ÞjóðA Frag 1II
Diana Whaley (ed.) 2009, ‘Þjóðólfr Arnórsson, Fragments 1’ 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. 159.
introduction
This st. concerns a vital point in the career of Magnús Óláfsson and the medieval history of Norway: the return of his father’s half-brother Haraldr Sigurðarson to Scandinavia. It is an instantiation of the favourite theme of converging fleets (see Poole 1991, 81-2), showing Magnús heading norðan ‘from the north’ and Haraldr sunnan ‘from the south’. (On the ultimately peaceful arrangement between the two monarchs, see ÞjóðA Sex 10 and Bǫlv Hardr 7.) Frag 1 is cited with the formula svá segir in Hkr (main ms. Kˣ, 39, F, J2ˣ, E) and H-Hr (H, Hr), which might predispose us to think of this as an extract from a longer poem, yet it is the only extant st. by Þjóðólfr dealing with this politically critical moment, hence unlike anything in Magnfl, and it is distanced by several chs from the Hkr and H-Hr citations from Magnfl. It is therefore counted here as an unidentified fragment (Fidjestøl 1982, 172 assigns it to Magnfl). Origins not in an extended poem but as a lv. remain a possibility, since the st. has pres.-tense verbs and a sense of anticipation generated by reference to fear of a breach of peace. It is printed in Skj as Lv 9.
text and translation
Nús valmeiðum víðis
— veit drótt mikinn ótta —
— skeiðr hefr herr fyr hauðri —
hætt góðs friðar vætta.
Mildr vill Magnús halda
morðs hlunngotum norðan,
ítr en ǫnnur skreytir
unnvigg Haraldr sunnan.
Nús hætt {{víðis val}meiðum} vætta góðs friðar; drótt veit mikinn ótta; herr hefr skeiðr fyr hauðri. Magnús, mildr morðs, vill halda {hlunngotum} norðan, en ítr Haraldr skreytir {ǫnnur unnvigg} sunnan.
‘Now it’s risky for the beams of the stallion of the ocean [(lit. ‘stallion-beams of the ocean’) SHIP > SEAFARERS] to expect a secure peace; the troop knows great fear; the host takes warships along the coast. Magnús, generous with slaughter, wishes to steer roller-steeds [SHIPS] from the north, while the excellent Haraldr equips other wave-horses [SHIPS] [to sail] from the south.’
notes and context
Magnús Óláfsson, learning that his formidable half-uncle Haraldr Sigurðarson has returned to Scandinavia and has allied with Sveinn Úlfsson, calls up his fleet. H-Hr adds that Magnús prepares to sail south to meet Haraldr and Sveinn.
readings
- [1] val‑: so all others, ‘valc‑’ Kˣ
- [2] veit: veitt F
- [3] herr: so 39, F, E, hann Kˣ, J2ˣ, H, Hr
- [4] góðs: gótt Hr
- [4] vætta: ‘uetta’ E, ‘viétta’ H
- [6] hlunn‑: ‘hlym‑’ H, Hr
- [7] ǫnnur: ‘ennur’ 39
sources
Text is based on reconstruction from the base text and variant apparatus and may contain alternative spellings and other normalisations not visible in the manuscript text. Transcriptions may not have been checked and should not be cited.
-
AM 63 folx (Kx) — 533r/22 - 533r/29
imagesNús †valc-†meiðum víðis
— veit drótt mikinn ótta —
— skeiðr hefr hann fyr hauðri —
hætt góðs friðar vætta.
Mildr vill Magnús halda
morðs hlunngotum norðan,
ítr en ǫnnur skreytir
unnvigg Haraldr sunnan.Nu er valc meiðom viðis | veit drott mikiɴ otta | sceiðr hefir hann fyrir hꜹðri | hætt goðs friðar vætta | mildr vill ᴍagnvs halda | morðz hlunn gotum norþan | ítr eɴ ǫɴur skreytir | uɴviɢ Haraldr suɴan ||
(VEÞ)
-
AM 39 fol (39) — 21va/2 - 21va/2
Nús valmeiðum víðis
images
— veit drótt mikinn ótta —
— skeiðr hefr herr fyr hauðri —
hætt góðs friðar vætta.
Mildr vill Magnús halda
morðs hlunngotum norðan,
ítr en †ennur† skreytir
unnvigg Haraldr sunnan. -
AM 45 fol (F) — 44ra/29 - 44ra/31
imagesNús valmeiðum víðis
— veitt drótt mikinn ótta —
— skeiðr hefr herr fyr hauðri —
hætt góðs friðar vætta.
Mildr vill Magnús halda
morðs hlunngotum norðan,
ítr en ǫnnur skreytir
unnvigg Haraldr sunnan.Nv er valmeiðom viþís veítt drott mikinn otta | skeiðr hefir herr fyrir hꜹðri hætt goðz friþar vætta · milldr vill ᴍagnvs | hallda morðz hluɴgotvm norðan ítr eɴ oɴvr skreytir vɴ víɢ ⸝haraldr svɴan.⸜ |
(VEÞ)
-
AM 47 fol (E) — 13r/33 - 13v/1
Nús valmeiðum víðis
images
— veit drótt mikinn ótta —
— skeiðr hefr herr fyr hauðri —
hætt góðs friðar †uetta†.
Mildr vill Magnús halda
morðs hlunngotum norðan,
ítr en ǫnnur skreytir
unnvigg Haraldr sunnan. -
AM 38 folx (J2x) — 264v/24 - 264v/31
Nús valmeiðum víðis
images
— veit drótt mikinn ótta —
— skeiðr hefr hann fyr hauðri —
hætt góðs friðar vætta.
Mildr vill Magnús halda
morðs hlunngotum norðan,
ítr en ǫnnur skreytir
unnvigg Haraldr sunnan. -
AM 66 fol (H) — 29r/30 - 29r/30
Nús valmeiðum víðis
images
— veit drótt mikinn ótta —
— skeiðr hefr hann fyr hauðri —
hætt góðs friðar †viétta†.
Mildr vill Magnús halda
morðs †hlym-†gotum norðan,
ítr en ǫnnur skreytir
unnvigg Haraldr sunnan. -
GKS 1010 fol (Hr) — 21va/13 - 21va/13
Nús valmeiðum víðis
images
— veit drótt mikinn ótta —
— skeiðr hefr hann fyr hauðri —
hætt gótt friðar vætta.
Mildr vill Magnús halda
morðs †hlym-†gotum norðan,
ítr en ǫnnur skreytir
unnvigg Haraldr sunnan. -
AM 761 b 4°x (761bx) — 422r/6 - 422r/13
images
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