Russell Poole (ed.) 2012, ‘Sigvatr Þórðarson, Nesjavísur 14’ 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. 575.
(not checked:)
2. afl (noun n.; °-s; *-): strength
(not checked:)
vaxa (verb): grow, increase
(not checked:)
vætr (noun n.): not a trace, nothing
(not checked:)
2. væta (verb): [moisten]
(not checked:)
vaxa (verb): grow, increase
[1] vex: vætt Holm2, 972ˣ, vætr R686ˣ, J1ˣ, J2ˣ, vóx Holm4
(not checked:)
2. er (conj.): who, which, when
(not checked:)
2. þá (adv.): then
(not checked:)
2. er (conj.): who, which, when
(not checked:)
2. er (conj.): who, which, when
(not checked:)
þar (adv.): there
(not checked:)
þvít (conj.): because, since
[1] þvít (‘þvi at’): þá er 325VI, 75a, þat er 68, þar er 61
(not checked:)
afla (verb; °-að-): to gain, earn, procure, acquire
[1, 2, 3, 4] efla þenna sendi … konung ‘support this launcher … as king’: Bjarni Aðalbjarnarson (ÍF 27, followed by Jón Skaptason 1983, 235) notes this unusual construction, in place of more usual efla til konungs ‘support as king’; see further Note to l. 4 konung.
[2] Upplendingar: The people of Upplǫnd (Opplandene, Norway), which comprised present-day Hedmark (home of the Heinir, l. 5), Hadeland, Romerike, Gudbrandsdalen and Østerdalen.
(not checked:)
lendingr (noun m.): landsman < upplendingr (noun m.): one of the Upplendingar
(not checked:)
lendingr (noun m.): landsman < upplendingr (noun m.): one of the Upplendingar
(not checked:)
lendingr (noun m.): landsman < upplendingr (noun m.): one of the Upplendingar
[2] ‑lendingar: ‑lendinga Holm2, 325VI, Holm4, ‑lendingum R686ˣ, J1ˣ, J2ˣ, ‘‑ledinga’ 75a
[2] Upplendingar: The people of Upplǫnd (Opplandene, Norway), which comprised present-day Hedmark (home of the Heinir, l. 5), Hadeland, Romerike, Gudbrandsdalen and Østerdalen.
(not checked:)
senda (verb): send
(not checked:)
sendir (noun m.): sender, distributor
(not checked:)
sendir (noun m.): sender, distributor
[2] sendi: sendu 972ˣ, 68, sendis Holm4
[1, 2, 3, 4] efla þenna sendi … konung ‘support this launcher … as king’: Bjarni Aðalbjarnarson (ÍF 27, followed by Jón Skaptason 1983, 235) notes this unusual construction, in place of more usual efla til konungs ‘support as king’; see further Note to l. 4 konung.
(not checked:)
2. svinnr (adj.): wise
(not checked:)
2. Sveinn (noun m.): Sveinn
(not checked:)
2. Sveinn (noun m.): Sveinn
(not checked:)
2. Sveinn (noun m.): Sveinn
[3] Sveinn: Sveins Holm2, 972ˣ, J1ˣ, J2ˣ, 325VI, 75a, ‘su[…]’ R686ˣ, svinn 61, Svein 325VII, Flat, Tóm
[3] Sveinn: A remarkable use of apostrophe to the certainly absent Sveinn.
(not checked:)
2. finna (verb): find, meet
(not checked:)
2. finna (verb): find, meet
(not checked:)
2. finna (verb): find, meet
[3] funduð: finnum 61, finnit Bb, fundu Flat
(not checked:)
þar (adv.): there
(not checked:)
ér (pron.; °gen. yðvar/yðar, dat./acc. yðr): you
[3] þat: þar Holm2, R686ˣ, 972ˣ, J1ˣ, J2ˣ, 325VI, 75a, 325VII, þér Holm4, Flat, Tóm
(not checked:)
þinn (pron.; °f. þín, n. þitt): your
(not checked:)
1. sjá (pron.; °gen. þessa dat. þessum/þeima, acc. þenna; f. sjá/þessi; n. þetta, dat. þessu/þvísa; pl. þessir): this
[3] þenna: þinna 972ˣ
[1, 2, 3, 4] efla þenna sendi … konung ‘support this launcher … as king’: Bjarni Aðalbjarnarson (ÍF 27, followed by Jón Skaptason 1983, 235) notes this unusual construction, in place of more usual efla til konungs ‘support as king’; see further Note to l. 4 konung.
(not checked:)
því (adv.): therefore, because < þvílíkr (adj.): such
(not checked:)
þú (pron.; °gen. þín, dat. þér, acc. þik): you
(not checked:)
þriði (num. ordinal): third
(not checked:)
þil (noun n.; °-s): [plank] < þilblakkr (noun m.)þil (noun n.; °-s): [plank] < þilklakkr (noun m.)
[4] þilblakks: ‘þilklaks’ R686ˣ, ‘þic blakks’ 75a, þriðja til 61, þvílíks Tóm
[4] þilblakks ‘of the plank-horse [SHIP]’: The first element in this kenning is þil n., a collective noun meaning ‘decking’ and cognate with the more familiar þilja ‘deck-plank’ (Jesch 2001a, 151).
(not checked:)
þil (noun n.; °-s): [plank] < þilblakkr (noun m.)þil (noun n.; °-s): [plank] < þilklakkr (noun m.)
[4] þilblakks: ‘þilklaks’ R686ˣ, ‘þic blakks’ 75a, þriðja til 61, þvílíks Tóm
[4] þilblakks ‘of the plank-horse [SHIP]’: The first element in this kenning is þil n., a collective noun meaning ‘decking’ and cognate with the more familiar þilja ‘deck-plank’ (Jesch 2001a, 151).
(not checked:)
klakkr (noun m.; °; -ar): °høj spids klippe < þilklakkr (noun m.)
(not checked:)
líkr (adj.): like < þvílíkr (adj.): such
(not checked:)
til (prep.): to
(not checked:)
1. blakkr (noun m.): horse < þilblakkr (noun m.)
[4] þilblakks: ‘þilklaks’ R686ˣ, ‘þic blakks’ 75a, þriðja til 61, þvílíks Tóm
[4] þilblakks ‘of the plank-horse [SHIP]’: The first element in this kenning is þil n., a collective noun meaning ‘decking’ and cognate with the more familiar þilja ‘deck-plank’ (Jesch 2001a, 151).
(not checked:)
1. blakkr (noun m.): horse < þilblakkr (noun m.)
[4] þilblakks: ‘þilklaks’ R686ˣ, ‘þic blakks’ 75a, þriðja til 61, þvílíks Tóm
[4] þilblakks ‘of the plank-horse [SHIP]’: The first element in this kenning is þil n., a collective noun meaning ‘decking’ and cognate with the more familiar þilja ‘deck-plank’ (Jesch 2001a, 151).
(not checked:)
konungr (noun m.; °dat. -i, -s; -ar): king
(not checked:)
konungr (noun m.; °dat. -i, -s; -ar): king
(not checked:)
konungr (noun m.; °dat. -i, -s; -ar): king
[4] konung: konungs papp18ˣ, 75a, 68, 61, 325V, Flat, Tóm, konungr 325VI, Holm4, 325VII
[1, 2, 3, 4] efla þenna sendi … konung ‘support this launcher … as king’: Bjarni Aðalbjarnarson (ÍF 27, followed by Jón Skaptason 1983, 235) notes this unusual construction, in place of more usual efla til konungs ‘support as king’; see further Note to l. 4 konung. — [4] konung ‘king’: It is difficult to establish the original reading here. (a) The weight of ms. support is for the acc. (selected in ÍF 27, and see first Note above). (b) Finnur Jónsson selects konungs, governing afli ‘strength’ (Hkr 1893-1901; Skj B). (c) Kock (NN §623) defends nom. konungr, construing it as an apostrophe, a counterpart to Sveinn in l. 3.
(not checked:)
konungr (noun m.; °dat. -i, -s; -ar): king
[4] konung: konungs papp18ˣ, 75a, 68, 61, 325V, Flat, Tóm, konungr 325VI, Holm4, 325VII
[1, 2, 3, 4] efla þenna sendi … konung ‘support this launcher … as king’: Bjarni Aðalbjarnarson (ÍF 27, followed by Jón Skaptason 1983, 235) notes this unusual construction, in place of more usual efla til konungs ‘support as king’; see further Note to l. 4 konung. — [4] konung ‘king’: It is difficult to establish the original reading here. (a) The weight of ms. support is for the acc. (selected in ÍF 27, and see first Note above). (b) Finnur Jónsson selects konungs, governing afli ‘strength’ (Hkr 1893-1901; Skj B). (c) Kock (NN §623) defends nom. konungr, construing it as an apostrophe, a counterpart to Sveinn in l. 3.
(not checked:)
vilja (verb): want, intend
(not checked:)
rán (noun n.; °-s; -): plunder, plundering
(not checked:)
raun (noun f.; °-ar; -ir): ordeal, proof, experience
[5] Raun: rán J1ˣ, J2ˣ, ‘[…]n’ 325V
(not checked:)
2. vera (verb): be, is, was, were, are, am
(not checked:)
herr (noun m.; °-s/-jar, dat. -; -jar, gen. -ja/herra): army, host
(not checked:)
2. inn (art.): the
[5] hins: ‘herins’ with ‘hins’ in margin Holm2, ‘hin[…]’ R686ˣ
(not checked:)
4. at (conj.): that
(not checked:)
hein (noun f.; °-ar): whetstone
(not checked:)
heinir (noun m.): inhabitant of Hedemarken
[5] Heinir: heinar R686ˣ, 972ˣ, ‘heynir’ 61
[6, 7] þeir œxla frør hrælinns ‘they augment the frost of the corpse-snake [SWORD > BATTLE]’: Lines 6-7 exhibit a wide variance in readings, and the main solutions adopted by previous eds present difficulties. (a) K (represented by Kˣ and papp18ˣ) gives hrælinns … vér gerðum fǫr ‘we made a journey of the corpse-snake [SWORD > BATTLE]’ (cf. ÍF 27). However, fǫr is unique to K, and although K stands high in the stemma and is normally a reliable guide, it is not free from scribal emendations. Gerðum fǫr ‘we made a journey’ looks like a simplification designed to supply hrælinns ‘corpse-snake [SWORD]’ with a base-word fǫr ‘journey’, the whole yielding a kenning for ‘battle’. (b) Mss J1ˣ, J2ˣ, Holm2, 325VI, Bb read hrælinns … þeir ôttu flug fleina ‘of the corpse-snake [SWORD] they had the flight of barbs [BATTLE]’. Here flug can form a battle-kenning with either fleina ‘of barbs’ or possibly with hrælinns ‘of the corpse-snake [SWORD]’ (so Hkr 1893-1901; Skj B), but the other is then superfluous. It therefore appears that fleina is a modification of original fleira ‘more’, which is needed in association with an ‘than’ in l. 8 (and is adopted in Hkr 1893-1901; Skj B). Flug fleina may well have been been prompted in transmission by the identical phrase in st. 5/5. (c) Flug is also a doubtful reading since flug(r) ‘flight’ is unlikely to be combined with the sword-kenning hrælinns and since, as an obvious piece of vocabulary, flugr could scarcely have given rise to the array of alternative readings ‘fals’, ‘faus’, ‘foss’ and ‘fros’. Flug and fǫr are most probably substitutions for a less familiar word that would have combined with hrælinns to form a kenning for ‘shield’, ‘blood’, or ‘battle’. The only suitable candidate is frør ‘frost’, which yields a kenning for ‘battle’ parallel to frost in st. 3/3. The similarly wide variation in readings of the verb (ôttu, reyndu, ætla, ‘æskia’, axla and œxla) can be accounted for as originating in œxla ‘augment’, a relatively uncommon word. Preceded as it is by the cognate word vex ‘increases’ in l. 1, it could be seen as selected by Sigvatr in a further instance of etymological word-play (see Notes to sts 2/1 and 3/1).
[6, 7] þeir œxla frør hrælinns ‘they augment the frost of the corpse-snake [SWORD > BATTLE]’: Lines 6-7 exhibit a wide variance in readings, and the main solutions adopted by previous eds present difficulties. (a) K (represented by Kˣ and papp18ˣ) gives hrælinns … vér gerðum fǫr ‘we made a journey of the corpse-snake [SWORD > BATTLE]’ (cf. ÍF 27). However, fǫr is unique to K, and although K stands high in the stemma and is normally a reliable guide, it is not free from scribal emendations. Gerðum fǫr ‘we made a journey’ looks like a simplification designed to supply hrælinns ‘corpse-snake [SWORD]’ with a base-word fǫr ‘journey’, the whole yielding a kenning for ‘battle’. (b) Mss J1ˣ, J2ˣ, Holm2, 325VI, Bb read hrælinns … þeir ôttu flug fleina ‘of the corpse-snake [SWORD] they had the flight of barbs [BATTLE]’. Here flug can form a battle-kenning with either fleina ‘of barbs’ or possibly with hrælinns ‘of the corpse-snake [SWORD]’ (so Hkr 1893-1901; Skj B), but the other is then superfluous. It therefore appears that fleina is a modification of original fleira ‘more’, which is needed in association with an ‘than’ in l. 8 (and is adopted in Hkr 1893-1901; Skj B). Flug fleina may well have been been prompted in transmission by the identical phrase in st. 5/5. (c) Flug is also a doubtful reading since flug(r) ‘flight’ is unlikely to be combined with the sword-kenning hrælinns and since, as an obvious piece of vocabulary, flugr could scarcely have given rise to the array of alternative readings ‘fals’, ‘faus’, ‘foss’ and ‘fros’. Flug and fǫr are most probably substitutions for a less familiar word that would have combined with hrælinns to form a kenning for ‘shield’, ‘blood’, or ‘battle’. The only suitable candidate is frør ‘frost’, which yields a kenning for ‘battle’ parallel to frost in st. 3/3. The similarly wide variation in readings of the verb (ôttu, reyndu, ætla, ‘æskia’, axla and œxla) can be accounted for as originating in œxla ‘augment’, a relatively uncommon word. Preceded as it is by the cognate word vex ‘increases’ in l. 1, it could be seen as selected by Sigvatr in a further instance of etymological word-play (see Notes to sts 2/1 and 3/1).
(not checked:)
linnr (noun m.): snake < hrælinnr (noun m.): corpse-snake
(not checked:)
linnr (noun m.): snake < hrælinnr (noun m.): corpse-snake
[6] ‑linns: ‑linn 75a, 68, 61, Flat, Tóm
[6, 7] þeir œxla frør hrælinns ‘they augment the frost of the corpse-snake [SWORD > BATTLE]’: Lines 6-7 exhibit a wide variance in readings, and the main solutions adopted by previous eds present difficulties. (a) K (represented by Kˣ and papp18ˣ) gives hrælinns … vér gerðum fǫr ‘we made a journey of the corpse-snake [SWORD > BATTLE]’ (cf. ÍF 27). However, fǫr is unique to K, and although K stands high in the stemma and is normally a reliable guide, it is not free from scribal emendations. Gerðum fǫr ‘we made a journey’ looks like a simplification designed to supply hrælinns ‘corpse-snake [SWORD]’ with a base-word fǫr ‘journey’, the whole yielding a kenning for ‘battle’. (b) Mss J1ˣ, J2ˣ, Holm2, 325VI, Bb read hrælinns … þeir ôttu flug fleina ‘of the corpse-snake [SWORD] they had the flight of barbs [BATTLE]’. Here flug can form a battle-kenning with either fleina ‘of barbs’ or possibly with hrælinns ‘of the corpse-snake [SWORD]’ (so Hkr 1893-1901; Skj B), but the other is then superfluous. It therefore appears that fleina is a modification of original fleira ‘more’, which is needed in association with an ‘than’ in l. 8 (and is adopted in Hkr 1893-1901; Skj B). Flug fleina may well have been been prompted in transmission by the identical phrase in st. 5/5. (c) Flug is also a doubtful reading since flug(r) ‘flight’ is unlikely to be combined with the sword-kenning hrælinns and since, as an obvious piece of vocabulary, flugr could scarcely have given rise to the array of alternative readings ‘fals’, ‘faus’, ‘foss’ and ‘fros’. Flug and fǫr are most probably substitutions for a less familiar word that would have combined with hrælinns to form a kenning for ‘shield’, ‘blood’, or ‘battle’. The only suitable candidate is frør ‘frost’, which yields a kenning for ‘battle’ parallel to frost in st. 3/3. The similarly wide variation in readings of the verb (ôttu, reyndu, ætla, ‘æskia’, axla and œxla) can be accounted for as originating in œxla ‘augment’, a relatively uncommon word. Preceded as it is by the cognate word vex ‘increases’ in l. 1, it could be seen as selected by Sigvatr in a further instance of etymological word-play (see Notes to sts 2/1 and 3/1).
(not checked:)
linnr (noun m.): snake < hrælinnr (noun m.): corpse-snake
[6] ‑linns: ‑linn 75a, 68, 61, Flat, Tóm
[6, 7] þeir œxla frør hrælinns ‘they augment the frost of the corpse-snake [SWORD > BATTLE]’: Lines 6-7 exhibit a wide variance in readings, and the main solutions adopted by previous eds present difficulties. (a) K (represented by Kˣ and papp18ˣ) gives hrælinns … vér gerðum fǫr ‘we made a journey of the corpse-snake [SWORD > BATTLE]’ (cf. ÍF 27). However, fǫr is unique to K, and although K stands high in the stemma and is normally a reliable guide, it is not free from scribal emendations. Gerðum fǫr ‘we made a journey’ looks like a simplification designed to supply hrælinns ‘corpse-snake [SWORD]’ with a base-word fǫr ‘journey’, the whole yielding a kenning for ‘battle’. (b) Mss J1ˣ, J2ˣ, Holm2, 325VI, Bb read hrælinns … þeir ôttu flug fleina ‘of the corpse-snake [SWORD] they had the flight of barbs [BATTLE]’. Here flug can form a battle-kenning with either fleina ‘of barbs’ or possibly with hrælinns ‘of the corpse-snake [SWORD]’ (so Hkr 1893-1901; Skj B), but the other is then superfluous. It therefore appears that fleina is a modification of original fleira ‘more’, which is needed in association with an ‘than’ in l. 8 (and is adopted in Hkr 1893-1901; Skj B). Flug fleina may well have been been prompted in transmission by the identical phrase in st. 5/5. (c) Flug is also a doubtful reading since flug(r) ‘flight’ is unlikely to be combined with the sword-kenning hrælinns and since, as an obvious piece of vocabulary, flugr could scarcely have given rise to the array of alternative readings ‘fals’, ‘faus’, ‘foss’ and ‘fros’. Flug and fǫr are most probably substitutions for a less familiar word that would have combined with hrælinns to form a kenning for ‘shield’, ‘blood’, or ‘battle’. The only suitable candidate is frør ‘frost’, which yields a kenning for ‘battle’ parallel to frost in st. 3/3. The similarly wide variation in readings of the verb (ôttu, reyndu, ætla, ‘æskia’, axla and œxla) can be accounted for as originating in œxla ‘augment’, a relatively uncommon word. Preceded as it is by the cognate word vex ‘increases’ in l. 1, it could be seen as selected by Sigvatr in a further instance of etymological word-play (see Notes to sts 2/1 and 3/1).
(not checked:)
mega (verb): may, might
(not checked:)
mega (verb): may, might
(not checked:)
mega (verb): may, might
(not checked:)
mega (verb): may, might
[6] megu: so Holm2, R686ˣ, 972ˣ, J1ˣ, J2ˣ, 68, 61, Holm4, 325V, 325VII, Bb, Flat, megut Kˣ, papp18ˣ, megi 325VI, 75a, megir Tóm
(not checked:)
2. vinna (verb): perform, work
(not checked:)
þar (adv.): there
(not checked:)
vér (pron.; °gen. vár, dat./acc. oss): we, us, our
(not checked:)
hann (pron.; °gen. hans, dat. honum; f. hon, gen. hennar, acc. hana): he, she, it, they, them...
[7] þeir: so Holm2, R686ˣ, J1ˣ, J2ˣ, 325VI, 68, 61, Holm4, 325V, 325VII, Bb, Flat, vér Kˣ, papp18ˣ, þar 972ˣ, þeim 75a, om. Tóm
[6, 7] þeir œxla frør hrælinns ‘they augment the frost of the corpse-snake [SWORD > BATTLE]’: Lines 6-7 exhibit a wide variance in readings, and the main solutions adopted by previous eds present difficulties. (a) K (represented by Kˣ and papp18ˣ) gives hrælinns … vér gerðum fǫr ‘we made a journey of the corpse-snake [SWORD > BATTLE]’ (cf. ÍF 27). However, fǫr is unique to K, and although K stands high in the stemma and is normally a reliable guide, it is not free from scribal emendations. Gerðum fǫr ‘we made a journey’ looks like a simplification designed to supply hrælinns ‘corpse-snake [SWORD]’ with a base-word fǫr ‘journey’, the whole yielding a kenning for ‘battle’. (b) Mss J1ˣ, J2ˣ, Holm2, 325VI, Bb read hrælinns … þeir ôttu flug fleina ‘of the corpse-snake [SWORD] they had the flight of barbs [BATTLE]’. Here flug can form a battle-kenning with either fleina ‘of barbs’ or possibly with hrælinns ‘of the corpse-snake [SWORD]’ (so Hkr 1893-1901; Skj B), but the other is then superfluous. It therefore appears that fleina is a modification of original fleira ‘more’, which is needed in association with an ‘than’ in l. 8 (and is adopted in Hkr 1893-1901; Skj B). Flug fleina may well have been been prompted in transmission by the identical phrase in st. 5/5. (c) Flug is also a doubtful reading since flug(r) ‘flight’ is unlikely to be combined with the sword-kenning hrælinns and since, as an obvious piece of vocabulary, flugr could scarcely have given rise to the array of alternative readings ‘fals’, ‘faus’, ‘foss’ and ‘fros’. Flug and fǫr are most probably substitutions for a less familiar word that would have combined with hrælinns to form a kenning for ‘shield’, ‘blood’, or ‘battle’. The only suitable candidate is frør ‘frost’, which yields a kenning for ‘battle’ parallel to frost in st. 3/3. The similarly wide variation in readings of the verb (ôttu, reyndu, ætla, ‘æskia’, axla and œxla) can be accounted for as originating in œxla ‘augment’, a relatively uncommon word. Preceded as it is by the cognate word vex ‘increases’ in l. 1, it could be seen as selected by Sigvatr in a further instance of etymological word-play (see Notes to sts 2/1 and 3/1).
(not checked:)
reyna (verb): test, try, experience
(not checked:)
ǫxl (noun f.; °axlar, dat. -u; axlir): shoulder
(not checked:)
œskja (verb): [wish for]
(not checked:)
ætla (verb): intend, mean, think
(not checked:)
2. eiga (verb; °á/eigr (præs. pl. 3. pers. eigu/eiga); átti, áttu; átt): own, have
(not checked:)
1. gera (verb): do, make
(not checked:)
2. œxla (verb): augment
[7] œxla: so 325VII, Flat, gerðum Kˣ, papp18ˣ, ôttu Holm2, 972ˣ, J1ˣ, J2ˣ, 325VI, 75a, 68, 61, Bb, reyndu R686ˣ, ætla Holm4, ‘æskia’ 325V, axla Tóm
[6, 7] þeir œxla frør hrælinns ‘they augment the frost of the corpse-snake [SWORD > BATTLE]’: Lines 6-7 exhibit a wide variance in readings, and the main solutions adopted by previous eds present difficulties. (a) K (represented by Kˣ and papp18ˣ) gives hrælinns … vér gerðum fǫr ‘we made a journey of the corpse-snake [SWORD > BATTLE]’ (cf. ÍF 27). However, fǫr is unique to K, and although K stands high in the stemma and is normally a reliable guide, it is not free from scribal emendations. Gerðum fǫr ‘we made a journey’ looks like a simplification designed to supply hrælinns ‘corpse-snake [SWORD]’ with a base-word fǫr ‘journey’, the whole yielding a kenning for ‘battle’. (b) Mss J1ˣ, J2ˣ, Holm2, 325VI, Bb read hrælinns … þeir ôttu flug fleina ‘of the corpse-snake [SWORD] they had the flight of barbs [BATTLE]’. Here flug can form a battle-kenning with either fleina ‘of barbs’ or possibly with hrælinns ‘of the corpse-snake [SWORD]’ (so Hkr 1893-1901; Skj B), but the other is then superfluous. It therefore appears that fleina is a modification of original fleira ‘more’, which is needed in association with an ‘than’ in l. 8 (and is adopted in Hkr 1893-1901; Skj B). Flug fleina may well have been been prompted in transmission by the identical phrase in st. 5/5. (c) Flug is also a doubtful reading since flug(r) ‘flight’ is unlikely to be combined with the sword-kenning hrælinns and since, as an obvious piece of vocabulary, flugr could scarcely have given rise to the array of alternative readings ‘fals’, ‘faus’, ‘foss’ and ‘fros’. Flug and fǫr are most probably substitutions for a less familiar word that would have combined with hrælinns to form a kenning for ‘shield’, ‘blood’, or ‘battle’. The only suitable candidate is frør ‘frost’, which yields a kenning for ‘battle’ parallel to frost in st. 3/3. The similarly wide variation in readings of the verb (ôttu, reyndu, ætla, ‘æskia’, axla and œxla) can be accounted for as originating in œxla ‘augment’, a relatively uncommon word. Preceded as it is by the cognate word vex ‘increases’ in l. 1, it could be seen as selected by Sigvatr in a further instance of etymological word-play (see Notes to sts 2/1 and 3/1).
(not checked:)
1. fals (noun n.; °-): [Deceit]
(not checked:)
2. flug (noun n.): flight, ?precipice
(not checked:)
fǫr (noun f.): journey, fate; movement
(not checked:)
fors (noun m.): torrent
(not checked:)
frør (noun n.): [frozen, frost]
[7] frør: fǫr Kˣ, papp18ˣ, flug Holm2, R686ˣ, 972ˣ, J1ˣ, J2ˣ, 325VI, 75a, 68, 61, Holm4, Bb, fals 325V, ‘faus’ 325VII, foss Flat, ‘fros’ Tóm
[6, 7] þeir œxla frør hrælinns ‘they augment the frost of the corpse-snake [SWORD > BATTLE]’: Lines 6-7 exhibit a wide variance in readings, and the main solutions adopted by previous eds present difficulties. (a) K (represented by Kˣ and papp18ˣ) gives hrælinns … vér gerðum fǫr ‘we made a journey of the corpse-snake [SWORD > BATTLE]’ (cf. ÍF 27). However, fǫr is unique to K, and although K stands high in the stemma and is normally a reliable guide, it is not free from scribal emendations. Gerðum fǫr ‘we made a journey’ looks like a simplification designed to supply hrælinns ‘corpse-snake [SWORD]’ with a base-word fǫr ‘journey’, the whole yielding a kenning for ‘battle’. (b) Mss J1ˣ, J2ˣ, Holm2, 325VI, Bb read hrælinns … þeir ôttu flug fleina ‘of the corpse-snake [SWORD] they had the flight of barbs [BATTLE]’. Here flug can form a battle-kenning with either fleina ‘of barbs’ or possibly with hrælinns ‘of the corpse-snake [SWORD]’ (so Hkr 1893-1901; Skj B), but the other is then superfluous. It therefore appears that fleina is a modification of original fleira ‘more’, which is needed in association with an ‘than’ in l. 8 (and is adopted in Hkr 1893-1901; Skj B). Flug fleina may well have been been prompted in transmission by the identical phrase in st. 5/5. (c) Flug is also a doubtful reading since flug(r) ‘flight’ is unlikely to be combined with the sword-kenning hrælinns and since, as an obvious piece of vocabulary, flugr could scarcely have given rise to the array of alternative readings ‘fals’, ‘faus’, ‘foss’ and ‘fros’. Flug and fǫr are most probably substitutions for a less familiar word that would have combined with hrælinns to form a kenning for ‘shield’, ‘blood’, or ‘battle’. The only suitable candidate is frør ‘frost’, which yields a kenning for ‘battle’ parallel to frost in st. 3/3. The similarly wide variation in readings of the verb (ôttu, reyndu, ætla, ‘æskia’, axla and œxla) can be accounted for as originating in œxla ‘augment’, a relatively uncommon word. Preceded as it is by the cognate word vex ‘increases’ in l. 1, it could be seen as selected by Sigvatr in a further instance of etymological word-play (see Notes to sts 2/1 and 3/1).
(not checked:)
fleiri (adj. comp.; °superl. flestr): more, most
(not checked:)
fleinn (noun m.; °dat. fleini): spear
(not checked:)
fleiri (adj. comp.; °superl. flestr): more, most
[7] fleira: fleina Holm2, 972ˣ, J1ˣ, J2ˣ, 325VI, 75a, 68, 61, Bb, Tóm, ‘flei[…]’ R686ˣ, fleiri 325VII
(not checked:)
1. fjall (noun n.): mountain < fjallrekkr (noun m.)
(not checked:)
folk (noun n.): people < folkhrekkr (noun m.)
(not checked:)
folk (noun n.): people < folkrekr (noun m.)
[8] fjǫlrekks (‘fiolrecs’): so R686ˣ, J2ˣ, 68, Holm4, 325V, 325VII, Flat, ‘folcreks’ Kˣ, papp18ˣ, ‘folrecs’ Holm2, ‘fiolkræs’ J1ˣ, ‘fiallrecks’ 325VI, 75a, ‘folk hrekks’ 61, ‘fiolrek’ Bb, ‘fiolreck(a)’(?) Tóm
[8] fjǫlrekks ‘of the man with many warriors’: Amongst the variant readings, this can be identified as the most likely original (cf. CPB), a cpd of fjǫl- ‘many’ and rekkr ‘man, warrior’. Although a hap. leg., it represents a natural extension from the familiar cpd fjǫlmennr ‘with many men, with a large following’, also fjǫlgestr ‘with many guests’. Its use here as a substantival adj. may have led to confusion in transmission. Fjǫlrekks is further supported by the fact that ÓHLeg (1982, 72) seems to draw upon st. 14 (though without citing it) in a version that contained this word when it mentions that Óláfr gained fiolmenne ‘a numerous following’ by distributing largesse to the Upplendingar. The first element folk in the reading of K (and 61) and adopted by Finnur Jónsson (Hkr 1893-1901; Skj B; LP: folkrekr ‘people’s ruler’) appears to be a secondary development from fjǫl (Poole 2005d, 180-1 and cf. the comments on K in the Note to ll. 6-7 above).
(not checked:)
hrekkr (noun m.; °; -ir): trick < folkhrekkr (noun m.)
(not checked:)
3. eigi (adv.): not
(not checked:)
2. er (conj.): who, which, when
[8] fjǫlrekks (‘fiolrecs’): so R686ˣ, J2ˣ, 68, Holm4, 325V, 325VII, Flat, ‘folcreks’ Kˣ, papp18ˣ, ‘folrecs’ Holm2, ‘fiolkræs’ J1ˣ, ‘fiallrecks’ 325VI, 75a, ‘folk hrekks’ 61, ‘fiolrek’ Bb, ‘fiolreck(a)’(?) Tóm
[8] fjǫlrekks ‘of the man with many warriors’: Amongst the variant readings, this can be identified as the most likely original (cf. CPB), a cpd of fjǫl- ‘many’ and rekkr ‘man, warrior’. Although a hap. leg., it represents a natural extension from the familiar cpd fjǫlmennr ‘with many men, with a large following’, also fjǫlgestr ‘with many guests’. Its use here as a substantival adj. may have led to confusion in transmission. Fjǫlrekks is further supported by the fact that ÓHLeg (1982, 72) seems to draw upon st. 14 (though without citing it) in a version that contained this word when it mentions that Óláfr gained fiolmenne ‘a numerous following’ by distributing largesse to the Upplendingar. The first element folk in the reading of K (and 61) and adopted by Finnur Jónsson (Hkr 1893-1901; Skj B; LP: folkrekr ‘people’s ruler’) appears to be a secondary development from fjǫl (Poole 2005d, 180-1 and cf. the comments on K in the Note to ll. 6-7 above).
(not checked:)
3. eigi (adv.): not
(not checked:)
2. er (conj.): who, which, when
(not checked:)
allr (adj.): all
(not checked:)
allr (adj.): all
(not checked:)
dreki (noun m.; °-a; -ar): dragon, dragon-ship
[8] drekka ǫl ‘drink the ale’: It was the custom to make pledges of allegiance and support during the drinking of ale or mead.
(not checked:)
dreki (noun m.; °-a; -ar): dragon, dragon-ship
(not checked:)
2. drekka (verb; °drekkr; drakk, drukku; drukkinn/drykkinn): drink
[8] drekka: dreka R686ˣ
[8] drekka ǫl ‘drink the ale’: It was the custom to make pledges of allegiance and support during the drinking of ale or mead.
Interactive view: tap on words in the text for notes and glosses
Afli vex, þvít efla |
[His] strength increases, because the Upplendingar want to support this launcher of the plank-horse [SHIP > SEAFARER = Óláfr] as king; Sveinn, you discovered that. There is proof of this, that the Heinir can do more than drink the ale of the man with many warriors; they augment the frost of the corpse-snake [SWORD > BATTLE].
Use the buttons at the top of the page to navigate between stanzas in a poem.
The text and translation are given here, with buttons to toggle whether the text is shown in the verse order or prose word order. Clicking on indiviudal words gives dictionary links, variant readings, kennings and notes, where relevant.
This is the text of the edition in a similar format to how the edition appears in the printed volumes.
This view is also used for chapters and other text segments. Not all the headings shown are relevant to such sections.