ÞjóðA Lv 3II
Diana Whaley (ed.) 2009, ‘Þjóðólfr Arnórsson, Lausavísur 3’ 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, pp. 167-8.
Logit ‘broken faith’
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ljúga (verb): lie
hefr ‘has’
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hafa (verb): have
Baldr ‘The Baldr’
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Baldr (noun m.): [Baldr, Baldur]
kennings
[Baldr] brynþings‘[The Baldr] of the byrnie-assembly ’
= WARRIOR = Sveinn
the byrnie-assembly → BATTLE
[The Baldr] of the BATTLE → WARRIOR = Sveinn
at ‘with’
(not checked:)
3. at (prep.): at, to
Baldri ‘the Baldr’
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Baldr (noun m.): [Baldr, Baldur]
kennings
Baldri] fetilstinga,‘the Baldr] of sword-belt stabbers, ’
= WARRIOR = Haraldr
sword-belt stabbers, → SWORDS
the Baldr] of SWORDS → WARRIOR = Haraldr
bryn ‘of the byrnie’
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1. brynja (noun f.; °-u (dat. brynnoni Gibb 38⁹); -ur): mailcoat < brynþing (noun n.): byrnie-assembly
kennings
[Baldr] brynþings‘[The Baldr] of the byrnie-assembly ’
= WARRIOR = Sveinn
the byrnie-assembly → BATTLE
[The Baldr] of the BATTLE → WARRIOR = Sveinn
bryn ‘of the byrnie’
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1. brynja (noun f.; °-u (dat. brynnoni Gibb 38⁹); -ur): mailcoat < brynþing (noun n.): byrnie-assembly
kennings
[Baldr] brynþings‘[The Baldr] of the byrnie-assembly ’
= WARRIOR = Sveinn
the byrnie-assembly → BATTLE
[The Baldr] of the BATTLE → WARRIOR = Sveinn
þings ‘assembly’
(not checked:)
þing (noun n.; °-s; -): meeting, assembly < brynþing (noun n.): byrnie-assembly
[2] ‑þings: ‑þing Mork, H, Hr
kennings
[Baldr] brynþings‘[The Baldr] of the byrnie-assembly ’
= WARRIOR = Sveinn
the byrnie-assembly → BATTLE
[The Baldr] of the BATTLE → WARRIOR = Sveinn
þings ‘assembly’
(not checked:)
þing (noun n.; °-s; -): meeting, assembly < brynþing (noun n.): byrnie-assembly
[2] ‑þings: ‑þing Mork, H, Hr
kennings
[Baldr] brynþings‘[The Baldr] of the byrnie-assembly ’
= WARRIOR = Sveinn
the byrnie-assembly → BATTLE
[The Baldr] of the BATTLE → WARRIOR = Sveinn
fetil ‘of sword-belt’
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fetill (noun m.; °dat. fatli/fetli; fetlar): strap, sword-belt < fetilstingr (noun m.): sword-belt stabbers
kennings
Baldri] fetilstinga,‘the Baldr] of sword-belt stabbers, ’
= WARRIOR = Haraldr
sword-belt stabbers, → SWORDS
the Baldr] of SWORDS → WARRIOR = Haraldr
fetil ‘of sword-belt’
(not checked:)
fetill (noun m.; °dat. fatli/fetli; fetlar): strap, sword-belt < fetilstingr (noun m.): sword-belt stabbers
kennings
Baldri] fetilstinga,‘the Baldr] of sword-belt stabbers, ’
= WARRIOR = Haraldr
sword-belt stabbers, → SWORDS
the Baldr] of SWORDS → WARRIOR = Haraldr
stinga ‘stabbers’
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stingr (noun m.; °; -ir): rod < fetilstingr (noun m.): sword-belt stabbers
kennings
Baldri] fetilstinga,‘the Baldr] of sword-belt stabbers, ’
= WARRIOR = Haraldr
sword-belt stabbers, → SWORDS
the Baldr] of SWORDS → WARRIOR = Haraldr
stinga ‘stabbers’
(not checked:)
stingr (noun m.; °; -ir): rod < fetilstingr (noun m.): sword-belt stabbers
kennings
Baldri] fetilstinga,‘the Baldr] of sword-belt stabbers, ’
= WARRIOR = Haraldr
sword-belt stabbers, → SWORDS
the Baldr] of SWORDS → WARRIOR = Haraldr
kennings
linns láðbrjótr,‘snake’s land-breaker’
= GENEROUS MAN = Sveinn
the land of the snake → GOLD
the breaker of the GOLD → GENEROUS MAN = Sveinn
notes
[3-4] linns láðbrjótr ‘the breaker of the land of the snake [(lit. ‘snake’s land-breaker’) GOLD > GENEROUS MAN]’: This kenning is taken here, as by most eds, in apposition with the warrior-kenning built around Baldr. The main alternative, taken up in Fms 12, would be to read it as an apostrophe, presumably addressed to Haraldr.
kennings
linns láðbrjótr,‘snake’s land-breaker’
= GENEROUS MAN = Sveinn
the land of the snake → GOLD
the breaker of the GOLD → GENEROUS MAN = Sveinn
notes
[3-4] linns láðbrjótr ‘the breaker of the land of the snake [(lit. ‘snake’s land-breaker’) GOLD > GENEROUS MAN]’: This kenning is taken here, as by most eds, in apposition with the warrior-kenning built around Baldr. The main alternative, taken up in Fms 12, would be to read it as an apostrophe, presumably addressed to Haraldr.
sás ‘who’
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2. er (conj.): who, which, when
notes
[3, 4] sás á land … ráða fyrir ‘who has a land … to rule over’: Á is 3rd pers. sg. pres. indic. of eiga ‘own, have to’, which in the latter sense takes an inf. with (or as here) without at (see LP: eiga 8).
land ‘a land’
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land (noun n.; °-s; *-): land
notes
[3, 4] sás á land … ráða fyrir ‘who has a land … to rule over’: Á is 3rd pers. sg. pres. indic. of eiga ‘own, have to’, which in the latter sense takes an inf. with (or as here) without at (see LP: eiga 8).
á ‘has’
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2. eiga (verb; °á/eigr (præs. pl. 3. pers. eigu/eiga); átti, áttu; átt): own, have
notes
[3, 4] sás á land … ráða fyrir ‘who has a land … to rule over’: Á is 3rd pers. sg. pres. indic. of eiga ‘own, have to’, which in the latter sense takes an inf. with (or as here) without at (see LP: eiga 8).
sunnar ‘farther south’
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sunnar (adv.): further south
láð ‘of the land’
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2. láð (noun n.): earth, land < láðbrjótr (noun m.)
kennings
linns láðbrjótr,‘snake’s land-breaker’
= GENEROUS MAN = Sveinn
the land of the snake → GOLD
the breaker of the GOLD → GENEROUS MAN = Sveinn
notes
[3-4] linns láðbrjótr ‘the breaker of the land of the snake [(lit. ‘snake’s land-breaker’) GOLD > GENEROUS MAN]’: This kenning is taken here, as by most eds, in apposition with the warrior-kenning built around Baldr. The main alternative, taken up in Fms 12, would be to read it as an apostrophe, presumably addressed to Haraldr.
láð ‘of the land’
(not checked:)
2. láð (noun n.): earth, land < láðbrjótr (noun m.)
kennings
linns láðbrjótr,‘snake’s land-breaker’
= GENEROUS MAN = Sveinn
the land of the snake → GOLD
the breaker of the GOLD → GENEROUS MAN = Sveinn
notes
[3-4] linns láðbrjótr ‘the breaker of the land of the snake [(lit. ‘snake’s land-breaker’) GOLD > GENEROUS MAN]’: This kenning is taken here, as by most eds, in apposition with the warrior-kenning built around Baldr. The main alternative, taken up in Fms 12, would be to read it as an apostrophe, presumably addressed to Haraldr.
brjótr ‘the breaker’
(not checked:)
brjótr (noun m.): breaker < láðbrjótr (noun m.)
kennings
linns láðbrjótr,‘snake’s land-breaker’
= GENEROUS MAN = Sveinn
the land of the snake → GOLD
the breaker of the GOLD → GENEROUS MAN = Sveinn
notes
[3-4] linns láðbrjótr ‘the breaker of the land of the snake [(lit. ‘snake’s land-breaker’) GOLD > GENEROUS MAN]’: This kenning is taken here, as by most eds, in apposition with the warrior-kenning built around Baldr. The main alternative, taken up in Fms 12, would be to read it as an apostrophe, presumably addressed to Haraldr.
fyrir ‘over’
(not checked:)
fyrir (prep.): for, before, because of
notes
[3, 4] sás á land … ráða fyrir ‘who has a land … to rule over’: Á is 3rd pers. sg. pres. indic. of eiga ‘own, have to’, which in the latter sense takes an inf. with (or as here) without at (see LP: eiga 8).
ráða ‘to rule’
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ráða (verb): advise, rule, interpret, decide
notes
[3, 4] sás á land … ráða fyrir ‘who has a land … to rule over’: Á is 3rd pers. sg. pres. indic. of eiga ‘own, have to’, which in the latter sense takes an inf. with (or as here) without at (see LP: eiga 8).
Sjá ‘That’
(not checked:)
1. sjá (pron.; °gen. þessa dat. þessum/þeima, acc. þenna; f. sjá/þessi; n. þetta, dat. þessu/þvísa; pl. þessir): this
[5] Sjá mun (‘sia man’): ‘sia munn’ FskAˣ, þó er sjá Mork, Flat, þá er sjá H, Hr
kennings
Sjá inn nørðri Njǫrðr glymhríðar borða‘That, the more northerly, Njǫrðr of the clashing storm of shields ’
= WARRIOR = Haraldr
the clashing storm of shields → BATTLE
That, the more northerly, Njǫrðr of the BATTLE → WARRIOR = Haraldr
mun ‘must be’
(not checked:)
munu (verb): will, must
[5] Sjá mun (‘sia man’): ‘sia munn’ FskAˣ, þó er sjá Mork, Flat, þá er sjá H, Hr
kennings
Sjá inn nørðri Njǫrðr glymhríðar borða‘That, the more northerly, Njǫrðr of the clashing storm of shields ’
= WARRIOR = Haraldr
the clashing storm of shields → BATTLE
That, the more northerly, Njǫrðr of the BATTLE → WARRIOR = Haraldr
kennings
Sjá inn nørðri Njǫrðr glymhríðar borða‘That, the more northerly, Njǫrðr of the clashing storm of shields ’
= WARRIOR = Haraldr
the clashing storm of shields → BATTLE
That, the more northerly, Njǫrðr of the BATTLE → WARRIOR = Haraldr
nørðri ‘more northerly’
(not checked:)
nyrðri (adj. comp.; °superl. nyrztr): farther north
[5] nørðri: ‘nerdre’ Flat
kennings
Sjá inn nørðri Njǫrðr glymhríðar borða‘That, the more northerly, Njǫrðr of the clashing storm of shields ’
= WARRIOR = Haraldr
the clashing storm of shields → BATTLE
That, the more northerly, Njǫrðr of the BATTLE → WARRIOR = Haraldr
norðr ‘in the north’
(not checked:)
2. norðr (adv.): north
notes
[6] norðr ‘in the north’: This could technically be an adj. ‘northern’ or adv. ‘in/towards the north’, and could qualify either the warrior-kenning Njǫrðr glymhríðar borða ‘Njǫrðr of the clashing storm of shields’ (ll. 5-6), or gramr ‘lord’ (l. 7). Since the warrior is already described as inn nørðri ‘the one further north’ (l. 5) it must refer to the gramr ‘lord’ (l. 7), and since this lord is addressed with the 2nd pers. sg. est ‘you are’ it is presumably Haraldr. Otherwise it might have been tempting to take (frœkn) norðr as ‘bold [if you go] north’, a jibe at Sveinn matching the point in the first helmingr that his rightful territory is farther south.
glym ‘of the clashing ’
(not checked:)
glymja (verb): resound < glymhríð (noun f.): [clashing storm]
kennings
Sjá inn nørðri Njǫrðr glymhríðar borða‘That, the more northerly, Njǫrðr of the clashing storm of shields ’
= WARRIOR = Haraldr
the clashing storm of shields → BATTLE
That, the more northerly, Njǫrðr of the BATTLE → WARRIOR = Haraldr
glym ‘of the clashing ’
(not checked:)
glymja (verb): resound < glymhríð (noun f.): [clashing storm]
kennings
Sjá inn nørðri Njǫrðr glymhríðar borða‘That, the more northerly, Njǫrðr of the clashing storm of shields ’
= WARRIOR = Haraldr
the clashing storm of shields → BATTLE
That, the more northerly, Njǫrðr of the BATTLE → WARRIOR = Haraldr
hríðar ‘storm’
(not checked:)
hríð (noun f.; °-ar; -ir): time, storm < glymhríð (noun f.): [clashing storm]
kennings
Sjá inn nørðri Njǫrðr glymhríðar borða‘That, the more northerly, Njǫrðr of the clashing storm of shields ’
= WARRIOR = Haraldr
the clashing storm of shields → BATTLE
That, the more northerly, Njǫrðr of the BATTLE → WARRIOR = Haraldr
hríðar ‘storm’
(not checked:)
hríð (noun f.; °-ar; -ir): time, storm < glymhríð (noun f.): [clashing storm]
kennings
Sjá inn nørðri Njǫrðr glymhríðar borða‘That, the more northerly, Njǫrðr of the clashing storm of shields ’
= WARRIOR = Haraldr
the clashing storm of shields → BATTLE
That, the more northerly, Njǫrðr of the BATTLE → WARRIOR = Haraldr
borða ‘of shields’
(not checked:)
borð (noun n.; °-s; -): side, plank, board; table
kennings
Sjá inn nørðri Njǫrðr glymhríðar borða‘That, the more northerly, Njǫrðr of the clashing storm of shields ’
= WARRIOR = Haraldr
the clashing storm of shields → BATTLE
That, the more northerly, Njǫrðr of the BATTLE → WARRIOR = Haraldr
borða ‘of shields’
(not checked:)
borð (noun n.; °-s; -): side, plank, board; table
kennings
Sjá inn nørðri Njǫrðr glymhríðar borða‘That, the more northerly, Njǫrðr of the clashing storm of shields ’
= WARRIOR = Haraldr
the clashing storm of shields → BATTLE
That, the more northerly, Njǫrðr of the BATTLE → WARRIOR = Haraldr
gramr ‘lord’
(not checked:)
1. gramr (noun m.): ruler
est ‘you are’
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2. vera (verb): be, is, was, were, are, am
fremri ‘more outstanding’
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framr (adj.; °compar. framari/fremri, superl. framastr/fremstr): outstanding, foremost
fast ‘more true’
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fastr (adj.; °compar. -ari, superl. -astr): firm, fast < fastmáll (adj.)
málari ‘to his word’
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máll (adj.): beloved, prattling < fastmáll (adj.)
[8] ‑málari: ‘‑mælare’ Flat
Interactive view: tap on words in the text for notes and glosses
|
[Logit hefr Baldr at Baldri] |
[The Baldr <god>] of the byrnie-assembly [BATTLE > WARRIOR = Sveinn] [has broken faith with the Baldr <god>] of sword-belt stabbers [SWORDS > WARRIOR = Haraldr (= me)], the breaker of the land of the snake [(lit. ‘snake’s land-breaker’) GOLD > GENEROUS MAN = Sveinn] who has a land farther south to rule over. That, the more northerly, Njǫrðr <god> of the clashing storm of shields [BATTLE > WARRIOR = Haraldr] must be vastly more true to his word and more outstanding; lord, you are bold in the north.
Haraldr, responding to a challenge from King Sveinn of Denmark, brings his fleet to the Götaälv (Elfr) but learns that Sveinn is still south in Jylland (or Sjælland, H-Hr). He initiates a st. (Hharð Lv 5/1) and the rest is completed by Þjóðólfr (ll. 2-7).
This campaign took place c. two years after the events described in Lv 2; for other relevant poetry see Þfagr Sveinn 2-9, Stúfr Stúfdr 6 and Anon (HSig) 2. — [1]: The first l. is attributed to King Haraldr in the prose sources: see Context. — [2]: The two compounds brynþings ‘of the byrnie-assembly [BATTLE]’ and fetilstinga ‘of sword-belt stabbers [SWORDS]’ clearly provide the determinant(s) to the warrior-kennings of which nom. sg. Baldr and dat. sg. Baldri in l. 1 are the base-words. The question is, whether brynþings fetilstinga belong together or not, and there is no way to arbitrate certainly between the possibilities. (a) The two compounds are assumed here to qualify one ‘Baldr’ each: Baldr brynþings ‘the Baldr of the byrnie-assembly’ and Baldri fetilstinga ‘the Baldr of sword-belt stabbers’, yielding two warrior-kennings (so Skj B and Gade). (b) Kock in NN §253 and §1079D, citing parallels in Gsindr Hákdr 6I, Tindr Lv 1V and Bjhit Lv 19V, argues for brynþings fetilstinga ‘of the sword’s mighty assembly’ (svärdens häftiga mötes), with bryn- related to bruna/bryna ‘rush’. This is in his view a unitary phrase, a single determinant which Baldr and Baldr share, reinforcing the sense of ‘the one warrior and the other’.
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