Russell Poole (ed.) 2012, ‘Guthormr sindri, Hákonardrápa 6’ 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. 164.
[1] Valþagnar ‘of Valþǫgn <valkyrie>’: On this proper noun, see Finnur Jónsson (1884, 87).
[1] Valþagnar ‘of Valþǫgn <valkyrie>’: On this proper noun, see Finnur Jónsson (1884, 87).
(not checked:)
Þǫgn (noun f.): Þǫgn < Valþǫgn (noun f.)
[1] ‑þagnar: so 53, ‑þǫgnir Kˣ, 39, 61, ‑rǫgnir F, ‘‑þamar’ J1ˣ, ‘‑þꜹnar’ J2ˣ, ‑þǫgnar 325IX 1 a, Bb, ‑þegnar Flat
[1] Valþagnar ‘of Valþǫgn <valkyrie>’: On this proper noun, see Finnur Jónsson (1884, 87).
(not checked:)
Þǫgn (noun f.): Þǫgn < Valþǫgn (noun f.)
[1] ‑þagnar: so 53, ‑þǫgnir Kˣ, 39, 61, ‑rǫgnir F, ‘‑þamar’ J1ˣ, ‘‑þꜹnar’ J2ˣ, ‑þǫgnar 325IX 1 a, Bb, ‑þegnar Flat
[1] Valþagnar ‘of Valþǫgn <valkyrie>’: On this proper noun, see Finnur Jónsson (1884, 87).
(not checked:)
ráða (verb): advise, rule, interpret, decide
(not checked:)
1. vega (verb): strike, slay
(not checked:)
víg (noun n.; °-s; -): battle < vígnest (noun f.)víg (noun n.; °-s; -): battle < vígnest (noun f.)
[2] vígnestr (f. acc. pl.) ‘war-needles [SPEARS]’: The kenning could mean either ‘spears’ (Finnur Jónsson 1884, 88-9; Skj B) or ‘swords’ (Hkr 1893-1901, IV; ÍF 26; Hkr 1991). Meissner 156 lists it among sword-kennings but also mentions ‘spear’ and ‘shield’ as possibilities.
(not checked:)
1. nist (noun f.): [needles] < vígnest (noun f.)
[2] ‑nestr: ‑nest J1ˣ, J2ˣ
[2] vígnestr (f. acc. pl.) ‘war-needles [SPEARS]’: The kenning could mean either ‘spears’ (Finnur Jónsson 1884, 88-9; Skj B) or ‘swords’ (Hkr 1893-1901, IV; ÍF 26; Hkr 1991). Meissner 156 lists it among sword-kennings but also mentions ‘spear’ and ‘shield’ as possibilities.
(not checked:)
samr (adj.; °compar. -ari): same
(not checked:)
1. bresta (verb; °brestr; brast, brustu; brostinn): burst, split
(not checked:)
hǫnd (noun f.; °handar, dat. hendi; hendr (hendir StatPáll³ 752¹²)): hand
(not checked:)
hríð (noun f.; °-ar; -ir): time, storm
(not checked:)
hǫnd (noun f.; °handar, dat. hendi; hendr (hendir StatPáll³ 752¹²)): hand
[3] handar: hand J1ˣ, hríðar Flat
[3, 4] gildir vafs handar ‘the payer of the coil of the arm [ARM-RING > GENEROUS MAN = Hákon]’: This reflects derivation of gildir from gilda ‘give value, validate’ or gjalda ‘to pay’ (Meissner 293-4; cf. Hkr 1893-1901, IV). The heiti vaf ‘coil, wrapper’ occurs only twice in the poetic corpus (Finnur Jónsson 1884, 88-9; cf. AEW: vaf).
(not checked:)
hǫnd (noun f.; °handar, dat. hendi; hendr (hendir StatPáll³ 752¹²)): hand
[3] handar: hand J1ˣ, hríðar Flat
[3, 4] gildir vafs handar ‘the payer of the coil of the arm [ARM-RING > GENEROUS MAN = Hákon]’: This reflects derivation of gildir from gilda ‘give value, validate’ or gjalda ‘to pay’ (Meissner 293-4; cf. Hkr 1893-1901, IV). The heiti vaf ‘coil, wrapper’ occurs only twice in the poetic corpus (Finnur Jónsson 1884, 88-9; cf. AEW: vaf).
[3, 4] gildir vafs handar ‘the payer of the coil of the arm [ARM-RING > GENEROUS MAN = Hákon]’: This reflects derivation of gildir from gilda ‘give value, validate’ or gjalda ‘to pay’ (Meissner 293-4; cf. Hkr 1893-1901, IV). The heiti vaf ‘coil, wrapper’ occurs only twice in the poetic corpus (Finnur Jónsson 1884, 88-9; cf. AEW: vaf).
[3, 4] gildir vafs handar ‘the payer of the coil of the arm [ARM-RING > GENEROUS MAN = Hákon]’: This reflects derivation of gildir from gilda ‘give value, validate’ or gjalda ‘to pay’ (Meissner 293-4; cf. Hkr 1893-1901, IV). The heiti vaf ‘coil, wrapper’ occurs only twice in the poetic corpus (Finnur Jónsson 1884, 88-9; cf. AEW: vaf).
(not checked:)
3. ok (conj.): and, but; also
(not checked:)
af (prep.): from
(not checked:)
3. of (prep.): around, from; too
[3] of: so J1ˣ, J2ˣ, 61, 53, 325IX 1 a, af Kˣ, 39, F, ok Bb, Flat
(not checked:)
hǫfuð (noun n.; °-s; -): head
(not checked:)
hlýðinn (adj.; °superl. -astr): [obedient one] < hlýðinmildingr (noun m.)
(not checked:)
hlymr (noun m.): din < hlymmildingr (noun m.)hlymr (noun m.): dinhlymr (noun m.): din < hlymmildingr (noun m.)
[4] hlym‑: hlýðin‑ 53, ‘hlyttr‑’ Flat
[1] Valþagnar ‘of Valþǫgn <valkyrie>’: On this proper noun, see Finnur Jónsson (1884, 87).
(not checked:)
hlymr (noun m.): din < hlymmildingr (noun m.)hlymr (noun m.): dinhlymr (noun m.): din < hlymmildingr (noun m.)
[4] hlym‑: hlýðin‑ 53, ‘hlyttr‑’ Flat
[1] Valþagnar ‘of Valþǫgn <valkyrie>’: On this proper noun, see Finnur Jónsson (1884, 87).
(not checked:)
mildingr (noun m.; °-s): ruler, generous one < hlymmildingr (noun m.)
(not checked:)
mildingr (noun m.; °-s): ruler, generous one < hlýðinmildingr (noun m.)
(not checked:)
mildingr (noun m.; °-s): ruler, generous one < hlymmildingr (noun m.)mildingr (noun m.; °-s): ruler, generous one
[4] ‑mildingum: ‘‑minndingom’ 39, ‑milding 53, ‑mildingr 325IX 1 a, Bb, Flat
[1] Valþagnar ‘of Valþǫgn <valkyrie>’: On this proper noun, see Finnur Jónsson (1884, 87).
(not checked:)
2. gildr (adj.; °compar. -ari, superl. -astr): valued at, worth
(not checked:)
1. gildi (noun m.): [companions]
(not checked:)
1. gildi (noun m.): [companions]
(not checked:)
gildir (noun m.): payer, supporter
[4] gildir: gildit 39, F, gildar 61, 325IX 1 a, gildan Bb, gildi Flat
[3, 4] gildir vafs handar ‘the payer of the coil of the arm [ARM-RING > GENEROUS MAN = Hákon]’: This reflects derivation of gildir from gilda ‘give value, validate’ or gjalda ‘to pay’ (Meissner 293-4; cf. Hkr 1893-1901, IV). The heiti vaf ‘coil, wrapper’ occurs only twice in the poetic corpus (Finnur Jónsson 1884, 88-9; cf. AEW: vaf).
(not checked:)
þar (adv.): there
(not checked:)
2. ganga (verb; geng, gekk, gengu, genginn): walk, go
(not checked:)
Njǫrðr (noun m.): Njǫrðr
(not checked:)
af (prep.): from
(not checked:)
niðri (adv.): below
(not checked:)
naddr (noun m.; °-s; -ar): spear, point
[6] nadds: ‘nandz’ J1ˣ, naddrs Flat
(not checked:)
naddr (noun m.; °-s; -ar): spear, point
[6] nadds: ‘nandz’ J1ˣ, naddrs Flat
(not checked:)
naddr (noun m.; °-s; -ar): spear, point
[6] nadds: ‘nandz’ J1ˣ, naddrs Flat
(not checked:)
3. hár (adj.; °-van; compar. hǽrri, superl. hǽstr): high < hámáni (noun m.): [high moon]
(not checked:)
3. hár (adj.; °-van; compar. hǽrri, superl. hǽstr): high < hámáni (noun m.): [high moon]
(not checked:)
3. hár (adj.; °-van; compar. hǽrri, superl. hǽstr): high < hámáni (noun m.): [high moon]
(not checked:)
máni (noun m.; °-a): moon < hámáni (noun m.): [high moon]
(not checked:)
máni (noun m.; °-a): moon < hámáni (noun m.): [high moon]
(not checked:)
máni (noun m.; °-a): moon < hámáni (noun m.): [high moon]
(not checked:)
rǫdd (noun f.; °raddar, dat. -/u; raddir): voice
(not checked:)
rǫdd (noun f.; °raddar, dat. -/u; raddir): voice
(not checked:)
brandr (noun m.; °-s, dat. -i; -ar): sword, prow; fire < valbrandr (noun m.)
(not checked:)
1. braut (noun f.; °dat. -/-u; -ir): path, way; away < valbraut (noun f.)
(not checked:)
brandr (noun m.; °-s, dat. -i; -ar): sword, prow; fire < valbrandr (noun m.)
[7] ‑brands: ‑brandr 39, 53, 325IX 1 a, ‑braut Flat
(not checked:)
brandr (noun m.; °-s, dat. -i; -ar): sword, prow; fire < valbrandr (noun m.)
[7] ‑brands: ‑brandr 39, 53, 325IX 1 a, ‑braut Flat
(not checked:)
brandr (noun m.; °-s, dat. -i; -ar): sword, prow; fire < valbrandr (noun m.)
[7] ‑brands: ‑brandr 39, 53, 325IX 1 a, ‑braut Flat
(not checked:)
brandr (noun m.; °-s, dat. -i; -ar): sword, prow; fire < valbrandr (noun m.)
[7] ‑brands: ‑brandr 39, 53, 325IX 1 a, ‑braut Flat
(not checked:)
víðr (adj.): far
(not checked:)
víðr (adj.): far
(not checked:)
land (noun n.; °-s; *-): land
(not checked:)
land (noun n.; °-s; *-): land
(not checked:)
láta (verb): let, have sth done
(not checked:)
vápnundaðr (adj./verb p.p.): [weapon-wounded]
(not checked:)
sund (noun n.; °-s; -): sound, strait; swimming
[8] sunda: lét sunda Flat
(not checked:)
sund (noun n.; °-s; -): sound, strait; swimming
[8] sunda: lét sunda Flat
(not checked:)
sund (noun n.; °-s; -): sound, strait; swimming
[8] sunda: lét sunda Flat
Interactive view: tap on words in the text for notes and glosses
Valþagnar lét vegnum |
The payer of the coil of the arm [ARM-RING > GENEROUS MAN = Hákon] let war-needles [SPEARS] clash together over the heads of the slain bestowers of the tumult of Valþǫgn <valkyrie> [(lit. ‘tumult-bestowers of Valþǫgn’) BATTLE > WARRIORS]. There the Njǫrðr <god> of the voice of the high moon of the spear [SHIELD > BATTLE > WARRIOR = Hákon] went from the weapon-wounded Njǫrðr <god> of the wide lands of the inlets of the slaughter-fire [SWORD > BLOOD > SHIELDS > WARRIOR = Guthormr Eiríksson].
Hákon learns that the Eiríkssynir (or Gunnhildarsynir) have entered Vík (Viken), putting Tryggvi Óláfsson to flight and raiding extensively. He defeats them at Ǫgvaldsnes (Avaldsnes, Rogaland) and they flee, weakened by the death of their leader Guthormr Eiríksson in the battle.
[5-8]: Remarkable is the construction of two kennings upon the base-word Njǫrðr (nom. sg.) and Nirði (dat. sg.) ‘Njǫrðr <god>’, though cf. a similar use of Baldr in Hharð Lv 5II, continued in ÞjóðA Lv 3II. The first kenning refers to Hákon, the second to his slain opponent, Guthormr Eiríksson. The detailed analysis of the helmingr, and particularly of l. 8 sunda ‘of the inlets’, however, presents difficulties. (a) It is assumed here, with most previous eds (including ÍF 26 and Hkr 1991, with differences of detail) that gen. pl. sunda forms a blood-kenning with one or other of the two kennings in the helmingr. In the construal shown above, the sword-kenning is the determinant of the blood-kenning. A variation on this is to read Njǫrðr raddar sunda hámána nadds ‘Njǫrðr of the voice of the inlets of the high moon of the spear [SHIELD > BLOOD > BATTLE > WARRIOR]’ where the shield-kenning is the determinant of the blood-kenning, but this is not a known pattern (cf. the blood-kennings in Meissner 204-5). Neither solution is unproblematic, since the battle-kenning in l. 6 and the shields-kenning in l. 7 are both logically complete without the addition of sunda ‘of the inlets’. (b) Finnur Jónsson’s analysis (1884, 90; Hkr 1893-1901, IV; tacit in Skj B; LP: hômáni, valbrandr; cf. Björn Magnússon Ólsen 1886, 192) involves two cases of tmesis: há-raddar ‘loud voice’ and val-sunda ‘corpse-inlets’, but this is unnecessary (Sahlgren 1927-8, I, 129). (c) Kock (NN §1932, modifying a solution proposed in NN §1079A) reads sunda víðra landa valbrands vápnunduðum ‘wounded by the weapon of the inlets of the wide lands of the slaughter-fire [SWORD > SHIELDS > BLOOD]’, i.e. ‘wounded by a bloody weapon’, but the syntax implicit in this postulated use of the kenning to qualify vápn ‘weapon’ is dubious (cf. Sahlgren 1927-8, I, 129).
Use the buttons at the top of the page to navigate between stanzas in a poem.
The text and translation are given here, with buttons to toggle whether the text is shown in the verse order or prose word order. Clicking on indiviudal words gives dictionary links, variant readings, kennings and notes, where relevant.
This is the text of the edition in a similar format to how the edition appears in the printed volumes.
This view is also used for chapters and other text segments. Not all the headings shown are relevant to such sections.