Gamlkan Has 11VII
Katrina Attwood (ed.) 2007, ‘Gamli kanóki, Harmsól 11’ in Margaret Clunies Ross (ed.), Poetry on Christian Subjects. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 7. Turnhout: Brepols, pp. 82-4.
Ókynnin ‘the sins’
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ókynni (noun n.): [sins]
gatk ‘I declared’
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2. geta (verb): to beget, give birth to, mention, speak of; to think well of, like, love
annan ‘another’
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1. annarr (pron.; °f. ǫnnur, n. annat; pl. aðrir): (an)other, second
kennings
annan ljóss víga* veðr-Þrótt‘storm-Þróttr of the flame of battles’
= WARRIOR
the flame of battles → SWORD
the storm of the SWORD → BATTLE
another Þróttr of the BATTLE → WARRIOR
opt ‘often’
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opt (adv.): often < oftsinnis (adv.)
sinnis ‘times’
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2. sinni (noun n.; °-s;): time, occasion; company, following < oftsinnis (adv.)
þar ‘there’
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þar (adv.): there
vinna ‘was committing’
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2. vinna (verb): perform, work
kennings
annan ljóss víga* veðr-Þrótt‘storm-Þróttr of the flame of battles’
= WARRIOR
the flame of battles → SWORD
the storm of the SWORD → BATTLE
another Þróttr of the BATTLE → WARRIOR
kennings
annan ljóss víga* veðr-Þrótt‘storm-Þróttr of the flame of battles’
= WARRIOR
the flame of battles → SWORD
the storm of the SWORD → BATTLE
another Þróttr of the BATTLE → WARRIOR
kennings
annan ljóss víga* veðr-Þrótt‘storm-Þróttr of the flame of battles’
= WARRIOR
the flame of battles → SWORD
the storm of the SWORD → BATTLE
another Þróttr of the BATTLE → WARRIOR
ljóss ‘of the flame’
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ljós (noun n.; °ljóss; -): light
kennings
annan ljóss víga* veðr-Þrótt‘storm-Þróttr of the flame of battles’
= WARRIOR
the flame of battles → SWORD
the storm of the SWORD → BATTLE
another Þróttr of the BATTLE → WARRIOR
ljóss ‘of the flame’
(not checked:)
ljós (noun n.; °ljóss; -): light
kennings
annan ljóss víga* veðr-Þrótt‘storm-Þróttr of the flame of battles’
= WARRIOR
the flame of battles → SWORD
the storm of the SWORD → BATTLE
another Þróttr of the BATTLE → WARRIOR
ljóss ‘of the flame’
(not checked:)
ljós (noun n.; °ljóss; -): light
kennings
annan ljóss víga* veðr-Þrótt‘storm-Þróttr of the flame of battles’
= WARRIOR
the flame of battles → SWORD
the storm of the SWORD → BATTLE
another Þróttr of the BATTLE → WARRIOR
es ‘which’
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2. er (conj.): who, which, when
vissak ‘to be guilty of’
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1. vita (verb): know
veðr ‘of the storm’
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2. veðr (noun n.; °-s; -): weather, wind, storm < veðrþróttr (noun m.)
kennings
annan ljóss víga* veðr-Þrótt‘storm-Þróttr of the flame of battles’
= WARRIOR
the flame of battles → SWORD
the storm of the SWORD → BATTLE
another Þróttr of the BATTLE → WARRIOR
notes
[4] veðr-Þrótt ‘storm-Þróttr [WARRIOR]’: Þróttr is established as an Óðinn-heiti in skaldic verse and occurs frequently in man- and battle-kennings (cf. LP: Þróttr). See also 25/2 (hring-Þróttr ‘ring-Þróttr’) and Leið 37/6 (seima-Þróttr ‘Þróttr of riches’), where the rhyme, as here, is with drótt-.
veðr ‘of the storm’
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2. veðr (noun n.; °-s; -): weather, wind, storm < veðrþróttr (noun m.)
kennings
annan ljóss víga* veðr-Þrótt‘storm-Þróttr of the flame of battles’
= WARRIOR
the flame of battles → SWORD
the storm of the SWORD → BATTLE
another Þróttr of the BATTLE → WARRIOR
notes
[4] veðr-Þrótt ‘storm-Þróttr [WARRIOR]’: Þróttr is established as an Óðinn-heiti in skaldic verse and occurs frequently in man- and battle-kennings (cf. LP: Þróttr). See also 25/2 (hring-Þróttr ‘ring-Þróttr’) and Leið 37/6 (seima-Þróttr ‘Þróttr of riches’), where the rhyme, as here, is with drótt-.
Þrótt ‘Þróttr’
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2. Þróttr (noun m.): Þróttr < veðrþróttr (noun m.)
kennings
annan ljóss víga* veðr-Þrótt‘storm-Þróttr of the flame of battles’
= WARRIOR
the flame of battles → SWORD
the storm of the SWORD → BATTLE
another Þróttr of the BATTLE → WARRIOR
notes
[4] veðr-Þrótt ‘storm-Þróttr [WARRIOR]’: Þróttr is established as an Óðinn-heiti in skaldic verse and occurs frequently in man- and battle-kennings (cf. LP: Þróttr). See also 25/2 (hring-Þróttr ‘ring-Þróttr’) and Leið 37/6 (seima-Þróttr ‘Þróttr of riches’), where the rhyme, as here, is with drótt-.
á ‘’
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3. á (prep.): on, at
mik ‘myself’
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ek (pron.; °mín, dat. mér, acc. mik): I, me
dróttinn ‘Lord’
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dróttinn (noun m.; °dróttins, dat. dróttni (drottini [$1049$]); dróttnar): lord, master
Lítt ‘little’
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lítill (adj.; °lítinn): little
bark ‘I had’
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3. bera (verb; °berr; bar, báru; borinn): bear, carry
ǫnn ‘worry’
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1. ǫnn (noun f.): concern, worry
ok ‘and’
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3. ok (conj.): and, but; also
ótta ‘fear’
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ótti (noun m.; °-a): fear
und ‘of the wound’
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1. und (noun f.; °; -ir): wound < undgjalfr (noun n.)
[6] undgjalfrs: so all others, ‘vnn[...]gialfrs’ B
kennings
aðra geymirunna grálinns undgjalfrs.‘other protecting bushes of the grey serpent of the wound-surge.’
= WARRIORS
the wound-surge. → BLOOD
the grey serpent of the BLOOD → SWORD
other protecting bushes of the SWORD → WARRIORS
und ‘of the wound’
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1. und (noun f.; °; -ir): wound < undgjalfr (noun n.)
[6] undgjalfrs: so all others, ‘vnn[...]gialfrs’ B
kennings
aðra geymirunna grálinns undgjalfrs.‘other protecting bushes of the grey serpent of the wound-surge.’
= WARRIORS
the wound-surge. → BLOOD
the grey serpent of the BLOOD → SWORD
other protecting bushes of the SWORD → WARRIORS
und ‘of the wound’
(not checked:)
1. und (noun f.; °; -ir): wound < undgjalfr (noun n.)
[6] undgjalfrs: so all others, ‘vnn[...]gialfrs’ B
kennings
aðra geymirunna grálinns undgjalfrs.‘other protecting bushes of the grey serpent of the wound-surge.’
= WARRIORS
the wound-surge. → BLOOD
the grey serpent of the BLOOD → SWORD
other protecting bushes of the SWORD → WARRIORS
gjalfrs ‘surge’
(not checked:)
gjalfr (noun n.; °-s): surge, waves < undgjalfr (noun n.)
[6] undgjalfrs: so all others, ‘vnn[...]gialfrs’ B
kennings
aðra geymirunna grálinns undgjalfrs.‘other protecting bushes of the grey serpent of the wound-surge.’
= WARRIORS
the wound-surge. → BLOOD
the grey serpent of the BLOOD → SWORD
other protecting bushes of the SWORD → WARRIORS
gjalfrs ‘surge’
(not checked:)
gjalfr (noun n.; °-s): surge, waves < undgjalfr (noun n.)
[6] undgjalfrs: so all others, ‘vnn[...]gialfrs’ B
kennings
aðra geymirunna grálinns undgjalfrs.‘other protecting bushes of the grey serpent of the wound-surge.’
= WARRIORS
the wound-surge. → BLOOD
the grey serpent of the BLOOD → SWORD
other protecting bushes of the SWORD → WARRIORS
gjalfrs ‘surge’
(not checked:)
gjalfr (noun n.; °-s): surge, waves < undgjalfr (noun n.)
[6] undgjalfrs: so all others, ‘vnn[...]gialfrs’ B
kennings
aðra geymirunna grálinns undgjalfrs.‘other protecting bushes of the grey serpent of the wound-surge.’
= WARRIORS
the wound-surge. → BLOOD
the grey serpent of the BLOOD → SWORD
other protecting bushes of the SWORD → WARRIORS
fyr ‘for’
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fyr (prep.): for, over, because of, etc.
mér ‘my’
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ek (pron.; °mín, dat. mér, acc. mik): I, me
sjǫlfum ‘self’
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sjalfr (adj.): self
grá ‘of the grey’
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grár (adj.; °gráan/grán): grey < grálinnr (noun m.)
kennings
aðra geymirunna grálinns undgjalfrs.‘other protecting bushes of the grey serpent of the wound-surge.’
= WARRIORS
the wound-surge. → BLOOD
the grey serpent of the BLOOD → SWORD
other protecting bushes of the SWORD → WARRIORS
grá ‘of the grey’
(not checked:)
grár (adj.; °gráan/grán): grey < grálinnr (noun m.)
kennings
aðra geymirunna grálinns undgjalfrs.‘other protecting bushes of the grey serpent of the wound-surge.’
= WARRIORS
the wound-surge. → BLOOD
the grey serpent of the BLOOD → SWORD
other protecting bushes of the SWORD → WARRIORS
linns ‘serpent’
(not checked:)
linnr (noun m.): snake < grálinnr (noun m.)
kennings
aðra geymirunna grálinns undgjalfrs.‘other protecting bushes of the grey serpent of the wound-surge.’
= WARRIORS
the wound-surge. → BLOOD
the grey serpent of the BLOOD → SWORD
other protecting bushes of the SWORD → WARRIORS
linns ‘serpent’
(not checked:)
linnr (noun m.): snake < grálinnr (noun m.)
kennings
aðra geymirunna grálinns undgjalfrs.‘other protecting bushes of the grey serpent of the wound-surge.’
= WARRIORS
the wound-surge. → BLOOD
the grey serpent of the BLOOD → SWORD
other protecting bushes of the SWORD → WARRIORS
geymi ‘protecting’
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geyma (verb): heed, guard < geymirunnr (noun m.): keeping trees
[7] geymirunna: geymirunnum B
kennings
aðra geymirunna grálinns undgjalfrs.‘other protecting bushes of the grey serpent of the wound-surge.’
= WARRIORS
the wound-surge. → BLOOD
the grey serpent of the BLOOD → SWORD
other protecting bushes of the SWORD → WARRIORS
runna ‘bushes’
(not checked:)
runnr (noun m.; °dat. -i/-; -ar): bush, tree < geymirunnr (noun m.): keeping trees
[7] geymirunna: geymirunnum B
kennings
aðra geymirunna grálinns undgjalfrs.‘other protecting bushes of the grey serpent of the wound-surge.’
= WARRIORS
the wound-surge. → BLOOD
the grey serpent of the BLOOD → SWORD
other protecting bushes of the SWORD → WARRIORS
glaðr ‘glad’
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2. glaðr (adj.; °compar. -ari, superl. -astr): cheerful, glad
[8] glaðr þás: ‘gla[...]’ B, ‘gla(dr þa)’(?) 399a‑bˣ, BFJ, ‘gla(d)[...]’(?) BRydberg
þás ‘when’
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2. þá (adv.): then
[8] glaðr þás: ‘gla[...]’ B, ‘gla(dr þa)’(?) 399a‑bˣ, BFJ, ‘gla(d)[...]’(?) BRydberg
dœmðak ‘judged’
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dœma (verb; °-mð-): judge
aðra ‘other’
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1. annarr (pron.; °f. ǫnnur, n. annat; pl. aðrir): (an)other, second
kennings
aðra geymirunna grálinns undgjalfrs.‘other protecting bushes of the grey serpent of the wound-surge.’
= WARRIORS
the wound-surge. → BLOOD
the grey serpent of the BLOOD → SWORD
other protecting bushes of the SWORD → WARRIORS
Interactive view: tap on words in the text for notes and glosses
|
Ókynnin gatk annan |
I declared oftentimes [that] another Þróttr <= Óðinn> of the storm of the flame of battles [(lit. ‘storm-Þróttr of the flame of battles’) SWORD > BATTLE > WARRIOR] was committing the sins there which I knew myself to be guilty of [lit. (were) in myself], Lord. I had little worry and fear for myself, when I gladly [lit. glad] judged other protecting bushes of the grey serpent of the wound-surge [BLOOD > SWORD > WARRIORS].
[1-4]: Finnur Jónsson (Skj B) construes this helmingr as follows: Gatk optsinnis vinna ókynni á mik þar, es vissak annan vigrar veðr-Þrótt, dróttinn ljóss, and translates ofte gjorde jeg mig skyldig i unoder, hvor jeg vidste, at andre mænd gjorde det, lysets herre ‘I was often guilty of bad habits where I knew that other men were doing it, lord of light’. Kock (NN §2110) objects to Finnur’s interpretation as ‘modern’, substituting his own prose arrangement: Gatk optsinnis vinna þar ókynni, er ek vissa annan víga ljóss veðr-Þrótt á mik, dróttinn which Black (1971, 167) paraphrases ‘I have often behaved ignobly when I knew that another man was treating me in that manner, Lord’. Whether consciously or not, this largely accords with Sveinbjörn Egilsson’s understanding in 444ˣ, which reads: Ek gat optsinnis vinna ókynnin, þar er ek vissa annan Þrótt á mik, dróttinn ljóss veðrvegar ‘I have often behaved badly when I knew another man (lit. Þrótt = Óðinn) to be doing so towards me, Lord of the bright weather-way [SKY/HEAVEN > = God]’. This interpretation (and the emendation to vegar in l. 3) is adopted by Kempff (1867, 28). In the context of Gamli’s confession of former sins, Kock’s suggestion that Gamli is confessing to behaving badly seems more plausible than Finnur’s, in which he tries to shift the blame for his misdeeds. As Jón Helgason (1935-6, 195) explains, there are some difficulties with Kock’s interpretation. The main problem is that the construction vinna á e-n is otherwise unattested: Fritzner: vinna gives examples of the phrase only with dat. or gen. objects. Furthermore, as Jón says, it is difficult to justify the separation of the acc. annan in l. 1 from the immediately adjacent verb geta. Jón’s suggestion, which is adopted by Black (1971, 166) and here, depends on the assumption that the phrasal verb vita á sik ‘to know oneself, to be guilty of’ with objects meaning ‘fault’, ‘blame’ or, as here, ‘sin’ existed in C12th usage. This use is common in MIcel, and Fritzner: vita has several examples of the similar phrase at vita e-t eptir e-m with this meaning in medieval religious prose, though Fritzner lists no examples of vita in conjunction with either á or sik. Even so, Jón’s interpretation makes for a much simpler and smoother prose arrangement than does either Kock’s or Finnur’s, and fits better with the tone of both the second helmingr and Gamli’s self-accusatory confession in sts 7-16.
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