Kálf Kátr 34VII
Kirsten Wolf (ed.) 2007, ‘Kálfr Hallsson, Kátrínardrápa 34’ in Margaret Clunies Ross (ed.), Poetry on Christian Subjects. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 7. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 952.
Stef ‘refrains’
(not checked:)
stef (noun n.; °; -): refrain
er ‘which’
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2. er (conj.): who, which, when
eg ‘I’
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ek (pron.; °mín, dat. mér, acc. mik): I, me
með ‘with’
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með (prep.): with
notes
[1] með stuðla knífi ‘with the knife of [alliterating] staves’: The meaning of this kenning is not entirely clear. Finnur Jónsson (Skj B) translates med digtningens kniv ‘with the knife of poetry’, assuming perhaps that stuðlar are metonymous for poetry generally. In LP, however, he interprets the kenning to refer to the tongue, and this may be the more plausible surmise, if the image underlying the kenning is of a sharp instrument that cuts the (wooden) props that support the poem.
stuðla ‘of stuðlar’
(not checked:)
stuðill (noun m.; °; stuðlar): pillar, prop
kennings
knífi stuðla,‘the knife of stuðlar, ’
= TONGUE
the knife of stuðlar, → TONGUE
notes
[1] með stuðla knífi ‘with the knife of [alliterating] staves’: The meaning of this kenning is not entirely clear. Finnur Jónsson (Skj B) translates med digtningens kniv ‘with the knife of poetry’, assuming perhaps that stuðlar are metonymous for poetry generally. In LP, however, he interprets the kenning to refer to the tongue, and this may be the more plausible surmise, if the image underlying the kenning is of a sharp instrument that cuts the (wooden) props that support the poem.
knífi ‘the knife’
(not checked:)
knífr (noun m.; °-s dat. -i; -ar): knife
kennings
knífi stuðla,‘the knife of stuðlar, ’
= TONGUE
the knife of stuðlar, → TONGUE
notes
[1] með stuðla knífi ‘with the knife of [alliterating] staves’: The meaning of this kenning is not entirely clear. Finnur Jónsson (Skj B) translates med digtningens kniv ‘with the knife of poetry’, assuming perhaps that stuðlar are metonymous for poetry generally. In LP, however, he interprets the kenning to refer to the tongue, and this may be the more plausible surmise, if the image underlying the kenning is of a sharp instrument that cuts the (wooden) props that support the poem.
smíðað ‘constructed’
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smíða (verb): craft
verða ‘be coming’
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1. verða (verb): become, be
að ‘to’
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5. at (nota): to (with infinitive)
líða ‘end’
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1. líða (verb): move, glide
skjöldungs ‘of the king’
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skjǫldungr (noun m.): king
kennings
skjöldungs veldis skýja.‘of the king of the realm of the clouds. ’
= God
the realm of the clouds. → SKY/HEAVEN
the king of the SKY/HEAVEN → God
er ‘will’
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2. vera (verb): be, is, was, were, are, am
víst ‘certainly’
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1. víss (adj.): wise, certain(ly)
nú ‘now’
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nú (adv.): now
skýja ‘of the clouds’
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ský (noun n.; °-s; -): cloud
kennings
skjöldungs veldis skýja.‘of the king of the realm of the clouds. ’
= God
the realm of the clouds. → SKY/HEAVEN
the king of the SKY/HEAVEN → God
skýja ‘of the clouds’
(not checked:)
ský (noun n.; °-s; -): cloud
kennings
skjöldungs veldis skýja.‘of the king of the realm of the clouds. ’
= God
the realm of the clouds. → SKY/HEAVEN
the king of the SKY/HEAVEN → God
veldis ‘of the realm’
(not checked:)
veldi (noun n.): realm
kennings
skjöldungs veldis skýja.‘of the king of the realm of the clouds. ’
= God
the realm of the clouds. → SKY/HEAVEN
the king of the SKY/HEAVEN → God
veldis ‘of the realm’
(not checked:)
veldi (noun n.): realm
kennings
skjöldungs veldis skýja.‘of the king of the realm of the clouds. ’
= God
the realm of the clouds. → SKY/HEAVEN
the king of the SKY/HEAVEN → God
slæmrinn ‘the conclusion’
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slœmr (noun m.; °dat. -): conclusion
gjörr ‘be made’
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1. gera (verb): do, make
um ‘about’
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1. um (prep.): about, around
háleitt ‘sublime’
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háleitr (adj.): glorious, sublime
dæmi ‘example’
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dœmi (noun n.; °-s; -): judgement, example
Öll ‘all’
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allr (adj.): all
notes
[5-6] öll söm orðin ‘all the same words’: Viz. as Maxentius had addressed to Catherine before when he asked her to marry him (18/5-8).
hafði ‘had’
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hafa (verb): have
þá ‘then’
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2. þá (adv.): then
odda ‘of swords’ points’
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oddr (noun m.; °-s, dat. -i; -ar): point of weapon
kennings
Spillir odda‘The destroyer of swords’ points ’
= WARRIOR
The destroyer of swords’ points → WARRIOR
spillir ‘The destroyer’
(not checked:)
2. spillir (noun m.): destroyer
kennings
Spillir odda‘The destroyer of swords’ points ’
= WARRIOR
The destroyer of swords’ points → WARRIOR
orðin ‘words’
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orð (noun n.; °-s; -): word
notes
[5-6] öll söm orðin ‘all the same words’: Viz. as Maxentius had addressed to Catherine before when he asked her to marry him (18/5-8).
söm ‘same’
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samr (adj.; °compar. -ari): same
notes
[5-6] öll söm orðin ‘all the same words’: Viz. as Maxentius had addressed to Catherine before when he asked her to marry him (18/5-8).
við ‘to’
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2. við (prep.): with, against
falda ‘of headdresses’
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faldr (noun m.; °; -ar): headdress
kennings
skorðu falda;‘the prop of headdresses; ’
= WOMAN
the prop of headdresses; → WOMAN
skorðu ‘the prop’
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1. skorða (noun f.; °-u; -ur): prop
kennings
skorðu falda;‘the prop of headdresses; ’
= WOMAN
the prop of headdresses; → WOMAN
blóta ‘of sacrifices’
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blót (noun n.; °-s; -): sacrifice
kennings
fægir blóta‘the performer of sacrifices ’
= HEATHEN MAN
the performer of sacrifices → HEATHEN MAN
fægir ‘the performer’
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fægir (noun m.): cultivator, polisher, performer
kennings
fægir blóta‘the performer of sacrifices ’
= HEATHEN MAN
the performer of sacrifices → HEATHEN MAN
bauðz ‘offered’
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bjóða (verb; °býðr; bauð, buðu; boðinn (buð- Thom¹ 5²n.)): offer, order, invite
að ‘to’
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5. at (nota): to (with infinitive)
eiga ‘marry’
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2. eiga (verb; °á/eigr (præs. pl. 3. pers. eigu/eiga); átti, áttu; átt): own, have
bragnings ‘of the prince’
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bragningr (noun m.; °; -ar): prince, ruler
kennings
meyju bragnings vagna sólar.‘the maiden of the prince of the wagons of the sun.’
= HOLY WOMAN
the wagons of the sun. → SKY/HEAVEN
the prince of the SKY/HEAVEN → God
the maiden of GOD → HOLY WOMAN
bragnings ‘of the prince’
(not checked:)
bragningr (noun m.; °; -ar): prince, ruler
kennings
meyju bragnings vagna sólar.‘the maiden of the prince of the wagons of the sun.’
= HOLY WOMAN
the wagons of the sun. → SKY/HEAVEN
the prince of the SKY/HEAVEN → God
the maiden of GOD → HOLY WOMAN
meyju ‘the maiden’
(not checked:)
mær (noun f.; °meyjar, dat. meyju; meyjar): maiden
kennings
meyju bragnings vagna sólar.‘the maiden of the prince of the wagons of the sun.’
= HOLY WOMAN
the wagons of the sun. → SKY/HEAVEN
the prince of the SKY/HEAVEN → God
the maiden of GOD → HOLY WOMAN
sólar ‘of the sun’
(not checked:)
sól (noun f.; °-ar, dat. -u/-; -ir): sun
kennings
meyju bragnings vagna sólar.‘the maiden of the prince of the wagons of the sun.’
= HOLY WOMAN
the wagons of the sun. → SKY/HEAVEN
the prince of the SKY/HEAVEN → God
the maiden of GOD → HOLY WOMAN
notes
[8] vagna sólar ‘the wagons of the sun’: See Note to 20/6.
sólar ‘of the sun’
(not checked:)
sól (noun f.; °-ar, dat. -u/-; -ir): sun
kennings
meyju bragnings vagna sólar.‘the maiden of the prince of the wagons of the sun.’
= HOLY WOMAN
the wagons of the sun. → SKY/HEAVEN
the prince of the SKY/HEAVEN → God
the maiden of GOD → HOLY WOMAN
notes
[8] vagna sólar ‘the wagons of the sun’: See Note to 20/6.
sólar ‘of the sun’
(not checked:)
sól (noun f.; °-ar, dat. -u/-; -ir): sun
kennings
meyju bragnings vagna sólar.‘the maiden of the prince of the wagons of the sun.’
= HOLY WOMAN
the wagons of the sun. → SKY/HEAVEN
the prince of the SKY/HEAVEN → God
the maiden of GOD → HOLY WOMAN
notes
[8] vagna sólar ‘the wagons of the sun’: See Note to 20/6.
vagna ‘of the wagons’
(not checked:)
vǫgn (noun f.; °; vagnir): wagon
kennings
meyju bragnings vagna sólar.‘the maiden of the prince of the wagons of the sun.’
= HOLY WOMAN
the wagons of the sun. → SKY/HEAVEN
the prince of the SKY/HEAVEN → God
the maiden of GOD → HOLY WOMAN
notes
[8] vagna sólar ‘the wagons of the sun’: See Note to 20/6.
vagna ‘of the wagons’
(not checked:)
vǫgn (noun f.; °; vagnir): wagon
kennings
meyju bragnings vagna sólar.‘the maiden of the prince of the wagons of the sun.’
= HOLY WOMAN
the wagons of the sun. → SKY/HEAVEN
the prince of the SKY/HEAVEN → God
the maiden of GOD → HOLY WOMAN
notes
[8] vagna sólar ‘the wagons of the sun’: See Note to 20/6.
vagna ‘of the wagons’
(not checked:)
vǫgn (noun f.; °; vagnir): wagon
kennings
meyju bragnings vagna sólar.‘the maiden of the prince of the wagons of the sun.’
= HOLY WOMAN
the wagons of the sun. → SKY/HEAVEN
the prince of the SKY/HEAVEN → God
the maiden of GOD → HOLY WOMAN
notes
[8] vagna sólar ‘the wagons of the sun’: See Note to 20/6.
Interactive view: tap on words in the text for notes and glosses
The refrains, which I have * constructed with the knife of stuðlar [TONGUE], will be coming to an end; the conclusion will now certainly be made about the sublime example of the king of the realm of the clouds [SKY/HEAVEN > = God]. The destroyer of swords’ points [WARRIOR] had then spoken all the same words to the prop of headdresses [WOMAN]; the performer of sacrifices [HEATHEN MAN] offered to marry the maiden of the prince of the wagons of the sun [SKY/HEAVEN > = God > HOLY WOMAN].
[1-4]: Sperber (1911, v), using this st. as an example, draws attention to the fact that the poet lets s alliterate with sk (and sp). Kálfr uses three technical terms here for parts of a drápa, stef (n. nom. pl.) ‘refrains’, stuðla (m. gen. pl.) from stuðill ‘prop, support, alliterating stave in the odd lines of a st.’, and slæmrinn (m. nom. sg.), name for the third and final section of a poem with three parts.
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