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skaldic

Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages

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Anon Krm 28VIII/5 — Minnst ‘least’

Hjuggu vér með hjörvi.
Hef ek fimm tigum sinna
fólkorrostur framðar
fleinþings boði ok eina.
Minnst hugða ek manna,
at mér vera skyldi
— ungr nam ek odd at rjóða —
annarr konungr fremri.
Oss munu æsir bjóða;
era sýtandi dauði.

Hjuggu vér með hjörvi. Ek, boði fleinþings, hef framðar fólkorrostur fimm tigum sinna ok eina. Ek hugða minnst manna, at annarr konungr skyldi vera fremri mér; ungr namk at rjóða odd. Æsir munu bjóða oss; era sýtandi dauði.

We hewed with the sword. I, the instigator of the spear-assembly [BATTLE > WARRIOR], have conducted five times ten battles between peoples, and one more. I least of [all] people thought that another king would prove superior to me; I began at a young age to redden the sword-point. The gods will invite us; death is not to be feared.

readings

[5] Minnst: ‘(mins[…])’(?) 147

notes

[5] ek hugða minnst manna ‘I, least of [all] people, thought’: I.e. ‘I am the last person to have thought [that another king would prove superior to me]’. This understanding of the lines is in keeping with the spirit of heroic pride that the speaker is showing at this and indeed at all stages of the poem.

grammar

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