Sturl Hákkv 17II
Kari Ellen Gade (ed.) 2009, ‘Sturla Þórðarson, Hákonarkviða 17’ in Kari Ellen Gade (ed.), Poetry from the Kings’ Sagas 2: From c. 1035 to c. 1300. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 2. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 712.
Flugu ‘flew’
(not checked:)
fljúga (verb): fly
hræ ‘corpse’
(not checked:)
hræ (noun n.; °; -): corpse, carrion < hræleiptr (noun n.)
kennings
Geigurlig hræleiptr‘The frightful corpse-lightnings ’
= SPEARS
The frightful corpse-lightnings → SPEARS
notes
[1, 8] hræleiptr; eldingum blóðs ‘corpse-lightnings [SPEARS]’; ‘with flashes of blood [SPEARS]’: As in st. 16 above (see Note to [All]), these kennings denote ‘spears’. Skj B gives the referent ‘swords’ in both instances. The prose text mentions specifically the throwing of spears, and there was no direct physical contact between the two factions. Moreover, it is not easy to see how swords could fly onto shields while still attached to hands.
leiptr ‘lightnings’
(not checked:)
2. leiptr (noun f.): lightning < hræleiptr (noun n.)
[1] ‑leiptr: ‘‑liptr’ 42ˣ
kennings
Geigurlig hræleiptr‘The frightful corpse-lightnings ’
= SPEARS
The frightful corpse-lightnings → SPEARS
notes
[1, 8] hræleiptr; eldingum blóðs ‘corpse-lightnings [SPEARS]’; ‘with flashes of blood [SPEARS]’: As in st. 16 above (see Note to [All]), these kennings denote ‘spears’. Skj B gives the referent ‘swords’ in both instances. The prose text mentions specifically the throwing of spears, and there was no direct physical contact between the two factions. Moreover, it is not easy to see how swords could fly onto shields while still attached to hands.
at ‘in’
(not checked:)
3. at (prep.): at, to
hjarar ‘of the sword’
(not checked:)
hjǫrr (noun m.): sword
kennings
leiki hjarar,‘the play of the sword, ’
= BATTLE
the play of the sword, → BATTLE
leiki ‘the play’
(not checked:)
1. leikr (noun m.; °-s, dat. -/-i; -ar): sport, play
[2] leiki: leðri 42ˣ
kennings
leiki hjarar,‘the play of the sword, ’
= BATTLE
the play of the sword, → BATTLE
geigur ‘The fright’
(not checked:)
geigr (noun m.): fright, injury < geigrligr (adj.)
kennings
Geigurlig hræleiptr‘The frightful corpse-lightnings ’
= SPEARS
The frightful corpse-lightnings → SPEARS
kennings
Geigurlig hræleiptr‘The frightful corpse-lightnings ’
= SPEARS
The frightful corpse-lightnings → SPEARS
á ‘onto’
(not checked:)
3. á (prep.): on, at
Gauts ‘of Gautr’
(not checked:)
2. Gautr (noun m.): Gautr, Óðinn
kennings
himin Gauts‘the sky of Gautr ’
= SHIELD
the sky of Gautr → SHIELD
himin ‘the sky’
(not checked:)
himinn (noun m.; °himins, dat. himni; himnar): heaven, sky
[4] himin: so F, 8, ‘hipni’ E, himni 42ˣ, 81a, himni af Flat
kennings
himin Gauts‘the sky of Gautr ’
= SHIELD
the sky of Gautr → SHIELD
en ‘and’
(not checked:)
2. en (conj.): but, and
rand ‘the shield’
(not checked:)
rǫnd (noun f.; °dat. -/-u; rendr/randir): shield, shield-rim < randalfr (noun m.): [shield-elf]
[5] randálfr: ‘ranhalfr’ 42ˣ
kennings
randálfr‘the shield-elf ’
= WARRIOR
the shield-elf → WARRIOR
notes
[5] randálfr ‘the shield-elf [WARRIOR]’: Presumably Hákon, although he is not mentioned as engaging physically in the fighting at this point.
álfr ‘elf’
(not checked:)
alfr (noun m.; °; -ar): elf < randalfr (noun m.): [shield-elf]
[5] randálfr: ‘ranhalfr’ 42ˣ
kennings
randálfr‘the shield-elf ’
= WARRIOR
the shield-elf → WARRIOR
notes
[5] randálfr ‘the shield-elf [WARRIOR]’: Presumably Hákon, although he is not mentioned as engaging physically in the fighting at this point.
andi ‘ing’
(not checked:)
-andi: [ing, andi] < rífa (verb): tear
fór ‘advanced’
(not checked:)
fara (verb; ferr, fór, fóru, farinn): go, travel
böðvar ‘of battle’
(not checked:)
bǫð (noun f.; °-s; -): battle
kennings
ský böðvar‘the cloud of battle ’
= SHIELD
the cloud of battle → SHIELD
ský ‘the cloud’
(not checked:)
ský (noun n.; °-s; -): cloud
kennings
ský böðvar‘the cloud of battle ’
= SHIELD
the cloud of battle → SHIELD
kennings
eldingum blóðs.‘with flashes of blood.’
= SPEARS
with flashes of blood. → SPEARS
notes
[1, 8] hræleiptr; eldingum blóðs ‘corpse-lightnings [SPEARS]’; ‘with flashes of blood [SPEARS]’: As in st. 16 above (see Note to [All]), these kennings denote ‘spears’. Skj B gives the referent ‘swords’ in both instances. The prose text mentions specifically the throwing of spears, and there was no direct physical contact between the two factions. Moreover, it is not easy to see how swords could fly onto shields while still attached to hands.
eldingum ‘with flashes’
(not checked:)
elding (noun f.; °-ar, dat. -u/-; -ar): lightning
[8] eldingum: eldinginn 81a, eldingu 8, ‘elldunní’ Flat
kennings
eldingum blóðs.‘with flashes of blood.’
= SPEARS
with flashes of blood. → SPEARS
notes
[1, 8] hræleiptr; eldingum blóðs ‘corpse-lightnings [SPEARS]’; ‘with flashes of blood [SPEARS]’: As in st. 16 above (see Note to [All]), these kennings denote ‘spears’. Skj B gives the referent ‘swords’ in both instances. The prose text mentions specifically the throwing of spears, and there was no direct physical contact between the two factions. Moreover, it is not easy to see how swords could fly onto shields while still attached to hands.
Interactive view: tap on words in the text for notes and glosses
Skúli’s men were still defending themselves in the churchyard, throwing rocks and spears and shooting arrows at the Birkibeinar, many of whom were wounded.
See also Ólhv Hryn 11.
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