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skaldic

Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages

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Rv Lv 5II/4 — járn ‘irons’

Liggja sék á leggjum
(láss bannar þér rásir)
kveldfǫrlustum karli
(Kúgi) járn in bjúgu.
Eiguð aldri, Kúgi,
— aptr munt settr af prettum —
— nauðrs at nýta eiða —
náttþing, ok halt sáttir.

Sék in bjúgu járn liggja á leggjum kveldfǫrlustum karli; Kúgi, láss bannar þér rásir. Eiguð aldri náttþing, Kúgi, ok halt sáttir; munt aptr settr af prettum; nauðrs at nýta eiða.

I see the curved irons lying on the legs of the old man who was out and about most in the evening; Kúgi, the lock prevents you from running. Never hold night-meetings, Kúgi, and keep to agreements; you will be hindered from treacherous deeds; it is necessary to keep to oaths.

notes

[4] in bjúgu járn ‘the curved irons’: This phrase seems to describe iron shackles, which usually have a semicircular shape, rather than the ‘twisted fetters’ envisaged by Bibire 1988.

grammar

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