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skaldic

Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages

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Anon Krm 27VIII/4 — góinn ‘the snake’

Hjuggu vér með hjörvi.
Harðla líðr at ævi:
grimt stendr grand af naðri;
góinn byggvir sal hjarta.
Væntum hins, at Viðris
vöndr í Ellu standi;
sonum mínum mun svella
sinn föður ráðinn verða.
Ei munu snarpir sveinar
sitt kyrt vera láta.

Hjuggu vér með hjörvi. Líðr harðla at ævi: grimt grand stendr af naðri; góinn byggvir sal hjarta. Væntum hins, at vöndr Viðris standi í Ellu; mun svella sonum mínum föður sinn verða ráðinn. Snarpir sveinar munu ei láta sitt vera kyrt.

We hewed with the sword. My life is drawing very much to to its end: grim danger emanates from the serpent; the snake occupies the hall of my heart [BREAST]. We expect this, that the staff of Viðrir <= Óðinn> [SPEAR] will become lodged in Ella <Northumbrian king>; the slaying of their father will cause my sons’ hearts to swell with rage. Those bold boys will not let this concern of theirs rest.

readings

[4] góinn: ‘(goinn)’(?) 147, ‘Goin ́(m)’(?) R693ˣ

notes

[4] góinn ‘the snake’: Góinn is given in Grí 34/4-5 (NK 64) as the name of a serpent, one of the sons of Grafvitnir (cf. first Note to st. 1/4 above), and is listed among heiti for serpents in Þul Orma 2/2III (see Note to that line) and among heiti for swords in Þul Sverða 9/7III. It occurs as the determinant in a few skaldic kennings for ‘gold’ (with the meaning ‘serpent’) and in one at least for ‘shield’ (with the meaning ‘sword’), see LP: góinn. It refers to a serpent here. The word is of uncertain origin; cf. AEW, ÍO: góinn.

grammar

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