Judith Jesch (ed.) 2012, ‘Sigvatr Þórðarson, Erfidrápa Óláfs helga 17’ in Diana Whaley (ed.), Poetry from the Kings’ Sagas 1: From Mythical Times to c. 1035. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 1. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 685.
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þollr (noun m.): fir-tree
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dylja (verb; °dulði; dulðr/duliðr/dulinn (præs. sg. 3. pers. dyll Hirð 401²³, etc., dyl FrostKrᴵ 152¹⁹, etc.)): conceal
[1] dylr: dyli 73aˣ
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2. saðr (adj.): [true]
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2. seimr (noun m.; °dat. -i): gold
[2] þat veitk (‘þat veit ec’): þat veit Holm2, ek þat veit J2ˣ, veit ek Holm4, ‘þ(ar v)eit ek’(?) 61, þat frá ek Flat, þar veit ek Tóm
[2] veitk þat heiman ‘I know that from home’: It is not clear which statement this refers to. The precise antecedent of þat n. ‘that’ cannot be the f. snilli ‘valour’. It may be the fact of Þórir’s valour (so Hkr 1893-1901, IV) or the fact that some question it (so ÍF 27). ‘Home’ presumably means Norway, where Sigvatr lived for much of his life; see his Biography above, and Note to st. 15/7.
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1. vita (verb): know
[2] þat veitk (‘þat veit ec’): þat veit Holm2, ek þat veit J2ˣ, veit ek Holm4, ‘þ(ar v)eit ek’(?) 61, þat frá ek Flat, þar veit ek Tóm
[2] veitk þat heiman ‘I know that from home’: It is not clear which statement this refers to. The precise antecedent of þat n. ‘that’ cannot be the f. snilli ‘valour’. It may be the fact of Þórir’s valour (so Hkr 1893-1901, IV) or the fact that some question it (so ÍF 27). ‘Home’ presumably means Norway, where Sigvatr lived for much of his life; see his Biography above, and Note to st. 15/7.
[2] veitk þat heiman ‘I know that from home’: It is not clear which statement this refers to. The precise antecedent of þat n. ‘that’ cannot be the f. snilli ‘valour’. It may be the fact of Þórir’s valour (so Hkr 1893-1901, IV) or the fact that some question it (so ÍF 27). ‘Home’ presumably means Norway, where Sigvatr lived for much of his life; see his Biography above, and Note to st. 15/7.
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2. hverr (pron.): who, whom, each, every
[3] hverr: hver 73aˣ, 325V, hvers Tóm
[3] hverr sæi stœrri verk … Hunds ‘who might have seen greater deeds of … Hundr (“Dog”)’: (a) The comp. adj. stœrri ‘greater’ is taken here, as by most previous eds, as absolute, without an explicit specification of what the verk ‘deeds’ are greater than. (b) Jón Skaptason (1983, 172) would link it with the second helmingr, reading es in l. 5 as ‘<than> when’. (c) Kock (NN §664) prefers the reading hver séi Hunds verk stœrri ‘which deeds of the Dog might be greater?’, but this has less support in the mss.
[3] hverr sæi stœrri verk … Hunds ‘who might have seen greater deeds of … Hundr (“Dog”)’: (a) The comp. adj. stœrri ‘greater’ is taken here, as by most previous eds, as absolute, without an explicit specification of what the verk ‘deeds’ are greater than. (b) Jón Skaptason (1983, 172) would link it with the second helmingr, reading es in l. 5 as ‘<than> when’. (c) Kock (NN §664) prefers the reading hver séi Hunds verk stœrri ‘which deeds of the Dog might be greater?’, but this has less support in the mss.
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hundr (noun m.; °-s, dat. -i; -ar): hound, dog
[3] Hunds ‘Hundr (“Dog”)’: The word hundr ‘dog’ can be used as a term of abuse (Fritzner: hundr). Fidjestøl (1987) analyses the irony in the derogatory connotations of hundr, while the poet is simultaneously praising Þórir’s valour, and traces this continuing ambivalence towards him in later sources. — [3] hverr sæi stœrri verk … Hunds ‘who might have seen greater deeds of … Hundr (“Dog”)’: (a) The comp. adj. stœrri ‘greater’ is taken here, as by most previous eds, as absolute, without an explicit specification of what the verk ‘deeds’ are greater than. (b) Jón Skaptason (1983, 172) would link it with the second helmingr, reading es in l. 5 as ‘<than> when’. (c) Kock (NN §664) prefers the reading hver séi Hunds verk stœrri ‘which deeds of the Dog might be greater?’, but this has less support in the mss.
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hundr (noun m.; °-s, dat. -i; -ar): hound, dog
[3] Hunds ‘Hundr (“Dog”)’: The word hundr ‘dog’ can be used as a term of abuse (Fritzner: hundr). Fidjestøl (1987) analyses the irony in the derogatory connotations of hundr, while the poet is simultaneously praising Þórir’s valour, and traces this continuing ambivalence towards him in later sources. — [3] hverr sæi stœrri verk … Hunds ‘who might have seen greater deeds of … Hundr (“Dog”)’: (a) The comp. adj. stœrri ‘greater’ is taken here, as by most previous eds, as absolute, without an explicit specification of what the verk ‘deeds’ are greater than. (b) Jón Skaptason (1983, 172) would link it with the second helmingr, reading es in l. 5 as ‘<than> when’. (c) Kock (NN §664) prefers the reading hver séi Hunds verk stœrri ‘which deeds of the Dog might be greater?’, but this has less support in the mss.
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verk (noun n.; °-s; -): deed
[3] hverr sæi stœrri verk … Hunds ‘who might have seen greater deeds of … Hundr (“Dog”)’: (a) The comp. adj. stœrri ‘greater’ is taken here, as by most previous eds, as absolute, without an explicit specification of what the verk ‘deeds’ are greater than. (b) Jón Skaptason (1983, 172) would link it with the second helmingr, reading es in l. 5 as ‘<than> when’. (c) Kock (NN §664) prefers the reading hver séi Hunds verk stœrri ‘which deeds of the Dog might be greater?’, but this has less support in the mss.
[3] hverr sæi stœrri verk … Hunds ‘who might have seen greater deeds of … Hundr (“Dog”)’: (a) The comp. adj. stœrri ‘greater’ is taken here, as by most previous eds, as absolute, without an explicit specification of what the verk ‘deeds’ are greater than. (b) Jón Skaptason (1983, 172) would link it with the second helmingr, reading es in l. 5 as ‘<than> when’. (c) Kock (NN §664) prefers the reading hver séi Hunds verk stœrri ‘which deeds of the Dog might be greater?’, but this has less support in the mss.
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hugr (noun m.): mind, thought, courage < hugstórr (adj.): mighty-hearted
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stórr (adj.): large, great < hugstórr (adj.): mighty-hearted
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2. frýja (verb): reproach, complain
[4] frýr: vann 61, Flat, Tóm, ‘fir’ with vann written above 325VII
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Þórir (noun m.): Þórir
[4] Þóri: ‘[…]’ 61, ‘þore(s)’(?) 325VII, Þórir Flat, Tóm
[5, 6, 7, 8] Þróttr þvergarða glyggs gunnranns ‘the Þróttr <= Óðinn> of the cross-fences of the storm of the battle-hall [SHIELD > BATTLE > SHIELD > WARRIOR]’: This kenning is unusual for its number of elements and conjures up an image of Þórir defensively barricading himself in at the very moment when he strikes out at Óláfr, one of the several ironies of this stanza. Jón Skaptason (1983, 306) thought the kenning was ‘much too complex to be characteristic of Sigvat’ and found the ‘double use of shield disquietingly redundant’ but was unable to construe the stanza any differently.
[5, 6, 7, 8] Þróttr þvergarða glyggs gunnranns ‘the Þróttr <= Óðinn> of the cross-fences of the storm of the battle-hall [SHIELD > BATTLE > SHIELD > WARRIOR]’: This kenning is unusual for its number of elements and conjures up an image of Þórir defensively barricading himself in at the very moment when he strikes out at Óláfr, one of the several ironies of this stanza. Jón Skaptason (1983, 306) thought the kenning was ‘much too complex to be characteristic of Sigvat’ and found the ‘double use of shield disquietingly redundant’ but was unable to construe the stanza any differently.
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garðr (noun m.): enclosure, yard < þvergarðr (noun m.)
[5, 6, 7, 8] Þróttr þvergarða glyggs gunnranns ‘the Þróttr <= Óðinn> of the cross-fences of the storm of the battle-hall [SHIELD > BATTLE > SHIELD > WARRIOR]’: This kenning is unusual for its number of elements and conjures up an image of Þórir defensively barricading himself in at the very moment when he strikes out at Óláfr, one of the several ironies of this stanza. Jón Skaptason (1983, 306) thought the kenning was ‘much too complex to be characteristic of Sigvat’ and found the ‘double use of shield disquietingly redundant’ but was unable to construe the stanza any differently.
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garðr (noun m.): enclosure, yard < þvergarðr (noun m.)
[5, 6, 7, 8] Þróttr þvergarða glyggs gunnranns ‘the Þróttr <= Óðinn> of the cross-fences of the storm of the battle-hall [SHIELD > BATTLE > SHIELD > WARRIOR]’: This kenning is unusual for its number of elements and conjures up an image of Þórir defensively barricading himself in at the very moment when he strikes out at Óláfr, one of the several ironies of this stanza. Jón Skaptason (1983, 306) thought the kenning was ‘much too complex to be characteristic of Sigvat’ and found the ‘double use of shield disquietingly redundant’ but was unable to construe the stanza any differently.
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þora (verb): dare
[5, 6, 7, 8] Þróttr þvergarða glyggs gunnranns ‘the Þróttr <= Óðinn> of the cross-fences of the storm of the battle-hall [SHIELD > BATTLE > SHIELD > WARRIOR]’: This kenning is unusual for its number of elements and conjures up an image of Þórir defensively barricading himself in at the very moment when he strikes out at Óláfr, one of the several ironies of this stanza. Jón Skaptason (1983, 306) thought the kenning was ‘much too complex to be characteristic of Sigvat’ and found the ‘double use of shield disquietingly redundant’ but was unable to construe the stanza any differently.
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2. er (conj.): who, which, when
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fram (adv.): out, forth, forwards, away
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sœkja (verb): seek, attack
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glygg (noun n.; °-s; -): storm
[7] glyggs: ‘g[…]’ 61, gnýs Flat, Tóm
[5, 6, 7, 8] Þróttr þvergarða glyggs gunnranns ‘the Þróttr <= Óðinn> of the cross-fences of the storm of the battle-hall [SHIELD > BATTLE > SHIELD > WARRIOR]’: This kenning is unusual for its number of elements and conjures up an image of Þórir defensively barricading himself in at the very moment when he strikes out at Óláfr, one of the several ironies of this stanza. Jón Skaptason (1983, 306) thought the kenning was ‘much too complex to be characteristic of Sigvat’ and found the ‘double use of shield disquietingly redundant’ but was unable to construe the stanza any differently.
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glygg (noun n.; °-s; -): storm
[7] glyggs: ‘g[…]’ 61, gnýs Flat, Tóm
[5, 6, 7, 8] Þróttr þvergarða glyggs gunnranns ‘the Þróttr <= Óðinn> of the cross-fences of the storm of the battle-hall [SHIELD > BATTLE > SHIELD > WARRIOR]’: This kenning is unusual for its number of elements and conjures up an image of Þórir defensively barricading himself in at the very moment when he strikes out at Óláfr, one of the several ironies of this stanza. Jón Skaptason (1983, 306) thought the kenning was ‘much too complex to be characteristic of Sigvat’ and found the ‘double use of shield disquietingly redundant’ but was unable to construe the stanza any differently.
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glygg (noun n.; °-s; -): storm
[7] glyggs: ‘g[…]’ 61, gnýs Flat, Tóm
[5, 6, 7, 8] Þróttr þvergarða glyggs gunnranns ‘the Þróttr <= Óðinn> of the cross-fences of the storm of the battle-hall [SHIELD > BATTLE > SHIELD > WARRIOR]’: This kenning is unusual for its number of elements and conjures up an image of Þórir defensively barricading himself in at the very moment when he strikes out at Óláfr, one of the several ironies of this stanza. Jón Skaptason (1983, 306) thought the kenning was ‘much too complex to be characteristic of Sigvat’ and found the ‘double use of shield disquietingly redundant’ but was unable to construe the stanza any differently.
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5. at (nota): to (with infinitive)
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hǫggva (verb): to strike, put to death, cut, hew
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gunnr (noun f.): battle < gunnrann (noun n.)
[5, 6, 7, 8] Þróttr þvergarða glyggs gunnranns ‘the Þróttr <= Óðinn> of the cross-fences of the storm of the battle-hall [SHIELD > BATTLE > SHIELD > WARRIOR]’: This kenning is unusual for its number of elements and conjures up an image of Þórir defensively barricading himself in at the very moment when he strikes out at Óláfr, one of the several ironies of this stanza. Jón Skaptason (1983, 306) thought the kenning was ‘much too complex to be characteristic of Sigvat’ and found the ‘double use of shield disquietingly redundant’ but was unable to construe the stanza any differently.
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gunnr (noun f.): battle < gunnrann (noun n.)
[5, 6, 7, 8] Þróttr þvergarða glyggs gunnranns ‘the Þróttr <= Óðinn> of the cross-fences of the storm of the battle-hall [SHIELD > BATTLE > SHIELD > WARRIOR]’: This kenning is unusual for its number of elements and conjures up an image of Þórir defensively barricading himself in at the very moment when he strikes out at Óláfr, one of the several ironies of this stanza. Jón Skaptason (1983, 306) thought the kenning was ‘much too complex to be characteristic of Sigvat’ and found the ‘double use of shield disquietingly redundant’ but was unable to construe the stanza any differently.
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gunnr (noun f.): battle < gunnrann (noun n.)
[5, 6, 7, 8] Þróttr þvergarða glyggs gunnranns ‘the Þróttr <= Óðinn> of the cross-fences of the storm of the battle-hall [SHIELD > BATTLE > SHIELD > WARRIOR]’: This kenning is unusual for its number of elements and conjures up an image of Þórir defensively barricading himself in at the very moment when he strikes out at Óláfr, one of the several ironies of this stanza. Jón Skaptason (1983, 306) thought the kenning was ‘much too complex to be characteristic of Sigvat’ and found the ‘double use of shield disquietingly redundant’ but was unable to construe the stanza any differently.
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gunnr (noun f.): battle < gunnrann (noun n.)
[5, 6, 7, 8] Þróttr þvergarða glyggs gunnranns ‘the Þróttr <= Óðinn> of the cross-fences of the storm of the battle-hall [SHIELD > BATTLE > SHIELD > WARRIOR]’: This kenning is unusual for its number of elements and conjures up an image of Þórir defensively barricading himself in at the very moment when he strikes out at Óláfr, one of the several ironies of this stanza. Jón Skaptason (1983, 306) thought the kenning was ‘much too complex to be characteristic of Sigvat’ and found the ‘double use of shield disquietingly redundant’ but was unable to construe the stanza any differently.
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rann (noun n.): house, hall < gunnrann (noun n.)
[8] ‑ranns: ‑ramms J2ˣ, ‑rakkr 61, Flat, ‑rammr Tóm
[5, 6, 7, 8] Þróttr þvergarða glyggs gunnranns ‘the Þróttr <= Óðinn> of the cross-fences of the storm of the battle-hall [SHIELD > BATTLE > SHIELD > WARRIOR]’: This kenning is unusual for its number of elements and conjures up an image of Þórir defensively barricading himself in at the very moment when he strikes out at Óláfr, one of the several ironies of this stanza. Jón Skaptason (1983, 306) thought the kenning was ‘much too complex to be characteristic of Sigvat’ and found the ‘double use of shield disquietingly redundant’ but was unable to construe the stanza any differently.
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rann (noun n.): house, hall < gunnrann (noun n.)
[8] ‑ranns: ‑ramms J2ˣ, ‑rakkr 61, Flat, ‑rammr Tóm
[5, 6, 7, 8] Þróttr þvergarða glyggs gunnranns ‘the Þróttr <= Óðinn> of the cross-fences of the storm of the battle-hall [SHIELD > BATTLE > SHIELD > WARRIOR]’: This kenning is unusual for its number of elements and conjures up an image of Þórir defensively barricading himself in at the very moment when he strikes out at Óláfr, one of the several ironies of this stanza. Jón Skaptason (1983, 306) thought the kenning was ‘much too complex to be characteristic of Sigvat’ and found the ‘double use of shield disquietingly redundant’ but was unable to construe the stanza any differently.
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rann (noun n.): house, hall < gunnrann (noun n.)
[8] ‑ranns: ‑ramms J2ˣ, ‑rakkr 61, Flat, ‑rammr Tóm
[5, 6, 7, 8] Þróttr þvergarða glyggs gunnranns ‘the Þróttr <= Óðinn> of the cross-fences of the storm of the battle-hall [SHIELD > BATTLE > SHIELD > WARRIOR]’: This kenning is unusual for its number of elements and conjures up an image of Þórir defensively barricading himself in at the very moment when he strikes out at Óláfr, one of the several ironies of this stanza. Jón Skaptason (1983, 306) thought the kenning was ‘much too complex to be characteristic of Sigvat’ and found the ‘double use of shield disquietingly redundant’ but was unable to construe the stanza any differently.
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rann (noun n.): house, hall < gunnrann (noun n.)
[8] ‑ranns: ‑ramms J2ˣ, ‑rakkr 61, Flat, ‑rammr Tóm
[5, 6, 7, 8] Þróttr þvergarða glyggs gunnranns ‘the Þróttr <= Óðinn> of the cross-fences of the storm of the battle-hall [SHIELD > BATTLE > SHIELD > WARRIOR]’: This kenning is unusual for its number of elements and conjures up an image of Þórir defensively barricading himself in at the very moment when he strikes out at Óláfr, one of the several ironies of this stanza. Jón Skaptason (1983, 306) thought the kenning was ‘much too complex to be characteristic of Sigvat’ and found the ‘double use of shield disquietingly redundant’ but was unable to construe the stanza any differently.
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konungr (noun m.; °dat. -i, -s; -ar): king < konungmaðr (noun m.): king
[8] konung‑: konungs 73aˣ, 61, Tóm
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maðr (noun m.): man, person < konungmaðr (noun m.): king
Interactive view: tap on words in the text for notes and glosses
The fir-tree of gold [MAN] who reproaches Þórir conceals true valour, and I know that from home — who might have seen greater deeds of the mighty-hearted [Þórir] Hundr (‘Dog’)? —, when the Þróttr <= Óðinn> of the cross-fences of the storm of the battle-hall [SHIELD > BATTLE > SHIELD > WARRIOR], the one who pressed forwards, dared to strike at the royal person.
See Context to st. 16. Þórir strikes back at King Óláfr and they exchange blows. Óláfr’s sword continues to be useless where Þórir is protected by his reindeer skins, but he does manage to wound him on the arm.
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