Edith Marold (ed.) 2017, ‘Hallar-Steinn, Fragments 4’ in Kari Ellen Gade and Edith Marold (eds), Poetry from Treatises on Poetics. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 3. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 205.
(not checked:)
þú (pron.; °gen. þín, dat. þér, acc. þik): you
(not checked:)
munu (verb): will, must
[1, 2] hirði-Sif fúrs flóðs ‘guarding-Sif <goddess> of the fire of the sea [GOLD > WOMAN]’: Sif is the wife of Þórr. The kenning consists of the base-word (which is compounded with the verbal stem hirði- ‘guard, look after’) and a gold-kenning which depends syntactically on the verbal stem hirði. A similarly constructed kenning is found in VGl Lv 7/1, 2V (Glúm 7) hirði-Sif virkis víns ‘the guarding-Sif <goddess> of the stronghold of wine [WINE VAT > WOMAN]’.
[1, 2] hirði-Sif fúrs flóðs ‘guarding-Sif <goddess> of the fire of the sea [GOLD > WOMAN]’: Sif is the wife of Þórr. The kenning consists of the base-word (which is compounded with the verbal stem hirði- ‘guard, look after’) and a gold-kenning which depends syntactically on the verbal stem hirði. A similarly constructed kenning is found in VGl Lv 7/1, 2V (Glúm 7) hirði-Sif virkis víns ‘the guarding-Sif <goddess> of the stronghold of wine [WINE VAT > WOMAN]’.
(not checked:)
sem (conj.): as, which
[1] sem fleiri ‘just like other’: Lit. ‘just like more’.
(not checked:)
fleiri (adj. comp.; °superl. flestr): more, most
[1] sem fleiri ‘just like other’: Lit. ‘just like more’.
(not checked:)
2. flóð (noun n.): flood
[1, 2] hirði-Sif fúrs flóðs ‘guarding-Sif <goddess> of the fire of the sea [GOLD > WOMAN]’: Sif is the wife of Þórr. The kenning consists of the base-word (which is compounded with the verbal stem hirði- ‘guard, look after’) and a gold-kenning which depends syntactically on the verbal stem hirði. A similarly constructed kenning is found in VGl Lv 7/1, 2V (Glúm 7) hirði-Sif virkis víns ‘the guarding-Sif <goddess> of the stronghold of wine [WINE VAT > WOMAN]’.
(not checked:)
2. flóð (noun n.): flood
[1, 2] hirði-Sif fúrs flóðs ‘guarding-Sif <goddess> of the fire of the sea [GOLD > WOMAN]’: Sif is the wife of Þórr. The kenning consists of the base-word (which is compounded with the verbal stem hirði- ‘guard, look after’) and a gold-kenning which depends syntactically on the verbal stem hirði. A similarly constructed kenning is found in VGl Lv 7/1, 2V (Glúm 7) hirði-Sif virkis víns ‘the guarding-Sif <goddess> of the stronghold of wine [WINE VAT > WOMAN]’.
(not checked:)
hirða (verb): hide, care for < hirðisif (noun f.)
[2] hirði‑Sif: ‘hir[…]’ U
[1, 2] hirði-Sif fúrs flóðs ‘guarding-Sif <goddess> of the fire of the sea [GOLD > WOMAN]’: Sif is the wife of Þórr. The kenning consists of the base-word (which is compounded with the verbal stem hirði- ‘guard, look after’) and a gold-kenning which depends syntactically on the verbal stem hirði. A similarly constructed kenning is found in VGl Lv 7/1, 2V (Glúm 7) hirði-Sif virkis víns ‘the guarding-Sif <goddess> of the stronghold of wine [WINE VAT > WOMAN]’.
[1, 2] hirði-Sif fúrs flóðs ‘guarding-Sif <goddess> of the fire of the sea [GOLD > WOMAN]’: Sif is the wife of Þórr. The kenning consists of the base-word (which is compounded with the verbal stem hirði- ‘guard, look after’) and a gold-kenning which depends syntactically on the verbal stem hirði. A similarly constructed kenning is found in VGl Lv 7/1, 2V (Glúm 7) hirði-Sif virkis víns ‘the guarding-Sif <goddess> of the stronghold of wine [WINE VAT > WOMAN]’.
(not checked:)
tróða (noun f.; °-u): stick
[2] tróður: so A, tróðar R, tróða Tˣ, W, C, ‘troþ[…]’ U
[2, 4] tróður grjóts Hjaðninga ‘poles of the stones of the Hjaðningar <Heðinn and his followers> [CORPSES > VALKYRIES]’: There have been various attempts to interpret this puzzling kenning. The problem is the phrase grjóts Hjaðninga ‘of the stones of the Hjaðningar’ (grjót is a collective noun ‘stones’). The Hjaðningar are the warriors of Heðinn, who fights a never-ending battle known as the Hjaðningavíg ‘battle of the Hjaðningar’ against Hǫgni, the father of Heðinn’s beloved (Hildr). Skm (SnE 1998, I, 72) describes how the corpses of the warriors, as well as their weapons, all turn to stone, only to come to life again in the morning and continue fighting. Three explanations for this kenning have been suggested, none of which is fully satisfactory. (a) The determinant kenning ‘stones of the Hjaðningar’ is a kenning for ‘weapons’ (SnE 1848-87, III, 73; NN §3240). Weapons, however, are not attested as determinants in traditional woman-kennings (see Meissner 413-18; cf. also the criticism in LP: grjót). (b) Kock (NN §3240) attempts to interpret the kenning as an expression for ‘valkyries’ (‘poles of weapons’). From the narrative of the slain and their weapons turning to stone, one can derive not only the meaning ‘weapon’ but also ‘the slain’ or ‘corpses’, i.e. valr. The kenning tróður grjóts Hjaðninga ‘poles of the stones of the Hjaðningar’ would then be a term for ‘valkyries’ (adopted in this edn), despite the fact that ‘weapons’ and ‘battle’ are more typical determinants of valkyrie-kennings. The problem with this interpretation (and also with the interpretation given under (a) above) is that such base-words as tróða ‘pole’, which denote a pole or a staff or similar, are not attested elsewhere in kennings for valkyries (cf. Meissner 396-8). (c) The kenning could refer to a valuable decoration or ornament (LP: Hjaðningar). Such an interpretation is supported by the legendary motif that prompted the battle between Heðinn and Hǫgni: Hildr offers, but then withdraws, a conciliatory gift, a precious ring, to her father (see SnE 1998, I, 72). According to this interpretation, then, the kenning would be a regular woman-kenning with an ornament as the determinant. That legend, however, specifically mentions a ring and not a decorative stone. Assuming that the kenning is correctly interpreted as ‘valkyrie’ (cf. Marold 1990b, 201 Anm. 35), the sense of the stanza is ‘you struggle against your luck, just like other valkyries’. This might allude to the Helgi legends, where a valkyrie (Sigrún, Sváva) acts against her lover and plots his death; Hildr also brings about a struggle between her father and her lover Heðinn. An allusion to a general hostility on the part of the valkyries toward men could be conceivable as well (cf. Þhorn Hkv 2/2-3I verar né óru þekkir inni framsóttu feimu ‘men were not pleasing to the aggressive maid’).
(not checked:)
gæfa (noun f.): luck, fortune
(not checked:)
þinn (pron.; °f. þín, n. þitt): your
(not checked:)
grjót (noun n.): rock, stone
[2, 4] tróður grjóts Hjaðninga ‘poles of the stones of the Hjaðningar <Heðinn and his followers> [CORPSES > VALKYRIES]’: There have been various attempts to interpret this puzzling kenning. The problem is the phrase grjóts Hjaðninga ‘of the stones of the Hjaðningar’ (grjót is a collective noun ‘stones’). The Hjaðningar are the warriors of Heðinn, who fights a never-ending battle known as the Hjaðningavíg ‘battle of the Hjaðningar’ against Hǫgni, the father of Heðinn’s beloved (Hildr). Skm (SnE 1998, I, 72) describes how the corpses of the warriors, as well as their weapons, all turn to stone, only to come to life again in the morning and continue fighting. Three explanations for this kenning have been suggested, none of which is fully satisfactory. (a) The determinant kenning ‘stones of the Hjaðningar’ is a kenning for ‘weapons’ (SnE 1848-87, III, 73; NN §3240). Weapons, however, are not attested as determinants in traditional woman-kennings (see Meissner 413-18; cf. also the criticism in LP: grjót). (b) Kock (NN §3240) attempts to interpret the kenning as an expression for ‘valkyries’ (‘poles of weapons’). From the narrative of the slain and their weapons turning to stone, one can derive not only the meaning ‘weapon’ but also ‘the slain’ or ‘corpses’, i.e. valr. The kenning tróður grjóts Hjaðninga ‘poles of the stones of the Hjaðningar’ would then be a term for ‘valkyries’ (adopted in this edn), despite the fact that ‘weapons’ and ‘battle’ are more typical determinants of valkyrie-kennings. The problem with this interpretation (and also with the interpretation given under (a) above) is that such base-words as tróða ‘pole’, which denote a pole or a staff or similar, are not attested elsewhere in kennings for valkyries (cf. Meissner 396-8). (c) The kenning could refer to a valuable decoration or ornament (LP: Hjaðningar). Such an interpretation is supported by the legendary motif that prompted the battle between Heðinn and Hǫgni: Hildr offers, but then withdraws, a conciliatory gift, a precious ring, to her father (see SnE 1998, I, 72). According to this interpretation, then, the kenning would be a regular woman-kenning with an ornament as the determinant. That legend, however, specifically mentions a ring and not a decorative stone. Assuming that the kenning is correctly interpreted as ‘valkyrie’ (cf. Marold 1990b, 201 Anm. 35), the sense of the stanza is ‘you struggle against your luck, just like other valkyries’. This might allude to the Helgi legends, where a valkyrie (Sigrún, Sváva) acts against her lover and plots his death; Hildr also brings about a struggle between her father and her lover Heðinn. An allusion to a general hostility on the part of the valkyries toward men could be conceivable as well (cf. Þhorn Hkv 2/2-3I verar né óru þekkir inni framsóttu feimu ‘men were not pleasing to the aggressive maid’).
(not checked:)
grjót (noun n.): rock, stone
[2, 4] tróður grjóts Hjaðninga ‘poles of the stones of the Hjaðningar <Heðinn and his followers> [CORPSES > VALKYRIES]’: There have been various attempts to interpret this puzzling kenning. The problem is the phrase grjóts Hjaðninga ‘of the stones of the Hjaðningar’ (grjót is a collective noun ‘stones’). The Hjaðningar are the warriors of Heðinn, who fights a never-ending battle known as the Hjaðningavíg ‘battle of the Hjaðningar’ against Hǫgni, the father of Heðinn’s beloved (Hildr). Skm (SnE 1998, I, 72) describes how the corpses of the warriors, as well as their weapons, all turn to stone, only to come to life again in the morning and continue fighting. Three explanations for this kenning have been suggested, none of which is fully satisfactory. (a) The determinant kenning ‘stones of the Hjaðningar’ is a kenning for ‘weapons’ (SnE 1848-87, III, 73; NN §3240). Weapons, however, are not attested as determinants in traditional woman-kennings (see Meissner 413-18; cf. also the criticism in LP: grjót). (b) Kock (NN §3240) attempts to interpret the kenning as an expression for ‘valkyries’ (‘poles of weapons’). From the narrative of the slain and their weapons turning to stone, one can derive not only the meaning ‘weapon’ but also ‘the slain’ or ‘corpses’, i.e. valr. The kenning tróður grjóts Hjaðninga ‘poles of the stones of the Hjaðningar’ would then be a term for ‘valkyries’ (adopted in this edn), despite the fact that ‘weapons’ and ‘battle’ are more typical determinants of valkyrie-kennings. The problem with this interpretation (and also with the interpretation given under (a) above) is that such base-words as tróða ‘pole’, which denote a pole or a staff or similar, are not attested elsewhere in kennings for valkyries (cf. Meissner 396-8). (c) The kenning could refer to a valuable decoration or ornament (LP: Hjaðningar). Such an interpretation is supported by the legendary motif that prompted the battle between Heðinn and Hǫgni: Hildr offers, but then withdraws, a conciliatory gift, a precious ring, to her father (see SnE 1998, I, 72). According to this interpretation, then, the kenning would be a regular woman-kenning with an ornament as the determinant. That legend, however, specifically mentions a ring and not a decorative stone. Assuming that the kenning is correctly interpreted as ‘valkyrie’ (cf. Marold 1990b, 201 Anm. 35), the sense of the stanza is ‘you struggle against your luck, just like other valkyries’. This might allude to the Helgi legends, where a valkyrie (Sigrún, Sváva) acts against her lover and plots his death; Hildr also brings about a struggle between her father and her lover Heðinn. An allusion to a general hostility on the part of the valkyries toward men could be conceivable as well (cf. Þhorn Hkv 2/2-3I verar né óru þekkir inni framsóttu feimu ‘men were not pleasing to the aggressive maid’).
(not checked:)
Hjaðningr (noun m.; °; -ar): one of the Hjaðningar
[2, 4] tróður grjóts Hjaðninga ‘poles of the stones of the Hjaðningar <Heðinn and his followers> [CORPSES > VALKYRIES]’: There have been various attempts to interpret this puzzling kenning. The problem is the phrase grjóts Hjaðninga ‘of the stones of the Hjaðningar’ (grjót is a collective noun ‘stones’). The Hjaðningar are the warriors of Heðinn, who fights a never-ending battle known as the Hjaðningavíg ‘battle of the Hjaðningar’ against Hǫgni, the father of Heðinn’s beloved (Hildr). Skm (SnE 1998, I, 72) describes how the corpses of the warriors, as well as their weapons, all turn to stone, only to come to life again in the morning and continue fighting. Three explanations for this kenning have been suggested, none of which is fully satisfactory. (a) The determinant kenning ‘stones of the Hjaðningar’ is a kenning for ‘weapons’ (SnE 1848-87, III, 73; NN §3240). Weapons, however, are not attested as determinants in traditional woman-kennings (see Meissner 413-18; cf. also the criticism in LP: grjót). (b) Kock (NN §3240) attempts to interpret the kenning as an expression for ‘valkyries’ (‘poles of weapons’). From the narrative of the slain and their weapons turning to stone, one can derive not only the meaning ‘weapon’ but also ‘the slain’ or ‘corpses’, i.e. valr. The kenning tróður grjóts Hjaðninga ‘poles of the stones of the Hjaðningar’ would then be a term for ‘valkyries’ (adopted in this edn), despite the fact that ‘weapons’ and ‘battle’ are more typical determinants of valkyrie-kennings. The problem with this interpretation (and also with the interpretation given under (a) above) is that such base-words as tróða ‘pole’, which denote a pole or a staff or similar, are not attested elsewhere in kennings for valkyries (cf. Meissner 396-8). (c) The kenning could refer to a valuable decoration or ornament (LP: Hjaðningar). Such an interpretation is supported by the legendary motif that prompted the battle between Heðinn and Hǫgni: Hildr offers, but then withdraws, a conciliatory gift, a precious ring, to her father (see SnE 1998, I, 72). According to this interpretation, then, the kenning would be a regular woman-kenning with an ornament as the determinant. That legend, however, specifically mentions a ring and not a decorative stone. Assuming that the kenning is correctly interpreted as ‘valkyrie’ (cf. Marold 1990b, 201 Anm. 35), the sense of the stanza is ‘you struggle against your luck, just like other valkyries’. This might allude to the Helgi legends, where a valkyrie (Sigrún, Sváva) acts against her lover and plots his death; Hildr also brings about a struggle between her father and her lover Heðinn. An allusion to a general hostility on the part of the valkyries toward men could be conceivable as well (cf. Þhorn Hkv 2/2-3I verar né óru þekkir inni framsóttu feimu ‘men were not pleasing to the aggressive maid’).
(not checked:)
Hjaðningr (noun m.; °; -ar): one of the Hjaðningar
[2, 4] tróður grjóts Hjaðninga ‘poles of the stones of the Hjaðningar <Heðinn and his followers> [CORPSES > VALKYRIES]’: There have been various attempts to interpret this puzzling kenning. The problem is the phrase grjóts Hjaðninga ‘of the stones of the Hjaðningar’ (grjót is a collective noun ‘stones’). The Hjaðningar are the warriors of Heðinn, who fights a never-ending battle known as the Hjaðningavíg ‘battle of the Hjaðningar’ against Hǫgni, the father of Heðinn’s beloved (Hildr). Skm (SnE 1998, I, 72) describes how the corpses of the warriors, as well as their weapons, all turn to stone, only to come to life again in the morning and continue fighting. Three explanations for this kenning have been suggested, none of which is fully satisfactory. (a) The determinant kenning ‘stones of the Hjaðningar’ is a kenning for ‘weapons’ (SnE 1848-87, III, 73; NN §3240). Weapons, however, are not attested as determinants in traditional woman-kennings (see Meissner 413-18; cf. also the criticism in LP: grjót). (b) Kock (NN §3240) attempts to interpret the kenning as an expression for ‘valkyries’ (‘poles of weapons’). From the narrative of the slain and their weapons turning to stone, one can derive not only the meaning ‘weapon’ but also ‘the slain’ or ‘corpses’, i.e. valr. The kenning tróður grjóts Hjaðninga ‘poles of the stones of the Hjaðningar’ would then be a term for ‘valkyries’ (adopted in this edn), despite the fact that ‘weapons’ and ‘battle’ are more typical determinants of valkyrie-kennings. The problem with this interpretation (and also with the interpretation given under (a) above) is that such base-words as tróða ‘pole’, which denote a pole or a staff or similar, are not attested elsewhere in kennings for valkyries (cf. Meissner 396-8). (c) The kenning could refer to a valuable decoration or ornament (LP: Hjaðningar). Such an interpretation is supported by the legendary motif that prompted the battle between Heðinn and Hǫgni: Hildr offers, but then withdraws, a conciliatory gift, a precious ring, to her father (see SnE 1998, I, 72). According to this interpretation, then, the kenning would be a regular woman-kenning with an ornament as the determinant. That legend, however, specifically mentions a ring and not a decorative stone. Assuming that the kenning is correctly interpreted as ‘valkyrie’ (cf. Marold 1990b, 201 Anm. 35), the sense of the stanza is ‘you struggle against your luck, just like other valkyries’. This might allude to the Helgi legends, where a valkyrie (Sigrún, Sváva) acts against her lover and plots his death; Hildr also brings about a struggle between her father and her lover Heðinn. An allusion to a general hostility on the part of the valkyries toward men could be conceivable as well (cf. Þhorn Hkv 2/2-3I verar né óru þekkir inni framsóttu feimu ‘men were not pleasing to the aggressive maid’).
(not checked:)
brjóta (verb; °brýtr; braut, brutu; brotinn): to break, destroy
[4] brjótask: ‘b[…]az’ U
Interactive view: tap on words in the text for notes and glosses
This helmingr is cited in Skm (SnE) to illustrate a woman-kenning with tróða ‘pole’ as its base-word.
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.