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Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages

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Kálf Kátr 43^VII

Kirsten Wolf (ed.) 2007, ‘Kálfr Hallsson, Kátrínardrápa 43’ in Margaret Clunies Ross (ed.), Poetry on Christian Subjects. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 7. Turnhout: Brepols, pp. 958-9.

Kálfr Hallsson Kátrínardrápa

Reiðr ‘angry’

(not checked:)
4. reiðr (adj.; °superl. -astr): angry

gjörðiz ‘became’

(not checked:)
1. gera (verb): do, make

þá ‘then’

(not checked:)
2. þá (adv.): then

ræsir ‘king’

(not checked:)
ræsir (noun m.): ruler

skorðu ‘prop’

(not checked:)
1. skorða (noun f.; °-u; -ur): prop

[1] skorðu: so 399a‑bˣ, ‘sk[...]u’ 713, ‘sk[...]’ 920ˣ

kennings

skorðu refla;
‘the prop of wallhangings; ’
= WOMAN
the prop of wallhangings; → WOMAN

notes

[1] skorðu (f. acc. sg.) ‘prop’: Finnur Jónsson (Skj A) read 713 as ‘sk[…]a’, but the ms. seems to have a ‘u’ here.

refla ‘of wallhangings’

(not checked:)
refill (noun m.; °; reflar/reflir): [wallhangings]

kennings

skorðu refla;
‘the prop of wallhangings; ’
= WOMAN
the prop of wallhangings; → WOMAN

beiddi ‘requested’

(not checked:)
beiða (verb; °-dd-): ask, request

lýða ‘of his men’

(not checked:)
lýðr (noun m.; °-s, dat. -; -ir): one of the people

eflir ‘promoter’

(not checked:)
eflir (noun m.): strengthener

kennings

eflir Hildar veðrs
‘the promoter of Hildr’s storm ’
= WARRIOR
Hildr’s storm → BATTLE
the promoter of the BATTLE → WARRIOR

Hildar ‘Hildr’s’

(not checked:)
2. Hildr (noun f.): Hildr

kennings

eflir Hildar veðrs
‘the promoter of Hildr’s storm ’
= WARRIOR
Hildr’s storm → BATTLE
the promoter of the BATTLE → WARRIOR

Hildar ‘Hildr’s’

(not checked:)
2. Hildr (noun f.): Hildr

kennings

eflir Hildar veðrs
‘the promoter of Hildr’s storm ’
= WARRIOR
Hildr’s storm → BATTLE
the promoter of the BATTLE → WARRIOR

veðrs ‘storm’

(not checked:)
2. veðr (noun n.; °-s; -): weather, wind, storm

kennings

eflir Hildar veðrs
‘the promoter of Hildr’s storm ’
= WARRIOR
Hildr’s storm → BATTLE
the promoter of the BATTLE → WARRIOR

veðrs ‘storm’

(not checked:)
2. veðr (noun n.; °-s; -): weather, wind, storm

kennings

eflir Hildar veðrs
‘the promoter of Hildr’s storm ’
= WARRIOR
Hildr’s storm → BATTLE
the promoter of the BATTLE → WARRIOR

að ‘that’

(not checked:)
4. at (conj.): that

höggva ‘slay’

(not checked:)
hǫggva (verb): to strike, put to death, cut, hew

skyldi ‘should’

(not checked:)
skulu (verb): shall, should, must

himna ‘of the heavens’

(not checked:)
himinn (noun m.; °himins, dat. himni; himnar): heaven, sky

kennings

mæta ambátt gætis himna.
‘the great handmaid of the guardian of the heavens. ’
= HOLY WOMAN
the guardian of the heavens. → God
the great handmaid of GOD → HOLY WOMAN

himna ‘of the heavens’

(not checked:)
himinn (noun m.; °himins, dat. himni; himnar): heaven, sky

kennings

mæta ambátt gætis himna.
‘the great handmaid of the guardian of the heavens. ’
= HOLY WOMAN
the guardian of the heavens. → God
the great handmaid of GOD → HOLY WOMAN

gætis ‘of the guardian’

(not checked:)
gætir (noun m.): guardian

kennings

mæta ambátt gætis himna.
‘the great handmaid of the guardian of the heavens. ’
= HOLY WOMAN
the guardian of the heavens. → God
the great handmaid of GOD → HOLY WOMAN

gætis ‘of the guardian’

(not checked:)
gætir (noun m.): guardian

kennings

mæta ambátt gætis himna.
‘the great handmaid of the guardian of the heavens. ’
= HOLY WOMAN
the guardian of the heavens. → God
the great handmaid of GOD → HOLY WOMAN

ambátt ‘handmaid’

(not checked:)
ambátt (noun f.; °-ar, dat. -u/-; -ir/-ar (ambottor EiðKrA 391²²)): handmaid

kennings

mæta ambátt gætis himna.
‘the great handmaid of the guardian of the heavens. ’
= HOLY WOMAN
the guardian of the heavens. → God
the great handmaid of GOD → HOLY WOMAN

mæta ‘great’

(not checked:)
mætr (adj.; °compar. -ri/-ari, superl. -astr): honoured, respected

kennings

mæta ambátt gætis himna.
‘the great handmaid of the guardian of the heavens. ’
= HOLY WOMAN
the guardian of the heavens. → God
the great handmaid of GOD → HOLY WOMAN

Blíðust ‘gentlest’

(not checked:)
blíðr (adj.; °n. sg. nom. & acc. blítt/blíðt; compar. -ari, superl. -astr): gentle, happy

kennings

Blíðust, björt og skærust, blessuð, dyggust, mæt hyggin, fríð fögr brík pella
‘The gentlest, bright and most pure, blessed, most faithful, great intelligent, fair beautiful screen of velvet ’
= WOMAN
The gentlest, bright and most pure, blessed, most faithful, great intelligent, fair beautiful screen of velvet → WOMAN

fór ‘went’

(not checked:)
fara (verb; ferr, fór, fóru, farinn): go, travel

þá ‘then’

(not checked:)
2. þá (adv.): then

[5] þá björt: ‘[...]íort’ 713, björt 399a‑bˣ, ‘[...] (b)jört’ 920ˣ

notes

[5] þá: Kahle proposed the addition of this word, as the l. is one syllable too short.

björt ‘bright’

(not checked:)
bjartr (adj.; °compar. -ari, superl. -astr): bright

[5] þá björt: ‘[...]íort’ 713, björt 399a‑bˣ, ‘[...] (b)jört’ 920ˣ

kennings

Blíðust, björt og skærust, blessuð, dyggust, mæt hyggin, fríð fögr brík pella
‘The gentlest, bright and most pure, blessed, most faithful, great intelligent, fair beautiful screen of velvet ’
= WOMAN
The gentlest, bright and most pure, blessed, most faithful, great intelligent, fair beautiful screen of velvet → WOMAN

og ‘and’

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

kennings

Blíðust, björt og skærust, blessuð, dyggust, mæt hyggin, fríð fögr brík pella
‘The gentlest, bright and most pure, blessed, most faithful, great intelligent, fair beautiful screen of velvet ’
= WOMAN
The gentlest, bright and most pure, blessed, most faithful, great intelligent, fair beautiful screen of velvet → WOMAN

skærust ‘most pure’

(not checked:)
1. skærr (adj.): pure, bright

kennings

Blíðust, björt og skærust, blessuð, dyggust, mæt hyggin, fríð fögr brík pella
‘The gentlest, bright and most pure, blessed, most faithful, great intelligent, fair beautiful screen of velvet ’
= WOMAN
The gentlest, bright and most pure, blessed, most faithful, great intelligent, fair beautiful screen of velvet → WOMAN

blessuð ‘blessed’

(not checked:)
blessaðr (adj./verb p.p.): blessed

kennings

Blíðust, björt og skærust, blessuð, dyggust, mæt hyggin, fríð fögr brík pella
‘The gentlest, bright and most pure, blessed, most faithful, great intelligent, fair beautiful screen of velvet ’
= WOMAN
The gentlest, bright and most pure, blessed, most faithful, great intelligent, fair beautiful screen of velvet → WOMAN

dyggust ‘most faithful’

(not checked:)
dyggr (adj.; °dyggvan/dyggan; compar. -vari/-ari/-ri, superl. -vastr/-astr/-str): trustworthy

[6] dyggust: dygg all

kennings

Blíðust, björt og skærust, blessuð, dyggust, mæt hyggin, fríð fögr brík pella
‘The gentlest, bright and most pure, blessed, most faithful, great intelligent, fair beautiful screen of velvet ’
= WOMAN
The gentlest, bright and most pure, blessed, most faithful, great intelligent, fair beautiful screen of velvet → WOMAN

mæt ‘great’

(not checked:)
mætr (adj.; °compar. -ri/-ari, superl. -astr): honoured, respected

kennings

Blíðust, björt og skærust, blessuð, dyggust, mæt hyggin, fríð fögr brík pella
‘The gentlest, bright and most pure, blessed, most faithful, great intelligent, fair beautiful screen of velvet ’
= WOMAN
The gentlest, bright and most pure, blessed, most faithful, great intelligent, fair beautiful screen of velvet → WOMAN

og ‘and’

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

kennings

Blíðust, björt og skærust, blessuð, dyggust, mæt hyggin, fríð fögr brík pella
‘The gentlest, bright and most pure, blessed, most faithful, great intelligent, fair beautiful screen of velvet ’
= WOMAN
The gentlest, bright and most pure, blessed, most faithful, great intelligent, fair beautiful screen of velvet → WOMAN

hyggin ‘intelligent’

(not checked:)
hygginn (adj.; °comp. -ari, superl. -astr): intelligent

kennings

Blíðust, björt og skærust, blessuð, dyggust, mæt hyggin, fríð fögr brík pella
‘The gentlest, bright and most pure, blessed, most faithful, great intelligent, fair beautiful screen of velvet ’
= WOMAN
The gentlest, bright and most pure, blessed, most faithful, great intelligent, fair beautiful screen of velvet → WOMAN

fríð ‘fair’

(not checked:)
fríðr (adj.; °compar. -ari, superl. -astr): beautiful, fair

kennings

Blíðust, björt og skærust, blessuð, dyggust, mæt hyggin, fríð fögr brík pella
‘The gentlest, bright and most pure, blessed, most faithful, great intelligent, fair beautiful screen of velvet ’
= WOMAN
The gentlest, bright and most pure, blessed, most faithful, great intelligent, fair beautiful screen of velvet → WOMAN

og ‘and’

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

kennings

Blíðust, björt og skærust, blessuð, dyggust, mæt hyggin, fríð fögr brík pella
‘The gentlest, bright and most pure, blessed, most faithful, great intelligent, fair beautiful screen of velvet ’
= WOMAN
The gentlest, bright and most pure, blessed, most faithful, great intelligent, fair beautiful screen of velvet → WOMAN

fögr ‘beautiful’

(not checked:)
fagr (adj.; °fagran; compar. fegri, superl. fegrstr): fair, beautiful

kennings

Blíðust, björt og skærust, blessuð, dyggust, mæt hyggin, fríð fögr brík pella
‘The gentlest, bright and most pure, blessed, most faithful, great intelligent, fair beautiful screen of velvet ’
= WOMAN
The gentlest, bright and most pure, blessed, most faithful, great intelligent, fair beautiful screen of velvet → WOMAN

með ‘with’

(not checked:)
með (prep.): with

píslar ‘of martyrdom’

(not checked:)
písl (noun f.; °-ar; -ir/-ar(Maurit 650²²)): torture < píslarprýði (noun f.)

[7] píslarprýði: ‘píslar p[...]’ 713, píslarsigri 399a‑bˣ, ‘písla sp[...]’ 920ˣ

notes

[7] píslarprýði ‘[with] the crown of martyrdom’: Finnur Jónsson (Skj A) was able to read the first two letters of the second element of this cpd in 713 as ‘pr’, but only ‘p’ is visible now.

prýði ‘crown’

(not checked:)
prýði (noun f.): finery, honour < píslarprýði (noun f.)

[7] píslarprýði: ‘píslar p[...]’ 713, píslarsigri 399a‑bˣ, ‘písla sp[...]’ 920ˣ

notes

[7] píslarprýði ‘[with] the crown of martyrdom’: Finnur Jónsson (Skj A) was able to read the first two letters of the second element of this cpd in 713 as ‘pr’, but only ‘p’ is visible now.

pella ‘of velvet’

(not checked:)
pell (noun n.; °-s; -): velvet

kennings

Blíðust, björt og skærust, blessuð, dyggust, mæt hyggin, fríð fögr brík pella
‘The gentlest, bright and most pure, blessed, most faithful, great intelligent, fair beautiful screen of velvet ’
= WOMAN
The gentlest, bright and most pure, blessed, most faithful, great intelligent, fair beautiful screen of velvet → WOMAN

brík ‘screen’

(not checked:)
brík (noun f.; °-ar; -r): plank

kennings

Blíðust, björt og skærust, blessuð, dyggust, mæt hyggin, fríð fögr brík pella
‘The gentlest, bright and most pure, blessed, most faithful, great intelligent, fair beautiful screen of velvet ’
= WOMAN
The gentlest, bright and most pure, blessed, most faithful, great intelligent, fair beautiful screen of velvet → WOMAN

til ‘to’

(not checked:)
til (prep.): to

himna ‘of the heavens’

(not checked:)
himinn (noun m.; °himins, dat. himni; himnar): heaven, sky < himnaríki (noun n.)

ríkis ‘the kingdom’

(not checked:)
ríki (noun n.; °-s; -): kingdom, power < himnaríki (noun n.)

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

verse
prose

The poet deals succinctly with Catherine’s martyrdom in sts 43-4, while the prose text allows her a long prayer to Christ, a voice from heaven answering her prayer, and a description of her death indicating that milk flowed from her wounds in place of blood, and concluding with a passage stating that angels transported her body to a mountain þat er Syna heitir ‘which is called Sinai’, where she performs countless miracles (Unger 1877, I, 420-1; Wolf 2003, 140-1).

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