Anon Mdr 30VII/4 — jafnan ‘always’
Heil, guðs háleit móðir,
… sjóvar stjarna,
mær, er mildi stýrir,
merkt jafnan því nafni.
Hlið kallaz, og hylli,
himinríkis, þier líkar
— sæl ertu slíkra mála —
sannleikr og dygð manna.
Heil … stjarna sjóvar, háleit móðir guðs, mær, er stýrir mildi, merkt jafnan því nafni. Kallaz hlið himinríkis og þier líkar hylli, sannleikr og dygð manna; ertu sæl slíkra mála.
Hail … star of the sea, glorious mother of God [= Mary], maiden, who governs mercy, always designated by that name. You are called the gate of the kingdom of heaven and you are pleased by the favour, truth and virtuous deeds of men; you are blessed with such references.
notes
[4] merkt jafnan því nafni ‘always designated by that name’: Finnur Jónsson (Skj B) suggests the l. refers to the name ‘Máría’, but Kock (NN §2855) considers the referent is the phrase ‘star of the sea’. Rydberg’s suggestion that hjarna be supplied to fill the lacuna in l. 2 (see previous Note) implies the creation of a fourth Mary-epithet, mildi stýrir hjartna ‘merciful regulator of hearts’, and that this is the nafn in question. It is clear, however, from the Lat. text that it is actually to mær (l. 3) that this l. refers: Ave maris stella, / Dei mater alma / atque semper virgo / felix caeli porta ‘Hail star of the sea, cherishing mother of God, and a maiden always, felicitous gate of heaven’.