Kirsten Wolf (ed.) 2007, ‘Kálfr Hallsson, Kátrínardrápa 46’ in Margaret Clunies Ross (ed.), Poetry on Christian Subjects. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 7. Turnhout: Brepols, pp. 960-1.
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bergja (verb; °-gð-): taste
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ek (pron.; °mín, dat. mér, acc. mik): I, me
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með (prep.): with
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brjóst (noun n.; °-s; -): breast, chest
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saurgr (adj.): unclean, filthy
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blóð (noun n.; °-s): blood
[1-2] blóði og holdi skapara þjóðar ‘the blood and flesh [of the creator of people] [= God]’: A kenning-like reference to the bread and wine of the Eucharist.
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3. ok (conj.): and, but; also
[1-2] blóði og holdi skapara þjóðar ‘the blood and flesh [of the creator of people] [= God]’: A kenning-like reference to the bread and wine of the Eucharist.
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hold (noun n.; °-s; -): flesh
[1-2] blóði og holdi skapara þjóðar ‘the blood and flesh [of the creator of people] [= God]’: A kenning-like reference to the bread and wine of the Eucharist.
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skapari (noun m.; °-a): (the) creator
[1-2] blóði og holdi skapara þjóðar ‘the blood and flesh [of the creator of people] [= God]’: A kenning-like reference to the bread and wine of the Eucharist.
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þjóð (noun f.; °-ar, dat. -/-u; -ir): people
[1-2] blóði og holdi skapara þjóðar ‘the blood and flesh [of the creator of people] [= God]’: A kenning-like reference to the bread and wine of the Eucharist.
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sárligr (adj.): painful
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2. vera (verb): be, is, was, were, are, am
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ek (pron.; °mín, dat. mér, acc. mik): I, me
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í (prep.): in, into
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saur (noun n.; °; -): mud, filth, impure
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allr (adj.): all
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synð (noun f.; °-ar; -ir): sin
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2. vefja (verb): wrap
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3. ok (conj.): and, but; also
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1. illska (noun f.; °-u; -ur): wickedness, bad disposition
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lyndi (noun n.; °-s): mind
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hilma (verb): [hide]
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ek (pron.; °mín, dat. mér, acc. mik): I, me
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fyr (prep.): for, over, because of, etc.
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hneitir (noun m.): sword
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palmr (noun m.; °; -ar): palm-tree
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2. hór (noun n.; °; -): [adultery] < hórdómr (noun m.): whoredom
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sem (conj.): as, which
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stulðr (noun m.; °dat. -; -ir): [theft]
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3. ok (conj.): and, but; also
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1. morð (noun n.; °-s; -): killing, battle
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maðr (noun m.): man, person < manndráp (noun n.): manslaughter
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dráp (noun n.; °-s): killing < manndráp (noun n.): manslaughter
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1. verða (verb): become, be
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opt (adv.): often
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2. vinna (verb): perform, work
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1. Yggr (noun m.): Yggr
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1. Yggr (noun m.): Yggr
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bál (noun n.; °-s; -): fire
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bál (noun n.; °-s; -): fire
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4. en (conj.): than
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runnr (noun m.; °dat. -i/-; -ar): bush, tree
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2. hyggja (verb): think, consider
Interactive view: tap on words in the text for notes and glosses
I tasted with a filthy breast the blood and flesh of the creator of people [= God]; I am painfully entangled in all the filth of sins and disposition to wickedness. I hide from the palm-trees of the sword [WARRIORS] adultery as well as theft and homicide; manslaughter is more often committed than the trees of Yggr’s <= Óðinn> fire [SWORDS > WARRIORS] think.
It is doubtful whether the poet’s confession of the sins of adultery, theft and homicide, along with his partaking of the Eucharist without having been absolved from these sins, should be taken literally. For a similar statement of self-abasement, see Gamlkan Has 7-16.
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