Anon Mey 11VII/3 — kallaz ‘be called’
Kvinna var með heiti hennar
henni kær og drottni skærum;
mildliga skal sú Máría kallaz;
Magðaléna jafnan sagðiz.
Fyst var þessi full af löstum;
fann hun Krist í vænu ranni;
gjörði hann hana með einu orði
alprúðastan gimstein brúða.
Kvinna var með hennar heiti, kær henni og skærum drottni; mildliga skal sú Máría kallaz, Magðaléna jafnan sagðiz. Fyst var þessi full af löstum; hun fann Krist í vænu ranni; með einu orði gjörði hann hana alprúðastan gimstein brúða.
There was a woman with her name, dear to her and to the bright Lord; graciously she shall be called Mary; she always named herself Magdalene. First she was full of vices; she found Christ in a beautiful house; with one word he made her the finest gem among women.
notes
[3-4] mildliga skal sú Máría kallaz, Magðaléna jafnan sagðiz ‘graciously she shall be called Mary; she always named herself Magdalene’: This somewhat obscure statement is probably based on gospel accounts (e.g. Luke VII.37-50) which imply that the woman who annointed Jesus’ feet with oil was to be identified with ‘Mary called Magdalene’ (Luke VIII.2). Magdalene was the woman’s normal name, but she was also given the honorific name of Mary. Alternatively, as tentatively suggested in Skj B, this couplet might mean ‘that Mary, always named Magdalene, can be called upon’, i.e. Mary Magdalene can be invoked by Christians for help. Both here and in 13/5 the name must be spelled Magðaléna, even though both mss have <d>, in order to provide internal rhyme.