Eyv Lv 2I
Russell Poole (ed.) 2012, ‘Eyvindr skáldaspillir Finnsson, Lausavísur 2’ 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. 216.
bamir ‘’
Samira ‘It does not befit’
[1] Samira: sannra Bb, samir at Flat, FskBˣ, samir á FskAˣ, ‘Bamir a’ Þb106ˣ, Þb112ˣ
njǫrð ‘’
Njǫrðr ‘Njǫrðr’
[1] Njǫrðr: so J1ˣ, J2ˣ, norðr Kˣ, F, 61, Bb, 325IX 1 a, FskAˣ, njǫrð FskBˣ, ‘mord’ or ‘niord’ Þb106ˣ, morð Þb112ˣ
kennings
Njǫrðr naddregns,‘Njǫrðr of the spear-rain, ’
= WARRIOR = Hákon
the spear-rain, → BATTLE
Njǫrðr of the BATTLE → WARRIOR = Hákon
enn ‘still further’
2. enn (adv.): still, yet, again
[1] enn: so F, J2ˣ, Bb, FskBˣ, FskAˣ, Þb112ˣ, en Kˣ, J1ˣ, 61, 325IX 1 a, Þb106ˣ, þá er Flat
notes
[1] enn norðar ‘still further north’: Most mss have en or enn; adverbial enn ‘still’ is assumed here, and this is a possible interpretation of the reading en in some mss. Thus the skald’s words could voice criticism of Hákon for retreating (or contemplating retreat) in the face of the threat from Haraldr. Editors have suggested that enn carries little emphasis here and have cautioned against this reading (ÍF 26, and ÍF 29 implicitly), but the possibility of such criticism cannot be excluded. Alternatively, the situation implied in the stanza, read independently of the prose, might be that at the time that the threat announced itself Hákon had been intending to continue his itinerary of seasonal feasts (veizlur) in a northerly direction.
norðan ‘’
notes
[1] enn norðar ‘still further north’: Most mss have en or enn; adverbial enn ‘still’ is assumed here, and this is a possible interpretation of the reading en in some mss. Thus the skald’s words could voice criticism of Hákon for retreating (or contemplating retreat) in the face of the threat from Haraldr. Editors have suggested that enn carries little emphasis here and have cautioned against this reading (ÍF 26, and ÍF 29 implicitly), but the possibility of such criticism cannot be excluded. Alternatively, the situation implied in the stanza, read independently of the prose, might be that at the time that the threat announced itself Hákon had been intending to continue his itinerary of seasonal feasts (veizlur) in a northerly direction.
nað ‘’
nadd ‘of the spear’
naddr (noun m.; °-s; -ar): spear, point < naddregn (noun n.)
[2] nadd‑: ‘nað’ J1ˣ, J2ˣ, FskAˣ, ‘nad’ Þb106ˣ, Þb112ˣ
kennings
Njǫrðr naddregns,‘Njǫrðr of the spear-rain, ’
= WARRIOR = Hákon
the spear-rain, → BATTLE
Njǫrðr of the BATTLE → WARRIOR = Hákon
nadd ‘of the spear’
naddr (noun m.; °-s; -ar): spear, point < naddregn (noun n.)
[2] nadd‑: ‘nað’ J1ˣ, J2ˣ, FskAˣ, ‘nad’ Þb106ˣ, Þb112ˣ
kennings
Njǫrðr naddregns,‘Njǫrðr of the spear-rain, ’
= WARRIOR = Hákon
the spear-rain, → BATTLE
Njǫrðr of the BATTLE → WARRIOR = Hákon
rengs ‘’
kennings
Njǫrðr naddregns,‘Njǫrðr of the spear-rain, ’
= WARRIOR = Hákon
the spear-rain, → BATTLE
Njǫrðr of the BATTLE → WARRIOR = Hákon
kennings
Njǫrðr naddregns,‘Njǫrðr of the spear-rain, ’
= WARRIOR = Hákon
the spear-rain, → BATTLE
Njǫrðr of the BATTLE → WARRIOR = Hákon
samir ‘’
gerðum ‘’
gerum ‘’
getum ‘’
2. geta (verb): to beget, give birth to, mention, speak of; to think well of, like, love
[3] getum: gerum Flat, gerðum FskBˣ, samir Þb106ˣ, Þb112ˣ
notes
[3] getum at bǫlva ‘curse’: Geta ‘to get, be able’ is probably a pleonastic auxiliary here.
bils ‘’
bǫlva ‘curse’
borð ‘of the gunwale’
[4] borð‑: blá FskBˣ, FskAˣ
kennings
skæ borðmœrar‘the horse of the gunwale-land ’
= SHIP
the gunwale-land → SEA
the horse of the SEA → SHIP
notes
[4] borðmœrar ‘of the gunwale-land [SEA]’: Borð ‘gunwale, strake, plank’ may be used here, as frequently, pars pro toto for ‘ship’ (cf. ÍF 26). The reading blámœrar ‘of the blue land [sea]’ in some Fsk mss represents an adj. plus noun construction that has some parallels (Meissner 3; cf. Note to Gsind Hákdr 1/2). It is poorly supported in the paradosis, but it is just conceivable that it is the original reading and that the majority reading has arisen by anticipation from gunnborð ‘battle-board [SHIELD]’ in l. 8.
borð ‘of the gunwale’
[4] borð‑: blá FskBˣ, FskAˣ
kennings
skæ borðmœrar‘the horse of the gunwale-land ’
= SHIP
the gunwale-land → SEA
the horse of the SEA → SHIP
notes
[4] borðmœrar ‘of the gunwale-land [SEA]’: Borð ‘gunwale, strake, plank’ may be used here, as frequently, pars pro toto for ‘ship’ (cf. ÍF 26). The reading blámœrar ‘of the blue land [sea]’ in some Fsk mss represents an adj. plus noun construction that has some parallels (Meissner 3; cf. Note to Gsind Hákdr 1/2). It is poorly supported in the paradosis, but it is just conceivable that it is the original reading and that the majority reading has arisen by anticipation from gunnborð ‘battle-board [SHIELD]’ in l. 8.
meyjar ‘’
mœra ‘’
mœrar ‘land’
2. mœrr (noun f.): marsh < borðmœrr (noun f.)2. mœrr (noun f.): marsh < blámœrr (noun f.)
[4] ‑mœrar: ‘m(æ)rar’(?) Bb, ‘męra’ Flat, ‘mæyar’ FskBˣ
kennings
skæ borðmœrar‘the horse of the gunwale-land ’
= SHIP
the gunwale-land → SEA
the horse of the SEA → SHIP
notes
[4] borðmœrar ‘of the gunwale-land [SEA]’: Borð ‘gunwale, strake, plank’ may be used here, as frequently, pars pro toto for ‘ship’ (cf. ÍF 26). The reading blámœrar ‘of the blue land [sea]’ in some Fsk mss represents an adj. plus noun construction that has some parallels (Meissner 3; cf. Note to Gsind Hákdr 1/2). It is poorly supported in the paradosis, but it is just conceivable that it is the original reading and that the majority reading has arisen by anticipation from gunnborð ‘battle-board [SHIELD]’ in l. 8.
mœrar ‘land’
2. mœrr (noun f.): marsh < borðmœrr (noun f.)2. mœrr (noun f.): marsh < blámœrr (noun f.)
[4] ‑mœrar: ‘m(æ)rar’(?) Bb, ‘męra’ Flat, ‘mæyar’ FskBˣ
kennings
skæ borðmœrar‘the horse of the gunwale-land ’
= SHIP
the gunwale-land → SEA
the horse of the SEA → SHIP
notes
[4] borðmœrar ‘of the gunwale-land [SEA]’: Borð ‘gunwale, strake, plank’ may be used here, as frequently, pars pro toto for ‘ship’ (cf. ÍF 26). The reading blámœrar ‘of the blue land [sea]’ in some Fsk mss represents an adj. plus noun construction that has some parallels (Meissner 3; cf. Note to Gsind Hákdr 1/2). It is poorly supported in the paradosis, but it is just conceivable that it is the original reading and that the majority reading has arisen by anticipation from gunnborð ‘battle-board [SHIELD]’ in l. 8.
kæ ‘’
sko᷎r ‘’
sker ‘’
skæ ‘the horse’
[4] skæ: so F, J1ˣ, J2ˣ, 61, FskBˣ, FskAˣ, Þb106ˣ, Þb112ˣ, ‘kæ’ Kˣ, ‘sk(œ)’(?) 325IX 1 a, skír Bb, sker 325IX 1 a, ‘sko᷎r’ Flat
kennings
skæ borðmœrar‘the horse of the gunwale-land ’
= SHIP
the gunwale-land → SEA
the horse of the SEA → SHIP
fœra ‘to take’
Nús ‘Now it is’
þar ‘’
rykr ‘’
raukr ‘’
rø̨tt ‘’
rekr ‘drives’
[5] rekr: ‘rø̨tt’ F, ‘raukkr’ 61, reykr Bb, 325IX 1 a, ‘rykr’ Flat
notes
[5-6, 8] Haraldr rekr breiðan flota sunnan á rymleið Rakna ‘Haraldr drives his broad fleet from the south on the roaring path of Rakni <sea-king> [SEA]’: The Ldn text deviates considerably here, and can be construed in context as follows (ÍF 1): Haraldr konungr rekr rástóð sunnan at slóðar Rakna ‘King Haraldr drives his yard-arm-stud [FLEET] from the south towards the tracks of Rakni [SEA]’. Konráð Gíslason (1892, 68-9) sees this as a case of re-working of the text, with rástóð ‘yard-arm-stud [FLEET]’, which fits well with the verb reka ‘drive’, representing a refinement upon Eyvindr’s original during subsequent transmission. But the possibility cannot be excluded that Ldn here represents a sound early tradition.
notes
[5-6, 8] Haraldr rekr breiðan flota sunnan á rymleið Rakna ‘Haraldr drives his broad fleet from the south on the roaring path of Rakni <sea-king> [SEA]’: The Ldn text deviates considerably here, and can be construed in context as follows (ÍF 1): Haraldr konungr rekr rástóð sunnan at slóðar Rakna ‘King Haraldr drives his yard-arm-stud [FLEET] from the south towards the tracks of Rakni [SEA]’. Konráð Gíslason (1892, 68-9) sees this as a case of re-working of the text, with rástóð ‘yard-arm-stud [FLEET]’, which fits well with the verb reka ‘drive’, representing a refinement upon Eyvindr’s original during subsequent transmission. But the possibility cannot be excluded that Ldn here represents a sound early tradition.
kennings
rymleið Rakna;‘the roaring path of Rakni; ’
= SEA
the roaring path of Rakni; → SEA
notes
[5-6, 8] Haraldr rekr breiðan flota sunnan á rymleið Rakna ‘Haraldr drives his broad fleet from the south on the roaring path of Rakni <sea-king> [SEA]’: The Ldn text deviates considerably here, and can be construed in context as follows (ÍF 1): Haraldr konungr rekr rástóð sunnan at slóðar Rakna ‘King Haraldr drives his yard-arm-stud [FLEET] from the south towards the tracks of Rakni [SEA]’. Konráð Gíslason (1892, 68-9) sees this as a case of re-working of the text, with rástóð ‘yard-arm-stud [FLEET]’, which fits well with the verb reka ‘drive’, representing a refinement upon Eyvindr’s original during subsequent transmission. But the possibility cannot be excluded that Ldn here represents a sound early tradition.
rúm ‘’
rym ‘the roaring’
rymr (noun m.): roar < rymleið (noun f.)rymr (noun m.): roar
[6] rym‑: ‘rím’ F, ‘rum’ FskBˣ, FskAˣ, rá Þb106ˣ, Þb112ˣ, ‘ra(r)’(?) Þb112ˣ
kennings
rymleið Rakna;‘the roaring path of Rakni; ’
= SEA
the roaring path of Rakni; → SEA
notes
[5-6, 8] Haraldr rekr breiðan flota sunnan á rymleið Rakna ‘Haraldr drives his broad fleet from the south on the roaring path of Rakni <sea-king> [SEA]’: The Ldn text deviates considerably here, and can be construed in context as follows (ÍF 1): Haraldr konungr rekr rástóð sunnan at slóðar Rakna ‘King Haraldr drives his yard-arm-stud [FLEET] from the south towards the tracks of Rakni [SEA]’. Konráð Gíslason (1892, 68-9) sees this as a case of re-working of the text, with rástóð ‘yard-arm-stud [FLEET]’, which fits well with the verb reka ‘drive’, representing a refinement upon Eyvindr’s original during subsequent transmission. But the possibility cannot be excluded that Ldn here represents a sound early tradition.
leið ‘path’
leið (noun f.; °-ar, dat. -u/-; -ir/-ar): path, way < rymleið (noun f.)
[6] ‑leið: seið F, skeiðs FskBˣ, stóð Þb106ˣ, Þb112ˣ
kennings
rymleið Rakna;‘the roaring path of Rakni; ’
= SEA
the roaring path of Rakni; → SEA
notes
[5-6, 8] Haraldr rekr breiðan flota sunnan á rymleið Rakna ‘Haraldr drives his broad fleet from the south on the roaring path of Rakni <sea-king> [SEA]’: The Ldn text deviates considerably here, and can be construed in context as follows (ÍF 1): Haraldr konungr rekr rástóð sunnan at slóðar Rakna ‘King Haraldr drives his yard-arm-stud [FLEET] from the south towards the tracks of Rakni [SEA]’. Konráð Gíslason (1892, 68-9) sees this as a case of re-working of the text, with rástóð ‘yard-arm-stud [FLEET]’, which fits well with the verb reka ‘drive’, representing a refinement upon Eyvindr’s original during subsequent transmission. But the possibility cannot be excluded that Ldn here represents a sound early tradition.
notes
[5-6, 8] Haraldr rekr breiðan flota sunnan á rymleið Rakna ‘Haraldr drives his broad fleet from the south on the roaring path of Rakni <sea-king> [SEA]’: The Ldn text deviates considerably here, and can be construed in context as follows (ÍF 1): Haraldr konungr rekr rástóð sunnan at slóðar Rakna ‘King Haraldr drives his yard-arm-stud [FLEET] from the south towards the tracks of Rakni [SEA]’. Konráð Gíslason (1892, 68-9) sees this as a case of re-working of the text, with rástóð ‘yard-arm-stud [FLEET]’, which fits well with the verb reka ‘drive’, representing a refinement upon Eyvindr’s original during subsequent transmission. But the possibility cannot be excluded that Ldn here represents a sound early tradition.
breiðan ‘his broad’
breiðr (adj.; °compar. -ari, superl. -astr): broad, wide
[6] breiðan: breiðum Bb, 325IX 1 a, slóðar Þb106ˣ, Þb112ˣ
notes
[5-6, 8] Haraldr rekr breiðan flota sunnan á rymleið Rakna ‘Haraldr drives his broad fleet from the south on the roaring path of Rakni <sea-king> [SEA]’: The Ldn text deviates considerably here, and can be construed in context as follows (ÍF 1): Haraldr konungr rekr rástóð sunnan at slóðar Rakna ‘King Haraldr drives his yard-arm-stud [FLEET] from the south towards the tracks of Rakni [SEA]’. Konráð Gíslason (1892, 68-9) sees this as a case of re-working of the text, with rástóð ‘yard-arm-stud [FLEET]’, which fits well with the verb reka ‘drive’, representing a refinement upon Eyvindr’s original during subsequent transmission. But the possibility cannot be excluded that Ldn here represents a sound early tradition. — [6] breiðan ‘broad’: Haraldr’s fleet, with its superior numbers, is seen as presenting a broad front to its opponent (cf. Hkr 1893-1901, IV).
breiðan ‘his broad’
breiðr (adj.; °compar. -ari, superl. -astr): broad, wide
[6] breiðan: breiðum Bb, 325IX 1 a, slóðar Þb106ˣ, Þb112ˣ
notes
[5-6, 8] Haraldr rekr breiðan flota sunnan á rymleið Rakna ‘Haraldr drives his broad fleet from the south on the roaring path of Rakni <sea-king> [SEA]’: The Ldn text deviates considerably here, and can be construed in context as follows (ÍF 1): Haraldr konungr rekr rástóð sunnan at slóðar Rakna ‘King Haraldr drives his yard-arm-stud [FLEET] from the south towards the tracks of Rakni [SEA]’. Konráð Gíslason (1892, 68-9) sees this as a case of re-working of the text, with rástóð ‘yard-arm-stud [FLEET]’, which fits well with the verb reka ‘drive’, representing a refinement upon Eyvindr’s original during subsequent transmission. But the possibility cannot be excluded that Ldn here represents a sound early tradition. — [6] breiðan ‘broad’: Haraldr’s fleet, with its superior numbers, is seen as presenting a broad front to its opponent (cf. Hkr 1893-1901, IV).
grípum ‘grasp’
í ‘in’
notes
[7] í greipar ‘in our hands’: Shields of the standard circular wooden type had a central rounded boss of iron to protect the left hand, which grasped a bar on the back (Graham-Campbell and Batey 1998, 35-6).
greipum ‘’
notes
[7] í greipar ‘in our hands’: Shields of the standard circular wooden type had a central rounded boss of iron to protect the left hand, which grasped a bar on the back (Graham-Campbell and Batey 1998, 35-6).
kennings
gunnborð‘the battle-board ’
= SHIELD
the battle-board → SHIELD
borð ‘board’
borð (noun n.; °-s; -): side, plank, board; table < gunnborð (noun n.): battle-board
[8] ‑borð: bráðr 61, Flat, bræðr Bb, 325IX 1 a
kennings
gunnborð‘the battle-board ’
= SHIELD
the battle-board → SHIELD
Haralds ‘’
notes
[5-6, 8] Haraldr rekr breiðan flota sunnan á rymleið Rakna ‘Haraldr drives his broad fleet from the south on the roaring path of Rakni <sea-king> [SEA]’: The Ldn text deviates considerably here, and can be construed in context as follows (ÍF 1): Haraldr konungr rekr rástóð sunnan at slóðar Rakna ‘King Haraldr drives his yard-arm-stud [FLEET] from the south towards the tracks of Rakni [SEA]’. Konráð Gíslason (1892, 68-9) sees this as a case of re-working of the text, with rástóð ‘yard-arm-stud [FLEET]’, which fits well with the verb reka ‘drive’, representing a refinement upon Eyvindr’s original during subsequent transmission. But the possibility cannot be excluded that Ldn here represents a sound early tradition.
notes
[5-6, 8] Haraldr rekr breiðan flota sunnan á rymleið Rakna ‘Haraldr drives his broad fleet from the south on the roaring path of Rakni <sea-king> [SEA]’: The Ldn text deviates considerably here, and can be construed in context as follows (ÍF 1): Haraldr konungr rekr rástóð sunnan at slóðar Rakna ‘King Haraldr drives his yard-arm-stud [FLEET] from the south towards the tracks of Rakni [SEA]’. Konráð Gíslason (1892, 68-9) sees this as a case of re-working of the text, with rástóð ‘yard-arm-stud [FLEET]’, which fits well with the verb reka ‘drive’, representing a refinement upon Eyvindr’s original during subsequent transmission. But the possibility cannot be excluded that Ldn here represents a sound early tradition.
Interactive view: tap on words in the text for notes and glosses
|
Samira, Njǫrðr, enn norðar, |
It does not befit a brave man, Njǫrðr <god> of the spear-rain [BATTLE > WARRIOR = Hákon], to take the horse of the gunwale-land [SEA > SHIP] still further north; we curse delay. Now it is coming about that Haraldr drives his broad fleet from the south on the roaring path of Rakni <sea-king> [SEA]; let us grasp the battle-board [SHIELD] in our hands.
In Hkr, ÓT and Fsk, this follows Lv 1 (see Context). Hákon abandons his meal and consults his advisers. He sees that he is outnumbered by the fleet sailing from the south and would take evasive action if he could do so honourably. Eyvindr now speaks Lv 2. In Ldn, by contrast, the stanza is ascribed to Þorgeirr hǫggvinkinni ‘Cut-cheek’, a member of Hákon’s entourage, who is about to commence a voyage northwards to Bjarmaland (Permia) when king Haraldr sails up from the south. Þorgeirr supports Hákon in the battle of Fitjar, receiving the wound to the cheek that gives him his nickname.
The ascription to Þorgeirr in Ldn, mentioned above, is rejected by all scholars (e.g. ÍF 1, 66 n.) but is interesting as hinting at divergent traditions in the transmission of skaldic verses.
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