Eyv Lv 13I
Russell Poole (ed.) 2012, ‘Eyvindr skáldaspillir Finnsson, Lausavísur 13’ 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. 233.
Lôtum ‘make’
(not checked:)
láta (verb): let, have sth done
langra ‘of the long’
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langr (adj.; °compar. lengri, superl. lengstr): long
kennings
sporðfjǫðruðum spáþernum langra nóta,‘the tailfin-feathered prophesying terns of the long nets, ’
= HERRINGS
the tailfin-feathered prophesying terns of the long nets, → HERRINGS
nóta ‘nets’
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nót (noun f.; °-ar; nǿtr/nótir(DI II (*[1327]Bps A II 1) 635¹)): [nets]
kennings
sporðfjǫðruðum spáþernum langra nóta,‘the tailfin-feathered prophesying terns of the long nets, ’
= HERRINGS
the tailfin-feathered prophesying terns of the long nets, → HERRINGS
lǫg ‘the ocean’
(not checked:)
lǫgr (noun m.; °lagar, dat. legi): sea < lǫgsóti (noun m.)
kennings
lǫgsóta‘the ocean-steed ’
= SHIP
the ocean-steed → SHIP
sóta ‘steed’
(not checked:)
sóti (noun m.; °-a): steed, Sóti < lǫgsóti (noun m.)
kennings
lǫgsóta‘the ocean-steed ’
= SHIP
the ocean-steed → SHIP
nær ‘’
(not checked:)
nær (adv.): near, almost; when
ver ‘with sea’
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1. ver (noun n.; °-s; dat. -jum/-um): sea < verfótr (noun m.)
[2] ver‑: nær F
kennings
verfótum‘with sea-feet ’
= OARS
with sea-feet → OARS
notes
[2] verfótum ‘with sea-feet [OARS]’: This nonce-kenning is explained by Konráð Gíslason (1866b, 188-90). In association with the verb sporna ‘pace, prance’ it represents a manneristic extension of ‘horse of the sea’, a familiar pattern for ship-kennings. Ver n. means ‘fishing-ground’ in prose but functions as a generic sea-heiti in poetry (CVC: ver).
fótum ‘feet’
(not checked:)
1. fótr (noun m.): foot, leg < verfótr (noun m.)
kennings
verfótum‘with sea-feet ’
= OARS
with sea-feet → OARS
notes
[2] verfótum ‘with sea-feet [OARS]’: This nonce-kenning is explained by Konráð Gíslason (1866b, 188-90). In association with the verb sporna ‘pace, prance’ it represents a manneristic extension of ‘horse of the sea’, a familiar pattern for ship-kennings. Ver n. means ‘fishing-ground’ in prose but functions as a generic sea-heiti in poetry (CVC: ver).
at ‘to’
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3. at (prep.): at, to
spá ‘prophesying’
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1. spá (noun f.; °-r; -r/-ir): prophecy < spáþerna (noun f.)1. spá (noun f.; °-r; -r/-ir): prophecy < 1. spá (noun f.): prophecy
kennings
sporðfjǫðruðum spáþernum langra nóta,‘the tailfin-feathered prophesying terns of the long nets, ’
= HERRINGS
the tailfin-feathered prophesying terns of the long nets, → HERRINGS
notes
[3] spáþernum ‘prophesying terns’: The significance of this base-word and its prefixed agentive spá- ‘prophesying’, as well as the general association between terns and herrings, have been much discussed. Flornes (1939, 15-6) states that changes in the call of terns, and their flocking behaviour, can indicate (or ‘prophesy’) the presence of herring. But perhaps the idea is simply that boats follow terns, who indicate where the shoals are.
þornum ‘’
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1. þorn (noun m.; °; -ar): thorn < 1. spá (noun f.): prophecy
þernum ‘terns’
(not checked:)
1. þerna (noun f.; °; -ur): tern < spáþerna (noun f.)
[3] ‑þernum: þornum F
kennings
sporðfjǫðruðum spáþernum langra nóta,‘the tailfin-feathered prophesying terns of the long nets, ’
= HERRINGS
the tailfin-feathered prophesying terns of the long nets, → HERRINGS
notes
[3] spáþernum ‘prophesying terns’: The significance of this base-word and its prefixed agentive spá- ‘prophesying’, as well as the general association between terns and herrings, have been much discussed. Flornes (1939, 15-6) states that changes in the call of terns, and their flocking behaviour, can indicate (or ‘prophesy’) the presence of herring. But perhaps the idea is simply that boats follow terns, who indicate where the shoals are.
sporna ‘pace’
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2. sporna (verb): tread
fjǫðruðum ‘’
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fjaðraðr (adj.): °befjedret, bevinget
ok ‘’
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3. ok (conj.): and, but; also
sporð ‘’
(not checked:)
sporðr (noun m.; °-s, dat -i; -ar): [their tail]
sporðfjǫðruðum ‘the tailfin-feathered’
(not checked:)
sporðfjaðraðr (adj./verb p.p.): [tailfin-feathered]
[4] sporðfjǫðruðum: so F, J1ˣ, J2ˣ, sporð ok fjǫðruðum Kˣ
kennings
sporðfjǫðruðum spáþernum langra nóta,‘the tailfin-feathered prophesying terns of the long nets, ’
= HERRINGS
the tailfin-feathered prophesying terns of the long nets, → HERRINGS
norðan ‘from the north’
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norðan (adv.): from the north
vita ‘to see’
(not checked:)
1. vita (verb): know
notes
[5] vita ‘to see’: The inf. form is used in anacoluthon (Hkr 1893-1901, IV), since although the two infinitives sporna ‘prance’ (l. 3) and vita ‘see’ are both dependent on lôtum ‘let us make’ (l. 1), the constructions are different.
ef ‘if’
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3. ef (conj.): if
akr ‘of the field’
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akr (noun m.; °akrs, dat. akri; akrar): field < akrmura (noun f.)akr (noun m.; °akrs, dat. akri; akrar): field < akr (noun m.): field
[5] akrmurur: so F, J2ˣ, ‘akr mutur’ Kˣ, ‘akry(m)ror’(?) J1ˣ
kennings
jǫkla akrmurur,‘field-silverweeds of ice-floes’
= HERRINGS
the field of ice-floes → SEA
the silverweeds of the SEA → HERRINGS
akr ‘of the field’
(not checked:)
akr (noun m.; °akrs, dat. akri; akrar): field < akrmura (noun f.)akr (noun m.; °akrs, dat. akri; akrar): field < akr (noun m.): field
[5] akrmurur: so F, J2ˣ, ‘akr mutur’ Kˣ, ‘akry(m)ror’(?) J1ˣ
kennings
jǫkla akrmurur,‘field-silverweeds of ice-floes’
= HERRINGS
the field of ice-floes → SEA
the silverweeds of the SEA → HERRINGS
mutr ‘’
(not checked:)
mutr (noun n.): °mumlen < akr (noun m.): field
murur ‘the silverweeds’
(not checked:)
mura (noun f.; °-u): [silverweeds] < akrmura (noun f.)
[5] akrmurur: so F, J2ˣ, ‘akr mutur’ Kˣ, ‘akry(m)ror’(?) J1ˣ
kennings
jǫkla akrmurur,‘field-silverweeds of ice-floes’
= HERRINGS
the field of ice-floes → SEA
the silverweeds of the SEA → HERRINGS
notes
[5] -murur ‘silverweeds’: Part of a unique kenning, exceptional because in referring to herrings as plants, it crosses between the animal and plant kingdoms (cf. Meissner 116). Mura f. is the plant potentilla anserina (CVC: mura). — [5] jǫkla akrmurur ‘the silverweeds of the field of ice-floes [(lit. ‘field-silverweeds of ice-floes’) SEA > HERRINGS]’: This kenning signifies ‘fish’ in general rather then ‘herrings’ specifically, as do those in st. 14/2 and st. 14/6. But the sense ‘herring’ is indicated by the reciprocal kenning for ‘arrows’ in st. 14/8, which features the base-word hlaupsildr ‘leaping herrings’, and by the prose contexts, which specify herrings.
murur ‘the silverweeds’
(not checked:)
mura (noun f.; °-u): [silverweeds] < akrmura (noun f.)
[5] akrmurur: so F, J2ˣ, ‘akr mutur’ Kˣ, ‘akry(m)ror’(?) J1ˣ
kennings
jǫkla akrmurur,‘field-silverweeds of ice-floes’
= HERRINGS
the field of ice-floes → SEA
the silverweeds of the SEA → HERRINGS
notes
[5] -murur ‘silverweeds’: Part of a unique kenning, exceptional because in referring to herrings as plants, it crosses between the animal and plant kingdoms (cf. Meissner 116). Mura f. is the plant potentilla anserina (CVC: mura). — [5] jǫkla akrmurur ‘the silverweeds of the field of ice-floes [(lit. ‘field-silverweeds of ice-floes’) SEA > HERRINGS]’: This kenning signifies ‘fish’ in general rather then ‘herrings’ specifically, as do those in st. 14/2 and st. 14/6. But the sense ‘herring’ is indicated by the reciprocal kenning for ‘arrows’ in st. 14/8, which features the base-word hlaupsildr ‘leaping herrings’, and by the prose contexts, which specify herrings.
jǫkla ‘of ice-floes’
(not checked:)
jǫkull (noun m.; °-s, dat. jǫkli; jǫklar): glacier
kennings
jǫkla akrmurur,‘field-silverweeds of ice-floes’
= HERRINGS
the field of ice-floes → SEA
the silverweeds of the SEA → HERRINGS
jǫkla ‘of ice-floes’
(not checked:)
jǫkull (noun m.; °-s, dat. jǫkli; jǫklar): glacier
kennings
jǫkla akrmurur,‘field-silverweeds of ice-floes’
= HERRINGS
the field of ice-floes → SEA
the silverweeds of the SEA → HERRINGS
eld ‘’
(not checked:)
eldr (noun m.; °-s, dat. -i/-(HómÍsl¹(1993) 24v²⁴); -ar): fire < eldGerðr (noun f.)
ǫls ‘’
(not checked:)
ǫl (noun n.; °-s; -): ale
kennings
ítr ǫl-Gerðr.‘splendid ale-Gerðr.’
= WOMAN
splendid ale-Gerðr. → WOMAN
notes
[6, 7] ítr ǫl-Gerðr ‘splendid ale-Gerðr <goddess> [WOMAN]’: The addressee here is unknown, except that ítr ‘splendid’ might suggest deference. Finnur Jónsson (Hkr 1893-1901, IV) proposes identification with Eyvindr’s wife, but without bringing any evidence.
Gerðr ‘Gerðr’
(not checked:)
Gerðr (noun f.): Gerðr < Ǫlgerðr (noun f.)Gerðr (noun f.): GerðrGerðr (noun f.): Gerðr < eldGerðr (noun f.)
kennings
ítr ǫl-Gerðr.‘splendid ale-Gerðr.’
= WOMAN
splendid ale-Gerðr. → WOMAN
notes
[6, 7] ítr ǫl-Gerðr ‘splendid ale-Gerðr <goddess> [WOMAN]’: The addressee here is unknown, except that ítr ‘splendid’ might suggest deference. Finnur Jónsson (Hkr 1893-1901, IV) proposes identification with Eyvindr’s wife, but without bringing any evidence.
falar ‘marketable’
(not checked:)
2. falr (adj.; °compar. -ari, superl. -astr): white, marketable
notes
[6] falar ‘marketable’: In constructions involving the adj. falr, the person in the dat. (here vinum ‘friends’) appears to be the seller (CVC, Fritzner: falr; cf. LP: 3 falr). On this basis, the sense here is that Eyvindr will see whether his friends can catch herring to sell (or barter) (NN §3050). These ‘friends’ are unspecified but might be dependents and workers on Eyvindr’s lands whom, according to Hkr (ÍF 26, 223) he co-opts for a fishing expedition.
verði ‘will prove’
(not checked:)
1. verða (verb): become, be
ítr ‘splendid’
(not checked:)
ítr (adj.): glorious
kennings
ítr ǫl-Gerðr.‘splendid ale-Gerðr.’
= WOMAN
splendid ale-Gerðr. → WOMAN
notes
[6, 7] ítr ǫl-Gerðr ‘splendid ale-Gerðr <goddess> [WOMAN]’: The addressee here is unknown, except that ítr ‘splendid’ might suggest deference. Finnur Jónsson (Hkr 1893-1901, IV) proposes identification with Eyvindr’s wife, but without bringing any evidence.
þar ‘’
(not checked:)
þar (adv.): there
þærs ‘that’
(not checked:)
2. er (conj.): who, which, when
[7] þærs (‘þær er’): þar er F, ‘þ̄r er’ J1ˣ
upp ‘up’
(not checked:)
upp (adv.): up
hafa ‘’
(not checked:)
hafa (verb): have
rótað ‘’
(not checked:)
róta (verb): [root]
und ‘’
(not checked:)
1. und (noun f.; °; -ir): wound < undsvín (noun n.)
unn ‘the wave’
(not checked:)
2. unnr (noun f.): wave < unnsvín (noun n.)2. unnr (noun f.): wave < unnsinn (noun n.)
[8] unn‑: und J1ˣ
kennings
unnsvín‘the wave-swine ’
= SHIPS
the wave-swine → SHIPS
sinn ‘’
(not checked:)
2. sinn (noun n.; °?dat. -): time < unnsinn (noun n.)
svín ‘swine’
(not checked:)
svín (noun n.; °-s; -): swine, pig < unnsvín (noun n.)svín (noun n.; °-s; -): swine, pig < undsvín (noun n.)
[8] ‑svín: sinn F
kennings
unnsvín‘the wave-swine ’
= SHIPS
the wave-swine → SHIPS
vinum ‘friends’
(not checked:)
vinr (noun m.; °-ar, dat. -/(-i OsvReyk 92.17); -ir): friend
sínum ‘’
(not checked:)
3. sinn (pron.; °f. sín, n. sitt): (refl. poss. pron.)
Interactive view: tap on words in the text for notes and glosses
|
Lôtum langra nóta |
Let us make the ocean-steed [SHIP] pace with sea-feet [OARS] from the north to the tailfin-feathered prophesying terns of the long nets [HERRINGS], to see if the silverweeds of the field of ice-floes [(lit. ‘field-silverweeds of ice-floes’) SEA > HERRINGS] that the wave-swine [SHIPS] root up will prove marketable for my friends, splendid ale-Gerðr <goddess> [WOMAN].
When a shoal of herrings is spotted in spring Eyvindr mounts a fishing expedition.
Fsk (ÍF 29, 98) is evidently drawing upon Lv 13 and 14 when it mentions a shortage of herrings, even though it does not cite these stanzas (Poole 1991, 13-14).
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