Refr Giz 3III
Edith Marold (ed.) 2017, ‘Hofgarða-Refr Gestsson, Poem about Gizurr gullbrárskáld 3’ in Kari Ellen Gade and Edith Marold (eds), Poetry from Treatises on Poetics. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 3. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 256.
eigum ‘have to’
(not checked:)
2. eiga (verb; °á/eigr (præs. pl. 3. pers. eigu/eiga); átti, áttu; átt): own, have
vér ‘we’
(not checked:)
vér (pron.; °gen. vár, dat./acc. oss): we, us, our
kennings
ramar veigar salar Fals brautar fannar,‘for the powerful drinks of the hall of the Falr of the path of the snow-drift, ’
= POETRY
the path of the snow-drift, → MOUNTAINS
the Falr of MOUNTAINS → GIANT = Suttungr
the hall of the GIANTSUTTUNGR → CAVE
for the powerful drinks of the CAVE → POETRY
notes
[1, 2, 3, 4] ramar veigar salar Fals brautar fannar ‘for the powerful drinks of the hall of the Falr <dwarf> of the path of the snow-drift [MOUNTAINS > GIANT = Suttungr > CAVE > POETRY]’: This kenning, though complex, is constructed logically. Poetry is referred to periphrastically as the drink of the cave of the giant, which is an allusion to the Suttungr myth. The giant Suttungr kept the stolen mead of poetry in a cave, from where Óðinn then purloined it (SnE 1998, I, 3-5). It is somewhat problematic, however, that the giant is called ‘the Falr <dwarf> of the mountains’, and Falr is otherwise attested only once as a dwarf-name (see Note to l. 3). Giants are commonly referred to as ‘dwellers of the mountains’, and a great variety of ethnic names, names for gods, trolls etc. serve as base-words in these kennings (Meissner 257-8). In the present stanza, the dwarf-name appears to have been used as the base-word in a giant-kenning, which is uncommon. The kenning’s unusual word order could have been caused by the difficulties posed by the alhent metre (Kuhn 1983, 305-6).
Val ‘Val’
(not checked:)
1. valr (noun m.; °dat. -i; -ir): corpse, the slain < valgautr (noun m.)
notes
[2] Valgautr: Lit. ‘Gautr of the fallen’. This is a heiti for Óðinn that is also listed in the þulur (see Þul Óðins 8/8 and Note there). It is not a kenning, because Gautr alone denotes Óðinn (Falk 1924, 11; LP: Gautr). Valgautr in this stanza has previously been interpreted as an invocation to Óðinn, and the stanza as a prayer of gratitude for the gift of poetry (see Note to [All] above). According to the present interpretation, the recipient of the stanza is addressed both as Valgautr and as valdr hrannvala ‘owner of the wave-horses [SHIPS > SEAFARER]’. The second kenning is a regular kenning for ‘seafarer’, however, and has nothing to do with Óðinn. Valgautr, as a heiti for Óðinn, must be a variant of another Óðinn-heiti, namely Gizurr (see Þul Óðins 1/5). That the pers. n. Gizurr was associated with Óðinn is shown by the play on ‘Óðinn’ (= Gizurr) and ‘Gautr’ (= Gizurr) in a lausavísa by Sturla Þórðarson (Sturl Lv 4/4, 8IV) referring to the trouble-making Gizurr jarl Þorvaldsson. Sturla’s stanza also establishes that, if a particular pers. n. was identical to an Óðinn-heiti, it could be replaced by another heiti for Óðinn. The use of ‘Óðinn’ and ‘Gautr’ for the pers. n. Gizurr in Sturla’s lausavísa is polemical, and the stanza portrays Gizurr jarl as a deceitful traitor. Nothing of this sort could be intended in Refr’s poem; rather, Refr calls Gizurr by one of Óðinn’s names because to him, Gizurr played the role of Óðinn: he brought the mead of poetry to the poet and taught him how to compose poems. Hence this stanza, like the previous two stanzas of the poem, highlights the religious views of Refr, who composed his works during the decades following Iceland’s conversion to Christianity (see his Biography above). They show that Óðinn must have been of central importance to him as a skald, which makes it highly unlikely that Refr had adopted the new faith.
gautr ‘gautr’
(not checked:)
2. Gautr (noun m.): Gautr, Óðinn < valgautr (noun m.)
[2] ‑gautr: ‘ge᷎tr’ B
notes
[2] Valgautr: Lit. ‘Gautr of the fallen’. This is a heiti for Óðinn that is also listed in the þulur (see Þul Óðins 8/8 and Note there). It is not a kenning, because Gautr alone denotes Óðinn (Falk 1924, 11; LP: Gautr). Valgautr in this stanza has previously been interpreted as an invocation to Óðinn, and the stanza as a prayer of gratitude for the gift of poetry (see Note to [All] above). According to the present interpretation, the recipient of the stanza is addressed both as Valgautr and as valdr hrannvala ‘owner of the wave-horses [SHIPS > SEAFARER]’. The second kenning is a regular kenning for ‘seafarer’, however, and has nothing to do with Óðinn. Valgautr, as a heiti for Óðinn, must be a variant of another Óðinn-heiti, namely Gizurr (see Þul Óðins 1/5). That the pers. n. Gizurr was associated with Óðinn is shown by the play on ‘Óðinn’ (= Gizurr) and ‘Gautr’ (= Gizurr) in a lausavísa by Sturla Þórðarson (Sturl Lv 4/4, 8IV) referring to the trouble-making Gizurr jarl Þorvaldsson. Sturla’s stanza also establishes that, if a particular pers. n. was identical to an Óðinn-heiti, it could be replaced by another heiti for Óðinn. The use of ‘Óðinn’ and ‘Gautr’ for the pers. n. Gizurr in Sturla’s lausavísa is polemical, and the stanza portrays Gizurr jarl as a deceitful traitor. Nothing of this sort could be intended in Refr’s poem; rather, Refr calls Gizurr by one of Óðinn’s names because to him, Gizurr played the role of Óðinn: he brought the mead of poetry to the poet and taught him how to compose poems. Hence this stanza, like the previous two stanzas of the poem, highlights the religious views of Refr, who composed his works during the decades following Iceland’s conversion to Christianity (see his Biography above). They show that Óðinn must have been of central importance to him as a skald, which makes it highly unlikely that Refr had adopted the new faith.
salar ‘of the hall’
(not checked:)
1. salr (noun m.; °-s, dat. -; dat. sǫlum): hall
kennings
ramar veigar salar Fals brautar fannar,‘for the powerful drinks of the hall of the Falr of the path of the snow-drift, ’
= POETRY
the path of the snow-drift, → MOUNTAINS
the Falr of MOUNTAINS → GIANT = Suttungr
the hall of the GIANTSUTTUNGR → CAVE
for the powerful drinks of the CAVE → POETRY
notes
[1, 2, 3, 4] ramar veigar salar Fals brautar fannar ‘for the powerful drinks of the hall of the Falr <dwarf> of the path of the snow-drift [MOUNTAINS > GIANT = Suttungr > CAVE > POETRY]’: This kenning, though complex, is constructed logically. Poetry is referred to periphrastically as the drink of the cave of the giant, which is an allusion to the Suttungr myth. The giant Suttungr kept the stolen mead of poetry in a cave, from where Óðinn then purloined it (SnE 1998, I, 3-5). It is somewhat problematic, however, that the giant is called ‘the Falr <dwarf> of the mountains’, and Falr is otherwise attested only once as a dwarf-name (see Note to l. 3). Giants are commonly referred to as ‘dwellers of the mountains’, and a great variety of ethnic names, names for gods, trolls etc. serve as base-words in these kennings (Meissner 257-8). In the present stanza, the dwarf-name appears to have been used as the base-word in a giant-kenning, which is uncommon. The kenning’s unusual word order could have been caused by the difficulties posed by the alhent metre (Kuhn 1983, 305-6).
salar ‘of the hall’
(not checked:)
1. salr (noun m.; °-s, dat. -; dat. sǫlum): hall
kennings
ramar veigar salar Fals brautar fannar,‘for the powerful drinks of the hall of the Falr of the path of the snow-drift, ’
= POETRY
the path of the snow-drift, → MOUNTAINS
the Falr of MOUNTAINS → GIANT = Suttungr
the hall of the GIANTSUTTUNGR → CAVE
for the powerful drinks of the CAVE → POETRY
notes
[1, 2, 3, 4] ramar veigar salar Fals brautar fannar ‘for the powerful drinks of the hall of the Falr <dwarf> of the path of the snow-drift [MOUNTAINS > GIANT = Suttungr > CAVE > POETRY]’: This kenning, though complex, is constructed logically. Poetry is referred to periphrastically as the drink of the cave of the giant, which is an allusion to the Suttungr myth. The giant Suttungr kept the stolen mead of poetry in a cave, from where Óðinn then purloined it (SnE 1998, I, 3-5). It is somewhat problematic, however, that the giant is called ‘the Falr <dwarf> of the mountains’, and Falr is otherwise attested only once as a dwarf-name (see Note to l. 3). Giants are commonly referred to as ‘dwellers of the mountains’, and a great variety of ethnic names, names for gods, trolls etc. serve as base-words in these kennings (Meissner 257-8). In the present stanza, the dwarf-name appears to have been used as the base-word in a giant-kenning, which is uncommon. The kenning’s unusual word order could have been caused by the difficulties posed by the alhent metre (Kuhn 1983, 305-6).
brautar ‘of the path’
(not checked:)
1. braut (noun f.; °dat. -/-u; -ir): path, way; away
kennings
ramar veigar salar Fals brautar fannar,‘for the powerful drinks of the hall of the Falr of the path of the snow-drift, ’
= POETRY
the path of the snow-drift, → MOUNTAINS
the Falr of MOUNTAINS → GIANT = Suttungr
the hall of the GIANTSUTTUNGR → CAVE
for the powerful drinks of the CAVE → POETRY
notes
[1, 2, 3, 4] ramar veigar salar Fals brautar fannar ‘for the powerful drinks of the hall of the Falr <dwarf> of the path of the snow-drift [MOUNTAINS > GIANT = Suttungr > CAVE > POETRY]’: This kenning, though complex, is constructed logically. Poetry is referred to periphrastically as the drink of the cave of the giant, which is an allusion to the Suttungr myth. The giant Suttungr kept the stolen mead of poetry in a cave, from where Óðinn then purloined it (SnE 1998, I, 3-5). It is somewhat problematic, however, that the giant is called ‘the Falr <dwarf> of the mountains’, and Falr is otherwise attested only once as a dwarf-name (see Note to l. 3). Giants are commonly referred to as ‘dwellers of the mountains’, and a great variety of ethnic names, names for gods, trolls etc. serve as base-words in these kennings (Meissner 257-8). In the present stanza, the dwarf-name appears to have been used as the base-word in a giant-kenning, which is uncommon. The kenning’s unusual word order could have been caused by the difficulties posed by the alhent metre (Kuhn 1983, 305-6).
brautar ‘of the path’
(not checked:)
1. braut (noun f.; °dat. -/-u; -ir): path, way; away
kennings
ramar veigar salar Fals brautar fannar,‘for the powerful drinks of the hall of the Falr of the path of the snow-drift, ’
= POETRY
the path of the snow-drift, → MOUNTAINS
the Falr of MOUNTAINS → GIANT = Suttungr
the hall of the GIANTSUTTUNGR → CAVE
for the powerful drinks of the CAVE → POETRY
notes
[1, 2, 3, 4] ramar veigar salar Fals brautar fannar ‘for the powerful drinks of the hall of the Falr <dwarf> of the path of the snow-drift [MOUNTAINS > GIANT = Suttungr > CAVE > POETRY]’: This kenning, though complex, is constructed logically. Poetry is referred to periphrastically as the drink of the cave of the giant, which is an allusion to the Suttungr myth. The giant Suttungr kept the stolen mead of poetry in a cave, from where Óðinn then purloined it (SnE 1998, I, 3-5). It is somewhat problematic, however, that the giant is called ‘the Falr <dwarf> of the mountains’, and Falr is otherwise attested only once as a dwarf-name (see Note to l. 3). Giants are commonly referred to as ‘dwellers of the mountains’, and a great variety of ethnic names, names for gods, trolls etc. serve as base-words in these kennings (Meissner 257-8). In the present stanza, the dwarf-name appears to have been used as the base-word in a giant-kenning, which is uncommon. The kenning’s unusual word order could have been caused by the difficulties posed by the alhent metre (Kuhn 1983, 305-6).
brautar ‘of the path’
(not checked:)
1. braut (noun f.; °dat. -/-u; -ir): path, way; away
kennings
ramar veigar salar Fals brautar fannar,‘for the powerful drinks of the hall of the Falr of the path of the snow-drift, ’
= POETRY
the path of the snow-drift, → MOUNTAINS
the Falr of MOUNTAINS → GIANT = Suttungr
the hall of the GIANTSUTTUNGR → CAVE
for the powerful drinks of the CAVE → POETRY
notes
[1, 2, 3, 4] ramar veigar salar Fals brautar fannar ‘for the powerful drinks of the hall of the Falr <dwarf> of the path of the snow-drift [MOUNTAINS > GIANT = Suttungr > CAVE > POETRY]’: This kenning, though complex, is constructed logically. Poetry is referred to periphrastically as the drink of the cave of the giant, which is an allusion to the Suttungr myth. The giant Suttungr kept the stolen mead of poetry in a cave, from where Óðinn then purloined it (SnE 1998, I, 3-5). It is somewhat problematic, however, that the giant is called ‘the Falr <dwarf> of the mountains’, and Falr is otherwise attested only once as a dwarf-name (see Note to l. 3). Giants are commonly referred to as ‘dwellers of the mountains’, and a great variety of ethnic names, names for gods, trolls etc. serve as base-words in these kennings (Meissner 257-8). In the present stanza, the dwarf-name appears to have been used as the base-word in a giant-kenning, which is uncommon. The kenning’s unusual word order could have been caused by the difficulties posed by the alhent metre (Kuhn 1983, 305-6).
brautar ‘of the path’
(not checked:)
1. braut (noun f.; °dat. -/-u; -ir): path, way; away
kennings
ramar veigar salar Fals brautar fannar,‘for the powerful drinks of the hall of the Falr of the path of the snow-drift, ’
= POETRY
the path of the snow-drift, → MOUNTAINS
the Falr of MOUNTAINS → GIANT = Suttungr
the hall of the GIANTSUTTUNGR → CAVE
for the powerful drinks of the CAVE → POETRY
notes
[1, 2, 3, 4] ramar veigar salar Fals brautar fannar ‘for the powerful drinks of the hall of the Falr <dwarf> of the path of the snow-drift [MOUNTAINS > GIANT = Suttungr > CAVE > POETRY]’: This kenning, though complex, is constructed logically. Poetry is referred to periphrastically as the drink of the cave of the giant, which is an allusion to the Suttungr myth. The giant Suttungr kept the stolen mead of poetry in a cave, from where Óðinn then purloined it (SnE 1998, I, 3-5). It is somewhat problematic, however, that the giant is called ‘the Falr <dwarf> of the mountains’, and Falr is otherwise attested only once as a dwarf-name (see Note to l. 3). Giants are commonly referred to as ‘dwellers of the mountains’, and a great variety of ethnic names, names for gods, trolls etc. serve as base-words in these kennings (Meissner 257-8). In the present stanza, the dwarf-name appears to have been used as the base-word in a giant-kenning, which is uncommon. The kenning’s unusual word order could have been caused by the difficulties posed by the alhent metre (Kuhn 1983, 305-6).
Fals ‘of the Falr’
(not checked:)
Falr (noun m.; °compar. -ari, superl. -astr): Falr
[3] Fals: fars U
kennings
ramar veigar salar Fals brautar fannar,‘for the powerful drinks of the hall of the Falr of the path of the snow-drift, ’
= POETRY
the path of the snow-drift, → MOUNTAINS
the Falr of MOUNTAINS → GIANT = Suttungr
the hall of the GIANTSUTTUNGR → CAVE
for the powerful drinks of the CAVE → POETRY
notes
[1, 2, 3, 4] ramar veigar salar Fals brautar fannar ‘for the powerful drinks of the hall of the Falr <dwarf> of the path of the snow-drift [MOUNTAINS > GIANT = Suttungr > CAVE > POETRY]’: This kenning, though complex, is constructed logically. Poetry is referred to periphrastically as the drink of the cave of the giant, which is an allusion to the Suttungr myth. The giant Suttungr kept the stolen mead of poetry in a cave, from where Óðinn then purloined it (SnE 1998, I, 3-5). It is somewhat problematic, however, that the giant is called ‘the Falr <dwarf> of the mountains’, and Falr is otherwise attested only once as a dwarf-name (see Note to l. 3). Giants are commonly referred to as ‘dwellers of the mountains’, and a great variety of ethnic names, names for gods, trolls etc. serve as base-words in these kennings (Meissner 257-8). In the present stanza, the dwarf-name appears to have been used as the base-word in a giant-kenning, which is uncommon. The kenning’s unusual word order could have been caused by the difficulties posed by the alhent metre (Kuhn 1983, 305-6). — [3] Fals ‘of the Falr <dwarf>’: The dwarf-name Falr is attested only here and in Gylf (SnE 2005, 17), which contains a catalogue of dwarf-names taken from Vsp 10-16. The comparable place in the eddic poem (Vsp 16/3) does not give Falr, but Fjalarr, however. The dwarf called Fjalarr plays a decisive role in creating the mead of poetry (cf. Skm, SnE 1998, I, 3). The name’s gen. form Fjalars would be acceptable in l. 3 of Refr’s stanza; perhaps it was replaced by Fals to avoid an awkward resolution in metrical position 1 and to maintain the strict rhyme scheme, which requires a double aðalhending in each line.
Fals ‘of the Falr’
(not checked:)
Falr (noun m.; °compar. -ari, superl. -astr): Falr
[3] Fals: fars U
kennings
ramar veigar salar Fals brautar fannar,‘for the powerful drinks of the hall of the Falr of the path of the snow-drift, ’
= POETRY
the path of the snow-drift, → MOUNTAINS
the Falr of MOUNTAINS → GIANT = Suttungr
the hall of the GIANTSUTTUNGR → CAVE
for the powerful drinks of the CAVE → POETRY
notes
[1, 2, 3, 4] ramar veigar salar Fals brautar fannar ‘for the powerful drinks of the hall of the Falr <dwarf> of the path of the snow-drift [MOUNTAINS > GIANT = Suttungr > CAVE > POETRY]’: This kenning, though complex, is constructed logically. Poetry is referred to periphrastically as the drink of the cave of the giant, which is an allusion to the Suttungr myth. The giant Suttungr kept the stolen mead of poetry in a cave, from where Óðinn then purloined it (SnE 1998, I, 3-5). It is somewhat problematic, however, that the giant is called ‘the Falr <dwarf> of the mountains’, and Falr is otherwise attested only once as a dwarf-name (see Note to l. 3). Giants are commonly referred to as ‘dwellers of the mountains’, and a great variety of ethnic names, names for gods, trolls etc. serve as base-words in these kennings (Meissner 257-8). In the present stanza, the dwarf-name appears to have been used as the base-word in a giant-kenning, which is uncommon. The kenning’s unusual word order could have been caused by the difficulties posed by the alhent metre (Kuhn 1983, 305-6). — [3] Fals ‘of the Falr <dwarf>’: The dwarf-name Falr is attested only here and in Gylf (SnE 2005, 17), which contains a catalogue of dwarf-names taken from Vsp 10-16. The comparable place in the eddic poem (Vsp 16/3) does not give Falr, but Fjalarr, however. The dwarf called Fjalarr plays a decisive role in creating the mead of poetry (cf. Skm, SnE 1998, I, 3). The name’s gen. form Fjalars would be acceptable in l. 3 of Refr’s stanza; perhaps it was replaced by Fals to avoid an awkward resolution in metrical position 1 and to maintain the strict rhyme scheme, which requires a double aðalhending in each line.
Fals ‘of the Falr’
(not checked:)
Falr (noun m.; °compar. -ari, superl. -astr): Falr
[3] Fals: fars U
kennings
ramar veigar salar Fals brautar fannar,‘for the powerful drinks of the hall of the Falr of the path of the snow-drift, ’
= POETRY
the path of the snow-drift, → MOUNTAINS
the Falr of MOUNTAINS → GIANT = Suttungr
the hall of the GIANTSUTTUNGR → CAVE
for the powerful drinks of the CAVE → POETRY
notes
[1, 2, 3, 4] ramar veigar salar Fals brautar fannar ‘for the powerful drinks of the hall of the Falr <dwarf> of the path of the snow-drift [MOUNTAINS > GIANT = Suttungr > CAVE > POETRY]’: This kenning, though complex, is constructed logically. Poetry is referred to periphrastically as the drink of the cave of the giant, which is an allusion to the Suttungr myth. The giant Suttungr kept the stolen mead of poetry in a cave, from where Óðinn then purloined it (SnE 1998, I, 3-5). It is somewhat problematic, however, that the giant is called ‘the Falr <dwarf> of the mountains’, and Falr is otherwise attested only once as a dwarf-name (see Note to l. 3). Giants are commonly referred to as ‘dwellers of the mountains’, and a great variety of ethnic names, names for gods, trolls etc. serve as base-words in these kennings (Meissner 257-8). In the present stanza, the dwarf-name appears to have been used as the base-word in a giant-kenning, which is uncommon. The kenning’s unusual word order could have been caused by the difficulties posed by the alhent metre (Kuhn 1983, 305-6). — [3] Fals ‘of the Falr <dwarf>’: The dwarf-name Falr is attested only here and in Gylf (SnE 2005, 17), which contains a catalogue of dwarf-names taken from Vsp 10-16. The comparable place in the eddic poem (Vsp 16/3) does not give Falr, but Fjalarr, however. The dwarf called Fjalarr plays a decisive role in creating the mead of poetry (cf. Skm, SnE 1998, I, 3). The name’s gen. form Fjalars would be acceptable in l. 3 of Refr’s stanza; perhaps it was replaced by Fals to avoid an awkward resolution in metrical position 1 and to maintain the strict rhyme scheme, which requires a double aðalhending in each line.
Fals ‘of the Falr’
(not checked:)
Falr (noun m.; °compar. -ari, superl. -astr): Falr
[3] Fals: fars U
kennings
ramar veigar salar Fals brautar fannar,‘for the powerful drinks of the hall of the Falr of the path of the snow-drift, ’
= POETRY
the path of the snow-drift, → MOUNTAINS
the Falr of MOUNTAINS → GIANT = Suttungr
the hall of the GIANTSUTTUNGR → CAVE
for the powerful drinks of the CAVE → POETRY
notes
[1, 2, 3, 4] ramar veigar salar Fals brautar fannar ‘for the powerful drinks of the hall of the Falr <dwarf> of the path of the snow-drift [MOUNTAINS > GIANT = Suttungr > CAVE > POETRY]’: This kenning, though complex, is constructed logically. Poetry is referred to periphrastically as the drink of the cave of the giant, which is an allusion to the Suttungr myth. The giant Suttungr kept the stolen mead of poetry in a cave, from where Óðinn then purloined it (SnE 1998, I, 3-5). It is somewhat problematic, however, that the giant is called ‘the Falr <dwarf> of the mountains’, and Falr is otherwise attested only once as a dwarf-name (see Note to l. 3). Giants are commonly referred to as ‘dwellers of the mountains’, and a great variety of ethnic names, names for gods, trolls etc. serve as base-words in these kennings (Meissner 257-8). In the present stanza, the dwarf-name appears to have been used as the base-word in a giant-kenning, which is uncommon. The kenning’s unusual word order could have been caused by the difficulties posed by the alhent metre (Kuhn 1983, 305-6). — [3] Fals ‘of the Falr <dwarf>’: The dwarf-name Falr is attested only here and in Gylf (SnE 2005, 17), which contains a catalogue of dwarf-names taken from Vsp 10-16. The comparable place in the eddic poem (Vsp 16/3) does not give Falr, but Fjalarr, however. The dwarf called Fjalarr plays a decisive role in creating the mead of poetry (cf. Skm, SnE 1998, I, 3). The name’s gen. form Fjalars would be acceptable in l. 3 of Refr’s stanza; perhaps it was replaced by Fals to avoid an awkward resolution in metrical position 1 and to maintain the strict rhyme scheme, which requires a double aðalhending in each line.
Fals ‘of the Falr’
(not checked:)
Falr (noun m.; °compar. -ari, superl. -astr): Falr
[3] Fals: fars U
kennings
ramar veigar salar Fals brautar fannar,‘for the powerful drinks of the hall of the Falr of the path of the snow-drift, ’
= POETRY
the path of the snow-drift, → MOUNTAINS
the Falr of MOUNTAINS → GIANT = Suttungr
the hall of the GIANTSUTTUNGR → CAVE
for the powerful drinks of the CAVE → POETRY
notes
[1, 2, 3, 4] ramar veigar salar Fals brautar fannar ‘for the powerful drinks of the hall of the Falr <dwarf> of the path of the snow-drift [MOUNTAINS > GIANT = Suttungr > CAVE > POETRY]’: This kenning, though complex, is constructed logically. Poetry is referred to periphrastically as the drink of the cave of the giant, which is an allusion to the Suttungr myth. The giant Suttungr kept the stolen mead of poetry in a cave, from where Óðinn then purloined it (SnE 1998, I, 3-5). It is somewhat problematic, however, that the giant is called ‘the Falr <dwarf> of the mountains’, and Falr is otherwise attested only once as a dwarf-name (see Note to l. 3). Giants are commonly referred to as ‘dwellers of the mountains’, and a great variety of ethnic names, names for gods, trolls etc. serve as base-words in these kennings (Meissner 257-8). In the present stanza, the dwarf-name appears to have been used as the base-word in a giant-kenning, which is uncommon. The kenning’s unusual word order could have been caused by the difficulties posed by the alhent metre (Kuhn 1983, 305-6). — [3] Fals ‘of the Falr <dwarf>’: The dwarf-name Falr is attested only here and in Gylf (SnE 2005, 17), which contains a catalogue of dwarf-names taken from Vsp 10-16. The comparable place in the eddic poem (Vsp 16/3) does not give Falr, but Fjalarr, however. The dwarf called Fjalarr plays a decisive role in creating the mead of poetry (cf. Skm, SnE 1998, I, 3). The name’s gen. form Fjalars would be acceptable in l. 3 of Refr’s stanza; perhaps it was replaced by Fals to avoid an awkward resolution in metrical position 1 and to maintain the strict rhyme scheme, which requires a double aðalhending in each line.
Fals ‘of the Falr’
(not checked:)
Falr (noun m.; °compar. -ari, superl. -astr): Falr
[3] Fals: fars U
kennings
ramar veigar salar Fals brautar fannar,‘for the powerful drinks of the hall of the Falr of the path of the snow-drift, ’
= POETRY
the path of the snow-drift, → MOUNTAINS
the Falr of MOUNTAINS → GIANT = Suttungr
the hall of the GIANTSUTTUNGR → CAVE
for the powerful drinks of the CAVE → POETRY
notes
[1, 2, 3, 4] ramar veigar salar Fals brautar fannar ‘for the powerful drinks of the hall of the Falr <dwarf> of the path of the snow-drift [MOUNTAINS > GIANT = Suttungr > CAVE > POETRY]’: This kenning, though complex, is constructed logically. Poetry is referred to periphrastically as the drink of the cave of the giant, which is an allusion to the Suttungr myth. The giant Suttungr kept the stolen mead of poetry in a cave, from where Óðinn then purloined it (SnE 1998, I, 3-5). It is somewhat problematic, however, that the giant is called ‘the Falr <dwarf> of the mountains’, and Falr is otherwise attested only once as a dwarf-name (see Note to l. 3). Giants are commonly referred to as ‘dwellers of the mountains’, and a great variety of ethnic names, names for gods, trolls etc. serve as base-words in these kennings (Meissner 257-8). In the present stanza, the dwarf-name appears to have been used as the base-word in a giant-kenning, which is uncommon. The kenning’s unusual word order could have been caused by the difficulties posed by the alhent metre (Kuhn 1983, 305-6). — [3] Fals ‘of the Falr <dwarf>’: The dwarf-name Falr is attested only here and in Gylf (SnE 2005, 17), which contains a catalogue of dwarf-names taken from Vsp 10-16. The comparable place in the eddic poem (Vsp 16/3) does not give Falr, but Fjalarr, however. The dwarf called Fjalarr plays a decisive role in creating the mead of poetry (cf. Skm, SnE 1998, I, 3). The name’s gen. form Fjalars would be acceptable in l. 3 of Refr’s stanza; perhaps it was replaced by Fals to avoid an awkward resolution in metrical position 1 and to maintain the strict rhyme scheme, which requires a double aðalhending in each line.
hrann ‘of wave’
(not checked:)
hrǫnn (noun f.; °; dat. -um): wave < hrannvalr (noun m.)
kennings
framr valdr hrannvala.‘outstanding owner of wave-horses. ’
= SEAFARER
wave-horses. → SHIPS
outstanding owner of SHIPS → SEAFARER
hrann ‘of wave’
(not checked:)
hrǫnn (noun f.; °; dat. -um): wave < hrannvalr (noun m.)
kennings
framr valdr hrannvala.‘outstanding owner of wave-horses. ’
= SEAFARER
wave-horses. → SHIPS
outstanding owner of SHIPS → SEAFARER
vala ‘horses’
(not checked:)
3. valr (noun m.; °; -ir): horse < hrannvalr (noun m.)
[3] ‑vala: so Tˣ, W, 743ˣ, ‑valar R, B, ‑mara U, ‑sala 2368ˣ
kennings
framr valdr hrannvala.‘outstanding owner of wave-horses. ’
= SEAFARER
wave-horses. → SHIPS
outstanding owner of SHIPS → SEAFARER
vala ‘horses’
(not checked:)
3. valr (noun m.; °; -ir): horse < hrannvalr (noun m.)
[3] ‑vala: so Tˣ, W, 743ˣ, ‑valar R, B, ‑mara U, ‑sala 2368ˣ
kennings
framr valdr hrannvala.‘outstanding owner of wave-horses. ’
= SEAFARER
wave-horses. → SHIPS
outstanding owner of SHIPS → SEAFARER
fannar ‘of the snow-drift’
(not checked:)
fǫnn (noun f.): snow-drift
kennings
ramar veigar salar Fals brautar fannar,‘for the powerful drinks of the hall of the Falr of the path of the snow-drift, ’
= POETRY
the path of the snow-drift, → MOUNTAINS
the Falr of MOUNTAINS → GIANT = Suttungr
the hall of the GIANTSUTTUNGR → CAVE
for the powerful drinks of the CAVE → POETRY
notes
[1, 2, 3, 4] ramar veigar salar Fals brautar fannar ‘for the powerful drinks of the hall of the Falr <dwarf> of the path of the snow-drift [MOUNTAINS > GIANT = Suttungr > CAVE > POETRY]’: This kenning, though complex, is constructed logically. Poetry is referred to periphrastically as the drink of the cave of the giant, which is an allusion to the Suttungr myth. The giant Suttungr kept the stolen mead of poetry in a cave, from where Óðinn then purloined it (SnE 1998, I, 3-5). It is somewhat problematic, however, that the giant is called ‘the Falr <dwarf> of the mountains’, and Falr is otherwise attested only once as a dwarf-name (see Note to l. 3). Giants are commonly referred to as ‘dwellers of the mountains’, and a great variety of ethnic names, names for gods, trolls etc. serve as base-words in these kennings (Meissner 257-8). In the present stanza, the dwarf-name appears to have been used as the base-word in a giant-kenning, which is uncommon. The kenning’s unusual word order could have been caused by the difficulties posed by the alhent metre (Kuhn 1983, 305-6).
fannar ‘of the snow-drift’
(not checked:)
fǫnn (noun f.): snow-drift
kennings
ramar veigar salar Fals brautar fannar,‘for the powerful drinks of the hall of the Falr of the path of the snow-drift, ’
= POETRY
the path of the snow-drift, → MOUNTAINS
the Falr of MOUNTAINS → GIANT = Suttungr
the hall of the GIANTSUTTUNGR → CAVE
for the powerful drinks of the CAVE → POETRY
notes
[1, 2, 3, 4] ramar veigar salar Fals brautar fannar ‘for the powerful drinks of the hall of the Falr <dwarf> of the path of the snow-drift [MOUNTAINS > GIANT = Suttungr > CAVE > POETRY]’: This kenning, though complex, is constructed logically. Poetry is referred to periphrastically as the drink of the cave of the giant, which is an allusion to the Suttungr myth. The giant Suttungr kept the stolen mead of poetry in a cave, from where Óðinn then purloined it (SnE 1998, I, 3-5). It is somewhat problematic, however, that the giant is called ‘the Falr <dwarf> of the mountains’, and Falr is otherwise attested only once as a dwarf-name (see Note to l. 3). Giants are commonly referred to as ‘dwellers of the mountains’, and a great variety of ethnic names, names for gods, trolls etc. serve as base-words in these kennings (Meissner 257-8). In the present stanza, the dwarf-name appears to have been used as the base-word in a giant-kenning, which is uncommon. The kenning’s unusual word order could have been caused by the difficulties posed by the alhent metre (Kuhn 1983, 305-6).
fannar ‘of the snow-drift’
(not checked:)
fǫnn (noun f.): snow-drift
kennings
ramar veigar salar Fals brautar fannar,‘for the powerful drinks of the hall of the Falr of the path of the snow-drift, ’
= POETRY
the path of the snow-drift, → MOUNTAINS
the Falr of MOUNTAINS → GIANT = Suttungr
the hall of the GIANTSUTTUNGR → CAVE
for the powerful drinks of the CAVE → POETRY
notes
[1, 2, 3, 4] ramar veigar salar Fals brautar fannar ‘for the powerful drinks of the hall of the Falr <dwarf> of the path of the snow-drift [MOUNTAINS > GIANT = Suttungr > CAVE > POETRY]’: This kenning, though complex, is constructed logically. Poetry is referred to periphrastically as the drink of the cave of the giant, which is an allusion to the Suttungr myth. The giant Suttungr kept the stolen mead of poetry in a cave, from where Óðinn then purloined it (SnE 1998, I, 3-5). It is somewhat problematic, however, that the giant is called ‘the Falr <dwarf> of the mountains’, and Falr is otherwise attested only once as a dwarf-name (see Note to l. 3). Giants are commonly referred to as ‘dwellers of the mountains’, and a great variety of ethnic names, names for gods, trolls etc. serve as base-words in these kennings (Meissner 257-8). In the present stanza, the dwarf-name appears to have been used as the base-word in a giant-kenning, which is uncommon. The kenning’s unusual word order could have been caused by the difficulties posed by the alhent metre (Kuhn 1983, 305-6).
fannar ‘of the snow-drift’
(not checked:)
fǫnn (noun f.): snow-drift
kennings
ramar veigar salar Fals brautar fannar,‘for the powerful drinks of the hall of the Falr of the path of the snow-drift, ’
= POETRY
the path of the snow-drift, → MOUNTAINS
the Falr of MOUNTAINS → GIANT = Suttungr
the hall of the GIANTSUTTUNGR → CAVE
for the powerful drinks of the CAVE → POETRY
notes
[1, 2, 3, 4] ramar veigar salar Fals brautar fannar ‘for the powerful drinks of the hall of the Falr <dwarf> of the path of the snow-drift [MOUNTAINS > GIANT = Suttungr > CAVE > POETRY]’: This kenning, though complex, is constructed logically. Poetry is referred to periphrastically as the drink of the cave of the giant, which is an allusion to the Suttungr myth. The giant Suttungr kept the stolen mead of poetry in a cave, from where Óðinn then purloined it (SnE 1998, I, 3-5). It is somewhat problematic, however, that the giant is called ‘the Falr <dwarf> of the mountains’, and Falr is otherwise attested only once as a dwarf-name (see Note to l. 3). Giants are commonly referred to as ‘dwellers of the mountains’, and a great variety of ethnic names, names for gods, trolls etc. serve as base-words in these kennings (Meissner 257-8). In the present stanza, the dwarf-name appears to have been used as the base-word in a giant-kenning, which is uncommon. The kenning’s unusual word order could have been caused by the difficulties posed by the alhent metre (Kuhn 1983, 305-6).
framr ‘outstanding’
(not checked:)
framr (adj.; °compar. framari/fremri, superl. framastr/fremstr): outstanding, foremost
kennings
framr valdr hrannvala.‘outstanding owner of wave-horses. ’
= SEAFARER
wave-horses. → SHIPS
outstanding owner of SHIPS → SEAFARER
valdr ‘owner’
(not checked:)
valdr (noun m.): ruler
[4] valdr: so Tˣ, W, U, 2368ˣ, 743ˣ, valdi R, valr B
kennings
framr valdr hrannvala.‘outstanding owner of wave-horses. ’
= SEAFARER
wave-horses. → SHIPS
outstanding owner of SHIPS → SEAFARER
ramar ‘for the powerful’
(not checked:)
rammr (adj.; °compar. -ari, superl. -astr): mighty
[4] ramar: so Tˣ, W, B, tamr R, rammar U, 2368ˣ, ramra 743ˣ
kennings
ramar veigar salar Fals brautar fannar,‘for the powerful drinks of the hall of the Falr of the path of the snow-drift, ’
= POETRY
the path of the snow-drift, → MOUNTAINS
the Falr of MOUNTAINS → GIANT = Suttungr
the hall of the GIANTSUTTUNGR → CAVE
for the powerful drinks of the CAVE → POETRY
notes
[1, 2, 3, 4] ramar veigar salar Fals brautar fannar ‘for the powerful drinks of the hall of the Falr <dwarf> of the path of the snow-drift [MOUNTAINS > GIANT = Suttungr > CAVE > POETRY]’: This kenning, though complex, is constructed logically. Poetry is referred to periphrastically as the drink of the cave of the giant, which is an allusion to the Suttungr myth. The giant Suttungr kept the stolen mead of poetry in a cave, from where Óðinn then purloined it (SnE 1998, I, 3-5). It is somewhat problematic, however, that the giant is called ‘the Falr <dwarf> of the mountains’, and Falr is otherwise attested only once as a dwarf-name (see Note to l. 3). Giants are commonly referred to as ‘dwellers of the mountains’, and a great variety of ethnic names, names for gods, trolls etc. serve as base-words in these kennings (Meissner 257-8). In the present stanza, the dwarf-name appears to have been used as the base-word in a giant-kenning, which is uncommon. The kenning’s unusual word order could have been caused by the difficulties posed by the alhent metre (Kuhn 1983, 305-6). — [4] ramar ‘powerful’: For the variants ramar (nom. ramr) and rammar (nom. rammr), see Note to Ív Sig 17/4II. The former is required by the metre (two short syllables in metrical positions 3-4), and it also provides the correct aðalhending (with framr) in this line.
ramar ‘for the powerful’
(not checked:)
rammr (adj.; °compar. -ari, superl. -astr): mighty
[4] ramar: so Tˣ, W, B, tamr R, rammar U, 2368ˣ, ramra 743ˣ
kennings
ramar veigar salar Fals brautar fannar,‘for the powerful drinks of the hall of the Falr of the path of the snow-drift, ’
= POETRY
the path of the snow-drift, → MOUNTAINS
the Falr of MOUNTAINS → GIANT = Suttungr
the hall of the GIANTSUTTUNGR → CAVE
for the powerful drinks of the CAVE → POETRY
notes
[1, 2, 3, 4] ramar veigar salar Fals brautar fannar ‘for the powerful drinks of the hall of the Falr <dwarf> of the path of the snow-drift [MOUNTAINS > GIANT = Suttungr > CAVE > POETRY]’: This kenning, though complex, is constructed logically. Poetry is referred to periphrastically as the drink of the cave of the giant, which is an allusion to the Suttungr myth. The giant Suttungr kept the stolen mead of poetry in a cave, from where Óðinn then purloined it (SnE 1998, I, 3-5). It is somewhat problematic, however, that the giant is called ‘the Falr <dwarf> of the mountains’, and Falr is otherwise attested only once as a dwarf-name (see Note to l. 3). Giants are commonly referred to as ‘dwellers of the mountains’, and a great variety of ethnic names, names for gods, trolls etc. serve as base-words in these kennings (Meissner 257-8). In the present stanza, the dwarf-name appears to have been used as the base-word in a giant-kenning, which is uncommon. The kenning’s unusual word order could have been caused by the difficulties posed by the alhent metre (Kuhn 1983, 305-6). — [4] ramar ‘powerful’: For the variants ramar (nom. ramr) and rammar (nom. rammr), see Note to Ív Sig 17/4II. The former is required by the metre (two short syllables in metrical positions 3-4), and it also provides the correct aðalhending (with framr) in this line.
gjalda ‘repay’
(not checked:)
1. gjalda (verb): pay, repay
Interactive view: tap on words in the text for notes and glosses
The stanza is cited in SnE and LaufE among stanzas illustrating names for Óðinn.
The metrical arrangement of the stanza is highly intricate: each line contains a double aðalhending, a technique Snorri refers to as alhent ‘completely rhymed’ in Ht (SnE 2007, 21; see Introduction above). — The interpretation of the stanza offered here, which treats the Óðinn-heiti Valgautr as an onomastic play on the name Gizurr (see Note to l. 2 below) rather than as an invocation to Óðinn, places the stanza unambiguously alongside the other two stanzas from the poem about Gizurr. This differs from earlier interpretations, which regard the Óðinn-heiti merely as a form of address and consider the stanza to be an early lausavísa (Kreutzer 1977, 190-1), or treat it as separate from the other Gizurr stanzas (Guðmundur Þorláksson 1882, 101). Previous eds (Skj B; Skald; Faulkes in SnE 1998, II, 515) view the stanza as a kind of prayer of gratitude to Óðinn for the gift of poetic art. According to that interpretation, which follows the readings offered in ms. R, Óðinn is apostrophised in an extended, complicated kenning: framr Valgautr, tamr valdi salar brautar fannar hrannvala ‘outstanding Valgautr <= Óðinn>, accustomed to the rule of the hall of the path of the snowdrift of wave-horses [SHIPS > WAVES > SEA > SKY/HEAVEN]’. That kenning poses several difficulties. First of all, it is highly unusual for Óðinn, a heathen god, to be referred to as the ruler of heaven. This might be explained as a syncretistic blending of the heathen god with the Christian one, commonly praised as ‘God in heaven’, but the kenning pattern ‘hall of the sea’ for ‘sky/heaven’ is not attested elsewhere, unlike sky/heaven-kennings of the common type ‘house of the earth/mountains’ (see Meissner 104). Moreover, tamr ‘accustomed’ does not otherwise occur in constructions with the dat. (here, valdi n. dat. sg. ‘rule, power’); rather, it is either construed with the gen. or with the prepositions við or at in the sense ‘to’ (LP: tamr). Because the problematic readings valdi and tamr are found in ms. R only, the present edn has adopted the readings of the majority of the mss, valdr (so Tˣ, W, U; ms. B has valr) and ramar (so Tˣ, W, U, B). The rationale behind that choice is explained in the Notes below.
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