Russell Poole (ed.) 2017, ‘Breta saga 149 (Gunnlaugr Leifsson, Merlínusspá I 81)’ in Margaret Clunies Ross (ed.), Poetry in fornaldarsögur. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 8. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 118.
‘Mun hans brjóst vesa brǫgnum fœzla,
þeims fátt hafa fjár með hǫndum.
Ok in tállausa tunga hilmis
sløkkvir þorsta þjóðans liði.
‘Brjóst hans mun vesa fœzla brǫgnum, þeims hafa fátt fjár með hǫndum. Ok in tállausa tunga hilmis sløkkvir þorsta liði þjóðans.
‘His breast will be sustenance for men who have little property at their disposal. And the ruler’s tongue, free of deception, will slake thirst for the following of the lord.
Mss: Hb(52v) (Bret)
Readings: [7] þorsta: ‘þịosta’ Hb
Editions: Skj AII, 33, Skj BII, 40, Skald II, 25; Bret 1848-9, II, 67 (Bret st. 149); Hb 1892-6, 282; Merl 2012, 192.
Notes: [All]: Cf. DGB 115 (Reeve and Wright 2007, 151.130; cf. Wright 1988, 106, prophecy 26): Pectus eius cibus erit egentibus, et lingua eius sedabit sicientes ‘His breast shall be food for the needy and his tongue drink for the thirsty’ (Reeve and Wright 2007, 150). Geoffrey continues his prophecies regarding the ‘boar of commerce’. Gunnlaugr adds the idea of the ruler’s tongue being free from deceit; for other additions relating to deceit and treachery cf. I 48 Note to [All] and II 25 Note to [All]. — [7] þorsta ‘thirst’: Emended in Bret 1848-9 (followed by subsequent eds) from ms. ‘þiosta’ (not refreshed), with point of deletion under the <i>.
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