ESk Øxfl 3III/6 — svans ‘of the swan’
Hróðrbarni knák Hǫrnar
— hlutum dýran grip — stýra
(brandr þrymr gjalfrs á grandi)
gollvífiðu (hlífar).
Sáðs (berr sínar móður)
svans unni mér gunnar
fóstrgœðandi Fróða
(Freys nipt bráa driptir).
Knák stýra gollvífiðu hróðrbarni Hǫrnar; hlutum dýran grip; brandr gjalfrs þrymr á grandi hlífar. Fóstrgœðandi svans gunnar unni mér sáðs Fróða; nipt Freys berr driptir bráa móður sínar.
I possess the gold-wrapped glory-child of Hǫrn <= Freyja> [= Hnoss (hnoss ‘treasure’)]; we [I] received a precious treasure; fire of the surge [GOLD] rests on the harm of the shield [AXE/SWORD]. The provisions-increaser of the swan of battle [RAVEN/EAGLE > WARRIOR] gave me Fróði’s <legendary king’s> seed [GOLD]; Freyr’s <god’s> niece [= Hnoss (hnoss ‘treasure’)] bears the rain of eyelashes [TEARS] of her mother <= Freyja> [GOLD].
notes
[5, 6, 7] sáðs Fróða; fóstrgœðandi svans gunnar ‘Fróði’s <legendary king’s> seed [GOLD]; the provisions-increaser of the swan of battle [RAVEN/EAGLE > WARRIOR]’: The first kenning refers to the story told in Grottasǫngr (Grott, SnE 1998, I, 51-8) about two giantesses, Fenja and Menja, who grind gold under duress for the legendary king Fróði of Denmark (see NN §956). Sáð ‘seed’ must be a variation of ‘flour’ or ‘grain’ here. See also Note to Anon Bjark 4/3. Skj B construes the kennings as Fróða fóstr-sáð ‘Fróði’s fosterling-seed’ (i.e. ‘Fenja and Menja’s seed’, with tmesis) and gœðandi svans gunnar ‘feeder of the swan of battle’ (so also SnE 1998, I, 44, II, 278, 298). That interpretation is less preferable because it creates an awkward tripartite odd line of Type D.
kennings
- svans gunnar — of the swan of battle [RAVEN/EAGLE]
- Fóstrgœðandi svans gunnar — The provisions-increaser of the swan of battle [WARRIOR]
grammar
case: gen.