Edith Marold (ed.) 2012, ‘Þorbjǫrn hornklofi, Glymdrápa 7’ 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. 87.
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ríkr (adj.): mighty, powerful, rich
[1] ríks ‘mighty’: The adj. qualifies þjóðkonungs ‘mighty king’ in l. 4. This creates a tension that spans the entire helmingr and especially emphasizes the power of the king (cf. Engster 1983, 180; Kuhn 1983, 283).
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þreifa (verb): feel with hand
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2. reiða (verb): carry
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øx (noun f.; °øxar/exar, dat. øxi/exi, acc. øxi/øx; -ar): axe
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rymr (noun m.): roar
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knega (verb): to know, understand, be able to
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spjǫr (noun n.): spear
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glymja (verb): resound
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svartr (adj.): black < svartskyggðr (adj./verb p.p.)
[3, 4] svartskyggð sverð ‘black-polished swords’: As Holtsmark (1927, 42-3) assumes, svartskyggð may refer to the special technique of pattern welding, by which sword blades were forged out of two metals, one harder and one softer, which upon polishing yielded varied patterns and gave the sword additional strength and flexibility (see Ypey 1984; Pedersen 2004, 593). Such swords were extremely valuable and were sometimes acquired from abroad.
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skyggðr (adj./verb p.p.): [polished, shining] < svartskyggðr (adj./verb p.p.)
[3, 4] svartskyggð sverð ‘black-polished swords’: As Holtsmark (1927, 42-3) assumes, svartskyggð may refer to the special technique of pattern welding, by which sword blades were forged out of two metals, one harder and one softer, which upon polishing yielded varied patterns and gave the sword additional strength and flexibility (see Ypey 1984; Pedersen 2004, 593). Such swords were extremely valuable and were sometimes acquired from abroad.
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bíta (verb; °bítr; beit, bitu; bitinn): bite
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seggr (noun m.; °; -ir): man
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sverð (noun n.; °-s; -): sword
[3, 4] svartskyggð sverð ‘black-polished swords’: As Holtsmark (1927, 42-3) assumes, svartskyggð may refer to the special technique of pattern welding, by which sword blades were forged out of two metals, one harder and one softer, which upon polishing yielded varied patterns and gave the sword additional strength and flexibility (see Ypey 1984; Pedersen 2004, 593). Such swords were extremely valuable and were sometimes acquired from abroad.
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þjóð (noun f.; °-ar, dat. -/-u; -ir): people < þjóðkonungr (noun m.): mighty king
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konungr (noun m.; °dat. -i, -s; -ar): king < þjóðkonungr (noun m.): mighty king
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ferð (noun f.; °-ar; -ir/-arMork 196¹²)): host, journey
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ferð (noun f.; °-ar; -ir/-arMork 196¹²)): host, journey
[4] ferðar: ferðir 761aˣ
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þás (conj.): when
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hugfyldr (adj.): courageous
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hǫlðr (noun m.; °-s; -ar): man
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hljóta (verb): alot, gain
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andskoti (noun m.; °-a; -ar): enemy, devil
[6] andskoti Gauta ‘the adversary of the Gautar [= Haraldr]’: As Modéer (1944a, 209) notes, this need not refer to the battle depicted here, and so does not constitute proof that Haraldr attacked Gautland; cf. Note to st. 6/2.
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4. ár (adv.): of yore, previously, early
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Gautar (noun m.): Gautar, Geats
[6] andskoti Gauta ‘the adversary of the Gautar [= Haraldr]’: As Modéer (1944a, 209) notes, this need not refer to the battle depicted here, and so does not constitute proof that Haraldr attacked Gautland; cf. Note to st. 6/2.
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3. hár (adj.; °-van; compar. hǽrri, superl. hǽstr): high
[7] hôr: so F, J1ˣ, J2ˣ, 761aˣ, ár Kˣ
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sǫngr (noun m.; °-s, dat. -vi/-; -var): song
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2. vera (verb): be, is, was, were, are, am
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sǫngr (noun m.; °-s, dat. -vi/-; -var): song
[7] sǫngr: sǫng J1ˣ, J2ˣ, 761aˣ
[7, 8] sǫngr flugbeiddra vigra ‘the song of flight-driven spears’: This could be regarded as a kenning, because it fits the pattern ‘song, noise of weapons’ (Meissner 186-9, 196-7). However, the predicative adj. hôr ‘loud’ here favours a literal understanding of the phrase. Flugbeiddr ‘flight-driven, shot’ is lit. ‘flight-demanded’.
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3. of (prep.): around, from; too
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svíri (noun m.; °-a; -ar): neck
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flaug (noun f.): flight < flaugbeiddr (adj.)
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sigr (noun m.; °sigrs/sigrar, dat. sigri; sigrar): victory
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2. flug (noun n.): flight, ?precipice < flugbeiddr (adj.)
[8] flug‑: ‘flꜹg‑’ J2ˣ
[7, 8] sǫngr flugbeiddra vigra ‘the song of flight-driven spears’: This could be regarded as a kenning, because it fits the pattern ‘song, noise of weapons’ (Meissner 186-9, 196-7). However, the predicative adj. hôr ‘loud’ here favours a literal understanding of the phrase. Flugbeiddr ‘flight-driven, shot’ is lit. ‘flight-demanded’.
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-beiddr (adj.): [driven] < flugbeiddr (adj.)-beiddr (adj.): [driven] < flaugbeiddr (adj.)
[7, 8] sǫngr flugbeiddra vigra ‘the song of flight-driven spears’: This could be regarded as a kenning, because it fits the pattern ‘song, noise of weapons’ (Meissner 186-9, 196-7). However, the predicative adj. hôr ‘loud’ here favours a literal understanding of the phrase. Flugbeiddr ‘flight-driven, shot’ is lit. ‘flight-demanded’.
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3. vigr (noun f.): spear
[7, 8] sǫngr flugbeiddra vigra ‘the song of flight-driven spears’: This could be regarded as a kenning, because it fits the pattern ‘song, noise of weapons’ (Meissner 186-9, 196-7). However, the predicative adj. hôr ‘loud’ here favours a literal understanding of the phrase. Flugbeiddr ‘flight-driven, shot’ is lit. ‘flight-demanded’.
Interactive view: tap on words in the text for notes and glosses
The Gautar resist Haraldr with a large force, but finally succumb to him.
[1-4]: The arrangement of the sentences in this helmingr is guided by Kuhn (1969b, 68), who points out that the verb in the main clause of a helmingr usually occupies the second position. — [5-8]: Kock proposes to simplify the syntax by conjoining hugfyldra hǫlða (l. 5) and sigr (l. 8), hence either an objective gen. ‘victory over the courageous men’ (so NN §234) or a gen. of the subject ‘victory of the courageous men’ (so NN §816 Anm. 2). Reichardt (1928, 105 n. 69) is correct to oppose either simplification for stylistic reasons.
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