Mark Eirdr 5II/8 — stóls ‘seat’
Drengir þôgu auð af yngva;
ǫrr fylkir gaf sverð ok knǫrru;
Eirekr veitti opt ok stórum
armleggjar rǫf dýrðarseggjum.
Hringum eyddi harra sløngvir
hildarramr, en stillir framði
fyrða kyn, svát flestir urðu,
Fróða stóls, af hônum góðir.
Drengir þôgu auð af yngva; ǫrr fylkir gaf sverð ok knǫrru; Eirekr veitti dýrðarseggjum opt ok stórum rǫf armleggjar. Hildarramr sløngvir harra eyddi hringum, en stillir stóls Fróða framði kyn fyrða, svát flestir urðu góðir af hônum.
The warriors received wealth from the king; the generous leader gave swords and merchantships; Eiríkr granted glorious men often and freely the amber of the arm [GOLD]. The battle-mighty disperser of lords [RULER] destroyed rings, and the controller of Fróði’s seat [= Denmark > = Eiríkr] advanced the kin of men, so that most became wealthy through him.
notes
[8] stóls Fróða ‘of Fróði’s seat [= Denmark]’: There are several legendary kings named Fróði (see SnE 1998, II, 460). Here two are most likely alluded to: the Fróði I (inn friðgóði ‘the peaceful’) of the Dan. Skjǫldungr dynasty (ÍF 35, liv-lv, 14) and the legendary figure associated with Fróði’s mill, who sets the two giantesses Fenja and Menja to grind gold for him, as told in Grottasǫngr (Grott, see SnE 1998, I, 51-7). Thus stóls Fróða not only refers to Eiríkr’s Dan. realm, but also to the wealth which is his to disperse. It is possible, although less satisfactory, to take this phrase as qualifying fyrða kyn: kyn fyrða stóls Fróða ‘the kin of men of Fróði’s seat’ i.e. ‘Danes’.
kennings
- stóls Fróða — of Fróði’s seat [= Denmark]
- stillir stóls Fróða — the controller of Fróði’s seat [= Eiríkr]
grammar
case: gen.