Sturl Frag 2^III

This half-stanza (Sturl Frag 2) in kviðuháttr, edited by Kari Ellen Gade, is transmitted only in 742ˣ and 1496ˣ, where it is given in the section on heiti for ‘limb’ taken from a ms. of LaufE. It is not included in the extant redactions of LaufE, however, and the only edition is by Jón Helgason (1966a, 178-9). The fragment is attributed to ‘Sturli’ in the left-hand margin of 742ˣ (and ‘Sturlu’ in 1496ˣ), whom Jón Helgason (1966a, 179) correctly identifies as Sturla Þórðarson. As Jón points out, there are strong verbal resemblances between the present stanza and Sturl Hákkv 31/1-4^II, a panegyric Sturla composed in honour of the Norwegian King Hákon Hákonarson (r. 1217-63; see SkP II, lxxxi-lxxxii), and, indeed, Frag 2 can be called a variant of Hákkv 31/1-4^II. Whereas that poem, which was composed after Hákon’s death, is in the past tense, Frag 2 is in the present tense and praises the generosity of Eiríkr (l. 3), most likely Hákon’s grandson Eiríkr Magnússon (r. 1280-99). Sturla is not listed among the poets of Eiríkr Magnússon (Skáldatal, SnE 1848-87, III, 265, 279), however, and Jón Helgason (1966a, 179) suggests that the half-stanza could have belonged to a poem honouring Eiríkr’s father, Magnús lagabœtir ‘Law-mender’ Hákonarson (r. 1263-80; see SkP II, lxxxviii). According to Jón (loc. cit.), it could have been included in Sturla’s Magnúss saga lagabœtis, which now survives only in fragments in AM 325 X 4°.

Þar rennr upp
Eiríks vinum
handar dagr
á himin mergjar.

Þar rennr {dagr handar} upp á {himin mergjar} vinum Eiríks.

There {the daylight of the hand} [GOLD] dawns on {the heaven of marrow} [ARM] for the friends of Eiríkr.

Mss: 742ˣ(20r), 1496ˣ(50v) (LaufE)

Readings: [1] Þar: þat 742ˣ, 1496ˣ

Editions: Jón Helgason 1966a, 178-9.

Context: The helmingr is cited to illustrate kennings for ‘limb’, here, himinn mergjar ‘heaven of marrow [ARM]’.

Notes: [1]: This is a verbal repetition of Sturl Hákkv 31/1^II except that the verb in that stanza is in the pret. (rann upp ‘dawned’) rather than in the pres. tense (rennr upp; see Introduction above). — [2] vinum Eiríks ‘for the friends of Eiríkr’: For Eiríkr Magnússon, see also Anon Mlag 3/2^II and Note there. This could also be a possessive dat. (‘of the friends of Eiríkr’) qualifying himin mergjar ‘the heaven of marrow [ARM]’. — [3] dagr handar ‘the daylight of the hand [GOLD]’: Echoes Sturl Hákkv 31/3^II dagr mundar ‘the daylight of the hand [GOLD]’. — [4] á himin mergjar ‘on the heaven of marrow [ARM]’: Echoes Sturl Hákkv 31/4^II á mergs himin ‘on the heaven of marrow [ARM]’. See also Anon Mfl 1/1, 4 and Note there, as well as Bjbp Jóms 31/6^I.

References

1. Bibliography
2. SnE 1848-87 = Snorri Sturluson. 1848-87. Edda Snorra Sturlusonar: Edda Snorronis Sturlaei. Ed. Jón Sigurðsson et al. 3 vols. Copenhagen: Legatum Arnamagnaeanum. Rpt. Osnabrück: Zeller, 1966.
3. Jón Helgason. 1966a. ‘Verse aus der Laufás-Edda’. In Rudolph et al. 1966, 175-80.
4. SkP II = Poetry from the Kings’ Sagas 2: From c. 1035 to c. 1300. Ed. Kari Ellen Gade. 2009.
5. Internal references
6. Not published: do not cite ()
7. Kari Ellen Gade 2017, ‘(Biography of) Sturla Þórðarson’ in Kari Ellen Gade and Edith Marold (eds), Poetry from Treatises on Poetics. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 3. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 392.
8. Kari Ellen Gade (ed.) 2017, ‘Anonymous Poems, Máríuflokkr 1’ in Kari Ellen Gade and Edith Marold (eds), Poetry from Treatises on Poetics. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 3. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 507.
9. Not published: do not cite ()
10. Kari Ellen Gade (ed.) 2009, ‘Anonymous Poems, Poem about Magnús lagabœtir 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, p. 811.
11. Emily Lethbridge (ed.) 2012, ‘Bjarni byskup Kolbeinsson, Jómsvíkingadrápa 31’ 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. 986.
12. Kari Ellen Gade (ed.) 2009, ‘Sturla Þórðarson, Hákonarkviða 31’ 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. 722.
13. Kari Ellen Gade (ed.) 2017, ‘Sturla Þórðarson, Fragments 2’ in Kari Ellen Gade and Edith Marold (eds), Poetry from Treatises on Poetics. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 3. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 393.
14. Not published: do not cite ()
15. (forthcoming), ‘ Unattributed, Laufás Edda’ in Kari Ellen Gade and Edith Marold (eds), Poetry from Treatises on Poetics. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 3. Turnhout: Brepols, p. . <https://skaldic.org/m.php?p=text&i=10928> (accessed 24 April 2024)