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Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages

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Hallv Knútdr 6III

Matthew Townend (ed.) 2017, ‘Hallvarðr háreksblesi, Knútsdrápa 6’ in Kari Ellen Gade and Edith Marold (eds), Poetry from Treatises on Poetics. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 3. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 237.

Hallvarðr háreksblesiKnútsdrápa
567

Englandi ‘England’

(not checked:)
England (noun n.): England

Close

ræðr ‘rules’

(not checked:)
ráða (verb): advise, rule, interpret, decide

[1] ræðr: réð Holm2, 325V, J2ˣ, 321ˣ, Bæb, 61, 68, 325XI 2 g, 325VII, Flat, Tóm

notes

[1] ræðr ‘rules’: Ms. ’s pres. tense is the minority form, with all ÓH mss except Holm4 showing pret. réð ‘ruled’. However, a tense-progression within the stanza from ræðr (first helmingr) to hefr þrungit ‘has forced’ (ll. 5, 8; second helmingr) makes more sense than one from réð to hefr þrungit.

Close

yngvi ‘The king’

(not checked:)
Yngvi (noun m.): Yngvi, prince

Close

einn ‘alone’

(not checked:)
2. einn (pron.; °decl. cf. einn num.): one, alone

[2] einn: þeim 325VII

Close

hefsk ‘commences’

(not checked:)
hefja (verb): lift, start

[2] hefsk: hófsk 325V, J2ˣ, 321ˣ, 61, 325VII, Flat, Tóm

notes

[2] hefsk ‘commences’: Again, pres. and pret. tense alternate in the mss, though in this case the pres. tense is (just) the majority form.

Close

friðr ‘peace’

(not checked:)
friðr (noun m.): peace

Close

at ‘the more’

(not checked:)
3. at (prep.): at, to

[2] at: ok 325VII

notes

[2] at beinni ‘the more easily’: Dat. sg. comp. of the adj. beinn ‘straight, direct’. For the use of at before a comp. adj. or adv., see CVC: at B.VIII, ONP: at IV.C.2.

Close

beinni ‘easily’

(not checked:)
2. beinn (adj.; °beinan; compar. beinni, superl. beinastr/beinstr): straight

[2] beinni: beini 325V, 325VII, Flat, beinn 321ˣ, beimi Tóm

notes

[2] at beinni ‘the more easily’: Dat. sg. comp. of the adj. beinn ‘straight, direct’. For the use of at before a comp. adj. or adv., see CVC: at B.VIII, ONP: at IV.C.2.

Close

bǫð ‘the battle’

(not checked:)
bǫð (noun f.; °-s; -): battle < bǫðrakkr (adj.)

[3] bǫð‑: band 321ˣ

kennings

bǫðrakkr nǫkkva bœnar barkrjóðr,
‘bark-reddener of the ship of prayer’
   = WARRIOR

the ship of prayer, → BREAST
the bark of the BREAST → MAIL-SHIRT
the battle-bold reddener of the MAIL-SHIRT → WARRIOR
Close

rakkr ‘bold’

(not checked:)
rakkr (adj.; °compar. -ari): bold < bǫðrakkr (adj.)

kennings

bǫðrakkr nǫkkva bœnar barkrjóðr,
‘bark-reddener of the ship of prayer’
   = WARRIOR

the ship of prayer, → BREAST
the bark of the BREAST → MAIL-SHIRT
the battle-bold reddener of the MAIL-SHIRT → WARRIOR
Close

bœnar ‘of prayer’

(not checked:)
bœn (noun f.; °-ar; -ir): request, prayer

[3] bœnar: ‘brꜹtar’ J2ˣ, ‘bodar’ 61

kennings

bǫðrakkr nǫkkva bœnar barkrjóðr,
‘bark-reddener of the ship of prayer’
   = WARRIOR

the ship of prayer, → BREAST
the bark of the BREAST → MAIL-SHIRT
the battle-bold reddener of the MAIL-SHIRT → WARRIOR
Close

bœnar ‘of prayer’

(not checked:)
bœn (noun f.; °-ar; -ir): request, prayer

[3] bœnar: ‘brꜹtar’ J2ˣ, ‘bodar’ 61

kennings

bǫðrakkr nǫkkva bœnar barkrjóðr,
‘bark-reddener of the ship of prayer’
   = WARRIOR

the ship of prayer, → BREAST
the bark of the BREAST → MAIL-SHIRT
the battle-bold reddener of the MAIL-SHIRT → WARRIOR
Close

bœnar ‘of prayer’

(not checked:)
bœn (noun f.; °-ar; -ir): request, prayer

[3] bœnar: ‘brꜹtar’ J2ˣ, ‘bodar’ 61

kennings

bǫðrakkr nǫkkva bœnar barkrjóðr,
‘bark-reddener of the ship of prayer’
   = WARRIOR

the ship of prayer, → BREAST
the bark of the BREAST → MAIL-SHIRT
the battle-bold reddener of the MAIL-SHIRT → WARRIOR
Close

nǫkkva ‘of the ship’

(not checked:)
1. nǫkkvi (noun m.; °-a): boat

[3] nǫkkva: nakkvat 325V, ‘nockvar’ 321ˣ, nǫkkut 61, ‘nacca’ 325VII, ‘nockuat’ Flat, ‘nauckuat’ Tóm

kennings

bǫðrakkr nǫkkva bœnar barkrjóðr,
‘bark-reddener of the ship of prayer’
   = WARRIOR

the ship of prayer, → BREAST
the bark of the BREAST → MAIL-SHIRT
the battle-bold reddener of the MAIL-SHIRT → WARRIOR

notes

[3] nǫkkva ‘of the ship’: Clearly, a number of scribes took this to be a form of the adj./pron. nakkvarr ‘someone’ in their attempt to construe the helmingr. For nǫkkvi ‘ship’, see Note to Þul Skipa 1/8.

Close

nǫkkva ‘of the ship’

(not checked:)
1. nǫkkvi (noun m.; °-a): boat

[3] nǫkkva: nakkvat 325V, ‘nockvar’ 321ˣ, nǫkkut 61, ‘nacca’ 325VII, ‘nockuat’ Flat, ‘nauckuat’ Tóm

kennings

bǫðrakkr nǫkkva bœnar barkrjóðr,
‘bark-reddener of the ship of prayer’
   = WARRIOR

the ship of prayer, → BREAST
the bark of the BREAST → MAIL-SHIRT
the battle-bold reddener of the MAIL-SHIRT → WARRIOR

notes

[3] nǫkkva ‘of the ship’: Clearly, a number of scribes took this to be a form of the adj./pron. nakkvarr ‘someone’ in their attempt to construe the helmingr. For nǫkkvi ‘ship’, see Note to Þul Skipa 1/8.

Close

nǫkkva ‘of the ship’

(not checked:)
1. nǫkkvi (noun m.; °-a): boat

[3] nǫkkva: nakkvat 325V, ‘nockvar’ 321ˣ, nǫkkut 61, ‘nacca’ 325VII, ‘nockuat’ Flat, ‘nauckuat’ Tóm

kennings

bǫðrakkr nǫkkva bœnar barkrjóðr,
‘bark-reddener of the ship of prayer’
   = WARRIOR

the ship of prayer, → BREAST
the bark of the BREAST → MAIL-SHIRT
the battle-bold reddener of the MAIL-SHIRT → WARRIOR

notes

[3] nǫkkva ‘of the ship’: Clearly, a number of scribes took this to be a form of the adj./pron. nakkvarr ‘someone’ in their attempt to construe the helmingr. For nǫkkvi ‘ship’, see Note to Þul Skipa 1/8.

Close

bark ‘of the bark’

(not checked:)
bǫrkr (noun m.; °dat. berki/bǫrk, acc. bark(Kjaln 9¹³n.); acc. bǫrku): [bark] < barkrjóðr (noun m.)

[4] bark‑: ‘bꜹrk’ J2ˣ, ‘brack’ 321ˣ, brak‑ 325VII

kennings

bǫðrakkr nǫkkva bœnar barkrjóðr,
‘bark-reddener of the ship of prayer’
   = WARRIOR

the ship of prayer, → BREAST
the bark of the BREAST → MAIL-SHIRT
the battle-bold reddener of the MAIL-SHIRT → WARRIOR
Close

bark ‘of the bark’

(not checked:)
bǫrkr (noun m.; °dat. berki/bǫrk, acc. bark(Kjaln 9¹³n.); acc. bǫrku): [bark] < barkrjóðr (noun m.)

[4] bark‑: ‘bꜹrk’ J2ˣ, ‘brack’ 321ˣ, brak‑ 325VII

kennings

bǫðrakkr nǫkkva bœnar barkrjóðr,
‘bark-reddener of the ship of prayer’
   = WARRIOR

the ship of prayer, → BREAST
the bark of the BREAST → MAIL-SHIRT
the battle-bold reddener of the MAIL-SHIRT → WARRIOR
Close

rjóðr ‘reddener’

(not checked:)
1. rjóðr (noun m.): reddener < barkrjóðr (noun m.)

kennings

bǫðrakkr nǫkkva bœnar barkrjóðr,
‘bark-reddener of the ship of prayer’
   = WARRIOR

the ship of prayer, → BREAST
the bark of the BREAST → MAIL-SHIRT
the battle-bold reddener of the MAIL-SHIRT → WARRIOR
Close

ok ‘and’

(not checked:)
3. ok (conj.): and, but; also

[4] ok: í J2ˣ, 325XI 2 g, Tóm, á 61

Close

Danmǫrku ‘Denmark’

(not checked:)
Danmǫrk (noun f.): [Denmark]

Close

Ok ‘And’

(not checked:)
3. ok (conj.): and, but; also

Close

hefr ‘has’

(not checked:)
hafa (verb): have

Close

odda ‘of spears’

(not checked:)
oddr (noun m.; °-s, dat. -i; -ar): point of weapon

[5] odda: varða 61

kennings

haukum Leiknar odda.
‘for the hawks of the Leikn of spears.’
   = RAVENS/EAGLES

the Leikn of spears. → VALKYRIE
for the hawks of the VALKYRIE → RAVENS/EAGLES
Close

odda ‘of spears’

(not checked:)
oddr (noun m.; °-s, dat. -i; -ar): point of weapon

[5] odda: varða 61

kennings

haukum Leiknar odda.
‘for the hawks of the Leikn of spears.’
   = RAVENS/EAGLES

the Leikn of spears. → VALKYRIE
for the hawks of the VALKYRIE → RAVENS/EAGLES
Close

Leiknar ‘of the Leikn’

(not checked:)
Leikn (noun f.): [Leikn, of Leikn]

kennings

haukum Leiknar odda.
‘for the hawks of the Leikn of spears.’
   = RAVENS/EAGLES

the Leikn of spears. → VALKYRIE
for the hawks of the VALKYRIE → RAVENS/EAGLES

notes

[5] Leiknar ‘of the Leikn <giantess>’: A giantess-name (see LP: Leikn, McKinnell 2005, 112 and Note to Þul Trollkvenna 4/7) used here as the base-word in a kenning for ‘valkyrie’.

Close

Leiknar ‘of the Leikn’

(not checked:)
Leikn (noun f.): [Leikn, of Leikn]

kennings

haukum Leiknar odda.
‘for the hawks of the Leikn of spears.’
   = RAVENS/EAGLES

the Leikn of spears. → VALKYRIE
for the hawks of the VALKYRIE → RAVENS/EAGLES

notes

[5] Leiknar ‘of the Leikn <giantess>’: A giantess-name (see LP: Leikn, McKinnell 2005, 112 and Note to Þul Trollkvenna 4/7) used here as the base-word in a kenning for ‘valkyrie’.

Close

jalm ‘of the noise’

(not checked:)
jalmr (noun m.): screech, noise < jalmfreyr (noun m.)

[6] jalm‑: alm‑ J2ˣ, Bæb, 325VII, ‘jalmer’ 321ˣ

kennings

malma jalm-Freyr
‘noise-Freyr of weapons’
   = WARRIOR

the noise of weapons → BATTLE
the Freyr of the BATTLE → WARRIOR

notes

[6] jalm ‘of the noise’: This word has been re-interpreted by some scribes as almr ‘bow’, which gives an over-determined warrior-kenning, ‘the bow-Freyr of weapons’.

Close

jalm ‘of the noise’

(not checked:)
jalmr (noun m.): screech, noise < jalmfreyr (noun m.)

[6] jalm‑: alm‑ J2ˣ, Bæb, 325VII, ‘jalmer’ 321ˣ

kennings

malma jalm-Freyr
‘noise-Freyr of weapons’
   = WARRIOR

the noise of weapons → BATTLE
the Freyr of the BATTLE → WARRIOR

notes

[6] jalm ‘of the noise’: This word has been re-interpreted by some scribes as almr ‘bow’, which gives an over-determined warrior-kenning, ‘the bow-Freyr of weapons’.

Close

Freyr ‘the Freyr’

(not checked:)
Freyr (noun m.): (a god) < jalmfreyr (noun m.)

[6] Freyr: fyr 321ˣ, ‑rjóðr Bæb, frægr 61

kennings

malma jalm-Freyr
‘noise-Freyr of weapons’
   = WARRIOR

the noise of weapons → BATTLE
the Freyr of the BATTLE → WARRIOR
Close

und ‘under’

(not checked:)
3. und (prep.): under, underneath

notes

[6, 8] þrungit und sik ‘forced under him’: The locution also occurs in Þhorn Gldr 6/1, 4I, Ótt Hfl 20/8I, Arn Magndr 7/8II and elsewhere (see LP: þryngva; see also Bolton 2009, 264-9 and McKinnell 2005, 155). 

Close

sik ‘him’

(not checked:)
sik (pron.; °gen. sín, dat. sér): (refl. pron.)

notes

[6, 8] þrungit und sik ‘forced under him’: The locution also occurs in Þhorn Gldr 6/1, 4I, Ótt Hfl 20/8I, Arn Magndr 7/8II and elsewhere (see LP: þryngva; see also Bolton 2009, 264-9 and McKinnell 2005, 155). 

Close

malma ‘of weapons’

(not checked:)
malmr (noun m.; °-s, dat. -i; -ar): metal

[6] malma: malmi 325V, hjalma 61

kennings

malma jalm-Freyr
‘noise-Freyr of weapons’
   = WARRIOR

the noise of weapons → BATTLE
the Freyr of the BATTLE → WARRIOR
Close

malma ‘of weapons’

(not checked:)
malmr (noun m.; °-s, dat. -i; -ar): metal

[6] malma: malmi 325V, hjalma 61

kennings

malma jalm-Freyr
‘noise-Freyr of weapons’
   = WARRIOR

the noise of weapons → BATTLE
the Freyr of the BATTLE → WARRIOR
Close

hjaldrǫrr ‘the battle-eager one’

(not checked:)
hjaldrǫrr (adj.): [battle-eager one]

[7] hjaldrǫrr: ‘hlialldr’ 325VII

notes

[7] hjaldrǫrr ‘the battle-eager one’: This word can either be a substantivised adj. (with a short vowel in the second element) or a noun (hjaldrôrr ‘battle-performer’, with a long vowel in the second element). The adj. is adopted here, as also by ÍF 27 and Jesch (2000); Skj B, Skald and Frank (1994b) prefer the noun (as does LP: hjaldrôrr for this occurrence).

Close

haukum ‘for the hawks’

(not checked:)
1. haukr (noun m.; °-s, dat. -i/-; -ar): hawk

[7] haukum: hauka J2ˣ, Bæb, ‘[…]’ 325XI 2 g, aukum Tóm

kennings

haukum Leiknar odda.
‘for the hawks of the Leikn of spears.’
   = RAVENS/EAGLES

the Leikn of spears. → VALKYRIE
for the hawks of the VALKYRIE → RAVENS/EAGLES
Close

þverrir ‘diminishes’

(not checked:)
1. þverra (verb): diminish

[7] þverrir: ‘[…]’ 325XI 2 g, þverrar Tóm

Close

hungr ‘hunger’

(not checked:)
2. hungr (noun n.): hunger

[8] hungr Nóregi þrungit: ‘[…]’ 325XI 2 g;    hungr: ‘hungs’ J2ˣ, hungrs Bæb

Close

Nóregi ‘Norway’

(not checked:)
Noregr (noun m.): Norway

[8] hungr Nóregi þrungit: ‘[…]’ 325XI 2 g;    Nóregi: ‘storer’ 321ˣ

Close

þrungit ‘forced’

(not checked:)
þrøngva (verb): press, throng

[8] hungr Nóregi þrungit: ‘[…]’ 325XI 2 g;    þrungit: ‘þravm þrvngit’ 325V, þrungin 61, þrunginn Holm4

notes

[6, 8] þrungit und sik ‘forced under him’: The locution also occurs in Þhorn Gldr 6/1, 4I, Ótt Hfl 20/8I, Arn Magndr 7/8II and elsewhere (see LP: þryngva; see also Bolton 2009, 264-9 and McKinnell 2005, 155). 

Close

Interactive view: tap on words in the text for notes and glosses

The stanza is quoted in ÓH and Hkr following Knútr’s 1028 conquest of Norway orrostulaust ‘without a battle’.

On Knútr’s conquest, see further Bolton (2009). — [5-8]: Kock and Meissner (1931, II, 93) interpret the kennings in this second helmingr as odda Leiknar jalm-Freyr ‘the Freyr of the noise of the Leikn <giantess> of spears [VALKYRIE > BATTLE > WARRIOR]’ and haukar malma ‘hawks of weapons [RAVENS/EAGLES]’. This has the syntactic benefit of leading to only one intercalary phrase, not two, but the resultant kennings seem less satisfactory (see also NN §2265B). Other eds adopt the interpretation followed here.

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