ÞjóðA Sex 27^II

Ǫrð ‘with the grain’

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ǫrð (noun f.; °arðar; arðir/arðar): corn, grain

[1] Ǫrð: Auð U(44r), Jǫrð 2368ˣ, 743ˣ

kennings

notes

[1] ǫrð burðar Yrsu ‘with the grain of the offspring of Yrsa [= Hrólfr kraki > GOLD]’: On the legend behind this, see Context. Ǫrð f. must be dat. sg., which is the normal case for terms for ‘seed’ as the object of the verb sá ‘sow’, while bjartplógaðan brattakr bauga ‘bright-ploughed steep field of rings [ARM]’ (ll. 3-4) supplies an acc. object specifying the area that is sown, as is also normal for the verb sá (Fritzner: sá 3). The translation ‘with grain’ is used above to distinguish the dat. object (cf. med ... sæd in Skj B) and does not seem problematic, so that Kock’s objection and his suggestion that bjartplógaðan brattakr bauga is an adverbial acc., hence ‘over the ...’ are not persuasive (NN §2267, cf. §1373).

sær ‘sows’

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sjór (noun m.): sea

Yrsu ‘of Yrsa’

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Yrsa (noun f.): Yrsa

[1] Yrsu (‘yrsv’): ‘vrdo’ Tˣ(34r), ‘yso’ U(44r), yrsa C(3v)

kennings

notes

[1] ǫrð burðar Yrsu ‘with the grain of the offspring of Yrsa [= Hrólfr kraki > GOLD]’: On the legend behind this, see Context. Ǫrð f. must be dat. sg., which is the normal case for terms for ‘seed’ as the object of the verb sá ‘sow’, while bjartplógaðan brattakr bauga ‘bright-ploughed steep field of rings [ARM]’ (ll. 3-4) supplies an acc. object specifying the area that is sown, as is also normal for the verb sá (Fritzner: sá 3). The translation ‘with grain’ is used above to distinguish the dat. object (cf. med ... sæd in Skj B) and does not seem problematic, so that Kock’s objection and his suggestion that bjartplógaðan brattakr bauga is an adverbial acc., hence ‘over the ...’ are not persuasive (NN §2267, cf. §1373).

Yrsu ‘of Yrsa’

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Yrsa (noun f.): Yrsa

[1] Yrsu (‘yrsv’): ‘vrdo’ Tˣ(34r), ‘yso’ U(44r), yrsa C(3v)

kennings

notes

[1] ǫrð burðar Yrsu ‘with the grain of the offspring of Yrsa [= Hrólfr kraki > GOLD]’: On the legend behind this, see Context. Ǫrð f. must be dat. sg., which is the normal case for terms for ‘seed’ as the object of the verb sá ‘sow’, while bjartplógaðan brattakr bauga ‘bright-ploughed steep field of rings [ARM]’ (ll. 3-4) supplies an acc. object specifying the area that is sown, as is also normal for the verb sá (Fritzner: sá 3). The translation ‘with grain’ is used above to distinguish the dat. object (cf. med ... sæd in Skj B) and does not seem problematic, so that Kock’s objection and his suggestion that bjartplógaðan brattakr bauga is an adverbial acc., hence ‘over the ...’ are not persuasive (NN §2267, cf. §1373).

burðar ‘of the offspring’

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burðr (noun m.; °-ar, dat. -/-i; -ir): birth

[1] burðar: byrðar U(44r)

kennings

notes

[1] ǫrð burðar Yrsu ‘with the grain of the offspring of Yrsa [= Hrólfr kraki > GOLD]’: On the legend behind this, see Context. Ǫrð f. must be dat. sg., which is the normal case for terms for ‘seed’ as the object of the verb sá ‘sow’, while bjartplógaðan brattakr bauga ‘bright-ploughed steep field of rings [ARM]’ (ll. 3-4) supplies an acc. object specifying the area that is sown, as is also normal for the verb sá (Fritzner: sá 3). The translation ‘with grain’ is used above to distinguish the dat. object (cf. med ... sæd in Skj B) and does not seem problematic, so that Kock’s objection and his suggestion that bjartplógaðan brattakr bauga is an adverbial acc., hence ‘over the ...’ are not persuasive (NN §2267, cf. §1373).

burðar ‘of the offspring’

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burðr (noun m.; °-ar, dat. -/-i; -ir): birth

[1] burðar: byrðar U(44r)

kennings

notes

[1] ǫrð burðar Yrsu ‘with the grain of the offspring of Yrsa [= Hrólfr kraki > GOLD]’: On the legend behind this, see Context. Ǫrð f. must be dat. sg., which is the normal case for terms for ‘seed’ as the object of the verb sá ‘sow’, while bjartplógaðan brattakr bauga ‘bright-ploughed steep field of rings [ARM]’ (ll. 3-4) supplies an acc. object specifying the area that is sown, as is also normal for the verb sá (Fritzner: sá 3). The translation ‘with grain’ is used above to distinguish the dat. object (cf. med ... sæd in Skj B) and does not seem problematic, so that Kock’s objection and his suggestion that bjartplógaðan brattakr bauga is an adverbial acc., hence ‘over the ...’ are not persuasive (NN §2267, cf. §1373).

inndrótt ‘retinue’

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inndrótt (noun f.): retinue

jǫfurr ‘The prince’

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jǫfurr (noun m.): ruler, prince

sinni ‘of his’

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3. sinn (pron.; °f. sín, n. sitt): (refl. poss. pron.)

bjart ‘the bright’

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bjartr (adj.; °compar. -ari, superl. -astr): bright < bjartplógaðr (adj.)

kennings

notes

[3-4] bjartplógaðan brattakr bauga ‘the bright-ploughed steep field of rings [ARM]’: On the syntax of the phrase, see the previous Note. Kennings referring to the arm as the ground of rings are quite common, and gen. pl. bauga or gen. sg. baugs are especially frequent as determinant (Meissner 140). The epithet bjartplógaðan enhances the image of the arms of Haraldr’s followers shining with precious gifts. Kock ridicules the LP explanation ‘field worked with a bright plough’ (NN §863), but misrepresents it since LP goes on to give the contextual, transferred interpretation. What the debate calls attention to is the creative ambivalence of the cpd epithet, in which bjart ‘bright’ describes the kenning referent ‘arm’, while plógaðan ‘ploughed’ describes the base-word akr ‘field’, as noted by Fidjestøl (1982, 139). On a possible, but unwarranted, emendation to bauga, see Note on vǫluspakra.

plógaðan ‘ploughed’

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plóga (verb): [ploughed] < bjartplógaðr (adj.)

[3] ‑plógaðan: ‘flugv aðan’ W, ‑plogaðar U(44r)

kennings

notes

[3-4] bjartplógaðan brattakr bauga ‘the bright-ploughed steep field of rings [ARM]’: On the syntax of the phrase, see the previous Note. Kennings referring to the arm as the ground of rings are quite common, and gen. pl. bauga or gen. sg. baugs are especially frequent as determinant (Meissner 140). The epithet bjartplógaðan enhances the image of the arms of Haraldr’s followers shining with precious gifts. Kock ridicules the LP explanation ‘field worked with a bright plough’ (NN §863), but misrepresents it since LP goes on to give the contextual, transferred interpretation. What the debate calls attention to is the creative ambivalence of the cpd epithet, in which bjart ‘bright’ describes the kenning referent ‘arm’, while plógaðan ‘ploughed’ describes the base-word akr ‘field’, as noted by Fidjestøl (1982, 139). On a possible, but unwarranted, emendation to bauga, see Note on vǫluspakra.

bauga ‘rings’

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baugr (noun m.; °dat. -i/-; -ar): ring

[3] bauga: om. W

kennings

notes

[3-4] bjartplógaðan brattakr bauga ‘the bright-ploughed steep field of rings [ARM]’: On the syntax of the phrase, see the previous Note. Kennings referring to the arm as the ground of rings are quite common, and gen. pl. bauga or gen. sg. baugs are especially frequent as determinant (Meissner 140). The epithet bjartplógaðan enhances the image of the arms of Haraldr’s followers shining with precious gifts. Kock ridicules the LP explanation ‘field worked with a bright plough’ (NN §863), but misrepresents it since LP goes on to give the contextual, transferred interpretation. What the debate calls attention to is the creative ambivalence of the cpd epithet, in which bjart ‘bright’ describes the kenning referent ‘arm’, while plógaðan ‘ploughed’ describes the base-word akr ‘field’, as noted by Fidjestøl (1982, 139). On a possible, but unwarranted, emendation to bauga, see Note on vǫluspakra.

bratt ‘steep’

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brattr (adj.; °compar. -ari, superl. -astr): steep < brattakr (noun m.)

[4] bratt‑: ‘brauk’ 2368ˣ, braut 743ˣ

kennings

notes

[3-4] bjartplógaðan brattakr bauga ‘the bright-ploughed steep field of rings [ARM]’: On the syntax of the phrase, see the previous Note. Kennings referring to the arm as the ground of rings are quite common, and gen. pl. bauga or gen. sg. baugs are especially frequent as determinant (Meissner 140). The epithet bjartplógaðan enhances the image of the arms of Haraldr’s followers shining with precious gifts. Kock ridicules the LP explanation ‘field worked with a bright plough’ (NN §863), but misrepresents it since LP goes on to give the contextual, transferred interpretation. What the debate calls attention to is the creative ambivalence of the cpd epithet, in which bjart ‘bright’ describes the kenning referent ‘arm’, while plógaðan ‘ploughed’ describes the base-word akr ‘field’, as noted by Fidjestøl (1982, 139). On a possible, but unwarranted, emendation to bauga, see Note on vǫluspakra.

akr ‘ field’

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akr (noun m.; °akrs, dat. akri; akrar): field < brattakr (noun m.)

kennings

notes

[3-4] bjartplógaðan brattakr bauga ‘the bright-ploughed steep field of rings [ARM]’: On the syntax of the phrase, see the previous Note. Kennings referring to the arm as the ground of rings are quite common, and gen. pl. bauga or gen. sg. baugs are especially frequent as determinant (Meissner 140). The epithet bjartplógaðan enhances the image of the arms of Haraldr’s followers shining with precious gifts. Kock ridicules the LP explanation ‘field worked with a bright plough’ (NN §863), but misrepresents it since LP goes on to give the contextual, transferred interpretation. What the debate calls attention to is the creative ambivalence of the cpd epithet, in which bjart ‘bright’ describes the kenning referent ‘arm’, while plógaðan ‘ploughed’ describes the base-word akr ‘field’, as noted by Fidjestøl (1982, 139). On a possible, but unwarranted, emendation to bauga, see Note on vǫluspakra.

vǫlu ‘of joint’

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vala (noun f.; °*-u; *-ur): joint, seeress < vǫluspakr (adj.)

[4] vǫlu‑: vala Tˣ(34r), W, U(44r), 2368ˣ, 743ˣ

kennings

notes

[4] vǫluspakra ‘of joint-calm’: The syntax and meaning of the helmingr are complete without these syllables, which constitute a localised, but difficult crux. The mss are divided between vǫlu and vala, each of which is grammatically and lexically ambiguous, and it is not obvious whether vǫlu/vala and spakra form a cpd or not. The gen. pl. spakra, assuming it is not used substantivally, ‘of the wise ones’, must qualify bauga ‘rings’, which is striking in itself since spakr is usually applied in skaldic poetry to human beings, especially in contexts where the theme is wisdom or native wit; ‘peaceable’ is another possible sense. (a) Finnur Jónsson takes vǫlu as gen. sg. of vala f. ‘joint-bone’ in a cpd vǫluspakr, describing the rings as resting peaceably on the arm-bone (SnE 1848-87, I, 399, Skj B and LP: vǫluspakr, though see also LP: vala where Finnur takes the word as referring to leg-bones; so also Faulkes in SnE 1998, II, 431). This seems the best solution available without recourse to emendation, but it cannot be regarded as at all certain. (b) A solution involving instead valr ‘falcon, hawk’ as the determinant of the arm-kenning is attractive, given that ‘falcon’s ground’ is the most common pattern of arm-kenning (Meissner 141) and that one such kenning is found in the second helmingr; but bauga would be left without function, unless it joined ǫrð burðar Yrsu to mean ‘gold of/in rings’. Fidjestøl (1982, 137-9) argued for brattakr vala ‘steep field of falcons [ARM]’ and suggested emendation of bauga to bjúgri ‘curved’ qualifying dat. sg. ǫrð ‘grain, corn, produce’ and describing simultaneously the metaphorical grain or corn (bending in the wind) and the actual gold (rings), the referent of the kenning of which ǫrð is the base-word. However, this seems a little forced, and a solution which avoids emendation is in principle preferable. (c) Collocations, especially in eddic poetry, of Valir ‘Franks, the French’ or valr ‘Frankish, French’ with terms for treasure, e.g. valamalmr StarkSt Vík 25/2^VIII, Hyndl 9/2, or valbaugr Akv 27/10 offer tantalising possibilities, such as brattakr bauga spakra Vala ‘steep field of rings of clever Franks’. As a further element of complexity, Fidjestøl (1982, 140) notes the possibility of word-play on valr: ‘falcon’ and ‘the slain’.

spakra ‘calm’

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spakr (adj.): quiet, gentle, wise < vǫluspakr (adj.)

[4] ‑spakra: spaka U(44r)

kennings

notes

[4] vǫluspakra ‘of joint-calm’: The syntax and meaning of the helmingr are complete without these syllables, which constitute a localised, but difficult crux. The mss are divided between vǫlu and vala, each of which is grammatically and lexically ambiguous, and it is not obvious whether vǫlu/vala and spakra form a cpd or not. The gen. pl. spakra, assuming it is not used substantivally, ‘of the wise ones’, must qualify bauga ‘rings’, which is striking in itself since spakr is usually applied in skaldic poetry to human beings, especially in contexts where the theme is wisdom or native wit; ‘peaceable’ is another possible sense. (a) Finnur Jónsson takes vǫlu as gen. sg. of vala f. ‘joint-bone’ in a cpd vǫluspakr, describing the rings as resting peaceably on the arm-bone (SnE 1848-87, I, 399, Skj B and LP: vǫluspakr, though see also LP: vala where Finnur takes the word as referring to leg-bones; so also Faulkes in SnE 1998, II, 431). This seems the best solution available without recourse to emendation, but it cannot be regarded as at all certain. (b) A solution involving instead valr ‘falcon, hawk’ as the determinant of the arm-kenning is attractive, given that ‘falcon’s ground’ is the most common pattern of arm-kenning (Meissner 141) and that one such kenning is found in the second helmingr; but bauga would be left without function, unless it joined ǫrð burðar Yrsu to mean ‘gold of/in rings’. Fidjestøl (1982, 137-9) argued for brattakr vala ‘steep field of falcons [ARM]’ and suggested emendation of bauga to bjúgri ‘curved’ qualifying dat. sg. ǫrð ‘grain, corn, produce’ and describing simultaneously the metaphorical grain or corn (bending in the wind) and the actual gold (rings), the referent of the kenning of which ǫrð is the base-word. However, this seems a little forced, and a solution which avoids emendation is in principle preferable. (c) Collocations, especially in eddic poetry, of Valir ‘Franks, the French’ or valr ‘Frankish, French’ with terms for treasure, e.g. valamalmr StarkSt Vík 25/2^VIII, Hyndl 9/2, or valbaugr Akv 27/10 offer tantalising possibilities, such as brattakr bauga spakra Vala ‘steep field of rings of clever Franks’. As a further element of complexity, Fidjestøl (1982, 140) notes the possibility of word-play on valr: ‘falcon’ and ‘the slain’.

Eyss ‘sprinkles’

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2. ausa (verb; °eyss; jós, jósu/jusu; ausinn): sprinkle, bail

[5] Eyss: ‘Lys’ Tˣ(41r), ‘Aus’ 2368ˣ, 743ˣ

land ‘land’

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land (noun n.; °-s; *-): land < landreki (noun m.): land-ruler

notes

[5] landreki ‘land-ruler’: Faulkes (SnE 1998, I, 220) points out that Snorri’s etymological linkage with reka ‘drive’ (see Context above) is probably in error.

reki ‘ruler’

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reki (noun m.; °-a; -ar): ruler < landreki (noun m.): land-ruler

notes

[5] landreki ‘land-ruler’: Faulkes (SnE 1998, I, 220) points out that Snorri’s etymological linkage with reka ‘drive’ (see Context above) is probably in error.

ljósu ‘bright’

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ljóss (adj.; °compar. -ari, superl. -astr): bright

[5] ljósu: ‘[...]iosv’ U(31r)

kennings

last ‘The fault’

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last (noun n.; °-): fault, sin, vice < lastvarr (adj.): faultless

[6] last‑: latr U(44r)

varr ‘shunning’

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2. varr (adj.): wary < lastvarr (adj.): faultless

Kraka ‘of Kraki (‘Pole-ladder’)’

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Kraki (noun m.; °-a; -ar): pole-ladder, Kraki

kennings

notes

[6] barri Kraka ‘barley of Kraki (‘Pole-ladder’) <legendary king> [GOLD]’: See Context. The kenning is dat. following eyss ‘sprinkles’ (inf. ausa) (l. 5).

barri ‘barley’

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1. barr (noun n.): barley

kennings

notes

[6] barri Kraka ‘barley of Kraki (‘Pole-ladder’) <legendary king> [GOLD]’: See Context. The kenning is dat. following eyss ‘sprinkles’ (inf. ausa) (l. 5).

á ‘on’

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3. á (prep.): on, at

hlæmyldar ‘warmly soil-covered’

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hlæmyldr (adj.): warmly soil-covered

[7] hlæmyldar: ‘h[...]milldar’ W, ‘hlemylldar’ U(44r), ‘hlæmilldra’ U(31r), helmildrar C(3v)

notes

[7] hlæmyldar holdi ‘warmly soil-covered with flesh’: This adjectival phrase evidently qualifies the arm-kenning kǫlfur hauks ‘territories of the hawk’. Although only U(31r) has hlæ- and only U(44r) has -myld-, both readings constitute the lectio difficilior, and provide an unusual but acceptable image. Myldr could be a derivative of mold ‘soil’, hence myldar holdi ‘soil-covered with flesh’ (myldar f. acc. pl. agreeing with kǫlfur ‘territories’). Hlær ‘warm’ describes the flesh, reinforcing the referent ‘arm’ rather than the metaphorical ‘territories’, but it is here translated adverbially, as ‘warmly’, as an analogue to the fact that it is compounded with myldr. (b) The majority, and more obvious, reading hlémildr ‘shelter-generous’ is difficult to account for, unless by Faulkes’ suggestion hlémildrar holdi ‘shelter-generous ... (of arms), providing a place for flesh to sit’ (SnE 1998, II, 312); but surely flesh shelters the arms rather than the reverse.

holdi ‘with flesh’

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hold (noun n.; °-s; -): flesh

notes

[7] hlæmyldar holdi ‘warmly soil-covered with flesh’: This adjectival phrase evidently qualifies the arm-kenning kǫlfur hauks ‘territories of the hawk’. Although only U(31r) has hlæ- and only U(44r) has -myld-, both readings constitute the lectio difficilior, and provide an unusual but acceptable image. Myldr could be a derivative of mold ‘soil’, hence myldar holdi ‘soil-covered with flesh’ (myldar f. acc. pl. agreeing with kǫlfur ‘territories’). Hlær ‘warm’ describes the flesh, reinforcing the referent ‘arm’ rather than the metaphorical ‘territories’, but it is here translated adverbially, as ‘warmly’, as an analogue to the fact that it is compounded with myldr. (b) The majority, and more obvious, reading hlémildr ‘shelter-generous’ is difficult to account for, unless by Faulkes’ suggestion hlémildrar holdi ‘shelter-generous ... (of arms), providing a place for flesh to sit’ (SnE 1998, II, 312); but surely flesh shelters the arms rather than the reverse.

hauks ‘of the hawk’

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1. haukr (noun m.; °-s, dat. -i/-; -ar): hawk

[8] hauks kǫlfur mér sjǫlfum: ‘hosk[...]lfr m[...]’ U(31r);    hauks kǫlfur: hauk kalfar U(44r)

kennings

notes

[8] kǫlfur hauks ‘territories of the hawk [ARMS]’: Kalfa f. is a rare word occurring, it seems, only here and possibly in Árngr Gd 15/6^IV kálfur munar ‘mind’s territories [BREAST]’.

kǫlfur ‘territories’

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kalfa (noun f.): [territories]

[8] hauks kǫlfur mér sjǫlfum: ‘hosk[...]lfr m[...]’ U(31r);    hauks kǫlfur: hauk kalfar U(44r);    kǫlfur: kalfur 2368ˣ, 743ˣ

kennings

notes

[8] kǫlfur hauks ‘territories of the hawk [ARMS]’: Kalfa f. is a rare word occurring, it seems, only here and possibly in Árngr Gd 15/6^IV kálfur munar ‘mind’s territories [BREAST]’.

mér ‘my’

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ek (pron.; °mín, dat. mér, acc. mik): I, me

[8] hauks kǫlfur mér sjǫlfum: ‘hosk[...]lfr m[...]’ U(31r)

sjǫlfum ‘own’

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sjalfr (adj.): self

[8] hauks kǫlfur mér sjǫlfum: ‘hosk[...]lfr m[...]’ U(31r);    sjǫlfum: sjalfra 2368ˣ, 743ˣ