Kari Ellen Gade (ed.) 2017, ‘Markús Skeggjason, Lausavísur 1’ in Kari Ellen Gade and Edith Marold (eds), Poetry from Treatises on Poetics. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 3. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 296.
This lausavísa (Mark Lv 1) is transmitted in Skm (SnE; mss R (main ms.), Tˣ, W, U (ll. 5-8) and A), as well as in TGT (W, ll. 5-6). It is attributed to Markús in all mss and appears to describe a sea-journey from Iceland to mainland Scandinavia (see Frank 1978, 47-8). The stanza was copied from W(80) in LaufE (see LaufE 1979, 304, 393) and from a LaufE ms. in RE 1665(Kk3). Neither LaufE nor RE 1665 has any independent value. Markús employs three different heiti for ‘bear’ in this stanza, and these heiti have been given their literal translation in the present edition (see Translation and Note to [All] below).
Fjarðlinna óð fannir
fast vetrliði rastar;
hljóp of húna gnípur
hvalranns íugtanni.
Bjǫrn gekk framm á fornar
flóðs hafskíða slóðir;
skúrǫrðigr braut skorðu
skers glymfjǫtur bersi.
{Vetrliði rastar} óð fast {fannir {fjarðlinna}}; {íugtanni {hvalranns}} hljóp of {gnípur húna}. {Bjǫrn flóðs} gekk framm á {fornar slóðir {hafskíða}}; {skúrǫrðigr bersi skorðu} braut {glymfjǫtur skers}.
‘The winter-survivor <bear> of the maelstrom [SHIP] waded steadily through the snowdrifts of fjord-snakes [FISH > WAVES]; the greedy-toothed one <bear> of the whale-house [SEA > SHIP] leapt across crags of mastheads [WAVES]. The bear of the flood [SHIP] went forward on the old tracks of ocean-skis [SHIPS > WAVES]; the storm-battling little bear of the prop [SHIP] broke the resounding fetter of the skerry [SEA]. ’
The kennings in this stanza are given in Skm among the examples of terms for ‘ship’, and bjǫrn flóðs ‘bear of the flood’ illustrates a metaphor for ‘ship’ in TGT.
The heiti for ‘bear’ in this stanza are given in Þul Bjarnar: vetrliði lit. ‘winter-survivor’ (l. 2), íugtanni lit. ‘greedy-toothed one’ (l. 4) and bersi ‘little bear’ (l. 8). See Þul Bjarnar ll. 1, 10, 11 and Notes there. — For an excellent discussion of the imagery contained in this stanza, see Frank (1978, 46-9).
Text is based on reconstruction from the base text and variant apparatus and may contain alternative spellings and other normalisations not visible in the manuscript text. Transcriptions may not have been checked and should not be cited.
Fjarðlinna óð fannir
fast liði rastar;
hljóp of hvíta gnípur
hval þann íugtanni .
Bjǫrn gekk framm á fornar
flóðs hafskíða slóðir;
skúrǫrðigr braut skorðu
skers glymfjǫtur bersi.
Fiarðliɴa oð faɴir fast veðr liþi rastar hliop of hvi | ta gnipvr hvals þaɴ ivgtaɴi biorn geck fram afornar floðs hafskiþa | sloþir skvr avrþigr bravt skorþv skers glym fiotvr bersi.
(VEÞ)
Fjarðlinna óð fannir
fast veðr-liði rastar;
hljóp of hvítar gnípur
hval vígtanni .
Bjǫrn gekk framm á fornar
flóðs hafskíða slóðir;
skúrǫrðugr braut skorðu
skers glymfjǫtur bersi.
Fjarðlinna óð fannir
fast veðr-liði rastar;
hljóp of húna gnípur
hval íugtanni hranna .
Bjǫrn gekk framm á fornar
flóðs hafskíða slóðir;
skúrǫrðigr braut skorðu
skers glymfjǫtur bersi.
Fjarðlinna óð fannir
fast vetrliði rastar;
hljóp of húna gnípur
hvalranns íugtanni.
Bjǫrn gekk framm á fornar
flóðs hafskíða slóðir;
skrúð-ǫrðigr braut skorðu
skers gunnfjǫtur bersi.
Fjarðlinna óð fannir
fast vetrliði rastar;
hljóp of hvíta gnípur
hvallands íugtanni .
Bjǫrn gekk framm á fornar
flóðs hafskíða slóðir;
skúrǫrðigr braut skorðu
skers glymfjǫtur bersi.
Fiarðlinna óð fannir fast vætrliði rastar | hliop vm hvita gnipvr hvallandz ivgtannia biǫrn gækk fram a fornar flóðs haf | skipa sloðir skvr ǫrðigr brꜹt skorðv skærs glym fiǫtvr bærsi .
(VEÞ)
Fjarðlinna óð fannir
fast vetrliði rastar;
hljóp of húna gnípur
hvalranns íugtanni.
Bjǫrn gekk framm á fornar
flóðs hafskíða glóðir;
skúrǫrðigr braut skorðu
skers glymfjǫtur bersi.
B iorn oð framm a fornar floðs hafskipa gloðer.
(TW)
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