düwel 1985, 28). The sense ‘sacrificial blood’ appears to have arisen through Snorri as a Christian reinterpretation (Düwel 1985, 32-8).
fjǫr ‘the life’
(not checked:)
fjǫr (noun n.): life
Gauta ‘of the Gautar’
(not checked:)
Gautar (noun m.): Gautar, Geats
Interactive view: tap on words in the text for notes and glosses
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Flótta gekk til fréttar |
The slaying-Njǫrðr <god> of the fleeing ones [WARRIOR] sought an augury on the field; the log of the clothes of Heðinn <legendary hero> [ARMOUR > WARRIOR] got advice about a favourable day for the Sága <goddess> of enmity [VALKYRIE = Hildr (hildr ‘battle’)]. And the provider of battle [WARRIOR] saw powerful corpse-birds [RAVENS/EAGLES]; the Týr <god> of the sword-dale [SHIELD > WARRIOR = Hákon jarl] wanted to destroy the life of the Gautar then.
On his way back to Norway, Hákon jarl harries on both sides of the Eyrarsund (Øresund) and in Skáney (Skåne). He lands near the Gautasker and performs a great sacrifice. When two ravens approach, screaming loudly, Hákon is convinced that Óðinn has accepted the sacrifice, and he deems it a favourable time to do battle. He defeats Óttarr jarl of Gautland (Götaland), harries his territory and then returns to Norway. Hkr cites sts 29-31 without interruption and ÓT cites sts 29-30 without interruption, while Fsk cites st. 29 and then sts 30 and 31 (ll. 1-4 only) after the account of events in Gautland.
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