ÞGísl Búdr 6I/4 — landa ‘the lands’
Neytti herr handa;
hríð vas snǫrp branda;
fúst vas fár randa
til fjǫrnis landa.
Fellu fleinbǫrvar;
flugu af streng ǫrvar;
sungu hôtt hjǫrvar
við hlífar gǫrvar.
Herr neytti handa; hríð branda vas snǫrp; fár randa vas fúst til landa fjǫrnis. Fleinbǫrvar fellu; ǫrvar flugu af streng; hjǫrvar sungu hôtt við gǫrvar hlífar.
The troop used its hands; the storm of blades [BATTLE] was fierce; the harm of shields [SWORD] was eager for the lands of the helmet [HEADS]. Spear-trees [WARRIORS] fell; arrows flew from the bowstring; swords sang loudly against readied shields.
notes
[4] landa fjǫrnis ‘the lands of the helmet [HEADS]’: (a) The reading of 53 and 54, fjǫrnis ‘of the helmet’, is adopted here (as in Wisén 1870, 64, Skj B, Skald and Ólafur Halldórsson 2000). It yields a well-paralleled head-kenning (Meissner 127) which is also echoed in st. 7/8 stǫllum fjǫrnis ‘supports of the helmet’. (b) ‘Fiolnis’ in 61 and Bb would be gen. sg. of Fjǫlnir, a heiti for Óðinn, whose landa ‘lands’ could be Valhǫll, the home of the dead warriors chosen by Óðinn, and Meissner 426 does list two kennings referring to Valhǫll as Óðinn’s dwelling. However, a statement that swords desired Valhǫll would make little sense.
kennings
- landa fjǫrnis. — the lands of the helmet. [HEADS]
grammar
case: gen.
number: pl.