ÞjóðA Sex 1II/3 — Bolgara ‘of Bulgars’
Hvasst frák Haugi it næsta
hlífél á gram drífa,
en Bolgara brennir
brœðr sínum vel tœði.
Skilðisk hann, ok hulði
hjalmsetr gamall vetra
tyggi tolf ok þriggja,
trauðr við Ôleif dauðan.
Frák hlífél drífa hvasst á gram it næsta Haugi, en brennir Bolgara tœði brœðr sínum vel. Hann skilðisk trauðr við dauðan Ôleif, ok tyggi tolf ok þriggja vetra gamall hulði hjalmsetr.
I learned that a shield-storm [BATTLE] drove sharp against the ruler next to Haug, and the burner of Bulgars [= Haraldr] supported his brother well. He parted, reluctant, from the dead Óláfr, and the prince twelve and three years [lit. winters] old concealed his helmet-stand [HEAD].
readings
[3] Bolgara: ‘bolgera’ 61
notes
[3] brennir Bolgara ‘the burner of Bulgars [= Haraldr]’: An anticipatory reference to Haraldr’s campaigns in the service of the Byzantine emperor. The Bulgars, associated in the C11th with the Albigensian heresy, would have been perceived (like the pagan Wends) as suitable targets of a Christian monarch. Frank (1978, 124) suggests the nickname of Emperor Basil II Bulgaroctonus (‘Slaughterer of Bulgars’, 976-1025) as a possible model for the kenning.
kennings
- brennir Bolgara — the burner of Bulgars [= Haraldr]