Þjóð Haustl 18III
Margaret Clunies Ross (ed.) 2017, ‘Þjóðólfr ór Hvini, Haustlǫng 18’ in Kari Ellen Gade and Edith Marold (eds), Poetry from Treatises on Poetics. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 3. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 459.
Fjǫr ‘The life’
(not checked:)
fjǫr (noun n.): life < fjǫrspillir (noun m.)
kennings
Fjǫrspillir bǫlverðungar Belja‘The life-destroyer of the evil-causing troop of Beli ’
= Þórr
the evil-causing troop of Beli → GIANTS
The life-destroyer of GIANTS → Þórr
spillir ‘destroyer’
(not checked:)
2. spillir (noun m.): destroyer < fjǫrspillir (noun m.)
kennings
Fjǫrspillir bǫlverðungar Belja‘The life-destroyer of the evil-causing troop of Beli ’
= Þórr
the evil-causing troop of Beli → GIANTS
The life-destroyer of GIANTS → Þórr
lét ‘made’
(not checked:)
láta (verb): let, have sth done
falla ‘fall’
(not checked:)
falla (verb): fall
fjalfrs ‘of the hiding-place’
(not checked:)
fjalfr (noun n.): [hiding-place]
[2] fjalfrs: ‘fialbrs’ all
kennings
bolm fjalfrs ólágra gjalfra‘the bear of the hiding-place of not low roaring waters ’
= GIANT = Hrungnir
the hiding-place of not low roaring waters → CAVE
the bear of the CAVE → GIANT = Hrungnir
notes
[2, 4] bolm fjalfrs ólágra gjalfra ‘the bear of the hiding-place of not low roaring waters [CAVE > GIANT = Hrungnir]’: As often in giant-kennings, an animal base-word is employed (cf. Meissner 258-9). Here Hrungnir is compared to a bear, and his dwelling to a mountain cave, which is fjalfr ólágra gjalfra ‘the hiding-place of not low [i.e. high] roaring waters’. Ólágr lit. ‘un-low’ could be understood in two senses: high, in the sense of stormy, rising high (of roaring waters or seas), or high in the sense of high up in the mountains. The latter is probably the more likely here.
fjalfrs ‘of the hiding-place’
(not checked:)
fjalfr (noun n.): [hiding-place]
[2] fjalfrs: ‘fialbrs’ all
kennings
bolm fjalfrs ólágra gjalfra‘the bear of the hiding-place of not low roaring waters ’
= GIANT = Hrungnir
the hiding-place of not low roaring waters → CAVE
the bear of the CAVE → GIANT = Hrungnir
notes
[2, 4] bolm fjalfrs ólágra gjalfra ‘the bear of the hiding-place of not low roaring waters [CAVE > GIANT = Hrungnir]’: As often in giant-kennings, an animal base-word is employed (cf. Meissner 258-9). Here Hrungnir is compared to a bear, and his dwelling to a mountain cave, which is fjalfr ólágra gjalfra ‘the hiding-place of not low [i.e. high] roaring waters’. Ólágr lit. ‘un-low’ could be understood in two senses: high, in the sense of stormy, rising high (of roaring waters or seas), or high in the sense of high up in the mountains. The latter is probably the more likely here.
ólágra ‘of not low’
(not checked:)
ólágr (adj.): not low, not insignificant
kennings
bolm fjalfrs ólágra gjalfra‘the bear of the hiding-place of not low roaring waters ’
= GIANT = Hrungnir
the hiding-place of not low roaring waters → CAVE
the bear of the CAVE → GIANT = Hrungnir
notes
[2, 4] bolm fjalfrs ólágra gjalfra ‘the bear of the hiding-place of not low roaring waters [CAVE > GIANT = Hrungnir]’: As often in giant-kennings, an animal base-word is employed (cf. Meissner 258-9). Here Hrungnir is compared to a bear, and his dwelling to a mountain cave, which is fjalfr ólágra gjalfra ‘the hiding-place of not low [i.e. high] roaring waters’. Ólágr lit. ‘un-low’ could be understood in two senses: high, in the sense of stormy, rising high (of roaring waters or seas), or high in the sense of high up in the mountains. The latter is probably the more likely here.
ólágra ‘of not low’
(not checked:)
ólágr (adj.): not low, not insignificant
kennings
bolm fjalfrs ólágra gjalfra‘the bear of the hiding-place of not low roaring waters ’
= GIANT = Hrungnir
the hiding-place of not low roaring waters → CAVE
the bear of the CAVE → GIANT = Hrungnir
notes
[2, 4] bolm fjalfrs ólágra gjalfra ‘the bear of the hiding-place of not low roaring waters [CAVE > GIANT = Hrungnir]’: As often in giant-kennings, an animal base-word is employed (cf. Meissner 258-9). Here Hrungnir is compared to a bear, and his dwelling to a mountain cave, which is fjalfr ólágra gjalfra ‘the hiding-place of not low [i.e. high] roaring waters’. Ólágr lit. ‘un-low’ could be understood in two senses: high, in the sense of stormy, rising high (of roaring waters or seas), or high in the sense of high up in the mountains. The latter is probably the more likely here.
gjalfra ‘roaring waters’
(not checked:)
gjalfr (noun n.; °-s): surge, waves
[2] gjalfra: ‘gialbra’ all
kennings
bolm fjalfrs ólágra gjalfra‘the bear of the hiding-place of not low roaring waters ’
= GIANT = Hrungnir
the hiding-place of not low roaring waters → CAVE
the bear of the CAVE → GIANT = Hrungnir
notes
[2, 4] bolm fjalfrs ólágra gjalfra ‘the bear of the hiding-place of not low roaring waters [CAVE > GIANT = Hrungnir]’: As often in giant-kennings, an animal base-word is employed (cf. Meissner 258-9). Here Hrungnir is compared to a bear, and his dwelling to a mountain cave, which is fjalfr ólágra gjalfra ‘the hiding-place of not low [i.e. high] roaring waters’. Ólágr lit. ‘un-low’ could be understood in two senses: high, in the sense of stormy, rising high (of roaring waters or seas), or high in the sense of high up in the mountains. The latter is probably the more likely here.
gjalfra ‘roaring waters’
(not checked:)
gjalfr (noun n.; °-s): surge, waves
[2] gjalfra: ‘gialbra’ all
kennings
bolm fjalfrs ólágra gjalfra‘the bear of the hiding-place of not low roaring waters ’
= GIANT = Hrungnir
the hiding-place of not low roaring waters → CAVE
the bear of the CAVE → GIANT = Hrungnir
notes
[2, 4] bolm fjalfrs ólágra gjalfra ‘the bear of the hiding-place of not low roaring waters [CAVE > GIANT = Hrungnir]’: As often in giant-kennings, an animal base-word is employed (cf. Meissner 258-9). Here Hrungnir is compared to a bear, and his dwelling to a mountain cave, which is fjalfr ólágra gjalfra ‘the hiding-place of not low [i.e. high] roaring waters’. Ólágr lit. ‘un-low’ could be understood in two senses: high, in the sense of stormy, rising high (of roaring waters or seas), or high in the sense of high up in the mountains. The latter is probably the more likely here.
bǫl ‘of the evil’
(not checked:)
bǫl (noun n.; °-s, dat. bǫlvi): evil < bǫlverðung (noun f.)
kennings
Fjǫrspillir bǫlverðungar Belja‘The life-destroyer of the evil-causing troop of Beli ’
= Þórr
the evil-causing troop of Beli → GIANTS
The life-destroyer of GIANTS → Þórr
bǫl ‘of the evil’
(not checked:)
bǫl (noun n.; °-s, dat. bǫlvi): evil < bǫlverðung (noun f.)
kennings
Fjǫrspillir bǫlverðungar Belja‘The life-destroyer of the evil-causing troop of Beli ’
= Þórr
the evil-causing troop of Beli → GIANTS
The life-destroyer of GIANTS → Þórr
verðungar ‘causing troop’
(not checked:)
verðung (noun f.): troop, retinue < bǫlverðung (noun f.)
kennings
Fjǫrspillir bǫlverðungar Belja‘The life-destroyer of the evil-causing troop of Beli ’
= Þórr
the evil-causing troop of Beli → GIANTS
The life-destroyer of GIANTS → Þórr
verðungar ‘causing troop’
(not checked:)
verðung (noun f.): troop, retinue < bǫlverðung (noun f.)
kennings
Fjǫrspillir bǫlverðungar Belja‘The life-destroyer of the evil-causing troop of Beli ’
= Þórr
the evil-causing troop of Beli → GIANTS
The life-destroyer of GIANTS → Þórr
Belja ‘of Beli’
(not checked:)
Beli (noun m.): Beli
kennings
Fjǫrspillir bǫlverðungar Belja‘The life-destroyer of the evil-causing troop of Beli ’
= Þórr
the evil-causing troop of Beli → GIANTS
The life-destroyer of GIANTS → Þórr
Belja ‘of Beli’
(not checked:)
Beli (noun m.): Beli
kennings
Fjǫrspillir bǫlverðungar Belja‘The life-destroyer of the evil-causing troop of Beli ’
= Þórr
the evil-causing troop of Beli → GIANTS
The life-destroyer of GIANTS → Þórr
bolm ‘the bear’
(not checked:)
bolmr (noun m.): [bear, mighty one]
kennings
bolm fjalfrs ólágra gjalfra‘the bear of the hiding-place of not low roaring waters ’
= GIANT = Hrungnir
the hiding-place of not low roaring waters → CAVE
the bear of the CAVE → GIANT = Hrungnir
notes
[2, 4] bolm fjalfrs ólágra gjalfra ‘the bear of the hiding-place of not low roaring waters [CAVE > GIANT = Hrungnir]’: As often in giant-kennings, an animal base-word is employed (cf. Meissner 258-9). Here Hrungnir is compared to a bear, and his dwelling to a mountain cave, which is fjalfr ólágra gjalfra ‘the hiding-place of not low [i.e. high] roaring waters’. Ólágr lit. ‘un-low’ could be understood in two senses: high, in the sense of stormy, rising high (of roaring waters or seas), or high in the sense of high up in the mountains. The latter is probably the more likely here.
á ‘on’
(not checked:)
3. á (prep.): on, at
randar ‘of the shield-rim’
(not checked:)
rǫnd (noun f.; °dat. -/-u; rendr/randir): shield, shield-rim
kennings
holmi randar.‘the island of the shield-rim. ’
= SHIELD
the island of the shield-rim. → SHIELD
holmi ‘the island’
(not checked:)
holmr (noun m.; °-s, dat. -i/-; -ar): island, islet
kennings
holmi randar.‘the island of the shield-rim. ’
= SHIELD
the island of the shield-rim. → SHIELD
Þar ‘There’
(not checked:)
þar (adv.): there
hné ‘sank down’
(not checked:)
hníga (verb): sink, fall
grundar ‘of the land’
(not checked:)
grund (noun f.): earth, land
kennings
gramr grundar gilja‘the ruler of the land of ravines ’
= GIANT = Hrungnir
the land of ravines → MOUNTAINS
the ruler of MOUNTAINS → GIANT = Hrungnir
grundar ‘of the land’
(not checked:)
grund (noun f.): earth, land
kennings
gramr grundar gilja‘the ruler of the land of ravines ’
= GIANT = Hrungnir
the land of ravines → MOUNTAINS
the ruler of MOUNTAINS → GIANT = Hrungnir
gilja ‘of ravines’
(not checked:)
gil (noun n.): ravine
kennings
gramr grundar gilja‘the ruler of the land of ravines ’
= GIANT = Hrungnir
the land of ravines → MOUNTAINS
the ruler of MOUNTAINS → GIANT = Hrungnir
gilja ‘of ravines’
(not checked:)
gil (noun n.): ravine
kennings
gramr grundar gilja‘the ruler of the land of ravines ’
= GIANT = Hrungnir
the land of ravines → MOUNTAINS
the ruler of MOUNTAINS → GIANT = Hrungnir
kennings
gramr grundar gilja‘the ruler of the land of ravines ’
= GIANT = Hrungnir
the land of ravines → MOUNTAINS
the ruler of MOUNTAINS → GIANT = Hrungnir
fyr ‘on account of’
(not checked:)
fyr (prep.): for, over, because of, etc.
skǫrpum ‘the tough’
(not checked:)
skarpr (adj.): sharp, bitter
hamri ‘hammer’
(not checked:)
1. hamarr (noun m.; °-s, dat. hamri; hamrar): hammer, cliff
en ‘and’
(not checked:)
2. en (conj.): but, and
berg ‘of rock’
(not checked:)
berg (noun n.; °-s; -): rock, cliff < bergdanr (noun m.)
kennings
brjótr berg-Dana‘the breaker of rock-Danes ’
= Þórr
rock-Danes → GIANTS
the breaker of GIANTS → Þórr
notes
[7] berg-Dana ‘of rock-Danes’: A kenning for giants, which also appears in Hym 17/7. Other kennings whose base-words compare giants to Danes are Eil Þdr 13/6, 8 and VSt Erf 2/2, 4. Kock (Skald and NN §3203, following Lindquist 1929, 88-9) emends to berg-Agða ‘rock-people of Agder’ (a district of southern Norway) to achieve skothending in this line, though there is no ms. support for this.
berg ‘of rock’
(not checked:)
berg (noun n.; °-s; -): rock, cliff < bergdanr (noun m.)
kennings
brjótr berg-Dana‘the breaker of rock-Danes ’
= Þórr
rock-Danes → GIANTS
the breaker of GIANTS → Þórr
notes
[7] berg-Dana ‘of rock-Danes’: A kenning for giants, which also appears in Hym 17/7. Other kennings whose base-words compare giants to Danes are Eil Þdr 13/6, 8 and VSt Erf 2/2, 4. Kock (Skald and NN §3203, following Lindquist 1929, 88-9) emends to berg-Agða ‘rock-people of Agder’ (a district of southern Norway) to achieve skothending in this line, though there is no ms. support for this.
Dana ‘Danes’
(not checked:)
Danr (noun m.; °dat. -; -ir): Dane < bergdanr (noun m.)
kennings
brjótr berg-Dana‘the breaker of rock-Danes ’
= Þórr
rock-Danes → GIANTS
the breaker of GIANTS → Þórr
notes
[7] berg-Dana ‘of rock-Danes’: A kenning for giants, which also appears in Hym 17/7. Other kennings whose base-words compare giants to Danes are Eil Þdr 13/6, 8 and VSt Erf 2/2, 4. Kock (Skald and NN §3203, following Lindquist 1929, 88-9) emends to berg-Agða ‘rock-people of Agder’ (a district of southern Norway) to achieve skothending in this line, though there is no ms. support for this.
Dana ‘Danes’
(not checked:)
Danr (noun m.; °dat. -; -ir): Dane < bergdanr (noun m.)
kennings
brjótr berg-Dana‘the breaker of rock-Danes ’
= Þórr
rock-Danes → GIANTS
the breaker of GIANTS → Þórr
notes
[7] berg-Dana ‘of rock-Danes’: A kenning for giants, which also appears in Hym 17/7. Other kennings whose base-words compare giants to Danes are Eil Þdr 13/6, 8 and VSt Erf 2/2, 4. Kock (Skald and NN §3203, following Lindquist 1929, 88-9) emends to berg-Agða ‘rock-people of Agder’ (a district of southern Norway) to achieve skothending in this line, though there is no ms. support for this.
bagði ‘caused injury’
(not checked:)
2. baga (verb): [caused injury]
brjótr ‘the breaker’
(not checked:)
brjótr (noun m.): breaker
kennings
brjótr berg-Dana‘the breaker of rock-Danes ’
= Þórr
rock-Danes → GIANTS
the breaker of GIANTS → Þórr
við ‘to’
(not checked:)
2. við (prep.): with, against
jǫrmun ‘the mighty’
(not checked:)
jǫrmun- ((prefix)): [Jǫrmun, mighty] < jǫrmunþrjótr (noun m.)
[8] jǫrmunþrjóti: so W, jǫrmun R, ‘jorman’ Tˣ
þrjóti ‘obstinate one’
(not checked:)
þrjótr (noun m.; °-s; -ar): obstinate one < jǫrmunþrjótr (noun m.)
[8] jǫrmunþrjóti: so W, jǫrmun R, ‘jorman’ Tˣ
Interactive view: tap on words in the text for notes and glosses
|
Fjǫrspillir lét falla |
The life-destroyer of the evil-causing troop of Beli <giant> [GIANTS > = Þórr] made the bear of the hiding-place of not low roaring waters [CAVE > GIANT = Hrungnir] fall on the island of the shield-rim [SHIELD]. There the ruler of the land of ravines [MOUNTAINS > GIANT = Hrungnir] sank down on account of the tough hammer, and the breaker of rock-Danes [GIANTS > = Þórr] caused injury to the mighty obstinate one.
As for st. 14.
There is a partial discrepancy between this stanza’s statement that Þórr caused Hrungnir to fall on his shield (ll. 1-4) and the elaborate narrative of Skm (SnE 1998, I, 22), in which Þórr fell forward, hit in the forehead by a shaft from Hrungnir’s whetstone, while Hrungnir himself, hit by Mjǫllnir, fell forward over the prostrate Þórr so that one leg lay over the god’s neck.
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