Arn Hardr 12II/6 — lituðr ‘the stainer’
Olli ofrausn stillis,
ormalátrs þats máttit,
stáls í strǫngu éli
stríðir elli bíða,
sás aldrigi, aldins
ótams lituðr hramma
viggs, í vápna glyggvi
Varðrúnar, sik sparði.
Ofrausn stillis olli í strǫngu éli stáls, þats stríðir ormalátrs máttit bíða elli, lituðr hramma aldins, ótams viggs Varðrúnar, sás aldrigi sparði sik í glyggvi vápna.
The excess of heroism in the ruler caused [this] in the stern blizzard of steel [BATTLE], that the foe of the reptiles’ lair [GOLD > GENEROUS MAN = Haraldr] could not live to see old age, the stainer of the claws of the old, untamed steed of Varðrún <troll-woman> [WOLF > WARRIOR] who never spared himself in the wind-storm of weapons [BATTLE].
readings
[6] lituðr: ‘vítudr’ Flat, ‘b(ru)dr’(?) Hr
notes
[6, 7, 8] lituðr hramma aldins, ótams viggs varðrúnar ‘the stainer of the claws of the old, untamed steed of Varðrún <troll-woman> [WOLF > WARRIOR]’: Viggs is a slight and well-justified emendation. Ms. ‘vigs’, presumably vígs ‘of battle’, would not make sense, and would provide a less exact consonantal rhyme with glygg-. Varðrún occurs only here and among the heiti for ‘troll-woman’ in Þul Trǫllkvenna 5/3III.
kennings
- lituðr hramma aldins, ótams viggs Varðrúnar, — the stainer of the claws of the old, untamed steed of Varðrún <troll-woman> [WARRIOR]
grammar
case: nom.