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 CORPVS POETICVM BOREALE 
 
 GUDBRAND VIGFUSSON 
 F. . . ...K POWELL
 
 Hontion 
 HENRY FROWDE 
 
 OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS WAREHOUSE 
 7 PATEENOSTEE EOW
 
 CORPVS POETICVM BOREALE 
 
 THE POETRY 
 
 OLD NORTHERN TONGUE 
 
 FROM THE EARLIEST TIMES TO THE THIRTEENTH CENTURY 
 
 ^13 
 
 EDITED 
 CLASSIFIED AND TRANSLATED 
 
 WITH 
 
 INTR '^■':N, EXCURSUS, AND NOTES 
 
 GUDBRAND VIGFUSSON, M.A. 
 
 AND 
 
 F. YORK POWELL, M.A. 
 
 .>TATENOFr 
 
 COURT ^OETRy 
 AT THE CLARENDON PRESS 
 
 MDCCCLjqCXIII til 4 ^ 
 
 \^ All rights reserved^
 
 r^5o 
 
 y^ 
 
 ' Sc.' 
 
 • 
 
 P^ 
 
 ^ d 
 
 ■r' 
 
 BOOK VII. 
 
 HEATHEN POETRY IN COURT METRE. 
 
 • various poems in this Book represent the antique heathen age 
 poets. They are hard to group, but have here been roughly 
 according to subject. They range, with one important 
 1 I^Bragi), from c. 93o-995« 
 
 . ■: ')N 1. Mythir.t!. Contains the Hesiodic Shield-songs, poems on 
 urs of Thoi the like ; addressed to kings and nobles. 
 
 >N 2. Histo'-tcai Early royal court poetry of heathen time, of 
 - of King Hacon to Earl Hacon. 
 
 Siv DON 3.' Fragments oi private historical compositions, poems on 
 :le sea, on Icelandic heroes, and the like in court metre, but not 
 i on Kings or Earls. 
 
 iN 4. Stray vcri^s of lyrical cast. Improvisations on a variety of 
 inany relating to ncidents of Icelandic feuds.
 
 § I. MYTHICAL COURT POEMS. 
 
 BRAGI'S SHIELD-LAY (RAGNARS-DRAPA). 
 
 There are two Bragis; with one, a mythical divine being (originally 
 perhaps Woden himself, in his character as the arch-poet), we have 
 nothing to do here ; but the other, Bragi, the son of Boddi, surnamed 
 the old (Gamli) to distinguish him from a son or younger kinsman pos- 
 sibly, is a real historical personage. He is mentioned in Landnama- 
 bok, Snorri's Edda, Skaldatal, Ynglinga, Egil's Saga, etc. We must 
 base our views of his date and position in Northern poetry upon what 
 we can gather from the poems ascribed to him by Snorri, and from Ari's 
 genealogy of his family in Landnama-bok. The more important of the 
 poems is a Shield-Song (Ragnars-drapa) upon a shield sent by King 
 Ragnarr (Reginhere), son of Sigrod (Sigfred), to Bragi by the hand " 
 Hrafnketill (Ravenkettle). The genealogy runs thus — 
 
 Bragi Bodda son, m. Lopthaena daughter of Erp lutandi 
 Astrid Slaekidreing, m. Arinbiorn the elder (of the Fiords) 
 
 I 1 
 
 Arnthrudr, m. Thori Hersi Lopthsena, m. Thorstein 
 
 I I 
 
 Arinbiorn Hersi, d. 976 Hrosskel of Acreness, a settler 
 
 I 
 Hallkel 
 
 I 
 
 I 1 
 
 Tmdf c. 990-1010 Illugi Swarti 
 
 I I 
 
 Thorwald Gunnlaug Ormstunga. 
 I c. 984-1008 
 
 Illugi 
 
 I 
 Gislf HOC 
 
 The two Arinbiorns and Thori were nobles of the district of .c 
 Friths in Western Norway. The date of Bragi has been hither; -> 
 thrown too far back. Counting from Arinbiorn, Egil's friend, and re- 
 membering that the two generations between, being of women, are 
 probably short, we might safely make Bragi's life to lie between c. 83^5 
 and 900. This date does not forbid our identifying the Ragnar Sigro j's 
 son, Bragi's patron, with the famous Ragnar Lodbrok. Snorri s .ys, 
 ' Bragi the old spoke of Sorli and Hamtheow in the Encomium he m 'ie 
 in Ragnar Lodbrok ; ' and again, in reference to the Everlasting Fi^aL.
 
 hK. VII. 5 I.J BRAGI'S SHIELD-LAY. ' 3 
 
 According to thi.^^ story Brag! the poet made his verse in his Encomium 
 'f Ragn.'ir Lodbrok (Ragnars .rapa lo^br6kar),' 
 
 The legend as preserved in ' le North tells of a king Ragnar, Sigrod's 
 on [Reginhcre S'gfredsspn], lurnamed Lodbrok [probably eagle, as 
 dbrok mean? banuk], coming o England, where he was slain by a king 
 ".ila. Lodbrok 's sons then m\ ided England and conquered part of it. 
 "he first ships of the North; en from Harethaland are noted in the 
 nglish Chronicles, and seem, :cording to Mr. Howorth's hypothesis, to 
 ive come in 793. A king I a of Northumberland is known to the 
 nglish authorities, and dated . 867. 
 
 In the poem itself we find that the shield is sent to Bragi, which 
 
 iplies, one would fancy, a distance between the king's seat and the 
 
 «et's homestead. This agrrjs with tradition and the genealogies, 
 
 lich place Bragi on the N.^\ . coast in the Friths and make Ragnar 
 
 ign in the Wick and West'" '1 i, near Drammen. See Introduction to 
 
 >ok ix, § 1. Consistent ^vi this are the two or three mentions of 
 
 agi as connected with ' (in Beli, king of the Swedes, a foe of 
 
 .gnar Lodbrok and ^ ' ee Skaldatal), and the incident alluded 
 
 by Arinbiorn I'; F.. hen he advises Egil to calm Eric's anger 
 
 a poem. of prai?A d Bragi, my kinsman [the true reading 
 
 minn ']. When be had dr vn down on him the wrath of Biorn o' 
 
 ;■ we, king of the Swedes, h^ made an Encomium [drapa] of twenty 
 
 : izas upon him. in one ni^;i.l and so ransomed his head.' A story 
 
 i;!ch, by the by, seems the nucleus of the legend that has descended 
 
 n Egii, and is given as the g.ound for the title Head-Ransom of his 
 
 ••ed Encomium on Eric Bloodaxe. However this be, we may safely 
 
 ' it that all chronological requirements will be satisfied by taking 
 
 ;■ to haye been a poel fauious in the last generation of the Nor- 
 
 an polyarchy and Hving invi the days of Harold Fairhair. 
 
 •■agi has left a great name b ;hind, and his poem.s, if we had them in 
 
 original form, would be a most precious monument of the speech 
 
 ' liought of a famous age in the North. But it is not so. It cannot 
 
 .'> often insisted on, that the remains of his verse that have reached 
 
 i\e beeft so completely tnetamorphosed, that save for a line here and 
 
 <ive rannot rely upon ixcrd, metre, or meaning; and any version 
 
 *! may be given of them mast be more or less different from what 
 
 ' composed. No amount of critical ingenuity can possibly do more 
 
 recover a genuine phrase hore and there in these old poems. 
 
 I' are the reasons of this metamorphosis far to seek. Bragi composed 
 
 .ime when, under some foreign influence, a new school of poetry 
 
 ising in the North. The common old four-measured alliterative 
 
 ? was changed into a more regular six-measured line. A new orna- 
 
 — consonantic correspondence {consonance as we may call it) — was 
 
 ;ht into the line, the poet! :al synonyms were developed to a very 
 
 ordinary degree, the wide ield of mythology being ransacked for 
 
 .id ingenious allusions, and lastly the loose varying periods of the 
 
 .'oetry were replaced by a new unit — the four-lined stanza (itself a 
 
 •utr 0.1 the two-lined couplet), and these stanzas were combined 
 
 ' strophes. Bragi ' imself probably took no mean part in 
 
 1 .<; these new forms, which were gradually perfected by 
 
 •iivfc generations of court poets, till in St. Olave's and Harold 
 
 eda's time we see the court metre in perfection, with strict 
 
 ■red lines fsomntimes even eight-measured), consonance, full 
 
 , A., fill-gaps (stal), strict syntactic arrangement, and elaborate 
 
 . . cionn. 
 
 B 2
 
 4 MYTHICAL COURT POEMS. [bk. vii. 
 
 During nearly nine generations, almost three centuries, Bragi's verses 
 must liave suffered many changes in his reciters' mouths, even by the 
 time that Ari received them ; but these changes, though no dcnibt 
 modernising grammar, substituting newer for older words and phrises, 
 were not of the radical character which, we believe, those of a later date 
 were. In the North French Chansons de geste, we see the old 'assonantic 
 leashes' replaced by rhymed couplets, and these by Alexandrines, as 
 successive editions of a poem are adapted to successive generations, and 
 we take it, that either deliberately, as in France, or by degrees, many of 
 Bragi's rough lines were in the generations between Ari and Snorri 
 polished into more or less strict court-metre of Harold Sigurdsson's 
 day ; a line here and there being left almost untouched, where 1 radition 
 spoke too strongly in its favour, to give us some glimpse into 'be real 
 state of the case. A line, one half blank, one half with a fairly pure 
 consonance, is, we think, the true Bragian line, still extant in the 
 burdens — 
 
 fjat sek fall a fogrom, etc. fia ma sokn, etc. ; 
 
 and the lines we have been able to recover — 
 
 iofrom vulfs of sinna me6 valgifris lifro ; 
 and — 
 
 fyr Veniris vi5ri val-rauf fiogor havfud. 
 
 Many of the lines yield as they stand either no meaning at all, or a 
 forced commonplace platitude. This must not be put to the ooet : on 
 the whole, we believe that two-thirds of the verses in Bragi's remains 
 are either maimed or metamorphosed so that we cannot be sure of a 
 word in them, in the remaining third a word or phrase occurs with 
 the genuine 'Bragian' ring. 
 
 The old Hamtheow's Lay must have been known to Bragi. We have 
 noted the parallelisms in the margin. Egil seems to have known 
 Bragi's poems. We may fancy that such characteristic and peculiar 
 words as ' enni-tungl ' (Egil's ' enni-mani ') were coined by Bragi. and 
 passed from him to the younger poet. 
 
 Most if not all of Bragi's verse that has reached us are from a Shield- 
 Lay, viz. the introduction, and two sections (the Everlasting 1 . ht and 
 the Struggle in Eormanric's Hall). Part of a third section (or •;. •"s 
 Draught), and an epilogue (on the King's Guerdon), may have ek .^ed 
 to the same poem, as vie have arranged it here. As also the iragments 
 depicting Thor fishing for the Earth-Serpent, and a few lines on the 
 same god's exploits against the three-headed monster Thriwald and the 
 giant Thiazzi (which it is possible may have belonged to a separate 
 Thors Drapa), together with a line on Woden. 
 
 The little verse ascribed by Snorri to Bragi, see Book vi, DittiL'< Xi, 
 I, is given by Saxo to Bersi and Groa. See Notes. 
 
 The shield which Bragi describes, may have been not unlike those of 
 Homer and Hesiod. Like them too, it was probably of fore't-r 'V'^ign 
 and make. The lively fancy of a poet would identify the ■ njr 
 
 monsters on an eastern target with Thor and the Beast (i^ he 
 
 would no doubt have, had he seen a Greek vase, identified tr ■■ oi 
 
 Troy with the vengeance of Gudrun's son on Eormanric, or ii- i,;i-' a 
 and Geruones with Thunder and Thriwald), as we know that A\ .irau',.au 
 tradition declared the statues in the Hippodrome at Constantino- »e to 
 be the images of their own Wolsungs and Giukungs. 
 
 The story of the Everlasting Battle is a wide-spread traditi- in the 
 North, localised in many places. Saxo the Dane fixes it in Hethinsv
 
 §1.] BRAGI'S SHIELD-LAY. 5 
 
 the German author of Kudrun lays the scene at Wiilpensand or Wiil- 
 penwert, at the Scheldt-mouth, Bragi the Northman (see 1. 14 and in 
 our reading 1. 17) in Hod, an island off Northmore in Norway, while 
 Snorri, whose information on these matters is, we take it, drawn from 
 the "VVcsteiTi Islands more cr less remotely, places it at Hoy in 
 the Orkneys, where also it is fixed by the late legend in Flatey-bok, 
 where King Olaf Tryggvason is made to break the spell that bound 
 the doomed kings. 
 
 Snorri tells the tale in Skaic!skapa-mal thus: — "A king who is called 
 
 Hogni (Hagena) had a daughter whose name was Hild. The king, 
 
 whose name was Hedin, the son of Hiarrand, carried her off as captive. 
 
 Hagena was away at the time at the Kings'-Moot, but when he heard 
 
 that his realm had been harrisd and his daughter carried away, he set 
 
 out with his men of w'ar to seei Hedin, having heard that Hedin had 
 
 sailed northward up the coast; but when King Hagena came to Norway, 
 
 he heard that Hedin had sailed west across the main. Then Hagena 
 
 sailed after him as far as the Ork leys, and when he came to the island that 
 
 is called Hoy, there he found Hedin with his men of war. Then Hild 
 
 went to meet her father, and offered him on Hedin's behalf a Necklace 
 
 I'or peace, but her words were otherwise, for she said that Hedin had 
 
 nade ready to fight, and that Hagena could look for no mercy from him. 
 
 Lgena answered his d?ugh' -r stiffly, but when she came back to 
 
 ^•iedin, she told him that Hag na would have no peace, and bade him 
 
 lake ready for battle. So th. two kings did, and landed on the island 
 
 nd set their warriors in array. Then Hedin called to Hagena his 
 
 ither-in-law and offered bin} f.c make peace and give him much gold as 
 
 . oot. Then answered Hagena, Thou makest this offer too late, if thou 
 
 •>ishest for peace, for now I ha- e drawn Dains-loom which the Dwarves 
 
 wrought, that is fated to be a ir.an's death every time it is made bare, 
 
 .id never swerves in its strok .\ and its wound never heals, if it be but a 
 
 ratch of it. Then answered H edin, Thou shalt brag of thy sword but 
 
 " >t of the victory. I call tha' a good sword that is true to its master. 
 
 : hen they begun the battle wnich is called the Heat/jnitigs' Fight, and 
 
 ■ ught all the day, but in the i:\ening the kings went off to their ships. 
 
 .it Hild went by night to the slain, and woke to life by her enchant- 
 
 • , .;nt all them that were dead. And the next day the kings went 
 
 the field of battle and fought, and with them all they that had 
 
 ' .■ en on the former day. So that battle went on day after day, and 
 
 .j' they that fell and all their weapons that lay on the field of battle, 
 
 -.1 their bucklers likewise, turned to stone ; but in the dawning all the 
 
 .d men arose and fought and all their weapons then became of use 
 
 in. And it is told in Lays that the Heathnings shall in this wise abide 
 
 Doom of the Powers." 
 
 ''he 'stone weapons' look as if the necessary correspondence in shape 
 ' • «reen weapons of bronze and stone had been noticed by some early 
 jrver, and theorised upon with a curious inversion of the develop- 
 nt theory. 
 
 ragi takes up the story when the two kings are lying at the island 
 y for war, and that guileful v.itch, the fair Hild, is going from one to 
 other with the necklace. 
 
 he Eormanric story, as tola jy Bragi, begins with the Gothic king's 
 
 Iream and waking under the swords of the avenging brethren. The 
 
 ;- S in the hall must have bet 1 of great power in the original form. 
 
 ■' ', death of the brethren clc es the strophe. Snorri's prose here 
 
 I ''■■'}/% T-ragi rather than Haratneow's Lay: — 'But when they came to
 
 6 MYTHICAL COURT POEMS. - [bk.vi 
 
 King Eormanric's by night, when he was sleeping, and cut off b' 
 hands and feet, then he awoke and called to his men and had? rV/^- 
 awake.' Nor does Snorri know of Woden's interposition, bu* ■ 
 poem ascribes to Eormanric himself the command to stone th' 
 
 The Gejiof? story, a geographic legend, is told in Yngi.: 
 where the lake from which the island Zealand is dragge: 
 Maelar (by a mistake which would easily occur to foreigner c 
 
 when maps were not). However, the poem itself contains the 3 
 
 (which one glance at the shape of the lake makes evident) ' 
 
 under the senseless 'uineyiar ualrauf.' There must have be 
 like story about Gotland and Maelar lake, one would think, 
 heads and eight eyes recall the old chariot scenes of As 
 Egyptian sculpture, and incline one to put this section to the 
 
 The next morsel, Thor and the Serpent, if we read ' sent ' as 
 archaic form (and it can hardly be from ' senna ' the meanir . 
 'to banter' would not fit), would be also a section of a Shiel 
 
 We should thus get a round target of four sections, • 
 taining a scene of a separate subject. The sections of this ■ 
 even have led to the strophic division of the drapa, which wa i 
 
 development of the Shield-Lay, and Bragi, the earhest Northciu Ji/. . 
 Poet, may have been the creator of this metric form. 
 
 Bragi's fragments are found in Edda, Codex Wormian'" 
 yielding the best text. But the Eormanric section, not fou 
 best given in i e /3, which, for instance, has preserved the ri, ' 
 'ol-skalir,' confirmed by Hamtheow's Lay, where Cd. r ,•- 
 
 Gefion's bit is also seen in Ynglinga Saga. Sinfitela's death '; <; 
 
 to in a ' kenning.' 
 
 Contemporaries of Bragi are Fkin Hicrson, Erp Loivting {L ,. 
 WolfUargi. 
 
 ' Thorwolf the son of Hariwolf Horn-breaker, and Olaf ' '. 
 
 brother, were kings in the Uplands. With them was Flein H ,o 
 
 poet, who was bred up north in More, in an island a little o J, 
 
 ■which is called losurheath, where his father dwelt. Flein w< 
 mark to meet King Eystan, and gat great, honour there for h 
 that the King gave him his daughter to wife. Thrasi was t 
 Thorwolf 's son.' Landnama-bok, (H b) V. ch. i. 
 
 Erp Lowting was the father-in-law of Bragi the poet, i-e Livic- 
 nama-bok. 
 
 ' Wolf Uargi was a noble baron in Norway, in Naumda!' ' ' "' 
 of Hallbiorn Half- fiend, the father of Kettle Haeing. \\ 
 Praise-song in one night, telling his valiant deeds, and was 
 daybreak.' Skaldatal. He was Kveld-Ulf's mother's fathe 
 
 We take 'uarge' to be simply 'waerg,' cursed, wicked; 
 applied to any of the bigger beasts of prey, lion, etc. 
 implies something like 'hamramr' and 'ofreskr.' 
 
 No verse of these men remain, but there is a nietre called • 
 
 I. Introdiictmi. 
 I. A JILIT, Hrafn-ketill, heyra hve hrein-groit s> -'r 
 V i'ruQar skal-ek ok ^engil J)i6fs ilja-bla6 
 
 L Prologue. Hearken, O Ravenkettle, to my praise of t 
 painted Shield and of the king, that gave it me : so that 
 
 2. ok] om. W.
 
 I.] i.FAGI'S SHIELD-LAY. 7 
 
 2. Nema. sva ai go6 ins gialla gisold baug-navar vildi 
 meyjar hidls -xn moeri maogr Sigraidar Haogna. 
 
 IL Hilda and Hogni. 
 
 3. Ok um '{d. iris ce8a' 6sk-ran at t)at sfnom g 
 til far-huga fo.Vri ia9r ve8r 'bo9a' hug6i: 
 
 {*a es hristi-si*" hringa hals in bsols of fyllda 
 bar til byrjar draula baug a)rlygiss draugi. 
 
 4. BauSa su til bleyQi boe6i-f)ru8r at moti 
 
 malma moetom hilmi men dreyrogra benja : 10 
 
 sv4 l(^t ey fjoat etti sem orrosto letti 
 iajfrom Vulfs o[ sinna me8 valgifris lifro. 
 
 5. Letrat \ft\ stiliir landa vanr a sandi 
 
 (f)a svall heipl i Haogna) HaoS Glamnia ' mun ' sta)3va 
 es ^rym-regin Jji'^mja 'J^rottig HeSins sotto' 15 
 
 heldr en Hildar vira hringa J)eir of fengo. 
 '). Ok fyr Ha)3 ; liolmi hve6ro brynjo ViQris 
 .feng eydandi ilifK'i ford3e6a nam ra6a: 
 AUr gekk herr i. d 'hurdir' Hiarranda ' fram kyrrar,' 
 rei5r at Reifniss ^keiSi raSalfr af mar bradom. 20 
 
 Pa md s6kn a .' vebiiss sal-penningi kenna 
 {Ras gdfomk rri'). ' nidna Ragnarr) ok fi'old sagna. 
 
 IIL Hamtheovu t md Sorli in lormunrek's Hall. 
 
 Kndtti endr vi6 illan laormunrekr at vakna 
 me8 dreyr-far dr6t*:ir draum i sverda flaumi : 
 
 1 [Sigfred] may learn the song I have made in return for the 
 aved buckler. 
 
 The E'verlaiting Battle. Tbe sense beneath the * o'verlaid ' <words and 
 ■ seems to be — And in dire mood she plotted her father's death, 
 ;he maliciously brought him the Necklace down at the ships. It 
 >t for peace snl-o she brought it him. She made ever as if no 
 led wouM corin of it, while she was egging them on to the 
 ly of th • - ---',,- Wolf's sister [Hell]. 
 
 >no, witi . :, brought his ships to land on the sand of 
 
 of H(.id, <.i..v; .. .1 ...,c of Hedin came forth to meet him, having 
 d Hilda's necklace. Yea, the fatal sorceress prevailed on them 
 . in the isle of Hod, and the whole host of Hiarrandi's son 
 arched straightway down to the sea. • . . Refrain. This 
 jd iTMiny tales mor'' may be seen on the Shield that Ragnar 
 ^e] »ve me. 
 A'uenging of 5jtv ild. In days of yore Eormenric and his . . . 
 
 35,748. 4. Sigurftar, W. 6. boSa] miswritten in W. ii. aetti, 
 
 Vulfs . . . vik-;f! i; v:iend. ; Ulfs . . . algifris, Cd. 14. Read, mar? 
 
 eginn . . . J;riit',i^r Htiin sotti? \ 17. H06] emend.; bond, W. 
 
 iJ hialmom Hiarr?. ' • fram burar. ' 21-22. Moved four lines down. 
 
 r ; dftr, 1 e &.
 
 8 \ . MYTHICAL COURT POEMS. [bk.vii, 
 
 aRioS. »'r6sta var9 i ranni Randv^ss ha)fu5-niSja 25 
 
 J)a es hrafn-blair hefndo harma Erps of barmar, 
 9. Flaut of set vi6 sveita, soknar-alfs, a golfi 
 feHii3. hraeva-daDgg J)ar es hoeggnar bhendr sem foetr of kendosk: 
 CH109. cFell i bloBi blandinn brunn ^aol-skalir runna 
 dHioS. — pat-es a Leifa lattda latifi fdtt — at ha^fSi. 30 
 
 10. f»ar sva at ga)r8o gyrSan golf holkvis sa fylkiss 
 ' segls naglfara siglor saums ' andvanar standa : 
 
 eH39. ^""^0 snemst ok Saorli esam-ra6a Jjeir Hamper 
 hffllom herSi-mJ^lom Hergautz vino barSir. 
 
 11. Mick let stala stcekkvir stydja f'Bikka' niSja 
 ^HSs. flaums J)a es 'fia)rvi naema Fogl-hildar' mun vildo : 
 
 ok ' bla serkjar birkiss baoU fagr-ga)to allir ' 
 SH117. enni-haogg ok seggiar lonakrs sonom launa. 
 
 12. ^at sek fall a fogrom flotna randar botni 
 
 {RcBS gdfomk reibar mdna Ragnarr) ok fidl6 sagna. 40 
 
 IV. Gefion ploughing Seeland out of Lake Wenereu. 
 
 13. Gefion dro fra Gylva, glao8 diup-ra)6ul, a)8la, 
 (sva at af renni-raDknnom rauk) Danmarkar-auka : 
 Bsoro cexn ok atta enni-tungl ^ar-es gengo 
 
 fyr Veniris vidri val-rauf fiogor haofud. 
 
 V. Thor fishing for the Earth Serpent. 
 
 1 4. t'at eromk s^nt ; at snemma sonr Alda-fo3rs vildi 4.^ 
 afls vi8 uri J^afSan laerdar reist of freista. 
 
 15. Va6r la Vidris arfa vilgi slakr, enn rakSisk 
 a Eynefiss aandri lormun-gandr at sandi. 
 
 ihost woke out of an evil dream to battle. There arose a tumult ni the 
 hall of Randve's kinsman Eormenric what time the raven-black brcthers 
 of Erp avenged their wrongs. The benches were swimming in blood, 
 the king's hands and feet lay lopped on the floor, the ale-beakers were 
 shivered, and he fell headlong in his gore. This is painted en nny 
 Shield. One might see the hall all stained with blood, the . . , till 
 at last the two single-hearted brethren Hamtheow and Sarila >'. .Tt 
 stoned with the rolling bowls of the earth [stones]. Bikki's men stoned 
 the brothers who came to avenge Swanhild's death, and they paid back 
 the blows and wounds they had got from lonakr's sons. 
 
 The Fall of these men and many tales more I see upon the fa - field 
 of the Shield. Ragnar gave it me. 
 
 IV. The Hire of Gefion. Gefion the rich dragged the Increase of Den- 
 mark out of Gylve's domain, her ox-team steamed: four fair hea<ls t" r 
 bore and eight eyes, while they drew the broad Spoil of Lake W ■. 
 
 V. Ihor and Le-viathan. Moreover I see how Thor would try hi- n. ^ • 
 
 28. {)ar es . . . kendosk] i e/3. 29. Emend. ; aulskali, i ej8. 3I.'gyrftan] 
 i. e. goerSan, ^ory. 35. Bikka] emend. ; Giuka,W; see H3m. 85. joT Fot;l- 
 
 hildar = Svanhildar? 44. Veniris] emend. ; Vineyjar, Cd. 

 
 .] THIODWOLFS HAUST-LONG. 9 
 
 !6. Hamri forsk i hoegri hgond, Ipi-es allra landa 
 
 eygir a)flog-bar9a endi-sei6s of kenndi. 50 
 
 1:7. Ok bor9-roins barSa brautar-hringr inn lioti 
 a haus-sprengi Hrungniss har6-ge6r ne6an star9i. 
 
 18. {'iokk-va)xnoni kva6 J^ykkja J)ikkling firin-mikla 
 hafra-niotz at ha)fgom hsetting megin-draetti : 
 M-es forns litar flotna a fang-bo3a ajngli 55 
 
 hroekkvi-all of hrokkinn hekk Volsunga drekko. 
 
 '9. Vildit vTdongom ofra 'vags hyr-sendir' segi 
 hinn es mio-tygil mava moerar skar fyr i>6n. 
 
 .0. Vel hafit y6rom eykjom aptr, f'rfvalda, haldit 
 
 simli sumbls of maerom sundr-kliiifr nio hgof6a ! 60 
 
 :i. Hinn es varp a vf3a vinda Ondor-disar 
 
 yfir manna sia)t margra munnlaug fa)6or augom. 
 
 VI. On Woden. 
 
 !2. {'ars es lofSar llta lung vafaQar Gungnis. 
 
 VII. ne End, 
 
 53. Elld of J)ak at isofri golna bekks vi9 drykkjo; 
 
 J)at gaf Fiolniss fialla me6 fulli mer stillir. 65 
 
 24. {'ann attak vin verstan vazt-ra)dd, enn mer baztan 
 
 Ala undir kulo 6ni3ra3an t'ri^ja. 
 
 HAUST-LONG; or, THE HARVEST-LAY OR 
 SHIELD-SONG. 
 
 We have already made some mention of this poet in Book iv, § 2, 
 u'len we dealt with his poem Ynglingatal. He came from the little 
 dale of Hwin, still known as a valley west of Lindisness (Naze). 
 The patron, for whom he made the poem with which we are con- 
 
 against the wave-washed Earth-Serpent. His line was strained hard on 
 to the gunwale while the Leviathan writhed in the sand. He grasped 
 the Hammer in his right hand when he felt the monster on his hook, 
 and the horrid serpent glared up at him. The burly giant Hymir said 
 he thought that Thor had made a parlous haul, when he beheld the 
 venomous snake hanging on the ogre-grasper's hook. He would pull 
 no more, and he cut the slim line for Thor. 
 
 O thou that clove asunder Thriwald's nine heads, thou hast brought 
 thjr team safe back. 
 
 He who cast the eyes of Thiazzi up into the wide dome of the winds, 
 above all the habitations of men. 
 
 VI. Here one may see the steed of Woden, Sleipni .... 
 
 Vn. I got gold at the king's hands in return for my song. He {the 
 kmg) was the worst friend to gold and the best to me. 
 
 53. firin] farin, W. 62. foSor] fiogor, W. 64. at] af, W. 66. 
 
 va,5 rgS, W.
 
 10 MYTHICAL COURT POEMS. [bk.vii. 
 
 cerned, was the great lawyer and constitution-maker Thorleif the 
 Wise, the organiser of Gula-thing (see King Hakon's Saga, cap. ii), and 
 the counsellor of the Icelanders in their establishment of one General 
 Constitution, ' which' (as Ari tells in Libellus) 'was made for the most 
 part according to the law of Gula-thing as it then stood, and by the 
 advice of Thorleif the Wise, the son of Hordakari, as to the addi- 
 tions or omissions or changes to be made.' Thorleif was the adviser 
 of King Hakon the Good, ^thelstan's foster -son, and probably died 
 about 960. He was the ancestor of the later Orkney Earls, of the 
 twelfth century. (See their pedigrees, vol. i. of Orkney Saga, Roll Series.) 
 It was for some member of his family that Hyndlu-liod was made. 
 As the poem tells us, he gave Thiodwolf a shield painted with figures, 
 and it is as a return for this bounty that Thiodwolf made the Shield- 
 Song called Haust-long (Harvest-long). The exact meaning of the 
 title is not certain, but it would seem to show that the poem was meant 
 to while away the long autumn evenings. It is a brighter, but at the 
 same time a more religious poem than any other of its kind. The text 
 rests only on two Edda MSS. (W & r), and chiefly Wormianus. 
 
 Thiodwolf s poems have suffered far less than Bragi's from the hand 
 of the improver, chiefly we believe because he is of a more modern type 
 as regards metre. His verses come possibly two generations after 
 Bragi's, and these intervening years are most important ones as regards 
 possibilities of foreign, western, and especially Celtic influences ; hence 
 we may readily admit that Thiodwolf employed a more elaborate 
 metric expression than Bragi, Bragi's characteristic line, as we have 
 seen, probably contained no ornament save the old alliterative syllables 
 in the first half, but had a line-consonance in the second half. From 
 this Thiodwolf seems to have gone a step further and sometimes used 
 a full line-vowel rhyme in the second half, while he put a line-con- 
 sonance in the first half, thus in all probability, for we have no earlier 
 examples of it than his, originating the normal court-metre line. But 
 there were still Bragian lines in his genuine poems (many more than at 
 present no doubt), and the burdens especially are after the older model, 
 and lines with the line-consonance in both halves are frequent. 
 
 Thiodwolf uses a rich vocabulary, and has many lines of great force. 
 The opening of the second section of Haust-long, where the Thunder- 
 god comes storming through the sky englobed in fire, is very fine, 
 recalling Milton. 
 
 Thiodwolf's poem is a fountain to the mythologist, both as regards 
 the story and, even more, the allusive synonyms. 
 
 There are but two sections of Haust-long preserved as citations in 
 Edda, but they seem fairly perfect. The first, with the prologue, tells 
 the tale of the Rape of Id^yn and the death of Thiazzi, thus paraphrased 
 (from the poem) by Snorri, in the beginning of Bragi's Teaching : — 
 
 "He began the story there, how three of the Anses set forth from 
 home, Woden and Loki and Honir, and journeyed over fell and forest, 
 and were badly off for food. And when they came down into a certain 
 dale, they saw a herd of oxen there and took one ox and fell to seething 
 it. And when they thought that it must be sodden, they tried the meat, 
 and, lo, it was not done ; and a second time, when an hour had gone 
 by, they tried it again, and it was not done yet. Then they fell to 
 talking among themselves as to what might be the cause thereof, when 
 they heard a voice up in an oak above them, and he that sate there told 
 them the reason why the meat was not done. They looked up, and it 
 was an eagle, and no small one, that was sitting there. Then the eagle
 
 §1.] THIOP WOLFS HAUST-LONG. ii 
 
 spake, If ye will give me my fill of the ox, then the meat will be done. 
 They consented so to do. Then he let himself stoop down out of the 
 tree, and sate down to the meat, and straightway caught up both the 
 thigh of the ox and both the shoulders. 
 
 *' Then Loki grew wroth, and snatched up a great staff, and brandished 
 it with all his might, and hit the- eagle on the back. The eagle started 
 at the blow, and flew up, and, lo, the staff was fast to the back of the 
 eagle, and Loki's hands /«j^ to the other end. The eagle flew so high 
 that Loki's feet grazed the rocks and stocks and tree, and he thought 
 that his arms would be torn from his shoulders. He cried out and 
 begged the eagle hard for quarter ; but he said that Loki should never 
 get loose, till he set him a day on which he would bring Idwyn with her 
 apples out of Ansegarth. And Loki did so, and straightway he was 
 loosed and went off to his companions ; and nothing more is told of their 
 journey before they got back home. But at the appointed hour Loki 
 enticed Idwyn out of Ansegarth into a certain wood, telling her that he 
 had found some apples, which she would think treasures, and bidding 
 her take her apples with her, so as to be able to set them against these. 
 And thither comes Thiazzi the giant in his eagle-skin, and takes up Idwyn 
 and flies away with her into Thrym-ham to his dwelling. But the 
 Anses became distressed at the vanishing, and soon began to grow hoary 
 and old. Then the Anses held a moot, and enquired one of another 
 what was the last seen of Idwyn ; and the last seen of her was, that she 
 was going out of Ansegarth with Loki. Then Loki was taken and 
 brought before the moot, and they promised him death or torture. 
 And when he grew fearful thereat, he said that he would go and seek 
 after Idwyn in Giant-land, if Freya would lend him the hawk-skin she had. 
 And when he had put on the hawk-skin he flew northward into Giant- 
 land, and reached Giant Thiazzi's in one day. He had rowed out to sea 
 fishing, and Idwyn was at home alone, so Loki turned her into the shape 
 of a nut,' and took her into his talons and flew off as hard as he could. 
 But when Thiazzi came home and missed Idwyn, he took his eagle-skin, 
 and flew after Loki, and flapped his eagle-wings in his flight. But when 
 the Anses saw how the hawk was flying with the nut and the eagle 
 flying after him, they went out in front of Ansegarth bearing thither 
 loads of plane-chips. And when the hawk flew in over the fortress, 
 he let himself alight just behind the fortress-wall ; and immediately 
 the Anses kindled the plane-chips, but the eagle was not able to stay 
 himself when he missed the hawk, and the fire caught in the eagle's 
 plumage and stopped his flight. Then up came the Anses and slew 
 the eagle that was giant Thiazzi inside the avail o/" Ansegarth, and this 
 slaying is far famed." 
 
 The second, the tale of Thor's Wager of Battle with the monster 
 Rungnir, is also paraphrased by Snorri in Skaldskaparmal in the following 
 • words : — 
 
 " Then Bragi told Egir that Thor was gone into the Eastern quarters 
 to smite giants. But Woden rode Slipper into Giant-land, and came to 
 the house of a giant whose name was Rungnir. Then Rungnir asked, 
 who was the man that wore a golden helmet and was riding over sky and 
 sea, and said that he had a wonderful good horse. Woden said that he 
 would wager his head that there was not a horse in Giant-land as good. 
 Rungnir said that it was a good horse, but that he had a bigger stepper, 
 whose name was Goldmane [GoUfaxi]. [Something missing here.) Rungnir 
 was angry, and leapt upon his horse and rode after him, and thought to 
 pay him for his proud speech. Woden rode so hard that he was only
 
 12 MYTHICAL COURT POEMS. [bk. vii. 
 
 ■just in sight ; but Rungnir was in such mighty giant -uTath that he never 
 stayed till he galloped inside the gates of the Anses. And when he came 
 into the doors of the hall the Anses bade him to the drinking ; he went 
 into the hall therefore and called for drink to be brought him. Then 
 they took the bowls that Thor was wont to drink out of, and Rungnir 
 emptied them one after another. Now when he was drunken there was 
 no lack of big words in him ; he boasted that he could take up Walhall 
 and carry it into Giant-land, and sink Ansegarth, and slay all the gods 
 save Freya and Sif, whom he would carry home captive with him. Freya 
 was the only one that dared to bear drink to him, and he boasted that 
 he would drink up all the Ale of the Anses. But when the Anses were 
 tired of his bragging, they called for Thor. Forthwith Thor came 
 into the hall ; he was holding his Hammer aloft, and was very wroth, 
 and asked by whose counsel it was that dog-minded Giants should be 
 drinking there, and who it was that had given Rungnir safeguard to be 
 in Walhall, and why Freya should be his cup-bearer, as at a guild-feast 
 of the Anses. Then Rungnir answered, beholding Thor with no friendly 
 eyes, saying that Woden had bidden him to the drinking, and that he 
 was under his safeguard. Then Thor said that Rungnir should rue that 
 bidding ere he left the hall. Rungnir says that it were little glory for 
 Thor the Champion to slay him weaponless as he was ; it were greater 
 prowess if Thor dared to fight with him on the march at Rockgarth, 
 and it was the greatest foolishness, said he, for me to have left my shield 
 and hone at home, for if I had my weapons here we would try wager 
 of battle now ; but as it stands now I charge thee with a craven's deed 
 if thou slay me weaponless. Thor would by no means fail to come to 
 the wager of battle, now that a battle-place was pitched for him, for no 
 one had ever dared to challenge him before. Then Rungnir went his 
 way and rode mightily till he came to Giant-land, and his journey was 
 widely famed among the Giants, and especially that he had set a day for 
 him and Thor to meet. The Giants thought there was great risk which 
 of them should win the day. They feared evil from Thor if Rungnir 
 should fall, because he was the strongest of them all. Then the Giants 
 made a man at Rockgarth of clay ; he was nine leagues high and three 
 broad under the arms, but they could not get a heart for him big enough 
 to fit, so they got one out of a mare, and it was not steady within him 
 when Thor came. Rungnir, as it is said, had a heart of hard stone, and 
 pointed into three horns, and according to it is made the figure [fylfot] 
 which is called Rungnir's heart ; his head was also of stone, his shield 
 was of stone too, broad and thick, and he held this shield before him as 
 he stood at Rockgarth and waited for Thor, and for a weapon he had a 
 hone which he bore on his shoulder, and was not a man to cope with. 
 On the other side of him stood the Giant of Clay, who was named 
 Muck-calf, and he was very frightened, yea, it is said that he ... . 
 when he saw Thor. Thor went forth to the set place of battle, and 
 Thialfi [Delve] with him. Then Delve ran forward to where Rungnir 
 stood and spoke to him, ' Thou art standing unwarily, O Giant, with 
 thy shield before thee, for Thor hath seen thee, and he is going down 
 into the earth and will come against thee from below.' Then Rungnir 
 thrust the shield under his feet, and stood upon it, and took hold of his 
 hone with both hands. And straightway he beheld lightnings and heard 
 great thunder-peals, and saw Thor in his god's wrath. He came on 
 mightily, and brandished his Hammer, and cast it at Rungnir from afar. 
 Rungnir caught up the hone with both hands, and threw it against the 
 Hammer, and it met the Hammer in its flight, and the hone broke
 
 §1.] THIODWOLF'S HAUST-LONG. 13 
 
 asunder, and one half fell to earth, whence came all the rocks of hone, 
 the other half crashed into Thor's head so that he fell forward to the 
 earth. But the Hammer Milner lit on the middle of Rungnir's head 
 and broke the skull into little morsels, and he fell forward over Thor, 
 so that his foot lay athwart Thor's neck. And Delve fought Muck-calf, 
 and he fell with little ado. Then Delve went to Thor, and tried to 
 take Rungnir's foot off him, but could not even stir it. Then all the 
 Anses, when they heard that Thor was fallen, tried to take the foot off 
 his neck, but could not stir it. Then came (Magni) Main, the son of 
 Thor and Ironsax, he was at that time three nights old, he cast Rungnir's 
 foot off Thor, and said,' Little harm may it do thee, father, that I am come 
 so late, I think that I would have smitten the Giant to death with my fist 
 if I had met him ! ' Then Thor stood up and welcomed his son heartily, 
 and said that he would be a big man of his hands ; ' and,' said he, ' I will 
 give thee the horse, Goldmane, that Rungnir owned.' Then spake 
 Woden, saying that Thor did wrong to give that good horse to a giantess' 
 son rather than to his own father. Thor went home to Thrudwong 
 with the hone still in his head. Then there came a Sibyl whose name 
 was Groa, the wife of Orwandil the Brave [Orion], she chaunted spell- 
 songs over Thor, till the hone began to loosen. And when Thor felt 
 this and began to think it likely that the hone would soon be out, he 
 wished to repay Groa for her leechcraft and make her glad, so he told 
 her this news, that he had waded over Sleet Bay [Elivoe] from the North 
 and had borne Orwandil from the North out of Giant-land in his basket 
 on his back, and for a token thereof that one of his toes had stuck out 
 of the basket and so got frozen, so that he, Thor, had broken it off and 
 cast it up into the heaven and made the star with it that is called 
 Orwandil's toe [Orion's toe, the star Rigel in Orion ?]. Thor said that it 
 would not be long before Orwandil would be home, and Groa was so 
 glad that she could not go on with her spells, and so the hone never got 
 looser, and it is still fast in Thor's head. And that is why it is forbidden 
 to cast a hone across the floor, because it makes the hone turn that 
 is in Thor's head. According to this tale Thiodwolf of Hwin made 
 Harvest-long." 
 
 It is said in the Saga of Harold Fairhair (chs. 26, 37) that Thiodwolf 
 was a dear friend of that king and foster-father to his son Godfrid Gleam ; 
 but it will not do to build too much on such tales as are told of him and 
 these princes, for fixing the poet's age or date. They are popular tales, 
 and must go for what they are worth. The king, sitting at a banquet 
 of mead, mutters as he looks down at the long row of men drinking, 
 * My men are eager over their mead. Ye are over many here.' Up 
 spake the poet, ' When we were with the king in the battle we were 
 none too many then.' The story is repeated with reference to King 
 Hakon ^Ethelstan's foster-son and his men (Fagrsk.). And again as 
 occurring to King Magnus Bareleg and Kali the Wise (the descendant of 
 Thiodwolf's patron Thorleif). Another time, when Godfrid was wishing 
 to put to sea, Thiodwolf is said to have improvised this stave, ' Go not 
 hence, Godfrid, till the sea grows calm ! The billows are dashing the 
 rocks aloft. Wait for a fair wind ! stay with us till the fine weather 
 comes! The surf is running off ladar!' But the young man would 
 not be stayed, and oft" ladar his ship sunk in the storm with all hands. 
 We have added these verses as interesting, though not like to be 
 Thiodwolf's. 
 
 W = Cod. Worm. (11. 1-43 and 53-80), r=Regins (11. 44-52).
 
 14 MYTHICAL COURT POEMS. [bk. ^^I. 
 
 I. The Rape of Idwyn by Giant Thiazzi. 
 
 1. TTVE skal galla gia)ldom gunn-veggjar bru leggja 
 
 -tJ- radd-kleifar t'orleifi ! — 
 
 Tyframra s^-ek tiva trygglaust of far J)riggja 
 
 a hrein-gero hl^ri hildar-vess ok Maza. 
 
 2. Seggjondom flo sagna Snotar-ulfr at moti 5 
 i gemliss ham ga)mlom glamma afyr ska)mmo : 
 
 setiisk aDrn J)ar-es ^sir ' ar gefnar ' mat bEoro 
 (vasa byrgi-tyr biarga bleySi vendr) a sey6i. 
 
 3. Tor-mi6la8r vas tivom tal hreinn medal-beina ; 
 
 hvat kv66o hapta snyrtir hialm-faldinn |)vi valda: 10 
 
 marg-spakr of nam maela mar val-kastar bcoro 
 (vasat Hcenis vinr honom hollr) af fornom J)olli. 
 
 4. Fiall-gyl8ir ba8 fyllar Fet-meila ser deila 
 hlaut af helgom skutli Hrafn-Asar vin blasa : 
 Ving-rajgnir let vagna vig-frekr ofan sfgask 15 
 ^ar-es v^l-sparir voro varnendr go6a farnir. 
 
 5. Fliott ba6 foldar drottinn Farbauta ma)g 'vara' 
 J)ekkiligr me8 J)egnom {Drym-seilar hval deila : 
 enn af breiSom bi66i brag6-viss at {)at lag6i 
 osvifrandi Asa upp J^ior-hluti flora. 20 
 
 6. Ok sli8r-loga si8an svangr (vas ^at fyr la)ngo) 
 at af eiki-roto ok-biaorn fa6ir Morna : 
 
 a8r diup-huga6r draepi dolg ballastan vallar 
 hirSi-t/r me6al her6a her-fangs ofan stajngo. 
 
 7. t'a var8 fastr vi6 fostra farmr Sigynjar arma, 25 
 (sa-es a>ll regin eygja) Ondor-gods (i ba)ndom) : 
 
 1. Prologue. How can . . . my mouth render thanks to Thorleif for the 
 bright-ringing shield ! 
 
 The story of Thiaz%i. Yea, I see the hapless journey of the three gods 
 and Thiazzi painted on the polished cheek of the shield. In days of yore 
 Giant Thiazzi flew in an ancient eagle's feather-skin towards the Anses. 
 He alighted where the Anses were boiling their meat (no coward was 
 he). The gods' dinner was long a preparing. 'What is the cause of it?' 
 quoth the helm-hooded one [Woden]. Up spdke the wise eagle from 
 the ancient tree ; (no friend of his was Loki.) He prayed Honir for a 
 share from the hallowed dish. Loki had hard worl^ to blow the fire. 
 The greedy Giant stooped down to where the guileless gods were 
 gathered. Woden, the lord of the earth, bade Loki to portion out the 
 ox, and the wily foe of the gods took the four quarters up out of the 
 huge cauldron, and then the hungry Giant out of tiie tree ate of the ox 
 (it is an old tale) till the deep-plotting god, Loki, struck him between 
 the shoulders with a staff. And forthwith Loki (whom in bonds all the 
 
 2. Blank in W; kleifat.W? 3 of ] ok, W. 4. vez.W. 8. seiSi.W. 
 10 Read, hvat kva9? 14. helgu, W, r. laasa, W. I'j. faar-, W, 
 19. Emend. ; breiSo, W. 20. osviprandi, W. 21. sli6rliga, r (better?). 
 23. ballaSan, W.
 
 §1.] THIOD WOLF'S HAUST-LONG. 15 
 
 loddi rso vi6 ramman reimoS Ia)tun-heima, 
 enn hoUr vinar Hoeniss hendr vi9 stangar enda. 
 
 8. Flo me6 'froSgom' tfva fang-stell of veg langan 
 sveita nagr, sva-at slitna sundr Ulfs fa)5r moendi : 30 
 t)a var9 f'ors of runi (l^ungr vas Loptr) of sprunginn 
 malo-nautr hvatz matti midiungs friSar bi6ja. 
 
 9. Ser ba9 sagna hrceri sorg-eyra mey foera, 
 pi-es elli-lyf Asa, att-runnr Hymiss, kunni: 
 Brunnakrs of kom bekkjar Brisings go8a disi 35 
 gir9i-J)i6fr i garQa gri6t-ni9a8ar si8an. 
 
 10. Ur8ot brattra borda byggvendr at pa.t hryggvir ; 
 J)a vas 16- me8 Isotnom -unnr n;^-koinin sunnan : 
 GoerQosk allar attir Ingi-Freyss at J)ingi 
 
 (varo heldr) ok harar (ham-liot regin) gamlar: 40 
 
 11. Unz 'hrun sseva hrseva' hund Olgefnar fundo 
 Iei8i-J)ir ok Iseva lund Olgefnar bundo : 
 
 Pu skalt v^ltr, nema vnelom (Veo8r mselti sva) ' leiSar ' 
 mun-stcerandi msera mey aptr, Loki, teygir. 
 
 12. Heyrdak sva {)at si8an (sveik opt Aso leikom) 45 
 hug-reynandi Hoeniss hauks flaug bialba aukinn : 
 
 ok 16m-huga8r lag8i leik-bla8s reginn fiadrar 
 ern at aDglis barni arn-sug fa9ir Mornar. 
 
 13. Hofo skiott, en skofo skajpt, ginn-regin brinna; 
 
 enn son bidils svi8nar (sveipr varQ i fsor) Greipar. 50 
 
 Powers fear) was fast to Thiazzi ; the staff clave to the mighty denizen 
 of Giant-land, and Loki's hands clave to the end thereof. Rejoicing in 
 his prey, the eagle flew a long way with the god of wiles, so that he was 
 like to have been torn asunder; he was well-nigh riven, for he was 
 heavy, and was forced to beg for quarter. The monster bade him 
 bring him the sorrow-healing Maiden, who knew the gods' Elixir of 
 Youth : upon which the Thief of the Brising-girdle, Loki, brought the 
 Fairy of Bourn-acre, Idwyn, to the hall of the giant. Joyful were they 
 that dwell in the rocks, the Giants, when Idwyn first came among them 
 from the south : but all the kindred of Ingwi-Frey, the gods, became old 
 and hoary: very withered of form the gods showed at their moot: till 
 they found him that had cruelly carried off the goddess, and bound the 
 betrayer of Idwyn. 'Thou shalt surely pay it dear, thou guileful Loki,' 
 so Thor spake, 'save by thy cunning thou bring back the blessed heart- 
 renewing Maiden.' I have heard that after this, Loki (who had often 
 betrayed the Anses by his tricks) took flight in the hawk-skin guise, 
 [bearing Idwyn with him,] while the false-hearted Giant-eagle flapped 
 his eagle wings in hot chase of the hawk. In haste the gods gathered 
 wood-shavings and kindled a fire, and the Giant was scorched and his 
 journey brought to an end. 
 
 29. frd&gom] r; miswritten in W. 41. seva, W. 42. ok] at, W. 
 
 43. vaelom] W leaves a blank for 11. 44-52. 44. teygir] by guess, blank in r. 
 
 45. Aso] emend. ; asa, r.
 
 i6 MYTHICAL COURT POEMS. [bk. vii. 
 
 Patz of fat d fialla Finnz ilja brU miuni. 
 Bangs pdk hifom fdba bif-kleif at Porleifi. 
 
 II. Thorns Wager of Battle. 
 
 14. E8r of sdr es Isotna otti l^t of sottan 
 hellis bur a hyrjar haug Griotuna baugi : 
 
 Ok at fsarn-leiki larSar sunr; enn dun9i 55 
 
 (m66r svall Meila brodor) mana-vegr und hsnorn. 
 
 15. Knsotto soil, enn Ullar (endi-lcog) fyr magi 
 (grund vas grapi hrundin) ginnunga ve brinna: 
 f)a-es huf-regin hafrar h6g-rei6ar fram drogo 
 
 (se6r gekk Svolnis ekkja sundr) at Hrungnis. fundi. 60 
 
 16. t'yrmSit Baldrs of barmi berg-folgnom sak-dolgi 
 (hristosk biaorg ok brusto ; brann Ran-himinn) mana : 
 mia)k fra-ek moeti hrcekkva myrk beins Haka reinar, 
 ^a-es vigligan vogna vatt sinn bana Jjatti. 
 
 17. Bratt flo biarga gaeti (bajnd olio J)vi) randa 65 
 [imon] fsolr und iljar I'ss [vildo sva disir] : 
 
 var8at hoeggs fra hairdo hraun-drengr {)a3an lengi 
 triono trollz of runa tl9r ficpllama at bi6a. 
 
 18. Fia)r-spillir l^t falla fialbrs 61agra gialbra 
 baol-ver3ungar Belja bolm a randar-holmi : 70 
 {)ar hn^ grundar gilja gramr fyr skajrpom hamri; 
 
 enn berg-Dana bag6i briotr vi6 ia)rmun-J)ri6ti. 
 
 Refrain. Lo, this is painted on my shield. I received the coloured 
 buckler from Thorleif s hands. 
 
 1 1 . The story ofRjingni. Next I see, how the Terror of the Giants, Thor, 
 visited the cave-dweller, Rungni, at Rock-garth, in a ring of flame. The 
 son of Earth drove to the battle (his heart was swelling with wrath), 
 and the moon's path [heaven] thundered beneath him. The whole ether 
 (City of the Ginnungs) was on fire about him, and the flat, out-stretched 
 ground below him was beaten with the hail : yea, the earth was rent 
 asunder, as the goats drew the chariot-god on to his tryst with Rungni. 
 Thor spared not the mountain-abiding foe of the moon [giant]; the 
 mountains quaked and the dominion of Ran [ocean] blazed. I have heard 
 that the denizen of the dark cliffs shrunk wondrously when he espied his 
 slayer, the god of the Car ; the yellow shield he flung beneath the soles of 
 his feet, the Powers ruled it so, the War-fairies willed it so ; the haunter 
 of the wilderness had not long to wait for a stroke from Thor, the wielder 
 of the life-crushing snout-ogre [Hammer]. He that spoils the wicked 
 Giant-host of their lives felled the monster of the loud-roaring ocean- 
 caverns on the lists [shield-holm] : the Lord of the glens bowed there 
 before the sharp Hammer, what time the Giant-killer struck down the 
 
 53. es] of, W. 54. bur] borua hyiiar haugs, W ; bror, r (badly). 59. r; 
 
 hofregin hofSu, W. 60. se3r] sei8, W. 61. Emend.; solgnum, Cdd. 
 
 61-62. Thus W ; J)ar dolgi . . . brann upp himin manna, r. 67. horSo] thus W, r.
 
 §1.] EILIF'S {>ORS-DRAPA. 17 
 
 19. Ok har3-brolin herjo heim-J)ingo6ar Vingniss 
 hvein i hiarna moeni hein at Grundar sveini : 
 
 f)ar sva e6r i 06ins olaus burar hausi 75 
 
 stala-vikr of stokkin st69 EinriSa bl65i : 
 
 20. A8r or hneigi-hlf6om bars a)l-gefjon sara 
 Rei8i-t/s i3 rau6a ry3s heili-baol gceli : 
 
 Gorla lit-ek a Geitiss garbi peer of ferhir. 
 
 Baugs pd-ek hifom fdba hif-kleif at Porletfi. 80 
 
 Lausa-vIsor (for translation see the Introduction). 
 
 I. 
 
 King. Miok ero minir rekkar til mia)8-giarnir fornir, 
 
 ok her komnir harir, — Hvf erot avar-margir ! 
 
 Thiodolf. Haof8o ver f haofSi hoegg at eggja leiki 
 
 me8 vell-brota vitrom — Voroma J)a til margir. 
 
 II. 
 
 Thiodolf. Fari3a ^r a8r fleyja flat-vsollr he3an batnar, 
 
 (verpr Geitis vegr grioti) Go3roe8r of sio storan : 
 
 vind-bysna skaltu vi'si vi3-frsegr he8an bi8a ; 
 
 vesi3 me8 mer unz ver6i ve6r, nii es brim fyrir ladri ! 
 
 EILIF GUDRUNSSON (I^6RS-DRAPA). 
 
 Of this poet we know nothing but his mother's name, which might 
 imply his posthumous birth, and his date; he is mentioned as one of 
 Earl Hakon's poets in Skaldatal (see § 3). And it is certain that he lived 
 into the Christian times, as he made an Encomium on Christ. Besides 
 this, which, like his poem or poems on Earl Hakon, is lost (save one 
 citation in Edda), he composed a poem on Thor ({j6rs-drapa), of which we 
 have a long fragment. It deals with the popular and interesting story 
 of Thor's adventures with the volcanic Giant Garfred (Geirrod), whose 
 daughters raise the river Wimmer against the god, while the Giant assails 
 him with a glowing mass of iron off his forge, which Thor catches and 
 returns with deadly effect upon the huge Smith's head. — A primitive 
 myth, dealing with the weird gigantic forces of nature, water and fire, 
 and quite in keeping with the half-humorous, half-fanciful spirit of the 
 poets who loved to sing of Thor. 
 
 Eilif has dealt well with the legend. Through the confused corruptions 
 of parts of what is left to us of his Thors-drapa, and in spite of the 
 intricacy which he affects to a far greater degree than any poet of his 
 
 mighty defaulter. Yet the hard-quarried hone from the Giant's hand 
 struck into the brain-pan of the son of Earth; yea, the steel-grinding 
 stone stood fast in Thor's skull, sprinkled with his blood: till the 
 Healeress of wounds [Giantess Groa]>chaunted the hone, the ridder of 
 rust, out of the chariot-god's head. 
 
 Refrain. Clearly I see all these adventures on the shield. I received 
 the coloured buckler at Thorleif s hands. 
 
 76. r; urn stgkkvi, W. 78. heyli-, r. 80. bifom] bifa, W. 
 
 VOL. II. C 
 
 77
 
 i8 MYTHICAL COURT POEMS. [bk.vii. 
 
 day, we see the mighty stream roaring and rattling over its rocky bed, 
 the yellow water beating on the broad shoulders of the god, while the 
 heavy boulders are dashed against his feet, as he staggers through it with 
 the help of his trusty staff and his belt of strength, to which the little 
 Delve, his servant, hangs, like a sheath-knife, pressed tight and flat to his 
 master's side by the water's force. The Struggle in the Hall is more 
 briefly told, but there is a certain grandeur throughout the poem which 
 carries one over its entangled phrases and massed synonyms. 
 
 The story of Garfred has also been treated in a lost poem which 
 Snorri knew, and of which the two remaining verses are given in Book 
 ii, p. 126. Wolf Uggason knew the tale, calling Thor the 'Hero of 
 Wimmer-ford,' and there is an incident in King Harold Hardrede's 
 story, which shows the wide fame of the legend, c. 1060: — The king 
 and his poet Thiodwolf are walking out one day, when they come upon 
 a tanner and a blacksmith fighting: says the king, 'Put those fellows 
 into verse under the names of Thor and Garfred,' which the poet does. 
 'Now speak of them as Sigfred and Fafni,' which again was obeyed. 
 For the verses made on this occasion see Book viii, § 3. Snorri's para- 
 phrase, taken partly from our poet, partly from the poem of Book ii, 
 is as follows : — 
 
 "Then ansivered Eager: That was a tale worth telling, when Thor 
 went to Garfred's-garth. At that time he had not the Hammer Milner, 
 nor the Girdle of Strength, nor the Iron IMittens ; and that was Loki's 
 doing, for he went with him. Because it had happened to Loki, when 
 once upon a time he was flying in Frigg's hawk-skin for a pastime, to 
 fly for the sake of amusement into Garfred's-garth; and there he saw 
 a great hall, and lit down and looked in at a window. But Garfred 
 espied him and bade ' take that bird and bring him to him,' but the 
 man he sent had hard work to get to the top of the wall, so high was it. 
 And Loki thought it sport for the man to be taking such trouble to get 
 at him, and he would not fly away before he had got over all the difficul- 
 ties. But when the man came up to him he spread his wings and thrust 
 against his feet, but then he found his talons were fast, and Loki was 
 taken prisoner there and brought to Giant Garfred. But when the 
 Giant saw his eyes, straightway he suspected that it was a man, and bade 
 him answer him, but Loki held his peace. Then Garfred locked Loki up 
 in a chest, and there he starved him three months. And when Garfred 
 let him out and bade him talk, then Loki said who he was, and swore 
 this oath to Garfred as a ransom, that he would bring Thor into 
 Garfred's-garth without his Hammer or his Girdle of Strength. 
 
 " Thor took up his quarters with a Giantess whose name was Grith, she 
 was the mother of Widar the Silent. She told Thor the truth about 
 Garfred, that he was a cunning Giant, and bad to deal with. She lent 
 him a girdle of strength and mittens of iron, which she had, and her staff 
 which is called Grith's-rod. Then Thor set out to the river which is 
 called Mummer, the biggest of all rivers. And he girt himself with the 
 Girdle of Strength and struck the Rod of Grith against the stream, but 
 Loki held on by the girdle of strength. And as soon as Thor was got to 
 the midst of the stream the river swelled so mightily that it broke on his 
 shoulders. Then Thor said these words : — (See vol. i, p. 126.) 
 
 " Then Thor beheld a certain glen, and Yelp [Gialp], Garfred's 
 daughter, standing there across the river and causing the river to swell. 
 Then he took up out of the river a great stone, and cast it at her, and 
 said that ' One must dam a river at its mouth.' He never missed \^hen 
 he cast at anything. And with that he drifted up to the bank and got a
 
 § I.] EILIF'S {'ORS-DRAPA. xg 
 
 grip of a certain rowan, and so came up out of the river ; wherefore it 
 has become a proverb that ' rowan is Thor's rescue.' And when Thor 
 came to Garfred's they were turned into a goat-house for shelter, he 
 and his fellows. And there was a stool for a seat, and Thor sat him 
 down thereon, and straightway he found that the stool under him was 
 being raised up towards the roof. He thrust the Rod of Grith up against 
 the rafter and bore hard down on the stool, then there was a great 
 crack, and after it a great shriek heard. Garfred's daughters Yelp 
 [Gialp] and Grip [Greip] had been under the stool and he had broken 
 both their backs. Then said Thor: — (See vol. i, p. 126.) 
 
 " Then Garfred had Thor called into the hall to play. There were 
 great fires down the hall lengthwise, and when Thor came into the hall 
 over against Garfred, Garfred caught up a glowing mass of iron with 
 the tongs, and cast it at Thor ; but Thor caught it with his iron mittens, 
 and swung it up, and Garfred ran behind an iron pillar to save his life. 
 Thor cast the mass, and it went through the iron pillar, and through 
 Garfred, and through the wall, and so out into the earth. According to 
 this tale, Eilif Gudrunsson has sung in Thors-drapa." 
 
 This poem was originally, and of set purpose, hard and intricate in its 
 circumlocutions, and it has since, through corruption, fallen into a sad 
 jumble, inasmuch that any attempt to give a word-for-word rendering 
 of it or do more than paraphrase as closely as is well, is not to be 
 thought of. 
 
 The text is preserved in Edda, W and r. 
 
 1. "pLUG-STALLA t66 fellir Forniotz go6a at hvetja 
 -■- (driugr vas Loptr at liuga) laog-seims fa6ir heiman : 
 ged-reynir kva3 groenar Gautz her-f)rumo brautir 
 vilgi tryggr til veggjar viggs GeirroeSar liggja. 
 
 2. Ge3-strangrar let gongo Gamm-lei6 t'orr sk»mmom 5 
 (f;fstosk pen at |Dr;^sta f'orns niSjom) sik bi6ja : 
 
 ^ars giar6-ven6ir goerSisk Gandvikr Skottom rikri 
 endr til Ymsa landa I6ja setrs fra t^ri6ja. 
 
 3. ' Gerr var9 1 fa^r fyrri farmr mein svara 'ns arma ' 
 
 ' soknar haptz me6 svipti sagna galdrs an rognir ' 10 
 
 t)yl-ek gran-strauma Grimnis gall-mann taelir hallar 
 opnis ilja gaupnom Endils a mo spendo. 
 
 4. Ok gangs vanir gengo gunn-vargs himin-ta)rgo 
 'fri6ar vers til flioda frum-seyris kom dreyra :' 
 
 J)a bsol kvettir briota brag6-mildr Loka vildi 15 
 
 braeSi vaendr a brudi bag sefgrisnis maga. 
 
 LoKi, the Earth-Serpent's father, ready liar as he was, egged Thor the 
 Giant-killer to set out, saying that green paths would take him to 
 Garfred's Hall. Thor soon yielded to Loki's prayer ; they were eager 
 to beat the giants ; what time Thor set out from Woden's town (Anse- 
 garth) for Giant-land .... {unsafe text). I go on with my song, how 
 they [Loki and 1 hor] strode on their feet across the Mountain Path. 
 And .... the bloody Foes of the Sun [the Giants] were sore afraid 
 
 I. r; Fiornatz, W. 3. Gautz] om. W. 7. fiau, W. giarSvenioSr, r. 
 
 12. apnis, W, 
 
 C 2
 
 20 MYTHICAL COURT POEMS. [ek. vii. 
 
 5. Ok veg-J)verrir vaarro vann fet runar naonno 
 hialltz af hagli oltnar hlaup-ar um ver gaupo : 
 miok leiS or sta3 staokkvir stik-lei9ar veg breiSan 
 ur6ar Jjriotz J)a-es eitri cestr f>i63-ar fnsesto. 20 
 
 6. t'ar f maark fyrir markar mal-hvettan bor setto 
 (ne hvel-vaolor halar) haf skot-na3ra (svaofo) : 
 knatti hreggi haoggvin hlym-^el vi6 ma)! glymja; 
 enn felli-hryn fialla Fe6jo J)aut me9 steSja. 
 
 7. Har6-vaxnar let herSir hall-landz of sik falla 25 
 gataS ma6r niotr en neytri niard- ra9 f}T ser -giarSar : 
 jDverrir let nema J^yrri f'orns barna ser mairnar 
 sneri-blod til svira sal-J)aks megin vaxa. 
 
 8. 060 fast enn friSar flaut ei9-svara Gauta 
 
 setrs vlkinga snotrir sver8 runni9 fen gunnar ; 30 
 
 jDurSi hrsonn at herSi hauQrs runn kvika nau3ar 
 iarSar skafls af afli ass hret-vi9ri blasin. 
 
 9. Unz me8 fta. sinni (afl-raun vas {)at) skaunar 
 a sell himin-siola sialf-lopta kom f'ialfi : 
 
 a3o stall stri3an straum Hrekk-mimis ekkjor ; 35 
 
 stop-hniso for steypir stri3-lundr me9 vajl GriSar. 
 
 10. N6 diup-akarn drsopo dolg-vams firom Glamma 
 stri6-kvi6iaondom stao9var stall vi3 rastar falli : 
 ogn-diarfan hlaut arfi ei3s fiarSar hug meira ; 
 
 skalfa t'ors n6 i'ialfa Jjrottar-steinn vid otta. 40 
 
 11. Ok sifuna si5an sverSz 116 hattar ger6o 
 hlifar bor3z vi3 Ha)r3a hard gleifnir dyn bar6i : 
 
 now that Thor in his wrath was coming to fight them. And Thor the 
 Giantess-destroyer strode over the wilderness across the swoln rivers 
 that rushed along with a hail-like avalanche of stones. Thor the Giant- 
 killer sped on a good way, crossing the ford, while the mighty streams 
 spurted venom. They [Thor and Loki] put forth [resting on] their 
 steel-shod mountain staves ; nor did the slippery round boulders sleep. 
 The staves rattled against the stones, whilst the stones clashed in the 
 storm-beaten mountain -stream. Now Thor beholds the mountain- 
 stream beat upon his burly shoulders, yet the wearer of the Belt of 
 Strength put forth his whole might. He cried out that unless the 
 rapid waters went down his strength would wax sky-high. They waded 
 stoutly, but the river ran on, the troubled waters tempest - stirred 
 rushed over Thor's shoulders. Now Delve [Thor's page] lifted himself 
 up and clung fast to the Belt of the King of heaven [Thor]. The 
 Giant- maidens made the stream swell high, whilst sturdy Thor the 
 Giantess-slayer strode on, the Staff of Grith in his hands. Nor did 
 their hearts quake within them at the strong rush of the stream. 
 Thor's courage rose, nor did Thor's or Delve's heart quake for fear. 
 
 The Second Section, the fight in the Giant's Hall, is very obscure, but the 
 sense of most of the "verses can be gleaned. Thor and his companions reach 
 
 18. ver] v', W. 20. J)io5ar. W. 21. bur, W. 22. hallar, W. 
 
 26. Read, mar ? 35. Read, 060 ? 42. kyn, W.
 
 §1.] EILIF'S I^ORS-DRAPA. 21 
 
 d9r hylrfSar hei9i hri63-ru9r fiaoro J)i68ar 
 
 vi8 Skylld-Breta skytjo ' skaleik HeSins reikar.' 
 
 12. Dreif me8 drottar kneyfi dolg SviJ)i68ar kolgo 45 
 (sotti fer6 a flotta) fles-drott (Ivo nesja) : 
 
 pa. es fun-ristis fasta fl66-rifs Danir st66o, 
 knatto lolnis settir ut-vess fyrir luta. 
 
 13. t'eirs i jDrottar bersa ^orn rans hugom bornir 
 
 (hlymr var9 hellis Kumra) hrin-balkar fram gengo : 50 
 listi fe9r 1 fasta (fri9-sein vas J^ar) hreini 
 snfpo hlceSr a greypan gran ha)tt Res kvanar. 
 
 14. Ok ham loga himni hall fylvingom vallar 
 troSosk per v\6 tro8i tungls bra-solir |)ungo : 
 hiif-stiori braut hvaoro hreggs vafr-seyda tveggja 55 
 hlatr-elli6a helliss hund-fornan kiaal sprundi. 
 
 15. 'Fa-ti3a nam frce6i' fiarQ-epliss kon larSar ; 
 merar leggs ne mug6o menn aol teiti kenna : 
 alm-taugar laust oegir angr-|)iof ' sege ' taongo 
 
 (36ins afli soQnom att-ni6r f gin Su9ra. 6c 
 
 16. Sva at . . . skyndir handa hrapp munnar svalg gunnar 
 lypti-sylg a lopti lang-vinr sio fjrongvar : 
 
 {)a es aur]3rasis esjo as hrimnis flo drosar 
 til pra. m69nis J)ru6ar J)i6st af Greipar briosti. 
 
 17. Bif6isk ha)ll J^a es haofdi HeiSreks of kom breiSo 6= 
 und flet-biarnar fornan fot-legg ^rasis veggjar : 
 
 itr gulli laust Ullar iotr veg-taugar ftrioti 
 meina ni6r 1 mi6jan mez bigyrSil nezo. 
 
 18. Glaums nidiom for goerva gramr me9 dreyrgom hamri 
 of sal-vani6 synja sigr laut arin bauti : 7c 
 koma9 tvivi6ar timi tollur karms sa es harmi 
 
 brautar H6s of beiti bekk fall iotuns rekka. 
 
 19. Hel-blotinn va hneitir hog-brotningi skogar 
 undir fialfrs at alfi Alfheims bliko kalfa : 
 
 Giant-land, and attack Garfred and his fello<w-giants. The fiendish 
 host of Giant-land was turned to flight, and gave way ; before the on- 
 slaught of the Fire-Hurler they fled. There was an uproar among the 
 Cave-dwellers, when Thor and his men came into the hall. There 
 was an end of peace, when Thor struck the Giantess' head with hi-j 
 lightning. The flashes crossed beneath the roof of the Cavern, and 
 Thor, the Chariot's Lord, broke the aged backs of both the Giantesses 
 [Yelp and Grip], Little joy was the Giant's; he hurled a mass ot 
 glowing iron, caught oflF the anvil, at the son of Woden. Thor caught 
 the bar in his hands as it flew, when the lord of the forge, Garfred, threw 
 it. The Hall rocked to its fall, when Garfred's head was crushed 
 under the ancient pillars, when Thor dashed the bar down on the head 
 of the Giant. Thor made utter destruction of the monsters with his 
 bloody Hammer, and won the day. The rod of Grith .... The 
 
 43. hri66endr, r. 59. Read, sega? 71. timi] W, though indistinct.
 
 22 MYTHICAL COURT POEMS. [bk. vii. 
 
 ne li3-faostom Lista lattrs val Rygir maotto 75 
 
 aldr-minkanda eldar Ello steins of bella. 
 
 LAY ON CHRIST {from Eddd). 
 
 SET-BERGS kve8a sitja sunnr at UrSar brunni; 
 sva hefir ramr gramr remdan Roms banda sik Isondom. 
 
 HUS-DRAPA; or, THE LAY OF THE HOUSE. 
 By Wolf Uggason (Ulfr Uggason). 
 
 Of Wolf's family we know nothing ; though his wife Irongerth, the 
 daughter of that Thorarin Corni (the cairn-dweller we had the ditty 
 about, Book vi, ditty 22), is named by Ari in Landnama-bok. Wolf 
 himself Hved in the south of Iceland, and one of the few incidents of 
 his life is his refusal to make satires on the missionaries who brought 
 Christendom into the island ; the verses he then made we print below in 
 § 4. His greatest claim rests on this poem, of which Snorri has pre- 
 served several fragments, and Laxdsela the following account : — 
 
 Olaf Peacock, the son of Hoskold, the husband of Thorgerd, Egil's 
 daughter, the mightiest man of his day in Iceland, " made a hall in 
 Herd-holt, bigger and finer than men had ever seen. There were 
 drawn on it famous Stories, on the wainscot and on the roof; it was 
 also so well built that it was thought fairer when the hangings were 
 down. At the coming of winter there was a multitude bidden to Herd- 
 holt, for the hall was finished by that time. Wolf Uggason was bidden, 
 and he made a poem on Olaf Hoskuldsson, and upon the stories that 
 were written in the hall, and he delivered it at the banquet. This poem 
 is called Hus-drapa, the Praise of the House, and is a fine poem. Olaf 
 requited the song well." 
 
 Snorri, to whom we owe the fragments of Hus-drapa, says that 
 " Wolf Uggason made a long section about the story of Balder." Again 
 he says, " Heimdal, the God, is the owner of Goldcrest, he is also the 
 Visitor of Voe-skerry and Singastone, there he and Loki contended for 
 the Brisings' necklace. He is also called Windier. Wolf Uggason made 
 a long piece about the story of these two in Hus-drapa, where it is told 
 that they were in the likeness of seals." 
 
 Parts of three sections, and the prologue, are preserved (all in cita- 
 tions from Edda and Skalda). They touch on the subjects of some of 
 the carvings, the Bale-fire of Balder, Thor fishing for the Serpent, the Fight 
 at Singastone. We should add to these a line or two of a fourth section 
 dealing with the Story of Garfred the Giant, miscited, we think, as Eilif s, 
 
 god slew all the Ogres with his staff, nor could the fires of the Lord 
 of the Rocks harm the mighty Monster-slayer. 
 
 Lay on Christ. They say that he, Christ, sits on a mountain throne at 
 the Weird's brook, so has the mighty Lord of the Powers [angels.'] 
 strengthened himself with the land of Rome. 
 
 75. Read, hval Rygja (hval-lattrs Rygja), Cd.
 
 § I.] WOLFS HUS-DRAPA. 23 
 
 The poem was made use of by Snorri for his prose paraphrasis of the 
 Legend of Balder, etc. It is a poetic work, with some touches of 
 skill and picturesqueness of detail. 
 
 The metre is still of an antique type, and reminds one of Bragi and 
 Thiodwolf. The poem was in regular sectional Drapa form, with a 
 cloven burden of two lines, the first line of which is lost. The bearing 
 of which we take to have been, ' Thus is the roof inside painted with old 
 stories.' 
 
 The age of the poem would seem to be fixed roughly by the fact that 
 while the frequent echoes of Egil's Hofudlausn and Lay of Arinbiorn 
 (complimentary no doubt to Egil's daughter, who must have listened to 
 the poem at the feast) form a very marked feature of Wolf's verse, 
 Egil's greatest poem Sonatorrek is nowhere imitated. This would in- 
 cline one to put the composition of Hus-drapa c. 975-980; and to 
 fancy that the hall was built and the banquet (its house-warming pro- 
 bably) held rather earlier than the Saga implies, at the time when Olaf 
 was yet young and rising in power, a year or so before Egil's Sonatorrek 
 was made. 
 
 The text is from citations in the Edda; 11. 13-14 from W Appendix. 
 It is in a fair state of preservation, yet 11. 28-29 at least have suffered 
 from retouching. The figures on the margin mark parallelisms with 
 Egil's Lays on Arinbiorn and Hofudlausn. 
 
 I. Introduction. 
 
 1. TTODD-MILDOM tek hildar hug-reifom Aleifi 
 
 -n. (hann vil-ek at gia)f Grimniss) ge6-fiar6ar la (kve6ja). 
 
 II. The Balefire of Balder. 
 
 2. Ri6r a baorg til borgar bao8-fr69r sonar 6dins 
 Freyr ok folkom st^rir fyrstr golli byrstom. 
 
 3. Kostigr ri8r at kesti kyn-fr66s J)eim-es go9 hl66o 5 
 Hrafn-freista9ar hesti Heimdallr at maog fallinn. 
 
 4. Ri9r at vilgi vi9o vi9-fr2egr (en mer li6a) 
 aA56. Hropta-t^^r (of hvapta ^hroSr-mjol) sonar ball: 
 
 t)ar hykk sig-runni svinnom sylgs Valkyrjor fylgja 
 heilags tafns ok hrafna; — '■ hrof innan svd minnom. 10 
 
 I. Prologue. I set forth my song to the generous Anlaf, pledging him 
 in Woden's gift. 
 
 II, The Burning of Balder. First rides Frey, the king of men, on his 
 boar with golden tusks to the bale-fire of Balder, Woden's son. The 
 goodly Heimdal rides his horse to this pile that the gods had cast up for 
 the dead son of the wise Friend of the Ravens [Woden]. The wide- 
 famed God of Soothsaying [Woden] rides to the huge wooden bale-pyre 
 of his son. (The Song of Praise is gliding through my lips.) I can see the 
 Walkyries and the Ravens following the wise God of Victory, the Lord 
 of the Holy Draught. Burden : Thus, within, the roof is adorned with 
 memories. 
 
 The mighty Giantess launched the ship, while the champions of 
 Woden felled her charger, the nuolf. 
 
 7. blido, W. 10. hrot] emend. ; hlaut, Cd. (here and 1. 20).
 
 24 MYTHICAL COURT POEMS. [bk. vii. 
 
 5. FuU-ajflug l^t fialla fram haf-sleipni {)ramma 
 hildr, en Hroptz of gildar hialm-elda mar feldo. 
 
 III. Thor fishing up the Earth-Serpent. 
 
 6. ainn-mani skein enniss ajndottr vinar banda; 
 *^Ai9. aoss skaut i^cegi-geislom or6-ssell a men stor6ar: 
 
 bA2o. enn stir3-J)inull stardi storSar-Ieggs fyr bordi 15 
 
 frons a folka reyni fran-leitr ok bids eitri. 
 
 7. Full-a)flugr \€\. fellir fiall-gautz hnefa skialla 
 (ramt mein vas J^at) reyni reyrar-leggs \\h e}Ta. 
 
 8. Vi6-gymir laust Vimrar-va8s af frsonom nadri 
 
 hlusta grunn vi6 hraDnnom ; — hrdt innan svd minnom. 20 
 
 IV. Loki and Hcmdall fighting about the Brising necklace 
 at Singastein in the shape of Seals. 
 
 9. Ra3-gegninn breg6r ragna-rein at Singa-steini 
 frsegr vi3 firna slctgian Farbauta nia)g-vari : 
 m63-a)flugr rae6r motSra msogr haf-n/'ra faogro 
 
 «A54. (kynni-ek) a3r ok einnar atta (^maerQar J)a6ttom). 
 
 V. Thor and Giant Gar/red. 
 
 10. troengvir gein vi3 J)ungom Jjangs rau3-bita tangar 25 
 kveld-runninna kvenna kun-leggs alin-munni. 
 
 Vrei6r vas Vra)sko br66ir va gagn fa6ir Magna. 
 
 VI. The End. 
 
 11. f'ar koemr a (enn aeri endr bar ek maer3 at hendi) 
 »H69. ('ofra ek sva') til saevar ('^ ' sver3-regns ' rofi J)agnar). 
 
 III. Thor and the Serpent. The eye of the Gods' friend Thor shone 
 fiercely, the beloved God darted awful glances at the Serpent of Earth, 
 and the Serpent, the Stout Girdle of the World, glared over the gunwale 
 at the Friend of Man, spirting venom the while. Then the mighty 
 Giant-slayer smote the monster with "his fist on the ear; it was a deadly 
 blow. The Champion of Wimmers-Ford struck the head off the cruel 
 Snake as it rose above the sea. Burden : Thus within the roof, etc. 
 
 IV. The struggle of Loki and Heimdall. The skilful renowned Warder 
 of the Path of the Powers \rainbo'w-bridge'\ wrestled with Loki, Faar- 
 baute's most wily son, at Singastone, before the sturdy Son of Nine 
 Mothers [Heimdall] won the fair necklace of stones. I set this forth 
 in my song. 
 
 V. The Fight <with Garfred. Thor, the Destroyer of the Giantesses, 
 grasped the red mouthful of the tongs \the red hot mass] with his hands. 
 Wroska's brother [Del-ve] was wroth, the father of Main [T/^or] won 
 the victory. 
 
 VI. Epilogue. Here the river reaches the sea [my Song ends]. I have 
 delivered my Song of Praise, till the silence [hearing accorded me] was 
 broken. 
 
 12. r; hialm gldoni, W. 13. Emend.; onJottz, W. iS. legs, W. 
 21. rogna, W. . 22. faar- . . . vaari, W. 29. Emend.; lofi t)egiia, W.
 
 § I.] MYTHICAL FRAGMENTS. 25 
 
 MYTHICAL FRAGMENTS IN COURT-METRE. 
 
 There were other Shield -Songs and Thor-Lays, the authors of 
 which, less fortunate than Eilif or Thiodwolf, have only survived in 
 fragments kept by Snorri (Sk.), who no doubt made use of their poems 
 in his paraphrases of the Thor-myths. 
 
 First of these comes Olwi Snub (Olver Hnufa), — in Norwegian law 
 * hn6fa ' is the bondmaid whose nose has been cut off for theft thrice 
 repeated; as a nickname it must refer to some hurt that Olwi, like 
 Michael Angelo, had suffered, — a poet of Harold Fairhair's, according 
 to Skaldatal, of whom some mention is made in Egil's Saga. In one 
 passage, which is worth comparing with Hornklofi's Raven-Lay, it is 
 written, ' Of all his henchmen the king set most store by his Poets ; 
 they sat on the opposite bench [next in honour to the high seat of 
 the king]. Inmost of them sat Eadwine lil-poet (Audunn lUskaelda); 
 he was the eldest of them, and had been the poet of Halfdane the 
 Black, the father of King Harold, Next to him sat Thorbiorn Horn- 
 klofi, and next to him sat Olwi Snub, and the next to him was Bard 
 (Barfred) seated. He was called Bard the White, or Bard the Strong.' 
 Somewhat is also told about Olwi and Bard's quarrels and adventures, 
 but no certain or important fact. There is, however, in chap. 3 the 
 following passage, which is worth citing : — 
 
 " Atli the Slim was then Earl in Firth, he dwelt at Gaul. His children 
 were Hallstan, Holmstan, Herstan, and a daughter, Solweig the Fair. 
 It happened one harvest-tide that there was a great company at Gaul 
 at the Harvest- Sacrifice. It was then that Olwi saw Solweig, and fell 
 in love with her. Afterw ards he asked for her hand, but the earl did 
 not think him a good enough match, and would not give her to him. 
 After this Olwi made many Love- Songs about her. He was so much in 
 love with her that he left off going a-wicking (buccaneering)." After- 
 wards, for the sake of these songs, " the sons of Atli attacked Olwi in 
 his house, wishing to slay him. They had so many men with them that 
 Olwi could not withstand them, and only got off by flight. He went 
 north to More, and there found King Harold and became his liegeman 
 .... and came into the greatest friendship with the king ; and was with 
 him long afterwards and became his poet." 
 
 The bit of Olwi is evidently part of a poem on Thor and Hymi and 
 the fishing for the Serpent, — perhaps a Shield-Song. A second fragment 
 of his, quoted in Skalda, is subjoined : it seems part of a longer poem. 
 
 Eystein Waldason, a tenth-century poet, is nowhere spoken of. 
 The fragment he has left also relates to the Fishing Adventure of Thor. 
 It is bold and realistic, and leads one to regret the loss of the rest. 
 Snorri, with his eye ever open to the good points of a story, has used 
 the incident of Thor's hands being dashed against the gunwale by the 
 jerk of the Snake he had hooked. 
 
 WiNTERLiD (Vetrlidi), a son of Summerlid, a contemporary of Wolf 
 Uggason's, who was not wise enough to abstain from satire on the mis- 
 sionaries, but, as Ari tell us in Kristni-saga and Landnama-bok, " made 
 libellous verses upon Thangbrand and many others. But when they 
 [Thangbrand and his fellows] came west into Fleetslithe, Godlaf, the 
 son of Ari of Reek-hills, was with them also ; they heard that Winterlid 
 the poet was out turf-cutting with the men of his household. And 
 Thangbrand and his company went thither and slew him
 
 26 MYTHICAL COURT POEMS. [bk. vii. 
 
 Thence they went westward to Grimsness and found Thorwald Veili 
 there at Hestbrook, and slew him there." The Melabok (Landnama) 
 tells the story thus : — " Winterlid made a Libel on Thangbrand, w^ho 
 therefore slew him whilst cutting peat. He (Winterlid) defended 
 himself with the peat-cutter against Godlaf of Reekness, but Thang- 
 brand run him through with his spear. Song- Chaps (Liodarkiopt) 
 made an Encomium on Godlaf." 
 
 The bit of Winterlid's which remains is from a poem in praise of 
 Thor, telling over his exploits. 
 
 This Thorwald Veili is the poet of whom Snorri speaks in Hattatal, 
 talking of a variety of the court-metre called Skialf-henda. "This 
 metre Veili first invented, when he was lying upon a certain sea-reef, 
 saved from a shipwreck, and they were badly off for clothes, and the 
 weather was cold. It was then that he made the poem which is called 
 the ' Shivering Poem,' or the ' Burdenless Poem,' wherein he follows 
 the story of Sigfred." 
 
 Thorbiorn Disar-skald, the poet of the Goddesses, of whom no- 
 thing more than the name is known, must have made a poem like that 
 of Winterlid's on Thor, reciting his great deeds ; of this song two mor- 
 sels remain. 
 
 Of Gamli nothing is known. 
 
 The text of all these fragments is from Edda (11. 2-3 from Skalda). 
 
 OLVI HNIJFA. 
 I. On Thor. 
 i f_,"STISK allra landa um-gi3or3 ok sonr Iar6ar . . . 
 
 II. From Skalda. 
 
 Ma6r skyldi J)6 moldar megja hverr of t)egja 
 kenni-sei6s {36 at kynni klepp-da)gg Hars laaggvar. 
 
 EYSTEIN VALDASON {on Thor). 
 
 1. OIN bi6 Sifjar runi snarla fram me5 karli 
 
 ^ (horn-straum getom Hrimnis hroera) veiSar-foeri. 5 
 
 2. Sva bra vi6 at syjor sei&r, rendi fram 'breiSar' 
 larSar ut at borSi Ullz mags hnefar skuUo. 
 
 3. Leit a brattrar brautar baug hvassligom augom 
 (oestisk a6r at flausti ' augrs bu6 ') faSir f»ru6ar. 
 
 Oliver Snub. I, The Girdle of all lands began to rage, and the Son of 
 Earth . . . 
 
 1 1. Yet every man should know how to hold his peace even though . . . 
 
 Eystan Waldason. Sif's mate and the churl [Hymi] made ready their 
 fishing tackle. Let us stir the stream of Hrimni's horn [begin our song]. 
 The tackle ran out. The Snake pulled so hard against the gunwale, that 
 Thor's fists were dashed against the streaks. Thor looked on the Serpent 
 [lit. the rock's-ring] with piercing eye. The wave, churned up by the 
 struggling snake, was raging against the boat the while. 
 
 9. avg's, W ; read, aegis briidr.
 
 §2.] HORNKLOFI'S GLYM-DRAPA. 27 
 
 VETRLIDI {on Thor). 
 
 LEGGI brauztu Leiknar, lamSir fTivalda, 
 steyp6ir Starka6i ; st^ttu of Gialp dau5a I 
 
 f'ORBIORN DISAR-SKALD {on Thor). 
 
 1. I36RR hefir Yggs me8 sorom AsgarS af J)rek varSan. 
 
 2. Gall 1 Keilo koUi, Kiallandi brauztu alia, 
 
 a6r draptu Lut, ok leiSa Idztu dreyra Buzeyro ; 5 
 
 heptir-Jju Hengjan-kia)pto ; Hyrrokkin do fyrri ; 
 \>6 vas snemr en sama Sviva)r numin lifi. 
 
 M 
 
 GAMLI {on Thor). 
 
 EDAN gramr (hlnn es sitt sam5i snart) Bilskirnis (hiarta) 
 grundar fisk me8 grand! gliufr-skeliungs nam riiifa. 
 
 J 2. ROYAL COURT POEMS. 
 
 HORNKLOFI (GLYM-DRAPA). 
 
 In Book iv we have given early poetry in the old metres, dealing vp-ith 
 historical subjects and genealogy, by men who lived at the courts of 
 Harold Fairhair and his sons. In this Book we shall give the work of 
 the first generation of the long line of court-poets who composed in the 
 neiv metre and the ne'w style. Among them are men whose poems in the 
 old style have already been noticed above, such as Hornklofi and 
 Eywind; see the Introduction to their poems in Book iv. 
 
 With reference to these early Encomia in court-metre, it will be 
 necessary to give here certain facts and their explanation, which, while 
 bearing special reference to Hornklofi, Eywind, and Guthorm Cindri, 
 must be borne carefully in mind by the student of the whole mass of 
 
 Winterlid. Thou brakest the legs of Leikn [an Ogress], didst crush 
 Thriwald, didst pull down Starkad [the Giant], and didst overcome and 
 slay Yelp. 
 
 Thorbiorn, the goddess-poet. Thor, with the champions of Woden, has 
 mightily defended Ansegarth. 
 
 There was a clatter on Keil's skull, thou didst crush every limb of 
 Kialland [giantess], ere that thou didst slay Lout, and make the loath- 
 some Buzear bleed. Thou didst put an end to Hanglip before Hyrrokin 
 died, yet ere that was the swarthy Swiwor [Ogresses all three] reft of 
 life. 
 
 Gamli. While the lord of Bilskirni [Thor's hall], Thor, he of the 
 dauntless heart, smote the Serpent with his Hammer. 
 
 8. sitt] emend. ; sirk, W.
 
 28 HAROLD FAIRHAIR'S COURT. [bk. vii. 
 
 court poetry throughout the whole length of this and the following 
 Book. 
 
 When we look at the morsels of Encomia scattered up and down in 
 the Lives of Harold and his sons, we find an extraordinary paucity of 
 incident, a most marvellous flow of empty words, and an almost 
 complete absence of fact ; while for regularity and even monotony of 
 metre, these verses might vie with the most perfect productions of 
 Snorri's and Sturla's days. Now these are all features totally unlike 
 those we have observed in the undoubted work of men of Harold's age, 
 and if we had no further light to throw upon the question, we should be 
 absolutely driven to conclude that these verses are of far later date, 
 attributed by some error to early poets. But, curiously enough, we have 
 in the King's Lives distinct categorical statements relating especially to 
 names, places, and dates, all sober facts, in proof of which appeal is made 
 to these very verses, which not only do not support them, but often 
 apparently contain no allusion to them or to any fact whatever. 
 
 How is this to be explained? One can only answer, the ^verses are in 
 their present state corrupt ; they once did give the facts for which the 
 historian made use of them, they were in their original state the founda- 
 tions upon which Ari himself rested for sober annalistic facts, for names 
 and places. One thing is certain — the paraphrasing and the inserting 
 I were not contemporary, but a long time must have intervened, during 
 I which the poems were ' inked over,' all their original roughness polished 
 away, and with it their whole worth and truth. The 'irregularities' of 
 the old verses no doubt shocked the purist poetasters of the twelfth 
 and thirteenth centuries, the names and places they celebrated were so 
 forgotten that they had become unintelligible ; new words, new grammar, 
 new metre were therefore substituted for them, and now it is barely 
 possible through their smooth vapidity to distinguish the blurs that mark 
 some deeply bitten trait of the original design. Yet these poems were 
 the means of preserving information of a kind that could have been pre- 
 served in no other way, till a wise historian like Ari made use of them. 
 After this they were half forgotten, then ' restored,' and at last inserted 
 in the text of the Kings' Lives in their sorry condition ; so that now we 
 have to seek in Ari's prose paraphrase for the very meaning and con- 
 tents of the verses upon which it is founded. 
 
 We have now and then been able to replace a vanished word, to re- 
 store a name, or date, or place, underneath some commonplace plati- 
 tude, an epithet or ' kenning,' often resembling in sound the name required; 
 but there are still many instances where we are sure that there were 
 words in the text, of which not the faintest indications are left. As an 
 example of corruption, in Guthorm's poems we may give the line ' Undan 
 allar kindir Eireks a haf snekkiom,' which we see from the prose, ch. 20, 
 Hakon's Saga, must have contained the word Jutland. Beneath the 
 ' undan' here, we can dimly see that 'lotlandz' must have stood. Again 
 we are told in the text, chs. 23-26, Hakon's Saga, of Egiil Wool-sark 
 (Ullserkr), Hakon's standard-bearer, killing King Gamli Ericsson in flight 
 at Rastarkalf, by Frodarberg. The verse cited does not give a name 
 of any kind, but we can see that beneath the ' rad-sterk' lies ' Ullserkr,' 
 and that at least the names of Gamli (beneatn 'Gramr,' I.26) and the place 
 of his death must have also occurred though they have left no trace. In 
 ch. 9, Hakon's Saga, we want in the verse cited the names of the Scots 
 and of King Tryggwi, and though they do not now appear, we can have 
 little doubt but that under the words 'hraustan' and 'skidom' (11. 14-15) 
 are buried 'Trausta' and ' Scottom.'
 
 §2.] HORNKLOFI'S GLYM-DRAPA. 29 
 
 The same kind of corruption marks the verses of succeeding poets, 
 though in continually lessening degree, but it is very bad in the poems 
 relating to King Olaf and to Cnut the Great, where it is more to be 
 deplored, for Ari's excerpted statements are not so full with reference 
 to them. So that for verses relating to doings in England we must grope 
 for the facts with the help of the Maps and the English Chronicles, 
 which, however, sometimes fail us too, and pass over in silence things 
 which the poems seem to have told of. As an instance of corruption in 
 these verses we find that under ' Sundvigg' is hidden ' Sandwich.' Many 
 more instances will be noticed in the text and notes. 
 
 We can see that Ari cared not for the poems, their figures of speech, 
 or inanities, only for their /acts; having extracted them he left the verses 
 like the husks of thrashed corn ; yet his wonderful sagacity enabled him 
 to make the right use of them, and were they still perfect they would 
 in many cases merely confirm his statements. But here and there, as 
 in Hallfred's case noticed below, we can still dimly see that other views 
 and facts (unnoticed rather than deliberately rejected by Ari) than those 
 the prose preserved must have been contained in the verses, and one 
 might have gleaned from them some fresh information of value which is 
 now for ever lost. 
 
 GUTHORM SiNDRi. Of Guth-thorm Cinder, whose name has not 
 been noticed earlier, we know little. He is however the hero of a 
 charming story told in the Kings' Lives. King Harold and his son 
 Halfdan had quarrelled and taken up arms against one another. " Guth- 
 thorm Cinder was the name of a nobleman who was in the host of 
 Halfdan the Black and had formerly been with King Harold and was a 
 dear friend of both of them. He was a great poet, and had made 
 poems both on the father and on the son. They had offered him 
 guerdon therefore, but he would not take it, but asked them to grant 
 him a boon ; and they had promised to do so. Accordingly he now went 
 to see King Harold and bore messages of peace between him and his son, 
 and besought each of them to give him as his boon that he would make 
 peace with the other. And the two kings set so much store by him 
 that they made peace at his request. It is upon this story that lorun 
 the Poetess made a section of Sendibit," see Book viii, § 5. 
 
 The name of Hornklofi's poem Glym-drapa is not explained. It is 
 quoted by Snorri (in a corrupt state). 
 
 A verse ascribed to Gundhild herself, in Fagrskinna, is added last. 
 
 glym-drApa. 
 
 (Verse I from Edda, the rest from Lives of Kings.) 
 
 1. TTRICdR Idt hsestrar ti8ar har3-ra6r skipa baDr6om 
 -*- J- baro-faks ins bleika barn-ungr a laog Jjrungit. 
 
 2. Hilmir r^d a Hei8i ' hialdr-skl6s {)rumo galdra' 
 66r vi9 ' oeski-meida ey v^-brautar ' heyja : 
 
 d8r ' gnap-salar gripnis gn^-stoerandi ' foeri S 
 
 ' rausnar-samr til rimmo riQvigs lagar skidom.' 
 
 Glym-drapa. In happy hour the king launched his grey billow-steeds 
 on the sea. He fought at the Heath with the O . . . before he went in 
 his barks to war against the .... The judge of men went against 
 
 4. Read, Orkndoeli ?
 
 30 KING HAKON'S COURT. [bk. vir. 
 
 3. GoerSisk Glamma ferSar gnf-\>v6ttr ' ioro ' drottar 
 hel-kannandi hlanna Hlymrseks um 'trud' glymja. 
 A3r ut a mar maetir mann-skoe3r lagar tanna 
 rsesi-ma6r til rausnar rak vd-brautar Nokkva. 10 
 
 4. Par sva at barsk at bordi ; bor6-holkviss rak nordan 
 hlifar valdr til hildar hreggs daoglinga tveggja: 
 
 ok all-sncefrir iaofrar orda laust at mordi 
 
 (endisk rauQra randa rajdd) ' dyn-skotom ' kva^ddosk. 
 
 5. Ha9i gramr, J)ar-es gnu5o geira hregg vi9 ' seggi,' 15 
 rau3 (fn^'sti ben bl63i) bryn-gajgl i ' dyn Skaoglar ' 
 l^a-es a rausn ' fyr raesi ' (re9 egg-lito9r) seggir 
 
 [cefr gall hiaDrr vi6 hlifar] hnigo fiaor-vanir (sigri). 
 
 6. ' Grennir ^roeng at gunni gunn-mas ' fyr haf sunnan 
 (sa vas gramr) ok gumnom (go6-var6r) und sik iaordo : 20 
 ok hialm-tami6r hilmir ' holm-reiQar ' let olman 
 lindi-hiaort fyr 'landi lund-pru3r' vi9 stik bundinn. 
 
 7. Riks J)reifsk reiddra oexa rymr ; knatto spiaor glymja; 
 svart-skygd bito ' seggi ' sver9 tjioQ-konungs ferQar : 
 J)a-es hug-fylldra 'hsolda' (hlaut annskoti Gauta) 25 
 ar vas ssongr of svirom (sigr) flug-beittra vigra. 
 
 8. ' Men-fergir bar margar marg-spakr nidar varga ' 
 lundr vann sokn a sandi ' sand-mens ' i b^^ randir : 
 adr fyr ' eljan-pru9om allr herr ' Skotta {iverri 
 
 laog6is sei6s af ladi Ige-brautar var9 floeja. 30 
 
 GUTHORM SINDRI (HAKONAR-DRAPA). 
 
 I, "DIF-ROKNOM tra9 bekkjar bla-ra)st konungr sorom; 
 -L' maetr hl69 mildingr lotom mistar-vifs i dn'fo : 
 
 the Irish, and fought a sea-fight at Limerick before he thrust Nokkwi 
 out of the land. Then he drove his vessels from the north to meet the 
 Two Kings, and the princes fought each other at the Isle of Solskel. He 
 gladdened the mail-birds {ravens) at ... . place, what time the storm of 
 spears broke on .... , when men fell life-reft in the forecastle before 
 . . , . ; the dyer of the sword-edge won the day. The greedy sword 
 screamed against the bucklers. He hastened to battle south over the 
 sea (he was god -protected), yea, the helm -wont lord of the Holm- 
 Rvgians moored his mad sea-deer to the stakes of ... , The noise of 
 the axes waxed high, the spears rattled, the black-polished sword of the 
 high-king bit ... . The foe of the Gauts won the day, what time 
 there was a song of keen-cutting spears above the necks of the bold- 
 hearted .... The waster of the INIanx carried the shield into the town 
 of ... . and fought a battle on the sand of the isle of Man, ere that his 
 foes were forced to fly the land before the valiant harrier of the Scots. 
 
 Hakon's praise. The king trod the blue mile [sea] with his foam- 
 splashed oars and slew the Jutes in battle, and drove them to flight into 
 
 7. Read, Ira? 14. Read, vi3 Solskel? 21. Read, Holm-Rygja? 
 
 27. Read, Mauverja bar myrSir?
 
 §2.] SINDRI'S HAKONAR-DRAPA. 31 
 
 svan-goeSir rak sf6an ' sott Ialfa6ar flotta ' 
 
 ' hrot giljaSar hyljar hrafn-vfns at mun sinom.' 
 
 2. Alm-drosar f6r eiso ^l-runnr ma)rom sunnan 5 
 triono tingls a groena tveim einom Sel-meina : 
 
 pi es ellifo allar all-rei8r Dana skeidar 
 val-sendir hrau3 vandar, vi3-fr£egr at J)at si3an. 
 
 3. Selund na6i \)i si6an sokn-heggr und sik leggja 
 
 ' vals ok ' Vinda frelsi vi9 Skaneyjar si9o : 10 
 
 skatt-gilda vann skyldir skaut Ialfa6ar Gauta ; 
 goU skyflir vann giajflastr 'geir-ve3r' i fa)r J)eiri. 
 
 4. Ok sokn-hattar setti svell-ri63r at pvi flioSi 
 Onars eiki-groeno austr ge6-boeti 'hraustan:' 
 
 J)ann-es a9r fra from 'id-vandr' of kom 'skidom' 15 
 sal-brig9andi Svig9iss svan-vangs li6i J^angat. 
 
 5. Val-J)a)gnir let ' vegnom vig-nestr saman bresta 
 bandar- vafs of hajf6om hlym-mildingom gyldir:' 
 pZT gekk Nia)r8r af Nir6i naddz ha-mana raddar 
 
 ' val-brandz vf9ra landa vapn-undodom sunda.' 20 
 
 6. Alm-droegar vas oegiss opt sinn (enn ek {)ess minnomk), 
 barma aold fyr Baldri ben-siks vita rikiss : 
 b3o9-soekir hdlt brikar broeSr sfns ok rak floe6ar 
 
 ' undan ' allar kindir Eirekks a haf snekkjom. 
 
 7. Hrseddr for hisorva raddar herr ' fyr malma ^verri' 25 
 ' rog-eiso gekk rsesir rad-sterkr ' framar merkjom : 
 Gerra gramr i snerro geir-vifa ser hlifa, 
 
 *hinn es yfrinn gat icofra os kvanar byr mana.' 
 
 A STRAY VERSE, attributed to Queen Gunnhild, in 
 Fagrskinna, p. 15. 
 
 Ha- rei6 a bak bsoro bor9-hesti -kon vestan; 
 skajrungr l^t brim bita ba)r9, es gramr hefir Fior9o. 
 
 the land as he chose. He came from the South with only two ships 
 towards the green Sealand, and, henceforward famous, cleared eleven 
 ships of the Danes. Then he put Sealand under him and beat the 
 Wends on the coast of Sconey : he made the Gauts pay tribute, and 
 won much gold in this campaign. And he put the Trusty Chief 
 [Tryggwi] over the oak-green wife of Woden eastward [Ran-rick], him 
 that came here formerly over sea with a fleet from the Irish and Scots. 
 The king let .... at .... he left his enemies weapon-wounded at ... . 
 The followers of his brother [Eric] often, as I remember, suffered many 
 a defeat before him ; he drove all the kindred of his brother Eric out 
 into the Jutland sea. At Froda-berg Woolsark fell in front of the 
 standard, .... fighting against Gamli .... he that .... 
 
 Hakon rode over the billows on his wooden horse from the west, he 
 makes his timbers cleave the sea, he lands at the Firths. 
 
 14. Read, Trausta. 15. Read, Skottom. 24. Read, lotlandz. 
 
 25. Read, fyr Frodarbergi? 26. Read, vig-eiso fell oesir UUserkr fr. ni.? 
 
 27. Read, Gamli?
 
 32 EARL SIGROD'S COURT. [bk. vii. 
 
 CORMAC OGMUx\DSSON (SIGRCEDAR-DRAPA). 
 
 A WILD, wandering, ill-fated Bard this, throwing his life away by 
 recklessness and lack of purpose. His life, and many verses ascribed 
 to him, are found in a separate Saga, one of the oldest, preserved only 
 in one vellum, AM. 132, but in an obscure and corrupt form. 
 
 Cormac's father, Ogmund, came out to Midfirth, probably from the 
 Western Islands, and settled at Melar ' Sands.' There is a curious tale, 
 which seems to foreshadow the lucklessness of his son, told of his laying 
 the foundations of the house there. When a man had laid out his 
 house " it was the belief in those days, that as the meteyard fitted, when 
 it measured a second time, so the man's luck should fit. So that if the 
 meteyard showed too little, his luck would shrink too, but if the mete- 
 yard showed something over, his luck would be fair. And here the 
 measure was found too short every time it was tried, and they tried 
 three times." Cormac bore an Irish name (his mother, Dalla, was 
 a daughter of Anwind Sioni, and may have been of Gaelic family), 
 and there was something foreign in his features : ' he had black 
 curly hair,' which his mistress counted his only blemish, 'a white 
 skin, was somewhat like his mother, big and strong he was, and of 
 passionate nature.' 
 
 The central fact of his life was his love for Steingerd, to which 
 nearly all the verses in his Saga refer, being either love-songs to her or 
 satires on her successive husbands Bersi and Tintein, with whom he 
 fought wagers of battle, in the former case unsuccessfully. Of these 
 verses we shall treat in § 4. 
 
 Like other Icelandic poets of his day, Cormac went abroad to 
 Norway, where he is said to have made an Encomium on King Harold 
 Grayfell, which is lost, while bits of his Sigrod's Praise, which is not 
 mentioned in his Saga, are extant. After a number of adventures, the 
 story of which is difficult to follow from the confusion of his Saga, 
 Cormac is said to have died in Scotland from the hurts he got in a 
 struggle with a giant Scot. His bones therefore, like Hallfred's, lie in 
 British ground. 
 
 As a court poet, Cormac chiefly interests us by the curious mytho- 
 logical burdens which are wedged into his poem at short and regular in- 
 tervals. In these curt phrases we have mention of the tale of Thiazzi, 
 of Sigfred and Fafni, of Woden charming Wrind (an otherwise unknown 
 tale), of Weird at her Brook, of Woden's spear Gungni, and of Thor's 
 car. The historical contents of the poem are also noteworthy, referring 
 to Earl Sigrod's sacrifices, about which we have the following statement 
 in Hakon's Saga, ch. 16. The earl was a great man for sacrifices, and so 
 was Earl Hakon his father. He was the King's representative at the 
 solemn sacrificial feasts in Thrond-Law. " It was the old custom when 
 a sacrifice was to be held, that all the franklins should come to the 
 place where the temple was, bringing their victuals with them to eat 
 while the feast lasted . . ., but the Earl was the most generous of men ; 
 he did a deed which w^as talked of far and near, he made a great 
 sacrificial feast at Hlathe, and bore all the cost. Cormac Ogmundsson 
 mentions this in his Sigrodar-drapa, saying etc." 
 
 Like Eywind, Cormac makes the Earl spring from Frey. It is a great
 
 §2.] EYVVIND'S IMPROVISATIONS. 33 
 
 pity that so much of this poem (composed c. 960-970) is lost. Its curious 
 refrains are imitated in another good poem, also a fragment, by lUugi 
 Bryndola-scald in Harold Hardrede's day, see Book viii, § 3. 
 
 SIGRODAR-DRAPA. 
 
 I. Introduction. 
 
 1. TTEYRI sonr a S;f'rar sann-reyniss fen tanna 
 
 J- -^ (aur grappa Isetk uppi) iast-Rin Haraldz mina ! 
 
 2. MeiSr es ma)rgom dihxi mor6-reins 1 dyn fleina ; 
 hiaorr fser ' hildi-ba)rrom ' hiarl Sigroe6i iarli. 
 
 II. The Staves. 
 
 3. Hafit ma6r ask ne eski afspring me9 ser |^ingat 5 
 f^-sgeranda at foera Freyss. — Ve'lto god Piazza : 
 
 Hver mani vess vi9 valdi 'vsegja' kind of baegjask.'' 
 J)vi-at ' fun-ra)gni fagnar fens.' — Vd Gramr til inenja. 
 
 4. Eykr me6 ' enni-duki iarQ lutr' dia fiarSar 
 
 ' brseyti hun sa es beinan' bindr. — Seib Fggr til Vrindar. 10 
 
 5. Svall, ]Da-es gekk me6 giallan Gautz eld hinn es styr beildi 
 gla6-fct;6andi griSar, gunnr. — Kojusk Urir at bnmni. 
 
 6. AU-gildan bi9-ek aldar allvald of mer halda 
 
 yss bif-vangi Yngva ungr. — I^or Hroptr me6 Gungni. 
 
 7. Hr66r goerig of ma)g mseran meirr Hakonar fleira ; 15 
 hapt-soenis galt-ek hanom hei9. — Sitr Pdrr i reibo. 
 
 EYVVIND'S IMPROVISATIONS. 
 
 Of Eywind the Plagiarist we have already given the tvi'o most famous 
 poems in Book iv, but it remains to give some brief account of his Life 
 and Family. The following Genealogy shows his kinship to the Haleyia- 
 Earls, and gives some means of fixing his date. 
 
 Sigrod's praise. Prologue. Let Sigrod the son of Harold's friend 
 [Hakon] listen to the rock-nymph's yeasty River [poetry] which I 
 bring. I deliver the poet's draught. Burden : The warlike Earl is 
 foremost of all in the shock of spears. The sword wins land for Sigrod 
 the ' warrior ' Earl. 
 
 Staves : One need neither take bowl nor basket with one thither to 
 the generous kinsman of Frey. Refrain : The gods beguiled Thiazzi, » 
 Who can vie with the lord of the sanctuary in his welcome? Refrain : , 
 Grani [Sigfred's sword] won the hoard. The Earl ekes . . . the Brewer • 
 of the Divine Nectar, poet, with gold. Refrain : Woden charmed Wrind. • 
 The battle waxed high where the war-stirring wolf- feeder [Sigrod] went • 
 with whistling brand. Refrain : Weird came to the Brook. I, a youth, 
 beg the goodly ruler of Yngwi's folk to hold his hand over me. J?e- 
 frain : Woden carried Gungni. I go on with further praise on the 
 famous son of Hakon. I pay him a fee [wages] of Divine Nectar 
 [Soma]. Refrain : Thor is sitting in his Gar. 
 
 4. Sisur6i, W. 6. Freyss] emend. ; fress, Cd. lo. brseyii hun] W. 
 
 VOL. II. D
 
 34 KING HAKON'S COURT. [bk. vii. 
 
 Earl Griotgard 
 
 r ^ -, 
 
 Earl Hakon I Haward 
 
 I I. 
 
 Earl Sigrod Ingibiorg, m. Eywind Lambi, brother 
 
 of Olivir hnufa 
 "— n 
 Finn Skialg, m. Gundhild, grand- 
 Earl Eric, d. c. 1023, m. Cnut's sister daughter of Harold Fairhair 
 
 Earl Hakon II, d. 995 
 
 Hakon, the doughty Earl, d. c. 1029, Eywind 
 
 m. Gundhild the noble wife, | 
 
 Cnufs niece Harek ofThiotto, d. c. 1036 
 
 To his connection with the Haleyia family, and with the friend of 
 that family, King Hakon the Good, we owe his poems Hahyia-tal and 
 Hakonar-inal. In the evil days, when his two powerful patrons, Earl 
 Sigrod and King Hakon, were slain, he composed several stray verses, 
 cited in the Lives of Kings, which give glimpses into his life. These 
 we have given below. Verses 1-4 refer to the battle of Stord. Verse 6 
 is a palinode as it were, composed in opposition to a verse of Glum. 
 Verses 7-8 recount the miseries of the present in contrast with the 
 happiness of the past, 'once every man had his gold ring on his arm, but 
 now folks hide their treasures in the earth.' This open championship 
 of the dead brought down on him an accusation of treason, which he 
 repels (v. 9), and a fine for which he was obliged to pay his great ring, 
 Mould, which had been dug up at Thursaby long ago (v. 10). The hard- 
 ships of the /amine year, 976, are the subject of the two following verses 
 (i 1-12) : first the terrible weather which caused it, snow in midsummer : 
 then the call to his men to betake them to the sea, and take advantage 
 of the shoaling of the herrings, which alone, it seems, preserved great 
 part of the Norwegians from starvation. The last stave (13) recounts 
 an anecdote of the famine, mentioned in the Kings' Sagas : — 
 
 " He made a Song of Praise on all the Icelanders, and they gave him 
 this guerdon for it : every franklin gave him one scot penny, worth 
 three pennies of silver in weight, and white money by essay. And when 
 the silver was got together at the Great Moot they took counsel to get 
 a smith to purify it, and then there was a Cloak-brooch made out of it, 
 and the smith's fees paid also. Now the cost of the brooch was fifty 
 marks, and they sent it to Eywind. But Eywind had it cut in pieces, 
 and bought stock with it." — But even the ring was gone at last, and 
 Eywind was obliged to barter his arrows for herrings, as the last two 
 lines of the stanza relate. 
 
 Eywind survived the lomswicking battle. Haleyia-tal, which men- 
 tions that event, is the last poetry of his which we know of, but there 
 is no likelihood of his having survived to King Olaf Tryggvason's days. 
 He left a sturdy son, Harek of'Thiotto, a bit of a poet too, see Book viii, 
 § 2, who played a distinguished part at Sticklestead against St. Olaf, lived 
 down to 1036, and had a son he named Finn (after his own grandfather). 
 After him we hear nothing more of the family. Eywind's father's 
 sister Ranweig was married to a settler in Iceland, Sighvat, from whose 
 family came Mord, th ' lago of Nials Saga. 
 
 Eywind's verses are fresh and genuine, and full of incident, and but for 
 the metre we should have put them along with his other poems. As the 
 sole Norwegian contemporary testimony to the 'swiQe niycla hungor,' 
 which went all over Northern Europe, they have high value. Other
 
 §2.] EYWIND'S IMPROVISATIONS. 35 
 
 references to this famine are found in Niala, the tale of Swadi and Arnor 
 Kerlingarnef in Flateyar-bok,vol. i, 435-439. Ari's account on lost leaves 
 of Hawks-bok, printed in the Appendix to Landnama-bok, is as follows: 
 "There was a great winter of famine in Iceland in the heathen days, at 
 the time that King Harold Grayfell fell, when Earl Hakon took the rule 
 in Norway. It was the worst of famines in Iceland : men ate ravens and 
 foxes, and much that was not meet for food was eaten, and some slew 
 old folks and paupers, hurling them over the cliffs into the sea, many men 
 were starved to death, and some took to the waste and robbed, where- 
 fore many were outlawed and slain : and it was made law by Eywolf 
 Walgerdsson, that he who slew three of those men should clear himself 
 thereby." The English poet mentions both the comet of 976 and the 
 famine : — 
 
 Waes geond wer5eode 
 Waldendes wracu wide gefrege 
 hunger ofer hrusan, etc. — Wmckester Chronicle. 
 
 Eyvvind's verses have been better preserved than those of other poets 
 of his day, but still, as in line 37 (where the innocent-looking 'skeria 
 foldar ' covers the palimpsest 'Mold,' the name of the poet's Ring), or in 
 the following more opaque line, telling how the ring had been taken 
 out of the earth (the image the same as in preceding verses), we have 
 several instances of the rewriter's hand. 
 
 Neither Eywind nor any other poet of his day made pithless platitudes, 
 and wherever we find a respectable-looking commonplace verse with 
 nothing new or fresh or ingenious about it, we may be certain that 
 it is altogether corrupt. 
 
 From the Lives of Kings. Snorri in Edda cites 11. 21-22, 25-26, 29-32. 
 
 1. "DL6D-0EXAR tia bei5a bryn-J)ings fetil-stinga 
 
 ^ (oss goerask hnept) ens hvassa hefnendr (setu-efni) : 
 heldr es vant (enn ek vilda veg ^I'nn, konungr), segja 
 [fa)m til fornra vapna] fliott her-saogo drottni. 
 
 2. Samira nisorSr en norSar nadd-regns hvaotom \)egm 5 
 (ver getom bili at ba^lva) bla-moerar skse foera : 
 
 nu-es t)at-es rekr a Rakna rym-lei6 flota brei6an 
 (gripo ver 1 greipar gunn-bor6) Haraldr nor6an. 
 
 3. Ba6a val-grindar vinda ve6r-heyjandi Skreyjo 
 gumnom hollr u6 golli gefnar sinni stefno : 10 
 ef sajk-spenni svinnan sigr-minnigr vilt finna, 
 
 fram haltu, niotr, at nj'tom Nor6manna gram pannig. 
 
 Be/ore Siord. The avengers of Bloodaxe are bent on battle, they give 
 us little leisure for rest. It is a risk to tell our king the news of war, 
 though I mean it for thy welfare, my lord. Let us grasp our old 
 weapons. It does not beseem brave men to put north the head of the 
 steed of the black moor \the ocean], now that Harold from the north 
 is driving a broad fleet along the roaring path of the Sea-king. We 
 scorn to fear ! Let us grasp the shields in our hands ! 
 
 yi/ter Stord. The warrior king, that spares men, not gold, bade 
 Skreya hold on his course. ' Keep straight on there, if thou wouldst 
 meet the lord of the Northmen.' I remember how the double-handed 
 
 6. Cod. Acad, ii ; bord-, Cd. Acad. i. 
 D 2
 
 36 KING HAKON'S COURT. [bk. vii. 
 
 4. Veit-ek at beit inn bitri byggving meSal-dyggvan 
 bulka ski6s or hsbbom ben-vaondr konungs hsondom : 
 ofcelinn klauf Ala el-draugs skarar hauga 15 
 goU-hiaoltoSom galtar grandaSr Dana brandi. 
 
 5. Fyrr rau6 Fenriss varra flug-varr konungr sparra 
 (malm-hri9ar svall meiSom m66r) 1 Gamla bl66i : 
 ^a-es ostirfinn arfa Eireks of rak (geira 
 
 nu tregr gseti-Gauta grams fall) a sia alia. 20 
 
 6. Litt kvgoSo \)'\k lata, land-vaorSr, es brast, Ha^rSa, 
 benja-hagl a brynjom (bugosk almar) ge9 falma : 
 t)a-es ufolgin ylgjar endr or |)inni hendi 
 fetla-svell til fyllar full-egg, Haraldr, guUo. 
 
 7. Bsorom UUr urn alia imon-lauks a hauka 25 
 fiaDllom Fyris-valla free Hakonar aevi : 
 
 nu hefir folk-stri6ir FroQa fa-gl^^jaSra pfja. 
 meldr i moQor holdi Mello-dolgs of folginn. 
 
 8. Fullar skein a fia)llom fall-sol bra-vallar 
 
 UUar kiols of allan aldr Hakonar sksoldom : 30 
 
 nu-es alf-rso&ull elfar laotna dolgs um folginn 
 (rsod ero ramrar t>i66ar rik) i moSor liki. 
 
 9. Einn drottinn hefi-ek attan, iaofurr dfn; an J)ik fyrri ; 
 (bellir bragningr elli) bi6kat-ek mer ins ^riQja : 
 
 Trur vas-ek tyggja dfrom ; tveim skiajldom Idk-ek aldri ; 35 
 fylli-ek fiokk \>inn, stillir ; fellr a ha)nd mer elli. 
 
 stroke of the keen wound-wand bit the traitorous skipper J/f; the 
 desolator of the Danes clove the hair-hill of the pirate with the gold- 
 hilted brand. 
 
 The golden age of Hakon. Of yore the flight-hating king dyed the gag 
 of the Wolf's lips, the sivord, red in the blood of Gamli : what time the 
 gracious chief drove all the heirs of Eric out to sea : men's wrath 
 swelled high. But now all men are grieving over the prince's fall. 
 
 Apology to Harold. They say that thy courage never flinched, thou 
 warden of the Herds' land, when the wound-hail clashed on the mail, 
 and the bows were drawn : what time the bare full-edged spear whistled 
 out of thy hand to fill the she-wolf's maw. 
 
 ^Ihe e-vil days of Harold. We bore, my friend, the seed of Fyrisfield, 
 the geld, on the hawk's clilTs, our ivrijtJ, all the days of Hakon : but now 
 the tyrant has buried the flour of Frodi's joyless bondmaids, gold, in the 
 flesh of the giant-slayer's dam. Earth. The snood-sun of the nymph's 
 brows, the gold, beamed on the shield-hills, arms, of the poets all through 
 the life of Hakon : but now the stream's light, ^0/ J, is buried in the body 
 of the mother of the monster-destroyer, Earth. The distress of the 
 people is great. 
 
 Apology. I have had one lord, O king, before thee, and I wish for no 
 third one. Age pursues me. I have been true to my dear lord, I have 
 never played with two shields, I stand by thee faithfully, O prince. Age 
 is overcoming me. 
 
 15. draugs] draug, Cd. 34. bi3 ek tigi, Cd.
 
 §2.] 
 
 GLUM'S GRAYFELLS PRAISE. 37 
 
 10. Skylda-ek 'skerja foldar, ski9-rennandi,' siSan 
 i^ursa boes ' fra pvisa. pinn g68an byr finna:' 
 
 ef ' val-iar6ar verSom veljandi ' |Der selja 
 
 lyngva mens J)at-es lengi lattr mfnn faQir atti. 40 
 
 11. Sn}''r a Svolnis vaoro. Sva ha)fom inn sem Finnar 
 birki-hind of bundit brums at miSjo sumri. 
 
 12. Lgotom langra nota la)g-s6ta ver fotom 
 
 at ' spa-|)ernom,' sporna spor6-fiaodro6om norSan : 
 
 vita ef ' akkar-mutur iokla ' ' eld-ger6r/ falar ver6i 45 
 
 ftr, J3ser-es upp um rota unn-svin, ' vinom ' minom. 
 
 13. Fengom feldar-stinga fisovb, ok gait vi6 hia)r9o, 
 J)ann-es Al-himins litan oss lendingar sendo : 
 mest selda-ek minar vi6 mse aDrom saevar 
 
 (hall-sent veldr hvsoro) hlaup-sildr Egils gaupna. 50 
 
 THE SONS OF GUNDHILD AND THEIR POETS, 
 (c. 970-976.) 
 
 GLUM GEIRASON. 
 
 We have (Book iv) noticed the reigns and fates of Eric Bloodaxe and 
 of Halcon the Good, his supplanter. Hakon in his turn was to fall before 
 a combination of the old party in Norway and the Danes, set on foot by 
 the Queen-dowager Gundhild, the sister of the Danish King Harold 
 Bluetooth, as one Chronicle tells us (Historia Norwegise): and no doubt 
 it is true. The recurrence of the names Gundhild, Gorm (Gundhild's 
 two sons), so characteristic of the Skioldings; the course of con- 
 temporary politics ; the English Chroniclers, who, from this marriage, 
 call Eric ' King of the Danes ' — all confirm it. The rule of the young 
 kings was tar frOm joyful ; to the unhappiness of civil strife was added 
 the terrible misery of famine and disease. These evils have made the 
 
 Hij ring Mould. I am obliged to pay thee my ring Mould, that was 
 long ago dug out of the earth at Thursaby, and give thee for thy favour 
 the necklace that my father long owned. 
 
 The famine. It snows on Woden's bride, Earth : we, like Finns, must 
 house the does of the birch-buds, goats, at midsummer. 
 
 The herrings. Let us from the north make the long-netted sea-steeds 
 spurn the sea with their feet, oars, in quest of the fine-feathered shafts 
 of the sea, herrings : let us see if we can get these arrows of the waves 
 which the sea-swine are rooting up so freely. 
 
 The brooch. Last year, I got a cloak-pin, which the Icelanders sent 
 me from beyond the sea, and I paid it away for stock, for I had sold 
 clean out all the leaping herrings of Egil the archer's hands, my arranvs, 
 to buy the slim shafts of the deep, herrings. Famine will make a man 
 do anything. 
 
 37. For foldar re;id Molda. 38. tys, Cod. Acad. ii. 44. Read, spicirum . . . ? 
 
 45. akkar] akiir, Cd. Thus Cod. Acad. i. Here is a great blank in Acad. ii. 
 
 46. Read, at mun sinom.
 
 38 HAROLD GRAYFELL'S COURT. [bk. vii. 
 
 name of Gundhild as infamous as Jezabel, and probably coloured her 
 character (a sorceress, they say, brought up among the Finns) and the 
 rule of her sons in darker colours than the true. What we know 
 of Harold Grayfell, the most prominent of them, is not altogether 
 unfavourable ; of great bodily strength, and master of twelve accom- 
 plishments, he seems to have lacked neither valour nor energy, but 
 sadly good luck. Perhaps we may liken him and his father to Eric XIV 
 of Sweden. But the old prejudice, which led the heathen North- 
 men to sacrifice their kings for good seasons, and the patriotism 
 which could not brook the suzerainty of the Danes (for there seems 
 little reason to doubt that the sons of Gundhild were vassals of the 
 Danish king), have blasted the rule of these kings beyond the 
 power of apology. We hear tales too of the lust and cruelty of 
 a younger brother, Sigrod Sleva, which seem to be well-founded. 
 Particulars of the few years of their rule are few. We hear of an ex- 
 pedition to Perm-land in the Arctic Ocean, and of a foray across the 
 main to the Western islands, wicking expeditions, perhaps, necessitated 
 by lack of food. Ari would make their power last sixteen years, but we 
 cannot,according to English chronology,give them much more than seven ; 
 the one fixed date in their period being the great European Famine of 
 976. At last the suspicious Danish suzerain wiles Harold to Limfirth, 
 where he falls; and Earl Hakon, whose noble father he and his brothers 
 had put to death, entered, under the protection of the Danes, upon the 
 heritage they left. 
 
 To Harold Grayfell are ascribed two Poets in Skalda-tal — Connac, 
 of whom we treat elsewhere, for none of his poem on Harold has sur- 
 vived, and Glum Geirason. Glum was a remarkable man, son of one 
 of the latest of the Settlers, who took up his abode in the north of the 
 island, whence, with his sons, as Landnama-bok tells us, he was driven 
 away, in consequence of a feud and manslaughter in which they were 
 involved. There must have been a Saga about Glum, for in Islendinga 
 Drapa we are told how he fought at Fitjar, and ' got speech out of a 
 dead man ;' neither of which feats are mentioned elsewhere. He appears 
 as the rival of Eywind, Hakon's faithful poet, and the champion of Eric 
 and his sons, whose henchman he had been. In the Kings' Lives the 
 two poets are brought in, capping verses with each other. One line only 
 of his Eric's Praise remains, but there are several stanzas remaining of 
 GrayfelVs Praise — a Dirge, made when the news of Harold's death was 
 still fresh, and apparently addressed to the two surviving Gundhildssons, 
 as the heads of their party and avengers of Harold. 
 
 This poem has been dreadfully maltreated. It must have contained 
 in the verses we have many names of persons and places, which are now 
 washed out, and their space filled by silly commonplace of a late type, 
 so that at first sight, from its smoothness and over-regularity of rhyme, 
 the poem appears, in parts, at least two generations later than it is. We 
 cannot, of course, recover all that is lost; but we have pointed out where 
 the text is unsafe, and indicated the places of some of the missing names 
 in the translation, which it is obvious, from the state of the text, can 
 only be tentative. Among such restorations as appear pretty certain 
 are ' Hallandi ' for ' Scotland!,' 1. 5 ; * Gauta ' for ' Gauti,' 1. 6 ; ' Skotta' 
 for ' flotta,' 1. 9 ; 'Hakon ' for 'heppinn,' 1. 34. 
 
 The Poem on Eric is described in Fagrskinna, chap. 28. 
 
 The fine impro-visation seems to be stuffed up with 'stals,' and may 
 have been an old-metre couplet.
 
 §2.] GLUM'S GRAYFELL'S PRAISE. 39 
 
 I. Glum. (Grafeldar-drapa, c. 976.) 
 
 (From the Lives of Kings; vv. 5, 9 from Fsk. ; vv. i, 3, 13, 14 from Edda ; the 
 Stef from Landn., Mb.) 
 
 1. TTLYDI! (hapta bei8iss hefk) mildingar (gildi) 
 
 J- J- \)vi bi6jom ver {)aognar J)egna tjon at fregnom. 
 
 2. HafSi faor til 'ferio' fr63r Skaneyjar g66a 
 blakk-ri3andi bakka barn-ungr f)a6an farna : 
 
 Rog-eiso vann isesir ra6-vandr a ' Skotlandi,' 5 
 
 'sendi seggja kindar' sverS-bautinn her ' Gauti.' 
 
 3. Hilmir rau3 und hialmi heina-laut a Gautom, 
 \)zr vas 1 gny geira grundar va)r6r of fundinn. 
 
 4. Dolg-eiso rak disar (drott kom maorg a 'flotta') 
 gumna vinr at gamni giodom Irskrar fioSar: 10 
 Foldar rau3 ok felldi Freyr 1 manna dreyra 
 
 sunnr ' a sigr of hlynninn ' seggi maekiss eggjar. 
 
 5. Braut vi6 brynjo niota bag ' rifiunga Sago,' 
 nadd-skurar vas noerir Noregs konungr stora : 
 val-galtar let v^lta varg-foe6andi marga 15 
 (of vaegjom 166 ia)fri) iafn-borna ser f)orna. 
 
 6. Austr-lsond um forsk undir allvaldr, sa-es gaf sksoldom 
 (hann fekk gagn at gunni) ' gunn haorga slag ' maorgom : 
 sli6r-tungor let syngja sver6-leiks reginn ferSir 
 
 sendi ' gramr ' at grundo goll-varpa6r snarpar. 20 
 
 7. Austr rau3 isofra jDr/stir 'or3-rakkr' fyr boe norSan 
 brand, }Dar-es Biarmskar kindir brennandi sa-ek renna : 
 Gott hlaut gumna ssettir geir-ve6r f faor J)eiri 
 (ao6lingi feksk ungom or6) a Vino-bor3i. 
 
 8. Maelti maetra hialta malm-68inn, sa bl63i, 25 
 t)r6ttar-or9, es |3or6i t)i66om vaoll at ri66a: 
 
 I. Prologue. Listen, I begin my song. I beg the two kings for a silent 
 hearing, now that we have news of this disaster [the fall of Grayfell] . . . 
 
 His Eastern forays. When yet in childhood he sailed to Sconey, he 
 fought a battle in Halland, and smote with the sword a host of Gauts. 
 . . , He reddened his blade on the Gauts, and was found in battle there. 
 
 His Western forays. Then he battled with the Scots and the Irish, and 
 victorious south in . . . smote . . . with the edge of the sword. Norway's 
 king fought with . . . and defeated princes of like rank to himself. 
 
 His Northern exploits. The king who gave treasure to poets subdued 
 the eastlands, he made the sheath-tongues [blades] sing at . . , He 
 burned eastward north of O . . . by, where 1 saw the Perms running 
 from the flames; and battled on the banks of the Dwina. The young 
 Etheling won fame there. 
 
 His last battle in Denmark. He spake a word of courage, yea, Harold 
 
 5. Read, Hallandi. 6. Read, Gauta. 9. For flotta read Skotta ? 
 
 24. Read, Dvino borSi?
 
 40 EARL HAKON'S COURT. [bk. vii. 
 
 vi9-lendr of ba3 vinda verSung Haraldr sver3om 
 (fraegt J)6tti J)at flotnom fylkiss or6) at mor6i. 
 9. Hioggosk hvarir-tveggjo 'heggir' maekiss eggja; 
 
 ' var6 1 goegn at ganga geir-drott ' Haraldr J)eiri. 30 
 
 10. Var6 a vi'So bordi viggjom hollr at liggja 
 gsetir glamma sota gar3z Eylima-fiarSar : 
 sendir fell a sandi saevar bals at Halsi ; 
 olli iaofra spialli ' or3-heppinn ' \)\'i tnorSi. 
 
 ir. Fellomk hajlf J)a-es hilmiss hiaor-drifa bra lifi 35 
 
 (rdSat OSS til auSar) au3-van (Haraldz dau6i) : 
 enn ek veit at hefir heiti3 bans broSir mer g69o 
 (sia getr \)2lt til saelo segg-fiaalS) hvaSar-tveggi. 
 
 12. Kunni tolf sa-es tanna tf6om Hallin-ski3a 
 ognar-stafr um iaofra ij^rottir fram s6tti ; 40 
 
 13. Hein-])ynntan l^t hvina hryn-eld at J)at brynjo 
 foldar-va)r3r sa-es fyr6om fiaor hardan sik var6i : 
 
 14. f'ar vas ^rafna-byrjar jDeim styr3o go6 beima 
 sialfr i sceki-alfi Sigt/'r Atals dyra. 
 
 T^e Stef. — Vig-eiso tekr visa val-fall Haraldz alia. 45 
 
 II. On Eirik Bloody-axe (from Skalda). 
 The Stef. — Brandr faer logs ok landa landz Eiriki banda. 
 
 III. Laus.wisa (from Lives of Kings). 
 
 Vel hefir hefnt (en hafna hiaors-ben-draugar fiaorvi) 
 [folk-rakkr of vant, fylkir, framligt] Haraldr Gamla : 
 es daokk-valir drekka dolg-bandz fyr ver handan 
 (ro8in fra-ek rau3ra benja reyr) Hakonar dreyra. 
 
 bade his men 'draw swords for the battle.' The king's words pleased 
 the warriors ! The two namesakes, Harold and Gold Harold, cut at each 
 other with the edge of the sword. He (the king) was doomed to lie on 
 the broad bank of Lim-firth, at Halse on the sand he fell. It was . . . 
 [Hakon] that planned that slaughter. 
 
 Wis glory. Half my hope is gone, now that the battle has reft the 
 king of life. Harold's death was no blessing to me, yet I know that 
 both his brothers have given me fair promises ; the court looks to them 
 for solace now. Harold was the master of twelve accomplishments . . . 
 
 Fragment. He made the hone-thinned blade whisde as he defended his 
 life against his foes. Woden himself was with him, and the war-god 
 steered his course. 
 
 Burden. Harold's hand makes a great slaughter all . . , 
 
 H. Dirge on Eric Bloodaxe. His brand wins Eric land and 
 gold. 
 
 HI. Improvisation after Stord. Well has Harold avenged Gamli 
 [his brother] now that the ravens over sea are drinking Hakon's 
 blood ! 
 
 30. Read, Haraldar? 34. for heppinn read Hakon. 43. {)eimerstyr8o beima, W.
 
 §2.] EINAR'S VELLEKLA. 41 
 
 EARL HAKON'S POETS (976-995). 
 
 Having driven the sons of Gundhild out of the kingdom, Earl Hakon 
 ruled Norway for nearly twenty years, when he in his turn fell before 
 the young Olaf Tryggvason. Hakon was the scion of a famous family, 
 whose genealogy and exploits were given by Eywind in Haleyia-tal, 
 Book iv. The first Hakon, Earl of Yriar, his grandfather, was known 
 as ' the friend of Harold Fairhair,' whose faithful helper and counsellor 
 he was ; his father Sigfred, a notable man in his day for his Law-making 
 and organisation, was the fast friend and adviser of Hakon ^Ethelstan's 
 foster-son. Of Earl Hakon himself we hear a good deal in the Kings' 
 Lives. Succeeding to the rule of Norway after a time of famine and 
 misery, the country recovered under his rule; and the favour of the gods 
 was signally manifested to the man whose ritualistic piety to them was 
 a contrast to the careless iconoclasm of Gundhild's sons, by a succession 
 of good seasons and unchecked prosperity. His cult of tlae gods won him 
 the renown of a sorcerer, and the name of the ' sacrificing earl ' from 
 his Christian foes. There may have been in truth something of the 
 Waldstein character about him, but we can hardly doubt that his memory 
 has somewhat suffered at the hands of the party which overthrew his 
 dynasty. 
 
 The chief exploits of his life were the Avenging of his father, burnt 
 in his house by the crafty treason of the Sons of Gundhild. As a 
 vassal earl of Harold Blue-tooth's of Denmark he fights against the 
 great crusade of the German Emperor, Otho H, 975, where he shares 
 Harold's ill-fortune. On his return through Gautland he makes a sacri- 
 fice, ' casting the Divining Rods.' In Norway he twice fights the 
 wicking Reginfred (said by the Sagas to be a son of Gundhild). Feeling 
 himself now firm in his seat, he shakes off the Danish suzerainty, which 
 had boasted of making Norway its 'hawk island.' The Danish king, 
 failing to reduce him, sets the Wickings of lom, his formidable and tur- 
 bulent allies, upon the stubborn Earl, who gains a glorious victory over 
 them at Hiorunga Bay, off South More (Norway). This battle must 
 not be placed at the end of his career, as the Kings' Lives seem to do, 
 but rather as the 'crowning mercy' which put him for many years in 
 safety. More grateful than ever to the gods, who had saved him from 
 such peril, he restores the fallen Temples, and celebrates their feasts 
 with all the ancient pomp and circumstance. His daughters marry into 
 the best families of Norway, and there is hardly a noble house in the two 
 following centuries which cannot trace up to the ' wicked Earl.' At last 
 a sudden rising, in which his good fortune failed him at last, put him to 
 flight and hiding, and he met his death at the hand of a treacherous 
 slave. Of his son Eric we shall have somewhat to say later. 
 
 Hakon had many poets about him. Eight are named in Skalda-tal ; 
 of two of these, Skapti the Lawman and Hvannar-Kalf, no line is left, 
 though Skapti's life is well known from the Sagas. Of Eywind the Poet- 
 spoiler and Eilif Gudrunsson we have already spoken. Of Einar Skala- 
 glamm, the poet of his early years of power, Tind Hallkettleson, the 
 poet of his zenith, Thorleif Redcloakson, and Thorolf Mouth we must 
 now speak. 
 
 The following passages will give the best account of Einar Hel- 
 GASON : — 
 
 " There was a man named Einar, son of Helgi Othere's son, son of 
 Biorn the Easterling, who settled in Broadfirth. Einar's brother was
 
 42 EARL HAKON'S COURT. [bk. vii. 
 
 Oswif the Wise {the father 0/ Gudrun the heroine of Laxdaela Saga). 
 Einar was even in his youth big and strong, and a very accomplished 
 man. He took to making poetry when he was yet young, for he was 
 a man eager to learn. It happened one summer at the Moot that Einar 
 went into Egil Skalla-Grimson's booth, and they fell to talking, and 
 their talk soon turned to the craft of poetry. Both of them thought 
 talking on this head the best of pastime. After that Einar would often 
 turn in to talk with Egil, and great friendship sprung up between them." — 
 EgiVs Saga, ch. 82. 
 
 The poet, hke other young Icelanders of family, went abroad to the 
 court of Norway and took service with Earl Hakon, where he got his 
 nickname ' Rattle-scale' in the following way: — 
 
 " On one occasion Einar, fancying that he was not well treated, grew 
 angry and would not come near the earl. The earl, finding that Einar 
 was displeased with his treatment of him, sent to bid him come and 
 speak with him ; then he took a fair pair of Scales made of pure silver, 
 and all gilt, and with them there went two weights, one of gold and the 
 other of silver, that were made after the likeness of men, and were 
 called 'lots.' And this was the power that was in them: — The earl 
 would lay them in the scales and say which of them should come up, 
 and if the one that he would came up, it would shake in the scale so 
 that ' it made a rattle.' The earl gave Einar the scales, and he was 
 very pleased with them, and was ever afterwards called Einar Rattle- 
 scale.'''' — loms^vikinga Saga. 
 
 Of another famous gift which the generous earl bestowed on his poet 
 we are told in Egil's Saga : — 
 
 " Einar made an Encomium on Earl Hakon, which is called Lack- 
 Lucre; and for a very long time the earl would not listen to the poem 
 because he was wroth with Einar." Einar threatened to leave him, 
 "but the earl would not have Einar go abroad, and listened to the poem, 
 and then gave Einar a shield which was the greatest jewel. It was 
 engraved with tales of old, and all between the engravings it was over- 
 laid with bosses of gold, and set with precious stones." Einar comes 
 home, and in the harvest rides over to Borg and guests there. Egil 
 was away from home at the time. Einar waited for him three nights. 
 " And it was not then the custom to stay longer than three nights on 
 a visit. So he made ready to go ; and when he was ready he went into 
 Egil's room, and there he fastened up the precious shield, and told the 
 household that he gave the shield to Egil. Then he rode away. That 
 same day Egil came home, and when he came into his room he saw the 
 shield, and asked who owned that jewel. They told him that Einar 
 Rattle-scale had been there, and had given him the shield. Then spake 
 Egil, What, is he making me a gift, most miserable of men that he 
 is ! Does he think I am going to sit awake and make poetry over his 
 shield ? Go and catch my horse. I will ride after him and slay him. 
 Then they told him that Einar had ridden away early in the morning. 
 He must have got to Dale by now. Afterwards Egil made a poem, of 
 which the beginning is — [here a spurious verse is inserted]. Egil and 
 Einar kept up their friendship as long as they were both alive. And it 
 is told as follows of the fortunes of the shield afterwards, that Egil had 
 it with him when he went on the bridal-way, when he went north to 
 Wood-Mire with Thorkettle Gundwaldsson and the sons of Red-Biorn, 
 Treevle and Helgi. Then the shield was spoilt, having fallen into sour 
 milk. And afterwards Egil had the mounting taken off it, and there was 
 twelve ounces of gold in the bosses." — Egirs Saga, ch. 82.
 
 §2.] EINAR'S VELLEKLA. 43 
 
 The end of Einar is thus told in Landnama-bok, ii. 1 1 : " Helgi [Einar's 
 father] harried in Scotland, and there took captive Nidborg, daughter 
 of King Beolan, and Cathleen the daughter of Ganger Rolf [Rollo]. 
 He married her; their sons were Oswif the Wise, and Einar Rattle- 
 scale, who was drowned on Einar's-reef [Einarssker, now called Einars- 
 bodi, near Hrappsey in Broad-fiord] in Seal-sound, and his shield came 
 ashore on Shieldey and his cloak on Cloak-holm [Feldar-holm]. Einar 
 was the father of Thorgerd, the mother of Herdis, the mother of Stein 
 the poet." 
 
 Einar's most famous work was Fell-Ekla [Lack-Lucre), which is 
 quoted in the Kings' Lives and also in Edda. It was no doubt one of 
 the chief sources for the early career of the earl. It is very antique in 
 spirit, akin in feeling and treatment to Thiodwolf's poems, but, curiously 
 enough, without any trace of Egil's influence. As a dated work, before 
 980, on such a man as Hakon, the poem is of high interest to the 
 historian. It was in Drapa-form, and each section treated of a separate 
 exploit of the earl's ; thus, had we the whole, there would be a complete 
 annalistic account of his life, beginning with his revenge for his father's 
 death, down to the eve of the lomswicking battle. We have parts of 
 sections relating (i) to Fighting the sons of Gundhild and Gritgard's fall ; 
 
 (2) the Expedition in aid of the Danish king Harold against Otho II; 
 
 (3) a Campaign in Gautland; (4, 5) the first and second Campaigns 
 against Reginfred ; (6) the Re-establishment of peace and good rule and 
 the heathen ritual in Norway. 
 
 Vellekla's text is in a fearful state, whole lines rotten and overlaid by 
 Philistine folly— once a fine poem, rich in parallelisms, and variations 
 on a single theme, stern, almost religious, full of condensed facts — but 
 now, names and facts that Ari once found there lie buried beneath the 
 stucco of jingle, e.g. the name of Griotgard in v. 6 concealed under 
 ' harda loptz vinar barda,' the 'three winters' in v. i, the name of the 
 emperor in v. 11, and the name of Othere [Ottar] in v. 13. In 1. 62, 
 stod and byrjar where Ari read Stad and Byrda; in 11. 65-66, Ari read 
 {>inga nes. In 1. 44, for ' fior Gauta ' Ari read 'sker Gauta ;' farther we 
 have been able to restore the reading ' he enquired of the oracle by the 
 divining rods' to the form in which we believe Ari read it. 
 
 The arrangement of the sections is determined by the German 
 chronicle, which forbids us to allow Hakon's rule to have been estab- 
 lished before the Danish expedition, as indeed was a priori unlikely. 
 Ari or his editors have been misled here in some way. 
 
 There is a peculiarity which marks many genuine verses of Einar — 
 consonance between the last measure of the first half and the first measure 
 of the second half of the line. This ornament characterises a whole 
 poem on Hakon 'different from Vellekla' cited in Edda and Fagrskinna, 
 but of which the name is lost ; and even the text is not safe in parts. This 
 metrical form was imitated and pushed to extremes by later poets. 
 
 TiND Hallkettlesson, one of Bragi's descendants (see Book vii, 
 p. 2) and kinsman of the poet Gunlaug Snake's-tongue, was a m^an of 
 adventurous life. There are traditions relating to him in the Heidar- 
 viga Saga, where we are told of his smithy, and of his part in the 
 Heath-slaughter feuds. The verses ascribed to him in that Saga are of 
 doubtful authenticity. There are fragments of a Hakon s-drapa in the 
 Kings' Lives, and in the lomsvikinga-vellum, AM. 510, is a long snatch 
 of the same poem in a terribly corrupt state, published first by Dr. 
 Petersens, Lund 1880. This Encomium relates to the lomswicking 
 battle, and contains particulars and names (such as Godmar in the
 
 44 EARL HAKOX'S COURT. [bk. vii. 
 
 Wick, the site of some engagement of the year 980) which are not 
 contained elsewhere, and we must regret the impossibility of doing 
 much to restore these verses to their original state. 
 
 Thorleif Redcloaksson is told of in Landnama-bok, where we 
 find the story how he and his brother killed Klaufi who insulted them ; 
 a ditty Thorleif made on the occasion is given in Book vi. Ditty 19. 
 He is told of also in Swarfdaela Saga. He has become a legendary 
 person, and a story (known already to Hawk Waldisason and hinted at 
 in his Islendinga-drapa) sprung up of his having composed a bitter 
 satire on Earl Hakon, who sent a ghost to slay him. The ghost did his 
 work at the Great Moot, where Thorleif was buried. It is on his cairn 
 that the shepherd sat, as is told in the pretty story, parallel to our 
 Caedmon legend, in Flatey-bok, to be found in the Reader, p. 146. 
 
 Thorwolf mouth is only known from Skalda-tal, as Hakon's poet. 
 
 EiLiF GuDRUxssox. We have noticed this poet in the introduction 
 to his Thors-drapa, above, § i of this Book. 
 
 Eyiolf Dadi's poet. What is known of this poet is noted below 
 in Book viii, § i. His poem is inserted here, belonging more fitly, as 
 a heathen composition of Hakon's days, to this Book than the next. 
 
 I. EiNAR (Vellekla, or Lack Lucre). 
 
 (From the Lives of Kings ; vv. 30-32 from Edda.) 
 
 1. /^K odd-neytir uti ei6-vandr fiota breiSan 
 
 ^-^ ' gla8r 1 Ga)ndlar vedrom gramr " svafdi bil " haf3i : ' 
 ok rau8-mana reynir rog-segl He6ins boga 
 upp hof iaofra kappi ' etjo-Iund at setja.' 
 
 2. Vasat of byrjar a)rva odda-vifs n6 drifo 5 
 sverSa sverri-fiarSar svan-giy-jaSi at frfja : 
 brak-raognir skok bogna (barg u^yrmir varga) 
 
 hagl or Hlakkar seglom (hia)rs rakkliga fiajrvi). 
 
 3. Mart var3 ^1 a6r Ala ' Austr-la)nd' at mun banda 
 randar lauks af riki roeki-lundr of toeki. 10 
 
 4. Ber-ek fyr hefnd \)i es hrafna ' hlioms lof toginn skioma ' 
 J)at nam vaorSr at vinna vann sins fao3ur hranna : . . . 
 
 5. Rigndi ' hia)rs a hersa hri6-remmis fiair vl6a ' 
 (J)rym-]undr of iok t'undi Jjegns gnott) meil-regni : 
 
 ' ok hald-vi6orr ha)lda haf faxa ' let vaxa 15 
 
 laufa ve8r at lifom lif-kaold Hars drifo. 
 
 6. ' Hialm-grapi vann hilmir har6r ' (Loptz vinar) bar6a 
 {pa. kom vsoxtr 1 * vino ' vinheims) fiandr sina : 
 
 I. He revenges his father. The oath-fast earl had a great fleet on 
 the sea for three winters waging war against the kings [Gundhild's sons]. 
 No one could question his courage in battle. He shook the bows' hail, 
 arrcwus, out of the sail of the Walkyries, his shield, and feasted the 
 wolves. There was many a hard struggle ere he won the lands of his 
 heritage by the gods' will. I set forth his praise for his avenging of 
 his father. Iron-rain was showered at . . . He strengthened the host 
 of Woden. He made the life-chilling sword-storm at . . . wax high. 
 
 2. Read, J)riu Svafiiis bol. 9. Read, xtt-lond.
 
 § 2.J EINAR-S VELLEKLA. 45 
 
 ok for-sniallir fello furs i f'undar skurom 
 
 (J)at fser |)i63ar snytri) prir iarls synir (tirar). 20 
 
 7. Hvarfat aptr a8r erfQan odd-stafr faoQur hafSi, 
 her-for6a3r reS haiSa hiajr-veSrs konungs fiajrvi : 
 var6at Freyr sa-es foeri folk-ski6s ne man si3an 
 (f)vi breg3r ajld vi3 a6ra) iarls iiki framm sliko. 
 
 8. Hitt vas auk es eykir aur-bor6z a vit nor6an 25 
 und sig-runni svinnom sunnr Danmarkar runno : 
 
 ok holm-fia3turs hialmi H3or6a vaklr of fakknii 
 Dofra ' Danskra iofra ' Diottinn fund of sotti. 
 
 9. Ok ' vi3 frost ' at freisla fe-mikir konungr vildi 
 myrk-lilo6ynjar niarkar mord-alfs |)ess es kom nor6an : 30 
 \>i-es val-serkjar Virki ve6r-hir6i ba8 stirSan 
 
 fyr hlym-niaarSom HaorSa ' Hagbar6a gramr ' varoa. 
 
 10. Vasat 1 goegn ^ott goerSi garS-raognir styr hardan 
 gengilegt at ganga geir-asar her j^eira : 
 
 M-es me3 Frisa fylki for 'gunn-vi3ur' sunnan 35 
 
 ' kvaddi vigs ' ok Vinda vags blakk-ri6i Frakka 
 
 11. t'rymr varS logs es laogdo leik-mi6jungar ^riSja 
 (arn-greddir var6 ' oddom ' andvigr) saman randir : 
 sund-faxa kom Sa)xom sotki-jDrottr a flotta 
 
 J)ar 's sva-at gramr ' me6 gumnom ' Gar6 yr-|)i69om var6i. 
 
 12. Flotta gekk til frettar felli-niajrSr a velli 41 
 (draugr gat dolga Sago dagra6) ' He6ins va3a ' 
 
 ok hald-bo6i hildar hrK-gamma tva ramma; 
 
 He slew Gritgard. There was fresh company for Woden's hall. Three 
 earls' sons fell; it was a glory to the furtherer of the people. He 
 turned not back till he had kept the arval over his father, having slain 
 the king, Erlhig. Neither before nor after has there been an earl who 
 showed such earl's power; all talk of it. 
 
 H. Expedition against Otho. Next the ships sped under him south- 
 ward to Denmark, and the lord of the Northmen, hooded in helm of 
 awe, went to meet the Danish prince ; for the Danish king coming 
 from the north wished without fail to do battle against the Emperor, 
 the ruler of the Dark-woodland, Hohtein, Germany ; he bade the prince 
 of the Hords, Hakon, defend the Wall against the king of the Longo- 
 bards. However bravely he forght, it was no easy task to meet this 
 host, when the emperor came from the south, ready for battle, with 
 a great company of Frisians, Saxons, Wends, and Franks. It was a 
 hard figh.t when they joined shields ; the earl faced Otho bravely, he 
 turned the Saxons to flight. Thus he guarded the Wall against the 
 army of the Southerners. 
 
 HI. Sacrifices in Gautland. He enquired of the oracle on the . . . 
 field, and he got ybr an answer that there ivas a fair chance of a victory, 
 
 28. Read, Dana iofri? 29. Read, sowe //nee ? 32. Read, Langbar3a 
 
 gramr? 36. Read, 6'a;cn! ok Vinda. 38. Read, Odda? 43. tva] sa, Cd.
 
 46 EARL HAKON'S COURT. [bk. vii. 
 
 t^r valQi sa tlrar tein hlautar vi6 sker Gauta. 
 
 13. Ha9i iarl J)ars a9an engi mannr und ranni 45 
 hyrjar-JDing at herja hia^r-lautar kom SaDrla : 
 
 bara ma3r lyngs en lengra ' lopt var6a6ar ' barSa 
 (allt vann gramr um gengit Gautland) fra sia randir. 
 
 14. Val-fa)llom hl69 vaollo var9 ragna konr gagni 
 
 hriSar ass at hrosa (hlaut 06inn val) Fr66a. 50 
 
 15. Enn rei8 soSro sinni iarl borS-maorom nor8an 
 (s6kn-her6ir l^t sveiSa sott) Ragnfroe6i at moti. 
 
 16. Hof und hyrjar kneyfi (hraut unda fia)ld) f'undar 
 [Jjat sleit vfgi a vagi] vandar-d/r at landi : 
 
 ne fiaol-nenninn fyrri fe-mildr konungr vildi 55 
 
 (v3eg8it iarl fyrir ia^fri) Yggs ni6r fri9ar biSja. 
 
 17. Buinn Idtzk valdr ef vildi val-mey konungr heyja 
 ha)l6a mor8z at halda (herr fell um gram) velli. 
 
 18. Hitt var meirr at Moera mor9-fikinn \6t norSan 
 folk-verjandi fyrva fa)r til Sogns of goerva : 60 
 ftti Freyr af fiorom folk-laDndom sa branda 
 
 * ullr " sto6 " af \)\'\ ' allri yr-J)i63 ' Hddins " byrjar." ' 
 
 19. Ok til motz a meita miuk-hur9om fram J)ur8o 
 me9 svaor-goeli svarfa siau land-rekar randa. 
 
 20. Glum8i allr J)a-s Ullar egg-'J)ing' He6ins veggiar 65 
 (gnott flaut nas) fyr ' nesjom ' Noregr saman foro. 
 
 21. Var9 fyrir Vinda myrdi vid-frgegt (enn gramr si9an 
 goerdisk mest at morQi) mann-fall vi9 styr annan: 
 hlym-narfi ba9 hverfa hlifar-flagSs ok lag9i 
 
 ialks vi6 aDndurt fylki ondur-vaorp at landi. 70 
 
 22. Straong var6 gunnr a6r gumnar gammi nas und hramma 
 JDroengvi-meidr of {)ryngi Jjrimr hundruQom lunda : 
 
 and he beheld two ravens. Yea, he cast the divining rods at the Gauta 
 Skerries. He fought against Othere where none had ever come helmed 
 before ; no wicking had ever borne shield farther from the sea. He 
 covered the field with slain; won a victory: Woden gained by the dead. 
 IV. Fight with Reginfred. A second time the earl rode his sea-horses 
 from the north to meet Reginfred. The ships hove towards land, which 
 cut short the battle in the bay : the earl would not ask the king for 
 peace, the earl did not give in to the king. The earl said that he was 
 ready, if the king would, to fight on land. 
 
 "^ V. Second fight avith Reginfred. Again another time the earl went 
 from the north to Sogn ; he had with him the full levy of four folk-land 
 between Byrda and Cape Stadt. Seven earls sailed to battle with him, 
 and all Norway resounded when they joined in fight off Thinga-Ness. 
 There was a famous slaughter before the slayer of the Wends in his 
 second battle ivith Reginfred; the earl laid his ships to land, and drew 
 
 44. Emend. ; vildi . . . tyna tein lautar fior Gauta, Cdd. 62. Read, StaS. 63. 
 Read, fra Byr3o. 65-66. Read, |>inga . . . nesjom? 70. vorp, Fms. ; Jjorf, Cd.
 
 §2.] EINAR'S VELLEKLA. 47 
 
 knatti hafs at haDf6om (hagna6r vas J)at) bragna 
 folk-eflandi fylkir fang-ssell J)a6an ganga. 
 
 23. Siau fylkjom kom ' silkis snuna6r vas J)at bruna' 75 
 ' geymir grundar sfma grand- varr ' und sik landi. 
 
 24. Hver s6 if nema iaofra sett-r/Ti gob stfrz. 
 Ramm-aukin kve9-ek riki ra)gn Hakonar magna. 
 
 25. Nu liggr 'allt' und iarli (imon-bor6z) fyrir nordan 
 
 (' ve8r-goe6iss ' stendr vi8a) Vik (Hakonar riki). 80 
 
 26. Oil l^t senn inn svinni ssonn Einri6a maonnom 
 herjom kunnr of ' herio3 ' hofs tond ok v^ banda 
 at Veg-I6ta vitni valfallz um sia allan 
 
 (J)eim slfra. gob) geira gardz HlorriSi farSi. 
 
 27. Ok her-J^arfir hverfa Hlakkar motz til biota 85 
 ' rau8-brikar fremsk rcekir ' riki as-megir sliko : 
 
 nu grcer idorb sem a8an aptr geir-bruar hapta 
 au6-rj^rir Isetr aoro otryggva v^ byggva. 
 
 28. Engi var6 a isorQo settom g68r nema Fr63i 
 gasti-nia)r6r sa-es goerdi geir-brikar frid slikan. 90 
 
 29. Hvar viti a^ld und einom iard-byggvi sva liggja 
 (t)at skyli herr of hugsa) hiarl ok sextan iarla? 
 J)ess ri3r furs me3 fi6rom folk-leikr He6ins reikar 
 log-skunda6ar lindar lof-kendr himins endom. 
 
 30. Ne sigbiarka serkir s6m-mi6jungom romo 95 
 Hars vi3 Hajgna skurir hloe8ut fast um soe3ir . . . 
 
 31. Odda gn^^s vi3 oesi odd-netz ^indl setja . . . 
 
 32. Hnigo fiandr at glym Gaondlar grams und arnar 
 
 hramma . . . 
 
 up his men in array. There was a hot fray ere three hundred warriors 
 fell, and he walked thence over the dead to his ship again victorious. 
 He became the lord of seven counties, from . . . to . . . 
 
 VI. Establishes peace, restores the Gods' r^vorship. Who can doubt but 
 that the gods guide the upsetter of kings! Now all the Wick north of the 
 Wethereys is under his sway; Hakon's realm stretches far and wide. He 
 restored the temple glebes of Thor and the holy places of the gods, 
 driving the Jutes into the sea with slaughter by the gods' help. And all 
 the people turn back to sacrifices ; such might do the gods grant him : 
 the earth yields crops as of yore, and he makes men joyfully people again 
 the sanctuaries of the gods. Never was there prince save Frodi that 
 made such peace as he. 
 
 I say that the gods strengthen Hakon's sway. Was there ever a land 
 and sixteen earls lying so under one ruler ? His glory soars high under 
 the four ends of the heaven. 
 
 VII. Fragments. Nor could the firm-sewn mail shirts shelter the men 
 in the battle . . . 
 
 To set the sword against the rearer of war no one dared. 
 
 The foemen sank in battle underneath the talons of the eagle. 
 
 79-80. Read, oil . . . Ve5reyjar. 82. Read, herod? 86. asmegni, Fms.
 
 48 EARL HAKON'S COURT. [bk. vii. 
 
 II. Fragments of a later Drapa ox Earl Hakox. 
 
 (Verses 1-8, lo, II from Edda, verse 9 from Fagrsk.) 
 
 NU es ^at es Bo6nar bara berg-Saxa ter vaxa; 
 goervi 1 ha:)ll ok hly6i hlioS ' fley '-iaofurs J)i66ir. 
 
 Hug-sloran bi9-ek heyra (heyr iarl Kvasiss dreyra !) 
 foldar-vaDr6 a fyrSa fiarS-leggjar brim dreggjar. 
 
 Hliota mun-ek (n^ hlit'k) hia)r-t/s (of jDat fryjo) 5 
 
 fyrir a)r-{)eysi at ausa austr vfn-gn66ar flausta. 
 
 t'vl at fiajl-kostigr flesto flestr rae3r vi6 son Bestlo 
 tekit hefik mor6z til mserSar mseringr an J)u faera. 
 
 GoU-sendir Isetr (grundar gla6ar |)engill her-drengi) 
 [iians mseti kna-ek hliota] 'hliot' Yggs mia6ar niota. 10 
 
 Eisar vagr fyrir visa, verk ra)gnis mer hogna, 
 \)fir (36reribs alda aldr hafs vi6 fles galdra. 
 
 Ullar gengr of alia ask-saDgn J)ess es hvajt magnar 
 byrgiss ba)6var sorgar bergs grunn-la dverga. 
 
 Ne att-stu6ill settar 6gn-her6ir mun verda 15 
 
 (skyldr em-ek hr66ri at halda) Hilldi-tannz in mildri, 
 
 9. Byg6i laDnd (enn lunda l^k or9 a ]dvi) forSom 
 Gamla kind su-es granda (gunn-bor3z) veom f)or6i: 
 nu es afrendra ia)fra UUr geir-vadils ^eira 
 s6knar hvatr at setri setrs hveim gram betri. 20 
 
 10. Hialm-faldinn bau9 hildi hialdr-aorr ok Sigvaldi 
 hinn es for i gnf Gunnar gunn-diarfr Bui sunnan. 
 
 Prologue. It is now that the wave of Bodn [poetry] begins to wax 
 high, may the prince's courtiers give ear in the hall and listen to the 
 Giants' beverage, poetry. I pray the brave lord to listen to the Liquor of 
 the Giants. Hearken, earl, to Quasi's blood. I must pour out blame- 
 lessly before thee, prince, the bilge water of Woden's wine-vessel, -verse. 
 No ruler rules more in accordance with the son of Bestla, Woden, than 
 thou. I have begun my poem. I know how to make the ruler of the 
 land enjoy Woden's holy Mead. The prince gladdens his men, I get 
 gilts of him. The wave of Woden foams .... the billow of Odreari 
 thunders . . . The cliffs' surf that the Dwarves own, my poetry, praising 
 him, spreads among all men. Never shall be a more goodly scion of 
 Hildi-tand [War-tusk] the generous. I must set forth his praise. 
 
 Hakcn revenged. The kindred of Gamli [Gundhild's sons], who dared 
 to defile the sanctuaries, ruled this land of yore ; all men's report wit- 
 nesses thereto : but now there is set in the seat of those mighty lords 
 an earl better than any king. 
 
 loms'wick'mg fight. The helm-hooded Sigwald and the daring Bui, who 
 came from the south, offered battle. The warrior fed the ravens on 
 
 2. Read, veig or li3 ? 9. Read, gollsendi-Iatk ? 10. hli6t = hlaut? 
 
 14. gryim-, W.
 
 §2.] EINAR'S VELLEKLA. 49 
 
 II. Fiall-vaondom gaf fylli (fullr var9) [enn spisor gullo] 
 her-stefnandi hrajfnom (hrafn a ylgjar tafni). 
 
 III. Stray Verses. 
 
 (Verse i from Edda, verses 2, 3 from lomsvikinga Saga.) 
 
 1. "DAUGS getr me6 per peygi lpf6r drengr vesa lengi 
 
 -L' (elg buom flods) nema fylgi, friS-stoekkvir, pvi noekkvaS. 
 
 2. Goer6a-ek veig of ' vir9a ' Vi6ris illrar ifSar, 
 f)at vann ek- me6an aQrir aDr-vava9ir sva)fo : 
 
 komkat-ek J^ess par es |)6ui Jjing-saettis fd betra 5 
 
 {mei6r sparir hodd vi3 hroSri hverr) enn skald in verri. 
 
 3. Scekjom iarl |)annz auka ulfs ver6 |)orir sverQom 
 (hla)6om bor6-roinn barSa baug-skia)ldom) Sigvalda : 
 drepr eigi sa sveigir sar-linnz es gram finnom 
 
 (raDnd berom ut a andra Endils) vi6 mer hendi. 10 
 
 TIND HALLKELSSON. 
 
 (Verses i, 2, and 11. 15, 16 from Lives of Kings, the rest from AM. 510.) ' 
 
 1. "\ TARDA gims sem goer6i Ger6r biug-limom her9a 
 
 * {gnfv ox Fiolnis fura) farlig saeing iarli : 
 J)a es hring-faom hanga hryn-serk ViSorr brynjo 
 (hru6osk ri9-marar R66a rastar) var9 at kasta. 
 
 2. Vann a Vinda sinni ver9-bi66r Hugins (fer9ar) 5 
 (belt sol-gagarr seilar) sver6z-eggja spor leggja : 
 
 a9r hiaor-meiSar hrioQa (hsetting vas t)at) maetti 
 leiSar langra skei6a li6s halfan taDg priQja. 
 
 3. Gat ohrseSin sedra odd galdrs en Sigvaldi 
 
 vftt saukk naeti niotar vi6r nam Bua 'kvanti' 10 
 
 a6r m6t-ra)9uls mattu ' magrendr ' Grimnis vagna 
 
 the wolves' quarry, and the spears rang; yea, he gave the mountain- 
 ranging ravens their fill. 
 
 To Hakon. I cannot stay with thee. Earl, any longer save I get some 
 good by it. I shall make my ship ready to leave. In an evil hour 
 I brewed Woden's draught [my Song] for this Earl, yea, alas, when 
 other men were asleep. I never came to any place where more store 
 was set by money and less by poets ! Every one here grudges the fee 
 to pay for his praise. Let us seek Earl Sigwald, the wolf-feeder. 
 Should we meet him, he will not wave us off with his hand. Let us 
 dress our oar-fitted bark with the ringed shields! Let us bear the 
 targets out on to the sea-king's car [ship]! 
 
 Ttnd. It was not as if the damsel were making a bed for the Earl 
 in her arms when he had to throw off his ring-stripped mail-coat. The 
 battle grew hot : the ships were won. He laid the prints of his sword- 
 edges on the Wends [the lomswickings] before they {his men) could 
 clear twenty-five ships of war. The sword bit the warriors: a dan- 
 gerous game it was. The rest of the lines are untranslateable, so corrupt 
 
 3. vi&is, Cd. 10. Read, kvamo ? 
 
 VOL. II. E
 
 50 EARL HAKON'S COURT. [bk.vii. 
 
 saung at sverda t)ingi sorla frcenskum iarli. 
 
 4. Dreif at Vi8ris vedri vargi grim a margan 
 ver3 aud kundu vir6ri vagll agls timis hagli : 
 
 J)ars i sundr a sandi Ssorla 'bles' fyr iarli 15 
 
 (Idcss hefir seggja sessi) serk hring-ofinn (merki). 
 
 5. Forrad iarl enn aara hendr her maurum kendi 
 gvndlar doms at glaumi geirs tirar faor meiri 
 
 undz J)a er hraud en hau6ri hialldr raesi eg f)at gioUdum 
 nunnar fiis ' a maeti mordr ' vikinga skeiSar. 20 
 
 6. Gior8uzt gaondlar borda glaumr ox Jjar at er naumu 
 ' au6i grims at ey6iz ' oil lond Dana brandi 
 
 kent hefir 'hsegr' at haDggua 'hrseber birtingum senar ' 
 ve6r eggi undum uiggiar ueggurs nidz um Jjat skeggi. 
 
 7. Saddi iarl ^ars odda of ping saman geingu 25 
 ' van hugda valt hungri hranna ' byrgis nafni 
 
 mord skyar vard monnum mistar gott til vista 
 heiSins doms at hada ' aoUd uann markar si3u.' 
 
 8. I'at uill olid mei'an alldir 'yngs kue6iu menn ' byggja 
 gnogt-J)ess er goglum veitti 'glaum' Hakonar aefi 30 
 {)ui hyck bitrum beita baund at villdu landi 
 
 hyck lar rei6i lyda laetr huerium gram betri. 
 
 9. Hraud (en Hroptr um nadi) hialldr skya (ual n^um) 
 \>zr uar lindz fyr landi leidangr Dana skeidar. 
 
 10. Pa. er fyr bord a Barda i brudar fang at ganga 35 
 ue6r magnanda uiQris uirdendr Bua kendu. 
 
 11. Mikin giordi her hiorua 'hliomur' Bui sunnan 
 bauga skerdur at breidu balldur Hakonar valdi. 
 
 12. Undr er J^reytt ef ^rindi J)ann kendi ual er sendir 
 guUi safnadar gumna ' godinnar ' hraeum fiarri. 40 
 
 are they; ive can hoive'ver make out afewj broken lights. Verse 3, <we have 
 Sigwald arid Bui. Nor could the Wicking vie with the Throndish Earl. 
 In verse 4, 'we can only see descriptions of battle and the mention of the 
 mail-coat blown to pieces in the war-storm. In verse 5, the Earl is 
 mentioned clearing some number of Wicking ships at More. In the next he 
 teaches his Danish foes to veil their beards in the dust. Verse 7, must 
 have given the account of some battle on Denmark's coast. Verse 8. As 
 long as men dwell on Earth, so long the joy Hakon's heir gave the 
 birds of prey will be held in mind, I deem him the better of any 
 king . . . The clearing of the Danish ships is told of in verse 9. Bui's 
 going overboard luhen be despaired of victory, into the embraces of Ran's 
 daughters, is in verse ro. Great was the Sacrifice [human] at the 
 Launch of the ships, when Bui set out from the south and hastened to 
 Hakon's broad domain, says verse 11. Verse 12 tells of a fight at God- 
 mere in East Wick. 
 
 15. Read, hiosk? 20. Read, a Moeri mei&r. 22. Read, audi grimmr 
 
 at ey6a ? 23. Read, heggr . . . hrae-birtingom saevar? 26. Read, vann 
 
 hanga valr hungri hafna. 28. Read, hrid Danmarkar si3o ? 29. Read, 
 
 yggs . . . man {earth). 30. Read, glse. 37. Read, hlunn-ro3. 40. Read, 
 
 Godmarr.
 
 §2.] EYIOLFS BANDA-DRAPA. 51 
 
 !'ORLEIFR RAUDFELDARSON. 
 
 (Verse l from Lives of Kings, verse 2 from Skalda.) 
 
 1. TTAKON! vitom hvergi (hafisk hefir runnr af gunni) 
 -■- -L fremra iarl und ferli (folk-Ranar) {)er mana : 
 
 J)U hefir aDSlinga 06ni (etr hrafn af na getnom) 
 (vesa mattu af pvi visi vi6-lendr) nio senda. 
 
 2. Ha)f3o ver f per, Hakon, es at hiaor-rogi drogomk 5 
 (t)U rautt Ska)glar sk^ia sk66) forosto goSa. 
 
 I'CROLFR MUDR (from Edda). 
 
 SAGDI hitt es hugSi HliQskialfar gramr sialfom 
 hlifar-styggr \)i es ha)ggnir Hareks liQar varo. 
 
 V 
 
 EILIFR (§ i) cited in Edda. 
 
 ERDI J)er allz or6a oss groer um kon Moerar 
 a sef-reino Sonar sad vin-gisofom raSa. 
 
 EYIOLFR DADASKALD. (BANDA-DRAPA.) 
 
 (From the Lives of Kings.) 
 
 1. T7OLK-STYRIR vas fara finnz sol-knarrar linna 
 -*- su8r at siavar na8ri set-bergs gamall vetra : 
 a8r at Yggjar bruQi el-hvetjandi setja 
 
 hildar hialmi faldinn hodd-mildingar vildo. 
 
 2. Meita for at moti miaok sf6 um dag ski8i 5 
 ungr meQ iaDfno gengi Utvers fra)mom hersi : 
 
 Thorleif Redd oaks son. O Hakon, I know nowhere under the moon's 
 path [heaven] a greater earl than thou. Thou hast grown mighty by 
 war. Thou hast given nine Ethelings to "Woden ; and hence mayest 
 well be a far-ruling lord. O Hakon, thou wert a good captain to us 
 whenever we went forth to battle . . . 
 
 Thorwuolf Mouth. The king of Lith-shelf [Woden] spoke out when 
 the followers of Harek were cut down . . . 
 
 Eilif Gudrunsson. May gifts of friendship come to me in return for 
 the seed of Sona which grows in our breast respecting the famous 
 prince of the land, i.e. I ivant a fee for my Song. 
 
 Eyiolf Banda-drapa. The Burden. Joyful in battle, Eric draws under 
 himself the land, by the will of the gods, and wages war. Yea, the war- 
 glad earl rules the god-protected land since that day. 
 
 Introduction. The prince was but a few winters old when the earl [his 
 father] put him over the land. Late one day he went in his ship 
 against a proud baron ; yea, he slew Skopti at Utver [island]. Thou 
 
 9. Read, ver6i mer. Read, iar&ar. Read, maeran ? 
 £ 2
 
 52 EARL HAKON'S COURT. [bk. vii. 
 
 {)a-es riS-loga reiSir rand-vallar let falla 
 (ulf-teitir gaf soto opt bloS-vaDlom) Skopta. 
 
 3. Hodd-sveigir lezk hni'ga harSa rikr J)a-es bar6isk 
 (log-reifiss brattu lifi land-mens) ' Kiar sanda.' 10 
 
 I. Stal-oegir nam stiga stafn flet-balkar hrafna 
 
 af dyn-sveigi dau6om. — Dregr latid at mun handa — 
 
 4. Maerr vann miklo fleiri malm-hriS iaifurr sidan 
 a9r frsogom |Dat aQra — Eirikr und sik geira — 
 
 J)a es gar6-vala gerSi Gotlandz vala strandir 15 
 
 Virfils vi'tt um herjat. — Vebr-mildr ok semr hildi. 
 
 5. Stoerir let at Stauri stafn-viggs ha^fuS liggja, 
 gramr vaelti sva gumna. — Gunn-blibr ok rib sidan — 
 sleit at sverSa moti sva)r5 vikinga ha)r6o 
 
 unda-mgor fyr eyri. — larl god-vor^o hiarli. 20 
 
 II. 6 
 
 . — Dregr land at mun banda — 
 
 7. Fra-ek hvar fleina-siavar fur-her6ir styr goerdi 
 endr 1 Eyrar-sundi. — Eirekr U7id sik geira — 
 Raud fur-giafall fiorar foIk-meiSr Dana skeidar 
 
 ver frgogom ]Dat, vaga. — Vedr-??iildr ok se??ir hildi. 25 
 
 8. Attu6 hialdr {)ar es ha)ldar hlunn-viggs i hf runno 
 g3eti-nia)r6r vi5 Gauta. — Gimn-blidr ok re'b sidan — 
 Her-skildi for Hildar (hann ^verSi friS manna) 
 
 ass um ' allar S/'slor.' — larl goS-voriio hiarli. 
 
 9. Odd-hri3ar for eySa ox strid at J)at siSan 30 
 log-fagandi loegiss land Valdamars brandi : 
 
 Aldeigio brauzt cegir (oss numnask skil) gumna 
 
 (su var hildr me3 hajl6om hsord) ; komtu austr i Gar6a. 
 
 madest thine adversary to bow at K . . . , where thou didst fight, taking 
 his life. 
 
 Stave I. Thou didst stand over his dead body. A second battle, and 
 many more afterwards, Eric fought, when he harried all Gautland. He 
 set his ship's prow towards Staur [Staver, south point of Femem], off 
 the point the ravens devoured the Wickings' carcases. 
 
 Stave II. I have heard how he battled in Eyre-sound, taking four 
 Danish ships. He fought against the Gauts and sacked the town 
 of ... , and went with war-shield over all the Adal-sysia [Adal-sysla = 
 Curland]. 
 
 End part. He harried Waldemar's land [Russia] with fire ; stormed 
 Aldega- borough [Ladoga], that was a hard fight : thou camest eastward 
 into Garda [territory of Novgorod]. 
 
 29. Read, A3al-syslo.
 
 §3-] SAILOR POETS. S3 
 
 § 3. POEMS OF INCIDENT. 
 
 SAILOR POETS. 
 
 The Sea- Walls' Song. This account is given in Landnama-bok: ''Heri- 
 woif the Younger went out to Greenland (c. 986-990), when Eric the 
 Red was settling the land. On board his ship was a Southern Islander 
 [Hebrides man], a Christian, who made the 'Sea-walls' poem,' in which 
 this burden occurs." These ' hafgerdingar ' or ' sea-walls ' are noticed 
 in the Speculum Regale (King's Mirror) about 1250, where they are 
 described as great waves of the Arctic Sea, which wall round the whole 
 ocean ' higher than mountains, like steep cliffs.' These huge rollers are 
 coupled with the Northern Lights, as the two wonders of the Arctic 
 Ocean; but we may accept the acute conjecture of Japhetus Steenstrup, 
 of Copenhagen, who believes them to have been the 'earthquake waves,' 
 which have been repeatedly observed and described in modern days (in 
 1755 for instance). So this poem is the earliest Northern record 
 of subterranean disturbance, and therefore of interest. The erup- 
 tions of the beginning of the thirteenth century would arouse fresh 
 interest in the subject, and account for the name and mention in the 
 Norwegian ' King's Mirror.' The poem appears to have been of a 
 votive character. Besides the burden, one line, the beginning, is also 
 quoted in Landnama, v, ch. 14. 
 
 Nordseta-drapa, by Swein. This poem is curious as having been com- 
 posed by one of the settlers in a fishing-place, Northset, in Greenland, 
 far to the north beyond the Arctic Circle, whence its name, the Nor- 
 setman's poem. It is, perhaps, the most northern in locale of all known 
 poems. The few lines that remain describe with some force the icy 
 storms of the North, but the end seems addressed to a lady. The final 
 words ' the river at length winds down to the sea ' are prettily expressed. 
 One would like to have more of this sailor poet. 
 
 Snxbiorn. We have in Book vi. Ditty 20, set a verse on Snsebiorn, 
 one of the earliest Arctic adventurers of the tenth century, a pre- 
 decessor of Eric the Red, a seeker for the unknown land, ' Gundbiorn's 
 reef,' a sailor poet. Parts of a poem of his on the Sea are quoted by 
 Snorri. They are of note as containing the only allusion, outside of 
 Saxo, to the Hamlet story, the sea being called ' Amlodi's quern.' 
 
 Snaebiorn's life, the nucleus for an interesting Saga, is given in Land- 
 nama-bok. He was of a good family, that of Eywind the Easterling; his 
 mother's name was Kialwor. He was fostered by Thorodd at Thingness, 
 and was nicknamed ' Galti.' Hallbiorn married a daughter of one of 
 his kinsmen, Hallgerd, who had the most beautiful hair of any woman 
 in Iceland, and murdered her in a fit of jealousy. Snsebiorn slew the 
 murderer, and then went off on a pioneering expedition ; but one of 
 those deadly quarrels, so frequent in the histories of early explorers, 
 broke out between the adventurers, and Snaebiorn was killed. 
 
 Orm Barreyiar Skald. Poet of Barra in the Hebrides. At the 
 banquet of Reekholar in 11 20, among other entertainments, 'Priest In- 
 gimuud told the story of Orm, the Barrey Poet, with many verses, and
 
 54 POEMS OF INCIDENT. [BK.vn. 
 
 at the end of the Saga a short poem of his own making. Many wise 
 men therefore hold that it is a true Saga' (Sturl. ii, ch. lo). This Saga 
 is lost. Nothing further is known of Orm. The fragments are cited in 
 Edda. 
 
 HAFGERDINGA-DRAPA; or, THE SEA-WALLS' SONG 
 (c. 986-990). 
 
 (From Landnama ; verse 1 from Hb.) 
 
 Beginning : 
 
 1. A LLIR hl5''6i osso fulli Amra fialla Dvalins hallar! 
 
 Burden : 
 
 2, Mfnar bi5-ek Munka-reyni meina-lausan farar beina : 
 hei6iss haldi harar foldar hallar Drottinn yfir mer stalli. 
 
 SVEINN: NORDSETA-DRAPA (NORSET SONG). 
 
 (Verses 1-3 from Edda ; verse 4 from Skalda.) 
 
 1. nnOKO fyrst til fiuka Forniotz synir liotir. 
 
 2. M-es el-reifar ofo JSgiss doettr ok taetto 
 ('fats' vi6 frost of alnar fiall-garSz) rokor harSar. 
 
 3 Hl^ss doettr a vi9 bl^so. 
 
 4. J'ar koemr (lyngs en la)ngom lind van8i mik strindar 
 leika leyni-sika Isevi) a til ssevar. 
 
 SN^BIORN. 
 
 (Verses i, 2 from Edda; verse 3 from AM. 738.) 
 
 1. OTIOR-VIDJAR tetr sty8ja stals buSlunga mali 
 ^ hlemmi-sver8 vi6 harSri hiif-langan sse diifo. 
 
 2. Hvatt kve9a hroera Grotta her-grimmastan skerja 
 ut fyr iar8ar skauti Eylu8rs nio bru8ir : 
 
 < I The Sea-Walls' Song. Prologue. Let all hearken to the cap ... of the 
 
 ^ dwarves' halls [poetry]. Burden. I pray the guileless Frien.d of the 
 
 Monks [Christ] to forward my voyage. INIay the Lord of Earth's lofty 
 
 hall [heaven] hold his hand over me. 
 
 Norset Song. First the horrid Sons of Forniot [gales] began to drive 
 the snow : what time the storm-loving Daughters of Eager wove and 
 ripped the cruel foam, nursed by the frost of the mountain-ranges. 
 The daughters of Lear [ocean] blew on the ship. Here comes the 
 river to the sea. [I. e. here my song ends.] 
 
 Snxbiorn. He plunges the broad blade of the beak of his long-hulled 
 bark into the hard wave. Men say that the nine INIaidens of the Island- 
 Mill, the ocean, are working hard at the host-devouring Skerry-quern [the 
 sea] beyond the skirts of the earth : yea, they have for ages past been
 
 §3-] HROMUND AND HIS SONS. 55 
 
 l3aer es (lungs) fyr lajngo li9-meldr (skipa hli6ar) 5 
 
 (baug-sker6ir rfstr bar9i b61) Aml66a in61o. 
 
 3, Sva at or fitjar fia)tri fl69s 'Asynjom bl68i' 
 
 (rsost byrjask raomm) en systra rftv Eymylrir sn;ftir. 
 
 ORMR BARREYJAR SKALD. 
 T TTAN gn^rr a eyri Ymiss bl66. Fara g66ral 
 
 Hvergi es Draupnis drogar dis (ramman spyr ek visa) 
 (sa rae6r valdr fyr veldi vagn-brautar) mer fagnar. 
 
 HROMUND AND HIS SONS. 
 
 RoMUND the Lame came of a Northern family living at Fagra- 
 brekka (Fair-brink), in Ramfirth, in the middle of the tenth century. 
 He is lying in the early dawn awake in his bed, when there comes a 
 raven on the luffer of the hall, and screams loudly. Romund breaks 
 into verse and declares this token to presage death to warriors (v. i). 
 His son Thorbiorn Thyna (axe) answers him (v. 2) and Romund repHes 
 (v. 3). Hardly had he finished, when certain Easterlings, pirates, break 
 into the court. The sons of Romund rush out to meet their /oes, but 
 the women try to stay Romund, saying he is too old to fight; he answers 
 them (v. 3). Hastan and his brothers win the day, though Romund is slain 
 and his grandson Thorleif wounded to death, but seven of the twelve 
 Easterlings were left dead on the field. The women ask the men what 
 has happened when they see them coming back to the house, and 
 Hastan answers (vv. 4-1 1). The Easterlings that escaped were wrecked 
 on Helgi's reef and drowned the same day. Hastan afterwards went 
 out to Norway, took service with King Olaf Tryggvason, and died aboard 
 the Long Serpent, at Swold. The tale of Romund, germ of a good 
 Saga, and the poem are found in Landnama-bok. It is also told in a 
 diluted form in Flatey-bok. The story of the wound that lokul, Ingi- 
 mund's son, gave him with that famous heirloom, the sword iEttar-tangi, — 
 whereby he was lamed, — and of his outlawry from Ingimund's settlement, 
 is told in Vatzdaela Saga. The whole family are good specimens of the 
 fierce spirit of the settlers. Eywind, the father of Romund, on hearing 
 of his foster-brother Ingimund's death, fell upon his sword, refusing to 
 outlive his friend. — From Landnama. 
 
 There is something antique about the style and metre of all the lines, 
 and the first verses are markedly poetic and weird. It is, though now 
 maimed like its author, a fine old Wicking Song. 
 
 grinding at Amlodi's meal-bin, the sea. Let us furrow the waves with 
 the prow of my ship. 
 
 So that the Daughters of the Island-grinder [sea] spirt the blood of 
 Ymi [brine] ; and the Sisters of the Miller of Islands, sea . . . We are 
 coming into a mighty current. 
 
 Orm the Barrey-poet. The blood of Ymi, the sea, is surging out there 
 on the Tongue. A happy voyage ! 
 
 . . . Wherever the lady welcomes me. I know the king of the realm 
 of the Wain-path, Christ, is mighty. 
 
 7. Read, Ymis bloai ?
 
 56 POEMS OF INCIDENT. [bk. vii. 
 
 Romund : 
 
 1. T TTI heyri-ek svan sveita sara-J)orns es mornar 
 ^ (bra9 vekr borgin-m66a) bla-fialla8an gialla: 
 
 sva gol fyrr |3a-es feigir folk-narungar vsoro 
 Gunnar haukr, es gaukar Gautz bragQa spso S30g6o. 
 
 Thorhiorn : 
 
 2. Hlakkar hagli stokkinn (hraes) es koemr at ssevi 5 
 (m68r krefr morgin-braSar) msor val-kastar baoro : 
 
 Sva gol endr J)a-es unda ei3s af fornom meidi 
 hrseva gaukr es haukar hildinga miaoS vildo. 
 
 Romund : 
 
 3. Vasa mer i dag dau6i (draugr flat-vallar bauga) 
 (buomk vi9 ilmar ialmi) a8r ne goerr of radinn : 10 
 Roeki-ek li'tt \)6-a.t leiki lit-va^ndr He9ins fitjar 
 
 (oss vas a6r of markaQr aldr) vi8 rauda skiaoldo. 
 
 Hasiein : 
 
 4. Her hafa 'sex' Jjeir es saevask sut-laust bana uti 
 svip-niaor9ungar sver9a sar-teins a bru-steinom : 
 hygg-ek at halfir liggi heptendr laga eptir ; 15 
 egg;skeindar let-ek undir 6bi6ingom svi9a. 
 
 5. Vaskat-ek fyrr nie9 fleiri fetla stigs at vfgi, 
 fyrir varom ]Dar fiorir frsendr ofstopa vsendir: 
 enn tolf af gUa6 Gylfa gunn-^ings hvatir runnar 
 
 kaold ru6o vsopn, t)eir-es vildo vars fundar til skynda. 20 
 
 6. Siau hafa soeki-tivar Svolniss gar6z til iar9ar 
 (bl68 fell varmt a vera, val-da)gg) nsosom haDggit: 
 munat fiir-viSir fleiri Fiolniss J^ings an hingat 
 
 lit um Ekkils brautir lalks mcerar skae foera. 
 
 7. Her mego hoeli-ba)rvar hlioms dal-tangar skioma 25 
 
 Romund. Outside in the morning I hear the croak of the raven 
 [black-skinned swan], he wakes to the prey: so in times of yore, when 
 the Shepherds of the people were death-doomed, the war-hawks were 
 ■wont to scream before a fray, auguring the Game of Wodin, battle. 
 
 Thorbiorn. The eagle, dew-sprinkled, screams when he comes to the 
 sea, craving his morning meal : so in the days of yore the eagles were 
 wont to scream out of the ancient tree when they thirsted for the 
 blood of kings, 
 
 Romutid. It was not to-day nor yesterday that my death-hour was 
 ■ fixed for me. I care not though brands play on red shields, for my 
 ( life was long ago marked out for me. 
 
 / Hastan. Seven pirates have met their death out on the causeway, 
 V the half of the law-breakers are lying on the field. I made them smart 
 with the wound the edges gave. I was not on the bigger side : there 
 were four of us kinsmen, when twelve wickings from the ship met us in 
 fight. Seven of them have struck the ground with their faces, the dew 
 of the slain is on them ; the greater half of them shall never launch 
 
 13. Read, siau, cp. v. 6.
 
 §3-] THORARIN'S MA-HLIDINGA-VISOR. 57 
 
 d^^rs hvat drfg^o fiorir dag-verks sia merki : 
 
 enn ek, hyr-brig6ir, hugda (hrafn sleit af na beito) 
 
 Gunnar-rsefrs, at gaefim griS-bitom fri8 litinn. 
 
 8. Unnom au8i-majnnom (a-ek J)unnan hiaDr) [Gunnar 
 drogomk vser at vfgi verk] dreyroga serki : 30 
 haDfQo her8i-lof8ar Hildar borfiz und skildi 
 
 (J)varr hangr-va)lom ' hengi ' hungr) ' vesaeri ' tungor. 
 
 9. Har8r vas gnfr \>i-es goerSom griot-varps loto snarpa ; 
 gengo sver8z at saongvi sundr gra-klseSi t'undar : 
 
 a,6r a hsel til hvil6ar (hluto f)eir bana fleiri) 35 
 
 [hialdrs kom hrf6 a skia)ldo] Hoekings vi6ir otki. 
 
 10. Heyri svan, {)ar-es sarir sigr-stallz vi6ir gialla, 
 (ben-skori drekkr bcoro bl66-fallz) of na gialla : 
 
 J)ar fekk aorn (enn erni ero greipr hrsejom sveipdar) 
 sylg, es Sleito-Helgi ' seg8 au8igr ' fdlt rau6o. 40 
 
 11. Ba)ro upp af ara all-J)ekkIigom blakki 
 ftav OSS at moti alm-J)ingsamir hialma : 
 
 enn a braut |)eir-es bsoro beiSendr go8om lei6ir 
 hli8ar her8i-niei8ar hau6r-mens skarar raudar. 
 
 THORARIN THE BLACK: MA-HLIDINGA-VISOR. 
 
 There is in Eyrbyggia (chaps. 15-22), among other episodes of which 
 that Saga is made up, the story of Thorarin and his famous Feud, with- 
 out which lucky interpolation we should know nothing about him, except 
 his name and a line of quotation in Snorri's Hattatal. His character is 
 thus drawn in Eyrbyggia : " At that time there were living at Mew-side 
 Geirrid, the daughter of Thorwolf Shankfoot, and Thorarin the Black, 
 her son ; he was a big, strong man, ugly, and speechless, but usually 
 good-tempered. He was known as a peacemaker. He was not very 
 rich, though he had a well-stocked farm. He was so easy to deal with, 
 that his foes said he had more of a woman's nature than a man's ; he 
 was a married man, and his wife's name was Aud." A quarrel arose 
 between Thorarin and Ord Kettleson, and they came to blows In the 
 yard at Mewside. Aud rushed out to part them, and the fight was 
 stayed, when a woman's hand was found on the spot. It was the hand 
 of his wife Aud. "When Thorarin knew of this (though the brave 
 
 their ship hence for sea. The marks of the day's task we four have 
 won are here to be seen, for I know we gave the truce-breakers little 
 grace. We gave the rievers bloody shirts, they bore . . . under their 
 shields. There was a grim clatter of stone-casting, and the gray sarks 
 of Woden rove asunder at the song of the sword, ere the Wickings gave 
 way, the most of them being slain. Hearken to the eagle screaming 
 over the carcases; the erne gets his fill of blood, and his talons are foul 
 with carrion, where the traitorous Quibble-Helgi won a red hood [a 
 bloody pate]. They bore white helmets up to meet us, but they carry 
 away ruddy locks, the accursed ones [dyed in their own blood]. 
 
 26. Read, drygSom, 32. Corrupt. 40. Read, sek5-au6igr?
 
 58 POEMS OF INCIDENT. [bk. vii. 
 
 woman, wishing to spare further bloodshed, tried to conceal it), and 
 heard the laughter of his foes, who mocked him as being himself the 
 man that had wounded his own wife, the fighting spirit woke in him, 
 and he rushed out at once and fell upon his enemies, slaying the ring- 
 leader Thorbiorn, and pursuing the rest so that one. Nail, a thrall, went 
 mad with terror and cast himself into the sea. This victory, while it 
 wiped off all the reproaches of his enemies, drew down deadly hate on 
 Thorarin ; but with the help of his mother's brother, one of the heroes 
 of Eyrbyggia Saga, Arnketil, the antagonist of Snorri the chief, whose 
 brother-in-law Thorarin had killed, he wins through it all. The verses 
 which Thorarin made upon the various incidents of this feud were known 
 as the Mewsiders' Ferses, and form together a kind of history of it, upon 
 which the prose tale in Eyrbyggia seems to be partly founded. This 
 piece is in the ancient vein, and not devoid of vigour and poetry in spite 
 of its intricate phrasing. It forms a ' flokk' addressed to Amkettle and 
 Wermund. 
 
 The text is from Eyrbyggia, edit. 1864, emended and re-arranged in 
 parts ; for, like most of the older court-metre poems, these verses have 
 suffered a good deal from corruption, the plain phrases of the ori^iinal 
 being put out to make way for elaborate and unmeaning circumlocu- 
 tions here and there throughout ; thus, ' fyrir einni ' probably stands for 
 'fyrir Enni,' ' fran Vikinga mana' conceals beneath it 'a fundi hlidinga 
 Mava,' and under the name ' Froda' must be the place ' Froda,' Froda- 
 nvater, where Thorbiorn lived. 
 
 1. "\ /"ARDAK mik, J^ars myrSir mor6-fars vega J30r6i, 
 
 * (hiaut gorn af na neyta nyjom) kvenna fryjo : 
 barkat-ek vaegd at vfgi val-na6rs 1 styr {)a6ra 
 (maeli-ek hoi) fyr hceli hialdrs-go8s (af f)vi sialdan). 
 
 2. Myndit vitr i vetri vekjandi mik sekja 5 
 (^ar ak lff-hva)tu6 leyfSan) laDg-rans [of J)at vanir] : 
 
 ef ek ni6-brae3i ngeQak nas val-fallins Asar 
 (Hugins letom ni6 niota na-grundar) Vermundi. 
 
 3. Skal-ek t)rym-vi6om J)remja (t)egi herr meSan !) segja 
 [vgon es I'sarns Asom aor-leiks] fra J)vi goerva : 10 
 hve hialdr-vlQir heldo haldendr vi9 mik skialdar 
 
 (ro8in sa-ek hrundar handar hnig-reyr) la)gom (dreyra). 
 
 4. Sottumk helm {)eir-es haetto hiajr-nirSir mer fia)rvi 
 (gn;f-li6mi beit geymi geira-stigs) at vigi : 
 
 Sva goer8o mer (sver8a) sokn-' niSiungom ' J)ri9ia 15 
 
 (sleitka) liknar (leiki lostigr) fa kosti. 
 
 Meavsiders' Ferses. I have cleared myself in the fray from the women's 
 reproach. I showed no mercy to him, Tborl?iorn, in the bicker, I seldom 
 boast of it. My adversary, Thorbiorn, would not have wrested the suit 
 against me last winter, if I could have got the help of Wermund the 
 Warrior. 
 
 Now I will set it forth clearly to all men. Give ear the while ! how 
 they held a Leet-court against me, and boiv I saw my lady's hand stained 
 red in gore. They visited me with armed force, threatening my life ; 
 
 15. ver, Cd. Read, •ni3ungar.
 
 §3.] THORARIN'S MA-HLIDINGA- VISOR. 59 
 
 5. Ur6o ver at verja (vas sor drifin sara) 
 
 [hrafn naut hrseva] (gefnor hialdr-skj^ja) mik fr^jo : 
 pi es vi6 hialm (a holmi) hrein mins fa)9ur sveini 
 J)aut andvaka unda (unnar ben-lcekir runno). 20 
 
 6. Knatti hiajrr und hetti (hrse-fl63) bragar moQa 
 (rauk um soknar sceki) slf8r-beitr sta6ar leita : 
 B166 fell, es vas vadi vfg-tjalldz naer, skialdi 
 
 (|)a vas doemi-salr doma dreyra-fullr) um eyro. 
 
 7. Knatto ' hialmi hasttar hialdrs ' a mfnom skialdi 25 
 ' J)ru6ar vangs ins |)unga lyings spa-meyjar ' syngva : 
 J)a-es biug-raiQull boga baugs fyr 66al-draugi 
 
 (giajll ox vapns a-va)llom) var6 bl66-drifinn Fr69a. 
 
 8. Vas til hreggs at hyggja (hrafn-vins) a boe mfnom 
 (t)ur6i eldr um aldir) uggligt Munins tuggo: 30 
 f)a-es a fyr9a fundi fran 'vikinga mana' 
 
 lind beit log8is kindar li9o hajgna vd goegnom. 
 
 9. Reka J)6ttomk-ek (Rakna) remmi-skoQs vi9 m66a 
 (kunn-faka hn^ kennir) klam-or8 af mer borda : 
 hvatki-es (hildar gotna hrafn sleit af na beito 35 
 siks) vi9 sina leiko sselingr of \)at maelir. 
 
 10. Kve9it man Hroptz at heipdom hyr-sker8ir 'mer' ver9a 
 (' kannak a9r fyr " einni " Yggs teiti sva leita ') : 
 
 es hlaut-viSir hdto (hloekiendr, J)eir-es skil floekja, 
 eggjomk hofs) at ek hioeggja Hlin gu8vefjar mina. 40 
 
 11. Na-ga)glom fekk Nagli nest daliga flestom; 
 kaf-sunno rib kennir kloekkr i fiall at stoekkva : 
 heldr gekk hialmi falldinn (hialdrs) 'at' vapna galdri 
 ({)ur8i elldr um aldir) Alfgeirr af hvaott meiri. 
 
 12. Gratandi rann ggetir geira-stigs fra vigi; 45 
 (J)ar vasa grimo geymi g66 vaon fri8ar hgonom) : 
 
 sva at mer-skyndir moendi mein-skiljandi vilja 
 (hugdi bi63r a bleySi bif-staups) a sio hlaupa. 
 
 yea, they gave me little hope of mercy. I had to defend myself from 
 reproach, when the sword whistled about the head of my father's son, 
 me. The sword struck the poet [me] below the helmet, the blood flew 
 about the bard's ears ; the moot-place was full of gore. The . . . rung on 
 my shield . , . Froda was blood-stained. It is dreadful to think of the 
 fight at my homestead when sword clove shield at Mevvside. I cleared 
 myself of railing accusation, and slew him [Thorbiorn], whatsoever the 
 lord [Snorri] may say to his sister [the widow of Thorbiorn]. I had to 
 call on the moon against their cursed reviling, when the wretch, that 
 wrested the law, said that I had wounded my own wife. Nagli fast 
 ran whimpering to the hills, and Alfgeir made still greater haste to be 
 away. Weeping he [Nagli] fled from the fray, so that he was on the 
 point of leaping into the sea, out of pure cowardice. — I remember, Wer- 
 
 31. Read, hliflinga Mava ? 37. Read, mana; see vol. i. p. 15, 1. 37. 38. 
 
 Read, Enni. 43. at] read, af or fra. 48. Or bifr-staups ?
 
 6o POEMS OF INCIDENT. [bk. vii. 
 
 13. Muna muno ver at vorom, Vermundr, glaSir stundom, 
 au6ar-}3ollr, a6r ollom au9-varpa8ar dau8a : 50 
 Nii siajmk hitt at hloegi hsor-gerSr munom ver6a 
 
 (leitt eromk rauSra randa regn) fyr ' pru6om ' f egni. 
 
 14. H^to hirSi-niotar hauka-ness til J)essa 
 (heptandi vas-ek heif)tar) hog-lifan mik drifo : 
 
 opt koemr (alnar leiptra 3efi-fus) or dusi 55 
 
 (nu kna mrb til or8a) oe6i-regn (at fregna). 
 
 15. Skalat aDl-drukkin ekkja (ek veit at gat beito 
 hrafn af hraeva-efni) hopp-fa)gr at f)vi skoppa : 
 
 at ek (hia3r-da)ggvar) hyggja (her es fion komin liona) 
 [haukr unir hsorSom leiki hraeva stn'Ss] a kvido. 60 
 
 16. Lata hitt at hliota haldendr mynim skialdar 
 (saekjom ra6 und n'kjan) romo-samt or domi : 
 nema Arnketill orom, 3e-g68r vi6 lof f)i68ar, 
 (vel truik grimo geymi galdrs) sak-msolom haldi. 
 
 17. Esat sem grepp fyr gloepi grund fagr-vita mundar 65 
 fura fleygi-ara frsenings laDgom raeni : 
 
 ef sann-vitendr sunno (s^-ek Jjeira li6 meira) 
 [oss megni gu8 gagni] Gautz J^ekjo mik sekja. 
 
 ORD AND THE SONS OF HEALTL 
 
 It is told in Landnama-bok that Healti came out and * settled Hof in 
 Healti's dale [in the N.]. His sons were Thorwald and Thord, noble 
 men. It was the noblest arval that ever was in Iceland, the arval they 
 made over their father; there were 1400 guests bidden, and the men of 
 quality among them were given parting-gitts. At that arval Ord the 
 Broad-firther delivered a Song of Praise, which he had made upon 
 Healti. Before this, Glum Geirason [the poet] had summoned Ord to the 
 Thoi-skafirth-moot, and now the Sons of Healti set out from the north 
 in a ship to Steingrim's iirths, and thence went southward over the 
 Heath, by the place now called Healtdale-bait. And when they came 
 to the Moot, they were so well dressed that men thought that it was 
 the gods that were come there, whereon this verse was made ' [see 
 verse II, p. 62 below]. 
 
 mund, how often we were merry together, before I slew him; but 
 now I fear lest I become a laughing-stock to the wise one [Snorri]. 
 Hitherto folks have called me peaceful: a furious rain-storm often comes 
 out of a sultry sky. The fair-hipped lady [Snorri's sister], merry with ale, 
 shall not make mock of me, that I ever trembled at what was to come 
 [that I lacked courage]. Men say that I shall have the verdict dead 
 against me, unless the ever-kindly Arnkettle, in whom I put all my trust, 
 upholds my cause bravely. It will not be for crime of mine, if they out- 
 law me. They have the bigger party. INIay the gods strengthen my 
 
 51. hloegi] emend.; hlauia and hlaupa, Cdd. 52. Read, frodora (i.e. Snorri). 
 58, Read, skaupa?
 
 §3-] 
 
 ORD AND THE SONS OF HEALTI. 6i 
 
 Of this Ord's poem {Hlalta-drapa) nought is left ; but in Eyrbyggia 
 there is a fragment of a Praise-Song, on Illugi the Black (the father of 
 Gunlaug the poet), touching certain law dealings of his, ascribed to Ord 
 the poet. We take this to be our Ord of Broadfirth. 
 
 Of the Healtissons, ' from whom there came,' as Landnama-bok says, 
 ' a great and noble race,' we have no particulars, save in the Tale of 
 Styrbiorn the Champion of the Swedes, In Flatey-bok we have, in an 
 account of the Battle of Fyrisfield, the following notice : — ' King Eric 
 [the Victorious] was standing on Upsala brink, and he bade him that 
 could, to make a verse, promising a guerdon for it. Thorwald Healtisson 
 made these verses [given below, verse III]. Thorwald got for his guerdon 
 a ring of half a mark for every verse, and he never made a verse before 
 or since that any one knows of.' This is confirmed by Skalda-tal, which 
 names Thorwald as a poet of the Swedish king, Eric the Victorious. 
 
 Ogmundar-drapa, by Guest the Wise and Sibyl-Stein. It is 
 told in Landnama-bok that Guest Ordlafsson, whom we know from 
 Laxdaela Saga, ' was bidden to a harvest feast at Leot's, and thither came 
 Egil, Sibyl-Stein's son, and prayed Guest to take some counsel, whereby 
 his father might be comforted in his deadly grief that he was in for 
 Ogmund his son. Guest thereupon made the beginning of Ogmund's 
 Praise.' 
 
 We have in Edda the beginning of this Ogmundar-drapa, but ascribed 
 to Sibyl-Stein himself, and it may be that Ari means to imply that Guest 
 began the poem for Stein to finish. There are two distinct echoes of 
 Egil's in the four lines left us, ' Mims vinar' and * Thundar fundr,' which 
 would confirm the chronology of the incident, a half-dozen years later 
 than Sona-torrek (Book iv). This Sibyl-Stein was the son of Thurid 
 Sound-filler, a Sibyl, who came, as Landnama-bok further informs us, 
 from Haloga-land to Bolungwick, in Waterness, in Iceland. ' She was 
 called Sound-filler, because in Haloga-land, during a famine, she worked 
 her charms so that every sound was filled with fish. She also made Fold- 
 bank in Icefirth-deeps, and got thereby a humble-ewe as fee from every 
 frankUn in Icefirth.' 
 
 Steinthor. The beginning of a Song of Praise, ascribed by Snorri 
 to Steinthor, of whom nothing else is known, but the scrap has the true 
 early ring about it. The second fragment, though anonymous, is clearly 
 part of the same poem. 
 
 Unnamed Poet. Barrodar-drapa. One verse is left of a Praise of 
 Barrod [Barfred], who is mentioned in Wiga-Glum's Saga. 
 
 ORD. I. Illuga-drdpa (from Eyrbyggja). 
 
 1. T TESTR vas J)raong a t)ingi t'orsness me9 hug st6rom 
 
 ^ ha^ppom studdr J)ar-es hodda hialm-raddar stafr kvaddi : 
 snar-rac3an kom s:6an (scett vasa goer med letta) 
 Forna si66s und fouSi farmr dolg-svsolo barma. 
 
 2. Drott gekk s;fnt a ssettir, svellendr en J)ar feiro 5 
 
 Ord. Illugi^ J Praise. There was a throng in the west on Thorsness 
 Moot, when the lucky Illugi claimed the hoard : it was not easy to come 
 to a decision : and at last it came to pass that the verdict gave him the 
 purse of Forni. The people clearly broke the agreement: three men
 
 62 POEMS OF INCIDENT. [bk. vii. 
 
 J)remja svellr fyr J)olli Iprir andvaoko randa : 
 adr kyn-frama8r koemi kvanar hreggs vi6-seggi 
 (frsegt goerQisk J)at fyrSa forraS) gri6oin Snorri. 
 
 II. On Healti's Sons. 
 Mangi hugSi manna mor6-kanna8ar annat 
 isarn-mei6r an M%\x al-maerir J^ar fceri : lo 
 
 t)a-es a t'orska-fiar8ar-|)ing me6 enni-tinglom 
 holt-vartariss Hialta har8-fengs synir gengo. 
 
 III. Thorvald Healtason. 
 Fari til Fyris-vallar folka tungls hverr es hungrar 
 verdr at virkis garSi vestr kveld-ri8o hesta : 
 J)ar hefir hrae-daoggvar hoeggit (hollaust es Jjat) solar 15 
 elfar gims fyrir ulfa Eirekr 1 dyn geira. 
 
 VOLO STEINN. Ogmundar-drdpa (from Edda). 
 
 Heyr Mims vinar mina (mer es fundr gefinn f'undar) 
 vi8 goma-sker glymja, Glaumbergs Egill ! strauma. 
 
 Man-ek t)at es i»r8 vi6 or6a endr Myrk-Danar sendo 
 grcennar gra)fnom munni gein H166ynjar beina. 
 
 STEINI'CRR (from Edda). 
 
 Forn-goervom a-ek fyrnom farms GunnlaSar arma 
 horna fors at hrosa hli't-styggs ok Jdo litlom : 
 
 BaeQi a ek til briiSar berg-iarls ok skip Dverga 
 soUinn vind at senda sein-fyrnd ga)to eina. 
 
 BARRGEDAR-DRAPA (from Landnama-b6k). 
 Barroe3r of rfstr bsoro braut land varar andra. 
 
 fell before him, ere that Snorri, the glory of his family, brought about 
 a peace between them. This management of Snorri's became very 
 famous among men. 
 
 The imprcvisation on the grand array of Healths sons. No one doubted 
 that the all-glorious Anses were coming in person, when the sons of 
 Healti, in helm of awe, marched on the moot of Thorskafirth. 
 
 Ihor'wald Healtisson. On the battle of Fyris-field, ivhere he fought. 
 Let every charger of the ogress [wolf] that hungers go to Fyris-field. 
 There (it is no vaunt) Eric has cut down in battle quarry enough for 
 every one of them. 
 
 Sibyl-Stein. Ogmiinds Praise. Prologue. Listen, O Egil of Glamberg, 
 to the river of Woden singing against the reefs of my gums. Woden's 
 Find [the gift of poesy] is granted to me. I remember that . . . rocks. 
 
 Stanthor. I boast of Woden's horn-rapid [mead of Poesy] ; old brewed 
 it is, but there is little of it. By the same path I have to send the swollen 
 gale of the Giantess [thought] and the everlasting ships of the Dw^arves 
 [verses]. 
 
 Barrod's Praise. Barrod is cutting the path of the billow's-land with 
 his sea-sledge.
 
 §4-] CORMAC AND HOLMGONGO-BERSL 63 
 
 § 4. IMPROVISATIONS. 
 
 CORMAC AND BERSI'S STRAY VERSES. 
 
 The Stray Verses (Lausa-vi'sor) of Cormac are given here. What we 
 know of his regular compositions and of his life is said above in § 2. 
 They rest u{)on a Saga only, for not one of them is cited by Snorri 
 though there are so many of them, while the Sigrodar-drapa is quoted 
 several times; nay even, strange to say, Olaf gives one line, v. 42, which 
 is not found in the Saga. At first sight there are several suspicious 
 points in them; for instance, the repeated use of the word 'borda,' 
 embroider, a modern kind of sentiment, many ' half-kennings,' and the 
 too perfect metre. But one is loath to give them up ; there is an 
 extravagant but passionate force about some of them, especially those 
 addressed to Steingerd, which makes one accept them as genuine at 
 any rate. And on closer examination one sees that there are evident 
 marks of * over-working ' and ' repainting ' about the greater number of 
 them. Even well-known verses like 8 have suffered, for under ' handan' 
 must stand some synonym for Norwegian, ' Heina ' or ' Horda,' and 
 surely under 'svinna' lies ' Svia,' for otherwise *ok' has no raison d'etre 
 in the verse. We can see here and there that Cormac's lines must 
 have been like Thiodwolf's or Bragi's rather than Sighwat's, and that 
 these irregular lines have often been remodelled. 
 
 Those verses which are absolutely corrupt or meaningless have not 
 been printed here ; but the rest are given, with such translation as 
 seemed most tenable. Were they perfect, they would probably be the 
 finest of all Northern classic love-poetry. 
 
 Bersi the Duellist, the scarred old veteran, whose coolness and 
 trained courage is contrasted with the violence and rage of the young 
 Cormac, is a good specimen of the heroic age, and no mean poet. 
 
 There is a simple straightforward force in his verses which makes 
 them tell, and heightens one's interest in their author. There must 
 have been a separate Saga on him, but we only know him from that 
 part of it which is wedged into Cormac's Saga and from a few scattered 
 notices elsewhere. The way he got protection from Olaf the Peacock 
 when he was harassed by his enemies in his old age, and the verse he 
 made on himself and his baby foster-son, will be found in the Reader ; 
 the ditty we have given in Book vi, no. 25. 
 
 Several of Bersi's verses deal with his life of combat, some are 
 laments over his declining strength and the loss of friends, and recall 
 Egil's feelings in like case, though they are not so thoughtful or pathetic. 
 The Editor has only given those which bear most marks of authenticity 
 (for many have been tampered with, some may even be forged) ; these 
 have a rougher and more unsophisticated appearance than Cormac's. 
 Edda and Skalda cite three lines of Bersi (5, 6, 15). A new edition of 
 Cormac's Saga in which all these verses are found would be welcome. 
 
 u var6 mer f mino, men-rei6, isotuns leiSi 
 r^ttomk risti snotar ramma sost fyrir skaommo: 
 
 The first sight of Steingerd. I saw the lady's feet just now, mighty 
 
 N
 
 64 IMPROVISATIONS. [bk-vh. 
 
 Jjeir muno fcetr at foari fall-gerSar mer verSa 
 (allz ekki veit-ek ella) optarr an nu svarra. 
 
 2. Brunno beggja kinna biaDvt lios a mik drosar 5 
 (oss hloegir {)at eigi) eld-hiiss of vid felldan : 
 
 enn til a)kla svanna itr-vaxins gat-ek lita 
 (Jjrco monat oss um sevi eldask) hia J)reskeldi. 
 
 3. Bra-mani skein bruna brims und liosom himni 
 hristar hajrvi gloestrar hauk-frann a mik lauka: 10 
 enn sa geisli s5''slir si5an goll-hrings FriSar 
 
 hvarma tungls ok hringa Hh'nar opurft mina. 
 
 4. Hofat lind (ne ek leynda) li6s hyrjar {'pvi stri9i) 
 [bandz man-ek beida Rindi] baug-soem af mer augo : 
 ^a-es hum knarrar hiarra happ J)3egi-bil krappra 15 
 helsis soem a halsi HagborSz a mik stor6i. 
 
 5. Eitt l^ti kvezk ' ita eld bekks ' a mer J)ykkja 
 eir um aptan-skaeror all-hvit, ok \)6 liti9 : 
 hauk-moerar kva3 hari Hlin vel-borin mino 
 
 (|)at skylda-ek kyn kvinna kenna) sveip i enni. 20 
 
 6. Svaort augo ber-ek Saga snyrti-grund til fundar 
 Jjykkir erma Ilmi all-fsolr ' er la saliva : ' 
 
 Jdo hefi-ek mer hia meyjom men-grund komit stundom 
 brings vi6 Haorn at manga hagr sem drengr in fegri. 
 
 7. Ol-Saogo met-ek auga annat befijar Naonno, 25 
 t)at es i lioso liki liggr, hundraSa {^riggja : 
 
 J)ann met-ek hadd es (hodda) ha)r bei6i-Sif greiSir 
 (d/r ver6r faegi-Freyja) fimm hundraSa snimma. 
 
 8. Allz met-ek au6ar-^ello Islandz, pa-es mer grandar, 
 Huna-landz ok ' handan ' hug-sterkr sem Danmarkar : 30 
 
 love is roused within me ; those ancles of hers will some day be a 
 stumbling-block to me ; though when. I know not. The bright beams 
 of both of her cheeks shone on me from behind the plank [shutter], it 
 bodes no good to me ; I saw the feet of the fair-formed damsel on the 
 threshold, I shall never lack pain therefore as long as I live. The 
 keen stars of her brows shone on me from the heaven of her face ; this 
 beam from her eyes will hereafter work my woe. The ring-dight one 
 never raised her eyes from me, nor do I hide my pain : what time the 
 maid of the house looked on me in the dusk from behind Hagbard's 
 neck [the pillar carved caryatid-wise]. Fair in the even-gloom, she said 
 that I had but one blemish in me, and that a small one : she declared 
 that there was a curl in the hair on my forehead. Black are my eyes 
 and very pale she thinks me. Yet I have won favour with ladies, for I 
 am as skilled to please them as any fairer man. 
 
 Her worth. One eye of hers, that lies in her fair face, I value at three 
 hundreds. The locks she is combing (she is a costly thing) I value at 
 five hundreds. The whole body of her that makes my misery I value 
 at Iceland, Hunland, the land of the Hords [Norway], and Denmark. 
 
 15. hlin, Cd. 20. Or sveipt, Cd. 24. fagri, Cd. 30. Read, 
 
 HorSa.
 
 § 4-] CORMAC AND BERSI'S IMPROVISATIONS. 65 
 
 ver6-ek Engla iar6ar Eir ha-J)yrnis geira, 
 s61-gunni met-ek Svia sundz ok fra grundar. 
 9. 'Heitast' hellor fliola hvatt sem korn a vatni 
 
 (enn em-ek au6-spa)ng ungri djDekkr) enn biso6 soekkva, 
 faerask fia)ll in storo ' fraeg ' i diupan segi : 35 
 
 a3r iafn-fa)gr 'troSa' alin ver6i Steinger6i. 
 
 10. L^tt-fdiran skaltu lata (liostu vendi mar Tosti) 
 
 ' m63r of miklar hei6ar minn best und per renna: 
 
 makara es mer at masla, an m6rau6a sau6i 
 
 of afr^tto elta, or9 mart vi6 Steingerfii. 40 
 
 11. Braut hvarf or sal saeta (sunnz eromk hugr d gunni) 
 [hvat merkir nu] (herkis) haoll f)verligar alia : 
 rennda-ek allt 16 i6ra Eiri gollz at |)eiri 
 
 (hlfns erom hsorn at finna) bus bra-geislom (fusir). 
 
 12. Sitja sver9 ok bvetja sin andskotar mlnir 45 
 eins karls synir inni, ero9 J)eir banar minir : 
 
 enn ef a viSom velli vega tveir at mer einom 
 J)a-es sem ser at ulfi ovaegnom fia)r sceki. 
 
 13. Sitja menn ok meina mer eina Gnso steina, 
 
 jDeir hafa vfl at vinna es mer var6a Gnso borSa : 50 
 
 p\'i meira skal-ek jDeiri es J)eir ala stoeri 
 aofund um okkrar gaDngor unna soerva Gunni. 
 
 14. Sitja menn ok meina mer eina Gnso steina, 
 Jjeir hafa ' la)g6is loddo ' linna foetr at vinna : 
 
 ^vi-at upp skolo allar a)l-stafns a6r ek J)er hafna 55 
 
 l^si-grund 1 landi linnz |)i66-ar renna. 
 
 I value her at England, Sweden, and Ireland too. The slates shall 
 float as light as corn on the water, and the earth shall sink, the huge 
 mountains shall drop into the deep sea ere a lady so fair as Steingerd 
 shall be born. Yet she loves me not ! 
 
 To hu friend. O Tostig, strike thy steed, and let the swift horse 
 speed panting across the wide heaths. I had sooner hold long parley 
 with Steingerd, than chase black sheep over the pasture. 
 
 On Steingerd. My lady is clean vanished out of the hall ; eager to find 
 her I have scoured the whole house with the glances of my eyes. 
 
 Bis constancy. My enemies, the sons of one man, sit within and whet 
 their swords, but should they come against me in open field, it would be, 
 as it were, ewe sheep seeking the life of a fierce wolf. They sit on the 
 watch and forbid me her company, they have a hard task to win, for 
 the more they nurse envy of our meetings, the more shall I love her. 
 They sit on the watch and forbid me her company : they might as 
 well fit legs to a snake ! Every river in the land shall run backward ere 
 I forsake thee. 
 
 32. Emend.; svina, Cd. 38. Read, m66an? 43. eirar, Cd. 
 
 44. Read, Hlin . . . horns? 48. ouixknom, 162 ; oraeknom, Cd. 51. 
 
 stoeri] meira, Cd. 52. varar, Cd. ; . . . solva, Cd. 
 
 VOL, II, F
 
 66 IMPROVISATIONS. [bk. vii. 
 
 Korniak : 
 
 15. Hvern mundir \,\x 'grundar' Hlln skap-fraomu6 lino, 
 'likn synir mer luka,' li6s J)er at ver ki6sa? 
 
 Steingerb : 
 
 Brce9r munda-ek 'blindom' baug-lestir mik festa, 
 
 yr6i go9 sem goerSisk gob mer ok skajp, Fr63a. 60 
 
 16. Brott hefir Bersi setta (beiSisk hann arei6a 
 val-kiosandi at viso vins) heit-kono mina : 
 
 J)a-es unni mer manna (mist hef-ek fli63s ins tvista) 
 [f)a kysta-ek mey mi6va] mest [dag-lengis flestan]. 
 
 17. At em-ek Yggjar gauta ullr at Sva^lnis fuUi 65 
 um rei6i-sif ri69a runnr sem vffl at brunni : . . . 
 
 18. D^Tt ver9r daDggvar kerti Draupnis mart at kaupa, 
 primr aurom skal |Detta f'orveigar skip leiga: . . . 
 
 19. f'u telr lios of logna li'n-gefn vi6 {)ik stefno; 
 
 enn ek goer6a miaok m69an mfnn fak um saok J^ina : 70 
 heldr vildag ha)lfo, hring-eir, at mar spryngi 
 (spar9a-ek io J^annz sottom all-litt) an ' f)ik grafna,' 
 
 20. I\Iaka-ek hitt of hyggja, hve J)u skyldir verSa 
 goll-hla9z geymi-J)ella gefin Tin-drattar manni : 
 
 trauUa ma-ek of tceja tanna silki-nanna 75 
 
 sfzt ])ik fastna6i fraegja faSir Jjfnn blota-manni. 
 
 21. i^arftattu hvit at hcuta Hlfn skrautligrar lino 
 (ver kunnom skil skepja) SkiQunga mer nf9i : 
 nadd-hri9ar skal-ek ni6a niot ' sva-at steinar flioti;' 
 
 nu hefi ek illan enda Eysteins sonom leystan. 80 
 
 22. Skaka ver6o vit, Skar3i (skald a bu5 til kalda), 
 
 To his love, "Whom wouldst thou choose for a husband, fair lady ? 
 
 Her answer. Were the gods and the Fates duly propitious I would 
 wed the black-eyed lad, the brother of Frodi (Cormac). 
 
 Loss of her. Bersi has taken away my betrothed, she that loved me 
 best. I have lost the maid I kissed many a long day. 
 
 I am like a bucking-bat at the brook, I . . . my song. 
 
 I must pay dearly for much. I am forced to take Thorweig's ship 
 and pay three ounces for my berth. 
 
 To Steingerd. Thou sayest, lady, I have broken my tryst with thee ; 
 the truth is, I have foundered my steed for thy sake. I would far rather 
 my steed should fall dead than miss thee. I have not spared my horse. 
 
 On her ivedding. I cannot think of it, how thou, lady, couldst be 
 given to a tin-drawer! I can hardly smile since thy father gave thee 
 to a loon. Thou needst not threaten me with the Skidung's libels (I 
 know the poet's craft), I will lampoon them so that ... I have made 
 an ill knot for Eystein's sons to loosen. 
 
 59. Emend.; braSr, Cd. 72. Read, an ek ber hafna ? 75. teia, Cd. 
 
 81. ver3 ekviS, Cd. *
 
 § 4.] CORMAC AND BERSI'S IMPROVISATIONS. 67 
 
 [fiaoll ero fiarSar ' kelli ' faldin] hrlm af tialdi : 
 vilda-ek ' at rseSar ' valdi vasri engo hsera, 
 hann es 'latr fra' liossi lin be6jar gna sinni. 
 
 23. Uggi-ek litt J)6 leggi land va)r6r saman randir 85 
 ' varat ' vir6ar stoeri vell-au9igr mer dau6a : 
 
 meSan sker-iar6ar, SkarSi, skord man-ek fyr nordan 
 (hvaoss of angrar sii, sessi, sott) t>orketils dottor. 
 
 24. Skiott munom, Skardi, 'hernir/ skolom tveir banar J^eira, 
 allz andskotom 'hrinda hia)r-dnfr' nio fiajrvi: 90 
 me6an go3lei6om ga9a grunnleit, su-es mer unni, 
 gengr at gluestom bingi goll seim-niorunn beima. 
 
 25. Brim gnfr bratta hamra blalandz Haka strandar, 
 'allt gialfr' eyja ^ialfa 'lit lf6r 1 sta9 vi6iss:' 
 
 mer kved-ek heldr of hildi hrann-bliks an per miklo 95 
 svefn-fatt, sa^rva gefnar sakna raon-ek es ek vakna. 
 
 26. Esa mer sem Tinteini (trau8r es vasfara kau8i) 
 ['skiarrer' hann vi8 J)ys J)enna] briotr myk-sle6a brioti : 
 f)a es al-sniallir allir odd-regns stafar fregni 
 
 i Sniunda-sundi sund-faxa ra bundinn. 100 
 
 27. Veit hinn es tin tannar, trauSr saefara inn blau6i, 
 (staDndomk llmr fyr yndi) ogsorva |)at sa)rva : 
 
 hvar eld-faldin alda opt gengr of skajr drengjom, 
 hann a vifs at vitja varma bu8 a armi. 
 
 28. Svsofom hress 1 husi horn-J)eyjar vi9 Freyja, 105 
 fiar3ar-leygs ins frsegja fimm nsetr saman grimmar : 
 
 ok hyr-ketils hverja hrafns sevi gno8 stafna 
 lags a litt of hugsi la-ek andvana banda. 
 
 29. Sva ber mer 1 mina men-gefn of t>at svefna, 
 
 On a "ooyage, to his brother Skardi. We two have to shake, Skardi, the 
 frost off the awning. The poet has a cold berth, the -firths are hooded 
 with ice. I would he were no better off that is slinking to his lady's bed. 
 
 1 care little though they threaten me with death, Skardi, as long as I 
 think on the daughter of Thorkettle in the north (that is the sickness 
 that ails me). We shall be hard put to it, Skardi; we two must be 
 fighting nine men, while the fair lady that loves me is going to the 
 bed of the god-accursed loon, Tintein. 
 
 The surf is dashing on the steep cliffs, the brine [lit. the trench of 
 the islands] is stirred ... I sleep less than the . . . and miss her 
 when I wake. 
 
 The yard springs in a gale. It is not as if a slave broke the pole of 
 Tintein's dung-sled, when our sail-yard snaps in Solund-sound. The 
 vile Tin-gnawer little knows how the fire-tipped wave breaks over 
 the men's heads, where he, the wretch, lies warm in his wife's arms. 
 
 To Steingerd. We two slept five cruel nights together ... I lay . . . 
 It comes before me in my dream, lady, unless I am much mistaken, 
 that your arms, fair one, shall at last be clasped about my neck. 
 
 82. af] a, Cd. 84. Read, latrar at? 88. hvess, Cd. 93. brattir 
 
 hamrar, Cd. 96. samna, Cd. es] ef, Cd. loi. Read, vtitat. 
 
 104. baud, Cd. Read, inn armi? 109. sva] sv, Cd. 
 
 F 2
 
 68 IMPROVISATIONS. [bk. vii. 
 
 nema fagi dul driuga drengr ofra6ar lengi : no 
 
 at axl-limar y8rar au6-Frigg mani liggja 
 hrund a heiSis landi hli9ar mer um si6ir. 
 
 30. 'Digla bau8-ek vi6 dregla dagtala pvi mali ' 
 
 ' mer vasa dagr sa es dug6i drif-gagl af \>\'i vifi ' 
 
 enn bli6-hugu8 bsedi ' bau6 gyls' 'maran' (au8ar 115 
 
 mitt villat f6 fylla) fingr-goll gefit trollom. 
 
 31. Vilda-ek hitt at voeri vald-eir gaomul ialda 
 stceri-lat f stoQi Steinger6r, enn ek reini : 
 vaera-ek ' J)ra6a ]3ru5i ^eiri sta)6var geira ' 
 gunn-aorSigra garSa gaup-ellz a bak hlaupinn. 120 
 
 32. Seinn J)ykki mer soekkvi snyrti-niotz or Fliotom 
 sa-es att-grennir unnar or8 sendi mer norSan : 
 hring-snyrtir ^arf hiarta ' hafserr ' i sik fctra 
 
 \)6 es ' men gunnar' manni merar vant or leiri. 
 
 33. Ek ver8 opt |)viat ^ikkjom arrottr af mer J^erra 125 
 (gollz hlitk af J)er {jella J)raut) a maottuls skauti : 
 
 j)vi lattu i set snauta saur-rei6i bragar greiSi 
 (m^r hefir steypt 1 sturo Steinger8r) bana verSan. 
 
 34. Hefik a holm um gengit hald-eir um f)ik fa)ldo 
 (hvat megi okkrom Eostom) annat sinn (of renna?): 130 
 ok vfg-sakar vakSar Var hefk um {jik bsoro 
 
 {pvi skal mer an Tin-teini) tvser (unnasta in nseri). 
 
 35. Hins mun haDr-gefn spyrja, es i6 heim komit ba5ir 
 ' me6 bl6t-ro8in bei6i ben-hlunnz ' su-es mer unni : 
 hvar es nu baugr enn brendi; baol olitid hefir 135 
 hann nu sveinn inn svarti, sonr Ogmundar skaldit. 
 
 36. Baugi var8-ek at boeta brun-leggs hva8ran tveggia 
 ' guldot 'fe fyrir biartrar ' hals-fang ' myils spangar ' 
 
 I offered the lady gold as a recompense ; but the merry lady would 
 not take my gift, and wished my ring were given to the Trolls,_;?f«(/j. 
 
 I would the proud Steingerd were an old mare, and I a stallion, I 
 should soon be on her back. 
 
 ^t hh <njjager of battle for Steingerd avitb Tintein. He of Fleet, that sent 
 me word out of the north, is slow of coming : the huge Mud-man has a 
 mare's heart in his breast. (See p. 12.) 
 
 I have often to wipe my face in the skirt of my mantle . . . Steingerd 
 has put me in sore stead. I have fought a second wager of battle for 
 her sake. After two deadly combats for her sake she should be nearer 
 me than Tintein. 
 
 He jells a sacrificial bull for a ring of Steingerd^ s. The lady will ask 
 when we both come back \\ ith the sacrificial bull, Where is now the 
 ring of pure gold ? What has he done with it, the swarthy lad, the 
 son of Ogniund the poet .? 
 
 He pays for kissing Stei?igerd. I had to pay a fine for both of my kisses; 
 there never were costlier kisses. I have lost by my love. 
 
 119. J)eiri er, Cd. 121. soekkva, Cd. 124. merar] emend.; meira, Cd.
 
 § 4.] CORMAC AND BERSFS IMPROVISATIONS, 69 
 
 g30to6 ' giallar mseta gollz laufgoSom J)olli ' 
 
 (tal hefik teiti-mala) tveir kossar f^-meiri. 140 
 
 37. Viso mon-ek of vinna a6r ver til skips gangim, 
 senda saDrva Rindi til Svinadals mina : 
 
 koma skolo a)ll til eyrna or& mfn Skajgul borda, 
 betr ann-ek silki-Sa)go an sia)lfom mer haolfo. 
 
 38. Fekk sa-es faDgro vifi f6r naer an ver storom 145 
 hoegg af hialmar ski6i 1 hattar-stall mi6jan : 
 
 Eysteins hratar arfi a ElliSa stafni ; 
 
 styr6u ekki a mik, Steingerdr, pott Jdu steigorliga latir. 
 
 39. Drengr ungr stal mik dalki {)a-es drakk a mey rakka, 
 vi8 skolom dalkinn deila sem drengir tveir ungir : 150 
 vel hefir Vigr of skepta, var3-ek i griot at skiota, 
 
 vist es at mannzins misstag, mosinn var3 upp at losna. 
 
 40. Runno randar linna rogendr at mer gnogir, 
 J)a-es ver of fen forom flokkom, dikis bokkar : 
 
 Gautz mondi \)i gattar gunn-svellz ef ek J)ar fdllag 155 
 lundr kom-ek litlo sprundi la)ngom munar a)ngom. 
 
 41. Pv\ at mal-vino minnar mildr t'orketill vildi. 
 
 42. Vasa sem fli63 f fa3mi pa es fangremi 'mcetask' 
 vi6 streng-mara^st/'ri SteingerSi mer hef6ak : 
 
 myndag aol at 06ins iaDndugi drekka 160 
 
 (skiott segig til pess ska)tnom) ef mer Skrymir liS veitti6. 
 
 43. Vasa me3 mer 1 morgin ma3r pinn konan svinna 
 rodinn vas hia^r til hodda hand-fa)gr a Irlandi: 
 
 pa es sli8r-dregin Saga sa)ng urn minom vanga 
 Hlakkar trafr, enn hrafni heitr fell a nef sveiti. 165 
 
 Again on a journey. I will make a verse ere I go aboard, and send it to 
 my lady in Svvinedale. All my words shall reach her ears ! I love her 
 twice as much as myself. 
 
 Cormac strikes Tmtein luith the tiller, upon 'which Steingerd grasps the 
 rudder. He, that goes nearer to the fair wife than I may, got a stroke 
 in the middle of his pate ; see how Eystein's son, Tmtein, staggers in the 
 bows of his bark. Do not steer athwart me, Steingerd, though thou 
 bearest thyself so proudly. 
 
 His brooch is stolen. The young fellow stole my brooch while I was 
 drinking with my love. My spear, Wig, was ... I shot into the rock . . . 
 
 As he ivades, eels wind round his legs. The eels swarm at me . . . 
 
 0/ Steingerd. Because the goodly ThovkitlxW father o/my love . . . 
 
 0/ his last battle. It was not as if I had my lady Steingerd in my 
 arms, when I grappled with the champion, the sea-steed's steerer. 
 I should have been drinking ale in the high seat at Woden's, if Skrymi, 
 the savord, had not lent his aid. It was not like playing with a fair- 
 handed lady this morning when we fought in Ireland, when the sheath- 
 drawn blade whistled about my cheeks and the hot blood fell on the 
 
 156. muns or, Cd. 158. Read, mcettag.
 
 70 IMPROVISATIONS. [bk. vii. 
 
 44 • 
 
 For9omk vsetr, Jiviat ver9a vfg-na8rs stafar aSrir 
 (snertomk hiaorr vi3 hiarta) helnauQ ' ok,' kaDr dau3a. 
 
 HOLMGONGO-BERSI. 
 
 1. TTVERR es biarnar bar9i a bekk kominn rekka? 
 -*- J- ulf hafa ' orir niSjar ' cegiligr und boegi : 
 glikan hefir of goervan, Glumr es nefndr e5a Skiima, 
 ' faorom til motz at morni ' mann Steinari J)enna. 
 
 2. I'otta-ek ^a-es ceri (ar-sagt es J)at) varom 5 
 hoefr 1 Hlakkar drifo hyr-runnom vel Gunnar : 
 
 nii vilja mik minir (minz dyljom Jjess) hylja, 
 [J)at hefik sort] 1 slettom Saurboe frsendr auri. 
 
 3. Mer hafa fraendr at fundi (fersk van gle6i) ^essom 
 [roe8i-ek heldr fyr ha)l8om hugat mal] 1 pvi brug6isk : 10 
 Torogsetir ro (teitan tok hrafn a na iafnan) 
 
 [ek-em vi3 ognar-rekka ohryggr] vinir tryggvir. 
 
 4. Mer helzt yggr und eggjar all-sterkr ' gois ' vallar 
 (nau5r hagar nii til froeSa) na8rs, enn hlifSir a)6roni : 
 sva fara ra)6 ; enn reiSask rog-linnz ' sumir ' minna; 15 
 nu Iset-ek J)ar J)ri6ti, Poncebr, vinon 6ra. 
 
 5. Nu hefik, enn tel tanna Tann-gni6st vegit manna 
 (Jjau beri menn fra mor6i min or8) tigar fiorda : 
 koma manat Ullr ^ott elli optar mara J>opto 
 
 (litak bl66i svan sveita), setrs 1 heim at betra. 20 
 
 6. Ben-gi66i hio-ek bra8ir bla-fi8ro8om skara 
 (kendr vas-ek mia^k vi8 manna mor3) halfan tog fior6a. 
 Troll hafi lif, ef laufa litag aldregi bitran; 
 
 raven's beak . . . We cannot escape death. The sword stands in my 
 heart ; other men suffer the pains of death and a wasting agony. 
 
 Bersi on a guest. Who is this grim bear-cloak come into men's 
 benches? He bears a wolf under his arms, a sa-vage fello-ju. He looks 
 like Stanhere, though he calls himself Glum or Scum. 
 
 Faithless friends. When I was young I was thought fit for the fray (that 
 is an old tale), but now my kinsmen think to hide me away in the earth, 
 here in Sourby. This is what I have come to, I\Iy kinsmen have failed 
 me at this tryst ; all my hope of joy is gone ; I speak it from my heart. 
 Faithful friends are hard to find . . . Thou heldest me under the sword- 
 edge while thou didst shelter my enemy. This is my sad tale. So 
 things turn. Now I proclaim, Thorrod, the end of our friendship. 
 
 His feats. I have slain this Tusk-gnasher, first of the fourth ten [he is 
 the thirty-first I have slain]. Let men bear my words in mind ... I 
 have cut down thirty-five men as quarry for the black-feathered raven. 
 
 167. hiorr] havfuS, Cd. 8. slettan, Cd. 13. heh, Cd. 15. Read, 
 
 stafar? 1 6. Read, vinom orom ? 21. ben-gi3a . . . skrara, Cd.
 
 § 4.] EGIL'S IMPROVISATIONS. 71 
 
 beri \)a. brynjo-meiSar briot 1 haug sem skidtast. 
 
 7. Veit-ek at Vali beitir veg-storr ta)6or orar 25 
 OSS vill heldr enn hvassi hialm-niotr tro3a und fotom : 
 opt hefig fkk J)a es heiptir unn-s61ar galt-ek runnom 
 rau3-ek a brynjo beiSi benja linn of minna. 
 
 8. Kominn es Ullr vi6 elli aDlna-griotz at fotom; 
 
 mart ver6r gseti-gautom geir-fitjar mi sitja : 30 
 
 J)6tt ' skiald-vi6ir ' skaldi skapi aldr i gra)f kaldan, 
 
 (fyrr ' ry6 '-ek hialms a holmi hri3-vaDnd) ' en ek Ipvi kvi3a.' 
 
 EGIL'S IMPROVISATIONS. 
 
 Besides the three great poems in old metre in Book iv, the Ditty- 
 No. 26 in Book vi, and the stray staves in Torf-Einar metre in Book vi, 
 § 2, Nos. 3-6, the whole Saga of Egil is studded with verses in court- 
 metre, which would naturally find their place here. But a close examina- 
 tion of these scattered verses leaves one with the firm conviction that most 
 of them are spurious. That Egil made verses in an early form of court- 
 metre is, we think, proved from the quotations by Snorri and Olaf; but 
 if we look at the proportion their quotations from Egil's old-metre 
 poems bear to the whole poems, viz., about one-twelfth (some thirty lines 
 out of four hundred), and find that, in spite of their fondness for court- 
 metre, they only cite five lines as Egil's in that metre, it will be at all 
 events fair to suppose that they did not know more than ten or twelve 
 stanzas in all — say fifty lines. 
 
 We can identify but a few of these, and as for the others (some 
 fifty stanzas), we can only keep or reject them on grounds of internal 
 evidence. A certain number bear the marks of thirteenth-century verse, 
 and may, we believe, be credited to Lawman Sturla, who would naturally 
 take an interest in Egil, and whose hand (or Snorri's) we trace in editing 
 his Saga. They are not entirely valueless, for they contain echoes and 
 imitations from Egil's undoubted compositions, such as Arinbiorn's Praise 
 (e.g. Eromka leitt, and Svart-brtinum let si6num . . .). Among the most 
 striking proofs of the impossibility of these verses being genuine, is the 
 weary sameness in which Kweldwolf, Skalla-Grim, and Egil are made to 
 improvise; and the palpable fact that the staves on Brunan-burh battle are 
 not the foundation for the prose, but, on the contrary, founded upon it. 
 
 Guided by these considerations we have picked out all those we have 
 any grounds to suppose genuine; they are but few and in a mangled state, 
 though one would not pledge oneself to the authenticity of even all these. 
 
 Edda and Skalda cite 11. 6, 25, 28-29. (45 "°i in the Saga.)^ 
 
 I have got me a name for man-slaying. May the fiends take me when 
 I am no longer able to wield my sword ! Let men bear me into 
 my barrow then, the sooner the better. 
 
 Wall has been grazing his flocks in my land, he tries to tread me 
 beneath his feet. I have often bristled up for less reason and reddened 
 my sword. I am crippled by old age, and must sit under much ill-usage 
 from others now. I care not though the Fates have decreed me a cold 
 grave. Once I could dye the sword in battle . . . 
 
 31. Read, skuldir. 32. Read, rau3.
 
 72 IMPROVISATIONS. [bk. vii. 
 
 1. "O I STOAT run a horni, ri66om spiaoU f dreyra 
 -Lv ' |)au vel-ek or6 til eyrna 69s d^rs viSar rota' 
 drekkom veig sem viljom vel-glfja6ra \>f'}^ 
 
 vitom hve oss of eiri a)l ^alz Barrcedr signdi. 
 
 2. KnaStto hvarms af harmi hnup-gnfpor mer drupa 5 
 nu fann-ek J^ann-es ennis oslettor ^ser r^tti : 
 
 gramr hefir gerdi-haomrom grundar upp um hrundit 
 ' sa er ygr ' af augoni ar-sima mer grimor. 
 
 3. Okunni vensk ennis ungr ^or9ag vel fordom 
 hauka-hlifs at 'heyra' Him |)ver-gnipor minar : 10 
 ver6-ek i feld \)i es foldar faldr kcemr 1 hug skaldi 
 Berg-Oneris bruna bratt mi6-stalli at hvatta. 
 
 4. Sva skyldi go6 gialda (gram reki baond af laDndom) 
 [reiSr s6 Rsogn ok 06inn] ran mins fiar haonom ! 
 folk-m<-gi lat flyja, Freyr ok Ni3or6r, af iaordo ! 15 
 lei6isk lof6a stri6i Land-ass ^ann-es v^ grandar. 
 
 5. Veiztu ef ek ferr me8 flora, fsera-{)u sex f)a-es vixli 
 hlifa ' hveiti-krupom ' hialdr-go6s vi6 mik ro8nom : 
 enn ef ek em me6 atta, ero3 peir tolf es skelfi 
 
 at sam-togi sver9a svart-briinom mer hiarta. 20 
 
 6. i'el hoeggr stort fyrir stall stafn-kvigs a veg iafnan 
 lit me9 ^la meitli and-aerr iajtunn vandar: 
 
 Let us cut the runes on the horn, let us paint the characters red 
 with blood. These signs I choose for the root of the tree of the 
 fierce beast's ear [the horn]. Let us drink as we will the draught the 
 merry slave-girls serve. Let us see whether the cup that Earrod 
 blessed will harm us. 
 
 Hij sorroivs ended by King ^^thehtan's kindness. The crags of my 
 brows were drooping for sorrow, but now I have found him that was able 
 to smooth the frowns of my face. The king . . . has thrown open the 
 jutting rock-wall that covered my eyes. 
 
 His love-pain. I have become unsociable. When I was young I dared 
 to carry the steep of my brow high, but now, when the lady's name 
 comes into my mind, I hasten forthwith to hide the high place of my 
 forehead under my cloak. 
 
 His curse on Eric Blood-axe. INIay the gods requite thee for the 
 robbery of my goods! May the Powers drive thee from the land ! May 
 the Holy Ones and Woden be wroth with thee ! O Frey and Niorth, 
 let the oppressor of the people fly from the country ! INIay the god of 
 the land [Thor] loathe the tyrant who defiles the sanctuaries ! 
 
 His prowess. If I have four men with me, there will not be found six 
 men that will dare to redden swords with us. If I have eight with me, 
 there are not twelve alive who can make the heart of the swarthy- 
 browed one [myself] tremble. 
 
 Of the <iuind at sea. The sturdy giant of the forest, the '-wind, cuts a deep 
 
 4. Bar8r of, Cd. 5. harms, Cdd. 10. Read, hefja? hejrna ?
 
 § 4-] WIGA-GLUM AND HIS FELLOWS. 73 
 
 enn sval-buinn seljo sverfr eirar vanr Jjeiri 
 
 ' Gestils alfraSr gvstv ' gandr yfir stal ok brandi. 
 
 7. ' Vrungo' varrar Gungniss varrar lungs um stunginn. 25 
 
 8. Hvarfa-ek blindr of branda, ' bi6-ek eirar Syn geira' 
 J3ann ber-ek harm a hvarma hvit-va)llom ' mer sitja.' . . . 
 
 9. ' Vals ' hefi-ek vafor ' helsis va ; ' fa)llomk rso skalla ; 
 blautr eromk bergis fotar borr; enn hlust es J)orrin. 
 
 WIGA-GLUM AND HIS FELLOWS. 
 
 The Saga of Battle-Glum has been preserved. It gives a fine account 
 of his life, and is accessible to English readers in Sir Edmund Head's 
 translation; see Prolegomena. It contains some fifty lines of verses, all 
 of which appear genuine; six of them (11. 27-28, 35-38), as many as we 
 should expect in proportion, being quoted in Edda. Glum was a hard 
 fighter like Bersi, but of weird fancy, and gloomy brooding mind, 
 with bursts of frenzied passion ; hence his nickname, the murderous 
 Glum. Most of his improvisations, and there is no proof of his ever 
 having composed a long poem, are on his dreams, which he interprets 
 as prognostications of his wishes, or else evoked by the over-mastering 
 anger that was boiling within him. The despondency of old age, as in Egil 
 and Bersi, is shown in one stanza. The Saga exists but in one vellum 
 (AM. 132); that the verses are not in good state appears from the cita- 
 tion in Edda. In v. 9, at a junction of two leaves, the beginning words 
 are lost. 
 
 WiGFUS, Glum's son, who wielded his club at the battle with the 
 Wickings of lom, like the valiant Spanish knight in the ballad, also 
 improvised a couple of stanzas, which we add. Wigfus slew Bard, the 
 son of Hall the White, on whom a dirge was composed called Bard's 
 Praise, of which the burden is given in Landnama-bok, see § 3. 
 
 Brusi, Bard's brother, another personage in the Saga of Glum, com- 
 posed a couple of lines, also given below. He may be the author of 
 Bardar-drapa. 
 
 Haward the Lame of Icefirth is the hero of a Saga that contains 
 some fourteen verses which we do not believe to be genuine ; but there 
 are two lines (not found in the Saga), quoted in Edda, which may 
 well be his. We may take this as another proof of the way Saga editors 
 
 groove on either side before the beak of the ship, with the chisel of the 
 tempest : and the cold-clad devourer of the woods, the gale, mercilessly 
 sweeps the spray above the sea-king's swan, like chips before the chisel as 
 it n.vere. 
 
 Of a spear-cast. The lips of the spear are twisted . . . ships . . . 
 
 Eis old age. I grope in blindness round the fire. There is a cloud on 
 my eyes. This is the ill that sits upon the white fields of my brows. 
 
 My gait is tottering as that of a . . . The forest of my head, hair, is 
 falling, desire has failed me, and my hearing is dried up. 
 
 25. Or vrgngo. 28. Obscure? follomk ra skalla] emend. ; vafallr em ec 
 
 skalla, 132.
 
 74 IMPROVISATIONS. [bk. vii. 
 
 went to work. It was known that Haward was a poet, therefore his 
 Saga must have poetry in it. If none were known it was easy to make 
 some which would fit the peripeteia of the tale, and ornament it in the 
 accepted way. It is thus that Sagas got filled with spurious verse. 
 
 1. IVr^R gengr mer ok mmom, men-dsoU, hium aollom 
 ^ ^ (Jiverr vi9 glaumr) enn grceni gar6r, an oss of varSi : 
 ver6r hr69r-skota9 harSla (her tini-ek |)at) mfnom 
 [munak enn of styr stala starf-lauss] fa)6or-arfi. 
 
 2. Fara sa-ek holms und hialmi hauks i miklom auka 5 
 ia)r6 at Eyjafir6i isungs firin-disi : 
 
 J)a sva-at doms 1 draumi dais otta mer J)6tti 
 felli-gu6r me6 fiaollom folk-vandar bia)3 standa. 
 
 3. Halfs eyriss met-ek hverjan hris-runn fyrir 26 sunnan ; 
 vel hafa vi9ir skogar vargi opt um borgit. 10 
 
 4. Eigi sofna-ek ofniss ys-heims f boe f)eima 
 (munat eld-vi6om aoldo au6-boett vi9 mik") soetan : 
 a9r grind-logi Gsondlar gellr 1 hattar felli 
 
 (opt va-ek mann of minna) meirr nokkorom J^eira. 
 
 5. Hard-steini \6t huna ' har6-ger9r' Limafiar3ar 15 
 (J)at sak) doms 1 draumi dyn-nia^rSr mik bardan : 
 
 enn ek {)ra-drattar f)6ttomk p\6sti keyr6r of liosta 
 ssevar hrafns i svefni snarr beinanda steini. 
 
 6. Men-stiklir sa mikia (man sver6a brak ver3a) 
 
 fflga Glum, After his father's death, the neighbours encroach upon the 
 land of the ividonu and orphan; young Glum, seeing their 'wanton trespasses, 
 breaks out. The green turf-wall is shrinking about me and my house- 
 hold closer than I care for, lady, (O mother.) My patrimony is being 
 roughly docked. There is strife in store for me. 
 
 Glum dreams that he sees a Giantess 'walk to his homestead, ivhom he 
 'welcomes in. He believes her to be the fetch of his grandfather Hlgfus. I saw 
 a mighty hooded Fairy of great stature walking under the sky at Eya- 
 firth ; as it seemed to me in my dream, she stood on the ground with 
 her shoulders even with the hill-tops. 
 
 Glum lurking in the bush. Every brake south of the river is worth half 
 an ounce to me. The wide woods have often saved the wolf. 
 
 Glum panting for revenge. I shall never get sweet sleep at home before 
 the sword clashes into the skull of one of them. They will not easily be 
 able to recompense me. I have often slain a man for le^s than their offence. 
 
 Glutn dreams that his foe and he, like Rungni and 'Jhor, are fighting ivith 
 hones; he a<woke <with the crash of the stones meeting, <which presaged feud as 
 far as the sound could be heard. My grim adversary struck me with the 
 hone (I saw it in my dream), but I, angered, thought that I smote him 
 back w ith another stone. 
 
 Glum dreamed he saav a troop of 'women ivith a trough full of blood, 
 ivhicb they <were sprinkling over the country. I saw a great troop of spirit- 
 
 4. munat, Cd. 6. fira-, Cd.
 
 § 4.] WIGA-GLUM AND HIS FELLOWS. 75 
 
 [komin es grara geira] go9-rei6 of traoS [kveSja] : 20 
 pa-es Asynjor joso egg-motz of FiaDr8 tveggja 
 (vinir fagna \>vi) vegna vig-m66ar framm bl66i, 
 
 7. Virkiss spyrr at verkom vins hir6i-Sif minom 
 (esat at manna mali) moi"6 voro {)au for6om : 
 
 ' liggr |)eim-es hrafn of huggar hsor ' van-tali6 gaorva 25 
 
 8. Rudda-ek sem iarlar (or6 lek a J)vi for3om) 
 (me9r vedr-stcofom Vi6riss vandar) mer til landa : 
 Nu hefik Val-|)a)gniss vegna varrar-ski3s um si6ir 
 breiQa iaorS med baor6om bendiss mer or hendi. 30 
 
 9. ... (munat enn saelo men-briotandi hliota) 
 [oss kom breiSr f bu3ir boeggr] af eino hoeggi : 
 f»a-es (' fleymarar ') flora fuU-katir ver ssotom 
 (nu es mogrennir minna mitt) sextigi vittra. 
 
 10. Lattisk herr me8 hsotto Hanga-T^s at ganga 35 
 (t)6ttit pe'im at hsetta |)ekkiligt) fyrir brekko : 
 
 pi-es dyn-fusar disir dreyra mas a eyri 
 
 (bra)6 ox borgin-m66a bl66s) skialda6ir stoQom. 
 
 Einar : 
 
 11. froengvir var9 af l^ingi J)remja linnz at renna 
 (vasat) i Ala eli (au8-lattr) fyrir mel brattan : 40 
 J)a-es ma-stettar mattit Maevils vi8 pvdjm ssevar 
 
 geira ni6tr a grioti Gestils klauf of festa. 
 
 women over the paddock. There will be a swording : there will be a 
 greeting of grey spears. The goddesses were sprinkling blood over the 
 Firth in front and on both sides. 
 
 G/um is asked ho<zv many fell in one of his frays . He ansivers : The lady 
 asks about my day's work of yore : it is not commonly known what the 
 number of the dead was. The score is clearly under-reckoned . . . 
 
 Glum's reflection. Like earls of yore I won land with the sword, it 
 was famed among men: but now in turn I have fought my own heritage 
 out of my hand by unseasonable manslaying. 
 
 His last troubles. Grief has come upon me from one death-stroke of 
 mine. I shall never know joy again ! I have got a stumbling-block in 
 my house after having sat in peace sixty winters. I am going to the 
 wall at last. 
 
 Glurns vaunt over a bicker. They shrunk from going down the brink 
 in arms; they deemed it no pleasant venture: when I stood shielded on 
 the shore below. 
 
 Einar's account of the same incident. Glum had to run from the moot 
 down the sand-hill, and could not get a firm hold with his shield among 
 the pebbles on the slope by the sea. 
 
 21-22. Emend.; of fior seggja . . . vagna, Cd. 25. van-] emend.; veig, Cd. 
 
 26 and 31. . . .] blank in Cd. 38. bl66, Cd.
 
 76 IMPROVISATIONS. [bk. vii. 
 
 Briisi : 
 
 12. Haofom 'ver' af vfgom (veit-ek or9 a {)vi) borSa 
 st66s vi6 st<'ri-mei9a stafn-Gaondul hlut iafnan : 
 
 J)6 hykk fur-vi9o foro fley-garQz an mik varSi 45 
 
 bei9i-HlaDkk fyrir brekko bliks harSara miklo. 
 
 Glum : 
 
 13. flit es a ia)r6 of or6it ; aldr baolvar miajk skaldi; 
 li9it es mest it meira mftt Iff He6ins drifo : 
 
 ef ovaegins eigi Eyrar-leggs fyrir seggjom 
 
 Grims i Gsondlar flaumi ' gefnar ' mak of hefna. 50 
 
 VIGFUS, THE SON OF GLUM (Fagrsk. and Jomsvik. S.). 
 
 1. T /"ARDAT hoegt ^a-es hur9ir hiaor-klofnar sa-ek rofna 
 
 ^ ' hatt saong Ha)gna geitis hregg ' til Vagns at leggja : 
 jDar gengo ver ' t)ra3ngvar |)unn fss bo8i Gunnar ' 
 (straong vas Danskra drengja darra flaug) til knarrar. 
 
 2. Oss es leikr (enn lauka liggr heima vinr feimo) 5 
 [Jjryngr at ViQriss ve9ri vandar] g66r fyrir haindom : 
 hl^^ss kve8-ek haela bossa (hann vaentir ser annars) 
 
 vlfs und va)rmom boegi [ver skreytom spisor] neyta. 
 
 HAVARDR HALTI (Edda). 
 
 NU es io-draugom segiss arnar-flaug of bauga 
 (hygg-ek at heim-bo6 t^iggi Hanga-go9s) of vangi. 
 
 Brusi'j tale of the same adventure. Our lots were even, as far as the 
 
 slaughter went; though I think they [Glum and his men] ran faster down 
 the brink than I looked for. 
 
 Gltim'j last "verse. It has grown evil on earth. Old age is a curse to 
 the poet [me] ; my better life of warfare is past, if I shall not be able to 
 avenge the innocent Eyre-leg [his murdered brother-in-law] on them. 
 
 Wig fits, Glumes son, of the lomsivick'tngs' battle at ivhich he /ought. It 
 was not easy to reach Wagn, where the shields were being cloven. We 
 boarded the ships, there was a strong flight of darts from the Danish 
 men. We have a hard game to play, while the gallant is lounging at 
 home. The storm of Woden is a gathering. The lover is seeking shelter 
 in the warm arms of his mistress — his is another sport — while we are 
 handling our spears. 
 
 Ha<ward the Halt, seeing the eagles flying above him. There is a flight 
 of eagles over our shoulders. I hold it to be Woden bidding us home. 
 
 43. Read, vegs ? 'j-%. Read, hlyss me3an h. bossi . . . neytis . . . ver skeytom.
 
 § 4.] SATIRES. 77 
 
 SATIRES BY ICELANDERS. 
 
 TiORWi THE Mocker. As Landnama-bok says: " Tiorwi the Mocker 
 and Gunnar were sisters' sons of Roar (Rodhere). Tiorwi asked for the 
 hand of Anstrid Manwit-brink, Modwulf's daughter, but her brothers 
 Kettle and Rodwulf refused him, and gave her to Thori Kettles- 
 son. Then Tiorwi drew their likenesses on the gong-wail, and every 
 evening ... he would spit upon the likeness of Thori and kiss that of his 
 sister, till Roar scraped them off the wall. Then Tiorwi carved them 
 on the haft of his knife, and made this verse [i, below] . . . And from this 
 came the slaying of Roar and Tiorwi." Roar was a man of mark, he had 
 married the sister of Gunnar of Lithend, the hero of Niala, and his son 
 Hammond the Lame is renowned. 
 
 The Two Helgis. In Landnama-bok it is written, that Olaf Twin- 
 brow, a settler who lived at Olafsfield, between Thwartwater and 
 Sandbeck, died, and was buried at Brunishowe, under Wardfell, leaving 
 a widow, Anshild, and three sons, Helgi Trust, Thori Drift, and Wade. 
 Thorgrim Scarleg, an old veteran, foster-father of Thorgils, set his heart 
 on Anshild, " but Helgi forbade him her ; he lay in ambush for Thor- 
 grim on the cross-path down below Anshild-moor. Helgi bade him 
 stay from his visit. Thorgrim said he was not to be treated like a child. 
 They fought, and Thorgrim fell there. Anshild asked where Helgi had 
 been." He ansv/ered in a verse [2, below]. " Anshild said that he struck 
 his own dea'th-stroke," and so it turned out. Hering Thorgrimsson and 
 Teit Gizursson his friend slew Helgi by Helgis-hurst, on the way to 
 Einars-haven. Helgi's sons were Sigrod the Land-dweller, and Skevill 
 of Hawkdale the father of Helgi Deer, who fought a wager of battle 
 with Sigrod's son, Liot Longback, on Ax water-holm at the Great Moot; 
 whereon Helgi [Deer] made this verse" [3, below]. 
 
 Hallbiorn Ordsson (see p. 93). Of Hallbiorn, who was slain by 
 Snsebiorn, it is written in Landnama-bok, that he and his wife Hallgerd 
 did not get on well, fie got ready the first year against his journey 
 home at the Flitting-days, when he determined to leave his father-in- 
 law's house. " And while he was getting ready, Ord, her father, went 
 from the house to the baths at Reekholt, where his sheep-house was, for 
 he did not want to be there when Hallbiorn started, lor he suspected 
 that Hallgerd would not be willing to go with him. Ord had always 
 tried to make peace between them. When Hallbiorn had saddled their 
 horses, he went into the bower, and there sat Hallgerd on the dais 
 combing her hair, which fell all over her down to the belt ; for she had 
 the best hair of any woman in Iceland, as fine as Hallgerd the Tall. 
 Hallbiorn bade her stand up and come; she sate still and held her peace. 
 Then he took hold of her, but she never stirred, and this happened 
 three times; then Hallbiorn took his stand in front of her and said 
 [4, below]. Then he twisted her hair round his hand and tried to drag 
 her from the dais, but she sat still and did not budge. Then he drew 
 his sword and cut her head off, and went out and rode away." Snaebiorn 
 was sent after him by Ord, and came up with him and killed him at the 
 place called Hallbiorn's heaps, now called Saelu-hus, a cold-harbour on 
 Blue-shaw heath, betvv'een Eorgfirth and the Moot-field. It is a most 
 beautiful and romantic place on a balmy summer's night, with an amphi- 
 theatre of glacier before the eyes on the one side, and the wide heath 
 on the other. Here died Bishop Widalin on 31 Aug., 1720 (as we hear 
 from his chaplain Ulaf Gislason, afterwards Bishop of Skalholt, who
 
 78 IMPROVISATIONS. [bk. vii. 
 
 gives a touching account of his death), on his way to his kinsman's 
 funeral. Widalin, who had often passed there on his journeys, said that 
 it was the fairest spot he knew. 
 
 The Poets and the New Faith. There is in Kristni Saga a 
 series of verses connected with the early missions into Iceland. When, 
 in 98 1, the Saxon bishop Frederick and Thorwald Kodransson 
 preached the Gospel (and encountered such libellous satires as the one 
 we have noticed in Book vi, Ditty 57), they came into West-firth 
 Quarter to Hwam, about the time of the Great Moot, to Thorarin's 
 house ; he was away, but his wife Fridgerth was at home and their son 
 Skeggi. "Th'Twald preached the faith before the house, and Fridgerth 
 v.'as in the temple the while sacrificing, and each could hear v.hat the 
 other was saying, and the boy Skeggi laughed at them both." Then 
 Thorwald spake a verse [5, below]. 
 
 In 996, Stephen (Stefnir), the son of Thorgils, and great-grandson of 
 Earl Helgi Beolan, the Christian settler of Keelness, came out to 'set 
 forth God's errand.' He was not well received; but when he saw that he 
 had no success he took to breaking down idols and wrecking temples, so 
 that the Heathen rose against him and he was driven to Keelness. " His 
 ship lay up at Gufwater-oyie, and was torn away from Tier moorings by 
 the rising of the sea and a great storm ; whereupon the Heathen made 
 these verses [below]. But the ship came ashore little injured, and Stephen 
 had her mended in the spring. That summer it was made law at the Great 
 Moot that the kindred of Christians being nearer than fifth'cousins and 
 farther than first cousins, should indict them for blasphemy ; and that 
 summer Stephen was prosecuted for Christianity. . ." Stephen's death 
 at Sigwald's hands for his satire is noticed in Book vi. Ditty 59. 
 
 In 997-999, Thangbrand, who had been sent by King Oiaf Trygg- 
 vason, was in Iceland, and while he was teaching the faith 'many men 
 took to making lampoons on him.' Thorwald Veili (whom we know 
 from p. 26) did so; he lived at Wick in Grimsness: he made poetry 
 upon Thangbrand and recited this verse to Wolf (Ulf) the Poet, the 
 son of Uggi [7, below] ; but Wolf answered in another verse [8, below]. 
 When Gudleif helped Thangbrand to slay Winterlid and Thorwald 
 Veili for their satire, this verse was made [9, below]. 
 
 When Thangbrand went into the West, " Steinunn the mother of 
 Poet Ref went to meet him ; she preached heathenism to Thangbrand 
 and spoke at length before him. Thangbrand vras silent while she was 
 speaking, but made a long speech afterwards, and turned all she had said 
 upside down. ' Hast thou ever heard,' said she, 'how Thor challenged 
 Christ to a wager of battle, and that he dared not fight with Thor ? ' ' I 
 have heard,' says Thangbrand, 'that Thor was nothing but dust and 
 ashes save God were willing to let him live.' 'Dost thou know,' says 
 she, 'who wrecked thy ship ? ' ' What dost thou know about it? ' says 
 he. ' I will tell thee that,' says she." And she explained in two verses 
 that it was Thor [vv. lo-ii, below]. After that Thangbrand and 
 Steinunn parted, and he and those that were with him went west to 
 Bardstrand. 
 
 Libel on King Harold. It is told in the Kings' Lives, that Harold 
 Gormsson, King of Denmark, was once about to make an expedition 
 to Iceland, to revenge himself for the satires they made on him. " For 
 there was a law made in Iceland that one verse of satire should be made 
 upon the Danish King for every poll on the island. And this was their 
 case, that a ship that certain Icelanders owned was wrecked in Den-
 
 § 4.] SATIRES. 79 
 
 mark and the Danes took all the cargo under the name of ^Wa-ve-^vreck,' 
 and he that brought this about was the King's steward, whose name was 
 Byrgi." And there was a satire made upon both of them ; and in it the 
 following lines come [verse 12]. 
 
 "And Eywulf Walgerdsson made this verse when he heard that his 
 henchman had bartered his axe for a grey cloak, having just heard the 
 news of the quarrel with King Harold" [verse 13]. This passage is 
 found in lomswikinga Saga. 
 
 The Stone at Oland. On a Runic-stone in Oland in Denmark 
 (now Sweden) is found the only court-metre verse met with out of 
 Iceland. Possibly the composition of some traveller. It appears to 
 mark the grave of a prince [verse 17]. 
 
 1. "\ T'JER haofom ([)ar sem {'ori ]3at vas sett vi6 gletto) 
 
 * auSar unga bruQi aSr a ^egg of fa6a : 
 nu hefig rasta karms risti6 (rd&-ek einn fyrir \)vi meini) 
 hauka skoptz a hepti hlfn ' ddI ' boGkis mina. 
 
 Landn. iv. 4. 
 
 2. Vas-ek {)ar-es fell til fyllar (fram sotti vinr drottar), — 5 
 Erro-beinn {3a-es unnar llr-timgor hatt sungo : 
 
 Asm66ar gaf-ek 03ni arfa [)r6ttar diarfan, 
 guldom Galga-valdi Gautz tafn enn na hrafni. 
 
 3. Band es a hcegri hendi (hlaut-ek sar af t^ bEoro) 
 [l5^g-ek eigi J)at] (leygjar) [linn-vengis Bil] minni. 10 
 
 Landn, v. 10. 
 
 4. 01-karma leetr arman eik (firromk ^at) leika 
 Lofn fyrir lesnis stofni lin-bundin mik sinom : 
 Bi6a man-ek of bmbi (ba)l goerir mik fajlvan) 
 [snertomk harmr f hiarta hrot] aldregi botir. 
 
 Landn. ii. 30. 
 
 5. "por-ek me5 dom inn dfra, drengr hl^ddi mer enginn ; 
 -*- gcotom ha3 at hreyti hlaut-teins go6a sveini : 
 
 Tiorivi'j fainting and sculpture. I first painted the semblance of the 
 young bride on the wall, 'twas done in mockery of Thori. Now I have 
 carved my lady's hair (face) upon the beech wood haft of my knife. 
 I planned the scoff alone. 
 
 Helgi the Jrusty. I was by when Scar-leg fell to earth, what time the 
 swords sung high. I gave Thormod's gallant son to Woden, a sacrifice 
 ■*~for the gallows-god, and a carcase for tlie ravens. 
 ^ Helgi the Deer. There is a bandage on my right hand. I got a wound 
 from him. I lie not, lady ! 
 
 Hallbiorn Ordsson. The linen-veiled lady lets me stand as a poor 
 beggar before her face. He slays her and then finishes the verse. I shall 
 never be recompensed for my lady's loss. Grief makes my face pale. 
 Woe touches me to the very roof of my heart. 
 
 Thorivald Kodransson, I went in procession with the halidom, and no 
 man listened to me. I got mockery from the sprinkler of the divining 
 
 4. Read, skcpt . . . minnar? 12. stafni, Cd. 
 
 15
 
 8o IMPROVISATIONS. [bk. vii. 
 
 enn meS enga svinno aldin rfgr vi6 skal9i 
 
 {pa. kreppi Go9 gySjo !) gall um heiSnom stalla. 
 
 Kristni S., ch. 2. 
 
 6. Nu hefir stafn-valinn Stefniss (straumr ferr um hoi knerri) 
 felli-veSr af fialli fiall-roent bi"oti9 allan : 20 
 heldr geto ver at valdi (vesa muno ba)nd 2 landi) 
 
 [geisar a) me6 I'si] Ass rikr gnf slfkom. 
 
 Kristni S., ch. 6. 
 
 7. Uskelfom skal-ek Ulfi ein hendis bo6 senda 
 (mer es vi9 stala stfri stygglaust) syni Ugga : 
 
 at geir-hri9ar gcCSir go9-varg firin-argan, 25 
 
 sa-es vi6 RaDgn of rignir, reki hann ; enn ver annan. 
 
 8. Tekkat-ek, sundz J)6tt sendi, sann-reynis, bo9, tanna 
 hverfs vi6 hleypi-skarfi Hagbar6z v^a-fiar6ar : 
 
 esa ra-faka rdkis (ra^ng ero mala-gengi) 
 
 [s^-ek vi6 miklo meini] minligt flugo at ginad. 30 
 
 9. ' Ry9-fi6nar gat reynir randa su6r a landi' 
 'boe6s' 1 Bo6nar smiSjo Baldrs sig-tolom haldit: 
 sa6 reynir let Sonar sniallr mor6-hamar gialla 
 hau6rs 1 hattar ste8ja hialdrs Vetrli6a skaldi. 
 
 10. f'orr bra I'vinnils dyri I'angbrandz or sta8 la)ngo ; 35 
 hristi blakk ok beysti brandz ok laust vi6 sandi : 
 
 rods, the priest's son, while the old house-wife rudely shrieked to me 
 from the heathen altar. May God cripple that priestess [her] ! 
 
 The Heathens scoff at Stephen. Now a mountain hurricane from the hill 
 has broken Stephen's ship to pieces, the stream is pouring through the 
 hold of the bark. Surely it was the mighty Thor that made such a 
 wreck. The gods are in the land indeed. The river is rushing down 
 ice-laden. 
 
 Thorivald to Wolf- I will send a message straight to Wolf Uggi's 
 dauntless son (for I love him well) that he may drive away the reprobate 
 outcast of the gods, that blasphemes the Powers. I will deal with his 
 mate. 
 
 Wolfs ansiver. I will not take the fly in my mouth, though my 
 friend, the warden of Woden's holy mead [Thorwald the poet], sends 
 it m?. It is not for me to gulp down the bait. The case is wrongeous : 
 1 can see the great evil that will come of it. 
 
 Thangbrand the Missionary Priest and Gudlaf slay Winterlid the Poet. 
 The bearer of the Rood [Thangbrand] ran his battle-tools, stvord, into 
 the mind's smithy, breast, of the master of the Blood of Bodn [Poet] : 
 the keeper of the seed of Soma [the poet Godlaf J made his axe clash 
 into the skull of Winterlid the bard. 
 
 Steinitnn the poetess. Thor hurled Thangbrand's bark far from her 
 moorings ; he tossed and battered her and crushed her upon the sand. 
 
 22. Ass rikr] as riki, Cd. 25. fyrir argan, Cd. 26. sva at vi5, Cd. 
 
 31. Read, RoSo . . . gat] gekk, Cd. 32. Read, bl63s ? Baldrs] Baldr, 
 
 Cd. 33. Emend.; si3-reynir, Niala ; sig5-reynir, Cd.
 
 §4.] SATIRES. 8 1 
 
 muna ski9 d sla sf6an sund-foert Atals grundar ; 
 hregg f)viat hart nam leggja, hconom kennt, i spsono. 
 
 11. Braut fyiir bia)llo goeti (baond ra)ko val strandar) 
 ma)g-fellandi mello mo-stall z vfsund allan : 40 
 hlif6it Kristr, {^a-es kneyfSi knaorr, mal-feta varrar; 
 
 Iftt hygg ek G08 gaetti Gylva hreins it eina. 
 
 Kristni S., ch. 8. 
 
 12. TDa es sparn a mo mornar mor6-kunnr Haraldr sunnan 
 ■A- (varSat Vinda myr6ir vax eitt) 1 ham Faxa : 
 
 enn 'berg-Saxa' Byrgir baondom rsekr at landi 45 
 
 (f)at sa aid) 1 iaoldo orikr fyrir li'ki. 
 
 Kommga Sogor, O. T. ch. 36. 
 
 13. Selit ma8r vapn vi8 ver5i (ver6i dynr ef ma sverda), 
 ver8om ' hoeft ' at herSa hli65 ; eigom spiaDr ri68a : 
 ver skolom Gorms or gaomlo Gandvfkr j)oko-landi 
 
 (haorS es vaon at ver8i vapn-hri6) sonar bi8a. 50 
 
 lomsvikinga S., ch. 13. 
 
 14. 
 
 Folginn liggr, hins fylg6o (flestr vissi ]Dat) mestar 
 da8ar, dolga triiSar draugr i {)aimsi haugi : 
 munat rei3-vi8urr ra8a rog-starkr i Danmarko, 
 Vandils iarmun-grundar, cer-grandari, landi. 
 
 Runic Stone, Oland. 
 
 The ship will never be sea-worthy again, since the mighty gale he [Thor] 
 sent shivered her into splinters. 
 
 The Feller of the giantess-brood broke up the sea-bison [ship] for the 
 bell-ward [priest Thangbrand] ; the Powers wrecked the hawk of the 
 shore [ship]. Christ did not guard the charger of the main when she 
 was crushed ; God, I ween, kept little watch over the sea-king's reindeer 
 [ship]. 
 
 Lampoon on King Harold Bluetooth and his Stcvard. When the mur- 
 derous Harold galloped from the south to Giant-land [the desert waste] 
 in stallion-shape, the butcher of the Wends was no wax-heart then; 
 the weakling Byrgi, god-accursed, ran before him to the mountain- 
 folk's land in the likeness of a mare. All men saw it. 
 
 The ^warning of Ey^olf. Let no man sell his weapon for a price, 
 there may soon be a clashing of swords. Let us temper our blades, let 
 us have our axes ready. Let us abide the onslaught o/Gorm's son in the 
 old Fog-land of the Arctic Main. There is like to be a stubborn shock 
 of weapons. . 
 
 '^he Epitaph at Oland. The warrior, whom every one knows as the 
 man of most exploits, lies buried in this barrow. The strife-strong 
 forayer, the rider of the car of the main, shall never lord over the land 
 in Denmark [i.e. he is dead]. 
 
 45. Emend. ; berg-sala, Cd. at] i, Cd. 49. or] af, Cd. 
 
 VOL. II.
 
 BOOK VIIL 
 
 CHRISTIAN COURT POETRY. 
 
 This Book covers the whole of the classic age of Court Poetry, and 
 falls into divisions according to the leading kings at whose courts the 
 successive generations of poets flourished. 
 
 Section 1, 995-1015, the poets of Olaf Tryggvason's day, amongst 
 whom the leading figure is Hall/red. The poets of Earl Eric are also 
 placed here. 
 
 Section 2, 1015-1040, the poets of the courts of St. Olaf and Cnut 
 the Mighty, a period which really closes with the end of the career of 
 Sigki'at, perhaps the finest poet of this Book. 
 
 - Section 3, 1040-1075, the poets of Magnus the Good and Harold 
 Hardrede, Earl Thorfin of Orkney and their generation, closing with 
 Sweyn Wolfsson's death. Thiodolf and Amor are the most prominent 
 of these. 
 
 Section 4, 1076-1130, the poets of Magnus Bareleg and his sons, to 
 the death of the Crusader King Sigurd. The foremost man of this 
 period is Mark Skeggison. 
 
 Section 5, 11 30-1 200, the poets of the Gille-crist family and Mag- 
 nus Erlingsson down to Swerri. The representative poet of this period 
 of declension is Einar Sculason. 
 
 Section 6. Poems by men of the twelfth century referring to 
 past historical deeds and men, on Tryggvason, St. Olaf, lomswickings. 
 Konunga-tal (c. 1190) forms as it were a poetical index to the whole of 
 the seventh and eighth Books. 
 
 Section 7. Scraps of court-poetry, dream-verses, ditties and other 
 pieces belonging to the times covered by this and the preceding Book.
 
 § I. OLAF TRYGGVASON (995-1000). 
 
 The greatest of all the Northern kings, his life is an epic of ex- 
 ceeding interest. Coming out of the darkness, he reigns for five short 
 years, during which he accomplishes his great design, the Christianising 
 Norway and all her colonies ; and then, in the height of his glory, with 
 the halo of holiness and heroism undimmed on his head, he vanishes 
 again. But his works do not perish with him. He had done his work, 
 and though maybe his ideal of a great Christian Empire of the Baltic 
 was unfulfilled, he had single-handed wrought the deepest change that 
 has ever affected Norway. His noble presence brightens the Sagas 
 whenever it appears, like a ray of sunshine gleaming across the dark 
 shadowy depths of a Northern firth. All bear witness to the wonderful 
 charm which his personahty exercised over all that were near him, so 
 that like the holy king Lewis (who however falls short of Olaf), he was 
 ■felt to be an unearthly superhuman being by those who knew him. His 
 singular beauty, his lofty stature S golden hair, and peerless skill in 
 bodily feats, make him the typical Norseman of the old heroic times, 
 a model king. 
 
 The facts of his life must be gathered from two distinct bodies of 
 documents. The Jirst and most trustworthy, derived from the oral 
 traditions handed down to the faithful keeping of ylri the historian, and 
 embalmed in the poetic prose of Snorri, gives us the national, northern, 
 and historical account of him, which is comprised in the original draft of 
 his life in the Book of Kings. 
 
 The second, legendary, ecclesiastical, and tinged with foreign-medieval 
 influence so deeply as to give false impressions of his character and 
 doings, seems to owe its start to the Latin Chronicle of Sxiuund, and is 
 found in the interpolations and additions intertv/ined into the MSS. of 
 his Life, and in the legendary (Latin) chronicles which deal with him. 
 It is in these that we find him, agreeably to the medieval ideal, turned 
 into a Charlon, a malleus paganormn, who would shrink from no cruelty 
 in his desire to spread the faith. From them came such horrible and 
 incredible legends as the torture of the demoniac by fire; the slaying of 
 Raud by the snake that was forced to eat into his heart ; the exposure 
 of the keen-eyed Sigurd naked to the hound Vigi, echo of the Swanhild 
 legend ; the wholesale Jehu-like massacre of the wizards by fire in the 
 hall at Nidarnes (Saemund given as authority); and of the warlocks by 
 water on the Reef of Wailing. The neglect of distinguishing the two 
 distinct sources for Olaf's history has bred great confusion in past his- 
 torians, even Keyser and Munch, and set a brand on the king's name, 
 which it is a duty to help to efface. The clear and patent difference of 
 these classes of narrative, which can no more mix than oil and water, 
 admits of their certain separation. 
 
 * A cross of Olaf's height was borne in the procession at the Althing in looo; 
 last heard of in Ari's time at East Skard, a farm since I39t hidden under the ashes 
 of Mount Hecla. 
 
 G 2
 
 84 OLAF TRYGGVASON. [bk. viii. 
 
 Of the king's youth we have little to depend on but notices in 
 the Western Chronicles, telling of his foray^^, and his confirmation, such 
 as the famous entry in the English Book, telling how he came with a 
 fleet of 450 ships to Stone, and harried there, and then went to Sand- 
 wich, and thence to Ipswich, and so to ]Maldon, where he fought with 
 and beat the good Alderman Byrthnoth, whose death is worthily sung 
 in the best of old English war-poems. The English Chronicles also tell 
 of his coming with Swain to London on the Nativity of St. Mary, how 
 God's holy mother by mercy saved the town, and how, after harrying 
 Essex, Kent, Surrey and Hampshire, the host wintered at Southampton, 
 and took 16,000/. from the English king. Then the king sent iElfheah 
 the bishop and iEthelward the alderman to King Olaf, and they led 
 him with them to Andover, w'here the English king took him 'at the 
 bishop's hands, by the teaching of i^igric. Archbishop of Canterbury, 
 and of TElfheah, Bishop of Winchester,"* and gifted him royally, 'and 
 then Olaf made him a promise, ivhich he also kept, that he would never 
 more come to England with war,' This is confirmed by the list of 
 Olaf's early exploits given by Hallfred in II,— the poem the king, and 
 no wonder, would not listen to, — who notices him as warring in the 
 East, Friesland, Saxony, Brittany, England, Wales, Cumberland, Scot- 
 land, Ireland, INIan, and the Islands (Orkneys). In the Western islands 
 the king seems to have married, though the stories concerning this 
 marriage are apocryphal ; but his wife was probably dead before he 
 came to his own country. 
 
 The legends of Olaf's youth in the lost Latin Ssemundian books (which 
 we can see were the originals of the account in the Kings' Lives of his 
 flight, persecution by Gundhild, adventures in Russia and Wendland, 
 and like) are full of echoes of the Josiah and Jezebel of the Bible, and 
 perfectly incredible. That he came from the West is certain ; that he 
 was born there seems likely from his name, borne by the famous Anlaf 
 Cuaran, the little we know about his father Tryggwi, and stray hints in 
 poems and chronicles. Up to this time Olaf's career has been that of a 
 wicking prince, but we are no_\v to see him as a man with a great purpose 
 before him, spending his life in working to fulfil it, and reaping even 
 before his death the reward of his labours. What influence he under- 
 went during this period of his life we cannot tell ; but underneath the 
 bare \\ords of the English Chronicle may there not be a lurking hint of 
 a crisis having passed over the man when he was in England ? The 
 English Churchmen were at that time under the fresh impulse of that 
 revival which manifested itself in such men as Odo and Oswald and 
 Dunstan ; and may it not have been one of the North English clergy, 
 Northmen or Danes themselves by race, or even one of those half- 
 Welsh monks whose influence may be traced on the Southern English 
 of Edgar's day, that turned his thoughts to a higher ideal than Regin- 
 here or Thorgisl, and to labours worthier of David than of Saul? 
 
 Suddenly he appears in the heart of Norway. All welcome him that 
 was to restore the realm and laws of Harold Fair-hair ; and the ' wicked 
 Earl' and his supporters can make no stand against the popular impulse 
 which lifts the hero to the throne. And now he starts on a missionary 
 Circuit in Norway (not unlike a Swedish Erics Gate), first to the Wick, 
 where by his preaching and persuasion the people (among whom a little 
 germ of Christianity was already struggling into life) are converted to 
 his faith, and the nobles attached to him by the marriage of his two 
 step-sisters. Thence he bends his way to the Soitth-ivest, to the great 
 moot at Moster-Island, when the graphic scene, which Snorri tells so
 
 § I.] OLAF'S MISSIONARY CIRCUIT. 85 
 
 well, took place; where, after the king's speech, the franklins are unable 
 to answer him, one after another getting up and being forced to sit down 
 without getting a word out, so that it seemed miraculous, and the moot 
 was half-convinced at once of the power of his gospel. Popular fancy 
 dwelt on the story; and the foot-print of the king, and the prints made 
 by the 'shoes' of his followers' spears, were shown in the rock of the 
 moot-hillock. Here, too, Olaf did not neglect to join the chiefs to him 
 by the ties of marrjage, and Erling Skialgsson, grandnephew of Thorleif 
 the Wise, the law-giver and creator of Most-moot (Thiodwulf's patron), 
 weds Olaf's sister, Anstrith. 
 
 Hence he turned north to a moot at Dragsheath, on the Tarbert 
 behind Cape Stadt (Ssemund has an account of his speech and the pro- 
 ceedings here), after which he sets forth his errand among the Hords at 
 their Moot ofGiiIa. Thence he was minded to preach the faith in Haloga- 
 land, in the far north, and so complete the circuit of the coast ; but the 
 heathen party was yet strong in the wilder and more pagan parts of the 
 land, and the chiefswere forewarned of his intentions, so thathewasobliged 
 to abandon his work there for the present. A hard struggle awaited him 
 on his return to his own people ; the Thronds were a stubborn set, and 
 for the only time there is a stain of blood on the record of his missionary 
 career. Ironbeard was slain in the half-rebellious, half-heathen resist- 
 ance which was oifered to his projects, but 'the heart' of Norway was 
 now ' as his heart.' The summit of his Hill Difficulty was reached in 
 two years. There remained only the baptism of the Uplanders, which 
 is connected with the name of Gudbrand o' Dale. Curiously enough 
 (as we can prove by the retention of Olaf Tryggvason's bishop's name 
 Sigfred) this part of Olaf's history has, like several other less important 
 incidents, been bodily transferred to St. Olaf's Life, where it is plainly 
 out of place, and causes such manifest contradictions as the reconver- 
 sion of Gudbrand, whom we know from the context, from an episode in 
 Tryggvason's Saga, and from Sighvat's testimony, to have been a devoted 
 Christian and a friend of the li.ing. 
 
 Haloga-Iand now submits; and the home-lands being all christened, 
 the king meant to evangelise the Outlands and Colonies also. First 
 winning over by his personal influence such western and northern emi- 
 grants as visit his new merchant town at Nidaros, he engages them as 
 his disciples to carry the fai^h to their honjes. Sigmund Brestisson 
 wins over the Faei;pys at the cost of his own life. Thangbrand, the hot- 
 headed Saxon priest, is employed to take the Good News to Iceland ; 
 and though he does not meet with all the success the king had hoped, 
 Gizur and Healti, Icelanders born, succeed in carrying the law which 
 established the Christian Faith in their commonwealth. Not even 
 Greenland is forgotten ; Leif the Lucky, son of the old pioneer, Eric 
 the Red, the discoverer of the American continent, is the king's am- 
 bassador to the most northern Teuton colony. The Orkneys Olaf had 
 already converted on his way to Norway, according to Orkneyinga Saga. 
 So he had now planted the Faith firmly in the ' five folklands' that after- 
 wards formed the province of Nidaros, his own town, ' Norway, Iceland, 
 Greenland, Faereys and Orkneys ' being the sees of suffragans. 
 
 That during the last three years of his reign, while thus engaged in 
 completing his scheme of missionary labour, Olaf was also bent on some 
 great political design, we can hardly doubt. The statesmanlike instinct 
 which had led him to found the Jirst city in Norway on Nidaros, a stand- 
 ing witness to his foresight, was not likely to have stopped at such 
 designs. That it was his hope to found a Christian Empire of the Baltic
 
 86 OLAF TRYGGVASON. [bk.viii. 
 
 (Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and her colonies) is clear from the whole 
 context, Ta npaynara, of his last years. Amid the pagan state of Sweden 
 (note what Sighvat found it twenty years later) and the halt-heathendom 
 of Denmark under Sweyn Forkbeard's rule, his own wooing of the 
 Swedish Queen-dowager Sigrid, his final marriage with a Wendish 
 princess, and the close league of the two kings against him point this way. 
 To this too we must ascribe the building of the three war-ships year 
 after year, the ' Crane,' the ' Short Serpent,' and the * Long Serpent,' 
 the most splendid ship which had ever floated in northern waters ; and 
 still more surely the gathering and training of that crew of heroes, 
 whose names comprise so many men of mark, and who were a fitter 
 instrument of conquest than even the buccaneers of lom, who formed 
 in after days the lever with which Cnut was able to win and rule the 
 widest empire any northern prince had ever swayed ; even the marriage 
 of his last sister to the Earl of Gautland— all seem to give hints of his 
 plans ; and it is some belief of this sort which underlies the popular stories 
 of the Angelica stalk and the like in the traditional narrative of Snorri. 
 
 Nor with all this was law or order neglected. From a hint in Sighvat's 
 Bersoghs-visur we may gather that Olaf had claims to notice as a law- 
 giver, and this is but what we should expect from him. 
 
 Then comes the end. Overtaken by his enemies at Swold (off Stral- 
 sund, west of the spot that legend had hallowed as the scene of the Ever- 
 lasting Battle), Olaf fought his last fight. 
 
 No day is m.ore famous in Northern story, no battle more stirring 
 than this of Swold. Legends grew up about it pathetic, marvellous, and 
 miraculous. It was impossible for his surviving followers to believe that 
 the holy king, their invincible leader, was really dead ; and the fond 
 popular belief which has in its own dogged faithfulness conferred on such 
 men as Frederic Red Beard, Arthur, and Charlemagne an immortality of 
 hope, dealt also with the memory of Olaf. The Confessor knew of his 
 death as a hermit by miracle, but the people believed that he would yet 
 come back to rule in his own land. It is certain that no such king or 
 man was to appear again in the North till the great Gustavus, with whose 
 life and character that of Olaf has many striking resemblances. 
 
 The age of Olaf is uncertain. It is commonly beHeved that he was born 
 in 969 and that he came to Norway at the age of twenty-eight (that of 
 Hannibal) and died in his thirty-second year. Looking, however, to the 
 length of his warfare in the West, when he was a real commander, not a 
 boy-king,thematurityof his plans, and thecharacter of his work, one would 
 incline to put his age at his death as five or six years older in the absence 
 of positive information on the subject, for the legends of his connection 
 with the Emperor Otto II, etc., cannot of course be credited. About 
 the date of Swold itself there is a doubt. The battle and the taking of 
 Christianity to Iceland did not happen in the same year, hence we must 
 put Swold at 1000, if we take the vote of the Althing to have been 
 passed in 999; but if we hold that court to have taken place in looo, 
 then the king must have fallen in looi. No Icelander of note was with 
 the king when he fell. Skuli, who is the only Icelandic eye-witness we 
 have, was in Eric's following [his account will be found in the Reader], 
 the reason being that Olaf, desirous of giving the greatest support to the 
 Christian party in Iceland, had, in the preceding autumn, given his 
 Icelandic henchmen leave to go home, and they had not had time to 
 join him again before he fell. In a passage in the Great Life of Olaf it 
 is said that the battle took place on ' IMonday the day after later Mary- 
 mass,' the 9th of September, 1000. This statement we believe to come
 
 §x.] 
 
 HALLFRED VANDRiEDA-SCALD. 87 
 
 from some verse of a poet, most probably Hallfred, in whose OlaPs Drapa 
 it may lurk under some commonplace ' fill-gap phrase ' or ' kenning,' as 
 in 11. 43-44, which has taken its place. We incline to accept this date. 
 
 HALLFRED VANDR^DA-SCALD. 
 
 To Olaf Tryggvason, curiously enough, Skaldatal only gives two poets, 
 Biarni and Hallfred. Of the former no mention is made in the King's 
 Life, but Skaldatal is confirmed by Hallar-Steinarr in Rek-stefia, when 
 he says that Hallfred and Biarni formerly made Encomia on Olaf, and 
 that he will now make a third ; and in Islendinga-Drapa we have it 
 recorded, doubtless from a lost Saga of Biarni's, that when this poet's 
 courage was challenged, he struck Earl Hakon in the face with a 
 drinking-horn. 
 
 Of Hallfred details abound; we have a separate Saga of him, which 
 gives a good picture of his life and character. Born in the north of 
 Iceland, he took to trade in his youth, and coming out to Norway, is 
 said to have become the henchman of Earl Hakon, and to have made 
 an Encomium on him. In the autumn of 997, on the King's first 
 return from Haloga-land, he met King Olaf and entered his service. 
 
 " One day King Olaf went out into the street, and there met him 
 certain men, the foremost of whom greeted him. The King asked him 
 his name. He said his name was Hallfued. 'Art thou the poet?' asked 
 the King then, ' I know how to compose,' said he. Then spake the 
 King, 'Thou must be minded to become a Christian, and then thou shalt 
 be my man.' ' I will let myself be baptized,' says he, ' on condition that 
 thou, O King, be my god-sir. I will not accept that office from any 
 other man.' 'I will do so,' says the King. Then Hallfred was baptized 
 and the King held him up in his baptism. Then he asked Hallfred, 
 * Wilt thou be my man ? ' 'I was formerly a henchman of Earl Hakon's, 
 and now I will not become thy liege or any other chief's, save thou 
 promise me that no matter what I do, thou wilt never drive me from 
 thee! ' 'But I am told of thee,' says the King, 'that thou art not so wise 
 or careful but that it is likely that thou wilt do something that I could 
 not by any means suflfer to be passed over.' 'Then slay me,' says 
 Hallfred. 'Thou art a troublesome poet, but thou shalt be my man.' 
 Quoth Hallfred, ' What wilt thou give me, O King, as a name-gift if I 
 am to be called the troublesome poet?' The King gave him a sword 
 without a sheath, and bade him see that no man got hurt by it for three 
 days and three nights, and told him to make a verse on the sword, and 
 let the word 'sword' come into every clause. Hallfred did so [see 
 p. 97]. Then the King gave him the sheath and belt and said, ' The 
 word sword is not in every clause, though ! ' ' No, but there are two 
 swords in one clause,' answered Hallfred. 'So there are,' said the King." 
 In another place it is told of him, "And now Hallfred was with the King 
 for a time and made a short poem on him and prayed him to listen to 
 it. But the King said that he would not hearken to him. Hallfred 
 answered, ' Thou shalt have thy way, bul^^I shall cast off all the stories 
 [the Creed, Lord's Prayer, etc.] thou makest me learn, if thou wilt not 
 listen to my poem, for those stories thou makest me learn are no whit 
 more poetic than the poem I have made on thee.' Said King Olaf, 'Thou 
 art truly called the troublesome poet, and I will listen to thy poem.'" 
 
 But with the poetic feeling as to the old gods clinging round him, we 
 are told that Hallfred did not very easily put off his old faith, and it
 
 88 OLAF TRYGGVASON. [bk. viii. 
 
 seems to have been more love for the King than tlie creed that kept him 
 a Christian. ' Hallfred would never speak ill of the gods, though other 
 men railed at them, saying that there was no need to speak evil of them, 
 though they would not believe in them.' And once he spoke this verse in 
 the King's hearing, ' We used formerly to sacrifice to Woden. Our life is 
 changed now.' 'That is very bad verse, and you must unsay it.' Then 
 Hallfred sang, ' We used to sing of the gods, but now I must put away 
 Woden's service though I loved it, and serve Christ.' The King said, 
 * Thou lovest the gods too well, and it will not profit thee. That verse 
 is no better, and must be mended.' T^ben Hallfred renounces the gods, 
 and the King said, ' That is well sung and better than any, but go on.' 
 And Hallfred added another 'verse ivitnessing to his faith. While he was 
 with the King he made a Poem on him, and wh^n sent on an embassy to 
 the east to Earl Reginwald of Gaiitland, about the marriage of Olafs 
 sister, he seems to have made the Earl's Encomium, of which also we 
 have fragments. He went back to Iceland the year before Olafs death, 
 and so was not present at Swold. 
 
 There is a touching account of the way in which he came to hear 
 the tidings of his master's fall. He was just about to fight a wager of 
 battle with Gris, the husband of Kolfinna, his love, and he dreamed the 
 night before that King Olaf appeared to him and told him not to fight 
 in an unrighteous cause, and that he should go to the wood where the 
 cross-roads meet, and that there he would hear tidings which would touch 
 him more nearly than this matter of the wager of battle. So he went, 
 and lo, men in red coats riding from the ships, and from them he heard 
 the news that was shocking the whole north. ' Hallfred was as if he 
 were stunned with a stone.' He settled his suit, went out at once to 
 Norway to hear what he could of the King, and then he made the dirge 
 Olafs Drapa. A piece of a fragment on Earl Eric is ascribed to him 
 about this time, but he seems to have composed no more afterwards, 
 for he was never happy or at rest after the King's fall, ' the world was 
 empty,' as he says; and though he'went out to Sweden, where he had a 
 wife and son, he could not stay there in peace, but was minded to go 
 back to Iceland, and on that voyage he died, as the Saga tells us. 
 
 " Hallfred was then about forty years of age when he set out to 
 Iceland to fetch his property. His son Hallfred was with him. They 
 had a bad voyage. Hallfred pumped in his turn, and yet he was very 
 ill. And one day as he came from the baling, he sat dow^n on the boom, 
 and at that moment a wave struck him down on the deck with the 
 boom on the top of him. Then cried Thorw aid, 'Art hurt, brother?' and 
 he answered him in a verse. They thought they could see that he was 
 in a fever, and laid him aft along the deck, and made up his berth, and 
 asked him what he thought of himself. He answered in a verse. And 
 lo, they saw a woman walking after the^ship ; she was tall, and clad in a 
 mail-coat, and walked over the billows as if she were on dry land. 
 Hallfred looked at her, and saw that she was his Fetch, and said, * I 
 renounce thee altogether.' She said, 'Wilt thou take me, Thorwald?' but 
 he refused. Then said Hallfred the Young, ' I will take thee.' Then she 
 disappeared. Then spake Hallfred, ' I will give thee, my son, the sword, 
 King's-gift, but my other treasures thou shalt lay in the coftln with me 
 if I die on board,' and he spake this verse [see p. 98] ; and a little later 
 he died, and was laid in his coffin with his treasures, the mantle, the 
 helm, and the ring; and they were all cast overboard together. The 
 coffin came ashore in Holy Island (Hy) in the Sudreys, and the Abbot's 
 servants found it. They broke up the coffin and stole the goods and
 
 §^-] 
 
 HALLFRED VANDR^DA-SCALD. 89 
 
 sunk the body in a great marsh. But lo, in the night the Abbot 
 dreamed that King Olaf came to him ; he was very angry, and said that 
 he had evil servants, that had broken his poet's ship, and stolen his 
 goods, and bound a stone about his neck. 'Now do thou enquire dili- 
 gently of them the truth of these matters, or there shall marvellous 
 things befall thee.' Then the servants were taken and they confessed, 
 and were pardoned. And Hallfred's body was brought to the church 
 and buried worshipfully ; a chalice was made out of his ring, and an 
 altar-cloth of his mantle, and a crmdlcstick of his helmet." [See the 
 Reader for this story, p. 109.] 
 
 Besides the poems noted above, there is an Uppreistar Drapa (or 
 Song on the Creation) of his mentioned, which is now lost. In Codex 
 Birgianus, there is an Olaf's Drapa set down to him, but wrongly, for 
 the following reasons. The author of this poem speaks modestly of 
 himself (not a characteristic of Hallfred's); says that famous poets 
 have sung already of Olaf, but that he also presumes to do so ; and talks 
 of hearsay information, ' I have heard of a king named Olaf,' which 
 Hallfred had no reason to do. Secondly, he uses late phrases, such as 
 stol-konungr, ^aaiXevs KadeSpms, a synonym brought, we fancy, by 
 Harold Hardrede from Byzantium, and certainly not used before his 
 day. Thirdly, the metre and cadeyjce is not that of Hallfred, but of 
 some thirteenth-century poet, presenting striking resemblances, espe- 
 cially to those of one named ' Hallr Skald,' whose poem. Brand's Drapa, 
 is quoted in Stwrlunga, c. 1246. The similarity of the names 'hallr' 
 and ' hallf.' would easily lead to a copyist's mistake, as Hallfred was 
 well known as Olaf's friend and poet. 
 
 Of Hallfred's own characteristics as a poet, we may call him the first 
 of the second school of court-poets;- — nothing antique or deeply thought 
 out in his verses, though a real devotion and affection breaks out in 
 his dirge on the King. Of Plallfred's improvisations, those which occur 
 in his first interviews with the King, and in the last hours of his hfe, 
 are genuine to our mind ; but those which are given to him in the 
 course of his love for Kolfinn and quarrel with Oris are coarse and 
 commonplace and spurious. Like Thormod and Cormac, his love was 
 an unlucky one; he seems, like them, to have been of a wayward Irish 
 temperament, hot-headed and ready-handed, and passionately devoted 
 to his lord. Like theirs, too, his life was more romantic and imagina- 
 tive than his verse. 
 
 Hallfred's poems have suffered not a little, for it is clear that whole 
 lines have been irretrievably ' improved ' away, chiefly in the Swold 
 section: better are vv. 17-25 ; though there are a few places where one 
 sees that behind a banal phrase or word there once stood a statement 
 or proper name; thus in II, 7 'val-kera' stands for ' Wal-Breta,' so 
 'Hedinsmeyiar ' (I. 11) is really ' Hedins-eyiar,' as the ' sundi ' pre- 
 ceding shows. Again, 'Hedins rekka' (I. 10) is Hedin's 'swirl' or ' race,' 
 not ' warrior;' 'rekka' being the common Slav word for current, which 
 translates Swold heie, for Swold 'swelchie' is not an island at all, and 
 the nearest island is Hedinsey. ' We fought before the mouth of Swold,' 
 says Skuli, and Skioldunga twice mentions Swold, and enables us to fix 
 its place. There are reasons for doubts respecting II. See notes. 
 
 Hallfred helps one to several details in the battle of Swold, which 
 differ from the prose account. He hints at some stratagem (vel) in 
 the fight, followed by some breach of discipline (such as that of Senlake 
 we may fancy) committed by the crew of the Serpent, which he takes 
 to have lost the day for Olaf. 'Eric njoould never have won the Long
 
 90 OLAF TRYGGVASON. [bk. vm. 
 
 Serpent, as long as the King's men kept the shield-nxiall ivithin the sh'ip^ 
 The popularised version of this is that Olaf s men went mad with Bear- 
 sark rage, and leapt overboard. The forecastle seems to have been 
 deserted by the crew, who had, contrary to Olaf's orders, boarded one 
 of the ships that lay alongside, so that Eric was able, to throw his men 
 on board, and once an entry gained the force of numbers must have 
 prevailed. Hallfred's reflection on the Thronds (ver. 20) does not seem 
 to be, as might be guessed, an accusation, but simply the thought that if 
 all Northmen had stood together, the King would have been invincible. 
 Unfortunately both lines 15 and 79 have been tampered with; who is 
 meant by ' committed treason' is obscure. Respecting Sigwald (to whose 
 treason Stephen's verse witnesses Book vi. Ditty 59) Hallfred says 
 nothing, but Skuli speaks to his accompanying Eric against the King, 
 though the popular prose account slurs over his behaviour. Whether 
 his treason consisted, as one might guess, in some Themistoclean mes- 
 sage to Olaf, or in more open treachery, we cannot tell. Hallfred's 
 poem is touching where he hovers between hope and despair, as he 
 hears the varying reports ' from the East ' as to the fate of his lord, 
 and finally is assured of the worst. The last stanzas, however, have 
 a triumphant ring; his grief, great as it is, has the greatest comfort, 
 the proud remembrance and assurance of the dead King's glory. 
 
 I. Olafs-drapa ; or, Olaf's Dirge. 
 
 (Verses 2-3, 13, 16-18, 20, 21 from Kringia ; lines i, 2 from f>i6r. S. ; 
 lines 3, 4, and 89, 90 from Fagrsk. ; the rest from Olafs S.) 
 
 Stef. a. ATORDR ro oil of or()in aub land at gram dauban : 
 allr glepsk fribr affalli flug-styggs sonar Tryggva. 
 
 b. Gra??is daudi bra gledi gods 6/drar piobar 
 
 allr glcpsk fribr a/ /alii flug-styggs sonar Tryggva. 
 
 c. Eigi Idtask ytar enn peirs vida nenna 5 
 fremra mann of finna folk-reifo7n Aleifi. 
 
 d. Hverr vas hrceddr vid orvati hug-dyggvan son Tryggva 
 {odosk malm-pings meidar) madr und solar-iadri. 
 
 1. Flug-^verrir nam fyrri fraegr aldregi vaegja 
 
 heldr let hauka skyldir hug-rekki ser JDckkja. 10 
 
 2. Geta skal mals |)ess es maela menn at vapna senno 
 dolga-fangs vi6 drengi da6-a)flgan gram kv£66o : 
 
 Burdens, a. All the Northern lands are made desolate, all peace is 
 confounded by the fall of Tryggwi's steadfast son. 
 
 b. The death of the good king has bated the joy of many a people. 
 All peace is confounded by the fall of Tryggwi's flight-scorning son. 
 
 c. Men that have travelled far declare that they have never met 
 a man like the doughty Olaf. 
 
 d. Every man underneath the course of the sun trembled before the 
 stout-hearted son of Tryggwi, yea, his foes feared him. 
 
 The king's orders before the battle. The famous king that spurned flight, 
 that never turned his back, said that all his mind was set on good 
 courage. Now I will tell the word the king spake to his men at the 
 clash of weapons. He bade his followers ' never think on flight.' These 
 words of prowess shall never die.
 
 § I.] HALLFRED VANDR^DA-SCALD. 91 
 
 baSat her-tyg9ar hyggja hnekkir si'na rekka 
 (J)ess lifa J)i69ar sessa J)r6ttar-or6) a flotta. 
 
 3. {>ar hygg vist til miaok misto (msorg kom drott a flotta) 15 
 gram {)annz gunni framSi gengiss f'roenzkra drengja: 
 naefr va einn vi3 iaofra allvaldr tva snialla 
 
 (fraegr es til sliks at segja si6r) ok iarl inn JjriQja. 
 
 4. Hept vas Iftt a lopti (li6o ajrvar fram goerva) 
 brodda flaug a9r bauga briotendr skyti spiotom : 20 
 or6 vas hitt at har6ast hvar-kunnr fyr laog sunnan 
 
 mest 1 malma gnaustan minn drottinn framm sotti. 
 
 5. Sotti herr J)ar es haetti hund-margr drasil sunda; 
 'enn hialm-spiotom ' hilmir har6-fengr Daonom 'vardi:' 
 fello \)3.T ' med {)olli ' J^eim sksevaSar geima 25 
 (mein hlaut ek af \)vi) minir meirr hoU-vinir fleiri. 
 
 6. Her-skei-6ir klauf harSan (hann gekk rei9r of skeiSar) 
 svar6ar-stofn me9 sver6i sunnr eld-vi6om kunnom : 
 kunni gramr at gunni gunn-|)inga iarn-munnom 
 (margr la heggr of hoeggvinn) hold-barkar rso sarka. 30 
 
 7. Var6 um Vinda myr6i vig-sk^s (enn ]3at lysig) 
 ramr und randar himni rymr, knaotto spior glymja : 
 hirSir stoSsk vi5 har6an hnit-vegg me6 fiaDl6 seggja 
 vf5iss velti-rei6ar varg-hollr JDrimo marga. 
 
 8. Upp S£og6o \ddg la)g6ar ' Iff skiott firom ' hlifa 35 
 gnog til gumna feig6ar gaolkn vi6 randar ba)lko. 
 
 9. Leitt hykk Leifa brautar log-nsorungom vsoro 
 geirs vi3 ' gumna ' stiora geigor-Jjing at eiga : 
 J)a-es fak-hla3endr frsoknir farligs at vin iaila 
 
 hiifs me6 hamri f)oef6ar hring-skyrtor fram gingo. 40 
 
 Then I ween the king missed the Thronds' backing sorely. A great 
 people was put to flight. Alone he withstood two mighty kings and an 
 earl the third. It is a glorious feat to tell of. 
 
 The first attacks. There was little space between the arrow-flight and 
 the spear-hurling ; the story goes that my lord fought foremost of all, 
 south over sea. A mighty host beset his ship, he defended himself against 
 the Danes and S^wedes. Many a good friend of mine fell there on board 
 in the king's crew, whereby I grieve. The king clove the skulls of his 
 foes with his sword, and made many a man's locks bloody with the lips 
 of the iron. Many a warrior was cut down at that war-moot. There 
 was a grim clatter of shields about the slayer of the Wends [Olaf], he 
 and his men withstood the onslau,'ht of many foes. The swords spoke 
 out the law of death to the Swedes from the tables of the shields. They 
 [the Danes and Swedes] became weary of holding the dread parliament 
 of spears against the lord of the Grenes, where the good crew with 
 their hammer-clenched ring-shirts charged following their king. 
 
 24. Read, med . . . Sviom. Read, varSizk. 29. iarn-munnom] Edda 74^ ; 
 
 a hior {juiinom, Cd. 30. Emend.; holdbarkat xk, Cd. and 748. 35. Fib.; 
 
 Iag6iz, Cd. Read, lit-skiorr Sviom. 37. Emend. ; let it hygg, Cd. 38. 
 Read, Grena ?
 
 92 OLAF TRYGGVASON. [bk. vm. 
 
 10. FirSisk vcetr sa es varSisk vi8-lendr Breta striSir 
 
 ' bley6i firSr ' vi6 breiSan bekk doin He6ins Rekka : 
 hann let ' of sajk sanna ' (sver3-ialmr ox J)ar) ver6a 
 ' skilit fra-ek fyrir skylja sk66 mser ro6in bloQi.' 
 
 11. Har6-g3ervan let 'hiaoivi' holms ver3a tyr sverSa 45 
 vind a vi6o sundi vfg-J^ey ' He6ins meyjar : ' 
 
 a6r an Ormi nseSi Eirekr e8a hlut meira 
 majrg 63 bitr 1 bl65i ben-kneif fyrir Aleifi. 
 
 12. Moendit Lung it Langa Ise-siks und gram ri'kjom 
 (bl66 kom a J)raDm piban) \)[6b varliga hri68a : 50 
 me6an ftrs vinir sotto innan-bor5z (at mor6i) 
 
 (su gcerSisk vel) var3a (verSung) ia)furs sver3ora. 
 
 13. Sukko ni3r af naSri nadd-fars 'i b3o3' sarir 
 bangs gcer6ot vi6 vsegjask ' verkendr He3ins serkjar ' 
 vanr man Ormr 'p6 at ' Ormi all-dyrr konungr ' styri/ 55 
 Jjars hann skn'Sr me3 liQ lySa, lengi slikra drengja. 
 
 14. Itr-ferm6om re6 Ormi or3-saell iofurr norSan 
 (sna^rp var6 at t)at sver6a snot) Eiriki a moti : 
 enn huf-ia^fnom hefnir hlyrs {)eim gota styrSi 
 
 (a6r ox um gram g66an gunnr) Hakonar sunnan. 60 
 
 15. Gott es gaerva at frdtta (gunnr ox) fyr haf sunnan 
 [sver6 bito feigra fyr3a fiaor-rajnn] or6 at maDnnom : 
 hvern rakklegast rekka rand-laSs vi6ir kv£D6o 
 (Surtz settar vinn-ek slettan sylg) Aleifi fylgja. 
 
 16. Ogrcjfc:6ir sa au6an orm-griotz Trana fliota 65 
 (hann rau8 geir at gunni gla6r) ok ba6a Na6ra : 
 
 a6r hialdr-J)orinn h^ldi hug-framr or bao6 ramri 
 
 The assault cf Eric. The fearless foe of the Welsh did not refuse to 
 plead by the broad bank of Hedin's Race. He defended himself bravely. 
 
 He fought a hard fight on the wide sound at Hedinsey, till Eric won 
 the Serpent and got the upper hand of Olaf. He would never have 
 won the Long Serpent from the mighty kijig as long as the king's men 
 stood on their defence on board. That stratagem [of Eric] wrought 
 their death. 
 
 The king's men on the Serpent sunk down wounded into the 
 swelchie of Hedinsey, not sparing themselves. Never again shall the 
 Serpent have such a crew, whatever king steer the Serpent. 
 
 The fame-blessed king launched the Serpent from the north to meet 
 Eric, but the avenger of Hakon [Eric] steered the even-huUed bark 
 from the south again. 
 
 'Thorkettles bra-very. It is good to enquire diligently into the report 
 men gave from the south, as to whom they say followed him most 
 bravely of all his men ; I go on to this in my song : Thorkettle the 
 wise saw the Crane and both the Serpents drifting crewless before 
 he turned away on his ship out of the fierce fray. 
 
 41. Emend.; varSi vi8 lond, Cd. 42. bra3an, Cd. 43. Re.id, fyr sx 
 
 sunnan? 46. Read, HeSins evjar. 51. vin, Cd. 54. Read, Heftins 
 
 rekka? 55. Read, J)ar es . . . styrir? 59. Emend.; h_v iofnum, Cd. 62. 
 
 or3 at] emend.; at ^vi, Cd. 65. au6a Troiio, Cd.
 
 §^-] 
 
 HALLFRED VANDR.EDA-SCALD. 
 
 Snotr a snceris vitni sundz f'orketill undan. 
 
 17. Veitkat-ek hitt hvart Heita hungr-deyfi skal-ek leyfa 
 dyn-sseSinga dau6an di^'r-bliks, e8a po kvikvan : 70 
 allz sannlega segja (sarr man gramr at hvEoro) 
 
 [haett es til bans at fretta] hvart-tveggja mer seggir. 
 
 18. Sumr vas rorr of sevi 'odd-flag6s' hinn-es \>zi sag5i 
 at lofSa gramr lifSi Ise-styggs sonar Tryggva : 
 
 vesa kve6r aold or eli Alaf kominn stala; 75 
 
 menn geta mali sajnno (mia)k es verr an sva) ferri. 
 
 19. SagSr vas mer (enn meira munoma strid of bi9a) 
 lif'Som fir9r ok la6i land-va)r3r fyr sia handan : 
 vseri oss J)0-at ' serir elldz f)eim ' svikom belldi 
 
 heila likn ef hauka ha-klifs icofurr lif6i. 80 
 
 20. Moendot {dcss, es t'ra'ndir J)r6tt-har6an gram s6tto, 
 (' fra-ek me6 ly6a li6i ' kind herSar) skaDp ver6a : 
 
 at mund-iaokuls myndi marg-d;fTr koma ryrir 
 (geta ^ikkjat mer gotnar glfkligs) or styr slfkom. 
 
 21. Enn segir 66ar kenni austr or malma gnaustan 85 
 seggr fra sjorom tyggja sumr e9a braut of komnom : 
 
 nu hefk sann-fregit sunnan siklings or styr miklom 
 (kannka-ek mart vi6 manna) mor9 (veifanar-or6i). 
 2 2. NorSmanna hygg-ek nenninn (nii-es |)engill fram genginn) 
 [d^^rr hn6 drottar stiori] drottinn und lok soltan. 90 
 
 23. lilt vas J)atz ulfa sultar of ^verri st69-ek ferri 
 
 mest {)ar-es malmar gnusto mein, \)o at smatt se und einom : 
 skilidr em-ek vi9 skylja ; skalm-a)ld hefir J)v: valdit ; 
 vastli ek vir6a drottins (vil est mest) of dag flestan. 
 
 Olafs end. I know not whether I am praising a dead or living king, 
 as people tell me both things for certain. However, he is at least 
 wounded, for there are no news of him. One there was that told me 
 of the fate of Tryggwi's son, that he was alive ; men are saying that 
 Olaf came alive out of the battle ; but they guess far beside the truth : 
 it is much worse than that! I have been told the king lost life and 
 land over the sea : though it were a great mercy to me if the king 
 were yet alive, in spite of . . . committed this treason. Fate would 
 not have turned it so, that he should have escaped out of such a battle 
 
 Still there is one that tells me that the king was wounded, 
 
 or has escaped from the fight in the east ; but at last I have got the 
 true news of the king's death in the great battle in the south : I set no 
 store by the wavering reports of men. I believe that the doughty king 
 of the Northmen has come to. his end. The prince is gone, the dear 
 captain of the Guard has ?unk in death. 
 
 The poet' s grief . 'Twas pity that I was far away from the king, where 
 the iron rang, though there is small help in one man. Now I am 
 parted from him: the sword-tide has wrought this. I yearn for my 
 
 68. a] af, Cod. (badly). 7.^. Sarnr, Cd. 79. Corrupt text. 85. au5.-ir, Cd. 
 94. Emend. ; ok dul flestom, Cd.
 
 94 OLAF TRYGGVASON. [bk. viir. 
 
 24. Hef-ek J^annz hverjom iaofri heipt-fiknom varS n'kri 95 
 und ni9-byr6i NorQra nor6r go6fao6or orSinn : 
 
 bi9a man-ek {)ess es brei9an bor6-mana vann skardan 
 marg-aukanda msekiss mot, aldregi botir. 
 
 25. Fyrr man heimr ok himnar hug-reifom Aleifi 
 
 (hann vas menzkra manna mest gott) i tvau bresta : 100 
 
 a8r an gli'kr at g66o gotSingr moni foedask. 
 
 — Koens hafi Christr inn hreini konungs sond ofarr laondom ! 
 
 II. The Older Praise of Olaf. 
 
 (From the Lives of Kings.) 
 
 1. npOLF vas elldz at aldri ^'-setrs hati vetra 
 
 J- hraustr }Da-es her-skip glaesti Haor6a vinr or Gajrdom : 
 hl68o HamSes klaeQom hia)rva gn^'s ok skyjom 
 hilmis menn sem hialmom hl/r-vigg, enn mol sty-ri. 
 
 2. Hilmir let at Holmi hrae-skod ro6in bl66i 5 
 (hvat of dyldi pQSS haDl6ar?) haarS ok austr 1 GaorSom. 
 
 3. Sva fra-ek hitt at hava haDrg-briotr 1 staS maDrgom 
 (opt-kom hrafn at heipta) hlod val-kaosto (bl63i). 
 
 4. Endr let lamta kindir all-valdr i styr falla 
 
 (van6isk hann) ok Vinda vd-grimmr (a t)at snimma) : 10 
 Haettr vas hersa diottinn hiaar-diarfr Gota fiaorvi, 
 goU-skerSi fra-ek goerSo geir-{)ey a Skaneyjo. 
 
 5. Bao6-serkjar hio birki bark-laust I Danmaarko 
 hleypi-mei8r fyr Hei6a-, hlunn-viggja, -hf sunnan. 
 
 6. Ti5-hoeggvit let tyggi Tryggva sonr fyr styggvan 15 
 Leiknar best a lesti liot-vaxin hrae Saxa : 
 vin-hr66igr gaf vf6a vfsi margra Frisa 
 
 blaDkko brunt at drekka bl68 kveld-ri8o st68i. 
 
 lord every day ! It is the height of woe ! I had him to my godfather 
 who was mightier than any king under the burden of the Dwarves 
 [heaven] ; I shall never get a recompense for his loss, E^xrth and 
 heavens shall be rent in twain, ere there shall be born a lord like to 
 Olaf. He was the best of earthly men. ]\Iay Christ tKe pure keep the 
 king's soul in paradise [lit. above the lands], 
 
 Olafs rjjicktng exploits. He was twelve years old, the Friend of the 
 Hords [Anlaf], when he launched his war-ship out of Garth [Nov- 
 gorod territory]. They loaded her with Hamtheow's clothes [mail-coats] 
 and shields and helms, then the rudder churned up the sea. He dyed 
 his spear red in blood at Holm [Borgund-holm ?], and east in Garth. 
 Who knows it not? I have heard how the Breaker of high-places 
 piled heaps of corpses in many a place. The Hater of "the Fanes made 
 the kindred of the lamts and Wends to fall in battle. He was trained 
 early to that. He was a danger to the lives of the Gots [Gotland folk], 
 and I hear that he fought at Sconey. He hewed the mail-coats with 
 the sword in Denmark, and south of Heathby Tryggwi's son cut down 
 the coarse-grown carcases of the Saxons for the witches' chargers 
 [the wolves], and gave the blood of many a Frisian to the steeds of the 
 
 ^
 
 § I.] HALLFRED VANDR^DA-SCALD. 95 
 
 7. R6gs bra rekka l^gir rikr Val-Breta liki; 
 her-stefnir l^t hrsofnom hold Flaemingja goldit. 20 
 
 8. GoerSisk ungr vid Engla of-vsegr konungr bsegja ; 
 nadd-skurar r^6 ncerir Nor6ymbra \)vi mor6i : 
 Eyddi ulfa greddir 6gn-bli6r Skottom vi6a ; 
 
 goerdi seims me6 sverQi sver6-leik 1 Maon skerSir, 
 
 9. Ydrogar let cegir Eyverskan her deyja 25 
 (tfr vas Tiorva d^^ra tirar giarn) ok fra : 
 
 Bar6i Bretzkrar iar6ar byggvendr, ok hio tyggvi 
 (gra6r |)varr geira hriSar gioSi) Kumbrskar ^i63ir. 
 
 A' 
 
 III. On Earl Rognwald {or, Earl Hakon?). 
 
 (From Edda.) 
 
 SK-f'OLLOM standr Ullar austr at miklo trausti 
 rceki-lundr inn riki rand-fars brumaSr hari. 
 
 RaoS lukosk, at^ sa si6an sniall-m^ltr konungs spialli 
 atti enga dottur Onars viSi grona. 
 
 Breidleita gat bru6i Baleygs at ser teygja 5 
 
 stefnir sta)8var hrafna stala rikis-ma)lom. 
 
 Sann-yr8om spenr sverSa snarr |)iggjandi viggjar 
 barr-hadda6a, byrjar, bi3-kvan und sik friSja. 
 
 f'vi hykk fleygjanda fraegjan (ferr ia)r3 und men-J)verri) 
 itra eina lata Au6s systor mi»k trau3an. 10 
 
 6. Grams riini laetr glymja gunn-rikr, hinn-es hva)t likar, 
 Ha)gna hamri slegnar, heipt-bra8r, um sik vaSir. 
 
 7. Ok geir-roto ga)tvar, gagls, vi3 strengja hagli 
 hungr-ey8ondom hanga hloe3ot iarni soe6ar. 
 
 night-hags [wolves]. He fed the wolves on the bodies of the Gaulish 
 Bretons [lit. Wal-Brets], and gave the flesh of the Flemings to the 
 raven. The young king waged war against the English, and made 
 a slaughter of the Northumbrians. He destroyed the Scots far and 
 wide. He held a sword-play in Man. The archer-king brought death to 
 the Islanders [of the Western Islands] and Irish; he battled with the 
 dwellers in the land of the British [Wales], and cut down the Cumbrian 
 folk. 
 
 On Earl Rognwald. This doughty tree of war, budded with hair, is 
 a mighty refuge for men in the East. The agreement was concluded 
 that the eloquent friend of kings [earl] should wed the only Daughter of 
 Woden, green-with-wood [the land]. With mighty covenants he allured 
 to him the broad-faced Bride of Woden; with true compacts he wiles 
 to himself the harvest-haired Spouse of Woden. And now that the 
 land is his, he is very loath to put away the beautiful Sister of Aud [i. e. 
 he has gained the land, and will not part with it]. 
 
 Hh battle. The earl made the hammer-beaten weeds of Hagena 
 [mail -coat] fall about him. Yea, the iron -sewn mail -coat did not 
 
 19. Emend.; valkera, Cd.
 
 96 OLAF TRYGGVASON. [bk. vm. 
 
 8. OlitiS brestr lili unn-dyrs sumom runnom 15 
 hart a HamSis skyrtom hryn-grap Egils vapna. 
 
 9. ' t'aQan ' ver6a fot ' fyr6a ' (fregn-ek goerla ^at) Saorla 
 [rioSask bia^rt 1 bl66i ben-fiir] meil-skurom. 
 
 IV. Ox Earl Eric. 
 Stef. Bcerr ert hroSr at heyra, hialdr-aorr, um ^ik goervan ! 
 
 V, Improyisatioxs. 
 
 (From Hallfred's Saga.) 
 
 Hallfr. T^CEROJM festar orar; ferr s3e-roka at knerri, 
 
 -T sv3or6 tekr heldr at her6a ; hvar es Akkeris-frakki ? 
 
 Olaf. Enn i olpo grsonni ek fsek dreng til strengja 
 
 J)ann-es hnakk-miSom hnykkir. Her es Akkeris-frakki. 
 
 2. Veit-ek at viso skreyti vi6-lendr konungr sendi 5 
 naokSan brand af nokkvi ; nu ak Syrar mey d/ra : 
 verSa hia^lt fyr herSi {ha^fom, gramr, kera framSan 
 skoelkving um J^a-ek skialga) skrautlig konungs-nauti. 
 
 3. Fyrr vas hitt es harra Hli6-skialfar gat-ek sialfan 
 (skipt es a gumna gipto)^ ge5-ski6tan vel biota. 10 
 
 4. Oil hefir att vi6 hylli 03ins skipat lioQom 
 all-gilda man-ek aldar i6jo varra niSja : 
 
 enn trau6r {|)vi-at vel Vi6riss vald hugnaSisk skaldi) 
 legg-ek a frum-ver Friggjar fion, J)vi-at Kristi J)i6nom. 
 
 protect them [his foes] against the hail of the bowstrings [arrows]. And 
 the hail-grape of Egil's weapon [arrows] burst hard upon the shirts of 
 Hamtheow [mail-coats]. The raiment of Sarila [mail-coat] was beaten 
 by the iron shower. The bright blades are dyed red in blood. Yea, 
 I heard it of a truth. 
 
 Burden. It beseems thee to listen to the song I have made upon thee. 
 
 Hall/red to Olaf. Let us shift our moorings, there is a gust from the 
 sea coming upon our ship. The cable is overstrained. Where is the 
 anchor-man ? 
 
 Olaf to Hallfred. Here in a green jacket is the anchor-man. I will 
 get a lad for the cable who shall move the buoy. 
 
 The king's gft. I know that the wide-ruling king gave the poet a 
 naked sword for a certain thing [for his song?]. I have a precious 
 jewel now. The hilts of the king's gift are costly mounted. A fine 
 sword I have ; I got a brand from the king. 
 
 Hallfred's coyi'versicn. It was of old that I worshipped the swift- 
 thoughted Lord of Lithshelf [Woden]. I\Ien's conditions are changed 
 now. All men once set their song to the praise of Woden ; I can 
 remember the honoured compositions of our ancestors; and therefore, 
 now that we serve Christ, I uriwillingly renounce Frigg's Spouse, because 
 his rule suited me very well. It is the rule of the Lord of Sogn [Olaf] 
 
 17. Read, slegin verSa ? 6. iiokkva nu flaustr burar Austra, Fs.
 
 § I.] HALLFRED VANDRiEDA-SCALD. 97 
 
 5. Sas me6 Sygna rsesi si6r at blot ero kvi6jot; 15 
 verQom flest at^ fordask forn-haldin skajp Noma : 
 
 lata allir ^tar 06ins sett fyr r63a; 
 
 ver6-ek neyddr fra Niar6ar niSjom Krist at bi9ja. 
 
 6. HaDfnom ha^lSa reifnir Hrafn-blcetz go6a nafni 
 
 J)ess es 61 vi6 'lof l/'Qa 16m 1 heiSnom domi. 20 
 
 7. Mer skyli Freyr ok Freyja (fiord let-ek aQul NiarSar), 
 [liknisk gra)in vi9 Gn'mni] gramr ok {'6rr inn rammi : 
 Krist vil-ek allrar astar (eromk lei9 Sonar reiSi), 
 [vald a fr^gt um foldar] Fe6r einn ok Go9 kveSja. 
 
 8. Eitt es sver3 |)at-es sver6a sver6-au3gan mik ger6i ; 25 
 fyr svip-niaDr6om sverSa sver96tt mun nu ver6a : 
 
 muna van-sver9at ver6a ; ver9r em-ek J)riggja sverda, 
 iar9ar-mens ef yr8i umgia)r6 at J)vi sverSi. 
 
 9. Hnau8 vi9 hiarta si9o hregg-blasin mer asi 
 
 (mia^k hefir) u3r (at £o8ro aflat bsoro skafli) : 30 
 
 marr skotar mfnom knerri ; mia)k em-ek vatr af nsekkvi ; 
 munat ur-J)vegin eira aldan sino skaldi. 
 
 10. Rind mun hvitri hendi hsor-duks um bra miuka 
 (fli63 gat fremQar oe6i) fia)l-errin ser J)erra: 
 
 ef dau8an mik meiSar mor6-heggs skolo leggja 35 
 
 (a6r vas-ek ungo fli66i) ut um bor8 (at sutom). 
 
 11. Ek moenda nu andask (ungr vas-ek har8r i tungo) 
 senn, ef ssolo minni, sorglaust, vissa-ek borgit : 
 veit-ek at vgetki of sftig (valdi Go3 hvar aldri), 
 
 [dau6r ver6r hverr] nema hrse^omk Helviti (skal slita). 40 
 
 that the sacrifices are forbidden. We are forced to forsake all the time- 
 honoured ordinances of the Norns. All men now cast to the wind the 
 kindred of Woden [the old gods] ; I am forced to renounce the children 
 of Niord [Frey and Freya] and to pray to Christ. — I renounce the 
 divine name of the Raven Sacrificer, him that nursed deceit to the 
 hurt of mankind, in heathendom. May Frey and Freya and the mighty 
 Thor be wroth with me! I forsake the son of Niord. May the fiends 
 find a friend in Woden ! I will call on Christ, one Father and God, 
 with all my love. I can bear no longer the wrath of the Son, who 
 rules gloriously over the earth. 
 
 Tbe Sqvord-Ferse. There is one sword that makes me' sword-rich in 
 swords ; among sword-bearers there will now be a sword-bounty ; there 
 will be no lack of swords now. I am worthy of three swords. Would 
 there were but a sword-sheath to the sword ! 
 
 Hall/red's Death-Verses. The tempest-blown billow, with a mighty 
 sweep, rushed my heart to my ribs with the boom. The sea tosses 
 my ship and I am wet ; the brine-washed roller will not spare the poet. 
 The linen-clad lady will wipe her soft eyelids with her white hand, 
 if they have to throw me overboard, though formerly I caused grief to 
 her. I would gladly die now if I knew that my soul were safe. I was 
 sharp of tongue in my youth. 1 feel that I am troubled about nothing 
 save that I fear the pains of Hell. Every one must die ! May God fix 
 whither my soul shall pass ! 
 
 VOL. 11. H
 
 98 EARL ERIC'S COURT. [bk. viir. 
 
 EARL ERIC HAKONSSON (1000-1014). 
 
 Of Eric's birth we are told in the Kings' Lives that his mother was 
 an Upland woman of low estate. Having named and 'sprinkled' her 
 child she took him to Hakon, who acknowledged the boy and gave 
 him in fosterage to Thorleif the Wise, who dwelt up in Medal-dale 
 (Meldal). Eric was soon of ripe growth, most fair to look on, and 
 soon grew big and strong. Hakon did not care much about him. 
 The remarkable beauty which he afterwards transmitted to his son 
 Hakon was a family characteristic. 
 
 Eric's life is full of stirring scenes. Born about the time of Eric 
 Bloodaxe (after whom he may even have been called), he was at his 
 father's side during the chief events of his rule, for example, at the 
 lomswicking battle, c. 980. After his father's death, he fled from Olaf 
 Tryggvason to the Baltic, where we hear of him as a wicking leader 
 harrying the coasts. He is one of the confederates at Swold. At the 
 division of the spoil which followed, Eric and his brother Sweyn were, 
 as vassals of the Danish and Swedish kings, given the earldom of 
 Norway 'from Weggerstaff to Agde,' the whole west coastland from 
 Finmark to Cape Naze ; Earl Sweyn also taking Ranriki from Swine- 
 sound to Gota River as a fief from the Swedish king. Both were bound 
 to fidelity to their allies by marriage, Eric wedding Gundhild, king 
 Sweyn's daughter, and Sweyn Holmfrid the daughter of Olaf the Swedish 
 king. After twelve years (as it seems from the passage in Thorrod's 
 poem, which mentions ' the kings,' i. e. Sweyn and his son Cnut), Eric is 
 sent for by his suzerain and father-in-law to England to help in the 
 conquest of that kingdom. Leaving Norway and his son Hakon in charge 
 of his brother Sweyn, he sets out with a fleet, sailing into the 'mouth of 
 the Thames at the springtides,' as Thorrod seems to say; meets Cnut at 
 Greenore (Greenwich, as we take it) ; lands and fights a campaign in 
 the interior of the island, at several places now obscured in Thorrod's 
 poem, but to be partly recognised by the maps and the English 
 authorities ; is present at battles west of London against Wolfkettle 
 the Brisk (^thelred's son-in-law), and at Ringmere-heath. His sub- 
 sequent career after Eadmund's death, when Cnut is sole king, we learn 
 from English authorities. He is made earl in Northumberland, and 
 signs charters as Dux Ericus down to 1023. Of his end we have a 
 tradition in the Kings' Lives, that he made a pilgrimage to Rome, and 
 that on his return he was unskilfully operated upon by a doctor for 
 quinsy, and died of hemorrhage. The person who told the luckless 
 leech to cut deeper while he was using his knife is variously given 
 as Cnut himself or an old friend of 01at"'s who had survived Swold. 
 
 Like his father Hakon, Eric was a patron of poets, and no less than 
 seven ' makers ' are recorded as his panegyrists ; the works of four of 
 these, Eywolf Dadi's poet (p. 51), Thorrod Siareksson (§ 3), Gunlaug 
 Wormstongue (p. 109), and Hallfred (p. 96), we have given elsewhere. 
 
 Eric had the good fortune to take a secondary part in three great 
 actions which brought fame to all concerned in them, — the defeat of 
 the lomswickings, the confederacy against and defeat of Olaf, and the 
 campaigns which led to Cnut's power in England. His fame rests on 
 these events, and his poets may be classed chronologically according to 
 the part of his life they have celebrated. Indeed of the rest of his life 
 we know little, no single action of his during his twelve years' rule
 
 §1.] EARL ERIC'S POETS. 99 
 
 can be mentioned, save (if we accept the authority of Gretti's Saga as 
 possibly derived from Ari) the abolition of wager of battle in Norway 
 (though more like to be St. Olave's legislation), while of his personal 
 traits, save the mercy and generosity which is traditionally ascribed 
 to him as a set-off to his father, we are wholly ignorant. 
 
 Eywolf Dadascald, the singer of the Earl's youth before the Swold. 
 His poem is of heathen times with a heathen burden ; we have there- 
 fore set what remains of his Banda Drapa by the works on Earl 
 Hakon in Book vii. Of Eywolf 's life and family nothing is known ; he 
 was probably an Icelander, and he must have won his by-name by 
 his eulogy on some one called Dadi, a rare name which only occurs 
 once in Landnama-bok, where it is held by a person of the Western 
 Family (perhaps a Gaelic name). His poem may have got its name 
 Banda Drapa from the word bondom in the burden, or else from the 
 curious structural peculiarity it exhibits ; its burden being cut up into 
 five half-Hnes, which are inserted one by one into the body of the poem, 
 thus as it were 'banding' or 'linking' it together. It is, one would 
 think, a further development of the insertion of sentences such as 
 Cormac puts into his Encomium. 
 
 For the battle of S<zvoId Hallfred is of course the chief authority, but 
 here he is supplemented by Eric's two poets Halldor and Skuli. 
 
 Halldor the Unchristian composed his Encomium on Eric, of 
 which eight stanzas remain, the next year after the great fight, if we 
 may trust the 'fiord' of line 13. He gives the number of Olaf's ships, 
 seventy-one; relates the boarding of the Long Serpent, when Eric laid 
 Beardie, his galley, beside her ; and mentions the final fight ' on the 
 benches ' in the waist and after-part of Olaf s ship, and how she was 
 at last carried by the Earl. Of this poet's name, nation, or life, we 
 know nothing. His verses are preserved in the Kings' Lives. 
 
 Skuli Thorstansson the grandson of Egil, whom he seems to have 
 resembled more closely than his father. His Eric'j Praise was composed 
 apparently in his later days. He says that he followed Sigwald and the 
 Terror of the Frisians [Earl Eric most likely] to the battle, showing 
 that Sigwald was regarded by his followers as Olaf's open foe. There 
 is rather a fresh stirring air about his verses, and he is distinctly original 
 and Homeric, when he describes a sunrise in verses worthy of his 
 grandfather. He is the one poet of his day who had eyes for aught 
 save the glory of the tempest-tossed galley, or ' the splendour of 
 spears,' and as such deserves special mention. 
 
 The English Campaigns of Cnut are told by three noted poets, 
 Sighvat, Othere, and Thorrod Kolbeinsson ; the first of whom relates 
 St. Olaf's career in England before ^thelred's death, and the second 
 and third tell of Cnut's campaigns, completing the story as it were. 
 We also have an unnamed poet, who sings the Siege of London ; and 
 Hallward Harek's-blesi, who mentions Cnut at Fleet and Sandwich (as 
 we read it). 
 
 We deal with Sighvat, Othere, and Hallward in their more appro- 
 priate positions in the following section, but Thorrod Kolbeinsson is 
 essentially Eric's poet, and the best authority for his life. Luckily a 
 good piece of his Eric's Praise is preserved ; but it is by no means in a 
 perfect state. Again and again we can trace obliterated names, of men 
 and places, beneath the commonplace phrases which the Kings' Lives' 
 text gives us ; once or twice we have succeeded in finding what we 
 take to be the original wording. Thus in tiie strophe on the Division of 
 Norway, ' Veiga-sLaf ' was hidden under ' Veigo .... styr,' ' svarr,' 1. 2^, 
 
 H 2
 
 loo EARL ERIC'S COURT. [bk. viir. 
 
 under 'vor.' In the following verses English local names lie beneath the 
 corrupt 'Grunni,' 'uarr la^,' 'herferd,' 'glaum skerss baei,' "'attstorr,' etc., 
 which even with the help of the MSS. and the English Chronicles, our 
 prime authority and staff here, we cannot identify. An important 
 chronological point seems to underlie 'miss-long,' which exhibits a 
 striking coincidence with the Chronicles. 
 
 It is possible this poem was composed in England. Thorrodwas a notable 
 trader and traveller, and his lively description of the place where Cnut 
 met Eric tells of local knowledge, as do the numerous place-names which 
 must have been derived by the prose historian of the Kings' Lives (Ari) 
 largely from him, though unfortunately he has not cared to excerpt verses 
 touching England so carefully as he does those deahng with Norway, so 
 that in the work of restoration we are not so much helped by the prose 
 here, as in the case of other poets. It is not likely that Thorrod com- 
 posed his poem on Eric in Norway, where his enemy St. Olaf was then in 
 power, so that we should conclude that he either sent it from Iceland, 
 or more likely composed it for the Earl in England. 
 
 Thorrod's life and travels are told of in the Saga of Biorn the Hitdale 
 champion, where however he is subordinated to that hero, and somewhat 
 unfairly handled. The greater part of the Improvisations there ascribed 
 to him are spurious, those which may be genuine we give below, along 
 with the fragment of his Dirge on Gunlaug Snakestongue. He is men- 
 tioned also in Landnama, where his genealogy is given. He was the father 
 of a more distinguished poet, Arnor larla-scald (see § 3), who in the earlier 
 part of his Drapa, when he told of his Western wanderings and early 
 life, may have said something about his father, but whose extant remains 
 yield no notice of him. 
 
 Thorrod's poem was once terse and full of facts, with something of 
 the antique ring in it, rather taking after Einar than Hallfred. 
 
 Lines 5-6, 31-32 are cited by Snorri in Edda, with the same errors as 
 in the Lives of Kings. 
 
 The Lithsman's Song, a 'flokk' which was, as Skioldunga says, 
 ' made by the Lithsmen [men of the levy],' not, as Olaf's Legendary 
 Life and Flatey-bok have it, ' by Saint Olaf,' is an interesting record of 
 the siege of London, 1016. In the form of a love poem addressed to a 
 lady, Steinwor, the wife of one Gall, living at Stone, north of Cape 
 Stadt, in Norway, it gives a lively account of the besiegers lying at 
 Southwark by the Dyke (which is mentioned in the English authorities), 
 looking across the river up at the higher city lying on the hill of 
 St. Paul's. It mentions Thorkettle (the friend of iEthelraed and Cnut, 
 the whilom lomswicking, the captor of ^Elf heah) and his men, and tells 
 how Wolf kettle plucked up courage to meet 'the wickings,' but was 
 forced to give in. The close is a triumphant stave, ' Here we sit at our 
 ease in fair London,' which speaks to the date 1016, according to the 
 English Chronicles, with which it agrees. 
 
 The love verses are in the stanzas 3, 10, 11, and have little to do 
 with the main subject of the poem. 
 
 HALLDOR UKRISTNl ON ERIK (c. looi). 
 
 (From Kr jigla ; verse 5 from the great Olafs Saga.) 
 
 I. y JT bau6 iaofra hneitir dl-m69r af SviJ^ioSo 
 
 (sunnr belt gramr til gunnar) gunn-bliks li6i miklo : 
 
 u 
 
 Halldor. He levied great forces out of Sweden. He held southward
 
 § u] HALLDOR UKRISTNI. loi 
 
 hverr vildi jDa haol6a hrae-geitunga feitir 
 (mcor fekk a sia sara sylg) Eireki fylgja. 
 
 2. Qjlna for ok einni (unn-viggs) konungr sunnan 5 
 (sver5 rau8 msetr at morSi mei6r) siau tigom skeiSa : 
 j)a es hun-lagar hreina haf6i iarl of kraf6a 
 
 (saett gekk seggja settar sundr) Skanunga fundar. 
 
 3. GoerSisk snarpra sver6a (slito drengir fn6 lengi) 
 
 [^ar es gollin spiaDr gullo] gangr um Orm-inn-Langa : 10 
 dolgs kva)3o fram fylgja frans legg-bita hconom 
 Soenska menn at senno sunnr ok Danska runna. 
 
 4. Fior8 kom heldr i har6an (' hnito reyr saman dreyra '), 
 [tungl sksorosk pa. tingla tangar] Ormr-inn-Langi : 
 t>a-es bor8-mikinn Bar6a bryn-flag8s reginn lagdi 15 
 (iarl vann hialms at Holmi hri6) vi6 Fafniss si8o. 
 
 5. 'Hykkat-ek vaegS at vigi,' vann drott ia)fur sottan 
 (fiord komsk iarl at ia)r6o ; ogn-har6an sik sparSit) : 
 pi es fiar6-myvils foerQut folk-har9r a tra^d Bar6a 
 
 (litt vas Sifjar soti svangr) vi6 Orm-inn-Langa. 20 
 
 6. H^t a heiptar n^'ta hug-reifr (me8 Aleifi) 
 (aptr staDkk pioQ a jDoptor) ^engill sina drengi : 
 pi es ' haf-vita ' ha^fSo Hallandz um gram sniallan 
 (Var8 fyr Vinda myrSi vapn-ei6r) lokit skeiSom. 
 
 7. Drogosk vitt at vagi Vinda skei6r ; ok ginSo 25 
 f)ri6ja hau6rs a J)i68ir {)unn ' galkn iarn-munnom :' 
 Gn^r var3 a sia sver6a ; sleit a)rn gera beito ; 
 
 dfrr va drengja stiori ; drott kom ma)rg a flotta. 
 
 8. Hialm-faldinn bar hilmi brings at miklo l^ingi 
 (skei8r gloesto J)a J)i68ir) J)angat Ormr-inn-Langi : 30 
 
 to the battle. Every man wished to follow Eric. O/af, the lord 
 of the Oyns [people in Throndheim], stood from the south with 
 seventy ships and one, while the Earl was holding his levy among the 
 Sconey-folk. There was a tryst of swords about the Long Serpent. 
 There followed Eric to the battle Swedish and Danish warriors. Year 
 gone the Long Serpent came into hard straits (spears were clashing, 
 shields were cloven), when the Earl laid his high-bulwarked Beardie 
 alongside the Dragon. He won the day at the Island [Hedinsey]. 
 There was little quarter in the battle. Year gone the Earl won the 
 land, what time he brought Beardie broadside to the Long Serpent. 
 The Earl called on his men, while Olaf's men gave back to the benches 
 [i.e. gave up the forecastle and retreated aft to the waist], while the 
 lord of Halland [the Danish king] blocked in the king [Olaf ] with his 
 ships. The weapons clattered round the slayer of the Wends. The 
 Wends' ships [Sigwald's squadron] spread over the bay, and the thin 
 beaks gaped with iron mouths upon the warriors ; much people turned 
 to flight. The Long Serpent brought the helm-hooded king to the 
 
 5. eimii] emend.; eino, Cd.
 
 I02 EARL ERICS COURT. [bk. vm. 
 
 enn sunnr at gnf Gunnar glaSr tok iarl vi9 NaSri 
 (a6r var3 egg at ri66a) 3ett-g66r Hemings br66ir. 
 
 SKULI f'ORSTEINSSON. 
 
 (Verse 3 from the Lives of Kings ; the rest from Edda.) 
 
 1. T iTAKI-ek ^ar-es 'vell-ei6s ekka' viSiss ar ok si6an 
 
 ^ 'greppr hl/Qir J)a' goQo gallopnis vel spialli. 
 
 2. Moendit efst, |)ar-es undir ar-flogni gaf-ek sarar, 
 hl»kk 1 hundraSs flokki hvitinga mik Ifta : 
 
 J)a-es raefr-vita Reifniss rau6-ek fyr Svol6 til au6ar 5 
 
 her-fylgins ' ba9-ek ' Hoelga haug-{)a)k 'sama' baugom. 
 
 3. FylgSa-ek Frisa dolgi (fekk-ek ungr) ^ar-es sla)g sungo, 
 [nu fi6r a)ld at ek eldomk] (aldr-bot) ok Sigvalda : 
 pi-es til motz vi6 moeti malm-|5ings 1 dyn hialma 
 sunnr fyr Svol9ar mynni sar-lauk ro8inn baorom. 10 
 
 4. Margr of hlaut of morgin mor8-elldz JDar-es * ver ' feldom 
 Freyjo tgor at fleiri far-bi63r at J)ar varom. 
 
 5. Glens beSja ve6r (gySjo) go3-bli8 i v6 si8an; 
 (lios koemr g6tt me8 geislom) ; gran setr ofan mana. 
 
 THORROD KOLBEINSSON (EIREKS-DRAPA). 
 
 (Verse 5 from Fagrsk. ; 12-15 ffo"^ Skioldunga; the rest from O. T. and O. H.) 
 
 I. (^K. sannliga sunnan (sask Vfk-buendr haska) 
 ^^ stri8 of stala mei6a stor her-saogor foro : 
 
 great moot of war, but in the south the Earl, that nobly-born brother 
 of Hemming, took her in fight. 
 
 Prologue. Awake .... in the winter .... Listen to the good tidings of 
 the poet ! 
 
 Sivold battle. The lady would not have seen me in the rear of the array 
 of the hundreds, when of yore I gave the raven drink, when I reddened 
 my sword off Swold in adventure. I won gold and rings there. I follow'ed 
 the terror of the Frisians [Earl Eric] and Sigwald, when the swords 
 sung (I won glory in my youth, now men find that I am aging): what 
 time south of Swold IMouth we bore the bloody sword to meet the 
 Judge of the iron-moot [Olaf] in battle. In the morning many won .... 
 gold when we made havoc .... 
 
 Sunrise. When the wife of Glen, the Sun, wades into the heaven, 
 the blessed light of the goddess comes with beams, and the grey moon 
 sinks down (vanishes). 
 
 I. The lomjiuiciings' battle. And verily there came alarm of war from 
 the south, the dwellers in Wick were in dread, the Earl heard that in 
 
 I. Read, vall-sei9s ekki. 2. Read, grepps hlySit er ? 6. Read, bar-ek 
 
 . . . saman ? 11. Read, val. 14. W ; gran serks, r. i. Or vit 
 
 uendr, Cd. 2. Read, striQan . . . nieidar ?
 
 §1.] THORROD KOLBEINSSON. 103 
 
 su6-l3ongom fra-ek Sveida sunnr af dregnom hlunni 
 vangs a vatn um |)rungit 'vigg meiQr' Dana skeidom. 
 
 2. Miok l^t margar snekkjor mserdar-gorr sem knaorro 5 
 (68r vex skalds) ok skei6ar skiald-hlynr a brim dynja : 
 t)a-es 61itill utan odd-her9ir fat gerSa 
 
 (ma^rg vas lind fyrir landi) laond sins fa)8or ra)ndo. 
 
 3. Setti iarl, sa-es atti ogn-fr63r a la)g st66i, 
 
 hremnis hafa stamna hot Sigvalda at moti : 10 
 
 margr skalf hlumr, enn hvergi huggendr 'bana' ugg6o 
 J)eir-es g^oto sia slita-sar-gamms bla)6om ara. 
 
 4. Enn i gsogn at gunni glse-heims skriSo maevar 
 (renndi langt me3 landi leiSangr) Dana skeidom : 
 J)3sr-es iarl und 'arom oerins gollz ' a Moeri 15 
 (barms rak vigg und vsormom val-kesti) hrau3 flestar. 
 
 5. Q^fri var9, enn ur6o all-hvatt Danir falla, 
 bl66-helsingja brseSir, broe6r Sigroe6ar oeQri. 
 
 6. Mein-rennir bra (manna margs f^sa skaop) varga 
 lioQa litlo si3ar lae Hakonar sevi : 20 
 enn til landz J)ess-es lindar la3-stafr vegit haf3i 
 hraustr |Da-es her for vestan hygg-ek komo son Tryggva. 
 
 7. Hafdi ser vi3 soeri (sliks vas vson at hsonom) 
 au6s an upp um kvaeSi Eirikr i hug meira : 
 
 sotti reiSr at ra)6om (rann eingi Jdvi manna) 25 
 
 ({)ra-lyndi ' feksz ' f'roendom) t'roenzkr iarl konung Soenskan. 
 
 8. {>ar vas hialma6s ' herjar ' Hroptz vi9 droergar toptir 
 
 the south the sea was thronged with long-streaked Danish galleys 
 launched off the drawn rollers. He in his turn crowded many a sloop, 
 buss, and galley into the deep (My song swells high), and made a shield 
 fence about the land of his father. There was many a linden buckler 
 there. The Earl set his high-stemmed bark straight against Sigwald 
 [the leader of the lomswickings], many an oar-loom swayed when they 
 clove the sea with the oar-blade. They did not fear the Danes. The 
 fleet ran far down the coast to encounter the Danish galleys, most of 
 which the Earl boarded and took south of Mere. The well-born 
 brother of Sigrod [Eric] won the day, and the Danes fell fast. 
 
 II. The Death of Hakon. The treason of men cut short Hakon's life. 
 The changes in men's fates are many ! Then to the land which Hakon 
 had conquered the brave son of Tryggwi came, I ween : what time 
 the Host came from the West. But Eric had more in his mind than he 
 put forth (as was to be looked for in such a man). The Throndish Earl 
 sought forthwith furtherance from the Swedish king. The Thronds 
 were stubborn [i. e. stood fast by him]. 
 
 III. The Fall of 01 af at Swold and the Division of Norivay. There was 
 a fierce battery upon the bloody tofts of Woden .... Hyrning, the 
 
 4. Or viggo lei6, some place ? 7- uti, Cd. 11. Read, Dani. 17- Emend.; 
 iofrom, Cd. 18. SigurSar, Cd.
 
 I04 EARL ERIC'S COURT. [bk. \Tn. 
 
 or8 fekk g6tt sa-es goer8i grams svarr blaom hiaorvi, 
 hffill bilar hara fialla, Hyrningr, a8r J)at fyrnisk. 30 
 
 9. Enn ept vig fra Vgegi- (vel-ek or8 6at) -staf nor6an 
 land ' e8a lengra stundo ' lagSisk su8r til Ag6a : 
 enn Sveinn ' konungr sunnan sag8r es dau8r enn au8ir ' 
 ' fatt bilar flestra ftva. far bans byir varo.' 
 
 10. Itr {)rifosk iaDfra hleyti 'egg-ve8rs' i fa^r ' seggja,' 35 
 
 11. Veit-ek fyr Erling litan ar at hersar varo 
 ('lofak fasta tf) flestir (' far-landz ') vinir iarla: 
 all-valdz nuto aldir (una likar vel slfko), 
 
 skyldr I^zk hendi at halda hann of Noregs maDnnom. 40 
 
 12. Enn hefsk leyf3 J>ar-es lofSa lof-kenda fra-ek sendo 
 at hialm-ta)mom hilmi hiarls ' drottna ' bo3 iarli : 
 
 at skyldligast skyldi (' skil-ek hvat gramr mun vilja ') 
 endr at asta-fundi Eirekr koma J)eira. 
 
 13- • • • • -^ 45 
 
 skei6 h^lt majrg f M660 ' miss laDng ' sem ek vissa : 
 brim-d^Tom h^lt ba)ro brandz sva nser landi 
 UUr at Enska vaDllo 'att storr' sia knatti. 
 
 14. Enn at 'eyrar grunni' endr brim-ski3om renndi, 
 hinn-es kia)l-sl66ir kniSi, Knutr lang-skipom utan : 50 
 var6, J3ar-es ' vildo fyr3ar ' ' varrla3 ' komo ba6ir 
 hialma6s iarls ok hilmis hoegr fundr a ]pvi dcegri. 
 
 15. Gengo upp |Deir-es Englom ar-hrafn-gefendr varo 
 langa stund a landi lei3ir upp af, skeiQom : 
 
 King's brother-in-law, won a good report that day ; the hall of the high 
 hills [heaven] shall fall ere his fame shall grow old. But after the battle, 
 the land from Weggerstaff in the north, south to Agde, along the coast, 
 came under Eric's sway: I tell the story. But under Earl Sweyn came 
 Ranrikifrom Sivine Sound to Gaut river. Both the Earls flourished by their 
 affinity [marriage-bond] with the Kings. I know that, save Erling only, 
 most of the barons were the friends of the Earls. I praise him. The 
 people rejoiced in him, and he held his hand over the men of Norway. 
 
 IV, The Meeting of Kings. Next I raise my paean, telling how the song- 
 famed Kings of the Danes [Sweyn and Cnut] sent word to the helm-wont 
 Earl [Eric] that he should dutifully come to the friendly interview. 
 
 V, Exploits of Eric in England. jMany a galley stood into the Mouth 
 [of Thames] with the spring tides, as I have heard. The Earl held his 
 course so near the land that he could see the English fields at Sturry, 
 while Cnut brought his war ships from the sea to Green-ore [Greenwich], 
 furrowing the keel-track with his ocean-cars. It was a joyful meeting 
 
 on that day when the helmed Earl and the King met at W lade. They 
 
 landed from their galley far into the land against the English .... 
 
 29. svarr] emend.; vorr, Cd. 31. Emend.; Veigo , . . styr, Cd. orSat, Cd. 
 
 32. Read, meS langri strondo? 33. Corrupt; read, Enn Sveinn iarl .... Svina- 
 
 sundz .... elfarGauta . . . .? 42. hialm-somom, Cd. ; read, hiarls Dana? read, 
 beggja. 46. Read, miss-gong? 48. Read, at S . . . . ? 49. Read, eyrar 
 
 Grenni. 51. Read, W . . .? koma, Cd.
 
 § I.] THORROD KOLBEINSSON. 105 
 
 enn 1 goegn J)eir-es 'ga6o Glaumskers' boei verja 55 
 
 (gait hialmaS li6 hialta) ' herferd ' buendr goer6o. 
 
 16. Goll-kennir \6t gunni (grseSiss hestz) fyrir vestan 
 (Jjundr va leyfSr til landa) Lundun saman bundit : 
 fekk 'regn J)orinn rekka ronn' af t'inga-msonnom 
 
 fg\\g hoegg f)ar-es eggjar Ulfkell blar skulfo. 60 
 
 17. Hvatr vann Freyr ' a flotna folkstafns ' sa es gaf hrafni 
 sollit hold n^ sialdan sverSz eggja spor leggja : 
 sniallr \6t, opt ok olli Eirekr bana Jjeira 
 
 'rau6' Hringmara-hei6i her Engla 116 Jjverra. 
 
 IL Dirge on Gunlaug. 
 
 (From Gunnl. S.) 
 
 HL(5d a9r Hrafni nseSi hug-reifom Aleifi 
 GaDndlar f)eys ok Grimi Gunnlaugr hiaorvi f)unnom : 
 hann vard hvatra manna hugm66r drifinn bl66i 
 Ullr re6 ^ta falli unn-viggs bani ^riggja. 
 
 III. Lausa-visor. 
 
 (From Biarnar S. AM. 551.) 
 
 Thorrod. i. T JT skaltu ganga; illr JDykki mer 
 
 ^ gleymr ^inn vesa vi6 gri3-konor : 
 
 sitr-jDii a ajptnom es ver inn komom 
 
 iafn-au6igr mer. Ut skaltu ganga. 
 Biorn. Her man-ek sitja ok hatt vel kve6a 5 
 
 skemta J)mni |)i66-vel kono : 
 
 J)at manat okkr til orSz lagit ; 
 
 em-ek heill 1 hug. Her man-ek sitja. 
 Thorrod. 2. Ut skaltu ganga; oss seldot miaol 
 
 rautt at liti, rug sag6ir J)U ; 10 
 
 enn J)egar vir6ar vatni blendo 
 
 vas {)at aska ein. Ut skaltu ganga ! 
 
 but the franklins defending .... when they were guarding .... by. 
 They joined battle west of London, and Wulfkettle gat ugly blows 
 from the Thing-men's weapons at ... . The Earl laid many sword-prints 
 on the English, he minished the English host at Ringmere-heath. 
 
 Before Gunlaug got at Raven he laid low Grim and Oleif with his 
 thin blade. He was sprinkled with the blood of three men. 
 
 Jhorrod. Get thee gone, I mislike thy fooling with the handmaids ; 
 thou sittest in the evenings, when we come home, as proud as myself. 
 Get thee gone ! — Biorn. I shall sit here and sing aloud and entertain 
 thy lady. It shall never be a reproach against either of us. I am whole- 
 hearted. I shall sit here. 
 
 Thorrod. Get thee gone! Thou didst sell me red [bad] flour, saying 
 that it was rye ; but when they mixed it with water it was but dust. Get 
 
 56. Read, Hord Hertford? 2. hiorvi] me3 hior, Cd. 7. \^.t man okkr eigi, Cd.
 
 io6 EARL ERIC'S COURT. [bk. viii. 
 
 Biorn. Kyrr man-ek sitja. Kom-ek a hausti;' 
 
 hefik fornan ma)r fullo keyptan ; » 
 
 feld gafut mer fagr-rajggva6an 15 
 
 kapps-vel dreginn. Kyrr man-ek sitja. 
 
 3. Sextan vas hugr hiona, hverr lif6i ser Jjverrir 
 au6s i oro husi, au3-lin, at mun sfnom: 
 
 a8r gar6-vita gerSi grundar einn fyr stundo 
 
 stn'Qri sta)kr i biidom st6r-ge6r li6i oro. 20 
 
 4. OUungis bi8-ek allar atgeirs e8a go8 fleiri 
 
 (r^tt skil-ek) rammar vaettir rand-ops f>ser es hlyrn skoput : 
 at styr-bendir standi stal-galdrs, enn ek valda 
 bl66igr sorn of Birni bra8-rau6r h3ofu8-snau8om. 
 
 5. Hvert stefni Jjer hrafnar hart me8 flokk inn svarta? 25 
 farit Host matar leita land-nor8r fra Klif-sandi : 
 
 J)ar liggr Biaorn (enn Birni bl68-gaDgl of ska)r st66o) 
 (J)ollr hnd hialms) a hialla Hvitings ofar lido. 
 
 6. M66r ver5-ek mftt hross lei9a (miuk verSra for siukri 
 [rei8 vara fliott] und friSri fiarg-vefjar) dag margan : 30 
 J)vi at ... . borgar hvergi Hla)kk un6i s^r da)kkva 
 (mikit stri8 vas Jiat m68a merki-skins) fyrir verkjom. 
 
 THE LITHSMEN'S SONG. 
 
 (From Flatey-bok iii. 237 ff. and O. H.L [less good text] ; verses i, 2 also 
 in Skioldunga.) 
 
 I. /^ONGOM upp, a8r Engla sett-la^nd farin ra)ndo 
 ^^ mor8z ok miklar ferSir malm-regns stafar fregni : 
 
 thee gone ! — Biorn. I will sit quiet. I came here last autumn ; I bought 
 old [stinking] lard full dear ; I gave thee in return a cloak of fair skins, 
 beautifully furred. I will sit quiet. 
 
 Thorrod on Biorn. There were sixteen in the household, all of one 
 mind, and every one in the house lived at his ease, till a short while ago 
 one man raised discord in our dwelling. 
 
 Thorrod's prayer. I pray all the mighty spirits and the gods that 
 made the heavens, that the bloody eagle, fresh from the carrion, may 
 stand over the headless Biorn by my act. 
 
 Fiilfiiment of it. Ravens, whither go ye so fast, ye black bevy ! Go 
 straight to seek your meat north-east of Cliff-sand : there Biorn lies, a 
 little above the shelf of Whiting [a hill in Hitardale]. He fell, and the 
 birds of blood stand over his head. 
 
 Ilhiess of his n.vife. Many a day in sorrowful mood I have to lead 
 my horse ; the journey is not easy for my sick wife, for the dark lady 
 could find no rest anywhere from pain. It was a great grief to me. 
 
 SoXG OF THE Siege of London. Let us march inland, ere that the 
 people learn that the heritage of the English is ravaged, or get news of 
 
 15. Read, gaf ek J)er. i6. drepinn, Cd. 17,18. {)verrir au5s] 
 
 emend. ; ^verri rus, Cd. 20. Emend. ; striS' stokkvi bu6om, Cd. 29. 
 
 ver8-ek] ver&r, Cd. 31. Blank in Cd. (hauk?).
 
 § I.] THE LITHSMEN'S SONG. 107 
 
 vesom hug-rakkir Hlakkar hristom spi6t ok skiotom ! 
 leggr fyrir orom eggjom Engla gnott a flotta. 
 
 2. Margr ferr UUr 1 illan odd-senno dag Jjenna 5 
 Freyr J)ars foeddir vorom fornan serk ok bornir: 
 
 enn d Enskra manna a^lom gi68 Hnikars bl63i 
 'vart' miin skald i skyrto 'skrei6az' hamri sce8a. 
 
 3. f'ollr mun glaums of grfmo giarn si6arla arna 
 randar-sk63 at rioda roeSinn sa es mey fceSir: 10 
 berr eigi sa sveigir sara lauk I ari 
 
 rei6r til Rinar gl66a rajnd upp a England!. 
 
 rfbr eigi sa sveigir sara lauk 1 ari 
 
 hinn-es Griotvarar gsetir, gunn-bor6z, fyrir Sta6 norSan. 
 
 4. t'ottot mer, es ek J)atta, t^orkels li6ar dvelja 15 
 (sask eigi J)eir sverSa saong) 1 folk at ganga : 
 
 'a6an er "haur8a heidi " hrid vikingar kniQo' 
 ver hlutom vapna skurir (var3 fylkt Ii6i) ' harQa.' 
 
 5. Har Jjykki mer h\fra. hinn iarl es bra snarla 
 
 ■ mser spyrr vitr ef vseri val-ka)st ara faDsto : 20 
 
 Enn jDekkjondom J^ykkir }Dunn-blas megin-asar 
 haorS su-es hilmir goer3i hri6 a Tempsar si3o. 
 
 6. Ein-ra3it \6t a6an Ulfkell J)ar-es spior gullo 
 *h3or3 ox hildar gar6a hri3' Vlkinga at bi6a : 
 
 ok sli6r-huga6r si6an sattu a oss hve ' matti ' 25 
 
 byggs vi6 ' bitran skeggja' brunnz tveir hugir runno. 
 
 7. Knutr t66 ok ba3 bi6a baug-stallz Dani alia ; 
 
 the great Host. Let us be of good courage. Let us shake and shoot 
 the spears of the Walkyria. The multitude of the English will take 
 to flight before our sword-edges. 
 
 Many a man in the land where we were bred and born is wearing his 
 old coat to-day, while the poet, who is drenching the swans of Woden 
 with the blood of the English, clothes himself in the hammer-sewn shirt. 
 The laggard, who is caressing his lady by night in Nor^vay, will be slow 
 to redden the spear, he will not bear his shield into England this year, 
 or, he, the husband of Stanwara, north of Stadt, will be slow, &c. 
 
 Thorkell's men, when I espied them, seemed as if they would not 
 hold back from the fray. They feared not the song of the Sword: 
 meanwhile they drew up in stern battle-array at Ringmere-heath. The 
 Wickings won the day. . . . 
 
 Seems to me .... the earl's brother. It was a hard battle. The king 
 fought a hard bout on Thames-side, as all can tell. Wolfkettle made up 
 his mind to abide the Wickings, but afterwards it was seen that he 
 changed his purpose at ... . {place). 
 
 Cnut commanded and ordered the Danes to make a stand, and went 
 
 8. Read, ort . . . . skry6az. 1 1, aari, Cd. 13-14. We have transposed 
 
 these two lines (a duplicate?). 17. Read, a Hringmara heifti. 18. Read, 
 
 har5ar? 25. Read, uiotti. 26. Read, at Branda furSo ?
 
 io8 EARL ERIC'S COURT. [bk. vm. 
 
 lundr gekk raoskr und randir rikr ; va herr vi8 Dfki : 
 nser var sveit ' f)ar es sottom sfn me6 hialm ok brynjo ' 
 'elldz sem olmom heldi elg-rennanda kennir.' 30 
 
 8. ' Ut man ekkjan li'ta' (opt gloa vsopn a lopti) 
 (of hialm-ta)mom hilmi) hrein su-es b^r i Steini : 
 hve sigr-ffkinn soekir snarla borgar karla 
 
 (dynr a Bretzkom brynjom bl66-iss) Dana visi. 
 
 9. Hvern morgin ser horna Hla)kk a Tempsar bakka 35 
 (skalat hanga-ma hungra) hialm-skod ro6in bl66i: 
 
 10. Ba)l es J)atz lind 1 landi land-rifs fyrir ver handan 
 golli merkt viQ Galla Griot-solniss skal fa)lna : 
 J)ann moenda-ek vi6 vilja val-klifs meSan ek lif3a 
 
 (alin eromk biaork at ba)lvi bandz) al-grcenan-standa. 40 
 
 11. Ar st68 enn en d^-ra iarla-doms me3 blomi 
 harSla groen sem Ha)r6ar hvart misseri visso : 
 nu hefir bekkjar tr^ bliknat bratt mardallar grati 
 ' lind hefir laufi bundit lmo-ia)r6 1 gor6om.' 
 
 12. Dag var hvern f)at es Ha)gna hur6 ri69ask nam bloQi 45 
 ar ^ars liti vorom ilmr 1 fa)r me6 hilmi : 
 
 Knegom ver, sizt vfgom var6 n<-lokit hsor6om, 
 fyllar dags 1 fajgrom fit, Lundunom sitja. 
 
 BIORN THE HITDALE CHAMPION. 
 
 Biorn's Saga, like Gretti's Saga, has been adorned with spurious 
 verse, attributed to him and Thorrod Kolbeinsson, but none of them 
 can be supposed genuine, save two satirical staves, one in court-metre, 
 which has been maimed by the copyist, for its coarseness, and one called 
 Gramaga-flim, the Rock-perch-flyting, which is in a rhyming-ditty metre. 
 
 It may here be noted that in Eyrbyggia Saga there is a group of 
 verses of the same type as that in Biorn's Saga, but of rather higher 
 
 himself into the array. The Host fought by the Ditch [London Dyke]. 
 The Host was near the place where .... passed with his ships. 
 
 The lady that dwells at the Stone will hear how the conquering lord 
 of the Danes [Gnut] attacked the churls of the city [London]. The 
 blades glow aloft over the head of the helm-wont hero, the swords clash 
 on the British mailcoats. Every morning the lady on Thames-bank sees 
 the sword dyed in blood. 
 
 It is a pity the lady Stein wara over sea should wither away with Gall 
 [there is a play here on gall, a blemish, and Gall, a man's name]. 
 Would that she might ever stand green. I was born to sorrow after 
 her. She was wont to stand every season like a linden tree in lull 
 blossom, but now she is like a faded leafless tree. She has .... 
 
 Every day the buckler was stained red with gore when we were out 
 on the foray with our prince [Cnut] ; but ever since the hard fight 
 [Assandun] was fought we sit merrily in fair London. 
 
 31. Read, drt man e. spyrja?
 
 § I.] GUNLAUG SNAKESTONGUE AND RAVEN. 109 
 
 poetic merits, but they are plainly late : such a line as ' Spur^usk var 
 und vor^um verk' settles the whole question, for the other verses are 
 consonant in style, and must all stand and fall together. But, even if 
 we had not the proof, it would be hard for any one that knows the 
 genuine tenth-century verse to allow their authenticity. The first satire 
 deserved comparison with the libel on Harold Gormsson, and with the 
 flytings of the heroes in the Helgi Lays. 
 
 1. Nl©-V1SA. 
 
 OTANDA st^Ti-lundar, sta8ar es leitaS f mi3jo, 
 
 glikr es geiia soekir gunn-sterkr at |)vi verki 
 (stendr af stafna-lundi styrr) I'6rroe8i inn fyrri. 
 
 II. Gramaga-flim. 
 
 1. Fiskr gekk a land, en floQ a sand, 5 
 hrognkelsi glikr, vas a holdi slikr, 
 
 at einaga ylgr gra-maga 
 mein-blandit hrse. Mart es illt 1 sse. 
 
 2. Ox bru8ar kvi3r fra briosti ni6r 
 
 sva at gerSo elk gekk heldr keik, 10 
 
 ok aum i va)mb, var8 heldr til jDa^mb. 
 
 3. Sveinn kom 1 lios, sagt hafSi dros 
 auSar-gildi at hon ala vildi : 
 
 henni |)6tti sa hund-bftr {)ars la 
 
 iafn-sniallr sem geit, es i augo leit. 15 
 
 GUNLAUG SNAKESTONGUE AND RAVEN. 
 
 One of the descendants of Bragi and the nephew of Tind, Gunlaug, 
 was also a poet. His luckless love for Helga and his tragical death have 
 made his name and story famed. To his Saga we may refer the reader 
 for all detail. But most interesting to us for our present purpose is the 
 vivid account it gives of his poetical Circuit, from which, whether it be 
 historically true or not, we may judge of the kind of lives the Court- 
 Poets of the heroic age led. 
 
 Setting sail from Norway, where he had got into some trouble by his 
 bold tongue and ready hand, he came to London Bridge, and found 
 King iEthelred Eadgarsson ruling in England. He goes before the king, 
 
 \. Biorri's Lampoon. The tiuo men .... with a space between them. 
 The foremost of them at this work is like Thorrod. 
 
 IL Biorn's Stone-perch Lampoon. A fish, like a stone-perch, soft of 
 flesh, came ashore with a tide on the sand. She ate the venomous 
 grey-maw. There are many poisonous things in the sea ! Her belly 
 grew big down from the breasts, so that she walked with jutting 
 paunch, and sore in the womb and swollen in the guts. A boy came 
 to light. She had told her husband that she was to give birth to a 
 child. She thought the babe looked but a currish morsel, where he 
 lay, as cowardly as a wild goat, when she saw his eyes. 
 
 2. Purposely left blank in the vellum.
 
 no EARL ERICS COURT. [bk. vm. 
 
 who asks him whence he came and who he was. Gunlaug answers and 
 adds, " and I have come to see you, my lord, because I have made a 
 Poem about you, and I should like you to listen to it. The king said 
 that he would, and Gunlaug delivered his poem in a fine, bold way." 
 The burden of this poem is in verse r. The king thanks him and 
 gives him a scarlet cloak, lined with the finest fur, and laced down the 
 skirt, for his poet's fee. He then goes to Dublin. " At that time King 
 Sigtrygg Silk-beard, the son of Anlaf Cuaran and Kormlaith, was ruling 
 over Ireland, and he had been ruling but a short while. He received 
 the poet well, and Gunlaug said, ' I have made a poem on you, and I 
 should like to have silence.' The king answered, * No man before up 
 to this time has done this and brought me a poem, — thou shalt surely be 
 heard.' " Then he delivered his Song of Praise, of which one of the 
 burdens and a few more lines remain. It is in Egil's rhyming metre, 
 and composed in imitation of him. "The king thanked him for his 
 poem, and called to his treasurer, saying, ' How shall this poem be 
 repaid?' 'How do you wish to repay it, my lord?' answers he. 
 ' How will it be paid,' says the king, ' if I give him two ships of 
 burden?' The treasurer answers, 'That is too much, my lord,' says 
 he ; ' other kings give goodly gifts as poets' fees, — good swords, or good 
 gold rings.' The king gave him his coat of new scarlet, a laced kirtle, 
 a cloak of noble fur, and a gold ring of great price." And Gunlaug, 
 after a little while, went on to the Orkneys. There he recites a short 
 poem, ' Flokkr,' before Earl Sigrod (who fell at Clontarf). None of 
 this poem is left. Gunlaug then went on to Sweden, where King Olaf 
 the Swede, son of Eric the Victorious and Sigrid the Proud (the Ter- 
 magant Queen), was ruling at Upsala. Here he met a feilow Icelander, 
 Raven, his rival in poetry and love. "One day Gunlaug asks the king to 
 listen to his poem. 'And I want to deliver mine too, my lord,' says 
 Raven. ' But mine must come first, if it be your will, my lord !' ' Nay, 
 I should deliver mine first,' answered Raven, 'for I was the first to 
 come here to you.' Said Gunlaug, 'Where were our fathers ever 
 together, when my father was after-boat to yours? Never anywhere! 
 and so shall it be with us.' Raven proposes that the king shall settle it. 
 Then said the king, ' Gunlaug shall deliver his first, for he will not be quiet 
 if he does not have his turn first.' When he has finished his poem, the 
 king turns to Raven, ' How is this song composed?' ' It is well com- 
 posed, my lord, but it is full of big words, and not elegant, and there is 
 something stiff about it, as there is in Gunlaug himself.' Then Raven 
 recites his song. Says the king, ' What do you think of that, Gunlaug?' 
 Says Gunlaug, ' It is well composed, my lord. The poem is pretty, like 
 Raven himself, but rather common-place. But (turning to Raven) why 
 didst thou make a short poem on the king? didst thou not think him 
 worth a full Song of Praise ?' ' Let us talk no more about this matter,' 
 says Raven." But the insult was not forgotten, and was the beginning 
 of jealousy between the two poets. This criticism recalls that of The 
 Frogs, but it is not borne out by the remains of the two poets, for the 
 three verses of Raven Anwindsson that remain have something antique, 
 spiritual, and weird about them, which is lacking in Gunlaug's verses. 
 
 Raven is twice mentioned in Landnama-bok, which calls him Skald- 
 Hrafn, ' Raven the Poet,' telling us that he had a sister called Helga. 
 We have some seven stanzas of Gunlaug's in the Saga, two lines of 
 which (a fair proportion) are quoted in Edda. All the verses are taken 
 from the Saga. 
 
 A short account ofthis fine Saga is given in Prolegomena, §9, pp.51-52.
 
 §1.] GUNLAUG SNAKESTONGUE AND RAVEN. iii 
 
 I. Praise on iExHELR^ED. 
 
 Stave. T T ERR sdsk allr inn sorva Englandz sem Go6 jDengil 
 J- J- sett \fir grami gumna gunn-bra)6om AQalraSi. 
 
 II. Praise on Sigtrygg, King of Dublin. 
 
 Stave. I. Elr svaoro skae Sigtryggr vi6 hrse. 
 
 2. Kann-ek mals of skil ; enn ek mgera vil 
 
 konung-manna kon ; hann es Kvarans son : 5 
 
 mona grainr vi6 mik (venr hann gia)fli sik) 
 [J3ess man grepp vara] goU-hring spara : 
 Seg hilmir mer, hvgort heyrSot er 
 d/rligra brag ; J)at es drapo lag. 
 
 III. Improvisations. 
 
 1. Koma skal ek vist at vitja viggs da)glinga J)riggja 10 
 {J)vi hefig hlut-v3ondom heitiS) hiarls ok tveggja iarla: 
 hverf ka-ek aptr a8r ' arfi au6 veital fyrir leita ' 
 'orma-bor6 fyrir ermar odd gefnar mer stefni.' 
 
 2. Segit dr fra iarli odd-feimo stafar J^eiraa 
 
 hann hefir litnar .... har karl es sa baror : 15 
 
 Sig-reynir hefir sdnar sialfr i miklo gialfri 
 austr fyrir unnar hesti Eirekr blar fleiri. 
 
 3. Rceki-ek h'tt J)o-at leiki (lett ve9r es nu) |)dttan 
 austan-vindr at aondri ann-ness viko J)essa : 
 
 meirr siamk hitt (enn hodd-strl3andi bi3it) 20 
 
 or6, at ek eigi ver6ag iafn-raDskr taliSr Hrafni. 
 
 I. jExHELRiED's PRAISE. Burden. All the host reverence the generous 
 King of England like God himself. All men pay homage to the valiant 
 .Sthelraed. 
 
 II. Sigtryg's PRAISE. Burden. Sigtryg feeds the ogress-charger with 
 carrion. I know the distinctions of speech. Now I will praise a scion 
 of kings, he is Cuaran's son. The king will not grudge me a gold ring, 
 he trains himself to liberality. This I know. Tell me, O king, if thou 
 hast ever heard a more costly poem. It is all in Encomium Metre. 
 
 III. To JEthelrsed. I am going to visit three kings and two earls, I 
 have promised so to do ; I shall not come back till .... fame and 
 money. 
 
 On Earl Eric. You speak of this Earl .... but Eric has seen greater 
 waves dancing in front of his sea-steed. 
 
 On the loss of his love. I care not though the Eastern wind play 
 against my ship this week, I fear more for the report that I shall not be 
 reckoned an equal match for Raven [his adversary]. 
 
 1-2. Emend. ; ens . . . Gu&s J)engils . . . grams ok g. gunnbraSs, Cd. 4. enn] 
 
 hvern, Cd. 8. Emend.; segi siklingr mer ef hann heyr8i ger, Cd. 19. 
 
 andra, Cd. 20. bi5i, Cd.
 
 112 EARL ERIC'S COURT. [bk. viii. 
 
 4. Munat 'ha8-v3orom hyrjar' hrf9-munda8ar t)undi 
 ' hafna ' ha)rvi drifna hl^9a ia)r6 at \)f 6a.sk : 
 J)vi-at 'lausikjar' leikom lyngs es vorom yngri 
 
 'alnar gims i ymsom ann-nesjom pvi landi.' 25 
 
 5. Orms-tungo var8 engi allr dagr und sal fialla 
 hoegr sizt Helga in Fagra Hrafns kvanar re3 nafni : 
 Litt sa haol6r inn hviti hia)r-peyss faSir meyjar 
 (gefin vas Eir til aura ung) vi6 minni tungo. 
 
 6. Vaen a-ek verst at launa, vin-gefn, fajQor Jjinom 30 
 (fold nemr flaum af skaldi fl66-hyrs) ok sva modor : 
 t)vi-at goer6o Bil bor6a baeSi senn und kl2e8oni 
 
 (herr hafi ha)l6s ok svarra hag-virki !) sva fagra. 
 
 7. Gefin vas Eir til aura orm-dags in lit-fagra 
 
 (jDann kve6a mann n6 minna minn iafn-oka) Hrafni : 35 
 allra nj^ztr meSan austan A6alra8r farar dvaldi 
 ('J)vi es men-r/rir minni mal-gra6r') i gnf stala. 
 
 8. Nu em-ek ut a Eyri Al-vangs buinn ganga 
 (happs unni Go9 greppi) goert me8 tognom hia)rvi : 
 hnakk skal Helgo lokka (haus vinn-ek fra bol lausan) 40 
 loks meS liosom mseki lyf-svelgs 1 tvau kliiifa, 
 
 9. Alin vas rygr at rogi (runnr olli pvi gunnar), 
 [la)g vas-ek au6s at eiga 65-giarn] fira baornom : 
 nu-es svan-moerar si6an svart-augom mer bauga 
 
 landz til l/^si-Gunnar litil J)a)rf at lita. 45 
 
 HRAFN ONUNDARSON (SKALD-HRAFN). 
 
 I. TTUGDOMK orms a armi f-ddoggvur per hoeggvinn, 
 -*- J- vaeri bru6r i bl69i barmr J)inn ro6inn mino : 
 
 It will not do for Raven to take my love, for when young we had 
 many a merry game together. 
 
 No day under heaven has ever been sweet all through to Snake's 
 Tongue, since Helga the Fair was wedded to Raven. The White 
 Franklin, her father, did not take my tongue into account luben he gave 
 her to another. She was given away for the sake of money. 
 
 My lady, who takes my joy away, I have the worst of scores to wipe 
 out against thy father and mother, that they both of them, beneath the 
 coverlet, wrought thee so fair. The fiends take this masterpiece of man 
 and wife. The fair one was given away for money to Raven, though he 
 was neither her match nor mine. She was given away to him while 
 iEthelrsed delayed my journey from the East in warring. 
 
 Before the fVager of Battle. Now I am ready to go to the Allfield eyre 
 with drawn sword. God give me victory. I shall split the head of Helga's 
 paramour with my bright sword, severing his head from the trunk. 
 
 On Helga. The proud lady was born to cause strife to the children 
 of men. I was very eager to win her, but now it is no use for me, the 
 black-eyed bard, to look on her. 
 
 Poet- Raven. Raven's Dream, to his luife Helga. I dreamed I was 
 
 23. Read, Hrafni? 41. Read, liiif-sveigs ? 44. Emend. ; svart augo mer. 
 
 45. lysi-] laegi-, Cd. lita] i. e. vlita.
 
 §^] 
 
 GRETTI THE STRONG AND OTHERS. 113 
 
 knsettit endr of undir aol-stafns niorim Hrafni 
 * lik getr J)at lauka lind hag6yrnis ' binda. 
 
 2. Samira okkr um eina, Ullr brim-loga, Fullo, 
 fsegir folka Soogo fangs, i brigd at ganga : 
 
 miaok ero margar slikar mot-runnr fyr haf sunnan 
 C^'ti ek ssevar sota') sann-fi"69r konor g63ar. 
 
 3. Veita6 greppr hvarr greppa gagn-sselli h]ftr fagna; 
 her es ben-sig6om brug6it, buin es egg 1 leggi : 
 t)ekk man ein ok ekkja ung mser, f)6-at vit sserimz, 
 J)orna spajng at Jjingi Jjegns hug-rekki fregna. 
 
 {'ORKEL ON HELGA'S DEATH. 
 
 LAGDA-ek orms at armi orm-goSa mer tr69o 
 Gu6 bra ley[f]6rar li'ns andaSa mi'na : 
 
 J)6 es bei6ondom bi6a bliks i)ungara miklo. 
 
 GRETTI THE STRONG AND OTHER ICELANDERS. 
 
 The Saga of Gretti (on which see Prolegomena) is full of verses 
 scattered up and down it ; but of all these, two pieces only are, we believe, 
 genuine ; the first is quoted also in Edda, the second is found in Land- 
 nama-bok. The rest of the verse, much of which by such line-rhymes 
 as ' var-ek ' and 'J^eirra,' ' hrseddr ' and 'bldeddi,' must be at once pro- 
 nounced as of the late thirteenth century. But besides this group of late 
 spurious verse, there is another lot of more poetic worth which, with 
 Arni Magnusson, we have no hesitation in ascribing to Sturla. There is 
 undoubted proof that Sturla's edition of Landnama-bok was the sole 
 source of the verses known to the Saga editor, and one curious example 
 of his procedure may be instanced. He found in his Landnama-bok 
 text Jive lines beginning ' Ridkat et.' This would never do; all court- 
 metre verse must be in four lines, so he cuts out line 4, and concludes 
 his stanza with line 5 (thus Grettis Saga in AM. 556). But when we 
 turn to the other text in Hawk's Landnama-bok, we find two whole 
 eight-lined stanzas perfect, and see that line 5 is really the beginning of 
 
 wounded in thine arms, and that thy breast was i-ed-stained with my 
 blood, and that thou didst bind up my wounds .... 
 
 To Gun>ilaug. It ill beseems us to enter upon deadly strife for this one 
 woman's sake. There are many other such noble damsels, south over 
 sea. Neither of us can tell, now that the swords are drawn, who will gain 
 the day; but though we wound one another let the young damsel hear of 
 my valour in the com! at. 
 
 Thorkettlk, Hc/ga'j second httsla'jd, on Helgas death. I laid my 
 dead lady in my arms. God took her life .... Yet it is worse for me 
 to abide death, than for her to die. 
 
 3. knettinn, Cd. 4. Re;id, likn ? hag6yriiis] AM. 557; hagdreyriiis, Cd. 
 
 II. ^ekk] emend.; ^at, Cd. 12. at] read af. 
 
 VOL. II. I
 
 114 EARL ERIC'S COURT. [bk. vm. 
 
 the second set of four lines and not the supernumeral end of the first. 
 In another instance the two genuine lines ' Heldo Hlakkar, etc' have 
 been filled up by a spurious continuation by the same editor. 
 
 Gest Thorhallason. The lost part of Heidaviga Saga was, as 
 John Olafsson testifies, studded with verses of Gest, the slayer of Styr, 
 Snorri's father-in-law ; the God. Worm. Appendix has preserved two 
 morsels which may be genuine. One would have liked to have the 
 Likewake story and the verses there, for § 5 of this Book. 
 
 Thormod Trefilsson is mentioned in Landnama. ' His (Trefil's) 
 son was Thormod who made Raven s Speech (Hrafns-mal), on Snorri's 
 Godi.' A few verses are preserved in Eyrbyggja, a bald, barbaric 
 poem, though the later poets laid store by it, for we find that Lawman 
 Sturla, 250 years later, borrows name and metre for his Song on King 
 Hakon's Expedition into Scotland. 
 
 Skapti, the famous Lawyer and Speaker (1004-1031), is in Skalda-tal 
 said to have composed poems on Earl Hakon and St. Olave, one in the 
 heathen Era, one in the Christian; of neither is anything left. But Edda 
 has preserved two lines of a Praise on Christ (Christ-drapa) of his in 
 court-metre. Interesting are those notions of Christ as the Builder of 
 Rome, the Holy City. 
 
 1. TTELDO Hlakkar tialda hefendr saman nefjom 
 
 ■n. Hildar-veggs ok hioggosk hregg-nirSir til skeggjom. 
 
 2. Ri3kat-ek rctki-meiSom randar hotz at moti, 
 skaoput es J)essom |)egni ^raut, ferr-ek einn a brauto: 
 vilkat-ek Vi6riss balka vinnendr spaka finna ; 5 
 ek man f)er eigi |)ikkja cGrr, leita-ek mer fcera. 
 
 3. Hnekki-ek fra ^^ar-es flokkar fara t'driss mia)k storir ; 
 esa mer i J^ys J)eira Jierfiligt at hverfa : 
 
 forSomk frsegra vir6a fund, a-ek veg til Lundar ; 
 ver6-ek Heimdala at hirSa hiar; bisorgom sva fiarvi. 10 
 
 GESTR {'ORHALLASON. 
 
 (From Cod. Worm. Appendix.) 
 
 I. "^ yASAT um SEor (enn saran sa-ek Viga-Styr hnfga) 
 * baondom J)a)rf at binda ; belt hialma-sto9 ^veita : 
 Jja-es or brunar beinom bag-lundz Go6a magi 
 
 Gretti the Strong, on his enemies plotting. The fellows were putting their 
 noses together and wagging their heads into each other's beards. 
 
 The odds are against him. I shall not ride to meet them, now that I 
 am in such stress. I will go off alone, I will not meet them. I will be 
 no such fool as that. I seek for a place of safety. I keep out of the 
 way when the big flocks of Thori are passing. It is not safe for me to 
 turn into the throng of theirs, I seek to escape from meeting them ; 
 my way leads to Lund. I mean to save my head. So I save my lite. 
 
 Gest splits the head of Styr, his fat her s murderer. I saw \\'iga-Styr fall 
 wounded : it w as needless to bind up the wound, the axe bit the head, 
 when I saw the red stream of blood gush over his eyes out of the temples
 
 §1.] GRETTI THE STRONG AND OTHERS. 115 
 
 unda soeg f augo a]l-rau6an sa-ek falla. 
 2. Gestr hefir Geitiss rastar galdrs miSiungi skialdar 5 
 (dun6i diupra benja da)gg) rmskligast hsoggit. 
 
 tORMODR TREFILSSON. 
 Hrafns-mal on Snorri-gobi, comp. c. 1012. 
 
 (From Eyrbyggja S.) 
 
 1. "pELLDI folks-valdi, fyrst ins goll-byrsta 
 -*- vellti val-galtar, Vigfiis t)ann h^to : 
 slito par si9an sara ben-skarar 
 
 bra)6 af bai6-nir3i Biarnar arf-nytja. 
 
 2. Fekk inn folk-rakki (framdisk ungr sigri) 5 
 Snorri sar-oiTa sverSi gnogs ver8ar : 
 
 laust i lifs-ksosto, Leifa ma-reifar, 
 unda iaims eldi, es hann Arnkel felldi. 
 
 3. Svaddi svan-greddir sara dyn-bsoro 
 
 sorn a ulfs vir6i 1 Aptafirdi : 10 
 
 J)ar l^t \)a. Snorri J^egna at hisor-regni 
 fiaDrvi fimm numna. Sva skal fiandr hegna. 
 
 4. Meirr va inn m63-barri menn at hiaor-senno 
 ifnir tiajr-Rinar tva fyr so sunnan : 
 
 Ifflgo siau si3an (slfks ero iartegnir) 15 
 
 Gifrs- a -grand-nesi gumnar fia)r-numnir. 
 
 5. Bao3 var6 i Bitro, brsoS hykk |)ar fengo 
 goervi gnogs styrjar gioQom sigr-fli66a : 
 Ia)go lifs vanir lei3endr haf-rei9ar 
 
 J)rir fyr J)rek-stoeri. I'ar fekk Hrafn vseri. 20 
 
 M 
 
 SKAPTI {'6R0DDZS0N: (KRIST-DRAPA.) 
 
 (From Edda.) 
 
 ATTR es munka Drottins mestr ; aflar G06 flesto ; 
 Kristr skop rikr, ok reisti Roms hajll, versold alia. 
 
 of the father-in-law of the wily Priest [Snorri the Priest]. He has struck 
 him a most daring blow . , . (The blood gushed from the deep wounds.) 
 
 Thormod Trefihson. Snorri s Praise. First he felled the warrior whose 
 name was Wigfus, the son of Biorn. Snorri gave the raven a full 
 quarry, and the sword struck home when he felled Arnkettle. The 
 warrior fed the eagle on wolf's food at Alfta-firth. There Snorri 
 took five men's lives. Then he overcame two men south of the River 
 [Whitewater]. After which, seven lay life-reft at the Ness of Ogress- 
 queller [Thorsness]. There was a fray at, Bitter [Frith of]. Three were 
 left dead there. Raven won his rest there [i. e. was one of the three], 
 
 Skapti the Laivyer, on Christ. The might of the Lord of monks 
 [Christ] is the greatest. Christ the mighty reared the City of Rome, 
 
 and made all the world. 
 
 14. Coiij. tioreinar, Cd. 
 I 2
 
 ii6 ST. OLAFS COURT. [bk. viii. 
 
 I 2. ST. OLAF AND CNUT. 
 
 ST. OLAF HAROLDSSON (1014-1030). 
 
 The son of Harold, King of Grenland or Graend, a county in South 
 Norway, whence he was surnamed Grenzki, and of Asta daughter of 
 Gudbrand, a Norwegian noble. Harold met with a tragical death 
 on a journey to Sweden, leaving Asta a widow, pregnant with the boy 
 who soon was to be St. Olave. Asta, many years later, married Sigrod 
 the Farmer-King of Ringerik, and by him became the mother of another 
 future king, Harold Hardrede. 
 
 We have the testimony of the poets, that as early as twelve years old, 
 the boy Olaf, under the charge of his foster-father Rani, was put aboard 
 a Wicking fleet, under his nominal leadership, and that henceforth he 
 led the life of a sea-king. Thirteen battles of his are mentioned. The 
 Baltic coast, Denmark, Jutland, Holland, England, France were each 
 in turn visited by his pirate squadron ; from the Wistula to Poitou he 
 won his way by the sword. 
 
 But at last there came an opportunity for the young buccaneer to win 
 a richer prize than the gold of Gaul or the silver of England. In 
 Normandy, wliere he seems to have had friendly relations with the great 
 Duke, Olaf meets with jEthelred, and heard of the death of Sweyn, 
 with whom he had perhaps served. The Engli-,h, tired of foreign rulers, 
 offer to take their King again on the promise of good rule. It was Olaf s 
 fleet that in Lent, 10 14, bore the exile back to his realm. And now he 
 sees that there is an opening before him. Gnut had his hands full 
 for years to make good his hold upon the land his father had not been 
 able totally to subdue. The North was emptied of troops, who flocking 
 to Cnut's call, or eager for the plunder of the richest land they knew 
 of, had followed Earl Eric, or joined Thorkettle in England. 
 
 In the late summer, 10 14, Olaf crossing the sea in two ships of burden, 
 overtook the young Earl Hakon unawares, who swore strong oaths to 
 him to leave the land and never fight against Olaf. The following 
 winter the Uplanders joined Olaf, and on Palm Sunday, 1015, he van- 
 quished Earl Sweyn (Eric's brother, left by him in charge of Norway), 
 which battle gives Olaf the crown of Norway. His youth, his renown as 
 a leader, his mother's energy which won him the help of the Uplanders, 
 and even his name, helped to smooth his way. But he w^as no Olaf Tryg- 
 gvason come back, as the people hoped, this short, thick-set, ruddy young 
 man, that carried his head slightly stooping, like the hard thinker he was. 
 Here was a lover of order, who drove the courts, enforced the laws with 
 the strong hand, and who, as other kings in like case, ruled through poor 
 men he could trust rather than the nobles whom he suspected ; who was 
 the organiser of the public and the church-law and the severe scourge 
 of those that broke it ; in short, as a man of Henry II's type rather than 
 that of Tryggvason, essentially a secular, business-like, hard-working 
 man, — such was Norway's Saint that was to be. 
 
 Ten years he passed as an undisputed sovereign ; he swiftly quelled 
 a dangerous plot of the Upland Kings who had once joined him, but 
 .now, like the Horse in the Fable, found out their mistake; settled a 
 treaty and marriage with Sweden ; made the Orkney earls his liegemen.
 
 §2.] 
 
 ST. OLAF'S POETS. 117 
 
 But now, c. 1025, when Cnut had made firm his seat in England, and a 
 new generation of Englishmen faithful to the new dynasty, Godwine 
 and Siward and Leofric, sat in the seats of Eadmund Ironside and Wolf- 
 kettle, the mighty Dane sent, like some Assyrian emperor of old, to bid 
 Olaf acknowledge his suzerainty. Olaf refused, and then the storm, that 
 had been gathering for some years at least, broke upon his head : the 
 nobles who had felt the weight of his unswerving justice, the franklins 
 who feared for their free moots and allods, and resented his inquisitorial 
 proceedings with regard to the smouldering embers of heathendom, 
 which were still to be found here and there among them. Their dis- 
 content was fed by the fair promises and more tangible money of Cnut, 
 who, like Louis XI, thought that gold was a better weapon than steel. 
 Olaf attempted to strengthen himself by an alliance with his namesake 
 of Sweden, which led to the Holy River battle [near Christianstad, South 
 Sweden], 1026; but, like the Jewish kings' league with Egypt, availed 
 him little. When Cnut's fleet made its progress up the Norwegian 
 coast, Olaf was obliged to fly, and after a sharp stroke of revenge, the 
 slaying of Erling (Dec. 21st, 1028), he left his fleet, and marching by 
 land across Norway and Sweden, he sought refuge in Russia. 
 
 In 1030 he determined to make an effort to regain his throne, and 
 pushing across Sweden he came over lamt-land into Norway. But it 
 was too soon ; the remembrance of his harshness and the sweetness of 
 Cnut's gold were still strong, and he comes face to face with his angry 
 subjects at Stkklestead. The result of the battle must have been almost 
 certain, but calmly and bravely, even cheerily, the King and the little 
 knot of gallant followers, who had shared his good and evil fortunes 
 with unshaken faith, meet the overwhelming host that were arrayed 
 against them, 
 
 The day of Sticklestead (July 29, 1030), when Olaf fell, stands next to 
 Swold in the Kings' Lives, and in the popular mind as the most memor- 
 able day of Northern history, and poetry gathers about it. The nobility 
 of the man, who, though of a less heroic mould than his namesake, was 
 yet very marked and real (Sighvat and Thormod would not have loved 
 a king who was not worthy of their jealous affection), the tragedy of his 
 death, the feeling that in the people's mind ever follows such an event, 
 the superstition which the horrifying phenomenon of a total eclipse on 
 the battle-field a month later (Aug. 31st), could hardly fail to excite, — all 
 contributed to canonise Olaf. And when the unfortunate reign of Cnut's 
 lieutenant, the alien Sweyn iElgyfu's son, with its bad seasons, its dis- 
 appointments and degradations, and finally Cnut's death, had wrought 
 such a revulsion of feeling that the very nobles who had slain the father 
 sent for the son Magnus, a boy in his eleventh year, from Russia to be 
 their king, it is not wonderful that it became almost a political creed 
 and stamp of loyalty to regard Olaf as a martyr, and to cry up the 
 miraculous efficacy of his relics. Soon, too, the missionary labours of the 
 earlier Olaf were attributed to the later king, and the stern politician 
 was transformed into the martyr missionary. 
 
 It is a remarkable proof of its credibility and early date, that the 
 Icelandic Life of Olaf, when we remove foreign accretions and appendices, 
 is free entirely from any legendary views of his character. It draws him 
 as a secular person, law-giver, justice, and financier. Hall of Hawl^dale, 
 Ari the Historian's foster-father, was King Olaf's partner in trade. Olaf 
 the Stout (Digri) is the name he bore in his lifetime. Sighvat, repeatedly, 
 and the Poets address his son Magnus as ' the son of the Stout ; ' even 
 Ari the historian, in Libellus, still names him Olafr Digri.
 
 ii8 ST. OLAFS COURT. [bk. mil 
 
 We can even account for the one mistake the Icelandic Life makes, 
 the identifying the day of the battle, July 29th (fixed by his Saint's day), 
 with the day of the eclipse, August 31st; for Sighvat, who was in Rome 
 at the time these events took place, must have heard of both together, 
 and his words, though not quite clear, may be well construed to favour 
 such an identification, so agreeable to oral history. 
 
 St. Olaf 's exact age at his death is not recorded ; he would have been 
 about twenty or twenty-two at his arrival in Norway, thus, thirty-six 
 on the day of Sticklestead. Sighvat, in December 1028 (straitened, it is 
 true, for rhyme on Tungor), speaks of him as young : yet every page of 
 his Life impresses on one's mind the image of a man ripe in years and 
 judgment. Kings of the olden time in the North, from their early 
 youth in camp and on the sea, must have aged wonderfully fast. 
 
 Ol.AF AND AnWYND THE SwEDlSH KiNGS. 
 
 Olaf the Swede, son of Eric the Victorious, fought at Swold and 
 got a share of the spoil, whence arose diplomatic complications with 
 the Norwegian King, Olaf Haroldsson. He had two daughters, Ingigerd 
 and Anstrith, and one son, Eanwynd (Onund) or James. He married 
 his eldest daughter to the Russian king laroslaw, instead of to Olaf, 
 upon whom the second daughter was palmed oif, though she too proved 
 a noble-minded lady. By her St. Olaf had one daughter, Ulfhild, married 
 to a Duke of Brunswick, through whom St. Olaf is the ancestor of 
 almost all the Royal Houses of modern Europe, that of England among 
 the rest. 
 
 The Swedish King loved flattery, and we hear of poets at his court, 
 and of embassies to him in which poets were employed. He died 
 c. 1024, and was succeeded by his son James, the foe of Cnut at Holy 
 River, but his friend later on. He is known as the preserver of the 
 English iEthelings, whom he sent into Hungary. He helped Magnus 
 after Cnut's death, and lived on to 1054. Sighvat is put down as his 
 poet in Skalda-tal. After his days Swedish history is almost blank. 
 The house of Steinkell succeeds, who also seem to have encouraged 
 poets to their court. 
 
 The Poetry: Sighvat the Poet. 
 
 The first half of the eleventh century in the days of St. Olaf, Cnut 
 the Mighty and Olaf the Swede, was the heyday of Court-Poetry. 
 There are counted nearly twenty poets who were at one time or 
 another at these kings' courts. Of all these, Sighvat was incon- 
 testably the first ; there is no one since Egil who can be put in 
 comparison with him ; he is indeed the only one of the court-poets 
 who, in our acceptation of the term, could be called a poet ; he alone 
 has burst through the chief difficulties of the metre whxh bound all the 
 others, and is able to express himself almost as freely and pointedly as if 
 he were making blank-verse; with him sense must come first, he has a 
 meaning and must set it forth plainly ; and in several instances it is 
 amusing how he contrives to do this, by putting in an aside, often a 
 proverb, scorning the inane kennings and fill-gaps of the poetasters. One 
 cannot but regret that Sighvat was forced to compose in court-metre; but 
 it is certain that he is able to convey more in that straitened vehicle 
 than many another poet could in plain rhymeless verse. To this end, 
 too, he often dislocates his sentences, throwing object or subject into
 
 §2.j 
 
 SIGH VAT THE POET. 119 
 
 the centre of the next period; but as his use of kennings is so sparing, 
 the isolated word is at once referred by the mind of the listener to 
 the right place, and the sense is not obscured. His vocabulary is remark- 
 ably rich, and we meet with many foreign words (indices of Northern 
 culture of that day) in his poems, especially those of Romance origin, 
 which first appear in them. Happily more of Sighvat has reached us 
 than of any other court-poet, although no long poem of his is complete, 
 over 600 lines in all. 
 
 Sighvat's character is also very different from the troubadour-type 
 of court-poet, of which we had several examples. He was a thoughtful, 
 gentle, peace-loving man ; a man to be trusted in matters of state and 
 affairs of consequence; a steady, wise and bold counsellor and friend, 
 and not ashamed to stand before kings. A man of true valour, though 
 in warfare the Nesia Battle is his only feat in arms. 
 
 He was dark-haired and dark-eyed, as almost all the Icelandic poets 
 were, and his speech was hesitating, but he could improvise verse as 
 fast and clearly as another man could talk. 
 
 Sighvat's father was Thorfred (Thorrod) Sigwald's poet, an Icelander 
 who had been in the service of the lomswicking Sigwald and his 
 brother Thorkettle the Tall (who is well known from the English 
 Chronicle). Thorfred is said to have taken to trade on his first 
 patron's fall, and to have met King Olaf in the Baltic and entered his 
 suite. The boy Sighvat is said to have been brought up at Apewater 
 in South Iceland, and to have come out to seek his father when yet 
 a youth. He himself says, ' I was beardless quite when I met Cnut 
 and Olaf first.' This was probably in the year 1014-1015, but as he 
 was old enough to compose a poem, Olafs Praise, for which he got a 
 good fee, and to be enrolled in the king's guard, and as we find him 
 fighting in the Nesia Battle in 1015 for certain, and a few years later 
 (1018, if we trust chronology, which is never quite safe) trusted to 
 carry on some important negotiations, we cannot place his birth later 
 than 995. On the Nesia Battle he made a short poem, addressed to a 
 comrade, Teit. We are told of his doings at court in connection with 
 the troublesome blind King Rorek (Roderick) also about this time. 
 
 The high consideration and friendship with which he was held by 
 such a king as St. Olaf, often touchingly referred to in his verses, 
 is a signal proof of his worth. He was the king's ambas ador in a 
 journey which supplied him with material for his ' Jouryiey to the East,* 
 a poetical report on a diplomatic errand to Earl Reginwald then in 
 Garth [Novgorod], to whom Olaf Tryggvason had sent Hallfred twenty 
 years earlier. In the first part of this poem he bids farewell to Olaf, 
 and then goes on to tell of his adventures, giving his opinion on the 
 Earl's character, and his attitude towards the Norwegian King. 
 
 About 1025, an incident is recorded in which Sighvat plays a pro- 
 minent part. " Alfhild, the king's handmaiden, bore a son one night, 
 and for a time it was uncertain whether the babe would live, and 
 the priest begged Sighvat, who was present, to tell the king. ' I dare 
 not wake him,' said the poet, 'for he has strictly forbidden any one 
 to wake him before he wakes of himself.' ' But the child must be 
 baptized, for it looks very poorly.' ' I would rather risk your baptizing 
 the child at once, than wake the king ; and I will bear the blame and 
 give it a name,' So they did, and the boy was baptized and called 
 Magnus. In the morning, when the king was awake and clothed, 
 he was told all that had happened. Then he sent for Sighvat to him, 
 and said, ' Why wast thou so bold as to have my son baptized before
 
 120 ST. OLAF'S COURT. [bk.viii. 
 
 I heard of it?' 'Because,' answered Sighvat, 'I would rather give 
 two people to God than one to the Devil.' ' What dost thou mean 
 by that?' said the king. Sighvat answered, 'The child was at the 
 point of death, and would have been the Devil's if he had died, but 
 now he is God's. INIoreover I knew this, that if thou wert wroth 
 with me, I could lose no more than my life. Moreover, if thou shouldst 
 order that I lose my life for this cause, I hoped that I should belong 
 to God.' ' Why didst thou call the boy Alagnus?' said the k-ng. ' That 
 is not one of our family names.' ' I called him after King Carla- 
 Magnus (Charlemain), whom I knew to have been the best man on 
 earth,' Then the king said, ' Thou art a man of great good fortune ; 
 and it is no wonder for fortune to follow wisdom ; it is rather a marvel, 
 when, as sometimes falls out, good fortune follows fools, and foolish 
 counsels turn out luckily.' " 
 
 In 1026 we find Sighvat travelling to the W^est with his partner 
 Berg to Rouen in Normandy, and from thence to England, where he 
 went up at once to see Cnut, for he wished to get leave to go to 
 Norway, and he found an embargo laid on all ships, for the king was 
 minded to lead a great host across the North Sea to enforce his 
 suzerainty on Norway. He made an Encomium on Cnut at this time 
 (1026-1027), called log-drapa (afterwards imitated by Thorarin Praise- 
 tongue), in a peculiar metre, four measured, with line rhyme, in which, 
 amongst other things, he records that monarch's journey to Rome, 
 apparently still fresh in men's minds, an additio.ai confirmation of the 
 view that with regard to that event even the English Chronicle is a 
 few years wrong. 
 
 From England (autumn 1027) Sighvat sailed to Norway, and went 
 to King Olaf at Borg on the Raum-Elbe (Glommen), a favourite resort 
 of his, 'and, entering the hall, greeted him, but Olaf looked at him 
 and said nothing.' Sighvat then improvised a verse, ' Tell me, lord, 
 where am I to sit, I have been away and all the benches are full.' 
 Then was proved the truth of the old saw, ' The king has many ears,' 
 for Olaf had heard ail about his journey, how he had been to see Cnut, 
 and he said to him, ' I know not whether thou meanest now to be 
 my marshal or whether thou hast become Cnut's liegeman.' Sighvat 
 answers in verse : ' Cnut asked me to be his liegeman as I was yours ; 
 but I said that one lord was enough for a man, and I think I have 
 set a good example in this answer.' Then the king bade him go to 
 the seat he was wont to have before, and Sighvat soon grew into 
 the same friendship with him which he had enjoyed before. Of this 
 voyage Sighvat made a poem, Journey to the fVest, which he addresses to 
 his partner Berg. 
 
 But it would seem that Olaf never quite forgave the poet, for 
 Sighvat anyhow was not with the king in the last days of his career, 
 and the death of Erling Skialgsson, 21 Dec. 1028, drew from him a feel- 
 ing little poem, Erling s Dirge, on the generous Baron, Tryggva?on's 
 brother-in-law, who had been so cruelly slain. And now the catastrophe, 
 wiiich ever since his voyage to England bighvat had probably seen and 
 deplored, came, and Olaf was obliged to fly. Sighvat remained in 
 Norway, which he would hardly have done if the two had been on 
 the old familiar footing of friendship ; but not for long, for he was 
 determined to throw away the sword and take the staff and pay a 
 pilgrimage to the holy places at Rome, and there he was when Stickle- 
 stead fight was lost, and there the news reached him. An affectionate 
 poem, Olafs Dirge, ' Erfi drapa Olaf 's,' attests his sore distress at the sad
 
 §2.] 
 
 SIGH VAT THE POET. 121 
 
 tidings, nor does the impression ever seem to have worn off; there is 
 a deeper and more pensive strain in all his later compositions than 
 we find in his earlier worlis, 
 
 A few impro'visations of regret and disgust mark his feelings at 
 the degradation of Sweyn's alien sway : but in 1036 (according to 
 Ssemund's chronology), to his great delight, his godchild Magnus is 
 called to his father's throne. His fatherly affection for the boy 
 is shown in all his dealings with him. About 1039 we get the highest 
 proof of this; the young king, led astray by evil counsellors, was be- 
 ginning, contrary to the agreement of Wolfsound, upon which he was 
 raised to the crown, to wreak unlawful vengeance upon those who 
 had been in the battle against his father. The fianklins called for 
 the laws of Hakon the Good, and murmured loudly. At last the 
 king's true friends met, and twelve of them took counsel together, 
 and agreed to throw lots among them for one of them to go and tell 
 Magnus what men were murmuring against him, and it was so 
 managed that the lot fell upon Sighvat. So he made the poem called 
 Bersoglis Visor, the Plain-Speaking Verses. *A king should keep his 
 word. He is a friend that warns a man in time. There is one tale 
 all tell, that you are laying your hand on your thanes' allod-lands. 
 This they will call robbery. Be warned in time, my lord,' are a few 
 of the salient phrases of this striking poem. It may be compared 
 with the Grand Remonstrance of Simon's Partisan after Lewes, but 
 it was more successful ; to Magnus' honour he listened to the good 
 advice, and it seems to have been a kind of crisis in his life, for a 
 Norse Code of Laws called Greygoose was in the tradition known as 
 the Law of Magnus, Sighvat's godchild — in fact, some codification of 
 St. Olaf's Law. 
 
 This is the last noticed act of the poet ; he died within a little 
 time, 1040-1043, but exactly when we cannot say. His body was 
 laid in Christ Church at Nidaros, as the pretty account of his death 
 in Flatey-bok informs us. He had one daughter, Tova, to whom King 
 Olaf stood godfather, but of her subsequent fortunes nothing is known. 
 
 There must have been a Saga of Sighvat, from which some of the 
 stories about him are taken; for instance, that of Ivar the White, 
 a gentleman of good family and a baron of King Olaf's. One day, 
 when he had heard Sighvat recite a poem in the king's honour, he 
 said, ' It would be wise for you poets to make poems on other great 
 men, and not only on the king, for he may grow tired of giving you 
 gifts, if you keep on making poetry on him.' ' Such men as thou art,' 
 says Sighvat politely, 'are well worthy of a poet's praise.' A little time 
 afterwards Sighvat, remembering Ivar's words, goes to visit him, and 
 tells him that he has made a poem on him. The king had warned 
 him that Ivar was a fitful and changeable man, so Sighvat was not 
 surprised to find him by no means pleased to see him. ' It is often 
 the way of you poets, when the king gets tired of your noise, to come 
 down, and seek how to draw money out of us franklins.' Sighvat 
 answered this welcome warily in verse, ' You saw the king sit quiet 
 enough while I sang in his honour, you can surely do the same.' ' You 
 are right, poet,' says Ivar; and he listened quietly to the poem, and 
 paid for it handsouicly when he had heard it out. 
 
 Taking Sighvat's poems one by one : — 
 
 I. Olaf's Drapa (of c. 1014), a ' flokk ' or short encomium. It is of 
 type originated proiaabiy by Sighvat himself or his father, a chronological 
 list of engagements in regular order, told in a conventional way, which
 
 122 ST. OLAFS COURT. [ek.viii. 
 
 does not show such skill as he afterwards exhibited. It is, however, 
 very valuable as an authentic account of St. Olaf's early life, and may 
 be used to check the prose accounts. In the English stanzas we have 
 an interesting notice of the Dyke at London, and mention of the Port- 
 reeves and Port-men of Canterbury : a place-name is concealed beneath 
 'Nya-modo,' perhaps 'Lea-mouth.' In the French stanzas a good many 
 names are corrupt, and not yet identified. ' Hseli,' ' Grislapoll,' ' Earl 
 William of Wi . • . ,' ' Fetla-firth,' * Gundwald's borough,' and the Earl 
 thereof, ' Geirfrid.' Verse i 5 is not by the poet of the rest. See Notes. 
 
 II. The Nesia Visor (of 1016), a 'flokk.' The poet is here for the first 
 time seen in his characteristic style. He delights in having been with 
 his sharp sword and his Poitevin helmet, by the golden banner-staff, 
 when Carle-head [Olaf's ship at that time] was laid alongside the Earl's 
 galley, on that glorious Palm Sunday. He describes the rattle and 
 confusion of the fight, the wounded crew tumbling overboard in their 
 panic when the day was lost, the order of Sweyn (whom he treats with 
 chivalrous courtesy throughout) to cut away the stems, so that the ships, 
 chained together by head and stern, might get loose quickly. The 
 mention of the Upland men confirms the accounts in the Life of Olaf, 
 of the king having got hold of Norway mainly by the Upland counties' 
 help. 
 
 III. The Amtr-fara Visor (c. 1023), in very confused order in the 
 Saga. We have tried to put it into order, according to their subjects, 
 under three heads: the sailing and riding to Rognwald in Gard [Novgo- 
 rod] ; the arrival at Rognwald town ; the wearisome journey back on foot 
 through Sweden, among inhospitable heathens, told with humour; and, 
 lastly, the results of the embassy. This seems the only practicable plan, 
 for it, at all events, yields a consistent story and does not go counter to 
 any fact we know; some order it is evident they must be put into. The 
 names 'Strinda fiordr,' 'Listahaf,' ' Eikunda sund,' ' Eygota land,' 
 * Gardar' mark the points of his journey (though two of them are re- 
 stored words). In his journey Sighvat found Rognwald in Garth, not in 
 Upsala as the prose makes out, and we thereby learn that he had already 
 left Sweden, and was in that universal refuge for princes, the Swedo- 
 Slavonic state of Novgorod. There are some fine touches in Sighvat's 
 best style in this poem and the impro'visations which we have put in 
 their places in its course. It is a pity the political part of the poem 
 (vv. 19-23) is partly corrupt, partly lost. 
 
 IV. With the remnants of West-fara Visor (journey to England and 
 Normandy) we have put the Stray Verses which deal with his return 
 after the journey which he has celebrated in that poem. \i\s frequent 
 trading journeys are spoken of in stanza i. The political allusions in 
 some of these verses are to be noted ; the grandeur of Cnut's court (at 
 Southampton probably) ; the splendid presents with which he sought to 
 win his rival's friends ; the submission of the Scottish princes ' North of 
 the middle of Fife ' (a fact recorded in the English Chronicle as hap- 
 pening the year after he came home from Rome) ; the warning to Olaf 
 of the way Cnut was using his riches ; and we must not overlook the 
 poet's proud repudiation of any treachery to his lord and friend, though, 
 poet as he was, he had been dazzled by Cnut's greatness, and even 
 requited Cnut's kindness by an Encomium. 
 
 V. Tog-drapa (autumn 1027?). This metre is here met with for the 
 first time. Thorarin's copy was produced next year, so that it may have 
 been a new and admired invention of Sighvat himself. The stanzas en 
 the English King's pilgrimage, meeting with the Emperor, and favour
 
 §2.] SIGHVAT THE POET. 123 
 
 with him and the Pope, confirm (though they are a httle corrupt, and 
 we cannot be sure of the readings) the conclusions of modern chrono- 
 logists. The autumn of 1027, before the poet left England, seems the 
 right date of this poem. There is no reason to suppose that this poem 
 was a Dirge, though some MSS. read 'Cnutr ivas und himnom,' instead 
 of ' es und himnom,' but the tenor of the whole is against its being com- 
 posed after Cnut's death. Nor can we find any probability of Sighvat's 
 making a Dirge on Gnut, in the circumstances in which he was then 
 placed as trusty adviser of the young Magnus and spokesman of the 
 Norwegian baronage. The allusion in 11. 1-2 shows the light in which 
 the Danes regarded Gnut, as the successor of Ragnar rather than the 
 peaceful ally of Eadmund. 
 
 VI. Erling's Dirge (January 1029). It is a chivalrous tribute to one 
 whom he must have loved, to risk his patron's favour in praising. For 
 Olaf, though a just, was not a ' forgiving man,' and Sighvat could have 
 remembered his anger at the Tog-drapa. This poem has suffered sorely. 
 The prose of the Kings' Lives contains statements that certainly were 
 drawn from the poem, and are not now found in it. We may be sure, 
 for example, that the date Thomas-mass occurred here, and can point 
 out the line from which it is missing. One statement as to Sighvat's 
 being at Wick we can see underneath a common phrase. The stanza 
 (10) respecting Erling's wealth and power has been turned into a 
 commonplace eulogium on his glory in war. His glory was that of a 
 great lord and husbandman, and there is no proof that he ever was 
 in battle till the day he fell. 
 
 VII. Erfi-drapa Olaf's (c. 1031). This poem is full of noteworthy 
 features. We have put into order, according to subject, all the stanzas 
 which we have of Sighvat on the dead King, irrespective of their order 
 in the Kings' Lives. Thus we have put to the end the stanza which 
 speaks of the Eclipse, 31 Aug. 1030 (as Hanstein has calculated), because, 
 though in accordance no doubt with popul ir belief, the prose makes the 
 words ' That day ' refer to the battle-day, and inserts the verse there; 
 it is not certain that Sighvat thought so. He certainly knew ' Olaf 's- 
 mass,' 29th July, a date which was by all analogy fixed on because it was 
 the day of the King's martyrdom. In the account of the battle itself, we 
 have tried to restore the poet's text from the old extracts in the Saga, 
 the number of the combatants, the order of battle, etc., for which due 
 account will be given in the Notes. The early established sanctity of 
 the King is attested by this poem, composed within a year or two of his 
 death : the two miracles (beside the Eclipse) being the giving of sight 
 to the blind and the incorruptibility of the Saint's body, upon which the 
 hair and nails grew. Thorarin's imitation of these stanzas (at most a 
 year or two later, c. 1033-4) in Sweyn's days adds to these the ringing 
 of the bells of the shrine, and the big bells in the tower pealing 
 without mortal hands, and sets forth Olaf plainly as the patron saint of 
 Norway. Verse 7 we would ascribe to Othere. See Notes. 
 
 VIII. A collection of Stray Verses, some composed before, some after 
 the date of the last poem (1030-32), put together in order as here. They 
 form a little poem as it were, in which the poet sets forth the grief with 
 which he remembered the past when he heard the sad news on the 
 Alps in the morning, and repels the accusation of having abandoned Olaf. 
 ' I was in Rome in jeopardy,' he says (sickness probably), and laments 
 the evil hungry days of Sweyn, all the more dreary by their contrast with 
 the smiling happiness of Olafs reign. One would like to have Sighvat's 
 impressions of Rome, but they have perished.
 
 124 ST. OLAFS COURT. [bk. vni. 
 
 IX. Verses on Magnus' Restoration (c. 1035-36), m praise of Anstrith 
 his good step-mother, ' the wise counsellor, the deep-tlioughted lady, the 
 daughter of Olaf, whom the Stout One wedded.' The exhortation to 
 Alfhild, ' the king's bond-woman,' Magnus' mother, is put here as analo- 
 gous in subject. 
 
 X. The Bersoglis Visor (c. 1039-40) open and close with an ex- 
 hortation to speedy action, for the danger is pressing. But the 
 tenor of the whole is to set forth the grievances which caused the dis- 
 affection, and to counsel the young king, for his own sake, to amend 
 them and cleave to his coron.ition oath. ' A noble king should hold fast 
 to his word.' The vindication of the poet's own position, the enu- 
 meration of the faithful service which gives him a right to speak and be 
 listened to, are nobly simple and pathetic. We have set the verses in 
 order as well as we could, but any arrangement must, in absence of 
 more evidence, be tentative. In the Norwegian laws we find the notice 
 of an Atli, speaker of the law in Gula-land, who won certain ' novels ' 
 from King iNIagnus, his name is almost certainly hidden under the 
 ' aetlak ' of i. 65 and ' lattan ' of 1. i, cf. Agrip. cap. 29. The compiler of 
 Magnus' Saga did not understand the verse. [See Diet, sub voce aetla, 
 769 a.] There are many more corrupt verses in this poem, which stands 
 alone among the compositions of the court-poets. 
 
 XI. The Occasional Verses have been thrown together at the end. We 
 do not take ver. lo to refer to the King's death, but rather to some petty 
 incident of Sighvat's life. The verse, p. 148, seems to be a fragment 
 of a baint's Encomium, perhaps founded on some story the poet heard 
 in Rome. 
 
 The poems of Sighvat have suffered a great deal, though with this 
 distinction: his 'Visor,' or more informal poetry (III-V, VIII-XI), 
 have, like the Wolsung-lays in our vol. i, undergone decomposition 
 from laulty memory and indifferent INISS., but no revision. These may 
 in time be restored. Here we often meet with a whole suite of verses in 
 Sighvat's pure strain without a single kenning; even through the faulty 
 mangled lines the sense gleams, often pathetic, always loyal. Worse is the 
 case in the more historical Encomia of I, VI, VII ; especially the battle 
 section of Stickiestead. Here whole sets of lines are painted over by 
 a later re-modeller; the lines stuffed with inane sentences mostly in 
 Cambyses' vein, unworthy of Sighvat. The facts as they once stood, 
 and as Ari read them, we have now to glean from the prose narrative of 
 the Saga, which too is often diluted by a thirteenth-century historian. 
 Yet the annalistic, realist sentences of Ari gleam out of it, and the lines 
 in the poem whence these statements of fact were drawn can be marked 
 out with certainty in many cases. 
 
 The great bulk (always, unless the contrary be stated) of this section is 
 drawn from St. Olaf's Saga (in the foot-notes A, A', or Cd. = Cod. Holm. ; 
 A^ = Kringla; B = the text in Fms. vols, iv, v, AIM. 61). 
 
 I. The First Praise of Olaf (1006-1014). 
 
 I. T ANGR bar ut enn uiiga isofra kund fra sundi 
 
 -L-' (J)i66 ug9i ser si^an) sia-mei6r (konungs reiSi) : 
 (kann-ek til margs) enn manna vciwwix fyrsta sinni 
 hann rau6 diztr fyrir austan ulfs fot vi6 sker S6ta. 
 
 The East Baltic. The long-ship bore the young king out of the 
 Sound (many a thing I can remember); and for the first time he
 
 §2.] 
 
 SIGHVAT THE POET. 125 
 
 2. f'at vas enn ok minor Alafr (nd svik fcolosk) 5 
 odda {)ing 1 eyddri Eys^^slo gekk heyja : 
 
 sitt aotto fioDr fotom (far beiS or staQ) ' sara ' 
 
 ' enn |)eir-es undan runno allvaldr,' buendr gialda. 
 
 3. HriQ vard stals i stri6ri strajng Herdala ga)ngo 
 Finnlendinga at fundi fylkiss ni6s en pribja : 10 
 sonn ' austr vi6 la ' leysti lei6 vikinga skei6ir 
 Bala-gar6z at borSi brim-ski9om la si6a. 
 
 4. Enn kvsbbo gram gunnar galdrs upp-ha)fom valda 
 {6fib fra-ek J^eim-es vel var6isk vinnask) Jiorda sinni : 
 jDa-es olitill uti ia)fra liSs 1 miSli 15 
 friSr gekk sundr 1 sli6ri SuSr-vik Da)nom ku6ri. 
 
 5. Vfg vantu, hlenna hneigir, hia)lmom grimmt it Jim/a 
 (}do16o h]fv) a hari (hri6) ' Kinnlima-si6o :' 
 
 j)a es vi9 rausn at raesiss rei6 herr ofan skei6om, 
 
 enn 1 goegn at gunni gekk hilmiss lid rekkom. 20 
 
 6. Rett es_ at sokn en se'/Za ; snarr j^engill bau3 Englom 
 at J)ars Alafr sotti, Yggs, Lunduna-bryggjor : 
 
 sver6 bito Vaolsk, enn va)r6o Vfkingar |)ar Diki, 
 atti Sumt 1 sletto SuSvirki lid bu6ir. 
 
 7. Enn let siaunda sinni sver6-^ing halt verSa 25 
 endr a Ulfkels-landi Alafr, sem ek ferr mali : 
 
 st66 Hringmara-hei6i (her-fall var J)ar) alia 
 Ello kind, enn olli arfvaorSr Haraldz starfi. 
 
 8. Veit-ek at vfga moetir Vindom hsettr enn dtta 
 (styrkr gekk va^rdr at Virki verdungar) styr gerSi : 30 
 
 reddened the wolf's paw off Soti's reef [off the Swedish coast]. That 
 was the second when Olaf brought about a sword-moot in the wasted 
 Island Osel ; nor was treachery lacking there, they owed their lives to 
 their feet, the runaways, none dared make a stand. The third was a hard 
 fight on the Herdale-raid, where he met the Finlanders : a great gale 
 overtook the wickings' ships, the Balagard coast lay alongside his ships. 
 
 North German Coast. They say that he brought on a battle for the 
 fourth time, when peace was broken between the king's armies in the 
 broad Southwick [Sudervvijck in Pelworm] known to the Danes. Thou 
 didst win the fifth battle oif the high [sic] Kinnham-side [North Frisian 
 coast], when the host rode down to the ships and the king's men went 
 up to meet them in fight. 
 
 England. The sixth battle, it is true, the king offered to the English, 
 when he beset London-bridges ; the Gaulish sword bit, and the wick- 
 ings guarded the Ditch ; some of the host had better [quarters] in 
 Southvvark. And for the seventh time Olaf let there be a sword-moot 
 on tlie land of Wolfkettle [East Anglia], as I go on to tell: the kin 
 of jEIla [the English] took their stand all of them at Ringmere-heath; 
 many men fell there, the heir of Harold set them a hard task. I know 
 that the .... of the Wends began an eighth battle : the migiity master of 
 
 7. Read, sarir. il. Read, laust vc3r ok \ty&\\. 12. boi9i] B. 
 
 18. Read, Kinnheima si3o.
 
 126 ST. OLAFS COURT. [bk. viii. 
 
 sinn maottoS bee banna borg Cantara sorgar 
 mart feksk pru6om pajrtom port-greifar Aleifi. 
 9. Vann ungr konungr Englom 6trau6r skarar rau6ar 
 ('endr fell brunt a branda b]63') ' Nyja m63o:' 
 Nu hefik orrostor austan ' ogn diarfr ' nio taldar, ^ 35 
 
 ' herr fell Danskr ' J)ar es da^rrom dreif mast at Aleifi. 
 
 10. Tcegr var fylldr 1 faogrom (folk-veggs drifa hreggi) 
 (belt sem hilmir maelti) Hrings-fir6i (li6 Jiingat) : 
 
 bol let hann a Hoeli hatt Vikingar atto 
 
 (' ^eir baoQot ser siQan sliks skotnaSar ') brotna. 40 
 
 11. Alafr vantu, J)ars ia)frar, ellifta styr, fello 
 (ungr komtu af J3vi |)ingi pollr) i Grislo-pollom : 
 j)at fra-ek vig ' at vitto ' Vilialms fyr boe hialma 
 'tala minz' es J)at telja tryggs iarls hait snarla. 
 
 12. Tann rau6 iolfta sinni tir fylgjandi ylgjar 45 
 (var6) 1 Fella-fir6i (fia^r-bann lagit moonnom). 
 
 13. Pretidnda vann I'roenda (|)at vas flotta baal) drottinn 
 sniallr i Seljo-pollom sunnarla styr kunnan : 
 
 upp \€\. gramr i gamla Gunnvaldz borg um morgin, 
 
 ' Geirfidr ' bet sa, goerva gengit, iarl um fenginn. 50 
 
 14. Malms vann Moera hilmir munn-ri66r, es kom sunnan, 
 gang {Dars gamlir sprungo geirar, upp at Leiro : 
 
 var3 fyr viga Nia)r6om Varrandi sia ' fiarri ' 
 brendr a byg6o landi (boar heitir sva) Peito. 
 
 the henchmen went to the Work ; the Port-reeves could not keep their 
 town, Canterbury, against Olaf, many a sorrow befell the proud port- 
 men. The bold young king gave the English red pates in ... . New 
 Mouth [ ? ] ; the brown blood dripped on the brand. Now I 
 have counted nine battles beginning from the East; wherein the darts 
 drove about Olaf .... 
 
 France. The tale of ten was filled in fair Rings-firth [ ? ], 
 
 whither at the king's command they wended their way ; he stormed a 
 
 lofty pirate hold on H sell [ ? ] . . . . never after enjoyed such 
 
 booty as they won there. Thou foughtest the ele'veyith fray, where 
 
 princes fell, in Grisla-pool (thou wert young, Olaf, when that battle 
 
 ended); I heard of the victory by the trusty Earl William's town at 
 
 Wi . . . . ; so I count. The tivelfth time he reddened the woU''s 
 
 tusks in Fetla-firth [ ? ], where there was loss of life to manyx 
 
 men. The lord of the Thronds won a well-known thirteenth fighir 
 
 /south in Selia-pool [ ? ] ; early in the morning the king bade 
 
 I his men march up into the old Gundwald's borough, and took prisoner 
 
 / an earl called Geifrid [Geffrey]. The Prince of the Mores, when he 
 
 came from the South, made an inroad up the Loire, where the 
 
 old spears sprung : Warrand [Guerande], so the town is named near 
 
 to the sea in Poitou-land, was burnt by his host. 
 
 32. paurtom. A. 34. Read, Lea m66o? 50. Read, GeifriSr? 
 
 53. Read, ngerri.
 
 §2.] 
 
 SIGHVAT THE POET. 127 
 
 [15. ' Rfkr kva9 ser " at soekja'" SauSungs- konungr ' nauSir ' 
 'fremdar giarn' i 'forno' fund Hakonar -sundi : 56 
 
 'Strangr hitti' }Dar Jjengill |)ann iarl es var6 'annarr' 
 ceztr, ok sett gat bazta, ungr a Danska Tungo.] 
 
 F' 
 
 11. Nesja Visor (10 15). 
 
 (Verses I, 4, 14 from Fagrsk., the rest from O. H.) 
 
 *0R 6r Vfk a vari valaust konungr austan 
 
 (f)eir kn:3o blso baSir bor3) enn iarl kom nor3an : 
 kann-ek sigr-vi6om segja sundz, hve J)eira fundir, 
 oerin skil, |Dvi-at orom, at bmrosk, par, varo. 
 
 2. Veitti sokn Jjar-es s6tti siklingr firin-mikla S 
 (bl65 fell rautt a r66a rein) f haofn at Sveini : 
 
 sniallr belt at {)ar-es olli eirlaust konungr |)eira 
 
 (enn Sveins li6ar) s^nom (saman bundosk skip) fundi. 
 
 3. f^at erom kunnt hve kennir KarlhajfSa let iarli 
 
 odda frostz fyr austan AgQir noer of lagSan .... 10 
 
 4. Hir6 Alafs vann harSa hn'Q (enn sva vark bf3a) 
 [Peitneskom fdlt-ek] (Paska) Palm-Sunnudag [hialmi]. 
 
 5. Vasa ' sig-mana ' Sveini sver6a sverSa gn;^s at fl^^ja 
 gi65s ne goerrar hri6ar gunn-reifom Aleifi : 
 
 J)vi-at ' kvistungar kosto ' (kom at herr 1 sta6 verra) 15 
 ' sotto sfn J)ar es s6ttosk ' seggir hvarir-tveggjo. 
 
 6. Teitr sa-ek okkr 1 ftro allvaldz liSi falla 
 (goerSisk har6r) um her6ar (hiaor-dynr) svalar brynjor: 
 enn mm at flug fleina falsk und hialm inn Valska 
 (okkr vissak sva, sessi) sva)rt ska)r (vi6 her gcerva). 20 
 
 Norivay. The king stood from the island Selja toward Hakon at 
 Saudungs-sound ; there the earl swore strong oaths to that young king 
 who was by far the highest and best in race of all the Danish 
 Tongue .... [See Notes.] 
 
 Nesia Verses. The king went from the East out of the Wick in 
 the spring, and the Earl [Sweyn] came from the North ; they both plied 
 the black oars : I can tell men point by point how their meeting went 
 off, for I was there myself. The king [Olaf] made a very fierce attack 
 on Sweyn in tlie haven ; the king openly brought about the battle and 
 held sharply to it, and Sweyn's men lashed their ships together. I 
 know how the king had Carle-head laid alongside the earl East off 
 Agd. Olaf s henchmen made a hard onset on Palm Sunday. I myself 
 kept the Easter vigil hooded in a Poitevin helmet. The brave Sweyn 
 could not be challenged for his behaviour in the battle, nor the warlike 
 Olaf for his lighting; for on both sides the men had .... saplings .... 
 when they made at each other. I saw the cold mail coats, Tait, fall 
 over our back in the king's army, and I covered my black hair under 
 the helmet of Gaul in the shaft-shower. So we were indeed equipped, 
 
 55. Corrupt, or Seljo. 57. Read, Strong heit vann |)ar Jjengli Jieim iarl es 
 
 vas allra . . .? 4. ^eim er, Cd. ; for viiro read hvaro ? 13. sviiin-huglom, B.
 
 128 ST. OLAF'S COURT. [bk. viii. 
 
 7. Stgong 63 gylt Jiar es gengom Gondlar serks und merkjom 
 gnyss fyr gaofgom rsesi grei6endr a skip reiSir : 
 
 f)agi vas sem |)essom Jjengils a io strengjar 
 mia)3 fyrir malma kve6jo mser hei6-]Degom baeri. 
 
 8. Olid vann ossa skiaoldo (aud-ssett vas lpa.t) rau6a 25 
 (hlioms) JDa es hvftir komo (hring-miSlendom) ^ingat: 
 {)ar hykk ungan gram ga)ngo (gunn-sylgs), enn ver fylg6om, 
 (bl63s fekk sva)rr {)ars sloeQosk sver6) upp 1 skip gerSo. 
 
 9. Vaer drifom hvatt (enn heyra hatt vapna brak knatti) 
 [ra)nd klufo ro9nir brandar] reiSir upp 1 skeiSar: 30 
 enn fyr bor9 J)ar-es ba)r9omk (buin fengosk skip) gengo 
 [nar flaut ajrt fyr eyri ofar] buendr sarin 
 
 10. Sialfr ba3 svartar kylfor Sveinn harSliga skeina ; 
 nser vas a3r i ora au8van ' roit ' hanom : 
 
 J)a-es ('til goSz enn gioSi') goert ('fengosk hrse svaortom') 35 
 (Yggs) let herr um hoeggit (hrafni) skeiSar stafna. 
 
 11. {'ess get-ek meirr at missi mor3-a)rr sa-es kom norSan 
 harQa margr 1 ha3r6om heim-kv^mo styr t)eima : 
 soekk af syndi-blakki sunno margr til grunna, 
 
 (satt es at Sveini msettom) sam-knuta (ver uti). 40 
 
 12. Fr^T eigi oss i ari Inn-I'roenzk, Jioat lid minna, 
 (goert hugSak sva) snerto, snotr mser, konungs vaeri : 
 bru6r mun heldr at ha6i hafa dr6tt \)Z-es ' framm sottit ' 
 feld ' ruSom skers/ ef skyldi, skeggi, a3ra-tveggjo. 
 
 13. Afli vex, J)vi-at efla Upplendingar sendi 45 
 (Sveinn fundot ]pat) J)enna J)il-blakks, konungs, vilja : 
 
 mess-mate. The golden banner-staff waded on, when we, in our mail- 
 coats, dashed aboard the ships under the standard before the noble king's 
 face : on board the prince's ship in the fight it was not at all as when 
 the damsel is bearing mead to the henchmen. Our shields, that came 
 white thither, were made red, it was easy to see that; and the young 
 king boarded the enemy's ship, and we followed him : I remember it 
 well. We soon stormed on sharply aboard their galleys (one could 
 hear the loud clatter of weapons, the red brands clove the shields), 
 and overboard went the wounded crew, when we rushed on in the 
 fight ; corses untold floated out upon the shore. Sweyn himself, in his 
 sore distress, bade his men cut away smartly at the black clubs [the 
 figure-head beams], and his men hewed the figure-heads of their 
 galleys clean off. Many a man, I ween, that came from the North, 
 will in this hard fray have lost his hope of coming home again. 
 Many a man sunk overboard to the bottom from the ships that were 
 knit together when we met Sweyn off the land. The proud In- 
 Throndish damsel will not surely challenge our gallantry in the battle, 
 though we, the king's men, were the fewest: the lady should rather 
 make mock of them who wrapped their bearded faces in their cloaks, 
 if either side are to be blamed. The king's might grows apace, ever 
 
 34. Read, komit (coit). 44. feld] emend.; fold, Cdd. 45. vex] A^ 
 
 vsEtt, Cd.
 
 §2.] SIGHVAT THE POET. 129 
 
 raun es bins at Heinir (hrae-liiinz) mego vinna 
 (^eir atto Aug) fleira fia)l-rekks an a)l drekka. 
 
 III. AusTRFARAR Vi'soR ; or, Eastern Travel Verses. 
 
 1. A DR hefek gott vi6 g66a grams stallara alia 
 
 •^"^ att, ^a-es ossom drottni ogn-diarfs fyr knd hvarfa : 
 
 Biaorn, faztu opt at arna, iss, fyr mer at visa 
 
 g63s megot gott of raQa, gunn-ri63r, ^vi-at vel kunnot. 
 
 2. Nil sittu heill, enn hallar her finnomk meirr Jjinnar, s 
 at unz ek kem vitja, Alafr, konungr mala : 
 
 skald bi6r bins at haldi hialm-drifo stafr lifi 
 (endisk leyf3) ok landi [lyk-ek viso mi] {)visa. 
 
 3. Bua hilmiss sal hiaolmom birQ-menn, J)eir es svan grenna 
 (her sd ek) bens, ok brynjom (beggja kost a veggjom) : 10 
 j)vi a ungr konungr engi (ugglaust er t^at) dyggra 
 hus-biinaSi at hrosa ; haoll es d^'r me6 a)Ilo. 
 
 4. Katr vas-ek opt J)a-es uti a)r6igt ve9r a fiaorQom 
 visa segl 1 vasi vind-blasit skof Strinda : 
 
 hestr 66 kafs at kostom; kilir risto haf Lista 15 
 
 ' lit ' t^ars eisa Idtom ' undan skei9r at sundi.' 
 
 5. Sniallz letom skip skolla skia)ldungs vi3 ey tiaDldut 
 fyrir ' agetu ' uti aDndurt sumar landi : 
 
 enn 1 haust es hestar hag-J)orns a mo sporna 
 
 since the Upland-men have given him help, Sweyn found that to his 
 cost. It is now clear that the Heins [Heathmark folk] are good for 
 more than ale-drinking. 
 
 Prologue. Before starting, to B'lorn the Marshal. I have ever been 
 on good terms with all the king's marshals, who walk before his knees, 
 Biorn, thou hast often won favour for me with the king, for thou art 
 well skilled to counsel, I will follow thee. 
 
 Fare<well to Olqf. Abide in peace, O King Olaf ; when I come back 
 to make my report I shall see thee again. The poet prays this, that 
 the king may keep his life and land safely. May thy glory endure. 
 So I end my verse at this time. 
 
 On his return the Poet makes his report. As he enters the hall he says, 
 The king's henchmen have dressed the walls with helms and mail-coats, 
 I see a choice of both on the walls : no young king, verily, can boast of 
 such fine house-furniture. The hall is right precious withal ! 
 
 Incidents on the journey up. I was often blithe enough in the wet 
 when a stiff breeze swept the king's sail on the firths of Strind. The 
 sea-steed waded gallantly on, the keels plowed the Sea of Lister when 
 we made the galley speed at Eker-Sound. We let the gallant king's 
 ship with awnings pitched hover out off the Isle of Gotland ere the 
 summer ended, and in the harvest-tide when the sea-king's chargers 
 are launched on the hawthorn's mere [hoisted up on land] then I had to 
 
 16. Read, at J), e. 1. Eikunda- skeift -sundi? i8. Read, Eygota landi. 
 
 VOL. IL K
 
 I30 
 
 ST. OLAFS COURT. [bk. viir. 
 
 tekk (ymissar ekkjom i9ir hl^tk) at ri6a. 20 
 
 6. lor renn aptan-skaero all-svangr gaotor langar 
 
 (va)ll kna hofr) til hallar [ha)fom Iitinn dag] (slita) : 
 nu es t^atz blakkr of bekki berr mik ' daunum ' ferri ; 
 fakr laust drengs 1 diki (doegr moetask nu) foGti. 
 7 Ut muno ekkjor lita all-snu9ola pru3ar 25 
 
 (flioS sia reyk) hvar ri9om Ra)gnvalldz 1 hf goegnom : 
 keyrom hross, sva-at heyri harQa langt or garQi 
 hesta raos or hiisom hug-svinn konan innan. 
 
 8. Oss hafa augo Jjessi Islenzk, konan, visat 
 
 biartan stfg at baugi braDttom langt en sva)rto : 30 
 
 sia hefir, miaj9-nannan, manni min okunnar ^inom 
 fotr a fornar brautir fuU-drengila gengit. 
 
 9. Hug-stora bi3-ek heyra 'hress fors' ia)furs t)essar 
 ({Dol6a-ek vas) hve visor, verSung, um fa^r goer6ak : — 
 Sendr vas-ek upp af ajndrom austr, (svaf-ek fatt) i hausti 35 
 til Svi6i66ar si6an svan-vangs f fa)r langa. 
 
 10. Att hafa ser, |)eir-es sotto, sendi-menn fyr hendi 
 Sygna grams, vi3 sagnir siklinga, fa)r mikla : 
 spa)r3omk faest (enn fyrSa ftung ero stor) vid gaongo ; 
 vaorSr re3 n^lr pvi es norSan Noregs jDinig forom. 40 
 
 11. Let-ek til Ei3s, t)vi-at 63om aptr-hvarf, dreginn karfa 
 ver stilltom sva valtan vatr til gloeps a bati : 
 
 taki hlcegi-skip hauga herr (saka6-ek far verra) 
 let-ek til heims a hruti haett, for betr en ek vaetta. 
 
 take to horseback : I will tell the ladies of my various fortunes. The 
 slim steed gallops over the long roads in the even-gloom towards the 
 hall. The hoof cuts the turf! The day is short! And now it is 
 that my steed bears me over the brooks, far from the ships ; my horse's 
 feet light on the Dyke; day and night are meeting [it is twilight]. 
 The proud ladies, seeing the dust, will look out on us as we ride right 
 gallantly into Reginwald's town. Let us spur our steeds, so that the 
 gentle ladies in the town may hear afar off the din of the horses coming 
 towards the city. Those black Icelandic eyes of mine have brought 
 me from far up a steep path to a bright ring [he had had a ring given 
 him at Reginwald's court], these feet of mine have sped sturdily over 
 ancient ways where thou hast never been ! 
 
 The journey back. Gentle King, I beg thy henchmen to listen to these 
 verses which I made on my journey. I suffered from the wet. In the 
 autumn I was put ashore in the east from the ships back to Sweden for 
 a long journey. I gat little sleep! The messengers that the Lord of the 
 Sogn-folk sent on his business had a great journey before them. We 
 spared not to walk. It was the Norse king that sent us thither from the 
 North. I had a rickety smack drawn towards Eid [the isthmus], for I 
 feared lest I should never get back, we were in such jeopardy in the boat. 
 The host of the barrows [fiends] take the mock ship ; I never saw a worse 
 boat. I risked my life on the old sea-ram [smack], yet things went better 
 than I thought likely. 
 
 23. Read, kiitirrom.
 
 §2.] SIGHVAT THE POET. 131 
 
 12. Vasa ff St ; enn ek rann rastir reiSr of skog fra EiSom 45 
 (menn of veit at msettom meini) tolf ok eina : 
 
 hykk a fot, enn flekkom fell sar a il hvara, 
 
 hvasst gengom \)6 l^angat {)ann dag, konungs manni. 
 
 13. Re6-ek til Hofs at haefa; hur8 vas aptr; (ek spur6omk) 
 inn settak nef, nenninn (ni9r-lulr fyrir utan) : ,^o 
 or6 gat ek fsest at fyrSom ; (fla)g6 ba6-ek) [enn JDau saogSo] 
 hnek8omk heifinir rekkar, [heilagt] (vi8 J3au deila). 
 
 14. Gagkattu inn, kva6 ekkja, arnii drengr, in lengra, 
 hrse8omk-ek vi8 06ins (erom heiSnir ver) rei8i : 
 
 rfgT kvazk inni eiga 6J)ekk, sii-es mer hnek8i, 55 
 
 alfa blot, sem ulfi, ' otvin ' 1 bee sinom, 
 
 15. F6r-ek at finna bsoro, friSs vsettak mer, si8an 
 biiot {)ann-es bragnar h^to bliks vildastan miklo : 
 grefs leit vi8 mer gsetir gerstr, J)a es illr enn versti 
 
 (litt rei8i-ek \)6 ly8a last) ef sa es inn bazti. 60 
 
 16. Nu hafa hnekt, J^eir-es hnakka hein-fletz vi6 mer setto, 
 ({)eygi bella |)ollar) J^rir sam-nafnar (tiri) : 
 
 j)6 sicomk hitt at hlotSir haf-ski8s myni si6an 
 lit, hverr es QiWir heitir, allz mest reka gesti. 
 
 17. ^ Mista-ek fyr austan Ei8a-sk6g a 'Lei8o' 65 
 Asto burs, J)a-es aestag okristinn hal vistar : 
 
 Riks fanka-ek son Saxa, sa6r vas oengr fyrir, f)a8ra; 
 ut vas-ek eitt sinn heitinn innan fiorom sinnom. 
 
 1 8. Driug-genginn vas drengjom (drengr magnar lof t)engils) 
 
 It was not for my pleasure that I had a smart walk of twelve leagues 
 and one through the wood from Eid. Look you, I met with trouble 
 enough ! Yet I went briskly forward on foot all that day : though 
 sores fell thick on the soles of the feet of the king's men. I made my 
 way gallantly to Hof [Temple] ; the door was shut, but I put my nose 
 in and I asked for lodging from outside, downcast enough. I got no 
 answer from them. The heathen-folk turned me away, saying it was 
 hallowed. I prayed the fiends to deal with them ! Go not in further, 
 quoth the goodwife, thou miserable man ! for we fear the wrath of 
 Woden ; we are heathen folk ! The surly housewife that turned me 
 away like a wolf said that they were holding a Sacrifice to the Elves 
 within her homestead. Then I went to find the man whom the people 
 spoke of as the most hospitable, hoping for peace ; but the wretched 
 digger [farmer] looked grimly on me. I am no slanderer; but if this be 
 the best, the worst must be bad indeed ! 
 
 Three namesakes have now turned their back upon me, they have 
 acted very churlishly, and I fear that every one whose name is Olwi 
 drives his guests from his door. 
 
 I missed the son of Asta [King Olaf] when I asked the heathen man 
 for quarters east of Eidwood. I did not find a son of Saxi [an hospita- 
 ble Earl Reginwald] at home there ! There was no kindliness to be 
 met with there, I was turned away four times in one evening ! 
 
 It was hard walking for us east [from the east .?] towards the king 
 
 45. fyrst, Cd. 51. at] en, Cd. 65. Name of place? 
 
 K 2
 
 132 ST. OLAF'S COURT. [bk. viii. 
 
 ' austr ' til * iaofra {)rystiss ' Ei8a-sk6gr a ' leiSo : ' 70 
 
 skyldit mer, a9r mildan minn drottinn kom-ek finna 
 hlunnz af hilmiss runnom hnekkt d^T-loga bekkjar. 
 
 19. L^t-ek vi3 y8r es ftran, Alafr, hagat msolom 
 rdtt, es rfkjan hittag Raognvald, konungr, haldit : 
 deilda-ek msolom mildan malma-va)r8 i Gajr6om 75 
 har6a maDrg, ne ek heyrSa hei6-mannz taolor greiSri. 
 
 20. t'ik bad solar s^ekkvir si'nn halda vel Rinar 
 hvern es hingat arnar huskarl nefi iarla : 
 
 enn hverr es austr vill sinna (iamn-vist es {)at), Lista 
 J)engill, J)inna drengja, |)ar a hald und Raognvaldi. 80 
 
 21. Folk r^6 um 'sik' fylkir flest es ek kom vestan 
 sett ' sem aQr of hvatti ' Eireks * svika ' f)eira : 
 
 enn J)vi-at iarla fraendi eins Jdvi es tokt af Sveini 
 y6r kveS ek iaord es na)3ot Ulfs broSor son stoQosk. 
 
 22. Spakr l^t Ulfr medal ykkar Alafr tekit msolom 85 
 ({ji'tt fengom svar) seetta [sakar leggit it] beggja : 
 
 per let ^iofa r^Tir f)ser sem oengar vaeri 
 ripta reknar heiptir RaDgnvaldr gefit aldar. 
 
 23. Fast skaltu rikr vi6 n'kjan Raognvald, konungr, halda 
 (hann stendr ^/'6r af ^I'nni Jiaorf) nsott ok dag ssottom : 90 
 ^ann veit-ek, |)inga kennir, Jjik baztan vin miklo 
 
 a Austr-vegom eiga allt me6 groeno Salti. 
 
 24. Nu ero maelt, enn mala meir kunnom skil fleiri, 
 
 on the road through Eid-shaw. I go on with my song on the king. 
 May I not, when I come back to my lord again, be turned away by his 
 henchmen ! 
 
 y^t Reginai'aliTj court. I delivered your weiglity message faithfully, O 
 Olaf, when I reached the mighty Reginwald. I held much talk with 
 the generous Earl in Garth [Novgorod], nor have I ever heard fairer 
 speech from any noble. The Earl bade thee to take good care of any of 
 his house-carles that might turn hither, and any of thy men that will go 
 to the east shall be in likeway treated by Reginwald. All men when I 
 came from the west spoke of thee, my lord, according to the promptings 
 of the son of Eric, the Swedish king. But as for the land of the Earl's 
 which .... the brother's son of Wolf [Reginwald] acknowledged 
 thy title also to the land thou tookest from Earl Sweyn. The wise 
 Wolf [Reginwald's son] received kindly your offers of treaty. We got a 
 kind answer, ye put away your feuds : the .... Reginwald .... and 
 made as if there were no vengeance to be wreaked for breaches of the 
 peace bet^veen you. Hold fast, O Mighty King, by day and night, thy 
 covenant with the mighty Reginwald, for he is helpful to thee at need. 
 He is, I very well know, the best friend by far that thou hast in the 
 East- Way, all along the green Baltic. 
 
 Epilogue. Now, O King, I have delivered all the words that most 
 
 70. Read, austan ? 73. Read, hugaz malom. 75. mal ens milda . . . 
 
 vorSz, Cd. 76. morg] A-; niargr, Cd. 81. Read, pik? 82. Read, 
 
 Svia ? 86. tau, Cd, ; t)ett, A^ 88. Emend. ; riptar, Cd.
 
 §2.] SIGHVAT THE POET. 133 
 
 or6 }Dau-es oss um varSa allz mest, konungr, flesta : 
 Got lati \)ik gseta, ge6-har9r konungr, iarSar 95 
 
 (vfst hefi ek J^ann) J)vi-at, J)mnar, J)U ert til borinn (vilja). 
 
 IV. Vestrfarar Visor ; or, Western Travel Verses. 
 
 (Verse 9 from AM. 75 c.) 
 
 1. "DERGR, hsofom minnzk hve margan morgon Ru9o-borgar 
 •L' ba)r6 I^t-ek i fa)r fyrda fest vi6 arm in vestra. 
 
 2. tJtan var8-ek a6r an Iota and-spilli fekk-ek stilliss 
 (melld sa-ek her fyr ha)l6i hus-dyrr) fyrir spyrjask : 
 
 enn eyrendi 6ro att-runnr i sal knatti 5 
 
 Gorms (' ber-ek opt a armi iarn-stiikor ') vel luka. 
 
 3. Orr tegask Alaf goerva 'allt hefir sa er' fiajr-valian 
 (konungr dau8a mon-ek kvi6a) Knutr ok Hakon uti : 
 haldizk vajr6r, |ooat vildit varla Knutr ok iarlar, 
 
 ' daella es fyrst a fialli fundr' ef hann sialfr koemsk undan. 10 
 
 4. Atti iarl at ' sKtta all-framr ' buendr gamla 
 ok J)eirs optast toko Alaf at {)vf mali : 
 
 'J)eir hafa fyrr af fari framt es Eireks kyn meira' 
 ha)f6om keypt an heiptir Hakon saman moendi. 
 
 5. Knutr hefir okkr enn itri all-da3-ga)fugr bco^om 15 
 hendr, es hilmi fundom, Hunn, skrautliga bunar : 
 
 \)er gaf hann maork e6a meira, marg-vitr, ok hia)r bitran 
 gollz (r3e6r goerva a)llo Go3 sialfr) enn mer halfa. 
 
 6. Hafa all-framir ia)frar ut sin hgofuQ Knuti 
 
 foer8 or Fifi norSan (fri6-kaup vas J)at) midjo : 20 
 
 concern us all, though I have much more which I could tell. May God give 
 thee, good King, thy land to which thou wert born ! Surely that is my wish ! 
 
 How many a morning. Berg, we have been talking over how on 
 my voyage I moored my ship fast to the western side of Rouen. 
 
 I had to enquire outside the hall before I could get speech of the 
 lord of the Jutes [Cnut] : I saw the doors barred before me by a 
 host of men. But once within the hall, the scion of Gorm graciously 
 discharged my suit. 
 
 Cnut and Hakon threatened to take the life of Olaf. I fear lest he 
 should die. May he be kept safe, even though Cnut and the Earls would 
 have it otherwise. It would be well if he escape with life. The Earl 
 has been bribing the old franklins to betray Olaf, and now they have 
 pledged their heads to it. Eric's kin are eager. 
 
 1o Bersi. O Cub, Cnut decked the arms of both of us when we 
 visited him. He gave thee a mark of gold and a keen sword, and to me 
 half a mark. God himself rules all things. 
 
 The foremost princes [Macbeth and lehmarc], away north of Fife, 
 have brought their heads to Cnut, to buy peace from him. Olaf never 
 
 4. sa er, CJ. 14. Read, sama niceiiUi?
 
 134 
 
 ST. OLAFS COURT. Tek. viii. 
 
 seldi Alafr aldri (opt va sigr inn Digri) 
 haus 1 heimi ^visa hann oengom sva manni. 
 
 7. Heim erom hingat komnir (hygg-J)u at ia)furr skatna) 
 [menn nemi msol sem ek inni mm] stallarar J)inir : 
 seg-J)u hvar sess hafir hug5an seims |)i69-konungr beima 25 
 (allr es J)ekkr) me6 Jjollom {\)inn skali mer innan). 
 
 8. Knutr spurSi mik msetra mildr ef jsk honom vilda 
 hendi langr sem hringa hug-reifom Aleifi: 
 
 einn kva6-ek senn at saDnno (svara J)6ttomk vel) drottinn 
 [gcer ero gumna hverjom gnog dcGmi] mer soema. 30 
 
 9. Ei6 lata-J)u ft\v einn, \)6 ek vera seinni, 
 iar6ar alia verSa, au9ar mildr, an ek vilda : 
 
 esa fyrir mal J)at-es msela mann ^u Iretr her vandan 
 
 ' laDng i^aorf mun gram ' gengit, gestr Knutz vas-ek flestom. 
 
 10. Fiandr ganga J)ar |)engils (JdIoS hfbr opt) me3 si66a 35 
 (hsofgan malm fyrir hilmiss haus ofalan) lausa : 
 
 sik veit hverr, es harra hollan selr viQ goUi 
 (vert es sliks) i svsorto, sfnn, Helvfti innan. 
 
 11. Kaup var daprt |)atz diupan drottin rsekt of sotto, 
 
 J)eir es, heim a himni hcom ellz, svikom bclldo. 40 
 
 12. Goerdisk hilmiss Ha)r6a huskarlar \)i iarli 
 es vi6 Alafs fiaorvi of vaegir fd pxgi : 
 
 bird esa bans at ver6a haligt fyrir Jivi mali ; 
 daella es oss ef allir erom ver of svik ski'rir. 
 
 yielded his neck to any one in this world; the Stout One often won 
 a victory. 
 
 His return to Nornvay. Behold, O King, we are come home again, we 
 thy marshals. Let men listen to what I am saying. Tell me where thou 
 hast settled a seat for me among the men in the hall. Thy whole house 
 withal is agreeable to me {or thy hall is all full of men]. 
 
 The King distrusting him. Cnut asked me if I would serve him as I had 
 served Olaf, and 1 told him (and I thought 1 had answered well and 
 given a good example to all men), that it was fit for me to have but one 
 lord. O King, let not one oath cover all [i. e. because others are traitors 
 do not suspect me], though I am later back than I wished. The accusa- 
 tion which wicked men have brought before thee has not been sifted 
 to the bottom, .... although I was Cnut's guest. 
 
 The traitors. The king's enemies are walking about openly with bags 
 of gold, offering gold for his priceless head. Every man that sells his 
 good lord for gold knows that he deserves to be in the midst of black 
 Htll-pain. It was a sorry bargain when the traitors, who betrayed their 
 lord, sold their homes in the high heavens for a place in the fire of the 
 deep pit. It were a sad thing for house-carles of King Olaf to take 
 money of the Earl against King Olafs life. It is not honourable for 
 his henchmen to lie under such a charge. It would be well if we w'ere 
 all clear of treason. 
 
 25. beimom, Cd. 26. {jaktr, some. 30. Or, gdS doemi. 39. raekt] 
 
 emend., — red or rett, Cdd. 40. has, Cd.
 
 §2.J SIGHVAT THE POET. 135 
 
 13. Ut hfbr allvaldr sveitom Englandz ; enn ver fengom 45 
 (litt sd-ek lofSung 6ttask) li6 faeri ok skip smaeri : 
 
 ra)6 ero li6t, ef lata landz inenn konung J>enna 
 (laetr eina^rd fd fyrQa fer3) li6-J)rota ver6a. 
 
 14. Floeja 'getr' enn fr^jo fiandr leggr oss til handa, 
 ver3-ek fyr ceQro or6s ' allvaldz en fe gialda :' 50 
 hverr skal t'Cgn (J)6tt {jverri Jiengils vina gengi) 
 
 [upp 'hvolfra' svik] sialfan sik lengst hafa miklo. 
 
 V. Tog-drapa; or, Stretch-Song on King Cnut. 
 
 (Verse i from Ragnars S. ; verses 2 and 1 1 from Fagrsk. ; verse 2 from Skioldungr S.) 
 
 ■ o^ 
 
 Ello bak at \6i hinn es sat 
 varr ara lorvik skorit. 
 
 2. Ok senn sono slo hvern ok ]>6 
 A6alra6s, e9a ut flcemSi Kniitr. 
 
 I. 3. Knutr es uiid himnoni — Hygg ek aett at fr^tt 5 
 Haraldz 1 her hug vel duga :— 
 L^t If r-ga)to lid su6r or Nid 
 Alafr ia)furr ar-ssell fara. 
 
 4. t'urQo norQan (namsk ]3at) vi9 gram 
 
 til slettz svalir Silunz kilir : 10 
 
 enn med annan Onundr Da)nom 
 a hendr * at ha ' her Sotnskan ferr. 
 
 5. Let um land lokit li3s gramr saman 
 mar-be6jom me6 ma)rg nef-biaorgom 
 
 The King of England is calling out a levy, but we have fewer men 
 and smaller ships; yet our king fears not. It will be an ugly case if the 
 people of this land let their king be short of men. Bribes foil their honour. 
 
 Obscure. Some coutuel not to make a stand, the odds are too great, and the 
 country not to be trusted, treason smouldering underneath. Let every man 
 take heart, he said, let us not be the laughing-stock of our enemies. It 
 is better to fight than ransom oneself. The king's friends are getting 
 few; yet every man must always take count with himself [he cannot 
 evade his conscience]. Treason will out. 
 
 And Iwar that ruled at York cut an Eagle on the back of ^lla. 
 
 And then Cnut slew or exiled one and all of iEthelred's sons. 
 
 The Burden. Cnut is the foremost suzerain under heaven. 
 
 Sta-ves. Attack on Cnut. I know that heart was not lacking in the son 
 of Harold [Olaf]. King Olaf, blessed with fair seiasons, let the fleet 
 speed over the sea from Nith in the south. The cold keels went from 
 the north to flat Sealand against the king [Cnut] : while Eanwynd 
 brought a Swedish host against the Danes on the other hand. The king 
 [Cnut] fenced the land in with many helmets .... {The hostile fleet hanging 
 
 I ■2. hanom or heyja, others.
 
 136 ST. OLAF'S COURT. [bk. viir. 
 
 't^ar es graSr fyrir gn66 gra hialmom la' 15 
 
 ' J)om heims J)rumo jDundr of fundr.' 
 6. Gdbtob drottnar Danma>rk spanit 
 undir sik saokom snarir herfarar : 
 J)a let skarpla Skaney Dana 
 hloeSr herja6a — hofub-fremsir i'ofurr. 20 
 
 II. 7. Knfitr es und himnom — Herr austan ferr 
 frfdr fylkiss ni3r fran-eygr Dana : 
 skreiS vestan vi3r varr-glcestr, sa-es bar 
 lit andskota A9alra9s t)a9an. 
 
 8. Ok bsoro i byr bla) segl vi9 rso 25 
 (dj'r vas daoglings fa)r) drekar landreka : 
 
 enn ^eir-es komo kilir vestan til 
 um lei9 li6o Liina-fiar6ar brim. 
 
 9. Leta6 af ia)furr (aett manna fansk) 
 
 lotlandz etask ilendr (at {)vi) : 30 
 
 vildi foldar fest ran Dana 
 hlif-skiaDldr hafa — hofub-fremsir i'ofurr. 
 
 III. 10. Knutr es und himnom ... 
 
 11. Komo fylki far-lystir, es bar 
 
 her-vlg 1 hug, hafanda staf: 35 
 
 rauf rsesir af Rums veg ' suman ' 
 kaer keisara Clus Petrusi. 
 
 12. Sva man far feril fetom su9r metinn 
 hring-drifr hafa — hofubfremstr i'ofurr. 
 
 all about the coast.) The two kings could not wile Denmark out of his, 
 Cnut'j, hands into their power. Upon which, the Vanquisher of the 
 Danes [Olaf] severely ravaged Sconey. 
 
 Burden. Cnut etc. 
 
 Stave. The muster of Cnut^s forces. The keen-eyed son of the Danish 
 king [Hardacnut] brought a host from the East. From the West sped 
 the fleet that shone on the sea, bearing the enemy of jEthelrsed [Cnut] 
 thither. And the king's dragons carried blue sails on their yards. 
 Goodly was the king's voyage, and the keels that came from the West 
 sped over the sea-path to Limb-frith. Men said that the King of 
 Jutland would not take the smallest mess. The Buckler of the Danes 
 [Cnut] would have no plundering of his land. 
 
 The Pilgrimage. Over the war-minded king came the longing for 
 travel, bearing a staff; the Lord of the Cumbrians sped on the way to 
 Rome, dear .... Emperor .... Key-Peter. No other king will have 
 thus measured the southward path with his feet. 
 
 36. Read, Cumbra ?
 
 §2.] SIGHVAT THE POET. 137 
 
 VI. Dirge on Erling. 
 
 (Verse 8 from Flatey-bok iii. 244.) 
 
 1. T JT rd9 Erlingr skiota eik (' sa-es rau9 enn bleika') 
 ^ [' if-laust es J^at '] iajfri (' arnar fot ') at moti : 
 
 Skei6 haris la sva si6an siklings i 'her miklom' 
 (snarir ba)r9osk {)ar siQan) si-byr9 vi9 skip (fyrQar). 
 
 2. Rakkr |Dengill hio rekka, rei9r gekk hann of SkeiSar ; 5 
 valr la t^rcengt a {jiljom ; \)ung vas sokn fyrir Tungom : 
 bragningr rau9 fyrir breidan bor9-va>ll Ia9ar nor6an ; 
 bl66 kom varmt 1 vf9an (va frsegr konungr) segi. 
 
 3. Oil var Erlings fallin (ungr fyrir norSan Tungor) 
 (Skei9 vann skiaoldungr au6a) skip-sokn vi6 |)raDm Boknar : 
 einn st66 sonr a sino snarr Skialgs vinom fiarri 11 
 f lyptingo lengi Ia3-trau9r skipi au8o. 
 
 4. R^d eigi gri9 gygjar ge6-stir8r konungs firSa 
 skers }d6 at skurir Jjyrrit Skialgs hefnir ser nefna: 
 
 enn varQ-kers virSir vi9-botn ne koemr sf9an 15 
 
 glyggs a gialfri legSan geirs ofrhugi meiri. 
 
 5. OndurQa ba6 iarSar Erlingr (sa-es vel lengi 
 geym6i) hann lystr, (ne lamSisk land-va3rn) kloask aorno : 
 J)a-es hann at sik saDnnojn (sa var a6r buinn) ra9a 
 (atz) vi9 Utstein hitzig Alafr urn tok maolom. 20 
 
 6. Erlingr fell (enn olli alln'kr) 'scipat slico' 
 [bi8rat betri dau6a] (bragna konr) me8 magni : 
 mann veit-ek engi annan all-bratt at fia)r-lati 
 enn sa-es allan kunni aldr fullara at halda. 
 
 7. Aslakr hefir aukit (es v2ov6t drepinn Ha3r6a) 25 
 [fair skyldo sva] (foldar) frcend-sekjo [styr vekja]: 
 
 Erling had his ship brought broadside to the king, that is certain. His 
 galley lay alongside the king's ship in ... . The king [Olaf] cut down 
 the warriors, he soon boarded the galley ; the dead lay thick on the 
 deck ; there was a tough fight off the Tongues. The king dyed red the 
 broad ship-field [sea] north of ladar. The warm blood fell on the wide 
 main, the famous prince won the day. Off the side of Bokn all Erling's 
 crew fell ; the young king cleared the galley north of the Tongues. 
 Skialg's gallant son stood long alone on the forecastle of his empty ship. 
 The avenger of Skialg [Erling] did not care to ask quarter of the king's 
 men. There was never, nor shall come again, on the wide surf-girt 
 plain of the dome of the winds [eartl.], a braver heart. Erling, who 
 long bravely defended his land and never failed, cried out that 'eagles 
 should use their talons face to face,' vihen Olaf accosted him there in 
 battle south of Out-stone. Erling fell on Thomas' day; the king caused 
 it. Never shall a better lord die ! I knew no other man who, till his 
 death, could hold his own like him. Anslak committed parricide when 
 
 5. Read, Skei6o. 14. {)yrrit] A'^ ; beraiz, Cd. l6. loegSan, A^ 
 
 20. filaf, Cdd. 21. Read, E. fell ogn-hress . . . Thomas messo ?
 
 138 ST. OLAFS COURT. [bk. viii. 
 
 sett-vigi ma hann eigi (a Ifti |)eir) ni'ta; 
 
 [fraendr skyli brseSi bindask bornir] (rricol in forno). 
 
 8, Drakk eigi ek drekkjo dag |3ann es mer sa)g3o 
 Erlings fall at lolom all-gla6r ' |)ess er re6 Ia6ri ' 30 
 bans mun drap um dnipa d/T-mennis mer kenna 
 haofuQ bajrom \)a. haera (hart mor6 vas Jjat) forSom. 
 
 9. ^ Erlingr ' vas sva at iarla att ' es Skioldungr mattit 
 Alafs magr ' sva at oegdi ' all-dyggs sonar Tryggva : 
 Naest gaf si'na systor snarr bu-pegna harri 35 
 Ulfs fe6r {vas J)at) a6ra (aldr-gipta) Rognvaldi. 
 
 10. 'Erlingi vas engi annarr lendra manna' 
 
 ' aorr sa-es atti fleiri orrosLor sto9 ^orrinn:' 
 
 ' pvek bar seggr vi3 soknir sinn, jDvi-at fyrst gekk innan ' 
 
 ' mildr f marga hildi mest enn or a lesti.' 40 
 
 11. Einn vissa-ek Jjer annan ialks-bn'k-tajpuS glikan 
 (vftt r^3 gumna gaetir) GoSbrandr het sa (lajndom) : 
 ykkr kve6-ek iamna JDykkja, orm-la6s hati, bada ; 
 l^gr hinn at ser laegir legg-setrs es telsk betri. 
 
 VII. Olaf's-drapa. Olaf's Dirge. 
 
 (Verse 2 from Flatey-bok.) 
 
 1. A LAFR re9 it oefra and-priitt haofu9 landi 
 -^^ fulla vettr a6r felli fimtan a Jdvi lani: 
 
 Hvar hafi hers inn noer6ra heims enda ser kendan 
 (skia:ildungr hellzk an skyldi skemr) landreki in fremri ? 
 
 2. Upplajnd vann til enda 'oss gneista,' ok J)ar reisti 5 
 Kristni hald, J)at es heldo ' hvers veitir sverSs beita:' 
 
 the defender of the Hords was slain: no man should wake such war as 
 this bet^veen kinsmen. He cannot deny that he has slain a kinsman. 
 Born kinsmen should abstain from feud ; let them look to the legends 
 of old. I did not drink merrily the day that I was told, (mer iti Wick, 
 of the fall of Erling at Yule. H is death will make me droop my head, 
 which I carried high before : his was a cruel death! Erling, the brother- 
 in-law of Olaf Tryggvason (that was a stroke of fortune), ruled over Agd 
 in spite of the Earls .... He [Olaf Tryggvason] gave his next sister 
 to Reginwald, fatlier of Wolf. Inhere ~xas none of the Barons that hod so 
 much rent (revenues) as Erling. He drenv the half of the dues from the south 
 to Sogn,from the 'west to Rygiar-bit. I never knew but one other like unto 
 thee : his name was Gudbrand ; he ruled broad lands [Godbrand of the 
 Dales]. I declare you both evenly matched, he who says he is better lies. 
 
 His Glory. Olaf, the proud of soul, ruled the upper land full fifteen 
 winters, ere he fell on his own fief. Wherever was there a greater 
 ruler known under the northern skirts of the earth ! would that he had 
 reigned longer ! He conquered the Uplands from end to end, and set 
 up Christendom again; formerly f've kings had held sway thereat 
 
 30. Read, i Vik ^a9ra. 34. Read, at Ag9om? 37-4° All corrupt 
 
 and painted over, see O, H. ch. 21. Read, sto6ir runno uiidir . . . fra Sogni sunnan 
 ... til Rygjarbilz vestan.
 
 §2.] SIGH VAT THE POET. 139 
 
 a6r st/'r3o \)vi eySar ' ellifo ' fyrr ' hella ' 
 'mildings mals' en guldo menn visliga gi'sla. 
 
 3. Lyngs bar fiskr til fengjar flug-styggs sonar Tryggva 
 giolnar golli ma)lno (G06 vildi sva) roSnar : 10 
 annan let a unnir Alafr buinn hala 
 
 (la)gr f)6 driugt) inn Digri (dfrs horn) Visund sporna. 
 
 4. Vissi helzt, J)at-es hvaossom hund-maorgom let grundar 
 va)r6r me6 voopnom sker6a, vikingom skaor, rfkiss : 
 mildr let ma)go valdit Magnuss faSir gagni; 15 
 fremd Alafs kve6-ek fra;m6o flestan sigr ens Digra. 
 
 5. GoU bu6o opt, J)eir es olio ut-hlaupom, gram kaupask 
 rautt enn raesir nitti, rik-lundo6om, undan : 
 
 skaDr let hann me6 hia)rvi (herland skal sva verja) 
 [rans bi6o rekkar sfn3. refsing] firom efsa. 20 
 
 6. ' Fceddi ' mest sa-es meiddi marg-dfrr konungr ' varga' 
 hvinna eett ok hlenna ; hann st5''f6i sva t)}''f6ir : 
 
 J)y6r let J)ermlask bseSi ^iof hvern konungr erna 
 (fri8 boetti sva) fota (fylkir landz) ok handa. 
 [7. Tolf fra ek lekna elfar tallaust vi3o bala 25 
 
 oUi Alafr falli eirlaust konungr J)eira : 
 Svia tiggja leit-ek seggi sokn-stri6s fyrrum ri6a 
 (baol vas bratt) til Heljar (buit mest) Sigars hesti.] 
 
 8. Lopt-byggvir, matt leggja land-rett J)ann es skal standask 
 unnar, allra manna, eiki-hli6s, a miSli. 30 
 
 9. i>OTb fra ek J)at sinn 'her9a (J^reifsk sokn') me3 Aleifi 
 [gob ' foro t)ar '] ' geirom ' goert vfg [saman hiaDrto] : 
 
 .... paid hostages .... The Heath-Fish [Serpent] with gills of ground 
 gold bore Tryggvi's son to the battle. So God willed it. But a second 
 Olaf, the Stout One, let the well-rigged Bison tread the waves ; the 
 billows drenched the Beast's horns. 
 
 His Law. It was a proof of his stern rule, that the warden of the land 
 had the heads of many Wickings [pirates] cut short with keen weapons. 
 The gentle father of Magnus has wrought many a gainful deed for 
 the land, I can tell how many a victory made Olaf the Stout glorious. 
 They that made armed trespass ofttimes offered gold to the stern king 
 for ransom ; but he refused it, and commanded their heads to be chopped 
 off with the sword. The blessed king maimed the r^ce of robbers and 
 reivers, thus he cut short theft ; he made every thief lose hands and feet, 
 so he bettered the peace of the land. Nor did treason, I know well, 
 thrive .... towards the king. [There were twelve men taken ; Olaf had 
 them all put to death without mercy. I formerly saw the messenger of 
 the Swedish king ride on Sigard's steed [the gallows] to hell.] Thou didst 
 lay down that Constitution which shall endure among all men .... 
 
 The battle of Stickkstead. I heard that Thord Folason fought along- 
 side King Olaf (a brave heart vvas his). Ogmund's gallant brother 
 [Thord] bore the fair gilt Banner-staff high before the lord of the Ring- 
 folk. The king himself marched next to his standard, the banner-staff 
 
 24. fri6r bsttiz sva, Cd. 32. Read, Folason or viva.
 
 I40 ST. OLAF'S COURT. [bk. viii. 
 
 staong bar hatt fyrir Hringa hialdr-m66om gram broSir 
 (fullt vann) fagrla gyllta, fram-lunda8r Ogmundar. 
 
 10. Mest fra-ek merkjom nsestan minn drottinn framm sinom 
 (staDng 69 fyrir gram) gengo [' gnogr styrr vas {)ar'] fyrri : 36 
 ' aDld vann Alaf feldan a^flgan sigr ' enn Digri 
 
 gekk s6kn-{Dorinn soekja sinjor framm 1 brynjo. 
 
 11. Sumir tru6o a G06 gunnar, grein vas li9s a miSli, 
 
 * folk-orrostor fylkir fram-ra6r tiogo ha6i:' 40 
 
 fraegr ba6 hann a hcegri hajnd Kristi6 li6 standa 
 
 ' feQr Magnus bi9 ek fagna flott skia)rrom G06 dr6ttinn.' 
 
 12. Enn J)eir es austan nenna ('ox hildr') me9 gram mildom 
 [' mart segik bert '] i ' biarta bl66-ra)St ' Sviar ' 69o.' 
 
 13. Olmr eromk harmr sa es hilmir haf6i (golli vaf6an) 45 
 (ioforr kreisti) sa austan afl-fatt {me6al-kafla) : 
 
 gagn fengo \)vi J^egnar jDeir at ha)lfo fleiri, 
 
 ' hvaDtoS tailQi J)at hildar,' hvcorongi fra-ek varo. 
 
 14. For 1 fylking |Deira framm [iSrask nu] miSri 
 
 (snarir fundosk par) t'roenda (|)ess verks) ' buendr ' merki. 50 
 
 15. Vitt var6 fold und fotom (friS-bann vas Jjar) maonnom 
 [|)a r^6 i baaS bra6a brynja6 folk] at dynja: 
 
 ^a-es arliga serir alms me6 biarta hialma 
 (mikill varQ a sta9 Stikla stal-gustr) ofan J)usto. 
 
 16. Ekl vas ogn a Stikla 6bli9 sta)9om si6an ... 55 
 
 17. Geirs hykk grimmligt varo gunn-reifom Aleifi 
 log-rcttondom lita lions 1 hvassar sionir : 
 J)or6ot f'rcenzkir virSar (f)6tti hersa drottinn 
 oegiligr) 1 augo orm-frson sia hajnom. 
 
 waded on before the prince. Olaf the Stout carried his sword Hneiti ; 
 the Senior went forth in his mail-coat in quest of a great victory. Some 
 of his men believed in God, he made a distinction between them. The 
 king had thirty companies 0/ a hundred [3,600] in that battle. The 
 famous prince bade the Christian band to stand on the right hand, .... 
 but the Swedes who followed the king from the East stood on his 
 left hand. It is a great sorrow to me that the king who clasped the 
 gold-wound hilt had too few men from the East. The thanes got the 
 victory because they were more by half. I am told the whole of both 
 hosts numbered a hundred times a hundred [14,400]: i.e. they ivere 
 three to one. 
 
 The Banner. The standard of Calf went forth in the midst of the array 
 of the Thronds. They repent this deed now ! The earth did thunder 
 far and wide under their feet as the mail-coated people marched on to 
 battle. The peace was broken there when the warriors with the bright 
 helmets charged down upon the yeomen. Great was the storm of steel at 
 Sticklestead ! There was no lack of terror on Sticklestead .... It was 
 dreadful for the franklins, I ween, to look into the fierce lion eyes of 
 
 38. Read, folk . . . fylkir . . . J)ria logo . . . 40. Overworked text. 4T. 
 
 Overlaid text. 44. All corrupt ; read, staSo? 48. hvar tveggi, B. 
 
 Read, huudraSa tol3osk hundro9. 50. Read, Kalfs?
 
 §2.] SIGH VAT THE POET. 141 
 
 18. Rau8 i rekka bl63i raDnd 'me3 gumna ha)ndom' 60 
 dreyrog sver3 {)ar es dyran dr6tt |)i63-konung sotti : 
 
 ok at isarn-leiki Inn-trcendom l^t finnask 
 roekinn gramr f reikar rau3-brunan hiaor tunom. 
 
 19. Mildr fann goerst hve galdrar gramr sialfr megin-rammir 
 fia)l-kunnigra Finna full-storom barg {'ori : 65 
 J)a es hyr-sendir Hundi huna golli buno 
 
 (slcjL'tt r^3 sizt at bita) sverQi laust um herSar. 
 
 20. t'ollr dylr sa6rar snilli seims, en J)at veit, heiman 
 (hverr ssei Hundz verk stoeri?) hug st6rs er fr^r f'ori: 
 
 ' en ' J)ver-gar6a ^or6i J)r6ttr hinn-es framm of s6tti 70 
 glyggs 1 gegn at hoeggva gunn-rannz konung-manni. 
 
 21. Bia)rn fra-ek ok af cerno endr stallorom kenndo 
 hug hve halda dyg3i (hann sotti fram) drottinn : 
 fell i her me3 hollom hann verSungar msonnom 
 (leyfSr es) at hilmiss ha)f6i hr63r-au3igs (sa dau6i). 75 
 
 22. Ha3r3 es, sizt her-menn goer6o (hlif raufsk fyr gram) lift, 
 au6n at Engla striSi, omiiik, konung siukan : 
 
 gor bri Alafs fiaorvi a^ld, jDar es herr klauf skiaDldo, 
 ('folks odda gekk fylkir fund') enn Dagr hdlt undan. 
 
 23. A3r vito eigi mei3ar ognar skers ne hersa 80 
 {\>i66 r6b t)engils dau6a) Jjann styrk buand-manna : 
 
 es slikan gram soknom sar-elldz viSir felldo 
 (ma)rg la dyr 1 dreyra drott) sem Alafr Jjotti. 
 
 24. Goert es J)eim es gott bar hiarta goll-skrin of ' veg' minom 
 (hrosa-ek helgi raesiss) [hann sotti G06] drottni : 85 
 
 Olaf. The Thronds dared not meet the serpent-keen eyes of him. The 
 gory swords reddened the shields in men's hands, when the people 
 attacked their dear king, and at the iron-play the king let the red-brown 
 blade meet the heads of the In-Thronds. The gentle prince found for 
 himself how the strengthful charms of the wizard Fins saved the sturdy 
 Thori, what time the king struck with the gold-mounted blade on the 
 shoulders of Hound [Thori], the blunt sword did not bite at all. He who 
 denies that Thori brought from home a full stock of courage lies. 
 Who ever saw a bolder feat for a Hound than when he dared to smite 
 the king. I hear that Biorn taught the marshals how to keep a true 
 heart towards their lord. He fought in the van ! He fell at the head of 
 the glorious king, with his fellow-henchmen. That was a death to be 
 praised ! 
 
 There is a great void ever since the men of the host made the foe of 
 the English sick of life [i. e. slew Olaf]. They took OlaPs life, but Dag 
 got away .... Never before was such strength known in the barons 
 and franklins, as that they should be able to fell such a king as Olaf was 
 known to be. 
 
 Olafs Sanctity. They have made a golden shrine for my lord who 
 ever bore a good heart ; I praise his saintliness. He has gone to be 
 with God. Soon many a man, that came blind to the famous tomb 
 
 69. Read, hugar stors? 70. en] read, es. 73. Read, drottins?
 
 142 ST. OLAFS COURT. [bk. viii. 
 
 ar gengr margr fra msero meiSr J)ess konungs lei9i 
 hreins me6 heilar^sionir, brings, es blindr kom Jjingat, 
 
 25. Lfg-ek nema Alafr eigi fk, sem kvikir tivar, 
 (goe8i-ek ' helzt ' 1 hr66ri har-va)xt konungs) arar : 
 
 enn helzk (|)eims sun seldi) svajr6r {^anns ox i GaorSom), 90 
 [hann fekk laess] a liosom [lausn] (Valdamar), hausi. 
 
 26. Oss dugir Alafs messo (iaifur magnar Go3) fagna 
 meina laust 1 mino, Magnuss fa)6or, husi : 
 
 skyldr em-ek skilfings halda, skoU-laust (^ess es bio golli) 
 helgi (bandar tialgor) harm-dau6a (mer rau6o). 95 
 
 27. Danar drottni minom doegn of sent at hendi . . . 
 
 28. Drottinn ! bialp ])u }Deim-es dottor (dyrr es J) inn vili) mina 
 heim or heiSnom bof, ok nafn gaf Tofo : 
 
 belt und vatr enn vitri (var6-ek t)eim feginn har31a 
 morni) mino barni m66-rakkr Haraldz broQir. 100 
 
 29. Lat auman nii niota Noregs ok gef storom 
 (msol halt) sva sem saelan, sinnjor, laga J)inna ! 
 
 30. Undr lata J^at /'tar eigi smatt es mattit 
 skce-niaDrSungom skorSo sk/'lauss ra)9ull bl;^ja: 
 
 driug var6 a ^vi doegri (dagr naSit lit faogrom) 105 
 
 [orrosto fra-ek austan atbur6] konungs furSa. 
 
 of the pure king, goes away with his eyes whole. I lie if I deny that 
 Olaf's hair and nails grew like a living being's. I exalt the king's 
 holiness in my song: and the growth still stays on the bright head of 
 him, who sent his son, that grew up in Garth [Novgorod territory], 
 to Waldhammar [Waldimar]. He has won treedom from corruption ! 
 
 Tbe Poet's Prayer. It beseems us, especially in my house, guilelessly 
 to celebrate the mass of Olaf [29th July] the father of Magnus, this 
 king whom God magnifies. I am bound to keep duly the holiday of 
 him who was grieved tor, who formerly adorned my hands with red 
 gold. The day of death allotted to my lord .... O Lord, Thy will 
 be done, help thou him who lifted my daughter out of heathendom, 
 and gave her the name of Tova ; for the wise and brave brother 
 of Harold held my child at the font. I was mightily glad on that 
 morning. O Lord of Norway [Olaf], let the poor as well as the rich 
 profit by thy Law and keep thy promise. 
 
 7be Eclipse. It is thought a great wonder, that the cloudless sun 
 could not give warmth to men. On that day there happened a great 
 miracle concerning the king : the day could not yield its fair hues. I 
 learnt from the East the details of the battle. 
 
 88. ys, C(l. 89. Read, Helgi. arar] aro, Cd. 91. a] af, Cd. 
 
 97. minni, Cd.
 
 §2.] SIGHVAT THE POET. t43 
 
 VIII. Pilgrimage, etc. 
 
 1. "p tJMS Idt-ek ok belt heiman her-m65r a faDr g69ri, 
 -t^ giallar vsond, })ann-es goUi gaf mer konungr vafSan : 
 Suit J)a es silfri hialta6 ' sver8 dyrt vi3ir J)ver3o ' 
 IsogSom viipn, enn vig6om ver 'ylgjar' staf fylgQom. 
 
 2. St69-ek a Mont, ok mintomk maDrg hvar sundr flaug targa 
 breiQ ok brynjor siQar, borgom nser of morgon : 6 
 mun3a-ek, ^ar es un9i, a)ndur9an brum la)ndom 
 
 (faSir minn vas \)a.) jDenna (t^orroeQr) konungr forSom. 
 
 3. Fiiss Isezk ma9r, ef missir meyjar fa9ms, at deyja; 
 keypt es sost ef eptir of latinn skal grata : 10 
 enn fuU-huginn fellir flott-styggr sa-es var9 drottinn 
 (vart torrek lizk verra) vig-tsor (konungs eorom), 
 
 4. Hrafna s^-ek til hafnar (hrses minnask jDeir) sinna, 
 Jjar-es flaut und ni6 n^'tom Nor8manna skip forQom : 
 gialla hatt fyr[r Hillar hvern dag frekir ernir 15 
 endr |Deir-es Alafr grenndi, innan, maorgo sinni. 
 
 5. Geng ek um J)vert fra |)engils ({Droask ekki mer) rekka 
 [emk sem bast 1 briosti bleikr] verSungar leiki: 
 minnomk ek hvar manna mfnn drottinn lek sinna 
 
 opt a 69al-toptom, ord-ssell, ok ver for9om. 20 
 
 6. Hafa lati mik heitan Hvita-Christr at vfti 
 elld, ef ek Alaf vildag (emk skirr at \)vi) firrask : 
 vatn-oerin hefi-ek vitni, vask til Riims I haska, 
 (a)ld leyni-ek 'J)vi' aldri) annarra \>zn manna. 
 
 Regrets and Pilgrimage. War-WEARY I left the gold-wound battle 
 rod, which the king gave me, and set out from home on a blessed 
 journey to Rome, when the king .... at Suit. I laid down the 
 silver-hilted weapons and took up the consecrated staff. I stood on 
 the Mount [Alps] near the cities in the morning, and it was brought 
 back to me how many broad targets and long mail-coats were riven 
 asunder; and at that early hour I was minded of the king, who formerly 
 sat in the land when my father Thorrod was alive. Lo, a man who 
 has lost his mistress's embraces is eager for death (love is dear bought 
 when one must weep over the dead!): and the brave soldier, who has 
 lost his lord, lets fall cruel tears. Yet the loss, we king's men have 
 suffered, seems the greater of the t'wo. I see the ravens speeding 
 to the Haven, mindful of carrion, where formerly the ships rode 
 under the goodly King of Northmen. The greedy eagles scream 
 every day inside Hillar, whom of yore Olaf fed full many a time. I 
 go indoors from the games of the king's henchmen. Sorrow waxes 
 high within my breast ; I am as white as bast : I remember how often 
 in his own land my glorious lord and I joined in sport in old days. 
 May the White Christ appoint me the hot pains of fire if I wished to 
 abandon Olaf. I am clear of this accusation ! I have overflowing 
 witness of other men (I hide nought) I was in Rome in jeopardy. The 
 
 3. sver3 dyrt J)at er vi3ir J)ver&o, Cd. 10. oblati, Cd. Ii. sa er ami 
 
 diottni, B.
 
 144 ST. OLAF'S COURT. [bk. viir. 
 
 7. Ha ^otti mer hloegja ha)ll um Noreg allan^ 25 
 (fyrr vas-ek kendr a Knaorrom) klif meSan Alafr lifSi : 
 nu ^ikkja mer miklo (mitt stri6 es sva) hlidir 
 
 [ia)furs hylli var3-ek alia] obliSari si3an. 
 
 8. Alfifo mon sevi ungr drengr muna lengi 
 
 J)a es oxa mat sotom inni skaf sem hafrar ; 30 
 
 annat vas |)a-es Alafr 6gn-bra6r re3 la6i, 
 hverr atti \>i hrosa hialmr korns fraevi borno. 
 
 IX. Magnus and Anstrid. 
 
 (From Kringla.) 
 
 1. "C^NN lystir mik austan (erot um spaarS) or GaorSom 
 J—-' fra oe6lingi ungom (opt 'byrjod' lof) spyrja : 
 fretti-ek smas ' J)a-es ' smaestir smoglir astar foglar, 
 
 (' J)ing hoegjomk ') faor fliuga fylkiss ni6s a mi6li. 
 
 2. Hrein getom hala launa hnoss-fiaol3 lofi osso 5 
 Aldfs doettr, es atti iaofur sigr-hvatastr Digri : 
 
 Jiings bei6 herr a Haongrom hund-margr Svia grundar 
 austr, es Astn'6 l^^'sti Alafs sonar msolom. 
 
 3. Mattit hon vi3 hsettna heil-rsoS Svia deila 
 
 meirr J)6tt Magnus vaeri marg-nenninn sonr hennar : 10 
 
 olli hon J)vi, at allri att-leif6 Haraldz knatti, 
 
 mest me8 msottkom Kristi, Magnuss konungr fagna. 
 
 4. Mildr att menzko at gialda, Magnus, enn J)vi faognom, 
 (t)at goerQi vin vir8a vi6-lendan) Astn'Si : 
 
 high cliffs all over Norway seemed to me to be laughing while Olaf was 
 alive (I was formerly known at Cnear) ; but ever since the mountain- 
 sides seem to me much less joyful. This is my woe, now I have lost 
 my beloved king. I shall always remember the days of ^Elgifu's young 
 son when we ate oxen's food in our houses — bark scrapings, like goats. 
 It was different when the valiant Olaf ruled, every rick boasted of 
 ripe corn. 
 
 I LONG to get news of the young Etheling east in Gard [Russia]. 
 Oft-told praises of him are not lacking ! I ask for every bit of news 
 whenever the wee inquisitive birds of love [letters] fly between the 
 king's son and myself. I cannot appear in person ! I will repay with my 
 song of praise .... the daughter of Olaf [Swedish King] whom the vic- 
 torious Stout One wedded. Many of the Swedes waited for the Moot 
 at Hanger in the east, where Anstrid put the case of Olafs son [Magnus]. 
 She, the giver of good counsel, could not have pleaded more warmly with 
 the Swedes though Magnus had been her own son. She was the chief 
 one, next to the mighty Christ, in bringing it about, that King Magnus 
 should enjoy the heritage of the son of Harold. Thou hast to thank 
 Anstrid, Magnus, for her manly dealing, which made thee, friend of 
 
 28. iofurs falli kann ek ilia, B. 29. From Fms. v. 209 Cod. L ; cp. Fb. ii. 
 
 .^93- 32- Emend.; hialmr J)orii frzri horinn, Cd. 3. Emend.; J)oat . . . 
 
 fliiigi, Cd. 4. Read, J)ing- liiigomk -for.
 
 §2.] SIGHVAT THE POET. 145 
 
 hon hefir sva komit sinom (saonn) at fso mon sonnor 15 
 (oi"9 goeri-ek dros til dfrbar) diup-rsoS kona stiupi. 
 5. Astn'Si lattu oeSri, Alfhildr, an J^ik sialfa, 
 
 per t)6tt \)inn hagr, storom, (^at vildi Go5) batni. 
 
 X. BERsaoGLis VisoR, c. 1039. 
 
 (From the Lives of Kings, especially Kringla, Hulda, Flatey-bok iii. 267-269.) 
 
 1. 'C'REGN ek at su9r me9 Sygnom ' Sighvattr hefir 
 J- gram lattan' 
 
 folk-orrosto at fresta ' ferr ' ef J)6 skulom berjask : 
 ' fa)rom 1 vapn' ok verjom vel tvist konung lystir 
 'hve lengi skal hringom hans grund' til J)ess fundar. 
 
 2. Sighvatz hugir ro hitzig HsorSa-Knutz i garSi; 5 
 mildr man mia)k vel skaldi, Magnus, Haraldr fagna: 
 for-ek me6 faoQor Jjeira (f(6kk ungom mer tunga) 
 (gollz) [var-ek enn me6 sollo oskeggjaSr pi] beggja. 
 
 3. Vas-ekme9gram {)eims gumnom goll bau9 drottin-hollom, 
 ('namn' fekk hann enn hra)fnom hrae) ^ess konungs sevi : 10 
 ' full-ka:)rskom sa-ek falla fran-eggjom son granom ' 
 *gaf margan val vargi verSung konungs sverSom.' 
 
 4. Fylg8a-ek, J)eim-es fylgjo fe-mildom gram vildi 
 (voro J)egnar fri8 fegnir) fe8r ^inom vel, mina : 
 
 vasat 1 haoll (enn husa) hli9, t)ars ek st68 i miSjom 15 
 
 (hroesinn skal me8 hrlsi) hans flokki (vi9 J^iokkva). 
 
 5. Gekk vid mod inn mikla, Magnus, allt i goegnom 
 
 men, the ruler of broad lands. She, the lady of deep thoughts, has 
 done for her stepson what few other stepmothers would have done. 
 I tell the truth to the lady's praise. 
 
 Addressing Alfhild. Alfhild, set Anstrid ever higher than thyself, 
 though God willed that thy condition should be the better ! [thou shouldst 
 have a son and she not.] 
 
 The Plain-speaking Verses. To the king. I hear of a movement 
 among the Sogn-folk in the South, how Atli has egged them on to try 
 battle, so that we shall have to fight. Let us take up our weapons 
 and heartily defend our lord in this encounter. How long shall the 
 land be unsettled ? 
 
 O Magnus, Sighvat's thoughts lie yonder towards Hard-Cnut's palace ; 
 the generous Harold will welcome the poet well. I followed the father 
 of them both [Cnut] ; I was altogether beardless when I first won gold 
 by my tongue [came as a poet to court]. I was with the generous 
 prince, who gave gold to his faithful followers and .... I remember 
 his days. I saw the keen-eyed son of Harold .... I followed the 
 open-handed king thy father; he was pleased with my service; all 
 men lived in peace. There was no gap in the hall where I stood in 
 the midst of his guard : even the proud rafter needs be wattled with 
 
 I. Read, s . . . hvatta hefir Atli? 2. Read, freista . . . fer6. 6. Emend.; 
 
 mildr nema m, v. s. M. kgr. fagni, Cd. 7, fekk ek mer ungan, Cd. 10. 
 
 Read, mank? 14. voro] nu ero, Cd. 15. Emend. ; varat a hael me5 
 
 hiorvi, Cd. 
 
 VOL. 11. L
 
 146 ST. OLAF'S COURT. [bk. \m 
 
 fer6 t)ar es flokkar bsorSosk, fa9ir Jjinn liSi sino : 
 
 var3i hart, enn hia)rto hug-full vi9 J)at skullo, 
 
 Alafr r6b sva isofra erf6ir framm at hverfa. 20 
 
 6. Alafr let mik iaofra orfr framast d^rSa 
 
 ur8o driug ens Digra drottins \>ing meQ hringom : 
 goll bar-ek iamnt um allan aldr ok her-verk sialdan 
 hrygg a hvarri-tveggja hendi flotna sendiss. 
 
 7. Hdt sa-es fell a Fitjom fia)l-gegn ok r^d hegna 25 
 heiptar ran (enn hsonom) Hakon (firar unno) : 
 
 J>i68 belt fast a Fostra fiajl-bliSs lajgom si8an 
 (enn ero af pvi minni) A6alsteins (buendr seinir). 
 
 8. R^tt hygg-ek kiosa knsotto karl-folk ok sva iarla, 
 
 af \>vi at eignom lof3a Alafar fri9 gsofo : 30 
 
 Haraldz arfi let haldask hvar-dyggr ok son Tryggva 
 la)g |)au es lySir J)26go lauk-iajfn at jDeim naDfnom. 
 
 9. Heim sottir \>u hsettinn ha)nd, enn vel matt la)ndom 
 (l^inn sto8a-ek matt) sem ma)nnom, Magnus konungr, fagna : 
 ' foera ek vist Jjvf at varom ' va)r8r me8 J)er 1 Gar6a 35 
 skri .... skiri-nafna skript J)i66-konungr ' niptar.' 
 
 10. Ungr vas-ek me9 J)er |)engill ^at haust es komt austan, 
 'einn stillir matto alia iajrd hegna sva fregnisk:' 
 himin {)6ttosk ^a hei8an hafa es landa krafSir, 
 lof6ungs burr, ok lifSir, land-folk tekit ha^ndom. 40 
 
 11. Mmn hug segi ek majnnom, IMagnus, at ek fagna 
 (gods ' Ian' es J)at) |Dino t>ing-drifo vel lifi : 
 
 faggots [i. e. even I filled a place usefully] .... Thy father, Magnus, 
 with his company pierced right through his enemy's ranks with high 
 courage. Olaf s brave heart did not quail. 
 
 Olaf gave me rank and rings ; the favours of the Stout king were 
 lasting. I ever bore gold of his giving on both my arms all his days. 
 
 The glorious examples of former kings. He that fell at Fitiar and 
 punished robbery was named Hakon, and folks loved him: and the 
 people have held fast to the Laws of the well-beloved Foster-son of 
 iEthelstan, and the franklins are slow to let his memory die. 
 
 I am sure that both the gentry and the yeomanry were right in 
 choosing both the Olafs ; because they both protected men in their pos- 
 sessions. The heir of Harold and the son of Trygg\vi kept upright as a 
 leek the laws which the people had accepted at these namesakes' hands. 
 
 King Magnus, when thou didst come home to thy land .... I was 
 thy stay. I went to thee to Gard .... 
 
 Lo, here is a sharp shrift from thy godfather ! 
 
 1 was with thee, thou young king, that autumn when thou earnest 
 from, the East ; and all the people rejoiced in thee. The people of 
 the land thought that they held the bright heaven in their hands [i.e. 
 thought the golden age had come] when they heard that thou wast 
 alive and laying hold on thy heritage. 
 
 I tell all men my mind, Magnus, that I rejoice that thou shouldst live 
 
 28. \v\ er minnir, Cd. 36. Read, skorpnar ? 38. Read, . . . kaatto allir, . . . 
 J)egnar J)er fegiiir. 42. Read, van or vanir.
 
 § 2.] SIGHVAT THE POET. 147 
 
 setti drengja drottinn d/r9ar son, ef yr9i 
 
 {pi66 msetti fa foeSa) fe3r gli'kr (konung slikan). 
 
 12. Fao8ur Magnuss let-ek fregna folgin igofurs dolga 45 
 or6 {)au es eyro heyr6o or a svik hve foro : 
 
 mal bar-ek hvert af heilom hug, J)vf at eigi brugSomk ; 
 ek vissa ^6 6ssom otta lanar drottni. 
 
 13. Skolo3 ra3-gi3ofom rei6ask (ry3r J^at) konungr y5rom 
 (drottins ord til dfr6ar) dsoglingr, vi3 bersaDgli : 50 
 Hafa kve3ask la)g, nema liugi land-herr, buendr verri 
 endr i Ulfa-sundom sonnor an pn hetzk maonnom. 
 
 14. Hverr eggjar J^ik, harri heiptar-strangr, at ganga 
 (opt reynir ^u) f)inom ('|)unn stcol') a bak maolom? 
 fast-orSr skyli fyrQa feng-sasll vesa Jjengill; 55 
 hoefir heit at riiifa, hialdr-maognudr, per aldri. 
 
 15. Hverr eggjar {)ik ha)ggva, hialdr-gegnir, bu-{)egna? 
 ofrausn es pat isofri innan-landz at vinna: 
 
 oengr haf6i sva ungom a3r bragningi radit; 
 iBon hygg-ek rekkom t)inom (reiSr es herr), konungr, 
 leidask. 60 
 
 16. Gialtu var-huga vdltir vi9r J^eim-es nu ferr heSra, 
 |)i6fs (skal ha)nd 1 h6fi) ha)l8a kvitt (of stytta) : 
 
 vinr es sa es varmra benja va)rnu6 b/'8r; enn pu h\f6i 
 tar-miitariss teitir, til hvat bu-menn vilja. 
 
 17. Haett es Jjat es allir ' astla ' ' a6r skal vi3 pvi ra8a ' 65 
 
 well and sway the moots. It is of good augury. The people would have a 
 glorious lord, if the son were like his father. Folks find few such kings. 
 
 I used to tell thy father, Magnus, the secret words that reached 
 my ears and were bruited around me. I told him every word with 
 a true heart, whenever I knew of any peril to my liege lord ; for I 
 never failed him. 
 
 Ye should not be angry with your councillors, O king, for their 
 plain speaking. What I am now telling thee, my lord, is for thine own 
 good. Unless the multitude are lying, the franklins declare that they 
 have other and worse laws than those thou formerly didst promise 
 thy people in Wolf Sound. 
 
 Who is egging thee, king, to go back from the oath thou hast 
 sworn ? A worthy king of men should be true to his word. It can 
 never beseem thee, my lord, to break thine oath. 
 
 Who is egging thee, prince, to slaughter the cattle of thy thanes ? 
 It is tyranny for a king to do such deeds in his own land. No one 
 has ever before advised a young king so. This open robbery is most 
 hateful to thy henchmen, I know. The people are angered, O king. 
 
 Take heed of the murmuring of men, which is now bruited hither 
 and thither. A man should not stretch his hand too far. He is a 
 friend that warns one. Listen therefore to the complaint of the 
 franklins. 
 
 There is one danger I have heard of, that the men .... of Atli are 
 
 44. foe9az, Cd. 46. Read, svig. 63. enn ek hly5s, Cd. 65. Rtad, 
 
 Atla. 
 
 L 2
 
 148 ST. OLAFS COURT. [BK.vm. 
 
 ' harir menn es ek heyri h6t ' skiaoldungi a moti : 
 greypt es \)zt es hgofdom ' hneypta ' heldr, ok niQr i felda 
 (slegit hefir t^aogn a J^egna) l^ingmenn naosom stinga. 
 
 1 8. Eitt es msol }Dat es msela, (minn drottinn leggr sina 
 eign a 63ul f egna) ; sofgast, buendr gsofgir : 70 
 raun mun seggr, hinn es sina selr ut, i \)vi telja 
 flaums at felli-domi, fa^Qur-leifd, konungs greifom. 
 
 19. Syni Alafs bi9-ek snuQar (si5 kve3a aptans bi3a 
 oframs saok) ; [me6al okkar allt es haligt sva] mala : 
 erom, Magnus, mer vegnir, vilda-ek me9 Ipev mildom 75 
 (Haraldz var6a \>u hiaDrvi Hauk-ey) Ufa ok deyja. 
 
 Of a Sacred Poem (from Edda). 
 
 Endr re9 Engla senda lordanar gramr flora 
 fors J)6 hann a hersi heilagt skopt or lopti. 
 
 Another Fragjient (from Edda). 
 
 t'at fra ek vig a vatni verQung iaufurs goer9o 
 nadda 61 en nyla naest tel ek eigi en smsezto. 80 
 
 XI. Lausa Visor. 
 
 (Verses I, 3, 5-6, 8 from O. H. ; verse 4 from Hulda; the rest from Fb. ii. 
 and iii. 240-244, cp. O. H. L.) 
 
 I. "C^ISKR gekk oss at oskom eitrs sem ver haofom leita9 
 J- l^so-vangs or lyngvi leygjar orm at teygja : 
 at-rennir \6t annan aangul-gripinn hanga 
 (vel hefir oerriQa at egna) agn-galga (mer hagnat). 
 
 rising against the king ; some counsel should be taken against it. It 
 looks ugly when all the thing-men [franklins] are gloomily bowing 
 their heads and thrusting their noses under their cloaks [brooding 
 vengeance]. Silence has fallen upon the thanes. 
 
 It is one phrase that all the noble franklins are using : ' My lord 
 claims his thanes' free-land as his own,' The man that has to deliver 
 the heritage of his fathers to the king's reeves under some sham sentence 
 against him will call it robbery by violence. 
 
 I pray for the success of Olaf's son in his suit ; for between us 
 two all is ever friendly. The laggard's case waits till the evening zvhen 
 it is too late to get it beard. [Make up your mind now.] I am willing to 
 live and die with thee, Magnus, who guardest Harold's hawk-island 
 [Norway] with thy sword. 
 
 Of yore the lord of lordan [God] sent four angels out of heaven, 
 when he [?] washed the holy hair of the baron. 
 
 Some Battle on a lake .... 
 
 Out fishing. The poison-fish comes as I wish, for I have sought to 
 draw the sea-serpent out of the ling-bed; my fellow-fisherman has 
 
 67. Read, knippa. 76. varSar, Cd.
 
 § 2.] SIGHVAT THE POET. 149 
 
 2. He9an sd ek reyk es riiika raonn of fiski-msonnom 5 
 (stor ero skaldz um skgeror skelli-brsogS) or helli: 
 
 nu fr/ra mer n/'rar nenningar dag J^enna 
 
 hlyta ek fyrir hvita horn-straums daDgur6 naumo. 
 
 3. Hlfb minom brag 'meiSir myrk bias !' J)vi-at kannk yrkja, 
 (all-tiginn mattu eiga eitt skald) drasils tialda : 10 
 J)6tt sollungis allra, allvaldr, lofan skalda 
 
 (J)er fae-ek hr68rs at hvsoro hlit) annarra nitiS. 
 
 4. Eigi sa)to8 ftrom, Ivarr, megin-fiarri, 
 
 or9 Jja es ossom foer6ak (at sottisk lof) drottni : 
 
 J)er es, allz hann re8 hl/'6a hr66r sfnn, lofi pino 15 
 
 (hlioQs hefig beitt a baSa bekki) vant at hnekkja. 
 
 5. Ek tok lystr, nd ek lasta (leyfS ib es J^at) si6an 
 s6knar-nisor3r vi6 sver6i (sa es niinn vili) {dido : 
 }:)ollr fidktu huskarl hoUan (haDfom raSit vel baSir) 
 lattrs, enn ek lanar-drottinn, linnz ' bl66a,' mer goSan. 20 
 
 6. Goer-boenn niun-ek gunnar gamm-teitondom heita, 
 a6r J)£6gom ver segis eld, ef nu bi8-ek felda : 
 land-aura veittii 'Ij^ro Ia8-J)verrandi' af knerri, 
 *enn af ganga engi,' ek hefi sialfr maork halfa. 
 
 7. {roengvisk 6r um ungan itr-menni gram J)enna; 25 
 bsegisk sold sva-at eigi Alafs naig mali: 
 
 another fish caught on his angle. A sea-trout bait has served me well. 
 Hence from the cave I can see the smoke which rolls from the houses 
 over the fishermen. The poet has many a trick in the gloaming. 
 Now no one could challenge my day's work, if I could but win the 
 white damsel before breakfast. 
 
 To Olaf, 'who avill not listen to him. Listen, O king, to my song, for I 
 know how to make verse. Thou mayst well keep one poet, though thou 
 refuse the praise of all other poets. I can make thee songs of praise 
 enough. 
 
 To hvar, qvho 'will not hear him. Thou wast not sitting far from 
 the king, Iwar, when I delivered my song before him. It was received 
 well. Since he listened to the whole of the poem on him, it is not 
 fit for thee to refuse my Encomium on thee. I have asked both 
 benches for a hearing. 
 
 To Olqf, ivhen he took him into his guard. I willingly received the sword 
 from thee, king, nor shall I ever repent it. We have both made a good 
 bargain : thou hast got a good house-carle and I have got a good 
 liege-lord. 
 
 To Olaf, pleading for a felloiv-countryman to be excused landing-duty. 
 I shall be called greedy for begging pelts, having already received gold 
 of thee. Give up the half-mark landing-duty of his ship to the Ice- 
 lander, I cannot pay it myself. The duty ivas paid in kind, here by pelts. 
 
 When the court ivas crowded. Ye are thronging about the good 
 young king, and elbow each other so that I cannot get a word from 
 
 8. hvjtan, Cd. 23. Read, lyra laa-J)aks-veri. 24. A^; of fanga aungi, 
 
 A', mork] emend. ; krafit, Cd.
 
 ISO ST. OLAFS COURT. [bk.vui. 
 
 mer vas or5 at orom au9-s6tt fraomom drottni 
 J)a-es 68om miaok moSir misoll a Dofra-fia^llom. 
 
 8. SverS standa Jjar [sunda sars leyfom ver arar], 
 (her-stilliss tDarf-ek hylli hoUost) buin golli : 30 
 vi8 tcekja-ek (vika vas endr me6 J)er sendir 
 
 elldz), ef \)U eitt hvert vildir, allvaldr, gefa skaldi. 
 
 9. Muno {)eir es mest um skvnja mun-veig Dains kunno 
 si6r at Sighvatz hr65ri svinnir brag-laosto finna : 
 
 sik vill hverr, es hnekkir, hald-or3r bo3i skialdar 35 
 
 els, J)vi es allir maela, iflaust goera at fifli. 
 
 10. Seinn J)ykki mer sunnan s6kn-diarfr Haraldz arfi 
 (Langr es) at 'Ifbz J^engils lifs sorg' (konungs morgin) : 
 hvatki es heidis gotna hyr-tselanda saelan 
 
 (nu hefik ' vsett i dag' Diottins) dvelr (' bi3-ek' bans or Seljo)40 
 
 11. Sendi mer hinn moeri mann-t)engill sia drengi 
 
 (si6an mun-ek heldr at hr63ri^hnoetrt)i69-konungr(snytrask): 
 opt, enn okkr ba6 skipta, Ottarr, 1 tvau drottinn 
 (enda-ek mal) sem mundom, mann-diarfr, faD^or-arfi. 
 
 OTHERS THE BLACK. 
 
 This poet was a near relation to Sighvat, who once got him out of a 
 serious scrape into which his poetic fervour had led him, according to 
 the popular story told in one of the insertions in King Olafs Saga. 
 Whilst at the Swedish Court he made a love poem on Anstrid, daughter 
 of Olaf the King of the Swedes, which displeased her husband King Olaf 
 Haroldsson, who took him when he came to Norway and put him in 
 prison, being minded to put him to death. Sighvat went one night to 
 his dungeon and made him repeat the poem. ' It is very strongly ex- 
 pressed,' he said when he had heard it ; 'no wonder the king was angry 
 about it ; but now we must soften down the strongest expressions, and 
 
 Olaf. Formerly I got easier speech of my lord, when we were very 
 wearily wading through the snow-drifts on Dover-fell. 
 
 To Olaf. Swords gold-mounted are standing there ; I would gladly take 
 it, if thou wouldst give me any one of them ; I have served thee long. 
 
 A retort. Wise men, those who can judge the Dwarf's Drink 
 [poetry] best, will find least fault with Sighvat's song. He that carps 
 at what every one else values, certainly makes a fool of himself ! 
 
 Waiting. The warlike heir of Harold seems slow in coming from 
 the South. ' A king's morning is long.' Whatever it be that hinders 
 him, I have been all Sunday waiting for him in Seal-island [Sella]. 
 
 On receiving a gift of nuts from King Olafs table. The king sent me 
 down some nuts, bidding Othere and myself to share them as if they were 
 our heritage [fairly]. 
 
 33. mun-veigurs, Cd. 34. sviiinz, Cd. 36. Read, meta. 40. Read, 
 
 nu hefek . . . dag Drottins bedit hans or Seljo.
 
 §2.] OTHERE THE BLACK. 151 
 
 then you must make a poem on the king, and make that as full of praise 
 as you can. And when the king asks to hear the poem on the queen, 
 directly you have finished the one, you can begin the other.' During the 
 three days he lay in the dungeon, Othere worked at his poems ; and 
 when he was led out to recite his verses on the queen, the king grew 
 red as he listened to it. But as soon as they were finished he began the 
 other ; the henchmen called out, seeing the king's anger, that Othere 
 should stop ; but Sighvat said, ' The king will do as he likes of course, 
 whether he allows Othere to finish his poem or not ; but it cannot hurt us 
 to hear our king's praise.' So they were silent, and when he had finished 
 Sighvat praised it highly. So the king forgave Othere, saying, ' Take your 
 head as your guerdon.' 'A good guerdon too, my lord,' said he, 'though 
 the head is not a fair one.' 13ut the queen drew a ring off her hand and 
 gave it him. Then the king said to her, * Are you still giving love-gifts 
 to Othere ?' Anstrith answered, ' You cannot blame me, my lord, for 
 wishing to reward his praise of me, as you did his praise of you.' ' Well, 
 let it stand as it is,' said the king. The king's poem (for the queen's is 
 lost), of which there is a part remaining, was called Head-Ransom 
 (Flatey-bok iii. 241), a title which, we suspect, gave rise to the whole 
 story, which we have already in various forms seen ascribed to Egil, 
 Bragi, and others. 
 
 Othere was in high favour with the Swedish king. We hear of him 
 and Gizur standing before the king, introducing Icelanders to him with 
 their recommendation. ' They were often with the king ; for they were 
 very bold, and often sat by the king's high seat by day in high honour.'^ 
 
 Of Othere and Cnut it is told, that the poet went to England and 
 came to the king's hall, probably at Winchester. " After evensong the 
 king came into the hall and said, 'I see a man here who is not of this 
 country. He looks hke a poet, and I would sooner have him to second me 
 in a wager of battle than any one else, but 1 would not trust him alone 
 with my wife.' And now Othere entered the hall and addressed the 
 king in a verse [see IV. i below], and forthwith asked to be allowed to 
 recite a poem on the king. Cnut answered, and the poem was delivered 
 to a great gathering at the next day's moot, and the king praised it, and 
 took a Russian cap off his head, broidered with gold and with gold 
 knobs to it, and bade his chamberlain fill it with silver and give it to the 
 poet. He did so, and reached it over men's shoulders, for there was a 
 crowd, and the heaped-up silver tumbled out of the hood on the moot- 
 stage. He was going to pick it up, but the king told him to let it be. 
 The poor shall have it, thou shalt not lose by it." Hofudlausn may be 
 dated c. 1020; the poem on Cnut c. 1027, the last event it mentions 
 being the Holy River battle ; and it was certainly spoken to the king, 
 and proves the poet's being at the English court. 
 
 There is also a fragment of an Encomium on the Swedish King Olaf, 
 and a few Improuisatioyis, one on a gift of nuts from St. Olaf one day at 
 dinner, the other on some hangings with the story of Sigfred slaying 
 the Dragon on them. Othere's style is even, resembling Sighvat at 
 times, though never rising to his level. 
 
 I. Olafs Drapa, of which parts of six strophes remain, comprises 
 some valuable lines on English and French history, but they are 
 precisely the worse treated. We have obelised the most un- 
 sound passages, and in a few instances have been able to suggest 
 emendations, e.g. 'att siclinga' should read 'at siclingom,' at Silling, 
 near Canterbury. Tuska-land stands for some name of Touraine, 
 * Tursa-land ' probably. The name of a Northumbrian port, perhaps
 
 *S2 ST. OLAFS COURT. [bk. viir. 
 
 Shields or the like, lurks under the corrupt line 44. The curious ' fore 
 Wald,' p. 154, we have not identified. We might expect to find Sella in 
 the unsafe line 51. 
 
 The restoration of ^thelraed by Olaf s ships * in Lent,' as we read it, 
 is to be noticed. This verse has been transposed, in accordance with the 
 English Chronicle, to the place it originally occupied, we believe. The 
 stress laid on the Colonial empire of Olaf is to be noticed. 
 
 II. Cnut'j Drapa completes and supplements Thorrod Kolbeinsson's 
 poem, as Olaf's Drapa does Sighvat's Olaf's Drapa. Here again the names 
 of place and person have been covered up by empty phrases here and 
 there. ' Castala verda ' is plainly a mistake for some * H . . , worth ' or 
 the like. The drowning of Eadmund's men is probably concealed under 
 the unsafe verse 10. The flying of the Swedes at Holy River is a piece 
 of flattery, if we trust the plain sarcastic words of the English Chronicle. 
 
 III. 7he Sr.veduh King's Encomium is in a peculiar metre, with double 
 line-rhymes, in a ' stumped ' line, which is perhaps his own invention. 
 A metre too difficult to admit of much information being conveyed in it. 
 
 IV. The Improvisation in old-metre is to be noted as containing 
 the very titles the Chroniclers give Cnut, as confirming the evidence 
 of the coins struck at Dublin, and illustrating Cnut's own language 
 respecting his Empire. 
 
 I. HaOFUD-LAUSN, C. I020. 
 (Verse i from Fms. v. 174; verse 2 from Edda.) 
 
 1. T T LYD 'mann-gaofigr' minni ' myrk-bals' J)vi ek kann yrkja: 
 -«- -L finnom y9r ok annan all-valdr konung fallinn : 
 
 J)at tel-ek grams ok Gauta ' gla5 sistanda ' mistag 
 da)glings verk at d^Tka dyr {>engill mik lengi. 
 
 2. G66-menniss ^arf-ek gunnar gl69-bri6tanda at niota ; 5 
 her es al-nennin inni inn-drott me6 gram svinnom. 
 
 3. Ungr hrattu a vit vengiss vig-rakkr konungr blakki, 
 (^u hefir d<'rom f)rek drcera) Danmarkar (|)ik vanSan) : 
 var6 nftligust nor6an (mi ert rikr af hva)t slikri) 
 
 [fra-ek til J)ess] es forot fa)r \>in, konungr [goerva]. 10 
 
 4. Otto6 corom skreyttom austr 1 Sallt me6 flaustom; 
 ba)ro6 land af landi, land-vaDr6r, a skip randir : 
 neyttuS segis, ok setto6 sund-varpa6i stundom 
 (sleit miaok roin) mikla (maorg sor und J)er bjoror). 
 
 5. Drott vas driuglegr otti, dolg-linnz, at fa»r t)inni; 15 
 
 I. Olaf's Praise. Prologue. Listen, my lord .... I can compose .... 
 I tell of the king's deeds. I need the good favour of the king and the 
 intercession of those within the hall .... 
 
 The Baltic. Young, thou didst set thy ship towards Denmark ; the 
 voyage thou madest from the North, O king, was very splendid, I know 
 it all clearly. Ye did row the shrouded ships with the oars eastward in 
 the Baltic, ye did carry the shield from land to land, ye used the sail 
 and the oar by turn. IVIany an oar clave the billows below thee. 
 The people were in great fear for thy voyage. Afterwards thou didst 
 
 I. mannig, Cd. 12. lind, Cd.
 
 §2.] 
 
 OTHERS THE BLACK. 153 
 
 svan-brseSir, namtu sfdan SviJ)i68ar nes hrioSa. 
 
 6. Gildir komtu at gialdi Gotneskom her flotna ; 
 {)or6ot \)er at var9a J)at land, iaofurr, brandi : 
 
 rann (enn ma6r um minna margr hfr um J^rek) [varga 
 hungr fra-ek] austr (inn yngri) Eysyslo li9 [t^eyja]. 20 
 
 7. Enn brauztu, ^la kennir Yggs gunn-JDorinn, bryggjor 
 ('linnz' hefir la)nd at vinna) Lunduna (j^er snuna8) : 
 ha)f8o hart um kraf8ir (hildr ox vi8 J^at) skildir 
 gang, enn gamlir sprungo, gunn-J)inga, iarn-hringar. 
 
 8. t'engill fra-ek at {)unga |)inn herr skipom ferri 25 
 rau8 Hring-mara heidi (hl66 val-ka)Sto) bl68i : 
 
 Laut fyr y8r, a8r Idtti land-folk, i gnf randa 
 Engla fer5 at ia)r5o ott, enn ma)rg a flotta. 
 
 9. At-ga^ngo vant Yngri 'att siklinga' mikla, 
 
 bli8r hilmir, toktu brei6a borg Kantara um morgin : 30 
 
 Ldk vi9 ra)nn af riki (rettu, bragna konr, gagni) ; 
 [aldar fra-ek at aldri] eldr ok reykr [at pn belldir]. 
 
 10. Matti9 Enskrar oettar jold, }3ar-es tokt vi8 gia)ldom, 
 visi, vseg9ar-lausom, vi8-frasgr, vi8 J)er bsegja : 
 
 guldot gumnar ' sialdan goll da)glingi hollost;' 35 
 
 stundom fra-ek til strandar st6r-J)ing ofan foro. 
 
 11. NeoQot ungr at ey8a, ogn-teitr ia)furr, Peito; 
 reyndot, raesir, steinda ra^nd a ' Tuska-landi ' . . . . 
 
 1 2. Komtu ' i land ' ok lendir Ia6-va)r9r AdalraSi, 
 
 harry the Ness of Sweden. Thou broughtest the Gotland folk to pay 
 tribute, they dared not to guard their land against thee, sword in hand ; 
 and the people of Osel in the East fled before thee. 
 
 England. Next thou didst break down London Bridge; thou hast had 
 good hap in gold-getting. The shields cracked, and old iron rings of the 
 mail-coats sprung under the strain of battle. I have heard how thou 
 didst redden Ringmere-heath with blood ; there thy host did pile a heap 
 of corses. The people of the land fell to the ground before thee, and 
 many Englishmen were turned to flight. Thou didst make a great raid 
 at Sil/ing, thou didst sack broad Canterbury one morning. Fire and 
 smoke played mightily against the houses, thou hadst the victory; I 
 have heard that thou didst make havoc among the people. The English 
 race could not withstand thee, and thou didst receive a merciless ransom 
 from them. The EngHsh paid thee the fine gold 'by force.' I know that 
 oftentimes great treasures were borne down to the strand to thee. 
 
 France. Ye did lay waste Poitou, and tried the stained shield in 
 Touraine. 
 
 Back in England. Ye came back in Lent, and landed ^Ethelrsed, O 
 king. He profited by thy help therein. It was at lung-firth that ye 
 brought back the kinsman of Eadmund from his refuge [Normandy] to the 
 land which he had ruled before. The sons of ^Ethelrxd, meeting opposition 
 from Cnut'j men, resolue to go back to Rouen [says St. Olafs Life, paraphrasing 
 
 20. ungi, Cd. 29. Read, Siclingom? 38. Read, Tursa-landi ] lost 
 
 half-verse. 39, Read, i Lent ?
 
 154 CNUT'S COURT. [bk. viii. 
 
 J)fn naut rekka runi rfki efldr at sliko : 40 
 
 'har8r vas fundr J^a-es foer3ot' frid-Iandz a vit niSja, 
 t66 att-stu9ill a6an, latmundar, J)ar grundo. 
 
 13. Val-fasta biottu vestan ve6r-a)rr tva kna)rro; 
 hsett hafit er 'f otta opt, SkiaDldunga-^opti :' 
 
 nseSi straumr ef stoeSi strangr kaup-skipom angra 45 
 
 innan bor6z um unnir erringar li9 verra. 
 
 14. Eigi hrseddosk gegi, 6r forod sia storan; 
 allvaldr of getr aldar engi n<-tri drengi : 
 
 opt vas J)ars (enn forsi flaust hratt af ser brajttom) 
 
 neytt aSr Noreg beittoQ, 'niSiungr Haraldz,' ini6ian. 50 
 
 15. Bla-gi69a toktu brseSir ben-gialfrs 'ok \)i sialfa' 
 skatti gnoeg6r me6 skreytto skei9 Hakonar reiSi : 
 ungr sottir \)u, I'rottar J)ings-ma-grennir, hingat 
 (matti6 iarl) |)au-es atto8 att-la)nd (fyr pvi standa). 
 
 16. L^'tandi hefir liotar land-ra6ondom branda 55 
 um-stillingar allar ifla ' follz ' um goldit : 
 
 Hafa leztu HeiQska ia)fra, her-skor8andi, fordom 
 mundangs laun, pi-es meinom, moetr gramr, vi9 J)ik saetto. 
 
 17. Braut hafit, ba)8var-J)reytir branda 'ri69r,' or landi 
 (meirr fansk jDi'nn an J)eira {)rekr) da)glinga rekna : 60 
 stajkk, sem J)i68 um ^ekkir, {jer hverr konungr ferri ; 
 heptu9 er enn eptir or8-reyr J)ess-es sat norSast. 
 
 18. Nu Tvebr Jdu fyr JDciri {|)ik remmir G06 miklo) 
 fold, sem forQom heldo fimm bragningar (gagni) : 
 
 a lost verse of Ottars), — [' Then Olaf parted with them and would not go 
 to Walland (France), he sailed north along all England till he came to 
 Northumberland ; he made a haven there called Fore Wald, and fought 
 there with the townsmen and chapmen, and gat there victory and much 
 goods.'] 
 
 The Gale. Thou didst set out with two ships of burden from the west, 
 thou wast in great peril .... the mighty current would have wrecked 
 the merchantmen, had there not been such a douglity crew aboard them. 
 Thou didst not fear the sea, but met the mighty main ; never had king 
 a better crew. The ship kept throwing off her steep-falling billows; ye 
 had to try your vessels oft and hard ere ye could make the midst of 
 Norway at Cape Stadt. Thou didst take the well-rigged galley of 
 Hakon, and the Earl himself. Thou camest young hither to the land of 
 thy heritage, which thou shouldst have ; the earl could not hinder it. 
 
 The Upland Kings. Thou hast paid the kings for all their dark plots. 
 Thou hast given the He^ith-mark kings meet reward, who devised thy 
 destruction. Thou didst drive /owr kings out of the land, as all men 
 know; every one of them fled far from thee; and afterwards thou didst 
 hobble the word-rearer of him that ruled farthest to the north [i. e. 
 maimed his tongue?]. Thou art now ruUng over the land which five 
 kings ruled of yore ; God strengthens thee with great increase. The 
 
 41, Read, lung furSo ? 44. Corrupt, some place, Shields ? 50. Read, 
 
 Noreg .... at Sta6i mi6jan? 59. Read, flora?
 
 §2.] OTHERE THE BLACK. 155 
 
 breiS ero austr til Ei6a sett-laDnd und {)er, 'Gaondlai' 65 
 (oengr sat) ' elda J)roengvir' (a8r at slfko laSi). 
 19. Gegn ero J)er at J^egnom (^i68-skia)ldunga g66ra 
 haldit hoGft a veldi) Hialtlendingar kenndir : 
 eigi var8 a ia)r6o, '6gn-bra6r, a3r per naSom,' 
 austr sa es Eyjom vestan Ynglingr und sik J^ryngvi. 70 
 
 II. Knutz-drapa, c. 1027. 
 
 (Verses i, 2, 4-II from Skioldunga; verse 3 from Edda ; verse 12 from O. H.) 
 
 1. TTRATSTU Iitt gamall 1/tir Ia3g-rei6ar fram skei8om j 
 -L -L forad fylkir oGri, folk-sveimaSr, per heiman : 
 hilmir biottu, ok h^ttir, har3-brynjo6 skip, kynjom ; 
 reiSr hafSir J)u rau6ar randir, Knutr, fyr landi. 
 
 2. At fylg3u J)er lotar, au6-mildr, flugar trauSir; 5 
 skaut-hreina biott skreytir Skanunga li3-vanir : 
 
 V266 bl^s of per, vi'si ; vestr settir jdu fiesta 
 (kunnt goer6ir {)u 'J)enna' pitt nafn) 1 haf stafna. 
 
 3. Sk?6rot ska)fno st;f ri (skaut) sylg-har bylgior ; 
 
 (Mk vi8 hun a hreini hlunnz, {)at-es drosir spunno.) 10 
 
 4. Her-skiajld bartu, ok h^ldut hilmir rikr a sh'ko ; 
 hykkat-ek, J^engill, pekSosk J)ik kyrr-seto mikla : 
 ^tt drap Iota drottinn lat-geirs i fsor |)eiri ; 
 
 Jiveit rakt (j^rar ert heitinn) {jcim, stillis-konr, lUan. 
 
 5. Brunno bygdir manna, bu6lungr, fyr ' J)er ungom;' 15 
 opt leztu ' bus ok heiptir her-kall buendr gerva.' 
 
 6. Gunni leztu 1 grcenni, gramr, Lindisey framSa ; 
 ' beldu vi6r J)vi-es vildo vikingar pvi riki : ' 
 
 broad land of thy fathers from Gand'ivick east to Eld is under thee ; 
 never king, ere thee, had such domain. Thou hast the sway of an over- 
 lord or emperor. The Shetlanders are now acknowledged thy thanes ; 
 never, since the day of Fairhair, was there Yngling in the East that sub- 
 dued the Western Islands under him. 
 
 II. Cnut's Praise. Thou wast of no great age when thou didst put 
 forth in thy ship ; never younger king set out from home. Thou, prince, 
 didst equip the hard-mailed ships, and put them in jeopardy, and heldest 
 red shields before the land. The Jutes followed tliee out, thou didst call 
 out the levies of the Sconey-folk ; the canvas blew over thee ; thou didst 
 turn all the stems of thy ships to the main, making thy name famous. Thou 
 didst score with thy smooth-shaven oarage the high-swelling billows; 
 the pennon, the ladies spun, floated from the mast-top. Thou barest a 
 war-shield without ceasing, O king ; thou didst not long enjoy a quiet seat 
 at home, I ween. The Jutes' lord on this voyage slew the kindred of 
 Eadgar; thou didst strike them [the English] a deadly blow. Thou art 
 called 'the steadfast.' The dwellings of men burnt before thee, thou hast 
 often .... Thou didst play the war-game in green Lindesey .... the wide 
 Bay [Wash] .... Thou madest the English people to suffer sorrow in 
 
 65. For Gondlar . . . read Gand-vi'kr? 69. Corrupt ; . . . dag ens Harfagra? 
 
 6. bio, Cd. II, a] af, Cd. 18. Read, vi5 vik . . . ?
 
 156 CNUT'S COURT. [bk. viii. 
 
 Bi6a l^ztu i breiSri borg ' Heminga ' sorgar 
 
 cest fyr tJso vestan Engst folk, Svia Jjroengvir. 20 
 
 7. Bi69r, vantu brynjor rau6ar, bli6r stor-giafa, si6an 
 (laetr-J)u a)nd a6r ^rek J^rioti J)inn) fyrir NorSvik innan. 
 
 8. Fram gekkt enn J3ar-es unnot (almr gall hatt vi6 malma) 
 ' knattud sse ' ^ar-es s6ttu6 ' sver9 castala ver6a : ' 
 unnut eigi minni (ulfs gomr veit J)at) romo, 25 
 hnekkir hleypi-blakka hlunnz, a Tempsar grunni. 
 
 9. Ungr fylkir l^tztu Engla all-nser Theso falla; 
 flceSi diupt of dau6ra dfk NorSymbra likom : 
 
 svefn brauzt svaDrtom hrafni sunnr, el-hva3tu6r gunnar, 
 (olli sokn enn snialli Sveins ma)gr) at Skorsteini. 30 
 
 10. 'Fiorlausa hyr Frisa' fn6-sker8ir J)ik ger6o 
 brauztu me3 byg9o setri BrandfurSo J)er randa: 
 latmundar ' laut undir att-ni9r ga)fugr haettir;' 
 Danskr herr ' skaut ]Da da)rrom drott' es \)U rakt flotta. 
 
 ri. Skia)ldungr vantu und skildi sksero-verk inn sterki 35 
 (fekk bl69-trani braSir brunar) Assatunom : 
 vattu (enn val-fall J)6tti verSung), ia)furr, sver8i 
 nser fyr norSan storom nafn (gnogt) Dana-skoga. 
 
 12. Sviom hnekktir \)u 'soekkva siklingr orr' enn mikla 
 ylgr |)ars A'-in-Helga ulfs beito fekk heitir : 40 
 
 h^ltu J)ar-es hrafn ne svalta3 (hvat-ra6r ertu) la6i, 
 6gnar stafr, fyr icofrom fgr tveim vi6 li6 beima. 
 
 broad Nottingham, west of the Ouse, thou crusher of the Swedes. Thou 
 madest the mail-coats red, blithe bounty-giver, west of Norwich. Thy 
 breath will cease ere the fame of thy exploits shall end ! Thou didst go 
 forth to where .... what time ye attacked Haiehvorth ; ye won no less 
 fame on the shallows of Thames. Young king, thou madest the English 
 fall near Tees, the Dyke of the Northumbrians flowed deep over the 
 bodies of the dead. Thou brakest the fast of the black raven at Scorstan 
 [Shirstone] ; Sweyn's brisk son fought there. Thou .... didst make 
 a slaughter ; thou didst storm Brentford, a settled place. Edmund 
 the noble king's son's men q,uere drcrMtied there; thou didst put the 
 people to flight. The Danish host shot at them with darts. O thou 
 Shielding, thou didst win under shield a mighty work of war at Assatun 
 [Assandun] : again thou didst fight with the sword, and win fame 
 enough near to the north of Dean forest. 
 
 Sweden. Thou didst put the Swedes to flight at the Holy River, 
 and didst hold thy land against two kings [the kings of Sweden and 
 Norway]. 
 
 19. Read, Snotunga ? 24. Read, H. . . . fur6o ? 28. dau8a, Cd. 
 
 29. gunnar hvoto6r, Cd. 31. Read, hykk. 33. Read, hlaut . . . undir 
 
 hattar? 38. Stora . . . gnog, Cd.
 
 §2.] OTHERS THE BLACK. 157 
 
 III, On Olaf, the King of Sweden. 
 
 (From Edda.) 
 
 IOFURR heyri upphaf (ofrask mun konungs lof) 
 (hatto nemi hann n'tt hroSrar mfns) bragar sins. 
 
 Fold verr folk-Baldr; farr ma konungr sva; , 
 
 aorno reifir Aleifr ; es framr Svia gramr. 
 
 Orn drekkr undarn ; ylgr fser af hraem sylg ; 5 
 
 opt rfbr ulfr keypt; ari getr ver5 J)ar. 
 
 f'engill vas t)egar ungr J^rek-goerr, vig-aorr ; 
 haldask bi6-ek bans aldr ; hann tel-ek yfir-mann. 
 
 Braut (en breki haut) bord (ox vi3ar mor6), 
 (me9r fengo mikil ve3r) mio fyr ofan sio. 10 
 
 Visi tekr Vfg-freys vist austr mun-laust 
 (aldar hafi all-valdr) osk-vif (gott lif !). 
 
 IV. Improvisation. 
 
 (Verses i and 3 from O. H. L.) 
 
 1. OVA skal kveSja konung Dana 
 ^ Ira ok Engla ok Ey-bua : 
 at bans fari me9 himin-kraDptom 
 la^ndom sollom lof viSari. 
 
 2. Hnetr sendi mer handan hrandaSr alun-branda 5 
 (a3r vaentisk mer meiri mfn p'mg) konungr hingat : 
 Mior es (markar stiori meirr seamk J)ar til fleira 
 
 'ni6r attu oss i aD^ro' Islandz) mikils visir. 
 
 3. Geisli stendr til grundar 'gunnar iar6ar munna' 
 'ofan fellr bl66 a baQa ben-sei9a, konungr reiSisk:' 10 
 
 III. Olaf of Sweden's Praise. Let the king hearken to the begin- 
 ning of my verse ; may he catch the metre of it aright. He defends 
 his land as few can ; Olaf feeds the eagles ; the lord of the Swedes is 
 foremost. The erne drinks his supper; the she- wolf laps the blood; the 
 wolf stains his jaws; the eagle gets his meal there. Already in his youth 
 the king yearned for exploits, was eager for battle ; I pray for his life. 
 Captain I call him. The slender weather-boards above the sea were 
 broken, the waves waxed, the gale grew, the crew encountered a great 
 storm. The king wins land east of the sea. May he live in prosperity. 
 
 IV. Cnut's Praise. Let us so greet the king of the Danes, Irish, 
 English, and Island-dwellers, that his praise may travel wide over all 
 lands as far as the pillars of heaven. 
 
 On a gift of nuts, to St. Olave. The king [Olaf] sent me nuts hither; I 
 used to look for greater things than this. The seed-sprout of a big tree 
 is small ; I hope for more .... 
 
 On the hangings ivith Sigfred slaying Fqfni on them. The olade stands 
 in the mouth of the dragon; the blood falls down both^dges; the king 
 
 ^ r 
 
 « 
 12. hafir, Cd.
 
 158 CNUT'S COURT. [bk.vui. 
 
 hristisk hiaorr i briosti hringi groenna lyng\'a, 
 en folk-J)orinn fylkir ferr vi6 steik at leika. 
 
 THORARIN PRAISE-TONGUE, axd HALLWARD 
 
 HAREK'S-BLESI. 
 
 " There was a man called Thorarin the Flatterer; he was an Icelander 
 by race, a good poet, and had been much with kings and other princes. 
 He was with King Cnut the Mighty, and had made a Short Poem (flokk) 
 on him. But when the king knew that Thorarin had made a Short Poem 
 on him, he grew verj" angry, and bade him make a full Encomium on him 
 by the next day when he should sit at table. But if he did not, the king 
 said that Thorarin should be hanged for his presumption in making a 
 Short Poem on King Cnut. So Thorarin made a refrain and thrust it 
 into his poem, and eked it out with some more verses. And this is the 
 refrain, 'Cnut watches his land just as God guards heaven.' King Cnut 
 gave him fifty marks of silver as his fee for this poem. It is called 
 
 * Head-Ransom.' 
 
 " He made a second poem on King Cnut, which is called Tog-drapa [in 
 imitation of Sighvat's doubtless], in which he tells of the voyage of Cnut 
 when he went northward from Denmark to Norway ; . . . and boasts 
 therein that he was there on that voyage with Cnut when he went to 
 Norway." 
 
 The first poem must have been made before the other, after 1028. 
 The refrain of the second poem, of which one line, 'Cn<itr es und solar,' 
 remains, has been happily completed by Dr. Egilson, 'setri hveim betri.' 
 
 A later and curious poem of Thorarin's is the Glxlogns-k'vi'^a, com- 
 posed between 103 2-1 034, and addressed of all men to Sweyn, iElfgifu's 
 son, on his accession, describing the shrine and cult of St. Olaf ; noticing 
 the bells that ring of themselves over his unchanged body, whereon the 
 hair and nails grow as on a living man ; and asserting that the blind 
 beggars come to his shrine to return whole. He further recommends 
 Sweyn to pray to Olaf, 'for he is a man of God.' This poem is in the 
 old metre, simple in style, and imitates Sighvat's dirge very closely. 
 
 The title we take to he Shrine Song, Glelogn = Gloe-long, Gloe-lung 
 (Glow-ship-song) . 
 
 All Thorarin's work is fairly preserved, a few emendations only are 
 admissible. The word ' Weg-Iota ' is only found in Thorarin's Tog- 
 drapa and in Vellekla. Skalda-tal does not know Thorarin as Olaf's 
 poet, so that the verse about Thormod [below, p. 175] looks extremely 
 suspicious, and may refer to some other king and be by another. 
 
 Hallward Harek's-blesi. Of him we know nothing, and have but 
 a fragment of an Encomium on Cnut, made about 1028; the king has won 
 England and Denmark, and now is winning Norway. Hallward's verses 
 are somewhat intricate in style. There are a few lines out of the 
 seventeen remaining which are not quite unaltered, ' svikol-giardar ' 
 stands for the English ' segel-gyrd,' sail-yard. The doubtful * UUr-EUo ' 
 is like a phrase of Sighvat's. ' Sund-viggs ' is, we have little doubt, 
 
 * Sandwich.' 
 
 [Sigfred] is wroth. The sword quivers in the breast of the coil of the 
 green ling [the snake], and the gallant prince begins to roast the steak 
 [its heart] for pastime.
 
 §2.] THORARIN PRAISE-TONGUE. 159 
 
 I. TOG-DRAPA. 
 (Verse 8 from Edda ; verse 7 from Skioldunga.) 
 
 1. ly'NtfTR es und solar — Si8-naemr me8 li3 
 
 f6r miaok mikit mfnn vinr J)innig ; 
 foer8i or firSi- fimr gramr Lima- 
 ut olitinn otr-heims flota. 
 
 2. Ug6o Egdir a)r-bei8iss faor 5 
 svans sigr-lana sa)k-ramir mlauk : 
 
 allt vas golli grams 118 framiS 
 VEoromk sion sa^go sliks rfkari. 
 
 3. Ok fyr Lista li8o fram vi8ir 
 
 Hadyri um haf hart kol-svartir: 10 
 
 byggt vas innan allt brim-galtar 
 su8r S8e-ski8om sund Eikunda. 
 
 4. Ok fyr fornan fri8-menn li8o 
 haug HiaDr-nagla hvast gri8-fastir: 
 
 Jjar-es st68 fyr Sta8 stafn-klifs drifo; 15 
 
 vasat eySilig a^r-beiSiss fa)r. 
 
 5. KncOtto su8ir svangs miaok langar 
 byr-ra)mm bera brim-drif fyr Stim : 
 Sva li8o sunnan sval-heims valar, 
 
 at kom nor3r i N18 n/tr her-fl/'tir. 20 
 \seiri hveim betrii\ 
 
 6. f'a gaf sinom sniallr goervallan 
 Noreg nefa niotr Veg-Iota: 
 
 sa gaf sfnom (segi-ek J)at) megi 
 
 dais da)kk-salar Danmaark svana. 25 
 
 7. Giaold hefi-ek marka malm-dyns fyr hlyn 
 
 I. The Stretch-Song on Cnut. 
 
 Burden. Cnut is the best of kings under the sun's seat. 
 
 The "Voyage to the North. My noble patron went thither out of 
 Limfirth with a great following. He stood to sea with a mighty 
 ocean-fleet. The guilty Agd-folk dreaded the king's voyage greatly. 
 His fleet was all gold-decked; the sight of it seemed grander to me 
 than all report of it [i. e. I saw it myself]. And the coal-black barks 
 sped fast over the Lister-sea, doubling Highdoor [a point west of Cape 
 Naze]. All Eikund Sound in the South inwards was thronged with the 
 war-galleys : and the sworn henchmen swept by Hiornails' old howe 
 [Hornelen] when the ships drove past [Gape] Stad : the king's voyage 
 was not fruitless. The sea-surge carried the long-streaked hulls of the 
 ships off Stim [Stem-hesten]. So the sea-hawks glided from the South, 
 till the good speeder of the host reached River Nith in the North. 
 
 The Division of the Empire. Then the brisk ruler of the Weg-Jutes 
 [Cnut] gave all Norway to his nephew [Hakon] ; and to his son he gave, 
 I say it, Denmark, the dale of the dark halls of the swan [Sea-land], 
 
 Epilogue. I have gotten fifty marks of the king as a fee, which he 
 
 10. A^; hafdyrs, A. 18. brimdyr, Cd. 22. lot", Cd.
 
 i6o CNUT'S COURT. [bk. vm. 
 
 fram fimm tigo for-vist borit, 
 jDeirra es veitti vig-hagr brag 
 mer mor6-stoerir mann-Baldr es ek fann. 
 8. Gat-ek goll-skata (gcerva leygs um baDr 30 
 
 gaoto gunn-vita graps) Tog-drsopo. 
 
 II. HaOFUD-LAUSN. 
 (From O. H.) 
 Stef. ly'NtJTR verr grund sem gsetir Griklandz himin-riki. 
 
 III. Gl^logns-kvida. 
 (Verse i from Fagrsk.) 
 
 1. XDAT vas dullaust at Danir goer6o 
 -L dyggva faDr me6 daoglingi: 
 't)ar vas iarl fyrst at upphafi;' 
 
 ok sva hverr es hanom fylgQi 
 
 annarr drengr soSrom n/'tri. 5 
 
 2. Nu hefir ser til sess hagat 
 J)i69-konungr i frondheimi : 
 J)ar vill se sevi sin a 
 bauga-briotr byg9om ra3a. 
 
 3. {'ar-es Alafr a8an byg9i, 10 
 a6r hann hvarf til himin-n'kiss : 
 
 enn J)ar var9, sem vito allir, 
 kvikva-settr or konung-manni. 
 
 4. ' Haf6i ser harSla raSit' 
 
 ' Haraldz sonr til himin-n'kiss :' 15 
 
 a6r seim-briotr at set[ti var9] 
 [Clement-kirkjo konungr grafinn]. 
 
 gave me for my Song that I delivered on him. I made the Stretch- 
 Song on the Gold-giver [King]. 
 
 II. Head-ransom. On Cnut. Burden. Cnut guards his land as the 
 King of Greekland [God] keeps the kingdom of heaven ! 
 
 III. Shrine Song: to Snue'm Mlfgifu' s son! It was manifest how 
 the Danes made a noble voyage following the prince; there went an 
 earl, Harold, son of Ihorketth the High, and every man, one good 
 warrior after another in order, followed him. Now the high king 
 [Sweyn] has prepared a seat for himself in Throndham, there the 
 ring-breaker [Sweyn] will ever dwell all his life; where Olaf dwelt 
 before, ere he passed away into the kingdom of heaven ; and from 
 a king became, as all men know, an enshrined saint. Harold's son 
 [Olaf] had been laid in the sand at ... . before that he ivas buried at 
 Clement's Church. So that there the pure king lies glorious with a 
 
 30. goerva] goer es, Cd. 3. Read, {jar var Haraldr iarl Hava borina? 
 
 15-16. Read, Hafdi i sandi . . . legit hilmiss lik . . .? 17. Blank in A and A^
 
 §2.] THORARIN PRAISE-TONGUE. i6i 
 
 5. I'ar sva at hreinn meS heilo Hggr 
 lof-saell gramr liki sino : 
 
 ok f)ar kna sem a kykom manni 20 
 
 har ok negl hanom vaxa. 
 
 6. f'ar boid-vegs bia)llor knego 
 of saeing bans sialfar hringjask : 
 ok hvern dag heyra {)i63ir 
 
 klokkna-hli66 um konung-manni. 25 
 
 7. Enn J)ar upp af altari 
 
 of kisto konungs kerti brenna : 
 sva hefir Alafr a6r hann anda6isk 
 synda-lauss Scolo borgit. 
 
 8. Pa.T koemr hverr, es heilagr 30 
 konungr soefr, kryppr at gangi : 
 
 enn beiSendr blindir soekja 
 t)i66an mals, en jDa6an heilir. 
 
 9. Bi3-J)u Alaf at hann unni per 
 
 (hann es Go3s ma6r) grundar sinnar : 35 
 
 Hann um getr af Go3i siaolfom 
 ar ok fri6 aollom ma)nnom. 
 10. t'ar-es J)u rekr fyr regin-nagla 
 boka-nials boenir J)lnar. 
 
 HALLVARD (KNIJTZ-DRAPA). 
 
 (Verse 4 from Skioldunga ; verses I and 6 from O. H. ; the rest from Edda.) 
 
 1. ly'NtJTR verr ia)r6 sem Itran allz Drottinn sal fialla. 
 
 2. Vestr Idztu 1 haf, hristir harS-viggs sikol-giar3ar 
 umbandz allra landa fss, fram-stafni visat. 
 
 whole body; and hair and nails grow on him as on a living man. 
 There the bells do ring of themselves over his coffin-bed ; and every 
 day the people hear the pealing of the big bells over the king. And 
 there above the altar over the king's cofUn the candle burns ; for the 
 sinless Olaf before he died had saved his soul. Every cripple comes 
 walking to where the holy king sleeps, and blind suppliants seek to 
 get audience of the king and go away whole. Pray thou to Olaf that 
 he grant thee his land ; for he is a man of God, and he can get good 
 seasons and peace for every man of God himself, when thou puttest 
 forth thy prayers before the mighty pillar of the scriptures [the Saint]. 
 
 Cnut's Praise. Burdens. Cnut defends his land as the Lord of all 
 does the glorious hall of the mountains [heaven]. 
 
 Cnut's attack on England. Thou didst turn the prows of thy sail- 
 yard-steed westward to the main. Thou, the victorious son of Sweyn, 
 
 27. kristi Jjaeg, Cdd. 31. sialf, Cdd. 33. J)io&ar, Cdd. 35. A and A'^ ; 
 
 ^iniiar, B. 
 
 VOL. II. M
 
 i62 CNUT'S COURT. [bk.viii. 
 
 3. Su6-laongom komt SveiSa (sundz li3o dfr fra grundo) 
 
 sig-rakkr Saolsa bekkjar Sveins maogr, a traD8 hreinom. 5 
 
 4. Knutr Idztu framm til Fliota (frgegr lei6 vaorSr um segi 
 heipt-snarr hildar leiptra) har9-brynjo6 skip dynja : 
 Ullar l^ztu vi6 Ello sett-leif3 (ok ma reif6ir 
 sver3-mans) snyrti-gerSar ' sund-viggs ' flota bundit. 
 
 5. Esat und ('iar6ar haoslo a)r8-bri6tr Da)nom for8ar') 10 
 mold-reks munka valdi maeringr an \)U naerri. 
 
 6. Englandi rseSr Yngi einn (hefsk fri8r at beinni 
 baj8-rakkr boenar noekkva bark-ri68r), ok Danmsorko : 
 ok hefir odda leiknar ialm-Freyr und sik (malma 
 hialdr-corr haukom |3verrir hungr) Noregi Jjrungit. 15 
 
 7. Rau3-li6sa s^r rsesir (n't brestr sundr in hvita) 
 baug-ia)r8 brodda fer3ar (biug-rennd) i tvau fliuga. 
 
 BIARNI GULLBRA (KALFS FLOKKR). 
 
 Of this poet nothing is left but an OJe on Calf Arnisson, a well-known 
 Norwegian noble, the chief opponent of St. Olaf, the franklins' Com- 
 mander at Sticklestead, and later the restorer of Magnus. Succeeding 
 in some degree to the position of the murdered Erling Skialgson, Calf 
 entered into alliance with Cnut, who despatched Hakon Ericsson, ' the 
 Doughty ear!,' to his aid against Olaf; but even without foreign aid he 
 managed to carry out his wishes. Cnut's promises to Calf, whom our 
 poet tells us he endowed with a fief, are represented as false wiles by 
 the historian of the Kings' Lives; but we get a more favourable view 
 in this poem, both of Calf and the English King. That Calf was made 
 Earl of the Thronds is not unlikely, though we do not find express 
 mention of it. Calf is here by his own poet made out a Northern 
 king-maker, and celebrated as the restorer of Magnus. ' It was by 
 thy doing he got his kingdom.' The envy of the courtiers, which 
 procured Calf's disgrace and exile, though Magnus gained nothing by 
 it, and was himself little to blame, is also clearly set forth here; 
 then the Western adventures of Calf are told, down to the death of 
 Earl Rcginwald. who was overcome by his help. Earl Thorfin of 
 Orkney was nephew-in-la\v of Calf, having married his niece Ingibiorg, 
 Fin's daughter, 'IMother of Earls.' The Arn-modlinga-tal (Fagrskinna) 
 gives their genealogy, etc. 
 
 Calf came back to Norway in Harold Hardrede's days, and was 
 
 didst go with the long-hulled flock of the sea-king [ships] on the 
 sea, the ships sped South from the land. Thou, Cnut, didst make 
 thy hard-mailed ship to go in array to Fleet, speeding over the sea, 
 and didst moor thy fleet by -lElla's land, at Sandwich .... 
 
 EpUogi>e. There is no greater king than thou underneath the sway 
 of the Lord of the Monks ! the prince .... Danes ! 
 
 The Tng^'i rules England alone (peace has begun) and Denmark, and 
 has now crushed Norway under him .... He sees the shield fly in twain. 
 
 9. Read, Sandvik.
 
 §2.] BIARNI GULLBRA. 163 
 
 by stratagem (Uriah-message) sent to death, a murder which angered 
 his brother Fin so much that he left the country. 
 
 We have put this poem with the rest of the poems on Cnut and 
 Olaf, as it gives a view which is certainly more true than that of the 
 Olaf's Saga, and is in contradiction to the Reynard-like character 
 which the Icelandic historians give King Cnut. 
 
 The reading in 1. 20 is necessary for the context; 1. 8 is a correction 
 of a manifest mistake. 
 
 The little Epigram of CoLGRiM (from Hulda) exemplifies the poet's 
 assertion, that envious men sowed hatred between King Magnus and 
 Earl Calf. Here they are using the sharp-tongued Icelander as a cat's- 
 paw. For Colgrim, see Magnus Saga, cap. 20. 
 
 1. A /"ASTU, J)ar es vigs ba6 kosta vapn-diarfr Haraldz arfi 
 
 * (kynnisk kapp \i\i\. ma)nnom) Kalfr vi6 Bokn austr sialfa: 
 gsoto8 Gri6ar sola golig fa)ng til 161a; 
 kendr vastu fyrstr at fundi fletto-griotz ok spiota. 
 
 2. Old fekk illt or deildom, Edingr vas J)ar finginn 5 
 (660 biaDrt 1 bl66i bor6) fyr Utstein norSan : 
 
 'Lios es raun at rsesir' radinn var8 fra la3i ; 
 'lagdisk Isond und Eg6a;' 'li6 t)eira fra-ek meira.' 
 
 3. Austr r^d all-valdr ^rysta otala haf-stali ; 
 
 var8 at vitja GarSa vfg-m66r Haraldz broQir : 10 
 
 enn (um iQnir manna emkat-ek tamr at samna 
 skrcekvi), at skilnaS ykkarn, skiott leztu Knut um sottan. 
 
 4. Attn Engla drottni ogn-rakkr giafar jDakka; 
 iarls ni8r, komtu y8ro otala vel mali : 
 
 J)er \€i fold a6r fcerir (frest ur8ot |)ess) vestan 15 
 
 [Iff jDitt esa IftiS] Lunduna gramr fundna. 
 
 5. laDrd r^ttu vfgi at var8a vig-reifr fyr Aleifi ; 
 
 brauztu vi8 bragning n^'zian bag; |)at kveQ-ek mik fraogo. 
 
 Fyrr gektu a sta8-Stikla stor-verkr (enn 68 merki); 
 
 satt es at sokn um veittir sniallr unz gramr vas fallinn. 20 
 
 BlARNI GOLDBROW. Calf Arnisson's Praise : Er/ing's death. Thou 
 wast there, O Calf, east at Bokn when Harold's heir summoned men 
 to fight. Ye gave the Wolf a good promise for Yule-tide; thou wast 
 foremost where sling stones and spears crossed. It was an evil case ; 
 Erling was caught there north of Outstone. It is clear that the 
 lord of the Rugians [Erling] was betrayed. The Agd's warden [Erling] 
 was laid low ; their [the king's] force was the greater I heard. 
 
 Sticklestead. Then the war-weary brother of Harold went to the 
 East to Gard in ships. After you parted, thou didst soon go to seek 
 Cnut. I do not lie. Thou hast to thank the lord of the English for 
 his gifts; thou didst plead thy case well. Ere thou wentest from 
 the West, the lord of London found land for thee [gave thee a fief] ; 
 there was no delay over it. Thy state is no small one ! Thou didst 
 gtiard the land against Olaf, and grappled with him; I have heard it; 
 thou wast foremost at Sticklestead, and didst not cease from the battle 
 till the king fell. 
 
 7-8. Read, Liost es at Rygja raesir and lag6isk laud-vorSr Eg3a? 15. 
 
 Emend. ; ur5o, Cd. 
 
 M 2
 
 i64 CNUT'S COURT. [bk. viir. 
 
 6. Hafa l^ztu unga iaofra erfS sem til r^6 hverfa 
 satt es at ' sitja knatti Svein ' at Danmaark einni : 
 kendot, Kalfr, til landa kapps-fiisom Magnusi 
 (0II06 er at stillir idorb of fekk) or Ga)r8om. 
 
 Y. f'er fra-ek l^orbergs hl^Ti (Jdcss goer6osk ^r verSir) 25 
 (hdlt \)vi unz ' hann ' of spillti) Haraldz broQor son goQan : 
 vaok6o afund-menn ykrir i6ula rog i miSli ; 
 ojjaorf lizk mer arfa Alafs i f)eim maolom. 
 
 8. Frcogom Finnz hve magi fylgdot, Kalfr um dylgjor; 
 ok leztu a sia snekkjor snarla lagt at iarli : 30 
 
 ' Ar3e6i vattu ey8a ofuss ' syni Briisa 
 hlce6i-r3edr, enn toeSut heipt-minnigr f'orfinni. 
 
 KoLGRiM : Her-stillis |)arf ek hylli, hsolf ero va)ld und Kalfi. 
 
 f-ORDR SIAREKSSON AND SKALD-REFR. 
 
 Thord Seaivrecksson. He made a dirge on St. Olaf, which is called 
 Roda-drapa, the Rood-Song. There is a story that he went on a 
 pilgrimage to Jerusalem, and that in Syria he met a tall man in a cowl, 
 as he and other palmers went out of a certain city, who accosted 
 them in Danish, and asked if there were any Northmen among them. 
 'We are Northmen' they said, 'but I am an Icelander' says Thord. 
 'I know where that is; how is it with Healti Skeggisson?' 'I am his 
 son-in-law.' ' Where are you going?' 'To Jerusalem.' 'Turn back 
 then, for the road is unsafe.' 'Who is king in Norway?' again the 
 unknown asked. ' Olaf Haraldsson.' ' Bear my greeting to Healti 
 when you get back to Iceland.' ' Whom shall I tell Healti it is that 
 sends the greeting? ' ' The man who spoke with him at Lathe, when 
 I was holding a sword, and Healti put his hands between my hands 
 the last time I saw him.' So their talk ended. But when Healti heard 
 Thord's tale he knew that Thord had spoken with Olaf Tryggvason. 
 
 Thord made a poem in praise of •Jborivolf Skohnsson, the strong man 
 that fell at Fitiar (Book iv. § 3 and vii. § 3), a few lines of which are 
 
 He restores Magnus. Thou madest the young kings have their due 
 heritage, according to law. It is true, that thou didst seat Sweyn alone 
 in Denmark [sendest him away to Denmark], and brought Magnus 
 out of Gard to be king in the land. It was thy doing that he got 
 his kingdom. I have heard, thou brother of Thorberg, that Harold's 
 brother's son [Magnus] was good to thee, and deservedly ; and this 
 lasted till wicked people spoilt it. Envious men were constantly 
 sowing strife between you; though the heir of Olaf to my mind gat 
 little profit from this. 
 
 Calf in Orkney. We have heard, how thou didst follow Fin's 
 son-in-law [Earl Thorfin]. Thou foughtest against [Reginwald] Brusi's 
 son, but succoured Thorfin. 
 
 Colgrim's complaint agaiyist Calf, I need the king's protection, half 
 the realm is Calf's. 
 
 22. Read, seija knattir Sveiii ? 26. Read, herr?
 
 §2.] i^ORDR SIAREKSSON. 165 
 
 given in Kringia; he also made a curious legendary poem, a fragment of 
 ■which is given in Skalda, the peculiarity of which is that the first 
 half-line must be construed with the fifth half-line, the second with 
 the sixth, and so on. The only verse we have of it deals with the 
 Tale of Gudrun's egging her sons to avenge Swanhild, and brings in 
 as intercalary the story of Scathe and Niord, and the lost legend of 
 Woden drawing the sledge. It is an exaggeration of the verses of 
 Cormac and Illugi. 
 
 I. R6da-drapa. 
 (Verse i from Edda ; verse 3 from Skalda.) 
 
 1. O VEGGJA l^t fyr Siggjo s61-bor8z goti nor9an, 
 
 »--^ gusir skaut Gylfa rastar glaumi su8r fyr Aumar : 
 enn sl68-goti si8an saeSings fyrir skut bae6i 
 (hestr 65 lauks fyrir Lista) lag8i Ka)rmt ok Ag6ir. 
 
 2. Atti Egda drottinn Alafr J)rimo stala 5 
 viS agaetan Iota a)6ling J)ann-es klauf hringa : 
 
 skaut naer skarpt at moti Skanunga gramr hanom ; 
 Sveins vasa sunr at reyna slser ({)aut ulfr of hrsevi). 
 
 3. Hlakkar stofns at hefna herdendr at \isi sverda. 
 
 II. On Thoralf Skolmsson. 
 
 (From Kringia; lines 20-21 from Fagrsk.) 
 
 1. IDAR-ES ba)3-har6ir ba)r8osk bandz i6-draugar landa 10 
 ^ (lystr gekk herr til hia)rva hnitz) a Stor6 a Fitjom : 
 ok gim-sloengvir ganga gifrs hld-mana drffo 
 
 nausta blakks it ngesta NorSmanna gram |3or8i. 
 
 2. Var6i varga myr6ir vitt (sva skal fri6 slita) 
 
 [ia)fur vildo \>-xm\ eldask] ajndurt folk [at laDndom] : 15 
 
 starf hofsk upp f)ar-es arfi otta-vanr a flotta 
 
 gollz es gramr vas fallinn Gunnhildar kom sunnan. 
 
 3. trot vas s^^nt |)ar-es settosk sinn r66rs vid t)raDm stinnan 
 (ma8r let aand ok annarr ofar) buendr sarir : 
 
 ok ' hior-kraf6ir ' ha)f6o 'huggendr' Munins tuggo 20 
 
 The Rood-Song. He made the ships swing past Sigg [island] from 
 the north. The gust drove the bark past Aumar [isles], and the vessel 
 showed her stern to Kormt and Agd, doubling Listi between. Olat, 
 lord of the Agd-foik, fought a battle against the noble Etheling of the 
 Jutes. The lord of the Sconey-men shot sharply against him. Sweyn's 
 son was no sluggard to deal with. The Walkyria's ... to revenge . . . 
 
 On Thorolf the Strong, the son ofSkalm. When they fought at Fitia 
 on Stord, he [Thorolf] dared to stand beside the king of the Northmen. 
 The king, whom the people wished to grow old in the land, fought in 
 the van : the havoc began when the king was struck down and the son 
 of Gundhild from the south turned to flight. It was a manifest defeat 
 when the wounded franklins sat themselves at the stiff rowlocks, and the 
 
 20. Read, hiiir klufSrar . . . hoeggvendr?
 
 1 66 ST. OLAF'S COURT. [bk. viii. 
 
 gauks vi6 gialfr um leikna grunno sand i munni. 
 4. Afreks veit J)at es iaofri all-rikr 1 styr slikom 
 
 gaondlar niorSr sa-es goer6i gekk naest, Hugins drekko. 
 
 III. An unknown Song. 
 
 VARD sialf suna Nama snotr una 
 
 Kialarr of tamQi Kv66ot Ham3e 
 
 GoSrun bani. go6-bru3r Vani. 
 
 heldr vel mara. hia)r-leik spara. 
 
 GIZORR AND HOFGARDA REFR. 
 
 GizUR GoLDBROW Poet's fragment of an Encomium on King Olaf 
 Haroldsson is the only piece left of this poet, who fell with his master. 
 He is also mentioned as being at the court of Olaf the Swedish king. 
 His Gold-bro<w was doubtless his love, like Thormod's Coal-brow. 
 
 HOF-GARTH Ref. The son of Steinunn the heathen poetess who 
 opposed Thangbrand. We know nothing of his life, but we have part of 
 a poem on Thorstein Egihon (the poet's son), of a Dirge on his foster- 
 father Gizur Goldbrow the Poet, who was slain at Sticklestead, a bit of 
 a Shield Song in court-metre, and part of a poem on a sailing voyage. We 
 find an echo of Hus-drapa (on Thorstein's mother's father Olaf Peacock) 
 in the first line of his Thorstein-drapa. 
 
 F 
 
 GIZORR GULLBRAR-SKALD. 
 On St. Olave ? (Edda). 
 YLKIR gleSr 1 folki flakk ok svan Hlakkar ; 
 
 Alafr of vi6r ^lom Yggs gsogl fegin Ska)glar. 
 
 SKALD-REFR. 
 
 I. On Thorstein Egilsson.'' (Edda). 
 
 I. /^RIOT-ALDAR l^k gildi ge6-reinar i'orsteini ; 
 ^^ berg-Mcera glymr bara ; bi6-ek If 3a kyn hl^^Sa. 
 
 sword-cut corses drifted, with the sand in their mouth, on the sea- 
 washed shores. It was a sign of great prowess that in such a deed of 
 arms he marched next to the king, 
 
 A myth-blending. 
 
 a. Herself of her sons c. The gentle goddess [Scathe] 
 
 b. Kialar [Woden] broke d. Hamtheow never was 
 
 a. Gudrun was the death. r. did not love the Wane [Niord]. 
 
 b. his hoiS2S well. d. sparing of sword-play. 
 
 Gizur Goldbrow on St. Olaf. The king gladdens the roving wolf, and 
 the swan of the Walkyria, Olaf, battens the Walkyria's fowl in the 
 gale of Woden. 
 
 Hof-GARTH Ref. Thorstein Egilsson' s Praise at his Wedding Feast. 
 Prologue. I deliver the Banquet-drink of the Rock-men [poetry] out 
 of my mind-field to Thorstein. Lo, the Wave of the Hill-dwellers 
 
 I. tek] rer, Cd.
 
 §4.] GIZORR AND HOFGARDA REFR. 167 
 
 2. Allz b3o6-gae6i bi68a (baor raeSr til J)ess higorva) 
 6gn-sta)3var hefik gegi ein-ra9it t'orsteini. 
 
 3. Gekk 1 goUi stokkna giaof-n'fr Hars-drifo S 
 askr vi6 oerinn JDroka 'es freyr' saeing meyjar. 
 
 4. Enn hodd-vaDnu6r hlyddi (hlunn vitnis em-ek runni 
 hollr) til herm6ar spialla (hein-vandil) t'orsteini. 
 
 II. Dirge on Gizor Gullbrar-skald. 
 
 (Verses i, 2, 4 from Edda.) 
 
 1. /^PT kom iar6ar leiptra ' es ' Baldr hniginn skaldi 
 ^^ hollr at helgo fulli Hrafn-Asar mer stafna. 10 
 
 2. f'ser eigo ver veigar Valgautz salar brautar 
 fals hrann-vala fannar framr valdi tamr gialda. 
 
 3. Einn ha8i gnf Gunnar gall bal Hars stala 
 rimmo askr vi8 rajskva regn-bi66r tva J)egna : 
 dal-steypir hio Draupniss doegg-Frey bana hoeggvi 15 
 (hann raud iarn) enn annan, ar-strauma, vann saran. 
 
 4. Dagr vas fri6r sa-es fa)gro fleygendr alin-leygjar 
 1 hang-feril hringa hl;(^r-tungli mer Jjrungo. 
 
 III. Of a Voyage (Edda). 
 
 I. A T'AG-f'RYSTA berr vestan (vaetti-ek landz fyrir brandi) 
 * [hval-moeni skefr] huna hog-dfr of laDg bogo. 20 
 
 2 Foerir bia)rn, }Dar-es bara brestr, undinna festa 
 
 opt 1 Ymis kioepta ur-sva^l Gymiss va)lva : 
 enn sia-gnfpo Sleipnir slitr lir-drifinn hvitrar 
 Ranar rau6om steini runnit briost or munni. 
 
 [my song] is roaring. I ask men to listen ; for I mean to offer the sea 
 of the mind of Woden [poetry], that I have devised, to Thorstein ; he 
 asked me to do so. 
 
 Stave. He went in the bloom of youth into the maiden's bed , . . and 
 the prince listened to Thorstein . . . 
 
 Dirge on Gizur Goldbro^w, his master. The dear dead poet often 
 brought me the holy toast-cup of the Raven-God [taught me song-craft]. 
 I have to requite thee for these bowls of Woden, thou master of the . . . 
 
 Of his bravery at Sticklestead. Alone in the battle he bravely en- 
 countered two men. To one he gave a death-stroke, the other got 
 a wound. 
 
 On the gift of a shield. It was a happy day when they placed the fair 
 shield on my arm. 
 
 On sailing. The gentle mast-beast is bearing her wave-beaten bows 
 from the west. I see land ahead, the whale-roof [sea] is splashing. The 
 ice-cold Sibyl of Gymi [Ran] often drags the bear of the twisted cable 
 [ship] down to the jaws of Eager [ocean] where the billow breaks, but 
 the foam-flecked steed of the sea-ridges tears her breast, painted with 
 red earth, out of the mouth of Ran's husband. 
 
 6. Read, ok freyr? 11. Valgautr, Cd,
 
 1 68 ST. OLAFS COURT. ' [bk. viii. 
 
 3. Hrynja fiaoU a fyllar framm cesisk nu Glamma 25 
 ski6 VetrliSi skeiSa skaut-bia)rn Gusiss-nauta. 
 
 4. Bor8-ristinn nemr briosti bor8-heim drasill skorSo ; 
 nau8 J)olir vi8r ; enn vi8i verpr inn of J)raom stinnan. 
 
 5. Ssell es hinn es hranna ha-dyra vel st^Tir 
 
 (ti9 eromk Vitniss va3a vin-ger8) unir sino. 30 
 
 IV. Riddle (Skalda, Edda Lauf.). 
 OODS ok si6ra he8na sundr foerir trd grundi. 
 
 MINOR FRAGMENTS. 
 
 Bersi, the son of Poetess Torwa (Skald-Torfoson), made a short 
 Song of Praise on King Olaf Haroldsson, as is told in Olaf s Life. " Bersi 
 was on tiie forecastle of Earl Sweyn's ship at Nesia battle; and when his 
 ship withdrew from out of the rest of the fleet, King Olaf called out 
 aloud when he caught sight of Bersi, — for he was easy to know, being a 
 very handsome man, wonderfully well-weaponed and clothed, — ' Farewell, 
 Bersi!' He answered, 'Keep well, King!' so he says in a short poem 
 which he made when he was come into King Olaf's hands and was 
 sitting in fetters." 
 
 He was once with King Cnut, who gave him two gold rings, each 
 worth half a mark, and a mounted sword withal. There is an allusion 
 to these gifts in a verse of Sighvat's, who complains that he did not fare 
 so well himself. 
 
 St. Olaf's Praise. A morsel of a poem on St. Olaf, and a fragment 
 on Klaeng, both by unknown authors. 
 
 lOKUL Bardsson, a gallant Icelander from Waterdale, an enemy of 
 St. Olaf, cruelly put to death c. 1028. His dying words are here 
 preserved. 
 
 Harek of Thiotto, the son of Eywind the poet, a sturdy North- 
 man of the old franklin type. His clever escape from the great 
 Danish Armada, 1027, must have given the Haloga-lander a laugh at 
 the Danes for many a day. * I am not used to walking,' he said, when 
 after the Holy-River battle King Olaf abandoned his fleet, and every 
 one else had to go ashore and return to Norway overland, not daring 
 to pass Ore Sound. *I am too old and heavy!' So he dressed his ship 
 like a herring-boat and slipped through the Sound past tlie Danish fleet, 
 till he got out far enough to feel the wind, and then ' hoisted his sails 
 and showed his gilt-vanes ; the sails were white as snow, and striped 
 white and blue,' in defiance of the whole fleet. So that the chagrined 
 
 O Winterlid, the sea-mountains [rollers] dash upon the ship. . . . 
 
 And the sea takes hold of the bows of the shores' steed, the timbers 
 strain, and the water comes pouring in over the stiff" gunwale. 
 
 Blessed is the steersman of the big billows' beast [ship], that is content 
 with his lot. I am wont to make the wine of the Wolf's foe [Woden : 
 Song]. 
 
 Riddle 'wholly dark to us. 
 
 26. Emend. ; skei3 . . . ski3a, Cd.
 
 §2.] MINOR FRAGMENTS. 169 
 
 Danes, to cover their disappointment, declared that he had been allowed 
 to get by under a secret agreement with the king. 
 
 The Poets at Sticklestead, see the introduction to Thormod 
 Coalbrow's poet below. 
 
 Bryniolf Ulfaldi [camel], his ditty on the king's gift. 
 
 Helgi the Poet, of whom there was a lost Saga, see Proleg. § 23. 
 
 The Fragment on Tryggvi. A man calling himself Tryggvi, and 
 pretending to be the son of Olaf Tryggvisson, came to Norway to claim 
 the throne in 1033, but was defeated and slain by Sweyn ^Ifgifuson. 
 He had, however, friends who mourned his death in such poems as the 
 one we have a piece of, by some man who was in the battle. One of 
 Sweyn's eulogists made a short poem on the same subject, of which a 
 verse also remains. 
 
 St. Olave. There are several verses ascribed to St. Olaf himself, 
 ■which, though probably wrongly ascribed to him, are of his day, and 
 therefore to be given here. The first may even be the king's, it is not 
 by a practised poet ; the second may be by the author of the anonymous 
 ' flokk ' upon him ; the fourth is by a courtier after Erling Skialgsson's 
 death. 
 
 Bersi Skald-Torfoson (a Flokk on St. Olaf). 
 
 1. TTRODRS ba8tu heilan li3a hag-kennanda J)enna ; 
 ■^ -*- enn snar-reki sliko svarat unno ver gunnar : 
 or3 seldom ver elda ut-hau6rs bo6a trau6ir 
 
 knarrar haptz, sem ek keypta kyn-stors at vi6 brynjo. 
 
 2. Sveins raunir hef-ek sdnar (snart rekninga biartar) 5 
 (J)ar-es sval-tungor sungo saman foro ver) storar : 
 
 elgs mun-ek eigi fylgja ut hr]3-bo6a si6an 
 ' hellzt ' at hverjom kosti hranna dj^rra manni. 
 
 3. Kr/p-ek eigi^sva, sveigir sara linnz, i ari 
 
 (buom olitinn Ata a)ndor) J)er til handa : 10 
 
 at ek her-stefni hafna hei3-mildr e6a ek })a lei6omk 
 (ungr kunna-ek J)a J)roengvi J)inn) holl-vini mina. 
 
 On St. Olaf (Fragment). 
 
 Alafr knyr und jorom or6-sniallr Visund nor6an, 
 br^^tr annarr gramr ud unn-heim Dreka sunnan. 
 
 Bersi, Poet Torfs son, on St. Olaf, at the Nesia battle. Thou didst 
 hail me and I answered, paying back word for word as I got them from 
 him. I have seen the great woes of Sweyn, for we were together in the 
 battle. I shall never follow a better man to battle. I am not cringing 
 to thy hand, O king, to renounce my lord or turn away from my faithful 
 friend, for I was with thy foe from my youth up. 
 
 Unnamed Poet on St. Olaf. Olaf plies the Bison under oars from the 
 north ; the other king [Gnut] from the south to seaward cleaves the 
 wave-world with his Dragon. 
 
 8. Read, haestr. lo. Ata] liti, Cd.
 
 lyo ST. OLAFS COURT. [bk. vm. 
 
 On Klong Brusason. 
 
 Brunno allvaldz inni (eldr hygg-ek at sal feldi) 15 
 
 [eimr skaut a her hrimi] half-goer vi3 Ni9 sialfa. 
 
 lOKULL BaRDARSON. 
 
 1. Hlaut-ek fra Suit (enn sasta si6 fregn at ek kviSa) 
 [vaon eromk hreggs at hreini hl<rs] J)vi skipi stfra : 
 es y^-st^ttar atti Aleifr funa kleifar 
 
 (gramr vas sniallr) a sumri (sigri rsentr) inn Digri. 20 
 
 2. Svi6a SEor af moeSi ; setiS hef-ek opt vi6 betra; 
 und es a oss su-es spraendi 6trau6 legi rau9om : 
 b^ss mer bl63 or \>essi ben ; tek vi3 Jjrek venjask ; 
 verpr hialm-gaofugr hilmir heid-saerr a mik reiSi. 
 
 HaREKR or t'lOTTO. 
 
 1. Ra6it hef-ek at ri6a Rin-leygs he6an minom 25 
 la6s dyn-mari lei6ar laDngom heldr an ganga : 
 
 f)6tt legg-fiaoturs liggi lundr i Eyrar-sundi 
 (kann J)i63 kerski minni) Knutr her-skipom uti. 
 
 2. Lekkat-ek Lundar ekkjor (Lse-baugs) at JDvI hlaegja 
 (skiotom eik fyrir utan ey) ne Danskar meyjar : 30 
 iaarS, at ek eigi J)cer6ak, ifla flaustz, 1 hausti 
 
 a flat-sl66ir Fr66a fara aptr vali krapta. 
 
 The Poets at Stiklastad. 
 Gt'zur : 
 
 Skala oglaSan ifa (or9 fregin J^at) [bor8a] 
 [buoink vi6 t)roeng a t)ingi] t)egns dottir mik fregna : 
 
 On Kl^eng. The king's half-built houses were burnt on the banks of 
 the Nith. The fire, I ween, broke down the hall, and the smoke spread 
 soot on the people. 
 
 lokul Bard's son. Death Song. My lot last summer was to steer the 
 ship [the Bison] from Suit, wliich was once Olaf the Stout's, who was 
 deprived of victory. INIy wounds smart ; 1 have often fared better. I 
 have a wound that spirts red fluid freely ; the blood gushes out of my 
 wound ; I keep a stout heart. The wage-paying king casts his wrath 
 on me. 
 
 Harek ofThiotto. I have made up my mind to ride my ship rather than 
 walk, though Cnut with his war-ships is lying out in Ore Sound. I 
 will not make the damsels of Lund or the Danish maidens laugh 
 because I dared not go home over the flat roads of Frodi. Let ns clear 
 Wetherey ! 
 
 The Pcets at Sticklestead. Gizur. The thane's daughter shall not hear 
 that I was sorry for the battle. The word is spoken. Let us make 
 
 23. J)essu beni, Cd.
 
 §2.] MINOR FRAGMENTS. 171 
 
 J)6tt sig-runnar svinnir segi vaon HeSins kvanar 35 
 
 (vesom i Ala eli) austr (bragningi at trausti). 
 Thorfinn Month : 
 
 Roekkr at regni miklo randar-gar6z ins harSa ; 
 vill vi6 visa sniallan VerdoCla lid berjask: 
 verjom allvald sorvan ; a)Iom teitan ma sveita ; 
 fellom troendr 1 I'undar (^ess eggjomk ver) hreggi. 40 
 Thormod : 
 
 Ala t)ryngr at ^li aor-stiklanda miklo; 
 skyldo eigi skelknir haoldar (skalm-a)ld es nu) falma : 
 buomk vid sokn, enn sloekin seggr skyli or6 um forSask, 
 es at geir-J)ingi ga)ngom gunn-reifom me& Aleifi. 
 
 Bryniolf Ulfalbi. 
 Bragningr gaf mer brand ok Vgttalandir. 45 
 
 Skald-Helgi. 
 
 (From AM. 738.) 
 
 (Megot iarna fet fyrnask) friSar skepjanda miSjom. 
 Tryggva Flokkr. 
 
 Tfr-eggja6r for Tryggvi (toksk mor6 af J)vi) nor6an; 
 enn Sveinn konungr sinni sunnan fer3 at gunni : 
 nser vas-ek jDausnom J)eirra; J)at bar skiott at moti; 
 herr t/ndi J)ar HaDrSa (hia)r-ga»ll vas {)a) fisorvi. 50 
 
 Another (Anonymous). 
 
 ASA Sunno-dag, svanni (seggr hne margr und eggjar) 
 morgun J)ann sem manni maer lauk e3a a)l bseri : 
 
 ready for the crowded shield-moot. Though the people say in the east 
 that there is a battle to come, let us stand true to the king. 
 
 Thorfinn Mouth. The great tempest is darkening over the hard shield- 
 wall. The Werdalesmen are going to fight a,'ainst our king. Let us 
 defend our lord, and fell the Thronds in Woden's storm. So we e^g 
 one another on. 
 
 Thormod Coalbroiu's poet. The battle is gathering fast, men must 
 not fumble now for fear. Let us make ready now for the fray, and let 
 no cowardly word be spoken. Now we go forward with the brave 
 Olaf to the court of spears. 
 
 Bryniolf. The king gave me a sword and Wettaland. 
 
 Poet Helgi. The sword-prints will not grow old .... 
 
 Tryggvi's Verses. Tryggvi came from the north, and Svveyn from 
 the south. I was present at the fray which broke out suddenly. A host 
 of the Hords lost their lives. 
 
 On Sweyn /Elfgifu's son [perhaps by the same poet]. That Sunday 
 44. gunn-reifr, Cd. 50. har6a, Cd. 
 
 V
 
 172 ST. OLAFS COURT. [bk. viii. 
 
 es Sveinn konungr sina saman tengja ba9 drengi 
 (hratt gafsk hold at slita hrafni) skeidar stafna. 
 
 Olafr Helgi. 
 
 (Verses 1-3 from Flatey-bok iii. 241 ; verse 4 from O. H.L.) 
 
 1. SegiQ ^r Karla es koemr hingat 55 
 ny'tom ^egni fyrir norSan haf: 
 
 at fleira skal i fa)rom vinna 
 an hylda hval hva)SSOin knifi. 
 
 2. Naer es sem upp or eiso (innar li't-ek til kvinna) 
 [snot hver sva miok lati seg Jdu mer] loga bregdi : 60 
 mik hefir mala sykninn mest a ska^mmo fresti 
 (gekk-ek um golf at drekka) Gramr ok Brattir-hamrar. 
 
 3. Fagr st66-ek, es bar briii blakkr, ok sak a sprakka, 
 (oss l^t ynSiss missa aug-fa)gr kona) a haugi : 
 
 keyrSi ger6r or garSi g66lat vala sl66ar 65 
 
 eik, enn ein gla)p soekir iarl hvern, konor allar. 
 
 4. Litt man haoldr inn hvfti (hrafn etr af na getnom) 
 [ver unnom gny gunnar] gla6r 1 natt a laSri : 
 
 sva hefir a)llungis ilia (ek gekk reiSr of skeidir) 
 
 [iaorS veldr manna morSi] mitt ran geti6 hanom. 70 
 
 THORMOD COALBROW'S POET. 
 
 In a very charming Saga, that of the ' Foster-brothers,' we have the 
 story of a poet whose life was as wild and adventurous as any of the 
 long list of Northern poets. Like the others, Cormak, Gunlaug, and 
 Hallfred, he was unlucky in his loves. There is an amusing tale told 
 of one of his poems in his Saga which is worth giving here. 
 
 morning it was not as when the maid is serving men with leeks or ale, 
 when King Sweyn bade his men lash the prows of the galleys together. 
 
 Ascribed to King Olaf. Tell Charles the good farmer, north over sea, 
 that there is better work to do here than cutting up a whale with 
 a whetted knife. 
 
 A love ditty. It is like a fire breaking out of the glowing embers — 
 my love. I am looking at the ladies passing ; tell me, who so proud as 
 she ! I am going to drink in the house. Ingibiorg [lit. King-Hill, a 
 word-play] has made me speechless in a little space. 
 
 I stood on the howe when the steed bore the lady away. She seemed 
 fair to me. She went out of our sight. She turned her horse out of the 
 yard. Every man has his madness. 
 
 After Erling's death. The White One of ladar will not be merry 
 to-night. His plundering of me has turned out altogether ill for himself. 
 
 65. gorSom, Cd.
 
 §2.] THORMOD COALBROW'S POET. 173 
 
 " He made a poem of praise on his love, Thorbiorg Coalbrow, which 
 he called Coalbrow's verses ; and when he had made it he delivered it, 
 so that many men heard it. Katla, Coalbrow's mother, drew a great 
 and fair finger-ring off her hand and said, ' This finger-ring I will give 
 thee, Thormod, as a poet's fee and as a name-gift ; for I will give thee a 
 name, thou shalt be called Coalbrow's poet.' But Thormod was fickle, 
 and went off to stay with Grima, the mother of Thordis, another of his 
 loves, at Ogur. Grima welcomed him kindly, but Thordis bridled a little 
 and looked askant at him, 'as is women's wont when they are not quite 
 content with a man.' Thormod, ' remembering the old saw, that it is 
 easier to land your fish if you keep the line a bit slack,' tries to soothe 
 her by calling to mind former love-passages between them ; and at last 
 she explains her behaviour. ' I have heard tell that thou hast got a new 
 love, and hast made a song of praise on her.' Thormod, innocently, ' Who 
 is this love of mine that thou say est I have made a poem on? ' Thordis, 
 ' It is Thorbiorg, west in Ernedale !' Thormod, boldly, ' It is not true 
 at all that I made a poem on Thorbiorg ; what is true is, that I made a 
 song of praise on thee when I was in Ernedale ; for it came into my 
 mind how much difference there was between thee and Thorbiorg in 
 beauty, and in behaviour also ; but now I am here I will recite the poem 
 to thee.' So he recited Coalbrow's verses to her, turning to the praise 
 of Thordis the expressions that were of the most personal bearing in his 
 poem on Thorbiorg. This had the desired effect, and Thordis took him 
 back to favour again. But one night, when Thormod lay at home in 
 Long-boll, he dreamed that Thorbiorg Coalbrow came to him and 
 asked him whether he was waking or sleeping. He said he was waking. 
 Said she, ' Thou art asleep, but what happens to thee in thy sleep shall 
 be fulfilled when thou wakest. But what is this ? Hast thou given to 
 another woman the poem thou didst make for me? ' Thormod answered, 
 readily, ' It is not so.' Said Thorbiorg, ' Aye, but it is so, thou hast 
 given my song to Thordis, Grima's daughter, and turned to her the love- 
 phrases that thou didst make for me ; for thou didst not dare, thou 
 craven, to tell the truth, and say for whom thou hadst made it. But I 
 will pay thee for thy leasing and lie, thou shalt be seized with such great 
 and dire pains in thine eyes, that both thine eyes shall start out of thine 
 head, save thou publish before all men thy shameful dealing in taking 
 my Song of Praise from me and giving it to another woman. Thou 
 shalt never be hale again till thou cast out those verses which thou hast 
 turned to Thordis' praise, and put back those thou didst make on me ; 
 and do not call thy poem by any woman's name but mine, for whom it 
 was made.' He awoke terrified, with a pain in the eyes so bad that he 
 could hardly help crying out, and got no more sleep or rest. His father 
 Bersi went to see him, and when he heard of his dream he said, ' Thy 
 loves bring thee no good ; through one thou gottest such a wound as thou 
 wilt never be a sound man again [when Thormod was set upon by 
 Colback Grima's thrall], and now thou art like to lose thine eyes by the 
 other. I counsel thee to obey thy dream as soon as may be.' And so 
 Thormod did, and his eyes got well again." 
 
 His friendships brought him almost as much trouble as his love. His 
 first friend and foster-brother, Thorgeir Hawarsson, was slain, and 
 Thormod went out to Greenland and avenged him in the most sweep- 
 ing and dauntless way, at the hazard of his life, lying out on the desert 
 reefs, cold and hunted about, and after the most hair-breadth escapes 
 getting away from the Arctic regions and coming to St. Olaf, with 
 whom he was in high favour. But this second friendship cost him
 
 174 ST. OLAF'S COURT. [bk. viii. 
 
 his life, for he fought and fell with his master at Sticklestead, as the 
 fine passages in the Kings' Lives tell us. 
 
 When the king had set his men in array in a ' shield wall ' or phalanx, 
 he called to his poets and bade them come inside the shield wall. ' Ye 
 shall be here,' said he, ' and see what things shall betide, then shall ye 
 have no hearsay tales to tell, for ye shall set forth all these things in tale 
 and poems afterwards.' There were there that day Thcrmod Coal- 
 brow's poet, Gizur Goldbrow, the foster-son of Hof-garth Ref, and the 
 third of them was Thorfinn jNIouth [Sighvat being away on a pilgrimage 
 in Rome]. Then spake Thormod to Gizur, 'Aye, let us not stand too 
 close for Sighvat to take his place when he comes ; he will want to be 
 next the king, and the king will like him to be there.' The king heard 
 this, and answered, ' There is no need to sneer at Sighvat for not being 
 here, he has often followed me closely ; and he is praying for us now, 
 and we shall have no small need of his prayers.' Said Thormod, ' JNIaybe, 
 O king, that ye need his prayers; but the ranks round the banner-pole 
 would be thinned if all thy henchmen were now on the way to Rome ; 
 and it is true, that we often used to say, that through Sighvat there was 
 no room for a man who wished to speak to thee.' Then the poets spake 
 among themselves, saying that it would be very meet that each should 
 make a memorial verse concerning those things which were near at 
 hand and like to befall. These three vei-ses have survived and are given 
 above, pp. 170-171. 
 
 Again it is written, how in the night before the battle Olaf was sleep- 
 less and awoke in the early dawn, and thought it too early to rouse his 
 host, and called for Thormod. He was near at hand, and asked what 
 the king wanted with him. ' Recite us a poem now.' Thormod got 
 up, and recited in a very loud voice, so that he was heard by all the 
 host ; and the poem he recited was the old Lay of Biarki. [See Book 
 iii. § 3.] Then the host awoke, and when the poem was ended men 
 thanked him for his poem, and thought highly of it, holding it very well 
 fitted to the time, and they called the poem the 'Guard's call.' The king 
 thanked him too, and gave him a gold ring worth half a mark. Thormod 
 thanked him for his gift and said, ' We have a good king, but who 
 knows how long he may live? This is my prayer, O king, that we two 
 shall never part alive or dead.' The king answered, ' We will never 
 part by my will.' Then Thormod said, ' I hope that I may be found near 
 thee, O king, in good hap or ill, as long as I may have my will, no matter 
 where Sighvat may be roaming with his gold-hilted sword.' 
 
 Thormod had his wish; he got a deadly hurt from a javelin, and after 
 the fight went to a barn where the wounded lay, and there improvised 
 two or three verses in answer to those who asked for news of the battle 
 [see p. 177]. The nurse, seeing his pale face, said, ' Why wilt thou not let 
 me search thy wounds ? ' He replied in verse, and before he could speak 
 the last word, fell dead to earth, like a nightingale shot in the midst of its 
 song. And it is told that King Harold Sigurdsson filled up the half-finished 
 line with the word 'svida,' saying, 'That is what he must have meant to put!' 
 
 The jealous love and passionate irony of Thormod are well brought 
 out in the fine scene — too long to quote here — in the Kings' Lives. 
 Thormod's real poetry was rather in his deeds than in his words. Of his 
 person, we hear from himself that he was dark-haired, left-handed, and 
 had an impediment in his speech. 
 
 The dirge Thorgeir s-drapa in the Saga is spurious, the Coalbroiv's 
 verses have been lost, and most of the Greenland improvisations are not 
 authentic ; but the verses relating to the last scene of the king's and
 
 §2.] THORMOD COALBROW'S POET. 175 
 
 his own life, some twenty stanzas in all, especially those cited in the 
 Legendary Saga of St. Olaf or in the Kings' Lives, may in part be 
 genuine, and have a real and peculiar beauty of their own. As to the 
 verse spoken to Loftung, it can hardly be Thormod's, for Thorarin was 
 not a poet of St. Olaf, but of Cnut and his son ; so, believing as we do, 
 that the piece is genuine, it must have been spoken by some poet of the 
 Danish king's court. 
 Verses 3-6, 12-19 are taken from O. H. L. ; verses i, 7-1 1 from Fbr. S. 
 
 1. TLLA ri6-ek \)vi es allar (ey-draupniss) gaf ek meyjo 
 J- (mer barsk doms 1 drauma dis) Kolbrunar-vfsor : 
 \)i tok-ek J)orna Freyjo (|)ru6r kann mart in pru6a) 
 [liknomk heldr vi6 Hildi hvitings] a mer vi'ti. 
 
 2. f'arf sa-es J^er skal hverfa, J)engill, fyrir kn^ lengi 5 
 (svarar-J)u hogliga hverjo) hug-bor3 (konungr orSi) : 
 
 fair ero ver (enn fr/jo frsendr orom p6 vaendir), 
 [minnomk meirr a annat mitt starf] konung-diarfir. 
 
 3. f'er man-ek enn unz aD6rom allvaldr nair skaldom 
 (nser vgettir pu J)eira ?) t)ing-diarfr fyrir kn6 hvarfa .... 10 
 
 4. Loftungo gaftu lengi lattr {)at-es Fafnir atti 
 
 Jdu l^zt mer, inn maeri, merkr fran-a^luns vanir .... 
 
 5. Flestr of ser hve fasta fagr-bunar hef-ek tuna 
 ba6ar hendr or brendom bardz jDiofi-konungs garSi : 
 
 eld a-ek ia)fri at gialda ungr, J)eim-es breg6r hungri 15 
 diups (berr-ek goll a greipom) graQogs ara (booSom). 
 
 6. Hafa ]3(jt-ttomk ek, haettinn happ-soekjandi, ef tcekir 
 hreins vi6 haldi mine ' hvert land ' t)egit, branda : 
 rikr vil-ek me3 J)er rcekir randar-linnz ok Finni 
 
 (rajnd berom ut a andra ey-baugs) lifa ok deyja. 20 
 
 7. Orvendi trezk undir (opt finnomk Jjess minni) 
 [a)ll es fremd of fallin fisor-nepps 1 stra greppi] : 
 
 Hh apology to Coalbro'w. I did ill when I gave all Coalbrow's verses 
 to the maid ; she [Coalbrow] appeared to me in a dream. I got a 
 punishment in my body from her. 
 
 To King Olaf. He need have a stout heart [lit. a high freeboard] who 
 would stand long beside thy knee, O king ; few of us kinsmen are bold 
 before kings. 
 
 His constant faithfulness. Till thou get other poets, king, I will be 
 ready at thy knee .... 
 
 {His jealousy. Thou hast given Praise-Tongue gold, thou hast let me 
 hope for gold too. Every man can see that I have both my arms adorned 
 with burnt gold. I must repay the king for it. I have gold on both 
 hands. I should think that I had grasped heaven in my hands if thou 
 wouldst receive me. I am ready to live and die with thee and Fin 
 (Arnisson).] 
 
 His biography. All my honour is perished. My left-handedness must 
 
 18. Read, hreggland (heaven)? 21. Read, tesk?
 
 176 ST. OLAFS COURT. [bk. vm. 
 
 ef hregg-bo9a hoeggit hef-ek vart i skaor svarta 
 nadda-bor6z ^vi-at nir6i nsettings bana veittag. 
 
 8. Undr es hvi ekki kendo el-bsorvar mik goerva 25 
 stals ; hefig mark a mali mart ok skopt it svarta : 
 burgomk, langs J)vi-at lengra Iff vas ty skapaS drffo, 
 Jjremja svellz, enn Jjolli |)eim aldr-tili seima. 
 
 9. Matka-ek hefnd (enn hrafni brings fekk-ek bra)6 a t^ingi) 
 [Baldrs let-ek vfgi valdit varga setrs] vi6 marga : 30 
 gny^-|)olli l^t-ek gialla, goert hefek fyrir mik svartan, 
 meirr hefni \)6 J)eira I'orgeirs vinir fleiri. 
 
 10. Skopta-ek J)a es uppi undarlegr a sundi 
 
 hrokr do heimskr vi6 klceki bans raza klof ganSi : 
 
 alia leit-ek a Ulli egg-ve6rs hugar-gloeggom 35 
 
 (setti gaurr, ok glotti) go6-fi6n (vi8 mer sionir). 
 
 11. (Els) befig fllan dila (Ekkils) {)eim-es mik sekQo 
 (geig vann-ek goervi-draugom) Groenlendingom brendan : 
 sa manat soeki-tivom sver6-els frajm fraDmom ver6a 
 brings a hryggjar tanga bog-groeddr nema mer logi. 40 
 
 12. Sex hefig allz, es 6x0 on hialta mer fionir, 
 (kendr er-mik vi8 styr stundom) stal-regns bo9a vegna : 
 nu em-ek enn (ok mank manna mor9) varliga (fordom) 
 [ver l^tom p6 J)eira] f)n'toegr [skarar bita]. 
 
 13. Brennom a)ll fyrir innan Inney J)au-es ver finnom 45 
 (la)nd tegask berr me8 hiaorvi) Herbia)rg (fyr gram verja) : 
 (y-ss) bafi allra husa Inn-f'rcendir kol sinna 
 
 (angr man kveykt 1 klungri) kaold, ef ek ma valda. 
 
 14. Ala l^ryngr at dli [seep. 171]. 
 
 15. Ort vas Alafs hiarta ; 69 gramr 1 styr bl69i ; 5° 
 rekin bito sta)l a Stikla-sta)9om, kvaddi li9 bao9var: 
 
 be in fault if I have struck a slack blow on his black head, for I meant to 
 kill him outright. It is a wonder they did not know me, for I have a 
 blemish in my speech, and black hair. I escaped, because much longer 
 life was fated to me, and destruction to them. I have not trusted others 
 with my revenge. I have struck his black pate, let other friends of 
 Thorgeir do more. 
 
 Satirical verses. I floated up, etc. 
 
 His I'aiint. I have branded the Greenlanders who outlawed me ; I did 
 them deadly hurt ; this spot on their back will not easily heal as long 
 as they leave me alive. I have been the death of six enemies, though I 
 am barely full thirty years old. 
 
 Before Sticklestead. Let US bum all the houses inside Herbiorg and 
 Inney. The In-Thronds' houses would be lying in cold ashes if I had my 
 will. Let the flames be kindled within their walls. 
 
 Jt Sticklestead. The battle is gathering fast, etc. See above, p. 171. 
 
 4fter Sticklestead. Proud was Olaf's heart ; the damasked steel bit at 
 
 45-46. innin . , . Hverbiorg, Hauksbok.
 
 §2.] THORMOD COALBROW'S POET. 177 
 
 /-J)olla sa-ek alia Ialfa6rs nema gram sialfan 
 (reyndr var9 flestr f fastri flein-drifo) ser hllfa. 
 
 16. A ser at ver varom vfg-reifir me6 Aleifi; 
 
 Sfflr fekk-ek, hildr, at hvcoro, hvitings, ok frid li'tinn: 55 
 'skinn' a skildi minom; skald fekk hn'Q til kalda; 
 nser hafa eski-askar a)rvendan mik goervan. 
 
 17. Haraldr sa-ek at vel varQisk vfg-reifr me9 Aleifi; 
 J3ar gekk harra hiaDrva Hringr ok Dagr at fingi: 
 
 t66o J)eir und rau6ar randir prutt at standa 60 
 
 (fekk ben-|)i6orr blakkan bior) daoglingar fiorir. 
 
 18. Undrask oegliss landa eik at ver s^m bleikir; 
 
 far ver6r fagr af sarom ; fann-ek a)rva-drif, svanni : 
 mik flo malmr enn doekkvi magni keyr6r 1 goegnom 
 hvast belt hiarta 't naesta hsettligt iarn, es ek vsetti. 65 
 
 19. Emkat-ek ri69r ne rauQom 'rse9r' gra^nn kona manni 
 hauka-setrs in hvita ; hyggr far um mik saran : 
 
 hitt veldr mer at meldrar mor9-venjandi Fenjo, 
 diup ok Danskra vapna Dags-hri9ar spor svida. 
 
 Sticklestead. I saw them all spare themselves save the king. Many a 
 man was hard put to it in the shaft-shower. 
 
 It can be seen that we were with Olaf : I got wounds and little mercy; 
 my shield is scored ; they have nearly done for the left-handed poet. 
 
 I saw Harold fighting fiercely by Olaf's side, Ring and Day went up to 
 the high sword-moot ; they stood gallantly under their red shields, those 
 four Ethelings. 
 
 His last verses. 'Why art thou so paleV says the lady. The maiden 
 marvels why I am so pale. I was in the arrow-shower, lady. Wounds do 
 not make a man fair. The black iron, hurled amain, has pierced me ; 
 the deadly steel has bitten me keenly to the heart's core, as I can feel. 
 
 I am neither red nor ruddy of hue, lady ; no one cares for me, a 
 wounded man. What ails me, maiden, is that the deep prints of the 
 Danish weapon and of the storm Day raised are — smarting. 
 
 56. Read, skeina es. 6i. ^iSors blakkr, Cd. 66. Read, ne rau9om 
 
 rseQk . . . 67-69. iarn stendr fast it forna fen-stigi mer benja ] Jjat veldr mer in 
 
 maera margl69ar nii tr69a | draupnis dyrra vapna D. s. sviSa, Hauks-bok ; um 
 haettinn . . , {)at veldr mer en maera mot eggiaSra spiota draupnis dyrra, O. H. L. 
 
 VOL. II.
 
 178 MAGNUS' AND HAROLD'S COURT. [bk. viri. 
 
 § 3. THE COURT POETRY OF MAGNUS 
 AND HAROLD HARDREDE. 
 
 (c. 1040-1070.) 
 
 About the time of Cnut's death, probably in the summer following, 
 1036, Magnus (in the eleventh year of his age) was recalled from Russia, 
 and put on the throne ; and, as he was a child, and the nobles formed 
 a regency which ruled successfully, prosperity returned to Norway. 
 The young king grew up into a good ruler under the hands of his 
 friends and tutors. There was matter for bloodshed in the heritage 
 of Cnut ; but some kind of agreement was come to between Magnus 
 and Harda-Cnut, giving the survivor the right to both crowns of Den- 
 mark and Non;vay. 
 
 In March, 1042, Harda-Cnut died, upon which young Magnus (now 
 seventeen) set sail for Denmark to take possession of his kingdom. Here 
 a sorry inheritance awaited him : — A Wendish invasion into Jutland, 
 which Magnus defeated in a fierce battle near Hetheby (Sleswick near 
 Lurschau), Sept. 28th, 1043 (age then eighteen), and again at Scotborg 
 water (two battles within a few days). Here Sweyn Wolfsson, the 
 young Danish ' Earl,' fought by Magnus' side. Soon, however, Sweyn 
 rebelled, but was defeated in four successive battles (all in Jutland), 
 fought in one year (ISIagnus' twentieth) ; after which Magnus chased 
 Sweyn across Funen, Sealand, and Sconen, clean out of Denmark into 
 Sweden. 
 
 Meanwhile, Harold, the young half-brother of St. Olaf, had fought 
 and been wounded at Sticklestead when he was only fifteen years 
 old ; and after adventures in the woods, hiding from his enemies, he 
 escapes from Norway and gets to Russia, where St. Olaf's sister was 
 married and where he had friends and kinsfolk. Soon after we hear 
 of him as captain of the Warangian guard at Constantinople ; and 
 wonderful stories of his exploits in their service afterwards reached 
 Norway and are told in our Lives of him, how he slew a dragon, how 
 he fought in eighty engagements, how he had love-passages with Greek 
 princesses, shared twice in the imperial largesse at the Emperors' death, 
 and finally broke from an imprisonment which he had earned by his 
 adventures, and came home with his hoard of money, and his repute 
 as a great captain, to claim his share of his family's restored good- 
 fortune. Magnus agrees to accept him as fellow-king ('1046). 
 
 The reason why INIagnus, in the height of his good luck and in prime of 
 youth, should consent to accept a joint king has never been duly given, 
 and one cannot believe the puerile account given in the Saga. There 
 are manifest marks that weighty plans were brewing, Magnus, now king 
 of Denmark and Norway, meant to reconquer Cnut's empire ; and to 
 this end Harold's experience and treasure were serviceable. Even the 
 Saga gives hints, how Magnus, like Cnut of yore to his father, wrote a 
 letter to King Edward to yield up his kingdom. The Chronicles mention 
 about this time an incursion led by Yrling and Lodin (Erling Skialg-
 
 \ 
 
 §3.] MAGNUS AND HAROLD. 179 
 
 son's son and grandson?). But the young king Magnus' sudden death 
 in Sealand (Denmark) gave things another turn. Saxo relates the 
 accident. His horse took fright in a forest at a hare crossing the path, 
 and the king struck (his head ?) against a jutting stump of a tree, of 
 which he died 25th Oct. 1047, in his twenty-fourth year. The Saga 
 makes no mention of the accident, but speaks of the young king's dying 
 in a strange and mysterious way, as though from fever or concussion of 
 brain ; probably he was not killed on the spot, but died from the effects 
 of the blow ; and so but half the story was told. Thus by an untimely 
 end was the heroic son of St. Olaf cut off in the prime of life. 
 
 In Norwegian Law Traditions, Magnus is the mender and betterer of 
 St. Olaf's law. He, they say, gave the Thronds their code Greygoose. 
 Hence he was called the ' Good,' the Debonair. Upon his death Danish 
 Sweyn took heart, and the Danes rose afresh to shake off the rule of 
 Harold, whose reign of nineteen years is filled up by troubles at home 
 and by expeditions, victorious but fruitless, into Denmark ; by prepara- 
 tions for an English expedition, and the establishment of a somewhat 
 tyrannical power in Norway. Here he was driven, by his policy of 
 keeping down the great houses, to the murder of Einar, the veteran of 
 Swold, and of Calf Arnason, the captain of Sticklestead, which bred 
 much evil feeling. In 1062 he at last made peace with Denmark, 
 giving up the game ; then followed an insurrection of the borderers 
 in the Uplands in Norway (1065). 
 
 When Harold at last went out on his forlorn fatal errand he was in his 
 fifty-second year, worn by toil, too old one may safely say. 
 
 Early in 1066 the news came of the Confessor's death, and in that 
 year Harold sets sail with 360 ships to the west, picks up the Orkney Earls 
 and their force, engages other hireling troops, and coasting southwards, 
 meets Tosti with his twelve ships full of Flemings (the remains of a 
 squadron of sixty), who is glad to join him. After a temporary success 
 and the surrender of York, Harold Godwinesson hurries northwards, and 
 by some means, not explained in our authorities, Harold and Tosti, with 
 a part of their force, are brought face to face with the whole English 
 army. The details of the battle in the Kings' Lives are of course, as 
 pointed out by Mr. Freeman, apocryphal, and even the verse said to 
 have been sung by Harold would seem to be part of an earlier poem; 
 but after a sharp engagement, in which the king's persona! following and 
 Tosti's Flemings seem to have borne the brunt (the Norsemen would 
 have suffered less, for we find only one mention of men ' falling with the 
 king at Stamford Bridge,' Brand an Icelander), it is certain that Harold, 
 his marshal Eystan Gorcock, and Tosti were slain, and the whole expedi- 
 tion thus brought to nought. 
 
 There are fewer verses on the battle and its circumstances than 
 we should expect from the king being a poet himself and a great 
 patron of poets, and we get little help from them. One verse by 
 Thiodwulf (who was present at the battle), whicli is made by the prose 
 Chronicles to be spoken before the king's fall, must refer to the de- 
 spondency felt immediately after that event, for the word 'avengers,' 
 i.e. 'sons,' is only used of near of kin whose relations have met with 
 bloody deaths, and the first line must be mended in consequence. 
 Harold Godwinesson's leniency after the battle and the wise policy of 
 William, who feared Denmark and therefore favoured Norway, seem 
 to have brought about a friendly feeling between Englishmen and North- 
 men during Olaf the Qiiiet's reign, and the rise and growth of his 
 merchant town at Bergen is a memorial of increased trade and
 
 i8o MAGNUS' AND HAROLD'S COURT. [bk. vin. 
 
 intercourse between the two countries, which brought in the new 
 medieval fashions and ways of life, so that Harold's death marks the 
 beginning of a fresh era of culture in Norway. 
 
 The name Hardrada (Tyrant) is never given by the Icelanders to 
 Harold; whatever he may have been to his subjects, to them he was 
 ever favourable, helped them in the famine of 1056, sent timber for a 
 church at Thingwalla; and though we hear of his cynical speeches, 
 and his somewhat cruel sport of setting his sensitive and jealous poets 
 to use their gifts one against the other, we should only get a good 
 character of this king from them. It was the Norwegians who gave him 
 the name, in contrast to the debonairte of Magnus ; that it w-as extant in 
 his day, the corruptions of the English Chronicle ' Harfayera' etc. show. 
 In Northern authorities it only appears in the superscription to three 
 chapters in Fagrskinna, which was written in Norway, whence, through 
 Torfaeus, it has passed into modern use. 
 
 Harold composed a short poem, recounting some of his exploits to 
 his lady ; and several stray verses, which we still possess, but probably 
 more of his work is lost. Of all the Northern kings, he took most 
 interest in the craft and minutiae of the court-poetry, which had 
 the same fascination for him as the Provengal sirventes and tensons 
 had for the sons of Henry II. 
 
 THE ORKNEY EARLS. 
 
 There is unfortunately no list of the Orkney Earls and their Poets 
 in Skalda-tal, though even English kings and Norwegian barons and 
 their bards find place there. This is a pity, for the Earls themselves 
 were many of them poets; and as we cannot but believe that many of the 
 finest Northern poems were composed within their domains, we should 
 no doubt have found in such a list the names of their authors. Such a 
 one as the author of Darrad-liod was certainly closely connected with 
 the Stout Earl whom he mentions. Nor have we an larla-tal ; that 
 there was one, known as late as the composition of larla Saga, seems very 
 likely from the way in which the deaths and burial-places of the first 
 Earls are recorded, quite in consonance with similar notices drawn 
 from Ynglinga-tal. 
 
 The history of the Northern Earls of Orkney is a curious and in- 
 structive chapter in the tale of the colonisation of the Western isles, 
 illustrating the enormous influence of the Celts upon the Northern 
 immigrants. 
 
 In the necessarily imperfect accounts that are left us in the Earls' 
 Saga, the first part of Orkney Saga, we have a series of brilliant and tragic 
 episodes with long blanks of dead silence between, broken only now 
 and again by a line or two in an Irish or Scottish Chronicle. There is 
 a picturesque character about the scene, the men, and the motives, 
 which makes the Orkney Saga one of the most fascinating of the series 
 of Northern histories. Reginwald the jNIighty and Wise, the friend and 
 counsellor of Harold Fairhair, and his name-giver, we have met with 
 above. To him, as weregild for his son Inwar, slain in an enterprise 
 (undertaken, we should suppose, in Harold's interest) in the Orkneys, 
 Harold gives the Island-Earldom. He, choosing to live in Norway, 
 bestows it upon his brother Sigfred the Mighty, who, followed by a short- 
 lived son, held it in Alfred's days, according to Ari's synchronism. 
 I But it is by his successor, Turf-Eixar, Reginwald's bastard son
 
 §3.] 
 
 THE ORKNEY EARLS. i8i 
 
 according to the tradition, that the Earldom is consolidated and its 
 history takes on its distinctive character. By his days the turbulence 
 of the Wicking settlement was settling down into regular lines of 
 commerce, migration, and buccaneering. His revenge of his father 
 upon Fairhair's son, Halfdan Highleg, is commemorated in his verses 
 which we have given in Book vi, § 2. A goodly husbandman, poet, and 
 peat-digger, who taught his Norsemen in the wood-lorn islands to dig 
 and use turf-fuel, his memory should be ever green in the islands he 
 ruled so long ago. 
 
 His sons Thorfinn, Arnkettle, and Erlend are mixed up with the 
 Ynglings and Shieldings by their connection with Eric Bloodaxe and his 
 wife Gundhild. It was by Eric's side that two of the brothers fell at 
 Stainmoor, c. 954. But Thorfinn lived on to win his ghastly by-name 
 'skull-splitter,' to wed the Celtic lady Grelod, and to bring up a brood 
 of wild reckless sons, who are plunged in fratricidal strife and murder 
 by the wicked wiles of Ragnhild, Gundhild's daughter, which brings 
 death to the two eldest. Hlodwe, whose name points to some Frankish 
 connection of his father, succeeds to the earldom, and weds Aithne, 
 daughter of the Irish king Cearbhal of Leinster. 
 
 Hlodwe had the rare misfortune to die in his bed, and left his earldom 
 to his eldest son Sigrod the Stout. This earl's life was eventful. 
 His battle with Finnlach the Scottish marmaor, his forced conversion by 
 Olaf Tryggvason (according to a shaky tradition), his marriage with the 
 daughter of Malcolm the Scottish king, a fact which points to the policy 
 pursued so successfully by his mighty son, and finally his ill-fated alliance 
 with Sigtrygg Silkbrow, then king of Dublin, and fall at Clontarf, April 
 23rd, 10 1 4, make up what is known of his history. He appears before 
 us in a more romantic aspect, as the friend of Icelanders, the host 
 of Gunlaug the poet, and the patron of Flosi the Burner. 
 
 The eldest son of Sigrod is unable to hold the heritage, and Brusi, 
 the next, is too easy-natured and void of ambition to take the first 
 place. The earldom therefore practically soon falls into the hands of the 
 youngest, Thorfinn the Mighty, the greatest of his race. He submits 
 to St. Olaf, who seems to have aspired to rule 'the whole empire as 
 Harold Fairhair held it,' and seized the occasion of the disputed succes- 
 sion to have his suzerainty acknowledged, and to get Rognwald, Brusi's 
 son, as a hostage of its rights being preserved. But Thorfinn, 'mightily 
 strengthened by his Scottish kinsfolk,' pursued his path unchecked, and 
 as the death of Olaf, the anarchy in Scotland, and the absorption of 
 Cnut in other projects left him scope to act, he succeeded in making 
 himself master of half Scotland. 'Nine earldoms he ruled,' says Arnor 
 with a reminiscence of the Vellekla paean-notes, and his sway was felt 
 from Dublin to Giant-skerries; the Isle of Man and the Isles and Galloway 
 (or rather Cumbria) being also under his influence. At last, however, 
 Magnus was restored to his father's seat, and he determined to pursue his 
 father's colonial policy, for he had a ready instrument at hand. Rognwald, 
 Brusi's son, had been his foster-brother, had fought at Sticklestead 
 where his father fell, had gone into exile with him to Russia, and there 
 entered upon the career of arms. Magnus sent him to the islands to 
 share Thorfinn's power as the liegeman of the king of Norway. The 
 rivalry, as usual in the Orkneys, soon turned to a tragedy. It is as the I 
 pott of these two kinsmen and historian of their deadly feud that Arnor 
 won his name of Earls' poet. His finest verses were made for them. 1 
 He was the friend of Rognwald, whose defeat at Redburgh he deplores, ) 
 and the panegyrist of Thorfinn, whose dirge he composed.
 
 i82 MAGNUS' AND HAROLD'S COURT. [bk. \to. 
 
 After Redburgh, c. 1045, Rognwald fled to Norway, but soon made a 
 fresh dash at his opponent, which all but turned the tables and put an 
 end to Thorfinn's career. But the 'great earl's' luck never left him, and 
 he was more fortunate in laying hands on his nephew, who was put to 
 death in 1046. Thorfinn had been largely helped by his Norwegian 
 uncle-in-law, the exiled Calf Arnison, who gave him a steady support 
 against Magnus' friend and nominee. This alliance is alluded to in the 
 Dirge on Calf, see p. 164. Thorfinn's later years are unruffled. Magnus' 
 death relieved him of possible trouble, for Harold had his hands full and 
 would not, we think, alienate such a useful ally on the brink of his 
 great enterprise, the conquest of England. Just before the expedition, 
 which was to effect this, sailed, Thorfinn had died full of years and 
 honours. 
 
 The Earl's two sons by Ingibiorg, Fin's daughter, M other-of-earls | 
 (as she is often styled by an echo of Gundhild's appellation), lived 1 
 together long in peace and amity unexampled in their race. Paul I 
 marrying back into the old stock by wedding the daughter of Hakon, son j 
 of that I war of the Uplands whom Sigh vat compelled to listen to him. ^ 
 Erlend wedded Thora, daughter of SomerlidOspac's son. Magnus Bareleg 
 appeared in the west in 1098; he sent both the brothers to Norway, 
 where they died. But, between the two brothers' sons, Hakon, Paul's 
 son, and Magnus, Erlend's son, this thirty years' peace of their fathers 
 was not long to remain unbroken. A deadly feud arose among the 
 cousins, and the murder, which gave Magnus a place among the Northern 
 Saints, was the upshot of their struggle. They had a poet, whose name . 
 is not given, but who is called upon in Orkney Saga, ch. 49, as witness to 
 •certain events in their career, the slaying of Dubhniall, the burning of ; 
 Thorbiorn the Shetlander, before 'wicked men brought strife between • 
 them.' Hakon was a man of mark, a pilgrim, and a lawgiver. The 
 career of Sweyn Asleifsson, 'the last of the Wickings,' which would have 
 afforded ample material for a poet, is now only preserved in prose. He 
 is said to have been the captor (year 11 35) of Paul, Hakon's son, the 
 last heir on the spear-side of the 'race of Reginwald.' As in Norway, 
 a new line arose on the spindle-side. Coll, a descendant of Thorleif the 
 Wise, the well-known lawman, married Gundhild, St. Magnus' sister, and 
 his son Call was enfeoffed of the earldom by Sigurd the Crusader (in 
 pursuance of the old policy) in rivalry with Paul, Hakon's son. 
 
 It was now that he assumed the respected name of Rognwald. A 
 
 poet himself, and a man of romantic character and remarkable career, 
 
 this earl comes before us as a patron of poets. With his friend Hall he 
 
 : composed ' Hatta-lykill ;' many of his improvisations are preserved in 
 
 1 Orkney Saga (see § 5). Rognwald completed the work of Coll, the 
 
 ^ splendid cathedral of Kirkwall, which was raised in pious memory of his 
 
 uncle, St. Magnus. With Rognwald, w^ho was murdered in Caithness, 
 
 Aug. 20th, 1 158, winning a saint's name in the Islands, the right line of 
 
 the old lawman, Thiodwolf's patron, ended, for he left only a daughter. 
 
 The half-Gaehc line of Harold, Maddad's son, in close affinity with 
 the Scottish king, now comes in, but our interest with the earldom now 
 ceases. Swerri's long arm was felt here as at home in Norway, and he, 
 a Western Islander, himself asserted his suzerainty over the earldom. 
 It is indeed merely as the nurse of doubtful pretenders that the Islands 
 had lately influenced the politics of Norway, and soon, when the tem- 
 porary revival of the imperial ideas had shown their hoUowness, and 
 Hakon's ill-success had disgusted the home government of Western 
 enterprise, the earldom falls into a barony of the Scottish kingdom.
 
 §3.] SWEYN ESTRITHSSON AND HIS SONS. 183 
 
 ORKNEY EARLS. 
 Halfdan the Old 
 
 Inwar the Uplanders' Earl 
 
 Eystan Glumra, E. 
 
 Reginwald, E. of More Sigfred, E. O. 
 
 I 
 , I , 
 
 Thori, E. Turf-Einar, E. O. Rodwolf Walker, Rodlaug 
 of More | E. of Rouen 
 
 r — ^ 1 
 
 Thorfinn Skullsplitter, E. O., Arncytel, E. O., Erlend, E. O. 
 
 m. Grelod, d. of E. Dungad d. 954 d. 954 
 
 Arnfinn, E. O., Haward, E. O. Liot, E. O, Hlodwe, E. O., m. Edna, 
 m. Ragnhild, K. Cearbhal's d. 
 
 Gundhild's d. , ' 
 
 Sigrod the Stout, E. O., 
 m. 2. d. of Malcolm, K. of Scots, d. 1014 
 
 Somarlid, Einar Wry- Brusi, E.O., Thorfinn the Great, E.O.,w. 
 d.c.ioi=) mouth, E. O., <i.c, 1031 Inglbiorg, Fin's d.,^. c. 1064 
 
 d. c. 1026 I ] 
 
 Rognwald, E, O., | 
 
 d, c. 1046 I ' 1 
 
 Paul,E.O., Erlend, E.O., 
 
 m. Hakon Iwarson's d. d. c. iioo 
 
 I 
 
 ! r 
 
 I r 
 
 Hakon.E.O,, Herbiorg St. Magnus, E.O., Erling, E. O. Gundhild, 
 
 d.C.ll22 I ^.1116 W. Coll 
 
 t_ ^ U ^ I 
 
 Margaret, Paul, E. O., Ingibiorg Sigrid St.RognivaldCali, 
 
 w. Maddad, <^. 1135 | E. O., ^. 1158 
 
 E. ofAthole Herbiorg, »?. 
 
 I Kolban Hruga 
 
 Harold, E.O., i 
 
 d. 1206 Biarni, Bp., d. 1222 
 
 SWEYN ESTRITHSSON AND HIS SONS. 
 
 SwEYN, Cnut's nephew, son of Ethelwolf and Cnut's sister Estrith, 
 to whom we owe in all probability the preservation of England from 
 invasion during the Confessor's reign, was king till 1076, surviving all 
 his rivals. He and his five sons, succeeding one after another, 
 founded a dynasty, which lasted for ninety years (1044-1134) : Harold 
 hone, a quiet ruler (1076-80). Cnut the Saint (d. 1086), who prepared 
 to invade England in 1086, but was slain by his own men in church, 
 thus enabling the Conqueror to disband his hired forces, and by means 
 of the Survey to devise better means for defending his kingdom than
 
 1 84 MAGNUS' AND HAROLD'S COURT. [bk. viii. 
 
 he had hitherto been able to employ. 01 af hunger (1086-95) and Eric the 
 Crusader (1095-1103) follow next; Eric's famous expedition awakened 
 the emulation of the Norwegian king ; he died in Cyprus. Nicolas, the 
 last of the brothers, was killed in 11 34 by the guildsmen of King Eric's 
 son, duke Cnut; which Cnut was the father of Waldemar, the founder 
 of the new dynasty, or rather the restorer of Sweyn's house. 
 
 There are several poets who at one time or another attached them- 
 
 ; selves to those kings. Thorleik the Fair was Sweyn's poet ; Calf Manis son, 
 
 \ whose testimony is once appealed to, and Skuli Illugason, of whom nothing 
 
 / is known ; but the most notable is Mark Skeggisson, who composed 
 
 jf poems in honour both of Cnut and Eric the Crusader. (See § 4.) 
 
 ' The great bulk of the poems in this Section, indeed wherever the 
 
 contrary is not stated, are drawn from Hulda (Hrokkinsk., Flatey-bok 
 
 iii) and Kringla, a few from Fagrskinna. 
 
 ARNOR EARLS' POET. 
 
 Arnthor or Arnor the Earls' Poet was the son of Thorrod 
 Kolbeinsson, Earl Eric's poet, the hero of Biorn the Hit-dale Champion's 
 Saga. Like Sighvat, he combined poetry and trade. As his by-name 
 'Earls' Poet' implies, the patrons of his predilection seem to have 
 been the Orkney Earls, Rognwald first, and afterwards the great Earl 
 Thorfinn, whose relative he indeed seems to have married (see VI. verse 
 22), so he must have been a man of mark ; he appears to have kept house 
 and died in the Orkneys. As a poet he was magniloquent as Marlowe in 
 Tamburlaine, nor does he lack the true fire in his verses. His remains 
 are considerable, scattered through Hulda and the laria Saga (Orkney 
 Saga), and a few are also cited in Edda. 
 
 His earliest composition was probably his Dirge on Earl Rognqvald, 
 c. 1046, the next his t^o poems on King Magnus, 1046, one of which was, 
 we doubt not, the one spoken of in the anecdote translated below, 
 and criticised in Skalda by Olaf as macrologic in its inception. We 
 have part of a poem on Harold of Norway in 1062-64 (for the earlier 
 one has, as that king foretold, perished), and a dirge on him in 1067. 
 Between these two comes a dirge on Earl Thorfinn, c. 1065. But with 
 all his love for the Orkney Earls, and interest in their concerns, he does 
 not forget his countrymen, and there is a morsel still left of his Dirge 
 on Hermund Illugisson, the brother of the poet Gunlaug. Arnor also 
 made a Dirge on Gelli, Ari the historian's grandfather, in which he ' ex- 
 pressly mentions,' says Laxdaela, ' Gelli's building a great and fine church 
 at Holyfell.' Gelli died in Denmark, 1073, on his way home from a 
 pilgrimage. The poem of Arnor's, therefore, proves his life to have 
 been prolonged to at least that date. There are two lines which we 
 take to be part of this poem. They are in eight-measured metre, and 
 refer to a painting or hangings on which the last Judgm.ent is figured. 
 
 Arnor is remarkable as the only court-poet who quotes from the 
 early poems, citing Volospa in one line. Upon our theory his close 
 connection with the West would account for this. 
 
 The following story gives perhaps the most characteristic traits 
 of Arnor's character : 
 
 "It happened once upon a time, that the two kings [Magnus and 
 Harold] were sitting in one hall over the table north in Chipping, 
 and Arnor the earls' poet was come to the town. He had made a 
 poem for each of the two kings. And one day, while Arnor was tarring 
 his ship, the king's messengers came to him, and bade him come and 
 deliver his poem. He went off at once, without washing the tar from
 
 §3-] 
 
 ARNOR lARLASCALD. 185 
 
 his hands, and when he came to the hall, he called to the door-ward, 
 Room for the kings' Poet ! and in he went before them and cried, Hail, 
 emperors both ! Said King Harold, Whose poem shall be said first ? He 
 answered. The younger's. The king asked,Why his first? My lord, said he, 
 it is a saw that ' Young men are impatient.' But every one thought it 
 most honour to him whose poem was said first. Then he began to 
 recite his poem ; and first he treated of the earls west of the main, and 
 then he came to his own voyage. And when he had got thus far, 
 Harold said to King Magnus, Why sit here, my lord, over this poem, 
 which he has made about his journeys and the earls in the Western 
 island? Let us wait, kinsman, answered King Magnus, I fancy that 
 you will not think me in need of praise before the poem is ended. 
 Then he came to the verse (3) in which he calls Magnus 'the 
 greatest of all kings.' Then King Harold said. Praise this king as 
 thou wilt, but do not despise other kings. Then he went on till King 
 Harold said again. This man makes the lordliest kind of verse, I do 
 not know where he will get to. And when the song was ended, 
 straightway Amor began the poem on Harold, which is called Blue 
 cocks-drapa [Raven's praise], a fine poem. But when it was finished, 
 King Harold was asked which he deemed the better poem. I can easily 
 see, said he, the diflference between the two poems; my poem will soon 
 fall to the ground, so that no man shall know it, but this Song of Praise, 
 which is made on King Magnus, will last as long as there is a man in the 
 lands of the North. Harold gave him a gold-bound spear, and Magnus 
 a gold ring, and the poet went out of the hall, hclding up the ring 
 on the spear, crying, So shall the two kings' gifts be borne aloft. Harold 
 said to him ere he went, He did not come for nought, the wordy fellow 2 
 When thou comest again bring me another poem. Arnor promised to 
 do so, and when he heard of Harold's death he set to work and made 
 a dirge upon him." 
 
 Amor's poems have been spared to a greater extent than any other 
 man's, save Sighvat only. There is a magnificence and dash about them 
 which no doubt won him many admirers, and his perfect form and rich 
 metre pleased even the later critics, like Snorri and Olaf. The sea and 
 the golden-headed galleys, marching like God's bright angels over the 
 waves, the savage triumph over the 'roasted heathen,' the horrors of 
 the Day of Doom (where he is inspired by Volospa), these are his 
 themes, tricked out in glittering if sometimes borrowed sheen. The 
 dirge on Thorfinn, his kinsman by marriage, shows feeUng and loyalty 
 that are to be admired. 
 
 It is, as we have seen before, in poems relating to England and 
 foreign lands that the worse corruptions of text are to be looked for, 
 and Arnor's poems have suffered the common fate. It is in the Dirge 
 over Harold that we find 'the Dyke by Ouse' buried under 'tok fusa;' 
 ' Fulford ' under ' fell at fundi ;' the famous mail-coat ' Emmn,' which 
 ' could not protect him from the spear points' that fatal day at Stamford 
 Bridge, hidden in the phrase 'hiennasaefi hoddum,'etc. But in i\\Q Dirge on 
 Thorfinn matters are worse still ; ' af skeidom ' conceals ' a Skidi ' on Skye ; 
 * trura tyggia' is the unmeaning substitute of ' Tyris tyggi,' lord of Tyrist. 
 The battle in Anglesey Sound is hidden beneath the commonplace ' Ein 
 uas su-es Engla minnir,' rightly ' Endr was i Onguls sundi.' Some verses 
 we can see are wrong, but cannot put right, such a line as VI. verse 1 1 sug- 
 gests some place-name beneath ' milli borga.' Even the lines quoted in 
 Edda seem corrupt, and to refer to the Redburgh fight in which Rognwald 
 fell, VI. verse 17. The poet's mention of Tyrfing is to be noted III. 2.
 
 i86 MAGNUS' AND HAROLD'S COURT. [bk.xiu. 
 
 I. Hrynhenda (1047). 
 
 (From Kringla, Hulda, Hrsk. ; verses i, 2, 21 from Edda and Skalda.) 
 
 1. TV^LItJFA l^t-ek f kaupfaor dufo knarra mfnn vi5 bor9 in stinno, 
 
 2. J-^ Seinkon ver6r pi es hMbarSz hanka hnika ar in liota bara. 
 
 3. Magnus, h\f6 til mattigs 69ar ! manngi veit-ek fremra annan ; 
 yppa ra)9omk yQro kappi, Iota gramr, i kvsedi flioto : 
 
 haukr r(!ttr es-^u, Haorfia drottinn ; hverr gramr es per storom verri ; 5 
 meiri ver9i Jjinn an Jjeira ^rifno6r allr unz himininn rifnar. 
 
 4. Her-skip vantu af har6a stinnum hlunni geyst f Salt-it-Eystra 
 (skiaDldungr stettu a skaorom hveldan skei6ar-huf ) me6 Girzko skriiSi : 
 vaf6ir litt, enn vendir bif6osk ; (verSa hroekk) enn ' ni9r nam soekkva,' 
 [geystisk ' hl^T,' enn hristizk bara] (hrlmi stokkin) bunar grimor. 10 
 
 5. Rau6ar bsorot randir si6an, rimmo Yggr i Scenskar bygSir ; 
 eigi gaztu li3s kost lagan ; landz-folk sotti per til handa : 
 austan JjurQut, ulfa ferSar a)ldum ku9r, vi9 hvita skiaildo, 
 tmigo rioSr, til tfrar J^inga ' teknir menn ' ok daarr in rekno. 
 
 6. Austan komtu me6 allra haestom, Yggjar mas, i trcenda byg3ir, 15 
 fi9ri-ri66r (enn fiand-menn y6ra falma kv66o) oegis-hialmi : 
 
 ' breiSast ' visso, bla-gamms foGSir benja kolgo, y8rir dolgar 
 (hrseddir ur8o fiaDrvi at for6a fiand-menn f)inir) vesa)ld sina. 
 
 7. Ungan fra-ek JDik, eydir fjroengva ulfa graSar, Jjeira ra9i 
 (skiaoldungr stoekk) me6 skoe6an J)okka (skeiSar-brandz fyr t)er or landi). 
 
 INIagnus' Praise. Introduction. I made my stiff-timbered buss cleave 
 the billows .... There comes .... when the ugly w-ave .... the oars 
 of the leopard of the tackle [ship] .... 
 
 I. Tbe Praise. IMagnus, listen to my mighty song ! I know none better 
 than thee ; I will exalt thy prowess, thou dread of the Jutes, in my swift 
 verse. Thou art a true hawk, lord of the Hords ; every king is far 
 behind thee. May thy glory ever be greater than theirs, until the 
 heavens are rent. Thy war-ship thou didst dash off the strong rollers 
 into the East Baltic, with her Russian rigging ; and didst go on board 
 the hollow-straked hull thereof. Little didst thou shrink though the 
 masts quivered, the ice-sprinkled bulwarks shrank, and the weaves made 
 the fair figure-heads rattle ; ocean boiled and the billows were tossing. 
 Thou didst bear the red shield into the Swedish land. No little company 
 didst thou gather, for the people of the land sought thee as their liege. 
 Ye sped from the east to battle with your homagers ; they bore white 
 shields and inlaid darts. Thou camest from the east to the Throndish 
 land in helm of terror, and your enemies trembled, it is said. Soon thy 
 foes felt their evil plight ; yea, thine enemies fled fearing for their lives. 
 Thou young king, thou didst put them to straits in thy wrath. Before 
 thee the prince [Sweyn Wolfsson] fled out of the land. Thou didst 
 
 9. Read, u6r . . . nam kloekkva. 10. Read, Hler. 14. Read, tekna 
 
 menn? 17- Read, brada.
 
 §3-] ARNOR lARLASCALD. 187 
 
 8. Eignask namtu 69al {)egna, allan Noreg gotna spialli 21 
 (mangi es y6r mildingr annarr moeri gramr) til landa-mceri. 
 
 9. Si3an vas {)at es su9r me5 la6i, siklingr, ;^tti flota miklom ; 
 skl6i vas \)i skriSar of au6it skorSo ; renndi Visundr nor3an : 
 samnazk ' ba8' til hverrar h3omlo ; hraeSazk menn vi8 aettar klaedi 25 
 Giiika ' \)6tt\ ' ga)fugt eiki Girzkan malm ok Peito hialma. 
 
 10. Lioto dreif a lypting utan lau6ri (bifdisk goll it rau6a), 
 [fasdigr hneig8i furo gloCstri fyris-garmr] um skei9ar st^ri : 
 Stir8om heltu um Stafangr norSan stajlom (bifSosk fyrir alar), 
 
 [uppi gloSo dl-mars typpi eldi glik] i Dana-veldi. 30 
 
 11. Heyra skaltu hve her-skisold bEorot, hilmis kundr, til Vinda grundar 
 (heppinn drottu af hlunni slettom h^log bor9) 1 Stefja-meli : 
 
 12. Aldri frak (enn, visi, valdit Vinda sorg) at da^glingr spendi 
 [flaustom vas \)a. floS of ristit] fleiri skip til 63als J)eira. 
 
 13. Skia)ldungr, fortu um 6^i66 eldi (au6it vas J)a flotnom dau9a) 35 
 [h^stan kyndot, hlenna |)r/stir, hyrjar lioma] su9r at lomi : 
 
 hvergi ]:or9i hallir var9a heifiit folk i virki breiSo 
 
 (bu6lungr, unnot borgar-ma)nnom) bia)rtom eldi (stall-drsep hiaorto). 
 
 14. Skia)ldungr, l^zt vi8 skira valdit Skotborgar-a Vinda sorgom 
 (Yngvi vas sa frsegr es fengot fa)rno6r {)inn) vi6 helming minna : 40 
 vaDrro la ^ar val-ka)Str hseri (vas J)er sigr skapa6r grams ins Digra) 
 
 ' vir6om ' kunn an vi8a runnin varga sett of klffa msetti. 
 
 take hold of the freelands of men, yea, all Norway up to the borders of 
 the land. No king is more glorious than ye t^uo. 
 
 Warfare in Denmark and the Baltic. Then it came to pass that ye 
 stood soutliward, prince, with a great fleet ; the ships sped apace, the 
 Bison ran from the North. Thou badest men gather to every rowlock- 
 strap; they went on board the goodly bark with mail-coats, Russian 
 metal [steel swords], and helmets of Poitou. The grim foam dashed in 
 upon the forecastle over the captain. The red gold Jigiire- heads quivered, 
 and the stiff gale made the shining ship dip. Thou didst stand from the 
 North past Stavanger, thy prow towards the realm of the Danes ; the 
 deep was stirred ; the tops of the ships gleamed Hke fire above. 
 
 II. Staves. Now thou shalt hear in the Stavf.-pieces, O prince, how 
 thou didst bear the war-shield into the land of the Wends, having 
 launched the frozen bark off the smooth rollers. I never heard of a 
 king leading a greater number of ships towards their heritage. Ye did 
 work woe to the Wends. The sea was furrowed by vessels! Thou, 
 king, didst carry fire south to lom among the barbarians ; they were 
 death-doomed. Ye kindled the lofty flame of fire. The heathen in their 
 great fortress dared not guard their hall against the bright flame, for 
 thou didst make their hearts shake within them. With the smaller army 
 thou didst bring sorrow on the Wends, by the clear Scot-borough Water; 
 great was the victory ye won. There lay there a pile of corses so high 
 that the wood-haunting, wide-roving pack of wolves could not climb it. 
 
 25. Read, ba3tu. 25-26. Read, hlce&ask . . . ^opto . . . Girzkan malm. 
 
 33. Read, voldut. 42. Emend.; vir3um, Cd. Read, vi5om.
 
 1 88 MAGNUS' AND HAROLD'S COURT. [bk.viii. 
 
 15. Keppinnvantu JDatz as man uppi YggjarveSr meSan heimrinn byggisk 
 (val-gammr skok 1 vapna-rimmo) vi6 Helganes {bl66okt fiSri) : 
 
 Yngvi, fektu ajll me6 hringom (iarl vissi sik foldar missa) 45 
 
 J)i66om ku6r, [enn pu tokt siSan] J)eira flaust [vi9 sigri meira]. 
 
 1 6. Hefnir, fengot yrkis-efni Alafs ; (goeri-ek slikt at maolom) 
 [Hlakkar ]aetr-J)u hrae-laDg drekka hauka] ; nu mun kvaedit aukask : 
 fiorar hefir-J)u, ra^ida ry-rir reyrar setrs, a einom vetri 
 
 (allvaldr est J)u of-vsegr kalla8r) a)rva hriSir frcekn of goervar. 50 
 
 17. Otti, kunnot elgjom hastta d'6i-ve9rs a skelfSan groeSi, 
 fengins gollz, e6a fceSit ella flestan aklr und drifno tialdi : 
 gllkan berr \)\k hva)ssom hauki, holl-vinr minn, i lypting innan 
 (aldri skriSr und fylki friSra farligt eiki) Visundr snarla. 
 
 18. Eigi letot, iajfra bagi, y6ro nafni mann-kyn hafna 55 
 (hvarki fl/'r-liu, hlenna ^reytir, hyr n6 malm) 1 broddi styrjar : 
 
 hlunna es sem rao3ull renni reiSar biiningr upp 1 hei8i, 
 (hrosa-ek \)vi) es her-skip glcesir, hlenna dolgr, e9a vitar brenni, 
 
 19. Ma)nnom lizk es mildingr rennir Meita hli6ir ssevar ski6i, 
 
 unnar iamnt sem ' osamt ' renni Engla fylki himna Jjengils. 60 
 
 20. EySendr fra-ek at elska J)i66ir (inn-drott pin es ha)f8 at minnom) 
 graeSi lostins Go6i it nsesta geima vals 1 {Dessom heimi. 
 
 21. Skiaoldungr man ^er annarr aldri ct6ri, gramr, und solo foeSask. 
 
 Thou didst in champion-wise win that battle at Holy-Ness, that shall 
 ever be remembered while there are men on earth. The eagle shook 
 her gory wings in the fray. Glorious king, thou didst take also their 
 ships with all their crew. The earl [Sweyn] lost his land and thou didst 
 gain a great victory. 
 
 III. Thou hast given me matter of song, Avenger [son] of Olaf. I will 
 exalt thy deeds. Now I will come to the Ekixg of my song. Thou hadst 
 bravely fought four battles in one winter, O king. Thou art wont to 
 risk thy ships on the tumbling sea, or else thou art spending thy life 
 under the driven awnings [in port]. The Bison bears thee in her fore- 
 castle like a keen hawk, my good lord ; never sped more famous, ship 
 under more glorious king. Thou wilt never let men miss thee in the 
 van. Thou fleest neither for fire nor sword. "^The ornaments [figure- 
 heads] that glitter on thy war-ships (I boast thereof) are to look on as it 
 were the sun rising in a clear sky, or glowing beacons. When the king 
 plows the main with his galleys, it seems to men as if legions of angels 
 of God were marching along over the waves. 
 
 Burden. I know that the people cherish thee next to God in this 
 world ; thy household is far-famed ! 
 
 A greater king than thee will never be born under the sun. 
 
 55. Read, lati6. 61. Ey5endr, i.e. the two kings, objective case.
 
 §3-] ARNOR lARLASCALD. 189 
 
 II. Magnus-drapa (1046-47). 
 
 1. IVF^ hykk ri69anda rei8o rdg-aors, J)vi-at veitk goerla, 
 -'- ^ (t>egi seim-brotar !) segja seggjom Hneitiss eggja : 
 vasat ellifo allra orm-setrs hati vetra 
 
 hraustr J)a-es herskip gloesti Ha^rSa vinr or Gajr6om. 
 
 2. f'ing bau6 ut enn ungi egg-ri63andi f>i63om; 5 
 fim bar hir6 at ha^mlo her-v£e6r ara braeSiss : 
 
 Salt skar hufi hdltom hraustr j3i66-konungr austan 
 (bgoro brim-logs rfri brun ve8r) at Sigtunom. 
 
 3. Gekk^a Svijiidd soekkvi Sveins, es fremS vann eina; 
 ffstizk Alafs austan afkart sonar hiarta : 10 
 nott bei8 ok dag drottins dygg fer8 Ia8ar-byggva : 
 
 ' fyst ' ba8 gramr i geysto gifrs ve9ri ' ser ' hllfa. 
 
 4. Fl/'8i fylkir rei6i framr ^i68-konungs rama, 
 stoekk fyrir otvln okkrom arm-svellz hati gerla : 
 
 l(^tat Noregs niota nftr peng'iW gram lengi ; 15 
 
 hann rak Svein af sinom sokn-diarfr fa)8or-arfi. 
 
 5. Afkarlig vas iarla or8-gn6tt su-es hlaut drottinn ; 
 fylgSi efnd J)vi-es ylgjar angr-tselir red maela: 
 
 at framm f gnf grimmom grafnings und klo hrafni 
 fuss \6zkf falla raesir feigr e8a Danmaork eiga. 20 
 
 6. Segja mun-ek hve Sygna snar-fengjan bar J)engil 
 (hallr vas hrimi sollinn hld-bor8z) Visundr norSan : 
 setti bi68r at brei^o (bryn-J)ings) fetil-stinga 
 
 (fus tok a)ld vi8 oesi) lotlandi gramr branda. 
 
 7. Na6i siklingr si8an sniallr ok Danma)rk allri 25 
 (msottr ox drengja drottins dj^rs) Noregi at st/ra : 
 
 Magnus' Praise. Now I must tell the deeds of the king, for I know 
 them well. Be silent, men ! The patron of the Hords was not full 
 eleven years old when he launched the ships from Garth [Novgorod]. 
 The young king called out a levy, and the men in mail stood to the row- 
 lock-straps. He furrowed the Baltic in a fresh gale from the east with 
 his curved hulls toward Sigton. Sweyn's victorious adversary landed in 
 Sweden, Olaf's brave-hearted son hastened from the East. They that 
 dwelt in ladar waited night and day for their lord, begging Christ to 
 defend him in the battle. The prince [Sweyn] fled the king's wrath, 
 and ran out of the land. The king would not let him enjoy Norway long, 
 but chased Sweyn from the heritage of his father [Olaf]. 
 
 ^(ir in Denmark. Marvellous was the boast of the lord of Earls 
 [Magnus], and fuliilment followed his words : that he would gladly 
 fall, doomed, in battle under the raven's claws, or win Denmark for 
 himself. I must tell how the Bison bore the Sogn-folk's lord from the 
 North. Her sides were thick with ice; he steered his ship's bows 
 towards broad Jutland, and the people welcomed him. Then he came 
 to rule Norway and all Denmark. Never has any child-king won him so 
 
 7. I.e. hveltom. 12. Read, Christ ba5 grami . , . hverr? 26. dyrr, Cd,
 
 190 MAGNUS' AND HAROLD'S COURT. [bk. viii. 
 
 cengr hefir annarr {)engill a9r sva gnogo la8i 
 (braskat bragnings |Droski) barn-ungr und sik J)rungit. 
 
 8. Vann, J)a-es Vindr um minnir, vapn-hn3 ifflfurr siQan 
 (svei9 of am) at lomi (illvirkja hrse stillir) : 30 
 buk dro braSla steik3an bl66ogr vargr af gl63om ; 
 rann a 6skir3 enni all-sterkr bani hallar. 
 
 9. 03 me5 cexi breiSa odsesinn framm raesir, 
 
 (var3 um hilmi HaorSa hiaar-dynr) enn varp brynjo : 
 J)a-es um skapt (enn skipti skap-vaor6r himins ia^rSo), 35 
 (Hel klauf hausa fajlva) hendr tvser ia)furs spendo. 
 
 10. Sva hl66 siklingr havan snarr af ulfa barri 
 (hrosa-ek hug-fullz visa) hrse-kajst (tirar-sevi) : 
 at a-leggjar Yggjar all-natt-faorull matti6 
 
 (aDld la vitt), J)6tt vildi, vif-marr yfir klifa. 40 
 
 11. Fuss l^t a Rse rsesir ramm-^ing hait Glamma; 
 Valska rau9 fyr vfdo Vestlandi gramr branda. 
 
 12. Titt hefi-ek heyrt at h^ti Helga-nes, J)ar-es elgi 
 vags enn vi6a fr^egi varg-teitir hrau3 marga : 
 
 Roekkr aondurt bad randir Reggbuss saman leggja ; 45 
 rog-sk/ja h^lt r/-gjar regni haust-nott gegnom. 
 
 13. DaDrr let drengja harri driug-spakr af {^rek fliuga 
 (gloeddi eldr af oddom) almi skept a hialma : 
 Ldtat hilmir Hneiti (Ha)gna vae6r i goegnom 
 
 ia)rn flugo J)iokt sem {)yrnir) \)6\ hardara sparSan. 50 
 
 14. Skei6r tok Biarnar brodor ballr Skanungom allar 
 (^i66 roeri J)eirar ti6ar J)ingat) gramr me9 hringom, 
 
 15. Upp-gaango vann Yngvi ftr-logandi gnoga 
 (goerdi hilmir Ha^rda hia)r-J)ey) a Skaneyjo. 
 
 much land. He was soon of full power. He fought a battle at lorn, the 
 Wends will remember ; he singed the dark carcases of the heathen; the 
 bloody wolf dragged the half-roasted trunks out of the embers, and the 
 fierce fire raged over their unchristened brows. The king went in front 
 with his axe, casting off his mail-coat, when he grasped the shaft with 
 both his hands. The sword-clash rose round the lord of the Hords. 
 Hell [Magnus' axe] clove the yellow skulls. The Lord of heaven 
 shared out the earth. Such a high carrion-heap of wolf's food did the 
 king raise, that the night-roving steed of the mate of the giants could not 
 climb up it. INIen's bodies lay far and wide. He fought on Rae [Rugen] 
 and reddened the Welsh [Gaulish] blade off the wide Westland [Meck- 
 lenburgh]. 
 
 I have heard it called Holy-Ness, where he won many ships. Regbus 
 bade them lock their shields early in the twilight, and the battle lasted 
 all through the autumn night. Our king made the elm-shafted darts 
 to fly fiercely on the helmets. The fire sprang off their points. He 
 did not spare Hnit [St. Olaf s sword] that is harder than the file. The 
 Sconey folks forsook all the galleys of Bioni's brother [Sweyn Wolfsson] 
 with all thereon. The Hords' lord made a raid into Sconey and fought 
 
 38. firar-aevi, Cd. 49. vedr, Cd.
 
 §3.] ARNOR lARLASCALD. 191 
 
 16. Svik r6b eigi eklo all-valdr Da)nom gialda; 55 
 l^t fuU-hugaQr falla Falstr-byggja li6 tyggi: 
 
 H169 (enn hala toeSo hir6-menn ara grenni) 
 au9ar-J)orn fyr aorno ungr val-ka)Sto |)unga. 
 
 17. Enn bar framm a Fioni (fold sotti gramr drottar) 
 (rans gait herr fra hanom) hring-serks litodr merki : 60 
 minnisk aold, hve annan iafn-paifr blcum hrafni 
 
 (a^rt gat hilmir hiarta) her-skyldir tog fylldi. 
 
 III. Praise of Harold. 
 
 (Verse 4 from O.H.; verses 6, 7 from Edda.) 
 
 1. "D AUD (enn r^^rt var9 si6an) [rann eldr of siaot manna] 
 -L^ frana egg a Fioni (Falstr-byggva 116) tyggi. 
 
 2. Hialm-soro Idztu heyra hnitz, es rautt fyrir Nitzi 
 tyggi, Tyrfings eggjar tvaer a6r mann-fall vseri : 
 
 Na6rs bor9 skri9o nor9an nfs at allvaldz f^si; 5 
 
 hlaut til Hallandz skiota hrafn-|)arfr konungr stafni. 
 
 3. HrauQ, sa-es hvergi fl/9i, hei9-maerr Dana skei6ar 
 gla6r und goUi ro6nom, geir-ialm, konungr hialmi : 
 skiald-borg raufsk, enn skiifar (skaut hodd-glaoto6r broddom) 
 bragna brynjor gcegnom buSlungr of na sungo. 10 
 
 4. Gekkat Sveinn af snekkjo saklaust inn for-trausti 
 (malmr kom harSr a hialma) [hugi minn es {)at] sinni : 
 far-kostr hlaut at fliota fliot-mseltz vinar Iota, 
 
 a6r an ajQlingr fl/6i, au6r, fra verSung dauQri. 
 
 5. Gengr i eett |Dat-es Yngvi Upplendinga brenndi, 15 
 {\)[6b gait raesiss rei9i) rann sa-es fremstr ' vas ' manna : 
 vildot aoflgar settir (a6r vas st^Tt til va8a) 
 
 [grams dolgom feksk galgi] gagn-pr;^6anda h\f6a,. 
 
 there. He paid the Danes back unstintingly for their treason, and 
 smote the dwellers in Falster. His henchmen helped him. He bore 
 forth his banner to Fion [Funen], and all remember how he fulfilled his 
 second tale of ten years. 
 
 Harold's Praise. M'ar in Denmark. Fire ran over the seats of men, 
 the king reddened the keen edge on Fion [Funen], and the dwellers 
 in Falster withered away. 
 
 The Niz River Battle. Thou lettest men hear thou didst dye both 
 Tyrfing's edges red off Niz [1062]. The Snake sped from the North to 
 Halland. In his golden helmet the king, that never fled, chased the Danish 
 galleys ; the shield-wall was broken. Sweyn did not leave his ships without 
 doing any harm. The ship of the patron of the Jutes was cleared before 
 the Etheling fled, all his guard being dead. 
 
 Rising of the Uplanders [1065]. It runs in the king's family for the 
 king to burn the Uplanders' houses [his brother St. Olaf had done it 
 before him]. The good people would not obey him. The people had 
 to pay for his wrath. The gallows were the portion of his enemies ; ere 
 
 61. hver annan, Cd. 16. Read, es.
 
 192 MAGNUS' AND HAROLD'S COURT. [bk.viii. 
 
 6. (Em5it rc66 vi6 Rauma reidr Ey-Dana meiSir, 
 
 heit dvino6o Heina; hyrr gcerSi ^a kyrra. 20 
 
 7. Siklinga venr snekkjor sia-lutar konr uti; 
 
 hann litar her-skip innan (hrafns gob es J)at) bI66i. 
 
 IV, Erfi-drapa on King Harold (c. 1067). 
 
 1. TDUNG rau5 ia)rn a Englom eir-laust (ne koemr meira) 
 -*- visi vel nser Uso (val-fall um her sniallan). 
 
 2. 'F611 at fundi stilliss framm 660 v6 m69a' 
 * aort flo griot a gauta gI69-heitr ofan sveiti : ' 
 
 ' p\66 hykk t)a9ra na6o f)usundom tok fusa ' 5 
 
 ' (spiot flugo) lif at lata (laus 1 gumna hausom) : ' 
 
 3. Gagn fdkk giaf-vinr Sygna (gekk hildr at mun vildra) 
 hinn-es a hsel fyr ma)nnom ' hrein-skialdaQr ' for aldri : 
 DynQo iarlar undan (eir fekka lid J^eira) 
 
 [mann-kyn hefir at minnom morgin J)ann] til Borgar. 10 
 
 4. Upp-ga)ngo bau6 Yngvi itr me9 helming litinn, 
 sa-es a sinni sevi sask aldregi haska: 
 
 Enn um England sunnan a)flugr herr at berjask 
 for vi6 fylki dfran; fundosk J)eir af stundo. 
 
 5. Olli of-rausn stilliss, orma-lattrs, J)at-es mattit, 15 
 stals i stra)ngo 6\i, stri9ir elli bi6a : 
 
 hinn-es aldregi 'aldins' otams lito9r hramma 
 viggs, f vapna glyggvi, vard-riinar, sik spar8i. 
 
 6. HafSit briost (ne bifSisk ba)9-snart konungs hiarta) 
 
 1 hialm-J)rimo hilmir hlit-styggr fyr ser litiS : 20 
 
 this it had been well-nigh a revolution. The foe of the Island-Danes dealt 
 roughly with the Reams, the threatenings of the Heins fell low. Fire 
 silenced them. The king ever keeps his sea-swaying ships out at sea. 
 
 Dirge on Harold. Fulford Fight. The king reddened the heavy 
 irons [axes] on the Engfish hard by Ouse without mercy. There shall 
 never be a greater slaughter among gallant men ! At Fulford the king's 
 army marched down the Dyke, his bamier ivetit forth in the ^van. The 
 spears flew. I know that the people rushed by thousands into the Dyke 
 by Ouse. One could pass over upon the heads of men. The fair- 
 shielded friend of the Sogn-folk [Harold], he that never turned on 
 his heel in the face of his foes, won the day: the earls [Eadwine 
 and INIorcar] marched back to the Borough [York] : their side had 
 the worst of it. INIen hold that morning in remembrance. 
 
 Stamford Bridge. The noble king, that never feared danger in his life, 
 made an inroad with a little band ; but from the south of England there 
 came a mighty host to battle with the good king. They met forthwith. 
 1 he king's rashness in battle prevented him from awaiting old age, that 
 king who never spared himself in fight, the dyer of the giant good-wife's 
 charger's [Wolfs] paws. His was a steadfast breast in battle ; the bold 
 
 3-6. The whole verse is over-painted. Read, at Fulla-fur3o . . . M69o . . . ofan 
 svcitir. 5. Read, diki Use. 8. -skialdaSr] thus Hrokk.
 
 §3-] ARNOR lARLASCALD. 193 
 
 'J)ars til l^engils hersa, pzt sa herr, at skatna' 
 * bl66ogr hiaorr ins barra beit da)glinga Hneitiss.' 
 
 7. Eigi var6 ins ;fgja auSligr konungs dau6i ; 
 hlifSot 'hlenna soefi hoddom reknir oddar:' 
 
 Heldr kuro meirr ens mcera mildings, an fri9 vildi, 25 
 of folk-snaran fylki falla li6s-menn allir. 
 
 8. Vj'tt for Va)lsungs heiti ; var6 marg-lofa6r har9a 
 hinn-es skaut or Nid n^tla norQan her-skips borSi. 
 
 9. Myrkt es hverr meira orkar mer, allz greppr ne seiat, 
 (liar6r es) i heimi (orSinn hrafn-grennir) ^rek iaofnom : 30 
 'ert' gat oslsett hiarta eljon-fims und himni 
 
 *mest hefir mildingr kosto8 minni hvers grams vinnor.' 
 10. Haraldr vissi sik hverjom har6-ra3r und Mi6gar6i 
 (daDglingr red til dauQa dftb slikri) gram rikra : 
 Hefir afraka ens oefra att-styi'a^ndom dj'rri 35 
 
 (hnigrat hilmir fraegri) heilaog fold (til moldar). 
 
 V. ROGNVALDZ-DRAPA. 
 (Verses I-5 from larla Saga ; verse 6 from Edda.) 
 
 1. T^EILDISK af sva aldri, ^1 grafninga pelar 
 
 -»->' gunnar nia)r9r i Gaordom gunn-bra6r tio haSi, 
 
 2. Em-ek sizt ^tar hnek8o iarla saett, es ek vsetti, 
 ('ia)fn fengosk hrae hraofnom') hegjo trauSr at segja : 
 sleit fyr Eyjar utan allvaldr bla tialdi, 5 
 haf8i hregg-svaol dufa hrimi 'fast um' lima. 
 
 3. Oskepnan var9 uppi endr J)a-es majrgom kendr 
 
 king's heart never trembled when the bloody brand bit the lord of 
 barons [Harold]. His death was not according to fate [it was too 
 early]! His ... . mailcoat Emma did not save the king from the 
 spears. Sooner than take quarter of the people [English], his men 
 rather chose all of them to fall with the king. 
 
 Far did his name travel ; many were the poems on the king that 
 doughtily launched his war-ships out of Nith in the north. It is dark 
 to me, and I can never see king on earth that was his match in deeds 
 of prowess .... the greatest prince under heaven. 
 
 Harold the Stern seemed to men the mightiest king on earth, so 
 great was his renown till his death .... Never sank to earth more 
 glorious captain. 
 
 Earl Rognwald's Praise. In Russia. His life passed in such wise 
 that he fought ten battles in Gard [Novgorod territory]. 
 
 Battle of Redburgh. I am grieved to tell what happened. I know, 
 after men broke the peace between the earls [Rognwald and his 
 brothers], the prince struck his awnings and put to sea outside the 
 Islands [Hebrides] .... ice cold .... [it was still winter]. A dire fate was 
 
 24. Read, hlif5it Emma iofri oddom . . .? 35. Thus Thulor ; afreki, Cd. 
 
 6. Read, fcistom '( 
 
 VOL. II.
 
 194 EARL THORFINN'S COURT. [bk.viii. 
 
 ' haligt ' rog at hniga ha)r5 ^ar-es iarlar bsorSosk : 
 naer rdSosk ast-menn orir, ' elld-hn'6,' enn var6 si9an 
 (sold fekk mein in milda maDrg) fyrir RauSa-bia^rgom. lo 
 
 4. Hvarn-tveggja sa-ek hoeggva hir6 a Petdandz-firdi 
 (or {^rifosk mein at meiri) mlnn au6-giafa sina : 
 
 siar bldzk, enn dreif dreyri doekkr a saum-fa)r kloekkva, 
 skaut a skiald-rim sveita, skokkr vas bl66i stokkinn. 
 
 5. Gramr mundi sa gaDmlo gunn-bra8r und sik la9i 15 
 (hann fekk miklo minni mann-spiaoll) koma a)llo : 
 
 Ef flendra Endils £ett-stafr hafa knaetti 
 
 (velti herr um Hialta) hialm-J)r6tta li8 (drottinn). 
 
 6. SaSr stillir hialp J)u sniaoUom sol-tialda Rognvaldi! 
 
 VI. t'ORFlNXZ-DRAPA. 
 
 (Virses 3-14, 26 from laria Saga, Orkn. S., chs. 22-38, R( lis Ed.; verses 1-2, 
 16-25 from Edda ; verse 15 from Skalda.) 
 
 1. 1V[U hykk slf6rs-huga6s segja (si6 lettir mer stn'Sa) 
 
 [t)J'tr Allfgo6rs] /torn iarls kosto [fen hrosta], 
 
 2. Nemi droit, hve sse s6tti snar-lyndr konr iarla! 
 eigi i)raut vi6 segi of-v3egjan gram basgja. 
 
 3. Hilmir rau6 i hialma hreggi skelkings eggjar; 5 
 for aSr fimtan vaeri fet-ri66r hugins vettra: 
 
 goerr lezk grund at verja gunn-froekn ok til soekja 
 cerri Einars hlfra.. — Ongr mannr und sky-ranni. 
 
 ruling when the earls fought of yore, their great feud brought many a man 
 low that morning. My beloved patrons fought at Redburgh [Rattar- 
 brough, East of Dunnet Head]. I saw them, both my patrons, hewing 
 down each other's men in Pentland Firth. Very great was my sorrow. 
 The sea was stained, the dark gore was dashed on to the fine strakes, 
 the blood flew on to the rim of the shields [round the waist of the war 
 galleys], the hull was splashed withal. The prince [Rognwald] would 
 have won all the ancient land for himself (he lost far fewer men), if he, 
 the scion of Endil [the sea-king], had had the help of the Islanders 
 [Hebrides people] ; the people betrayed the lord of the Shetlanders. 
 
 Prayer. O true king of the sun's awnings [heaven], help thou the 
 gallant Rognwald ! 
 
 Earl Thorfinn's Dirge. Burden. No man under the hall of the 
 clouds Ruas greater than Thorfinn. 
 
 Now I am going to tell of the deeds of the great-hearted earl. The 
 yeasty draught of Woden is bubbling; [my song is running through 
 my lips] ; my sorrow grows no lighter. Hearken, O men ! how the 
 prince of earls [Thorfinn] put to sea ; he was not afraid to face Eager 
 [the sea-giant]. 
 
 Scotland. He fought and went forth to sea before he was fifteen 
 years old ; the younger brother of Einar was ready to defend his own 
 and to win other men's land to boot. I know he battled with Karl 
 
 8. Read, haettligt. 9. Read, odd-hrid. 16. niiima, Cd. 3. kgr, Cd.
 
 §3-] ARNOR lARLASCALD. 195 
 
 4. Endr hygg-ek Kadi kendo 'kyndom lofut biynjo' 
 (land vasa lofSungs kundar laust) fyrir Dyrsnes austan: 10 
 fimm snekkjom r6b frammi flug-styggr vi8 hug dyggvan 
 rausnar-ma6r at raesiss rei6r ellifo skeiSom. 
 
 5. At l30g6o skip skatnar skilit, fell herr a J)iljor; 
 svajmo ia)rn 1 como 66-ha3r3 Skotta bl66i : 
 
 Stall drapa (strengir gullo; stal beit, enn rann sveiti; 15 
 broddr flo, bif6osk oddar biartir) {)engils hiarta. 
 
 6. f'rima vas J:)vigit skemri, J)at vas skiott at spi6tom 
 msetr vid minna neyti minn drottinn rak flotta : 
 
 gol ' a9r grams menn faeli ' gunii-mar um her Scorom, 
 hann va sigr fyrir sunnan Sandvik, ' ru6u branda.' 20 
 
 7. Ulfs tuggo rau5 eggjar, eitt Jjars Torfnes heitir, 
 (ungr olli pvi J)engill ; J^at vas Mana-dag) franar : 
 sungo J)ar til t)inga Jiunn fyrir Ekkial sunnan 
 sverS, es siklingr barSisk snarr vi3 Skotlandz harra. 
 
 8. Hatt bar Hialta^ drottinn hialm at geira ialmi 25 
 (6gn-stoerir rau6 from odd) 1 ferSar broddi : 
 
 minn drottinn naut mattar mildr und Brezkom skildi, 
 hendi Hl3o6vess fraendi her-menn, ok tok brenna. 
 
 9. Tj^ndosk bol J^ar-es brendi (braskat J)at doegr haski) 
 [stoekk 1 reyr en rokno rau6r eldr] Skotta-veldi : ' 30 
 mor6-kennir gait maonnom mein; a sumri eino 
 
 fengo Jieir vi8 J)engil jDrim sinnom hlut minna. 
 10. Veit-ek f»ar-es Vatz-fiaordr heitir (vask 1 miklom haska) 
 mins (vi6 mannkyns reyni) merki drottins verka : 
 J)i6Q bar skiott 'af skei3om' skiald-borg Fria-morgin, 35 
 goerla sa-ek at ginSi grar ulfr of na saorom. 
 
 [Duncan] off Deerness [Orkney] in the east .... the earl attacked him 
 with a stout heart, his five ships against the king's eleven galleys. They 
 laid their ships together ; the keen weapons swam in the black blood of 
 the Scots ; the bow-strings rang, the steel cut, the blood flew, the shaft 
 sped, the bright points quivered, the prince's heart trembled not. Long 
 they fought with soears; but soon my lord with his small force drove 
 them to flight. He won the day in the south of Sandwick [Orkney]. 
 The young earl reddened the keen edges of the Wolf's morsel [sword] 
 at the place called Torfness [Tarbatness?] ; it was a Monday. The thin 
 swords sung at the meeting south of Ekkial [R. Oikel] when the earl 
 fought with the lord of Scotland [King Duncan]. 
 
 Ireland. The lord of the Shetlanders fought the Irish, carrying his 
 helm high in the van of his host. Hlodwe's kinsman [Thorfinn] showed 
 his prowess under the British [Welsh] shield, and burnt the land. Many 
 a homestead perished when he burnt the realm of the Scots. Three 
 times in one summer they were defeated by him. I know the tokens 
 of my lord's prowess at the place called Water firth [isle of Skye] ; 
 I was in jeopardy there with my lord. Briskly did men form up in the 
 shield-wall at Skye on a Friday morning. 
 
 35. Read, a SkiSi. 
 O 2
 
 196 EARL THORFINN'S COURT. [bk. vm. 
 
 11. 'Margr' var3 'milli borga,' mildingr J>rceng at hildi, 
 horna-blastr, ^ar-es hristosk hug-stors iaofurs merki : 
 
 ' vatr bra ' es vig-liost J)6tti ' varg-steypis her greypom ' 
 (skulfo iarn, enn ulfar) Yggs morgin (hrae tuggo). 40 
 
 12. 'Ymist vann sa er unni' Irsk fell drott ^a-es sotti 
 ' balldrs e6r ' Brezkar aldir, bra eldr Skotta veldi. 
 
 13. ' Ein er su er Engla minnir' egg-hri6, ne mun si3an 
 Mr me6 helming meira hring-drifr komit J)ingat : 
 
 bito sver6 (enn J)ar J)ur6i) J)unn-gcer, fyrir MaDn sunnan 45 
 (Ra)gnvaldz kind und randir * ramlig ' folk ins Gamla). 
 
 14. StaDng bar iarl a Engla ^tt-grund, enn rau3 stundom 
 {v6 ba9 visi kn/ja verSung) ara tungo : 
 
 hyrr ox, hallir f)urro, 'her-drott' rak flotta, 
 
 eim hratt, enn laust lioma lim-dolgr nser himni. 50 
 
 15. Sumar hvern frekom erni. 
 
 16. Harri fekki 1 hverri Hialtlandz J)rimo branda 
 (greppr vill grams dyr9 yppa) gagn, sa-es naestr es bragna. 
 
 17. Svalg att-bo5i ylgjar 6g66r, enn var3 bl69i 
 
 grsedir groenn at 'rau9om' grand 'auknom' nablandinn. 55 
 
 18. Ungr skia)ldungr stigr aldri iafn-mildr a vi6 Skialdar; 
 J)ess vas grams und gaomlom gnog rausn Ymiss hausi. 
 
 19. Hrafns foedi var6 hl/^9a herr fra I'ursa-skerjom 
 {' rett segig |3i69 hve ^otti ') I'orfinni til Dyflinnar. 
 
 20. Orms felli drakka allan all-kostigr fen hrosta 60 
 (rausn drygdi \)i raesir) Rajgnvaldz ni9r 1 goegnom. 
 
 England and Ji^ales. There was much horn-blowing 'between the 
 boroughs' [sic] when the earl's banner swayed .... at daybreak .... 
 Wednesday morning. The earl .... the Irish people fell .... the British 
 [Wehh] ; he carried fire over the realm of the Scots. There was a 
 battle fought in Anglesey Sound; never shall prince come there with 
 a greater fleet. The son of Rognwald the old [Thorfinn] stood under 
 shield ; the thin swords bit a multitude of men in the south off Man. 
 The earl bore his banner upon the Englishmen's fatherland, the fire waxed, 
 the halls fell together, the smoke poured forth, and the flame rose 
 up to heaven. The prince drove the people to flight. Every summer he 
 fed the greedy erne. 
 
 The lord of Shetland, doughtiest of men, gained every battle. The 
 poet [I myself] will exalt the prince's praise. 
 
 The Battle of Redburgh. The wolf swallowed the carrion, the green 
 sea was blent with blood at Redburgh [Caithness]. 
 
 Never shall such a generous young prince step on Shield's timber [the 
 ship] : great was his renown under the ancient skull of Ymi [heaven]. 
 All men obeyed Thorfinn from Giant-skerries [the reef east of Orkney] 
 to Dublin. 
 
 Lost Verse. [He won nine earldoms in Scotland and all the Sudreys.] 
 
 43. Read, Endr vas i Onguls sundi ? 49. Read, har drottinn. 55. Read, 
 
 at RauSa-biorgoni.
 
 §3-] ARNOR lARLASCALD. 197 
 
 21. * Het ek ' J)a es hvern vetr satom hrafns ver3-giafa iafnan 
 (I16 drakk gramr a g66ar) gagn-vert (skipa sagnir). 
 
 22. Rd6 Heita konr hleyti her-{3arfr vi6 mik goeiva ; 
 styrk l^t OSS of orkal iarls maegd af pvi fraagSar. 65 
 
 23. Bera sin (en 'mik minir' morQ-kendz taka enda) 
 (Jjess of.J^engils sessa) t^ung mein synir ungir. 
 
 24. Boenir hefi-ek fyrir beini bragna fallz vi6 sniallan 
 Grikkja Vcorb ok Gar6a ; giaaf launag sva iaofri. 
 
 25. uEtt-boeti firr I'tran all-riks (enn ek bi6 li'kna) 70 
 (' trura ' tyggja dj^rom) Torf-Einars, Go9, meinom ! 
 
 26. Bia)rt ver6r sol at sortna ; soekkr fold 1 mar doekkvan, 
 brestr ervi-Qi Austra, allr brunar sser me6 fia)llom : 
 a6r at Eyjom frfSri (inn-drottar) {^6rfinni 
 
 {pQim hialpi G06 geymi !) goeSingr moni fceSask. 75 
 
 VII. Dirge on Hermund (from Edda). 
 T T lALP \)u d/rr konungr d/'rom dags grundar Hermundi ! 
 
 VII [. Dirge on Gelli (from Edda). 
 
 M IKK J ALL vegr J)at-es mis-gcert jDykkir, mannvilz fr68r, ok 
 allt it g68a; 
 tyggi skiptir sidan seggjom solar-hialms a doemi-stoli. 
 
 IX. Improvisation (from larla Saga). 
 
 DRENGR es f gegn at ganga (gott es at fylgja drottni) 
 [sold leynig J)vi aldri] ofuss syni Brusa: 
 
 Rognwald's kinsman [Thorfinn] drank of the yeasty pool [ale] all the 
 winter through (such was his state). I used to sit over against the earl 
 every winter, and he used to toast his good men. The kinsman of Heiti 
 [Thorfinn] contracted affinity with me [he gave me his kinswoman in 
 marriage]. This marriage kinship gave me rank. The earl's young sons 
 bear up against their heavy sorrow. Lo, now my memories of the earl 
 are fast tending to an end. 
 
 Epilogue. I offer prayers for the valiant earl [Thorfinn] to God, the 
 ready Patron of the Greeks and Gard-foik [Russians]; thus I repay him 
 his gifts. O God, deliver the goodly furtherer of Turf-Einar's mighty 
 race from woe ! I pray mercy for the good lord oflyree. 
 
 The bright sun shall turn black, the earth shall sink into the dark 
 sea, the burden of the Dwarf [heaven] shall be rent, the whole sea 
 shall rush up over the hills, ere there shall be born in the Isles a better 
 prince than Thorfinn. O God ! help the lord of the henchmen ! 
 
 Hermund Illugisson's Praise. Help thou the good Hermund, thou 
 dear King of the land of Day [Heaven] ! 
 
 Gelli's Dirge. The wise Michael weighs men's misdeeds and good 
 works; then tiie King of Heaven, sitting on His judgment-seat, sepa- 
 rates men into t^ivo companies. 
 
 Improvisation. Before Rfdburgh Battle. I will never hide it. I am 
 
 62. Read, Hlaut-ek hvern V. sitja? 66. Read, enn niiok minni. 71. 
 
 Read, Tyris ? 74. friaom, Cd.
 
 198 MAGNUS' AND HAROLD'S COURT. [bk. vm. 
 
 OSS es, ef iarlar J)essir 6gn-bra9ir til raSask, 
 
 (ha)r6 mun vin-raun ver3a) vandligr kostr fyrr hsondom. 
 
 Fragments (Edda Lauf.). 
 
 Bekks la eldr ok axla ulf-li6s Da)nom miSli 
 ek sa ' orm ru9 Jjakka ' eitt Skanunga hanom. 
 
 Kreysti knuto lostna klifs bein fiaaro-steina. 3 
 
 THIODOLF ARNORSSON. 
 
 Thiodwolf, the poet of Harold par excellence (as Arnor was of the 
 Earls and Magnus), was a prolific poet, and so much of his work has been 
 preserved that we might construct a little Chronicle from it of the 
 reigns of his patrons, even of INIagnus; for he followed that king in his 
 campaigns in Denmark, and has left vivid pictures of the scenes he 
 beheld ; he carefully tells us of the spoils he bore home, a Gautland 
 shield, a mail-coat, sword and helm. He talks, loo, of Harold's benefac- 
 tions to him, and of other personal reminiscences. 
 
 He was an Icelander, son of a poor man (if we may credit the court 
 gossip preserved in the story of his quarrel with Hall, provoked by the 
 king), but of his family and quarters we know nothing. He seems to have 
 been in Norway as early as 1043, he was present at Stamford Bridge, 
 and survived Harold at least. 
 
 His career, as traced in his poems, begins with Improvisations on 
 Magnus' campaigns, 1043-45 ; and encomiums on both kings, Magnus 
 Jlokk, and a H'elcome to Harold, in 1046. The Dirge on Magnus, the 
 Launch of the Dragon, seem to belong to 1048, and the short poem on the 
 Levy against Siveyn to 1054. The longest poem, Six-Stave, contain- 
 ing a review of Harold's whole career down to the quelling of the Upland 
 Rebellion, which he says was put down after three years, cannot be 
 earlier than 1065. The Improvisations on the morrow of the fight at 
 Stamford Bridge and the Dirge of Harold, of which we have a fragment, 
 would belong to 1066. A fragment of a poem on an Earl [Thorfinn ?] 
 we cannot date; nor of course the comic lines composed for Harold, 
 who delighted in his impromptu verses. The tale of Thiodwolf in 
 Flatey-bok, iii. 415, is a mere inflated version of the Hulda story, stuffed 
 out and garnished with additions and forged verses. 
 
 Thiodwolfs poems have undergone serious injury, as can be seen by 
 comparison with the prose drawn from his verses ; but, as usual, it is in 
 those lines where reference is made to foreign places (e.g. Denmark) that 
 the dilapidation is the worst. 
 
 In the Magnus Ode we have been able to restore 'lota' for ' iofra,' 
 ' Fion ' for 'i folk,' 'solar-dag at lolum ' for ' Sunnudag of unnin,' and 
 ' J>ridia ve,' Woden's home, i. e. Odense, for ' JDordir bs,' etc. 
 
 It is in the Improvisations on INIagnus' Danish campaigns in Denmark 
 that the corruption and rottenness of the present text is most mani- 
 fest. After the repeated defeats in Jutland (that of Helganes was the 
 finishing stroke), Magnus gave chase, pursuing Sweyn over Fiinen, 
 Sealand, and Sconen into Sweden ; for from the places named in Sealand 
 
 unwilling to march against the son of Brusi [Rognwald]. It is good to 
 follow one's lord. A hard choice is before me if these two earls come 
 to blows. It will try their friends sharply. 
 
 3. Some Danish name of place? Orms-rud ?
 
 §3-] THIODOLF ARNORSSON. 199 
 
 it is manifest the hunt ran eastward, and not, as in the Saga, over 
 Sealand to Fiinen .... Under ' au^trodu, saur stoklf inn ' lurlcs 'And- 
 word skog ' and ' Saurar,' the famous Soro. 'Hrolcaland ' is nonsensical, 
 and stands for 'Hnikars-lund,' i.e. Woden's grove, that is, Odense in 
 Fion ; ' at aerno ' marks some place-name in Sconey, as do ' locuanar ' 
 and 'suia collom.' — The fire of youth is in these rough cruel verses. 
 
 In Six-Stave we can trace sections: i. On StickJestead, where Bolgara 
 brennir is a notable synonym for Harold. 2. On Harold's Eastern ivar- 
 fare, where the curious Gaelic ' eras ' occurs, and the blinding of the 
 Emperor is mentioned. 3. His return to Norway. 4. The battle at the 
 mouth of the river Niz, in Halland, 1062, when the number of Sweyn's 
 ships is given. There are several rotten places here. 5. The remaining 
 strophes on the Swedish quarrel. 6. The Upland rebellion. 7. The 
 law-keeping of Harold. 8. Seemingly the End Piece : his generosity and 
 glory, where the poet uses the metaphors (peculiar to himself) of the 
 harvest-field and the reaping. The concluding Epilogue is preserved. 
 
 The Launch of the Dragon is Thiodwolf's best work (as he calls the 
 king young, so we have put it as early as we could, in 1048 Harold was 
 thirty-three). It is a good dashing picture of the fine new galley of 
 Harold, steered out of- Nith river down to the Firth on a bright day, 
 while the ladies of the city are looking out with wonder at the quick 
 even stroke of the oarsmen (seventy oars) and the glittering jaws of 
 the Dragon figure-head. Thorodd the Grammarian cites 1. 9. 
 
 The Levy Ode and the Ode on the Tryst ivith S^^veyn are anonymous, 
 but so entirely consonant with Thiodwolf's work and age that we do 
 not hesitate to put them among his works. 
 
 The Stamford Bridge verses convey the feeling that the expedition was 
 ill-advised from the beginning ; which, as such legends as the Dream 
 Ferses, § 7, relate, was the impression left on the popular mind. 
 
 The Dirge on Harold contained, like Arnor's short poem, a rapid 
 calendar or summary of the king's exploits, imperfect now. 
 
 The Comic Verses are corrupt, and we could not mend them. All 
 through Thiodwolf's poems we can s?e that he knows and admires 
 Sighvat's works, but of course beyond/o;-;;; ?a\di place there is no direct 
 imitation or echo. Thiodwolf is at his best in his impulsive emotional 
 verses and short odes, some of which, as the Launch, are not surpassed 
 by any court-poet. 
 
 I. Magnus-flokkr (c. 1046). 
 
 (Verse 1 from Edda.) 
 
 1. "\ /"ASTU, Olafs son, austan efldr a vatn it skelfSa. 
 
 2. V Ut rettu, allvaldr skiota (tikin cluQisk ra)) snekkjo ; 
 enn Jjritceg skip ' {Drauta ' J)ann ti9 1 haf skri9a : 
 vsegdit vendi sveigQom ve6r utt um [)er, diottinn ; 
 hl66o hir8-menn prudir hiin-skript 1 Sigtunom. 5 
 
 3. Aur spornaSot arnar il-ri66r fra Svi-Jjiodo 
 
 I. Magnus Flokk. Return to Nor-zvay. Thoit didst come in strength, 
 O son of Olaf, over the troubled water. Thou didst thrust out thy 
 bark, the oaken y;ird was tossing; thou didst run out to sea in a thirty- 
 oared ship ; the gale did not spare the creaking mast above thee, king. 
 The proud crew furled their mast-scroll [sail] at Sigtun. Tiiou didst 
 tramp over the clay out of Sweden from the east to Norway. A trusty
 
 200 MAGNUS' COURT. [bk.viii. 
 
 (herr fylgSi J)er, harri hraustr) f Noreg austan: 
 f\fbi Sveinn, enn siQan sann-ra9inn fra la&i, 
 erlendiss, fra-ek undan Alflvo son drifa. 
 
 4. Diarft neyttir-J:iu, drottinn dolg-strangr skipa langra ; 10 
 af \)vi at /'tar ha)f6o austr siau tigi flausta : 
 
 su5r gnau9o9o su6ir segl-hind a stag 'ryndo;' 
 
 Vik skar vand-langt eiki ; Visundr hneig6i {^raDm sveigSan. 
 
 5. Sialfr vas austr vi6 Elfi Ulfs ma)gr, ok het faogro ; 
 J)ar re9 Sveinn at sverja sinar hendr a skn'ni: 15 
 r^9 Alafs sonr eiSom (att hafa \)e'na. sattir 
 
 skemra aldr an skyldi), Skanunga gramr, hanom. 
 
 6. Hykk 1 hundraSs flokki Haraldz br66or son st66o 
 (hrafn vissi ser hvassast hungr-bann) framast manna : 
 vitt la Vinda flotti ; var3 J)ar-es Magnus bar6isk 20 
 hceggvinn valr at hylja heiSi rastar breiSa. 
 
 7. Minn va sigr fyrir sunnan sniallr Hei3a-b^ spialli 
 (Naer fra-ek skarpa skaero Skotborgar-a) gotna : 
 undi otal Vinda EUo konr at fella; 
 
 hvar hafi gumnar goerva geir-hri6 fregit meiri? 25 
 
 8. La)g8o (grseSiss gl66a) gramr ok iarl fyrir ska)mmo 
 (^ar kom bitr a baorva brand-leikr). saman randir: 
 sva-at man-|)inga mcendot merkendr HeSins serkjar 
 (herr knaSi gny gosrva geirs) orosto meiri. 
 
 9. SkotiS fra-ck skepti-flettom skiott ok maorgom spi6tom 30 
 (bra)9 fekk hrafn ^ar-es haSisk hildr) a breiSa skiaoldo : 
 neytto mest sem ma)tto menn at vapna senno 
 
 (baugs enn barSir Isogo baorvar) griotz ok aorva. 
 
 host followed thee, O king ! and then Sweyn fled abroad, deserted, from 
 his land. I know that the son of iElfgifu hastened away. 
 
 War in Denmark. Thou didst take boldly to thy long ships, standing 
 east with seventy ships. The barks went scudding on, the sail-hind 
 [ship] raced ahead; the tall-masted oak [ship] clave the Wick (Bay); the 
 Bison ran her gunwales under. The son of Wolf himself [Sweyn] met 
 thee at the Elbe [Gaut-Elf ] and promised fair ; yea, Sweyn [Sweyn the 
 Earl] swore with his hand on a shrine. Olaf's son, the lord of the 
 Sconey-folk, gave out the oath ; yet their covenant lasted a shorter 
 while than it ought. 
 
 Magnus defeats the Wends, Harold's brother's son [IMagnus] stood 
 foremost I know in his host of hundreds [battle array] ; far and wide 
 the flying Wends lay; where Magnus fought the slain covered a league- 
 wide Heath. In the south my patron won a battle at Heathby 
 [at Liirschau near Sleswick] ; there was another hard fight near Scot- 
 borough water [border of Jutland and Sleswick]. I know the kinstnan 
 of jElla [Magnus who claimed the English crown] slew Wends untold. 
 
 Siveyn vanquished. The King and Earl fought a short time ago [at 
 Aros = Aarhuus in Jutland] a greater battle .... the wearers of Hedin's 
 shirt [mail] .... 1 heard of the swift shooting of staff'-slings and spears 
 on the broad shields ; men used their stones and arrows as fast as they
 
 §3-] THIODOLF ARNORSSON. 201 
 
 10. Bsorot boeslar fleiri bog-menn af ha)r tognom ; 
 
 moendit ]3ann dag troendi {^reyta fyrr at skeytom: 35 
 
 sva |)iokt flugo si3an snoeri-dajrr um ' skjero,' 
 
 (sort vas a)r-drif lati6) ilia sattu i milli. 
 IX. Mia)k ba6 Magnuss rekka mannr rajskliga annan 
 
 (ha)r6 'jDrifosk' bor6 jDar-es bcorSomk) ba)6-sky framar kn/ja. 
 
 12. Va)r6r gekk meirr at morSi IMagnus kialar vagna 40 
 (t)at vas frsegt) 1 fagran fram-stafn varrar hrafni : 
 goerSom J)ar sva-at ]3ur3i (|3engils enn ox gengi) 
 [skei6r nam herr at hri66a] huskarla lid iarli. 
 
 13. A6r svan-foldar seldi s61-r/'randi inn dfri 
 
 (iarls la fer6 a ferli) fiaor-grid sta^fom hia)rva. 45 
 
 14. RaDmm vas hildr, su-es hramma har6-^ls viSir ba)r6osk, 
 (herr gekk snarr at snerro) ' Sunno dag of unnin:' 
 flaut, ]Da-es feigir l(!to fia)r gn^-stafar hia)rva, 
 
 (J)i66 soekk ni6r af NajSrom) nar a hverri bsoro. 
 
 15. Na6i iarl at eySa 'ia^fra' settr a vettri; 50 
 lezt eigi |)u litla land-vaorn af Jjer standa. 
 
 mattir Magnus hcetta mildr ' i folk ' und skildi ; 
 nefa Knutz vas pa n/tom na;r sem raSinn vaeri. 
 
 16. Raond bartu, rsesir t'roenda, reidr '|)or6ir bse' meiSa; 
 bus namtu hvert ok eiso hyr-felld gefa eldi : 55 
 goerr vildir-]Du gialda, got6inga konr, skoedar 
 
 (a)rt rendo J)eir undan) iarls fylgiorom dylgjor. 
 
 17. Hizig laut, es heitir Helganes, fyrir kesjom 
 (sukko sarir rekkar) Sveins fer6 (bana ver6ir) : 
 
 msetr h^It maorgo spioti Moera gramr 1 snctri 60 
 
 (odd rau6 aski studdan aorr land-reki) daorrom. 
 
 could. The archers never sped more [arrows] off their strings. The 
 Thronds did not fall short in shooting that day, the thong-darts flew so 
 thick one could hardly see between them at ... . Every man of Magnus' 
 host was cheering on his neighbour to the attack. Magnus went forward 
 in the battle; we lessened the number of the Earl's house-carles; the 
 king began to board the galleys before he gave quarter to the earl's 
 men. Hard was the battle on the Sunday before Yule. The people 
 sunk dead from out of the Snakes [dragon ships]. The earl left the 
 land of the Jutes in the winter; Magnus crossed under shield to F'ion 
 [Funen] ; Cnut's nephew [Sweyn] was then, as it were, done for. Thou 
 didst bear the shield, O lord of the Thronds, and sack Woden's grove 
 [Odense], giving every house to smoke and flame; thou wast eager to 
 pay the earl's people for their evil words of hate. 
 
 Final Battle of He/ganes. Sweyn's men fell before the javelins at 
 Holyness [Helganes in East Jutland]; the lord of the More-men swung 
 many a thong-dart. The earl fled from his empty ship where Magnus 
 
 39. Read, rufosk. 42. J)engill . . . fengi, Cd. 47. Read, Solar dag at 
 
 lolom? 50. Read, Iota. 52. Read, aFion? 54. ronn 16zt, Cd. 
 
 54. Read, {)ridja v6 ?
 
 202 MAGNUS' COURT. [bk. vm. 
 
 1 8. Fly6i iarl af au6o, otvin, skipi sino 
 
 mor6, J)ar-es Magnus goerdi mein-fcert ^a9an Sveini : 
 
 re& her-konungr hrioSa Hneitiss egg i sveita ; 
 
 spraendi bl66 a bry-ndan brand; va gramr til landa. 65 
 
 19. HaSisk heilli g66o hildr sem Magnus vildi; 
 selr of slikt at j^ylja sokn-stcerir mer foeri : 
 brand rau6 buSlungr Iroenda; berr i6ula si9an 
 hann ept her-vlg J)rennin hsera skiaold or giaoldom. 
 
 II. VisoR (1044-45). 
 
 (Verse 3 is in Hulda wrongly given to Arnor.) 
 
 1. TTRAUD Alafs maogr a9an (iaofurr va sigr) ens Digra 
 -L -»- [fregnat slikt or Sogni] siau skip [konor hnipnar]. 
 
 2. Misst hafa Sveins at sfno, sver6-gautr, faoro-nautar 
 (ha)r6 es heldr um orSin) heim-kvaomo {fa)r beima) : 
 hrcerir hausa f)eira hreggi oest ok leggi 5 
 (siar ])ftr auSs of aorom) unnr a sanda grunni. 
 
 3. Sveins manna rekr sunnan sa)ndog lik at stra)ndom ; 
 vitt s^r aold fyrir utan lotland hve hrae fliota : 
 
 vitnir dregr or vatni (vann Alafs sonr bannat) 
 
 [buk slitr vargr i vikom] val-ka)st (ara fa)Sto). 10 
 
 4. Hrindr af ' Hroka lundi ' hregg af eiki-veggjom 
 (sunnr leikr eldr of innom) 69r 1 lopt upp gloQom : 
 bctr logar haolfo haera hionom naer a Fioni; 
 
 rgefr jDola nau6 ok nsefrir; Nor6menn sali brenna. 
 
 5. Menn eigo J)ess minnask manna Sveins at kanna 15 
 vfga-Freys sfzt varo, vef-gefn, tvinnar stefnor: 
 
 vaon es fagrs a Fioni fli66s, dugir vaopn at ri66a, 
 vesom me 9 fylkto folki framm 1 vapna glammi. 
 
 wrought woe to Sweyn ; the king won the land, wielding Hnit [Olaf s 
 sword]. The battle turned as Magnus hoped. The lord of the Thronds 
 bore ever his shield highest three times over at their settling. 
 
 II. His civn exploits ivhenfollo^ix'ing Magnus. Jutland. The son of Olaf 
 the Stout cleared seven ships [carried them]. The ladies of Sogn will 
 not grieve at such tidings. The men of Sweyn have lost their hope of 
 getting home; the storm-stirred water tosses their heads and legs on the 
 sandy shoals. The sandy corses of Sweyn's men are floating off the 
 strand at Jutland. The wolf drags his prey from the water, and tears it 
 in the Wicks. Olaf's son won the day. 
 
 Funen. The storm-wind throws up the glowing embers of the oak 
 walls at Woden's grove [Odensej. The furious fire plays over the houses; 
 the rafters and black thatch are in evil case, the farms at Fion [Funen] 
 were aflame over the households. The Northmen burnt the hall. 
 Sweyn's men will remember those two battles. There is no lack of fair 
 maids in Fion [Funen]. It is seemly to redden one's weapon; let us go 
 forth to battle in array ! 
 
 II. Read, Huikars lundi. 12. uniiin, Cd. 
 
 k
 
 §3-] THIODOLF ARNORSSON. 203 
 
 6. Goer sa-ek grioti st6ro (gein hauss fyrir steini) 
 
 [fora fylking Jjeira fast] harSliga kastaS : 20 
 
 ofan keyr6o ver (orSom iaorS mana Sveinn of varSa) 
 [sta6ar hefir stafn i 'miSjo'] strand-hoegg [numit 'landi']. 
 
 7. Spur6i eino or3i (a)ld bl66-ro6na skiaDldo) 
 
 (satt es at ' sva ' ma)rg atti) Sialandz maer hverr v6 bseri : 
 'audtrodu' var3 au6it yfir um 'skog' at sproga; 25 
 
 tltt bar t^-margr flotti til Hring-staSa ' iljar.' 
 
 8. ' Saur/ stokkinn berr svfra snarr Skanunga harri, 
 undr es nema allvaldr Lundar ' aldr pruQr fyrir haldi : ' 
 goer flugo mold ok myrar merki iarls ens sterka, 
 
 sl63 drap framm at floe6i flaugar ' dorr ' um Hauga. 30 
 
 9. Bau6 Alafs sonr aSan upp a land at standa ; 
 gekk vi6 mann-d/'rQ mikla Magnus reiSr af skeiSom : 
 snarr bi6r hilmir herja (hark ox f Danma)rko) 
 [fleygir hart of Hauga hestr] or Skani vestan. 
 
 10. Nil taka NorSmenn kn/ja (naer ga)ngo ver sta)ngo) 35 
 [berkak] Magnus merki [minn skia)ld a hli6 sialdan] : 
 Skytr skeifom fceti Skani yfir slani 
 
 (far vegr es mer fegri fundinn) su9r til Lundar. 
 
 11. Bgorom isorn at 'oerno' iska^ld a hliS visa 
 
 skiott ri3a nu skeyttar Skanunga ' lokvanir : ' 40 
 
 rau6r leikr of b^' ' breiSom ' braSr at oro ra6i ' 
 eldr, enn oernir valda at-blasendr pvi vasi. 
 
 12. SvfSr of seggja bu6ir siklingr '1 her' miklom 
 (ey8ir byg6 sem brafiast biartr eldr) Dana-veldi : 
 
 m66r berr hair of ' hei6i hialdrs ' Danmarkar skia)ldo ; 45 
 
 Sea/and. Yesterday I saw big stones thrown crashing into men's 
 skulls. We drove cattle down to the shore. With words alone Sweyn 
 cannot guard his land. The stem of the ship had come to land in ... . 
 The maid of Sealand asked who bore the standard. The .... They 
 had to hasten through the Andwordwood to Ringstead. The lord of the 
 Sconey-folk marked to Sora. The king .... Lund .... Yesterday the 
 strong Earl's banner flew over field and fen .... at the Howes. 
 
 Sconey. Olaf's son bade us land, Magnus came ashore in great state. 
 Ever grows Denmark's danger. The king bade us harry Sconey from 
 the west. The horse flies over the Howes. The Northmen carry 
 Magnus' banner, I walk by the pole. They are trampling over Sconey, 
 southward to Lund. 
 
 He bore the ice-cold irons [swords] after the king at A ... . The 
 Sconey-folks' houses at ... . are tumbling in, the red fire plays over the 
 broad tower [Lund] at our command, and many fan the flames at ... . 
 
 With a mighty blaze he wastes the houses of men in the realm of the 
 
 22. Corrupt, some place ? 24. Read, sia ? hverr] hve, Cd. 25. Read, 
 
 AndverSo skog. 26. illra, Hulda. 27. Read, Saura? 28. vatr sem 
 
 veig6o skauti valdru6r fyrir haldi, Hrokkinsk. 30. Read, kicirr, or Kicegr, 
 
 Koegi ? 40. Someplace? 43. Read, hjr? 45. Someplace?
 
 204 HAROLD'S COURT. [bk. viii. 
 
 ver hkitom sigr, enn sarir Sveins menn fyrir renna. 
 
 13. FiorS let fylkir ver5a forn-traddan mo spornat 
 (leynomk litt) a Fioni (li6s skia)Idunga miSli) : 
 muna fyrir Magnus synja menn Sveins, ^eir-es nu renna, 
 (upp fara majrg 1 morgin merki) storra verka. . 50 
 
 14. Ekki hef-ek at drekka annat an sio J)enna 
 (sj^g-ek or sajltom segi sylg) es ek ia)fri fylgi: 
 Liggr fyrir oss, enn uggom all-litt, Svia 'kollom' 
 (driugt haofom vas fyrir visa) vi6 Skaneyjar si6a. 
 
 15. Skiaold bar-ek heim fra hialdri (hlauzk mer til J)ess) 
 
 Gauzkan 55 
 
 [ramr var5 su6r a sumri sver6-dynr] ok \)6 brynjo : 
 vgopn gat-ek fri6 ; enn fli66i fyrr sag6a-ek J)at kyrro ; 
 J)ar fekk-ek hialm es hilmir har6-ra3r Dani bar&i. 
 
 16. Nu es val-mei5om vi9iss (veit drott mikinn otta) 
 [skeiSr hefir hann fyr hau6ri] hsett goQs fri6ar vaitta : 60 
 mildr vill Magnus halda moroz hlym-gotom norSan 
 
 itr enn aonnor skreytir unn-vigg Haraldr sunnan. 
 
 III. Sex-stefja on King Harold (1065). 
 
 (Verses 23, 25-29 from Edda; verse 24 from Skalda.) 
 
 I. TTVAST fra-ek Haugi it naesta hlif-^1 a gram drifa, 
 •n. enn Bolgara brennir broeSr sinom vel toeSi : 
 skilSisk hann, ok hul6i hialm-setr, gamall vettra 
 tyggi tolf ok J)riggja traudr vi9 Alaf dau6an. 
 
 Danes, the bright fire swiftly wastes the houses .... heath .... Den- 
 mark .... Sweyn's men run wounded before us. 
 
 Last year the king stepped on the paths Funen trod of yore. Sweyn's 
 men cannot deny Magnus' great deeds. INIany a banner landed that 
 morning. 
 
 I have nought save the sea to drink as I follow my lord. I suck 
 my draught from the salt Ocean. There lies before us the broad coast 
 ot Sconey .... 
 
 I bore home a Gautish shield, that was my luck, and a mail-coat too. 
 There was hard fighting this summer in the south. I got a fair weapon. 
 I told the gentle lady. 1 got a helm also where the Stern King beat the 
 Danes. 
 
 Harolls first appearance in Nornvay. There is now^ scant hope of 
 peace, there is great peril ahead. The king has his galleys ready; 
 Magnus is going to stand south with his ships, but Harold is bringing 
 another fleet northwards. 
 
 TIT. Six-Stave. Before Exile. I heard that the sharp war-gale burst 
 upon him close to Howe [Olwi's howe near Sticklestead] ; and the 
 burner of the Bulgarians backed his brother well. He parted from the 
 dead Olaf against his will, when he was twelve years old and three 
 [fifteen], and hid his head.
 
 §3.] THIODOLF ARNORSSON, 205 
 
 2. Togo ma tekna segja (tand-rau9s) a Serklandi 5 
 (ungr hsetti ser) atta (orm-torgs hootudr) borga : 
 
 a&r her-skor6u6r harQan Hildar leik und skildi 
 Serkjom hsettr 1 slettri Sikleyjo gekk heyja. 
 
 3. Dolg-lioss hefir dasi darr-latr sta6it fiarri 
 
 endr pa-es eljo Rindar omynda tok skyndir : 10 
 
 vasat Afrika ia)fri Anars mey fyrir hanom 
 hag-faldinni at halda hl/'Si-samt ne \fbom. 
 
 4. Ldt, f)a-es lypt vas spiotom, liSs haofSingi kviSjat 
 (eftn {)eirs undan runno) ulfs gra6 (friSar bc66o) : 
 Hann hefir fyrir Sia sunnan (sva finnask til minni) 15 
 opt me6 oddi keyptan au3, J)ars leitt vas blauQom. 
 
 5. {'i63 veit at hefir haSar hvar-grimmligar rimmor 
 (rofisk hafa opt fyrir iaofri) attian Haraldr (sattir) : 
 hsoss arnar rauStu hvassar, hroSigr konungr, bl69i 
 
 (imr gat krsos hvar komot) kloer a3r hingat fcx'rir. 20 
 
 6. Stol-pengils let stinga (styrja^ld vas pa. byrjo3) 
 eySir augo boeSi lit heiSingja sutar : 
 
 lag9i allvaldr Egda austr a bragning hraustan 
 graligt mark, enn Girkja gajto ilia for stillir. 
 
 7. Sa-es (vi6 lund) a landi LangbarSa t66 ganga. 25 
 
 8. Reist eiki-kisolr austan aorSigt vatn or GsorSom, 
 (Sviar ti68o l^er si6an) sniallr landreki (allir), 
 Gekk me8 golli miklo (glygg fell ott um tyggja) 
 ha)ll a hld-bor3 sollin Haraldz skei9 und vef breiSom. 
 
 9. Vatn lezt, visir, slitna, vi6-ku6r, und sksor pubvi 30 
 
 Warfare in the East. Eighty conquered towns may be counted in 
 Saracen-land ; the young king went through much danger, ere he, the 
 periller of the Saracens, began to wake war on the flats of Sicily. The 
 laggard, slow to handle the dart, stood afar off when he took to himself 
 the ripe rival of Wrind [land]. The king of Africa could not keep the 
 grass-hooded maid of Woden [the land], nor his people, against him. Our 
 leader stayed the wolf's hunger, the foe ran away praying for peace. 
 He has often bargained treasures with his spear south of the Sea, 
 where cowards dare not come. I know that King Harold fought 
 eighteen fierce battles, the grey-wolf got 'eras' [dainties] where he went. 
 Before he came hither [to Norway again] the king stabbed out both 
 eyes of the Enthroned King [xd^eSpo? ^aanXevs] : the lord of the Agd-folk 
 set a cruel mark on the prince in the East. The ruler of the Greeks 
 went an evil way .... He that bravely marched on the land of the 
 Lombards [South Italy]. 
 
 Back to Norivay. The oaken keel breasted the steep water from Gard 
 in the East. All the Swedes, O gallant king, backed thee there. Harold's 
 galley, carrying the great hoard, went gunwale under beneath the broad 
 canvas, while the sharp gale blew over the king. Thou far-famed 
 prince, thou didst cleave the waters with the strakes of thy ship from 
 
 20. kars, Cd.
 
 2o6 HAROLD'S COURT. [bk-vhi. 
 
 (d^T klufo fl68, i)ars forot, flaust) or Danmsork austan : 
 bau8 haolf vi8 sik si9an sonr Alafs \)er hala 
 (frsendr hygg-ek J)ar fyndisk fegnir) la)nd ok J)egna. 
 
 10. f'egn skyli hverr sem hugnar hialdr-vitjaSar sitja 
 dolg-stceranda dyTom drottin-vandr ok standa. 35 
 
 S/ef. Lytr folks tar r a feiti {/all es HI nema idltd) 
 
 i^pvi sem pa vill golnom) pi66 bit {konmigr bioda). 
 
 11. Ldt vin-giafa veitir varg-hollr Dreka skolla 
 
 lystr fyrir leiSangrs briosti (li8s oddr vas J)at) mi6jo. 
 
 12. Fast ba8 fylkir trausta fri3-vandr ia)furr standa 40 
 hamalt ' s/'ndosk mer haomlo hildings vi6ir skildir : ' 
 ram-syndan lauk rajiidom ra6andi mann-da6a 
 
 n/'tr fyrir Nizi utan Na6r, sva-at hver tok a3ra. 
 
 13. Aim dro Upplenzkr hilmir alia natt inn snialli, 
 hremsor let a hvitar hliTar landreki drifa : 45 
 buand-maannom smo brynjor bl68ogr oddr, |)ars st68o 
 (flugr ox) Fafniss (vigra) Finna gia:)ld i skia)ldom. 
 
 14. Sogns kva)6o gram gegnan gloest siau tigi it fsesta 
 senn a svip-stund einni Sveins f)i63ar skip hri63a. 
 
 15. Sveinn 'att sigr at launa' sex 'f)eim er hvot vexa' 50 
 ' innan eina gunni a^rleiks ' Dana iaorlom : 
 
 var3 sa-es vildit for9a vig-biartr snsoro hiarta 
 1 fylkingo finginn Fi6r Arna son mi5ri. 
 
 16. Old vas su-es iarli skyldi ogn-teitom 119 veita 
 (sterkr olli J)vi stillir) Steinkels gefin heljo : 55 
 
 the east out of Denmark. The goodly ship climbed the flood. The son 
 of Olaf [Magnus] oifered thee half his land and people along with him. 
 The kinsmen [uncle and nephew] met with joy I ween. 
 
 Burden Verse. Every loyal thane of the king should sit and stand at 
 his will. The whole nation bows to him ; there is nothing for it but to 
 submit to what the king commands his people. 
 
 Battle of River Niz, 1062. The king hove his Dragon before the 
 breast of the levy in the midst thereof, at the point of the column [at 
 the apex of the battle-wedge of ships]. The prince bade his men stand 
 fast. ^I saw his rowlock-beams [ships] drawn up in wedge-shaped array: 
 the king commanded them to fence his mighty Adder [his ship], outside 
 oif Niz, with shields, so that one touched the other all round it. The Up- 
 land king was drawing his elm-bow all that night, making the arrow-heads 
 hail on the white bucklers; the bloody points pierced the franklins' mail, 
 what time the Fins' tribute [arrows] stood tbick on the Serpent's shields. 
 They say that the lord of the Sogn-folk, in one swoop, cleared and 
 carried seventy [17?] of Sweyn's ships. Sweyn m^as foUo-ived by six 
 warlike Danish earls. Fin Arnisson, who would not turn his brave heart 
 out of the fight, was taken in the midst of their array. 
 
 T:he Savedish quarrel vith Hakon and Steinkel. The people of Steinkel 
 
 4I. skilda, Cd. 48. Read, siautiaii? 51. Corrupt.
 
 §3-] THIODOLF ARNORSSON. 207 
 
 enn, |)vi-at ilia reyndisk afls veon f)a9an hanom, 
 
 fyiir \6t Hakon haorfa; hvat segir hinn es J)at fegrir? 
 
 17. Nu es um verk J)au es visi vand-mselt, sva-at af standisk, 
 au9an plog at eiga Upplendingom kendi : 
 
 ok ^vi raQi f)i69ar \>e\m bruto troll, es olio, 60 
 
 haels 1 hleypi-kiola hris. andskotom visa. 
 
 18. Tok Holm-bua hneykir har6an taum vi6 Rauma, 
 {jar hykk fast ins fruekna fylking Haraldz gingo : 
 eldr vas goerr at gialdi, gramr t66, enn |Da toedi 
 
 har i hof at foera hrot-garmr buendr arma. 65 
 
 1 9. Gagn brann greypra t^egna, gl66 var8 foost 1 tr68i ; 
 laust hertoga hristir Heina illom steini : 
 
 lifs bsoSo ser Li8ar; logi ^inga8i Hringom 
 nau8gan dom a8r nse8isk ni8r-fall Halfs galla. 
 
 20. FoerSi fylkir HaDr8a (friSr namsk) ar it J)ri8ja 70 
 [rendr bito stsol fyrir strajndo] starf til kroks (at hvarfi). 
 
 21. Ar3e6iss naut ey8ir all-dyggr Selundz-byggva ; 
 Hugr rge8r haolfom sigri (Haraldr sannar j^at) manna. 
 
 - 22. Refsir reyndan ofsa ra6-gegn Haraldr |Degnom; 
 
 hykkat-ek hilmiss rekkar haldi upp \)vi es valda: 75 
 
 sverSz hafa slikar byr8ar (sannz nytr hverr vi6 annan) 
 [Haraldr skiptir sva heiptom] hliotendr, es ser briota. 
 23. Utaii bindr vi3 enda elg-vers glsotudr hersa 
 
 [King of the Swedes], who ought to have helped the earl [Hakon Ivars- 
 son], were given to hell; the King [Harold] wrought this; and as the 
 hope of help from them failed, Hakon turned away. What can he say 
 who would put a fair face on this ? 
 
 The Rebel/ion in the Upla7id, 1063-65. Now it is hard to tell, so that 
 it all be in right order, how the king taught the Uplanders to have an 
 empty cart. The king's head has gained such glory these three seasons 
 [years] that it will last for ever. The unruly churls of the land would 
 not consent to their king's law, and committed crimes in the country; 
 and now the fiends broke rods over the legs of the ring-leaders of the 
 king's enemies. Harold, the enemy of the Holm-dwellers [Danes], had 
 a tight trace over the Reams, the king's array went forth fast. They 
 were paid with fire ; the king ordered that the high roof-wolf [fire] 
 should teach the wretched franklins their meet course. The wicked 
 thanes' crops burnt, the embers took hold of their roof-trees. The 
 dukes' lord struck the Heins [Heathmark people] a deadly blow [lit. 
 with an evil stone]. The Liths people prayed for pardon, but the flame 
 passed sentence on the Ring-folk [Ringrick people] before Halfs scathe 
 [fire] was quenched. The third year the lord of the Hords brought 
 the matter to the haven; peace ensued at last .... 
 
 Fragments hard to place. The waster of the dwellers in Sealand was a 
 man of dash. A good heart is half the battle. Harold is a proof of it. 
 
 His laiv. The orderly king punished the proved transgressions of his 
 
 57. Read, hvat sc?
 
 2o8 HAROLD'S COURT. [bk. vm. 
 
 'hreins vi5 hufi ronom hafs botni far gotna.' 
 
 24. Gera vas gisting byrjo9 gnog (enn ulfr or skogi) 80 
 sonr (a saor at spenja) SigorSar kom norSan. 
 
 25. Let hrse-teina hveiti hrynja gramr a brynjo ; 
 vill at vexti belli val-bygg Haraldr Yggjar. 
 
 26. B166-orra laetr barri bragningr ara fagna; 
 
 Gautz berr sig8 a sveita svans aDr9 konungr HaorSa: 85 
 geirs oddom Isetr greddir grunn hvert stika unnar 
 hir6 {Da es hann skal var8a hrae-gamms ara saevar. 
 
 27. Or8 sser Yrso bur6ar inn-drott ia^furr sinni 
 biart-pl6ga6an bauga bratt-akr vsolo-spakra : 
 
 eyss landreki lioso last-varr Kraka barri 90 
 
 a hle-mildar holdi hauks kalfor mer siailfom. 
 
 28. Maork let veitt fyrir verka vekjandi mer ' snekkjo ' 
 (hann laetr hylli sinnar) hialdrs (til-ger9ir valda). 
 
 29. Har skyli hirSar stiori hug-reifr sonom leifa 
 
 arf ok 66al-torfo (osk min es J)at) sina. 95 
 
 IV. Vi'soR (from Hulda). 
 
 1. OKEID sa-ek framm at floeSi, fagrt sprund, i so hrundit; 
 ^ kenndu hvar liggr fyrir landi laong su6 Dreka ins pru6a : 
 Orms gloa fa)x und farmi fra)n, {3vi-at fit vas hconom 
 (baoro bunir svirar brunnit goll) af hlunni. . 
 
 2. Slyngr Laugardag laongo Ii8-Baldr af ser tialdi, 5 
 lit J)a-es ekkjor lita Orms siiQ or boe priiSar : 
 
 people. The prince's subjects, I know, cannot do as they please. Men 
 must carry the loads they cut. Fair play is kept between man and man, 
 so Harold stops feuds. 
 
 Fragmetits. The King's 'valour and liberality, etc. The lord of barons 
 moors his ship .... 
 
 The she-wolf got food enough, and the wolf out of the wood drunk 
 of the wound-wells when Sigurd's son [Harold] came from the north. 
 
 Harold lets blood sprinkle the mail, and wishes the harvest of slain to 
 grow thick. The Hords' king makes the eagle enjoy the crop of the 
 blood-bird, and puts Woden's sickle into the raven's harvest. He makes 
 his men fence the land with a stockade of spears .... 
 
 His gifts. He sows the crop of Yrsa's son [gold] on the fresh-plowed 
 steep acres of the wrist-rings [arms], and scatters the seed of Kraki 
 [gold] on my warm flesh paddocks of the hawk [arms]. 
 
 He gave me a mark for my song, he metes out his favour according 
 to merit. 
 
 May he leave to his sons their heritage and patrimony, that is my 
 wish. 
 
 IV. The Launch of the Dragon, 1048. A galley I see, fair lady, 
 launched into the river [Nith river] seaward; look where the long 
 hull of the proud Dragon is riding off the shore : the bright Serpent's 
 mane is gleaming under her golden weight ; her neck is ornamented with 
 burnt gold, now that she is launched off the rollers. On Saturday the 
 king furls the long awnings, while the ladies of the city look out upon
 
 §3-] THIODOLF ARNORSSON. 209 
 
 vestr t66 or Ni6 nsesta nfri skei6 at st^J'ra 
 ungr, es arar drengja, allvaldr, 1 sia falla. 
 
 3. R^tt kann rceSi slita raesiss herr or verri ; 
 
 ekkjan stendr ok undrask ara-bur8 sem furdo : 10 
 
 sort man snut a6r snerto sge-fangs i tvau gangi 
 
 (' J)a)ll ' leggr vi8 ' fri8 fullan ') fer-kleyf (a J^at leyfi). 
 
 4. ' Sorgar veit,' a3r slitisk sae-fang or mar stra)ngom, 
 herr t)ar es heldr til varra, har, siau tigom ara : 
 Nor6me6r roa NaSri negldom straum inn heglda; 15 
 ut es sem ekkjan liti arnar-vaeng or iarni. 
 
 V. Visor. 
 
 1. T^ IGOT skiol und skogi skafnir snekkjo stafnar, 
 -L-' laesir leiQangrs visi land her-skipa brajndom : 
 almenningr ' liggr ' innan (ei3 lata ser skeiSar) 
 (ha-brynja6ar hlj'ja) hverja vik (1 skerjom). 
 
 2. Hldseyjar lemr havan hlym-gar9 konungr barSi; 5 
 neytir ^a til f)rautar Jjengill snekkjo strengja : 
 
 eigi es iarni biugo inn-dsell ska3i lindiss 
 (gnegr af gaddi digrom griot) ok ve8r in lioto. 
 
 VI. VisoR. 
 
 HARALDR t)eysti nu hraustla helming sinn at Elfi, 
 nattar Noregs drottinn nasr at landa-mceri : 
 
 the proud Serpent's hull. The young king is steering his new galley west- 
 ward out of Nith river, while the oars of the crew dip into the sea. The 
 king's crew pull the oars out of the water in time. The lady stands 
 and wonders at the oars' stroke as a marvel. They must pull briskly 
 indeed ere the four-square blade-looms fly in two. The damsel praises 
 .... The rowlock is sorely tried at each pull, before the blade 
 is slashed out of the strong sea, when seventy oars smite the sea with 
 one stroke. The Northmen are rowing the nailed Di-agon on the 
 stricken stream. It seems to the ladies as if she had eagles' wings of 
 iron upon her sides. 
 
 V. 7/je Levy. The polished galley stems find no shelter in the 
 forest ; the king is fencing his land about with the stem-beams of 
 the war-ship of the levy ; the whole levy of the land locks in every 
 bay, and the necks of the skerries shelter the high-mailed galleys. 
 
 The king smites the high surf wall of Hlesey with his prow ; he tries 
 the strength of his cable to the utmost, the scathe of the linden [the 
 wind] and the ugly storms are not easy for the iron bows [anchor-bows] 
 to bear, when it gnaws the rocks with its thick flukes. 
 
 VI. Levy against Siveyn, 1054. Harold is now moving his forces to 
 Elbe [Gauta-Elf] ; the king of Norway takes a berth near the Marches. 
 
 II. I. e, siiui5 ; snot, Cd. 12. Someplace? 3. Read, lykr, 
 
 VOL. II. P
 
 2IO HAROLD'S COURT. [bk. viii. 
 
 gramr a \)mg vi5 f'umla, J)ar es ein-daga9r Sveini 
 
 ' hrafni skyldr ' (nema haldi) bans fundr (Danir undan). 
 
 F 
 
 VII . Visor. 
 
 RAN hefir sveit vi9 Sveini sinni skipt (at minnom) 
 dc66 ok drottni g63om (dreng-spell es J)at lengi). 
 
 VIII. VfsoR. 
 
 1. IVTORDR lykr gramr sa-es gerSir grund fra Eyrar-sundi 
 -L ^ (hrafn-goelir sparn hasli ha^fn) lang-skipa sta)fnom : 
 rista golli glcestir gialfr (enn su3ir skialfa) 
 
 hvast und her fyr vestan Hallandi fram brandar. 
 
 2. GerSir opt fyr ia3r6o, eiQ-fastr Haraldr, skeiQom; 5 
 Sveinn skerr ok til annars ey-sund konungs fundar: 
 
 ut hefira 116 liti9 lof-sniallr Dana allra, 
 
 hinn es hvern vag sunnan hrafn-grennir lykr sta^fnom. 
 
 3. S\%tot su6r jDar-es cesto, sniallr gramr, Danir allir 
 (enn s6t eigi minni efni) maeltrar stefno ; 10 
 Sveinn tekr nor6r at nenna naer til landa-moeri 
 
 (var6 fyr vi9ri iaorSo vindsamt) Harald finna. 
 
 4. Telja hitt, es hittask, hvars-tveggja mia)k seggir 
 or9, J)au es angra fyrda, all-ma)rg, buendr sniallir: 
 
 lata ^eir, es J)rgeta pegnar, allt 1 goegnom 15 
 
 (svellr ofr-hugi ia)from) eigi bratt vi9 ssottom. 
 
 5. OfreiSi vard ia)fra all-hsett ef skal saettask; 
 menn f)eir-es mi9la kunno msol a)ll vega i sksolom : 
 Dugir siklingom segja sli'kt allt es her likar; 
 
 veldr, ef verr skolo haoldar, vili girnQar \>vi, skilja. 20 
 
 The prince holds a moot at Thumblie [Thumla off the Gauta-Elf], 
 where Sweyn is to meet him on a given day, unless the Danes fail him. 
 
 VII. The Danes take Stweynfor King, 1054. The Danes have bartered 
 their honour and their good lord for Sweyn [the son of Wolf] ; this 
 villany will long be held in mind. 
 
 VIII. T/x tryst ivitb Siveyn, 106 3 ? The king locks the whole land north 
 of Eyra Sound [Ore Sound] with the long-ships' stems, he treads the 
 havens with his rudders' heel [starts from the haven]. The gold-glitter- 
 ing prow-coursers cleave the sea swiftly eastward off HaJland. Harold 
 the faithful often walls in the land with his galleys. Sweyn is cutting 
 through the island sound to meet the other king ; he has no small levy 
 of Danes out in the sea, shutting up every bay as he comes from the 
 south with his ships. Ye hastened south, where all the Danes had 
 fixed the trysting-place .... while Sweyn is travelling north to meet 
 Harold at the INIarches. On both sides the franklins count over, when 
 they meet, all their grievances ; they are not very easy to bring to 
 agreement, for they push their case to the utmost ; the kings are 
 puffed up too with pride. The anger of the kings is dangerous, if they 
 are to come to terms at all ; men who can mediate will have to
 
 §3.] THIODOLF ARNORSSON. 2ii 
 
 6. Hitt hefi-ek opt at setti Haraldr ok Sveinn vid meinom 
 (Go9 s^slir ^at) gisla gla6r hvarr-tveggi aDSrom : 
 J)eir haldi sva soerom (sEott lauksk J)ar me6 vgottom) 
 ok fflU i frid fuUom fer9 at aldri skerdi. 
 
 IX. Improvisation. 
 
 1. CKALKAT-EK fra, '\>6it fylkir falli sialfr' til vallar 
 ^ (gengr sem Go6 vill) ungom grams erfingjom hverfa : 
 skinnat sol a s^nni snar-ra6s, an J)a ba9a, 
 
 (Haraldz ero haukar gcervir hefnendr) konungs efni. 
 
 2. Old hefir afra9 goldit I'llt; nu kve9-ek her stilltan ; 5 
 bau9 J)essa fa)r |)i69om J)arflaust Haraldr austan : 
 
 sva lauk siklings sevi sniallz, at ver rom allir 
 (lofSungr bei6 inn leyfQi lifs grand) i sta9 va)ndom. 
 
 X. RlMHENDA ON HaROLD. 
 (Verses 1, 2 from Edda.) 
 
 1. '^ /"EX dlafs fe6r Iarn-sa)XO ve6r, 
 
 * har9-rae6it hvert, sva at hr66rs es vert. 
 
 2. larizleifr of sa hvert ia^fri bra, 
 h6fsk h\fii frams ens Helga grams. 
 
 3. Eitt ha)f6osk at Eilifr pa.r es sat, 5 
 hofSingjar tveir, hamalt fylkto J)eir. 
 Austr-Vindom ok 1 aongan krok, 
 
 vasa Laesom l^ttr Li9s-manna r^ttr. 
 
 weigh all the charges in scales [fairly]. If they part .... it is passion 
 that is the cause thereof. Now I have heard that Harold and Sweyn 
 have, by God's help, given hostages to each other against future out- 
 rages. May they and all the people keep their oaths and keep full 
 peace, so that no damage be done. The peace was concluded there by 
 the sworn witnesses. 
 
 IX. Stamford Bridge, Sept. 25, 1066. I shall not forsake the king's 
 young heirs, though the prince himself is now fallen on the field. All 
 goes as God wills ! The sun shines on no finer king's sons than both of 
 them. Harold's avengers are true hawks. 
 
 The people have paid a terrible price, the army is trapped, I know. 
 It was ill-devised when Harold bade his levy sail from the east. "We 
 are all at a parlous point, now that the good king has lost his life. Yea, 
 the famous king is dead. 
 
 X. Dirge on King Harold the Stern. The giantess storm [courage] 
 rose in Olaf's father in every danger worthy of song. larisleif saw after 
 whom he took, the brethren of the holy king [Olat] waxed well. The 
 two princes, he and Eilif, had one intent, they formed the wedge of 
 battle together. He drove the East Wends into a narrow pass. The 
 lord of the Lithsmen did not deal lightly with the Lechs. Now dead 
 
 I. Read, Jiott se fylkir fallinti sialfr til vallar, or ^ott fylkir fallinn so til vallar. 
 
 P 2
 
 212 MAGNUS' AND HAROLD'S COURT. [bk.viii. 
 
 4. AndaQr es sa, es of alia bra, 
 
 hauk-slalla konr, Haraldz br66ur-sonr. 10 
 
 XI. Comic Improvisations. 
 
 1. OIGURDR eggja6i sleggio snak Waligrar' brakar, 
 ^ enn skap-dreki skinna skrei6 of leista-heiSi : 
 menn sask orm a6r ynni il-vegs buinn kiljo 
 nauta-le6rs a naSri nef-langr konungr tangar. 
 
 2. Varp or {jraeto J)orpi t'orr, smi6-belgja storra, 5 
 hvatt eldingom ha^ldnom, hafra-kia)tz, at lajtni: 
 hliod-greipom tok hu6a hroekkvi-skafls or afli 
 
 gla6r vi6 galdra smi6jo Geirroedr sio pern. 
 
 3. FcerSr s/^ndizk mer fraendi Fri'sa kyns 1 brynjo, 
 gengr fyrir hir6 i hringum hialm-faldinn kurfaldi : 10 
 ' fiy-rat elld 1 ari ' ut-hlaupom vanr Tiita ; 
 
 sekk vi9 siQo leika sver3 rug-hleifa sker8i. 
 
 XII. Fragments (Edda and Skalda). 
 
 1. larl Isetr odda skurar opt herdir goer ver9a, 
 brings a6r hann of t)ryngvi haorS 61 und sik ia)r3o. 
 
 2. Snart vi8 sae-^raQ kyrtat sikr, la blser a diki, 
 
 ODDR KIKINA-SKALD, etc. 
 
 Eight small poets, one (Ord) on King Magnus, and one (Thorleik) 
 on King Sweyn, the rest on Harold, especially the earlier part of his reign. 
 
 is he that surpassed all, the noble king, Harold's brother's son [Magnus 
 the Good, nephew of Harold]. 
 
 XI. Inipro'visations. On the Jig ht betiveen the Blacksmith and Tanner. 
 Sigfred of the sledge-hammer challenged the horrid Serpent of the 
 brakes, and the Dragon of the hides wriggled out of Last-heath [the 
 tan pit where the shoemakers' leather was tanning]. Men feared the 
 Serpent of the boots ere the long-nebbed King of the tongs got the 
 better of the Adder of the neat leather. 
 
 The same figured as Thor and Giant Gar/red. Thor of the he-goat flesh 
 cast out lightnings against the Giant of the big smithy bellows, and 
 the Geirrod of the brake caught the glowing bar in his speech-smithy 
 [mouth]. 
 
 The D-Lvarf in the Kitigs mail-coat Emma. The Frisian is clad in a 
 mail-coat. Cuttiecoat walks helm-hooded before the host. Tout strides 
 about in the mail-coat Emma ; I see a sword by the side of the carver 
 of the rye-loaf. 
 
 XII. A Fragment. The earl [Thorfinn ?] had fought many battles 
 ere he could win the land. 
 
 A Fishing Scene. The seak [a kind of salmon] touched the sea 
 thread gently, there was a calm over the sea. 
 
 1 1 . Read, fioerat Emmo . . . ? 
 
 J
 
 §3.] ODDR KIKINA-SKALD, etc. 213 
 
 Ord, Kitchin's Poet. Part of a dirge on Magnus, composed about 
 1047, which must have been a beautiful and affecting poem, is all that 
 remains of this poet: his name was probably derived from some patron, 
 a foreigner, whom he had eulogised. One of the verses (5) is in Skalda 
 given as Thiodwolf's, erroneously we think. 
 
 The exact date of the battle of Aros was contained in these verses, 
 and we have been able to restore it. A verse which we believe to be 
 his is added here. 
 
 Balework (Bolverkr), brother of Thiodwolf, recounts in order, 
 in a drapa of about 1055, the exploits of King Harold in Russia, 
 Byzantium, Sicily, Africa, his return to Norway and his wars with 
 the Danes. 
 
 His encomium is of the regular type of Harold's court-poets, 
 and corrupt in many places. The date of the levy-song by Thiodwolf 
 is fixed by the last verse to 1048. 
 
 Walgard o' Field (Valgardr af Velli) bears a name which would 
 connect him with the home and family of Fiddle-Mard, the traitor 
 of Niala. He also runs over Harold's early exploits (a theme which 
 the king seems to have never tired of hearing), and goes to tell of 
 his doings in Sigtun, Sweden, Selund, Funen, Roskild, and winds up 
 with addressing him as king of all Norway. This encomium must date 
 after Magnus' death, 1047. 
 
 Walgard's poem, which is one of the best of those on Harold, is very 
 unsafe in places. King Harold's fleet seems to have anchored at 
 Fredriksvserk, mouth of Roskeld-firth, harrying cruelly on both sides. 
 "We recognise under the cover of inane appellatives, names such as 
 Hramnlausa = Ramlosa, Helsinge, Skylda-laif (?), in north point of Sea- 
 land; by the forest the people fled into is meant Gribskoven, still the 
 ornament of Sealand. 
 
 Illugi the Bryndale Poet. An Icelander from the south-west, 
 of whom there exists a morsel, containing as a kind of burden a series of 
 allusions to the Wolsung story, wedged into the body of the poem, 
 which is in praise of Harold after the manner of Cormac and his 
 imitators. One of these burdens we have not been able to make out. 
 The name of the Greek emperor, Michael, occurs in the fragment. 
 
 Grani. We know nought of him save the fragment in which he 
 celebrates Harold's Danish wars : the captivity and ransom of Dotta, 
 daughter of a Danish noble, Thorkell Geysa, who had satirised Harold 
 and the Northmen. 
 
 Thorarin Skeggisson. He sung of Harold's eastern exploits, as 
 the two lines left of one of his poems testify. We take him to be 
 the brother of the well-known Mark Skeggisson (§ 4), whose elder 
 he would seem to have been by several years. 
 
 We have mended these lines in accordance with the indications 
 furnished by the prose derived from them when they were perfect. 
 
 Shuttle-Halli (Snoeglo-Halli). This poet, like Thorwolf, a poor 
 man's son, is always described as having a very marked individuality; 
 there is something of the Falstaff about him ; but his sharp wits and 
 bitter tongue always bring him out of the scrapes he is thrust into, 
 and he gets the better of Thiodwolf in their quarrel. It is of him 
 and Edward the Confessor that the Herodotean story is told in Hulda. 
 The king graciously hears his poem, on his visit to the English court, 
 and when assured of its goodness by Raud, his own poet, promises 
 Hall as much silver as will stick on his hair when a money-bag is 
 emptied over his head. Hall puts tar on his hair and manages to
 
 214 MAGNUS' AND HAROLD'S COURT. [bk. viii. 
 
 catch the greater part of the money, and then hurries off with his fee. 
 When he is gone and they begin thinking over his poem, they find 
 that it is nothing but nonsense-verses. 
 
 One fragment of his, in old metre, remains on Harold. 
 
 Thorlak the Fair (Thorleik Fagri). King Sweyn Wolfsson's 
 poet, whom we have mentioned above. His Praise-Song on that king, 
 of which a fair part remains, composed c. 1055, deals with Harold's 
 inroads and escapes in Denmark, and with negotiations not yet suc- 
 cessful. He congratulates his lord on still, in spite of the northern 
 king's power, remaining sole king of Denmark and Jutland. It gives 
 some notable historical details, the number of Sweyn's ships, etc., and, 
 when in a perfect state, no doubt contained more. Lines 18, 22, 27, 
 34-36 are unsound and overlaid certainly. 
 
 Oddr Kikina-skald. 
 (Verse 5 from Skalda.) 
 
 L 
 
 1. T /"AS fyrir Mikjals-messo malm-grimm hain rimma; 
 
 * fello Vindr, enn vaDndosk vapn-hli69i miok ^ioSir : 
 Enn fyrir 161 var6 a)nnor 'ohlitulig' litlo 
 (upp hofsk grimm me8 gumnom gunnr) fyrir Aros ' sunnan.' 
 
 IL 
 
 2. Felldo menn, J)a-es mildan, ma)rg ta)r, i graaf bsoro 5 
 (t)ung byrdr vas su) ^engil (JDcim-es hann gaf seima) : 
 deilSisk hugr, sva-at heldo huskarlar grams varla 
 (siklings J^ioS enn si6an sat opt hnipin) vatni. 
 
 3. ]\Ia-ek, sizt Magnuss aevi m66-fikins |Draut g66a 
 (Odd hafa striQ of staddan) stilliss, harSa ilia : 10 
 hvarfa-ek hvers mannz jDurfi ; harmr strangr fser mer angra6 ; 
 J)i68 es at daDgling dauQan daopr, J)vi fa)ro ver aprir. 
 
 4. Nu fara helm 1 humi her-kunn fyrir la)g sunnan 
 daprar skeiSr nie6 dau6an dyr-nenninn gram Jjenna: 
 a)ld hefir ilia haldit, esa stri6-vana si6an; 15 
 hult hafa hir6-menn skylja haDfu6 J)at-es fremst vas isofra. 
 
 Odd, Kitchin's Poet. L Dirge on Magnus. There was a cruel 
 battle fought before INIichaelmas; the Wends fell, and on Sunday a 
 little before Yule a second fight off Aros [the river mouth by Aarhuus 
 in Jutland]. 
 
 H. When they bore the gentle king to the grave, there fell many a 
 tear, it was a heavy grief to his henchmen : their minds were so distraught 
 that the house-carles could scarce withhold their tears, the prince's 
 followers have often sat bowed down since then. I feel very sorrow- 
 ful since the good life of Magnus came to its end. Affliction has over- 
 taken me. I wander about helpless, strong sorrow is oppressing me. 
 The people are sore distressed since the king's death, and I go joyless. 
 
 [Now the drooping galleys have borne the beloved king over the 
 sea in the dark from the south. The land has suffered sorely. There 
 is no lack of woe ever since the henchmen covered the head that 
 
 3 and 4. Read, ohlitin, dag .... Sunno.
 
 §3.] BOLVERKR. 215 
 
 5. Lei9a langar dau6a limar ilia mik stilliss; 
 b£prot menn inn masra Magnus f gra)f fusir. 
 
 BoLVERKR. 
 
 1. 1\ /T ILDINGR strauktu um msekiss munn, es Uzt af gunni ; 
 ^^ ^ holdz vantu hrafn um fyldan hras, |)aut ulfr 1 asi : 
 enn, gramr, (ne ek fra fremra, friS-skerSir, }Der ver6a) 
 austr vastu sor in nsesto a)r6ig-Iyndr i Gaordom. 
 
 2. Hart kni9i svaol svartan snekkjo brand fra landi 5 
 skiirr, enn skrautla bsoro skeiSr brynjaSar reiSi : 
 
 msetr hilmir satt malma Mikla-gar6z fyrir bar6i; 
 majrg skriSo belt at borgar barm-fa)gr haom armi. 
 
 3. Sniallr rautt 1 styr, stillir, stcol ok gekkt a mala ; 
 haSisk hvert ar siQan hildr sem sialfir vildot. 10 
 
 4. Su6 var6, Jjar-es bldtt bloSi, (borQ rendosk at ia)r9o) 
 [vattu drengiliga, dr6ttinn] dreyra-fuU ' vi8 eyri:' 
 
 fann und ser fyrir sunnan Sikley (li8i miklo) 
 sand ({Dar-es sveiti skyndi) sokkit lik (of stokka). 
 
 5. Rettu vi8 rausn at hsetta, rei8-m3eltr ia)furr, skei8om 15 
 (pr/'ddr la byrr at brseddo) Blalandz a vit (stali) : 
 
 laust (enn lauka reisti lof8ungr vi8 sio {)ungan) 
 
 skurr a skiald-rim dyra skokks mia)ll a ^ra)m stokkinn. 
 
 6. Gramr nenninn hefir gunni (gekk fer8 ok bio sverdom) 
 [sna)rp ha8isk |Da si8an snerra] gagn or hverri. 20 
 
 7. Ok hertoga hneykir her-fengnom letzt stinga 
 leyfd fra-ek bans or ha)f6i ' hauks ' skynda6i augo. 
 
 was the highest among the kings. Sorrow has struck deep roots into 
 me ! All unwillingly, men bore Magnus to the grave. Unnamed, but 
 probably Odd's.^ 
 
 Balework, King Harold's Praise. y(fter Sticklestead. Thou, 
 king, didst wipe the mouth of thy sword when thou didst pass from 
 the battle, and wast in the east in Gard the years after. 
 
 Warring in the East. The cold shower blew the black prow-stems 
 of the ship from the land, and thou didst see the towers of Mickle- 
 garth [Constantinople] before thee, and broughtest many a fair-bosomed 
 bark to the high city side. Thou didst dye the steel in battle and take 
 a covenant [enter the Emperor's service] ; every year after thou didst 
 fight at thy will. The hull was full of gore off the .... shore the sunken 
 carcases grounded on the shoals south off Sicily. Thou didst jeopard 
 thy ships, O ready-spoken king; the gale blew proudly on the tarry 
 bows, towards Blackland [North Africa] ; the shower fell on the costly 
 shield-rim, and the foam drove upon the bulwarks. Thou didst win 
 every battle .... and didst put out the two eyes of the prisoner- 
 emperor's head. 
 
 7. sa, Cd. 9. rau6 . . . gekk, Cd. 12. Some place? I4. Read, 
 
 skokka? 16. breiddo, Cd. 21. let, Cd.
 
 2i6 HAROLD'S COURT. [bk. viii. 
 
 8. Heimol var8, es ek heyr9a, hodd-stn3ir, J)er siSan 
 green, enn goU bautt hanom, grund es Magnus fundot: 
 endisk ykkar fraenda all-fri6liga mi6li 25 
 ssett, en si6an vsetti Sveinn r6m-a)ldo einnar. 
 
 9. LeiSangr biotto af la6i (la)gr gekk um skip faDgro) 
 [gialfr-sto&om reistu graeSi glcestom] ar it naesta : 
 skokkr la dyrr a dcekkri (Danir varo \)a) bsoro 
 
 [skeiQr sa herr fyrir hau6ri hlaSnar] (ilia staSnir). 30 
 
 Valgarbr a Velli (c. 1047). 
 
 (Verse i from Fagrsk. ; verses 2-5 from Edda.) 
 
 1. ' TTELMINGI bauttu hanga' hilmiss kundr, af stundo; 
 
 -L J- Skipt hafit er, sva at ' eptir ero ' Vaeringjar fseri. 
 
 2. Skilfingr hdltu ({Dar-es skulfo skei6r) fyrir 'Isond in breido' 
 (au6 var8) su9r (um si8ir Sikley) li6i miklo. 
 
 3. Biartr sveimaQi bn'mi, bruto vfkingar fikjom 5 
 visa styrks of virki 'varp sorg a menn' borgar. 
 
 4. Snarla skaut or s6ti ' svek of hus' (enn reykir 
 st63o stopdir si3an) stein-66r logi gl63om. 
 
 5. Skauztu und farm inn frizta (frami veitisk J)er) beiti ; 
 fcer6ir-J)u goll or Ga)r6om grunnlaust, Haraldr austan : 10 
 st/rQir hvatt i hajrSo, hug-dyggr iajfurr, glyggvi 
 
 ' sattu J)a es ssedrif Idtti Sigtun en skip hnigQo.' 
 
 6. Eik sloeng und ^er, Yngvi, 6gn-bli6r i haf si6an 
 (r^tt vas y6r of aetlat oQal) fra Svi|)i66o: 
 
 Back in Nornvay. The green land became thy own, and thou gavest 
 him thy gold, when ye found Magnus, as I heard. Then came to pass 
 a very peaceful agreement between you two kinsmen, and Sweyn had 
 only war to look for afterwards. 
 
 King alone. Thou didst call out a sea-le\'y the next year ; the costly 
 galley lay on the dark billow ; the Danes were in evil stead. 
 
 Walgard o' Field. King Harold's Praise. In the East. 
 Thou didst order the half of them to be hanged forthwith. Ye 
 have had the Largesse few Warings ever had. Thou didst hold 
 thy course with a great fleet to the south of the ' broad land.* 
 Sicily was wasted there. The bright flame flickered. The king's 
 wickings stormed the town [of ....]. The violent fire poured glow- 
 ing embers out of the sooty reek, and the smoke went up like pillars 
 from the burning houses. 
 
 Home again. Thou didst launch thy ship with the costliest cargo, 
 and didst carry gold without end out of Gard from the east ; thou didst 
 steer thy ship through a sharp gale, and when thou didst furl thy 
 canvas thou didst see Sigtun. The oak sped under thee next over 
 
 3. Name of place. 6. Some place. 12. Corrupt; read, . . . Sigtiina 
 
 skript hiina ?
 
 §3-] VALGARDR. 217 
 
 hind bar rif, {)ars renndi v6lt a stag fyrir sl^tta 15 
 
 skei8 (enn skelkto bruSir) Skaney (Da)nom nanar). 
 
 7. Gekk a Fi6n (enn fekkat) fia)l-me6r konungr (hia)lniom) 
 [brast rikula ristin n't] (erviSi liti6). 
 
 8. Haraldr ga^rva Idztu herjat (hnyggr-J)U andskotom tyggi) 
 [bratt rann vargr at vitja val-fallz] Selund alia : 20 
 
 9. Brann i bee fyrir sunnan biartr eldr Hrois-keldo ; 
 ra^nn l^t rsesir nenninn reyk-vell ofan fella : 
 
 Isogo landzmenn gn6gir ' lo hel sumom frelsi ;' 
 drosk ' harm vesalt ' hyski hli6tt til sk6gs a flotta. 
 
 10. ' DvalQi daprt ok skilda ' (drifo) \)e\r es eptir ' lifSo' 25 
 * ferS ' [enn fengin ur6r fa)gr sprund] (Danir undan) : 
 lass hdlt liki drosar ; lei3 fyrir y3r til skei6a 
 
 (bito * fikula ' fiaotrar) fli66 mart haDrund-biarta. 
 
 11. Inn vas 1 sem brynni i9-glikt sia mi6jan 
 
 eld J)ar-es ydrom heldot, orms-munn-lito9r, sunnan : 30 
 skeiQ bar skolpt inn rau6a ; skein af golli hreino ; 
 dreki for dag-lei9 mikla ; diifo braut und hufi. 
 
 12. Laudr vas lagt 1 'be6i,' \6k sollit haf golli; 
 enn her-skipom hrannir ha)fu6 ogorlig pogo : 
 
 T2e6v-\)U (enn rsesir oe6ri ristr alldri sia kaldan) 35 
 
 [sveit toer sinom drottni snia)ll] Noregi a)llom. 
 
 the main from Sweden ; thy birthright land was duly given thee ; the 
 galley sped straight ahead, doubling the flats of Sconey ; the Danish 
 maidens were in fear. 
 
 fVar in Denmark. Fiinen. Thou didst land on Fion [Funen], 
 Sealand. Thou didst harry all Sealand thoroughly. The bright fire 
 burnt in the town of Hroe's well [Roskeld] in the south. The 
 Ramnlosa people fled to the woods. The Helsings [men of Helsinge, 
 the Neck of Sealand] lost their freedom. At Skyldelow we got fair 
 bondmaids, the Danes were put to flight. The cords were tight on the 
 ladies' bodies ; many a fair-skinned damsel was driven down to the 
 ships. The fetters bit sore. 
 
 Voyage home. Your gilded galley-head was to look on like a serpent 
 breathing fire, when ye sailed from the south ; she bore a dragon's 
 head, she shone with pure gold; she went a long day's journey, breaking 
 the waves with her breast. The foaming waves lay in ridges, the swollen 
 billows played against the gold, and the rollers washed the grim heads of 
 the war-ships. Thou rulest all Norway ! Never shall greater king 
 cleave the cold sea! 
 
 23. Read, losk Helsingjom frelsi. 24. Read, Hramnlauso. 25. Corrupt ; 
 
 read, Skylda-leif ? in the point between Roskeld-firth and Ice-iirth.
 
 2i8 HAROLD'S COURT. [bk.viii. 
 
 Illugi Bryxdcela-skald. 
 
 (Verse i from Edda ; verse 2 from AM. 748.) 
 
 1. A 7" ARCS vas munr ^ar es margan — Men-skerbir siakk sverdi 
 
 V myrk-orrida viarkar — mi'nn drottinn rak flotta. 
 
 2. Enn belt ulfa brennir — Eiskaldi framm beisko 
 viildr red Orms of elldi — austr-fajr JjaSan goerva. 
 
 3. Opt gekk a fii6 Frakka — ' Fliotrent at by snotar' 5 
 ' vara doglingi dugIo??i ' — drottinn minn fyr otto. 
 
 4. Brauztu und Mikjal mestan — Mdgom heim sent frdgom 
 sonr £u6la baub sinom — Sunn-la)nd, Haraldr, raondo. 
 
 Gram-skald. 
 
 (Verses 2, 3 from Edda.) 
 
 1. T ET aldregi liti osvifr Kraka drifo 
 
 -L-' hla)kk 1 harSa jDiokkom Hornskogi bra ^orna : 10 
 Fila drottinn rak flotta fianda grams til strandar 
 au6 var8 ut at grei6a all-skiott faSir Dotto. 
 
 2. Da)gUngr fekk at drekka Danskt bl68 ara i66i, 
 ha)r6 veit-ek hilmi gcerSo Hugins 161 vi6 nes t'iolar : 
 sett sporna8i arnar all-vitt urn val-falli ; 15 
 bold at vargr sem vildi (vel nioti bann Jjess !) Iota. 
 
 3. Gloedr hygg-ek, Glamma sl68ar (gramr eldi sva), feldo. 
 
 N 
 
 f'ORARINN SkEGGJASON. 
 
 ADI 'goerr' enn gl68om Griklandz iajfurr 'banda;' 
 st61-J)engill gekk strajngo stein-blindr a6al-meini. 
 
 Illugi Bryndola-scald. The Wolf's joy was when my lord drove 
 many a foe to flight. Refrain : The king [Sigfred] stabbed the Serpent 
 [Fafni] with the sword. — He also made a foray thence eastward. 
 Refrain : The king held the bitter heart of the Serpent to the fire. — 
 My lord often fought with the Franks in the morning watch. Refrain : 
 The doughty prince had not . . . . — Thou didst subdue the most of the 
 southern lands, O Harold", for INIichael. Refrain: We have heard 
 how Budli's son Attila bade his brothers-in-law to his house. 
 
 Grani the Poet. Harold's Danish Campaign. iNIay the ungentle 
 gold-decked lady [lit. Walkyria of Kraki's scattering] of Horn-shaw 
 [Jutland] never have dry eyes. The lord of the Fiala-folk drove his 
 foes captive to the coast. The father of Dotta [a Danish lady] was 
 forced to pay down a ransom forthwith. The king gave the young 
 eagles Danish blood to drink at Thiolar-ness [Jutland]. He gave the 
 ravens a merry Yule : the erne's white brood stood above the slain Jutes, 
 the wolf ate flesh as he would : may he enjoy it well ! He gave gold, 
 the king .... 
 
 Thorarin. The prince bound forthwith the King of Greece's 
 hands ; the throned-king, stone-blind, sufl"ered a terrible outrage. 
 
 18. Read, hondom.
 
 §3.] THORLEIK THE FAIR. 219 
 
 Snceglo-Halli, or Halli Strisi. 
 
 (From Skalda.) 
 
 SVA Idt und sik seggja drottinn 
 Isond a)ll lagin li8s oddviti. 
 
 Thorleik Fagri (Flokkr), 
 
 (Verses i, lo from Skioldunga ; verses 4, 5 from Fagrsk. ; verses II-13 from Edda.) 
 
 1. "C*UR-SENDIR vann fiandom fia)r-spell f gn/ hiaorva 
 -'- (bra)8 fekk hrafn) fyr Hei6a-, hauk-stor6a, -b^^, norSan : 
 Rsokosk Vindr (enn vakar vals gino }Deim of halsa) 
 [dauSr la herr a hei6i hund-margr] fair undan, 
 
 2. Va)n eromk visa koenom vfgs a Rakna stigo 5 
 a)rr I odda snerro Inn-I'rcenda lid finni : 
 
 Jjo ma enn, hvarr annan gondo nemr e6a lajndom, 
 (litt hyggr Sveinn a sasttir siald-festar) G06 valda. 
 
 3. Foerir reiSr, sa-es rau3a ra^nd hefir opt fyr la^ndom, 
 breid a Bu61a sl66ir bor6-ra)kn Haraldr norSan : 10 
 enn lauks of sia scekja Sveins fagr-buin steini 
 glcesi-d/'r (l^ess es geira) goll-munnu6 (r/'Sr) sunnan. 
 
 4. Fiaors mun flestom hersi feng-saell Dana ^engill 
 (reiSr hefir hann fyr hau6ri ha-brynjo6 skip) synja: 
 
 es hun-ferils hreina hlunn-tam6a rekr sunnan 15 
 
 vi8 Ha)r8a gram harSan, hundra6 sex, til fundar. 
 
 5. St^'rir tJlfs til Elfar 6sk-ma)gr skipom fa)grom, 
 * sa-es hrse-ka)Sto haesta hle8r i Gunnar ve8ri:' 
 Skullo v^, ^ar es vaoUo vapn-lau8ri drifr rauSo, 
 
 (regn drepr Gautz i goegnom) goll-merkt (' Halfs ' serki). 20 
 
 Snegle's Hall. So the king brought all lands under him. 
 
 Thorleik the Fair. A Flokk on King Sweyn. Battle ivith King 
 Magnus against the Wends at Slesivick, Lurschau. He put his enemies 
 to death north of Heathby [Sleswik] ; few of the Wends escaped, 
 a countless host lay dead on the Heath. 
 
 Rising and Battle agaitist King Harold. We may look for a battle on the 
 sea between our king [Sweyn] and the In-Thrond's patron [Harold]. But 
 God will rule which of the two will take the other's life and land. 
 Sweyn puts little store by covenants that are seldom kept. Harold is 
 bringing his broad timber-teams [shipj] over Budli's tracks [the sea] 
 from the North, while the fair-eyed, gold-jawed, glittering mast-beasts 
 [ships] of Sweyn speed from the South. The victorious king of the 
 Danes will take the life of most of the Northern barons ; he is driving 
 north six hundred billow-wont reindeer of the mast [ships] to meet the 
 king of the Hords. The beloved son of Wolf [Sweyn] stands with his 
 fair ships to the Elbe [Gaut Elf]. The gold-marked banner waved, 
 
 20. -morku6, Cd. Read, Ham6(5s.
 
 20 SWEYN'S COURT. [bk. vm. 
 
 6. Hvi hefir til Heida-bfjar heipt-giarn konungr arnat, 
 folk-ra)gnir getr fregna fylkiss sveit hinn es veita8 : 
 J)a-es til t^engils boejar J)arf-laust Haraldr austan 
 
 ' ar |)at-es an of vseri ' endr byr-ski6om rendi. 
 
 7. Bau6, sa-es baztrar ti8ar borinn var8 und MiSgarSi, 25 
 rfkri \)i66 at rioSa randir Sveinn a landi : 
 
 i>6 l^zk heldr, 'ef "heldi" hvat-ra9r konungr la3i/ 
 a byrjar-val berjask bil-styggr Haraldr vilja. 
 
 8. AUc of fra-ek, hve ellti Austmenn a veg flausta, 
 Sveinn, enn siklingr annarr snar-lunda9r belt undan: 30 
 Fengr var6 trcenda J)engils (t>eir letto skip fleiri) 
 
 allr a ^li solino lotlandz-hafi fliota. 
 
 9. Ssett bu6o seggja drottni siklings vinir mikla 
 'svaef9o hialdr J)eir es ha)f9o hug-stinnir li6 minna:' 
 'ok snar-ra9ir sl6an sokn es or6 um tokosk' 35 
 '(sond vas yta kindom ofsol) buendr dvaoldo.' 
 
 10. Hastt hafa ser \)e\v es sotto S veins fundar til stundom; 
 Htt hefir 'J)er' at J)reyta J)rim bragningom hagnat: 
 
 p6 hefir ha)ld-vinr haldit (hann es sniallr konungr) allri 
 Iota grund me6 endom 6gn-starkr ok Danmaarko. 40 
 
 11. Kastar gramr a glcestar gegn val-stai8var ^egnom 
 (ungr vi'si gefr eiso arm-leggs) dfgul-farmi. 
 
 12. Hird vi8r grams me9 gerSom goll-vorpo9r ser holla. 
 
 13. Siar \)ftr, enn berr bara biart lau9r of vi9 rau9om, 
 grans J)ar es goUi biinom ginn hlunn-visundr munni. 45 
 
 Woden's rain [missiles] pierces Hamtheow's sarks [the mail]. Why 
 the cruel king has come to Heathby .... can easily be known, when 
 Harold wantonly steered his ships to .... by ... . Sweyn, who was 
 born under the best augury on earth (Midgarth), proffered him to fight 
 on land, but Harold would rather fight on sea than give battle ashore. I 
 have heard how Sweyn chased the Eastmen over the sea, whilst the 
 other king fled. The booty of the Thronds' lord was floating about 
 on the shower-swollen sea of Jutland [Cattegat]. They prayed for 
 peace [seveti ships of the Norway levy of Wick whom he had captured 
 at Hlesey] .... the franklins .... 
 
 Fight ivith Stankel the Swedish King. Those who have encountered 
 Sweyn have jeoparded themselves. The three princes [Magnus, Harold, 
 Stankel] have gained little by it, for he has in the end kept all the land 
 of the Jutes and Denmark withal. 
 
 His generosity. The king gave his thanes gold. 
 
 His ship. The sea roars and the waves dash the white spray over the 
 red-painted timbers, while the water-bison gapes with golden jaws. 
 
 27, Read, hildi. 36. The verse is all painted over. 38. Read, vi8 J)ik.
 
 §3-] STUF THE BLIND. 221 
 
 STUF (STUMP) THE BLIND AND STEIN HERDISSON, etc. 
 
 Both poets of the Stamford Battle and the next following events. 
 
 Stump. In a chapter of the Book of Kings the following account of 
 Poet Stump occurs : — 
 
 " There was a man named Stump, the son of Thord (Thorfred) Cat, 
 whom Snorri the Chief fostered. Thorfred Cat was the son of Thor- 
 fred, the son of Glum Geirason, the poet. Thorfred's mother was 
 Gudrun, Oswifs daughter {the heroine of Laxdala Saga). Stump was 
 blind ; but he was a wise man and a good poet. He went to Norway, 
 and lodged with a franklin in Upland. One day when men were 
 standing out of doors on his farm, they saw a number of richly-dressed 
 men riding up. ' I did not look to see King Harold here to-day, but I 
 should not wonder if it were he.' And as they drew near, they saw 
 that it was he. The franklin greeted the king, and then said, ' We 
 cannot treat you as ye should be treated, my lord, for we did not 
 know of your coming.' The king replied, ' We would not give any 
 trouble ; we are only going on our way through the country ; my men 
 shall tend their horses themselves, and look after the horse-gear ; but I 
 shall go into the house.' The king was in a merry mood, and the 
 franklin followed him into the parlour to his seat. Then the king said, 
 'Go about, franklin, as thou wilt, and treat us in all things as thou art 
 wont to do every day ! ' ' Well, I will do so,' says the franklin. So he 
 went out, and the king looked about on the bench and saw a big man 
 sitting below on the bench, and asked him who he was. ' My name is 
 Stump,' says he. ' What a name,' says the king ; ' whose son art thou ? * 
 ' I am Cat's son,' said he ; ' That is no better.' . . . Then said the king, 
 ' Come up near me on the bench and let us talk together.' So he did, 
 and the king found him no fool, and took pleasure in talking with him. 
 When the franklin came back, he said that the king must have been 
 dull. 'Not at all,' says the king, 'for this winter-guest of thine has 
 entertained me finely, and he must be my partner at the drinking to- 
 night.' And so it was. The king talked a good deal with Stump, and 
 he answered him wisely ; and when folks went to bed, the king bade 
 Stump come into the room where he slept to amuse him. Stump did 
 so ; and when the king was got to bed, Stump began to entertain him, 
 and recited a Short-Poem (flokk), and when it was ended the king told 
 him to go on again. The king kept awake a long while, and Stump kept 
 reciting to him. and at last the king said, ' How many poems hast 
 thou recited to-night?' Answers Stump, 'I thought you would have 
 reckoned them up.' ' So I have,' says the king, ' and there are now 
 thirty ; but why dost thou only say Short-Poems t knowest thou no Long- 
 Poems [Encomia]?' 'I know as many long poems as short,' answers 
 Stump; ' and I have many which 1 have not yet given.' ' Thou must be 
 very learned in poetry,' said the king; 'but whom wilt thou entertain 
 with thy long poems, since thou givest me only short poems?' 'Thy- 
 self,' says Stump. ' But when ? ' says the king. ' When next we meet.' 
 'Why then rather than now?' 'Because,' said Stump, 'I would have 
 it so with my recitals as with all else in me, that thou shouldst 
 like me the better the longer thou knowest me and the better we are 
 acquainted.' ' Well, let us sleep now,' says the king." Next morning 
 he grants Stump three wishes, and receives him afterwards into his
 
 222 HAROLD'S COURT. [BK.vin. 
 
 guard, and Stump became his liegeman and was with him some time, 
 * and made a dirge upon him, which is called Stump's Praise-Song or 
 Stumpie.' 
 
 We have fragments of this Dirge. For Stump's family and kindred 
 see the table given below, p. 228. 
 
 The prose shows that a stanza has been dropt out between those we 
 have, which are not quite uncorrupt. The little reminiscence in the 
 last lines is natural and pathetic. 
 
 Stein Herdisson. There are two poems of his — a Poem of Praise 
 (flokk), called Nizar Visor, on his cousin,Wolf the Marshal, and the battle 
 of the River Niz, about 1062. He here imitates Sighvat's Nesia Visor. 
 Surviving the fall of Harold, he made a long poem to King Olaf the 
 Peaceful, in which he glosses over the defeat of Stamford-bridge, and 
 declares that the English will never forget the defeat of Fulford. 
 This poem is imitated by the author of Rekstefja. Several verses are 
 unsafe. We have restored the mention of the ' Fleet ; ' the verse about 
 Morcar is strange: it has suffered corruption. The mention of Chip- 
 ping (Nidaros), Olaf's town, and the confidence in St. Olaf are to be 
 remarked. 
 
 Thorkell Hammer Poet. The son or poet of Skalli, but of his 
 family nothing is known. He made a Dirge on Earl Waltheon.v, whom 
 he may have met in England on one of the expeditions of Asbiorn or 
 other leaders which harried England in the Conqueror's days. He is 
 mentioned in Skalda-tal as a poet of jNIagnus Bareleg, and we have part 
 of a Dirge of his on that king, and a fragment of a Poem in Old Metre. 
 ' The son of the Wolsungs sent me a gold-mounted weapon over the 
 cold ocean,' alluding to the gift of a weapon from some king. The 
 first verse seems to refer to Waltheow's exploits at York ; the second 
 shows the general impression as to the execution of the Earl, which led 
 to the belief in his sanctity. 
 
 Anonymous. Four lines of a ' Stikki,' a small poem or sonnet on King 
 Harold's victory at Fulford, mentioning ' Waltheof's men,' which seems 
 to be used as a synonym for ' Northumbrians,' which may have led to 
 the misunderstanding in Harold's Life as to Waltheof's presence or 
 leadership in the Stamford-bridge campaign. If this be so, the poem 
 must date from 1076 rather than 1067. 
 
 Stufr Blindi (Stufa). 
 
 1. 'C'OR ofr-hugi (in oefri) egg-diarfr und sik leggja 
 -L [fold vas vfga valdi virk] lorsali [ok Girkjom] : 
 ok meo oerno riki obrunnin kom gunnar 
 
 heimol ia)r8 und her6i — Haji riks pars vel likar. 
 
 2. [Lost verse. . . . ] — Haraldz ond ofar loridom. 5 
 
 3. StoSosk rs63 af reiSi (rann J)at) svika-ma)nnom 
 
 Stum PIE. Burden. May the soul of the mighty Harold have a plea- 
 sant dwelling above the earth with Christ for ever. 
 
 In the East. The king went to conquer Jerusalem-land, and the 
 upper country welcomed him and the Greeks; the whole land cameun- 
 burnt into his possession with mighty dominion. The lost verse here, as 
 the prose tells us, must have read, ' He offered at the grave of the Lord and at 
 the Holy Rood, and at other holy places in Jerusalem-land, so much in gold 
 and jewels that it is hard to count in marks.' The lord of the Agd-folk
 
 § 3.] STUF THE BLIND AND STEIN HERDISSON. 223 
 
 Eg6a grams a ymsom (or3) lordanar borSom: 
 
 enn fyrir afgoerd sanna flla 'gat' fra stilli 
 
 \)[66 fekk vlsan va6a — Vis/ uni aldr vied Christi. 
 
 4. Moeg6 gat all-valdr EgSa 6gnar-mildr t)a-es vildi; 10 
 gollz t6k gumna spialli gn6tt ok bragnings d6ttor. 
 
 5. Autt vas Falstr 'at frdttom,' fekk dr6tt mikinn 6tta, 
 gladdr var6 hrafn, enn hrseddir hvert ar Danir veoio. 
 
 6. YX^ho t)eir af f'idSo f)engils fund af stundo ; 
 
 stort r^6 hug-fullt hiarta — Haraldz ond ofar londom. 15 
 
 7. Tir-eggja6r hi6 tiggi tveim hsondom li6 beima 
 (reifr gekk herr und hlifar) hizig su9r fyr Nitzi. 
 
 8. Gekk sem vind, sa-es vsetki varSandi fiaor sparQi 
 geira-hreggs, 1 gegnom gla6r orrostor J)a6ra : 
 
 gramr flySit sa (si6an seem ero jdcss of doemi 20 
 
 ^Is und erki-st61i) eld x\6 iarn it fellda. 
 
 9. Vissa-ek hildar hvessi (hann vas vifzir at kanna) 
 af goSom byr Gn'dar gagn-saelan mer fagna : 
 
 J)a es ben-starra braeQir baugom grimmr at Haugi 
 giarn me9 gylldo horni gekk sialfr a mik drekka. 25 
 
 StEINN HeRDISARSON. I. NiZAR VfsOR. 
 (Verses 7, 8 from Skioldunga.) 
 
 I. O AGDI hitt es hug9i hauk-lyndr vesa mundi, 
 
 ^ (jDar kva3 l^engill eirar {)rotna v6n fyr hgonom): 
 heldr kvazk hvern varn skyldo hilmir fraegr an vaegja 
 (menn bruto upp) of annan (a)ll vcopn) J)veran falla. 
 
 .... brigands .... on both banks of Jordan, and for their proved 
 crimes .... paid heavy fines to the prince. He won the match he 
 wished, getting gold enough and the king's daughter. 
 
 War in Denmark. Falster was made waste, and every year the Danes 
 were full of fear. They fled from Thiod [in Jutland] before the king 
 forthwith. 
 
 Niz Battle. He hewed down his foes with both hands there, south 
 olTNiz. 
 
 In England. He went like the wind through the battle there, the 
 king that never fled for fire or sword ; there are many glorious proofs of 
 that on earth [lit. under the wind's cathedral or archbishopric]. 
 
 The King's Hall. I remember how he graciously welcomed me (he was a 
 good friend to know), when he himself drank to me in a golden horn at 
 Howe (in Throndham). 
 
 Niz Verses. The king spoke his will, he said that every one of us 
 should fall one across the other before we gave way ; the men brought 
 out their weapons. Wolf, the king's m;irshal, when the high javelins 
 were being brandished, and the oars pulled for the attack out on the 
 
 8. Read, gait? 20. sjem ef J), ero daemi, Cd.
 
 224 OLAF THE QUIET'S COURT. [bk. vm. 
 
 2. Het a OSS, Jja es uti, Ulfr, ha-kesjor skulfo, 5 
 (r68r vas greiddr a grgeQi) grams stallari alia : 
 
 vel ba6 skip me8 skylja skel-eggja8r framm leggja 
 sitt ; enn seggir iatto, sniallz landreka spialli. 
 
 3. Hsetti hersa drottinn hug-strangr, skipa langra 
 
 hinn es vi8 halft bei6 annat hundraS, Dana fundar : 10 
 naest vas |)at-es red ri'sta rei8r at-seti HleiSrar 
 J)angs-la6-maorom j^angat J^rimr hundroSom sunda. 
 
 4. Vann fyr m66o minni mein-fcert Haraldr Sveini 
 'var6, \)vi at visi goerSi vi6r-nam, friSar bidja:' 
 Her8u hiaDrvi gyrQir Halland iajfurs spiallar 15 
 (heit bles und) fyr utan atroSr (a lajg bl66i). 
 
 5. Nytr ba6 Skiaoldungr skiota (skamt vas liSs a mi3li) 
 hlifar styggr ok hajggva hvarr-tveggi 115 tiggi : 
 
 Boe3i flo (t)a-es bl66i brandr hrau9 af ser rau6o), 
 
 [t)at bra feigra flotna fia)rvi] griot ok sorvar. 20 
 
 6. Undr es ef eigi kendo aDr-motz vi6ir goerva, 
 bair^omk ver, J)eir-es vaorQo vi9a grund, of si9ir : 
 ^a-es her-skildi h^ldo (hrafn fekk gnott) 1 otto 
 nas fyr Nizar-osi Nor6menn, Harald, for6om. 
 
 7. Oss dugir hrafns ens hvassa hungr-deyfi sva leyfa 25 
 linnz at lastim annan lattr-sveigjanda eigi : 
 
 aldregi kva^ddozk oddom (annat hverjom manni 
 tal es urn tiggja at mKla) tveir full-hugar meiri. 
 
 8. Eigi mundi undan all-valdr Dana halda 
 
 (oss dugir satt um snotran sselinga kon msela): 30 
 
 ef menn fyr sia sunnan (sverd reiddosk at fer6ir), 
 J)eir-es her-skildi heldo, hrafns-fceSi vel toeSi. 
 
 II. Olafs-drapa. 
 
 (Verse i from Edda ; the rest from Hulda.) 
 
 AS kve6-ek helgan rsesi heim-tiallz at brag J)eima 
 (mjerS tdsk fram) an fyrda fyrr, J)vi-at hann es dyrri. 
 
 H 
 
 sea, he, the king's friend, bade us lay his ship in the forefront of the battle, 
 by the side of the king's, and his men assented. The King [Harold] 
 ventured on meeting the Danes with a third half-hundred of ships [180], 
 while the dweller in Hlethra [Leire] led three hundred [360] vessels. 
 
 Harold beat Sweyn at the mouth of the river [N'iz] .... The king's 
 men, sword-girt, attacked off Halland. When there was little space 
 between, both kings bade their men shoot ; both stones and arrows 
 flew. It is a wonder that they did not .... when we the Northmen 
 held the shield about Harold in the morning-watch, off Niz-mouth. 
 Let us praise one of the kings, so that we do not blame the other. 
 Never did two more stout-hearted men greet each other with the spear- 
 point. The king of the Danes would not have given way (we must 
 speak the truth of him), if the men from the south of the sea had fought 
 well for him. 
 
 Olaf the Quiet's Praise. Prologue. I first call on the holy King of 
 theWorld-tent [Heaven], for he is more glorious than the king of men. My
 
 §3.J STEIN HERDISSON. 225 
 
 2. Veit-ek hvar Olafr uti 6sloekinn rau6 moeki 
 (deilask mer til mala minni) fyrsta sinni : 
 
 Hlaut til hafs lyrir utan Halland konungr branda 5 
 
 (faogr sverS ru9o fyr6ar) fia)l-g6&r lito8 bl66i. 
 
 3. Gengo Danskir drengir (dynr vas goerr) me8 brynjor 
 uian-bor6z til iar6ar ' uriks ' malms ok hialma : 
 
 sukko sarir rekkar sunnan hafs til grunna; 
 
 har varp hausom J)eirra hrann-garSr a J^ra^m iarSar. 10 
 
 4. Ungr vi'si l^ztu tJso all-nger buendr falla, 
 
 sotti herr J)ar-es hsetti hia)r-diarfr konungr fia)rvi : 
 ^ess man f>angat-kvama t)engils vesa Englom 
 enn sem eptir renni iflaust es {Da lif6o. 
 
 5. F^llo vitt um va)l!o (vargr na6i {)a biargask) 15 
 benja regn, enn bragna bl66 Vikingar 63o. 
 
 I. 6. I'ioS forsk msorg 1 M660 (menn druknoSo sokknir) 
 drengr 'la ar of lingan ofar Morokara: 
 Fila drottinn rak flotta framr, tok herr a ramri 
 icos fyr ra^skom visa. — Rik-luiidadr veit ufidir 20 
 
 7. Fylkir l^t 'in flioto ' flaust, es leiS at hausti ; 
 skaut i haf, {)ars heitir Hrafnseyrr, konungr stafni : 
 tra)6o bor6-vigg breiSan brim-gang (skipa langra) 
 (68r fell sior um su3ir). — sik baztan grain niiklo 
 
 8. Austr belt Engla {)r^stir, otvln, li8i sino 25 
 storan (braut um st^ri straum) sge konungr Rauma : 
 Gla3r tok herr, {)a-es he3ra hring-lestir kom vestan, 
 
 allr vi3 soflgom stilli. — Oldfr borinn solo. 
 
 11. 9. Heldr sfzt harri foldo heipt-braSr ia)furr na8i 
 
 song sets forth ! I know where Olaf first reddened his sword out in the 
 sea off Halland. My memories fall into speech. The Danish men 
 went overboard in the mail-coats, sinking to the bottom, their bodies 
 drifting ashore in heaps. 
 
 In England. O young king, thou madest the franklins fall hard by 
 Ouse. The coming of the king wih be to the English who escaped 
 alive a memorable thing. The Wickings waded in blood. They (the 
 English) fell wide over the field. 
 
 Burden. The mighty-minded Olaf knows himself to be by far the best 
 king under the sun. 
 
 His English Foray. Stave i. Many people fell in the mouth [of Humber], 
 many a man lay about the young Morcar. The Fiala-folk's lord drove 
 the fliers forward. 
 
 Return. The king put his ships in the river, and ran out at harvest- 
 tide to sea by the place called Ravensore ; the timber steeds trod the 
 long sea-paths, the mad waves fell on the strakes of the long ships. 
 The enemy of the English [Olaf], the king of the Reams, held his course 
 over the great deep, the mighty stream broke around him. All the 
 people welcomed the noble prince when he came hither from the west. 
 
 His good-will. Stave 2. Now since the king [his brother Magnus, who 
 
 18. Read, orof. 21. Read, i Flioti. 23. bordveg, Cd. 
 
 VOL. II. Q
 
 226 OLAF THE QUIET'S COURT. [bk. vm. 
 
 (astt J^reifsk Eg9a drottins) olaust konungr st6H : 30 
 
 msetr hilmir rau6 malmi (man-ek skicoldungs lof) kaoldom 
 Rauma grams ok rajndo. — Rik-hoidr borinn undir 
 
 10. Oil bi6r Eg3a stillir egg-diarfra li9 seggja 
 sund fyrir slno landi sokn-aorr stika daorrom: 
 
 iaDr9 mun eigi ver6a au9-s6tt Fila drottins 35 
 
 s6kn-her6ondom sverSa. — sik baziati gram miklo 
 
 11. Laond vill J)engill trcenda (Jjat likar vel skaotnom) 
 a)ll vid oerna snilli egg-diarfr f friQ leggja : 
 hugnar ^163, es t)egna jDra-lyndr til frid-mala 
 
 kiigar Engla oegir. — Old/r borinn solo. 40 
 
 III. 12. Olafr gefr sva ia^fra, allz engi ma sniallra 
 hoeggvit goll til hylli hildinga konr mildri ; 
 Gramr veil hei6o?n himni, hanti es fremstr konung-manna, 
 [spyr-^u hverr glikt man gaorva] giof-lundr borinn undir 
 
 13. Gefr att-stu3ill iaafra a)rr ok steinda knaorro 45 
 (hann vill hnoeggvi sinnar) ha-brynjo6 skip (synja) : 
 ^163 n/tr Olafs au6ar (annar konungr maonnom 
 
 se-J)U hverr slikt-fd reiSir). — sik bazian gram tniklo 
 
 14. Her-J)engill gle6r hringom hodd-aorr sa-es rfbx odda, 
 bekk-sagnir laetr bragna bragningr giaofom fagna : 50 
 NorS-maonnom gefr nenninn Noregs konungr storom; 
 aorr es Engla |)verrir. — Old/r borinn solo. 
 
 15. Enn-at goerva gunni gramr biosk vi3 styr raommom, 
 her-skildi ba6 halda hraust-ge3r konungr austan : 
 
 lit fctrSot li6 litiS laong bor3 fyrir Sta6 nor6an; 55 
 
 traoSot tun-va)ll reySar tveir da)glingar meiri. 
 
 16. Sin 69ul mun Sveini sokn-strangr i Kaupangi, 
 
 Jjar es heilagr gramr hvllir (hann es rikr iaofurr), banna : 
 
 died young] won heaven, he [Olaf] holds his throne firmly (the race of the 
 Agd-folk's lord thereon). The good king of the Reams defends his land 
 with cold iron and shield. I set forth his praise. The lord of the Agd- 
 folk makes his men fence in every creek of his land with darts, so that 
 the Fiala-folk's king [himself] cannot be easily attacked. The Thronds' 
 prince wishes his land to lie in peace, and the people are well pleased 
 th it he, the terror of the English, forces them to peaceful dealings. 
 
 Hh open hand. Stave 3. Olaf gives so much gold to his men that no 
 oth?r king can do the like. He gives them helmets and mail-coats as if 
 it were nothing. ' King's clothes look so well.' .... [The t^'o verses 
 have been amplified out of one we think, the rendering of which we 
 give.] He gives them also painted busses and high-mailed war-ships, for 
 he despises miserliness. He gladdens his henchmen with rings, and his 
 courtiers with gifts. The minisher of the English is generous indeed. 
 
 IVar is at hand, but the poet Is confident in the patron saint of his master. 
 The brave king [Olaf] bade his men make ready for battle, for another 
 prince [Sweyn] was coming with war-shield from the East. He [Olaf] 
 is standing to sea north of Stad with his fleet. Never did two better 
 
 42. mildi, Cd. 43. veil] es, Cd.
 
 §3.] THORKEL SKALLASON. 227 
 
 sett sinni man unna Alafr konungr hala; 
 Ulfs ^arfat |)vi arfi allz^Noregs til kalla. 60 
 
 17. Var6i 6gnar-or6om Olafr ok fri6-msolom 
 iaDr6 sva-at engi J)or6i allvalda til kalla. 
 
 t'ORKELL SkALLASON (ValJdIOFS-FlOKKR). 
 
 1. T TUNDRAD \6t I heitom hir3-menn iaDfurr brenna 
 
 -»- -L soknar yggr, enn seggjom (sviSo-kveld vas jDat) elldi ; 
 frdtt vas, at fyrBar kriEotto flagQ-viggs und klo liggja; 
 im-leitom fekksk ata a^ls blakk vi6 hrse Frakka. 
 
 2. Vist hefir Val|)i6f hraustan Vilhialmr, sas rau8 malma, 5 
 (hinn-es haf skar sunnan belt) 1 trygd um vdltan: 
 
 satt es, at sib man l^tta (snarr enn minn vas harri) 
 [deyr eigi mildingr maeri] mann-drap a Englandi. 
 
 Haraldz Stikki. 
 
 LAGO fallnir i fen ofan 
 ValJDiofs li6ar vsopnom hceggnir : 
 sva at gunn-hvatir ganga kna)tto 
 NorSmenn yfir a na)m einom. 
 
 OCCASIONAL VERSES AND IMPROVISATIONS. 
 
 King Harold Sigurdsson. ^ Love-Song, of which six stanzas out 
 of sixteen are imperfectly preserved, is attributed to the king himself, 
 who was quite capable of composing it. It is addressed to the lady of 
 the gold-ring in Gardric, of whom we know nothing. The allusion to 
 Olaf and the wicking exploits of Harold's youth are quite consonant 
 with what we know of the buccaneer king. The verse on his accom- 
 plishments is a copy of that on Earl Rognwald, but there was, we take 
 it, a stanza in the original on the subject, which, being lost or corrupt, 
 some copyist has filled up for the better-known Rognwald's verses. The 
 list is interesting : Earl Rognwald knows — tables, runes, book-reading, 
 harping, smithying [carpentry], shooting, rowing, snow-skating, and 
 poetry. Harold Greyfell had 'twelve royal accomplishments,' says 
 Glum Geirasson, but the verse he counted them up in is lost. Olaf 
 
 kings tread the whale-path. He will keep Sweyn off his heritage at 
 Chipping [Nidaros], where the holy king [St. Olaf] lies. King Olaf [the 
 saint] will protect his race to the utmost. [Sweyn] Wolfson's claim to 
 all Norway shall be of no effect. Both against threats and soothing words 
 Olaf protected his land so that no king durst lay claim to it. 
 
 Thorkettle Skallason on Waltheow, His exploits. He burnt in 
 the hot fire a hundred of the king's henchmen ; it was singeing-time for 
 men [the day they singe the fresh slain sheep in the autumn] ; prey was 
 given to the grey-wolf from the corpses of the French. 
 
 Hij death. Surely William, that reddened swords and clave the icy sea 
 from the south, has dealt treacherously with the gallant Waltheow in full 
 truce. Verily, slaughter will not soon be stayed in England. Brave 
 was my lord, a better prince never died. 
 
 Harold's Sonnet. Fulford. Waltheow's weapon-slain men lay down in 
 the Dyke, so that the brave Northmen could walk across on their bodies ! 
 
 Q 2
 
 228 HAROLD'S COURT. [bk. vm. 
 
 Tryggvisson, we learn (no doubt from a verse now perished), knew 
 climbing, swimming, juggling with knives, was ambi-dexterous, and 
 could walk along his galley on the bows of the oars which the men were 
 rowing. These passages recall the list of feats in the Irish Tales. 
 
 We have added the King's Improvisations on the Death of Fin and 
 Capture of Einar (the veteran from Swold) ; the verses before Sticklestead 
 and Stamford Bridge battles ; and the Dialogues with his poets Thiodwolf 
 and Hall. The Thiodwolf and Fisherman lines existed apparently in 
 two versions, one of which replaced Fisherman by a Salt-burner. 
 
 King Magnus. A little scrap out of a love-song is ascribed to this 
 prince, it refers to some unnamed lady. 
 
 Wolf the Marshal, A great friend of Harold, one of his old 
 comrades in the East. He died in 1066, just before the English Expe- 
 dition. His kinsmanship to Stein and Stump, his contemporaries at 
 Harold's court, and other men of mark before and after, will be clear 
 from the following table : 
 
 King Beolan m. Cathlin d. of Rodwolf Duke of Normandy 
 
 Helgi, m. Nidbiorg 
 
 Einar Skalaglam Oswif the Wise Glum Geirasson 
 
 Thorgerd Ospak Gudrun m. Thorkell m. (2)Thorrod 
 
 II II 
 
 Herdis Wolf the Marshal, d.ioSe Gelli, ^.1073 Thorrod Cat 
 
 II II 
 
 Stein John of Rayfield Thorgils Stump the Blind 
 
 I I 
 
 Erlend Himaldi Ari the Historian, d. 1148 
 
 I 
 Eystein the Archbishop, i. 1 188 
 
 How Harold missed him may be guessed from his eulogy at his grave : 
 ' Of all men he was the truest to his lord.' 
 
 The stave of his, given below, alludes to the report of Harold God- 
 winesson's house-carles, 'that they were a match for any two Northmen,' 
 
 I. Mansong. 
 
 1. TIJ'UNDR vas {)ess at t'rcendir; J)eir haofSo Ii9 meira; 
 -L var9 su es ver of gerSom vist errileg snerra : 
 skilSomk ungr vi9 ungan all-vald i styr fallinn — 
 
 P6 IcBtr Gerbr i Gorboin goll-hri'ngs vid mer skolla. 
 
 2. Snei6 fyr Sikley vi9a su3, vorom {Da pru9ir; 5 
 brynt skreid vel til vanar vengis-hia)rtr und drengjom : 
 vsetti-ek mi9r at motti moni enn t>inig renna — 
 
 P6 IcEtr Gerdr i Gorbom goll-hrings vi6 nur skolla. 
 
 I. King Harold's Love-Song. Battle at Sticklestead. We met the 
 Thronds: they had the greater host. It was a sharp bicker we had. 
 I was young when I parted with the young king [Olaf] fallen in the 
 fray. — Refrain: Yet Gerd Gold-ring in Gard holds me in scorn. 
 
 In the East. The bark sped to broad Sicily ; we were proud of array 
 then. The galley went fast under her crew. I do not think the
 
 § 3-] OCCASIONAL VERSES. 229 
 
 3. Senn ioso ver, svanni, sextan, enn brim vexti, 
 
 (dreif a hlaSna hiifa hum) i fiorom iiimom : 10 
 
 vastti-ek minnr at motti moni enn p'lnig renna — 
 P6 Jceir Gerbr i Gordotn goll-hrings vi6 mer skolla. 
 
 4. I|)r6ttir kann-ek atta : — Yggs fet-ek I16 smi3a ; 
 fcerr em-ek hvasst a hesti ; hefi-ek sund numit stundom ; 
 skri6a kann-ek a ski6om; sk;('t-ek ok roek sva-at nj^xx — 15 
 P6 IcEtr Gerbr i Gorbom goll-hrings vtd mer skolla. 
 
 5. Enn monat ekkjan finna ung ne mser at vaerim, 
 {)ar-es goerSom svip sverda, si9 i borg of morgin : 
 Ruddomk um me6 oddi; ero merki Jjar verka — 
 
 P6 IcEtr Gerbr i G'ur6o?n goll-hrings vid mer skolla. 20 
 
 6. Foeddr vas-ek J)ar-es alma Upplendingar bendo ; 
 nu laet-ek vi3 sker skolla skei6r buaandom leiSar. 
 Vitt hefi-ek sizt y^ttom ey-gar6 skori6 barSi — 
 
 P6 IcBir Gerbr t G'6rdo7U goll-hri7igs vid mer skolla. 
 
 II. Lausa VfsoR. 
 
 . I. "pORA mun-ek J)ann arm verja (f)at es ekkjo munr) ' nokkut' 
 J- [ri66om ver af reidi raond] es ek i hlyt standa : 
 Gengr-a greppr inn ungi gunn-bli3r, J)ar-es sla)g ri6a, 
 (herda menn at m6r6i mot) a hsel fyr spiotom, 
 
 2. Nu laet-ek skog af skogi . . . (see Book vi, § i, vol. i. p. 365). 5 
 
 The King : 
 
 3. Lato ver, meSan lirlar lin-eik veri sinom, 
 GerSr, 1 Go6nar-fir9i 'galdrs' akkeri halda. 
 
 rd would hasten thither. Yet, etc. We baled sixteen of us in 
 four berths. And the sea grew high and the dun wave drove over 
 the laden hull. I do not think, etc. I know eight accomplishments : 
 I can brew Woden's draught [poetry], I am nimble on horseback, 
 I have at times taken to swimming. I know, etc. [See Earl Rogn-ivald's 
 "Verse, p. 21 6, from 'which these have been at all e'vfnts mended.] The young 
 damsel shall never find us late in the town of a morning when sword 
 strokes are to be given. We broke our way with the point of our 
 spear. There are marks of our deeds. Yet, etc. I was born where 
 the Uplanders bear the bow, but now I make the galley, the franklins 
 hate, hover off the skerries like a qjuicking's. I have cloven the main far 
 and wide with my prow since first I put out to sea. Yet, etc. 
 
 II. Improvisations. Before Sticklestead. I shall be bold enough to 
 guard the wing in which I stand. The young poet in his war-joy will 
 not turn his back to the spear, where the missiles are flying. 
 
 Sticklestead. See Book vi, § i, no. 42. 
 
 At Sea. King: We make the anchor of the galley take hold in 
 Godnar-firth [Guden-firth in East Jutland], while the lady Gerd is 
 
 I. Read, nokkur?
 
 230 HAROLD'S COURT. [bk. viir. 
 
 Thiodwolf: 
 
 Sumar annat skal sunnar (segi-ek eina spa) fleini 
 [ver aukom kaf kroki] kald-nefr furo halda. 
 
 4. Skaro iast or osti Eybaugs Dana meyjar 10 
 
 (^at of angraSit |)engil Jjing) akkeris hringa : 
 nu ser ma)rg 1 morgin masr (hlaer at ^vi faeri) 
 oernan krok or iarni all-valldz skipom halda. 
 
 King: 5. LogiQ hefir Baldr at Baldri : 
 
 Thiodwolf: Bryn-J)ings fetil-stinga 
 
 linnz sa-es land a sunnan Ia6-bri6tr fyrir ra6a : 1 5 
 
 t)6 es sia nia^rSr inn nerdri nor8r glym-hri6ar bor6a 
 (gramr es-^ii frcekn ok fremri) fast-malari hala. 
 
 King : 6. Hvert stillir ^u Halli ? 
 
 Halli : Hleyp-ek fram at skyr-kaupom. 
 
 King: Grant muntu goerva lata? 
 
 Halli: (Goerr ma6r es J)at) smioervan. 
 
 7. Her s^-ek upp inn ajrva Einar (|)ann-es kann skeina 20 
 J)ialma) f'ambar-skelmi (Jiangs) fia3l-mennan ganga : 
 FuU-afli bi6r fyllar (finn-ek opt at dn'fr minna) 
 hilmis-stols (a hsela huskarla-li6 iarli). 
 
 8. RioSandi mun ra3a randar-bliks or landi 
 
 oss, nema Einarr kyssi oexar-munn inn ^unna. 25 
 
 9. Nii emk ellifo allra (eggjom vigs) ok tveggja 
 (J)au ero sva-at ek mani inna or8) rad-bani vor6inn : 
 ' ginn enn graleik inna gollz ok ferr med skolli ; ' 
 1/tendr kve6a liti6 lauki ggeft-at auka. 
 
 fondling her husband at home. — Tfyiodqjcolf: I utter a prophecy. Another 
 summer Cold-nose [the anchor] shall hold the bark with his fluke 
 farther south still. We make the anchor-bows dive ! 
 
 7« Jutland. The Danish maids carved anchor-rings out of yeasting- 
 cheese. That did not vex the king. But this morning many a maiden 
 may see how the huge iron flukes hold the king's ship. None of them 
 will laugh now ! 
 
 Sijueyn ivould not keep tryst or truce. Harold : King has lied to king. — 
 Thiodwolf: Warrior to swordsman. I saw the King of the South; but 
 the King of the North is truer to his word. Thou art the better king. 
 
 King : Whither art thou slinking, Halli .' — Halli: I am running off to 
 buy curds. — King : Thou wilt be having porridge ? — Halli : With butier 
 — dainty food! 
 
 At the Capture of Einar. Here is the bold Einar gut-shaker with 
 his company ; he knows how to plow the sea. In his pride he looks 
 forward to filling the throne. I have often seen a less number of 
 retainers at an earl's heels. He will scheme us out of the land, unless 
 he kiss the thin lips of the axe. 
 
 Harold at Calf's death. Now I have caused the death of eleven men 
 and two, that I can remember. These men are showing treason, 
 schemes, and plots. Little makes the leek grow, they say. 
 
 27. orS] mord, Cd.
 
 §3-] OCCASIONAL VERSES. 231 
 
 10. Kriupo ver fyr vapna (val-teigs) brsokon eigi 30 
 
 (sva bau6 hildr at hialdri hald-or6) 1 bug skialdi : 
 Hatt ba6 mik (t)ar-es moettosk) men-skor9 bera fordom 
 (Hlakkar fss ok hausar) hialm-stall 1 gnf malma. 
 
 Fisher . 
 
 III. King, Thiodwolf, and Fisher. 
 
 1. /^FUSA dro-ek yso, atta-ek fang vi9 Ia)ngo, 
 
 ^<-^ vann-ek of ha)f6i hennar hla)mm — Ennpatvar skommo : 
 J36 man-ek hitt at hrotta haffiak golli vafdan, 
 du9om da)rr 1 bl66i drengs — Vas pat fyr lengra. 
 King : 
 
 2. Hioggo har6a dyggir hir6-menn Dani stirSa, 5 
 sotti fer6 a flotta framm — Etm pat vas skommo : 
 
 Hitt vas fyrr es fiarri fostr-landi rau9-ek branda, 
 sver9 1 Serkja gar6i sa)ng — En7i pat vas I'uJigo. 
 Thiodwolf: 
 
 3. Mildingr rau6 1 M680, (mot lilt vas J)ar) spiotom ; 
 Dsonom varo go6 geira graDm — Emt pat vas skmimo : 10 
 Setti ni6r a sletto Serklandi gramr merki, 
 
 st66 at stillis ra6i staong — E7in pat vas longo. 
 Fisher : 
 
 4. Heyr-J)u a upp-reist or6a, otvi'n, konungr, mfna, 
 gaf mer goU it vaf6a gramr — Vas pat fyr sk'dmino : 
 Saddir a)rn, ok eyddir a)rom Blamanna fia)rvi, 15 
 gall styr-fengins stilliss strengr — Vas pat fyr kftgra. 
 
 King : 
 
 5. Hlaut-ek af hrauSung skiota hl^^ri, mser in sk/a-a, 
 skei6 gekk felld a floedi framm — Vas pat fyr skommo : 
 
 At Stamford-bridge. We do not crouch behind the hollow of our 
 
 shields in the crash of weapons. The faithful lady bade me be bold 
 
 in battle. Of yore she bade me bear my head high where swords and 
 
 skulls met. Hardly genuine. Another "verse attributed to him {quoted 
 
 from an old song paraphrased in Saxo, Book i) is gi'ven in Book vi, no. 45. 
 
 III. Fisherman : I pull up the struggling haddock, and grapple with the 
 ling. I beat its head in with my club, a short while ago. But I remem- 
 ber how I held a gold-wound Hrunting [sword] ; we dipped our darts 
 in men's blood, a long while ago. — King: IVIy gallant guard cut down 
 the stubborn Danes, they fled away, a short while ago. But before that 
 I made my sword sing in the Saracen's city, a long while ago. — Thiodivclf: 
 The king dyed his spears at the Mouth of Niz. The gods of the lance 
 were angry with the Danes, a short while ago. The king planted his 
 banner on the flats of the Saracen land, and the staff stood still by his 
 command, a long while ago. — Fisherman: Hear my song's beginning! 
 The king gave me the twisted gold, a long while ago. Thou didst rob 
 the Blackamoors of life, a long while ago. — King : I launched my ship in 
 haste, O lady, and the well -payed galley ran out to sea, a short while
 
 232 HAROLD'S COURT. [bk. viii. 
 
 Enn fyr 'England' sunnan '65' bor9 und mer norSan, 
 ristin skalf 1 raostom rsong — Enn pat vas longo. 20 
 
 Fisher : 
 
 6. Vfg letzt Vinda m^^gir vir9om kunn of unnin, 
 {»roendir drifo rikt und randir, raomm — Enti pat vas skommo : 
 Enn fyr Serkland sunnan snarr f)engill hio drengi ; 
 kunni gramr at gunni gajng — Enn pat vas longo. 
 
 Cod. Fris. adds — Salt-burner : 
 
 7. Fer-ek 1 vanda verjo, ' ver nau8' of mer snauSom ; 25 
 kausungr fser vist f vasi vaomm — Enn pat vas skommo : 
 Endr vas hitt at hrundi hring-kofl of mik Inga, 
 
 ga)gl baro sik sara svsong — Enn pat vas longo. 
 
 8. Brendom briik a sandi, bau8-ek hyr J)ara rau6om, 
 reyk-svgelan tok riuka raDmm — Eiin pat vas skommo. 30 
 
 Ulfr Stallari. 
 
 ESA stallarom stilliss stafn-rum Haraldz (iafnan) 
 (6nau6igr fekk-ek auSar) innan J)a)rf at hverfa: 
 Ef, ha)r-skor8an, hroekkva hrein skolom tveir fyr elnom 
 (ungr kendak mer) undan (annat) I'inga-manni. 
 
 King Magnus the Good (Bareleg?). 
 
 MARGR kve9r ser at sorgom sver9-ri66r alin ver3a 
 (uggi-ek all-Iitt seggja otta) bii-karls doitor: 
 Enn ef einhver bannar eld-gefn fyrir mer svefna, 
 vist veldr siklings systir svinn andvooko minni. 
 
 ago But south of Sicily the ship tossed under me from the north, its 
 ribs rattled in the swirl [off Mes?ina], a long while ago. — Fisherman : 
 Thou didst fight far-famed battles ; the Thronds flocked under shield, 
 a short while ago; but south off Saracen-land thou didst cut down 
 warriors, a long while ago. 
 
 Salt-burner. Another 'version. I go in a poor frock, a smock covers 
 me in my need. A jacket covers me in the wet, since a short while ago. 
 But of yore the ring-cowl of Ingwi clothed me, a long while ago. I 
 burnt weed on the sand, I set fire to the red tang, the bitter smoke 
 began to reek, a short while ago. . . . 
 
 Wolf the Marshal before Stamford-bridge. It is no use for the king's 
 marshals to turn into the forecastle, if two of us, lady, are to fly before 
 one ' Thing-man ' [guard of the English king]. I did not learn this in 
 my youth. 
 
 King Magnus in lo-ve. Many a man complains that a cotter's daughter 
 was born for his sorrow; but if any woman banishes sleep from me, it 
 is the king's sister. 
 
 19. Read, Sikley . . . sveif? 25. Read, vesl, i. alin] read, alna.
 
 §4-] MAGNUS BARELEG. 233 
 
 §4. KING ERIC THE GOOD OF DENMARK, 
 AND MAGNUS BARELEG AND HIS 
 SONS (1093-1130). 
 
 The Danish King Eric the Good— Eirikr G6di, as the Annals call 
 him (1095-1103), whose poet Mark heads this section— for him and his 
 father and brothers, see Introduction to § 3. 
 
 But as for the Norse kings of this period — 
 
 The quiet reign of Olaf Haroldsson (1067-93, died Sept. 22, 1093) 
 was not marked by such deeds as the court poets loved to sing. His 
 motto, ' Farmers and Peace' (see the Ditty 46, Book vi), was not one 
 to please them. His son Magnus, on the other hand, took after his 
 grandfather Harold, and was the last king of the real old type, adven- 
 turous as Charles XH himself, and not without dreams of a mighty 
 sea-empire, the realisation of which was impossible. His pleasure in 
 the storm in the North Sea, when the ' seventy feet wand ' was swaying 
 in the ship and bending to the force of the gale, shows the same spirit 
 that breathes through the Helgi Lays. 
 
 Twice in his ten years — first in 1098 and again in 1102 — 'Fighting- 
 Magnus' (like Fairhair two centuries earlier) crossed the main and 
 harried in the Islands. He dressed like the half-Gaelic chieftains of 
 the Irish and Scotch coasts, in the saffron-dyed pleated shirt and long 
 mantle, whence he got one of his nicknames, 'Bareleg.' It was his 
 deadly aim that slew the doughty Norman earl off Anglesey, his exultant 
 shout that marked his enemy's fall. All through his short career he 
 lived up to the device he had chosen — ' Kings should live for glory 
 rather than grey hairs.' But like his grandfather, he perished by a blow 
 from an unknown hand, for he fell on the 24th August, 1103, in an 
 ambush set for him by the wild Irish, near Downpatrick, where he is 
 buried. Yet his plans, the restoration of Harold Fairhair's colonial 
 empire over the Isles (Orkney, Sudrey, Anglesea, the Isle of Man, for he 
 laid claim on all the isles, including Cantyre), did not quite fail. He was 
 long after his death a bugbear to the Scots, still remembered in Ossianic 
 ballad. Shock-head's [see vol. i. p. 258] expedition was the first, but the 
 third and last, pompous and badly managed, was that of King Hakon in 
 1263, who meant to restore Fairhair's and Bareleg's empire. 
 
 And now the Norse colonies, memorials of the great wickings and 
 kings of old, fell off one by one. By the Treaty of Perth, 1266, Man and 
 the Hebrides were lost. Two centuries later, in 1468-9, Orkneys and 
 Shetland were pledged and never redeemed. All trade with Iceland, 
 Greenland, Faroe ceased. The Greenland colony, deserted by the 
 mother country, perished in the fifteenth century [by famine and 
 plague?]; trading in Iceland passed into English hands (fifteenth cen- 
 tury) ; though the Norse fishermen remained what they have always 
 been, the best seamen and boat-builders ever known. 
 
 Magnus left three young sons who reigned together, and with them 
 died out the true line of Harold Fairhair, the Ynglings whom Thiod- 
 wolf had traced to the gods. The youngest, 0/qf, died in his youth 
 (11 1 6); Eystan the Lawyer, who stayed at home like his grandfather the
 
 234 KING ERIC THE GOOD'S COURT. [bk.viii. 
 
 Farmer-King, died 29 Aug. 11 22; and the third, Sigurd the Crusader, 
 who chose the other path and went abroad and accomplished the crusade 
 of which Northmen long boasted, but when he came home he fell into 
 a mischievous madness, and died 26 March, 11 30, aged forty years. 
 
 Except Mark's poem, taken from Skioldunga, the poems of this Sec- 
 tion, like those of the preceding, are, where there is no statement to the 
 contrary, taken from Hulda, Kringla .... 
 
 Mark Skeggisson the Law-Speaker. A man, on Ari's testimony in 
 Kristni Saga, ' The wisest of all the Law-speakers next to Skapti.' 
 ' From his narration,' he also says in Libellus Islandorum, ' has been 
 written down the lives of all the Speakers of the Law in this book 
 [referring to the lost Liber Islandorum in which they must have 
 existed] ; all those, 1 say, which were before our memory. But he was 
 informed by Thorarin his brother [the poet, we think], and Skeggi 
 their father, and other wise men, of the life of those that were before 
 his memory, according to the narration of Bearni the Wise, their father's 
 father, who could remember Thorarin the Law-Speaker and six more 
 after him.' INIark is mentioned in the Laws, as Gains or Ulpian are 
 cited in the Digest, and his decisions were looked on as authoritative. 
 His Speakership lasted from 1084 to 1108; died 15th Oct. [1108?]. He 
 had a daughter Walgerd ; for her offspring, see Sturl. ii. 489 (Table). 
 
 As a poet he is high in the rank of court-poets. His 'hryn-hend' 
 Dirge on Eric of Denmark (1103) is interesting from its tone, which 
 rings to a nobler chord than Arnor's glowing but boisterous work. 
 It praises the king for deeds of Peace and Order, derives his epithets 
 from law and peace rather than war, and is a welcome relief from the 
 monotonous strain of most of Harold's poets, whose delight is in the 
 shedding of blood, setting banquets for the wolves, dying their blades in 
 the rain of the tempest of Woden, and the like, — though something must 
 be set to the remodeller's score. Nor is ]Mark a mean craftsman. He has 
 all the melody which one expects from poets of his day, and he was highly 
 esteemed for his skill by such exacting critics as Snorri and Olaf. 
 
 We have bits of longer poems of his on Christ, on Eric's brother King 
 Cnut the Saint of Denmark, and a morsel of a Sea Song, and a Satire. 
 
 The long poem on Eric the Good is of high value, not only from its 
 style, but from its contents. It is addressed to Nicholas, the last of ' the 
 five kings,' whose brother Eric was ; [unlike Saxo and Knytlinga, Mark 
 seems to count Harold, Cnut, Olaf, Biorn, Nicholas.] Its successive 
 strophes deal (i) with Eric's Visit to Gardric ; (2) his glorious rule, 
 generosity, good law, upholding of canon law, memory, learning, and 
 knowledge of tongues ; (3) recounts his pilgrimage to Rome (1093), 
 with the splendid reception he met with, and its happy results — the 
 founding of the archbishop's see at Lund, which was for many years 
 afterwards the centre of Danish culture and Christendom. His War 
 ivith the Wends takes up strophe 4, the apostacy of these heathens rousing 
 the anger of the pious king and the lawyer-poet. In the next strophes 
 (5-6) he recurs to the defensive measures and ecclesiastical <u;ork of Eric, 
 the Danish St. David, who founded ' five stone minsters,' ' head churches.' 
 The Visit to the Emperor (7), the lord of Franconia, when final arrange- 
 ments W'Cre probably made with regard to Lund. The Consecration of 
 Ozur (8) was not Eric's doing (it took place in the year following his 
 death), nor does the poet imply this; he merely turns aside to pay a 
 compliment to the archbishop, who was sitting, we may fancy, by 
 Nicholas's side when the Encomium v.as delivered. Strophe 9 tells of 
 Eric's Second and fnal pilgrimage to Palestine (1102), which was the fore-
 
 §4.] MARK SKEGGISON. 235 
 
 runner of the exploits of Sigurd of Norway (1107-1109) and Earl 
 Rognwald of Orkney (1151-1152). His visit to the Emperor of the 
 Greeks, from whom he received a royal robe and ' half a last ' of gold, 
 and to whom he gave fourteen war-ships, is to be noted. Part of a 
 strophe on Eric's death in Cyprus (10), and bits of other lost stanzas, 
 complete all we have of the poem, which is very well preserved. 
 
 The Iniprovisation on the ship as a Bear is one of the best examples of 
 the * conceits ' of Mark's day. 
 
 I. Hrynhenda, or Eiriks-drapa, c. 1104-1108. 
 
 (Verses I-3 and 27 from Edda.) 
 
 1. T_T ARRA kve6-ek at hr63r-g3or9 dyrri hauk-lundaSan Dana 
 -^ -^ grundar. 
 
 2. Eireks lof ver6r aold at heyra, engi ma6r veil fremra |)engil ; 
 (Yngvi helt vi6 or6rz-tir langan ia)fra sess) 1 verasld {jessi. 
 
 3. Fiarri hefir at faSisk d/'rri flotna va)r6r a ^l-kers botni 
 (hava leyfir hverr ma9r sevi bring- varpa6ar) gialfri kringdom. 5 
 
 4. Foe6ir sotti fremdar ra8a foldar vaorQo austr 1 GarSa ; 
 au8i gceddo allvald pru6an ftrir menn |)eir-es hnceggvi slita : 
 Stillir var6 um Austr-veg allan einkar tiQr inn mserSar bli8i ; 
 hinn vas engr es bans nafn kunnit hei6ar-mannz 1 lofi rei3a. 
 
 5. Var aDndurt bio Vinda r^^-rir vegligt flaust or Ga)r8om austan 
 {h\jxom. skaut a hola bsoro helmings oddr) 1 sumars broddi : 1 1 
 \\\fbo studdi bor8-vi8 brei8an br66ir Knutz 1 veQri 660; 
 siSan knatti svik-folks eydir snilli-kendr vi8 Danmajrk lenda. 
 
 6. Drengir J^^ogo au6 af Yngva, a)rr fylkir gaf sver3 ok knaorro 
 (Eirekr veitti opt ok storom arm-leggjar rsof) dyrom seggjom: 15 
 hringom eyddi harra sla)ngvir bildar ramr, enn stillir fram6i 
 fyr8a kyn, sva-at flestir ur6o, Fr63a stols, af honom g66ir. 
 
 7. Va)rgom eyddi Vinda fergir, vikingom hepti konungr fi'kjom ; 
 {iiofa hendr let t)engill st/'fa, {jegnom kunni hann 6si6 hegna : 
 
 I. Eric's Praise. Prologue. I call on the gallant king of the Danes 
 [Nicholas] to listen to my precious song. 
 
 People shall hear the Praise of Eric, no one knows a better king 
 in this world. He held his throne to his lasting fame ; never shall a 
 goodlier king be borne on the surf-ringed floor of the wind's chalice 
 [earth]. Every one praises his lofty life. 
 
 His 'visit to the East. The nourisher of mighty schemes visited the 
 kings east in Gard ; they, generous, gave him wealth, he became famous 
 all over the East-way. There was no one but praised his name. Early 
 in the spring, at the point of summer, the dread of the Wends made 
 ready his gallant ships to sail West from Gard ; the captain launched his 
 barks on the hollow waves; Cnut's brother strengthened his broad 
 bulwarks with weather-boards in the mad storm, and at last landed 
 in Denmark. 
 
 His glory. He gave swords and ships to his good lieges. Yea, the 
 lord of Frodi's Throne helped his people so that all got good from him. 
 The Terror of the Wends thoroughly purged the land of Wickings 
 [pirates] ; he cut the hands off thieves, he knew how to punish breach 
 of law. Thou hast never heard of Eric's wresting righteous judgment ;
 
 236 KING ERIC THE GOOD'S COURT. [bk. vm. 
 
 alldri frdttu at Eirekr vildi all-rettligom domi halla ; 20 
 
 hala kunni ser til sselo sigrs valdari Go6s laDghalda. 
 
 8. Hr66igr atti bryn-{)ings bei6ir biartan au9 ok froeknligt hiarta, 
 minni gnogt, ok man-vit annat mest, fylgSo \)vi hvergi lestir : 
 alia hafSi aj6lingr snilli, ungr nam hann margar tungor ; 
 Eirekr vas, sva at matti meira, mestr ofr-hugi, iaofri flestom. 25 
 
 9. L/'st skal hitt, es lofSungr ffstisk langan veg til Roms at ganga 
 (fylkir sa J)ar fri8-land balkat Feneyjar-li6) dfr8 at venja : 
 Br66ir gekk 1 Bar lit sfSan (bragningr vildi go6-d6m magna) 
 [hylli Go6s mun hlifa stilli] ha)fu8-skiaDldunga fimm [at 
 
 gia)ldom]. 
 
 10. Stora sotti Haraldz hlfii helga doma lit fra Romi ; 30 
 hringom var6i att-konr Yngva au6ig skri'n ok golli rau3o : 
 mildingr for um Munka-veldi moSom foeti seoI at bceta ; 
 sveitir kniQi all-valdr austan ; Eirikr vas til Roms i |)eiri. 
 
 11. Eirekr na6i utan at foera Erki-stol um Saxa-merki 
 (hliotom ver J)at-es hag varn boetir) hingat nor6r (at skia)ld- 
 
 ungs or8om) : 35 
 
 EySisk hitt at iafn-stort ra6i annarr gramr til Jjurftar maonnom; 
 leyfSi allt sem konungr krafdi Kristz unnandi Pavi sunnan. 
 
 12. Veldi ^or6ot Vindr at halda (villan goerSisk t)eim at illo), 
 [sunnan kom ^a svikdoms manna satta-rof]{)at-esbu6lungr atti; 
 Yngvi helt 1 66a-straDngom a^ldo-gangi skipom {)angat, 40 
 hl/6an skalf, enn hristo gvxbi h^log ba)r6, fyr Vinda gaor8om. 
 
 1 3. Ra)ndo lauk um rekka-kindir risno-ma6r sva at hver tok aSra ; 
 hamalt (kna)tto Ipi hlifar glymja) hildingr fylkti li8i miklo : 
 
 he upheld to the utmost the laws of God [the church law] to his own 
 profit. He had bright wealth, a bold heart, a good memory, and other 
 gifts of mind to the utmost, and all without blemish ; he had all kinds of 
 knowledge, he learnt many tongues in his youth. Eric was the most 
 high-minded, the best of all kings beside. 
 
 Hij Pilgrimage. It shall be told how the king went the long- path to 
 Rome to win a share in its glory; there he saw the fenced land of 
 refuge. After this the brother of five kings went on to Bari to the glory 
 of the Godhead ; and God's grace will keep his soul safe therefore. 
 Harold's brother visited the great halidoms [relics, etc.] in Rome ; he 
 adorned the rich shrines with rings and red gold ; he went with weary 
 feet round the realm of the monks [Rome] for his soul's good; he passed 
 on from the Fast and came to Rome withal. Eric carried from abroad 
 an archbishop's see over the Saxon March hither in the North [the 
 archiepiscopal see of Lund]. Our jpiritual state is the better by his act. 
 It is impossible that another king should do as much for our souls'' 
 needs. The pope, Christ's friend, in the south granted all that he asked 
 of him. 
 
 His ivar nvith the Wends. The Wends durst not keep the realm that 
 was his. Their apostacy cost them dear. When the traitors' rebellion 
 was heard from the south, he sailed with his ships in a swelling sea 
 thither, the weather-boards shivered, and the cold timbers troubled the 
 sea off the Wends' land. The king arrayed his men in a great shielded
 
 § 4-] MARK SKEGGISON. 237 
 
 Styrjsold 6x um stilli aDrvan ; stengr bcoro framm vfsiss drengir ; 
 
 mildingr gekk at miklom hialdri malmi skrij^ddr ok faldinn 
 
 hialmi. 45 
 
 14. Hajrga varSisk herr 1 borgom; hialdr-ganga vas sna)ro6 
 
 Jjangat ; 
 harSir kniSosk menn at morSi ; merki bids um hilmi sterkjan : 
 Eirekr vak6i odda-skiirir ; eggjar t^^ndo Iffi seggja ; 
 sungr iaDrn, enn soef8osk drengir; sveiti fell a val-kaost heitan. 
 
 15. BloQit dreif a rand-gar6 rau3an; rogs hegnir drap otal 
 
 t^egna; ^ _ 50 
 
 framSi sik, {)ar-es folk-vsopn glum6o, fylkir ungr, enn brynjor 
 
 sprungo : 
 HeiSinn vildi herr um sfSir ha)mlo vi'gs or porti ga^mlo ; 
 ur8o \)c\T es virkit va)r3o vangi nsest a ha)nd at ganga. 
 
 16. Hei6in voro hiaorton \f6a hrygdar-full 1 Vinda bygSom ; 
 eldrinn sveif um 6tal haolda; Eirekr brendi sali J)eira : 55 
 eisor kyndosk hatt i husom ; hallir naoSo vitt at falla ; 
 
 otto lei3 ; enn uppi Jjotti elris grand i himni standa. 
 
 1 7. Eirekr vas me6 upp-reist had ; undan Rfbo Vindr af stundo ; 
 gia^ld festo {)a grimmir ha)l6ar ; gumnar voro sigri numnir : 
 Yngvi tal6i erfSir t)angat ; aYpfba. var8 stilli at hlfbz ; 60 
 veldi r6b \)vi ast-vinr aldar ; einart la J)at fyrr und Sveini. 
 
 18. Flaustom luk5i folka treystir foldar sf8o brimi kni6a, 
 aDrr vi'si ba8 oddom Isesa urga straind ok svalri raando : 
 hlifom keyr6i hersa reyfir har81a nftr um land it ftva. ; 
 hilmir lauk vi6 herna6 storan hau8r Ey-Dana skiald-borg rau3ri. 
 
 19. Vi6a setti visdoms grce3ir virki skrj^ddar haDfu3-kirkjor 66 
 goerva let J)ar hoU-vinr herjar hrein musteri fimm af steini : 
 voro J)au me3 tryg6ar tiri ti6a flaustr, es gramr \6t smi6a 
 ba)6var sniallr ok baztr at a)llo, bor3i mest fyr Saxland nor3an. 
 
 war-wedge, so that target touched target. The fray waxed high about 
 the gallant prince. The host of the fanes [heathen] defended themselves 
 in their strongholds, the banner blew over the strong king. Eric waked 
 the war, he slew men unnumbered. The heathen host tried to sally 
 out of the ancient town. Heathen hearts were sorrowful in the country 
 of the Wends. Eric kindled the lofty flame in their houses ; Eric had 
 great good fortune, the Wends fled away forthwith ; that gruesome folk 
 paid ransom, being reft of victory. The king claimed his heritage there, 
 it had formerly lain under Sweyn's sway. 
 
 Hij defensive measures. He bade them guard his watery shores with 
 spear and cold shield. He locked the land of the Island-Danes with a 
 red shield-fortress against great raids. 
 
 His good ix'orks. The nurse of wisdom [king] raised walled head- 
 churches [cathedrals] in many places ; the patron of men built five 
 polished minsters of stone; these ships of services [naves horarum], which 
 this most gallant king and noblest built to his true glory [devoutly], were 
 the loftiest north of Saxony [Germany]. 
 
 69. mest] emend. ; merkt, Cd.
 
 238 KING ERIC THE GOOD'S COURT. [bk. vm, 
 
 20. Bli6an gceddi biaortom au9i Biarnar hiyra Frakklandz st/rir ; 
 storar let ser rand-gar9z rfnr riks keisara giafar lika : 71 
 Hanom let til her-vfgs buna harra spialli la9-menn snialla 
 alia lei5, a6r soQlingr naeSi Iota grundar Cesars fundi. 
 
 21. Dr6ttom let i Danmaork settan daoglingr grundar skamt fra 
 
 Lundi 
 Erki-stol J)ann-es aoll piob dy-rkar, elion-J)ungr, a Danska 
 
 tungo : 75 
 
 Hildingr framSi heilagt veldi ; hvar-gegnan ma Otzor fregna 
 (honom vi'sar ha)lda reynir himna-stig) til byskops vIgSan. 
 
 22. L/st skal hitt, es laeknask ffstisk li6-hraustr konungr ssor 
 
 in i6ri; 
 nordan for me9 helming har9an hersa mceSir sjol at grce9a : 
 harri biosk til heims ens dyrra ; hann gserSi fajr ut at kunna. 80 
 (bu9lungr vildi biart Iff oe9lask) byg9 lorsala 1 fri6i tryg9a. 
 
 23. Bcoro menn or borgom storom bleySi-skiarrs a moti harra 
 (sungit vas J)a-es herr tok hringja) hnossom ga)fgo9 skrin ok 
 
 krossa : 
 Aldri faer 1 annars veldi ia)fra rikir metnaS slikan ; 
 eitt vas \)3.i es iafnask matti engi ma6r vi6 Dana j)engil. 85 
 
 24. Hildingr {)a vi9 hsest lof aldar haofgan au6 i golli rau9o, 
 halfa lest af harra siaDlfom, hardla rikr, 1 Miklagar9i : 
 aSan tok vi6 allvaldz skru8i Eirekr J)6-at gefit vas fleira ; 
 reynir veitti her-skip hanom, hersa mattar, sex ok atta. 
 
 25. Andar kraf9i lit f la)ndom allz-st/randi konung sniallan ; 90 
 elli bei9at of-vaegr stillir ; aldr-stri3 es fraegt es vi6a : 
 
 Tbe intervieav tuith the Prankish Emperor. The lord of Frankland [Fran- 
 conia] gratified Biorn's brother [Eric] with bright wealth, and he was 
 pleased with the great gifts of the mighty Emperor, who gave him good 
 guides all the way till the Ethehng of Jutland reached Caesar. 
 
 The founding of the province of Lund. The king founded an archbishop's 
 throne a short way from Lund, which all men of the Danish Tongue 
 should reverence. He forwarded the holy province. The wise Ozur 
 was consecrated as bishop there, to whom the Patron of men [Christ] 
 shows the pathway of heaven. 
 
 His Pilgrimage to Palestine. It shall be told how the gallant king 
 prepared to heal his inner wounds [his soul's hurt]. He went from the 
 north with a brave company to heal his soul ; he made him ready for 
 the Dear World [heaven] ; he went his way to seek Jerusalem-land in 
 fair peace ; he wished to win a life of light [in heaven]. Men bore 
 splendid jewelled shrines and roods out of the great cities to meet him ; 
 they sung to the pealing of bells. Never gat king such honour in 
 another king's dominion. It is certain that no other man could match 
 the king of the Danes. He received a weight of wealth in red gold, half 
 a last from the mighty lord of IMicklegarth [Constantinople] himself, 
 and the praise of all men withal. He received a king's robe and more 
 beside of the Emperor^ and gave him six and eight war-ships in return. 
 
 His death. The Ruler of all [God] required the king's soul in a
 
 § 4.] MARK SKEGGISON. 239 
 
 Si9an harma siklings dau9a sniallir menn um heims-byg6 alia ; 
 diupir herr at dolga steypi dyggvan ; \>6lii veraold hryggva. 
 
 26. Hvergi stoSosk hiaorva borgar hristi-meiSar konungs reiSi; 
 raunar varSat raond vi9 hanom reist, goerdot J)ess ia^frar freista : 
 ognin st69 af iarla mei6i ; engi f)or9i kapp at strengja 96 
 (flestir ugdo fold-vaord hraustan) fylkir snarr vi9 Dana harra. 
 
 27. Rassir \6t af ro9nom hausi Rmar sol a mar-fia^U skina. 
 
 11. On St. Knute? (from Skalda). 
 
 1. TTIART-FCERRA veit harri hrein-vazta sik baztan 
 
 2. -^ -L Rikr es harra hneykir, heldr G08 ia)furs veldi, 
 sann-dyggs vito6 seggir Sveins broe9r konung oeQra. 
 
 III. Christ-drapa (Skalda). 
 S/e/l : /^ RAMR skop grund ok himna glygg-rannz sem her 
 vJ dyggvan ; 
 einn stillir ma ajllo alldar Kristr of valda. 
 
 IV. Of a Voyage (from Edda). 
 T7IARD-LINNA 66 fannir fast vetrliQi rastar; 
 -L hliop of huna gnipor hvals-rannz iugtanni : 2 
 
 biaorn gekk framm a fornar flods haf-skipa sl65ir; 
 skur-aardigr braut skor8o skers glym-fia)tor bersi. 
 
 V. Some Libel (from Skalda). 
 
 SCEGS man-ek si3r an eigi (sa es fUr es brag spillir) 
 solar sverri-malan gli8r-als Regin ni8a. 
 
 foreign land ; this public sorrow has been noised far and wide. Good 
 men, all over the inhabited earth, bewail his death ever since ; the world 
 mourns. 
 
 His proivess. No man durst withstand the king's wrath, no prince 
 even tried to do so. Terror was shed from him ; no prince ever dared 
 to match his prowess with the king of the Danes. 
 
 His ships. He let the gold shine from the red figure-heads down upon 
 the mountains of the sea. 
 
 II. On St. Cnut best of kings. Mighty is he; God supports 
 
 his power ; men know no king greater than Sweyn's brother, 
 
 III. On Christ. Burden. The king of the winds' hall [heaven] 
 created earth, and heaven, and all men. Christ, the lord of men, alone 
 rules all things. 
 
 IV. Improvisation. The bear ofthe stream waded through the waves; 
 the mast-bear ran over the peaks of the whale-abode ; the flood-bear 
 wended forward through the old track of the ships [sea] ; the high- 
 headed bear of the waters clove the roaring sea. 
 
 V. Satire. I am far from lampooning him. He that wrests a song 
 is a bad man. 
 
 2. Emend.; hliop ok huna gnipor hval iugtanni hranna, W,
 
 240 MAGNUS BARELEG'S COURT. [ek. viii. 
 
 GISL ILLUGISSON AND HIS FELLOWS. 
 
 A DESCENDANT of Bragi, as may be seen by his pedigree (p. 2). His 
 highly romantic career may be read in Magnus Barefoot's Life. He 
 came to Norway when seventeen years old, and slew his father's slayer, 
 Giafald, one of the king's henchmen, for which he was condemned to 
 death ; and was only saved by the wisdom of John (since Bishop of 
 Holar), who, with the rest of the Icelandic colony in Norway (Nidaros), 
 interceded with the incensed king. He was with the king on his Anglesey 
 expedition. His Poem on Magnus Bare/eg is in plain old metre, almost 
 perfect, in four sections, which deal with the Rebellion of Egil andThori ; 
 the Western Foray, when Hugh was slain, 11. 49-53 ; the Gale on the way 
 back to Norway; and the Gautland Campaign. There are many fine 
 touches and noteworthy passages in this poem. We have besides an 
 improvisation of his in prison. 
 
 BiORN Cramphand. a Poem on King Magnus by this poet, of whom 
 nought else has reached us, is rich in names of Western Islands, — 
 Lewes, Uist, Tyrvist, Mull, Sandey, Santire [Cantyre], Man ; it men- 
 tions the slaying of Hugh the Proud in Anglesey Sound, and runs 
 parallel to Gisli's, which it supplements. 
 
 King Magnus Bareleg. A Love-Song on Mahthild is ascribed to this 
 king in Frisbok and Fagrskinna, but they appear to belong to a later 
 time, and there is ' r ' for * s ' (hvat'r) in the fifth line, which makes one 
 hesitate to believe it his. It has, however, been very badly treated, so 
 that it is hard to judge of it definitely. Another "verse on an Irish love is 
 far better, and one would like to think it his. 
 
 The Improvisation on Giffard, the cowardly French knight, is also his. 
 
 Eldiarn of Constantinople. He is known from his rebuke 
 to the cowardly Giffard, who stowed himself away during the battle 
 at Foxern, and lay helpless in the ship which brought him back 
 to England. When they landed, Giffard went to the city and com- 
 plained to the reeve of the lampoons of Eldiarn. ' The reeve was 
 a young man, and had but lately taken up his office, and he said he would 
 listen to his plea, according to the state of the case as he should find it.' 
 A moot was called, and the Northman summoned, and the case came 
 on. Eldiarn denied that he had libelled Giffard, and offered to recite 
 the poem if the reeve liked. The reeve said, ' I have not yet had much 
 experience of law, but I know still less how to deal with what you call 
 poetry, nevertheless let us hear it.' So Eldiarn, in high-sounding words, 
 praised Giffard for his noble deeds at Foxern, where he had run away. 
 And the reeve said, ' I don't understand poetry, but I can see that this 
 is not libellous but laudatory, and I can give no other judgment.' Giffard 
 could not explain the true state of the case for very shame. 
 
 Anonymous. Popular verses on the pretenders and rebels of Magnus' 
 days, especially on Thori, vv. i, 2, 3. The fourth is a fine verse on a 
 ship plunging in the gale, a noble bit of Sea-Poetry. 
 
 I. T TNGR fram6i hann sik, J^a-es alendr vildo 
 ^ lof-saelan gram landi rsena, 
 ImSar faxa; enn iaofurr sotti 
 
 GiSL Illugisson. Magnus' Praise. T.he RebeUion of Egil and Thori 
 of Sky e. He fought in his youth when they wished to rob him of his 
 land [lit. Woden's bride], but he sought them with the black blade.
 
 §4.] GISL ILLUGISSON. 241 
 
 Baleygs 'viSo' me9 blam hiaarvi. 
 
 2. Ytti or Oslo til Egils fundar 5 
 lof6ungr li8i landz at krefja: 
 
 fylgSo rsesi ok Rygir sunnan 
 
 linnz la6-gefendr or laagom tvennom. 
 
 3. Sia knatti \)a. siklings flota 
 
 vel vigligan vanan sigri : 10 
 
 J)a-es fyr Yrjar f aga miklom 
 6t)rotligt li8 arar knf6i. 
 
 4. Atti hilmir hus-J)ing vi9 si6, 
 t)at vas fyr innan Orva-hamra : 
 
 bi6sk at brenna, enn buendr Qfbo 15 
 
 St6r-ra6r konungr af StaSi utan. 
 
 5. Raufsk vid rosto, rymr var6 1 her, 
 helmingr Egils vi5 Hla3ir utan; 
 ma)tto8 hersar vi9 Ha9a-dr6ttni 
 
 Ia8-ggofgo9om landi ra8a. 20 
 
 6. Hyrr sveima6i, hallir ^urro, 
 gekk bar logi um hdra9 J^eira: 
 sia knatti J)ar es salir fello 
 land-ra9 konungs um liSi J'oriss, 
 
 7. Saettisk sidan, si6r batnadi, 25 
 hug-fuUr konungr vi6 hatendr slna : 
 
 J)ann gat bragningr, es buendr sotto, 
 r^tt rad-spakr rekkom launat. 
 
 8. Gramr vann goervan, enn glata9 J)i6fom, 
 kaup-ma)nnom fri9 Jjannz konungr boetti: 30 
 sva-at i Elfi oexom hl^^ddi 
 
 flaust fagr-buin firom at skor9a. 
 
 9. Tok fyr Ski8i, enn Skottar fl^^do, 
 ia)fra oegir Ivistar gram: 
 
 He set forth out of Oslo to meet Egil to claim his land, and the Rygs 
 [of Rogaland] followed him and the men out of two laws [Gulalaw and 
 Heithlaw]. His fleet was very warlike, and victorious to look on, 
 when they plied their oars with great power away off Yria [mouth 
 of Throndham-firth]. The king held a husting at sea, off Arrow- 
 Hammer, and made ready in his anger to burn all north from Cape 
 Stad. The franklins fled. Egil's company broke up north of Lather; 
 there was a murmuring in their host ; the barons could not prevail 
 against the lord of Hada-land. The fire wandered wide, the halls 
 were consumed, and the high flame walked over their land. The 
 king's anger was shown when the halls fell about Thori's men's heads. 
 Then the king made peace with his rebels, and they repented, and he gave 
 back to the franklins the rights they had before. The king punished 
 thieves, but kept the peace for the merchants, so that they could safely 
 shore up their fair busses with their axes on the Elbe [the Gaut Eli/]. 
 The first land-foray (1098) to the West. The king took the lord of 
 
 4. Read, bruSi or vino. 19. mattod, Hrokk. 
 
 VOL. II. R
 
 242 MAGNUS BARELEG'S COURT. [bk.viii. 
 
 haf6i fylkir, sa-es frami toe8i, 35 
 
 La)gmann konung i li8i sino. 
 
 10. iEtt-laond urn vann Eyja drottar 
 folk-vaor6r und sik fiorom l^rungit : 
 a8r an hitti, sa-es hamalt fylkti, 
 
 ve6r-smi8r Vidors Valska iarla. 40 
 
 11. Ha6om hildi me6 Haraldz fraenda 
 Onguls vi9 ey innan-verQa : 
 
 |>ar-es af reiQi rikis-vsendir 
 konungr ok iarlar kapp si'tt bruto. 
 
 12. Margan hsofdo I\Iagnus-li6ar 45 
 bia)rtom oddi baug-vang skorit : 
 
 varS hertoga hlif at springa 
 
 kapps vel skipoQ fyr konungs darri. 
 
 13. Ba)6-kennir skaut bEoSom ha)ndom 
 
 allr va hilmiss herr pru61iga : 50 
 
 stukko af almi, Jjeims ia^furr sveig9i, 
 hvit-mylingar a6r Hugi fdlli. 
 
 14. Ha)f3o seggir, J)a vas sokn lokit, 
 heim-faor Jjegit af hajfuSs-manni : 
 
 land-menn lito yfir li6i ga)fgo SS 
 
 segl sia-drifin sett vi5 huna. 
 15- Vagr jDrutna6i, enn vefi keyrSi 
 
 stein-69r a stag storSar galli : 
 
 braut d^-rr dreki und Dana skelfi 
 
 hrygg 1 hverri hafs glym-bru3i. 60 
 
 16. Blar aegir skaut bunom svira, 
 
 gialfr hliop 1 gin goUno ha)f3i ; 
 
 skein af ha)f6om sem himins-eisa 
 
 da)glings dreka diups val-fasti. 
 
 Uist off Skye ; the Scots fled ; he kept King Lawman in his company. 
 Four heritages [four provinces, Hebrides, Orkneys, Shetlands, and Alan] 
 of the Island people the king subdued by force before he met the Welsh 
 [French] earls. I fought beside Harold's kinsman [grandson] inside 
 Anglesey, when the ambitious king and earls tried their prowess fiercely 
 together. Magnus' men scored many a target with their bright spear- 
 points. Many a well-made buckler of the duke's was sprung by the 
 king's dart. The king shot with both hands, and all his men fought 
 gallantly; the white arrow-heads sped from the bow he drew, ere 
 Hugh fell. 
 
 The "voyage back. When the battle was over, the king's men got home- 
 leave from their captain. The men of the land saw the sea-bleached sail 
 hoisted to the top over the noble crews. The wave rose high, and the 
 mad gale drove the canvas forward of the stays. The goodly dragon, 
 bearing the dread of the Danes, broke the back of every daughter of 
 Ocean [billow]. Black Ocean struck the carven neck, and the sea 
 leaped into the jaws of the golden figure-head ; the gold shone like the 
 fire of heaven [the sun] from the heads of the king's dragon-ships.
 
 §4.] BIORN CRAMPHAND. 243 
 
 17. Fram6isk siSan a Svia drottni 65 
 austr fra Elfi Upplanda gramr: 
 
 Li6-skelfir tok or laogom Gauta 
 fimmtan hero9 franni eggjo. 
 
 18. Rei6 folk-hva)to6r fyrst 1 goegnom 
 
 safna6 Svia sigri hnugginn : 70 
 
 malmr dreyrogr var9 a meSal hlaupa 
 hauss ok herda bans andskota. 
 
 19. Hel-merki bles, enn huginn gladdisk, 
 frano haofSi fedr Sigurdar : 
 
 I'ann sa-ek fylki me9 frama mestom. 75 
 
 snaorpo sverSi til sigrs vega. 
 
 20. Fylg9a-ek froeknom sem ek framast kunna 
 Eysteins fe8r f Atals dn'fo : 
 
 opt bra-ek hisorvi me9 Haraldz fraenda 
 
 vanr vas-fsorom J)ars vega f)urfti. 80 
 
 II. Improvisation. 
 
 KATR skal-ek enn, J)6tt aetli aldr-ran viQir skaldi 
 (iaDrn taka oss at orna) unda-teins (at beinom) : 
 Hverr deyr seggr (enn svarri) [snart es dreng-skapat hiarta] 
 (pru3r skal-ek enn 1 69i) eitt sinn (a jDrek minnask). 
 
 BIORN KREPPIL-HENDI. 
 
 (Verse 4 from Morkinskinna.) 
 
 I. "XTITT \6t Vorsa drottinn (var6 skiott rekinn flotti) 
 * [bus svei9 Ha)r9a rsesir] Halland farit brandi : 
 brendi bu6lungr frcenda (bids kastar hel fasta) 
 [vak6i Visk-doelsk ekkja] vf6z maorg hero9 siSan. 
 
 Exf edition to Gautland. After this the lord of the Uplands won fame 
 over the king of the Swedes, east by Gaut-¥Ahe. He took with his 
 keen sword-edge fifteen hundred out of Gautland. He went fore- 
 most through the vanquished herd of Swedes. His gory steel passed 
 between the necks and shoulders of his foes. Hell-mark [his standard] 
 blew over the head of Sigurd's father. Then with greatest glory did I 
 see the king win victory with the sharp sword. I followed the bold 
 father of Eystan in the battle as well as I could. Wont to wet travel- 
 ling wherever a fray was at hand [on the sea], I often swung the sword 
 beside Harold's kinsman. 
 
 Gisli in prison. The irons begin to burn into my legs. I shall be 
 cheery still, even though they mean to put the poet to death. A man 
 can only die once, and, lady, I shall still remember my exploits in my 
 song. A warrior's heart is stout. 
 
 BlORN THE Cripple-handed on King Magnus. The War in Halland, 
 Denmark. The lord of the Wors-folk [from Wors], the prince of the 
 Hords, had Halland burnt. The Thronds' king burnt many hundreds 
 more. The Wisk-dale [Wiska;rdal in Halland] lady waked in fear. 
 
 R 2
 
 244 MAGNUS BARELEG'S COURT. [BK.vm. 
 
 2. Snarr rau6 Sygna harri sver9 a uthlaups ferSom 5 
 (vftt rann vargr at slita varma brsoS) a Harmi : 
 
 Frattu hve fylkir matti (for sva at heng6r vas i>6n) 
 [fa)r var9 Gunnar goerviss grei9] drottins svik leida. 
 
 3. Hrafn-greddir vann hrsedda hlffar-stygSr, 1 byg3om, 
 f'roenska drott, es Jjotti J)eim markar ba)l sveima : 10 
 hygg-ek at hersa tveggja her-Baldr lyki aldri; 
 
 (sinjor vesa soro) ; svangr flaug a)rn til hanga. 
 
 4. Vikinga laetr vengiss v^all-baugs hati falla 
 (vftt rfbr iarn a flom) Olafs ma)gr (in-fa)gro). 
 
 5. L^k of Li69hus fikjom lim-sorg nser himni ; 15 
 (vitt bar ferd a flotta fus) [gaus eldr or husom] : 
 
 aDrr skiaoldungr for eldi Ivist ; buendr misto 
 (rog-geisla vann rsesir rauSan) lifs ok au3ar. 
 
 6. Hungr-^verrir l^t herjat hri6ar-gagls a Ski6i ; 
 
 tann raud Tyrvist innan teitr vargs 1 ben margri : 20 
 Graetti Grenlandz drottinn (gekk halt Skotta stoekkvir) ; 
 [J)i66 rann Mylsk til moe8i] meyjar su3r i Eyjom. 
 
 7. Vftt bar sniallr of sldtta Sandey konungr randir ; 
 Rauk urn II, J)a-es ioko all-valdz menn a brennor : 
 Sanntfris laut sunnar seggja kind und eggjar; 25 
 sigr-goe6ir t66 sf3an sniallr Manverja falli. 
 
 8. Haett vas hvert, J)at-es atti, hvarf Go8roe9ar arfi; 
 Isund vann lofSungr t'rcenda La)gmanni J)ar bannat : 
 n^tr fekk nesjom utar na6rs-bing-ta)po9 finginn, 
 
 Eg6a gramr, J)ar-es um9o, ungr, vaett-rima tungor. 30 
 
 9. Lff-spelli re6 laufa lundr f Onguls-sundi 
 
 (broddr flo J)ars slaog snuddo snu9igt) Huga-ins-Pru9a : 
 
 Tiie Rebellion. The lord of the Sogn-folk fought the rebels at Harm 
 [Haloga-land]. Thou hast heard how he made them smart for their 
 treason : it came to pass that Thori was hanged. He frightened the 
 Thronds, when he made the fire walk over their dwellings : he pat to 
 death two barons, I ween ; the ' senior ' had them hanged. Olaf 's son 
 destroyed the robbers. 
 
 His -voyage to the West (1098). Fire played fiercely to the heavens 
 over Lewes ; he went over Uist with flame ; the yeomen lost life 
 and goods. He harried Skye and Tyrey. The terror of the Scots 
 was in his glory. The lord of Grenland made the maidens weep 
 in the Southern Islands ; the people of Mull ran for fear. Far 
 over the flats of Sanday he warred. There was a smoke over Ila: 
 the king's men fed the flame. Further south, men in Cantyre bowed 
 beneath the sword-edge. He made the Manxmen to fall. Every way 
 of escape was stopped for Godrod's son; the lord of the Thronds* 
 banished Lawman from the land. The Agd-folk's prince caught him 
 off" the Nesses [of Skye]. He quickly caused the death of Hugh the 
 Proud in the Sound of Anglesey. The slayer of the Irish [Magnus] has 
 
 20. tonn, Cd. 25. Thus, the elder form.
 
 §4.] THORKELL HAMAR-SKALD. 245 
 
 a)ll hefir 'Iota' fellir Ey-laond farit brandi 
 
 (vftt liggr ' dyggs und ' dr6ttom daoglings grund) of stundir, 
 
 THORKELL HAMAR-SKALD. 
 L MagnHs-drdpa. 
 
 1. "\ riTT dro sfnar sveitir saman st6r-huga9r f'orir 
 
 * (heldr vorot t)au hsolQom haglig rad) me3 Agli : 
 snsorp fra-ek a f)ar, es urpo, endr Skialgs vinom, lendir, 
 menn vi3 mor6-hauks brynni, mein, um afl ser steini. 
 
 2. Or9 fra-ek Agli ver9a, unnar dags, a munni, 5 
 s61 ! vi9 siklings Jjrsela salt einarSar latta : 
 
 Hvern J)eira kva9 hasra (hialdr-bliks) an sik miklo 
 (bei8 of mikit ey8ir angr) makligra at hanga. 
 
 3. Vestr Idt varga nistir (vann hilmir frid bannat) 
 [hrajnn bruto hlyr in stinno] hug-pru9r fa)ro snu9at. 10 
 
 4. Dundi broddr a brynjo ; bragningr skaut af magni ; 
 sveig6i all-valdr Eg9a aim ; staokk blod a hialma : 
 strengs flo hagl i hringa; hn^ ferQ, enn l^t verQa 
 Hsor6a gramr i harSri hiarl-sokn banat iarli. 
 
 5. Eggendr ba3 at ugga ohlifinn gramr lifi 15 
 hvegi es let inn lioti land-garQr fyrir barQi: 
 
 satt vas at all-valdr atti 6gn-snart borit hiarta 
 (su9 var9 i gn^ grse6iss geyst) far-sselo treystask. 
 
 6. Hraustr \€x Elfi austar all-valdr saman gialla 
 
 (vitr stillir rau9 vajllo) Valskan brand ok randir : 20 
 
 Var6 a vig, J)ar es ' Her3ir,' vell-mildr konungr, fello, 
 (bolr la Gauzkr und gulri gras arnar klo) J)rasi. 
 
 carried fire over all the Islands for a vi^hile. The broad .... lies in the 
 king's power. 
 
 Thorkettle Hammer-poet. Magnus' Praise, ^he Rebellion. 
 Thori and Egil in their pride drew men together ; ill-fated was their 
 plan. It was evil for the friends of Skialg when the barons cast *a 
 stone beyond their strength.' Egil, I ween, spoke a true word to the 
 king's slaves [his executioners], when he said that each of them was 
 worthier to hang than he. He, Egil, met too sad a fate ! 
 
 Westerii expedition. He hastened on his warlike way to the West. 
 He shot amain, the lord of the Agd-folk drawing his bow ; the bow- 
 string's hail flew on the mail-rings ; the lord of the Hords slew the earl 
 in fight. 
 
 The voyage back. He bade them not fear for their lives, however the 
 sea might roar at the bows. The king's brave heart was proved ; he 
 believed that his voyage would be prosperous. 
 
 The War in Gautland. He made the Welsh sword scream on the 
 targets east of the Gaut-YXho. ; he warred where the Herds [people of 
 Harad ?] fell and the Gauts died. 
 
 33. Read, Ira? 21. Read, Her5ir, people of Gautland (Harad).
 
 246 MAGNUS BARELEG'S COURT. [bk. viii. 
 
 7. Upp-gaDngo r^9 Yngvi ftr me9 helming litinn; 
 arseSi hygg-ek a9an Eysteins fa)8or treystask: 
 Hatt gall hisorr ; enn sotti (hneit egg vid fiaDr seggja), 25 
 [malm-soekir rau8 mseki] Magnus li6 i goegnom. 
 
 M 
 
 II. Another Drdpa (from Edda). 
 
 ER r^3 senda um svalan segi 
 Vaolsunga niQr vgopn goU-buin. 
 
 STRAY VERSES. 
 
 I. Anonymous. 
 
 1. T TNGR kom Hakon hingat (hann es baztr alinn manna) 
 ^ ^fraegQar mildr a foldo for me9 Steigar-f'ori : 
 
 syni Olafs baud siQan sialfr upp Noreg halfan, 
 mildr enn Magnus vildi mal-sniallr hafa allan. 
 
 2. Bre8r 1 Biarkey mi8ri bol J)atz ek veit golast, 5 
 toera J)arft af t'ori (jD/'tr vandar-bsol) standa : 
 
 loan man eigi fr/ja elldz ne rans es kveldar, 
 svlQr biartr logi breiSan b/', leggr reyk til sk^ja. 
 
 3. SpurSi Ull-strengr or3a (at rendosk skip hvatla) 
 [sver3 bito snarpra ferSa saett] hve {'6rir maetti : 10 
 Lundr kvazk heill at haondom hia)rs (fraogom J)at goerva) 
 [goerSisk glamm a borSom griotz] enn hrumr at fotom. 
 
 II. Anonymous. 
 
 4. "^^gZ blasss ve8r um tyggja; vi3r |)olir nau3 1 lau3ri; 
 Ise tekr klungrs at kn/ja keip \ enn gellr i reipom : 
 
 His death in Ireland. He made an inroad with a small company ; 
 the son of Eystan trusted in his boldness. Magnus went through the 
 foe, the sword sung shrill. 
 
 Fragment of a Praise-Song on King OlafQ). East over the swollen 
 Ocean the son of the Wolsungs [King of Norway] sent me a gold- 
 mounted weapon. 
 
 Stray Verses. I. Unnamed Poet on Magnus^ cousin Hakon' s death. 
 Hakon, the best-born man on earth, came over here young and joined 
 Sty-Thori. He offered half Norway to Olafs son, but Magnus wished 
 to have it all. 
 
 On Tbori's rebel/ion. In the midst of Bearkey high burns the merriest 
 homestead I know ; the ill is Thori's doing. John will have enough of 
 fire and plundering this evening ; the bright flame burns the broad town, 
 the smoke climbs up to the clouds. 
 
 Sigurd and Thori. Woolstring asked how Thori did, when the ship 
 drew near. ' Hale in the hands,' said he, ' but tottering on the feet.' 
 We tell the truth. 
 
 n. A Storm at Sea. The wind blows round the king's ship; the 
 26. i !i5, Cd.
 
 §4.] KING MAGNUS. 247 
 
 mi6r skelfr (Magnus st/'rir; m66 skerr eik at fl69i) 
 [beit ver6a sia slfta] siau-toegr vsondr [und raondom]. 
 
 III. King Magnus^ Love- Verses (Fagrsk.). 
 
 1. "C*IN er su er mer meinar Makthildr, ok vekr hildi, 
 -■— ' (mar drekkr su6r or ssorom sveita) leik ok teiti: 
 sa kennir mer svanni, 'sfn lond er ver rondo' 
 (sverQ bito Haogna hur8ir) hvit-iarpr sofa liti9. 
 
 2. Hvat 'r i heimi betra (hyggr skald af J^reo sialdan) 5 
 [miok er langr sa er dvelr drengi dagr] an vff in fa)gro : 
 f)ungan berr-ek af t^ingi Jiann harm, at ek skal svanna 
 (skreytazk menn at moti) minn aldregi finna. 
 
 3. la^rp mun eigi verpa orm-hlin a glse sfnom 
 
 (or6 spyr-ek goll-hrings gerSar) g68om skald (i hlioSi) : 10 
 ann-ek, J)6tt eigi finnak opt, go3-veQar Jjopto ; 
 veit menn at ek hygg hennar hala roektar-mgolom. 
 
 4. Hvatt skal heim-faDr kvitta, hugr er minn i Dyflinni, 
 enn til Kaupangs kvenna kem-ek eigi austr 1 hausti : 
 unik |)vi at eigi synjar Ingjan gaman-]Dinga ; 15 
 cerskan veldr \>\\ er Irskom ann-ek betr an mer svanna. 
 
 IV. The Norman Knight. 
 
 King: i.^T'ILL hann eigi flokk varn fylla, falsk riddarinn 
 
 V Valski. 
 Eldjarn : 2.Y{n{ samir hitt at dusa hirSmanni ge8-stir8om; 
 
 vestu nu, J)o-at kia)l kosti knarr, riddari 'nn hari : 
 
 timbers labour hard in the foam. The gale tries the rowlocks, and 
 screams in the rigging ; the slim seventy-foot stick [mast] is quivering ; 
 Magnus is steering, and the angry bark cleaves the flood ; the shielded 
 ship cuts through the sea. 
 
 III. King Magnus Bareleg. Love-Song. Mahthild alone grieves me, 
 forbidding me joy or pleasure. That fair brown lady lets me have little 
 sleep. What is better on earth than a fair woman ? The poet never 
 ceases to pine ; long is the day that keeps her away. I carry this heavy 
 grief home from the moot, that I shall never meet my lady again. The 
 brown lady will not have cast on the sea her good words about me 
 which I have heard. I set great store by her loving speech, though I 
 seldom see her. [Grammar of original is bad and tivijted, but the sense is 
 clear.^ 
 
 The Irish lady. The Kings last Verse. Why should we think of going 
 home ? My heart is in Dublin, and I shall not go back in the autumn 
 to the ladies of Chipping [Nidaros]. I am glad that the darling does not 
 deny me her favour. Youth makes me love the Irish girl better than 
 myself. 
 
 IV. On Ciffard the Coward. King : He will not take a place in our 
 band. The Welsh [French] knight hides himself. — Eldjarn : Qiiit thee 
 well now, noble knight. Why shouldst thou now be lagging when the
 
 248 SIGURD CRUSADER'S COURT. [bk. viri. 
 
 J)at-es satt at ek b^6 bytto (brei3-hufo9om) rei5a 
 (austr es til bar a hesti hval-iar6ar) GiffarSi. 5 
 
 Variation of the same. 
 SpurSi gramr hvat goer6i Gipar3r t)ar er li5 barSisk, 
 ver ru6om vapn i dreyra, varat hann kominn J)annog : 
 fram-rei3ar var fnau5i fiill-traudr a io rauSom. 
 Vill hann eigi f. v. f. . . , 
 
 3. Fra-ek at flotta rsokot (falsk annat lid manna), 
 [{)ar vas har9r sem ek heyr6a herno9r] a Foxerni : 
 var6 hialm-^rimo hilmiss harr, {)ars staddir varom, 
 gangr, es Gautzka drengi, GififarSr, i hel barSir. 
 
 V. King and Kali (Orkn. S.). 
 
 Kali: T TVE launa \)tx J)inir ^ing-rikir ha^fSingjar 
 
 A J- (vestr bifask rengr i rsostom) [reyndu oss, konungr] 
 hnossir ? 
 
 King: Au9 hef-ek minn, J)anns maonnom marg-teitom re9-ek veita, 
 (huf laet ek kloekkvan klifa kolgor) ilia folginn. 
 
 HALLDOR SQUALLER; or, HALLDOR SKVALDRI. 
 
 The author of a Pman on Sigurd the Crusader's Voyage, recounting the 
 taking of eight galleys, the fighting at Cintra, Lisbon, Alkassi, Gibraltar, 
 the Caves of Algiers, and the expedition to the Balearic islands Iviza 
 and Minorca, and storming a ' heathen ' castle on the coast. He also 
 made 3. poem on Harold Gilli-Christ. (See § 5.) 
 
 Thorwald Blend-poet. Fragments of two poems of his are pre- 
 served. We only know his date from Skalda-tal. 
 
 Thorarin Curt-mantle (Stutt-feldr). An Icelander, who 
 made a poem in Tog-metre on Sigurd's Crusade, the fragments of 
 which add to our knowledge of it. He mentions his sixty ships, his 
 worshipful reception in England, his Formintera and Cave Exploits, 
 and his reaching the Jordan and visiting ' God's grave.' The poem 
 runs parallel to that of Halldor. Of the improvisations (i) refers to 
 the origin of his nickname ; the others (2-3) are satirical. 
 
 EiNAR ScuLASON. We treat of him in the introduction to § 5. 
 We here insert pieces of two of his poems, one on the Crusade of 
 Sigurd, which tells of his wintering in England, the first winter; in 
 
 keel is straining? Verily, I offer the bucket to Giffard to hand up, 
 for the bilge-water is very high in the broad-hulled steed of the whale's 
 land. 
 
 In England before the Port-reeve. I heard that ye drove the flying 
 host at Foxerne, while other men were hiding away : it was a hard battle, 
 1 heard. It was a mad fray where you were, Giffard, beating the Gauts 
 to death. 
 
 V. Kali : How do thy mighty chiefs requite thy gifts ? Try me, O 
 king. The ship is tossing in the current. — King Magnus : I have put 
 the money I gave my men to little profit ; I make the crank hull climb 
 the billows.
 
 §4.] HALLDOR SQUALLER. 249 
 
 Galicia, with an Earl, the next ; his passage over the Greek Sea to Acre ; 
 his arrival at Jerusalem, and bath in the white water of Jordan. 
 
 King Sigurd the Crusader, One verse to his lady — ' I have 
 struck a blow in the Saracen's land: let thy husband do the same !' — is 
 attributed to this king. 
 
 Halld6r Skvaldri. 
 
 (Verses il, 12 from Edda.) 
 
 1. /^K fa-d/rir foro (Fiolniss-hrotz) at m6ti 
 
 ^-^ (vfg-sosom hlod visi) vikingar gram rikjom : 
 Na8i herr at hrioda (hlaut drengja vinr fengi 
 fyrSom hollr; enn f^llat fatt 116) galeiQr atta. 
 
 2. Stor skal-ek verk, {)au-es voro (Vanar-dags) a Spani, 5 
 (prutt l^t slaDngvir sottan Sintra) konungs inna : 
 Goer6isk heldr vid harSa her-menn gramr berjask 
 gratt, as gcerva nitto Go3s retti ser bo6nom. 
 
 3. Su3r vannt sigr inn |)ri6ja sniallr vi6 borg, ]3a-es kalla, 
 lof3ungs kundr, es lendot, Lissibon, a froni. 10 
 
 4. Ut fra-ek y6r, J)ar-es heiiir Alkassi, styr hvassan 
 folk-tjcysandi fj'sask fiorSa sinn at vinna: 
 
 unnit fra-ek i einni eyddri borg, til sorga 
 (hitti herr a flotta) heiSins vifs (at drffa). 
 
 5. Treystosk egg fyr austan (y5r ti66i G06) ri65a 15 
 [na-skari flo nfm] NaDrva-sund [til unda]. 
 
 6. B3o3-styrkir lezt-|)u barka (bragnings verk a Serkjom 
 fraeg hafa goersk) fyr g/'gjar gagn-stig ofan siga: 
 
 Enn i hall at belli her-nenninn fia)l-mennom 
 
 Gaondlar pings me9 gengi gn/-{)r6ttr ne6an sotti. 20 
 
 7. Na6i folk, |)ar-es fifdi ferd skundliga undan, 
 (illr var6 hreimr i helli) heiSit konungr meiSa : 
 Lifs bau3 ' enn ' J)a es unnot, af-tig gamall, vigi 
 (kva)l bei3 add 1 eldi ossel) DiaDfuls J)raelom. 
 
 Halldor Squaller. King Sigurd's Crusade. And the wicked 
 Wickings [Moorish corsairs] attacked the good king, and he was 
 able to carry eight of their galleys. I will tell the great deeds he 
 wrought in Spain. He took Cintra ; the warriors who altogether deny 
 God's law offered to them, found it grim work to fight against the king. 
 The third victory he won at the city which is called Lisbon, coming 
 ashore. Ye won a fourth victory at the place called Al-Kassir, I ween, 
 and caused grief to the heathen women in a certain waste city. Ye did 
 redden your sword-edge east of the Narrow-Sound [Straits of Gibraltar]. 
 God helped you. Thou didst let down barks over a giantess-stair [pre- 
 cipice], (the king's dealings with the Saracens have become famous,) and 
 fought victoriously from below against the crowded cave of the rock. 
 The king destroyed the heathen : there was an evil howling in the cave. 
 He, when only nineteen years old, made life hard for the Devil's slaves, 
 
 22. heimr, Cd. 23. Read, dun. af-tig] thus; cp. Lat. un-de-viginti.
 
 2 50 SIGURD CRUSADER'S COURT. [bk. vin. 
 
 8. Marg-dy-rkaSr kom merkir mor9-hi61s skipa-stoli 25 
 (fuss vas fremSar-raesir fri6-slitz) til Ivitzo. 
 
 9. Knatti enn ina atto odd-hrl6 vakit si6an 
 
 (Finnz rau8 giaold) a groenni (grams fer8) INIanork verSa. 
 
 10. Borg heiSna tokt brseSir benja-tikr af riki 
 
 (haSisk hver vi6 prfSi hildr) enn gaft af mildi. 30 
 
 11. '^T knattu8 \)av J^eira {\)U vast aldregi) [skialdar 
 leygr J)aut of siaot] (sigri sviptr) goersemom skipta. 
 
 12. Orkii Ala serkjar e'l-festir prek mestom ; 
 
 CEtt berr gra?}is ok gwnna gagn-prudr Sigurbr magni. 
 
 {'ORVALDR BLENDO-SKALD. 
 
 I. (From Edda.) 
 
 KONUNGR heill ! ok sva sniallir, sokn-aorr vi6 her goervan 
 (63 hafa menn f munni minn) huskarlar J)inir ! 
 Goll-stn6ir verpr gl66om (gefr au5 konungr rau6an) 
 [6J)i66ar bregSr ey6ir] orm-leggs [Grana farmi]. 
 
 N 
 
 II. (From Edda.) 
 
 U hefik mart f mi6i geipat 
 burar Bors Bura arfa. 
 
 THORARIN STUTTFELD. 
 
 1. "T^REIF til handa herr framr grami 
 
 -L^ hollr hauk-snia3llom hva3an-3eva sva : 
 sem fyrr 1 faor fr^it hsofQo rdtt 
 konunga kyn Kraka marg-spaokom. 
 
 2. Sva kom fylkiss framt I16 saman 5 
 marg-spaks mikit mildingi vilt: 
 
 when he took their stronghold, and the cursed folk perished in the fire. 
 The king came with his fleet to Ivica. He woke the eighth fray there 
 on green Minorca .... He took by force a heathen city [Acre], and gave 
 it up in kindness [to Baldwin] .... when he shared out the precious 
 things there. 
 
 Burden. Ye wrought the greatest deeds ! Sigurd the gallant out- 
 does all kings and men in might. 
 
 Thorwald Blend-poet. Oti King Sigurd. Hail, O king, and all 
 thy gallant house-carles : men have my songs of praise in their mouth ! 
 The prince casts the rings away, and gives the red treasure, and distri- 
 butes Grani's burden [gold]. 
 
 End of another Poem. Now I have talked freely in the mead of the 
 son of Bor, Buri's heir. 
 
 Thorarin Curt-cloak. King Sigurd's Crusade. They drove 
 together from all parts to take service vv'ith the good king, as of yore it 
 is told that on his journey the people sought service with the wise Kraki's 
 kinsman. A great host devoted to the king came together, so that
 
 §4.] THORARIN CURT-CLOAK. 251 
 
 at skip, vi9 skaop, skar-faogr um Isog, 
 hrems grams himins, hnigo sex tigir. 
 
 3. 09o at Engla 3ett-ia)r6o baarS 
 
 skaplig skipa skafin vestr um haf: 10 
 
 \)6tti t'roenda J)ar-landz sem hvar 
 yfir-ma6r iaofurr allz-herjar sniallr. 
 
 4. Var6 fyr stafni styrjar-giaornom 
 fri5-raska6i Formintera : 
 
 J)ar vard eggjar ok eld jDola 15 
 
 Bla-manna lid a9r bana fengi. 
 
 5. Ba6 gramr guma gunn-hagr draga 
 byr-varga a biarg bla-svarta tva : 
 pa-es f reipom ram-dj?r • {)rama 
 
 sigo fyr helliss hliS-dyrr me6 li3. 20 
 
 6. .... Herr hauk-snaorom har6-ma36igr var6 .... 
 Ey man uppi Endils me6an stendr 
 
 s61-borgar-salr svaor-gceSiss faor: 
 
 \)U hefir i vatri vegsamr Ipvegizt, 
 
 geirs gn^-stoerir grans, lorSanar. 25 
 
 7. Var&ir Ha)r6a hvatr fylkir at 
 ^raof Gods .... kvik-sattar: 
 A skinn seva Yggs fiaal-dyggra 
 sol svan-gceli, siklingr, an J)ik. 
 
 II. Improvisations. 
 
 I. TTYKK at her megi J)ekkja heldr i stuttom feldi 
 -L J- OSS, enn ek Iset f)essa oprfbi mer hl^Sa : 
 vaerir mildr, ef maera mik vildir Jdu skikkjo 
 (hvat hafim heldr an taotra?) hildingr muni vildri. 
 
 there went, at God's order, sixty fair-timbered ships over the sea. The 
 shapely-smoothed ships rode west over the sea to the fatherland of the 
 English ; the Thronds' lord there, as anywhere else, was held the most 
 gallant of kings. . . . Formintera was before the king's bows, the Blacka- 
 moors had to suffer sword and fire before they died. The king 
 commanded two blue-black wind-wolves [boats] to be drawn up the 
 mountain and to be let down filled with men in ropes before the doors 
 of the cave .... The people were angry with the gallant .... As long 
 as the hall of the city of the sun [earth] endures the king's voyage shall 
 be spoken of. Thou hast bathed, O glorious king, in the water of 
 Jordan. Thou, lord of the Hords, didst endow the grave of God [Holy 
 Sepulchre] and the shrines of the saints with gold in plenty. The sun 
 shall never shine on a better king than thou, my lord ! 
 
 Impro'vijations. I daresay thou knovvest me in my very scant cloak, 
 but 1 have to put up with my shabby attire. Thou wert a right gra- 
 cious king, if thou wouldst give me a little better mantle. What have 
 I but tatters now ? 
 
 8. himins, emend. ; hedan, Cd.
 
 252 SIGURD CRUSADERS COURT. [bk. viri. 
 
 2. t'u vaendir mer, trcenda |Dengill, ef ek stef fengja 5 
 fraenda Serks at fundi folk-rakkr gefa nakkvat : 
 
 ldt-J)u at Hakon hdti, hildingr inn f^-mildi, 
 
 (enn samir mer at minnask) Maor-strutr (a t)at goerva). 
 
 3. Full-vl6a hefir freedom Fia)ro-skeifr of her veifat 
 
 lystr ok leiri kastaS last-samr ara ins gamla: 10 
 
 ok vantu eina krako orQ-vandr a Serklandi 
 
 Skeifr (bartu Haogna hiifo hraeddr) varliga brsedda. 
 
 EINARR SCULASON (Sigurbar-drapa). 
 
 1. "\ rAS-OFLUGR t66 vfsi vestr helmingi mestom; 
 
 * 66 at Ensko laSi ^Egiss marr und harra : 
 Stsol l^t hilmir hvilask heipt-glaSr ok vas paSra 
 (ne gramr a val Vimrar) vetr-lengis (sti'gr betri). 
 
 2. Ok, sa-es cezt gat riki, 61 J)i66-konungr s61ar 5 
 ajnd a Jacobs-landi annan vetr und ranni : 
 
 J)ar fra-ek hilmi herjar (hialdrs) laus-maeli gialda 
 (gramr svan brseddi snemma snar-lyndr) fra^mom iarli. 
 
 3. Huf let hilmir svifa haf-kaldan (lof skaldi 
 
 esat um all-valdz risno ein-falli) 1 Grik-salti : 10 
 
 a6r vi6 einkar-brei6a au6-lestir skip festi 
 
 (a)ll bei6 a)ld me6 stilli) Akrs-borg (fegins-morgin). 
 
 4. Get-ek Jdcss es gramr f6r vitja (glyggs) Iorsala-byg3ar 
 (me6r vitod a)6ling oeSra) 6gn-bli6r (und sal vi6om) : 
 ok leyg-hati laugask (leyft ra9 vas J)at) na6i 15 
 hauka-setrs i hvito hvatr I6rdanar vatri. 
 
 5. Saett fra-ek Doela dr6ttinn (drengr minnisk J)ess) vinna ; 
 t6ko hvasst 1 Hristar hri6 val-slaongor ri&a : 
 
 Sterkr braut valigt virki vargs-munn-lito6r gunnar; 
 (faDgr ruQosk.sverS); enn sigri snarr bragningr fagnar. 20 
 
 j4 Satire. Thou wilt have me make a stave on Serk's kinsmen, pro- 
 mising to give me something for it, telling me that his name was Hakon 
 Suet-paunch (Pot-belly). I must not forget thee. 
 
 ^ Satire. F. has scattered libels far and wide, and cast about the 
 droppings of the old eagle [satire]. Thou didst hardly feed one crow in 
 Saracen-land, thou slanderous Wry-leg, coward in armour ! 
 
 EiNAR ScULASON. King Sigurd's Crusade. The sailor-king went 
 westward with a great force, and Ocean's steed galloped under him 
 towards the English shore. He let his ships rest there, and stayed there 
 all the winter. Never better king ever stepped aboard Wimmer's 
 charger [ship] ; and a second winter he passed in James' land [Galicia], 
 where, I ween, he paid the bad earl [ ? ] for his breach of covenant. 
 He made the sea-cold hulls sweep into the Greek sea [Levant], and at last 
 moored his ships off the full broad town of Acre. All the people 
 welcomed the king that morning. I tell how the king went to see 
 Jerusalem-land, and was able to bathe in the white water of Jordan, a 
 noble deed. The lord of the Dalesmen won Saietta [Sidon], I ween ; 
 the war-slings did sharp work in the fight ; the strong captain stormed a 
 huge stronghold and won a victory.
 
 v 
 
 §5.] THE GILCHRIST FAMILY, etc. 253 
 
 SiGURDR lORSALA-FARI. 
 
 'ILLIR hann visd6m allan, veldr jDvf karl f feldinom. 
 
 Skiott bar-ek skisold inn hvita (skald bi9r at G06 valdi) 
 ar til odda skurar au9igr, enn fra raudan : 
 J)ar hefek hoegg of hoeggit handlaust a Serklandi 
 (G06 rseSr sokn ok sigri), svanni, J)inom manni. 
 
 GULL-^SO f'ORDR. 
 
 tJ tekr ygr at oegja of-kuginn mer driugom ; 
 
 J)inn hefir haolQr of hlannat hialdr gegninn mik tialdi : 
 trautt mun-ek lausan lata linnz .... giafi at sinni 
 vlsan J)i6f, J)0-at vafi van mm und hlut ^inom. 
 
 N' 
 
 § 5- 
 
 THE GILCHRIST FAMILY AND 
 LATER KINGS (ir3o-i2oo). 
 
 Up to the death of Sigurd the Crusader Norway had been ruled by a 
 series of vigorous and talented kings, following each other by a rough, 
 but well-understood and acknowledged, rule of succession. But from 
 henceforward the power fell from the crown to the barons, who were 
 divided into factions, and ruled under cover of rois faineans , impostors 
 set up, as occasion required, by the opposing parties. A nominal king 
 was necessary, that was all, and there was little difficulty or back- 
 wardness shown by the heads of the factions in supplying themselves 
 with one that would suit their views. 
 
 The insanity of Sigurd gave opportunity for the first contrivers of this 
 kind of imposture to act. They seem to have plotted against Magnus, 
 the young prince, and his friends, and to have worked on the mad 
 jealousy of the distraught king, to induce him to look with favour upon 
 the man who declared himself the son of Sigurd's father. 'Towards 
 the end of Sigurd's reign' (in 1129?) a certain Gilchrist was discovered 
 in Ireland by a Norse noble, and carried over the sea to Norway. 'The 
 worst import ever brought to Norway,' says a later historian. Arrived 
 there he took the name of Harold. Like the following impostors, he 
 does not pretend to be the son of an acknowledged concubine such 
 as Alfhild or Thora, but merely the offspring of a chance amour. 
 He does not come forward till twenty-six years after his supposed 
 father's death (i 103). He brings no proof of his assertions, as far as we 
 know, but merely offers to undergo the ordeal of ' bearing the iron,' 
 which he accomplished safely, thanks no doubt to his clerical supporters. 
 
 King Sigurd the Crusader. To Curt-cloak. He confounds all 
 wisdom. The churl in the cloak is the cause ! 
 
 Jl Love-SoJiv. I Ijore my shield white to battle, and red back again. I 
 pray God to keep me. I have cut a sure stroke now here in Saracen- 
 land for thy husband, lady, to match. God orders battles and victories. 
 
 Asa-Thord. Complaint to hig'tmar of Ask. The tyrant is threatening 
 me, but thy vassal has stolen my tent. I shall not give up a red-handed 
 thief, though thou art richer than I.
 
 254 THE GILCHRIST FAMILY, etc. [bk. viii. 
 
 The party that are behind him, however, manage to gain such a hold on 
 the country before the death of Sigurd (in March, 1130) that they are 
 able to seat their claimant on the throne as joint-king with Magnus 
 Sigurdsson. Ere long a quarrel, premeditated or not, arises between the 
 colleagues. Magnus is defeated, blinded, mutilated, and sent helpless to 
 a monastery. This is the first instance in Norway of the foul cruelty 
 which breaks out again and again in the Orkney Saga, and in the 
 histories of Scotland and Ireland. It is not, however, the last ; the civil 
 wars which go on for a century are, like our Wars of the Roses, red with 
 butcheries and barbarities. 
 
 The path Harold Gilchrist had trodden was still open, and Magnus 
 had a few supporters left. A new claimant, Sigurd Slembi-diakn, ap- 
 pears next (in 11 35), a reputed son of Magnus Bareleg, a man whose 
 romantic life and cruel death awake an interest in him, which few of 
 the actors in this wretched epoch of Norwegian history can arouse. 
 His mother was a Norwegian lady, Thora, of the great Arnmodlinga 
 family, and we should guess that it was her ambition which led her to 
 put the fanciful claim forward on behalf of her son, who may very well 
 have believed it. He is in character above the adventurers that follow 
 his track ; a true Northman, second only to Swerri, and a man who had 
 proved his worth before he started to claim the throne. The foster-son 
 of a priest, Athelberht, in the Western Islands, he had taken minor 
 orders in his youth, — hence his name '111 or Sham-Deacon,' — had served 
 in the court of David of Scotland, and made the pilgrimage to Jerusalem, 
 where he had found five bishops to go through the ordeal and thus 
 give the required proof of his claim to be iNIagnus' son, before he 
 appeared as king in Norway. Gilchrist tried to do away with Sigurd, 
 but he escaped and murdered him Dec. 14th, 1136 ^ However, Gilchrist 
 left two or three sons born in Norway: Sigurd-Gilchrist, born 1133; 
 Ingi-Gilchrist, a cripple, born 1 1 35 ; and Magnus (?) ; from whom in after 
 time sprang a fresh brood of claimants. 
 
 The Hords and men of Sogn and Haloga-land helped the pretender 
 Sigurd, but he never could secure a hold on the heart of the country, nor 
 the clergy, so as to be admitted to the ordeal. After adventures among 
 the Fins in the north, and on the Baltic in the south, he obtained help 
 from Denmark, and sailed back to put his fortunes to the touch in a 
 pitched battle. But his Danish auxiliaries fled, and he was defeated, 
 taken, and tortured to death by the partisans of the Child-Kings, 
 Harold's sons, Ingi the crippled baby and Sigurd, Nov. 12th, 11 39. 
 
 His failure did not discourage fresh pretenders, the most impudent 
 of all being Eystan, who claimed to be the son of Harold Gilchrist by a 
 W^estern Island woman, whom he had met before he started on his 
 career in Norway. Eystan was acknowledged by the partisans of the 
 young kings whom he claimed as half-brothers. But this did not prevent 
 civil war between them. Sigurd was slain by Simon Scalp in a treach- 
 erous way in 1155. Eystan fell in a brawl with Ingi, in 1157. Gregory 
 Daysson, the king-maker, to whose protection Ingi owed his life and 
 realm, was killed in January, 1161 ; and in a few weeks afterwards, Ingi 
 the crippled king is vanquished and slain, Feb. 2nd, 1161, against a fresh 
 claimant put forward by Einrid the Young (known from Orkney Saga), 
 who, falsely no doubt, was represented as the son of Sigurd Gilchrist. 
 
 This pretender, Hakon Broads boulders, a mere boy, did not long 
 
 ■ Sigurd's life should be compared with that of his contemporary claimant 
 Wigmund (Malcolm M<^Eth).
 
 §5-] THE GILCHRIST FAMILY, etc. 255 
 
 enjoy his position, for Erling Shank, the most energetic of the barons, 
 decided upon an innovation in the succession, and set up his son Magnus. 
 
 Magnus Erlhigsson w as an undoubted scion of the Ynglings however, 
 and born (i 156) in wedlock. His mother Christina, ErHng's wife, was the 
 daughter of Sigurd the Crusader ; but still, to trace descent through a 
 woman was an entirely new phenomenon in the history of Norwegian 
 claimants, and it was only by securing the aid of the Church and paying 
 a high price that Erling secured the seal of a solemn coronation, 
 hitherto unknown in the Northern kingdom (1164), for his son's claim 
 (an eight years' child). But in return for this a regular acknowledgment 
 that Norway was held as a fief of St. Olaf was required by the Church. 
 
 In spite of these precautions the ' first crowned king ' did not escape 
 the fate of so many of his predecessors. A pretender, Eystein Meyla, rose 
 against him and was put down (1174), but his followers, the Birchlegs or 
 Birkbones, lit upon a man who was to put an end to this era of confusion 
 and anarchy. This time the Faro Islands, a poor outlying colony, proved 
 a Corsica to Norway, her mother country : — A Faro franklin, named 
 Unas the Comber, a brother to Roi the Faro Bishop (d. 1162), had, by 
 his wife Gundhild, a Norse lady, a son named Sqverri, who was brought 
 up for the Church and ordained priest. In 1176 he appears as a 
 pretender, as a son of Sigurd Gilchrist. Watchful, untiring, sober, per- 
 severing, and full of confidence and zeal, this man was of a very different 
 mould to any of his contemporaries in the North. That he was the son 
 of Sigurd is on the face of it impossible, and may be set down as the 
 necessary fiction which entitled the man best fitted to rule to claim the 
 crown. We know that Sigurd Gilchrist's son was two years older than 
 Ingi, and born therefore in 11 33. As far as we can judge, Swerri, who 
 first appears in 1 176, must have been over fifty at his death (1202). This 
 would put his birth about 11 50, when his reputed father was seventeen. 
 But everything we know would rather incline us to put his birth at a few 
 years earlier, and so tend to increase the hyipossibility of the story. The 
 character of Swerri is however the w eightiest proof that he was no chip 
 of the Gilchrist block. The reticence displayed in his own narrative 
 on his early career is easily accounted for. 
 
 It cannot be denied that the time was ripe for a destroyer. Material 
 prosperity had sapped the frugality and energy of the Northern cha- 
 racter, at least in the leading families. Seamanship even was being 
 neglected; drunkenness, tO' a phenomenal degree, had become an 
 unpleasant national peculiarity; lazy gluttony, bold perjury, selfishness, 
 and cruelty are seen in the most prominent men of the day. Brave 
 they are, but they have lost the power of combination, or of foreseeing 
 the danger to come. Swerri swoops down upon the Earl and his 
 son in the midst of their drunkenness (June 19th, 1179), and though 
 Magnus escapes, his father is killed. Defeat foLows defeat, till at last 
 Magnus, after a swift voyage from Denmark, overtakes Swerri in Sogn. 
 But Swerri breaks fiercely through the toils that have been spread 
 for him and inflicts a crushing defeat upon the royalists on June 15th, 
 1 1 84, slaying the king and most of his adherents. This wonderful and 
 unlooked-for victory threw the country at his feet. For eighteen years 
 he ruled alone, all the party-risings against him being put down. The 
 Convlings were quelled; the hlond-Btardies, a iormidable fleet from the 
 Western Islands, were smitten and roken by the terrible king (April 3rd, 
 1 194). The toughest tustle, that with the Croziers headed by a fierce 
 Bishop, took up Swerri's last years. The powerful position of the 
 clergy (which drew from him the famous Anecdoton, a protest against
 
 2r.6 
 
 THE GILCHRIST FAMILY, etc. 
 
 [bk. vni. 
 
 the encroachments of the Roman power), the difficulties which only 
 a longer peace and leisure could have smoothed, concurred to prevent 
 him from showing his constructive power. As with Cromwell, his work 
 was undone when he died (March 9th, 1202), and he was not lucky 
 enough to have his plans and wishes carried out by his successors. 
 
 His only son, Hakon, died suddenly after less than two years' reign, 
 perhaps by poison (Jan. ist, 1204), leaving, as far as we know, no son. 
 Two rival makeshift kings are set up by the Birchlegs and Croziers, each 
 ruling part of the country. Earl Hakon Galin, the Regent, now brings 
 forward as a candidate a boy whom he declared to be the son of Hakon 
 Swerrisson, His mother, Inga, bears the iron as proof of his birth, and 
 the party accepted the child. The Editor's impression is that the Earl 
 himself, his foster-father, was the/atber of this Hakon, The sour looks 
 and harshness of Lady Christina, the Earl's wife, and the fond doting of 
 the Earl himself towards the orphan boy, so naively told by the historian, 
 gives a hint of the true relationship of the parties. This boy, Hakoti 
 Hakonsson, grew up and survived in the struggle which went on as usual 
 with the pretenders who cropped up against him. He ruled Norway for 
 forty-six years, restored the country to prosperity and peace, and gained 
 a hollow, paste-board glory, such as that of the Second Empire. The 
 test of war shows its real value. A skirmish at Largs and the shock of a 
 storm drives the dream of conquest away for ever ; and the king dies, 
 worn out and disappointed, at Kirkwall, in the Orkneys, Dec. 15th, 1263. 
 His only success was the subjection of Iceland, his life-aim, planned 
 and schemed for through long weary years (1262) ; it took him some 
 thirty years, and coming too late, brought little good to either country^. 
 
 Magnus the Laiv-mender, Hakonison, b. 1238, d. INIarch 6, 1280, Sturla's 
 friend, succeeds his father in regular orthodox fashion. His sons Eric 
 (d. 1299) awd Hakon Highleg (d. 13 19), who follow him, are the last males of 
 the line. The son of Hakon's daughter and the Swedish duke carry on 
 
 * In the following list the first column gives the name of the claimant, the 
 second that of the person of whom he claims to be the son, the third the date of 
 the claimant's appearance, and the fourth the number of years elapsed since the death 
 of the supposed father. Nowhere, save from the history of some Slavonic or Eastern 
 dynasty, could such a list as we append be compiled. We have omitted some of the 
 more insignificant fungi, but there are enough given to prove the character of the 
 age, which produced but one man of mark, Swerri, and even he could do nothing 
 but cut away as much as he could of its shams, without being able to begin the 
 work of regeneration. 
 
 Magnus Bareleg . . 
 
 Magnus Bareleg 
 
 Harold Gilchrist . . 
 
 Sigurd Gilchristsson . 
 
 Eystan pseudo-Gilchristsson 
 
 Sigurd Gilchristsson . 
 
 Sigurd Gilchristsson . 
 
 Ingi Gilchristsson . . 
 
 Eystan pseudo-Gilchristsson , 
 
 Eystan pseudo-Gilchristsson , 
 
 Magnus Erlingsson 
 
 Magnus Erlingsson 
 
 Hakon Swerrison . 
 
 Magnus Erlingsson 
 
 Erling Stonewall . 
 
 Harold Gilchrist . 
 Sigurd Slembidiakn 
 Eystan .... 
 Hakon Broadshoulders 
 Eystan Meyla . 
 
 SwEBRI . . . 
 
 Eric .... 
 John the Cowling 
 Sigurd Brennir . 
 Broadbeard . . 
 Sigurd 
 
 Erling Stonewall 
 Hakon . . . 
 Beni . . 
 
 Sigurd Ribbung 
 Gilchrist appeared in i 
 
 . 1 1 29 . 
 
 26. 
 
 • "35 • 
 
 c. 32. 
 
 . 1142 . 
 
 c. 6. 
 
 • 1 1 59 • 
 
 c. 4. 
 
 • "74 • 
 
 c. 17. 
 
 . 1 1 76 . 
 
 c. 21. 
 
 . 1181 . 
 
 c. 26. 
 
 • 1185 . 
 
 C.24. 
 
 . 1188 . 
 
 c. 27. 
 
 1191 . 
 
 c. 34. 
 
 1192 
 
 c. 8. 
 
 . 1205 . 
 
 c. 21. 
 
 . 1205 . 
 
 2. 
 
 . 1218 . 
 
 34- 
 
 . 1221 . 
 
 15- 
 
 29, Ribbung perished in 1226, making ninety-seven years.
 
 §5-] 
 
 THE GILLUNG POETS. 257 
 
 the blood of Hakon in the new line, whereof the last scion, a boy, died 
 in 1387. In 1380 Norway and Denmark were united. The Hanseatic 
 Company, with true Carthaginian policy, soon forced their 'celibate 
 tyranny ' upon the sea-coast towns ; the Norwegian shipping, sailor-life, 
 and commerce disappeared. And such had been the force of Swerri's 
 strokes, so completely had the upper and middle classes been swept 
 away, so dead was the stupor which the Hanse Towns' thraldom had 
 laid upon the towns, from which some fresh element might have been 
 looked for, that Norway slept a 'bear's sleep' of hybernation through 
 centuries, not even waking at the Reformation, or stirring when the 
 Hanse fell. 
 
 Norway is the most modern and the oldest of all European countries ; 
 her new semi-American constitution and her Old World life, half yeo- 
 man's, half fisherman's, are quite exceptional phenomena. In no 
 country have the medieval spirit or institutions left so few traces. 
 The coarse healthy animal existence, which she led for so long with- 
 out a ray of spiritual light, gave place after 18 14, when the deadening 
 bond of foreign supremacy was snapped, to a vigour and energy which 
 has, under a new Royal House and in a happy union with Sweden, 
 brought the kingdom to a happy issue. 
 
 At the final separation from Denmark in 18 14, Iceland and the Faroes, 
 the ancient colonies of Norway, were left behind, forgotten and un- 
 claimed by the rising Norwagia Rediviva and her new king. 
 
 THE GILLUNG COURT POETS. 
 
 IvAR Ingimundarson, the author of Sigurd's Baulk, was an Ice- 
 lander, of whose life we know little, save the pretty story (printed in 
 the Reader, p. 144) which tells of his despairing love for his brother's 
 wife, Ordny, and shows him to have been a favourite of King Eystan 
 the Law-giver, who died Aug. 29, 1122. In Skalda-tal Ivar stands as 
 the poet of Eystan and Magnus Bareleg and Sigurd the Crusader, but 
 no line of his on these kings survives. His Praise of Eystan one is 
 sorry to miss. After the death of the Crusader, Ivar appears as the 
 poet of Sigurd Slembidiakn the Claimant (whose own improvisations 
 are given in Book vi, Nos. 51-52), and it is from the Dirge the poet 
 made on his patron that the Chronicler has drawn the chief facts of the 
 Ill-deacon's life. 
 
 It is fairly complete, in distinct stanzas, but in the old epic metre. 
 It contains several clear echoes from the old poetry of the Western 
 Islands (Sigurd's birthplace), which we have pointed out in the margin. 
 In two or three instances (11. 129, 135), one seems to hear the cadences 
 of the Helgi Lays. There is a love of the sea (characteristic of the 
 hero), and a certain simplicity of tone about it, which relieve its tale 
 of war. 
 
 It is found imbedded in the Hryggiar-Stykki of Eric Oddsson in the 
 Morkinskinna MS. of the Book of Kings. (See Prolegomena, § 13.) 
 
 There is a notable Ingimund in the Sturlunga, a poet, story-teller, and 
 priest, but the dates forbid us to assume him as the father of our poet. 
 
 Halldor Skvaldri. All that is known of this poet is told in the 
 preceding section in the introduction to his poems on pp. 248-9. 
 
 EiNAR ScuLASON. The favourite poet of the twelfth century, a 
 Western Islander, as we know from Presta-tal (see Sturlunga, vol. ii, 
 VOL. II. S
 
 258 THE GILCHRIST FAMILY, etc. [bk. viii. 
 
 p, 502), and according to an interpolation in Gunlaug's Saga he was of the 
 Myre-men family. * Wise men [historians] say that many of the house of 
 the Myre-men, who come from Egil, have been very handsome men, albeit 
 it went by extremes among them, for some of that house have been 
 called the ugliest of men. In this house there have also been many 
 men who were accomplished in every way, as was Kiartan Olaf 
 Peacock's son, and Battle-Bard, and Skuli Thorsteinsson [the poet, 
 see p. 102]. Some of this house were also great poets — Biorn the Hit- 
 dale champion, Einar Sculason the priest, Snorri Sturlason, and many 
 others.' But we do not know Einar's pedigree, though the very name 
 of his father is one that is met with in the family. He seems to have 
 passed most of his life in Norway, and we can trace him there by his 
 poems, from the days of Sigurd the Crusader to the death of Gregory 
 Daysson. There are a good many anecdotes about him in the Kings' 
 Lives, witnessing to his remarkable powers of improvisation. These 
 bits are given p. 277. Einar's death-year is not known ; we might guess 
 that he died abroad shortly after 11 60. His earliest poem, Praise of 
 Sigiird,oi\Q of the parallel poems on the Crusade, composed during Sigurd's 
 last years, we take to have been one of his first poetical flights. Next 
 came Tog-drapa, and a parallel Poem in epic metre on Harold Gilchrist, 
 c. 1135. In his rhyme-metre Praise of Eystan, the frays of the pseudo- 
 Gilchristsson are recounted, and especially his raid upon England in 
 1 15X. It was about c. 1 154 that his most famous poem Geisli, the Beam, 
 on the patron saint of Norway, was composed and recited in Thrond- 
 ham Cathedral before the three brethren. (See § 6, p. 283.) To Sigurd, 
 whose marshal he was, he was especially beholden ; and after his death 
 (1155) we have from Einar, who was still with the other brothers, 
 a long E7icomium on the Gillungs, of which there are many fragments, 
 here patched together and arranged as well as the materials allow. 
 
 The last of his dateable poems are the Verses on the Gaut-Elbe Battle 
 (1159), in imitation of Sighvat's yVfjj-verses. Besides his Improvisations 
 there is a curious composition on the Gft of an Axe from one of his 
 royal patrons, in which Einar has set himself to emulate Bragi's Shield 
 Song. It is a poem of his later years, full of conceits. The bits of 
 Love-Songs, one to Solborg and one to loreid (on whose name he puns), 
 cannot be dated. The Thulor (see Book x) fill the list of his known 
 works. 
 
 Prolific and industrious, Einar has left more behind him than almost 
 any one save Sighvat ; but the quality is not high, though the perfect 
 mastery of metre can be clearly felt. It was this quality which 
 especially raised him in the eyes of his followers, the Sturlasons. But 
 the paucity of idea and the absence of any reality in his phrases make his 
 work tiresome and in many cases unworthy of translation. In Geisli he 
 reaches his highest mark. Its mechanical finish is very remarkable, 
 and it provoked a crowd of imitations. 
 
 We have a grave suspicion that Einar was the person who re-edited 
 and polished and veneered many of the poems we find in the Kings' 
 Lives and Snorri's Edda. Ari knew them in their perfect state; 
 Snorri seems to have received them in their 'newly-restored' state, for 
 we can hardly impute the restoration to him. Einar's verses are always 
 smooth and flowing, and so are the restorations ; while Snorri's verses 
 are all hard and wooden. As it must needs be some poet betoveen Ari 
 and Snorri, and as Einar was a ready poet, a * collector,' as the Thulor 
 show, and master of a style which is as like to that of the re-edited 
 verses as egg to egg, we take it that Einar collected the old verses.
 
 §5-] 
 
 THE GILLUNG POETS. 259 
 
 which no doubt were in a more or less corrupt state from one to 
 two centuries of oral tradition, and polished them up, as Percy did 
 his Ballads, so that they might 'obtain the favour of an elegant and 
 critical public' This is no proved case, o£ course, but, we think, one 
 in which there is some reasonable presumption of Einar's guilt. 
 
 The Kings' Lives, Edda, and Skaldagive the foundation for the text 
 of Einar's poems. 
 
 BoDWAR THE Halt appears in Skalda-tal as poet of Sigurd, where he is 
 called ' balti,' belt, instead of ' halti,' halt, which may be right. There 
 is a like name found in the Western Islands. The fragment is from a 
 Praise of Sigurd, 
 
 Coll the Proud. Another of the Gillung poets. The fragment 
 of his work is from a Praise of Ingi. 
 
 Thorbiorn Shank's Poet. The bard of the king-maker. Earl 
 Erling Shank. His poem on his patron's exploits would be c. 1165. 
 
 AsGRiM Kettlesson. He is named as Swerri's poet in Skalda-tal, 
 with twelve others; hence the verse remaining may be the only 
 remains of the Encomia of the thirteen poets of the terrible king. 
 
 Styrkar Ordsson. The Law-speaker of Iceland (1171-1181), at 
 w hich last date he died. We cannot identify the subject of his verse. 
 
 Clong, Bishop of Skalholt. A fragment of his on sailing, in 
 ' alhenda ' court-metre, is preserved in Edda. "We have a life of this 
 prelate in Hungrwaka, which testifies to his high worth and ability. 'He 
 was a fair man to look on, and of middle size, active and bright, very 
 accomplished and a good scribe, and a man of great learning.' And again, 
 ' Bishop Clong was a great advocate, when he was taken as coun- 
 sellor, for he was, both for the sake of his wisdom and his eloquence, a 
 great chief. He was also learned in every point of the constitution.' 
 Bishop John's Life tells a story of his youth. ' It is told that he [Bishop 
 John] found out that Clong Thorsteinsson (he who was afterwards bishop 
 of Skalholt, but was then a novice and a boy) was reading the verse-book 
 which is called Ovidius de Arte. Now in this book Master Ovid treats 
 of the love of women, and shows how men may beguile them with all 
 kinds of devices and get their will of them. When the blessed John 
 saw and understood what he was reading, he forbade him to study that 
 kind of book, saying that man's frail nature was well inclined to lustful 
 living and fleshly love, without a man's irritating his mind witli filthy and 
 sinful books.' Bishop John, a worthy man, was the founder of the 
 school at Holar, of which Clong was a pupil. Clong, in spite of his love 
 of Latin and native poetry, turned out well. Among other things he 
 built the church at Skalholt (a ditty on which see p. 282), and died aged 71; 
 Hungrwaka winding up his life with, ' And it seems to us now that there 
 has never been in Iceland a man of such manifuld accomplishments as 
 was Bishop Clong, and we may likewise be sure that his fame will last 
 as long as Iceland is inhabited.' In his last few years he was bed- 
 ridden, owing to his penances, walking barefoot in winter on the snow, 
 and Thorlac, abbot of Thickby, was chosen as his suffragan and substi- 
 tute. His death-day was Feb. 27, 1176. His name means 'Clawing,' 
 i. e. Raven — a rare name. . 
 
 "With this group of poets the Court Poetry really expires; the 
 talents of Einar himself are those of a dying art, like those of the 
 Italian Improvisatori of the last century. Thought had grown more 
 
 S 2
 
 2 6o THE GILCHRIST FAMILY, etc. [bk. vm. 
 
 and more vapid, metre had been polished up to the highest degree, the 
 synonym system had multiplied in stereotyped lines till every under- 
 standable paraphrase had been employed. There was also no longer a 
 hero to sing to. The crippled Ingi, the swash-buckler Eystan, the wanton 
 Sigurd could hardly inspire the enthusiasm necessary to carry even a 
 court-poem through, and this difficulty, which Landor too felt, as he 
 plainly told Southey, was not to be surmounted. Even Einar only shows 
 at his best when he is chanting the praises of the worthy dead. Swerri, 
 who was a man indeed, was as little fitted for flattery as Cromwell 
 himself; and the praises his poets sung on him are happily lost. There 
 is not likely to have been a Milton, no, nor a Cowley, among them. And 
 even in Cromwell's case, we feel the few earnest words of the chaplain 
 more deeply than all the praise that authors have given him since. And 
 Swerri was a man of distinctly lower type than Cromwell. 
 
 To go on with court-poetry after Swerri was to galvanise a corpse ; 
 the thing was dead. But the Sturlungs, Snorri, a great poet in prose, 
 but a bad praiser in verse, and his two nephews Sturla and Olaf, also 
 men of talent, attempted it. Snorri sings his wonderful Hatta-tal, ordo 
 nietrica, to Hakon and Earl Skuli, his patrons. Sturla hymns the praises 
 of Hakon Hakonsson, and Magnus his son. Sturla's verses of him are 
 all preserved in Islendinga and Hakon's Saga, like flies in amber, and 
 Snorri's Hatta-tal fills a useful place in giving examples to his Poets' 
 Handbook. Some of Olaf's are to be found in Sturlunga. We have not 
 reprinted them here, for they are mere laboured book-poetry, Chinese- 
 puzzle verses, full of echoes, imitations, citations from the older spon- 
 taneous poetry; and they themselves were never really genuine court 
 poets, but just would-be revivers of an old perished fashion. Medieval 
 poetry and medieval subjects were attracting every one in Norway, and 
 the poet was set aside for the ' translator from the French.' We have, 
 from Sturla's own hand in Islendinga, a scene which may fitly wind up 
 this sketch, showing us, as it does, the last court-poet face to face with 
 his last king-patron. 
 
 In 1263, Sturla, flying from foes at home [see Prolegomena for his 
 life and those of the other Sturlungs], came to Norway to seek refuge at 
 King Hakon Hakonsson's; but the king had gone on his last voyage, and 
 the young king Magnus, like his father, was no friend to the Sturlungs. 
 However, he gave him shelter, and Sturla found the means of rousing 
 his interest and winning the goodwill of the kindly queen Ingiborg 
 (daughter of the 'holy king' and granddaughter of the Danish king, 
 Waldimar II) by his fine telling of the Tale of Hold the Giantess. 
 When he had ended the Tale "Sturla thought he could see that the 
 king's whole behaviour was more favourable than on the former day. 
 Then he told the king that he had made a poem on him and likewise on 
 his father. ' I would fain have thee hearken to them.' The queen said, 
 'Let him recite them, for I am told he is the best of poets, and his 
 poem will be wonderfully good.' The king bade him recite if he liked 
 ' what thou pretendest to have made upon me.' Then Sturla recited it 
 to the end. The queen said, ' I think this, that the poem is very well 
 composed!' The king said, 'Dost thou indeed understand anything of 
 it ? ' She said, ' I should like you to think so, my lord ! ' The king said, 
 'I have heard that Sturla knows how to make verse.' Sturla saluted the 
 king and queen and went to his room. The king got no fair wind that 
 day, and in the evening, before he went to sleep, he sent for Sturla. 
 And when he came he greeted the king, and then said, ' What wilt thou 
 with me, my lord?' 1 he king bade them give him a silver beaker full of
 
 §5.] IVARR INGIMUNDARSON. 261 
 
 wine, and drank some of it, and then gave it to Sturla, saying, * Friends 
 should drink wine together.' [There is a play of words in the original 
 here, 'Vi'n skal til vinar drekka.'] 'God be praised that it is so!' said 
 Sturla. 'So it shall be,' said the king. 'And now I wish thee to recite 
 the poem that thou hast made on my father.' Then Sturla recite i the 
 poem, and when it was finished men praised it highly, but most of all the 
 queen. Said the king,' I think thou art a better composer than the pope!' 
 [After a little more talk the king says], ' I have now heard thy poem, 
 Sturla, and I think thou must be the best of poets. Now I will give 
 thee for thy reward, that thou shalt come home with me in quiet and 
 good peace! But my father will judge of what is between you, v\hen 
 ye two meet, but I will do my best for thee.' The queen thanked the 
 king and said she thought Sturla was a very good man. The king 
 treated Sturla well, and kept him liberally. The queen was exceedingly 
 kind to him, and all the rest followed her example." 
 
 IVARR INGIMUNDARSON (Sigurbar-b^lkr). 
 lX i oesko vi3 A6albricti. 
 
 O^ 
 
 2. Vas me8 iarli afkar-lyndom 
 vargs ver6-giafi vestr i Eyjom: 
 unz siklingar soknar hvatlir 
 
 Fostra t'orkel . . . rufo. 5 
 
 3. Sotti si6an SigurSr af Eyjom 
 6frr at rao6om David konung : 
 vas me6 visa Vilialms-bani 
 flein-|)inga-samr fimm misseri. 
 
 4. I'otti djrom Dafinnz li6om 10 
 oengr ma3r kominn oe9ri [jangat : 
 
 boetti visi ver6ungar li3, 
 
 hafSi ungr konungr almanna lof. 
 
 5. 01 hertogi hrafna 1 FiaDr6om, 
 
 (skulfo skeyti) i Skotta bl66i : 15 
 
 {)ars fyr \20hi austan komnom 
 morS-als metendr merki bjoro. 
 
 6. Bar Sigurdi sigr at hendi 
 or orrosto inn fra Stauri : 
 
 Ha6i hilmir her-vfg fiogor, 20 
 
 sk^rstr at a)llo, 1 Skotta-veldi. 
 
 Sigurd in the Western Islands. He grew up in his youth with ^thel- 
 briht. . . . He was with a noble earl [Harold] west in the Islands [in 
 the Orkneys] till they slew Thorcytel Fosterer. Then Sigurd went from 
 the Islands to seek help of King David. The slayer of William [Skinner] 
 stayed five years with the king. David's men thought that no such man 
 had ever come thither, the young king won all men's praise. He, 
 the duke [Sigurd], fed the ravens in the Firths [Minch] ; the missiles 
 were shaken in the blood of Scots, ns they bare the standard before 
 him. Sigurd won a battle inside Staur. He won four victories in 
 the Scottish realm [probably against Malcolm the rebel claimant^.
 
 262 THE GILCHRIST FAMILY, etc. [bk.viii. 
 
 7. Vann Roms gaoto raesir froenda 
 fceti farna, sa-es frama dr^'^gSi : 
 sotti si9an, ok synSom hrauS, 
 
 hers odd-viti helga doma. 25 
 
 8. Sotti brei6a borg lorsala 
 a)iT odd-viti ut f laondom : 
 a9r { vatni, J)vi-es vig9i Go5, 
 SigurSr af ser synQir ^vsegi. 
 
 9. GoerSo skirslo um skiaDldungs kyn 30 
 fimm byskopar, ^eir-es framast Jjotto : 
 
 sva bar raunir, at rfks konungs 
 J)ess vas enn mildi INIagnus fa6ir. 
 
 10. Ldto siQan su6-vigg buin, 
 
 (oestisk segir) litan or Girkjom : 35 
 
 sotti Frakka fremSar rsesir, 
 aQr Saxa sisot Sigurdr kanna9i. 
 
 11. Hdlt snarr konungr snekkjo einni 
 ' vigligr um ver vestr i Eyjar : 
 
 12. Toko si6an Sigur6 til landa 40 
 HajrSar ok Sygnir at Harald Tallinn : 
 sva)r6osk margir menn a t)ingi 
 
 buQlungs syni i broSor sta6. 
 
 13. Riso vi8 visa vestan komnom 
 
 t*roendir ok Mcerir, J)eir-es {Drifom nitto : 45 
 
 brugSosk hajlSar 1 huga sfnom 
 menzko mildom Magnuss syni. 
 
 14. Drifo til reipa 1 ro9o-ve9ri 
 reyndir at risno raesiss f)egnar : 
 
 ur8o seggir segls at gseta, 50 
 
 (pa. vas svalt a sae) enn sumir ioso. 
 
 Pilgrimage. The lord of the Thronds went on foot over the road to 
 Rome ; and there he stripped off his sins and sought the holy places. 
 He sought the great city of Jerusalem, far from home, and then he 
 washed off his sins in the water, God-hallowed [Jordan]. Five bishops, 
 the greatest known, went through the ordeal ; the proof came out that 
 Magnus the Generous was his father. Now his ship was bound home- 
 avard out of the land of the Greeks [Byzantine Empire] ; he sought 
 the Franks' land [Franconia], and then the home of the Saxons 
 [Saxony]. With one cutter he came over the sea westward to the 
 Islands [Orkneys]. 
 
 Pretender in Norway. The Hords and Sygns took Sigurd as king over 
 the lands at the death of Harold; many men swore to brotherhood with 
 him at the moot [Gula-thing]. The Thronds and More-men did not 
 know their own good, and rose against the prince that came from the 
 West ; they turned their hearts away from the gallant son of Magnus. 
 
 Voyage to Denmark. The king's men ran to the ropes in wicked 
 weather, some to get in the sail, some were a-baling ; it was cold at sea.
 
 §5.] IVARR INGIMUNDARSON. 263 
 
 15. Skok ve3r-vita : vaotom byr 
 golli gloestan um grams skipi : 
 kloekkar ur8o (enn konungr st^r6i) 
 
 snekkjo sneisar of Sigur6i. 55 
 
 16. Hratt hvast skipi 1 hva3to ve6ri 
 raDSt riQandi ok ramir straumar : 
 festo seggir snekkjo langa 
 kyn-stors iaofurs vi9 Kalmarnir. 
 
 17. Ser framliga fri6ar leitaSi 60 
 il-ri68r ara vi9 Iota gram. 
 
 18. Moetti Vindom, sa-es vega {Dor9i, 
 sokn-diarfr SigurSr su9r vi6 Erri. 
 
 19. Hrau9 ungr konungr atta snekkjor 
 
 (vargr gein um val) Vinda ferSar: 65 
 
 hne fyr eggjo 6J)i68ar li3. 
 
 20. Enn \4t aSra austr fyr Moeri 
 gramr geir-^orinn gunni ha8a : 
 neytti vapna, J3a-es Vindr hnigo, 
 
 aDrr odd-viti a)8ro sinni. 70 
 
 21. Vann 1 Elfi, J)ar-es ia)furr bardisk, 
 fall folk-starra til fa)6or-leif3ar : 
 skulfo skeyti, skot magnaSisk, 
 hnigo hring-vidir hvarra-tveggjo. 
 
 22. Vann leyfSr konungr af li8i t'oriss 75 
 J)riii skip laro8in 1 {)eirri fsor : 
 
 setto undan Olafs liSar, 
 J)eir-es or Elfi eltir voro. 
 
 23. Hdlt a Lista lof8ungr skipom 
 
 aorr fyr Ag6ir austan af Nesjom : 80 
 
 The weather-vane, glittering with gold, on the king's ship rattled in the 
 wet gale. The cutter's spars bent, the king was at the helm. The 
 rolhng race and the mighty currents drove the ship sharply along in the 
 sharp gale. The crew moored the king's long-cutter off Calmar. He 
 sought refuge with the lord of the Jutes. 
 
 ^d-ventures in the East. The bold Sigurd met the Wends south off 
 Arroe. The young king cleared eight smacks, the barbarian crew sunk 
 before the sword. And he had a second battle east of More [More 
 hundred by Calmar], when the Wends fell a second time. He made a 
 slaughter for the eagle in the Elbe [Gaut-Elbe] when he fought for his 
 father's heritage, men fell on both sides. In this cruise he won three 
 ships of Thori's fleet which he cleared. Olafs men sailed off when they 
 were chased out of the Elbe. 
 
 Again in Norivay. He held his course along List in his ships in Agd 
 east of the Naze ; the baron's kin fell ; the homesteads burnt before 
 
 59. Emend.; Kalmarnes, Cd.
 
 264 THE GILCHRIST FAMILY, etc. [bk. viii. 
 
 hn^ hersa li6 ; herr vas i landi ; 
 brunno byg6ir fyr bu6lungi. 
 
 24. Dreif til skogar fyr skiajldungi 
 land-manna 113, f)ar-es logar brunno : 
 
 vaokQo drengir me6 da)rr ro6in 85 
 
 bl63 Benteini, a6r bana fengi. 
 
 25. f'ann vas enn nsesta naSra deySi 
 hug-fullr konungr me9 Haleygjom : 
 olli falli fe8ga Jjriggja 
 
 ulfs angr-tsopo3r ut 1 Vsogom. 90 
 
 26. f'at vas et nsesta nor3r 1 Vsogom 
 vapna-skipti es Vilialmr f^ll. 
 
 27. Mcetti si3an su5r vi9 Byr3o 
 gramr gunn-|)orinn Glcesi-rofo : 
 
 olli stillir Styrkars bana; 95 
 
 bar ben-J)i6orr bl66ga vgengi. 
 
 28. Veitti vfsi fyr Valsnesi 
 sokn snarpliga Svfna-Gn'mi : 
 hann \6t missa mildings nefa 
 
 hoegri bandar, a6r hialdr lykisk. 100 
 
 29. Moetti Finni frem6ar-gia)rnom 
 sorr odd-viti austr a Kvildrom : 
 l^to nftan nadd-veSrs bo6a, 
 Ulfs arf-f)ega, sonde t^-na. 
 
 30. Vann fyr Moeri mildingr tekinn 105 
 He3in me3 ha)ndom ok bans li3a : 
 
 hann l^t Kalfi Kringlo-auga 
 heldr harSliga heiptir goldnar. 
 
 31. Her-skildi for harri Sygna 
 
 allt i3 ftra. eyjar ok strandir. no 
 
 him ; there was a host in the land. The country folk fled to the woods 
 when the flames were blazing. They wounded Bentein with reddened 
 darts before he got his death-blow. The next serpent-death [winter] he 
 was with the Haloga-men, and slew a father and tivo sons, three of a kin 
 [Swain the priest and his sons], out in the Voe, The next action was 
 north in the Voe, where William [William Skinner] .... and Thorald 
 Chap fell. Then south off Byrd, the king met Glitter-tail ; yea, he brought 
 about Styrcar's death. By Walsness he gave Swine-Grim a sharp bout, 
 cutting the right hand off the king's nephew before the fray ended. He 
 met the gallant Fin east of Quilder. Sigurd's men caused Wolf's brave 
 heir to lose his life. By More he took Hedin and his men prisoners, and 
 paid a heavy score off on Calf Cringle-eye. He went with war-shield, 
 the lord of the Sygns, the whole way outside the islands and the coasts 
 [outside the Skerries in the green sea]. You might see the bitter brands 
 
 99. hnefa, Cd.
 
 § 5.] IVARR INGIMUNDARSON. 265 
 
 32. Sia knatti J^ar fyr SigurQi 
 bitra branda, brynjor hoeggnar, 
 skarSa skia)ldo, skajpt bl63-ro6in, 
 
 Gkv. 12. ve3r-blasin v^ of vegaondom. 
 
 33. F5?stisk sunnan SigurSr a lesti 115 
 me9 litiS li6 laund at soekja : 
 
 biosk me3 hanom til her-farar 
 margs andvani Magnus konungr. 
 
 34. Hdlt t^rim togom pi66-nflv konungr 
 snekkjom sunnan vi6 sokn buinn : 120 
 ugg6o Ifd'ir li6 Sigur6ar; 
 
 H. 105. l^k skia)ldr vi6 skia^ld a skipom visa. 
 
 35. Foro leyfQir me9 li8i miklo 
 Haraldz hr69r-synir her-stefno til : 
 
 {)a-es at mildom Magnus-syni 125 
 
 at-r66r a sia Ingi kni6i. 
 
 36. Hraut 1 sta)ngom {)ar-es hildingar 
 vi6 vfg vanir vapna neytto : 
 
 H. 51. fri9r slitnaQi frsenda a millom, 
 
 gu9r geisa6i, gekk hildr saman. 130 
 
 37. StunQo seggir, stal ro9no6o, 
 
 skaut biartr konungr ba)6om hgondom : 
 hcorS spiot bito, benjar sviddo, 
 her-skip hru9osk hvarra-tveggjo. 
 H. 49. 38. Flugo hundroSom her-stefno til 135 
 
 sar-g3ogl um sia sveita at drekka : 
 eyddo oddar isofors full-truom, 
 mor8 mikla6isk f)a-es Magnus fell. 
 39. FI/'9o lotar atjan skipom 
 
 hewing the mail-coats before Sigurd, the blood-sprinkled shafts scored 
 the shield, the gale-tossed banner waved over the fighters. 
 
 His final defeat at Grey-Holm, off Frederick-hall. At last Sigurd hastened 
 from the south to seek his lands. There went with him on the expe- 
 dition the hopelessly maimed king Magnus. Sigurd stood from the 
 south with thirty ships; they dreaded his fleet. Shield played against 
 shield [they were ready for action] on his ships. The renowned, 
 noble sons of Harold came vvith a mighty fleet to the war-tryst, what 
 time Ingi rowed out against the generous son of Magnus. There was a 
 clash in the forecastles, or the banner-staves groaned, as the war-wont 
 princes handled their weapons. The peace was shattered between the 
 kinsmen, the fray raged high, the battle was joined. The warriors 
 shouted, the steel was made red, the bright king [Sigurd] shot with both 
 hands ; the hard spears bit, the wounds smarted, war-ships were cleared 
 on either side. The ravens flew by hundreds to the war-moot to drink 
 the blood. The spear-heads swept away the king's true friends, the 
 murder grew to its height when Magnus fell. The Jutes fled, eighteen 
 
 126. knv3i, Cd.
 
 266 THE GILCHRIST FAMILY, etc. [bk. viir. 
 
 J)eir-es SigurSi sunnan fylgSo : 140 
 
 raufsk rsesiss 116, pi-es rikr konungr 
 vanr vas-fsorom vapna neytti. 
 
 40. HrauSsk und ia)fri austan komnom 
 (blto sla)g su6roen) snekkja me& sta)fnom: 
 
 \)i-es sklaoldungs son af skip! sino 145 
 
 s6kn-fcerr a sla sundz kostaSi. 
 
 41. VarQ a vatni vikingr tekinn, 
 
 sd-es manna vas mestr fuU-hugi. 
 \ ....... 
 
 42. {"at tel-ek ilia, es ia^furr skyldi 
 
 kyn-storr koma 1 kvalar slikar: 150 
 
 tekr Sigur8i siSan engi 
 
 maSr ra)skvari um meSal-kafla. 
 
 43. SaDng Saltara, meSan Sigurd pindo 
 iaDfurs ovinir, fia. drottinn : 
 
 bad fyr bra)gnom baDd-froc-kn isofurr, 155 
 
 J)eim-es vell-skata veitto pislir. 
 
 44. Fra-ek at Idti Iff sitt konungr 
 J)a-es Saltara sungit hafSi : 
 vildi ganga gramr til skriptar, 
 
 enn J)vi jpioS-konungr t)eygi na6i. 160 
 
 HALLDORR SKVALDRI (on Harold Gilchrist). 
 
 (Verse 5 from O. H. L. ; verse 6 from Morkinsk. ; verse 5 from Fagrsk.) 
 
 1. 1\ /T AGNUS fekk (Jiar es miklo margs gengis naut hann) lengri 
 ^^^ [valr nam va)Il at hylja varmr] fylkingar arma. 
 
 2. Har6-dla leztu herSir Haddings a \6 tradda 
 (gla6r tok gramr vi6 hau6ri) grund til Eireks fundar : 
 fekk, sa-es fremstr vas miklo, fliot-maeltr konungr Iota 5 
 {r6b Hollseta hroeSir) hraust gengi per drengja. 
 
 3. AsbiaDrn var6, sa-es or6om ilia belt vi6 stilli, 
 (gramr foedir val vf6a vigs) 1 Sarp at stiga : 
 
 ships of them, that had followed Sigurd from the South. The king's 
 array was broken where the sailor-king handled his weapons. The 
 southern missiles bit ; the cutter of him that came from the East [Sigurd] 
 was cleared from stem to stern, when he sprang from his ship into the 
 sea to try swimming. He was taken in the water, the Wicking who, of 
 all men, had the bravest heart. 
 
 His cruel death. It is ill to tell that a king should come to such 
 torments. Braver man than Sigurd never gripped a sword-hilt. He sang 
 the psalter while his enemies tortured him ; he prayed for the men that 
 ordered his torments. I know that he died when he had sung the psalter 
 through ; he wished for shrift, but it was denied him. 
 
 Halldor Squaller. Harold Gilchrisfs Praise. Magnus' battle- 
 array had the greater wings. He [Harold] sailed the sea on the horse 
 of Harding steed [ship] to meet Eric. The swift-spoken king of the Jutes 
 gave thee a fine company of warriors. Asbiorn, who kept his word
 
 §5.] EINARR SCULASON. 267 
 
 NereiS let gramr a grimman grand-mei3 Sigars fianda 
 (hus-t)inga gait) hengja (hrann-bals-gla)to3r mala). 10 
 
 4. Fdkk meira 119 miklo mildr an gloeggr til hildar, 
 hirS f»a-es hugSi forSask held J)i69-konungs reidi : 
 Enn vinlausom visa var9, J)eim es fe spar6i, 
 (haSisk vig fyrir viSom vangi) |)unnt um stangir. 
 
 5. Mattit aold, pa.-es otta 6gn-f/str konungr 1/sti, 15 
 (hliop fyrir hilmiss vsopnom her-flotti) hf verja. 
 
 6. Nu es au9-sendir undir allr Noregr \)\k fallinn ; 
 J)in liggr gipt a groeno (Go9s ra6 es J)at) la9i. 
 
 EINARR SCULASON. I. Tog-drapa. 
 
 (Verses 4, 5 from Mork.) 
 
 1. OOTTI a sl^tt sei9s hryn-lei9ar 
 ^ ia)r6 ^l-sker9ir ungr Skanunga : 
 fann fiaol-nenninn freks landreka, 
 gifr-skaes gaofugr gran-rioSr, Dana. 
 
 2. Luko vag viko, vara kostr fara 5 
 brj^ns Biaorgynjar braut ha-skrautom. 
 
 3. Allz var6 Ello ungr geitunga 
 lofa9r Iff-giafi landz raSandi. 
 
 4. Vann val-grennir vi9r ' ra fiSris' 
 
 Hve9n 'ha mao6ro hro9it vapn bo9a:' 10 
 
 flugo framliga, fekk svan-bekkjar 
 snarr sol-jDverrir sigr, fal-vigrar. 
 
 5. Eyddi oddom ey ben-Jjeyjar 
 HIdss- hel-ffsir hungr goUunga : 
 
 likn gefi Iseknir lofaQr fri9-rofa 15 
 
 hums haf-lioma har lausnari. 
 
 II. Haraldz-drapa. 
 
 OTRYGGOM lezt-^u eggjar elion-|)rar und hari 
 Hve9n a hsoldom ro9nar hrafns munn-litu9r gunnar: 
 atti s6kn vi9 sl^tta serk-ri69r Hars merki 
 har9a (|)ar-es hregg of virSom) Hless-eyjar J)raom (bldso). 
 
 badly to the king, had to step over Sarp [the vpater- fall] ; but the prince 
 had Nereid hung on the cruel deadly tree of Sigar's foe [Hagbard]. 
 The stingy one [Magnus] could gather a much less force than the 
 generous one [Harold], and thin was the array before the banner of the 
 friendless king. It is God's will .... could not defend the city [Ber- 
 gen] against the .... Now all Norway is fallen to thee. 
 
 Einar SCULASON. I. Dirge on Harold Gilchrist. Stretch-Song. The 
 young king sought the .... he met the lord of the Danes. They locked 
 the bay of Bergen, so that there was no means of getting away. He that 
 feeds Ella's wasp [the eagle] became ruler of all the land .... He 
 fought at Hwedn [in Ore-Sound] and at Hlesey [Cattegat]. May the 
 Redeemer, the great Healer of Heaven, grant the king his mercy. 
 
 H. Praise of Harold Gilchrist. He fought a battle at Hwedn 
 and another by the shore of Hlesey.
 
 268 THE GILCHRIST FAMILY, etc. Fbk. viii. 
 
 III. Eysteins-drapa (Ri'mhend). 
 
 1. ^riKVERJOM gait, (vara {)anROg hallt) 
 
 * goerrse6i gramr giaof-mildr ok framr: 
 flest folk var hraett a3r fengi saett, 
 enn gi'slar tok sa-er giajldin iok. 
 
 2. Funi kyndisk fliott, enn fifbi skiott 5 
 Hisingar herr sa-er hafSi verr. 
 
 3. Vann siklingr sott vi6 snarpa drott 
 (leyfSr er l/6om kser) Leikbergi nser : 
 Remir ^fbo rikt, ok reiddo slikt 
 
 (ajld festi au6) sem a36lingr baud. 10 
 
 4. Fr^tt hefig at fell, (folk brusto svell) 
 [isofurr eyddi fri6] Apardianar liS. 
 
 5. Beit buSlungs hiajrr (bl68 fell a daDrr) 
 [hirS fylgSisk holl] vi6 HiartapoU : 
 
 Hugin gladdi heit (hru6osk Engla belt) 15 
 
 [ox vitniss vfn] val-kastar Rin. 
 
 6. Iok hilmir hialdr (JDar var hiaorva galdr) 
 [hiosk Hildar skf] vi6 Hvftaby- : 
 
 n'kt lek vi6 rann (rau6sk ylgjar tann) 
 
 [feksk firom harmr] fyri-skogar garmr. 20 
 
 7. Drap da)glingr gegn (dreif strengjar regn) 
 vi6 Skorpo-sker skiald-kctnan her : 
 
 rauf styrjar gard J)a er stoekkva var6 
 randgolom sott reiS-manna gnott. 
 
 8. Rau6 siklingr sver6 (sleit gylSiss fer9 25 
 prutt parta lik) i Pilavlk : 
 
 vann vfsir allt fyrir vestan salt 
 (brandr gall vi3 briin) brent Langatun. 
 
 9. Skar-ek su6om sund fyr sunnan Hmnd 
 
 mm pr^'ddisk mund vi6 mildings fund. 30 
 
 in. Eystan's Praise. Forays in the South. Repaid the Wick-dwellers 
 for their treason. Many a man was in fear ; ere peace was made, he 
 took hostages and laid fines on them. Fire was kindled, and the people 
 of Rising [on Gota-river mouth] fled fast in defeat. Re had a sharp 
 struggle near to Leikberg ; the Rems fled [people of Rimaland], they 
 submitted to pay what the king ordained. 
 
 Cruise to the West. I know that many fell of the Aberdeen array: the 
 king broke the peace. Ris trusty guards followed him : he fought at 
 Hartlepool. The English ships were stained with blood. The king 
 raised war at Whitby. The fire-shaw's hound [fire] wrought men woe. 
 Re slew a shield-keen host at Sharpreef [ ? ]. The war-fence 
 was broken when the knights fled. The sword tore the bodies of proud 
 Portmen [citizens] : the prince crimsoned his blade at Pillwick [ ? ]. 
 He won all west of the INIain : he burnt Langton. I clave the waves south
 
 §5-] EINARR SCULASON. 269 
 
 10. Br^nd voro daorr, boga fylg5i hsorr, 
 sparn raslar knaorr ra-d^ris vajr. 
 
 IV. Praise on the Four Brothers. 
 
 1. T^RA-EK vi8 Holm at heyja hildingar fimm gingo 
 
 J- (lind var6 groen) inn Grana (geir-{)ings 1 tvau springa). 
 
 2. Au6 gefr Eysteinn If 60m, eykr hialdr SigurQr skialdar, 
 Isetr Ingi sla)g syngja, semr Magnus fri3 bragna : 
 fia^l-d^^rs hafa fiorir (folk-tiald) komit aldri 5 
 (rfbr bragnings konr bl66i) broGSr und sol in oeSri. 
 
 3. Snild berr, snarpa elda sar-fl66s J)ess er rfbr bl63i, 
 (gefit hefir G06 sialfr iaofri gagn) Sigur6ar magni : 
 sva's es Rauma raesir reiQ-mseltr tsolor greiSir 
 
 (rausn vidr gramr) sem gumnar (glad-mseltr) pegi a6rir. 10 
 
 4. Voro Sogns me6 (sara) syni MaddaSar staddir 
 (ma-grennir fremsk) manna (mattigr) tigir atta : 
 j)rim skutom tok J^reylir J)ann iarl drasils hranna ; 
 hraustr gaf her-skufs nistir ha)fo3 sitt fra)mom ia)fri. 
 
 V. Dirge on Sigurd. 
 
 1. A LLZ engi {)arf Inga arn-grennir J)at kenna 
 
 ■^^ (hverr spyri satt fra snerro seggr) at gram bito eggjar : 
 b3o9 gatat stillir sta)8vat styrjar mildr Jjoat vildi, 
 fus var fiaor-spell visa fylkiss sveit at veita. 
 
 2. tJt let staDng a strjeti sterkr d^^rligra merkja 5 
 (duQosk dajrr af rei6i) Dags-sonr bera fagra : 
 
 hnigo menn 1 gnf gunnar gagls fyrir strengjar iiagli, 
 brotSr hafa barsk 1 vi8ri Bia^rgyn fyr osynjo. 
 
 3. Myndi eigi seima-sendir sva skiott hafa latid 
 
 of Hrund [island in South More], My hand was decked when I met 
 the king [i. e. he gave me a guerdon]. Darts were whetted, etc. 
 
 IV. On the Gillungs. I have heard that the kings went forth to battle at 
 Grey-Holm, the green linden-wood [shield] sprang in two in the fight. 
 
 Eystan gives men riches, Sigurd makes the shield-fray to rise, Ingi 
 lets the arrows ring, Magnus brings peace to men. Four such noble 
 brethren of royal blood have never come beneath the sun's canopy. 
 Sigurd's valour is surpassing, God gives him victory. When the Lord of 
 the Reams speaks, all other men may hold their peace. 
 
 Of Eystan. There were eighty men with the son of Maddad 
 [Harold, Earl of Orkney], and the king attacked the earl with three 
 small ships, and the earl bowed to him. 
 
 V. Dirge on Sigurd. Ingi cannot be blamed in that the edges bit 
 the king [Sigurd]. Let the truth be told. He could not stop the 
 slaughter of the king though he would, for his men were too eager to 
 kill him. Daysson bore the banner up the street, the brothers fought 
 untimely in the midst of Bergen. The king would not have died so
 
 270 
 
 THE GILCHRIST FAMILY, etc. 
 
 BK. vm. 
 
 (spiot flugo langt 1 liotri) lif sitt (boga drifo) : 10 
 
 ef all-kostigs austan Eysteins flota leysti 
 beinn at Biajrgyn sunnan byrr tveim daogom fyrri. 
 4. Mun, sa es morSi vanSisk marg-illr ok sveik stilli, 
 si3 af slikom rcoQom Simon Skalpr of hialpask. 
 
 VI. (From Edda.) 
 
 T EYG ry3r aett a segi Olafs skipa solar 
 
 "^ (ylgr brunar hvatt) ins Helga (hrae-giorn i spor ornom) 
 
 Snaks berr fald of frceknom fold-v6r5r (konungs HdrSa) 
 (frama kve6r greppr fyr gumnom) ge6-snia'lr skarar fialli. 
 
 Glym-vindi laetr Gondlar (gnestr hiorr) taka mestom 5 
 
 Hildar segl ^ar er hagli, hraustr drengr, dri'fr strengjar. 
 
 Verja hau9r me3 hjorvi hart dtiglinga biartir 
 (hialmr spriagr opt fyr olmri egg-hrift) framir seggir. 
 
 5. Dolg-skara kna dyrom dyr-magna6r styra 
 Hugins fermo brc-g6r harmi harmr blik-solar garmi. 10 
 
 6. Enn vi8 hialdr, {jar er hol3ar, hug-jDriitiS svellr, luta, 
 (Muiiinn drekkr bl69 or benjom bla-svartr) konungs hiarta. 
 
 7. Sam-leitom rau6 sveita (sleit orn gera beito) 
 [feksk arnar matr iarnom] lam-soxo grtin faxa. 
 
 Logr {)vaer fianst, (enn fagrir) fl63s vaskar brim glodom, 15 
 
 J)ar er saer a hli3 hvara hlymr (vt3r-vitar glymja). 
 
 Kaldr \)\is.t marr und mildom mart doegr vi6o svarta 
 (grefr el-simin) iofri (alm-sorg Manar-J)ialma). 
 
 Ne fram-lyndir fundo fyrr (hygkat la kyr3o) 
 t)ar er siar a vi3 viJrro vini ara fell storom. 20 
 
 Viknar ramr i Rakna rek-saumr fluga-straumi ; 
 diiks hrindr bol {)ar er bleikir bif-grund a stag rifjom. 
 
 Har3r hefir ort fra i6r3o el-vindr (svana strindar 
 blakk laetr i sog soekkva Snae-grund) skipi hrundit. 
 
 13. Margr riss, enn drifr dorgar dyn-strond i svig londom 25 
 (spend ver6a stog stundom) stir3r keipr fira greipom. 
 
 14. Grans bera gollna spano (gofug fer6 er sii iofri), 
 [skytr holm-fiotiirr Heita hrafni] snekkjo stafnar. 
 
 15. Haustkiild skotaS heldom holm-riind varrar ondri. 
 
 16. Sundr springr svalra landa sverri-gi6r6 fyrir borSom. 30 
 
 VII. Elfar-visor on Gregorius. 
 I . A /T ARGR fell ma9r af dreyrgo mar-blakks a kaf saxi ; 
 ■1-^-*- gnogt el9i fekksk g/'gjar glaum ; rak na fyrir straumi : 
 
 soon, if a fair breeze had borne Eystan's fleet to Bergen but two days 
 earlier. The wicked Simon Scalp, who betrayed him, will be long ere 
 he is helped out of torment [i. e. will be in hell for ever]. 
 
 VI. Fragments of Eficomia. Battle. St. Olaf's kinsmen redden the 
 sword at sea. The king of the Hords bears a serpent-hood [helm]. 
 Their men defend the land with the sword .... The king's heart 
 quakes not ; he feeds the wolves. 
 
 Sea. The sea breaks on both bows ; the weather-vanes gleam fairly. 
 The cold sea washes the black timbers ; the whirlwind cuts the sea .... 
 The tree-nails spring in the fierce race. The gale drives the ship on from 
 the Snowland. The ship .... The wind tries the stays .... The stems 
 of the galley bear gilded chips of pine. 
 
 VIL Elbe-verses on Gregory Daysson. INIany a man fell from ship to 
 sea. The poison-cold Elbe [Gaut-Elbe] was dyed with bloody foam, and
 
 §5-] 
 
 EINARR SCULASON. 
 
 271 
 
 Elfr var8 unda gialfri eitr-kaold roSin heito ; 
 vitniss f6\\ me6 vatni varmt a)ldr 1 men Karmtar. 
 
 Maorg fluto au3 [a urga] (aim sveigSi lid) [hialma] 5 
 [rau6 flugo stajl] i striSri stafn-bl69og skip M660 : 
 a6r a grund af graeSiss goeSinga li9 floe6i 
 (sveit vard i rym ritar r^r) Hakonar d^'rom. 
 
 VIII. Lay on an axe. 
 
 (From Edda ; verse 5 from Skalda.) 
 
 I. 'LTR6DR-BARNI kiia-ek Hornar (hlutom dyran grip) styra, 
 "*■ brandr ]prymr gialfrs a grandi goll-vifi6o hlifar : 
 
 sa6s berr sinnar m69or svans unni mer gunnar 
 fostr-goe&andi Fr65a Freyss nipt bra-driptir. 
 
 Nyt bu6omk Niar6ar dottor ' nalaegt var J)at skala' 5 
 
 vel of hrosag ^vi visa ' yarn siavar oi ' barni. 
 
 Gaf sa er erring ofrar 6gn-pru3r Vana-bru5ar 
 |)ing-vava3ar Jjroengvir J)r6tt-6flga mer dottor : 
 rikr leiddi mey maekiss m6t-valdr a be6 skaldi 
 Gefnar gl65om drifna Gautreks svana brautar. lO 
 
 Ra3-v6ndom J)a-ek rau6ra randar is at visa 
 (grand berom hialms i hendi) hvarm-J)ey dritinn Freyjo. 
 
 Hring-taelir gaf Halo hlyr-solar mer dyra, 
 OSS kom hnind til handa hrae-pollz drifin goUi : 
 sott J)a-ek Herjans hattar 15 
 
 Naest se-ek orm a iastar itr-'serki' vel merkSan, 
 nemi bi63r hve ek ferr floe6ar fiar6-bals of hlyn mali. 
 
 fjar er Mardallar milli (megin-hurSar) liggr skur6a 
 (Gautz berom galla priitinn) gratr (dal-rey6ar lattra). 
 
 Eigi {iverr fyrir augna 06s bed-vino r66a 20 
 
 raefrs (eignisk sva) regni ram-sveli (konungr elli). 
 
 B166-eiso liggr bae6i biargs tveim-megin geima 
 (si66s a-ek scekkva stri3i) snaer ok eldr (at masra). 
 
 Sia mego rett, hve, Raevils ri3endr, vi6 bra Gri3ar 
 Fiorniss fagrt of skornir fold-viggs drekar liggja. 25 
 
 Fra-ek at Fr66a meyjar fuU-guliga molo 
 (laetr stillir gri5 golii) grafvitnis be3 (slitna). 
 
 the warm blood flowed down into the sea. Many an empty ship with 
 bloody bows was floating on the rapid river-mouth ere the warriors of 
 Hakon Broadshoulders betook themselves to flight. 
 
 VIII. The axe Hnoss. I own the child of Horn [Hnoss], a precious 
 possession decked with gold. The king gave me Frey's niece adorned 
 with the corn of Frodi. The child of Niord's daughter .... He 
 provided me with a wife, the daughter of the Wane's bride ; he led her 
 to my bed, the daughter of Gefn, sprinkled with the embers of the sea 
 [gold]. I received an axe adorned with Freya's tears. He gave me a pre- 
 cious shield-devouring ogress. I got a helmet-crusher studded with gold. 
 
 Next I see a well-carved serpent on the willow-bane [axe]. I praise the 
 king. Lo, a target-breaker heavy with Mardall's tears and the dragon's 
 litter. There was no lack of the eye-rain of Od's spouse on the blade. 
 Silver and gold lie on both cheeks of the axe. Thou mayest see the 
 dragons lying fairly carved about the face of the blade. I know that 
 Frodi's maids did merrily grind the serpent's bed, and the cheeks of my 
 
 16. Read, -herkio or verki?
 
 2)2 THE GILCHRIST FAMILY, etc. [bk. viii. 
 
 12. Miuks bera mi'nnar oexar meldr l)ann vi6 hlyn feldrar 
 (konungs dyrkar fe) Fenjo fogr hlyr (bragar-styri). 
 
 13. Dcegr j^rumir hvert (enn hiarta hlyr-skyldir rae6r mildo) 30 
 Heita blakks of hvitom haf-leygr digol-skafli : 
 
 aldri ma fyr eldi als hryn-brautar skala 
 (611 vi9r folka fellir fram-rae6i) snae brae9a. 
 
 14. Hvargi er Beita borgar bal-grimmostom skala 
 
 ban of hnoss-vin orom heims vafr-logi sveimar. 35 
 
 IX. Love-Song (on Solborg and Ioreid). 
 
 (Verses 1, 3 from Skalda ; verse 2 from Edda, W. App.) 
 
 1. "LJARDAN J>rytr a hvitom harm Solborgar armi. 
 
 2. Hrynja let in hvita haus-mioll ofan lausa 
 strind 6rr:6a strandar stallz of sharar Jialli. 
 
 3. Vist eromk Herm9 a Hesti hefir fli66 ef vill g65an. 
 
 BODVARR HALTI (on Sigurd). 
 
 (Verse i from Mork. ; verse 4 from Edda.) 
 
 1. IVfU skal l/'st hve Lista lae-skiarr konungr harra 
 
 ^ ^ (gaDrSisk afreks or6a efnd) J)ins faoSor hefndir : 
 ldto5 hialms at Holmi (hn9-spur9isk su vi6a) 
 [ofkugi do iajfra] allvaldr, Sigur9 falla. 
 
 2. Magnus var6 at mor6i mal-sniallr 1 ba)6 falla ; 5 
 rd6 fyrir rsesiss dau6a rikr J^ioS-konungr slikom : 
 
 meirr rak Jjik til J)eirra, J)rek-sterkr konungr, verka 
 (flagSs best hafit flestan fylldan) nau6r an skyldi. 
 
 3. {'ar f^ll allt ok a)rvir (ulfr rauQ a her dauQom 
 
 te6r) i tognings ve6ri tveir ia)frar 116 Jjeira. 10 
 
 Allz engi verbr Inga undir solar grundo 
 b'odvar havir ne betri, brcebr, landreki in cedri. 
 
 KOLLI PRtJDI (on Ingi). 
 
 I. T TNNOT austr fyrir Mynni odd-hri6 (ok bratt si6an 
 ^ hilmir fekkt und hialmi hrafns verdar li3) sverSom : 
 
 axe are fair with plenty of this meal. The sea-fire [gold] lies on the 
 snow of the crucible [silver] on my weapon, but that fire will not meet 
 that snow. The generous king's gift makes the poet proud. Wherever 
 the world's flame [sun] swims may he, my Hnoss-giving patron, be 
 happy. 
 
 IX. To Solborg. Deep grief vanishes in the white arms of Solborg. 
 She lets her hair [the white meal of the skull] fall down from her head 
 to her shoulders. 
 
 Jo Ioreid. Verily I love Ioreid [lit. horse = io + wrath = reid] if she 
 will have me. 
 
 BODWAR the Halt. Sigurd's Praise. Now I will tell how thou 
 didst revenge thy father. Ye made Sigurd to fall at Holm ; the cower 
 of kings died. Magnus the eloquent was slain there. It was a greater 
 need than was meet that drove thee to this. There fell two kings and 
 all their host. 
 
 Burden. There is no king better than Ingi's brother underneath the sun. 
 
 Coll the Proud. Ingi's Praise. Ye fought a battle in the east off
 
 §5-] KOLLI AND THORBIORN SHANK POET. 273 
 
 lgog3ot ^r, enn eirar sorr synja9ir brynjo 
 
 (ungr var6ir-jDU, J)engill J)itt land) saman randir. 
 
 2. Fyrr la hans, an harri hring-mildr J)a6an vildi, 5 
 verSung soil a velli — Vig-fimr konungr himni : 
 
 sundr klauft siklingr iToenda (sokn-fuss an Magnusi 
 J)er f^ksk haolfo hgeri) her-skriptir (iaofurr gipta). 
 
 3. L;fsa man-ek hve liosa (laut hrafn i ben Gauta) 
 [a)rn fylSit sik sialdan] sar-fsa rau9 visi : 10 
 goldit var9 {)eim-es goer9o glaum her9ondom sver6a 
 (raun er at n'ki J)ino) rog a Kr6ka-sk6gi. 
 
 4. Rau9ri dreif (^a er riufa rd6 aold of gram skia)ldo) 
 mia)ll, a8r Magnus i€\\\ mor9-giarn, Jjrumo iarna: 
 harmar oengr (J^vi-at, Ingi, attu ra9a vel la9i) 15 
 [doegg fell driugt a skokka] drap Sigur9ar [vapna]. 
 
 5. Syndi sialfr at landi sniallr (enn Jju bratt allri) 
 [vel um hrosak J)vi] vfsi val-kgost (ara fa)Sto) : 
 ulfs ba)rnom var9 arnar einkar ti8r 1 vi9o 
 
 (bord ru8o frsegir fyr9ar) fundr Langeyjar-sundi. 20 
 
 , f'ORBIORN SKAKKA-SKALD (on Earl Erling Skakki). 
 
 (Verse 2 from Edda.) 
 
 1. TTICEGGO oexar eggjom ugg-laust hvatir glugga 
 
 -»- J- (J)vi var nennt a n^jo) Nor9menn 1 kaf bor9i : 
 eySendr sa y6rar arnar hungrs (a iaDrnom) 
 (vag-fylvingi) v^lar (vig-ska)r8) ofan (ba)r9ot). 
 
 2. Haf-rei8ar var hloe9ir hlunnz f skirnar brunni 5 
 Hvfta-Kristz sa-es haesta hodd-sviptir tok gipto. 
 
 3. Greitt fra-ek gumna drottinn (griSar faks) i vi9o 
 (trau6r erat tenn at ri69a) Tunsbergi t)er snuna : 
 
 the Mouth [southern outlet of Lake Miosen]. All his men were lying on 
 the field before he turned to flight. 
 
 Burden. . . . Gallant king, greatest under heaven. — The Thronds' king 
 clave the war-scrolls [shields] ; ye had better luck than Magnus. Now 
 I will tell how the prince dyed his bright blade. The raven stooped to 
 the gashes of the Gauts : the evil they wrought was repaid them on Crook- 
 shaw. There was a snow-fall of blood ere murderous Magnus fell. The 
 slaying of Sigurd no man is sorry for, because thou, Ingi, wilt have the 
 rule of the land. Thou didst break the eagle's feet. There was a feast 
 for the wolves in Langey-sound. 
 
 Thorbiorn Shank's Poet. Sigurd and Erllng's Praise. The drome- 
 dary taken in the Mediterranean. The brisk Northmen cut a clean dead- 
 light into the timbers at the water's edge with their sharp axes. It 
 was a cunning trick. The pirates [Saracens] could not see your stratagem 
 from above. Ye cut a scarp with your iron upon the ship. 
 
 Pilgrimage. The earl had the bliss of bathing in the baptismal font 
 of the White Christ [Jordan]. 
 
 Fight in Tunsberg. I heard of thy success at Tunsberg ; the townsmen 
 feared the bright spears and fire and the bow bent, and submitted, 
 
 VOL. II. T
 
 274 THE GILCHRIST FAMILY, etc. [bk. vm. 
 
 hrseddosk biartra brodda bcejar-menn vi5 renno ; 
 ug9o elld ok sveig6an aim dyn-vi6ir malma. lo 
 
 4. Ur6 dro austan-fiarSar Erlingr at vikingom 
 
 (mein fekk margr af Kceno ma3r) er hann for J)a3ra : 
 foerSr var fleinn me6al her8a FriSreks ofar noekkvi 
 skolldi o^arfr aaldom ill-giarn vi6 trd Biarni. 
 
 ASGRIMR KETILSSON (on Hakon Herdi-breid). 
 
 (From Edda.) 
 
 SIGR-GCEDIR var si3an seim-aorr 1 f'rondheimi 
 {pi66 veit ^fnar i3ir) ^ann orms-trega (sannar). 
 
 STYRKARR ODDASON (on jNIagnus Erlingson). 
 
 (From Edda.) 
 
 OK ept itrom stoekkvi ok Haogna li6 va)gnom 
 hlunnz a heiSa fannir hyrjar floSs af modi. 
 
 KLCENGR BISKOP (Alhenda). 
 
 (From Edda Ht.) 
 
 BAD-EK sveit a gla3 Geitiss, gcer er i5 at faor ti9om ; 
 draDgom hest a laog lesta; li3 fl^tr, enn skrid nytom. 
 
 OCCASIONAL VERSES. 
 
 We have placed here a number of Occasional Verses of interest, all, 
 save one or two, between 1130-1202, contemporary with the events 
 treated of in this section ; a pendant to the Improvisations in Book vi, 
 though they are of a less spontaneous character. They are arranged 
 roughly in chronological order. 
 
 The first set belongs to Earl Rognwald the Crusader, whose life and 
 deeds have been already touched on. They are selected from a number 
 of verses in the Rolls Series' edition of Orkney Saga, where the rest will 
 be found. They refer to Rognwald's stay at Grimsby in his youth (No. i), 
 to his accomplishments (No. 2), to his exploration of the Doll's Cave 
 in one of the islands off South More in Norway (No. 3), to Hall his 
 
 Hanging' of Biarni and Frederick. East of the Wick Erling piled stones 
 over the Wickings ere he left. INIany a man had fared ill at Kona's 
 hands. A fluke lashed to Frederick's back was cast overboard, but the 
 wicked Biarni was whipped up to the gallows-tree ashore. 
 
 AsGRiM Kettlesson. On S^Merri. This winter thou didst stay in 
 Throndham. INIen know thy deeds of renown. 
 
 Styrkarr Ordsson. On Snverri{}). The host chased him in 
 Hogni's wains, making a hot pursuit over the snow-heaps of the surges. 
 
 Clong. yl Cruise. I call my crew aboard my ship. I am often 
 busy a-journeying. Let us launch the cargo-horse on the water. The 
 galley speeds ; let us carry on.
 
 §5-] 
 
 OCCASIONAL VERSES. 275 
 
 friend and poet's introduction to him (Nos. 4, 5), to the Earl's crusading 
 exploits (Nos. 6, 7), and to his escape from his enemies when they were 
 foiled by the clever misdirection of Botolf the Icelander (No. 8). The 
 poem which the Earl and his friend Hall (the author of verse 4) made 
 together as a Claris Metrica, 'Hatta-lykiJl,' must be dealt with elsewhere. 
 
 The next group gives stray verses of the prolific Einar Scu/ason, whose 
 powers of making impromptu epigrams were remarkable. One (No. 9) 
 refers to the scant welcome he got from the Danish king Swain, who 
 preferred the new-fashioned music to the Encomia, which he could not 
 understand. The next three (Nos. 10-12) were made at the court of 
 the Northern kings, to whom he \\ as marshal. One when he was fined 
 for being late for dinner, having been on a visit to the Abbess of Bank. 
 One made while Earlman the fiddler was being flogged for theft, it 
 being understood that he was only to be beaten till the poet had made 
 a verse. It is said that he finished the couplet ere more than five 
 stripes had fallen. The last is on a fair lady sailing out of harbour 
 in her ship, and was completed before the ship reached a certain point 
 in the bay. 
 
 Thor^vard, Hall, Biarni, Mani, Nefari, and others are the composers 
 of the next group, which deals chiefly with events in Norway, chiefly 
 from Swerri's time. To be noted is the greeting from Thorward in 
 Iceland to his brother Ari in Norway at the king's court ; and Mani's 
 complaint that poetry is going out of favour. 
 
 The next two sets (Nos. 30-42) deal chiefly with Icelandic men and 
 things. Eyiolf tells of the famous Gudmund's voyage, and refers to a 
 certain Botolf the skipper. Kolbein Tiimasoti (died 1208, see Prolego- 
 mena, cxxiii-iv) complains that, like Henry II, he has made a inistake, 
 Gudmund his minister has turned out like Thomas a Becket. Kolbein's 
 prayer, inspired by the Psalms, is not to be passed over. 
 
 In the last group we have Rimolf talking with pride of the cathedral 
 of Holar, built by Ami and Biorn, under the orders of his own father 
 Clong (No. 43). Aniund Arnison, the architect of Paul bishop of Skal- 
 holt, who may be the son of Runolf's Arni, made a dirge on his patron. 
 He had already composed a blessing (No. 44) on Paul's four children. 
 The fortune of these children did not come up to all that the good 
 poet wished. Loft (the puffin-bone picker of Book vi, No. 70) lived long 
 enough to play the spy for Snorri Sturlason's murderers, dying 1261: 
 see Sturlunga Saga. Of Kettle we know but this, a wit said of the two 
 brothers, that Loft had always a good w'ord to spare, but that Kettle 
 bore good will to all ; one preached what the other practised. Halla, 
 still a girl, was drowned with her mother whilst crossing a river, May 17, 
 1207 (see the pathetic story in the Reader, p. 225); when the whole 
 burden of the Bishop's household fell on Thora (called after her great- 
 grandmother, the Royal Thora of p. 319), who, as the author of Paul's 
 life tells us, though a mere child, managed everything exceedingly well. 
 What afterwards became of her we do not know. The Bishop was 
 the son of John Loptsson, of whom below, p. 309. 
 
 The hangings in Holar cathedral bore on them the verse, No. 46. 
 They were in existence in the last century. 
 
 Hall of Madderfield, the popular chief praised in the ditty. No. 45, 
 was one of those who signed the Act of Resignation in 1262, which 
 transferred the sovereignty of the Commonwealth of Iceland to the 
 king of Norway. 
 
 Both these last verses may be by the same man, the metre (called dun- 
 hent) is the same, and both are from North of Iceland. 
 
 T 2
 
 2 76 THE GILCHRIST FAMILY, etc. [bk. viii. 
 
 I. ROGNWALD AND HIS FrIENDS. 
 
 1. "\ TER haofom vaSnar leiror vikor fimm megin-grimmar 
 
 * (saurs vara vant jDar er varom vi3r) i Gn'msby miSjom : 
 nu es |)at-es mars of mfrzr megin-katliga laotom 
 branda-elg a bylgjor Bia)rgynjar til dynja. 
 
 2. Tafi em-ek aorr at efla — ijjrottir kann-ek nio; — 5 
 t/ni-ek trauSla runom ; ti6 erom bok ok smi3ir : 
 
 skriQa kann-ek a skidom; sk/t-ek ok rse-k sva-at n^tir; 
 hvart-tveggja kann-ek hyggja, harp-skT)tt ok brag-J)a)tto. 
 
 3. Her hef-ek havan reistan har5-ge3jo6om var9a 
 
 Dollz 1 doekkom belli draug; leitak sva bauga: 10 
 
 eigi veit nser ftir unn-ski3a koemr si3an 
 langa braut ok liota lei6 yfir vatnit brei9a. 
 
 Orkney S., chs. 6l, 63. 
 
 4. Senda-ek son ^inn, Ragna (saonn koma msA fyrir bragna) 
 bans var hagleg i6ja hir6-vistar mer biSja : 
 
 hafa kvezt hodda ryrir, hinn-er haestom veg st^'rir, 15 
 
 (neitti hann grupans granna) gnott vfglegri manna. 
 
 Hall Breidjnagi, Orkney S., ch. 85. 
 
 5. Aldr' hefek frdtt J)at-er f^ldo fran-stallz konor allar 
 (verdrat menja-myrSir miuk-or3r) haofo6-dukom : 
 
 nu tt^r Hlxikk um hnakka hauk-strindar ser binda 
 (skr/'Sisk bru9r vi9 brseQi ben-gagls) merar tagli. 20 
 
 Orkney S., ch. 85. 
 
 6. Vill eigi vinr minn kalla (var3 allr f drit falla) 
 [nser var f J)vi oerin ugaefa] midaevi : 
 
 I. Earl Rognwald. Tiie mud at Grimsby. I have been plodding 
 through the muck in the middle of Grimsby for five awful weeks. There 
 was no lack of mud when we were there ; but at last with great joy I 
 am making the prow-elk (ship) run over the billows of mew's moor [sea] 
 to Bergen, [c. 11 25.] 
 
 His pro<wess. I am strong at table-play. I know nine accomplishments. 
 I never mistake a rune. I am used to book-learning and carpentry. 
 I can stride on snow-skates, and I can shoot and row as well as needs be 
 [very well]. I understand both harp-playing and poet-craft, 
 
 Ike Giant's Cave. Here I have reared a high cairn to the grim ghost 
 in Doll's dark cave where I came seeking for treasure. No one can tell 
 how long it will be ere another man shall pass over the long road and 
 ugly way over the broad water [inside the cave]. 
 
 Hall's rejection. I sent thy son Ragna, of a truth, to seek quarters for 
 me, but the Earl said he had no lack of better men, and refused the 
 Sausager [Icelanders were so nicknamed from their mutton sausages]. 
 
 On the new fashion. I always heard that ladies were wont to wrap 
 their heads in kerchiefs, but here is a lady who binds her hair with a 
 mare's tail. [c. 11 40.] 
 
 In the Eastern city. My friend would not cry ' midhsefi ' [/xeraiS^^i, 
 
 22. midhaefi, Cd.
 
 §5.] OCCASIONAL VERSES. 277 
 
 h'tt hykk at \)i JDoetti J)engils magr, er hann reng8isk, 
 (leir fell grar of geira) gdWgr i Imbolom. 
 7. Ri3om Rsevils vakri (rekom eigi plog af Akri) 25 
 
 [erjom lirgo bar8i] lit at Mikla-gar8i : 
 f)iggjoni jDengils mala, J^okom framm 1 gnf stala, 
 ri66om gyl8is goma, goerom riks konungs-soma. 
 
 Orkney S., ch. 96. 
 
 8 Ferr at foglom harri, firar neyta vel skeyta, 
 
 vson a heidar-hoena hnakka-dytz und bakka : 30 
 
 J)ar Isetr almr, er olmir unn-linnz stafar finnask, 
 (Ia)nd verr lofdungr brand!) lyng-hoesn vegin kyngjom. 
 
 Orkney S., ch. 193. 
 II. EiNAR ScULASON. 
 
 9 Eigi hlaut af itrom Einarr giafa Sveini 
 
 (a}ld lofar aoQlings mildi oeSro-styggs) fyrir kvaedi : 
 Danskr harri metr dyrra (dugir miSlung J)at) fidlor 
 [rseSr fyr rsesiss au8i Ripa-Ulfr] ok pfpor. 
 
 SMoldunga {Knytl. S., ch. loS). 
 
 10. Oss l^t abbadissa angri fir8 um svangann 5 
 (dygg |Doli vif in vi'gSo viti fyr J)at) gyr3a : 
 
 enn til atz me8 nunnom (ognar-rakks) a Bakka 
 (dros gladdit vin visa) varat stallarinn kalla8r. 
 
 11. Austr tok ilia kristinn Iarlma6r fra bu-karli 
 
 (gra8r var kia)tz a kau8a) ki6ling, hinn er slser fiSlo : 10 
 vaondr hroekk, vamr la bundinn vesl-mall 'a sk . . . ' ^islar, 
 soeng leikarn lengi li'mi harSan prima. 
 
 12. Hola ba)ro ristr^ hl/'ri hreysti-sprund at sundi 
 (blaess el-reki of Asi) Utsteins (vefi {)rutna) : 
 
 make way]. It was a great mishap, he fell into the dirt. I do not think 
 that he was very gay to look on, the king's son-in-law, when he was 
 rolling in the mire in the city [e/in-oXii/?]. [1152.] 
 
 In the Jlrchipelago. Let us ride Refil's steed to Micklegarth. Let us 
 plow with our wet prows from Acre [Constantinople], Let us enter 
 the service of the Greek Emperor. 
 
 Botolf the Icelander. The earl is a-fowling, the men are plying their 
 shafts. The heath-hen may look out for a blow on her neck. The 
 bow is making terrible havoc of the heath-cock. [1154.] 
 
 IL EiNAR ScuLASON. Savain's Stinginess. Einar got no gifts from king 
 Swain for his song ; the Danish king cares more for fiddles and pipes. 
 Ripe-Wolf rules his treasury, [c. 1155.] 
 
 The Abbess^ poor fare. The abbess left me starving. Let the holy 
 wives suffer for it. The marshal was not called to dinner with the nuns 
 at Bank, The lady did not treat the king's friend [me] well. 
 
 The verse on Earlman. The heathen Earlman, greedy fiddler, stole a 
 kid from a cottager. The rod is swung, the thief is sized to the gratings, 
 the minstrel sings a long-drawn note under the stick. 
 
 The fair Ragnhild sailing round the Naze at Bergen. The proud lady 
 
 6. t)oli] emend. ; J)6tt, Cd.
 
 278 THE GILCHRIST FAMILY, etc. [bk. viii. 
 
 varia heldr und vildra vik-marr a iarSriki 15 
 
 breiSan vi3 brims-gang su3om barmr lyptingar farmi. 
 
 Morkinskinna, pp. 227, 228. 
 
 III. Norwegian Incidents. 
 
 13. Berit hildingi hajlSa, harS-ge6r Ari, kve6jo 
 (J)eim-es Isetr 1 baj3 bfta bryn-J)ing) ok Erlingi : 
 at lang-vi6ris lengi lifi |)eir, ok se meiri 
 
 allri \)[6b, i ailloin otllaust friSi Drottins. 
 
 14. Gramr hefir su6r a sumri snar-fingr me6 Erlingi 5 
 br66ir mmn und breiSar brand-els sta6it randir : 
 vig-gar9z hefir var6at veSr-eggjandi beggja 
 
 okkart rum, Jjar-es amir, ungr, b3o6-koflar sprungo. 
 
 Gudmundar Saga, Bk. i. 410, 41 1. 
 
 15. Onundr kvask eigi mundo vi6 orrosto kosta, 
 
 fyrr an sunnan sigldi SigurSr iarl me3 huskarla : 10 
 
 misok fara Magnuss rekkar mastir upp at stristi, 
 enn Hakonar haukar hart skundoSo undan. 
 
 Hidda, Kings Lives. 
 
 16. Fylg6o rsesi Rygir ok Ha)r6ar, 
 Filar ok Sygnir, sem Fir5a lid, 
 
 Moerir allir, menn Raumdoelskir, 15 
 
 Erki-biskop, soil f^rcenda-laDg. 
 
 17. Glym-va)llo n'str, golli (g66 er stilliss faor) R69a 
 (5lafs-su6 und au6i (au3-grimms) buin rau6o : 
 
 Nu er cegr or faor frsegri (fellr hufr i svig diifo 
 svelldr) me3 sdm9 ok mildi siklingr kominn hingat. 20 
 ; 8, Berr fyrir Holm, |Dar-er harri hl/TS fagr-gota sl/rir 
 (stEol bruna rau6 a rey6ar rym-va)ll) und gram sniaallom : 
 
 plows the hollow billows in her ship over Utstein's Sound, the gale blows 
 upon the canvas on the yard. Never ship on earth held prouder lady, 
 nor broad hull bore costlier burden over ocean, [c. 1150-55.] 
 
 III. Thor'ward Thorgeirsson to his brother Ari, Tngi's henchman. Greet for 
 me, good Ari, the King and Erling, that they may live a long life many 
 a day in the peace of the Lord. IMy brother stood stoutly under shield 
 this summer with Erling, when the dark war-cowls were split. He has 
 filled his place and my own. [1160-67.] 
 
 jlnonyn2ous. Tiinsberg Battle. Anwynd would not fight till Earl Sigurd 
 and his guard came from the south. IMagnus' men are marching swiftly 
 up the street, but Hakon's war-hawks are flying fast away. [1162.] 
 
 The ]S!or'^vegians. The Rugians and the Hords followed the king, the 
 Fils and Sogn-folk, and the men of the Friths, all the Mores, the 
 Reamsdale men, the Archbishop and all Thrond-law. [1180.] 
 
 Hall Snorrisson. Olaf's galley, adorned with the red gold, furrows the 
 roaring plain of Rodi, beneath her costly load. The king's cruise is 
 prosperous. The king has come off his famous journey, the big hull is 
 dipping into the lap of the billows. The goodly ship fetches Holm ; the 
 king is steering ; the red prow speeds over the thundering whale-path 
 beneath the king. The famous prince is come hither with fame and 
 victory, for he has won a battle, [1182.]
 
 §5-] OCCASIONAL VERSES. 279 
 
 frsegr er me9 frem9 ok sigri (folk-braSr konungr ha3i 
 darra-{)ing vi9 drengi) daoglingr kominn hingat. 
 
 19. Fant sd-ek hvern a hesti (her er nu si9r inn versti) 25 
 [lei9 eigo ver langa] enn lendir menn ganga : 
 hir6-menn skolo hlaupa (her erat g6tt til kaupa) 
 [munka-ek maorgo kvi6a], enn mat-sveinar ri9a. 
 
 20. Byr gef9u bratt inn a)rvi Biargynjar til msorgom 
 
 (J)ess bi6jom ver) J)i69om, J^ung-stols konungr solar: 30 
 angrar oss {)at-er lengi ut-nyr6ingr heldr fyrQom 
 (vindr er til seinn at sundi sunn-roenn) f dys Unnar. 
 
 21. Sloegr ferr gaurr me6 gigjo (ginn er her komit inni) 
 [meiSr hefir skialdar-sk66a skripa-lat] ok pipo : 
 
 rekkr Isetr rau8a bikkjo (rekkit skvaldr !) fyrir aldir 35 
 
 [skolot hlfba. pvi ^i66ir ; J)at er skaup] yfir staf hlaupa. 
 
 22. Gfgjan syngr, J)ar-er ganga (grfpa menn til pipo) 
 [foera fiflsko stora framm] leikarar bleikir : 
 
 undr er hve augom vendir umb sa-er pftr i trumbo, 
 kniSan Ift-ek a kau9a kiapt ok blasna hvapta. 40 
 
 23. T/'nom Birki-beinom ! Beri Sverrir hlut verra 1 
 latom rand-hceing reyndan ri6a hart ok ti9om : 
 hoelomk minzt 1 mali, metomk heldr at val feldan, 
 latom skipta Gud gipto, goerom hrid J)a-er J)eim svi9i. 
 
 24. Reisom v^ fyrir visa, verom J)ungir Kuflungom, 45 
 latom br^^ndan hiaor li'ta, bolom tafn und klo hrafni : 
 
 Bearni Calfsson. We have a long way to march. There is a most evil 
 custom observed. Every rascal footman is on horseback, but the barons 
 are walking; the guard must run, while the sutlers ride. This is a bad 
 bargain, but I shall not worry over it. [1182.] 
 
 Mani the Icelander. For a fair ivitid. O thou King of Heaven, give 
 us a fair wind to Bergen, we pray thee. It grieves us that the north- 
 west keeps us here so long at Unnar-dys. The southern wind is too 
 slow in coming from the Sound. [1184.] 
 
 The same. Jugglers preferred to Poets. The crafty rascal comes with 
 pipe and fiddle. The conjuror has come. The chattering impostor is 
 beginning his mummery. He is making a red bitch jump over a stick 
 for a show to the people. "What folly ! People ought not to listen to 
 it. Cease this din ! The fiddle sings out as the pale players walk along; 
 they grasp their pipes, they carry on the greatest foolery. It is won- 
 derful how the man that blows the trumpet rolls his eyes. Behold 
 the wry chaps and puffed out cheeks of the zany ! [i 184.] 
 
 Nefari. Curse on the Birchlegs. Let us destroy the Birchlegs ; may 
 Swerri be crushed ; let the shield-snake strike hard and swift. Let us 
 not boast in our speech ; let us tell over the score when the battle is 
 over. God give the victory ! Let us fall upon them and make them 
 smart. [1186.] 
 
 Blank's answer. Let us hoist the standard before the king, and bear 
 hard on the Cowlings. Let the keen blade bite, and let us hew a sacri- 
 fice beneath the raven's talons. Let us hobble our enemies' bands.
 
 28o THE GILCHRIST FAMILY, etc. [bk. viii. 
 
 hnekkjom fianda flokki, friSom land isofurs brandi 
 rioSom da)rr i dreyra, drepom meira hlut Jieira. 
 
 25. Old man heldr, at hoeldosk (hvatir guldo t>ess skatnar) 
 fyrr (or flokki i)eirra) forraSs-tungor Koflunga: 50 
 nu kna bergs i biaorgom (buk rei&ir lao siukan) 
 
 [mettr var6 hrafn 1 Hrotti] hotz annan veg \>i6i3.. 
 
 26. Bisort kve6a brenna kerti Brei8-skeggs yfir lei9i, 
 lioss veit-ek at mun niissa meirr hsofSingi J)eira: 
 
 vitom at vanir betri (verr hugSomk \)vi) brugSosk. 55 
 
 27. Haf6i her meSan lif6i hvart-tveggja Breid-skeggi 
 (nu er fri8-spillir fallinn) faest gott ok dul hsesta. 
 
 28. IManadag kvaddi mildingr sina, menn drifo hart til vapna 
 
 unno; 
 Inga hir8 enn upp re8 ganga ar morgin til Sverris borgar : 
 ;ftar reisto merki at moti margar stengr, ok ba)r8osk lengi ; 60 
 Baglar st68o 1 brodda hagli, brunno skip J)a-er kappar runno. 
 
 29. Wanadag kvaddi ' ni6ingr ' sina menn g. h. til v, s. 
 (Wfo-skitr Jirifisk aldri !) Jiann morgin t. S. b. 
 
 ftar r. m. at m. m. st. ok b. lengi 
 
 Baglar standa 1 banni allir, brunno sk. \>. e. k. r. 65 
 
 Verses 1 6-29 /row Sverris Saga. 
 
 Let us win peace for our lord's land with the sword. Let us dye our 
 darts in blood. Let us slay the most part of them. 
 
 ^fter the battle. INIen remember well how the slanderous tongues of 
 the Cowlings boasted. Now they have paid for it in person. There is 
 another sound heard in the hill [berg] of Tunberg, [the wind has turned] 
 now that their corpses are washing in the shallow, and the raven was 
 sated at Rott [island]. [1187.] 
 
 Broadbeard the Rebel. They say that bright candles are burning over 
 Broadbeard's grave, but I rather think that this chief of theirs will turn 
 out a lack-light. Better hopes have failed than his; I believe the case is 
 a far worse one. 
 
 Burden of a mock dirge on Broadbeard. All the while he lived here 
 Broadbeard was both of smallest good and greatest damage. Spill- 
 peace is dead at last. [1191.] 
 
 The Graziers' lampoon. On Monday the king called on his men, and 
 soldiers rushed swiftly to battle. Ingi [the Croziers' king] marched up 
 to Swerri's stronghold early in the morning. They raised many a staff 
 over against the standard and fought long. The Croziers stood in the 
 arrow-hail. The ships burnt when the champions fled. 
 
 The Birchlegs' ans^ver. On IMonday the Niding called on his men, and 
 soldiers rushed swiftly to battle in the morning to Swerri's stronghold. 
 Plague upon him, that dung-heap ! They raised many a staff over 
 against the standard and fought long. The Croziers stood all under 
 one curse. The ships burnt while the champions fled. [1198.] 
 
 IV. Grim and his friends sailing luith the bishop-elect, Gudmund, to Nor- 
 way, July i^th, 1 202, are driven out of their course to the Orkneys, ivhere they 
 hear the neivs of S-cverri's death. On the storm there are thefolloiving I'erses. 
 Eyiolf: The ship was driven eastward out of Ireland. God gave them
 
 §5.] OCCASIONAL VERSES. 281 
 
 IV. Gudmund's Friends. 
 
 30. Bsoro austr fra Ira sett-landi skce branda 
 hregg 66, himna tiggi heit-byr firom veitti. 
 
 31. S6r a sigling ora Su8reysk kona ({)u9n 
 
 su3 gaerask nu nau3ir) nam-giajrn, er hry6r stiarnom. 
 
 32. Her hefir beitt a brattri Botolfr skipi flioto 5 
 (a6r fell sser um su6ir) Sandeyjo skse branda : 
 
 reisti sialfr (ok s/'Sti) snarr f^lagi harra 
 hafnar-mark fyrir hrefnis (happs-verk) gota sterkan. 
 
 33. Her na)6om val viSis vjg-lundr me3 Gu6mundi 
 
 sterkr at staD3va merki stefno, biskops-efni : 10 
 
 frsogom a8r a Ei6i einni nott fyrir Drottins 
 
 (trau6r man glaum at goe6a grams herr) bana Sverris. 
 
 34. Eisandi ve5r undir u8r (nu er hvast or su8ri) 
 [stoerir sterkar bcoror, starf era3 smatt] fyrir Hvarfi : 
 klcekkr ver3r kiaolr, enn rakkan kemr hregg 1 sta3 seggja, 15 
 nu arc fiaoll a sse soUin, su3 gengr se sem pru6ast. 
 
 Hraftis S., ch. ii. 
 
 35. Klasi nam kalla J)rysvar, komi menn ok renni I 
 (iaor6 bifast bdU und fyr6om) undan biskops fundi. 
 
 Bisk. Sogor, i. 513, v. 1. 
 V. KOLBEIN TUMASON. 
 
 36. Bals kve6r hlynr at Holom hvern mann vera i banni 
 Gylva lads J)ann er grei6ir ge8-rakkr fyrir mer nakkvat : 
 trautt kann hof, sa-er hattar hodd-lestir vel flesto, 
 (me3r ero at |)vi a6rir osselir) stor-maela. 
 
 37. Bannar biskop maonnom (berr stri3 af pvi vi9a 5 
 Ifba. kind a la8i la)ngom) kirkjo-gaDngor : 
 
 geystr man gegn at flesto Gufimundr fara um stundir, 
 trautt ma-ek enn fyrir annan enda sia hvar lendir. 
 
 the wind they desired. Grim : The maids of the Isles look on our 
 proud sailing. The wave dashes up to the stars. Here Botolf has laid 
 his ship on steep Sanday. He had a harbour-mark raised for the strong 
 ship. We have now reached the harbour-m.irk. At Eid, one night 
 before the Lord's day, we first heard of King Swerri's death. [Swerri 
 died March 9th, 1202.] The surge is boiling off Cape Wrath. The ship 
 goes on as proud as may be. [i 202.] 
 
 Anonymous Ditty, in a fight. Clasi called out thrice, 'Come and let us 
 run away from facing the Bishop. The earth is quaking beneath our 
 feet.' [1220.] 
 
 V. KoLBEiN Tumason's troubles tuith Gudnmnd. The bishop of Holar 
 proclaims every man under his ban who does me any kindness. He 
 knows no measure in his curses. He forbids men's going to church, he 
 carries his head high ; I cannot tell what end it tends to. Ood has 
 made Gudmund like Thomas in power, he lies close to our ears, he 
 
 3. Read, faesto?
 
 282 THE GILCHRIST FAMILY, etc. [bk. vm. 
 
 38. Gu9 hefir GuSmund gsorvan glikan Thoma at rfki, 
 
 naer liggr okkr vi6 eyra erfingi hasfSingja : 10 
 
 roeSr Gu6s laga geymir ge6-biartr snaoro hiarta ; 
 hrseSisk himna prySi hann, enn vaetki annat. 
 
 39. Mundi mer fyrir stundo mikit or6a-lag J)ykkja 
 of elg-renni unnar eyrom slikt at heyra. 
 
 Bisk. Sogor, i. 490, 491 (verse 39 from Skalda), 
 
 40. HeyrSu; himna smi6r, hvers er skaldit bi6r; 15 
 komi miuk til min miskunn jDin : 
 
 J)vi heit-ek a pik, \)U. hefir skap3an mik ; 
 ek em ^rsehinn ^inn, J)u art Drottinn minn. 
 
 41. Gu8 heit-ek a |)ik at pu grceSir mik; 
 
 minnstu, mildingr, min, mest J)urfom \)in: 20 
 
 ryttu, ra^Qla grarar rik-lyndr ok framr, 
 haoldz hverri sorg or hiarta borg. 
 
 42. G^ttu, mildingr, mm (mest ^urfom pin) 
 hoelzt hverja stund a hajlda grund : 
 
 sentu, Meyjar maogr, mals-efnin faDgr 25 
 
 (a)ll er hialp af per) i hiarta mer. 
 
 Bisk. Sogor, i. 568. 
 
 VI. On Icelandic Subjects. 
 
 43. Hraust er ha)ll su-er Kristi hug-bli8om I^t smi8a 
 (g66 er rot und r£u8om) rikr stiornari (slikom) : 
 gipta var J)at-er goer6i Gu6s rann Igultanni, 
 
 Petr hefir eignast itra Arna smi3 ok Biarnar. 
 
 Runolfr, Hungrvaka, ch. 1 7. 
 
 44. Lopt efli Gu5 gipto (gangi fsest af pvi) haestri ! 5 
 
 has a proud heart; he fears God and nought beside. A long time ago 
 I should have thought it strange to hear such language from him. 
 [c. 1206.] 
 
 Kolbeiiis prayer. Listen, O Maker of the Heavens, to the poet's prayer. 
 ]\Lay thy gentle mercy reach me. I call upon thee, thou hast made me, 
 I am thy servant, thou art my Lord. I pray thee, O God, to heal me. 
 Remember me, O Lord, I am in sore need of thee. Do thou, King of 
 the Sun, mighty and great, take every sorrow of mine from my heart. 
 Keep me, O Lord, I am in sore need of thee every hour on this earth: 
 send a fair hope into my heart, O Son of the Virgin ; all help is from 
 thee. [c. 1206.] 
 
 VI, Runolf, Bishop Clang'' s son, on his father^ s tieiv-built Cathedral at Skal- 
 holt. Pioud is the hall that he [the Bishop] raised to Christ. Such a 
 plan springs from a good root. It is of good omen that Beam built this 
 house of God. Peter [the saint to whom it was hallowed] has acquired 
 the noble handiwork of Ami and Beorn [the architects], [c. 1170.] 
 
 AmuND ArnasON, the cleverest carpenter in all Iceland, ivho made the 
 steeple of Hoi a r Cathedral, that for carpentry bore the palm over all that had 
 ever been done in Iceland. His blessing on Bishop Paulas children, tiro boys 
 and two girls. May God magnify Loft with the highest and most 
 
 5. Emend. ; eflir, gengr, sty8r, liaer, Cd.
 
 §6.] GEISLI, BY EINAR SCULASON. 283 
 
 kcenn sty9i krapti sfnom Ketils Ian iaofurr mana: 
 oeztr leai aevi baztrar allz Drdttinn \>er, Halla! 
 dyrr magni J)rif i>6ro f)engill hajfud-Engla. 
 
 Afiitaidi, Pals S., ch, 12. 
 
 45. Oil unna hiu Halli, Hallr er blidr vi8 alia ; 
 
 getr eigi slfka i sveitom, sveit j30-at vi3a leiti: lo 
 
 kynnist ma^rgom manni mann-baldr sa-er fremr aldir ; 
 full er aolbserQ aoUom, a)ll a MaoQro-vajllom. 
 
 Bisk. Sogor, i. 593. 
 
 46. Gramr skop hsestr heima, heims fegrS ok kyn beima ; 
 frsegr hefir sett me6 sigri sigr-valdr skipan aldar : 
 
 spenr i sselo sina sin baorn iaofurr stiaorno, 15 
 
 \)vi er al-stillir allra all-sannr fa8ir manna. 
 
 {6. 
 
 TWELFTH-CENTURY POEMS ON 
 PAST EVENTS. 
 
 GEISLI, OR OLAF'S DRAPA, by EINAR SCULASON, 11 54. 
 
 The following statement is found in Morkinskinna: — "Einar Sculason 
 was with the brothers Sigurd and Eystan; and King Eystan was a great 
 friend of his, and bade him compose an Encomium on Olaf ; and he 
 did so, and delivered it at Throndham in the North, in Christ Church 
 itself; and this took place in the midst of great tokens, and there came 
 a sweet savour into the church. And men say that this was a sign from 
 the king (St. Olaf) himself, that he was pleased with the poem." 
 
 The time of this occurrence is fixed between 1 152, (the establishment 
 of the archbishop's see spoken of in the text,) and the beginning of the 
 quarrel between the brothers which led to Sigurd's death in 11 55 (loth 
 
 unstinted gifts. May the King of the Moon increase Kettle's estate 
 by his power. May the Lord of all bestow a most blissful life on Halla. 
 May the precious Ruler of the archangels make Thora thrive mightily, 
 [c. 1200.] 
 
 On Hall of Madderfield. Anonymous. k\\ the household love Hall. 
 Hall is blithe with all. You will not finH such a man though you seek 
 far and wide through the counties. He is well known to many men, 
 this chief of men who helps every one. There is hearty hospitality for 
 all in Madderfield. [c. 1260.] 
 
 Embroidered on the hangings in the Cathedral Church of Holar in Iceland. 
 The high King of the worlds, he created the beauty of the world and the 
 children of men ; the glorious Prince of victory has victoriously ordained 
 the estate of mortals. The Ruler of the stars draws his children into his 
 biiss; whereby he, the Lord of all, becomes a true father to all men. 
 
 12. I.e. olvaerS.
 
 284 TWELFTH-CENTURY POEMS. [bk.vui. 
 
 June). Still nearer we can get by the mention of Eindrid the Young, a 
 crusader who had been with Earl Rognwald in the Holy Land. He could 
 not, we should think, have been home before the spring of 1153 ; and it 
 must have been on St. Olafs day, July 29th, of 1153 or 11 54 that Einar de- 
 livered his composition before the three kings, Eystan, Sigurd, and Ingi, 
 the new archbishop John, the Guild-Brothers of St. Olaf, and the general 
 congregation of Thronds. There is a blank in the Gillungs' Saga 
 covering these two years 1153 and 1154, so that we are dependent ou 
 the poem itself for the record of this great meeting and ceremony. 
 
 The text is founded on the two vellums, Birgis-bok (Codex Holmensis) 
 with the better, and Flatey-bok (vol. i) with the worst text. A skilful 
 edition of this poem by Cederschiold, Lund 1874, has been consulted. 
 
 The title is given as Geisli in Flatey-bok. In the other MS., and when 
 cited, as in Morkinskinna, it is headed Olafs drapa. The title 'Geisli' 
 is taken from the word for 'saint' in lines 3 and 25. 
 
 The poem is planned on the lines 17 + i +(9 x 3) + 26 = 71, and the 
 internal arrangement is fairly symmetrical. 
 
 The interest of the poem lies in its historical notices and associations, 
 for which alone it can be read ; for the long-winded and sanguinary 
 synonyms mixed up with grotesque religious 'kennings,' and the tire- 
 some repetitions of the 'stal,' will quickly weary the hearer or reader. 
 There is however that musical rhythm for which Einar is well known. 
 
 The old church of Throndham, built by Olaf the Quiet, is the scene 
 of the first recital ; portions of it are still imbedded in the magnificent 
 pile which the piety, zeal, and art of Eystan (the archbishop who 
 followed John) raised over the shrine of the patron saint. Eystan's 
 cathedral is of interest to every Englishman, as it contains a 'crown' 
 imitative of that of Canterbury, which Eystan would have seen and 
 copied in his exile in England (1179-83) from the power of Swerri. 
 ^lunch's splendid volume tells the tale of the succeeding churches which 
 occupied the place of Magnus' wooden fane. 
 
 I. 
 
 1. T^ INS ma (69 ok bcenir) allz-valdanda ens snialla 
 
 ^-^ (mia)k er froSr sa er getr grei6a) Gu6s |)renning mer kenna : 
 g3ofugt lios bo6ar geisU gunn-a)flugr miskunnar, 
 agcetan by9 ek itrom Olafi brag solar. 
 
 2. t'eirrar er (helms) 1 heimi, heims myrkrom bra ^eima, 5 
 (ok lios meSan var visi vedr- kallaSisk -hallar) : 
 
 sa l^t biartr fra biartri berask mannr iind sky-ranni 
 (fraegr st63 af J)vi) floj6ar (fa^rnoSr) ra)6ull, stiaDrno. 
 
 3. Si6ar (heilags) bra solar setr (var t)at fyr betra), 
 
 L Opening. Verses 1-6, the Creed. It becomes me here to set forth 
 the Trinity of One God Almighty. Wise is he that knows the song 
 [Litany] and prayers [the INIass]. The mighty Beam, that shines from 
 the Sun of Mercy, forebodes a glorious light, — I offer my poem to Olaf. 
 
 The Incarnation. From that Sun / say, who, when he was in this 
 world, scattered the darkness of the world, and though he was the King 
 of Heaven, called himself the Light of the world. In all his brightness 
 he chose to be born a man of a bright Star ot the Sea [Mary]. 
 
 The Passion. Afterwards setting darkened the light of that Sun, that 
 
 I. 66] or9, Fl. 2. grei8a] go6a, FI. 8. stiornur, Cd.
 
 §6.] GEISLI, BY EINAR SCULASON. 285 
 
 (au9-finnandom annars 6mi6ss raoSuls) li6si : 10 
 
 oeztr J)rifna3r nam efnask oss pa-er Iff a krossi 
 iarSar allra fyr6a 6nau6igr tok dau6a. 
 
 4. Upp rann (Engla skepno i3-vandr) of dag {)ri6ja 
 (Kristr reeSr) krapti hsestom kunn rdttlastiss sunna : 
 veit-ek at mildr fra moldo megin-fioolQi reis ha)l6a, 15 
 (iflaust ma pat efla ossa vsun) me'9 hanom. 
 
 5. Sonr std upp me9 yn8i au9ar-mildr fra hauSri, 
 ia)fra baztr, til oestrar allz-raQanda hallar: 
 
 lofaSr sitr a)llom oefri (a)6linga hnigr {)ingat 
 
 da)glings hir9) a d/'rSar, dag-bols konungr, st61i. 20 
 
 6. Veitti dfvbar dr6ttinn da9-vandr giafar Anda 
 (msol sanna J)au) maonnom mattigs (framir valtar) : 
 JDaSan reis upp sii-er einom n\-pfd Gu9i hl5^9ir 
 (hsestr skia)ldungr hfbr hsoldom himin-vistar til) Kristni. 
 
 7. Nu skolorn gaofgan Geisla Gu9s hallar ver allir, 25 
 ftr f)ann-er Olafr heitir, all-styrkan vel d/'rka : 
 
 ])\66 veit harm und hei9a hri9-bla)snom sal vi9a 
 (menn nemi maol sem ek inni min !) iartegnom skina. 
 
 8. Heyr6u til afreks or6a, Eysteinn konungr, beinna ! 
 SigurSr, hygg at pvi snoeggjom, sokn-sterkr, hve ek fer verka ! 
 drengr berr 69 fyrir Inga; y9arra[r] bi9-ek sty9ja 31 
 m3er9, ^at-er miklo var9ar, matdgt haDfo9 attar. 
 
 9. Yfir-manni b/'9-ek unninn (upp er moer9 komin) la)r9rar 
 [loan kalla-ek] allrar alpfbo, brag hl5^9a : 
 
 ha)fom hr69r, enn leyfa hygg-ek vin ra)9uls tiggja 35 
 
 (stols vex h3e9 ]3ar-er hvflir heilagr konunsfr) fagran. 
 10. Oss samir enn at Jjesso (or9-gn6ttar bi9-ek Drottinn 
 
 we might gain another hght [win life everlasting]. It was the greatest 
 blessing for us when the Life of all mankind received death on the cross 
 of his own will. 
 
 Tbe Resurrection. On the third day Christ, the Sun of Righteousness, 
 who rules over the angel creation, arose in his glory; I know that a 
 noble multitude of men arose with him from the earth ; this must 
 strengthen our hope. 
 
 The Ascension. The Son ascended from the earth to the highest hall 
 of the Lord of all, and sitteth there above the angels on a throne of 
 glory, and the host of God bow before him .... 
 
 Sending of the Holy Ghost. Then God granted to men the gifts of the 
 Mighty Spirit ; blessed witnesses speak to it. Hence arose the commu- 
 nion of Christendom, that obeys one God .... 
 
 Dedication. Now let us all worship that bright beam of God's hall, 
 whose name is Olaf. All men under the storm-tossed hall of the hills 
 [heaven] know that he shines brightly with tokens of power [miracles]. 
 Hearken, King Eystan, to my song ; and do thou, Sigurd, mark how I 
 carry it on. Before Ingi I deliver my poem; I pray the mighty head 
 of your race [St. Olaf] to strengthen my Song of Praise. To John, the 
 head of the clergy [archbishop of Throndham], I offer my Song of 
 Praise. I am about to celebrate the fair friend of the Lord of the Sun.
 
 286 TWELFTH-CENTURY POEMS. [bk. viii. 
 
 aldar) Olafs gilda itr-ge3s lofi kveSja : 
 
 fann-ek aldri val vildra vall-ri66andi allra 
 
 (raun dugir rett) i eino ranni frem6ar-manna. 40 
 
 11. f'rek-lyndz skolo froendir ^egn-pry6is brag hlfbs,, 
 (Kristz lifir hann 1 haestri haoU) ok Nor6menn allir : 
 dfrS er agset or6in elion-hress 1 Jjesso 
 
 \)\66 (ne Jiengill fcedizt J)v:-lfkr) konungs-riki. 
 
 12. Sighvatr fra-ek at seg3i s6kn-bra6r iaafurs da6ir; 45 
 fr^tt hefir sold at orti Ottarr um gram drottar : 
 
 \)e\r hafa pengils Moera (JDvi er sfst) frama l/'Stan ; 
 [helgom 1^'t-ekJ er hdto ha)fo6-skald [fira ia^fri]. 
 
 13. Red ok tolf, sa-er tru6i tir-bra6r a Gu9, la5i 
 
 {\)'\6b muna J)engil bi6a) \)ni vetr konungr (betra) : 50 
 
 a6r fuU-huga6r f^lli folk-valdr 1 dyn skialda 
 
 (hann speni oss) fyrir innan Olvis-haug (fra baalvi) ! 
 
 14. ]M66r vann margar da6ir munn-ri66r Hugins kunnar 
 (satt var at siklingr boetti sin mein) Gu6i einom : 
 
 leyndi lofSungr troenda li9-gegn snara jDegna 55 
 
 (fsestr gramr hefir fremri foezk) haleitri goezko. 
 
 15. Fregit hefi-ek satt at seg6i sniallri fer6 a6r ber6izk 
 (drott n^tr dsoglings mattar) draum sinn konungr Rauma : 
 stiga kvad standa fagran styrjar-fimr til himna 
 
 (rausn dugir bans at hrosa) Ha)r6a-gramr fra iaorSo : 60 
 
 16. Ok hagliga hug6isk hrcekkvi-baugs ins dcekkva 
 lyngs i lopt upp ganga lattr-stri6andi si9an : 
 
 ]6t, sa-er land-folks gstir, lik-samr himin-n'ki 
 um-geypnandi, opna, allz heims, fyrir gram snisollom. 
 
 17. Vakit fra-ek vig a Stikla- (vi9-lendr) -staD6om sldan 65 
 (Inn-&roendom let undir alm-reyrs lito6r dreyra) : 
 
 The renown of the see, wherein the holy king rests, shall wax high. It 
 beseems me next to address my lay to the noble Guild-Brethren of 
 St. Olaf. Never have I met a fairer assembly of worthies in one hail. 
 The Thronds and all the Northmen shall hearken to my Encomium on 
 the glory of the Saint, who is now living in the Hall of Christ. His 
 renown is become very precious in this kingdom. No such king shall 
 ever be born again among us. 
 
 The King's holy life. Sighvat, I know, has told the deeds of the king ; 
 Ottar has sung of his works. These two master-poets have praised the 
 lord of the Mores, the holy king, to whom I bow. Fifteen winters he 
 ruled over the land, ere he fell in his holiness in the battle within Olwi's 
 howe. May he deliver us from evil. Many mighty deeds the prince of 
 the Thronds accomplished, known to God alone, hiding them from men, 
 to the healing of his soul. I know of a truth that the king of the Reams 
 told his dream ere the fight began ; that he, the lord of the Hords, saw 
 a fair ladder reaching from earth to heaven, and he dreamed that he 
 climbed aloft, and that the merciful Encompasser of the World opened 
 
 50. konungs, Cd.
 
 §6.] GEISLI, BY EINAR SCULASON. 287 
 
 heims {)essa fra-ek hvassan (hvatir felldo gram skatnar) 
 [t)eir dr^gdo ba)l] brig6o baug-dnf numinn lifi. 
 
 iilef. : 
 
 18. Fuss em-ek, l[)vi-at vann vi'si (var hann mestr konungr) flestar, 
 [drott nemi mserS] ef ek msetti, mann-d^TSir, Stef vanda : 70 
 
 Greitt md gumnoin le'tta Gubs ribari stribom ; 
 hraustr piggr allt sem astir Oldfr of gram solar. 
 
 I. 19. Na&it biartr, J)a-er bei8ir baug-skialdar lauk aldri, 
 (s^'ndi sal-vaorSr grundar s^n tcokn) rajSull skina : 
 fyrr var hitt er harra, hau6r-tiakla bra aldri, 75 
 
 hept (n^^-task mer mgetti mal-tol) skini solar. 
 
 20. GiajrQozk bratt, J)ar-er barSisk brodd-ri66rvi8 kyn f)i63ar, 
 (gramr van6it sa syndom sik) iartegnir miklar : 
 
 lios brann Iiki raesiss (la)g-ski9s) yfir si6an, 
 
 (J)vi at a)nd me3 ser syndis) sam-doegris (Gu6 fram6i). 80 
 
 21, D/rd Isetr da)gling HLX)r6a (dyljask me6r vi3 {)at) gledja 
 itr [munat aoSlingr betri] allz groGQari [foe6ask] : 
 
 Greitt md gumnom le'tta Giibs ribari stribom ; 
 hraustr piggr allt set7i cestir Oldfr af gram solar. 
 
 11. 22. Drott {do dj^ran sveita da)glings riks af Ii'ki 85 
 
 (v2on gleSr hug) me9 hreino bans (batnaSar) vatni : 
 satt er at Sygna drottinn sserendr Gu6i kseran, 
 brings, (skolo heyra drengir bans bra)g6) 1 gra)f la)g9o. 
 23. t*ar kom blindr (enn ek byrja blid verk) muni si8arr 
 au9ar-ni6tr, er /tar iajfurs bein {)vegit hajfSo : 90 
 
 the kingdom of Heaven unto him. Afterwards the battle of Sticklestead 
 was fought, and the prince of the In-Thronds was reft of his life. An 
 evil deed they did that struck him down. 
 
 II. Stave. Fain would I, if I could, work out the Staves of my 
 Praise of the glorious king. — Refrain : Verily God's knight is able to 
 lighten the sorrows of men. The brave Olaf can get all that he desires 
 from the King of the Sun ! 
 
 The sun was not able to shine the day the king lost his life. God 
 showed forth manifest tokens ! So, long ago, when the Lord of the 
 Heavens died, the sun's light was stopped. 
 
 After the battle great signs and wonders were made manifest. A light 
 burned over the king's body the day that he died. The Saviour of all lets 
 the lord of the Hords enjoy his glory.— i?. .• Verily God's knight .... 
 
 The blind man^s sight restored. The people washed the precious blood 
 from the body of the king with pure water, and laid the lord of the 
 Sogn-folk in the grave. Hearken to his miracles! Soon afterward 
 there came a blind man where they had washed the king's body ; he 
 
 76. maetr, Cd. 78. van6it] fir6i, Cd. 80. syndizt, Cd. 81. nie6r] m', Cd.
 
 288 TWELFTH-CENTURY POEMS. [BK.vm. 
 
 sion-brautir strauk sfnar seggjom kunns i brunni 
 arr, {)eim-er Olafs dreyra, orms-landa, var blandinn. 
 24, Sion fekk seggr af hreino (su d/'rd munat fyrSom) 
 [faDrnoQr var pat] (fyrnask) fiaDl-g66s konungs bl66i. 
 
 Greitt md gunmom letta Gu6s ridari stridom ; 95 
 
 hraustr piggr alll sem astir Oldfr af gram solar, 
 
 III. 25. Tolf msonoSr var tynir tand-rau3s huli6r sandi 
 
 fremSar lystr ok fasta, fimm nsetr, vala strastiss : 
 
 a9r an upp or vf6o ulf-nistanda kisto 
 
 d^Tr l^t Drottinn harra da9-milds koma la6i. 100 
 
 26. Mai fekk ma3r, er hvilir marg-fn'3r ia)furr, sf6an 
 a3r sa-er or6a hl/'Qo af-sky'f6r farizt hafdi : 
 
 frsegS vinnr fylkiss Eg8a folk-sterks af |dvi verki ; 
 ia)furs snilli t)reifsk alia ungs a Danska Tungo. 
 
 27. FaaSor skolo fulltings bi6ja (fremSar f)i66) enn g66a 105 
 (mceSir mart a la3i) Magniiss hvatir bragnarl 
 
 Greitt md gumnom letta Gubs ribari stridom ; 
 hraustr piggr allt sem astir Oldfr af grain solar. 
 
 IV. 28. Gekk sinom bur soekkvir solar-straums 1 drauma; 
 
 valdr kvezk fylgja foldar fram-lundom gram mundo : no 
 a6r a Hl^Tskogs-heiSi har3-fengr ia)furr bardisk 
 (g68s el6iss fekk gyl6ir gnott) vi3 heidnar drottir. 
 
 29. Let iarp-litan soto (arnar-iods) enn G66i 
 (munn rau3 mildingr innan) Magnus Hugin fagna : 
 hraett var3 folk a flotta (frson beit t%^ at leggja; 115 
 sorg hluto vif [en vargar] Vindversk [of hrse gindo]. 
 
 30. Raun er at sigr gaf sinom sniallr Lausnara spialli 
 (hrosa-ek verkom visa vlg-diarfs) fraamom arfa : 
 
 Greitt md gumnom le'tta Gubs ribari stribom ; 
 
 hraustr piggr allt sein astir Oldfr a/ gram solar. 120 
 
 washed his eyes in the stream that was mingled with the blood of Olaf, 
 and received his sight, — R. : Verily God's knight .... 
 
 A man gets bac/i his speech. Twelve months and five days the king's 
 body was shrouded in sand, till God made his coffin to come out of the 
 earth. A man, whose tongue had been cut out, got back his speech after- 
 wards on the spot where the king rests. The prince of the men of Agd 
 won renown through this mighty work ; he became famous throughout 
 the Danish Tongue, Men should pray for help to the noble father of 
 King Magnus. — R. : Verily God's knight . . , . 
 
 Magnus' Dream. He appeared in a dream to his son before he fought 
 the heathen-folk at Lurschau-heath, and promised to help him. INIagnus the 
 Good gave a meal to the grey wolf; the people were soon turned to flight. 
 Upon the Wendish women a sorrowful lot fell [they were widowed]. 
 The king gave his son the victory, — R. : Verily God's knight .... 
 
 91. i] or, Cd. 94. -go5r, Cd,
 
 §6.] GEISLI, BY EINAR SCULASON. 289 
 
 V. 31. Reyndi Guthormr grundar (gat hann lett) vi6 pixm 
 sleUan ^ 
 (a6r) hvat Olafs toCSo al-koCns vi6 Gu9 botnir : 
 dag Idt Sinn me6 sigri s6kn-|)y6r lajfurr prySask, 
 J)a-er 1 Onguls-eyjar- und-reyr bito -sundi. 
 
 32. Vfst hafSi li6 lestir linnz ^rimr hlutom minna 125 
 heiptar-mildr at hialdri (harSr fundr var sia) grundar : 
 \)6 t66 hann at hvsoro (honom tioQi vel moQor) 
 
 [har feksk af J)vi hl/ri] (haognuQr) or styr gagni. 
 
 33. Old hefir opt enn mildi unnar-bliks fra miklom 
 (Kristz mseri-ek lim) leysta, lit-rau9s, konungr nau6om : 130 
 
 Greitt md gumnom letta Gubs ribari strDom; 
 hrausir piggr allt sem cesiir Oldfr af gram solar. 
 
 VI. 34. Satt er at silfri skreytta seggjom hollz ok golli 
 
 her I6t Guthormr goerva (grams hr69r er J)at) roQo : 
 slikt hafa menn at minnom meirr iartegna JDeirra ; 1,^5 
 mark stendr Kristz 1 kirkjo (konungs ni6r gaf J^at) mi6ri. 
 
 35. Menn^hafa sagt at svanni sunnr Skaneyjom kunnir 
 OSS at Olafs messo omildr baka vildi : 
 
 enn |)a er brudr at brauSi brenn-heito tok leita, 
 
 {)at var3 grion at grano grioti Danskrar snotar. 140 
 
 36. Hildings hefir haldin hali6 verit siQan 
 (sann-spurt er t)at sunnan) sniallz of Danmajrk alia : 
 
 Greitt md gumnojn letta Gu6s ridari stribom ; 
 hranstr piggr allt sem astir Oldfr af gram solar. 
 
 VII. 37. Ga)fog skar Ha)rn or hcofSi hvitings of sa^k litla 145 
 
 audar aumom beiSi (ungr ma9r var sia) tungo : 
 f)ann ssom ver, J)a-er vsorom, valaust nominn mali 
 
 Earl Guthorni's deli'verance. Guthorm [St. Olafs nephew] found out 
 how the king's prayers prevailed with God. Oiaf caused his day to be 
 celebrated in Anglesey sound. Guthorm had three times less men, and 
 yet, by the help of his mother's brother, he carried the day. The king 
 [Olaf] has ofttimes delivered men from evil straits. — R.: Verily God's 
 knight .... [29th July, 1052]. 
 
 Guthorm had a rood made, inlaid with gold and silver. Such tokens 
 all men may rememiber ; it stands right in the middle of Christ's church ; 
 the king's kinsman gave it. 
 
 The miracle of the loanjes. Men have told how a misbelieving woman 
 of Sconey would bake upon the feast of Olaf; but when she looked 
 for the burning-hot bread to be baked, lo ! the Danish damsel's loaves 
 were turned into grey grit. The king's feast has been kept ever since 
 throughout Denmark. — R.: Verily God's knight .... 
 
 The maimed yuan healed. A noble lady, for a slight cause, cut out a 
 poor young man's tongue. I saw him a few weeks since entirely bereft 
 
 130. Kristz] Krist, Cd. l^.^. ok] of, Cd, 140. graenu, Cd. 
 
 VOL. II. U
 
 290 TWELFTH-CENTURY POEMS. [bk. viii. 
 
 hodda briot, J)ar-er heitir HI16, fcom vikom si9arr. 
 
 38. Frdtt hefi-ek, at sa sotti si6an malma stri6ir 
 
 heim, j^ann-er hialp gefr aumom, harm-sker6anda ferSom : 
 hdr fekk hann (enn byrja halt kvseSi skal-ek) baeSi 151 
 (snaka vangs of sloengvi slungins) mal ok tungo. 
 
 39. Dfvb er agset orSin soSlings riks af sliko 
 
 (mserS nemi mildings HajrSa mest !) of heims byg8 fiesta : 
 
 Greitt md gut7inom le'ita Gu6s ribari sM6ovi ; 155 
 
 hrauslr piggr allt sem cesh'r Oldfr af gravi solar. 
 
 VIII. 40. Veit-ek at Vindr fyrir Skauti (ver6r bragr af J)vi) sker3i 
 gialfrs ni6-branda grundar (greiddr) sarliga meiddo : 
 ok endr fra tru tyndir tirar-sterks or kverkom 
 au9-sk/'fanda 69ar cor grimmliga skooro. 160 
 
 41. Sotti skn'n it skreytta ski6-rennandi si6an 
 (or6 finnask mer) unnar Olafs dreka boli : 
 
 ok ^eim, er vel vak3i (veit-ek saonn) Hugins teiti, 
 mals fekk hilmir heilso heilagr (a t)vi deili). 
 
 42. Has la^tr helgan raesi heims domari soma 165 
 (fyllir fram-lundr stillir fer6 himneska) verSan. 
 
 Greitt via gujiinom letta Gubs ribari stridom ; 
 hrauslr piggr allt sem cEslir Oldfr af gram solar. 
 
 IX. 43. ^ Hneitir fra-ek at hdti hialdrs at vapna galdri 
 
 Olafs hia)rr, J)ess-er orra il-bleikom gaf steikar : 1 70 
 
 J)eim klauf f)engill Rauma f)unn-vaxinn sk/^ gunnar 
 (rekin bito sttol) a Stikla-sta)8om val-basta ra)6li. 
 
 44. Tok, J)a-er fell inn frcekni fylkis kundr til grundar, 
 sver6,hinn er scekja t>or6i,Soenskr ma6r af gramt'roenzkom: 
 sa var hia)rr ins hava hring-stri6anda si8an 175 
 goUi merktr 1 Girkja gunn-diarfs li6i fundinn. 
 
 45. Nii fremr, J)ann er gaf gumnom,ga:)fug d/rS konung fyrSa, 
 (sloeng Einri8i Ungi) arm-glceSr (i brag roe6o) : 
 
 of his speech at a place called Lith. Afterwards, I have heard, he visited 
 him who gives help to the wretched, and there he got back both speech 
 and tongue. By this the king's renown was spread all over the world. — 
 R. .• Verily God's knight .... 
 
 The mangltd man made <whole. I have heard how the Wends, off 
 Sheet, sorely mangled a man. Yea, the miscreants cruelly shore the 
 tongue out of his throat. Afterwards he sought the shrine of Olaf, and 
 the holy king healed him. The Judge of the World grants much 
 glory to the holy king. — R.: Verily God's knight .... 
 
 The Sah/t's sivord. Olafs battle-sword with which he, the Reams' 
 prince, fought at Sticklestead was named Hnit [Cutter]. When he fell to 
 earth, a Swede picked up the sword, and it was afterwards found in the 
 warlike troop of the Greeks [Warangian guard]. Eindrid the Young 
 
 171. Read, {)unn-varin ? 174. svaenskr, Cd. 
 
 I
 
 §6.] GEISLI, BY EINAR SCULASON. 291 
 
 Greitt via gumnom le'tta Gubs fidan siribom ; 
 
 hraiistr piggr alii sem astir Oldfr af gram solar. 180 
 
 III. 
 
 46. Mer er (enn mserS skalk stoera mildings {)ess-er gaf hringa 
 styrjar sniallz) of stilli styrkjan vant at yrkja : 
 
 J)vi-at tsokn |3ess, es li3 Iseknir, lof6ungs vinar tungla 
 (lios verQr raun of rassi) rannz ferr hvert a annat. 
 
 47. Gyr9isk hala herSom heldr naliga at kveldi 185 
 glaum-vekjandi gn'mo glaSr vett-rimar na3ri : 
 
 drengr nam d^Tr a vangi (dagr rofna6isk) sofna 
 itrs landreka undir ogn-fimr berom himni. 
 
 48. Misti ma3r, er lysti, (morgin var t)a) borgar 
 
 styrks mundriSa steindrar styr-sniallr ro6ins galla : 190 
 
 J)atti Sinn a slettri seim-f)iggjandi liggja 
 grundo gyldiss kindar gom-sparra ser fiarri. 
 
 49. I'riar grfmor vann j^eima J)i63-n^tr Haraldz broSir 
 rsokn-stefnandi Reifniss rikr bendingar slikar : 
 
 a6r J)rek-hva)ssom {Dessar J^ing-diarfs firar Yngva 195 
 
 (biaort ero bauga styrtiss braogd) iartegnir saDg6o. 
 
 50. Mas fra-ek larSar eiso aljvalld fyrir hiaor gialda 
 (sldtti-ek 66) J)ann-er atti Olafr (bragar-tolom) : 
 yfir-skiaoldungr l^t ioDfra odd-hri3ar |)ar siSan 
 
 Gar6z a goUi vaorSo grand altari standa. 200 
 
 51. Takn goerir biaort, J)au-er birta brand-^1, a Girklandi 
 (maerd finnsk of J)at maonnom) mann-{)arfr Haraldz arfi : 
 fregn-ek allt ; ne ognar innendr niego6 finna 
 
 (dyr6 Olafs ri6r dala dag-raefrs) konung hoefra. 
 
 52. Ha6isk hildr a vi6om (hungr sloekSi vel J)ungan 205 
 
 has now forwarded my poem [Eindrid told me this]. — R,: Verily God's 
 knight .... 
 
 III. End-piece. It is hard for me to <work out my poem on the 
 king, for his miracles pass from one place to another. 
 
 Olafs s^ivord. One evening the man girt on the sword and fell asleep 
 on the field beneath the open sky. When he awoke he missed the 
 weapon and saw it lying some way from him on the ground. Three 
 nights running Harold's brother wrought this marvel, before the men 
 told the emperor of the miracle. The emperor bought the sword of 
 Olaf for gold, and had it laid ever afterwards upon the high altar in 
 Garth [Constantinople]. Harold's glorious heir showed forth tokens 
 in the battle in Greece. I set forth his praise. 
 
 Battle in Wallacbia. A battle was fought on the broad Petzina-plain 
 [Wallachia] ; the people fell in thousands by the sword ; the Greeks 
 
 185. hgla, Cd. 
 U 2
 
 292 TWELFTH-CENTURY POEMS. [bk. viii. 
 
 gunnar marr i geira gsAl) Petzina-vajllom : 
 
 t)ar sva at f)i66 fyrir hia)rvi jDusundoni laut undan 
 
 (hri6 ox HamSes ldas3a hialm-skceS), Girkir floedo. 
 
 53. Mundi mest und fisondom MiklagarSz ok iarSar 
 hryggs (dugSit li5) liggja lagar eld-brota veldi : 210 
 nema ra)nd 1 byr branda (bar8-ra)kns) fair har8a 
 (ia;8uls bliko Vcopn i ve6ri) Vaeringjar fram bseri. 
 
 54. Heto hart a ftran hraustir menu af trausti 
 (stri6 svall ogn) \>i-er 68osk, Alaf 1 gnf stala: 
 
 J)ar-er of einn i aDrva (und-baoro) flaug varo. 215 
 
 (ro8in klofnu3u Reifniss ra^nn) sex tigir manna. 
 
 55. Var sem reyk (af riki regn dreif stals) 1 gegnom 
 hialm-niaor8ungar har8an hei6ingja li6 gengi : 
 
 halft fimta vann heimtan hundrad brimiss sunda 
 
 n/'ztan tir J)at-er ncera Nor8manna val J^orSi. 220 
 
 56. Eyddo gumnar gladdir (ga)fogr Jjengill barg drengjom) 
 vagna borg, J)ar-er vargar vapn-sundro6 hrai fundo : 
 Nennir a)ll at inna oengr brim-loga sloengvir 
 
 danglings verk \>a.\i er dyrkar da8-sniallz vera^ld alia. 
 
 57. Nu er OSS J)au-er vann vi'si verk fyrir \)i66 at merkja 225 
 nau8r i n}'jom 68i naest; ri3ra t)at smsestom : 
 
 krapt skolom Go8s (enn gipto) ge8-styrks lofi dfrka 
 (l^r hialdr-fra)mom harar heims Iseknir gram J)eima). 
 
 58. Angr-fyldrar var8 aldar (illr goerisk hugr af villo) 
 mildings ^ionn fyr (manna marg-faldr) a)fund kaldri : 230 
 lygi hefir bragna brugQit (brftr stundom fri3) nytra 
 (herm8ar kraptr) til heipta (hialdr-stri6r) skapi bli3o. 
 
 59. Liisto sundr a sandi seggs marg-litendr eggja 
 (ha)r6 groer fion af fyr6a) fot (alldr-trega rotom) : 
 
 ok prest, J^eir-er la)g lesto liknar kra)f3, or ha)f3i z^s 
 
 (hsett mal var J)at) heila himin-tungl i)egar stungo. 
 
 were fleeing. The realm of the king of IMicklegarth [Byzantium] must 
 have yielded to the enemy, had not the few shield-bearing Warangians 
 attacked them in the fight. They called loudly upon the good king Olaf. 
 There were sixty heathens to one of them in the fray. They went 
 through the heathen host as through smoke. The four hundred and 
 fifty Northmen won fame in that place. They destroyed the heathens' 
 waggon-fort. No one can count the wonders the king ^\Tought ; they 
 are famed all over the world. 
 
 7he injured priest healed. Now I must needs, in a fresh strain, last not 
 least, make mention before men of the deeds the king did, and praise 
 the might of the saint. — A priest fell under the cruel wrath of wicked 
 men. Slander has often turned a kindly nature to hatred. Out on the 
 sand they brake the priest's legs, and, against the laws of mercy, thrust 
 his eyes out of his head. Twice was his tongue drawn out with 
 tongs and cut with a knife ; they left him lying there cruelly scalped 
 
 234. Read, groeri. 235. Ieyf6ar krofS (better?), B.
 
 §6.] GEISLI, BY EINAR SCULASON. 293 
 
 60. Tunga var me9 tangar tir-kunn nomin munni 
 (vasa sem vaenst) ok tysvar (vi3r-liT) skorin knifii : 
 aar-skiptir la eptir (a)nd laetr ma6r) a stra)ndo 
 
 (margr of minni sorgir) meinsamliga hamk\6r. ^40 
 
 61. Leyf6r er, sa er let ok styfSrar lami6s fotar, gramr, niola 
 ungan ]3egn, sem augna ut-stunginna, tungo : 
 
 haDnd Olafs vann heilan hreins grimmligra melna 
 
 (goer muno gia)ld J)eim-er byrja) Go6s Jjrsel (a)fog-m3eli). 
 
 62. Bi9r allz-konar a6ri (oeruggt mseli-ek J)at) sselo 245 
 d)''i"9ar-vattr me3 Drottni dyggr an JdIoS of hyggi : 
 
 ef Lausnara l;^sir (li3s valdr) nominn aldri 
 vinr (fir6i sik synSom) slik verk a iar6-n'ki, 
 
 63. He6an var ungr fra angri (allz mest vini fiesta 
 
 God reynir sva sina) siklingr nominn miklo : 250 
 
 nu lifir hraustr 1 hccstri himna-valdz (}Dar-er aldri) 
 far-sker6andi (fyrda) fri^ar-s/'n (gleSi tynisk). 
 
 64. Hverr er sva horskr at byrjar has vegs megi segja 
 lioss 1 lifi J)esso lofSungs giafar tungla: 
 
 })3er-er heims ok himna heit-fastr ia>furr veitir 255 
 
 (skreytt er of skatna drottinn skrin) dyr6ar-vin sinom. 
 
 65. Heims hygg-ek hingat komo haofoSs menn i stad J)enna 
 (snarr tyggi bergr seggjom solar) erki-stoli : 
 
 h^r er af himna goervis heilagr vi6r (sem bi9jom 
 yfir-skia)ldungr biarg aldar oss) piningar-krossi. 260 
 
 66. Old nftr Olafs mildi (iajfurs dfib ha)fom skyr6a 
 J)r6ttar hvass) at J)essom f>rek-sniaDll frama a)llom : 
 Liiti landz-folk Itrom lim sal-konungs himna! 
 
 ssell er hverr, er hollan hann gerir ser, manna. 
 
 67. Tal9a-ek fatt or fia)l9a fri9-gegns af iartegnom 265 
 
 upon the shore. Little life was left in him ; many a man has lost his life 
 by less hurts. Praised be the king that gave the young man the use of 
 his lamed feet, stumped tongue, and his stabbed-out eyes. Olafs hand 
 healed God's servant of his grievous wounds. They who set the slander 
 afoot must pay for it. 
 
 Verily, the precious martyr must be enjoying bliss not to be told of 
 with the Lord, if after deatli he can show forth such miglity deeds. He 
 was taken away in his youth from much evil, — so God tries them that 
 love him ; — now he lives in highest peace before the face of God, where 
 is joy that never shall cease. Who is so wise that he can tell all the 
 gilts which the Lord grants to his beloved one? His shrine is fairly 
 adorned ! The Ruler of the earth [Pope] set an archbishop's see 
 here, where is the holy wood of the cross of the Lord's passion. 
 Herein all men profit by the blessing of Olaf, whom I have been praising. 
 Let the folk of this land bow to the Limb of the Lord. Blessed is he 
 who makes a friend of him, 
 
 7be E7id. I have counted up but a few of Olafs Miracles. May every 
 
 254. tungla] emend.; tungua, Cd.; tunga, F.
 
 294 TWELFTH-CENTURY POEMS. [bk. vm. 
 
 (ber koma or9 fra orom) (3lafs (bragar stoli) : 
 
 bols taki seggr hverr-er, solar siklings, {)ess-er Go9 miklar, 
 
 hilmis Eost ens haesta hei6-biartrar lof greiSir : 
 
 68. Sva-at Lausnara leysi lang-vinr fra kvaol strangri 
 
 n/'ta \)\66 ok nau6om nagl-skaddz vid tru stadda: 270 
 
 viga-skys J)ar-er visa veljendr gla9ir telja, 
 ajflogs Kristz af sostom al-nennins, brag {Denna. 
 
 69. Bragr mundi nu bra)ndom baug-ness vera J)essi 
 (man-ek rausnar skap rsesis) raun-d/'rliga launaSr : 
 
 ef lofda gramr lifdi leik-mildr Sigur9r hildar 275 
 
 {pe9S hrosa-ek veg visa vellom grimms) enn ellri. 
 
 70. O/d/s ha)fom ia)fra or9-hags li9i sag9ar 
 (fylgdi hugr) ens Helga happs da9ir (|)vi ra9i) : 
 laun fse-ek holl ef hreinom hrae-siks |3rimo h'kar, 
 
 gaDfugs 69ar ler goeQir Go9s bletzon li9s J)essa. 280 
 
 71. Been hefi-ek, J)engill, J)ina, {)rek-ramr, sto9at framla; 
 iflaust ha)fum ia^fri unnit maerd sem kunnom : 
 Agsetr segit itran, Eysteinn, hve ek brag leystak : 
 Has elskit veg visa vagn-rsefrs ! — Enn ek J)agna. 
 
 HALLAR-STEINARR (Rekstefja, or Drapa Tvi-skelfba). 
 
 Of this man, save that his fore-name seems to be derived from a 
 farni, Hall, in the West of Iceland in Borgar-firth, we know nothing; 
 and it is in accordance with the internal evidence afforded by his poems, 
 which present a most remarkable Hkeness to those of Einar Sculason, 
 that we place him here. One might even guess at a relationship between 
 the tvv o. 
 
 Rekstef.a, his famed poem, is in the great Olaf Tryggvason's Life 
 ascribed to ' Hallar-stcin ; ' under which form the Rimur on Skald- 
 Helgi also cite this author: and Dr. Egilsson believed that Hallar-Stein 
 was no other than Stein-Herdisarson (§ 3), and urges that a refrain of 
 Stein-Herdisarson is copied in Rekstefia. But we find our poet's full 
 name to have been, not Stein, but Steinar (in Bergs-bok); under which 
 form he is once or twice quoted in Edda; and we can have little doubt 
 that Hallar-Stein is merely a shortening of this. The style and bearing 
 
 man that spreads these praises of the king whom God magnifies, win 
 the love of the high King of Heaven ; so that the friend of the nail- 
 pierced Saviour may save men from torment and evil, whenever they 
 shall joyfully recite this praise of the king for the love of Christ. This 
 Song would have been richly rewarded were the generous king, Sigurd 
 the Elder, still alive. The Miracles of St. Olaf I have told before 
 the kings. I shall surely get a noble fee for my Lay in the blessing of 
 the saint, if my verse please him. 
 
 I have accomplished that which thou didst desire of me, O king : 
 I have wrought the praise of the king [Olaf's Encomium] as well as I 
 could. Tell me, O Eystan, how I have acquitted me of my Lay. Love 
 ye the Lord. Now I will hold my peace. 
 
 270 -skaddz] emenJ. ; nagl-kvaJdr, Cd. 280. let, Cd.
 
 §6.] REKSTEFJA, BY STEINARR. 295 
 
 of the whole of Steinar's work is decidedly that of the twelfth century, 
 or Einar Sculason's age. Notice that Steinar calls the 'stone' bokar sol, 
 a pun or image drawn from illuminating (staining) manuscripts. 
 
 Rekstefia is a poem in praise of Olaf Tryggvason. Its title, given it 
 by the poet, of Inlaid or Set-Sta've, is derived from the ' cloven burden,' 
 cut into three, and wedged bit by bit into the stanzas of the stave- 
 strophes. He also calls it T^i-skel/da Drapa, or the Two-stress Encomium, 
 from the occurrence of a measure of double stress at the beginning of 
 each line. There are a few exceptions to this (possibly corruptions), as 
 hatto, 1. 44 ; sidan, 1. 90 ; hegio, 1. 90 ; eigi, 1. 137; others, as heidinn, 
 blodogr . . . . , may pass as double stressed. The metre, as Steinar says, 
 'is not often met with.' 
 
 Inform the poem, as we have it, follows the scheme (r + 7) + (5x3) + 
 (io + 2) = 35._ 
 
 The historical worth of Rekstefia is not small. It gives in some in- 
 stances the life of Olaf according to a tradition, followed only by Agrip, 
 and differing from that of the Book of Kings altogether. Thus it 
 praises Olaf for avenging his father (on the rebellious men of Ran- 
 rick). It also gives fresh details as to Swold; the Swedes attack first 
 with Jl/teen ships, then Swain with sixty, lastly Earl Eric withy?x'f, an 
 order and number which does not tally with the received account. He 
 alone gives the stratagem by which Eric wins the Serpent, viz. casting 
 big beams on to the big ship's deck, to crush and hamper her defenders. 
 One cannot help recalling the gallant Sir Andrew Barton of our Ballad, 
 and his famous ship ' brass within and steel without ' — 
 
 ' With Beams for his Topcastle : that is both huge au'i high. 
 There is neither English nor Portingale : can Sir Andrew Barton pass by ? 
 Said the merchant, " If you do so, take counsel then I pray withal ; 
 Let no man to his Topcastle go, nor strive to let his Beams down fall." ' 
 
 Steinar is also the primary poetic authority for the miracles of St. Olaf 
 and his great bodily feats. The mention of Hallfred and Biarni and 
 their Drapas on Olaf is also to be noted. 
 
 There is a bit of a Lot'e-Song of Steinar's (in Einar's very vein) cited 
 in Edda, wherein is an echo from Egil. Steinar also made a Dirge on 
 Helgi the poet, a hero of his own district (see Prolegomena, § 23). A 
 piece of it which has survived is given below. 
 
 The text, like that of Geisli, is from Bergs-bok. Many verses, in 
 a less good text, are cited in O. T. Saga, A.M. 61 (B). We have 
 consulted Cederschiold's Edition, Lund, 1881. 
 
 I. 
 
 1. TT ERS-DR6TT ha)16a sldttom hlioas kve6-ek mer at 6b\ ; 
 J- J- rand-hvels remmi-f'undi Rekstefjo tek-ek hefja : 
 skj'-runn skialdar linna skal-ek fn'6om lof smiQa 
 t)ing-Baldr' J)r6ttar-mildom, J^eim-er fremstr var beima. 
 
 2. Veg-mildr viSrar foldar vaor8r {ja fostr 1 GgorSom ; 5 
 vell-bi68r vfsar dadir vann, sa-er haest gekk manna: 
 
 The Opening. I call on men to listen to my song. I am beginning 
 my Set-Stave (Rek-Stefia). I shall smithy a Song of Praise upon a 
 king that was the first of men. 
 
 3. sky-runn] emend. ; skurumz, Cd.
 
 296 TWELFTH-CENTURY POEMS. [bk. viii. 
 
 Biik-runnr brigSa-miklom bratt re9 hann J)eims atti 
 all-prutt ^la-frottar Olafr skipa-stoli. 
 
 3. dlafr allra ia)fra ottlaust ok nam briota 
 
 varg-hoUr Vinda borgir, vestr hernaS rak mestan : 10 
 
 hrse-linnz hverjo sinni, hliom-vattandi, knatti 
 s6kn-bra6r sigri ra6a, Svolniss doms, i romo. 
 
 4. Senn aoll si6an runno snekkjo ba)r3 or Ga)r9om 
 her-maorg hala tiaorgoS hildings und gram mildom : 
 Vestr-laond vir8a kindir ver-faokom \6t herjat 15 
 all-dyggr arfi Tryggva Alafr ok klauf stsolom. 
 
 5. Full-snart frcekno hiarta frlSr J)engill let si3an 
 (hiaorr gall, ha)l6ar fdllo) hefnd sins faoSor efnda : 
 bloSogr bragnings J)i66ar brandr gall a England!, 
 6-trautt Enskrar drottar aldr-spelli fra-ek valda. 20 
 
 6. Ugg-laust Ira bygSir ukvi6inn let siSan 
 el-Freyr Ullar kiola endr fikula brendar : 
 Skot-land ska^fnom brand! skiald-fr/'Sr of nam rySja 
 (o'ddr belt) [ulfar saoddosk] odeigr (Skotta feiga). 
 
 7. Fron-bandz foeri-a)ndrom friSr til Noregs si6an 25 
 sker-Baldr Ska)glar elda skiald-bunom l^t haldit: 
 
 heiSinn heiman flySi (hildingr ne JDar vildi 
 ' a6r an ' Olafs biSa) iarl af sino hiarli. 
 
 8. Hauk-i66s harSa vi6a (hsott) Norcenar drottir 
 (t'und-regns heim of vandak J^engil) a hf gengo : 30 
 6-ra6 illri ]pi66o Alafr of gait dala ; 
 
 vfg-runnr velja kunni vikingom hlut sh'kan. 
 
 II. Stef. 
 I. 9. Fe-mildr fylkir vildi firna ma)rg ok haorga, 
 
 blot-hiis, brenna lata ; ba3 hann heiSin go6 meiSa : 
 sigr-brandz si6an kendi sann-hr66igr tru go&a 35 
 
 Olaf was fostered at Garth, he was soon the leader of a fleet. Olaf 
 betook hhnself to storming the strongholds of the Wends, raising war in 
 the West ; every time he fought he won the day. Many a well-manned 
 smack ran out of Garth at his command ; Olaf, Tryggwi's heir, harried 
 the Western lands [south Baltic coasts]. 
 
 Soon he avenged his father. His bloody blade whistled in England, he 
 wrought the death of English folk. Then he burnt the dwellings of the 
 Irish, and cleared Scotland with his whetted blade. 
 
 Then he held his course in his ships towards Norway. The heathen 
 earl [Hakon] fled from his land, afraid to abide Olafs coming. The 
 Northern people [Norwegians] took him as king. He requited evil- 
 doers heavily, he paid the buccaneers for what they had done. 
 
 H. The Staves. Re/rain: Olaf was the mightiest and best of kings 
 beneath the sun's path. 
 
 He busied himself in burning many a fane and high-place, and the 
 
 7. -Tubv, Cd. 18. hefnt . . . efndi, Cd. 20. Odd-rioS Enskra ly&a, B. 
 
 23. fry3r] B; pruSr, Cd. 30. I.e. l)engli ; J)engils, Cd.
 
 §6.] REKSTEFJA, BY STEINARR. 297 
 
 her-lundr ha3l9a kindom. — Harm yar rikstr honung-manna 
 
 10. H63-la)nd {)remja skyndir J)renn kristnadi ok tvenni ; 
 hikling hcoppom valda (bans n'ki fra-ek) slikom : 
 mcerings maDnnom skirisk merki frem(3ar-verka 
 egg-motz ekki litik — Oldfr und veg solar 40 
 
 11. fsland dla skyndir I'tr lista vann kristnaS, 
 goU-mildr, Groena-veldi, gaondlar-Jieyss, ok Eyjar : 
 hand-vfst Hiaka grundar hann, sem Noregs manna 
 ' hatto ' hilmir boetti. — holl, okfremstr at olio. 
 
 II. 12. Haf-gl66 hihnir saSi hialdr-rikr ok gaf skia)ldo, 45 
 st^tt-hrings staifnom veitti stikka, vcopn ok skikkjor : 
 st6r-ra8r steinda knaorro stillir fekk, ok ekki 
 hildings hoef6i mildi. — Ha^in var rikstr kojiung-manna 
 
 13. Huns-nott hverja knaStto hir6-menn konungs spenna 
 gylld horn graeQiss meklrar ; glaSr vfsi drakk J)a6ra : 50 
 vi6-fr3egr velja toeSi vfn hus-ka)rIom sinom 
 
 all-valdr einkar-mildom. — Oldfr und veg solar 
 
 14. Mor3-linnz ma^rgo sinni moQ-Jirutinn bio uti 
 (hufr svall, hrannir fello) hvessi-meiSr a skeiSom : 
 gylk hlyr (gnaop9o skalptar) gunn-fikinn l^t blikja 55 
 her-ru6r hajfnom fiarri. — holl, okfremstr at olio. 
 
 III. 15. Or-ri66r atta skeiSom efsta sinn ok t)rinnom 
 
 (byrr var6) beita J)or6i (br/^nn) or t^rondheims mynni : 
 
 Ormr skrei8 (arar kniQi) a)lna-vang inn-Langi 
 
 (hir3 pru8) hilmir st^Tdi. — Hann var rikstr ko7iung-manna 
 
 16. Raun-skiott raasir hitti [n't] (vara friSr at h'ta) 61 
 [sol rau8 Svolniss ^la] senn daDgUnga J^renna : 
 Fimmtan fiajrniss mana fleygjendr at gram rendo 
 Ekkils y'ti-bla)kkom. — Oldfr inid veg solar 
 
 17. Grar reif [goerSo drifo] (gall brandr vi6 sla)g) [randa] 
 troU-marr tr^'ni soUinn [tveir nafnar] hrae iafnan : 66 
 
 houses of offering. He had the heathen gods broken up, then he taught 
 the people the true God. Three folklands and twain he christened, this 
 is the blessing he wrought. He got Iceland christened, Greenland and 
 the Isles too. He bettered the faith of the Shetlands and of the men 
 of Norway. 
 
 He scattered gold and gave gifts of shields, and bestowed weapons 
 and mantles, he gave away the painted ships ; no one could outvie his 
 largesse. Every winter the king's henchmen handled the gilded horn; 
 when the merry king was drinking he gave his henchmen wine. Yet 
 many a winter he lay out at sea in his galley. 
 
 Last he clave the sea from Throndham's mouth with eight 
 galleys and three. The Long Serpent furrowed the main, the king 
 steered her. Soon he fell in with three princes. The enemie'; set upon 
 him with fifteen ships of war. The two namesakes fought [Olaf of 
 
 38. hildings, Cd. 4(. Read, halt-brog3 ? 5S. 0>-, Svoldrar myniii, B.
 
 298 TWELFTH-CENTURY POEMS. [bk. viii. 
 
 Svaenskr herr sigri Jjorrinn ; sverS beit ; enn flo peita ; 
 hri6 ox ; hajl6ar ^fbo. — ^o//, okfrevistr at olio. 
 
 IV. 18. Aur-brag9z serir la)g6o ann at sinn at Linna 
 
 (grimmt var6 Ga)ndlar borSa gnaust) sex tigom flausta : 70 
 Danskr herr dfran harra, diott hn^ majrg, {jar-er sotti 
 (hir6 fell, hrafnar gullo). — Hann var rikstr ko7iung-mo.7ina 
 
 19. Strsong var6 (stalin sungo) sterklig iaofurs merki. 
 gramr skaut, ga)r6isk rimmo gangr um Orm-inn-Langa : 
 Nytr herr Noregs gsetiss nger vasa trau6r at ssera, 75 
 or6-pru6s, lota fer6ir. — Oldfr imd veg solar 
 
 20. Myrkt hregg msekiss eggja mein-illa gekk Sveini ; 
 droit hn^ dreyra {)rutin ; Danir skundoSo undan : 
 Tandr beit (tyggi renndi tveim daoglingom) Ska)glar ; 
 bans vaorn hefSisk firnom. — hijll, okfrejiistr ai olio. So 
 
 V. 21. ftr iarl einkar snarla endr fimm skipom renndi 
 J)rek-mannz J)ri9ja sinni J)remja storms at Ormi : 
 Ben let (ba)r6osk /'tar) bryn-ski6s vi6om sviSa 
 Hyrningr heiplar-gia^rnom. — Hann var rikstr konutig- 
 manna 
 
 22. Ran-sfks remmi-lauka rog-svellir ba6 fella 85 
 (styrr ^reifsk) stoeri-aska stangr a Orm-inn-Langa : 
 att-storr ella matti Eirikr 1 dyn geira 
 
 of-Linn aldri vinna. — Oldfr imd veg solar 
 
 23. Hvast skaut (hlifar brusto) hildingr or lyptingo 
 [s]6an synt nam eySask] sokn-strangr [Ormr-inn-Langi] : 
 unn-elldz yppi-runnom engi kann sva en lengra 91 
 ' hegio ' hilmiss segja. — hull, okfremstr at olio. 
 
 IIL Slccmr. 
 
 24. Hia)r-fl66s hnykki-meiSom her er um Slolm at duL-ma, 
 hnig-reyrs, harSa storan ; hefi-ek ^ar lokit stefjom : 
 
 Norway and Olaf of Sweden]. The Swedes were reft of the victory. 
 The battle-storm raged high, the warriors fled. 
 
 A second time the Serpent was set upon with sixty ships of the 
 Danish hosts: much people fell in that onslaught. The strong stave 
 bore the king's banner. There was a fierce attack made upon the Long 
 Serpent, the mighty men of the King of Norway were not slack in wound- 
 ing the Jutes. Sweyn fared very ill in the fray, the Danes fled away. 
 Our king's defence is renowned among men : he put two kings to flight. 
 
 A third time the Serpent was attacked by the bold Earl [Eric] 
 with five ships. Hyrning's blows were sore. The Earl [Eric] ordered 
 huge ash beams to be cast upon the Long Serpent, or else Eric would 
 never have won the Serpent in the fray. The king kept si. ooting sharply 
 from the forecastle. At last the Long Serpent was being fast cleared of 
 its crew. No man after that can tell farther of the king. 
 
 in. The End-piece. Now men must listen to the End-piece, for I have 
 73, Read, stiing br.r? 91. en sva, Cd. 92. Read, heggj-ord?
 
 §6.] REKSTEFJA, BY STEINARR. 299 
 
 l6-vandr aSrar daSir ek f/somk nii lysa 95 
 
 gn/'-bi63s geysi-t]6ar geira hoti fleiri. 
 
 25. Tvaer senn tiggja vinnor tel-ek (j^a^r-er ek veit feri 
 gn^'-linnz Ga)ndlar runna, gramr ijDrottir framSi): 
 hyr-Baldr hvftra skialda hand-sa)xom lek vandla 
 (flein-rioSr flestra da6a frar) ok gekk a aorom. 100 
 
 26. ' Val-stafns vsetki rofna:' viti menn at ek fra tvenna 
 haus ' mannz ' hringi liosom hir6-me6r konungs ve6ja : 
 (her-mart) hisorva snyrtir hvarr lezk grams 1 hamri 
 (styr-rem6r stillir framSi stoera) a)6rom foeri. 
 
 27. Annarr ajSlings manna okviSinn r^6 si3an 105 
 (stfgr var6 stala sveigi strangr) 1 biarg at ganga : 
 
 Hatt fiall hvarki matti (bans var h'f f)roti3) kh'fa 
 eld-ru6r a)lna foldar upp e9a ni3r fra miSjo. 
 
 28. Hilding bvasst fra-ek ganga (hann r^6 prutt) eptir manni 
 [ra6-vandr hilmir rendi rip] 1 bratta gnfpo : no 
 jDrek-leyf3r })engill hafSi {pat var endr) und hendi 
 [sigr-t)oll sva barg stillir] sinn dreng, ok gekk lengra. 
 
 29. Dreyr-serks d/rSar-merki da6-minnigs skal-ek inna 
 sk^'-bioSs skelfi-hriSar Skaoglar-borSz in fiorSo : 
 har6-leygs hrinda frcogom hvat-lyndom {'orkatli 115 
 styr-lund strfSra branda storms fyr bor3 a Ormi. 
 
 30. Spell vann (spar6it stillir) spiot-runnz (ska6a-b6tir) 
 mein-gar6r margra iar6a mikit d/Tligrar skikkjo : 
 go6-vefr goerSisk iaafri, graon ok skinn und hsonom, 
 
 senn a svip-stund einni si9an iafn e6a friSri. 120 
 
 31. Or-ri66r allra da6a iartegnir vann biartar 
 
 (Dvergs regn dreyra megnom dimmt) 1 sinn it fimmta : 
 sigr-giarn solo vsenni sdnn vas skr^'ddr me3 pr/'ddom 
 da)glingr Drottins englom dyr6ar-fuss 1 husi. 
 
 finished the Staves. I will now hasten to speak of other exploits of the 
 king. T1V0 of his feats that few beside could do, I will tell together : he 
 could play marvellously with daggers, and he could walk upon the oars. 
 
 I know a tbird miracle of his : two men betted, one a ring, the other 
 his head, as to which of them were the best ciift-climber. One of them 
 began to climb the rock, but he could not go on higher nor get down 
 again. When he was midway up his life was in danger. The king went 
 quickly after him on the steep cliff, caught his man in his arms and then 
 climbed higher still. 
 
 The fourth deed of his I will set forth, how he threw Thorkettle 
 overboard out of the Serpent. He spoilt his precious cloak, yet in the 
 twinkling of an eye the king made the fine cloth and the grey fur 
 lining as fair or fairer than before. 
 
 k fifth time he wrought a bright token: he was seen brighter than the 
 sun, compassed about with glorious angels of the Lord within a house. 
 
 101. Read, varr-ski6f verk it J)ri3ja. fra] sii, Cd. no. Thus B; rsesir 
 
 hendi, Cd. 113. da6styrks . . . dolgminnigs, B. 120. sion-fagr svip-s;ui.d 
 
 eiiia, B.
 
 300 TWELFTH-CENTURY FOExMS. [bk. viii. 
 
 32. Hring-sk66s her6i-mei9ar hvar viti >)ann, er anni 125 
 ellz-vellz annan stilli 66-rikr frama slikom : 
 
 gunn-elldz geymi-runnom Gaandlar fystr sem ek l;f3ta 
 (hir6 var bans at mor6i hrygg) arf-^egi Tryggva? 
 
 33. t'engill |)r6tiar-stra)ngom J)eim bau8 Kristr af heinii 
 byr-tiallz (ba)zto heilli bragningi G06 fagni) : 130 
 ygg-laust alia ^iggi eljon-fimr a himnom 
 
 Olafr cezta sselo itr-bols me9 gram solar. 
 
 34. ' Her-mart " hvi kvaeQom " orti ' hug-dyggs of son Tryggva 
 hand-bals hnykki-lunda hreins, ok flokka eina : 
 Hallfra)6r Ha)r6a stilli hri3-aoflgom vann smi9at ; 135 
 hia)r-graps, hug6a drsopo liroSrar-giarn ok Biarni. 
 
 35 Eigi einkar laga ek fse ena ^ridjo 
 
 hyr-ni33r6r hr66ri stcerSa hops Tviskelfda drapo. 
 
 Slikr hcottr, sva mun-ek vatta, siall-stundom ver6r fundinn 1 
 
 Herr pru9r hsorvi kvseda hafi gagn ! Enn ek t)agna. 140 
 
 A LovE-SoxG (Edda and Skalda). 
 
 1. TTOLM-LEGGJAR vi3r hilmir hring-skoglar niik J)oglan. 
 
 2. Sval-teigar mun seljo saliz Vi3blinda galtar 
 raf-kastandi rastar reyr-J)vengs muna lengi. 
 
 3. |>u munt fiirs sem fleiri fl63s hir9i-sif tr65or 
 
 grbnii vi3 gaefo J)iiiiu, griutz Hia6niiiga, briotask. 5 
 
 4. Mens hata mildrar Synjar miuk-stallz logit allir 
 
 (Sia hofomk velti-sto3 stilltan straum-tungis) at mer draumar. 
 
 5. Ek hefi 66ar lokri iil-stafna per skafna, 
 
 vaea mork skala, verki vandr, stef-knarrar branda. 
 
 On Skald-Helgi ? (from Lauf. Edda). 
 
 1. TTART flo hvast um snerto (hregg magiaSisk) bragna 10 
 ■*■ ■'- bokar sol {)ar es bukar (ben-vargs) hnigo margir. 
 
 2. Flaug (enn firna biiigir) foldar negg at seggjom 
 (fiar6-elldz fleygi-nirSir fello ski(5tt at velli). 
 
 Who knows of such miracles as those of Tryggwi's heir which I 
 have now set forth, wrought by any other king ? Christ, the king of 
 Heaven, called him from this world. INIay God welcome him with joy ! 
 May Olaf partake of every joy in heaven with the Lord of the Sun ! 
 
 Epilogue. Many men have wrought mere lays and Short-Songs to the 
 son of Tryggwi, but Hallfred made an Encomium on him and so did 
 Biarni. And now I have the third encomium on him. May the noble 
 company profit by my Two-stressed Song of Praise. Such a metre 
 as mine I know well is seldom to be met with. Now I will be silent. 
 
 The Lady's lovely hue [a pun. Dwarf =Litr] makes me silent. I shall 
 long remember her. Thou, like other women, wilt struggle against thine 
 own luck. All my dreams of her have deceived me; she has beguiled me. 
 I have, lady, with my tongue carved thee a nice dwarf-ship [poem]. 
 
 Stones flew, and the men fell apace .... 
 
 125. vita, Cd. 131. t)iggr, Cd. 133. Read, hyggjomk orto, or hykk 
 
 at orti ?
 
 § 6.] lOMSWIKINGA-DRAPA. 301 
 
 lOMSWIKINGA-DRAPA, by BISHOP BIARNI. 
 
 Bishop Biarni, of the Orkneys, was the son of Kolbein Hruga (the 
 Cobbie Rowe of Orkney popular tradition), a hospitable man and the 
 friend of such Icelanders as Bishop Paul, the son of John Loftsson, and 
 of Raven Sweinbiornsson, ' as may be known from the tokens that 
 Bishop Biarni .... sent him, a finger-ring of gold, that weighed an 
 ounce, and was engraved with a raven and his name upon it, so that he 
 might use it as a seal. A second time the bishop sent him a good saddle, 
 and a third time some dyed cloth.' See Sturl. ii. p. 277. 
 
 In 1 195 Biarni went with Earl Harold Maddadson to Norway to 
 deprecate the wrath of the terrible Swerri, who was angry with the 
 Western Islanders being found in the ranks of his foes. He had 
 defeated them with a fearful overthrow on Palm Sunday, April 3rd, 
 1 194, and now he was threatening 'to carry the war into Africa,' after 
 the example of Harold Fairhair when he had beaten the Western 
 Wickings at Hafrsfirth. 
 
 The Bishop's nephew, Thorkettle Walrus, has dealings with Snorri 
 c. 1202. See Sturkmga, vii. ch. 30. According to the Annales Regii 
 and Obituary (Sturlunga Saga, vol. ii. p. 369) Biarni died Sept. 15th, 
 1222. Sturla, indeed, makes Biarni to have been present at the Great 
 Council at Bergen, 1223; but in writing this passage in Hakon Hakons- 
 son's Life, he was, we take it, copying a list of contemporary bishops, and 
 overlooked, if he ever knew it, that Biarni died a few months before. 
 
 The poem we here deal with is manifestly composed for recital at 
 entertainments, see 11. 1-4, and contains references to the author's luck- 
 less love for the daughter of an Orkney gentleman — all circumstances 
 more appropriate to Biarni's earlier years, say before 1200. It is well 
 composed, has a certain quiet strength, which recalls Thiodwolf's 
 Haustlong, and contains a minute and faithful account of the famous 
 defeat of the buccaneers of lom, as Biarni received the two-hundred- 
 years old tradition. 
 
 In one respect the bishop adds to our knowledge of the battle, by his 
 account of Arnmood, and his exploits and death ; which seems to come 
 from a Western version of the story, and to be well worthy of credit. 
 This Arnmood we know as the progenitor of almost the whole Norwegian 
 nobility, as may be seen from the famous pedigree of the Arnmodlings in 
 Fagrskinna (Cod. B, § 215), which gives his origin thus: — 'There was a 
 . man called Finwood the Foundling, he was found in an eagle's eyrie, 
 wrapped up in a silk swaddling-cloth, and no man knows his family; 
 from him is come the whole house which is called the house of the 
 Armings. His son was Thorarin Bull-back, the father of Arnwood, the 
 father of Arnmood [our hero], from whom is come all that house which is 
 called the Arnmodlings.^ The account of Finwood recalls William of 
 Malmesbury's Nesting, whom King Alfred found. Bishop Biarni him- 
 self was a descendant of Arnmood ; see Orkney Saga, Rolls Series, vol. i. 
 Table iv. B. 
 
 The text rests on the Codex Regius of Snorri's Edda, the last three 
 leaves of a sheet, which a fresh hand has filled up with lomswikinga- 
 Drapa (defective at the end), and JMalshatta-kvaedi (see Book ix, § 2). The 
 ink is faded and dim, and the writing hard to make out. It vi^as first 
 correctly copied by Mr. John Sigurdsson, who first observed verse 2 written 
 in the margin underneath the text. It has since (1880) been edited by 
 Mr. Petersen, of Lund.
 
 302 TWELFTH-CENTURY POEMS. [bk. viii. 
 
 The structure is still dearly shown, though some stanzas at the end 
 are lost. These we can only partly supply from the citations found in 
 O. T. Saga, but they are taken from a worse text than ours. The whole 
 poem would have stood thus: — 14+ i + (5 x 4) + 15 = 50. Peculiar to its 
 internal shape is the ' cloven burden ' (imitated by Snorri), which, with 
 its broken love lament, runs, like a thread of gold on the dead dark iron 
 of an Indian bracelet, through the Epic of war. The metre is so carefully 
 observed, that from the two hundred pairs of contrasting vowels we 
 can gather a fair view of the internal phonetic phenomena of the 
 Orkney speech in the Bishop's day. 
 
 The Mahhatta-kvcedi, which we would ascribe to Bishop Biarni, will 
 be found in Book ix. 
 
 Bua-Drapa is one of the latest insertions in the great O.T. Saga. It 
 is in Egil's rhyming-metre, and by an unknown poet, Thorkel Gislason, 
 of the same age as Biarni, w^hom, indeed, he seems to imitate. Only part 
 of it has been preserved. It is almost entirely made up of the worst 
 and latest 'vulgus-phrases' of the school of Einar and the last court- 
 poets. Two lines only present any interest, — 1. 27, where it is said that 
 'Every hail-stone weighed an ounce!' and 31-32, 'The loathsome 
 ogress shot sharp arrows from her fingers.' These exaggerations are 
 duly inserted into the text of the later edition of the Kings' Book. Ari 
 tells the tale simply according to the older and undecked traditions. 
 
 I. 
 
 1. / "L'NGAN kve6-ek at 69i orom malma-r^'ri 
 
 ^ ■' -^ (J)6 gat-ek hr69r of hugSan) hlioQs at fer8ar pr^-Qi : 
 Framm mun-ek fyr aoldom Yggjar bior um foera 
 ef einigir ytar aett-goSir mer hl/'da. 
 
 2. Varka-ek fr66r und forsom ; for-ek aldregi at gaoldrom ; 5 
 hefka-ek ........ 
 
 aallungis nam-ek eigi Yggjar feng und hanga 
 
 3. Hendir enn sem a8ra uteitan mik sutar ; 
 
 mer hefir harm a hendi hand-faogr kona bundit : 10 
 
 \)6 em-ek 66 at auka oerit giarn at hvaoro; 
 miaok em-ek at mer or6inn ligaefr um fa)r vifa. 
 
 4. Dreng var datt um svarra dorgar-vangs fyr laango, 
 J) VI hefir OSS um unga elld-rei6 skapi haldit : 
 
 I. Opening. Prologue. Of no prince [ring-breaker] do 1 demand a 
 hearing for this song that I have made at this worthy assembly. If but 
 any of you gentlemen will hearken to me, I will set forth my poesy before 
 men. I did not get my knowledge beneath waterfalls [like Woden], 
 I have never given myself to enchantment, I have never .... It was 
 not beneath the gallows that I learnt the gift of song. 
 
 His love. Joyless grief has overtaken me like other men ; a fair- 
 handed damsel has loaded me with sorrow. Evil has been my fate 
 in my dealings with women. Yet I am ready to trick out my poem for 
 her. I have doted on her a long while, and this passion for her has 
 
 4. ef . . . hlySa] emend.; Jjoat . . . hlySi, Cd. 6 and 8 b!otted out.
 
 § 6.J lOMSWIKINGA-DRAPA. 303 
 
 \)6 hefi-ek ort um I'tra all-fatt miaSar |)ello, 15 
 
 vel samir enn um eina aDl-seljo mer t^ylja. 
 
 5- 
 
 annat J)arf at yrkja all-storom mun fleira 
 
 greppr of snerto : 
 (Jjat berom upp fyr fta) ohlioS (ssogo-kvseSi). 20 
 
 6. Su6r fisogo ver sitja (seima-gu6r) at lomi 
 (fa)gr rsenir mik flaumi) fimm haofQingja snemma : 
 vel samir vist at telja vinnor hreysti-manna, 
 
 J)ar er um malm-|Dings mei6a merkiliga at yrkja, 
 
 7. Hver-vetna fra-ek heyja Harald bardaga stora, 25 
 Jjeir ru6o bitra branda boo9-giarnastir niSjar : 
 
 sia kncutto JDar si9an si6-fornir glym iarna, 
 J)6tti J)eim at efla t'sorf Veseta arfa. 
 
 8. Geta skal bins hverr hvatra ha)f6ingi var drengja, 
 
 sa gat sigri at hrosa sniallastr at goerva)llo : 30 
 
 hverr var hod minni hreysd-maSr at flesto 
 heldr f her6i-raunom hauk-lyndom syni Aka. 
 
 9. Sigvaldi hdt seggja snar-fengra ha^fQingi ; 
 ok red t)ar fyr Jiegna {'orkell li6i snitollo : 
 
 Bui var at hverjom hialdri har3-ra6r me3 SigurQi ; 35 
 
 frsogom Vagn at vseri vist ofr-hugi inn mesti. 
 
 10. Heldo dreyrgra darra Danmarkar til sterkir 
 (|)eim gafsk rausn ok riki) rioSendr skipom siSan : 
 ok au9-brotar erfi ogn-rakkastir drukko 
 
 (J)eim fra-ek ymsom aukask annir) fe6ra sinna. 40 
 
 11. Enn vildo J)a einkom a)ldor-menn at skyldo 
 (slikt ero yrkis-efni) agseta ser leita : 
 
 ok haukligar hefja heit-strengingar gMto ; 
 eigi segi-ek at ^ta aDl-teiti vas litil. 
 
 endured within me. But though it had well beseemed me to praise her, 
 few indeed are the songs that I have made upon her. For I have been 
 bound to deal with other and mightier themes .... din of war, and such 
 is the Epic that I shall now set forth to men. 
 
 T/je njowj of the lom^uickings. My fair lady robs me of happiness ! 
 South in lom, they say, there sat five noble captains. Right seemly 
 it were to tell their deeds, for mighty men they were to sing of. 
 Everywhere, they say, Harold fought great battles ; the war-loving 
 kinsmen reddened their bitter brands; as heathens they loved to look 
 on the shock of iron ; they held it their work to help Weseti's son 
 [Bui]. I will tell who was the noblest captain of them all, he that was 
 ever blest with victory. No warrior was more dauntless in trial or danger 
 than Aki's hawk-hearted son. There was a captain named Sigwald, 
 and Thorkell held command there too, and Bui the Stern, and Sigurd 
 with him, and Wain, men say, the loftiest heart of all. They sailed to 
 Denmark, and drank the arval there over their fathers. Fit matter 'tis 
 for song ! They wished to show their prowess, and began to make their 
 
 17. Torn off. 21. SuSr frago] . . . gv, Cd. (torn off). 32. Read, holdr?
 
 304 TWELFTH-CENTURY POEMS. [bk.viii. 
 
 12. Heit-strenging fra-ek hefja heipt-mildan Sigvalda; 45 
 Bui var a)iT at efia oroekinn J)rek slikan : - 
 
 hetosk peir af hauSri Hakon reka (fikjom 
 grimm vas fraegra fyrSa fion) e6a lifi raena. 
 
 13. Bui lezk barr at fylgja baj6-mi!dom Sigvalda 
 
 til hiaDr-jDrimo har6rar hug-pru&r vera si6an : 50 
 
 hafa kvazk HavarS vilja hranna-briotr at gunni, 
 ser kva6 hann eigi lUa Aslak 1 fa)r lika. 
 
 14. Vagn kva6 hitt enn hrausti, HamSis gunnar taamSom 
 sa l^zk froeknat fylgja fald-ru3r Bua skyldo : 
 
 \)i rib heit til hvitrar hringa-mei8r at strengja 55 
 
 (mdr kemr harmr at hendi hsettr) f'orketils dottor. 
 
 11. Stef. 
 
 1 5. I^i'n drepr fyr mer allri — tJtrau8r a laog skeiSom 
 a3rr ^engill ba8 ^'ta — Itr mannz-konan teiii : 
 G6(J att of kemr grimnio — Gekk herr a skip daira 
 hinn er kunni gn^ goerva — gcebi'ngs at mer stridi. 60 
 1. 16. Sagt var at sunnan hddo snyrti-menn um hrannir 
 (kaldr dreif marr a mei8a mor8-bals) skipa-stoli : 
 LaomSo heldir hufar (hri8 kanna8i ly8r) ; 
 [gnu8i svalr a s/'jo sser] isogar bsoror. 
 
 17. Sagt vas at rau8ra randa reynendr flota sinom 65 
 lola-nott at laSri lomsvikingar koemi : 
 
 Vajro heldr a harSan herno8 firar giarnir; 
 rioSendr bu6o riki rand-orma Geirmundi. 
 
 18. t'a bu8o l^eir a moti J)eim er sunnan kvomo 
 
 til geir-hri5ar greppom goerla Noregs iarlar: 70 
 
 J)ar var mestr a maeli (mor8-remmandi) skEommo 
 (margr var at laufa leiki) land-herr saman fundinn. 
 
 vows. It was no small feud I ween. Sigwald, they say, began the 
 vowing ; Bui was eager to second his task. Cruel was their hate ! 
 They vowed to drive Hakon from his land or take his life. Bui swore 
 to follow Sigwald to the fray : he said that Haward and Aslac should be 
 his fellow-warriors. Wain said that he was minded to follow Bui, and 
 made a vow touching that white maid, the daughter of Thorkettle. 
 
 II. The Staves. Refrain: The noble's daughter, she alone, kills all 
 my joy ; the scion of a great house is she that works me sore distress. 
 
 The gathering. The gallant prince bade them launch their ships, he 
 went aboard. From the south they sped in their galleys : the icy 
 billows smote the big-bellied hulls, the cold sea brine splashed upon the 
 strakes. It is told that at Yule-night the wickings of lom came with 
 their fleet to lader. They were very eager for the fray : they did 
 violence to Geirmimd. Then the earls of Norway called out their 
 spearmen to meet the Southerners ; that was the biggest host that ever 
 was gathered at such brief summons. 
 
 63. I. e. hveldir, see p. 1S9, 1. 7. 6S. Geirmundi] om. Cd.
 
 § 6.] lOMSWlKINGA-DRAPA. 305 
 
 19. Ei7i drepr fyr mer allri — Eldr gnau5a6i vi6a 
 elri skoeSr um eyjar — iir-mannz konan ieiti : 
 Gob ceU of kemr grwimo — Gauss upp logi or husom ; 75 
 griSom rasnti sa gumna — gcedings at mer s/ricSi. 
 
 II. 20. Ok ha)f6ingjar hraustir heyra menn at vaeri 
 
 (J)at hefir J)i63 at minnom) jDrfr me3 flokki hvsorom : 
 
 t)ar-er hregg-viSir hittosk hialma-skoQs a vi3om 
 
 (fundr f>6tti sa fyrSom fraegi) Hia)runga-vagi. 80 
 
 21. Hau6r fra-ek Hakon verja hart sva at eigi skorti; 
 Eirikr hefir eggjar 6trau6r verit ri69a : 
 
 ok saogSo J)ar /'tar Arnm63 vera siSan 
 
 (sa var greppr vi3 gumna gla6r) odd-vita inn J)ri3ja. 
 
 22. LaDg6o heiptar-hvattir her6i-menn J)ar-er baDrSosk 85 
 (herr var hau6r at verja hund-margr) saman randir : 
 ok vikingom vsoro (var3 raun at \>\i) einom 
 
 [J)at kveSa eigi aukit] /tar fimm at moti. 
 
 23. Em drepr fyr 7ner allri — AtroQr mikinn greiQo 
 
 lir-viannz konan teiti : 90 
 
 G66 (Bit of kemr grim?no — Glygg magnaSisk eggja 
 gcedings at mer stridi. 
 
 III. 24. Sigvaldi ba3 sina sokn-stranga vel ganga 
 
 (hann vara samr a sattir) sveit Hakoni a moti : 
 Haraldz arfi klauf hiahna hildar-sorr ok skia)ldo ; 95 
 
 framm gekk hann fyr hlifar hart nakkvara snerto. 
 
 25. t'ar gekk framm i folki fran-lyndr Bui sino 
 (|)ess kve6a verQa visso vanir) hart med sveina : 
 ok geir-vi6ir goerSo grimma hoeggom rammir 
 
 (gengo \)Q\x at gunni geystir) vapna-bresto. 100 
 
 26. Klauf me9 Yggjar eldi olmr Gull-Bui hialma, 
 
 Refrain. Wide raged the fire over the islands ; the flame gushed up 
 from the houses. 
 
 The Norivegian leaders. We have heard that there were three 
 doughty captains in each host when the warriors met on broad 
 Hiorunga Bay. That was a meeting men thought worth the telling. 
 Hakon that never flinched, Eric the Dauntless, and Arnmood the third, 
 — a gladsome wight among men was he! Angrily they dashed their tar- 
 gets together ; great was the host that stood to guard the land. There 
 were five men to every one of the wickings : that is no multiplied 
 * count. 
 
 Refrain. Mighty was the onslaught .... High rose the noise of the 
 swords .... 
 
 The attack. Sigwald bade his men meet Hakon boldly. Harold's heir 
 clove helms and shields in the battle-storm. Bui the eager-hearted went 
 forward in the ranks with his following. The weapons were fiercely 
 knapped by their stout blows. Bui o' the Gold clove helmets in his 
 
 83. Armod, Cd. 86. Read, garpr. 89. gai3o? Cd. 90, 92. Tovn oft". 
 
 100. Emend. ; geysta, Cd, 
 
 VOL. II. X
 
 3o6 TWELFTH-CENTURY POEMS. [bk. Aaii. 
 
 ni6r let hann i herSar hring-serkja baol ganga: 
 hart nam hcegg at stcera Havar8r li6i fyrSa, 
 vi6 hefir illt at eiga Aslak verit fikjom. 
 27. £in drepr fyr mer allri — El gnu6i miaDk stala; 105 
 almr spann af ser odda — itr-matinz konan teiti : 
 G66 ceM of kemr grimmo — Gripo jDcir i bug sncerom 
 gunn-rakkastir gumnar — goebings at mer stridi. 
 
 IV. 28. M fra-ek vaopnom veijask (Vagn felldi li3) J)egna; 
 
 hann klauf breiSra bruna borg hundro6om ma^rgom : no 
 grimmr var snarpra sverSa sa)ngr ; burgosk vel drengir ; 
 vann arf-|Degi Aka aos ; f^Il blod a kesjor. 
 
 29. Vagn hefir or8it ^tom oer-fengr at bao5 strangri ; 
 me8 full-huga frceknom framm gingo vel drengir: 
 Jiar-er i Yggjar ^li Aka sunr enn n'ki 115 
 bratt fra-ek hann at hlce8i hug-pru8om Arnm69i. 
 
 30. Hver-vetna fra-ek ha)lda (herr cexti gn^ darra) 
 fyr hregg-vi6om hiajrva hroekkva gunnar ra)kkom : 
 a8r 1 3orva drifo ^'tom grimmr at biota 
 
 (framm kom heipt en har8a) Hakon syni toeki. 120 
 
 3 1 . Evi drepr fyr mer allri — Ylgr gekk a na bolginn ; 
 J)ar st63 ulfr 1 aoto — itr-mannz konan ieiti : 
 
 God cett of kemr grimmo — Gein vargr of sal mergjar ; 
 gra8r jDvarr gyldiss i66a — goeDings at mer stridi. 
 
 v. 32. I'd fra-ek el it ilia ceda Hcelga-bru3i, 125 
 
 glum8i hagl a hlffom harda grimmt or norSri : 
 J)ar-er 1 orm-frcon augo ^'tom sk^^ja grioli 
 (|)a knatti ben blasa) bar3i hreggi keyr6o. 
 33. M var J)aDrfom meiri J)rek-fa)rlo6om iarli 
 
 fury : down to the shoulders he drove his blade. Haward dealt out 
 many a great blow : it was ill to cope with Anslac in the fray. 
 
 Refrain. Stem grew the fight, the bow sped the arrows, the warriors 
 drew their bow-strings tight. 
 
 The battle. When the weapons crossed, Wain brought down a host of 
 men, cleaving the broad skulls of hundreds. Cruel was the song of the 
 sharp swords ! The blood dripped on the javelins ! Brave was the 
 defence. Aki's heir [Wain] made a havoc. Wain cheered his men to 
 fiercer fight. Brave was the attack ! when in the fray Aki's mighty 
 son struck down the stout-hearted Arnmood. On every side the foe 
 gave way before them in the fight, till the cruel Hakon offered up his 
 son in the midst of the battle. 
 
 Refrain. The she-wolf was crammed with carrion, the he-wolf stood 
 on his prey. 
 
 The storm. It was then, they say, that the Bride of Holgi [Thorgerd 
 Hakon's patroness] raised a dreadful storm ; right cruelly the hail out of 
 the north clattered down upon their bucklers, what time the tempest- 
 driven stones of the clouds beat into the snake-keen eyes of the 
 wickings. That was too hard a proof for the failing earl [Sigwald]; 
 
 116. Armo&i, Cd. 
 
 I
 
 § 6.] lOMSWIKINGA-DRAPA. 307 
 
 (braut hygg-ek hann at h^ldi) hug-raun (flota sinom) : 130 
 snara ba3 segl vi6 huna Sigvaldi 1 byr ka)ldom ; 
 gnu3i hoord a hlifom hrid ; fdll byrr 1 va6ir. 
 
 34. f*ar l^t Vigfuss ver6a veg-roekinn Aslaki 
 (Jjann era \)2ox{ at segja \)dbtt) hel-farar veittar : 
 t'orleifr of vann J)iokkva J)rek-stoer6om HavarSi 135 
 (hart l^t hann) me9 kylfo hoegg-ramr broti9 leggi. 
 
 35. £m drepr fyr mer allri — Andat folk at sandi 
 straumr dro ut of eyjar — itr-viannz kotian teiti : 
 Gob (Btt of kemr grinimo — Gffrs hesta bra fa)sto 
 gn;f-miklandi geira — gcebmgs at mer stribi. 140 
 
 III. Sl(Emr. 
 
 36. Ba6 fyr bor6 at skyldi ba)d-svellandi allir 
 
 (^a fra-ek vjopnom verjask Vagns li6) Bua Jiegnar: 
 adr hregg-bo3i hiaDrva hraustr me6 Jiungar kistor 
 (sa var illr af aurom) utrau6r a kaf r^di. 
 
 37. Nam eld-broti Yggjar ^gr fyr bor6 at stiga; H5 
 ut bar hann af hiifom, hraustr Gull-Bui, kistor : 
 
 ok optliga eptir oblauSir f)ar si6an 
 knego lj'3ir lita langan orm a hringom. 
 
 38. Skei6 fra-ek vallt at ver9i Vagn med sfna J)egna ; 
 
 soil vsoro J)a peira J)unn skip hro3in sonnor : 150 
 
 upp n266o J)ar eigi Eiriks menn at ganga; 
 ofan re3o ^eir a)fga Eiriks vini keyra. 
 
 39. Upp st69o J)ar eptir ungra snyrti-drengja 
 (sveit fylg3i vel Vagni vsen) ^rir tigir einir: 
 
 allz oenga fra-ek aSra iafn-marga sva burgosk 155 
 
 (a3r l^tti dyn darra) dreng-menn hugom stranga. 
 
 he and his fleet put out of the battle. Yea, Sigwald bade his men hoist 
 the sails in the cold gale, and the wind smote the canvas. The storm 
 was beating hard upon their bucklers. It was there that Wigfus sent 
 Anslac on the path of death (no need to tell of that), and the hard- 
 hitting Thorleif broke stout Haward's legs with his club. 
 
 Refrain. The stream drove the dead from the islands on to the 
 sand, the wolves broke their fast on the slain. 
 
 III. Close. The 'victory. Wain's crew fought on! Bui called on 
 all his men to leap overboard, and then he plunged with his heavy chests 
 into the sea ; he would not part with his money. He carried his chests 
 up from the hold, the bold Bui o' the Gold, and leapt overboard [with 
 them] ; and often since good men have seen the long snake lying there 
 over the rings. Wain and his men, they say, kept their galley well. 
 All the other ships were cleared by this time. Eric's men could not 
 board her, for they drove the friends of Eric backward down her sides. 
 Wain's crew followed him well, till the battle ceased. At last only 
 thirty men were still afoot : I have never heard of so few men making 
 
 143. a8r] emend.; ok, Cd. (cp. the following subjunctive). 
 X 2
 
 3o8 TWELFTH-CENTURY POEMS. [bk. viii. 
 
 40. R^9 me6 Danska dolga drengr a land at ganga; 
 roSin fra-ek daDrr i dreyra ; dau9r la herr a skeidom : 
 Vagn kva8 eigi /torn undan ra6 at skunda; 
 
 saman goer 60 J)eir s . . . . . i6o 
 
 41. f>ar let Eirikr aDndo atian {)egar tfna. 
 
 (heldr frsogom ^a J)verra) Jjegna (li6 fyr Vagni) : 
 maelto hraustar hetjor (haukligt var J)at ffkjom) 
 ({)au hafa J^ioSir uppi) f)r6ttar-or8 (me3 fyr6om). 
 
 42. Ok me6 fiorniss faolo for i'orketill Leira, 165 
 J)a-er men-broti maelti man-saDng um Gna hringa : 
 goerSisk hann at hoeggva hauk-lyndan sun Aka ; 
 
 Vagn gat heldr at hsonom heipt-gorr vegit fyrri. 
 
 43. Viltu, kva3 hringa hreytir hyggjo-gegn at Vagni, 
 ^1-svellandi, ySvart, Yggjar, lif of {)iggja? 170 
 Eigi mun-ek nema efna (ungr) J^at-er heit namk strengja 
 (sva kva6 Ullr at iarli egg-hri6ar) fiajr t^iggja. 
 
 44. GriQ let a)rr ok aura Eirikr gefit storom 
 (mia)k ley fa J)at J)i66ir) ^egnom tolf me3 Vagni. 
 
 45. M gekk Ullr at eiga oer-lyndr {)rimo randa 175 
 (menu f/sto ^ess) ma^ta (margir) Ingibia)rgo. 
 
 BUA-DRAPA. 
 
 1. "DARO a vali vika (vel fra-ek J)eim lika 
 
 seggjom snarraeSi) sver5 ok her-klaeSi. 
 
 2. Kniiai hvast har3a (hliopo marir bar&a) 
 hregg a hefils spiollom a humra-fio'.lom : 
 
 bla \i6 hrdnn hlyroin ; hraut af brim-dyrom 5 
 
 (kill skaut cest alda) u8r in sval-kalda. 
 
 3. Baro rokn rasta rekka gri3-fasta 
 (J)r6ng at rjm randa) til raesis landa : 
 
 such a sturdy defence. Wain took counsel with the Danish foemen 
 [wickings] to try and land ; he said it was no use for them to fly. The 
 darts were dyed with gore: the host was lying dead on board the 
 galleys. They .... together .... 
 
 Execution. Eric took the lives of eighteen there ; Wain's crew was 
 running short. The bold heroes spoke words of prowess, which men 
 have held in memory ever since. They were as bold as hawks .... 
 Thorkettle [the headsman] swung his axe, when the captain [Wain] 
 sung a love-song to the lady [Thorkettle's daughter]. He was minded 
 to cut down the hawk-souled son of Aki, but Wain the Brave wrought 
 so, that he was beforehand with him and slew him .... 'Wilt thou,' 
 said the prince [Eric] to Wain, ' take thy life of me ? ' 'I will not take 
 my life unless I may fulfil my oath ; ' thus said the young lord to the 
 earl. The gallant Eric gave quarter to twelve men besides Wain .... 
 Then the bountiful hero [Wain] married the fair Ingibiorg; it was a 
 joy to many a man. 
 
 160. Here Cod. breaks off. The foUovving fragments are from O. T. (^AM. 6i)- 
 171. nam, Cd. 
 
 I
 
 § 6.] KONUNGA-TAL. 309 
 
 vi8 nam vi6i morgom (vapn ero grimm torgom) 
 
 (nytr gaf nest hrofnom) Noregr skip-stofnom. lo 
 
 4. Herr bar hatt merki; a Ham6is serki; 
 grimt koni el eggja ; at gekk li5 seggja : 
 meiddo fior flotna (flest var8 hlif brotna) 
 [glumSo grair oddar] griot ok skot-broddar, 
 
 5. Hruto fyr borS baeSi (brusto her-klae6i) 15 
 h6fo5 ok hendr manna ; hrx nam vargr kanna. 
 
 6. Neytti herr handa ; hri9 var snorp branda ; 
 fust var far randa til fiorniss landa : 
 
 fello fiein-borvar; flugo af streng orvar; 
 
 sungo hatt hiiirvar vi6 hlifar goervar. 20 
 
 7. Gullu hraess haukar ; hvassir ben-Iaukar 
 skyfSo li6s leggi ; lamdi griot seggi : 
 
 gnusto grair malmar (gengo i sundr hialmar) ; 
 [hanks vara friSr fiollom] i fiornis stollom. 
 
 8. Bua fra-ek greitt ganga (gladdisk svanr hanga) 25 
 [vokt var gcill geira] gegnom ]i6 {)eira. 
 
 9. Hagl va hveri eyri ; hraut a Icig dreyri 
 (bl65 J)va bens arom) or bragna sarom : 
 ^ar fell vair viSa (ve sa gylld ri&a) 
 
 [bar3isk sveit snarla] a snekkjom iarla. 30 
 
 10. Orom i6b snorpom (slikt var raun gorpom) 
 flag6 i3 for-liota af fingrom skiota : 
 goerSisk grimmt fikjom at gumnom rikjom 
 (gnyr var bar hlifa) hregg ok lopt-drifa. 
 
 11, Felldi Vagn vir3a (val9i of nai stirSa 35 
 hrafn enn hvass-leiti) hrunSi a bor5 sveiti : 
 
 J)a re9 t)ess dala (Jirymr var har stala) 
 eySis unn-gl65a Eirekr skip hrio&a. 
 
 KONUNGA-TAL; or, GENEALOGY OF THE 
 KINGS OF NORWAY. 
 
 Interesting as the last of a series, of which the first, Ynglinga- 
 tal, preceded it by at least two hundred and fifty years, it completes 
 its predecessor and model by continuing the royal line down to 
 Swerri, who became sole king in 1184. The account it gives of the first 
 ten kings, including Magnus the Good, is founded on the work of 
 Sasmund the Historian (see 11. 159-60). Indeed it is in honour of John 
 Loftsson, Saemund's grandson, that it was composed, and during his life- 
 time, which would place it about 1190, for John died ist Nov. 1197 
 (born 1 125), John's father, Loft Ssmundsson, married Thora, the 
 natural daughter of King Magnus Bareieg, so that it was natural for 
 this panegyrist to run over the roll of the race of kings to which his 
 patron belonged. The number of royal names as in other 'Tals' is meant 
 to be thirty. 
 
 Inform, the poem is in strict stanzas, and in three parts or strophes 
 (2 + 38) + (32) + (10+ i) = 83. The introduction, in which the author 
 compares himself to a prudent whaler gradually closing upon his game, 
 is fresh and original. In phrase and style, as far as he can, he copies 
 Thiodwolf and Eywind (cp. 11. 125, 207, 259, 264). We have noted the 
 most pronounced parallelisms in the foot-notes. The author is not 
 named, but we would ascribe the poem to the monk Gunnlaug, author 
 of Merlinus-Spa, the style and fashion of which it falls in with. 
 
 The error which led to the mistaken title in Flatey-bok — ' Here 
 begins the generation of the Kings of Norway which Ssemund the
 
 3IO TWELFTH-CENTURY POEMS. [bk. viii. 
 
 Historian made' — arises from a misunderstanding of verse 40. All copies 
 are derived from the unique MS. Flatey-bok text, cols. 581-2 (vol. ii. pp. 
 520-8). There are a few misreadings of the copyist, as we have learned 
 to expect from the way in which all the verse is given in this MS. 
 
 One great merit of this poem lies in its having preserved Saemund's 
 chronology, which is, in one instance at least, more correct than Ari's, 
 and is not given elsewhere so completely. 
 
 There was another Konunga-tal, called Odd-mior, of which there 
 remains one morsel in the abridgment of the Kings' Lives, now known 
 as Agrip, where the following passage occurs : — 
 
 "After Halfdan, Harold took the kingdom that his father had held, and 
 he won for himself a greater kingdom withal, inasmuch as he was a man 
 of early ripeness and of mighty growth, so that he fought battles with the 
 neighbouring kings and overcame them all, and came to be the first sole 
 King of Norway when he was twenty years of age; and the last battle he 
 fought was against a king called Sceidar-Brand [Galley-Brand] in Hafrs- 
 firth, off ladar, and Brand fled to Denmark and fell in battle in Wend- 
 land, as it is said in the Lay that is called Odd-mior [Fine Point], 
 which deals with the Generations of Kings in these words : — ' The 
 Shielding drove,' &c. " 
 
 This is plainly a tradition of the great Hafrsfirth Fight. We find 
 Brand nowhere else. There is a curious echo of the passage in Amor's 
 Hryn-henda Encomium on Magnus (see p. 186, vol. ii. II. 19-20). Are 
 we to account for it by supposing that the author of Odd-mior has 
 borrowed the phrase and used it in a new sense ? 
 
 1. TDAT verSr skylt, ef at skilit yrkja, 
 
 ^ greppom ' t)eim,' at jpeir gleSi fjrQa : 
 allra helzt ef ero fseri 
 virdar J)eir an verit ha)fSo. 
 
 2. Roa skal fyrst fiarri reySi, 5 
 ok koma J)6 niSr naer a&r luki : 
 
 \)a.T hefi-ek hugt hroSri ^essom 
 orSom jDeim eptir at mynda : — 
 
 3. i'ar vil-ek fyrst, ef firar hl/Sa 
 
 minni maerS, til mals taka: — 10 
 
 Hug-pru3r Halfdan Svarti 
 erfi-va)r9 atti frocknan. 
 
 4. Tok kapp-samr vi6 konungs-nafni 
 Haraldr bratt inn Harfagri: 
 
 The Count OF Kings. I. Prologue. It becomes a poet, if he knows 
 his work, to entertain men, all the more if good poets be fewer than has 
 been. One must at first row farther from the whale, and then draw 
 nearer and nearer to the end. According to this example I have 
 thought to order the words of my song. 
 
 1 will first take up my parable here, if men will give heed to me: 
 Halfdan the Black had a noble heir. Harold Fairhair early took 
 
 I. skilum, Cd. 2. Read, hveim or g66om ? 7. Read, hrodrar {lessa 
 
 orSom t)vi? 9. virar, Cd.
 
 §6.] KONUNGA-TAL. 311 
 
 J)a-er Halfdan hafSi drukknat 15 
 
 I hseings hallar naefri. 
 
 5. Ok er hann 1 haug lagiSr 
 a her-ska Hringa-riki : 
 
 enn barn-ungr burr Halfdanar 
 
 tok fram-lyndr vi6 fao&or-arfi. 20 
 
 6. Eigi hann pat eitt eiga vildi 
 
 er bans lang-fe3gar leif6o hanom : 
 sva var rikr rsesir Sygna 
 ok agiarn vi9 au6-gefendr : 
 
 7. At allt land Elfar a milli 25 
 ok Finn-merkr fylkir atti: 
 
 naSi hann fyr Noregi 
 aollom fyrst einn at ra9a. 
 
 8. Atti gramr, sa-er giafar veitti, 
 
 barna mart {)eir-er biSo JDroska : 30 
 
 f)vi kemr hvers til Haralldz sf9an 
 skisoldungs kyn ins Skarar-fegra. 
 
 9. Re9 J)ria vetr f'undar beSjo 
 siklingr snarr ok siau tigi : 
 
 a9r an lofSung lifi at rsena 35 
 
 Asa-dolgs kom einga-dottir. 
 
 10. M var haugr eptir Harald orpinn 
 reisoligr a Rogalandi : 
 
 J)ess mun se uppi lengi 
 
 hildings nafns Halfdans sunar. 40 
 
 1 1 . Tok EiRiKR vi9 ia)furs nafni 
 Blod-cex bratt sem buendr vildo : 
 var vig-fimr vetr at landi 
 Eirekr allz einn ok flora. 
 
 12. A6r an vin-saell vestan koemi 45 
 Adalsteins einga-FOSTRi : 
 
 upon him the royal title, when Halfdan was drowned in the thatch of the 
 salmon's hall [ice] ; yea, he is laid in his barrow in war-wont Ring-rick, 
 but the ambitious young son of Halfdan took up his father's heritage. 
 He would not be content to own merely what his ancestors left him : the 
 Sygns' lord was so mighty and grasping towards his neighbours, that he 
 got hold of all the foiklands between the Elbe [Gaut-Elbe] and Fin- 
 mark. He was the first of all to reign alone over Norway. This king 
 had many children who grew to manhood ; so every king's family since 
 comes back to Harold Fairhair. He ruled three-and-seventy winters over 
 the land, before Loki's only daughter came to take his life. Then there 
 was a lordly barrow cast up over Harold in Rogaland. The name of 
 Halfdan's son will ever endure in the land. Eric Blood-axe forthwith 
 took the name of king as the franklins wished ; he was one-and-four 
 winters in the country before the only beloved foster-son of jEthei,- 
 
 17. liaug] om. Cd. 30. Read, J)au er. 36. Emend. ; audlings, Cd.
 
 312 TWELFTH-CENTURY POEMS. [bk. vin. 
 
 Ok Hakon halfrar allrar 
 broSor sinn beiddi erfSar. 
 
 13. Enn Eirikr undan flf6i 
 
 heiptar-giarn ok bans synir : 50 
 
 kom har6-ra&r ' hersa ' mj^gir 
 aptr i land aldri si6an. 
 
 14. Re8 kapp-samr fyr konung-domi 
 Hakon einn hri9 nokkora : 
 
 var sex vetr samt at landi 55 
 
 tirar-giarn ok tuttogo. 
 
 15. Ha3i gramr gunni a Fitjom 
 vi3 Eiriks erfi-vajr6o : 
 
 var3 i ha)nd hilmir skotinn 
 
 J)a-er folk-mei3r flotta kni6i. 60 
 
 16. {'at hygg-ek bratt til bana leiddo 
 litiS sar lof6ung snaran : 
 
 J)ar-[er] avallt er vi'si do 
 hella kennd til Hakonar. 
 
 17. Enn i haug Hajr6ar laogSo 65 
 sikling |)ann a Sae-beimi : 
 
 hurfu ' hryggvir ' fra Haraldz arfa 
 frceknir menn fiaorvi raentom. 
 
 18. M befi-ek heyrt at Haraldr toeki 
 
 ia-ar-S3ell ia)r6 ok rfki : 7° 
 
 T6b Grafeldr Gunnhildar son 
 nio vetr fyrir Noregi. 
 
 19. A3r an Gorms-son ok GoU-Haraldr 
 nafna sinn at nai ger3o : 
 
 var siklingr su6r a Halsi 75 
 
 lifi rsentr 1 Lima-fir6i. 
 
 20. Tok har6-ra6r apt Harald Tallinn 
 
 STAN came from the West. Yea, Hakon required half of all the in- 
 heritance from his brother. And the revengeful Eric and his sons 
 fled away ; the stern oppressor of his barons [brothers ?] never came 
 back to the country again. The glory-loving Hakon ruled alone over 
 the kingdom for some time : he was six-and-twenty years altogether in 
 the land. He fought a battle with Eric's heir at Fitia, and was shot in 
 the arm while he was chasing his flying foes. This little wound soon 
 brought him to his death, I ween ; ever since the king died the slope is 
 called after Hakon. And the Hords laid him in a barrow at Seahani ; 
 they turned sorrowfully away from the dead heir of Harold. After 
 this I have heard that Harold the famine-cursed took the land and 
 sway. Greyfell Gundhildsson ruled nine years over Norway, ere that 
 Gormsson and Gold-Harold made his namesake a corpse ; yea, the 
 king was reft of his life at Halse on Limbfirth in the south. The 
 
 51. Read, h!yra ? 60. knaSi, Cd. 61. leiddi, Cd. 65. haudar, 
 
 Cd. 67. hryggvir] emend. ; sva, Cd. 74. ger5i, Cd.
 
 6.] KONUNGA-TAL. 313 
 
 Hakon iarl vi9 Hars vifi : 
 
 sa red tiggi ok tuttogo 
 
 ^rettan vetr I'undar be6jo. 80 
 
 21. Ur8oa g69 i Gaular-dal 
 aevi-lok Eiriks faoSor : 
 
 J)a-er Karkr pVceW knifi meitti 
 hattar stall af Hakoni. 
 
 22. Misti litt, sii-er la^gom st^rSi, 85 
 rekka kind ra9s ins bazta : 
 
 J)a-er nor9r i Noregi 
 
 Kristinn niann til konungs toko. 
 
 23. Ok Olafr arfi Tryggva 
 
 tok li9-driugr laond ok J)egna: 90 
 
 hinn er fimm a faom vetrom 
 lof8a vinr laond kristnaSi. 
 
 24. Var (3lafr allz at landi 
 fimm at eins faSmins galla : 
 
 a6r Eirikr me9 ofr-li9i 95 
 
 rsesi J)ann romo beiddi. 
 
 25. Su var allz, a6r Ormr hrySisk, 
 hrotta hri8 ha)r8 ok lengi : 
 
 ^ar hefir a)ld er (3lafr fell 
 
 Svoldrar-vag siQan kallat. 100 
 
 26. K6b tolf vetr tiri ga)fga6r 
 Eirikr iarl fyr Yggs mani : 
 a9r an lofQungr or landi for 
 vestr um haf, sa-er vini goeddi. 
 
 27. M var ufr Eiriks skorinn 105 
 a6r an Rum-fajr reesir hctfi : 
 
 ok bl68-ra)S til bana leiddi 
 vitran iarl vestr me6 Englom. 
 
 28. TalSi land ok lausa-f^ 
 
 stern Earl Hakon took the land after the dead Harold ; one-score-and 
 thirteen years he ruled the country. The end of the life of Eric's 
 father in Gaula-dale was not a good one, where Cark the thrall slit the 
 throat of Hakon with a knife. The men of the land, who swayed the 
 provinces, did not fail to take the best of counsel, when they took a 
 Christian man for king north in Norway. And Olaf, heir of Tkvggwi, 
 with his powerful guard, took land and lieges ; he that christened five 
 folk-lands in a few years. Olaf was altogether five winters only in the land, 
 before Eric, with overwhelming odds, offered him battle. That battle- 
 storm was fierce and long ere the Serpent was cleared. Men have 
 since called the bay where Olaf fell Swold. Earl Eric ruled twelve 
 winters over the land, before he went away west over sea. Eric's 
 tonsils were cut before he started on his pilgrimage to Rome, and the 
 haemorrhage brought about his death west among the English. Swain 
 
 81. ui6u ei, Cd. 97. ryJdiz, Cd.
 
 314 TWELFTH-CENTURY POEMS. [bk. viii. 
 
 sfna eign Sveinn ok Hakon : no 
 
 ok tva-vetr, at tali fyrSa, 
 Eiriks arf iarlar haDfSo. 
 
 29. A8r 1 land me9 litinn her 
 konung-ma8r koemi vestan : 
 
 ok Olafr iarli moetti 115 
 
 f Sau6ungs-sundi mi6jo. 
 
 30. Var8 Hakon ^a hilmi at sverja 
 ei6a J)ess, er Olafr beiddi : 
 
 at folk-baldr fl/ja skyldi 
 
 66ul sin til aldr-slita. 120 
 
 31. Bau8 Olafr austr fyr Nesjom 
 snarpa sokn Sveini iarli : 
 
 var8 li9-farr la)nd at fl^ja 
 sigri sviptr sonr Hakonar. 
 
 32. Fekk lof-saell la)nd me3 hringom 125 
 Olafr einn allt inn Digri : 
 
 re8 hr66-maDgr Haralldz ins Groenska 
 fimmtan vetr folldo grfttri. 
 
 33. Bar kapp-samr Knutr inn Riki 
 
 biartan seim und bcendr marga : 130 
 
 spar3i litt vi3 lenda menn 
 au6 til J)ess at ^eir ia^fur vdlti. 
 
 34. Reisto her hilmi a moti 
 kynja8ir vel Kalfr ok I'orir : 
 
 \>a.T var feldr fylkir troenda 135 
 
 sem -staSir Stikla- heita. 
 
 35. M bar raun, at rsesir var 
 Kristi kserr, um konung helgan : 
 stendr i Kristz kirkjo mi6ri 
 
 heilagt skrin yfir Haralldz arfa. 140 
 
 and Hakon [brother and son] claimed land and treasure for themselves, 
 and held Eric's inheritance for two years by the common reckoning, 
 till one of royal race came from the West with a small force, and Olaf 
 met the earl [Hakon] in the midst of Sauthung-Sound. Hakon was 
 obliged to swear the oath that Olaf gave him, to fly from his native land 
 till his death-day. East by Nesia Olaf gave sharp battle to Earl Swain ; 
 reft of victory, followed by few, Hakon's son was turned to flight. The 
 renowned Olaf the Stout took land and treasure to himself alone : 
 the famed son of Harold of Gren-land ruled the land fifteen years. 
 Cnut the Mighty bestowed the bright ore upon many a franklin ; he did 
 not begrudge the liege lords his wealth to get them to betray their king. 
 The well-born Calf and Thori raised an army against their lord ; the 
 prince of the Thronds fell at the place called Stickle-stead. Then was 
 it made manifest of the holy king that he was dear to Christ. A holy 
 shrine stands over Harold's heir in the midst of Christ Church. Then 
 
 125. = Y. 85. hringom] rinuni, Cd.
 
 §6.] KONUNGA-TAL. 315 
 
 36. i'a. t66 Sveinn sonr Alfifo 
 snaka stri6 sex fyr landi : 
 
 a6r an Knutz sonr af konungdomi 
 vina-lauss var3 at fl/ja. 
 
 37. Kom agaetr austan or GaorSom 145 
 einga-son (3lafs konungs: 
 
 fekk Magnus, ok mikit n'ki, 
 63als-i3or3 alia sina. 
 
 38. Var tal-laust tolf vetr konungr 
 
 maonnom J)arfr Magnus Gobi: 150 
 
 a6r I sott Sygna drottinn, 
 afreks-ma6r, andar misti. 
 
 39. Var8 harm-dau6r hverjom manni 
 fylkir foer8r J)ars bans faQir hvilir : 
 
 sa var nor9r i Noregi 155 
 
 Kristz at kirkjo ' konung ma3r ' grafinn. 
 
 40. Nu hefi-ek talt tio landreka 
 Jja-er hverr var fra Haraldi : 
 innta-ek sva sevi J)eirra 
 
 sem S^MUNDR sag8i inn Fr6bi. j6o 
 
 II. 
 
 41. P6 er J)ess mals, er ek mgela hygg, 
 meiri hlutr miklo eptir : 
 
 Nu skal J)ann |Ds6tt of greiSa 
 isofra kyns er enn lifir. 
 
 42. {'at er mer sagt at Sigur3r Hrfsi 165 
 Haraldz sonr h6ti forSom : 
 
 var Halfdan Hrisa arfi, 
 
 enn Sigur8r S^r son Halfdanar. 
 
 Swain Alfgifuson ruled six years over the land, till Cnut's son had 
 to fly friendless from his kingdom. There came from the East out of 
 Garth [Novgorod territory] the only son of King Olaf ; yea, Magnus 
 took a mighty realm, all the lands of his heritage. Magnus the 
 Good was doubtless king for twelve winters, ere he, the lord of the 
 Sygns, lost his life in sickness. All men held it a sorrowful death : he 
 was borne where his father rests ; he was buried north in Norway at 
 Christ Church in Cheaping. 
 
 Now I have told up ten kings, each of whom descended from Harold. 
 I have gone over their lives, according to the words of Saemund the 
 Historian. 
 
 H. But yet by far the greater part of the discourse which I am minded 
 to deliver, remains. Now I will set forth orderly that branch of the 
 royal race that is still living. It was told me that of yore there was a 
 son of Harold [Fairhair], named Sigurd the Bastard. Halfdan was 
 
 156. Read, i Kaupangi ? 163. Emend.; J)vi J)a3an af, Cd. 165. risi, Cd.
 
 3i6 TWELFTH-CENTURY POEMS. [bk. viii. 
 
 43. I'd gat son SigurSr ok Asta, 
 
 i)ann-er Haraldz heiti atti: 170 
 
 sa r^6 einn all-vitr konungr 
 vi6n foldo vetr tuttogo. 
 
 44. A3r her-fajr hilmir gerSi 
 til Englandz me3 of-stopa : 
 
 felldo vestr 1 vapn-jDrimo 175 
 
 Enskir menn Olafs br66or, 
 
 45. Tok fri6samr til fa)6or-leif6ar 
 ok ar-saell Olafr Kyrri: 
 
 sa red gramr gr/itri foldo 
 
 sam-fast vetr siau ok tuttogo. 180 
 
 46. Kom of bratt sondo at rsena 
 mikil sott Magnuss fajSor : 
 
 sa var enn a)6lingr grafinn 
 Kristz at^ kirkjo i Kaupangi. 
 
 47. Enn Olafr atti enn Kyrri 185 
 frceknan son ok fiar goSan : 
 
 re9 Magnus fyr mani Yggjar 
 tio vetr at tali fyrSa. 
 
 48. Fra-ek BERFoexTR ba)rn at setti 
 
 Magnus ma^rg J)au-er metor6 hsofdo : 190 
 
 voro J)ess J)engils synir 
 fremdar-fliotz fimm konungar. 
 
 49. For mal-sniallr Magnus konungr 
 til Irlandz ungr at herja: 
 
 var6 agsetr Eysteins fa8ir 195 
 
 fleina flaug felldr 1 'Jjeiri.' 
 
 50. f'at er pi sagt, at saman reSi 
 J)i69-konungar f)rir fyrir landi : 
 pat hefi-ek heyrt at hafi varla 
 
 fremri brotSr a fold komit. 2co 
 
 Bastard's heir, and Sigurd Sow the son of Halfdan. Sigurd begat a son 
 on Asta, who had the name of Harold. That wise king ruled the 
 land alone for twenty winters, till in his pride he made an expedition to 
 England. The English felled Olafs brother west in the battle [Stamford 
 Bridge]. The peaceful and season-blessed Olaf the Quiet took up 
 his father's estate. He ruled the land seven-and-twenty winters 
 through. Too soon came a mighty sickness to stop the breath of 
 jNIagnus' father. The king was buried at Christ Church in Cheaping. 
 But Olaf the Quiet had a noble and generous son. Magnus ruled the 
 land ten years, as men tell it up. I know that Bareleg had many 
 glorious children of his blood : five of his sons became kings. King 
 Magnus went to Ireland in his youth to harry. Yea, Eystan's father 
 was stricken down in battle there. It is told that three fellow-kings 
 ruled the land together. I have heard that three nobler brothers never 
 
 179. rae3r, Cd. 196. Read, i fl. fl. f. J)a3ra? 
 
 I
 
 § 6.] KONUNGA-TAL. 317 
 
 51. Var6 OlAfr ungr inn 0601 
 lof-ssell fyrstr lif at missa : 
 mEotto Jjess Magnuss sonar 
 skamma stund skatnar niota. 
 
 52. Ger6i flest {)at er frama gegndi 205 
 innan-landz Eysteinn konungr : 
 
 unz hiart-verkr hilmi froeknan 
 brigSa bratt til bana leiddi. 
 
 53. f'eir ero brct;6r baSir lagSir 
 
 norSr i grund a Ni3ar-bakka : 210 
 
 t)ar stendr hatt i haofuS-kirkjo 
 Olafs skn'n yfir altari. 
 
 54. Enn SiGURBR sfno lif6i 
 J)eirra lengst t)riggja broeSra : 
 
 hinn er ut til lorsala 215 
 
 frsegsta faor for or landi. 
 
 55. R66 agsetr ok ellifo 
 sextan vetr SigurSr fyr n'ki : 
 a3r mann-skoe3 Moera drottins 
 
 bana-sott bryg6i lifi. 220 
 
 56. f'ess er austr f Oslo boe 
 lof6ungs lik lagit f kisto : 
 
 nu groer ia^rS yfir iaDfurs beinom 
 at HallvarSz harri kirkjo. 
 
 57. Enn bil-trau6r bseSi lif9i 225 
 eptir Sigur3 sonr ok dottir : 
 
 J)ess mun enn ]3okkom si9ar 
 dottir nefnd Doela hilmiss. 
 
 58. Nu er heldr sva at halla tekr 
 
 aevi-lok iaofra at telja : 230 
 
 h.6t Magnus msogr SigurSar 
 heiptar-giarn, enn Haraldr brodir. 
 
 walked the earth. First of them, Olaf the Good lost his life in his 
 youth ; the people had but a short while to profit by t/je >-ti/e 0/ Magnus' 
 son. Eystan did all that was good within the land [at home], till in 
 a short while spasm of the heart brought about his death. Both 
 these brothers are laid in the ground north by the banks of Nith, 
 where Olafs shrine stands high above the altar in the cathedral church. 
 But Sigurd lived far the longest of the three brothers, — he who made 
 the very famous journey out of the country away to Jerusalem. Now 
 Sigurd ruled the realm sixteen-years-and-eleven, till a murderous mortal 
 disease [mania] cut off his life. This king's body is laid in a coffin east 
 in Oslo-by [Christiania] ; the grass is growing over his bones by the lofty 
 church of St. Hallward. But a son and daughter both outlived Sigurd. 
 This daughter of the king of the Dales I will shortly speak of later 
 on. And here this count of the kings' deaths [necrology] is sad for me 
 to tell. Magnus was the name of Sigurd, but Harold was his 
 
 207. =¥.173. 223. =Book vi, No. 54.
 
 3i8 TWELFTH-CENTURY POEMS. [bk. viii. 
 
 59. teir miaok rog-samt riki haofSo 
 nanir frsendr i Noregi: 
 
 allt for verr an vera skyldi 235 
 
 (J)ess gait margr) a me6al t)eira. 
 
 60. Unz Magnus misti beggja 
 ssemdar-laust sigrs ok heilso : 
 J)at veit hverr, at Haraldr Gilli 
 
 var sex vetr sam-fast konungr. 240 
 
 61. A6r an lof3ung af lif-da)gom 
 tirar-laust toko fyrSar : 
 
 Sa er 1 Kristz kirkjo iar6a8r 
 f BiaDrgin broQir ia)fra. 
 
 62. Fra-ek land-vaorn ept liSinn raesi 245 
 Sygna grams at synir toeki : 
 
 var Eysteinn Inga brodir 
 soknar-giarn, enn Sigurbr annarr. 
 
 63. Na8i frsegt f friSi at standa 
 
 J)eygi lengi Jjeirra n'ki : 25° 
 
 {)vi-at pdr brct;6r, er bruto soeri, 
 bana-spiot bsorosk eptir. 
 
 64. Varat saklaust pi-er SigurS hdoido 
 froekinn mann fiajrvi raentan : 
 
 sa er i fold hia fe8r sinom 355 
 
 i Bia)rgin buinn at liggja. 
 
 65. Var Eysteinn austan-Fiar3ar 
 llfi rsentr af li9i Inga : 
 
 nu er sa gramr grundo ausinn 
 
 andar sparr austr at Forsi. 260 
 
 66. St66 einart Inga n'ki 
 attian vetr ok a8ra siau : 
 unz Hakon me3 her-li6i 
 austr 1 Vik Inga felldi. 
 
 brother. These kinsmen had a reign of sore feud in Norway. Every- 
 thing went worse between them that should have been ; many a man 
 had to pay for it ; till at last Magnus miserably lost both victory and 
 viriHty. Every one knows that Harold Gillie-[Christ] was king six 
 years together, till men ingloriously took his life. He is laid in the 
 earth at Christ Church in Bergen. I know that after the king's death 
 his sons took charge of the land — Eystan and Sigurd, the brothers of 
 Ingi. Their rule did not long endure peacefully, for the brothers 
 broke their oaths, and took up the spear of deadly strife. It was not 
 guiltlessly that Sigurd was robbed of his life ; he was duly laid by his 
 father in Bergen. Eystan was robbed of his life by Ingi's following 
 east of the Firth [of Christiania]. He lies lifeless with the earth heaped 
 above him east by Force. Ingi's sway endured eighteen winters and 
 seven to boot, till Hakon with his army struck him down east in 
 
 250. lengr, Cd. 259. =Y. 175.
 
 § 6.] KONUNGA-TAL. 319 
 
 67. Sa er gunn-diarfr gramr i Oslo 265 
 hau6ri hul6r at haofoQ-kirkjo : 
 
 enn Hakon hlaut at ra&a 
 Iftla stund landi ok J)egnom. 
 
 68. I'vi-at Erlingr atti inn Skakki 
 
 vsenan son ok vel borinn: 270 
 
 ggofo landz-folk epdr liSinn Inga 
 konungs nafn Kristfnar bur. 
 
 69. Ok Magnus a Moeri norSr 
 fremSar-giarn felldi Hakon : 
 
 sa var vin-ssell vigSri moldo 275 
 
 raesir hul6r i Raumsdali. 
 
 70. Var sokn-diarfr son Kristin ar 
 siautian vetr i samt konungr: 
 unz agsetr austr i Sogni 
 
 froekinn gram felldi Sverrir. 280 
 
 71. Nu er gunn-diarfs i gra)f lagit 
 Magnuss lik 1 musteri : 
 
 i Bisorgin, J)ar-er buit golli 
 stendr skraut-goert skrin Sunnifo. 
 
 72. Nu er })at sfnt at Sverrir raedr 285 
 ognar-sorr einn fyr riki : 
 
 gullo pvi, er att hefir 
 Haralldz kyn Halfdans sunar. 
 
 III. 
 
 73. Po skal-ek enn J)okkom fleira 
 
 fra Berfoettz ba^rnom segja : 290 
 
 a)6lings J)ess, er aldregi 
 elld n6 iarn ottask haf&i. 
 
 74. Het ein danglings dottir {'ora, 
 
 the Wick. He is shrouded in mould at the cathedral church at Oslo. 
 Albeit Hakon was fated to rule land and lieges but a little while, for 
 Erling Shank had a fair and well-born son, and the people of the land 
 gave the name of king to Christina's child after Ingi's death. Yea, this 
 Magnus struck down Hakon north in More. The beloved king 
 [Hakon] was shrouded with hallowed dust in Ream's-dale. Chris- 
 tina's son [Magnus] was king seventeen winters in all, till the re- 
 nowned Swerri felled him in Sogn in the east. Magnus' body is now 
 laid in the grave in the minster at Bergen, where stands the inlaid gold- 
 decked shrine of Sunweva. Now it is well known that the warrior 
 Swerri rules alone over the whole realm that Harold, HaU'dan's son, 
 held of yore. 
 
 HI. Now I am going to speak more at length of the children of 
 Bareleg, the Etheling that never shrunk from fire or sword. One of his 
 daughters was named Thora. She was given in marriage to a noble- 
 
 265. =Y. 175. 280 gramr, Cd.
 
 320 TWELFTH-CENTURY POEMS. [bk. viir. 
 
 su var gipt gsofgom manni : 
 
 allra helzt, sii-er Ioan foeddi ; 295 
 
 var son-ssel systir iaafra. 
 
 75. Kom ra6-vaDnd raesiss dottir 
 til Naefr-landz-nykra-borgar : 
 gaofog-lynd ^goSrar ti3ar 
 
 allra helzt Islendingum. 300 
 
 76. t'vi-at hug-rakkr henni at fylgSi 
 einga-sonr iaofra systor : 
 hiarta-pru3r, sa-er hefir allra 
 
 fta. vinr or3-lof fira. 
 
 77. I'at er vi'st at loans verSa 305 
 metord mest mistar runna 
 
 einar8-lyndz, J)ar-er eigosk vi6 
 merkis-menn mcolom skipta. 
 
 78. Nii vill kappi vi6 konungs frsenda 
 afreks-maSr engi deila : 310 
 gipto-driugr, sem glikt er, 
 
 ver8r vin-saell vella deilir. 
 
 79. t^otti a)rr ok osvikall 
 fa6ir bans flestom ma)nnom : 
 
 vissi LoPTR und laufi skfja. 315 
 
 ovin Sinn engan fceddan. 
 
 80. Enn Sjemundr sina vissi 
 SiGFUss soNR snilli iafnan : 
 fa6ir Loptz, sa-er firom \)6tti 
 
 haofoSs-maSr um hluti alia. 320 
 
 81. t»at hefir jett Odda-verja 
 iaDfra-kyns alia pr/dda : 
 dottor-son sa-er dajgom optar 
 fremsk marg-n^^tr Magnuss konungs. 
 
 82. Nefnda-ek a9r nser {)ria tigi 325 
 tignar-menn tiri goedda, 
 
 man. She was blessed in her sons, especially in giving birth to John. 
 This king's daughter came to the land of the Roof of the Nixie's town 
 [i.e. Iceland] in a good hour, especially for the Icelanders. For her 
 only son came with her, the courteous one, who has a good report of all 
 men. It is certain that John is the highest in rank of all men, fore- 
 most where men of mark take counsel together [at the INIoots]. No 
 one will vie with this kinsman of kings, for he is much beloved, as is 
 most natural. His father Loft was deemed gallant and guileless by 
 all : he had no enemy beneath the foliage of the clouds [under heaven]. 
 And S^MUND SiGFUssoN, the father of Loft, was unequalled in wisdom, 
 and was deemed foremost in everything. But the pride of the Ordwara 
 family (see Sturl. ii. 487) is the famous son of the daughter of King 
 
 295. Ion, Cd. 305. Ions, Cd. 315. lofi, Cd, 320. vi&, Cd.
 
 §7.] lORUN THE POETESS. 321 
 
 Jjraeto-laust enn peir eru 
 loans settar allir iaafrar. 
 
 83. Nu bi3-ek Krist, at konungs spialli 
 
 hafi Jjat allt er hann oeskir s^r, 330 
 
 gipto-driugr af Go6i siaolfom 
 allan aldr, ok unaQs ni6ti. 
 
 Odd-mior. 
 CCIOLDUNGR rak me8 skildi SkeiSar-brand or landi, 
 
 
 t66 sa konungr si6an sniallr N6regi aollom. 
 
 § 7. SCRAPS OF COURT POETRY. 
 
 This poem might have appeared with the other poems of Harold 
 Fairhair, but that one has no means of knowing whether lorun was 
 contemporary with the events she describes or no. All we can with 
 certainty say is, that Ari has drawn from it one particular in his text 
 of Harold's life, the quarrel between father and son, where he mentions 
 'Thorsbiorg' within Cape Stad, and 'Rein-sletta,' place-names drawn 
 from this poem, either from the pure text (for ours is over-painted and 
 polished) or from lost verses. If lorun were not earlier, we should fancy 
 that she was a contemporary of St. Olaf, but the few lines remaining of 
 her have been so metamorphosed that it is hard to judge. There are a 
 score of loruns in Landnama-bok, but none that one could fix on. 
 
 The place 'Rein-sletta' seems to have stood in 1. 11, where the 
 MSS. have ' raun,' but beyond this we cannot mend the verses much. 
 
 The story of the incident related, touching Sindri the poet, has been 
 given, vol. ii. p. 29. 
 
 We take what is left to be a strophe of a longer poem, which dealt 
 with more than our tale, perhaps a poem of Embassies, which indeed in 
 Ireland formed one class of stories, just as cattle-spoils, elopements, 
 banquets, etc. did. The words of Harold's Saga, 'According to this tale 
 lorun the poet-maiden (Skald-mser) made a certain section of Sendibit,' 
 evidently refer to a poem of which the ' erendis ' were many and 
 various. A Saga of the poetess would have been a welcome thing, but 
 we are doomed to rest ignorant about this unknown lady. 
 
 Worm Steinthorsson. A poet whose age is also unknown (probably 
 of St. Olaf's time). He has left an unplaceable scrap, a beginning of an 
 
 Magnus [John]. Now I have named near three tens of famous princes : 
 they are all without gainsaying of the family of John. 
 
 Epilogue. Now I pray Christ that this companion of kings may h.ive 
 all that he desires, life-long prosperity from God himself, and enjoy 
 a life of bliss. 
 
 Odd-mior. The Shielding with his shield drove Galley-Brand out 
 of the land. The gallant king ruled all Norway after this. 
 VOL. 11. Y
 
 322 SCRAPS OF COURT POETRY. [bk. vm. 
 
 Encomium, and a piece of a Dirge on his dead lady, which ought to 
 have been preserved whole : it is touching, and unlike other dirge- 
 poetry. The metre is rough and 'docked,' feeling its way towards 
 eight-measure. That Worm had made satires, a hint in 1. i shows. 
 
 lORUN THE POETESS (Sendibit). 
 
 (Lines I, a from Lives of Kings ; 3-12 from St. Olaf's Saga in AM. 75 c. 410. ; 
 13, 14 from Edda.) 
 
 1. T T ARALD fra-ek Halfdans spyrja her6i-braog6 (enn laogSiss 
 J- -*- sy^nisk svart-leitr reyni sia bragr) enn Har-fagra : 
 f'vi-at rikr konungr rekka reyr und-lagar dreyra 
 
 mor6z J)a-es merkja J^orSo magnendr hofsk at fagna. 
 
 2. Hvar viti einkar sorvir 3or-ve3rs frama goervan 5 
 tingl-rj^rondom tungla tveir igofrar veg meira.'' 
 
 an ge3-har6ir goer6o gollz land-rekar ^ollom 
 
 (upp angr um hofsk Yngva oblindr) fyr lof Sindra. 
 
 3. Hr63r vann ' Hringa stri6iss ' harm fyr-kve6inn ramman ; 
 Go6thormr hlaut af 'Gauti' g66 laun kveSins 66ar: 10 
 ' raun-framla ' bra rimmo runnr Skia)ldunga ' gunnar ' 
 
 (a6r biosk herr til hiaorva hreggs) daoglinga tveggja. 
 
 4. Bragningr r66 i bl63i (bei9 herr konungs rei6i) 
 [hus luto opt fyr eiso] 6jDi66ar slaag rioSa. 
 
 DIRGE BY ORMR STEINI'ORSSON (Edda). 
 
 1. OEGGIR t)urfot ala ugg (aongo sn;f-ek i Vi3riss feng 
 ^ ha6i) [kunnom hr63r-smi9 haga] of minn brag. 
 
 2. f^vi-at hols hryn-bals hramma, {)atz ek ber framm 
 Billings a 'burar' full biarkar hefi-ek lagit mark. 
 
 3. At veri borit biors brikar ok mitt lik 5 
 (rekkar nemi) dau9s (drykk Dvalins) f einn sal. 
 
 Sendibit. I have gathered how Harold Fairhair heard of Halfdan's 
 venturous plots, and this behaviour seemed to him black-hued. The 
 great king went forth to war against his son. Who has ever heard of 
 more glorious honour granted to any man than this which the Two 
 Kings bestowed on Sindri for his song? Open strife had arisen between 
 the two princes. The poet's song prevented a great calamity. Guth- 
 thorm gat from the king of the Ring-folk a good largesse for the poem 
 he delivered ; yea, the poet clearly stopped the battle between the Two 
 Kings, when both armies were in array for the fight at Rein-slade within 
 Cape Stad. The prince reddened his shafts in the blood of the wicked. 
 
 Worm Steinthorsson. A Dirge on his Lady. Prologue. Men need not 
 fear my song, I put no spite in it ; I know the poet's craft [I am not 
 writing satire now]. But when I deliver the cup of Billing's maid [the 
 poem], I put the mark of a fair lady on it [dedicate it to her]. Would 
 that my dead body and hers were laid in one grave. Let men hear t!iis 
 Dwarves' draught of mine ! The lady was clad in clean white raiment, 
 
 9. fyr-] emend.; fram kvedinn, Cd. 11. Read, Rein-sletto? . . . fyrir 
 
 J"ta3 . . . innan. 4. Read, bruSar? i.e. Gunnlad.
 
 §7-] EILIF KULNA-SWAIN. 323 
 
 4. Skor6a vas i faot foerS fiar8-beins afar-hrein; 
 
 n^ri sloeng nadd-Freyr nisting um mia8ar-Hrist. 
 
 5. ' Hr66rar ' nioli funa Fri6r ! fundins mserSa-ek salar grund ; 
 fastan lag8a-ek flag6s gust fiar6ar a bn'mis gar3. 10 
 
 jFrom another Song in different metre (Ups. Edda). 
 
 Ek hefi or9-gn6tt miklo (opt finnom })at) minni 
 [fram bar-ek leyf6 fyr lofSa] lios, an ek munda kiosa. 
 
 Rd6-ek J)enna maog manni .... 
 Vind-svals una9 blindom. 
 
 EILIFR KULNA-SVEINN. 
 
 EiLiF KuLNA-swAiN must be distinguished from Eilif Gudrunson. Of 
 this man we'know no more than we can gather from the scraps of his scat- 
 tered in Edda. They seem to belong to an Encomium on a Saint (ver. 3). 
 Two of the lines refer to a scarcity of hay caused by ice and snow 
 (ver. 4). It is not impossible that the Saint referred to may be Bishop 
 John of Holar (d. 1121), whose holy prayers and vow of the founding of 
 Thing-ore church brought about a miraculous thaw after a terrible 
 winter and long frost, whereby a ' hay-famine ' had begun. The story, 
 as given in the Bishop's life, runs — 
 
 " When St. John had been but a short while in his see, men fell into 
 great straits, they were visited by mighty storms and cold weather, so 
 that the ground was not green at the spring-moot-ticle. The holy 
 bishop John went to the spring-moot [in May] which was held at 
 Thing-ore ; and when he got there, he made a vow for a good season, 
 with the consent of the whole people, promising that they would rear a 
 church and glebe-farm there, and that each should do his share till the place 
 was finished. After the vow, the holy bishop John took off his mantle, and 
 himself marked out the foundation walls for the church ; and so swiftly 
 were men's condition bettered, that in the same week all the ice was 
 gone, whereby the famine for the most part had risen, so that it could 
 be no more seen anywhere ; and the earth began to yield so fast, that 
 there was well-nigh plenty of pasture grass for sheep within a week's 
 time." This church and glebe became famous soon after, from the 
 completion of the bishop's plan, by the founding of a Benedictine 
 cloister at Thing-ore (1133), in which several learned Icelanders have 
 lived; Abbot Karl, the author of Swerri's Saga; the two monks Odd 
 and Gunnlaug ; and, if we may guess, perhaps Eilif himself. 
 
 There is a curious play on the word ' vond-ol,' ' vond ' being supplied 
 by its equivalent *torra%in ' [this grammatical pun makes it unlikely 
 
 the needle-man sewed up her body in a new garment. May she enjoy 
 the earth [rest in peace]. I have ended my song of praise. I have set 
 my mind on ... . 
 
 Beginning of an Encomium. My word-store is lower than I would. 
 
 I deliver my Song of Praise to the Prince .... I was a Wind man 
 this .... son of Windcold [winter] .... 
 
 8. song, W, 9. Read, haudrs? ii. mikla, Cd. 
 
 Y 2
 
 324 SCRAPS OF COURT POETRY. [bk. viii. 
 
 indeed that it could be by his tenth-century namesake, Eilif Gudrunson], 
 Verses 1-3 appear to be a variation of the burden. 
 
 On Bishop John(?). 
 
 (Verses 1-4 from Edda ; verse 5 from Skalda.) 
 
 1. TT ROTZ Iflr helgom criici heims fer9 ok 119 beima, 
 -L J- saonn er enn 'soil dfrb sonnor ein Mario sveini. 
 
 2. Hir8 1^'tr himna d;^r8ar hrein Mario sveini ; 
 
 matt vi9r mildingr drottar (ma3r er hann ok Go5) sannan. 
 
 3. Mattr er an menn of hyggi msetr Go9s vinar betri; 5 
 J)6 er Engla gramr a)llo sorr helgari ok d^rri. 
 
 4. Himins dfr6 lofar ha)l6a (hann er allz konungr) stilli. 
 
 5. Voro vaotn ok m^rar [ver9r hitt at f)au skerSa] 
 (svell var a9r) of alia [aol tor-radin] hola. 
 
 6. Baro maeta naoti malm-^ings vidir palma 10 
 (sveit hrau9) seggja bceti (sorg) er hann kom til borgar: 
 sva laSar siklingr sk^ja sin, hiarta, til, biartir 
 
 ^a er fyr3a gram fcera fa)gr verk me6 trii sterkri. 
 
 UNCLASSED FRAGMENTS OF ENCOMIA, etc. 
 
 Mostly anonymous, drawn from later parts of Edda, and from 
 Skalda. They appear to have been overlaid, and some of them are 
 undoubtedly old. Even those scraps which have a name appended are 
 by poets not in Skalda-tal, so we cannot class them, and have 
 preferred to set them together here in such rough arrangement as 
 was feasible, under the heads Mythical, Historical, Personal, 
 Satirical, Legendary. 
 
 There is not much to be got from them apparently, but one or two 
 are certainly interesting. Ha/lida-mal was probably a satirical Dialogue. 
 Gtidbrand, Skraut-Odd, Thorolf, Thord Mare's poet, Erringar-Stein (Brawl 
 Stone), Gamli Gnx'vada-scald, Hall, and Harold, etc. are the poets whose 
 names have been preserved. The fragment (9) is on Cnut the Great, 
 or St. Cnut; the No. 17 on Magnus the Good, or IMagnus Barefoot. 
 There are bits of poems on Kugi and Siva/a, and two pieces called Strid- 
 kera-visor (cf. p. 336, § 7, No. 6) and Morgm-sol (Morning Sun) which 
 look genuine. 
 
 There is a bit on the Wolsung cycle, a scrap on the Hagbard-Haki 
 legend, and a bit from a Drapa on Asmund o'Gnod. Verses II. 6 and 6 b 
 
 Burden. The host of heaven and the company of mankind bow to 
 the Holy Rood. There is no greater glory than that of the only son 
 of Mary. The army of heaven bow to the pure son of INIary. Wide 
 is his fame, he is God and Man. 
 
 The friend of God's mother [Bishop John] is mightier than men think, 
 but the Lord of all angels is holier and nobler than all. The angels 
 praise the Lord, the King of All. 
 
 The waters were over all the marshes and hills, but before this there 
 was ice, hence it came about that hay-cocks were getting scarce. 
 
 Joyfully they carried precious palms to meet the Saviour when He 
 rode into the city : thus the Lord of Heaven welcomes those of pure 
 heart who bring him good deeds with strong faith.
 
 §7.] UNCLASSED FRAGMENTS OF ENCOMIA. 325 
 
 look as if they came from a poem of the same class as Islendinga-Drapa, 
 Book X, § 5. 
 
 The Charlemagne legend is referred to in IV, No. 16: cf. Bp. Blarni's 
 Proverb-Song. 
 
 Einar Skulason's hand seems to be felt in several of these scraps. 
 There is a marked difference in Skaldscapar-mal between the early 
 good quotations, the middle citations of whole poems (unworked 
 material collected by the first editor perhaps), and the mass of later and 
 balder and drearier verse (much by Einar himself) in the end part, 
 which is unfinished. 
 
 I. Mythical. 
 
 1, A DR diup-huga5r draepi dolga ramr me5 hamri 
 ■*"*• gegn a grae6iss vagna gagn-saell faSir Magna. 
 
 2. A5r grimm-hugaSr gengi af Griot-tnoSa dauQom. 
 
 Haflida-mdl. 3. Ristu nii, Fala, fardii i bu3 hinig, 
 
 J)0 es mals-gengi niikit. 
 
 4. Rei3 Brynhildar br66ir bort sa-er hug ne skorti. 
 
 5. Haki var brendr a bali J)ar er briin-sl66ir 660. 
 
 6. |)or5i Idja orSa ..... 
 
 II. Historical. 
 
 (From Edda ; verses 8, 10, 20-24 ^■'oni Skalda.) 
 pordr Mcera-skald. i. CER a seima ryri sigSiss latrs at attorn 
 
 •^ hrauns gl66-sendir handa herm65r f63ur g65an. 
 
 03 (enn oerno na9i ims sveit freka hveiti), 
 [gera dl3ra naut gyldir] gialpar st63 i bl65i. 
 
 Enn J)6tt ofriS sannan al-J)i<)3 segi skaldi, 
 hlo5om Geitiss mar grioti (glaSir nenno ver) {)enna. 
 
 031ingr drap ser ungom uiigr nagl-fara tungor 
 inn-bordz ok or3a ail-fatt me3al-kafia. 
 
 Grund liggr und bor bundin brei3 holm-fioturs leiSar, 
 hein-landz hoddom grandar H63r eitr-svolom n63ri. 
 
 I. Mythical. On Tbor. Ere the victorious father of Magni struck 
 .... with his hammer. 
 
 On Thor and Rungni. Ere the fierce one [Thor] left Stone-heart [the 
 giant Rungni] dead. 
 
 Bajiid'is lesson. Arise, O Fala, and come into the booth; there is a 
 great talk going on there. 
 
 From a strophe or burden on the Wolsung cycle. Brunhild's bold brother 
 rode away. 
 
 The death-pyre of Haki, Hagbard's brother, on board a ship launched 
 aflame on the sea. Haki was burned on a bale fire where the surges were 
 washing. 
 
 II. Historical. Thord Mora-scald. It is manifest that we had a noble 
 father [king]. 
 
 A battle scrap, perhaps by Thord. The wolf waded in gore, etc. 
 
 Erringar-Stein. Though all men report war from the south, yet let 
 us fill our bark with stones. 
 
 Gamli Gnaivad's poet. The young king struck with his hilted brand. 
 
 Harold's obscure 'verse, Hall's battle lines, AtlPs Amor-like scrap on the 
 burning and harrying of some land, and Leidolfs bit of eulogy folloixj. 
 
 Erringar-Steinn. 3 
 
 Gamli Gncevadar- 4 
 skald. 
 
 Haraldr.
 
 326 
 
 
 Hallr. 
 
 6. 
 
 Atli. 
 
 7- 
 
 Leidolfr. 
 
 8. 
 
 Anonymous. 
 
 9- 
 
 „ 
 
 lO. 
 
 
 11. 
 
 SCRAPS OF COURT POETRY. 
 
 [bK. VIII. 
 
 HeiSingja sleit hungri, har gyl9ir naut sara, 
 granar rau3 gramr a fenri, gekk ulfr i fen drekka. 
 
 CEx rySsk (eisor vaxa) all-morg, [loga hallir ; 
 bus brenna ; gim geisar; g65-mennit fellr] bl63i. 
 
 Ni6r6r bar goll or gar6i grams J)ess er verSung framSi. 
 
 Allvalda kann-ek aldar austr ok su9r of flausta 
 (Sveins es sonr at reyna) setr (hveim gram betri). 
 
 Ski6 gekk framm at floeSi fl66s i hreggi 65o. 
 
 Sva skaut gegn i goegnom gar6 stein-farinn bar5a 
 (sa. vas gny-stoerir geira gunnar haefr) sem nsefrar. 
 
 jj 12. Erom a leiS fra la3i li9nir Finnom-skriSno ; 
 
 austr se-ek fioU af flausta ferli geisla merlod, 
 
 „ 13. Or-gildiss var-ek eldi als Fiorgynjar mala 
 
 dyggr se hei6r ok hreggi ' hryn bo6s ar ' steSja. 
 
 „ 14. Hregg-skornis vil-ek handa haleitan mi63 vanda. 
 
 „ 15. Ganga el of unga Ullar skips raeS fullo 
 
 par er sam-nagla siglor slidr-dukaSar riSa. 
 
 ,, 16. Ogn-rakkr skalat okkra, almr dyn-skurar malraa, 
 
 (sva baud liiid i laudi lii.s) hug-rekki dvina. 
 
 „ 17. Eldr brennrat sia sialdan (svi5r dyggr iofiirr byg3;r) 
 
 [blasa ronn fyrir raesi reyk] es Magnus kveykir. 
 
 ,, 18. Bo3i fell a mik braSla, bau3 heim me& ser Geimi, 
 
 J)a ek eigi 163 laegiss ..... 
 
 ,, 19. Hrau3 i himin upp gl63om hafs ; gekk saer af afli ; 
 
 bor3 hygg-ek at sky skor3i ; skaut Ranar vegr mana. 
 
 ,, 20. Hring-lestir gekk hraustan hverjom kunnr at gunni. 
 
 „ 21. For hvat-ra3r hilmi at finna 
 
 a3r siklingr til saetta gekk. 
 
 „ 22. f)at hef ek sagt er sialfr vissak 
 
 dul3r fer-ek bins er drengr {)egir. 
 
 Anonymous Fragments, 9-24. On one of the Canutes. I know all 
 the kings east and south of the sea, and the son of Sweyn is the best of 
 all his line. 
 
 A gale. Magnus" home-coming, or the like. The ship ran out to sea in 
 the mad gale. 
 
 An archer-hero. He shot through the painted shield as though it were 
 lime-bark. 
 
 Home from Finland. We are speeding away from the Scrid-Fins' land. 
 I see in the east from the sea the sun's beams glancing back from the 
 glittering hill-tops. 
 
 T^he faithful poet. I was faithful .... 
 
 Prologue of a poem. I will raise high the mead of ... . [poesy]. 
 
 Tiuo obscure fragments (15, 16). The first talks ©/'"'broad canvassed sails.' 
 
 On a King Magnus. They are not far between the fires that Magnus 
 kindled. 
 
 Peril at sea. The billow fell upon me. Ocean bade tne home to him, 
 but I did not accept his welcome. 
 
 The storm. The embers of the deep [foam] surged up to heaven, the 
 sea rose very mighty ; I think that the ship was tossed up to the clouds ;
 
 §7.] UNCLASSED FRAGMENTS OF ENCOMIA. 327 
 
 Anonymous. 23. Sa er af Islandi ar3i barSi. 
 
 ,, 24. Hve's ef ek hleyp at cruci .... 
 
 III. Personal, Satirical. 
 
 (From Skalda, v. 5 from W. App. ; vv. 8, 10 from Lauf. Edda ; v. 9 from AM. 748.) 
 
 Anonymous. 1. "LJRCEKK at Hauga-brekko[m] hotz meir an til gatom 
 ■*■ ■'■ fyrir hi6r-goe6i hridar Halldorr i bug skialdi. 
 
 „ 2, Framm Jjrauko&o fakar fiorir senn und henni, 
 
 J)(5 gat {jeim in hava firym-goll hlaSit ollom. 
 
 Heill kom-J)u bandar svella hlynr, kvaddi sva Brynja. 
 
 Her liggja brot beggja, briidr, strykvinna su5a. 
 
 Hefka ek opt (enn aevi a-ek fli66s lofa g65a) 
 enni-leiptr af unnar eld-spong degi longom. 
 
 Aura stendr fyrir orom eik fagr-buin leiki. 
 
 Megin-hraeddir ro menn vi5 Kiiga, meiri ertu hverjom ^eira. 
 
 {less sit-ek J)3egra hnossa J)ru6r avalt in pruSa 
 hverjom leik a hraka hnuggin Gleipniss tuggo : 
 at ur6-hceings iarSar ytendr fyrir mer nytir, 
 greipar svellz ins gialla gefn, StriSkera nefni. 
 
 Upp dregr mokk inn mikla m63-stallz verold alia. 
 
 Megn i gegn glyggvi (kva5 greQa tyggvi) 
 [halft nam hann J)at liuga] hrafnar titt fliiiga. 
 
 Ef vaeri bi! baro brunnins logs sii-er unnom 
 (opt goerig orda skipti einrcenliga) a boenom. 
 
 Bols munat bor at dylja BergJ)6rs nosom orom. 
 
 Rann hrseddari hranna hyr-briotr fra styr liotom. 
 
 |jvi hefek heitiS may maetri mest nema hamlan bresti. 
 
 Vaetti ek harms nema hitta h6fo9-gollz naim Fullo. 
 
 Bl^s um hvapta hasa h6fo3 skripa-mannz pipa. 
 
 the streamers of Ran (see Balder's Doom, 1. 49, vol. i. p. 183) [foam- 
 sheets cut off by the wind] were flung against the moon. 
 
 The rest are in old-metre or mere phrases (20-24) referring to nvar 
 (20, 21), to the poet's heroes (22, 23), and to some ecclesiastic figure (24). 
 
 III. Personal. On a certain Haldor. At Howe-brinks [a play-moot 
 place mentioned in Eyrbyggia, ch. 40] Haldor squatted behind the bend 
 of his shield rather more than we guessed he would. 
 
 On a big bell being draivn to its steeple. Four horses plodded along 
 together under her, but yet the big bell was a load for them. 
 
 A greeting. Hail, O man .... thus the giantess [lit. Brindle, a cow's 
 name] greeted me. 
 
 Of his poem. Here lie the mortals of the ship of the Divarves, lady ! 
 
 Morning Sun. A love-song. The live-long day I could not lift mine 
 eyes from her. 
 
 A lo'ver's pain. The lady so fairly arrayed stands between me and joy. 
 
 On Kugi. All are afraid of Kugi, thou outdoest them all. 
 
 The rest (8-16) are scarcely translateable or <worth translating ; to the 
 satirical ones <we have not the key. In No. 8 there is a pun, the slaver 
 of the Wolf= Van = Van, hope. No. 16 is a satire on a flute-player. 
 
 .. 
 
 3- 
 
 J> 
 
 4- 
 
 Morginsol. 
 
 5- 
 
 A nonymous. 
 
 6. 
 
 Kuga-drdpa. 
 
 7- 
 
 Strldkera- 
 
 8. 
 
 visor. 
 
 
 Gudbrandr on 
 
 
 Svala (poem) 
 
 • 9- 
 
 Gnodar As- 
 
 10. 
 
 miindardrdpa 
 
 
 Skraut-Oddr. 
 
 II. 
 
 The same. 
 
 12. 
 
 Anonymous. 
 
 13- 
 
 „ 
 
 14. 
 
 „ 
 
 15- 
 
 „ 
 
 16.
 
 328 SCRAPS OF COURT POETRY. [bk. viii. 
 
 IV. Legendary. 
 
 1. "pORK laetk ae sem orkar at glamrandi hamra 
 
 a glot-kylli gialla Geirhildar hvi meira : 
 iarn-stafr skapar oerna (ero sollin rif trolli) 
 har a Hialta-eyri hriS, kerlingar si3o. — Landn. iii. ch. 14. 
 
 2. Einn byggi-ek s\ob steina, stafn-nim Atals hrafni ; 
 
 ' erat ' of fiegn a ^iljom J)roeng, by-ek a ' mar * ranga ; 
 
 nim er b66-vitrom betra (brim-dyri kna ek styra) 
 
 [lifa man ^at me6 lySom lengr] an illt of gengi. — Landn ii. ch. 6. 
 
 3. Sniallr a haug a hello, Hialdr a bu6 til kalda 
 
 — vekit 6r i dag dreyra drott, mi er sigr a spiotom ! — lO 
 
 valdr man hitt at Hildar hlaejandi rau6-ek blaejo 
 (skiold nefni-ek sva) skofnom skioma fyrstr at romo. 
 
 Min st66 bu6 sizt brce9ra brandz gekk hvarr fyr annan 
 ' holi ok heldom sniaJlir her fellom J)a velli ' 
 hrosar ' hug fyrir visa ' Hialdr, ero vig til sialdan ; 
 gledr OSS Jat er val Vi6ri veit ek J)ik gefa teitan. — 
 
 Landn. HauJis-bolt, App. 
 
 4. Maelti dogla deilir da6om rakkr sa-er haSi, 
 
 ' biartr ' me9 bezto hiarta, ' ben-rogn,' fa6ir Hogna : 
 
 heldr kvazt hialmi faidinn hior-J)iljo sia vilja 
 
 vaetti stafr enn vsegja Val-freyjo stafr deyja — 20 
 
 V. St. d. — Niala, ch. 79. 
 
 5. Mundit mello kindar mi&iungs bruar I6ja 
 gunnr um geira seniio galdrs bra-regni halda : 
 er hrae-stykkis hlakka hraustz sins vinir minir 
 
 (tryggvi ek 69) ok eggjar und-genginn spor dundo. — Niala, ch. 1 31. 
 
 6. Vissa-ek Hrafn, enn Hrafni hvoss kom egg i leggi, 
 hialt-uggo9om hoeggva hryn-fiski mik brynjo : 
 
 IV. Legendary. Epigram on Stnnfred the bra've blacksmith, <who, nvith 
 his tongs and bars, fought a switch in the shape of a cotu. The fork hammers 
 about the back of Geirhild as hard as it can, the iron staff beats a loud 
 tattoo on the old wife's side. The fiend's ribs are broken at Hilt-ore. 
 
 Asmund's cry from his burial-chamber in the ship, he nvants the thralls 
 buried 'with him to be taken away. I would fain be alone in my stone 
 house. There is an ill crew on the decks of my ship. To a brave 
 man room is better than bad company. I can steer my bark .... 
 
 Cairn-songs of two old heroes in a hciue at Glammstone in Halland, heard 
 by Sigfred the White and Biorn-buck, King Harold Hardrede's men. Snell 
 has a howe on the cliff, Heald has a hilly dwelling. Wake men to a day 
 of blood, there is victory now on your spear-points .... My booth is 
 furthermost .... Hiald and Snell smile .... Wars are too few. We 
 are glad that ye give slain to Woden. Heald and Snell ivere the sons of 
 Watnar, a king from whom many famous families sprang. 
 
 Gunnar ofLithend. The bold-hearted father of Hogni, he that had 
 the bright halbert, spoke; he said he would rather die than give in. 
 The verse of Skarphedin, ivhichfolloivs, is quite dark to us. 
 
 Gunlaug' s ghost sings. Raven cut me with the fin-hilted fish [sword] .... 
 
 I. laetr, Cd. 5. Read, ill er. 6. Read, ma? 14. Read, hello 
 
 Hialdr . . . Snialli. 15. Read, hugbor9?
 
 § 7.] UNCLASSED FRAGMENTS OF ENCOMIA. 329 
 
 \ik er 'hrae skaerri ' hlyra (hlaut fen ari benja) 
 klauf gunn-spioti gunnar Gunnlaugs hofuS nunna. 
 6 b. Ro6it sver6, enn sver9a, sver3-r6gnir mik ger6i, 
 
 voro reynd i rondom rand-galkn fyr ver handan : 30 
 
 bl69og hygg-ek i bl66i blu3-g6gl of skor stoSo ; 
 sar-fikinn hlaut sara sar-gammr en a J)ramma. — 
 
 Gunnlaugs S., ch. 13. 
 
 7. Var-ek J)ar er bragnar borSosk, brandr gall a Irlandi ; 
 niargr, J)ar-er moettosk torgor, malmr gnast i dyn hialma : 
 svipan ^eira fra-ek snarpa ; Sigur3r f^ll i dyn vigra, 
 
 a3r toe9i ben blceSa; Briann fell ok belt velli. — Niala, ch. 148. 
 
 8. Vas-ek t)ar er fell af fialli fl66-korn iotuns m66ir 
 ham Berg-risa or himni hei5ins ' a na lei9ar' 
 goerr farr iotunn fleiri ' fold ivinga moldo ' 
 
 ' homlo heiSar J)umla ' ham-vata mer bata. — 40 
 
 Landn. Hb. ii. ch. 7. 
 
 9. Hroeng er J)arz havan ^ongul heldek .... fior seldak ; 
 ' syn er at sitk ' at Ranar, ' siimir ro i bu6 ' me3 humrom : 
 Host er lyso at gista, land a-ek tit fyrir strondo, 
 
 J)ar sit-ek bleikr i brxiki, blaktir mer t)ari um hnakka. — 
 
 Harolds S., Hulda. 
 
 10. Hogg-orma mun hefjask her3i-J)undr a landi, 
 sia mego menn a moldo margar heila-borgir : 
 mi vex blarra brodda beysti-suUr i fiollom ; 
 
 koma mun sumra seggja sveita-dcegg a leggi. — Niala, ch. 134. 
 
 11. Vist er at allvaldr austan eggjask vestr at leggja 
 
 motz vi3 marga knuto (minn sniidr er Jsat) pni6a : 50 
 
 {)ar a vaI-J)i6orr velja (veil hann oerna ser beito) 
 steik af stilliss haukom stafns ; fylgi ek J)ar iafnan. 
 
 Skce3 Isetr skina rauSan skiold, er dregr at hialdri ; 
 briiSr ser Aurniss i63a ofor konungs goerva : 
 sviptir i svar3ar-kioepta svanni holdi manna ; 
 ulfs munn litar innan 631at kona blodi — o. h. b. 
 
 In the same complicated metre is Raven's verse, not 'worth translation. 
 
 A ghost tells of Brian's battle. (7) I was where men fought. The sword 
 was whistling in Ireland. Sigrod fell in the rattle of spears, Brian fell 
 but kept the field. 
 
 The giant that ivrecks ships. (8) I was where the .... Few giants have 
 pulled down more ships. 
 
 A sea-giant. (9) There is boisterous mirth where I wield the tall tangle- 
 root .... The sun shines where I sit at Ran's. It is blithe summer where 
 the lobsters dwell. There are bright guest-quarters with the pike. My 
 estate lies far from the shore; there I sit wan in the sea-weed, with 
 the tare-weed waving over my head. 
 
 The giant's prophecy ofivar, a dream before the Althing battle. (10) Then 
 shall be .... in the land. Men shall see many a skull upon earth. There 
 is a plague of spears preparing in the mountains. Blood shall flow to 
 men's knees. 
 
 Portents before Stamford Bridge. (11) Gurth's dream. It is true my lord 
 is going east to meet many knots there [a pun on Knut the name]. There 
 will be plenty of prey for the wolves and me. 
 
 Thord's dream. She hoists a red shield ready for the king's unlucky 
 voyage. She sweeps men's flesh into the wolf's mouth. 
 
 41. hefek, Cd. 42. sumorrobli&? 44. J)vi, Cd.
 
 330 SCRAPS OF COURT POETRY. [bk. viii. 
 
 Gramr va fraegr til frem5ar flestan sigr inn Digri ; 
 hlaut-ek, J)vi at heima satom, heilagt fall til vallar : 
 leggi-ek oefst ra9 tiggja, y5r mon feig6 of byrjo5 ; 
 troUz gefit fakom fyllar fiks ; veldrat GoS sliko. — 6o 
 
 Harolds S., Hulda, ch. 114. 
 
 12. Of-fiarri stendr errinn (Ormr brunar diikkr at noekkva) 
 harr me3 hyggjo stora hlyri minn ok vinnor : 
 
 ef vaerim her harir Har5ra6s synir ba9ir 
 
 (Suakr skri3r J)ar-er brim blikir) broeSr tveir, ne vit fia floeSim. 
 
 Leika barSz a borSi byr-hreins fyrir {)er einom 
 (gramr mun a foldo fremri far) sex-tigir ara : 
 mer leikr einn ok annarr oldo sveipr i greipom, 
 J)VJ ver6-ek barSz a bordi baeginn fyrir vaegja. — 
 
 O. T., ch. 212 (see Reader, p. 215). 
 
 13. Hildr stendr hverjan morgin hialdrs und rau5om skialdi, 
 
 mi hafa sigr-meyjar settan sver9-leik Donom hardan : 70 
 
 ' eigom viga veigi vil-baldrs foSor illan ' 
 ' OSinn hordr sem allir oliosan val kiosa.' 
 
 Laetr-eigi mik lytir li6-brandz sa er her grandar 
 (reiSr em-ek stala styri) Styrbiorn vera kyrran . . . . — 
 
 Flatey-bok, ii. pp. 71, 72- 
 
 14. Hvarf inn hildar diarfi, (hvat var8 af |)orgar5i ?) 
 villo-ma6r k velli vig-diarfr refil-stiga : 
 
 farit hefir gautr at grioti gunn-eldz inn fiol-kunni, 
 si5an man hann i Heljo hvilast stund ok milo. — 
 
 Flatey-hoh, i. 214. 
 
 15. Her liggr skald Jiat-er skajda skorungr var mestr at flesto ; 
 nadd-veiti fra-ek nytan ni6 Hakoni smiSa : 80 
 a9r gat oengr ne si5an annarra sva manna 
 
 (fraegt er orftit J)at fyrSom) fe-ran lokit hanom. — 
 
 Flatey-hoh, i. 215 (see Reader, p. 146). 
 
 Olqfs appearance. The stout king [I myself] fought and won till his 
 death-day. I got a holy death in battle, for I died at home. I fear ye 
 must be death-doomed on your last journey. God does not order such 
 an enterprise. 
 
 Thors son, Main, overtaken by Olaf Tryggvason at sea. My brother, 
 good in thought and deed, is too far off to-day. The black Serpent is 
 overtaking my boat. If both of us, the sons of stern Thor, were here, 
 we would not fly. The Snake is creeping up, where the sea is whitened 
 [by her oars]. Sixty oars [thirty a side] are playing before thee at thy 
 ship's side. One and a second [two] play in my hands at my ship's side, 
 so I must yield to the king. 
 
 Woden appears before Fyris-'valla fight, and prophesies the result of the 
 fray. Monster : The Maids of War stand red-shielded every morning, 
 the ladies of victory have set a hard sword-game for the Danes .... 
 
 Woden: Styrbiorn will not leave me in peace. I am wroth with him .... 
 
 Earl Thorleif Vanishing of a ghost ever the sea or into the earth. 
 Thorgard disappeared, what became of him ? Up Refil's path the ghost 
 went. The wizard has gone into the earth, for he will rest in hell for 
 ever and a day [lit. an hour and a mile]. 
 
 The ghost-poet. Here lies a poet, the best of poets, who made a 
 lampoon on Hakon. It has become famous. Never before or after 
 did a man so well avenge his loss of plunder.
 
 §7-] VERSES OF THE SAGA EDITORS. 331 
 
 1 6. Hneggi ber-ek ae ugg otta, h!y8i mer drott I 
 Dana vek-ek dular mey drauga a kerlaug : 
 drapo laet ek or Dvalins greip dynja me6an fram hrynr 
 (rekkom by5-ek Regins drykk rettan) a bragar stett. — 
 
 Flatey-hok, i. 582. 
 
 VERSES OF THE SAGA EDITORS. 
 
 We have spoken elsewhere of the verses put by thirteenth and four- 
 teenth-century editors into the texts of the Sagas, and noticed how it is 
 quite impossible to suppose them to be of earlier date. We have printed 
 here a few of those which, for one reason or another, are worth special 
 notice. To print the whole would be to try English readers overmuch, 
 though it might be worth doing some time, as an illustration of a phase 
 of Icelandic culture. 
 
 Of the whole number (some 1700 lines) those in Gisli Sursson's Saga 
 are the only really poetic verses, and present a curious problem, to 
 which we may suggest a possible solution. At first view one is struck 
 with the definite marks of patchwork and late date ; e. g. * Hneiter,' the 
 name of St. Olaf 's sword, is used as a common sword-synonym ; the 
 kennings are ill-adapted, ponderous, long-drawn, the whole work is 
 clumsy and botched. But, on the other hand, there are archaic 
 words and poetic phrases, as in 11. 6, 10, 12, 20, 25, 31, 44, 63, 82, and 
 there is a real beauty and power of romance running like a vein of 
 silver through this dull formless block of lines. The case would 
 seem to be, that the versifier, to whom we owe the composition as it 
 now stands (he is, we think, the editor of our Saga withal), knew a 
 snatch or two of some of the finest old poetry in the style of the 
 Helgi-Poet, which referred — a. to a Walkyria coming to her lover 
 before the battle in which he died, showing him his last resting-place, 
 and giving him counsel ; and b. to a Flyting Scene (our 6) : that he 
 took these genuine old-metre verses and worked them up into bastard 
 court-metre stanzas, and used them to ornament his edition of the Gisli 
 Saga. It may well be that in the few lines he knew (some score in all 
 one might guess) there was no hero's name given, but we cannot help 
 suspecting that if we had more, we should find some allusion which 
 would fix them to Kara and her lover. See Book iii, § i. 
 
 Parallels to Helgi-Poet are 11. 25, 45-56, 82, 91. 
 
 For Gisli Saga see Prolegomena, § 9. There are two vellums, Cod. 
 AM = A, Cod. Reg. = B; which latter in the verses is preferable. 
 
 The two American verses by Thorodd of Wineland, which may or 
 may not have something genuine in them, are given here from Eric the 
 Red's Saga, as noteworthy. 
 
 Heidari'iga Saga is full of verse, but we have only taken two as 
 specimens: 11. 5-6 are cited in Codex Wormian us /row a wjritten Saga, 
 we take it (perhaps even the very same now extant). The rare word 
 |)isl (our thill or phill), an old word, is a reminiscence of some genuine 
 verse of older date. 
 
 From Bandamanna (a Saga which we have in its primitive state with- 
 out later interpolations) we have two verses in the old metre. 
 
 In St. Olafs Saga, AM. 61, there are two more in the same measure. 
 
 In the verses from Gretti's Saga, probably by Sturla, we have some 
 
 The bewitched king. The Charlemagne story transferred to King Harold 
 Fair hair. I am waking the dead lady ....
 
 332 SCRAPS OF COURT POETRY. [bk. vm. 
 
 old-metre stanzas which are remarkable for their word-plays, quite in 
 the half-humorous taste of the thirteenth century. 
 
 A verse from Egil's Saga in Rhyme-metre ( Rfm-henda), attributed 
 there to Egil's grandfather, Kveld-wolf, is an undoubted anachronism. 
 
 I, GiSLi Sursson's Saga. 
 
 1. T)ETR hug3ak at brygSi (bi8kat-ek draums ins J)ri3ja 
 -L' silks) af svefni vaoktom sar-teina V^steini : 
 
 J)a-er v^r i sal satom Sigrhaddz vi3 xmcob gladdir 
 (komsk ei ma6r a mi6li min ne bans) at vini. 
 
 2. Hylr a laun und h'ni linn-vengis skap kinna 5 
 Gn'Sar less or g66om Gefn el kerom svefna : 
 
 eik berr angri lauka eirekks bra geira 
 br66or doegg a baeSi blid ajndugi siSan. 
 
 3. Hrynja laetr af hvitom hvarm-skogi gna bauga 
 
 hraDnn fylvingom hyljar hlatr-bann 1 kne svanna: 10 
 
 hngetr less (enn Jjreyr ^essom ^?ogn at maerQar ra)gni 
 snaka tuns) af si'no sion-epli ba)l-gr6no. 
 
 4. Teina s^-ek i tiini Tal-grims-vinar Falo, 
 
 Gautz ^ess es geig um veittag gunn-bliks, J)a-mikla : 
 
 nu hefik gunn-stceri geira, Grimo-jDr6tt, um sottan; 15 
 
 J)ann Idt-ek land of lendan land-kost-ar branda. 
 
 5. Gatat sal-fastrar systir sveigar min at eiga 
 gsetin Giuka dottor Gu8runar hug-tiinom : 
 ^a-er log-saga Isegiss let sinn af hug stinnom 
 
 (sva rak hon sniallra broGQra) ' saur freyjan' ver deyja. 20 
 
 6. Mondot ^au a t'orsnesi 
 mala-lok a minni ssok: 
 
 Gisli on the death of his friend Westan, stabbed in his sleep. Westan had 
 a bitter waking. When we two sat merrily over wine on the benches 
 in Sigrhard's hall there was no empty space between us, i. e. ive sat 
 close together. 
 
 And, Gisli's wife and Westan's sister, silently weeping. The lady hides 
 her grief behind her head-rail, gathering the showers of her cheeks 
 from the rain-cups of dreams [her eyes], and in her mourning for her 
 brother the dews are on the high seat of her brows [her face]. She 
 shakes the shower of the filberts of woe [tear-drops] from the thicket 
 of her brows to her knees, and catches the nuts [big tears] from the 
 sorrow-laden apples of her eyes. 
 
 Gisli confesses his foe's slaughter. I see the deep furrows in the howe 
 of the JNIask of the Giantess' foe [i.e. Thor-grim]. I set upon him [Grimo- 
 f'rott = Thorgrim]. I sent him to the god of good seasons [Frey]. 
 
 Gisli's sister, Thordis Thorgrim^ s widow, o-verheard and interpreted his 
 •verse and betrayed him. My sister had not the steadfast soul of Gudrun, 
 
 5. qvinna . . . leggs, A, B. 6. avl kerum, A, B. 12. A ; sion 
 
 hersis, B. 15. Thus B. 16. landkostuSar, B. 20. Thus A, B.
 
 § 7-] VERSES OF THE SAGA EDITORS. 333 
 
 ef V^steins vgeri hiarta 
 Biartmars sonom f bri6st lagit. 
 
 Pi gliipnoQo er gla6ir skyldo 25 
 
 m66or-broe6r mlnnar kvanar ; 
 sem eyQendr eggi vaeri 
 fiar6ar dags fulo lostnir. 
 
 7. Fold kom-ek inn t)ar-er eldar unn-furs i sal brunno 
 
 (eir orom \>zt aura) einn ok sex (at meini) : 30 
 
 sa-ek bli8liga ba6ar bel?:k-sagnir mer fagna 
 (hr68r-deilir ba9 heilan hvern mann) f \)vi ranni. 
 
 8. Hyggit at, kva8 Eg8a ann-spilli var banda, 
 mildr, hve margir eldar, malm-runnr, 1 sal brunno : 
 
 sva attu, kva8 bil bloejo biargs, olifat margan, 35 
 
 ve8r-ski£oldunga valdi, vettr ; nu er skamt til betra. 
 
 9. Goerskattu naemr, kva8 nauma, nid-leiks ara steikar 
 fflrr, nema all g6tt heyrir i8ja galdrs at skaldom : 
 fatt kve8a fleina brautar fur-J)verranda verra, 
 
 randar logs ins renda runnr, an illt at kunna. 40 
 
 10. Vald eigi Jju vigi, (vertu 6tyrrinn) fyrri 
 mor8z vi8 moeti-ma)r8o [mer heitid f)vi] sleito ; 
 baug-sendir hialp-pu blindom ; Baldr hygg-{)U at J)vi skialdar ; 
 flit kveSa had at ha)ltom; hand-lausom Tf granda. 
 
 11. Heim bau8 me3 ser sinom saum-Hlajkk grsom blakki 45 
 (t)a var bru6r vi8 bei6i bli8) lof-skreyti at rl3a: 
 ma-grundar kvazt mundo (man-ek or8 um j^at skorSo) 
 hneigi-sol af heilo (horn-flce8ar) mik goe3a. 
 
 12. Dfr \6t drapo stiora dis til svefns um vfsat 
 
 laegiss eldz \)d.T er lago (litt t^ni-ek \)V]) d^nor: 50 
 
 ok me8 ser in svinna saums leiddi mik nauma, 
 sakat ek hoi 1 hvilo, hlaut skald seeing blauta. 
 
 Giuki's daughter, who put her terrible husband to death to avenge her 
 gallant brothers ; i. e. Thordis slays her brother to avenge her husband. 
 
 Gisli's dead friend. My suit at Thorsness would not have ended so if 
 Westan's heart had been in Biartmar's sons' breast. My mother's 
 brothers whimpered, as though they had been children hit by a foul egg, 
 when they should have been merry. 
 
 The fair Dream-Lady. Gisli's t'ision of the seven fires. I came into a 
 hall where seven fires were burning. I saw the men off both benches 
 welcome me thither. Lo, said the Dream-Lady, as many fires as burn 
 in this hall, so many winters hast thou to live ! Do not take up witch- 
 craft, said she, nought is worse for a man than to know evil ! Do not 
 be the first to wake slaughter, help the blind, mock not the lame, hurt 
 not the handless Tew [the handless man] ! 
 
 The fair Dream-Lady has prepared a place of bliss for him. The lady bade 
 me ride with her on a grey steed, promising me loving entertainment. 
 She took me to sleep whereon down cushions lay, and led me to a bed, 
 
 33. Ag3a, A; Agdi, B. 49. B; sess, A. 52. B; lagSi heil i hvilo, A.
 
 334 SCRAPS OF COURT POETRY. [bk. mil 
 
 13. Hingat skaltu, kvaS hringa hildr at 66ar gildi, 
 fleina-J)ollr, me6 fullo fiall-heyja6r deyja : 
 
 t)a muntu Ullr ok a)llo fsungs f^ {Dvisa 55 
 
 (J)at hagar okkr til au8ar) orm-la3s, ok mer ra6a. 
 
 14. Villa OSS ef elli odd-stn6ir skal bi9a, 
 
 (mer gengr Siaofn f svefna sauma) mfnir draumar : . . . . 
 
 15. Eigi ver8r (enn or9a oss laer um Jjat) [skor9a 
 
 gefn drepr fyrir mdr glaumi] gptt or hverjom draumi : 60 
 Kemr pegar ek vil blunda kona vi8 mik til fundar, 
 oss |Dvaer hon unda fl66i aoll f manna bloSi. 
 
 16. SkuloQ it ei, kva9 skor9a skapt-kers, 'saman' verja 
 sva hefir ykkr til ekka eitrs go9-munar leita3 : 
 
 All-valdr hefir aldar erlendis mik senda 6^ 
 
 enn or oe9ra-ranni annan heim at kanna. 
 
 17. Hug9a-ek J)va mer \)Yubi ^remja linnz or brunni, 
 06ins elda lau9ri, au9s, mina skaDr rau6a : 
 
 ok hyr-kneifar hreifa ha)nd veri pvi blandi 
 
 bals 1 benja ^li bl68-rau8 vala sl68ar. 70 
 
 18. Hug9a-ek geymi-gajndul gunn-elda mer falda 
 um rak-skorinn reikar ruf dreyrogri hufo ; 
 vaeri hendr a henni i hia)r-regni J)vegnar; 
 
 sva vakti mik Saga saums or minom draumi. 
 
 19. Vissa-ek fiandr at fundi (fekk-ek) innan (lid minna) 75 
 ar J)6tt ek eigi vsera andadr at mer standa : 
 
 (gsett var verr) enn vgeri (val-tafn i mun hrafni) 
 fri8r 1 faDgro bl68i faSmr ^inn ro6inn mlno. 
 
 20. Hug8a-ek bl69 um baSar, baug-Hlin, granar minar 
 har6ar hvaosso sverSi hraa-netz regin setja: 80 
 ok val-maerar vaeri Var af miklo fari 
 
 (likn reynomk su lauka) Iffs vanir mer gronar. 
 
 and laid me therein. Hither shalt thou come after death, of a truth, and 
 then thou shalt possess me and all this wealth. 
 
 Tbe dark Dream- Lady prophesying ivoe. I\Iy dreams belie if I am to live 
 to an old age. A lady appears to me in my dreams ; my dreams are 
 bodeful of no good. As soon as I fall asleep a woman visits me, 
 washing me all over in blood. Ye two shall not, she said to me, wed 
 one another or live in bliss together ; so the word of doom has 
 decreed. Woden has sent me from his High Hall to this world. Then 
 I dreamed that she washed my ruddy hair with the lather of Woden's 
 fires [blood] and her hands were dabbled with blood. I dreamed that 
 she covered my close-cropped head with a gory cap, her hands were 
 laved in blood. Then my Lady (his wife) woke me from my dream ! 
 
 His last dreams told to his ivife. I thought my enemies had compassed 
 me about here, and that thy bosom was dyed with blood .... I dreamed 
 
 56. ok mer] A ; fyrir, B. 63. B ; vera, A ; read, liiii verja. 64. go3- 
 
 runar, A. 65-66. A ; J)ik sendan einn or y9ro ranni, B.
 
 §7.] VERSES OF THE SAGA EDITORS. 335 
 
 21. Hug6a-ek hlifar flag8a hristendr af mer kvista 
 (stor fengom ben) brynjo baSar hendr me9 vendi: 
 
 enn fyrir maekiss munni minn hug6a-ek, Syn tvinna, 85 
 (oss gein hia)rr um hiassa) hialm-stofn ofan klofna. 
 
 22. Hug6a-ek Siaofn 1 svefni silfr-bandz at mer standa 
 (Ger6r haf6i su gar6a) gratandi (bra vata) : 
 
 ok eld-Niorunn a)ldo all-skyndila byndi 
 
 (hvat hyggr-t)u mer in maera?) min ssor er J)a vsoro. 90 
 
 23. Fals hallar skal fylla fagr-leit su er mik reitir 
 rekki-lat at rsekkom regns sinom vin fregna : 
 vel hygg-ek, ^6tt eggjar itr-slegnar mik bi'ti; 
 J)a gaf sinom sveini sver6z minn faSir her9o. 
 
 II. Eric Red's Saga. 
 
 1. T_T AFA kva&o mik mei5ar malm-J)ings er ek koni hiiigat 
 -*■ (oss samir litt fyrir ly6om lasta) drykk inn bazta : 
 Bildz hattar ver3r bytto beifti-tyr at reiSa ; 
 
 heldr er hitt at ek kryp at keldo ; komat vin a gron mina. 
 
 2. Forom aptr fiar er orir ero, sand-himins, landar, 5 
 latom kenni-val kanna knarrar skeiS in breiSo : 
 
 me3an bil-styggir byggja bellendr J)eir-er hval vella 
 laufa ve3rs, J)eir er leyfa lond, a Fur3o-strondom. 
 
 III. Heibarviga Saga. 
 
 1. T Ago ly3ar frsegir 16g3is skeiSs a HeiSi 
 
 ■*— ' (lind sprakk i rym randa rau3) ellifo daudir : 
 hitt var a3r en au6ar (ognar gims) i rimmo 
 (iokom sokn vi3 soeki) sar-J)islar fekk Gisli. 
 
 2. Styrr let snarr ok Snorri sver3-J)ing hait verQa, 5 
 J)a er gny-vi3ir gerSo Gislungom hlut Jjungan : 
 
 enn var3 eigi en minna sett-skar3 J)at er hio BarSi 
 (fell geysla 113 Gisla) gunn-norunga sunnan. 
 
 that my beard was dripping with gore, and that I had scant hope of Hfe. 
 I dreamed that .... and that my head was cloven by the mouth of the 
 sword. 1 dreamed that my lady [the fair Dream-Lady] stood over me 
 weeping, and bound up my wounds. 
 
 His death-'verse. The fair lady that charms me will ask for her lover. 
 I am glad of heart, though the keen sword-edges have bitten me ! Such 
 endurance my father gave his son. 
 
 II. ThorODD. The old heathen in Wine-land. I used to have the best of 
 drink, but now I have to wield the bucket and stoop to the well ; wine 
 does not come between my lips ! Let us go back whence we came, 
 while they stay here boiling the blubber down at Ferly-strand. 
 
 III. Eric-JVidsea on the fight. There lay eleven dead on the Heath, 
 but ere that Gisli was touched by the wound-shaft [sword]. Styr and 
 Snorri made a hard lot for the Gislings, and no less havoc did Bard 
 wreak upon the Southerners. Gisli's men fell headlong. 
 
 90. er J)a varo] thus A.
 
 336 SCRAPS OF COURT POETRY. [bk. vui. 
 
 IV. Bandamanna Saga, AM. 132. 
 
 1. TLLT er ytom elli at bi5a, 
 
 ■*■ tekr hun seggjom fra sion ok vizko : 
 atta-ek naesta val nytra drengja, 
 nil er ulfs hali einn a kroki. 
 
 2. Bra-ek or sli&rom skalm ny-bryndri, 5 
 J)eirri let-ek Mavi a maga hvataS : 
 
 unna-ek eigi arfa Hildiss 
 fagr-vaxinnar faSni-lags Svolo. 
 
 V. Olafs Saga, AM. 6i. 
 
 1. "PYLL horn, kona ! fell af hesti 
 
 ■*■ Rannveigarson \>3.t er riSo drengir : 
 kunno eigi Sygnir a s66ol-dyrom 
 fiill-vel fara. Foer mer of ker ! 
 
 2. Fyll horn, kona ! fra-ek at belldi 5 
 Olafr konungr undri miklo : 
 
 {)a er hann so5Ia6i sinom magi 
 bukk at ri5a. Berr mer of ker ! 
 
 VI. Grettis Saga. 
 
 1. TV/TITT var gilt gaefo-leysi 
 
 MarJ)aks i miSjom firSi : 
 er gamlir grisir skyldo 
 hladast mer at h6fu3-beinom. 
 
 2. Sog6o mer, ^au er Sigarr veitti, 5 
 maeg5a-laun margir haefa : 
 
 unz lof-groinn laufi samSar 
 Reyni-runn rekkar fundo. 
 
 3. Monda ek sialfr i snoro egnda 
 
 hoelzti bratt h6f3i stinga : lO 
 
 ef f>orbiorg J)esso skaldi 
 (hon er all-snotr) ekki byrgi. 
 
 4. Mik ba5 Hialp handa tveggja 
 
 IV. Bandamanna Saga. Qfeig's regret. It is ill to come to old age. 
 Eld takes men's eyesight and wisdom away. I had many a good fol- 
 lower, but now one wolfs tail is left alone on the hook, [the shark of 
 ill-luck has snatched away the rest.] 
 
 Ojpac's Boast. I plucked my fresh-whetted sword from the sheath, 
 and ripped open Mew's belly, for I could not grant him the fair 
 Swala's embraces. 
 
 V. Tbe boy St. Olai'e to Halldor Raniveigsson, ivho fell off his horse 
 in hunting. Fill the horn, lady, Ranweig's son fell off his horse, the 
 Sogn-folk cannot sit the saddle-beasts. Bring me the cup. — Halldor 
 ansivers: Fill the horn, lady, Olaf did a marvellous thing when he 
 saddled a he-goat for his step-father to ride. Bear me the cup. 
 
 VI. Gretti's adventures in Icejirth, ivhen Thorbiorg sa'ved him from 
 the galleys. V^^'onderful was my ill-luck on the iirfh of the sea-thatch 
 [Icefirth] when the old hogs [churls] took me by the neck. They said 
 that the reward Sigar's brother-in-law got [hanging] was what I 
 deserved, till they met the noble Rowan-grove [Thorbiorg] with its 
 foliage of fame. I should have had to lay my head too early into 
 
 V. 4 and 8. emend, j faer and ber mer ok J)er, Cd. VI. 4. halda, Cd.
 
 §7-] 
 
 VERSES OF THE SAGA EDITORS. 337 
 
 Sifjar-vers me5 ser fara : 
 
 sii gaf f>veng-|>undar-be3jo 15 
 
 g63an best er mik goeddi friSi. 
 
 5. iEtla-ek regns 1 raun-ketil 
 steypi ni5r fra Stor-Frerom : 
 J)ar man Haengr hitta grundar 
 
 Litinn-stein ok land-hnefa. 2D 
 
 6. Var {jorfinnr {)undar sessi 
 aldar alinn oss til hialpar : 
 J)a er mik vif i val-skorom 
 lukt ok Isst lifs um kvaddi. 
 
 7. Var Stor-skip Stal-go9s-bana, 25 
 Rau9a-hafs ok Regin-skali : 
 
 er Byleistz br69ur-d6ttur 
 manna mest mer varna5i. 
 
 8. {)6tti Jja ^engils nioiinom 
 
 eigi dselt vi9 oss at suknom : 30 
 
 er Hlibar6r hlifar eldi 
 bragSa borg brenna vildi. 
 
 9. Var6 1 Ve3ra-fir5i vapn-sottr i byr Jirottar 
 (oest for Arfs-ok-Gneista-afl) fang-vinr Hafla : 
 
 mi er usiotlaQ Atla and-rdn J)at er var hanom 35 
 
 (dau3r bne hann fyrr at fri9ri fold) makliga goldit. 
 
 VII. Egils Saga (ch. 27). 
 
 "IVrU er hersiss hefnd vi9 hilmi efnd 
 
 gengr ulfr ok orn of Ynglings born : 
 flugo hoeggin brae Hallvar3z of sse, 
 ' grar slitr ari ' undir Snarfara. 
 
 the noose, if gentle Thorbiorg had not rescued me. The help of Sif s 
 husband's two hands [i.e. the rowan = Thorbiorg] bade me come with 
 her. She gave the Thong of Woden's wife [i. e. earth-serpent = Grettir] 
 his life. 
 
 Grettir is going to meet Giant Hallmund. To the kettle of the lava 
 [cave] on Bald-glacier I am bound, where I [earth-fish = Grettir] shall 
 meet the pebble of the hand [i. e. Hallmund]. 
 
 Grettir in peril in Nor^way, rescued by Thorstan Dromund. It was 
 Thorfin who was my saviour, when the cavern-locked beldame [Hell] 
 craved my life. The great buss of the Red Sea and the Giant-killer's 
 Dwarf-hall [i.e. Thorstan Dromund] did most of all men save me from 
 Hell. The king's men thought it no easy game to set upon me, when 
 Leopard [Beorn] wanted to burn my mind's abode [body]. 
 
 Grettir slays Thorbiorn Ox-main in Ratnfirth. The miglit of Arf and 
 Gneist [Ox-main] was slain in Wether-firth [Ramfirth] ; the unatoned 
 murder of Atli has now been avenged on him. 
 
 Vn. Qiveld-qvolf^s "verse on the death of Hallivard-hardfarer and 
 Sigtrygg-snarfari. Now the baron's revenge is wreaked on the king. 
 Wolf and erne prowl over the king's sons. Hallward's hewn carcase is 
 floating on the sea and .... the grey erne is tearing at Snarfari's wounds. 
 
 17. run ketil, Cd. 20. I.e. Hallmund. 
 
 VOL. II.
 
 BOOK IX. 
 
 EPIGONIC POETRY. 
 
 An after-math of verse on legendary or didactic subjects, not old 
 enough to be put into the first volume. Most of the stories are late 
 continuations of the epigonic stories of the Sigfred cycle in Book v ; 
 the link that binds them to this cycle being the birth of a daughter, 
 Anslaug-Crow, to Sigfred and Brunhild (an incident by no means akin 
 to the spirit of the older lays). 
 
 In Section 1 are the Kraku-mal and other verses on the Ragnar cycle, 
 together with other fragments of poems on later epic or pseudo-epic 
 subjects, some in lurf-Einar metre (continuing Book vi, § 2), some in 
 Epic metre (like Book iv). 
 
 Section 2 contains the Orkney Bishop's Prcverb-Song, and the 
 Runic "verses.
 
 ^ I. THE RAGNAR CYCLE. 
 
 KRAKU-MAL. 
 
 We have two texts of this well-known poem, Magnus Olafsson's copy 
 (of 1632) of a lost vellum (B) given to Ole Worm, who published it 
 in his Literatura Runica (165 1) in Runic characters under the heading 
 * Biarkamal sem orti Ragnarr Lodbrok,' and the fourteenth-century 
 vellum, Royal Library, Copenhagen, No. 1824 (A), which contains the 
 unique Wolsunga Paraphrase, and Ragnar's Saga, followed by ' Kraku- 
 mal;' but the last leaf, with the end of the poem on it (from 1. 108), is 
 lost in this copy. Two verses in Ragnar's Saga are duplicates of vv. 26 
 and 25. 
 
 The story of the poem is the one legend which has survived in 
 Norway of the great movement which led to the conquest and settle- 
 ment of half England by the Danes in the ninth century. 
 
 It is found in Saxo, in Ragnar's Saga, and in the short ' J)attr af 
 Ragnar's Sonum ' of Hauks-bok, which last gives one the idea that it is 
 founded on parts of the lost Skioldunga Saga. Besides this, it occurs in 
 the Turf-Einar-metre scraps of a long poem, scattered through the 
 Saga and Thattr (see below, p. 345). 
 
 From the Thattr we hear that while Ragnar is away fighting in the 
 Baltic, his sons Eric and Agnar are slain by Eystan Beli, king of the 
 Swedes. Before he returns home, his wife and sons have avenged their 
 deaths and slain Eystan. He is angry that they have not waited for his 
 help, and when he comes home he tells his wife Anslaug (his first wife 
 Thora, whom he won from the dragon, is dead) "that he will do as great 
 a deed as his sons have done. ' I have now brought under me nearly all 
 the realms my ancestors owned, save England only, and now I have had 
 two busses built at Lithe in Westfold (for his realm stretched from 
 Doverfell to Lidandis-ness).' Answers Anslaug : ' iVIany a long-ship thou 
 mightest have built with what those busses cost, and thou knowest that 
 it is not good to sail to England in big ships, because of the tides and 
 shallows, and thou hast not planned wisely." But he set out with his two 
 ships and five hundred men and was wrecked on the English coast. He 
 and his men got safe to land, but were cut off and slain to a man by the 
 ferocious Northumbrian king iElla, save Ragnar, who was kept from hurt 
 by his magic shirt. But iElla put the Northern king into a pit full of 
 serpents. This is the moment chosen by our poet, who supposes him to 
 have sung a death-song in his torments, like an Indian bravo, in which 
 he tells over his feats, and invokes vengeance on his foe. His son Iwar 
 (the Inwaer of our Chronicle) and his brothers arrive in England and 
 avenge him, taking ^EUa and cutting the 'blood-eagle' on his back ; (see 
 Book viii, § 2, p. 135.) Two base-born brothers of Iwar, Yngwar and 
 Hubbo [our chronicler's Hingwar and Hubba], put the holy king 
 Eadmund to death at Inwxr's orders,and reign in his stead. The brothers 
 harry far and wide over the world, and set up kingdoms : Inwaer ruling 
 
 z 2
 
 340 THE RAGNAR CYCLE. [bk. ix. 
 
 in Northumberland; Biorn Ironside in Upsala; Sigfred Snake-i'-th'-eye, 
 who had married Blseja daughter of ^lla, in Selund, Sconey, Haliand, 
 Wick, Agdir to the Naze, and most of Upland ; Whitesark in Reed- 
 gothland and Wendland. 
 
 Inwser died childless in England of old age, and was laid in a barrow 
 there, where Harold Hardrede saw his ill-omened ghost. Sigfred fell in 
 Frankland with Godfred the Dayling, fighting against the Emperor 
 Arnulf, in a battle in which one hundred thousand Northmen and Danes 
 fell. There is a curious genealogy^ drawn from Sigfred and Blaeja, con- 
 necting their descendants with the Danish house; and it is said that 
 Ethelmund, the brother of Eadmund the sainted East-English king, 
 ruled after Iwar, ' and took scat off Northumberland because it was then 
 heathen.' His son Ethelbriht, a good king and old, reigned after him, 
 and fought against Gorm's sons at Cleveland and Scarborough. 
 
 The age of the poem is limited by the pronunciation of the language, 
 i.e. the lost h in the 'hr' and 'hi' words, which here occur in alli- 
 terative syllables, 11. 27, 29, 34, 43, 143 ; the varum for 6rum, 1. 55, a 
 peculiar change which (see Diet. s. v. varr, p. 686) in Iceland does not 
 occur till the end of the twelfth century, in Norway and the Orkneys 
 the change may be a little earlier. Nor do we expect to find such 
 words as palmr, messa (mass), asni (ass), kapa, etc. in very early poems. 
 Looking to the language, metre, and character of the poem, we should 
 be disposed to put it c. 1 150-1200, and fancy the author an Orkneyman. 
 The proverbs in the last lines remind one of Bishop Biami. 
 
 The metre is the Turf-Einar metre, and the poem is divided into 
 stanzas of five lines, the first line of each, save the last epilogue verse, 
 beginning with the burden which fills half a line. Stanzas 1-21 are a 
 business-like, prosy roll or list of battles fought in the Baltic, or on the 
 British coasts and the iNIediterranean. The latter stanzas (22-29) a^re 
 by far the finest, and it is those that have made the poem famous. There 
 is a wild savagery about them that is really striking. The earlier verses 
 of the poem (if indeed they are not a later filling up or accretion 
 by another hand), with their ingenious variations of the everlasting theme 
 of bloodshed, would not alone have made much impression. The funny 
 mistake which led Bishop Percy and his copiers down to this very day 
 to entertain the belief that ' the Heroes hoped in Odin's hall to drink 
 beer out of the skulls of their slain foes,' has its origin in a misinterpre- 
 tation of the phrase 'biug-vi^um hausa' 1. 122, by Ole Worm, who says : 
 ' Sperabant Heroes se in aula Othini bibituros ex craniis eorum quos 
 occiderant.' 
 
 There is a spirited version of the poem by Professor Aytoun. 
 
 ' Sigfred Snake-i'-th'-eye, Ragnar's son, R'ng ^ Dayling, descendant of Day, 
 
 m. Blseja, JElla's daughter m. Thora, mother of Heroes (Hyndl. 1. 71) 
 
 I I 
 
 Olaf 
 
 i ■ 1 I 1 1 
 
 Harda-Cnut Anslaug, m. Helgi Keen Godfred Fro6i 
 
 Gorm the Old, m. Thvra, d. of Klank- Sigfred Hart, m. Inglbiorg, d. of 
 
 1 Harold, K. of Jutland K.Harold 
 
 r n , 1 
 
 Cnut the Beloved Harold Blue-tooth Godthorm Ragnhild, tn. Halfdan the 
 
 Sweyn Forkbeard 
 
 Black 
 Harold Fairhair
 
 § I.] KRAKU-MAL. 341 
 
 I. 
 
 1. J^IOGGO ver 7ne6 hiorvi. — Hitt var ae fyr longo 
 
 er a Gautlandi gengom at graf-vitnis mor3i : 
 J)a fengo ver l^oro, J)a9aa heto mik fyr6ar, 
 — t)a-er lyng-al um lagSag — Lodbrok, at ^vi vfgi ; 
 stakk-ek a stor6ar lykkjo stilli biartra mala. 5 
 
 2. Hio^go ver med hiorvi. — Heldr var-ek ungr |)a er skif5om 
 austr i Eyra-sundi undurn frekom vargi ; 
 
 ok fot-gulom fogli fengo ver, {)ar-er sungo 
 
 vi6 ha-seym3a hialma horS iarn, niikils verSar ; 
 
 allr var aegir sollinn ; 66 ramn i val-bl66i. 10 
 
 3. Hioggo ver med hiorvi. — Halt barom {ja geira 
 er tvitogir tolSomz, ok tir ru9om vi9a ; 
 unnom atta iaria austr fyr Dino-miiiiii ; 
 
 gera fengoni \>k gnoga gisting at {)vi vigi, 
 
 sveiti fell a sollinn sa ; tyudi 115 aevi. 15 
 
 4. Hioggo ver med hiorvi. — HeQins kvanar vard au9it 
 J)a-er ver Helsingja heinitom til heim-sala OSins : 
 Lbg6om upp i Ivo, oddr na9i J)a bita ; 
 
 oil var unda gialfri a sii ro9in heito, 
 
 greujar brandr vi3 brynjor benshilldr, klufoz skildir. 20 
 
 5. Hioggo ver Tued hiorvi. — Hygg-ek engan J)a fry9o, 
 a9r an a heflis hestom Herrau3r i styr felli : 
 
 klyfr ei Egils ondrom annarr iarl in frsgri 
 lindar viill til laegiss a lang-skipom si9an ; 
 sa bar sikiiiigr vi6a snart fram i styr hiarta. 25 
 
 6. Hioggo ver med hiorvi. — Herr kastaQi skioldom, 
 {)a-er rae-gagarr rendi rsestr at gumna briostom ; 
 belt i Skarpa-skerjom skaeri-bildr at hialdri ; 
 ro9inn var randar-niani a9r Ramn konuvgr felli ; 
 
 dreif or hol9.i hausom heitr a brynjor sveiti. 30 
 
 7. Hioggo ver med hiorvi. — Hatt grenjo9o hrottar 
 a9r an a Ullar-akri Eysteiun konungr felli ; 
 gengo golli fa9ar ' grundar vals at bryndom,' 
 rae-kyndill smaug rau9ar n'tr at hialma moti ; 
 
 svira vin or sarom sveif of hiarna kleifar. 35 
 
 I. We hewed with the brand! It was ever-so-long ago when we went 
 to Gautland to the slaying of the snake. Then I won Thora; hence 
 they called me Lodbrok [Shaggy-breech] because of that battle, when 
 I pierced the serpent. I struck through the monster with my bright 
 inlaid steel. We, etc. 1 was very young when we made a breakfast for 
 the wolf, east in Ore-sound. We, etc. We bore our spears high, when 
 we were twenty years old, and reddened our sword far and wide. We 
 overcame eight earls in the east at the Dwina's mouth. We, etc. 
 Hedin's wife [war] was fated when we sent home the Helsings to 
 Woden's hall. We laid our ships up at Iwa's mouth [East Baltic]. 
 We, etc. No one, I think, questioned our courage, before Herraud fell 
 on his ships in the fray. We, etc. The host cast away their shields 
 when the sword bit at Skarpa-reef [Scarborough]. The shield-moon 
 was crimsoned ere King Raven fell. We, etc. The swords screamed 
 shrilly before King Eystan fell in Wuldur-acre. We, etc. At Enderis- 
 
 I. sb] ei, Cd. 10. ran, Cd. 16. heidins, A. 18. Ivo] B; modo, A. 
 
 20. Read, . . . ; ben-sildr klufo skioldo ?
 
 342 THE RAGNAR CYCLE. [bk. ix. 
 
 8. Hioggo ver me6 kiorvi. — Hafa gato J)a ramnar 
 fyr Eynderis-eyjom cerna bra3 at slita ; 
 
 fengom Falo hestom fuUan ver6 at sinni ; 
 ' illt var eins at gseta,' me3 upp-runa s6!ar, 
 streng-volor sa-ek stiga ; stakk malmr a skor hialmi. 40 
 
 9. Hioggo ver med hiorvi. — Ha5om rendr i dreyra, 
 J)a er beii-starra braeddom fyr Borgundar-holmi, 
 regg-sky slito ringar ; ratt almr af set malmi, 
 Vuliiir fell at vigi ; varat einn konungr meiri ; 
 
 Val rak vitt uin strandir ; vargr fagna6i tafni. 45 
 
 10. Hioggo ver med hiorvi. — Hiidr ver synt i vexti 
 a&r Freyr konungr felli i Flaemingja-veldi; 
 
 na6i blarr at bita blu9i smeltr i gylltan 
 
 Hogna kofl at hialdri har9r ben-grefill for5om ; 
 
 maer gret, morgin-skaero, morg, J)a-er tafn feksk vorgom. 50 
 
 11. Hioggo ver med hiorvi. — Hundra3oni fra-ek liggja 
 a Eynefis cindrom, fiar-er Engla-nes heitir ; 
 
 sigldo ver til snerro sex doegr a6r li6 felli ; 
 
 attorn odda messo vi3 upp-runa solar ; 
 
 var3 fyr varom sverSom Valjjiofr i styr hniga. 55 
 
 12. Hioggo ver med hiorvi. — HninSi dogg af sver&om 
 bryn i Bar9a-fir6i, bleikan na fyr hauka ; 
 
 um6i almr, J)a-er oddar all-hratt slito skyrtor 
 
 at s!i6r-loga seiuio Svolnis haniri J)oef3ar ; 
 
 rendi ormr til unda eitr-hvass drifinn sveita. 60 
 
 13. Hioggo ver tried hiorvi. — Heldom HIakkar tioldom 
 hatt at Hildar leiki fyr He6ninga vagi. 
 
 Sia kiiatto J)a seggir, er sui;dro6om skioldo 
 
 at hrae-silna hialdri, hialm ' slitna6ar ' Gotna ; 
 
 varat sem biarta bru3i i bing hia ser legeja. 65 
 
 14. Hioggo ver med hiorvi. — Hor6 kom hri5 a skioldo ; 
 nar fell iii6r til iarSar a Nor5ymbra-laudi ; 
 
 varat um eina otto oldom J)6rf at fryja 
 
 Hildar- leik, ]3ar-er hvassir hialm-stofn bito skiomar; 
 
 b65-mana sa-ek bresta ; bra J)vi fira lifi. 7° 
 
 15. Hioggo ver med hiorvi. — Her^iofi var& au&it 
 i Su6reyjom sialfotn sigrs a varom monnom; 
 var& at randar regni Rognvaldr fyrir hniga ; 
 
 Sa kom hsestr of hol3a harmr at sverSa gusti ; 
 
 hvast kasta6i hristir hialms streng-logar palmi. 75 
 
 ore [?] the ravens soon got plenty of carrion to rip. It was ill at 
 sunrise. We, etc. We blooded the shields when we battened the 
 ravens at Bornholm. Woolner fell at the battle. We, etc. The fray 
 was fast growing ere Frey fell in the land of the Flemings. iMany a 
 maid wept. The weapons bit in the morning. We, etc. They lay by 
 hundreds on their war-ships at the place called Angel-ness [Cape An- 
 gelico]. We held a mass of spears at the rising of the sun. Waltheow 
 fell by our swords in the struggle. We, etc. The dark blood dripped 
 off our swords in Bard-firth [?]. We, etc. We hoisted high the tent of 
 Hlank [shield] in the game of Hild [war] off Hedninga-bay [Hedinse by 
 Swold]. It was not like laying a fair lady by one's side, when we were 
 splitting men's helms. We, etc. Hard was the shower that fell on the 
 shield; the corse fell to earth in Northumberland; the battle in the 
 morning watch could not be gainsaid. We, etc. Hertheow was fated 
 to win a victory over our men. Regnwald sank in the shield-rain [war- 
 
 3^. Some name ? 50. B; skaru.A. 70. bsenmana,A. 75. Read.streng-flaugar.
 
 § I.] KRAKU-MAL. 343 
 
 16. Hioggo ver vied hidrvi. — Hverr la J)verr of annan ; 
 gla3r var3 gera br63ir gati vi6 sokiiar laeti : 
 Let eigi orn ne ylgi, sa er Irlandi styr9i, 
 (mot var& malms ok ritar) Marsteinn konungr fasta, 
 var3 i VeSra-firSi val-tafn gefit hrafni. 8o 
 
 I 7. Hioggo ver tned hiorvi. — Himd-marga sa-ek falla 
 
 morgin-stund fyr ' meiSi ' menn at odda senno : 
 syni minom hneit snimma sli6ra-J)oni vi3 hiarta ; 
 ' EgiU ' let Agnar rsentan ublau6an hal lift ; 
 Glum9i geirr vid Ham6iss gran serk ; bliko merki. 85 
 
 18. Hioggo ver nied hiorvi. — Hald-or3a ia-ek brytja 
 ekki smatt fyr ulfa Endils ni3a brondom : 
 
 varat a Vika-skei9i sem vin konor baeri ; 
 ro9inn var TEgiss asni ofarr i dyn geira ; 
 skorin var skoglar kapa at skioldunga hialdri. 90 
 
 19. Hioggo ver med hiorvi. — Hadom 6u6r at morni 
 leik fyr Lindis-eyri vi6 lof6unga Jjrenna : 
 
 Far atti \>vi fagna (fell margr 1 gin ulfi) 
 
 [haukr sleit hold me3 vargi] at hann heill J)a6an koemi ; 
 
 Ira bl63 i xgi cerit fell urn skaero. 95 
 
 20. Hioggo ver med hidrvi. — Har-fagran sa-ek hroekkva 
 meyjar dreng at morni ok mal-vini ekkjo: 
 
 vara sem varmar laugar vin-kers Niorun baeri 
 
 OSS i Ila-sundi, a9r an Orn konungr fell! ; 
 
 vara sem unga ekkjo 1 cindugi kyssa. 100 
 
 21. Hioggo ver med hidrvi. — Ha sver9 bito skioldo, 
 pa.T er goll-ro9inn glum9i geirr vi9 Hildar-naefri : 
 sia niun i Onguls-eyjo of aldr mega si9an 
 hverso at log9iss leiki lof9ungar fram gengo ; 
 
 ro9inn var ut fyr eyri ar flug-dreki sara. 105 
 
 II. 
 
 2 2. Hioggo ver meb hiorvi. — Hvi s^ drengr at feigri, 
 at hann 1 odda dli a)ndur6r latinn ver6i? 
 opt s^tir sa aevi er ' aldregi ' nistir : 
 
 tempest]. We, etc. Marstan, the king who ruled Ireland, let neither 
 eagle nor she-wolf starve. A sacrifice of the slain was given. to the 
 raven in Wetherford. We, etc. I saw many hundred fall that morning 
 in the Mouth in the battle. The sword cut my son to the heart : yea, 
 Eystan slew Agnar. We, etc. On Wick-field it was not as when women 
 are serving the wine. We, etc. South we held a game [of war] with 
 three kings at Lindis-ore of a morning. The blood of the Irish fell into 
 the ocean in the dawn. We, etc. I saw the fair-haired damsel's son quail 
 in the morning, and the gallants gave back in the battle. It was not as 
 if the damsel were setting a bath for us in Ila-sound ere King Erne fell. 
 It was not as if one were kissing a young girl in the high-seat. We, etc. 
 Ever after it will be seen in Anglesey, how the kings stormed forth to the 
 sword-play. The dart was dyed on the Ore, early in the morning. 
 
 II. Henceforward the poem is of a nobler type, and lue translate more 
 fully. We hewed with the brand ! Why should a man be nearer to 
 death, though he be placed in the van in the tempest of spears ? He 
 who has never fed the she-wolf will often bemoan his lost life. Hard is 
 
 77. getu, Cd. 80. A cm. stanza 16. 82. Read, M69o? 84. 
 
 Read, Eysteinn? 88. -skae9i, B; -skerai, A; read, Vikrar-skei9i ? 95. Read, 
 
 Engla? 98. niurn, A. 99. Ila-sundi] B ; Ala-sundi, A. 108. sytir] 
 
 here A ends. Read, ylgi ne nistir ?
 
 344 THE RAGNAR CYCLE, [ek. ix. 
 
 lilt kveda argan eggja sorom at sver9a leiki ; 
 hug-blau6om kemr hvergi hiarta sitt at gagni. no 
 
 23. Hioggo ver med hwrvi. — Hitt tel-ek iafnt at gangi 
 at sam-togi sver8a sveinn 1 moti sveini : 
 
 hraokkvat t)egn fyr f'egni ; 'pat var drengs a9al lengi ; 
 se skal ast-vinr meyja einhar6r 1 dyn sver6a. 115 
 
 24. Hioggo ver 7nei) hiorvi. — Hitt s/'nisk mer raunar 
 at forlaDgom fylgjom : Far gengr of skaDp Noma : 
 eigi hug6a-ek EUo at aldr-lagi mino, 
 
 pa-er ek bl66-vali brceddak, ok bor8 a lajg keyrdak ; 
 vitt fengom J^a vargi ver8 1 Skotlandz-fia)r6om. 120 
 
 25. Hioggo ver med hiorvi. — Hitt hlcegir mik iafnan, 
 at Baldrs fe6rs bekki buna veit-ek at sumblom : 
 Drekkom bior at bragSi or biug-viSom hausa 
 (s^'tira drengr vi8 dau6a) dfrs at Fiolniss husom ; 
 
 eigi kem-ek me9 ot:6ro oi"9 til ViQriss hallar. 125 
 
 26. Hioggo ver vieb hiorvi. — Her vildo nu allir 
 burir Aslaugar bra)ndom bitrom hildi vekja, 
 ef vandliga vissi of vi6-farar ossar, 
 
 hve ufair ormar eitr-fuUir mik slita; 
 
 n:i69erni fekk-ek minom maDgom sva-at hia^rto duga. 130 
 
 27. Hioggo ver med hiorvi. — HarSla li9r at aevi ; 
 
 grimmt stendr grand af na8ri. Goinn byggir sal hiarta : 
 
 it to egg on a coward to the brisk play of the sword. The heart of the 
 coward will never stand him in good stead. 
 
 We hewed with the brand! I count it fair that man should meet 
 man when swords are drawn. Let not thane flinch before thane. That 
 was never the way of the brave. The darling of the maidens should 
 ever be dauntless amid the clatter of swords. 
 
 We hewed with the brand ! Of a truth methinks we must follow our 
 fates : no man can overstep the decree of the Fates. I never thought 
 that Ella would be my death, when I gorged the blood-hawks and drove 
 my ships through the water, what time we gave the wolves a quarry in 
 the firths of Scotland [the West coast]. 
 
 We hewed with the brand! It is ever my joy, that I know that the 
 benches are decked for a banquet at Balder's father's. We shall soon 
 be quaffing ale out of the crooked skull-boughs [horns] in the splendid 
 house of Wooden. The brave man does not quail before death. I shall 
 not come into Withri's [Woden's] hall with a word of fear. 
 
 We hewed with the brand ! All the sons of Anslaug would be waking 
 the battle here with their bitter blades if they but knew of my plight, 
 how a multitude of venomful serpents are rending me. Good kin on the 
 mother's side I gave my sons, so that their hearts will hold. 
 
 We hewed with the brand ! My life is well-nigh past. Cruel is the 
 pang that the adder gives. Goin [the snake] has housed himself in my 
 
 113. A line missing here. 122. fedrs] emend.; fe9r, B. 131. Emend.; 
 
 arfi, R.
 
 §1.] RAGNAR LODBROK, ANSLAUG, etc. 345 
 
 vsettom hins at ViQriss vsondr i EUo standi; 
 
 sonom minom mun svella sinn fraSor raQinn ver6a ; 
 
 ei muno snarpir sveinar sitt kyrt vera lata. 135 
 
 28. Hi'oggo ver med hiorvi. — Hef-ek fimm-tigom sinna 
 folk-orrostor fram6ar flein-|)ings bodi ok eina ; 
 minzt hug6a-ek manna, at mer vera skyldi 
 
 (ungr nam-ek odd at rioSa) annarr konungr frsegri. 
 Oss muno ^sir bi66a. Era s^^tandi dau6i. 140 
 
 29. F^somk hins at haitta. Helm bi66a mer Disir, 
 sem fra Herjans ha)llo hefir 06inn mer sendar : 
 Gla6r skal-ek sA me6 Asom 1 aondugi drekka. 
 Lifs ero liSnar stundir. Lsejandi skal-ek deyja. 
 
 RAGNAR LODBROK, ANSLAUG, AND RAGNAR'S SONS. 
 
 The Wolsunga vellum, No. 1824, supplies the text for these verses, 
 the Hauks-bok (AM. 544) gives a few stanzas in parallel text (vv. ro, 
 16-20, 32). All but a few are, unfortunately, hopelessly corrupt. The 
 metre is that of Turf-Einar. They seem to have been pieces of a poem 
 on Ragnar and his Sons, inserted piecemeal into a diluted amplification 
 of a piece of the lost Skioldunga Saga. The age of these verses we 
 should put to the end of the eleventh century. They are more simple 
 and genuine than many of those of the same metre, such as Kraku-mal; 
 nor is there anything in their language which forbids them to have been 
 made so early. The curious statement in Skalda-tal, part of the original 
 draft of that list, ' King Ragnar Lodbrok was a poet, and so were Anslaug 
 his wife and their sons,' seems to refer to the very verses we have, or 
 at all events to the best of them, and would testify to their existence as 
 early as the beginning of the twelfth century. 
 
 The story tells first of Ragnar's earliest feat, the winning of Thora 
 by slaying a dragon that guarded her (an early myth transferred 
 to the popular hero). Then comes the pretty tale of Crov/, the 
 maiden in mean attire and low estate, who is seen by the king's men. 
 After a trial of wits — (copied perhaps from the well-known Irish tale 
 of Diarmaid and Graine, see Atlantis, where the same incident of the 
 net in which the lady is neither clad nor unclad is met with) — Ragnar 
 marries the fair one, who turns out to be Anslaug, a princess, daughter of 
 Sigfred and Brunhild. Four sons are born to the king and queen, and 
 these, because of the king's breaking the hallowed 'three nights' absti- 
 nence,' which we meet with in other old Teutonic stories, are each 
 
 heart's core. I hope that Woden's wand [the sword] shall one day 
 pierce iElla. My sons will swell ivith ivrath, when they find their 
 father has been thus betrayed. The brave lads will not rest in peace 
 withal. 
 
 "We hewed with the brand ! I, the harbinger of war, have fought fifty 
 pitched battles and one. My least thought was that any king should 
 ever prove my better. Young was I when I betook me to the reddening 
 of spears. The Anses will welcome me. Death is dreadless. 
 
 I am willing to depart. They are calling me home, the Fays whom 
 Woden, the Lord of Hosts, has sent me from his hall. Merrily shall I 
 drink ale in my high-seat with the Anses. My life days are done. 
 Laughing I will die.
 
 346 THE RAGNAR CYCLE. [bk. ix. 
 
 distinguished by some physical pecuHarity ; the eldest, Inwaer, is born 
 without bones in his legs, but his cunning and speech-craft make up (as 
 iEthelred and Alfred found out at Nottingham) for his bodily weakness; 
 Sigfred has the likeness of a snake, as it were, coiled in the pupil of his 
 eye, whence he was called Snake-i'-th'-eye. Biorn is called Ironside, 
 no doubt from some mark on his body, but the legend or the exact 
 meaning of his nickname and that of his brother White-sark, whose real 
 name has perished, is not given us. After these children are grown up, 
 Eric and Agnar, Ragnar's elder sons by Thora, fight against Eystan Beli, 
 the king of the Swedes (and friend of poets according to Skalda-tal). 
 Agnar is slain, and Eric is taken and allowed to choose his death. Eric 
 chooses to be impaled on sharp spears fixed in the ground. 
 
 In the next scene Ragnar is setting out for England. Anslaug, presaging 
 evil, gives him a charmed coat, which preserves him even in the snake- 
 pit into which he is cast by TElla, king of the Northumbrians, till the 
 enchantment is suspected and it is torn from him. The two death- 
 song stanzas are finer here than in Kraku-mal. 
 
 Then follows an account of the four brothers, their avenging their 
 father, and their wicking exploits ; on one of which Whitesark was 
 taken, and, Tamerlain-like, chose for his death to be burnt alive on a 
 pyre made of the heads of the foes he had slain. 
 
 A kind of epilogue to the whole is furnished by the story of the two 
 huge men who came into the hall where a young king and his men were 
 drinking the arval. They can empty the biggest horn at one draught, 
 and were so big that the two together filled five men's places. They 
 begin questioning each other in a surly mood, but soon recognise each 
 other as former companions-in-arms, old sea-dogs of Beorn's and 
 Ragnar's. This episode reminds one of the verses ascribed to Egil and 
 the lady. Book vi, § 2, No. 6, which are probably parts of the same poem. 
 Were they in better state we should be able to give some verdict on 
 their age, for there is something genuine about them. 
 
 The continuation of verse 2 3 is probably to be found in the lines from 
 Arrow-Ord's Saga, Book ix, § i. No. II, p. 355. 
 
 I. 
 
 Ragnarr : 
 
 1. TT^TT hefek leyfSo lifi, Iit-fa3gr konan vitra, 
 •n. (va-ek at foldar fiski) fimtan gamall, mino: 
 'hafa skal-ek ba)l nema biti bradrakin mer dau8a' 
 heiSar lax til hiarta ' hringleyginn vel ' smiugi. 
 
 II. 
 
 Krdka : 
 
 2. f'orig eigi bo6 briota er bsoSot mik ganga, 5 
 n^ rsesiss kvsob riufa, Ragnarr, vi6 |)ik stefno : 
 
 mangi er mer 1 sinni, mitt er bert hajrund eigi, 
 ' fylgi hefi ek full-gott, ferr-ek ein saman mino.' 
 
 I. Ragnar on his fight ivith the Dragon. I risked my life when I was 
 fifteen years old .... I pierced the coiled serpent to the heart. 
 
 II. Jt their meeting. Croiv : I dare not break the command ye laid 
 upon me, nor the order ye gave me, Ragnar. There is no one with me; 
 my body is not bare ; / have smelt but at a leek; I am come alone. — Ragnar :
 
 §1.] RAGNAR LODBROK, ANSLAUG, etc. 347 
 
 Ragnarr : 
 
 3. ' Su mundi vist ef vseri vorSr fo9ur iar6ar' 
 
 ' msetr a mildri snoto a mer taka haDndom.' 10 
 
 Krdka : 
 
 Vammlausa skaltu, visi, ef viltu gii6om JDyrma 
 (heim hsofom hilmi sottan) he9an mik fara latiS. 
 
 Ragnarr : 
 
 4. Viltu J)enna J^iggja, er f'ora Hiaortr atti, 
 
 serk vi6 silfr of merk6an ? sama all-vel J)er klaeSi : 
 foro hendr hvitar hennar um J)essar goervar, 15 
 
 su var budlungi bragna bliSom J)ekk til dau6a. 
 Krdka : 
 
 5. I'orig eigi J)ann J)iggja, er f'ora Hia)rtr atti, 
 serk vi6 silfr of merk6an ; sama selig mer klseQi : 
 {)vi em ek Kraka ka)llo9 1 kol-sva^rtom va)6om, 
 
 at ek hefi griot of gengit, ok geitr me6 sia reknar. 20 
 
 Krdka : 
 
 6. I'riar naetr skolom ' J)essar ok po ' saman byggja 
 ' hresvar ngetr ' 1 husi, a6r vit heilog go6 blotim : 
 J36 muno mein a minom megi til la)ng um ver6a; 
 heldr ertu bra6r at byrja J)ann-er bein hefir eingi, 
 
 III. 
 Ragnarr : 
 
 7. SigurSr mun sveinn of heitinn, sa mun orrostor heyja, 25 
 miaok glikr vera m63or 'ok' maogr faj6or kallaSr : 
 
 sa mun 06ins settar yfir-batr vera heitinn, 
 J)eim er ormr i auga 'er annan l^t' svelta. 
 
 8. Brynhildar leizt brsognom brun-stein hafa franan 
 
 The king [I] would fain lay hold on the maid with my hands . . . . — 
 Croav: Thou shalt let me go hence unshamed, O king, if thou wilt keep 
 thy covenant. — Ragnar: Wilt thou take this sark, silver-broidered, that 
 Thora Hart had ? It will befit thee well ; her white hands often touched 
 this raiment. She was blithe to her husband till she died. — Crow: I dare 
 not take the silver-broidered sark that Thora Hart had, it will not befit 
 me. I am called Crow because in coal-black raiment I have tramped 
 over the pebbles and driven the goats along the shore. 
 
 Croiu, after their ^wedding, to Ragnar. Let US wait three nights, nor lie 
 together, till we have sacrificed to the Holy God. There shall be a 
 blemish on my son for many a day. Thou art too eager to beget him 
 that shall have no bones. 
 
 HI. Ragnar on the birth of his son, naming the child. Let the boy be 
 called Sigfred, he shall light battles and be like his mother's father, 
 \Sigfred'\. He shall be called the noblest of Woden's race, there is a 
 serpent in his eye .... Brunhild's dear daughter's son has a keen eye 
 
 21. Read, ^reyja ok J)eygi s. b. 22. Read, hy-n«tr ? 23. {)6] Jja, Cd. 
 
 26. Read, miok gl. njt3gr m63or-fo6or kallaSr. 28. Read, er orn leta svelta?
 
 348 THE RAGNAR CYCLE. [bk. ix. 
 
 dottor-maogr inn d^ri, ok dyggvast hiarta : 30 
 
 sa berr alia fta. unn-leygs bo6i magni 
 Bu6la ni8r, er baugi, bra6-gerr, hatar rau6om. 
 9. Sia er engi sveini nema SigurSi einom 
 
 1 brun-steinom .... 'Ia)g8a:' 
 sia hefir dagr enom dfra. (dselt er hann af \)vi kenna) 35 
 hauss 1 hvarma tuni brings myrk-vi6ar fengit. 
 
 IV. 
 
 Eirekr : 
 
 10. Vil-ek eigi bo6 fyrir broSor, ne baugom mey kaupa, 
 (Eystein kveSa orSinn Agnars bana) heyra : 
 
 gra^tr eigi mik m68ir, mun-ek oefstr a val deyja, 
 
 ok ' geir-tre ' i goegnom goerr latid mik standa. 40 
 
 11. Munat eins konungs efni, sva-at ek vita dcemi, 
 a dj^rra be8 deyja til daogur5ar hrafni : 
 
 mun bl66i J)a broSor ok bratt yfir gialla 
 ' hirSr veggja slita ' blar J)6 at ilia launi. 
 
 12. Hlakkar hrafn of hajf6i 'her minna nu sinna' 45 
 krefr unda-valr augna .... minna : 
 veiztu, ef, hrafn, or hajfSi hoeggr briin-steina mina, 
 launar unda-valr Endils ilia marga fylU. 
 
 13. tat berit or6 it oefsta^(ero austr-farar li3nar) 
 
 at m»r hafi mina mio Aslaugo bauga : 50 
 
 J)a mun mest af moQi, er mik spyrja dauQan, 
 min stiup-m63ir mildom maogom til segja. 
 
 Asking : 
 
 14. Hvat segit dr or 'y9ro ero Sviar i landi' 
 'e8a elligar uti all-n^'lt konungs-spialli :' 
 
 and a doughty heart. He shall surpass all other men in might, he, the scion 
 of Budli, that hates the red rings. There is a serpent in no other child's 
 eyes save Sigurd's alone. This prince has a snake in his eyeball. 
 
 IV. Eric fixes his oivn doom, and gives his last ^vords to Starkad. I will 
 not take atonement nor rings as ransom for my brother's death. Eystan 
 [Beli] is Agnar's slayer. No mother weeps for me. I shall die last; let 
 the spears pierce me. No prince, that I know, shall die on a costlier bed 
 for the raven's feast. The raven shall soon be screaming over my 
 blood, requiting me ill for my care for him. The raven is screaming 
 over my head, he is asking for the eyes out of my head. Know, 
 O Raven, if thou tearest the eyeballs out of my head, that thou wilt be 
 repaying me ill for many a fill I have given thee. 
 
 To a messenger. Carry my last words, now that the Eastern journeys 
 are come to an end. Let my step-mother Anslaug have this ring of mine. 
 She will be wroth when she hears of my death, she will egg her gallant 
 sons on to avenge me. 
 
 Anslaug to the messenger. What say ye, are the Swedes in the land ? 
 
 35. enoni] vfir, Cd. 49. ^au ... in ofri, Cd. 52. mogum sinum til 
 
 segia, Cd. 54. Read, hvat . . . nytt . . . spiaWa?
 
 §1.] RAGNAR LODBROK, ANSLAUG, etc. 349 
 
 fregit hef-ek hitt at foro, enn framarr vitom eigi 55 
 
 (ok hildingar haofSo hlunn-ro6) Danir sunnan. 
 Sendtmadr : 
 
 15. f'er segjo ver {)ina (jjat er nau6) kona dau6a 
 ' elli einkar manni ' a)rla)g sonom I'oro : 
 
 oeng spia)ll vitom ajnnor enn nj^jari an jDessi ; 
 nu hefig fram komit ' fajgrom flaug torn of na dauSan.' 60 
 Aslatig: 
 
 16. Eigi mondi ySarr, ef dr ddiiS fyrri, 
 eitt misseri eptir ohefnt vera broeSra : 
 (litt rsoQomk {)vf leyna), ef Iff hafa knaetti 
 Eirekr sitt ok Agnarr obornir mer niSjar. 
 
 Sigurd Ormr-i-auga : 
 I']. t'at skal jDriggja natta, ef J^ik tregar moQir, 65 
 
 (lei6 eigo ver langa) leiQangr buinn ver6a: 
 
 skal Uppsaolom eigi, \)6tt ofa-f(6 bioSi, 
 
 ef sva duga disir, Eysteinn Beli raSa. 
 Biorn larnslda : 
 
 18. Duga mun hugr ok hiarta 1 hauk-sna)ro briosti, 
 
 {jott minnr um |)at mseli. manni innan rifja : 70 
 
 eigi es OSS 1 augom ormr ne fianir snakar, 
 ' broeSr gla)ddo mik minir,' man-ek stiup-sono J)ma. 
 Hvitserkr : 
 
 19. Hyggjom at a6r heitim, at hefnt megi ver9a, 
 latom ymso illo Agnars bana fagna : 
 
 hrindom huf a hrannir, hoeggom is fyrir bar6i, 75 
 
 siam a hitt hve snekkjor ver snemst faim biinar. 
 Ivarn Beinlausi : 
 
 20. Hafi6 ofr-huga cerinn ok araeSi bseSi, 
 t)ess mundi J)a f)urfa at ' ^ra ' mikit fylgSi : 
 
 I have heard that the Danes have come from the South, and I know 
 tliat the kings had a sacrificial-launch. — Ihe messenger : I tell thee, lady, 
 of Thora's sons' death. There is no news fresher than this, I have just 
 come from where the ravens were flying over their dead corses. 
 
 Tbe egging ivords of Anslaug to her sons. Ye would not have been left 
 one year unrevenged of them, if ye had died first, if Eric and Agnar, no 
 sons of mine, were living. 
 
 The brothers ansiver one by one. Sigurd Snake-i-th''-eye : The levy 
 shall be ready within three nights. Eystan Beli shall not rule Upsal 
 long though he offer us weregild, if the goddesses help us. — Biorn 
 Ironside: The heart may be steadfast in a man's breast, though he speak 
 little. I have no snake in my eye .... I will remember thy step-sons. 
 — Whitesark: Let us look ere we vow, that our revenge be feasible! 
 May every ill befall Agnar's slayers. Let us launch our barks on the 
 wave! Let us cleave the ice with our prows! Let us make ready our ships 
 as soon as may be ! — Innuar the Botieless : Ye have spirit enough and dash 
 to boot, yet ye lack foresight. Ye must bear me with you in the van ; 
 
 59. t)ung spioll, Cd. 72. Read, minjom.
 
 350 THE RAGNAR CYCLE. [bk. ix. 
 
 bera mun mik fyrir bragna beinlausan framm ver8a, 
 '\)6 gat ek haond til hefnda at ek hvariga n^'ta.' 80 
 
 V. 
 Ragnarr : 
 
 21. Spari mangi ra)f Ri'nar, ef roeskva vill her menn; 
 verr samir horskom hilmi hringa fia)l8 an drengja : 
 
 ' flit es 1 borg liQ bauga brandrau8um framm standa ' 
 ' all-marga veit-ek iafra |)a-er .... lifir dau3a' 
 
 22. Hvat er f)at 'baugs' or biaorgom 'briot' heyrig nu ^iota 
 
 ' at menn mundils mar svan drafnir hafna ' 86 
 
 \)0 skal-ek {)eirra ra3a ' J)ann bil ' ef go3 vilja 
 ' Egils alun leygjar ' 6kvi6andi bi3a. 
 Aslaug : 
 
 23. f'er ann-ek serk inn si3a ok sauma6an hvergi, 
 
 vi6 heilan hug ofinn or har-sima garni : 90 
 
 mun eigi ben bld;8a, n^ bita \)\k eggjar 
 
 i heilagri hiiipo, ' vas hon ^eim ' go8om signo3. 
 
 VI. 
 
 Ragnarr : 
 
 24. Orrostor hefi-ek attar |)3er-er agaetar |)6tto 
 (goer6a-ek ma)rgom manni mein) fimm tigi ok eina : 
 eigi hug6omk orma at aldr-lagi mino ; 95 
 ^at verdr maorgom manni er minzt varir sialfan. 
 
 25. Gnydja mundo grisir, ef galtar hag vissi ; 
 
 mer es ' gnot ' at grandi, grafa inn ra)nom sinom : 
 
 though I can use neither hand, yet I shall take my share of the revenge 
 with you. 
 
 V. Ragnar setting out on his foray to England. Let not a man spare 
 gold if he will gather warriors about him ; a great treasure beseems 
 a king less than a company of heroes. A fort cannot be held by rings. 
 Many a king I know of that is dead wuhen he might have li-ved but for his 
 meanness. 
 
 Ragnar ivill not listen to the evil omens. \Vhat is this murmuring I hear 
 from the hills? Nevertheless, I shall abide without fear what shall 
 happen, if the gods will it so. 
 
 Anslaug gives her lord a magic shirt. With a whole heart I give thee 
 this long shirt, not sewn, but woven of hair-fine yarn. Wound shall not 
 bleed on thee, nor weapon-edge bite on thee in this holy surcoat, that 
 was blessed by the gods. 
 
 VI. Ragnar in the Serpent-pit. I have fought battles fifty and one. I 
 never thought that serpents would be my death. What he least 
 looked for befalls many a man. The porklings would grunt if they knew 
 of the old boar's need. The serpents gnaw me to death, they are eating 
 
 80. hreifa at h. neytki, A. 95. hug9a ek mik, Cd. 96. miok niorgo 
 
 siniii, Cd,
 
 §1.] RAGNAR LODBROK, ANSLAUG, etc. 351 
 
 ok har6lfga hrina, hafa mik sogit ormar; 
 
 nii mun-ek nar af bragSi ok naer ' dyrom ' deyja. 100 
 
 VII. 
 
 Biorn lamsida : 
 
 26. Her flygr hverjan morgin hress of borgir J)essar; 
 Isezk heill muno hungri heiSa valr of deyja : 
 
 hann fari su3r um sanda 'seggi hvar ver letom' 
 
 Jjar faer hann dau6s mannz dreyra doegg or sk;^li-haoggom. 
 
 27. {'at var fyrst er forom Freys leika tok-ek heyja 105 
 '^ar er einiga allum old' 1 Roma-veldi: 
 
 J)ar \€t ek of gra)n grana (gall sorn of val-falli) 
 at ' mann skeiko ' mor6i mitt sver9 dregit verQa. 
 
 28. Upp hrundo ver opi ar 'bito meir an |)eira' 
 
 (satt man-ek til ^ess segja) sver3 i Gnipa-firQi: no 
 
 knatti hvar er vildi fyrir HvitabJ^ utan 
 (ne sitt spari sveinar sver6) mannz bani ver6a. 
 Aslaug : 
 
 29. Kaga Idto mik minir .... synir la)ngom 
 er erot .... heiman .... me6al-fcerir, 
 Rajgnvaldr t6k at rioSa ra)nd i gumna blodi, 115 
 hann kom yngstr til 09ins ogn-diarfr sona minna. 
 
 30. Sonr bei9 einn sa-ek atta i Austrvegi dau6a, 
 Hvitserkr var sa heitinn hvergi giarn at flj'ja ; 
 hitna6i hann af haofSom hoeggins vals at romo, 
 
 kauss ^ann bana J)engill jDrottar-sniallr a9r felli. 120 
 
 31. Ha)f9om l^t of hrundit hund-majrgom gramr undir 
 ' 1 feiga hf foska fingi ivir syngja ' 
 
 hvat skyli be9 inn betra ba)6-heggr und sik leggja 
 
 into me, and they hiss cruelly, draining my blood. I shall soon be a 
 dead man. The -verses auhich once follo<wed here seem to have been used to 
 make the final part of Kraku-mal. 
 
 VII. Biorn Ironside on the brothers'' forays. Here flies every morning a 
 raven over the fort, he is hungry for carrion ; let him go south of the 
 sand where we' fought, there he may slake his thirst in the wounds of 
 the dead. When I first set Frey's game going in the Roman empire 
 [Italy], I was eighteen years old. There .... my sword was drawn. 
 
 Bior7i Ironside. Let us raise a mighty war-whoop in Gnip-firth [Scar- 
 bay = Scarborough ?]. Let every one slay his man outside of Whitby. 
 
 Anslaiig [«o<iu called Randalin^ '^SS"^S ^^^ ^°^'^ ^'^ avenge Rogn^vald. 
 My sons have left me sorrowing. Ye are aye laggards all of you. 
 Rognwald the brave was wont to dye his target red in men's blood, he 
 came first of all my sons to Woden. 
 
 The death of Whitesark, burnt on a pile of dead mer^s heads. One son I 
 had that died in Eastway — Whitesark was his name — that never sought 
 to flee. He was burnt on a pile of the heads of the slain, this was the 
 
 102. mun af, Cd. 109. hrunda var, Cd.
 
 352 THE RAGNAR CYCLE. [bk. ix. 
 
 ' ilia deyr vi8 orQztir allvaldr iofurs falli.' 
 32. Sitja ' veiQi-vitjar vals' a borgar halsom, 125 
 
 bsol er |)at 'r hefir um hafnat hrafn SigurSar nafni : 
 blasi ' nfii niotar nas ' i spson at hanom 1 
 of snemma \6t 06inn alf valmeyjar deyja. 
 
 VIIL 
 
 is/. 33. Seg J)u fra Jiegn-skajpom JDinom; {)ik rsoSomk ek spyrja : 
 hvar sattu hrafn a hrislo hrolla dreyra fullan? 130 
 
 optar sattu at a)l8rom 1 a)ndugi fundinn 
 an J)u dreyrog hrse drcegir i dal fyrir val-fogla. 
 
 2ftd. 34. I'egi-|)u heim-dragi heitinn ! hvat er J)ik ' vesal latan!' 
 hefir-J)u aldregi unnit Jjess es ek mega J)rotna 
 
 feit .... sver8 . . . . s. 1 135 
 
 gaftattu hafnar hesti (hvat roekir J^ik) drykkjo. 
 
 isL 35. Hafs letom ver hesta hl/'r-stinna brim renna, 
 me8an a biartar brynjor bl66i dreif um si6or : 
 ylgr gein oldor-monnom ' eyra ' grar of svira 
 har8-meldri .... ro8na. 140 
 
 27td. 36. Allz engi sa-ek ydarn J)ar-er upp lokinn fundom 
 ' heila varg ' fyr hvftom hesti mava rastar : 
 ' ok vi8 lasi lu8rar ' fyrir landi ver undom 
 . . . . mia)llo hrafns fyrir rau8om stafni. 
 
 is/. 37. Samira okkr at aoldrom of a)ndugi Jjrasta 145 
 
 ' hvarr okkar hefir unnit hvaSarr ' framar a)8rom : 
 |)u stott J)ar es bar bara branda-hiajrt at sundi, 
 enn ek sat jDar es ' ra reiddi ' rau8an stafn til hafnar. 
 
 death he chose ere he fell. There were hundreds of heads piled beneath 
 him .... What better bed could a king spread for himself ! . . . . 
 
 Sigurd Snake-i^ -th' -eye s death. Lo, the ravens perched on the pin- 
 nacles of the burghs. The doom has overtaken Sigfred's namesake. 
 Blow, gentle winds, on the chips of his funeral pile. Woden made the 
 Walkyrie's darling die too soon. 
 
 VI II. First Champion: Tell thy feats, I bid thee. Where hast thou 
 seen the blood-sated raven perched on the bough? Thou wert oftener to 
 be found in the high-seat than dragging their food to the eagles. — Second 
 Champion : Hold thy peace, thou stay-at-home. What hast thou, thou 
 wretch? Nought hast thou wrought wherein I should fall short. Thou 
 hast never slaked the wolf's thirst. — First Champion: We made the 
 prow-strong sea-horses speed through the brine. The grey wolf yawned 
 over the dead.... golden beacon heads. — Second Champion: I did not 
 see thee where we saw the white waves gaping for the ship .... and 
 the sea .... furiously before the red prow. — First Champion relenting : 
 Let us not quarrel in the high-seat which of us two has done the 
 greatest deed of daring. Thou didst stand where the billow floated 
 the ships, and I was sitting on the ship as she touched the harbour. — 
 
 131. J)attu at o5om, Cd. [142. Read, Heita vang. I45. oiidugi] 
 
 read, ond ? or anddyri ?
 
 §x.] 
 
 LAST FRAGMENTS. 353 
 
 2nd. 38. FylgSom Birni ba6ir 1 branda gn^^ hverjom, 
 
 (voro reyndir rekkar) enn Ragnari stundom : 150 
 
 var ek jiar-er bragnar bcor6osk a Bolgara-landi 
 t)vi berr-ek sar a si6o. Sittu innarr meirr, granni ! 
 
 LAST FRAGMENTS. 
 
 In the Legendary Tales, of which we have spoken in § 54 of Pro- 
 legomena, and which are chiefly to be found in the Fornaldar-Sdgur, 
 Copenhagen, 1829, there are about seventeen hundred lines. 
 
 This mass falls into three categories, which we must treat separately. 
 First there comes a small number of verses in Turf-Einar Metre, more 
 or less poetic in character, and with no direct imitation of earlier poetry 
 or subject. The second group contains lines in the Epic Metre, dealing 
 with popular traditions of a more or less medicE'val character. What is 
 noteworthy out of these two groups we have printed here. But the 
 third group is of a different character. It consists of a number of poems 
 In Epic Metre, by a late versifier, directly imitated from the old genuine 
 poetry, which he must have had access to in book-form. Three of 
 these poems, all of which may be by the same hand, of the same type, as 
 the Saxo Starkad-Lay, but not imitated from it, are the Death-Song of 
 Arrow-Ord, the Life of Rook sung by himself in the hall of Hake, and 
 the Wikar's-balk of Starkad in the hall of Alric. There are more 
 pieces, but of an inferior interest. We need not believe that more than 
 one person was concerned, and we have no proof that he knew more 
 about songs or traditions of old days than we do now. He knew the 
 poems of the Helgi and Heroic group, perhaps also those of the lost 
 sheet, for he may even have used our MSS. The Editor has long suspected 
 that the Fornaldar-Sogur, as we have them, were edited in the east of 
 Iceland, where there is some reason to suppose that the 'Edda' MSS. 
 were lurking all along till the seventeenth century. The stiff, prosy, 
 monotonous vein of this set of poems betrays their wholly artificial and 
 book character ; and when we take Gunnlaug's Merlinus-Spa, a poem 
 written at a time bet^ween them and the old poems they imitate, we can 
 see how great a difference there is between a man at home in the 
 old metre and to a certain extent inspired by noble models, and a mere 
 dilettante, forging verses for amusement, without a spark of real fancy 
 or any true comprehension of the spirit and melody of his originals. 
 
 These poems, of which the only use or worth can be that they contain 
 a few direct citations from the old poems, we cannot print here. They 
 are at best but appendage-matter. They are as much book-poetry as 
 forged eighteenth-century ballads ; but, as far as space allowed, we have 
 given them in an appendage, that readers may see their nullity plainly 
 set out in black and white, and judge the question for themselves. 
 
 It should be noticed that the MSS. on which Fornaldar-Sogur occurs 
 are all of late date. The Editor's hypothesis as to the composition of 
 these tales will be found in Prolegomena, § 34. 
 
 Of the former two groups of verses, which we give below, we have 
 set first those in Turf-Einar Metre. 
 
 I. The first set of lines in this metre belongs to the story of Asbiorn 
 the Proud. It was from part of this piece that we took the List 
 
 Second Champion : We both followed Biorn or else Ragnar to battle. 
 I remember how we followed men in the Bolgars' land [Bulgaria]. 
 There I got a wound in my side. Come and sit here inside next me ! 
 VOL. II. A a
 
 354 LAST FRAGMENTS. [bk. ix. 
 
 of Champions, No. Ill, printed in Book v, § 6. The maker knew 
 Kraku-mal. 
 
 II. The next, from the tale of Arrow-Ord, the Northern Odysseus 
 or Philoctetes. These lines would seem rightly to form a part of the 
 verse in Ragnar's Saga, ver. 23, p. 350. 
 
 III. The third from the story of Fridthecw, well known by the poem of 
 Tegner,of which it is the foundation. There are one or two antique touches 
 in this verse, the parting of the ring, for instance, and the magic tempest. 
 There are phrases resembling those of Kraku-mal I. and Egil's verse. 
 
 IV. The fourth set is modern in spirit, but really poetic. One or two 
 verses of those we give are probably the best known lines in Iceland of 
 all ancient poetry. The Saga in which they are found is purely 
 fictitious, and worthless in itself, though the verse is so pretty. Metre, 
 modernised court-metre. 
 
 V. The ditties which follow might perhaps have stood in Book vi, § 2. 
 They are really popular in spirit ; they are found in the late and manu- 
 factured Saga of Bard the Snow-fell spirit, which is curious as containing 
 several bits of native folk-lore. 
 
 The second group (vi-xi) in Epic Metre, or other short metre, is 
 arranged next in order. 
 
 VI. The first is taken from the end of Ragnar's Saga (the first few 
 lines being also found in a different and, we take it, wrong connection 
 in Half's Saga), where the prose runs — ' There was a certain Ogmund 
 called Ogmund the Dane, he was once coming with five ships and lay 
 to off Samsey in Munarvoe.' The story goes, 'that the meat-swains 
 landed to get meat, and that others of the men went into the woods 
 to amuse themselves, and there they found an ancient wooden man, forty 
 fathoms high and moss-grown; but yet his face could still be seen. And 
 now they fell to reasoning among themselves, who could have worshipped 
 this great god.' Then the wooden man spake — ' It was, etc' 
 
 The final lines of his speech remind one of pieces in the anthologies. 
 The first line is the same favourite 'folk-phrase' we have in King Harold 
 and the Fisherman, Book viii, § 3. 
 
 VII. The next set refers to the presages which foretell the fates of the 
 kings in Half's Saga. They all occur in the first chapters of that Tale, 
 from whence we have taken Nos. 4, 5 for Book vi, § 2 ; and 
 
 VIII. Here we, for the first time since Book iv, § 3, and the Ditty, Book 
 vi, No. 13 a, meet with a scrap in Dialogue Metre. It is a bit of a 
 song composed on an amusing half-allegoric folk-tale. A king (Gaut) is 
 out hunting and loses his way, and comes to a hut in which he gets 
 shelter; the household are strange folk, and one of the women explains 
 their ways and doings to the wondering guest. 'My father is Shabby, 
 my mother is Tatter, my brothers are Curlew, Sea-urchin, and Drone^. 
 My name is Gentle, my sisters are called Better and Fetter. There is a cliff 
 near our house called GilUng's cliff, and a steep thereon called the Family- 
 steep ; over it we throw ourselves if any misfortune fails upon us, and so 
 we go to Woden,' The old people first kill themselves, and then the 
 young do likewise, as one after another they are afflicted by some small 
 piece of ill-luck. The daughter Gentle bears a child to the king, who 
 grows up to be the famous prince Gautric the Munificent. 
 
 IX-XI. The next extract, from Rolf-Kraki's Saga, refers to the story of 
 
 ' Norse Skafuortungr, Totra. Fiolmod, ImsiguU, Gillung, which last we would read 
 'Geitung;' the sisters Snotra, Hiotra, and Fiotra ; the clifis Gillungs-hamar and 
 
 .iEtternis-stapi.
 
 §!•] 
 
 FRIDTHEOW. 355 
 
 two orphan princes, who, according to the prophecy in the Mill Song (1. 80), 
 were to avenge Frodi. They escape their foes as the two young princes 
 in the Lancelot story do, in spite of the witch, who discovers them. In 
 the same Saga there are two other scraps referring to the two brothers 
 who are deformed by enchantment and recognise each other, and to 
 King Eadgil's recognising his old champion who visits his court with 
 Rolf. There are two verses (cited in Edda) in this Saga which are older 
 and genuine; these we have printed in Book iii, § 2, vol. i, p. 190. 
 
 XII. The next scrap, from Bard's Saga, tells of the heroine's home- 
 sickness. 
 
 XIII. The last bit, in rhyme metre, is found in Fridtheow's Saga. It 
 deals with a storm-scene, and is ascribed to Biorn, one of the characters 
 in the Saga, though, of course, it would suit any hero in the same cir- 
 cumstances. 
 
 I. (From Flatey-bok.) 
 
 1. OAGDI mer a sei6i saongom J)at la)ngom, 
 ^ at ek feigom foeti fcerag nor3r a Moeri : 
 vsetki vissi vcelva, vera man-ek enn me6 ma)nnom 
 glaSr i Gauta-veldi. Gramir eigi spar hennar ! 
 
 2. Segit {)at mfnni m66or, man hon eigi syni kemba 5 
 svarSar la3 a sumri, Svanhvit i Danmaorko : 
 
 haf6a-ek henni heitid, at ek heim koma mundag, 
 nu mun segg a sf3o sver3z-egg dregin ver6a. 
 
 II. (From Arrow-Ord's Saga.) 
 
 SERK of fra-ek^ or silki 1 siau staD^om goervan : 
 ermr var a Ira-landi, aonnor nor6r me9 Finnom, 
 slogo Saxa meyjar, enn SuSreyskar spunno, 
 vofo Valskar bru6ir, varp. 0{)i63ans m66ir. 4 
 
 III. (From Fridtheow's Saga.) 
 
 I. O YNDA l^t-ek or Sogni (enn snotir miaSar neytto) 
 ^ braeddan byrjar sota (1 Baldrs-haga miSjom) : 
 
 I. Asmund the Proud defies the Sibyrs prediction, and resolves to explore 
 the cavern and fight the Giant. Long ago the Sibyl told me in her en- 
 chanted song that I should go north to More on doomed feet. The 
 Sibyl was wrong, I shall live merrily among men in the realm of the 
 Gauts. The fiends take her forebodings ! 
 
 Asmund is caught by the Giant and tortured to death ; he sings at the 
 stake. Tell my mother, Svvanwhite, in Denmark, that she will never 
 comb her son's hair again this year. I promised her that I would come 
 home, but now the sword-edge shall be drawn over my side. 
 
 II. Arro'w-Ord has a magic shirt given him by the fairy-maidens, ivho 
 sing as they hand it to him. That silken shirt was wrought in seven 
 places, one arm in Ireland, the other north among the Fins, the Saxon 
 maids beat the flax, the South-Island [Hebndes] damsels spun it, the 
 ladies of Gaul wove it, the heathen mothers [of Wendland] warped it. 
 
 III. Fridtheoiv in the storm 'which is raised by •witchcraft against his 
 good ship Ellida. I put my black bark out of Sogn, while the ladies were 
 
 1. ok song um, Cd. 4. Read, OJ)i66ar = Viuda? Cp. p. 1S7, 1. 35. 
 
 A a 2
 
 356 LAST FRAGMENTS. [bk. ix. 
 
 nu tekr hregg at her9a ; hafi dag briiSir g69an 
 J)3er-er oss vilja unna, J)6tt ElliSa fylli. 
 
 2. Miaik tekr siar at svella, sva er nu drepit skj^jom, 5 
 Jdvi ra9a galdrar grimmir at gialfr or sta9 foerir : 
 
 eigi skal vi9 aegi i ofvidri berjask, 
 
 latom Solundir seggjom svell-vifaSar hli'fa. 
 
 3. Helgi veldr at hrannir hrfm-faxa9ar vaxa, 
 
 era sem biarta bru6i 1 Baldrs-haga kyssim. 10 
 
 4. Eigi ser til alda, erom vestr 1 haf komnir, 
 allr J)ykkir mer segir sem 1 eymyrjo ssei : 
 hrynja haf-baror, haug verpa svan-flaugar; 
 nu er ElliSi orpinn 1 rorSugri baro. 
 
 5. Her var9 svarf um siglo, er saer a skip hrunSi, 15 
 ek var9 err vi6 atta innan-bor6z at vinna : 
 
 dsella var til dyngjo da)gur6 konom foera 
 an Elli6a ausa 1 a^rSugri baro. 
 
 6. Brusto ba6ir halsar 1 baro hafs storri, 
 
 sukko sveinar fiorir 1 sa; ogrunnan. 20 
 
 7. f'ann skal bring of hoeggva, er Halfdanar atti, 
 a6r OSS tapar vEgir, au6igr faSir rau9an : 
 
 sia skal goU a gestom, ef ver gistingar J)urfom 
 {f)at dugir rausnar rekkom), 1 Ranar-sal mi6jom. 
 
 8. Sigldo ver or Sogni, sva foro ver naestum, 25 
 J)a lek eldr it efra 1 66ali varo : 
 
 enn nu tekr bal at brenna Baldrs-haga midjan, 
 
 J)vi man-ek vargr 1 veom, veit ek jDat munk heitinn. 
 
 boiling the mead in the midst of Balder's-Haye. The gale is rising, may 
 the ladies that love us fare well, though Ellida fill. The sea is swelling, 
 the air is thick with clouds; it is through wicked charms that the surges 
 are stirred. Who can fight against ocean in tempest? Let us seek 
 shelter behind the Solunds. It is Helgi that makes the rime-maned 
 billows swell. It is not as when we were kissing the fair maidens in 
 Balder's-Haye. We cannot see the .... W^e are driven westward on 
 the main. All ocean looks to me like glowing embers [all a-fire] ; the 
 billows of the deep are crashing down upon us ; the swan-meads [waters] 
 are cast up in high barrows ; Ellida is plunging into the ramping billow. 
 There was havoc in the waist when the sea clashed over the ship ; I had to 
 do eight men's work in the hold. It was sweeter work to bring the 
 ladies their breakfasts in this bower than to be baling Ellida in the 
 ramping billows. Both neck-boards broke in the big sea-wave, four lads 
 sank to the bottom of the sea. 
 
 He cuts his ring up and divides it among his men, believing that the 
 ship must founder. Let us cut up the ring that Halfdan's father owned, 
 before ocean wrecks us, so that gold shall be seen on us as befits gentle- 
 men if we must needs be guests in Ran's hall. 
 
 Having avenged his wrong and burnt Balder s-Haye, Fridtheow sails off. 
 We sailed out of Sogn, that was our last voyage ; the flame was playing 
 then over our heritage, but now the flame is blazing in the midst of 
 Balder's-Haye. I shall be called a ' Wolf in holy-places' for this, I know.
 
 § I.] WIGLUND AND KETTLERID. 357 
 
 IV. (From Wiglund's Saga.) 
 
 1. T^ IGI ma ek a segi ogratandi lita, 
 
 -L^ sfzt mal-vinir minir fyr mar-bakkann sukku : 
 lei6r er mer siovar sorti ok sugandi bara 
 (heldr goerSi mer harSan harm) i unna farmi. 
 
 2. Tru6i malm-J^ings mei6ir mar-gl68ar JDer troSa ; s 
 hug8a ek si'zt at hef6i hring-lestir |)ik festa : 
 
 eigi tia6u ei6ar oss e6a margir kossar, 
 
 semt er kvenna ge6 kanna; kona sleit vi3 mik heitum. 
 
 3. St66u vit tvau 1 tuni ; tok Hlin um mik sinum 
 haandum haukligt kvendi har-faogr, ok gr^t saran : 10 
 titt flugii tar um tr66u ; til segir harmr um vilja ; 
 strauk drif-hvitum duki dros um hvarminn liosa. 
 
 4. Skamt leidda ek sk^^ran skrauta-niaord or garSi, 
 
 p6 fylgSi hugr minn honum 'hverskyns konar' lengra : 
 skylda-ek leitt hafa lengra, ef land fyrir laegi vreri, i 5 
 ok aegis-mar yr3i allr at grcenum velli. 
 
 5. Laug-au8ig strauk lau6ri Ifn-eik um ska)r mina, 
 \)\'i er mer enn til annars ubratt ha)iu3-J)vattar : 
 aollungis skal engi au8i gloest it naesta 
 
 ein a aldri minum ask-laugar mer vaska. 20 
 
 6. Sd-ek a fiall jjat-er fia)tra fram-lundu6ust sitr undir, 
 \)6 renn ek til hennar hug-rekk vinar-augum : 
 
 t)a brekku kve6-ek mer pekka J)ru3r er |Dar stendr hia pru6ri 
 hla6s sem hli6ar a3rar hug-^ekk er mer nokkut. 
 
 IV. Kettlerid belie'ves her lover IVighind to be droivned and <weefs for 
 him. I can never look on the sea without weeping, since my love sank 
 in the deep water. I hate the blackness of the sea and the sucking 
 surges of the heaped waters. Cruel is my grief therefore. 
 
 Wiglund's reproach to his mistress. I trusted thee, lady; least of all did 
 I think that another should have espoused thee. Vain were oaths and 
 kisses many. It takes a long time to fathom a woman. My lady has 
 broken her vow to me. 
 
 Wiglund on parting <ivith his mistress. We stood together in the court, 
 the fair-haired lady clasped me in her arms and wept sore, thick fell the 
 tears upon her. Sorrow witnesses to love. She wiped her bright eye- 
 lashes with her snow-white kerchief. 
 
 Kettlerid' s farenvell. I did not go far with thee out of the court, 
 yet my heart followed thee ever farther. I would have gone farther 
 with thee if the sea were land, and ocean's mere were all green 
 fields. 
 
 Kettlerid is washing Wiglund's head. My lady has rubbed the lather 
 into my hair. It will be long ere I have another head-washing. No other 
 lady shall ever lave my hair as long as I live. 
 
 tViglund looks back at the hills, 'where his lady lives, as he sails aiuay. I 
 look at the liills my love lives under, casting loving ^yes towards her. 
 Dearer to me than any other hillside is the brink of the hill where she
 
 358 LAST FRAGMENTS. [bk. ix. 
 
 7. Liost er ut at lita lauka-rei9 yfir heiSi, 25 
 sol gengr sib und mula, slikt langar mik {)angat : 
 
 fisoU eru mer t)ekk af |)ellu (^vi er-ek hlioSr, valin troSa) 
 [vif a-ek vsenst at leyfa val-grund] er t)ar sitr undir. 
 
 8. KetilriQr ba9 ei kvi6a karlmann i fsor sniallri 
 
 ungan \>6tt a)ldor gangi iafn-hatt skeiSar stafni : 30 
 
 enn er a or9 at minnazt (verum hraustir nii Trausti) 
 [ver6 ek af harm! hajr6um hn'9-lundr] Ketilri9ar. 
 
 V. The Giantess and the Fisher (BarSar Saga). 
 
 1 . "D O A skaltu fiall fir8an fram i la)g stir6an, 
 
 -■-^ (^ar mun goer glitta) ef \)u vill Grinis-mi6 hitta : 
 |)ar skaltu \)6 liggja ; ' t'orr er vfss til Friggjar;' 
 roi norpr inn nef-skammi Nesit 1 Hiuk-hvammi ! 
 
 2. Ut reri einn a bati Ingialdr i skinn-feldi ; 5 
 t^ndi atian aanglum Ingialdr 1 skinn-feldi, 
 
 ok fertogu fceri Ingialdr 1 skinn-feldi, 
 aptr kom aldri siQan Ingialdr 1 skinn-feldi. 
 
 VI. (From Ragnar's Saga and Half's.) 
 
 I. 13 AT var fyrir laDngo er 1 leiS megir 
 ^ Hoekings foro ' hlum tunglom:' 
 sigldo um salta sl66 birtinga, 
 J)a var9-ek t)essa thorps raQandi. 
 
 lives. It is light above the mountain tops, the sun is setting late behind the 
 Mull, would I were there ! Dear to me are the hills because she lives 
 beneath them, that is why I am silent. Mine is the fairest of ladies. 
 
 Wiglimd in the gale to his brother Trust, Kettlerid bade me never flinch, 
 though the waves rose as high as the bows of the bark. Now let us be 
 mindful of her words. Let us be bold, Trust. I am heart-sore with 
 my bitter sorrow. 
 
 V. The giantess Hetta, ru;ishing to lure Ingiald to death, sho-zvs him the 
 marks of a fine fishing bank. Thou shalt row till the mountain shows low, 
 out in the high sea, where the wild fowl are glittering, if thou wilt light 
 on Grim's bank. There shalt thou lie ... . Row till Andwerd's-ness 
 shows into Sleet-dell, and shiver there Snubbie ! 
 
 Ingiald roivs out to the bank and is persuaded by an e'vil spirit in guise of 
 a fisherman to ivait there, till he ivas caught in a terrible gale. While the 
 storm nvas raging his household, sitting at supper, hear a hollo<w voice 
 chanti7ig at the avindoqv. Out he rowed alone in his boat, Ingiald in his 
 sheep-skin coat. Eighteen hooks he lost and forty fathoms of line ; he 
 will never come back again, Ingiald in his sheep-skin coat. But Bard, 
 a friendly mountain spirit, saved him, and he came home alive to his 
 frightened household. 
 
 VI. The wooden image. It was a long while ago, when the sons of 
 Hoeing went forth .... on the salt sea-trout's path. It was then that I 
 
 2. Haeklings, Cd.
 
 § I.] FROM HALF'S SAGA. 359 
 
 2. Ok p\i setto ' sver9-mer8lingar ' « 
 su3r hia salti synir Lo6br6kar : 
 
 J)a var-ek bl6tinn til bata maDnnom 
 f Samseyjo sunnan-ver6ri. 
 
 3. t'ar ba3o standa me6an straDnd })olir 
 
 mann ' hia {^yrni ' ok mosa-vaxinn : 10 
 
 nu sk;^tr a mik skj'ja grati, 
 h\fr hvarki mer hold ne klaeSi. 
 
 VII. (From Half's Saga.) 
 
 1 . r^ AKK-&U fra brunni ! — glottattu vi6 mer — 
 ^-^ pr?e\\ herfiligr, pins inniss til ! 
 
 man-ek senda per svei9anda spiot 
 t)at-er gyrja mun granar J)fnar. 
 
 2. Veita gaDrla vlf J^itt, konungr, 5 
 hvat hnekkja mun hennar saelo : 
 
 ' ver verSom per ' 
 
 ' Hildr Hia)rleifi, haltu nser loga.' 
 
 3. Ek se Hringjo haug um orpinn, 
 
 enn Hera hniga hvatinn spioti : 10 
 
 s^ ek Hia)rleifi hapt-ba)nd snuin, 
 enn HreiSari hoegginn galga. 
 
 4. Ek se ly^sa langl su9r f haf, 
 vill Danskr konungr dottor hefna; 
 
 became ruler of this thorp. And the sons of Lodbrok .... set me up 
 in the south, hard by the salt sea. It was then I was worshipped for 
 the saving of mariners, southward in Samsey. They bade me stand 
 there a wooden and moss-begrown man while the strand endures. The 
 tears of the clouds fall upon me, neither flesh nor clothes cover me. 
 
 VII. Hior/eif's men go to draiv ivater at a spring in Finland, that fell 
 from a rock ; there they sa^v a Burn-soiler (one of the Fox's names, here 
 used of a goblin). When they told the king, he heated a spear-head in the fire 
 and shot at the spirit, crying. Go from the brook, thou filthy slave, to thine 
 own place. Never make mows at me ! I will send thee a hissing spear 
 that shall gore thy lips. But the monster bolted into the rock, and afterwuard 
 ansivered the king back. Beware of thy wife, king, she will put an end to 
 thy luck. We warn thee, O king, .... near the fires. But Hiorleif 
 threiv a spear q.vhich put out his eye. Jlgaiti, Hiorleif lay in a calm in the 
 Jutland main, and at sunrise he sa<w in the north a man-mountain rise out 
 of the sea, that spoke to him. I see a barrow cast over Hringia [thy love] ; 
 1 see Heri [thy son] sink spear-smitten. I see the shackles twisted for 
 Hiorleif, and a gallows cut for Reidhere [thy kinsman]. Again, the 
 fisherman caught a merman and brought him to Hiorleif ivho let him go on 
 condition of his prophesying his fate. I see a gleam far south in the sea, 
 the Danish king will avenge his daughter ; he has out ships untold ; he 
 bids Hiorleif to a tryst of war. Keep thee if thou canst ! I will go back 
 
 7. Emend.; bana, Cd. lo. Read, liaj)yriiis? I. gletta littu vi6 mik, Cd. 
 
 10. Bugge; hingat, Cd. 12. Bugge ; hugiiin, Cd.
 
 36o LAST FRAGMENTS. [bk. ix. 
 
 hann hefir uti otal skipa, 15 
 
 hfbr hann Hiaorleifi holm-stefno til, 
 varastu viti ef J)u vill ; vil-ek aptr i sia ! 
 
 5. S30go kann-ek segja sonom Haleygja 
 vilgi g69a, ef er vilit heyra: 
 
 her ferr sunnan ' Svar6ar ' dottir 20 
 
 um drifin dreyra, fra Danmaarko. 
 
 6. Hefir ser a ha3f6i hialm upp spentan, 
 her-kuml har61igt ' He6ins of letta ' 
 
 ' skamt man sveinom ' se f)at sem er ' 
 
 hildar at b:5a her a ferli. 25 
 
 7. Bresta mun baug-ra)St, bra mser augom 
 um heru6 ' hinga6 Haogna til J)egna ' 
 
 ' hafa skal hverr drengr hia:ir-ni6tz maDrg spiot ' 
 ' a3r komi mikil fram malm-hrfS siSan ' 
 ' J)6 man, ef J^at er satt pi ferr ilia hafa ' 30 
 
 '5^tar al keypt ar ^a er kemr var.' 
 
 8. Minnistu, Hrei6arr, hverr Hera felldi ; 
 va vaktist f)ar fyrir vestr-durom : 
 
 enn man in svinna til sala J)inna 
 
 byr-sael koma; bid-Jju enn konungr! 35 
 
 Vni. (From Gautrick's Saga.) 
 
 1. OKUA tva er mer Skaf-najrtungr gaf, 
 ^ Jivengjom er hann pa. nam : 
 
 illz mannz kve9-ek aldri vera 
 granda-lausar giafir. 
 
 2. Heimskliga veik-ek hendi til 5 
 
 er ek kom vi6 kinn kono : 
 litil lyf kveSa ha)f3 til ly6a sona ; 
 af pvi var hann Gautrekr goerr. 
 
 to the sea ! I can tell ye Haloga-men a tale if ye will hearken. Hither 
 comes from the south Hedin's daughter [war] blood-besprent out of 
 Denmark. She has on her head a helm .... stout war-tokens. It will 
 not be long waiting for war. The shield shall break, she is turning her 
 eyes into this quarter. Let every man take his sword and spear .... 
 yet shall .... if it be true .... There 'was a voice heard cryitig, Let 
 Reidhere remember who slew Heri. Woe was awakened at the west 
 doors. Nevertheless the Wise maiden shall come to thy hall. Wait 
 awhile, king ! 
 
 VIII. Gaut on the stinginess of Shabby. The two shoes that Shabby 
 gave me he took the thongs out of. An ill man's gifts are never lucky. 
 
 Gentle persuades her brother Drone that she is ivith child through his 
 having touched her face zvith his hand. Drone cries out : Fool that I was to 
 touch her cheek with my hand. How little goes to make a man ! That 
 is how Gautric was begotten. 
 
 20. Read, HeSins? 30. Read, J)at er sak. 32. Thus Bugge ; minstu . . . 
 
 hvar H. feldut, Cd. 34. Bugge ; hun sinna . . . kona, Cd. 1. Read, Skaf- 
 
 nyrflungr? (nyrfill).
 
 §1.] ROLF KRAKI'S CYCLE. 361 
 
 3. Svartir snfglar soto steina fyrir mer, 
 
 mi vill OSS hvat-vetna hata : 10 
 
 snau6r mun-ek snopa, |3vi-at sniglar hafa 
 goll mitt allt grafit. 
 
 4. t'at var spell er spaorr um vann 
 
 a akii Ims-iguls : 
 axi var skatt, or var korn numit, 15 
 
 jDat mun se TaDtro aett um trega. 
 
 5. Ungr sveinn drap oxa fyrir mer ; 
 
 slikt eru ban-vaen bysn ! 
 mun-ek aldregi eiga iafn-goQan 
 
 \)0 ek gamall ver6i. 20 
 
 IX. (From Rolf Kraki's Saga.) 
 
 1. /' \L,L er orSin astt Skiaoldunga 
 
 ^-^ lofSungs ' lundar ' at limom einom : 
 brcedr sa-ek mina a berom sitja, 
 enn Saevils rekka a sa)6lo6om. 
 
 2. Tveir 'ro inni, truig hvarigom, 5 
 l^eir er vi6 elda ftrir sitja : 
 
 ^eir i Vifilsey v6ro lengi, 
 ok h^to J)ar hunda nsofnom, 
 
 Hoppr ok Ho. 
 
 3. Sd-ek hvar sitja synir Halfdanar, 10 
 Hroarr ok Helgi, heilir baSir, 
 
 pe'iT muno Fr66a fioorvi rsena. 
 
 4. Otul ero augo Hams ok Hrana, 
 ero aD6lingar undra diarfir. 
 
 Curlenv seeing that tivo snails have scrabbled upon his gold slabs, cries, Two 
 black snails have eaten my slabs, everything is going against us. I shall 
 have to slink along in beggary, now those snails have eaten all my gold. 
 So he thronus himself ever the rock. Sea-urchin sees that a sparrozv has eaten 
 an ear of his corn and laments: It was a destruction that the sparrow 
 wrought in Sea-urchin's acre, the ear was spoilt and one grain taken. 
 Tatter's race are doomed to woe ! So he threnu himself over also. Drone 
 saiv the boy Gautric kill an ox, and called out, The boy kills an ox before 
 mine eyes, an awful business. I shall never have such a jewel of a beast 
 again however old I grow. And he followed his brethren. 
 
 IX. Signy's lament at her brothers' low estate. The Shielding race, 
 the kingly branches, have all shrunk to mere shrub twigs. I have seen 
 my brothers riding bare-backed horses while Seavil's men were sitting 
 on saddles. The sibyl Heid betrays the princes' presence. There are two 
 in the house, sitting by the fire, neither of whom I trust. They were 
 long in Weevilsey and were called by dog's names. Hop and Ho. And 
 again she says, I see where Halfdan's sons, Rodhere and Helgi, are 
 sitting safe and sound ; they shall rob Krodi of his life, save they be quickly 
 sent aivay, and that ivill ftot be, says she ; and she sung on, Keen are the 
 
 1). svartir] stuttir, Cd. 20. Corrupt text and metre.
 
 362 LAST FRAGMENTS. [bk. ix. 
 
 5. Reginn er uti ok rekkar Halfdanar 15 
 
 snoefrir andskotar, segit {)at Fr63a : 
 Varr slo nagla, ok Varr ha)f6a6i, 
 ok Varr va)rum var-nagla slo. 
 
 X. (From Rolf Kraki's Saga.) 
 Elg-Frobi : /^ RENJAR skalm, gengr or sliSrom, 
 
 ^^ minnisk haand hildar verka. 
 Thori : En ek Iset viz a vegom 
 
 oexi mlna iafnt hlioQ bera. 
 
 Abils : 
 
 XI. (From Rolf Kraki's Saga.) 
 
 DALR er 1 hnakka, auga er or haof6i, 
 aDrr er i enni, hoegg ero a hendi tvau. 
 
 XII. (From Bard's Saga.) 
 
 SJEL V3era-ek ef ek sia maetta 
 Biirfell ok Bala, ba6a L6n-dranga, 
 A8al^egns-H61a ok Ondurt-nes, 
 Hei6ar-kollo ok Hregg-snasa, 
 Dritvlk ok ma)l fyrir durom Fostra. 
 
 XIII. (From Fridtheow's Saga.) 
 
 ERA sem ekkja a ^ik vili drekka, 
 bia)rt baug-vara bi6i naer fara : 
 sa)lt ero augo sukko8 i laugo, 
 bill sterka arma, bitr mer i hvarma. 
 
 eyes of Ham and Rani, the Ethelings are wonderfully bold ! King Frodi 
 hears the voice ofRegin the smith, outside, saying, Regin is outside, and the 
 champions of Halfdan, bitter foes. Tell this to Frodi. Ware struck 
 the nail, Ware headed it, and Ware struck a ware-nail [bilge-plug] for 
 the wary. 
 
 X. T'wo brothers meet in the fight and recognise each other by their strokes. 
 The one says, The sword howls as it is drawn from the sheath, the hand 
 is mindful of the toil of war. The other ansivers, But far and wide on 
 the ways I make my axe match thy sivord in noise. 
 
 XI. Eadgils recognises the old champion S^veep-day by his nvound-marks . 
 There is a trench on the nape of the neck, an eye out of the head, a 
 scar on the brow, two cuts on the hand. 
 
 XII. Helga, set afloat by her brothers in play on a piece of ice, drifts 
 to Greenland, 'where she is kindly lodged, but she cannot forget her home, and 
 laments: Happy were I if 1 could see Burfell and Bole, and the two 
 Lon-drengs, Athelthane's hill and Andwordness, Heath's-knoU and 
 Sleet-peak, Dirt-wick and Shingle, before my foster-father's doors! 
 
 XIII. Fridtheo-iv and Biorn in the gale. Biorn says. It is not as when 
 a maid is bidding one to drink with her, or a ring-decked damsel asking 
 one to draw nearer to her ! The salt sea is in mine eyes, the brine 
 is washing into them. IVIy strong arms are aching, my eyelids are 
 smarting !
 
 §2.] THE PROVERB-POEM. 363 
 
 §2. PROVERBS AND SAWS. 
 
 THE PROVERB-POEM. 
 
 Following lomswickinga Drapa, at the end of Codex Regius, comes 
 this piece, which we, like Mobius, are inclined to ascribe to the same 
 author — Bishop Biarni. 
 
 It was first really read by Mr. John Sigurdsson, a most painstaking and 
 successful reader of faded MSS., who spent a good deal of time and care 
 over it ; for, though the whole poem is on the vellum, it is almost 
 illegible in many places. But the first and last words (containing no 
 doubt the title and perhaps the name of the author) are either torn off 
 or unreadable, and words and names here and there are still unsafe. 
 Dr. Mobius published it from Mr. Sigurdsson's copy in 1873. 
 
 Its subject is ' forn ord,' old saws, and it contains about one hundred 
 and twenty sa-zvs and proverbs, besides allusions to the exploits and 
 fortunes of well-known heroes : Biarki ; Starkad ; B . , . ; ' Bronting who 
 slept himself to death;' . . . Romund Gripson ; Eleazar, the valiant 
 Maccabee, who ' put himself in jeopardy, to the end he might deliver 
 his people, and get him a perpetual name,' and slew the mighty elephant 
 of the army o! Antiochus Eupator (i Mace. vi. 43-47); Nidiung the 
 dwarf that carved the horn of the howe ; Sorli the lover ; Asmund that 
 broke Gnod, his famous ' sea-steed,' to the waves ; and Gizur that set the 
 kings at variance. There are also allusions to sundry ^o^j and goddesses : 
 Frigg and her famous son, snatched away suddenly to the Hell's Hall ; 
 ' Eliudnir ' [Sleet-den], wept for by all, and sought in vain by Hermod 
 (that Northern Hermes) ; Thiazi and his golden speech ; the Bond that 
 bound Fenris ; Woden's beer (the gift of song) ; and MardoU's tears 
 
 It is in Drapa form, 10+ i + (3 x 3) + 10 = 30, with a burden, drawn 
 from the late tale of Harold Fairhair's love-craze for the dead Finnish 
 witch (a legend best known in connection with Charlemagne), the king's 
 foolish passion being likened to his own fond love for a faithless 'pigsney ' 
 Randwey. The metre is eight-measured Rhyme metre. The poem was 
 obviously composed for recitation at entertainments, where its variety 
 and irony would render it amusing. 
 
 It is to be observed that all the feminine rhymes are w u, never - «; 
 in the masculine rhymes five in - occur to every one in u . 
 
 Dr. Egilsson cites it as ' Mansongs kvaedi ;' the Editor quotes it in the 
 Dictionary as Malshatta kvaedi, which is perhaps most convenient, in 
 the absence of any definite hint as to its true title. 
 
 I. 
 
 I t^egir : Dylja ma Jdcss er einn-hver segir ; 
 
 eitt brigzt hoti si6r : 
 
 Foera setlom forn ord saman : Flestir henda at ncekkvi gaman : 
 Gle6i minnar veit geipon sia : Griplor er sem hendi jDa. 
 
 2. Ekki hefi-ek me6 flimtan farit : full-vel aetla-ek til {)ess varit ; 
 
 I. Introduction One man's word may be denied .... I mean 
 
 to set OLD SAWS together. Most men have some hobby, my pleasure 
 is chattering odds and ends just as they come to hand. I have never 
 
 5. aetta-ek, Cd.
 
 364 PROVERBS AND SAWS. [bk. ix. 
 
 yrkja kann-ek vano verr : vita J)ykkisk |)at maSrinn hverr : 6 
 
 Stolit vairi mer ' ekki ' or aett : iafnan J)6tta-ek kve6a sl^tt ; 
 (Roa ver6r fyrst a it na)sta nes) nokku& aetta-ek kyn til J)ess. 
 
 3. Piob spyrr allt |>at-er JDrir menn vito : J)eir hafa verr er trygSom 
 
 slito. 
 Ekki er ^vi til eins mannz skoti6 : ymsir hafa J)au doemi hloti5. 10 
 HermSar or6 muno hittask i : heimok a-ek at glaupsa af \)vi. 
 Nokku6 var6 hon s/'sla of svik : svin-eyg dros hve hon for me6 mik. 
 
 4. R6 skyldo ir.enn rei6i gefa : Raun-lfti6 kemsk opt a J)refa. 
 Gagarr er skaptr pvi at geyja skal : Goera aetla-ek mer lett of tal. 
 Verit hafSi mer verra i hug : var {)at nser sem kveiso Aug. 15 
 Iafnan fagnar kvikr ma9r ku : Kennir hins at ek gleSjomk nu, 
 
 5. All-liti6 er ungs mannz gaman : Einom |)ykkir daufligt saman, 
 Ovinar barn er sem ulf at fria : 06-fuss myndi blindr at sia : 
 Dy-rt lata menn drottins or6 : Drekarnir n'sa opt a sporS : 
 OSlingr skyldi einkar-ra)skr : (Epa kann i mcerom fra)skr. 20 
 
 6. Fylki skal til fraeg6ar hafa : Fregna eigom ' langt til gafa :' 
 Oddar gdrva iarli megin : tJt-sker ver6a af baorom J^vegin : 
 Ymsir bioQa a)6rom far : Ormar skri'da or hamsi a var : 
 
 Vel hefir sa er ^at lf6a Isetr : Langar eigo j^eir bersi naetr. 
 
 7. liiarki atti hugar-korn hart: Her-li6 felldi StaorkoSr mart: 25 
 Ekki var ... 1 hvfldom hoegr : Hromundr |)6tti Grips-son slcegr : 
 Okat J)eim ne einn a bug : Eliazar var triir at hug, 
 
 meddled with lampoons ; my lay is well meant. I understand how to 
 compose, as every one knows, or else I take not after my family. My 
 verse is thought to run smooth, there is some touch of poet-craft in 
 my blood. We must first row to the nearest ness! (Begin with the 
 beginning.) 
 
 Every one knows what three men know ! Ill do they that break their 
 troth. (This woe of mine is not mine only, such fortunes have befallen 
 many a man. Angry words may be found in my song, I have something 
 to snap for ; that pigsney when she dealt with me, it was not wholly 
 without guile.) One should let one's anger wait. Little things make 
 great quarrels. A dog was made for barking. (I will unburden my mind. 
 There have been worse things in my heart, they were just like shooting 
 pangs. A hve man is sure to get a cow — it may be seen that I am 
 getting merrier now.) Very little amuses a boy. It is dull for a lone 
 man. A foe's child is a wolf to cherish. The blind would be very glad to 
 see. Precious are the master's words. Snakes often rise up on their tails. 
 An etheling should be a brave man. The frog will croak in the marsh. 
 Glory for a king ! . . . . The spears make the earl's might. The sea- 
 ward reefs are washed by the wave. There are ups and downs in every 
 fight. Serpents cast their sloughs in spring. Blessed is he that can bide 
 his time. The bear's night is a long night. Biarki had a steadfast heart. 
 
 Starkad killed a mort of men, .... was not a gentle Romund 
 
 Gripsson was thought to be a cunning man : no one could make them 
 
 6. Read, vano ver ? 7. Read, ella. 9. = Guest's Wisdom, 279 ; = Old Play of 
 Wolsuiigs, 259. 12. sik.Cd. i3. = Atlam. 280. 16. = Guest's Wisdom, 14. 
 18. Aiinars, CiJ.; = Oid Play of Wolsuiigs, 311. 26. garpr z, Cd.
 
 §2.] THE PROVERB-POEM. 365 
 
 Filinn gat hann i fylking s6tt : full-straDng hefir su inann-raun \)6tt. 
 
 8. Bana |)6ttusk \)e\r bi6a vel : Branding! svaf loks 1 hel : 
 Mardallar var glysligr gratr : GleSr sa menn er opt er katr : 30 
 Asmundr tam9i Gn66 vi6 gialfr : Golli m£elti f'iazi sialfr : 
 NiQiungr s/:q/' of hdiUgi horn. — Hoelzti ero jDau minni forn. 
 
 9. Friggjar ^otti svipr at sveini : sa var tseldr af Mistilteini ; 
 HermoSr vildi auka /lans aldr : EliuQnir vann solginn Baldr : 
 
 Oil gr^to * |)au ' eptir hann ; auSit var })eim hlatrar bann ; 35 
 
 heyrin-kunn er fra honom saga.— Hvat |Darf-ek um slikt at jaga ! 
 
 10. Sitt mein j^ykkir sarast hveim : Ssettar-goerd er setlod tveim : 
 Odda-ma8r fsesk opt inn \>r\bi ; iafn-trurr sk^l sa hvarra li6i : 
 Engi of dctmir sialfan sik ; slikt cCtla-ek nu hendi mik : 
 
 Yta 119 ^ott allt fari byrst : engi l^ezk pvi valda fyrst. 4P 
 
 II. 
 
 11. Stefjom ver6r at staela brag : — stuttligt hefig a kvaeSi lag — 
 ella mun \)zt J^ykkja f)ula; J)annig nger sem ek henda mula : — 
 
 Ekki verba frofiomfarald : Fmiian gat p6 cerban Harald. 
 Honom pSlti sol-biori su : Sliks dcemi verba vibrgom nu. 
 
 I. 12. Skips lata menn skammar rar : ' Skatna ' J^ykkir hugrinn 
 grar: ^ ^ 45 
 
 Tungan leikr vi6 tanna sar : Trau9la er gengt of is a var : 
 Mia)k far er ser oerinn einn : Eyfit tf r J)6tt skyndi seinn : 
 
 give way. Eleazar was true of heart, he set upon the elephant in the 
 fight, that was thought a mighty deed of daring. They thought B . . . . 
 waited well. Bronting slept to death at last. Mardoll's tears were bright 
 to see. A merry man makes others glad. Asmund broke Gnod [ship] 
 to the waves. Thiazi spoke gold. Nidiung carved the horn o' the howe ; 
 old indeed these memories be. Frigg's boy was snatched away, he was 
 done to death by Mistiltoe. Hermod tried to prolong his [Balder's] life. 
 Sleet-den [Hell's Hall] swallowed Balder down. All things wept for 
 him; laughter's ban [sorrow] was fated to them. Widely known is the 
 story of him, why should I keep harping on it? Each man's own sorrow 
 is the sorest. It takes two to an agreement. There is often a third, an 
 odd man, he should be equally fair to each. No one condemns himself; 
 so When every one's back is up, no one says it is his fault. 
 
 n. Staves. I must inlay my song with a burden.^ or else it will be 
 thought a list, as if I had been picking up crumbs ; for my lay is made 
 up of odds and ends. 
 
 Refrain. The wise man seldom goes astray, yet the Fin-woman could 
 craze Harold ; she seemed to him as bright as the sun. So it is with 
 many a man now. 
 
 Scant of space are ships' cabins. The fox he has a crafty mind. The 
 tongue plays on the broken tooth. 'Tis unsafe to walk on ice in spring. 
 
 32. See Christian Wisdom, App. ii, 12. 33. Emend., syni, sa var taldr af 
 
 miklu kyni. 35. Read, [ling, or regin, cp. vol. i, p. 124, 1. 6. aukit (au{)it), 
 
 Cd. 43. Ekki var6 at lorQuin, farald, Cd. 45. = Mythical Ensaniples, 
 
 1.43. Read, Skolla? 47. = Guest's Wisdom, 163.
 
 366 PROVERBS AND SAWS. [bk. ix. 
 
 Gaofgask maetti af gengi hverr : Goerva Jjekki ' sut ' hve ferr. 
 
 13. Afli of deilir sizt vi6 sia : Sajrli sprakk af gildri {)ra: 
 Stundom pftr i logni la : Litlo * verr at ek ra&a fa : ' 50 
 Maorgom |)ykkir full-gott f^ : Fraeno-skammr er inn deigi le : 
 KvseBit skal me6 kynjom allt : Konungs morgin er langr avallt. 
 
 14. Bra6-ge6 lata baornin opt : ' BregSr at |)eim er heldr a lopt :' 
 All-margr er til seinn at sefask : Sva kalla menn ra6 sem gefask : 
 
 Ekki verba fro&om far aid : Finnan gat p6 cerban Harald. 55 
 
 Hdnom p6tii sol-bwrt sic : Sliks dcemi verba morgofn nit. 
 
 II. 15. Au6igr Jjykkir ser oerinn hvar : Annars rae6ir margr of far. 
 Or-grannz erom ver lengst a leit : ' Lund-vserr J)ykkir baztr 1 sveit.' 
 Skamm-ae J)ykkja ofin a)ll : Ekki mart er verra an trolL 
 
 'Eigi' spillir hyggins hiali : Hefkat-ek spurt at bersa kali. 60 
 
 16. Engi parf at hraeQask hot : Heldr kemr opt vi3 saran fot. 
 
 Hlut-giarn ferr me3 annars saok. 
 
 Naokkvi rikstr er heima hverr : 
 
 ta-ek um at si6r : OrSin fara t^egar munninn li3r. 
 
 17. Varla s/'nisk allt sem er : ;f-tom 65 
 
 Eigi at eins er 1 faogro fengr : Fundit mun {jat er reynt er lengr. 
 
 Ekki verba frdbomfarald : Fijinan gat p6 cerban Harald. 
 Hdnom potti sol-biori su : Sliks dcemi verba mdrgom nti. 
 
 III. 18. Efnom J)ykkir bezt at boa: BraagSott reyndizk gemlo foa. 
 Margar kunni hon slcegSir ser : Slikt najkkut gafsk Rannveig mer. 
 Ilia hefir sa er annan s^'kr : Eingi veit a3r hefndom 1/kr. 71 
 
 Few be they that can stand alone. A laggard's haste is little speed. 
 
 A man is famed by gaining [nothing succeeds like success] Never 
 
 try to match the sea. Sorli broke his heart for love. Sometimes the 
 sea will moan in a calm ; . . . . Many think too much of money. A soft 
 scythe is soon blunt ; . . . . The king's morning is very long. A child's 
 patience is soon worn out ; . . . . aloft. Men are slow to be soothed 
 down. Call counsel good as it turns out. — R. The wise man 
 
 The rich man thinks he can stand alone. Most men are busy over their 
 neighbour's concerns. Little things are the last to be found. A mild 
 man is the best mate. Violent delights are short-lived. Nothing is 
 worse than the devil [Troll] ; Anger spoils the wise man's talk. I never 
 heard of a bear being frost-bitten. Pay no heed to angry words [hard 
 words break no bones]. A sore foot is sure to be trod on ; .... The 
 meddlesome man takes on himself his neighbour's business. A man is 
 king at home if anywhere ; . . . . Words have wings when they slip 
 the lips. Things are not always what they seem ; . . . . Fair-to-see is 
 not the only thing worth seeking. You will find it if you seek long 
 enough. — R. The wise man 
 
 Happy he who lives according to his estate. The vixen outwitted the 
 old ewe; many were the sleights she knew. (In just such way has 
 Randwey served me !) It is an ill deed to betray one's neighbour. No 
 
 49. = Sona-torrek, 33fF. 52. = Sighvat, xi. 38. 53. Emend.; brad-sett 
 
 . . . bragnar, Cd. 57. Cp. Christian Wisdom, 69. oerinn] einii (erin), Cd. 
 
 59. = SturI. ii. 276. 63. = Guest's Wisdom, 82. 69. bua — fua, Cd.
 
 §2.] THE PROVERB-POEM. 367 
 
 BraS-fengr J)ykkir brullaups fraijji : BrigSa-lengi er hverr inn sami. 
 
 19. L^tin Jjykkja skamm-se skarar : ' Skrautlig kajllom ver nafnit 
 
 farar.' 
 Trautt kalla-ek Jjann valda er varar : Ver8a ' menn ' JDeir er uppi 
 
 fiarar. 
 ' Ugipt verQr 1 umbu8 skiot :' Elin JDykkja majrg urn Hot. 75 
 
 Engi of s^r vi6 a)llom rokom : lafnan sp3'ri menn at lokom. 
 
 20. Ast-blindir ero seggir sva : sumir at Jiykkja mia^k fas ga. 
 (f'annig ver8r um man-sajng mselt) : Marga hefir J)at hyggna tgelt. 
 
 Ekki verba frobomfarald : Fijinan gat p6 oerdan Harald. 
 Honom pdtti sol-biori sH : S/fis doemi verba morgom nu. 80 
 
 III. 
 
 2 1 . Yndit lata engir fait : All-opt ver6r i hreggi svalt : 
 Andads drupa minnjar mest : Magran skyldi kaupa best. 
 (Erit JDykkir vi8-kvasm va : vin-fengin ero mis-ia)fn ^a. 
 Fast-halldr var a Fenri lagSr ; fikjom var hann mer ramligr sag9r. 
 
 22. Grand-varr skyldi inn g68i ma6r : Gizurr var6 at rogi sa8r ; 
 etja vildi hann ia)froni saman : Ekki er mer at ' sturv ' gaman : 86 
 Kunna vilda-ek sia vi3 snaorom : Sialdan hygg-ek at gyggi va)rom : 
 Vel hefir hinn er sitr of sftt ; — Svart-flekkolt er kv3e5i miit. 
 
 23. lafnan segir inn rikri ra8 : Ra)skir menn gefa a)rnom brad : 
 Upp at eins er ungom vegar : Engi ma8r er roskinn {Degar : 90 
 Fallz er vson at forno trd : Fleira ^ykkir goU an se : 
 Au6-senna er annars vamm : Engi kemsk fyr skapa-dcegr framm : 
 
 24. Enginn krettir um annars mein : AUdri Iset-ek at munni sein. 
 
 one knows when the day of reckoning will come. The bridal glory 
 blazes high for a day. A man takes a long time to change. Foul-cut 
 hair will soon grow straight ; . . . . He that has warned one goes blame- 
 less; . . . .; . . . .; There is many a storm in a man's lifetime. One 
 can't keep out every splash. Men should look to the end. Some 
 men are so blinded by love that they heed nought. Love-songs tell many 
 such tales : many a wise man has been so beguiled. — R. The wise man 
 
 III. End-piece. No one will willingly part with a pleasure. It is 
 often cold in a gale. Dead men's leavings wither away. Buy a horse 
 when it's lean. A sorrow is sore to touch; friendships often fail one 
 then. Holdfast was bound round Fenri [the Wolf], it was wonderful 
 strong they tell me. The righteous man should be spotless. Gizur was 
 proved to have sown discord ; he wished to set the kings at variance ; 
 .... I would be ware of snares ; the wary man seldom has a mis- 
 chance. Well fares he that sits quiet with his own. Chequered is my 
 song ! The stronger must rule. Gallant warriors feed the eagles. Up- 
 ward runs the young man's path. No one is full-grown at once. An old 
 tree may fall at any time. More things seem gold than are. [It's not all gold 
 that glitters.] Other men's faults are sooner seen than one's onvn. No 
 man can outlive his death-day. No one dies of another man's wound. 
 I never found the tongue too slow. The world, they say, is always 
 
 76. spyrja, Cd. 82. = Song of Saws, 9. 87. = Guest's Wisdom, 312. 
 
 89. = AM. 236. 91. gott, Cd. 93. knettir, Cd,
 
 368 PROVERBS AND SAWS. [bk. ix. 
 
 Heimi heyri-ek sagt at snui : Sumir einir hygg-ek at mer trui : 
 Ervitt ver8r J)eim er ' lUa ' kann : ' engan |)arf at hiufra mann ;' 95 
 Jjannig hefir mer lagzt 1 lund : Lang-vi8rom skal ey6a giTjnd. 
 
 25. Sialdan hiltisk feigs v3ok froerin : FlioQin verSa at a)l6rom 
 
 kioerin. 
 Lengi hefir J^at \fst fyrir mer- : Litinn kost a margr und ser : 
 Sagt er fra hve namn-lauss narir : Nu ver9r sumt Jjat er manngi varir : 
 vseri betr at ek JDegSa ^okks : f'at hefir hverr er verSr er loks. 100 
 
 26. t'r^'tr-at ^ann er verr hefir 'vallt : Ver8a kann a ymsa hallt : 
 Mis-iafnir ver6a blindz mannz bitar : Ba)lit ksollo ver illt til litar : 
 Eik hefir ^at af ' aoQrom ' skefr : Ekki mart er slcegra an refi- : 
 lafnan verQr at a-fl68 stakar : Au6-fengnar ero gelti sakar. 
 
 27. GoU-ormr a ser brenn-heitt bol : Biartast skinn 1 hei8i sol: 
 Undrom JDykkir gagn-saett gler : Glymjandi fellr hraonn of sker : 106 
 Allar girnask ar 1 sia : Ekki er manni verra an jDra. 
 
 Fysa man-ek ins fyrra vara : Flestr mun sik til nokkurs spara : 
 
 28. Geta ma |)ess er gengit hefr : Goerir sa betr er afund svefr. 
 Veitkat-ek 'vist' hvat verSa kann : Vela er daelst of heimskan mann : 
 Fla-ra8om ma ' sizt ' of trua : ' Til sm ' skyldi ino betra snua. 1 1 1 
 Hugga skal }Dann er harm hefir be6it : Hoelzti miajk er at flimti 
 
 kveQit. 
 
 29. Or6a er leitad mer 1 munn : mselgin ver6r oss heyrin-kunn. 
 Yggjar biors hverr endir muni : os^nt jDykkir l/'6a kyni. 
 
 turning. Some will believe me, I think ; it is hard for him ; . . . . ; . . . . ; 
 so has my mind foreboded. Storm after storm will destroy a land. A 
 doomed man's ice-hole is never frozen. Ladies are chosen partners at 
 merry-makings. This I have long known, how small many a man's 
 mettle is. It is said that the nameless man lingers his life out. The 
 unlooked-for will sometimes happen. It would be better for me to stop 
 now ! Every one gets his due at last. The wrong man doesn't always lose. 
 Each man gets the worst in turn. The blind man's bits are not all the 
 same size. Woe makes a wan face. The oak has what is scraped from 
 its neighbour. Nothing is slier than the fox. The stream makes one 
 stagger. A fat hog's guilt is soon proved. The gold-snake has a fiery lair. 
 The sun shines brightest in a clear sky. Glass is wondrous easy to see 
 through. The billows fall roaring on the reef. All the rivers make for 
 the sea. Nought is worse for a man than hope deferred. Fore-warned 
 is fore-armed. Every man is afeard of something. Tell the story as 
 
 it happened. Blessed is the peace-maker A fool is soonest 
 
 caught. The fool will trust the fiend himself; .... the better part. 
 Comfort the afflicted. INIost lampoons are much too strong. 
 
 I have been called on to speak, but I shall be called a babbler. Men 
 are looking out for the end of my song and see it not ; . . . . ; . . . . ; so 
 
 95. Read, ungan . . . hiuka? 99. Emend. ; = Alexander Saga, where 
 
 nennolaus, wrongly ; neflauss, Cd. 100. I.e. ];)ok'ki heirz, 7nuch better. loi. 
 
 = Lesson of Loddrafni, 61. 103. Read, unnarri, cp. Hbl. 66. loS. Cp. 
 
 ii. 177, verse 15 : Arnor, iv. 18. 109 afund] annan, Cd. no. villa, Cd. ? 
 
 III. Read, ma sizt trolli irua, cp. Book vi, § 1, n. 2, 112. flestu, Cd. ; = Christian 
 Wisdom, 107. 114. endir] eiga, Cd. ?
 
 §2.] THE SONG OF THE RUNES. 369 
 
 Eyfit mun sii at-frett stoSa: 'All-miok ero ver lynd til hro5a.' 115 
 teygi var sia aflausn ill : Eiga skal mi hverr sem vill. 
 
 30. Stiorn-lauso hefi-ek slungit saman : s . . . . gaman 
 
 THE SONG OF THE RUNES. 
 
 (A Runic FuJ)ork or a b c.) 
 
 Found on a fly-leaf of a Norse Law Codex and copied by Ole Worm 
 in the seventeenth century, whose copy, since the vellum is lost, we depend 
 on for a text. However, Worm did not know Old Norse, and moreover 
 thought right to put it into Runes when he published it, so that there 
 are many corruptions and mistakes, some of which defy all resti- 
 tution. It is evidently not older than the twelfth century, as the 
 dropping of ' h ' before ' r ' shows, and it is possibly derived from Old 
 English models, in imitation of such poems as that in the Exeter book. 
 Where the Norse and English words do not correspond, the author has 
 taken the Old English name unaltered, and seized upon the nearest 
 • Norse equivalent word of the like sound, e. g. the English ' C^n,' a 
 torch, is made into the Norse ' Kaun,' a kind of blain which breaks out 
 on children ; and ' Os,' a god, Anse, is metamorphosed into ' Oss,' an 
 oyce or river mouth. 
 
 The author alludes to Christ, the creation, the sacrament or halidom ; 
 and to the stories of Prodi and his generosity, of Loki and his contriving 
 a net to catch Andware, of Regin and his sword. 
 
 Concerning the Runes, their character, origin, and extent, a brief 
 account is given in the Icelandic Reader, pp. 444-458. 
 
 A Runic Fui)ORK. 
 
 P Fe veldr frsenda rogi : FoeSisk ulfr 1 skogi. 
 
 h Ur er af eldo iarni : Opt sleipr rani a hiami. 
 
 ^ {'URS veldr kvenna kvelli : Katr vcrSr fir af elli. 
 
 jj Uss er fiestra ferSa : Enn skalpr er sverSa. 
 
 I have done my task, let him have it who will. I have put together a 
 rudderless d^vawes' ship [piece of verse] for entertainment. 
 
 Money (Fee) makes strife between kinsmen : The wolf is bred in the 
 wood. 
 
 Steam comes from hot iron : The ice on a slope is often slippery. 
 ' {j ' causes hysterics : Old age seldom makes a man cheerful. 
 Every firth has an Oyce (mouth) : And every sword a scabbard. 
 
 2. Ur er af ellu iarni opt sleipur Rani a hiarni, Worm. 3. kvillu . . . ellii, 
 
 Worm. 4. 0}S er flestra fer9a, Worm. 
 
 VOL. II. B b
 
 370 PROVERBS AND SAWS. [bk. ix, § 2.] 
 
 I^ Reib kve6a rossum nesta : Regin a sverSit bezta 5 
 
 y Kaun er bagi barna : Bail goerir ' neor fiolvarna.' 
 
 >1< Hagl er kaldast korna: Kristr skop heim inn forna. 
 
 1^ Nai'd goerir nappa kosti : Naktan kelr 1 frosti. 
 
 I Is ka)llom bru breiSa : Blindan J)arf at lei6a. 
 
 /<( Ar er gumna groSi : Get-ek at oerr var Fr66i. 10 
 
 H Sol er landa liomi : Lutig at helgom domi. 
 
 "f- Tyr er ein-hendr Asa : Opt ver6r smi6r at blasa. 
 
 ^ BiARKAN er lauf-groenst lima : Loki bra flserSar sima. 
 
 1^ LoGR er ]pat er fellr or fialli : Fa)St en goU ero lialli. 
 
 Y Wabr er moldar-auki : Mikil er greip a hauki. 15 
 
 ^ Yr er vetr-grcenst vi6a : Vant er J)ar er brennr at svi6a. 
 
 The Cart comes next the horse : Regin had the best of swords. 
 
 A Blain is a baby's ailment : Bale makes the colour wan. 
 
 Haii is the coldest of grain : Christ made the ancient world. 
 
 Need gives little choice : The naked man is bitten in frost. 
 
 Ice we call the broadest of bridges : The blind man must be led. 
 
 A good Har'vest-seajon is an increase for men : Frodi was open-handed 
 I know. 
 
 The Sun is the earth's torch : I bow to the halidom. 
 
 Tew is the one-handed Anse : A smith has often got to blow. 
 
 The Birch has the greenest-leaved branches : Loki braided a coil of 
 falsehood. 
 
 The Loch falls from the mountain : Gold is set with gems. 
 
 Man is a heap of dust : The hawk's clutch is broad. 
 
 The Yeiv is the most winter-green of trees: Smart is wont to follow 
 scald. 
 
 5-6. Ridhr IcvseSa rossum vesta Raghn er sver5it bradesta. Kaun er beggia 
 barna B61 giorer near folvarna, Worm. 13. Loki bar flaerdar tima, Worm. 
 
 14. Fost en gul eru nalli, Worm. 15.= The Sun Song, 1. 60, and the Waking of 
 
 Angantheow, 1. 38. 16. Yr er urtur gronst vi6a, Worm.
 
 BOOK X. 
 
 MEDIEVAL AND BOOK POETRY. 
 
 This Book forms a necessary conclusion to the foregoing series. In 
 it are gathered such pieces of genuine worth as may ilkistrate earlier 
 poetry (sections i, 5, 6, 7) ; and such notable and representative pieces 
 as may show how Mediaeval Influences aff"ected Northern poetry, and led 
 the way to fresh and distinct kinds of composition, the full history 
 and development of which lie beyond the scope of these volumes 
 (sections 2-7). 
 
 In Section 1 is Merlinus-Spa, a translation of Geoifrey of Monmouth's 
 Vaticinatio Merlini, made by Gunnlaug, the Thing-ore monk, about the 
 beginning of the thirteenth century. 
 
 Section 2 contains several satirical poems which close the series of 
 genuine old-metre -verse. 
 
 Section 3 comprises a collection of Dance-burdens. 
 
 In Section 4 are set the two oldest Rimur, followed by a collection 
 of Ditties and Impromptus in the same metre. 
 
 Section 5 contains what is left of Index-poems by scholars on early 
 topics. 
 
 In Section 6 are given the Thulor, mnemonic verse-graduses of high 
 value, as illustrating the early poetry from which they were compiled. 
 
 Section 7 completes the whole with Skalda-tal, the old prose-roll of 
 court-poets. 
 
 The verse in this Book is as a rule inspired by either foreign mediaeval 
 example or by antiquarian zeal, and is thus in spirit and style distinct 
 from the poetry of earlier days. 
 
 Bb 2
 
 MERLINUS-SPA. [bk. 
 
 § 1. MERLINUS-SPA; or, 
 THE PROPHECY OF MERLIN. 
 
 An early versified paraphrase of Geoffrey of Monmouth's well-known 
 prophecy, the text of which is freely treated and amplified by one who 
 knew some, at least, of the old Heroic Lays, as we can see by the stray 
 imitations and phrases cited from the Volo-spa, the Lays of Helgi, the 
 Waking of Angantheow, Lay of Gripi, the old \^'olsung Play with its 
 insertions, etc. This is especially remarkable, as we have but few other 
 proofs of these poems being known in Iceland during the Middle Ages. 
 
 INIerlinus-Spa is only found inserted in the Hawks-bok text of Breta- 
 Sdgur, written in the delicate hand of Hawk himself (who died at a high 
 age in 1334), with the heading ' Her eptir [Merlin's words] hefir Gunn- 
 laugr munkr ort kvaedi JDat er heitir INIerlinus-Spa.' But in the other 
 better text of Breta-Sogur we find the fuller statement, ' on which is 
 formed the greatest part of the poem which is called the Prophecy 
 of Merlin, which Gunnlaug Leifsson the monk made, and many men 
 know that poem by heart.' This MS., however, omits the poem. 
 
 Bishop Bryniolf (died 1675), finding the ink of the text of Hawks-bok 
 faded and yellow, handed it over to the clever penman Sigurd Johnsson, 
 the Lawman (died March 4th, 1677), to be freshened up by inking it 
 over with black ink. Sigurd has only added to the difficulty of reading 
 the poem, for he often makes mistakes in running the letters over again. 
 Many of these errors were corrected by the late INIr. John Sigurdsson, 
 who was particularly keen-sighted and correct in the reading of such 
 difficult manuscripts, in his editio princeps of Breta-Sogur, 1849. A few 
 further emendations we have been able to supply (as in 1. 440). The 
 poem is in two sections or books. 
 
 Gunnlaug, a literary man of note in his day, was a Benedictine monk 
 of Thingore in North Iceland, and died at a high age in 12 19. (See 
 Prolegomena.) Whence he got his early copy of Geoffrey of Monmouth 
 we do not know, the one which comes last in Geoffrey's book, and 
 refers to the future, standing first. Maybe that, like his older contem- 
 porary Bishop Thorlac, he had travelled and studied in England ; if so, 
 his journey would fall in c. 11 70-1 180. His paraphrase is a proof of 
 the wide popularity of Geoffrey's romantic book. 
 
 I. FIRST SONG. 
 
 "O ADOMK segja 5unn-bals vi3om heldr fysomz nii fornra niinna 
 
 ■^ spar spakligar spa-mannz gofugs, miSsamlig rok monnom segja. 
 
 fiess er a breiQo Bretlandi [sat] ; Lios man ly5oni )i63-borg vera 
 
 bet Merlinus marg-vitr gumi. )?6 er i frceQi flest at ra9a 
 
 S;'g6r var ly5om ok land-rekom |)at-er fyrir ' iiifurr oldo ' sag9i 
 
 myrk at ra3a morg rcik fyrir; Brezkri J)i63o. — Nii skal brag kve3a. 
 kserr var hanu Kristno kyni {)i63ar, 
 
 vara3 a moldo ma3r vitrari. Vaxa 1 vi3ri Vintonia 
 
 Leitiga ytom or3 at vanda (^at er borgar nafn) brunnar J)rennir : 
 
 (viti flotnar J)at) froe3iss Jjessa : 10 fieir muno ta3i loekjom skipta
 
 §1-] 
 
 FIRST SONG. 
 
 373 
 
 J)rir lilikir i ^ria sta5i. 20 
 
 Einn er brunna baztr at reyna, 
 
 eykr au9-stofom aldr ef drekka : 
 
 ne sott hofug soekir hol6a 
 
 {)a er bergt hafa beisko vatni. 
 
 lllr er aiinarr, allir svelta 
 
 J)eir-er af bekkjar bergja drekko ; 
 
 Jjo er enn J)ri5ja Jayngst at reyna ; 
 
 dcyja J)eir allir er Jjar drekka af, 
 
 lie hrae guma hyljask foldo. 
 
 Vilja hol6ar hyija bruuna 30 
 
 J)a er flestom hal fiur-spell goera ; 
 
 enn ^at ly5ir a log bera ; 
 
 allt ver&r at 66ro an a5r se, 
 
 grund at grioti, griot at vatni, 
 
 viftr at osko, enn aska at v.itni. 
 
 Fari6 er at meyjo marg-fr'j6astri 
 
 i kapps-au3ga Knutz-skogar-borg, 
 
 at hon laekningar leiti fyr6om 
 
 ok hon firri menn fari sliko. 
 
 Tekr hon at rej'na ok at ra9a fi616, 40 
 
 tekr hon ij)r6ttir allar fremja ; 
 
 andar siOan snot a brunna 
 
 ok J3a bru9-J)urra baSa goervir. 
 
 Hon J)a drekkr et dyra vatn, 
 
 ok niatlr vi5 J)at niagnask bru5ar, 
 
 berr hon i hcegri hendi sinni, 
 
 kyn-stor kona, Calidonis skog; 
 
 enn i lofa man Lunduna-borg. 
 
 Gengr hon siSan gott fron yfir, 
 
 sva at sporom snutar sprettr upp logi 50 
 
 nied romom reyk Rutheneos ; 
 
 sa vekr ok ' verkn ' ver-J)i66o goer. 
 
 Gcerisk ogorligt op 1 landi, 
 
 er goll-skclgul graetr ha-stofom ; 
 
 ok J)i6ta tekr |)i69 me6 henni 
 
 innan urn alia ey me9 hringom. 
 
 Hiortr drepr hana, hinn er ivenna fimm 
 
 ' brass ' a hausi horn-kvisto berr ; 
 
 hafa korono kvistir fiorir, 
 
 enn sex a6rir sialfir ver9a 60 
 
 at visundar verstom hornoni ; 
 
 J)eir ^iotandi Jjriar um roera 
 
 biinir at berjask Bretiandz eyjar : 
 
 J)a mun vakna vi6r enn Danski 
 
 ok mannz roddo maela sialfri : 
 
 Kom J)ii Cambria me9 Corn-Bretom, 
 
 seg9u VintO[ii vollr {jik um gieypir ; 
 
 foer9u hii9iss slot hinig er leggja 
 
 lung at la9i ; munu li5ir allir 
 
 h6f9i fylgja ; J)at er bialp guma. 'jo 
 
 Enn saeti bans sund-dyr fagiia, 
 
 hans mun stoll vera yfir st66om tvennom ; 
 
 J)6 hefir gumnom grandad morgom 
 
 hvitrar ullar hvers-kyns litir. 
 
 Borg mun falla, veit-ek bana {)i65om, 
 
 |)vi-at hon eiS-rofa aSr um gcerSisk: 
 
 muuu gri3-bitar goerla drepnirj 
 
 geJdr Vintona vandra manna. 
 
 Mun biarn-iguU borg upp gcera, 
 
 smiftar haesta hcill land-reki : 80 
 
 hana mun remma rikr odd-viti 
 
 fimm hundro6om fagra turna. 
 
 |)at Lundunom likar ilia, 
 
 eykr hon ^rem hlutom Jjiokka veggi, 
 
 kostar hon keppa vi9 konung i6nir, 
 
 ferr su9r um Fiall irxgb af smidi ; 
 
 enn Tems um borg tekr at geisa. 
 
 Enn it horska dyr hlezk aldini 
 
 harSla g69o J)vi-er hihnr velr ; 
 
 koma foglar J)ar fliugandi til 90 
 
 af vam vi9a vitja epla. 
 
 Enn biarn-iguU byr um velar, 
 
 leynir hann epiom Lundunom i ; 
 
 grefr i grundo gotor haligar. 
 
 fystr til fengjar, fla-ra9ogt dyr. 
 
 |>a mun or moldo maela steinar 
 
 ok ver-J)i69ar wxX upp koma ; 
 
 ey man vi9az, enn Valir skialfa, 
 
 ok sior saman soekja fikjom, 
 
 sva at millim landa mal um heyri. 100 
 
 Kemr or skogi Kalaterio 
 
 fogl fliugandi, sa-er fira villir ; 
 
 flygr um notlom, nysir goerla, 
 
 kallar hegri hvern fogl til sin ; 
 
 er um tvi-vetri tal-ra9 sami9 ; 
 
 flykkja fuglar, fara Jieir 1 saE9i, 
 
 ey9a Jieir okrom ok aldini ; 
 
 sultr ver9r ok sott, se-ek mart fyrir, 
 
 mann-dau9r mikill, meiu gengr um {)i69ir. 
 
 Enn fogl eptir J)at ferr vestr i dal, lio 
 
 J)anu er Galabes gumnar kalla ; 
 
 hann mun hefjaz i e9 hsesta fiall, 
 
 ok ^ar verpr i eikr-liniom 
 
 hrei9r hegri, hrse-fogla verstr ; 
 
 firia klekr hann unga {)vi hrei9ri i, 
 
 eigi er hegra kyn hug-J)ekkt fironi : 
 
 J)ar er vargr ok bicirn, ok at viso refr 
 
 slcegr ok ' sinoni ' sialdan er alinn. 
 
 Vaxa {)ar ballir upp broe9r saman, 
 
 erat giarnir {jeir gott at vinna : 120 
 
 refr a m69or rsedr grimmliga, 
 
 tapar henni sa tynir sau9a ; 
 
 er gren-bui giarn a riki. 
 
 Broe9r vill hann sina beita volom, 
 
 tekr ors-h6fu9 hildingr a sik ; 
 
 22.=01d Play of the Wolsungs, 1. 294. 35. at osko vatn, Cd. 56. 
 
 ringom, Cd. 65. = Lay of Gripi, 1. 67. 85. keppir, Cd, 91. Emend.; 
 
 vagom, Cd.? 98. vi9ar, Cd. 108. = Volo-spa, 1. 12S. 113-114. J)ar 
 
 verpr...] thus emend.; Cd. faded and uncertain. 119. allir, Cd. 125. ors-] 
 emend. ; hors-, Cd.
 
 374 
 
 MERLINUS-SPA. 
 
 b 
 
 enn hodd-skata hraeSaz ba6ir : 
 
 flyja barmar brott or landi. 
 
 1 su9r skal sveitar leita, 
 
 vekr vargr ok biorn villi-galta ; 
 
 enn galti ^eim gengi sino 130 
 
 heitr hvatliga, fvi-at hann hug truir. 
 
 {>eir snarliga sund-rokn bua ; 
 
 dragaz litinn Jjeir land-her saman ; 
 
 gnyr of marr, gengr \ib roa, 
 
 bylr Hogna siot herr Corn-Breta. 
 
 Halda Jieir sunnan um svalan sgi 
 
 Bretlandz a vit, buaz til romo : 
 
 enn refr hinig meS rekka li6 
 
 ferr fraliga fold at verja. 
 
 Hrl6 goeriz hialtna. hlifar klofna, 140 
 
 ero ramliga randir kniSar ; 
 
 gnesta geirar, er gu3r vakin, 
 
 verSr vi3a liS at vall-ro6i : 
 
 dregr el yfir ognar-lioma ; 
 
 goerir driugan dyn dyrra malma ; 
 
 gnyrr er a gloestom Gondlar himni ; 
 
 ok i hot6om hlam Hlakkar titildom ; 
 
 era6 skiol-samar skoglar treyjor ; 
 
 hrytr hagl boga hlifar gegnom ; 
 
 grenja granir garmar sli3ra ; 150 
 
 bitr frann freki fer6 hels-ger9ar; 
 
 ryr gramr guma gollar-hallir ; 
 
 bregSr ben-logi byg6om hiarna ; 
 
 ero brotnar miok borgir heila. 
 
 Se-ek ve va6a, ver9r flytt ska5a, 
 
 syngr sara-kliiiigr snyrti-drengjom : 
 
 enn a leicS fara lae-giorn ara 
 
 i66 ok ylgjar enn til sylgjar ; 
 
 hrapa brae-giorn heiSingja born. 
 
 Enn refr gerir ra,9a a galta, 160 
 
 J)vi-at hann reisa maat rond vi3 hanom ; 
 
 sva laetr doglingr sem hann dau9r se ; 
 
 era3 lik buli6 lofSungs Breta. 
 
 Enn galti {)at gerrat reyna, 
 
 blsess hann i andlit ok i augo gram ; 
 
 enn refr vi5 J)at rae6r a galta ; 
 
 fser hann af hanoni fot enn vinstra, 
 
 hlust ina hcegri ok hry6jar-nes ; 
 
 enn i fialli felz fa-dyggt h6fu3, 
 
 hyggr kaerr iofurr kyn at oex'a : 1 70 
 
 Enn villi-goltr vargi ok birni 
 
 segir sdrliga sorg ok misso : 
 
 enn hraustir broe3r hugga galta, 
 
 kveSaz sar muno sialfir grceSa ; 
 
 fara skulom ba6ir fotar at leita 
 
 hlustar ok hala ^er. Her biStu, galti ! 
 
 Enn refr ofan renn or fialli, 
 
 ferr far-huga5r finna galta ; 
 
 hann by5r saettir af svikom einom, 
 k/ezt hann mart vid svin maela vilja : 180 
 Heyr6u mer, galti, (ek mun heill vera, 
 svik-ek aldregi svin i tryg5om) : 
 fund skulom leggja ok fri6 gera, 
 skaltii einn gera okkar i millom. 
 Er fundr lagi6r, ok fri6r sami6r, 
 koma mildingar mal-stefno til : 
 enn a fundi {)eim flaerSir reynaz, 
 banar hertoga Brezkr land-reki ; 
 ok a sialfan sik si3an festir 
 lepar&z h6fu6 lofSungr at ^at : 190 
 
 rsedr hann ly5om ok lofSa fiol3, — 
 J>ar J)rytr Jjessa J)engils sogo. 
 
 Ok svins [liki] a sik h. . , . 
 breg5r, ok broe6ra bi3r sloegliga : 
 Enn er J)eir koma kosti at foera 
 bitr hann ba9a tva ok banar hlyrom. 
 Er a hans diigom hogg-ormr alinn, 
 sa-er fyrSom vill fior-spell gcera ; 
 sva er hann langr, at um Lundunir 
 heiSar hvalr bring of maelir ; 200 
 
 ok sva 63r, at ur9ar-lindi 
 um-li9endr alia gleypir. 
 Hann Cambric kallar sveitir 
 ok NorShumro nanar hiar&ir, 
 ok u-trautt Tems at J)urro 
 drengs dolg-J)orins drekka ly6ir. 
 Ver6a siSan et sama ar 
 loepartar tveir linni bomir : 
 J)eir hafa bnisa bol-giorn h6fo5, 
 ero da3-lausir doglings synir : 210 
 
 ^eir flestar taka flioSa sveitir, 
 her-vigs ramir, ok bora mengi ; 
 ok sam-eignat sinnar kvanar 
 goera geir-vanir ; geigr er i sliko. 
 
 Langt er at tina J)at-er Iof3a vinr 
 um aldar-far ytom sag9i : 
 er faest i {)vi fagrt at heyra ; 
 laet-ek li3a fiat, ok lok segja. 
 
 VerSr a fotdo, (kva6 enn fr63i hair) 
 styrjold mikil, storar ognir, 220 
 
 vig ok velar, varg-old, ok kold 
 hrimi hvers-konar hiorto ly3a. 
 f)a muno gleymaz galausir mena, 
 ok sael-lifir seggir drekka, 
 leita at-fanga, ok vi3 fii una, 
 veil at cexla ok vegs-muni : 
 hagr goeriz hol3a haettr i morgo, 
 muna3 fyr3a ra3 fagrt at reyna ; 
 dyljaz driugom draums iva3endr, 
 
 134- gnyr er meirr, Cd. 135. Corn-Breta] her korn skipa, Cd. 141.= 
 
 Hlod and Angantheow Lay, 1. 60. 144. = Helgi and Sigrun, 1. 81 ; the Western 
 
 Wolsung Lay, 70. l47. = Gretti, 1. 1. i53. = Ht-lgi and Sigrun, 1. 213. 155.= 
 The Lay of Darts, 1. 24. 159. her numin hvartveggi, Cd. 161. mott, Cd. 164. 
 gerrat] thus Cd. 170. Or koenn? 181. Tru3u, Cd. 186. = Helgi and Sigrun, 
 1.49. 2 2i-2.=Volo-spa, I. 133. 225. at fagna, Cd. 229. drams, Cd.
 
 §^-] 
 
 SECOND SONG. 
 
 375 
 
 vi5 sialfa sik, siask ekki at. 230 
 
 Verst er i heimi, veita9 sun foSor, 
 
 slita J)eir sifjom sva synir vi6 fe9r : 
 
 kannaz engi[r] vi& kuiina menn, 
 
 n^ nana frasndr, nirQir bauga. 
 
 Hofugt er at heyra J)atz uni her gceriz ; 
 
 Ufa f^naSar fyrSar lifi ; 
 
 hyggja a J)enna Jjni-giarnan helm, 
 
 ok hvers-konar hafna gcezko. 
 
 Mun e6 hvita silfr htilSom granda, 
 
 ok goll goera gumna blinda ; 240 
 
 himni hafna, enn a hauSr sia, 
 
 svikr of-drykkja yta mengi. 
 
 Lifir in Danska droit at holdi, 
 
 goerir eyvi6 ser old at moti : 
 
 J>vi muno en ti'gno ti'3-m6rk himins 
 
 liosi sino fra 1yd snua. 
 
 enn grund eptir {)at gr63a hafnar, 
 
 ne skiir ofan or skyjoni kemr; 
 
 sol ok niani sialf annan veg 
 
 fara fagr-skopuS an ^au fyrr hafi : 250 
 
 ok Jjar a hlyrni hei5ar stiornor 
 
 ma marka pvi moldar hvergi ; 
 
 sumar fara ofgar, sumar annan veg 
 
 af enni gomlo goiigo sinni ; 
 
 sumar scekjaz at, enn sumar firraz, 
 
 breg5a liosi ok litom fcigrom ; 
 
 berjaz vindar, — J)au ero ve5r mikil, — 
 
 ok hiiom goera medal hiniin-tungia. 
 
 Geisar geimi, gengr hann upp i lopt, 
 
 slikt er ogorligt yta bornom ; 260 
 
 slikt er ogorligt upp at telja ; 
 mun en forna mold firir-ver&a. 
 
 Vaeri mart monnom kynna 
 or folk-stafs forno kvaedi; 
 ek mun J)6 t)eygi fleira 
 |jr6ltar-^ings-J)ollom segja : 
 J)6 hefi-ek sagt seggja kindom 
 slikt er bok brognom kynnir: 
 nyti ser niotar stala 
 
 slika sogn, ok sesk fyri ! 2 70 
 
 sia vi3 syn3 ok svika raSom 
 ok allz kyns illom verkom I 
 drygjom da5, Drottinn elskoni! 
 hrindom ort iilo ra5i! 
 Skriupt er lif ly3a barna 
 undir hregg-ska heiSar tialdi ; 
 enn lifs laun li6a eigi, 
 gob e9a ill, gumna mengiss. 
 GleSjomk 611 i goSom hug, 
 ok vi3 viin vegs ok dy'rSar ; a8o 
 
 gaetom g66s, gleymom illo, 
 eflom opt andar prySi : 
 biSjom opt bragna stilli 
 ueztan efl5 olio hiarta ; 
 ok vi3-fraegr vir9a sticSri 
 doegr ok dag drottar gaeti ! 
 Ok her-J)arfir hrindi gcerla 
 gumna-liSs grandi hverjo : 
 sva at til lifs leiSi goerva 
 J)i63ar vor3r J)etta mengi! 290 
 
 II. SECOND SONG. 
 
 TSJU skal-ek flotnom J)at-er for5om var 
 (hly9i fr66ir mer fyr6ar !) segja : — 
 At buSlungr sat Bretlandi at ; 
 het vell-skati Vortigernus. 
 I6r6 var forSom fyrr-kend Bretom, 
 su-er Englom er eignu6 si6an ; 
 |)vi-at en Enska J>i6d adan velti 
 breks osama Brezka hali ; 
 ok la6 J)eirra me6 li6i miklo 
 sialf eigna&isk i sogom fornom, 10 
 
 ok J)ar-er Kristnir koenir byggja 
 a3r tok hei3in pi6b hallir smi3a, 
 Er att-bogi Enskrar ^i63ar 
 Saxneskr saga3r i sogom fornom: 
 J)a3an efldosk J)tir til J)rimo geira 
 landi at raena lof3ung Breta. 
 Enn hers-iadarr halda mattid 
 Brezkri ior3o ne bauga fi613 ; 
 allt for enn hei3ni herr e3 eystra 
 eldi ok iarni eyiandz iadar. 20 
 
 Enn hertogi hoeliss leitar, 
 
 gcerisk traustan turn tiggi at smi3a ; 
 
 ok ^angat til f)eirrar gcEr3ar 
 
 samnar morgom mildingr smi3om. 
 
 Komo til smi3ar spakir volundar 
 
 (J)at-er ytom sagt) uppi i fialli : 
 
 enn J)at er drengir a degi goer3o 
 
 sa J)ess engan sta3 annan morgin. 
 
 Kalla let fylkir fr63a seggi ; 
 
 fra gunn-J)orinn gramr hvat voldi, 30 
 
 er goerla hvarf grund-vollr sa 
 
 brott seni grund gomol gleypSi steina, 
 
 eda ham-Iodin eldi. 
 
 Einn var ma3r sa-er myrkva frett 
 
 fyr skatna skyrom skynja kunni, 
 
 het Yngva vinr Ambrosius; 
 
 ok enn agaeti 63ro nafni 
 
 Merlinus sa ma3r kalla3iz. 
 
 f)at kva3 valda ver-dags h6tu3r 
 
 at {)ar undir var ulitiS vatn. 40 
 
 232. = Volo-spa, 1. 131. 248. ne] ok, Cd. 25i. = Vo!o-spa, I. 176. 259. 
 = Volo-spa. 1. 177. 260. = Lay of Darts, 1. 35. 262. firir-ver3a] affirum, Cd. 
 287.=VellekIa, 1. 85. 17. = Western Wolsung Lay, 1. 56.
 
 376 
 
 MERLINUS-SPA. 
 
 [bk. 
 
 Bau5 grund grafa gumna stiori ; 
 reyiiiz spaklig spa-mannz saga. 
 Ok enn fru3i hair fretti lof6a 
 hvat undir vatni vaeri ni6ri ; 
 ok er engi {jat annarr vissi 
 sagSi fylki flein-]3ollr 'spokom:' — 
 
 Sofa J)ar i dimmo diiipi ni6ri 
 tvennir ormar tveimr hellom i ; 
 fieir ero lindar landz oglikir, 
 s(;-ek rauSa seil ras ok hvita. 50 
 
 Lattu grund grafa, goera skorninga, 
 (sag9i Merlinus menja deili), 
 veiti5 vatni, — ok viti5 si&an 
 hvat spa5 hafi spillir bauga, 
 J)at er nylunda — ni6r or fialli. 
 GoerSo greppar J)at er gumnom bau5 ; 
 var3 vatni ni6r veitt or fialli ; 
 ok seim-gefendr snaka J)ek&o 
 trygdar lausa, sem tyr firom 
 haidi Hriftar hug-spar sagat. 60 
 
 Ok driugligir drekar vokiioSo, 
 goer6oz ba5ir brott or rumi ; 
 rennask si3an snart at moti 
 frons fa-synir froeknir baugar ; 
 gceriz sokn mikil snaka treggja, 
 gapa grimmliga grundar belli ; 
 hoggvar haeknir hau6rs gir&ingar, 
 blasask eitri a ok blam eldi. 
 For-flotti var frann enn rauSi, 
 bar enn liosi hann li5r at bakka ; 70 
 
 enn hann hagliga hrcekkr at moti, 
 elti hann enn hvita hug-trur dreka : 
 J)eir vig goera vatz far-veg i, 
 ok lengi hvatt linnar berjaz ; 
 mega ormar J)ar ymsir meira, 
 ok ymsir fieir undan leggja. 
 
 Seg9u, Merlinus, (kvad men-broti), 
 ertu ■fr63ari fyr6om o3rom : 
 hvat takna man tveggja orma 
 ijgorligt vig aldar-bornom. 80 
 
 Gret gumna vinr, er hann greiSa bad 
 pengill gofogr pessa hegjo ; 
 ok eptir J)at aldar snytrir 
 ruk-staelta spa rekkom sag&i : — 
 
 Taknar inn rauSi ras fagr-sili 
 (kva3 bj66r bragar) Brczka ly3i ; 
 enn inn hvlti na5r J^a ena heidno J)i66, 
 er byggja man Brezkar iarSir. 
 Er harmr mikill holQom segja; 
 segi-ek sigr hafa snak enn hvita ; 90 
 la5 mun leggjaz ok iy3a fiol3, 
 muno dreyrgar ar or dolom falla ; 
 faraz mun Kristni, kirkjor falla, 
 (sa er harmr hofugr) ; herr er i landi ; 
 \>a. man enn eflaz en auma J)iu9, 
 a6r er harSla hnekkt hennar kosti. 
 
 Muno J)ar i liki lofSungar koma 
 
 (sa er vegligastr) villi-galtar ; 
 
 hann full-tingir faradom her, 
 
 ok und fijtom tre6r fer6ir Saxa ; 100 
 
 fersk undir hann foldo groenni 
 
 ok eyja fi616 i ut-hafi, 
 
 Ira ok Engla ok ut-Skota, 
 
 vi5om londom Valskra ^ioda, 
 
 Noregs si3o ok Nor3r-Dana ; 
 
 ok Rumverjar raesi ugga, 
 
 mego5 reisa J)eir rond vi6 stilli. 
 
 Mart veit-ek annat um men-brota, 
 
 enn ek oglcEggt seg oerlog konungs ; 
 
 hann muno tigna tungor ly6a, no 
 
 sa mun gramr vera gumnom ti6astr ; 
 
 ey man uppi ij&lings frami, 
 
 ok bans hr63r fara me3 himin-skautom. 
 
 Ok attungar sex ens itra grams 
 
 la5a at lofSungi landi ok J)egnoin : 
 
 enn eptir fiat orms ens hvita 
 
 ver3r meira vald an verit hafSi ; 
 
 honom falltingir Fenrir siovar, 
 
 {)eim er AiTricar litan fylgja ; 
 
 verSr Kristni-brot um kyni J)i63ar ; 1 20 
 
 \>6 muno sialfir si6ar noekkvi 
 
 Enskir iySir allir skiraz. 
 
 Li3r stoll Lundunom or 
 
 1 ena breiSo borg Cantara, 
 
 ok langa tign Legionum 
 
 taka mun en moeta Menevia. 
 
 Stor verSa rok ; rignir bl65i ; 
 
 har snarpr at ^at sultr mannkyni. 
 
 Enn inn rau5i snakr efliz si3an, 
 
 faer hann af mikio matt ervi3i ; 1 30 
 
 li3r nau3 yfir n33r inn hvita, 
 
 er bans kyn kvali3 ok konor ristnar, 
 
 rzntr er hann borgom ok bui mijrgo, 
 
 fe hvers-konar, foldo groenni, 
 
 ero grimmliga gumnar drepnir. 
 
 Hniga fyr Brezkom bragninga kon 
 
 siklingar siau sigri numnir ; 
 
 ok heilagr ver3r herja deilir 
 
 einn af Enskom oSlingom siau. 
 
 Sa er slikt gcerir mun sialfr taka 140 
 
 err-mann a sik aldar stiori ; 
 
 ok of ha hli3i hilmir si3an 
 
 eir-hesti a itarligr sitr, 
 
 gaetir Lunduna lof-saell konungr. 
 
 |ia goervisk J)at um J):63 Breta, 
 
 er J)eim enn hefir a3r um grandat, 
 
 at J)eir sialfir sizt sattir verda, 
 
 deila J)eir um veldi ok um vi3a fold, 
 
 ero kapp-samar kindir Brezkar. 
 
 Kemr bardagi buSIungs himins 150 
 
 akafr um her, ari steypir ; 
 
 kvelr enn harSi helverkr fira. 
 
 46. Read, spakr. 49. ulikir, Cd. 113.= Lay of Gripi. 1. 40. 114. 
 
 sex] om. Cd. 127. =The Lay of Darts, 1. 2. 149. -samir, Cd.
 
 §1-3 
 
 SECOND SONG. 
 
 377 
 
 megoS dau3an her clr6ttir hylja, 
 
 li6r sultr ok s6tt at sigr-vi3om, 
 
 missir manna, more; stri6 hofug. 
 
 La9 muno lata, Jieirer lifa eptir; 
 
 ferr en ^ing-diarfa fii63 or landi ; 
 
 byr bleza3r gramr (sa er Brezkr iofiirr) 
 
 skip sin a brott, ok bann skiotla vtrSr 
 
 taliSr tir-gofugr tolfti i Holl i6o 
 
 saell me3 saelom settr Go6s vinom. 
 
 Sva toemiz la6 ly6a bornom — 
 
 drifr hryggr he6an herr cr landi : — 
 
 at skogar J)ar skiotla vaxa 
 
 er ar-samir akrar voro 
 
 fyrr me6 fyr9om a fold Breta. 
 
 J>a mun enn hvili hiarl-Jjvengr fara, 
 
 snot Saxne^ka snar-ra9r laSa, 
 
 ok me9 niikloni niann-fiol3a kemr 
 
 fiarS-byggs-SkiiguI fold at byggja. 170 
 
 Man sa9 konia sinni o3ro 
 
 ■utlent yfir ora gar9a ; 
 
 enn ' sumt yfir ' a svoloni barmi 
 
 eyiandz ^runiir ormr enn rau9i. 
 
 Faer hann liti3 af landino ; 
 
 J)a koronask kapps hvit-dreki, 
 
 ok Saxne^kir seggir rikja ; 
 
 enn eir-iofurr ofan at stiga 
 
 verdr af briittom borgar armi. 
 
 Ero lauf-vi3ar liosoni fiotri 180 
 
 tak-mork gefin i tali ara ; 
 
 muna3 hann rikja um en rommo skop, 
 
 ne ^vi eno fagra froni ra3a. 
 
 Vera mun ara i aga niiklom 
 
 fimtan tigi foidar belti ; 
 
 enn ti-rcE3 tiri gofgaSr 
 
 hundru5 Jiriu hann mun sitja 
 
 Lundunom at ok ly3a fidl3. 
 
 |ja, man gumnom ganga at muti 
 
 landnyr3ingr hvass lundar fiiiiri, J90 
 
 ok bloma \>k a brott reka 
 
 er vestroenir vindar groeddo. 
 
 Mun goll gloa Go3s husoni a ; 
 
 enn 16g3iss ve3r laeg'r J)eygi, 
 
 man trautt taka lal-samr dreki 
 
 hi3 sin mega, J)vi-at honom nalgaz 
 
 viti fyr velar J>atz hann ver3r btra. 
 
 Fa mun bann uppgang afar-litla stund, 
 
 hnekkir honom bring- serkjat lid ; 
 
 kcemr sunnan sii sveit um asgi, 200 
 
 er hann riki mun rana niiklo. 
 
 Sa mun lofdungr, er li3i styrir, 
 
 bratt Brezkom her byggja iar3ir; 
 
 mun sa5 tekit snaks ens hvita 
 
 endr or ofiim aldin giJrSom. 
 
 |>a mun hum gialda grimmra ra3a, 
 
 er bans tiunda3 t;'i!-aiikit 113 ; 
 
 verdr hann gioenni grund at vinna, 
 
 ok hann upp fra \>vi aidri rikir ; 
 
 tekr hann sva fyr svik sarar hefndir. 210 
 
 Rikja enn at ^at ormar tvennir, 
 
 missir annarr })ar aldr fyr skeyti, 
 
 enn annarr mun aptr um hverfa 
 
 und skugga nafns, at skcipom vinna. 
 
 f>a mun rikja r^ttlaetiss dyr, 
 
 J)at er Eyverskir ormar hrae3az, 
 
 ok fyr suiinan sx sialfir ugga 
 
 viz ramligir valskir turnar. 
 
 J>a mun goll snarat af grasi morgo, 
 
 flytr or klaufom kalfs-aettar silfr ; 220 
 
 ero fagr-buin fli63 i landi, 
 
 ver3rat snutom si3-b6t at ]p\i. 
 
 Sprett er i mi3jo mot penniugom, 
 
 mun goerst gleSi, glataz ransemi, 
 
 tennr muno gyl3!ss trausti numnar, 
 
 ok leo-varga ver3a at fiskoni, 
 
 hvassir hvelpar hval-tiinom i. 
 
 Ver3r meinliga maeki brug3it, 
 
 s6-ek bl63i ben blasa m63or ; 
 
 li3r mart hofugt yfir ly3a kyn ; 230 
 
 ry3r var3ar bl63 Venedociam, 
 
 ok si3an sex snarpir lifra 
 
 kyns-menn drepa Corineus. 
 
 pa, muno gumnar grata a nottom ; 
 
 ok ^169 goera J)aEgjar boenir; 
 
 fia muno hol9ar til himins kosta, 
 
 fa e9 langa lif lof9ar nytir. 
 
 Enn muno i skogi skoe9ir si3an 
 
 vargar vakua, vei9a i borgom ; 
 
 J)eir muno sina sialfir dolga 240 
 
 fella e9r fiotra ; fair muno ver9i 
 
 J)eir-er treystaz JDeim ' telja ' at moti. 
 
 Einn sitr nytastr Nevstrie or 
 
 Englandi at au3ar skelfir ; 
 
 f>6 [ro] siklingar sunnan komnir 
 
 fimm e3a fleiri foldo at ra3a. 
 
 Sia biartar brytr borgir Ira 
 
 ok foidar til fellir skoga ; 
 
 goerir raesir eitt riki margra, 
 
 tekr leonis lavarSr hofu9. 250 
 
 Er i rei3ingo raS J)i63-konungs 
 
 enn fyrra hhit fylkiss aevi ; 
 
 enn inn cefri aldr aud-varpadar 
 
 likar helgom himin-stilli vel. 
 
 Mun hann byskopa borguni skry9a, 
 
 ok helgan sta9 hefja margan, 
 
 tignar borg'r tvxr pallio ; 
 
 gefr hann {lyjom Kristz J)aeg)ar hnossir. 
 
 Ver3r af sliko svcr3-els hotu9r 
 
 himna-fer9ar hi)g-J)ekkr grami ; 260 
 
 ok at ^etta lif {)ing-diafr konungr 
 
 tali3r er tiggja tungls me3 engloni. 
 
 Glikt mun gaupo grams iod vera ; 
 
 vill hann sinni ^169 sialfri steypa ; 
 
 160. i trlfta, Cd. 162. toemir, Cd. 173-4- = Waking of Angantheow, 1. 66. 
 2C2.=rielgiandSigrun. 226. -vargar, Cd. 23I. = SuuSong, 1. io8. 263. gaupa, Cd.
 
 378 
 
 MERLINUS-SPA. 
 
 [bk. 
 
 enn af Jieim sokom J)erm!az hann 
 
 hsbi Ira ok Engla au3grar iarQar, 
 
 Nevstria ok numinn tignom. 
 
 Enn eptir pat 65als a vit 
 
 fara fraliga fyr5ar Brezkir; 
 
 J)6 er ilia a6r aert i landi, 270 
 
 ero lisattar Enskar pi65ir. 
 
 Ri3r enn pru9i til Perironis ar 
 
 hvitom hesti hvatr olSor- 
 
 ina6r, ok hvitom J)ar hann markar staf 
 
 aldrcen yfir a-kvernar hiis. 
 
 Kalla mun Conan Cadwaladrus 
 
 ok skilfinga Skotlandi af ; 
 
 roekkr at grimmo GiJndlar eli ; 
 
 vtr5r e5 mikla malm-{)ing bait ; 
 
 svifr e3 hvassa hagl tviviSar 280 
 
 (hnigr holSa li5) hart af strengjom ; 
 
 enn geyst J)ingat gaflok fara, 
 
 mego3 Skoglar sky vi9 skotom halda ; 
 
 bresla brynjor, bita malmar ; 
 
 ero dreyr-fiiSir dcirr a lopti ; 
 
 fleinn a flaugom, folk 1 dreyra, 
 
 bildr i benjoni, broddr a skildi, 
 
 hialmr a hof6i, hlif fyr briosti, 
 
 geirr a gangi, gu6r i vexti : 
 
 hittiz targ.i ok enn togni hiorr, 290 
 
 hialmr ok hneitir, hlif ok iJrvar, 
 
 brynja en Brezka ok brandr ro3inn, 
 
 mannz mattog bond ok me6al-kafli, 
 
 hvit-mylingar ok hol6a briost. 
 
 Hrapa hrafna goer, halt gialla spior, 
 
 er malm-J)rima mest a hiarli ; 
 
 ver6r einn vi9 einn val-kostr hlaSinn, 
 
 muno bloSgar ar af bioSom falla ; 
 
 enn vig-ro9a verpr a hlyrni : 
 
 falla fyrQar 1 flein-drifo, 300 
 
 ver9r Enskri J)i66 aldr-spell skipat ; 
 
 er voUr ro6in, enn vig boSin; 
 
 hlytr havan sigr helmingr Breta. 
 
 Yppir fioUom fliot Val-breta, 
 
 muno Brutus J)au bera korouo; 
 
 grcenaz oflgar eikr Corn-Breta, 
 
 fagnar sUko fus Cambria. 
 
 Ey9iz eyjar i6 Enska nafn, 
 
 mun hon Anglia eigi k611o&, 
 
 hlytr hon at halda heiti eno forna, 310 
 
 kennd er vid Brutum Britannia. 
 
 Mun villi-goltr vig-diarfr koma 
 
 or kyn-sturri Conanus sett ; 
 
 sa vig-tonnom Valskar hoeggr 
 
 Yngva son eikr or skogi, 
 
 J)6 mun hilmir hollr snia-vi&i. 
 
 Muno Rabitar raesi ugga 
 
 lit i heimi ok Affrikar ; 
 
 for mun visir viS-Iendr goera 
 
 a e9 ytra oegr Ispaniam. 320 
 
 Sitr eptir hilmi hafr at londom, 
 
 bans erat skilja skap fra vifni; 
 
 berr hann a h6f6i horn or golli, 
 
 er skegg skata skapat or silfri. 
 
 Blsess ' mistar vinr or nosom tiossa' 
 
 J)oko {)vi-likri at J)ekr um ey ; 
 
 fri3r [mun] um fylkiss faslr lif-daga, 
 
 brestr eigi pa ar 1 landi. 
 
 jja muno [um] foldo fogr vif draga, 
 
 blistrar meyjoin metnoSr i spor ; 330 
 
 muno kvensemi castra smi9o5, 
 
 svikr gumna vin girnd en ranga. 
 
 Ver3r at bl63i brunnr enn fagri. 
 
 J)6 er a grundo gnott hvers-konar ; 
 
 enn a holmi hilHingar tveir 
 
 berjaz um bru5i biart-haddaSa, 
 
 sii er i vi3ri Vadbaculi : 
 
 sia pessi rok Jjrennar aldir ; 
 
 J)6 er ly3a raS liott fyr Drottni : 
 
 unz land-rekar Lundunom i 340 
 
 grafnir or grundo gumnom vitraz. 
 
 Koemr ar-galli enn inn nukli, 
 
 ok meinliga mann-dau3r um her, 
 
 EySaz borgir vi6 bragna tion, 
 
 er au3n mikil itra manna ; 
 
 Ayr margr a brott maSr or landi. 
 
 Koemr kaup-skapar kapps-go&r pinig 
 
 villi-galti virSom samna, 
 
 J)eim-er af froni flySo a3an, 
 
 Ixtr hann byggja pa Brezkar iarSir, 350 
 
 borgir eyddar, bol goligost. 
 
 Mun bans briost vera brognom fcezia 
 
 peim er fatt hafa iiar me6 hondom ; 
 
 ok en tal-lausa tunga hilmiss 
 
 sloekkvir porsta piuSans li3i. 
 
 Falla or or3a al-moerri vok 
 
 djaijandi ar drottar styriss ; 
 
 paer muno doeggva dyrar iarSir 
 
 ge3s i glcEStom gollor-heimi, 
 
 ok purrar kverkr pi69ar margrar. 360 
 
 Upp renn si5an (se ek pat fyrir) 
 
 traust i lurni tre Lunduna ; 
 
 prir ero kvistir peim lundi a ; 
 
 enn hann laufi pekr land med hringom. 
 
 Koemr par af iaegi land-nyr3ingr hvass, 
 
 lystr hann illom byl eik af stofni ; 
 
 peir muno kvistir er pruma eptir 
 
 pess riini taka. Jjat se-ek goerla. 
 
 Hylja peir alia ey me3 laufi 
 
 unz annarr par 66rom baegir, 370 
 
 278. rykr af, Cd. 285. = The Lay of Darts, 1. 8. dorir, Cd. 295. 
 
 hrseva, Cd. 299. = Helgi and Sigrun, 1. 127. 302. = The Lay of Darts, 
 
 1.34. 320. hispanian, Cd. 325. Corrupt. 336. = Lay of Gripi, 
 
 1- 131- 337. Le. vado baculi = Stafford. 345. nytra, Cd. 356-8. = Some 
 lost Song? 364. =Konunga-tal. ringom, Cd.
 
 §x] 
 
 SECOND SONG. 
 
 379 
 
 ok hann eySir hans olio laufi ; 
 
 tekr hann ])riu riim ^rek-storr hafa ; 
 
 ok hann si6an J)ekr {)iokko laufi 
 
 einn uni alia ey-barms fiiiro : 
 
 megoS J)a fiiiiga fuglar i landi, [sin 
 
 J>vi-at hann oegir ^eim, enn hann enn til 
 
 la6ar fogia fliott fer6 utlendra. 
 
 f>a, man illingar-asni rikja, 
 
 sa er fiiotr taka fe goll-snii6a ; 
 
 er lof6a vinr latr at hefiia 380 
 
 gylQiss barna gramr ninsemi. 
 
 Ok a hans dogom har61a brenna 
 
 ofs-raniligar eikr or skogom ; 
 
 enn a litlom lindar kvistom 
 
 vex orliga akarn i lundi. 
 
 Ok Ranar vegr renn um osa 
 
 Sabrinus sjai), se-ek Jiat fyrir: 
 
 enn Oskar-a ({jat er undr mikit) 
 
 man niano5r siau niattog vella ; 
 
 gcerviz fiskom fior-tt6n at J)vi, 390 
 
 er or sialfom J)eini snakar ver6a. 
 
 Muno Badonis-borgar ver3a 
 
 (li9r mart yfir) laugar kaldar ; 
 
 ok hennar votn, heil-naem firom, 
 
 goera J)a dau9a driiigt man-kyni. 
 
 Ver5r tiittogo tion {jusunda 
 
 li6na ferSar Lundunom i; 
 
 {)eir muno drengir drepnir allir ; 
 
 gcerir karla tion Terns at bl66i. 
 
 Muno kofl-monnom kvan-fong bo6in, 
 
 ero ekkjor J)ar orSnar margar ; 401 
 
 enn a koldom kail peha mest 
 
 menn Mundio-montom heyra. 
 
 Her mun-ek letta li6& at semja, 
 ok spa-sogo spilliss bauga ; 
 J)6 ero fleiri or9 ins fr69a mannz ; 
 hefi-ek sumt af J)eini samit i kvseSi. 
 jjau ero onnor Hod upp fra {)essoin ; 
 ylfiz eigi au3s ben-draugar 
 (bi6-ek J)iu6ir Jjess) vi3 ^enna brag, 410 
 ^o-at ek mynt hafa mal, at haetti 
 J)eim-er spakr fyrir spioll um rak&i 
 malm-f)ings hvotu6r, i mdrgom sta3, 
 Viti bragiiar Jsat, J)eir er bok lesa, 
 hve at spicillom se spa-mannz farit, 
 
 ok kynni {)at kalldyrs vi8om 
 
 hverr fyr3a se fram-synna hattr 
 
 mal at rekja, J)au-er men vito3. 
 
 Lesi Salma spioll, lesi Spa-manna; 
 
 lesi biartar {)eir boekr ok Ro3la ; 420 
 
 ok finni ^at, at enn froSi hair 
 
 hcfir horskliga hagat spa-sogo, 
 
 sem fyrir hoiiom fyr5ar helgir. 
 
 VirSi engi Jjat vit-lauso, 
 
 J)6tt hann hodd-skotom heiti gaefi 
 
 vidar e9a vatna, eSr ve6rs mikils, 
 
 eSa allz-koiiar orma ok dyra; 
 
 taknar e91i tal6rar skepno 
 
 spior-ra3anda spioll e3a kosti. 
 
 Segir Daniel drauma sina 430 
 
 marg-hatta6a merkjom studda : 
 
 kvezt hann driuglig sia dyr a i6r6o, 
 
 J)au-er taknoSo liggja riki, 
 
 fiau-er a hau9ri hufoz si9an. 
 
 Rekr enn dyri Davi9 konungr 
 
 marg-falda spa, ok maelir sva : 
 
 Fioil mono fagna ok enn fri9i skogr, 
 
 enn skoe9ar ar skella lofoni, 
 
 ok dalar ymna Drottni syngja. 
 
 Hirtisk h6!9ar at h2e9a boekr, 440 
 nemi skynsemi, ok skill goerla 
 hvat takna9 man i tijlo J)essi. 
 Era9 enn li9in oil spa-saga ; 
 \>6 ero morgom myrk mal propheta. 
 Fretti fyr9ar, J)eir-er a fold bua 
 enn at ora aevi li9na, 
 hvat um her gceriz ok huga lei9i, 
 beri en nyjo spioll vi9 spa-sogo ; 
 se si9an Tp.it hve saman falli. 
 Var9 sii en Enska astt fyr stundo 450 
 veldiss missa ; mi er Valskr konungr. 
 p6 er l)eygi enn t)eirra 'haetti' 
 li9it af la9i, ne ly9s Breta 
 hvossom mski hiarl eigna9iz. 
 
 Heilir allir, J)eir er hlytt hafa, 
 flein-varpa9ir fioe9i J)esso ! 
 Goer! gott gumar, enn glati illo, 
 bi3i bra9a but af-runa I 
 Hafi hylli Go9s ok Himin-riki I 
 
 374. = Waking of Angantheow, 1. 66. 386. asa, Cd. 400. kapps-, Cd. 
 
 404. = Western Wolsung Lay, 1. 45. 409- Emend.; alviz, Cd. 412. spakr] 
 
 spar, Cd. 435. Emend,; enn dyra doni, Cd. ; 'do ' = '.99.' 437. = Fs. 
 
 xcviii. 8.
 
 38o LAST P0E:MS IN OLD METRE. [bk. x. 
 
 §2. LAST POEMS IN OLD METRE. 
 
 We have noticed in the preceding Books the old metre employed by 
 writers of pseudo-epics and imitations of old poems, as it has been down 
 to our own days. JBut the old metre was not quite forgotten by the 
 people, and it was put to fresh use by popular singers at the very time 
 when the book-poets were using it for their closet-poetry. 
 
 The last popular compositions in the Old Metre fall under two heads, 
 Satire and Fairy or Folk-lore -verse. 
 
 Under the former category, which w'e shall take first, came the 
 FcERSLA Poems at merry-makings, representing a thing passed from 
 hand to hand of the present guests, each being bound in turn to 
 say a verse, somewhat after the fashion of Welsh penillion singing. 
 These compositions are quite sui generis in Northern verse, where they 
 are the sole remnants of a class of poetry well represented in Greek 
 and Latin literature. 
 
 There are remains of two of these poems. At the end of St. Olaf s 
 Life in Flatey-bok (cols. 483-85, vol. ii, pp. 331-35) is placed a Thattr 
 which turns on a curious legend of Phallus-worship in the heathen days 
 of Norway, derived from a piece of verse Volsa-fcersla, parts of which 
 are cited. It begins with the proper formula, 'There lived in A. a man, 
 etc.,' and is of course in dialogue, touching the Handing on of the 
 Phallus (whence the title), each person in turn taking the emblem and 
 passing it on, till the king casts it to the dog Leri, to the no small con- 
 sternation of the good-wife. At this point the daughter recognises the 
 king, and — here the piece breaks off incomplete. We have transposed 
 11. 9-1 1 to the end, where they ought rightly to come. This half-comic 
 and wholly Aristophanic piece no doubt furnished a model for the 
 humourous treatment of an incident in Gretti's career which was the 
 subject of the next piece. 
 
 In Gretti's Saga, ch. 52, it is told that Gretti, after a long career of 
 outlawry, was caught by some farmers who bound him to keep him safe 
 till Wermund, the local chief, should come home and settle his fate. 
 But the question arose. Who should have the care of the redoubtable 
 prisoner? One after another, Helgi of Lauga-boll, Thorkell of Giorwe- 
 dale, Thoralf of Eyre, refuse to take him, and in their puzzlement the 
 worthy churls settle that the only way out of the hobble is to get rid of 
 their prisoner by hemp-solution. Luckily for Gretti, Thorbiorg of 
 Waterfirth (see p. 336) rode up as they had got the gallows ready, and 
 offered to take charge of the luckless prisoner. They gladly closed with 
 her offer, and Gretti was not ill-pleased. ' And,' says one of the editors 
 of Gretti's story, ' on this parley and debate of theirs merry men have 
 made the poem called Grettis-fcersla ["the Handing on of Gretti"], 
 and dressed it up with merry words for folk's amusement.' Indeed, the 
 story in the Saga is, we take it, drawn from the poem. 
 
 At the end of the AM. 556 vellum of Gretti's Saga, occupying part of 
 three pages, and written in the same fifteenth-century hand as the Saga, 
 is the poem itself. But some ' unco guid ' person, otiended probably by 
 some too free expressions, has scraped it all out, so that in spite of some 
 trouble and care the Editor was (in 186 1) unable to read more than the
 
 §2.] 
 
 VOLSA-FCERSLA. 381 
 
 first line (whereb}' metre and kind were discovered), and to catch a word 
 here and there, pointing to the drift of the whole. It would have been 
 about sixty verses or two hundred and forty lines long. 
 
 As the last editor of Gretti's Saga could remember Lawman Sturla, 
 the poem can hardly be later than 1300, and, if our guess that it was 
 directly modelled on Volsa-foersla be correct, a fair date would be 
 c. 1200. 
 
 The verses that follow it at the end of chapter 52 in Gretti's Saga 
 (see above, p. 336) are not part of this poem, but, we believe, of Sturla's 
 composition. 
 
 There is a third poem in old metre, belonging to the Satiric Division, 
 which is worth giving here as a specimen of its class, and as the work of 
 Einar Fostri, whose amusing Skida-rima we give below. It is called 
 Skauf-hala-balkr, ' Sheaf-brush-piece,' and is found on a leaf of AM. 
 603, a sixteenth-century vellum of Rimur, etc. Its authorship is testified 
 to by Biorn of Skardsa, who gives lines from it, and attributes it to 
 Einar. It is of the same metre, but of even simpler character than Volsa- 
 foersla, and begins in the orthodox way : ' An old grey brush had long 
 lived in his earth,' etc. The word 'balkr' seems to have been the 
 technical name for this sort of composition. 
 
 The poem is almost perfect, as the hero is on his death-bed in the 
 last stanza we have ; but Biorn of Skardsa knew the last few lines, which are 
 now lost. The story is of an old fox, who, driven out by his vixen wife 
 to get store for the empty larder, meets with an accident on his foray, 
 whereon he returns, and feeling himself on the point of death proceeds 
 to relate the story of his life to his six last cubs. Uncle Remus will 
 bear faithful testimony to most of Brer Fox's doings. 
 
 The poem, which almost deserves a glossary of its own, is full of 
 curious words of life in the author's days on a country farm, the cooking, 
 work, etc., that are not found elsewhere, and gives a good picture of the 
 mediaeval Iceland homestead. It proves the early use of many m:)dern 
 words, and confirms the Editor's guess in the Dictionary (1872) as to 
 'T6a' ='T6fa,' Brush, Reynard's nickname, and ' yrlingr ' = ' yrmlingr.' 
 
 The date would be about 1450. 
 
 The first edition is that by Mr. Kolbing in 1876, and the few citations 
 in the Dictionary are from memory and not exhaustive, as the Editor 
 had no copy at hand. 
 
 VOLSA-FCERSLA. 
 
 {The persons are, a heathen good-man and good-wife, their son and daughter, their 
 man-servant and maid- servant ; and as guests in disguise, St. Olave and his 
 two trusty men.) 
 
 I. T/" ARL hefir buit ok kona oldrut 
 a andiiesi eino hverjo : 
 atti son vi6 seima bil 
 drengr ok dottor driiig-skyrliga. 
 
 Here the Play begins. 
 
 The Thrall 2. Her megot sia heldr rciskligan 5 
 
 to Bondmaid: vingol skorinn af viggs fo5or : 
 
 {ler er, ambott, Jjesfi Volsi 
 
 all-6daufli:^r innan laera. 
 
 2. eiii hverjo, Cd. 5. megit, Cd.
 
 382 
 
 LAST POEMS IN OLD METRE. 
 
 [bk. 
 
 Good-wife : 3. Aukinn ertu, Volsi, ok upp um tekinn, 
 
 lini goeddr, enn laukum studdr : — 
 
 J>iggi Mornir ^etta blceti ! 
 
 Enn l)u, bondi sialfr, ber-J)u at J)er Volsa 1 
 Good-man: 4. Mundi eigi, ef ek um reSa, 
 
 blceti J)etta borit i aptan : — 
 
 |>iggi Mornir Jjetta bloeti ! 
 
 Enn J)u son bonda se-Jjii vi5 Volsa ! 
 Son : 5. Beri6 er beytil fyrir bru6-konor, 
 
 Jiaer skulo vingol vaeta i aptan : — 
 
 |>iggi Mornir J)etta blceti ! 
 
 Enn J)u, dottir bonda, drag-Jjii at {)er Volsa ! 
 Daughter: 6. f)ess sver-ek vi5 Gefjon ok vl6 goSia oanor 
 
 at ek naudig tek vi6 nosa rau5om ; — 
 
 Jjiggi Mornir J)etta bloeti 1 
 
 Enn J)ii, Jjrsell hiona, J)rif-J)U vi8 Volsa ! 
 Thrall : 7. Hleifr vgeri mer halfo soemri, 
 
 J)iokkr ok oekkvinn, J)runginn sa&um, 
 
 an Volsi Jjessi a verk-dogom : — 
 
 {>iggi Mornir {jetta blceti ! 
 
 Enn J)u, Jjy hiona, J)rystu at ^er Volsa ! 
 Bondmaid : 8. Vist eigi maeita ek vi3 um bindask 
 
 i mik at keyra, ef vi3 ein laegim i andketo : — 
 
 Jiiggi Mornir J)etta bloeti ! 
 
 Enn J)u Grimr gestr vorr, grip-J)U vi3 Volsa ! 
 \st Guest: 9. I-egit hefek vi6a fyrir andnesjom, 
 
 snaefgom hondom segl upp dregit : — 
 
 f>iggi Mornir J)etta bloeti ! 
 
 Enn J)u, Grimr gri6i minn, grip-J)U vi9 Volsa 1 
 2Hd Guest: 10. Sa-ek eigi for6om, \>6 hefig farit vi3a, 
 
 flennt re3r fyrri fara me3 bekkjom ; — 
 
 |>iggi Mornir ]3etta bloeti ! 
 
 Enn \)u, A3al-Grimr, tak enn vid Volsa ! 
 The King : II. Verit hefik styrir ok stafn-bui, 
 
 ok oddviti allra J)i63a : — 
 
 |>iggi Mornir Jietta bloeti 1 
 Enn J)u, hundr hiona, hirtu bakn J)etta ! 
 Good-wife: 12. H vat er J)at manna mer okunnra 
 
 er hundom gefr heilagt bloeti? 
 hefi-ek mik um hiarra ok a hur3-asa t 
 vita ef ek borgit fae bloeti 'no helga. 
 Legg ni3r, Laerir I ok lat mik eigi sia, 
 ok svelg eigi ni3r, sar-tikin rog ! 
 
 Ek se goll a gestom ok go3vef]ar skikkjor, 
 mer fellr hugr til hringa ; heldr vil ek ' bing en linga ; 
 kenni ek J)ik, konungr minn ; kominn ertn, Olafr. 
 
 15 
 
 ne Daughter 13. 
 recognising 
 the guests : 
 {The rest missing.) 
 
 30 
 
 35 
 
 40 
 
 45 
 
 50 
 
 55 
 
 GRETTIS-FOERSLA. 
 
 KARL nam at bua, beint ma fivi lysa, 
 iafdali 
 
 26. J)runginn saSum] ok {16 vi3r, Cd. = Lay of Righ, 11. 13, 14. 34. vida] 
 
 read, opt ? 36. A line or two missing. 45. Here a line is missing. 
 
 48. =Balder's Doom, 1. 17.
 
 §2-] 
 
 SKAUFHALA-BALKR. 
 
 383 
 
 SKAUFHALA-BALKR, by Einar Fostri. 
 
 TTEFIR 1 grenjum gamall skaufali 
 "^ lengi buit hia lang-holo ; 
 dtt hafa ^au ser allz upp talda 
 atiaii sonu ok eina dottur. 
 
 2. {>vi voru nitjan ni5jar slcaufala, 5 
 hundz iafningja, heldr en tuttugu : 
 
 {)at sannaSiz fyr6a forn-maeli, 
 
 at Opt ver5r orgum eins vant a tog. 
 
 3. f>a voru burtu born skaufala 
 
 flest oil farin ur f66ur-gar3i, 10 
 
 t)6 voru eptir J)eim til fylgdar 
 j)rir yrmlingar ok J)riar daetr. 
 
 4. Maelti gor-tanni vi5 gren-laegju : 
 Hvat skulum vinna ver til J)arfa? 
 
 vit erum orSin veyk-lendut miok, 15 
 hrygg-snau9 harla, en halar rotna6ir. 
 
 5. Svarar grenlaegja gomul a moti: 
 Nil eru a burtu born okkur roskin, 
 enn J)au ung sem eptir sitja, 
 
 ok enn ekki a legg komin. 20 
 
 6. |ju munt heiman halda ver3a, 
 ok afia bra6a til buss okkars ; 
 vseri f)at til vinnu at leggja 
 
 sem vir6um ma verst gegna. 
 
 7. Maelti J)annin moSir drattala : 25 
 Matr er eigi meiri mer i hondum, 
 hala-rofu-bein ok bryggr or Iambi, 
 bog-leggir J)rir, ok baiia-krinela. 
 
 8. Svo er mi li3it, — segir lag-faeta, — 
 lo6-bakr minn, langt a tima, 30 
 von er upp he6an ve3ra harSra ; 
 
 enn at hondum kominn haust-^iistr 
 mikill. 
 
 9. Betra er mi bra&a at leita, 
 en J)a fyr5ar fe sitt geyma ; 
 
 liggja me5 briinum lomb hver-vetna, 35 
 enn a fialli feitir sau6ir. 
 
 10. Sa er mi timi, — segir rebbali, — 
 sem seggir munu at sau3um ganga ; 
 vist er allstaSar von um hunda ; 
 
 mun a fioUum mi maiin-fer3 mikil. 40 
 H. Vissa ek eigi vist, — segir tofa, — 
 at J)u huglaust hiarta baerir ; 
 J)Ti vilt bolva3r til baiia svelta 
 afkvaemi J)itt ok okkr bae6i. 
 
 12. |)u skalt ra6a, — segir rebbali, — 
 vi3 man ek leita vista at afla ; 46 
 J)6 hafa nornir J)ess um mik spa6, 
 
 at mer gomlum glsepaz mundi. 
 
 13. For heiman J)a fliott drattali, 
 
 ok aetlar ser afla at-faiiga ; 50 
 
 fann skiotliga finitan sauSi, 
 
 ok einn af J)eim all-vel feitan. 
 
 14. |>at var geldingr gambrh'ga stor, 
 gra-koUottr, gamall at aldri ; 
 
 vendir skolli vist at honum, 55 
 
 ok me9 tonnum tok i lagSa. 
 
 15. Svolauk skiptum skoUa oksau&ar, 
 at gra-kollr gekk fra liti ; 
 
 bioz drattali burtu heim {)a9an, 
 
 hafSi sau6 fengit ser til vista. 60 
 
 16. Nii skal segja nokkut fleira 
 fra fer9um bans fyrst at sinni : 
 heim kom si91a sau3-bitr gamall, 
 svangr ok sofinn svo til grenja. 
 
 17. Kallar kamleitr a konu sina 65 
 heldr hvass-eyg&r hundz iafningi : 
 ma-ek segja fier fra ferSum minum 
 heldr hrakliga, sem mer hugr sagSi : — 
 
 18. Jiat var morgin J)a ek heiman for, 
 hafSa ek fengit mer feitar bra6ir, 7° 
 bundit bagga, ok a bak mer lag3an, 
 hug3umk heim fiytja hann til byg9a. 
 
 19 Jja var6 mer litiS i lag eina 
 hvar ha-faettr ma9r hliop kallandi, 
 for me3 honum ferliki mikit, 75 
 
 kol-svart at lit ; kenda ek hunza. 
 
 20. Retti hann tryni, en rekr upp 
 sionir, 
 
 ok kendi J)egar hvar ek keifa9a ; 
 
 mer kom heldr i hug ' hvat hann mundi 
 
 vilja,* 
 vatt-ek af mer vaenni byr&i. 80 
 
 2 1 . Hann tok a skei6i skiott eptir mer, 
 skundar hvatliga ok skrefaSi storum ; 
 hliop ek fraliga heldr undan ; 
 
 leitaSa ek vi6 liti at for6a. 
 
 22. Foru vit lengi um fiallz-hli3 eina 
 upp ok ofan svo undrum gegndi, 86 
 hitta ek hamra-skar9 ok holu eina, 
 hlaut ek i hdna hraeddr at smiiiga. 
 
 23. Var gren J)etta grioti um hvorfit, 
 matti hundr {)ar hvergi inn komaz ; 90 
 go hann grinmiliga, J)a hann gat ekki, 
 garpr gin-mikill, gripit mik tonnum. 
 
 24. f>ar hiikta ek, J)6 mer illt ^aetti, 
 heldr hund-eyg&r ok hraeddunik dau6a ; 
 hliop hinn ha-faetti fyrir holu-munna, 95 
 haf6i staf storan ok stakk inn til min. 
 
 25. Mer kom a si3u mikill stafs endir, 
 matta-ek hvergi undan hli3a ; 
 
 {>a brotnu3u J)egns fyrir skapti 
 
 um {)vert Jjungliga \>nu rifin i mer. lOO 
 
 26. Vi3a er ek \>6 sarr vor3inn 
 straks af stingjum ok stafs-enda ; 
 
 12. J)eirradottir, Cd. 15. -lendit, Cd. 39. heSan, Cd. 78. kendi] ^ekti, Cd.
 
 384 
 
 FAIRY METRE. 
 
 [bk. X. 
 
 her kom jao at !yktum,at hann heini leitaSi, 
 ok haf6i bagga minn burt gorvallan. 
 
 27. Svo hafa aldri, sizt ek leita9a vi3, 
 mer fv6 tekizt minar ferftir ; 106 
 J)at er hug-bo9 mitt at he6an man ek eiga 
 skiott skapliga skamt 61ifa6. 
 
 28. Hef-ek margan heldr hala-feitan 
 fau3 serliga sviptan lifi, IIO 
 tint kiSlinga, enn tynt lamb-gymbrum, 
 gripit geldinga ok gamal-rollur. 
 
 29. Hefik me6 strondu strokit iafnliga 
 ok hfima um hauga iafnan snudrat, 
 biti6 hef-ek alar, bellt klyi'inguni, 115 
 rifit af Jionum r^tt hu9 hverja. 
 
 30. Hef-eg optliga ofiarfr verit 
 bsenda folki i byg9 {lessi ; 
 sko6at iafnlega skrei9 i hiollum, 
 riklinga rar, ok rafa-belti. 120 
 
 31. Hef-eg i-henta3 mer hakalz-lykkjur, 
 ok hoggit mer hvinna snepla : 
 
 eiga mer allir, ef ek dyl einskis, 
 ytar optlega illt at launa. 
 
 32. For6azt kunna-ek velar gorvallar, 
 {)6tt fyr6ar J)aer fyrir mik setti ; 126 
 J)urfti eingi \itss at leita, 
 
 t)vi-at ek vissa ' velar gorvallar.' 
 
 33. Fannzt sa eingi fyrr ne si5ar 
 hundr ha-fsettr ebi hestr i bygSum, 130 
 at mik a hlaupi hefSi uppi ; 
 
 var ek frara dyr en flest oil onnur. 
 
 34. Nil tekr elli at mer saekja ; 
 ma-ek allz ekki a mik treysta; 
 
 farinn fraleikr, fit-sk(3r tro3nir, 135 
 
 tenn sli6vga6ar, enn toppr ur enni. 
 
 35. Mun-ek til rekkju reika ver3a ; 
 mer tekr verkr at vaxa i si3u ; 
 
 svo hef-ek aetlat, sia mun dagr koma 
 mer yfir hofut minn enn si9azti. 14O 
 
 36. {aat hlsgir mik, J)6 mun her koma 
 or aett minni annarr verri ; 
 
 hann mun mann gera margan sau3-lausan, 
 ok aldri upp gefa illt at vinna. 
 
 37. Biost pk skolli 1 bol sitt fara, I45 
 belt hann hel-sfingi hart til bana : 
 
 Jjar mun hann ver9a {siufr af-gamall 
 lif at lata. (Here the vallum breaks off, 
 some ten lines missing.) 
 
 3^?. Hefir balk ^enna ok barn-gcelur 
 ort ofimlega EinatT Fostri. 150 
 
 FAIRY METRE. 
 
 Even when the time of the * foersla ' and ' balkr ' had gone by, and all 
 forms of composition were in the Rima Metre, this old metre, or a 
 modification of it, was still employed in pieces relating to the super- 
 natural, especially those dealing with fairies. 
 
 The fairies or 'good people' are called in Iceland 'the darlings' 
 (li6flingar), and there are of course many stories about them. One runs 
 thus — A girl had a child by a fairy, and one day the baby was fretful and 
 she could not still it, and the household folk spoke so unkindly of her 
 and the child, that the poor girl sat down heart-broken and burst into 
 tears. Then there came a sweet voice through the window above her, 
 singing a lullaby, and calling down good luck on her child. This song 
 was long remembered, and the more so, that all the blessing it had spoken 
 of came to pass. When the baby-boy was grown up, he and his mother 
 disappeared, and it was said that she had gone off with her fairy lover. 
 
 A poem on this story in Epic Metre, supposed to be the very Lullaby 
 of the Fairy, ^ LiuJIings-Odr,' is to t)e found in a paper MS. in the AM. 
 collection c. A.D. 1650-1700. There are numerous later copies with 
 many additions, as the piece has always been very popular. From it 
 the Epic Metre has for the last three centuries been commonly known 
 in Iceland as the Fairy Metn; ' Liuflings-Lag.' 
 
 Kothi-draumr, another well-known poem of the same type and cast, tells 
 of a woman, named Katla, who is carried off by a fairy named Kari, who 
 treats her with magnificence, but still she pines to come back, and at last 
 rejoins her husband on Reykholar, much to the sorrow of her fairy lover. 
 After her return she bore a child, who grew up like his father Kdri, and 
 became a famous man. 
 
 Besides these two, there are many more on kindred subjects, such 
 as Sniors-kvaedi, Kringil-nefju-kvaedi, Mardallar-kvajdi, Wambar-liod,
 
 §3.] 
 
 DANCE AND BALLAD. 385 
 
 Thoru-liod, Bryngerdar-liod, and the New Hyndlu-liod. None of the 
 MSS, of these go back 'to vellum,' i.e. beyond the Reformation-time. 
 The poems are of the last years of the Middle Ages, and stand in the 
 same relation to popular stories and folk-lore as the Rimur do to the 
 Book-stories and romances. 
 
 After the Reformation the metre was used for other ends, e, g. 
 Poetical Biography. Einar the Priest (1540-1627) reviews his long 
 life in ^Ji-qucedi, and John the Learned (1575-1655) does the like in 
 Fiolmod (the Curlew). 
 
 After them the metre is somewhat neglected, till the Learned Revival 
 when the Eddie Poems came to be known, and many poems to be 
 written in imitation of them. But even in later times the cadence and 
 harmony of John Thorlaksson's translation of Milton, and Grondal's 
 version of Pope, are rather those of Li6flings-lag than Kvido-hattr, and 
 smack rather of the mediaeval than the early poetry they were pro- 
 fessedly modelled on. Such lines as 
 
 O gef ^li g63an mer, 
 
 e8ur allz ongan hro&ur, 
 
 are far too stiff and monotonous to be like 'Eddie' verse, but exactly fit 
 the popular sixteenth-century metre. 
 
 In his contributions to K. Maurer's Islandische Volk-sagen, and in his 
 preface to John Arnason's Icelandic Folk-tales (1862), the Editor has 
 touched on the subject of the Fairy-poems and cited scraps of popular 
 verse of the kind. 
 
 §3. DANZ OK VISUR. 
 
 After the Icelandic Saga-time, there comes a blank of some seventy 
 years (1030-1100) before the next literary development, the Biographic 
 Sagas. This interval is an important epoch in Iceland's history, and at the 
 end of it we find ourselves in a different social and political atmosphere 
 from that of the old days : mediaeval influence and culture have come in 
 and made many changes. We are here more especially concerned with 
 a new form of popular entertainment, which had been introduced and 
 grown into high favour by the end of the eleventh century — the 'danz.' 
 
 Of this amusement we have a description in the Life of Bishop John 
 (d. 1 1 2 1). When speaking of his patron's strict piety the biographer says, 
 "It was a customary pastime, and not a seemly one, for people to recite, 
 man to woman and woman to man, wanton and ridiculous and improper 
 verses, and this he did away with and forbade altogether. Love-lays and 
 verses he would not hear sung or allow to be sung, yet he could not alto- 
 gether accomplish this." A parallel MS. reads, "There was a favourite 
 pastime before St. John became a bishop [i 106-21] for the man to sing 
 to the woman in dance soft and lustful lays, and the woman to the man 
 love-verses; this pastime he did away with and strictly forbade." A third 
 fifteenth-century version of the passage from a later MS. runs, " It was 
 the custom at that time, which was very unseemly, to carry on botatiUdi 
 [a corruption from some English word, perhaps botafyld, butt-filling or 
 gild-feastj, when the man sings to the woman and the woman again to 
 the man wanton and improper verses with allusions and filthy words of 
 love-lays." We have been particular to cite these passages, as their 
 scope and bearing have frequently been misapprehended as if Eddie 
 songs were meant. 
 
 VOL. II. C C
 
 386 DANZ OK VISUR. [bk. x. 
 
 Again, in the Life of Bishop Thorlac (b. 1133), ch. 16, it is said of him 
 that in his youth " he took pleasure in tales and poems, and all harpings 
 and carpings and wise men's counsels and dreams, and everything 
 that gentlefolk amuse themselves with, except songs [' leikr ' here being 
 'danz']." 
 
 And of Bishop Ami (b. 1 2 3 7) in his youth it is told, ch, 2 of his Life, how, 
 " when his father, Thorlac, went away from Redleek, he made merry 
 with every one, and joined in the popular merry-makings, and this was 
 his way of life till he was at Seal, and then he went with other men to 
 a ' scinnleic ' [lit. a hide-play, possibly some kind of mumming in which 
 the 'capul-hide' was used to deck out and disguise the players]. At 
 that same play he struck one of his knees down on the hearth-slab in 
 the big room, so that it was badly put out, and he lay in bed nigh a 
 week of it. And after that he was never present at any play of this 
 kind, or dance neither before or after [sic], for he felt that this was a 
 judgment on such unseemly amusements." 
 
 In another story in Bishop John's Saga, the singing of dances at plays 
 and mummings is indicated. " There was a man named Thori, a house- 
 man of the blessed John, watcher of the sheep at the bishop's dwelling. 
 He was a young man, reckless, little watchful of his words, not regular 
 at service, though he lived in the bishop's house, and Bishop John often 
 admonished him to do better .... It was on a certain holiday, while 
 my lord bishop was at evensong and all decent folk were standing 
 at the service, this man Thori was in the big room after his naughty 
 custom, and fell to playing and wrestling with the boys. He was told 
 that the service was over, but he paid no heed to it. And thereupon 
 a sudden punishment overtook him for breaking the bishop's orders, for 
 he fell in the play, and that very tongue of his which he kept so little 
 watch over, was between his teeth and got a sore hurt." The mention 
 of the tongue shows that there was singing at all events in the * play.' 
 
 In the Islendinga Saga, ch, 81, where the wanderings of the exiled 
 Bishop Gudmund and his rabble are told of, it is said that at one farm 
 where he was stopping in the North (1229) "when the bishop was gone 
 to bed of an evening, and those who chose had gone to the bath 
 [evidently it was one Saturday], that there was a dance struck up in the 
 big room, Canute the priest sat on the dais, and the room was lighted 
 from above. In came John Birneson from the bath with his bath cap 
 and linen clothes on," etc. 
 
 Another mention of dances and plays and amusements is in Thorgil's 
 Saga, ch, 10, where, speaking of the famous banquet at Reek-hill (i 1 19), 
 the author says, " There was now mirth and much merry-making and 
 good entertainment and many kinds oi plays, both dance-plays, wrestling, 
 and telling of tales," So in Islendinga Saga, ch. 295 (1255), " In Wood- 
 wick there was much merry-making and good cheer, plays, and a great 
 company gathered together. One Lord's day there was a great dance and 
 many people came to it, Hammond, the priest of Holar, had sung the 
 mass that morning at Mickleby in Osland's-lithe, and he rode into Wood- 
 wnck for the dance, and was in the play, and people thought a great deal 
 of his dance. But when he came to Holar the bishop drove him out of 
 the church with contumely, and would not see him," Again of Thorgils 
 Scardi's last night at Ravengill, Jan, 21st, 1258, Sturla says, Islendinga, 
 ch, 314, " He was asked to choose what pastime he would have, Tales or 
 Dance, that evening. He asked what choice of Sagas they had there. 
 They told him that they had in hand the Life of Archbishop Thomas, and 
 he chose that because he loved him more than all the other saints."
 
 §3-] 
 
 DANCE AND BALLAD. ' 387 
 
 We hear also of a man nicknamed from the dance, Danza-Berg. 
 
 The word * danz ' is used as synonymous with the older words 
 ' nid ' and ' Aim,' which sufficiently indicate its character as satirical 
 or aynorous, and we have two scraps of danz verse which illustrate this. 
 The first, dating from 1221, shows the answering couplet, one line sung 
 by the man, the other by the woman. It is No. i below. The other, of 
 1264 (No. 2 below), was cited by Thord Andrewsson as he was riding to 
 his death. He and his brothers had been inveigled into Gizur's power, 
 seized, disarmed, and forced to accompany the earl to Thrand-holt. 
 Arni, the son of the good-man of AudkoU-stead, was riding by him 
 and talking to him. " Said Thord to Arni, * What thinkest thou the 
 earl will do concerning the case of us brothers?' Arni said he thought 
 that he would deal well with them, and put them up at some gentlefolk's 
 houses for the winter. But Thord said that it would not go off so. 'What 
 thinkest thou will happen then, good-man?' says Arni. 'I shall be slain,* 
 says Thord, 'but my brothers will get quarter.' And with that he spurred 
 his horse under him, and sung this dance — 
 
 'My sorrows are heavy as lead!'" 
 
 Poor Thord's forebodings proved right, and he was beheaded next 
 morning at the earl's orders, by Geirmund thief, ' with the axe that was 
 called Gilt,' two days before Michaelmas [Sept. 27th, 1264]. 
 
 Three hundred years later, at the time of the Reformation, we have a 
 third scrap of 'danz,' when John Arason, the Northern catholic bishop, 
 had taken prisoner the Southern protestant bishop Martin. " He was 
 brought north to Maddersfield to Ari [John's son]. Ari kept him well, 
 and often had him at drinking-bouts, when folk came together, and Ari 
 was host. Once upon a time Ari was the host, and Bishop Martin was 
 sitting facing him at the table, and Ari drank to the bishop and sung the 
 old stave — 
 
 'So gay at heart and glad am I, all for thy sake, 
 Out in the grove I fain would be, with thee, fair make ! ' 
 
 The bishop took the stoup and answered him back in the same verse, 
 turning the words a little — 
 
 *So ill at heart and sad am T, all for thy sake, 
 Out in the grove I would not be, with thee, fair make ! ' 
 
 Then Ari grew angry and said, ' Back, back, into the bag, the bag, as the 
 Eyfrith men used to say ! ' and Martin got up from the table and went 
 away." [See our No. 3.] 
 
 In his preface to the First Reformation Hymn Book of 1589, good 
 Bishop Gudbrand gives testimony to the Dance of his day, in his own 
 earnest and racy words, to the following effect^ : — 
 
 " For after the manner of drunkards, drenched in wine and beer, these 
 men keep up in their midst foul talk of fleshly and devilish defilement 
 and other uncleanness, singing and bellowing like cattle or calves, playing 
 and dancing, and carrying on other niughty behaviour and wantonness, 
 
 1 We subjoin his own vigorous text : — 
 
 |jvi at liica svo sem J)eir drykkju-darai, sem-a'^ drekka vin og bior, J)eir hafa sin 
 i milli slaemt skraf urn holdliga og diofuUiga saurgan og annan ohreinleika, syngja 
 og baula sem naut og kalfar, spila og danza, og fremja annad vondsligt athsefi e&a 
 gaiuskap, og lata opt af ser konia gi-61astarnir og oniuir onytsamleg or6. 
 
 A5 siSustu, til \ti% a& af niaetti leggjast onytsamlegir kveSlingar um Triill og 
 
 C C 2
 
 388 DANZ OK VISUR. [bk. x. 
 
 and putting forth continually blasphemies and the like unprofitable 
 words." Jlnd again — 
 
 "And lastly I have made this book to the end that men might be able to 
 put away unprofitable songs of Ogres and of the Heathen of old, Ri'mur, 
 naughty love-songs, amorous verses, sonnets of lust, verses of mockery 
 and malice, and other foul and evil poesy, ribaldry, wantonness, and 
 lampoonery and satire, such as are loved and used by the commonalty of 
 this land to the displeasure of God and his angels, and to the delight and 
 service of the devil and his messengers, more than in any other country, 
 and more after the fashion of pagan men than Christian folk, for on 
 Wake-nights or Vigils and other gatherings of men, and likewise at 
 feasts and banquets, hardly anything else is heard by way of entertain- 
 ment and merry-making than such vain poesy, — God a' mercy ! " 
 
 And in the 'man-song' or prologue of a Rfma of the same century^ 
 we find — 
 ' With holy writ they mock and play, to pious folk's displeasure ; 
 
 And sacred song and wanton lay mix in the self-same measure.' 
 And— 
 ' The gospel song and Bosi's screed are mingled up in one.' 
 
 The final account of the ' danz ' is given by Eggert Olafsson (who 
 was born 1726), in his Travels, 1772, when he says, § 520, "Entertain- 
 ments or merry-makings are now held in the winter not nearly so often as 
 of old. In these something or other is represented and always the same 
 in each mumming. For example, a hart decked up with lights, a knight 
 riding a horse, a procession of amazons or shield-maidens, and the like. 
 During the show the guests that are bidden hold a Week-wake, that is 
 a kind of song between men and women paired off together. They hold 
 each other by the hands and sing verses touching each other, or on the 
 common circumstances, to different tunes. Here it is an advantage to have 
 a good memory and be able to bring out of one's head the prettiest verse 
 that will suit best. And while they sing in this way they bow the body 
 slightly backwards and forwards, stepping on the right leg, though without 
 changing place. For the beginning and the refrains, the leader sings a 
 verse in a lou i voice, and some of the company sing with him and the 
 others respond. Week-wakes have been known from old days, and are 
 called in some places 'Dans,' which w-ord in our old Northern speech does 
 not properly mean a moving of the body, but a concert or song, sung by 
 many people, so arranged as to set forth some occurrence or other." 
 
 In 1746 there was a decree put forth by the bigot King Christian VI 
 of Denmark, against such popular mumming and merry-making, threat- 
 ening transgressors with the pillory; and before the end of the century 
 
 Fornmenni, Rimnr, illir Mansongvar, Afmors-visur, Bruna-kvaedi, Ha3s og Hug- 
 mo6s,-visur ; og annar liotur og vondr kvedskapr, keskni, klam, og ni3, og had, 
 sem her hid Al^ySu-folki er elska5 og i3ka8, Gu9i og hans Englum til stygSar, 
 Dioflinum og hans arum til gleSskapar og J)i6niistu, framar meir eiin i nokkru landi, 
 og meir eptir plagsi6 heiSinna manna enn Kristinna ; a Voku-nottum og o9rum 
 manna motum, ok s6mulei5is i veizlum og gesta-bo3um heyrist valla annad til 
 skemtunar haft og gleSskapar enn jjessi hegomlegi kvaeSa'kapur, — sem Gu3 na5i. 
 
 ' Flika ^eir svo me3 frse5in g63 : a9 fromum Jiykir a3 vansi ; 
 
 heilog kvae3i og hindur-li63 : eru h6f3 i einum danzi. 
 And— 
 
 Gu3spiollum og Bosa-brag : er blanda3 saman 1 eiuu. 
 
 Compare the language of W. Baldwin, 1549, with reference to his 'Canticles or 
 Balades of Solomon,' which were to ' drive out of ofEce the baudy balades of lecherous 
 \ovt' —See J. Ritson.
 
 §3.] DANCE AND BALLAD. 389 
 
 the practice had entirely died out, so that people born in 1762 and 1775 
 in the West of Iceland knew nothing of such entertainments. Not 
 that the worthy king's edict had so much to do with it as the deep dis- 
 tress caused by the appalling natural visitations to which Iceland was 
 a victim during a score of years after Eggert wrote. 
 
 Still the prejudice of the more serious part of the community was deep- 
 rooted against these mummings with their light songs, as the evidence of 
 the Icelandic folk-tales illustrates. There is a story of a priest and all 
 his congregation setting up a dance one Yule-night at service-time in 
 the churchyard. The priest's old mother, terribly scandalised, ran out 
 to stop it, and remonstrated with her son three times to no avail. The 
 third time, at midnight, she saw a man among them who sang with a 
 hollow voice — ' INIy turn is come ! These good folks have sung all round.' 
 The good-wife took the priest's horse and rode off for help, for she saw 
 that her son and the whole congregation had all gone mad. When she 
 came back with the priest of Waltheowstead, they found that the con^- 
 gregation had sunk down wholly into the earth, and the priest and clerk 
 were half covered, but they were able to rescue them. Long afterwards 
 the noise of the merry-making of the dancers could be heard under the 
 ground. 
 
 Another version lays the scene at Hruna, names the priest's mother 
 Una, and makes the verses run — 
 
 ' The song in Hruna sounds so gay, 
 The people flock to join the play ; 
 The dance shall din in such a way 
 They shall not soon forget the day. 
 
 All save Una ! ' 
 
 One gathers from the above quotations that these ' danz,' which 
 had lasted six hundred years, must have been very like the French 
 ' jeu-partis,' and those twelfth-century songs in which there is a 
 change of persons and a refrain or chorus to be sung by the company. 
 This was the origin of our English 'jig' or 'ballad,' in which the 
 leader sung the refrain first, then verse by verse was sung, sometimes 
 by two persons, but afterwards, as the song became less lyrical and 
 satirical than of an epic or narrative character, by one person, the whole 
 company singing and stamping the chorus. Our mummeries, too, are 
 just what Eggert describes as 'the shovN'' St. George and the Dragon,- 
 Bessy (a late and uncouth Amazon), Jack-in-the-Green, and the like. 
 
 We have unluckily no full text of a Week-wake song, but we know 
 many of the verses which, beifig favourite and nvell knoivn and setting the 
 tune, were used as refrains for the ' Visur ' on epic subjects, which in the 
 seventeenth century seem to have been known in Iceland, but which 
 were, down to recent times, the staple popular poetry of the Faroese 
 and Orkneymen. From a selection of their burdens, which we give 
 below, a good idea of the mediaeval ' Danz ' may be gathered. 
 
 It will be manifest that the Dance may be clearly marked off from 
 the epic VisuR, to which some modern writers have given the name 
 * fornkvaedi.' These never had a deep popularity in Iceland. We 
 have only one collection, that gathered and composed by Gizur, the 
 brother of Bishop Bryniolf (b. 1603, d. 1681), priest and poet of Alpta- 
 Myre. They represent a great variety of composition, adaptations of 
 foreign (Danish, Swedish, Norse, Faroese) book-tales, and though a 
 few have Icelandic names, they have not the flavour of the soil. One 
 doubts indeed whether they were anything more than an attempt on the 
 part of Gizur and his friends to imitate the ballads of the Continent or
 
 390 DANZ OK VISUR. [bk. x. 
 
 the British Islands. There was no necessity or place for them really in 
 Iceland, where the pungent satire and love-poetry of the Week- wake 
 were still enjoyed; while the alliterative 'Rimur' completely satisfied the 
 appetite for epic narrative. The numerous Danicisms, the foreign form of 
 the epic ' Visur,' suffice to prove their origin. Some (55 out of a hundred) 
 have been edited by Sigurdsson and Grundtvig under the title ' Islenzk 
 Fornquaedi;' some 50 still remain in paper INISS., the Brit. Mus. 11,177 
 of the end of the seventeenth century containing about 75 Icelandic 
 Visur, derived from Gizur's collection. The ballad is in fact an exotic 
 in Iceland. The ballads of the Faroese are, on the other hand, good 
 and fine of their kind ; their subjects were, as we noticed in Prolegomena, 
 mostly taken from one or two Saga-vellums which came from Iceland 
 at the end of the Middle Ages, the contents of which can be gauged 
 from the stories chosen by the poets of the * Visur.' 
 
 The Orkney * Visur ' are almost entirely lost, a few fragments alone 
 surviving to show the existence of a former school of ballad-poetry 
 having flourished there also, the last leaf of the poetic stock which had 
 borne such wonderful fruit there six centuries earlier. 
 
 Both the 'Danz' and the 'Visur' are distinguished from other Icelandic 
 poetry by the frequent lack of alliteration. This lack was less felt because 
 they were sung and stepped to, the metre being thus clearly and unmis- 
 takably marked out. But the absence of alliteration no doubt prevented 
 the epic 'Visur' from ever competing successfully with the Ri'mur. 
 
 The ultimate French origin of this whole class of poetry is unmis- 
 takable, especially in the best ' Danz ' fragments, which have quite the 
 ring and tone of such lines as — 
 
 ' Or ne hais rien tant com lou iour 
 
 Amis, ke me depart de uos.' — Gaces Brukz. 
 The article 'Danz' in the Dictionary was written Dec. 1867, and may 
 be supplemented by this notice. 
 
 The Faroese ballads, which they themselves call 'Ruimur' (though 
 they are not at all what are called in Iceland ' Rimur '), and which are, 
 of all the Northern Ballads, nearest to the ' Danz ' verses we have 
 been speaking of, were first collected by F. C. Swaboe in 1 781-1782, and 
 remain lor the most part unpublished in the Royal Library, Copenhagen. 
 Selections have been published by H, C. Lyngbye, 1822, at Randers, 
 and by V. V. Hammershaimb (in Icelandicised spelling), Copenhagen, 
 1851-55- 
 
 The earliest collection of Danish ballads is not older than 1548, to wit, 
 the Folio of Karen Brahe in the Odense Library in Funen (a Royal wed- 
 ding of 1548 is the subject of one of the ballads in it). Next comes 
 that of the historian Swaning (b. 1503, d. 1584). There are other MS. 
 collections, but all later. The first />;7K/f^ collection is that of 100 ballads 
 by Andres Sorensen Wedel, Swaning's son-in-law, the translator of 
 Saxo, which came out in 1591, and was dedicated to the reigning queen. 
 A century later Peter Syv, the collector of Danish proverbs, republished 
 this collection, adding a second hundred. 
 
 The first printed collection of Norv.-egian ballads is that of Landstad 
 the priest, the famous Norse hymn-writer, taken down from viva voce 
 recitation in Thelemark, printed in 1853 at Copenhagen. Landstad 
 died at a high age in 1880. 
 
 The Swedish collections are late, those of Arwidson 1834, Afzelius 1814, 
 
 The palm of Northern Ballad Collections is due to Swen Grundtvig's 
 huge work, Danmark's Gamle Folkeviser, 1853-81, a vas': store of ballads 
 and ballad-lore, especially interesting to Englishmen and Scots.
 
 § 3-] ICELANDIC AND FAROIC DANCE-BURDENS. 391 
 
 It would be very interesting if some good observer would give a care- 
 ful account of the ballad-singing of the Faroese in the present day, for it 
 is only there that the old way of performing ballads and jigs has sur- 
 vived in unbroken continuity from the Middle Ages. 
 
 I. Icelandic Danz Fragments and Refrains. 
 
 * I. T OPTR er i Eyjom, bitr lunda bein, 
 
 ■^ Saemundr er a heiSom, etr berin ein. 
 
 * 2. Miliar ero sorgir J)ungar sem bly. 
 
 3. Svo er mer glatt ok gleSisamt, — J)vi veldr Jiii — ■ 
 mik langar lit i lundinn me6 ^a jungfrii. 
 
 Svo er mer illt ok angrsamt, — ^vi veldur J)u — 
 mik langar ekki i lundiim me6 pa jungfrii. 
 
 4. Fagurt syngur svanrinn um sumar-langa tid, 
 J)a mun lyst at leika ser, min liljan frid. 
 
 5. Skinn a skildi sol ok sumari8 fri6a, 
 dunar i velli er drengir i burtu riSa. 
 
 6. Einum unna-ek manninum a me3an J)at var, 
 J)6 hlaut ek minn harm at bera i leyndum sta&. 
 
 7. Blitt laetur veroldin ; fulnar fiigur fold, 
 langt er siSan mitt var yndiS lagt i mold. 
 
 8. Ungan leit-ek hofmann i fogrum runni, 
 skal-ek i hli66i dilla J)eim mer unni. 
 
 9. Fagrar heyr5a-ek raddirnar viS Niflunga heim, 
 ek ma ekki sofa fyrir songinum Jjeim. 
 
 10. Mein-bugir baegja mer fra bru6i, 
 
 sorgin mik lu6i. sorgin mik liiSi. 
 
 II. Ein ber Hon angur fyrir Jiann 661ing. 
 
 12. Sa er einginn gla5ur eptir annan preyr. 
 
 13. Sv6 linna tregar sem ti5ir, 
 allir dagar eiga kveld um si3ir. 
 
 14. Folnar fold, fyrnist allt ok mae6ist, 
 hold er mold, hverju sem J)at klaeSist. 
 
 15. Leggjum land undir fot a Dana-mot 
 ok danz vil hun heyra. 
 
 16. Vaentir friiin Jjin, 
 
 vifl Lundunaborg {)ar bi3r htin min. 
 
 17. Ut ertu vi& aeginn bla, eg er her a Drongum, 
 kalla eg longum, kalla-eg til J)in longum. 
 
 18. J>eim var ekki skapaS nema a5 skilja. 
 
 19. f)6 er hinn sami vilinn minn til hennar. 
 
 20. Ekki er dagur enn ! Vel danza vifin ! 
 
 II. FaROIC 'VufCENGUR,' OR BuRDENS. 
 
 I. "\/EL er mer ansad, her vil eg k golfi5 fram danza, 
 •^ J)o at J)u vilt mitt lif i vanda, vel er mer ansad. 
 
 * Nos. I and 2 repeated here for completeness sake from Book vi, No. 70.
 
 392 
 
 RTMUR. 
 
 Gefi6 hlioft fruvor, karl er kominn i danz, 
 Gu8 lati engi iomfnina gialda bans. 
 
 Stigum fastara a fiol ! sporum ei vorn sko ! 
 Gu6 mun ra6a hvar ver drekkum onnur 161. 
 
 Hva& skal mer harpan undir mina bond, 
 vill ekki fraegur fylgja mer a onnur lond ? 
 
 Orlof biSjum ver erlegir menn, 
 danz skolum ver hefja, er ekki dagur enn. — Cf. I. 20. 
 
 Glymur danzur i boll, slaiS ring, 
 glaSir riSa Nor9menn til Hildurs thing. 
 
 Noregis menn danza vel i (nbom : 
 stilus y6ur alia riddara ! Noregis menn. d. v. i. fr. 
 
 Latum danz dynja, drengir, stoltsliga stigum i ring. 
 Stendur bun vel fruva. 
 
 Gyltan spora vi9 minn fot eg spenni 
 svo temi eg minn gangara go3 og laet renna. 
 
 Mer st69 hugur a vsenu mey, kann eg hana fa. 
 
 Olafur kongur berjar hann mot troUum. 
 
 FroeSiS er komi3 fra Islandi, skrifa5 i bok so breida. 
 
 §4. R I M U R. 
 
 Besides the ' danz ' songs, there is another type of poem, which was 
 adapted by Icelandic poets under the influence of French models. This 
 is the ' Ri'ma,' the very name of which points to its foreign origin. 
 The first of these is the Olafs-rima by Einar Gilsson, which is printed 
 below ; it may be dated about 1360. The next that we know of is the 
 Sk'ida-rima of Einar Fostri, c. 1450, which follows it; and the great 
 Wolfen-buttel Cod. and AM. 604, of about 1500. We have in Prole- 
 gomena, § 25, given a fairly complete list of those Ri'mur which are 
 found in I'ellums, i. e. older than the Reformation. 
 
 But besides these, there is a continual succession of Rfmur down to 
 the present day, of which huge collections exist in paper MSS., not 
 to speak of those which have been printed. They are mostly book- 
 poetry, the earlier ones founded on the stories found in the Romantic 
 Sagas and the Bible ; the later also based on foreign novels, and now and 
 then, though a less favourite theme, on the Kings' Lives and Islendinga 
 Sogur, etc. There are Ri'mur of all types, — religious, satiric, historical, 
 and romantic. Though popular, their poetical standard is low. A curious 
 story, to be found in the first volume of John Arnason's Icelandic Folk- 
 tales, pp. 196-7, will illustrate this: — A party of men lose themselves on 
 the mountains and take shelter in a cave, where they agree to while 
 away the time in reciting poetry. One wishes for ' Hallgrim's Hymns,' 
 but another calls for 'Andra-rimur,' one of the coarsest of these poems. 
 When this Rima was being recited a deep voice was heard out of 
 the depths of the cave, ' Now I am pleased, but my wife is not.' Now 
 they changed the chanting, and Biorn, the best reciter of the company, 
 struck up Hallgrim's Hymns, and again the deep voice was heard, 
 ' Now my wife is pleased, but not I.' When Biorn had done, the same
 
 § 4.] OLAFS-RIMA. 393 
 
 voice called out, * Wilt have a lick of my ladle, poet Biorn ? ' and a 
 wooden trough full of porridge was handed out of the cave-depths to 
 the hungry men. The giant of the cave had evidently a Christian wife. 
 
 The Hallgrim of this story is the author of the beautiful Passion- 
 hymns, commonly called Hallgrims-salmar, sung at family worship, the 
 best and most popular of post-mediaeval poems. There is some account 
 of Hallgrim Petersson in the Reader. 
 
 There are many varieties of metre employed in Rfmur. The early 
 and original one is commonly called ''square verse,' ' fer-skeytt-visa,' 
 from the alternate rhyme, the model being the well-known mediaeval 
 hymn-measure used, for example, in — 
 
 ' Mihi est propositum : in taberna mori, 
 Vinum sit appositum : morientis ori,' etc. 
 Both strict alliteration and rhyme are necessary in every variety of Rfmur. 
 
 In imitation of the Drapa, the regular Rfmur have a kind of intro- 
 duction called ' man-song,' a dedication, as it were, addressed to some 
 lady, and sometimes an epilogue. These have no necessary connection 
 with the body of the poem, and are often in different metre. Several 
 metres are also often employed in the different ' fyttes ' of the body of 
 the poem. 
 
 There are, besides long poems, heaps of ditties and epigrams in Rfmur- 
 metre. The Rfmur, to mediaeval and modern Iceland, have replaced 
 the Saga as the natural artistic mode of expression and subject of 
 entertainment. 
 
 OLAFS-RIMA, by EINAR GILSSON. 
 
 At the head of Flatey-book, following Geisli and before Hyndlu-liod, 
 and written like them, by the second scribe of that volume, about 1380, 
 on an extra sheet affixed to the body of the big book, comes Olafs- 
 Rfma, the first, as far as we can tell, of its class. 
 
 Its author, Einar Gilsson, is named in Icelandic documents, which prove 
 his being in Shaw-firth in 1340 and 1353, his holding the post of Sheriff 
 in Hunawater Bailiwick in the North, and his filling the office of Law- 
 man from 1 367-1 368. He is the author of poems in court-metre on 
 Bishop Gudmund (see Biskopa Sogur, vol. ii, pp. 1-184), ^n*^ h^ was, we 
 believe, the scribe or owner of the great Saga-vellum, AM. 61. 
 
 The contents of Olafs-Rfma touch on the Battle of Sticklestead, the 
 Death and Translation of St. Olaf according to tradition and the church 
 legend. The poem has no historical worth, but, though not very melo- 
 dious (the metre was new as yet), it is interesting as showing the 
 relations of the new mediaeval poetic school to the old court-poetry. 
 
 1. /^LAFR kongur sorr ok fri9r : atti Noregi at raSa ; 
 ^^ gramr var se vi6 bragna bliSr : buinn Lil sigrs ok na6a. 
 
 2. Daogling hdlt sva d/'ran heiSr : drottni himna hallar; 
 engi sk^'rir ajrvar meiSr : aoQlings frsegSir allar. 
 
 3. Milding hafSi mentir \>?ev : er mestar v6ro f heimi ; 5 
 hvergi frcegra hilmi fasr : hvorki af gle6i ne seimi. 
 
 4. Fimm hefir kongur kristnaS laond : kann-ek a)ll at nefna ; 
 gramr vill iafnan rioSa rajnd : ok rangan usi6 hefna. 
 
 5. Ran ok stuldi refsti hann : ok rsektar sLiorn 1 landi ; 
 hilmir lagSi a heiSni banij : ok hefndi stort me6 brandi. 10
 
 394 RIMUR. [bk. x. 
 
 6. Gramr nam Isogmal setja sva : at seggir J)oldu valla ; 
 daligan let hann dauSa fa : drottins svikara alia. 
 
 7. Rekkar y'f6uzt rcesi a mot : ok rdtti harSIa saonnum ; 
 voru kongi heimsklig hot : hafin af sialfs sins ma)nnum. 
 
 8. Harekr var fyrir braognum bystr : buinn at stri6a stilli ; 15 
 t'orir hundr er pann veg lystr : J^riSi var Kalfr enn illi. 
 
 9. Kalfr var fyrst me9 kongi sa : kaerr i aollum raSum ; 
 nu er hann horfinn hilmi fra : heiSri sviptr ok daSum. 
 
 10. I'rsendir gengu f^ori a haDnd : |)eim var liuft at herja ; 
 Haleysk J)i6& vill rioSa raond : ok rikit kongi verja. 20 
 
 11. Fylkir rikur, frsegr ok mildr : frettir safnaS ^enna; 
 \)a. vill hilmir hraustr ok gildr : hvergi undan renna. 
 
 12. Bragning Isetur byrja fer9 : bonda mug 1 moti ; 
 hann vill iafnan hrsera sverS : ok her6a skot me5 spioti. 
 
 13. Sikling hafSi safnaS J)a : sinum ga^rpum snia)llum; 25 
 loffiungs kann-ek Ifbi at tia : langt bar gramr af a)llum. 
 
 14. Hl^'ri kongs var harfila iungr : hann vil-ek fyrstan nefna; 
 vfst nam Haraldr ^ykkju t)ungr : f'raendum str:6 at hefna. 
 
 15. Get-ek ei hrotta ha)ggit raond : (Haraldr talar vi6 garpa); 
 bindit m6r vi9 mina ha)nd : mseki {)ann inn snarpa. 30 
 
 16. Raognvaldur var mildr ok merkr : me9 J)eim kongi g66a; 
 Brusason nam brig6a sterkr : brand f dreyra at ri66a. 
 
 17. Finnr Arnason fraekn ok hraustr : fylgir iaofri sterkum; 
 BiaDrn stallari tryggr ok traustr : trur vel raesi merkum. 
 
 18. Sa var annarr Arna ma)gr : /"tar f'orberg kalla; 35 
 hann Idt stalin stinn ok faogr : f sterkum hlifum gialla. 
 
 19. f'ormoSr var vi6 Kolbrun kendr : kongsins skaldit dfra.; 
 sa bar hvassar hyggju strendr : hvar sem garpar striSa. 
 
 20. NaSuzt menn 1 niflungs flokk : nser sem risar at Ifta; 
 
 |)eir hafa bragnar brynju rokk : brandi skorit enn hvita. 40 
 
 2 1 . Gengu fram fyrir kongsins kne : ok kvajddu stilli enn teita ; 
 buQu J)eir b8e5i fylgQ ok fe : fraegum siola at veita. 
 
 22. Gramr r^6 spyrja garpa \)i : Ga)rit mer heiti at inna ; 
 tru skulu greina seggir sva : at satt megi til J)ess finna. 
 
 23. Opt hafa J)egnar ^riozku hefnt : J^at mun engi lasta ; 45 
 Gauka-t'ori hafa gumnar nefnt : glaSan ok Hafra-fasta. 
 
 24. Treystum ver a matt ok megn : er margan riddara prySir ; 
 a^ngva hafa af Asum fregn : okkrir sterkir IfQir. 
 
 25. Taki-Jjdr heldr helga tru : himna kongs me5 bloma ; 
 virSar kastid villu mi : ok verit me9 oss 1 soma, 50 
 
 26. Lfb'u- gerSu lykt a ^i : at leysa ^enna vanda ; 
 skirnar brunn fara skatnar 1 : ok skynda Gu9i til handa. 
 
 27. t'rek-storr kom til J)engils maSr : J)ann fra-ek Arnliot heita ; 
 tok hann skirn ok gekk \)6 gla9r : grams 1 flokkinn teita. 
 
 28. Garpar fleiri at fylki renn : enn fyrSar mega ^at telja; 55 
 siklingur nam saemSar menn : ser til H6s at velja, 
 
 29. Kalfur haf9i muga mann : merkta va)llu vi6a ; 
 nf9ingligt var ' naesta ' bans : niflung \>e\m at striSa.
 
 § 4.] OLAFS-RIMA. 395 
 
 30. Bialfa klseddizt haorSum Hundr : ok bans sveitungar margin ; 
 ^at hafa geysi-grimmligt undr : gert Bu-Finnar argir. 60 
 
 31. Rsesir talar vi9 t'orgils f)a : — |)at var mest af pry8i — 
 P6t vil ek silfr i si66i fa : ^u se6 me3 a\imz-\f6i. 
 
 32. f'orgils hugsar J)engils mal : {^dr innit framar hoti; 
 Gef fyrir ^eirra garpa sal : er ganga oss i moti. 
 
 33. Herrinn drifr a hilmis fund : at heyja imon stranga ; 65 
 sva var ^rutin f)eirra lund : at ^raut var6 fram at ganga. 
 
 34. Miiginn |)essi geysizt gegn : gram med sarum vilja ; 
 Idogpu a orku ok allt sitt megn : iajfur vi6 land at skilja. 
 
 35. A Stikla-stcoSum var roman remd : rfkum kongi 1 moti ; 
 ^ar voru ska)pt me8 haDndum hremd : ok hsorQu kastaS grioti. 
 
 36. Harekr eggjar her-li9 sftt : heitir majrgum soma : 71 
 Luki garpar geysi-strftt : gram-fyrir har8a doma. 
 
 37. G66a sver6it Hneitir hdt : haf6i gramr til vfga; 
 \)ar fyrir margan J)engill Idt : t)egn at ia)r6u hniga. 
 
 38. Gumnar hlaupa geystir fram : grams fyrir merkit vsena ; 75 
 reisa J)annig randa glam : ok rista skiaoldu grsena. 
 
 39. Gellini tok at geysazt hart : ok ger6i romu stranga ; 
 sannliga \6t hann seggja mart : saran dau8a fanga. 
 
 40. Arna-synir sinn unda na8r : einart drogu af magni ; 
 kendiz ei sva klokur ma8r : ksemi hlif at gagni. 80 
 
 41. f'ormoSur nam brytja bra6 :bleikum falu hesti; 
 var8i kong me8 dyg8 ok da8 : darra ^1 hann hvesti. 
 
 42. t'orir Hundur J^rautar gildr : J)reif sftt spi6ti6 snarpa ; 
 laga var hann ok ha)ggva mildr : vi8 har8a kongsins garpa. 
 
 43. f'orsteinn het sa er I'ori vi3r : J)ar nam fram at ganga; 85 
 sa var kendur Knarrar-smi8r : kominn f villu stranga. 
 
 44. Kongrinn hio til t'oris \)d. : pat fra-ek undrum ssetti ; 
 ekki beit bans bialfann a : bratt sem grioti msetti. 
 
 45. Bisorn stallari bystr ok rei8r : bar8i Hund i moti ; 
 
 sf8an hn^ vid sannan hei8r : seggr a t'oris spioti. 90 
 
 46. I'orgeirr v68 1 randa regn : rsesi na8i at finna ; 
 snarr r^8 kongur J)ri6zkum J^egn : t)essi or8 at inna : 
 
 47. t'eygi gerir — \)u f'orir rett : at J)reyngja ma)nnum mi'num ; 
 lypta-ek \)6r af lagri sldtt : lokit mun sigri |)inum. 
 
 48. Kongrinn hio me6 Hneiti J3a : sva hraud af eggjum baSum ; 
 f'orgeirr dau8r a lyngi la : lifi sviptr ok da8um. 96 
 
 49. l*orsteinn r^6 a f)engils kn^ : J)unnri a^xi at snfQa ; 
 si8an \6t hann fia^r me8 fd : ok fell 1 anau8 stri8a. 
 
 50. Biairtum varp s^r brandi fra : bu8lungs hajndin mseta ; 
 sioli ba6 me8 sarnnu J^a : sialfan Gu8 sin gaeta. ico 
 
 51. f'orir lag8i f kongsins kvi8 : kcoldum snotar ra5um ; 
 hilmis sal tok haestan fri8 : himna grams me6 naSum. 
 
 52. Kalfur hio til bragnings bystr : batt sdr J)ungan randa ; 
 ramliga var hann a rei6i lystr : raesi f)eim at granda. 
 
 53. Myrkri slo yfir menn ok hia)r8 : vi6 mildings dfran dau8a; 
 litu ^a hvorki Isog n6 ia)r3 : 1^3 aflar J^at nau5a. 106
 
 396 RIMUR. [bk. x. 
 
 54. M kom Dagr me6 drengi sin : darra \nng at heyja; 
 margur hlaut vi3 mikla pin : ma6r af sut at deyja. 
 
 55. ^silig var odda hri6 : undrum fra-ek J)at gegna ; 
 
 matti ekki meira stri6 : af malma leiki fregna. 110 
 
 56. HrseSilig var hia^rva gnau3 : harSar brynjur sprungu ; 
 drengir fengu dapra nau6 : daorr a hlifum sungu. 
 
 57. Stort var {)etta manna mot : mest kom hialp til bragna; 
 dauQir fengu ok blindir bot : biugir heilsu fagna. 
 
 58. i'orgils geymdi J)engils lik : J)at for heldr af hlioSi ; 115 
 maSr tok sfn fyrir merkin sli'k : af msetu kongsins bI63i. 
 
 59. Froni er huldur fylkir msetr : fir6ur nau3 ok grandi ; 
 likami kongs var mildr ok mcetr : manu3r tolf 1 sandi. 
 
 60. t'eim kom vir6um vondzlig ^raut : at vi'sis fengu reiSi ; 
 geislar skinu um grund a braut : grams af dfvn leidi. 120 
 
 61. L/'6ir toku upp likama bans : lutu pi kongi sniajUum; 
 bar ok negl var heilags manns : hatt at vexti aollum. 
 
 62. Hildings taka l^a helgan dom : halir 1 skrin at leggja; 
 nu er Kristz et biarta blom : ok bh'Qust miskunn seggja. 
 
 63. Diottni fasr3i a)6!ingr aind : ftum h'kam seldi ; 125 
 nu er hann Gu9s a haegri hsond : himins i sezta vekii. 
 
 64. Bu61ungs hei6r er biartr ok n'kr : bseSi um laand ok geima; 
 faeddizt engi fylkir slikr : fyrri norSr 1 heima. 
 
 65. Rei3ztj{)u ei Ipo, J)engill ])6r : J)yr5a-ek visu at bi66a ! 
 
 Bi9r ek Olaf biarga m^r : vi3 bragning allra J)i63a ! 130 
 
 SKIDA-RIMA, BY EINAR FOSTRI. 
 
 The original vellum of this poem, which is from its subject, age, 
 and humour worthy of separate notice, is unfortunately lost. We have 
 nothing but a paper copy (AM. Additamenta) by Erlend Olafsson, 
 brother of the well-known John Olafsson, c, 1730. It is glossed with 
 proposed alterations (substituting coarse and common words for the 
 mock-heroic epithets and style of the original) between the lines, and is 
 a little difficult to deal with. The Editor copied it in 1862 and gave the 
 copy to Dr. Maurer, who published it in 1869. It has since been re- 
 printed by Dr. Cederschiold, who, in a few cases, has bettered the order 
 of the stanzas. 
 
 Biorn of Skardsa (c. 1 6 3 3 ) mentions the poem, and describes its contents, 
 naming Einar Fosterer as its author; and we have no reason to doubt 
 this ascription, which may well have been on the vellum itself from 
 which Erlend copied it. The only point to settle is the date of Einar. 
 Biorn's words are, in his Greenland's Annals, talking of Biorn of Vatns- 
 firth, the Crusader, " With him on his journey was Einar Fostri, his poet 
 and entertainer, who used to amuse him every Sunday, Tuesday, and 
 Friday, whenever he wanted amusing. Wise men say that Einar made 
 Skida-Rima for pastime one day when his turn came to entertain the 
 crew, as is indeed expressly mentioned at the end of his poem : ' Here 
 shall the poem wait till Sunday.' Einar also composed Skauf-hala-balkr 
 
 117. Read, saetr ?
 
 §4.] 
 
 SKIDA-RIMA. 397 
 
 and Barngoelur, as he says at the end of the 'balk.' This piece and lullaby- 
 song Einar made without art, i.e. not in court-metre." But Biorn seems to 
 have been mistaken in his dates, for misled by the words ' sfovar-rok,' a 
 tradition had no doubt grown up taking Einar on the pilgrimage with 
 Biorn, who is last mentioned about 1415, and was a Uttle king in 
 North-west Iceland in his day. However, Erlend Olafsson knows 
 Einar as the poet of Lady Olaf, the wife of Biorn, the grandson of this 
 Crusading Biorn, and this is perhaps the most likely. The phrase 'sea- 
 drift of the dwarves' is a mere synonym for 'poetry,' and does not refer 
 to a sea-journey at all. The metre and character of the poem would 
 rather require more than less years between it and Oiafs-Ri'ma, and had 
 we not known Biorn's tradition, Erlend's date would readily have been 
 accepted. At any rate, it has all the test-marks of a pre-Reformation 
 poem: the end measure is always trochaic - u, never ^ w, which in 
 a poem of four hundred lines cannot be a mere chance. Hence 
 at the time of its composition quantity was still observed in speech. 
 Further, the forms of the rhyme-words — v6dinn (peril), sv6, v6rr, for 
 the later vodi, svo, vor; the inflexive r is not syllabic before a pause 
 (in the fourth measure), but in other places is syllabic now and then ; 
 strange foreign words, as jungr for ungr (the poet seems but half aware 
 that jung and ung are the same word, for he calls the o/<a' beggar 'young' in 
 V. 1 99, though that may be half for fun, perhaps, as the wooer of Walhalla), 
 and so on. Neither date is impossible, 1400 or 1450. 
 
 The internal evidence of the poem points to the fact that it was 
 intended for entertainment on Sunday evenings, the recognised time for 
 dancing and music as in our Book of Sports, and that it was the work of 
 a man who knew the Medalfell-Strand Headlands in Broadfirth, North- 
 west of Iceland, thoroughly well; the journeys of his hero Skidi and 
 the locale of the poem are there. Geirmund Hellskin, Skidi's patron in 
 Walhalla, was the first settler of this peninsula. 
 
 The name ' Fostri ' may allude to some connection between the poet 
 and the Biorns. Was he the older Biorn's foster-son or the younger 
 Biorn's fosterer? 
 
 The Jtory of Skida-Rima is based on an incident in the life of Sturla, 
 Snorri's father, and is told in his Saga (Sturlunga, i. p. 69), but without the 
 name of the hero, the beggar Skidi, which suggests that the author Einar 
 got his story from an earlier and fuller life of Sturla than the abridged one 
 which we possess. Skidi, the sturdy beggar, has been going his rounds in 
 the North-west of Iceland, and comes to the house of Thorgils Oddason 
 at Stadarhold, where they are just killing a fat ox from Stagley ; he begs 
 enough leather for two pairs of brogues out of the raw hide, and trudges 
 over the ridge to Hvamm, where Sturla lives. Here he gets a steel knife 
 and scrip, and goes on to Hit-dale to the homestead of Thorleif, no friend 
 of Sturla's. Thorleif, finding out whence he has come, will not give him a 
 meal, so when he has cut him the brogues out of his piece of hide, he 
 trusses his pack on to his shoulders, and lying down with the other beg- 
 gars in the porch falls fast asleep. So far the Saga has given material, but 
 now follows the poet's own creation, Skidi's dream. In comes a big man 
 with a great iron hammer and says that he is come from Woden to take 
 him to Asiaham (on the Black Sea) to settle the disputes of the heroes. 
 Off goes Skidi with Thor the messenger: crossing Iceland, they wade 
 over to Norway from Cape Horn, the sea hardly covering their shoes. 
 The first person they meet in Norway is Olmod, 'sitting out' working 
 sorcery. He and Skidi quarrel, and Skidi breaks the rivet-band of his 
 staff. But they cannot stay ; on they trudge, down the whole length of
 
 398 RIMUR. [bk. x. 
 
 Norway, through Denmark, and ever on till at last they reach the god's 
 hall in Asiaham. Thor acts as guide to Skidi, and points out the heroes 
 in order to him, where they sit round the hall below Woden and the twelve 
 Anses. Woden welcomes Skidi, and asks about the different Icelandic 
 noblemen. Skidi praises Thorgil and Sturla. He then begs for a new 
 rivet-band and his pig full of butter, which he gets ; and Woden gives 
 him a wife withal, the beautiful Hild. But Skidi crosses himself and so 
 rouses the ill-will of the Anses, and Heimdal strikes him with his horn. 
 A terrible conflict now takes place, in which mock-heroic exploits are 
 performed of a Gargantuan character. At last Sigfred takes up the 
 'christian' Skidi and hurls him out of Walhall, but the beggar has left 
 his butter-pig behind him and calls lustily for it. Asmund hurls it down 
 to him, and it strikes him in the mouth and wakes him up again — in 
 Hitdale. He is wounded and battered, four of his teeth are knocked out, 
 he has been laying about him in his blind sleep-fury during the night and 
 has killed five of his fellow beggars. The proof of the truth of the story 
 is that Skidi's two new pairs of brogues are trodden to pieces, his staff 
 is bound with an iron band weighing pounds and pounds, his pig is full 
 of butter (which is given to the dogs and kills them), and lastly, in 
 his wallet is found a tooth of one of the heroes, so huge that the ' best 
 crozier north in Holar ' was made out of it. Skidi was long ill, ' and I 
 fear he will never thrive as long as he uses such bad language and 
 refuses to wash on Saturdays.' 
 
 There is a fine Rabelaisian tone about Skida-R'ma, and the realism of 
 its vocabulary, with the keen observation of life it implies, is quite akin 
 to the French master's 
 
 'Nouvelles des diables et des damnes' 
 told by Epistemon when he came back from the Elysian fields, Pant. 
 Book n, ch. 30; and give the poem a high place among the produc- 
 tions of Icelandic humour. 
 
 As verse it is extremely melodious and pleasing to the ear; after copy- 
 ing it out for the first time, many years ago, the Editor found that he 
 had got it by heart, a test which Olafs-Rima, or even Einar's own 
 Reynard's Lay (Skauf-hala-balkr), utterly fails to bear. 
 
 An additional argument in favour of the later Biorn as Einar's patron 
 is the poet's apology for not putting in a ' man-song ' or introductory 
 envoy. This framing of the later Rfmur had clearly not been thought 
 of in the days of Olafs-Rima. 
 
 The list of heroes named in it gives an insight into the literature of 
 Einar's day — Hilditann, King Halfdan the Generous, I war, King Alf the 
 Strong, King Rolf Kraki, Haki, Hagbard, Starkad the Old, Arngrim's 
 Sons, Blot-Harold, Thrain-o'-Howe, the Wolsungs, Widolf ]Mit-stang, 
 Edgar the Giant and Aventrod,Wikar, Sorli the Strong, Gnod- Asmund, 
 IvarWidefathom, Sigurd Ring and Ragnar,Ali the Keen, the Ragnarssons, 
 Earl Andri, Isung's Sons, Regin and Fafni, Dwarves, twelve Bearsarks, 
 Rolf Ganger, Rolf Gautrick's son, Thori Ironshield, Hogni and Gunnar, 
 Ubbi the Frisian, Sigurd Swain, Rook the Black, Utstan, Agnar, Biarki, 
 Bruin and Brusi the Bearsarks, Earl Halfdan — and last not least, the 
 Icelandic settler Geirmund Hellskin, the founder of the farm where 
 Biorn and Lady Olaf resided, the only unromantic person of the list. 
 
 I. The Beginning. 
 I . Ayr ER er ekki urn IMansaong greitt : minztan tel-ek }Dat greida; 
 ■'■^J- J)vf mix ^ykkir aollum eitt : af ftvl garani lei6a.
 
 § 4-] SKIDA-RIMA. 399 
 
 Yngis-menn vilja ungar frur : i aldin-gardinn taela ; 
 feta ^ar ekki fraeQin ur : flest er gsort til vsela. 
 
 Ef koma upp naikkur kvce6in fin : hid katum silki-hrundum; 5 
 kalla J)3er se kveSit til sin : af kgerleiks elsku-fundum. 
 
 Ekki somir afmors vess : allium bauga skordum; 
 gengur maDrgum gaman til \)qss : at gylla ^ser i oi"6um. 
 
 Latum heldur leika tenn : a litlum sevint^rum ; 
 pi munu geta vor g69ir menn : hia gull-hla6s skorSum d/'rum. 
 
 Fiajlniss atti-ek fornan bat : sem flaut i 69ar ranni ; n 
 
 par var skrifu6 A skemtun kat : af Ski9a gaDngu-manni. 
 
 Hann olzt upp f Hltardal : har a ungum aldri ; 
 Jjat er hvorki skrum r\6 skial : skra8 af menja Baldri. 
 
 Manna hcestur, mior sem {)vengr : miklar hendr ok sf3ar ; 15 
 \)6 var upp ur kryppu kengr : ok krummur harSla vfSar. 
 
 Skeggit J)unt ok skakkar tenn : skotit ut kinnar-beinum ; 
 diarf-mseltur vi6 dandis-menn : drengrinn hvass 1 greinum. 
 
 Skreppu atti hann SkiQi s^r : ok sko-nal har6la priiSa ; 
 {)ar me8 enn, sem innt er mer : allan skreppu-skruSa. 20 
 
 Her me6 a hann storan staf : ok stseltan brodd me5 holki : 
 Ma6rinn kunni matar skraf : mis-iafnt kendraf folki. 
 
 Hus-gang r66 um allan aldr : sevi sinnar J)reyta ; 
 enga menn fann auQar-Baldr : i or6um sinum neyta. 
 
 Hirzlu atti halrinn s^r : heldur innan feita ; 25 
 
 lir mala stor ok mikil er : ma hun |dvi Smia)r-svin heita. 
 
 Er hun gaor sem annat svin : innan hoi sem kista ; 
 Greland dvergr lir garSi sin : gaf honum pa. til vista. 
 
 Hleypr a milium horna lands : halrinn biiinn til pretta ; 
 getit er Skf8a ga)ngu-manns : um ga)rvalt landit J)etta. 30 
 
 Nu hefir kempan kappi ha)r8 : kannat Vestur-sveitir ; 
 aptur kominn yfir um Fia)r8 : ok J)ar Saurbser heilir. 
 
 St66 ^ar baer, er Sta8ar-h611 het : stefnir J)angat Ski8i ; 
 jDcnna fra-ek at {)ekkjast l^t : I'orgils bondinn fri'di. 
 
 Odda-son til afreks vendr : ^tum st^^rSi finum ; 35 
 
 p2LT var Skfdi af skajtnum kendr : ok skemti af ferSum sfnum. 
 
 Segist drengrinn sott hafa heim : seggi vestr um FiajrSu ; 
 ' Brenni allr a baki pelm : beininn, sem mdr ga^rSu.' 
 
 I'orgils tekr ur seggnum suit : sa kann drengnum hiuka ; 
 mat-svin hans var meir enn fult : at morni vill hann striuka. 40 
 
 Ark dags er uppi sa : sem a fyrir majrgu at hugsa ; 
 seggir foru at slatra |)a : ok slogu Stagleyjar-uxa. 
 
 I'orgils tala6i pfbr ok gla8r : pi vi3 drenginn fina : 
 ' Hvat vill Ski3i husgangs-ma3r : hafa fyrir skemtan sina?' 
 
 Ask3e6um kvaS s6r ski6tast^a)rf : J)vi sko-laustgengi la^ngum ; 
 margur hefir sa meiri svaarf : er minna treystir ga:)ngum. 46 
 
 SkaeSin voru ur skarpri hu3 : skorin me6 hvajssum knifi ; 
 l^au voru ekki Jjynnri enn su6 : f)a var gaman at Iffi. 
 
 46. svorf] J)orf, Cd.
 
 400 RIMUR. [bk. X. 
 
 25. ' Renna mundi rausn af \)6r : fyrir rekka har61a fr65a, 
 
 ef \)U gsefir sonnur m^r : af uxanum J)eim inum g66a.' 50 
 
 26. ' Sker \)u sialfur, Ski6i minn : skae6in svo \)6v liki !' 
 ' Ofiiigt er um aorleik Jiinn : aorva lundrinn riki !' 
 
 27. Ristir hann ofan af ma)lunuin mitt : mikla lengju ok si9a ; 
 hafSi hann a pvi hvers manns kviit : at hann mundi aldri ri6a. 
 
 28. Alt var senn 1 einum kli6 : upp vatt truss medal her6a ; 55 
 scggi biSr hann sitja 1 fri6 : svo er hann buinn til fer6a. 
 
 29. Asolfs-gaotu ok austr um SkajrQ : setla-ek drengrinn J)rammi ; 
 J)ar til kempan kappi ha)r6 : kemur ni6r at Hvammi. 
 
 30. Sturli het sa slfrbi ]Dar : sta6nura J^eim inum fn'Qa ; 
 
 saemd ok heiSr af seggjum bar : sialf-bo6it let hann Sk:6a. 60 
 
 31. ' Hefir ^u kannat heru6in vestr? (hatt r^6 Sturli at maela); 
 hverr er ^ar skatna sksorungr mestr ? skylt er Ipvi at hasla.' 
 
 32. ' I'orgils er {)ar bondinn beztr : baugum kann at g£e3a, 
 var-ek hans 1 gser-kveld gestr : hann gaf mer tvenn pa)r skseSa.' 
 
 33. Sturli gaf honum stceltan knif : stora skreppu ok miuka ; 65 
 sialfan Gu9 baS signa hans lif : ok svo er hann buinn at striuka. 
 
 34. Drattar hann a Svin-biug su9r : ok svo me9 Hitar-vatni; 
 1 honum gajr6ist illur ku6r : aldri trui-ek hann batni. 
 
 35. Beiskjaldi 1 Belgja-dal : byrSum trui-ek at safni ; 
 
 {)enna {^egninn \)f6a. skal : ^orleif a35ru nafni. 70 
 
 36. Honum var ekki hiukat ^ar : heldur tok at natta ; 
 fram f stofunni fra-ek hann var : ^a folkit skyldi hatta. 
 
 37. Hann vilja ekki ha)ldar sia :hv6rki at mat n6 drykkju; 
 hann Leifi kvaS ei liggja a : um h'til-mennis Jjykkju. 
 
 38. Hann skefr \)i ofan af skjeQum sin : ok skona ga)r6i flora ; 
 (J)at kom rett 1 reikning min) : hann rekr i Jpvengi stora. 76 
 
 39. Byr um sko a belti ser : enn bindr upp a sik a6ra ; 
 f)at hafa seggir sagt fyr mer : at sli'kt eru bra)g9in |)a9ra. 
 
 40. Setr hann fyr sik svi'nit fritt : ok si3an bregSur kreppu ; 
 fiska-stykkit fagrt ok hvitt : fra-ek hann hef6i 1 skreppu. 80 
 
 41. Seggrinn taemdi svinit halft : ok siau grunnunga barSa ; 
 vi3-bit hlytr at synja sialft : setr nu at honum kvar6a. 
 
 42. Kastar ser 1 krok-pall ni6r : kcenn til husgangs-ferda ; 
 svmit bindr hann si6u vi6r : enn setr upp truss medal herda. 
 
 43. Drengrinn fra-ek i lopt upp la : liti6 var6 af sangum ; 85 
 fatsekt folkit hvildi hia : ok hrseddist strakinn la^ngum. 
 
 44. Ekki fra-ek hann signdi sik : (seint tok gle6in at rakna); 
 ei mun bratt, t)at uggir mik : af ilium draumi vakna. 
 
 45. Si6an for at sofna bratt : segginn engi geymdi ; 
 
 ferlig undrin fram a natt : fra-ek hann Ski6a dreymdi. 90 
 
 II. The Dream. 
 
 46. Inn kom ma3r 1 stofuna storr : me3 stseltan hamar i hendi ; 
 J)at var enn illi Asa-t'orr : er 03inn kongur sendi. 
 
 47. Or6um hagaSi |)anninn t'orr : ^egar hann finnur Ski3a : 
 ' (36inn kongur, yfirmann vorr : y6r ba3 til sin ri6a.'
 
 §4-] SKIDA-RIMA. 401 
 
 48. ' Fr^tt hefir hann, at fremdin \>in : ferr urn heiminn vi3a ; 95 
 hann vill alia hafa til sin : sem heimsins lystir frfSa.' 
 
 49. * Lana6 er J)er list ok vit : lukkan hefir J)ik fangat : 
 J)vi hefir sioli sent \)6r rit : at saekja austur f)angat.' 
 
 50. ^ ' Kom \>a.v til me8 k6ngum tveim : i kveld, {)eir skyldu hatta ; 
 09inn gefr \>6t au6 ok seim : ef pu ga)rir J)a satta.' 100 
 
 51. R^ttast ga)r6i raumrinn stir8r : ok t66 jDa fyrst at hrsekja : 
 ' Ei er milding minna vir3r : mun-ek a fund hans saekja.' 
 
 52. SkiQi fra-ek at skauzt a faetr : ok skundar ut mad t'ori ; 
 ekki fra-ek at litit Isetr ; laufa;vi3rinn stori. 
 
 53. Arka J)eir a isokla austr : Asa-f'orr ok SkiSi, 105 
 lei9sa)gu-madrinn lukku-traustr : ' laest {jar ei \)6 ' bfdi. 
 
 54. Austr af Horni ok lit a haf : alpu6u j)eir fra landi, 
 N6reg fra-ek Jjeir nseSi af:naerri t'randheims sandi. 
 
 55. Po bylgjur risi a bra)ttum sio : bragna gaorir pzt kata ; 
 aldri t6k J)eim upp yfir sko : ok ei fra-ek {)a vata. 1 10 
 
 56. Fundu J)eir 1 fiaDrunni mann : fra-ek hann OlmoS heita, 
 uti-setuna eflir hann : ok setlar spadoms leita. 
 
 57. Olmodr heilsar {)egar a Pot : ' Pu. munt kunna at skj^ra : 
 hverr 'r sa ma3r er me3 lp6T for : e9r mun hann lukku st/ra ?' 
 
 58. Por. ' SkfSa Nordmann skulum v^r hann : at skirnar-nafni kalla ; 
 
 hefr f briosti hreysti-mann : heims nattiiru alia/ 116 
 
 59. Oh/i. ' M^r lizt ekki " meiri " kraptr : mens yfir ^essum lundi ; 
 
 hitt mik uggir, hann komi ei aptr : heill af ykkrum fundi.' 
 
 60. Sk. ' Spa6u mdr engra, Herjans ha)ttr ! hrak-falla ! (kva8 Ski6i) 
 
 ellegar skal-ek, J^inn digri draDttr I dubba J)ik, svo svi6i.' 120 
 
 61. Olm. ' Hvorki er J)at hoi n^ skrum : hafi Jjik iEsir fangat ; 
 
 \>6r mun kostr at kaklast um : komist }3u austur |)angat.' 
 
 62. Fliotliga leiddist Ski6a skraf : skap-illr trui-ek hann {jekki, 
 laust til OlmoSs laongum staf : litt kom vi9 e6r ekki. 
 
 63. Ski9i datt, \)i skyldi hann : skiott a {jaranum ganga ; 125 
 holkinn misti hiisgangs-mann : af harkinu Jdvi inu langa. 
 
 64. Vir9um gengur varla i hag : vi'st, ef fleiru ti^na j 
 01m69r haf6i annan dag : iarnit J)etta at sfm. 
 
 65. Austr af Noreg /'tar tveir : attu fyrst at ganga, 
 drukk-langa stund dratta {)eir : fyrir Danmaork endi-langa. 130 
 
 66. Svo var brautin brei9 fyrir {)eim : sem borgar-strseti vaeri ; 
 fta.v komu f Asia-heim : 09ins haollu naerri. 
 
 67. Pi voru skornir Ski8a i sundr : skipti hann um \>a. siSan ; 
 enn ina fornu laufa-lundr : lagQi f klas-sekk vi8an. 
 
 68. Borgar-turnar gloa sem gull : glymr 1 hverju straeti, 135 
 heimsins er |)ar hegQan full : ok haeversk aonnur laeti. 
 
 69. ' Hverr a [)essi hiisin stor .? ' (halt r^d Ski9i maela) — 
 ' t'etta er hun Valhaoll vor : sem viss er f au9r ok saela.' 
 
 70. Ski9i spur9i at J)essu f'or : ' M munt kunna at skfra,, 
 
 hvar kempur sitja ok kongur vorr : ok kappa-sveitin d^Ta.' 140 
 
 96. pryfta, Cd. io6. Somehow wrong. 117, Thus. 1 20. minn, Cd. 
 
 VOL. II. D d
 
 402 RIMUR. [ 
 
 71 
 
 72 
 73 
 74 
 
 75 
 76 
 
 77 
 
 78 
 
 79 
 80 
 81 
 82 
 
 83 
 84 
 
 85 
 86 
 
 87 
 88 
 
 89 
 90 
 
 91 
 92 
 
 93 
 
 Por. ' (33inn sitr 9ar inzt f haoll : ok M%ir t61f a stoli ; 
 gloar hun aoU af greipar-miaoll : ok grettis rauSu boli. 
 
 HorfSu beint a Hildita^nn : ok Halfdan kong enn Milda ; 
 \)6.r mun vir6ast saga min ssonnj slikt tel ek kapp gilda. 
 
 Ivarr sitr Jjar inzt i ha)ll : ok Alfur kongr hinn sterki; 145 
 Hrolfur Kraki ok hir3 bans ajll : hraSr at snildar-verki. 
 
 Haka lita ok HagbarQ ma : hia honum StarkaS Gamla ; 
 Arngrfms-synir f)ar litar ifra : ekki litit bramla. 
 
 Blot-Haraldur hjv |)ar naest : beint ok f'rainn i haugi ; 
 vi3 \>k h'kar fyrSum faest : flagos er litr a draugi. 150 
 
 Vaolsungur me3 " visis " \)]ob : ok Vfdolfr Mittum-stangi, 
 Eddgeirr Risi ok AventroS : alt er a rei6i-gangi. 
 
 Hdr er Geirmund Heljar-skinn : ok hia honum kappinn 
 Vikar, 
 SaDrH hinn Sterki sezt \)zx inn : shlct eru kempur rfkar. 
 
 Asmundr sitr J)ar yzt vi3 gatt : er sa mesti kappi ; 155 
 
 garprinn sa, sem Gn66 hefr att : ga)rir s^r flest at happi. 
 
 Enn Vi6fa3mi Ivarr sitr:inztr a pallinn langa; 
 hundraS konga, herrann vitr : hvern dag me6 honum ganga. 
 
 SigurSr Hringur sitr jDar hia : ok sonr bans kongrinn Ragnar; 
 Ali hinn Fraekni litar Ifra : eru \)2X ra)skvir bragnar. 160 
 
 Ragnars-synir reiknast J)A : r^tt hia Andra ialli ; 
 Isungs-synir litar ifra : ekki smair a palli. 
 
 Regin ok Fofni rekkrinn, sia : r^tt fyrir nor8ri miSju, — 
 atian dvergar litar ifra : aUir hagir i smi6ju. 
 
 H^r naest ser-J)u ha)lda tolf : heldr i vexti gilda ; 165 
 
 garprinn, Jiekktu Ga^ngu-Hrolf : ok Gautreks arfa bins Milda. 
 
 f^ori larn-skia^ld Jjekkja ma : f)ar me6 Haogna ok Gunnar ; — 
 Ubbi hinn Frfski utar ifra : " ei mun betra " sunnar. 
 
 Yzt vi3 gatt er SigurSr Sveinn : settr af gaDrpum snia)llum ; 
 fyrrum vann hann Fofni einn : fraegstr af kongum allium, 1 70 
 
 Heldr hann a)llum hr^eddum h^r : hir6ir orma-setra ; 
 09inn setr hann ei hia sdr : autt rum |)ykkir betra. 
 
 t'ar er a stoli Freyja ok Frigg : ok fara me6 hvita gl6fa ; 
 enn er hin f)ri3ja |)orna-vigg : J^at er hun Hildr in Miova. 
 
 HeSinn vill giarna Hildi fa : enn HaDgni stendr a moti ] 175 
 fyrir f)at magnast malma {)ra : mugrinn kastar grioti. 
 
 Her feist undir au6nan J)in : ef ^u gaorir J)a satta ; 
 ellegar ver6r {^at ^'ta pin : innan |)riggja natta.' 
 
 f^vi n^st g^kk 1 Hava-ha)Il : halrinn kanpa-si8i ; 
 hirQin tok at hlaeja ?o\\ : ' Hvat mun vilja hann Ski3i ?' 180 
 
 SkiQi heilsar Fiajlni fyst : ok fdll J)at ekki ur minni ; 
 hann sa aHa heimsins lyst : i husi J^essu inni. 
 
 Herra 06inn hreyfdi s^r : ' Heill ok saell, minn Ski3i ! 
 sialf-bo6inn skaltu 1 sess hia mdr : seima-lundrinn fri6i ! 
 
 H^r er sa ma3r mik he fir lyst : marga stund at finna ; 185 
 
 151. visis] thus. 163. sa, Cd. 168. Some name?
 
 § 4.] SKIDA-RIMA. 403 
 
 J)u skalt segja m^r fr^ttir fyst : ok far-lengd Jjina inna.' 
 
 94. Sk. ' Fr^tta-laust er i fer6um mln : Fatt er kyrru betra ; 
 
 nalgast hef-ek a na6ir \)m : nu er-ek sex-tigi vetra.' 
 
 95. 06inn spurSi aptur nu : er |)at minni vandi : 
 
 'Eru margir meiri enn pu : menn a Isalandi?' 190 
 
 96. Sk. ' A Isalandi eru margir menn : mis-iafnt na)kkut rfkir; 
 
 p6 eru ekki allir enn : oss at mentum likir. 
 
 97. f'orgils er J^ar bondinn beztr : a byg6um vestur-sveita ; 
 sa kemr engi gaongu-gestr : at grei6a vili neita. 
 
 98. Ei er ek vanur (aulinn kva6) : 1 or6um menn at gylla ; 195 
 \>6 vil-ek s^na ^6r svinit ^2.6 : er seggrinn re9 at fylla. 
 
 99. Annat er J)ar agsett Iff: setla-ek hann heiti Stulli, 
 m^r gaf J)enna maeta knif : maSrinn saemda-fulli.' 
 
 100. OS. ' Fyr |3a neyS, \)u f^kkt af m^r : at fortu ur landi \)inu, 
 
 kia^r-grip skaltu kiosa \)er : karl ! ur rfki minu.' 200 
 
 loi. Sk. ' Herra, gef m6r hoik a staf : hann vil-ek giarna t)iggja ; 
 trua mfn veit, ek t^ndi honum af : tel-ek vi6 Noreg liggja.' 
 
 102. Ra)gnir kallar Regin til sin : ' Rammliga skaltu smi6a 
 stinnan hoik ur stali fin : a staf mins herra SkiSa.' 
 
 103. Hann kvaSst mundu hra6r at Jjvi : ok hefr sik ut 1 smi6ju, 
 halfan fiorSung haf6i i : haest var ra)nd 1 mi6ju. 206 
 
 104. Sk. ' G66i herra ! gef mer smiaor : greitt 1 hirzlu mina I' 
 
 Baenin su f^U beint 1 kiaor : bidr hann Freyju sfna. 
 
 105. Fr. ' Vista-fatt mun ver6a ^^r : vi'st, ef jatar flestu ; 
 
 sa kostnaSrinn sezt at m^r : smisorlaus er-ek at mestu.' 210 
 
 106. OS. 'Laufey min skal lata 1 : enn Loki eptir hlaupa.' 
 
 Fr. ' Mdr sj^nist engi saemd at J)vi : ef smiaor J)arf ut at kaupa.' 
 
 107. Farbauli Idt fylla svin : ok fsera J)at heim til hallar. 
 
 0$. ' Far6u ok geym ^at, Freyja min : ok fa honum, \>egax 
 hann kallar !' 
 
 108. f'ar kom innar afengt a)l : (56inn drakk til Ski9a : 215 
 ' f»u skalt hafa hia mer dvail : ok hvergi 1 kveldi ri9a/ 
 
 109. Halrinn {oakkar herra vin : ' Hafi-J)er Guds-laun, 06inn 1' 
 Enn hann greip fyr eyrun sin : sem at honum fseri v68inn. 
 
 1 10. Ob. ' Hann skaltu ekki i husum min : hir8a |Dratt at nefna ; 
 
 ellegar tapast au6nan {diu : sem d8ur hef-ek \)6t gefna. 220 
 
 111. Kvon-fang skaltu kiosa \)6r : kann-ek fleira at greina, 
 fli69in Iset-ek faol hia mdr : nema Freyju mfna eina.' 
 
 112. .S"^. ' Pfba. ky-s-ek J)orna bru : t)at er hun Hildr in Miova; 
 
 m^r lizt engi aonnur su : iafn-vel kunni h6fa.' 
 
 113. Ocf. ' Hajgni rsedr hverr hana a : \)vi hun er hans einga-dottir ; 
 
 ei mun He8ni hugnast J)a : ef her eru menn til sottir.' 226 
 
 114. Ski8i veik at Haogna her : ok hof svo raeQu si'na : 
 
 ' Hvat skal ek leggja f lofann a \)6t : Jju leifir mer mey svo fina ?' 
 
 115. Ha3gni segir, at Hedinn ma : Hildi sialfur gipta : 
 
 Sk. ' Hvergi kJ'S ek haerra a : J)vi hdr er vi6 dreng at skipta.' 230 
 
 211. Laufey] lavarSr, Cd. 229. He&inn] emend.; Hilmir, Cd. 
 
 D d 2
 
 404 RIMUR. [bk. x. 
 
 1 1 6. ' Alt 1 heimi ynni-ek til : at Jjit Haogni saettist.* 
 Hsb. ' i'eygi gengur J>etta i vil : {)6 vit Hildur aettimst.' 
 
 iiy, 'Magur |)inn ek verSa vih'veik svo Ski8i at Haogna. 
 Sk. ' VeriQ katir ok vfki6 til : vist vi3 konginn RaDgna !' 
 
 1 18. Ha)gni segir, at niagr bans ma : mikit um |)etta raSa. 235 
 Sk. ' Seu t)it kvittir ok sattir Jja ! signi Gu3 ykkr ba6a !' 
 
 119. ' Ilia er talat, (kva6 Asa-t'orr) : afreks-maQiinn fri3i ! 
 fyrir t)at tapast vinattan v6r : vendu t)ik af t)vi, Ski6i ! ' 
 
 120. 06inn spurSi unga fru : or3 ^arf sfzt at teiga : 
 
 ' Er J)er viljugt, vella-bru : vaskan dreng at eiga ?' 240 
 
 121. Hi. ' HeQni hef ek heitit {)vl : bans ek skylda bi3a ; 
 
 en ef bann fa3ir minn faest jDar i: forsmai-ek ekki bann SkiSa.' 
 
 122. Ot). 'Hilditaonnskalbafafyrvatt: okHalfdankongbinnSnialla; 
 
 v^r skulum drekka bruSkaup bratt : vi6 bragna ^essa alia/ 
 
 123. ^ Skl6i r^tti skitna^baond : skyldi bann fastna Hildi ; 245 
 06inn gaf bonum Asia-laond : ok alt f)at bann kiosa vildi. 
 
 124. Kappinn J)ar me6 kongs-nafn blaut : kaenn ok aorr 1 strlSi; 
 stungu sumir at stala-gaut : ' strakligr lizt mer Ski3i !' 
 
 125. SkiQi ga)r6i skyndi-kross : skiott me3 sinni loppu ; 
 
 su befr fregnin flogit at oss : f^kk bann baogg a snoppu. 250 
 
 1 26. Heimdall gaf honum baoggit J)a8 : boms me3 stiiti si'num. 
 
 ' Hvi biii ^€x (bann Haogni kva6) : sv6 bart at magi minum ?' 
 
 127. Heimd. ' Hann befr faert {)au fyrn at oss : fieina-lundrinn staelti ! 
 
 gaorSi bann fyrir s6v gamlan kross : ok "gaorvaoll" orSin maelti.' 
 
 128. Ski6i gaorSi at skylmast pi : skiott a lidum tima, 255 
 Heimdall slo svo ba)fu6it a : at bann la t>egar 1 svima. 
 
 129. Hildita^nn r^5 blaupa upp pa.: ok hristi i s6r bialfann : 
 ' Hverr veit, nema brottinn sa : baoggvi konginn sialfan.' 
 
 130. Hio til Ski9a haoggin J)riu : b^r var yss a folki : 
 skraokva-ek ekki, at skraefan su : let skella 1 staeltum h61ki 260 
 
 131. Hliop upp Geirmundr Heljar-skinn : ok befr upp aoxi brei6a : 
 ' Lemdu bann ekki landa minn : litinn tel-ek put greiSa !' 
 
 132. Remmi-g5^gi rekr hann pi : r^tt at Haraldi miSjum ; 
 grimmliga laetr garprinn sa : sem geysist leon 1 vi6jum. 
 
 133. Mikit var um J)a Haraldr bnd : beita matti y-ki ; 265 
 r^tt sem stykki af stofni tr^ : stora beyrSi dfki. 
 
 134. Ubbi binn Friski atgeir rak : ott at Heljar-skinni ; 
 aofugr f^U hann aptr a bak : ei var3 dykrinn minni. 
 
 135. Halfur kongur bli6p upp |)a : ok hreyfSi brandi sfnum : 
 
 ' {"ann skal lif-ti6n leggja a : sem lemr a fraenda mi'num.' 270 
 
 136. Ubbi fekk af Alfi slag : utan a kinnar-vanga ; 
 J^atjna kalla keppa sag : er kratins-synirnir danga. 
 
 137. Ovit bei8 J)a Ubbi a s6r : fvarr r66 svo maela : 
 
 ' ]Ma6r mun fast f moti p6v : minst er oss um Jjrsla.* 
 
 138. Starka6r Gamli staokk a faetr : ok sterkliga tok at emja : 275 
 * Ekki bir6i-ek bvat Ivarr laetr : ei skal hann Ski'da lemja.' 
 
 265. ynki, Cd. 266. dynki, Cd.
 
 § 4.] SKIDA-RIMA. 405 
 
 Ivarr fdkk f augat slag : af Starka8i Gamla ; 
 6gurligt var eggja sag : engi matti hamla. 
 
 Halfi k6ngi var haldit pi : svo hann matti ekki stri6a ; 
 alia I^t hann eitthvat fa : sem f^a. vildu Skf3a. 280 
 
 Hrokr hinn Svarti ok Utsteinn iarl : at Ubba sottu baSir ; 
 sk/zt 1 leikinn Skelja-karl : skaotnum gefr ei na6ir. 
 
 Ubbi feldi atian menn : afbragSs-kempur st6rar, 
 Ski6a slo a skoltinn enn : sv6 skruppu ur tennur fiorar. 
 
 Ali hinn Frsekni a pat spiot : sem ^'ta kann at dubba; 2S5 
 rennur fram at randa briot : ok rekr f gegnum Ubba. 
 
 Ubbi fdll ^a lit um dyrr : me6 atian hundrud sara ; 
 l^t hann ekki lifit fyrr : enn lungun f^llu um nara. 
 
 Sver6i bra pi seima-viSr : sa var nefndur Agnarr ; 
 hann klauf Ala i her6ar ni6r : hann sezt ni6r ok J)agnar. 390 
 
 Eddgeirr Risi til Agnars hio : ofan kom mitt : skalla ; 
 seggrinn songu svara6i ok hlo : sf6an gdorbi at falla. 
 
 Arngrims-synir 1 aarva seim : sella l>egar at stri6a, 
 enn VaDlsungar vaorQu jDeim : ok veita J)6ttust SkiSa. 
 
 Vikarr k6ngur varSist pi : vakrt a hallar-golfi ; 295 
 
 Sfflrli hinn Sterki sver6i bra : ok sotti at Ga)ngu-Hr61fi. 
 
 Mittmn-stangi manaSi Hrolf : masttust ^eir ok Biarki ; 
 at honum sottu ^'lar tolf : ei var litill harki. 
 
 Var6 J)at loks at VfSolfr f^ll : veittist sigrinn Hrolfi ; 
 hundra6 rasta heyr6i smell : t)a halrinn datt at golfi. 300 
 
 At Ski3a sotti mengit mest : margur var6 at falla ; 
 heyrQi J)angat havan brest : 1 holkinum Idt hann gialla. 
 
 Fyrdum ^otti ferlig undr : fliiiga um heiminn ^a6ra ; 
 hverr klauf annan ha)lda f sundr : hverir drepa J)ar a3ra. 
 
 Ogurlig var odda-skur : undur matti kalla ; 305 
 
 engi gaDrdist a)3rum trur : ymsir r^6u falla. 
 
 Slo til Gunnars SigurQr Hringr : sa var arfi Giiika, 
 augna-brunin a honum springr : ei mun g65u Itika. 
 
 Svo hio hann til SigurSar Hrings : at sverd st63 fast 1 
 taonnum ; 
 hdr hefr nsesta komit til kings : meQ ksorskum fraegSar- 
 mannum. 310 
 
 Sveitin ga)r3ist sar ok m66 : sumir af maeSi sprungu ; 
 upp tok pa.T 1 aDkla bl63 : a)xar ok kesjur sungu. 
 
 Eddgeirr Risi ok Aventr63 : se6a fram at Ski6a ; 
 Blot-Haraldur berst af m63 : buinn vi6 i^rain at striSa. 
 
 Pom Iarn-skia)ldr {)reif upp stein : J)at ma undur kalla ; 315 
 keyrdi a Haralds kinnar-bein : svo kappinn var6 at falla. 
 
 {>rainn er sterkur, {)at er ei undr : pvi hann er tra)ll at msetti, 
 Risana ba6a reif i sundr : ok rak {)a ut um gaetti. 
 
 Berserkr einn, er Biuni hdt : bardi {"rain til heljar, 
 enn 1 pvi hann lifit \6t : liotliga i h6num beljar. 320 
 
 Ormrinn Fofnir eitri spio : ok ae8ir fram at Ski6a ; 
 hra)kk hann utar at hur8u p6 : hvergi var fritt at bida.
 
 4c6 RIMUR. [bk. X. 
 
 162. Ski6i rak sinn fastan flein : i Fofnis trionu li6ta ; 
 traoUslig var su taDnnin ein : er tok ur honum at hriota. 
 
 163. [Starka6r Gamli st66 J)a upp : ' ok stillti nsesta Bruna'] ; 
 Ormrinn rak upp ba)lvat bupp : ^d ball honum haoggit niina. 326 
 
 164. Skidi let i skreppu sfn : skak-manns efnit delta; 
 la)ng var su bin liota pin : lifir hann enn vi8 J)etta. 
 
 165. Fofnir 1 sitt forna hi6 : for nii heim at sinni ; 
 
 StarkaSr gaordi stala hri3 : um stund er Ia3g6 1 minni. 330 
 
 166. Asa-i'drr at ^tum gengr : ok innir til vi3 Ski3a: 
 'Muntu ei sella at lemja oss lengr :Jyr laDngu er mal at r:6a.' 
 
 167. ' Ei er v6n, (kvaQ Asa-I'6rr) : at 06inn muni \)6r luta ; 
 heldur mun fyr haaggin stor : J^inn hrottinn ver6a at stiita.' 
 
 168. ' Ef ^u vilt, ek ei J)ik sla : ofan i pa)nnu \)inz, 335 
 leggstu ni3r ok lut m^r \)i : Litt skulu haoggin dvfna.' 
 
 169. Mia)lni spenli hinn mattki t'orr : af megni slo til Ski9a ; 
 hdr kom a moti holkrinn storr : heyr3i bresti vi9a. 
 
 170. Starka6r hio til t'oris pA : pzt kom framan 1 enni ; 
 
 allan kvi6inn ofan ifra : aeda-ek sver3it renni. 340 
 
 171. Berserkr einn, er Brusi hdt : bregdur kylfu sinni, 
 StaikaS Gamla stiita Mt : styrr var3 ekki at minni. 
 
 172. Ragnar kongr ok rekkar bans : t66u. at Gautrek INIilda; 
 Ketill ok Hr61fr I kappa dans : komu me3 drengi gilda. 
 
 173. Heyr3i til J)ar hetjan for : ha^ggr hann Ia)tuninn Brusa; 345 
 fdll hann dau3r a faetur ^6t : flestir ur6u at dusa. 
 
 174. M var3 Alfr 1 Jdcssu lauss : ok ^rifr upp kappann Vfkar ; 
 fserSi ofan 1 Fiajlnis haus : svo fiandliga 03nj Ifkar. 
 
 175. f'at sa hiin Freyja, Fiajlnis vff : at fast tok 06ni at svi3a ; 
 stajkk hun upp me6 stseltan kni'f : ok stakk 1 nefit a Ski6a. 350 
 
 176. Haogni jDreif upp Halfdan iall : hann var fraegstur gotna, 
 rak hann ni6r svo rammligt fall : at rifin ga^rvaoll brotna. 
 
 177. Allir r^6u ^sir \>3, : einni rauddu at kalla : 
 
 ' Hreki3 hann Ski3a, hverr sem ma : Hann mun drepa oss alia ! ' 
 
 178. Flestir ur6u fusir Jiess : f^kk hann haogg vi3 vanga; 3:5 
 \)i var mikit ^ausnar vess : {)ria-tigi at honum ganga. 
 
 179. Hann bardi i hel Ipi Baldr ok Niaor6 : bae^i Loka ok Haeni ; 
 fimmtan l^t hann falla a iaord : enn fleygSi tolf i maeni. 
 
 180. Til or6a tok J)a Sigur6r Sveinn : er sa hann brynju ristna : 
 ' Mdr lizt nu s6 margr um einn : manninn jDann inn Kristna. 360 
 
 181. Greyliga tokst ^er gangan, f'orr : \>u gintir hingat Ski6a; 
 s^ndr er honum sidrinn vorr : sa mun spyrjast vi6a.' 
 
 182. Sigur6r tok pa. sver3it Gram : ok sveiflar til me6 afli ; 
 allir |)eir, sem oddrinn nam : innar hrukku at gafli. 
 
 183. Hnykti hann Ski6a um hallar-dyrr : enn hliop Jiar sialfr i 
 
 milli; 365 
 
 luinn ok m69ur la hann J)ar kyrr : litit var6 af snilli. 
 
 184. Heyr6i hann inn f Hava-ha)ll : hark ok styrjaold baedi; 
 
 325. This line is maimed or else in a wrong place.
 
 § 4-] SKIDA-RIMA. 407 
 
 borgin var sem bifaSist a)ll : beint ok l^ki a J)r£e5i. 
 
 185. Skiotliga kallar SkfSi inn : J)ar skatnar lagu hneptir : 
 
 * Saell ok liufur Sigur6r minn : svfnit last m^r eptir ! 370 
 
 186. Nefna mundi ek nafnit J)itt : nistill silki-treyju, 
 ef \>u, SigurQr, svfnit mitt : sasktir inn til Freyju.' 
 
 187. Gno9ar-Asmundr gsorbi fta : gilda atsokn ok stri5a; 
 svinit tekr hann seggjum fra : ok sendir lit til SkfSa. 
 
 188. {'at kom framan 1 frae^a sal : fra ek at aulinn vakni ; 375 
 Nil er hann heima I Hitardal : Hildar tiui ek hann sakni. 
 
 III. The End. 
 
 189. Yzt vi6 gatt at aulinn la : ekki er trutt at hni6si ; 
 \>e\r stajktu vatni strakinn a : ok styrmSu yfir me6 li6si. 
 
 190. {'orleifr talar viQ Jjegninn bratt : ' M hinn v6ndi slangi ! 
 serst hefir-J)u f alia natt : ok einart verit a gangi. 380 
 
 191. Fataekt hefir h^r folkit mart : fengit sarar nau6ir ; 
 
 ymsa hefr-|)u beyst ok bart : svo bragnar fimm eru dau9ir.' 
 
 192. A stafnum sau J)eir storan h61k : st69 hann merkur atta; 
 hdr hefr meizlin fatsekt folk : fengit af storum hrotta. 
 
 193. Tro6nir 1 sundur tvennir sk6r : tel-ek JDat ei me3 listum ; 385 
 3orkumla6r var aulinn storr : upp voru hinir a ristum. 
 
 194. Fiorar tennur framan ur haus : fallnar voru a SkiSa; 
 enn hin fimta er or6in laus : 1 hana kva6 s^r svf6a. 
 
 195. BraSliga segir hann brajgnum fra : hvat bar fyrir hann f 
 
 svefni ; 
 margur setr i mikla skra : minna yrkis-efni. 390 
 
 196. Skatnar hugSu at Ski6a bratt : ok sko8u3u hann uppi ok 
 
 ni6ri ; 
 bans var vi6a holdit blatt : enn harit likast fiSri. 
 
 197. Hirzla bans af hagleik gaor : hun var t6m^at kveldi, 
 t)ar var komit 1 t)n-fornt smia)r : {)at var ur Asia-veldi. 
 
 198. Ha)Idar gafu hundum smiaor : ur hirzlu-taitri Ski6a, 395 
 J)eir letu sitt hit lei3a fia)r : ok lagu dau6ir vi6a. 
 
 199. Fundu f)eir i trussi bans ta)nn : tuttugu marka J)unga ; 
 Nu ma heyra at sagan er saann : seima f>ollsins iunga. 
 
 200. f'eir grofu hana me6 fagran flur : af fremstu meistara tolum, 
 bragnar gsorbu bagalinn lir : sem beztr er norfir a Holura. 400 
 
 201. Lengi vetrar la hann siiikr : Iftit batnar Ski6a, 
 flagnadi bans hinn fuli bukr : f^llu a sarin vi3a. 
 
 202. Aldri trui-ek a)rmum Jjriot : mun illra meina batna, 
 fyrr enn lofar at leggja af blot : ok Laugar-naetr at vatna. 
 
 203. Ei hef-ek heyrt hver sevi-lok : ur3u NorSmanns SkfSa. 405 
 H^r skal Su3ra siavar-rok : Sunnudagsins bi3a.
 
 4o8 RIMUR. [bk. x. 
 
 ONE HUNDRED RHYME-DITTIES. 
 
 There are heaps of Ri'mur of the fifteenth century on vellum, of the 
 sixteenth and seventeenth centuries on paper MSS., and of the eighteenth 
 and nineteenth partly in print, rivalling the chansons de geste themselves 
 in quantity, but very few among them are worthy of being dragged 
 from their limbo. 
 
 But by far the best verses in Rima-metre are the Impro'visatlons and 
 Ditties, of which there are hundreds known, some composed by well- 
 known persons, some by farmers or labourers; for your Icelandic 
 yeoman will often turn a Rima-verse as neatly as a Welshman an 
 ' englyn.' Many of these couplets are of great sweetness and deep 
 melody; and coming from the mouths of the people, whose fine ears have 
 instinctively picked out and remembered the best of them, a pretty 
 collection might be formed illustrative of nearly every phase of Iceland's 
 life and thought. 
 
 The one essential in a good ditty is that it charm the ear, and it is on 
 this quality that its preservation as a live thing in the people's memory 
 depends. Indeed to Icelanders for many generations the melody of the 
 Ri'mur has supplied the place of vocal and instrumental music, and in 
 consequence the harmonious qualities of the popular verse are notable. 
 In the present day the imitation of foreign poetry and music has dulled 
 the feeling for alliterative verse-melody, for tune and word-rhythm are 
 two things. 
 
 They are roughly cast together as they came into the mind ; and, 
 being easy to make out and really rather illustrative matter than of the 
 substance of the book, not translated. Their authors are in great part 
 unknown, though some are by well-known poets, and no doubt many of 
 the best now nameless verses are their work also. 
 
 Chief among authors of these pieces and ditties is Hallgr'im Peterson 
 (d. 1674). Of him many stories are told, and he has become the typical 
 poet in the popular mind. It is told how he made his first couplet, 
 when he was yet a child, on the cat ; how he once abused his gift and lost 
 it for a time by singing a fox to death by his curse ; how he asked his 
 little Steinun, a girl three years old, as to her creed, and how she, having 
 inherited her father's powers, answered him in verse (she died aged 35). 
 There are stories, too, of incidents attached to the composition of his 
 different hymns, and it is said that, like Thormod of old, he died with 
 an unfinished verse on his lips. 
 
 Of his beautiful Passion-Psalms and their great popularity we have 
 spoken in the Reader. Here we must notice the well-known Rules of 
 Life, which every child learned, and which takes the place of the old 
 mediaeval Disticha, and the inimitable Skegg-karls-visor, Beardie-t'erses 
 on the stone-ware Jug, a model of that pious humour which died, in 
 England, with Fuller. Hallgrim's poems have never been completely 
 edited. His Passion-Psalms were indeed printed in his life, 1666 (though 
 the best edition is of 1693), but when there was a collection of his 
 poems made in 1777 by Halfdan Einarson, the religious poems were all 
 given, but the secular ones omitted. Thus there are many of his best 
 couplets that have never been printed at all, and many a nameless ditty 
 now passing from mouth to mouth may be his, its sweetness and sound 
 melody its only remaining marks of parentage. 
 
 In the next generation after Hallgrim, many good ditties were im- 
 provised by such men as Stephen Olafsson (d. 1688), Paul IVidalin (d.
 
 §4.] 
 
 RHYME-DITTIES. 409 
 
 1727), John Sigurdsson Dala-skald (drowned 1720), and other less pro- 
 minent contemporaries of Arni iVIagnusson (d. 1730), who is even 
 recorded to have made a couplet himself as an epitaph on a Nor- 
 wegian friend of his. Paul Widalin's verses have a special interest 
 from their sweetness of flow and clear thought. Indeed it was at this 
 period (1650-1730) that the best couplets were made; their melody and 
 simplicity has never since been reached. There is a MS. collection of 
 Widalin's ditties in the Bodleian Library, though not complete, for 
 many of his good ditties are missing. 
 
 Eggert Olafsson (1726-1768, of whom there is some mention in the 
 Prolegomena), the most notable Icelander of last century, is the author 
 of some very beautiful Improvisations. Of his lyrics we give the bright, 
 grateful verses which he made on his last voyage back to Iceland in 
 1766, wherein he speaks of the gentle gale, the glad screams of the gulls, 
 the porpoises playing round the good ship, and finally of the glorious 
 greeting of flame from Hecla. 
 
 ' Such welcome ne'er got I before, to mine own native land.' 
 Eggert's, too, are the verses, Heimildar-skra, which give the now clas- 
 sical picture of a winter's night on an Icelandic farm, with the women 
 working and listening to the reading of Sagas and reciting of Rimur till, 
 when 'the star is past its middle height,' the night is brought to an end, 
 as in Burns' masterpiece, by prayer and psalm. Of such happy evenings 
 in his youth the Editor has Hvely recollections. 
 
 When Eggert was engaged in his five years' tour of Iceland (1752-57), 
 making the observations which were wrought into his well-known 
 * Travel Book,' he passed the winters at the little island Widey, near 
 Reykiavik, in the house of Sculi, a fine yeoman of the old type, and 
 there he wrote a set of verses, on the fly-leaf of a child's book, which 
 he gave to Sculi's daughter Oddny, whom he calls his sister ' little 
 Bunchie.' Oddny grew up and married, we can (though inquiring) 
 learn nothing more of her. Some of the verses we give below. 
 
 Eggert's ditties are always melodious and clear. We have picked a 
 few lines of his best, which will give a fair example of his style when 
 he followed his own bent, for he tried to revive old Eddie and Court- 
 poetry — in vain one is glad to say. 
 
 In later days still, there are good racy couplets by John Thorlaksson, 
 the translator of Milton (1744-1819), a humorous man and good 
 scholar; Sigurd Petersson (1759-1827); Benedict Grondal (1763-1825); 
 Sigurd of Broadfirth, the Rimur writer who had lived in Greenland 
 (1799-1845) ; and Sweinbiorn Egilsson (1791-1852), who made the fine 
 prose version of Homer. But their ditties are the aftermath. 
 
 Our collection is fairly representative of all that is best among these 
 Ditties. Every verse of it (with but few exceptions) has been picked out 
 of a mass of verse which the Editor learnt as a child (age 8-12) by ear, 
 not by book, spontaneously and not as a task^ A verse which one picks 
 up in childhood, and which clings to one through life, must at all events 
 be really good in rhythm and clear in expression. The subjects are very 
 various. Thus, there are couplets on the poet's changeful moods and 
 passing feelings, \\\s passions, and \(\?, prayers. Then there are numbers 
 of verses on the daily farm-life, the weather, the hayfield (one on a 
 
 * Capping verses in pairs was a favourite pastime of his youth ; the rule vvas that 
 the second player should go on with a verse beginning with the last letter of the 
 verse the first player had cited ; the first player again had to follow the cue given by 
 the second player's verse, and so on.
 
 4IO RIMUR. [bk.x. 
 
 mouse killed by a mower recalls the occasion of Burns' ode), the house- 
 hold stock, the pet pony's death, the busy smith, the hard-working 
 boat-builder, the household intrigues and quarrels even ; but the prettiest 
 of home-life verses are those on children, the little girl taught how to 
 sit at meat, the child frightened by the cat, the little girl's catechism, 
 the sampler, the boy in the dairy, the children being taught to read and 
 write, etc. There are many lines on travelling too, of travellers on the 
 coast or in the desert, of hospitality and inhospitality, of benighted 
 wayfarers shouting to wake the household, of the priest who lost his 
 horse and had to come afoot to church in his vestments. Then there 
 are the epitaphs, often humourous or satirical, on well-known characters, 
 poets and others. There is also no lack of those which deal with the 
 supernatural, with ghosts, and fiends, and omens, and the like ; amongst 
 others, the story of the murdered love-babe's reproach to its mother 
 (recalling our touching Northern ballads) ; and the dream-'verses spoken 
 by the spirits of those who have been lost at sea, or on the ice, or in 
 the snow, and who appear in the visions of the night to their best- 
 beloved and tell their fate. Ditties on fairies and ogresses there are too 
 (as in England and Wales). 
 
 There are couplets on celebrated ad'ventures or incidents, for instance, 
 on the outlaw who fought himself free and got away though his leg was 
 smitten off. 
 
 There are other ditties of a mere didactic character, triads, saws, 
 riddles, and many anagrams, rebusses and luord-plays of various kinds. 
 There are some by scholars, the trying of the pen, the funny satire on 
 the commentator by himself (Biorn of Skardsa's mentioned above). 
 
 The reader will get a better idea of the character of these ditties from 
 reading two or three than from any definition we could give. Their 
 essence lies in the simplicity of the thought, which must be so clear and 
 naive that a child could have thought it ; in the cleverness of the wording, 
 which secures it popular favour in the first place ; and (most vital of all) 
 in the melody of the sound, which enables it to keep alive from generation 
 to generation. No man could sit down to write such ditties, and no 
 man but a born poet could write one that would outlive himself. 
 
 Hallgrim Petersson, d. 1674, Nos. I, 2, 10, 13, 54, 67, 75: Eggert Olafsson, 
 d. 1768, Nos. 3-5 : Stephen Olafsson, d. 1688, Nos. 21, 22, 31, 34, 35, 38, 39, 81, 96, 
 99: Paul Widalin, d. l'J2'j, Nos. 12, 18, 20, 24, 36, 37, 40, 41, 58, 72, 93: John 
 Gudmundsson, lser6i, d. 16,^5, No. 51: Biorn Skarflsa, d. 1656, No. 71: Bishop 
 Stein, d. 1739, No. 65 : John Sigurdsson, Dala-skald, d. 1720, Nos. 69. loo : Ami 
 Magnusson, d. 1730. No. 71 : Gunnar Paulsson, d. 1792, No. 68 : SignrSr Petersson, 
 d. 1827, Nos. 47 b, 73 b: Benedikt Grondal, (f. 1825, No. 23: John Jiorlaksson, 
 d. 1819, Nos. 75 b, 79. 80, 82, 84, 86, 87 a, 88-91 : Sigurd Breidfiord, d. 1845, 
 Nos. 25, 64: Sveinbiorn Egilsson, d. 1852, No. 17: Jakob Samsonson, No. 8. 
 
 I. The Child's Rides. 
 
 T TNGUM er J)a6 allnbezt : a8 ottast Gu& sinu herra; 
 
 ^ Jjeim mun vizk^n veitast mest : og virSing aidrei J)verra. 
 
 Foreldrum jDinum ^ena af dygb : J)ad ma gaefu veita, 
 varastu {jeini a6 veiia styj^S : vilirdu gott barn heita. 
 
 Hngsa3u um \>a.b helzt og fremst : sem heiSurinn ma naera, 
 aidrei sa til aeru kemst : sem ekkert gott vill Ijera. 
 
 Lserftur er i lyndi glaSr : lof ber hann hia {)i66um ; 
 enn hinn er ei nenia halfur madr : sem hafnar si3onum g63um. 
 
 Opt er sa i orSum nytr : sem iSkar mentan kaera ; 
 enn J)ursinn heimskur j)egja hlytr : sem ^riozkast vi3 a3 laera. 
 
 Litilatur, liiifur, og katur : leik ^er ei lir mata ; 
 varastu spiatur, hae3ni og hiatur : heimskir menn svo lata.
 
 §4.] RHYME-DITTIES. 411 
 
 Vertu dyggur, trur og tryggur : tungu geym vel J)ina, 
 vi3 ongan styggur iie i orSum hryggur : athiiga raeSu mi'na. 
 
 Vist avail Jjeini vana halt : vinna, lesa og i3ja, 
 um framm allt J)u 8eti6 skalt : elska Gud og biSja. — [H, P.] 
 
 2. The Beardie-jug. 
 
 Skyldir eruni v!5 Skegg-karl tveir : skamt mun sett a3 veija ; 
 okkar beggja er efni leir : ei ^.irf lengra a6 telja. 
 
 Vi5 hofi'.m {)a6 af okkar sett : efnid slikt eg Jiekki, 
 baSum er vi9 broti hgett : byltur Jjolum ekki. 
 
 llat vinsins athuga voiid : erum vi9 Jiess a niilli, 
 og J)urfum ba6ir hentuga bond : svo hvonigur si'nu spilli. 
 
 |ia3 er aiinaS aettar-mi'it : af okkar hsetti rettum, 
 vi6 hofum baSir valtan fot : vitum ei naer vi6 dettum. 
 "^ Einn eg mis-mun okkar fann : ef afoll nokkur sker&a— 
 
 eg a von en aldrei hann : aptur heill at verSa.— [H. P.] 
 
 3. A Winter Night at Home. 
 
 Fyrst ad blaSiS autt var eitt : og eptir stund af voku, 
 vilda eg heldiir en vinna neitt : vefa |)ar a stiiku. . . . 
 
 Jiegar hia {)eim hiimar a6 : og hiarnar lins i ranni, 
 mart {jaer raula rimu bla6 : og reka bryg6 fra manni. 
 
 Drosir iafnt nieS dyg5 og ast : dyruni hlySa sogum, 
 aS fe3ra vorra fraegSum dast : sem f\ rri voru a dogum. 
 
 Ma Jja snota marka {)el : mali birt i lausu, 
 ilia likar e3a vel : eptir hverja klausu. 
 
 Sauma, grei6a, karra, klia : kappiS sagan eykur, 
 spinna, priona, ^x(a J)a : J)a3 er eins og leikur. 
 
 A J)eim hvergi svefiiinn ser : seggir ti5um heyra, 
 lesarinn t)egar letjast fer : Mestu nuna meira.' 
 
 Sio-stiornu spyr einginn a3 : inn i bondans garSi. 
 hun er komin i hadegis-sta5 : halfu fyrr en vardi. 
 
 fjtgar hattum {)okar nser : ^ratt eg lieyra kunni. 
 bezt er a3 fara, birta \ixt : a3 baeta ser i munni. 
 
 Slik {)6 synist vinna vaen : vi3 J)a3 olium semur ; 
 i3ju dagsins endi bseii : a3ur svefiiinn keniur. 
 
 Skamni-daegrin meS svoddan fi3 : sem {jaer longii naetur ; 
 vetrar |)rek og f>orra gri3 : Jiannig stytta sxtur. — [E. O.] 
 
 4. Horneward Bound, 1 766. 
 
 Heldur long var Hafnar dvol : hitinn ekki minni, 
 glaSiir Iget eg fiiota fiol : fram i atta sinni. 
 
 Linast sionin lestrum af : lifiS deyfist si&an, 
 af J)vi skal eg nm Islandz haf /Egis hesti ri3a. , . . 
 
 Akurinn hef-eg yrkt og sa3 : aSrir groSann taka, 
 hyggjan or3in J)vi er J)ia3 : {jungum vagni ad aka. 
 
 Jjo mitt hiarta {sryti a ny : og ^orna loksins taeki, 
 hver veit nenia eg Island i : anua3 hiarta Sieki. 
 
 Eg hefi fengi3 iomfnir-byr : iafnan, hsegan, bli&an, 
 cingan svo eg atti fyr :aEski!ega ^i3an. 
 
 Nattiiran er fcim a3 sia : sa;kist skipa vegiir, 
 leiSar-steinninn fiullum fra : fiaust a3 laiiJi dregiir. 
 
 Allar skepnur yndis-hol : inna a3 minu geSi, 
 hofrungarnir hlaupa a mot : hefja danz og gle3i. 
 
 Landsins fugl um fiska tiiii : iinnur hrelling iingva, 
 hleypur mot oss hafs a bnin : hefja kvak og siingva, 
 
 Skipurum nottin birtu bio : bra ei vanda sinum: 
 Hekla lysti langt a sio : lauka-faki minum. 
 
 Halt i lopti3 hvergi kyr : hygg-eg liosin brynni, 
 svoddan kvtdju eg ftkk ei fyr ; a f6stur-ior3u minni. — [E. O.]
 
 412 RIMUR. [bk.x. 
 
 5. Written on the Fly-leaf 0/ a Child's Book. 
 
 Oddny litla ba6 um bok : br63ir hennar af \>vi tok, 
 bratt hann Oddny kysti i krok : kveri6 fekk, {336 yndi iok. 
 
 Ef {jii vaerir eins og bru3 : undir bor9i nett og pru&, 
 handa-fipl og gumpa-gicigt : gsetir af ^er vaniS snoggt. 
 
 Eitt er J)a5 sem ena eg tel : ef hiin nenti a6 prioaa vel, 
 ekki J)yrfti a5 ottast par : andann, myrkriS, grylurnar. 
 
 Oddny falleg Jiaetti Jja : Jsa hiin skylJi i kaupiS fa, 
 baeSi sykur, bok, og skrin : Bciggull vaeri systir min. 
 
 Oddny gaSu gloggt a6 \>vi : gorbn J)ig ekki svoddan bi, 
 a3 f)u gorir ilia litt : e&a rifir kveriS J)itt. — [E. O.] 
 
 6. Wet Weather. 
 
 Nil er liti ve5ri6 vott : og veykur manna hugur; 
 a morgun kann a6 gefa gott : Gu3 minn almattugur. 
 
 7. Evening and Sunset. 
 
 Kviilda ttkur, sezt er sol : sigur J)oka a d^linn; 
 komiS er heim a kvia-bol : kyrnar, fe9, og smalinn. 
 
 Kveld-ulfur er kominn her : kunnigur innan gatta, 
 solin rennur, synist mer : seiin mun mal a3 hatta. 
 
 Senn er komi6 solar-lag : sezt a nor5ur-fi61Iuin ; 
 li6ur a J)enna dyrSar dag : Drottinn hialpi oss oilum. 
 
 Senn er komiS solar-lag : sezt a nor3ur-hei3i ; 
 li5ur a Jjcnna dyrSar dag : Drottinn veginn greiSi. 
 
 Senn er komi5 solar-lag : sezt a nor3ur-tindi, 
 li3ur a J^enna dyrSar dag : Drottinn styri vindi. 
 
 Senn er komi3 s6!ar-lag : sendi oss Drottinn friSinn ; 
 og svo gefi annan dag : eptir J)enna liSinn. 
 
 8. Sunrise. 
 
 Lifnar hagur nii a ny : nyr skal bragur spunninn ; 
 dyr og fagur austri i : upp er dagur runninn. — [I. S.] 
 
 9. TTie Calendar. 
 
 Tolf a ari tunglin grei3 : til ber a3 {)rettan renni ; 
 solin gengur sina lei& : svo sem Gud bau3 henni. 
 
 10. The Catechism. 
 
 Father: Hver hefir skapa3 ^ig skepnan min? skyr5u mer {)a5 niina, 
 hver leiS fyrir Jiig hai9.i pin? hver hefir gefi3 {jer tnina ? 
 
 Child : Gu3 Fa6ir mig gor6i um sinn : Gu3s Son endur-leysti ; 
 
 Gu3s fyrir Andann gafst mer inn : g63ur triiar neisti. — [H. P.] 
 
 11. Prayer at riiing. 
 
 Nu er eg klseddur (or klaedd) og kominn a rol : Kristur Jesus veri mitt skiol ; 
 i Gu3s otta gef J)u mer : a6 gangi i dag svo liki J)er. 
 
 12. The little Girl's Sampler. 
 
 Niu vetra mi i vor : naem er a i^rottir, 
 hefir saumaS hvert eitt spor : H61mfri6ur Pals-dottir. — [P. W.] 
 
 13. The Child and the Cat. 
 
 I huganum var eg hikandi : hart naer svo sem fallinn, 
 kattar roan kvikandi : kom her upp a pallinn. — [H. P,] 
 
 14. Capping Verses. 
 
 Kondu nu a6 kveSast a : kvaeSin okkar s;6r og sma, 
 eitt-hvat J)a5 sem ekki er last : eigum vi3 a5 skanderast. 
 
 146. Kondu mi a5 kve6ast a : karl minn ef J)u getur, 
 
 lattu gaiiga li(33a-skra : Host i allan vetur. 
 
 15. Reading and Writing. 
 
 Lesa og skrifa hst er g63 : laeri ^a3 sem flestir, 
 J)eir eru haldair heims h.a J)i65 : hofQingjarnir mestir.
 
 §4.] 
 
 RHYME-DITTIES. 413 
 
 Or, SkrifaSu baeSi skyrt og r^ft : svo skotnum Jiyki d snilli, 
 
 OrSiu standa eiga {)ett : enn \>6 bil a milli. 
 
 Or, Skriptin mi'n er stafa-stor : og styla3 ilia letur, 
 
 J)a8 er eiiis og kattar klor : eg kann \)ab ekki betur, 
 
 1 6. The Boy in the Dairy. 
 
 Dreiigur einn me3 dalli rann : drift-hvifur a bar og skinn, 
 litlar flautir fyrir ser fann : fiiigri drap i munninn sinn. 
 
 1 7. Father teaching a Child to eat. 
 
 Bor6a5u me3 mer blautan fisk : brosleit hringa reinin, 
 tseri-latust tins af disk : taktu litur J)er beinin. — [S. E.] 
 
 18. Melancholy. 
 
 IEt16 liggur ilia a mer : ekki eru vegir finir ; 
 heilir og saelir seu5 ^er : snio-titlingar niinir. — [P. W.] 
 
 19. Hope in Distress. 
 
 Latum li5a og bi6a, born : befolum Gu&i tima, 
 J)egar eg kemst yfir J)essa tiorn : Jia er mer ra6in glima. — [P. W.] 
 
 20. The Poet's Farewell. 
 
 O hvaS timinn er a3 sia : undarlega skaptur I 
 hvaS niun dagurinn heita sa : aS hingaS kem-eg aptur ? — [P. W.] 
 
 21. Three Things to cherish. 
 
 Vand-fari6 er me3 vsenan grip : votta eg J)a3 me3 sanni — 
 si5uga konu, sialegt skip : og samvizkuna i manni. — [S. O.] 
 
 2 2. Love Repaid. 
 
 Fadirinn bar min assku-ar : innst i skauti sinu, 
 geymi eg bans bin grau bar : gott er i horni minu. — [S. O.] 
 
 23. Hardships make the Man. 
 
 Flest er sagt i verold valt : vondt bins g66a biSur; 
 hollt er a3 Jjola beitt og kalt : hia me3an aeskan li3ur. — [B. G.] 
 
 24. Fate. Forlog koma ofan aS : orlog kringum sveima, 
 
 alogin lir ymsum staS : enn olog feSast heima. — [P, W.] 
 
 25. Changeful Moods. 
 
 Eg er einsog veroldin vill : velta, katnr, bli66ur, 
 J)egar vi& mig er bun ill : ekki er eg beldur g63ur. 
 
 Jjegar vi6 mig biin er bly : og hugann eitt-hva3 gle3ur, 
 eg er lettur einsog sky : sem ytir af solu ve3ur. 
 
 |ja beimur um dyrnar hrindir mer : battinum af eg lypti, 
 og til binna hnatta fer : boll eru mer {)au skipti. — [S. B.] 
 
 26. Sorrow after Joy. 
 
 Sumari3 Jjegar setur blitt : solar undir faldi, 
 eptir-a me3 sitt e31i3 stritt : andar veturinn kaldi. 
 
 Felur hiim bi3 fagra lios : frosti3 bitann erfir, 
 vaen aft dupti verSur ros : vindur logni hverfir. 
 
 LySum Jjegar laetur datt : lukku-byriim mildi, 
 sinum buga i sorgar att : ser-hver renna skyldi. 
 
 27. The Three Greatest Pleasures. 
 
 Held ek mestu heimsins lyst, : besti a3 ri8a braSum, 
 sofa hia ungri seima rist : sigla byr i na3um. 
 
 28. The Good-man's Weal'h. 
 
 Nil! 4-eg bi'irn, enn nitjan kyr : naer flmm-bundru3 sau3i, 
 sex ok tuttugu s631a dyr : svo er batta3 audi. — [Esp. 1584.] 
 
 29. The Boat-builder. 
 
 Hundrad eitt me3 bofii3 sveitt ; blnnna-birni fri3a, 
 J)ria-tigi tvenn og atta enn : eg hefi gort a3 smi3a.
 
 414 RIMUR. [bk. X. 
 
 30. The Grand New Ship splits on the Old Rock. 
 
 "ttar sigli austur um sio: oldu-iornum kata. 
 Skipid er nytt enn skerid er hro : skal J)vi undan lata. 
 
 31. The Pet Pony Dead. 
 
 Mer re3 falla fakurinn : framm lir ollum mata, 
 J)ar for allur audur minn : ekki skal J)6 grata. — [S. O.] 
 
 32. The Busy Smith. 
 
 Vili nokkur fa J)inn fund : og fretti fiinnar i8ju, 
 allir svara a eina lund : 'Evjolfur i smiSju.' 
 
 33. The Mower. 
 
 Griot er nog i Gnipu-tott : glymur iarn i steinum, 
 tiinid er ekki a Tindum miott ; tefur J)a8 fyrir einum. 
 
 34. The Fox's Doing. 
 
 Gra-hnyfla er gengin af : eg get hana hvergi litid, 
 sernar tolta tvser vi3 staf : hiin toa hefir Jjaer biti3. — [S. 0.] 
 
 35. The Trusty Friend. 
 
 Nii vill ekki standa um stafn : std3ugan vin a6 fanga, 
 {36 allir beinist aS J)er, Rafn : undan skal eg ganga. — \S. O.] 
 
 36. Short-lived Peace. 
 
 fjo ^li lofir fiJgru, fli65 : fer ^a6 sem er vani, 
 saettin verSur a Svenskan moS : sem ^eir gicira vi3 Dani. — [P. W.] 
 
 37. The Lawsuit over at last. 
 
 Hross-skinns-iengjan er nii elt : allt for J)a6 me3 stilli, 
 hdn hefir lengi legiS melt : Logmannanna a milli. — [P. W.] 
 
 38. The Moiver and the Mouse. 
 
 I hoggi einu hio eitt sinn : her a grundu vallar, 
 undan fiorum maSur minn : myslum faetur allar. — [S. O.] 
 
 39. Spade and Hoe. 
 
 Se eg vi9 baeinn systkin {)6rf : er seint um matinn breka, 
 Jiokka-hiiiin hent viS storf : heita pall og reka. 
 
 Henni saurinn hrin opt a : enn honum er griot a& meini, 
 hiin vill {)vott og hreinsun fa : enn hann faegist a steini. — [S. O.] 
 
 40. Teaching a Boy to ride. 
 
 Jjo slipist klar og sliini gior5 : slettonum ekki kviddu, 
 hugsa6u hvorki um himin ne ior6 : enn haltu J'er fast og riddu I — [P.W.] 
 
 41. The Fool in the Judgment Seat. 
 
 I domara saeti seggurinn sitr : svo sem a5a i leirum, 
 se-eg a3 halurinn sy'nist vitr : ser, enn ekki fleirum. — [P. W.] 
 
 42. The Dead Poet's Work. 
 
 Sigurftur Gisla-son kva9 mart : sa var skald i Dolum — 
 sumt var gaman, sumt var J)art : sumt ver ekki um tolum. 
 
 43. The Outlaw's Escape on one Leg. 
 
 Hiarta3 mitt er hla6i5 me3 kurt : hvergi nair a8 skeika, 
 me3 fotinn annan for eg a burt ; fair munu eptir leika. 
 43 h. Halt and Happy. 
 
 {>6 eg fotinn missi minn : min ei renar kaeti, 
 hoppaS get-eg i himininn : haltur a einuni faeti. — [S. P.] 
 
 44. Lost in the Ice. 
 
 Enginn veit um afdrif hans : utan hva5 menn sau, 
 skafla-fcirin skeif-berans : skor til heljar lau. 
 
 45. Weather-hound in a Cave. 
 
 Lei5ist mer a3 liggja h6r i liotum belli : 
 betra er heima a Helga-felli : hafa J)ar danz og glimu-skelli.
 
 §4.] 
 
 RHYME-DITTIES. 415 
 
 46. The Priest afoot. 
 
 FurSar niig a fr^ttum J)eim : fot-gangandi var hann, 
 Jjegar hann kom til Hola heim : henipuna sina bar hann, 
 
 47. Weather-hound in the Waste. 
 
 Biskups hef-eg be3i9 me& raun : og biti6 lifinn kost, 
 aftur eg lagSi a Ocla6a-hraun : at eg J)urran ost. — [Esp. i6l6.] 
 
 48. For a Fair Wind. 
 
 Kristur minn fyrir kraptinn Jjinn : kongur i himna-htillu, 
 gefSu J)ann vind a graeSis hind : at gangi i lagi oliu ! 
 
 49. The Girl's Wish. 
 
 Eina vildi eg eiga mer : oskina svo go&a, 
 a& eg aetti synina sio : vi8 Saemundi hinum Fr63a ! 
 
 50. What the Raven bodes. 
 
 Hrafn situr a harri stong : holdar mark a taki, 
 ei J)ess verSur sevin long : sem undir byr ^ivi {laki. 
 
 5 1 . The Fairies. 
 
 Hafa J)eir bseSi heyrn og ma! : hold og bl65 me9 skinni, 
 vantar ei nema sialfa sal : sa er hluturinn minni. — [I. G.] 
 
 52. Gryla the Bogie and her Children. 
 
 Gryla kallar a bornin sin : {)egar hiin fer a9 sio&a, — 
 komi J)id hinga5 oil til min : Leppur, Skreppur, Langleggur og Ski66a ! 
 
 53. The Ghost 0/ the Man who was buried Upright. 
 
 Kold er mold a kor-bak : kiirir J)ar hann Jon Flak ; 
 ytar suiia austur og vestur : allir nenia Jon Flak. 
 
 54. Tlie Poet^s Curse on the Fox. 
 
 . Jjii sem bitur bondans fe : bolvuS i Jjer augun se, 
 stattu mi sem stofnaS tre : steina-daud a iiirSunne. — [H. P.] 
 
 55. The Murdered Babe and its Mother. 
 
 M66ir min i kvi, kvi : kviddu ekki }pvi, J)vil 
 Eg skal lia ^er duluna mina ad danza i. 
 
 56. The Thief and the Moon. 
 
 Thief: Viltu tungl, Jier i munn : Joanna bita feitan ? 
 Moon : Viltu, hvinn, J)er a kinn : ]penna lykil heitan? 
 
 5'J. A Ghost seeMng his Stolen Skull. 
 
 Gengi6 hef-eg um gar5inn m68 : gle&i-stundir dvina, 
 haus-kiipuna, heillin g65 : hvergi finn eg mina, 
 
 58. The Wailing of the Ghosts. 
 
 Svo var roddin drauga dinim : a3 duna6i i fialla-skarSi, 
 heyrt hef-eg ^a hlioSa fimm : i Hola kirkju-garSi. — [P. W. ?] 
 
 59. Dream Verses : — Drowned at Sea. The Dead Mans Wife Dreams. 
 
 Gakktu framm a Gygjar-stein : goiSii svo min kvinna, 
 liggja J)ar min latin bein : Host muntu J)au finna. 
 
 Gakktu framm a Gygjar-stein : giotan er \>zt fur8u-mi6, 
 bar mig ^angaS baran ein : biargaSu mer undan sio. 
 
 60. Another. 
 
 Vi6 hofum fengi9 saeng f sio : sviptir ollu grandi, 
 hofum t)6 a himni ro : haestan Gu9 prisandi, 
 
 61. Dead in the Snow : — The Dead Mans Sister Dreams. 
 
 Einginn finna okkur ma : undir fanna hiarni, 
 dagana J)ria yfir dau6um na : dapur sat hann Biarni. 
 
 62. Another. 
 
 Frost og fiiik er fast a buk : frosinn mergur lir beinum, 
 J);i& finst a mer sem forn-kve6it er ; a8 I-att segir af einum.
 
 4i6 RIMUR. [bk. 
 
 63. Dying in the Fire. 
 
 Rau3-lita5ur er raefill minn : af rauna-baSi h6r5u ; 
 um litian skiptir Lausuarinn : a lifandi manna iordu. 
 
 64. The Benighted Traveller's Shout. 
 
 Her s6 Gu6 a g65um hse : gestur er a liora 1 
 andsvorin eg engin fae : ekki vaknar |>6ra. — [S. B.] 
 
 65. Shaving has come in. 
 
 Her kenmr ma9ur og heitir Steinn : hefur skegg a gronum, 
 hann niun vera eptir einn : ekki er rakaS af honum. — [S. I.] 
 
 66. The Good-wife's Generous Greeting. 
 
 Gaktu i ana, goSurinn minn : ^zb gorir biskups hesturinn. 
 
 67. A Pretty Speech. 
 
 Held eg mi 1 hondina a fier : hana og fyrir mer virfli ; 
 engi er sii sem af J)er ber : i ollum Borgar-firSi. — [H, P.] 
 
 68. No Answer. 
 
 p6 eg bropi J)ratt til l)in : J)u kant ekki a9 heyra, 
 {>uri9ur ! J>uri3url f)uridur min ! J)ykkt er a J)er eyra. — [G. P.] 
 
 69. An Anagram. 
 
 Ofugur smi3ur arkar sa : sem ytti Dverga li6i, 
 bindur skyndi-enda a : Allir lifi i friSi ! — [1. S. D.] 
 
 70. The Commentator. 
 
 Min ei ^ykir mentin slyng : maetri a3 hly6a drottu — 
 eg var a6 ra.3a ari3 um kring : {)a3 Egill kva3 a nottu. — [B. I,] 
 
 •J I. An Epitaph. 
 
 Mun bans uppi minning gob : me6al Noregs ly3a, 
 me6an i Biorgvin byggir J)i65 : og barur a vi6i skri5a. — [A. M.] 
 
 72. The Miser's Death. 
 
 Sinum orfum sinti ei par : salugi Gvondur riki, 
 au6ur i Brokey eptir var : ^a ondin skrapp ur liki. — [P. W.] 
 
 73. Epitaph on Biorn the Chemist, died 1798. 
 
 Apotekarinn andaSist Biorn : ollum var3 J)a J)ungt um ; 
 salin bans flo einsog orn : i upp-baeSirnar, Punktum. 
 
 73 h. A Poet's Epitaph. 
 
 Enginn graetur og einginn bijer : og ongum stofnast vandi, 
 {)egar salar sinum raer : Siggi kugg lir landi. — [S. P.] 
 
 74. A Riddle : the Rainbow. 
 
 Hver er sa vegur vi6ur og bar : vaenum settur me3 rondum, 
 grsenn og rau3ur, gulur og blar : gicirSur af meistara hondum ? 
 
 75. Hall grim' s Portrait of Himself. 
 
 Sa sem orti Rimur af Ref : reiknast ma bann glaSur, 
 me3 svartar bryr og sivalt nef : svo er hann upp maladur. — [H. P.] 
 75 ^' John Thorlaksson. 
 
 Seggurinn befir so3ul-nef : sem er batt a3 framan, 
 maelir opt fra munni stef : svo miirgum J)ykir gaman. — [I. {>.] 
 
 76. Trying a Pen. 
 
 {>essi penni Jjoknast m^r : J)vi bann er ur hrafni ; 
 hann befir skoriQ geira grer ; Gunnlaugur ad nafni. 
 
 77. Upside-down Land. 
 
 Fiskurinn befir falleg bli63 : finnst hann opt a hei8um ; 
 aernar renna eina sl66 : eptir sionum breiSum. 
 
 Se3 hef-eg kottinn syngja a bok : selinn spinna bor a rokk, 
 skotuna elta skinn i brok : skiiminn priona sma-bands-sokk. 
 
 Se3 bef-eg merina eiga egg : alptina folalds siiika, 
 lir reyknum hlaSinn vaenan vegg : ur vatninu yst var kiiika.
 
 §4.] 
 
 RHYME-DITTIES. 417 
 
 78. The Couhhoy mocks his angry Master. 
 
 RoUant hio me5 Dyrumdal : driugum vakti hildi, 
 bardagann i baulu-sal : byrja aldrei vildi.^ 
 
 {)6r3ur Hrae5a J)egna vo : J)essi bio a Osi, 
 breytti aldrei bondinn svo : hann berfti menn i fi6si. 
 
 Karla-Magniis keisarinn dyr : kendi triina hreina, 
 aldrei hann fyrir aptan kyr : orrustu ha6i neina. 
 
 79. The Love-child. 
 
 A Baesa ytri borinn er : bysna valinn kdlfur, 
 vaent um J)ykja mundi mer : msetti eg eiga hann sialfur. — [I. {>.] 
 
 80. The Poet's little Nephews and Nieces on his Knees. 
 
 Nii er koniiS full-mart fe : og folkiS nog a5 vinna, 
 sitt a hvoru situr hn6 : systkinanna minna. — [I. |j.] 
 
 81. Old and Voung. 
 
 Vi5 hofum lengi sveizt her saman silki-hlin ; 
 
 Jiu ert ung, enn eg er gamall, Eyvor min. — [S. O.] 
 
 82. ^ Poor Poet's Thanks. 
 
 Gub launi ykkur g68u hion : giofina nii og fyrri ; 
 fyrir kerta giof og grion : ganili Jiakkar Baesdr-Jon. — [I. {>.] 
 
 83. A Poet's Lameness. 
 
 H3E5i-J)ia ekki Herrans J)i6n : um heltina ^6 eg kvarti, 
 hiEgri foturinn heitir Jon : hitt er hann Kolbeinn svarti. — [I. {>.] 
 
 84. The Greeting of the Lame Poet and his Pony. 
 
 Y6ar kaerum ekta-maka og ollu kyni, 
 
 heilsi5 \kx fra halta Joni : Humrum-rumrum segir Skioni. — [I. J>.] 
 
 85. The Poet's Pleasure. 
 
 Ab yrkja stoku olan bio : eptir flestra sogu, 
 enn gaman er a8 geta fio : gert fer-skeytta bogu. 
 
 86. The Purring Cat. 
 
 Monsonia malar vel : me6 svo liingu skapti, 
 enn J)6 kemur aldrei mel : utur hennar kiapti. — [I. |).] 
 
 87. Coming Down in the World. 
 
 Minn var fa6ir Monsiur : me3 J)a3 var5 hann Sera, 
 siftan var3 hann Signiur : og seinast tomur Jjorlakur. — [I. |>.] 
 
 87 h. How to address a Bishop. 
 
 Saeli6 veri6 J)6r Sera minn : sag6i-eg vi3 biskupinn ; 
 ansadi mer \>k aptur hinn : J)u attir ab kalla mig Herra J)inn. 
 
 88. Luna Latrata. 
 
 Margur rakki a5 mana go : mest J)a skein i heiSi ; 
 enn eg sa hann aldrei J)6 : aptra sinu skeidi. — [I. J>.] 
 
 89. How Big Folks are Fed. 
 
 Ef a3 dau3ur almuginn : allur laegi a Froni, 
 mxtti ske a5 mor-vombin : minkaSi i honum Joni. — [I. |>.] 
 
 90. The Poptdation Question Solved. 
 
 Margur fengi mettan kvi3 : ma J)vi naerri geta, 
 yr3i folkiS vani3 viS : vind og snio ad eta. — [I. |>.] 
 
 91. The Bursten Tub. 
 
 Tunnan valt, og ur henni allt : ofan 1 diupa keldu, 
 
 skulfu lond, enn brustu bond : botn-giar3irnar heldu. — [I. f>.] 
 
 92. How not to behave. 
 
 |jakka3u aldrei {)egnum mat : {jegjandi burtu skunda, 
 avalt settu ask ok fat : ofan a golf til hunda. 
 VOL. II. E e
 
 4i8 RIMUR. [bk. X. 
 
 93. yl True Tory. 
 
 Vili nokkur segja J>eim satt : syara J)eir allir a einn veg — 
 hann fadir minn sseli — og s^ honum glatt : sa hafdi ^zh einsog eg. — [P. W.] 
 
 94. A Dangerous Silence, 
 
 ■ • Margir heldu mig roalagan mann : maelti kerling or3s-kvi5 Jann, 
 J)aga6 gat-eg Jio me6 sann ; t)egar hun Skalhollz-kirkja brann. 
 
 95. The Cries of the Beasts. 
 
 Hani, krummi, handur, svin : hestur, mus, titlingur — 
 galar, krunkar, geltir, hnn : gneggjar, tistir, syngar. 
 
 96. Name in Runes. 
 
 Einn piltur a& hne : i blautan snio ste, 
 
 OS, logar, ar, fe : lir, rei6, — bans nafn se. — [S. O.] 
 
 97. Hard Rhyme : Capping Verse with ihe Devil. 
 
 Devil : Allt er runninn lit i botn : attungur me5 hrefna ratn — 
 
 Man : 0!1 er na6 hia einum Drottn' : a bans na6 ei ver&ur siatn. 
 
 Devil : Littu 1 ^essa egg, egg : undir J)etta tungl, tungl \ 
 
 Man : Steypi-eg J)er ine6 legg legg : li6 sem hraerir unl, uuL 
 
 9S. Palindromes. 
 Forward. Doma grnndar hvergi hann : hallar rettu mab', 
 
 soma stundar aldrei ann : illu pretta tali. 
 Backward. Tali pretta illu ann : aldrei stundar soma, 
 
 mali rettu hallar hann : hvergi grundar doma. 
 
 99. Rhymes in Complex Metres. On a Horse. 
 
 Bylur skeiSar virta vel : vil-eg {)ar a gora ski?, 
 Jjylur sanda, mork og mel : mylur griot enn syndir hyl. — [S. O.] 
 
 And — Hialla fvllir, fenna dy : falla vill ei kari, 
 
 valla grillir Enni6 i : alia hryllir menn vi6 ^wi. — [Hreggvi5r.] 
 
 In Consonantic Line-rhyme. The Bad Pen. 
 
 BlekiS lekur bok-fell a : bitnr litid penni. 
 heldur veldur hoadin sma : hemii merm um kenni. 
 
 ICO. Tima-Rima : Mansongur. 
 
 Opt eru kvae6a efnin ryr : ekki a stundum pari5, 
 eg a skr}tiS aevintyr : i {jo litiS vari6. 
 
 Mart er s^r til gamans gert : geSi ^ungu ad kasta, 
 J>a6 er ekki einskis vert : a5 ey6a ti6 an lasta. . . . 
 
 Beri ma6r letta lund : Haast rauna tetiir, 
 eigi hann bagt um eina stund : aSra gengur betur. 
 
 Sumir hliota saemd og vin : sorg i annan tima, 
 eptir biarta bli5u skin : brunar dokkva grima. 
 
 Hverfult Iukku-hi61i6 er : hamingju einn J)6 naeSi, 
 amota fyrir augum mer : og J)aS leki a J)rx5i. 
 
 Kalla eg hraeri kroppinn oiid : kortur mati slettur, 
 eins og sker-bor& reist a rond : rambar J)ar til dettur. 
 
 Sol og mani syiiir old : sania vitnar manna ge6, 
 allir dagar eiga kvold : inn til J)essa svo er skeS. 
 
 Held eg li6iS heims a dag : Herrann J)6 J)a8 viti, 
 sigur undir solar-lag ; synist breg&a liti. 
 
 {>eir sem vilja vakna i song : og vondar kvalir fliia, 
 undir nott J)6 ei se long : eiga sig a3 biia. 
 
 Teygir ei dau&inn tima vorn : J)a ti6 er burt a6 halda, 
 J)a6 eru a oss alog forn ; allir skuld [)a gialda. — [I. S. D.]
 
 §5-] ISLENDIlSrGA-DRATA. 419 
 
 § 5. INDEX POEMS. 
 
 ISLENDINGA-DRAPA, by HAWK THE SON OF WALDIS. 
 
 On the fly-leaf at the end of Cod. AM. 748, covering two pages and 
 going on to a leaf or leaves which have now perished, stands this poem, 
 which contains a series of brief notices of Icelandic heroes, forming a 
 kind of Index to the Sagas known to the author. Judging from the 
 precedence and disproportionate space he allots to the heroes of the 
 East, he must have been of Eastern Iceland, but neither of him nor 
 his mother Waldis do we hear aught elsewhere. One would take him to 
 have lived about the middle or third quarter of the thirteenth century. 
 We have made use of this poem in the Prolegomena as a base for certain 
 calculations with respect to the number of Sagas lojt since Hawk's day, 
 etc. It is in regular stanzas, but not strophic, unless we allow it to have 
 been of greater length than is likely. We have marked the heroes of 
 Sagas alluded to, in distinctive type, noting in the margin the Saga pre- 
 sumably alluded to, whether lost or extant. Hawk (verse i) has borrowed 
 words and images from Egil's Arinbiorn Lay, 1. 24, and from Haleygatal, 
 11. I and 34 (from the citations in Edda and the Lives of Kings). 
 
 From a similar poem by Thorkil Elfara-skald, no doubt, comes the 
 stanza on Gunnar, our No. II. Ihormod Olafsson seems to have written 
 a poem of the same kind from which one stanza survives, our No. III. 
 Thormod is mentioned in the Annals, signature N. s. a. 1338. 'The 
 Krafsi sailed from Deerfirth to Nt^rway. Priest Thormod Olafsson was 
 a-board her. The ship was wrecked on the North of Norway, but men 
 and cargo were saved.' 
 
 Other'K^ippa-k'vcEdi, or songs about Champions, were written, perhaps 
 all founded on the prototype by Eywind Poet-spoiler, which is now lost. 
 Such is our No. IV, which is the beginning of such a poem, but we do not 
 think, as some have thought, that it is to be ascribed to Eywind. 
 
 In the Stockholm MS. 22, of the fifteenth century, is a poem dealing 
 with the heroes of the Romantic cycles, etc. 
 
 Poems of the same class continued to be written after the extinction 
 of traditions in Iceland, taking subjects from the Sagas known to us, for 
 example, one by Thord of String, at the end of the sixteenth century. 
 
 It is interesting to compare this class of composition with the old 
 catalogue poems of the earlier type, and with the Thulor-Lists of Sea- 
 kings and Gods. 
 
 I. ISLENDINGA-DRAPA, BY HaUK ValDISARSON. 
 
 Introduction. "DERA skal li3 fyr ly5a L66ors vinar, glo3a 
 
 ■*-^ hrafna-vins iieiiia liafiii hneigeudr Dvalins veigoni : 
 reyndir bi3-ek at randa runnar lihista-niunnum 
 hausa harSa liosan hasl-rekka niio3 drekki. 
 
 2. Hvals- niunek hvassa telja -hd6-leiidinga biidar 5 
 
 hamra vifs \>k er h 6f6o hodd-lugcndr byr gnog.iii : 
 mi6an til J)ess, (enn {)cssiim pugn veiti hlyn peitu 
 gar6a grundar nii6ir) ge3 deihzt nier (scilar). 
 
 I. VapnJirDinga S. 3. Hverr gekk liraeddr vi6 ijrvan Hundings a Suae-grundu 
 
 (verses 3-5). arr til odda skiirar elg-rennir BroddHelga : lO 
 
 a3r grunnungi gunnar Gei/ir nib at beita 
 (askr fell alms inn roskvi) 6i\yndT fodur Sorla. 
 
 4. has!-] hals, Cd. 
 £62
 
 420 
 
 INDEX POEMS. 
 
 [bk. X. 
 
 11. Droflaugarsona 
 S. (verses 6-8). 
 
 111. Egils Saga 
 (verses 9, 10). 
 
 IV. Glum Geirason 
 (lost S.). 
 
 V. Hallfrebar S. 
 
 VI. poral/s S. 
 (lost S.) 
 
 vii. Finnboga S. 
 
 VIII. Orms Stor- 
 ol/ssonar S. 
 
 IX. Biarni-shald 
 (lost S.). 
 
 X. Grettis S. 
 
 4. Enn fak ^ess er va vika vagn-skreytir let fagna 
 grijar Geitiss bl63i giarn hialm-Jjrimu Biarni : 
 
 ok fiall-gestils fiesta folk-mei3a va bei3ir 15 
 
 ulfum hollr {)a-er ollu, or5z, hans fo&ur morSi. 
 
 5. Varat hregg-vana hyggnuni hraun-Atla porJtatli 
 (reyndr var6 rimmu skyndir rakk-lyndr) at J)vi, sprakka : 
 J)6tt sins fo9ur (sonar saddr var6 1 gny nadda 
 
 ofnir) eigi hefna sett-goSr skoningr maetti. 20 
 
 6. Opt vann aldri svipta elgs-fen-vi9u Helgi; 
 bar6izt hann vi3 har3a herSendr {)rimu sverSa : 
 fra-ek baru hlut hsra, hei3inn unz var6 inei6ir 
 dau6r, urn drengi a5ra Droplaugar sun, bauga. 
 
 7. Helgi rau5 (enn hriSar hygg-ek meir geta J)eirra) 25 
 Fenris teSr i f66ri flein-galdr-svolu (skialdar) : 
 
 J)a,-er Asbiarnar (ornu) erfingi brae fingin 
 (fra-ek nyta ser sveiia) sins nafna let hrafni, 
 
 8. Hefndi Grimr, {)a-er geymir gekk inn at Frey linna 
 foldar Fiolnis elda, froSr vaskliga br65ur : JO 
 Ni6r5r Iag6i sa sver3i snaka stigs (af vigi 
 
 Tyr varS agaetr ara elgs) i gognum Helga. 
 
 9. Vor3u hau5r, {)a-er ha6u, hh'rar tveir me5 dyrum 
 foldar vor6 ok fyr3a, flein-glygg, A6alsteiai ; 
 
 ^ollr var& allr inn ellri atgeirs i tor ^e'm ; 35 
 
 brings fell a ]>vi {)ifigi porolfr inn hug-stori. 
 
 10. Egill fekk unda gagli (ulfs kom hrafn at tafni) ; 
 [hygg-ek burguzt vel varga] ver6 me3 brug6nu sver&i : 
 sunr rau3 siQar brynjur (sverSa Freyr) i dreyra 
 
 (mildr klauf skatna skioldu) Skallagrims inn snialli. 40 
 
 11. Ar fra-ek arf-v6r9 Geira (ylgr saddizt vel) fylgja 
 [menn va Gh'unr at guniii] Gunnhildar bur kunnu : 
 ni6r9r klauf Herjans hurSir harSa vitr a Fitjum; 
 
 sa er mal af manni metins audar fekk dauSum. 
 
 12. Hitt var satt at sotti (seggr doglinga tveggja) 45 
 austr (fekk bald it haesta) Hatlfrcedr konung sniallan ; 
 hvar-dyggva let hoggva hann arm-vi9u fannar 
 
 (sver9z fra-ek el at yr9i all-hord) i gras bor&um. 
 
 13. iEsti ungr meS Fostra ASalsteins dunu fleina 
 
 (Jja rau5 Jaegn i dreyra) pordlfr (Hnikars bialfa) : 50 
 
 Skolms fra-ek hart me9 hilmi hvotum Noraenna skatna 
 Yggjar bals 1 eli erfingja fram gingu. 
 
 14. Rau5 Finnbogi fri3a Fiolnis gl66 i bl66i 
 
 (hinn er hialnis vi3 runna hart gekk framm) inn Rammi : 
 
 ok ha-raddar hraeddir brings ofair gingu 55 
 
 fyrir firym-svelli {)ollar J)eini sar-iokuls-geima. 
 
 15. larls monnum bau3 unnar ein-vigis til hreina 
 xii-pTotU ok atta Ormr Stdrol/s son fiorum : 
 
 itr ba9 Eirikr leitazt egg-diarfr fyrir seggi 
 
 angrs f)a-er as at drengjum eld-mei6ir tok rei3a. 60 
 
 16. FrySu fylgi-meiSar flausta eiiikar-hraustum 
 (sa var vapn-ri63r Vi3ris ve6r-giarn) hugar Biarna : 
 |)a-er Hakonar haefis hauss enn gegndar-lausi 
 
 a iarls nasar Asa 61-beinir laiist fleini. 
 
 17. Satt er at si3 mun Greiti sver5z roskvari ver3a 65 
 (hraustr var lof3a lestir) leik-{>undr a Snae-grundu : 
 
 s4 re3 sins of hlyra sokn-efnandi befiia 
 
 (|>r6s hne J)ar til drosar porbiorn) i gny fiornis. 
 
 25. getu, Cd. 
 
 26. -volu, Cd.
 
 §5-] ISLENDINGA-DRAPA. 421 
 
 XI. Thorleif larla- i8. JjorSi porleifr her&a ^ing all-snarpra hringa, 
 
 skald. 66 sa-er iarli heiSnum ofridan xib sniOa : 70 
 
 vega kvaSu f)vi J)i66ir ^ann ok Olaf annan 
 ibxxht voru {)ar ba6ir) Berserk (at ^vi verki). 
 xn. Gauk Trand- 19. Sniallr fra-ek opt at oUi Ormr Skdgar-nef r6g\ ; 
 ihson (lost S.). orr var sa til snerru snarr hli6m-bo9i darra : 
 
 Ok geir-raddar gladdi Gaitkr Trandils sun hauka ; 75 
 
 (geig vann heldr) at hialdri (hann ofam manni). 
 
 XIII. Gunnar S. 20. VarSizt gondlar gar3a Gunnarr snorum runnum 
 
 (Niala). greitt, enn Gizurr sotti garp akafa snarpan : 
 
 iiiorSr let sextan saerSa snarr hliom-viSu darra 
 
 (sart lek hair vi3 hol3a) hior-regns, enn tva vegna. 80 
 
 XIV. Midfirih 21. Hvast fra-ek hialms at aesti hregg Midfiardar-Sheggi 
 Skeggi (lost S.)? (drengr raud opt inn ungi ulfs munn) fyr haf sunnan : 
 
 gekk 1 haug at hnykki hrae-klungrs ept Skiifnungi 
 hrid-gervandi hiorva hild-fraekn Kraka ins milda. 
 
 XV. Sidu-Hall 22. Helt til fullz, sa-er fylla fiir-runna log kunni 85 
 (lost S. ?). (sen raun var J)ess) sonar, Sidu-Hallr vid alia : 
 
 atti ^l-biu9r hrotta agaetr sonu maeta ; 
 
 dyrr skop hinina harri hofu9s-nianni veg sannan. 
 
 XVI. porslein Hall- 23. Hallz arfa fra ek hollan hyr gollungum styrjar, 
 
 son's S. J)ann er uligast, unnar, ill-maelis rak, taelir : 90 
 
 valdr l^t fimm of fellda fleins a morni einum 
 (J)a va porsteinn havan J)6rhadd) vidii nadda. 
 
 XVII. Bersi (lost 24. Kunnr var morgum manni marg-^rottr ' leizt sa ' drottum 
 
 S. ?). vseg5ar-trau6r at vigum, vers, Hohn-gongn-Bersi : 
 
 hiiin er of hlakkar runna har8-glu5ar ste m66i 95 
 
 bliks me6 bruma ekka bor6z halfan tog fior9a. 
 
 XVIII. Kormahs S. 25. Kendi Kortiiakr stundum kyn-storr vi6um brynju 
 
 (opt bra hann vi5 heiptir hrafns siit) 1 gras liita : 
 
 ok almr sa-er hlaut hilniis hald bl69ugra skialda 
 
 (hold fra-ek hrseSazt aldri) hug-pru9r a sik triiSi. lOO 
 
 XIX. Thorarin Stein- 26. Felldi horska holda hialdr-orr, ok vann sialdan 
 arsson (lost S.). (malmr belt hiif ) a holmi happ, pdrarinn kappi : 
 
 ne ^rym-nir6ir ^or9u J)eim i gegn (enn seima- 
 lundr hio stort) at standa Sleinars syni, fleina. 
 
 XX. .S'/am (lost S.). 27. Vist seim-farra snerru snarr i7o/m^o«g'i/-[5'<arW] 105 
 
 II. i^oRKELL Elfara-skald (from Niala). 
 
 CPURDU ver hve var9iz vig-m69r kialar sl69a 
 
 gny-staerandi geiri Gunnarr fyrir Kiol sunnan : 
 sokn-ryrir vann sara sextan vi9ris mana 
 hri9ar her9i-mei9a hau9r-niens en tva dau9a. 
 
 III. t'ORMODR Olafsson (from Niala). 
 
 /^NGR var solar slcengvir sand-heims a Island!, 
 
 ^-^ (hru9r er af heiSnum ly9uni haegr) Gunnari fraegri; 
 
 Ni6r9r vann hialma hri9ar hlif-nunna tva lifi ; 
 
 sar gaf stala styrir storuni tolf ok fiurum. 
 
 IV. By AN UNKNOWN AuTHOR (froiTi Skalda). 
 
 T TT re9 Ingolfr leita ogn-reifr me9 Hiorleifi.
 
 422 RHYMED GLOSSARIES. [bk 
 
 § 6. RHYMED GLOSSARIES. 
 
 THULOR. 
 
 To the chief IMSS. of the Edda of Snorri there are affixed certain 
 collections of ivords, either in prose or verse, which are of high interest 
 both for philology and mythology. These lists of words were thrown 
 together as a kind of poetical word-book, a 'gradus,' in which the poet 
 would find choice of terms gathered from all sources. When these lists 
 are in verse they are known as Thulor. The JMSS. containing them may 
 be divided into two classes, A and B ; the A-class best and fullest, 
 consists of AM. 748 and 757; but the latter is in so deplorably rotten 
 and bad a state that it is of little use, and ends at line 594. The B-class 
 comprises Cod. Regius, which has hitherto been made the basis of 
 editions, though it is imperfect and inferior to 748, and leaving out 
 Kings' names, dwarves, trees, Woden's titles, and ending altogether at 
 line 502. Of the B-type is AM. re /3. 
 
 The value of the Thulor will appear when it is stated that in these 
 seven hundred odd lines in old metre, some three thousand primitive 
 words and names are found. The arrangement has a rough symmetry 
 of its own. Beginning with some sixteen sections relating to Persons 
 MYTHICAL and POETICAL, titles of gods, and terms of kinship and the 
 like, we next come to a section on battle, arms and arm^.ur, man's 
 belongings, which make up the first part. This is followed by a fresh 
 part treating of Physical Objects and the like: the Ocean with its 
 Rivers, ihe^sBes, ^u.'/jales, and ships that occupy them, with a final voca- 
 bulary touching the various /)«r^j of a ship; next comes Earth with the 
 animals that dwell thereon, from oxen to wol'ves ; then the Heavens 
 with its population of moon, sun, stars, skies, and tempests: after Air 
 comes another set of animals, serpents, horses, birds of various kinds. 
 Another section, somewhat out of place, deals w ith ftmale names, the 
 hart, fox-names, and Walkyria-natnes. The Third part seems of a 
 MIXED cast. It gives lists of Islands, Firths, Seeds. To these we have 
 added a little morsel (11. 691-718) printed in the editions of Edda as 
 prose. It is found in all the I\ISS., but it is derived from an older MS., 
 as there is the same omission of the last line but one in all. 
 
 The question now arises, whence and when were these verse-lists 
 compiled. For a variety of reasons we are inclined to think that they 
 were put together in the West about the age of Bishop Biarni. The 
 number of foreign words and places forbid a very early origin, and 
 would make it subsequent to the Crusades, by which time Latin and 
 Byzantine Greek words would have crept in and reached the North 
 in the mouth of sailors and pilgrims. The number of foreign birds, 
 many of which the Editor, when writing the Lexicon, was only enabled 
 to identify from Bewick, and of which the names are not known to 
 Icelanders or Norwegians, as well as the positive indications offered by 
 such Old English words as ' sicul-gord,' sail-yard, would point rather 
 to the Western Colonies than to Iceland or Scandinavia proper. In
 
 § 6.] THULOR. 423 
 
 the section on Rivers, which contains one hundred and twenty names, 
 when the sprinkling of classic and scriptural streams (such as Euphrates, 
 Tiber, and Jordan) are taken out, the remainder are almost all British 
 Rivers, an observation which startled the Editor as he was looking 
 over a map in the Oxford City Library many years ago (Oct. 1866). 
 These rivers belong to the river-system of the North-East of Scotland 
 and of the Northumbrian coast. It is evident that when one can once 
 identify certain of those rivers as British and nothing else, then those 
 river-names which may be found existing in Norway as well as in 
 Great Britain must refer to British, not Norwegian streams. This 
 cannot be wholly accidental ; this section at least must be by some one 
 who knew, or was working for those who knew, these coasts and 
 streams. Smaller indications point the same way, the occurrence of 
 grain and trees, not grown in Iceland or Norway, but common in 
 Great Britain; the knowledge of ship-building and rigging, which would 
 never suit an Icelander, but is singularly appropriate to those favourite 
 Wicking haunts, the Orkneys and North-Scotch coasts. A Gaelic word 
 here and there tells the same tale. With regard to the Islands (II, 650 ff.), 
 so distinctly a feature of the Norwegian and Danish coasts, they are 
 mostly Scandinavian, and it is not surprising that they should be so, the 
 Wickings came precisely from those Norwegian skerries and island- 
 bound coast-counties, and they gave the old names to some of the islands 
 in the West ; but still, of these there are some twenty which can only 
 belong to the West, of mostly Gaelic origin. There is an evident inten- 
 tion on the compiler's part to put round numbers, especially 120 and 
 60, the hundred and half-hundred, whenever he could, which will 
 account for a few synonyms to eke out the long lists. They must have 
 been made by one who used ivriting, one would fancy. 
 
 We have also Thulor in court-metre, some of them attributed to Einar 
 Skulason, who may indeed have been the author of all such lines, they 
 would suit his time and cast of thought. They are evidently less im- 
 portant than the others, and the difficulty of the internal rhymes would 
 not tempt many men to try such a task. 
 
 We have added a few more in court-metre, of grammatical bearing, 
 etc., found in Kdda MSS. (Cod. Ups.) and AM. 778, by the same Einar 
 and others. 
 
 I. Mythical, Personal. 
 
 I. Sea-kings. A TLI, Fr<59i, Ali, Glammi, 
 ■^^ Beiti, Ati, ok Beimuni, 
 Au6mundr, Gu6mundr, Atall, ok Gestill, 
 Geitir, Gauti, Gylvi, SveiSi, 
 Goir, Eynefr, Gaupi, ok Endill, 
 Skekkill, Ekkill, SkaeviU, Sglvi, 
 Halfr ok Hemlir, Harekr ok Gorr, 
 Hagbar6r, Haki, HrauSnir, INIeiti, 
 Hia)rolfr, ok HrauQungr, Hggni, M^singr, 
 Hundingr, Hviiingr, Heiti, MDevill, 10 
 
 Hialmarr, Moirr, Hoemir, Moevi, 
 R66i, Rakni, Raer, ok Leifi, 
 Randverr, Rgkkvi, Reifnir, Leifnir, 
 Naevill, Refill, N6ri, Lyngvi,
 
 424 RHYMED GLOSSARIES. [bk. x. 
 
 Byrvill, Kilmundr, Beimi, lorekr, 
 
 Asmundr, i'vinnill, Yngvi, Teiti, 
 
 VirviU, Vinnill, Vandill, S^lvi, 
 
 ' Gaverr/ ok Hunn, Giuki, Bu5li, 
 
 Homarr, Hnefi, Hurfi, Surfi. — 
 
 Sdkat-ek fleiri Sx-konunga. 20 
 
 2. Kings. Man-ek hauk-stalda heiti segja: — 
 
 allvalldr, fylkir, ok afraki, 
 
 bragningr, ao6lingr, bu6lungr, dajglingr, 
 
 a)3lingr (!) ok gramr, iaofurr, ok tiggi, 
 
 hildingr, ok harri, ok hertogi, 
 
 mseringr, hilmir, mildingr, ok nor, 
 
 lofSungr, niflungr, ok landreki, 
 
 |)engill, vi'si, pi66an, konungr : 
 
 sinnjor, siklingr, sioli, rsesir, 
 
 Skiaoldungr, Skilfingr, skyli, ok Yngvi, 30 
 
 Ynglingr, Ylfingr — Ero nu tali3 
 
 HoFUD-SKiOLDUNGA HEITI na)kkur. 
 
 3. Dwarfs. Tel-ek IMotsggni ok INIigklitud, 
 
 ]Mi6vi6, Munin ok, IMi96vitnir, 
 
 Blin[d]vi8r, Burinn, Bumborr, N^i, 
 
 Bivorr, Bavorr, Blainn ok Nor6ri (!), 
 
 Grimr, Nar, Ni6i, NiSgttr, Dvalinn, 
 
 Nainn, Nefr, Nefi, Nifengr, ok Dolgr, 
 
 NyraSr, ok N;fr, Nor6ri ok Su3ri, 
 
 Skaverr, Skavi6r, Skirvir, Virvir, 40 
 
 Al|)iofr, Austri, Aurvangr, ok Dufr, 
 
 Ae, Andvari, Onn, Draupnir, 
 
 Dori ok Dagfinnr, Dulinn ok Onarr, 
 
 Alfr ok Dellingr, Oinn ok Durnir, 
 
 Vindalfr ok Vitr, Vivir, Ori, 
 
 Varr, Gull, Mevill, Vi6r, ok Olinn, 
 
 Ginnarr ok trorr, Gandalfr, t'orinn, 
 
 I'ekkr, trar, l>ulinn, frasir ok FuUangr, 
 
 Fainn, Farr, Fill, FiglsviSr, Gloinn, 
 
 Fi6r, Har, Farli, Frosti, ok Tigve, 50 
 
 Hanarr, Forve, Hepti, Fili(!), 
 
 Heri, Hgg-stari, ok Haenbui, 
 
 HlioSolfr, Kill, Hildingr, ok Litr, 
 
 Ra3-spakr, Lofarr, Reginn, ok Liomi, 
 
 Ra6-svi6r, Loinn, Rekkr ok Eitri, 
 
 Toki, Eggmoinn, Eikin-skialdi. 
 
 4. Giants. Ek man Iotna inna heiti — 
 
 Ymir, Gangr, Mimir, I6i ok Mazi, 
 
 15. bilmundr, leiS. 16. iosmundr, i e /3. 18. Gautrecr? 36. blavorr, 
 
 Cd. 44. ok] or, Cd. 56. Cd. 757; iaki, Cd,
 
 § 6.] THULOR. 425 
 
 Hrungnir, Hrimnir, Hrau9nir, Grimnir, 
 
 Hve6rungr, Hafli, Hripstuttr, Gymir, 60 
 
 HarSverkr, Hrgkkvir, ok Hastigi, 
 
 Hrae-svelgr, Herkir, ok Hrim-grimnir, 
 
 Hymir ok Hrfm-Jjurs, Hvalr, Irf-geitir, 
 
 iTymr, I»ru6-gelmir, f*istil-bar6i, 
 
 Geirr98r, Furnir, Galarr, trifaldi, 
 
 Fiaolverkr, Geitir, Flegr, Blap-|)vari, 
 
 Forniotr, Sprettingr, Fialarr, Stigandi, 
 
 Somr, ok Svasu6r, Svarangr, Skratti, 
 
 Surtr, ok Storverkr, Ssekarls-muli 
 
 Skserir, Skrymir, Skerkir, Salfangr, 70 
 
 OskruSr, ok Svartr, Ondu3r, Stumi, 
 
 Alsvartr, Aurnir, Amr ok Skalli, 
 
 Kpttr, Osgrui, ok Alfvarinn, 
 
 Vind-svair, Vi9arr, ok Vaff»ru6nir, 
 
 Eldr, Aur-gelmir, Mgiv, Rang-beinn, 
 
 Vindr, ViSblindi, Vingnir, Leifi, 
 
 BeinviSr, Bi^rgolfr, ok Brandingi, 
 
 Dumbr, Ber-gelmir, Dofri ok Mi6iungr, 
 
 Nati, Sgkk-mimir, 
 
 Enn ero eptir Iotna heiti : — 80 
 
 Eim-geitir, Verr, Imr, Hring-vQlnir, 
 
 Viddi, Vidgripr, Vandill, Gyllir, 
 
 Grimnir, Glaumvarr, Glamr, Sam-endill, 
 
 Vgrnir, Har6-greipr, ok Vagn-hgfSi, 
 
 Kyrmir, Suttungr, ok Kalld-grani, 
 
 iQtunn, OglaSnir, ok Aur-grimnir, 
 
 Gyllingr, Gripnir, Gusir, 6foti, 
 
 Hloi, Gang-lati, ok Hel-reginn, 
 
 Hross-{)i6fr, Durnir, Hund-alfr, Baugi, 
 
 Hraudungr, Fenrir, Hroarr ok Ni6i — 90 
 
 Nu ero upp taliQ 
 
 amatligra Iotna heiti. 
 
 5. Giantesses, Skal-ek Troll-kvenna telja heiti : — 
 Ogresses. Gri6r, ok Gnissa, GrJ'la, Bryia, 
 
 Glumra, Geitla, Gri'ma, ok Bak-rauf, 
 
 Guma, Gestilja, Grottin-tanna, 
 
 Gialp, Hyrokkin, Hengi-koepta, 
 
 Gneip, ok Gnepja, Geysa, Hala, 
 
 Horn, ok Hruga, Har3-greip, Fora6j 
 
 HrySa, HveSra, ok Hglga-bru^r, ico 
 
 Hrfmgerfir, Hsera, Herkja, Fala, 
 
 Im3, larn-saxa, Ima, FiglvQr, 
 
 ]\Iavrn, Ivi6ja, AmgerSr, Simul, 
 
 62. hriki, ie/3. 66. Fleckr, ie/3. 79. ssegrimnir, le/3. 91. 
 
 {>a er nii lokit Jjursa heituni, i e /3.
 
 426 
 
 RHYMED GLOSSARIES. 
 
 [bk. X. 
 
 6. Woden's 
 
 7. Sons of 
 Woden. 
 
 8. Thor, 
 
 Sviv^r, Skrfkja, Sveipin-falda, 
 Oflug-barSa, ok larn-glumra, 
 ImgerSr, Ama, ok Iarn-vi6ja, 
 Mar-ger3r, Atla, Eisor-fala, 
 Leikn, Munn-harpa, ok myrk-ri6a, 
 Leirvgr, Li6ta, ok Lo6in-fingra, 
 Kraka, Var6-run, ok Kiallandi, 
 Vigglpd, f'urr-b9r6 — viljom nefna — 
 Rygi, si6ast, ok Rivin-geflo. 
 
 Nu skal yppa Odins naofnom : — 
 Atri6r, Au6unn, ok Allda-fgQr, 
 Gizurr, Kialarr, Gautr, ViSrimnir, 
 Gollorr, Grimnir, Ginnarr, Hniko6r, 
 Figlnir, Dresvarpr, Fengr, Arn-havf3i, 
 FrariSr, Al-fpSr, ok Farma-t/r, 
 Herjan, Fig»l-svi6r, Hnikarr, Fornglver, 
 Hioptr, Hialm-beri, Hgrr, Fiall-geigo6r, 
 Grimr, Gap-J3rosnir, GangraSr, Svipall, 
 Glapsvi6r, Ganglaer, ok Ganglaeri, 
 Her-teitr, Har-bar6r, ok Hropta-t^r, 
 GeigoSr, Gg)llnir ok Geir-lodnir, 
 HlaefoSr, Havi, Hagyrkr, Svi6o3r, 
 SfS-hgttr, Svafnir, Sig-faodr, trasarr, 
 Hrami, Hiarrandi, ok Hengi-koeptr, 
 Hrosshars-Grani, Hriotr, Tvi-blindi, 
 troptr, Her-blindi, ok Herja-fa)6r, 
 Hvat-m65r, Hle-freyr, Hve6rungr, ^x\h\, 
 Ggllungr, Bileygr, ok Geirplnir, 
 VavgSr, Val-fao6r, Vingnir, Rggnir, 
 Svi6urr, ok Skollvaldr, Sig-gautr, ViSurr, 
 SviSrir, Baleygr, SigJD^r, Briini, 
 Sigmundr, SvQlnir, Si6-skeggr, ok Niotr, 
 Olgr, Biblindi, ok Enni-braitr, 
 Ba)lvei"kr, Eylu_6r, Brunn, Sann-getall, 
 t'ekkr, I'uSr, 6mi, trundr, ok Ofnir, 
 U3r, Iplnir, Vakr, lalkr, ok Lang-bar6r, 
 Grimr, ok LgSungr, Gestum-blindi, 
 Sigtryggr, Igrmunr, Sadr, Gunn-blindi, 
 lafn-harr, Oski, Iol_fo6r, ok {'ror, 
 Yivngr, Skilfingr, 03inn, Tveggi, 
 Vera-t^T, Sig^ror, Val-gautr, ok Yggr. 
 
 BuRiR ro Odins : — Baldr, ok Meili, 
 Vi6arr, ok Nepr, Vali, Ali, 
 {'orr, ok Hildolfr, Herm69r, Siggi, 
 Skia)ldr, ok Oldnir, ok Itreks-i63, 
 Heimdallr, Saemingr, Ha)6r, ok Bragi. 
 
 Heitir Alii, ok Enni-langr, 
 
 i,?o 
 
 140
 
 §6.] THULOR. 427 
 
 t'oRR, EindriSi, ok Asa-bragr, 
 Biorn, HlorriSi ok Har6-veorr, 
 Ving^orr, S9nnungr, Veo3r, ok Rymr 
 Asa-hetja 
 
 9. A^ames of Enn skal telja Asa heiti : — 
 
 the Anses. I^ar er Yggr, ok t'orr, ok Yngvi-Freyr, 
 ViSarr, ok Baldr, Vali, ok Heimdallr; 
 pi Tfr, ok Ni3or6r, tel-ek nsest Braga, 
 Haj6r, Forseti; her er cefstr Loki. 
 
 10. Goddesses. Nu skal Asynjor allar nefna : — 16a 
 
 Frigg, ok Freyja, Fulla, ok Snotra, 
 Ger6r, ok Gefjun, Gna, Lofn, SkaQi, 
 Igrb, ok I9unn, Ilmr, Bil, Nigrunn, 
 Hlin, ok Nanna, Hnoss, Rindr, ok Sigfn, 
 Sol, ok Saga, Sigyn, ok Vgr. 
 M er \^ar, ok Syn, verbr at nefna ; 
 enn Iriifir ok Ran er peim nsest talid. 
 
 1 1 . Names of Gr^t ok at 06i golli Freyja : 
 
 Freyja. heiti ero hennar : Hprn, ok I'ungra, 
 
 S/'r, Skialf, ok Gefn, ok it sama Mardgll. 170 
 
 Doettr ero hennar : Hnoss, ok Gersemi. 
 
 12. Walkyries. Enn ero aSrar Obins meyjar : 
 
 Hildr, ok Gondul, HlQkk, Mist, Skpgul, 
 J)a Hrund ok Fir, Hrist, ok Skuld, laliS. 
 NoRNiR heita \)-x.x er nau6 skapa. 
 
 13. Women. Nipt ok Di'si nii mun-ek telja: — 
 
 Snot, bruSr, svanni, svarri, sprakki, 
 
 fli66, sprund, kona, feima, ekkja, 
 
 r/'gr, vif, ok briiSr, ristill, sseta, 
 
 svarkr, dr6s, ok man, mser, ok kerling. 180 
 
 14. Men. Mai er at segja Manna heiti: — 
 
 Greppar ok gumnar, gumar ok drengir, 
 
 gotnar ok rekkar, garpar, seggir, 
 
 sveit, snillingar, ok sgelkerar : 
 
 bragnar, JDegnar, beimar, hajldar, 
 
 firar, ok flotnar, fyrSar, .... 
 
 faoroneyti, diott, flokkr, hard-menni, 
 
 kniar, ok kappar, kenpor, nautar, 
 
 Old, ok airir, ok afar-menni, 
 
 li6ar, ok lof6ar, \jbx, ok sagnir, 190 
 
 li66r, of-latar, lionar, ok fer6ir, 
 
 mildingr, ok maeringr, mann-baldr, spekingr. 
 
 153. Vingjiorr . . . Veo3r] Vii)g{)2er . . . Viiig{)or, Cd. 159. oefstr] I e j3 ; 
 
 nest, Cd. 174. Eir] add. le/i. 178. koii.-i] add. ie/3. 179. bru3r] 
 
 ie/3; dros, Cd. sajta] lejS; hneita, Cd. 185. hau'dar, A.
 
 428 RHYMED GLOSSARIES. [bk. x. 
 
 M er gloesi-maSr, ok goU-skati, 
 
 snyrti-menn, ok sselingar, 
 
 au6-ky-fingar, ok oflatar(!), 
 
 herr, ok helmingr, ok haofSingjar : 
 
 Folk, ok fylki, fundr, almenningr ; 
 
 er Jjraong, ok J)yss, t>orp, au6-skatar, 
 
 drott, ok syrvar, dunn, pry6i-menn, 
 
 saogn, ok samnaQr, seta, sterti-menn, 200 
 
 fiorr, ok brionar 
 
 15. Company Enn ero eptir aldar-heiti: — 
 and Kvidred. hir6, ok gestir, ok huskarlar, 
 
 inn-drott, ok hion, — ef ek allt segi — 
 
 runi, ok J^opti, ok raQ-giafi : 
 
 Inn-hy-singar, alda-J)optar, 
 
 sessi, ok mali, scerlar, fylgSir : 
 
 J)a ero f^lagar ok fraendr saman, 
 
 vinir, einkili, verSung, halir : 
 
 Ai, ok attungr, arfi, sonr, 210 
 
 faSir, broSir, barmi, bl63i, ok lifri, 
 
 i66, burr, nefi, ok arfuni : 
 
 J)a eru hl/rar, ok haofu6-ba9mr, 
 
 ni6r, hleyta-ma6r, ni6iungr, ok barn, 
 
 konr, ok kyn-kvisl, kundr, aett-bogi, 
 
 msogr, malo-nautr, magr, ok spialli, 
 
 aett-barmr, sett-sloS, of-ska^pt, ok sveinn : 
 
 sesso-nautar, ok sifiungar, 
 
 af-spring er Jja, ok sett-stuSill. 
 
 xd. Household. M ero ra9o-nautar, ok rad-giafi, 220 
 
 J)i6nar, ok J)r3elar, {)irr, a)nnungar, 
 verk-menn, kefsir, ok vil-megir. 
 
 17. Battle. Orrosta heitir: — hialdr, ok rimma, 
 
 gigll, geira-hgS, ok geir-jjrivul, 
 
 rog, ok r6ma, rand-gri9, ok stor9, 
 
 svipul ok snerra, sig, folk, iara ; 
 
 sokn, mor9, ok vig, sota, dolg, 6gn, 
 
 dynr, gn^T, tara, drima, imun; 
 
 J)a er orrosta, ok grlygi, 
 
 hri6, ok etja, her-^aogn, t)rima. 230 
 
 18. Weapons. Ek man segja sverda heiti : — 
 Swords, hisorr, ok Hrotti, hyguQr, Drag-vandill, 
 
 groa, gramr, gillir, giallarr ok ne6an-skar6r, 
 sig9r, ok snyrtir, somi, ski6mi ; 
 skalkr, skerkir, stufr, Skr/^mir, Laufi, 
 
 201. fiorr ok br.J add. ie/3. 210. arfi] ie/3; avi, Cd. 213. -baa- 
 
 mar, Cd. 223. Orrosta heitir] J)au ero heiti, Cd. 227. sola] sotti, Cd. 
 
 250. etja] B; aetna, Cd.
 
 § 6.] THULOR. 429 
 
 gltfr, langbarSr, ok orm-J)vari, 
 
 Legg-bltr, kyr, galmr, ok leifnis-grand, 
 
 her-beri, Hneitir, ok hrse-frakki, 
 
 lotti, hrgnduSr, l^gSer, maekir, 
 
 mg6u8r, mundri6i ok Mistil-teinn, 240 
 
 malmr, \)t6t, ok marr, ok mi3-fainn, 
 
 fet-brei6r, grind-logi, ok Fisor-svafnir, 
 
 vaegi, leiptr, vaegarr, valangr, ok brandr, 
 
 verulfr, valnir, vinn-biartr, ok kol, 
 
 askr, angr-vaSill, eggjom-skarpi, 
 
 svipuSr, ok svipa-li6tr, salgarSr, hnefi ; 
 
 hvati, ha)fu6-hvessingr, hausa-ma)lvir, 
 
 hrseva-gautr, her-brai, ok hold-mimir, 
 
 ben-ssegr, brig6ir, brimarr, hu6lognir, 
 
 skyggf)er, skryver, skar6i, grindlogi, 250 
 
 Mimungr, fellir, ok mal-vitnir, 
 
 taurar, hrsevaSr, trani, vind-JDvari, 
 
 liSnir, Kvern-bftr, liomi, her6ir, 
 
 vitnir, yfri, vsegja-lestir : 
 
 skelkingr, fillingr, flaemingr, sker6ingr, 
 
 skotningr, skilvingr, Skgfnungr, rifiungr, 
 
 brotningr, hvitingr, Boesingr, Tyrvingr, 
 
 haekingr, ok hringr; hittaz man nagttingr : 
 
 logi ok mund-giallr, langr, hvass, ok eldr, 
 
 avrn, ok segir, ' ok ' naglfari, 260 
 
 brigSir, maurnir, blaer ok sker6ir, 
 
 hyrr, ok helsingr, hri6ir, atti : 
 
 fellir, fglvir, Fafnir, raufnir, 
 
 imir, eimnir, afspringr, Jjinurr, 
 
 siglir, snyrtir, svselgr, skar, ok nar, 
 
 goinn, gest-moinn, ok gramr, J)rimarr, niShaaggr. 
 
 19. Paris of Oddr, bl63varta ok ben-knuar, 
 the sword. bl65-refill, bl66-varp, ok bl69-i9a, 
 bl69-vaka, liugfengr, ok bl66-hnefi, 
 iSvarp, ok brandr, egg-teinar, folk, 270 
 
 emjar, J^remjar, ok glrunar-nautr, 
 merki, vett-rim, ok missi-fengr, 
 onn, ok skafningr, undir-dregningr, 
 vargr, kall-hamarr, valbaDSt ok her6r: 
 sverQ, ok gelmingr, ok sam-nagli, 
 hugro, sigr-hno9, hialt, ok tangi, 
 mundriSi, ha)gg-fa9r, ok me6al-kafli. 
 
 238. hrae-f.] Ie3; hafraka, Cd. -240. munduSr, i e 0. 242. ie/3; figr- 
 
 soSnir, Cd. 244. verulfr] iei3; verr vifr, Cd. kol] kvol, Iej3. 248. 
 
 her-brai] huglognir, ie/8. 255. filbiungr, i e /3, 269. -vaka] r; -varta, 
 
 Cd. 271. r; olraeSa-, ie/3. 274. kalld hamar nautr, ie/3. 277. 
 
 I ei3; hogg staSr, Cd,
 
 43° 
 
 RHYMED GLOSSARIES. 
 
 [bk. X. 
 
 20. Axe. Q^x, iarS-hyrna, . . . s[par6a] 
 
 skiava, ok skeggja, skrama, ok genja, 
 regin-spgrn, gneQa, ok gygr, fala, 280 
 
 snaga, ok bulda, barda, vigglpS, 
 J)veita, ok J^enja ; ^a er arg-hyrna ; 
 hon er oefst tali6 cexar-heita. 
 
 21. Spear. Darr, spiot, ok myt, dsof, lenz, ok vigr, 
 
 snata, fleinn, ok svaf, svi6a, hrse-mseki, 
 geirr, spia)r, nata, gefja, kesja, 
 gaflak, frakka, Gungnir, peita. 
 
 22. Arrows. Orr er ok, akka, oddr, hvit-mylingr, 
 
 fenja, drifa, flaug, dynfara, 
 
 bgsl, bgl, bllda, broddr, ok hremsa, 290 
 
 gggn, flaug, ok \)vqs . . . , ok skapt-sna)r, 
 
 flug-glav8, ok flug-svinn, fiva, ok skeyti : 
 
 Geta skal, Fennu ok Gusis-smi3is, 
 
 Iolfs-smi3i, hon er oefst ^ura. 
 
 23. Bow. Almr, dalr, bogi, fr, ok tvjviQr, 
 
 sveigr, glaer, ok f)rymr, [somr], seal, gelmir : 
 Enn kve3-ek heita all vapn saman ; — 
 iarn, a)r, ok spiaar, isarn, slgg. 
 
 24. Shield. Skioldr, }Drungin-salr, skaun, salbendingr, 
 
 bugnir, hldbar6r, ok buklari, 300 
 
 vettrimi, targa, ve8r-gla8r, ok hlif, 
 
 vi6-bleiknir, n't, V]g-gla8r, ok lind, 
 
 giallr, dogg-skafi, ok gunn-skylir, 
 
 baoQ-lios, gr/'ta, ok ba^d-skflir, 
 
 svalinn, ok randi, saurnir, borSi, 
 
 skutfingr, barSi, skirr, tvi-byr6ingr, 
 
 yrlygr, ok svarmr, eilifnir, hei9r, 
 
 baugi, fagr-blainn, bera, mi6-fornir. 
 
 25. Helmet. Hroptz hattar skal-ek heiti segja : — 
 
 hialmr, goU-fainn, hraur, val-hrimnir, 310 
 
 hall-hrimnir, skglkr, ok hlifar.di, 
 figrnir, \>ok\, ok fisk-moinn, 
 hildi-ga)kr, kellir, her-kumbl, ok velgr, 
 grima, segir, glsever, stefnir. 
 
 26. Coat of Brynja, kund, hialrnggll, hvgQ ok nan, 
 Mail. kaold, Finnz-leif, ba)6fara, Jjyn, syn, blod-leika. 
 
 II. Physical. 
 
 Water. C^R, silsegja, salt, ^gir, haf, 
 
 I. The Sea: — ^ laogr, sumr, loegir, laga-stafr, ok vagr, 
 
 284. myt] naut, i e;3. 293. Fenna, B. Gusisnauta, i e/3. 299. Read, 
 
 salpenningr. 315. hrgS ok nati, I e)3.
 
 §6.] THULOR. " 431 
 
 giallr, gnap, geimi, gnarr, svifr, ok marr; 
 
 sugr, sog, sami, svelgr, ra)St, ok fia)r3r ; 320 
 
 sund, aDgr, velfserr, sgni, vi3ir, 
 
 hrf3, verr, breki, hum, fl66, ok brim, 
 
 graeSir, gl^jo6r, Gymir, ok vsegir, 
 
 gniSr, ok oror, gialfr, fen, snapi : 
 
 gnat, va)r, vika, vpzt, hop, ok mi9, 
 
 vatn, diup, ok kaf, vi'k, tiaorn, ok sik, 
 
 stormr, diki, hylr, straumr, Ictkr, ok bekkr, 
 
 -all, bru6r, kelda, iSa, fors, ok kfll : 
 
 hefring, alda, hvitingr, ok la : 
 
 hra)nn, Ran, kolga, ok himin-glaeva, 330 
 
 draDfn, u6r, ok ' solmn,' dufa, bylgja, 
 
 bo6i, ok bara, bl66ug-hadda. 
 
 2. Rivers Ga)Il, Glit, Gera, G1q3, ok Valskialf, 
 {geograph.): — Van, Vi6, Vimur, Ving, ok Ysa, 
 
 Si9, SuQr, Freka, Sekin, Einstika, 
 
 Elf, Ro, Ekla, Ekin, Rennandi : 
 
 t'yn, Rin, ok Ni9, ^q\\ Rymr, Ysia, 
 
 Dun, Ofn, Dyna, Dyn, H9II, Fara, 
 
 Orun, ok Bro, Au9, Skialg, Lodda, 
 
 Myn, Merk, Ri9a, Mein, ok Sax-elfr : 340 
 
 Tifr, Dyrn, Vina, Tems, Vind, ok Strind, 
 
 Mavrn, I\Io6a, frym. Morn, ok Gaut-elfr, 
 
 Alin, U3r, Kolga, ok Evfrates, 
 
 Ogn, Ei9r, Eimir, ok Apardion : 
 
 Rggn, Hrpnn, ok Rpnn, Raum-elfr, Hnipul, 
 
 Hngpul, Higlmunla, Humra, Vina, 
 
 Vil, Vin, Vella, Valin, Sgmd, Salin, 
 
 Nepr, Drgfn, Strauma, Nis, Mynd, Gnapa. 
 
 Gilling, Nilus, Ganges, Tvedda, 
 
 Luma, Ver, V69a, Leira, ok Gunn{)r6, 350 
 
 13, Svpl, Vegsvinn, Yn, f'ioQnuma, 
 
 Figrm, Strgnd, ok Spae, ok Fimbul-jDul : 
 
 Nyt, Hrgnn, ok Nau6, Ngt, SliSr, ok Hri9, 
 
 Kprmt, Leiptr, ok Ornit, ok Kerlaugar tvser, 
 
 Ggmul, Sylgr, ok Yn, ok Geir-vimul, 
 
 Ylgr, VgS, ok F169, — lordan er a lesti. 
 
 3. Fishes : — Lax, ok langa. If sa, brosma, 
 
 birtingr, haeingr, bust, ok hrygna, 
 
 humarr, hrognkelsi, hveSnir, floki, 
 
 glunn, aurriSi, ok andvari : 360 
 
 Slid, sei9r, skata, sil, reydr, ok 9gr, 
 
 skreiQungr, ok sikr, skalgi, ok fly9ra, 
 
 fyldingr, styrja, ok fuSryskill, 
 
 321. B; oegir, Cd 331. soltnr, i e/3. 342. Maura, I e/3. 347. Vilrin? 
 
 341 or 316. Read, Nina? 351 and 355, Yn] one must be wrong.
 
 432 
 
 RHYMED GLOSSARIES. 
 
 [bk. X. 
 
 hamerr, steinbftr, ok haskerSingr : 
 
 fiaorsungr, J)ra3mmungr, ok fengrani, 
 
 hamarr, sand-hverfa, ok horn-gsela, 
 
 mar-knutr, glgmmungr, ok mar-f>vara, 
 
 sflungr, skel-fiskr, sverd-fiskr, ok l^r: 
 
 l)yrsklingr, ufsi, ^orskr, vartari, 
 
 grunnungr, gedda, giglnir, keila, 370 
 
 all, ok karfi, krabbi, geir-sil, 
 
 har, ok gu9lax, horn-sfl, igull. 
 
 4. Whales : — Hafr-hvalr, geir-hvalr, ok haf-gufa, 
 
 hnisa, haf-strambr, ok hn;f6ingar, 
 reySr, rey6ar-kalfr, ok rau6-kembingr, 
 bruungr, rostungr, ok btejo-hvalr : 
 nor6-hvalr, ok biir-hvalr, na-hvalr, ok leiptr, 
 skeliungr, fisk-reki, ok skuto-hvalr, 
 sletti-baka, skiald-hvalr, ok sand-laegja, 
 hross-hvalr, and-hvalr, hrafn-reydr, ok VQgn. 380 
 
 5. Ships : — Nii man-ek sk^ra of skipa heiti — 
 
 aork, ara-klo, askr, sess-rumnir, 
 
 skeiS, skuta, skip, ok Ski3-bla6nir, 
 
 n6r, Nagl-fari, ngkkvi, ok snekkja: 
 
 byr6ingr, buza, bar9-kaldr ok hreinn, 
 
 bakki, hgmlungr, hdlug-bar6i, 
 
 rgst, batr, ok regg, tq6, Hringornir, 
 
 lung, kioll, lang-skip, leifnir, karfi, 
 
 hringr, Gn69, freki, hrgb, moSroi, 
 
 hemlir, bardi, ok hylbauti, 390 
 
 ugla, leSja, ok askvitill, 
 
 koena, kgtla, kati, rei9, ok skalpr : 
 
 knQrr, kuggr, knui, keipull, eikja, 
 
 dreki, Elli6i, dromundr, ok pramr, 
 
 fura, vigg, galei9, ferja, skalda, 
 
 fley, flaust, ok J)aekr, far, t:6r, ok lid. 
 
 6. Par/s of a Segl, skaor, sigla, sviSvis, st/Ti, 
 
 ship: — s^jor, saum-faor, su9, ok skaut-reip, 
 
 stag, stafn, sti6rn-vi6, stuQill, ok sicul-giaord, 
 
 snotra, s61-bor9, sess, skutr, ok strengr, 400 
 
 sa)x, ok stoedingr, sviptingr, ok skaut, 
 
 spikr, siglo-tr^, saumr, Igk-stolpar, 
 
 laukr, siglo-toppr, h'na, eyro, 
 
 flaug, flaugar-skegg, ok far-nagli: 
 
 hunn, hun-bora, ok hialmun-vmlr, 
 
 hiifr, hl^r, hrefni, ok hals-stefni, 
 
 hefill, hals, hanki, ok haofut-hendor, 
 
 376. bunungr, i ey3. 
 407. hnacki, i e)3. 
 
 karfi] B ; barSi, Cd. 
 
 390' 
 
 homlu-bardi ?
 
 §6] 
 
 THULOR. 
 
 433 
 
 7. Earth 
 
 8. Trees and 
 Plants : — • 
 
 9. Animals. 
 Oxen : — 
 
 hdir, hsell, hamarr, hialp-reip, ok lik, 
 
 ra, rakki, rif, rengr, ok ha)mlur, 
 
 vind-ass, vengi, vaondr, lang-nefjur, 410 
 
 va)lt, beiti-ass, varta, brandar, 
 
 bitar, bog-lfna, bulka-stokkar : 
 
 bard, knd, byrSi, bellti, ok kinnungr, 
 
 kia)lr, bor6, keili, ok kiaDl-s;fja, 
 
 kraptar, kerling, kloer, ok J)optor, 
 
 kal-reip, ^rimir, klofar, ok J^iljur, 
 
 drengir, drag-reip, doela, arar, 
 
 ak-taumar, rcer, arinn, ok nalar, 
 
 aur-borS, kialar-hsell, ok akkeri, 
 
 hnakk-mi6i, aust-ker, ok hun-spaenir. 420 
 
 loRD, fia)rn, rofa, eskja, ok H166yn, 
 gyma, Sif, figrgyn, grund, hauSr, ok ra)nd, 
 fold, vangr, ok Fif, fron, hiarl, ok barmr, 
 land, big>5, |Druma, laS, ok merski, 
 hollt, hals, ok fia)ll, hli6, ok leiti, 
 hoU, hei6r, ok hvilft, hvall, ok brekka, 
 hro, dalr, ok vaDllr, hvammr, ok tunga, 
 mold, flag, rimi, mor, laut, ok sandr. 
 
 ViDR, yllir, tag, viSir, selja, 
 pors, mark, glviQr, ploma, spira, 430 
 
 bia)rk, viQ-vindill, beinn, fiall-rapi, 
 buss, hlynr, ok bok, beinvidr, mgpurr : 
 hasl, heggr, hallarr, hagf>orn, reynir, 
 rso, almr, ok rot, reyrr, askr, fura, 
 apaldr, a)sp, laurus, ulfviQr, lykkja, 
 eik, einir, pill, elri, palmar : 
 lind, lag, ok linnr, lyng, ski6, pera, 
 \)q\\, ok Jjyrnir, t)inurr, stord, ok klungr, 
 mgsurr, grain, mistil-teinn, ok mar-hrisla, 
 ilstri, vln-vi6r, iolstr, cipressus. 440 
 
 Ek man sk^ra fyr skatna mengi 
 all-ramligra yxna heiti : — 
 arva)r6r, drioni, ok igrmun-rekr, 
 simi, Freyr, Reginn, Smi6r, eyjjvari, 
 rau6r, ok rekningr, ok r^kkvi-lidr, 
 viggi, bauta6r, Vingnir, stiori, 
 Himin-hriotr, simarr, ok har9-fari, 
 hsefir, dignir, hia)llorr, simull : 
 hli8r, stufr, ok litr, hridr, forsimi, 
 arfr, i»rmuni, ok eiki-smi6r, 450 
 
 411. varta] vortur, I e^. 426. hei8r] B; heill, Cd. 427, hro] B: 
 
 bro, Cd. ; hrof, i e/3. 439. Emend. ; gron tvenn, Cd. 440. iolstr] iostr, Cd. 
 448. B ; hsefir, dirnir, kiollor, Cd. ; digiii, i e/3 (^better). 
 
 VOL. II. F f
 
 434 RHYMED GLOSSARIES, [bk. x. 
 
 gneisti, apli, gollin-horni, 
 au9r, kvlgr, aaldungr, ok grfuni, 
 griSungr, solgr, gellir, glymr, ok hreSi, 
 ti6ungr, boli, tarfr, aur-gefinn. 
 
 10. Cow: — Kyr heitir: skirja, kvfga, ok frenja, 
 
 ok Au6umbla, — hon er ellzt kua. 
 
 11. Ram: — Hrutr, ofr-hyrningr, hornum-skali, 
 
 gumarr, horn-gloinn, ok giald-hroinn, 
 hve6ru6r, horn-gloi, hallin-ski9i, 
 berr, horn-hroinn, ok heimdali, 460 
 
 bekri, miQiungr, blser, maorQr, ok ve3r. 
 
 12. He-goat: — Hafr heitir, grfmnir, ok geira)lnir, 
 
 Tann-gniostr, kiappi, ok Tann-grisnir, 
 sksemotr, ok brusi, bukkr, gn'mr talidr. 
 
 13. She-goat: — GEiTAR-heiti : HeiSrun, haSna, ok kidlingr; 
 
 er ok kol-miila, ok ki9 saman. 
 
 Xj^. The Bear : — Biorn, bersi, bolmr, bera, elgviSnir, 
 bla-iaxl, fsolfr, ok breiSvegi, 
 bestingr, bassi, ballti, hlasbar3r, 
 ulfr, frekr, vilnir, Igrekr, mosmi, 470 
 
 fetviSnir, hunn, fress, vetr-liSi, 
 iug-tanni, ialfu9r, ifiungr, vilskarpr. 
 
 15. The Stag : — Hiortr, Dura-jDror, hli9r, eik-J)yrnir, 
 
 Duneyrr, Dainn, Dvalarr, motroSnir. 
 
 16. The Boar: — Goltr, valglitnir, grfss, irminir, 
 
 svin, tarr, runi, Sae-hrimnir, baorgr, 
 
 rai, valbassi, ro3r, dritro9i, 
 
 J)r6r, vi6rir, skrumpr, J)rQndr, vaningi. 
 
 1*^. The Wolf: — Vargr, ulfr, Vitnir, ilmr, skgll, Geri, 
 
 hvinnir, ok gra-d/ri 480 
 
 Hati, Hr69vitnir, ok hei6ingi, 
 freki, kinni, vidnir, Fenrir, hlaebarSr, 
 goti, gildir, glammi, gyldir, imarr, 
 imr, egQir, ok skolkini : 
 
 Enn heitir sva : — ylgr, vargynja, 
 bokn, ok ima . . . svimul. 
 
 18. Heavens: — Nio ero heimar a hseS tali9: — 
 
 veit-ek inn ne9zta, sa er vind-blainn, 
 
 J)a er heidornir ok Hregg-mimir: 
 
 annarr heitir andlangr himinn, 490 
 
 (l)at mattu skiija), J)ri9i vi9-blainn ; 
 
 464. skimu9r, i e/3. 467. bolmr] i e j3 ; blomr, Cd. 474. Dainn] 
 
 I e /3 ; dalarr, Cd. 479. Ylgr vargr vitui, Cd. 4S0. hvinnir, ok gra-dyri] 
 
 add. I e /3.
 
 §6.] THULOR. 435 
 
 vl6-fe3mi kve8-ek vera inn fiorda; 
 hri66r, ok hl/rni, hygg enn s^tta ; 
 gn'mr, vett-mfmir : — get-ek nu vera 
 atta himna upp um tal6a : 
 skatyrnir stendr sk^jom cefri, 
 hann er litan alia heima. 
 
 19. The Sun: — Sunna, sfni, Sol, fagra-hvel, 
 
 hri66r-leika, lik, skin, ra)3ull, 
 
 leiptr, if- roe6ull, ok li6sfari, 500 
 
 drlfandi, alf-raodull, ok Dvalins-leika ; 
 
 al-skir, geisli ok ey-gloa. 
 
 20. The Moon: — Mani, *mi6gar6r,' mulin, tungl ok glamr, 
 
 skyndir, ok skin, skramr, artali, 
 nf, skialgr, luna, ni3, fengari. 
 
 2 1 . Day and D(Egr, hlyrn, ok raokr, dies, ok losing, 
 Night: — dagr, nott, svefn-gaman ok draum-nigrun, 
 
 nox, nis, grima, niol, myrkfara, 
 61i6s, draum-vgr, emisperium. 
 
 ,22. The Heavens Heimr, hregg-mimir, himinn, skatyrnir, 510 
 
 {repeated) : — ■ vi6-blainn, andlangr, ok vaetrimnir, 
 gimir, vindblainn, vi8fe3mir, hri66r, 
 hlj^rnir, leiptr, ok heiSornir. 
 
 23. Wind and Vebr, byrr, va)nsu8r, vindr, ^1-reki, 
 Weather : — glygg, blcer, ok gustr, grap, logn, {)oka, 
 regn, ur, rota, rf5, miorkvi, ^1, 
 fiuk, fok, mugga, frost, kari, hregg : 
 'ggnsurr,' gra6i, gol, of-vi8n, 
 giosta, grindill, gsela, ok oliodr, 
 gneggio6r, ggnsuSr, g§, dyn-fari, • 520 
 
 hlgmmuQr, ganrekr, hus-briotr, ok J)i6tr. 
 
 2 if. Fire: — Gims heiti vil-ek greppum segja: — 
 
 ^giss-br66ir ok el-reki, 
 eldr, eimr, usli, u8i, herkir, 
 ' hrgtudr,' ok hrot-gandr, Hrimnir, eimi : 
 leygr, Vafr-logi, linnr, ok farri, 
 brandr, f/^rr, tusi, brimi, nertill, 
 viti, eimyrja, vellan-fasti, 
 funi, hj^rr, foe6ir, furr ok eisa : 
 freki, glgr, seti, feykir, ysja, 530 
 
 hrg6u8r, ok hyrvir, harkr, for-brennir, 
 hrapi, myln, logi, hripu3r, aldr-nari, 
 kyndr, bal, va^ginn, kveykir, ok busi : 
 bn'singr, brenna, blossi, gneisti, 
 
 501. Here B (Reg.) ends. 504. Emend, from Alvis m. ; sky3ir aeki, Cd. 
 
 508. nis] read, niks? 
 
 F f 2
 
 436 
 
 RHYMED GLOSSARIES. 
 
 [bk. X. 
 
 gnipall, gloe9r, duni, geiri, tandri, 
 dunsuSr, dini, dusill, ok snaera : — 
 Nu er sex-tigir seySiss heita. 
 
 25. Animals Skal-ek eitr-fa orma telja : — • 
 
 again. 6inn, ok ofnir, glirr, iapra, 
 Serpents : — furr, flug-dreki, Fafnir, ori, 540 
 
 fraeningr, ok all, feginn, ok ornir : 
 grafvitnir, fann, goinn, holt-skri6i, 
 grafningr, grettir, gra-bakr, trani (!), 
 grfmr, ok graf-^vengr, gargan, eitrungr, 
 hringr, holdvarinn, haugvardr, dreki : 
 Ni6hQggr, nainn, ni3r, holdvari, 
 langbardr, lyder, linnr, hei6bui5 
 strykr, steinbui, st/rir, svafnir, 
 snakr, scorpion, sneldingr, na9ra : 
 lidr, iapr, brainn, linni, stefningr 550 
 
 snillingr, viQnir, saerfr, ok vindu6r, 
 raQr, rabia, reimir, seimir, 
 moinn, dalginna, ok Mi3gar6z-ormr. 
 
 26. Horses: — Gla9r, Glser, Gyllir, Gollin-faxi, 
 
 glitnir, GoU-toppr, Gisl, skeidbrimir, 
 
 Silfr-toppr, Simir, Sleipnir, SksevoSr, 
 
 Goti, Skin-faxi, Grani, Stufr, ok Skser : 
 
 fakr, L^ttfeti, figr-svartnir, Valr, 
 
 fengr, Falhofnir, fet-m69r, ok lungr, 
 
 Vakr, viglitnir, vindr, Tialdari, 560 
 
 ve8r, viQir, vigg, ok veg-draupnir : 
 
 vegbiartr, Hglkvir, Ving-skornir, Hrafn, 
 
 Alsvi6r, allvarr, Arvakr, Drasill, 
 
 Blakkr, bgl^vari, brainn, Ha-stigi, 
 
 marr, ior, bautuSr, mor, iormuni : 
 
 Moinn, hestr, fitOtri, modnir, roni, 
 
 alsvartr, apli, askr, mal-feti, 
 
 B168[ug]-h6fi, Ham-skarpr, brunn, Hof-varpnir, 
 
 vigr, Skinfaxi (!), Virvill, Hrim-faxi. 
 
 27. Birds. Hatjkr, hamSer, harmr, Habrok, tregi, 570 
 The Hawk : — heider, heim-^^r, hrimnir, kolking, 
 
 ginnar, gandir, ok geirloSnir, 
 ggllungr, ginnungr, ok gagl-hati : 
 yrlygr, ymir, und-skornir, valr, 
 ifiungr, ifli, ifill, vedr-fglnir, 
 Forseti, vi6nir, figrsungr, J)rQmmungr, 
 glgr, miitari, 9glir, saudnir. 
 
 28. The Raven : — Hramn, holdbori, Huginn, ovseri, 
 
 blaeingr, liti, borgin-m66i, 
 
 569. Vifill, vol. i. p. 80, 1. 5.
 
 § 6.] THULOR. 437 
 
 horn-klofi, viti, kloakan, krakr, 580 
 
 drukr, Muninn, corvus, geri {stc), 
 krummi, krumsi, korpr, boringi, 
 spori, Artali, ok dr-flognir. 
 
 29. The Cock: — Fegringr, hani, Fialarr, ok aslakr, 
 
 kokr, Sal-gofnir, kambr, vidofnir, 
 gylmir, gallus, ok gallina: 
 
 HOENA, keila, Habrok, ska9a. 
 
 30. The Eagle : — Orn, gallofnir, ok Andhimnir, 
 
 Hrse-svelgr, ok hregg-skornir, 
 
 egg-J)dr, kumarr, ari, blindviSnir, 590 
 
 arnkell, Gemlir, ok aquila. 
 
 31. Birds: — Gamr, gripr, gaukjDior, gaukr, sviplaekja, 
 
 gra-gas, heim-gas, gagl, ok helsingr, 
 
 geir-fugl, geitungr, glseSa, do6r, kvisa, 
 
 ari, nagr, arta, alpt, mar, ok haukr : 
 
 06ins-hani, alka, sond, hrossa-gaukr, 
 
 hramn, hcens, himbrin, hryggjar-stykki, 
 
 h^ri, hani, hoena, ok hilduri, 
 
 lifr, valr, smyrill, ugla, skurfir: 
 
 sva)rr, storkr, siila, svarr, ski6r, sparr-haukr, 600 
 
 stelkr, sp»rr, svala, stein-delfr, spiki, 
 
 skufr, spoi, sseSingr, skarfr, ok svart-bakr, 
 
 skeglingr, skiQi, skia)ldungr, pal: 
 
 karn, ig9a, kialar-fogl, kraka, dufa, 
 
 J)ra)Str, J)i6orr, Jjerna, Jieisti, dunna, 
 
 trana, tialdr, titlingr, tyr9il-muli, 
 
 lomr, laevirki, ok le8r-blaka : 
 
 langvf, lundi, 16a, fia)l-m66i, 
 
 filing, I6-J)r3ell, Friggjar-elda, 
 
 rindill, levari, liri, riupa, fiall-rota, 610 
 
 iarpi, ertla, ok ia6rakarn, 
 
 akri, do3ka, sedr, ok nsetingr, 
 
 kreppingr, fl66-skitr, ' kiar-filki,' spaetr, 
 
 masisingr, j^fingr, m^Ti-snipa, 
 
 rytr, haengi-vakr, rivann-skinna : 
 
 hrokr, gioSr, hegri, ok haf-tyr8ill, 
 
 brand-gas, hr68-gas, brimm-orri, marr, 
 
 sendlingr, skr^'tingr, snaj-fogl, skari, 
 
 vakr, valr, dufa (!), vallofr, starri. 
 
 III. Sufidnes. 
 
 I . Goddesses t'essi skal kenna kello-heiti : 620 
 
 again: — Saga, Sigyn, Sif, t'ruSr, I8unn, 
 
 Frigg, ok Bestla, Fulla, ok Nanna, 
 Gefiun, Horn, GerSr, ok Laufey.
 
 438 RHYMED GLOSSARIES. [bk. x. 
 
 2. Females Reid, selja, strind, rein, skor8, ok figrn, 
 again : — biaork, veig, ok t)aDll, brfk, J)opta, Gefn, 
 
 lag, grund, ok li8, lodda, broka, 
 
 fit, norn, . , . , fold, t^irr, ok lind, 
 
 Sol, fisotra, spa)ng, Sia)fn, Nauma, Rindr, 
 
 Eir, Jjella, list, Ilmr, tro9a, dis, 
 
 Nigrn, Vgr, ok Frf8r, nipt, Ran ok Bil, 630 
 
 Llkn, Hlin, ok Syn, Lofn, ok Gna. 
 
 3. Mind and M'3r, hiarta, negg, munr, hugr, sefi, 
 Heart : — geS, heil, siafni, goUorr, ok eljun. 
 
 4. The Fox : — Skolli, slappar3r, ok skaufali, 
 
 skoUr, mel-rakki, skaufi, gr^'la : 
 
 enn er refr, ok skrgggr, a)ldungr, dainn, 
 
 laufa-fettir, foa, brunn-migi. 
 
 5. The Hand: — Heiti ero handar: — hrammr, d^r, ok ravkn, 
 
 greip, mund, ok spaonn, gaupn, ok hreifi, 
 ulfliQr, ok fingr, armr, leggr, ok bogr, 640 
 
 lamr, hnefi, 16fi, loppa, krumma. 
 
 6. The Wal- Man-ek Valkyrjor Vi6ris nefna : — 
 kyrjas : — Hrist, Mist, Herja, Hlgkk, Geiravgr, 
 
 Ggll, Higr-J)rimul, Gu6r, Her-figturr, 
 Skuld, Geir-a)nul, Ska)gul, ok Rand-gnid, 
 Ra3gri8, Ga)ndul, Svipul, Geir-ska)gul, 
 Hildr, ok Skegg-old, Hrund, Geir-driful, 
 Rann-gniQr, ok fruSr, Reginleif, ok Svei8, 
 I'ajgn, Hialm-Jjrimul, f'rima, ok Skalm-a)ld, 
 
 7. Isles: — Ey, Om6, ok Ormst, Ollum-lengri, 650 
 
 Horn, Hrund, ok Hugl, HerSla, Ivist, 
 Hve8n, Hrafnista, Hising, Skrofa, 
 Mgn, Mgst, Hasley, Myl, Stolm, Bataldr, 
 Selja, Solrajnn, ok Sortoland, 
 
 Sigg ok Salarey, ok 
 
 Saga, Laland, Salbigrn, Leka, 
 
 Skid, Strind, ok Vigr, Solm, ok Aldi : 
 
 Krit, Kipr, Lygra, Kgrmt, Rq6, Biarkey, 
 
 Hsering, Gylling, Hugro, Var8a, 
 
 Lauga, Lygra, Lag, ok Gizki, 660 
 
 fridna, ok f'iotta, I'ruma, Kinn, ok Hr6tt: 
 
 N9S, Dyn, Nauma, Nala, Ngrva, 
 
 Folskn, Frigg, Faetilgr, Fenring, ok IMgn, 
 
 Bolm, Bokn, Raufa, Bgnn, Sekk, ok Vgrl, 
 
 AlQst, ok Stor3, lala, Tigr, Veey : 
 
 Aurn, II, ok Rist, Ira, Lodda, 
 
 645. Read, randgriS,
 
 §6.] THULOR. 439 
 
 Soland, Siri, Solskel, Migla, 
 
 Hlesey, VeQrey, Hitra, Frosta, 
 
 Lognd, Vikna, Lag, Syllingar: 
 
 Fi6n, Figlbyrja, Frikn, ok Senja, 670 
 
 Selund, ok Dimun, Ssela, f'umla, 
 
 Usna, Sioland, Askra)6, ok Sild, 
 
 Ala, Borgund, Erri, Torgar, 
 
 Hael, Rgkstr, ok Falstr, ok Helliskor, 
 
 Asparnir, Hin, lolund, ok Hanki, 
 
 Marsey, Samsey, Mystr, ok Vingi, 
 
 Hlesey (rep.), HeSinsey, ok Hnotirnar. 
 
 8. Friths : — Fiordr : Sogn, lali, FoUd, Ofoti, 
 
 Angr, Harmr, Tregi, Eitri, Vefsnir, 
 
 HarSangr, Stafangr, Heyangr, ok Glaumr, 680 
 
 Go6marr, HarSsaer, Grenmarr, HroQi. 
 
 9. Seed : — Akr, ax, sae6i, sogn, barr, ok halmr, 
 
 All, efsta-kne, eigin, skotbla8, 
 bla8, kne, ok rot, bygg, rugr, ok sa6, 
 korn, gin-hafri, korki, barlak, 
 grion, ok val-bygg, groska, dumba, 
 hveiti, hirsi, hialmr, skruf, ok mia)l, 
 bendill, heslar, bundin, sa3-korn, 
 fliir, gmstr, prefi, frse-korn, gnio6i. 
 
 10. Numbers: — 
 
 MaSr heitr einn fyrir ser — seta ero sextan, 
 
 Ta ef tveir ero, 691 sokn eru siautian, 
 
 t)orp ef J)rir ero, oernir |)ykkja ovinir J)eim er 
 
 fiorir ero fa^ro-neyti, atian moetir, 
 
 flokkr eru fimm menn, neyti hefir sa er nftian menn 
 
 sveit ef sex ero, (fylgja), 
 
 siau fylla sa)gn, droit ero tuttugu, 
 
 atta bera amselis-skor, ^ioQ ero J)rir tigir, 710 
 
 nautar ero nio, folk ero fiorir tigir, 
 
 dunn ef tiu ero : fylki fimm tigir, 
 
 serir ero ellifo, 700 samnadr sex tigir, 
 
 log-lo9 ef tolf ero, svarfadr siau tigir, 
 
 t)yss ero J)rettan, ajld ero atta tigir, 
 
 ferd ero fiortan, ^ ... ero nio tigir {blank), 
 
 fundr er ef fimtan hittaz, herr er hundraS. 
 
 * Some word on n.
 
 440 RHYMED GLOSSARIES. [bk. x. 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 Thulor in Court-Metre. 
 Sea-kings: — 
 
 T^ KILL5 Eitill, Skekkill, Emmir, Gestill, Remmir, 
 •L-« Heiti, Hcekingr, Meiti, Heimi, M/^singr, Beimi, 
 Randverr, R66i, INIundill, Roekkvi, Solsi, Noekkvi, 
 Hemingr, HagbarSr, Glammi, Haki, Beimuni, Rakni. 
 
 Kvenna heiti okend : — 
 
 Braut er svanni ok saeta, sveimar rfgr ok feima, 5 
 
 bru9r er i faor me9 fliodi, fat-ek dros ok man kiosa, 
 J)ekki-ek sprund ok sprakka; sparik vi6 heel at msela, 
 firrumk-ek snot ok svarra; svifr mer langt fra vifi. 
 
 Bh'3 er maer vi6 m66ur; mala drekkr a ekkjo 
 kvi6ir kerling eiSo ; kveSr dottir vel be9jo ; 10 
 
 opt finnr ambott haopto ; se 'r frilla graom svaero ; 
 kiljar kvan ok elja; kann nipt vi6 sna)r skipta. 
 
 The Mind (from Cod. Ups.) : — 
 
 Stendr J)at er storom grandar, skrk-vidri mer Herkjo, 
 i hnegg-veraold hyggjo hefi-ek stri6 borit vi6a, 
 par kemr enn, ef unna itr vildi Bil skaldi, 15 
 
 at blfdr groer Gndar glaum-vindr f sal pindar. 
 
 Islands : — 
 
 Bokn, Kormt, Brising, Vikna, Brua, Hirar, Dun, Siri, 
 Sotr, {'a^mb, Selja, Hitrar, Sigg, Rott, Bataldr, t'iotta, 
 Vigr, Stor8, Vgrl, R96, Lygra, Veig, Fenring, Tigr, Senja, 
 Hve8n, Va8, Hfsning, FriSnar, Ha)8, Borgund, Smyl, Torgar. 
 
 The Sea-girt Isles by Eiirar Skulason : — 
 
 1. Brattr er baldrekr ¥\6\.io ; berr vindr Radar linda, 21 
 vi6-gyr8ill pfix Vgor3o, veltr Fenringar belti ; 
 
 ygliz umgisorS Huglar ; olmr er gra-sili Stolmar; 
 fleygir Bolmar baugi; brakar Lygro men nakvat. 
 
 2. Blar er baldrekr Sfra; Bru gyrdill J)vser fyrSom; 25 
 sundr springr Lygro lindi ; Leko velt af t)raom belti ; 
 
 kiaol skolar Karmtar helsi ; kl^fr stiorn sila Hornar ; 
 baorS skera Gizka gir8i ; grafaz bor3 i men StorSar. 
 
 3. St6rt fellr gyrQill Garta; grefr vindr t>rumo linda; 
 
 ^j/'tr sval-fiaDturr Seljo ; svellr undrom men Hrundar ; .^o 
 allt skelfr Brimlar belti; brestr em sili Hernar; 
 cest ferr umgiaarQ Hristar; olmr er hringr I'rimlinga. 
 
 5. saeta] svaera, Ups. 28. Edda Lauf. enters these three following stanzas 
 
 under the name of Einar Skulason.
 
 §6.] THULOR. 441 
 
 4. Bar9 ri'str Gaelo gir6i; grefr saum fiajturr Tauma; 
 geist feiT umgia)r8 Ostrar ; opt er men klofit Senjo ; 
 brand jDvser Bolmar lindi ; bifaz stinnr sili Kinnar ; 35 
 
 hringr ^ftr Hve6no la)ngom; hart veltr Glanar belti. 
 
 TAe Daughters of Ran : — 
 
 CEsir hvasst at hraustom HiminglcEva J)yt ssevar; 
 Glymr Unnar vex grenni Gajndlar skiifs, ok Dufa ; 
 Braedd strykr Blobughadda ; brim-solginn fellr Kolga ; 
 hl^r skylr He/ring^ stoerir haf-lau6r of viQ rau6an. 40 
 
 Another Version : — 
 
 Drofn skylr stal J)ar er stafni straum-fylgin {Dvaer Bylgja ; 
 He/ring brestr, enn hristir Htminglaiva mar Vimrar ; 
 Hronn dregr gra)nn or grunni ; gadd svelr Blodug-hadda ; 
 elg venr Udr ok Kolga egg-hufs vi3 glym Du/o. 
 
 Grammatical (from Skalda, of later date) : — 
 
 1 . t>vi veldr dr at aerir akr bu-manna spakra ; 45 
 aera ver6r me6 drum undan dolga fundi, 
 
 rcEda gengr af roda runa systir olystug 
 orar dregr af drum fiwva. skemda fl5^tir. 
 
 2. (EH telsk J)at er 6I0 usnotran mann gotnar ; 
 
 aeb'r vatn {Dar er alar all-strangir fram hallazt ; 50 
 
 heitir Idr a Lceru ; laeringar kenningar; 
 kallazt mcer a Moeri ; maeritigr ef giaof taerizt. 
 
 3. Haetta ver3r a haettu ; hating ef basl roetisk, 
 ast er naer at naera, mi er vser konan ftcri ; 
 
 skeind tekr aedr enn oeSazt; cedi deyr J3a er br . . . 55 
 
 Hair by Arni the Benedictine : — 
 
 Skafa sveinar klif kruno ; kve6r eik meQan reikar ; 
 biugr J)yrnir hnigr hiarna; haf-skf6a stafar rf6a; 
 J)ola hlusta kaol kvistir; kna skalla rso falla; 
 aolr kringiz vel vanga ; venz skar6i grain svar3ar. 
 
 Einar : — 
 
 Hrynja l^t in hvi'ta haus-mioll ofan lausa 60 
 
 strind aDrriSa strandar stallz af skarar-fialli. 
 
 Snorri: — 
 
 Kom ek inn ]3ar er sat svanni svanna vsenstr f ranni; 
 gerSr leysti sia svarSar svar6-akr ra6ar gar3i. 
 
 Ola/:— 
 
 Hgog leit hvarma skogar hla6-norn vi9 mer stiaornom. 
 
 Cd. Worm., App. 
 35. Heraar, Cd. 41. From 748. 55. Read, J)at er braeai ?
 
 442 SKALDA-TAL. [bk. x. 
 
 § 7. SKALDA-TAL. 
 
 This interesting Roll of Poets has reached us from two sources. A, 
 the Kringla MS., c. 1264, which, the vellum having perished, we have in 
 Arni Magnusson's autograph copy, AM, 761. B, the Codex Upsalensis 
 of Snorri's Edda, c. 1300, in which this table appears side by side with 
 other additimenta of interest. The Kringla text is the best, but the 
 other is the more complete, adding to the hsts of Kings and Earls and 
 their poets, lists of lesser noblemen, etc., and their poets. From these 
 two our text is composed. 
 
 The date to which the table reaches in its fullest text is about coeval 
 with that of Codex Upsalensis itself, but Skalda-tal itself, we think, 
 bears traces of earlier origin than even Kringla. Skalda-tal is in tivo 
 parts, the first entitled ' Scalda-tal Dana kononga oc Svia ; ' the 
 second ' Her hefr up Scalda-tal Noregs kononga,' But these titles do 
 not correspond to the present contents, for in both our IVISS. the order 
 now is: Title I, a beginning of Danish list to the word Boddason, 
 followed by a list of Swedish kings and earls. Title II, a Norwegian Hst, 
 followed by the rest of the Danish list. The original order plainly was. 
 Title I, Danish list, Swedish list; Title II, Norwegian list; and this 
 would suggest that the table was first drawn up at a time when the 
 memory of the great Danish kings' hegemony was not faded out of 
 men's memories. In Ari's days the tongue was still called ' Danish,' 
 and the Danish (Canute's) empire was vividly remembered, and we 
 should be disposed to put the original table about 1 130, 
 
 The origin and grounds of the list are for the most part unknown. 
 There are some pieces of information in the short glosses, e, g, on Erpr 
 Lutandi and Ulfr hinn Oargi, which are not found elsewhere. The list 
 of poets of Eystan Beli looks as if it were derived from a verse. 
 
 The first edition of Skalda-tal is that of Ole Worm ; the first trust- 
 worthy edition is that of Text B, by Mobius, 1856, at the end of his 
 useful Catalogue, and both texts were given by Mr. John Sigurdsson in 
 the third volume of the AM. edition of Edda, 1880. 
 
 I. Skalda-tal Dana Kononga ok Svia, 
 
 OTARKADR INN GAMLI var skald: bans kvseSi ero fornuzt J)eirra er menn 
 '^ kunno nu ; hann orti um Dana kononga. Ragnarr konongr LoSbrok var 
 skald, ok Aslaug kona Hans, ok scenir Jieirra. 
 
 Eagnar konungr LoSbrok : Erpr Liitandi. 
 
 Bragi skalld inn Gamli Bodda son. Kalfr brcenzki. 
 
 Swedish Kings : — Refr Ruzci. 
 
 Eysteinn Beli : Ormr Oframi, 
 
 Bragi inn Gamli, Olvalldi. 
 
 Grundi Pru3i. Oc enn Olvalldi.
 
 §7.] 
 
 SKALDA-TAL. 
 
 443 
 
 Avalldi. 
 Fleinn Skalld. 
 Rognvalldr, 
 
 Biorn at Haugi : 
 
 Bragi inn Gamli. 
 
 Erpr Lutandi va vig i v^um ok var 
 atla3r til draps ; hann orti drapo 
 um Saur konongs hund, ok ^a, 
 hofut sitt fyrir. 
 
 Eirekr Kefils son : 
 Alfr iarl inn Litli. 
 
 Styrbiorn Sterki: 
 Ulfr Sulo iarl. 
 
 Eirekr Sigr-sseli : 
 
 fjorvalldr Hiallta son. 
 
 Old.fr Soenski : 
 
 Gunnlaugr Orms-tunga. 
 Rafn Onundar son. 
 6ttarr Svarti. 
 Gitzorr Svarti. 
 
 dnundr Olafs son : 
 
 Sigvatr skald f)6r6ar son. 
 
 Ingi Steinkels son : 
 
 Marcus Skeggja son 16gsogo-ma5r. 
 
 Sdrkvir Kols son : 
 
 Einarr Skiila son. 
 Halldorr Skvalldri. 
 
 Knutr Eireks son: 
 
 Hallbiorn Hali. 
 
 |jorsteinn Jjorbiarnar son. 
 Sorkvir Karls son : 
 
 Sumarli6i skalld. 
 
 {jorgeirr Dana-skalld. 
 Eirekr Knutz son : 
 
 Grani Hallbiarnar sen. 
 Ion Sorkvis son : 
 
 Eirikr Eireks son : 
 
 Olafr |)6r9ar son. 
 Swedish Earls : — 
 
 Ion iarl Sorkvis son : 
 
 Einarr Skiila son. 
 
 Halldorr Skvalldri. 
 Soni iarl Ivars son : 
 
 Halld6rr Skvalldri. 
 Karl iarl Sona son : 
 
 Halldorr Skvalldri. 
 [Birgir iarl Magnus son :] 
 
 [Sturla fjurSar son ^] 
 
 II. Her hefr upp Skalda-tal Noregs Kononga. 
 
 ■jKlODOLFR INN HVINVERSKI orti um Rognvald Heiaom-hsra Ynglinga-tai, 
 J7^ brceSrung Haraldz ins Harfagra, ok tal5i Jjria tigi lang-fe5ra hans. Hann 
 sag6i fra dau5a hvers Jieirra ok legstaS. 
 
 Norse Kings : — 
 
 Haraldr Har-fagri : 
 
 Au&on Illskaelda. 
 
 {jorbiorn Hornklofi. 
 
 Olver Niifa. 
 
 Ulfr Sebba son. 
 
 {jiodolfr or Hvini, 
 
 Gothornir Sindri. 
 Eirekr konungr B163c»x : 
 
 Egill Skallagrims son. 
 
 Gliimr Geira son. 
 Halfdan Svarti: 
 
 Guthormr Sindri. 
 Hdkon G63i: 
 
 Eyvindr Skalda-spillir. 
 
 Gothormr Sindri. 
 Haraldr Grifelldr : 
 
 Gliimr Geira son. 
 
 Kormakr Ogmundar son, 
 dldfr Tryggva son : 
 
 Hallfroe3r Vendraeba-skald. 
 
 Biarni skald. 
 
 <5l£fr inn Helgi : 
 
 Sigvatr {)6r9ar son. 
 Ottarr Svarti. 
 Bersi Torfo son. 
 |>6r6r Kolbeins son. 
 |)orfinnr Munnr. 
 |)orm63r Kolbriinar-skald. 
 Gitzorr Gullbra. 
 Hofgar3a Refr. 
 Skapti |>6roddz son. 
 |>6r3r Siarreks son. 
 
 Magnus G63i: 
 Sigvatr skald. 
 Arnorr larla-skald. 
 Oddr Kikina-skald. 
 Refr skald. 
 {>i66olfr skald. 
 
 Haraldr Sigur3ar son : 
 
 {>i63olfr Arnors son. 
 
 Bolverkr broSir hans. 
 
 VaH)i6fr. 
 
 Oddr Kikina-skald. 
 
 '■ The lines in [ ] add. Cod. Ups.
 
 444 
 
 Stiifr Blindi. 
 
 Arnorr larla-skald. 
 
 Illugi Bryndcela-skald. 
 
 Grani skald. 
 
 Snoglo-Halli. 
 
 {>6rarinn Skeggja son. 
 
 ValgarSr af VeJli. 
 
 Halli StrfSi. 
 Steinn Herdisar son. 
 Olafr Kyrri : 
 
 Steinn Herdisar son. 
 Atli Litli. 
 Vilborg skald. 
 Magnus Berfoettr: 
 fjorkell Hamar-skald. 
 Ivarr Ingimundar son. 
 Biorn Kreppil-hendi. 
 Bar5r Svarti. 
 Gisl Illuga son. 
 
 SigiirSr lorsala-fari : 
 
 Einarr Skiila son. 
 Ivarr Ingimundar son. 
 Halldorr Skvaldri. 
 {jorarinn Stutt-feldr. 
 |>orvaldr Blondo-skald. 
 Ami Fioro-skeifr. 
 Eysteinn Magnus son : 
 Ivarr Ingimundar son. 
 Einarr Skiila son. 
 Haraldr Gilli : 
 Einarr Skiila son. 
 Halldor Skvaldri. 
 Hallr Munkr. 
 Magnus Blindi : 
 Einarr Skiila son. 
 SigurSr Slembir: 
 
 ivarr Ingimundar son. 
 Ingi Haraldz son: 
 Einarr Skiila son. 
 f)orvar3r |jorgeirs son. 
 Kolli skald. 
 
 Sigur3r Haraldz son : 
 
 Einarr Skiila son. 
 
 BoSvarr Ballti. 
 
 {>orbiorn Gauss. 
 Eysteinn Haraldz son : 
 
 Einarr Skiila son. 
 
 Sigur5r Skrauli. 
 Magnus Erlings son : 
 
 J>orbi6m Skakka-skald. 
 
 SKALDA-TAL. 
 
 [bk. X. 
 
 Siigandi skald. 
 Hallr Snorra son. 
 Markus Stephans son. 
 {>6r3r Hallz son. 
 Skald-Mani. 
 
 Hakon Herdi-brei3r : 
 
 fjorbiorn Gauss. 
 
 Sverrir konungr : 
 Asgrimr Ketils son. 
 fjorstein {jorbiarnar son. 
 Sumarli3i. 
 Arnorr Saxa son. 
 Hallbiorn Hali. 
 Blakkr skald. 
 Unas Stephans son. 
 Liotr skald. 
 Bragi. 
 
 Snorri Sturlo son. 
 Sigvatr Egils son. 
 Snorri Butz son. 
 |>orbiom Skakka-skald. 
 
 Hikon Sverris son : 
 
 Liotr skald. 
 Bragi Hallz son. 
 Ingi BarSar son : 
 Snorri Sturlo son. 
 Liotr Sumarli5a son. 
 latgeirr Torfa son. 
 Hoskullr Blindi. 
 Runolfr. 
 
 Hakon konongr Hfikonar son : 
 
 Snorri Sturlo son. 
 Olafr |36r3ar son. 
 Sturia poibiT son. 
 latgeirr Torfa son, 
 Gitzorr iarl. 
 Ami Langi. 
 Olafr Leggs son. 
 [Guthormr Kortri.] 
 
 Hakon son Hakonar ins koron- 
 a5a konongs : 
 
 6lafr f>6r5ar son. 
 
 [Magnus Hdkonar son :] 
 [Sturia f>6r3ar son'.] 
 
 [Eirikr Magnus son :] 
 [faorsteinn Orvendils son.] 
 [{jorvaldr Helga son.] 
 [Ion Murti Egils son.] 
 [|>orsteinn Ingialdz son.] 
 [Gii3mundr skald '.] 
 
 * The lines in [ ] add. Cod. Ups.
 
 §7- 
 
 SKALDA-TAL. 
 
 445 
 
 "PWINDR Skalda-spillir orti um 
 "^ tal, ok tal6i Jsar langfeSga ha 
 legstaS. 
 
 Norse Earls : — 
 
 Hakon iarl Gri6tgar5z son 
 
 f>i66olfr or Hvini. 
 SigurSr Hla5a-iarl : 
 
 Cormakr Ogmundar son. 
 Hakon iarl inn Rfki : 
 
 Eyvindr Finnz son. 
 
 Einarr Skala-glamm. 
 
 Tindr Hallkelz son. 
 
 Skapti f>6roddz son. 
 
 Jjorolfr Munnr. 
 
 Eilifr GuSrunar son. 
 
 |jorleifr skald. 
 
 Hvannar-Kalfr. 
 Eirekr iarl Hakonar son : 
 
 HallfroeQr VendraeSa skald. 
 
 Gunnlaugr Orms-tunga. 
 
 J)6r6r Kolbeins son. 
 
 Halldorr tjkristni. 
 
 Eyiolfr Da6a-skald. 
 
 Skiili fjorsteins son. 
 
 {>(jr6r Siarreks son. 
 Sveinn iarl Hakonar son : 
 
 Bersi Torfo son. 
 Hakon iarl [Eiriks son] : 
 
 Ormr iarl Eilifs son : 
 
 Hakon iarl Ivars son : 
 
 SigurSr iarl Havarz son : 
 
 Erlingr Skakki : 
 
 Jjorbiorn Skakka-skald. 
 Eirekr iarl SigurSar son : 
 
 Philippus iarl Birgis son ; 
 
 Hakon Galinn : 
 
 Snorri Sturlo son. 
 Steinii Ofeigs son. 
 Liotr skald. 
 |>orsteinn Eyiolfs son. 
 Skiili hertogi : 
 Snorri Sturlo son. 
 Clafr JiorSar son. 
 latgeirr skald. 
 Liotr skald. 
 Alfr Eyiolfs son. 
 Sturla BarSar son. 
 Gudinundr Oddz son. 
 
 Hakon inn Rika kva5i, J)at er heitir Haleyja- 
 ns til 05ins, ok sag5i fra dau3a hvers J)eirra ok 
 
 Teitr skald. 
 Ro5geirr Afla son. 
 {joralfr prestr. 
 Kmitr Hdkonar son : 
 Olafr |)6r6ar son. 
 
 Danish Kings : — 
 
 Sveinn Tiiigo-skegg : 
 
 Ottarr Svarti. 
 Kniitr inn Biki : 
 
 Sigvatr skald. 
 
 Ottarr Svarti. 
 
 |>orarinn Lof-tunga. 
 
 HallvarSr Hareks-blesi. 
 
 Bersi Torfo son. 
 
 Steinn Skapta son. 
 
 Arnorr larla-skald. 
 
 OSar Keptr. 
 Sveinn Alfifo son : 
 
 |)6rarinn Lof-lunga. 
 Sveinn Ulfs son : 
 
 {>orleikr Fagri. 
 
 |>6r3r Kolbeins son. 
 
 Kniitr Helgi : 
 
 Kalfr Mana son. 
 
 Skiili lUuga son. 
 
 Markus Skeggja son. 
 Eirikr Sveins son : 
 
 Markus Skeggja son. 
 Eirikr konongr Eimuni : 
 
 Halldorr Skvaldri. 
 Sveinn Svifandi': 
 
 Einarr Skiila son. 
 Valdimarr Knutz son : 
 
 {jorsteinn Kroppr. 
 
 Arnhallr Jjorvallz son. 
 Kniitr Valdimars son : 
 
 |jorvar6r f)orgeirs son. 
 
 Valdimarr Gamli : 
 
 Olafr Jj6r5ar son. 
 latgeirr Torfa son. 
 |>orgeirr Dana-skald. 
 Suguvalldi. 
 
 Danish Earls : — 
 Strut-Haraldr iarl : 
 |ji66olfr or Hvini, 
 
 Sigvaldi iarl : 
 
 |j6r6r Sigvalda-skald, 
 
 Haraldr J>orkels son : 
 
 |>i65olfr Arnors son '^. 
 
 ' Read, svi6andi. 
 
 * Arna son, Cd.
 
 446 
 
 SKALDA-TAL. 
 
 [bk. X. § 7.] 
 
 Cod. Ups. adds the following : — 
 
 English Kings : — 
 
 ASalsteinn Engla konungr : 
 
 Egill Skallagrims son. 
 
 A3alrd3r konungr : 
 Gunnlaugr Orms-tunga. 
 
 ULFR HINN OARGI var hersir agsetr 
 Half-trollz, foaur Ketils Hxings. Ulfr 
 virkjom sinom. Hann var dauSr fyrir dag. 
 
 Norse Nobles : — 
 Jjorleifr Spaki: 
 
 {>i69olfr or Hvini. 
 Arinbiorn Hersir: 
 
 Egill Skallagrims son. 
 J>orsteinn J>6ro son : 
 
 Egill Skallagrims son. 
 Erlingr Skialgs son : 
 
 Sighvatr Skald. 
 GuSbrandr 1 Dolum : 
 
 Ottarr Svarti. 
 tvarr Hviti : 
 
 Sighvatr Skald. 
 Harekr or {)i6tto : 
 
 Refr Gestz son. 
 Einarr Fluga : 
 
 Refr skaid. 
 Kalfr Arna son: 
 
 Biarni Gullbra-skald. 
 Xnfr stallari : 
 
 Steinn Herdisar son. 
 
 i Noregi i Naumodali, fa5ir Hallbiamar 
 orti drapo a einni nott ok sagSi fra \irtk- 
 
 Eysteinn Orri : 
 
 |>orkell Hamar-skald. 
 
 ViSkunnr Ions son : 
 
 Aso-fjorSr. 
 
 Gregorius Dags son : 
 
 Einarr Skuia son. 
 Nikulas Skialdvarar son : 
 
 Sugandi skald, 
 EindriSi Ungi : 
 
 Einarr Skiila son. 
 Ivarr Selki: 
 
 Arnorr Kalfs son. 
 SignrSr munkr : 
 
 Arnorr Kalfs son. 
 Arnbiorn Ions eon : 
 
 Olafr Herdisar son. 
 G-autr A Meli : 
 
 Steinvor Sighvaz dottir. 
 
 Olafr Herdisar son. 
 
 Dagfinnr Gu6laugs son.
 
 EXCURSUS I. 
 
 ON THE FIGURES AND METAPHORS (KENNINGAR) 
 OF OLD NORTHERN POETRY. 
 
 WITH SOME REFERENCE TO THE ANCIENT LIFE, THOUGHT, AND 
 BELIEF AS EMBODIED THEREIN. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Just as Snorri dealt with the question of Metre, founding a system 
 upon an analysis of the elaborate and artificial verse of his day, so has 
 he handled the subject of Metaphor, Trope, and Synonym, which forms 
 so prominent a feature of Northern poetry; basing his classification and 
 treatment upon the highly rigid and conventional phrasing of his 
 own time. In fact, he began at the nvrong end, and he has led the 
 tribe of commentators after him. They have no excuse. He is jus- 
 tified by his object, which was not the study of the old poets' minds 
 and feelings, but simply the production of a handy * Gradus.' Thus 
 he culls his first metaphor from Arnor, and, though he certainly 
 knew Egil's poems, Wolospa and Ynglinga-tal, makes little use of them, 
 but gathers the bulk of his examples from such men as Einar Sculason 
 and his compeers and models. True, he uses Bragi and the Shield 
 poems ; but it is rather because of his intense appreciation of the 
 humorous Thor stories, after all, than the striking and complex 
 metaphorical phrases in which they abound. 
 
 So again Snorri, treating first of the favourite style of Synonym in his 
 day (for which the technical word ' kenning,' description, recognition, 
 was invented, and to which it fitly applies), relegates the earlier pro- 
 nominal terms to the end of his unfinished treatise, where they remain 
 huddled together under some half-dozen heads. 
 
 Yet they are the germ from which the whole later many-branched 
 and far-spreading growth has sprung. They are examples of the primi- 
 tive observations out of which language itself has sprung; they are 
 * crystallised thinking ; ' looking through them, as it were, we can see 
 the world as the early poet saw it, — nay more, we can even find out 
 what he thought of himself, and how he supposed himself to think. 
 To call the flesh the locker of the bones, the bone-box, as it were ; to 
 think of the breast as the abode of thought, for thought came not from 
 the brain, but from the heart, to the man of old time ; to speak of the 
 ship as the steed of the auai<es, or the hair as the s^ward of the head, exhibits 
 quaint primitive ways of thought, which are not only common to old 
 Northern and old English poetry, but would readily occur to early poets 
 of all times. In Egil's vigorous and concise figures we have the noblest 
 example of this kind, often as deeply thought out and as ruggedly 
 true and bold as the tropes of iEschylus himself. Yet Snorri knew
 
 448 FIGURES AND METAPHORS 
 
 Egil's three poems in their pure form, and could have preserved for us 
 the true text of these marred and ruined Hues and darli blanks, every 
 one of which marks the lost thought of a true poet, gone beyond 
 recovery ; for it is rarely that one can hope to get back such a metaphor 
 as ' the cauldron of tears^ which we have been able to restore to the 
 text. One can only hope that, had Snorri ever lived to finish his incom- 
 plete Treatise (for Skaldskapar-mal is not only incomplete as regards 
 the citations, which very probably are added by a later hand, but 
 actually unfinished in substance, e.g. giants and giantesses are wholly 
 omitted), he would have filled up many of the blank spaces from the 
 works of the poet on whose homestead he dwelt and whose office and 
 blood he inherited. 
 
 Later than these early metaphors we have been speaking of, are 
 those Synonyms which are based on early beliefs respecting Cosmogony 
 and the Supernatural World in its lighter and darker aspects — myths 
 of the Creation, of the Monsters and Powers of Evil, of the Blessed 
 Gods, and of the Holy Draught that inspires men to sing of things past 
 and to come. Later than these, again, are those which witness to 
 heroic exploits, to the warring and sea-roving of wicking-leaders, and 
 the offerings and dooms of heathen tribal kings. We can in the case of 
 this class, ' myth-figures,' as we might call them, often almost detect the 
 poet who set the fashion of a particular kind of synonym. Thus we 
 have a large number of expressions derived from sea-kings' names (as 
 the lists in the Thulor drawn from actual poetry show). Many of these 
 names in the later poetry are manufactured, drawn from analogy of 
 names which really existed ; for instance, one whole set of names ending 
 in -ill looks very suspicious, as they exactly fit the requirements of the 
 court-metre and are none of them hinted at in real tradition. Later 
 poets, who were not fanciful enough to invent, actually use the names 
 of such well-known persons as Atli, Budli, and others, which well fit 
 their verses, as if these ' tyrants of the steppes ' had been North-Sea 
 rovers of Alfred's or Ecgberht's days. Of the names of Woden many 
 are founded by analogy upon real old titles, and among those of the 
 Dwarves, Giants, etc. there are similar instances. By noticing such 
 points it is possible to form a rough classification, sufficient to give basis 
 for a psychological study of the early poetry. 
 
 Snorri of course makes no distinction between the different strata of 
 synonym, though the difference is so patent to us. Such an expression 
 as the Meed of Woden for Poetry, enwraps a deep and sacred sense, while 
 to invent a new synonym for Walcyria or Ogress, by which to vary the 
 everlasting sameness of the later poets' metaphors for Shield or Wclf, is 
 merely a trick of song-craft. Some other arrangement of matter and 
 subject than that which suited Snorri's purpose is e^vidently required to 
 exhibit the growth, development, and inward thought-life of these 
 metaphors. 
 
 There are several other points to be noticed ; for instance, there is 
 an evident reason for the extreme development of the 'kenning' in 
 Northern poetry in the very make of the verse. The simplicity of 
 syntax and the dependence on the root-syllables for the rhythmic 
 element — alliteration — both necessitated a variety of expression ; hence 
 comes the strict rule (hardly ever violated) against repetition of a 
 stressed word; hence, too, the pleasure felt at the recurring thought 
 appearing each time in a fresh and varied raiment. Greater com- 
 plexity of verse-structure, the increased necessity for strict line-rhythm 
 and regular measure, which characterise the court-poetry, imply, of
 
 OF OLD NORTHERN POETRY. 449 
 
 necessity, a singular syntax, still more restricted form and subject, and 
 a more lavish use of synonyms, for without them the verse could not be 
 constructed : so it comes that the ornament, which Bragi and Thiodwolf 
 wisely restrict to the main subjects of their poem, their ingenuity on it 
 there, is now spread over every noun in every line, till the hearer gives 
 up all idea of tracking the poor little thought under its gorgeous garni- 
 ture, and is content to listen to the babble of sweet sound. The type 
 and plan of the court-poem might be represented in six Unes : — 
 Introduction. The Poet brings the King a poem. 
 
 ( The King launched his ship. ) Historical fact 
 ^ ^ ^ ) He met his foes at N. } historical tact. 
 
 ^ y ^- \ He battened the wolf, ) t- u n- i. >. 
 
 \ \ A ^u A t-x.^ 1 i-u- ,. t Embellishment. 
 
 V And quenched the raven s thirst. ) 
 
 End. The King will reward the Poet. 
 
 And every subject and object throughout every poem is put into a 
 more or less dark and rigid dressing of metaphor. 
 
 It is but fair to observe that the sameness of metaphor is far more 
 marked in the court-poems, as we have them, than it would have been 
 could we have heard them in their original state ; for, as has been shown 
 in this volume, the <whole of the court-poetry from 970-1070 bears e-vident 
 marks of corruption and overworking by some tiuelfth-century poet. The 
 best example of the way in which this 'restorer' worked (whom the 
 Editor has guessed to have been Einar Sculason) would be to say that 
 he has swept away the historical clause which told ivhere the king met his 
 foes, qjuhom they were, ^vhat counties he ruled over, etc., and replaced 
 it by such stock phrases as ' he clove the shields and dyed his blade in 
 blood ; ' where metaphors of little meaning but of pleasing sound take 
 the place of the historical, but less euphonious, names of men, islands, 
 rivers, and towns which give their real value to the lists of exploits in 
 the Panegyrics of the Court-poets (as Ari well says). 
 
 The examination of the synonyms of the Early Poetry is extremely 
 interesting in the results it yields. 1 he justice of our classification of 
 these older poems is confirmed by it, and a very marked distinction is 
 made manifest between the terminology of the diiferent groups. Thus 
 the rich, bright Homeric metaphors of the Helgi-poems are quite dis- 
 tinct from the myth-figures of the Didactic and the Aristophanian lays. 
 The synonyms of the Hymi-lay show affinities with the more developed 
 metaphor-system of Thiodwolf 'sYnglinga-tal, while the poems of Book v, 
 so strong in description — note the ornate embroidery scenes, so cha- 
 racteristic of them — but so strikingly bare of these figures of speech, 
 recall the style of many of our Old English Poems. The contrast 
 between Atla-mal, with its one or two ' kennings,' with its citations or 
 imitations of the Atla-kvida phrases, and the wealth of free primitive 
 figures in the Helgi trilogy, is very noteworthy. Again, the coincidence 
 between the terminology of these latter and of the Waking of Angen- 
 theow and that of Wolo-^pa is marked. 
 
 The data gleaned by a careful investigation of these points are to be 
 depended on, for one must not forget that the terminology is here 
 a faithful mirror of the poet's thoughts, feelings, and ways. How 
 eloquent in its witness to the Helgi poet's ideas is his beautiful meta- 
 phor for Sleep, ' the Parliament of Dreams,' bringing one back to Job, 
 shrinking from the awful gathering of 'the Visions of the Night,' and 
 Homer's fancy of the shadowy figures that people Dreamland, thronging 
 out through the horn and ivory gates. How vividly such a word as 
 
 VOL. II. G g
 
 450 FIGURES AND METAPHORS 
 
 Bragi's ' sal-penningr ' calls up the picture of the long smoke-darkened 
 wooden hall, set round with tables and benches, crowded by a goodly 
 crew of merchant-adventurers, and filled by the merry sounds of the 
 clinking can, blithe talk, and laughter, while the light of torch and 
 hearth plays upon the long row of glittering brazen targets that deck 
 the walls above their owners' heads. Again, how deep is the thought 
 that is expressed by that tragic figure of the ' cauldron of tears,' which 
 we noticed above. No one who has not seen, as Egil saw, the hot spring 
 of volcanic Iceland, the cup-like pools in which the boiling water slowly 
 wells up in a strange weird way, can fully realise the force of the old 
 hero's setting forth in his own way the ' divine mystery of tears.' 
 
 Many more examples might be given did space permit, but these will 
 suffice to show how much there is of interest in these figures, many of 
 which seem at first so strange and barbarous to a modern reader. 
 What we have tried to do in the following pages, is to exhibit, as 
 clearly as may be, a view of the metaphors and synonyms of Northern 
 Poetry. We have been careful not to smother the varied and primitive 
 examples beneath the rank and weedy crop of the spurious and imitative 
 metaphors of the court-poem, while at the same time including the 
 striking and evidently genuine phrase of Sighvat or Arnor or Cormac 
 in its due place. The arrangement adopted has been to begin with the 
 most primitive type of synonym, then to put the vast class of phrases 
 derived from cosmogonic and classic myths, which are followed by those 
 terms that bear witness to later states of society, the home-life of the 
 franklin, the warring of the noble, the sea-life of the wicking, the sacri- 
 fice and the rule of the heathen tribal king, and finally, the curious 
 group of figures which witness to the poet's acceptance and conceptions 
 of the New Faith. To each class is prefixed a short introduction point- 
 ing out briefly the main features ; a general index concludes the list. 
 
 It may be well to note that a careful comparison of our lists with the 
 Thulor and Snorri's collection will be by no means unfruitful. The 
 sources from which the Thulor drew are in the main those which are 
 still happily preserved to us. Many of Snorri's later and less valuable 
 sources have perished. 
 
 In the course of working at the text and going through the metrical 
 and metaphor systems of the different poems a fresh sheaf of emenda- 
 tions and corrections has been gathered. These have been printed in 
 such-wise that the reader may be able at once to enter them in the text 
 of the poems, each in its proper place. In the references which occur 
 in the following tables, we shall always quote from the corrected text. 
 
 The metrical use and technical history of the ' kenning ' have been given 
 in the Excursus on Metre. The following pages are concerned with 
 its interpretation. With their help the reader may be able to get a 
 literal <iv or d for Ivor d rendering of any uncorrupt passage in the fore- 
 going poems ; indeed they form a little ' poetic lexicon,' and may be 
 looked on as a supplement to the Editor's Dictionary. 
 
 ^ I. PHYSICAL. 
 
 I. THE BODY. 
 
 The chief interest in this first group is the insight it gives into the 
 life and waysof thinking of the early Northmen. Thus taking the Body 
 first, the Breast and upper trunk is looked on as the most noble and
 
 OF OLD NORTHERN POETRY. 451 
 
 worthy part, and styled ' the mind's house, memory's sanctuary, the 
 lurking-place of thought, the shore of the mind, the bark of laugi.ter, 
 the hall of the heart ;' while the Heart is conceived to be 'the acorn of 
 courage, the life-clod, the pebble or stone of the will.' Such terms 
 conform to the ideas of most primitive peoples, and we still talk, like 
 Jews and Greeks of old, as if the bowels were the seat of pity and 
 sympathy, and the heart the organ of courage and will. 
 
 The Head is treated with far less respect by Northern poets its worth 
 to them lies in its proving a fit support for a helmet, and as containing 
 eyes, mouth, and ears, the importance of which they fully recognise. 
 Egil is the fountain-head of many curious phrases for the head. His 
 humourous lines on his own high craggy forehead and huge grey jutting 
 brows will be remembered. He held strength and solidity the most 
 desirable attributes for the head, and of this point of view typical ex- 
 pressions are — 'helm-stock, helmet-block, the rock of the shoulders, the 
 peak of the hair.' More descriptive are, 'brain-roof, field of the brows,' 
 for the skull ; and more fanciful 'the bolster's fellow' for the whole head. 
 The metaphor ' Heimdal's sword ' refers to a lost myth in which the 
 god chooses his weapon like Samson. The brains are seldom noticed, 
 and simply described as 'the ocean of the brain-pan;' and not con- 
 nected with thought, which in obedience to a legend now perished is held 
 to be an afflatus, ' the storm or gale of a giantess,' tearing through the 
 breast and stirring it. 
 
 The eye is the moon or star of the brows, the light or levin of the 
 forehead, the cauldron of tears, the pledge of Woden,' shining out from 
 under the 'crags or steeps of the eye-brows;' striking and vigorous 
 similes. The remarkable brightness of the eyes of Walcyria-born 
 heroes is noticed, and they are likened to those of a hawk or snake. 
 The eye is also known as the ' sight-apple ; ' tears are ' the cob-nuts or 
 filberts that roll from the forest of the eyelid;' they are also the ' rain of 
 the cheeks, the ban of laughter,' while the eyelids are poetically styled 
 the ' cups of sleep.' 
 
 Next in rank comes the mouth, 'the temple of speech, the city of song, 
 the cave of the voice, the ice-hole of words [a fisherman's metaphor], 
 the croft of the teeth,' and even in humourous vein ' the purse of the 
 grinders.' The teeth are the ' pales of this temple, the fence of this 
 sanctuary.' The tongue is the 'steelyard of song, the plane of poesy' 
 (with which compare Richard Fitz-Neal's image of the dolabrum prii- 
 dentioris architecti working on the rough-hewn, axe-squared timber to 
 fit it for building a royal palace), and quaintly 'the talking-pin' (for so 
 we read Egil's simile in Arinbiorn's Lay). 
 
 From another point of view the head is 'the field' on which grows 
 the crop of hair, 'the harvest of the skull, the forest or scrub of the 
 brain-pan,' and the beard ' the shaw or thicket of the chin.' On the 
 head too are set the ears, ' listening mouths, tents or awnings of hearing, 
 pails of hearkening,' and the like. In the case of animals the head may 
 be, like the neat's head with which the giant fisherman, Hymi, baits his 
 hooks, the lofty 'acropolis of the horns.' Of the horns themselves we 
 shall speak below. 
 
 The limbs are not forgotten. Arms and legs are looked on as 
 ' boughs ' of the human trunk, branching out hands and feet. So the 
 toes are the ' twigs of the footsole,' and the arms the ' crooked limbs of 
 the shoulders.' But the hand has many uses, each of which yields its stock 
 of metaphor. It is the ' perch or field or et^g or croft of the hawkj' a 
 ma?k of the love of hawking in the North recalling the early scene in 
 
 Gg 2
 
 452 FIGURES AND METAPHORS 
 
 the Tapestry where Harold rides down, hawk on fist, to the sea. The 
 hand and wrist is also 'the gallows of the gold rings,' which are the 
 faithful henchman's guerdon and wage from generous kings. In sterner 
 aspect, the hand is the 'quivering field of the yew, the tongs of the bow, 
 the seat of the buckler, the haunt of the spear.' 
 
 The back is the ' staple or stall of burdens,' the spine the * keels of the 
 ship of laughter.' The feet are aptly described as the ' snow-skates of 
 the heels.' 
 
 THE BODY :— 
 The Breast. — Mun-tiin, Wak. 71; mun-vangr, Lokas. 206; mun-strond, HofuSl. 
 2 ; munar-grunnr, 67 ; hugar-fylgsni, Sonat. 4 ; hyggjo-staSr, 6 ; minnis- 
 knorr, HofuQl. 4; minnis-ve, Lokas. 206; hug-tun, Gisli, 18; hug-borg, 
 Gkv. 54; vilja-byrgi, Yt. 17; hiatra-hamr, HofuSl. 72 ; hIatr-elliSi, |)d.56; 
 gcd-niork, HusJ. 2 ; Bo6nar-snii8ja, ii. 80. 32 ; hiarta-hrot, ii. 79. 14. 
 The Heart. — M(S6-akarn, Helgi, i. 23; diup-akarn, fid. 37; hug-steinn, Hyndl. 
 138; J)r6ttar-steinn, J)d. 40; fior-segi, W. W. L. 46; hugar-korn, Malsh. 25. 
 The Head. — Hattar-staup, Ad. 28 ; hattar-fell, ii. 74. 13 ; hattar-ste6i, 80, 32 ; 
 hialm-stofn, Hym. 120; lesnis-stofn, ii. 79.12; svar3ar-stofn, 91. 28; 
 herda-klettr, Lokas. 231; skarar-ha-fiall, Hym. 90; bra-vollr, ii. 36 29; 
 bruna brims himin, 64. 9 ; hiariia moenir, Haust. 74 ; hiusta-grunn, Hiisd. 
 20; heila himin, Geisli 236 ; ar-sima grund, ii. 72. 7, 
 Bolstr-maki, Ad. 21. 
 Mythical. — Heimdals hior, ii. 114. 10. 
 The Brains. — Hiarna aegir, Yt. 105. 
 The Mind. Mytiiical. — Bry-viiidr, Sonat. 50; larnsoxo ve3r, ii. 211; Gri6ar 
 
 byrr, 223. 23 (cp. ii. 440. 13-16). 
 The Eye. — Enni-mani, Ad. 19; ennis inn-mani, Hiisd. 13; enni-fungl, Bragi, 43; 
 enni-leiptr, ii. 327 ; bra-tiingl, Ad. 17; bra-tiror, 29; bruna brim, ii. 64. 9; 
 bra-mani, id. ; hvarma skogar-stiiirnor, 441. 
 Tara vellir, Hofudl. 74; svefna ker, Gisli, 6 ; sion-epli, 12; briin-steinar, ii. 
 
 348- 34- 
 Vagna varar, HofuSl. 74. 
 
 Tears.— Hvarma sk6gs fylvingar, Gisli, 10; kinna el, 6; bra-dcigg, Sj bra-drift, 
 ii. 271. 4. 
 Hlatr-bann, Malsh. 35. 
 The Eyelashes. — Hvarma skogr, Gisli, 9 ; ii. 441. 
 The Eyebrows. — Hvarms gnipor, ii. 72; hvarma hvit-vollr, 73. 27; briina miS- 
 
 stallr, 72. 12; iir-sima grundar ger6i-hamrar, 7. 
 The Mouth. — Or3-hof, Sonat. 19 ; bragar-tiin, Ad. 95 ; bragar-stoU, Geisli, 269 ; 
 li66-pundara iopt-VKtt, Sonat. 2 ; galdra flts, ii. 48. 12 ; radd-kleif, Haustl. 2 ; 
 orSa viik, Merl. 356, 
 Tanna-hverii, ii, 80. 27; iotrs bi-gyr6ill (vi3-gyr5ill ?), {id. 6S. 
 The Teeth. — Goma sker, ii. 62. 18. 
 
 The Tongue. — Omon-lokarr, Ad. 57 (ii. 300. 8); li63-pundari, Sonat. 2; mal- 
 J)orn (-pii6nn?), Ad. 93; 63ar-ar, Geisli, 160; orSa-hiyda, 102 ; mal-tol, 
 76 ; bragar-tol, 19S. 
 
 The Hair. — Skalla ra, ii. 73. 28 (cp. p. 441, 1. 58) ; reikar rufr, Gisli, 72 ; haus- 
 mioll, reikar eik, hiarna t)yrnir, hlusta kvistir, vanga olr, svardar gron, svari- 
 akr, ii. 441. 
 
 The Comb. — Svar9ar raSar gar3r, ii. 441. 
 
 The Beard. — Kinn-skogr, Hym. 38. 
 
 The Ears. — Hlusta munnar, Ad. 24; hler-tiold, 34; heyrnar-spann, 74. 
 
 Head of Beast. — Horna ha-tun, Hym. 73.
 
 OF OLD NORTHERN POETRY. 453 
 
 LIMBS:— 
 Hand and Arms. — Alin-munnr, Husd. 26; herSa biiig-limir, ii. 49. i ; axl-limar, 
 68. III. 
 Seat of H awl:. — Hauk-stroiid, Hofudl. 60; hauka-fioll, ii. 36. 26; hei5is stallr, 
 
 54 3 ; heidis land, 68. 112 ; haiik-moer, 64. 19. 
 Seat 0/ Ring. — Hring.i ha-ferill, ii. 167. 18. 
 
 Seat of Bow. — Dal-tong, ii. 56. 25 ; ys bif-vangr, Korm. 14; baug-set, Hofu51. 
 47; baug-vangr, ii. 76. lo; at-geirs toptir, Ad. 84. 
 The Nailed Fingers. — '^''fs ar, ii. 142. 88. 
 The Back: — Byrftar stallr, Bk. vi. 30 ; hlatr-elli5a ki jlr, f>d. 56. 
 The Feet. — Haels hleypi-kiolar, ii. 207. 61. 
 The Toes.- — Il-kvistir, Am. 233. 
 Nakedness. — Fotar bergis borr, ii. 73. 29. 
 Claws. — Il-J)orn, i. 372. 20. 
 
 II. THE HOME. 
 
 Turning from the man to his Home and work-a-day life, one finds the 
 house looked on as the place for cooking, eating, drinking, and sleeping, 
 and described as the 'mead-hall, the ship or keep of the hearth, the fire- 
 ship, the bark of the beds.' One learns the look and build of the old 
 Northern hall from such phrases as 'the ship of the toft, the bear of 
 the walls, Bruin with the floors,' the latter simile being followed up in 
 the description oi the pillars as the legs of this bear-like mass of timber 
 and thatch, with its rough-rounded, turfed or shingled back, its twin 
 gable-ends like ears and snout, and feels that the comparison is by no 
 means so extravagant as at first sight it appears. Indeed modern 
 English instances of like metaphors applied to buildings might be given. 
 The word luindo^w, ' eye of the wind,' is a Norse loan-word, which ex- 
 plains the use of the old dead-lights that ventilated the hall; curiously 
 enough, it is not found in any of our poems. The door is alluded to, 
 but the passage is too corrupt for one to gather any facts regarding it 
 therefrom. The hearth is the central and most important pait of the 
 house, it is called ' the fire-table ' on which burnt the ' waster of the 
 wood, the murderer of the lime-tree, the dread of the birch-tree ; ' the 
 glowing ^rf itself, feeding on the wood-fuel and boiling the cauldron 
 that hung over it, a vessel which (as the emblem of hospitality, in which 
 ale was brewed, fish and meat boiled) was held in due respect and 
 honour by the poets and their patrons as the ' ale-barge, liquor-boiler,' 
 etc. Sausages of sheep's flesh, which were favourite viands in Iceland, are 
 associated with the cauldron too, and merrily termed by Cormac ' the 
 snakes of the kettle.' From the cauldron to the horn or cup was the 
 first journey of the ale or mead when it was brewed, and the poet's fancy 
 lingers round these. The horn he tells of as the ' spear or blade or pike 
 or dirk of the ox ; ' the cup is ' the argosy of wine, the ale-box,' and the 
 like; while the liqtior itself, mead, beer, or wine, is termed 'the wave or 
 stream or lake or waterfall of the horn, the lak:i or pool of the mash-tub.' 
 
 Oi food less is said than of drink, as was to be looked for, but the 
 'mill-grit' of the quern and the grain are spoken of. In the poems 
 hams, flitches, and joints are mentioned. 
 
 The flocks and herds are not forgotten. The o.xen are the 'reindeer or 
 bears of the yoke, whales of the harness, steeds of the giant;' the goat is 
 ' the champer, the deer of the birch-buds, the shackled team-beast of 
 Thor.' '1 he horse is ' the pad-horse, the saddle-beast, the war-horse,' 
 used only for riding, as it seems ; his bridle ' head-fetter, the riding
 
 454 FIGURES AND METAPHORS 
 
 trappings;' his food the hay is * Slipner's banquet' (Slipner being 
 Woden's steed, best of all horses). 
 
 The broad plain of Earth which lay beneath the covering vault of 
 heaven was called the ' floor beneath the wind-cup, the bottom of the 
 bowl of the showers.' It was also, in a higher aspect, the 'seat of man- 
 kind,' the sacred ' Te/ifvos of man.' It was also ' the evergreen,' fresh 
 and beautiful to look on, with its clothing of sward and forest, which 
 are likened to 'the hair or waving locks of Sif, Europa, mother Earth,' 
 or, in sailor-phrase, as the ' sea-weed of the mountain sides.' But the 
 waste places and deserts of earth are not forgotten ; they are the ' patri- 
 mony of the wolf, the home of the reindeer.' The hart is hardly spoken 
 of, because he was not found in Scandinavia in olden times ; only in the 
 Helgi-poet and his western compeers, who had seen the red-deer in 
 Ireland and Scotland, we meet with glorious similes wherein the hero is 
 likened to a great hart in his pride. The snake is well known and aptly 
 described as the ' thong or necklace of the woods, the fish of the heather 
 or the vales ; ' his venom is the ' draught the Wolsungs quaffed.' The wild 
 shore by the sea too is the haunt of wild birds, such as the osprey, ' fish- 
 hunter,' whose pinions are * oarage,' and whose claius are ' foot thorns.' 
 The birds' skins are ' feather cloaks or pelts ' (bialbi is a trade word). 
 
 Theybjf is well known in the later poems: * sheaf-tail, long-brush, 
 low-foot, shaggy-back' they call him from his looks; ' lair-lurker, den- 
 holder, and gory-tooth' from his habits. Of his victims the geese are 
 mentioned, but not in metaphor. The mouse is ' the spoiler of old 
 walls.' And the cock, ' gold-comb,' that crows and wakes the sleepers in 
 the hall, is not met with after the earlier poems, from which the names 
 given in the Thulor are taken. 
 
 The tools mentioned are mostly the simple implements of the smith 
 or husbandman : the tongs, 'the lifter of the lump, the bar of the forge;' 
 the hone, the ' pumice of the steel, the rust-medicine ; ' the iron-shod 
 ivalking-staff, 'the broken branch of the tree of the wood;' the hay-fork, 
 ' pitching-stafF.' Cor^ was spun of goats'-hair, as the term 'she-goat's 
 heir-ioom ' proves. 
 
 More poetical, though not perhaps of such psychological interest, are 
 the metaphors of observation applied to NATURAL OBJECTS, as when the 
 sky is called 'the world above, the field of heaven, the fair-roof, the seat 
 or hall or path or pavilion of the sun or moon, the sun's helmet ; the cup 
 or vault or dome or bason of the winds, the vault or hall or basket of the 
 clouds, the hall or cup of the rain, the path of the birds.' 
 
 (Helgi's poet once calls air the ^sea of the Walcyria Mist .•' by an exten- 
 sion of this idea, his magnificent picture of the shield-maidens appearing 
 on their steeds high above the heroes' ships in the midst of the storm, 
 works out this fine thought.) Last of all, the half-Christian Wolospa 
 calls heaven ' the gods' home.' 
 
 Wind is the ' death or destroyer of ships, the roarer, the waster of the 
 woods, the wolf of the forest.' Calm is 'the cheery warmth, the lull of 
 the wind, the sweetness of the day.' Kail is the ' gravel of the clouds,' 
 rain the ' tears of the sky.' The clouds are the ' wind-floe, the dark 
 helm, the shower-harbinger.' The rainbow is the 'sky-bridge, the fiery 
 or flickering league,' or (if we read Bifrost) the ' swaying or rocking mile.' 
 Then the sun is the ' target of heaven, the loaf of the sky, fair-wheel, 
 ever-sheen, eye-glow ; ' the moon is the ' year-teller, the warping or chang- 
 ing wheel.' ISIight is the ' lightless one, the dreams' joy, lady of dreams ; ' 
 and sleep the 'moot of dreams.' A charmed slumber is 'the thorn or 
 stave of sleep;' worked by magical staves or characters put into the ears.
 
 OF OLD NORTHERN POETRY. 455 
 
 The seasons are also characterised: summer is the *joy of the serpent,' 
 and luinter 'the snake's dread, horror, and death, the bear's night;' 
 autumn is the 'hemp-cutter.' 
 
 The sea, as one would guess, is very fully treated. It is the 'blue-moor,' 
 — a term still used in Norway — 'the glittering land.' Then it is the ' home 
 of the eels, the hall of the whales, the pike's meadow, the road of the 
 cod, the path or the moor of the sea-mew, the path of ships ; ' it is the 
 ' shackle or fetter or girdle of islands, the band of the land, the neck- 
 lace of the earth : ' so the ice is the ' heaven or roof of the deep,' etc. 
 Its billows are the ' mountains of the main, the steeps of the sea ; ' ils 
 coast is the ' sea-bed, the islands, the studs of the sea.' The rock or 
 boulder of the coast is the ' bone or apple of the sea, the heart of the 
 ocean ; ' pearls are the ' kidney of the sea.' 
 
 Of the Sea-beasts and fishes, the porpoises are of course the ' swine 
 of the waves,' the herrings the ' arrows of the sea, the darts, the tail- 
 barbed arrows of the deep.' 
 
 Ships are characterised by a host of metaphors; the 'tree or beam, 
 the sled, the car, the beam or timber of the sea or waves ; ' or as the 
 ' steeds, deer, hart (only in Helgi-lays, Ragnar's verses, and in one of 
 Harold Hardrede's lines), dragons, goats, bears or boars or elk or hinds 
 or reindeer of the main : ' and again, by an instructive series of syno- 
 nyms, as the 'steeds of the helm, oars, mast, sail-yard, sails, prow-heads, 
 , prows, stems, tiller, steer-withy [stior-vid], seams, keel,' and the like. 
 The sails are called the ' mast-scroll, the sheet the ladies spun ; ' the 
 oars the 'square sea-grippers, wave-sweepers, the feet of the ship;' 
 the anchor, ' cold-neb ; ' t\\& fishing-lines, ' sea-thread or ribbon ; ' and the 
 hook the ' gallows of the bait.' 
 
 In later times by a metaphor, dear to the court-poets, the sea is 
 treated as the sea-kings' realm, ' the track of Frodi, the road of Enkil, 
 the moor of lalk [?], the way of Geiti, the land of Leif, the tracks of 
 Glammi and Budii, the path of Rakni, and the huge-ground of Wandil.' 
 
 The Ships that traverse the sea are, in consonance with this fancy, 
 called 'the cars, sleds, snow-skates, or beams of a host of sea-kings, Rse, 
 Shield, Endil, Atal, Glammi, Ati, Eynefir;' and by another figure, the 
 steed, riding-horse, deer, reindeer, of Gylfi [sic], Rokkvi, Thwinnill, 
 Sweidi,' see p. 458. 
 
 THE HOME:— 
 
 The House. As ship. — Brand-nor, Yt. 113 ; arin-kioll, 21 ; toptar nokkvi, 115; 
 
 leg-vers-knorr, Ad. 82. 
 As attimal, steed. — Golf-holkvir, Bragi 30; hvil-be9jar holkvir, Akv. 120. 
 As bear. — Veggja vi3biorn, Biark. 22 ; fiet-biiirn, |)d. 66. 
 The Bed.- — Hvil-be6r, Akv. 1 20 ; leg-verr, Ad. 80. 
 The Drinking-hall. — Mi63-rann, Akv. 39. 
 
 The Pillars.— Flel-biarnar fot-leggr, |)d. 66 ; bratt-steinn, Hym. in (of a cave). 
 The "Window. — Vind-auga. 
 The Door.— Hallar hlunn-blik, Brunh. L. 278. 
 The Hearth. — Birkis-6tta-bi63r, Ad. 64. 
 The Fire. — For-brennir, Alvni.103; liiidar va3i,W.W.L.72 ; lindar bani. Grip. 59; 
 
 vi6ar herr, Brunh. L. 324; eiris grand, Mark. 57 ; aura-mein, Gisli, 30. 
 The Cauldron.— 6l-vellir, Hornkl. 23; log-vellir, Hym. 21 ; 61-ki611, 127. 
 
 Sausages. — Ketil-ormar, Bk. vi. No. 62. 
 The Horn or Cup. — Vin-ferill, Hym. 121; vin-gn6&, ii. 48. 6; ol-karmr, 79. ir; 
 
 (hrosta) karmr, id. 4; ol-stafn, ii. 113. 3. 
 
 6fc' 'V
 
 456 FIGURES AND METAPHORS 
 
 The Horn. — HiarSar reaekir, Yt. 83 ; svei6o6s maekir, 80 ; svig5is geirr, 3 ; ok- 
 hreins log6ir, 82 ; haefis hiorr, 92 ; bruna horgr, 90 ; farra triono fraeningr, 
 87; hausa biug-viSir, Krakom. 123. 
 
 Ale. — Hrosta fen, ii. 192. 2 ; [hrosta tibrn, Egil] ; horna fors, ii. 62 ; horn-straumr, 
 ■26. 5 ; hver-Iogr, Hit. 3 ; ker-straumr, i. 371. 3 ; svig5is geira vagr, Yt. 4 ; 
 hreina-logr, Alvm, 135. 
 
 "Wine. — Viii-gn66ar austr, ii. 48. 6. 
 
 The Mill. — Griotz grid, Grott. 6 ; akvernar hiis, Merl. 275. 
 
 Grain. — Lagastafr, Alv. 127. 
 
 BEASTS :— 
 
 Oxen. — Ok-hreinn, Yt. 82; ok-biorn, Haust. 22; J)rym-seilar hvalr, 18; renni- 
 rokn, Bragi. 42. 
 lotuns eykr, Yt. 86. 
 
 The Goat. — Tann-gniostr (see Thulor and Edda) ; birki-brums hind, ii. 37. 42; 
 skokuls skger (Thor's), Hym. 143. 
 
 The Horse. — Saddle-hone — Hnakk-marr, Yt. 57 ; s66ul-dyr, Old G. L. 1 1. War- 
 horse. — Vig-blaer, Helgi, i. 282. 
 
 The Bridle. — Hnakk-mars hofu3-fetlar, Yt. 57; eykja gcirvi, 59. 
 
 Hay. — Sleipnis ver6r, Yt. 47. 
 
 LAND, EARTH:— 
 
 The Earth. — Vind-kers botn, Ad. 72; el-kers botn, Mark. 4; glyggs var3-kers 
 botn, ii. 137. 15. 
 Alda ve, i. 22. 47; manna slot, Bragi, 62 ; i-groen, Alvm. 39. 
 
 The Wood, Forest. — Vallar-fax, Alv. 109; fagr-limi, III; hli3-J)ang, 110, Yt. 
 
 114; iar3ar haddr, Biark. 23. 
 The Deserts. — Varga-leifar, Old G. L. 36 ; hreina sto3, Helgi, i. 168. 
 The Hart. — Dyr-kalfr, Helgi, i. 290. 
 The Wolf. — Hris-grisnir, Hit. 26 ; hrae-gifr. Old G. L. 99. 
 The Pox.- — Skauf-ali, lang-hali, rebbali, lo3-bakr, gor-tanni, gren-laegja, lag-faeta, 
 
 Skaufh. ii. 383-84; gren-bui, Merl. i. 123. 
 The Mouse. — Aldinna veggja vaelir, Biark. 22. 
 The Snake. As thong. — Holt-vartari, ii. 62. 11 ; lyngva men, 37. 40. Asjish. — 
 
 Dal-fiskr, i. 377. 34; lyng-fifkr. Old G. L. 126; hei3ar-lax, foldar fiskr, ii. 
 
 346 ; storSar lykkja, Krak. 4. 
 Mythical. — Volsunga drekko hrcekkvi-all, Bragi, 56. 
 Venom. — -Volsunga drekkja, Bragi, 56. 
 The Osprey. — Fiska veiSir, Vsp. 184. 
 
 The Cock. — Sal-gofnir, Helgi, i. 318 ; goUin-kambi, Vsp. 122. 
 Bird's Plumage. — Fia5rar leik-bla3, Haust. 47; hauks bialbi, 46; fia3r-hamr, 
 
 f>rym. 11. 
 
 TOOLS, ETC.:— 
 Hammer. — Triono troll, Haust. 68. 
 Smith's Tongs. — Sic lyptir, Jjd. 62. 
 
 A lump of Iron. — Tongo segi, f>d. 59 ; tangar rau3-biti, Husd. 25 ; esjo ass, f>d. 
 63; sio lypti-sylgr, 62. 
 
 A Woof. — Rifs rei3i-sky, Darr. 2. 
 
 The Hone. — Stala vikr, Haust 76 ; ry3s heili-bol, 78. 
 
 The Hay-fork. — Sleipnis ver3ar slongo {)ref, Yt. 47.
 
 OF OLD NORTHERN POETRY. 457 
 
 The 'Walking- staff. — Skogar hog-brotningr, pd. 74. 
 
 The Gallows. — Varg-tre, Ham6. 81 ; horva sleipnir, Yt. 71. 
 
 The Halter.^Hagbar9z hoSnoleif, Yt. 74. 
 
 The Hanged. — Virgil-nar, Havani. 57; trono hvot? Ham6. 83. 
 
 SKY AND WEATHER AND SEASONS:— 
 
 The Heavens. — Vind-ker, Ad. 72 ; el ker, Mark. 4 ; glyggs var9-ker, ii. 137. 15 ; 
 
 vind-hialmr, Helgi, i. 317 ; glygg-rann, ii. 239. 102 ; vinda mund-Iaug, Bragi, 
 
 62; ro&uls tiald, Wak. loi ; heims tiald, ii. 224. I; vagn-braut, ii. 55; 
 
 mana salr, Helgi, i. 12 ; mana vegr, Haust. 56 ; solar siot, Grip. 208 ; el-siot, 
 
 Bk. vi. I ; fialla salr, ii. 171 ; solar hialmr, 197. 78 ; sol-tiald, 194. 19 ; dags 
 
 grund, 197. 76; sky-rann, 194. 8; skyja laupr, Kont. 315; hauks holms 
 
 hialmr, ii. 74. 5. 
 Vind-ofnir, fagr-raefr, upp-heimr, driupan-salr, Alvm. 46-48. 
 Ragna-siot, Vsp. 1 14; fogl-vegr, Helgi, i. 316; R69.i (wind's) braut, 315; 
 
 Mistar-marr, Helgi, i. 192 ; hiniin-vangr, 60. 
 The "Wind. — Dyn-fari, Alvm. 79 ; siifla bani, Soiiat. 34 ; vandar iotunn, ii. 72. 22 ; 
 
 seljo g-indr, 73. 24. 
 The Clouds. — Skiir-van, vind-flot, ve6r-megin, hialmr huliSs, Alvm. 70-72. 
 The Kainbow.— Vindhialms brii, Helgi, i. 317 ; Bil-rost or Eif-rost, Wols, PL 1 19, 
 
 i. 77. 4. 
 Hail — Skyja griot, Jomsv. 127. 
 Bain. — Skyja gratr, ii. 359. 11. 
 
 Calm. — Viiid-slot, of-hly, dag-sevi, dags-vera, Alvm. 86-88. 
 The Sun. — Himins hieifr, Bk. vi. No. i ; himin-targa, f)d. 13 ; Ey-gl6, f;igra-hvel, 
 
 al-skir, Alvm. 63-64. 
 The Moon. — Ar-tali, Alvm. 56 ; hverfanda hvel, 54. 
 The Night. — Svefn-gaman, draum-niorun, olios, Alvm. 11 9-1 20. 
 
 Sleep. — Blund-stafir, Wols. PI. 203 ; draum-J)ing, Helgi, i. 301. 
 The Summer. — Dal-fiska miskun, i. 373. 34. 
 The "Winter. Snake's death. — Orms-fellir, ii. 196. 60 ; na6ra dey6ir, ii. 264. 87 ; 
 
 Svafuis bol, Vellekl. 2 ; fa6mins galli, Ko.it. 94; snaka strid, 142. 
 Bear's night. — Huns nott, Rekst. 49, cp. Malsh. 24. 
 The Autumn. — Hor-meiti3r, Hym. 152. 
 
 SEA AND SHIPS ;— 
 
 The Sea. — Silaegja, laga-stafr, al-heimr, diupan mar, Alvm. 86-88 ; bla-maer, ii. 
 
 35. 6; gU-heimr, 103. 13. 
 As girdle. — Hau6r-men, ii 57. 44 ; J)angs JDialnii, 230. 21 ; skers glym-fioturr, 
 
 239. 4 (cp. ii. p. 440) ; landa band, ii. 165. 10. 
 Land 0/ sea-beasts. — Ma-skei6, Ad. 89; mava mser, Bragi 58; lyr-gata, ii. 
 
 137. 7; augrs biid, 26. 9; hval-mcBiiir, 167. 20; hvals rann, 239. 2 ; lyso 
 
 vangr, 148 2 ; saeSings sl6&, 165. 3. 
 Land 0/ ships. — Fkyja flat-voUr, ii. 17 ; bor3a-braut, bor5-heimr, 168. 27 ; haf- 
 
 slo&ir, 239. 3 ; stafn-klif, 159. 15. 
 Land of fishing. —"Dorgzr vangr, Jomsv. 13. 
 Latid of sea-kings. — Vandils iormun-grund, ii. 81. 54; Ekkils braut, 56. 24; 
 
 lalks maer, id. ; Rakna rym-lei6, 35. 7 ; R66a rein, i 27. 6 ; R66a rost, 49. 4 ; 
 
 Geitis vtgr, 17; Leifa land, Bragi 30; Glaninia sl65, ii. 218. 17; Rakna 
 
 stigr, 219 5 ; Bu6ia sl63ir, 10; Fr66a flat-sl63, 170; Svei6a vangr, 103. 4 ; 
 
 SveiSa tro6, 162. 4 ; Siiisa bekkr, 5. 
 The Waves. — Siagnipa, ii, 167. 23; mar-fioU, 239. 985 huna gnipor, 239. 2.
 
 458 FIGURES AND METAPHORS 
 
 The Ice. — Al-himin, ii. 37. 58 ; haeings hallar naefr, 311. 16; elgjar ga1gi, Sonat. -8. 
 Kocks and Stones. Bones of the sea. — Lagar hiarta, Yt. 119 ; lagar bein. 151 ; 
 
 saevar bein, Hit. 11 ; fiard epli, Jjd. 57. 0/ earth. — Foldar bein, Yt. 127 ; 
 
 H165ynjar bein, ii. 62. 20 ; foldar negg, ii. 300. 10 ; Hergautz vino her6i-myll, 
 
 Bragi, 34 ; hvel-volor, pd. 23 ; moerar leggr, 58 ; Fe9jo steSi, 54. 
 Peaxls and Gems. — Haf-nyra, Husd. 23 ; iarkna steinn, Ordeal 30, Gkv. 71. 
 Caves and Caverns. — Holt-ri3a hver, Hym. 105 ; undir-fialbr, f)d. 74 ; gialbra 
 
 fialbr, Haust. 69 ; regns hraun-ketill, ii. 337. 17. 
 
 The Coast, Beach. — Saevar-beSr, i. 126. 7; mar-be6r, 135. 14; ey-barmr, Wak. 66. 
 
 The Ship. Tree or car. — Sae-tre, W. W. L. 27 ; sae-skiS, ii. 159 ; varr-vi6r, 136. 23. 
 As sea-heast, steed, horse. — Gialfr-marr, Wak. 102; gialfr-dyr, Helgi, i. 118; 
 brim-dyr, 205 ; vag-marar, W. W. L. 26 ; stiorn-marr, Helgi, i. II4; segl- 
 vigg, W. W. L. 25 ; hlunn-vigg. 30; hlunn-goti, Hym. 76 ; log-fakr, 103 ; 
 log-soti, ii. 37. 43 ; ra-fakr, 80. 29 ; lauks hestr, 165. 4; sae5ings fi63-goti, 
 id.; soiborSz goti, id.; byrjar drcEsull, Bragi, 8; haf-sleipnir, Husd. II ; 
 stior-viQjar skxr, ii. 54. i ; biamoerar skaer, 35. 6; sikol-giar3ar hard-vigg, 
 161. 2; varrar malfeti, 81. 41; barms vigg, 103. 16; hremiiis st66, 9; 
 skor6o drasill, ii. 167. 27; sia-gnipo sleipnir, 23; hranna ha-dyr, 29; stafn- 
 klifs si66, 159. 15; landa bandz ior, ii. 165. 10. Bear. — Rastar vetr-li3i, 
 ii. 239. I ; hvals-rannz iugtanni, 2 ; skorSo bersi, floSs biorn, id. ; festa biom, 
 167. 21 ; skaut-biorii, 168. 26. Boar. — Brim-svin, Hym. 104; brim-goltr, 
 ii. 159. II. Hind. — Segl-hind, ii. 200. 12. Buck — Flot-brusi, Hym. 100. 
 Elk. — Hranna elgr, ii. 169. 7; oe3i-ve9rs elgr, 18S. 51. Reindeer. — Hlyrs 
 hreinn, 170. 18; hun-ferils hreinn, 219. 15; byr-hreinn, 330. 65; hun- 
 lagar hreinn, 101. 7 ; Solsa bekkjar hreinn, 162. 5 ; hlunnz hreinn, 155. 10. 
 Serpent. — FiarS-linni, ii. 239. Hawk. — Krapta valr, ii. 170. 32 ; stafn-valr, 
 80. 19; sval-heims valr, 159 19. .ffar/.— Rakka hirtir, Helgi, i, 199; 
 branda hiortr, ii. 352. 147 ; vengis hiortr, 228. 6. 
 Steed and car of Sea-kings. — Refils hestar, W. W. L. 23; Rokkva st66, Ad. 
 90 ; Raes rei3, Bragi, 40 ; Eynefis ondurr, 48 ; Endils ondurr, ii. 49. 10 ; 
 Ala ondurr, 169. 10; Glamma ski5, 168. 25 ; Alals dyr, 40. 44; Atals 
 grundar skid, 81. 37 ; SveiQa hreinn, 162. 4 ; Gylva hreinn, 8t. 42 ; {jvinnils 
 dyr, 80. 35 ; Gylva rastar glaumr, 165. 2; R63a rastar ri&-marar, 49. 4; 
 Skialdar vi5r, ii. 196. 56. 
 
 The Sail.- — Hiin-skript, ii. 199. 5 ; skaut t)at er drosir spunno, 155. 10. 
 
 The Anchor. — Kald-nefr, ii. 230. 9. 
 
 The Oars. — Fer-kleyf sa;-f6ng, ii. 209. 11, 13 ; oldo-sveipr, 330. 67 ; 16g-s6ta fcetr, 
 
 37- 4- 
 The Fishing-line. — Mara moerar mio-tygill, Bragi, 58; sae-|)ra3r, ii. 212. 14. 
 The Hook.— Agn-galgi, ii. 148. 4. 
 
 Hooked Fish. — Agn-galga hangi, ii. [48. 4. 
 Herring.- — Saevar mae-orvar, ii. 37. 49 ; iokla akkar (?), id. ; sp . . . J)ornar, id. 
 Porpoises. — Unn-svin, ii. 37. 46. 
 
 $2. MYTHOLOGICAL. 
 
 I. WODEN. 
 
 The Northern Mythology, like that of the Greeks, is very complex 
 and heterogeneous, and historical analysis alone can help us to get 
 order and reason out of the tangled strata. Thus we have two distinct 
 layers or deposits, the older, with many marks of its primitive origin, 
 with a simple cosmogony; gods who are evidently personifications of
 
 OF OLD NORTHERN POETRY. 459 
 
 natural forces, ' powers of might, the mighty ones,' or deified heroes, 
 ' the blessed gods, the chosen gods ; ' regular practices of sacrifice and 
 feasting, such as other early religions can parallel ; and a profound belief 
 in ghosts, who lived in their barrows a second life, and who were the 
 objects of the family and clan worship. These features of the older 
 faith we have, in part, sketched in the first volume ; they are just those 
 which, from our knowledge of other parallel Aryan systems, we should 
 expect to find. But this primitive bed of faith is overlaid in places by 
 wholly new and strange beliefs, the key to which is not, as has lately 
 been proposed, to be sought in book-reminiscences of Greek and 
 Roman classic mythology, but rather in the Christian Churches of the 
 East and West, whose beliefs, reaching the Northmen of the Wicking 
 Age (oftenest in somewhat distorted shape), coloured his ideas, and 
 gave rise in the imaginative brain of two or three foremost poets to 
 a system and view of mythology very different to the old simple faith of 
 their forefathers. In this system Woden became king of the Slain 
 in Battle, head of a royal race of Anses, a Charlemain of the Empyrean 
 with a splendid hall, a host of handmaidens, a chosen guard of the fallen 
 kings and heroes of all generations, who feast on roast pork and mead, 
 and spend the day in warlike sport, just as their earthly types did. 
 Then there is a great Last Battle to be fought by the Warrior-Angels 
 and the Elect against the Beast and the Dragon — and the Demons of 
 Fire, an eschatology the origin of which is very plain. The old myths 
 again are twisted into new forms ; the ancient Prometheus story of the 
 wise man enduring pain for knowledge, the idyllic weeping for Balder, 
 the Northern Adonis are coloured, as we have them in the Edda, with 
 the hues cast by the dawn of the New Faith upon the last hours of 
 heathendom. 
 
 This Wicking religion, with its half-Mahomedan fatalism, its belief 
 that death in battle was a victory, its material paradise of fighting and 
 banqueting, its Warrior-gods and Amazon-angels, is a new and striking 
 phenomenon in the history of the Teuton peoples. But it has been 
 somewhat unduly treated. It was never the accepted faith of the 
 Northmen, Danes, or Swedes. Some of its most famous myths, such as 
 that which transformed the Gallows-tree Tgg-drasill to a Tree of Life, 
 the Rood itself, may never, most probably, have travelled beyond the 
 single poem in which it was wrought out by a master-mind. Its striking 
 shape, the disproportionate part which it plays in the later scholars' 
 mythic system and in Snorri, and its systematic form, artificial as 
 Hesiod's own, have all helped in leading people to think that what was 
 the lightly-held if enthusiastic creed of three generations of Wickings, 
 was the arch-belief time out of mind of the whole Teuton-stock. Nay, 
 there have been those who have not been afraid to hint that Christianity 
 was hardly needed by men who knew of the Self-Sacrifice of Woden, of 
 the Sorrowing for Balder, of the Judgment Day, or Twilight of the 
 gods as it is erroneously named; who in short already held the more 
 important truths of revelation, — a wholly false and unhistoric view it is 
 needless to say. 
 
 The case of Woden is one of the best examples of the way in which 
 the new ideas have wrought upon the old in Northern mythology. In 
 the prae-wicking days he is the God of the Heaven, nay the Heaven 
 itself, ' Earth's love and lord,' Ouranos. Then the process went on, 
 which tended to blend into one god's personality the attributes and 
 adventures of many gods, to hang many myths upon one peg as it 
 were. Among the separate figures that have been fused into the one
 
 46o FIGURES AND METAPHORS 
 
 many-sided god, are a god of Poetry, of Wisdom, of the Holy Draught ; 
 a god of magic and sorcery ; a war-god, patron of the Gauts, the deity 
 that the Deacon tells of. Each of these had his own gear of myths 
 and legends, and they will not always fit together congruously, so that 
 we can with some certitude decompose the compound, and gain some 
 knowledge of the various parts. It was upon Woden as the god of 
 <war, the adventurous god, that the Wicking fancy chiefly dwelt, and 
 it is in this capacity that he was made the warrior king of a host of 
 heroes, prince of the Anses, with such state of palace and service as 
 befitted a warlike monarch of the ninth and tenth centuries. 
 
 Among the first in order (taking Woden's several aspects one by one) 
 is that of the Heaven, ' husband of Earth, father of Gods and Men : ' by 
 that primal wedlock he acquires the titles, ' Blessed Father, Sire ' (so 
 we take Gautr). To him, as the Heaven, belongs the myth which 
 explains why the sky has only one eye, by the tale that there 'were two, 
 but that one was pledged to the ' Giant of the Abyss ' [Sokk-mimi] for a 
 draught of the deep well of wisdom,— a myth of the earliest type. To 
 Woden as the Creator, who with his fellow-gods made earth, sky, and sea 
 out of the Giant's body, and who (accordmg to the myth in one half- 
 Christian lay) made man and woman out of trees, Ash and Emble, 
 belong the epithets 'friend of Loft, Loder, and Hosni.' 
 
 As God of War he bears the names ' Sire or lord of hosts, lord of 
 spears, father of victory or battle, master of victory, wielder of Gungnir 
 [his magic spear], the Gauts' god; ' for in this capacity they worshipped 
 him as their ' confederate or ally,' while the Swedes worshipped a patron 
 god whom they called Frey, another Woden. 
 
 As the God of Wisdom Woden is hymned in early poems, ' the Sage 
 of the Powers, the Councillor of the Gods ; ' Hroptr is probably his 
 right title in this capacity. How he got this wisdom is told in several 
 myths: the chiefest of these are connected either with a Prometheus 
 legend of privation and pain gone through to win the secrets of know- 
 ledge, of long fasting, and strange penances, prevailing in the end ; or 
 the legend takes another turn, and tells how, by wiliness and Ulysses- 
 like patience, and even perjury, the Soma-draught was stolen by the god 
 from its foolish or wicked possessors — to be a gift and joy for men. 
 
 Woden is taunted in one early poem with having won his wisdom by 
 magic, with sitting under waterialls, and speaking with the dead ; here 
 he is the Wizard-God consulting the omens of the ravens, and haunting 
 the gallows upon which his victims are offered to him; ' raven-consulter, 
 raven-flamen, companion of the ravens,' he is called, and the ravens are 
 his ' swan or hawks or mews.' 
 
 The gallows is Woden's ' steed or tree,' and he is the ' lord of the 
 gallows, the god of hanging.' Most famous of the myths of lift-ofterings 
 to him are the stories of Sigere and Hagbard, and of King Wikere and 
 Starkad, which also furnish metaphors for the accursed tree, ' Sigar's 
 steed, Signy's husband's horse.' The connection between the fl -shaped 
 gallows and the horse, and between gallows and cross, is common to 
 English poetry, and late in the Middle Ages the cross is spoken of as 
 ' Christ's palfrey.' Whether it is as God of Heaven or as God of War 
 that the gallows belongs to Woden is not quite clear. 
 
 Woden's adventures are hinted in such phrases as Way-wont or 
 Traveller, Wide-beard, and the like ; and the stories of the one-eyed, 
 cowled, long-bearded old sage who tells King Olaf tales of old days, 
 witness to the late belief in his wanderings among men. 
 
 Most striking of all his adventures are those which have to do with
 
 OF OLD NORTHERN POETRY. 461 
 
 the Soma, when he became the guileful ' lover of the Soma-giant Sup- 
 tung's daughter Gundfled,' and stole the precious draught, which is 
 known as his ' wine, his mead, his ale, his toast, his stream, pool, sea, 
 liquor, his theft, and his find.' He was held to have swallowed the 
 Soma when he flew home in eagle-plumage ; hence poetry is the ' billows 
 of W( den's breast, the stream of the lipbeard of Woden,' and bad 
 verse is the * ancient eagle's leavings.' 
 
 Earlier probably are the myths which connect the Inspiration of Poesy 
 ('Mood-miser') with the Dwarves, and give rise to the expressions, 
 * Dwarves' cup, the Dwarf's ship (which is met first in Bragi, but now a 
 popular and hackneyed synonym), Qiiasi's blood, the ransom of Gilling, 
 and the weregild of Woden.' The archaic metaphoi's, ' Soma's blood, 
 Soma's seed, Bodn's billow,' denote the drink itself rather than (as 
 Snorri and the later poets say) the cups in which the mystic drink was 
 kept. ' Quasi's blood' refers to a sacrifice or covenant between the 
 two tribes of the gods. 
 
 The Giants succeeded to the precious possession according to Snorri's 
 tale, but it is evident that this was originally a separate myth. It has 
 given rise perhaps to the curious phrase for Mind or Thought noted 
 above, and has certainly supplied many a quaint figure for poetry ; such 
 as the ' beer of the Rock-dwellers, the Boulder-men's ransom (referring 
 to the tale told by Snorri), the cup of the Rock-Saxons, the foaming or 
 fermenting Rhine of the lady of the crags.' 
 
 So the Poet is looked on as ' brewing Woden's mead,' as ' bearing his 
 cup ; ' and his Song is the ' poet's brew, the wine ' he bears. 
 
 We may here put \\ oden's genealogy, as the poets give it us; it is 
 doubtless early and traditional, and seems to belong to the war-god of 
 the Goths and Gauls. He is ' son of Bestla and Bor, brother of Will 
 and Wil, husband of Frigg,' the lover of Hlodyn or Fiorgyn [Firgen, 
 O. E.], that is of Demeter. He is head of the Anse clan, of the gods, 
 ' father of Balder ' and many sons more. 
 
 In the later poets, when Woden is a mighty monarch, the old Liths- 
 shelf — the watch-tower of his mountain-fort (the window of heaven of 
 the old fairy tales, as Grimm points out) — is heard of but little more. His 
 dwelling is now a magnificent hall, thatched with shields, pillared with 
 pikes, lit with swords for torches, with pit and gallows at its west door, 
 like a Frank noble's castle. In this Walhall are banquetings and the 
 joy of song ; thither are the Elect gathered, in readiness for that great 
 day, the Crack of Doom, when Woden shall go forth to meet the Beast 
 (whose 'foe and enemy' he is), and steadfastly undergo the doom that 
 shall fall upon all, gods and men. The authors of Eiriks-mal and 
 Haconar-mal, both, we know, popular poems, no doubt did much to 
 spread these conceptions, the originals of which are to be found in the 
 beliefs of the early Christian Churches. It is a view of Woden's power 
 and position peculiar to one branch, the colonial, of the Western Scan- 
 dinavian tribes, but its poetry and fire have preserved it in the minds of 
 the court-poets, from whose verses Snorri derives his account. 
 
 WODEN :— 
 
 Father of Gods and Men. — S;g-tivi, Lokas. 4; Sig-fi)6r, 236; Her-f63r, Vsp. 
 82 ; Hcrja-ioSr, 132, Hyndl. 4, Grinm. App. 6 ; Alda-fo3r, Bragi, 45 ; Val- 
 f66r, Vsp. 3, 93: go6a ia6arr, Sonat. 87 (god iarSar, v.l.). 
 
 Lord of Soma, God of Wisdom, Charms, and Poetry. — Mims viiir, Sonat. 88, 
 ii. 62. 17; galdrs fa3ir, Doom 10; Sonar sylgs siS-rtynir, Husd. 9; Rogiia 
 hroptr, Havam. 31; Hropta-tyr, II2, Hakm. 38, Husd. 8; forns hrosta 
 hilmir, Sonat. 76.
 
 462 FIGURES AND METAPHORS 
 
 Lord of the Ravens. — Hrafn-ass, Haust. i^, ii. 167. 10 ; hrafn freista3r, Husd. 6 ; 
 
 hrafna sig reynir, 9; hrafna-bloetr, ii. 97. 19. 
 Lord of the Gallows. — Galga-farnir, Hit. 4 ; farma-tyr, 37; galga valdr, ii. 
 
 79. 8; hanga goS, 76. 2 ; hanga-tyr, 75. 35. 
 As Creator. — L65ors vinr, Hit. 34; Loptz vinr, Vellekl, 17; Vagna runi, 
 
 Soiiat. 84. 
 Giver of Victory. — Sigr-hcifundr, Sonat. 85 ; geira drottinn, 83 ; her-J)rimo 
 
 gautr, |)d. 3 ; Her-tyr, ii. 48. 5. 
 Friend of the Gauts. — Gauta spialli, Sonat. 69 ; Gauta ei3-svari, Jjd. 29 ; Gauta 
 
 tyr, Hakni. I ; Her-gautr, Sonat. 4, Bragi 34; \'al-gautr, ii. 167. 11. 
 His. Adventures. — Val-tamr, Doom 21 ; Veg-tams sonr, id. ; Si3 grani, Alvm. 
 
 22 ; Ulfs bagi, Sonat. 90 ; Vitnis va3i, ii. 168. 
 His Kinship. — Bestlo sonr, ii. 48. 7 ; Bors sonr, Vsp. 13 ; Bors arf-J)egi, Hyndl. 
 
 123; Bors burr, ii. 250; Vilja or Vilis br66ir, Yt. 11, Sonat. 86; Friggjar- 
 
 angan, Vsp. 164 ; Fiorgynjnr faSm-byggvir, Hornkl. 83 ; Gunnladar arma 
 
 farmr, ii 62. 22 ; Baldrs fa3ir, Hyndl. 123. 
 Seat of. — Hli3skialfar gramr, ii. 51. 7; Hli5skialfar harri, ii. 96. 9. 
 Wielder of the spear. — Gungnis vavo5r, Bragi, 63. 
 His Steed, Sleipni. — Gungnis vavadar lung, Husd. 63. 
 The Sun, liis Eye. — Valfo6rs ve3, Vsp. 97 ; vagna ve&, Alvm. 11 ; Vagna varar, 
 
 HofuSl. 74. 
 Walhall. — Heilagt ve, Hyndl. 4 ; Svafnis salr, Hornkl. 79 ; Svelnis salr, Bragi, 21 ; 
 
 ViSris holl, Krak. 125 ; Herjans hiill, 142 ; Fiolnis hiis, 124 ; Val-holl, Eiriksm. 
 
 2, Hakm. 4, Hyndl. 4, Grimn. 26, Vsp. 105 [of a king's hall Akv. 55]. 
 Anses. — Hroptz mrgir, Lokas. 182 ; Hroptz gildar, Husd. I 2 ; As-megir, Doom 27; 
 
 Asa synir, Lokas. 11, 227, 258; Sigtiva synir, 4, ii. 76. 28; OSins aett, ii. 
 
 96. II, 17; Niar5ar ni6jar, 18 ; Friggjar ni6jar, Sonat. 7. 
 Einheijar.— Sigr-J)i63, Helgi, i. 318; As-li6ar, Skim. 138; Einherjar, VJ)m. 160, 
 
 Grimn. 136, App. 4, 22, Eiriksm. 3, Hakm. 46, Helgi i. 160. 
 The ■Walcyries, the Maids of 'Woden. — Herjans dis. Tale of G. 73 ; OSins 
 
 meyjar, ii. 427. 172 ; Valkyrjor, Eiriksm. 5, Hakm. 26, Husd. 9, Hornkl. 5 ; 
 
 cp. ii. 75. 17-23, Helgi i. 158. 
 The Earth. As Woden's leman. — Valtys bru3r. Hit. 48 ; Hergautz vina, Bragi, 34 ; 
 
 Baleygs brudr, 95. 5 ; Yggjar briiSr, ii. 51. 3 ; Svelnis Var, 37. 41 ; Svelnis 
 
 ekkja, Haust. 60; Rindar elja, ii. 205. 10. Sister, daughter of. — Ods systir, 
 
 ii. 95. 10 ; Onars dottir, 4 ; Anars maer, 205. 11. 
 The Gallows. Woden's Steed. — Yggdrasils askr, Vsp. 50, 139, Grimn. 88, 96, 144 ; 
 
 Vinga meiSr, Havam. 9, Hit. 18. Steed of Hagberd. — Sigynjar vers hestr, 
 
 Yt. ^f^s; Sigars ior, Hit. 15; Sigars hestr, ii. 139. 28; Sigars fianda grand- 
 
 meidr, 269. 9. 
 
 POETRY :— 
 
 Soma, the holy drink. — Sonar dreyri, Hyndl. 156, Old G. L. 123; sonar sa6, ii. 51.9; 
 
 hapt-sceni, Korm. 16 ; heid-soeni. Hit. 23 ; Bo6nar bara, ii. 48. I ; OSrerir, 
 
 Havam. 21 ; OSreris alda, ii. 48. 12 ; drykkr ausinn 05reri, Old Ritual. 21 ; 
 
 Kvasis dreyri, ii. 48. 3 ; dia fior5r. Korm. 9 ; Hagbarftz v^afiorSr, ii. 80. 28 ; 
 
 lolna sumbl. Hit. 52 ; ViSris veig, ii. 49. 3 ; Vidris ^}'fi, Sonat. 3 ; Friggjar 
 
 niSja (vas) fagna-fundr, 7 ; Vi6ris mun-strandar mar, 2 ; (Woden's) ged- 
 
 markar la, Husd. i ; Galga farms hver-logr, Hit. 3 ; Mims vinar straumr, ii. 
 
 62 ; Gautz giof, Bk vi. No. I ; Grininis giof, Husd. 2 ; hapta be. Sis (Woden's) 
 
 gildi, ii. 39. I ; AlfoSrs hrosta fen, 194. 2 ; Grimnis gran-straumr, f)d. 11. 
 
 Woden's cup, mead.- — 06ins mi65r. Sonat. 6 ; OSins aegi, 68 ; Hars lift. Hit. r ; 
 
 Hrafn-asar full, ii. 167. 10 ; Vi6ris full. Ad. 50 ; Yggs full. 23 ; Yggjar mioSr, 
 
 Ad. 27, ii. 48. to; Yggs 61, Bk. vi. i ; Yggs bior, iMaish. 114; Vitnis v45a 
 
 vin, ii. 168 ; Vajgautz veig, 167. II ; Hertys viii-gn66ar flausta austr, 48. 5. 
 
 The mead of Giants. — Gillings giold, Hit. 2 ; bauga biorr, Hofudl. 73 ; fialla
 
 OF OLD NORTHERN POETRY. 463 
 
 fiolnis full, Bragi, 65 ; Forniotz (?) brosti, Sonat, 76 ; Hrimnis horn-straumr, 
 
 ii. 26. c, ; fiar6 leggj.ir fyrSa brim, 48. 4 ; feii-tanna Syrar iast-Rin, Korm. 2 ; 
 
 Berg-nioera bara, ii. 166. 2 ; griot-aldar gildi, I ; Berg-saxa fley, 48. 2 ; berg- 
 
 iarls briidar sollinn vindr, 62. 23. 
 The mead of Dwarves. — Dvalins hallar full, ii. 54. i ; Dverga grunn-la, 48. 14. 
 Dwarves ship. — Vi5urs skip, Bk. vi. No. i; Dverga skip, ii. 62. 23; cp. SkiSa R. i. 
 Poets' liquid. — Greppa aurr, Korm. 2. 
 Bad poetry. — Ins gamla ara leirr, ii. 252. 10. 
 The Poet. Bearer of Woden's mead. Soma inspired. — Yggs 61-beri, Bk. vi. No. i ; 
 
 06s skap-m63i, id. ; HagbarSz vea-fiaiSar sann-reynir. ii. 80. 27. Brewer of 
 
 the divine draught. — Bragar hag-smiSr, Bk. vi. I ; Vi5urs skip-smiSr (Dwarf 
 
 ship-wright), id. ; Gautz giaf-rotu6r, id. 
 
 II. THOR. 
 
 Wide is the contrast between Woden and Thunder in the lays of 
 the earlier poets. Thor is a less complex divinity, with a well-marked 
 and individual character; the friend of man, the husbandman's god, 
 whose wrath and anger are ever directed against the evil powers that 
 injure mortals and their possessions, whose bolt destroys the foul thick 
 blights that betray the presence of the wicked ones, and smites through 
 the huge cloud-masses that seem to be crushing the earth. Thus we 
 see him ever associated with Earth, who bore him to Heaven (Woden 
 in his Ouranos character) ; her proudest titles are the ' mother of the 
 Giant-killer, the mother of the Ill-dam's foe.' So also he is 'husband 
 of Sif,' the golden-haired goddess [the cornfield, Ceres]. 
 
 When the mythology was worked up into a system, Thor, as 
 * Woden's heir or comfort,' of course is treated as one of the heavenly 
 family, and the poets give him such titles as ' brother of Meili or of 
 Balder, brother-in-law of Wuldor,' and the like. There is a curious 
 set of legends which tell of his adventures in Giant-land, and amours 
 with giantesses, by whom he is the father of such half-allegoric beings 
 as Main and Mood and Might, huge Ji^schylean creations. Of his deal- 
 ings with the giants we shall have examples below. 
 
 Among his noblest titles are those of 'champion of the gods, the 
 mighty one of the gods, hallower and sanctifier of earth, friend of man, 
 patron of the people.' ' Wing-Thor ' is obscure to us (the Heaven- 
 Thunderer ?). His goat-drawn car, whose rumbling wheels scare the 
 giants, makes him ' the car-god, the wain-wight, the lone-rider, the 
 captain of the keel or boat-shapen car, lord and owner of the goats.' 
 The unexplained but frequent title ' Hlor-ridi ' doubtless belongs to 
 this category. 
 
 Thor also owns the mittens and ie/t 0/ strength, but it is as the Lord 
 of the Hammer or Thunderbolt (' the Pick-headed ogress, the bane of 
 Hrungni, the hammer of Might ') that he has won his chief claim to 
 men's gratitude, as the ' adversary, foe, crusher, feller, life-despoiler, 
 death-dealer, awe, dread, down-healer, mauler, and destruction of the 
 giants and ogresses.' 
 
 The poets know of his dealings with that devil's dam Mella ; with 
 Hrungni, who is the moon's foe, the ravisher of Thor's daughter, Might ; 
 with Gar/red, the giant smith, the god of the bellows [?], the metal- 
 wright [?] ; with the Nimrod-like Jhiazzi, tlie ' foul foe of the Anses 
 and Thor, the clansman of Hymi, the son of Olvvald [Orwandil, Orion ?], 
 the haunter of Giant-land, the Nidad [king] of the rocks, the winged 
 being, the hunter-god, the father or foster-father of the Snowskate 
 goddess or of Morn the ogress, the brother of Idia and Orni,' whose
 
 464 FIGURES AND METAPHORS 
 
 speech or mouthful is a synonym for gold, from the legend that Thiazzi 
 and his brethren divided their hoard, in barbarous and uncouth fashion, 
 by each filling his mouth with as mich as it could hold. 
 
 From these exploits Thor is called 'Mella's foe, Hrungni's head- 
 crusher.' He is also the ' adversary ' of far more formidable beings 
 than these rude Titan's, ' Frost-giants and IMountain-giants,' whom he 
 journeys over Ocean and through icy torrents to seek out and destroy, — 
 for he is the deadly enemy of Loki [Wloki] and his brood. His famous 
 fisliing-expedition at Hymi's is fondly dwelt on by the early poets, who 
 held this deity in peculiar veneration ; and the later eschatologic fancies 
 make Thor ' the god that shall in the Doomsday slay with his unaided 
 might the Leviathan that girdles earth deep in the ocean stream,' 
 
 The homely features of Thor's character mark him out for humourous 
 treatment, and the anonymous Aristophanes of the West, and Snorri 
 himself, deal so with him. Alone of all the gods we find his image 
 carved on stocks and stones, a long-bearded face with the hammer 
 hung beneath ; and the hammer itself, a primitive stone-headed short- 
 hafted instrument, is found separately as a charm. The ' Anse,' or 
 ' the God of the Country,' or ' the Mighty God ' in the old carmina of 
 oaths and vows, always refers to Thor. It is curious to notice how ill 
 the sturdy farmer's friend suits the new Walhall. The poets get out of 
 the difficulty by making him stay away fighting giants ; his uncouth 
 might is scarcely needed when Woden has a host of chosen warriors 
 ever ready to delend himself and his friends. 
 THOR:— 
 
 His Jein hips. — Iar5ar burr, f>kv. 4 ; Iar6ar sonr, Haust. 55 ; H169ynjar niogr, 
 Vi-p. ir.Q; Fiorgynjar burr, 171 ; grundar sveinn, Haust. 74; 06ins burr, 
 76; 06ii)s sour, Vsp. 170, Hym. I35; Vi6riss arfi, Bragi, 47; Alda fo3rs 
 son, 45 ; J)ru5ar fa9ir, 9 ; Magna faSir, Harb. 1 38, Husd. 47 ; M63a fa6ir, 
 Hym. 130; Meila br66;r, Harb. 23, Haust. 56 ; Baldrs barmi, 61 ; UUar 
 magr, 57, ii. 27. 7 ; Ullar gulli, fjd. 67. 
 His wife. — Sifjar verr, J>kv. 100, Hym. II, 132 ; Sifjar riini, ii. 26. 24 ; f>rong- 
 
 var langvinr, |)d. 62. 
 His home. — Bilskirnis gramr, ii. 27. 8. 
 Champioji 0/ (he gods. — |>ru3valdr goda, Harb. 24; Ving]p6rr, {>kv. i, Alvm.; 
 
 Vingnir, VJ)m. 205. 
 The Car-god. — Einr;6', Lokas. 24', Haust. 76; H16rri6!, Lokas. 219, 222, 
 t^kv. 26, 29, 59, 126, Hym. 15, 61, loi, no, 142; kiola valdi, 75; rei6i- 
 Tyr, Haust. 88 ; hog-reiSir hiif-regin, 59 ; vafreyQa (lightning's) huf-stiori, 
 fjd. ; vogna vattr, Haust. 64. 
 Lord of the goats. — Hafra drottin, Hym. 76; hafra niotr, Bragi, 54, 
 Halloiver of earth.- — Mi6gar6z veoir, Vsp. 172; Veorr, Hym. 43, 64, 83, 151. 
 Friend of man. — VerliSa vinr, Hym. 43 ; folka reynir, Husd. 16 ; banda vinr, 
 
 14; Land-ass, ii. 72. 16. 
 The slayer of monsters. — Orms ein-bani, Hym. 85 ; alira landa endi-sei3s eygir, 
 
 Bragi, 50; Hrungnis haus-sprengir, 52; Loka bol-kvettir, {>d. 15. 
 The foe of giants and ogresses. — |)ursja6-bani, Hym. 72 ; hioSrs andskoti, 43; 
 lotna otti, Haust. 53 ; lotna dolgr, ii. 36. 31 ; Belja verSungar fior-spillir, 
 Haust. 69; me'ilo dolgr, 28 ; gygjar graetir, Hym. 53 ; mello mog-fellandi, 
 ii. 81. 40; kveld-runninna kvenna J)rongvir, 24. 24; gnipo hlce3r, JjJ. 52 ; 
 stop-hniso steypir, 36 ; Berg-Dana briotr, Haust. 67, 72 ; fiall-gautz felHr, 
 Husd. 17; ur6ar-{)ric)tz stokkvir, |jd. 20; steins EUo aldr-minkandi, 76; 
 Ivo-nesja drottar kneyfir, 45. 
 Owner of the belt of strength. — GiarS-vendir, Jjd. 7 ; niar6giar3ar niotr, 26 ; 
 hiniin-sioli, 34. •
 
 OF OLD NORTHERN POETRY. 465 
 
 Lord of the hammer. — Tri6no trollz runi, Haust. 68. 
 The Hammer. — Hrungnis bani, Lokas. 247; f)ru5-hamarr, 229, 245, 254; 
 
 triono-troll, Haust. 68 ; gliiifr-skeljungs grand, ii. 27. 9. 
 Earth, Thor's mother. — lotna dolgs moSir, ii. 36, 31; mcllo dolgs m66ir, 28; 
 
 Fiorgyn, Vsp. 171, Harb. 144; H169yn, Vsp. 199. 
 Giant Hrungni. — Mana sak-dolgr, Haust. 61 ; |>ru9ar |)i6fr, Bragi, 2. 
 Giant Thiazi. — Asa osvifrandi, Haust. 20 ; Hymis att-r6ni, 34 ; lotun-heima 
 
 reimo&r, 27; Olvalda sonr, Harb. 50; Ondor-go8s fostri, Haust. 26; Ondor- 
 
 disar fa6ir, Bragi, 62 ; Morna fa6ir, 22, 48 ; skotgiarn (?) iotunn, Hyndl. 
 
 127; Vagiia Ving-rognir, Haust. 15; gri6t-ni5o8r, 36 ; Iei6bla3s regin, 47. 
 Gold. — f>iaza Jiing-skil, Biark. 18. See below. 
 Giantess SkaSi. — Ondor-go5, Haust. 26; Ondor-dis, Hit. 12, Bragi, 62. 
 The Constellations, Castor and Pollux. — Olvalda sonar (fiiaza) augo, Harb. 50. 
 
 Rtgil in Orion. — Orwandil ta, Edda. 
 Giant Garfred (Geirrod). — See f>d. and ii. 212. 4-8. 
 Giant Thrym. — {>ursa drottinn, |>kv. 
 Thialvi, Thorns page. — Roskvo br66ir, Husd. 27. 
 
 III. MINOR GODS. 
 
 The other gods are not such favourites with the poets, and, as the 
 figure of Woden gradually grows larger and more striking, the other 
 divinities fade out of mind ; indeed, most of their attributes have been 
 absorbed by him, as it were. An ancient god is Heimdall, from whom 
 the Amals spring. There are strange lost myths connected with him ; 
 his struggle with Loki for the Brisinga necklace ; the fight in which 
 they fought in the shape of seals. He is 'the gods' warder,' dwelling on 
 the gods' path, the Rainbow. There he sits, * the white god,' ' the 
 wind-listening god,' whose ears are so sharp that he hears the grass 
 grow in the fields and the wool on the sheep's backs, with his Blast- 
 horn, whose trumpet-SQund will ring through the nine worlds, for in 
 the later legends he has some of the attributes of the Angel of the Last 
 Trumpet. His teeth are of gold; hence he is 'stud-endowed.' 
 
 Curious genealogical myths attach themselves to him. He is styled 
 son of nine mothers ; and as Rig's father, or Rig himself, the ' walking 
 or wandering god,' he is the father of men, and the sire of kings, and 
 of earls and ceorls and thralls alike. His own name is epithetic, perhaps 
 the World-Bow. The meaning of Hallinskidi is obscure. 
 
 Frey means simply ' Lord,' and is used in the early poems of Woden 
 the chief god, ' the Anses' king.' It is the epithet of Yngwi (Tacitus' 
 Inguio). But later on it becomes the special title for a god, whose 
 attributes are marked off to some degree, as 'patron of the Swedes, 
 harvest-god, slayer of Beli (a monstrous Titan).' He is the 'lover of 
 Gerd,' the giant Gymi's daughter and maiden. He is the ' Wanes' 
 god,' of a different gens or clan from the Anses, ' the son or heir of 
 Niortb' (Nereus) sea-god of riches, and his consort Siadi the giantess, 
 ' Thiazi's daughter, the god's bride, the snow-skate nymph, or goddess, 
 huntress,' like a Finnish amazon ; and brother of the lady Previa, the 
 ' Wanes'-maid, Syr, MardoU [an unexplained epithet], the leman and 
 maid of Od,' whom she seeks, weeping tears of gold [Mardoll's tears] 
 all over the world, like a northern Isis. Her boar-steed ' Gold-bristle, 
 War-swine, the Chosen-boar,' is brought into Hyndla-liod. Her neck- 
 lace or cestus is the ' Brising's necklace.' By late poets she is given as 
 Hnoss and Gersime, 'Jewel' and 'Necklace,' law-terms for parapher- 
 nalia or women's ornaments. Gefion, a giantess with a mighty plow, is 
 the Old English Geofen, an ocean goddess. She is ' Woden's love.' 
 
 VOL. II. H h
 
 466 FIGURES AND METAPHORS 
 
 Frlgg is a repetition in more human form of Mother Earth. As one 
 would expect, she is ' Woden's wife, and Earth's daughter.' She weeps 
 for Balder, her son and Woden's. Balder, which, like Frey, is an im- 
 personal name, meaning lord or king, is in early times the genealogic 
 head of a whole Teutonic clan, of whose legend we know nothing. In 
 later times the story of his hapless death, wrought by Loki's treachery, 
 is the most pathetic of all the northern myths. It is deeply coloured, 
 as we have it, by the Christian Gospel stories which had won their way 
 among the Northmen. He is the ' Bloody victim, or Sacrifice.' Hod, 
 Balder's innocent slayer, is entitled ' the adversary, the bane of Balder,' 
 the ' greatest coward of the Anses.' There must have been at least 
 one beautiful and famous poem on the Balder story to have given the 
 legend its peculiarly impressive form. Nand, Balder's wife, the image 
 of constancy, is merely by etymology— maid, like Full, etc. 
 
 The other gods and nymphs are to us names and naught else, the 
 poets have not even noticed the legends at all. Bragi, the poets' god 
 of Snorri, is simply the king (' brago' in Old English poetry), and meant 
 Woden himself in the earlier poetry ; but when Woden was turned into 
 the image of a human king, with palace and train, he must have his 
 poet and counsellor ('Thyle' or '{>ulr'), and accordingly he is cut in 
 two, and his finest attributes, song and wisdom, go with the name 
 Bragi, to make a fresh god, who henceforth is looked on as a separate 
 being, ' husband of Idwyn' and servant of Woden, of whose hall he is 
 an ornament, ' bench-adorner.' 
 
 Heimdall. — Go&a vor9V, Lokas. 195, Grimn. 47, Skim, ill; ragiia rein-vari, 
 Husd. 22 ; Hallin-ski5i, ii. 40. 39. 
 Einnar ok atta moe9ra mogr, Husd. 24; cp. Hyndl.147-156. [See Head above.] 
 Human-kind. — Meiri ok minni megir Heimdallar, Vsp. 2. 
 Frey. — Yngvi-Freyr, Hit. 44; Ingunnar-Freyr, Lokas. 172; NiarSar son, 160, 
 Skirn. 1 71; Niar5.ir bur, i. 75. 26; Niar6ar a6ulJ, ii. 97. 21 ; go6a folk- 
 valdi, Skirn. 9 ; Asa-Bragr, 133. 
 Belja bani, Vsp. 163 ; Beija dolgr, Hit. 22 ; Vaningi, Skirn. 156; Vanr, ii. 166. 
 Landkost-arr, Gisli, ii. 332. 16, 
 GerSr. — Gymis doitir, Lokas. 168 ; Gymis mser, Skirn. 48. 
 Skadi. — Go6-bru6r, ii. 166; Ondor-dis, Hit. 12 ; Ondor-go3, Haust. 26. 
 Freyja. — 06s vina, Hyndl. 177; 69s maer, Vsp. 73; NiarSar dottir, {)kv. 91; 
 Vana dis (Eddu) ; Vana bru6r, ii. 271. 7. 
 Preyja's Boar. — Val-svin, Hyndl. 22, 25 ; Gollin-bursti, Hildi-svini, 26, 27. 
 Knoss, her Daughter. — Syrar mxr, ii. 96. 6 (cp. ii. 271). 
 Frigg. — Fiorgyns mj:r, Lokas. 104. 
 Gefion. — Diup-r63uls gl63, Bragi, 41. 
 Balder. — 03ins sonr. Doom 35, Skirn. 80, Husd. 3 ; Friggjar sveinn, Malsh. 33 ; 
 
 bloSogr tivor, Vsp. 98. 
 HoS. — Baldrs bani. Doom 40; Baldrs andskoti, 44; hraeddastr Asa, i. 124. 10. 
 Bragi. — Bekk-skrauto5r, Lokas. 59 (cp. Eiriks mal). 
 
 IV. GIANTS, DWARVES, ETC. 
 
 With regard to the cosmography, the ideas of the poets seem to 
 have been somewhat of the following kind;— for we must remember 
 that the striking figures of the Tree that reached all worlds, and the ideas 
 of the nine heavens tier above tier, are clearly of foreign and Christian 
 origin, and confined to a few poems. The general idea was, that the 
 flat earth-plain, on which mankind dwelt, ' Mid- Yard,' was ringed round
 
 OF OLD NORTHERN POETRY. 467 
 
 by Ocean, along whose shores lay gloomy caves, beetling cliffs and 
 huge mountains, rocks and wastes, the home of the Giants, ' the Etyns' 
 land;' the 'ways, the garths, the dwelling-places of the Giants, the 
 paths or stairs or causeways of the giantesses ; ' the huge beings themselves 
 being called the ' hill-folk, the mountain-dwellers, the crag-men, the 
 cave-men, the dwellers in the waste,' and more fancifully the ' whales 
 of the wilds, the seals of the surfing caverns, the folk of the beach ; ' 
 with greater loathing they are styled ' the foes of earth, the mighty 
 enemies;' and by a quaint conceit, for which Eilif Gudrunsson is re- 
 sponsible, copying perhaps from the hints in Haustlong and Hymisquida, 
 the giants are marked out as the ' Danes of the reefs, the Jutes of the 
 outlands, the Cumbrians of the caverns, the Scots of the White 8:3, 
 the Brets of ... , the Gauts and Fins of the cliffs, the Weal Rugians 
 that dwell in the Strand [county of Norway, List] of the whale's litter.' 
 They are also called 'the people of Cold-Sweden (Scythia), the folk of 
 the reefs of Iva's nesses' [off the Baltic coast]; and single giants are 
 termed ' the ^lla of the boulders, the Forniot of the steeps, the Woden 
 of the Outland.' A giantess is mentioned as the ' lady of the hills, the 
 maid of the caverns, the nymph of the teeth of the tarns [rocks], the 
 dolphin of the precipices.' 
 
 One or two giants have a regular habitation in the poets ; Suptung, 
 the father of Gundfled, lives at ' Hnit-hill' or Hnit-cliff; Thiassi's house 
 is Thrum-ham at the edge of the world. 
 
 Under-ground, but upon Mid-Yard, live the Dwarves, beings not 
 wholly baleful. Of their habits but little is told in the poets' phrases, 
 which are chiefly concerned with their pedigrees : they are the ' Stone 
 or Boulder-folk, lords of the Stone-wall, sons of Durnir, kinsmen of 
 Dulsi;' their king is the 'Warden of the dwarves' hall' [i.e. of the 
 stone]. Of particular Dwarves, Atlantes, etc., and of particular giants, 
 we have spoken above. 
 
 Far away somewhere the earlier poets placed an abyss, ' Abaddon,' 
 ' the hall of the giant of the pit, the deep dale of Swart,' a place which 
 Woden once visited in search of wisdom. 
 
 The Ogresses are not akin to either of these races, though they are 
 often confounded with giantesses : they are pictured as cruel demonic 
 women riding on wolves [see p. 482] in the night, or cowering in dark 
 forests, working their unhallowed spells, ' night-riders, fence-riders, 
 corse-greedy monsters, Wicked Ones.' Evil ghosts, fiends, cairn-abiders 
 are also known, and the barroivs are called ghost-houses. 
 
 GIANTS. — Hraun-bui, Hym. 147; berg-bui, 6; hraun-drengr, Haust. 67; 
 
 gilja grundar granir, 71 ; biarga gatir, 65 ; hellis burr, 54; gialbra fialbrs 
 
 (caverns) bolmr, 70; fioro-^i63, fxi. 43. Rock-beasts. — Hraun-hvalr, Hym. 
 
 140 ; gliufr-skeliungr, ii. 24. 17 ; ioiiia I'ttt-niSr, Hym. 31 ; herjo heim-J)ingo6r, 
 
 Haust. 73. 
 As the Adversaries. — lormun-^riotr, Haust. 72 ; vallar dolgr, 23 ; tal-hreinn, 9 ; 
 
 ur6ar-J)ri6tr, Jjd. 20 ; Belja bol-ver3ui)g, Haust. 70. 
 By proper names. — Gandvikr Skottar, J)d. 7; helliss Kumrar, 50; fluS-rifs 
 
 Danir, 47; harS-gleipuis borSz Hor6ar, 42 ; Skyld-Bretar, 44 ; Ivo nesja- 
 
 fles-drott, 46 ; Kolgo-SviJ)i66ar drott, 45 ; hval-lattrs Lista Val-Rygir, 75 ; 
 
 steins. Ella, 76 ; flug-stalla Forniotr, 1 ; lUves lolnir, 48 ; fiall-gautr, Husd. 17 ; 
 
 fialla Fiiinr, Haust. 51 ; berg-Danir, Hym. 67. 
 Q-iantess. — larn-saxa, ii. 211 ; hellis spruiid, Jjd. 56; fialla Hildr, Husd. ii ; fen- 
 
 tanna (rocks) Syr, Korm. i; stop-huisa, f)d. 36. See above, Mind. 
 
 DWARVES. — Dulsa konr, Yt. 8 ; Durnis ni^jar, Yt. 6 ; Durnis ni6ja sal- (rock) 
 vorSuiir, id.; veggbergs visir, Vsp. I^6. 
 Hh 3
 
 468 FIGURES AND METAPHORS 
 
 Atlas-borne Heaven. — Austra erviSi, ii. 73 ; Nor3ra ni9-byr8r, 94. 96. 
 Night-hags — Myrk-ri9or, Harb. 60; kveld ri5a, Hrimg. 16; hala na-gra5ug, 17, 
 
 Svipd. and M. 53 ; kveldrunnar konor, Husd. 26 ; tiin-riSor, Havam. 84 ; 
 
 ividja, Hyndl. 183, Vsp. 7. 
 Evil Ghosts. — Dolg-megir, Helgi i. 321. 
 Cairns. — Draug-hus, Helgi i. 319. 
 
 V. COSMOGONIC BEINGS. 
 
 The Cosmogony of the poets is full of beautiful and fanciful figures, 
 which sometimes have a deeper meaning than perhaps those who made 
 them knew. The creation-myth of the nvorid-giant Ymir or Hymir is 
 witnessed to by such phrases as make the bi//j ' Ymi's-bones,' the vault 
 of the sky his 'skull,' the sea his 'blood,' the c/ouJs his ' brains.' 
 
 The firmament is figured as a huge skull or head, revolving every day, 
 with but one eye; and why one? because Woden (here Ouranos) had 
 for a draught of his well pledged his other eye to Mimi the Titan of 
 the Deep, the Bourn of Mimi or Sunken-bench. 
 
 Quaint is the idea of the Jirmament being upheld by such pillars as the 
 Dwarves of the Aiits, North, South, East, and West, whose 'burden* 
 or ' labour ' the heavens are. Early too is the idea of the ivorld-giant 
 Forniot or corse-svvallower sitting at the world's end in the shape of a 
 huge eagle, flapping the tempest out of his wings. 
 
 Of the Sun there are mythical names; ' Mundilfori's daughter (i.e. 
 the daughter of the Fire-Auger, the holy Drill by which some Teutonic 
 Prometheus first woke the elemental flame), the Moon's sister, the 
 Dwarves' play, the Wheel of the Elves,' and, as noted above, ' the 
 Pledge of Woden.' The Sun comes and goes through doors in the East 
 and West, as if from another world. The Day is Delling's son, child of 
 Heaven ; and the Night is ' the kinswoman of the Dark-moon, Niorvi.' 
 
 Other notable myths are those of Ocean, which figure him as a huge 
 giant, ' Eager, Hler, Gymi, brother of the Wind or Rodi,' whose daughters 
 are the Billows, whose song is the roaring of the surf, whose ivife is the 
 cruel net-wielding goddess Ran ('Apa^i'?;, as we take the etymon to be), 
 who weaves destruction for sailors, and takes the drowned to her hall. 
 Then Eager is the ' brewer of the gods,' or 'the giant-miller Hamlet' 
 (Amlodi), whose 'quern' is the sea, and whose 'flour' is the sand. 
 Hence we get such phrases as ' Ran's heaven, Amlodi's mill.' The hall 
 of Eager is lit by gold, which recalls to one the golden sands, and those 
 secrets of the deep that Clarence saw, ' wedges of gold, . . . heaps of 
 pearl, inestimable stones, unvalued jewels, all scattered in the bottom 
 of the sea.' So the northern poets term gold ' the gleam of Ocean, the 
 fire of Oran (a Scottish stream), the sun of the deep or the rivers.' 
 
 The Pantheon would be incomplete without the dim mysterious 
 Three, the MVirds or Fates, who speak men's doom, or spin on magic 
 web the changeful pattern of his earthly life. We have several pictures 
 of these goddesses in the old poems. One, familiar to us all from the 
 fairy tales, is that of the Midwife Norns coming to the hero's cradle to 
 predict his fate (like the Wise-women who, in those days, went round 
 prophesying). Another is the dream of them sitting far away in their 
 Paradise or Hesperian Garden, ' the paths of bliss, the Brook of Weird, 
 Bee-hive's-by,' the ' Garden of the Norns' [Neorxna wang], as the Old 
 English poet has it. Again, we find them metamorphosed into Walcy- 
 ries in the later wicking-days, but still retaining their character as
 
 OF OLD NORTHERN POETRY. 469 
 
 weavers of the web of fate, in the powerful and terrible vision that is 
 set forth in the Lay of Darts. The Norns or Fates are called 'the 
 maids of Mogthrasi,' and one evil Fate is called the ' Weird of kings, 
 the sister of Night.' Their decree or doom is called the ' Word of the 
 Fates, the Norns' decree or design.' 
 
 The Walcyries, as we have them, belong to the later stage of Northern 
 Religion ; they are the creatures of the Wicking-Age. In early belief 
 they are of the tribe of the Norns, or Weird sisters ; thus the old German 
 charm speaks of the ' fairies twisting bonds,' and we have the names 
 ' Shackle ' and ' Fetter of the Host ' applied to Walcyries in Norse songs, 
 which Grimm connects with the War-chain of the early German armies. 
 They also have a spiritual affinity to the spirits of slaughter and doom, 
 K)5pes or badbs, such as howled over Cuchullin's head on the day of 
 battle, in the older faith. As they are depicted by the Helgi-poet they 
 are half-human, half-unearthly Amazons, whose love brings death and 
 glory to their love : only in one passage does he talk of the Walcyries 
 as associated with the Einheriar ; indeed he uses the word as one of 
 reproach. He is inde^ halting between the old and the new ideas. His 
 heroine goes into the grave (according to the old beliefs) with her 
 lover ; but again, like the armed angels of later times, she soars through 
 the air. The author of Erics-mal has, on the contrary, made them 
 merely the handmaids of the king of the Heavenly Hall, hardly to be 
 distinguished from the noble captive maids that were wont to hand 
 round the ale-horn for the earthly conquerors, of whose court Woden's 
 was but the idealised copy. Eywind imitates Erics-mal, but he has on 
 this point inspired himself, we take it, from the Helgi Lays, when he 
 makes Woden send his angels horsed and helm.ed with spear and shield 
 to bid the dying king to the banquet in Wal-hall among the Elect. The 
 human element is gone here entirely, and it is in no barrow-chamber, 
 but on the ' starry threshold of Ygg's court,' that the poet leaves his war- 
 weary hero. This is the view that subsequent poets took up, it was in 
 consonance with the rest of the wicking-creed, and in the ' kennings ' of 
 the late court-poets it is as the messengers of Woden, the patronesses 
 of war, that the Walcyries figure. 
 
 The old word ' vittr,' ' wight,' used in the technical sense oi fairy, is 
 only used in compounded or metaphoric form to denote Walcyries ; 
 in its proper meaning it is suited to such beings as the s<wan-maidt'ns of 
 Weyland's Lay, Melusina-like nymphs who sit spinning by the side of 
 the lake in the wood, like the 'good people' of later days, who how- 
 ever have shrunk in size in most countries. 
 
 The names of the Walcyries are to be found in the Thulor. The 
 Helgi-poet's metaphors for his heroines are ' helm-fairies, all-fairies 
 [the one epithet common to the Swan-maidens and the Walcyries, 
 if the readings be right], the winged wound-fairies, tribe- or host- 
 fairies.' The ' lady of the Kings, of the Shieldings, the maid of the 
 Wolfings' refer to the heroic amazon rather on her human side. Later 
 poets use the term ' maid of Woden.' The origin and meaning of the 
 word Walcyrie is discussed below. 
 
 COSMOGONIC GIANTS:— 
 Giant Ymi. — Ymir, V^m. 77-84, Vsp. 9. v. 1. ; Bergelmir, VJ)m. 112. 
 
 Heaven. — Ymis hauss, VJ)m. 79, ii. 196, 57; Hymis hauss, Hornkl. 8. 
 Earth. — Ymis hold, VJ)m. 77. 
 Mid-yard. — Ymis brar, VJ)m. 1. c.
 
 470 FIGURES AND METAPHORS 
 
 Eocks. — Ymis bein, VJjm. 1. c. 
 
 Clouds. — Ymis heili, Vpm. 1. c. 
 
 Sea. — Ymis bI66, \'\>m. I.e., ii. 55. i. 
 
 Soma Giants. — Suptungr, Less. 54 ; Baugi, H6fu51. 73 ; Suptungs synir, Skirn. 
 
 138 ; Soekk-mimir, Grimn., App. 47. 
 Frost Giants. — Hrim-J)ursar, Less. 52, Skirn. 120, 137, VJ)m. 127. 
 Eock Giants, — Berg-risar, Harb. 105, Grott. 41, 89. 
 Mud Giants. — Miskor-blindi, Hym. 6 ; Mokkor-kalfi, |)d. 74 (?), Edda ; Aur- 
 
 gelmir, Vpm. 114. 
 Prometheus. — Mundil-fori (i.e. Pramantha), \^m. 189 (father of the Sun 
 
 and the Moon). 
 Giant Okeanos. — -Slgir, Gymir, Lokas., Skim. Tke brewer. — Allra tiva 61- 
 
 smi6r, Sonat. 30. As the island grinder. — Ey-lu6r, ii. 54. 4; Ey-mylrir, 
 
 55. 8; Skerja grotti, 54. 3 ; AmloSa li3-meldr, 55. 6. 
 The Surf. — Gymis 1166, Yt. 122. 
 The Sea-Ogress. — Ran, Sonat. 25; R63a va-bru3r, 31; .^gis man, 32; 
 
 Gymis volva, ii. 167. 72 ; Ran-himin = sea, Haust. 62. 
 The Okeanid Billows. — .^gis doettr, ii. 54. 2 ; Hless ddettr, 4 ; Eylu5rs nio 
 
 bru6ir, 4 ; .^gis dottir, Helgi i. 113 ; kolgo systir, 109. 
 The "Wind Giant. — Forniotr, |)d. i, ii. 54. i ; Forniotz synir (the gales), id. ; Hrae- 
 
 svelgr, VJ)m. 143. 
 Chaos. — Gap Ginnunga, Vsp. 12. 
 
 Ether. — Ragna siot, Vsp. 114; ginnunga ve, Haust. 78. 
 
 The Deep, The Pit, — Mimis brunnr, Vsp. 91 ; Hver-gelmir, Grimn. 83 ; 
 
 Sokk-mimis salr, Yt. 9 ; Surtz soekk-dalar. Hit. 4. 
 Caves and Eock-Hollows. — lotna vegir, Less. 42 ; Suptungs salir, 34 ; 
 
 Hnit-fioU (Hnit-biorg), Hit. 24 (Edda) ; Hdllvarps hlif, Yt. 145 ; lotna garSar, 
 
 Less. 49. 
 Night. — Niorva nipt, Sonat. 95, V^m. 98. 
 Day. — Dellings sonr (son of Heaven), Vjjm., cp. Dellings dyrr = the east doors 
 
 (opp. to Vestr dyrr), Riddl. i. 88. 30 S. 
 "Winter. — Vindsvals mogr, ii. 323. 9. 
 The Sun. — Glens be3ja, ii. 102. 13; Mana systir, W. W. L. 36; Dvalins leika, 
 
 Alv. 62; ValfoSrs ve3,Vsp.97; Vagna ve3, Alv.ii; Mundil-fora dottir, Vf)m, 90. 
 The Powers. — Regin, Vsp.; val-tivar, Hym. 1, Vsp. 195 ; ginnheilog go3, Vsp.; 
 
 ginn-regin, Alvm. 78, 118, Havam. 30 (cp. i. 29. 3), Hym. 14, Haust, 49; 
 
 ginnungar, 58 ; upp-regin, Alvm. 40, 
 The Norns. — Mog{)rasis mevjar, VJ)m, 195 ; Nera nipt, Helgi i. 15 ; o61inga ur5r, 
 
 Gkv. 
 Fate, "Weird. — Noma domr, Wols. PI. loi ; Noma skop, W, W, L. 78 ; UrSar 
 
 orS, i. 100. 237 ; Noma kviSr, HaniS. 135. 
 The "Wolves.— Norna-grey, Ham3. 129. 
 Heavenly Abodes. — Go3-heimr, Sonat. 69 ; by-skips-boer, 73 ; Ur3ar-brunnr, 
 
 Vsp. 54; Havam. 2, ii. 22. I ; mun-vegar, Sonat. 39 ; Gim-1^, Vsp. 200. 
 Fays, Fairies (see Valkyrjas). — Hialm-vittr, Helgi i. 224 ; al-vittr, 240 ; fluga sar- 
 
 vittr, 226 ; folk-vittr, W. W. L. 71 ; lof3a dis, Helgi i. 344; Ylfinga man, 
 
 iii. 18; Skioldunga dis, i. 330; Her-fiotur, ii. 438, 
 
 VI. THE DEMONS. 
 
 Besides the monstrous beings that dwelt in the waste places of the 
 earth by the Ocean-stream, there were also distinct powers of evil, the 
 foul brood of Loki (i. e. Wloka). This god is shown as 'the friend of 
 Woden and Honir,' in the days of yore ere trouble began, and called
 
 OF OLD NORTHERN POETRY. 471 
 
 'the Raven-god's friend and counsellor, the colleague and fellow of 
 Honi.' Of Loki's kinship mention is made: he is 'the son of Farbaut 
 and Laufey' (names as yet unexplained), 'the brother of Byleist, the 
 husband of Sigyn.' His evil deeds and adventures are also sung of; 
 he is 'the mischief-maker, the thief of the Brising's girdle, the dog or 
 wolf that stele Idwyn, the adversary of the Anses, the contriver of 
 Balder's death,' But it is as the father of the Evil Ones that he is most 
 notorious. He is 'father of the Beast, and of Leviathan, and of Hell,' fit 
 children of the chained Titan whose throes cause earthquakes. 
 
 Hell, the first-born, is known as ' Loki's only daughter, the maid of 
 the Hwethrung' (for Loki's race sprung from Ogress Hwedra), 'the 
 sister of the Wolf and Nara, the nymph of Glitni (wolf.'), the lady of 
 the cavern.' From a lost song, quoted by Snorri, we get a good picture 
 of her dread abode. Her hall is Sleet-den ; despair, the porch ; stumbling 
 stone, the threshold ; pale woe, the door ; Gilling, the precipice, the 
 key; falling peril, the hangings; carebed, the couch; lazy, the latch; 
 hunger, the dish ; famine, the knife ; starvation, the spoon, etc. 
 
 The Wolf, the mighty monster, the ' Wolf of Fenri, the child of 
 Fenri, the son of Loki,' is less mentioned by the poets than the Serpent, 
 which they believed to lie wound round the earth beneath the sea, 
 ' earth's girdle, or net-rope, or ring, the monster-snake, the fish of earth, 
 the fast brother of the Wolf.' With these we may couple the other 
 monsters and demons that will join in the final Catastrophe, the Doom 
 of Gods and Men, such as the Wolves of the Eclipse, ' the gripper and 
 tearer of the moon, the swallower of the loaf of the heavens, the de- 
 stroyer of the sky's light,' and the Flying Dragon, the wicked, venomous 
 ' tearer' of corses (Ni%-hogg), and lastly, the Fire Fiends that shall gather 
 to the Wreck of the World [IVIu-spilli, older Mut-spilli = Mund-spilli ?], 
 'sons of Treason,' 'the demons or sons of the Destruction, Monster- 
 demons, Destroyers of the Doom's day.' 
 
 LOKI. — As Lodor. Friend o/— Hrafn-asar (Woden's) vinr, Haust. 14 ; her-J)rumo 
 
 Gautz ge3-reynir, |>d. 3 ; Hoenis vinr, Haust. 28 ; Hoenis hugreynandi, 46 ; 
 
 hvatz m . . . malo-nautr, 32. 
 As father 0/ monsters, etc. Son of — Laufe)'jar son, Lokas. 208 ; Farbauta mogr, 
 
 Haust. 17, Husd. 22. Brother of —^y\t\stz broSir, Yt. 150, Vsp. 154, Hyndl. 
 
 136. Father of — Vulfs faSir, Lokas. 37, Haust. 30; log-seims fa3ir, {id. 2. 
 
 Husband of — Sigynjar arma farmr, Haust. 25. 
 His evil deeds. — Asa dolgr, Kont. 36 ; bolva smi6r, Lokas. 167; Brisings gir6i- 
 
 t)i6fr, Haust, 36 ; snotar (Idwyn's) ulfr, 5 ; cil-gefnar hundr, 42 ; her-fangs 
 
 hirdi-tyr, 24 ; Hve9rungr, Yt. 156, Vsp. 167. 
 Hell. — Loka maer, Yt. 40; Byleistz br66or mxx, 150; Hvearungs maer, 156; Asa 
 
 dolgs einga-dottir, Kont. 36. Sister. — Nara nipt, HufuQI. 36 ; Vulfs lifra, 
 
 Bragii2; Ulfs ok Narfa iodis, Yt. 37 ; Glitnis (Wolf's?) gna, 36 ; hall-varps 
 
 (abysms) hllfi-nauma, 145. 
 Hell's Abode (from a lost song). — Hall, El-iu6nir ; porch, yglo6 ; curtain, fall- 
 
 andafora6; 6eJ, kor ; pUlow, kox-htbr ; threshold, )Dro\.2i-\i'6\ ; hey, gAWngr; 
 
 door, blikjanda bol ; latch, lati ; hangings, fora6 ; dish, hungr; hnife, knifr, 
 
 sultr; s/ioo«, affeldr ; chest, frost-ofna ; acre, hnipinn ; dog, v&mng\; horse, 
 
 , , .?; coclf, . . .?; Cd., AM. 748 at the end (Edda ii. p. 494). 
 The Wolf. — HveSrungs mogr, Vsp. 167; hr66-vitnir, Lokas. 156; Fenris lilfr, 
 
 Hakm. 64; Ulfr-inn-hosvi, Firm, 26 ; Fenris kind, Vsp. ill ; Fenris ulfar, 
 
 Helgi i. 164. 
 The Serpent. — Ulfs hnit-br66ir, Hym. 91 ; lormun-gandr, Vsp. 148, Brag! 48; 
 
 allra landa um-giorS, Hym. 87, ii. 26. i ; mold-^inor, Vsp. 186 ; iar5ar sei3r,
 
 472 FIGURES AND METAPHORS 
 
 Bragi 6 ; allra landa eiidi-seiSr, 50 ; larSar reistr, 46 ; log-seimr, f>d. 2 ; 
 
 bar6a brautar hringr, Bragi 51; brattrar brautar hringr, ii. 26. 8; hraun- 
 
 galkn, Hym. 92; storftar men, Husd. 14; stor6ar-leggs stir3-J)inoll, 15; 
 
 grundar fiskr, ii. 27. 9. 
 The Dragon. — Ni9-h6ggr, Vsp. 215, 221, Grimn. 117. 
 The Demon "World-destroyers. — Muspellz synir, Lokas. 1 70 ; Muspellz lySir, 
 
 Vsp. 151 ; Mims synir, 135 ; Fifl-megir, 153; (ragna rok) riufendr. Doom 7. 
 The Crack of Doom. — Ragna rok. Doom 7, Vsp. 129, Lokas. 159, VJ)m. 221, 
 
 Ailam. 78, Helgi i. 303; alda-rof, 307; alda rok, VJ)m. 154; Muspell, 
 
 Lokas. 170, Vsp. 151. 
 
 J 3. POLITICAL. 
 
 THE FAMILY. 
 
 The ties of Family were looked on with great respect by the 
 heathen Northmen, and it is possible, by an analysis of the terms ap- 
 plied to the family and its members in the old poets, to throw some 
 light upon the matter, though the subjects with which the poets were 
 chiefly concerned did not permit the introduction of a very full voca- 
 bulary on this head. Still, what they have given is of high worth, and 
 one can trace the transformations which came upon the family system 
 of the North in successive generations; the old-fashioned patriarchal 
 life of the prse-wicking days, with its unvaried course, as shown in 
 Havamal; the change of manners which, as in Rome after the Punic 
 war, and Hellas after the Persians' defeat, followed the growth of 
 luxury and the importation of captive slavery into Northern chiefs' 
 households. The contrast between the wild gallant and his brother the 
 stay-at-home yeoman is, as we noticed, well shown in the pictures of 
 Woden the wicking and Thunder the worker in Harbard's Lay. The 
 increase of polygamy, of a new and lower type than the patriarchal, 
 influenced even the religious views of the wicking and post-wicking 
 days among the upper classes (for the lower rank would cling perforce 
 to the old ways, they could not afford captive slaves), which in the end 
 had its eff'ect ; as Norway became united, and the chiefs from all quarters 
 brought under the influence of the head-king's court, the tone of the 
 higher families relaxes, especially in those reigns in which wicking ex- 
 peditions occur, till at last the royal race ends in a slough of bastards 
 and pseudo-bastards, and the great Houses wore themselves out in 
 low drunkenness and debauchery or fell in the unglorious slaughter of 
 those civil wars which in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries killed 
 off well-nigh all the nobles and gentlemen of Iceland and Norway. 
 There are among our poems some which must be carefully studied for 
 their evidence on the old Teutonic family ; those of Egil himself, a 
 patriarch with strong and pious family feeling, Thryms-kvida with its 
 wedding scene, Gudrun's ordeal, a tale of an injured and righted wife. 
 The Icelandic Sagas of the Patriarchal time, too, afford some beautiful 
 pictures of family life and affection : the union of Nial and Bergthora, 
 faithful unto death, is the noblest example, the one blot on that picture 
 being the episode (for it is no more) of the concubine^ and her son. 
 
 ^ This however may well be an addition of a late Editor ; it is a doubling of the 
 other Hoskuld, who is really essential to the plot, and it does not bring out any 
 special traits of Nial's character : though even allowing it to remain, it is but the 
 kind of connection which was accounted lawful in patriarchal times.
 
 OF OLD NORTHERN POETRY. 473 
 
 Wholly different to these are the Helgi poems, with their wild, furious, 
 romantic love, the most heart-stirring of all Northern stories, akin 
 to the boiling passion of the court-poets' lives, and the deadly love of 
 Gudrun Oswif 's daughter. The individual is all in all here ; the man 
 or woman stands alone ; the old family tie, which had forced all personal 
 feelings to bow to its supreme claims, is gone ; the wandering wicking, 
 the captive lady are left to work out their life's struggles as best they 
 can, with the keen sense that sudden death might at any moment cut 
 the knot. 
 
 The court-poets again are outside the family ties in great measure. 
 They are the slaves of love in their lives, but they ignore it in their 
 works (Cormak's fragments have been so ' over-laid,' that one hardly 
 knows whether they be true or false ; and real songs, such as those in 
 Book ix, are mediaeval, inspired by troubadours, and late), save in the 
 coarse satire where it is used to^ point an insult. They are proud of 
 their pedigrees too, but they have their fortunes to make, and are ready, 
 the noblest of them, to become Northmen at heart in their love for 
 their patron, caring little to look back to their old homes, and this is 
 more the case as poetry becomes a profession. 
 
 To take the evidence of the poets in order, and begin with their con- 
 ception of the family itself. In the earliest metaphors one sees the 
 family conceived as 3. fence of pales or stocks, the 'garth of kinsmen,' 
 and one of the individuals composing it is the ' family-ash, the family 
 stake or stock or prop' (the word ' sett,' lit. 'ought,' with that mixed 
 idea of property and blood-community which 'familia' bore in Rome). 
 Again, the family is likened to the 'ring of stakes and cords' which 
 always enringed the temple and the hallowed court or lists, the members 
 being the * family bonds or cords or staves.' In another metaphor 
 the family is a 'shield-wall or phalanx' against foes, and its members 
 the ' family shields' locked in united strength. An archaic term is that 
 which points to the family sacra and sortilege, and calls the members 
 sortilege-men' (hleyti - menn). The 'att-r{ini' of Haustlong would 
 seem to be the family-friend or kinsman. Egil's 'kynwid' [O. H. G. 
 ' Chuni-wit'], the fruit-tree, we take it, is to be noticed. The terms 
 'heritage-taker, heritage-warden' (like the old London charter's yrf- 
 numa) are to be observed. Of the word ' avenger,' as applied to the 
 next of kin after the head of the family has suffered violent death, we 
 have spoken elsewhere : the feud or blood-revenge, of course, like were- 
 gild and inheritance, descended as part of the universitas familiae. The 
 patrimony is called the ' family's-Ieaving, the kindred's-leaving,' and the 
 technical word 'leif appears in such compound names as Anleif, 
 Thorleif, and in such images as homera-laf, darrada-laf, in Old English 
 poetry. 'Head-tree' is the title of the caput-familias, and hints that 
 the law of descent was reckoned as in England and Germany, by the 
 joints beginning from the neck down^vards. ' ^ttar-scati,' which we 
 find in a corrupt line in Egil's Arinbiorn's Lay, very likely means ' head 
 of the family;' ' scati,' an obscure word, not yet fully traced, seems to 
 have 'stock or pale' as its primitive meaning. Hence the image of the 
 tree is constantly applied to man throughout the poems of the court- 
 poets, and gives rise to such expressions as 'offshoot, scion' [nid-quisi], 
 and to various names for men and women. 
 
 The family is founded on the union of blood or kinsmen, begot in 
 lawful marriage, when we get our first view of Scandinavian life in 
 the poems (not earlier than 800). Husband is 'wer' [vir], nvife is 
 ' quan' [yvi/^] or ' wor^,' ' ward.' In Iceland as in England ' bondi ' and
 
 474 FIGURES AND METAPHORS 
 
 * husband ' and ' h6s-freyia,' ' housewife,' have replaced those in ordinary 
 use. The ' man of the house ' [husguma] is once used in the Rigs-mal. 
 ' Frum-wer ' [O. E. fruma-were], ' foremost man,' is found in the sense 
 ' lawful husband.' 
 
 The recognised concubine, Lat. pellex, or secondary wife, the captive 
 lady, whom the king or chief brings home as his choice from the booty, 
 is the ^ alien woman,' 'elja,' and with more contempt the 'bond-maid,' 
 ' man ' [mancipium] ; for foreign slaves were bought from the merchants 
 who followed the track of conquest. There is a large class of words, 
 sprung from the secondary meanings of this word, which is always 
 associated with lustful love, e.g. 'love-matters, love-wiles, love-meeting 
 [congressus], love-songs,' etc. But the most remarkable terms in this 
 connection are those compounds of ' osk,' ' osk-wif,' ' osk-kwan,' ' osk- 
 mser,' and the like, used rightly with a genitive of the possessor, 
 Woden's wish-wife and the like. These words we take to refer to 
 chosen captives, the chief's share of the spoil, as Briseis, or aliens chosen 
 for ivii'es and then captured, as Helen, looked on with pride as the spoil 
 of the bow and the spear (the trace perhaps of an early system of 
 exogamous marriage), and the evidence of the superiority of the 
 conquering race. These words may be paralleled by a word hitherto 
 unexplained, ' wal-cyria,' which the Editor believes to mean simply 
 ^chosen alien-ivotnan,' that is, 'captive' [\val = osk and cyria standing 
 for some foreign word for woman, Kdp/7, or the like, in which case it 
 would mean a Greek bond- woman, brought to the North through 
 Russia]. In Hornklofi's Raven-song figure captives or bondmaids ' from 
 the East ; ' money, swords, and maids from the East are the king's 
 guerdon to his valiant men. When we first meet Walcyries they are 
 distinctly the attendants, wine-bearers, etc. of Woden, part of the riches 
 and glory of his golden Wal-hall, as they were of the timber-palaces 
 of earthly pirate-kings. The gold-decked maid slaves which Angan- 
 theow offers his brother, the gold-decked woman who sank on Sigfred's 
 pyre were such as these, noble captive ladies who by the fortune of 
 war fell into captivity, as we are told in the Lay of Gudrun. The idea 
 of an Amazonian guard and of warring women seems to have been 
 partly derived from the general feeling that even Woden's bondmaids 
 must be armed ; his hound is the wolf, his hawk is the raven, his hat 
 is the helmet, his staff the sword, his bondmaids must be clothed as 
 he is, preside over the swaying fight, and bring home the war-weary 
 champions to their master's banquet. The fact that there were Amazon 
 sea-queens in the w'icking days, such as the Ingen Ruadh, w'ould neces- 
 sarily add touches of truth and force to the idea. Then the noble or 
 dire features of the Destinies that weave men's fates, the Norns that 
 sit by the Well of Paradise, and the Holy Three, Divae JNIatres, who 
 give men bliss and wealth, and the War- Fairies, are borrowed and at- 
 tributed to the Walcyries, in such poems as the Web of Darts, the Helgi 
 Lays, and the like. 
 
 i he marriage-union was sacred and respected, but the loose bonds of 
 concubinage with foreign-born slave-women, dependent on their master's 
 passion and goodwill, have given rise to such terms iov paramour as the 
 ' burden of a mistress's arms or embrace,' or most expressive of them all, 
 ' he whose head is buried in his mistress's tresses.' The position of the 
 bond-woman is shown by the phrase applied to her, ' she that whis- 
 pers in her lover's ear.' The shame and secrecy of more unbridled 
 lust, chance-love, are shown in the phrase ' secret-meeting ' for an in- 
 trigue, and in the words for the offspring of such amours, the ' wood-
 
 OF OLD NORTHERN POETRY. 475 
 
 child, the nook-child, the captive's son or love-child, the straw or 
 bast - child (our " bastard "), or stall-child, the son of secrecy, the 
 secretly-begotten one'.' 
 
 THE FAMILY. As fence. — Frsend-garSr, Sonat. 22 (cp. fraend-balkr). 
 Single Member. As tree. — ^ttar askr, Sonat. 70; kvanar kynviSr, 71; aett- 
 stafr, Helgi i. 223; att-stu3ill, ii. 48. 15; sett-baamr, aett-bogi, kyn-kvisl, 
 428. 215-219; ni6-kvisl, Yt. 169; af-springr, 60; hofu6-ba3nir, Ad. 69, 
 Hit, 23 ; aettar-skati, [Ad. 48]. 
 As Unsman. — Att-konr, Yt. 141 ; att-ni6r, Hym. 31 ; att-riini, 77. 
 As shield. — ^ttar-skicildr, Sonat. 40. 
 
 As bond. — iEttar-^attr, Ham9. 17, Sonat. 28; aettar-bond, 27. 
 As sharer in sacrifice. — HIeyti-menn, {>ul. 224. 
 Son, Heir. — Erfi-nyti, Brunh. L. 102 ; erfi-vor3r, Tregr. 25. 
 Avenger. — Hefnir, hefnandi, — B166oxar hefnendr, ii. 35. i ; Hakonar hefnir, 29. 60 ; 
 
 Skialgs hefnir, 137. 14; Alals hefnir, 188. 47 ; Haraldz hefnendr, 211. 4. 
 Husband. — Frum-ver, Brunh. L. 242, ii. 96. 14 ; angan . . . ? Vsp. 164 ; hiis-gumi, 
 
 Rigsm. 103. 
 Wedded "Wife. — Hus-kona, Rigsm. 105; hiis-freyja, Atlam. 9; var6-run, ii. 
 
 192. 18; v6r3r, Ord. 12, {>kv. 54, Lokas. 217, Thulor 166. 
 Concubine (pellex). — Osk-kvan, Bragi i, ii. 31. 28; osk-vif, 157. 12; osk-maer, 
 Vols. S. ch. I ; eyra-riina, Less. 15, Vsp. 215 ; elja, ii. 44O. 
 Paramour. — Fa6m-byggvir, Hornkl. 83 ; arma farmr, Haust. 25, ii. 62. 21; 
 
 lokka lyf-svelgr, 102. 4I. 
 Amour. — Man-kynni, Harb. 97 ; man-J)ing, ii. 200. 28 ; man-velar, Harb. 60 ; 
 
 laun-l)ing, 95. 
 Bastard. — Hornungr, HamS. 75 ; hrisungr, Yt. 126 ; bassingr (see Lex.) ; osk- 
 nitigr, Lokas. 63. 
 Patrimony. — .ffitt-leifS, ii. 144. 11; oe3ii, Bragi 41. 
 People. — Ver-J)i69, Lokas. 98 ; ver-liSar, Hym. 43 ; yr-J)i65 (=ver-{)i66). Ad. 66, 
 
 Veil. 62 ; al-t)i6a, Ad. 62. 
 Household. — Var9-dr6tt (?), Less. 24; sal-drott, 28 ; drott-megir, Atlam. 231. 
 Thralls. — Vil-megir, Biark. 2, Less. 96, Skim. 144. 
 Farmer. — Bundin-skeggi, Brei5 skeggr, Rigsm. 90-92. 
 Bondmaid. — Okkvin-kalfa, Arin-nefja, Gengil-beina, Totrug-hypja, Eikin-tiasna, 
 
 Rigsm. 46-50, Helgi i. 280. 
 A Captive Slave-woman. — Her-gopa, Hornk. 89. 
 
 MAN AND WOMAN. 
 
 The place of ivomen in the late poetry is not high, it does not deal 
 with the noblest women of old, the wise pr'o])hetesses whose words 
 could stop the Roman legions ^nd sway the national will (the last of \ 
 whom are finely sketched iii SWCh sagas as Eric the Red), nor even with >> 
 the honoured and respected housewife. The court-poet only sees or t'* 
 notices in his verse two kinds of women, the Queen and her damsels, 
 gold-decked and silent, living apart, and the train of fair captive-women 
 who bear the wine at the king's banquet. Hence for the former we 
 get such metaphors as exhaust the list of ornaments and goddesses and 
 nymphs, e, g. Gefn of the necklace, Gna of the broidery, Gund of the 
 gems, Wrind of the head-band or golden snood, Wor of the gold, and 
 
 ' The Norse 'baesing' [from bils-s] and the Normannic 'bastard' [from the elder 
 form banst-s] are cousins, as we have observed in 1867 in Icel. Diet. s. v., p. 92, 
 and si.x years later, p. 77^) bottom.
 
 476 FIGURES AND METAPHORS 
 
 the like. And as Wrind is Earth, the later poets will use all the syno- 
 nyms of earth to swell out their verse, calling their mistresses the ground 
 of gems, the iield of gold or of the veil or linen (if married, for Northern 
 matrons, like English ones, ' went under the linen,' and covered their 
 heads after the bridal). 
 
 From the other class of women came the terms, ' the nymph or god- 
 dess — Thrud, Freyia, Gefn, Hlokk, etc., of the horn or beaker or cup, 
 or wine, or ale, or mead,' and the like. That once-found word ' lauka- 
 lind,' leech-lady, may refer to the office of nurse to the wounded, and 
 the leek-broth and leech-craft, which women occasionally at all events 
 exercised, as the Kings' Lives testify. The later half of the ' kenning' 
 ■ — the nymph's name — might be replaced by the name of any feminine 
 tree, ' linden, oak, fir-sapling, birch,' and so on. These frigid and pedantic 
 metaphors are even used in the few genuine love-verses that remain. 
 
 As regards Man, we have already noticed the appellations proper 
 to chiefs and kings, but some of more general type must be added 
 here. As the pronouns must never be used in court-poetry, we 
 shall of necessity find many varieties of equivalents to ' he ' and ' him,' 
 but they may be reduced to very few categories. Man, as member 
 of a family, is a stock, as we have seen ; so we have many compounds, 
 one member of which is ' stock,' e. g. ' the pillar of war, the stock 
 of the helmet, the staff of wealth.' Then we have the names of mas- 
 culine trees coupled with the like attributes of 'war or qvealth, e.g. 
 ' elm, ash, plane-tree of the gold, apple-tree of war.' Sea-life has given 
 the ' steersman ' as a synonym for man. But for the court-poets the 
 noblest work for man is to be the qjuolf's butcher and the raven's brenver, 
 which culminates in Earl Rognwald's, in Snorri's and Sturla's compo- 
 sitions, and is shown in its worst form in the latter-day wicking-poets 
 of the twelfth century. Such compounds are the ' feeder, hunger- 
 queller, steward, provider, battener, meal-maker, etc. of the wolf,' and 
 the 'thirst-quencher, slaker, drink-giver of the raven or eagle.' We 
 have rarely been able or cared to translate these terms save by the 
 simple pronouns 'he' or 'him,' the repetitions would have been too 
 tedious and coarse for most people now-a-days to take pleasure in or 
 even tolerate. As a specimen, the first part of Kraka-mal, which is 
 the best of its kind, will show the reader the kind of impression which 
 the originals of the greater part of the panegyrics, if translated verbally, 
 with their useless fill-gap phrases wholly made up of such images of 
 the shambles, would produce. The importance of 'war' in the poets' 
 metaphor system will be noticed below. 
 
 "Woman. Goddess of jewels and trinhets. — Menja niork, Brunh. L. 189; gollz 
 Var, 295; men-Skogul, 159; hiJr-gefn, W. W. L. 74; goll-hrings FriSr, 
 Korm. ii. 64. 1 1 ; au5-Frigg, III; hringa Hlin, 1 2 ; baiidz Riiidr, 14 ; siirva 
 Rindr, 142; hodda faegi-Freyja, 28; erma Ilmr, 22; baro logs Var, 131; 
 sundz sol-Gunnr, 32; silki-Saga, 144; sorva-Gunnr, 52; men-Gefn, 109; 
 foldo hald-Eir, 129 ; gollz Eir, 43 ; steina Gna, 49 ; bor9z Giia, 50 ; borSz 
 Skogul, 143 ; gims GerSr, ii. 49. I ; horduks Rindr, 97 ; geira Syn, 73. 26; 
 linn-vengis, Bil. 79. 10; borSa Bil, ii. 112. 32 ; fl66 hyrs fold, id. 31. From 
 trees. — Men-rei6, Korni. 2 ; au9ar-J)ella, 29. 
 
 Ale-server. — Ol-Saga, ii. 64. 25; olkHrma Lofn, 79. 1 1 ; horn-J)eyjar Freyja, 
 Korm 105 ; vin-Gefn, 112. 30; hvitinga Hlokk, 102, 4. 
 
 Needle-worh. — |)ra3a fjni3r, Korm. 1 19. 
 
 Healing. — Sara 61-gefjon ( = Gro), Haust. 77; lauka lind, i. 373. 32; lauka 
 Hristj ii. 64. 10. 
 Men. From trees. — Hildi-mei3r, Helgi ii. 23; hialm-stafar, Wols. PI. 55; aufl-
 
 OF OLD NORTHERN POETRY. 477 
 
 stafar, 294; ognar lioma almr, Helgi i. 34 ; r6g-apaldr, ii. 23 ; vapna hlynr, 
 
 Wols. PI. 245 ; HArs drifo askr, ii. 167. 6 ; borr, 56. 25 ; {)ollr, 95. I ; 
 
 runnr, 56. 19; draugr, id, 9; lundr, 95. 2 ; vi6r, 92. 63; hlynr, 103. 6; 
 
 {jorn, 191, 58, etc. etc. 
 From gods. — Ass, ii. 58. lo; arr, xrir, 140. 53; niorSungr, 56. 14; ti'var, id, 
 
 21; Ho6r, 325, bottom ; Ullr, 113. 5; Nior9r, 97. 26; (55inn, 39. 25; 
 
 Baldr, 208. 5 ; Freyr, 39. II ; reginn, id. 19 ; rognir, 45. 33 ; Tyr, 176. 27 ; 
 
 |>r6ttr, 194. 18, etc. etc. 
 Wolf and carrion-bird feeder. greddir, ii. 95. 23, 244. 9 ; -grennir, 269. 1 ; 
 
 -brynnir, 218. 3 ; -braeSir, 103. 18, 223. 24 ; -foe6ir, 61. 4 ; -alandi, 240. I ; 
 
 -hungr-deyfir, 93. 69; -hungr-|)verrir, 244. 19 ; -lif-giafi, 267. 8 ; -feitir, loi. 3; 
 
 -goelir, 210. 2 ; -teitir, 52. 8 ; -nistir, 245. 9 ; -nistandi, Geisli, 99 ; ulfs tann- 
 
 lito6r, i. 373. 33 ; hrafns munn-Iito6r, ii. 267. 2 ; -gran-ri63r, 267. 4 ; -munn- 
 
 ri63r, Geisli 53; -fi5ri-ri65r, ii. 186.16; -fet-ri66r, 194. 6; -il-ri66r, 263. 
 
 61 ; etc, etc. ad nauseam I 
 War-waker. — Hildar hvessir, ii. 223. 22; gunnar herSir, 222. 3; herdandi, 
 
 273. II ; hildar haldbo6i, Veil. 42 ; hialdrs vekjandi, 208. 93 ; hialdr-vitjoSr, 
 
 206. 34; sokn-stoerir, 202. 67; ogn-stoerir. 159. 26; bragna fallz beinir, 
 
 197. 68 ; mor&-kennir, 195. 31; mor6-kanna3r, 62. 9. 
 The steerer of a ship. — Skei6ar styrir, ii. 187. 28; unnar skift-rennandi, Geisli 
 
 161 ; -renuir, ii. 419. 10. 
 
 KING AND FOLK. 
 
 The epithets applied by the poets to the king furnish a fair view of 
 the royal duties, claims, and rights in their day ; and show the various 
 stages between the early conception of a half-heroic god-begotten 
 tribal priest and general to that of a national ruler keeping order, 
 upholding law, and preserving his land and people. 
 
 In the early poets the di-vine origin of kings is dwelt upon, eK he Atof 
 0a(Ti\ries. Yngwi, also called the Lord-Yngwi [Yngwi-Frey], is the 
 ancestor of that royal race which tradition brought from Upsal to reign 
 in Norway, Tacitus' Ingaeuones point to the Yngwi genealogy. Hence 
 come such titles as ' the scion, the offspring, the descendant of Yngwi 
 or the God [Tyr], the branch of Woden's own race,' So the Lay of 
 Righ brings all kings from Rig [Heimdal]. 
 
 Another early and widespread set of metaphors refers to the priest- 
 hood of the king. As head of the race, the duty of worship is incumbent 
 on him. He is the ' Warden of the holy Temple or the holy altar, the 
 prophet of the hallowed twigs of divination.' We should have had 
 many more of these epithets but for Christianity, 
 
 As old as either of these is the idea of the king a.s lord of his comitatus. 
 The comitatus is called the household (bird), the in-service (inn-drott), 
 the guard (verdung), the soldiery (held-), the following (fylgia), and the 
 men composing it the housecarls (hfiskarlar), the young men (drengs), 
 the lads (haukstaldar, a word borrowed from hagestalder), men of 
 valour (itr-menn), braves (herdi-menn), gallants (snyrti-menn), sword- 
 bearers (sverd-berendr), wage-takers (heid-fiegar = solidarii), and the 
 king is ' their patron, lord, chief,' etc. These mighty men were often, 
 like David's guard, foreigners, and there were certain special cham- 
 pions among them, who in Harold Fairhair's case were called ' Wolf- 
 hoods ' and ' IJear-sarks,' as being fur-clad, according to what appears to 
 have been an old custom. The whole band [' weorode ' O. E.] formed 
 a guard, paid, drilled, and disciplined, over whom the king had power of 
 lite and death, according to ' Thingmen's Law ' [the guards' custom], 
 A good comitatus was the king's pride and security, and warlike princes 
 surrounded themselves with as large and well-drilled guard of gentleman
 
 478 FIGURES AND METAPHORS 
 
 adventurers as they could support. Young men of good family served 
 for a time in the comitatus of a great king, learning by obedience then 
 how to rule when it came to their turn to command. 
 
 It is no doubt in this connection that the frequent phrases touching 
 the king's liberality arose ; for instance, ' ring-breaker, lord of treasure, 
 necklace-sharer, gold-divider, spoiler of neck-rings, gold-minisher, wage- 
 giver, guerdon-dealer,' and the like. 
 
 As supreme general in war, leader of the battle-wedge, the king is the 
 'first man of the host, lord of the host,' and 'destroyer of the host' [her 
 = invading army]. In more peaceful aspect the king is the ' establisher ' 
 or ' settler of the land,' a fit name for colonising princes ; and in some 
 early poets he appears as the patron and defender of the people, he is 
 the 'feeder of his folk {Troifj.rjv \acov), captain of the tribe, warden of 
 the country, or the patron, lord, or director of men.' 
 
 His political status and the means by which tribal kings became 
 head-kings are shadowed forth in such terms as the 'ruler of barons, 
 foe of earls, the sole slayer of earls, and the crusher of dukes,' and 
 ' head-king,' ' national-king ' (jDiod-konungr). The king is the supreme 
 judge, ' settler of disputes,' as in Hesiod's well-known verses : — 
 
 01 be vv \ao\ 
 TrduTfS €i avTov opaxri hiaKplvovra defxiarai 
 Weirjai hiKTjcri.v, 
 
 It is not till Sighvat's day however that he has become a ' terror to 
 evil-doers,' such as Henry I, Leo Justiciae, or Henry II, who would 
 have loved to be sung of as the ' minisher, atid crusher, and scorner, 
 and disappointment of thieves, malefactors, and pirates ;' so had times 
 changed since Angantheow (in the Waking) could be praised as ' patron 
 of wickings.' Sighvat also calls the king ' Moot-keeper.' 
 
 There is a good deal of history to be gleaned from the terms applied 
 to particular kings : thus in Norway the recent rise of the overlordship 
 and head kingship of Harold Fairhair is witnessed to by the persistence 
 of tribal-names, by any of which the ' King of the North-men' or ' Lord 
 of the East-men' (as the Western colonists styled him) might be fitly 
 called. So we find Norwegian monarchs addressed as ' princes or kings 
 of the Dalemen, Egdes, Fils, Firth-folk, Grans, Halogers, Hades, Heins, 
 Hords, Hrings, Hohn-Rugians, Mores, (Enes, Reams, Rugians, Renes, 
 Sognfolk, Throwends, Thiles, Worses,' the original tribes which settled 
 in Norway. So the Danish king is called ' Lord of the Danes, Jutes, 
 Ey-Danes, Way-Jutes, Sconians, Scots, English, Cumbrians,' and the 
 Swedish m.onarch ' Prince of Gauts and Swedes.' So the Earl of the 
 Orkneys is known as 'Prince of the Shetlanders, lord of Tyree' (if we 
 guess right), and the like. 
 
 In Denmark the famous old settlements and sanctuaries at Lund and 
 Lethra have given the terms ' Lord of Lund, Sitter at Lethra, Holder 
 of Frcdi's throne.' Had we Swedish poems, no doubt ' Upsal's Lord' 
 would be a standing phrase also. 
 
 Particular kin2,s are spoken of as ' Norway's king ' (late), ' lord of 
 Humberland or Yorewic-land' (Eric Bloodaxe), 'head of Randwe's race' 
 (Eormanric). Akin to these are the Eastern-looking expressions which 
 point out a king by means of his relations, often insignificant persons ; 
 thus, Harold Hardrede is called ' Olaf 's brother ;' Earl Eric, ' Heming's 
 brother;' and there are many such phrases which must have been 
 picked out and used by Ari to construct his genealogies. The bom- 
 bastic phraseology applied to the Orkney Earls, ' furtherer of Turf-
 
 OF OLD NORTHERN POETRY. 479 
 
 Einar's kin, Rognwald's son, Heiti's kinsman, head of Endil's race,' 
 should be noticed here. One phrase, 'the avenger,' coupled ever with 
 the name of a ilain king, points to the duty of blood-revenge as felt 
 by princes, and, as we have noted, settles the chronology of an interesting 
 verse of Thiodwolf's at Stamfordbridge. See vol. ii. p. 21 r. 
 
 Another more curious instance of hereditary feud is seen in the 
 epithets derived from national hate : to call the Swedish king the foe of 
 the Ests, the Northern king ' enemy, and destroyer, and dread of 
 Danes ;' to call the Danish king ' crusher, and foe of the Wends or 
 Frisians,' or to style either ' the ravager, and waster, and turner-to- 
 flight of Scots, Brets, English, Saxons, or Irish.' 
 
 The Pope and the Greek Emperor receive special attention : the former 
 is the 'lover of Christ,' the latter 'throne-king, preserver of the Greeks.' 
 
 The coimtries best known to the poets receive characteristic epithets. 
 England is the ' patrimony of jElla's race,' Norway is ' Harold's hawk- 
 island ' (Harold Bluetooth's tributary land, the annual payment of 
 which was in hawks), Sweden is ' Gylwi's heir-land,' Greece the 
 * mould of monks,' Zealand the ' prey won from Wenner ' or ' the 
 eking of Denmark,' from the old story told in vol. ii. p. 8. Iceland, 
 whose name lends itself to the wildest fancies of the court-poets, is 
 the ' land of the sea-sky or sea-floor [ice], the country of the elks' gallows 
 [ice, from the way in which elks were hunted over water-holes],' and 
 the ' land of the roof of the Nixies' hall.' 
 
 KINGS:— 
 
 God-born, especially the King of Upsal. — Yngva konr, W. W. L. i6 ; Yngva aett, 
 Hakm. 3 ; Yngva J)i69ar allvaldr, Yt. 39 ; Yngva aldar allvaldr, Korm. 14; 
 Yngva aett-stafr, Helgi i. 229; Yngvi-Freys sett. Hit. 44; Freyss attungr, 
 Yt. 104, Hit. 30 ; Freyss afspringr, Yt. 60, Korm. 5 ; Tyss attungr, Yt. 86, 
 Hit. 43 ; Freyss vinr, Brunh. L. 97 ; Ylfinga ni3r, Helgi i. 17, iii. 31 ; Fiolnis 
 ni5r, Yt. 34 ; Skilfinga ni8r, gi ; lofSutiga ni3r, Wak. 104 ; Lof9a kyiis att- 
 konr, Yt. 141 ; f)r6ttar burs ni6-kvisl, 108. 
 
 Go6-koTiungr, Yt. 132 ; Austr-konungr, 84, Hit. 14. 
 
 Pontiff of temple worship, of the King of Upsal mainly. — V^-tiallz (ve-stallz) 
 vorSr, Yt. 62 ; ve-fromo5r, 100 ; Rogna hrcers fr6mo6r, 128 ; valleins spak- 
 fromoSr, 44; ves valdr, Korm. 7 ; val-soefandi, Yt, 66; reyks lau6o6r, 152 ; 
 skiald-blcetr, Hit. 7. 
 
 Lord of the guard. — VcrSungar visi, Hakm. 15 ; verSungar gramr, Brunh. L. 
 170; gumna stiori. Grip. 3 ; droitar stiori, ii. 93. 90 ; inn-drottar geymir, 
 197. 74; verSungar v6r9r, Sighvat. 
 
 Pay-master of the guard. — Baugbroti, Helgi i. 70; hring-broti, 184, Oddr. 83 ; 
 hodd-freyr, Hofu61. 58; go)l-mi6Iandi, Brunh. L. 327; sorva deilir, 122; 
 men-glr)to5r, Yt. 16, Hit. 16 ; vell-vono6r, Ad. 91 ; hramm-J)vita bi63r, 
 H(ifu6l. 57; hei6-fr6mo9r, Ad. 40; haukstalda vinr, Oddr. 21; haukstalda 
 gramr, Brunh. L. 75 ; haukstalla konr, ii. 212. lO. 
 
 Defender, protector. — Land-viJrftr, ii. 36. 21; foldar-vor3r, 40. 42; folk-vorSr, 
 Old G. L. 18 ; iara-byggvir, Veil. 91 ; land-reki, Helgi i. I 27, v. 1., Hit. 41 ; 
 flotna-vorSr, Mark 4 ; folk-narungr, ii. 56. 3 ; {)i6d-skati, Hofuai. 48 ; folk- 
 hagi, 6r; liu6-fiomo9r. Ad. 14 ; kjfSa holl-vinr, {.315.16; J);65ar J)engill, 
 Grip. 164; aldar astvinr, Mark 61 ; foika treystir, 62. 
 
 War-captain, conqueror. — Hers oddviti, Grip. 161, 205; folks oddviti, Helgi 
 ii. 39, iii. 45 ; sigr-Iiofundr, Yt. 160 ; her-baldr, Brunh. L. 75 ; her-konungr, 
 Yt. 160; ^iu6-koniingr, 146; hers-ia6arr, W. W. L. 56; folks ia6arr, Helgi 
 i. 311 ; egg-leiks hv()to6r, Old G. L. 109 ; hios-leiks hvati, Hofu31. 48 ; her- 
 gl6to3r, Short Brunh. L. 20, 71 ; bryn-jalfr, Yt. 148; sverS-alfr, Hit. 47; 
 her-niegir, Helgi iii. 20; hildi-meiSr, W. W. L. 55 ; Vikinga vinr, Wak. 10 ; 
 Vikinga ni6r, 90,
 
 48o FIGURES AND METAPHORS 
 
 Hersa valdi, Yt. 73; hersa drottinn, Sigh vat: iarla bagi, Hit. 21; iarla ein- 
 
 bani, Hakm. 1 1. 
 Enemy of aliens. — Ala dolgr, Yt, 108 ; Eistra dolgr, 125; I6fa dolgr, 27; 
 Ey-Dana oegir, Hakm. 13; Skota far-bi66r, HofuSI. 35; Vinda myr8ir, ii. 
 91. 31 ; Breta striSir, 92. 41; Frisa dolgr, 102. 7; Dana grandadr, 36. 16; 
 Engla cegir, 226, 40. 
 Justice. — Sok-mi91andi, Yt. 144; [vig or ve?] miSlungr, 175; rogs hegnir, 
 
 Mark 50; J)inga kennir, ii. 132. 91. 
 Foe of thieves. — |)i6fa ryrir, ii. 132. 87 ; Jjiofs veltir, 147. 6r ; hlenna hneigir, 
 125. 17; hlenna ^reytir, 188. 56; hlenna dolgr, 58; hlenna Jjrystir, id,; 
 svik-folks ey6ir, Mark 12. 
 A Christian King. — Visdoms grdeSir, Mark 66. 
 A tyrant. — Lof8a stri'3ir, ii. 51. 15 ; folk-mygir, 16. 
 
 King of the Norwegians, Lord of the various tribes or folks. — Ddela-, Eg5a-, 
 Fila-, Fir6a-, Graena- (ii. 91. 38), Ha5a-, Haleygja-, Heina-, H6r6a-, Hringa-, 
 Holm-Rygja-, Moera-, OEna- (loi. 5), Rauma-, Rygja-, Rena-, Sygna-, 
 fjrosnda-, |)ila-, Vorsa-, drottinn, gramr, konungr, etc., pass., and Nor3manna- 
 drottinn, Hornk. 18; Austmanna iofur, 69, 
 Noregs konungr, ii. 39, 14. 
 
 King of the Danes. — Dana, Iota-, Ey-Dana-, Skanunga-drottinn , , , , pass, ; 
 HleiSrar at-seti, ii, 224. II ; Fr63a stols stilhr, Mark 17; Lundar allvaldr, 
 ii. 203. 28. 
 Greek Emperor, — Stol^engill, ii. 205. 21; Girkja stillir, 24; Mikla-gar5z 
 
 konungr, Geisli. 
 Bear-sarks, 'Wolfcoats. — Berserkir, Hyndl. 96, Hornkl. 44, 71, i. 161. 14; 
 
 UlfheSnar, Hornkl. 47, 72. 
 Wickings, — Vikingar, Wak, 10. 90, Helgi i. 105, Brunh. L. 298, 330. 
 Henchmen. — Inn-drott, ii. 197. 74; hei9-t)egar, 128. 24; li63-niegir, Hakm. 17; 
 
 hilmis fylgja, Old G. L. 51; hus-karlar, Atlam. loi, pass. 
 Nobles. — HerSimenn, Jomsv. 85 ; snyrti-drengir, 153 ; itr-menn, 138 ; gceSingar, id. 
 Evil-doers. — Laga heptendr, ii. 56, 15; au5i-menn, 29; gri3-bitar, 28. 
 Traitor. — Var-liugr, Ad. 50 ; vara vargr, Wols. PI. 259 ; drottins sviki, pass. 
 The Divining Rods. — Val-teinn, Yt. 4 ; hlaut-vi6r, Vsp. 196; hlautar-teinn, Veil, 
 44 ; leinar, Hym, 3 ; hlaut-spann (?), id, ; spa-gandar, Vsp, 83 ; blot-spann, 
 Ari [see Excursus to vol. i. p. 411]. 
 Temples. — EinriSa hofs-lond, Veil. 82 ; banda ve, id, ; hapta ve, 88, 
 
 COUNTRIES :— 
 Zealand. — Venis valrauf, Bragi 44 ; Danmarkarauki, 42 ; Sel-nieina triona (Selund), 
 
 ii. 31. 6; Svana dokk-sala dalr, 159. 25. 
 Sweden. — Gylva ce51i, Bragi 41, 
 Norway. — Haraldz hauk-ey, Sighvat ii, 148, 76. 
 Icelanders. — Al-himins-lendingar, ii, 37, 48; elgjar galga alJ)i6S, Sonat, 58; 
 
 Nykra borgar naefr-land, Kont, 298, 
 Greece, — Munka veldi, Mark 32 ; munka mold, ii, 162, il. 
 England. — Ello aettleifS, ii, 162. 8. 
 
 WAR, WEAPONS, GOLD. 
 
 War was the most honourable occupation of a king in his own eyes, 
 and the court-poets, whose business is purely to recount in sounding 
 verse the victories of their patrons, in as unvarnished but more inflated 
 strain than the Assyrian chroniclers of old, are full of metaphorical ex- 
 pressions relating to this all-absorbing subject. 
 
 The battle itself is spoken of as the ' moot of swords, the game of 
 iron, the play of edges, the assembly of blades ;' or, more poetically, as
 
 OF OLD NORTHERN POETRY. 481 
 
 the * gale of spears, the shower of arrows, the tempest of darts ;' or, 
 again, as the ' din or the sweeping of swords, the clatter of edges, the 
 clash of brands, the song or hum of the bows, the ring of metal ' [black- 
 metal is iron and yellow-metal bronze]. 
 
 Later terms, derived from myths, were favoured, and the court-poets 
 abound in such expressions as the ' storm, the gale, the drift of Woden 
 or of the Walkyries, Hild, Hlank, Siiackle, GonduU' In Hornklofi's 
 phrase we take * Frey ' to have the primitive sense of ' Lord,' and to 
 stand for Woden, the Lord. In later times the famous heroes and sea- 
 kings are pressed into the composers' service, and one gets * Hedin's 
 gale ' and ' All's [Anilas] shower ' as synonyms for the tempest of war. 
 
 The sivord is by far the favourite weapon of the Northman, as it was 
 of the Roman of old, and it is fully dealt with. It is the ' leek of war, 
 the wand of wounds.' Its brightness (so remarkable to those who had 
 been used to ' fallow blades ' of bronze) provokes the titles ' wound- 
 fire or flame;' its power and uses supply the terms 'the destroyer of 
 the shield, the saddle of the hone, the graver or chisel of wounds, the 
 shearer [justice, doomer] of man.'- From myth and legend come such 
 names of the sword as 'Woden's wand or flame; the work of the 
 Dwarves ; the bane of Hialmar or of Fafni.' 
 
 The spear is less often noticed, but it is called the ' wound-thorn,' 
 and may be meant (rather than the sword) by the phrase ' the plug or 
 gag of Fenri's lips,' a synonym derived from the well-known story of 
 the Beast and the Gods. 
 
 Arroius are spoken of as ' wound-bees, corse-ogres ;' or else they 
 are ' Gusi's atid lolf's craft ' (two kings of Fins or the Dwarves) ; or 'the 
 tribute arid the craft of the Fins ' (who appear to have been skilled in 
 making spears and to have paid their Scandinavian neighbours dues in 
 arrow-heads as well as skins. Fin and archer are almost synonymous 
 terms, and the bow, save in myths such as that of Egil, is hardly a 
 regular Northern weapon. (Gunnar's defence, half legendary in its de- 
 tails, perhaps derived from that of Egil, will scarcely weigh much on 
 this point.) Arrows are also the ' hail-shower of Egil's hands,' or, more 
 fancifully, ' the swift-herrings ' of the same great archer : they are also 
 the ' barley of Woden or the wheat of Woden,' a comparison drawn 
 from the evident likeness between the haulm and ear of those grasses 
 and the shaft and head of the arrow. 
 
 The axe is the most curiously treated ; it is called the ' ogress of the 
 woods or the shields.' This personification of the axe may date back 
 far (the axe is mountain-born, like giantesses, being of stone or metal). 
 It is 'battle-ogress, shield-crasher, helm-cleaver.' We hear much of 
 the axe in the Sagas, but on the other hand it is curious that the axe is 
 so rarely mentioned in the poems, late or early. The later celebrity of 
 S. Ohif's axe in monument and story makes the axe famous as Norway's 
 emblem, and a well-chosen one it is for a nation of ' woodsmen.' Tiie 
 witness of Wace and Giraldus is conclusive as to its efficacy in defence. 
 
 Of defensive weapons the first place belongs to the shield, in whose 
 honour famous bards in the North, as among the Greeks of old, wrought 
 elaborate lays. The phrases applied to it by the early poets are varied 
 and striking, and have some reference to its round target shape, the 
 brazen rings which surround it, the linden wood of which it is com- 
 posed, and the bosses that adorn and strengthen it ; or to its uses, to be 
 hung up round the hall above the guests like pictures in a College Hall: 
 such are the 'penny of the hall [see above, p. 450], the quivering ring- 
 cliff (or perhaps fiag-stone), the cloud with the rims.' Later singers 
 
 VOL. II. I i
 
 482 FIGURES AND METAPHORS 
 
 prefer to call it, from its battle uses, the 'ness of the sword, the floor 
 of the spear-heads, the field of the pikes, the sky of darts.' 
 
 Many are its mythical names, some derived from the story of the god 
 Wuldor, as ' Wuldor's ash or boat ; ' some from Hrungni's adventure, 
 'the giant's foot-bridge;' others (mostly of later type) concerned with 
 Woden or the Shield-maidens, e.g. 'the bark, flake [shingle] of Wal- 
 hali ; the plank or garth or thatch or toft of Woden ; the cloud or gate 
 or wheel or board or Te^evos or wall or cliff of Skogul, Hild, Gondul, or 
 Gund.' Later the sea-kings are drawn upon, and the buckler is called 
 the ' roof of Reifnir, the cliff of Gestii,' etc. Last of all in point of 
 time are the metaphors drawn from the rows of shields that ran round 
 the waist of a war-galley, glittering in red and gold — the ' moons of 
 Rse's car; the foliage of Leif's land ; the lee-board moons of the steeds 
 of the boat-house or dock.' 
 
 The helmet is spoken of in early days with reference to some such 
 belief as is witnessed to by Latin writers, who tell of the Teutonic 
 custom of wearing a boar or other image on the helm, which was sup- 
 posed to charm the wearer and terrify the foe ; the ' boar-helm ' of 
 Beowulf is one of the best instances of this in Teutonic poetry. In 
 the Western Scandinavian tribes, the giant sea-god Eager is especially 
 associated with the helmet, and takes the place elsewhere filled by the 
 patron. Lord or god (called Frea, Woden, or Gaut as it may be). 
 Hence the phrases, ' helm of awe, Eager's helm [Ocean's helm ?],' and 
 the fascination of the look of a warrior is called the ' eye of the serpent.' 
 The helmet is also * Woden's hood or hat.' 
 
 The mail-coat is the 'raiment of war, the ring-kirtle or skirt, the 
 dart-web.' It is also, from the legends of charmed armour, the ' kirtle 
 of Hamtheow, the shirt of Sarila, the raiment of Hagena.' The 
 Walkyries ride panoplied like their master Woden, and so the later 
 poets talk of the mail-coat as the 'trapping of Spear- Rota, the awnings 
 or pavilion of Hlank, the sark of Gund,' and the 'weeds or grey-coat 
 of Woden.' 
 
 The right array of chosen champions was the hide of a wolf or bear 
 (an old Teuton custom borrowed by the Romans in the case of their 
 standard-bearers); this raiment is called the 'wood-boar's sark' (the 
 wolf here, as usual, being the wood-beast par excellence). 
 
 The delight in battle and bloodshed, which is noticed as a marked 
 feature of the early Teuton warrior, is well brought out by the poets in 
 the endless series of synonyms and metaphors which speak of ^-wounds 
 and blood and carrion, and the beasts and birds of prey that haunt the 
 battle-field. The Helgi lays have several such metaphors, though in 
 the later court-poets this mode culminates. So pleasing was it to their 
 patrons and so deeply interesting to themselves, that there is no 
 difference between Christian and heathen poets in this respect; indeed 
 the ' Christians ' here make the saddest show, and down to the last the 
 fashion is kept up, even by clerks like Sturla, a man of peace and 
 letters, who had no love for battle or slaughter, but who, nevertheless, 
 in his poems has to follow the set fashion, employing such forced 
 imagery as to call the shield the 'heavenly vault of the Walkyries, under- 
 neath which the lightnings, i. e. the swords and missiles, gleam forth ' — 
 poor and borrowed conceits. 
 
 Wounds are the ' footprints of the dirk, of the sword-edge ; ' the scar 
 is the 'mark ot war.' Blood is the 'gash-shower, the wound-dew, the 
 ocean or lake of the sword, the river or stream of the blade, the beer or 
 mead of the raven.'
 
 OF OLD NORTHERN POETRY. 483 
 
 Carrion is the ' wolfs dainty, the raven's barley, the eagle's supper, 
 the sword's harvest or swath.' 
 
 Of birds of prey, the hawk is the * falcon's son,' and is never spoken of 
 as a carrion-bird, but the raven and eagle are ever the 'haunters of the 
 battle-field.' The former is called the ' rover of the sky, the eagle's 
 sworn brother, the partridge, mew or hawk of the wounds, the crane of 
 battle, the blood-drinker.' But the raven is also the 'wise bird, the 
 companion of Woden, and the follower of the Walkyries,' hence he is 
 called ' Woden's swan, hawk,' etc., and the ' goose or hawk or mew of 
 Gund.' 
 
 The <u)o]f is known as the * corse-greedy beast, the greyhound of 
 Woden, the steed of Leikni, Grith,' and many another ' night-riding 
 witch-wife.' 
 
 Gold is one of the most frequently mentioned objects in the court- 
 poets, who have repeated occasion to mention it when talking of the 
 king's generosity, the poet's guerdon, or the lady's ornaments. Several 
 of its synonyms have already been alluded to, such as ' Freyia's tears, 
 Sifia's tresses, the roof of Holgi's barrow, Thiazi's speech, Glasi's 
 leaves, Draupni's sweat,' which all refer to mythologic incidents. There 
 is an equal wealth of these which touch on heroic legends, such as that 
 of the Hniflnngs, from whence are formed such phrases as 'the Hniflung 
 [Niebelung] hoard, the Hniflung heirloom, the Weregild of Otter, the 
 Earth of Fafni, the burden of Grani, the discord-breeder of the Hnif- 
 lungs, the red ore of Rhine.' The idea of serpents lying on treasure, 
 which appears in the Sigfred and Beowulf stories, is wide-spread among 
 the poets, and gives rise to the terms, ' Snake's meadow, serpent's bed, 
 the downy couch or the litter of the snake.' Another story, that of the 
 Mill that ground Gold, gives the metaphors, ' Frodi's flour, the meal 
 ground by Frodi's bondmaids, Fenia's grits, Menia's meal.' The story 
 of Hrolf Craci has produced the phrases, ' Craci's barley, the sowing of 
 Yrsa's child, Craci's glistening seed, the seed of Fyris-field.' More 
 general terms are the vivid ' metal of strife, foreign metal.' Com- 
 monest and most prosaic and far-fetched are such as refer to personal 
 adornment, e. g. ' the fire of the elbow, the pebbles of the wrist, the 
 meal of the hand, the lady's snood.' 
 
 WAR, ARMOUR, WEAPONS:— 
 
 Battle. — Moot. — Hior-J)ing, Helgii. 217; val-stefna, 76 ; hior-stefna, 50 ; bryn- 
 J)ing, W. W. L. 85 ; brimis domar, Helgi i. 147 ; Fiolnis t)ing, ii. 56. 23. 
 
 Play. — Egg-leikr, Old G. L. 109; isarn-leikr, Hofu51. 30; Freys leikr, 
 Hornkl. 22. 
 
 Din, rattle. — Geira ve5r, Helgi i. 46 ; nadd-61, Grip. 92 ; sver6a svipan, Wols. 
 PI. 44; malm-hri5ar spd, HofuJl. 16; hiorva glom, 13 ; dolga dynr, Helgi 
 i. 79; randa rymr, 68; alma J)rymr, 67; vig-frima, 27; egg-firima, Eirm. 
 31 ; vigra sei3r, i. 373. 36 ; egg-ro&, Short Br. L. 36 ; egg-tog, HofuSl. 62. 
 
 Storm. — Of Woden. — Hars ve5r, Hit. 25; 6&ins ve5r, i. 266. 15; ViSris 
 vandar ve6r, ii. 76. 2. Of Walkyries. — HIakkar drifa, ii. 70. 6 ; Skoglar wcbr, 
 266. 14; Gondlar flaumr, 76. 50; Gondlar t)eyr, 105. 2. Of sea kings. — 
 HeSins drifa, ii. 76. 48 ; Ala ^1, 75. 40. 
 
 The Sword. As wand. — Imon-laukr, Helgi i. 28, ii. 36. 35 ; ben-vondr, Short 
 
 Brunh. L. 73 ; sar-laukr, ii. 102. 10. As fire. — Ben-logi, Helgi i. 213 ; ben- 
 
 eldr, i. 266. 9 ; bauga tuss, Eywind 265. 5 ; vig-nesta bol, Helgi iii. 33 ; 
 
 hein-so9ull, HofuSl. 27 ; ben-grefiU, 28. 
 
 Mythical. — Dverga smi6i, Wak. 57; Fafnis bani, Grip. 60; Hialmars ban 
 
 I i 2
 
 484 FIGURES AND METAPHORS 
 
 (Tyrfing\ Wak. 77, 107; mannz miotuSr, 109; Fiolais fiirr, ii. 49. 2; 
 
 Gautz eldr, Korm. 11; Vi8ris vondr, ii. 75. 28. 
 The Spear. — Sara-^orn, ii. 56. 1; Fenris varra sparri, 36. 17. 
 The Axe. — Rimmo-gygr, Niala ; nausta blakks hlA-mkns. gifr, ii. 165. 3 ; hlyr-solar 
 
 hala, 271. 14; fiornis (helmet) griSr, 24, cp. id. 16. 
 Arrows. — Unda by, Hofufil. 51; hrae-sk66, ii. 94. 5; flug-gl68, flug-svinn, Thulor 
 
 292; hvit-mylingar, ii. 242. 52, Merl. 294, Thulor 288. 
 Mythical. — Egils vapna (gaupna) hryn-grap, ii. 96. 16; Egils gaupna hlaup- 
 
 sildr, 37. 50 ; Yggjar val-bygg, ii. 208. 83 ; Herteitz hveiti, id. ; lolfs smidi, 
 
 Thulor 294; Gusis smiSi, 293. 
 Historical. — Finna giold, ii. 206. 47. 
 The Shield.— Baugs bif-kleif, Haust. 52; randar himin, i. 266. 13; sver6a-ness, 
 
 id. II; brodd-flotr, HofuSl. 47 ; geir-vangr, 18. From the hall. — Svelnis 
 
 sal- (Walhall's) penningr, Bragi 21 ; Svafnis sal-naefr, Hornkl. 79. From 
 
 ships. — Raes reiSar mani, Bragi 40; Leifa landa lauf, 30; nausta blakks 
 
 hk'-mani, ii. 165. 12. From Giant Hrungni. — Fialla finnz ilja brii, Haust. 51. 
 
 From Wvldor. — Ullar askr, ii. 95. i. From Walhyries. — Skoglar sky, ii. 
 
 51.6; Hildar veggr, 114. 2 ; Hildar bor5, 57. 3 1 ; Gunnar raefr, 28 ; Gondlar 
 
 grind, 74- 13; Hildar ve, Haust. 4 ; Hogna meyjar hiul, Bragi 4. From 
 
 Woden. — Vi9ris balkr, ii. 1 14. 5 ; Svolnis garSr, 56. 21; Gautz j)ekja, 60, 
 
 68; Hroptz toptir, 103. 27. From Sea-kings. — Reifnis rsefr, ii. 102. 5 ; 
 
 Gestils kleif, 75. 42. 
 The Helmet. Boar's head. — Hildi-svini, Hildi-giJltr, Edda and Hyndl. (see also 
 
 Thulor). 
 Hebn of terror.— Ygrs hialmr. Ad. 13; aegis-hialmr, Wols. PL 121; holm- 
 
 fioturs hialmr, Veil. 27 ; holt-vartaris enni-tingl, ii. 62. II. Woden's hood. 
 
 — Hanga-tys hottr, iii. 75. 35. 
 The Mail-coat. War-woof. — Vig-nest, Helgi iii. 36 ; vig-nisting, i. 23 ; darraSar 
 
 vefr (spear woof), H6fu61. 17 (cp. Lay of Darts) ; hring-skyrta, ii. 91. 40. 
 Legendary. — Ham5es skyrta, ii. 96. 16; Sorla fot, 17; Hogna va5ir, 95. 12. 
 
 From Walkyries. — Geirroto gotvar, ii. 95. 13; Hlakkar tiald, 114. i; 
 
 Gunnar serkr, 57. 30. From Woden. — Vafa&ar va6ir, i. 265. 2; |>undar 
 
 gra-klaeai, 57. 34. 
 
 A "Wolf's or Bear's Coat. — Hris-grisnis serkr, Hit. 26 : cp. Ulf-he3inn, Ber-serkr, 
 p. 480. 
 
 "Wound. — Dolg-spor, Helgi i. 313; eggja spor, Death Song 36; her-kuml, i. 
 192. 36. 
 
 Blood. — Sar-dropi, Helgi i. 314; val-dogg, 330; harm-dogg, 334; hior-Iogr, 
 Wols. PI. 115; Sar-gyniir, i. 266. 11; fleina floS, odd-la, maekis-straumr, 
 Eywind 266. 11-16; maekis a, Hofu31. 15; odd-breki, 39; hrae-saer, Hornkl. 
 44 ; hrae-sollr, Bk. vi. §2.6; Farma tys svana bior, Hit. 36. 
 
 Carrion.— Ulfa krasir, Helgi i. 50; Hugins barr, 227; ara nattorftr, Hofufll. 36; 
 hraes lanar, id., etc. 
 
 Eaven and Eagle. — Arnar ei8-br66ir, Hornkl. 14; hrae-sasvar bergir, 44 ; ben- 
 t)i6orr, i- 373- 41; ben-mar, HofuSl. 38; hialdr-tranar, 37; hraeva nagr, 
 h_o unda valr, i. 372. 12. Raven, Woden's bird. — Farma tys svanr, Hit. 35 ; 
 OSins haukr, Helgi i. 324. From Walkyries. — Gunnar systra gogl, Helgi iii. 
 26 ; Gunnar haukr, ii. 56. 4. 
 
 "Wolves.— Hra-gifr, Old G. L. 99. Woden s hounds. — Vi5ris grey, Helgi i. 52. 
 Witch steed. — Flag6s goti, Hofu31. 35 ; GriSar soti, ii. 163 ; kveldriao stod, 
 94. 18; Leiknar hestr, 16. 
 
 GOLD; — Sun, light, fire of the deep. — Diiip-roSull, Bragi 41 ; Oranar eldr, 
 Biark 16; ognar-liomi, W. W. L. 70, Helgi i. 32, 82; elfar ali-ro&ull, 
 ii. 36. 31 ; Rinar rof (amber), 350. 81.
 
 OF OLD NORTHERN POETRY. 4-85 
 
 From Myths. Freyja. — Mardallar tar, Biark. 15; Freyjo tar, ii. 102. 12 
 
 (cp. Thulor 168 and Malsh. 30). 
 From Si/.—S'\(]zT svar5-festar, Biark. 15 ; Fullar bra-vallar fall-sol, ii. 36. 29. 
 Fro7n King Holgi. — Holga haug-J)ok, ii. 102. 6. 
 From Giant Thiazi. — Jjiaza J)ing-skil, Biark. 18; Rja glys mal, 16, cp. Brag! 
 
 66 (cp. Malsh. 31). 
 From the Tree of Wealth. — Glasis barr, Biark. ir. 
 From the Wonder-ring. — Draupnis dyr-sveiti, Biark. 12 ; Draupnis drog, ii. 
 
 55. 10; Draupnis dogg, 167.15. 
 From HEROIC legends. Nijlitngs. — Hniflunga arfr, Akv. 42, 107; Hniflunga 
 
 liodd, 103; Hniflunga rog, Biark. 19 ; Rinar rau6-malmr, id. ; Rinar malnir, 
 
 Brunh. L. 66 ; Otrs giold, Biark. 15; Fafnis miSgardr, 10; Grana byrSr, 
 
 1 1 ; Grana hli3-farmr, Oddr. 79 ; linn-vengi, 1 20 ; orm-bedr, Tale of G. 103 ; 
 
 Grafvitnis diinn, Biark. I 2 ; lyngva mens lattr, ii. 37. 40. 
 As Prodi's Meal. — Feiijo forverk, Biark. 10; Fenjo meldr, ii. 177. 68; Menjo 
 
 neit, Brunh. L. no; Fr63a J)yja meldr, ii. 36. 27; Froda miol, H6fu31. 59 
 
 (cp. Runic Song 10). 
 From King Crakis Story. — Fyris-valla frae, ii. 36. 26; Kraka barr, 208; 
 
 Kraka drifa, 218. 9; Yrso burSar (Craki's) or6, 208. 88. 
 As the metal of strife. — Rog-malmr skatna, Akv. 106; Vala malmr, Hyndl. 33, 
 From the hand. — Olna bekks eldr, Bragi 64; Olna griot, ii. 71. 29; hauk- 
 
 strandar mol, Hofu61. 60. 
 Gems. Pearls. — Haf-nj'ra, Husd. 23 ; iarkna-steinn, Volkv. 99, Gkv. 71, Ordeal 
 
 30; Hallin-ski6a (Heimdal's) tannir, ii. 40. 39, Necklace. — Hals-baugr, 
 
 Bragi 8 ; Hildar svira hringar, 1 7. 
 
 CHRISTIAN SYNONYMS. 
 
 Christianity, as it induced the poets to write of sacred subjects 
 and make Drapas to saints, obliged them to make fresh similes for sacred 
 things and persons, when they were obliged to speak of them; the 
 court-poetry was however dying at heart when these terms were 
 made, and (save one or two) they are all imitations of long-used epic 
 formulas, but they are often ingenious, and show the thoughts of the 
 makers on religious matters. The second Person of the Trinity is called 
 the ' Lord and friend of the monks, the King of heaven, the Lord of the 
 sun.' He is also the 'King of the monks' land [Rome], the Lord of 
 Jordan, the King of Greece, the Warden of the Greeks and Gard- 
 folk [Russians or Byzantians].' The Brook of the Fates was supposed 
 to be at Rome and to be ' God's seat.' In exact consonance with the 
 royal state as it was before their eyes, the poets make heaven a more 
 glorious Wal-hall, with angels for henchmen, saints for heroes and 
 champions. The saints are also ' Christ's limbs, Christ's knights, the 
 Saviour's friends, God's crew, the beams or rays of God's hall, the 
 pillars or studs of book-speech' [i.e. the Gospel or Evangel]. The 
 Virgin Mary is called the ' Star ot the Sea,' a phrase translated from 
 the Latin hymn. h. priest is the 'bell-warden' (a name well suited to 
 the early Irish missionaries), or ' God's thrall' (Culdee), The Pope 'lover 
 of Christ;' the heathen are the 'host of the high places.' The church is 
 the ' ship or nave of the services.' 
 
 Epistles or Letters, which may be mentioned here, are called by 
 Sighvat ' searching birds of love,' in reference to their passing between 
 friends. 
 
 Illuminating, 'staining,' books is recorded by a twelfth-century poet.
 
 486 FIGURES AND METAPHORS OF OLD POETRY. 
 
 Christ. — Munka reynir, ii. 54. 2; Munka drottinn, 115. 21; Griklandz gaetir, 
 
 160. 32; lordanar gramr, 148. 77; Grikkja ok Gar6a vorSr, Arnor.; 
 
 hei3is foldar hallar drottinn, ii. 54. 3 ; munka mold-rekr, ii. 161. II ; banda 
 
 [angels] gramr, 22. 4. 
 Heaven. — Munka mold-reks vald, ii. 162. 8. 
 The Virgin. — FlaeSar stiarna, Geisli 8. 
 Angels. — Heims hrotz (heavens) fer3, ii. 324. I; himins dyr5, 7; himna dyrSar 
 
 hira, 3. 
 A Saint. — B6ka mals regin-nagli, ii. 161. 38; miskunnar solar geisli, Go6s hallar 
 
 geisli, Go5s li6r, Kristz limr, GoQs riSari, Lausnara spialU, f)egn-pry6i, etc., 
 
 Geisli passim. 
 A Church.— Ti6a flaustr, Mark 68. 
 
 A Shrine. — BorSvegs saeing, ii. 161. 23; Glae-logn, i.e. Glae-lung, id. 
 The Pope. — Kristz unnandi, Mark 37. 
 Priest. — Biollo-gztir, ii. 51. 39; Go6s {jraell, Geisli. 
 Pagans. — Horga herr, Mark 46. 
 Home. — Munka veldi, Mark 32. 
 Letter. — Snioglir astar foglar, Sighvat ii. 144. 3. 
 Stone, i.e. colour for illustrating, 'staining,' books. — Bokar Sol (Book Sun), ii. 300. 
 
 II, Hallarstein.
 
 EXCURSUS II. 
 
 ON CHRONOLOGY. 
 
 The ideas of time and reckoning of dates which prevailed among the 
 early Teutons seem to have been of the most primitive kind. Genea- 
 logies soon lose themselves among gods and heroes and giants : thus 
 lordanis takes only seven steps between Heimdall the god and Her- 
 manric ', the famous king of the Goths ; and the similar genealogy in 
 the imperfect Lay of Righ would probably have had even fewer steps. 
 Such long genealogies as that of Ynglinga-tal are merely artificial. Ari's 
 longest pedigrees, such as Bodwere the settler -', do not reach a dozen 
 names. No other mode of reckoning save by pedigrees was known. 
 Three generations prove allodial possession; the man who, like Nestor 
 of the Iliad, has seen three generations is the 'ancient witness' (our 
 'oldest inhabitant'). Eternity was for great men's fame; 'his renown 
 shall endure while mankind endureth upon earth ' and the like phrases 
 are used with a childlike faith in the certainty of remembrance, which 
 is touching and all unconscious of Ulysses' baser worldly wisdom: — 
 
 ' Time hath (my Lord) a wallet at his backe, 
 Wherein he put almes for oblivion : 
 A great-siz'd monster of ingratitudes : 
 Those scraps are good deedes past, which are devour'd 
 As fast as they are made, forgot as soon 
 As done.' 
 
 There is no reckoning of numbers, backward or forward, and the 
 past, 'times of yore,' is a region in which Attila, Theodric, Sigfried all 
 appear on the same plane with complete absence of historic perspective ; 
 
 ^ " But of these heroes, as they tell in their own stories, the first was Gaut, wlio 
 begat Haimdal, but Haimdal begat Rigis, Rigis begat him who is called Amal, from 
 whom also the beginning of the Anials comes. Which Amal begat Isarna, who 
 begat Ostrogotha, who begat Hunwine, who begat Athal, who begat Athiwolf and 
 Oduwolf; but Athiwolf begat Aiisila and Ediwolf, Wuldwolf and Hermanarig. Now 
 Wuldwolf begat Walraven, who begat Winethari, and he begat Wandalari, who 
 begat Theodmir and Walamir and Widimir. Theodmir begat Theodric, Theodric 
 begat Amalswinth, who bore Athalric and Mathswinth to Eadric her husband, who 
 by family kinship was related to her, as will be seen. For the aforesaid Hermanric, 
 Athwolf's son, begat Hunmund, who begat Thorismund, who begat Bearmund, 
 who begat Widric, who begat Eadric. . . . Athalric dying in childhood, Mathswinth 
 was married to Witgar, by whom she had no children .... and Witgar dying, Ger- 
 manus the Patrician, brother's son of the Emperor Justinian, took her in wedlock, and 
 got her the rank of patrician : by him she had a son, who was called Germanus." — 
 lordanis, ch. 14 (Holder's edition). 
 
 ^ The steps are given at p. 490. In England there are only seven names between 
 Woden and /Ethelberht of Kent, Augustine's friend ; and from Eadwine of Deira, 
 .ffithelberht's soa-in-law, to Woden, twelve.
 
 488 ON CHRONOLOGY. 
 
 see, for instance, the rolls of heroes in the Lay of Hyndla. Just 
 as Gildas and Nennius reckon by great battles, so there is a rough 
 popular chronology by famines, fire-raisings, and Mickle-Moots noticed 
 by Ari. Thus there was a famine '* in the year when Islaf was hallowed 
 bishop by Albert of Bremen in the days of King Harold Sigurdson." 
 And " eighty years before " there had been a still worse famine " at the 
 time Avhen King Harold Greyfell fell and Earl Hakon took the sway of 
 Norway." — [Landnama-bok, Appendix.] 
 
 The first man who had a sense of the necessity of an exact reckoning 
 for historical purposes was the historian Ari, who was the sixth in 
 degree from Anlaf Feilan, one of the Western settlers; born thirty- 
 seven years after the close of the heroic period of Icelandic history 
 (1030, 1067), of a famous family, in the most central and wealthiest 
 district of the land. He not only collected historical information, but 
 he put it in good order ; and though in his complete isolation he has 
 made some mistakes (for he knew no neighbouring nation's chronicles — 
 ours of Winchester would have saved him much labour), it is easy to 
 put these right, and so to avail oneself of the vast stores of fact which 
 he has painfully saved for ever from the Ogre Time. 
 
 His scheme of chronology hinges upon the one well-known date 
 A.D. 1030, the death of S. Olaf. This year 1030 is a memorable one; 
 it is the last of the Saga Age, and in it there died a famed King of 
 Norway and a famed Law-speaker in Iceland. The great eclipse fixes 
 it for certain. It is the only year of the ancient Saga Age where the 
 A.D. is absolutely certain. From it he reckons the dates backward 
 according to the years of the La^u-speakers in Iceland and the Kiigs in 
 Nor^May, to two other points which he makes to coincide in 930 : — 
 
 Iceland. Years 27 Skafti. Norway. Years 15 S. Olaf. 
 
 2 Grim. 14 The Earls. 
 
 17 Thorgeir. 5 Tryggwason. 
 
 15 Thorkel Moon. 19 Earl Hakon. 
 
 20 Thorarin. 16 Greyfell. 
 
 20 Raven. 26 Hakon the Good. 
 
 5 Eric Blood-axe. 
 
 loi — lyears = 100 years 
 
 Thus he brings his history of Iceland back to the foundation of the 
 Althing (for he has evidently counted in the year of the foundation), 
 and that of Norway to the death-year of Harold Fairhair. His Ice- 
 landic chronology he rests on the authority of Mark Skeggison the 
 Law-speaker, who had the authority of his brother Thorarin, who got 
 it from his father, whose father could remember Thorarin the second 
 Speaker and the six who followed him, remembrance not implying here 
 more than contemporaneity. 
 
 Biarni the Wise, b. c. 960, d. c. 1040 
 
 Skeggi 
 , I , 
 
 Thorarin, Mark (vol. ii. p. 234), 
 
 Poet (vol. ii. p. 218). Poet and Law-speaker 
 
 from 1084 till 1 108. 
 
 Beyond this second stage, 930, Ari goes back, in a great stretch of 
 sixty years, to a third and final fixed point, 870, which (having, as he tells
 
 ON CHRONOLOGY. 489 
 
 us, access to a Life of S. Edmund) he marks as the year of that king's 
 martyrdom, reckoning thus : — 
 
 Iceland. 930 a.d. Norway. 930 a.d. 
 
 60 years of settlement 60 years of Harold's reign 
 
 870 A.D. 870 A.D. 
 
 When we come to test these schemes, which bear evident marks of 
 arrangement, first by independent chronology, and then by Ari's own 
 witnesses the pedigrees, an aberration of about thirty years is revealed, 
 which only requires to be corrected, when the discrepancies between 
 his scheme and the true year at once disappear. 
 
 Taking the external evidence first. Othere's account of Halogaland 
 is given to King Alfred some time after 880, probably nearer 890. But 
 neither Othere nor his fellow-voyager says anything about the discovery 
 of the great island far in the West, nor of the stir of emigration which 
 by Ari's chronology must have been convulsing the Norwegian coast- 
 counties. Othere's chief merchant-station is Sciring-heale in Westfold, 
 the very cradle of the Northern kingdom and of Fairhair and his race ; 
 yet Othere speaks of no rising kingdoin there, which he could hardly 
 fail to do if he had really been a contemporary of Harold Fairhair. 
 Rather, Othere's whole narrative, the more valuable on this account, 
 is a picture of a peaceful land, resting between the adventurous career 
 of Godfred, Charlemagne's foe, and Harold the founder of the Nor- 
 wegian kingdom. It is a record from the very eve of the discovery of 
 Iceland. 
 
 Again, Ethelstan is spoken of as the contemporary of Harold Fair- 
 hair, whose son Hakon he fostered ; but, by Ari's chronology, the 
 Northern king would be 76 when Ethelstan began to reign, and would 
 have only reigned three or four years more, decrepit and failing. 
 
 Almost immediately after Hafursfirth battle, say 877, a settler goes to 
 Iceland; but his son fights at Brunanburh in 937, as a young man 
 beginning his career. This is in the highest degree improbable. 
 
 According to Ari again, King Eric Blood-axe was five years king and 
 then went to the West in 935, but the English Chronicles give his 
 coming many years later, 951; and it is certain that 935 cannot be 
 right, there was no place for him in the West at that time. 
 
 How can all this be set right? One must suppose that the dates of 
 the first Settlement and of Harold's accession have been antedated by 
 Ari about thirty years; that Iceland began to be colonised and Harold 
 to reign about 900. Harold probably survived till at least 940. If this 
 be accepted, all will fall in with what we know from Irish and English 
 Annals. Eric's wife Gundhild, Harold Bluetooth's sister (as we have 
 seen), becomes his contemporary, instead of being too late for him. 
 
 Ari has made Harold Fairhair's reign too long, and also lengthened 
 the years of Hakon the Good ; in fact the whole century from 870 to 970 
 has been stretched, as it were, out of seventy years. 
 
 Tocometothe equally conclusive evidence of the Landnama-bok. When 
 the Editor was writing Tima-tal (an Essay on Early Icelandic Chrono- 
 logy) in 1854-55, purely from the parallelism of dozens and dozens of 
 pedigrees recorded by Ari, he arrived at the conclusion that the bulk 
 of the Settlers came, not from Norway direct, but from the Western 
 Islands, and that they did not begin to come to Iceland till about 892 
 at earliest : and this coincides with all that is to be gleaned from foreign 
 sources. As the Editor at that time placed implicit faith in any direct
 
 490 ON CHRONOLOGY. 
 
 statement of Ari on chronological matters, he was compelled to except 
 from the mass of Settlers a few expressly dated by his author, and place 
 them in z first period of settlement by themselves. But this position gave 
 rise to immense difficulties which he could not solve ; and a glance at the 
 accompanying table of genealogies will show how, though extraordinary 
 circumstances might account for a single instance, the consensus of 
 cases forbids such an explanation, and forces one to the conclusion 
 that Ari has antedated the Beginning of the Settlement by nearly 
 thirty years. 
 
 We have taken below a number of the most prominent Icelandic 
 families, and given the steps from the Settlers to the contemporaries 
 of S. Olaf, and side by side with them are placed the chief Norwegian 
 families with their pedigrees, from Harold Fairhair to the generation 
 of the sainted King (marking the Icelandic series by a, b, c . . ., the 
 Norwegian by A, B, C . . .). There can be no doubt about the ances- 
 tries of these genealogies of men of mark ; they are the faithful record 
 of fainily traditions, without any trace of being ' made up ' to suit a 
 chronological theory ; indeed it is through them that the need of some 
 correction of Ari's date is so clearly seen. 
 
 By way of illustration to the list below : — a. 2, first settler's grandson, 
 held office till 985 ; — b. 2 (also in second degree) was in the year 1000 
 'baptized in his old age;' — c. 3 and h. 3 died, one in 103 1, one in 1030; 
 — d. 3 fought at Swolder, a young man of twenty, in 1000; — e. 3 slain 
 in 1029 [vol. ii. p. 170]; — f. 2 baptized in 1000, then an old man; — i. 3 
 survived year 1034; — k. 2 a missionary in year 1000; his son, Iceland's 
 first bishop, consecrated in 1056, died in 1079; — 1. 3 fought at Clon- 
 tarf 1014I; — g. 4 died about 1025; whose great-grandson Bishop Ketil, 
 Ari's iriend, died in 1145 ; — n, 3 a young man in Tryggwason's reign, 
 995-1000; — o. 3 (father to 1. 3) baptized in 999, a founder of the Mis- 
 sion; — m. 3 survived into S. Olat's reign; his daughter, Ari's great- 
 grandmother, lived much beyond 1030; her nephew Wulf [vol. ii. 
 p. 232] died in 1066. — In Norway, A. i (Harold Fairhair's son) died 
 in 954 ; another son survives to c. 965 ; Tryggwason, Fairhair's great- 
 grandson, dies under forty in looi ; S. Olaf, in fourth degree, in 1030, 
 he, too, under forty ; King Harold, in same degree, in 1066, aged 51; — 
 G. 3 (well known from the English Charters and Chronicles) died an old 
 man c. 1023; — D. 3 fell at Clontarf in X014; — E. 3 (the Conqueror's 
 grandfather) died 1026 ; — F. r lived in 950 ; — F. 3 died in 1028 [ii. p. 1 37] ; 
 — G. I, Egil's friend [i. p. 271], died in 976. — All is in good concordance 
 if we accept the year 900 as the starting-point. On the other hand, 
 there are several impossibilities if we follow Ari's choice of 870, e. g. 
 in B. I Earl Sigrod survives his father by some ninety years'^. 
 
 * We give here Bodwere's pedigree back to the heroes ; as one of Ari's longest, 
 it may compare with that of Theodric, p. 487 : — ' BoJwere the White was the 
 son of Thorlaf Midlung, the son of Bodwere Snow-thrum, the son of Thorlaf 
 Whale-gull, the son of An, the son of Erne Horn, the sou of King Thori, the son 
 of Swine-Bodwere, the son of King Kaun, the son of King Solgi, the sou of Rod- 
 wulf o' Rock.' — Landn. IV. 7. 
 
 '■^ It may be noted here that there are but two sources for the older Icelandic 
 genealogy, Ari's works and the genealogies of Nial's Saga, which belong to a 
 different source of tradition. The later mediaeval genealogies of Iceland must be 
 sought in Sturlunga Saga and the Bishops' Lives. For the continental Northern 
 genealogies Ari (resting on tradition and poems) is the fountain-head, though there 
 are a few items to be gathered from other less trustworthy remains.
 
 ON CHRONOLOGY, 
 
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 ON CHRONOLOGY. 493 
 
 1. English Kings. K. Flemish Earls. 
 
 Edward the Elder, Baldwin, 
 
 d. 925 brother-in-law of I, 
 
 1 d.giS 
 
 r h n I 
 
 Ethelstan, Edmund, Edred, Arnulf, 
 
 d. 940 d. 946 d. 955 d. 965 
 
 2. Edwy, Edgar, Baldwin III, 
 
 d. 959 d. 975 d. 962 
 
 r H I 
 
 '3. Edmund Martyr, Ethelred the Unready, Arnulf, 
 
 d. 979 Richard II's brother-in-law, d. 988 
 
 d. 1016 I 
 
 r 1 I. 
 
 4. Edmund Ironside, Edward Confessor, Baldwin IV, 
 
 d. 1016. d. 1066. brother-in-law of E. 4, 
 
 d. 1036. 
 
 It will be seen that one cannot differentiate the Settlers, to whom 
 Ari expressly gives a date, from the others ; they were evidently all 
 contemporaries, many of those to whom Ari does not assign any 
 definite date being among the settlers of Waste-land, and could not 
 therefore have been late-comers, for the land was very soon parcelled 
 out in great ' claims,' and the later immigrants were forced to ' take 
 land ' of those whom they found already in occupation. Broadly speak- 
 ing, one hundred years back our great-grandfathers were ado, bustling 
 and busying, at a similar age as their living great-grandsons. In modern 
 life, with its late marriages, there will be exceptions ; less so in old 
 times, especially so in the stir and perils of the Wicking Age, when 
 men aged fast, married early, died young. Now in rank 3 of our list is 
 the generation between rooo and 1030, so that we should give 900-930 
 for the Settlers and Kings and Earls (printed in thicker type) at the 
 head of each file. For, taking those men as a contemporary generation, 
 we must either imagine that they were as far in time from their grand- 
 sons as Chatham and Frederick the Great's generation is from us living 
 in 1882, or we must throw over Ari's scheme, and shorten the time he 
 allows by about thirty years, at a distance of time which is as that of 
 Washington and the younger Pitt to us. This change will fill up an 
 otherwise unexplained blank in Icelandic history, between 930 and 960 
 of Ari's chronology, and will bring the history as related by Ari into 
 exact conformity with the ascertained chronology of the ninth and tenth 
 centuries, with the statements of the English Chronicles, and with ordi- 
 nary human experience. 
 
 We may note that the Editor's conclusion as to Rollo, drawn in 
 1855 from the Pedigrees, " that all that was said of him in the foreign 
 annals before 912 is nothing but moonshine," has lately been inde- 
 pendently confirmed by Mr. H. Hovvorth in a conclusive Essay on Dudo 
 [Archseologia, vol. xlv] based on a study of the continental annalists '. 
 
 The amended chronology exactly fits in too with the position which, 
 judging from internal evidence, one would assign to Hornklofi's Raven- 
 
 * The following are the dates which he has established : — 
 
 921. Rollo settles with his men in the dioceses of Rouen, Seez, Lis'eux, 
 and Evreux, and makes peace with Charles. 
 
 924. He is granted Bessin and Maine. 
 
 925. He is defeated (and, according to Richer, slain) at Eu. 
 927. His son William does homage to Charles.
 
 494 ON CHRONOLOGY. 
 
 Song, to Ynglinga-tal, and the other Court-poems. A.D. 870 would have 
 been far too early for the Raven-Song, 9?© is a most probable date. 
 Again, it was impossible from external evidence to imagine that we 
 have many ninth-century poems, and the amended chronology happily 
 does not require us to strain our faith. 
 
 The following scheme gives the best approximate dates for Early 
 Iceland and Norway. It will be seen that one can depend on the re- 
 ceived chronology of Norway after 9^6, as the great famine, a known 
 date, is rightly given by Ari ; and in Iceland after 960 Ari's dates are 
 true : — 
 
 Iceland, c. 900 Discovery. Norway, c. 900-45 Harold Fairhair. 
 960 Settlement over, and c, 945-50 Eric Blood-axe. 
 
 Constitution settled. 950-67 Hakon the Good. 
 
 Saga-tide begins. 967-76 Greyfell.. 
 
 998-1000 Mission-tide. looi Fall of Tryggwason. 
 
 1030 Saga-tide ends. 1030 S. Olaf's death. 
 
 The millenniums of Iceland and Harold Fairhair are therefore yet to 
 come, and there is yet time for further progress ere the first thousand 
 years of the colony and mother country's history are completed. 
 
 Some other single errors in Ari's chronology may be noted here. The 
 Jomswicking battle is somehow post-dated about ten years, the expedi- 
 tion of Otto II to Denmark post-dated about ten or twelve years, while 
 Sweyn's conquest of England is ante-dated about five or six years. 
 This discrepancy between the taking of Christendom in Iceland and the 
 death of Olaf Tryggwason, and the Editor's view as to the right date, 
 are noticed in vol. ii, as years ago in Tima-tal. 
 
 The difficulty which Ari met in putting events into a strict system of 
 chronology is far greater than we can easily allow for now-a-days. 
 Years, when past, are so apt to run into clusters or nebulae, even those 
 of one's own life. And when one had got a clear starting-point, to 
 convert it into the year of Christian era was no small perplexity. The 
 very notion was in Ari's days unustial or all but unknown. Even two 
 generations later a contemporary of S. Thorlac and Bishop Paul, writing 
 1200-15, adopts an inexplicable system, which we have elsewhere called 
 the Ihingore system of chronology, the peculiarity of which is that Christ 
 is supposed to have been born in the year 7. It is followed in the 
 Bishops' LiveSj in Hungrvaka, Bishop Jolin, and in the Life of Swerri, 
 an evidence that our a.d. system was, even at that late date, not yet 
 established. Here there is no insecurity about the right year, for 
 the dating of the Bishops' Lives is largely helped by the fact noticed 
 by the Editor (in 1856-58, whilst editing the whole series), that every 
 Icelandic bishop whose consecration-day is known (and there are some 
 nineteen so given) was consecrated on a Sunday. We can even some- 
 times get the exact date, elsewhere lost, of a Norwegian prelate who 
 happened to be hallowed along with an Icelandic bishop. 
 
 One more chronological point must be considered from its bearing on 
 the date and condition of one poem, the date of the General Moot or 
 Althing, and the final establishment of the Icelandic constitution. 
 Here we must first hear Ari's testimony: — "And when Iceland was 
 already widely settled, an Eastern-man [Norwegian] first brought a 
 Constitution out hither from Norway — so Teit told us, — and it was 
 called the Constitution of Wolfliot. And it was for the most part set 
 according to the then Constitution of Gula and according as the counsel
 
 ■ ON CHRONOLOGY. 495 
 
 of Thorlaf the Wise, Horda Kari's son, ran, with regard to what should 
 be added thereto or taken away or changed therein." [Libellus.] Now 
 the Constitution of Gula was fixed and founded by Hakon the Good and 
 Earl Sigrod, therefore not before 950 ; and as we must allow some years 
 for knowledge of this Constitution and its benefits to reach Iceland, the 
 Constitution of Wolfliot must be postponed from 930 (Ari's date) to, 
 say, 960. 
 
 That a suit of Egil at Gula-Moot is mentioned in Egil's Saga, ch. 57, 
 cannot be a valid objection. A thirteenth-century story-teller is a 
 small authority for a lawsuit three centuries earlicK. He will of course 
 tell his story in the best way for his audience ; he does not seek out 
 legal antiquities, or care to enquire whether there was a Gula-Moot or 
 Gula-Law in King Eric or Fairhair's day. His audience knew there was 
 such a court in Norway in their day ; that was enough. No legal argu- 
 ment can be founded on such a statement ; it is as if one were to 
 seriously try and get at old Kweld- Wolf's style of clothing from the 
 thirteenth-century foreign dress of Bolle in Laxdola Saga. 
 
 The other difficulty is more important; it is that of Wolfliot's age. 
 Landnama-bok is very puzzling on this head, and cannot be taken as 
 authoritative where it contradicts the pure and certain mention of him 
 in Libellus as a Norn.vegian. The references in Landn. iii. ch. 16, iv. 17 
 are on the face of them false glosses, which have crept into the text. 
 On the other hand, the statement that Wolfliot was son of Thora 
 Horda-Kari's daughter, and therefore nephew of Thorleif the Wise, 
 King Hakon's friend and adviser, is probably true. It must always be 
 remembered that Landnama-bok in our MSS. is not Ari's text pure and 
 simple — glosses and mistakes must hajie crept in. There is no neces- 
 sity to suppose that Wolfliot ever lived in Iceland more than a year 
 or so. He vanishes after the settling of the General Moot. 
 
 It is interesting to find in Libellus and the fragment (as we take it) 
 of the lost Liber some account of the earlier striving after a Constitu- 
 tion and General Moot. Ari says, "The General Moot was set, by 
 counsel of Wolfliot and all the folk of the land, where it now is. And 
 before this the Moot was at Keelness, which Thorstan son of Ingolf 
 the Settler, the father of Thorkell Moon the Law-speaker, hallowed, he 
 himself and those chiefs who were banded with him." [Libellus, ch. 3.] 
 And again, " Thorstan, Ingolf's son, first of men, set up a Moot on 
 Keelness ere the General Moot was set up, according to the counsel of 
 Helgi Beolan and (Erlyg o' Esia-hill, and other wise men. For which 
 reason the hallowfng of the General Moot follows that priesthood [that 
 of Thorstan's family]. Thorkell Moon the Law-speaker [a. 2 of the 
 pedigrees above) was the son of Thorstan, Ingolf's son ; Thormod 
 the son of Thorkell was the Priest of the Whole Congregation when 
 Christendom came to Iceland." [From the lost Liber?]. We have 
 even notice of the oath by which the Moot at Keelness, and afterwards 
 at Axewater, was hallowed : " So said the sage Thormod, who was 
 Priest of the Whole Congregation when Christendom came to Iceland, 
 that with these words and Moot-marks his forefathers were wont to 
 hallow the General Moot all their days — ." Here the foolish copyist 
 has left out the carmen which, as the oldest instance of the Opening of 
 a Teutonic Court and the heathen prototype of our House of Commons' 
 'prayers,' would have been highly instructive'. 
 
 * Aiding! vas sett at raSi Ulfliotz ok allra landz-manna {)ar es nu es. Enn a3r 
 vas J)ing a Kialarnesi t)at es |jorsteinn Ingolfs son landnania-mannz, fa&ir J>orkels
 
 496 ON CHRONOLOGY. 
 
 Other reminiscences of the prae-Wolfliot days are preserved in the 
 gloss of Hen-Thori's Saga, ch. 14, " And the Moot was at that time under 
 Arman's fell ; " i. e. at its present site, the explanation meaning, " It was 
 after the days when the Moot was at Keelness '." The remains of the 
 booths of the old Keelness Moot could still be seen in the days of 
 the author of the fabricator of Kialnesinga, who at all events knew the 
 geography of his district '^. The old Moot seems to have been deserted 
 when the General Moot was set up, and there is a notice, we^ believe, of 
 a Spring-Moot held at Axewater. 
 
 The history of the General IMoot may thus be summed up in a few lines : 
 
 In the midst of the seething life of the sixty years of settlement, a little 
 knot of the earliest, most reputable, and noblest settlers banded together 
 for law and order, and held a League-Moot, as we might call it, at 
 Keelness ; their influence spread, till probably they were joined by most 
 of the chiefs in the South-west and South^. 
 
 At last a general feeling, fostered by their success and peace, arises 
 elsewhere as to the desirability of a General Moot and one Constitution 
 for the whole country. Wolfliot the Northman is the link by which 
 the new and good Constitution of Gula, which has become famous, is 
 brought out to Iceland with necessary modifications. Then a compro- 
 mise is effected : the League of the Moot at Keelness is enlarged into a 
 General Moot, and the locale changed to the mgre central and conve- 
 nient ]\Ioot at a specially chosen Mootstead at Axewater. The 
 link between the two was the Keelness priesthood, which now rises to 
 the more glorious dignity of the Priesthood of the Whole Congregation, 
 a noble compensation to the Keelness family for their early efforts in 
 behalf of a settled government. And it is pleasant to know that the 
 Priesthood of the General Moot, the Chaplaincy of the Icelandic Par- 
 liament as it were, remained in their hands as late as the Sturlung- 
 Time *. 
 
 Mana logsogo-mannz, haf3i J)ar, ok bofSingiar {)eir es at J)vi hurfo. — Libellus, 
 ch. 3. 
 
 {jorsteinn Ingolfs son let setja fyrstr manna {)ing a Kialarnesi a9r AlJ)ingi vas sett, 
 vi3 ra3 Helga Biolo ok CErlygs at Esjobergi, ok aniiarra vitra manna. Ok fylgir J)ar 
 enn sokom [t>ess] J)vi go3or3i AIJ)ingis helgon. J>orkell Mani L6gs6go-ma5r vas son 
 J>orsteins Ingolfs sonar. f>orm66r vas son {>orkels, es \k vas allz-herjar-go5i es 
 Kristni kom a Island.^ — From fslendinga-bok. 
 
 Enn J)a es Island vas vi3a byggt orSit, J)a haf5i maSr Austroenn fyrst log ut 
 hingat or Noregi, sa es Ulfiiotr het. — Sva sagSi Teitr oss — ok voro {ja Ulfliotz-log 
 kolloS. Enn J)au voro flest sett at J)vi sem \>a, voro GolaJ)ings-log, e9a ra3 |jorleifs 
 ens Spaka Hor9a-Kara sonar voro til, hvar vi3 sk}ldi auka e6a af nema, e6a annan 
 veg setja. — Libellus, ch. 2. 
 
 Sva sag3i vitr ma3r {jormodr, es {sa vas allzherjar go3i es Kristni kom a Island, 
 at me3 J^essom or3om ok J)ing-morkom helgo3o lang-fe3gar bans Al|)ingi alia aevi 
 (carmen unfortunately lost). — Ari (in Landn. Append.) 
 
 ^ Enn t>'i'git vas Jja undir Armannz-felli. — Gloss in Hen-Tkoris Saga, ch. 14. 
 
 ^ Enn ser sta3 bu3anna. — Kialnes. S., ch. 2. 
 
 ^ Thus Raven of Wrangwater was the first Speaker of the General Moot, and we 
 might well suppose that, like the Keehiesing Moot-priest, he was chosen to hold this 
 office bec.iuse he had already filled it in the League-Moot. 
 
 * We may here, to save further discussion, record our adherence to the views, as 
 to the Moot-stead, accepted and confirmed by Dr. Kaalund, and put forth fully in an 
 Excursus to vol. ii of Sturlunga Saga, for the following reasons: — (l) There is no 
 mention whatever in the old authorities of the Moot-stead being on the east of the 
 river. (2) There are no remains such as would mark a Moot-stead on the east of
 
 ON CHRONOLOGY. 497 
 
 Anything relating to Thorlaf the Wise, who with Hakon and Earl 
 Sigrod made the Gula-Moot and Frosta-Moot Constitutions, is of high 
 interest to us, because of his connection with the early poets, whose 
 patron he was ; for instance, Ynglinga-tal, Haustlong; and even to know 
 his date would be a step towards fixing the date of Hyndlulio^, a poem 
 which Ari never knew. In the Prolegomena we have already given a 
 brief view of the origin and growth of Northern Law in Norway and 
 Iceland; this it is not necess_ary to recapitulate here, but it is necessary 
 to sketch the true position in which Thorlaf, the creator of the 
 Gula-]Mo9t, stood to Harold Fairhair, the founder of the Northern 
 monarchy. In considering these questions, it is most needful here to 
 state once more clearly that the view of even the best and most 
 learned continental writers on these matters is biased radically by 
 their inveterate conception of Law as a Code, of Law-makers as 
 Parliamentary Orators and Bureaucrats, — Statesmen of modern days, 
 everlastingly proposing, emending, and digesting statutes. Law in old 
 times is Custom, the Legisjator is the man who makes or mends the 
 necessary machinery for getting this Custom-Law observed. What 
 the chiefs of Iceland wanted froni Wolfliot was not a Code, — they knew 
 the law of weregild, of inheritance, and the like ; what they did 
 lack was means for haying it enforced, and for putting an end to the 
 conflict of customs which inevitably arises when men of different 
 districts are brought face to face. Wolfliot brings them over the 
 plan of the machinery which Thorlaf had devised and set up ; not a 
 Code, but a Constitution. Englishmen and Americans can understand 
 this easily enough ; but, as they are liable to be misled in such matters 
 
 the river. (3) There is no 'berg' (rock or hill) there, as there was at the true spot. 
 (4) There is no tradition, older than a hundred years, as to the Moot-stead being east 
 of the river ; for that the present ' tradition ' is false and late, not indeed a tradition at 
 all, is clear from direct statements of scholars of the seventeenth and eighteenth cen- 
 turies. (5) The site of the ' pseudo-logberg ' is well fitted for a place of defence 
 or robbers' stronghold, but for a place of public assembly a more dangerous and 
 ill-chosen spot could hardly have been found than a narrow tongue of land, sur- 
 rounded by two deep and dangerous crevasses or rifts. Wherever the Moot-stead 
 was, it was not at any spot east of the river, and certainly not where the pseudo- 
 logberg (really Byrgi's booth) was placed by some imperfectly informed antiquary 
 of the end of the last century. To call on local tradition to support such a theory 
 is as if one were to try and find out whether Alfred founded the University of Oxford 
 by questioning and collecting affidavits of the old women in Headington Workhouse. 
 
 That the Law-hill was on some part of the lower brink of the Great Rift west of the 
 river is supported (1) by its suitability for the purpose, it is a brinJi sloping down to 
 the river — a true 'J)ing-brekka;' (2) by the traditions of the seventeenth and eighteenth 
 centuries as to a Moot-stead west of the river, see Kaalund ; (3) by the site of the 
 Logretta during the Middle Ages down to 1800 west of the river; (4) by the 
 testimony of Sturlunga to its being near Lathe-booth, the site of which is well 
 known; this again is corroborated by Kristni-Saga ; (5) by the very name 
 Almanna-gia, i. e. the Rift of the Whole People. Every visitor is struck by the 
 sight of Almanna-gia. It is the crown and glory of the whole place. One sees 
 the whole people thronging together to listen to the Speaker ; and one feels as if 
 one were listening to his voice, echoed back, as in some ancient cathedral, from the 
 walls of the Rift. During an earthquake in 1789 the lower brink sunk in places 
 some eight to twelve feet, so in days of yore the place was even more impressive 
 than it is now. 
 
 We have no doubt that the place could be ascertained within a few yards, by 
 careful examination of the lower brink of the Great Rift, and it is to be hoped that 
 this will ere long be carried out. 
 
 VOL. U. K k
 
 498 ON CHRONOLOGY. 
 
 when they find eminent authorities and good scholars talking of Codes, 
 and Law-making, and Legislative machinery and the like in this con- . 
 nection, we do not deem it out of place to give them a word of 
 warning. 
 
 Another error connected with the subject is to suppose that Harold 
 Kairhair was a mere tyrant, who put down the old Folk-Moots and 
 crushed freedom out in Norway. On the contrary, he was the cham- 
 pion of the yeoman, the enemy of the wicking, the general whose victory 
 brought law and order in his train. The impression left upon one's 
 mind by reading the Book of Settlement and Fairhair's Battles is that 
 before his day Norway was a land of loosely organised folk-kingdoms, 
 an n-archy rather than even hept-archy ; save in the South, where, 
 as Ari tells us, under Haifdane the Black (perhaps even of earlier origin) 
 there was a little well-organised nucleus, strong, compact, orderly, a 
 small league we take it of folk-tribes round Heathsaevi-Moot by the 
 Wick [Frith of Christiania]. Harold Fairhair in fact starts as head 
 of the best organised state in Norway, the only compound state luhich 
 ivaj ruled by one king, and he wins folk-kingdom after folk-kingdom, 
 and governs them by his sons as other conquerors have done, but 
 ever keeping a strict eye to their good rule and peace-keeping. The 
 only time that Harold is in danger, through all his task of conquest, 
 is when he meets the war-league of kings and Western wickings, which 
 he beat at Hafrsfirth after a struggle of the most desperate kind ^ But 
 this victory was the key-stone of his power. His kingdom was never 
 again in jeopardy, and he was able by his expedition to the West 
 (Scotland and Orkney) to force great part of the Confederation that 
 had fought against him at Hafrsfirth to leave the Western island for 
 the Northern colony. Harold dies, but his kingdom survives the 
 struggle for the crown among the sons of the dead conqueror, a 
 struggle repeated so often in history, Eastern and Western ; and after 
 a brief interval Hakon comes in fresh from the teachings of Athelstan, 
 whose task of uniting all England, Danes and English, under himself 
 was the very prototype of his own policy, down to the details. The 
 Three Laws of Hakon's day are to be compared to our Three Laws. 
 Hakon, like the English kings, left each set of folks thgr own customs, 
 but insisted upon unity and good law within these limits. Neither 
 does Hakon try to make the West or North Norwegian tribes obey 
 the Southern customs, he simply confederates^them round two con- 
 venient central Moot-steads, Gula and Frosty. He has in each case 
 the assistance of local magnates, Thorlaf the Wise for the West and 
 Earl Sigrod for the North ; who have the wisdom to see how far 
 better it is to have folk-confederation with free law and good order 
 under a head king, than to continue on in isolated tribal kingdoms 
 each under its own dynasty in the midst of everlasting war. The 
 Upland kings alone seem to have had the sense to make some sort 
 of league, and accordingly they manage to preserve their independence 
 long after the rest of Norway w^as under one head king. 
 
 1 he testimony ot Ari is as follows"^: — 
 
 "King Haifdane [Fairhair's father] was a great sage, and a man of 
 verity and even-dealing, and he set laws and kept them himself and 
 
 ^ The Waking of Angantheow must be subsequent to this fight, if the allusion ia 
 1. 93 points, as we believe it must, to Fairhair. 
 
 - We htre give only the translation ; for the texts we refer the reader to Prole- 
 gomena, § 35, notes.
 
 ON CHRONOLOGY. 499 
 
 forced all men to keep them ; and that violence should not beat down 
 law, he himself made a Cause-List [Table of Crimes] and arranged 
 weregilds for every man according to his birth and rank." — The very 
 ideal of the early statesman rulmg his confederate state wisely and 
 well, and simplifying the variety of local customs. — And, "King Hakon 
 [Athelstan's foster-son] was very wise, and gave much thought to 
 making a Constitution (laga-setning). He made the Gula-Moot Con- 
 stitution [in West Norway], according to the counsel of Thorlaf the 
 Wise, and he made the Constitution of Frosta-Moot [in North Norway], 
 according to the counsel of Earl Sigrod and other of the wisest men 
 among the Thronds. But the Heath-scB'vi Constitution [in South Nor- 
 way] Halfdane the Black had made, as was written above." And again 
 of Hakon, " He made the Constitution of Gula-Moot and of Frosta-Moot, 
 but Heath-saevi's Constitution [here is something dropped out ; we read, 
 ivas made by Hal/dane the Black] first of all, but before that every folk 
 had its oivn Constitution ^." 
 
 Later on, the rest of the kingdom is finally brought into big Moot- 
 districts by S. Olave, who "set up the Constitution which is called 
 Sefs-Law, which has stood ever since over Upland and the east half 
 of the Wick;" substituting the district-Moot under a head-king for 
 a confederacy of kings. 
 
 The little confederacy in the South, ruled by the just Halfdane (for 
 let us dismiss all thought of him or his son's having been a tyrant or 
 a bad king), has thus formed a model for the organisation of all Norway 
 and also for Iceland ; for the All-Moot (Aiding) and Constitution there 
 is copied, as we have seen, from the Moot and Constitution of Gula. 
 
 This organisation greatly furthered the legal acceptance of Chris- 
 tianity in Norway and in Iceland; for it must not be forgotten that 
 Christianity was carried in Norway, no less than in Iceland, not by 
 violence'^, but by Act of Parliament at the three Great Moots, by the 
 free vote of each Moot in its turn, won over by the eloquence and 
 wisdom and (last not least) by the spell the heroic missionary king 
 threw over all that saw or heard him. And we shall get the best idea 
 of the scenes ot missionary work at the Moots of Gula and Frosta, 
 Moster and Heath-ssevi, where, Olaf Tryggwason was, like Oswiu, the 
 
 ' Years ago (Diet. p. 736, s.v. |>ing C, and p. 776 a) the Editor showed that 
 ' Laga-setning ' (Law-setting) in Ari's parlance and in its proper sense means Con- 
 stitution-making, nol Code-making, and in Prolegomena he again repeats the proofs. 
 But apparently in vain, for in an Essay just to hand, an otherwise well-informed 
 Scandinavian scholar is found talking of 'Gula-Code,' and supposing that this ' Code,' 
 of which he quotes a paragraph, dates from ' the middle of the tenth century.' Law, 
 like Religion, is too often supposed to lie not in Life, but in Books. It is all 
 important that the terms which stand at the base of a great subject should be 
 rightly and clearly understood : one such word misapprehended will bring down the 
 whole structure it underlies. In modern histories, for instance, Fairhair is spoken of 
 as if he had uprooted a model Commonwealth, and driven its members to carry off 
 their precious organisation to a new asylum in bleak cold Iceland, whose Althing is 
 supposed to be a reconstruction of the pre-Haraldic political life of Norway. As in 
 most errors of this kind there is a grain of truth in the hypothesis — the Icelandic 
 constitution contains elements of pre-Harfldic life, swept away as it seems in Nor- 
 way — but that does not prevent the hypothesis itself being false, and indeed, as we 
 have tried to show, the very reverse of the real state of the matter. 
 
 ^ The stories of Tryggwason's clubbing idols and torturing pagans are but idle 
 gossip ; see above, vol. ii, p. 83 sqq. 
 
 Kk 2
 
 500 ON CHRONOLOGY. 
 
 preacher of the word to his people, from the true and faithful record in 
 Kristni Saga of what took place at the Icelandic General Moot, which 
 was in fact a repetition of the same phenomena, only that in Iceland the 
 king preached through the mouth of his delegate, though the charm of 
 his person was even there at work. Moreover our records are fuller 
 and purer with regard to Iceland than they are with regard to the 
 Christening of Norway. In Law and in Religion Iceland is still a part 
 of Norway, her General Moot is the last of the series of General Moots 
 which began with Heath-ssevi, her vote of acceptance of Christendom 
 the last of the list of votes which had begun with the vote of Heath- 
 saevi-Moot at the proposal of Olaf Tryggwason himself.
 
 EXCURSUS III. 
 
 ON THE TRACES OF OLD HEROIC POEMS TO BE 
 FOUND IN THE ICELANDIC FAMILY TALES (IS- 
 LENDINGA SOGUR). 
 
 It is a strange thing that one rich branch of Northern literature 
 (the Islendinga Sagas^) has never been examined with a view to discover 
 the echoes of old long-lost Teutonic ballads which are undoubtedly to 
 be found there. The fact is that sufficient attention has not been 
 paid to the comparative physiology and psychology of the Saga, The 
 criticism of the last century, which took as literal truth all that was 
 not absolutely miraculous in old literature, had survived far too long 
 among scholars with respect to these epic tales, which from their very 
 style and phrases are as clearly the creations of imagination as the 
 Song of Roland or the ballad of Edom o' Gordon. They treat indeed 
 of real personages, real events, real utterances, but the whole is seen in 
 that golden ' light that never was on sea or land,' in fact, to coin a 
 needful word, epicised. There was no Chinese wall between the Icelandic 
 Sagas and the outer Teutonic world, the men that composed them had 
 their heads full of older cycles of story and song, and is it not probable 
 that they would weave much of their old stock of stories or incident 
 here, a personage there, into the prose epics they were making ? 
 
 I. Gretti and Beoiuolf, 
 
 The first instance which we may give of the survival of old Teutonic 
 legend in the Islendinga Sagas is the notable one of the Grettis Saga. 
 Here the most famous episode in the whole tale is undeniably an echo of a 
 Beowolf poem or poems. A good farmer is living in a wild part of the 
 country, which is haunted by an evil ghost named Glam, whose power 
 waxes as the sun wanes, and is greatest at Yule-tide. Year after year the 
 franklin's shepherd is killed, he can keep no servants, his cattle are maimed, 
 his house is wrecked, benches torn up, panelling broken, roof-rafters 
 crushed in, the whole place a scene of desolation. When things are at 
 their worst and the poor farmer at his wits' end, Gretti the Strong, who 
 has shown his prowess in many a fight, resolves to go to his help, against 
 the counsel of his friends, who tell him that he is over-bold, that it is 
 no common fiend he will have to overcome. Gretti however sets out, 
 is welcomed, but the farmer has become hopeless, and though he thanks 
 his guest, has not much faith in his success. The first night the ghost 
 is pretty quiet, but the second evening he kills Gretti's horse, and on 
 the third he boldly enters the hall, where the hero is lying on a bench 
 
 * The Islendinga Sagas are those which relate to Icelanders of the Heroic Age. 
 See Prolegomena, §§8 and 9.
 
 502 ON ICELANDIC TRACES OF 
 
 wrapped in a rug. Gripping the rug the fiend tugs against Gretti till 
 the coverlet is i-iven in twain between them, and he stumbles back with 
 the bit in his hands. The hero springs upon him, and a dreadful 
 struggle ensues. Up and down the hall they wrestle, every post and 
 pillar crashing and cracking as they dash against it, while the fearful 
 franklin is trembling in his cupboard-bed. At last Glam manages to get 
 Gretti to the porch, but at this supreme moment, for the fiend's power 
 would be resistless in the open air of the night, Gretti by a trick 
 contrives to bring down the fiend beneath him. They fail outside, and 
 as the hero grips his sword to cut off his head, Glam curses him with 
 haunting and ill-luck to the end of his days, warning him that he will 
 bring about his death. Gretti, at first horror-struck at his evil look 
 and words, recovers, and cutting off his head lays it at the corpse's 
 thigh ^ The farmer, over-joyed at his release, thanks Gretti, begifts 
 him with a horse, and praying him first in vain to abide longer with 
 him, dismisses him with high honour. Here the haunting, the broken 
 hall, the wrestling, the farmer's attitude, his gifts are all identical in 
 poem and tale ; the riven coverlet is paralleled by the torn limb of 
 the fiend ; only the curse is a fresh feature, and this may be a trait 
 of the original legend which our poem has not preserved. It is almost 
 needed as a thread to bind the whole life of Beowolf together^. 
 
 But we have also the struggle with Grendel's mother in the mere-cave 
 in a subsequent chapter of the Saga. An ogress haunts at Yule-tide 
 a farm in the same way as Glam had done; the hero awaits her in 
 the hall, struggles with her at night, she drags him out of the house 
 to the edge of the cliff by the waterfall, where her abiding-place is, 
 but at last he manages to get his right arm free and cut off her right 
 arm ; she looses her hold and falls headlong into the force out of 
 sight. Here is a certain repetition of the Grendel story. Shortly after 
 Gretti resolves to search the waterfall ; he goes out with a companion 
 (who watches for his return, but deserts him just as the Danes do 
 Beowolf when the blood and gore comes up in the mere). Having 
 dived below the force, he gets into a cave, where he finds a giant, 
 whom he slays with a thrust of the famous short sword (hefti-sax, 
 Beowolfs hefti-mseci). He then plunders the cave, finding the bones 
 of two men, which he brings back with him, and gets back to the 
 farm. Here are the incidents of the Grendel's dam struggle with little 
 alteration,— the wound through the bowels, the weapon that inflicted 
 it, and the cave in the mere. The Saga also gives the very reason 
 why it localises the story in Bardsdale, viz. that there was a pillar 
 near the fall there, which was held to be a giantess turned into 
 stone by the sunlight falling on her ere she could regain her home 
 in the force. 
 
 The story in Gretti we take to be an echo, not of the present diluted 
 epic, but of the lays from which the epic was later made up. There 
 must have been such lays — one or two on Grendel and his dam, and one 
 on the Dragon fight, each, say, some 250 lines. 
 
 * This is the proper way to prevent the ghost from rising again. 
 
 * The childlessness of Beowolf, his devotion to others, and his Weird, all seem to 
 require some such explanation ; the noteworthy speechlessness of Grendel would also 
 point to his speaking once to terrible effect. We may be allowed to repeat here what 
 we once said (Reader, p. 705) : — ' There is a deep tragic scene undei lying the story — 
 Gretti rid the land of the monster, but like many great men, he does so at the cost 
 of his own happiness. His reward is, that he is a doomed man and an outlaw for 
 the rest of his life.'
 
 OLD HEROIC POEMS. 503 
 
 The third part of the Beowolf legend, his Dragon fight, is not in 
 the Saga, but the especial stress laid upon Gretti's prowess as a 
 strong s^.vhnmer cannot, one would think, be wholly influenced by 
 Beowolf's special glory for his feats of long swimming in the cold 
 stormy sea\ 
 
 The historical Gretti, the great outlaw, is given accurately in the 
 brief lines of Landnama-bok, and especially in the purely native parts 
 of the Gretti's Saga, his escape from hanging, his fellowship with the 
 other outlaws, and his death. That the revenge-part of the end of 
 the Saga is borrowed from a mediasval romance has long been known, 
 
 2. Waterdales'' Saga and the Lay of ^Ifivine^s Touth. 
 
 We have noticed (Introd. § 7) that the story of the good faith of 
 Thuriswend and the daring of jElfwine is imperfect in the paraphrase 
 of Paul the Deacon, and that the central epic link of the ^Ifwine 
 ballads is the revenge of the queen, the kinswoman of the man ^Ifwine 
 has slain. We can however supply what is missing from the legend 
 given in the beginning of Vatzdola Saga. It runs thus : — 
 
 A mountain-path between Sweden and Norway suddenly becomes a 
 pass of death. Travellers who start upon it never reach their goal, and 
 no one knows how they disappear. Ketill the Ream, the chief who lives 
 on the Norwegian side, is blamed for not freeing the road of danger, 
 but he is old, and his son 1 horstan is a lazy fellow, who lies at the 
 fire and pays no heed to anything that is going on. " Young men were 
 very different when I was young," the old father breaks out one day. 
 " They used to go warring in their youth, earning riches and glory. 
 You are old enough to be following your noble kinsmen's footsteps, 
 and this is fVarriors' Laiu'^, which I would have you to remember, that 
 a young man cannot hold land or fee till he has proved his worth." 
 The boy gets up angrily — "You have egged me enough!"— and goes 
 forth secretly to the pass of death, resolved to meet the hidden peril. 
 He finds in the wood a great desert house, well garnished with meat 
 and drink ; he hides till the owner comes in, a huge man, who seeks 
 for the intruder, whom he feels certain is lurking about, but missing 
 him falls asleep. Thorstan now gets up, and drawing a short sword 
 drives it through the sleeping outlaw into the bedstead. The big man 
 wakes with the deadly thrust, seizes the lad, and asks him his name, 
 which Thorstan tells him truly. He then says, " I might slay you, but 
 I give you your life, and I wish you to do as I tell you alter my 
 death. I am lokle, son of Ingimund Earl of Gautland. Go to his hall 
 and tell my mother Wigdis what has happened, and give her this ring as 
 a token, and greet her from me, and bid her set the Earl at peace with 
 you, and give you my sister Thordis in marriage. And if you two have 
 a son, call him after me, that my name perish not utterly." Thorstan 
 promised him to obey his will. Then at his bidding Thorstan plucked 
 the sword out of his breast and he fell back dead. Thorstan sets off 
 at once to Ingimund's hall, gets an interview with Wigdis, and showing 
 
 ' In the English Poem of Eger and Grime in the Percy MS. there is an echo of 
 the Beowolf story in the hand of Graysteel, the monster knight of the moor; and 
 that 'noble brand Egeking' mentioned there, which King Fundus got from ' full far 
 beyondnhe Greekes sea,' may be the last traditional descendant of the hefti-sax. 
 
 '■* The technical word for the Court-Law relating to House-carles and King*' 
 Guests, the Martial Law or Custom to which jElfwine's father appeals.
 
 504 ON ICELANDIC TRACES OF 
 
 her the token tells her the whole truth. "Thou art a bold fellow 
 to come here with this tale. But since lokle gave thee thy life, thou 
 shalt have it. I will break the story and make thy peace with the 
 Earl." So all falls out as lokle wished. But there is a curse upon 
 the marriage, springing from the bloodshed that lies between them. 
 The dying man had said that tragic death (or, as Landnama puts it, 
 "death by chance medley") should not cease out of his slayer's race. 
 Here we have the missing links of the iElfwine story : ^Ifwine has 
 been lying lazily at home till his father tells him " the Custom of the 
 Lombards." (The next piece is missing in Paul's paraphrase.) He 
 then must have gone forth secretly and slain in single fight Thurismund 
 son of Thuriswend king of the Gefths. No doubt the dying hero 
 bade him go to his father, ask him for knighthood, and for his sister or 
 kinswoman in marriage. He obeys, and the story goes on as Paul gives 
 it (Introd. § 7). The old father, for love of his dead son, carries out 
 his last request and refrains from following up the blood-feud. The 
 hero weds Rosamund, and to-seeming all goes well, but the curse (which 
 in Paul's original was no doubt foretold in the dying Thurismund's 
 words) after many long years awakes and brings about the tragedy 
 of iElfwine's death. 
 
 The hatred of Rosamund, roused by the sight of the cup made 
 out of her father's skull, brings iElfwine to an evil death, " to be slain 
 like a coward in his own house." Of course the cup story is purely 
 epic ; the one Paul saw was probably one captured by jElfwine from 
 some Kaan of the Huns. ' For it was a Hunnish, not Teutonic, custom 
 to make cups from enemies' skulls, as Mr. Howorth has noticed ; the 
 classic instance (among many others) being the skull-cup which Crum 
 made out of the Emperor Nicephoros' head in 811. The real events 
 which led to ^Elfwine's death we shall never know, tradition has woven 
 a dire tragedy out of it, and linked together his knighthood and his 
 death by the epic motive of the curse of the blood-feud, which no 
 forbearance can stay, and against which, as in Attila's case, not even the 
 most sacred bond can hold'. 
 
 3 . Gumiar and Egil the Archer. 
 
 Our third instance of transferred tradition is from Niala. 
 
 A lady of Irish descent, of great beauty, with wonderful golden hair, 
 but of evil nature, "with thiefs eyes," marries in succession three 
 husbands, each of whom in turn she provokes, by her elfish wickedness, 
 to slap her in the face, and the blow in each case leads to her husband's 
 death. But the tale of the death of the third husband Gunnar is to be 
 carefully considered. He is beset by his foes in his house, but keeps 
 them at bay with his unerring arrows, till one of them creeps up and 
 cuts his bowstring. He turns round and begs his wife for a lock of her 
 hair to replace the severed string. " Does your life lie on your getting 
 a fresh bowstring ? " says she with cruel mockery. " Of a truth it 
 does." " Then die ! You mind the slap on the face you gave me, 
 I will repay you now." In vain the hero's old mother curses the 
 
 ' The Frodi-peace, which is given to Eadgar among English kings, to Rollo of the 
 Norman earls, etc., is ascribed by Paul to .Slfwine. For excellent examples of the 
 mutation of myths from person to person, see Mr. Steenstnip's NonnanneMe, with 
 regard to the stratagems of taking towns by birds carrying fire and by pieteuded 
 burial-parties.
 
 OLD HEROIC POEMS. 505 
 
 bad wife, she persists in her refusal, and Gunnar's foes, dreading his 
 arrows no more, break in upon him and slay him at his wife's feet. 
 Now this story is plainly legendary. Gunnar's real weapon was his 
 famous bill, and though the real Hallgerd was married thrice, we may 
 be quite sure that it was not because her husbands slapped her face. 
 
 In reading lately Professor Rhys' pretty little collection of Welsh 
 fairy-tales on the Melusine or Lady of the Lake theme, the Editor 
 was struck by the coincidence of the fairy water-maiden with long 
 hair and tricksy disposition. She comes out of the lake and marries a 
 Welsh gentleman, and brings him riches and luck, but she must not 
 be struck. Her wayward humour and accident bring it so about that 
 her husband strikes her with cold iron, whereon she gathers the beau- 
 tiful water-cows of her dowry and goes back to the lake for ever. Her 
 descendants, a famous family of Doctors, still survive. Here we have 
 the skeleton of a legend which has clearly attached itself to Hallgerd. 
 In the tragic death of Gunnar it would seem that we have the lost 
 legend of Egil the archer and Alrun# the daughter of Caer, the fairy 
 bride whom he won from the lake, the second part of the trilogy of 
 which we have one fragment in Weyland's Lay. On Mr. Franks' casket 
 we see the death scene, the foemen besetting the house, the hero in 
 the loft shooting, the woman spinning by his side [just as Gunnar in 
 Niala]. How Egil outwits the king by his skill (parallel to Weyland's 
 revenge on Nidad) we have in the Palnatoki (Tell) story. The story 
 of Weyland's death, brought about no doubt by his fairy-wife too, we 
 have not yet been able to trace ; nor the story of the third brother 
 Slag-Finn (whom we from the surname 'slag' take to be the harper- 
 hero), unless the tragedy of Glas-Gerion be a last echo of the tale of his 
 death, and the Magic Fiddler of Grimm's Marchen the legend of his 
 outwitting the king. There is a foreign cast (Celtic we believe) about 
 all the three stories ^ 
 
 4. Gunlaug and Waltharii Poema. 
 
 Again, in Gunlaufs Saga there is a legendary element which the 
 Editor believes may be traced back, in part at least, to a scene in the 
 Waldhere cycle. An Icelandic franklin, whose wife is with child, has 
 a dream in which he sees a fair white swan on his house ridge. An 
 eagle flies down to her and caresses her, but their love is broken upon 
 by another eagle with whom the first one fights, till the two fierce birds 
 have torn each other to death and fall lifeless together from the roof 
 to earth. The swan sits disconsolate and forlorn till a little hawk flies 
 up and wins her over to fly away with him. This dream is read as 
 a prophecy of ill to the coming child, who, according to it, proves a girl. 
 The franklin determines to expose the babe. She however is saved, 
 grows up of wondrous beauty, and one day is made known to her 
 father, who, seeing that fate is not to be fought against, takes her 
 home to him. T he rest of the dream is fulfilled : the first eagle is the 
 true lover Gunlaug, who is tricked out of his wife by the second eagle 
 Raven ; they fight for her, and after a fruitless judicial duel in Iceland 
 (an historic event) adjourn to Norway. Here the two rivals meet and 
 
 ^ The whole legend might be represented thus : — 
 The opening. The brothers' deeds. The curse works. 
 
 Capture of the Swan- Weyland outwits Nidad. Weyland betrayed by (?). 
 
 maidens by three Egil ,, a king. Egil betrayed by his wife. 
 
 brothers. Finn „ a king. Finn betrayed by his servaiH-
 
 5o6 ON ICELANDIC TRACES OF 
 
 fight again. Gunlaug wounds Raven's leg severely, but Raven wishes 
 to go on with the fight ; " If only I could get a draught of water I could 
 fight on merrily." " I will get thee thy desire, if thou wilt not betray 
 me," answers Gunlaug, and accordingly fetches his wounded foe the 
 water in his own helmet. But Raven, despairing of success, cannot 
 withstand the opportunity, and he treacherously smites his adversary 
 a deadly blow on his defenceless head. "Thou hast betrayed me!" 
 "I could not bear to think that Helga the Fair should lie in thine 
 arms." So both the eagles fall, but Helga wecis a third husband, and 
 pines to death. 
 
 The unhistorical character of Gunlaug's Saga and the small founda- 
 tion of fact which Landnama supplies have been noted(Introd.§8,vol.i); 
 but compare the last deadly duel with the final unfinished scene in the 
 tenth-century Waltharius' legend, told in the Novalician Chronicle. Here 
 Waidhere has carried oiT Hildegund from Attila's court; he is pursued 
 by twelve champions headed by Hagan his old brother-in-arms. He 
 turns upon his pursuers and di^pomfits them all save Hagan, and lies 
 down to rest, but is awakened by the lady. "Hagan is upon thee!" 
 "Him alone I fear, for he is my old comrade and knows all my feats 
 of fence." They fight, and Hagan, exhausted, spies a keg of wine at the 
 saddle-bow of Waldhere's horse \ H ere the good monk, whose auto- 
 graph we have, breaks off in the middle of his page and the rest of the 
 story is lost. But can we not supply the end ? Hagan prays for a drink, 
 Waidhere gives it to him ; Hagan, betraying the trust of his rival, smites 
 him a deadly blow, but not before Waidhere has scarred him for ever 
 by a stroke that puts out or blinds his right eye. True, the later 
 Wilkina Saga (thirteenth century), founded on Saxon Lays, makes a 
 comic incident of the loss of Hagan's eye, which Waidhere destroys by 
 a blow of the flitch. The death of Waidhere by Gaudefer (a Southern 
 Romance form of Waldfrid) is in Wilkina S iga obviously imaginary, and 
 merely put in to finish off a prominent person who must be got rid of. 
 The English fragment of a Waidhere Lay and the allusions to the 
 story in the later German mediaeval poems do not explam the story, 
 nor tell of Waldhere's death. The 'moiniage' of a Waidhere in the 
 other part of the Chronicle has in reality no connection with the 
 Waidhere Saga. 
 
 5. Laxdola and the Lays of Brunhild and Hamtheoiu, etc. 
 
 In the Laxdola Saga we have historic personages shining with a light 
 borrowed from the Sigfred story. Gudrun, wh> se pedigree and kindred 
 are given from Landnania-bok (ii. ch. 17), married Thorrod, by whom she 
 had two children ; she married again Bolli Thorlac's son, by whom she had 
 six children before he was slain by Kiartan Olaisson's brother, in revenge 
 for Kiartan, who had been murdered by Giidrun's brethren a short 
 time before. Gudrun now married a third time, had two children, and 
 one of her sons, Gelli, was born 1008, as the Editor pointed out in the 
 Tima-tal (1855). So far the facts, which will not admit of being re- 
 conciled with the Saga ; for we must allow two years at least between 
 
 ^ ' Occisis cunctis praeter Regem [Giindharium] et Haganonem . , . contra quos 
 ilico Waltharius quasi leo insurgens, arniis proteclus fortiter debel abat belianiibus 
 sibi. Qui diu multumque inuicem piignantcs, ac prae niniia las!>itudine et siii defi- 
 cientes iam non ualebant uirorum fortissinium .superare. Et ecce respicientes 
 -Biderunt a sagma Waltharii uasculum uiiii dependere.' — Ckron. Novalicieiiie, lib. ii.
 
 OLD HEROIC POEMS. 507 
 
 Gelli's birth and the death of Bolli, and six children who lived would, 
 according to ordinary statistics, give ten years for the years of the 
 second marriage. So that Kiartan could not have loved her as a single 
 woman or as a widow during Tryggvvason's reign (995-1000), and all the 
 scenes abroad must be purely epic. The real facts have no doubt 
 been epicised under the influence of some old Sigfred Lays. Kiartan 
 is the blameless Sigfred, Bolli is Gundhere, the anger of Gudrun is 
 exactly like that of Brunhild, the revenge and all the rest are parallel. 
 
 There is also a purely unhistorical scene, when Gudrun, like her name- 
 sake in Hamtheow Lay, eggs on her sons to revenge Bolli, an evident 
 echo of that old Lay. The Dream of Gudrun, as to her four husbands' 
 fate, is a parallel to the Dream of a Lay in the Lacuna (which we have 
 translated in the Appendix to vol. i, p. 392), and may even be borrowed 
 from a parallel lost Lay, which the Wolsunga Compiler has not put in. 
 The words of the Treg-rof, ' the hardest woe, the cruellest woe,' etc., 
 are even paralleled in the fine dialogue between Gudrun and her young 
 and best-loved son Bolli, where the famous phrase 
 
 ' I treated him the worst I loved the most ' 
 is far more poetic than the poetry from which it is borrowed. The 
 passages of Laxdola referred to will be found in the Reader, pp. 43 and 81. 
 
 The scene in the Northern version of Eiric the Red's Saga, in which 
 the virago Freydis snatches up a sword and dashes among the frightened 
 Eskimo, reminds one of the view taken of Gudrun in the Atla-mal, 
 11. 164-172, and of the fierce Amazon Chriemhilt of the later German 
 poem. 
 
 The Flyting scenes of Skarphedin in ISliala, chaps. 120-124, are ob- 
 viously an echo of ancient lays, in which these rough word-contests 
 were favourite topics; e.g. the scenes in Helgi and Sigrun, and the 
 iElfwine Lay, in which some of the images are the very same. 
 
 The Dream-story of Guli's Saga (as is pointed out on p. 336) is clearly 
 an echo and imitation of an old poem, perhaps the lost Lay of Cara and 
 Helgi. — Indeed the whole of the Islendinga Sagas should be carefully 
 searched for such imitations and reflexions of the old Teutonic Heroic 
 cycles. The bigger complex Sagas, which we have carefully examined, 
 nearly all, as we have shown, bear evident traces of the existence of 
 the old Teutonic traditions down to the time when the Sagas were 
 put together. 
 
 The Latin Chronicles and the French Romances will also be found, 
 when minlitely searched, to contain many an incident which is de- 
 rived from some of our old epic cycles. Thus in the first chapters 
 of Widukind of Corbels History of the Saxons there is a very full para- 
 phrase of the story of Gizur Greotingalidi, ' who set the kings at odds.' 
 Widukind's Iring replaces Gizur, and there are mmor details which, as 
 we should expect, differ (a wicked queen is brought in), but the main 
 plot is exactly the same. The story is plainly unhistorical, an epic 
 accretion which has grown round Theodric the Frank. Very likely, 
 if we knew the poems that were sung in jElfwine's hall, we should find 
 some whose incidents were afterwards transferred to him. We cannot 
 always, as is the case of Gudrun and Charlemagne, get behind the 
 scenes and see how a History becomes an Epic. 
 
 A curious instance of a phenomenon, met with once or twice in Saxo, 
 the same myth told of difl'erent heroes, is the parallelism of the Northern 
 Biarka-miil and the Old English Fin's Lay; the fragments that survive 
 of each running absolutely side by side.
 
 6o8 ON ICELANDIC TRACES OF OLD HEROIC POEMS. 
 
 There is in Deor's Woe a fragment of the Hiarrand cycle and a 
 mention of Weyland's Nidad, and Widsith's Wanderings is a conspectus 
 of the poems and heroic legends known to the author, amongst others 
 that of jElfwine. Some others of the Old English Poems also contain 
 passages which run parallel to our Lays (see Introd. vol. i, § 7). 
 
 It may be worth while, in conclusion, to clearly disclaim holding any 
 such theory as that of Finn Magnusen, that the Islendinga Sagas are 
 derived from ballads or poems. It is by no means so in our opinion. 
 What we hold is, that the Sagas are to be looked on as Epics, founded 
 on fact, not as exact Histories : that in certain cases the historic nucleus 
 has gathered round it old traditions, which have completely obscured 
 and overshadowed the scant facts upon which they are strung. Some 
 of these cases we have pointed out. It is very necessary, both from 
 a literary ^ and from an historical point of view, that the true position 
 of the Islendinga Sagas should be definitely ascertained, and as this 
 question was intimately associated with other weighty questions refer- 
 ring to the poems of these volumes, we have thought it right to deal 
 briefly with it here. 
 
 • That admirable and philosophic study of the Saga-style by Dr. R. Heinzel 
 (Beschreibung der Islandischen Saga, Wien, 1880) should convince the most 
 hardened patriot that the Sagas are not literally true. Niels Mathias Petersen, the 
 Danish historian and Rask's triend, held a similar opinion, and used to tell me that 
 the Sagas were 'Dichtung und VVahrheit,' Facts and Fancy woven together. — The 
 Editor.
 
 EXCURSUS IV. 
 
 THE CREATION-MYTH AND THE NORTHERN 
 GENEALOGIES IN HYNDLA'S LAY, ETC. 
 
 It has always been a matter of puzzlement to the Editor, after 
 reading the famous passage of the Germania in which Tacitus gives 
 what he tells us was the very soul and essence of the Teutonic religion 
 of his day, the divine origin of the pure German race, or after perusing 
 the pedigree of Ermanaric in Jordanis, and the account of the way 
 in which the Anses were linked by ancestral tie to the heroes of his 
 history — to turn to the Eddie poems and find there so little answering 
 to the old beliefs and songs of Tacitus' or even Jordanis' day, with 
 reference to those ideas which lie at the core of our ancestors' religion — 
 the origin of man, the faith that they are Heaven's chosen sons, a god- 
 born race, like Homer's warriors and kings. 
 
 Yet, if we put aside the later poetical fancies that cluster round 
 Walhall, Ygg-drasil, Doomsday, and are so attractive to the modern 
 imagination, and look deeper for the older substratum of granite 
 thought, we shall find it by no means inadequately set forth in two 
 notable poems, the Lay of Righ and Hyndla's Lay. The importance 
 of the first, which has hitherto been too lightly treated as a mere 
 playful poet's dream, we have noted; the second however, mangled 
 and misjointed as it is, must be our main authority. We have given 
 it in vol. i. in its due chronological rank, with such mending and re- 
 construction as we at first thought sufficient to show the reader some- 
 thing of its true purport ; but there is need of a more radical treat- 
 ment, if its true scope and import are to be fully brought out, and 
 this we must attempt here in connection with the very problem which 
 the Lay is to help us to solve. Thus the right placing and under- 
 standing of the lines on Heimdal is most vital and in reality the key 
 to the right intent and scheme of the whole poem. Luckily we have 
 the assistance of a (twelfth-century ?) paraphrase of the genealogical 
 part of the Lay (in Flatey-bok i. pp. 24, 25) from a fuller and better 
 text than that which Flatey-bok supplies ^. 
 
 Before turning to the Lay of Hyndla it may be well to note that in 
 the first passage from Tacitus we take Tuisconem to be the right reading ; 
 almost all the MSS. have sc or st (t and c being the commonest of 
 
 ' That it is a paraphrase is indeed (though not stated) obvious from the wording, 
 falling in places (:is in Halfdane's marriage) literally in with our poem. The story in 
 Snorri's Edda on Halfdane the Old is again manifestly merely an abridgment of our 
 paraphrase, the date of which is thus thrown back to the twelfth century, most likely 
 its earliest part, when the poem was still entire in men's memory.
 
 510 THE CREATION-MYTH 
 
 confusions), and the archetypiis no doubt read Tuisc. In Ulfila's and 
 probably in Tacitus' days our Tf-r (Ai'oy, divus, divas) would have been 
 nom. Tius, gen. Tiwis, whence the regularly formed adjective Tiwi-sc-s, 
 Tacitus' Tuisco-, which in sense and use exactly answers to the ' T^s 
 attungr ' of our poems. The word or the passage in Tacitus can never 
 have been Theutonem, or Teutonem, etc. For, though Isidore (five hun- 
 dred years after Tacitus) says that Spaniards and Gauls of 6ij day call 
 Germans Teuiones, this use, we take for granted, was not so old as 
 Tacitus ; it only arose after the small German tribes had linked 
 themselves together into leagues, Franks, Saxons, Wandils, and the 
 like, against the common danger, the Romans in front and the Sclavs 
 and Huns behind. In Tacitus' days, Thiudans would mean a king as 
 it does in Ulfila and old English poetry. Besides, the context requires, 
 not a niere eponym, but a significant word, pointing to the descent of 
 the race from a God (Heaven) and Mother Earth, ' Mammun Ertham,' 
 i.e. Terram Matrem, as we take Tacitus to have written (in accordance 
 with Holder's and Holzman's view). 
 
 Now, turning back to our Lay of Hyndia, and its prose paraphrase — 
 The paraphrast leaves out (i) the framework, or setting of the whole 
 poem, and all that refers to Othere's claims, (2) the part touching 
 Heimdal the god, and the links between him and Halfdane the Old : 
 and on the other hand he extends the pedigrees, by drawing them all 
 to Harald Fairhair, adding links which we have tried to weed out 
 and mark off by []. To him Scandinavia is the cradle of all the royal 
 heroic races of the oiKovfxivr), and he divides them into three groups : 
 {a) the home-kings, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian; (Z>).the sea-kings, 
 conquerors and colonists by sea ; (c) the conquering kings of foreign lands, 
 Saxony, Gaul, Hunland, whom he also draws from the Scandinavian 
 stock — from Heimdal and Halfdane. This is the attitude of a Western 
 man to whom the Teutoni-Celtic world is practically one. 
 
 As for the poem itself it may be analysed into — 
 
 1. Frame (Introduction and End) : ' Fla estu Freyia, etc' must be 
 transferred to the end, Freyia having evidently said something to 
 rouse the ogress' anger, as in the Doom. 
 
 2. The section on Heimdal, displaced in Fb. text: ' Vard einn 
 borinn, etc' is given twice over, ' Sitja?-an siotom gorvollom ' (the 
 gossip to all tribes) manifestly referring to Heimdal as Sire of gods 
 and men. The links between Heimdal and Halfdane are lost, but 
 from Half-dane one may guess Da?ie to have been one and perhaps 
 Righ another, three would be quite sufficient (Righ, Dane, Halfdane). 
 
 3. The last section on Halfdane and his sons, which is the central 
 part of the whole, is duly preserved in the paraphrast. 
 
 Halfdane the Old makes a sacrifice, begging the gods that a life of 
 three generations may be granted him, but gets for answer, that a life of 
 but one generation shall be vouchsafed to him, but that for three genera- 
 tions no one less than a king or earl shall spring from him, and no 
 nvoman shall till then be born in his race. — Here w^e see the poet's 
 hand. Unfortunately the Flatey-bok text leaves out these lines, re- 
 membering only the fragment on Halfdane's marriage. 
 
 This part seems to have been divided into three pieces : {a) Halfdane's 
 two nines of sons, Xh^frst nine, dying in battle, childless, mere archaic 
 names for kings, lofur, Stillir, etc. (as one sees from the pedigree in 
 Snorri's Edda) ; the second nine, founders of royal lines, ranked in three 
 groups of three, {b) Great ladies, heroines of the past, descended from 
 Halfdane — a very fragmentary morsel. There would have been always
 
 AND THE NORTHERN GENEALOGIES, ETC. 511 
 
 three generations of kings, and no ladies till, according to the oracle, the 
 queens appear in the fourth and following generations, {c) Othere's 
 own special pedigree, also very fragmentary ^ 
 
 According to this scheme the poem is to be restored, keeping con- 
 tinually in sight the better preserved morsels of the paraphrase, which 
 again and again give help in interpreting and correcting and restoring 
 or putting aright, like the potsherds of a broken vessel, the mutilated 
 lines ot the poem, which stands to the paraphrase as a B to an A text. 
 So, for instance, it may be seen that ' Mi vas adr' comes from the Day 
 section; ' ))o war Frodi tyrr enn Kari' must be inserted in the Audi 
 section ; under ' hinn ellri war ' lies ' Alrunar,' Gear's daughter (of the 
 Weyland cycle). The lines on Haki, too, we can identify in the 
 paraphrase; it is not a part of the Sibyl Songs (as we once thought), 
 and so on. 
 
 There is much missing, perhaps the greater part ; but the plan is 
 clear; and it is a happy chance that what the poem gives best the 
 paraphrast ignores or omits, and on the other hand, what the paraphrast 
 preserves the poem has lost; the paraphrast cared but for the history, 
 the poetical dress he discarded; the only really mournful loss is that 
 of the Halfdane-Heimcal links. This is a more antique poem than 
 Righ's Lay, more aristocratic in tone ; the Lay of Righ is more demo- 
 cratic (and surely the later of the two). Righ is father of earl, churl, 
 and thrall equally, and all men are in one sense, brothers, though not 
 peers ; but Hyndla's Lay only concerns itself with nobles and gentle- 
 folk, kings, earls, lords (hersar), and gentlemen (holdar, hold = hsled) ; 
 the rest of mankind are beneath and beyond its notice, turans a.nd 
 monkey-men as the proud Eastern Aryans would have called them. 
 
 Both this Lay and Righ's are the latest descendants of those old 
 carmina of which Tacitus had heard. Every Teutonic tribe, of course, 
 had its own version of the subject, endless variation of the same motive, 
 with its own Anses and heroes. No matter which version we take — 
 Erdha, Tius, Mannus (Tacitus) — Gaut, Heimdal, Righ (Jordanis) — 
 Heimdal [Dane], Halfdane (Hyndla-poet) — Heimdal, Righ, Kon (Righ 
 Lay)— Odin, Niord, Yngwi-Frey (Ynglings) — Odin, Skiold, Frid-leif 
 (Skioldungs), etc. — all are really one in character and meaning: 
 Heaven and E.irth, and the gods and the heroes sprung from them (the 
 Anses), are the 'ultima fons et origo ' of each tribe, of each pure- 
 blooded Teuton freeman. The Anses, deified heroes in the later 
 links, are the ' sanctum divorum collegium,' ' gumnar go"6om signa'bir,' 
 ' numero deorum recepti, coliegio deorum ascripti,' as the good Adam 
 repeats King Eric's phrases. When the old Northern poets speak of 
 ' Ty's attungr,' ' Freys attungr,' ' Yngvva aett-stafr,' and the like, they 
 are alluding to this well-known and deep-set heathen belief, — one so 
 human and so true, th;it Paul, far from refuting it, eagerly seized on it 
 as a link between the New Tidings and the Old Faith. And have not 
 we'I eutons also, in the authors of these two Lays, 'certain poets of our 
 own,' who, like Aratseus, witness that 'we too are His offspring?' 
 
 So also when Woden is called by our poets Al-fodr, Wal-fodr, Wera- 
 Tyr, Aldin-Gautr, and by other such titles, or where Thunder is spoken 
 of as Earth's Son, or even Sif's Goodman, the same beliefs are, we 
 take it, witnessed to. We have a last echo of them in the Old English 
 phrase ' Adam's grandmother ' for Earth. 
 
 ' We have trans['osed this piece; in the paraphrase it stands foremost, before 
 
 Halfdane and his Nine Sons.
 
 512 THE CREATION-MYTH 
 
 The Langfedga-tal or Generations^ are artificially built up out of 
 this basis of the divine origin of heroes and gods. Thus in the Tnglinga 
 generation the first names, Woden, Niord, Yngwi-Frey, were held to 
 be the Anses of the Swedish kings' race long ere Thiodwolf composed 
 his poem. He may have worked upon an Old English model, the 
 Pedigree of Ecgberht or Ethelwolf. His genealogic poem again was 
 the model in form and style for many others ; the Haleygia generation, 
 with its Saeming (son of Saomi, the Finn which would seem to speak to 
 a mixture of blood in the great Earl race), is the best kno\\Ti. There 
 was, we might guess, a Skioldunga generation on the same model ; the 
 names down to Cnut the Great are just the right number, thirty; see 
 Hauks-bok, AM. 415, and the early leaves of Flatey-bok. 
 
 The Orkney Earls have a genealogy made out for them, the early 
 names of which are those of physical and metaphysical entities — the 
 Elements (Fire, Wind), the Months (Thorri, Goi), and etymological 
 inventions such as *N6r,' an imaginary hero from which the name 
 N6regr is derived. This etymology, N6r's way, points to a date when 
 the '"&' of 'Nor'S-wegr' was lost, and perhaps the 'w' becoming vo- 
 calised, yet so that the meaning of 'way' still survived, while that of 
 'North' was gone. The long vowel in Noregr is the compensation for 
 the loss of the '"&' and 'w' — Nor'fe-wegr, N6r-wegr, N6regr. The '%' 
 was lost as early as the tenth centur)-, as the Jellinge-stone (see Reader, 
 p. 443, no. 8) shows; the 'w' probably vanished in the eleventh 
 century, so that we have pretty certain proof of the lateness of this 
 Orkney genealogy, even if the Story of the Tarbet did not fix its 
 fabrication to the days of Magnus Barefoot. 
 
 There are two genealogies given for the Dublin Kings: one (Laxdola) 
 taking them up to the Skioldungs and connecting them with the Danish 
 kings ; the other (Ari in Libellus) linking them with the Ynglings. It 
 would almost seem as if Ari at different times in his life had had vary- 
 ing information through song or tradition, and had given both, once 
 in his Liber whence Laxdola draws, the other in his later Libellus '^. 
 
 With regard to the Upsala Kings' generation it is necessary to walk 
 circumspectly, as the road is full of pit-falls. The Ynglinga Saga makes 
 the true Ynglings to have been driven by Ingwar Wide-fathom from 
 Upsala to Norway, where alone they were to be found^, and Hervarar 
 Saga mentions also a further conquest by the Sons of Ragnar*. Here 
 we have Norwegian and Danish views. The proud Swedish kings would 
 never have accepted such traditions, or acquiesced in an inferior posi- 
 tion to their younger neighbours. But in the Fridgerd Story (an episode 
 now of St. Olaf 's Life, dramatised in Snorri's finest vein) we hit upon 
 the true old Swedish version of their pedigree, taken from some lost bit 
 of Ari, one would think. Says the Swedish king: "I am the tenth 
 Upsala king, every one of whom hath taken the realm after his kins- 
 
 ^ We use 'generations' in the sense of Matt. i. i in the Authorised Version: it 
 answers to Icelandic ' langfe6ga-tal,' to which else there is no good equivalent in 
 English. 
 
 ^ The Laxdola pedigree as it stands is plainly wrong somehow ; see II. Skioldungs. 
 
 * ' Eptir Ingialld lllrada hvarf Uppsala veldi or sett Ynglinga, J)at er Langfe&guoi 
 tnsetti lelja.' — yngl. S. ch. 45. 
 
 * ' |>eir synir Ragnars konungs 16g3u J)a undir sik Swia-weldi, en eptir dauda 
 Ragnars konungs tok Biorn sonr hans larnsiSa Swia-weldi.' — Hervarar Saga. And 
 from Biorn the present race is derived 1 The list in Hervarar Saga is wholly worth- 
 less, only Eric the Victorious and perhaps his father and grandfather are really 
 historical persons. See Thorgny's speech in the Reader, p. 1 78. 
 
 _i
 
 AND THE NORTHERN GENEALOGIES, ETC. 513 
 
 man, and hath been sole lord of the Swedish realm and many other 
 mighty lands, and hath been suzerain of all other kings in the Northern 
 Lands^" And further on, speaking of his daughter's birth, he boasts 
 that "she is of kingly birth in every branch of the race of the Up- 
 Swedes, which is the most worshipful in all the Northern lands, for this 
 race is sprung from the gods themselves^." 
 
 A king of Norway — again says the Swede — is far below the king of 
 Sweden, which he thus proceeds to prove in grand logical style. " Blue- 
 tooth slew Grayfell when he ventured to rise against him, and my uncle 
 Styr-biorn beat and overcame Blue-tooth ; yet my father King Eric 
 overcame Styr-biorn and slew him when he rebelled against him^." All 
 which is in direct contradiction to the Norwegian theories of Ynglinga-tal. 
 
 We take the ' ten kings ' to be the intervening links — Anses, heroes, 
 and men — between the Swedish king Olaf and his divine ancestor Frey ; 
 Jordanis has just as many steps from Ermanric to the God. The 
 Swedish king in poetry is called ' T^'^s ^ttungr' and ' Freys attungr,' 
 ' son of the God ' and ' son of the Lord.' What were the first steps 
 down from the gods ? Not improbably, if one might guess, the per- 
 sonifications which Theodwolf has borrowed for the early part of his 
 poem — Dom-here [the Judge], Dom-waldi [the Justiciar], Wi's-bur [the 
 Priest], — names suitable to the most legal and priestly of all Northern 
 kings, the guardians of the greatest Treasury and Temple of the whole 
 of Scandinavia*. 
 
 Men have laughed — as indeed Snorri's fine irony incites one to do — 
 at the proud vaunting of the Swede ; but we must sympathise with him 
 too ; he was of an old stock and a good stock, and, just as Mr. Carlyle says 
 that Henry of Anjou felt big with something great he knew not what — 
 American colonies, Indian empires, British commerce and constitutions, 
 so. we may say of Olaf that he too felt big with future glories — King 
 Gostaf the Liberator, Gustavus Adolphus, Charles XII, Linnaeus, etc. 
 Cnut's mighty empire has long ago passed like a dream of the morning, 
 but without Gustavus, the true avenger of Widukind, freedom and 
 science and letters would have been swept out of Germany, and the 
 labours of lesser and later statesmen could never have been begun. 
 
 We may be very sure that the lost pedigree of the Up-Swedes was no 
 
 ^ Jjvi at ek em enn tiundi konungr at Uppsolum, sva at hverr hefir eptir annan 
 tekit viirra fraenda, ok verit einvaldz konungr yfir Svia-veldi, ok miirgum oQrum 
 storum londum, ok verit allir yfir konungar annarra konunga a Nor6r-londum. — S. 
 01. S. ch. 54. 
 
 ^ Er hon konung-borin i allar kvislir of Upp-Svia aett, er tignust er a Nor9r-I6ndum, 
 J)vi at su sett er koniin frsi goSunum sialfum. — S. 01. S. ch. 54. 
 
 ^ Gunnhildar synir voro af lifi teknir J)egar er Jieir gorduz uhly9nir Dana konungi, 
 lag6i |)a Haraldr Gorms son Noreg vi6 sitt riki ok skatt-gildi, ok ^otti oss J)6 
 Haraldr konungr Gormsson vera minni fyrirser en Uppsala konungar, Jivi atStyrbiorn 
 frsendi varr kngaSi hann, ok gorSiz Haraldr bans ma9r, enn Eirikr inn Sigrsaeli fa&ir 
 minn steig Jao yfir hofu9 Styrbirni J);i er Jaeir reyndu sin a milli. — S. 01. S. ch. 71 (AV.) 
 
 * In Beowolf are pedigrees of the Scylfings of Sweden (from Scylf through (?) 
 Angantheow, Ohthere, to Eadgils) ; of the Scyldings of Denmark (from Sceaf through 
 Scyld, Beowolf, Healf-dene, Halga, to Hrodwoif [Hrolf Craci]) ; of the Weder-Geatas 
 of Gaut-land (from Swerting through Hre6el, Hygelac, to Heardred) ; of tlie Angles 
 (through Garmund or Wajrniund, Olfa, to Eomaer) ; of the Heath-Bards or Wickings 
 (Froda, Ingeld) ; of the Wolsungs (Wsels, Sigemund, Fitela) ; besides notices of the 
 Woljings, Mere-Wioings, Healmings, Folcicnldings of Friesland, and Brondings. 
 Widsith, too, gives some of the names that occur in Beowolf and Hyndla's Lay. 
 VOL. n. , L 1
 
 514 THE WORDS EDDA AND ANSE 
 
 mean one, and certainly it has been worthily vindicated by the royal 
 line of Sweden. 
 
 To this brief Excursus we subjoin the etymology oj Edda and Anses. 
 THE WORD EDDA. 
 
 The first point to settle is, how this word came into the Lay of Righ ; no solu- 
 tion, which does not account for this part of the problem, can be correct. The poet 
 makes Edda the ultimate ancestress, grandmother, first mother, from whom, by 
 Righ, the earliest race of mankind sprung. Tacitus tells us how the old poems of 
 the Germans of his day make ' Terra mater ' the mother of ' Tuiscon,' whose son is 
 ' Man.' And he gives the German name of Terra Mater — Mammun Ertham. 
 Here, between the Ertha of Tacitus and the Edda of the Lay, there is a twofold 
 identity, viz. the common notion of mother, and the resemblance of both words in 
 form and sound. In the days of the Righ Lay, the Low German form of earth 
 would still have been 'Erths,' as in Tacitus' time, while the High German (even 
 Prankish ?) would be ' Erda ; ' the Old English ' Eorthe ' weakened ; the Old Northern 
 ' Eorth ' monosyllabic. Both words Earth and Edda are, we take it, etymologically 
 identical, Edda being a poet's adaptation of the foreign bisyllabic form, by him 
 aptly designed as great-grandmother. The High German form meets all require- 
 ments. According to the regular Northern formula, ' zd ' becomes ' dd ' (thus the 
 old ' hozd-' becomes 'hodd-,' the old ' hazd-' becomes ' hadd-,' and so on). The 
 Old Northern tongue had no rd, only rtk; the nearest sound to a German or 
 foreign rd would thus in fact be the assimilated dd. 
 
 It is not hard to fancy how it came about. Let us suppose that a western man 
 has learnt a snatch of a High German song on that favourite subject- with all 
 Teutons, the Origin of Mankind and Mother Earth, from a Southern trader or com- 
 rade (there were Germans and Southlings in Orkney and Scandinavia in the tenth and 
 eleventh centuries as we know from history and Saga). In this song the word ' Erda ' 
 (or Grandmother Erda^) occurs ; he puts it into his own tongue as neatly as he can, 
 and the result is ' Edda.' Or, if he himself did not make the change, the minstrel 
 would have done so, who sung it after him, for the Lay had passed through many 
 Northern mouths before it got written down in our Codex. There are other foreign 
 words half understood, half unclanged in the poem, such as Righ, in which the 
 notion of the Celtic ' ri ' is intermingled with the Old Teutonic hero-god, Jordanis* 
 ' Rigis.' And even ' afi ' and ' amma ' are loan words ; ' ai,' too, is the vocalised High 
 German * ano ' (whence Modern German ahnen, ancestry). 
 
 From the Lay of Righ the word Edda passed into that curious List of Synonyms, 
 'okend heiti,' which is the base of the Thulor Collections and of Poetic Gradus, such 
 as Snorri's. Thus the name got applied to Snorri's book ; for it is probable, though 
 not absolutely demonstrable, that this older draught of Scaldscapar-mal was headed 
 by our Lay of Righ, being in all likelihood called forth by that very Lay. From 
 it the text in Cod. W is derived, for the List of Synonyms, at the end of the MS. of 
 Snorri's unfinished work, contains the words ' mddir heitir, ok amma, \inb]i, Edda.^ 
 Hence it follows that the author knew the Lay. 
 
 From Snorri's work, as we have elsewhere shown, the word came into general use 
 as expressing the very spirit and essence of the Court-poetry with all its intricate 
 synonyms and figures. Thence, by false and misleading application of the scholars 
 
 * An A. S. poet, as noticed above, calls Earth Adam's grandmother, in fact, his Edda.
 
 IN NORTHERN GENEALOGIES. 515 
 
 of the Icelandic revival, it got transferred to the old heroic epic Lays, the ' Eddie ' 
 poems of our first volume. — The word has had a strange history. 
 
 In Wolospa, as we should expect, there is another version of the myth of the 
 Creation. Three gods wandering like Righ on earth, breathe life into two stocks, 
 'Ask' and 'Embla,' Ash and Elm [Emla for Elnia]. In the initials of these two 
 stocks it must be more than a coincidence to find the initials of 'Adam' and 'Eve"^.' 
 The Sibyl-poet treats the subject in his own half-mystical, philosophic, semi-Christian 
 way, and has managed by the force of his genius to impress it on his hearers, so that 
 this late and wholly individual conception has swallowed up, in the minds of modern 
 readers and commentators, the old primaeval and popular version which we have en- 
 deavoured to bring to light again in these pages. 
 
 THE WORD ANSE. 
 
 Disguised in its Northern form, owing to the vocalisation of « before s [as in 
 gas, Gans, Greek X'?''-] > hence the forms ass, aesi, aesir, asu ; it is a u-stem ; its 
 Gothic form would be ansus. The Northern vocalised form has been very mis- 
 chievous, for from Ari down to a quite recent date it was the fashion to derive it 
 from Asia, the gods having immigrated to the North from the far East. In our 
 days the ns root has demolished that etymology. Throughout the Teutonic world, 
 ancient and new, it is frequent enough as a prefix to proper names, e. g. Anscar (in 
 A.S. even in Bede's time the an- is vocalised and the vowel rounded into o, Osfrid, 
 Osred, Osric, Os-thryd, Oswald, Oswini, Oswulf), but as an appellative it is, excepting 
 Jordanis' famous passage, not found outside Scandinavia. What then is the true 
 etymon of Anses? We have tried to show that it means ghost, ancestral spirit 
 of such kind as the Di manes of the Romans. This leads one to the etymology 
 from the root an, to breathe, whence an-i-m-us, dyefxas, an-d-a, as well as, we 
 should say, an-s-u-s, the word thus simply meaning spirit. Whether the German ano, 
 ahnen (ancestors), be related to it we leave undecided. 
 
 One wonders not to find a household word like this in Tacitus' Germania ; but is 
 it not there after all? In ch. 43 we read — 'Apud Nahanarvalos antiquae religionis 
 lucus ostenditur ; praesidet sacerdos muliebri ornatu ; sed deos interpretatione 
 Romana Castorem Pollucemque memorant ; ea vis n\in\m\,notne7i Aids; nulla simu- 
 lacra; nullum peregrinae superstitionis vestigium; ut fratres tamen, ut juvenes vene- 
 rantur.' Is not Tacitus here speaking of the ^«ses-worship of the Germans, and is 
 not Ansis (not Alcis) the word? Munch has indeed suggested as much. The Ger- 
 mania has come down in a single MS , a now lost archetype of the eighth or ninth 
 century, written therefore seven or eight hundred years after Tacitus, and, however 
 good this copy may have been, yet in so long a time, a slip between cup and lip is 
 not to be wondered at, 
 
 I. THE LAY OF HYNDLA. 
 
 Reconstructed from the Paraphrase (A) and the Text in Fl. (B). 
 
 Introduction. 
 
 [Freyja q. :] Bi3jom Herja-fo3ur i hugom sitja ; 
 
 T fAKI maer meyja ! vaki min vina ! hann geldr ok gefr goll verdungo : 
 
 Hyndla systir es i belli byr ! gaf hann HermoSi hialm ok brynjo. 
 
 Nil es roekkr roekkra; ri3a viS skolom enn Sigmundi sverd at J)iggja : 
 til Valhallar ok til vess heilags. gefr hann sigr sonom, enn sinnom aura, 
 
 ' The expression ' son of Adam,' derived probably from the Hebrew through the 
 Latin, is common enough in the Irish poems, as a synonym for ' human being.' 
 
 L 1 2
 
 5i6 
 
 HYNDLA'S LAY RESTORED. 
 
 maelsko mogom, en man-vit firom ; 
 byri gefr hann brognom ; enn brag 
 
 skaldom ; 
 gefr hann mansemi morgom rekki. 
 |j6r niun-ek biota; J)ess mun-ek bi6ja, 
 at hann «. vi6 ^ik einart Uiti. 
 {>6 es honom otitt vi9 lotuns briiSir. 
 Nil taktii ulf t)in-i ein af stall! ; 
 lat hann renna me6 nina minom. 
 ' Seinn es ' goltr minn Go9veg tro5a ; 
 vil-ek a mar J)inn maetan hlce3a. 
 Sennom vi& or so&loni ! sitja vi3 skolom, 
 ok um icifra aettir dcema : 
 gumna J)eirra es frii go6orn kvomo. 
 fjeir hafa veSjat Vala-malmi 
 (3ttarr inn ungi ok Angantyr. 
 Skylit es at veita, sva-at skati enn ungi, 
 fo6ur-leif6 hafi eptir fraendr sina : 
 Horg hann mer gcerSi hla5inn steinom ; 
 nu es griot J)at at gleri or3it ; 
 rau3 hann i nyjo nauta-bl66i ; 
 ae tru6i 6ttarr a Asynjor. 
 
 Nil lattu forna ni3ja tal9a, 
 ok upp bornar gettir manna : — 
 Hvat es Skiiildunga ? Hvat es Skilfinga ? 
 [Hvat es 031inga] ? Hvat es Ylfinga ? 
 Hvat es lioI6-borit? Hvat es hers-borit — 
 most manna-val und Mi9gar6i? 
 
 Gaiealogies, 
 
 Hyndla : 
 Var& einn borinn i ardaga 
 ragna reinar ramm-aukinn mogr 
 nio baro Jjann nadd-gofgan mann 
 lotna meyjar vi5 iar3ar ^rom : 
 Hann Gialp um bar, hann Greip um bar, 
 hann bar Eistla ok Eirgiafa, 
 hann bar Ulfrun ok Angeyja, 
 Im6r ok Atla ok larn-saxa : 
 Sa vas aukinn larSar megni 
 sval-ktildoin sk ok Sunar dreyra. 
 {jann kve5a stilli storiiSgastan 
 s . . . sifjaSan siotom goervollom : 
 Mart segjom per ok munom fleira : 
 Voromk at viti svd : viltu enn lengra ? 
 
 [Here are lost the IMs between Heini- 
 dal and HaJfdane, upon which the poet 
 proceeds to Halfdane and his nine sons.^ 
 
 Halfdan fyrri haestr Skioldunga ; 
 
 fraeg voro folk-vig J)au es frama ^ goer5o, 
 
 hvarfla \>6tii hans verk me5 himin- 
 
 skautom. 
 Efl3isk hann vi3 Eymund iofur Aust- 
 
 manna^ 
 enn drap Sigtrygg svolom eggjom 
 eiga gekk Alvigo ^ cezta kvinna, 
 olo J)au ok atto dttian sono : 
 
 4 
 
 Alia senn borna arfa, nio': 
 l^engill, Gramr, Gylfi, Raesir, 
 Hilmir, lofurr, Tiggi, Harri, Skyli 
 Engi J)eirra . . . btirn . 
 fello allir senn i orrosto. 
 
 Enn atto J)au a3ra sono, 
 heto, Hildir ok Au3i, Hnefill ok Skelfir, 
 Budli ok Dagr, Bragi ok Lof3i ^ 
 {)a3an ero Skioldungar, {)a3an ero SiK- 
 
 LINGAR 
 
 J)a3an ero Odlingar pa3an ero Ylfin- 
 
 GAR, 
 
 [J)a3an ero Bragningar J)a3an ero Bud- 
 
 lungar] 
 [J)a3an ero Hildingar ^adan ero Hnif- 
 
 lungar] 
 [J)a3an ero Doglingar ...,?] 
 [f)a3an ero Lofdungar ....?] 
 J)a3an h613-borit, ^adan hers-borit 
 mest manna val und Mid-gar3i. 
 Mart segjom per oh munom fleira : 
 Voromk at viti svd : viltu enn lengra f 
 
 I. The Daylings : 
 Dagr atti Jjoro Drengja-m63or : 
 olosk i aett {)ar ceztir kappar : 
 Ali, Amr, losur'', Mar, 
 Arngrinir^ . . . Alfr inn Gamji, 
 Fra3mar, Gyr8r ok Frekar badir. 
 
 Ali vas a3r oflgastr manna 
 
 Enn Arngrimi oro bomir 
 arfar tolf ok Eyfuro : 
 Hervar3r, Hiorvar3r, Hrani, Angantyr, 
 Bui ok Branii, Barri ok Reifnir, 
 Tindr ok Tyrfingr, Tveir Haddingjar. 
 Broe3r Berserkja i Bolmi austr 
 
 ' frama] emend. ; framir, Cd. ^ iofur Austmanna] emend. ; see A, ' or HolmgarSi.' 
 Alvig, A. * Lost line. ' See A. * See A, ^ Iofur, Cd. * i Bolmi,
 
 HYNDLA'S LAY RESTORED. 
 
 517 
 
 um lond ok um log sem logi foro. 
 Allt espat cBttJJn, Ottarr Heimski. 
 
 II. The Bragnings. [Blank.] 
 
 III. TheSkilfings. [Blank.] 
 
 IV. The Hildings. [Blank.] 
 
 V. The Sihlmgs. [Blank.] 
 
 VI. TheLofdungs. [Blank.] 
 VH. The Elhelings, Othlings : 
 
 . . . Fr69i fo9ur Kiars . . . 
 fo3ur Olninar, es vas Agli gefin (?). 
 
 VIII. The Budhmgs. [Blank.] 
 
 IX. TheHnifliings: 
 
 Gunnarr ok Hogni Giiika arfar, 
 ok it sama GuQrun systir ^eirra, 
 Jjeygi vas Guthormr Giuka aettar, 
 {)6 vas hann broSir beggja J)eirra. 
 
 Ladies : 
 [losurr Mar, Alfr inn Gamli . . .] ^ 
 
 Haraldr Hilditann, borinn Hroereki 
 Sloengvan-bauga, sonr vas hann Au5ar, 
 Au5r Diup-au5ga Ivars dottir, 
 Enn Ra6bar9r vas Randvess faSir. 
 Gunnar Balkr, Gri'mr Ar3skafi, 
 larnskioldr f)6rir, Ulfr Ginandi. 
 f)eir voro gumar go9oni signaSir . . 
 Voro J)eir i hir3 Hrolfs ins Gamla 
 ' allir bornir ' fra lormunreki, 
 Sigro&ar magi — hly5 ^u sogo minni — 
 fnjkom grimms Jiess es Fafni va. 
 Sa vas visir fra Volsungom '•', 
 enn Hiordis fra ' Hraudungum,' 
 enn Eylimi fra ' OSlingom.' 
 
 Var Hildigunn ' hennar ' m69ir 
 Svavo barn ok Sxkonungs^ 
 
 Othere's Genealogy: 
 Haki vas Hro6mars son Hrodgeirs burar, 
 enn Hrodgeirr var Haka borinn *. 
 
 {jii ert, Ottarr, borinn Innsteini ; 
 enn Innsteinn var Alf enom Gamla ; 
 Alfr vas Ulfi ; Ulfr Ssefara ; 
 
 enn Saefari Svan 'nom Rau9a. 
 M(j9or atti fa9ir ^inn menjom gofga, 
 hygg-ek at hon h^ti Hledis gy9ja; 
 Fr69i vas fa9ir ' ^eirrar,' enn ' Friaut ' 
 
 m69ir ; 
 611 Jjotti sett su me9 yfir-monnom. 
 
 Ketill vas vinr J)eirra, Klypps arf-J)egi ; 
 vas hann m69or-fa9ir m69or J)innar. 
 
 Naiina vas naest f)ar Noekkva dottir, 
 vas mcegr hennar magr Jjins fo9or. 
 Fyrnd es sia maeg9. Frani se ek lengra : 
 kunna ek ba9a Brodd ok Horfi — 
 Allt es pat (Bit pin, Ottarr Heimski. 
 
 Isolfr ok Asolfr 01m69s synir, 
 ok Skurhildar Skekkils dottor. 
 Skaltu til telja skatna margra — 
 Allt es pat cEtt pin, 6ttarr Heimslti. 
 
 End of the Poem. 
 H. Fla ertu, Freyja, es ^vl freistar 
 min, — 
 visar-J)u augom a oss {janog, — 
 es JDii hefir ver ^inn i val-svini, 
 Ottarr inn unga Innsteins bur. 
 
 Fr. Duli9 ertu, Hyndla, draums aetlig 
 J)er — 
 es-J)u kve9r ver minn i val-svini, 
 {)ar-es goltr gloar Gollin-bursti, 
 Hildi-svini, es mer hagir goer9o 
 dvergar tveir Dainn ok Nabbi. 
 
 H. Hleypr J)U, 09s vina, liti a nottom, 
 sem me9 hofrom Hei9run fari : 
 Rannt at 09i ey {jreyandi, 
 skutosk {)er fleiri und fyrir-skyrto. 
 
 Fr. Bar J)ii minnis-61 minom gelti, 
 sva-at hann till muni or9 at tina 
 J)essar rce9o a ^ri9ja morni, 
 J)a-es Jieir Angantyr aettir rekja. 
 
 H. Ber-j^u Ottari bior at hendi 
 eitri blandinn miok illo heilli. 
 
 Fr. Or9-heill ^in skal cengo ra9a, 
 fiottii, bru9r liituns, bolvi heitir : 
 Hann skal drekka dyrar veigar ; 
 bi9-ek Ottari oil go9 duga ! 
 
 * A corrupt line repeated by mistake from the Daylings I. ^ Volsungi, Cd. 
 
 •"* Hildigund is the daughter apparently of Swava and Hedin, Helgi's brothtr; see 
 p. 527. * See A.
 
 5i8 VOLOSPA IN SKAMMA. 
 
 VOLOSPA IN SKAMMA ; or, The Short Sibyl's Prophecy. 
 
 A Scene of Necromancy, Woden mid a Sibyl. 
 
 To this poem may possibly belong many of the fragments embedded in the Lay of 
 Volo?pa in the MSS, Such as those numbered II and i. 23, Bk. ii, § I, on Dwarves, 
 Fates, and Walkyries. These bits are Western, as is proved by the word ' Dutinn,' 
 Welsh ' Dwryn,' II and I has a double text and is very corrupt. 
 
 Sibyl : 6I Ulf Loki vi8 AngrboSo, 
 
 Snu3o braut he9an, sofa lystir mik enn Sleipni gat vi5 SvaSil-fora : 
 
 fser-J)u fatt af mer fri&ra kosta. Eitt ^otti skars allra feiknast 
 
 [Wodenl : t'*' ^^^ br63or fra Byleistz komit. 
 
 Ek sis elldi of IviSjo Loki ' af hiarta lindi brendo ' 
 
 sva at l)u . , . a braut heSan. ' fann hann half-svidinn hugstein koma : ' 
 
 var9 Loptr kvi6ogr at kono illri, 
 
 Sibyl : 
 Muno ' ellifo ^sir tal&ir 
 
 J)a6an es a foldo flagS hvert komit. 
 
 Baldr es hnigr vi& bana btifo : tt r ■ 1 u ' ' \. \ \ ' 
 
 °. . , , r Haf se-ek brenna enn nauor loga, 
 
 bess Isezk Vali ' veror at hefna, , . ..... , , 
 
 *, , ., , , . iL verOa flestir fior-Jausn pola. 
 
 sins um brooor slser hann handbana. 
 
 Haf gengr hri9om vi5 himin sialfan, 
 
 Ero Volor allar fra ViSolfi, jjg^ ]^„^ ^g^ . ^^^ j^p^ ^iiar, 
 
 Vitkar allir fra VilmeiSi, j,^g^„ j.^^^ ^^--^^^ ^k j^^,;, ^j^d^,^ 
 
 Seia-berendr fra Svarthof3a, j, - ^^ ^.5 ^j^ ^^^-^ ^^-^^^ 2_ 
 lotnar allir fra Ymi komnir. ^^ j.^^^ ^„„^^^ ^^^ mattkari ; 
 
 Hei8r ok Hross-l)i6fr Hrimnis kindar. t^ ^origa-ek J)ann at nefna : 
 
 Fair sia mi framm um lengra 
 Freyr atti Ger3i, hon vas Gymis dottir, an GSinn mun Ulfi mceta, 
 lotna aettar ok AurboSo. ...... 
 
 THE PARAPHRASE OF HYNDLA'S LAY (Fl., vol. i. pp. 24-26). 
 
 Jjeirra son var Halfdan Gamli : ok J)a er hann tok konungdom goerSi hann blot 
 mikit at mi6jom vetri, ok blotaQi til Jaess, at hann skildi mega lifa {jriii hundru6 vetra 
 [three generations] i konungdomi sinom, sem sagt var at lifa6 hef3i Snaerr hinn Gamli. 
 Enn frettin sag9i hanom sva, at hann mundi lifa ekki meirr en einn mannz-aldr; 
 enn {)at myndi vera J)riu hundru9 vetra [three generations?] at eingi myndi vera 
 utiginn ma3r i hans aett, ok engi kona. Hann var herma9r mikill ok herja&i viSa 
 um Austrveg, {)ar drap hann fiann konung er Sigtryggr het i ein-vigi : hann gekk at 
 eiga Alveigo' dottor Eymundar konungs or HolmgarSi : — 
 
 a. J>au atto nio sono : — het einn |>engiil, er kalla3r var Manna-pengill, Raesir, 
 Gramr, Gylfi, Hilmir, lofurr, Tiggi, Skyli, ok Harri — J)essir nio er sagt at allir vaeri 
 iafn-gamlir ', ok ur5o sva agsetir, at i ollom frce6om ero J)eirra nofn hof6 fyrir 
 tignar-nofn ok konunga nofn. Sva er sagt, at eingi J^eirra aetti born, ok fello allir 
 senn 1 orrosto. 
 
 /3. Enn atto \>a.u a3ra nio sono: heto \>e'n Hildir, Hnefill^, Au3i, Skelfir, 
 Dagr, Bragi, Bu3li, LofSi, Sigarr. — Hildir, Sigarr ok Lof6i voro allir her- 
 konungar : Au6i, BuSli ok Hnefill voro scE-konungar : Dagr, Skelfir, ok Bragi sdto 
 at londom [i. e. remain in Scandinavia, the other six being ex-Scandinavian]. 
 
 ' Emend. ; Voro . . . hneig — lezt — sl6, Cd. ^ i raSi at regn um ftrioti, Cd. 
 
 ^ Alfnyju, Cd. ; cf. Almveig Ed. * nio sono, alia senn borna, Edda. * Naefill, Cd.
 
 PARAPHRASE OF HYNDLA'S LAY. 519 
 
 Home Kings: — 
 
 I. Dagr atti Jjoro Drengja-moSor, ok atto J)au nio sono. — H^t einn Ali, 
 Annarr Amr, {jriSi lofurr, fiorSi Arngrimr. [^Rest lost here.'] 
 a, Ali var faSir Dags, f66or Oleifs, fo3ur Hrings, fo5ur Oleifs, fo5ur Helga, 
 [fo3ur Sigur5ar Hiartar, foSur Ragnhildar, m65ur Haralldz ins Harfagra] 
 6 and c lost. ....... 
 
 d. Arngrimr atti Eyfuro. |jeirra son var Angantyr Berserkr. 
 
 ^7 /> ^j ^> (^t'i i lost. ...... 
 
 Sii sett [Haralldz] var k61Iu3 Doglinigar. 
 n. Bragi Gamli var konungr a Valldresi : Hann var fa6ir Agnars, ftiSur Alfs, 
 foSur Eireks [foSur Hildar, m65ur Halfdanar ins Milda, fo3ur Go3rce6ar, 
 foSur Halfdanar Svarta, fcdur Haralldz ins Harfagra] ; 
 |)ess! aett [Haraldz] heita Bragningar. 
 
 III. Skelfis ^ var konungr a Viks : Hans sonr var Skioldr, fa5ir Eireks, fo6ur 
 
 Alreks, fodur Eireks ens Malspaka, fo6ur Alreks ins Froskna, f66ur Vikars, 
 foSur Vatnars, fo3ur J)eirra Hialldz ok Sniallz ^ [links here lost], £ok 
 Eireks, fo3ur Gy5o, er atti Haraldr inn Harfagri]. 
 |»at heitir Skilfinga a:TT e5r Skioldunga ^tt. 
 
 Conqueror Kings : — 
 
 IV. Hildir var enn fior3i sonr Halfdanar gamla ^ : Hann var faSir Hildibrandz, 
 
 f65ur Ho3brandz*, fo5ur Hilldiss ok Herbrandz [fd6ur Haralldz ens 
 GranrauSa* f65ur Aso innar Sturra5o, m63ur Halfdanar Svarta, fd6ur 
 Haralldz ins Harfagra], 
 
 (|>at heitir Hildinga mtt.) 
 V. SiGARR var fa3ir Siggeirs, er atti Signyjo, dottor Volsungs konungs : Sigarr 
 var ok fa3ir Sigmundar er atti Hildi, dottor Gri6tgar3z konungs af Mceri, 
 bans son het Sigarr, fa3ir Signyjar ; hann let hengja Hagbar3. 
 
 {)at heitir Siklinga s.tt. 
 VI. LoFDi var konungr mikill. |jat her-li3 er hunom fylgSi ero Lof9ar kallaSir. 
 Hann herjaSi a Hre3-Gotaland ", ok var3 fiar konungr : Hans synir voro 
 J)eir Skekkill sae-konungr ok Skyli, fa3ir EgSiss, f(>3ur HialmJ)ers, fo3ur 
 Eylima, f63ur Hidrdisar, m63ur Sigur3ar Fafnis-bana [fo3ur Aslaugar, 
 m63ur SigurSar Orms-i-auga, fo3ur Aslaugar, moSur SigurSar Hiartar, 
 f63ur Ragnhildar, ni63ur Haralldz ins Harfagra]. 
 
 fjessir [aett-menn Haralldz] ero kallaSir Lofdungar. 
 
 Sea Kings : — 
 
 Audi ok Bu3li v6ro sae-konungar ok foro ba3ir saman me3 her sinn ; J)eir 
 komo me3 li3i sino til Saxlandz ok herjoSo {)ar vi3a ; log3o undir sik 
 Valland ok Saxland, settozk J)ar at liindom. 
 VII. Audi haf3i Valland, ok var fa3ir Fr63a, fo3ur Kiars, f63ur Olrunar. 
 
 |>at ero kallaSir Odlingar. 
 VIII. BuDLi haf3i Saxland ; hann var fa3ir Attils, foSur Vifils, fo3ur [Lsjfa, fo3ui 
 Bu31a, f63ur Sorla e3r Serla, ok Atla [ok Brynhildar, mu3ur Aslaugar]. 
 Ok er su aett [Haraldz ins Harfagra] ktillud Budlungar. 
 IX. Hnefill konungr var fadir Heimars, fodur Eynefs, fo3ur [Ra]kn, fo3ur 
 
 * Edda Sk. has Yngvi for Skilfir, and calls the family Ynglingar, and Ylfingas a 
 little below. ^ Imaldz, Cd. ^ Halfdanar gamla] Dags, Cd. * H63- 
 
 brandz] Vigbrandz, Cd. * GranrauSa] Grenska, Cd. ^ Rei3gota-]., Cd.
 
 520 PARAPHRASE OF HYNDLA'S LAY. 
 
 Giiika, fo8ur J)eirra Gunnars ok Hi5gna, Gu5runar, GuSnyjar ok GuU- 
 randar. 
 
 Ok er pat kollud Huiflunga 8ett. 
 
 Queens or Ladies : — 
 
 Nu ero taldar konor \)XT er fyrst komo i sett Halfdanar Gamla. — Enn J)a er 
 in fyrsta kona kom i settina, var li6it J)riu hundru3 vettra [three genera- 
 tions ?] fra blotino er Halfdan bl6ta5i til aldrs ser ok rikiss : — 
 
 Alfr konungr inn Gamli ' re3 fyrir Alfheimom. Hann var faSir Alfgeirs, fiiSur 
 Gandalfs, fo3ur Alfhildar. Alf hildr var m69ir Ragnars Lo3br6kar, foSur 
 Sigur&ar orms-i-auga, fo5ur Aslaugar, m63ur Sigur5ar Hiartar [foSur 
 Ragnhildar, m66ur Haralldz Harfagra]. 
 
 Haraldr inn Gamli, son Valdars bins niilda Hroars sonar, atti Hervoro 
 Hei6reks dottur konungs, J)eirra son var Halfdan Snialli, fa9ir Ivars Vi6- 
 fa3ma, fo9ur Audar innar Diupaudgo ; hana atti Hroerekr Slcengvan- 
 baugi ; Jjeirra son var Haraldr Hilditann. SiSarr atti Au3i Ra&bar3r 
 konungr : {jeirras on var Randver, fa3ir SigurSar Hriiigs, fodur Ragnars 
 Lo3br6kar [fo3ur SignrSar, fiiSur Aslaugar, m63ur SigurSar, fo3ur Ragn- 
 hildar, muSur Haralldz ins Harfagra, er fyrstr var einvalldz konungr yfir 
 Noregi]. 
 
 [Finnalfr inn Gamli fekk Svanhildar er kol!u3 var GollfioSr ; hon 
 var dottir Dags Dellings sonar ok Solar, dottor Mondilfora.] 
 
 Othere's Pedigree :— 
 
 Sonr Jjeirra var Svanr inn Rau3i, fa3ir Saefara, fo3ur Ulfs, fo3ur Alfs, fo3ur 
 
 Jjeirra Innsteins ok Utsteins - . . . . 
 Ho3r atti |)ar riki er kallat er Ha5aland ; hans son var Ho3broddr, fa9ir 
 Hrolfs, fo3ur Hromundar berserks, fo3ur J)eirra Hamundar ^, Haka, ok 
 Gunnla3ar, ni63ur {jeirra Utsteins ok Innsteins *. 
 
 Hamundr var Hor6a-iarl ; hann var fa3ir Hroks ins Svarta ok Hroks ins 
 Hvita. 
 Haki var fa3ir Hro3geirs, f63ur Hro3mars, fb3ur Haka Berserks. — Gunnlod var 
 dottir Hroks ins Svarta, enn m63ir Hromundar Grips sunar^ 
 
 [Haddingr son Rauma atti Haddingja-dal ok {>ela-m6rk ; hans son var 
 Haddingr, fa9ir Haddings, fodur Hogna ins Rau3a. Eptir hann toko 
 riki Haddingjar J>rir, ok var hverr Jieirra eptir annan. Helgi Hadd- 
 ingja-ska3i ^ var me3 einum J)eirra. Hringr son Rauma atti Hringa- 
 riki ok Valldres, hann fekk dottor Vifils Saekonungs. f>eirra son var 
 Halfdan Gamli, etc. ut supra '.] 
 
 * Is he Dag's son? ^ Ingimundar ok Eysteins, Cd. ^ Hamundar] Hag- 
 
 bardz, Cd. * This should be Ingimund and Eystan probably. * Guiinlo3, Grip's 
 wife, seems here coufused somehow with the Gunnl63 above, who oucht to be here 
 the daughter of Hromund Bearsark. ^ -ska9i] -skati, Cd. ^ The latter part 
 
 of this Paraphrase should be compared with Appendix A i, the Helgi Prose pieces.
 
 THE GENERATIONS OF THE KINGS. 
 
 521 
 
 LANGFEDGA-TAL, or Generations. 
 
 Of the Fnglings and Skioldungs preserved in three MSS. — 
 
 1. The Hawk's-book, Arna-Magn. 415 (containing, beside Annals, Lists of the 
 Firths in Iceland, Sturl. ii. p. 474, and the Fylki or Shires of Norway, Lists of 
 Bishops, etc.) This is the best text : here also we have the pedigrees super- 
 scribed ' langfedga-tal,' a word we know from Ari's Preface, as one of his autho- 
 rities, so it must needs be old. Cod. 415 contains the Skioldung and Yngling 
 generations. 
 
 2. The Flatey-book, in its first two leaves [vol. i. pp. 26, 27], along with the 
 Lay of Hyndla and the Paraphrase thereof given in Appendix below. It is super- 
 scribed ' aettar-tolor,' and contains a double text of the Skioldungs (whereof we 
 give the best), one text of the Ynglings, and one of the Orkney Earls. 
 
 3. Cod. Resenianus, destroyed in the fire of 1728, but used by Torfaeus in Series 
 Regum Danise, 1 702, contained Skioldungs and Ynglings, in a text similar to 
 AM. 415. 
 
 All the texts of the Yngling Generations are drawn from Theodwolf's poem 
 I. 243. The confused state of the Skioldung pedigree is perhaps a proof that it 
 never passed through any genealogical poet's hand. 
 
 Next comes the Haleygia-tal, preserved in Torfaeus, Hist. Norw., and in AM. 
 2 2, chart., drawn, as it seems, either from a lost leaf in Fagrskiuna, Cd. B = 
 Noregskononga-tal, or from the lost Cod. Resen. Compared with Flatey-book i. 
 25, where the last six links have been preserved. Many of the earlier names are 
 evidently pure inventions of Eywind. 
 
 Lastly, we subjoin the Orhiey Earls' Pedigree and that of the Dublin Kings, 
 
 L THE YNGLINGS (from Flatey-book, vol. i. p. 26). 
 Burri hefir konungr heiti& er re6 fyrir Tyrklandi ; hans son var Burs, er var faSir — 
 
 15 
 
 ddi?is Asa konungs, f63ur 
 
 Freys, fciSur 
 
 Niardar, fi53ar 
 
 Freys, f66ur 
 
 Fiolnis, fo3ur ' 
 
 Svegdis, fo3ur 
 
 Vanlanda, fo6ur 
 
 Visburs, fo9ur 
 
 D6malda, fo3ur 
 
 Domars, fo3ur 
 
 Dyggva, er ver kollom Tryggva, 
 
 foSur 
 Dags, foSur 
 
 Agtia Skialfar-bonda, fiidur 
 Alreks, fo3ur 
 Yngva, fo3ur 
 Iorm7in-Fr6()a'^, er ver kollom 
 
 lorund, fiJ3ur 
 
 Ana ens Gamla, er ver kollom Aun, 
 er nio vetr drakk horn fyrir elli 
 sakir a3r hanh do; Ann var fa3ir 
 
 Egils Tunna-dolgs, fo3ur 
 
 Ottars Vandils-krako, fodur 
 20. Adils at Uppsolom, fodur 
 
 Eysteins, fo3ur 
 
 Yngvars hins Hara, fo3ur ^ 
 
 Braui-Ommdar, f63ur 
 
 Ingialldz ens Illra3a, fo3ur 
 25. Aldfs Tretelgjo, fodur 
 
 Halfdanar Hvitbeins, f63ur 
 
 Eysteins, fo3ur 
 
 Halfdanar ens Milda ok Matarilla, 
 fiidur 
 
 GobroDar Vei3i-konungs, fo3ur 
 30. Halfdanar Svarta, fciSur * 
 
 Haraldz ens Harfagra, 
 
 ^ From here cf. Yt. ^ Only found here. ^ Lines now missing in Yt. may 
 
 have given his surname as also that of Oiuitid and the two Halfdans. * Anlaf 
 
 Geirstada-alf is here omitted before Halfdane.
 
 522 
 
 THE GENERATIONS 
 
 Another Text from AM. 415. 
 
 Langfe3ga-tal fra Yngva til varra konunga. 
 
 . . . Voden Jjann koUvm ver 05en. Fra hanom ero komnar flestar konunga 
 gttir i NorSr-afluna heimsins. Hann var Tyrkja konungr ; hann fly3i fyvir Rom- 
 verjum nor9r hegat : — 
 
 Agni Skialfar-boandi 
 Alrekr 
 Yngvi 
 lorundr 
 15. Avnn hinn gamie 
 Egill Tunna-dolgr 
 Ottarr Vendil-kraca 
 Adils at Uppsolum 
 Eysteinn 
 20. Yngvarr 
 
 Oaen 
 
 NiiirSr i Noa-tunum 
 Yngvi-Freyr 
 Fiolnir 
 5. Vallaudi 
 Visburr 
 Domalldr 
 Domarr 
 Dvggvi 
 10. Dagr 
 
 Braut-Onundr 
 Ingialdr Illradi 
 Olafr Tretelgja 
 Haldan Hvitbeinn 
 25. Eysteinn 
 
 Halfdan Milldi 
 Go&roe5r Gavfoglati 
 Halfdan Svarti 
 Haralldr Harfagri 
 
 Odinn 
 
 Skioldr h. s. [ = his son] 
 FriSleifr h. s. 
 Fri6fro5e h. s. 
 5. Fridleifr h. s. 
 
 Havarr Handrami h. s. 
 Fro6e h. s. 
 Vermundr Vitri h. s. 
 Olafr Htilati h. s} 
 10. Danr Mikillati [h. s.] 
 Fro3e FriSsami h. s. 
 Fri61eifr 
 
 Fro5e Froekni h. s. 
 Ingialldr Starka5ar-fos'ri h. s 
 Halfdan broSir bans ^ 
 Helgi ok Hroarr bans synir 
 Rolfr Kraki Helga son 
 
 15 
 
 II. THE SKIOLDUNGS (from AM. 415). 
 
 Hrcerekr Hnarggvan-baugi Ingiallz s. 
 
 Fro6e bans son^ 
 20. Halfdan h. s. 
 
 Hroerekr Slavngvan-baugi h. s. 
 
 Haralldr Hillditavnn h. s. ok Randver 
 brodir bans * 
 
 SigurSr Hringr Randvers s., Raftbarz 
 sonar br66ur Haraldar Hildi-tannar ; 
 J)eirra m69ir var Au9r Diuphvg3a, 
 dottir Ivars Vi9fa9ma, sonar Halfdanar 
 snialla, sonar Valldars Milda, Hroars 
 sonar, Halfdanar sonar [brodur Ingi- 
 alldz StarkaSar fostra] ' 
 
 Ragnarr Lo5brok sun Sigurdar Hrings 
 25. Sigur3r Or r-i-auga h. s. 
 
 HorSa-Kniitr h. s. 
 
 III. HALEYGJA-TAL (derived from Eywind's poem I. 251). 
 
 I. Kings : — 
 
 
 
 
 9. Godgestr 
 
 I. 03inn [and 
 
 Ska3i 
 
 giantess] 
 
 
 10. Heimgestr Huldar-broSir 
 
 2, Ssemingr * 
 
 
 
 
 II. Gylaugr 
 
 3. Go3-hialti 
 
 
 
 
 12. Go61augr^ 
 
 4. Sver3-hialti 
 
 
 
 
 13. Mundill Gamli 
 
 5. HSabroddr 
 
 
 
 
 
 6. Himinleygr 
 
 
 
 n. 
 
 Earls : — 
 
 7. Ve3r-hallr 
 
 
 
 
 14. Hersir 
 
 8. Havarr Handrami 
 
 
 
 15. Brandr iarl 
 
 ^ Olof, hon var moSir Fro5a ins friaiama, Fl. (badly). ^ Fl. drops this and 
 
 tbe following two (badly). ^ Om. Fl. * ok . . . bans] add Fl. » jn the 
 
 margin in later hand. * HIgtal. ^ Hlgtal,
 
 OF THE KINGS OF THE NORTH. 523 
 
 16. Bryniolfr 22. Haraldr' 
 
 !;■ Bar&r 23. Herlaugr 
 
 18. Hergils 24. Gri6tgar6r 
 
 19. Havarr 25. Hakon [Urna iarl] 
 
 20. Haraldr Trygill 26. Sigroe6r Hla6a-iarl 
 
 21. Jjrondr 27. Hakon Hla3a-iarL 
 
 IV. THE ORKNEY EARLS. 
 
 (From Flatey-book i, 21 and Orkn. S. ch, 3, Rolls Edit.) 
 
 FoRNiOTR (father of the winds) 
 
 I- 
 
 Hler. Logi. Kari 
 
 lokuU 
 Snser Gamli 
 {>orri 
 
 -r H 
 
 Nor Goi Gor 
 
 (father of land kings), (daughter), (father of sea kings) 
 
 I ' 1 
 
 I Sea King Empire | 
 
 Haiti Beiti *. 
 
 Sveidi, sea king 
 
 Halfdan Gamli 
 
 Ivarr Upland Earl ^ 
 
 Eystein Glumra 
 
 Rognvald the Old 
 
 TuRF-ElNAR. 
 
 (See vol. ii. p. 183.) 
 
 V. THE KINGS OF DUBLIN (tacked to the Ynglings or Skioldungs). 
 
 a. p. 
 
 Ynglings (Libellus) Skioldungs (Laxdola) 
 
 Halfdan Hvitbeinn Fro6i Froekni (whom the Swartings 
 
 Godro6r* slew) 
 
 Anlafr Ingiald Starka9ar-fostri 
 
 Helgi Anlaf White. 
 
 Ingiald, daughter's son of Sigurd 
 
 Snake i' th' eye 
 Anlafr Hviti (Anlaf White, king of 
 
 Dublin). 
 
 • Given henceforward in Fl. " Amor makes Rognwald a ' scion of Endill,' 
 
 and calls Thorfin ' Haiti's kinsman.' ^ The historic pedigree begins here. 
 
 * Not Charlemaiu's foe, but a brother to Eystan.
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 A. In Prose. 
 
 1. The Prose Pieces from Cod. R. — In former editions they are printed with the 
 Songs themselves, but we have weeded them out, and set them together here, 
 marking their place in every instance. 
 
 2. The Wolsunga Paraphrase of the Lacuna Lays, translated in vol. i. p. 391 
 sqq. As it contains several poetical words and phrases we here give the text. 
 
 ■2 b. The same text from the Interpolated Sigfred Saga in Edda, Cod. r and I e /3 ; 
 the latter MS. begins in the middle of the bathing scene. The author has known 
 and used the Western Wolsung Lay [i. 155], and, of the Lacuna-Lays, that on the 
 Bathing in the River, which is here more powerful than in the Wolsunga paraphrase ; 
 maybe, this poem was by the same hand as the Wolsung Lay [Helgi-poet]. The 
 Lays of ihe Tapestry-poet our paraphrast has despatched in a few lines ; perhaps he 
 knew them not, only the subject thereof. 
 
 3. From the same source we subjoin the Story of Hamtheow, drawn, as one sees, 
 from Hamtheow's Lay and Bragi's Shield Song, the Saga man using both poems in 
 a better state than we now have them. 
 
 4. The final portion of Edda's Scaldscapar-mal, from Halfdane the Old towards 
 the end. This was apparently once a detached independent Essay, the first draught 
 of our present Edda, older than Snorri, whether Icelandic or not it is hard to say. 
 It is a parallel piece to the Thulor. The author knew the Lay of Righ, and more 
 bits of songs one would think. His vocabulary is interesting ; mostly poetical or 
 satirical. He winds up with puns. Citations of verses from the poems are not 
 wanting. The text is taken from AM. 748 (except the beginning from I e /3), 
 but mended in a few instances from the other vellums, r and i e /3. 
 
 4 b. The same in a briefer text from Cod. Worm, from the leaf which followed the 
 Lay of Righ [see Introd. § 6, p. xliv]. At first the text runs much like 748, 
 though somewhat briefer, but soon takes a more independent turn, containing many 
 new words, mostly however slangy. 
 
 This Essay being headed by and drawn from the Lay of Righ, we take it, got the 
 name of the ' Edda-book,' and from it the name ' Edda ' was transferred to Snorri's 
 later and bigger work. 
 
 5. A curious glossary, in AM. 748, following after the Thulor, and only found 
 here. The words in Cod. are written above the line, mostly only the initial letter, so 
 that the sense is not always clear. Many of the words are met with nowhere else. 
 
 I. THE PROSE PIECES FROIM R. 
 
 (See Introduction, § 10, p. Ixxii.) 
 
 L BEFORE THE LACUNA. 
 
 To Grimnis-mal. (Bk. ii, § I.) 
 
 Synir Hravdungs konungs. Hravdungr konungr atti tva sono, het annarr 
 Agnarr, en annarr Geirrav3r. Agnarr var tio vetra, enn Geirravdr atta vetra. 
 {)eir rero tveir a bati me3 dorgar sinar at sma-fiski. Vindr rak J)a i haf ut.
 
 PROSE PIECES FROM R. 525 
 
 I natt-mA'rkri bruto {)eir vi3 land ok gengo upp, fundo cot-bonda einn. {lar voro 
 fieir um vetrinn. Kerling f6stra6i Agnar enn karl f6stra6i Geirro6 ok kendi honom 
 Tab. At vari fekk karl fieim skip. Enn er {lau kerling leiddo J)a til strandar J)a 
 maslti karl ein-maeli vi6 Geirrce9. J)eir fengo byr, ok kvomo til stgSva foSur sins. 
 GeirroeSr var framm i skipi ; hann hliop upp a land, enn hratt lit skipino ok 
 maelti : FarSu nii \>zt er smyl hafi ^ik ! Skipit rak i haf lit. Enn GeirroeSr gekk 
 upp til boejar ; honom var Jiar vel fagnat, enn faSir bans var \)k anda6r. Var \>a. 
 GeirroeSr til konungs tekinn, ok var5 ma6r agsetr. 
 
 ^ 06inn ok Frigg sato i HliJ)skialfo ok sa um heima alia. 06inn maelti : Ser J)u 
 Agnar fostra Jiinn, hvar hann elr bgrn vi5 gygi i hellinom ; enn Geirroe6r fostri 
 minn er konungr ok sitr mi at landi ? Frigg segir : Hann er mat-niSingr sa, at hann 
 kvelr gesti sina, ef honom Jjikkja of margir koma. (35inn segir at J)at er in mesta 
 lygi. Jjau ve5ja um jjetta mal. Frigg sendi eski-mey sina FuUo til Geirroe5ar. 
 Hon ba3 konung varaz at eigi fyr-ger6i honom fiol-kunnigr ma6r sa er J)ar 
 var kominn i land; ok sag6i ^at mark a, at engi hundr var sva olmr, at a hann 
 mundi hlaupa. Enn J)at var inn mesti hogomi at GeirroeQr koungr vaeri eigi mat- 
 g69r. Enn ^6 tetr hann hand-taka Jjann mann, er eigi vildo hundar a ra6a. Sa var 
 i felldi blam ok nefiidiz Grimnir, ok sag6i ekki fleira fra s^r, J)6tt hann vasri at 
 spur5r. Konungr let hann pina til sagna, ok setja milli elda tveggja, ok sat hann 
 {)ar atta naetr. Geirroe3r konungr atti J)a son tic vetra gamlan ok het Agnarr eptir 
 br66or bans. Agnarr gekk at Grimni ok gaf honom born fullt at drekka, ok sag&i 
 at fa6ir bans goerQi ilia, er hann pindi J)enna mann saklausan. Grimnir drakk af. 
 Jja var eldrinn sva kominn at felldrinn brann af Griniui. Hann kva9. — Grimnis- 
 mal. Heitr ertu, etc. 
 
 At the end. — GeirrceSr konungr sat ok baf9i sver6 um kne ser ok brug6it til mi9s. 
 Enn er hann beyr9i at 09inn var t)ar kominn, J)a st69 hann upp ok vildi taka 
 09inn fra elldinom. Sver9it slapp or hendi honum ok visso higltin ni9r. Konungr 
 drap foeti ok steyptiz afram, enn sver9it st69 i goegnom hann, ok fekk hann bana. 
 03inn hvarf Jja. Enn Agnarr var J)ar konungr lengi si9an. 
 
 To Western Aristophanes Lays. (Bk. ii, § 2.) 
 
 For Skirnis. — Freyr sonr Niar9ar haf9i einn dag setzk i HliJ)skialf ok sa um 
 heima alia. Hann sa i Igtun-beima ok sa J)ar mey fagra Jja er hon gekk fra skala 
 fg9ur sins til skemmo. Jjar af fekk hann hug-sottir miklar. Scirnir het skosveinn 
 Freyss. Ni2r9r ba9 hann kve9ja Frey mals, |)a maelti Ska9i. 
 
 After line 41. — Skirnir rei9 i lotunheima til Gymiss gar9a. |jar voro hundar 
 olmir ok bundnir fyrir ski9-gar9z hli9i J)ess er um sal Ger9ar var. Hann rei9 at J)ar 
 er fe-hir9ir sat a haugi ok kvaddi hann. 
 
 After line 164. — Jja rei9 Skirnir heim. Freyr st69 liti ok kvaddi hann ok spur9i 
 ti9enda. 
 
 Harbarz lio3. — f>6rr for or Austrvegi ok kom at sundi eino ; g9rom megom 
 sundzins var ferjo karlinn mf9 skipit. |>6rr kalla9i. Hverr er sa , . . 
 
 Fra Egi ok GoSom. — Egir, er <^bro nafai bet Gymir, hann baf9i buit Asom 
 g\, J)a er hann baf9i feiigit ketil inn mikla, sem mi er sagt. [_Lay of Hymi has just 
 preceded^ Til ficirrar veizlo kom 09inn ok Frigg kona bans. {)6rr kom eigi, f)vi 
 at hann var i Austr-vegi. Sif var kona {)6rs. Bragi ok I9unn kona bans. Tyr var 
 
 ^ This is a parallel or pendant to the Deacon's well-known story.
 
 526 APPENDIX. 
 
 {jar, hann var ein-hendr. Fenriss-ulfr sleit bond af hiSnom ^a er hann var bundinn, 
 fiar var NiorSr ok kona bans SkaSi. Freyr ok Freyja. Vi6arr bet son Odins. 
 Loki var fiar. Ok ^ionosto-inenn Freyss Beyggvir ok Beyla. Mart var {)ar Asa 
 ok Alfa. Egir atti tva {jionusto-menn, Fima-fengr ok Ellder. f>zT var lysi-guU haft 
 fyrir elldz lios. Sialft barsc J)ar gil. par var gri5a-sta6r mikill. Menn lofo9o miok 
 bverso goSir J)i6nusto-menn Egiss voro. Loki matti eigi heyra Jjat, ok drap hann 
 Fima-feng. f>a scoco iEsir skioldo sina ok oep5o at Loka, ok elto hann braut til 
 skogar, enn |)eir foro at drekka. Loki hvarf aptr ok hitti liti Elldi. Loki kvaddi 
 hann. — Loka-senna. Seg6u {)at Elldir, etc. 
 
 After line 2o. — Si6an gekk Loki inn i hgllina. Enn er J)eir sa er fyrir varo, 
 hverr inn var kominn, JiggnoSo J)eir allir. 
 
 After line 40. — |>a st69 Vi6arr upp ok scgncti Loka ; enn a6r hann drycci kvaddi 
 hann asona. 
 
 After line 211. — {>a gekk Sif framm, ok byrlaSi Loka i hrim-calci migb ok 
 mselti . . . Loki tok vi6 homi ok drakk af. 
 
 After line 228 — J)a kom |j6rr at ok kvaS. 
 
 At the end. — Enn eptir J)etta fa!z Loki i Franangrs forsi i lax liki. |>ar toko 
 JEs'iT hann. Hann var bundinn me6 {jgrmom sonar s'ns Nara [read Vala], enn 
 Narfi sonr bans var9 at vargi. SkaSi tuk eitr-orm ok festi upp yfir annlit Loka ; 
 draup J)ar or eitr. Sigyn kona Loka sat ^ar ok belt munn-laug undir eitri6. Enn 
 er munn-Iaugin var full, bar bon lit eitriQ. Enn nieSan draup eitri6 a Loka. f>a 
 kiptiz bann sva hart vid at {^adan af skalf iorS oil. pat ero nu kallaSir land- 
 skialptar. 
 
 Wayland Lay. (Bk. iii, § 2.) 
 
 Fra Volvuidi. — Ni5u8r het konungr 1 Svi3i65, bann atti tva sono ok eina 
 dottor, bon het Bavdvilldr. Broe3r varo J)rir synir Finna konungs, bet einn Slag- 
 Fi9r, annarr Egill, J)ri6i Vglundr. ptir skri5o ok velddo dyr. |>eir kvomo i Ulfdali 
 ok ger5o ser Jiar hiis. Jsar er vatn er beitir Ulf-siar. Snemma of morgin fundo J)eir 
 a vaz-strondo konor J)riar ok spunno lin, J)ar voro hia ^eim alptar-bamir J)eirra. 
 |>at voro Valkyrjor. par voro tvaer doettr Lav5vess konungs, Hla6guSr Svanhvit, 
 ok Hervor Alvitr, en ^riSja var Avlriin Kiars dottir af Vallandi. fjeir hgf^o \>xt 
 heim til skala me9 ser. Fekk Egill Avlrunar enn Slag-Fi6r Svanhvitrar, enn Vg- 
 lundr Alvitrar. pan bioggo siau vettr. |3a flugo ^xr at vitja viga ok kvomo eigi 
 aptr. |ja skrei5 Egill at leita Avlrunar, enn SIag-Fi3r leitaSi Svanhvitrar, enn 
 Volundr sat i Ulfdglom. Hann var hagastr ma6r, sva at menn viti i fomom sggom. 
 Ni9i.6r konungr l^t bar.n hondom taka. Sva sem her er um kve6it. — Fra Volundi 
 ok NiSadi. Meyiar flngo, etc. 
 
 After line 64. — NiSuSr konungr gaf dottor sinni Bgdvilldi gull-ring {)ann er hann 
 tok af bastino at Volundar ; enn bann sialfr bar sver^it, er Vglundr atti. Enn 
 drottning kvaS. 
 
 After line 69. — Sva var gort at skornar varo sinar i kness fotom, ok settr i holm 
 einn er J)ar var fyrir landi er bet Saevar-sta3r. {>ar smi3a5i bann konungi allz kyns 
 gorsimar. Engi ma6r J)or3i at fara til bans nema konungr einn. Vglundr kva3. 
 
 Helgi and Swava. (Bk. iii, §1.) 
 
 Fra Hiorvar9i oc Sigrlinn. — Hiorvar3r bet konungr. Hann atti fiorar konor. 
 Ein bet Alfhilldr, son ^eirra bet He3inn; onnor bet SgreiSr, {leirra son het Hum- 
 lungr. In J)ri5ja het Sinrio3, J)eirra son bet Hymlingr. Hiorvar3r konungr haf5i 
 J)ess heit strengt at eiga J)a kono er hann vissi vaensta, Hann spur3i at Svafnir
 
 PROSE PIECES FROM R. 527 
 
 konungr atti dottiir allra fegrsta, sii h^t Sigrlinn. ISmundr h^t iarl bans. Atli var 
 bans son, er for at bi5ja Sigrlinnar til handa konungi. Hann dval6iz vetr-Iaiigt meS 
 Svafni konungi. Franinarr bet J)ar iarl, fostri Sigrlinnar ; dottir bans het Alof. 
 larlinn re3 at nieyjar var synjat, ok for Atli heim. Atli iarls son stod einn dag vi& 
 lund nokkorn, enn fugl sat i limonom uppi yfir honom ok baf6i beyrt til, at bans 
 menn kolio3o vaenstar konor ])XT er HiorvarSr konungr atti. Fuglinn kvaka6i, enn 
 Atli lyddi bvat bann sag6i. Hann kva3. Sattu Sigrlinn, etc. 
 
 After line i6. — J>etta var adr Atli foeri. Enn er bann kom heim ok konungr 
 spurSi bann ti6inda, kva9 hann. 
 
 After line 21. — Konungr ba6 at J)eir skyldo fara annat sinn. For bann sialfr. 
 Enn er J)eir komo upp a fiall, ok sa a Svava-land landz bruna ok io-reyki stora, 
 Rei& konungr af fiallino frani i landit, ok tok natt-bol vi9 a eina. Atli belt vjrS ok 
 for yfir ana. Hann fann eitt bus. Fugl mikill sat a busino ok gaetti ok var 
 sofnaSr. Atli skaut spioti fuglinn til bana ; enn i busino fann bann Sigrlinn konungs 
 dottor ok Alofo iarls dottor ok bafSi J)ajr baSar braut meS ser. Franmarr iarl baf6i 
 bamaz i arnar liki ok varit J)a:r fyrir bernom me9 fiolkyngi. HroSmarr bet 
 konungr bi9ill Sigrlinnar. Hann drap Svava konung, ok haf3i rsent ok brent landit. 
 Hiorvar5r konungr fekk Sigrlinnar, enn Atli Alofar. HiorvarSr ok Sigrlinn atto son 
 baeSi mikinn ok vaenan. bann var Ji^gull ; ekki nafn festiz vi5 bann. Hann sat a 
 haugi. Hann sa ri9a Valkyrjor nio, ok var ein gofogligozt. Hon kva6. 
 
 After lijie 2,T' — Eylimi bet konungr; dottir bans var Svava; bon var Valkyrja 
 ok rei6 lopt ok Igg; hon gaf Helga nafn J)etta, ok blif6i bonom opt siSan iorrostom. 
 Helgi kva6 . . . 
 
 After line 45. — Hiorvar5r svarar, at hann mundi fa Ii5 Helga, ef hann vill hefna 
 m69ur-fg&ur sins. J)a sotti Helgi sver9it, er Svava visa9i bonom til. |)a for hann 
 ok Atli ok feldo Hro9mar ok unno morg J)rek-virki. Hann drap Hata iotun, er 
 hann sat a bergi noccoro. Helgi ok Atli lago skipom i HatafirSi. Atli ht'lt vor6 
 inn fyrra lut naetrinnar. HrimgerSr Hata dottir kva5. [jFollows Lay of Atli and Rime- 
 gerd.] Helgi konungr var all-mikill herma6r; bann kom til Eylima knnungs, ok 
 ba5 Svavo dottor bans. J)au Helgi ok Svava veittoz varar ok unnoz fur3o mikit. 
 Svava var beima me9 fe6r sinom, enn Helgi 1 herna9i. Var Svava Valkyrja tnn 
 sem fyrr. He9inn var beima me9 foSor sinom Hiorvar9i konungi i Noregi. He6inn 
 for einn sanian heim or skogi lola aptan, ok fann troll-kono. Sii rei5 vargi ok haf5i 
 orma at taumom ok bau3 fylgd sina He6ni. Nei, sag6i hann. Hon sagOi : J)ess 
 skaltu giallda at Bragar-fulli. Um kveldit oro beit-strengingar ; var fram leiddr 
 sonar-g^ltr. L^gbo menn J)ar a bendr sinar, ok strengSo menn fia bait at Bragar- 
 fulli. He9inn strengSi heit til Svavo Eylima dottor, unnosto Helga br69or sins, ok 
 i9ra6iz sva miok, at bann gekk a braut villi-stigo suSr a Ignd, ok fann Helga br66or 
 sinn. Helgi kva3 : Komjju beill HeSinn . . . 
 
 After line 66. — |>at kva6 Helgi, {)viat bann gruna5i um feig9 sina, ok J)at, at 
 fylgjor bans hof9o vitjaQ He9ins, \>k er hann sa konona ri6a varginom. Alfr bet 
 konungr son Hro6mars, er Helgi baf9i V2ll hasla3an a Sigars-velli a J)riggja natta 
 fresti. {)ar var orrosta niikil ok fi^kk ^ar Helgi bana-sar. 
 
 At the end. — Helgi ok Svava er sagt at vaeri endr-borin. 
 
 Helgi and Cara (see Translation, Introd. § 11). (Bk. iii, § i.) 
 
 Fra Vavlsungom. — Sigmundr konungr Vavlsungs son atti Borghilldi af Bra- 
 lundi ; J)au heto son sinn Helga, ok eptir Helga HiorvarSs syni. Helga fostraQi 
 Hagall. Hundingr bet rikr konungr. Vi& hann er Hundland kent. Hann var her-
 
 528 APPENDIX. 
 
 maSr mikill, ok atti marga sono J)a er i hernaSi voro. Ofri5r ok dylgjor voro a 
 milli {)eirra Handings konungs ok Sigmundar konungs ; drapo hvarir annarra fraendr. 
 Sigmundr konungr ok hans aett-menn heto Volsungar ok Ylfingar. Helgi for ok 
 niosnafli til hir6ar Hundings konungs a laun. Hemingr son Hundings konungs var 
 heima. Enn er Helgi for i brot, pk hitti hann hiar3ar-svein ok kva8. Seg3u 
 Hemingi . . . Hundingr konungr. Hamall het son Hagals. Hundingr konungr sendi 
 menu til Hagals at leita Helga. Enn Helgi matti eigi for9az annan veg enn tok 
 klae9i ambattar ok gekk at mala. Jjeir leito9o, ok fundo eigi Helga. J)a kva6 
 Blindr inn Bol-visi. Hvoss ero . . . mgndul tre. Hagall svara6i ok kva6. Jjat er .1. 
 va . . . man. Undan komz Helgi ok for a her-skip. Hann felldi Hunding konung, 
 ok var si3an kalla6r Helgi Hundings-bani. Hann la me6 her sinn i Bruna-vagom 
 ok hafSi J)ar strand-hogg, ok ato Jiar ratt. Hggin' het konungr ; bans dottir var 
 Sigriin ; hon var Valkyrja ok reiS lopt ok l^g. Hon var Svara endr-borin. Signin 
 rei& at skipom Helga ok kvaS. Hverir lata fiiota . . . Enn Ha^gna m§r kennir. 
 Granmar het rikr konungr, er bio at Svarins-haugi. Hann dtti marga sono. Hav9- 
 hroddr, annarr Gu6mundr, ^ri6i Starka5r. HgSbroddr var i konunga stefno, hann 
 fastnaSi ser Sigruno H^gna dottor. Enn er hon spyr J)at, pa, rei3 hon me6 Val- 
 kyrjor um lopt ok um l^g at leita Helga. Helgi var \>k at Loga-fi^llom ok haf6i 
 bariz vi5 Hundings sono. f>ar felldi hann J)a Alf ok Eyjolf, Hiorvar6 ok HervarS, 
 ok var hann all-vig-m63r ok sat undir Ara-steini. Jaar hitti Sigriin hann, ok rann a 
 hals honom ok kyssti hann, ok sag3i honom erendi sitt. Sva sem segir i Volsunga- 
 kvi3o inni Forno. Sotti Sigrun . . . Helgi samnaSi Jia . , , trega J)er at segja. [For 
 the following see vol. i. p. 376, Text B.] 
 
 From the end of Helgi i. — (Vi6 himin sialfan) Havgr var gorr eptir Helga. Enn 
 er hann kom til Valhallar \>a, bau3 03inn honom gllo at ra9a me9 ser. Helgi kva3. 
 Jju skalt Hundingr . . . sofa gangir. Ambatt Sigrunar gekk um aptan hia haugi Helga 
 ok sa at Helgi rei3 til haugsins me3 marga menn. Ambott kva3. Hvart ero {)at svik 
 . . . heim-for gefin. Heim gekk ambott ok sag3i Sigruno. Ut g.ikk ^u S. . . . svefja 
 skyldir, Sigrun gekk i hauginn til Helga ok kva3. Nu em ek s. fegin . . . hia oss 
 liSnom. Sigrun bio saeing i hauginom. Her hefi ek J). H. . , . sigr-J)i63 veki. {>eir 
 Helgi ri3o lei3 sina, enn J)aer foro heim til bcejar. Annan aptan let Sigrun ambott 
 halda V2r3 a hauginom. Enn at dag-setri er Sigrun kom til haugsins kva3 hon. 
 Cominn v. mi . . . um daga liosa. Sigrun var9 skamro-lif af harmi ok trega. f>at 
 var trua i forneskjo at menn vseri endr-bornir, enn J)at er mi kgllod kerlinga villa. 
 Helgi ok Sigrun er kalla3 at vaeri endr-borin. Het hann Jia Helgi Haddingja-skati 
 [read -ska3i], enn hon Kara Halfdanar d6ttir, sva sem kve3it er i Karo-li63om, ok 
 var hon Valkyrja. 
 
 Frd. dau5a Sinflotla. — Sigmundr Vavlsungs son var konungr a Frakklandi. 
 Sinfiotli var ellztr hans sona, annarr Helgi, J)ri9i Hamundr. Borghildr, cona Sig- 
 mundar, atti br63or er het [blank]. Enn Sinfiotli stiup-son hennar, ok [blank] ba3o 
 einnar kono ba3ir, ok fyr \)k sgk drap Sinfiotli hann. Enn er hann kom heim, pk 
 ba3 Borghildr hann fara a brot, enn Sigmundr bau3 henni fe-boetr, ok J)at vard hon 
 at t*'??]^- E"" ^t erfino bar Borghildr 9I ; hon tok eitr, mikit horn fullt, ok bar 
 Sinfiotia ; enn er hann sa i hornit, skil3i hann, at eitr var i, ok maelti til Sigmundar. 
 Giorottr er drykkrinn, ai ! Sigmundr tok hornit ok drakk af. Sva er sagt, at 
 Sigmundr var har3-gorr, at hvarki niAtti honom eitr granda litan ne innan ; enn allir 
 synir hans stoBoz eitr a hgrund litan. Borghildr bar annat horn Sinfiotia ok ba3 
 drekka, ok for allt sem fyrr. Ok enn i3 J)ri3ja sinn bar hon honom hornit, ok 
 f)6 aniseliss or3 me3, ef hann drykki eigi af. Hann maelti enn sem fyrr vi3 Sig- 
 muud. Hann maelti. Lattu grgn sia \ik, sonr I Sinfiotli drakk, ok var3 l>egar
 
 PROSE PIECES FROM R. 529 
 
 dau9r. Sigmundr bar hann langar lei6ir i fangi ser, ok kom at firSi einom miovom 
 ok Igngom, ok var J)ar skip eitt litid, ok maSr einn a. Hann bau6 Sigmundi far of 
 figr9inn. Enn er Sigmundr bar likit ut a skipit ^a var batrinn hlaSinn. Karl maelti 
 at Sigmundr skyldi fara fyr innan ftgrbinn. Karl hratt lit skipino ok hvarf \>ega.T. 
 Sigmundr konungr dval3iz lengi i Danmork i riki Borghildar, si6an er hann fekk 
 hennar. For Signmndr ]pa su6r i Fraccland til J)ess rikiss er hann atti J)ar. f)a 
 fekk hann Hiordisar dottor Eylima konungs. {jeirra son var SigurQr. Sigmundr 
 konungr fell i orrosto fyr Hundings sonom. Enn Hiordis giptiz {Da Alfi syni Hialp- 
 reks konungs. Ox SigurSr {)ar upp i barnaesko. Sigmundr, ok allir synir hans, voro 
 langt um fram alia menn a6ra um afl ok voxt ok hug ok alia atgervi. Sigur6r var 
 {)(> allra framastr, ok hann kalla allir menn i forn-froe9om um alia menn fram, ok 
 ggfgastan her-konunga. 
 
 Gripir het son Eylima brodir Hiordisar ; hann reb Igndom ok var allra manna 
 vitrastr ok framviss. Sigur6r rei6 einn saman ok kom til hallar Gripiss. Sigur3r 
 var au5-kendr. Hann hitti mann at mali liti fyr hgllinni, sa nefndiz Geitir. |ja 
 kvaddi SigurOr hans mals ok spyrr, Hverr byggir her . . . [The Lay of Gripi follows, 
 Bk. V, § I.] 
 
 The Old Play of the Wolsimgs. 
 
 SigurSr gekk til stoSs Hialpreks ok kauss ser af best einn, er Grani var kallaSr 
 si3an. {la var kominn Reginn til Hialpreks, sonr HreiSmars ; hann var hverjom 
 manni hagari ok dvergr of voxt ; hann var vitr, grimmr ok fiolkunnigr. Reginn 
 veitti Sigur3i fostr ok kenzlo ok elskaSi hann miok. Hann sag9i Sigur5i fra forellri 
 sino, ok \>e\m atbur5om : — At 09inn ok Hcenir ok Loki hofSo komit til Andvara- 
 fors, ok i {jeim forsi var fiol9i fiska. Einn dvergr het Andvari, hann var longom i 
 forsinom i geddo liki ok fekk ser {)ar matar. Otr hc't br66ir varr, er opt for i 
 forsinn i otrs liki. Hann haf6i tekit einn lags ok sat a ar-bakkanom ok at blund- 
 andi. Loki laust hann me6 steini til bana. f)6ttoz iEsir miok heppnir verit hafa, 
 ok flogo belg af otrinom. f)at sama kvelld sotto {)eir gisting til HreiSmars ok 
 syndo veiSi sina. {>a tuko ver f)a hgndom, ok IggSom fieim fior-lausn at fylla otr- 
 belginn me6 gulli ok hylja utan oc me6 rau5o gulli. J)a sendo {jeir Loka at afla 
 gullzins. Hann kom til Ranar ok fekk net hennar, ok for ^k til Andvara fors, ok 
 kasta5i netino fyrir geddona, enn hon hliop i netit. |ja maelti Loki. Hvat er {)at 
 fiska . . . lei&a limar. Loki sa allt gull {jat er Andvari atti. Enn er hann hafdi 
 fram reitt guUit, {)a haf9i hann eptir einn bring, ok tok Loki Jiann af honom. 
 Dvergrinn gekk inn i steininn ok maelti. f>at skal gull . . . niota. j^sir reiddo 
 Hreidmari feiS ok traflo upp otr-belginn ok reisto a fcEtr. |>a skyldo ^sirnir hlada 
 upp gullino ok hylja. Enn er {)at var gort, gekk Hreiftarr fram, ok sa eitt grana- 
 har ok bad hylja. |>a dro OSinn fram hringinn Andvara-naut ok hul3i harit. |>a 
 kva6 Loki. Gull er per mi r. . . . heim he9an. Fafnir ok Reginn krgf^o Hreid- 
 mar ni3-gialda eptir Otr br63or sinn. Hann kva6 nei vi9. Enn Fafnir lagSi sver8i 
 Hreidmar fg9or sinn sofanda. HreiSmarr kallaSi a dcetr sinar. LyngheiSr ok L. v. 
 ni. 1 f . . . . Jjins harms reka. fxi do HreiSmarr, enn Fafnir tok gullit allt. f)a. 
 beiddiz Reginn at hafa fgOor-arf sinn ; enn Fafnir gait J)ar nei vi6. |ja leita&i 
 Reginn ra3a vi6 Lynghei6i systor sina, hvernig hann skyldi heimta fg5ur-arf sinn. 
 Hon kva9. BniSar kve3ja . . . fiar. J>essa luti sag3i Reginn Sigurfti. Einn dag er 
 hann kom til husa Regius var honom vel fagnat. Reginn kva&. Cominn er h. . . . 
 grlog simo. SigurSr var ^a, iafnan me5 Regin, og sag3i hann SigurSi, at Fafnir la a 
 Gnita-hei5i ok var i orms liki. Haiui atti aegis-hialin, er gll kvikvendi hrseddoz vi5. 
 Reginn gerdi SigurSi sverd er Gramr het. |jat var sva hvasst, at hann bra J)vi ofan 
 VOL. II. M m
 
 530 APPENDIX. 
 
 i Rin, ok let reka ullar-Iag6 fyrir straumi, ok tok i sundr Iag9inn sem vatni3. J)vi 
 sverfti klauf SigurSr i sundr steftja Regins. Eptir J)at eggjaSi Reginn Sigurd at 
 vega Fafni. Hann sag8i. Halt muno hlaeja . . . hefnd fgSur. Hialprekr konungr 
 fekk Sigur6i skipa-li9 til fg6ur-hefnda. feir fengo storm mikinn ok beitto fyrir 
 bergs-ngs nacqvara. Ma3r einn st6& a bergino ok kva9. Hverir riSa J)ar ... far 
 vil ek t>iggja- {>eir viko at landi, ok gekk karl a skip, ok lsEg3i J)a ve6rit. Seg9u 
 nier J). Hnikarr . . . hrapa. Capitulum. Sigur9r atti orrosto mikla vi9 Lyngva 
 Hundings son ok broe9r bans, {lar fell Lyngvi ok J)eir broe9r. Eptir orrosto kvad 
 Reginn. Nu er bl. orn . . . huginn gladdi. Heim for Sigur9r til Hialprecs. {la 
 eggja9i Reginn Sigur9 til at vega Fafni. Sigur9r ok Reginn foro upp a Gnita-hei9i 
 ok bitto t)ar sl69 Fafniss ^a er hann 5krei9 til vaz. |jar gor9i Sigur9r grof mikla 
 a veginom ok gekk Sigur9r J)ar i. Enn er Fafnir skrei9 af gullino, bles hann eitri, 
 ok hraut fiat fyrir ofan h<^(\ib Sigur9i. Enn er Fafnir skrei9 yfir grofna, \>a, lag9i 
 Sigur9r hann me9 sver9i til hiarta. Fafnir hristi sik ok bar9i ha/f9i ok spor9i. 
 Sigur9r hliop or grofinni, ok sa ^a hvarr annan. Fafnir kva9. 
 
 Fr^ dauda Fafniss.- — Sveinn ok sveinn . . . hiarta hiorr. Sigur9r dul9i nafns 
 sins, fyr ])vi at |)at var trua ^eira i forneskjo, at or9 feigs mannz maetti mikit, ef 
 hann bolva9i ovin sinom me9 nafni. Hann kva9. Gofugt dyr . . . meira megin. 
 Reginn var a brot horfinn me9an Sigur9r va Fafni, ok kom {)d aptr, er Sigur9r 
 strauk bl69 af sver9ino. Regin kva9. Heill J)ii mi. S. . . . hvaz hugar. |>a 
 gekk Reginn at Fafni, ok skar hiarta or honom me9 sver9i er Ri9ill heitir, ok 
 {>a drakk hann bl69 or undinni eptir. Reginn kva9. Sittu mi S. ... at hendi 
 kcemr. Sigur9r tok Fafniss hiarta ok steik9i a teini. En er hann hug9i at full-steikt 
 vaeri, ok freyddi sveitinn or sarino, J)a t6k hann a fingri sinom ok skynja9i, hvart 
 full-steikt vaeri. Hann brann, ok bra fingriiiom i munn ser. Enn er hiart-bl69 
 Fafniss kom a tungo honom, ok skil9i hann fugls rgdd. Hann heyr9i at ig9or 
 kl2ko9o a hrisino. Ig9an kva9. |>ar sitr Sigur9r . . . avnnor kva9 ... in iii kvaS 
 ... In iiii kva9 ... In fimta kva9 . . . fara til heliar he9an. Sigur9r hio hgfu3 
 af Regin, ok \>a, at hann Fafnis hiarta, ok drakk bl69 J)eirra beggja Regins ok 
 Fafniss. Jia heyr9i Sigur9r hvat igdor maelto : Bitt J)u Sigur9r . . . skgpom Noma. 
 Sigur9r rei9 eptir sl69 Fafniss til boeliss bans, ok fann {jat opit, ok hur9ir af iarni 
 ok gsEtti : af iarni voro ok allir timbr-stokkar i husino, enn grafit i ior9 ni9r. 
 |>ar fann Sigur9r stor-mikit gull, ok fylldi J)ar tvaer kistor. {>ar tok hann segis- 
 hialm ok gull-brynjo, ok sver9it Hrotta, ok marga dyr-gripi, ok klyfja9i \)AT 
 me9 Grana. Enn hestrinn vildi eigi fram ganga fyrr en Sigur9r steig a bak 
 honom. Sigur9r rei9 upp a Hindar-fiall, fk stefndi su9r til Frakklandz. A 
 fiallino s4 hann lios mikit, sva sem eldr brynni, ok Ii6ma9i af til himins. Enn er 
 hann kom at, J)a st69 J)ar skiald-borg ok upp or merki. Sigur9r gekk i skialld- 
 borgina, ok sk, at ^ar la ma9r, ok svaf me9 gH^ni her-vapnom. Hann tok fyrst 
 hialminn af hgf9i honom. J>a sa hann at J)at var kona. Brynjan var fgst sem hon 
 vaeri holld-groin. J>a reist hann me9 Gram fra h9fu9-smatt brynjona igognom 
 ni9r, ok sva ut igognom ba9>ir erniar. |ja tok hann brynjo af henni. Enn hon 
 vakna9i, ok settiz hon upp, ok sa Sigur9 ok maelti. Hvat beit brynjo . . . blunn- 
 stgfom. Sigur9r settiz ni9r ok sp\ir9i hana nafns. Hon tok J)a horn fulit mia9ar, 
 ok gaf honom minnis-veig. Heill dagr . . . me9an lifom. Hon nefndiz Sigrdrifa, 
 ok var Valkyrja. Hon sag9i, at tveir konungr b^rduz ; het aniiarr Hialm-gunnarr, 
 hann var pk gamall, ok inn mesti her-ma9r, ok haf9i 09inn honom sigri heiti9. Enn 
 Annarr het . . . Jjiggja. Sigrdrifa felldi Hialni-gunnar i orrostonni. Enn 69inn 
 stakk hana svefn-J)orni i hefnd J)efs, ok kva9 hana alldri skylldo si9an sigr vega i 
 orrosto, ok kva9 hana giptaz skylldo. Enn ek sag9ak honom, at ek streng9ak heit
 
 PROSE PIECES FROM R. 531 
 
 {)ar I mot, at giptaz ongom ^em manni er hrseSaz kynni. Hann svarar ok bi3r 
 hana kenna ser speki, ef hon vissi ti6indi or gllom heimom. Sigrdrifa kva3. Bior 
 foeri ek J)er . . . 
 
 II. AFTER THE LACUNA, 
 [N. B. For the paraphrase of the Lays in the Lacuna see next page.] 
 
 At the end of the Short Brunhild Lay. — Innan fa9ar. Fr£ dauda Sigur3ar. 
 Her er sagt i Jiessi kvi&o fra dau5a SigurSar, ok vikr her sva til, sem pen draepi 
 hann liti. Enn sumir segja sva, at Jjeir draepi hann inni i rekjcjo sinni sofanda. Enn 
 |jy5verskir menn segja sva, at J)eir draepi hann liti i skogi, ok sva segir i Gu6runar 
 kvi9o inni Forno, at Sigur3r ok Giuka synir hefSi til t'ings ri5it, J)a er hann var 
 drepinn. Enn J)at segja allir einnig, at {)eir sviko hann i trygS, ok vogo at honom 
 liggjanda ok obiinom. GuSriin sat yfir SigurSi daii9oni. Hon gret eigi sem aSrar 
 konor ; enn hon var buin til at springa af harmi. Til gengo baeSi konor ok karlar 
 at hugga hana, enn J)at var eigi au9-vellt. |jat er sggn manna, at Gu9run hef3i etid 
 af Fafnis hiarla, ok hon skil3i \)vi fugls rgdd. |>etta er enn kve5it um Gu6runo. 
 GuSninar kvi3a. Ar var J)atz GuQrun . . . 
 
 At the end. — (Er hon sar um leit a Sigur6i.) Gu6run gekk fiaSan a braut til 
 skogar d ey5i-merkr, ok f6r allt til Danmarkar, ok var J)ar me3 Jjoro Haconar 
 dottor siau misseri. Brynhildr vildi eigi Ufa eptir SigurS ; hon let drepa |)raela sina 
 dtta ok iimm ambottir. Jja lag3i hon sik sver9i til bana. Sva sem segir i SigurSar 
 kvi5o inni Skgmmo. 
 
 The Long Lay of Brunhild, after line 287. — Eptir dau5a Brynhildar voro gor 
 bal tvau, annat Sigur6i, ok brann Jjat fyrr, enn Brynhildr var a gSro brennd, ok var 
 hon i rei9 Jieirri er gu6vefjom var tiolldo3, Sva er sagt, at Brynhildr ok me3 rei3- 
 inni a Hel-veg, ok for um tiin J)ar er Gygr nokkor bio. Gygrin kva5. Scaltu 
 i gognom, etc. 
 
 Drd,p Niflunga. — Gunnarr ok Hogni toko pa, giillit allt Fafniss arf. 6rri9r var 
 J)a i milli Giiikunga ok Atla ; keniidi hann Giiikungom void um andlat Brynhildar, 
 J)at var til setta, at Jjeir skyldo gipta honom Gu6runo, ok gafo henni ominnis-veig 
 at drekka a3r hon iatti at giptaz Atla. Synir Atla voro fieir Erpr ok Eitill, enn 
 Svanhilldr var Sigur&ar dottir ok Gu3runar. Atli konungr bauS heim Gunnari ok 
 H^gna, ok sendi Vinga e9a Knefroe6. Gu6run vissi v^lar, ok sendi me6 riinom or8, 
 at ]peir skyldo eigi koma. Ok til iartegna sendi hon Hggna hringinn Andvara-naut, 
 ok knytti i vargs har. Gunnarr haf9i be3it Oddriinar systor Atla, ok gat eigi. {>a 
 fekk hann Glaumvarar, enn Hogni atti Kostbero ; ^eirra synir voro J)eir Solarr ok 
 Siigvarr ok Giiiki. Enn er Giukungar komo til Atla, J)a ba3 Gu9run sono sina, 
 at J)eir bse9i Giiikungom lifs ; enn Jjeir vildo eigi. Hiarfa var scorit or Hggna, enn 
 Gunnarr settr i orm-gar9. Hann slo horpo ok svaef9i ormana ; enn na9ra stakk 
 hann til lifrar. J)i69rekr konungr var me9 Atla, ok haf9i pa.x lati9 fiesta allam enn 
 sina. |)i69rekr ok GuSriin kser9o harma sin a milli. on sag9i honom ok kva9. 
 Maer var ek meyja . . , 
 
 The Ordeal of Gudrun. 
 
 Herkja het ambott Atla ; hon haf9i verit frilla hans. Hon sag9i Atla at hon 
 hef9i se9 |)i69rek ok Gu9runo bse9i saman. Atli var J)a all-okatr. f>a kva9 
 GiiSrun. KviSa Gu5runar. Hvat er per Atli . . . 
 
 M m 2
 
 532 APPENDIX. 
 
 Lamentation of Ordriin. 
 
 Fra Borgnyjo ok Oddruno. — HeiSrekr het konungr. Dottir hans het Borgny, 
 Viimundr het sa er var fri6ili hennar. Hon matti eigi f6e5a born aSr til kom 
 Oddnin Atla systir ; hon hafSi verit unnosta Gunnars Giiika sonar. Um J)essa sjgo 
 er her kveSit. Heyr5a ek . . . 
 
 The Lay of Atli. 
 
 DauSi Atla. — Gu3run Giuka dottir hefndi broe&ra sinna sva sem fraegt er orSit. 
 Hon drap fyrst sono Atla, enn eptir drap hon Atla, ok brendi hoUina ok hirdina 
 alia. Um {jetta er sia kvi9a ort. Atla qul3a in Grcenlenzca. Atli sendi . . . 
 
 At the end. — Enn segir gleggra i Atla-malom enoni Groenlenzkom. 
 
 The Chain of Woe and Hamtheow Lay Medley. 
 
 Gu6run gekk J)a til sxvar er hon hafSi drepit Atla. Gekk hon lit a saeinn ok vildi 
 fara ser. Hon matti eigi soecqua. Rak hana yfir fiorSinn a land lonakrs konungs ; 
 hann fekk hennar; Jjeirra synir voro J)eir Savrli ok Erpr ok HamJ)er. f>ar fceddiz 
 upp Svanhildr SigurQar dottir, hon var gipt lormunreck enom rikja. Me6 hanom 
 var Bicci. Hann xih J)at, at Randver konungs son skyldi taka hana [blank]. |>at 
 sag3i Bicci konungi. Konungr let hengja Randve, enn tro&a Svanhilldi undir 
 hrossa fotom. Enn er {)at spurSi GuSriin, J)a kvaddi hon sono sina. Gu3runar 
 hvavt. |ja fra ek senno . . . 
 
 At the end of Hamtheow Lay. — {>etta ero kolloS HamJ)iss mal in Forno. 
 
 ni. LAY OF RIGH (in Cod. Wormianus of Snorri's Edda). 
 
 Sva segja menn i fornoms ggom, at einn hverr af Asom, sa er Heimdallr het, for 
 ferSar sinnar ok framm me6 siovar-str^ndo nokkorri ; kom at einom hiisa-boe, ok 
 nefndiz Rigr. Eptir Jjcirri sggo er kvsedi J)etta . . . 
 
 2. WOLSUNGA PARAPHRASE OF THE LACUNA LAYS. 
 
 (Englished on pp. 391-399, vol. i.) 
 
 SiGXJRDR ri3r nti J)ar til er hann kemr at einunj miklum bae ; J)ar re5 fyrir einn 
 mikill hofSingi sa er Heimir het ; hann atti systur Brynhildar, er Bekkhildr het, 
 J)vi at hon haf3i heima verit, ok numit hannyrSir, enn Brynhildr for med hialm ok 
 V rynju, ok gekk at * vigum ; var hon \)vi kollu6 Brynhildr. Heimir ok Bekkhildr 
 attu einn son er Alsvi6r het, manna kurteisastr. |>ar leku menn uti ; ok er J)eir sia 
 rei3 mannzins at bxnum, haetta J)eir leiknum ok undraz manninn, {)vi at J)eir 
 hcifdu engan slikan set; gengu i mot honum ok fognuSu honum vel. AlsviSr bj'Sr 
 honum me5 ser at vera, ok af ser at f'ggj* ^likt er hann vill ; hann {)iggr t)at. 
 Honum er ok skipat vegliga at J)i6na ; fiorir menn hofu gullit af hestinum, enn 
 fimti tok vi5 honum. fjar matti sia marga g66a gripi ok fa-sena : var t)at at 
 skemtan haft, at sia a^ brynjur ok hialma, ok stora hringa, ok undarliga mikil guU- 
 staup, ok allz konar her-vapn. SigurSr dvelz J)ar leiigi i mikilli semd ; spyrz mi 
 |)etta freg6ar-verk um 611 lond, er hann haf9i drepit J)ann inn ogurliga dreka. Jieir 
 undu ser mi vel, ok var hvar oSium hoUr. |>at hofflu J)eir at skemtan, at bua vapn 
 sin, ok skepta orvar sinar, ok beita haukum sinum. 
 
 1 at] a, Cd. * sia a] sia, Cd.
 
 W. PARAPHRASE OF LACUNA LAYS. 533 
 
 fja var komin til Heimiss Brynhildr fostra bans ; hon sat i einni skemmu vi& 
 meyjar sinar. Hon kunni meira hagleik, en a3rar konur ; hon lag6i sinn bor3a me8 
 gulli, ok sauma5i a fiau stor-merki er SigurSr haf3i gort, drap ormsins, ok upp-toku 
 fiarins ok dau3a Regins. Ok einn dag er fra ^vi sagt, at SigurSr rei9 a skog vi8 
 hundum sinum ok haukum, ok iniklu fiolmenni. Ok er hann kom heim, fio bans 
 haukr a havan turn ok settiz vi5 einn glugg. SigurSr for eptir haukinum : {)a ser 
 hann eina fagra konu ; ok kennir, at J)ar er Brynhildr. Honum Jjykkir mi um vert 
 allt saman, fegrS hennar ok fiat er hon gorir ; kcemr i hollina ok vill onga skeintan 
 vi9 menn eiga. f)a maelti Alsvi6r : Hvi eru {)er sva falatir? ^essi skipan J)in harmar 
 OSS* t'ina vini, e5a hvi mattu eigi gleSi bella ^ ? Haukar Jjinir hnipa, ok sva 
 hestrinn Grani ^, ok J)essa fam ver seint bot. SigurSr svarar ; Go&r vin, heyr hvat ek 
 hugsa ! minn haukr flo a einn turn, ok er ek tok hann, sa ek eina fagra konu, h6n 
 sat vi6 einn gulligan bor6a ok las Jiar ^ min li9in ok fram komin verk. AlsviSr 
 'svarar: |ju hefir set Brynhildi Bii51a dottur, er mestr skorungr er. Sigur3r svarar: 
 Jjat mun satt vera ; e6a hversu [longu] kom bon her ? AlsviSr svarar : {)ess var 
 skamt i niilli ok J)er kvomut. Sigur6r segir : Jsat vissu ver fyrir fam dogum ; sii 
 kona hefir oss bezt synz i veroldu. Alsvi&r maelti : Gef ekki gaum at einni konu, 
 J)vilikr ma3r ; er fiat illt at syta er ma3r faer eigi. Hana skal ek hitta, segir 
 SigurSr, ok gefa henni gull, ok na hennar gamni ok iafna3ar J)okka. Alsvi3r svarar : 
 Engi fannz sa enn um aldr, er hon le3i rums hia ser eda gsefi ol at drekka ; hon vill 
 sik i herskap hafa ok allz konar fraeg3 at fremja. Sigur3r maelti: Ver vitum eigi 
 hvart hon svarar oss e3a eigi, e3a ler oss sess hia ser. Ok annan dag eptir gekk 
 SigurSr til skemmunnar, enn Alsvi3r st63 hia skemmunni uti, ok skepti orvar sinar. 
 SigurSr maelti: Sit heil frii! e3a hversu megi ^ev? Hon svarar: Vel megum ver ; 
 fraendr Ufa ok vinir ; enn hattung er i hverja giptu menn bera til sins enda-dags. 
 Hann setz hia henni. Si3an ganga ^ar inn fiorar konur me3 storum bord-kerum af 
 gulli, ok me3 inu bezta vini, ok standa fyrir J)eim. pk maelti Brynhildr : |)etta saeti 
 mun fam veitt vera, nema fa3ir minn komi. Hann svarar : Nu er veitt J)eim er oss 
 likar. Herbergit var tialdat af inum dyrstum tioldum, ok J>akit klae3um (?) allt 
 golfit. Sigur3r maelti : Nii er {)at fram komit, er ^er hetu3 oss. Hon svarar : pit 
 skolu3 her vel komnir. Si3an reis hon upp, ok fiorar meyjar me3 henni, ok gekk 
 fyrir hann me3 guU-ker, ok ba3 haim drekka. Hann rettir i mot hondina kerinu, 
 ok tok bond hennar nie3, ok setti hana hia ser; hann tok um hals henni, kyssti 
 hana ok maelti : Engi kona hefir Jjer fegri faezt. Brynhildr maelti : Vitrlegra ra3 er 
 fiat, at leggja eigi truna3 sinn a konu vald, fivi at f)aer riiifa iafnan sin heit. Hann 
 mselti : Sa koemi beztr dagr yfir oss, at ver maettim niotaz. Brynhildr svarar: Eigi 
 er f)at skipat at vit buim saman : ek em skiald-maer, ok a ek med her-konungum 
 hialm ; ok fieim man ek at li3i ver3a ; ok ekki er mer leitt at berjaz. Sigur3r 
 maelti : pa. frioumz ver mest, ef ver buum saman, ok meira er at fiola fiann harm, er 
 her liggr a, en hvoss vapn. Brynhildr svarar: Ek man kanna 113 her-manna, enn {lu 
 mant eiga Gu3riinu Giiika dottur. Sigur3r svarar : Eigi taelir niik eins konungs 
 dottir, ok ekki ler mer tveggja huga um felta ; ok f)ess sver ek vi3 gu3in, at ek 
 skal fiik eiga, e3a enga konu ella. Hon maelti slikt : SigurSr {jakkar henni {lessi 
 umniaeli, ok gaf henni guU-hring ; ok sv6r3u mi ei3a af nyju ; ok gengr hann i brott 
 til sinna manna, ok er fiar um hri3 me3 miklum bloma. [ch. xxiii, xxiv.] 
 
 . . . Eitt sinn segir GL,3run meyjum sinum, at hon ma eigi glo3 vera. Ein kona 
 spyr hana, hvat henni se at ligleSi. Hon svarar : Eigi fengu ver tima i draumum ; er 
 f)vi harmr i hiarta mer ; rad drauminn {)ar er {)u fr^ttir eptir. Hon svarar : Seg mer 
 
 ^ ok add. Cd. ^ bella] halda, Cd. ^ A verse unchanged.
 
 534 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 ok lat ^ik eigi hryggja, \>\'i at iafnan dreymir fyrir veSrum. GuSriin svarar : |jetta 
 er ekki ve6r : |>at dreymSi mik, at ek sa einn fagran hauk mer a hendi, fiaSrar bans 
 voru me3 gulligum lit. Konan svarar : Margir hafa spurt af y6rum vaenleik, vizku 
 ok kurteisi ; nokkurs konungs son mun biSja ^in. Gu8run svarar : Engi hlutr ^otti 
 mer haukinum betri, ok allt mitt fe vilda ek heldr lata enn hann. Konan svarar : 
 Sa er ^u fer, man vera vel raentr, ok muntu unna honom mikit. Gu3run 
 svarar : f)at angrar mik, at ek veit eigi hverr hann er ; ok skulum ver hitta 
 Brynhildi ; hon mun vita, fioer biogguz me3 guUi ok mikilli fegrS, ok foru me6 
 meyjum sinum, unz J)3Er komu at hoU Brynhildar ; sii holl var buin me6 guUi, ok 
 st66 a einu bergi. Ok er s^n er ferS Jieira, J)a er Brynhildi sagt, at margar konur 
 oku at borginni me6 gyltum vognum. [Brynhildr svarar:] fiar mun vera GuSriin 
 Giuka dottir ; mik dreymSi * hana i nott ok gongum lit i mot henni, ekki saekja oss 
 fri6ari konur heim. |>ser gengu lit i nioti fieim, ok fognuSu vel ; J)aer gengu inn i 
 J)a ina fogra holl. Salrinn var skrifaSr innan ok miok silfri buinn ; klzSi voru breidd 
 undir fetr J)eim, ok J)i6nu9u allir J)eim. {>ser h6f3u roargs konar leika. Gudriin var 
 fa-or5. Brynhildr maelti : Hvi megi J)er eigi gleSi bella ? ger eigi J)at ; skemtum 
 oss allar saman, ok raeSum um rika konunga ok J)eirra stor-virki. Gerum t)at, segir 
 Gu6run ; e9a hverja veiztu fremsta konunga verit hafa? Brynhildr svarar: Sonu 
 ([Hamundar] Haka ok HagbarS^; J)eir unnu morg frseg3ar verk i herna5i. GuSnin 
 svarar : Miklir voru J)eir ok agaetir, enn J)6 nam Sigarr systiir J)eirra, enn hefir a6ra 
 inni brennda ^, ok eru pen seinir at hefna. E5a hvi nefndir J)u eigi braeSr mina, er 
 nu {)ikkja fremstir menn ? Brynhildr segir: {lat er i g65um efhum ; enn eigi eru 
 J)eir enn miok reyndir ; ok veit ek einn miok af J)eim bera, en J)at er SigurSr son 
 Sigmundar konungs ; hann var pa, bam er hann drap sonu Hundings konungs, ok 
 Jiefndi f66ur sins ok Eylima m65ur-fo5ur sins. Gu5run maelti : Hvat var til merkja 
 um J)at? segir pu hann borinn ^a er fa3ir bans fell? Brynhildr svarar : M68ir bans 
 gekk i valinn, ok fann Sigmund konung saran, ok bau6 at binda sar bans ; enn hann 
 kvezt of gamall siSan at berjaz, enn ba6 hana vi6 J)at huggaz, at hon mundi oeztan 
 son ala ; ok var J)ar ' Spa spaks geta.' Ok eptir andlat Sigmundar konungs for hon 
 me9 Alfi konungi, ok var SigurSr J)ar upp faeddr i mikilli vir5ingu, ok vann hann 
 morg afreks verk a hverjum degi, ok er hann agaetastr ma6r i veroldu. GuQriin maelti : 
 Af ast hefir J)u frettum til bans haldit ; enn af ^vi kom ek her at segja J)er drauma 
 mina, er mer fengu mikillar ahyggju. Brynhildr svarar : L^t J)ik eigi slikt angra ; 
 ver me5 frendum J)inum, er allir vilja {)ik gledja. J>at dreymdi mik, sagSi Gu3run, 
 at ver gengim fra skemmu margar saman ok sam einn mikinn hiort ; hann bar langt 
 af o6rum dyrum ; bar bans var af gulli ; ver vildum allar taka dyrit, enn ek ein 
 nada ; dyrit {)6tti mer ollum hlutum betra ; si6an skauztu dyrit fyrir knijCm mer ; 
 var mer {)at sva mikill harmr, at ek matta trautt bera ; si3an gaftu mer einn ulf- 
 hvelp, sa dreif3i mik bl63i braedra minna. Brynhildr svarar: Ek mun ra3a sem eptir 
 mun ganga : Til ykkar mun koma Sigur6r, sa er ek kaus mer til mannz ; Grimhildr 
 gefr honum mein-blandinn mi66, er ollum oss kemr i mikit stri& ; hann mimlu eiga 
 ok hann skiott missa; pn munt eiga Atla konung; missa muntu brae5ra {jinna; ok 
 {la muntu Atla vega. Gu3run svarar : Of-harmr er oss J)at, at vita slikt. — Ok fara 
 pxT mi i brott ok heim til Giuka konungs. [ch. xxv.] 
 
 SigurSr ri3r nu i brott me3 J)at mikla gull; skiljaz {)eir nu vinir; harm ri3r Grana 
 meS ollum sinum her-buna3i ok farmi ; hann ri3r J)ar til er hann kom at boll Giiika 
 konungs, riSr mi i borgina. Ok J)at ser einn af konungs monnum, ok maelti : 
 
 * dreymSi um, Cd., = dreym3omk of the Lay. ^ ss. haka ok hagbard, Cd. 
 
 ' This is doubtful, probably corrupt, but we know not the clue to it.
 
 W. PARAPHRASE OF LACUNA LAYS. 535 
 
 |?at hygg ek, at her fari einn af goSunum ; J)essi ma6r er allr vi6 gull buinn, hestr 
 bans er niiklu meiri en adrir hestar, ok afbur6ar-vaenn vapna-bur9r ; hann er langt 
 urn a6ra nienn framm, enn sialfr berr hann J)6 mest af o9rum monnum. Konimgn'nn 
 gengr lit med hirS sina, ok kvaddi manninn, ok spyrr : Hverr ertu, er ri6r i borgina, 
 er engi J)or6i nema at leyfi sona minna? Hann svarar : Ek heiti Sigur5r, ok em ek 
 son Sigmundar konungs. Giuki konungr maelti : Vel skaltu herr kominn me6 oss, 
 ok J)igg her slikt sem j^ii vilt. Ok hann gengr inn i hollina, ok voru allir lagir hia 
 honum, ok allir ]t)i6nu9u honum, ok var hann ^ar i niiklu yfirlaeti. |jeir riSa allir 
 saman, Sigur8r, ok Gunnarr, ok Hogni, ok Jjo er SigurSr fyrir Jieim um alia atgervi, 
 ok eru ])6 allir niiklir menu fyrir ser. {>at finnr Grimhildr, hve mikit S'gurSr ann 
 Brynhildi, ok hve opt hann getr hennar ; hugsar fyrir ser, at \ia.t vaeri meiri gipta, at 
 hann sta6-festiz J)ar, ok aetti dottur Giuka konungs ; ok, sa at engi niatti vi6 hann 
 iafnaz; sa ok, hvert traust at honum var, ok hafSi of fiar, miklu meira, en menn 
 vissi dxmi til. Konungr var vi6 hann sem vi3 sonu sina, enn J)eir vir6u hann 
 framarr en sik. Eitt kveld er Jjeir satu vi9 drykk, riss drottning upp ok gekk fyrir 
 Sigurd, ok kvaddi hann ok maelti : FognuSr er oss a Jainni her-vist, ok allt gott 
 viljum ver til y6ar leggja. Tak her vi5 horni, ok drekk I Hann tok via ok drakk 
 af. Hon mselti : J)inn faSir skal vera Giiiki konungr, enn ek m69ir, braE9r Jiinir 
 Gunnarr ok Hbgni ; 
 
 ok allir 6r ei5a vinnit^. 
 
 Ok munu J)a eigi y6rir iafningjar fazt. Sigur9r tok pvi vel. Ok vi9 J)ann drykk 
 mundi hann ekki til Brynhildar. Hann dvaldiz {jar um hri6. Ok eitt sinn gekk 
 Grimhildr fyrir Giiika konung, ok lag9i hendr um hals honum ok maelti : Her er 
 mi kominn inn mesti kappi er finnaz mun i veroldu ; vzri at honum mikit traust ; 
 gipt honum dottur {)ina me9 miklu f*^, ok sliku riki sem hann vill, ok maetti hann 
 her yndi nema. Konungr svarar : Fa-titt er {)at, at bi69a fram daetr sinar ; enn 
 meiri vegr er at bi69a honum, en a9rir bi9i. Ok eitt kveld skenkir Gu9run. 
 Sigur9r ser, at hon er vaen kona, ok at ollu en kurteisasta. Pimm misseri var 
 Sigur9r {)ar, sva at J)eir satu me9 fraeg9 ok vingan, ok rae9az konungar mi vi9. 
 Giuki konungr maelti : Mart gott veitir J)ii oss, Sigur9r, ok miok hefir \)u styrkt 
 vart riki. Gunnarr maelti : Allt viljum ver til vinna, at {)er dveliz her lengi, bae9i 
 riki, ok vara systur me9 bo9i, er^ eigi mundi annarr fa {)6tt hxb'i. Sigur9r svarar: 
 Hafit J)okk fyrir y9ra saemd, ok J)etta skal Jjiggja. {>eir sverjaz mi i brae9ra-lag, sem 
 fieir se sam-bornir brae9r. Nii er ger agaetlig veizla, ok st69 marga daga, drekkr 
 SigurSr mi bru9!aup til Gu9runar, matti {)ar sia margs konar gle9i ok skemtan, ok 
 var hvern dag veitt 69rum betr. J)eir foru mi vi9a um lond ok vinna morg fraeg9ar- 
 verk, drapu marga konunga sonu, ok engir menn ger9u slik afrek sem {)eir; fara mi 
 heim me9 miklu her-fangi. Sigur9r gaf Gu9runu at eta af Fafniss hiarta, ok si9an var 
 hon mikla grimmari en a9r ok vitrari. |>eirra son het Sigmundr. Ok eitt sinn gekk 
 Grimhildr at Gunnari syni sinum ok maelti : Y9art ra9 stendr me9 miklum bloma, 
 fyrir litan einn hlut, er {jer erut kvan-lausir ; bi9it Brynhildar, {)at er gofgazt ra9, ok 
 mun Sigur9r ri9a me9 y9r. Gunnarr svarar : Vist er hon vaen, ok eigi em ek J)essa 
 (ifiiss. Ok segir mi fe9r sinum ok brae9rum ok Sigur9i, ok eru allir fysandi. J>eir 
 bua mi fer9 sina listuliga ; ri9a mi fioll ok dali til Bu91a konungs, bera upp bon- 
 or9it; hann tok \)vi vel, ef hon vill eigi nita, ok segir hana sva stora, at Jiann einn 
 mann mun hon eiga vilja, er hon vill. |)a ri9a Jjeir i Hlymdali. Heimir fagnar {)eim 
 vel. Segir Gunnarr mi erendin. Heimir kva9 hennar kior vera hvern hon skal 
 eiga ; segir J)ar sal hennar skamt fra, ok kvazt fiat hyggja, at J)ann einn mundi h6n 
 
 1 ofr, Cd. '^ A verse line. ^ er] en, Cd.
 
 536 APPENDIX. 
 
 eis;a vilja er riSi eld brennanda, er sleginn er um sal hennar. {>eir finna salinn ok 
 eldinn, ok sia ^ar borg gulli byrsta, ok brann eldr um litan. Gunnarr rei5 Gota, 
 enn Hogni Hoelkvi. Gunnarr keyrir hestinn at eldinum, enn hann hopar. Sigur&r 
 mseiti : Hvi hopar \>u, Gunnarr. Hann svarar : Eigi vill hestrinn hlaupa J)enna eld, 
 ok bi6r Sigur3 lid ser Grana. Heiniiit er ^at, segir SigurSr. Gunnarr ridr nu at 
 eldinum, ok vill Grani eigi ganga. Gunnarr ma nii eigi rI6a f)enna eld. Skipta mi 
 litum, sem Grimhildr kendi ^eim Sigur6i ok Gunnari. Si5an riSr SigurSr, ok hefir 
 Gram i hendi, ok bindr gull-spora a faetr ser. Grani hleypr fram at eldinum er hann 
 kenndi sporans. Nu verSr gnyr mikill, er 
 
 eldrinn tok at aesaz, en ior3 tok at skialfa, 
 loginn sto5 vi6 himin. |>etta J)or6i engi at gera fyrr, ok var sem hann riSi i myrkva ; 
 [>k laeg5iz eldrinn, enn hann gekk af hestinum inn i salinn. Sva er kveSit [Eldr 
 nam at aesaz . . . Reginn atti, see Fragment, Book v, § 3, pp. 314, 315]. Ok er 
 Sigur5r kom inn um logann, fann hann {);ir eitt fagrt herbergi, ok {)ar sat 1 Bryn- 
 hildr. Hon spyrr hverr sa ma6r er. Enn hann nefiidiz Gunnarr Giiika son, ertu 
 ok aetlu3 min kona me6 ia-yr3i fe5r fiins — ef ek riSa J)inn vafor-loga — ok fostra 
 J)ins me6 y3ru atkvseSi. — Eigi veil ek gerla hversu ek skal J)essu svara. Sigur6r 
 st66 rettr a golfinu ok studdiz a sverSz hioltin ok maelti til Brynhildar : f>er i mot 
 skal ek gialda mikinn mund i gulli ok goSum gripum. Hon svarar af ahyggju af 
 sinu saeti, sem alpt af baru, ok hefir sverS i hendi, ok hialm a hofSi, ok var i brynju: 
 Gunnarr, segir hon, rse& ekki slikt vi3 mik, nema J)u sert hverjum manni fremri, ok 
 fia skaltu drepa er min hafa beSit, ef J)U hefir traust til. Ek var i orrostu me6 Gar6a 
 konungi, ok voru vapn vor litu6 i manna bl66i, ok J)ess girnumz ver enn. Hann 
 svarar : Morg storvirki hafi J)er unnit ; enn minniz mi a heit y6ur, ef J)essi eldr vaeri 
 ri6inn, at ^er mundit me6 Jieim manni ganga er J)etta gtr&i. Hon finur mi her sonn 
 svor ok merki Jjessa mals ; stendr upp ok fagnar honum vel. |>ar dvelz hann Jjr^ar 
 naetr, ok bua eina rekkju ; hann tekr sverSit Gram, ok leggr i medal |)eirra bert. 
 Hon spyrr hvi J)at saetti. Hann kva6 ser J)at skapat ', at sva g6r6i hann briiSlaup til 
 konu sinnar, e9a fengi ella bana. Hann tok J)a af henni hringinn Andvara-naut, er 
 hann gaf henni ; enn fekk henni mi annan bring af Fiifniss-arfi. Eptir J)etta ri3r 
 hann brott i J)ann sama eld til sinna felaga, ok skipta Jieir aptr litum, ok rid.i siSan i 
 Hlymdali, ok segja hve farit hafSi. {>ann sama dag fur Brynhildr heim til fostra 
 sins, ok segir honum af triinaSi, at til hennar kom einn konungr. Ok reid minn vafor- 
 loga, ok kvazt kominn til raSa vi9 mik, ok nefndiz Gunnarr ; enn ek sag5a, at J)at 
 mundi SigurSr einn goera, er ek vann eida a fiallinu ; ok er hann miim frum-verr. 
 Heimir kva6 mi sva buit vera mundu. [Brynhildr maelti : Dottur okkar Sigur5ar, 
 Aslaugu, skal her upp fae6a meS t)er '^.J Fara konungar mi heim; — enn Brynhildr 
 fi;r til fo3ur sins. — Grimhildr fagnar J)eim vel, ok pakkar Sigur5i sina fylg9. Er ^ar 
 buizt vi3 veizlu ; kom ^ar mikill niann-fioldi ; J)ar kom Budli konungr me3 dottur 
 sina, ok Atli son bans, ok hefir Jaessi veizla staSit marga daga. Ok er lokit er J)essi 
 veizlu, minnir Sigur6 allra ei6a vi3 Brynhildi, ok laetr J)6 vera kyrt. Brynhildr ok 
 Gunnar satu vi6 skemtan ok drukku gott vin. [ch. xxvi, xxvii.] 
 
 J>at er einn dag, er ^aer gengu til arinnar saman at fiva ser. |)a 6b Brynhildr lengra 
 lit a ana. GuSriin spyrr hvi J)at gegndi. Brynhildr segir : Hvi skal ek um {)etta 
 iafnaz vi3 J)ik, heldr en um annat ; ek hug3a, at minn faftir vaeri rikari enn ^inn, ok 
 minn ma8r unnit morg snildar-verk, ok ri9i (!) eld brennanda ; enn J)inn bondi var 
 firaell Hialpreks konungs. Gu6run svarar me6 rei6i : J)a vaerir \>n vitrari ef ^6. 
 |)eg6ir, en lastaSir mann minn ; er Jiat allra manna mal, at engi hafi slikr komit i 
 
 * Emend. ; skipa5, Cd. ^ [ ] ^n interpolation.
 
 W. PARAPHRASE OF LACUNA LAYS. 537 
 
 veroldina fyrir hvers vetna sakir ; ok eigi samir J^er vel at lasta hann, J)vi at hann er 
 J)inn frum-verr, ok drap hann Fafni ok rei6 vafur-logann, er {)u hugSir Gunnar 
 konung ; ok hann la hia {ler, ok tok af hendi ^er hringinn Andvara-naut ; ok mattu 
 nu her hann kenna. Brynhildr ser nu ^enna bring ok kennir ; {)a folnar hon, sem 
 hon dau5 vaeri. Brynhildr for heim, ok mselti ekki orb um kveldit. Ok er Sigur8r 
 kom i rekkju, spyrr Gu5run : Hvi er Brynhildr sva likat? SigurSr svarar : Eigi 
 veit ek gliiggt, eiin grunar mik at ver munum vita bratt nokkuru gorr. Gu6run 
 maelti : Hvi unir hon eigi au6 ok saelu ok allra manna lofi, ok fengit Jjann mann 
 sem h6n vildi ? Sigurdr maelti: Hvar var hon J)a er hon sagSi \>at, at hon J)oettiz 
 enn oezta [ver] eiga, e6a ^ann er hon vildi helzt eiga. Gu3run svarar : Ek skal 
 eptir spyrja a morgin, hvern hon vill helzt eiga. Sigur6r svarar : f)ess let ek J)ik ; ok 
 iSraz muntu, ef J)u goerir Jiat. Ok um morgunininn satu fiser i skemmu sinni, ok var 
 Brynhildr hli6&. |>a maelti Gu6nin : Ver kat, Brynhildr ; angrar {)ik okkart vi9- 
 tal? eSa hvat stendr Jjer fyrir gamni ? Brynhildr svarar: lilt eitt gengr {)er til 
 J)essa, ok hefir J)u grimt hiarta. Vird eigi sva, segir GuSriin, ok seg heldr, Bryn- 
 hildr svarar : Spyr J)ess eina, at bezt se attii vitir ; J)at samir rikum konum ; ok er 
 Gott g63u at una, er y9r gengr allt at oskum. Gu3run svarar : Snemt er {)vi enn 
 at haela, ok er {)etta nokkur sva' for-spa ; hvat reki^ per at oss? ver gor6um ySr 
 ekki til angrs. Brynhildr svarar : fjcss skaltu gialda, er \in att SigurS, ok ek ann 
 ^er eigi hans at niota ne gullz ins mikia, GuSriin svara6i : Eigi vissa ek ySur um- 
 maeli, ok vel msetti fa6ir minn sia rad fyrir mer, ^ottii vserir ekki at hitt. Brynhildr 
 svarar : Ekki hiifum vit laun-maeli haft, ok J)6 hofum vit ei3a svarit, ok vissu J)er 
 J)at, at per veltu6 mik ; ok skal J)ess hefna. Gu5run svarar : pu ert betr gefin en 
 makligt er, ok J)inn ofsi man ilia siatna, ok J)ess munu margir gialda. Una mundu 
 ver, segir Brynhildr, ef eigi aettir J)u gofgara mann. Gu6run svarar : Attu sva 
 gofgan mann, at livist er, hverr meiri konungr er, ok gnott fiar ok rikiss. Brynhildr 
 svarar: Sigur6r va at Fafni, ok er J)at meira vert, enn allt riki Gunnars konungs. 
 Sva sem kveSit er : SigurSr va at ormi , , . yfir stiga. GuQriin svarar: Grani rann 
 eigi eldinn undir Gunnari konungi, enn hann porbi at ri6a, ok ^arf honum eigi hugar 
 at fryja. Brynhildr svarar : Dyljumz eigi vi9, at ek hygg Grimhildi eigi vel. Gu6- 
 run svarar : Amsel henni eigi, J)vi at hon er til J)in sem til duttur sinnar. Brynhildr 
 svarar : Hon veldr ollurn upphofum fiessa bols er oss bitr ; hon bar Sigur6i grimt ol, 
 sva at eigi mundi hann mitt nafn. Gu6run svarar : Mart rangt orS maelir J)u, ok 
 niikil lygi er sllkt. Brynhildr svarar: Nioti per sva SigurSar, sem per hafit mik^ 
 svikit, ok er y9ar sam-veldi* umakligt, ok gangi y6r sva sem ek hygg. Gu6run 
 svarar : Betr mun ek niota en |)u mundir vilja, ok engi gat t>ess, at hann aetti of 
 gutt ^ vib mik ne eitt sinn. Brynhildr svarar : lUa maelir ^li, ok er af Jier rennr, 
 mantii i6raz ; ok hendum eigi heipt-yr8i. Gu5riin segir : |>u kasta6ir fyrri heiptar- 
 orSum a mik ; laetr J)u mi sem ^u munir yfir baeta, enn p6 byr grimt undir. Leggjuni 
 ni&r onytt hial, segir Brynhildr ; ek |)ag3a lengi yfir minum harmi ^eim er mer bio 
 i briosti ; enn ek ann ^inum br68ur at eins ; ok tokum annat hial. GuSriiii segir : 
 Langt sdr hugr J)inn um framm. — Ok J)ar af st6& mikill ofagnadr er ^aer gengu a 
 ana, ok hon kenndi hringinn ; ok J)ar af var3 {)eirra vi6rae5a. [ch. xxviii.] 
 
 Eptir t)etta tal leggz Brynhildr i rekkju. Ok komu Jiessi tiSendi fyrir Gunnar 
 konung, at Brynhildr er siiik. Hann hittir hana, ok spyrr hvat henni se, enn hon 
 svarar engu ok liggr sem hon se dau6. Ok er hann leitar eptir fast, J)a svarar hon : 
 Hvat gor5ir J)u af bring J)eim er ek ■ selda J)er, er Atli '"' konungr gaf mer at efsta 
 
 ' svd] su, Cd. 2 =--raeki? » eigi, add. Cd. * Thus? = Thus, 
 
 corrupt. * Atli] emend. ; Bu61i, Cd.
 
 538 APPENDIX. 
 
 skilnaSi, er ^er Giukungar k6mu5 til bans, ok het ek at herja ok brenna heldr en 
 J)er naeSit mer^. SiSan leiddi hann mik a tal, ok spyrr hvern ek koera af J)eim sem 
 komnir varu ; enn ek bu5umk til at verja landit ok vera hofSingi yfir ^riSjungi li6s. 
 Varu J)a tveir kostir fyrir hendi, at ek munda J)eim ver9a at giptaz sem hann vildi, 
 e6a vera an allz fiar ok bans vinattu ; kva6 J)6 sina vinattu mer mundu betr gegna 
 en rei6i. |>a hugsaSa ek me9 mer hvart ek skylda fella val, ok drepa margan mann ^ ; 
 ek J)ottumk van-faer til at J)reyta vi3 hann. Ok J)ar kom at ek hetumk J)eim er ri9i 
 hestinum Grana me5 Fafnis arfi, ok ridi minn vafur loga, ok drsepi J)a menn er ek 
 kva9 a. Nu treystiz engi at ri3a nema Sigur5r einn ; hann rei6 eldinn, J)vi at hann 
 skorti eigi hug til; hann drap Orm.inn ok Regin ok fimm konunga, enn eigi J)u, 
 Gunnarr, er J)u foIna6ir sem nar, ok ertu engi konungr ne kappi ; ok J)ess streng6a 
 ek heit heinia at fe6r mins, at ek munda Jjeim einum unna, er agaetztr vaeri alinn ; 
 enn J)at er Sigur3r ; nii erum ver ei3-rofa, er ver eigum hann eigi, ok fyrir ^etta 
 skal ek ra6andi ^ins dau6a ; ok eigum ver Grimhildi illt at launa, henni finzt engi 
 kona ' huglausari ^' ne verri. Gunnarr svarar, sva at fair heyrSu : Mcirg flaer3ar-or5 
 hefir J)u mslt, ok ertu ill-u6ig kona, er J)u amaelir J)eirri konu, er miok er um J)ik 
 fram, ok engi mann tok hon undir ver sinn *, sva sem J)ii gcirir, e3a kvaldi dau3a 
 nienn, ok engan myr9i hon, ok lifir vi3 lof. Brynhildr svarar : Ekki hofum ver laun- 
 J)ing haft no odaSir gert, ok annat er vart e61i, ok fiisari verim ver at drepa y3r. Si9an 
 vildi hon drepa Gunnar konung; enn Hogni setri hana i ficitra. Gunnarr mxiti ^ik. 
 Eigi vil ek at hon bui i ficitrum. Hon svarar: Hir9 eigi J)u J)at, J)vi at aldri ser J)u 
 mik gla6a si3an i {)inni hull, e5a drekka ne tefla, ne hugat maela, n6 gulli Ifggja g66 
 klae6i, ne y6r ra9 gefa. Kva3 hon ser {jat mestan harm, at hon atti eigi SigurS. Hon 
 settiz 'upp ok slo sinn borSa sva at sundr gekk, ok ba9 upp luka' skemmu durum ^' 
 Ok langa lei3 matti' heyra 'hennar' harma-tolur. Nu erharmr mikill ok hreimr* um 
 allan baeinn. Gu9run spyrr skemmu nieyjar sinar, hvi Jjaer se sva ukatar e9a hrygg- 
 var. — E6,i hvat er y3r? E9a hvi fari J)er sem vitlausir menn? E9a hverr geiski^ 
 er y9r or9inn? |)a svarar hir9-kona ein er Svafrlo9 het: '{jetta er otima-dagr, var 
 holl er full af harmi. |)a maelti Gu9run til sinnar vin-konu : Stattu upp ! ver hofum 
 lengi sofit ; vek Brynhildi ; gongum til bor9a ok verum katar. |)at gori ek eigi, 
 sag9i hon, at vekja hana, ne vi9 hana msela ; ok morg dsegr drakk hon eigi mio9 n6 
 vin, ok hefir hon fengi9 go9a rei9i. {>a maelti Gu9run til Gunnars : Gekk at hitta 
 hana, e9a hennar fe at skipta '". Jjo ferr Gunnarr at hitta hana, ok leitar marga 
 vega malsenda vi9 hana, ok faer ekki af um svorin, gengr mi a brott ok hittir 
 Hogna, ok bi9r hann finna hana ; enn hann kvezt vera ofiiss, ok ferr fio, ok fekk 
 ekki af henni. Ok er hittr Sigur9r ok be9inn at finna hana. Hann svarar engu ; 
 ok er sva buit um kveldit. Ok annan dag eptir, er hann. kom af dyra-vei9um, hitti 
 hann Gu9runu ok maelti : {>ann veg hefir fyrir mik borit, sem J)etta muni til mikils 
 koma, hrollr sia, ok mun Brynhildr deyja. Gu9nin svarar: Herra minn, mikil 
 kynsl fylgja henni ; hon hefir mi sofit siau doegr, sva at engi t'or9i at vekja hana. 
 Sigur9r svarar : Eigi sefr hon ; hon hefir st6r-rae9i me9 hondum vi9 okkr. Jia maelti 
 
 * Emend.; ok h^tu9 at herja e9r brenna nema ^er nae9it mer, Cd. ^ Emend, 
 
 (cp. Long Lay of Brunh. 1. 150); hvart ek skylda bans vilja e9a dr. m. m., Cd. 
 ^ Thus, corrupt. * Emend, (see Introd. § 14, p. Ixxxix) ; ok eigi yndi hon 
 
 ver sinu, Cd. '' Read, ba9-at upp hika? * This passage is quite corrupt. 
 
 From the context we see that Brunhild shut herself up in her room (like Egil in 
 his sorrow ; the colouring of the Saga may be taken from here), and no one dared 
 to approach her ; ' hennar harma tolur' is certainly wrong: Brunhild's grief is silent, 
 sullen, brooding ; the wailing all refers to her household. ^ ok . . . mitti] 
 
 at . . . maetti, Cd. * Emend. ; Nu er harmr mikill ok heyrir, Cd. ' gyzki, 
 
 Cd. *" Something wrong or missing.
 
 W. PARAPHRASE OF LACUNA LAYS. 539 
 
 GuSrun me5 grati : |>at er mikill harmr, at vita Jiinn bana. Far heldr ok finn hana, 
 ok vit, ef siatni hennar ofsi ; gef henni gull, ok myk sva hennar rei3i. 
 
 SigurSr gekk lit, ok fann opinn salinn, hann hugSi hana sofa, ok bra af henni 
 klxdum, ok maelti : Vaki J)u, Biynhildr, sol skinn urn allan bxinn, ok er serit sofit, 
 hritt af {jer harmi ok tak gle3i. Hon maelti : Hvi saetir ^in dirfS, er ^li ferr mik at 
 hitta ; mer var engi verri i J)essum svikum. Sigur3r spjrr : Hvi mxlir J)U eigi vi5 
 menn, eSa hvat angrar J)ik? Brynhildr svarar : per skal ek segja mlna reifti. 
 Sigur6r maelti: HeilluS ertu, ef |)u aetlar grimman minn hug vi6 J)ik, ok er sia J)inn 
 ma3r, er fiii kaust. Nei, segir hon, eigi rei3 Gunnarr eldinn til var, ok eigi gait 
 hann mer at mundi feldan val ; ek undruSumk {jann mann er kom i minn sal, ok 
 J)6ttumk ek kenna ybm augu, ok f^kk ek Tp6 eigi vist skilit fyrir \>ehii huldu, er a la 
 a minni hamingju. Sigur6r segir : Ekki erum ver gofgari menn en synir Giiika, \ieiT 
 drapu Dana-konung, ok mikinn hofSingja, br66ur Bu31a konung. Brynhildr svarar : 
 Mart iilt eigum ver {jcirn upp at inna, ok minn oss ekki a harma vara ; J)u, Sigur3r, 
 vatt Orminn, ok reitt eldinn, ok of mina sok, ok vara Jiar eigi synir Giuka konungs. 
 Sigur5r svarar : Ekki var3 ek J)inn ma3r, ok [eigi] vartu min kona ; ok gait vid 
 t)er mund agaetr konungr. Brynhildr : Eigi se ek sva Gunnar, at minn hugr hlaeja 
 vi3 honum, ok grimm em ek vi3 hann, f)6tt ek hylma yfir fyrir 63rum. J>at er 
 ogurligt, segir Sigur3r, at unna eigi slikum konungi ; eda hvat angrar J)ik mest ? 
 mer syniz sem hans ast s6 pei gulli betri. Brynhildr svarar : |)at er mer sarast 
 minna harma, at ek fae eigi Jivi til lei3ar komit, at bitrt sver3 vaeri ro3it i J)inu 
 bl63i. Sigur3r svarar : Kvi3 eigi J)vi, skamt man at bi3a a3r bitrt sver3 man standa 
 i minu hiarta, ok ekki muntu {ser verra bi3ja, J)vi at J)u munt eigi eptir mik lifa ; 
 munu ok fair varir lifs-dagar he3an i fra. Brynhildr svarar : Eigi standa J)in ord af 
 litlu fari ', si3an {aer sviku3 mik fra ollu yndi, ok ekki hir3i ek uni lifit. Sigur3r 
 svarar : Lif pn, ok unn Gunnari konungi ok mer, ok allt mitt fe vil ek til gefa at ^u 
 deyir eigi. Brynhildr svarar : Eigi veizt ]pu gorla mitt eSli ; \>n berr af 6!lum 
 monnum ; en per hefir engi kona or3it Iei3ari en ek. Sigui3r svarar : Annat er 
 sannarra ; ek unna J)er betr en mer. Jjott ek yr3a fyrir J)eim svikiim, ok ma pvi nu 
 ekki bregda ; J)vi at avalt, er ek ga3a mins ge3s, Jia harma3i mik fiat er \)\i vart eigi 
 min kona ; enn af mer bar ek sem ek matta, \>a. er ^ ek var i konungs hdll, ok unda 
 ek J)vi {)6, at ver varum 611 saman ; kann ok vera at fram ver3i at koma \>zt sem 
 fyrir er spat, ok ekki skal J)vi kvi3a. Brynhildr segir : Of seinat hefir J)u at segja 
 at \)\k angrar minn harmr, enn mi fam ver enga likn. SigurSr svarar : Giarna vilda 
 ek, at vit stigim a einn bed bae3i, ok vaerir J)u min kona. Brynhildr svarar : Ekki 
 er slikt at maela, ok eigi mun ek eiga tva konunga i einni holl, ok fyrr skal ek lif 
 lata, enn ek svikja Gunnar konung. Ok minniz mi a J)at er fiau funduz a fiallinu 
 ok soruz ei3a, Enn mi er J)vi ollu brug3it, ok vil ek eigi lifa. Eigi munda ek {)itt 
 nafn, segir Sigur3r, ok eigi kenda ek \>\k fyrr en ^xi vart gipt, ok er J)etta enn mesti 
 harmr. pa, maelti Brynhildr : Ek vann ei3a, at eiga J)ann mann er ri3i minn vafur- 
 loga, enn Jiann ei3 vilda ek halda, e3a deyja ella. Heldr en {)u deyir, vil ek {)ik 
 eiga, enn fyrirldta Gu3runu, segir Sigur3r. — Enn sva ^rutnu3u hans si3ur, at i sundr 
 gengu brynju-hringar. — Eigi vil ek J)ik, sagSi Brynhildr, ok ongan annarra. Sigur3r 
 gekk i brott. Sva segir i Sigur3ar-kvi3u : Ut gekk Sigurdr andspilli fra . . . Ok er 
 Sigur3r kom i hollina, spyrr Gunnarr hvart hann viti, hverr mun-tregi ' henni vaeri, 
 e3a hvart hon hefir nial sitt. Sigur3r kva3 hana maela mega. 
 
 Ok mi ferr Gunnarr at hitta hana i annat sinn, ok spyrr hvi gegndi hennar mein, 
 e3a hvart nokkur b6t mundi til liggja. Ek vil eigi lifa, segir Brynhildr, J)vi at 
 
 ^ Corrupt passage. * J)at er, Cd. ^ mein-tregi, Cd.
 
 540 APPENDIX. 
 
 Sigur5r hefir mik velt, ok eiSi si5r Jjik, J)a er J)u lezt hann fara i mina saeing. Nii 
 vil ek eigi tva menn eiga senn i einni holl, ok {jetta skal vera bani SigurSar eda 
 Jjinn e3a minn, ^vi at hann hefir J)at allt sagt GuSriinu, enn hon brigslar mer. Eptir 
 {)etta gekk Brynhildr lit ok sezt undir skemmu-veg sinn, ok hafSi margar harma- 
 tolur, kva5 ser allt leitt, baeSi land ok riki [Here falls in a bit of the Old Brunhild 
 Lay]. . . . Gunnar segir Sigur6 deyja skulu, e3a man ek deyja ella. Hann bi3r 
 Brynhildi upp standa ok vera kaia. Hon st6b upp, ok segir J)6 at Gunnarr mun eigi 
 koma fyrr i sama rekkju henni, en J)etta er fram komit. Nii raeSaz {)eir vi6 brae&r. 
 Gunnarr segir, at J)etta er gild bana sok at hafa tekit meydom Brynhildar, ok 
 eggjum Gutthorm at gora ^etta verk. Ok kalla hann til sin, ok bioSa honum gull 
 ok mikit riki at vinna Jjetta til. |>eir toku orm einn ok af vargs holdi ok letu si63a 
 ok gafu honum at eta, sem skaldit kva6 : 'Sumir viSfisk toku, sumir vitnis hrae- 
 skifdu ... ok marga hluti aSra i tyfrum ' [verse corrupt]. Ok vi5 J)essa faezlu var& 
 hann sva sefr ok agiam, ok allt saman ok fortolur Grimhildar, at hann het at gera 
 J)etta verk. J>eir hetu honum ok mikilli saemd i moti. Sigur6r vissi eigi van ^essara 
 velrseSa, matti hann ok eigi vi6 skopum vinna ne sinu aldrlagi, SigurSr vissi sik ok 
 eigi vela ver3an fra \ie\m. Gutthormr gekk inn at SigurSi eptir um morgininn, er 
 hann hvildi i rekkju sinni. Ok er hann leit vi5 honum, \>oibi Guthormr eigi at 
 veita honom tilrae5it ok hvarf lit aptr ; ok sva ferr i annat sinn. Augu Sigur&ar 
 voru sva snor, as far einn J)or3i gegn at sia. Ok et {)ri9ja sinn gekk hann inn, ok 
 var Sigur6r Jja sofnaSr. Gutthormr bra sverSi, ok leggr a Sigurd, sva at bl65refilliim 
 stoS i dynum undir honum. [Here old Brunhild Lay resumes again.] [ch. xxix.] 
 
 2 b. The same text from the interpolated Sigfred Saga ik Edda. 
 
 Sigur9r rei5 ^a9an, ok kom til J)ess konungs er Giiiki het ; kona hans er nefhd 
 Grimhildr ; bom J)eirra voro Jiau Gunnarr, Hogni, Gu3nin, Gu3ny, Gotthormr var 
 stiiip-sonr Giiika. J)ar dval&iz Sigur3r langa hrid, ^a fekk hann GuSriinar Giuka 
 dottor, enn Gunnarr ok Hogni soruz i fostbraedra-lag vi3 Sigurd. |>vi naest furu J)eir 
 Sigur3r ok Giiika synir at biSja Gunnari konu til Atla Bu31a sonar, Brynhildar systur 
 hans. Hon sat a Hindar fialli ; ok var um sal hennar vafur-logi ; enn hun haf3i Jjess 
 heit strengt, at eiga J)ann einn mann,er J)ordi at ri3a vafur-logann. pa, ri3u Jseir SigurSr 
 ok Giukungar — J)eir eru ok kalla3ir Niflungar — upp a fiallit, ok skyldi \>k Gunnarr 
 ri3a vafrlogann. Hann atti hest {)ann er Goti heitir ; enn sa hestr J)ordi eigi at 
 hlaupa i elldinn. Jja skiptu {jeir litum, SigurSr ok Gunnarr, ok sva niifnum, J)vi at 
 Grani vildi undir engum manni ganga nema SigurSi. J>a hliop Sigur3r a Grana, ok reiS 
 vafor-logann. f)at kveld gekk hann at bru31aupi me3 Brynhildi. En er Jiau komo 
 i saeing, |)a dro hann sverdit Gram or sli3rum ok lag3i i milli J)eirra. En at momi 
 {)ii-er hann st63 upp ok kloeddi sik, ^a, gaf hann Brynhildi at lin-fe gull-bauginn, 
 ^ann er Loki hafSi tekit af Andvara, enn tok af henni annan baug til minja. Sigurdr 
 hliop ^a a hest sinn ok rei3 til felaga sinna. Skipta J)eir Gunnarr pi aptr lilum, ok 
 foru aptr til Giiika me3 Brynhildi. Sigur3r atti tvau bom med Gu3runu, Sigmund 
 ok Svanhildi. 
 
 {>at var eitt sinn at Brynhildr ok Gu3run gengu til vatz at bleikja hadda sina. |>a 
 er \>z.T kvomu til arinnar, J)a 63 Brynhildr lit a ana fra landi ok maelti, at h6n vildi 
 eigi bera i h6fu3 ser ^at vatn, er rynni or hari Gu3runu, J)vi at hon atti buanda 
 hugadan betr. f)a gekk Gu3run a gna eptir henni, ok sag3i, at hon matti fyrir {>vi 
 ^va ofar sinn hadd i gnni, at hon atti J)ann mann er ekki ugg3i ' ok engi annarr i 
 veroldu ^ var iafn fraekn, \>vi at hann va Fafni ok Regin, ok tok arf eptir \>k ba3a. 
 
 ^ ekki ugg3i] emend. ; vo, Cd. " Cd. i e ;3 begins here.
 
 HAMTHEOW STORY FROM EDDA. 541 
 
 f)a svarar Brynhildr: Meira var Jiat \i6 vert at Gunnarr reiS vafur-logann, enii 
 SigurSr {)or9i eigi. |)a hlo Gu9run ok maelti : j^tlar \>u at Gunnarr riSi vafur- 
 logann ! sa aetla ek at gengi i rekkjo hia {ler er mer gaf guU-baug J)enna ; enn sa 
 gull-baugr, er J)u J)att at lin-fe, hann er kallaSr Andvara-nautr, ok aetla ek at eigi 
 sotti Gunnarr hann a Gnita-heiSi. f>a J)agna6i Brynhildr ok gekk heim. 
 
 Eptir J)at eggjaSi hon Gunnarr til ok Hogna at drepa SigurS. Enn ^vi at J)eir v6ru 
 eiS-svarar SigurSar, \ia, eggjo6u J)eir til Gutthorm broSur sinn at drepa SigurS, ok 
 Gutthormr lagSi SigurS sofanda sver5i i gegnuni. Enn er Sigur6r fekk sarit, J)a greip 
 hann sverSit Gram ok kastadi eptir honum sva at sundr sneiS manninn i miSjii. |>ar 
 do SigurSr ok sonr hans J)r^-vetr er Sigmundr het, hann drapu J)eir. Eptir ^at lagSi 
 Brynhildr sik sver5i i gognum, ok var hon brennd me3 Sigur6i, enn Gunnarr ok 
 Hogni toku Fafnis arf ok Andvara-naut, ok re3u londum. 
 
 3. THE HAMTHEOW STORY FROM EDDA. 
 
 (See for earliest traces of this story the notes to Hamtheow Lay, vol. i.) 
 
 Eptir J)at snoeri hon til siofar ok hliop a sioinn ok vildi drekka ser; enn hana rak 
 yfir fiorSinn, ok kom hon Jia a l)at land or atti lonakr konungr. Enn er hann sa 
 hana, tok hann hana til sin < k fekk hennar. Jjau attu J)ria sonu er sva heita, Sorli 
 ok Erpr ok HamSer ; J)eir voru allir svartir sem hrafn a bars lit, sem Gunnarr ok 
 Hogni ok a5rir Niflungar. par fasddiz upp Svanhildr dottir Sigur5ar Sveins, ok var 
 allra kvenna fegrst. f>etta spurSi Ermenrekr konungr inn riki ; hann sendi son sinn 
 Randve at bi5ja hennar til handa ser. Enn er hann kom til lonakrs borgar, J)a var 
 Svanhildr selld i hendr Randve at faera hana Ermenrek konungi. pk sag9i Bikki 
 iarl, at fiat vaeri betr fallit at Randver aetti Svanhildi, er hann var ungr ok baeSi f)au, 
 enn Ermenrekr var gamall. fietta ra5 lika6i J)eim vel enum ungum monnum. |jvi 
 nxst sag6i Bikki iarl konungi J)etta. pk let konungr lei3a son sinn til galga. ba 
 tok Randver hauk sinn ok plokkaQi af fiaSramar, ok ba6 senda heim fe6r sinum. 
 Ok siSan var hann hengdr. Enn er Ermenrekr konungr sa haukin, ]pa, kom honom 
 i hug hvat hann haf6i gort, at sva sem haukrinn var ofleygr ok fiaSr-lauss, sva var 
 ok riki hans ofasrt er hann var gamall ok sonlauss. |)at var eitt sinn er Ermenrekr 
 konungr rei6 or skogi fra vei5um, at Svanhildr drottning sat at hadd-bliki. pa, ri3u 
 J)eir a hana ok tra6u undir fotum til bana. Enn er t>etta spur6i Gu9nin J)a eggjaSi 
 h6n sonu sina til hefnda eptir Svanhildi. Enn er J)eir bioggoz til fer5ar, \>k fekk hon 
 J)eim brynjur ok hialma sva sterka at eigi matti iarn a festa. Hon lag6i raS fyrir J)a, at 
 \>k er fieir kaemi til Ermenreks konungs, skyldu J)eir ganga um nott at honum sofanda, 
 skyldu Sorli ok Ham6er hoggva af honum hendr ok faetr, enn Erpr h6fu6. Enn er 
 J)eir koma a lei6, Jja spurSu J)eir Erp bro&ur sinn, hver li6semd {leim mundi at h6num 
 vera pk er peh hitti Ermenrek konung. Enn hann segir, at hann mun veita J)eim 
 \)vi likt sem hond faeti. f>eir segja, at J)at var allz ekki er fotr studdiz vi5 bond. 
 Enn sva voru t>eir reiSir modur sinni er hon haf5i j^a heipt-yr9um lit leitt, at J)eir 
 vildu giira {)at er hermi J)aEtti verst, ok drapu J)eir Erp brodur sinn, J)vi at hon unni 
 honum mesl. Litlu si6ar {jar sem Scirli gekk, skri6na9i hann 66rum faeti, ok studdi 
 hann sik me9 hendinni. pk mselti hann : Betra vaeri mi at Erpr br66ir okkarr liffti, 
 J)vi at veitti mi bcindin faetinum. Enn er J)eir komu til Ermenreks konungs of nott 
 {)ar sem hann svaf, \)k hioggo {jeir af honum hendr ok faetr, ok vi6 {)at vakna5i 
 hann, ok kalla9i a menn sina, ok ba9 J)a vaka. pk maelti Ham9er. Af mundi nu 
 h6fu9it ef Erpr br66ir okkarr lif6i. pk st65u upp hirSmenn ok sottu at J)eim, ok 
 fengu eigi meS vapnum sott pk, pk kallar Ermenrekr at pk skyldi me& grioti berja.
 
 542 APPENDIX. 
 
 Ok sva var gort. {jar fellu J)eir HamSir ok Sorli. f>a, var ok dau3 611 sett ok 
 afkvaemi Giuka. — |>vi er brynja kollu& klaeSi e6a va3ir HamSiss ok Sorla. Her 
 eptir kva3 Bragi skalld. . . . 
 
 4. THE FINAL PORTION OF EDDA SKALDSKAPAR-MAL. 
 
 (Paraphrase of Hyndla's Lay and List of Synonyms.) 
 
 Einn konungr er nefndr Halfdan Gamli ; hann var agaetr konungr. Harm goer5i 
 blot mikit at mi5jum vetri, ok bl6ta3i til J)ess, at hann skyldi Ufa i konungdomi 
 sinum .ccc. vetra. Enn hann fekk J)au andsvor, at hann mundi lifa ekki meir en 
 mikinn einn mannz-aldr ; enn J)at mundi J)6 vera .ccc. vetra, at engi mundi vera i 
 hans aett otiginn ma9r, n6 kona. Hann var herma3r mikill, ok for vi5a um Austr- 
 vegu. {jar drap hann i einvigi Jjann konung er Sigtryggr het. f>a, fekk hann 
 J)eirrar konu, er het Alvig in Spaka, dottir Eymundar konungs or Holmgar5i, ins 
 Rika. |)au attu attian sono, ok voru niu senn bornir. |jeir hetu sva — Einn var 
 {>engill, er kallaBr var Man-{)engi]l, annarr Raesir, f)ri3i Gramr, fi6r3i Gylfi, fimti 
 Hilmir, setti lofurr, atti Skyli e3a Skiili, niundi Harri e6a Herra. — {>essir niu brae3r 
 eru sva agsetir 1 herna&i, at i ollum frse5um si3an eru nofn J)eirra haldin fyrir tignar- 
 nofn, sva sem konungs nafn e3a iarls nafn. {>eir attu eingi born, ok fellu allir i 
 orrostum *. 
 
 Enn attu {)au Halfdan ok Alvig niu sonu, er sva hetu. — Einn var Hildir, er 
 Hildingar eru fra komnir ; annarr Naefir, er Niflungar eru fra komnir ; \>nb\ Au9i, 
 er C)61ingar eru fra komnir; ii6r6i Yngvi, er Ynglingar eru fra komnir; fimti Dagr, 
 er Doglingar eru fra komnir ; setti Bragi, er Bragningar eru fra komnir — ^at er aett 
 Halfdanar Milda ; siaundi BuSli, er BuSlungar eru fra komnir— ok af J)eirri aett er 
 komin Atli ok Brynhildr ; atti Lof3i, hann var her-konungr mikill ; honum fylgSi 
 119 J)at er Lof9ar voru kalla9ir — hans aett-menn eru kalla9ir Lof9imgar ; J)a9an er 
 kominn Eylimi m69iir-fa9ir Sigur9ar Fafniss-bana ; niundi Sigarr er Siklingar eru fra 
 komnir : J)at er aett Siggeirs er hengi Hagbar9. — fi,f Hildinga aett var kominn Haraldr 
 inn Granrau9i m69ur-fa9ir Halfdanar Svarta. Af Niflunga sett var Gitiki. Af 061inga 
 aett Kiarr. Af Ynglinga aett Eirekr inn Malspaki. 
 
 |>essar konunga aettir eru miok agaetir. — Fra Yngva, {)a9an eru Ynglingar 
 komnir. Fra Skildi i Danmorku, J)a9an eru Skioldungar. Fra Volsungi i Frakk- 
 landi, J)a9an eru Volsungar. Skelvir het enn her-konungr, ok er hans aett k611u3 
 Skilvingar ; sii kyn-sl69 er i Austr-vegum — J)essar aettir, er nu^ eru nefndar, hafa 
 menn sett sva i skaidskap, at halda J)essi heiti 611 fyrir tignar nofn '. 
 
 Skald heita greppar, ok er rett i skaidskap, at kalla sva hvern mann er vill. 
 Rekkar voru kalla9ir J)eir menn er fylg9u Halfi konungi, ok af {jeirra namni eru 
 kalla9ir her-menn, ok er rett at kenna sva alia menn. Lof9ar heita ok menn i 
 skaidskap, sem fyrr er rita9. Skatnar voru J)eir menn kalla9ir er fylg9u Skata 
 konungi, J)eim er Skati inn Mildi var kalla9r ; af hans nafni er Skati kalla9r sa er 
 mildr er. Brag* nar heto Jieir er fylg9u Braga konungi hinum Gamla. Vir9ir heita 
 J)eir menn er meta mal manna. Fyr9ar ok Firar [ok] Verar heita landvamar-menn. 
 Vikingar ok flotnar, J)at er skipa-herr. Beimar, sva hetu J)eir er fylg9u Beimuna. 
 Gumnar e9a Gumar heita J)eir menn er flokki styra, sva sem gumi er kalla9r i 
 bru9f6r. Gotnar eru kalla9ir af heiti konungs ^ess er Goti er nefndr, er Gotland er 
 vi9kennt; hann var kalla9r af nafni (39ins — Gautz ; J)vi at Gautland ok Gotland 
 var kallat af nafni 09ins, enn SviJ)i69 af nafni Svi9ors — J)at er ok 09ins heiti. 
 
 ^ To here from l e /8 ; the following mainly according to AM. 748. " nu] 
 
 enn, Cd. ^ So far paraphrase of Hyndla's Lay. * Here W. begins.
 
 LIST OF SYNONYMS (EDDA). 543 
 
 I {)ann tima var kalla3 allt meginland, J)at er hann atti, Rei6-Gotaland, enn eyjar allar 
 Ey-Gota-land. Jjat er nu kallat Dana-velldi ok Sviaveldi. Drengir heita ungir menn 
 ok bulausir me3an J)eir afla ser fiar e5a or6ztir ; J)eir far-drengir er mill! landa fara ; 
 J)eir konungs drengir, er hofSingjum J)i6na ; J)eir heita ok drengir er {liona rikum 
 monnum ; drengir heita vaskir menn ok batnandi. Seggir eru ok kalla6ir, kniar ok 
 li&ar, J)at eru fylgSar-menn. |)egnar ok havlldar ok holdar, sva eru ok boendr 
 kalladir. Lionar heita J)eir menn er ganga um saettir manna. 
 
 |jeir eru enn er sva eru kalla6ir : kappar, kenpur, garpar, snillingar, hreysti- 
 menn, avar-menni, hetjur. f>essi heiti standa her i mot, at kalla mann, blauQan, 
 veykan, fiirfing, sleyma, blota-mann, skau3, skraefu, skriaS, vak, vam, lora, sleyma, 
 tey6a, dugga, dirokr, dusil-menni, olmusa, avvir3. — Orr madr heitir, mildingr, mx- 
 ringr, skati, J)i66-skati, gull-skati, mann-baldr, saelingr, sael-keri, au6-kyfingr, rikmenni. 
 Her i mot er sva kailaS, hngegvingr, glgggvingr, maeh'ngr, vesalingr, fe-nidingr, giof- 
 lati. — Heitir spekingr, ra6-valdr. Heitir ovitr madr, fifl, ok afglapi, gassi, ok gin- 
 nungr, gaurr, ok glopr, snapr, foli, oerr, 63r, galinn. — Snyrti-maSr, oflati, drengr, 
 glaesi-ma3r, sterti-ma9r, pry5i-ma5r. — Heitir ok hraumi, skrapr, skrokkr, skei6-klofi, 
 flangi, slinni, fiosnir, slottr, slapr, drottr. — Lydr heitir land-folk, lioftr. — Heitir prcell 
 ok kefsir, J)i6nn, onnungr, Jsirr. 
 
 Ma6r heitir einn fyrir ser [see vol. ii, p. 439, 11. 690-717]. 
 
 Enn er J)au heiti, er menn lata ganga fyrir nofn manna; ^at kollu ver vidr-Jtenn- 
 ingar, e6a sann-kenningar, e6a for-nofii. — Jiat eru vid-kenningar, e5a sann-ienn- 
 ingar, at nefna annan hlut rettu nafni, ok kalla J)ann er hann vill nefna, eiganda ; 
 e3a sva, at kalla hann {)ess, er hann vildi ok nefndi, f63ur, e6a ava, ai heitir hinn 
 J)ri6i ^. Son heitir arfi ok arfuni, barn, 166 ok mogr ^, erfingi. Heitir ok brddir, 
 bl66i, lifri, barmi, hlyri. Heitir ok nidr, nefi, attungr, konr, kundr, fraendi, kyn- 
 kvisl, aett-barmr, sEtt-stu3iIl, aett-bogi, af-kvaemi, af-springr, of-skopt; Heita ok 
 mdgar, sifjungar, hleyta-menn. Heitir ok vinr, ra6u-nautr, raS-giafi, mali, riini, 
 spialli, allda-J)opti, einkili, sesso-nautr, sessi : J)opti er half-rymiss-felagi. Heitir ovin, 
 dolgr, andskoti, fiandi, scekkvi, ska9a-ma3r, bana-ma6r, J)raengvir, scekkvir, osvifru3r, 
 — |)essi heiti kollu ver vii'r-kenni?igar, ok sva {)o at ma5r se kendr vi9 boe sinn e6a 
 skip sitt, ^at er nafn a, e3a eign sina, ^a er einkar-nafn er gefit. — |)etta kollu ver 
 sann-henningar, at kalla manninn, speki-mann, e6a setlanar-mann, or6-speking e5a 
 raS-speking, ra6-snilling, au6-milding, oslaekinn, gaei-mann, glaesi-mann. — |>etta eru 
 for-n'ofn. 
 
 {>essi eru kvenna heiti okend 1 skaldskap : — vif, ok bni5r, ok fli65 heita J)aEr konur 
 er manni eru gefnar \ Sprund ok Svanni heita ^xt konur er miuk fara me3 dramb ok 
 skart. Snotir heita f>aer konur er or3 naefrar eru. Drosir heita J)aer er kyrrlatar eru. 
 Svarri ok Svarkr, pxr er havaSa-miklar eru. Ristill er k611u3 sii kona, er skorug- 
 lynd er. Rygr, sii er rikust er. Feima * er sii kollu& er ofrom er, sem nieyjar ungar 
 e6a J)aEr er odiarfar eru. Saeta heitir sii kona, er buandi hennar er af landi farinn. 
 Haell heitir sii kona, er bondi hennar er veginn. Ekkja, er sii kona, er bondi 
 hennar var3 s6tt-dau6r. Maer heitir fyrst hver, er ung er, enn Kerlingar, er gamlar 
 eru — Enn eru {)au kvenna heiti, er til last-maeliss eru, ok ma {)au finna i kvae3um, 
 \i6tt {)at s6 eigi rita6. J)aer konur heita eljur, er einn man eigu. Snor heitir sonar- 
 kvaen, enn Svaera vers moSir. Heitir ok M65ir, Amma, {)ri3ja Edda^. Ei3a heitir 
 
 ' From the Lay of Righ. '^ From the Lay of Righ, ^ From verse 
 
 Thulor. * A. S. -Latin word : O. F. fenine, fenme. The word ' kenpur' 
 
 above is the A. S. form 'cenipa,' and for-niifn appears to be a gloss translating 
 * praeaomen.' * From Lay of Righ,
 
 544 APPENDIX. 
 
 mo&ir ; heitir ok, Dottir, ok Bam, ok 165 ; heitir ok, doitir, Dis, Io6-dis. Kona 
 er ok k6!lu6 be5ja e6a mala bonda sins, — ok er J)at vi9r-kenning. 
 
 Hqfud heitir a manni. jjat skal sva kenna, at kalla })at, erviSi hals, e3a byr6i ; 
 land hialms, ok hattar, ok heila, ok bars, ok bruna, svarSar, eyrna, augna, munnz. 
 Heimdallar sverS, ok er rett at kenna til sver3z heita, vi6 hvert er vill, ok kenna vi3 
 eitt-hvert nafn Heimdallar. Hofu3 heitir okennt, hauss, hiarni, kianni, kollr. — Augtt 
 heita, sion, ok lit, e8a vi&r-lit ', aurmiott. |>a ma sva kenna, at kalla, sol, e6a 
 tungl, skioldu, ok gler, e9a gim-steina : e6a stein bra, eSa bruna, e6a enniss. — Eyru 
 heita, hlustir, ok heyrn ; Jiau ma sva kenna, at kalla land, e5a iar3ar heitum nokk- 
 urum, e9a munn e3a ras, e&a sion, e3a augu heymarinnar, ef ny-gorvingum er ort.' 
 — Munn skal sva kenna, at kalla hann, land, e5a hus tungu, e3a tanna, or3a, e3a 
 gonia, varra, e3a ^vilikt : ok er ny-gervingar eru, fia kalla menn skip munninn, enn 
 varrarnar bor3in. — Tuiiga rae3it, e3a styri. — Tennr eru stundum kallat, griot, e3a 
 sker, or3a e3a tungo : tunga er opt k611u3, 6ver3 mals, e3a munnz. — Skegg, bar3, 
 eda gron ; kanpar, er stendr a vorum. — Hdr heitir la ; haddr f)at er konur hafa ; 
 skopt heitir har. Har er sva kennt, at kalla skog e3a vi3ar heiti nokkuro ; kenna 
 til hauss, e3a hiarna, e3a hofuds. Skegg skal kenna vi3 hciku, e3a kinnr, e3a 
 kverkr. — Hiarta heitir, negg, eiskcild, goUorr : J)at skal sva kenna : kalla korn, e3a 
 stein, e5a epli, hnot, e3a myl, e3a Jjvilikt, ok ketuia vi3 briost, e3a hug ; kalla ma 
 J)at ok, hus, e3a ior3, e3a berg hugarins. — Briost ma sva kenna, kalla, hiis, e3a gar3, 
 e3a skip hiarta, anda, eda lifrar, e3a eljunar; land hugar ok minniss. — Htigr heitir, 
 sefi, ok siafni, vili, munr, ast, elskugi. Huginn ma sva kenna, at kalla hann, vind 
 troll-kvenna, ok er rett at kenna til ok nefna hverja er vill, ok sva at nefna iotnana, 
 e3a kenna ^a til konu, e3a dottur. — Jiessi nofn eru ser. Hugr heitir, ok ge3, ok })okki, 
 eljun, J)rekr, nenning. minni, vit, skap, lund, trygd. Heitir ok hugr, rei3i, fiand- 
 skapr, utryg3, ge31eysi, {)unn-ge3i, gaesni ^ ovaeri.- — Hond ma kalla, mund, lam, 
 arm, hramm. A hendi heitir, alnbogi, arm-leggr, ulfli3r, li3r, fingr, greip, hreifi, 
 nagl, gomr, iaSarr, kvikva, v63vi, afl, aeSar, sinar, knui, ok kogglar : hond ma kalla, 
 i6r3 vapna e3a hlifa, vi3 axlar ok ermar, lofa, ok hreifa ; guU-hringa ior3, ok vals, ok 
 hauks, ok allra bans heita ; ok i nygervingum, fot axlar, bog-nau3. — Fcetr ma kalla, 
 tre ilja, e3a rista, eda leista, eda J)vilikt ; renni-fleina brautar, e3a gongu, fetz : kalla 
 ma fotinn, tre, e3a stod J)essa. Vi3 skid ok skua eru faetr kendir ok braekr. A faeti 
 heitir, laer, kalfi, kne, bein, leggr, rist iarki, okla, il, ta. Vid altt {)etta nia fotinn 
 kenna, kalla hann tre, ok kalla ra, ok siglu fotinn, ok kenna vid l)essa hluti. 
 
 Mul heitir, ord, ok ord-tak, snilli, saga, senna, tala, {)raEta, siingr, galldr, kvedandi, 
 skial, bifa, ok hialdr, hial, skval, glaumr, fiiarka, gyss, J)rapt, skalp, hoi, daelska, 
 liodaeska, skraf, hegomi, afgeija : Heitir ok, roJd, hliomr, romr, omun, {sytr, goll, 
 gnyr, glymr, rymr, brak, svipr, svipon, gangr. 
 
 Sva skal orroslu kenna, vid vapn ok hiifar . . .^ 
 
 Vit heitir, speki, minni, aetlan, hyggjandi, rad, skilning, tolvisi, lang-saei, brag3- 
 visi, ord-speki, skorungskapr : — Heitir undir-hyggja, vael-radi, fla-raedi, brigd-rxdi. 
 
 Puns. — ' Lasti ' er tvennt : Iseti heitir rodd eda olund. ' Reidi ' er ok tvi-kent : 
 reidi er {)at, ef madr er i ilium hug : reidi er ok fargervi skips eda hross. ' Far ' er 
 ok tvi-kennt : far er reidi : far er skip. — |)vilikt or3tak hafa menn miok til fiess at 
 yrkja folgit, ok er J)at kallat miok ofliost. ' Lid' kalla menn a manni er leggir maetaz : 
 lid heitir skip : lid heitir mannfolk : lid heitir 61 : lid er J)at ok kallat, er madr veitir 
 odrum lid sinni : ' Hlid' heitir a gardi : ok hlid kalla menn uxa : enn hlid kalla menn 
 
 * Undoubtedly a corrupt form for wlit, the sole renmant of wl. * Hence 
 
 modem 'keskni?' ^ Thus, only the beginning of the clause.
 
 LIST OF SYNONYMS (W.) 545 
 
 brekku. — Jjessar greinar ma setja sva i skaldskap, at gera ofliost, at vant er at skilja, 
 ef a8ra skal hafa greinina, en a&r pykki til horfa in fyrri visu-ord. Slikt hit sama 
 eru ok morg onnur orS, J)au er margir hlutir eigu heitiS saman. 
 Hereupon follows the Thnlor, vol, ii, p. 423 sqq. 
 
 4 b. The List of Synonyms from Wormianus. 
 
 , . . nar hetu |)eir menn er fylgSu Braga konungi hinum Gamla. Vir6ar heita 
 J)eir menn er meta mal manna ; firar ok verar heita landvamar-menn ; vikingar ok 
 flotnar, J)at er skipa-herr ; beimar heita |)eir menn er fylgSu Beima konungi ; 
 gumnar ok gumar heita folk-stiorar, sem gumi heitir i bru&for. Gotnar heita af 
 Gota konungi, er Gotland er vi6 kennt ; hann heitir af nafni 03ins, ok dregit af 
 Gautz nafni. {>eir heita drengir, er milium landa fara ; {)eir konungs drengir, er J)eim 
 {)i6na e3a 66rum rikis-monnum ; J)eir heita vaskir menn, er batnandi eru ; seggir heita 
 ok kniar ; li6ar eru fjIgSar-menn ; J)egnar ok holdar, J)at eru baendr ; lionar heita 
 l)eir er um saettir ganga. 
 
 Kappar heita ok, kempur, garpar, snillingar, hreysti-menn, har5-menni, afar- 
 menni, hetjur. — |)essi eru J)ar i mot, kalla mann, blau3an, J)irfing, blota-mann, skauS, 
 e8a skraefu, vak, vam, lok, leymu, daasa, drok, dusil-menni. 
 
 Orr madr heitir, mildingr, maeringr, skati, fii65-skati, gull-skati, mann-baldr, au9- 
 kyfingr, sael-keri, rik-menni. Her i mot er sva kallat, hngggr, g'gggr, mxlingr, smae- 
 lingr, vesaelingr, giof-lati, {^iofr, hvinn, hlenni. 
 
 Spekingr, rad-valdr, snyrti-ma6r, of-laati, glxsi-ma8r, sterti-ma8r. — Raumi, 
 skraumi, skrapr, slokr, skrokkr, skei6-klofi, sHnni, flangi, fiosnir, tru3r, lokr, 
 kyrpingr. 
 
 Sva heita, — holdar, hair, drengr, holdr, Jjegn, smi5r, breiSr, bondi, bundin-skeggi, 
 bui, ok boddi, bratt-skeggr '. 
 
 Kau6i, fnau8i, foli, fifli, flangi, gassi, gokr, gromr, gogr, gaurr, hriki, glopr, gopi, 
 glonn, glanni, slaani, slappi, strundi, smortr, stortr, hrokr, hrotti, J)umr, J)riotr, 
 J)rapr, totr, tangi, motti, vaamr, daar-bekill, gaa6i, ginnungr, gap-{)rosnir, gunnungr. — 
 J)raEla heiti standa i Rigs-^ulu. — Lini, staf-klapr, gnnungr, lydda^. 
 
 Ma9r heitir einn hverr, etc., leaving out one or two passages, we sjtbjoin — 
 Heitir, ai ^, arfi, sonr, arfuni, arf-pegi, mggr, ni8r, sefi, erfingi, konr, hefnir, burr. 
 Heitir bro&ir*, bl66i, barmi, hnefi, hlyri, lifri, sifr, kundr, kyn-stafr, niSjungr, aett- 
 stu6ill, aett-baSmr, kyn, af-kvsemi, af-springr. 
 
 Heita ok, maagar, sifjungar, svilar, hleytar, spiallandi, Jiopti, kompann', felagi, 
 fostri, vinr, vanda-ma3r, fraendi. — Heitir, dolgr, andskoti, soekkvi, Jjrgngvir, ska6a- 
 ma8r, usvifrungr, baagi, andskoti (rep.), livin. — |jetta kollu ver sann-kenningar, at 
 kalla, at ma5r s6 hraustr, harSr, hagr, horskr, kaenn, ku9r, rikr, rgskr, rei6r, rammr, 
 ra8ugr, sniallr, snarpr, snotr, sterkr, stor-vitr, vaskr, vsnn, varr, voldugr, bli6r, biartr. 
 {>etta kollu ver tvi-ridit ; her fylgir studning sann-kennhigu, ef ma9r er kalla9r 
 al-roskr, ofr-huga6r, full-hvatr, veg-ssell, — ok a marga vega er sann-kenningum 
 breytt, ok heyja ^xr mest orSa-figlQa i skaldskapnum, ok fegra mest kve9skapiiin, 
 .... kalla9ir eru menn nior9ungar, e9a narungar, mi9jungar, e9a strengjandi viga 
 e9r verka, .... ma9r er kenndr, fieygir e9a fergir : heitir ok, hreytir, mygir ok 
 mei9ir, saekir, ok saerir, sgkkvir ok slgngvir, vaelir ok veitir ..,.'' 
 
 * =Lay of Righ. ^ A verse from the same Thulor. ' ai heitir, Cd. 
 
 * br69ir heitir, Cd, ' A Roman word. ' These words all run in 
 
 alliterative couples. 
 
 VOL. n. N n
 
 646 APPENDIX. 
 
 5. THE GLOSSES FROM MA. 748. 
 
 Fra hfbylum Heljar*. — 'Elju3nir* heitir salr hennar ; 'gillingr' lyldll hennar; 
 ' hungr ' diskr ; ' sulltr ' knifr ; ' affelldr ' sp^nn ; ' Imipinn ' akr ; ' ganglati ' Jjraell ; 
 'ganglgt' ambatt; ' vi3-opnir * gar3r ; * giallandi ' grind ; 'lati'lass; ' blikjanda bol ' 
 hurS ; ' brota-bol ' J)reskglldr; ♦ fora6 ' tiald ; ' fallanda fora3 * forfall ; ' kgr ' rekkja ; 
 * kgr-beSr ' dyna ; [blank] hani ; ' frost-opna ' kista ; ' vaningi ' goltr ; ' hryggr ' 
 heslr ; ' grafgtr ' hundr ; ' ygl63 ' gnd *. 
 
 Dresses. — KleeSa heiti. — ' Einhagi ' (sle&a) ; ' helfni ' (vefjar upp-hlutr) ; ' tasla ' 
 (tyglar); ' fang ' (kyrtill) ; ' siSerni ' (serkr) ; 'ripti'(s.); 'veipa'(s.); •lina'(s.); 
 'skeptingr' (hofu5-dukr) ; 'motr' (h.^) ; 'meSja' (h.) ; ' vimpill' (h.) ; 'iflugr' 
 (h.); 'lo8-dukr' (h.) ; 'stafn' (h.) ; 'sveipr' (h.) ; 'fsungr' (h.) ; 'skufr' (hk.») ; 
 'visr(hk.); 'dolpr'(k.); ' giarda ' (i.) ; ' fallda ' (k.); ' sky pill ' (h.) ; 'veipr' 
 (h.) ; ' ferma ' (f.) ; * iotr ' (iaxl) ; ' vgf * (hringar) ; ' vartari ' Q)vengr '). 
 
 Sundries. — ' Igln ' (go5) ; ' bry ' (troll) ; ' ei3a ' (m66ir) ; ' nipt ' (systir) ; ' baSmr ' 
 (vi&r) ; ' migtuSr ' (bani) ; ' gly ' (gle3i) ; ' slaeki drengr ' (?) : ' sarkat ' (roSit). 
 
 Stones. — Steinn, sindr, steinn, sisisill, bivivill, bleikr, kggSir, mggSir, gyfingr. 
 
 Nail, peg. — Nagli, darraSr, ialfa3r, aurmulinn, eyJ)olinn (i. k. *), mellingr, blind- 
 ingr, J)olinm66r (i knifi), friSr; — hniflungr, regin-gaddi, far-nagli, stag-nagli, var- 
 nagli, veraldar-nagli ; eymylinn (i. tj) ; sam-nagli (i. s.*) ; fast-haldr (i. st.') ; J)olinn 
 (ra) ; bl63varinn (sior) ; i6-m2linn, 
 
 * See Excursus I to vol. ii, p. 471. 
 
 * Emend. ; vaningi hvndr, g'fgtr hryggr haestr, yglod gnd, Cd. ; ' g'fgtr ' stands 
 above the line, by which word the wolf is no doubt meant (cp. Norweg. ' graa- 
 been') ; he is the dog of Hell, and so vaningi must mean something else. Here the 
 Thulor 478 yields the clue ; vaningi is Hell's boar ' goltr,' from its leanness called 
 waster or vanisher. The poet makes the inmates of Hell, like those of Walhalla, to 
 have their boar to feed on. Hell's ale has slipped out of the glosses, — ' tears," a bitter 
 brew ! 
 
 ^ (h.), here and in the next following, means ' hofuSdukr.' 
 
 * ' hk.' = hofua-klaeSi ? * The English ' garter.' « i . k. = i knifi ? 
 ' i. t. = i tre, peg in the wooden handle of the quern. * i. s. = i skipi, in a ship. 
 ' i. st, = i stokki, in a stock.
 
 SPURIOUS EPIC POETRY. 
 
 B. Poetry. 
 
 The following pieces are given, as promised (p, 353), that the reader may have 
 all the evidence before him. Their intrinsic value is small indeed, but they sometimes 
 give the last reflexion of a dying tradition, like the broken bits of glass on a wall 
 glittering in the sunset. 
 
 The first is Starkad's Death Song from Gatitric's Saga, Cod. Holmensis. The 
 type is such as the Songs which Saxo knew. The end, 11. 113-128, is the best. 
 
 Next comes a group of pieces from Arrow-Ord's Saga, Cod. Holmensis, etc. 
 The first, a scene in the hall where Ord is bragging against two other heroes. The 
 second, Ord's Death Song, with touches borrowed from Hialmar's Death Song, etc. 
 Third iLnd/otirth, fragments from different parts of the Saga. One verse gives the 
 foreign Cloak o' Beards tradition of the Mabinogion, which had no doubt filtered 
 through the Arthur cycle of Romance to Iceland, There is also a dialogue between 
 Ord and a priestess. 
 
 The succeeding set is from Half's Saga, First, a dialogue between Half and 
 Instan, one of his famous champions, who warns the king not to go forth, for he 
 has had evil dreams — echoes of the Atli poems. Second, Instan's last words. Third, 
 the challenge etc, of Utstan, Half's champion after his master's death. Fourthly, 
 the Death Song of Rook the Black, who, aged and in a stranger's hall, is crooning 
 over the triumphs of his youth. All these we hold to be by the same man, all 
 founded on the prose of the Saga, and all seemingly produced from an idea that, as 
 there had once been Lays on the subject of Half and his champions which had 
 perished (as we think there were), their places must accordingly be thus supplied 
 for the reader's satisfaction. 
 
 The next piece comes from Herraud and Bosi's Saga, the curse of Busla on King 
 Ring. There are echoes from old poems in this poor screed. 
 
 A few remaining pieces — Star-Ord's Dream, which may be by Lawman Sturla, 
 from a separate Thattr published by the Editor with Bardar Saga, i860 ; a bit from 
 Gang-Hrolfs Saga ; a bit from An the Bowman Saga ; a bit from Fridtheow's Saga, 
 out of the scene where the witch-whales have raised the magic storm. 
 
 A group of verses from Ketil Hceng's Saga and Grim Hairy-cheek^ s Saga follows — 
 dialogues and flytings between the hero and ogresses, giants and a Finnish king, etc. 
 It is poor stuff, imitating however and echoing the Dialogue-metre Flytings of the 
 old poems. 
 
 The Editor, as early as May, 1854, made a collection of these poems, and pre- 
 pared a text, but afterwards gave up the project. It has however been so far 
 useful that here and there better readings have been got at than the editions give. 
 The MS. authority, as far as is needful, is given with each piece. 
 
 I. STARKAD'S DEATH-SONG from GAUTREK'S SAGA. 
 
 (AM. 590 chart. ; copy of a fourteenth-century vellum.) 
 
 pA var ek ungr er inni brann {>a er HerJ)iufr Harald um v^lti 
 
 ■*■ frekna fiol6 meS fc3ur J)i65, ser oiafnan sveik 1 tryg8um, 
 
 ' nerungi ' fyrir f)rumu innan Eg3a drottinn ondu raenti, 10 
 
 her ' hrau6u5r ' Haraldz ens EgSska, enn bans sonum hapt-bond sneri. 
 
 ok men-brota magar v61to {>revetran mik {)a5an af flutti 
 
 Fiori ok Fyri Freka arf-J)egar, Hrosshars-grani til Hordalandz, 
 
 Unnar hieebt, ei3o minnar. nam ek a Aski upp at vaxa 
 
 N n 2
 
 548 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 sakat niSja a niu vetrnm. 
 
 Afl gat-ek serit, uxu tialgur, 
 
 langir leggir ok liott h6fu6, 
 
 enn himaldi ' af hagsi sat ' 
 
 ' faaz ' forvitni i fleti ni5ri. 
 
 Unz Vikarr kom fra vita innan, 20 
 
 gisl HerJ)i6fs gekk inn i sal, 
 
 hann kendi mik, hann kvaddi mik 
 
 upp at standa ok andsvara ; 
 
 hann mselti mik mundum ok spcinnum, 
 
 alia arma til ulfliSa, 
 
 Taxit hari a hoku ni&ri. 
 
 pk safnadi Sorkvi ok Gretti [see vol. i, 
 
 p. 355]- 
 J)a voru ver {irettan samam, 
 faer varliga fri&ri drengi. 
 Sva komu ver til konungs gar3a, 30 
 
 hristum grindr, hiuggum gaetti, 
 brutum borg-lokur, brug6um sverSum, 
 ^ar er siau tigi seggir stoda 
 kostum grimmir fyrir konungi, 
 fio var um aukit oUum J)raelum, 
 verka-Iy3 ok vatn-drogum. 
 Var Vikari vant at fylgja, 
 |)vi-at fremstr ok fyrstr 1 flokki std& 
 hiuggum hialma me6 hofuS-gnipum, 
 brynjur sniddum, ok brutum hialma. 40 
 
 Var Vikari vegs um au6it, 
 en HerJ)i6fi herfur goldnar, 
 sjerSum seggi, enn suma drapum, 
 st6dka6 ek fiarri \>i er fell konungr. 
 Vart \>u eigi me3 Vikari 
 austr i Vaeni ar-dag snemma, 
 J)a. er sottii ver Sisar a velli, 
 J)at var ^rek-virki J)okkz megnara. 
 Mik l^t sverSi hann sarum hogginn 
 skarp-eggju6u skiold i gegnum, 50 
 
 hialm af hof6i, enn haus skorat, 
 ok kinn-kialka klofinn i iaxla, 
 enn it vinstra viSbeina lati& ; 
 ok a si6u sver3i beitti 
 mer dflugr fyrir mio6m ofan, 
 enn i a6ra atgeir lagSi, 
 koldum broddi, sva at a kafi yddi, 
 pau ser J)u merki a mer groin. 
 Sneidda ek honum si6u a3ra 
 brott meS brandi um buk J)veran, 60 
 sva ek af heiptum hiorvi beittag 
 at allz megins a5r kostaSik. 
 
 Let ^rcksamr J)ridja sinni 
 Hildar leik haSan ver5a, 
 a&r Upplond unnin yrSi 
 ok GeirJ)i6fr um gefinn helju, 
 
 Atti ser erfi-voi6u 
 tirsamr tva tiggi alna, 
 h6t hans son Haraldr enn ellri, 
 setti hann Jjann at {jela-morku. 70 
 
 Var sink-giarn sag6r af gulli 
 
 Neri iarl nytr i ra3um, 
 Vikars sonr vanr i soknum, 
 sa reid einn Upplendingum. 
 
 Re6 FridJ)i6fr fyst at senda 
 heiptar bo3 horskum iofri 
 hvart Vikarr konungr vildi gialda 
 hilmi skatt e6a her Jx)la. 
 R69um lengi or3um vi6 ekki daelir, 
 J)at kaus herr at konungr skyldi 80 
 
 rikr me9 her romu knyja. 
 Re6 Olafr austr inn Skygni 
 saeldar gramr fyrir Svia-riki, 
 hann bau5 lit almenningi, 
 mikill var hans helmingr talinn. 
 Gengum framm i glam vapna 
 konungs menn kappi gnaegdir, 
 par var Ulfr ok Erpr litinn, 
 hio ek brynju-Iauss ba6um hondum. 
 Reft Fri3J)i6fr friSar at biaja, 90 
 
 J)viat Vikarr vaegdi ekki, 
 ok Starka6r Storverksson 
 almatt framm allan lag6i. 
 
 Mer gaf Vikarr Vala malm, 
 bring inn rauSa er ek a hendi bur, 
 mer J)rimerking, enn ek Jjrumu honum, 
 fylg3a-ek fylki fimtan sumur. 
 Fylgda ek fylki J)eim er framast vissag 
 J>a unda ek bezt aevi minnar, 
 a3r foru ver, enn \>vi flogd ollu, 1 00 
 
 hinzta sinni til H6r3aiandz : 
 J)ess eyrendis, at mer {jorr um skop 
 niSings nafn, nau3 margs konar, 
 hlaut ek ohroSigr illt at vinna. 
 Skylda ek Vikar i vi3i hafum 
 Geir{)i6fs-bana go3um um signa, 
 lag3a ek geiri gram til hiarta, 
 J)at er mer harmast handa-verka, 
 |>a6an vappa3a ek viltar brautir 
 Hor3um leidr me3 huga illan, iiQ 
 
 hringa vanr ok hr63r-kvi3a, 
 drottinn-lauss, dapr allz hugar. 
 
 Nii s6tta-ek til Svi^ioSar 
 Ynglinga siot til Uppsala. 
 Her lata mik, sem ek lengi mun, 
 J)6glan Jjul J)i63ans synir. 
 Her settu mik sveina milli 
 holdar haB3inn ok hvit-bran, 
 skelkja skatnar ok skaup draga 
 OSS oframir at iofurs greppi. 120 
 
 Sia J)ikkjast J)eir a sialfum mer 
 iotun-kuml atta handa, 
 er H16rri3i fyrir Hamar nor3an 
 Hergrims-bana hondum rsenti. 
 HIaegja rekkar, er mik sia, 
 liotan skolt, langa trionu, 
 hanga tialgur, har ulf-gratt, 
 hriiifan hals, hu3 i6trada. 1 38 
 
 1 06 = Lay of Hyndla, L no.
 
 SPURIOUS EPICS. 
 
 549 
 
 a. ARROW-ORD. 
 
 I. The Scene in the Hal!. (From Holm. 7. 410.) 
 
 S'^. = Sigur3r, 5'z. = Siolfr, 0. = Oddr. 
 
 Si. Oddr klauftu eigi at orrosto 
 (hrokk hialmat li&) HamSis skyrtor : 
 gu9r geisaSi, gekk eldr i bae, 
 J)a er af Vindum va sigr konungr, 
 
 Sg. Oddr vartu eigi at egg-ro3i 
 J)a er seggi allvaldz svelta letum ; 
 bar-ek sar ^a9an sex ok atta, 
 enn {jii me9 bygSum batt fier matar. 
 
 O. |>i& skuluS hlySa hro&ri minum, 
 Sigur5r ok Sioifr, sessu-nautar : 10 
 
 ykkr a-ek at gialda greypan verka, 
 hr69r hari-snuin huglausum tveim. 
 J)U latt, Sioifr, so&-golfi a 
 da6a vanr ok dyrs hugar : 
 enn ek lit me3 Akvitanum 
 flora menn fiorvi naemdak. 
 
 Si. {)u hefir, Oddr, farit me3 olmusum, 
 ok bitlinga borit af bor3i : 
 enn ek einn af Ulfs-fialli 
 hoggvinn skiold i hendi bark. 20 
 
 Sg. Oddr, vartu eigi lit me3 Girkjum 
 J)a er a Serkjum sver3 var ru3ora : 
 gerSum harSan hliom isarna, 
 fellu fyrSar i folk-ro3i. 
 
 O. Sioifr . . . vi3 mej^jar mal-fiingsamr 
 me3an loga l^tum leika um konung, 
 unnum har3an Hilding drepinn, 
 ok bans felogum aldrs of synjat. 
 
 Enn J)u latt, Sigurdr, i sal meyja 
 me3an vi3 Biarma bordumz tvisvar: 30 
 ha3um hildi heldr snarliga 
 enn \ni, seggr, i sal svaft und blsju. 
 
 Si. Oddr, vartu eigi a Atals-fialli 
 J)a er fen-loga fengit hofSum : 
 ver berserki binda knattum, 
 Jja var af kappi konungs li3 drepit. 
 
 O. Sioifr, vartu eigi J)ar er sia knatti 
 brynjur manna blodi {jvegnar : 
 hrukku oddar 1 iarn-serkjum, 
 enn J)u holl konungs heldr kanna3ir. 40 
 
 SigurSr, vartu eigi par er sex hru3um 
 ha-brynju3 skip fyr Holms-nesi : 
 vartu ok eigi vestr me3 Skolla, 
 J)a er Engla gram aldri naemdum. 
 
 Sioifr, vartu eigi {lar er sverd (ru3um) 
 hvoss a hiarli fyrir Hleseyju : 
 enn fni halladist heima mill! 
 kynmdla-samr kalfs ok {)yjar. 
 
 SigurSr, vartu eigi J)ar er a Saelund 
 feldak 
 braeSr bol-harda Brand ok Agnar, 50 
 Asmund, Ingiald, Alfr var inn fimti, 
 enn J)u heima latt i holl konungs 
 
 skrokmala-samr, skauS her-numin. 
 
 Sioifr vartu eigi su3r a Ski3u 
 J)ar er konungar kniSu hialma, 
 63um dreyra, sva at i dkia tok, 
 vig vakta-ek, vartu eigi ^zt. 
 
 Sigurdr, vartu eigi {)ar i Svia-skerjum 
 |)a er Haldani heiptir guldum : 
 ur3u randir rog miklaSra, 60 
 
 sverdum skornar, en hann sialfr drepinn. 
 
 Hvar voru fii3 J)a vesalar snytur 
 er ver heldum aski i Elvar-sund : 
 teitir ok reifir at Tronu-vagum. 
 {lar la Ogmundr Eyl)i6fs-bani 
 trauSastr flugar a tveim fkipum. 
 
 {jar letu ver lindi b6r3u 
 hor3u grioti, hvossum sverSum : 
 J)rir lifdu ver, enn J)eir niu, 
 hrokr hernuminn, hvi J)egir mi ? 70 
 
 Sioifr vartu eigi Samseyju i 
 |)ar er vi3 Hidrvar3 hoggum skiptum : 
 tveir v6ru vi3, enn J)eir tolf saman, 
 sigr haf3ak, saztu kyrr me3an. 
 Gekk ek um Gautland i grimmum hug 
 siau da3gr saman a3r ek SaeviS fyndak, 
 kn^ttak Jieira a8r ek ^adan faera 
 fimtan li3a fiorvi ra3a. 
 Enn Jiii giogradir, garungr vesall, 
 sid of optnum til saengr ^yjar. 80 
 
 {>i3 munud hvergi haefir {jikkja, 
 Sioifr ok Sigurdr, i sveit konungs 
 ef ek Hialmars get ens Hugum-st6ra 
 J)ess er snarligast sver3i beitti. 
 
 Gekk skarpr |)6rdr fyrir skioldu framm 
 hvar er orrostu eiga skyldim : 
 hann let Halfdan hniga at velli 
 fraeknan stilli ok bans fylgjara. 
 
 Voru vi3 Asmundr opt i bernsku 
 f6stbrae3r saman baS'r litnir : 90 
 
 bar ek fyrir stilli stong DarraSar 
 fiars konungar kappi deildu. 
 
 Hefi ek k Saxa ok a Svia herjat, 
 Frisi ok Frakka ok a Flaemingja : 
 Ira ok Engla ok endr Skota, 
 {)eim hef ek ollum o^arfr verit. 
 
 Nii htfi ek dyra drengi talda 
 J)a er for3um mer fylgdu liti : 
 munu engir ver3a si3an 
 fraegri fyr3ar i folk-ro3i. 100 
 
 Nii hefi ek orar i3nir taldar 
 J)aEr er fordum ver fram3ar hof3um : 
 opt gengu ver til ondvegis 
 sigri fegnir. Latum Siolf maela.
 
 55© 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 II. Ord's Death-Song. 
 (AM. 343 and 471.) 
 
 "LTLYDI seggir, enn ek segja mun 
 ■*■ -*■ vigs-valdendum fra vinum minum; 
 seint er at dylja, se ek eigi matti 
 skokks sksE-stafr vi3 skopum vinna. 
 Var mer f6str tekit at fodur ra6i, 
 bratt vondumk \ivi, a Beru-ri65ri ; 
 var mer ekki vant til sslu 
 J)ess er Ingialdr atti kosti. 
 Uxum ba6ir a Beru-ri66ri 
 Asmundr ok ek upp i bernsku, 10 
 
 skofum skeyti, skip smi9u6um, 
 gordum orvar okkr at gamni. 
 Sag9i mer Volva sannar ninir, 
 enn ek vaetki J)vi vilda hly3a, 
 gat ek fyrir ungum Ingialdz S3'ni 
 at ek fo6ur-tuna fystumk vitja. 
 Biiinn lezt Asmundr opt me3an lifSi 
 mailings vanr mer at fylgja, 
 sag3a ek karli at ek koma mundak 
 aptr aldregi ; mi em ek or5-rofi. 20 
 
 Letum beiti a brim ^rauka, 
 st63 horr dreginn hondum fiarri, 
 komum at eyju utan-ver3ri 
 {lar er Gri'mr fyrir gar3a atti, 
 Sa ek bliSliga, er til baejar kom, 
 bekk-sagnir mer ba3ar fagna, 
 vist matta ek me3 vinum minum 
 gulli skipta ok gaman-malum. 
 Var3 ek at vari viss at goer3uz 
 bryn-J>ings bo3ar Biarma at scekja, 30 
 si3an kvaddak Sigur3 ok Gu3mund, 
 vilda ek me3 frseknum til farar ra3az. 
 Voru horskir a her-skipum 
 fraendr minir tveir at for-ra3i, 
 rildu hasetar horskir eignaz 
 tak ^at er attu Tyrfi-Fiunar. 
 Ver kaup-skipi komum heila 
 at J)ar er Biarmar byg3ir attu 
 eyddum eldi xttir {jeirra, 
 fengum loskvan laSmann tekinn. 40 
 
 Hann lezt seggjum segja kunna 
 hvar til hodda var hseft at ra3a, 
 hann ba3 oss ganga gcitu lengra 
 ef ver vildum fe fleira eiga. 
 Re3u Biarmar bratt at verja 
 haug her-monnum ok hamalt fylkja, 
 letum Jjegna, a3r ^a3an fserim, 
 ofa-marga ondu tyna. 
 Re3um skunda til skipa ofan, 
 t)a er flotti var a fen rekinn, 50 
 
 mistum baE3i batz ok knarrar, 
 au3s ok yta, er ver ofan komum. 
 
 Ski6tt nam kynda i skog J)ykkvum 
 hafan uppi hrot-garm vi3ar, 
 sva vi3 lopti letum leika. 
 Sam skiotliga skynda at landi 
 5kei3r vegligar ok skraut-menni, 
 fegnir urdu J)eir er fyrir voru 
 fraendr minir er finnaz gor3um. 
 Letu skeika at sk6pu3u 60 
 
 drengmenn snarir i drifa-ve3ri, 
 syndiz seggjum sandr a ])iljum, 
 landz von li3in ; la ek eigi J)ar. 
 Komum at eyju litan brattri 
 sumar si3la, J)a var segl rifit, 
 gor3u fyrSar flestir allir 
 skipum til hlunnz skiott at ra3a. 
 Slogum tioldum, en sumir foru 
 biornu at vei3a, Jjeir er boga kunnu, 
 re3um i eyju upp at kynda 70 
 
 bal brenniligt, st63 biora fyrir. 
 Kv63uzt fiall-buar flytja mundu 
 oss lir eyju, nema litan faerim, 
 {)6tti eigi rekkum romr at heyra 
 hogligr sa er var hraun-skioldunga. 
 Ug3um ekki, sizt eyjar til, 
 vopns vigligir vi3ir komo; 
 hl63u bragnar fyrir biarg framan 
 vegg sterkligan ; var ek enn at {)vi. 
 Re3 ek at ganga me3 Gusis-nauta 80 
 beggja a milli biargs ok esjo, 
 skaut ek i auga einum {)ursi 
 ok i briost framan biarga Freyju. 
 |jar fekk ek heiti J)at ek hafa vilda, 
 er mik or fioUum fl6g3 kolluSu, 
 la'63uzt Oddi-Orvar vilja 
 byr braSliga a burt gefa. 
 Biinir letumk a burt ^a3an 
 bratt or eyju {jegar byr fengi, 
 heilir komum heim lir J)eirri, 90 
 
 gorSu fagna frsendr holl-vinum. 
 Vorum allir vetr {)ana saman 
 gulli gladdir ok gaman-malum, 
 drogu fyr3ar J)egar frerum letti, 
 heldr skrautligar skei3r at vatni. 
 Sigldum si3an su3r med landi 
 tal-laust skipum tveimr ok einu, 
 vaento fengjar J)eir er fyrir vissu 
 skiott ef Elvar-sker konnudum. 
 Fundum um si3ir fyrir i sundi 1 00 
 
 fiegna nyta f)6r3 ok Hialmar, 
 frettu fyr3ar, J)eir er fyrir voru, 
 hvort ver vildim fri3 e3a a tor halda. 
 Baru rekkar ra3 sin saman, 
 
 26 = Gisli, vol. ii, p. 333, 1. 31. 
 
 54 = Long Brunhild Lay, 1. 323,
 
 SPURIOUS EPICS. 
 
 551 
 
 J)6tti eigi fyr5um fe-v6n mikil, 
 
 kioru Haleygir kost inn vildra, 
 
 re3um leggja lag vort saman. 
 
 Heldum allir lir hofn skipum 
 
 J)egar full-hugar fengjar vaentum, 
 
 hraeddumz ekki medan h6f6iiigjar 1 10 
 
 heilir reSu fyrir her-skipum. 
 
 Vonim rei3ir J)a. er rand-berendr 
 
 horska hittum fyrir Holms-nesi, 
 
 re3um eignaz allar gerSar 
 
 snyrti-drengja af sex skipum. 
 
 Vorum allir vestr meS Skolla 
 
 J)ar at landi sat ly8a drottinn, 
 
 baru bragnar bl69gar randir 
 
 sver6um meiddir, enn ver sigr J)a3an. 
 
 H6f3u iarls li6ar lit-nes hro9it 120 
 
 rog-^ings vanir, sem refar hundum, 
 
 unnum vit Hialmar, er hinnig forum, 
 
 eldi ok usla eytt lang-skipum. 
 
 Fretti Gu3mundr ef ek fara vilda 
 
 heim at hausti, ok honum fylgja, 
 
 sag3a-ek svinnum at ek sia vilda 
 
 nor3r aldregi niSja mina, 
 
 Maeltum allir mot at sumri 
 
 austr i Elfi til ut-farar, 
 
 vildi Hialmar hinn hugum-stori 130 
 
 sveit mina su3r me3 ser hafa. 
 
 F6ru teitir tveggja vegna 
 
 bryn-J)ings bo3ar Jiegar byrir fenguzt 
 
 sigldum si3an Svi^i63ar til, 
 
 sottum Ingva til Uppsala. 
 
 Mer gaf Hialmarr inn hugum-itori 
 
 fimm b61-sta3i a fold saman, 
 
 unda ek au3i me3an a3rir mik 
 
 hringum kvoddu ok heils fri3ar. 
 
 Funduzt allir a fegins daegri 140 
 
 Svenskir seggir ok Sigur3r nordan, 
 
 raentu ytar eyjar-skeggja 
 
 au3i ollum, enn Jjeir eldz biSa. 
 
 Letum vestr J)a3an vandar fdka 
 
 Irlandz a vit oldur kanna, 
 
 h6f3u J)eira, er J)angat komum, 
 
 drengir ok drosir drifit or hiisum. 
 
 Rann-ek at vi3ri vagns sl63-gotu 
 
 unz ek streng-volum stri3um maetta ; 
 
 munda ek Asmund au3i minum 150 
 
 aptr odainn cillum kaupa. 
 
 Sa ek um si3ir hvar saman foru 
 
 karlar riiskvir ok konur J)eirra, 
 
 J)ar let ek flora fraendr Olvarar 
 
 egg-leiks hvata ondu tyna. 
 
 Re3 mik lir vagni vif at hefja, 
 
 ok ^aer hoddum mer hetu g63um, 
 
 ba3 mik snot koma sumar hit naesta, 
 
 lezt {)a launum leita mundu. 
 
 Varat sem brynja e3r blair hringar 160 
 
 iskold um mik a3an felli,. 
 
 J)a er um si3ur silki-skyrta 
 
 gulli saumu3 gekk fast ofan. 
 
 Forum vestan fengjar vitja 
 
 sva at bragnar mer bley3i kendu, 
 
 unz a Ski3i Skatnar fundu 
 
 brseSr b61-har3a ok at bana ur3u. 
 
 S6ti ok Halfdan i Svia-skerjum 
 
 morgum manni at mor3i var3, 
 
 unnum {)eirra, a3r J)a3an faerim, 1 70 
 
 hundra3 skipa hrodit me3 stofnum. 
 
 Fundum ^egna, er J)a3an forum, 
 
 teita ok sleitna i Tronu-vogum, 
 
 var eigi Ogmundi and-ran togut, 
 
 komumz Jsrir J)a3an, en J)eir niu. 
 
 Knatta ek ban-or3i fyrir brongnum hrosa 
 
 snotra seggja, er ek til siofar kom, 
 
 h6f3um vi3 Hialmar haldit ilia 
 
 J)a er Glami st63 1 gegnum spiorr. 
 
 Forum heim {)adan horskir Jjegnar, 180 
 
 enn haug fj6r3i hafan urpum, 
 
 ma3r engi J)or3i oss mot gora, 
 
 var oss vettegis vant ins g63a. 
 
 Voru vid Hialmarr hvart daegr gladir 
 
 me3an her-skipum heilum re3um, 
 
 unz i Samseyju seggi fundum 
 
 {)a er ben-logum breg3a kunnu. 
 
 Let ek falla und fxtr ara 
 
 tirar-lausa tolf berserki, 
 
 fia vard ek skiljazt a skapa-daegri 190 
 
 vi3 J)ann inn mesta minn fuU-triia. 
 
 Haf3a ek ei a aldri minum 
 
 hofu3 hraustara hvergi fundit, 
 
 bar ek mer a herSum hialmum grimman 
 
 ok til Sigtuna si3an haf3ak. 
 
 Let ek eigi J)ess langt at bi3a 
 
 at ek Saeundi at sionum var3, 
 
 unnu skatnar skip min hro3in, 
 
 enn ek sialfr J)a3an sundz kosta5ik. 
 
 Gekk ek um Gautland i grimmum hug 
 
 sex daegr i samt a3r ek Saeund fyndag, 
 
 let ek hans li3a hiorvi maeta 202 
 
 sex ok atta me3 sialfum gram. 
 
 Let ek su3r um haf laagt um farit 
 
 at ek grunn-saevi gildu maettag, 
 
 var3 ek einn saman, en annan veg 
 
 gumna mengi gekk hel-vegu. 
 
 Enn kom ek J)ar er Akvitania 
 
 bragna kindir borgum re3u, 
 
 J)ar let ek flora fallna liggja 210 
 
 hrausta drengi. Nii em ek her kominn. 
 
 |>at var fyrr er ek for senda 
 
 ok ollum Jjeim or3 in mestu 
 
 ni3jum minum a Nor3r-vega, 
 
 var3 ek sva feginn fundi {)eirra 
 
 sem hungra3r haukr bra3um. 
 
 Brcignum ^remr bu3u skatnar 
 
 margir si3an metor3 ^a3ra 
 
 i83=Vspa32. 
 
 i87 = Helgi i. 323. 
 
 215, 2i6 = Helgi i, 213.
 
 552 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 enn ek t)eygi t)at Jjiggja vilda, 
 
 ur9u baSir par braeftr eptir. 2 20 
 
 Re9 ek skunda fra skatna li6i, 
 
 hittak brei3a borg lorsala, 
 
 re& ek allr i a fara, 
 
 kunna ek ^a Kristi at ^iona. 
 
 Veil ek at forsum falla let 
 
 Jordan um mik fyrir utan Girki, 
 
 belt enn \)6, sem hverr vissi, 
 
 itr-gor skyrta ollum kostum. 
 
 Maetta ek gammi gliufrum naerri, 
 
 flaug hann me6 mik fiarri londum, J30 
 
 J)ar til hafa hamra fundum, 
 
 let mik hvilazt J)ar i hreiSri sinu : 
 
 Unz mik Hildir hafSi aburtu, 
 
 risi ramligr, a r66rar-skutu, 
 
 let mik veitir Vimrar elda 
 
 tolf manaSi me3 ser hvilazt. 
 
 {)yddumk ek hia Hildi horska ok stora 
 
 raun-sialiga risa dottur, 
 
 ok vi6 henni heldr sterkligan 
 
 itran son eiga gorftak 240 
 
 ok olikan ossum ni3jum. 
 
 |)ann drap Ogmundr Eyj5i6fs-bani 
 
 i Hellulandz hrauns obygSum, 
 
 enn ek felaga bans fiorvi naemdak, 
 
 hefi-ek ei viking verra fundit. 
 
 Fleiri hefir mina fostbraeSr drepit 
 
 Gardar ok Sirni, gekk skegg af flagSi, 
 
 var hann \>a, ongum likr at yfir-liti, 
 
 kallaSr si3an Kvillanus Blesi. 
 
 fiotta ek haefr at hidr-regni, 250 
 
 ^a er ver bor&umk a Bravelli, 
 
 ba6 Hringr \ik hamalt fylkja 
 
 Odd hinn ViSforla at orrostn. 
 
 Hitta ek eptir a hug-snara 
 
 lofftunga tva litlu siSarr, 
 
 veitt^ ek 63rum vigs um gengi 
 
 ungum iofri arfs at kve3ja. 
 
 Kom ek um si3ir J)ar er snarir J)6ttuzt 
 
 Sigur3r ok Sidlfr i sveit konungs, 
 
 re3 OSS skatna li3 skotz at beida 260 
 
 ok skialdar fimi vi3 skatna mengi : 
 
 Skaut ek ei skemra en skilfingar, 
 
 var lett skafin lind i hendi, 
 
 redum siSan sundz at kosta, 
 
 l^t ek J)a ba3a bl63i snyta. 
 
 Var mer skiald-meyiu skipat it nsesta 
 
 J)a er orrostu eiga skyldum, 
 
 veit ek at ytar i An^ekju 
 
 and-ran bi3u, enn ver au3 fiar, 
 Sottum sverSi seggja kindir, 270 
 
 ok tre-go3um tyndum fieirra, 
 bai3a ek Bialka i borgar-hlidi 
 eiki-kylfu, sva at hann ond um let, 
 |)a var mer Harekr hollr fuU-trui 
 er hann festi mer fostru sina, 
 atta ek horska hilmis dottur, 
 vel redum snot saman sigri ok londum. 
 Sat ek at saelu si3an minni 
 vilgi lengi, sem ek vita J)6ttumz. 
 Fioldi er at segja fra forum minum, 280 
 snotrum seggjum sia mun in efsta. 
 J)er skulud skynda til skipa ofan 
 heilir allir ; her munum skiljazt, 
 Beri3 Silkisif ok sonum okkrum 
 kveSju mina. Kem ek eigi Jiar. 
 
 III. Ord and Priestess, 
 
 (From Holm, 7.) 
 
 Al/Bialki: 
 Hverr veldr eldi hverr orrostu, 
 hverr iarls magni eggjum beitir ? 
 hof svi3nu3u, horgar brunnu, 
 hverr rau3 eggjar a Yngva ni3 ? 
 
 O. Oddr brendi hof ok horga braut, 
 ok tre-go3um tyndi l)inum, 
 g6r3u J)au ekki g635 i heimi 
 er t)au or eldi cisla ne mattu. 
 
 Pr. Jjess hlaegjumz ek at hafir fengna 
 Frays reiSi J)u fari blandna. 10 
 
 Hialpi jEsir ok Asynjur, 
 gorvoll regin gySjum sinum ! 
 E3a hverr eggja3i \)'\k austan hingat 
 fraeknan fella ok flara3an ? 
 
 O. Hir3i ek eigi \)6tt heitir J)u, 
 f6,rgiarnt hofu3, Freys rei3i mer, 
 illt er at eiga ^rael at einka-vin, 
 skolo3 eigi er skratta biota. 
 Veit ek i eldi Asu brenna, 
 troll eigi ^ik ! truig gu3i einum. 
 
 IV. The Cloak o' Beards. 
 Ogmund says : 
 Nu mun ek kasta ver3a kapu minni mun ek hennar m63r miok missa verSa ; 
 
 J)eirri er gor var af gron iofra J)eir elta mik all-sysliga 
 
 en hla3-buin a hliSar ba3ar, Oddr ok Sirnir orrosto fra. 
 
 241 =Helgi iii. 43.
 
 SPURIOUS EPICS. 
 
 653 
 
 3. HALF SAGA. 
 (From Cod. Reg. 2845.) 
 
 I. Innstan and King. 
 
 In, Upp mundu ver allir ganga 
 skatna beztir af skipum vorum, 
 lata brenna bragninga sveit " 
 ok Asmundar lid aldri tyna. 
 
 Ki. Ver skulum halfir herjar {)essa 
 sattir saekja fra sio ne6an ; 
 Asmundr hefir oss um bo9na 
 hringa rau9a sem hafa viljum. 
 
 In. Ser ei f)U allan Asmundar hug, 
 hefir fylkir sa flaerS i briosti, 10 
 
 mundir ^u, J)engill, ef ver |)vi r^5im, 
 magi J)inum miok Htt tnia. 
 
 Ki. Asmundr hefir oss um unnit 
 margar trygSir, sem menn vitu ; 
 muu ei g63r kouungr ganga a sxttir, 
 ne gramr annan i gri3um vaela. 
 
 In. |>er er or6inn OSinn til gramr, 
 er J)u Asmiindi all-vel truir, 
 hann mun alia oss um vxla 
 nema J)u viti vi5-siar fair. 20 
 
 Ki. JEi lystir J)ik aeSru at mxla, 
 mun ei sa konuiigr saettir riufa, 
 gull eigum ^ar ok gersimar, 
 hringa rau3a fra hans biium. 
 
 In. Halfrdreymdimik,hyg5u atsliku, 
 at logi leki um li9i voru, 
 illt vaeri J)ar or at leysazt ; 
 Hvat kva5 J)U, {jengill, J)ann draum vita ? 
 
 Ki. Hrynja um her5ar J)eim er ham- 
 alt fylkja 
 grams verSungu gyldnar brynjur, 30 
 J)at mun a oxlum 651ings vinum 
 Host at lita sem logi brenni. 
 
 In. Enn dreym6i mik 66ru sinni, 
 hugSak k oxlum elda brenna, 
 gruna tek ek nokkut at J)at gott viti, 
 Hvat kva6 J). J). {)ann draum vita ? 
 
 Ki. Gefa mun ek hverjum hialm ok 
 brynju 
 fraekna drengja er fylgja mer, 
 J)at man at lita sem logi brenni 
 skioldungs li3i of skarar fiollum. 40 
 
 In. Jjat dreym6i mik J)ri6ja sinni, 
 at ver i kaf niSr komnir vserim ; 
 eiga mun all-stort um at vaela. 
 Hvat k. J). J). J), draum vita ? 
 
 Ki. Full-langt er sia fifl-skapr tala5r 
 vera kva6 ek ekki undir sliku : 
 seg t)U enga sva at heyri 
 drauma ^ina i degi siSan. 
 
 In. Hly6i Hrokar ok her-konungr 
 ordum minum, Utsfeinn |)ri3i ! 50 
 
 gongum allir upp fra striindu, 
 
 kunnum ekki konungs mal um fiat. 
 
 Konung latu ver keppinn ra9a 
 
 fyrir foiki um farar vorar ; 
 
 hasttum, br65ir, svo honum liki, 
 
 fiorvi okkru me3 fromum visi. 
 
 Hlytt hefir fylkir i forum liti 
 
 minum raSum morgu sinni, 
 
 mi kve5 ek ongu er ek maeli 
 
 hly3a vilja sizt hingat komum. 60 
 
 n. In the Hall. 
 
 In, Rykr um hauka i hoU konungs, 
 von er at riiiki vax af soxum ; 
 mal er guUi ok gersemum, 
 hialmum skipta me5 Halfs-rekkum. 
 Hins fysi ek mi at Halfr vaki, 
 er ei af eklu eldar kyndir, 
 attu, men-briotr, magi J)inum 
 grimm-lundu5um giafir at launa. 
 Hrindum heilir hallar biori, 
 mi taka sulur i sundr {joka : 10 
 
 ae man uppi me3an old lifir 
 Halfs-rekka for til hertoga. 
 Hart skulum ganga, ok hlifa ekki viS, 
 ver&r visis li6 at vega me6 soxum ; 
 fieir skulu sialfir a ser bera 
 bl63gar benjar a6r braki letti. 
 Snuizt snarliga, snyrti-drengir, 
 lit or eldi me9 au6-brota ; 
 enginn er yta sa er ae lifir, 
 mun ei baug-broti vi6 bana kvi3a. 20 
 Her sa ek alia einum fylgja 
 iafn-/oskliga 631ings vini ; 
 hittumzt heilir J)a he3an liSum, 
 er ei I^ttara lif enn daudi. 
 Hrokr er fallinn me3 hertoga 
 frsekn a fotum folks odd vita. 
 Eigum <33ni illt at gialda 
 er hann slikan konung sigri raenti. 
 Ek hefi liti atian sumur 
 fylgt fullhuga flein at ri63a ; 30 
 
 skal ek eigi annan eiga drottinn 
 gunnar-giarnan ne gamall ver3a. 
 
 Her mun Innsteinn til iardar hni'ga 
 horskr at h6f3i hers oddvita. 
 f)at munu seggir at sogum giora 
 at Halfr konungr hlsejandi do. 
 
 HI. jytstan and Ulf and Eystan. 
 
 lit. Hitt hlsEgir mik helzt 1 mali, 
 mun eigi Asmundi oil va sofa ; 
 J)rir eru fallnir af J)vi li3i 
 Eynefs synir, enn einn lifir. 
 Upp skulum risa ok lit ganga
 
 654 
 
 APPENDIX, 
 
 ok ramligar randir knyja, 
 
 hugg ek vi6 hialmum hinga9 komnar 
 
 til Dannerkr disir varar. 
 
 Ul. Y3r munu dau3ar disir allar, 9 
 heill kve3 ek horfna fra Halfs-rekkum ; 
 dreyni6i mik i morgin at megir vorir 
 efri yxh'x hvar er ver msettumz. 
 
 Ut. Sigrs vaenti ek mer synu betra, 
 enn Ulfr vili aeskja Steini, 
 y5r mun snimma at sver3-togi 
 hauss um hogginn, enn hals ro9inn. 
 
 Ul. Munu J)eir efri ver9a Ulfs synir, 
 Oddr ok Ornolfr, Atli inn Svarti, 
 Borkr ok Brynjolfr, Bui, HarSskafi, 
 Rau3r inn Rammi, ef ^li reynir til. 20 
 
 Ut. Mundi eigi Steini ne Stara {)ikkja 
 ogn at etja vi9 Ulfs-sono, 
 J)vi at eigi var vorum br69ur 
 vi6 drit-menni J)itt dramb at etja. 
 |>6tti eigi Hrokum ne Halfdani 
 raun at berjaz vi9 rag-mennij 
 J)a er fiorir ver falla letum 
 atta iarla fyrir Annis-nesi. 
 Pari Ulfs synir ut at berjaz 
 atta drengir vi9 eitt hofud, 30 
 
 mun ei stokkva, J)6tt Steinn hafi 
 faera nokkut i flokki li9. 
 Halfr dreym3i mik hvati at ek berdumz, 
 ok kvaz mer frsekn konungr fylgja 
 
 skyldu, 
 hefir mer gramr verit g66r i draumi 
 hvar ver orrosto eiga skyldum. 
 
 Nu er ek inn kominn Ulfi at segja, 
 at bans synir hoggnir liggja, 
 mi fari Eysteinn ef J)er vilit 
 fleiri at freista vi9 fleina vi5. 40 
 
 Ey. Sialft mun letja sliks at freista 
 Halfs eru rekkar hverjum meiri ; 
 {)ik veil ek manna miklu fremstan, 
 einn sniallastan er J)u atta vott. 
 
 TJt. Alia munda ek Eysteins Ii3a 
 iverSi beita at somu hofi. 
 Ef mer J)arfir J)ess verks saei, 
 e6r illt me3 oss a6r um vseri. 
 Magni fysir engi vi5 mik at deila, 
 J)vi at mer var ungum aldr skapaSr : 50 
 ek hefi hiarta hart i briosti 
 sizt mer i aesku OQinn fram3i. 
 
 IV. Hr6k the Black. 
 
 Nu mun segja sonr Hamundar 
 hvert e31i var okkart braedra : 
 minn var fa3ir miklu fremri 
 haukr gorr at hug, enn Haki y3varr, 
 Vildi engi vi3 Vitil iafnaz 
 
 J)6 at Hamundar hiar9ar gsetti, 
 sa ek ongan J)ar svina-hir3i 
 huglausara enn He3ius arfa. 
 MIn var sevi miklo ae3ri, 
 fia er Halfi konungi horskum fylgSum ; 
 barum allir eitt rad saman 1 1 
 
 ok herju3um hvert land yfir. 
 H6f3um ver allir hauk-manna 113 
 hvar sem fr6d-huga3r frama kosta3i, 
 gengum ver i gognum me3 gra hialma 
 full-stor 611 fostr-lond niu. 
 Half sa ek hoggva hondum b^3um, 
 haf3i eigi hilmir hlif-skibld fyrir ser, 
 finnr engi ma3r, ^ott fari vi3a, 
 haefra hiarta ok hug-pru3ara. 20 
 
 Maela vir3ar, J)eir er vitu eigi, 
 at Halfs frami heimsku saetti, 
 kann eigi sa konung Haleyskan 
 er heimsku firutt honum eigna3i. 
 Ba3 hann ei vi3 dau3a drengi kvi3a, 
 ne ae3ru-or3 ekki maela, 
 engi skyldi iofri fylgja 
 nema forlog um fylkis heldi. 
 Skyldu ei stynja, J)6tt stor hlyti 
 sar i soknum, siklings vinir, 30 
 
 ne benjar ser binda lata 
 fyrr enn annars dags iafn-Iengd kzmi. 
 Bad ei hann i her hoptu grxta, 
 ne mans-kono mein at vinna, 
 mey bad hann hverja mundi kaupa, 
 fcigru gulli, at fo9ur ra3i. 
 Voru ei sva margir menn a skei3um, 
 at ver a flutta fyrir heldim, 
 J)6 at miklu 113 minna hef6im, 
 sva at ellifu einum gegndi. 40 
 
 Hof3um ver allir enn efra hlut 
 hvar sem Hildar [el] hlifar kniidi : 
 einn vissa ek iafn-sniallan gram, 
 Sigurd konung at solum Giuka. 
 Margir voru menn a skei3um 
 godir ok fraeknir me3 gram sialfum. 
 BiJrkr ok Brynjolfr .... 
 
 Fair mundu fieim fylkis rekkum 
 
 haefir fiykkja or Haka veldi. 
 
 Hvergi J)6lta ek i {)vi lidi 50 
 
 opt aukkvisi aettar minnar; 
 
 mik kv63u J)eir manna snarpastan, 
 
 J)vi at hvarr o3rum hr63rs leita3i. 
 
 fylg3i sinu sa framligast 
 
 lofdungr liSi me3an-lifa matti. 
 
 Naut eigi sva aldrs sem skyldi 
 
 fraskn landreki viS frama da3ir, 
 
 tolf vetra nam tiggi at herja, 
 
 enn J)a var fiengill t)ritugr er do. 
 
 Slikt kennir mer at sofa litid 60 
 
 6, Hlod and Angantheow, 1. 60. 9. Atlamal 94. 47. See vol. i, p. 355.
 
 SPURIOUS EPICS. 
 
 555 
 
 marga grimu ok miok vaka, 
 
 er broSir minn brenna skyldi 
 
 kvikr i eldi me5 konungs rekkum. 
 
 Sa hefir dagr um mik daprastr komit 
 
 miklu i heimi, sva at menn viti ; 
 
 muna J)ikkjumk ver allir si3an 
 
 at fylgja mattum fr3e5um hoUum. 
 
 Allz mundi mer angrs Itittara, 
 
 ef ek Halfs konungs hefna maettak, 
 
 sva at Asmundi egg-franan hior 70 
 
 briina 'baugspiot' briost raufgadak. 
 
 Hefnt mun vera Halfs ins fraekna, 
 
 {)vi at jjeir gofgan gram i griSum vaeltu, 
 
 oUi mor6i ok mann-ska3a 
 
 Asmundr konurgr illu heilli. 
 
 |)a mun reyna ok raun gefa, 
 
 ef vit Sveinn komum saman i romu, 
 
 hvarir i vigi ver3a haefri 
 
 Hamundar burr e6a Haka J)egnar. 
 
 Segi ek sva kve5it snotru vifi, 80 
 
 at ek Brynhildar bi5ja mundak, 
 
 ef vita J)settumz at vildi hoa 
 
 Hroki unna Hamundar bur. 
 
 Von vaeri mer vitra manna 
 
 snarpra segja, ef ver saman aettim, 
 
 J)vi ek fann ei mey marg-svinnari 
 
 hvergi landa, en Haka dottur. 
 
 Fann ek aldri, fio hef-ek farit vifla, 
 
 hugg-J)ekkri mey, en Haka dottur. 
 
 Her {jykki er mi i Haka veldi 90 
 
 hornungr vera hverrar J)i63ar, 
 eigu allir innar at sitja 
 . . . enn Halfs-rekkar. 
 
 4. BUSLU-BiEN, from BOSA SAGA. 
 (From AM. 577, 343.) 
 
 Her liggr HrjngLkonungr hilmir Gauta 
 ein-ra6astr allra manna,' 
 aetlar J)u son J)inn sialfr at myr3a, 
 J)au munu fa-daemi frettaz viSa. 
 
 Heyr pii baen Buslu, hun mun bratt 
 sungin, 
 sva at heyraz ska! um helm allan, 
 ok 6J)orf ollum J)eim er a heyra, 
 en {)eim fiandlegust sem ek vil fortala : 
 
 Villiz vsettir, ver6i odaemi, 
 hristiz hamrar, heimr sturliz, 10 
 
 versni ve6ratta, ver3i odaemi — 
 Nema Hringr konungr Herrau3 fri3i 
 ok Bogo-Bosa biargir veiti. 
 
 Sva skal ek Jjiarma J)er at briosti 
 at hiarta J)itt hdgg-ormr gnagi, 
 en eyru {)in aldri heyri, 
 en augu ^I'n (it hverf snuiz — 
 Nema pu Bosa biorg um veitir 
 ok Herrau3i heipt upp gefir. 
 
 Ef J)u siglir, slitni reidi, 20 
 
 en af styri stiJkkvi krokar, 
 rifni reflar, reki segl ofan, 
 en ak-taumar allir slitni — 
 
 Nema J)u HerrauSi heipt upp gefir, 
 en Bogu-Bosa bi6ir til saetta. 
 
 Ef \>u xib'iT, raskiz taumar, 
 heltiz hestar, en hrumiz klarar, 
 en gotur allar ok gagn-stigar 
 tra3iz tvefaldar i troU-hendr fyr J)er — • 
 Nema J)u Bosa .... 30 
 
 Se l)er i hvilu sem i halm-eldi 
 en i hasaeti sem a haf-b4ru, 
 {)6 skal {)er siSar synu verra 
 ef ^li vilt vid meyjar mans gaman. 
 villr ertu vegarins. Viltu jpulu lengri? 
 Troll ok alfar ok tavfra nornir 
 buar, berg-risar brenni J)inar hallir, 
 hati hrim-J)ursar hallir J)inar ; 
 strain stangi J)ik 1 stofnar angri J)ik 1 
 ver6i {jer vei, nema \>u vilja minn gorir. 
 
 Komi her seggir sex, seg J)u mer nofn 
 Jjeira 41 
 
 611 obundin, ek skal J)er syna ; 
 getr \>u eigi radit sva rett J)iki, 
 {)a skulu J)ik hundar i hel gnaga 
 ok sal Jjin soekkva i viti. 
 
 5. STAR-ORDI'S DREAM (AM. 555, chart.) 
 
 (Drauma vitranir, edit, i860.) 
 
 VoRU austr a loru-skogi 
 barmar tveir biils um fyidir, 
 ok til fiar fyr&ar nsemdu 
 vi6 mor3-ra3 mcirgu sinni. 
 Enn sA gramr er gera braeSir 
 hefir tir-giarn tindott hiarta, 
 
 ok b63-fraekn ba3a felldi 
 Garp ok Gny Geirvi5r konungr. 
 Re6 iafn-giarn audi at skipta, 
 Ro3biartz sonr rekka maerSi 
 af t)vi (6 fyr&a kindir 
 er svik-menni safnat h6f3u. 
 Let gunn-diarfr gefna hringa 
 seggja sett siklingr Gauta, 
 
 35. Helgi i. 180.
 
 S56 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 sva at hir5-menn hofSu allir 
 
 hauka stols hengi-skafla. 
 
 Mun Dagfinnr dyrra mala 
 
 vi5 lofs-ord liika kvxb'i, 
 
 nioti vel vegs ok landa 
 
 gramr gofugr Gauzkrar J)i63ar ! 20 
 
 6. Frotn Gongu-Hrolf Saga {AM. 343). 
 
 GleSzt HreggviSr af g63ri for 
 Hrolfs ins hugdiarfa hingat til landa, 
 mun rekkr sa raesis hefua 
 a Eireki ok oUum {)eim. 
 
 Gledzt HreggviSr af Grims dau6a, 
 f)6r3ar ok ^ar me5 ^riota lifs-stundir, 
 mun flokkr sa fianda minna 
 fyrir Hrolfi hniga verSa. 
 
 Glezt Hreggvi3r J)a Hrolfr faer 
 ungrar meyjar IngigerSar, 10 
 
 mun H6Im-gar3i hilmir styra 
 Sturlaugs sonr. Standi kvaeSi ! 
 
 7. Ans Saga (AM. 343). 
 
 Vel J)er, selja, stendr J)u sio nxrri 
 laiifguS harSla vel ... . 
 maSr skekr af J)er morgin-doggvar, 
 enn ek at J)egni J)rey natt sem dag. 
 
 |jat muntu finna er J)u flor mokar, 
 at J)u eigi ert An bog-sveigir, 
 J)u ert brauft-sveigir heldr en bog-sveigir 
 osta-sveigir, en eigi alm-sveigir. 
 
 Meyjar spur5u er mik fundu 
 hvit-haddadar, HvaSan komtu fer-faldr ? 
 Enn ek svara3a silki-gunni 11 
 
 heldr haeSinni : Hvadan er logn uti ? 
 
 8. Fridthiow Saga (see Bk. ix). 
 
 Se ek troll-konor tvaer a baru 
 Jjser hefir Helgi hingat sendar, 
 J)eim skal sni3a sundr i mi3ju 
 hrygg Elli3i a3r af for skri3r. 
 Heill Ellidi ! hlauptu a baru, 
 briottu i troil-konom tennr ok enni, 
 kinnr ok kialka i konu vandri 
 fot e3a ba3a i flag3i J)essu. 
 
 f)urfi3 ei drengir dau3a at kvi3a 
 verit J)i63-gla3ir J)egnar minir, lo 
 
 J)at of vita vorir draumar 
 at ek eiga mun Ingibiorgu. 
 
 Ek bar upp til eld-stoar 
 
 daesta drengi i drifu-ve3ri, 
 
 nu hef ek segli a sand komit, 
 
 ei er vi3 hafs megin haegt at reyna. 
 
 Menn se ek ansa i megin-ye3ri 
 sex a Ellida enn siau roa, 
 Jjat er gunn-hvotum glikt i stafni, 
 FriS^iof Fraekna er fram fellr vi3 arar. 
 Taktu af golfi, gang-fogr kona, 21 
 
 horn holfanda, hefik af drukkit, 
 menn se ek a mar Jia er munu J)urfa 
 hregg-moSir li5 a8r hofn taki. 
 
 Drukkum fyrr a Framnesi 
 fraeknir drengir me3 fo3ur minum, 
 mi se ek brendan bae Jjann vera, 
 a ek o31inguin ilk at launa. 
 Einn mun ek ganga inn til baejar, 
 J)arf ek liti3 113 lof3unga at finna, 
 varpi3 eldi i iofra bae 30 
 
 ef ek kem eigi aptr at kveldi. 
 
 Taktu vi3 skatti skatna drottinn 
 fremstu tonnum, nema t)u framar bei3ir, 
 silfr er a botni belgjar ^essa 
 sera vit Biorn hofum ba3ir ra3it. 
 
 Kysta ek unga Ingibiorgu 
 Bela dottur i Baldrs-haga, 
 sva skolu arar a Elli3a 
 badar bresta sem bogi Helga. 
 
 f)a het ek Fri3J)i6fr, er ek for me3 vik- 
 ongum, 40 
 
 enn HerJ)i6fr, er ek ekkjur graetta, 
 GeirJ)i6fr, er ek gaflokum fleyg3a, 
 Gunn{)i(jfr er ek gekk at fylki, 
 Ey{)i6fr, er ek lit-sker raenta, 
 Heljjiofr, er ek henta sma-bornum, 
 Val^iofr, J)a ek var aedri monnum. 
 Nu hef ek sveimat si3an me3 salt-korlum 
 hialpar J)urfandi a3r ek hingat kom. 
 
 Brunt. 
 
 Ketil. 
 
 KETIL HCENG'S SAGA (AM. 343 and 471). 
 I. Bruni and Ketil. 
 
 Heill kom \,n, Hsngr, her skaltu l)iggja, 
 
 allan vetr me3 oss vera 
 
 J)er num ek fastna, nema Jjii fyr latir, 
 
 dottur mina a3r dagr komi. 
 
 Her mun ek l)iggja, hygg ek at valdi 
 
 Finnz fiolkyngi feikna-ve3ri, 
 
 ok 1 allan dag einn ios ek vi3 J)ria, 
 
 hvalr kyr3i haf, her mun ek ^iggja.
 
 SPURIOUS EPICS. 557 
 
 II. Ketil and Gust the Finn King. 
 Ketil, Skri6 J)u af kialka, kyrr J)u hreina 
 
 seggr si6-forull, segSu hvattii heitir. 
 Gusi, Gusi kalla mik gofgir Finnar, 
 
 em ek oddviti allrar ^iodar. 
 Ketil. Hsengr ek hetti kominn or Hrafnistu, 
 
 hefnir Hallbiainar, hypg ek ei fri6ar bi3ja, 
 
 fri6-maelum nisela, mun ek ei vi5 Finn ragann, 
 
 heldr mun ek boga benda Jjann mer Bruni gaf. 
 Gusi. Hverr er a iindrum ondverdan dag 
 
 giarn til gunnar i giinimum hug, 10 
 
 vi3 skulum freista flein at ri65a 
 
 hvorr at oSrum, nema hugr bili. 
 Ketil. Haeng kalla mik halfu nafni, 
 
 mun ek veita Jser vi6na,n) he3an, 
 
 skaltu vist vita a6r vit skiljum 
 
 at bu-korlum bita orvar. 
 Gusi, Bustu mi vi3 bitri egg-Jsrimu, 
 
 haf {)u hlif fyrir {)er, hart mun ek skiota, 
 
 J)er mun ek bra51a at bana verSa 
 
 nema l)u af au9i cillum latir. 20 
 
 Ketil. Mun ek af au6i eigi lata 
 
 ok fyr einum fier aldri renna, 
 
 fyrr skal hoggin hlif fyrir briosti, 
 
 en fyrir sionum svart at ganga. 
 Gnsi. Skaltu ei gulli ok gersemum 
 
 me3 heilum hag heima ra6a, 
 
 kemr {jer b:ini bratt at hoiidum, 
 
 ef vit skulum uti oddum leika. 
 Ketil. Mun ek ei gulli vi6 Gusi skipta 
 
 ne fyrri fri6ar maela, JO 
 
 mer er braSr bani betri miklu 
 
 en hugleysi ok heSan-kvama. 
 
 Feigr er mi Finnr inn ragi, 
 
 at hann fot-treflr flein sinn rangan. 
 
 III. Ketil and Ogre. 
 Ogre. Hvat er ^at bysna er ek a biargi se 
 
 ok gnapir eldi yfir? 
 bii-sifjar okkrar hykkat ek batna munu, 
 
 littu a li66-vega *. 
 Hvat er {sat manna er mer i moti ferr, 
 
 skri6r Jiii sem vargr af vi6i, 
 sedru skaltu maela 
 
 J)rysvar i {jrumu fir6i (!). 
 Ketil. Hialmr ok Stafnglamr, hlifiS ykkr baSir, 
 
 geti6 rum gomlum at ganga framar h6ti. 10 
 
 Fliuga folk-n69rur, fraekn er Dala-kappi, 
 liotr er leikr eggja, litaS er skegg a karli, 
 skrapa skiim-kyrtlar, skialfa iiirn-serkir, 
 hristazt hring-skyrtur, hraeSizt biSill meyjar. 
 
 IV. Ketil and Ogre. 
 Ketil. Hvat er {jat fiag6a er ek so a fornu nesi 
 ok glottir vi6 gunia, 
 
 24. Hialmar's Death Song, I. 22, °- The?e are echoes from old poems in 
 
 dialogue-metre mixed up v/ith the spurious, and are in the following lines : — III. i-8 ; 
 IV. 1-4, 8, 9, 17, 25-30, 36-39, as well as in V.
 
 558 APPENDIX. 
 
 at upp verandi solu ? hef ek onga fyr 
 lei6ilegri litiS. 
 Ogre. Fora5 ek heiti, faedd var ek norSarla 
 
 hraust i Hrafnseyju, hvim-lei6 bu-monnum 
 
 or til arseSis hvatki er illt skal vinna. 
 
 Morgum manni hefek til moldar snuit 
 J)eim er til fiskjar foro (!) 
 
 hverr er sia, hinn kopur-mali er kominn er i skerin? lo 
 
 Ketil. Haeng kalla mik halfu nafni. 
 Ogre, Hollara vaeri ^er heima i Hrafnisto, 
 
 en dratta einum til ut-skerja 
 Ketil. Einhlitr ek J)6ttumk .... 
 
 hvat er flogS msela 
 
 lasta ek dreng daesinn, drep ek a vit fanga. 
 
 Hykkat ek fyrir vinnast hvat er ForaS maelir, 
 
 nau9ir mik hvottu, nanum atti ek biarga, 
 
 haetti ek eigi a holm til sela, 
 
 ef i eyju heima aernir vxri. 20 
 
 Ogre. Synja ek Jiess eigi, segir hin vi3-forla, 
 
 at J)u lif hafir langt um nienn a5ra 
 
 ef J)u fund okkarn fyrSum segir, 
 
 sveinn litill, s6 ek J)iim hug skialfa. 
 Ketil. Ungr var ek heima, for ek ein saman, 
 opt i ut-veri, 
 
 marga myrk-ri3u ek fann a minni gotu, 
 
 hraeddumk ek aldri .... 
 flag5a fri6san. 
 
 Langleit ertu fostra, ok laetr roa hefit, 30 
 
 ei hefik flagSit ferligra litid, 
 
 e3a hvert hefir J)u forina gorva? 
 Ogre. Gang hof ek upp i Angri, eigra6a ek til Steigar, 
 
 skalm .... ek til Karmtar, 
 
 elda mun ek a laSri ok a tJtsteini blasa, 
 
 austr skal ek vi5 Elfi, kbx dagr a mik skini 
 
 me& bru3guma .... ok bra31a gefi6 iarli. 
 Ketil. Sey&i J)inum mun ek snua, en sialfum J)er gniia, 
 unz J)ik gri6r gripr. 
 
 6rum trui ek minum, en fiii afrendi J)inu, 40 
 
 fleinn mun mi maeta nema J)u fyrir hroekkvir. 
 Ogre. Flog ok Fifu hygg ek Jier fiarri vera, 
 hrae3umk ek eigi Hremsu bit. 
 
 V. BoSmod and Ketil. 
 
 Bodmod. Hverr er sa inn hari er a haugi sitr 
 ok horfir ve3ri viSr ? 
 frost-har6an mann hygg ek {jik feiknum vera, 
 hvat Jjer hvergi hlyr ? 
 Ketil. Ketill ek heiti kominn or Hrafnistu, 
 J)ar var ek upp um alinn, 
 hug-fullt hiarta veit ek hlifa mer, 
 \>6 vildag gisting geta. 
 Bodtndd. Upp skaltu n'sa ok ganga haugi af, 
 
 ok saekja mina sali lO 
 
 mals-efnis ann ek ^er margan dag, 
 ef J)u vilt J)iggja J)ar. 
 
 26. Guest's Wisdom, 1. 97.
 
 SPURIOUS EPICS. 
 
 559 
 
 Kelil, Upp mun ek risa ok ganga haugi af, 
 allz mer B6&m66r by3r, 
 br65ir minn f)aEtt saeti brautu naer 
 mundi eigi betr um boSit. 
 Bodmdd. Reyndr ertu fostri at ganga her-vfgis til 
 ok berjazt vi5 Framar til fiar 
 a l^ttum aldri gaf honuin 03inn sigr, 
 
 miok kve6-ek hann vigum vanan. 
 Kedl. 66inn biota g6r6a ek aldregi, 
 hefig J)6 lengi lifat, 
 Framar veil ek falla munu 
 
 fyrr en J)etta it hafa hofuS. 
 
 VI. Framar and Kelil. 
 
 Framar. Veifir J)U vaengjum, vopnum mun ek {)er heita, 
 vafrar J)u nu, vi3-floguli, sem vitir mik feigan, 
 villr ertu vig-starri, vi3 munum sigr hafa, 
 hverf J)u at Haengi, hann skal mi deyja. 
 
 Kelil. Dregzt \>u nu Dragvendill vi9 . . . amar, 
 msetir J)u mein-goldum, mattu ei bita, 
 mik J)ess ei var3i at hroekkva mundi 
 eggjar eitri her6ar, J)6 at 03inn deyfSi. 
 Hvat er J)er Dragvendill ? hvi ertu slaer orSinn ? 
 til hef ek mi hoggit, tregt er \>ei at bita, 
 hliSar {)u at hior-J)ingi, hefir Jjer ei fyrr or3it 
 bilt i braki malma, J)ar er bragnar hiugguzt. 
 
 Framar. Skelfr mi skegg a karli, skeika vapn gomlum, 
 fryr hann hior hvossum, hrseSizt faSir meyjar, 
 brynduz ben-teinar sva at bita msetti 
 holdum hug-pru8um, ef {)er hugr dyg3i, 
 
 Kelil. Ei {sarftu oss at eggja, eiga mer sialdan 
 fyrSar flaug-trau3ir fryja stor-hoggva ; 
 bit fiii mi, Dragvendill, e5a brotna ella, 
 horfin er heill baSum ef hilar hinn JjriSja. 
 HraeSizt ei fa6ir meyjar me3an heill er Dragvendill, 
 vita ek vist J)ikjumk, ver3r honum ei bilt firysvar. 
 
 Framar, Hugr er i Haengi, hvass er Dragvendill, 
 belt hann or& 06ins sem ekki vaeri, 
 brast mi Baldrs faSir, brigt er at triia honum, 
 niottu heill handa, her munum skiljazt. 
 
 lo. GRIM SHAGGY-CHEEK'S SAGA. 
 Grim and Os'ress. 
 
 Gr. Hvat heita J)aer hrauns ibiiur 
 er skada vilja skipi minu, 
 ykkr hef ek einar s^nar, 
 amatligstar at yfir-litum. 
 
 Og. Feima ek heiti, faedd var ek nor8- 
 arla 
 Hrimnis dottir i Hafialli, 
 her er systir min halfu fremri 
 Kleima at nafni koniin til siovar. 
 
 Gr. Jjrifizt hvergi |>iazza dottir, 
 bnidir vestar, bratt skal ek reiOazt, lo 
 rett skal ek ykkr a3r roSull skini 
 vorgum senda vist til bra5ar. 
 
 Kleima. put var fyrr at faSir okkar 
 burtu seiddi baru hiarSir, 
 
 skulu3 aldregi, nema skop ra3i, 
 heilir he3an heim um komazt. 
 
 Gr. Skal ek ykkr ba3um skiotla heita 
 oddi ok eggju i upp-hafi, 
 munu t)a reyna Riignis mellur 
 hvort betr dugir broddr e3a krumma. 20 
 
 Gr. H^r hofum fellt til foldar 
 tirar-lausa tolf berserki, 
 {)6 var Siirkvir seggja J)eira 
 J)roska mestr ok |>rostr annarr. 
 Fyrst mun ek likja ept f63ur minum 
 skal eigi min dottir, nema skor hdggviz, 
 nauSig gefin neinum manni.
 
 APPENDAGE TO INTRODUCTION. 
 
 (Page xxvii, note 4.) 
 
 I. Rimur in vellum, from the year 1450 to 1550, 
 
 Leikr enn hryg5 i li65a sal : liti6 kann eg spektar tal ; 
 hef eg ei Eddu heyrt ne se6 : hun hefir 63rum meira led. — 
 
 Sigurdar pogla Rimur, AM. 604. 
 OSrinn skal nu eigi myrkr : or5a er ^at minni styrkr ; 
 skaldin munu Jja skiala betr : ef skiolum ver ekki um Eddu letr. — 
 
 Sturlaug Starfsama R., AM. 603. 
 Eigi nennig Eddu lelifttn i or3um hyija; 
 gle6innar brogS fyrir gumnum dylja : gaman er ekki myrkt at {)ylja. — 
 
 Ans R., Cod. Wolph. 
 Bragarins smi5 um bauga hli5 skal brognum sent, 
 {)6 Edda hafi mer ekki kent : or6a fiold e5a kvaeSa ment. 
 And — Akta kann eg enga sorg i Eddu greinum. 
 And — Eddu hit meS ordin kat : ytar fylla maerSar bat ; 
 
 sonar gamm skal setja framm : ok selja lit a or3a damm. — Jarlmanns R. 
 
 Jjo er mer ekki J)at svo kaert : at {)ylja visur hreinar, 
 
 aldri hef-ek Eddu laert : or3a-dyg5ir neinar. — R. of III Verra ok Vest. 
 
 Aldri hef ek fir Eddu nein : afmors brogS e&a kvaeSa grein, 
 
 berst eg \>vi sem brim vid stein : J)a bliSa nefni-eg lauka rein. — 
 
 Konrads R., AM. 604. 
 Ekkert fae eg af Eddu 115 : a5 auka Jsenna mala kliQ ; 
 J)ykir hun sumum J)ung-skilin : J)vi komst ekki i huga minn. — 
 
 Dinus Dramhldta R, 
 Sv6 er mer Edda orSin leifl : hia 68rum fraeSum katum ; 
 nil hefig ekki um nokkurt skeiS : nytt af hennar latum. — Reinallz R. 
 
 II. From the year 1550 to 1650 (on Paper MSS. : Arna-Magn. 521, 606, 609, 611, 
 
 615, 4to; and 132, 139, 141,143,145,870). 
 
 Edda gcirir mer ongan styrk : or5a vals i smi5ju 
 
 {)vi er min ekki niselskan myrk : mserSar tals vi5 i&ju. — Pontus R. 
 
 Hars eg fiaSra hreggiS tel : heimskra manna fraeSi ; 
 
 skatnar hyggnir skilja vel : Shdldu og Eddu hxh'\. — 
 
 Valdimars R. [pdrdr a Striugt]. 
 
 Eddu hrdha aldri mig : aetla-eg viS a& sty9ja 
 
 og engan nema einsaman J)ig : sem allir eiga at bi3ja . . . 
 A7id — Vist munu skaldin virSa mer : til vorkunnar J)a gaeta a5 ser, 
 
 J)eir sem Eddu i3ka fin : a henni lima kvaeSin sin. 
 And — Sannleik allan segi eg {)er : og satt me9-kenni, 
 
 allt eins fer fyrir Eddu og mer : eg ales henni. — 
 
 Sib Meistara R. [Biorn Sturluson, 162 1]. 
 
 Ekki hefi-eg a Eddu sto5 : n^ or&a dyrum greinum, 
 
 ma eg J)vi ekki maerSar boS : meyjunum faera neinum. — 
 
 porsteins Bcejarmagns R. 
 
 Margir yrkja maerSir vel i minnis ranni 
 
 li63a smi3ir liost af munni : liti6 J)6 i Eddu kunni. 
 And— Frosta logur fremur sogur um friir og sveina, 
 
 bernsku bogur margir meina : malin fogur Eddu greina. — Rollants R. 
 
 Af Eddu fekk eg engan snert : um efoiS J)ykir meira vert. — Esthers R,
 
 APPENDAGE TO INTRODUCTION. 561 
 
 Onga hef-eg af Eddu ment : or3a srild a6 vanda, 
 
 veit eg mer J)vi varia hent : Vi3ris drykk a3 blaiida. — Tobias R. 
 
 Edda er s6i;6 ein agaet bok : ollum sem hana stunda, 
 
 morg og fogr a kenning klok : ef kappar ad {)vi grunda. — Vilmundar R. 
 
 Minzt er eg vi6 mentan kringr : maer6ir saman a6 reyra, 
 
 allra sizt i Eddu slingr : iildin ma ^at heyra. — Ulfars R. (Jon i Vattarnesi). 
 
 Nytuni yti eg NorSra priam : ef mi vill lily&a mengi, 
 
 Ekki fekk eg Eddu nam : 66s vi6 lioSa strengi. — pialar Jdns R. 
 
 Margir bruka i mansong fyrst : mi'ilin Eddu diiip og ha, 
 
 |)essa ekki lasta eg list : ^6 langt se eg henni burtu t'ra. 
 And — Eg hefi sizt viS Eddu tok . . . — Ambales R. 
 
 Hvernig ma sa heimskur er : hrundum faera mansongs kver, 
 
 ef hann ekki Eddu ber : og engin hennar daemin ser. 
 And — Engin hef-eg a Eddu skil : ne ungri skemta menja bil, 
 
 J)6 vil eg siotta sonar spil : soguiinar ver3a a6 hverfa til. — Hermdds R. 
 
 Skil eg mig vi6 skalda log og skikkan Eddu, 
 
 aldrei er, ef a6 {)vi grundi6 : efni J)yngra i maerdir bundiS. — Moyses R. 
 
 Eddu greinir engar fiyl : er J)ser bagt a6 skiija, 
 
 leirinn arnar laet eg til : lasti hann Jjeir sem vilja. — Alaflekks R. 
 
 Ei skal ^urfa oldin her vi6 Eddu a6 hnyta, 
 
 hennar or6 og hagleg fraE6i : haf.i ska! ekki i minu kvae&i. — Egils R. 
 
 Litis hefeg laert a6 stunda lagi5 a kvge6um, 
 
 Eddu kaim eg ekki af ra;9um : stm etni hefir af morgum gaeSum. 
 And — Eddu kennhig ekki J)ykir ollum bata. — Flovents R. 
 
 Onga laer6i eg Eddu meiit : sem i9ku6u skaldin forSum, 
 
 |)vi er mer ekki i hroSri hent : a6 haga niiukum or6um. — 
 
 R. ofLykla Petri [Hallgr. Peterson]. 
 
 A5ur hefir sii Edda J)ent : afmors lioSa greinum, 
 
 {ivi skal he5an af Jxrssi ment : {)i6na Gu6i einum. 
 And — Er mer tregur Eddu vegur : or6a snild a6 hrosa. — Syraks R. 
 
 Ment lit Eddu min er krenkt : mala leng6 a6 hrista, 
 
 ervidi9 skal J)6 ySur sent : eflir fraegra lista. 
 And — Natturu fer naegflin ser : nuniin af rikum anda, 
 
 namid Eddu anna6 er : Onars mi66 a5 vanda. — Magnus Olqfsson in 1609. 
 
 f>ad mega sanna sprundin spok : er spektin menta na&i ; 
 
 a3 eingin hef-eg a Eddu tok : og aldri hennar ga6i. 
 And — Lilil hef-eg a li66um tok : lagQa eg sizt vi6 Eddu mok, 
 
 diiip-fiindin a6 dikta rok : dugir sialdan mentin 16k. 
 And — |jau or3iii spok og Eddu rok : ekki margir skiija . . . 
 And — Edda studdi fiesta fast : i fra9a smi9i klaru. — KrdJia Refs R. 
 And — {>vi skal ra3a J)i63 viS mig : i J)essu or6a saedi, 
 
 hiin nam Edda hvila sig : heima og Shilda baeSi. — 
 
 Apollonius R. [Biijrn of Skarftsa]. 
 
 EfniS ^arf i orSa starf : allt J)6 sett i gsetur, 
 
 Eddu-magr, ilia hagur : aldri kemst a faetur. — Grishildar R. 
 
 Vinst t)cini ekki a6 vanda brag : sem veit ei Eddu kroka, 
 
 og aldrei laer9i a sinn dag : ordgiiott fra;6i-b6ka. — Grettis R, 
 
 AUir fa i Eddu se9 : se fallvaltan J)tnna heim, 
 
 vanmatt Asa og vir6iug me6 : hiin veltur a J)essum hiolum tveim. — 
 
 J6n Lcerdi, 1641 [Cod. Holm. 38]. 
 Lastly in Liujlingilag — 
 
 Ekki siast her Eddu kenningar, 
 
 litau sam-fellur sagna mimia. — Kotlu-draumr. 
 
 VOX.. II. O O
 
 NOTES. 
 
 BOOK VII.— J5ra^/, (p. 6.) 
 
 In the Mabinogion, Creiddylad, daughter of Lludd of the Silver Hand or Llyr, is 
 the Hilda of Everlasting Battle, taking place every first day of May between Gwynn 
 [Finn] ap Nudd and Gwythyr ma! Greidiawl. Yet, she is genealogically the swreet 
 gentle Cordelia of Shakespeare's Play — what a strange metamorphose ! The Greek 
 form of the legend is the tale of Eriphyle, who is bribed by the Belt of Beauty to 
 fight at Thebes. Chaucer knows this story — 
 
 Eriphile, that, for an ouche of gold-. 
 Hath privily unto the Greeks told 
 Wher that hir husband hid him in a place, 
 For which he had at Thebes sory grace. 
 
 line 5 can now be restored ; in oskran we espy osk-kvan (see Excursus, vol. ii, 
 p. 474) ; and'He6ins' in 'J)eris,' — He3ins osk-kvan = Hilda, He6in's captive wife. 
 The sense remains as in the translation. 
 
 1. 12. Valgifris is suggested by the A.S. waelgifre ; the alliteration then requires 
 ' wulfs,' — a notable fact, showing that in Bragi's day the w before ?/-vowel was still 
 heard, Wodin, wall, wulf. 
 
 1. 19. He5in was the son of Hiarrand (Heorend the Harper). Here the prose in 
 Edda yields the true reading. 
 
 1. 21. sal-penningr, hence is the corrupt 'sal-bendingr,' Thulor, 1. 229. 
 
 1. 29. 61-skalir ; the Lay of Hamtheow yields this emendation. 
 
 1. 31. gcer5an = gory (?), a rare word, see however Diet. s. v. gyrja, and vol. if, 
 
 P- 359. vii. 5- 
 
 1. 41. Geofen's ground or path is the Ocean in Beowolf. 
 
 1. 42. Read, ' renni-roknom,' cp. Helgi, i. 209. 
 
 1. 44. The name of the lake is Vaenir (rather than Venir), Yngl. S. ch. 33 ; we 
 surmise either 'Vsenis of vi3ri,' or perhaps an older gen. Vaeneris, like vartaris 
 (p. 62, 1. 12), mutaris, Sighvat x. 64. 
 
 1. 46. Read, larSar. 
 
 1. 66. vazta undir-kiilo (stone's) Ala (giant's) rodd (gold) — unless the whole phrase 
 be over-daubed by the restorer. 
 
 Haustlong, (p. 14.) 
 
 1. 2. The addition 'raums Jaa er rekka ssemi' is only found in paper copies of 
 the middle of the eighteenth century, a mere modern fill-gap. Mark in this poeni 
 the numerous blank lirst halves, and, though rarer, consonance instead of rhyme in 
 second half, for instance, 1. 4. 
 
 1.9. tal-hreinn, a decoy reindeer; it recalls ' stael lin'in ' of King Alfred, which 
 after all may be simply the Norse word thus transformed into English, for tal (bait) 
 is a well-known Icel. word, whilst ' stsel ' (stale) in English is so near in sound. 
 
 1. 28. Read, hollz. 
 , 1. 34. One would prefer att-konr, cp. Yt. 141 and Mark 31 (the himman of 
 
 2
 
 564 NOTES TO PAGES 15-27. [bk. vu, 
 
 Hymi). On the whole, ' riinnr ' is in all such instances doubtful ; the change was, 
 on account of the rhyme, tempting to a later ' remanieur.' 
 
 1.43. veo3r, here = veorr. 
 
 II. 61, 62. We read berg-folginn (crag-entombed, rock-pent), a fit epithet for 
 a giant. 
 
 I. 63. Construe, Haka myrk-reinar (sea's) bein (stone's) moetir (giant). 
 
 II. 66, 67. Construe, imon-disir, the war-fairies. One would prefer triono troUi ; 
 bi6a hoggs fra horSo triono troUi (wait for a stroke of the Hammer). 
 
 I. 72. J)ri6tr was once a law term, a defaulter, 'bankrupt.' 
 
 Eilifs pors-drdpa, (p. 19.) 
 
 1. 5. Gamm-lei3 (vultures' path), a pun: lopt (the air) = Loptr, one of Loki's names. 
 
 1. 7. giar6-ven6ir (Thor), from his Belt or Girdle. 
 
 1. 18. J)rym-seil, the team or harness-pole. 
 
 1. 23. We prefer hreggi hoggna as epithet to mol : bor (the borer) — the clattering 
 files (staves) rattled against the tempest-beaten gravel. 
 
 1. 24. Fe3ja, the Norwegian island of that name. The poet uses by preference 
 images drawn from proper names of places or people, see Excursus, vol. ii, p. 467. 
 
 1. 44. The Shield Britons. 
 
 1. 45. Kolgo SviJ)io6 = SviJ)lo5 in Kalda = Scythia. 
 
 1. 53. fylvingar vallar, the filberts of the field, i. e. stone, cp. fiarS-epli below. 
 
 1.55. vafrey6i = vaforlogi. 
 
 I. 59, tongo segi, see p. 456. 
 
 1. 74. Under ' bliku kalfa ' we surmise ' Mokkor-kalfa,' Muck-calf, the Mud 
 monster ; a name known from the story in Edda; this phrase would then be Snorri's 
 authority for it. Alfheim's mokkor-kalfi is an apt denomination for a giant. 
 
 I. 75- Listi, a county in Norway ; Rygir, Rugians, a Norwegian folk ; Ella, the 
 English king. Construe, hval-lattrs Lista Rygja (gen. pi.), the denizens of the wbale- 
 littering coast, an apt denomination for Giaut-land, sited at the outskirts of Earth, 
 where the whales litter. 
 
 Wolffs House Lay, (p. 23.) 
 
 II. 1-2. The Cod. r reads ge3-niarj)ar, corrupted for ge3-markar (the soul's abode, 
 the breast). We have the second part of the image in 1. 1, for under ' hoddmildom 
 hildar ' must be concealed a genitive, denoting a name of Woden, Woden's breast's 
 liquor, the poetry, the sacred Soma. Wolf the poet manifestly modelled his lines 
 after Egil's Head Ransom, 11. i, 2. Construe, ek te Aleifi \_Wodens'] ge3-markar la. 
 
 1. 8. Under sigrunni svinnom we surmise sa3-reyni Sonar sylgs (dat.), i. e. 
 Woden, cp. a parallel, p. 80, 1. 33; Sonar sylgs sa3-reynir = /A« searcher of the 
 Soma drink, the Soma-inspired god ; ' heilags tafns ' would stand in apposition 
 to it, meaning the holy offering. 
 
 1. 10. We take hrot to be the word ; the figures were painted or carved on the 
 roo/ of the hall ; ' minni' are the old tales represented thereon. 
 
 1. 19. The fording of the river Wimnier, see above, pp. 17, 18. Thor's grasping 
 the rowan tree is not now preserved in the poem, cp. Iliad xxi. 242. 
 
 1. 29. Over-daubed, underneath which we once more espy Egil's Head Ransom, 1. 69, 
 Wolf's model here as elsewhere in this song : ' Here the river reaches the sea ' is a 
 proverb, preserved here and p. 54, 1. 8 — a favourite phrase, it seems, to end a song. 
 
 Vetrlidi, (p. 27.) 'Starkad' is here the eight-handed giant — Sa ma3r bio vi3 
 Aloforsa er Storkodr h4t ; hann var kominn af |>ursum . . . Starkadr hafSi atta hendr, 
 ok va me3 fiorom sver6um i senn — He abducts Alfhilda whilst she is reddening
 
 § 1-2.] NOTES TO PAGES 27-31. 565 
 
 the altar at a sacrifice ; her father Alf invokes Thor, who then slew the giant 
 [Hervar Saga]. This pass.Tge is only found in a late paper MS. ; we take it to be 
 drawn from a lost leaf of Skioldunga. 
 
 Tkorbiorn, p. 27. These verses were known to the Thulor compilers, see p. 424. 
 
 Glymdrapa, (p. 29.) 
 
 This poem is so completely restored that hardly an original word or sentence 
 remains ; yet Ari must have known it in its pure state, and even now the names he 
 records can ever and anon be recognised underneath. 
 
 Ari says — f)ess getr Hornklofi i Glymdrapu at Haraldr konungr hafSi fyrr barzk a 
 'Uppdalsskogi vi6 Orkndoeli.' 'Hei6i' represents the place; under 'oeski meiSa ' 
 we recognise ' Orkndoeli.' 
 
 vv. 3 and 8. The history underlying these verses must be sought in the Irish and 
 Welsh Annals. 
 
 1. 10. Hunjjiofr er nefndr konungr, sa er rd9 fyrir Moera-fylki. Solvi Klofi het son 
 hans, ... en sa. konungr er re3 fyrir Raumsdal er nefndr Nokkvi [1. 10], hann var 
 mo&ur-faSir Solva. (They rise against Harald) ok hittask J)eir vi6 Solskel. Farther 
 on Ari relates, Harold fought Arnwid, King of Southmore, and Eadbeorn of the 
 Friths, and there a second battle was fought at the Isle of Solskel — of which names 
 we find Nokkvi, 1. 10; the place, Solskel, we catch hidden under 'dyn skotom,' 
 1. 14. In 1. 17 we recognise — Ok at lyktum var9 Haraldr sva rei6r, at hann gekk 
 fram a 'rausn' a skipi sinu . . . Ieito6o Jja menn ArnviSar konungs a flotta, enn 
 hann sialfr fell a skipi sinu, Jiar fell ok Au6biorn konungr, en Solvi fly6i, — citing 
 verse 5 as his authority. 
 
 vv. 6, 7 refer to a battle in the Gotha River. In line 23 we recognise — 'stiku3u' 
 Gautar Gautelfi . . . Haraldr konungr belt skipum sinum upp i Elfina 'ok lagSizk 
 vi6 stikin.' Farther, Haraldr konungr for vi3a uni Gautland herskildi, ok atti {)ar 
 margar orrostor tveim megin Elfarinnar, ok fekk hann optast sigr ; Enn i einhverri 
 orrosto fell Hrani inn Gauzki, which last name lurks probably underneath 1. 25. 
 
 V. 8 is cited by Ari as authority for the harrying of the West, in the Hebrides, the 
 Isle of Man, Scotland, in one of which battles Earl Iwere was slain. One fancies to 
 discover ' Manverja ' in 1. 27 (men-fergir) ; ' sandi Manar ' (beach of the Isle of Man) 
 under ' sandmens,' 1. 28 [cp. Sandwad, Manx Chron. 1098] ; under ' laebrautar' some 
 place is hidden. 
 
 Guthorm Sindri, (p. 30.) 
 
 These verses are in just as bad a plight. 
 
 v. 1 is cited as authority for a raid of the Danes in the Wick ; the king chases 
 them, some back to Halland [ialfaSar, 1. 3], some to Jutland, whither the king 
 follows them, overtakes and beats them [1. 2]. 
 
 v. 2. The king with two ships fights eleven Danish gaileys in Zealand, in Ore- 
 sound. In 'Selmeina' is hidden Selund, here as a pun (seal-wound, Sel-und). 
 
 v. 3. Eptir |)at herjaSi Hakon konungr vi6a um Selund, rsenti mart folk, enn 
 drap sumt, enn sumt her-tok hann, ok tok giold stor af sumum . . . Si6an for Hakon 
 konungr austr fyrir Skaneyjar-si3u, herjaSi allt, tok giold ok skatta af landinu, enn 
 drap alia vikinga hvar sem hann fann, bae3i Dani ok Vindr [1. 10] ; for hann allt 
 austr fyrir Gautland [1. 1 1] ok herjafti t)ar, ok fekk stor giold af landinu. Hakon 
 konungr for aptr um haustit . . . hann sat um vetrinn i Vikinni vi5 ahlaupum, ef 
 Danir e3a Gautar gor3i J)ar. 
 
 V. 4 refers to King Tryggvi, Olaf Tryg2;vason's father — J>at sama haust kom 
 Tryggvi [1. 14] konungr Olafsson or vestr- viking, hann hafSi J)a herjat um Irland
 
 566 NOTES TO PAGES 31-37. [bk.vu. 
 
 ok Skotland [1. 15]; um varit for Hakon nor6r i land, ok setti Tryggva konung, 
 br66ur-son sinn, yfir Vikina [1. 14]. 
 
 vv. 5, 6. A battle in the Isle of Karmen (Kormt), on Agwaldsness, where King 
 Gudrum (Gorm), Bloodaxe's son, fell. The king chases the flying host to West 
 Agde, and hence to Jutland. Every word and fact is here blurred and blotted out. 
 
 V. 7 relates to the Battle on Rastar-kalf ; names of places are, Sta3 (Cape Stadt), 
 Frae6ar-berg, Feeyjar-sund. Notable events — Egil Woolsark is slain ; the stratagem 
 of the Ten Banners ; King Ganili, the son of Eric Bloodaxe, is slain. This is all 
 dramatically told in Ari, who, besides the poem, seems here to have had popular 
 tradition (or, even, a scrap of a song?); the cairns, too, were still visible in his 
 day as standing memorials. It is around old Egil Woolsark that the traditioa 
 wove its tale. In 1. 25 we seem to espy ' fyrir FraeSar-bergi;' in 1. 26, 'Ullserkr . . . 
 tio merkjom;' in 1. 27 ' Gramr,' read 'Ganili;' 'o6skvanar' [1, 28] must be ' osk 
 kvanar,' the leman of Woden = /Aa land which Hacon won. 
 
 Cor mac's Sigrod Drapa, (p. 33.) 
 
 But fragments, in part sadly over-painted, though ever and anon whole lines and 
 phrases remain intact. One would like to know what is hidden under lines 9, 10 ; 
 does ' ennidukr ' mean the kerchief worn by the sacrificing priest ? if so, it would be 
 the only instance where anything like Lat. vittae is mentioned ; however, the clue 
 to the whole is wanting. 
 
 1. 10. Cod. has Rindar. 
 
 1. 15. Cod. r and i ej3 read, Sigra&ar ; though erroneous (the poem is on Sigrod 
 Hacon's son, not on Hacon his son), yet the form Sigroc/ is notable, being only met 
 with here, else the scribes have throughout turned it into S\gurd. Haleygiatal, 1. 35. 
 
 Eyv/ind's Improvisations, (p. 35.) 
 
 1. 2. hefnendr, the sons of a slain father, see Excursus, vol. ii, p. 475. 
 
 1. 17. Fenriss varra sparri, F.'s lip-bolt; see in Edda how the Bound Wolf was 
 gagged with a sword. 
 
 I. 24. The spear-sheath and the deep edges of the broad-bladed javelin are noticed 
 here: it is seldom one gets a detailed account of the weapons in a Court-poem. 
 
 1. 25. imon-lauks, drawn, we think, from the Helgi poet, where (Helgi i. 28) we 
 hence mend the erroneous ' itr-lauk.' Eywind knew the Helgi line in this shape. 
 We have elsewhere noticed how a few other phrases and words in Eywind were 
 actually drawn from the Helgi Lay. 
 
 vv. 7, 8. The poet's lament, telling how in Hacon's days every man wore his gold 
 and paraphernalia, whilst now that we have fallen on evil times, people have to 
 hide their treasures in the earth. 
 
 1. 34. A saw. Eld bears hard on the soldier. 
 
 V. 10 is clearly corrupt ; Eywind had to pay, as fine, a ring, an old heir-loom — 
 Eyvindr atti goUhring mikinn ok goSan er kalladr var Moldi ; hann hafdi verit 
 tekinn longu a6r or ior&u. [Hkr. p. 112, Unger.] This must be drawn from this 
 very verae; under ' foldar ' we recognise the name 'Moldi;* under '^ursaby' may 
 be hidden the name of the place where the ring had been dug up ; indeed, a ' Thursaby ' 
 is found in South-east Norway. 
 
 1. 42. birki brums hind (a goat), see Excursus, voL ii, p. 456. 
 
 On the Famine and the Herrings and the gift of the brooch, the Kings' Lives, 
 drawing from our verses, record — Sva kom um siSir, at naliga misti landz-folkit 
 vidast korns ok fiska, A Halogalandi var sva mikill sultr ok seyra at ^ar ox naliga
 
 §2.] 
 
 NOTES TO PAGES 37-40. 567 
 
 ekki korn, ' enn snior la J)a a oUu landi at miSju sumri, enn bii allt var inni bundit at 
 miSju sumri.* Sva kva6 Eyvindr skalda-spillir, hann kom ut, ok dreif miok . , . 
 Eyvindr orti drapu um alia Islendinga ; enn Jjeir launuSu honum sva, at hverr bondi 
 gaf honum skatt-penning, sa st66 J)ria penninga silfrs vegna, ok hvitr i skor. Enn 
 er silfriS kom fram a Alt)ingi, pa, reflu menn J)at af, at fa smi6o til at skira silfrid ; 
 sidan var gorr af feldar-dalkr, enn Jiar af var greitt smiSar kauplt ; 'pa. stod dalkriun 
 fimm tigi marka ; hann sendu Jseir Eyvindi. ' Enn Eyvindr let hiiggva i sundr dalkinn, 
 ok keypti ser bii me3.' pa, kom ok J)ar um var vi3 utver nokkur broddr af sild ; 
 Eyvindr skipa3i r66rar-ferjo huskorlum sinum ok landz-buum, ok reri {)anog til sem 
 sildin var rekin. Hann kva6 [v. 1 2] . . . ok sva vendiliga var upp gengit allt lausa-f^ 
 bans, at hann keypti sildina til bor5z ser me6 boga skoti sinu. Hann kva6 [v. 13]. 
 
 1. 44. spa-J)ernom, corrupt ; the exact wrord uncertain, the image is throughout 
 an arrow, spa-J)omom must mean the thorns of the sea 7 In the next line read, 
 okkor, plural from ' akka,' a (barbed ?) arrow, Thulor 288 ; ' mutor iokla ' is corrupt, 
 {the sea ?), and we know not at present how to restore it. 
 
 1. 46. Read, ronom sinom (raunom), with their stiouts ; cp. ' It is said that they 
 (the porpoises) often descend to the bottom in search of shrimps, sand-eels, and 
 worms, which they root out of the sand with their snouts, much in the manner 
 of hogs when seeking food in the fields. The porpoise, indeed, is known by the 
 title oi herring hog, etc' — Leisure Hour, Oct. 1882. 
 
 1. 150. A proverb. Hunger is a great king. ' Au mandement de Messer Gaster 
 tout le ciel tremble, tout la terre bransle. Son mandement est nomme, Faut lefaire 
 sans delai ou mourir.^ — Pant. 4. 57. 
 
 Glum GrayfeWs Praiie, (p. 39.) 
 
 V. 2. Here either Skaneyjar (Denmark) or Skotlandi (Scotland) must need be 
 wrong ; if it be a foray in Gautland and Schonen, read ' Hallandi ' for ' Skotlandi ' 
 [Hak. S. ch. 5]. — In the Saga the warfare in the West is thus mentioned: Toku 
 J)a Eireks synir undir sik Hialtland ok Orkneyjar ok h6f9u skatta af, enn foru i 
 vestr-viking a sumrum ok herjuSu um Skotland ok Irland. {>ess getr Gliimr Geira- 
 son [vv. 2 and 4]. — Their Eastern Foray: Sumir Eireks synir foru i heruaS, l)egar 
 er ^eir hofSu aldr til, ok 6flu3u ser fiar, herju6u i Austrveg. f>eir voru snemma 
 menn friSir, ok fyrr rosknir at afli ok atgorvi enn vetra tali. |>ess getr Glumr 
 Geirason i Grafeldar drapu [v. 6], Eiriks synir snerosk pa. ok meS herr sfhn nor6r 
 i Vikina ok herju3u J)ar, enn Tryggvi konungr hafSi her liti ok belt til motz vi& 
 t)a, ok attu ^eir orrostor margar, ok hof5u ymsir sigr ; herju5u Eiriks synir stundum 
 i Vikina, enn Tryggvi stundum um Sialand ok Halland. [Hak. S. ch. 10.] 
 
 v. 7. The Arctic Foray in Permia — Haraldr Grafelldr for a eino sumri me6 her 
 sinn norSr til Biarma-landz ok herjaSi J)ar ; hann atti orrosto mikla vi6 Biarnia a 
 Vino-bakka, J)ar haf6i Haraldr konungr sigr, ok drap mart folk, herjaSi pk vi6a uni 
 landit, ok fekk ofa-mikit fe. {>ess getr Gliimr Geirason [v. 7]. 
 
 V. 8, GuU-Haraldr kom til ' Hals i Lima-fir6i,' bau3 hann {)egar Haraldi Grafeld 
 til orrosto : enn J)6tt Haraldr hefSi 115 minna, pa, gekk hann J)egar a land, ok biosk 
 til orrosto [11. 27-32]. Enn a3r fylkingar gengi saman, fia eggjar Haraldr Grafeldr 
 hart 116 sitt, ok ba6 J)a breg6a sverSom [1. 27], hliop t)egar framm i ondurda 
 fylking, ok hio til beggja handa. f>ess getr Gliimr Geirason i Grafeldar-drapu 
 [v. 8], f>ar fell Haraldr konungr Grafeldr. Sva segir Gliimr Geirason [v. 10], 
 
 1. 29. We suggest, hvarir-tveggjo Haraldar. 
 
 1. 38. The two remaining brothers were Reginfred and Godfred. 
 
 1. 40. See vol. ii, p. 227, for parallel passages on gifted kings.
 
 568 NOTES TO PAGES 44-46. [bk.vii. 
 
 Wellekla, etc., (p. 44.) 
 
 Ruins of a once fine poem. 
 
 vv. I, 2. Hakon iarl belt Jjrondheim meS styrk frsenda sinna ' J)ria vetr ' sva at 
 Gunnhildar-synir fengu engar tekjor i Jjrondheimi ; hann atti margar orrostur vid 
 Gunnhildar sonu, ok draposk marga menn fyrir. |>ess getr Einarr Skalaglam 1 
 Velleklu, er hann orti um Hakon iarl [vv. 1-3]. Enn getr Einarr hvernig Hakon 
 iarl hefndi foSur sins [vv. 4, 5}. Enn er Jiat spyrr Hakon iarl, J)a. samnar hann h3i 
 at ser ok belt su5r a Mceri ok herjar {jar. {)a var GriotgarSr f6dur-br66ir bans J)ar 
 ok skyldi hafa landvorn af Gunnhildar sonum, hann bati3 her lit sva sem konuiigar 
 h6f6u or6 til sent; Hakon iarl belt til fuudar vi5 hann ok til bardaga, ' J)ar fell 
 GriotgarSr ok tveir iarlar me3 honum ok mart li6 annat.' {jessa getr Einarr Skala- 
 glam [v. 6]. To which Fagrskinna adds — Hakon iarl hafSi J)a rekit sinna harma, 
 fyrir {jvi at af bans ra6um var drepinn Haraldr Gunnhildar sonr, sem Einarr Skala- 
 glam sagSi [v. 7]- 
 
 vv. i-ii. The expedition against Kaiser Otho is in the Saga told at some length 
 — Otta keisari dro saman her mikinn ; bann hafSi 116 af Saxlandi ok Frakklandi, 
 Frislandi, ok Vindlandi. Keisari hafdi riddara-her raikinn ok miklu meira fotgoiigo 
 116 ; bann baf6i ok af Holtseta-landi mikinn her. Haraldr konungr sendi Hakon 
 iarl me6 Nor3manna her, Jjann sem bonom fylg8i, su3r til Dana-virkiss at verja J)ar 
 landit. Sva segir i Velleklu [v. 11]. Otta keisari kom me6 her tinn sunnan til 
 Dana-virkiss, enn Hakon iarl var5i me6 l;6i sinu borgar-veggina. {>a varS orrosta 
 mikil . . . Fell Jiar mart af keisara li3i, enn J)eir fengu ekki unnit at borginni 
 [vv. 8-11], all of which is painted over in our text, see Introd. § 13; in 1. 30 we 
 surmise that Holsatia is meant ; in 1. 38 is hid the emperor's name ; in 11. 35, 36 
 the people in the Kaiser's army ; here we miss the Saxons, which name would be 
 hidden in 1. 36. But what is 'Hagbar6a,' 1. 32 ? 'LangbarSa' is a guess of ours, sup- 
 posing that the Kaiser is here the subject-matter. 'Heath-beards' would suit the 
 verse, but the term is perhaps too archaic. The dauber's big brush has destroyed all. 
 
 vv. 12-14. S'g''"^ '^'^' t^ austr 1 gegnum Eyrarsund ; herjar hann f>a a hvart- 
 tveggja land ; si6an siglir hann austr fyrir Skaneyjar si6u, ok berja6i J)ar hvar sem 
 hann kom vi6 land. Enn er hann kom austr fyrir Gauta-sker [1. 44], ]pa hgb'i hann at 
 landi, g6r6i hann J)a blot mikit ; ^a komu fiiiigandi brafnar tveir ok guUu hatt [11. 42, 
 43] ; P^ J)ykkisk iarl vita at 06inn hef3i t)fgit bI6ti6, ok pa. mun iarl hafa dagra5 
 [1. 42] til at berjask. |>a brennir iarl skip sin 611, ok gengr a land upp me3 li6i 
 sinu, ok for allt ber-skildi, {)a kom a moti honum dttar iarl, hann re3 fyrir 
 Gautlandi ; attu Jjeir saman orrostu miklu, faer J)ar Hakon iarl sigr, enn Ottar iarl 
 fell, ok mikill hluti li6s me3 honum. Hakon iarl ferr um Gautland hvart-tveggja, 
 ok allt her-skildi, til Jjess er hann kemr i Noreg, ferr si5an landveg allt nor8r i 
 ^rondheim [this march overland is hid in lines 45-48]. Era J)essu segir i Velleklu 
 [vv. 12, 13]. 
 
 Fagrskinna sums it up somewhat briefer and better : — |>a er Hakon kom austr 
 fyrir Gautland, ^a felldi hann blot-span, ok vitra6isk honum sva sem hann skyldi 
 hafa dagrad at berjask ; ser a brafna tva, hversu gialla ok fylgia li6inu sva sem her 
 segir [v. 12]. J>a let Hakon spilla skipum sinum, gekk upp a land me3 6'lu li5i 
 sinu, for her-skildi yfir allt Gautland, ok brendi baei ok raenti hvar sem hann kom. 
 J>a kom i mot honum Ottarr, iarl Gauta ; borSosk J)eir, ok lauk sva at hann fly6i, 
 enn drepinn inn mesti blutr li3s bans, enn Hakon tok mikit fe at her-fangi, for hann 
 um Smalond ok allt til Vestr-Gautlandz, skattar allt folk, ok kom vi& sva buit i 
 Noreg. Sva sem her segir [vv. 13, 14].
 
 § 2.] NOTES TO PAGES 46-47. 569 
 
 There is little doubt that all this was contained in our poem, the sacrifice at 
 Gauta skerries, the fight with the Earl, the burning of the ships, and the long 
 march back to Norway. As the poem now reads, all is painted out and defaced. 
 In 1. 50 we seem to see the EarVs name ; in 11. 45-48 the wonderful march ; whereas 
 the sacrifice, the ravens, the chips, we can in the main restore, II. 41-44. 
 
 vv. 15-23. The two encounters with Reginfred, Gundhild's son, must have been a 
 somewhat serious piece of business. The story is told, Hkr, 17, 18, whereof we 
 only subjoin a few sentences — Helt Ragnfio6r Jja nor6r um Sta6, ok herjaSi urn 
 Sunn-maeri . . . Battle on Southmore — Helt Hakon {)egar til orrosto, hann haf&i 115 
 meira ok skip smaeri, . . , fieir borftusk um stafna sem Jia var si6r til, straumr var i 
 sundinu ok hof oil skipin inn at landinu [1. 70] . . . Battle not decisive — Helt Ragn- 
 froSr li6i sinu su3r um Sta6 . . . Ragnfr66r konungr haf3i {)a alit fyrir sunnan Sta3, 
 FirSa-fylki, Sogn, H6r5aland, Rogaland . . . Hakon iarl baud liSi ut J)a er varaSi ; 
 hann hafdi li3 mikit af Halogalandi ok Naumudali, sva at [read, sva ok?] allt fra 
 Byr6o [Lat. 65°] til Sta5s [Lat. 62°] hafSi hann 116 af olloni sia-londom ; hononi 
 drosk herr um 611 f>rcBnda-log, sva ok um Raumsdal ; sva er at kvedit, at hann hef3i 
 her af fiorum folk-londum [1. 61]; honom fylg3u siau iarlar [1. 64], ok hofftu J)eir 
 allir ogrynni hers. Sva segir i Velleklu [vv. 18-20]. Hakon iarl helt li&i Jiessu ollu 
 su3r um Sta6. {ja spur5i hann at Ragnfr66r konungr me3 her sinn vteri farinn i 
 Sogn ; sneri hann J)a J)annug sinu li3i, ok ver3r Jjar fundr J)eirra Ragiifr63ar. Lagdi 
 iarl skipum si'num at landi, ok haslaBi voll Ragnfro3i konungi, ok tok orrosto sta3. 
 Sva segir i Velleklu [v. 21]. {>ar var3 all-h6r3 orrosta, haf3i Hakon iarl Ii3 miklu 
 meira, ok fekk sigr. J>etta var a |>inga-nesi [1. 65] J)ar er maetisk Sogn ok H6r3a- 
 land. Ragnfro3r konungr fly3i til skipa sinna, enn ^ar fell af li3i konungs Jsriu 
 hundru3 manna [1. 72]. Sva segir i Velleklu [v. 22]. Eptir orrosto {)essa fly3i 
 Ragnfro3r konungr or Noregi, enn Hakon iarl fri3a3i land [11. 75, 76]. 
 
 All this is mangled in our text, with a bit of the torn web left here and there. 
 
 vv. 23-29. Hakon iarl Iag3i J)a land allt undir sik [1. 75] ok sat t>ann vetr i 
 |jr6ndheimi. |)ess getr Einarr Skalaglam 1 Velleklu [v. 23]. Hakon iarl, er hann 
 for sunnan me3 landi um sumarit, ok landz-folk gekk undir hann, J)a bau3 hann 
 |)at um riki sitt allt, at menn skyldo halda upp hofuni ok biotum, ok var sva gort. 
 Sva segir i Velleklu [vv. 24-27]. And again [Hkr. ch. 50] — Hakon iarl re3 Noregi 
 allt it ytra me3 sia ok haf3i hann til forra3a sextan fylki [sixteen folklands or 
 shires]. Enn sidan er Haraldr inn Harfagri hafSi sva skipat, at iarl skyldi vera i 
 hverjo fylki, J)a helzk {)at lengi si3an. Hakon iarl haf3i sextan iarla undir ser 
 [I. 52]. Sva segir i Velleklu [v. 29]. Me3an Hakon iarl re3 fyrir Noregi, J)a var 
 g63 arfer3 i landi ok g63r fri3r innan-landz me3 bondom [11. 89, 90]. Or, as 
 Fagrskitina says — Hakon iarl var rikr, ok tok at efla blot me3 meiri freku enn fyrr 
 hafSi verit ; {)a. batna3i bratt arfer3, kom aptr korn ok sil3, grder ior3in meS 
 bl6ma. Sva segir Einarr £v. 27]. f>a var fri3r godr nie3 arinu, sem enn segir 
 Einarr [v. 28]. I annari drapu segir Einarr a }5essa lund [see p. 48, v. 9]. Her 
 ma heyra at synir Eireks brutu nidr blotin, enn Hakon hof upp annat sinn. 
 
 In v. 25 the extent of Hacon's dominion is given; the sotitkern boundary is 
 Wick (the Bay). — Cp. here Eywind's Haleygiatal (11. 49, 50) as restored in the 
 notes to vol. i, reading ' Ei3a ' for the evidently false ' Eg3a.' The northern boundary 
 we hold is hidden in 1. 80; in Halogaland there is an island Vedrey [Lat. c. 65°]. — 
 Later, in Earl Eric's day, the boundary in the north is Vaegja or Veggi-staf [Lat. 
 c. 69°]. In S. Olaf's day (as we conclude from a corrupt verse, vol. ii, p. 155, 1. 65) 
 it was still expanded, extending from the Eid Forest, west of Gotha River, to 
 Gandwick or the White Sea. ' Between Gotha River and Finmarken,' says the
 
 570 NOTES TO PAGES 48-54. [bk.vu. 
 
 author of Konunga-tal, c. 1 190. Snorri, in 1222, gives the marches as the Gotha 
 River and the White Sea, including Finmarken. 
 
 The other Drapa contains, beside vv. 2, 9, 10, no facts w^hatever ; most of the 
 fragments are from Edda (Sks.), and the whole may, for ought we know, be a 
 fabrication of Skalaglam's namesake Skulasoa. Maik the genealogical touch, v. 8, 
 Hacon's descent from Harold War-tusk, 
 
 In Tind's poem the battle in Godmar [1. 40], a bay or estuary on the east side of 
 Christiania frith, is notable. 
 
 Red-cloak's son. Who the nine princes were [p. 51, 1. 4], whom Hacon sent to 
 Woden (slew), we are nowhere told. Earl Oihere, the Gunhildsons, Gritgard, and 
 the iwo other earls make some six or seven. 
 
 Eilif (p. 51), 1. 10, note. Sonar sad (the Soma seed), with which cp. Husd. 9 (as 
 above) and p. 80, 1. 33. 
 
 Banda-drapa, etc., (p. 51.) 
 
 Ari relates how the earl, age ten or eleven, on Mori fought Tiding-Skopti, the 
 earl — Sva segir Eyjolfr DaSaskald i Banda-drapo [v. i]. The poem must have 
 contained Skopti's/;/// name, so, 1. 8, we read and restore, opt Tidinda Skopta, hid 
 under ' bl65volum ' (the usual bloody image the remanieur delights in) — 1. 5, at moti, 
 read a Mceri? — I. 6, we have Utver, an isle off Sogn. 
 
 The next spring the Danish King makes Eric earl in South Norway — Eptir um 
 varit sendi Dana konungr Eirik nor5r i Noreg, ok gaf honum iarldom ok ^ar me3 
 Vingul-mork ok Rauma-riki til yfir-soknar me6 J)eim haetti sem fyrr h6f6u haft 
 skatt-konungar. Sva segir Eyiolfr [v. l]. In 11. I, 2 one espies ' ellifo ' vettra; and 
 in 1. 4 one espies ' Hlei9rar ' mildingr under ' hildar,' viz. the King of Lethra, the 
 Danish King. 
 
 Olafs S. (Hkr.), ch. 96, 97, narrates the battles in the Baltic — Hann helt fyrst til 
 Gotlandz [1. 15] ok la J)ar vi3 lengi um sumarit, ok saetti kaup skipum er sigldu til 
 landzins, eda vikingum ; stundum gekk hann upp a landit, ok herja6i J)ar vi9a med 
 sianum. Sva segir i Banda-drapu [v. 4]. SiSan sigldi Eirekr su5r til Vindlandz, ok 
 hitti {)ar fyrir S;aurinum Vikinga skip nokkur ... ok drap Vikingana. Sva segir i 
 Banda-drapu [1. 5]. 
 
 1. 17. Read, styrir gumna . . . (the earl) sigldi i Austrveg. Enn er hann kom i 
 riki Valdimars konungs, tok hann at herja ok drepa niann-folkit ok brenna allt J)ar 
 er hann for, ok eyddi landit ; hann kom til Aldeigio borgar [11. 31-33] ok settizk {)ar 
 um J)ar til er hann vann staSinn, drap J)ar mart folk, enn braut ok brendi borgina 
 alia, ok si6an for hann vi3a her-skildi i Gar8a-riki. Sva segir i Banda-drapu [v. 9]. 
 Eirikr var i J)esbum hernaSi cillum simt fimm sumur. Enn er hann kom or Gar6a- 
 riki, for hann her-skildi um alia A5al-syslu [1. 29] ok J)ar tok hann fiorar vikinga 
 skei9r af Donom [1. 24] ok drap allt af. Sva segir i Banda-drapu [vv. 7, 8]. Upon 
 which he returns to Denmark and marries the king's daughter — Eirikr iarl var a 
 vetrum i Danmork enn stundum i Svia-veldi, enn i herna3i a sumrum. — ' Eyrar- 
 sundi,' 1. 23, is jrobably not the right place, some other sound in the East Baltic 
 being meant. 
 
 Sailor Poets, etc., (p. 54.) 
 
 From the Sailor Poets (p. 53 sqq.) we have in Excursus I extracted the mythical 
 figures as far as they can be made out. 
 
 In Snowbiorn's poem, 1. 2, mend 'skse' for ' sae,' and construe, buSlunga mali 
 (king) l«lr huflangan stior-viSjar skse {steerwilhy steed = ship) stySja Llemmi sverS 
 vi6 hardri diifo; stiorn-vid, Thulor 399. Ey-lubt = island bin, Ey-mylrir, id.
 
 § 2-4-] NOTES TO PAGES 55-64; 67 « 
 
 11. 5, 6. Construe, {)aer es fyr longo molo Aml66a meldr-li6, xuho in ages past 
 ground Ainlodt's meal-vessel = the ocean. The occurrence of AmloSi (Hamleth) 
 as Ocean Giant is noticeable ; observe the figure of speech preserved in Saxo who 
 calls the sand ' The nital ground by the gales.' — Orm's epithet recalls William's line, 
 ' Our Sire in his see above the Seven Stars.' R. R. 352. 
 
 Romund, (p. 56.) — Only the first three verses are fine, and they alone may be 
 genuine. — v. 3 gives the proverb of predestination. — vv. 4-II are all more or less 
 commonplace. 
 
 1. 10. a6r ne gorr, cp. Hamtheow Lay, 1. 134. 
 
 The Mewiiders verses, (p. 58.) — 1. 13. sottomk heim, cp. heim-sokn, a law term. 
 
 I. 24. doemi-salr doma, corrupt, but refers to the ' Door Doom,' whereof the 
 Saga speaks — Eptir J)at setti Jjorbiorn dnra-dom, ok nefndi sex menn i dom, si6an 
 sagSi f)orbiorn fram sokina a hendr {)6rarni um hrossa-tokuna. |>a gekk Geirri3 
 (Thorarin's mother) lit i dyrnar, etc. [Eyrb, ch. 18.] 
 
 1. 28. Froda-vellir? Fro&a, i.e. Fro5a a {Fro6Cs water), is a farm on the inmost 
 side of the creek ; Enni, 1. 38, a big headland on the outer side. 
 
 1. 55. A proverb: Storm often comes out of a sultry sky. 
 
 1. 63. Note the older uncontracted form Aruketill. 
 
 Illuga-drapa, (p. 61.) — A Jjessu {jingi deildu {)eir Jjorgrimr Kiallaksson ok synir 
 hans vi8 llluga Svarta um niund ok heiman-fvlgju Ingibiargar Asbiarnar dottur, 
 konu llluga, er Tinforni [1. 64] hafSi att at var6-veita . . . ein Kialleklingar gfngu 
 at dominum ok vildu upp hleypa ; var ^a J)rong mikil [1. l], attu menn Jja hlut i 
 at skilja ^k. Kom Jja sva at Tinforni greiddi fet at tolum llluga. Sva kva5 Oddr 
 skald i lUuga-diapu [v. l]. . . . Snorri go3i ba5 ser ^a manna til meBal-gongu, ok 
 kom a griSum me& J)eim. f>ar fellu J)rir menn af Kialleklingum [1. 67] enn fiorir 
 af llluga, etc. [Eyrb. ch. 17.] 
 
 1. 6. Read, J)remja svellz. 
 
 1. 12. holt-vartaris, the holt-garter, i.e. a snake. Observe 'varlari,' which word 
 occurs only here and thrice besides; Thulor, 1. 369 (of some fish); Edda in the 
 story of Loki, whose mouth was sewed together with a thong called vartari ; and 
 lastly, in the List, Edda 748, our vol. ii, p. 546. The etymon of this word has 
 never been observed ; it is indeed the Engl, garter, which thus turns out to be a 
 good, sound Teutonic word ; French jarretier we are inclined to take as a popular 
 etymology, the identity in sense and the resemblance to the Teutonic word are too 
 striking to be but casual. Construe, holt-vartaris enni-tingl = SEgis-hialmr, an orna- 
 ment particular to serpents, cp. Old Wols. Play, 11. 121, 125. 
 
 1. 13. Read Fyris-valla, the banks of the River Fyri {short vowel, not Fyri), the 
 river near Upsala, now Foret : the banks of that river, famous in ancient history and 
 legends, are Fyris-vellir. 
 
 1. 16. King Eric the Victorious, mentioned in Thorgny's speech. Reader, p. 178. 
 
 Sibyl Stein. — I. 16. Mims vinar, cp. Sonat. 89; fundr |>undar, cp. Sonat. 7. 
 
 1. 17. Glauinberg, a place? 
 
 1. 25. BarroSr, the uncontracted form, later Bar3r, earlier Bar-fred. 
 
 Cormacs Improvisations, (p. 63.) — The first ten or twelve verses are the best; 
 indeed, the greater part of the rest is very doubtful, yet we have Jrawn hence 
 the synonyms of women. Excursus, p. 476. 
 
 Noticeable is the carved pillar, representing Hagbar&, the Danish prince, the lover 
 of Signy. Hagbat3 and Signy are the Romeo and Juliet of Northern talcs, of whom
 
 572 NOTES TO PAGES 65-73. [bk. vii. 
 
 Saxo tells a story. Note also v. 7. wherein he values Stangerd's eyes and locks ; 
 and, V. 8, her whole body, which he puts at seven countries, indeed at the whole 
 world known to him. 
 
 In 1. 32, we mend Svia ; still we miss Norway, which we take to be hid in 1. 30. 
 
 1. 54. By guess, though we have not seen this image used elsewhere. 
 
 1. 60. The Saga names a brother of Cormac named Fro6i ; here, however, it is 
 rather himself that is meant ; maybe Fro5i was Cormac's Norse nickname. 
 
 1. 74- Stangerd's husband was surnamed Tin-teinn [tin-wire, tin drawer] ; he was 
 Eyslan's son, of a family called the Skidungs [from Ski6a in Norway?]. 
 
 1. 82. fioll fiar3ar kelli, corrupt = the tentsl the white towering rime-mantled 
 awnings. 
 
 1. 88. Thorkettle's daughter, Stanger3. 
 
 1. loo. Solunds, isles, Norway off Sogn. 
 
 V. 31. This verse is sure enough to be genuine; the image was a favourite in old 
 Lays of the Aristophanes type, cp. p. 81, v. 12. 
 
 1. 149. dalkr, an Irish loan word, dealc = a brooch. Mend Diet. s. v. accordingly. 
 
 Bersi. — 1. 1 1 . toro-gaetr, older form for ' tor-gaetr,' an old literative proverb. 
 
 1. 16. f)orr63r, the old form for Thord ; Thorfred is the still older form, 
 
 1. 16. vinon [read vino6?], an else unknown word for vinatta ; Egil uses vina&, 
 Hofu61. 1. 84. 
 
 Egil, (p. 72.) — 1. 7. Metaphor from lifting a shutter-door, of Egil's craggy eyebrows. 
 
 v. 4. For the raising of the Nith pole (Libel pole) and the carmen, see Egil's S. 
 eh. 60. — Hann tok i bond ser hesli-stopg, ok gekk a bergs-nos uokkura {3a er vissi 
 til landz inn ; |)a tok hann hross-hofud ok setti npp a stongina. Si6an veitti hann 
 for-mala ok maelti : ' Her set ek upp ni6-stong, ok sny ek J)essu ni9i a bond Eireki 
 konungi ok Gunnhildi drottiiingu.' — Hann siieri hross-hotQinu inn a land: ' Sny ek 
 {)essu ni3i a landvaettir fiasr er fietta land byggja, sva at allar fari J)ser villar vega, ok 
 engi hendi ne hitti sitt inni [cp. Havam. v. 18] fyrr en J)2er hafa rekit or landi Eirek 
 konung ok Gunnhildi.' Sidan skytr hann slonginni niSr i biarg-rifo, ok laetr J)ar 
 standa ; hann sneri hofSinu inn a land : enn hann reist riinar a stijnginni, ok segja 
 t)Kr formala Jienna allan. [Eg. S. ch. 60, cp. Excursus to vol. i, p. 419.] 
 
 1. 25. vrungo, an archaic form, an evidence that Egil pronounced wr (owing to 
 his long sojourn in England?). 
 
 1. 27. hvarma hvit-vellir, the hoary white brows. 
 
 V. 9. Undoubtedly genuine, but in part obscure : to the first we have not found a 
 clue; it may refer to his tottering gait. Follomk ra skalla, restored from the ditty 
 of Arni the Monk, vol. ii, p. 441. ra {shrub), neuter, as it seems, is a rare word, 
 occurs else, in Havam. 1. 70, ef mik sserir {)egn a rotom ras vi6ar (by carving charms 
 thereon) ; cp. Lay of Skirni, 1. 130, where we read, til holtz ek rann ok til ras 
 vi6ar, / ran to the holt, to the skrubwood I wended my way ; once in Hallfred, p. 91, 
 I. 30 ; twice in Merlin Spa, ii. 50, 85. We subjoin the readings of the existing 
 MSS., Worm., Arna-Magn. 748, 4to, and 132 fol. : — 
 
 W. Vals hefi ek vafur helsis val fallz enn ek kalla 
 
 blautr em ek bergis fotar berr enn hlust er J)orrin. 
 
 748. Vals em ek vavar helsis vafallr em ec skalla 
 
 blautr em-ek bergis fotar borr enn hlust er Jjorrin. 
 
 132. Vafs hefi-ek vafor hessis vafallr em ek skalla 
 
 blautr erumz bergi J)ota borr enn lust er J)orrin.
 
 § 4.] NOTES TO PAGES 74-81. 573 
 
 V.9. i6\.z\htrg\, the thigh; 'borr' cruris perforaculum, i.e. membrum virile. This is 
 undoubtedly the sense ; cp. Piers Plowman, Pass, xx, on his old age. The compiler 
 of Egil's Saga has defiled the image, which in the poet's mouth is serious and not 
 impure. 
 
 Glum, (p. 74.) — 1. 3. hr63r-skota, a verb here, and aw. Key. 
 
 1. 6. firin-disi, a mighty fay ; doms i draumi, 11. 7 and 16, is dubious. 
 
 I. 10. A proverb. 
 
 1. 20. go6-rei5, a troop 0/ spirits. 
 
 1. 21. of Fi6r3 tveggja vegna, on both sides of the Frith, thus emendated. 
 
 I. 25. van-tali9, as seen from the words of the Saga — J)ar hygg ek at, hvat h6num 
 J)ykkir van-talib i einni visu. — Gluma, ch. 24. 
 
 II. 26, 27. Cp. the old Warrior-law, Excursus III, vol. ii. 
 
 1. 42. Read, Gestils kleif, the cliff of Gestil = \hs shield; the MS. has klauf. 
 
 Vigfus. — Construe, ver skeytum spior me9an haela bossi neytir hlys und vormum 
 vifs bcegi. 
 
 Satires, (p. 77.) 
 
 v. I. Read and construe, nu hefi ek ristiS (her) skopt a boekis hepti mino. 
 
 1. 6. unnar, i. e. onnar, part of the sword ; else only found in Helgi ii. 35 and 
 Thulor 273. 
 
 1. 7- AsmoSar, i. e. J>6r-m6dar. 
 
 1. 13. A saw — Woe makes a man wan, cp. p. 369, 1. 6, and Proverb Song, 1. 102. 
 
 1. 16. hlaut-teins hreytir, the priest, from casting the divination chips, cp. Excursus 
 to vol. ii, p. 480, and vol. i, p. 41 1. 
 
 1. 20. fiall-roent, cp. haf-rcenn, of the wind ; words modelled by analogy after 
 austr-oenn, etc. In all the words of a genuine formation there is a radical r, as in 
 souther-n, easter-n. 
 
 1. 21. Ass rikr = Thor. 
 
 1. 23. Read, ein-hendis (one word). 
 
 I. 25. firin-argr, very ' arg,^ monstrously foul, a word of deep abuse or abhorrence. 
 
 1. 26. rigna here seems to mean to blaspheme. 
 
 V. 8. Construe, tekkat ek vi3 tanna hverfs (mouth's) hleypi-skarfi (the fly), and 
 Hagbar3z (Woden's) vea-fiar3ar (poetry's) sann-reynir = the poet ; I will not take his 
 (the poet's) fly; I'll not be his fool; not gulp his bait. 1. 30. Read, gina. 
 
 v. 9. A very obscure verse ; all interpreters have widely missed the mark. Our 
 clue is the parallelism between the two halves. In 'ry3-' we surmise 'r69o' (the 
 rood), ro&o reynir (the priest), the man of the rood : in ' bcefti' we surmise 'blo&s,' 
 Bodnar bI6& (poetry), Bo6nar bl65s smi5ja = the poet's breast. Of the parallelisms 
 between the two halves, mark — roSo reynir and sonar sa5-reynir ; Bo6n and Son ; 
 sig-tol and mord-hamarr ; smi3ja and ste9i ; Bo6nar bl6& and Sonar sa9. Of this 
 verse we have two recensions, one, purer, in Kristni Saga, the other in Olaf's Saga 
 (Fms. ii), remodelled, with the parallels blotted out. 
 
 v. 12. Cp. the lampoon in Cormac above. Here the king's treasurer is the mare, 
 pursued by the king as stallion, both speeding toward the Arctic regions. 
 
 V. 14. An interesting verse ; new words are, icirmun-grund, ur-grandari. Construe, 
 Vandils lormungrund.ir (sea's) reiS (ship's) vi9or (a sailor) : folginn (cp. Lat. se-pultus) 
 is here in the primitive sense. Note the dat. J)aim-si = Jiessom. In 1. 4 ic alliterates 
 with a vowel, being sounded, we presume, as a half-vocalised English w.
 
 SU NOTES TO PAGES 90-92. [bk. vm. 
 
 BOOK VIII. 
 
 § 1. King Tryggvason, etc. 
 
 Hall/red, etc., (p. 90.) 
 
 I. 1. I . Observe the simile. The author of Theodric's Saga has entereJ this verse into 
 his preface — Enn ^at skaltu skilja, at sii au6a se vorSin mest af rikis-manna falli ok 
 af \ivi at engir eru J)eirra iafningjar eptir. Sva sem stendr i Nor3manna lof kvaeSum. 
 Sva segir Hallfredr [v. i]. Eigi var sva sem hann sag3i at au5 vaeri 611 Nor3rlund 
 J)6tl Olafr vaeri fallinn, enn Jiat foer6i hanu til lofs vi3 konung, at engi )?vilikr ma3r 
 vaeri eptir a Nor6rl6ndum sem Olafr Tryggvason — a prosy Commentator Wisdom ! 
 
 1. 2. flug-styggs, cp. Helgi i. 137, 222, 230. 
 
 1. 14. The Saga says — Konungr st65 i lyptingunni vi& J)essa tiSinda sogn, ok 
 mselti til sinna manna : Latit siga seglit sem skiutast, enn sumir leggi arar a bor3, 
 ok taki skriSinn af skipinu, ek vil giarna berjaz heldr en flyja, ek hefi enn aldri flyit 
 i orrosto, ra6i Gu5 lift minu, enn aldri skal ek a flotta leggja . . . and, tengi menn 
 saman skipin, ok bui menn sik til bardaga, ok breg3i sver6um. Ekki skolo minir 
 menn hyggja a flotta. {>ess getr Hallfre5r Vandraeda-skald [v. 2]. — 01. S. ch. 249 
 {dramatized). Tryggvason's last orders, 'Never to think of flight,' recall the Elizabethan 
 days, when Grenville, like the Northern hero and Judas the valiant Maccabee before 
 him, preferred death to flying, like others, before overwhelming odds. See Raleigh's 
 Account, and i Mace. ix. 10. Parallel passages here are, Grayfell's Drapa, v. 8, and 
 Ey wind's on Stord, v. 4. 
 
 V. 3. fiess getr HallfreSr, at Olafr konungr missti J)ess Ii3s, er fra honum haf9i 
 siglt, ok honum aflaSi J)essi bardagi mikillar fraeg5ar. Her segir sva [v. 3]. 
 
 1. 24. Read, Donum vardizt; or, if, as Steinar says, the Swedes ran the first 
 onslaught, 'Sviom var6izk.' 
 
 1. 30. hold-bat kar (' flesh-bark ' = the mail-coat), its ra (wand)— ihe sword. 
 
 1. 35. We surmise lif-skiorr (life-scaring), epithet to liig; the simile appears to be 
 drawn from the Speaker reading the law from the Tinwall or Hill of Law. 
 
 vv. 10, II. Herein are concealed the topographic details of the battle, hidden to 
 Ari himself. The battle took place off Stralsund, near Hiddinse, which got its name 
 from a current or swelchie, called in the native tongue of the Slavonic Wends ' reca ' 
 [our friend Mr. Morfill's communication]. We meet the word in 1. 47, ' Hedins 
 Rekka,' Hiddins Race, or Stream, by whose broad bank, in the lea-water between 
 the shore and the race, the battle was fought. The place is again, 1. 46, called ' the 
 Wide Sound of Hiddinse.' The Norse word sivold is in fact the Norwegian or the 
 Danish rendering of Wendish reca. Adam, in his curious account of Olaf, has mis- 
 taken the place, as he has the meaning of the nickname which he gives to the king. 
 Cracaben [cracabben] must mean, not Raven-seeker, but ' Long-shanks,' a fit name 
 for such a tall man as Aniaf or 01 r Edward. Cp. vol. ii, p. 83. 
 
 1. 44. fyrir or fra Skylja, here is hidden the name of some place, off the headlands . . . 
 
 1. 59. Read, huf-iofnom (even-' ulled), a Homeric epithet, vf)is i'iaai : hefnir 
 Hakonar, see the tale of Hacon's tiagic death given in the Reader, p. 152 sqq. 
 
 The following verses, as well as the burdens at the beginning, are the best pre- 
 served parts of the poem. 
 
 1. 65. Trani (masc), this is the orisinal gender as used in Tryggvason's day. 
 The verse has been misinterpreted, as if Thotkeltle had jumped overboard; Hallfred 
 says nothing of the kind, but that lie never left the battle in his galley till it was 
 hopelessly lost [as if somebody else had left earlier?].
 
 § I.] NOTES TO PAGES 93-102. 675 
 
 1. 70. Construe, Heita dyr-bliks dyn-saeSinga hungr-deyfir, see Excursus II, vol. i, 
 
 P- 457- 
 
 1. 73. Name of some person, Hallfred's authority hidden here. 
 
 1. 79- Some treason here alluded to. 
 
 1. 88. veifanar or3 (idle rumours, tattle?). 
 
 V. 20. The allusion looks as if the Thronds had led the attack ; or are we to read, 
 {>roenda gramr sotti, meaning Earl Eric ? 
 
 1. 92. A proverb. 
 
 I. 93. Skalmold, can this be an echo from Volospa, I. 133? Note also v. 25. 
 
 ]. 96. or6in seems here to mean lost, perhaps from the phrase ver6a dau6r {to die), 
 
 II. (p. 94.) The other poem is a mere bald jingle-register of battles and peoples. 
 Here is the fashionable course of a Norse Wicking starting from the East, tending west- 
 ward. We note 1. 19, which has puzzled editors; it is corrupt, the sense requires a 
 name, and ' Val-Bretar' seems to be the word. Cp. the earl)' use of this word in the 
 York or Exeter Ode to King iEthelstan after Brunanbarh, ' Constantinus rex Scot- 
 torum et Uealum-Bryttonum,' for so we must read it. Nero, A. ii. 7. 89. 
 
 1. 26. tyr Tiorva looks as if some local name were hidden, Tyree? 
 
 III. Hallfred's Saga tells us that Hallfred made a poem on Earl Hacon ; that, how- 
 ever, is very problematic. The impression one gathers from Tryggvason's Saga is, 
 that King Olaf was Hallfred's ^rs; master. We are here told how the king sent 
 Hallfred on a message to Earl Ragnwald at Skara, West Gothland (who later 
 married the king's sister). The poem, bald enough, speaks of a prince ' in the east.' 
 Mr. Sigurdsson once suggested to the Editor that these fragments were on Earl 
 Ragnwald. They are all taken from Edda, and are in Einar Skulason's vein, factless 
 [are not they of his manufacture too?]. Curious are the repeated variations on the 
 land as Woden's Bride, as if composed from a written ' Edda.' 
 
 V. (p. 96.) The improvisations are better. 1. 2. akkeris frakki, ' anchor-frank ' (?), 
 Anchor Jackil), is this what is meant? hnakk-mi6 (the anchor-buoy) also met with 
 in Thulor, 1. 420: 1. 3. drengr is perhaps here a nautical term, Thulor, 1. 417. 
 
 vv. 3-7 are important on account of the poet's state of mind towards the new 
 Christian faith ; somewhat conservative, grumbling at the turn things have taken. 
 They have often been cited, and are most undoubtedly genuine, v. 7 looks like 
 a paraphrase of Ps. ii. 12, 1. 17. lata fyrir r69a, to throw to the winds, still in use, 
 but in mod. Icel. falsely spelt, leggja fyrir 65al (!) : a5ul (son), see Lay of Righ, 
 1. 164. We have used these verses in Excursus I, vol. ii. 
 
 V. 8. The sword story: iar5ar-men, a pun = sv6r3r (sward), which means also 
 leather. 
 
 vv. 9 -I I. Hallfred's death-verses, a notable utterance of the dying poet; Dr. 
 Johnson's very words, ' Hell, sir.' Dau3r ver5r hverr is the proverb, Deyja skal 
 hverr um sinn, see Reader, p. 259, No. 27. 
 
 Halldorr ukristni, (p. 100.) — 1. 5. CEna, else called Eynir, one of the many tribes 
 whereof the Throndheim ' lagu' was composed: the .ffinen of Widsith, 1. 71. 
 1. 13. fiord, Dan. ijior (year gone). 
 1. 16. Holmi, some ' holm ' near to where the battle was fought, cp. Hallfred, 1. 45. 
 
 Sliuli, (p. 102 ) — 'Fyrir Swol5' (off Swold) and 'fyrir Swoldar mynni' (offSwold's 
 mouth) prove clearly that Swold was a stream [reca], not an isle, as the Saga 
 has metamorphosed it. Note the beautiful scene of the ' Passing of Tryggvason's 
 fleet,' given in the Reader, p. 167. 
 
 1. 6. Helga haug-J)6k ; this remarkable image is only met with here. Skuli (the
 
 576 NOTES TO PAGES 102-104. [bk. viii. 
 
 poet) would have learnt this story from his master Earl Eric, whose family patroness 
 Thorgerd Holgi's Bride was. Edda says — Sva er sagt at konungr six. er Holgi er 
 nefndr, er Halogaland er vi3 kent, harm var fa6ir |)orger3ar Holga-bru6ar, J)au 
 voru baedi bl6tu6, ok var haugr Ho!ga kasta6r, onnur flo af silfri e6a golli — J)at 
 var blotfeit — enn onnor flo af moldo ok griuti. Sva kva6 Skiili {>orsteiasson 
 [11. 5. 6]. 
 
 1. 14. We follow Cod, W., gran mana setr ofan (impers.) ; gran serks ofan 
 mana, r. 
 
 Tkorod — I. Eireks-drapa, (p. 102.) 
 
 Poem in a fearfully mangled state. 
 
 1. I. vlk-buendr, as the better MSS. have it. The word 'Wick,' as well as Tind's 
 song, indicates that the lomswickings first made a raid on the Wick, then, running 
 northwards, met the earl coming from the north ; both met on More, where the 
 battle was fought, and the Wickings driven back. The later story of a sudden 
 inroad in depth of winter at Yuh-tide is manifestly a fable. 
 
 1. 17. oefri vard, an emendation evident enough. 
 
 1. 19. A proverb. Cp. Proverb Song, loi and 23. 
 
 1. 22. komo, pret. infin., a form met with here for the first time; it occurs ever 
 and anon in the following Court-poets. In prose we only know it from the words 
 skyldo, mundo. 
 
 1. 29. We here recover a fresh word, ' svarr,' Germ, sctoa^er = brother-in-law ; 
 it should hence be entered into Diet. 607 b [unknown to us in Jan. 1872]. Hyrn- 
 ing, a noble of Wick, South Norway, married Tryggvason's sister [see 01. S.], and 
 was one of the king's spokesmen on the Moot of Heithsewa in the memorable 
 year of that Moot. It appears that he fell at Swold — a-niOavtv (vyevais, or ' fekk 
 gott or6,' is the epitaph the poet gives him. Some remarkably heroic feat must have 
 been told of him, now dimly seen through a story given in the Saga, how he repelled 
 Earl Eric's first attempt at boarding the Serpent. 
 
 v. 9. Manifestly records the divhion of Norway, and the earl's share thereof. 
 The Saga [Ari] says — Enn Eirikr iarl hafSi fiogur fylki i J)r6ndheimi, Halogaland, 
 ok Naumodal, Fior3o, ok Fialir, Sogn, ok HorSaland, ok Rogaland, ok Nor6r-Ag5ir 
 allt til Li6andisness. This is a paraphrase of our poem's ' fra Vaegi-staf su3r til 
 Ag3a,' i. e. the whole western coast-land of Norway [Vaegi-staf, see note to Vellekla, 
 p. 569]. Lines 33 and 34 seem to be the record of Earl Swein's share — |>a haf3i 
 Olafr Svia konungr fiogur fylki i {jrondheimi, ok Mceri hvara-tveggi, ok Raumsdal, 
 ' ok austr Rauriki fra Gaut-Elfi til Svina-sundz, fietta riki fekk Olafr i hendr Sveini 
 iarli ' med slikum formala seni fyrr hof3u haft skatt-konungar e5a iarlar af yfir- 
 konungum. Under the commonplace touches of the remanieur we can espy ' Svina 
 sundz ' in I.33, though a literal restoration is now quite unfeasible. 
 
 1. 35. We have shifted this line ; it is clearly enough a bit of the stanza relating 
 to the earl's marriage into the Danish Royal House. 
 
 V. II. Relates how all the barons but Erling submitted to the foreign rule — a fact 
 not to be forgotten in view of Erling's subsequent fate. In 1. 37 one seems to see 
 names of places, i. e. all the barons from N, N. to N, N. submitted to the earls, save 
 Erling alone. There is a 'Farsund' near Cape Naze (hidden under 'farland'). Then 
 we miss the north boundary ; here there is a peak 'Fastlandstind,' c. Lat. 67° (hidden 
 under ' fastaty ? ') = all western Norway from Fastland Peak to Farsound (Lat. 
 58°-67''), that is to say, all the western coast from one end to the other. Cp. O. H> 
 (Kringla), ch, 21, and Sighvat's verse. The requirements of rhyme would make the
 
 §^-] 
 
 NOTES TO PAGES 104-106. 577 
 
 poet select places for their sound which the hearers knew and which were not far oflF 
 the march. 
 
 vv. 12-17. This passage seems to point to the events mentioned in the following 
 passage of the Peterborough Chronicle, 1013 : And on 3am ilcan geare to-foran 
 {)am monde Augustus [correct spring-tides of translation, the date is obscure in 
 1. 46] com Swegen cyning mi6 his flotan to Sandwic and wende swySe ra5e 
 abutan East Englum. into Humbran mu3an. and swa uppweard andlang Trent 
 J)et he comt to Gegnes-burh. [1. 48 7nay refer to the coasting voyage when they 
 had left the Thames mouth ; if so, we must seek some other word than Sttirry 
 for the enigmatic ' att storr,' and read ' eyrar Gegnes,' Gainsborough.] And t)a 
 sona abeah Uhtred eorl, and eall NorOhymbra to him. and eall ]pet folc on Linde- 
 sige. and si33an ^et folc of Fif-burhingan. and ra3e |jaEs eall here be nor3an Waetlinga 
 strsete, and him man sealde gislas of aelcere scire. [Can the joyful meeting at 
 W . . . , which 11. 51, 52 speak of, be the meeting of Uhtred and Cnut ? or is it, 
 as is more likely, the first meeting of Eric and Sweyn at the Thames mouth ? if so, 
 these lines should rather follow 1. 44.] Sy65an he undergeat Jjet eall folc him to 
 ge-bogen waes. J)a bead he J)et man sceolde his here metian and horsian. and he {)a 
 gewende sy96an suSweard mid fulre fyrde [11. 51, 52]. and betaehte his scipa and {)a 
 gislas Cnute his sunu. and sy6&an he com ofer Waetlinga-straete. hi wrohton ^et 
 maeste yfel Jie aenig here don mihte. wende ^a to 0.\naforda, and seo burhwaru sona 
 abeah and gislode. and J)anon to Winceastre. and J)et ilce dj9on. [Was there a 
 fight at Oxford before they made peace, and is Oxford, or some other place on their 
 path, the obscure G . . . by ?]. Wendon J)a Jjanon eastward to Lundene. and mycel 
 his folces adranc on Temese. forSan hi nanre brycge ne cepton [this disaster appears 
 to have been unnoticed by the poet]. Da he to J)aere byrig com J)a nolde seo burh- 
 waru bugan ac heoldan mid fullan wige ongean. forSan J)aer waes inne se cyning 
 iE6eIred. and f)urkil mid him [also Wolfkettle the Brisk, as we learn from 1. 60, 
 who seems to have led a sally at some place, the name of which is hidden under 
 1. 59]. If v. 17 refers to any event related in our chronicles it may be the fight, 
 ' innan East Seaxan set J)ere dune J)e mann hat Assandun,' four years later, where 
 Eric had the satisfaction of seeing his old foe Wolfkettle slain, ' and eall se dugo3 on 
 Angelcinne.' The poem is so fragmentary that it is only by guess one can fix the 
 order of the verses, and fit them to their corresponding passages in the Chronicles, 
 which must be our main authority. — W . . . lade (varr lad), 1. 51, is possibly Whap- 
 lode in Lincolnshire. 
 
 II. (p. 105.) {jeir Grimr ok 6lafr gengu ba3ir i mot Gunnlaugi einum, ok lauk 
 sva fieirra vi6-skiptum, at hann drap J)a ba5a. Jjetta sannar J>6r9r Kolbeinsson 1 
 kvaeSi f)vi er hann orti um Gunnlaug Ormstungo. — Gunl. S, ch. iv. 
 
 III. Biorn is Thorrod's guest one winter at Hitarness ; he is suspected of cuckold- 
 ing his host, and setting the household [sixteen souls] all at loggerheads ; mark the 
 bad meal ; for at this place there grows wild corn [mel] ; the trunk traffic, vv. 3, 4, 
 is also to be noticed. 
 
 1. 22. hlyrn, see Thulor, 11. 506 and 493. 
 
 V. 6. After Biorn's death, Ordny, who for her loveliness was surnamed the ' Candle 
 of the Isle,' pined away — Henni J)6tti ser t)at helzt ro, at hon sat a hest-baki, enn 
 |)6r6r (her husband) leiddi undir henni aptr ok fram [Biarn. S. p. 66] ; a gentle, 
 little trait of old life, like wheeling a sick person about for the sake of air and 
 exercise : under merki-skin is hidden her surname : fiargvefiar, 1. 30, probably corrupt 
 from fiargviSraz, which means to fondle, pel; Eggert uses it of birds love-pairing 
 — giptuz iurtir ok foru a6 fraevast : fiarg-vi3rast dyrin sein og t>ung, 
 VOL. II. P p
 
 578 NOTES TO PAGES 106-109. [bk. viii. 
 
 The Litlnmen Song, (p. 1 06.) 
 
 The following passages from the Peterborough Chronicle are the best comment 
 and explanation (year 1016) : J>a comon J)a scipo to Grenawic to J)am gang- 
 daguni [May 7]. and binnon lytluni fsece wendon to Lundene. and dulfon J)a ana 
 mycele die on 6a suShealfe and drogon heora scipa on west healfe Jiaere brycge. and 
 be-dicodon sy6&on {ja burh uton J)et nan mann ne mihte ne inn ne lit. and oft-raedlice 
 on Sa burh fuhton. ac hi heom heardlice wi3-stodon. 
 
 {ja wses Eadmund cyng ser J)am ge-wend lit, and ge-rad J)a West Seaxan. and him 
 beah call folc to. and ra9e aefter Jjam he gefeaht wi6 J)one here aet Peonnan wi3 
 Gillinga. and o&er ge-feoht he ge-feaht asfter middan sumera aet Sceorstane. and fiaer 
 mycel wael feoll on aeg6re healfe. and {)a heres him sylfe to-eodon on 5am ge-feohte. 
 and Eadric ealdorman and iElmaer deorlingc wseron J)am here on fultume ongean 
 Eadmund cyng. And |)a ge-gaderode he iii si5e fyrde and ferde to Lundene. eal be 
 nor6an Temese. and swa ut J)uruh Clseig-hangran. and J)a burhware ahredde. and 
 J)one here aflymde to scipon. And J)a woes ymbe twa niht J)et se cyning ge-wende 
 ofer aet Brent-forda. and J)a wid J)one here ge-feaht and hine aflymde. and J)aBr adrane 
 mycel ^nglisces folces on heora agenre gymeleaste. ^a. 6e ferdon beforan fiaere fyrde. 
 and fang woldon fon. And se cyning weiide aefter J)am to West Seaxan. and his 
 fyrde ge-somnode. 
 
 |>a ge-wende se here sona to Lundene. and J)a burh utone be-saeton. and hire 
 stranglice wid-feaht ge be waetere ge be lande. ac se ^Imihtiga God hi ahredde. 
 
 Se here ge-wende J)a aefter J)am fram Lundene mid heora scipum into Arwan. . . . 
 Then come the harrying of the Marchland by the Host and their return to the 
 Medway, Edmund's foray into Kent, and the flight of the Northmen to Sheppey. 
 A second harrying of Essex and the Marchland is followed by the fight at Assandun 
 and the consequent peace of Olney. Se here ge-wende J)a to scipon mid {jam {)ingum 
 {)e hi ge-fangen haefdon. and Lundene-waeru gri6ede wi6 J)one here, and heom frid 
 ge-bohtan. and se here ge-brohton heora scipa on Lundene. and heom wintersettle J)aer 
 inne namon. 
 
 V. 4. Thorkel's men seem to be mentioned as a distinct body of troops here. 
 The Chronicle tells how in loi 7 the old I[oms]wicking is given the Earldom of East- 
 England, and after in 102 T Cnut cyng to Martin'maessan ge-iit. lagode Jjurkil eorl ; 
 but in 1023 fjurcil and he waeron anraede. and he betsehte Jjurcille Denemearcan and 
 his sunu to healdenne. and se cyning nam {>urciles sunu mid him to Engla-lande. 
 
 V. 10. The common comparison of the luckless hero with the lucky stay-at-home, 
 which is found several timfes in these satirical ' man-songs.' 
 
 Sighvat's Praise of Olaf, p. 125, should be compared with this song and the 
 Chronicle, it makes his sixth and seventh battles, the fights at the ditch by London 
 and at Ring-mere heath, the eighth is at Canterbury and New-mouth. 
 
 Biorn, (p. 108.) 
 
 L Genuine, no doubt, but coarse. — Jiess er getiS, at hafnar-mark fanz i landi 
 |>6r6ar [mended, cp. Atli and Rimegerd, 1. 81] . . . J)at voru karlar tveir, ok 
 haf3i annarr hott blan a hofdi ; J^eir st63u liitir, ok horf&i annarr eptir cidrum. 
 [Biarn. S. p. 33.] 
 
 IL Jja haf6i Biorn eigi miklo a6r ort Aim um |)6r3, ok var ^k oerit heyrin-kunnigt 
 nokkorom monnum ; enn J)au voru efni i, at Arnora, m66ir {>6r6ar, hefSi eti3 {)ann 
 fisk, er hann kalla6i gramaga, ok let sem hann hef6i fundiz i fioru, ok hefSi hon af 
 {)vi ati hafandi or6it at JjorSi, ok vaeri hann ekki dala fra monnum kominn i baSar 
 aettir. Enn {jetta er i fliniinu. — [Biarn. S.]
 
 § 1-2.] NOTES TO PAGES 109-127. 579 
 
 [vv. 1-3.] Both pieces are interesting enough as specimens [genuine] of ancient 
 'nith' (hbels) : the 'flytings' in vol. i. are similar in kind, 'slikr' we here take to 
 he = sleek. 'einagi,' a piece of dress, occurs else only in the word-list, AM, 748, our 
 vol. ii, p. 546 ; einhaga ylgr, an offensive kenning. 
 
 1. II. Alliteration at fault. ' J)omb ' can hardly be adjective ; J)6mb means guts, 
 used for bowstrings, hence J)ambar-skelfir (gut-shaker), a surname of a great archer : 
 the error lies in ' heldr,' for which read ' el6i ' (foetus), var9 el5i i Jjcimb, the babe 
 was kindled in her womb. 
 
 Gunlaiig, (p. III.) — vv. 5-9 are the best and least corrupt, note, 1. 33. 
 
 I. 38. Allvangs eyrr ; the wagers of battle were fought in a 'holm ' on the banks 
 of the river Axewater ; Allvangr = the Tyn-wall. 
 
 I. 45. litil . . . lita (i. e. wlita) is perfectly right. It may be that Gunnlaug, who 
 had been in England, was not quite a stranger to the sound of wl. See an interesting 
 essay of Grimm, Kleinere Schriften, vol. vi, p. 277, reproving modern critics for 
 cancelling such lines as false (as commentators have done to this line), and showing 
 how little good poets avoided such rhymes, when the words (as litill and wlita) 
 were different in sense. 
 
 Gretti, (p. 114.) — hoggazk til skeggjom and halda saman nefjom are comic 
 proverbial phrases : construe, Hlakkar tialda (mail-coat's) hefjendr and Hildar 
 veggs (shield's) hregg (battle's) Nir5ir (men). 
 
 1. 10. Heimdala hiov^ the head [see Excursus I, vol. ii, p. 452] is of old poets 
 only found here. Read so / guard my life. 
 
 Gest. — It is more than problematic whether these lines be genuine. 
 
 Thormod. — In a coarse vein ; only noticeable for the names of places [see Eyrb.] : 
 note the pun, Gifrs (ogress') grand (Thor's) ness = Tkorsness, where the moot was 
 held. Snorri's character could certainly not be gathered from this poem. 
 
 SJtapti. — Notice the belief of the old neophytes, that Christ built Rome. 
 
 § 2. Kings St. Olaf and Knut. 
 Sighvat, (p. 124.) 
 I. It may be doubted whether this poem is not by some common-place poet, and 
 not Sighvat ; for it has none of his characteristic marks. 
 
 1.9. Herdalir, mod. Herjedalen, North Sweden? BalagarSz si3a = Aland Sker- 
 gaard, Finland. 
 
 1. 18. Kinmaria or Kinheim (see mediaeval maps), = the sea side of Holland. 
 1. 24. Note the long vowel in SiiSvirki, mod. Southward. 
 
 I. 32. Port reeves; the commentators, not knowing English, have made a strange 
 mess of this sentence. 
 
 vv. 12-14. These places, mostly on the Loire [1. 51], one should think, we have 
 not been able to identify ; they are all more or less corrupt : Warrand (Gueraride) is 
 near the sea, hence read, sio rierri. 
 
 V. 15. For notes to this verse see under Othere ; we have put it in brackets, for 
 it can be none of Sighvat's, rather from one of Othere's poems. Our poem seems 
 to have been composed not earlier than in 10 14, perhaps even in England. It is a 
 young or else poor poet's work, a mere register ; between it and No. II there is 
 a great leap. 
 
 II. (p. 127.) Sighvatr skald var Jiar i orrosto, hann orti ^egar um sumarit eptir 
 flokk J)ann er Nesja-visor ero kalladar, ok segir ^ar vandliga fra J)essum tidendum. 
 [S. 01. S.] Nesia is midway between Laurvig and Skien (' east of Agde,' 1. 10). 
 
 P p 2
 
 58o NOTES TO PAGES 127-129. [bk. viii. 
 
 V. 3. Olafr konungr haf5i J)at skip er kallat var KarlhofSi [Carle-head, from her 
 figure-head], J)ar var a fram-stafni skorit konungs hdfu5 ; hann sialfr haf9i J)at skorit : 
 |)at hofu9 var kngi siSan haft i Noregi a skipum J)eini er hofSingjar styr3u. 
 [S. 01. S. 1. c] The figure-head was carved by the king's own hand (who was a 
 skilled craftsman at carving), and was for long afterwards used on the ship where 
 the king was on board [as an admiral's flag]. 
 
 1. 14. kvistungar {saplings). The men were cut down as saplings. 
 
 1. 21. The golden banner stafiF occurs here for the first time, afterwards frequent 
 in battles fought in Great Britain, as in Arnor's songs. The poets called it ' stong ' 
 or ' we.' 
 
 1. 33. Jja fser3u konungs-menn stafn-lia a skei6ar-kylfurnar, ok heldu J)eim sva ; 
 J)a maelti iarl, at stafn-buar skyldu af hoggva kylfur [S. 01. S.] ; hence, for ' harSliga ' 
 read ' stafn-bua.' 
 
 1. 36. Read, ' haldit . . . leam skeiSar stafna ' (we having grappled their stems 
 with our hooks). 
 
 1. 38. Note the Homeric simile, Od. i. 9. 
 
 V. 13. The Uplanders and Heathmark folk (Central Norway) were the chief stock 
 of Olaf's host. On the Earl's side, Einar the Archer, his sister's husband, was the 
 chief baron. In Olaf's last battle at Stiklastead, fifteen years and four months later, 
 the same Uplanders were on the king's right hand, and stood true to him to 
 the last. 
 
 III. The Eastern Travel, (p. 129,) — Is not so much overpainted, but the text 
 is in a poor state and disjointed in the same manner as the 'Eddie' poems. It has 
 given a good deal of trouble : the 'plan' of Sighvat's journey having been somewhat 
 of a puzzle. The Saga has made confusion still more confounded by misdating and 
 misplacing (as it seems), making Sighvat go to Skara, or even Upsala, leaving Novo- 
 gorod (Garda) out of sight altogether. We have here endeavoured to reconstruct 
 the poem. The marking points in Sighvat's journey are : the Strind Sea in Thrond- 
 heim [1. 14] ; the Lister Sea [1. 15], west off South Norway; Eikunda Sund [1. 16], 
 or Eker Sound, though concealed, but pretty certain; Eygotaland [1. 18], restored, 
 but absolutely certain, meaning Isle of Gothland ; and lastly, Gardar [1. 75, cp. 1. 92], 
 Novogorod. Hence it appears that the eastward journey was by sea, from Thrond- 
 heim, via Gothland, to Ladoga. The ride in vv. 6-8 would then be the ride from 
 the shore up to Ladoga, the earl's residence. Lastly, the account, vv. 9-18, can 
 only be the journey homeward bach across Sweden: 11. 35,36, the recrossing the 
 Baltic to East Gothland. Still there are hitches and puzzles left, especially the 
 Eida-skog, the word ' norSan,' 1. 40. We leave the matter in part unsolved to the 
 fitter hands of Swedish scholars, who may possibly unearth some new names of 
 places underneath the palimpsest text, should they deem it worth their while. It is 
 a strange freak of history, that the most hospitable of European countries here enters, 
 as it were, on the scene as the very home of inhospitality — poor poet Sighvat ! But 
 mark the tone of the poem : Sighvat, like a Norwegian, is all prejudice against the 
 Swedes. Christianity was still backward in Sweden, the country yet half heathen 
 [vv. 13, 14]. — All this is very interesting. There is a fine vein of humour and 
 fun running through the poem. The Sagas call Earl Ragnwald ' Ulfsson ; ' Sighvat 
 [1. 67] seems, if we interpret him aright, to call him 'Saxason' (and he must have 
 known), and 'Ulf's brother's son' [1. 84]: who is this Ulf, the wise counsellor? 
 [1, 85]. The two earls, Eilif and Ulf, who, according to English sources, fought in 
 1026 at the Holy River, were they not Ragnwald's sons? When Sighvat made 
 his journey, the earl had left Sweden for Novogorod (Ladoga), whether as the Swedish
 
 §2.] 
 
 NOTES TO PAGES 129-133. 581 
 
 king's friend or not we cannot tell; the Sagas represent him as an exile: vv. 2r, 22 
 would explain much, could we but put them aright and interpret them. 
 
 1. 17. Some name of place, Skioldungs ey = Zealand ? 
 
 1. 18. Eygotaland is the ancient name of the Isle of Gothland, occurring, besides, 
 in Thattr of Ragnars sons and in Sogo-brot, both parts of the lost Skioldunga. 
 
 1. 20. Misbracketed ; construe, hlytk at ri9a and tekk ekkjom ymissar iSir. 
 
 1. 23. knorrom, emend, for ' Donom,' which gives no meaning. The Saga repre- 
 sents this as a ride up to Skara [now a Bishop's see in West Gothland, on the south 
 border of Lake Wener] — Enn er J)eir riSo upp um Gautland [from the sea, the 
 Cattegat] kva6 Sighvatr visor J)essar [vv. 4, 5], Enn er J)eir ri3u upp um Gautland 
 si3 um aptan kvaS Sighvatr [v. 6], f>a ri6a J)eir i kaup-staSinn a Skdrum ok um 
 strxtiS fram at gar6i iarls. Hann kva3 [v. 7]. 
 
 1. 26. Rognvalldz byr, i. e. Ladoga or Aldeigia ? 
 
 !!• 35> 36- Construe, svan-vangs (sea's) ondrum (ships). 
 
 1. 41. valtan karfa, and, ver stilltiim til gloeps a bati : vatr (wet?), or vatr (water)? 
 
 1. 44. Read ' hums' for 'heims? ' hums hriitr (a clumsy smack or punt). 
 
 1. 56. alfa-blot, a sacrifice to the Elves or Dii Manes, see Excursus. Here we 
 meet for the first time the word ' otwin,' the stress on the second half; since met 
 with several times in the poets of the following reign, when it disappears ; probably 
 foreign, English or French ; even the sense is not quite clear. Cp. Thiodolf, i. 1. 62 ; 
 p. 225,1. 25; p. 231, 1. 13. 
 
 1. 59. grefs gaetir, keeper of ike delve, pickaxe-man, labourer; ' gerstr,' cp. Germ, 
 'garstig.' 
 
 1. 61. Misbracketed ; construe, heiiifletz J)ollar bella t)eygi tiri. 
 
 1. 70. Ei6a-sk6gr, so called from the many lakes or lochs, with their countless 
 necks, 'ei6 ;' usually of the big forest, west of the Gotha River. 
 
 vv. 19 sqq. Partly obscure : 1. 75, deila e-n malom harSa morgum, a necessary 
 emendation. 
 
 1. 78. nefi iarla, the earl's nephew; the relationship is not clear; cp. iarla frasndi, 
 1. 83 ; Ulfs br66or son = Ragnwald? 
 
 1. 92. Austr-vego, Grano salti are names that only can apply to the East Baltic, 
 not to an earl residing in Skara. 
 
 This embassy of Sighvat seems to have purported what a modern scribe would 
 call a commercial treaty with the earl in Novogorod. There must have been 
 in St. Olaf's days an extensive traffic from Norway in the East Baltic ; King Olaf 
 himself dealt in trade as partner in Greenland, Iceland, England, and the Baltic. 
 
 IV. Western Travel, (p. 133.) — These verses too are in a poor state, though 
 not so much through overpainting. 
 
 Sighvatr kom J)at sumar til Englandz vestan af Ru6o a Vallandi, ok sa ma6r me5 
 honum er Bergr het, J)eir hof6u Jiangat farit kaup-fer5 it fyrra sumar. Sighvatr orti 
 flokk {lann er kalla3r var Vestr-farar-visor, ok er J)etta upphaf [v. l]. — S. 01. S. 
 ch. 156 (Kringla). 
 
 1. 4. 'melld' (locked), mello las (a latch), cp. Diet. s. v. malla and mella : J)a var 
 herbergit Icest, ok st66 hann lengi liti [the paraphrase in S. 01. S.]. 
 
 1. 5. ber ek opt a arml iarn-st(ikor is a wretched piece of restoration, but what 
 once stood we cannot make out. 
 
 1. 7. ' Allt hefir sa er ' , . . uti, maimed ; the sense is that Cnut is raising a large 
 levy of ships ; cp. Enn er Sighvatr var& \iess varr at Kniitr konungr byr heiferS a 
 hendr Olafi konungi, ok hann vissi hversu mikinu styrk Knutr konungr haf6i, J)a 
 kva5 Sighvatr [v. 3].— S. 01. S.
 
 582 NOTES TO PAGES 133-137. [bk. vm. 
 
 1. 8. Read, konungs, but the clause is, maybe, but the editor's work. 
 
 1. lO. Some proverb, but we have been unable to find the clue to it. 
 
 V. 4. Maimed text ; barely the sense seems to gleam through. 
 
 1. 16. Hiinn, a young bear, a play on his fellow poet's name. 
 
 1. 19. Cf. Peterborough Chr. 1031, and ^y ilcan geare he for to Scotlande. and 
 Scotta cyng him to beah Mselcolm. and twegen o9re cyningas. MaelbaeJ)e. and lehmarc. 
 
 V. 7. Enn er hann kom i Noreg, for hann {)egar til fundar vi& Olaf konung ok 
 hitti hann i Borg ; gekk fyrir konung |)a er hann sat yfir bor&um ; Sighvatr kvaddi 
 hann. Konungr leit vi3 honum ok t)ag6i. Sighvatr kva5. — S. Ol. S. 
 
 V. 9. In a very poor state, two proverbs discernible ; Eigi varSar einn eiSr alia : the 
 second, 1. 34, we cannot make out. Construe, esa gengit fyrir mal J)at. 
 
 V. II. Obscure; we read and construe, ham (not has) himni, and diupan eld; 
 Traitors (the poet says) barter away a place in the high heaven for a deep fire 
 (in hell). 
 
 V. 12. Obscure; the Saga says by way of paraphrase — Opt var sii umrce6a J)ar i 
 munni hof9, hversu ilia J)at samSi Hakoni iarli, at fcera her a hendr Olafi konungi, er 
 hann haf6i honum lif gefit, J)4 er iarl hafSi a hans vald komit. Enn Sighvatr var 
 inn mesti vinr iarls. Ok J)a enn er Sighvatr heyr5i iarlinum amselt, kva6 hann. 
 Perhaps the bearing is, The earl's complicity is but a foul charge, let us sweep before 
 our own door. 
 
 v. 14. Very obscure and mangled ; there are two proverbs discernible — Hverr 
 ver6r me6 sialfom ser lengst at fara (hverr J)egn skal hafa sik sialfan miklo lengst), 
 and, Upp koma svik urn si6ir (upp hvolfra svik). The first two lines are quite 
 dark. 
 
 V. (p. 135.) 11. I, 2. Mark the mid. form Jorwik. 
 1. 12. at 'ha' (or, at heyja), name of some place? 
 
 I. 14. mar-be5jom, cp. vol. i, p. 126, 1. 7- 
 
 II. 15, 16. Mangled beyond recovery. 
 
 1. 24. Read, varr glcestr, varr (ace), across the sea. 
 
 1. 30. The proverbial phrase, lata af etask (image from two animals at the manger). 
 
 1. 36. ' Suman,' we surmise ' Cumbra.' 
 
 I. 37. May refer to Cnut's meeting the Emperor Conrad in St. Peter's Church at 
 Rome ; Clus-Petrus {Key Peter) = the Pope. 
 
 VI. (p. 137.) Dirge on Erling. — Very much overpainted. 
 
 II. I, 2. The ' palimpsest * sense of which (for what we now read is manifestly a 
 false and empty common-place) we take to have been, — that Erling, while scouting 
 on his swift, famed galley, fell unawares in with the king, his small craft was over- 
 powered, his crew to a man cut down or surrendered, and he himself slain by the 
 hand of his own kinsman Anslac (a disappointed man, why, we are not told), who 
 was with the king. The account in the Saga, making Erling to have had a fleet 
 ready, and to have gone in pursuit of the king, is manifestly epicised. The season — 
 depth of winter — ra Trpayixara (in Polybius' parlance) speak against it. The account 
 of Erling's last moments, when the king is said to have stabbed his prostrate foe, 
 then gray with age \ in the cheek (a thief's punishment), is not to be lightly 
 
 ^ Erling's age, say 55; married in 996, then apparently a young chief, Tryggvason's 
 S'ster, died Dec. 21, 1028. Munch has overstated his age. O. H. L. says that his 
 head was turning gray ; which may be tradition or mere ' epic,' though in those days 
 men lived fast, and the wrong side of fifty then made one an old man ; three 
 score and ten was with the Norsemen (the men) quite an exception.
 
 § 2.] NOTES TO PAGES 137-139. 583 
 
 credited. Sighvat supplies no hint of all this ; on the contrary, Anslac is with him 
 the felon and murderer. No exact record, even in modern life, can fairly be ex- 
 pected of a sudden fray like this ; yet the story in Agrip, which puts down to Anslac 
 both the stab and the death-blow, is to be preferred. Genuine is the exchange of 
 words between the king and Erling, but this is rather a mark of sympathy than of 
 deadly hate. Sighvat, who seems to have loved Erling — he must often have been his 
 guest — gives the date at lolom [I. 30], the day, Thomas messa [palimpsest in 
 1. 21] '. The place is over and over again marked out [11. 6, 7, 9, 10, 20] : Erling's 
 reply to the king's call [11. 17-20]; Sighvat absent [1. 29] in Wick, says the Saga — 
 paraphrasing the words of our poem when still in a pure state — which we take to 
 be underneath 1. 30 (' sa er re6 Ia3ri ' is too poor and common-place ; besides, 
 Erling's rule was wider by far). 
 
 1. 14. Skialgs hefnir, Erling's father had been slain ; from a romanticised storv in 
 01. Tr. S, we learn that he perished by fire. 
 
 1. 15. Construe, glyggs var6-kers (heaven's) vi6-botn (earth). 
 
 1. 18. The proverb, ondur6ir skolo ernir kloazk, Reader, p. 240, No. 40. Saxo, 
 too, has this saw. 
 
 vv. 9-1 1 treat of Erling's power and the extent of his dominion. In the earlier 
 portions of S. Olaf's Saga we recognise statements drawn from Sighvat's words. Thus, 
 ch. 21 (Kringla) — |>a er Olafr Tryggvason re& fyrir Noregi, gaf hann Erlingi, magi 
 sinum, halfar landskyldir vid sik, ok at helmingi allar konungs tekjor milli Li9andis- 
 ness ok Sogns [Lat. 58°-6l°]. Olafr gipti a9ra systur sina Rognvaldi iarli Ulfs syni 
 [v. 9]. Sighvat says, ' Ulfs/et)r' (Wall's father) ; is this an error for ' ni6,' or did Ari 
 here make a slip? See above, the notes on the Eastern Travel. Farther, ch. 122 — 
 Erlingr Skialgsson belt riki sino sva, at allt ' nor5r fra Sogn-sae ok austr til LiSandis 
 ness ' re6 hann ollu viS boendr. Still closer, however, to our text is ch. 180, 
 Var {jat i heitom vi9 Erling af hendi Kmitz konungs, at hann skildi hafa land allt til 
 forraSa milli Stadar [L^t. 62°] ok Rygjar-bilz [east of Naze, near Christiansand], — 
 the very words which we espy underneath II. 38-40. Characteristic and true are 
 the remarks O. T. ch. 64 — pa, bau6 konungr [Tryggvason] at gefa Erlingi iarldom. 
 Erlingr svarar sva : hersar hafa verit fraeiidr minir, vil ek ekki hafa nafn haerra en 
 f)eir ; upon which the king enfeoffs him with the land between Firth of Sogn and 
 Naze. 
 
 II- 33) 34 seem to refer to this very enfeoffment of Tryggvason. Under ' sva at 
 oeg6i' we read ' at Ag5om,' or the like. 
 
 V. II, A comparison between Erling and Gudbrand of the Dales, of whom we 
 else know little, for the comical story in S. Ol. S. is but a fable. The two, Erling and 
 Gudbrand of the Dales, were in the days of the two Olafs the two great barons of 
 Norway. 
 
 VII. Olaf's Dirge, (p. 1^9.) — Fearfully overlaid. Verses I, 3, 4-6, 24-30, though 
 not immaculate, have escaped the remanieur's scathing hand ; vv. 2 and 7 will not fit 
 well in with the rest ; we take them to be none of Sighvat's, but perhaps Othere's. 
 
 I. 7. The received version is, that the Upland kings vierefive; here they are ' eleven ;' 
 but the verse is wholly corrupt, ' eleven ' and all. In Fb. ii. 67 we read — Sva segir 
 Styrmir inn Fr65i, at Olafr konungr hafi teki& riki af ellifu konungum ... ok er 
 J)at log-tekid er hann hefir saman sett. But in Styrmi's days the poems were just as 
 we have them now ; his authority, therefore, as to the facts of that king's life, is of 
 small value. 
 
 1. 21 is maimed. The verses 4-6 are very momentous, and substantially clear. 
 
 ^ Some MSS. read ' tapa5r slico,' which is nearer.
 
 584 NOTES TO PAGES 139-140. [bk. yiii. 
 
 The king is here the Leo justitijje. The preceding rule of the Earls appear to have 
 been licentious in the extreme — no king in Israel — and the people demoralised. 
 The Saga, ch. 192 (Kringla), draws substantially upon our verses. Ari perhaps knew 
 more. The cutting oif the hands and feet of thieves and robbers (but the head of 
 Wickings that broke the king's peace) is here recorded for the first time in Northern 
 history ; so also the enforcement of one law on poor and great alike. — Here indeed 
 we have the key to the rising against St. Olaf. Sighvat has proved a true historian 
 to his master. 
 
 v. 8 tells of the king's legislation, as if the poet were addressing the living 
 Olaf; perhaps this is no part of the Dirge. Construe, eiki-hli5s (ship's) lopt (castle) 
 byggvir (king) ; but very likely the clumsy ' kenning ' is merely a retouch, some 
 law phrase buried underneath. 
 
 vv. 9-23. The account of the battle is mangled, 'from head to heel;' we have 
 to turn to the prose of the Saga, and thence glean out the sense that once was here : 
 unfortunately, the Saga's account too is, even in our O. H. (Kringla and Cod. 
 Holm.), a mere agglomeration of incident. 
 
 1. 31. J)6r5r Folason [hidden in 1. 32] bar merki Olafs konungs. Sva segir Sig- 
 hvatr skald 1 erfi-drapu J)eirri er hann orti um Olaf konung, ch. 224 (Kringla). 
 
 1. 35. The king stands next to his banner. This is epicised in ch. 218 ; but the 
 best account is in ch. 216. There were three banners : (1) the king in the centre with 
 the chosen men; (2) Day, the South Norwegians, and the Uplanders on his right 
 hand ; (3) the Swedes, auxiliaries, on his left hand. The Swedes had an evil report 
 as to their faith, so the poet (and the traditions after him) represents Norsemen and 
 Swedes like the sheep and goats in the Gospel, the Christian (Norse) host on the 
 right, the heathen (Swedes) on the left. The number of the king's army was thirty 
 divisions (folcs'), each folc counting forty, geographically ranked, as in a modern 
 army. We have in the Saga double versions, one historical, one legendary ; 
 ch. 216 represents the historical, ch. 218 the epic poetic account : there are many more 
 such doublets in S. Ol. Saga. All this we can still see through a thickly over-daubed 
 coat of silly remaniement, cp. lines 35-45. There follows an account of the Bonders' 
 battle array [ch. 233 of the Saga] : they, too, had three banners ; (i) Kalf (the chief) 
 in the centre with his house-carles, Thori Hound there too ; (2) the Thronds and 
 Haleygs (so we read the sense) on the right ; (3) the Rugians, Hords, Sognfolk, and 
 Frithmen on the left. The Uplanders and the Wickmen, being true to the king, are 
 not mentioned as of the Bonders' party. A bit of a stinted, mangled account of all this 
 is still visible in 11. 49, 50. The Bonders were 'halfo fleiri,' twice as many [1. 47] ; 
 better, thrice as many, for ' halfo ' is a vague term, by half or more. The aggregate 
 number of both is, we believe, hidden in 1. 48; 'hundraS folk' (120 x 40) roughly, yet 
 certainly overstated ; the aggregate number being (30 x 40) + (90 X 40) = (i 20 x 40) : 
 1. 40 contains the number of the king's men — 
 
 Folk . . . fylkir . . . jjria togo hafSi. 
 1. 48 that of the Bonders ; underneath ' fry ek ' we espy ' folk :' read — 
 
 hundroS t616 at hildi hvar-tveggja folk varo. 
 The legendary S. 01. S. is partly right here — Buendr hafa J)riu merki ok tuttogo 
 ok hundra6 manna li5s undir hverjo ; sva er sagt at konungrinn let iamn-morg bera 
 i moti, ok ' flora tigo manna undir hverjo merki.' — O. H. L., ch. 30. 
 
 ^ Cf. Thulor, 1. 711, folk er fiorir tigir : ' folc ' = ' forty ' is, we believe, drawn 
 from a ship's crew ; the early battles were fought on the shore, the men drawn up, 
 crew by crew ; a sixteen or twenty-seated galley would then be the average ship.
 
 §2.] 
 
 NOTES TO PAGES 141-143. 585 
 
 vv. 19, 20 are devoted to Thori Hound's striking at the king; v. 21 to Biorn tlie 
 Marshall's death, 'at the king's head.' 
 
 vv. 24-26. Most interesting, on the worship of the Saint in its infancy. 
 
 11. 88, 89. Misbracketed. Construe, Lyg ek nema Alafr eigi har-voxt ok yfs arar 
 (tiaih) sem kvikvir tivar? ek gceSi i hr66ri helgi konungs ; and II. 90, 91, construe, 
 enn helzk svor6r a liosom hausi, fieims seldi son Valdimar (dat.) i Gor9oni ; hann 
 [i.e. the Saint] ftkk laess lausn ; ' lae ' means here a corruption in N. T. sense. 
 Former commentators (even Egilson) have misconstrued and misunderstood these 
 lines. 
 
 V. 28. The king had held Sighvat's daughter under the font; the story is given 
 in the Reader, p. 1 13. The Christian terms are most interesting; the neophyte 
 Christian Sighvat struggling for utterance as he speaks of sacred subjects in a 
 heathen tongue. 
 
 V. 30. On the eclipse we have spoken elsewhere ; Sighvat's words do not strictly 
 speak to a contemporaneity of battle and eclipse. 1. 106. ' furSa ' is a heathen word, 
 here used in a Christian sense, the ecclesiastical wonder, a token of the king's 
 sanctity, wrought by God — no longer the work of the Wolves trying to swallow 
 the Sun Goddess as in heathen days of yore. [See cut in ' Old Stories from British 
 History,' by the Translator, 1882, p. il.] 
 
 Vni. (p. 143.) These verses have mostly escaped overhauling. 
 
 11. 3, 4. Overlaid. ' Suit' we take to be, not appellative, but to denote the place : 
 it was at Suit, present Sylte at the bottom of Storfiord [Lat. 62° 50'], that King Olaf 
 abandoned his ships early in 1029, leaving the country for the East. Sighvat 
 appears to say, I started on my pilgrimage what time the king from Suit left his 
 ships and his kingdom. Did the poet (then in Wick) have a last interview with 
 Olaf? was the gold-hilted sword the king's parting gift? 
 
 v. 2. Sighvatr skald hafSi farit til Rums J)a er orrosta var a Stikla-sto6um, enn 
 er hann var sunnan a lei6, spur6i hann fall Oldfs konungs [whilst crossing the 
 Alps?] ; var honum J)at inn mesti harmr, hann kva6 pa [v. 2]. Sighvatr gfkk einn 
 dag um t)orp nokkut, ok heyr6i at einn hverr hiis-boandi veinadi miok, er hann haf6i 
 misst kono sinnar, bar6i a briost ser, ok reif klaeSi af ser, gret miok ok sag9i, at 
 hann vildi giarna deyja. Sighvatr kva3 [v. 3]. Sighvatr kom heim i Noreg, hann 
 atti bii ok born i firondheimi, for hann sunnan fyrir land a byr6ingi ; enn er Jjeir 
 lagu i Hillar-sundi [near Mandal], J)a sa f)eir hvar hrafnar margir flugo. Sighvatr 
 kvaS [v. 4] . . . {)at var einn dag at Sighvatr gekk liti a straeti, ok sa hvar konungs 
 menn leku. Sighvatr kva6 [v. 5]. Si9an for hann til biiss sins ; hann heyrdi marga 
 menn amsela ser, ok segja, at hann hefSi hlaupizk fra Olafi konungi. Sighvatr 
 kva6 [v. 6]. Sighvatr un3i ilia heima ; hann gekk uti einn dag, ok kvaS [v. 7]- — 
 Kringla Magnus Saga, ch. 2. 
 
 1. II, sa er var& (/oi7) drottinn, see note on Hallfred, p. 575. 
 
 I. 12. vig-tar, a word coined by Sighvat, or an echo from the Helgi poet; it 
 calls to mind Helgi i. 355. 
 
 II. 19, 20. We must mend this; read and construe — 
 
 Minnomk ek hve manna mins drottins lekk sinnom 
 opt a 65al-toptom orS-ssels es vas for9om. 
 
 I. e. I remember how I in times past oftentimes used to play at the home of my 
 beloved lord : l(5kk = lek ek ; then a coherence is between the first and second half. 
 The poet does not mean to say the king was playing ; his mind was of a stern pen- 
 sive cast, little given to play, his life was all work and no play— he was essentially
 
 586 NOTES TO PAGES 143-145. [bk. vnr. 
 
 a lawyer and constitution-maker : 63al-topt, a law term = 63al torfa, of the Tapestry 
 poet. 
 
 1. 21. Hvita-Kristr, a new-coined word for Christ. 
 
 1. 23. vatnoerin, a law term, air. \(y.: i haska, in jeopardy (from illness?). 
 
 1. 25. ha, hcJil klif, the high, slopiiig cliffs. 
 
 1. 26. Kuorrum ; what place is meant we know not. 
 
 1. 28. var5 ek, lost? 
 
 1. 29. Read, ung? drengs ; refers to the boy-king, not to the poet himself, who by 
 this time was no longer young. 
 
 I. 32. There are various readings ; this one we take in preference. 
 
 IX. (p. 144.) Sigh vat travelled east to Sweden to St. Olaf's Dowager Queen 
 Anstrid : Sighvatr spur5i optliga, er hann fann kaupmenn, Holmgar5z-fara, hvat 
 J)eir kynni segja honum til Magniiss Olafs sonar. Hann kvaS [ix. v. i]. 
 
 II. 3, 4, Somewhat obscure, a kind of apology for not being able to put in an 
 appearance at the moot at Hangra [Sweden] convened by Queen Anstrid, where she 
 pleaded her step-son's case before the Swedes. 
 
 1. 7. t>'iigs bei3 herr ; one should prefer ' t)ing bau5.' The sense must be, that 
 a moot of many Swedes convened at Hangra, or, that a host of Swedes gathered 
 thither. 
 
 1. 9. ' haetna,' heitom? 
 
 V. 5. Hann kva6 Jia ^etta er \xr AstriSr drottning ok Alfhildr konungs m63ir 
 hofdu skotizt a orSum nokkorom. — Magn. S., ch. lo. 
 
 X. (p. 145.) Text not much overpainted, yet in parts very unsafe from the poor 
 MSS,, for many of the verses are only preserved in the third hand of the Flatey-book. 
 The commentary in Hulda (Fms. vi),ch. 22, is feeble, and cannot be from Ari's hand. 
 
 The rising of the Bonders, headed by Atli the Speaker (a Norse Thorgny), or Tri- 
 bune, has left but few echoes behind. The Kringla, or Book of Kings, does not 
 even mention it ; did Ari overlook it ? The Agrip (ch. 29) transfers it to Thrond- 
 ham — Hann [the boy-king Magnus] atti J)ing i Ni5ar6si ok reisti me6 freko sakar- 
 gipt vi5 |)roeudr alia ok sttingn allir nefi i sldiin-felld ok veitto allir pogn en engi 
 andsvor [clearly an echo of 11. 67, 68]. St(59 upp J)a maSr, Atli at nafni, ok maelti 
 eigi fleiri or5 en J)es5or : sva skorpnar skor at foeti mer at ek ma eigi or sta3 komask. 
 Eim Sighvatr kvaS ]par J)egar viso J)essa [v. 17]. The Norwegian Gula Law-book 
 has a more marked notice — Nii hofum ver land-vorn vara a skra setta, ok vitom eigi 
 hvart J)at er rett e&a rangt. Enn J)o at ragnt (!) se J)a skolom ver J)at logmal hafa 
 um litgerSir varar, er fyrr hefir verit, ok Atli taldi fyrir monnum i Gula, nema 
 konungr varr vili oss 69rum iatta, ok ver6im ver a ^at sattir allir samt [ch. 314]. 
 
 V. I. Text unsafe; under 'lattan' we espy 'Atli,' and ' hvatta ' (egged) under 
 Sig ^ hvatr ;' the rest is twilight. 
 
 I. 6. We have restored this line ; Cnut's sons, Hardicnut and Hatald, were then 
 alive. The poet, threatening the young king, says — / will leave, I shall go to 
 either of them, I knew their father (Cnut) : '7 was then altogether beardless' (quite 
 a youth) does not refer to his meeting with Cnut (that meeting in 102 7), but, ' I have 
 earned my bread by my tongue (poet craft) ever since I was a beardless boy.' 
 
 v. 3. In a very poor state, well-nigh blotted out. 
 
 II. 15, 16. Two proverbial sayings, which we have tried to restore. The image 
 is drawn from wattling, 'though none of the biggest, yet I ever filled my place, there 
 rvas 710 gap vhere I stood.' There is an Icelandic proverb — Eigi fyllir annars riim. 
 Construe, J)iokkva (wattle) skal hroesinn husa-vi5 meS hrisi. In Diet. p. 740 b we 
 once tried another explanation.
 
 § 2.] NOTES TO PAGES 146-152. 587 
 
 vv. 5, 6. In a wretched plight ; what the poet really did say has evaporated. 
 
 vv. 7-8 are better ; it is a warm appeal to the happy reign of Hacon the Good 
 and the two Oiafs : lauk-iafn, a word of the poet's coinage ? justice, upright as a 
 garlic, unbiassed righteousness, without bend or break. 
 
 1. 36. All this is very unsafe; ' Skiri-nafni' (I, your godfather), for Sighvat chose the 
 name of the baby Magnus. In 1. 37, perhaps, ' skorpnar skrift skiri-nafna,' though 
 the rhyme requires another word; 'nafni' would by Sighvat be sounded ' namni,' 
 the sound bn being quite modern. See the words skraema, skraemi, skrimd, denoting 
 scare, scaringly, ugly. 
 
 1. 38. Quite corrupt. 
 
 1. 43. We read, aetti drengir dyr3ar drottinn, ef sonr yrSi fe9r gh'kr. 
 
 1. 46. 'a svik,' or as some have, 'a svig;' fara k svig vi& e-n is an Icelandic 
 phrase, and ' svigr-maeli,' garbled utterances, imputations ; but we prefer the 
 stronger 'svik,' for Sighvat was no tale-bearer; conspiracy, words breathing treason, 
 he would report to his master. 
 
 1. 50. Construe, {)at orS ry5r til dyr6ar drottins. 
 
 1. 57. Read, bu J)egna, in two words. 
 
 1. 60. Construe, veltir Jjiofs, see Excursus, p. 450 : Stytta skal hond i hofi is a proverb. 
 
 1. 63. A proverb, Vinr es sa vornu6 bytr, cp. Guest's Wisd., 1. 172. 
 
 I. 64. mutaris, a French word, the inoulting hawk. Note, Sighvat heard no I; 
 mark also the genitive on -is, as in vartaris, note p. 571 ; and perhaps ViEiieris in 
 Bragi's line. 
 
 V. 17. Very corrupt. Underneath 'aetla' we surmise 'Atla;' barely the drift of 
 the sense is here attainable. 
 
 II. 67, 68. See above. 
 
 1. 70. ofgast, not verb, but adjective to or9. 
 
 1. 71. Read ran, and construe, seggr hinii er selr lit sina fo3ur-leifd konungs 
 greifom at flaums felli-domi, mun telja ran i ^vi. 
 
 1. 73. A proverb. 
 
 1. 76. We read, ' var6a Jju,' guard thou ! be thou the guardian of Norway ! The 
 poet's farewell words, or final address, winding up the poem; for Norway, as Harold 
 Bluetooth's 'hawk isle' in the reign of the Giindhildsons, we are told how King 
 Forkbeard charged King Olaf with, er hann haf&i sezk i skattland bans Noregsveldi, 
 er Haraldr, fadir bans, kallaSi ' haukey sina,' Fms. x. 341. (Odd Monk's Ol. S.) 
 
 XI. (p. 148.) The fishing anecdote is given in the Reader, p. ill ; the verses 
 are obscure and corrupt. 
 
 I. 21. gor-bcenn, solicitous, importunate. 
 
 1. 23. We read, lyra laS (sea's) J)aks (ice's) veri (the Icelander) ; construe, veittu 
 lyra Ia9-J)aks veri (dat.) landaura, mork halfa, af knerri (give him up the half-mark, 
 for I have none to spare myself) : bracket the intercalary clause. 
 
 1. 25. The story given in the Reader, pp. 112, 113. 
 
 V. 8. Perhaps none of Sighvat's [of Othere's?]. 
 
 V, 9. Men were finding fault with his poetry: 11. 35, 36 a proverb. 
 
 1. 38. A proverb. The verse seems to be an address to the king when alive : the 
 text is unsafe. Seija is a little isle near cape Stadt (close up to the neck DragseiS), 
 famed from its Saints, ' the Men of Selja ' (8th of July). 
 
 Othere the Black, (p. 150.) 
 1. A bald poem and much overlaid, but never of high worth, 
 1, II. Sallt [Salt-id-Eystra in Amor's song], the Baltic,
 
 588 NOTES TO PAGES 153-154. [bk. viii. 
 
 1. 17. The Isle of Gothland is meant [Gautzkr, of the Gouts']. 
 
 V. 7-10. All overdaubed most miserably, 'stained' means dyed with colour, 
 especially with red. 
 
 The following extracts from the Peterborough Chronicle will show the relation 
 of the poem, as far as can be made out, to the history of the Danish invasions : — 
 1009. 'Da aefter S. Martinus masssan. \>z ferdon hi [the invading host] eft ongean to 
 Cent, and namon him wintersettl on Temesan. and lifedon of East Seaxum. and of 
 5am scirum ^e J)xr-nyxt waeron on twam healfe Temese. and oft hi on J)a burh 
 Lundene ge-fuhton. Ac si Gode lof. pet heo gyt ge-sund stent, and hi pxr aefre yfel 
 geferdon.' [After a raid in the beginning of loio through the Chilterns to Oxford, 
 which they burnt, they got back to Kent by way of ' Stane' (Kingston), and 
 passed the spring mending their ships.] loio. Her on 3issum geare com se fore- 
 sprecenda here ofer Eastron to Englum. and wendon up aet Gipes-wic. and eodon an- 
 reces \>zt hi ge-axodon Ulfcytel mid his fyrde. Dis waes on J)am da;g prima ascensio 
 Dili, and pa. sona flugon East Engla. pa stod Grantabrycg scir [ana] faestlice ongean. 
 pxT wses of-slaegen i^ithelstan pes cynges a3um. and Oswi and his sunu. and Wulfric 
 Leofwines sunu. and Eadwig ^fice's broQor. and feala o9ra godra J)egna. and folces 
 unge-rim. J)one fleam aerest astealde fiurcytel Myran-heafod. After this Ringmere 
 heath fight follows a terrible harrying of fifteen shires, and a second wintering at the 
 ships. In 101 1, betwix Natiuitas S. Marie and S. Michaeles maessan hi ymbesaetan 
 Cantwaraburh. and hi pxT into comon J)urh syre-wrenceas. for J)on JElmxt hi be- 
 cyrde Cantwaraburh pe se arcebiscop JEUeah xt ge-nerede his life. And hi pxT 
 pz genaman J)one arcebiscop JElfheah. and j^llfword J)2es cynges ge-refan. and Leof- 
 wine abbot, and Godwine biscop. And .flElmser abbot hi lastan aweg. and hi pxr 
 genaman inne ealle {)a gehadode menn. and weras. and wif. J)et webs un-asecgeudlic 
 asnigum menn hu mycel Jjaes folces waes. and on pzre by rig si39on waeron swa lange 
 swa hi woldon. and fia hi baefdon ps. burh ealle asmeade. wendon him ^a to scipon. 
 and laeddon J)onne arcebiscop mid him. After a poem on this terrible blow, which 
 concludes the story of loil, the Abingdon chronicler goes on to speak of the Dane- 
 geld of our V. 10. 1012. Her on J)i<sum geare com Eadric ealdorman. and ealle J)a 
 yldestan witan gehadode and laewede Angelcynnes. to Lunden-byrig to foran J)am 
 Eastron. J)a wxs Easter daeg ^a on {jam datarum Idus Aprilis. and hi bxr J)a swa lange 
 waeron oj) J)at gafol eal gelaest waes ofer 6a Eastron. J)at waes ehta and feowertig 
 J)usand punda. 
 
 .Sthelred's flight from Wight to Normandy in 1013 in Thorkettle's fleet is not 
 noted by Othere, but his return in Olafs ships (a new fact for English history) is 
 only briefly noted thus in the Abingdon Chronicle : 5a com ^thelred cyning innon 
 6am Langtene ham to his agonre J)eode. and hi glaedlice fram him eallum onfangen 
 waes. Olaf seems to have turned to the English side after the archbishop's death, 
 as did Thorkettle. 
 
 vv. 13-15. Arrival in Norway. This is very much overpainted. Ari knew the 
 lines in their purity, see S. 01. S., ch. 2 7 (Kringla) — Oiafr konungr let par eptir vera l.ing- 
 skipid, enn bio paban knorro tva [1. 43]. ok haf3i pk tuttugo menn ok tvau hundru6 
 albrynja3a [this nmst have been in the verse], ok valit miok. Hann sigldi nor5r i 
 haf um haustit, ok fengo ofvidri mikit i hafi [11. 45-48] sva at mannhaett var ; enn 
 me6 t)vi pen hof3u li9s-kost g65an [1. 46] ok hamingju konungs, {)a hlyddi vel. 
 Sva segir Ottarr [vv. 13, 14]. Her segir sva, at ($lafr konungr kom titan at mi5jom 
 Noregi [1. 50] ; enn sii ey heitir Saela, er t)eir toku land, lit fra Sta6i [this is now 
 lost]. We must here add the verse, p. 127, v. 15, which we think belongs here. It 
 is all overpainted ; the substance, and even the words, we gather from S. 01. S., ch. 28
 
 §2.J 
 
 NOTES TO PAGES 154-158. 589 
 
 (Kringla) — thus, underneath 'strangr hitti' we surmise 'strong heit.' The following 
 words of praise surely refer to the young king Olaf, and by no means to the earls ; 
 we accordingly read, es var6 einna oeztr, etc. 
 
 1. 59. Under ' ri69r ' we surmise the tuanber of the exiled kings, /ottr or 'J)ria?* 
 1. 62. The Saga has here an atrociously cruel story of King Olaf — Hann 16t blinda 
 Hroerek ba3um augom, ok haffli hann me3 ser, enn hann let skera tungo or Go3r6&i 
 Dala-konungi, enn Hring, ok aSra tva let hann sverja ser ei5a, at J)eir skyldo fara 
 brott or Noregi ok koma aldri aptr [ch. 74] (Kringla). We suspect our old acquaint- 
 ance the clerical legend manufacturer who libels Tryggvason to have had his hand in 
 the pie — the Book of Joshua being his model. There is also a long dramatic story on 
 King Hrorek, ch. 82-86, true in substance : Old Hrorek was blind, but through no act 
 of St. Olaf. As for the poems, 1. 62 is the only apparent authority, yet the sense 
 we take to be merely, Ve put a stop to his evil tongue. From other sources we 
 learn that in fact the kings went into exile. The whole story of the Upland kings is 
 dramatised in Snorri's best vein, long political speeches in Thucydidean style [S. 01. S. 
 (Kringla), ch. 30-36, 72, 73, 82-86]. Notice that the faithfulness of the Uplanders 
 to St. Olaf in his hour of need at Sticklestead speaks loudly against any such things 
 as his having cruelly maimed the Upland kings. The Wick and Central Norway 
 stood by him, or at least were neutral. 
 
 I. 64. Notice here the Jive kings, which puts at rest the eleven of p. 583. 
 
 II. 65, 66. The extension of the king's dominion, now the lord of Norway, from 
 one end to the other, is in the south-east ' Ei6ar,' so called from the necks and tarberts 
 between the lochs of Wermland. We miss the boundary towards the north, hidden, 
 we take it, in ' Gondlar,' i. e. Gandvik (vikr Ganda). ' He rules the land between 
 the Elbe (Gotha River) and Gandwick,' says Snorri in Hattatal, verse I. 
 
 I. 69. King Fairhair had, in times past, subdued the Isles, but no Norse king ever 
 since. 
 
 II. Cmit's Praise, (p. 155.) 
 1. 6. Ii9-van (levy ?). 
 
 1. 14. Proverbial ; reka e-m illan {jveit = liosta einn illom steini, p. 207, 1. 67. 
 
 vv. 6-11. Very thickly overpainted, see Saxon Chronicle. 
 
 1. 27 apparently refers to some skirmish not mentioned in the Chronicle. The 
 lines originally may have run — The deep dyke was filled ivith the bodies of dead 
 Northiimbriatts. The fight must therefore have taken place between Uhtred's 
 treaty with Eadmund and submission to Cnut. ' Sverd castala verSa' is quite enig- 
 matic. ' Hazelworth ' is a mere guess. The whole of vv. 6-1 1 seems to be covered 
 by the ye^r 1016. (For English account of which, see p. 578.) Names certainly 
 found in them are: — Lindesey, 1. 17; River Ouse, 1. 20 ; Norwich, I. 22 ; Thames, 1. 
 26 ; Tees, 1. 27 ; the Northumbrians' Dyke, 1. 28 ; Sherstone, I. 30 ; Brentford, 1. 32 ; 
 Assington, 1. 36 ; Forest of Dean, 1. 38. 
 
 V. 12. A-in-Helga, Holy River, South Sweden ; this battle is noticed in the Peter- 
 borough Chronicle, 1025. [The true date is 1026.] 
 
 III. (p. 157.) Utterly bare of facts, looks much as if it had been manufactured by 
 Einar Skulason. 
 
 IV. (p. 157.) 11. I, 2. Cnut's titles in these songs confirm Steenstrup's remarks as 
 to the extent of his emp're never including Sweden. 
 
 I. 4. viSari, Norwegian form for viSara. 
 
 1. 7. A proverb, Mior er mikils visir. Reader, p. 264, No. 204, still in use in Iceland. 
 
 V. 3. Note the tapestry work of Sigfred in Canute's day : 1. 12, cp. West, Wols. 
 Lay, 11. 43, 44. A Swedish Rune-stone has the roasting-scene of 1. 4 carved upon it.
 
 59© NOTES TO PAGES 159-162. [bk. vm. 
 
 Thorarin Praise-tongue (p. 159), etc. 
 
 I. Stretch Sotig. Note how Canute, setting out for Norway, starts from Limfrith, 
 Jutland. In King Forkbeard's and Cnut's days [and earlier as well] the Limfrith 
 was open towards the west ; in fact, a sound or strait cutting clean across Jutland. 
 Here the Danish fleet, bound for England, used to gather [see Knytl. S., year I087]. 
 Cnut, coming from England to Denmark, lands at Limfrith [Sighvat, vi. 28]. Mark 
 the points in Cnut's northward route, leaving Limfrith, Agde (Naze), Listi (Lister), 
 Highdoor (Haadyr, south of Jaederen), Ekersund, Hornelen (off Nordfiord), Cape 
 Stadt, Stemshesten [Lat. 63°], River Nith [Nidaros, Throndheim]. 
 
 1. 23. nefi, here sister's son, Earl Hacon Eric's son: Veg-Iutar [from A.S. wag =■ 
 sea], this folk-name also occurs in Vellekla, 1. 83 ; but is else unknown. Cf. the 
 Holm-Rygum of Widsi6 and Sae-Geatas of Beowulf, the last of which is an exact 
 parallel, it means the Island or Sea-Jutes. By the ion [1. 84] Hardicnut is meant. 
 
 1. 25. doekk-sala svana (sea) dalr, the sea-dale, that is, Denmark. Did not the 
 poet say 'Dana-mork?' it sounds better so, else the Icelandic Sagas only know the 
 docked form Z>a«-m6rk, but in Cnut's day, we surmise, the full form was still heard. 
 
 1. 30. For the long-fetched kenning see Excursus, vol. i, p. 457. 
 
 III. (p. 160.) This ecclesiastically interesting poem we have been able to partially 
 restore. The title we take to be = 'Gloe-lung ' {the transparent vessel, the shrine). 
 
 1. 2. The name of Earl Harald, son of Thorkettle the Tall, is, we believe, hidden 
 under these words, he is the Earl, cp. |>a haf3i Kmitr konungr gefit iaridom i Dan- 
 morku Haraldi syni {>orkels Hava [S. 01. S. (Kringla), ch. 194] : underneath ' uppn 
 haji ' we recognise ' Havi.' 
 
 I. 13. kvikva settr {enshrined), of saints, cp mod. kvik-settr {buried alive). 
 
 II. 15, 16. Sidan fluttu {)eir |jorgils likit upp me3 anni ok grufu J)ar ni3r a sand- 
 mel J)eim, er J)ar verSr [S. 01. S., ch. 251] ; a statement drawn, we think, from this 
 very line whilst unadulterated. 
 
 1. 17. var f>a likami konungs borinn inn i Clemenz-kirkjo ok veittr umbiina6r yfir 
 ha-altari [S. 01. S. ch. 258] ; derived, we take it, from our song; the MSB. leave 
 here a blank : the 'high altar' is implied in 1. 26. 
 
 1. 23. bor6-vegs saeing, the shrine. 
 
 I. 27. Emendated, 'Cristi {)aeg' = cisto k'gs of the Archetypus. The sense is 
 indubitable : it was over the high altar that the candles burnt above the king's 
 cofBn. 
 
 1.31. ' kryppr ' = kryppill — certainly so, a noun, not a verb; so also [1.33] 
 J)i65an {the king), not {)i65ar ; cp. Enn sva sem Jjorarinn segir, at til ins helga 
 konungs kom herr mannz, haltir ok blindir, e6a a annan veg siiikir, enn foro ^adau 
 Ae/7/r.— [S. 01. S., ch. 259.] 
 
 1. 35. '{)innar;' some MSS. ' sinnar,' i.e. the land he once ruled. In after days 
 St. Olaf was the perpetual suzerain ; indeed, the St. Peter of Norway. That, how- 
 ever, is an interpretation appropriate only to later days, in Archbishop Eystan's and 
 Magnus Erlingson's reign : it would be an anachronism — even though we accept the 
 reading ' sinnar ' — to urge any such meaning. 
 
 1. 38. boka-mals (Holy Scriptures) regin-nagli, the Scripture's holy peg — Saint: 
 ' legin-nagli ' is a term borrowed from the heathen temple. See Excursus 1, vol. ii, 
 p. 403. 
 
 Hallviard, (p. 161.) — 1. 2. sikolgior6 is simply the sigel-gyrd, sail-yard. 
 
 I. 6. Fleet, the Humber ; Ello aett-leif3 = England. 
 
 1. II. niunka-mold (Palestine) rekz (King's = God's) valid (heaven).
 
 § 2.] NOTES TO PAGES 163-177, 591 
 
 Biarni Goldbrow, (p. 163.) — 1. 1. Harold's heir, i.e. St. Olaf. 
 
 11. 7, 8. Underneath we read, Rygja raesir, and land-vor&r Egda, of Erling. His 
 enemies used to call him ' the King of the Rugians ' — vera kann J)a, at ek hafa ekki 
 varliga maelt, ef J)U ert systur son konungsins Rygjanna [Hkr., p. 353, Unger]. 
 Sighvat calls him ' VorSr H6r6a,' the Warden of the Hords. 
 
 1. 22. We read, satt er at setj'a knattir Svein ; the poet addresses his patron in 
 the 2nd person — thou made Sweyn put up with Denmark alone ; didst dismiss him 
 to Denmark. 
 
 I. 26. Read herr in its old bad sense, cp. ofundmenn in line below. 
 
 II. 31, 32. Very corrupt. It refers to the battle at Redburgh, where Calf, siding 
 with Earl Thorfin, his brother-in-law, beat Earl Rognvald. 
 
 The Rood Song, (p. 165.) — The last burden of this encomium most probably re- 
 ferred to the Rood, and gave it its name. Sigg, a peak on the Isle of Bommcl, 
 West Norway : Kormt (Karmen) and Aumar, isles off Rogaland (Stavanger). 
 
 II. On Thoralf, (p. 165.) — Fitjar, a farm on the Isle of Stord, west of Hardanger, 
 where King Hacon the Good fell : for kenning, 1. 3, see Excursus, vol. i, p. 457. 
 
 III. An unhiown song. — Mythical phrases, cp. Atlam., 1. 282, vol. i, p. 76, 1. 42. 
 Ref. (p. 166.) — I. ' griotaldar;' one should prefer a name of Woden (' Gautz 
 
 alldins ' = Woden's breast liquor = poetry) : the image is modelled from the one in 
 Egil's Head Ransom, 1. 2. 
 
 II. Hrafn-asar (Woden's) heilagt full, holy toast, poetry, and Valgautz veigar, id. 
 
 III. Mark the ' kennings ' of a ship, see Excursus, vol. ii, p. 458. 
 
 Bersi, (p. 169.) — hr66rs hag-kennendi = a poet : v. 3 apologizing for his not being 
 willing to desert his old master, the earl, in his need and defeat : the Bison, St. Olave's 
 ship, with a bison figure-head [Carlhead was his ship at Nesia]. 
 
 lokle. — Suit, now Sylte, a harbour in Valdai, Sondmor, Norway. Here St. Olaf 
 left his ships, see Sighvat viii. 3. 
 
 Harek. — Laebaugs-ey, a pun = Ve&r-ey (Weather Isle), an island in Cattegat. 
 
 Vettalandir, an estate, county, Ranriki, on the east side of Christiana fiord. 
 
 Tryggvis verses. — 1. 51. This is the first time we meet a week-day; since frequent 
 in poets of the following reign [see especially Amor]. 
 
 St. Olaf. — 1. 162. Gramr ok brattir hamrar, a pun = Ingi-ger6r. 
 
 1. 66. Ein glop (fem.) soekir iarl hvern, a proverb, Icelanders now say, eiga eitt 
 glappa-skoti6 a aevi sinni. 
 
 Coalbrow's Poet, (p. 175.) — 1. iS. Loftunga, i. e. Thorarin the Poet, 
 
 1. 18. Read hregg-land, cp. Sighvat, x, 40. 
 
 1. 26. skopt, cp. p. 79, 1. 4; survives in mod. Icel. skott, a scut or tail (of dog, fox). 
 
 1. 33. Skopta ek, see Diet. 554 a ; mod. skotta : go&-fi6n (podex). 
 
 I, 37. brenna e-m illan dila, proverbial phrase : 'from,' 1. 39, dele, 
 
 II. 45, 46. Inney, Herbiorg, places in Inner Throndheim. 
 
 I. 59. Hring and Day, on whom see Flatey-book ii, p. 1 1 8. 
 
 1. 66. Necessary emendation. Dags hri6 was the final charge at Sticklestead, where 
 the king's right wing (Day and the Uplanders) was beaten after a hard fight. [The 
 king in the contest was, it seems, killed ere the battle was lost.] We need not give 
 credence to the story that Day came too late; for that is in direct contradiction with 
 Sighvat's exact statements, that the Norsemen (and who else could they have been ?) 
 were on the king's right hand.
 
 592 NOTES TO PAGES 186-191. [bk. viii. 
 
 § 3. Kings Harold and Magnus. 
 Amor, (p. 186.) 
 
 I. This poem is but little meddled with. Specimens of the most marked ' kennings ' 
 are — A King, Ulfa fer9ar (wolves') tungu-ri63r 14, Yggjar mas (raven's) fi5ri-ri66r 
 16, benja kolgo (blood's) blagamms (raven's) faeSir 17, ulfa graSar eySir 19, fengins 
 gollz otti 52, hlenna J)ry^ti^ 36, hlenna J)reytir 56, hlenna dolgr 58, gotna spialli 20, 
 iofra bagi 55 : the ship, geima valr 62, elmarr 30, skor5o ski6 24, {)opto eiki 26, 
 saevar ski& 59, hlunna rei6 57 : the wind, fyris garmr 28 : the sea, meita hli6 59: 
 blood, hrse-Iogr 48, Hlakkar haukr 48 : raven, val-gammr 44, etc. 
 
 1. 2. Quite obscure and fragmentary. 
 
 1. 8. skru6, here a nautical term. 
 
 1. 9. ver6a (bulwark) ; better ' varta,' Thulor 412, and a verse in Orkney S. (a 
 lirga vorto), but not in this collection. 
 
 1. 10. Read 'hl6r.' 
 
 I. 14. tirar-J)ing; perhaps the moot at Hangra (see Sighvat ix. 7) is here meant. 
 
 1. 32. Stefja mel — ' mal ' is a later form (stave division), see Excursus on Metric. 
 
 1. 35. 6J)i66 {im-people, im-folk), the pagan Wends. 
 
 I. 39. River on the border of Sleswick and Jutland. 
 
 1. 45. meS hringom (crew and all). 
 
 1. 47. Hefnir Alafs, see above, p. 35, I. 2 ; 92, 1. 59 ; 137, 1. I4; 2II, 1. 4. 
 
 I. 48. Nu mun kvseSit aukask ; the initial verse to the third part or Slcem. 
 
 II. (p. 189.) 1. 7. Sallt, see p. 152, 1. 11: heltr, better ' helldr ' =hvelldr, vocalising 
 the w, cp. p. 304, 1. 63 ; 270, 1. 29. 
 
 1. 8. Sigtuna, the famed place near Upsala, see Ynglinga Saga, the first chapter. 
 
 1. 10. afkarr, cp. Atla kv. 150, and below, 1. 17 : hence we believe comes mod. 
 Engl, awkward. Cf. ' carhand ' of the fourteenth-century North English poet. 
 
 1. 14. otvi'n, see Sighvat iii. 56; Thiodolf ii. 62. 
 
 1. 22. hallr ( = steinn), the stained, red-painted sides. 
 
 1. 23. fetil-stingr, a sword or dirk. 
 
 1. 30. amr (blackish), cp. p. 278, 1. 8. ' lom,' on the coast of Pommerania, 
 where the Danish kings once founded the famous lomswicking colony : in Arnor's 
 days dissolved, and the place given over to the Wendish pagan. 
 
 1. 36. The Axe Hell. This is the first time we meet with the axe as a weapon 
 instead of the sword : the axe was long the favourite weapon of the Norwegians and 
 Danes ; see the English Chronicles, Giraldus, and Sturlunga. 
 
 1. 40. a-leggjar (stone's) Yggjar (giant's) vif- (giantess') marr (wolf). 
 
 1. 42. Helganess, a point on the eastmost point of Jutland. 
 
 1. 45. Reggbuss, a Wendish name, as it seems. 
 
 1. 46. rog-skyja (shield's) rygjar (axe's) regn (battle). 
 
 1. 49. Hneitir, St. Olaf's sword. Magnus had the father's three heirlooms, his ship 
 (Bison), his axe (Hel), and his sword (Hneitir) ; of which sword, see the later fables 
 in Geisli, vv. 43-50, 
 
 1. 51. Biorn, a famed Wicking, Sweyn Wolfsson's brother, known also from 
 English Chronicles, 1050. 
 
 1. 62. Chronological fact ; the young King Magnus was now [1045] filling his 
 ' second teen,' his twentieth year. 
 
 III. (p. 191.) 1. 3. River Niz, Halland ; battle fought here in 1062. 
 
 1. 4. Note here Tyrfing, the famed sword of the Waking (Bk. iii, § i) ; no other 
 poet, though verily from no lack of opportunity, is found using this name.
 
 §3-] 
 
 NOTES TO PAGES 191-196. 593 
 
 1. 5. The Snake, Harold's ship, a successor to the Bison and Long Serpent. 
 1. 19. = Eymdit, from eyma ; cp. Dan. iimme sig ved noget. 
 
 IV. (p. 192.) In a sad state. 1. 3. The English Chronicles tell of the battle at 
 Fulford ; we recognise the name imder ' fell at fundi,' and ' Dik Uso ' under ' togfusa.' 
 The Saga, in conformity with the Abingdon Chronicle, states (from our poem?) 
 that the battle was fought on Wednesday before St. Matthew's day. Is this hidden 
 in 1. 4? Gauta = Woden. 
 
 vv. 5, 6. Very sadly overdaubed. 
 
 1. 24. The Saga says — Emma het brynja hans, hon var sva si3 at honum tok a 
 mitt bein, ok sva styrk at aldri haf6i vapn a fest — ' Emma ' hidden under ' hlenna.' 
 vv. 9, 10. Mere blurred sentences. 
 
 V. (p. 193.) Both this and the following Lay are overpainted beyond mending. 
 1. 1. Deildiz af sva aldri; see Diet. s. v. deila, III. 2. 
 
 1. 4. 'hegjo,' see Rekst., 1. 92, and Merl. ii. 82. 
 
 1. 13. blezk, from blanda : saum-for, see Thulor, 1. 398. 
 
 VI. (p. 194.) skelkingr, a sword, Thulor, 1. 255. 
 1. 8. See Excursus on Metre, p. 454. 
 
 The Orkney Saga, ch. 2 2, founded on our poem, speaks of a Carl Hundason (a 
 Scotch ' maormor,' we believe, and no Mng of Scotland) ; his nephew is Muddan or 
 Mumtan. Earl Thorfin fights and beats Hundason [Mac-beath, Dog's Son, as 
 Mr. Rhys most ingeniously puts it] at Deersness. Thorkel Fosterer, Thorfin's 
 ally and friend, slays Muddan ; upon which Hundason gathers an Irish and Scotch 
 host, fights, and is beaten again at Torfness, whereon the earl harries and burns 
 North Scotland, having in one summer fought three battles. 
 
 1. 9. ' kyndom lofu6 brynjo,' some name hidden here, (Hundason?). 
 
 1. 20. Sandwick, the second battle. 
 
 1. 21. Torfness, the third battle, on a Monday; on a Friday (1. 35) ; on a Wed- 
 nesday morning (1. 40). Amor is fond of showing off his learning by marking the 
 week days — of scant use to us now, as often we neither know the place nor the year. 
 
 1. 24. Skotlands harra, lord of Scotland, only a 'maormor' may be meant. 
 
 1. 28. Lodwe's grandson, see pedigree, p. 183. 
 
 1. 30. Mark the reed or rush-thatched houses. 
 
 1. 33. Read ' VestrfiorSr,' Westfirth, on the west side of the Isle of Skye ; see 
 Hak. S., chs. 166, 327, Rolls' edit. The poem was, one can see, already 'tainted' 
 when the paraphrase in Orkn. S. was taken, for there too we read VatzfiorSr. 
 
 1. 34. A SkiSi, manifestly = in the Isle of Skye. 
 
 V. II. Name of the place hopelessly gone (buried in 1. 47?). The Orkney S., 
 ch. 27 (Rolls' edit.), says — f>at var ii einu sumri at Jjorfinnr iarl herja6i um Su9reyjar 
 ok vestan um Skotland ; hann la Jjar sem Gaddgedlar heita (Galloway), f)ar mcetiz 
 Skotland ok England — from a lost verse of Amor? 
 
 V. 12. The same defacement of place-name. The Irish annals might be of help. 
 
 V. 13. We guess 'Ongulseyjar sund;' 1. 45 fixes it as ' south of the Isle of Man.' 
 
 V. 17 has reference to the Redburgh battle. 
 
 1. 56. Skialdar vi5r, the ship [from a now half dim myth]. 
 
 V. 19. The extent of Thorfin's dominion (in imitation of Othere, p. 155, and 
 Vellekla, 1. 80). The Thurs Skerries are also mentioned in Hak. S., ch. 265, but are no 
 longer known, being some reef off the north-eastmost point of Orkney or Shetland. 
 
 V. 20. J)orfinnr iarl gor6i J)at frama-verk i Orkneyjum, at hann veitti allri hir9 
 sinni, ok morgum oOrum rikum monnum, allan vetrinn gcegnum, hxbi mat ok 
 mungat, sva at engi ma3r J)urfti i skytning at ganga — sva sem konungum e3a iiirlum 
 VOL. II. Q q
 
 694 NOTES TO PAGES 197-205. [bk. vm. 
 
 er titt i oSrum londum, at veita urn 161 hir5 sinni ok gestum. Sva segir Arnorr 
 [v. 20]. — Orkn. S., ch. 23. And — Annat oiidvegi var a inn uce5ra pall, gegnt 
 konungi ; skyldi {)ar sitja inn cezti ra5giafi konungs fyrir bans adrykkju, ok Jiotti 
 J)at mest virSing at sitja fyrir konungs adrykkju. Sem Arnorr larla-skald segir 
 [v. 21]. Her hrosar Arnorr J)vi, at hann sat i lioeSra ondugi fyrir adrykkju Jjor- 
 finnz iarls, J)a er hann var me6 hunum i Orkne\'jum. — Htilda, Olaf Quiet's S. 
 
 V. 22. Hence it appears Amor had married some relation of the earl's. 
 
 V. 23. The dead earl's two sons, Erlend and Paul. 
 
 V. 26. Mark the echo from Volospa. 
 
 1. 75. goe6ingr ; in Orkney the nobles (the ' hersar ' of Norway) were called 
 'goeSings,' or good men, apiaroi. 
 
 VIII. (p. 197.) We take this to be from the Dirge on Gelli, Ari's grandfather; 
 Gelli built a church at Holyfell. Niala, ch. 10 — 'Hall says to Thangbrand the mis- 
 sionar}', ' 1 hverja minning heldr J)U J)enna dag?' |)angbrandr segir, ' Michael engill 
 a daginn, segir hann.' * Hver rok fylgja engli ^eim,' segir Hallr. ' Morg,' segir 
 Jjangbrandr, ' hann skal meta allt J^at er {"i gcirir, baeSi gott ok illt ; ok er hann 
 sva miskunsamr, at hann metr allt J)at meira sem vel er gort.' Hallr maelti ; 'Eiga 
 vilda ek hann mer at vin.' 
 
 IX. (p. 197.) Gott es at fylgja drottni, a proverb. 
 
 Thiodolf Arnorsson, (p. 199.) 
 
 I. Magmis Flohh. — 1. 18. Infin. pret. ; with ace. see above. 
 
 II. 22, 23. There are here two battles, for Liirschau (Hlyrsk6gs-hei9r) is on the 
 southern, the Skotborg River on the northern border of Sleswick, distanced by a 
 day's march or two. 
 
 1. 24. It is strange to call King Magnus 'Ello konr;' yet, if true, it is a finger- 
 point to his plans and claims on England ; see our remarks, p. 178. 
 
 1. 26. All the Norse poets of this date dub Sweyn the Danish King ' Earl.* 
 
 I. 28. Read, munSot, i. e. they remembered no greater fight. 
 
 vv. 9, 10. Observe the manner of battle, staff-slings, spears, stones, arrows ; 
 ' snoeri-dorr ' (sling-darts) and ' skepti-fl^tta ' would be identical ; boslar, a quarrel 
 or crossbow bolt, besides in Thulor, 290, a M. Lat.-Rom. word, M. Lat. holsonem, 
 French bozoim, botijon, 
 
 1. 39. The poet present in the battle. 
 
 1. 47. |)essi orrosta var Drottins-dag naesta fyrir 161. — Magn. S. (Hulda), ch. 38. 
 
 1. 50. Sveinn flySi fia yfir a Fi6n (leaving Jutland), ch. 38. — 'Fion' underneath 
 'i folk,' 1. 52. 
 
 1. 54. We surmise ' firiSjaby ' = 06insve in Funen, see Thulor, 130. 
 
 1. 58. Helga-nes, see Amor, i. 44. 
 
 I. 69. ^rennin, tvennin or J)renni, tvenni, is an older form than prenn, etc. ; to 
 bear the higher shield is to 'carry it off triumphantly.' 
 
 II. (p. 201.) 1. 4. Borrowed from Sighvat, ii. 38. 
 
 1. II. We suggest ' Hnikars-lund,' Woden's grove = Ob\niYe, see Thulor, IT9. 
 
 1. 22, What place can this be? We think some harbour in Zealand? (Thulor, 
 325). In the following lines we espy places in Zealand— Andwerd-wood, 1. 25 ; 
 Ringsted, 1. 26 ; Sorii, 1. 26 ; Kioge, 1. 30. See the map of Denmark. Here and 
 in the following lines the prose of the Saga yields no help whatever, yet the 
 palimpsest nature of the text is unmistakeable. 
 
 vv, 10, II. In Schonen ; but we have been unable to recover any of the names 
 underlying the metamorphosed text.
 
 §3-] NOTES TO PAGES 205-209. 595 
 
 III. (p, 204.) 1. 9. Favourite simile, cp. Bk. vi, Ditty 33 ; vol. ii, p. 76, v. 2. 
 1. 10. omyndr, a law term, a marriageable lady, 'sub mundio;' an an. \ey. 
 I. 19. hoss, gray, cp. Eirm. 26, Hltal. 25 (Michael V. Kalaphastes, 1041-2). 
 
 I. 21. St6I-|)engilI, the Greek Emperor. For his story, see Gibbon, ch. xlviii, and 
 Finlay. 
 
 1. 28. The poets all talk of the great hoard that Harold brought from the East. 
 
 1, 29. hlebor3, lea-board, 'shelter board,' the side off the wind; 'larboard* is 
 etymologically, though not in sense, identical. 
 
 V. 12. The ships were drawn up in a wedge [hamalt], the king's ship foremost ; a 
 shield fence all around : but what of ' homlur ?' See Steenstrup's Danelag. 
 
 1. 42. hremsa, arrow, see Thulor, 290. Finna-giold, Excursus, vol. ii, p. 481. 
 
 1. 50. Read, Sveinn . . . su9r at gunni ; sva er sagt at konungr hef6i me3 ser til 
 orrosto sex iaria, var einn af Jseim Finnr Arnason. — Har. S., ch. 78. 
 
 1. 59. Eiga au3an plog, a fearfully realistic phrase; 'plow' was originally, as here 
 a wheeled vehicle. 
 
 1. 60. A proverb = to run as if chased by the Fiend. In the translation v. 20 
 follows here, but* the text seems right. 
 
 1. 65. hr6t-garmr = hr6t-gandr (house-devourer), Thulor, 525. 
 
 1. 66. gagn, gain, crop ; ' gl63,' glede or glowing ember. '^■^^: 
 
 1. 68. Li9ar, the menn of LiSir or Lier, near Drammen? 
 
 1. 69. Halfs galli (fire), synonym drawn from King Half's story, cp. Yt. 1. T32. 
 
 1. 71. faera starf til kroks, metaphor from anchorage: fri&r namsk at hvarfi {peace 
 ensued?), cp. at-hvarf, hverfa at. 
 
 1. 73. A proverb. 
 
 1. 76. A proverb = ^0 lie as one has made his bed. 
 
 1. 88. Yrso bur3r = Rolf Craki, Yrsa's son; cp. Mill Song, 79. See 1. 69 above. 
 
 IV. (p. 208.) 1. 8. It was merely on account of the 'ungr allvaldr' (1. 8) that we 
 put these verses under the year 1048; we now simply read 'yngvi' (yngvi en arar 
 drengja allvalldz i sio falla). The Saga distinctly states that shortly before the 
 battle at the River Niz, King Harold had a great Dragon built on the River Nith (of 
 35 rooms = 70 oars, modelling her upon Tryggvason's Serpent). — J)ann vetr er Haraldr 
 sat i Nidarosi, sem fyrr er rita9, let hann reisa skip mikit ; J)at var skei6 ; var {)at 
 gbrt eptir vexti Orms-ins-Langa, ok vandat at ollu sem mest ; var dreka-hofu& a 
 framm, enn aptr krokr, ok voro svirar allt golli bunir. J>at skip var half-fertogt at 
 riirna tali, ok mikit at J)vi, ok var J)at it fri&asta ; let konungr allan biinaS vanda til 
 skipsins, bseSi segl ok reiSa, akkeri ok strengi . . . Enn er vara3i ... let Haraldr 
 konungr setja lit a ana skip J)at it mikla ; si6an let hann upp setja dreka-hofu3in. 
 |ja kva5 f)iodolfr [verse i]. Si3an er skip J)etta it fri3a var buit, J)a helt konungr 
 J)vi lit eptir anni. Sva segir |>i63olfr [v. 2]. |>a var vandaSr miok r63r a drek- 
 anum. Sva segir Jji63olfr [v. 3]. — Har. S. (Hulda), ch. 76. In this ship we may 
 take it for granted Harold went to England a few years later, in 1066 ; and the 
 very building thereof is a silent witness to the plans he was maturing while waiting 
 for King Edward's death. — This is the finest of Thiodolf's poems; one more evi- 
 dence for the later date. 
 
 1. 9. roe5i, here the oar; verri, the wake of oar or rudder. 
 
 1. II. fer-kleyf soe-fang (pi.), the square-loomed oars. 
 
 1. 13. Corrupt; sarglar vitt? the sound of the oar sweeping through the water? 
 sae-fang is suspicious here ; the law against repetition is rarely if ever violated : 
 'ekkjan,' in 1. 15, is also very doubtful, 
 
 1. 15. heglda, the stream bealen by the swift stroke, as by hail, 
 
 Qq 2
 
 596 NOTES TO PAGES 209-215. [bk. vui. 
 
 1. i6. So Homer calls the oars the wings of the ship, Odyss. xi. 125. 
 V. (p. 209.) Hleseyjar hlym-gar5r = the Cattegat. 
 
 VIII. (p. 210.) 1. 2. hsell, Thulor, 408. 
 1. 9. Systot su6r, probably thus. 
 
 V. 5. Pretty clear as to the sense, though the text is not quite safe; midla mal, 
 to mediate. 
 
 1. 21. Read, Hitt hefi-ek heyrt ; and I. 22, g66 sysl es J)at, this is a blessed piece 
 of work. 
 
 1. 23. Construe, J)eir, ok 611 fer6, haldi sva soerom 1 fullom friSi (friSi fulloni?). 
 
 IX. (p. 211.) 1. I. hefnendr (1. 4) evidences that the verse was made after the 
 king's death ; hence we have to read either, ' fallinn sia til vallar,' or, ' Jjott se fylkir 
 Tallinn sialfr til vallar.' 
 
 1. 4. True hawks, cp. Amor, i. 5. 
 
 X. (p. ^ii.) 1. 3. larislaf of Novgorod, King Harold's patron during his exile 
 after Sticklestead. 
 
 1. 7. aka e-m i ongan krok, a proverbial phrase, to drive one into a corner. 
 
 1. 8. Lsesir, the Lech, a Slavonic people : Li6smenn (cp. fjingamenn), cp. sva 
 segir i flokki J)eim, er J)a var ortr af Li6s-ni6nnum, Skiold. S. (Knytl.), ch. 14 ; the 
 Lithsmen's Song, p. 106. In both instances Lithsmen is a technical word. 
 
 XI. (p. 212.) The story in Edda, translated above, pp. 18, 19, of Garfred the 
 Blacksmith Giant. The King and his poet see a Tanner fighting a Blacksmith. — 
 Says the king, ' Make a song on them, one to be Giant Garfred and the other Thor ' 
 [v. 2]. And again, when the verse was made, ' Well done,' says the king. ' Now 
 make one Sigfred the slayer of Fafni and the other Fafui the Serpent, and name each 
 from his craft.' — Har. S., ch. loi. The poet makes a comic transposition in his 
 epithets, calling, — Jjorr smi8-belgja = Garfred, and, lotunn hafra-kiotz = {)6rr : hu6a 
 hroekkvi skafl = brak. Read, Geirr66ar, and construe, Smi6belgja |)6rr (the giant) 
 varp eldingom (fire) or J)raEto-J)orpi (mouth) at hafra kiotz liitni (Thor) : and, 
 hei9a hroekkvi-skafls glaSr (the Tanner = Thor) tok hliu6-greipum {with his mouth') 
 vl6 ^eiri sio smiSjo GeirroSar [of the Smithy-Garfred =^ the Blacksmith'] : 
 
 And v. I. Sleggjo Sigur5r {Sledge-hammer Sigfred = the Blacksmith), and, brakar 
 Snakr (the Serpent of the brakes, id., see Diet., p. 77 b): leista heiSi (the leather heath 
 = Gnita heath of the myth): il-vegs (foot's) kiljo {brogues') Ormr (the Tanner) ; 
 nauta le5rs na6r {neat leather's Serpent, id.) ; Tangar konungr (the King of t/ie 
 Jb/i^ = Garfred the Smith). 
 
 1. 8. Read, Geirr66ar. 
 
 XII. szprkbr, read 'si-J)ra6r,' qs. si5-J)ra6r, oakum, for caulking; see Nicolaysen's 
 Wicking Ship; bits of it are found in the seams of the Wicking ship of 18S0. 
 (Hence mend Diet. 532 a, s. v. si9ra5r.) 
 
 Minor Poets, (p. 212.) 
 
 Odd Kikina-scald, (p. 214.) — 1. 3. {jessi orrosta var Drottins dag naesta fyrlr 161 
 [Magn. S. (Hulda), ch. 38]. Under the impossible word ohMtuleg we surmise, ohlitin 
 dag, and under ' sunnan,' Sunno, i. e. Sunday. 
 
 1. 17. langar limar lei9a, metaph., cp. Old Wols. PI., 1. 16, where we should 
 perhaps read, 'langar lei&a limar.' The king's death has planted long, undying 
 woe in my breast. Such mention of the bitter fruit of passion and its growth is 
 very archaic, and no doubt a citation or imitation here (from O. W. L.?). 
 
 Bolwerk, (p. 215.) — 1. i. The king's action is not quite clear. One looks for 
 something stronger in the verse.
 
 §3.] NOTES TO PAGES 215-223. 597: 
 
 1. 15. reift-maeltr, ready spohen; the poets are, for rhyme's sake, fond of 'reiSr,' 
 meaning not = wroth, but rathe, prompt, cp. p. 219, 1. 14 ; 224, I. 11. 
 
 1. 17. The king stepped the mast in the heavy sea (omitted in translation). 
 
 1. 18. Read miollo (?) for 'mioll a,' and construe, skurr laust a dyra skiald-rim, 
 miollo stokkinn skokks |)r6m (apposition). 
 
 1. 22. The emperor's name hidden here? 
 
 Walgard, (p. 216.) — 1. 2. skipt, a Lat.-Byz. word, excuhium, "Eyz. Gx. iaKv^iov. 
 Ari explains that Harold got the usual largesse at an emperor's three times. If this 
 be true and drawn from a poem, the dates would be April 11, 1034, ^f*^"" Romanes 
 III ; Dec. 14, 104I, after Michael IV ; and April 21, 1042, after Michael V, 
 
 1. 3. Italy is meant; can there be any idea of Bruttium under 'brei5o?' 
 
 1. 8. stop&ir [akin to stapi], bolt upright. 
 
 1. 12. Overlaid; we surmise, sviptir . . . Sigtiinom skript hiina. Snorri calls the 
 sail hiin-skript. Hann sneri fyrst til Svi^i65ar, ok Iag5i til Sigtiina. Sva segir Val- 
 gar5r af Velli.— [Har. S. (Hulda), ch. 17.] 
 
 vv. 9, 10. All overlaid. The king seems to have moored his ships at the mouth 
 of Roskeld-fiord : names still unimpaired are, Selund (1. 20), Roskeld (1. 21) : over- 
 laid, but still recognisable, are, Helsinge (1. 23), Ramlose (1. 24); the rest doubtful; 
 perhaps Skioldelov (1. 25) : what more there were we are unable to disinter. 
 
 I. 33- be6i (uw), impossible word; 'fyrir bardi?' 
 
 Illiigi, (p. 218.) — Would we had the whole poem with its interwoven mytho- 
 logical sentences. 
 
 II. 3, 4. Read helt, cp. Old Wols. PI., v. 44, which poet Illugi must have known, 
 for ' eiskiald ' {heart) is a direct loan. 
 
 I. 5 we have been unable to restore ; if under duglom (an impossible word) lies 
 ' deigla,' gold, the hoard Sigfred won from Fafni is meant. 
 
 Grant, (p. 218.) — Horn-skogr, a forest near Randers, Jutland: {)i61arnes, Tiele, 
 near River Gudenaa, Jutland. Mark the favourite Craki story. Cp. Thiodolf 
 Arnorsson, iii, II. 88, 90. 
 
 Thorarin, (p. 218.) — The blinding story again, cp. Thiodolf, iii, v. 5, above, 
 p. 205, 1. 22. 
 
 ThorleU, (p. 219.) — Much overlaid. ' iVorM ' of Heathby ; but so?//A, Thiodolf, 
 i. 22 : 'haukstorc)a' and 'wordan' are both wrong. 
 
 1. 15. hunferils hreinar, ships, cp. p. lOl, 1. 7. 
 
 I. 23. J)engils byr, some place? 
 
 v. 9. Sveinn konungr helt flota si'nom su5r undir Hlessey (or Samsey) ok hitti J)ar 
 siau skip af NorSmonnum, J)at var lei5angrs liS ok bcendr or Vikinni. |}eir ba3u 
 gri6a, ok bu8u ii fyrir sik. Jjess getr Jjorleikr [v. 9]. — Har. S. (Hulda), ch. 53. 
 * Samsey ' or ' Laessoe ' and ' seven ships ' must all have been in the unadulterated 
 verse, and can even now be partly seen underneath. 
 
 Stuf Blind, (p. 222.) — Haraldr offraSi til grafar Drottins ok til kross ins helga ok 
 annarra heilagra doma a lorsala-Iandi, sva miklo fe i golli ok gorsimom, at torvelt er 
 morkum at telja. \>k fri6a3i hann veginn allt lit til lordanar, ok drap {jar reyfara 
 ok annat ilIf)y6is-folk. Sem Stiifr segir [v. 3]. For hann {ja til lordanar, ok laug- 
 a6iz J)ar i anni, sem si3r er til annarra palmara. — [Har. S. (Hulda), ch. II.] 
 
 v. 9. Haraldr konungr, fa3ir hans, ok a9rir konungar fyrir honum, voru vanir at 
 drekka af dyra-hornum, ok bera ol um eld, ok drekka minni a Jjann er gegnt sat ; 
 enn Olafr konungr [his son] let hvern drekka a J)ann sem vildi. Sva segir Stufr
 
 598 NOTES TO PAGES 223-235. [bk. viii. 
 
 skald [v. 9]. — 01. S. K. (Hulda), ch. 4. Refers to the change in Olaf the Quiet's 
 reign of the old Norse hall (fires in the middle) to the Nornnannic hall, with the 
 dais or high table at the end. See Reader, pp. 370-71. 
 
 Stei7i, (p. 223.) — I. 1. 5. Ulfr, see p. 232. 
 
 1. II. Mend interpolations, and construe, rista J)angs la5 (ace.) and ' sunda morom.' 
 
 1. 20. Cp. Thiodolf, i, 1. 33. 
 
 I. 26. linnz lattr (gold's) sveigjandi (king). 
 
 I. 30. Read, Selundar kon ? (the Danish King). 
 
 II. (p. 224.) This is the lait of the restored court poems, and there is none of 
 the whole list more corrupt. 
 
 I. I. Construe, Ek kve5 fyrr at brag {)eima helgan heim-tiallz rsesi an fyrda 
 (gen. pi., 'king ' understood) : the King of Heavens first, the king of men next. 
 
 vv, 2, 3 refer to the battle of the River Niz (Olaf then a mere boy). 
 
 II. 13, 14. Too bad, even for a court poet, out-Heroding Herod ! 
 1. 21. i Flioti. By this the Fleet in the Humber is meant. 
 
 1. 40. Note the epithetal Engla oegir. Terror of the English, used of this king of 
 all others just after Stamford Bridge ! This is court poetry with a vengeance I 
 
 Tkorkellle, (p. 227.) — v. 2. Very fine and gentle; 1. 5 is the only time that the 
 Conqueror is named. 
 
 King Harold, (p. 228.) — 1. 5. Mark the galley being called stag, 'hart.' 
 
 I. 7> etc. For ' renna ' read ' nenna,* to travel, journey, see Diet. s. v., p. 453 b. 
 ]. 9. The four ' rooms ' in the waist of the ship. 
 
 V. 4, We only have left six out of the eight, cp. p. 276, v. 2, which is the better 
 text and fuller of the two. 
 
 II. (p. 229.) lirla or 'litla,' to dandle, a nursery word, gov. dat. 
 
 I. 10. iast-ostr, a yeasting cheese, some kind of fresh cheese: construe, ey-baugs 
 J)engil, the sea-hing = Y{AXo\i. 
 
 1. 19. Buttered brose or porridge was a favourite dish of the Norsemen. 
 
 1. 21. J>angs fiialmi, the sea-weed^s dyke, i.e. the bond or wall of the coast = the 
 sea, see Excursus, p. 457. 
 
 1. 23. House-carles, a king's or earl's picked body-guard. 
 
 1. 29. A proverb ; read, Litid er lauki gseft til auka. 
 
 III. (p. 231.) A bit of banter. 1. 3. hrotti, qs. hrunti, cp. ' Hrunting ' of Beowolf. 
 1. 19. King Harold was never in any waters south of England ; neither the Channel 
 
 nor the Bay of Biscay did he ever behold. We surmise Serkland and sveif, unless 
 'St. Angelo ' be meant. 
 
 Ulf, (p. 232.) — J>inga-manni, thus (not f)ingmanni); 'Jjinga-manna-liS' is the true 
 old form. 
 
 § 4. Kings Eric and Magnus Bareleg. 
 
 Mark. — I. Eric's Praise, (p. 235.) 
 
 We are now at the end of the overpainted court poems — henceforward, though 
 the text be now and then faulty, it is never wilfully so — we shall therefore, though 
 sparingly, give a few of the ' kennings.* 
 
 King: flotna vcirSr 4, folk-vor6r 97, folka treystir 62, astvinr aldar 61, herjar 
 holl-vinr 67, visdoms grce6ir 66, hersa reyfir 64, hersa mattar reynir 89, harra spialli 
 72, sigrs valdari 21, fremdar raSa fceSir 6. — As Vanquisher : iofra rikir 84, iaria 
 mei6ir 96, Vinda fergir, ryrir 10, 18. — As Justice: svik-folks-eySir 13, rogs hegnir 
 50, dolga steypir 93.
 
 §4.] NOTES TO PAGES 235-250. 599 
 
 Waves : niar-fioll 98. — Earth : el-kers (heaven's) botn 4. For the rest, see 
 Excursus, p. 484. 
 
 I. 5. Cp. Sighvat, vi. 15. 
 
 II. 12 and 41. ' hly6a,' a bulwark put up against the waves, a word not found ia 
 Thulor ; it appears to be the same as ' varQa ' or varta, Amor, i. 9. 
 
 1. 16. Read, 'hodda' slongvir? 
 
 1. 19. Cp. Sighvat, vii. 6. 
 
 1. 27. hilkiLt, fenced, of the Lagoon City. 
 
 1. 31. att-konr Yngva ; we have here the true word; for 'att-runn,' in Hym., 
 1. 76, Yt. 114, we take to be but false forms : note, that Mark is a voice anterior to 
 the remaniements. 
 
 1. 52. homlo vigs or viggs, uncertain. 
 
 1. 72. laO-menn, an English loan word (Ia6=lei5), pilots, lode-men. 
 
 1. 93. hryggva, verb impers. 
 
 IV. (p. 239.) Cp. Excursus, p. 458. 
 
 Gisl Illugason, (p. 240.) 
 
 ' Kennings,' Im3ar faxa (wolf's) alendr (men) : Baleygs vina (the earth). 
 
 1. 35. Lawman, King Godred Crowan's son, 1095-8 and 1 103-8. 
 
 1. 40. Woden's wind-maker, King Magnus. 
 
 1. 52. hvlt-mylingar, arrows, see Thulor, 288; cp. Biorn, v. 9. 
 
 vv. 14-16. The storm and the glorious ships are finely described. 
 
 I. 73- The black standard ' Hell ' is worthily named. 
 
 II. 1. 3. Two saws. 
 
 Biorn, (p. 243.) — Harmr, Frith of, see Thulor, 679. Biorn is a model annalist, 
 brief and fact-ful. 
 
 1. 13. vall-baugs (snake's) vengi (earth = gold). 
 
 1. 25. Note, Sara«tiri [Gael, ceann //r = Headland], hence it appears that the n 
 was still heard in Bareleg's day; later on it was contracted into Satiri. 
 
 Thorliel, (p. 245.) — 1. 3. Skialg, Erling Skialgson's grandson, a picturesque 
 'maker.' Mark how he cites Egil's death-words, v. 2, and the king's order of the 
 day, v. 5. 
 
 I. 4. A proverbial phrase ; now, kasta steini um megn ser. 
 
 V. 4. A fine verse on the encounter with the earls. 
 
 II. For swollen read cold. 
 
 Stray verses, (p. 246.) — II. 1. I. Read vigg, i.e. of vigg tyggja. 
 
 1. 4. Note the height of the mast, ' seventy feet : ' the alliteration is a warrant 
 that only ' seventy ' or ' sixty ' can stand here : the ' seventy ' of the MSS. of course 
 is the right word. 
 
 III. (p. 247.) 1. 5. Note the rhyme, hvat'r betra (what is better). In King 
 Magnus' day one would think that the s was still sounded. 
 
 1. 9. varpa a glae, a proverbial phrase, cp. Lay of Arinbiorn, 1. 89. 
 L 15. 'iiigjan,' here an appellative {lassie, from Irish inghean = a daughter), cp. 
 Bk. vi, Ditty 55 a. 
 
 Halldor Squaller, (p. 249.) — 1. 23. ' af tig gamall,' aged off teen, cp. Lat. un-de- 
 viginli. The Crusader King would in the year 1109 have been nineteen years old. 
 Thorwald, (p. 250.) In the superscription read ' Blondo skald.' 
 
 I. Note how the poet brings in the hero Sigurd to compliment his namesake. 
 
 II. (p. 250.) The son of Bor, Buri's son = Woden.
 
 6oo NOTES TO PAGES 250-271. [bk. vm. 
 
 Curtcloah, (p. 250.) — I. As men have heard, how, in time past, the race of kings 
 followed the wise Craki [Danish mythical king]. 
 
 I. 27. kvik-sattar ; we have here the same word as above, p. 160, 1. 13. 
 
 II. The men were Hacon Serksson, surnamed Mor-strutr, and Ami Fioro-Skeifr. 
 
 Einarr Skulason, (p. 252.) — 1. 5. Construe, und solar ranni, beneath the sky. 
 1. 15. hauka-setrs (hand's) leyg (gold's) hati (king). 
 
 I. 16. Note the Western form ' vatri ' for the Norse ' vatn.' 
 
 II. 1. 5. A proverb of the usual fatalistic kind. 
 
 § 5. The Gilchrist Poets, (p. 261.) 
 
 Ivan; (p. 261.) — 1. 10. Dafinns, a Norse imitation of Davi3 ; Niala names a 
 'DagviS' of Caithness; the famed 'Dagfinnr' in Hak. Saga is probably merely = 
 David, and only apparently a Norse name. 
 
 1. 17. mor3-als (sword's) mefendr (men). 
 
 1. 48. ro3o-ve3r, red weather = hu\ weather. 
 
 I. 55. snekkjo sneisar, the galley skewers = the masts. 
 
 I. 72. For 'fair read 'fylli?' The Elbe, here and 1. 78, is the Gotha River. 
 
 II. 90 sqq. Vagar, a fishing-place, North Norway [Lat. 66°] : Byrda [Lat. 65°], 
 see p. 46, 1. 63 : Valsnes, North More : Kvildrom, on the south-east border. 
 
 Halldor Squaller, (p. 266.) — Eric II, the Danish King: Sarp, the great fall in the 
 River Glommen (Sarpen). 
 
 1. 9. Sigars fianda (Hagbard's) grand-mei3r = /^e ^«//oh/s. 
 
 v. 4. This verse is in O. H. L. given as Sighvat's at Nesia ; but on the face of it 
 it cannot be his. The only place where, having regard to the context, we could 
 place it is here: by the 'town' (1. 16) Bergen is meant. 
 
 Einarr Skulason, (p. 267.) 
 
 Pages 267-274, as well as Geisli, Rekstefja, etc., are all by the 'remanieur' or 
 contemporaries. One blesses the fates for not having preserved more: though we 
 may miss a few historical facts, in the lost poems. — I. We are here in the very thick 
 of Einar's ' kennings :' sei3s (fish's) hryn lei3ar (sea's) eldr (gold's) sker3ir (king) 2 ; 
 and gifr (ogress') skaes (wolf's) gran (lip) rioSr (king) 4 ; Ello (Engl, king's) geitunga 
 (eagle's) lif-giafi (king) 8; svan-bekkjar (sea's) sdl (gold's) Jjverrir (king) 12. 
 
 III. (p. 268.) Aberdeen, Hartlepool, Whitby, Langton are known, but not Pilwick 
 and Sharpreef [Scarborough?]. These verses are imitated in Krakomal. 
 
 IV. (p. 269.) Gray Holm, in the mouth of Christiania Firth (here Sigurd Slembi 
 was slain, Nov. 12, 1139). The Kinglets are the four Gilchristsons. 1. 2 is mis- 
 bracketed ; read ' geir-^ing,* and unbracket it. 
 
 1. II. Harold Maddadson, Earl of Orkney. 
 
 V. 16. Son of Day = Gregorius-Dagsson, a Norse baron: Simon Skalp slew Sigurd 
 Gilchrist. 
 
 VI. (p. 270.) Snae-grund; probably Iceland is here meant. — [Reader, p. 3.] 
 
 VII. (p. 270.) Fight in the mouth of the Gotha River, 1159. 
 
 VIII. (p. 271.) The 'kennings' on the axe are curious: — (i) He dubs the axe 
 the child of Freyja, whose two daughters were Hnoss (Jewel) and Gersemi 
 (Treasure), 11. I, 5, 8. The axe is inlaid with gold; as Freyja s tears, 03s be3-vino 
 augna-regn 19, Freyjo hvarm-J)eyr 12, Mardallar gratr 19, Freys niptar (sister's, 
 Freyja's) bra-driptir 4; as Fenja's meal 29. (2) He calls the axe an ogress : fiornis
 
 §§4,5-] NOTES TO PAGES 271-279. 6oi 
 
 (helmet's) gri3r 24; hlyr-solar (shield's) hala 13; iastar (willow's) heikja 16; 
 lastly, zs plague, Herjans (Woden's) hattar (helmet's) sott 15. 
 
 1. 23. Construe, geima (sea's) eldr (gold), and si66s snaer (silver). — Men: Raevils 
 fold (sea) viggs (ship's) rlQendr 25. 
 
 1. 31. Construe, Heita blakks (ship's) hlyr (shield's) skyldir (man) ; Beita borgar 
 (sea's) bal (gold's) grimmr {open-handed) ; and, heims skala (sky's) vafur-logi (the 
 sun), and so on — ad nauseam. 
 
 IX. (p. 272.) haus-mioll (hair): skarar fiall (the head): strandar aurriSa (ser- 
 pent's) stallz (gold's) strind (woman). 
 
 We cull a few of the ' kennings ' of the ' poets,' pp. 272-274. — Men, arnar hungrs 
 eySendr, Thorbiorn 3 ; hlunnz hafrei3ir (ship's) hloe&ir, 5 ; fl66s hyrjar (gold's) 
 stoekkvir, p. 274. 18: battle, tognings (sword's) ve6r, p. 272. 10: shield, her-skript, 
 Kolli 8: swor(f, sar-iss, Kolli 10: 5^/p, vag-fylvingr, Thorbiorn 4; Hogna vagn, 
 p. 274. 17 ; Geitis gla5r, and lesta hestr, Kloeng : ivolf, gri3ar fakr, Thorbiorn 7 ; 
 ulfs (ok) arnar barn, p. 273. 19: shafts, iarna {)rumo mioll, p. 273. 14; waves, 
 hlunnz heiSa (sea's) fannir, p. 274- 18: winter, orms tregi, Asgrim 2. 
 
 Occasional verses, (p. 276.) 
 
 V. I. mars myrar {meivs moors, the sea) : branda elgr (ship). 
 
 V. 2. Doll's Cave in the Isle of Dollsey, off Sondmore, Norway. Ragnwald 
 entered the cave, as told in Orkney Saga. 
 
 V. 4. Ragna, a noble Orkney lady, her son Thorstan : griipan, a sausage; ' Mor- 
 landi ' was a sobriquet given to the Icelanders. 
 
 V. 5. aldr' = aldri is htTe = ever, not = aIdrigi: read, fran-stall, the head, governed 
 by 'feldo;' 'fran' has here reference to the eyes: hauk-strindar (hand's) Hlokk = 
 Lady Ragna. 
 
 V. 6. For ' midaevi ' and ' Imbolum ' — both imitations of Greek words — see Diet., 
 p. 426 b : reng5iz, i. e. wrengSiz {to writhe) : J)engils magr, Earl Erling, King Sigurd 
 Crusader's son-in-law. 
 
 V. 7. Playing on the word Acre [Palestine], called Akrs-borg, Bk. vi, No. 54. 
 
 V. 8. The earl's narrow escape, see Orkney S. A story like this is told of 
 William by Wace. 
 
 V. 9. The cry of distress and disgust of a court poet, his craft being out of fashion, 
 cp. II, 22 below. 
 
 V. 10. gyrSa um svangann, to buckle a belt round the waist so as to keep hunger 
 out (metaph.) 1. 6. Mend and read, J)oli or . . . viti fyr J)at : Bakki, the Cloister 
 Bank in Throndheim, Norway. 
 
 v. II. Read, leikari ; and Ifmi bar6an prima, the time being beaten by the rod. 
 
 V, 12. Read, asi (appell.), xhe yard. 
 
 V. 13. lang viflris lengi, long-weather-long = iox ever so long. 
 
 V. 1 4. V]g-gar6z (shield's) ve3r (battle) eggjandi (man). 
 
 V. 16. Men of seven Norse counties. 
 
 V. 17. R63a (sea-king's) glym-voilo (sea). At this time — King Swerri's reign and 
 for a while after — 'su6 * (see above) is a favourite name for a ship of war (Mariu- 
 sd8, Olafs-su9). 
 
 V. 18. hlyrs fagr-goti (ship); reySar (whale's) rym-vollr (sea), 
 
 v. 19. 'fant' (Romance word), a footman, hence tramp, 
 
 V. 20. solar J)ung-st61s (heaven's) konungr (God). 
 
 V. 22. Note 'umb;' in the twelfth century the b was sounded; the mod. sound 
 is 'umm,*
 
 602 NOTES TO PAGES 280-284. [bk.yiii. 
 
 V. 25. A metaphorical phrase; Icelanders now say, J)a3 er komi5 anna3 hli63 i 
 strokkinn. 
 
 V. 28. Sverris-borg = Swerri's Castle in Bergen. 
 
 vv. 30-34. Here the steep Sanda [of the northern Hebrides], hxxtflat Sanda [the isle 
 off Cantyre ?] , p. 244, 1. 23: hafnar mark, a pile or cairn raised, cp. vol. i, p. 154, 
 1. 81. Ei6i, Tarbert, a place in the western range of the Hebrides. 
 
 vv. 36-39. Gylva la6s (sea's) bals (gold's) hiynr (bishop), and, unnar elg (ship's) 
 rennir, id.: himna pry6i, the hosts of heaven? cp. p. 302, 1. 2. 
 
 V. 43. Igultanni = Biom, also iugtanni, p. 239, 1. 2. 
 
 V. 45. olbaerd = olvaerS, i.e. al-vaer6, hospitality {lb = lv). 
 
 Geisli, (p. 284.) 
 
 The subject-matter of this and the following twelfth-century poems is given in 
 the translation : we shall therefore treat it very shortly. The ' kennings ' (not 
 attended to in the translation) being characteristic, we cull the most representative, 
 i. e. the most crabbed ones, leaving the rest to the reader's ingenuity : — 
 
 God, Christ. — From sky and sun : allz heims um-geypnandi (compasser of) 64, 
 veSr-hallar visi 6, dag-buls konungr 20, byrjar vegs (sky's) tungla (sun's) lofQungr 
 254, tungla rannz lofSungr 183, solar bols siklingr 267, grundar sal-vor3r 74, vagn- 
 rjefrs visi 284, hau6r-tialda harri 75 : better are, aldar yfir-skioldungr 260, heims 
 domari 165, heims Jaeknir 228, rettlaetis sunna 14, iar5ar fyrSa lif 11. — Angels: 
 hinmesk fer6 166, o61inga doglings hir3 20. — Virgin Alary : ficeSar stiarna 8.^ 
 Heaven: himna salr 263, Go6s hiill 25, Kristz hciU 42, allz raSanda holl 18. 
 
 Saint: miskunnar solar (Christ's) geisli 3, Go5s hallar (heaven's) geisU 25, roSuls 
 tyggja vinr 35, tungla rannz lofSungs (God's) vinr 183, Lausnara langvinr 269, 
 Lausnara spialli 117, himna-sal-konungs limr 263, Kristz limr 130, Go3s liSr, Gg3$ 
 ri3ari 71, fyr5a far-skerdandi 252, harm-sker5andi 150, J)egn-pry6i 41. 
 
 A man, from slaughter and gold, often applied to the saint himself: from gold, 
 orms landa arr 92, lyngs hroekkvi-baugs (snake's) lattr (g'dd's) striSandi 62, snaka 
 vangs slongvir 152, brim-loga slongvir 223, straums solar sokkvir 109, vala strxtis 
 fasta tynir 97, linnz grundar lestir 125, gialfrs grundar ni3 (moon's) branda (gold's) 
 skerSir 157, lagar eld-broti 210: from battle, hrae-siks J)rimo gceSir 280, grimo glaum- 
 vekjandi 186 : from shield, viga-skys velendr 271, baug-skialdar bei3ir 73 '■ sword- 
 reddener, alm-reyrs litoSr 66, eggja marg-litendr 233 : wolf-hattener, raven-feeder, 
 Hugins munn-ri65r 53, ulf-nistandi 99: from ships, unnar ski6-rennandi 161, 
 16g-ski6s syndir 80, Reifniss rcikn stefnandi 194. 
 
 Battle, Ham9es klaeSa hri3 208, bar5-rokn (ship's) r63uls (shield's) ve3r 212: 
 sword, vettrinia ma3r 186, valbasta ro3ull 172, mundri3a borgar (shield's) galli 190, 
 gyldis kindar (wolfs) gom-sparri 192. 
 
 Gold, mas iar3ar eisa 197. 
 
 Eye, heil-himin-tungl 236, sion-braut 91 : mouth, bragar stoll 266: tongue, or3a- 
 hlySa 102, 63ar ar 160, mal-tol 76, bragar-tol 198: hand, baug-nes 273, vala- 
 straeti 98. 
 
 Epithets. — All are common-place; one notices only, hri3-bla,sin (of the sky) 27, 
 tand-rau3r (of gold) 97, nagl-skaddr (of Christ) 270. 
 
 11. I, 2. Dubious. A poem, Liknarbraut (Introd., § 16), has imitated our passage : 
 Einn Iiiktu upp sem ek bceni : 63ar rann ok gef sanaa, 
 hence perhaps we may read, eins ma 63, sem ek bceni (as I now pray). 
 
 1. 5. Read, hums?
 
 §6.] NOTES TO PAGES 285-300. 603 
 
 II. 9, 10. Also obscure ; construe, J)at var au6-finneiidom fyrir betra (liosi) aniiars 
 <Smi6ss rciSuIs. 
 
 V. 31. For the story, referred to by the poet, touching Guthorm, see Kings' Lives. 
 
 1. 37. Thus we understand this line. 
 
 1. 76. Construe, fyrr var hept skini solar er . . . 
 
 1. 157. fyrir Skauti, some point on the Wendish coast. Strati? Strelitz? 
 
 1, 178. Einri5i, a Norse noble who travelled in the East c. 1149, and again with 
 Earl Ragnwald of Orkney, year 1151-53. 
 
 1, 191. J)atti, pret. from Jiekkja, cp. Oddr. 65, Haust. 64, Lithsmen's Song 15. 
 
 1. 231. A saying. 
 
 1. 235. Obscure; construe, Hknar log ; but what means 'krof3?' 
 
 I. 241. Construe, lami8s fotar, styfdrar tungo, ut-stunginna augna. 
 
 II. 250-252. Citations from the Vulgate. 
 
 1. 268. Construe, hvarr er greiSir lof hilmis, taki ast ens haesta . . . siklings. 
 1. 279. Construe, ek fae holl laun gofugs 63ar, Go6s blezon, ef . . . likar. 
 
 Relcstefja, (p. 295.) 
 
 The metre is here the chief thing, we therefore give but the pick of the ' kennings.* 
 
 King, man, rand-hvels (shield's) remmi-{)undr 2, skialdar linna (sword's) runnr 3, 
 fjrottar J)ing-Baldr 4, {jrottar ela (battle's) blik (sword's) ru9r 8, hrae-linnz (sword's) 
 hliom-vattandi 11, gondlar gny-linnz runnr 97, ullar kiola (shield's) el (battle) Freyr 
 22, olna foldar (hand's) eld-ru3r 108, Skoglar elda sker (shield's) Baldr 26, sigr- 
 brandz her-lundr 36, gondlar fieyss ela skyndir 42, skialda hyr-baldr 99, mor6-linnz 
 hvessi-mei3r 54, fiornis (helmet's) mana (spear's) fleygendr 63, ran-siks (gold's) 
 remmi 85, rog-svellir 85. unn-eldz yppi-runnr 91, skoglar bor6z hriSar skelfir 114, 
 branda storms (battle) leygs (sword's) styr (battle) lundr 116, gunn-ellz geymi runnr 
 127, hops hyr-nior3r 138, hand-bals lundr 134, hring-sk63s (sword's) el- (battle) 
 svellz (sword's) her3i-mei6r 125, hior fl66s (blood's) hnig-reyrs (sword's) hnykki- 
 meiSr 92. 
 
 Sword, Skoglar tandr (fire) 79 : wolf, troll-marr 66 : ship, fron-bandz (sea's) foeri- 
 andrar 25, Ekkils yti-blakkr 63: hand, hauk-io&s (hawk's) byr 30: poetry, {>und- 
 regn (?) 50 : winter, huns nott 49 : sea, olna vangr 58, margra iar6a mein-gar3r 118. 
 
 I, 37. tvenni, older form than tvenn. 
 
 1. 55. Read, skolptar. 
 
 1. 67. peita, spear, a foreign word, Thulor, 287: ' speat ' rather than 'spear.' 
 
 1. 92. 'Slcemr' occurs here for the first time. 
 
 1. 110. rfp, ace. governed by renndi. 
 
 11. 1 23, 1 24, The King seen among angels ; this story, given in the Reader, p. 163, 
 is manifestly an echo from Adamnan's S. Columba, lib, iii, ch. 16 ; even the incidents 
 are the same, the curious on-looker, the stole-clad angels, the promise never to tell 
 it as long as the saint be alive : only in Tryggvason it is in a house, in S. Columba a 
 hill, the Cnoc Angel (Angel's Hill), or Sithan more (the Great Fairy Hill), well known 
 to all visitors of that lovely island. 
 
 1. 133. Corrupt text. Steinarr evidently wishes for the canonization of the elder 
 Olave. 
 
 n. Love Song, (p. 300.) — Holm leggjar (stone's) hilmir (dwarf) — here a pun, litr 
 meaning colour and dwarf: — lady, from gold and gems, fiofts-fiirs hir6i-Sif, and 
 Hiadninga griotz (gem's) troSa 5, straum-tungls velti-sto5 6, hring-skiigul i, reyr- 
 J)vengs rastar (gold's) selja 2.
 
 6o4 NOTES TO PAGES 300-321. [bk. viii. 
 
 A man, fiar8-ellds fleygi-NirSir 13, Vi6blinda (giant's) galtar (whale's or por- 
 poise's) sval-teigar (sea's) raf (gold) kastandi 3 (fourfold kenning). Edda Skskm. 
 says — Whales are called Withblind's hogs ; he was a giant and fished for whales 
 out in the deep as for fish. 
 
 Battle, ben-vargs (sword's) hregg 10: tongue, 68ar lokarr 8 [from Egil's poems] : 
 stone, foldar negg [hnegg = heart] 12, bokar sol 11 [image from book-illumination]. 
 
 lomsviJtinga-drapa, (p. 302.) 
 
 Much finer than the preceding poem, which we are right glad to leave behind ; 
 only a few kennings, and these not complex ones, are here met with. It is from 
 this Drapa that the Rimur composers get to know about Bui and Wain. 
 
 King, man, Ham5is fald (helmet's) ru6r 54, rand-orma ri66endr 6S, mor5 bais- 
 meiSr 62, hialma sk66s (axe's) hregg (battle's) vi9r 79, geira gny miklandi I40, 
 hiorva hregg-vi3r iiS, -bo3i 143, yggjar eld broti I45, egg-hri3ar Ullr 172, yggjar 
 61-svellandi 170, randa J)rimo Ullr 175, 
 
 Lady, dorgar vangs (sea's) eld (gold's) rei5 14. 
 
 Axe, fiorniss (helmet's) fala 165 : sword, hring-serkja bol 102. 
 
 Head, briina borg 110: bones, mergjar salr 123: poetical is only hail, skyja 
 griot 127. 
 
 A few of the epithets are noticeable — hand-fogr (of a lady) 10 : hauk-lyndr 32, 
 167, fran-lyndr 97, veg-roekinn 133, J)rek-stoer3r 135, hugum-strangr 156 (of a hero) : 
 elri skoe6r (of fire) 74 : heldir (of ships) 63 : isogr (of waves) 64 : haukligar (of 
 vows) 43: orm-fran (of eyes) 127: si6-forn (of pagans) 27. 
 
 1. 2. at fer5ar prySi, at this proud gathering. 
 
 1. 4. Necessary emendation (if but). 
 
 V. 2. Mythologically interesting. Here, and only here, is a notice of Woden 
 getting wise by sitting underneath water-falls; cp. ' Fossegrimen' and ' Nokken' in 
 modern Norse Tales: under hanga, under gallows, see Havam. and Yngl. Saga: 
 unfortunately a line is here torn off, for one would like to know what stood there. 
 
 1. 9. liteitan (neut.) 
 
 1. 21. We gue>s 'su5r.* 
 
 1, 47. fikjom ; he is fond of that word, cp. 11. 104, 163. 
 
 1. 160. Paper MSS., and hence editors, have filled up, ' sattir a einni natto,' but 
 natto (bisyll.) is a modern form, appearing first at the time of the Reformation. 
 
 Konungatal, (p. 3 TO.) 
 
 A few kennings are worth noticing — Earth (Norway), |>undar be5ja 33, 80, Hars 
 vif 77, Yggs man 102, 187 : Hell, Asa dolgs (Loki's) einga dottir 36 : ice, haeings 
 hallar (sea's) rafr 16, nykra landz (sea's) naefr 298: slty, skyja laupr (cloud-basket) 
 375 : winter, faSmins (snake's) galli 94, snaka stri5 142 : head, hattar stallr 84. 
 
 Epithets, none very striking ; the mention of the kings' graves is very interesting. 
 
 1. I. Somehow wrong; if 'skilit,' 'at' must go out, cp. Hallfred, i. 44. 
 
 1. 25. Note the boundary of Norway; see above, Ottar, i. 65. 
 
 1. 140. Read, haleitt ? 
 
 1. 163. Necessary emendations. 
 
 1. 295. The metre requires loan ; in the twelfth century 'John ' was bisyllabic. 
 
 1.315. laupi, our 'lip,' as in 'seed-lip,' an easy and necessary emendation. 
 Render, the cloud-basket. 
 
 1. 325. It is hard to see exactly how the thirty are told up. 
 
 Oddmior, (p. 321.) (Haraldr) belt ina si6osto orrosto vi5 konung J)ann er SkeiSar-
 
 §§ 6, 7-] NOTES TO PAGES 322-329. 605 
 
 Brandr het i Hafrs-fir3i {yiir laSri, ok fly3i Brandr til Danmarkar, ok fell i orrosto a 
 Vinnlandi, sem segir i kvaeSi J)vi er heitir Oddmior, er gort er urn konunga tal, me& 
 J)essom or&om [v. i]. — Agrip. ch. 2. Is not this a confused recollection of Arnor, 
 i. 20? (the Wends come in just afterward in that poem too.) Can Oddmior 
 have been the traditional title of Arnor's Hrynhenda Drapa ? 
 
 lorun, etc. (p. 322.) 
 
 Overlaid fragments, thus earlier than Bareleg's or Olaf Qiiiei's time. 
 
 Konungr var3 J)esso akafliga rei9r [11. I, 2], ok samna6i her saman, ok for a 
 hendr J>roendum ; enn er {)at spyrr Halfdan Svarti, \)a. bybr hann lit li6i ok skipom, 
 ok ver6r all-fiolmennr, ok Iag9i lit til Sta3s [Cape StaSt] fyrir innan {>6rsbiorg. 
 Haraldr konungr la li3i sinu ut vi3 Rein-sletto [North — More north of Throndham's 
 Firth]. — Har. S. (Harf.), ch. 39. The name is hidden in 1. 11. 
 
 1. 9. fyr-kve6in (prevented), necessary emendation. 
 
 Orm, (p. 322.) Lady, fiarS-beins (stone's) skorSa 7, fundins (dwarf's) salar (stone's) 
 grund 9, fiarQar brimis (gold's) gar3r 10, hramma (hand's) bals (gem's) biork 4 : 
 poesy, Billings bri'iSar full 4 [cp. Wod. Love-Lesson 13] : winter, Vindsvals mogr 13. 
 
 Eilif. — Angels, heims hrotz (heaven's) fer6 : himna dyr3ar hir& 3, himnis dyrd 7. 
 
 1. 9. The pun, gl tor ra3in = vond-ol (ace.) 
 
 Unclassed Fragments, (p. 325.) 
 
 p. 325, v. 5. See Yngl. S., ch. 27. 
 
 p. 326, v. 12. Cp. Skri6-Finnar, so famed in the mediaeval Latin writings, Papal 
 Bulls, etc., but in Norse only preserved in this phrase; cp., however, Fi&r skriSr, in 
 the law carmen (Excursus, vol. i, p. 438). 
 
 p. 327, V. 2. J)rym-goll (a bell) ; to be inserted in Excursus, p. 486. 
 
 vv. 8-10. Riddles, the key missing. 
 
 p. 328, v. I. glot-kyllir, of a skin-bag with water: GeirriSr het fiolkunnig kona 
 ok meinsom ; fiat sa ofreskir menn, at Steinro9r kom at henni (the witch) ovarri, 
 enn hon bra ser 1 nautz-belgs liki vatz-fullz. SteinroSr var-iarii-snii9r, hann hafSi 
 iarn-gadd i hendi. Um fund feirra er ^etta kve5it. — Landn. [An overlaid verse, 
 once in epic metre, one should think]. 
 
 V. 1. Asmundr var heyg5r J)ar, ok lag6r i skip, ok Jjraell bans me6 honum sa er 
 bana6i ser sialfr ok vildi eigi lifa eptir Asmund ; hann var lag3r i annan stafn 
 skipsins. Litlo si6arr dreym6i |>6ro, at Asmundr sag6i ser mein at ^raelinum. f)at 
 heitir Asmundar-leiSi er hann er heyg6r. Visa J)essi var heyr6 i haug bans. Eptir 
 J)at var leita6 til haugsins ok var J)raellinn rekin or skipino [Landn.] : 1. 4. rum er 
 betra en illt gengi, a proverb ; mod., betra er autt riim enn ilia skipat : 1. 6. For 
 'erat,' read, ill es of J)egn 4 J)iljum t)rong . . . ma (mew) ranga. 
 
 V. 3. These are Hialdr and Sniall of the Lay of Hyndla (as reconstructed). The 
 verses here are mangled beyond recognition. 
 
 V. 4. 11. 4, 5. Obscure, a manufactured verse; ' Valfreyjo stafr' is noticeable. 
 
 V. 5. Probably from a lost Islendinga Drapa. 
 
 v. 6. hialt-iigga3r, fit epithet to sword, to call \ijish, and the hilt its fins. 
 
 V. 8. Enn er hann kom hia Drongom, sa hann troll-karl sitja f)ar a uppi ok lata 
 roa faetr ok skelldi J)eim saman sva at sio-drif varS af, ok kva5 viso. — Landn. 
 ii, ch. 7. ham-vatr, sMn-wetled=Ai:ovinQ6, cp. 'koll-votr' in mod. Icel. usage. 
 
 V. 9. Very corrupt ; Har. S. (Hulda), ch. 105 — Mcr t)6tti koma at mer maSr ogor- 
 legr, hann var allr vatr, ok hafdi i hcndi {jongnl mikinn ; hann kva9 J)etta fyrir mer : 
 blurred in the MS. and overpainted, syn (sun), Thulor, 498 j see our translation.
 
 6o6 NOTES TO PAGES 330-349. [bk. ix. 
 
 V. 12. The Long Serpent had sixly-eigkt oars, 
 V. 14. refil-stigar, cp. Edda Gylva G., beginning. 
 V. 16. hneggi, in my heart, cp. Thulor, 632. 
 
 Verses of Saga Editors, (p. 332.) 
 
 I. 1. 7- We read 'hauka,' and, 1. 9, in hvita . . . hvarm-skogs fylvingar (ace), 
 ' eyelash filberts ^ = tears, see Excursus, p. 452. 
 
 V. 4. Falo (giantess') tal-vinar (Thor's) grinis = Thorgrim's ; and |)r6tt-gTinir, id. 
 
 1. 15. -ar, dat. = Kri. 
 
 1. 20. saur, in the original lay probably sgr (wounds). 
 
 1. 25. Cp. Old Wols. Play, 1. 182. 
 
 1. 30. aura mein=_;?re: 1. 31. bekk-sagnir, from the lost lay. 
 
 1. 44. handlausan Ty, from the lost lay. 
 
 1. 63. vera (««)> here impossible ; hence ' verja,' which calls back the Eddie phrase 
 ' Hni verja,' 'lini' hidden in 'saman,' — an evidence that we have here a fragment 
 of an old epic : 'go3 munar,' too, is from the lost lay. 
 
 1. 83. An echo from the Helgi poet (Helgi, i. 299). 
 
 V. 23 is a manifest echo from the Helgi poet, the Walkyrja = fals hallar fylla. 
 
 V. (p. 336). 11. 4 and 8. Manifest emendation. 
 
 VI. MarJ)aksfior3r = Icefrith; Reyni-runnr = {>orbiorg; Sifjar vers (Thor's) beggja 
 handa hialp, id. : {)undar be9jo (earth's) J)vengr and Grundar haengr = Grettir (Thulor, 
 543) : Stor-frorar = Ball-iokull, etc. — all puns. 
 
 1. 34. = Ox-main, Thulor, 450, 451. 
 
 BOOK IX.—Krakomal, (p. 341.) 
 
 A few of the kennings from the bald former part will show best the character of 
 this curious and notorious poem. The first score of verses are variations of the 
 ' leit-motive,' ' We fought at Z early in the morning, A fell.* 
 
 Serpent, lyng-all 4, stor3ar-lykkja £, graf-vitnir 2. 
 
 Ship, hefiis hestr 22, Eynefis ondurr 52, Egils ondurr 23, segis asni 89. 
 
 Sword, rae-gagarr (carrion dog) 27, rae-kyndill 34, skeri-bildr 28, ben-grefiU 49, 
 sli5ra J)orn 83, sveita ormr 60, sara flug-dreki 105, biartra mala stal 5 : mail-coat, 
 Hogna kofl 49, Skoglar kapa 90, Svolnis skyrta 52, Hamdis serkr 85, Hildar naefr 
 102 : shaft, streng-volor 40, streng-logar palmr 75 : shield, regg-sky 43, b69-mani 
 70: raven, ben-starri 42 : blood, unda gialfr 19, svira vin 35 : sea, lindar voUr 24. 
 
 Battle, odda messa 54, Svolnis (Woden's) sliSr-loga senna 59, hrae-silna (carrion 
 herrings') hialdr 64, odda senna 82, log3is (sword's) leikr 104, sverSa sam-tog 112, 
 sver5a gustr 74, He3ins kvan 16. 
 
 Head, hialm-stofn 69, hiarna kleif 35. 
 
 Into the geography, which is modelled on the Drapas of Harold, Magnus, and 
 Eystan, it is useless to enter, much of it is purely imaginary ; indeed the really fine 
 lines at the end contain none of this fictitious stuff. 
 
 1. 31. Read rottar; the poet (an Orkney man?) wavers between r and hr. 
 
 Ragnar Lodbrok, Anslaug, and Ragnarssons, (p. 346.) 
 
 V. 6. We surmise, hy-naetr, cp. Lay of Skirni, 177. 
 
 v. II. Enn ek vil at spiot s^ tekin sem flest, ok se stungit spiotunum i vol! ui3r, 
 ok t)ar vil ek mik lata hefja a upp. — Ragn. S., ch. 9. 
 1. 56. See Excursus, vol. i, p. 410.
 
 §§i,2.] NOTES TO PAGES 351-365. 607 
 
 1. 119. A Hunnith horror — Enn hann kaus ser Jiann dau9-daga, at bal skyldi gera 
 af manna hof6um, ^ar skyldi hann brenna. — Ragn. S., ch. 19. 
 1. 127. Thoroughly modern in tone. 
 
 Last Fragments, (p. 355.) 
 
 I. gramir (fiends), see Harb. 151. 
 
 II. 6^i63ans, Wendish ? cp. Arnor, i. 35. 
 
 III. svell-vifi5ar? hrim-faxaSar (of the waves) : 1. 13. svan-flaug (waves). 
 
 IV. mar-bakki, the shed between the deep and shallow water: 1. 20. ask-laugar? 
 
 V. 1. 2. A favourite verse in Iceland. There are proverbs in 11. 8, 11. 
 
 VI. Hceking's sons, sea-kings : — bit of a true old song. 
 
 VII. J)ar sa Jieir brunn-miga (fox, goblin, see Thulor, 637) ; si3an heitir konungr 
 brodd-spiot i eldi ok skaut til bans, konungr kva9. . . . |)a toku J)eir vatn, enn 
 J)ursinn skauzt inn i biargit ; |)a er J)au sato vi3 eldinn kvaS J)ursinn af biargi annat 
 1165 . . . Jaa skaut Hiorleifr inu sama spiot 1 auga fivi trolli. — Halfs. S., ch. 5. 
 
 V. 3. I lotlandz-hafi la Hiorleifr konungr i logn-rett, ok er hann for [a word 
 missing] i solar upp-ras, sa hann i nor3r koma upp or sionum mikit fiall, ok iafnt 
 vaxit sem mann ; hann kva3. — Half. S., ch. 7. 
 
 v. 8. Hiorleifr konungr var upp festr i konungs liiill me6 sko-^vengjom sinom 
 sialfs, milium elda tveggja [cp. Lay of Grinini] ar ra3i .^so ; enn hirSin sat vi5 
 drykkju. A me6an vakti Hildr, ok ios mungati i eldana, ok kva9 Hiorleifi Jiat 
 verra [thus mended] ; hon leysti hann sva, at hon hio me6 sver&i sk6-J)vengina. — 
 Half. S., ch. 8. — Part of a very ancient story. One should perhaps render ' harra,' 
 king, not as a proper name. 
 
 VIII. (p. 360.) 1. I. Cp. nyrfill, nyrfla. 
 II. 3, 7. Proverbs. 
 
 I. 7. \yi=^a.pnaKov, 
 
 1. 17. Ims-iguU (igull, urchin) ; ' im ' = blackish, cp. imleitr. 
 
 IX. V. 5. Something archaic about this verse, or rather the phrase that underlies it. 
 
 Proverb Poem, (p. 363.) 
 
 For comparison with proverbs of other countries we have now neither space 
 Dor time. Cf. Craci's and Wogg's story with 1. 17 and Barefoot's motto with 1. 21. 
 
 1. I. A law maxim: I. 4, ambiguous, for 'hendi' may be either verb or dative 
 case ; griplor (mittens) would fit in that case. 
 
 I, 6. Unsafe : 1. 7, ' slett ' or ' sloett ? ' 
 
 II. II, 12. Personal remarks of the poet ; svineyg, cp. Engl, pigsney, and Od. viii. 
 319 : glaupsa (to vaunt). 
 
 1. 14. gagarr (dog), a Gaelic word. See Krakomal, 27. 
 
 1. 18. Emendated = skalat ulf ala ungan lengi, Old Wols. PI. 311. 
 
 1. 20. We take this opportunity to mend an error in Diet. 171 a — read, frauSr, 
 m. a frog. Old Swed. fraud. Dun. fro, dropping the d: ' frau6 ' in the horse-hoof is 
 of the same root, cp. Greek ^arpaxos : morom (from marr), meres, a word not in 
 use in Iceland. 
 
 1. 21. Cp. Reader, p. 262, No. 1 1 7. (2)=spyrja er bazt til valigra {)egna? 
 
 1, 22. Cp. p. 75, 1. 26 : long er biarnar nott (the bear's night = winter). 
 
 1. 26. Gripsson, thus, we think. 
 
 1. 27. Unsafe, perhaps {)rani? 
 
 1. 29. Unknown. 
 
 1. 32. Italics not safe.
 
 6o8 NOTES TO PAGES 365-372. [bk. x. 
 
 1. 33. Thus restored ; ' sa var taldr af miklu kyni ' is palpably false and bald. 
 
 1, 35. 'J)au' regiii? 611 greto regin eptir hann, cp. vol. i, p. 124, 1. 6. 
 
 1. 37. odda-ma3r = umpire, qs. 'numpire,' 'non-peer,' 
 
 1. 43. Thus mended, 'fru3om' for ' forSom.' Strange it is that Fb. i. 583 has 
 the same error; did he (the scribe) draw from our vellum (Cd. 'r')? 
 
 1. 48, vex hverr af gengi, Snorri (Ht.). 
 
 1. 51. fr3eno-skammr=-bit-skammr, air. key. 
 
 1, 58. Unsafe. 
 
 1, 60. ' eigi,' read ' ergi ' or ' reiSi ?' For the bear's warmth cp. biarn-ylr, Diet. s. v. 
 Sva segja menn, at Olafr hafi haft biarn-yl, J)viat aldri var J)at frost e6a kul6i, at 
 Olafr fxri 1 fleiri klae5i en eina brok ok skyrtu gyrSa i broekr. — Hav. S., ch. 2. 
 
 V. 18. foa, Thulor, 637 : sykr = svikr. 
 
 1. 95. Read, ungan J)arf at hiiifra (hiuka) mann, lullabies are swig for children^ 
 
 1. 97. From ' tvimenning,' men and women being paired off to dance. 
 
 I. 99. Undoubtedly so, cp. Alex. S., p. 100, where nennolaus = namnlauss? 
 
 II. 100, loi. i.e. J)okks betra, much better: valt = avalt is interesting, showing 
 how the word was sounded, the v (of allt) makes alliteration. 
 
 1, III. Unsafe ; the t must carry the letter-stress. 
 
 Song 0/ Runes, (p. 369.) 
 
 We have been able to restore many places, yet not all. 
 
 1. 3. ' kvelli,' cp. kveili-siiikr, Dan. kjcele-syge. 
 
 1. 4. fer6a = fiar5a ? 
 
 1. 5. ' Reid,' here the cart : Regin a sv. bezta, though it is a dubious emendation. 
 
 1. 6. Guessed, though not altogether safe. Cp. Proverb Song, 1. 102, and Hall- 
 biorn, p. 79, 1. 13. 
 
 1. 7. Cp. St. John's Gospel, ch. i, and the clause 'By whom also he made the 
 world.' 
 
 1. 9. A riddle like the others in the O. E. Dialogues. 
 
 1. II. Mark the weak form (liitig). 
 
 1. 13. 'bra,' from bregSa, so undoubtedly (not 'bar'); flsrdar sima must here 
 mean a net ; see Edda, how Loki, in salmon's shape, was caught in his own device, 
 the net — Enn er hann (Loki) sat i husinu, tok hann lin-garn ok rei6 a rseksna, sva 
 sem net er si6an gort. 
 
 1. 14. fost en goU ero halli, guessed. 
 
 1. 15. The first saw is carved on the porch of Oriel Hall. The second occurs in 
 the Dialogus de Scaccario, lib. i, Ut pedes aquilae, qui parva non retineut, et quos 
 magna non effugiunt. 
 
 1. 16. A safe emendation, cp. Dan. vin/er-grijnt = ivy, 
 
 BOOK X.— Prophecy (/Merlin, (p. 372.) 
 
 Gunlaug mainly gives a paraphrase, throwing in from time to time a series of lines 
 of his own making, usually of a descriptive character, e.g. Canto i, 11. 1-16, 139- 
 159, 215-219, 263-290; Canto ii, 11. 278-300, 403-459. It is in these inter- 
 larded verses that most echoes of old songs occur, as is noted underneath the text ; 
 a few words and phrases bear the mark of being from lost songs, perhaps one or 
 two from songs once contained in the lacuna of R. We take down but the best of 
 the ' kennings :' — 
 
 God, bragna stillir i. 283, vir3a stiori 285, J)i63ar viirSr 290, himin-stillir ii, 254.
 
 §§ 1, 2.] NOTES TO PAGES 372-382. 609 
 
 Battle, ognar lioma (sword's) el i. 144, Gondlar el ii. 278, logSis ve8r 194, malm- 
 J)ing 279, nialm-J)rima 286, malma dynr i. 145, fleiii-drifa ii. 300: sword, ben-logi 
 i. 153, sdra klungr 156, sli9ra garmr 150, ognar liomi 144. 
 
 King, land-reki i. 80, 188, odd-viti 81, hers ia6arr ii. 17, bragninga konr 136, 
 herja deilir 138. 
 
 Men, au3-stafir i. 2 2, hodd-skati 126, folk-stafr 264, vell-skati ii. 4, ver-dags 
 (gold's) h6tu6r 39, au6ar skelfir 244, men-broti 108, bauga spillir 54, 404, au&-varp- 
 a6r 253,sigr-vi6r 154, sver9-els hotuSr 259, seim-gefendr 58 : lady, goU-skogol i. 54. 
 
 Arrows, boga hagl i. 149, tvivi5ar [Thulor 295] hagl ii. 280: shield, GoaA\ix 
 himin i. 146, Skoglar sky ii. 283, Hlakkar tiold i. 147, Skoglar treyja 148. 
 
 Serpent (characteristic here), hei5ar hvair i. 200 : as belt or rope, ur3ar lindi 201, 
 landz lindi ii. 49, ras (rushwood's) sell 50, ras fagr-sili 85, foldar beiti 185, hau6rs 
 girding 67, grundar belti 66, frons baugr 64, hiarl-J)vengr 167, lundar fioturr 190, 
 lauf-viSar fioturr 188: wolf, heiSingja barn i. 159: fox, gren-bui i. 123. 
 
 Sea, hval-tun ii. 227, Ranar vegr 386, Hogna slot i. 135: luminary, stars, 
 himins ti3-mork i. 245 : heaven, sky, i. 276: coast, eylandz ia6ar ii. 20, barmr 175: 
 gem, fiar6-bygg ii. 170: ship, sund-dyr i. 71, sund-rokn 132 : gold, sund-bal i. I, 
 ver-dagr ii. 39. 
 
 Song, li6&-borg i. 13: breast, gollor-holl i. 152, ge8s goUor-heimr ii. 359: head, 
 hiarna bygd i. 153, heila borg 154. 
 
 Canto i. 1. 40. bru3-{)urr, qs. brau6-J)urr? 
 
 1. 52. Corrupt: goer (bevy of birds). 
 
 I. 91. vam, i.e. vram (nooks, corners), dropping the r, see Diet. 673a (B. III. 3). 
 
 1. 125. ors = head of an ass. 
 
 1. 229. draums i-va6endr? from a song. 
 
 Canto ii. 1. 10. sagaSr = sag5r. 
 
 ii. 1. 82. hegja, yh/e, cp. Amor, v. 4. 
 
 ii. 1. 230. varSar? 
 
 ii. 1. 3?^. Unsafe ; perhaps drawn from Helgi i. 192, 
 
 ii. 1. 409. au6s ben-draugar, somehow wrong. 
 
 ii. 1. 420. Ro8Iar, Saints, 
 
 ii. 1. 435. Ps. xcvii. Vulgate — Flumina plaudent manu, simul montes exaltabunt. 
 But what of ' The valleys shall sing hymns to the praise of the Lord,' is this added 
 by the poet, as is certainly the Epilogue which follows? Merlin's prophecies were 
 the Sibylline Books of the Middle Ages, almost canonical, hence 11. 455 etc. 
 
 Note, lung (ship), i. 69, and bi6& (land), ii. 288, are Irish words. 
 
 Volsa-fcersla, (p. 381.) 
 
 The poems in this and the following sections it is not necessary for us to translate. 
 
 'Wolsi' is undoubtedly etymologically connected with Phallus. The transposi- 
 tion of V. 13 towards the end is necessary, and speaks for itself. 
 
 1. 10. Read, lini klaeddr, and for 'studdr' read saddr, wrapped in linen, and stuffed 
 01! fed with leeks (herbs). 
 
 1. II. heilagt bloeti (blot) seems to mean rather 'teraph,^ some object used for pagan 
 worship, than 'idol,' cp. vol. i, p. 408, foot-note; and Diet. p. 70a, s.v. blot, I. 2. 
 
 1. 22. nosi, in mod. Icel. hn6si ; enn a meftan onnur J)eirra var a6 koma i lag 
 hnosanum, Isl. |)i6&s. ii. 41. 
 
 1. 26. Echo from Lay of Righ, 11. 13, 14. 
 
 1. 30. andketo, obscene word, else unknown : 1. 40 also obscene. 
 
 1. 50. Mark the alliterative hiarra ok hur6-asa. 1. 55. ' bing en Hnga,' unsafe. 
 
 VOL. n. R r
 
 6io NOTES TO PAGES 383-396. [bk. x. 
 
 Sheaftail-baulk or Fox Lay, (p. 383.) 
 
 By way of a small glossary we subjoin a few words, as this poem was only partly 
 used in the Dictionary : — 
 
 Fox, skaufali i, 5, 9, dratt-ali 25, 49, 59, lo5-bakr 30, gor-tanni 13, lang-hala 2, 
 gren-Iaegja 13, 17, lag-faeta 29, rebbali (ref-hali) 37, 45, tufa 41, skoUi 55, 57, 145, 
 sau6-bi'tr 63 : fox-cub, yrmlingr (vermin) 12 : sheep, gra-kollr (grey humble sheep) 
 58 : dog, hunzi 76 : horse, viggs faftir 6. 
 
 1. 8. A proverb; nineteen is a favourite number in popular tales; a dangerous 
 river has just taken ' nineteen ' victims, and is waiting for the last ; Mount Hecia 
 has had ' nineteen ' eruptions, and the like. 
 
 1. 15. veyk-lendut, weali loined ; hrygg-snau3, shrunk in the back, lean. 
 
 I. 27- hala-rofu-bein, tail bone of a tail, superfluous, hala put in for alliteration's sake. 
 
 II. 33-35. haust-fiustr, autumn gales, 32; briinum, mountain brows, 35. 
 
 1. 38. ganga at sau&um, i.e. to search the mountains for sheep in the autumn. 
 '• 53- gambrliga, wantonly. 
 
 I. 77. keifa, to walk wearily, as reeling under a burden. The fox is here repre- 
 sented as carrying off a sheep like a wolf or bear. 
 
 II. Ill, 112. lamb-gymbr, ewe lamb; gamal-rolla, old scabby ewe. 
 
 I. 115. klypingar, better klippingar, a shorn sheep-skin for trade, an article of 
 export from Iceland in the Middle Ages. 
 
 II. 120-123. riklinga xkr, poles hung with wind-dried stripes of flounder, see Diet. 
 497 b; %\ixe:ih, wind-dried fish ; rafa-bclti, the belt or round of the fins of flounders ; 
 hakarls lykkjur, the fiesh of sharks hung and dried, used for food — all which 'dainties' 
 of his childhood are well known to the Editor: hvinna snepla = bitlinga, stolen 
 morsels. Observe, the Icelanders of Reynard's day, as at present, could have had 
 no poultry yards, otherwise our poet would not have omitted to notice his hero's 
 devotion to Dame Partlet and her lord. 
 
 1. 127. Corrupt. 
 
 1. 141. Cp. Virgil's Exoriare aliquis nostris ex ossibus ultor, JEn. iv. 625. 
 
 1. 146. hel-stingi, death-pain. 
 
 The Dance-Burdens (p. 391) deserve attention from French and English scholars. 
 
 Olafs Rit7ui, (p. 393.) 
 As to Grammar : — 
 
 Observe, (l) the dropping the nom. r in words on -ingr — milding 5, dogling 3, 
 sikling 25, bragning 23. This is the common Kcence of all ' Rimur,' caused by the 
 requirements of the rhyme; yet bookish, never in speech. The r was already 
 beginning to become syllabic, and was inconvenient in these often repeated longish 
 words. (2) Changing final r into ur, ever and anon, 11. i, 31, 56, 57, 80, 83, 103, 108, 
 but never before the line-pause or at the end of a line. (3) The contracted form kongr 
 = konungr. At this date Icelanders said, svo, votr, v66i, hvorki ; yet we find rhymes 
 in the old style, as vv. 6, 22. 
 
 1. 27. iungr; the Rimur poets are fond of this foreign word, but it is purely 
 bookish, and never obtained in speech. 
 
 1. 60. Bu-Finnar, the Border Laps that have taken to agriculture. 
 
 1. 91. v65 = 66, merely a book-form, like ' vorQinn, vurSu,' so frequent in the 
 fourteenth-century MSS.
 
 §§2-4.] NOTES TO PAGES 398-404. 6ii 
 
 Skida Rinia, (p. 398.) 
 
 As to language the remarks upon Olafs Rima also apply here : vd sounded v6, 
 in rhymes, vv. 47, 69, 70, 109, 119, 181 : rl sounded //, Stulli, v. 99; iail, v. 176. 
 
 Of the vocabulary we note the following : — 
 
 Foreign words — finn (fine), 11. 5, 35, 43, 204, 228; afmors vers (love-song, Fr, 
 vers d'amour), 7 ! por (a pair), 64 ; panna (pan, skull), 335 ; lukka (luck), 97, 
 114; Hf, of a person, 197: foreign forms, mann = ma6r, 116, 126. 
 
 The kennings are very plain, and often half comic — lady, bauga skor3a 7, gull- 
 hlaSz skor6a 10, silki hrund 5, vella brii 240, J)orna vigg 174, J)orna brii 223 : man, 
 menja Baldr 14, au9ar Baldr 24, orva lundr 52, laufa viSr 104, stala gautr 248, 
 randa briotr 286, silki-treyju nistill 371 : poetry, as dwarves^ ship, Fiolnis (dwarf's) 
 batr II, Su3ra (dwarf's) siavar-rok 406: breast, 63ar rann 11 : mouth, fraeSa salr 
 375 • i^ol'^i greipar micjll 142, Grettis bol id. : battle, eggja sag, 278, orva seim 293. 
 
 Men, people, dandis-menn {gentletnen translation of the Fr. prudhommes, Lat. 
 bo7ii homines') 18: abusive, Herjans hottr 119, drottr 120, auli 195, 375, kratins 
 synir 272, slangi 379. 
 
 Skru3i = /acWe 20, ku8r = kvi3r? {empty belly) 68,viS-bit (a relish, usually butter) 
 82, kvarSi ? {the sense is that his stomach begins to heave) 82 : alpa {to walk) 107, 
 drukk-langr = drykk-langr 130, klas-sekk {a trunk, bag) 134, bramla {to make a 
 noise, cp. Fr. bramer, cp. brabble) 148, i kior {to heart's content) 208, danga {to 
 bang) 272, bupp {kowl as in our butter-bump) 326. 
 
 vv. 2, 3. The 'Dance' Song (Love-song) [see vol. ii, p. 385 sqq.], says the poet, 
 is now the set fashion. 
 
 . V. 6. The Dwarf-ship (Song) is riding at anchor in the poet's breast ; and yet 
 he speaks of her as 'old' and 'written.' The fact is, the poet falls out of the 
 metaphor (cp. Egil's Head Ransom, verse i) : the reason being that the song is his 
 own ; yet, at the same time, he is thinking of the old scroll, from which he drew 
 his subject, viz. Sturla's Saga, in Sturl. II. 
 
 1. 26. The beggar's keg called Butter-pi?, cp. 40. 
 
 1. 29. From one end of the country to the other. 
 
 1. 45. skaeSi, leather cut into squares for brogues : svorf, to be exacting. 
 
 1. 69. Thorleif Beiskialdi in Hitardal (hit, a scrip). 
 
 1, 75, To scrape the hair off the brogues with a blunt knife. 
 
 1. 79. bregSa kreppu, to stretch onesel/. 
 
 1. 83. The gaberlunzie man's character is sketched in a most masterly way here. 
 
 1. 85. litis var6 af siingum, his evening prayer was short. 
 
 1. 98. sioli {king), now frequent in Rimur, cp. Thulor 29; prob. a Celtic loan- 
 word, Irish siol (race). 
 
 1. 99. kom ^ar til me6 kongum tveim, they came to quarrel. 
 
 1. 187. Fatt er kyrru betra, a proverb. 
 
 1. 206. The weight about five pounds avoirdupois. 
 
 1. 217. The phrase for returning thanks, mod. 'Gu3-laun,' Shaksp.-Engl. God 'ild 
 you. I sveitum er J)a6 g63 og gcimul venja her a landi, eSa hefir veri9, {)egar ein- 
 hverjum er gefi6 a3 borSa, hvort heldr er gestr e3a heima-ma3r, a6 hann segir vi5 
 f)ann e3a \>'d sefn veita honum, aSr enn hann tekr til matarins : Gef6u (gefi6 J)i&) 
 mer i Gu6s fri3i matinn ! Enn a eptir maltid er sagt * Gu3-laun ' e6a ' Gu3s ast fyrir 
 matinn.' — Jon Arnason, ii. 527. 
 
 1. 251. Heimdall, elsewhere in {jrymlur called Heimdaell. 
 
 1. 263. Remmi-gygr, properly Skarphedin's axe, known to us from Niala. 
 
 R r 2
 
 6i2 NOTES TO PAGES 405-420. [bk. x. 
 
 1. 282. Skelja-karl = Maugis — J)ar var karl einn gamall, hann var i fataekligum 
 biiningi, enn alia vega litan a bans totrum var sem ekki vaeri nema kiifungar einir 
 ok skeljar . . . Skelja-karl maelti. — Magus. S., ch. 12 (Ed. Cederschiold). 
 
 vv. 162, 163. Here is some displacement. The tooth that was knocked out must 
 have been Starkad's ; the poet is too clever to miss that. The legend says that Starkad 
 was doomed to receive a scarring wound in every battle. In one battle we are 
 told he had a grinder knocked out, which was afterwards shown and used in a 
 belfry string in a church in Denmark, weighing seven ounces. — Noma Gestz S., cp. 
 Icel. Annals s. a. 1405, Jjar [in a place in Africa] var ok tonn, er sogS var or Starka3i 
 Gamla, var hon {jver-hendar a lengd ok breidd, fyrir utan Jiat er i hofdinu hafSi sta&it. 
 
 1. 350. This is mock imitation of Sturlunga, Bk. iii, ch. 31 [in Facsim., p. ccxix]. 
 
 1. 370. svinit lask mer eptir, I forgot it, left it behind. 
 
 I. 375. fraeSa salr, the mouth. 
 
 1, 386. All worn to pieces. 
 
 1. 398, ' iunga,' the German form, used mockingly of the old beggar. 
 
 1.404. vatna = vatna-fasta. 
 
 1. 406. Here let my song wait for the Sunday, to be then used for entertainment. 
 
 The Rhyme Ditties (p. 410) we, of course, must leave unnoticed here. For Ballads, 
 see vol. i, p. 501. 
 
 Islendinga-drapa, (p. 419.) 
 
 We subjoin some of the most crabbed 'kennings.' 
 
 Poetry, L66urs vinar lid i, Dvalins veigar 2, hausa hasl [pun, bar is = hair and 
 also Har, i. e. Woden] rekka (Arises') miodr 4. 
 
 Icelanders, hvals bu3ar (sea's) hu5 (ice's) lendingar 5 : poet, asa 61-beinir 64. 
 
 Courage, hamra vifs (giantess') byr 6, hraun-atla sprakka hregg 17: ear, hlusta 
 munnr 3 : horn, haefis fleinn 64 : earth, |>r6s dros 68. 
 
 Axe, bruma ekki 96: sword, gunnar grunnungr 11 : raven, sonar ofnir 20, styrjar 
 goUungr 89. 
 
 Men, {zom gold — grundar seilar (snake's) garda nirSir 8, fiall-gestils (giant's) or3z 
 beiSir 15, snaka stigs ni6r6r 31, arms fann-vi3r 47, unnar hyr-taelir 90, linna foldar 
 freyr 29, metins au6ar niorSr 44: from ship — Hundings elg-reynir 10; fens elg vi3r 
 21, ara elgs tyr 32, flausta fylgi-mei3r 61, unnar hreina aEsi-|>r6ttr 58 : from battle, 
 sword, etc. — sver9a J)rimo herSendr 22, sar-geima (blood's) iokuls (sword's) J)rym 
 (battle's) svellir 56, darra hli6m-bo9i 74, brings ha-raddar J)ollr 56, fleina J)rym 
 niorSr 103, hrae-klungrs (sword's) bnykkir 83, hrotta el-bi68r 87, hrafna vins 
 (blood's) gl65a hneigendr 2, hior regns nior5r 79> fiolnis elda geymir 29, bordz 
 (shield's) har6-gl63ar (sword's) m66i 95, hlakkar bliks runnr 95. 
 
 The contents of the poem — 
 
 In'roduction — Give ear and listen to me whilst I tell up Icelanders that were men 
 of courage : — 
 
 I. The slaying of Brodd-Helgi, in revenge for Geiti [4]. It was through no fault 
 of Thorkel that he avenged not Geiti his father [5]. 
 
 II. Helgi Asbiornson slays Helgi Droplaugson, his namesake : Grim goes into the 
 house, and stabs Helgi, avenging his brother. 
 
 III. Thorolf falls in battle in King Athelstan's service, Egil was in the battle. 
 
 IV. Glum Geirason does battle at Fitja : gets speech out of a dead man (!). 
 
 V. Hallfred visits the king. 
 
 VI. Thoralf son of Skolm does battle with Hacon, Athelstan's foster-son. 
 
 VII. Finnbogi the Strong fights.
 
 §§4-6.] NOTES TO PAGES 420-423. 613 
 
 vm. Orm Sforolfsson, brandishing a pole, fought alone with twenty-four men. 
 
 IX. Biarni the poet struck Earl Hacon in the face with a hern. 
 
 X. Gretti to avenge his brother slew Thorbiorn. 
 
 XI. Thorleif, he that made a bad song on the earl, the brothers, he and Olaf, slew 
 the Bearsark [Klaufi Boggvi]. 
 
 XII. Orm Skogarnef did battle, and Gauk Trandilsson too. 
 
 XIII. Gunnar, attacked by Gizur, slew two and wounded sixteen. 
 
 XIV. Midfrith-Skeggi fought beyond the sea (in the Baltic), and fetched the sword 
 Skofnung out of Craki's cairn. 
 
 XV. Hall o' Side held his own against all, and had valiant sons. 
 
 XVI. Thorstein Hall's son, angry at a libel, slew on one morning five men, 
 Thorhard one of them. 
 
 XVII. Holmgang-Bersi slew thirty-five men, cp. p. 70, v. 5. 
 
 XVIII. Kormak, in the king's service, trusted in himself. 
 
 XIX. Thorarin Steinarsson, the champion, felled men in wager of battle, and dared 
 any one to withstand him. 
 
 XX. HolmgangStarri . . . [rest lost]. 
 
 H, HI (p. 421), parallel to I. xiii ; with IV compare Landn. i, chs. 5, 6. 
 
 The Thitlor, (p. 423.) 
 
 It would be out of place here to give a complete commentary upon these inter- 
 - esting glossaries, well deserving of careful and minute treatment as they are; all that 
 can be done is to point out the lines upon which such work should be done. With 
 regard to their chronology, it is evident that they are not of high antiquity (though 
 their prototypes may well have been the early didactic poems), for they are largely 
 drawn from late sources, the crusading poets, and the like. Their composers cer- 
 tainly had before them much that is now lost, though it is difficult to estimate the 
 exact proportion their material bears to that which is accessible to us. Certain sec- 
 tions, such as that of the giants and giantesses, appear to rest largely on early poems 
 of the Thor cycle, though even lost Encomia would have supplied many names in 
 their ' kennings' which are not included in the fragments now extant. 
 
 There are also curious omissions of terms met with in poems which we know, but 
 which do not seem to have been utilized by the Thulor-composers, though here it is 
 necessary to remember that there are indications of incompleteness and copyist's 
 errors in our texts. Some words are apparently taken from prose, such as the Kings' 
 Lives, or at all events, from late poems founded on prose texts, and many terms, 
 which look at first as if they came from lost early poems, may no doubt be thus 
 accounted for, so that one must not be too ready to suppose that any very great 
 additions would be made to the known mass of Eddie poems if all the works known 
 to the Thulor compilers were extant. 
 
 From a philological point of view the great number o^ foreign words is in some 
 sections very notable, and supplies ample matter for the history of culture in the north. 
 
 The Thulor, like the other sections of that aggregate of literature which we know 
 as the Prose Edda, show plain evidences of growth ; they are not homogeneous pro- 
 ductions of one man, or even of one generation ; marks of additions, changes, editor- 
 ship are very apparent. Many sections are, as we have them, forced into a numerical 
 frame : thus there are sections of twenty synonyms, e. g. women ; thirty, battles ; 
 forty, men; sixty, fish and fire ; seventy, skips; eighty, sea; a hundred (120), rivers, 
 and so on; as noticed below, a circumstance which sometimes is a help to a ciitical 
 treatment of the text.
 
 6i4 NOTES TO PAGES 423-430. [bk. x. 
 
 In the Diet., owing to the disjointed state of the text, we entered the Thulor 
 simply as ' Edda (Gl.) ;' they can now be cited by line. In the first sheets of the 
 Diet, a few have slipped out. 
 
 1. I. Sea-kings. When the number of -fi and -ill names, the creation (largely it 
 must be) of late court-poets, is excepted, most of the rest are to be accounted for 
 from extant sources. — Hyndla's Lay (in a more perfect text than ours, of the same 
 type as that used by the Flatey-book paraphrast), Amor, the Orkney pedigree 
 (p. 183), and late court-poets; cp. the court-metre table (of 24 terms), p. 440. 
 
 2. The Kings' section is founded on a similar basis. 
 
 3. Dwarves. This list borrows largely from the Short Wolospa. It was appa- 
 rently meant to contain I20 names. 
 
 4. Giants. A section of 70, to which a second list of 40 (imperfect) has been added. 
 The earlier list is drawn from the Eddie poems to a great extent, though several 
 names, e.g. Buzear, which cne looks for, are missing; and there are others only met 
 with here, part of which the Short Wolospa, when perfect, might have contained. 
 
 5. Giantesses. A perfect section of 60 ; late fairy-tales and poems may account 
 for most of them which are not found elsewhere. 
 
 6. Woden. This list is helped out by the early Eddie name-lists ; it must also be 
 largely drawn from lost proems to Encomia, the very parts of those poems which 
 were neglected by the glossators who used the fact-full verses of the middle sections 
 to ornament the Kings' Lives. 
 
 7-12. Gods, Goddesses, Walcyries consist mostly of well-known and frequent 
 names, from existing poems or paraphrases, in Gylfa-ginning and Scaldseapar-mal. 
 Section 12 looks like a paraphrase of part of the Short Wolospa. 
 
 13. Women. A list founded on a better text of Righ's Lay than ours. Cp. 
 Court-metre Thulor, p. 440 : 1. 179, for bni6r (bis) read ' hsell.' 
 
 14. Men. A section of 40 synonyms, founded apparently on the same sources as 
 the early List printed on p. 542, as are also section 15, Unships, and section 16, 
 hotisehold. 
 
 17. Battle. Founded on the court-poems. 
 
 18. Swords. A long list of 140 terms, preserving about 20 proper names of 
 swords (such as Foot-broad) known from legend or history, and several names of 
 fishes, snakes, wolves, etc. Cp. II. 3, 17, 25. 
 
 19. Parts of a sword. A curious section, much of which is purely enigmatical to us, 
 and can only be interpreted by the help of such study as has produced M. Montelius' 
 excellent monograph on sword-types in the Congres International, Stockh. ii. p. 882 
 sqq. There are ten words or more in this section which rightly belong to the fore- 
 going list, such as ' falk,' not ' folk,' 1. 270 {Lzt. falc-s, Fr.fauchoh), .sword, brand. 
 
 20. Axe. An incomplete but noteworthy list; ' sera ma,' 'gygr,' and ' fala' are 
 proper names of ogresses; cp. the whole list with the treatment of the same subject 
 in the Axe-poem of Einar Skalason, p. 271. 
 
 21. Spear. Several loan-words from late court-poems: lenz, Lat. lancea, Fr. 
 lance; spior, Eng. spear; gefia, which we would read glefia, Fr. glaive; gafiak, 
 Mod. Eng. gavelok, cp. Mod. Eng. javelin. This word slipped out in the Diet, 
 p. 186 b; references — Fms. i, 31 1, 321, 330, vi. 77, viii. 76, and pass, in Romantic 
 Sagas : frakka, Lat. franca ; peita, cp. N. Eng. speat. 
 
 22. Arrows, Bosl, from Lat. bolsonem, Fr. bosoun, houjon: read bols, a quarrel, 
 see p. 201, 1.34; akka, cp. uncinata Xz\z, Bede i. 12; Gusis-smiSi is clearly from Arnor. 
 
 23. Bow. The comparative neglect of artillery in Northern battles is well marked 
 in the paucity of these words.
 
 §6.] NOTES TO PAGES 430-433. 615 
 
 24. Shield. Drawn in part from the early Shield-poems, with their vigorous 
 imagery. The court-poems prefer to use synonyms for the shield : buklari, Eng. 
 buckler, and targa, Eng. targe, are late loan-words. 
 
 25. Helm and (26) mailcoat are also based on early sources, partly lost. 
 
 II. I. Sea and water. A list of 80 words, derived very largely from the kennings 
 for poetry, Woden's liquid, in the court-poet's poems ; even the Holy Soma comes 
 in here (1. 321). The last few lines are borrowed from verses of some early poet 
 describing Eager's daughters; cp. the two verses, vol. ii, p. 440, 11. 37-44. 
 
 2. Rivers. A notable glossary, of which we have spoken above. The enormous 
 proportion of British rivers with unmistakable Celtic names must be carefully noted. 
 Most of these are from North Britain, a few are Irish. Besides these are a few from 
 the late Crusading-Encomia, and a few from the early Eddie Lays. 
 
 It is quite useless to try to account for them by supposing that Norwegian streams 
 of somewhat similar names can be meant. Not only is there a most striking absence 
 of Norwegian geographical indications in the Old Northern poetry throughout, but, 
 when all allowance has been made, there is an unmistakable residuum of British 
 rivers which cannot be explained away. 
 
 3. Fishes. A list which should be studied by the biologist and philologist alike. 
 It is full of most interesting and valuable information. Our English fish-names of 
 to-day will account for a large proportion of the list, which is indeed based as far as 
 can be seen on the ichthyology of the British Isles. The fluke, skate, syle, flounder 
 [flyndra?], sword-fish, gurnard, gad, crab, eel, shell-fish, gar-fish [geir-sil], ling, are 
 examples of these. We know others under different names, as steinbitr, the cat-fish ; 
 hamerr, the blue shark. See I. 18. 
 
 4. Whales. An imperfect section (once 24 or 30 ?) ; these names could probably 
 be still in great part identified by a Shetlander or a Faroe-man. Rey5r and fisk-reki 
 are balcena fhysalis and balcena boops, but others are known ; see Diet. ss. vv. 
 
 5. Ships. Seventy interesting terms : ark, ship, buss, neak, boat, keel, cat, canoe, 
 dromond, pram, galley, fly-boat [fley], smack, schuyt, ferry-boat, carvel, cog, skiff 
 are among them, terms common in English books and speech. The Irish lung is 
 also present; keipull is Adamnan's caupallus ; we miss Irish curac. 
 
 6. Gear and parts of a ship. A rich list of words, each of which should be 
 carefully considered. Many of them survive in full use, e. g. sail, stay, stem, seam, 
 stern, sheet [skaut-reip], spike, sail-tree, sail-yard, stool, .sheer, snotter, sewed, swifter, 
 syphering, vang, leech, line, ear, hank, rib, windlass, bits, bowline, bulk-stocks, 
 naval hoods, ro-bands, heel, hawse, wale, clove, orlop, knee, keel, board, carling, 
 clews, oars, and anchor. The French hune is also amongst them, and among French 
 naval terms one would expect to find some, which we have not been able to identify 
 as yet. Useful guides are Falconer's quaint epic The Shipwreck, Southey's Life of 
 Nelson, and Dana's Manual. 
 
 7. Earth or land. Many of these words still remain in use among us as common or 
 place names : fold, land, ground, lathe, fell, lithe, leet, holt, heath, brink, dale, tongue, 
 mould, moor, sand, marsh, earth. Some being really English, others, such as -wald, 
 vollr, part of the legacy of Northern local nomenclature. Fibh and biodh are Celtic. 
 
 8. Botany. Here the English botanist should give some help. Most of the plants 
 and trees are clearly not part of the Norwegian or Icelandic flora. Hazel, hawthorn, 
 asp, apple-tree, elder, pear, bush, plum, elm are common English words; heggr looks 
 like hedge or haye, beirm like bean. Pill is La.t. populus, wid-windle (the bind-weed) 
 is in our glosses. Mark Bede's words of Britain — Opima frugibus atque arboribus 
 insula H. £. lib. i. ch. i.
 
 6i6 NOTES TO PAGES 433-438. [bk. x. 
 
 9. Oxen. 10. Cows. A list containing many interesting words, showing that the 
 mediaeval system of naming oxen after saints is merely a survival of the heathen 
 practice of giving names of gods and giants to the plough-steers. Some beautiful 
 old epithetal names are among the others, taken, one fancies, from old lays such as 
 Gefion's. Bull, quae, cow, heifer, steer are still English ; tarbh [tarfr] is an Irish word. 
 
 11-13. Ram and goat. Some archaic epithets. Others are drawn, as it seems, 
 from such realistic poems as SkiSa-rima or Skaufhala-balkr. 
 
 14. Bear. A section largely drawn from the court-poets' kennings for ship. 
 
 15. Hart. A meagre list from the mythic poems — cervorum caprearumque 
 venatu insignis, says Bede, H.E. i. i, of North Britain ; cp. Adamnan's Canons also. 
 
 16. Boar. Grice, swine, barrow-pig, with a few nicknames, speaking to the 
 acquaintance of the composer or his authority with the Irish or British pig; 1. 477- 
 for 'rai' we must read 'rati' (of the Runic Stone). 
 
 17. Wolf. A gathering from the older poems. Gradyri is characteristically 
 English ; ' J)aet graege deor, wulf on wealde.' See also I. 18. Grey-Norna is omitted, 
 perhaps once in 1. 480. 
 
 18. Heavens. A quotation from a lost didactic poem. 
 
 19. Sun, 20. Moon, and 21. Day. Allwise Lay was known to the composer. 
 
 22. Heavens. The regular Thulor drawn from old sources. 
 
 23. Wind and weather. For this section the compiler is indebted to the Encomia 
 kennings for battle, the ' storm of Hild or Woden or the Walcyries.' 
 
 24. Fire. Composed chiefly from the kennings for sword, the ' flame of the 
 wound ' — tusi Finnish or Chudic (used by Eywind). 
 
 25. Serpents. The kennings for ' gold,' as the ' serpent's bed' in the lost epilogues 
 of court-poems, gave probably the chief stock of these terms. Some Latin Eluci- 
 darius has yielded such words as gargan, scorpion, rabia, iapr [vipr?]. See 1. 18. 
 
 26. Horses. This section must be compared with the old lists, vol.i, pp. 78, 80; fake 
 is found in N. Eng. poems. Alswartr and some more should be marked as proper names. 
 
 27. Hawh. Drawn from kennings for the raven, — Woden's hawk. 
 
 28-30. Raven, Cock, Eagle. Mark the foreign corvus, corpr ; the Latin authority 
 has also given gallus, gallina, aquila in the following sections. Cocr is English. The 
 Raven-poem of Hornclofi and the mythic poems are laid under contribution. 
 
 31. Birds. Here again the British fauna is the main source of the compiler's long 
 and remarkable list. For instance, smyrill, the lanner ; stelkr, the spotted red-shank ; 
 iadrakarn, the water-rail ; rytr, the tarrock ; spoi, the wimbrel, are all characteristic 
 Western birds. Even the sea-birds are such as frequent the British Isles. See Pro- 
 legomena, p. 188, and Diet. ss. vv. Mark what Bede says of Britain — avium ferax, 
 terra marique, generis diversi ; and, Piscium volucrumque venatu insignis. — H. E. 
 lib. i. ch. I. The last line is corrupt, vair, diifa, repeated. 
 
 III. 1,2. Women and goddesses. Evidently culled from court-poets' ' kennings,' 
 which have preserved several interesting and enigmatic titles for us, and also a good 
 many common names of trees both here and in II. 8 above. The section is an 
 appendix to I. 10, II. 
 
 3. Mind and heart. Curious old words illustrating early psychology. For negg 
 read hnegg (prop, a sheaf, hence heart). 
 
 4. Fox. Chiefiy gathered from some such poem as Skaufhala-balk. 
 
 5. Hand, etc. Noteworthy are mund (law word) wzawj/s ; ^2M^n, gowpen ; spoan, 
 span (law words) ; lamr, Irish lam ; and hnefi, lofi, which remain in our N. English neif, 
 loof; rokn, Slavonic, a trade word from the Baltic, used as a measure, like gaupn. 
 
 6. Walcyries. The proper Thulor section on this head, from i. 12, is only a
 
 §6.] NOTES TO PAGES 438-441. 617 
 
 citation from some lost authority. The sources here are the characteristic Walcyrie 
 poems, Hacon's Dirge, Darrada-liod, and the lilce, as well as the court-poets. 1. 64S 
 is corrupt. 
 
 7. Isles. Mostly Norwegian and Danish islands, known from the court-poems on 
 the naval exploits of the Norwegian kings. Crete and Cyprus figure by the side of the 
 Celtic Scillies and Dimon, and the half mythic Samsey and Hedinsey. In 1. 660 
 Lygra and Lag are by some mistake repeated from 11. 658, 669; 1. 657 read 
 'Stolm;' 1.667 read 'Solund;' 1. 776 read ' Vingr.' The list should be compared 
 with Einar's list of 32 islands, and the anonymous court-metre verse containing 33; 
 there are really three parallel authorities. 
 
 8. Friths. An index to early Norwegian geography and history, for all the 
 national life is grouped round these firths. 
 
 9. Corn. Many of these words are not Scandinavian, for besides such common 
 terms as acre, seed, awn, haulm, blade, shoot, root, thrave, meal, bere, bigg, barley, 
 wheat, rye, haver, there are foreign words, — corci, Irish carca; barley, flour. What 
 is hirsi? 
 
 10. Numbers. A jingle based on the old legal names of organisations by number, 
 crews, companies, courts, levies, and the like. A complete history of the words in it 
 would give a large part of Old Teutonic constitutional history. 'Flokkr'is im- 
 portant as referring to the crews and battle array ; cp. note, p. 584, on the Stickle- 
 stead battle. 
 
 Thulor in Court-metre, (p. 440.) 
 
 ' Kennings' — Mind as the Gale of the Giantess, Herkju sterk-vi5ri 13, Gri&ar 
 glaum-vindr 16: Breast, hnegg-verold 14, {)indar salr 16. 
 
 In 11. 21-36 note the synonyms for belt or ring (all variations on calling the sea 
 the belt or ring of the isles) : baldrekr 21, 25 ; hndi 21, 26, 29, 35 ; belli 22, 26, 
 31, 36; gyr6ill 22, 25, 29; sili 23, 27, 31, 35; men 24, 28, 30, 34; helsi 27; 
 girSi 28, 33; fioturr 30, 33; um-giora 23, 31, 34; hringr 32, 36. 
 
 Lady, strandar aurri6a (snake's) stallz (gold's) strind 6i. 
 
 Ship, egg-hufs ( = skdr) elgr 44. 
 
 Head, skarar-fiall 61 : hair (the wood of the skull), kruno klif 56, reikar eik 56, 
 hiarna J)yrnir 57, hlusta kvistir 58, skalla ra, (neuter) 58; vanga olr 59, svar5ar 
 gron 59, svar3-akr 63, haus-mioU (snow) 60 : eyes, hvarma skogar (eyelashes') 
 stiornor 63 : comb, svar5ar raftar (hair's) gar3r 63. 
 
 11. 1-12, 17-24 have been referred to above and compared with the earlier 
 epic metre. Thulor on the same subjects: 1. 20. read ' Rising.' 
 
 Ami's verse, (p. 441.) The hair-cutting day in the old Benedictine cloister is visibly 
 brought before the reader. 
 
 Einars and Snorrts lines. Epigrammatic couplets on a lady with beautiful 
 hair. The two fine-haired ladies of Iceland were, as Ari tells, namesakes — the 
 wicked Hallgerd, and her namesake, vol. ii, p. 79. See Excursus, vol. ii, p. 505. 
 
 For list of stones and gems, see p. 546; many unintelligible to us, some even 
 Slavonic. Britain is rich in stones and pearls, says Bede — Gignit et lapidem gagatem 
 plurimum optimumque, est autem nigro-gemmeus et ardens igni admotus, incensus 
 serpentes fugat. — H. E. i. i. The Norse-Icelandic hegetill is but a corruption of 
 gagates, as observed by Dr. Fritzner of Christiania. Mend Diet. 246 b, s. v. accord- 
 ingly. Bivivil looks like beryllus or barillus ; Gyfingr may be a corruption of jacinthus. 
 
 For list of pieces of lady's dress, see also p. 546.
 
 6i8 
 
 APPENDAGE TO THE NOTES. 
 
 A Brief Poetical Gradus of the Twelfth Century. 
 
 By way of summing up we here subjoin a condensed Gradus, a first draught, as it 
 seems [older than Snorri?], to Skaldskapar-mal, hence it is not contained in the 
 received texts of that work. This brief and quaint Gradus — showing as ' in a nut- 
 shell' the Norse poetry of the twelfth century, in the lifetime of our ' Remanieur' — 
 has come down in — 
 
 a. Two old vellums, Arna-Magn. 748 and 757 ; both are faulty copies of a lost 
 archetype, AM. 757 being, on the whole, the better of the two. We have fused 
 both into one. See Snorri, Edda, Ed. Arna-Magn. vol. ii, pp. 428-431 (Cd. 748), 
 and pp. 511-515 (Cd. 757)- ^P- List of Synonyms given above, pp. 542-545. and 
 Excursus I, vol. ii, p. 447 sqq. 
 
 6. In Cod. Worm. App., ihe end-piece is preserved, partly in Magnus Olafsson's 
 Copy. Both (a and b) speak to a common archetype. 
 
 a. Codd. Arna-Magn. 748 and 757. 
 
 Skaldskapr er kalla6r skip Dverga, ok Igtna, ok OSins, ok fundr J)eirra, ok drykkr 
 ^eirra ; ok er rett at kenna sva, ef vili, bae6i skip ok drykk, sem annar-sta9ar i 
 skiildskap, ok eigna Jieim ; enn skip ma kalla dyra heitum, ok fugla, ok hesta, ok 
 kenna vi9 si6, ok allt reiSi skips; enn kalla hesta heitum einum, ef vi3 sse-konunga 
 er kennt. Drykk ma kalla saevar heitum gtlum, fiarSa, ok bylgna, ok vatna allra, ok 
 kenna til gl-kera, e6a horna, munnz e3a goma, tanna e3a tungu. Dverga ok Igtna 
 er rett at kalla J)i69a heitum gllum ok sse-konunga, ok sva gram ok visa, ok slikum 
 gllum, ok kenna Dverga til steina e5a ur3a, enn Igina. til fialla e9a hiarga. Steina 
 ma kalla bein iardar, ok siovar ok vatna, enn hiis Dverga, enn grand J)eirra Hamdiss 
 ok Sgrla. 
 
 Ekki skal kenna J)at er sialfs sins nafni er nefnt ; snn kenna allt l)at er annars 
 nafni er nefnt en sialfs sins. 
 
 Orroslo ma kalla namni nokkurs hareystiss starksamligs, glaum e5a hliom ; kenna 
 vi9 her-klae3i, e3a vapn, e3a hlifar, ok {)vi meirr at {la skal kenna vi5 Obia e3a 
 sae-konunga ef vill — Skigld ma kalla solar heitum ok tungls, himins ok skyss ; kalla 
 ma hann ok vegg, e3a gar3, balk ok brik, hurS ok gatt, {)ili ok grind, hlg3a ok 
 segl, tigld ok refil, ok eigna avallt orrostu e9a 65ni e3a sae-konungum. — OH her- 
 klcedi eru fgt O&ins ok sae-konunga. — Oil hggg-vdpn ma kalla elldz heitum eSa 
 annarrar birti, leiptr e9a lios, kenna vi3 03in e3a orrostu e3a sae-konunga, her- 
 klaeSi e3a hrae, ben e3a bl63. — OH vdpn ero trgll ok vargar ok hundar her-kl£E3a ok 
 hlifa ; enn lag-vopn ma kalla fiska heitum ok orma, ok kenna vi3 her-klae3i ok 
 hlifar, sar e3a bl63. — Blod er kalla3 siovar heitum ok vatna, ok kennt vi3 hrae e3a 
 ben, sar e3a undir. 
 
 Sid ma kalla gar3 landa, ok men, band ok belli, las ok figtur, bring ok boga ; 
 kalla ma hann ok heim sae-kvikvenda ok hiis, igrb ok ggtu sse-konunga ok skipa. — 
 Onnr sa heitir Mi3gar3z-ormr er liggr um gll ignd litan ; ^vi er rett at kenna orma
 
 APPENDAGE. A BRIEF POETICAL GRADUS. 619 
 
 alia sva til landa sem sio, kalla band e3a baug iarSar. Orma er rett at kalla fiska 
 heituni ok hvala, ef {jeir eru kendir vi3 nokkut la9, vi3 e3a hraun, gras e3a griot, 
 gliufr e6a heiSar. — Ornia igr3 er gidl, rekkja J)eirra ok gata. Gull skal kenna einn 
 veg til bandar ok siovar, ok til vatna allra, kalia elld ok sol, ok tungl ok stigrnu, 
 ok kyiidil ok kerti, dag ok leiptr, geisla ok blik, ok alia birti ; enda ma gull kenna 
 til snsess ok iss, ok kenna J)a til bandar : baugr er fi^turr bandar, ok hanki, ok 
 virgin. Gull er korn, e5a melldr Fr66a konungs, enn verk ambatta bans tveggja, 
 Fenju ok Menju ; enn sa6 Kraka konungs, ok frae Fyrisvalla ; byr6r Grana ; haddr 
 Sifjar; enn tar Mardallar; mal Igtna, Hringr bet Draupnir, fyrir jjvi at ina niundu 
 bverja nott draup af bonum hringr iafn-hgfugr bonum ; J)vi er gull sveiti bans. 
 
 H2nd er bauka igrS, grund ok gata J)eirra, ok hestr, skip ok stallr; beitir bgnd 
 ok mund ; bgnd er byl e9a nau3 boga, e3a tgng; kalla ma bana fot e5a lim axlar; 
 rett er at kalla hgndina heitum kvikvenda, ef J)au eru kennd vi3 gxlina ; kalla ma 
 hgndina ok tgng axlar. — Sva ma ck hor7i kalla tria beitum, ef J)au eru kennd vi& 
 drykkju e9a {)at sem f)au voxu af ; horn ok gnnur gl-kergld ma kalla siavar heitum, 
 skip eSa hiis allz drykkjar. 
 
 Iss er bimin e3.a bus siuvar ok allra vatna, ok bialmr fieirra. — Hundr er vargr 
 e3a trgll beina. Jjess hlutar tr^II er allt sem \zX ma fyrir fara ; fi er trgll foSrs sins : 
 enn elldr er trgU {)ess er bann eyQir, ok vi6ar : griot ok ry3 (er trgll) iarna : vgtn 
 iar3ar ok elldz : regn e9a skin snsess ok isa : bri6ir biarSar. — Nott er angr e6a sott 
 allra fugla : Sncerr er sott orma, ok vetr : Vetr er nott biarnar : enn siimar er dagr 
 bans. — Hestar trgU-kvenna eru vargar, enn taumar J)eirra eru ormar. Drykkr varga 
 er dreyri. Haukar ok brafnar eru brae-fuglar, ok sva ernir ; rett er a6ra fugla at 
 nefna til, ok eigna 03ni, e5a kenna vi5 orrostu e3a brae e3a bl66. 
 
 Hvem Tiarl-mann ma kenna feiti e3a brae3i hrae-fugla ok varga ; sva il-ri63 Jieirra 
 e3a g6m-litu3. Karla ma ok kalla tria beitum karl-kendum, ok 63ins ok allra Asa, 
 hvart sem vill lofa e3a lasta, ok kenna vi3 ber-klse3i e3a vapn, hlifar e3a orrostu, 
 skip e3a gull. Enn ef ilia skal kenna, \k ma bann kalla allra I'llra kvikvenda 
 ngfnum karl-kendra, ok Igtna, ok kenna til fceSzlu nokkurrar ; kalla ma bann \k 
 ok grenni svi'na ok allz fenadar, sva bunda : kalla ma hann ok konuiiga heitum, ok 
 kenna vi3 n^kkurs konar verk-foeri, e3a Jjat annat er hann er styraiidi ; kalla lesti 
 ok {)verri allz gagns. — Koyni er rett at kalla tria-beitum kvenn-kendum, sva ok 
 Asynju beitum ok eyja ok landa kvenn-kendra ; sva ok orrostu beitum, sva kon- 
 uiiga beitum, gram e3a rsesi, ok slikum gllum, ok kenna avallt vi3 gull e3a glys 
 {)eirra, ok vi3 allt J)at er {)aer eiga i gripum, ok vi3 bannyrSir J)eirra, sva ok vi3 9I- 
 kerglld ok drykkju ; kenna ma {)aer ok vi3 sio ok steina ef vill. Regin heita go6 
 hei3in, b^nd, ok rggn ; kalla nii^ konu J)eirra beitum ok kenna. Enn ef ilia skal 
 kenna, J)a er bon kennd vi3 bvet-vetna bervilekt, J)at er hon er styrandi, J)val ok 
 sveipu, hry3u ok hland-ausu, ski63u ok skreppu allra odaSa. f>ess beSja er koua 
 bver sem bana a. 
 
 Hdr mannz ma kalla vi3ar beitum gUum ok grass, Jjess er a i2r3u vex ; kenna 
 vi3 sv9r3, e3a hvirvil, eda bnakka, eda enni, e3a reik, e3a vanga. — Hauss mannz 
 er kalla3r bus beila, enn grund Lialma. — Eyru mannz eru kjllud skip e3a sialldr^ 
 kinna e3a vanga, heyrii[ar] e3a blust[a]. Eyru mannz eru k^Uut blustar augu e3a 
 sionir. — Avgu mannz ma kalla ski^lld, e3a skript^ e3a himin-tungla heitum e3a 
 annarrar birti ; kenna vi3 brynn e3r hvarma, kinnr e3a brar. — NeJ mannz er kallad 
 inni eda skip hors e3a hnoera. — Munnr mannz er kaliadr inni e3a skip allz frodleiks. 
 
 ^ Thus both vellums ; read said? or tiold. Cp. Lay of Arinb. 1. 34. 
 2 Thus W. ; skip, 748 and 757.
 
 620 APPENDAGE. A BRIEF POETICAL GRADUS. 
 
 — Sva er ok briost kallaS inni e9a skip aldrs, ok hugar, ok hiarta, ok J)ess allz er 
 innan rifja er holld-groit. — Tenn eru kalla6ar g6ma-gri6f. — Tunga er kgUuS ar 
 e5a styri e6a vapns heiti, ok kennd til or3a, e6a goma, eSa tanna. — Hiarta er kallad 
 steinn, eSa korn, hnot, e5a epli, enn kennt lil hugar; hiarta heitir ok akarn ok 
 eiskglld : gollorr heitir J)at er naest er hiarta mannz : hnetr heita fylvingar. 
 
 Heimr er kallaSr bus e3a ker ve5ra : enn hhftinn erviSi Dverga fiogurra, J)eirra er 
 sva heita, Nor9ri, Su3ri, Austri, Vestri : himinn er kallaSr hialmr e5a salr landa, enn 
 braut himin-tungla. — Sol er k^IluS elldz heitum, ok kennd til himins . . . Jjat er rett 
 at kalla igrft hold Ymiss, enn sae bl63 hans, enn Mi6gar6 brar bans ; enn sky heila 
 hans. 
 
 b. From Cod. Worm. 
 
 . . . Hgfud heitir, bauss, kiannr, kollr, hiassi, hvirfiU, hnakki : J>at skal sva kenna, 
 erviSi ok byr3i hals ; land hialms, hattar, heila, bars, briina, svar3ar ok heyrnar, 
 augna ok munnz, ok alia {)ess er a hof6i er ; sverS Heimdalar ; er ok rett at nefna 
 sver3z heiti, hvert er vill, ok kenna til nokkurs heitis Heimdallz : hofuS er kennt 
 himin e3a bus, hgll e3a snekkja heila ok allz J)ess er i hgfSi byr. — Auga heitir litr, 
 sion, vi5r-lit. pau ma sva kenna, kalla sol ok tungl, skript e3a skiglld, lios e3a 
 leiplr (lopt, Cd.), gler e9a gim-steina, stein e5a stiornor, goU e5a geisla, ok alia birti, 
 ok kenna til bra e6a bruna, hvarma ok enniss. — Bra ma kalla hn's e&a gras hvarma 
 e8a augna. — Grdt eba. tar ma kalla bagl e3a ^1, regn eSa dropa, skurir eda forsar 
 augna e9a kinna, hlyra, e3a bra, e3a hvarma. — Hdr heitir la ok haddr, {)at er konor 
 hafa ; bar er sva kennt, at kalla skog, efla akr, e&a gras, e3a vi6ar heiti nokkuro, 
 ok kennt til hgfu3s e6a hvirfils, hlyrs, e3a vanga, hnakka e3a reikar, svarSar e9a 
 enniss; kalla ma ok snio e3a migU hauss e6a svar3ar . . . {Here W. ends incom- 
 plete. Cp. Introduction, § 6.)
 
 621 
 
 THE PROPHECY OF THE THREE SIBYLS. 
 
 WOLOSPA RECONSTRUCTED. 
 
 I. First Sibyl.— The Past. 
 
 TJ'LI6dS bi6-ek allar helgar kindir, 
 
 ■^ meiri ok minni mggo Heimdallar : 
 
 vildo at ek, Valfg5r, vel fyr teljak 
 
 forn-spigU fira J)au-es ek fremst um mank. 
 
 Ek man I^tna ar um borna, 5 
 
 J)a-es forSom mik fcedda hgfSo ; 
 
 nio man-ek heima, nio IviSjor, 
 
 migtoS mseran, fyr mold ne6an. 
 
 Ar vas alda {)at-es ekki vas, 
 vasat sandr ne saer, n<^' svalar unnir, lO 
 
 i(?r6 fannsk seva, ne upp-himinn. 
 Gap vas Ginnunga, enn gras ekki. 
 Sol J)at ne vissi hvar hon sali atti, 
 Maiii t)at ne vissi hvar hann megin atti, 
 Stigrnor J)at ne visso hvar {)aer sta5i atto. 15 
 
 kbx Bors synir bigi5om um yp3o 
 J)eir-es miSgarS maeran skopo, 
 sol skein sunnan a salta steina, 
 J)a vas grund groin grcenom lauki. 
 
 The Sibyl begins to speak of the creation of all things — 
 
 I PRAY all holy beings, the children of Heimdall, both high and low, for silence. 
 Thou wouldst have me, O mighty Father, set forth in order the ancient history 
 of men, as far back as I can remember it. 
 
 I remember the Giants born of yore, that bred me up long ago : 
 
 I remember nine Worlds, nine Pythonesses, a blessed Judge beneath the Earth. 
 
 The Chaos— 
 
 There was a time of yore when nought was, 
 There was neither the sand, nor the sea, nor the cold billows. 
 There was no earth to be seen, nor heaven above. 
 There was a Yawning Gulf, but no grass at all : 
 The Sun knew not her inn. 
 The Moon knew not his dominion, 
 • The Stars knew not their dwelling-place. 
 
 The Creation — 
 
 Before the sons of Bor raised up the land and made the blessed Mid-garth [Earth] . . . 
 
 The Sun shone from the south upon the salt rocks, 
 
 And the ground grew green with the leek.
 
 62 2 THE PROPHECY OF THE THREE SIBYLS. 
 
 pd gengo Regin gll a rgk-^tdla, 20 
 
 ginn-heilog God, oh tim I at gcettosk. 
 Sol hvarf sunnan, sinni Mana, 
 handar innar hoegri til himin dura. 
 
 Nott me5 ni5om ngfn um gafo, 
 
 morgin heto ok niiSjan dag, 25 
 
 undorn ok aptan, arom at telja. 
 
 Fundo alandi, omegandi, 
 
 Ask ok Emblo grloglausa : 
 
 gild {)au ne atto, 65 \>zu ne hgfSo, 
 
 lat ne laeti, ne lito g66a : 30 
 
 gnd gaf 6dinn, 6b gaf Hoenir, 
 
 lat gaf LoSurr ok lito g66a. 
 
 Hittosk ^sir a l8a-velli ; 
 
 teflSo i tuni, teitir varo, 
 
 fieir hgrg ok hof ha tiiiibro8o, 35 
 
 tangir skopo ok tol goer3o, 
 
 afla IggSo, au5 smiSuSo 
 
 — vas t)eim vettegis vant — or golli. 
 
 Unz ^riar komo |)ursa meyjar 
 
 amatkar migk or Igtuii-heimom. 40 
 
 pd gengo Regin p// d rgk-sldla, 
 ginn-heilog God, ok um pat gat task. 
 
 The Siais and Moon's course fixed — 
 
 Then all the Powers, the most holy Gods, went forth to their judgment seats, and 
 took counsel together thereon — 
 
 The Sun, the Moon's companion, began to turn from the south ever to the right 
 hand toward the doors of heaven. 
 
 They gave names to the Night and to the Changes of the Moon, 
 They named Morning and Mid-day, Afternoon and Evening, for the telling of 
 the seasons. 
 
 Creation of Man — 
 
 {Three Gods wandering along the shore.) They found Ash and Embla, out- 
 cast, helpless, and torpid, 
 
 They had neither the breath of life, nor had they the might of speech, nor carriage, 
 nor fashion, nor well-favoured looks. 
 
 Woden gave them the breath of life ; Hoene the might of speech ; Lodur carriage 
 and well-favoured looks. 
 
 Paradise — 
 
 The Anses met on the field of Ith, 
 
 They played at tables in the court and were merry, 
 
 They built up altars and temples, . . . 
 
 They made tongs and tools. 
 
 They set up a forge, and wrought treasures of gold, they lacked nothing : 
 
 Until there came out of Giant-land three ogress-maidens passing loathsome. 
 
 Then all the Powers, etc.
 
 WOLOSPA RECONSTRUCTED. 623 
 
 Ask veit-ek ausinn, heitir Ygg-drasill, 
 
 har baSmr heilagr, hvita auri : 
 
 J)a&an koma doeggvar J)aers i dala falla, 45 
 
 stendr ae yfir groenn UrSar-brunni. 
 
 Jja6an koma nieyjar margs vitandi 
 
 |)riar or ^eim sal es und \>o\\\ stendr ; 
 
 Ur5 heto eina, a3ra VerSandi, 
 
 — skaro a ski6i — Skuld ena ^riSjo : 5^ 
 
 J)aer Igg IggSo, fiaer lif kuro, 
 
 alda-bornom, grlgg segja. 
 
 Unz J)riar koma or J)vi li5i 
 i6d-disir As-kungar ... at husi. 
 
 Hvers fregnit mik? Hvi freisti3 min ? 55 
 
 AUt veit-ek, 06inn, hvar J)u auga fait 
 
 i enom maera Mimis-brunni : 
 
 a s^-ek ausask aurgom forsi 
 
 af ve3i Val-fr)6or. — Vilod er enn eSa hvatf 
 
 Veit-ek Heimdallar hlioS [horn] um folgit 60 
 
 und heiS-vgaom helgom ba6mi : 
 
 or eno galla Giallar-horni 
 
 drekkr mig3 Mimir morgin hverjan. 
 
 fiat man-ek frsend-vig fyrst i heimi 
 
 es Grata-go3 geirom studdo ... 65 
 
 Ek sa Baldri, bI63gom tivor 
 
 (35ins barni, grlgg folgin : 
 
 st6& um vaxinn fyrir Vaihgll austan 
 
 mior ok migk ungr Mistil-teinn : 
 
 var6 af {)eim mei3i, es maer syndisk, 70 
 
 The Holy Tree— 
 
 I know an holy Ash called Ygg's steed, a lofty tree sprinkled with white ooze : 
 From it comes the dews that fall on the dales, 
 Ever green it stands over the Brook of Weird. 
 
 Three Wise Maidens [the Fates] came forth from the hall that stands beneath 
 the trunk of that tree, writing upon tablets. 
 
 The name of the one is Weird, the other is Becoming, Should is the third : 
 They lay down law, they forecast life, they decree fate for the sons of man. 
 
 But other three mighty beings, midwives, sprung from that race [Norns] come to 
 the house {whenever a child is born) . . . 
 
 Quoth the Sibyl — 
 
 Why do ye seek me ? Why do ye enquire of me ? 
 
 Well I know, Woden, where thou didst hide thine eye, in the blessed Burn of Mim ; 
 
 I see a river pouring forth a stream of loamy water out of the pledge of the Lord 
 of Hosts. 
 
 I know where Heimdall's Horn is hidden under the shadowy Holy Tree : 
 
 Mim drinks out of the clanging Horn a draught of mead every morning /rowi 
 the Burn. 
 
 The first crime. Parricide — 
 
 This is the first murder among kinsmen that I remember in the world. 
 
 When they foined at Balder, the God of Tears, with their spears. 
 
 I beheld the fate that was hidden for Woden's son, Balder the bleeding victim ; 
 Very slender and young stood Mistletoe growing east of Walhall :
 
 624 THE PROPHECY OF THE THREE SIBYLS. 
 
 harm-fiaug haettlig, HgSr nam skiota : . . . 
 
 Enn Frigg um gret i Fen-sglom 
 
 va Valhallar. — Vitod er enn eda hvaif 
 
 {jat man-ek folg-vig fyrst i heimi , . . 
 
 Brotinn vas bor3-veggr borgar Asa, 75 
 
 knatto Vanir vig-ska vgUo sporna : 
 
 FleygSi 66inn ok i folk um skaut . . . 
 
 p(i gengo Regin gll a rgk-siola, 
 
 ginn-heilog God, ok um pat gatiosk: 
 
 Hvart skvldo ^sir afra6 gialda, 8o 
 
 gislar seljask e6r gildi eiga . . . 
 
 A gengosk eiSar, or6, ok sderi, 
 
 mal gll meginleg es a me3al foro. 
 
 pd gengo Regin ^11 a r^k-stdla, 
 
 ginn-heilog God, ok ttm pat gattosk : 85 
 
 Hverr hef6i lopt allt laevi blandit, 
 
 e8r aett Igtna 63s mey gefna. 
 
 |>6rr J)ar . . . J)runginn moSi, 
 
 hann sialdan sitr es hann svik of fregn . . . 
 
 Hapt sa-ek liggja und Hvera brunni 90 
 
 Vila ggrnom Vloka ' a{)ekkjan : ' 
 
 J)ar Sigyn sitr of sinom veri 
 
 . . . ' vel glyjo6.' — Vitod er enn eda hvat? 
 
 From this shoot, that seemed so slender, grew a perilous dart, which Hoth shot. . . . 
 And Frigg [Balder's mother] wept in the Hall of Ooze over the woe of Walhall. 
 
 War in heaven, the first murdet — 
 
 This is the first murder that I remember in the world . . . 
 
 The pale of the city of the Anses was broken ; 
 
 The Wanes tramped over the war-wasted field. 
 
 And Woden shot a spear into the host : 
 
 Then all the Powers, the most holy Gods, went forth to their judgment seats, 
 and took counsel together, 
 
 Whether the Anses should pay ransom and give hostages, and make a league 
 [treaty] . . . 
 
 The Hostages are slain — 
 
 Then were broken all the oaths and the plighted words, and the sacred truths ; 
 and all the mighty covenants that had been between then>. 
 
 The Rape of Freyia — 
 
 Then all the Powers, the most holy Gods, went forth to their judgment seats, 
 and took counsel together. 
 
 To know who had mingled the air with plague, 
 
 And given Od's maid [Freyia] to the kindred of the Giants : 
 
 Thunder alone was not there ... in wrathful mood, 
 
 He will seldom sit still when treason is stirred against the gods. 
 
 The Loki Titan chained, and his wife Sigyn — 
 
 1 saw Wloke lying a captive, bound with Will's guts, beneath the Well of the 
 Cauldrons ; 
 
 Sigyn is sitting there sorrowful over her husband [holding a bowl in her hands].
 
 WOLOSPA RECONSTRUCTED. 625 
 
 II. Second Sibyl.— The Future. 
 
 I. The Doom. 
 
 Heidi hana h(5to hvars til hiisa kom. 
 
 vglo vel-spa, vitti hon ganda, 05 
 
 sei3 hon kunni, sei9 hon ' leikin,' 
 
 se var hon angan illrar briiSar. 
 
 Ok 1 hgllo Hars hana brendo, 
 
 J)r_vsvar brendo, J)rysvar borna, 
 
 ' opt osialdan ' — ^6 hon enn lifir. lOO 
 
 'valdi' henni Her-f26r hauga [hanga?] ok . . . 
 
 fe-spigll spaklig ok spa-ganda, 
 
 sa hon vitt ok um vitt um vergld hverja. 
 
 Ein sat hon uti J)a-es inn aldni kom 
 Yggiongr Asa ok i augo leit — I05 
 
 Figl9 veit-ek frc' 3a, fram se ek lengra, 
 uni Ragna-rgk ' rgm ' sigtiva : — 
 BroeSr mono berjask, ok at b^nom verdask, 
 mono systrungar sifjom spilia : 
 
 hart es i heimi, hordomr mikill, 1 10 
 
 Skeggj-gid, Skalm-gld, skildir ro klofnir, 
 Vind-gld, Varg-gld, aSr vergld steypisk. 
 Sol niun sortna, scekkr fold i mar, 
 hverfa af himni hei3ar stigrnor, 
 
 snysk Igrmun-gandr i i^tun-moSi, I15 
 
 Ulfr knyr ' unnir, enn ari ' hiekki, 
 ' slitr nai nef-fglr,' Nagl-far losnar : 
 
 The dark Sibyl of Doom — 
 
 They called her Heithe, that equivocal sibyl, wherever she came to a house ; 
 
 She was acquainted with teraphim, 
 
 She knew enchantments, 
 
 She knew 'witchcraft,' 
 
 She was ever the joy of the wicked woman. 
 
 And they burnt [buried] her in the hall of the High One [?]. 
 
 Thrice was she burnt, thrice was she born, 
 
 . . . and still she is alive. 
 
 The Sire of Hosts endowed her with . , . with wise spells to win treasures, and 
 teraphim of prophecy ; 
 
 She could see far and wide over every world. 
 
 She was sitting out [over her enchantments] what time the old Gallows-god of 
 the Anses came and looked into her eyes. Quoth she — 
 
 Many stories of old I know, far forward can I see. The Doom of the Powers . . . 
 of the Blessed Gods. 
 
 Signs of the Doom — 
 
 Brothers shall fight together and slay each other ; 
 Sisters' children shall commit incest, 
 
 It shall be hard with the world, there shall be great whoredom. 
 An age of axes, an age of swords, shields shall be cloven. 
 An age of tempest, an age of felons [wolves], ere the world falls in ruin. 
 The sun shall grow black. 
 The earth shall sink into the sea, 
 The bright stars shall vanish from the heavens, 
 Leviathan writhes in great fury, 
 
 The Snake's brother [Wolf Fenri] . . . and breaks his fetters . . . 
 VOL. II. • S S
 
 626 THE PROPHECY OF THE THREE SIBYLS. 
 
 griot-biijrg gnata, enn gi'for rakna, 
 tro6a Halir hel-veg, enn himinn klofnar. 
 
 Geyr nu Garmr mi^i fyr Gnipa-helU, 
 festr 7nun slilna, enfreki renna. 
 
 Surtr ferr sunnan me6 sviga leevi, 
 skinn af sverSi sol valtiva, 
 . . . Muspellz megir . . . 
 
 KioU ferr vestan . , , Heljar 125 
 
 um l^g . . . enn Loki siyrir, 
 fara fifl-megir me6 freka allir, 
 Jieim es broSor maer B^'sleistz i fjr. 
 
 Muno Heljar-sinnar heim-stgS ry&ja. 
 
 Hrymr ekr austan or Igton-heimom 130 
 
 . . . Hrim-J)ursar . . . 
 
 Geyr nu Garmr, etc. 
 Hart es me3 Asom ; hart es me6 Alfom. 
 Hatt blsess Heimdallr, horn es a lopti 
 
 I£s\x ro a ^mg\ 135 
 
 Skelfr Yggdrasils askr standandi, 
 Ymr it aldna tre, ok or igrSo losnar. 
 Stynja Dvergar fyrir stein-durom 
 vegg-bergs visir. — Vitob er enn eSa hvalf 
 
 Maelir 65inn vi6 Mims hgfoa, 140 
 
 'leika' Minis . . . enn migtoSr brynnisk 
 or eno galla Giallar-horni. 
 , {)a koemr Heimdallr . . . 
 
 Enn bani Belja biartr at Surti : 
 
 . . . the [Hell] ship Nail-fare is loosened, 
 The granite rocks shall crash together, 
 And all gyves are unloosened. 
 All men shall tread the path of Death, 
 And the heavens be rent. 
 
 The array 0/ the Evil Powers — 
 
 Swart shall come from the South with a plagueful staff of fire [in his hand], 
 A brightness as of the sun shines from the Demon's sword, 
 Muspell's sons follow him . . . 
 
 A ship shall sail from the West . , . the Hell's brood shall come over the waves, 
 and Loki shall steer her. 
 
 All the monster-brood (of the Deep) shall march with the Beast, 
 
 Byleist's brother's daughter [Hell] is with their company. 
 
 They that dwell with Hell shall lay waste the world whereon men dwell. 
 
 From the East, Rym shall drive out of Giant-land, 
 
 The Rime-ogres [Titans] follow him . . . 
 
 Garm, etc. 
 
 The great Terror — 
 
 It goes hard with the Anses, 
 
 It goes hard with the Elves, 
 
 Heimdall blows loud with his horn in the air. 
 
 The Anses gather at the Moot, 
 
 The towering Ash, Ygg's steed, is quivering, 
 
 The ancient tree is groaning, and is uprooted from the earth : 
 
 The Dwarves, that dwell in the rocks, are moaning before their doors of stone. 
 
 Woden takes counsel with Mim's head, 
 
 . . . and the judge [Mim] drinks out of the clanging Yell-horn.
 
 WOLOSPA RECONSTRUCTED. 627 
 
 Enn O&inn ferr vi3 Ulf vega, 145 
 
 J)ar mail Friggjar falla angan : 
 
 f)a koemr inn mikli mggr Sigfg6or 
 
 ViSarr vega at val-dyri, 
 
 laetr hann megi HveSrungs mund um standa 
 
 higr til hiarta. pa. es hefnt fgQor. 150 
 
 ^a koemr inn mikli mggr HloSynjar, 
 
 06ins sonr, vi6 Orm vega, 
 
 drepr hann af modi Mi6gar6z veorr ; 
 
 gengr fet nio Fiorgynjar burr 
 
 neppr fra naSri ' niSs okviSnom.' 155 
 
 Geisar eimr ok aldr-nari, 
 
 leikr harr hiti vi6 himin sialfan. 
 
 2. The Places of Bliss and Torment. 
 
 Sal veit-ek standa solo fcgra 
 
 golli J)ak3an a Gim-le : 
 
 enn annarr stendr a Okolni ' 160 
 
 bior-salr . , . s; enn sa Brimir heitir : 
 
 stendr fyr norSan a NiSa-figllom 
 
 salr or golli ; enn sa Sindri heitir — 
 
 f>ar skolo dyggvar drottir byggva 
 
 ok um aldr-daga yn6iss niota. 165 
 
 Sal veit-ek standa, sc'lo fiarri, 
 Na-strgndo a, norSr horfa dyrr ; 
 falla eitr-dropar inn um lidra, 
 sa es undinn salr orma hryggjom. 
 
 The Gods marshalled to battle — 
 
 Then shall come Heimdall [to fight with Loki], 
 
 And the bright slayer of Beli [Frey] shall meet Swart, 
 
 And Woden go forth to do battle with the Wolf, 
 
 And there Frigg's love [Woden] shall die. 
 
 Thereupon Widar, the mighty son of the Father of Victory, shall come forward to 
 do battle with the Beast [Wolf]. 
 
 He shall thrust the sword with his hand into the heart of the son of Whethrung 
 [Loki], and so shall he avenge his father. 
 
 Then shall Thunder, the blessed child of Hlodyn [Earth], the son of Woden, 
 come against the Dragon, 
 
 The Holy One of E.irth shall slay him, 
 
 Earth's son shall walk nine paces ere he fall dead from the venom of the Serpent. 
 
 [Ty fights with Garm and each slays the other.] 
 
 After the battle is over Swart sets fire to the tuorld — 
 
 Smoke and fire shall gush forth. 
 
 The terrible flame shall play against the very sky. 
 
 The Three Places of Bliss — 
 
 I know a hall, fairer than the sun, thatched with gold, that stands on Fire-lea : 
 There is another, standing on Okohi, the glittering ale-hall that is called Brim : 
 Upon the North, on the hills of the moon, there stands a golden-built hail called 
 
 Gledc [Glowing ember] : 
 
 There [in these three halls] shall the righteous nations dwell and rejoice in bliss 
 
 for evermore. 
 
 The Three Places of Torment — 
 
 I know where a hall stands, far away from the sun, with its doors facing north- 
 ward, on Corse-strand : 
 
 S S 2
 
 628 THE PROPHECY OF THE THREE SIBYLS. 
 
 A fellr austan um eitr-dala 170 
 
 sgxom ok sver3om — Sli6r heitir su : 
 Skolo ^ar va6a J)unga strauma 
 menn mein-svara ok mor6-vargar, 
 ok sa's annars glepr eyra-runo ; 
 
 fiar kvelr Ni&-hoeggr nai iox-dceda; 1 75 
 
 slitr vara varga. — Vitod er enn eda kvatf 
 J)ar .... dimmo diki .... 
 
 Na3r frann 
 
 figtrom 
 
 ni3inga nai. — Nu man hon scekkvask. 180 
 
 III. Third Sibyl.— The Regeneration. 
 
 Se-ek upp koma g3ro sinni 
 
 iQTb or aegi i5JH-grcena, 
 
 falla forsar, flygr grn yfir 
 
 sa es a fialli fiska veiQir. 
 
 Muno lisanir akrar vaxa, 1 85 
 
 bgls mon allz batna, man Baldr koma, 
 
 bua J)eir H^br ok Baler Hroptz sig-toptir, 
 
 ve val-tiva — Vitod er enn e()a hvatf 
 
 Jja kna Hoenir hlaut-vi6 kiosa 
 
 ok burir byggva brceSra tveggja 19O 
 
 vind-heim viSan. — Vitod er enn eda hvatt 
 
 Finnask ^sir a l5a-velli, 
 
 ok und mold-^inor mattkom doema, 
 
 ok minnask J)ar a megin-doma 
 
 Venom-drops fall in at its luifer, and the hall is wattled with the bodies of snakes. 
 
 There is a river falls from the East over Venom-vales, full of knives and swords — 
 Slith is its name — and those of men that are man-sworn or murderers, and they that 
 put to shame the wives of others, shall wade through its thick waters. 
 
 (Tke third place of Torment, the Pit Hvergelmi)-^ 
 There Felon-cutter (serpent) shall batten on the corses of wizards. 
 And tear the truce-breakers. 
 
 There in that dark pit . . . shall the cruel Serpent ... in bonds . . . the corses 
 of the Nidderings. 
 
 Hie Sibyl sinks — 
 Now must she sink. 
 
 Tke Sibyl of the World to come — 
 
 I can see Earth rise a second time, fresh and green out of the sea, 
 
 The waters are falling, the erne hovering over them, the bird that hunts the fish 
 in [the streams of] the mountain. 
 
 The fields unsown shall yield their fruit. 
 
 All ills shall be healed at the coming of Balder, 
 
 Hoth and Balder shil. n people the blessed habitations of Hroft [Woden the Sage], 
 the holy place of the High Gods. 
 
 Then Hoene shall choose the rods of divination [again]. 
 
 And the sons of the two Brothers [Hoth and Balder] shall inhabit the wide world 
 of the winds [heaven]. 
 
 The Anses shall meet on the Field of Ith, 
 
 And do judgments under the mighty Tree of the World,
 
 WOLOSPA RECONSTRUCTED. 
 
 ok a Fimbul-tyss fornar runar. 
 jjar mono eptir undrsaniligar 
 gollnar tgflor i grasi finnask 
 J)xrs i ardaga attar h2f6o. 
 
 629 
 195 
 
 VOLOSPA in SKAMMA (Fragment). 
 
 Sib. Snubo braut he9an ; sofa lystir 
 mik 1 
 Fasr-Jjii fatt af mer fri5ra kosta. 
 
 Wod. Ek sla; elldi of ividjo 
 sva at fiu . . . a braut heSan I 
 
 W. Hve skyldi Dverga drott of skepja? 
 
 • 5 
 
 iS", Or Brimiss bl66i ok or blains legg- 
 jom: 
 J)ar mann-Hkon or mgi6kom goerSosk : 
 Dvergar i i^rSo . . , 
 {jar vas Motsognir mseztr urn orSinn 
 Dverga allra, enn Durinn annarr ... 10 
 Nyi ok Ni&i, Nor5ri ok Su6ri . . . 
 
 Mai es Dverga i Dvalins li5i 
 liona kindom til Lofars telja, 
 Jjeir-es sotto fra salar-steini 
 Aurvanga-sipt til loro-valla ... 15 
 
 put man uppi me5an gld lifir 
 languiSja tal Lofars hafat. 
 
 [Sat J)ar a haugi oh slo hgrpo 
 
 gyejar hirdir gla3r Eg6er : 
 gol um ' hanom ' i gagl-vi3i 
 fagr-rau6r hani sa es Fialarr heitir : 
 Gol um Asom Gollin-kambi, 
 sa vekr hglQa at Herja-fo9or : 
 Enn annarr gelr fyr igrS ne9an 
 s6t-rau5r hani at sglom Heljar.] 
 
 25 
 
 61 Ulf Loki vi9 Angr-boao, 
 enn Sleipni gat vi6 Sva6il-foera : 
 Eitt Jiotti skars allra feiknast 
 J)at vas br66or fra Byleislz komit. 
 Loki ' af hiarta liiidi brendo ' 30 
 
 ' fann hann half svidin hugstein komo : ' 
 var6 Loptr kvi6ogr at kono iilri — 
 J)a6an es a foldo flag9 hvert koniit. 
 
 Ero Vglor allar fra Vi9olfi : 
 Vitkar allir fra VilmeiSi : 35 
 
 Sei9-berendr fra SvartligfSa : 
 Igtnar allir fra Ymi komnir. 
 Hei6r ok Hross-J)i6fr Hrimnis kindar. 
 
 Freyr atti Ger9i, hon vas Gymis dottir, 
 
 And call to mind the dooms of might and the ancient mysteries of the Great God : 
 And after that the wonderful golden tables, which they had owned in the days of 
 yore, shall be found in the grass. 
 
 The Short Sibyl Lay. 
 
 The raising of the dead Sibyl. She speaks to Woden — 
 
 Get thee gone from this place, I would fain sleep ! 
 
 Little good shalt thou get in thy dealing with me. 
 
 Woden answers — 
 
 I will cast fire about thee, thou evil witch ! 
 
 So that thou ... ere that I go home. 
 
 Here is a great gap ; she tells of the Creation ; first of A udhumbla and the 
 Cosmic Titan, then of the creation of the Giants and the Dwai-ves from his body. 
 
 W. How were the people of the Dwarves created? 
 
 S. Out of the blood of Brimir [Ymi] and the legs of Blue, 
 
 And thereafter the Dwarves in the earth, that had been maggots before, took the 
 shape of men. 
 
 Mot-sogni was the mightiest of them all, and Dwryn the second, etc. 
 
 Now I will tell the Dwarves, of the race of Dwaliii, back to Lofhere . . . 
 
 Those of them that came from the salt rocks to Mudfield's abodes in the Field 
 of Ooze. 
 
 The cocks of the four worlds, translated, vol. i, p. I98. 
 
 The formation of the Monsters of Evil. 
 
 Loki's brood, 11. 26-30, translated, vol. i, p. 232.
 
 630 THE PROPHECY OF THE THREE SIBYLS. 
 
 iotna settar ok AurboSo: 40 svgrt verSa sol-skin, ne sumar eptir, 
 
 Jia var Jjiazi J)eirra frsendi, ve6r ^U valig . . . 
 
 skot-giarn igtunn, bans vas Ska3i dottir. Haf gengr hri5om viS himin sialfan, 55 
 
 liSr Ignd yfir, enn lopt hilar, 
 
 Muno ellifo -ffisir tal3ir J)a5an koma sniovar ok snarir vindar. 
 
 Baldr es hnigr vi6 bana-|)iifo, Haf se-ek brenna, enn hau&r loga, 
 
 t^ess laezk Vali ' ver9r ' at hefna, 45 yerSa flestir figr-lausn Jjola . . . 
 
 sins of broSor slaer hann hand-bana. j,a es rkb ok regin Jiriota. 60 
 
 Austr byr in aldna i Iarnvi5i, 
 ok foeSir jiar Fenris kindir ; f>a, kcemr annarr enn mattkari, 
 
 ver6r af Ipelm ulfom einn mattkastr \>6 f)origa-ek J)ann at nefna. 
 
 tungls tiiigari 1 trollz hami : 50 Fair sia nu framm um lengra 
 Fyllisk figrvi feigra manna, an 05inn man Ulfi moeta. 
 
 ry6r ragna sigt rauSom dreyra 
 
 EXTRACTS FROM EDDA, OF PARAPHRASES BASED ON THE SIBYL 
 SONGS AND OTHER POEMS, 
 a. = Paraphrase from the Long Sibyl Lay. [a] =From the lost parts of Long 
 
 Sibyl Lay. b. = From the Short Sibyl Lay. [b] = From the lost parts of Short 
 
 Sibyl Lay. c. = From Wafthrudni and other poems. 
 
 I. Cosmogonic. 
 
 Fyrr var J)at morgum oldum en i6r6 vseri skoput, er Niflheimr var gorr, ok i 
 honum mi5jum liggr brunnr sa er Hver-gelmir heitir, ok J)a9an af falla ar Jjaer er 
 sva heita . . . 
 
 [a] Fyrst var {)6 sa heimr 1 Su3r-halfu er Muspell heitir ; hann er lioss ok heitr ; 
 
 The generation of the Sibyls and Wizards, 11. 34-38, see vol. i, p. 232. 
 Balders death, 11. 43-46, see vol. i, p. 231. 
 
 The end of the World— 
 
 An aged giantess dwells in Ironwood, and there she gives birth to Fenri's race 
 [Wolves] : 
 
 Among them one shall be the mightiest of the wolves ; he shall be in the shape of 
 an ogre, the pitch-forker of the moon. 
 
 He feeds on the lives of the dead, spattering the heavens with red blood. 
 
 Signs of Doom — 
 
 The sunshine shall wax dark, nor shall any summer follow, and all the winds shall 
 turn to blight ; 
 
 The sea shall rise in tempest against the very heaven and cover the land. 
 
 And the sky shall be rent, and out of it shall come snow-storms and mighty winds. 
 
 I can see the sea a-fire and the land in flames. 
 
 And every living thing shall suffer death. 
 
 When the . . . and the Powers shall perish . . . 
 
 The coming of Christ — 
 Then there shall come One yet mightier : 
 Though I dare not name him. 
 
 There be but few who can see farther forward than the day when Woden shall 
 meet the Wolf. 
 
 Prose Paraphrase. 
 
 The Yawning Gulf Muspell or the two Worlds of Fire and Ice — 
 
 It was many ages before Earth was shapen that the Cloud-world [Nifl-heim] was 
 
 made, and in the midst thereof is the brook that is called Hwer-gelmir, and from out 
 
 of it there fall the rivers that are called ... [a] Yet first [of all] was the world in 
 
 the south, which is called Muspell; it is bright and hot, flaming is it and burning,
 
 WOLOSPA RECONSTRUCTED. 631 
 
 logandi er hann ok brennandi, ok ofoerr J)eim er {)ar eru utiendir, ok eigi eigu \>zt 
 63ul. Sa er Surtr nefndr er J)ar sitr a landz enda til land-varnar ; hann hefir loganda 
 sver&, ok i enda veraldar mun hann fara ok herja ok sigra oil go&in, ok brenna 
 allan heim me9 eldi. 
 
 c. Ar J)aer er kallaSar eru Eli-vagar, \>k er J)8er voru sva langt komnar fra npp- 
 sprettum, at eitr-kvikva, sii er {)eim fylgSi, har8na6i sva sem sindr \)Zt er ferr or 
 eldinum, J)a var3 fiat iss ; ok J)a er sa iss gaf staSar ok rann eigi, J)a heldi yfir 
 Jjannig lir fiat er af st65 eitrinu, ok frauss at hrinii, ok iok hvert hn'mit yfir annat 
 allt i Ginnunga-gap. Ginnunga-gap J)at er vissi til nor9r-settar fylldiz me& hofug- 
 leik ISS ok hrims ; ok inn i fra ur ok gustr. 
 
 [a] Inn sy6ri hlutr Ginnunga-gaps lettisk moti gneistum ok siom Jieim er 
 flugo or Muspellz-heimi. Sva sem kallt st65 af Nifl-heimi, ok allir hlutir grimmir, 
 sva var allt, J)at er vissi namunda Muspelli, heitt ok Host. Enn Ginnunga-gap var 
 sva hloett sem lopt vind-laust. 
 
 [b] Ok J)a er moetti hriminu bloerr hitans, sva-at bra3na5i ok draup, ok af {)eim 
 kviko-dropom kviknaSi, me5 krapti J)ess er til sendi hitann, ok var5 mannz likendi, 
 ok er sa nefndr Ymir. 
 
 c. Enn Hrim-fiursar kalla hann Aurgelmi, ok eru J)a5an komnar aettir Hrim-J)ursa. 
 . . . hinn gamli Hrim-J)urs, hann kollum ver Ymi. 
 
 [b] Nasst var \>at J)a er hn'mit draup, at Jiar var& af kyr, su er Au9humbla het ; 
 enn fiorar miolk-ar runnu or spenum hennar, ok foeddi hon Ymi ; hon sleik9i hrim- 
 steina er saltir voru ; ok enn fyrsta dag er hon sleik6i steinana, kom or steininum at 
 
 and not to be lived in by them that are aliens and have it not as their native land 
 [lit. have no heritage there]. Swart is the name of him that stands at the border of 
 that land to keep it; he has a flaming sword, and at the end of the world he shall 
 go forth and harry and overcome all the gods, and burn the whole world with fire, 
 [c] The rivers that are called Sleet-billows, when they were come so far from their 
 springs, that the poison-freshet that they bore hardened, like a cinder that is taken 
 out of the fire, turned to ice, and when the ice stopped and ran no more, then 
 straightway the fume that steamed out of the venom was mantled over and froze 
 into rime, and the rime grew thicker, coat over coat, all along the Yawning Gulf. 
 And that part of the Yawning Gulf, that looked towards the North, was filled with 
 a heavy load of ice and rime ; but farther in it [towards the centre] was fume and 
 steam, [a] But the southern part of the Yawning Gulf was brightened by the fire- 
 flakes and sparks, that flew out of the world of Muspell. Just as cold and all sorts 
 of horrors proceeded from Cloud-world, so was all that turned towards and came 
 nigh to the world of Muspell hot and bright. But in the Yawning Gulf it was close 
 and sultry like air when there is no wind. 
 
 The Giant Ymi. — [b] And when the waft of heat struck the rime so that it 
 melted and dripped, then from out of the freshet-drops, by the power o( him that 
 sent the heat, there came a quickening, and it grew into the shape of a man, and 
 this is he that is called Ymir. c. But the Rime-ogres call him Mud-gelmir, and 
 from him are come all the generations of the Rime-ogres , . . the old Rime-ogre, 
 we call him Ymir . . . 
 
 The Cow Audhumhla. — [b] After this it came to pass that from the dripping 
 of the rime there grew the cow that is called Audhumbla, and four rivers of milk 
 ran out of her dugs, and she suckled Ymi. She licked the lumps of rime that were 
 salt, and the first day that she licked the stones, there came out of the stone by 
 the evening the hair of a man, and the second day a man's head, and by the
 
 632 THE PROPHECY OF THE THREE SIBYLS. 
 
 kveldi mannz-har ; annan dag mannz hofuS ; f)ri3ja dag var J)at allr ma&r ; sa er 
 iiefndr Buri ; hann var fagr alituni, mikill ok mattugr ; hann gat son fiann er Borr 
 er nefndr; hann fekk J)eirrar konu er Bestla er nefnd, dottir JBol^orns iotuns, ok 
 gatu fiau Jiria sonu, het einn 03inn, annarr Vili, JjriSi Ve . . . 
 
 [b] Synir Bors drapu Ymi iotun ; enn er hann fell, Jja hliop sva mikit bloS or 
 sarum hans, at meS \)vi drek5u J)eir allri sett Hrim-Jjursa : 
 
 c. Nema einn komsk undan me5 sinu hyski ; {)ann kalla lotnar Ber-gelmi ; hann 
 for upp a liiSr sinn ok kona hans ok hellzk J)ar ; ok eru af J)eim komnar Hrim- 
 J)ursa settir . . . 
 
 c. {leir (Bors synir) toku Ymi ok fluttu 1 mitt Ginnunga-gap, ok gQrbu af honum 
 iijr&ina, af bl66i hans saeinn (etc. as in VJ)m.) 
 
 [a] f)a toku J)eir sior ok gneista, J)a er lausir foru, er kastaS haf6i or Muspellz- 
 heimi, ok settu a himin, bosSi ofan ok ne9an, til at lysa himin ok ior3. 
 
 a. {)eir gafu sta6 ollum eldingunum, sumum a himni, sumar foru lausar undir 
 himni, ok settu f>6 J)eim sta3, ok skopuSu gongu J)eim. Sva er sagt i fornum vis- 
 eudum, at J)a6an af voru dcegr greind ok ara-tal. 
 
 a. ba er J)eir gengu me3 siavar-strondo Bors synir, fundu J)eir tre tvau, ok toku 
 upp trein, ok skopu6u af menn : gaf inn fyrsti ond ok lif; annarr vit ok hroering; 
 \)nbi asionu, mal ok heyrn ok sion ; gafu peim klaeSi ok nofn ; het karl-ma9rinn 
 Askr, enn konan Embla ; ok olsk J)a6an af mann-kindin sii er idr9in var gefin undir 
 Mi6gar5i. 
 
 [a] i upphafi setti hann stiornar-menn, ok setti J)a at doema me3 ser orlog manna, 
 
 third day it was a whole man; this is he that is called Buri, he was fair to see, big 
 and strong, he begait a son who is called Bor ; he took to wife a woman called Bestla, 
 the daughter of Giant Bale-thorn, and they had three sons, one was called Woden, 
 the second Wili, and the third We . . . 
 
 The Deluge; Rime-ogres drowned. — [b] Bor's sons slew Giant Ymi, and when he 
 fell, so much blood ran out of his wounds that the whole generation of the Rime- 
 ogres were drowned in it, c. save one that escaped with his household ; him the 
 giants call Ber-gelmi ; he went into his ark or bin with his wife, and so they were 
 saved therein, and from them are come the generations of the Rime-ogres . . . 
 
 Earth made. — c. [Bor's sons] took Ymi and cast him into the midst of the Yawn- 
 ing Gulf and made the earth out of him, out of his blood the sea [etc., as in \'^m.] 
 
 Sun and Moon and Stars. — a. Then they took the flakes and sparks that were 
 flying about, which had been cast out of the World of Muspell, and set them in the 
 heaven, both above and below, to give light to the heaven and the earth. And 
 they appointed a place to each of the particles of fire, to some in the heaven, but 
 some wandered about freely under the heaven, and to them they gave a place also 
 and appointed their courses, as it is told in old song that in this way the day and 
 night were marked off, and the seasons of the year also. 
 
 a. The making of Man. — And as they went along by the sea-shore, the sons of 
 Bor found two trees, and they took them up and made men out of them ; the first 
 of them [Woden] gave them breath and life, the second [Wili] understanding and 
 motion, the third [We] form, speech, hearing, and sight; they gave them also 
 clothes and names ; the man was called Ash and the woman Elma, and from them 
 sprung mankind, to whom the earth was given upon Middle-garth. 
 
 The Golden Age — 
 
 In the beginning he set rulers and ordained them to give judgment along with
 
 WOLOSPA RECONSTRUCTED. 633 
 
 ok ra9a um skipan borgarinnar ; J)at var J)ar sem heitir a. I9a-volIr i niiSri borginni. 
 
 a. Var J)at it fyrsta Jieirra verk at goera hof })at er saeti J)eirra standa i, tolf onnur ea 
 hasaetiS pat er Allf69r a ; c. J)at hiis er bezt gort a iorSu ok mest, allt er J)at utan 
 ok innan sva sem gull eitt ; i J)eim sta9 kalla menn [c] Gla&sheim, Annan sal 
 gcerSu Jieir; J)at var a. horgr er gySjurnar attu, ok var hann all-fagr ; J)at hus kalla 
 menn [c] Vingolf. a. f)ar nsest goerSu Jjeir J)at, at pair log3u afla, ok par til gcer9u 
 fieir hamar, ok tong, ok steSja, ok J)a5an af 611 tol onnur; ok J)vi naest smiSo6o J)eir 
 malm, ok stein, ok tre, ok sva gnogliga J)ann malm er gull heitir, ok 611 busg6gn 
 hofSu J)eir af gulli. — Ok er sii old kollu6 Gull-aldr : — a. a3r en spilltisk af til- 
 kvamu kvennanna ; J)aer komo or lotun-heimum. 
 
 a. f>ar naest settusk gu&in upp i saeti sin, ok settu d6ma si'na, ok mintusk, 
 
 b. HvaSan Dvergar h6f3u kviknat i moldunni ok ni9ri i ior6unni, sva sem 
 ma5kar i holdi. Dvergarnir hofSu skipask fvrst ok tekit kviknan i holdi Ymiss, ok 
 voru J)a ma6kar; enn af atkvacSi gii9anna ur9u ]peir vitandi mann-vitz, ok h6r5u 
 mannz Hki, ok bua J)6 i i6r6u ok steinum. M65sognir var oeztr, ok annar Durinn. 
 
 b. Enn pessir eru ok Dvergar ok biia i steinum, enn inir fyrri i moldu . . . b. Enn 
 {)essir komu fra Svarins-haugi til Aurvanga a lorovollu, ok er J)a3an kominn Lofarr. 
 
 b. Gygr ein byr fyrir austan Mi6gar6 i J)eim skogi er larnviSr heitir; i peim 
 skogi byggja pser troll-konor er Iarnvi9jor [read Ivi6jor?] heita ; en gamla gygr 
 foe6ir at sonum marga lotna, ok alia i vargs likjum, ok J)a6an eru komnir pessir 
 ulfar. Ok sva er sagt, at af aettinni ver5r sa einn mattkastr er kalla3r er [b] Mana- 
 
 him upon the fates of men, and to give counsel upon the constitution of the City 
 [Ansegarth]. And this court was set at the place that is called a. the Field of Ith 
 [Magh Ith] in the midst of a city. a. This w^as the first work they did, to make a 
 temple for their seats to stand in, twelve of them beside the high-seat, which 
 belonged to the All-father, c. This is the best built and biggest house on earth ; it 
 is all one mass of gold, as it were, both within and without, and this place is called 
 
 c. Gladham. They made also another hall; it was a high-place [a harrow], which 
 belonged to the goddesses, and it was very fair, and this mansion men call [c] Win- 
 golf [Joy-room], a. And the next work that they did was to lay down forges 
 and make a hammer, and tongs, and stithy for it, and with these they wrought 
 all other tools, and then they smithied metal and gems, and wood-work, and in great 
 abundance the metal that is called gold, and all their household gear they had of 
 gold ; and that age is called the Goldeti Age, until it was destroyed by the coming 
 of women from Giant-land. 
 
 The Dwarves. — After this the gods sat down in their seats, and set the court and 
 took counsel : b. Whence the Dwarves had come that had come to life in the mould 
 and down under the earth, like maggots in flesh. The Dwarves had bred first and 
 come to life in the flesh of Ymi, and at that time they were maggots ; but by the 
 word of the gods they had become endowed with the wisdom of man, and got the 
 likeness of man, albeit they dwell in the earth and the rocks, Mu6-sogni was the chief 
 of them, and Dwryn the second, b. There are also Dwarves that dwell in the rocks, 
 as the first do in the mould . . . b. but they [the third race] came from Swarin's 
 howe to Loom-wang in lor-weald, and from them came Lofar . . . 
 
 The Monsters. — b. There is an ogress that dwells in the east of Mid-garth in the 
 forest that is called Iron-wood ; in that forest there live the giant-women that are called 
 Inwiddas [witches], but the old ogress gives birth to many giant-sons, all of them in the 
 shape of wolves, and thence are come these wolves [as spoken of]. And as it is said, 
 out of this race comes one the mightiest of all, called the [b] Moon-hound ; b. he is
 
 634 THE PROPHECY OF THE THREE SIBYLS. 
 
 garmr ; b. hann fyllisk fiorvi allra Jieirra manna er deyja ; ok hann gleypir tungl ; en 
 stoekkvir bli'j9i himin ok lopt 611. JjaSan af tynir Sol skini sinu, ok vindar eru J)a 
 okyrrir, ok gnyja he3an ok handan. 
 
 (|)a maelti Gangleri : Hvar er h6fu9-sta6rinn e9a helgi-sta9r gu5anna ? Harr 
 svarar) : f>at er at Aski Ygg-drasils, c. J)ar skolo go5in eiga doma sina hvern dag. 
 a. c. Askrinn er allra trea mestr ok beztr ; limar bans dreifask uni heim allan ; ok 
 standa yfir himni J)riar roetr tressins, ok halda Jjvi upp, ok staiida afar-breitt ; c. ein 
 er me5 Asum ; enn onnor me9 Hrini-{)ursum, J)ar sem forSum var Ginnuiiga gap : 
 En J)ri9ja stendr yfir Nifiheimi; ok undir J)eirri rot er Hvergelmir ; enn Nidhoeggr 
 gnagar nedan rotina. 
 
 a. Enn undir peirri rot er til Hrim-J)ursa horfir, J)ar er Mimis-brunnr, er spek3 ok 
 mann-vit er i folgit, ok heitir sa Mimir er a brunninn ; hann er fuUr af visendum, 
 fyrir pvi at hann drekkr or brunninum af horninu Giallar-horni. a. f>ar kom All- 
 fo&r ok beiddisk eins drykkjar af brunninum ; enn hann fekk eigi fyrr en hann lag9i 
 auga sitt at ve6i. 
 
 a. J)ri9ja rot Asksins stendr a himni ; ok undir ptirn rot er brunnr sa, er miok 
 er heilagr, er heitir Ur&ar-brunnr ; J)ar eigu gu3in d6m-sta5 sinn. c. Hvern dag ri3a 
 .ffisir J)angat upp um bnina Bifrost— hon heitir ok As-bru — . . . 
 
 ({>a maelti Gangleri: Brennr eldr yfir Bifrost? Harr segir) : f>at er J)u ser rautt 
 i loganum, er eldr brennandi, upp a himin mundu ganga Berg-risar, ef ollum vseri 
 fcert a Bifrost J)eim er fara vilja. 
 
 a. Margir sta6ir eru a himni fagrir, ok er J)ar allt gu51ig vorn fyrir. Jjar stendr 
 salr einn fagr undir Askinum vi9 brunninn, ok or Jieim sal koma J)riar meyjar ^xr er 
 
 filled with the life of [he devours] every man that dies, c. and he shall swallow the 
 Moon, b. and sprinkle heaven and the whole air with blood, and therewith the Sun 
 shall lose her sheen, and the winds shall grow restless and blow hither and thither . . . 
 
 The Holy Tree. The Brook of Weird and of Mim.—z. (Then spake Gangler : 
 'Where is the chief abode or sanctuary of the gods?' The High One answers): 
 c. It is at the Ash Ygg's steed, where the gods held their court every day. a. This 
 Ash is the greatest and best of trees ; its limbs spread over all the world, and three 
 roots of it stretch across the heaven, and hold it up and stretch wonderfully far. 
 c. One turns towards the Anses, the second towards the Rime-ogres, where once the 
 Yawning Gulf was, but the third stretches over Cloud-world, and Hwer-gelme [Caul- 
 dron-Whelmer] is under this root, and Felon-cutter [the snake] gnaws the bottom of 
 this root. a. But under the root that trends towards the Rime-ogres is Mim's Burn, 
 wherein is wisdom and understanding, and he that owns the bum is named Mim ; he 
 is full of knowledge, because he drinks from the brook out of the Yell-horn. a. The 
 Father of All came and asked him for one draught of the brook, but he could not 
 get it till he had pledged his eye for it. a. The third root of the Ash stands upon 
 the heaven, and under that root is a very holy burn, called Weirds'-burn, where the 
 gods have their moot-stead, c. Every day the Anses ride up thither over the bridge 
 Rocking-Race, which is also called the Anses-bridge [Spirit-bridge = Rainbow] . . . 
 
 Then spake Gangler: 'Is there fire burning along Rocking-Race?' Says the 
 High One : ' That red flame which thou seest therein is a blazing fire. The mountain 
 giants would get up into heaven if Rocking-Race were easy travelling for all that 
 would go by it.' 
 
 a. There are many fair places in heaven, -and it is all under the guard of the gods 
 [a sanctuary under divine protection].
 
 WOLOSPA RECONSTRUCTED. 635 
 
 sva heita. — Ur5r, Ver9andi, Skuld — |jessar meyjar skapa monnum alldr, \>xt kollu 
 ver Nornir. 
 
 a. Enn eru fleiri Nornir, {)aer er koma til hvers barns er borit ver5r, ok skapa aldr, 
 c. ok eru J)pssar go9-kungar, enn a5rar Alfa aettar, enn inar \)nb]\i Dverga aettar. 
 ... [a] G63ar Nornir ok vel sttaSar skapa gobxn aldr; enn J)eir menn er fyr 
 oskopum ver5a {ja valda f)vi illar Nornir. 
 
 a. Enn er J)at sagt, at Nornir t)8er, er byggja vi6 Ur6ar-brunn, taka hvern dag 
 vatn i brunninum, ok me6 aurinn {)ann er liggr uni brunninn, ok ansa upp yfir 
 askinn, til {)ess at eigi skolo limar bans trena eSa funa ; [a] enn J)at vatn er sva 
 heilagt, at allir hlutir J)eir er {jar koma i brunninn ver5a sva hvitir sem hinna su er 
 skiall heitir, er innan liggr vi6 egg-skurn. [a] Sii dogg er |)a9an af fellr a ioraina, 
 Jiat kalla menn hunangs fall, ok {)ar af fcefta.'k by-flugur. [a] Fiiglar tveir foe6ask i 
 UrSar-brunni ; J)eir heita svanir, ok af J^eim fuglum hefir komit Jjat fugla kyn er sva 
 heitir. 
 
 [a. b] Margir sta9ir ero ^ar gofugligir : Sa er einn staSr er kalla3r er Alfheimr, 
 J)ar byggvir folk {lat er Lios-alfar heita ; enn Dokk-alfar bua ni5ri i ior5o, ok ero 
 J)eir olikir Jjeim synom, enn miklo olikari reyndum. Lios-alfar ero fegri en sol 
 synom, enn Dokk-alfar ero svartari en bik. 
 
 ScEttir Vaiia oTt Asa. — a. 09inn for a hendr Vonom me& her; enn ^eir ur5o vel 
 vi9, ok vor5o land sitt, ok hof9o ymsir sigr ; herjo5o hvarir land annarra, ok goer9o 
 ska8a a. Enn er {jat leiddisk hvarom-tveggjom, logSo J)eir mill! sin saettar-stefno, 
 ok ger8o fri9, ok seldosk gislar ; fengo Vanir sina ina agaetosto menn, NiorS inn 
 
 a. There stands a fair hall under the Ash over against the brook, and out of this 
 hall there came three maidens, called Weird, Becoming, and Should. These 
 maidens shape the fates of men, and we call them Norns. a. But there are other 
 Norns, some of whom come to every child that is born and shape his fate, c. and 
 these are of God-kind, but others are of the race of the Elves, and a third kind of 
 the race of the Dwarves ... [a] good Norns and well-born shape good lives ; but 
 those men, whose fate is ill, owe it to the evil Norns . . . 
 
 a. And it is said that those Norns that dwell by Weird's burn draw water every 
 day from the burn, and the ooze with it that lies at the bottom of the burn, and 
 sprinkle it over the Ash, that its branches shall never wither or rot. [a] And this 
 water is so holy that everything that comes into this burn becomes as white as the 
 film that is called ' sciall,' that lies inside the egg-shell, [a] The dew that falls from 
 it upon the earth men call honey-dew, and the bees feed upon it. a. Two birds live 
 in Weirds'-burn, they are called Swans, and from them are come all the race of birds 
 that bear that name. 
 
 White and Black Elves. — [a. b] There are many noble places there; there is one 
 called Elf-ham, wherein dwell the people that are called the Elves of Light ; but the 
 Dark Elves live down in the earth, and they are altogether unlike in look, and a 
 great deal more unlike in reality; the Light Elves [Fairies] are fairer than the sun 
 to look on, but the Dark Elves [Brownies] are blacker than pitch. 
 
 War with the Wanes. — a. Woden went with a host to fight the Wanes, but they 
 made ready to meet them and defended their land, and the victory swayed between 
 them, and each harried the other's land and wrought great destruction. And foras- 
 much as this was hurtful to both of them, they set an accord between them and 
 made peace and gave each other hostages. The Wanes gave their best man Niord
 
 636 THE PROPHECY OF TPIE THREE SIBYLS. 
 
 au6ga, ok Frey son bans ; enn ^sir ^ar i mot ^ann er Hcenir het, ok kollo5o hann 
 all-vel til hofSingja fallinn; hann var mikill ma6r ok vaenn ; me5 honom sendo 
 ^sir J)ann er Mimir het ; hann var inn vitrasti ma6r; Enn Vanir fengo {)ar i mot 
 J)ann er spakastr var 1 J)eirra flokki, s& het Kvasir. Enn er Hcenir kom 1 Vanaheim, 
 J)a var hann J)egar hofSingi gerr ; Mimir kendi honom ra9 611, enn ef Hcenir var9 
 staddr a ^ingom e6a stefnom, sva at Mimir var eigi nser, ok kvaemi nokkur vanda- 
 mal fyrir hann, svara6i hann ae ino sama : — ' Ra9i aQrir!' sag6i hann. J>a gruna6i 
 Vani, at i^sir mundo hafa falsat J)a i manna skiptino, pa, toko J)eir Mimi ok hals- 
 hioggo, ok sendo hofuSit Asom. (36inn tok h6fu6it ok smurSi urtom J)eim er eigi 
 matti fiina, ok kvaS par yfir galdra, ok magnaSi sva at J)at maelti vi6.hann, ok sag5i 
 honom marga leynda hluti. Ni6r3 ok Frey setti 09inn bl('it-g66a, ok voro Jieir Diar 
 me9 Asom. Dottir NiarSar var Freyja ; hon var bl6t-gy6ja, ok kendi fyrst mt6 
 Asom sei5, sem Vonom var titt. |>a er Ni6r6r var me6 Vonom, haf6i hann atfa 
 systor sina — J)vi at J)at voro J)ar log ; voro born Jpeirra Freyr ok Freyja ; — enn Jiat 
 var bannat me9 Asom at byggva sva nait at fraendsemi. — [Yngl. S. ch. 4.] 
 
 [a] Gu9in hofSu ossett vi9 folk J)at er Vanir heita; enn J)eir 16g9u me9 ser fri6- 
 stefnu, ok settu gri9 a pa Jund, at pek gengu hvarir-tveggju til eins kers, ok spyttu 
 hraka sinum i. Enn at skilnaSi J)a toku go6in, ok vildu eigi lata tynask J)at gri5a- 
 mark, ok skopo9u piT or mann ; sa heitir Kvasir ; hann er sva vitr, at eingi spyrr 
 hann J)eirra hluta at eigi kann hann orlausn. Hann for vi9a um heim at kenna monnum 
 frce9i : ok J)a er hann kom at heim-bo9i til Dverga nokkura, Fialars ok Galars, 
 J)a kollu9u pe'iT hann me9 ser a ein-maeli ok drapu hann, letu renna bl69 bans i tvau 
 ker, ok einn ketil — ok heitir sa 09rcerir, enn kerin heita Son ok Bo9n — f>eir blendu 
 hunangi vi9 blt)9it, ok var9 pzi af mio9r sa, at hverr er af drekkr, ver9r skald ok 
 frce9i-ma9r. Dvergarnir s6g9u Asum at Kvasir hef9i kafnat i mann-viti, fyrir ^vi at 
 eingi var fiar sva fr69r, at spyrja kunni hann fr691eiks. — [Edda, Skaldsk.-mal.] 
 
 Nil var Loki tekinn gri9a-lauss ok fari9 me9 bann i belli nokkurn ; J)a toko 
 pen J)riar hellor ok sett a egg, ok lustu rauf a hellunni bverri. {ja voru tcknir 
 
 the wealthy and his son Frey, but the Anses in return gave him who is called 
 Hcene, saying that he was well fitted to be a ruler of men. He was a big man and 
 well favoured. With him the Anses sent a man called Mim, who was the wisest of 
 men, but the Wanes gave in return the greatest sage of their company, whose name 
 was Quasi. But as soon as Hcene came to Wana-land he was straightway made 
 ruler, and Mim gave him counsel in all his designs. But when Hcene was sitting in 
 council or court and Mim was not at hand and he could get no decision from him, 
 he always answered in one way, ' Let othtirs settle the matter,' said he. Then the 
 Wanes began to suspect that the Anses must have deceived them in exchanging 
 men, so they took Mim and cut off his head, and sent it to the Anses. Woden took 
 the head and smeared it with such worts as might not let it decay, and spoke 
 charms over it, and prevailed so that it spoke with him and told him many secrets. 
 Niord and Frey Woden made priests, and they were the Anses' seers [Diar]. Freyja 
 was Niord's daughter; she was a priestess, and she first taught the Anses enchant- 
 ments after the manner of the Wanes. When Niord was with the Wanes be had 
 his sister to wife (for that was their law) ; their children were Frey [Lord] and 
 Freyja [Lady]. But it was forbidden among the Anses to marry within such kinship. 
 
 The same story from Edda, already translated, vol. i, p. 464. 
 
 LoU chained. — And now Loki was taken, no truce being granted him, and borne 
 off to a certain cave, and then they took three flag-stones and set them up on 
 edge, and struck a hole in each of these stones. Then they took the sons of Loki,
 
 WOLOSPA RECONSTRUCTED. 637 
 
 synir Loka, Vali ok Nari e5a Narfi ; brugSu j^sir Vala i vargs liki ok reif hann i 
 sundr Narfa br66ur sinn. f)a t(5ku ^sir {)arma bans ok bundu Loka me3 yfir J)a 
 |)ria-egg-steina — stendr einn undir herQum, annarr undir lendum, {)ri3i undir kn^s- 
 botum — ok ur6u J)au bond at iarni. J)a, tok Ska6i eitr-orm, ok festi upp yfir hann, 
 sva at eitri6 skyldi driupa or orminum i andlit honum. Enn Sigyn, kona bans, sitr 
 hia honum, ok heldr munn-laugu undir eitr-dropa ; enn {)a er full er munn-Iaugin, 
 gengr hon ok slaer lit eitrinu, enn me5an drypr eitri6 i andlit honum ; f>a kippisk 
 hann sva hart vi6, at iorS oil skelfr — J)at kalli ^er land-skialpta. f>zr ''gg'' hann i 
 bondum til Ragna-rokkrs. 
 
 Arna-Magn. 748 and 757, add this from Lost Memorial Verses on Loki — 
 Am-svartnir hcitir vatn, enn Lyngvi holmi i vatninu, enn Siglitnir hvoll i hol- 
 minum ; enn Jjviti heitir hasll er stendr i hvolinum, enn Ginul {or gnioll) heitir rauf 
 er. boruS er a haelinum ; enn Hrae3a heitr festr er Fenris-ulfr er bundinn me6, ok er 
 henni drepit i gognum raufina ; enn Gelgja heitir spyta su sem fyrir er stungin. 
 Ficiturinn heitir Gleipnir, sa sem honum heldr. Tveir fiotrar voru gcervir til bans, 
 t)eir Dromi ok Loe5ingr, ok belt hvarrgi. pa, var gerr Gleipnir or sex hlutum — or 
 kattar dyn . . . [see vol. i, p. 16] ; J)vi er J)at ekki eptir si6an at J)at var J)ar allt til 
 haft, Ar tvasr falla or munni honum, heitir onnur Vil enn onnur Van ; ok er J)at 
 r^tt at kalla votn hraka bans, enn Giolnar heita granar bans. 
 
 The World-destruction. 
 (Hver ti5endi er at segja um Ragna-rokr, Jiess hefir ek eigi fyrr heyrt geti3 ? 
 Harr svarar — Mikil ti9endi eru J)aSan af at segja ok morg: Jsau in fyrstu, at), 
 
 b. Vetr sa kemr er kallaSr er Fimbul-vetr ; J)a drift snaer or oUom aettum ; frost 
 
 Wall, and Nari or Narfi ; they changed Wali into a wolf's shape, and he tore his 
 brother Nari. Then the Anses took his guts and bound Loki with them upon the 
 three-edged stones ; one stone comes under his shoulders, another under his loins, 
 and the third under the tenons of his knees, and these fetters were turned into 
 iron. Then Scathe took a venomous snake and fastened it up above him, so 
 that the venom should drip down from the snake into bis face. But Sigyn, his wife, 
 sits by him holding a hand-cup to catch the drops of venom, and when the cup is 
 full she goes and pours away the venom, and in the meanwhile the venom drips into 
 his face, then he writhes so hard with the pain that the whole earth quakes, and 
 that is called an earthquake, and there Loki lies in bonds till the Twilight [better 
 Doom] of the Gods. 
 
 Tawny is the name of the mere, and Ling the holm in the mere, and Marl 
 the knoll in the holm, and Thwaite the stake that stands upon the knoll, and Cleaft 
 the hole that is bored through the stake, and Scare is the cable that Fenris-wolf is 
 bound to, and it is reaved through the hole, and Gill-bone is the peg that is put 
 through the ear of the rope. The fetter that holds him is called Gossamer. There 
 were two fetters made for him, called Hobble and Coil, but neither of them held; 
 and then Gossamer was made out of six things, the din of the cat's tread, the birds' 
 milk . . . ; and there is no more left of these things, for they were all used in the 
 making of if. Two streams fail from his mouth, the one called Wailing, the 
 other Wanhope, and it is right [for a poet] to speak of water as his spittle, and 
 his lip-bristles are called Gills. 
 
 Signs of the Doom. — Says Gangler, ' What tidings are there to tell of the Doom 
 of the Powers ? I have never heard tell of it before.' 
 
 The High One answers, ' There are great tidings of it and many to tell withal,
 
 638 THE PROPHECY OF THE THREE SIBYLS, 
 
 em J)a mikil, ok vindar har6ir ; ekki nytr solar. {>eir vetr fara J>rir saman, ok ekki 
 sumar i milium. (Enn a8r ganga sva a6rir J)rir vetr), a. at ^i eru urn allan heim 
 orrostur miklar. {ja drepask brceSr fyrir agirni s^kar, ok engi J)yrmir f63ur e6a 
 syni i mann-drapum eSa sifja-sliti. b. {)a ver3r fiat er mikil ti6endi fiykkir, at 
 ulfrinn gleypir solina (ok fiykkir monnum {lat mikit mein) ; J)a tekr annarr ulfrinn 
 tunglit (ok gorir sa ok mikit ogagn). a. Stiornor hverfa J)a af himni. a. ({la er 
 J)at ti5enda, a't) sva skelfr ior3 oil, at biorg ok vi6ir losna or ior6u upp, enn biorgin 
 hrynja ; enn fiiitrar allir ok bond brotna ok slitna. a. pk verSr Fenrisulfr lauss. 
 pa, geysisk hafit a londin, fyrir J)vi at J)a snyzk Mi5gar3z-ormr i igtun-moSi ok 
 soekir upp a landit (J)a ver3r ok \>at at) a. Naglfar losnar (skip {)at er sva heitir; 
 f)at er gcert af noglum dau5ra manna, ok er ^at fyrir ^vi varu5ar-vert, ef ma3r deyr 
 me3 oskornum noglum, at sa ma6r eykr mikit efni til skipsins Naglfars, er go3in ok 
 menn vildu ogoert ' yr3i). Enn i ^essum siovar-gang flytr Naglfar ; 
 
 a. Hrymr heitir igtunn er styrir Naglfara. c. Enn Fenris-ulfr ferr me3 gapanda 
 munn, ok er enn ne3ri kceptr a ior3u, enn inn efri vi9 himni ; gapa mundi hann 
 meira, ef riim vxri til. Eldar brenna or augum bans ok nosum. [a] Mi6gar3z- 
 ormr blaess sva eitrinu at hann dreifir lopt 611 ok log, ok er hann all-ogurlegr, ok er 
 hann i a3ra hli6 Ulfinum. 
 
 a. i J)essum gny klofnar himininn ok ri3a J)a3an Muspellz synir ; Surtr ri6r fyrstr, 
 
 and the first tidings are — That a winter shall come that is called the b. Monster 
 Winter, then shall the snow drive from every airt, great frost shall there be then and 
 cruel winds, no light of the sun, three winters shall come together, and no summer 
 between them. And before three other winters pass so, a. there shall be great wars 
 all over the world, brothers shall slay each other for the sake of greed, and no man 
 shall spare his father and son, (and there shall be) murders and incest, b. Then 
 there shall come to pass what shall be thought great tidings, to wit, the wolf shall 
 swallow the sun, and men shall count that a great loss, and the other wolf shall seize 
 the moon and work great damage thereby, a. and the stars shall vanish out of 
 heaven, a. and then this shall come to pass, that the whole earth shall quake so that 
 the a. rocks and woods shall be loosened out of the ground, and the mountains shall 
 quake, a. and every fetter and bond shall be broken and riven, [a] And the wolf 
 of Fenri shall get loose withal, for the Leviathan writhes in giant rage, and the sea 
 shall gush over the land, and therewithal it shall be that a. Nail-fare shall be loosened 
 [from her moorings]. [That is the name of the ship that is built out of the nails of 
 dead men, and therefore it is a forbidden deed for a man to die with unshorn nails, 
 for such a man worketh mightily towards the building of the ship Nail-fare, which 
 gods and men would never have built.] 
 
 The array of the Evil Powers. — And Nail- fare shall float upon this sea-flood, 
 a. The giant that steers Nail-fare is named Rym. [b] And the wolf Fenri shall go 
 with gaping jaws, and his nether jaw shall touch the earth, and his upper jaw the 
 heaven, and he would gape wider still if only there were room withal. Fire shall 
 blaze from his eyes and his nostrils, [a] The serpent of the earth shall [also] breathe 
 venom so that the air and water shall be charged therewith, and he shall be awful to 
 look on, and he shall stand on the other side of the wolf^ And with this crack [of 
 Doom] a. the heaven shall be rent, and out of it there shall ride the sons of 
 a. Muspell ; Swart shall ride first, and before him and behind him a blazing fire ; his 
 
 * Emend., seint a gert, Cd. 
 
 * Here is only the passage telling how the fiends were wakened.
 
 WOLOSPA RECONSTRUCTED. 639 
 
 ok fyrir honum ok eptir eldrbrennandi; sver5 bans er gott miok, af {)vi ski'nri biartara 
 en af solu. c. Enn er pen riSa Bifrost, pk brotnar hoii (sem fyrr er sagt). c. Mus- 
 pellz niegir soekja franim a {)ann vgU er VigriSr heitir, [a] {>ar kemr ok Fenris- 
 ulfr ok Mi6gar3z-ormr. faar er ok J)a kominn Loki ok Hrymr ok me6 honum allir 
 Hrim-J)ursar ; Enn Loka fylgja allir Heljar-sinnar ; enn Muspellz-synir hafa einir ser 
 fylking, ok er sii biort miok. c. Vollrinn Vigri6r er hundraft rasta vi6r a hvern veg. 
 (Enn er ^essi ti5endi ver6a) a. pa. stendr upp Heimdallr, ok blaess akafliga i 
 Giallar-horn, ok vekr upp oil go6in, ok eiga |)au J)ing saman. a. {)a ri5r 06inn til 
 Mimis-brunnz ok tekr ra6 af Mimi fyrir ser ok sinu li6i. a. pa, skelfr Askr Ygg- 
 drasils, ok engi hlutr er pa, otta-lauss a himni e5a i6r6u. a. j^isirnir her-vae6a sik, 
 ok allir Einherjarnir, ok soekja framm a viilluna : Ri9r fyrst 65inn (me6 goU-hialm 
 ok fagra brynju, ok geir sinn er Gungnir heitir), stefnir hann moti Fenris-ulf. Enn 
 fiorr framm a a6ra hli6 honum, (ok ma hann ekki duga honum, pvi at) hann hefir 
 fullt fang at berjask vi6 Mi6gar5z-orm. a. Freyr bersk moti Surti, ok ver3r har6r 
 sam-gangr a3r Freyr fellr (JDat ver6r bans bani, at hann missir J)ess ins g66a sver6z 
 er hann gaf Skirni). [a] {ja er ok lauss or6inn hundrinn Garmr er bundinn er fyr 
 Gnipa-helli ; hann er i3 mesta fora9. Hann a vig moti Ty, ok verSr hvarr 6&rum 
 at ska5a. a. |>6rr berr ban-or5 af Mi9gar9z-ormi, ok stigr pabun brott nio fet ; pa. 
 fellr hann dau3r til iar6ar fyrir eitri ^vi er Ormrinn bles a hann. c. Ulfrinn gleypir 
 03inn, ver3r J)at bans bani. Enn t)egar eptir snysk framm Vi3arr, ok stigr 63rum 
 
 sword shall be a right fair one, and the sheen thereof brighter than that of the sun^. 
 c. And as they ride over the Rocking-Race [Rainbow] it shall break beneath them 
 [as was said before], c. Muspell's sons shall go forth to the field that is called the 
 Links of Battle. Thither also shall come the [a] Wolf of Fenri and the Serpent of 
 Earth. And thither shall Loki have come, and Rym, and with him all the Rime- 
 ogres; but all the a. Hell-dead shall follow Loki, and a. sons of Muspell . shall be 
 a troop by themselves, very bright to behold, c. The field of the Links of Battle 
 is a hundred miles every way. 
 
 The Gods marshalled to battle. — And when these tidings shall come to pass, there 
 shall a. Heimdall [the World-bow] arise and wind the Yell-horn with mighty power, 
 and awaken all the gods, and they shall hold a moot together. Then Woden shall 
 ride to the Burn of Mim, a. and take counsel of Mim for himself and his com- 
 pany, a. And the Ash of the Steed of the Hanged One shall quiver, [a] and there 
 shall be no part of heaven and earth that shall not then tremble for fear, [a] The 
 Anses shall put on their harness, and all the Host of the Elect, and go forth to the 
 field, a. Woden shall ride first with his gold helm and his fair mail-coat and his 
 spear that is called Gungnir [Tusker], he shall challenge the Wolf Fenri, a. and 
 Thunder next beside him, and he shall not be able to help him, for he shall have 
 enough to do to fight with the Serpent of Earth, a. Frey shall fight against Swart, 
 and there shall be a cruel battle between them before Frey falls, and the loss of the 
 good sword that he gave Skirni shall be his death, [a] And the Hound Garm 
 .[Sarama ?] that is bound before the Cave of the cliff shall have got loose too. He 
 shall stand against Tew, and each of them shall be the other's death, a. Thunder 
 shall get the better of the Serpent of Earth, and shall run back nine paces from him, 
 and then fall dead to the ground by reason of the venom that the Serpent shall breathe 
 upon him. c. The Wolf shall swallow Woden, and that shall be the death of him; 
 c. and straightway Widar shall dash forward and step with one foot upon the nether 
 
 * Mention of Loki and his crew omitted by mistake.
 
 6.(0 THE PROPHECY OF THE THREE SIBYLS. 
 
 fofeti i neSra koept Ulfsins (a J)eim fceti hefir hann sko \iznn er allan aldr hefir verit 
 til samnat ; J)at eru biorar J)eir er menn sniSa or skom sinom fyrir tarn e9a haeli ; 
 J)vi skal J)eim biorum brott kasta sa maSr er at J)vi vill hyggja at koma Asunum at 
 li6i), c. Annarri hendi tekr hann inn efra koept Ulfsins ok rifr sundr gin bans, ok 
 ver9r J)at Ulfsins bani. a. Loki a orrosto-vi6 Heinidall, ok ver6r hvarr annars bani. 
 a. J)vi naest slyngr Surtr eldi yfir iorSina, ok brennir allan heim. 
 
 (|ja maelti Gangleri : Hvat ver3r pa, eptir er brendr er heimr allr, ok dau8 611 
 go9in, ok allir Einherjar ok allt mann-folk ; ok hafi per aSr sagt at hverr niaSr skal 
 lifa i nokkorom heimi um allar aldir ? J>a kva5 J>riSi : a. Margar eru pa. vistir 
 go&ar ok margar illar.) 
 
 a. Bezt er ^a at vera a Gimle^, ok all-gott er til g63s drykkjar, J)eini er pzt 
 fiykkir gamaii, i Jjeim sal er Briniir heitir; hann stendr a Okolni. a. Sa er enn g69r 
 salr er stendr a Ni6a-figllum, goerr af rau9u golli ; sa heitir Sindri. I Jjessum solum 
 skolo g68ir menn vera ok si51atir. a. A Na-stronduni er mikill salr ok illr, ok horfa 
 nor6r dyrr ; hann er ofinn allr orma-hryggjum ; enn orma-h6fu6 oil vitu inn i hiisit 
 ok blasa eitri, sva at eptir salinum renna eitr-ar, ok va6a pxi ar ei3-rofar ok mor&- 
 vargar. [a] Enn i Hver-gelmi er verst. [^Here a sentence seems missing.'] 
 
 (f)a maelti Gangleri : Hvart lifa nokkur go5in pk, e5a er pk nokkur i6r9 e5a 
 himin? Harr svarar) : 
 
 a. Upp skytr ior3unni {)a or sionum, ok er hon f)a groen ok fogr ; vaxa J)a akrar 
 
 jaw of the Wolf [and upon this foot he shall have the shoe that every age has gone 
 to the making of, from the shreds that men pare off their shoes to shape the toes 
 and heels withal, wherefore he that is minded to be of the company of the Anses 
 must take heed to cast away those parings]. And with one hand he shall take hold 
 of the upper jaw of the Wolf and rend his jaw asunder, and that shall be the Wolf's 
 death. Loki shall battle with Heimdall, and each shall be the death of the other. 
 
 a. Swart sets fire to the world. — Thereupon Swart shall cast fire over the earth 
 and burn the whole world. 
 
 Places of Bliss. — [Then spake Gangler, 'What will happen then when the whole 
 world is burnt, and all the gods dead, and all the Host of the Chosen, and all man- 
 kind, for thou hast already said that every man shall live in one of the worlds 
 through all ages?'] 
 
 Then said Third, a. There shall be many good abodes and many ill. The best 
 that shall then be is a Fire-lea, and there is a right good chance of good drink for 
 them that take pleasure therein in the hall that is called a. Brim, which stands in 
 Uncold. a. That is a good hall that stands on the Moon Hills, built of red gold ; 
 it is called Cinder, a. In these halls shall good and right-living folk abide. 
 
 Places of Torment. — a. On Corse-strand there is a great hall, and ill to boot, and 
 the doors open northward ; it is wattled with the bodies of serpents, and the heads 
 of the serpents all turn inwards, and keep spirting venom into the house, so that 
 rivers of.venopi run down the halls thereof, and oath-breakers and murderers shall be 
 wading in these rivers. But in [a] Cauldron-whelmer it is worse, [for there Felon- 
 cutter, the monstrous snake, feeds upon the living bodies of the worst of sinners.] 
 
 The New World. — [Then spake Gangler, ' Will any of the gods be alive tl en, and 
 will there be any Earth or Sky?'] 
 
 The High One answered, a. ' Earth shall shoot up out of the sea, and she shall be 
 
 * a himni, W.
 
 WOLOSPA RECONSTRUCTED. 641 
 
 osanir. c. Vi8arr ok Vali lifa sva at eigi hefir siorinn ok Surta-logi grandat J)eim. 
 a. Ok byggja J)eir a I6a-velli, J)ar sem fyrr var AsgarSr. c. Ok J)ar koma synir 
 Jjors, Mo&i ok Magni, ok hafa J)ar Miollni. 
 
 a. Jjvi naest kemr Jjar Baldr ok HgSr fra Heljar. a. Setjask Jia allir samt ok 
 talask vi6, ok minnask a riinar siiiar, ok rde&a um gU tiSendi J)au es fyrr h6f5u verit, 
 um lY[i5gar6z-orm ok um Fenris-ulf '. 
 
 a. {>a finnask J)ar i grasinu gull-toflur ^xt er ^sirnir hofSu att. c. Enn J)ar sem 
 heitir Hoddniimis-holt leynask menn tveir i Surta-loga, er sva heita, Lif ok Leif- 
 J)rasir, ok hafa morgin-doeggvar fyrir mat. Enn af ^essum monnum kemr sva mikil 
 kyn-sl66 at byggvisk heimr allr. c. Ok hitt mun {)er nndarligt Jiykkja at Solin hefir 
 geti6 dottur, eigi 6fegri en hon er, ok ferr sii \>k stigu m66ur sinnar. 
 
 (Enn ef ^u kannt lengra framm at spyrja J)a veil ek eigi hva9an Jaer kemr J)at, 
 fyrir J)vi, at engi mann heyr&aek lengra segja framm aldar-farit^ — ok niottu sem J)u 
 namt 1 {)vi naest heyrSi Gangleri dyni mikla hvern veg fra ser, ok leit hann lit a 
 hli5 ser; ok fia-er hann sesk meirr um, f)a stendr hann uti a slettum velli ; ser hann 
 \>k cenga holl ok oenga borg. Gengr hann J)a brott lei6 sina ok kemr heim i riki 
 sitt, ok segir ^au ti6endi er hann hefir se3 e3a heyrt. Ok eptir hunum sagSi hverr 
 maSr 65rum J)essar sogut) 
 
 green and fair then, a. And the fields shall bear all unsown, b. Widar and Wali 
 shall be alive, since neither the sea nor the fires of Swart have harmed them, and 
 they shall dwell in the a. Field of Ith [Ida-field], where Anse-garth stood before. 
 a. And Mood and Main, the sons of Thunder, shall come there, and they shall have 
 Milner with them. And afterward a. Balder and Hoth shall come thither also out of 
 Hell. a. They shall all sit down together and talk to each other, and call to mind 
 their mysteries, and speak about all those things which have come to pass, about the 
 Serpent of the Earth and the Wolf of Fenri ... 
 
 a. ' And in those days they shall find in the grass the gold tables that the Anses 
 had of yore. c. But in the wood that is called Hoard-Mim's Holt two of mankind. 
 Simple and Life-stayer, with the morning-dew for their meat, shall have hidden 
 themselves from the fires of Swart. And from these two there shall come such a 
 mighty kindred that they shall inhabit the whole world. And it will seem won- 
 derful to thee that the Sun should have borne a daughter, no less fair than herself, 
 and she shall journey in her mother's ways.' 
 
 Epilogtte. — ' But if thou art wishful to enquire further forth I know not whence thou 
 wilt get help, for I have never yet heard any tell further of the World-History, — and 
 may what thou hast heard profit thee!' And with that Gangler heard a mighty 
 crash on every side of him, and looked about him, and while he was peering about 
 him as far as he could, he found himself standing in the open air upon a smooth 
 plain, he could see no hall and no stronghold. Then straightway he set out upon 
 his way and came home to his kingdom and told all the tidings that he had seen 
 and heard. And according to his account one man has handed on this tale to 
 another [down to our day]. 
 
 ' Here the paraphrast has misunderstood his text. 
 
 * This is a twofold echo, from Short Wolospa, last line, and Vsp. 1. 3. The 
 author says. The task of telling the History of the World (aldar-far), from its 
 Genesis to the Doom and Regeneration, is herewith finished. 
 
 VOL. II. T t
 
 642 THE PROPHECY OF THE THREE SIBYLS. 
 
 Notes on Wolospa. 
 
 As has been noticed in the Introduction [§ i6], a wholly new way to a right 
 treatment of the text of Wolospa was opened when, unexpectedly and at the eleventh 
 hour, as it were, the proper conception of the value of the prose paraphrase of 
 that poem in Snorri's Edda dawned upon our mind. When once one got to 
 understand that the paraphrase rested upon a purer, fuller, and earlier text than any 
 other version preserved, it became possible to see one's way through and over dark 
 places which one had been hopeless of being ever able to lighten. It is the text 
 reconstructed upon this new basis that we shall take as the foundation of our notes 
 and critical treatment. 
 
 The state of the text of Wolospa may be best represented thus (a denoting the 
 full, /3 the stinted, disorderly text) : — 
 
 X 
 
 I 1 
 
 I 1 I 1 • 1 
 
 Edda paraphrase. Yngliuga paraphrase. R H Edda verse citations [W]. 
 
 What may best be done with the materials is to put in correct order the verse-text 
 as it exists. To effect this it is necessary, ^rs/ to sort out of the mangled mass of frag- 
 ments, headed Wolospa in R,what really belongs to our chief poem, the Long Wolospa. 
 In doing this we are helped by the reconstruction, which we have been able to make 
 of Hyndla's Lay (vol. ii, p. 515). From our work on that poem we know not only 
 that a Shorter Wolospa existed, but are able to see something of its character, plan, 
 and style, and it becomes very clear that it is precisely of fragments of this Shorter 
 Wolospa that the greater part of the interpolation in the Wolospa mass comes. The 
 distinct character of the two poems affords a clear and ready test by which each line 
 or verse may be tried. 
 
 The Shorter Wolospa is a poem of the old type, somewhat rough and coarse and 
 material in character, didactic, genealogic, anthropomorphic, altogether more bar- 
 baric and indigenous, with a simple framework of archaic fashion. The Longer 
 Wolospa is, on the other hand, a poem which stands quite alone among the crea- 
 tions of Northern poets ; it is spiritual, immaterial, philosophic, even mystical in its 
 inspiration ; perhaps nearer in cast and form of thought to one of Plato's dialogues 
 than to any other extant composition. Moreover, the peculiar metre and the 
 melody of rhythm which distinguish it, are qualities which would serve to mark 
 out its verses from those of any other Eddie poem whatever. Its poet, whoever 
 he was, is the ' Sweet Singer* of the Northern tongue. 
 
 Guided by such tests we may disentangle what remains of the Long Wolospa from 
 the other pieces with which it has been so long mingled,-;— and now a second process 
 is necessary, to wit, the right ordering and rebuilding of the precious fragments. 
 Our toil must be that of the patient worker, who sits down with the broken bits of 
 a Greek vase before him, and a rough idea of its form and subject in his head, to 
 put it together and get at the details as far as they have been preserved. After 
 many mistakes and much care he is able to fit every little shard into its place, and 
 the vase stands before him again in its original shape ; but though the outline is 
 true and the subject of the painting unmistakeable, how much has perished ! A great 
 crack here has scarred the finest figures, a hole there has broken away the name of
 
 NOTES ON WOLOSPA. 643 
 
 the hero, a handle has gone, and a good deal of the border ornament is lost, though 
 luckily enough remains to show the pattern. Such must be the state of Wolospa 
 after all one's work. 
 
 The prose paraphrase is our chiefest help, both with regard to the order and to the 
 text; and we by its aid are able to give a general plan and the proper sequence 
 of the fragments, to tell not only where a gap occurs, but even to supply the 
 contents of the missing lines, and so to form some rough idea as to the amount 
 of the poem which is lost for ever. All this is an immense gain ; and no one, 
 who has read the poem in the old /3 text, will fail to see how far more clear, 
 intelligible, and beautiful it becomes when rearranged and restored by the light of 
 the a text of the prose paraphrase. 
 
 It is indeed a wonder that a poem of such spiritual and imaginative cast should 
 have come down to us at all, through the three generations at least which must 
 have intervened between its creation and the days of Ari. Its preservation is no 
 doubt owing to the extraordinary sweetness of its verse, whose soft melody 
 enchanted and attracted its hearers, and thus ensured its existence. Written or 
 unwritten it was still mainly whole and sound when it reached the eye or ear of the 
 Edda paraphrast, and the decomposition set in during the time intervening between 
 a and : and an evil fate has willed that P, not a, should survive in our present 
 copies. Yet the frequent and scarring gaps which disfigure the jS text are just what 
 was to be looked for in the case of a poem dealing with such philosophic themes in 
 so delicate a way. 
 
 The first part may have once contained 150 lines, the second about the same, the 
 third some 50, — say 350-400 lines in all. 
 
 It is not possible here to go into the vast mass of detail which gathers about this 
 poem ; the notes below will touch upon such points as should be noticed in due 
 order, but it is to the paraphrase that the reader must constantly look for the inter- 
 pretation of what is vague, dim, and uncertain in the verse-text. 
 
 The now cancelled text of vol. i, pp. 193 sqq., has not been wholly useless ; it has 
 served us as a helpful base for further work. When it was made we were on 
 the right track, though the Editor had not yet found the clue which has guided us 
 in the setting forth of this the third and final text. It may remain for the present 
 to show the reader the path by which we have arrived at the conclusions here set 
 before him. The greater part of the original as it stands in R is given in vol. i, 
 pp. 377-379. The second text is a stepping-stone, as it were, without which the 
 transition to our final text would perhaps be too startling for the reader to easily 
 accept. 
 
 As to the plan of the poem as now presented, it may be considered a kind of 
 trilogy, the utterances of Three Sibyls, a ' Walna-spa ' rather than Wolospa, 
 
 The First Sibyl, an aged giantess, is repeating the past history of the world to the 
 gods and men who are gathered about her seat ; she tells of the creation of the world 
 (the first step in that passage from Chaos to Cosmos, which is the central idea of 
 the poem), of the golden age, of the beginning of evil (a fragmentary and tantalising 
 passage), of the first crime — brother slaying brother, the first murder — that of the 
 hostage, the rape of the matron, the creation of man, the world-tree, the Holy Norns, 
 the punishment of the criminal Titan. 
 
 The Second Sibyl, a darker figure, a witch ' sitting out ' at her enchantments, 
 is questioned by the unquiet Woden, who, like Saul, feels a presentiment of misfortune, 
 and tells a sadder tale of the judgment to come ; — the gathering of the fiends at the 
 Crack of Doom, the muster of the gods at the blast of the warder's horn, the 
 
 T t 2
 
 644 THE PROPHECY OF THE THREE SIBYLS. 
 
 terrible and deadly conflict, and the whelming of the world. But her story is not 
 entirely of horror — retribution will indeed fall upon the wicked, but the righteous 
 must also meet with their reward, and the three heavens of Warmth and Light and 
 Cheer are set over against the hells of the snake-wattled hall, the river of swords, 
 the pit where the dragon tears the corpses of the nidderings. 
 
 The Third Sibyl, no doubt a purer and more celestial being than her two elder 
 sisters, has but a brief message to men, but it is one of hope. The world shall be 
 reborn, a new heaven and a new earth, the golden age shall come once more, never 
 to pass away. 
 
 The Shorter Wolospa. — Something has already been said in the Introductions 
 to Hyndla's Lay and Wolospa respecting this poem. Its name has never wholly 
 perished, though it had, as a separate creation, been entombed beneath the broken 
 fragments of the two poems, from which we have at last extricated it. Its double 
 character has led to its being saved and hidden away, its necromantic framework 
 running parallel to Wolospa, Part II, while its genealogic contents led to its confu- 
 sion with Hyndla's Lay. Yet it has a distinct individuality of its own, as can be 
 perceived, now that it is possible to read it, though but a fragment, side by side with 
 its sister poem. 
 
 The framework is unmistakeably a scene like that of the beginning of Menglad's 
 Lay, where the wise woman is awakened from the dead and adjured to unveil her 
 mysterious knowledge ; or like the opening of Balder's Doom, where Woden 
 awakens the dead witch. Of the contents, by far the greatest part has perished, 
 and we cannot always fill the blanks. It was whole when in the hands of the Edda 
 Paraphrast, hence it is easy to complete such pieces as those which detail the growth 
 of the dwarves like maggots in the world-giant's flesh, or to guess that the story of 
 the wonderful cow Audhumbla, a most Indian-looking figure, must have been drawn 
 from lost verses. There are two or three morsels, such as that about the cocks 
 of the four worlds, which may have belonged to any poet, and cannot be with 
 certainty fitted in here ; but such pieces as those which tell of the brood of Hell, or 
 hint at the coming of Christ, we believe to be quite safely placed. The poet is 
 distinctly a heathen, living in the last days of the old faith, but he is earlier in 
 time and style than the composer of the Long Wolospa. 
 
 The text emendations rest chiefly upon the paraphrase, which must be carefully 
 watched, both when it touches upon an existing verse and when it is narrating inci- 
 dents taken from lost lines. 
 
 Tke Paraphrase Extracts. — The nature of this paraphrase must be carefully 
 borne in mind before it can be safely and rightly used. It is not a mere prose 
 version of the Long Wolospa, but rather a Diatessaron or Harmony of four or five 
 poems, and therefore in its nature incomplete ; for the paraphrast has, though basing 
 his work most largely on the two Sibyl Songs plus Wafthrudni's and Grimni's Lays, 
 not scrupled to omit or rearrange where it suited his purpose, though he has not 
 falsified or defaced his authority. We have therefore in the text above taken care 
 to mark by letters the pieces of different poems paraphrased therein, a marking the 
 Long, b the Short Wolospa, c other poems, especially Wafthrudni's and Grimni's 
 Lays : when the letter is bracketed, the citation is, we take it, from a part of our 
 poems now lost. 
 
 The existence of this paraphrase raises many interesting questions. Was text a, 
 Ari's text as we might call it, written or oral ? We need only one copy to supply 
 both Ynglinga, ch. 4, and Gylfa-ginning.
 
 NOTES ON WOLOSPA. 645 
 
 There are several indications that this a came from the West; it contains Gaelic 
 words, rightly explained in the prose, which would hardly have been understood by 
 an Icelander [e. g. gifr, Gael, geimhlich, Welsh gefyn\ hence the Icelandic scribe, 
 whoever he was, must have had some assistance from one who did understand 
 those words ; that is, a Western man. 
 
 The figures in brackets mark the lines of the old text, vol. i, p. 163. 
 
 WOLOSPA — 
 
 11. 1-4. By ' Heimdall's children high and low' is meant the Human race. Human 
 kind, Humanity, Earl and Ceorl and Thrall, figured as one great household. The 
 ' Holy Kin ' we hold to mean not so much the celestial gods as the departed Anses, 
 ancestral spirits, dwelling in hills and howes, but invisibly present at the family 
 gathering and sacrifices. 
 
 I. 3. ' viklu at ek Valfo6rs vel ' does not construe, is harsh, lacks the flow and 
 grace so characteristic of the Song. It is of a surety corrupt ; we expect an object 
 to tell, a parallel to forn-spioll, the subject-matter of the Sibyl's tale, the World's 
 Genesis and History. We have now, just in the last moment (too late for p. 621 of 
 a preceding sheet), lighted on the word, viz. aldar-far ; (valfo3rs and aldar-far have 
 several letters in common, a distant similarity in sound; the error is here we think 
 of the ear.) 'aldar-far' occurs (i) in Edda Gg. at the end (see p. 641, bottom), 
 drawn throughout from this lay ; nobody, he says, was ever heard to reckon the 
 
 , aldar-far beyond this. (2) In the Preface to Book of Settlement, where Ari 
 renders Bede's States Mundi by Aldafars-bok. (3) Merl, i, 216, echoed here 
 too, we hold, from Vsp. We therefore now read and restore — 
 
 Viljak aldar-far allt fram telja, 
 
 forn-spioll fira, etc. 
 / will recount the whole World-History, the old stories of men, as far bach as I 
 remember. 
 
 At great gatherings and feasts in the late autumn, an itinerant sibyl, seated on a 
 throne, the household standing listening all around, used to forecast the course of 
 the coming winter (ar-fer5, vetrar-far), the fortunes of those present, like gipsies in 
 our days. Even how the spirits, invisibly present, were allured by the chant of the 
 Wardlock Songs is told in the vivid picture, given in Eric the Red's Saga of such an 
 incident ; see Reader, pp. 1 26-128 and 378-380 *. In the Saga all is on the human 
 scale, and deals with the little concerns of life ; in the Poem all is superhuman. 
 Titanic ; the theme is the World's Genesis and Doom ; the listening household is 
 Human kind, the departed dead as well as the living, one undivided, all-embracing 
 household. 
 
 II. 5-8. ivi6ior (in R the abbreviation 00 has been dropped at the end ; the word 
 
 ^ The reader should peruse the classical scene in the Greenland Franklin's hall. 
 Those who do not understand Icelandic may be directed to the translation of Eric 
 the Red by Mr. Sephton of the Liverpool Institute. 
 
 As a last survival, I can well remember from my childhood (age eight to twelve) 
 an itinerant pedlar prophet who used to call in the autumn and forecast the coming 
 winter from inspecting the Milky Way (Winter-path). I can still see the fellow 
 gravely gazing up at the sky, ponderously shaking his head ; ' so and so looks the 
 sky, so will Thorri and Goi be.' The greater or lesser brightness of the Aurora 
 Borealis would in these high latitudes (65° 30') affect the aspect of the Milky Way ; 
 striated narrow spots meant a hard winter, and pinched, straitened supplies of hav. 
 It is but fair to add that the man was no quack, but honest enough in his belief. 
 Such was my first lesson in astronomy. — [Editor.]
 
 646 THE PROPHECY OF THE THREE SIBYLS. 
 
 is rare) occurs besides in Sh. Sibyl Lay, 1, 3 ; Heimdall's nine mothers would here be 
 meant. 
 
 I. 8. mioto&, a well-known word in A.S. poetry, but strange to the Icelandic 
 copyist, who fancied that it was connected with vi6r (wood). In heathen days 
 meoto5 would have been a law term, meaning a. judge, the tneeter out of justice; it 
 occurs again, 1. 140 ; we hold Titan Mimi to be meant, the stern Rhadamanthus of 
 the Sibyl's Hell. 
 
 From here we are assisted by the Edda Paraphrase. 
 
 II. 9-15. The sequence of lines restored. We have, 1. 9, chosen the reading 
 of Cod. W ; for the material, gross cosmogony from the Titan's flesh is alien to 
 the spiritual metaphysics of the Sibyl, The lines of Aristophanes, Birds 693, 694 \ 
 are of one stamp with the Sibyl's, both echoing still older songs or beliefs ; cp. also 
 Caedmon, Genesis, 11. 11 6-1 19. 
 
 I. 12. Ginnunga gap occurs only here; Haustlong 58 calls the ether ginnunga ve. 
 
 II. 13-15 [19-21] are here restored to their right place in the Chaos section; 
 some lines however seem lost. 
 
 11. 15-26. Cosmos rising out of Chaos; the earth (biod, a Gaelic word) lifted out 
 of the Tohu-bohu ; salar-steina must mean the salt rocks ; the earth, sparkling with 
 brine, floating up out of the deep, all mantled with green herbs. 
 
 11. 22-26 [17, 18, 24-26]. The Sun and Moon s course settled; the seasons: for 
 'varp' we read hvarf (archtype varf, v = hv), the technical word for the sun's 
 wheeling round the heaven, cp. VJ)m. 91 : 'hendi hcegri' we take to allude to the 
 sun's rightward course, and we propose to read bandar innar hoegri, the genitive 
 denoting direction (like Righ, 1,5, etc.); himin iodur is suspicious, for io6ur = ia8ar 
 is grammatically inadmissible ; neither will io-d3'r (horse-deer) nor io-dyrr (horse 
 doors) do : Sun-horses and Sun-wolves are alien to this Sibyl's cosmogony. In 
 11. 113, 114 the sun darkens, the phrase being identical with that of the Bible, Joelii. 
 10, Rev. ix. 2. If we strike out 'io' (presumably borrowed, by scribe or minstrel, 
 from the other lays), the line at once gains in ring and flow, and the sense becomes 
 clear. The sun wheels round rightward to the western door, there vanishing, to 
 reappear every morning at heaven's east gate. 
 
 I. 22. sinni, A.S. gesid : after i. 23 some lines seem to be missing, telling the 
 moon's leftward, wither-shin course : nott med ni5om, perhaps better than ok, cp. 
 VJ)m. 96. 
 
 II. 27-32 [43-48]. Creation of man. We follow the sequence in the Edda Para- 
 phrase, where, after Sun and Moon being fixed and seasons and years regulated, man 
 is created ; upon which follow in succession, the Golden Age, the Holy Tree, the 
 Norns, etc. In alandi (a landi of received text) we have long suspected hidden the 
 old adjective, alien, outcast — the exact Norse form is not known (eliandi, glandi ?) 
 — answering to Germ, elend, O. H. G. elilenfi, ellendi (see Grimm's Diet. iii. 410), 
 a word all but forgotten in Icelandic (Diet. 34 b). The substitution into a landi 
 necessitated Htt megandi for the more poetical and truer 6- megandi. By 65 we 
 understand speech, by lat and Iseti the sensual fleeting portion of the human soul, 
 whilst ond and 6d denote the higher, godly, undying factdties. 
 
 For Woden being akin to Lat. vates, and Hceni to the Eros-Bird of Creation, we 
 
 ' Wonderful how even the words coincide — r^ S' ouS' aijp ov5' ovpavos ^v = 
 Ior& fansk svz ne upp-himin ; and yet who would assert that the Sibyl's prophet 
 ever heard of Aristophanes' Birds ?
 
 NOTES ON WOLOSPA. 647 
 
 have spoken elsewhere (General Introd. pp. cii, civ) ', So, too, L63orr, occurring 
 only here and Hit. 34, must spring from some Eastern word unknown to us. 
 
 ^l- 33~40 [26-35]. ^^^ Golden Age. The sequence of the lines put right so 
 as to rejoin the words 'smiSoSo' and 'or golli,' vas {)eim v. vant being an aside: 
 Idavollr occurs again, 1. \gi (see Introd. p. cxxii, foot-note). 
 
 11. 39, 40. The Giant Maids, how the life of the Golden Age came to an un- 
 timely end. The paraphrase, in our present text, here leaves us in the dark, giving 
 just the two lines and no more : amatkar, eldritch, weird, uneartJdy. 
 
 Here follows the Creation of the Dwarves, which we have relegated to the Short 
 Sibyl Lay. 
 
 11. 43-52 [49-56]. The Holy Tree. We have followed W. in order not to lose 
 'heilagr ;* yet, as askr standandi reappears in 1. 136 (the high towering tree), the 
 best perhaps would be to read — 
 
 Ask veit ek standa — heitir Ygg-drasill — 
 har ba6mr heilagr, ausinn hvita-auri, 
 scanning ausinn slurred. 
 
 11. 49, 50. The Norns we now take to be an integral part of the lay, only that 
 ' skaro a ski6i ' is an aside, Norns represented writing on tablets the fate of mortal 
 men. 
 
 I. 52. The reading varies (segja or seggja ? segja too is ambiguous); we prefer 
 . taking it pres. plur. indie. = they speak the fate, cp. segja log and log-saga : the dat. 
 
 alda bornom is governed by kcero. 
 
 II. 53, 54 [41, 42] have been dislodged ; they have no concern with the creation 
 of man. Here the words, come to the house, exactly fall in with the Edda 
 Paraphrase speaking of a second race of Norns, who cojue to every house where a 
 child is to be born. The identity is clear ; the lines belong to the section on the 
 Norns. Now, too, we understand the phrase ' or J)vi li&i,' i. e.from that kin pro- 
 ceed other Norns, viz. the midwife Norns : mark, too, that the ' ^riar ' (feminine) 
 is a survival of the old undefiled text '', Further, in astkir we espy as-kungar, an 
 epithet given to the Norns, O. W. L. ill: some vowel-word is required; finding 
 none nearer, we have suggested i6&-disir (midwives). The whole is fragmentary ; 
 the following lines would have given the substance of the paraphrase, how, for good 
 and evil, the Norns shape the life of every mother's child. 
 
 ll- 55-63 [89-97] need not be an address to Woden ; rather not. The Sibyl 
 says, 'I know right well where Woden hid his eye:' J)u, {litt, is superabundant; 
 perhaps read — Allt ek veit hvar 03inn auga fal sitt, whilst the words ' why do ye ieek 
 me, why do ye tempt we?' are in keeping with the Sibyl seated on her high-seat, as 
 depicted in Red Eric's Saga, the household one by one coming up to enquire of her. 
 Woden is out of place. We have, in strict accordance with poetical requirement, 
 rearranged the lines by help of the paraphrase : 11. 60-63 speak of the Horn, while 
 the paraphrase tells us how Mim drinks wisdom from the Burn out of the Giall-Horn ; 
 the one suite of lines treats of Woden's eye, the other of the Horn and Mini's draught. 
 
 11. 64-73 [57, 58, 98-105]. Balder' s death, the Brother -murder. The first two 
 lines have been wrenched from the rest, and thrust in far away, so that no one has 
 ever suspected their right berth or bearing. The foining with spears unmistakeably 
 
 ' In foot-note, p. civ, ' hoeni is a cognate word ' has by inadvertence slipped in 
 from p. cii, note i. 
 
 ^ To alter it into t>rir is one instance more of cheap emendations, see Introd. 
 pp. 1, Ixxxix.
 
 648 THE PROPHECY OF THE THREE SIBYLS. 
 
 points to where they belong, viz. to Balder's clause; hence under ' gollveig ' (an else 
 unknown, impossible name) some title of Balder's should be hidden, a g-v/ovd it 
 must needs be ; the extracts in Edda Gg. preserve such a word, fitting in with the 
 alliteration and metre of the line, viz. grata-go3 (taken, we doubt not, by the Edda 
 Compiler from this very line when still in a pure state). Further, the theme being 
 6ro//ier-murder, folc-vig (pitched battle) is here wholly out of place; fraend-vig, 
 paricide, meets sense and alliteration (for an /-word it must be). Hence we learn 
 that in the Sibyl's Creed Balder's death, like Abel's, lies in the past, not, as in the 
 Doom and in the Edda legends, in the future just before the Final Catastrophe. 
 11. 66 sqq. tivor, an. Xif., A. S. tibr, still preserved in Germ, \ingt-ziefer. 
 
 I. 68. East of Walhall, says Edda ; vollom haeri is a banal phrase ; we read, fyrir 
 Valholl austan, the letters are partly the same (v . . . 2llom = ValhgU). Very young 
 is Edda's epithet to Mistletoe ; miok fagr (fair to behold) is inappropriate and com- 
 monplace ; it was a ti?iy, harmless-looking thing; so we restore and read miok ungr. 
 Hauks-bok omits lines 66-73. 
 
 II. 74-83 [62-69, 76, 77]. War with the Wanes, the first Felony. Here we 
 are helped by the story in Ynglinga Saga, once copied, as we now can see, from 
 the Sibyl Lay when whole. We have rearranged the lines, there being three stages 
 — (a) 11. 74-77, the battle; (6) !1. 80, 81, the peace after battle; (c) II. 82, 83, the 
 breach of the truce and slaying of the hostages : folk-vig (1. 74) cannot be the right 
 word, for, in ancient morals, simple killing was no murder. Here the theme is 
 the felonious slaying of the hostages, a foul murder indeed ; we suggest folg-vig, 
 meaning /o!//, secret murder ; a law-term which, though not occurring in the extant 
 law remains, must once have existed, for in Sighvat (x. 45) we read folgin orS = 
 words of treason, conspiracy, as it were, and so we recover an important law word. 
 Several lines seem to be missing. 
 
 1. 76. We read vig-ska, formed like her-skar (see Diet. 259 a). 
 
 I. 81. The suffixed article speaks to a false reading; now the Saga tells us how 
 the giving hostages (gisling) and the league (gildi) were the two cardinal points — 
 Log6o J)elr milli sin saettar-stefno ( = gildi) ok goer6o fri5, ok seldosk gislar; upon 
 which base we have restored the text : it cannot be mere accident that both gislar 
 and gildi fit in with the alliteration. 
 
 II. 86-89 [72-75] fragmentary: 1. 88 we take to mean that Thor was absent, 
 was not there ; cp. the Hrungni story in Edda : for 'slikt ' we read svik ; the same 
 error we meet in O. W. PI. 191 and W. W. L. 47. 
 
 11. 90-93 [106-109]. The Titan Wloii (Loki) chained. 
 
 1. 90. luud (grove) is a most inappropriate place to keep the Volcano-Fire-Titan 
 in; we read Hvera-brunni, the Cauldron P/V= Hver-gelmir or Tartarus, where 
 Wloki is chained. 
 
 1. 91 is all awry, ' Isegiarnliki ' being a hybrid impossible vocable. We are in Edda 
 (see pp. 636, 637) told how the Titan was chained with his son Wall's or Nari's 
 guts ; now in ' giarn ' we detect ' gornom,' in ' la ' the son's name (Vala, Vila) ; 
 Wall, Woden's and Wrind's son, is well known in the old eschatological legends, and 
 it is not likely that two should be of the same name. We suggest that Loki's son 
 was named Vili — vil (root vili) means entrails (see Diet. 705 b). The alliteration 
 further speaks to Wloki ; the line may be echoing a still older song, where wl was 
 still sounded, and where vilja was merely an appellative (cp. Diet. 776b): in 'aj)ekkjan,' 
 some verb, meaning chained (hlekktan, if it might be), seems to be hidden, A line' 
 or more is missing, telling of the dripping venom, of Sigyn's bowl, and the Titan's 
 writhing spasms ; for there can be no doubt but that the whole scene was briefly
 
 NOTES ON WOLOSPA. 649 
 
 set forth in the Sibyl's song. Cp. j^schylus' mighty lines in Prometheus Bound, 
 where he describes the Titan ' withering in destin'd pain : ' — 
 Kal vvv dxpeiov Kal napaopov Se/xas 
 KtiTai arivanrov iiKrjaiov OaXaaaiov 
 InovfXfvos pi^aiaiv AtTvaiais vno' 
 Kopvcpais S' €V aKpais rjpevos /^vSpoKrvTrei 
 "H(pataT09, 'ivdiv eKpayijaovTai wore 
 rrorafiol nvpos Sdnrovres dypiais yvdOois 
 T^y HaWiKapnov ^uceKias Xevpovi yvas' 
 ToiovSe Tv4)UJS e^ava^lcrfi ■)(oXov 
 OfppLoTs dirXdrov 0i\ecn irvpin/uov CciXrjs, 
 Kanrep Kepavvqi Zt]v6s TivOpaKw/xevos. 
 Mark the identity even in phrase between the Greek and the Northern poems — 
 KOI VVV dxpfiov nal irapdopov depias Kurai . . . irrovfievos pi^aiaiv Alrvaiais vno and 
 Hapt se-ek liggja und Hvera-brunni. The venomous snake and the Titan's wife 
 holding the bow/ are accretions absent in the Greek. But we see the full scene 
 represented on the Gosforth Cross, Cumberland*. 
 
 Note that Hauks-bok omits 11. 90, 91, substituting two lines manufactured from 
 the Edda Prose — J)ar kna Vala vig-bond snua | heldr voru har5-gor hopt or ^ormom, 
 J)ar sitr, etc. — tasteless hackney versification, devoid of the harmony of true 
 Wolospa lines. 
 
 The Second Sibyl — 
 
 11. 64-105 [78-Si, 59-61, 82-84]. Introductory. Heith, a favourite Sibyl name, 
 see Landn. Bk. iii, ch. 2, flei5r volva spa3i {)eim ollom at byggja a J)vi landi es J)a 
 vas ofundit vestr i haf, Vatzd. ch. 10 calls her Finna and Volva. 
 1. 95. We read, v^l-spa — 
 
 And be these juggling fiends no more believM. 
 That palter with us in a double sense ; 
 That keep the word of promise to our ear, 
 And break it to our hope. — Macbeth, v. 7, 
 
 I. 96. leikin, witches (?), cp. Thulor 108, an else unknown word. 
 
 II. 98-100 [59-61]. In R and H tacked to the Balder lines, but can refer to but 
 one thing, viz. the Sibyl herself: ' holl hars ' is suspicious; the evil Sibyl was thrice 
 born; see for a parallel the Long Br. Lay 185-187. 
 
 11. 101-103. Obscure; we suggest hauga or hanga — Enn stundum vak6i hann 
 (Woden) upp dau3a menn or i6r5o, ok settisk undir hanga . . . 06inn vissi um allt 
 iar6-fe ( = fe-spioll) hvar folgit vas, ok hann kunni fiau 1166, es upp lauksk fyr 
 honom iorSin ok bicirg ok steinar, ok haugarnir, ok batt hann me3 orSom einom 
 ba-es fyrir bioggo, ok gekk inn ok tok {aar slikt es hann vildi [Yngl. S. ch. 9] — 
 words, as we consider, copied from the Sibyl Song when it was still complete ; we 
 suspect 'vak6i' under ' val6i,' and 'hanga' under 'hringa.' The text, as it now 
 stands, is ruined beyond recovery. 
 
 11. 104, 105. The plot of this section is the 'uti-seta,' a sitting out at cross- 
 roads; see Orkney Saga, ch. 70 — Enn Sveinn bri6st-reip [a wizard] gekk lit, ok sat 
 
 '■ This most curious piece of Old English art has lately been unearthed, copied, 
 and published by that enthusiastic indefatigable archaeologist. Professor Stephens 
 of Copenhagen. In drawing inferences, however, from this interesting find, we 
 must never forget that both Cross and Poem are from a part of Britain which lies 
 on the border-line of Irish, Northern, and English culture.
 
 650 THE PROPHECY OF THE THREE SIBYLS. 
 
 liti um nottina eptir venjo sinni (Rolls Ed.) : 11. 104-107 omitted in Hauks-bok : 
 Yggiongr occurs only here. 
 
 il. 106 sqq. The Sibyl speahs and forecasts the impending doom. 
 
 11. 108 sqq. ' But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified . . . 
 nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and great earth- 
 quakes shall be in divers places, and famine and pestilence, and great sights and 
 great signs shall there be from heaven.' — Luke xxi. 9-1 1, Matt. xiv. 7. 
 
 11. 113, 114 [175. 176]. Christian influence is here manifest; cp. 'I will cover 
 the heaven, and make the stars thereof dark ; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and 
 the moon shall not give her light.' — Ezek. xxxii. 7, 8. And, 'The sun shall be 
 turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of 
 the Lord come.' — Joel ii. 32. ' The earth shall quake before them ; the heavens 
 shall tremble ; the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw 
 their shining.' — Joel ii. 10, Is. xiii. 9, 10, xxxiv. 4. 
 
 11. 115 sqq. Text in a parlous state, wide gaps, shattered shivers flung pell-mell 
 up and down. We have, by help of the Edda paraphrases, attempted a partial 
 restoration. The sequence of the events in the paraphrase is — 
 
 (a) The prognostics of the impending Doom, Crimes, Wars ; all nature quivers 
 with terror; the Fiends are unbound [11. 108-119]. 
 
 (6) The Fiends march up from South, East, West, (North.) Here are to be 
 paired off — the Fire Demon Swart and the sons of IVIuspilli from the South, by air ; 
 Giant Hrym and the Hrim-giants (Titans) from the East, driving by land ; Loki and 
 the Fiends of Hell from the west, by sea in the ship Nailfare ; from the North (?). 
 Besides, the Serpent and the Wolf [11. 122-130, fragment]. 
 
 (c) The Anses (Gods) prepare for defence ; they hold counsel under the Tree ; 
 Woden at the Burn inquires of Mim ; Heimdall blows his horn for battle ; the Anses 
 march up; the battle-array [11. 133-144, ruinous text]. 
 
 {d) The Battle ; the Anses are vanquished, and fall one by one, but are avenged 
 by the slaughter of the Fiends; the Fire-demon Swart survives [11. 145-155]. 
 
 (e) World consumed by fire [11. 156, 157]. 
 
 (/) Three places of Bliss [11. 158-165], and another three of Torment [11. 166- 
 180]. 
 
 Even half-lines are wrongly pieced together ; we can only touch on a few 
 instances — 
 
 1. 115 [i49]=J)a ver5r Fenris-ulfr lauss: in 'hlakkar' we surmise 'hlekki.'he 
 breaks his chains : ' unnir ' and ' ari ' are senseless. 
 
 1. 118 [157]. The paraphrase says — ' biorgin hrynja, eaa jfiotrar allir ok bond 
 brotna ok slitna ;' here is the key to the ' gifr rata,' if we take gifr to be Engl. 
 gyves, Welsh gyvin ; in 'rata' we descry 'racna' (rata = raca), to be unloosened, see 
 Diet. 481 b. 
 
 What is hidden under ' hefiz lind fyrir' [1. 147 old text] we cannot guess, perhaps 
 = J>a snysk lormungandr i iotun-m65i, ok scekir upp a landit ; if so, it should follow 
 after 1. 115. 
 
 I. 119. Enn himin kIofnar = i J)essum gny klofnar himininn, just preceding Swart 
 and Muspelli's sons (?) marching up through the rent in the sky. 
 
 II. 1 1 2-1 24 = Ok ri6a {)a3an Muspellz-synir, Surtr ri3r fyrstr, etc. : in R the sons 
 of Muspelli have been put in a wrong berth, and are made to come by sea, Loki the 
 steersman ! palpably false, 
 
 1. 125. vestan; ' austan ' is twice repeated; in one of the instances we have to 
 substitute ' vestan ; ' the sea lies towards the North-west, whence comes Nailfare.
 
 NOTES ON WOLOSPA. 651 
 
 1. 128, We guess broSor-maer, i.e. Hell, for Loki is mentioned two lines above. 
 
 I. i29 = Enn Loka fylgja allir Heljar-sinnar : Fifl-megir seems to denote the mon- 
 slers of the deep, cp. fifel-cyn, Beow. 104, see also 420 ; fifel-stream = <^e ocean, 
 
 1, 130. Here even the paraphrase is in error, ' Hrymr heitir lotunn es styrir Nagl- 
 fara.' In truth the Titans come driving (ekr) from the east; thus Thor always 
 drives to Giant-land, cp. Haust. 55 : or loton-heimom we have added by guess. 
 
 1. 131. Hrim-J)ursar = Hrymr, ok me& honom allir Hrim-{)ursar. For Hrym the 
 Titan cp. Gr. Kpovos. Hrim-f)ursar, intentionally spelt so, not Hrim-, for it has 
 probably nothing in the world to do with Icel. hrim {rime frost) ; the Hrim-ogres 
 are the Titans of northern mythology : ' hrim ' here again was possibly akin to 
 Gr. Kpovos. 
 
 1. 133. The query Hvat es me3 A. . . ,, echoed from f)kv. 22, does not fit in 
 here ; we read Hart es . , ., cp. |jkv. 25. 
 
 1. 138. Enn iotunn losnar, R. ; but in the paraphrase we read — skelfr iorS oil, ok 
 biorg ok vidir losna or iordo upp. The Gods hold a meeting underneath the Tree, 
 cp. Grimn. 95, 96, and Vsp. 193. 
 
 1. 141. 'kyndiz' is senseless; we surmise 'brynnisk,' reflexive from brynna, see 
 Diet. s. v., to drink out of the hum; if this is right, Miotu& and Mim are identical. 
 All the next following lines, esp. 147-155, are more or less wrenched — in none is 
 left the sweet easy flow of a true Wolospa line. The passage looks like shivered 
 bits of some old glass window — -alas, as Goethe says, Es giebt scherben. 
 
 1. 156. aldr-nari, an else unknown word; in Thulor 532 interpretedji?re (copying 
 from Vsp. ?) ; etymology not found : is it possible that we have here the last survival 
 oi Neron the Antichrist? M. Renan traces the word in the West-European churches 
 down to Charlemagne. The poet of Vsp., if he used it, must have learnt it from 
 Irish church tradition. 
 
 1. 158, Read, solo nxrri (?), cp. solo fiarri, 166. 
 
 1. 159. Gimle, occurs only here {gim is probably a Lat. loan-word); unless a 
 word be dropped, le must be sounded bisyllabic, for a two-docked measure in 
 the latter half-line is unwarranted : Gimle is the heavenly meadow whereon the 
 house stands, not the hall itself, unless we read, 'es a Gimle heitir;' yet 'a Gimle' 
 is parallel to 'Nastrondo a.' For the nine heavens, see Thulor 487 sqq. 
 
 I. 163 =Sa heitir Sindri. 
 
 II. 164, 165 refer to all three places — I J)essom solom skolo vera g66ir menn ok 
 sidlatir. 
 
 11. 166-169. T'^^ fi''5t place of torment; 170-174 the second; 175-180 the 
 third : the paraphrase to the last is missing in our Edda texts — Enn 1 Hvergelmi er 
 verst {the rest missing). 
 
 11. 171 sqq. In which places of torment are felons, guilty of bootless crimes, not to 
 be atoned for ; mansworn (mein-svarar), inurderers (morS-vargar), adulterers (173) ; 
 in ' framgengna ' we espy ' for-dse6a,' i.e. wizards; in ' vargr vera,' ' vara-vargr,' 
 truce-breaker, see O. W. PI. 259; in 'ni3-hceggr' (repeated in R), ' nibing^,' .nidder- 
 ings, see Bk. vi, Ditty 59 ; we know not the exact law-bearing of this word, though 
 it is a word of especial infamy '. We thus recover six specified crimes, all infamous 
 and ' fee-less ' in the ancient heathen Canon of Morals. Yet, the text being defective, 
 we scarcely have the full list, and so miss go3-vargr, the blasphemer, see vol. ii, p. 80, 
 
 ' We here add the verse-line, inadvertently omitted vol. ii, p. 280 — 
 Soekjask ser um glikir, saman skri&a niftingar. 
 
 Hakon S„ p. 123 (Rolls Ed.)
 
 652 NOTES ON SHORT SIBYL LAY. 
 
 1. 25, and the argr, arga, the craven, corpore in/amis. Filthiness or cowardice, not 
 violence, is the essential aggravation in each of these crimes. Cp. O. W, PI. vv. 4, 71. 
 
 11. 177-180. ' NiSafiolIom ' is a foolish repetition from 162, where it is a place 
 of bliss : berr ser i fioSrom cannot be right ; the damned souls are gorged by the 
 dragon, Kveljask andir i orms gini, Bk. vi, Ditty 13 b, probably echoed from 
 Wolospa when in a pure state. 
 
 Tke Third Sibyl— 
 
 The introduction is here missing, though the rest is in a much better condition 
 than the preceding. Christian influence from the old Irish Church is here manifest. 
 
 11. 1S1-185. Cp. Is. xi. 6 .'qq., Rev. xxi. I — 'And I saw a new heaven and a new 
 earth:' i6ja- is only met with here. 
 
 1. 186. Bols man allz batna, cp, ' He will swallow up death in victory, and the 
 Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces,' Is. xxv. 8, Rev. xxi. 4. 
 
 1. 187. Better Hroptz (o) ; what is the etymology of this word? akin to Lat. 
 cdsmen, qs. Hormtr, then through metathesis Hromtr, Hroptr? at any rate, Hroptr, 
 Hropta-tyr denote Woden as iht father 0/ srMg. 
 
 1. 189. Sacrificial rites resumed, see vol. ii,.p. 480. 
 
 1. 193. Meetings in judgment beneath the World Tree are resumed. Here the 
 psraphrase for once is in error — ok rce3a ... of Mi3gar3z-orm : we read und mold- 
 J)inor (dat.) : the World Tree is undoubtedly meant, under which the gods in times 
 of yore assembled. 
 
 1. 195. Added by Hauks-bok, but seems to be genuine. 
 
 I. 196. Hauks-bok reads — ^a, mono ^sir . . . finna, perhaps better. The end of 
 the Lay is missing. 
 
 The Short Sibyl Song. 
 
 A poem recovered from remnants — lines 1-4, 26-46, 55-64 being embedded in 
 Hyndla's Lay (vol. i, pp. 226-234), and lines 5-25, 47-54 in Volospa (vol. i, p. 193 
 sqq.) ; cp. p. 518. 
 
 The Title has been preserved in Edda Gg., Sem segir i Volospa inni skommo — 
 Ero volor allar, etc. 
 
 II. 1-4. Introductory, necromantic, the Witch Sibyl ghost raised (by Woden). 
 Between 11. 4 and 5 there would be many missing links ; the tale of the Cow 
 
 Au9-humbla we believe was once drawn from this poem — strange prse-Arian myths! 
 May not Au5-humb!a preserve some Pictish vocable? cp. Au3r (a bull), Thulor452. 
 Farther, we are told how that the Cow licked the salt stones, whence on the first 
 and second day appeared, first the hair, then the head, and on the third day the 
 whole man, ' and they called him Buri, whose son was Bor, whose son was Woden ' 
 (pp. 631-632) ; the Basque for head is biiru — a strange coincidence; we take the 
 word to have come to the poet from some Pictish source in the north of Scotland. 
 
 I. 6 = Dvergar hofSo kviknat i iorSunni sva sem ' maScar i holdi,' under the 
 corrupt ' morgum ' we espy ' mo6com,' for the poet would not have omitted a fact 
 so characteristic, and if he did, whence did the Edda paraphrast get it? 
 
 II. 12-17. Genealogical, maybe part of some memorial poem; as also the coc^s 
 of the various dwellings, filed in 11. 18-25. 
 
 11. 26-33 record the origin of Loki as the Sire of the Hell-brood: 11. 28-33 refer 
 to lost myths of the birth of Ogress Hell ; the roasted heart is elsewhere wholly 
 unknown : the text of 11. 30, 31 corrupt ; Loki is here represented as ' argr,' 
 ' blaudr.'
 
 NOTES ON HYNDLA'S LAY. 653 
 
 11. 34-38. Generations of Wizards and Ogres ; sei5-berendr, an. \(y., and unsafe, 
 for one says, efla, magna seiS, never bera sei6; must we read, seiS-menn bornir fra 
 S. ? Svart-hof&i strikes one occurring here in mythical garb ; it is a pure and simple 
 translation of Gaelic Duhh-ceann *. 
 
 11. 39-42. Memorial verses; one line has slipped out before 39 — 
 Var Baldrs fa6ir Bors arf-J)egi. 
 Balder' s father (i. e, Woden) was the son of Bor; see the note above. 
 
 11. 43-46 we have changed into future, mun, hnigr, laezk, slaer ; for only so can 
 the lines have stood in the Sibyl Song, yet the preterite would well suit some 
 memorial-didactic poem ; the passage affords a parallel to Doom 41-45. 
 
 11. 47-54. The paraphrase (p. 633) styles the ogress ' gygr,' Scot, gyre — Gygr 
 ein byr fyrir austan Mi3gar6, etc. Perhaps read — 
 
 Austr byr in aldna gygr : i larnvifti, 
 
 1. 49 = Af aettinni ver3r sa einn mattkastr er kallaSr er Mana-garmr ; a line must 
 be missing containing Managarm's name, not found elsewhere. 
 
 1. S3 = l'^''' ^^'^'^ f^''* I"'"' saman ok ekki sumar i miOom. 
 
 I. 54. Read valynd (so R, H, W.) 
 
 ''• 53) 64 = t)a6an af tynir so! skini sino, ok vindar ero J)a okyrrir ok gnyja he3an 
 ok handan. 
 
 II. 55-57 = {'^ drifr snxr or ollom aettom, frost eru J)a mikil ok vindar har&ir ; 
 . ekki nytr solar. 
 
 11. 58-60, haf and hau3r, alliterative ; hyr, Cd. 
 
 I. 60. Guess; ra5 ok regin, cp. Hakm. 57; a word seems missing before J)ri6ta. 
 
 II. 61-63. Clearly an allusion to Christ. Thus in this fragment of song, Pictish, 
 Norse, and Christian ideas are intermingled ; — a weird amalgam of beliefs. 
 
 Hyndlas Lay. 
 
 [Vol. i, pp. 225-234. The present notes are written to the reconstructed text, 
 vol. ii, pp. 515-517, see Excursus IV to vol. ii.] 
 
 11. 1-36. Proem, Introductory^. 
 
 1. I. Mark the emphasising genitive, mxr meyja, rcekr rokra. 
 
 1. 2. Hyndla, the little dog; or are we to read Hynla, qs. Hunila? 
 
 1. 4. vess heilags we render holy place, asylum, sanctuary, epithet to Walhall 
 (echoed from Rev. xxi. 2 ?). 
 
 I. 5. hugom sitja does not construe ; horgom (?). 
 
 II. 6-12. verftugum (a quite modern word), svinnom, morgom, by an easy emenda- 
 tion, verSungo, sinnom, mogom : mann-semi, an else unknown word, from man 
 (bondwoman), not mann. 
 
 I. 13. Coaxing the giantess; we read mun-ek ; she offers a safe-conduct, as it 
 were, to Hyndla. 
 
 II. 15-19. The wolf is the ogress' steed, the boar Freyja's. 
 
 ^ In the Book of Settlement (as we have lately become aware) Irish Gaelic 
 influence is not confined to the actual Gaelic names (see Diet, last page), but 
 beside these we find a whole regiment of names which are Norse in form, but really 
 translations from Gaelic into Icelandic ; one of these is Svart-hof6i : further, Hundi 
 and several others. 
 
 ^ The reader must please mark the number of lines 10, 20, 30, etc., omitted in 
 the reconstructed text.
 
 654 NOTES ON HYNDLA'S LAY. 
 
 I. 20. sitja vi3 skolom should be obelised; read, — 
 
 Sennom vit or so81om, sattar vi& skolom 
 
 of . . , iofra settir dcema. 
 Let us have a snug, peaceable chat about the ancient race of kings. Helgi i, 140- 
 143 (in foot-note to vol. i, p. 136) presents a parallel. 
 
 II. 37 sqq. The central genealogical part of the poem. 
 
 ^'' 37> 38 w^ have tried to restore by help of Husd. 21, 22 : in miok we suggest 
 mog : under ' rogna kindar,' ragna reinar ; Husd. styles Heimdall, ragna-rein-vari. 
 
 1. 39. nadd-gofgan ; from the star-studded vault of heaven ? we find the epithet 
 in Swipd. M. 54. 
 
 1. 48. sif siijadan siotom gaervoUom, an apt epithet of Heimdall the Sire of the 
 human race. 
 
 I. 52. fiau es frama gcer5o = hann var henna5r mikill. 
 
 I. 54. Under 'ceztan manna' we detect Austmanna=hann herja5i vi5a um Austr- 
 veg, ok drap J)ar Jjann konung er S. het j the better form is Alvig, Alveig (Edda) — 
 J)a fekk hann Jjcirrar kono es kollo5 es Alveig in spaka, dottir Emundar konungs or 
 HolmgarSi ens rika (Edda). 
 
 II. 82-89. Arngrim's sons; under 'ani omi' we espy Arng'mi, i. e. Arngrimi, see 
 Introd. p. Ixxxix : i Bolmi austr, to be distinguished from Isle of Bolm, in Western 
 Norway. 
 
 11. 90, 91. fa5ir Fr65a, f63or Kiars, foSor Olrunar. 
 
 1. 99. diiipuSga, diup-hug5a, p. 522 ; cp. Hyg5 the Queen in Beowulf. 
 
 I. III. Hildigunn, of Waldere's Lay? 
 
 II. 113, ii4 = Haki var fa3ir Hro3geirs, fo6or HroSmars, fo5or Haka berserks. 
 1. 117, Sxfari, cp. Saefred of Beowulf. 
 
 I. 123. Ketill, Klypp, Olmod, family names in the Hor3-akara family. 
 
 II. 134 sqq. The end of the poem. All the lines depicting the Sibyl as angry belong 
 to the last stage ; but her anger comes too late, she has been beguiled of all her 
 wisdom. 
 
 1. 136. val-svini, so we have mended the hopeless, impossible ' valsini.' 
 1. 147. minnis-ol, else minnis-veig.
 
 YNGLINGATAL RESTORED. 
 
 655 
 
 YNGLINGATAL RESTORED, see Notes, vol. i, p. 514. 
 
 (The proem is lost. 
 
 Maimed stanzas are marked ^, ^, ^, as they have lost one, two, 
 or three line-pairs.) 
 
 I. Yngwi-Frey strophe lost. 
 II. ^VarS fram-gengt J)ar as Fr65i bi6 
 
 feig6ar-or6 es at Figini kom : 
 ok sikling svigSiss geira 
 
 vagr vindlauss urn vi5a skyldi. 
 
 III. ^Enn dag-skiarr durniss ni6ja 
 
 sal-vgrSoSr Sveg&i velti : 
 J)a-es i stein inn enn st6r-ge6i 
 
 dulsa konr ept dvergi hliop : 
 ok salr brattr J)eirra Sgkk-mimiss 
 
 igtun-byg5r vi3 igfri gein. 10 
 
 IV. *Enn a vit Vilja broSor 
 
 vitta-vsettr Vanlanda kom : 
 J)a-es troU-kynd um tro3a skyldi 
 
 1 . . . Hul6 liona baga: 
 ok sa brann a beSi Skiito 
 
 men-glgto3r es Mara kvaldi. 
 V. ^Ok Visburs vilja byrgi 
 
 ssevar ni3r svelgja knatti : 
 J)a-es mein-J)i6f markar gtto 
 
 Gisl ok Ondorr a sinn goSan 
 fg6or : 20 
 
 ok allvalld 1 arin-kioli 
 
 gl66a garmr glymjandi beit. 
 
 VI. ^Hitt vas stor firn es stalla ru3o 
 
 sver8-berendr soeni drottins: 
 ok land-herr a lifs vgnom 
 
 dreyrog vapn Domalda bar : 
 J)a-es ar-gigrn Iota dolgi 
 
 Svia kind um soa skyldi. 
 
 VII. ^Ok ek J)ess opt um Yngva hrcer 
 
 fr68a menn fregit haOak : 30 
 hvar Domarr a dynjanda 
 
 bana Halfs um borinn vaeri : 
 nu ek vist veitk at verk-bitinn 
 
 Figlniss ni3r vi6 Fyri brann. 
 'III. ^KveSkat-ekduInemaDyggvahroer 
 
 glitniss gna at gamni hefir : 
 J)viat ioO-dis Ulfs ok Nara 
 
 konung-mann kiosa skyldi : 
 ok allvald Yngva {)i63ar 
 
 Loka maer at leikom hefir. 40 
 IX. *Fra-ek at Dag dau3a-yr&r 
 
 fra:g6ar fiisom fara skyldi : 
 
 J)a-es val-teins til Vgrva kom 
 spak-frgmo3r spgrs at hefna : 
 
 ok |)at or6 a Austr-vega 
 ' visa fer3 fra ' vigi bar : 
 
 at J)ann gram um geta skyldi 
 sloengvi-^ref Sleipniss ver6ar. 
 
 X. ^f>at tel-ek undr es Agna hroer 
 
 Skialfar-vers at skgpom forot : 
 J)a-es gde6ing me3 goU-meni 51 
 
 Loga dis at lopti hof : 
 hinn-es vi6 Taur austr temja skyldi 
 
 svalan best Signyjar vers. 
 
 XI. ^Fell Eirekr J)ars Alreki 
 
 broSor vapn at bana ur9o: 
 ok hnakk-mars nieS hgfoS-fetlom 
 
 Dags fraendr um drepask kv69o : 
 fra-at ma9r a6r eykja gcervi 
 
 Freyss af-spring i folk hafa. 60 
 
 XII. ^Ok var8 . . . es Alfr um va 
 
 vgrftr ve-tiallz um veginn liggja: 
 |)a-es dgglingr droergan maki 
 
 gfund-giarn a Yngva rau9 : 
 vasa J)at baert verk at Bera skyldi 
 
 ve-scefendr vigs um hvetja ; 
 Jja-es broe5r tveir at bgnom ur9osk 
 
 6J)urfendr um af bry6i. 
 
 XIII. ^Var9 lyrundr inn Igrmun-froSi 
 
 lifs um lattr i Lima-firdi : 70 
 J)a-es ha-briostr hgrva Sleipnir 
 
 bana Go91augs um bera skyldi : 
 ok Hagbar9z hersa valdi 
 
 h29no leif at halsi gekk. 
 
 XIV. Knatti endr at Uppsglom 
 
 Ana sott Aun um standa : 
 ok fira-lifr ^iggja skyldi 
 
 i69s a9al 29ro sinni : 
 ok svei9o9s at ser hverf9i 
 
 maekiss hlut inn miavara : 80 
 ok ok-hreins attunga ri69r 
 
 l2g9iss odd sem lu-barn drakk : 
 mattit harr hiar9ar maeki 
 
 Austr-konungr upp um halda. 
 XV. ' Ok lof-saell or landi flo 
 
 Tyss attungr Tunna riki:
 
 656 
 
 YNGLINGATAL RESTORED. 
 
 ok floeming farra triono 
 igtuiis eykr a Agli rau6 : 
 
 sa-es um Austmgrk a6an hafSi 
 briina h2rg uni borinn lengi : 90 
 
 ok skI61auss Skilfinga ni3 
 hoefiss higirr ti! hiarta st6&. 
 
 XVI. ^Fell Ottarr und ara greipar 
 
 ' duganligr ' fyr Dana vapnom : 
 Jjann her-gammr hraegom foeti 
 
 viti borinn a Vendli sparn : 
 {)au fra-ek verk Vgttz ok Fasta 
 
 Soenskri JjioS at sygom ver5a, 
 J)a-es Eylandz iarlar Fr69a 
 
 Vandil-krako um veginn hgfSo. 
 
 XVII. ^{jat frak ' undr' at A5i!s figrvi 
 
 vitta-vigg um vi5a skyldi : 102 
 ok s . . . af Sloengviss bogom 
 
 Freyss attungr falla skyldi : 
 ok vi6 aur jegir hiarna 
 
 bragnings burs um blandinn 
 var8: 
 ok i disa-sal deyja skyldi 
 
 Ala-dolgr at Uppsglom. 
 
 XVIII. ^Veit-ek Eystein endr um folginn 
 
 leikinn laevi a Lofundi : 1 10 
 ok sikling me6 Sviom kv65o 
 
 lotzka menu inni brenna : 
 ok bit-sott i brand-noi 
 
 hli9ar-J)angs a hilmi rann : 
 J)a-es timbr-fastr toptar noekvi 
 
 flotna fuUr um fylki brann. 
 XIX. ^fjat stoekk orS upp at Yngvari 
 
 Syslo kind um soit hefSi : 
 ok lios-hgmom vi5 Lagar-hiarta 
 
 herr Eistneskr at hihni va : 120 
 ok Aust-marr igfri Soenskom 
 
 Gymis-li63 at gamni kveSr. 
 XX. 'Var5 Onundr lonakrs bura 
 
 harmi heptr und Himin-figllom : 
 ok of-vaeg Eistra dolgi 
 
 heipt hrisungs at hendi kom : 
 ok sa fr2mo6r foldar beinom, 
 
 haugi hrcers um horfinn vas. 
 XXI. ^Ok Ingialld Illra6an trad 
 
 reyks rgsoSr a Raeningi : 130 
 J»a-es hus-^iofr hyrjar leistom 
 
 Go9-konung i gcegnom steig : 
 ok sia yr3r aliri {ii66o 
 
 siall-gaetast me6 Svioni J)6tti : 
 
 es hann sialf-ra5i si'no figrvi 
 
 i fiknom fiir fara skyldi. 
 XXII. *0k vi6 vag Vaeniss Vi6ar-telgjo 
 
 hrae Alafs hof-gyl6ir svalg : 
 ok gI63-fialgr goervar leysti 
 
 sonr Forniotz af Svia igfri : 140 
 Sva att-runnr fra Uppsglom 
 
 Liifo kyns lang-feflgom hvarf. 
 xxiu. ''{jat fra hroer ... at Halfdanar 
 
 sgk-miSlendr sakna skyldo : 
 ok hall-varps hlifi-nauma 
 
 J)i63-konung a {>otni tok : 
 ok Skaer-ei6 i Skirings-sal 
 
 um brynj-alfs beinom drupir. 
 XXIV. ^Enn Eysteinn fyr asi for 
 
 til Bysleistis br63or-meyjar : 1 50 
 ok mi liggr und lagar beinom 
 
 reiks lau3o9r a ra3ar broddi : 
 J)ars el-kaldr hia igfors ggtvom 
 
 Vg51o straumr at vagi koemr. 
 XXV. ^Ok til J)ings . . . fjriSja igfri 
 
 hve5rungs mser or heimi bau9 : 
 J)a-es Halfdan sa-es i Holtom bio 
 
 Noma doms um noti3 haf9i : 
 ok buSlung a Borroi 
 
 sigr-hafendr si6an falo. 160 
 
 XXVI. 'VarS Go6roe9r inn Ggfoglati 
 
 lomi beittr, sas fyr l^ngo vas : 
 ok ' um ra6 ' at glom stilli 
 
 hgfob heipt raekt at hilmi dro : 
 ok laun-svik inn 16m-ge3i 
 
 Aso arr at igfri bar : 
 ok bu31ungr a be3i fornom 
 
 Stiflo-sundz of stunginn vas. 
 x.xvii. Ok ni3-kvisl i Noregi 
 
 J)r6ttar burs um Jyroask haf3i. 
 R^3 Aleifr Upsa for3om, 1 71 
 
 Vi3i, Groend, ok Vestmarom : 
 unz fot-verkr vi3 foldar J)rgm 
 
 vi'g-mi31ung um vi9a skyldi : 
 Nii liggr go3-alfr a Geir-stg3om 
 
 ' her-konungr ' haugi ausinn. 
 Strophes xxviii-xxx missi?ig. 
 
 |)at veit-ek bazt und blam himni 
 
 kenni-nafn sva-at konungr eigi : 
 es Rgignvaldr inn Ra3-svinni 
 
 Hei3om-harr J)ik heita red : I So 
 ok mild-ge3r Moera drottinn . • . 
 (^the end missing).
 
 HALEYGJATAL RESTORED. 
 
 657 
 
 HALEYGJATAL RESTORED, see Notes, vol. i, p. 523. 
 
 Ok sa . . . hair at Hars ve&ri 
 hgsvan serk hrisgrisniss bar. 
 
 Viljak hli66s kve3ja at Hars li3i 
 meSan Gillings gigldom yppik : 
 
 J)viat bans aett i hver-legi 
 Galga-farms til go8a teljom. 
 
 Hinn es Suptungs or soekk-dglom 
 farma-go5 fliiigandi bar : 
 
 HgfoS-baSm J)a-es hei9-sdcai 
 a f . . . Hnit-figUom drygSi. 
 
 |)ann skoU-blcetr at Skatvglom gat 
 
 Asa ni6 vi6 larnviSjo : 
 J)a-es J)au meirr i Mannheimom 
 
 Skatna vinr ok Ska3i bioggo : 
 Saeming einn ok sono marga 
 
 Ondor-dis vi3 Odni gat. 
 
 Vara Hakon Hggna meyjar 
 
 vi6r vapn-bitinn es vega skyldi : 
 ok sinn aldr i odda gny 
 
 Freyss attungr a FiQlom lag3i : 30 
 Ok {lar var3 es viuir fcUo 
 
 magar Hallgar9z manna bloOi : 
 Stafaness vi6 storan gny 
 
 vinar L63ors vagr of blandiun. 
 Ok Sigroe9 hinn es svgnom vcitti 
 
 hroka bior Haddingja vals : 
 Farma-tyss fiorvi nasmSo 
 
 iar6-ra5endr a Ogloi. 
 Ok gaiingr Yrna iar6ar 
 
 'alnar orms ' a Aurom var3 40 
 lifs of lattr ^a-es landrekar 
 
 Tyss attung i tryg3om sviko. 
 
 Enn GoSlaugr grimman tamSi 
 
 ' vi3 ofr-kapp ' Austr-konunga 
 Sigars io, es synir Yngva 
 
 men-glgto& vid mei3 rei3o : 
 ok na-reidr a nasi drupir 
 
 Vinga-meidr J)ar-es vikr deilir : 
 {)ar-es figl-kynt um fylkiss hroer 
 
 steini merkt Straumseyjar-nes. 
 
 {)a-es lit-rgst iaria bagi 
 Belja-dolgs byggja vildi. 
 
 |)ar var3 minnztr meir.-vinngndom 
 Yngvi-Freyss aettar gndur3an dag 
 
 fagna-fundr es flota J)eysto 
 iar3-ra3endr at Ey-Dgnom : 
 
 J)a-es Sigvalldi sunnan kni3i 
 lagar st63 at li3i J)eira. 
 
 |)eim es allt austr til Ei3a-biiss 
 
 bru&r Valtyss und boegi liggr. 50 
 
 lolna sumbl, Enn ver yrkja g&tom 
 stilliss lof sem steina-bru. 
 
 A few additional tiotes. 
 
 1. I. Viljak hli63 is not idiomatic; viljak is to be scanned as slur, as in Vsp. 3; 
 therefore the first half has only one measure left ; a word has been dropped out, viz. 
 kve3ja ; Jomsv. 1-3 presents an exact parallel to kve3ja hlioSs at kvae3i. 
 
 1. 2. bans; to substitute 'Hakonar' is on account of metre inadmissible; a line is 
 perhaps missing, giving the Earl's name, to which ' bans ' refers ; unless indeed the 
 poet said — Jjviat Haleygi i hver-legi | galga farms til go3a teljom. Cp. the poem's 
 title Haleygjatal. 
 
 I. 25. sa hair, suspicious ; ok sa to be scanned as slur, a measure is missing ; is not 
 Wether-Hall's name (the seventh in the Haleygja generation) hidden underneath ? 
 
 II. 31, 32 are overlaid. The Saga, apparently Ari's sole authority for the Hacon- 
 Atli episode, says, ch. 13— J)ar fell Hakon iarl enn Atli iarl vard sarr til olifis, ok 
 foro menn hans med hann til Atleyjar ok andaSisk hann J)ar. Sva segir Eyvindr 
 Skalda-spiilir. Earl Atli and his death must have stood in the poem. We suspect it 
 is hidden under hallvar3z, 'maga Atla,' or the like. The verses as they stand 
 are harsh, a sure indication of a decomposed text. 
 
 VOL. II. 
 
 U U
 
 658 FINAL READINGS. 
 
 FINAL READINGS TO VOLUME II. 
 (See p. cxix of the Introduction, vol. i.) 
 
 Bragi — 
 
 line 5. ok um He5ins , . . 6sk-kv4n at J)at sinoni. 
 
 pors-drapa — 
 
 I. 74. ... alfheims mokkor-kalfa (?). 
 
 House Lay — 
 
 1. 2. (hann vilk at giof Grimnis) geS-markar la (kve6ja). 
 
 1. 9. {)ar hykk sa3-reyni Sonar sylgs Valkyrjor fylgja. 
 
 p. 48, 1. 5. hliota man ek (ne hlitik) Hertys (of J)at fryjo). 
 
 p. 54, 1. II. hlemmi-sverd vi3 harSri hiif-langan skae diifo. 
 
 p. 79> 1. 4. hauka skopt a hepti hlin gl boekis mina. 
 
 p. 109, 1. II. ok aum i vgmb, var9 el5i i J)gmb. 
 
 p. 246, 1. 4. for swollen read cold. 
 
 p. 250, 11. 15, 16. read, As it is told that the kindred of kings sought service of 
 yore with the wise Kraki. 
 
 p. 268, 1. 10. read, the hound of the fir-wood, i. e. fire. 
 
 p. 327, 1. 12. read, the morsels of the ship. 
 
 p. 545, note 5. read, a Romance word. 
 
 Sighvat — 
 
 ii, 1. 36. . . . let herr um haldit . . . skei5ar stafna. 
 
 V, 1. 23. skrei6 vestan viSr vorr, gloestr sa's bar. 
 
 vii, 1. 40. folk . . . fylkir . . . Jiria togo haf3i. 
 
 vii, 1. 48. hundra6 t613 at hildi hvar-tveggja folk varo. 
 
 viii, 11. 19-20, see p. 585. 
 
 viii, 1. 29. Alfifo mank aevi ungs drengs muna lengi. 
 
 X, 1, 71. r^n man seggr hinn es sina selr lit i J)vi telja. 
 
 Amor — 
 
 vi. 1. 33- Veit ek J)ar es Vestfi6r5r heitir, etc. 
 
 Thiodolf— 
 
 iii, 1. 78. . . . el-kers gl6to6r hersa. 
 
 xi, 1. 8. Gla8r vi5 galdra smi3jo Geirrce3ar sio J)eiri. 
 
 xii, 1. 3. snart viS si3-J)ra9. 
 
 p. 263, 1. 74, read hnigo hringviSir Hvinant-or5a. 
 
 p. 264, 1. 106, read HeSin har&maga, etc. 
 
 Ko7i7ingatal — 
 
 1. 315. Vissi Loptr und laupi skyja {beneath the basket of the clouds), 
 
 Gisli's Saga — 
 
 p. 323. hrynja laetr in hvita hvarm-skogs gna boga. 
 
 Olafs Rima — 
 
 1. 124. Nu er hann Kristz et b. bl. etc. 
 
 Thulor— 
 
 1. 179. rygr, vif ok haell, ristill, saeta. 
 1. 477. rati, val-bassi, ro5r, drit-ro6i.
 
 ABBREVIATIONS. 
 
 659 
 
 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS 
 
 USED IN THE INDICES AND IN EXCURSUS I, VOL. II, 
 
 Showing the volume and pages where the respective poems are to be found. The 
 poems of the second volume are cited under the authors' names. 
 
 Ad., Arinb. : vol. I. pp. 272-275. 
 
 Akv., Atlakv. : I. 45. 
 
 Alv., Alvm. : I. 81-86. 
 
 Arnor, i-ix: II. 186-198. 
 
 Atlam. : I. 3.^2. 
 
 Biark. : I. 188, 189. 
 
 Bragi : II. 7. 
 
 Brunh. L. : I. 293-305. 
 
 Chr. W.: I. 211-217. 
 
 Darr. (Lay of Darts) : I. 281-283. 
 
 Doom : I. 181-183. 
 
 Einar i-ix: II, 267-272. 
 
 Eirm. (Dirge of Eric): I. 260, 261. 
 
 Flyt. Iv. : I. 124, 125. 
 
 G. W.: 1. 2-14. 
 
 Geisli : II. 284. 
 
 Gisli: n. 332-335. 
 
 Gkv. : I. 324-328. 
 
 Grimn. : I. 69-74. 
 
 Grimn, App. : I. 75, 76. 
 
 Grip.: I. 285-292, 
 
 Grott. : 1. 184-188. 
 
 Hakm. : I. 262-265. 
 
 Hakni. App.: I. 265, 266. 
 
 Hallfred i-iv : II. 90-97. 
 
 Ham6. (Hamtheow's Lay) : I. 53-59. 
 
 Harb, (Hoarbeard's Lay): I. 118-123. 
 
 Haust. : II. 14. 
 
 Havam. : I. 24-29. 
 
 Helgi i: I. 131-144- 
 
 Helgi ii: I. 144-148. 
 
 Helgi iii : I. 148-152. 
 
 Hialm. D. : I. 160-163. 
 
 Hild. : I. 190-192. 
 
 Hlod A.: I. 349-352- 
 
 Hit.: I. 252-254. 
 
 Hit. reconstr. : II. 657. 
 
 Hofu61. (Head-Ransom) : I. 267-271. 
 
 Hornkl. : I. 255-259. 
 
 Husd. : II. 23. 
 
 Hym. (Lay of Hymi) : I. 220-225. 
 
 Hyndl. (Hyndla's Lay) : I. 226-234. 
 
 Hyndl. reconstr.: I. 515-517. 
 
 lomsv. : II. 302-308. 
 
 Isldr. : II. 419-421. 
 
 Ivar: II. 261-266. 
 
 Ivar and Woden: I. 124, 125. 
 
 Kont. : II. 310. 
 
 Korm. : II. 63 sqq. 
 
 Krakom. : II. 341-345. 
 
 Kv.: I. 80. 
 
 L. B. L. : I. 293-305. 
 
 Langft. : IL 521-523. 
 
 Less. Lodd. : I. 16-20, 
 Loft, i-iii: II. 159-162. 
 Lokas. : I. 101-110. 
 Love Less. : I. 21-23. 
 Malsh. : II. 363-369. 
 Mark. : II. 235-239. 
 Merl. i, ii : II. 372-379. 
 Mill Song: I. 101-110. 
 O. G. L.: I. 316-321. 
 
 0. W. PI.: I. 32-44. 
 Oddr. : I. 309-314. 
 
 01. R. : I. 392-396. 
 Ord. : I. 322-323. 
 Ott. i-iv: II. 152-158. 
 Prov. S. : II. 363-369. 
 Raven Song: I. 255-259. 
 Rekst. : II. 295-300. 
 Riddl.: I. 87-92. 
 
 Righ (Lay of) : I. 234-242. 
 
 Rimeg. : I. 151-154- 
 
 Rm. : I. 234-242. 
 
 Run., Runakv. : II. 369. 
 
 Sh. Br. L. : I. 306-309. 
 
 Sh, Vsp. : II. 629-630. 
 
 Sibyl. S. : I. 192-202. 
 
 Sigh, i-ix: II. 124-150. 
 
 Skaufh.: II. 383, 384. 
 
 Skida R. : II. 398-407. 
 
 Skirn. : I. 111-117. 
 
 Sol. (Sun Song) : I. 204-211. 
 
 Sonat. (Sons' Wreck): I. 277-2S0. 
 
 Sonat. reconstr.: I. 544-546. 
 
 S. S., Song Saws: I. 14-16. 
 
 Spell S. : I. 29, 30. 
 
 Sun S. : I. 204-211. 
 
 Swipd. M. : I. 93-100. 
 
 Thiod. i-xii : II. 199-212. 
 
 Thulor : II. 423-439. 
 
 Tregr.: I. 329-331. 
 
 Veil., Vellekl. : II 4^-47. 
 
 Volkv. : I. 169-175. 
 
 Vsp. (Sibyl Song) : I. 193-202. 
 
 Vsp. reconstr. : II. 621-629. 
 
 Vt)m., Vaf^r. : I. 61-69. 
 
 W. ri., Wols. PI. : I. 32-44. 
 
 W. W. L. ^ I. 155-158. 
 
 Wak. : I. 163-168. 
 
 Wick. : I. 371-374- 
 
 Yt.: I. 244-251. 
 
 Yt. reconstr. : IL 655-656. 
 
 |jd. : II. 19-22. 
 
 {jryin , [jkv. : I. 176-180. 
 
 |>t..: 1.78. 
 
 U U 2
 
 66o 
 
 INDEX I. MYTHICAL. 
 
 Cited mostly by poem and line; I. or II. marks the volume, e.g. II. 4. 12 = 
 volume, page, and line. 
 
 <z is treated as e ; cb and (p) as 0. 
 
 Vsp., Hyndl., Yt., Hit., and Sonat. are cited from the restored texts. 
 
 [ ] mark lost poems and parts of poems. 
 
 ;/. marks foot-note or notes at the end of volume. 
 
 I. MYTHOLOGIC BEINGS. 
 
 Alda-ft)3r, V^m. lines 15, 210, Bragi 45. 
 Alfar, Havam. 32, iii, Spell S. 25, 
 
 Grimn. 10, Alvm. /lass., Lokas. ^ais., 
 
 Skim. 27, 63, |>kv. 22, Volkv. /)ass. 
 Alf-kungr, O. W. PI. iii. 
 Alto5r (Woden), I. 80; Helgi i. 159, 
 Alf-ro6ull (sun), V{)m. 186. 
 AUvaldi, Harb. ; see Olvaldi. 
 Alrunar (love runes), Spell S. 29, O. W, PI, 
 
 216. 
 Alsvi6r, Havam. 34. 
 AlsviSr (Sun's horse), Spell S. 11, Grimn. 
 
 u8. 
 Alviss, Alvm. 9 sqq. 
 Aml66i (Giant Hamlet), II. 55. 6, 
 Amrar (dwarves?), II. 54. i. 
 Andhrimnir, Grimn. App. i. 
 Andvara-nautr, II. 529. 
 Andvari (dwarf), O. W. PL 5, 9. 
 Angeyja, Hyndl. 43. 
 Angrbo3a, Sh.Vsp. 26. 
 Ar (rune). Run. 10. 
 Arvaka, Spell S. II, Grimn. 118. 
 Asa (Anses), Havam. 32, III, Spell S. 
 
 25, VJ)m. 151, Lokas. />ass., Alvm. 37, 
 
 Harb. 78, Flyt. Iv. 5-15, f)kv. 22. 
 Asa-Bragr, Skim. 133. 
 Asa-dolgr, Kont. 38. 
 Asa-synir, Grimn. 132, Alvm. 64, Lokas. 
 
 II, III, 214, 258, Skirn. 27, 63, 67; 
 
 see Thulor 1 45-1 49. 
 Askr, Vsp. 28. 
 
 As-kungr, O.W.Pl. iii.Righ 3, Vsp. 54. 
 As-li3ar, Skirn. 138. 
 As-megin, I. 127. 25, Hym, 119. 
 As-megir, Doom 27. 
 Ass =Thor, Grimn. 20,Jjkv.8; II. 80. 22. 
 Asynjor, O. W. PL 208, Lokas. 42, Doom 
 
 2, {)kv. 57, Hyndl. 30. 
 Atla, Hyndl. 44. 
 AtriSr (Woden), I. 80, {>J). 10. 
 Au9r (Night's son), Hallfr. iii. 10. 
 Aur-bo6a, Sh. Vsp. 40. 
 Aur-konungr (Hoeni), I. 575. 
 Aurnir, Grott. 40. 
 
 Baldr, V{)m. 216 «., Grimn. 41, Riddl. 
 135, Lokas. 109 sqq., Flyt. Iv. 6, 
 Doom 4 sqq., Sh. Vsp. 44, Vsp. 65 ; 
 L 126. i8; 369. No. 66. 
 
 Baleygr (Woden), I. 80. 
 
 Baugi (Soma giant), Hofu&l. 73; see 
 
 I. 465. 
 Beli (Giant Belja), Vsp. 144, Hit. 24, 
 
 Kv. 3, Haust. 70. 
 Berg-Danir, Hyni. 57, Haust. 72. 
 Bergelmir, VJ)m. 112, 136. 
 Berg-risar, Harb. 105, Grott. 42, 89. 
 Bestla, Havam. 19 ; II. 48. 7. 
 Beyla, Lokas. 225. 
 
 Biarg-runar, Spelf S. 28, O. W. PI. 222. 
 Biarkan (rune), Run. 13. 
 Biflindi, Grimn. App. 45. 
 Bil (goddess), I. 78. 19. 
 Bileygr (Woden), I. 80. 
 Billingr, II. 322. 4. 
 Biorn (constellation), Spell S. 14. 
 Blaeingr (constellation), Spell S. 16 «. 
 B166ugh6fi (horse), {>j). 9, Kv. 3. 
 Boan, II. 48. I ; 80. 32. 
 Bok-riinar, Spell S. 28. 
 Bolverkr, Love L. 53; I. 80. 
 BolJ)orn, Havam. 19. 
 Bor (Buru), Vsp. 17, Sh. Vsp. (I. 231. 
 
 23); II. 250. 
 Bragar-full, Helgi ii. 52. 
 Bragi, Spell S. 14, Lokas. 44, Eirm. 12, 
 
 Hakm. 38. 
 Briiiiir, Sh. Vsp. 6. 
 Brimir (sword), I. 77. 6. 
 Brim-ninar, O. W. PI. 226. 
 Brisinga-men (necklace), f)kv. 52, 63, 
 
 76, Haust. 2,1,, [Husd.] 
 Bruungr (constellation), Spell S. 15 n. 
 Buri, II. 250 ; see Bor. 
 Buzeyra (ogress), II. 27. 5. 
 Byggvir, Lokas. 180, 184, 225. 
 Byleistr, Sh.Vsp. 29, Vsp. 128, Yt. 150. 
 
 Dagr, O. W. PI. 204, V{)m. 40, 95. 
 Dags synir, O. W. PL 204.
 
 MYTHOLOGIC BEINGS. 
 
 66i 
 
 Dainn (dwarf), Havam. 32. 
 
 Dainn (stag), Grimn. 107. 
 
 Dellingr, Havam. no, VJ)m. 97, Riddl, 
 
 30 sqq. 
 Disir, O. W. PI. 225, Grimn. 143, Atlam. 
 
 94, Yt. 107, Krakom. 1 41. 
 Draupnir, Biark. 12; II. 55. 8. 
 Dromi (fetter), II. 637. 
 Duneyrr (stag), Grimn. 107. 
 Dura^ror, Grimn. 107. 
 Durinn (dwarf), Sh. Vsp. 10. 
 Durnir, Yt. 5. 
 
 Dvalinn, Havam. 33, O. W. PI. 112, Sh. 
 Vsp. 12, Wak. 44, Kv. 1 ; II. 54. i. 
 Dvalinn (stag), Grimn. 107. 
 Dvalins-leika, Alvm. 62, Thulor 501. 
 Dvergar, Havam. 33, Alvm, 48 sqq., 
 
 Sh. Vsp. 4 sqq., Vsp. 138 ; see Thulor 
 
 33-56. 
 
 Edda, Righ. 9, 13, 22. 
 
 Eg6ir, Sh. Vsp. 19. 
 
 Egill (giant), Hym. 24. 
 
 ^gir, Grimn. App. 30, Lokas. 9 sqq., 
 
 Sonat. 36, Hym. 4, 152, Helgi i. 113. 
 j^giss-doettr (Waves), II. 54. 5. 
 Eik^yrnir, Grimn. 81. 
 Einherjar, Vpm. 158, Grimn. 75, 136, 
 
 App. 4, 22, Helgi i. 160, Hakm. 46. 
 EinriSi, Lokas. 243, Haust. 76. 
 Eirgiafa, Hyndl. 42. 
 Eistla, Hyndl. 42. 
 Elld (mark), O. W. PI. 229. 
 Eildhrimnir, Grimn. App. 1. 
 Elldir, Lokas. 1,17. 
 Embla, Vsp. 28. 
 Ergi (mark), Skirn. 150. 
 JEsn (Anses), O. W. PI. 116, 208, VJjm. 
 
 200, Grimn. 94, 121, pkv.pass., Vsp. 
 
 33, 192, Doom I. 
 Ey-lu6r (Ocean Mill), H. 54. 12. 
 Ey-mylrir, II. 55. 8. 
 
 Fafnir, O. W. PI. 40 sqq., W. W. L. 44, 
 
 Biark, 10. Grip. 44. 49. 
 Fala (ogress), II. 332. 13. 
 Falhofnir (horse), f>J). 11. 
 Farbauti, Haust. 17, Husd, 2 2. 
 Farma-go6, Sonat. 9, Hit. 6. 
 Farma-tyr, Hit. 37 ; I. 80. 
 Fe (rune). Run, i. 
 Fengr (Woden), W. W. L. 34. 
 Fenrir, VJ)m, 185, Lokas, 155, Sh, Vsp. 
 
 48, 
 Fenris-ulfr, Hakm. 63, Helgi i. 164. 
 Fet-meili (Hceni), Haust. 13. 
 Fialarr, Love L. 64, 
 Fialarr, Harb, 84, 
 Fialarr (cock), Sh. Vsp. 21. 
 
 Fimbol-fambi, G. W. 237. 
 
 Fimbul-Tyr, Vsp. 195. 
 
 Fimbul-vettr, V\im. 177. 
 
 Fimbul-J)iilr, Havam. 29, App. 4. 
 
 Finnr (giant), Haust. 51, 
 
 Fiolkaldr, Svipd, M. 87. 
 
 Fiolnir (Woden), W. W. L, 34, Bragi 
 
 65; I. 80. 
 Fiolsvidr (Woden), I, 80. 
 Fiolsvi3r, Svipd. M. 76 sqq. 
 Fiolvarr, Harb. 41. 
 Fiorgyn (earth), Lokas. 104, Harb. 144, 
 
 Vsp. 154. 
 Folld (goddess earth), O. W. PI. 209. 
 Forniotr, Yt. 140, f)d. I ; II. 54, 4. 
 Forseti, Grimn. 55. 
 Freki, Grimn. App. 4. 
 Freyja, Grimn. 49, Lokas, 120, {>kv. y 
 
 sqq., Oddr. 33 ; I, 368, No. 58. 
 Freyrr, Grimn, 13, App, 25, Lokas. 148 
 
 sqq., Skirn. 9 sqq,, Arinb, 68, Husd, 4. 
 Frigg, Vt)m, i, Lokas, 104, 118, Vsp, 72, 
 
 146, Oddr, 33, Hallfred v. 14, 
 Fulla, n, 36, 29 ; cp, II. 525. 
 
 GagnraSr (GangraSr), VJ)m, 25 sqq. 
 
 Galga-farmr, Hit. 4. 
 
 Galga-valdr, IL 79. 8. 
 
 Gamm-lei6 = Loptr, f)d, 5. 
 
 Gangleri, Grimn. App. 32. 
 
 Gar6r6fa, I. 126, 16, 
 
 Garmr (hound), Vsp. 120 sqq, ; I. 77. 5- 
 
 Gauta-spialli, Sonat. 44. 
 
 Gauta-tyr, Hakm, I, 
 
 Gautr, Grimn. App. 54, Doom 5 ; I, 357. 
 
 No. I. 
 Gefjon (Ocean), Lokas. 78, 83. 
 Geironui, Grimn, App, 20. 
 Geirrce3r, Grimn, 134, App. 40. 
 GeirrceQr (giant), I. 127. 27, f)d. 4 sqq. : 
 
 II, 212, 
 Geir-skogul, I, 80. 
 Geitir (sea-king), Haust. 79. 
 Gelgja, II. 637. 
 
 Ger3r, Skirn. 72, 169, 172, Sh, Vsp. 39, 
 Geri, Grinm. App. 5, 
 Giallar-horn, Vsp. 62, 142. 
 Gialp, I. 127, Hyndl. 41 ; II. 27. 2, 
 Gillingr (Soma giant). Hit, 2, 
 Ginn-regin, Havam. 30, Alvm. 78, 118, 
 
 Hym. 14, 
 Ginul, II. 637. 
 GisI (horse), Grimn. 93, 
 Gla9r (horse), Grimn, 91, 
 GlapsviSr, I. 80. 
 
 Glasir (tree), Biark, II ; I, 79. i, 
 Gleipnir (fetter), S, S. 50 ; II. 637, 
 Glenr, II. 102, 13. 
 Gler (horse), Grimn, 91,
 
 662 
 
 INDEX I. I. 
 
 Glitnir, Yt. 36. 
 
 GoS, O. W. PI. 118, V{)m. 56, 153, 
 
 Alvm. 45 sqq., Vsp. 20 sqq. ; I. 368. 
 
 No. 58 ;" II. 80. 18. 
 Goinn, Grimn. no. 
 GoU (Walcyrie), Grimn. App. 20. 
 Gollin-bursti, Hyndl. 140. 
 Gollin-kambi, Sh. Vsp. 22. 
 GoUin-tanni (Heimdall), [Husd.?], 1. 574. 
 Goll-toppr, Griran. 93. 
 Gondlir, Grimn. App. 46. 
 Gondul, I. 80, Hakm. i ; I. 360. No. 14. 
 Gra-bakr, Grimn. in. 
 Graf-vitnir, Biark. 12. 
 Graf-vollo3r, Grimn. in. 
 Gramir, Harb. 151. 
 
 Gramr (sword), O. W. PI. 157 ; II. 33. 8. 
 Grani (constellation). Spell S. 20. 
 Grata-go5 (Balder), Vsp. 65. 
 Greip, I. 127. 27, Hyndl. 4I, pd. 64. 
 Gri3ar-v61r (staff), ^d. 36. 
 Grimnir, Grimn. App. 40 ; I. 80 ; Husd. 
 
 2 ; II. 525. 
 Grimr, Grimn. App. 52 ; I. So. 
 Groa, Svipd. M. i. 
 Grotti, Grott. 42; II. 54. 11. 
 Gryla, I. 357. No. 3. 
 Gungnir (spear), Spell S. 20, Bragi 63 ; 
 
 11. 13. 14- 
 
 Gunnl63, Love L. 35, 50, 58, 62. 
 Gunnr (Gu5r), I. 80 ; I. 360. No. 14. 
 Gustr, W. W. L. 3. 
 Gyllir (horse), Grimn. 91. 
 Gymir (giant), Lokas. 168, Skirn. 45 
 sqq., Sh. Vsp. 39, Yt. 122. 
 
 Habrok (hawk), I. 77. 5. 
 
 Hagl (rune), Run. 7. 
 
 Hamingjor, V^m. 196. 
 
 Hamskerpir, I. 126. 15. 
 
 Hanga-go5, II. 76. 9. 
 
 Hanga-tyr, II. 75. 35. 
 
 HarbarSr, Grimn. App. 45, Harb. 26 sqq. 
 
 Harr, Havam. 6, 125, Grimn. App. 35, 
 
 Hit. t, 25. 
 Hati (wolf), Grimn. 128. 
 Hati (giant), Rimeg. 21. 
 Hava-mal (poem), Havam. 125. 
 Hei3-draupnir, Spell S. 4. 
 Hei5r, Sh. Vsp. 38, Vsp. 94. 
 Hei6run (goat), Grimn. 77, Hyndl. 144. 
 Heimdallr (-dalr), Grimn. 45, Lokas, 
 
 192, Flyt. Iv. 14, Vsp. 2, 60, 134, 
 
 i44,Husd.6; IL 114. 10; seeExcurs. 
 
 II. 509 sqq. 
 Hel (ogress and place), O. W. PI. 100, 
 
 142, 185, VJjm. 173, Grimn. 99, 
 
 Alvm. 54, Doom 12, Atlam. 352; I. 
 
 I 26, 20 ; Sonat. 97. See II. 546. 
 
 Helblindi, Grimn. App. 35 ; I. 575. 
 Heljar-sinnar, Vsp. 129. 
 Hengjan-kiopta, II. 27. 6. 
 Her-fiotur, Grimn. App. 19. 
 Her-fo6r, Vsp. loi. 
 Her-gautr, Sonat. 60, Bragi 34. 
 Herja-fo6r, VJjm. 5, Grimn. 77, App. 6, 
 
 Sh. Vsp. 23. 
 Herjan, Grimn. App. 33, Gkv. 73' 
 
 Krakom. 141. 
 Hermodr, Flyt. Iv.i 2. Hyndl. 7, Hakm. 38. 
 Her-teitr, Grimn. App. 37. 
 Hialm-beri, Grimn. App. 33. 
 Hialp (mark), Havam. 52. 
 Hildi-svini, Hvndl. 141. 
 Hildolfr, Harb. 16. 
 
 Hildr, Grimn. App. 19; I. 80; Bragi. 
 Himin-hri65r (-hriotr, ox), I. 78. 15. See 
 
 I. 512. 
 Hiiiki (man in the moon), I. 78. 19. 
 H!ebar6r, Harb. 62. 
 Hlif (Lif ), Svipd. M. 200. 
 Hlif-^rasa (better Lif-), Svipd. M. 200. 
 H!63yn, Vsp. 151 ; II. 62. 20. 
 Hlokk, Grimn. App. 19; II. 1x4. i. 
 Hlora, I. 574. 
 Hlorri6i, Lokas. 219, {jkv. 26, 59, 126, 
 
 Hym. 15, 61, loi. 
 Hnikarr, O. W. PI. 41, Grimn. App. 37. 
 Hniko6r, p. 80. 
 
 Hodd-fafnir ( = Loddf.), Lod. Less, i n. 
 Hodd-mimir, VJ)m. 179. 
 Hodd-rofnir, Spell S. 4. 
 Ho5r, Flyt. Iv. 10 «., Doom. 33, 39, 
 
 Vsp. 71, 1S7. 
 Hofvarpnir (horse), I. 126. 15. 
 Hcenir, Vsp. 31, 189, Haust. 12 sqq. 
 Hrafn-ass, Haust. 14. 
 Hrafn-bloetr, Hallfr. v. 19. 
 Hrafn-freista3r, Husd. 6. 
 Hraudungr, see II. 524. 
 Hrae-svelgr, V{)m. I43. 
 Hrim-faxi (Night's horse), VJ)m. 49. 
 Hrim-ger5r, Rimeg. 21 sqq. 
 Hrim-grimnir (giant), Skirn. 142. 
 Hrimnir, Skirn. 109, Sh. Vsp. 38. 
 Hrim-J)ursar, Love Less. 52, VJ)m. 127, 
 
 Grimn. 99, Skirn. 120, 137, Vsp. 131. 
 Hring-horni (ship), I. 574. 
 Hrist, Grimn. App. 1 7. 
 Hro6-vitnir, Grimn. 128. 
 Hropta-tyr, Havam. 1 1 2, Grimn. App. 
 
 53, Hakm. 38, Husd. 8. 
 Hroptr, Havam. 31, Spell S. 2, Grimn. 27. 
 
 Vsp. 187, Husd. 12 ; II. 33. 14. 
 Hroptz-megir, Lokas. 182. 
 Hross-J)i6fr, Sh. Vsp. 38. 
 Hrungnir, Lokas. 247, 256, Harb. 36, 
 
 37, Hym. 60, Grott. 38, Haust. 60.
 
 MYTHOLOGIC BEINGS. 
 
 663 
 
 Hrymr, Vsp. 130. 
 
 Huginn, Grimn. App. 9 ; I. 80. 15. 
 Hug-riinar, O. W. PI. 242, Bragi 52, 
 Hul6 (witch), Yt. 14. 
 HuliSs-hialmr, Alvm. 72. 
 HveSrungr, Vsp. 149, Yt. 156. 
 Hymir, Hym. 18 sqq., Haust. 34. 
 Hymis-meyjar, Lokas. 138. 
 Hyr-rokkin, II. 27. 6. 
 
 lafn-harr, Grimn. App. 45. 
 
 lalkr, Grimn. App. 54. 
 
 Iar8ar-sunr (Thor), pkv. 4, Haust. 55. 
 
 Iarnvi6ja (Ivi6ja?), Hit. 10. 
 
 I8i (I6ja), Grott. 40, Biark. 16. 
 
 ISunn, Lokas. 66, Haust. 38 ; see II. 575. 
 
 Im&, Helgi i. 179. 
 
 Ingi-Freyr, Haust. 39. 
 
 Ingunar-Freyr, Lokas. 172. 
 
 lolnar, Hit. 51. 
 
 lormun-gandr, Vsp. 115. Bragi 48. 
 
 lotnar, Love L. 42, Havam. 34, Vf)m. 
 
 109, 197, Alvm. 55, Skim. 32, 137, 
 
 {>kv, 23 sqq., Sh. Vsp. 37, Vsp. 5, 
 
 Atlam. 112. 
 
 ■ lotna-synir, Havam. 127, VTpm. 55, 167. 
 
 Iss (rune). Run. 9. 
 
 Ivi8ja, Sh. Vsp. 3, Vsp. 7. 
 
 Karls sonr = Baldr, I. 126. 19. 
 Kaun (rune). Run. 6. 
 Keila (ogress), II. 27. 4. 
 Kialarr, Grimn. App. 42. 
 Kiallandi (ogress), II. 27. 4. 
 Kolga, Helgi i. 109. 
 Kreppvor, Chr. W. App. 15. 
 Kvasir, [Vsp. ?] ; II. 48. 3. 
 
 Laufeyjar son = Loki, Lokas. 208, l^kv. 
 
 71 sqq. 
 Leikn (ogress), II. 27. i. 
 LseraSr (tree), Grimn. 78. 
 Lettfeti (horse), Grimn. 93. 
 Lif, Vt)m. 178. 
 Lifl)rasir, VJ)m. 178, 
 Lim-riinar, O. W. PI. 232. 
 L6aorr, Vsp. 32, Hit. 34. 
 Loddfafnir, see Hoddfafnir. 
 Loe6ingr (fetter), II. 637. 
 Lofarr, Sh. Vsp. 13. 
 Logr (rune), Run. 14, 
 Loki, Lokas. 39 sqq., firymskv. 6 sqq., 
 
 Vsp. 126, Doom 56, Run. 16, Sh. Vsp. 
 
 30, Hym. 144, Haust. 44. 
 Loptr, Lokas. 2 2 , Sh. Vsp. 3 2 , Haust. 3 1 . 
 Lut (ogress), II. 27. 5. 
 
 Ma8r (rune). Run. 15. 
 Magni,VJ)m.204, Harb.23,i38,Husd. 27. 
 Mal-riinar, O. W. PI. 236. 
 
 Mana-garmr, [Sh. Vsp.] ; II. 633-634. 
 
 Mani, V\>m. 87. 
 
 Mara (nightmare), Yt. 17. 
 
 Mar-doll, Biark. 15. 
 
 Megin-riinar, Spell S. 30. 
 
 Meili, Harb. 23, Haust. 56. 
 
 Mella, II. 36. 28. 
 
 Menglo5, Svip. M. 12, 198 sqq. 
 
 Mi8gar3z-Ormr, Flyt. Iv. 16. 
 
 Mi3vitnir, Grimn. App. 49. 
 
 Mims (gen.). Spell S. 7, Sonat. 88; II. 
 
 62. 17, 
 Mimir = Mimr, Vsp. 57, 63. 
 Mimis-brunnr, Vsp. 57. 
 Miollnir, VJ)m. 204, Lokas. 230, f>kv. 
 
 124, Hym. 139. 
 Mioto5r, Vsp. 8, 140. 
 Mist, Grimn. App. 17. 
 Mistil-teinn, Vsp. 69, Malsh. 33. 
 Mistor-blindi (miscor- ?), Hym. 6. 
 M65i, V{)m. 204, Hym. 130. 
 MogJ)rasir, VJjm. 195. 
 Moinn, Grimn. no. 
 Morn, Haust. 48. 
 Mornir, II. 382. 
 Motsognir, Sh. Vsp. 9. 
 Mundilfori (Paramanthas), VJjm. 89. 
 Muninn, Grimn. App. 9 ; I. 80. 1 5. 
 Muspells-synir, Lokas. 170, Vsp. 124. 
 
 Nabbi, Hyndl. 142. 
 
 Naglfar, Vsp. 117. 
 
 Nal (ogress), I, 575. 
 
 Narfi = Nari, Yt. 37. 
 
 Nau8 (rune), O. W. PI. 219, Run. 8. 
 
 Neri, Helgi i. 15. 
 
 Ni6h6ggr, Grimn. 104, 117, Vsp. 175. 
 
 Ni8i, Sh.Vsp. II, 
 
 Nior3r, V^m. 149, Grimn. 57, App. 26, 
 
 Lokas. 136, 144, Skim. 163, {)kv. 91, 
 
 Arinb. 68. 
 Niorun, II. 335. 89. 
 Nor5ri, Sh. Vsp. 11. 
 Nornir, O. W. PI. 107-112, Ham8. 128, 
 
 135, Helgi i. 5, 241, W. W. L. 78, 
 
 Yt. 158, L. B. L. 28, Tregr. 19, 
 
 Hlod A, 109, Fragm. (1. 347) 3, 
 
 Wick. 13, Krakom. 1 1 7. 
 Norvi (Night's father), VJ)m. 98, Alvm. 
 
 215, Sonat. 95. 
 Nott, O. W, PI. 205, VJim. 48, 96, 
 
 Alvm. 115. 
 Nyi, Sh.Vsp. 11. 
 Nykr (nix, water goblin), Kont. 298. 
 
 68inn (Woden), Love L. 15, 55, Havam. 
 II sqq., Vfim. 159, 208, 216, Grimn. 
 23 sqq.. Riddles 135, Lokas. 33 sqq.. 
 Skim. 133, Harb. 22, 76, Doom 5 sqq., 
 Firm. I sqq,, Hakm. 4, 36, 44, Vsp.
 
 664 
 
 INDEX I. I. 
 
 31 sqq., Sh. Vsp. 44, Helgi i. 273, 
 
 298, 324, Hialm. D. 10 ; L. B. L. 318 ; 
 
 I. 368. No. 58. See Thulor 1 13-1 14, 
 
 Excurs. II. 461 sqq. 
 08ins sonr=Baldr, Skim. 80, Husd. 3, 
 
 Doom 32. 
 OSins sonr = Thor, J)kv. 87, 134, Hym. 
 , 133. Vsp. 152. 
 09r, Vsp. 87, Hyndl. 143, 145. 
 09-rerir, Love L. 46, Havam. 21, 
 CE5i (character), Skirn. 150. 
 Ofnir (serpent), Grimn. 112, App. 55. 
 Oinn, O. W. PI. 5. 
 01gefn = I6un, Haust. 41. 
 Olvaldi (giant), Harb. 55. 
 6mi, Grimn. App. 45. 
 Ondor-dis, Hit. 14, Bragi 61. 
 Ondor-go9, Haust. 26. 
 Opi (character), Skirn. 113. 
 Orgelmir, V{)m. 114. 
 Ormr, Skirn. 107, Hym. 85, 89, Vsp. 152. 
 dm (constellation). Spell S, 15. 
 Oski, Grimn. App. 45. 
 Oss (i.e. ass, rune), Run. 4. 
 OJ)i65an, II. 355. 
 (3j)oli (character), Skim. 1 1 3, 1 50. 
 
 Ra6-gri6, Grimn. App. 21. 
 
 Ragna-rok, VJjm. 221, Doom 57, Vsp. 
 
 107, Helgi i. 303. 
 Ragna-rokr (twilight), Lokas. 159. 
 Ran, Helgi i. 1 1 7, Rimeg. 27, Sonat. 29. 
 RandgniSr, Thulor 648. 
 Randgri3 =-gnid, Grimn. App. 21. 
 Rata-toskr, Grimn. loi. 
 Rati, Love L. 40. 
 Regin (powers), Hakm. 57, Vsp. 20 sqq., 
 
 Haust. 40, \\xt\.. 152, Grimn. 17, 120, 
 
 Lokas. 15, Flyt. I v. 6. 
 Reginleif, Grimn. App. 21. 
 Rei6 (rune). Run. 5. 
 Reiai-tyr, Haust. 78. 
 Rigr, Stigandi, Righ 4 sqq. 
 Rindr (Wrindr), Doom 41 ; II. 33. 10. 
 R66i (wind), Sonat. 35. 
 Rognar, Havam. 31. 
 Rognir (Woden), Spell S. 12. 
 Rokkvi, Arinb. 90. 
 
 Sa8r, Grimn. App. 36. 
 
 Saga, Grimn. 23. 
 
 Salgofnir (cock), Helgi i. 318. 
 
 Sann-getall, Grimn. App. 36. 
 
 Saegr (bucket), I. 78. 18. 
 
 Sae-hrimnir, Grimn. App. 2. 
 
 Sei3-berendr. Sh. Vsp. 36. 
 
 Si3-grani, Alvm. 22. 
 
 Si6-hottr (Woden), I. 80, 
 
 Sia-skeggr (Woden), I. 80. 
 
 Sif, Harb. 128, |>kv. 100, Hym. 11. 
 
 Sig-foSr, I. 80, Lokas. 236, Vsp. 147. 
 Sig-riinar (runes), O. W, PI. 212. 
 Sig-tivar, O. W. PI. 152, Grimn. App. 
 
 27, Lokas. 4, Vsp. 107. 
 Sig-tyr, Akv. 119 ; I. 79. 2. 
 Sigyn, Vsp. 92, Haust. 25. 
 Silfrin-toppr (horse), Grimn. 92. 
 Sinir (horse), Grimn, 92. 
 Siofn, n. 335. 87. 
 Ska5i (giantess), Grimn. 39, Sh. Vsp. 42, 
 
 Hit. 12. 
 Skeggjold, Grimn. App. 18. 
 SkeiQ-brimir, Grimn. 91. 
 Ski5-blaSnir, Grimn. App. 24; I. 77. 2. 
 Skilfingr, Grimn. App. 53. 
 Skin-faxi (Sun's horse), Vj)m, 41. 
 Skirnir, Skirn. i sqq. 
 Skogul, Grimn. App. 18, I. 80; Hakm. 
 
 I-34- 
 
 Skoll (Wulf), Grimn. 126. 
 Skoll-blcetr (Woden), Hit, 9 n. 
 Skrymir, Lokas. 251. 
 Skuld (Norn), Helgi and Sigr. 2, Atlam. 
 
 5, Vsp. 59 ; I. 80. 
 Sledi (constellation). Spell S. 13. 
 Sleipnir, Doom 6, Sh. Vsp. 27, Yt. 48 ; 
 
 I- 77- 3. 
 Sokk-mimir, Grimn. App. 47, Yt. 9. 
 Sol, VJ)m. 88, 184, Grimn. 119, 122. 
 S61 (rune). Run. 11. 
 Sol-biartr, Svipd. M. 235. 
 S61-blindi, Svipd. M. loi. 
 Sol-katla, Chr. W. App. 10. 
 Son, Sonar (Soma), Hyndl. 46, O. G. L. 
 
 123, Husd. 9 n. ; II. 51. 10 ; 80. 33. 
 StorkySr (giant), II. 27. 2. 
 Su6ri, Sh. Vsp. 11. 
 Sumarr, VJ)m. 103. 
 Suptungr (Soma giant). Love L. 34, 54, 
 
 57. Hit. 5. 
 Suptungs-s)'nir, Alvm. 136, Skirn. 138. 
 Surta-logi, VJ)m. 201. 
 Surtr,O.W.PI.ii6,Vt.m.64,Vsp.i22,i44. 
 Sva3il-fceri (horse), Sh. Vsp, 27. 
 Svafnir (serpent), Grimn. 112, App. 55. 
 Svafr-J)orinn, Svi{). M. 93. 
 Svalinn (Sun's disk), Grimn, 122. 
 Svarangs-synir, Harb. 90. 
 Svart-h6f3i, Sh. Vsp. 36. 
 SvasoSr, VJ)m. 106. 
 Svelnir, Bragi 21, Haust. 60. 
 Svi3orr, Grimn. App. 47. 
 SviSrir, VJ)m. 219 n., Grimn. App. 47. 
 Svipall, Grimn. App. 36. 
 Svivor (^ogress), II. 27. 7. 
 Syr, n. 33. I. 
 
 Tiosull (character). Skim. 113. 
 Topi (character), Skirn. 113. 
 Troll, I. 357 sqq. Nos. r, 2, 38,
 
 MYTHOLOGIC BEINGS. 
 
 665 
 
 Tyr (Tew), Lokas. 152, Hym. 15, Run. 
 
 12; II. 3.^.^44. 
 Tyr (rune), O. W. PI. 215, Run. 12. 
 
 U3r, Grimn. App. 34. 
 
 Ulfr, VJ)m. 210, Lokas. 158, 235, Harb. 
 
 126, Hym. 91, Yngl. 37, Eirm. 26, 
 
 Sh. Vsp. 26, 64, Vsp. 145, Sonat. 90, 
 
 Haust. 30. 
 Ulfr (constellation), Spell S. 15. 
 Ulf-riin, Hyndl. 43. 
 Ullr, Akv. 120, Grimn. 13, Haust. 57. 
 Upp-regin, Alvm. 40. 
 Ur (rune), Run. 2. 
 Ur3r, Svipd. M. 237, Vsp. 49, Gkv. 95 ; 
 
 II. 33. 12. 
 
 Vafa8r, Hakm. App. 2. 
 
 Vaf-{)ru3nir, VJim. 2 sqq. 
 
 Vagni (Woden), Alvm. 11, HofuSl. 74. 
 
 Val-fo&r (Woden), I. 80, Vsp. 59. 
 
 Vali, V^m. 202, Svipd. M. 22, Doom 41, 
 
 Sh.Vsp.45. 
 Val-kyrjor, Helgi i. 158, Dart. 26, Eirm. 
 
 2, Hakm. 26, Husd. 9 ; see Thulor. 
 Val-tamr, Doom 21, 50, 
 Val-tivar, Hm. i, 
 Val-tyr, Hit. 50. 
 
 Vanar-gandr (serpent), I. 575, [Vsp.?] 
 Vaningi, Skirn. 156. 
 Vanir, Spell S. 26, 155, Alvm. 38 sqq., 
 
 Skirn. 64, pkv. 61, Vsp. 76. 
 Vanr (Niord), II. 166. 
 V4r, ^kv. 125, Thulor 166. 
 Var-kaldr, Svip. M, 86. 
 Veg-tamr (Woden), Doom 21, 50. 
 V^i, Lokas. 106. 
 Veo3r = Veorr, Haust. 43. 
 Veorr (Thor), Hym. 43, 64, 83, 151, 
 
 Vsp. 153. 
 Vera-tyr (Woden), Grimn. 6, 
 Ver3andi, Vsp. 49. 
 Vettr (winter), Vfim. 103. 
 Vi3arr,Vt)m. 202, 211, Grimn. 62, Lokas. 
 
 37, Vsp. 148. 
 Vi6-blindi (giant), II. 300. 2. 
 Vi3-gymir, Husd. 19. 
 Vidolfr, Sh. Vsp. 34. 
 ViSorr, I. 357. No, i. 
 ViSrir, Lokas. 106, Helgi i. 32, HofuSl. 
 
 I, 12, Arinb. 50, Sonat. 3. 
 Vig-dvalinn (dwarf), Chr. W. App. 12. 
 Vili, Lokas. 106, Yt, II, Sonat. 86. 
 
 Vili (Wloki's son), Vsp. 91. 
 
 Vil-mei3r, Sh. Vsp. 35. 
 
 Vind-kaldr, Svipd. M. 86. 
 
 Vinga-niei&r, Havam. 9, Hit. 20. 
 
 Vingi (Woden), Havam. 9, Hit, 20. 
 
 Vingnir, Haust. 73; I. 574. 
 
 Ving-rognir (Woden), Haust. 15. 
 
 Ving-J)6rr, Alvm. 21, Jjrymskv. I. 
 
 Vitki, Sh. Vsp. 35. 
 
 Vitnir, VJ)m. 213, Grimn. 76. 
 
 Vloki = Loki, Vsp. 91. 
 
 Volsi (Phallus idol), II. 381, 382. 
 
 Volva, Spell S. 19, Doom 14 sqq., Sh. 
 
 Vsp. 34, Helgi i. 154. 
 Vrindr, Svip. M. 22, Doom 41. 
 Vroska, Husd. 27. 
 Vulfr ( = Ulfr), Lokas. 37, Bragi 12. 
 
 Yggdrasils askr, Grimn. 88, 96-1 1 7, Vsp. 
 
 43. 136. 
 '^ggJ"-galgi=Yggdrasill, Sonat. 73. 
 Yggjungr, Vsp. 105. 
 Yggr, Grimn. 140; I. 347. No. i, Arinb. 
 
 23; II- 33- 10. 
 Ymir,V{)m.77,i09,Sh.Vsp.37; II. 55.9- 
 Yr (rune). Run. 16. 
 
 |>ekkr, Grimn. App. 34. 
 
 Jjialfi, Harb. no, {>d. 40. 
 
 |>iazzi, Grimn. 57, Lokas. 203, Harb. 54, 
 
 Sh. Vsp. 41,' Grott. 39; II. 33. 6, 
 
 Malsh. 31. 
 {ji63-reyrir, Havam. T09. 
 f)i66-vitnir, Grimn. 65. 
 |)okk (ogress), I. 126. 17. 
 |)6rr, Grimn. 11, 86, Lokas. 234 sqq., 
 
 Harb. 24, 77, Jikv. 35 sqq., |>d. ; II. 
 
 33. 16 pass.; see Thulor 150-154, 
 
 and Excurs. 413-465. 
 fiorri, II. 523. 
 
 |)rivaldi, Bragi 59; II. 27. 1. 
 {>r6r, Grimn. App. 43. 
 |>ru3-gelmir, VJ)m. 1 13. 
 {jru3-hamarr, Lokas. 229, 245, 254. 
 |>ru3na-^urs, Flyt. Iv. 17. 
 {>ru3r, Grimn. App. 19, Bragi 2 ; II. 26. 
 
 9; 81. 52. 
 |>r(i3-valdr, Harb. 24. 
 |)rymr, fjkv. 18 sqq. 
 |)u3r, Grimn. App. 34. 
 f)undr, Havam. 48, Grimn. App. 52. 
 fjurs (character), Skirn. 149, Run. 3, 
 |jursar, Skirn. 39, Jikv. 18 sqq., Vsp. 39. 
 
 2. HEROIC BEINGS, 
 
 A8ils, Yt. loi, Biark. 4, Kv. 11, I. 190. 
 Agnarr (Audo broSir), W. W. L. 83. 
 Agnarr (Geirrod's son), Grimn. 5 and «. 
 Agnarr (Ragnar's son), II, 348. 
 
 Agni, Skialfar-ver, Yt. 49, Langft. 
 Ala-dolgr (nickname), Yt. 108. 
 Alfhildr, II. 526. 
 Alfr (Yngling), Yt. 61.
 
 666 
 
 INDEX I. 2. 
 
 Alfr, Gamli, Helgi i. 215. 
 
 Alfr inn Gamli, Hyndl. 116. 
 
 Alfr, Helgi i. 54. 
 
 Alfr, Helgi ii. 81 ; II. 527. 
 
 Alf-rekr, Yt. 55. 
 
 Ali (Anila), Kv. 7, Bragi 67, Hyndl. 81. 
 
 Alof, II. 527. 
 
 Al-rekr, Hlod A. 4. 
 
 Al-svi3r (son of Heimi), Lac. Lays. 
 
 Al-veig, Hyndl. 56. 
 
 Amr, Hyndl. 78. 
 
 An Bogsveigir, II. 556. 
 
 Ana-sott, Yt. 76. 
 
 Angan-tyr, Hyndl. 84, Hialm. D. 23. 
 
 Angan-tyr (King Hlod's brother), Hlod 
 
 and A. 2 sqq. 
 Ani or Aun (the Old), Yt. 76. 
 Arngrimr (father of the Bearsarks), 
 
 Hyndl. 79, 82. 
 Arngrims-synir, Hyndl. 82-88, Wak. 37, 
 
 Aslaug, Krakom, II. 347 sqq. 
 
 Asmundr (Gn66ar-), Malsh. 31. 
 
 Asmundr, II. 553. 
 
 Asolfr, Hyndl. 130. 
 
 Atall, II. 40. 44; 81. 37. 
 
 Atli (Attila), Akv., L. B. L., Sh. B. L., 
 
 O. G. L., Oddr., Ord., Tregr., Atlam. 
 
 pass., I. 80. II, etc. 
 Atli, Imundarson, Helgi ii. 5, Rimeg. 13 
 
 sqq. 
 Atli, Helgi i. 215. 
 Atridi, Jj^. 10. 
 Au6a (AuSr?), W. W. L. 83, L. B. L. 
 
 317- 
 Aufii, [Hyndl.] 
 
 Au5rdiiip-au9ga(-hug5a),Hyndl.,Langft. 
 Aun, Yt. 76, 
 
 Barri, Hyndl. 85. 
 
 Bekk-hildr, Lac. Lays. 
 
 Beli (nickname), II. 349. 
 
 Bera, Yt. 65. 
 
 Bera = Kostbera, Am. 182. 
 
 Baesingr (sword), Thulor 257. 
 
 Biarr, Kv. 10. 
 
 Bikki, Ham6. 85, L. B. L. 253. 
 
 Biorn, Kv. 10. 
 
 Biorn, larnsiSa, II. 353. 149. 
 
 Blakkr (horse), {>]?. 6, Kv. 10. 
 
 Blindr, bolvisi, II. 528. 
 
 B69vildr, Volskv. 102 sqq, 
 
 Bolvisi (nickname), II. 528. 
 
 Borghildr, Helgi i, 4. 
 
 Borgny, Oddr. 17, 20. 
 
 Bragi, [Hyndl.] 
 
 Bragi, Helgi i. 243. 
 
 Bragi, I. 77. 4. 
 
 Bragningar, [Hyndl] 
 
 Brami, Hyndl. 85. 
 
 Brandingi (?), Malsh. 29. 
 
 Brandr, iarl, [Hit.], Langft. 
 
 Broddr, Hyndl. 
 
 Brynhildr, Grip. 1 06, Tapestry Lays /xjss. 
 
 Brynjolfr, Hit., Langft. 
 
 Bu51a-nautr (sword), Hild. 6. 
 
 BuSli (Attila's and Brunhild's father), 
 
 Hyndl., Grip. 107, L. B. L. 225, 269, 
 
 O. G. L. 86, Am. 128. 
 Bu61ungar, Hyndl. 
 Bui, Hyndl. 85. 
 
 Dagr (ancestor of Daylings), Hyndl. 65, 
 
 76. 
 Dagr, Helgi i. (I. 377), Kv. i. 
 Dagr, Yt. 41, 58. 
 Danr, Righ 191. 
 Danpr, Righ 191. 
 Danskr, O. G. L. 47. 
 Diup-au3ga (-hug8a, ekename), Hyndl., 
 
 Langft. 
 Doglingar, [Hyndl.] 
 Domaldi, Yt. 26. 
 Domarr, Yt. 31. 
 
 Drag-vendill (sword), II. 559, Thul. 232. 
 Drengja-moSir (ekename), Hyndl. 77. 
 Drosull (horse), Kv. i. 
 Drott (Queen), Hild. 3. 
 Dyggvi, Yt. 35. 
 
 Egill (the archer), Volkv. 5, Hyndl. 
 
 91 (?) ; n. 37. 50. 
 Egill, Yt. 88. 
 ^gir(?), Helgi i. 231. 
 Eirekr, Yt. 55. 
 Eitill, Akv. 146, Ham3. 31. 
 Endill, Arnor v. 17. 
 Erla, Righ 158. 
 
 Erpr, Ham6. 72, 124, Bragi 26. 
 Erpr, the younger, Akv. 146, HamS. 30. 
 Eyfura, Wak. 39, Hyndl. 83. 
 Eyjolfr, Helgi i. 54. 
 Eylimi (Swava's father), Helgi ii. 68, 
 
 W. W. L. 20, Grip. 34. 
 Eymundr, Austmanna Konungr, Hyndl. 
 
 54- 
 Eynefir, Bragi 48. 
 Eysteinn (King), Yt. IIO. 
 Eysteinn, beli, II. 349 ; Skaldatal. 
 Eysteinn, glumra, Langft. 
 
 Fasti, Yt. 97. 
 
 Faxi (horse), II. 81. 44. 
 
 Fenja, Grott. 2, Biark. 10. 
 
 Finnz-leif (coat of mail), Thulor 316. 
 
 Fiolnir (king), Yt. 2. 
 
 Fiornir, Akv. 40. 
 
 Fior-svafnir (sword), Thulor 242.
 
 HEROIC BEINGS. 
 
 667 
 
 Fitiungr, Chr. W. 133. 
 
 Folkvir (horse), Kv. 12. 
 
 Fradmar, Hyndl. 
 
 Franmar, 11. 527. 
 
 Freki, Hyndl. 
 
 Fri&-Fr63i, Langft. 
 
 Fri9-leifr (Peace-King), Grott. 3, Langft. 
 
 Fridsami (nickname), Langft. 
 
 Fr65a-fri3r, Helgi i. 51. 
 
 Fr63i (Peace-Frodi), Grott. 3 sqq., Yt. i, 
 
 99, Run. 10. 
 Froekni (nickname), Langft. 
 
 Gautrekr, H. 360. 7. 
 
 Geir-hildr, 1. 358. No. 5. 
 
 Geir-Hniflungar, Akv. 95 />ass. 
 
 Geir-mimir, Helgi i. 56. 
 
 Geir-mundr, Oddr. 108. 
 
 Geir-roe6r (King), Grimn. 134; see U. 
 
 525. 
 Geir-{)i6fr, H. 548. 
 Geitir, Grip. 9 sqq. 
 Gestum-blindi, Riddl. 
 Giaflaug (Giiiki's sister), Gkv. 14. 
 Gils (horse), {>{). ir. 
 Gisl, Yt, 20. 
 Gitzorr (Grytinga-liai), Hlod A. 2, 95, 
 
 Malsh. 85. 
 Giiiki, W. W. L. 63, Grip. 55 sqq., 
 
 L. B. L. I, O. G. L. 3 sqq. 
 Giiika-synir, Grip. 188, 199, L. B. L. 
 
 307, Oddr. 101, Gkv. 66, 77, Am. 4. 
 Giukungar, L. B, L. 140. 
 Glammi, Bragi 14. 
 Glaumr (horse), Akv. 113, Kv. 11. 
 Glaumvor, Am. 23, 74, 107. 
 Glaer (horse), {>J). II. 
 Glumra (ekename), Langft, 
 GnuS (ship), Malsh. 31. 
 Gn63ar-Asmundr, Ski9a R. 
 Go5gestr, [Hit.], Langft. 
 Go&hiallti, [Hit.], Langft. 
 Go6-konungr, Yt. 133. 
 GoSlaugr, Hit. 15, Langft. 
 Go6mundr, L 358. No. 6. 
 GoQmundr, Granmars son, Helgi i. 123 
 
 sqq. 
 Go6ny (Giiiki's daughter), IL 540. 
 Go(irce5r, Flyt. Iv. 13. 
 Go6run, see Gudriin. 
 Goll-faxi (horse), ftp. 8. 
 Gollnir, Helgi i. 178. 
 Goll-rond (Giiiki's daughter), Gkv. 43, 
 
 60, 93, 
 Goll-toppr (horse), f)^. 3. 
 Gothornir, Grott. 59. 
 Gothormr (Giiiki's son). Grip. 198, 
 
 L. B. L. 81, Sh. Br. L. 12, Hyndl. 
 Goti (horse), pp. 3, Kv. 13. 
 
 Gramr (sword), O. W. PI. 157, L. B. L. 
 89; H. 33. 8. 
 
 Grani (horse), Helgi i. 173, Grip, 20, 
 Oddr. 79, Biark. II, Kv. 13, L. B, L. 
 161, O. G. L. 9-15. 
 
 Granmarr, Helgi i. 72. 
 
 Granmars synir, Helgi i. 185, 239. 
 
 Grimhildr, Grip. 130 sqq., Oddr. 57, 
 O. G. L. 56 sqq.. Am. 257. 
 
 Gripir, Grip. 3 sqq. 
 
 Gripr, Malsh. 26. 
 
 Grotti (mill), Grott. 42. 
 
 Grytinga-li5i (ekename), Hlod A. 95. 
 
 GuSriin, Hamd. Akv., Grip., O. G, L., 
 Am. pass. ; U. 166. 
 
 Gunnar (Gundhere), Akv., Grip., Tapes- 
 try Songs, Atlam. pass. 
 
 Gusir (Guso, Saxo Gr,), H. 557. 
 
 Gusis-nautar (arrows), H. 550. 80, 
 
 Gusis-smidi (arrows), Thulor 293, 
 
 Gylaugr, [Hit.], Langft. 
 
 Gylfi, Helgi i. 201, Bragi 41; IL 8i. 
 42. 
 
 Gyllir (horse), pp. 12. 
 
 Gyr3r (Gurth), Hyndl. 
 
 Haddingjar, Kv. 4, O. G. L. 126. 
 Haddingjar (twins), Hyndl. 86. 
 Haddingja-skaSi (not -skati), Kv. 4 ; see 
 
 n, 528 = Helgi iii. 
 Haddiiigr, Helgi iii. 4, 38. 
 Ha-feti (horse), Kv. 2. 
 Hagall, Helgi iii. 5. 
 Hagbar&r, Yt. 73, [Lac. Lays]; IL 64. 16, 
 
 6.H- 
 Haki.Kv. 2; 11.534; cp.Yngl.S. eh. 27. 
 Haki Hrodniarson, Hyndl. 
 Hakon, O. G. L. 45. 
 Halfdan Snialli, Flyt. Iv. 5, Langft. 
 Halfdan (Kara's father), Helgi iii. 53. 
 Halfdan (Danish King), Grott. 80 ; II. 
 
 361. II. 
 Halfr, Yt. 32 ; (II. 553.) 
 Halfr (Denmark), O. G. L. 42. 
 Halfs-rekkar, II. 553. 
 Hamall, Helgi iii. 4. 
 Ham6er (Hamtheow), Ham3. 22 sqq., 
 
 Bragi 33 ; II. 166. 
 Hamr, II. 361. 
 Hand-rami {manu forlis, nickname), 
 
 [Hit.], Langft. 
 Haraldr, Hilditann, Hyndl. 97. 
 Har3-grcipr (ekename), Biark. 5. 
 Hari (ekename), Langft. 
 Hcirr, har3-greipr, Biark. 5. 
 Ha,var3r, Helgi i. 5,5. 
 Htivarr, handrami, [Hit.], Langft. 
 HeOinn (Hild's husband), Bragi 5 «., 15, 
 
 Ski3a R. ; see II, 4, 5.
 
 668 
 
 INDEX I. 2. 
 
 He3inn (Helgi's brother), Helgi ii. 46, 
 
 64, 89. 
 Hei6rekr (the wise), Riddle 5 sqq., Wak. 
 
 100, Hlod A. 9 sqq. 
 Hei9rekr (Ordrun's father), Oddr. 4, 
 Heimgestr, Hul&ar-br63ir, [Hit.], Langft. 
 Heimir, Grip. 73. 105, L. B. L. 309, 
 
 [Lac. Lays]; IL 532 sqq. 
 Heimski (nickname), Hyndl. 
 Heiti (sea-king), Arnor vi. 64; see IL 
 
 523- 
 Helgi, Hundings-bani, Helgi i. 3 sqq. 
 Helgi, Haddingja-ska5i, Helgi iii. pass. 
 Helgi, Hiorvardz son, Helgi ii. pass., 
 
 Rimeg. pass. 
 Helgi (Hroar's brother), Langft. ; IL 
 
 361. II. 
 Helgi, hvassi, Flyt. Iv. 11. 
 Hemingr, Helgi iii. i. 
 Herborg, Gkv. 21, 
 Heri, II. 359. 10. 
 Herkja (Attila's queen), Oddr. 6, 35, 
 
 38. 
 Herlaugr, [Hit.], Langft. 
 Hervar9r, Hyndl. 84, Wak. 8, 33. 
 Hervor, Wak. 28, 29, 86. 
 Hervor (swan-maid), Volkv. 59. 
 HerJ)i6fr, II. 548. 
 Hialldr, I. 318. 9. 
 Hialli, Atlam. 212 sqq. 
 Hialmarr, Hialm. D. pass, 
 Hialmars-bani = Tyrfing, Wak. 77' 7^' 
 
 107. 
 Hialprekr, II. 529, [Lac. Lays.] 
 Hiarrandi (^Heorend), Bragi 19. 
 Hildibraiidr, Hild., [Hyndl.] 
 Hildigunnr, Hyndl. 
 Hildingar, Hyndl. 
 Hildir, Hyndl. 64, 
 
 Hildi-tann, Hyndl., Langft.; II. 48. 16. 
 Hildr (Hedin's wife), Bragi 16. 
 Himinleygr, [Hit.], Langft. 
 Hior-dis, Grip. 12, Hyndl. 
 Hiorleifr (^Hord King), IL 359. 5 sqq. 
 Hiorleifr (son of Hunding), Helgi i. 90. 
 HiorvarSr, Hyndl. 84, Wak. 8, 33. 
 HiorvarSr (son of Hunding), Helgi i. 55, 
 Hla5gu3r, Volkv. 9, 42, 59. 
 Hledis (gy3ja), Hyndl. 
 H169r, Hlod A. 5 sqq. 
 HloQvarr, Rimeg. 32. 
 Hloaverr, Volkv. 59, O. G. L. 82. 
 Hnefill, Hyndl. 64. 
 
 Hnifiungar (Nibelungs), Akv. 6, 42, 47, 
 70, 103, 107, Hyndl. 69, Helgi i. 198, 
 Biark. 19, Tregr, 18, Sh. B. L. 63, 
 Atlam. 158, 175. 
 Hniflungr, Atlam. 318. 
 Hnoeggvan-baugi (ekename), Langft. 
 
 H<3 (dog), n. 361. 
 
 HoSbroddr, Helgi i. 73, Volskv. 7. 
 
 Ho3broddr, [Hit.], Langft. 
 
 Hoefir (ox), Yt., |>J). 14. 
 
 Hogna-dottir ( = Sigrun), Helgi i. 67, 
 
 Volskv. II. 
 Hogni (Hageno), Akv., Grip., Tapestry 
 
 Lays, Am. ^ass., Kv. T2. 
 Hogni (Hild's father), Bragi 4, 
 Hogni (Haki? Sigar's brother), Helgi 
 
 iii. 18. 
 Hogni, Helgi i. 214, 
 Hcekings synir, II. 358. 
 Hcelkver (horse), Kv. 12. 
 Hoengr, II. 556. 
 Hoppr (dog), II. 361. 
 Horar, Flyt. Iv. I. 
 Horfir, Hyndl. 
 
 Hrafn (horse), y^. i, Kv. 7. 
 Hrani, Wak, 33, Hyndl. 84. 
 Hrani, IL 361. 
 
 Hrau3ungr, Grimn. (II. 524), Hyndl. 
 HreiSarr, II. 359. 12. 
 Hreiamarr, [O. W. PI.] ; IL 529. 
 Hringja (ekename), II. 359. 9. 
 Hringr (ekename), Langft. 
 Hrings-synir, Helgi i. 214. 
 Hroarr, Langft.; II. 361. 
 HroSgeirr, Hyndl. 
 Hroamarr, Helgi ii. 42, 59. 
 Hroamarr, Hyndl. 
 Hrokr, Svarti, [Hyndl.] ; II. 553. 
 Hrolfr, Gamli (King), Hyndl" 
 Hrolfr (Kraki), Biark. 23, Langft. 
 Hrolfr Skiotandi, Biark. 5. 
 Hrollaugs-synir, Helgi i. 245. 
 Hromundr, Gripsson, Malsh. 26. 
 Hrcerekr, Flyt. Iv. 9, Hyndl. 
 HrcErekr, slcengvan-baugi, Hj'ndl. Langft. 
 Hroerekr, hnoggvan-baugi, Langft. 
 Hrotti (sword), Thulor 232. 
 Huld (witch, sibyl), Yt. 14. 
 Huiaar-br66ir (nickname), [Hlt.1, Langft. 
 Humli, Hlod A. i. 
 Humlungr, Hlod A. 36. 
 Hiina-kappi, Hild. 33. 
 Hunar, Akv., Ham6., Am., O. G. L. 50. 
 
 Hlod A. 1, pass. 
 Hundingr, Helgi i. 39, 293. 
 Hundings-bani, Helgi i. 220. 
 Hundings-synir, Helgi i. 42, W. W. L. 19, 
 
 Grip. 35. 
 Hiin-konungar, Hama. 15, 44. 
 Hiin-megir, Hild. 23. 
 Hvassi (nickname), Flyt. Iv. 11. 
 Hvitmylingar (arrows), Thulor 28S. 
 Hymlingr, II. 526. 
 
 larizcar (?), O. G. L. 70.
 
 HEROIC BEINGS. 
 
 669 
 
 larizleifr (?), O. G. L, 69. 
 
 larn-skioldr, Hyndl. 
 
 I&mundr, Helgi ii. 5. 
 
 Illra&i (nickname), Yt. 1 29, 
 
 Ingialldr, StarkaSar fostri, Langft, 
 
 Ingialldr iOraSi, Yt. 129, 
 
 Ingibiorg, Hialm. D. 52. 
 
 Inn-steinn, Hyndl. 
 
 lolfs-smiSi (arrows), Thulor 294, 
 
 lonakr, Yt. 122, L. B. L. 248, 250, 
 
 Idnakrs-synir, Ham3. 118, O. G. L. 250, 
 
 Yt. 123, Tregr. 26, Bragi 38. 
 lormun-froSi, Yt. 69. 
 lormunrekr (Eormanric), Ham3. 8 sqq., 
 
 L. B. L. 254, Hyndl. 105, Bragi 23. 
 lor-undr, Yt. 69. 
 losurr, Hyndl. 
 Is-61fr, Hyndl. 
 Isungr, Helgi i. 78. 
 Isungs-bani, Helgi i. 78. 
 Ivarr. Vi6fa6mi, Hyndl., Langft., [Flyt. 
 
 Iv.] 
 
 Kara Halfdanar dottir, see Helgi iii and 
 
 H. 528. 
 Kerti (horse), Kv. 10. 
 KetiU, Hyndl, 
 Kiarr, Akv. 29, Volkv. 6, 60, Hlod 
 
 A. 3. 
 
 Klyppr, Hyndl. 
 
 Knef-roeSr, Akv. 2, 7. 
 
 Knui (Cneva), Grott. 60. 
 
 Konr, Righ 167. 
 
 Konr, ungr, Righ 174, 185. 
 
 Kost-bera, Am. 32. 
 
 Kraka, H. 347. 
 
 Kraki (ekename), Langft. 
 
 Lang-bar&ar, O. G. L, 72. 
 Langi-fotr (Hoeni), L 575. 
 Laud (sword), Thulor 235. 
 Leggbitr (sword), Thulor 237, 
 Leifi, Bragi 30. 
 L^ttfeti (horse), fj^). 2. 
 Litil-ati (ekename), Langft. 
 Lo&brok, Langft., Krakum. 3. 
 Lo3br6kar-synir, H. 359, 
 Lofaar, [Hyndl.] 
 Lof6i, [Hyndl.] 
 Lof6ungar, [Hyndl.] 
 Lofn-heiSr, O. W. PI. 33. 
 Logi, Yt. 52. 
 Lungr (horse), L 78. 4. 
 Lyng-hei6r, O. W. PI. 43. 
 Lyngvi, U. 530. 
 
 Maringar, L 59. 
 Marr (horse), I. 78. 4. 
 Meint)iofr (?), Kv. 6. 
 
 Melnir (horse), Helgi i. 211. 
 Menglo6, Svipd. M. 12, 92 sqq. 
 Menja, Grott. 2, 14. 
 Mikillati (ekename), Langft. 
 Mimingr (sword), Thulor 240, 
 Mistilteinn (sword), Thulor 240, 
 M63nir (horse), Kv. i. 
 Mor (horse), Kv. 6. 
 Morgin, Kv. 6. 
 
 Mundill Gamli, [Hit.], Langft. 
 Mylnir (horse), Helgi i. 211. 
 
 Nanna Nokkva-ddttir, Hyndl. 
 
 Neri (Nereiftr), U. 548. 
 Ni6u5r (King of Niars), Volkv. 25 sqq. 
 Nokkvi (Nanna's father), Hyndl. 
 NorSri (dwarf), Hallfr. i. 96. 
 
 Oddr Vi6forli, H. 549. 
 
 Oddr'in, L. B. L. 229, Oddr. 5 sqq. 
 
 Oddriinar-gratr (poem), Oddr. 126. 
 
 Oaiingar, [Hyndl.] 
 
 Olafr (Aleifrj, litilati, Langft. 
 
 OlmoSr, Hyndl. 
 
 Oirun, Volkv. 5. 60, [Hyndl.] 
 
 Olriinar-nautr (sword), Thulor 271. 
 
 Ondorr, Yt. 20. 
 
 Onundr, Yt. 123, 
 
 Orkningr, Am. 103, 
 
 Ormr-i-auga (nickname), Langft. 
 
 9tr, Biark. 15. 
 
 Ottarr, heimski, Hyndl. 
 
 Ottarr, vandil-kraka, Yt. 93. 
 
 Opioftan, H, 355. 
 
 Raa-barSr, Hyndl., Langft, 
 
 RaS-ny, Ch. W. 65. 
 
 Ragnar, LoSbrok, H. 341-353. 
 
 Rakni (sea-king), IL 35. 7. 
 
 Randverr (lormunrek's son), Darr. 5 ; II. 
 
 532, 541 ; Bragi 25. 
 Randverr (Ivar's father), Hyndl., Langft. 
 Reginn, O. W. PI. 143 sqq., W. W, L. 47, 
 
 Grip. 44; L 315. II ; Malsh. 5. 
 Reifnir (sea-king), Bragi 20. 
 Raer (sea-king), Bragi 22. 
 Raevill (sea-king), W. W. L. 23, 
 Rigr, Stigandi, Righ 4 sqq, 
 Rigr (larl), Righ i8i, 
 Rinar-malmr, L. B. L. 66. 
 Rognvaldr, U, 351, 115. 
 
 Saxi, Ord. 21, 
 
 Sx-fari, Hyndl. 
 
 Saemingr, Hit. 13, Langft, 
 
 Sae-reiSr, H. 526. 
 
 Sae-valdi, Chr. W. 37, 
 
 Sevi (king), Helgi iii, 39, 42, 47.
 
 670 
 
 INDEX I. 2. 
 
 Sigarr, Helgi iii. 18, Hit, 17, O. G. L. 
 
 55, Hyndl., [Lac. Lays] ; U. 534. 
 Sigarr (messenger), Helgi ii. 67. 
 Siggeirr, Helgi i. 168, O. G. L. 55, 
 
 [Hyndl.] 
 Sigmundr (Wolsung), "W. W. L, 2, Helgi 
 
 i. 21 sqq., O. G. L. 52, Hyndl. 8, Eirm. 
 
 16 [and pass, as father to Sigfred]. 
 Sigmundr (Sigfred's son), O. G. L. 95. 
 Signy, Yt. 54, [Hyndl.] 
 Signyjar ver = Hagbar5, Yt. 54. 
 Sigr-drif (-drifa ?), W. W. L, 77. 
 Sigr-linn, Helgi ii. I, 15, 66. 
 SigrceSr (Sigfred), O. W. PI. 147 sqq. ; 
 
 see SigurSr. 
 Sig-riin, Helgi i. pass., Volskv. 
 Sigtryggr, Hyndl. 55. 
 Sigur5r (Sigfred), W.W. L., Grip., Tapes- 
 try Songs, pass, 
 Siklingar, [Hyndl.] 
 Silfrin-ioppr (horse), 'p\i. 7. 
 Sin-fiotli (Sinfetila), W. W. L. 2, Helgi i. 
 
 32, 127-188, Eirm. 16; H. 528; see 
 
 H, 528, 529. 
 Sinir (horse), JjJ), 7. 
 Sin-ri66, H. 526. 
 Skafnortungr, U. 360. I. 
 Skart-heSinn, Chr. W. 45. 
 Skeia-brimir (horse), L 78. 11. 
 Skekkill, Hyndl. 
 Skelfir, Hyndl. 
 Skaeva9r (horse), f>J). 5. 
 Skiald-mevjar, Akv, 66, I 70, 
 Skialf (Queen), Yt, 50, 
 Skialfar-ver (nickname), Yt. 50, Langft. 
 Skilfingar, Yt. 91, Hyndl. 
 Skilfir, [Hyndl.] 
 Skioldr, [Hyndl.], Arnor vi. 56 ; see 
 
 Langft. 
 Skioldungar, W. W, L. 78, Sh. B, L. 58. 
 Skiotandi, Biark. 5. 
 Skofnungr (sword), Thulor 256. 
 Skrymir (sword), Thulor 235. 
 Skuldir (Norns), Helgi and Sigr. 2, Am. 5. 
 Skiirhildr, Hyndl. 
 Slagfi6r, Volkv. 7. 
 Sloengvir (horse = the thrower), Yt. 103, 
 
 Kv. II, (Slungnir.) 
 Snaer, gamli, H. 523. 
 Snaevarr, Atlam. 102. 
 Snialli (ekename), Flyt. Iv. 5. 
 Sniallr (Niel?), H. 328. 9. 
 Solarr, Atlam, 102, 
 
 Sorli (Sarila), Ham6, 40 sqq., Bragi 32. 
 Sorli goSraai, Chr. W. 81. 
 Sorli (lover), Malsh, 49, 
 Soti (horse), JaJ), 3, 
 Spor-vitnir (horse), Helgi i. 210, 
 StarkaSar-fostri (ekename), Langft. 
 
 StorkoSr (see Saxo), Malsh, 25 ; H. 548 ; 
 
 see L 466, 467, and Ski3a R, 325. 
 StorkuSr, Helgi i. 244. 
 Stiifr (horse), f>\). 5. 
 Svafnir (Sigrlind's father), Helgi ii, I, 
 SvafoSr, Chr, W. 45. 
 Svafor-166, [Lac. Lays] ; H. 538. 
 Svaforr, Chr. W. 2. 
 Svafr-lami, Wak. 32. 
 Svafr-logi, Chr. W. 2. 
 Svanhildr, Ham3. 7. 61, Tregr. 27-34, 
 
 L. B, L, 251, 
 Svanhvit, Volkv. 7, 
 Svanr, Rau5i, Hyndl, 
 Svava, Helgi ii. 72, 83, 95, Hyndl. 
 Sveg5ir, Yt, 6, 
 
 Sveigio3r (horse), Helgi i, 190. 
 Sver8-hialti, [Hit,], Langft, 
 Svipdagr, Svipd, M. 217, 226. 
 Svipo5r (horse), Helgi i, 190, 
 
 Tialldari (horse), J){), 2, Thulor 560. 
 
 Tindr, Hyndl. 
 
 Tofa (Hervar's mother), Wak. 30. 
 
 Totra, H, 361. 16. 
 
 Treg-rof (poem), Tregr, 58, 
 
 Tr^-telgja (eken.) =Vi3arteIgja, Langft, 
 
 Tryggvi=Dyggvi, Langft, 
 
 Trygill (nickname), [Hit.], Langft, 
 
 Tunni, Yt. 86, 
 
 Tunna-dolgr (nickname), [hidden in Yt, 
 
 86], Langft, 
 Tyrfingr (sword), Wak, 59, 96, Hlod A. 
 
 37, Thulor 256, 
 Tyrfingr (bearsark), Hyndl, 
 
 Ulfr, Hyndl. 
 Unarr, Ch, W, 37, 
 
 Valdarr (Mildi), O, G. L, 69, Hlod A. 3. 
 
 Langft, 
 Valr (horse), f)^. 2, Kv, 5. 
 Vandil-kraka (nickname"!, Yt, 100, 
 Vandill (sea-king), H, 81, 54. 
 Vanlandi, Yt. 12, 
 Varinn, Rimeg. 42, 
 Varr, H. 362, 
 Ve-bogi, Chr. W, 65. 
 Vear-Hallr, [Hit.], Langft. 
 VeiSi-konungr (nickname), Langft. 
 Vermundr, Vitri, Langft, 
 Ve-steinn, Kv. 5. 
 
 Via-faami (nickname), [Hyndl.], Langft. 
 Vifill, Kv. 5, 
 
 Vig-blxr (horse), Helgi i, 282. 
 Vigaa, [Hit.], see L 528. 
 Vigg (horse), L 78. 5. 
 Vigulfr, Chr. W. 82. 
 Vikarr, H. 548 ; see I. 466, 467.
 
 HEROIC AND MYTHOLOGIC GEOGRAPHY. 671 
 
 Vilmundr, Oddr. 2t. 
 
 Vingi, Am. 13, 108, 139. 
 
 Ving-skornir (horse), W. W. L. 76. 
 
 Visburr, Yt. 17. 
 
 Vitri (ekename), Langft. 
 
 Volsungar, Helgi i. 217, Bragi 56, Hyndl. 
 
 Volsungr, W. W. L. 32, O. B. L. 2 sqq. 
 
 Volundr (Wayland), Volkv. 9 sqq. 
 
 Vottr, Yt. 97. 
 
 Ylfingar, Helgi i. 17, 134, 346, iii. 31. 
 Yngvarr, Yt. 117, Thiod. iii. 88. 
 Yngvi, Helgi i. 215, Yt. 39, Hit. 17. 
 
 Yngvi (king), Yt. 64. 
 Yngvi -Freyr, Hit. 44. 
 Yrsa, Grott. 79. 
 
 {)akkra9r, Volkv. 161. 
 
 {)egn, |>{). 6. 
 
 Jjiaurikz = J>i63rekr, I. 59. 
 
 fjioSmarr (Theodrick's father), Ord 1 1. 
 
 |>i69rekr (Theodrick), Ord. 7, 17. 
 
 |j6ra, Drengja-moSir, Hyndl. 77. 
 
 |>6ra, hiortr, H. 347. 
 
 |)ra-maeli (poem?), Am. 384. 
 
 |>vinnill (sea-king), II. So. 35. 
 
 3. HEROIC AND MYTHOLOGIC GEOGRAPHY, 
 
 Alfheimr, Grimn. 15. 
 
 Algroen (isle), Harb. 42. 
 
 Am-svartnir, II. 637. 
 
 Andlangr, Thulor 490. 
 
 Ara-steinn, Helgi i. 54. 
 
 Ar-heimar, Hlod A. 11. 
 
 Asa-garSr = Asgard, |)kv. 16, 73, Hym. 
 
 24, Lokas. 149. 
 As-brii, Grimn. 89. 
 As-gar5r, {>kv. 73; II. 27. 3. 
 Aur-vangr, Sh. Vsp. 15. 
 Austr-vegar, Lokas. 239. 
 
 Barri, Skim. 161. 
 
 Bil-rost, O. W. PI. 119; I, 77. 4. 
 
 Bil-skirnir, Grimn. App. 14; II. 27. 8. 
 
 Bolm (in the east, Sweden), Hyndl. 
 
 Borgundar, Akv. 74. 
 
 Braga-lundr, Helgi iii. 33. 
 
 Bra-lundr= Bragalundr, Helgi i. 4. 
 
 Brandey, Helgi i. 85. 
 
 Bra-vollr, Helgi i. 173. 
 
 Brei6a-blik, Grimn. 41. 
 
 Brimir, Vsp. 161. 
 
 Bruna-vagar, Helgi iii. 25. 
 
 Brunn-akr, Haust. 35. 
 
 Danir, see p. 679. 
 
 Danmork, see p. 679. 
 
 Danpar-staSir, Hlod A. 30, Akv. 19 ; cp. 
 
 Righ. 
 Danskr, see p. 679. 
 Diin-heiar (?), Hlod A. 85. 
 Dylgja(?), Hlod A. 85. 
 
 Eli-vagar, VJim. 1 19, Hym. 17. 
 Eljii&nir, Malsh. 34 ; see II. 546. 
 
 Fen-salir, Vsp. 72. 
 Fiotur-lundr, Helgi i. 254. 
 Fivi (Fife), O. G. L. 55. 
 
 Folk-vangr, Grimn. 49. 
 Freka-steinn, Helgi i. 140, 219. 
 
 Gim-le, Vsp. 159. 
 
 Ginnunga-gap, Vsp. 12. 
 
 Ginnunga-ve, Haust. 58. 
 
 Gla5s-heimr, Grimn. 25. 
 
 Glitnir, Grimn. 53. 
 
 Gnipa-hellir, Vsp. 1 20. 
 
 Gnipa-Iundr, Helgi i. 118, 204. 
 
 Gnita-hei9r, Akv. 23, Volkv, 54,Grip.42. 
 
 Glasis-lundr, Helgi ii. 4. 
 
 God-heimr, Sonat. 44. 
 
 Go9-vegr, Hyndl. 18. 
 
 Go9-f)i69, Hamd. 59, Tregr, 32, Hlod A. 
 
 29, 50 sqq. 
 Gotnar, Ham8. 10, 84, 89, 106, 109,132. 
 
 Hlod A. 2. 
 Gotneskr, O. G. L. 56. 
 Grafar-oss, I. 352. 
 Griotuna-haugr, Haust. 54. 
 Gymis-gar3ar, Skim. 29 sqq. 
 
 Harva9a-fi611, I. 352. 
 
 Hata-fior9r, Rimeg. i. 
 
 Ha-tun, Helgi i. 31, 97. 
 
 Hava-hoU, Havam. 6, 125. 
 
 He9insey, He'gi i. 87. 
 
 Hei9ornir, Thulor 489. 
 
 Hel (place and goddess), see p. 662. 
 
 Hel-grind, Wak. 86. 
 
 Himin-biorg, Grimn. 84. 
 
 Himin-fioll, Helgi i. 2, 
 
 Himin-vangar, Helgi i, 31. 
 
 Hindar-fjall, W. W. L. 67. 
 
 Hlt-biorg, Helgi i. 245. 
 
 Hlei9rar-st611, Grott. 73. 
 
 Hlessey (Learsey), Harb. 105. 
 
 Hli9-skialf, II. 51. 7, Hallfr. v. 9 ; see II. 
 
 525- 
 Hlyni-dalar, L. B. L. 309, 313.
 
 672 
 
 INDEX I. 3. 
 
 Hlymir, Thulor 493. 
 
 Hnit-biorg, see I. 465. 
 
 Hnit-fioll, Hit. 8. 
 
 Hoddmimis-holt, VJ)m. 179. 
 
 Hraun-Valir (giants), Hym. 140 h. 
 
 Hregg-mimir, Thulor 489. 
 
 Hrei3-Gotar, VJ)m. 43. 
 
 Hrei3-mar (lake), I. 59. 
 
 Hring-sta3ir, Helgi i. 29. 
 
 Hring-st66, Helgi i. 31. 
 
 Hri66r, Thulor 493. 
 
 Huna-land, Oddr. 15, Hlod A. 5. 
 
 Hiin-lenzkr, Ham6. 64. 
 
 Hun-mork, Akv. 52. 
 
 Hunskr, L. B. L. 16, 264, O. G. L. 84, 
 
 Am. 362. 
 Hvera-brunnr, Vsp. 90. 
 Hver-gelmir, Grimn. 83. 
 
 IArn-vi5r, Sh. Vsp. 47. 
 
 I5a-vollr, Vsp. 33, 192. 
 
 Ifing (river), VJ)n). 57. 
 
 Jordan (?), Helgi i. 248. 
 
 lormun-grund, Grimn, App. 10. 
 
 loro-vellir, Sh. Vsp. 15. 
 
 lorva-sund, Helgi i. 95. 
 
 losor-fioll, Hlod A. 86. 
 
 I6tna-gar9ar, Love L. 49, Skim. 119, 
 
 I. 126. 26. 
 lotun-heimar, Skirn. 167, fjkv. 17 sqq., 
 
 Vsp. 40, 130, Haust. 27. 
 
 Ker-laug (river), Grimn. 85. 
 Kormt (river), Grimn. 85. 
 
 Leiptrar-vatn, Helgi i. 259. 
 Lima-fior5r, Am. 16. 
 Loga-fioll, Helgi i. 50, 57. 
 Lyfja-berg, Svipd. M. 192, 243. 
 Lyngvi, H. 637. 
 
 Mann-heimar, Hit. 11. 
 
 Mia-garSr, VJ)m. 82, Harb. 72, Hyndl. 
 
 36. Vsp. 18, 153. 
 Mimis-brunnr, Vsp. 57. 
 Moins-heimar, Helgi i. 187. 
 M6rk-in-Helga, Hlod A. 8. 
 Morna-land, Oddr. 2. 
 Munar-heimr, Helgi ii. 2, 91, Sol. 
 Munar-vagar, Hialm. D. 4, Wak. I. 
 Myrk-heimr, Akv. 168. 
 Myrk-vi5r, Akv. 51, Lokas. 170, Helgi 
 
 i. 211, Volkv. I, Hlod A. 28. 
 
 Na-grindr, Lokas. 257, Skirn. 143. 
 
 Na-strond, Vsp. 167. 
 
 Niarir (people), VolkV. pass. 
 
 NiSa-fioll, Vsp. 162. 
 
 Nifl-hel, Vf)m. 172, Doom 7. 
 
 Noa-tiin, VJ)m, 149, Grimn. 57, {jkv. 91. 
 
 Nor3r-vegar, Helgi i. 15. 
 Noregr, see p, 682. 
 
 Odins-salr ( = WalhaIl), Eirni. 11, 15. 
 Okolnir, Vsp. 160. 
 Oran (river), Biark. 16. 
 Ormt (river), Grimn. 85. 
 Gskopnir, O. W. PI. 117. 
 
 Ra6seyjar-sund, Harb. 17. 
 
 Ran-himin, Haust. 62. 
 
 Rin (river), Volkv. 55, Sh. Br. L. 15, 
 
 Akv. 106. 
 Ro6uIs-vellir, Helgi ii. 23, 96 (-iialla). 
 Rog-heimr, Helgi ii. 96. 
 Rosmonar (tribe), Akv. 72 71. 
 Rosmon-fioU, Akv. 72 n. 
 Rygjar-dalr, Chr. W. 90. 
 
 Sago-nes, Helgi i. 162. 
 
 Samsey, Lokas. 96. 
 
 Saemorn (river), Helgi ii. 19. 
 
 Sess-rymnir, Grimn. 50 n. 
 
 Seva-fioll, Helgi i. 235, 279. 
 
 Ssevar-stod, Volkv. 3, 69. 
 
 Sigars-hotmr, Helgi ii. 30. 
 
 Sigars-voUr, Helgi i. 30. 
 
 Siglitnir, H. 637. 
 
 Sindri, Vsp. 163. 
 
 Singa-steinn, Husd. 21. 
 
 Skata-lundr, L. B. L. 319. 
 
 Skatyrnir, Thulor 496. 
 
 Ski6tanda-va6, [Yt.] 
 
 Sliar (river), Vsp. 171. 
 
 Snae-iioll, Helgi i. 30. 
 
 Sogn, Helgi i. 203. 
 
 Sokk-dalir, Hit. 5. 
 
 Sokkva-bekkr, Grimn. 21. 
 
 Sol-fioU, Helgi i. 30. 
 
 Sol-heimar, Helgi i. 190. 
 
 Sparins-hei3r, Helgi i. 210. 
 
 Stafns-nes, Helgi i. 88. 
 
 Styr-kleifar, Helgi i. 244. 
 
 SuSroenn, Akv. 8, Helgi i. 64, Volkv. 4, 
 
 L. B. L. 13, O. G. L. 47. 
 Su8r-vegar, O. G. L. 23. 
 Sunn-menn, Ord. 21. 
 Svarins-haugr, Helgi i. 121. 
 Svi-t)i68, Hild. 4, Grott. 54. 
 
 TriJno-eyrr, Helgi i. 93. 
 
 Ulf-dalir, Volkv. 20, 53. 
 Ulf-siar, Volkv. 80. 
 Una-vagr, Helgi i. 1 19. 
 Unnar-steinn, Helgi i. 260. 
 Upp-himin, VJ)m, 75, Vsp. 1 2. 
 UrSar-brunnr, Havam. 2, Vsp. 46 ; H. 22. 
 
 Vaa-gelmir (river), W. W. PI. 14.
 
 HEROIC AND MYTHOLOGIC GEOGRAPHY. 673 
 
 Vaga-sker= Singasteinn, [Husd.?], 1.674. 
 
 Vala-skialf, Grimn. 19. 
 
 Val-biorg, O. G. L. 114, 
 
 Val-grind, Grimn. 69. 
 
 Val-holl (terrestrial), Akv. 6, 55. 
 
 Val-holl (celestial), Grimn, 26, 74 sqq,, 
 
 Eirm. 2, Hakm. 4, 21; Vsp. 68, 
 Valir, O. B. L. 263, Hlod A. 3. 
 Val-land, Harb, 74, L. B, L, 293. 
 Valneskr, O. G. L. 135. 
 Valskr, Oddr. 66. 
 Van (river), II. 637. 
 Vandils-ve, Helgi i, 276. 
 Varins-ey, Helgi i. 154, 
 Varins-fior6r, Helgi i. 103. 
 Varins-vik, Rimeg. 42. 
 Vaskar (Guascons), O, G. L, 69«., Hlod 
 
 A, 3. 
 Verland, Harb. 143, 
 Vestr-salir, Doom 41. 
 Vett-mimir, Thulor 494, 
 Vi6-blainn, Thulor 491. 
 
 Vi9-fe5mir, Thulor 492. 
 
 ViSi, Grimn. 62. 
 
 Vifils-ey, II. 361, 8. 
 
 Vig6a (river), see I. 528. 
 
 Vig-dalar, Helgi i. 276. 
 
 Vig-riSr (plain), VJ)m. 65, 
 
 Vil (river), II. 637, 
 
 Vimor (river), I, 126. 21, Husd. 19, 
 
 Vin-biorg, O, G. L. 1 14. 
 
 Vind-blainn, Thulor 488, 
 
 Vinga-mei5r, Havam, 9, Hit. 20. 
 
 Y-dalir, Grimn. 13. 
 Yggdrasils-askr, Grimn. 8 
 
 43.136. 
 Yggjar-galgi, Sonat. 74. 
 
 J)olley, Rimeg, 54. 
 |>6rs-nes, Helgi i, 167. 
 |)ru3-heimr, Grimn. 11. 
 {)rym-heimr, Grimn, 37, 
 |>und (river), Grimn. 65. 
 
 5-1 1 7, Vsp. 
 
 VOL, II. 
 
 XX
 
 674 
 
 INDEX II. HISTORICAL. 
 
 I. NAMES OF PERSONS AND THINGS. 
 
 A&albrict, Ivar i. 
 
 A6alra6r (Eng, King), II. iii. 2 ; Sigh. 
 
 V. 4, Ott. i. 39. 
 A6al-steinn (Eng. King), Sigh. x. 28. 
 A5al-steins-f6stri (ekename). Sigh. x. 27, 
 
 Kont. 46. 
 Aka-sonr = Wagn, lomsv. 1 1 5. 
 Aki (Wagn's father), lomsv. 32 sqq. 
 Akkeris-frakki, Halifr. v. 2. 
 Alafr, see Aleifr, Sigh. x. 30. 
 Alafs sonr = King Magnus, Thiod. i. 16 
 
 pass. 
 Aleifr, Geirsta6a-alfr, Yt. 171. 
 Aleifr, Tre-telgja, Yt, 137. 
 Aleifr (St. Clave), II. 124-173 pass.; 
 
 see II. 1 1 6-1 24. 
 Aleifr, King of Sweden, Ott. iii. 4. 
 Aleifr (Olaf Peacock), Husd. I. 
 Aleifr (Volo-briotr), I. 361. No. 19. 
 Aleifr, II. 105. 65. 
 Alfgeirr, IF. 59. 44. 
 Alfhildr, Sigh. ix. 18 ; see II. 119. 
 Alfifa (Alfgifu), Sigh. viii. 29, Thiod. i. 9. 
 Al-himins - lendingar = Islendingar, II. 
 
 37. 48- 
 Amb-h6f5i (nickname), Wick. 57. 
 Ari (Bp. Gudmund's father), II. 278. I. 
 Arinbiorn, Ad. 41 [64, 67], Sonat, 
 Arni (church-wright), II. 282. 4. 
 Arnketill, II. 60. 3; 1 15. 8. 
 Arnm66r (Earl), lomsv. 83, 1 1 6. 
 Asa (Queen), Yt. 166. 
 Asa (girl), I. 367. No. 53. 
 Asgrimr, I. 363. No. 32. 
 Aslakr, Sigh. vi. 25. 
 Aslakr (holmskalli), lomsv. 52. 
 Asmoftr, II. 79. 7. 
 Asta (St. Olave's mother), Sigh. iii. 66, 
 
 Kont. 169. 
 Astri6r (St. Olave's Queen), Sigh. ix. 9. 
 Atli (lawman), Sigh. x. i «. 
 
 Baglar (faction), II. 280. 61. 
 Bardi (ship), II. loi. 15. 
 Barroedr, II. 62. 25. 
 
 Beiskjaldi (ekename), Ski&a R. 69. 
 
 Ben-teinn, Ivar. 86. 
 
 Ber-foettr (ekename), Kont. 189. 
 
 Bergr, Sigh. iv. I. 
 
 Bergjjorr, II. 327. 12. 
 
 Berserkir (champions), Homkl. "^i. 
 
 Bersi, Korm. 61. 
 
 Biarni Broddhelgason, Isldr. 14. 
 
 Biarni, II. 274. 14. 
 
 Biarni (poet), Rekst. 136, Isldr. 52; cp. 
 
 Skaldatal, II. 443. 
 Biartmarr, II. 333. 24. 
 Biorn (Chapman), Hakm. 5. 
 Biorn (Austroeni), II. 1 15. 2. 
 Biorn (Hitdoela-kappi), II. 106. 
 Biorn (church-wright), II. 282. 4. 
 Biorn (Marshal), Sigh. iii. 3, vii. 72. 
 Biorn (King Swein Ulfsson's brother), 
 
 Arnor ii. 51, Mark. 70. 
 Birki-beiiiar (faction), II. 279. 41. 
 Blodox (ekename), II. 35. i, Kont 42. 
 Bceggvir, I. 361. No. 19. 
 Bolstr-maka-verd = Hofu61ausn, Ad. 21. 
 Botolfr (skipper), II. 281. 5. 
 Brandr, orvi, I. 364. No. 36. 
 Braut-Onundr, Yt. 1 23. 
 Brei6-skeggr, II. 280. 53, 56. 
 Briann (Irish King), II. 329, 36. 
 Brodd-Helgi, Isldr. 10. 
 Brusa sonr= Earl Rognwald, Arnor ix. 2. 
 Briisi (Orkney Earl), II. 164. 31; Arnor 
 
 ix. 2. 
 Bui, I. 365. No. 40; II. 48. 22 ; 50. 37; 
 
 lomsv. 35 sqq. 
 Byrgir, II. 81. 45. 
 
 Cesar (Kaiser), Mark. 73. 
 
 Clus Petrus (St. Peter), Sigh. v. 37. 
 
 Dafinnr = David, Ivar 10. 
 Dagr, Sigh. vii. 79; II. 177. 59. 
 Dagr (Gregorius' father), Einar v. 6. 
 Dags-hrid (battle), II. 177. 69. 
 Dags-sonr = Gregorius, Einar v. 6. 
 David (Scot-King), Ivar 8.
 
 HISTORIC PERSONS. 
 
 675 
 
 Digri (ekename, St. Olave), Sigh, iv, 21, 
 vi. 12, 16, ix. 6, X. 22, Arnor i. 41, 
 Thiod. ii. I ; II. 1 7 7. 69. 
 
 D(5tta, II. 218. 12. 
 
 Droplaug, Isldr, 24. 
 
 Egill Skallagrimsson, Isldr. 37. 
 
 Egill Ogmundson, II. 62. 18. 
 
 Egill (Nor^e noble), II. 241. 5. 
 
 Eilifr (.Earl), Thiod. x. 5. 
 
 Einarr (Orkney Earl), Amor vi. 8. 
 
 Einarr, Jjambarskelmir, II. 230. 20. 
 
 Einarr, Fostri (poet), II. 384. 150. 
 
 Einarr (poet), II. 277. I. 
 
 Ein-foetingr, I. 364. No. 34. 
 
 EinriSi, Ungi, Geisli 178. 
 
 Eirekr, Sigisaeli, King of Sweden, II. 62. 
 
 16; Sigh. iii. 82. 
 Eirekr (Bloodaxe), Eirm. 18, 28, HofuSl., 
 
 Arinb. 18; II. 31. 24; 4Q. 46. 
 Eirikr (Sveiii's son, the Good, Danish 
 
 King), Mark. 2 sqq. 
 Eirikr Hakonarson (Earl), died 1023 ; II. 
 
 52. 14, Hallfr. i.58,Sigh. iv. 13, lomsv. 
 
 82 sqq.; see II. 98-104. 
 Ella, Sigh. V. I ; II. 162. 8. 
 Elli6i (ship), Korm. 147. 
 Erlingr (Skialgsson), II. 104. 36 ; 163. 5 ; 
 
 Sigh. vi. I sqq. 
 Erlingr, Skakki (Earl), II. 278. 2. 
 Erro-beinn (ekename), II. 79- 6. 
 Eyrar-leggr (ekename), II. 76. 49. 
 Eysteinn (King), Yt. 148. 
 Eysteinn (King Bareleg's son), II. 246. 
 
 24. 
 Eysteinn, Korm, 80. 
 Eysteinn (Gilchrist), Einar iv. 3, v. 1 1 , 
 
 Geisli 29, 283. 
 
 Finnbogi, Rammi, Isldr. 54. 
 
 Finnr (Fi&r) Arnason, II. 164. 29; 175. 
 
 19, Thiod. iii. 53. 
 Finnr (Ulfsson), Ivar loi. 
 Fioro-skeifr (nickname), II. 252. 9. 
 Flosi, I. 358. No. 7. 
 Foli, Sigh. vii. 32 n. 
 Forni = Tinforni. II. 61. 4. 
 Fostri (ekename), Ivar 5. 
 Fri5rekr, koena, II. 274 i^. 
 Fr66i (ekename), Korm. 60. 
 Fr65i (Sxmundr), Kont. 160. 
 
 Galli, II. 108. 38. 
 Gamli, II. 36. i8; 40. 48. 
 Gammr (ship), I. 363. No. 27. 
 Gaukr Trandilsson, Isldr. 75. 
 Geiri, Isldr. 41. 
 Geirmundr, I. 361. 15. 
 Geirmundr, loinsv. 68. 
 Geirstaaa-alfr, [Yt. 1 75.] 
 
 Geitir, Isldr. II. 
 
 Gestr, II. 115. 5. 
 
 Giffar3r (?), Sigh. i. 50. 
 
 Giffarar, II. 248. 5, 9. 
 
 Gilli (nickname), Kont. 239. 
 
 Gislungr, II. 335. 6. 
 
 Gloesi-rofa (nickname), Ivar 94. 
 
 Gliinir, II. 70. 3. 
 
 Gliimr Geirason, Isldr. 42. 
 
 Goabrandr (Baron of Dales), Sigh. vi. 42. 
 
 Goal ( = Snorri), II. 114. 3. 
 
 GoSi (ekename), Geisli 113. Kont. 150. 
 
 Goarcear (Gothofredus), Gofuglati, Yt. 
 
 161. 
 Goaroear, II. 17. 
 
 Goarcear (King of Man), II. 244. 27. 
 Goathormr, Sindri (poet), II. 222. lO. 
 Gofuglati (ekename), Yt. 161. 
 Goll-Haraldr, Kont. 73. 
 Gormr, II. 81. 49 ; Sigh. iv. 6. 
 Grafelldr (ekename), I. 365. No. 39 ; 
 
 Kont. 71. 
 Gregorius Dagsson, see Einar v. 6. 
 Grettir, Isldr. 65. 
 Grimr, II. 105. 66. 
 Grimr Droplaugarson, Isldr. 29. 
 Grimr, Eyrarleggr, II. 76. 49. 
 Gri6tbiorn = Ariabiorn, Ad. 67. 
 Griotvor, II. 107. 14. 
 Guamundr Arason (Bishop), II. 281. 9 ; 
 
 282. 9. 
 Gull-Bui = Bui, lomsv. loi. 
 Guimarr, II. 421. 
 Gunnhildr (Queen), II. 165. 17. 
 Gunnlaiigr (Ormstunga), II. 105, 66. 
 Gunnvaldr (?), Sigh. i. 49. 
 Guthormr (Earl), Geisli 121. 
 
 Ha-fceta (ekename), Wick. 16. 
 Hak-langr. Hornkl. 73. 
 Hakon (Urna-iarl), Hit. 27; II. 33. 15. 
 Hakon (HIaaa-iarl, riki), I 365. No. 40 ; 
 
 II. 51. 6; 103. 20; lomsv. 47 sqq.; 
 
 see II. 41 sqq. 
 Hakon, Aaalsteins-fostri, Hakm. 24 sqq. ; 
 
 II. 31. 29 ; 36. 26 ; Sigh. x. 26. 
 Hakon Eiriksson (Doughty Earl), Sigh. 
 
 i. 56, iv. 8; Ott. i. 52, 
 Hakon Ivarsson (Earl), Thiod. iii. 57. 
 Hakon, {>6ris-f6stri, II. 246. I. 
 Hakon (Broad-shoulder), Einar vii. 8; 
 
 II. 278.12. 
 Hakon Hakonarson (King, died 1 263), I. 
 
 364. No. 36. 
 Hakon, Morstrut, II. 252. 7. 
 Halfdan, Hvitbein, Yt. 143. 
 Halfdan, Mildi and Matar-illi, Yt. 157. 
 Halfdan (Svarti), Hornkl. 1?. 
 Halfdan (Svarti, younger), II. 321. I. 
 
 X X 2
 
 676 
 
 INDEX II. 
 
 Halfdan (son of Sigrod Hrisi), Kent, 168, 
 
 Halla, II. 283. 7. 
 
 Halldorr, I. 362. No. 25, 
 
 Halldorr, II. 327. 2, 
 
 HallfrcE5r (poet\ Rekst. 135. 
 
 Halli, II. 230. 18. 
 
 Hallsteinn, I. 361. No. 17, 
 
 Hamundr, I. 361. No. 15. 
 
 Haraldr (Fairhair), Hornkl. I etc. ; I. 364. 
 
 No. 37. 
 Haraldr Gormsson (King of Denmark), 
 
 II. 81. 43; Sigh. X. 46. 
 Haraldr, Grafelldr, II. 35. 8 ; 36. 24, 
 
 Kon. 6q. 
 Haraldr, Grenski (St. Ola ve's father), Sigh. 
 
 i. 28. 
 Haraldr (har8ra6i), I. 365. No. 44; Sigh. 
 
 vii. 100, Thiod. i. 18, ii. 62, iii, vi, viii. 
 Haraldr (hein), Wick. 52, Mark. 30. 
 Haraldr (Harefoot\ Sigh. x. 6. 
 Haraldr Havason (Earl), Loft. iii. 3 n. 
 Haraldr (Strut-haraldr. Earl), lomsv. 25. 
 Haraldr (Gilchri-t), Ivar 41. 
 Haraldr Maddadson (Orkney Earl), see 
 
 Einar iv. 11, 
 Har3-magi (nickname), hidden in Ivar 
 
 106. 
 Harekr, II. 51. 8. 
 Har-fagri (ekename), Hornkl. 2 n. ; II. 
 
 322. 2. 
 HavarSr, lomsv. 51, 135. 
 HeSin, harSmagi, Ivar 106. 
 Hei6um-harr (ekename\ Yt. 180. 
 Hel (St. Olave's axe), Arnor ii. 36. 
 Helga Fagra, II. 112. 40. 
 Helgi (ekename, St. Olave), Thiod. x. 4, 
 
 Einar vi. 2, Geisli 278. 
 Helgi Asbiarnarson, Isldr. 27. 
 Hemingr (Hakon Hlade earl's son), II. 
 
 102. 32. 
 Herjolfr, holkinarsi, I. 362. No. 21. 
 Hermundr, Arnor vii. I, 
 Hialmun-Gautr, I. 361. No. 18. 
 Hiart-hofSi (nickname), Wick. 55, 
 Hildi-tannr, II. 48. 16. 
 Hior-leifr, II. 421. 
 
 Hneitir (sword), Arnor ii. 2, Geisli 169. 
 HofuSlausn (poem), Ad. 33. 
 H61ga-bru5r, lomsv. I 25. 
 Holkinarsi (nickname), I, 362. No. 21. 
 Holmgongo-Bersi, Isldr. 94. 
 Holmgongo-Starri, Isldr. 105. 
 Holmsteinn. I. 363. No. 32. 
 H6r6a-Knutr (Harda-cnut, King), Sigh. 
 
 X. 5. 
 Hoskollr, I. 357. No. 2. 
 Hrafn, II. 105. 65 ; 111, 112. 
 Hrafn, II. 115. 20. 
 Hrafnketill, Bragi i. 
 
 Hrjngr, H. 177. 59. 
 
 Hrisi (nickname), Kont. 165. 
 
 Hroaldr (Baron), Ad. 69. 
 
 Hrolfr (Rollo). Wick. i. 
 
 HroUaugr, Wick. I. 
 
 Hugi-in-Pru9i (Hugh), II. 242. 52 ; 244. 
 
 32. 
 Hundason (son of Hundi), hidden under 
 
 Arnor vi. 9, 10. 
 Hundr (nickname), Sigh. vii. 66, 69. 
 Hunn = Bi6rn, Sigh. iv. 16. 
 Hvinantor6i (nickname), hidden in Ivar 
 
 74- 
 Hvita-Christr, Sigh. viii. 21. 
 Hvitbeinn, [Yt.], Langft. 
 Hyrningr, II. 104. 30; Rekst. 84. 
 
 larizleifr (King of Russia), Thiod. x. 3. 
 
 larlmaSr, II. 277. 9. 
 
 latgeirr (Eadgar, King), Ott. ii. 13. 
 
 latmundr (Eadmund, King), Ott. i. 42. 
 
 Igul-tanni=Biorn, II. 282. 3. 
 
 Ingi (King of Sweden), I. 366. No. 48. 
 
 Ingi (Gilchrist), Einar iv. 4, Geisli 31. 
 
 Ingibiorg, lomsv. 176. 
 
 Ingimundr (priest), I. 369. No. 64. 
 
 Ingolfr (settler). II. 421. 
 
 Ingolfr (the Fair), I. 362. No. 23. 
 
 loan (Archbishop), Geisli 34. 
 
 loan Loptsson, Kont. 295, 305. 
 
 loreiSr, see Einarr ix. 4. 
 
 loseppr, I. 370. No. 68. 
 
 Ivarr, Sigh. v. 2. 
 
 Ivarr (franklin), Sigh. xi. 13. 
 
 Kalfr Arnason, Sigh. vii. 50 «. ; II. 163, 
 
 164. 
 Kalfr, kringlo-auga, Ivar 107. 
 Karkr, pixW, Kont. 83. 
 Karl, I. 359. No. II, 
 Karl Hundason, Arnor vi. 9. 
 Karlhofdi (ship), Sigh. ii. 9. 
 Karli, II. 172. 55. 
 Karls-efni, I. 364. No. 34. 
 Ketill, II. 283. 6. 
 
 Kiartan of Vatzfiord, I. 369. No. 64. 
 Kiotvan, Hornkl. 64. 
 Klasi, II. 281. 17. 
 
 Kniitz nefi ( =King Swein), Thiod. i. 53. 
 Kniitr, Mighty (Riki), II. 104. 50; 161, 
 
 162; 163. 12 ; 170. 28; Sigh, iv, v. 
 
 pass,, Ott. ii. Loft, i, ii. pass., Kont. 
 
 129. 
 Kniitr (St., King of Denmark), Mark. 12. 
 Ko3ran, I. 363. No. 31. 
 Kcena (nickname), II. 274. II. 
 Kotlungar (faction), II, 279. 45 ; 280. 50, 
 Kol-briin, II. 175. 2. 
 Kolbrunar-visor (poem), II. 1 75. 2. 
 
 i
 
 HISTORIC PERSONS. 
 
 677 
 
 Kormakr, I. 368. No. 62, Isldr. 97. 
 Komi, I. 362. No. 22. 
 Kringlo-auL'a (nickname), Ivar 107. 
 Kristin (Sigurd Crusader's daughter), 
 
 Kont. 272. 
 Kristinarson = King Magnus, Kont. 272, 
 
 277. 
 Kugi (nickname), II. 327. 7- 
 Kvaran (King of Dublin), II. 11 1, 5. 
 Kyrri (ekename), Kont. 178. 
 
 Leifi = Jjorleifr, SkiSa R. 74. 
 
 Leifr, I. 361. No. 15. 
 
 Leira (nickname), lomsv. 165. 
 
 Li6tolfr, GoSi, I. 354. No. 11. 
 
 Lo5-hottr, I. 361. No. 15. 
 
 Logma6r (King of Man), II. 242. 36 ; 
 
 244. 28. 
 Loptr Paisson, I. 370. No. 70 ; II, 282. 5. 
 Loptr, Saemundzson, Kont. 315. 
 Ltifa, Yt. 152, Hornkl. 74. 
 
 Madda&r (Scotch Maormor), Einar iv, 11. 
 Magnus (King Go5i), II. 1 19, 120; I. 
 
 365. No. 43, Sigh. vii. 15, ix, x. pass.. 
 
 Amor i. 3, Thiod. i, ii. pass., ii. 214- 
 
 216. 
 Magnus (Bareleg, King of Norway), II. 
 
 241-247. 
 Magnus (the Blind), IvarilS, 138; II. 
 
 273- 7- 
 Magnus (King, d. 1184), I. 367. No.55a; 
 
 II. 278.11. 
 Magnus, Gilchrist, Einar iv. 4. 
 Makt-hildr (Princess), II. 247. i. 
 Mi6f|ar6ar-Skeggi, Isldr. 81. 
 Mikkiall (Emperor), II. 218, 7, 
 Mikkiall (Archangel), Amor viii. I. 
 Morokari (Morkere), II. 225. 18. 
 Mor-striitr (nickname), II. 252. 8. 
 
 NagH, II. 59. 41. 
 
 Nefja (nickname), Wick. 21, 
 
 N6kkvi(?), II. 30. 10. 
 
 Oddi, Ski3a R. 35. 
 
 Oddo (Otho II, Kaiser), Veil. 38 n. 
 
 Ogmuiidr (Kormak's father), I. 368. No. 
 
 62, Korm. 136, 
 Oginundr Folason, Sigh. vii. 34. 
 Olafr, see Aleifr, Alafr. 
 Olafr (Kyrri, Quiet, King), Thiod. x. I ; 
 
 II. 225-227. 
 Olafr (Haraldz son kesjo), Ivar 77. 
 Olafr, G63i (Bareleg's son), Kont. 201. 
 Olafs-siia (ship), II. 278. 17. 
 Olver, Sigh. iii. 64. 
 Onundr, Yt. 123, 
 Onundr (King of Sweden), Sigh. v. II. 
 
 Onundr Simonson, II. 278. 9. 
 Orknh6f6i (nickname), Wick. 54. 
 Ormr, Skogarnef, Isldr. 73. 
 Ormr Storolfsson, Isldr. 58. 
 Ormr-in-Langi (ship), Hallfr. pass. ; II. 
 
 14, 20, 30. (Nadr, Lung, etc.) 
 Ottar (poet). Sigh. xi. 43, Geisli 46. 
 
 Priidi (nickname), II. 244. 32. 
 
 Ra9-svinni (ekename), Yt. 179. 
 Ragna (Orkney lady), II. 276. 13. 
 Ragnarr Sigroe6arson (King), Bragi 22, 
 Ragnfroe5r (King), Veil. 52. 
 Ragnhildr (Queen), Hornkl. 87. 
 Reggbuss, Amor ii. 45. 
 Rek-stefja (poem), Rekst. 2. 
 Rettil-beini (^ekename), I. 364. No. 37. 
 Riki (ekename"), Kont. 129. 
 Ripa-Ulfr, II. 277. 4. 
 Rcignvaldr, Ra9-svinni (Ear! of Moeri), 
 
 Yt. 1 79, Wick. 1 3, Amor vi. 46, where 
 
 called Gamli. 
 Rognvaldr, Rettil-beini, I. 364. No. 37. 
 Rognvaldr (Ladoga Earl, Saxason ?), Sigh. 
 
 iii. 66 sqq., vi. 36. 
 Rognvaldr (Orkney Earl, Bnisason), Arnor 
 
 v. 19. 
 
 Saxi (Earl Rognwald's father?). Sigh, iii. 
 
 67. 
 Saemundr, Prodi, Kont. 318. 
 Saemundr (of Oddi, d. 1221), I. 370. No. 
 
 70. 
 Serkr (Norse noble\ II. 252. 6, 
 Sidu-Hallr, Isldr. 86. 
 Sigfiiss (Saemund's father), Kont. 318. 
 Sighvatr (|)6rioe6arson, poet). Sigh. xi. 
 
 34, Geisli 45 ; see II. I18-124. 
 Sigr-haddr, II. 332. 3. 
 Sigroe6r (Ragnar's father), Bragi 4. 
 Sigroe5r (Hla6a-iarl), Yt. 35 ; II. 33. 4. 
 SigroeSr (Orkney earl), II. 329. 35. 
 SigrceSr (Hakon Hlade Earl's son), II. 
 
 103. 18. 
 Sigrce3r, Hrisi (King), Kont. 165. 
 Sigtryggr (King of Dublin), II. ill. 3. 
 Sigur3r, Syr (King, d. 1018), I. 369. No. 
 
 63; Thiod. iii. 81, Kont. 168. 
 SigurSr (Crusader, King of Norway), II. 
 
 250. 34; Geisli 275. 
 Sigur6r, Slembi, Ivar 6 sqq.; II. 272. 4 ; 
 
 275. 16. 
 Sigurdr (Gilchrist), Einar iv. 3, Geisli 30. 
 Sigurfir (of Reyri), II, 278. 10. 
 Sigurdr, kapa, loinsv. 35, 
 Sigvaldi (Earl), Hit, 47 ; I. 365. 40 ; II, 
 
 48.22; 49.8; 103. 10; lomsv. 33 sqq. 
 Simon, skalpr, Einar v. 9.
 
 678 
 
 INDEX II. I. 
 
 Sindri (ekename), II. 322. 8. 
 
 Skalpr (nickname), Einar v, 9. 
 
 Skapti, I. 363. No. 32. 
 
 Skarar-fagri = Harfagri, Kont. 32. 
 
 SkarSi, Korm. 81. 
 
 Skeggi, I. 363. No. 28. 
 
 Skeifr ( = fioro-skeifr), II. 252. 12. 
 
 Skialgr (Erling's father). Sigh. vi. II. 
 
 Ski3i (beggar), SkiSa R. 12 sqq. 
 
 Skofnungr (sword), Isldr. 83. 
 
 Skolmr, Isldr. 51. 
 
 Skopti, II. 52. 8. 
 
 Skreyja (nickname), II. 35. 9. 
 
 Skrymir (sword), Korm. 161. 
 
 Skiima, II. 70. 3. 
 
 Sleito-Helgi, II. 57. 40. 
 
 Snaebiorn, I. 362. No. 20. 
 
 Saorri (GoQi), I. 359. No. 10 ; II. 62. 3 ; 
 
 115.6,11. 
 S61borg. Einar ix. 1. 
 Sorli, Isldr. 12. 
 Stefnir (Stephen), II. 80. 19. 
 Steigar-|>orir, II. 246. 2. 
 Steinarr, II. 70. 40. 
 Steinger5r, Korm. 40 sqq. 
 Steinkell (Swedish King), Thiod. iii. 55. 
 Stria-keri, II. 327. 8. 
 Sturh, Ski9a R. 59 sqq. 
 Stutt-feldr (nickname), II. 251. 30. 
 Styr-biorn (Swedish champion), II. 330. 
 
 74- 
 Styr-karr, Ivar 95. 
 Sunniva (St.), Kont. 284. 
 Svarti (nickname), Kont. 11. 
 Sveinn (Forkbeard, King), I. 368. No. 
 
 59 ; Ott. ii. 30. 
 Sveinn Ulfsson (King of Denmark), Wick, 
 
 51, Arnor ii. 9, iii. 11, Thiod. i, ii, 
 
 vi-viii ; II. 2 1 6-2 20. 
 Sveinn (Earl, Hakoiison), II. 104. 33 
 
 169. 5 ; Sigh. ii. 6 sqq. 
 Sveinn Alfifoson, II. 164. 22; 171. 48 
 
 Thiod. i. 9. 
 Sveinn (Svein Ulfsson's son), Mark. ii. 3. 
 Sveinn Asleifarson (Orkney Wicking), I, 
 
 400. 
 Sveinn (Grathe), II. 277. I. 
 Sveins sunr = King Knut, Ott. iii. 30 ; II 
 
 162. 5, 8 pass. 
 Sverrir (King), I. 367. No. 55 a ; II 
 
 279. 41 ; 281. 12. 
 Svina-grimr, Ivar 98. 
 Syr (ekename), I. 369. No, 63. 
 
 Tann-gniostr (nickname), II. 71. 17. 
 Thomas (Beket), II. 282. 9. 
 Ti3enda-Skopti, II. 52. 8 n, 
 Tin-teinn (nickname), Korm. 40, 97. 
 Tofa (Sighvat's daughter), Sigh. vii. 98. 
 
 Tog-drapa (poem), Loft. L 31. 
 Torf-Einarr (Orkney Earl, poet), I. 364. 
 
 No. 38. 
 Tor-rek (poem), Sonat. 94. 
 Tosti, II. 6f. 37. 
 Trani (ship), Hallfr. i. 65. 
 Trausti = Tryggvi, II. 31. 14 n. 
 Tre-skegg, I. 364. No. 38. 
 Tryggvi (.King), I. 368. No. 59. 
 Tryggvi, II. 171. 47. 
 Tryggvason ( = King Olaf), I. 368. No. 
 
 69 ; Hallfr. i pass., Sigh. vi. 34. 
 Tula (dwarf), Thiod. xi. 11. 
 Tvi-skelfd (poem), Rekst. 138. 
 Tyrfingr (sword), Arnor iii. 4. 
 
 Uggi, II. 80. 24. 
 Ulfhe3nar, Hornkl. 72. 
 Ulfketill, II. 105. 60; 107. 23. 
 Ulfr Uggason, II. 80. 23; see II. 22. 
 Ulfr (Earl, Rognwald's son ?), Sigh. iii. 
 
 84, 85, vi. 36. 
 Ulfr (Earl, King Swein's father), Thiod. 
 
 i. 14; II. 219. 17. 
 Ulfr (marshal), II. 224. 5. 
 Ull-strengr (nickname), II. 246. 9. 
 Ungi (nickname), Geisli 178. 
 Urna-iarl (ekename), [Hit. 40.] 
 
 Vagn (Akason), II. 76. 2, lomsv. 36 
 
 sqq. 
 Vali, II. 71. 25. 
 Valldamarr (King of Russia), II. 52. 31; 
 
 Sigh. vii. 91. 
 Valt)i6fr (English Earl), II. 227. 5, II. 
 Vatn-Ormr, I. 336. No. 50. 
 Vseringjar, II. 216. 2 ; Geisli 212. 
 VeSr-Ormr (English chief), Ad. 76. 
 Vermundr, II. 58. 8. 
 Ve-seti, lomsv. 28. 
 Ve-steinn, II. 333. 23. 
 Vetr-li6i, II. 80. 34. 
 Vi3ar-telgja (nickname), Yt. 1 37. 
 Vi3raldi, I. 371. No. 76. 
 Viga-Styrr, II. 114. 1. 
 Vigfiiss (Viga-Glumsson), lomsv. 133. 
 Vigfuss (son of Biorn), II. 115. 2. 
 Vigr (spear), Korm. 151. 
 Vilhialmr (Conqueror), II. 227. 5. 
 Vilialmr (?), Sigh. i. 43. 
 Vilialmr (Skinner), Ivar 8, 92. 
 Visundr (ship). Sigh. vi. 1 2, Arnor i. 24, 
 
 ii. 22 ; II. 169. 13. 
 
 |jambar-skelmir (ekename), II. 230. 21. 
 Jjaiigbrandr, II. 80. 35. 
 Jiegjandi (nickname), Wick. 4. 
 fiengill, I. 361. No. 17. 
 J>inga-menn (guards), II. 232. 34.
 
 HISTORIC PLACES. 
 
 679 
 
 |>6ra (King Bareleg's daughter), Kont. 
 
 293. 
 f>6ra (girl), II. 282. 5. 
 J)6ralfr Skolmson, Isldr. 50. 
 fjorarinn, kappi, Isldr. 102. 
 |)orbergr Arnason, II. 164. 25. 
 fjorbiorn, Svarti, I. 367. No. 54. 
 fjorSr Folason, Sigh, vii, 31. 
 |)6r3r, see f>6rro5r. 
 f>orfinnr (Orkney Earl), II. 162. 31, Arnor 
 
 vi. 59, 74. 
 |jorgils Oddason, Skida R. 34. 
 |>6rhalldr, Isldr, 92. 
 |)6rir, ^egjandi (Earl), Wick. 4. 
 |>6rir (Baron, Arinbeorn's father), Ad. 58. 
 {>6rir, Hundr, Sigh. vii. 65. 
 {jorir (Steigar-{>6rir), I. 369. No. 63 ; 
 
 II. 244. 7; 246. 10, 
 {>6rir (of Garth). II. 1 14. 7. 
 |)6rir, hvinan-tor6i, Ivar 75. 
 fjorkell, Fostri, Ivar 5. 
 
 2. NAMES OF 
 A-in-Helga, Ott. ii. 40. 
 A6al-sysla, II. 52. 29. 
 A3al{)egns-h61ar, II. 362. 27. 
 Africa, Thiod. iii. Ii. 
 Ag&ir, II. 104. 32 ; 165. 4; Sigh. ii. 10, 
 
 Ivar 80. 
 Agna-fit, Hialm. D. 44. 
 Akr (Acre), II. 277. 25. 
 Akrs-borg, I. 367. No. 54; II. 252. 12, 
 Aldeiga, II. 52. 17. 
 Alfheimr, |)d. 74- 
 Alkassi, II. 249. il. 
 Alpta-fior8r, II. 1 15. 10. 
 Alvangs-eyrr, II. 112. 38. 
 AndverSo-skogr, II. 25 n. 
 Apardian (Aberdeen), Einar iii. 12. 
 Aros, II. 214. 4. 
 Askr, I. 366. No. 49. 
 Asolfs-gata, Ski5a R. 57. 
 Assatun, Ott. ii. 36. 
 Aumar (Isles), II. 165. 2. 
 Aurar, Hit. 40 «. 
 Aust-kylfor, Hornkl. 80. 
 Aust-menn, Hornkl. 69; II. 220. 29. 
 Aust-mork, Yt. 89. 
 Aust-rcenn, Hornkl. 30. 
 Austr-vegr, Yt. 45, Sigh. iii. 92 ; II. 
 
 235- 8. 
 Austr-Vindr, Thiod. x. 7. 
 
 Bakki, II. 277. 7. 
 
 Balagar8z-si3a, Sigh. i. 12. 
 
 Bali, II. 362. 
 
 Bar (Bari), Mark. 28, 
 
 Belgjadalr = Hitardalr, SkiSa R. 67. 
 
 Biarkey, II. 246. 5. 
 
 |>orketill, Leira, lomsv. 56 sqq. 
 |)orketill (Earl), II. 107. 15 ; lomsv. 34. 
 f>orketill (dyraill), Hallfr. i. 68, Rekst. 
 
 "5- 
 J>orketill (Steingerd's father), Korm. 88. 
 fjorketill, I. 363. No. 32. 
 |>orketill Geitisson, Isldr. 17. 
 fjorleifr (Baron, the wise), Haust, 2. 
 fjorleifr (poet), Isldr. 69. 
 |>orleifr, Skuma, lomsv. 135. 
 {jorleifr, beiskjaldi, Ski5a R. 70. 
 f>6rr<B5r (poet), II. 193. 3. 
 |j6rrce6r (Sighvat's father), Sigh. viii. 8. 
 |>orsteinn Egilsson, II. 166. i ; 167. 4. 
 fjorsteinn (Sifto-Halizson), Isldr. 92. 
 |)orvaldr Kodransson (missionary), 1. 363. 
 
 No. 31 ; 368. No. 57. 
 Jjorvalldr Kiartansson, I. 369. No. 64, 
 f>orveig, Korm. 68, 
 |>rainn, I. 363, No. 27, 
 |jufo-skitr (nickname), II. 280, 63. 
 
 PLACES, ETC. 
 Biarmskr, II. 39. 22. 
 Biorgyn, Einar v. 8 ; II. 267, 6 ; 276, 4. 
 Bitra, II. 115, 17. 
 Bla-land, II. 215. 16. 
 Bla-menn, II. 231. 15; 251. 16. 
 Bokn, Sigh. vi. 10; II. 163. 2. 
 Bolgara-land, II. 353. 151. 
 Bolgarar, Thiod. iii. 2. 
 Bolm (in the East, Sweden), Hyndl, 
 Bolm (Isle), Norway, Thulor 664. 
 Borg = York, Arnor iv. 10. 
 Borro, Yt. 159. 
 BrandfurSa (Brentford), II. 107.26 «.(?); 
 
 Ott. ii. 32. 
 Bretar, Hallfred i. 41. 
 Bretzkr, II. 95, 27 ; Arnor vi. 27. 
 Bur-fell, II. 362. 26. 
 Byr5a, Veil. 62, Ivar 93, 
 
 Cantaraborg, Sigh, i. 31, Ott. i. 30. 
 Clement-kirkja, Loft, iii. 17. 
 
 Dana-skogar, Ott. ii. 38. 
 Dana-veldi, Arnor i. 30, Thiod. ii. 44. 
 Danir, O, B, L, 330, Ott. iv. I ; II. 235. 
 
 I pass. 
 Danmarkar-auki = Selund, Bragi 42. 
 Danmork, O. G. L. 45, Wick. 50, Hild. 
 
 3; II. 81. 53; 235. 13; Sigh. V. 17, 
 
 Ott. i. 8, Loft. i. 25. 
 Danska Tungo, Sigh. i. 58, Mark. 74, 
 
 Geisli 104. 
 Danskr, O. G. L. 47, Hornkl. 86. 
 Diki, II. 108. 28 ; Sigh. i. 23. 
 Dinganes, Veil. 66 n. 
 Doelir, II. 252. 17.
 
 68o 
 
 INDEX II. 2. 
 
 Dofra-fioll, Sigh. xi. 28. 
 
 Dollz hellir, II. 276. 10. 
 
 Domisnes, I. 370. No. 27. 
 
 Drafn, I. 363. No. 31. 
 
 Drit-vik, II. 362. 29. 
 
 Dyflinni, Arnor vi. 59; 11. 247. I3. 
 
 Dyrs-ness, Amor vi. 10. 
 
 Eg6ir, Loft. i. 5. 
 
 Eia (Hebrides), II. 281. II. 
 
 Eiaa-bu, Hit. 49. 
 
 Eiaa-skogr, Sigh. iii. 65, 70. 
 
 Ei5ar, Sigh. iii. 41, 45, Ott. i. 65. 
 
 Eikunda-sund, Sigh. iii. i6m., Loft. i. 12. 
 
 Eistneskr, Yt. 120. 
 
 Eistr, Yt. 125. 
 
 Ekkiall, Arnor vi. 23. 
 
 Elfr, Gotha R., Thiod. i. 14, vi. I ; II. 
 
 219. 17. 
 England, II. 107. 12 ; 227. 8 ; Arnor iv. 
 
 13- 
 Englar, Sonat. 6 ; II. 104. 53 ; 225. 13 ; 
 
 Ott. iv. 2, Arnor vi. 47. 
 Enni, n. 69. 38. 
 Erri (Isle), Ivar 63, 
 Ey-buar, Ott. iv. 2. 
 Ey-Danir, Hit. 46, Hakm. 12, Arnor ii. 
 
 19, Mark. 65. 
 E)'gota-land, Sigh. iii. 18 «. 
 Eyja-fiorSr, II. 74. 6. 
 Eyjar (Iceland), I. 370. No. 70. 
 Eyjar (Orkney), Wick. 6, Ott. i. 70, 
 
 Arnor vi. 74; II. 242. 37 ; Ivar 3. 
 Eyland, Yt. 99. 
 
 Eylima-fi6r6r = Lima-fi6r5r, II. 40. 32. 
 Eylond (Western Isles), II. 245. 33. 
 Eyrar-sund, II. 52. 17 ; 170. 27; Thiod. 
 
 viii. I. 
 Ey-sysla, Sigh. i. 6, Ott. i. 20. 
 Eyverskr, Hallfr. ii. 25. 
 
 Falstr (Isle), II. 223. 12. 
 
 Falstr-byggvar, Arnor ii. 56, iii. 2. 
 
 Fe5ja (Isle), |jd. 24. 
 
 Feneyjar, Mark. 27, 
 
 FetlafiorSr (?), France, Sigh. i. 46. 
 
 Fialir, Hit. 30. 
 
 Filar, II. 225. 19; 278. 14. 
 
 Finnar, II. 37. 41 ; Sigh. vii. 65. 
 
 Finn-lendingar, Sigh. i. 10. 
 
 Finn-mork, Kont. 27. 
 
 Fion (Isle), Arnor ii. 59, iii. 2, Thiod. i. 
 
 52 n., ii. 17; II. 217. 18. 
 FirSir (men of Firths), II. 278. 14. 
 Firdir (Norway), Ad. 85 ; II. 31. 30. 
 Fir&ir (Scotland), Ivar 14. 
 Fitjar, Sigh. x. 25 ; II. 161. il. 
 Fivi (Fife), O. G. L. 55, Sigh. iv. 20. 
 Flaemingjar, II. 95. 20. 
 
 Fliot (England), II. 162. 6; 225 «. 
 
 Fliot (Iceland), IL 68. 121. 
 
 Formintera, II. 251. 15. 
 
 Fors, Kont. 260. 
 
 Foxerni, II. 248. 7. 
 
 Frakkar, Veil. 36; II. 218. 5; 227. 4; 
 
 Ivar 36. 
 Frakk-land, Mark. 20. 
 Frisir, Veil. 35 ; II. 94. 16. 
 Froe6ar-berg, II. 31 n. 
 Fr66a-vellir, II. 59. 28. 
 Fulla-furda (Fulford), Arnor iv. 3 n. 
 Fyri, Yt. 34. 
 Fyri-leif, I. 366. No. 49. 
 Fyris-vellir, IL 36. 26; 62. 13. 
 
 Gaddgeddlar (Galloway), [Arnor] ii. 593. 
 Gandvik, |>d. 7; II. 81. 49 ; Ott. i. 65 n. 
 GarSar, IL 94; 163.10; 235.6; Sigh. iii. 
 
 75, ix. 1, Arnor v. 2, Thiod. iii. 26. 
 Gaular-dalr, Kont. 81. 
 Gauta-log, II. 243. 67. 
 Gauta-sker, Veil. 44. 
 Gautzkr, Thiod. ii. 55. 
 Geirstadir, Yt. 175. 
 Geirvor, I. 358. No. 8. 
 Girkir, II. 222. 2; Ivar 35. 
 Girzkr, Arnor i. 8. 
 Glaum-berg, II. 62. 21. 
 Gniipr, I. 369. No. 67. 
 Go6marr, II. 50 «. 
 Go3nar-fi6r3r, II. 229. 'J. 
 Go3-t)i63, Hlod and A. 29, O. B. L. 315. 
 Gotar (Goths), Ham&., Akv., Hlod and 
 
 A. 10 pass. 
 Gotar (of the Isle of Gotland), II. 94. 1 1 . 
 Gotland (Isle), II. £2. 15. 
 Gotneskr (Isle of Gotland), Ott. i. 17. 
 Grend, Grcend, Yt. 172. 
 Grenir (Groenir), II. 5I w. 
 Grenland = Groend, II. 244. 21. 
 Grenski (Groenski), Kont. 127. 
 Grikland, Loft. ii. i ; II. 218. i8, 
 Grik-sallt, II. 252. 10. 
 Grimsbyr, II. 276. 2. 
 Grims-mii, II. 358. 2. 
 Grislo-pollar (?), Sigh. i. 42. 
 GrcEna-laiid (Greenland). 
 Grcena-veldi (Greenland), Rekst. 42. 
 Groenlendingar, II. 176. 38. 
 Grytingar, Hlod and A. 2. 
 Gunnvaldz-borg (?), Sigh. i. 49. 
 
 Haftaland, I. 364. 377. Nos. 36, 77. 
 HaSar (Hadians), II. 241. 19. 
 Ha-dyri, Loft. i. 10. 
 Hafrs-fiordr, Hornkl. 62, 81. 
 Hakonar-hella, Kont. 64. 
 Haleygir, Hakm. 10, Ivar 88.
 
 HISTORIC PLACES. 
 
 68i 
 
 Haleyskr, I. 367. No. 52. 
 
 Halland, II. 39 «.; 224.15; Arnoriii.6, 
 
 Thiod. viii. 4. 
 HallvarQz-kirkja, Kont. 224. 
 Hals, II. 40. 33. 
 Hangrar, Sigh. ix. 7- 
 Harmr (frith), II. 244. 6 ; Thulor 679. 
 Hauga-brekkor, II. 327. I. 
 Haugar (Denmark), Thiod. ii. 34. 
 Haugr ( = Olves-haugr), Thiod. iii. I ; II. 
 
 223. 24. 
 HeSinsey, Hallfr. i. 46 n. 
 He6ins-reki, Hallfr. i. 54 n. 
 Hei3a-byr, II, 94. 14; 219. 2 ; Thiod. i. 
 
 22. 
 Hei9ar-kolla, II. 362. 
 Hei6skr = Heinverskr, Ott. i. 57. 
 Heinir, Sigh. ii. 47, Arnor ii. 20, Thiod. 
 
 iii. 67. 
 Heinverskr, Hornkl. 85. 
 Helga-nes, Arnor i. 44, ii. 43, Thiod. i. 58. 
 Helsingar, II. 217. 23. 
 Her-biorg, II. 177. 46. 
 Her-dalir, Sigh. i. 9. 
 HerSir, II. 245. 21. 
 Hert-ford, II. 105 n. 
 Hiallta-eyrr, II. 328. 4. 
 Hialltar (Shetlanders), Arnor v. 18, vi. 25. 
 Hialltland, Arnor vi. 52, 
 Hialltlendingar = Hialtar, Ott. i. 68. 
 Hiarta-poUr, Einar ii. 14. 
 Hillar, Sigh. viii. 15. 
 Himin-fioll, Yt. 124. 
 Hior-nagii, Loft. i. 14. 
 Hiorunga-vagr, lomsv. 80. 
 Hising (Isle), Einar iii. 6. 
 Hitar-dalr, SkiSa R. 376. 
 Hitar-vatn, SkiSa R. 65. 
 Hleiar, Grott. 73; II. 224. Ii. 
 Hlessey, Oddr. 109, Harb. 105, Thiod. 
 
 v. 5. 
 Hlia, Geisli 148. 
 Hlymrek, II. 30. 8. 
 Hlyrskogs-heidr, Geisli ill. 
 Hnikars-lundr = Odinsve (?), cf. Scata- 
 
 lund, Thiod. ii. 11. 
 H6a (Isle), Bragi 14. 
 Hof, Sigh. iii. 49. 
 Hofdi, I. 361. No. 17. 
 Holar (Iceland), II. 281. 1. 
 Hoelgar = Haleygir, Hornkl. 85. 
 HcEli (?), Sigh. i. 39. 
 Holisetar, II. 266. 6. 
 Holm-buar, Thiod. iii. 62. 
 Holmr, II. 94. 5. 
 Holmr (Bergen), II. 278. 21. 
 Holnir-inn-Grani, Einar iv. I ; II. 272. 3- 
 Holm-Rygir, Hornkl. 84, Hakni. 10 ; 
 
 II. 30 n. 
 
 Holtar, Yt. 157. 
 
 HorSar, Hornkl. 84; II. 278. i^pass. 
 
 Horn (Cape), SkiSa R. 107. 
 
 Horn-skogr, II. 218. 10. 
 
 Hramnlausa, II. 217. 24. 
 
 Hranmseyrr, II. 225. 22. 
 
 Hreggsnasi, II. 362. 
 
 Hringar (people), Sigh. vii. 33, Thiod. 
 
 iii. 68. 
 Hringariki, Kont. 18. 
 Hringmara-heiSr, II. 105. 64; 107. 17 
 
 n. ; Sigh. i. 27, Ott. i. 26. 
 HringsfiorSr (?), France, Sigh. i. 38. 
 Hringsta6ir, Thiod. ii. 26. 
 Hrois-kelda, II. 217. 21. 
 Hrott (Isle), II. 280. 52. 
 Hrund (Isle), Einar iii. 29. 
 Hunaland, Gkv. 21, Oddr. 15, Hlod and 
 
 A. 5; II. 64. 30. 
 Hiinlenzkr, Hornkl. 30. 
 Hunskr, O. G. L. 84. 
 Hvammr, SkiSa R. 58. 
 Hvarf (Cape Whare), II. 281. 14. 
 Hve6n (Isle), Einar i. 10, ii. 18. 
 Hvita-by'r (Whitby), Einar iii. 18. 
 Hvitings-hialH, II. 106. 28. 
 
 lacobs-land (Galicia), II. 252. 6. 
 
 laaar, Hornkl. 80 ; II. 17.88; Sigh. vi. 7. 
 
 laSar-byggvar, Arnor ii. II. 
 
 lamtr, II. 94. 9. 
 
 Il (Islay), II. 244. 24. 
 
 Imbolar, II. 277. 24. 
 
 Inney, II. 176. 45. 
 
 Inn-j)roendir, Sigh. vii. 62 ; II. 219. 6. 
 
 Inn-|>roenzkr, Sigh, ii, 41. 
 
 lofor-faegi = loforland, Hofu91. 68. 
 
 lofor-land, HofuSl. 63. 
 
 loforvik, Ad. 16. 
 
 lohannis-kirkja, I. 363. No. 31. 
 
 16m, Arnor i. 36, ii, 30. 
 
 lomsvikingar, lomsv. 66. 
 
 lordan, II. 223. 7 ; 251.25; 252,16. 
 
 lorsala-borg, Ivar 26. 
 
 lorsalir, II. 222. 2 ; 252. 13 ; Mark. 81. 
 
 lorvik, Sigh. v. 2. 
 
 lotar, Ott. ii. 5, Thiod. i. 52 n.; II. 
 
 220. 40. 
 lotland, Sigh. v. 30, Arnor ii. 24, Thiod. 
 
 ii. 8. 
 I6tlandz-haf, II. 220. 32. 
 lotzkr, Yt. 112. 
 
 Irar, Darr. 31 ; II. 95. 26 ; Ott. iv, 2. 
 Irskr, II. 39. 10 ; 247. 16 ; Amor vi. 4I. 
 Isabrot (Iceland), Hofu91. 3. 
 Island, Ott. iv. 8. 
 Iva (River), |3d. 46. 
 Ivist (Isle), II. 241. 34; 244. 17. 
 Ivitza, II. 350. 56.
 
 682 
 
 INDEX II. 2. 
 
 Kalda-kinn, I. 361. No. 18. 
 Kalmarnir, Ivar 59. 
 Kaupangr, II. 226. 57; 247. 14. 
 Kinnheima-si9a, Sigh. i. 18 «. 
 Kiolr, II. 421. 
 Klif-sandr, II. 106. 26. 
 Knorrom, Sigh. iii. 23 n., viii. 26. 
 Kormt, II. 165. 4 ; Einar vii. 4. 
 Kristz-kirkja (Nidaross), Geish 136. 
 Kristz-kirkja (Bergen), Kont. 243. 
 Kroka-skogr, 11. 273. 12. 
 Kumbrar, |jd. 50, Sigh. v. 36 «. 
 Kumbrskr, II. 95. 28. 
 Kvildrar, Ivar 102. 
 Kvinnar, Hornkl. 17. 
 
 Langarni, I. 371, No. 76. 
 
 Langa-tun, Einar iii. 28. 
 
 Langbar6a-laud, Thiod. iii. 25. 
 
 Langeyjar-sund, II. 273. 20. 
 
 Lea-m63a (?), Sigh. i. 34. 
 
 Laebaugs-ey = Vedrey, II. 170. 29. 
 
 Leik-berg, Einar iii. 8. 
 
 Leira, R. Sigh, i 52. 
 
 Laesir, Thiod. x. 8. 
 
 Li6ar, Thiod. iii. 68. 
 
 Lidsmenn, Thiod. x. 8. 
 
 Lima-fiorar, Yt. 70, Sigh. v. 28, Loft. i. 3. 
 
 Lindisey, Ott. ii. 17. 
 
 LioShus (Isle), II. 244. 15. 
 
 Lissibon, II. 249. 10. 
 
 Lista-haf, Sigh. iii. 15. 
 
 Listi, f>d. 75, Loft. i. 9; II. 165. 4. 
 
 Lofund, Yt. no. 
 
 Lon-drangar, II. 362. 
 
 Landr, Wick. 35; II. 170. 29; Thiod. 
 
 ii. 28, Mark. 74. 
 Lundr (Iceland), II. 114. 9. 
 Lundun, II. 105. 58; 108.48; Ott. i. 22. 
 Lunduna-briggjor, Sigh. i. 22. 
 
 Manork (Minorca), II. 250. 28. 
 Man-verjar (Manx), II. 30 n. ; 244. 26. 
 Mava-hlid, II. 59 n. 
 Mikla-gardr, II. 215. 7 ; 277. 26 ; Mark. 
 
 97- 
 Moda (Thames), II. 104. 46. 
 M65a (Humber), II. 225. 17. 
 Moda (Goiha River), Einar vii. 6. 
 Mo&ro-vellir, II. 283. 12. 
 Mon (Isle of Man), II. 95. 24; Amor 
 
 vi. 45. 
 Mont, Sigh. viii. 5. 
 
 Moeri, Wick. 4 ; IL 103. 15 ; Ivar 105. 
 Moerir, II. 95. 4 ; Amor vi. 45. 
 Morva-land (Moravia), Oddr. 2. 
 Munka-veldi (=Rome), Mark. ?2 
 Myl (Isle), Thulor 653. 
 Mylskr, H. 244. 22. 
 Mynni, II. 272. i. 
 
 Naust-dyrr, Sonat. 12. 
 
 Nesjar, Ivar 80, Kont. 121. 
 
 Nia (River), Sigh. v. 7, Loft. i. 20 ; H. 
 
 170. 16; Thiod. iv. 7, Arnor iv. 28. 
 Ni3ar-bakki, Kont. 210. 
 Nitz (River), Arnor iii. 3, Thiod. iii. 43 ; 
 
 II. 223. 17. 
 Nitzar-oss, II. 224. 24. 
 NorS-menn, Hakm. 12. 
 Noravik, Ott. ii. 22. 
 Noraymbrar, II. 95. 22. 
 Noraymbra-dik, Ott. ii. 28. 
 Noregr, Wak. 93, Helgi ii. 47, Loft. i. 23. 
 Noregs-menn, II. 104. 40. 
 Norva-sund, II. 249. 16. 
 
 Odda-verjar, Kont. 321. 
 
 Oglo, Hit. 38, 
 
 CEnir (Eynir), II. loi. 5. 
 
 Olves-haugr, Geisli 52. 
 
 Ondurt-nes, II. 362. 
 
 Ongulsey, II. 242. 42. 
 
 Ongulseyjar-sund, Geisli 124. 
 
 Onguls-sund (idem), Arnor vi. 43 n. ; IL 
 
 .. 244- 31- 
 Orkn-doelir, II. 29 n. 
 Orvar-hamrar, II. 241. 14. 
 Oslo, II. 241. 5; Kont. 22T, 
 
 Peita, Sigh. i. 54, Ott. i. 37. 
 Peitneskr, Sigh. ii. 12, Arnor i. 26. 
 Pettlandz-fiorar, Arnor v. 11. 
 Petzina-vellir, Geisli 206. 
 Pilavik (?), Einar iii. 26. 
 Portyrja, I. 366. No. 50. 
 
 Rapta-hlia, I. 360. No. 14. 
 
 Rauaa-biorg, Arnor v. 10, vi. 55 «. 
 
 Rauda-haf (Mediterranean), II. 337. 26. 
 
 Raumar, Arnor ii. 19, Thiod. iii. 62. 
 
 Raumdcelskir, II. 278. 15. 
 
 Raunis-dalr, Kont. 276. 
 
 Rae (Isle), Arnor ii. 41, 
 
 Rein-sletta, II. 322 n. 
 
 Remir, Einar iii. 9. 
 
 Raeningr, Yt. 130. 
 
 Ripar (Ribe), II. 277. 4. 
 
 Roga-land, Kont. 38. 
 
 Rom, Rum, II. 22 ; Sigh. viii. 23, 
 
 Mark. 26, 33. 
 Riiao-borg, Sigh. iv. i. 
 Rum = Rom. 
 Riims-vegr. Sigh. v. 36. 
 Rygir, II. 241. 7; 278. 13. 
 Rygjar-bit, Sigh. vi. 40 «. 
 
 Sallt (Baltic), Sigh. iii. 92, Ott. i. 11. 
 Sallt-it-Eystra, Arnor i. 7. 
 Samsey, Hialm. D. 32 ; II, 359.
 
 HISTORIC PLACES. 
 
 683 
 
 Sandey (Isle, Hebrides), II. 281. 6. 
 
 Sandey, II. 244. 23, 
 
 Sandvik, II. 162 n. 
 
 Sandvik (Scotland), Arnor vi. 20, 
 
 Sanntiri (Cantyre), II. 244, 25. 
 
 Sarpr, II. 266. 8, 
 
 Sau3ungs-sund, Sigh. i. 55. 
 
 Saurar, Thiod. ii. 27 n. 
 
 Saurbcer, II. 70. 8 ; Ski8a R. 32, 
 
 Saxa (Isle), I. 363. No. 28, 
 
 Saxa-nierki, Mark. 34. 
 
 Saxar, Veil. 38 ; II. 94. 16; Ivar. 37. 
 
 Saxland, Mark. 69. 
 
 Saeheimr, Kont. 66. 
 
 Selja (Isle), Sigh. i. 55 n., xi. 40. 
 
 Seljo-pollar(?), Sigh. i. 48, 
 
 Selmein = Selund, II. 31. 6. 
 
 Selund (Isle), II. 31. 6; 217. 20. 
 
 Selundz-byggvar, Thiod. iii. 72. 
 
 Serkir (Saracens), II. 31, 8 ; 249. 17. 
 
 Serkland, Thiod. iii. 5. 
 
 Saett (Sidon), II. 252. 17. 
 
 Sialand (Zealand), Thiod. ii. 24. 
 
 Sigg (Isle), II. 165. 1. 
 
 Sigtiinir, Hialm. D. 28. 55, Arnor ii. 8, 
 
 Thiod. i. .n ; II. 216. 12. 
 Sikley, Thiod. iii. 8 ; II. 215. 13 ; 228. 5. 
 Silund = Selund, Sigh. v. 10. 
 Simgalar, I. 370. No. 72. 
 Sintre, II. 249. 6. 
 Skaney, II. 31. 10; 94. 12; 228. 5; Sigh. 
 
 V, 19, Arnor ii. 54. 
 Skaneyjar-si5a, II. 31. 10 ; Thiod. ii. 54. 
 Skani = Skaney, Thiod. ii. 37. 
 Skanungar, II. loi. 8; Ott. ii. 7, Arnor 
 
 II. 51, Thiod. ii. 40, 
 Skat-valar, Hit. 9 n. 
 Skaut(?), Geisli 157. 
 Sker-eia, Yt. 147, 
 Ski3 (Isle), Arnor vi. 35 n. ; II. 241. 33 ; 
 
 244. 19. 
 SkiSungar (from Ski5a, Norway), II. 66. 
 
 78. 
 Skirings-salr, Yt. 147. 
 Sk6r6, Skiaa R. 57. 
 Skorpo-sker (?), Einar iii, 22, Krakoni. 
 Skorsteinn, Ott. ii. 30. 
 Skotborgar-a (River), Arnor i. 39, Thiod. 
 
 i. 23. 
 Skottar, Sonat. 36; II. 31 n, ; 95. 23; 
 
 Amor vi. 14. 
 Skotta-veldi, Arnor vi. 30, 42, Ivar 21. 
 Skottland, Arnor vi. 24. 
 Skottlandz-fir9ir, Krakom. 120. 
 Skiita (River), Yt. 15. 
 Skyld-Bretar, {>d. 44. 
 Skylda-Ieif(?), II. 217. 25. 
 Snae-grund = Iceland, Einar vi. 24. 
 Snotuiiga-borg (Nottingham), Ott. ii. 19. 
 
 Sogn, Veil. 60, Sigh. vi. 39 n. 
 Solskel (Isle), II. 30 n. 
 Solundir (Isle), II. 67. 100. 
 Scenskr, II. 103. 26; Arnor i. II. 
 Sota-sker, Hialm. D. 40, Sigh. i. 4. 
 Spani, II. 249. 5. 
 Stadar-holl, Ski6a R. 33. 
 Sta3i (Cape), I. 355. 45; II. 107. 14; 
 226. 55; Veil. 62, Ott. i. 50, Loft. 
 
 i. 15- 
 Stafanes, Hit. 33. 
 Stafaness-vagr, Hit. 34. 
 Stafangr, Arnor i. 29. 
 Stagley, SkiSa R. 42. 
 Stauri (Cape), II. 52. 17; Ivar 19. 
 Steig, II. 246. 2. 
 Steini, II. 108. 32. 
 Stiflo-sund, Yt. 168. 
 Stikla-sta6ir, Sigh. vii. 54, 55; II. 163, 
 
 16 ; 176. 51. 
 Stim, Loft. i. 18. 
 Stor& (Isle), Hakm. App. 12; II. 165, 
 
 II. 
 Strind, Sigh. iii. 14. 
 SiiSa-vik, I. 370. No. 68. 
 SuSreyjar, Krakom. 
 Su3reyskr, II. 281. 3. 
 Su5rlond, I. 367. No. 54. 
 Sudr-vegar, O. G. L. 23. 
 Su6r-vik, Sigh. i. 16. 
 SiiSvirki (Southwark), Sigh. i. 24. 
 Sunn-menn, Ord. 21. 
 Sunn-Mceri, I. 37. No. 56. 
 Svarfa3ar-dalr, I. 359. No. n. 
 Sverris-borg, II. 28. 59. 
 Svina-dalr, II. 69. 142. 
 Svina-sund, II. 104 n. 
 Svin-biiigr, Ski6a R. 67. 
 Svi-J)i65, Grott. 54; II. 100. i ; Sigh. iii. 
 
 36, Ott. i. 16, Arnor ii. 9, Thiod. i. 6. 
 Svi-^i63, Kolgo = Scythia, |jd. 45. 
 Svol6, II. 102. 5. 
 SvoI5ar-mynni, II. 102. 10. 
 Svol6rar-vagr, Kont. 100. 
 Sygnir, II. 97. 15 ; Sigh. x. I, Ivar 41. 
 Syllt (Sullt), Sigh. viii. 3 n. ; II. 170. 17. 
 Sysla, Yt. 118, 
 
 Taur, Yt. 53. 
 
 Temps (Thames). Ott. ii. 56. 
 
 Tempsar-bakki, II. 108. 35. 
 
 Tempsar-si6a, II. 107. 22. 
 
 Thesa (Tees), Ott. ii. 27. 
 
 Torf-ness, Arnor vi. 21, 
 
 Tungor, Sigh. vi. 6, 9. 
 
 Tuusberg, II. 273. 8. 
 
 Tursa-land (Touraine), Ott, i. 38 n. 
 
 Tyrfi-Finnar (Terffins), II. 550. 36. 
 
 Tyrvist (Isle), II. 244. 20.
 
 684 
 
 INDEX II. 2. 
 
 Ulfa-sund, Sigh. x. 52. 
 
 Ulfkells-land (E. England), Sigh. i. 26. 
 
 Unnar-dys, II. 279. 32, 
 
 Upplond, Sigh. vii. 5. 
 
 Upplendingar, Sigh. ii. 45, Arnor ill. 15, 
 
 Thiod. iii. 59. 
 Upplenzkr, Thiod. iii. 44. 
 Uppsalir, Yt.pass., Hialm. D. 54 ; I. 371, 
 
 No. Si. 
 Upsi (Upsir?), Yt. 171. 
 Usa (River), Ott. ii. 20, Arnor iv. 2 ; 
 
 II, 225. II. 
 Ut-steinn, Hornkl. 69, Sigh. vi. 20 ; II. 
 ^ 163. 6; 277. 14. 
 Utver, II. 51. 6. 
 
 Vaaia (River), Yt. 154. 
 
 Vagar (Isles = Lofoten), Ivar 91. 
 
 Val-berg, Sonat. 47. 
 
 Val-Bretar, Hallfr. ii. 19 n, 
 
 Val-land, L. B. L. 293, Harb. 74. 
 
 Valneskr, O. G. L. 135. 
 
 Val-ness, Ivar 97. 
 
 Val-Rygir, {>d. 75. 
 
 Valskr, Hornkl. 67, Oddr. 66, Sigh. ii. 
 
 19; II. 242. 40. 
 Varrandi (Guerrande), Sigh. i. 53. 
 Vaskar (Gascons), Hlod. A. 3 n. 
 VeSrey, Veil. 80 n. 
 Veg-Iotar (Sea-Jutes), Veil. 83, Loft. i. 
 
 23- 
 
 Vaegi-stafr, II. 104. 31 n. 
 Vendill, Yt. 96. 
 
 Vsenir (Lake), Yt. 137, Bragi 44. 
 Ver-doelir, II. 171. 38. 
 Vaeringar, II. 216. 2; Geisli 212. 
 Ver-land, Harb. 143. 
 Vest-fior5r, Arnor vi. 33. 
 Vest-land, Amor ii, 42. 
 
 Vest-marar, Yt. 172. 
 
 Vestroenn, Hornkl. 67. 
 
 V^etlingar, Ad. 76. 
 
 Vettalandir, II. 1 71. 45. 
 
 Viai, Yt. 172. 
 
 Vik (the County), Veil. 80, Sigh. ii. I. 
 
 Vik (the Bay), Thiod. i. 13. 
 
 Vik-buendr, II. 102. i. 
 
 Vikingar, Wak. 10 pass, 
 
 Vikverjar, II. 268. I. 
 
 Vilialms-byr (?), Sigh. i. 43. 
 
 Vina (River), II. 39. 24. 
 
 Vin-biorg, Hornkl. 8. 
 
 Vindr, Veil. 36, Arnor i, 31, Thiod, i. 20, 
 
 Mark. 38 ; II. 214. 2. 
 Vindvesk, Geisli 116. 
 Virki, Veil. 32. 
 Viskdoelsk, II. 243. 4. 
 Vorsar, II. 243. i. 
 Vorvi, Yt. 43. 
 
 Yrjar, Hit, 39; II. 241. Ii. 
 
 {)inga-menn, II. 105. 59; 232. 34. 
 f>i69 (Thy), II. 223. 14. 
 |>i(jlar-ness, II. 218. 14. 
 |>orskafiar3ar-J)ing, II. 62. II. 
 f>6rs-nes, II. 115. 16. 
 |36rsness-J)ing, II. 61. I. 
 |>otn, Yt. 1 46. 
 fjrasnes, I. 367. No. 54. 
 f>ri6ja-ve = Odense, Thiod. i. 54 n. 
 |)r6ndheimr, Loft. iii. 8; II. 274. 16. 
 |)r6ndheims-mynni, Rekst. 58, 
 |)roenda-log, II. 278. 16. 
 {jroendir, II. 93. 81 ; Arnor i. 15. 
 |)roenzkr, II. 50. 12; 91. 16. 
 Jjumlar (Isles), Thiod. vi. 3. 
 |>ursa-sker, Arnor vi, 58. 
 
 I
 
 685 
 
 INDEX III. SUBJECTS. 
 
 Comprises the contents of both Volumes under the following Sections : — > 
 
 1. Philological, list of etymologies, grammatical and phonetic phenomena, in 
 alphabetical order, p. 685. 
 
 2. Poetical, notices of metre, phraseology, forms of verse, etc., p. 687. 
 
 3. Critical, giving references to what has been said of MSS., diplomatics, theories 
 as to authorship, old and new commentaries, editions, translations, text-criticism, 
 etc., p. 689. 
 
 4. Authorities, list in regular order of authorities, translated, paraphrased, or 
 referred to, p. 691. 
 
 5. Chronology, main notices of corrected dates, ancient calendar, etc., p. 697. 
 
 6. History, chief historical events and notices, p. 698. 
 
 7. Law, principal references to early Law and Custom, p. 699. 
 
 8. "Warrior's and Seaman's Life, weapons, war, shipping, and the like, p. 700. 
 
 9. Household Life, food, raiment, housing, and farm labour, p. 702. 
 
 10. Religion and Legend in Heathen Days, traditions, and ritual, p. 704. 
 
 11. Beligion and Legend in Christian Days, ritual, beliefs, pilgrimages, 
 churches, and so on, p. 707. 
 
 12. Proverb Index, references to proverbs given in text or notes, p. 708. 
 
 The small reman numerals refer to the General Introduction. 
 I. Philological References. 
 
 af-karr, cp. E. car-hand, II. 592. 
 
 alandi = 0. G, elilenti, II. 696. 
 
 aldar-far, II. 645. 
 
 aldr-nari, cp. neron, II. 65 1. 
 
 alfr, I. 419. 
 
 alh = al- = alch, I. 407. 
 
 -an, Gaelic names in, I, 531. 
 
 and-keto (?), II. 609, 
 
 and-uari (?), I. 469. 
 
 Anlaf = 01af, spelling of, ex; I. 524. 
 
 Anse, I. 413; II. 515. 
 
 arin-geypr, not arin-greypr, I. 473. 
 
 armaSr, I. 417, 489. 
 
 article, en = hin [A. Kock], ex. 
 
 Ask and Embia, cp. Adam and Eve, II. 
 
 515- 
 iitt-hogar, I. 416. 
 
 basmir [?], cp. E. baswa-stan, I. 567. 
 bear-sark, I. 425. • 
 biota, cp. fladmen [Bugge], I. 408. 
 Bor = Bask buru, II. 653. 
 boslar, better bcilsar, Lat. bolso, II. 594. 
 braungo, I. 478. 
 
 broc, see Loan-words Gaelic, Ix. 
 Change of pronunciation etc. in the 
 
 eighth century in Scandinavian tongue, 
 
 Ivii ; I. 441. 
 cracaben, long-shanks, II. 574. 
 
 dafar, I. 473. 
 
 Dagr, dative of, I. 492. 
 
 dalkr = dealg, II. 518. 
 
 -dedun, past suffix of weak verbs in 
 
 Gothic formed by analogy, I. 572. 
 dis = E. ides, I. 419. 
 draugr, I. 419. 
 dual in O. N., I. 558. 
 dyngia, etymology [Grimm], I. 556. 
 Edda = erda, II. 514. 
 
 — use of the word, xxvi ; II. 560. 
 ekkja, I. 569. 
 
 faEgi = fich = ulcus, I. 537. 
 falk = falcem, II. 614. 
 for-doer, wizard, I. 408. 
 fi'jst-brce6r, I. 424. 
 frauSr = frog, II. 607. 
 freista, meaning, I. 412. 
 fretta, meaning, I. 412. 
 Genitive fern, in -oz, -or, -ur [Save], I. 
 512. 
 
 — ninsc. in -is, I. 472. 
 Genitive, 0/ emphasis, II. 643. 
 Giml6, I. 496; II. 651. 
 gl£efia = F. glaive, II. 615. 
 gla;-logn = glge-lung, II. 590. 
 giissir, Guest's Wisd., 1. 31. 
 g!6a, cviii.
 
 686 
 
 INDEX III. I. 
 
 goeSing, cp. aristos, II. 594. 
 
 gofgir, gentlemen, I, 406. 
 
 Goi [?], I. 431. 
 
 Gymis, I. 487. 
 
 halir = E. hx\eb, I. 420. 
 
 hana, spelling of, cix. 
 
 hand-laun = E. hond-lean, I. 514. 
 
 hegetill=gagatem [Fritzner], II, 617. 
 
 hegri = kirke, I. 466. 
 
 heid-sifa, cp. ei6-sifja, I. 424. 
 
 heill, I. 411. 
 
 hlaut, I. 408. 
 
 Hceni = kuknos, cii. 
 
 horg = E. heaig = harrow, I. 407. 
 
 Hrim, Hrymr = Kronos, II. 651. 
 
 hrista tein, I. 41 1. 
 
 hroer, meaning of, I. 521. 
 
 Hroptr, cp. casmen, II. 652, 
 
 hrotti, cp. E. Hrunting, II. 598. 
 
 Hyndla = hunila, II. 653. 
 
 I6a-vollr, cp. Magh-Ith, cxxii. 
 
 ingjan = Ir. inghean, II. 599. 
 
 Ingunar-Freyr, I. 486. 
 
 Inn-drott, I. 530. 
 
 lonakr, I. 478. 
 
 iungr, Ixx ; 11. 612. 
 
 ividja = E. inwidda, I. 496. 
 
 ij)r6tt, not i^rott, I. 530. 
 
 kinga, I. 497, 519. 
 
 kirke, I. 466. 
 
 kle = la.ia, I. 555. 
 
 kogur = E. cocur, I. 488. 
 
 kopir. Guest's Wisd., 1. 25. 
 
 kvelli, II. 608. 
 
 leikin [?], II. 649. 
 
 leySra, meaning of, I. 532. 
 
 lio6a-hattr, true meaning of, I. 439. 
 
 Loan-ivords from Englhh — bukiari, 
 greifi, hagestalda, penning, pundari, 
 sciiling, scattr, sigli, lix, Ix, Ixiv. 
 
 Loan-wordi from Greek — fengari, skipt, 
 midhaefi, II. 597. 
 
 Loan-word from Basque — buru, II. 
 652. 
 
 Loan-word from Finnic — tusi, I. 533. 
 
 Loan-words from Slavonic — reca, rokn, 
 II. 574, 616. 
 
 Loan-words from Gaelic — biodh, broc, 
 carca, caupall, conn, eras, dealg, eth, 
 fibh, fich, gagarr, inghean, lam, lind, 
 lung, niol, sgeulache, siol, tarbh, tir, 
 Ix, Ixx; I. 483, 518, 567; II. 537, 
 576. 699' 607, 611, 614-616. 
 
 Loan-words from Latin and Romance — 
 akka, berillus, boslar, fant, frakka, 
 glefja, lenz, lin, miitari, peita, targa, 
 tresc, Ix; I. 562 ; 11.587,601,615, 
 617. 
 
 mioto6r = E. meotuS, I. 558. 
 
 Mundil-foeri — PrometheusLWard] , 1. 479. 
 
 nadd-gofgan, Ixviii ; II. 654. 
 
 nor, meaning of, I. 523. 
 
 Noregr, historical spelling of, II. 512. 
 
 63-rerir, I. 466. 
 
 cerir. Guest's Wisd., 1. 36, 
 
 ogur-stund [?], I. 497. 
 
 6-freskr, I. 425. 
 
 6-myndr, cp. in manu, II. 595. 
 
 end, cp. Unnar-steinn [Rhys], cxxi. 
 
 ondvegis-siilor ', I. 406. 
 
 Orkney dialect, II. 606. 
 
 or5, yrdr, uses of, I. 521. 
 
 Osgrui, cp. gruva, I, 484. 
 
 otwin [?], II. 581. 
 
 pari-cida ^. 
 
 patri-monium = feSr-munir, I. 470. 
 
 Place-names in Western Isles, Ixiv; 1. 510. 
 
 port-greifi, cp. E. port-gerefa, II. 579. 
 
 Pronw^c/a^iow, evidence of coins on, I.441. 
 
 Puns in the Old N. Poetry, I. 152, 484 ; 
 II. 96, 172, 272, 300, 327, 329, 
 337' 362, 365, 601. 644» 606. 
 
 Quantity of inflexion -anda =««./, cviii. 
 
 Quantity of words, vowel before vowel = 
 uu, e.g. bua, blyi, gloa, hloa, nio, 
 saeing, skeom, soit, trui, veom, cviii. 
 
 Quantity of words with consonantic ' i * 
 in final syllables, e.g. gleSja, midjom, 
 dynja = - u, cviii. 
 
 Quantity in Caedmon's metre, I. 435. 
 
 Quantity in Court-metre, I. 448, 449. 
 
 Quantity in Dialogue-metre, I. 439. 
 
 Quantity in Wolospa, I. 443. 
 
 rapna-rok, I. 4S6. 
 
 Ran = arachne = aranea, I. 491. 
 
 rim-henda, «o; run-henda, I. 451. 
 
 ro3ra, not roSra, I. 407. 
 
 rosmun-fioll, I. 470. 
 
 Saga, not Saga, I. 480. 
 
 Sann-tiri =ceann-tir, II. 599. 
 
 scald = sgeulache, I. 567. 
 
 scalda-spillir, meaning of, I. 262. 
 
 scansion of weak preterites and com- 
 paratives, I. 497. 
 
 segl = Lat. sagulum, I. 491. 
 
 SigfroeSr = Sigur&r, historic spelling of, ex. 
 
 • Professor Sayce notices that the Phoenician temples in Malta were furnished 
 with two stone pillars close to the entrance. 
 
 ^ The first factor, ' pari,' so long unexplained, is solved by the gloss of Paul the 
 Deacon, /ara, kin (Langobardorum /aras, hoc est generationes vel lineas) ; pari-cida 
 therefore means kin-killer, slayer within the family, a consistent interpretation.
 
 POETICAL REFERENCES. 
 
 687 
 
 sil-, cp, Lat, sil-entium, I. 483. 
 
 siniiar = E, gesithas, I. 500. 
 
 skyldi, use of, I. 521. 
 
 sli3ar = E. slide, I. 477. 
 
 soa, I. 408, 
 
 soma = sonar, I. 561. 
 
 sororium tigillum, I. 429, 
 
 Spelling in this Edition, cviii, cix. 
 
 Spelling of R, xliii, 
 
 -stafar, compounds of, I. 472. 
 
 suSroeni, curious use of, by Tapestry 
 
 poet and Exeter-book, I, 557, 
 Suftung = Sumtung = Suntung, I, 466. 
 Suptung, etymology of, I. 561. 
 svaefa, I. 408. 
 
 svarr = G. schwager, II. 576, 
 Svart-hofSi, cp. Dubh-ceann, II. 562. 
 Svold, cp. Slav, reca, II. 574. 
 tal-hreinn = E. stael-hran, II. 563. 
 tira = G. zier, I. 538. 
 Irani, gender altered, II, 574, 
 Val-Bretar, II. 575. 
 val-gifr = E. wael-gifre, II. 563. 
 var-liugr = E. waer-loga, I. 539. 
 vartari, cp. E. garter, II. 571. 
 
 Vaettlinga, I. 420. 
 
 vaettr, 1. 419. 
 
 vaettrar-braut, I, 420. 
 
 ve, I. 407, 
 
 Veorr, I. 219. 
 
 vero, from verr, vaerr, I. 483. 
 
 -vig, compounds of, frequent in Helgi 
 
 poet's Lays. 
 vig-ro6i, I. 491. 
 
 vika, Lat. uices [Jessen], I, 428, 
 Vili, cp. vil, II. 648. 
 Vitnir, cp. vit, I. 479. 
 vr = E. wr, often changed to 'hr ' or ' r,' 
 
 cix. 
 Woden = Lat. uates, ciii ; II. 647. 
 Wolsi = phallos, II. 609, 
 Wrind, not Rind, I. 485. 
 Ygg-drasill, I. 480. 
 J)a6an, better J^anan, I. 573. 
 {)orri [?], I, 431. 
 {)rasis, not {)rasis, I. 479. 
 |)ulr, I. 24. 
 fjwingor, imaginary word coined out of 
 
 a misreading of the Tune-stone, as 
 
 was also ' singoster,' I. 573. 
 
 2. Poetical Subjects, Beferences to; see also 3. Critical Index. 
 
 Age, date, etc., see Introd., § 8, and 
 
 Special Introductions and Notes, 
 
 Asides, intercalary phrases used by the 
 
 Helgi poet, I. 489. 
 
 by the Greenland Atli Lay, I. 330, 562. 
 
 Ballads, history and origin of, II. 389. 
 
 Classification of Poems, Introd, § 9, 
 
 Ixv-lxx, 
 Collections of Old Poems, now lost. 
 Lost collections used by — 
 Ari, Ixxv. 
 Saxo, Ixxv. 
 Snorri, Ixxv, 
 Lost collection of Danish Lays, Ixxv, 
 Court-poetry, see Metre, Excursus 
 on — 
 its origin, Ixxx ; I, 433-435- 
 its intent, Ixxxi ; I, 4.33-435. 
 its composition and delivery, Ixxxi ; 
 
 I. 540. 
 its structure, I. 456. 
 Dramatic Poems, see Old Wolsung 
 Play, I. 31. 
 Dramatic frameworks to didactic 
 poo-nis, e. g. — 
 Loddfafni's Lessons, 
 Swipdag and Menglad, 
 The Aristophanic Poet, 
 Metres of dialogue-poems, I. 439- 
 440. 
 Epigrams, I. 368. 
 
 Improvisation, II. 408. 
 
 by Einar, II. 275. 
 
 by Sighvat, II. 119. 
 Kennings or Synonyms. 
 
 For general account of use in the 
 older poems and list of kennings, 
 see Excursus II, 449-486. 
 Kennings in — 
 
 Arnor, II, 592. 
 
 Brunhild Lay, I, 557. 
 
 Eilif, II. 605. 
 
 Einar, II. 600. 
 
 Geisli, II. 602. 
 
 Gisli Illugison, II. 599. 
 
 Islendinga-drapa, 11. 6l2. 
 
 Jomsvikinga-drapa, II. 606. 
 
 Konunga-tal, II. 604, 
 
 Krakomal, II. 606. 
 
 Later Poems, II. 606. 
 
 Love-song, II, 603, 
 
 Mark, II, 598. 
 
 Merlinus-spa, II. 608. 
 
 Old Wolsung Play, I. 469. 
 
 Orm, II. 605. 
 
 Rekstefja, II. 603. 
 
 Skaufhala-balk, II. 610. 
 
 Ski&a-rima, II. 61 1. 
 
 Thulor in Court-metre, II. 617, 
 Lost Poems, see Index III. 4, Saxo 
 and Skioldunga, and above. 
 
 Balder's Burning, I, 126, 574.
 
 688 
 
 INDEX III. 2. 
 
 Gorm Lay, Ixxv. 
 
 Hamlet Lay, Ixxv. 
 
 Heimdallar Galdr, I. 125, 574. 
 
 Iwar Lay, Ixxv. 
 
 Paraphrases of lost poems by Paul 
 the Deacon, Hi ; II. 503. 
 Metre. 
 
 See Excursus II, vol. I, for general 
 kiilory, classification, and noia- 
 Hon of Metres of Old Teutonic 
 poetry, — Norse, German, and 
 English. See also I. 458. 
 
 a. Old metres, I. 53, 117, 124, 456, 
 
 457- 
 Atlamal, I. 332. 
 Atlikvi&a, I. 45. 
 Atli Lay, I. 342, 
 Bragi, I. 446 ; II. 4. 
 
 Egil. I- 553- 
 
 Ericsmal, I. 267, 271, 553. 
 
 Eywind, I. 262. 
 
 Grimm on old metre, I. 579. 
 
 Harbard's Lay, I. 117, 435. 
 
 Hornklofi, I. 255. 
 
 HymiskviSa, I. 219. 
 
 Liuflings-lag, modern epic metre, 
 
 n. 384. 
 
 Modern dialogue metre, I. 445. 
 Northern epic metre, I. 444. 
 Thiodwolf, II. 10. 
 Western epic metre, I. 442. 
 Wolospa, I, 193. 
 Ynglingatal, I. 52 1, 
 
 b. Rhyme — 
 
 in early Teutonic poems, I. 450. 
 
 in later English poems, I. 451. 
 
 its Celtic origin, cxix ; I. 451. 
 
 of Egil, I. 267. 
 
 of Rimur, II. 293. 
 
 of Ski5a-Rima, IL 397, 
 
 Old ditties in rhyming metre, I. 
 
 356. 
 Proverb-poem metre, II. 363. 
 
 c. Court-tnetre, I. 432, 447-449, 456, 
 
 .457- . 
 Einar Gilson's late court-metre, li. 
 Docked metre, I. 450. 
 Burdens in court-metre, I. 453 ; II, 
 
 99. 302. 
 Turf-Einar metre, L 444, 
 
 in modern times, I. 44I, 445. 
 
 Parody, II. 212. 
 
 Poems omitted in tMs Edition, 
 cxi, cxii. 
 
 Poets. For names of poets in chrono- 
 logical order, see General Table of 
 Contents and Skaldatal (II. 442), 
 where poets are classed according 
 to their patron's name. 
 For List of Composers of Modern 
 
 Icelandic Ditties, see II. 410. 
 Add to names of Old Poets that of 
 Thorgils Orrascald, the poet 
 of Anlaf Cuaran, King of Dublin, 
 Egil's contemporary ; see Landn. 
 bk. i. ch. 19. 
 Note that Cormac's surname was 
 
 probably Frodi, II. 572. 
 Notes on older poets' plagiarism, I. 
 262, 454. 
 Remaniement, re-writing of Early 
 Poems by later editors — 
 Date and manner of this outrage, 
 
 Ixxxiv ; II. 28. 
 Later than Ari, Ixxxvi. 
 Earlier than Snorri, Ixxxvi. 
 Probably wrought by Einar Sculason, 
 Ixxxvii ; II. 258. 
 Repetition, law against, in Old North- 
 ern Poetry. 
 Only broken in Tapestry Poems, 1. 557. 
 Ilh3rme, see Metre b. 
 Riddle-poems, Ivi ; I. 484 ; II. 608. 
 Satire — 
 
 See L 100-124, 135-137; n. 252, 
 
 276, 279, 280, 573. 
 On Harold Gormson, II. 79, 80. 
 By Biorn, II. 212. 
 By John Thoriakson, II. 5. 
 Flyting Scenes, li-liii ; II. 507, 547. 
 Sltir, meaning of, I. 433, 434. 
 Style, see Introduction to separate 
 
 poems, in Eddie poems, cxv. 
 Subjects not usually treated — 
 Baby nursing, I. 362, 523. 
 Hair-cutting, I. 526. 
 Hill laughing, I. 361. 
 Lady weeping, II. 332. 
 ■ Love-song, II. 64. 
 Old age, Egil, IL 73- 573 ^ 
 „ Bersi, IL 71. 
 „ Starkad's Lay, I. 388. 
 Sunset, IL .^58. 
 Sunrise, II. I03. 
 Wedding, II. 167. 
 Thulor, for contents of, classified ac- 
 cording to subject, see General 
 Table of Contents. 
 
 * Add to the parallels given II. 573, Juvenal x. 205, Jacet exiguus cum ramice 
 nervus.
 
 CRITICAL REFERENCES. 
 
 689 
 
 3. Critical Beferences, MSS., Diplomatica, etc. 
 Authorities. 
 
 see also 4. List of 
 
 Arne Magnusson, xxix. 
 
 Notes on Edda, xcii. 
 
 Arngrim Jonsson, xx. 
 
 his children and second marriage, 
 
 XX, xxix. 
 his authorities, xxi. 
 Ballads, History and date of, II. 389. 
 connection of Ballads and older 
 
 Eddie Lays, I. 504. 
 Ballad on Swipday's Lay = Young 
 
 Sweidal, I. 93. 
 Ballad on Gripi's Lay, I, 285. 
 Ballad on Thrym's Lay, I. I 75. 
 Ballad on story of Odd and Angan- 
 
 theow, I. 159. 
 Ballad on 'Draumaqvsedi ' not from 
 
 Solarliod, I. 203. 
 connection of English and Danish 
 
 ballads, I, 505. 
 English ballads illustrating Atlamal, 
 
 I- 563, 564. 
 Biorn of Scardsa, his life, xxi. 
 his authorities, xxi, xxviii. 
 his works, xxvi. 
 Bishop Bryniolf, his life, xxii. 
 his character, xxii. 
 his words on Luther, xxii. 
 his speech to John Halldorsson, xxiii. 
 his son's death and epitaph at Yar- 
 mouth, xxii. 
 his daughter's tragedy, xxiv. 
 his library and its fate, xxv. 
 his theory of Edda, xxxi. 
 Citations, see also Paraphrase. 
 Guest's Wisdom cited by — 
 Eywind, I. 2. 
 Saxo, I. 2. 
 
 Fostbraedra Saga, I. 2. 
 Havamal cited by — 
 Ari, I. 25. 
 
 Fiolsvind's Lay, I. 23, 93. 
 Song of Saws copied by Hallgrim Pe- 
 tersson, I. 461 ; see also Reader, 
 p. 259. 
 Lacuna Lays cited by Snorri, Ixxiv. 
 
 By King Swerri, Ixxii. 
 Havamal and O. Wols. Play cited by 
 
 Swipday's Lay, I. 93. 
 Wafthrudnismal cited by Swipday's 
 
 Lay, I. 93. 
 Skirnismal cited by Swipday's Lay, 
 
 1.93- 
 Grimnismal cited by Swipday's Lay, 
 
 I-93- 
 Thrymskvida not known to Snorri, 
 
 I-I75- 
 
 VOL. 11. 
 
 Wolospa cited by — 
 Arnor, I, 193 ; II. 185. 
 Ari, I. 193. 
 Gunnlaug, I. 193. 
 Egil cited by — 
 
 Arnor, I. 548 ; II. 185. 
 Einar, I. 539. 
 Old poems copied by Gunnlaug's Saga 
 
 editor, I. 505. 
 Tregrof cited by Thomas, author of 
 Skald Helga-Rimur, L 328. 
 Commentators of the Old School 
 on Eddie Poems. 
 Biorn of Scardsa, xcvi. 
 Eggert Olafsson, xcvi. 
 Gunnar Paulsson, xcvi. 
 Hallgrim Petersson, xcvi. 
 Magnus Olafsson, xcvi. 
 Sweinbiorn Egiisson, xcvi. 
 Critical treatment of Eddie Poems. 
 
 fJmendations, xci. 
 Deciphering Icelandic MS. 
 
 How to read faded vellums, I. 543. 
 Edda, history of term, xxvii; II. 56. 
 ' Edda poetica,' theories as to 
 authorship and date of. 
 Arne Magnusson's ideas, xxx, xxxvi. 
 Arngrim's correspondence, xxix. 
 Biorn of Scardsa's first theories, 
 xxix, xxx. 
 
 last theory, xxxiv. 
 
 Bishop Bryniolf on Edda and 
 
 Wolospa, xxxi. 
 John the Leariied's ideas, xxxiii. 
 Magnus Olafsson's theories, xxx. 
 Stephanius' first mention of Edda, 
 
 xxx. 
 Early use of word ' Edda,' xvi, xvii. 
 Etymon of Edda, II. 514. 
 Editions of Eddie Poems. 
 
 Paper copies, 1640-1700, xcii. 
 Resenius and Stephen Olafsson, 1665, 
 
 xciii. 
 Copenhagen I vol., 1778, xciii. 
 „ 2 vol., 1818, xciii. 
 
 „ 3 vol., 1828, xciv. 
 
 Copenhagen Wafthrudnismal, 1779, 
 
 .xciii. 
 Von der Hagen, 1 81 2, xciii. 
 Grimm Brothers, 1815, xciii. 
 Rask, 1818, xciv. 
 Bergmann, 1838, xciv. 
 Munch and Unger, 1847, xcv. 
 Liining, 1858, xcv. 
 Miibius, i860, xcv. 
 Bugge, 1867, xcv. 
 
 vy
 
 690 
 
 INDEX III. 3. 
 
 Grundtvig, 1874, ''*^''- 
 Hildebrand, 1874, xcv. 
 Present Edition, 1883, cxxiii. 
 Forgeries, Gunnar-slag and Riddle 
 verses by Gunnar Paulson, I. 87. 
 Forspiallsliod or Hrsefuagaldr [by 
 Paul Halhonf], I. 181. 
 Grimm, J. and "W. 
 
 Unpublished letter of W. G., xviii. 
 Opinion of J. G. on Literary His- 
 tory, c. 
 On metre, J. G., I. 579. 
 On incubus, J. G., I. 485. 
 Jon Lserdi [John the Learned], 
 his life and fate, xxxii, xxxiii. 
 Magnus Olafsson, 
 
 his life and works, xxii, xcvi. 
 Manuscript Texts. 
 
 Arinbiom's Drapa AM. 132, L 380. 
 Hofudlausn cod. Wolfenbiittel, L 379. 
 Duplicate MS. texts of part of — 
 Balder's Dream, 1. 181, 377. 
 Hamtheow's Lay, I. 52, 375. 
 Helgi Lay, L 239, 376. 
 Old Gudrun Lay, I. 316, 326, 381. 
 Rig's Lay, L 235, 379. 
 Wafthrudnismal, L 61, 376. 
 Wolospa, L 377- 
 Manuscript authority for Texts, 
 see Introduction to each piece. 
 MS. of— 
 
 Darradliod, L 28. 
 Egil's poems, Hofudl., 1. 267. 
 „ „ Arinb., L 271. 
 
 „ „ Sonat., I. 276. 
 Solarliod and Chr. Wisd., AM, 166, 
 
 L 203. 
 Ynglingatal, L 244, 520. 
 Rig's Lay, I. 234-2^5. 
 Paper of Swipday's Lay, L 93. 
 Ericsmal, 1, 259. 
 Wolospa, I. I92. 
 Pedigree of Solarliod MS., L 508. 
 Wolospa MS., 1L"642. 
 „ Ynglingatal MS., L 520. 
 
 Manuscripts, age and description 
 of, xxviii. 
 Additions to Table given in Prolego- 
 mena to Sturlunga Saga, Oxford, 
 1878, xli. 
 Age and character of O, N, MSS., 
 
 how to judge, xxxix. 
 Age and description of — 
 Elucidarius, xxxix. 
 Agrip, xl. 
 
 Hauks-bok, xl, xlvii. 
 Sturlunga fragments, xl. 
 Age and description of Edda MS. — 
 R, xlii, Ixxi, 
 
 A, xliii. 
 W, xliv. 
 r, xlvi. 
 U, xlvii. 
 I e ^, xlvi. 
 Age and description of Kings' Lives' 
 MSS., etc.— 
 Bergs-bok, 1. 
 Egla MSS., L 266. 
 Fagr-skinna, 1. 
 Flatey-bok, xlvii. 
 Fris-bok, xlix. 
 Hrokkin-skinna, 1. 
 Hulda, 1. 
 
 Jofra-skinna, xlix. 
 Kringla, xlix. 
 Morkin-skinna, 1. 
 Niala MSS., L 281. 
 Skioldunga fragments, 1. 
 Wolsung;a, Ixxi. 
 Cod. Holm., St. Olaf's Life, 1. 
 AM. 61, xlix. 
 
 Cod. Reg. 2845, L 87, 193. 
 AM. 748, Ixxi. 
 Mazarin, Cardinal, invites Icelandic 
 
 scholar to Paris, xciii. 
 Ole 'Worm, his life, xxi. 
 
 Paraphrast of lost parts of Eddie Lays, 
 II. 525. 
 Paraphrast of Prose Sdda, xcvii ; 
 
 II. 630. 
 Paraphrast of Wolsunga, ' P,* Ixxi. 
 P-text of Lacuna Lays, I. 293 ; II. 
 
 Alswind's Lay, I. 391 ; II. 533. 
 Giidrun's Dream, I. 392 ; II. 533. 
 Sigfred's Wooing, I. 393 ; II. 535. 
 Gudrun's Quarrel with Brunhild, 
 
 I- 395 ; II- 536. 
 
 Sigmund and Sinfitela as Were- 
 wolves, I. 398. 
 Siguraar-kvida, I. 395 ; II. 539. 
 Signy's Death, I. 399. 
 Paraphrase in Latin verse by Saxo 
 of Eddie Lays. 
 Verse Paraphrase of — 
 Biarkamal, I. 188, 381. 
 Hialmar and Angantheow's Lay, I. 
 
 159- 
 Hildebrand's Lay, I. 190, 387. 
 Hlod and Angantheow's Lay, I. 
 
 349. 352. 387- 
 Niord and Skadi's Lay, I. i 25, 38 1. 
 Starkad's Lay, L 355, 388. 
 Vigfus' Ditty, I. 365, 391. 
 Petersen, Niels Matthias — 
 
 his opinion of Bergmann's book, xciv. 
 
 on Prose Edda, xcix. 
 
 onPreface to Kings' Lives, 1. 526.
 
 AUTHORITIES CITED. 
 
 691 
 
 Quotation, proper method of citing 
 
 Eddie poems, cxiii. 
 Rimur, origin and history of, II, 389. 
 Kunes and Kune-stones. 
 
 Ditties from Rune-stones, eleventh 
 
 century, Norway and Sweden, 
 
 I- 370, 571. 572- 
 Rok-stone poem, I. 59. 
 Tune-stone rightly read, I. 573. 
 Rune-stones carved with legendary 
 
 scenes, II. 589. 
 Runes mentioned in Eddie Poems, I. 
 27, 28, 115, 116, 141, 165. 
 Spell Song, I. 29. 
 Old Wols. Play, I. 40. 
 Havamal, I. 25. 
 Old Gudrun Lay, I. 321. 
 Magic characters, in SkirnisLay,I.i 15. 
 The Runes ^ and [} misread, I. 573. 
 Stephanius, his life, xxv. 
 Sweinbiorn Egilsson — 
 
 his Commentary on Court poetry, xcvi. 
 his beautiful prose translation of 
 Homer, xcvi. 
 Texts fromwliicli Old Ditties come. 
 Landnama, Nos. 15-22. 
 Kristni Saga, Nos. 31, 57, 59. 
 Libellus, No. 58. 
 Edda, No. I, and Add., I. 400. 
 Half's Saga, Nos. 4, 5. 
 Orvarodd's Saga, No. 6. 
 Niala, Nos. 7, 27, 32, 58, 60. 
 Eyrbyggja, No. 8. 
 Laxdaela, Nos. 9, 10. 
 Egla, No. 26, and in Torf-Einar metre, 
 
 3-6. 
 Cormac's Saga [Laxdaela], Nos. 24, 
 
 25, 62. 
 Eric Red's Saga, No. 34. 
 Floamanna Saga, No. 33. 
 Gisla Saga, Nos. 29-31. 
 Gunnlaug's Saga, Nos. 35, 61. 
 
 Hallfred's Saga [Vatzdala], No. 23. 
 
 SwarfdteJa Saga, No. II. 
 
 Sturlunga Saga, Nos. 2, ^, 14, 36, 64, 
 
 65, 69-71, and in Torf-Einar 
 
 metre, 9. 
 Hrafii's Saga, Nos. 13, 66-68. 
 Skioldunga, in Torf-Einar metre. No. 8. 
 lomswickinga Saga, No. 40. 
 Harold Fairhair's Life, Nos. 37, 38, 
 
 and in Torf-Einar metre, 2. 
 Magnus the Good's Life, No. 43. 
 Harold Hardrede, Nos. 42, 44, 45, 
 
 63, and in Torf-Einar metre, 7. 
 Olaf Quiet's Life, Nos. 12, 46. 
 Magnus Bareleg's Life, Nos. 47, 48. 
 Harold Gilli's Life, Nos, 49, 50. 
 Sigurd Slembi's Life, Nos. 51, 52. 
 Agrip, No. 39. 
 Fagrskinna, No. 41. 
 Orkneyinga, Nos. 53, 54, and Add., I. 
 
 400, and in Torf-Einar metre, 371. 
 Swerri's Life, No. 55. 
 Hakon's Life, No. 56, and Add., 1. 400. 
 Translations of Eddie Poems, cxiv. 
 Stephen Olafsson, xciii. 
 Copenhagen, xciii. 
 Grimm Brothers, xciii, 
 Bergmann, xciv. 
 Mallet, xciv. 
 
 Dryden's Miscellany, xcv. 
 Gray, xcv. 
 Herbert, xcv. 
 Cottle, xcv. 
 Aytoun, xcv. 
 Present Translation, cxvii. 
 Translation of Sagas, 
 
 Right and wrong style of translation, 
 
 cxv ; I, 503. 
 Sir G. W. Dasent, Gisli, cxv. 
 Sir E. Head, Glum, cxv. 
 Rev. J. Sephton, Eric Red's Saga, cxv. 
 Widalin, Lawman Paid, xx. 
 
 4. Authorities Cited, Translated, or Paraphrased. 
 
 a. ARI, Ixxxvi, Ixxxviii, c. 
 
 his authorities, Ixxvii. 
 Liber. 
 
 [Hawks-bok], famine of year 976, 
 
 n. 35- 
 
 Libellus. 
 
 General Moot, II. 495. 
 Wolfliot's Constitution, 11. 495. 
 Thorstan Iiigolfsson, founder of the 
 Old Moot, II. 495, 
 Landnama-bok. 
 
 Bk. ii.ch.6. Asniund's ghost, II. 605. 
 ij. 16. Queen Aud's crosses, I. 415. 
 i. 14. Dead, worship of, I, 414. 
 
 vy 2 
 
 . 12. Dead, Hill of the, I. 415. 
 . 5. Dying into a Hill, I. 416, 
 i, 8. Divination by Chips, I. 411, 
 .11. Einar's death, II. 43. 
 . I. Flein the poet, II. 6. 
 
 2. Floki's soothsaying, I. 413. 
 
 I. Gardar's mother's second-sight, 
 
 I. 412. 
 , 30. Hallbiorn'sobstinatewife,II.77. 
 , ID. Helgi's murder, II. 77. 
 i, 12. Helgi Beolan's oracle, I. 412. 
 i. I. Howe-breaking, I. 418. 
 i. 2, Ingimond the old and the Sibyl, 
 I. 412,
 
 692 
 
 INDEX III. 4. 
 
 V. 5. Lycanthropy, I. 425. 
 
 V. 3. Marking a claim, I. 406. 
 
 iv. 6, Temple, migration of, I. 406. 
 
 V, 8. Temple family, pilgrimage to 
 free Iceland, I. 426. 
 
 iv. 4. Tiorwi's story, II. 77* 
 
 iii. 17. Worship of grove, I. 421. 
 
 iii. 17. rock, I. 421. 
 
 V, 5, waters, I. 421. 
 
 V. 3. Winterlid's libels, 11. 26. 
 Kristni Saga. 
 
 Ancestral spirit quelled, I. 416. 
 
 Thangbrand and the poets, II. 78. 
 
 Winterlid's lampoons, II. 26. 
 Ynglinga Saga. 
 
 Authorities used by Ari in, Ixxvii. 
 
 Egil's Sona-torrek, gloss from. !. 550. 
 
 Havamal, paraphrase of, I. 468. 
 
 Rig's Lay paraphrased, I. 235, 517. 
 
 Norwegian royal pedigree, II. 513. 
 
 King Godgest's magic fall [Haleyja- 
 tal], I. 528. 
 
 Ch. 40. Woden's toast, I. 405. 
 
 Ch. 10. Woden's spear mark /^ , 1. 409. 
 Skioldunga and lomswickinga. 
 
 [lomswickinga^ Einar's scales of divina- 
 tion, II. 43. 
 
 [Hrolfs Saga] Biarkamal story, a paral- 
 lel to Fin's Lay, Ixvi, Ixxv ; 1. 1 88. 
 
 [Rimbegla] the earthquake in King 
 Prodi's days, I. 188. 
 
 Paraphrase of Hlod's Lay, I. 349. 
 
 Paraphrase of Iwar's Lay, I. 123. 
 
 [Hrolf s Thattr] Lodbrok's death, II. 
 
 339- 
 [Lost part] Starkad's story, I. 466. 
 [Fragment] muster-roll of heroes, 
 
 I- 353- 
 b. KINGS' LIVES. 
 Preface. King Dan's barrow, I. 517. 
 Halfdan Black's Life. 
 
 Halfdan's table of Weregilds, II. 499. 
 Harald Fairhair's Life. 
 
 Guththorm the peacemaker, II. 29. 
 Hacon's Life. 
 
 Earl Atli's death, IL 657. 
 
 Eywind's ring, II. 34, 567. 
 
 Hacon's laws, II. 499. 
 
 Harold Grayfell, 11. 567. 
 
 Sigrod's temple-feast, II. 32. 
 Olaf Tryggvason's Life. 
 
 Earl Hacon fighting Emperor Otto, 
 IL 568. 
 
 Olaf escaping death at Swold, is met 
 by a pilgrim in Palestine, II. 164. 
 
 A temple-feast in heathen days, I. 405. 
 St. Olaf's Life. 
 
 Erling the just master, I. 5 1 7. 
 
 Fleet of St. Olaf, II. 588. 
 
 Poets at Sticklestead, II, 174. 
 
 Swedish Kings' pedigree, II, 513. 
 
 Sighwat's embassy to the East, I. jSr, 
 Harold Hardrede's Life. 
 
 Harold's new ship, II, 595, 
 
 The King tries the poet's skill, II, 596. 
 
 The King entertained by the blind 
 poet, II, 221, 597, 
 
 The king jealous of his nephew, 11,185. 
 Hakonar Saga. 
 
 Gizur egging kings to fight, I. 348. 
 Brian Boroimlie's lost Saga. 
 
 [Niala] Clontarf fight, I. 281, 554, 
 
 [Thorstan Hall-o'-Side's son's Saga] 
 Clontarf fight, I, 554. 
 Orkneyinga. 
 
 The charmed banner, I. 553. 
 Fsereyinga Saga. 
 
 The outlaw and the orphans, I. 511. 
 Agrip. 
 
 The King's Lay called Oddmior, II. 
 310. 
 
 How a king became an earl in order 
 to hang himself, I. 528. 
 
 Atli the law-speaker, I. 586. 
 Fagrskinna. 
 
 Ch. 4. Halfdan buried piece-meal, I. 
 417. 
 Flatey-bok, 
 
 Fyrisficld fight, IL 6i. 
 
 ii. 72. Styrbiorn's devotion of his foes 
 to Woden, I. 425, 567. 
 
 ii. 7. Dead king worshipped, I. 415. 
 Morkinskinna, 
 
 Date of Geisli, poem by Einar, II. 283, 
 Odd Monk. 
 
 Harold Bluetooth's boast, II. 587. 
 Old Gtila-thing's Law. 
 
 Heathenism forbidden, I. 408. 
 
 Oath, I. 422, 
 
 Atli the law-speaker, II, 586. 
 c. ICELANDIC FAMILY 
 .SAGAS. 
 
 Epic, unhistorical character of, II. 578. 
 Bersi's lost Saga. 
 
 Morsel from, II. 63. 
 Biarnar Saga. 
 
 Biorn's satires, II. 578, 
 Cormac's Saga. 
 
 Cormac's personal looks, II. 52. 
 
 Elves, sacrifice to, I. 414. 
 
 A meteyard too short, omen of, II, 32. 
 Egil's Saga, 
 
 Mootseat at Wal-fell, I. 551. 
 
 Egil lampooning King Eric, II, 572, 
 
 Ch. 60. Egil invoking Genii of the 
 land against his enemies. I, 419, 
 
 How Egil made his poem Head-Ran- 
 som, I. 534.
 
 AUTHORITIES CITED. 
 
 693 
 
 How Egil made his poem Sona-torrek, 
 
 I. 541. 
 
 The poet Einar's shield, II. 42. 
 Eric the Ked's Saga. 
 
 Freydis' character coloured from Gud- 
 run's in the Greenland Lay, I 338, 
 
 664- 
 The Sibyl-scene, II. 647. 
 Eyrbyggia Saga. 
 
 Ch. 10. Thor's stoae of sacrifice, I. 
 
 409. 
 Ch. 4. Temple fittings of heathen 
 
 days, I. 403. 
 Ch. 1 1. The dead feasting in the Holy 
 
 Hill, I. 415. 
 Ch. 44. Devotionof enemy by casting 
 
 a spear, I. 425, 567. 
 Postbrodra Saga. 
 
 Thormod the poet and his two loves, 
 
 II. 173. 
 Gisla Saga. 
 
 Paraphrases of lost Helgi Lay in poems 
 by Editor of Gisla, Ixvii; II. 
 
 331- 
 Gretti's Saga. 
 
 Gretti given Thor's exploits, I. 513. 
 Gunnlaug's Saga.. 
 
 Gunnlaug's story coloured and imitated 
 
 from Waldhere's story, I, 568. 
 Gunnlaug and King Sigtryg, II. 119, 
 Moot-stead of Egil's family, I. 551. 
 Thord's poem on Gunnlaug, II, 577. 
 Hall-o'- Side's lost Saga. 
 
 [Thidrand's Thattr] the goddesses, 
 Disir, in arms, I, 419. 
 Hallfred's Saga. 
 
 Halifred meets Tryggvason, II. 87. 
 Hallfred's death, II. 88. 
 Goodman sitting on a barrow near his 
 house, 1. 416. 
 Hen-Thori's Saga. 
 Old Moot-stead, II. 495. 
 Vow at toast of Woden, I. 423. 
 Herd's Saga, the omen of the broken 
 
 necklace, I. 563. 
 Kialnesinga Saga. 
 
 Ch. 5. Temple furniture, I. 404. 
 Laxdsela Saga. 
 
 Olaf Peacock's new hall, II, 22, 
 Gudrun's Lays, echo of, I, 562. 
 Kiartan's character and adventures 
 coloured from those of Sigfred and 
 Waldhere, I. 565, 
 Nial's Saga. 
 
 Brian's battle, I. 281, 554, 
 Hallgerd's treachery to Gunnar (echo 
 of Egil's story), II. 505. 
 Scald-Helgi's lost Saga. 
 Rimur on, I. 238. 
 
 Sighwat's lost Saga. 
 Morsel from, II. 121. 
 Vatzdaela Saga. 
 
 The boy Thorstan and the Outlaw 
 (echo from Tale of Elfwine's 
 Youth), II. 503. 
 The Yoke, going under it, I. 423. 
 
 d. STURLUNGA AWD LIVES 
 
 OF BISHOPS. 
 Islendinga Saga. 
 
 Dancing, II. 295, 3S6, 
 
 Sturla and King IVIagiuis, IF. 261. 
 
 Thord Anderson's death, II. 387. 
 Krafn Sweinbiornsson's Life. 
 
 Bishop Biarni's gifts, II. 301. 
 Thorgils' Life. 
 
 The dance. II. 386. 
 Bishop Ami's Life. 
 
 On dancing and mumming, II. 386. 
 Bishop John's Life. 
 
 His objection to dancing and mum- 
 ming, n. 385,386. 
 
 His objection to heathen names of 
 week-days, I. 428, 
 
 His objection to Ovid's Ars Amoris, 
 II. 259. 
 Hungrwaka, 
 
 Bishop doing, II. 259, 
 Annals (Flatey-bok and Fragments). 
 
 Thormod Olafsson, death of, II. 419. 
 
 Starkad's tooth in Africa, II. 612. 
 
 e. EDDA PROSE AND TRADI- 
 
 TIONAL SAGAS, 
 Snorri's real part in, Ixxxvi, c. 
 Bragamal. 
 
 The Rape of Idwyn and Fall of Thiazi, 
 
 H. 10. 
 The Weregild of Thiazi and Wedding 
 
 of Scathe, I, 464. 
 The Guild-feast of the gods at Eager's, 
 
 1.463. 
 The origin and history of the Soma- 
 
 driiik, I. 464, 465. 
 Skaldskaparmal. 
 Eormanric's end, II. 5. 
 Everlasting battle of the Heathnings, 
 
 11.5- 
 Thor's wager of battle with giant 
 
 Hrunguir, II. 11. 
 Thor's struggle with giant Garfred 
 
 and his daughter, II. 18. 
 The Treasures of the gods, and how 
 
 they got them, I. 481. 
 Paraphrase o( Hyndlas Lay, II. 518, 
 Synonym List, I. 545. 
 Gylfa-ginning, II. 630. 
 Glosses following Thulor AM. 748, 
 
 II. 546. 
 Gradus gleaned from Prose-Edda, 1574.
 
 694 
 
 INDEX III. 4. 
 
 Sigfred, paraphrase interpolation, 
 
 I. 541. 
 
 Hamtlieow, paraphrase interpola- 
 tion, II. 507. 
 Edda, Poetic, prose passages in, II. 525. 
 Hatta-lykill, by E. Rognwald and Hall. 
 
 Mention of Helgi, Ixxvii. 
 
 List of heroes in, cxi. 
 Arrow-Odd's Saga, see I. 547. 
 
 Stury of the sons of Arngrini, I. 159. 
 Bosi and Herraud's Saga, see I. 547. 
 
 Paraphrase of Eddie Lay, Hiorrend, etc., 
 Ixxx. 
 
 Myth of Harper [Slag-Fin?], I. 169. 
 Half's Saga, see I. 547. 
 
 The champion of Half, II. 553. 
 Gautrek's Saga, see I. 547. 
 
 Ch. 7. Sacratio b}' spear, I. 409. 
 
 Ch, 7. Story of Starkad's doom and 
 evil deed, I. 467. 
 Herwarar Saga. 
 
 The ' sonar-goltr,' sacrificial boar, I.406, 
 
 Difir, temple feast of, I. 405. 
 
 Swedish Kings, worthless pedigree of, 
 
 II. 513- 
 Hromund Gripsson's Saga. 
 
 Paraphrase of Helgi-Cara Lay, Ixviii. 
 
 Cairn-robbing, I. 418. 
 Theodric's or "Wilkina Saga. 
 
 Story of Egil the Archer, I. 168. 
 
 Story of Weyland, I. 168. 
 Wolsunga Paraphrase, App. Vol. I, 
 
 .-91 ; II- 532. 
 
 Adam of Bremen, King Sweyn's ac- 
 count of Upsala temple, I. 402. 
 Saxo Grammaticus, see Index III. 3, 
 s. V. Paraphrase. 
 
 Truce-swearing, old form of, I. 423. 
 
 Proverbs from Guest's Wisdom, 1. 461, 
 462. 
 
 Biarkamal, old name of, I. ;oo. 
 
 Harding's witchcraft, I. 561. 
 
 Paraphrase of Ditties, I. 570. 
 
 Muster-roll of heroes at Bravalla fight, 
 
 I- 353- 
 /. EABLY AUTHORS 'WBIT- 
 
 ING IN LATIN". 
 Adamnani, Vita St. Columbse, 
 miracles of Olaf Tryggvason bor- 
 rowed from, II. 603. 
 Ammianus Marcellinus. 
 
 xxxi. 3. Death of Eornianric, I. 475. 
 xvi. 12, xxvi. 7, XXX. 7. War-cry of 
 Teutons, I. 531. 
 Anschari Vita. 
 
 Worship of a dead king, I. 414. 
 Bseda. 
 
 Chronology of, II. 494, 645. 
 Sussex famine, I. 411. 
 
 Einhardi Vita Caroli. 
 
 Charles the Great's collection of old 
 German Lays, li. 
 Gothic Calendar, I. 477, 
 lordanis [Cassiodoros]. 
 
 Chalons plain (Catalaunian fields), I. 
 
 478. , 
 Eormanric's death, I. 476. 
 Theodric's pedigree, II. 487. 
 The Anses, I. 413, 
 Cites Priscus' account of Attila's 
 death, 1. 472. 
 
 of Attila's rise, I. 473. 
 
 of Attila's looks, I. 473. 
 
 Paulus Diaconns. 
 
 Lay of Elt'wine's youth, li. 
 Lay of Eifwine's murder, lii. 
 Elfwine's fame in song, li. 
 The chaste maidens' escape, Iv. 
 The quarrel of the two warriors, Iv. 
 The insult of Ferdulf avenged, I. 487. 
 The escape of Grimwald, Iv. 
 Epic colouring in Paul's writing, Iv. 
 The Saxons' Nazarite vow, I. 424. 
 Story oftheLongbeards not taken from 
 
 a Lay, I. 424. 
 The Fins, 1. 496. 
 
 The Anglo-Saxons' linen robes, I. 557. 
 Priscus, see lordanis. 
 Silius Italicus. 
 
 Nazarite vow of barbarians, I. 424. 
 Suetonius, Vita C. Julii Csesaris. 
 Julius Caesar's Nazarite vow, I. 424. 
 Tacitus. 
 Germania — 
 
 Hertha, II. 509, 51 1. 
 
 Horses hallowed to the Gods, I. 
 
 412. 
 Divination by rods, I. 411. 
 German Sibyl, 1. 471. 
 Counting by nights, not days, I. 
 
 431- 
 Nazarite vow of Germans, I. 424. 
 Gambling of Germans, I. 530, 
 Poems of Germans on heroes, li. 
 Scrita-fins, 1. 496. 
 War- whooping 6amV?/s of Germans, 
 
 I- 531- 
 Punishment for great crimes, I. 410, 
 561, 
 Annals — 
 
 Lays of Arminius, li. 
 Altar to Ulisses, civ. 
 Histories — 
 
 v. 23. Sails of coloured stuff, I. 491. 
 iv. 61. Julius Civilis' vow, I. 424. 
 g. OLDER ENGLISH AND 
 
 GERMAN AUTHORITIES. 
 Bseda, see above.
 
 AUTHORITIES CITED. 
 
 695 
 
 Chronicle, Old English. 
 
 Abingdon MS. 
 
 1012. Danegeld, II. 588. 
 
 1013. Ethelred's return, I. 5S8, 
 Peterborough MS. 
 
 976. Famine in Eadgar's reign, 
 
 n- 35. 
 
 1009-II. Danish invasion, II. 588, 
 1013. Danish invasion, II. 574. 
 1016. Siege of London, II. 578, 
 
 1016. Assandon-fight, II. 577. 
 
 1017. Thorkill's earldom, II. 578. 
 102I. Thorkill outlawed, II. 578. 
 1023. Thorkill made governor of 
 
 Denmark, II. 578. 
 1031. Scottish kings and Cnut, II. 
 
 582. ^ 
 1050. BiornSweyn'sbrother, 11.592. 
 Drayton, M. The roe, I. 493. 
 Geoffrey of Monmouth, 
 
 his iVIerlini Vaticiniiim translated into 
 Icelandic, II. 372. 
 Kobert Manning of Bourne, 
 
 his apologue on pride, I. 489, 
 Richard Fitz-NeeL 
 
 Dial, de Scaccario, the eagle's clutch, 
 
 11. 608. 
 Tongue a plane or adzeof speech, 1. 45 1. 
 h. POEMS, OLD ENGLISH 
 
 AND GERMAN. 
 Beowulf, age of, Iv; I. 442. 
 Pedigree in, II. 513. 
 Helmets, boar-crested, I. 560. 
 Harper in the hall, Iv, 
 Old king mourning over his dead son, 
 
 I. 542. 
 Tapestry in a hall, I. 556. 
 Truce sworn between Fin and Henc- 
 gest, I. 566. 
 Brythnoth's Lay. 
 
 Age and character of, Iv. 
 Brunanburh Lay. 
 
 A book-poem, its age, Iv ; I. 443. 
 Casket, Mr. Franks '. 
 
 Carved with stories of Egil and Way- 
 land, I. 169 ; II. 505. 
 Charm Song, Old English, Chris- 
 tian. 
 Parallel to Thrond's Creed, II, 5. 
 Charm Song, Old German Hea- 
 then, right translation of, I. 482. 
 Cynewuirs Poems, Exeter-book, 
 Ivi ; I. 442, 460. 
 Metre of, I. 437. 
 Harper mentioned, Iv. 
 
 Deor's Lay, character of, Iv. 
 
 Citation from, I. 451. 
 Domesday, translation from the Latin, 
 
 Ivi. 
 Exeter-book, see Cynewulf. 
 Fin's Lay, character of, Ixvi, 
 
 Parallel to Biarkamal, Ixvi. 
 Genesis, Caedmon's. 
 
 Age of, Ivi. 
 
 Metre of, I. 437. 
 Heliand, date and metre of, I. 443. 
 Hildebrand's Lay, 
 
 Metre of, I. 437. 
 
 Story of, I. 190. 
 Judith. 
 
 Age of, Ivi. 
 
 Parallels to Brunanburh Lay in, Iv. 
 Muspilli. 
 
 Age of, Iv. 
 
 Metre of, I. 437. 
 Phoenix. 
 
 Translation from, Latin, age of, Ivi. 
 Riddles of Exeter-book. 
 
 Translation and imitation, Ivi. 
 Rood Lay. 
 
 Age of, Ivi. 
 
 Metre of, I. 437. 
 "Waldhere's Lay, character of, Iv. 
 Waltharii Poema. 
 
 Translation of Old German poem, Iv. 
 
 Ransom or reward of a heap of gold. 
 L 566. 
 
 Novalician text, II. 506. 
 "Wessobrunner Prayer. 
 
 Metre of, I. 437. 
 Widsith's Lay. 
 
 Age of, Iv. 
 
 Harper mentioned, Iv. 
 
 Elfwine's fame celebrated, li. 
 2. IRISH AND WELSH AU- 
 THORITIES. 
 
 Poem on DurlaingO'Hartigain, parallel 
 to Darradaliod, 1. 
 
 Prophecy of St. Moling, parallel to 
 Wolospa, I. 
 
 Annals of Kilronan on Clontarf, 1. 
 
 of Innisfallen on Clontarf, 1. 
 
 Story parallel to myth of Thor and 
 Garfred, see Revue Celtique, I. 
 123. 
 
 Book of Hengest, Gnomic metre of 
 poems in, I. 441. 
 k. DANISH BALLADS. 
 
 Thord of Havsgaard, I. 501. 
 
 Aage and Else, I. 502. 
 
 ^ On this casket is not only a scene from Egil's story, but one from Wcyland's — 
 Beadhiid before the smith, who has just slain her little brother. Weyland's escape 
 through the air like Daedalus is sculptured on the base of the Leeds' cross.
 
 696 
 
 INDEX III. 4. 
 
 ;. DANTE. 
 
 Purg. xviii. 76, The Moor.pail, I. 77. 
 m. SHAKESPEA-KE, Ogre Time, 
 II. 487. 
 Popular saying, I. 461. 
 n. LATER ICELANDIC SCHO- 
 LARS, etc., see also Index 
 
 HI. 3- 
 Arne Magnusson, the collector. 
 Notes on Edda, xxx, xxxvi, xciii, 
 Arngrim Jolmson, the Renaissance 
 critic. 
 Correspondence and Snpplement on 
 
 Edda, xxix. 
 Paraphrase of lost part of Rig's Lay, 
 
 1.517- 
 BiomofScardsa, the self-made scholar. 
 Commentary. Ideas on Edda, xxxiv, 
 Biarni Thorarinson, the poet, 
 
 his dirges, I. 445. 
 Ditties, popvilar Icelandic, see IT. 38 7 . 
 Eggert Olafsson, the traveller, 
 his ditties, II. 388. 
 his welcome home, II. 388. 
 Hallgrim Petersson, the best Ice- 
 landic poet, xciv ; I. 469. 
 Anecdotes of, xx ; II. 410. 
 Samhendur, after the style of Song of 
 Saws, I. 461. 
 Bishop Gudbrand, the translator of 
 the Bible, 
 his wish to replace profane songs by 
 godly music, II. 388. 
 John, the Learned, the wandering 
 
 scholar, on Edda, xxxii, xxxiii. 
 John Olafsson, the memoir-writer. 
 The poor companion and the poet's 
 prophecy, xxi. 
 John Thorlaksson, poet and translator 
 of Milton, II. 410. 
 Satire of old type on Danish truck- 
 merchant, I. 571. 
 Songs, popular, see I. 567. 
 Torfseus, the historiographer royal. 
 Cites Hallgrim the poet's ideas on the 
 Spell-song, I. 469. 
 Widalin, the lawman. 
 
 Master Biorn who helped the giantess, 
 I. 460. 
 o. MODERN ■WRITERS AND 
 
 SCHOLARS. 
 Acland,Dr.,and the old carpenter, cxxi. 
 Bang, Dr., on Sibylline books, Isvii. 
 Bergmann, Prof., on Harbard's Liod, 
 
 I. 117. 
 Campbell, J., collection of, I. 512. 
 Carlyle, T. 
 
 The dignity of work, I. 5 16. 
 Oliver a baresarker, I. 531. 
 
 Religion of Eddie Poems a complex 
 thing, ci. 
 
 Tradition a magnifier, I. 476. 
 
 Thor and his pot, I. 514. 
 Champfleury, R., and Legros, A. 
 
 Le Bonhomme Misere, cii. 
 Coxe, H., as a judge of MSS., xli. 
 Editor. 
 
 Birthdays in Iceland, I. 430. 
 
 Calendar of Modern Iceland, 1. 429-3 1. 
 
 Old loom in Iceland, I. 484. 
 
 Quern in Iceland, I. 499. 
 
 Fetching the good morning, I. 508. 
 
 Northern lights, I. 491. 
 
 The milky way and the weather pro- 
 phet, II. 645. 
 English chap-books. 
 
 Tom Tiam, etc., I. 512. 
 
 Jack the Giant Killer, I. 512. 
 Goethe, 
 
 King of Thule, Ixxv. 
 
 Ages of Belief and Unbelief, cxvi. 
 
 ' Le inieux Tainemi du bien,' cxxiii. 
 Grimm Brothers, see above, p. 690. 
 Grundvig, Dr. S., labours on the 
 
 Ballad, I. 505, 
 Heinzel, Dr. R., on Saga style, II. 508. 
 Howorth, H. H., his article on Dudo, 
 
 "• 493- 
 Jeffries, R. 
 
 Old Lady Day, I. 430. 
 Jessen, Dr. 
 
 Week, a Latin word, I. 42S. 
 Kock, A. 
 
 Discovery as to article, ex. 
 Montelius, O. 
 
 Study on fibula brooches, I. 518.- 
 
 Study on sword-types, II. 614. 
 Munch. ' 
 
 Reconstruction of Iwar Wide-fathom's 
 History, I. 125. 
 Rossetti, Christina. 
 
 Ghost-poems and the Helgi Lays, 1. 507. 
 Rhys, Professor. 
 
 Celtic Britain, cxxxii. 
 Save, Dr. C, 
 
 his observation on genitive in -ur, I. 
 512. 
 Sars, the historian, cxx. 
 Steenstrup, on historical myths, I. 
 
 589 ; II. 504. 
 Stephens, Dr. G., on Gosforth Cross, 
 
 II. 649. 
 Stephanius. 
 
 First printed mention of Edda, xxxiv. 
 Translator. 
 
 Notes on Ballads, i. 503. 
 
 Note on Rune, I. 573. 
 
 Old Stories, 1882, 1. 488 ; II. 585.
 
 CHRONOLOGICAL REFERENCES. 
 
 697 
 
 p. GREEK BOOKS. 
 Aeschylus. 
 
 Prom, The Titan chained, II. 604. 
 
 Agam, ' Helen of Troy ' described as 
 a Walcyrie, a Brunhild, I. 562. 
 AratsDus. 
 
 Cited by St. Paul, I. 51 1. 
 Aristophanes. 
 
 Birds. Birth of Love, cii. 
 
 • Chaos, II. 646. 
 
 Herodotus. 
 
 Psammenitos, xxiv. 
 Homer. 
 
 Od. x'. 
 
 Od. viii, 319 ; II. 607, 
 
 Od. xii, 414, 415; I. 531. 
 
 Od. XX. 105 ; I. 499. 
 Pindar. 
 
 Poetry, image drawn from nectar, 
 and house-building, I. 540 ; II. 
 712. 
 
 g. BIBLE (mostly eschatological). 
 Old Teitamenl — 
 Leviticus iv. 17. 
 Numbers xvii. 4, xix. 4, I, 41 1. 
 Psalms xcvii, I. 609 ; cxxviii. 3, I. 
 
 650- 
 Isaiah xiii, 9, 10, xxxiv. 4, II. 650. 
 Ezekiel xxxii. 7, 8, II. 650. 
 Daniel v, I. 477. 
 Hosea iv. 12, I. 411. 
 Joel ii. 10-32, II. 650. 
 New Testament — 
 Mark xiv. 7. 
 Luke xxi. 9-1 1, II. 650. 
 Hebrews ix. 3. 
 
 Revelation xiii. 4, xxi. 2, II. 653. 
 Hegesippos. 
 
 The kinsfolk of the Lord in the days 
 of Domitian, I. 516. 
 Sibylline Books. 
 
 Compared with Wolospa [Bang], Ixvii. 
 
 5. Chronology, Pedigrees, and Calendar, 
 
 Ari, his chronology, II. 494. 
 Bseda, Ari's model, II. 645. 
 Birthdays, none kept in Iceland, 1. 430. 
 Calendar. 
 
 Old Teutonic and old Persian weeks 
 of five days, cxx ; I. 428. 
 
 Times of Sacrifices, I. 405. 
 
 Times of work, I. 429. 
 
 Reformers of Calendar, Thorsfan, etc., 
 L 429. 
 
 Old heathen Calendar, I. 429. 
 
 Difficulty in introducing the Roman 
 
 Calendar into the North, I. 429. 
 
 Chronology of Northern History. 
 
 Founded by Ari, II. 489. 
 
 To be corrected, II. 490. 
 
 Other sources, Niala, etc., II. 490. 
 
 Of Thingore school of writers, II. 494. 
 Dates correctly given of — 
 
 A-in-Helga battle, II. 589. 
 
 Amor's life, II. 184. 
 
 Bishop Biarni of Orkney, II. 301. 
 
 Bragi the poet, II. i. 
 
 Egil's Sona-torrek, I. 543 ; cp. II. 23. 
 
 Einar-fostri, II. 397. 
 
 Gunnlaug the monk, II. 372, 
 
 Harold P'airhair, II. 494. 
 
 Hornklofi the poet, I. 255. 
 
 Krakomal, II. 340. 
 
 Konungatal, 11. 305. 
 
 Norwegian early kings, II. 494. 
 
 Olaf Tryggvason's life and death, 11.86. 
 
 St. Olaf's life and death, II. 1 1 7. 
 
 Ragnar Lodbrok, II. 3. 
 
 Rollo [Howorth], II. 493. 
 
 Settlement of Iceland, II, 494. 
 
 Sighvat the poet, II. 119. 
 
 Thiodwulf and YngUiigatal, I, 243. 
 Icelandic Calendar at the present 
 
 day, I. 429-431. 
 Moon, the year-teller, I. 431. 
 Night, reckoning by, among Teutons, 
 
 I- 431- 
 Pedigrees. 
 
 Angles, royal race of, II. 513. 
 
 Ari to Rollo, II. 22S. 
 
 Arnmodling family, II. 301. 
 
 Beowulf pedigrees in, II. 51^. 
 
 Bragi the poet, II, 2. 
 
 Danish kings, II, 492, 513. 
 
 Dublin kings of O, N. blood, II. 512, 
 
 523- 
 St. Edmund of E. England, II. 340. 
 
 Egil, I. 542. 
 
 English, royal race of Wessex, II. 493. 
 
 Eywind, poet-spoiler, II. 34. 
 
 Finwood, II. 301. 
 
 Flemish earls, II. 493. 
 
 Gaut, royal race of, II. 513. 
 
 Gundhild Kings' mother, II. 37. 
 
 Haleygja earls, II. 522. 
 
 Heroes, pedigree of, II. 518-520. 
 
 Horda-Kari family, II. 452, 512, 523. 
 
 Lombards, royal race of, II. 513. 
 
 ^ The home-coming of Hymi is exactly like that of Polyphcmos.
 
 698 
 
 INDEX III. 6. 
 
 Norman earls and dukes, II. 228. 
 Norwegian kings, II. 256,497, 521, 
 
 522. 
 Norwegian impostor kings, II. 226. 
 Orkney earls, I. 532 ; II. 183. 
 Ragnar Lodbrok, II. 340. 
 Rogiiwald, Earl of Ladoga, II. 580. 
 Swedish royal race, II. 513. 
 Theodric the Goth, II. 487. 
 Wolfliot the Lawgiver, II. 495. 
 Modern pedigrees in Iceland forged, xix. 
 
 Seasons. 
 
 In heathen times according to work, 
 
 L 429. 
 A phrase for late autumn, I. 514. 
 Spring, the real beginning of the year, 
 
 I. 430. 
 "Week. 
 
 Heathen week a pentad, cxx ; I. 428. 
 Names of days of week brought into 
 the North by English mission- 
 aries, I. 428. 
 
 6. Historical References. 
 
 See Index II for List of Names and Places mentioned. 
 
 Authorities for Kings' Lives suffer from 
 interpolation from Latin legends 
 of unhistorical character, I. 402 ; 
 n.83. 
 Battles and Sieges, (only those of 
 special note are given here.) 
 
 A-in-Helga, 11. 589. 
 
 Assington, II. 577. 
 
 Bravalla, I. 173. 
 
 Brentford, II. 589. 
 
 Caves of Africa, II. 249. 
 
 Clontarf, L 554, 555. 
 
 Danework, II. 45. 
 
 Dyke, II. 589. 
 
 Dylgia Heath, I. 349. 
 
 French Coast, Sigh., I. 48, 49. 
 
 Fulford, II. 227. 
 
 Fyrisvalla, II. 36, 62. 
 
 Hafrsfirth, I. 531. 
 
 Jomswickinga battle, II. 41, 303, 
 
 309- 
 Langton, II. 268. 
 London (1016), II. 180. 
 Rastarcalf, 11. 32. 566. 
 Ringmereheath, II. 105. 
 Scotland (Moray-firth), II. 261. 
 Sherstone, II. 589. 
 Spain (Alcassir, etc.), II. 249. 
 Stainmoor, I. 532. 
 Stamford-bridge, II. 179. 
 Sticklestead, II. 584. 
 Stord, II. 165. 
 Swold, II. 89, 295. 
 Wall (Northumberland), II. 156. 
 Wallachian plain, 11. 292. 
 Exodus to Western Island?, Ivii. 
 Geographic, see Index I. 3; II. 2. 
 Geography of Eddie poems, Ix. 
 Fictitious geography of Krakomal, 
 
 II. 606. 
 Aurar, place of Earl Sierod's death, 
 
 1.528. 
 Cnut's empire, extent of, II. 589. 
 
 Dramn, place of Thorwald's grave, 
 
 I. b^9- 
 English, I. 589. 
 
 Grimsby, dirty roads in, II. 277. 
 Germany — 
 
 Moravia, I. 309. 
 
 Carpathians, I. 352, 
 
 Rhine, see II. 672 ; I. 49. 
 Greece, ravages in, see Int)ex II. 
 Greenland, I. 563 ; II. 176. 
 Iceland — 
 
 Site of Crosshills, Queen Aud's 
 grave, I. 416. 
 
 Site of Logberg or Moothill, II. 
 
 497- 
 
 Character of Icelanders, I. 299. 
 
 Nickname of Icelanders, II. 601. 
 Ireland, events in, II. 30, 342. 
 Man, events in, II. 565. 
 Norway — 
 
 Extent of, under Earl Hacon, I. 529; 
 
 II. 47- 
 
 Earl Eric, II. 576. 
 
 St. Olaf, II. 589. 
 
 Names of islands in, II. 438, 440, 
 
 645- 
 Skaer-ei6 (?), I. 525. 
 Skirings-sal, I. 525. 
 Orkneys, events in, II. 3, 27, 33, 38, 
 41. 71. 83. 98. 100, 116, 118. 
 151, 178, 180, 198, 223, 253, 
 303. 3C9. 310, 340, 372, 532. 
 Russia, I. 569 ; II. 51. 
 Scotland — 
 
 In King David's day, II. 261. 
 Fife, mention of, I. 560. 
 Hy (lona), grave of Hallfred, II. 88. 
 Thurs-skerries, site of? II. 593. 
 Yriar, site of, I. 528. 
 Spain, ravages in, II. 249. 
 Sweden, Upsala, a treasury-temple, I. 
 
 427. 
 York, I. 537.
 
 HISTORICAL REFERENCES. 
 
 699 
 
 Historic persons, see also Index II. i. 
 Earl Atli's death, II. 657. 
 Atli the speaker resisting tyranny, 
 
 II. 586. 
 
 Calf Arnason, life of, II. 162. 
 
 King Cnut's character, II. 162. 
 — court, II. 123, 151, 158, 235. 
 Egil Skallagrimson, true character and 
 
 date of, I. 277, 542. 
 King Eric Bloodaxe, his character and 
 
 his court, I. 259, 532. 
 Earl Eric Haconson, II. 51, 98. 
 Queen Gundhild, her character, II. 37. 
 King Gilchrist and the impostors who 
 
 followed him, their true position, 
 
 "• 253- 
 Earl Hacon's true character and life, 
 
 I. 251 ; II. 41. 
 
 King Hacon's character, I. 364. 
 Haleyia Earls, I. 252, 527-529. 
 King Harald Fairhair, I. 167. 
 
 his wives, I. 532. 
 
 life and court, I. 255, 529-531. 
 King Harald Gormson, II. 79, 81. 
 King Harald Grayfell, his beauty, 1. 365. 
 King Harald Hardrede— 
 
 character of, I. 315, 369, 374. 
 
 accomplishments, II. 227. 
 
 policy towards England, 1. 1 78, 595. 
 King Hrorek, true story of, II. 589. 
 Hyrning, his bravery at Swold, II. 576. 
 Icelandic chiefs and heroes, II. 613. 
 King Macheath [Hundason, Rhys], 
 
 "• 135. 593. 595- 
 King Magnus tlie Good, his death, 
 
 II. 179. 
 
 his unwise rule at first, II. 586. 
 Magnus Bareleg, character, II. 233. 
 
 his reign, II. 233. 
 Michael V, Kalasphates, Emperor, 
 
 blinded by Hardrede, II. 225. 
 Earl Morcar Leofricssoii, II. 225. 
 King Olaf Tryggvason — 
 
 character of, II. 83. 
 
 authorities for life of, II. 83. 
 
 real career of, II, 83. 
 St. Olaf— 
 
 character of, II. 116. 
 
 authorities for life of. II. 117- 
 takes Ethelred back to England, 
 
 n. 153. 
 
 OrkneyEarls,ruleandhistoryof, IF.iSo. 
 
 Arnkell and Eriend not slain at 
 
 Stainmoor, I. 53'2. 
 
 King Ragnar Lodbrook, his death, 
 etc., II. 2, 339. 
 
 Earl Rognwald of Ladoga, Olaf 's em- 
 bassy to, II. 132. 
 
 Earl Rognwald of Orkneys — 
 character and feats of, II. 276. 
 poetry of, II. 276. 
 crusade of, II. 277. 
 
 King Rognwald hei3um-harr, an 
 imaginary being sprung from the 
 mistake of a glossator, I. 527. 
 
 Sigtrvgg Cuaransson, II, ill. 
 
 Sigurd Slembi, II. 254. 
 
 Theodric the Goth, I. 132. 
 
 EarlThorkelltheTall, I. 455; II. 590. 
 
 Wigmund [Malcolm M<=Eth], II. 2 ^4, 
 261. 
 Speeches, devices, watchwards, etc., 
 of famous persons. 
 
 Bersi's answer, II. 169. 
 
 Clasi's word of fear, II. 281. 
 
 Egil's death words, II. 246. 
 
 Eriing's challenge, II. 137. 
 
 Hacon's signal at Stor9, II. 35. 
 
 Hardrede's signal for battle, II. 192. 
 
 Magnus the Good's boast, 11. 189. 
 
 Magnus Bareleg's motto, II. 233. 
 
 ■ order of the day, II. 245. 
 
 Olaf Tryggvason's last command at 
 Swold, II. 90. 
 
 Olaf the Quiet's device, I. 366. 
 
 Thori's last words, II. 246. 
 
 Thormod's death-verse, II. 177- 
 Thulor. 
 
 Their historical importance, II. 423. 
 Tribal names, see II. 423. 
 
 Greotings, I. 565. 
 
 Msrings, I. 478. 
 
 Rosmons, I. 470. 
 Truces and Peaces, I. 423. 
 
 Earl Sweyn and King Magnus, II. 200, 
 210, 
 
 7. Law, Family and Constitutional, 
 
 Affinity by Law, I. loi, 297. 
 Arval-feast, I. 349 ; II. 303. 
 Atonements, I. 341, 342. 
 Authorities. 
 
 Ari's works our best authority, c ; I. 
 
 401 ; II. 499. 
 Egil's Saga no authority for early 
 Law, II. 495. 
 
 Nial's Saga no authority for early 
 Law. 
 Bastard, I. 56. 
 Bride-price, I. 394, 397. 
 Constitution of — 
 Iceland, II. 499. 
 
 Norway under Halfdan, II. 49S, 499. 
 „ „ Harold, II. 499.
 
 700 
 
 INDEX III. 8. 
 
 Norway under Hacon, II. 499. 
 „ St. Olaf, II. 499. 
 Court, I. 9, 12. ^ 
 Crimes. 
 
 In heathen days, II. 651. 
 
 Poaching and horse-stealing, I. 1 1 8. 
 
 Sodomy, I. 109, 136, 153, 368, 
 486. 
 Damages for adultery, I. 106. 
 Daysmen or Umpires, I. 122. 
 Dowry, I. 295, 299. 
 Execution, see Gallows. 
 
 Of false accuseress, I. .■^23. 
 
 Of thieves, II. 139, 236, 253. 
 
 Of traitors, II. 266, 274, 
 
 Hamstringing, I. 171. 
 
 Mutilation, II. 139, 254, 292. 
 Family, see also Wife, Kindred, II. 
 
 473- 
 Family or Clan-worship, I. 426. 
 Fee, see also Ransom. 
 
 On marriage, I. 180, 493. 
 Gallows, I. 24, 56, 247, 252, 336, 337. 
 Government. 
 
 Good rule of King Eric, U, 235. 
 
 Stern rule of St. Olaf, II, 139. 
 
 Unwise rule of King Magnus, II. 121, 
 124. 
 Guard, Comitatus, Weorod, II. 477. 
 
 Law of guard and of warriors, II. 503. 
 Highwayman, I. 211. 
 Honey-moon, I. 116, 147. 
 Inheritance', see Arval, I. 341, 573. 
 Kindred, I. 229, 279. 
 King. 
 
 Ideal of, II. 477, 478, 512. 
 
 Titles of, II. 478, 479, 
 
 Accomplishments befitting a king, I. 
 241 ; 11. 40, 227, 276. 
 
 Divine descent of, cii. 
 Law-berg or Moot-hill, I. 279. 
 
 Of the whole assembly in Iceland, 
 II. 499. 
 
 Its site on Great Rift, II. 497. 
 Law phraseology. 
 
 In Eddie La^s, Ixi. 
 
 In metre [cf. XII Tables], I.436-43S. 
 
 On Tune-stone, division of inheritance, 
 
 I- 573- 
 
 In Atlamal, I. 332. 
 Legal age, I. 132, 352, 492. 
 Legal notice of manslaughter, 1. 341. 
 Nazarite vow, see Oath, I. 424. 
 Oath, I. 32, 42, 140, 150, 196. 
 
 Terms of oath of peace, I. 423. 
 
 • oath of wedlock, I. 423. 
 
 oath of grith or quarter, I. 422. 
 
 oath of brotherhood, I. 308, 393, 
 
 423, 424, 486. 
 
 oath not to cut hair till some 
 
 feat has been achieved, I. 424. 
 Tleading at Law, I. 341. 
 Punishment, see Execution, Gal- 
 lows, Pit. 
 
 Capital, I. 323. 
 Ordeal, I. 332, 561, 
 Organization for war etc. by number, 
 
 II. 617. 
 Pauper, I. 370. 
 
 Pit, for drowning women, I. 323. 
 Hansom, I. 33, 225, 279, 312, 349, 
 
 566; II. 529. 
 Remonstrance of Sighvat to King 
 
 Magnus, II. I 21-124. 
 Suit at Law, I. 41, 216. 
 Sworn-brotherhood, 1.102,308, 393, 
 
 423, 424, 4S6. 
 Taxation, I, 372. 
 
 Custom-duties of Norway, II. 149. 
 
 Custom paid in arrows, II. 206. 
 
 Tribute of hawks, II. 148. 
 Thrall, I. 374. 
 
 Thiile, the King's Poet and Coun- 
 cillor, I. 24. 
 Token, I. 46. 
 Wager of Battle, I. 323. 
 Weregild, I. 214. 
 Wife, see Bride-price, Dowry, II. 473. 
 
 Concubines and wives, II. 472. 
 
 Foreign slaves as concubines, II. 475. 
 
 Polygamy, I. 259. 
 
 Adultery, I. 106. 
 Women, position of, II. 476. 
 Yoke, going under, I. 423, 424. 
 
 8. Life of Warrior and Sailor. 
 
 Arms and Armour, see Thulor ii. 42S ; 
 see also I. 45, 57, 164, 226, 230, 
 242, 245, 257, 264, 319, 349, 
 
 399 ; II- 307. 480. 1 
 
 Axe, II. 110, 190, 195, /271, 4S1, 
 
 592, 606, 611. / 
 
 Bow and arrows, I. 46, 57, 337, 366 ; 
 
 II, 190, 201, 206, 307, 229, 326, 
 
 337.481.595- 
 
 Bronze weapons, I. 139, 492. 
 Club, iron, I. 122. 
 
 oaken, I. 307, 365. 
 
 Helmet, II. 19T, 192, 270. 
 
 crested, I. 55, 560. 
 
 white, II. 57, 
 
 Poitevin, II. 127, 187. 
 
 Welsh, Gaulish, II. 127. 
 
 Horn of war, I. 57 ; II. 196.
 
 LIFE OF WARRIOR AND SAILOR. 
 
 701 
 
 Iron weapons, I. 56, 
 Javelin, II. 177, 186, 20I. 
 Mailcoat, I. 55, 71, 131, 133, 263, 
 399; 11.153,193,212,429,482. 
 Quiver, I. 119. 
 Sword, I. 114, 132, 145, 162, 263, 
 
 292. 373> 399 ; II- 428- 
 Sword named, I. 38, 77, 159; II. 69, 
 
 190, 290, 296, 385, 592, 59S. 
 
 bronze, I. 139, 492. 
 
 German, I. 387. 
 
 Russian, I. 187. 
 
 Spear, I. 13, 45, 80, 122, 133, 263, 
 
 335; II- 231. 481- 
 Stones (missiles), II. 57, 224, 300,325. 
 Stone weapons, II. 5. 
 -Shield, I. 59, 80, 135, 263; II. 153, 
 
 167, 327. 
 
 marked, I. 181. 
 
 painted, I. 57, 581, 387 ; II. 4, 
 
 10, 177' 481. 155' 
 Staff slings, II. 200. 
 War slings, II. 252. 
 Array of troops, see I. 156. 
 
 at Sticklestead, II. 584. 
 
 Banner, 1. 122, 135,263, 282 ; II. 139, 
 190, 220, 231, 265, 269, 279. 
 Hallmark, King Magnus' banner, II. 
 
 243- 
 
 Shield used as standard, I, 135, 
 Battle, pitching of, I. 352, 425. 
 Booty, slaves taken as, I. 257; II. 217. 
 
 Cattle, II. 203. 
 Castles and castle-building, Ixiii. 
 Cave taking by boats, II. 249, 251, 
 Challenge to battle, I. 146. 
 Champions of King's body-guard — 
 
 Bearsarks, I. 256, 425, 530. 
 Crew of ship of war, II. 584, 
 Devotion (sacratio) by spear-casting, 
 
 1.425. 
 Fishing, see Index III. 9. 
 Flyting of warriors, I. 78, 138, 351, 
 
 352. 
 Harbour, I. 138; II. 2S1. 
 Housecarles, I. 336, 525 ; II. 230. 
 Muster, I. 13S, 351, 352 ; II. 216, 304. 
 Sculls of foes used by Huns as cups, II. 
 
 505- 
 Ship, see Thulor, II. 432 ; and L 41, 
 
 138. 223, 256. 257, 479. 
 Parts of ship, see Thulor, II. 4;; 2. 
 Anchor, I. 88 ; II. 96, 209, 230, 274, 
 
 458. 
 Awning, I, 134; II. 186, 193, 209. 
 Bows, II. 215, 265, 271, 356. 
 Bilge-plug, II. 362. 
 
 Bulwarks, cxxx ; II. 200, 215. 
 
 Cabins, I. 16. 
 
 Cable, II. 96. 
 
 Figure-head, I. 134, 258; II. 186, 
 
 187, 217. 
 Hull, I. 135; II. 186, 248, 278. 
 Mailed sides, II. 155, 162. 
 Mast, II. 215, 219, 233. 
 Oars, I. 134, 138, 223, 530, 563; II. 
 
 209, 458. 
 Prow, I. 135 ; II. loi, 172, 187, 215, 
 
 249- ' ^ 
 
 Painting, black, II. 159, 215, 271, 355. 
 Painting, red, II. 167, 220, 278, 352. 
 Pennon, 11. 155. 
 Ribs, II. 232. 
 Rigging, II. 186. 
 
 Rollers, I. 222; II. 103, 187, 209. 
 Rowlock and straps, I. 257. 336, 563 ; 
 
 II. 165, 187, 189. 
 Rudder, II.' 206. 
 Sail, I. 135, 491 ; II. 136, 168, 199, 
 
 278, 326, 458. 
 Sailyard, I. 134; II. 67, 161, 199. 
 Seams, 1. 367 ; II. 231. 
 Shield-rim, II. 194, 206, 215, 307. 
 Strakes, II. 186, 205, 304. 
 Sweeps and oars, II. 103, 152, 155, 
 
 209, 241. 
 Tiller, II. 69. 
 Treenail, II. 270. 
 Vane, II. 168, 263. 
 Weather-boards, II. 157, 175, 235, 
 
 236. 
 Merchant ship, I, 256, 371 ; II. 241, 
 
 274. 
 Wicking ship, I. 134, 258, 373, 574; 
 
 II. 229. 
 Ship of Tryggvason, Snake, II. 92, 
 
 139, 169, 297, 330. 
 
 of St. Olaf, Bison, II. 139, 169, 
 
 184. 
 
 of St. Olaf, Carle's Head, II. 
 
 127, 591- 
 
 of Hardrede, II. 208, 595. 
 
 of Magnus, II. 199. 
 
 of Sigurd Slembi, I. 367. 
 
 of Frey, Skid-blade, I. 77. 
 
 Ship-rowing, I. 134, 223, 257; II. 
 
 165, 330. 
 sailing, I. 134, 135; II. 154, 
 
 168, 205, 247, 262, 326, 356. 
 baling, II. 248. 
 
 boarded by cutting into with 
 
 axes, II. 273. 
 
 building, 11. 413. 
 
 War-whooping, I. 531 ; II. 353.
 
 702 
 
 INDEX III. 9. 
 
 9. Household Life in Old Days. 
 
 Accomplisluneiits & amusements. 
 
 Accomplishments of a chief, I. 241, 
 242 ; II. 276, 299. 
 
 Capping verses [mod.], II. 412. 
 
 Chess-plaj'ing, II. 279. 
 
 Dance [med. and mod.], II. 412. 
 
 Dice-playing, I. 240, 257. 
 
 Jugglery and jesting, I. 255, 530 ; II, 
 279. 
 
 Mumming, II. 212. 
 
 Reading stories aloud, xxiii. 
 
 Tables, play at, I. 92, 194, 241, 342, 
 484. 
 
 Wakes, 11.412. 
 Agriculture. 
 
 Dunging land, I. 515. 
 
 Fencing, I. 515. 
 
 Horse-keeping, I. 369. 
 
 Plowing, I. 515. 
 
 Wood-cutting, I. 515, 524. 
 
 Sea-weed burning, II. 232. 
 
 Goat-herding, I. 37, 1 36. 
 
 Swine-tending, I. 136, 141, 236. 
 
 Goat-driving, I. 179, 220. 
 
 Hay-making, I, 246; II. 458. 
 .^nimals. 
 
 Beasts, wild, see Thulor. 
 
 Bear, black, I. 46, 58, 334, 362 ; 
 
 II. 4ys, 458- 
 
 Bear, white, I. 334. 
 Buck, II. 458. 
 Deer, I. 328, 393 b. 
 Elk, IT. 458. 
 
 Fox, II. 266-268, 383, 456 ; Index- 
 Ill. 10. 
 Hart and Hind, II. 456, 458. 
 Mouse, I. 189. 
 Wolf, I. 141, 335 ; II. 456. 
 Beasts, tame, see Thulor, and II. 454. 
 Cat, 11. 407, 417. 
 
 Dog, 1. 51,135, 334, 348 > n. 417. 
 
 Goat, I. 37, 136, 137; II. 456. 
 
 Greyhound, I. 141, 176. 
 
 Horse, I. 240, 350, 353; II. 456- 
 
 458. 
 Oxen, I. 144, 179; II. 456. 
 Pigs, I. 191; n. 336, 366. 
 Reindeer, I. 15, 137, 247. 
 Sheep,.ll. 610. 
 Birds, see Thulor, II. 615. 
 Cock, II. 456. 
 Cuckoo, I. 185. 
 
 Eagle, I. 400, and often in Court- 
 poetry. 
 Erne, I. 136, 334; II. 153, 218. 
 Geese, tame, I. 297. 
 Goslings, I. 568. 
 
 Hawk, I. 560, and often in Court- 
 poetry. 
 Heron, I. 23. 
 Osprey, II. 456. 
 PufEn, I. 370. 
 Raven, I. 13T, 256, 306; II. 56, 
 
 156, and often in Court-poetry. 
 Sparrow, tame, I. 246. 
 Swan, I. 318; II. 159, 265. 
 Wild fowl, I. 242 ; II. 358. 
 Fishes and sea beasts, see Thulor, and 
 II- 4=5 7. 615. 
 Whale, see Thulor, and II. 172, 310. 
 Porpoise, I. 513; II. 32, 367. 
 Perch, II. 109. 
 Herring, II. 32. 
 Pike, II. 329. 
 Lobster, II. 329. 
 Urchin, II. 361. 
 Haddock, II. 231. 
 Lin?, II. 231. 
 Other living things — 
 Snake, II. 456, 457. 
 Snail, II. 361. 
 Drone, II. 360. 
 Wasp, II. 267, 361. 
 Appearance and looks, in diflPerent 
 classes of society, I. 515 ; II. 617. 
 Signs of anger, I. 298. 
 Dark hair, II. 64. 
 
 Curly hair, see Cormac's poems, II. 64. 
 Baby, fed in cradle from a horn, I. 523. 
 Beggar, II, 400. 
 Book. 
 
 Pen [mod.], II. 416, 418. 
 Illuminating, II. 300. 
 Scriptures, I. 209; II, 161. 
 Caricatiire, I. 374. 
 Carpentry and Carving, I. 138, 274, 
 
 310.515.539. 540; II- 589- 
 Colour, I. 57. 
 
 Black, I. 98, 138, 222 ; II. 159, 215, 
 
 271. 341- 
 Blue, I. 239; II. T36. 
 Green, I. 157, 264. 
 Grey, I. 53, 326. 
 
 Red, 1.135,162, 326; 11.167,220,278. 
 Tawnv, I. 240. 
 White, I. 258. 
 Costume, see Glosses in II. 546, and I. 
 
 51, iiS, 515. 
 Brogues, I, 121 ; 11. 611. 
 Clothes of different ranks, I. 515. 
 Cloak, I. 55; II, 251, 299. 
 Fur, I, 319. 
 
 Gems, I, 326; II. 485, 617. 
 Ladies' head-dresses, II. 276,
 
 HOUSEHOLD LIFE. 
 
 703 
 
 Ornaments, I. 173, 326, 341, 563. 
 
 Sheepskin, II. 358. 
 
 Shirt, I. 335. 
 CoTirtesy, see Guest's Wisdom, and II. 
 402. 
 
 Thank you, II. 61 1. 
 
 Drinking, I. 282. 
 Drink, II. 456. 
 
 Wine, I. 57, 240; II. 297. 
 
 Toast, I. 146. 
 Dyeing herbs, I. 361. 
 Feast, see also Drink and Food, I. 
 
 , 5i> 57. 182. 
 Fishing, see Fish and Thor. 
 
 Whale fishing, I. 222 ; II. 310. 
 
 flinching, II. 172. 
 
 Line fishing, II. 148. 
 
 Porpoise hunting, II. 32, 367. 
 
 Herring fisliing, II. 32. 
 
 Fishing-tackle, II. 458. 
 Food and Cooking, I. 56, 118, 343, 
 
 Bark, in famine, II. 44. 
 Berries, I. 370. 
 Buttered brose, II. 230. 
 Cooking, II. 14.' 
 Corn, I. 86; II. 64, 439. 
 Curds of milk, II. 230. 
 Loaves of bran, I. 235. 
 
 of wheat, I. 236. 
 
 Bread, II. 382, See Rig's Lay. 
 
 Dried fish, II. 409, 610. 
 
 Dish dressed with honey, I. 51, 347. 
 
 Food at sea, raw, I. 149. 
 
 Kettle for brewing and boiling, I. 221, 
 
 529- 
 Preserved meat in autumn, I. 333, 
 
 348. 
 
 Rye flour, II. 105. 
 
 Sausages of mutton, I. 368; II. 276. 
 
 Whale steaks, II. I42. 
 Friendship, I. 17. 
 Hawking, I. 560. 
 Hospitality, I. 2, 285. 
 House, see II. 455, and L 53, 63, 78, 80. 
 
 Bath, II. 343. 
 
 Bed. L 147, 156, 300; II. 333- 
 
 Bedclothes, I. 54. 
 
 Dairy, II, 413. 
 
 Gable, I. 58. 
 
 Hall, II. 22.' 
 
 Hearth, II. 455. / 
 
 Pillar, I. 221, 328: n. 64, 455. 
 
 Shutter-door, II. 72. 
 Hunting, Ixiii ; 1. 170, 363, 391, 516; 
 II. 277. 
 
 Bird clubbing [with bird-bolt], I. 519. 
 Implements. 
 
 Plow, I, 515. 
 
 Wagon, I. 5i_q. 
 
 Hay-fork, I. 247. 
 
 Spade (modern), II. 415. 
 
 Hoe (modern), II. 415. 
 
 Hone, II. 456. 
 
 Sythe, I. 465 ; II. 366. 
 
 Stick for driving goats, I. 136. 
 Journeying, I. 321 ; II. 129, 
 Lullaby, I. 358, 362. 
 Medicine and Illness, see 1. 15, 242, 
 358. 
 
 Healing leaf, I. 398. 
 
 Bandages, II. 79. 
 
 Midwifery, I. 36, 1 31, 310, 485. 
 
 Illnesses — 
 
 Blain, II. 370. 
 Spasm, II. 317. 
 Gout, I. 250. 
 Mania, 11. 317. 
 
 Love-sickness, I. 116, 273, 396. 
 Mill, see Mill Song. 
 
 Quern, 1. 135, 148, 185 ; II. 307, 456. 
 Money, coined, I. 180. 
 
 Rings, I. 185, 238; II. 160, pass. 
 Music. 
 
 Harping, li, Iv ; L 340, 377. 
 
 Piping, II. 277, 279. 
 Plants, Trees, Shrubs, see Thulor, 
 II. 615. 
 
 Bast, I. 170, 236; II. 143. 
 
 Birch, I. 318; "11. 37. 
 
 Fir, I. 54. 
 
 Garlick, I. 326. 
 
 Hazel, I. T36. 
 
 Linden, II. 267. 
 
 Oak, I. 120 ; II. 216. 
 
 Rowan, II. 336. 
 
 Willow, I. 54, 326. 
 Precious metal, II. 483. 
 
 Gold, see Biarliamal, pass. 
 
 Silver, I. 70, 239, 341 ; II. 347. 
 
 Grey silver, I. 326. 
 Riding and Hiding-gear, II. 456. 
 
 Bit, L 315. 
 
 Horse-breaking, I. 51, 240. 
 
 Saddle, I. 170, 246, 310. 
 Roads and Bridges, I. 254, 370, 529. 
 Smith's work, see Weyland's Lay, 
 I. 169, 173, 194, 361, 364; II. 
 67, 212, 456. 
 Tanner, II. 212. 
 
 Tapestry and Embroidery, Ixiii; 
 I- 312, 318, 392, 559; II, 159, 
 
 Sampler (modern), II. 412. 
 Toys. Hoops, I. 399. 
 Treatment of Bondfolk, I. 325. 
 Utensils and Tools. See II. 456. 
 
 Bucking-bat, II. 66.
 
 704 
 
 INDEX III. 10. 
 
 Butter-pig, II. 407. 
 
 Cups and cans, I, 2 2 1, 238, 240; II. 
 
 455- 
 
 Dish, I. 221. 
 
 Horn, II. 456. 
 
 Jug, II. 411. 
 
 Kettle, I. 221, 368 ; II. 455. 
 ■Weaving \ I. 87, 91, 282, 319, 484. 
 "Wedding, I. 82. 
 
 Wooing, I. 393. 
 
 Bridal procession, I. 350, 
 Wedding feast, I. 81, 1 78. 
 Work, Domestic, in old days. 
 Brogue-making, II, 61 1. 
 Singeing sheep, II. 227. 
 Autumn beast-killing, I, 333, 348. 
 Menial work, I. 136, I41, 236. 
 Woman's work, I. 325. 
 Washing head, II. 33, 357. 
 Washing clothes, II. 66. 
 
 10. Heathen Beligion, Legend, and Kitual. 
 
 Altar. 
 
 Of sacrifice, I. 144, 245, 409. 
 
 Of the temple, I. 403. 
 Ancestor-^worship, see Sacrifice, 
 
 Dead, I. 413-422. 
 Augury and Divination, see Witch- 
 craft. 
 
 From accidents, I. 563, 
 
 From animals, I. 34, 412. 
 
 From birds, I. 34, 412 ; II. 56. 
 
 From blade-bones, I. 412. 
 
 From divining-rods, I. 159, 220, 411, 
 
 413; "• 46. 
 From meteyard, II. 32. 
 From scales'', II. 43. 
 Barrow of the dead, see Burial, 
 
 I- 399. 4^7. 418' 524^ 526. 
 
 Broken into, I, 418. 
 
 Grave-fires over, I. 166; II. 286, 
 
 Hills used as, I. 416. 
 
 Grave-stone, I. 8, 252, 371. 
 Beasts speaking and weeping. 
 
 Horse, I. 307, 317. 
 
 Pie, I, 144, 259. 
 
 Raven, I. 131, 305. 
 Beast-tales. 
 
 How the bear lost his fail, I. 462, 569. 
 
 How the hawk lost half his tail, I. 484. 
 Blood-eagle, see Sacrifice. 
 Burial^ in heathen days, see also 
 Barrow, I. 43, 347, 420, 421. 
 
 Bale-pyre, I. 303, 330; II. 325. 
 
 Cerecloth, I. 347. 
 
 Coffin, I. 347. 
 
 Corse buried in several pieces apart, 
 1.417. 
 
 Funeral-feast, I. 342-344, 349. 
 Cauldrons of stone *, Ixx. 
 Charmed weapons, I. 114, 162. 
 Children, unborn, I. 35. 
 Consecration. 
 
 By fire, I. 407. 
 
 By iron, I. 409, 425. 
 Curse, I. 116; II. 547. 
 Dead, spirits of the. 
 
 Ghosts, I. 142; II. 329, 330, 415. 
 
 Raising the dead, I. 227. 
 
 Dying into hills, I. 416. 
 
 Dead seen near or in their barrows, 
 I. 415-416. 
 
 Worship of the dead, I. 414. 
 
 Dead called Elves and Disar, I. 405. 
 Death-songs, II. 547. 
 Demon, see Excursus on Mythology, 
 
 and II. 471. 
 Demoniacal possession, I. 425. 
 Dreams and their Interpretation. I. 
 
 333.347.393.413; II. 410. 547- 
 Dwarf, see Thulor, I. 244. 
 
 Turned to stone by the sun, see Alvis- 
 
 mal. 
 Fairies [mod.], dwindled Elves, II. 
 
 385. 414- 
 Fate, strands of, see Norns, 1. 13 1, 157. 
 Feast. 
 
 Temple feast, heathen, I. 403, 407. 
 
 Toasting Gods at, I. 404, 405. 
 Fetch, I. 335, 397. 
 
 ^ There is a coarse Lancashire broad-sheet song of this century. The Power Loom, 
 which runs parallel to the Riddle of Heidrek on Weaving. 
 
 ^ Divination by scales is one of the regular legal ordeals of Ancient India. 
 
 ^ A burial in the Western Isles of a Northern wicking-smith with his tools, 
 hammer, tongs, etc., precisely like that of Skailagrira, is described in Anderson's 
 Pagan Scotland. 
 
 * Funeral urns of steatite (and sometimes of sandstone) are especially characteristic 
 of wicking funerals in the Orkneys and in those parts of Norway from whence the 
 wickings came and whither they went home to die ; they are only met with in 
 Norway just at the Wicking Period. See Anderson's Pagan Scotland, p. 78.
 
 HEATHEN RELIGION, LEGEND. 
 
 705 
 
 Fox, I. 462, see Thnlor. 
 
 As in Beast Epic, I. 462. 
 
 As in Japanese stories, Evil demoniac 
 being, Gryla, etc., I. 567 ; II. 414. 
 Giant andGiantess,seeOgre, Ogress. 
 Grove-worsliip, I. 421. 
 HUl. 
 
 Used as burial-place, I. 415, 416. 
 
 Holy Hill, I. 415. 
 Images, graven, II. 358. 
 
 Not used in Teutonic worship, I. 426. 
 Incubus, Nightmare, I. 485. 
 Lycanthropy and skin-changing, 
 see Excursus I. 425 and I. 29, 
 120, 136, 398. 
 Marriage. 
 
 Three nights' abstention, II. 346. 
 Medicine-bag. 
 
 Old murrey-stocking, I. 362. 
 Mediaeval tradition, echoes of older 
 faiths. 
 
 Adam's creation [Skeat], I. 479. 
 
 Death as a figure, I. 360. 
 
 Longinus' story, I. 409, 
 
 Wanderings of Christ and St. Peter, cii. 
 
 Vergil and Saemund, xix. 
 
 One-footer or Unipod, I, 364. 
 
 Flood, I. 479. 
 Meteorology, ideas on, II, 457. 
 Moon, I. 85, 483 ; II. 626. 
 Myths about divinities and divine 
 beings. 
 
 See Ketinings Excursus, and Waf- 
 thrudnismal. Index I. i ; III. 4, 
 (s. V. Edda ) 
 
 See alsoWoden and Thunder, below. 
 
 Balder-Hodr, Abel-Cain, cvi. 
 
 Balder, wept for, Eve's Weeping, cvi ; 
 
 I. 369- 
 
 Heimdal-Odusseus, civ. 
 
 How the sea got salt, I. 184. 
 
 Soma-drink Myths, ciii. 
 
 The wedding of the Sun, ciii. 
 
 World-egg hatched by Divine Bird, cii. 
 
 World-giant, cii; I. 64. 
 
 Wandering of Gods on earth, cii ; I. 
 481. 
 
 Wloki's chains and prison, cvi; II. 637, 
 648. 
 
 Walcyries, history of, Ixv ; I. 136, 468. 
 
 Ygg-drasill, II. 459. 
 
 Ocean-changes, Gefion, II. 8. 
 
 Man sprung from giant's limbs, I. 66. 
 
 Giant Eagle of the Wind, I. 66. 
 Myths about heroic and tradition- 
 ary persons, see Thulor (Sea- 
 kings), and II. 457. 
 
 Lists of heroes, xviii, cxi ; I, 390, 
 482; II. 365, 398. 
 
 VOL. II. Z Z 
 
 Pedigrees of heroes, 1.523; II. 5 18-20. 
 
 Heroic legends, echoes of, in chanson 
 de Geste, cxx. 
 
 Attila, see Allakvida, A/lamal, Brun- 
 hild Lays, Gudrun Lays, vol. I. 
 
 Atli Idmund's son, I. 144. 
 
 Beowulf, I. 226. 
 
 Brisinga-men, story of, Ixviii ; I. 522. 
 
 Cloak-o'-Beards, II. 546. 
 
 Crow-Graine, II. 344. 
 
 Egil-Tell-Toki-Gunnar,1. 168; II.505. 
 
 Slag-Finn-Glasgerion-Fiddler, I. 169 ; 
 
 n. 50s. 
 
 Weyland (Galand) Daidalos, I. 169; 
 
 n. 505. 
 Prodi and the Hrolf cycle, I. 184 ; II. 
 
 504. 
 Gretti-Beowulf, I, 511. 
 
 Thor, I. 511. 
 
 Tom, I. 568. 
 
 Tram, I. 511, 568. 
 
 Gisli-Helgi, II. 507. 
 Gizor the Greoting-Iring, I. 565. 
 Geirmund-Offa cycle, I. 559. 
 Goththorm-Cnui tale, I. 187. 
 Gudrun-Gudrun Oswif's daughter, I. 
 
 562. 
 Gudrun-Freydis, I. 569. 
 Helm-Gundhere-Eada tale, I. 305. 
 Hagbard-Signy-Sighere tale, I. 522; 
 
 ".571. 
 
 Sighere Siggar, I, 137. 
 
 Hamlet, II. 571, 
 Harding, I. ci6l. 
 Helgi-Gisli, II. 507. 
 Helgi-Olger, cxxx. 
 Hencgest, I. 556, 566. 
 Hermod, I. 522, and in Beotvulf. 
 Hild-Eriphyle-Cordelia, II. 565. 
 Hildbrand -Balin - Balan -Cuchullin, I. 
 
 190. 
 Hunding, cxxii. 
 Hymi-Polypheme-Faereyinga outlaw, 
 
 I. 511. 
 Holga-bru6r, ancestress-goddess, 1. 5 75. 
 Ilrek, lost tale of, I, 92, 4R4. 
 Magic shirt, I. 315 ; II. 350, 355. 
 Mysing, I. 184. 
 
 Saxi, King of the Southerlings, I. 561. 
 Sigfred, I. pass. ; II. 589, 597, 599. 
 
 Egil, I. 543, 559. 
 
 Osgar, I. 558. 
 
 Siiifitela's death, II. 528. 
 
 lycanthropy, I. 398. 
 
 Scarphedinn, II. 507. 
 
 Starkad, 1. 408, 467; II. 565. 
 Theodric, 1. 132. 
 
 Waldhere Kianan-Gunnlaug, I. 561, 
 
 565; u- 507-
 
 7o6 
 
 INDEX III. 10. 
 
 Nightmare, I. 522. 
 Norns. 
 
 Parallel to casmenta [Nettleship], xcix. 
 Grove and brook of (Hesperid gar- 
 den), ciii. 
 Ogre, see Thulor, II. 329, 393, 467, 
 469. 
 Skrymir, II. 120, 487. 
 Goats kept by giants, I. 37. 
 Ogress, see Thulor, I. 567; II. 329, 
 
 467,469, 547, 557. 
 One-footer in America, I. 364. 
 Omens, see Augury and Divina- 
 tion. 
 Panic, wrought by supernatural causes, 
 
 I. 425. 
 Phallus-worship, II. 380. 
 
 Merry songs mixed up with, II. 380. 
 Pillars of Temple, see note, p. 686. 
 
 Seat-stocks and ' ondvegisulor,' I. 403. 
 Priest, heathen, 
 as diviner, II. 573. 
 his fillets ' ennidukr,' II. 566. 
 often woman, II. 566. 
 Religion. 
 
 Religious ideas of Eddie poems lie in 
 
 strata, ci. 
 Sketch of old simple common Teu- 
 tonic faith, cv. 
 Sketch of later foreign-coloured Wick- 
 ing faith, cv. 
 Sacrifice of — 
 boar, I. 404-406, 
 bull, II. 68. 
 
 gold-horned oxen, I. 144, 179, as in 
 the old Buddlist Maha-Sudassana 
 Sutta. 
 men, I. 409. 
 
 the blood-eagle, I. 157, 410; II. 135. 
 by hanging, I. 408. 
 by breaking on a sacred stone, I. 409. 
 of one's sons, I. 523. 
 by suicide, I. 410. 
 by drowning, 1. 409. 
 at launches, by crushing to death, I. 
 
 419 ; II. 349. 
 times of sacrifices, I. 405. 
 to Elves and Disar, I. 405 ; II. 131. 
 to Thor. I. 409. 
 Star (constellation), I, 280, 469. 
 Stones and Rocks, worshipped, cxxii; 
 
 I. 414, 421. 
 Suicide, half-religious rite, I. 410, 
 Superstitions, etc., of number. 
 Number nineteen, II. 610. 
 Number of mythic things, I. 72, 352, 
 387. 
 
 Sympathy of Earth with man, I. 
 
 361. 
 Tabernacle. 
 
 Carried about like Isis-Hertha's or 
 
 Frey's in the Flatey-bok Thattr, 
 
 I. 246. 
 Temple. 
 
 Temple, how fitted up, I, 405-408. 
 
 ■ treasury at Upsala, I. 427. 
 
 Thor or Thunder, see Thulor, Ken- 
 
 nings' Excursus — 
 Thor-Gretti, I. 511. 
 Thor-Jack the Giant Killer, I. 512. 
 Thor and Hrungnir, see Edda, Index 
 
 III. 4. 
 Thor and Garfred, see Edda, Index 
 
 111. 4. 
 Thor and Thiazi, see Edda, Index 
 
 III. 4. 
 Thor and Skrymr, see Kennings' Ex- 
 cursus. 
 Thor and the Serpent, see Kenningsi' 
 
 Excursus, 
 Worship of Thor, c ; I. 409, etc. 
 Water worshipped — 
 In form of water-fall, I. 421, 
 Running water not to be defiled, I. 
 
 421. 
 "Witchcraft, Witches, Warlocks, 
 
 I. 16, 27, 42, 94, 120, I46, 244, 
 
 364. 373. 396. 561- 
 Sitting out to work spells, I. 412 ; II. 
 
 487. 
 Raising the dead, see Dead. 
 Spells, I. 19, 26, 27. 
 Counter-spells, see Havamal, Old 
 
 Wolsung Play. 
 Horse bewitched, 1. 523. 
 Magic sark, I, 315; II. 355- 
 
 drink, I. 158, 306, 321, 395, 
 
 storm, I. 315 ; II. 355. 
 
 sickness, 1. 395. 
 
 Woden or Odin, see Thulor, Kennings' 
 
 Excursus on ; see also Edda, 
 
 Index III. 4; and II. 458. 
 Woden-Odusseus, civ ; I. 481. 
 and Mahthild, I. 21 ; cp. Lay 
 
 of Deor. 
 and Gundfled (Battle of Birds), 
 
 I. 22. 
 
 and Hegri-Kirke, 1. 466. 
 
 One eye of Woden, ciii ; I. 386 
 
 [1. 279]. 
 Woden searching for Wisdom amongst 
 
 giants, ciii. 
 Woden after the Soma-drink, ciii. 
 Woden-Bragi, toast of, I. 404.
 
 CHRISTIAN RELIGION AND RITUAL. 
 
 707 
 
 II. Christian Religion and Ritual'. 
 
 Altar furniture and vestments, II. 
 
 89. 
 Angels, II. 196, 486. 
 Archbishop's See founded at 
 Throndham, II. 293 ; at Lund, 
 II. 238. 
 Baptism. 
 
 St. Olaf, godfather to Sighwat's 
 daughter, II. 583. 
 Bell, II. 81, 161, 327, 485. 
 Bishops. 
 
 Biarni of the Orkneys, II. 301. 
 
 Paul and his children, II. 275. 
 
 John and the famine, II. 324. 
 
 John and the Calendar, I. 428. 
 
 Widalin's death, II. 77. 
 Books, II. 485. 
 Burial, I. 363, 365. 
 
 Of Kings of Norway, II. 310. 
 
 Of a King, I. 517. 
 
 Of a lady, II. 323. 
 Christ, I, 233; II, 486. 
 Church-building, II, 234, 282. 
 
 Of King Eric, II, 237. 
 Church-hangings, II, 283. 
 Churches. 
 
 St. John's, Dramn, I. 363. 
 
 St. Hallward's, Osloby", II, 317. 
 
 St. Sunneva's shrine, Bergen, 11. 319. 
 
 Christ Church, Bergen, II, 318, 
 
 Cheaping, Throndham, II, 276, 
 
 314. 315- 
 
 Five churches in Denmark, II, 234. 
 Coffin, I. 346 ; II. 88. 
 Creed, II. 285, 
 Crosier, II. 407. 
 Cross, Holy, II, 289, 293. 
 
 Stone cross at Gosforth, II. 649. 
 „ „ at Leeds, II. 690. 
 Curse, II. 281. 
 
 Duties of Christians, I. 209, 
 Heavens, Seven, I. 206, 
 
 Joys of, I, 210, 279, 
 Hell, pains of, I. 208-210, 
 Hymn to — 
 
 Mary, II, 320. 
 
 St. Olaf, II. 161. 
 
 Bishop John of Iceland, II. 324. 
 
 Christ, II. 485. 
 
 Hymns preferable to Rimur, II. 392. 
 Mary the Virgin, II. 320, 486. 
 St, Michael the Archangel at 
 
 Domesday, II, 196. 
 Miracles of — 
 
 King Olaf Tryggvason, II. 299. 
 
 St, Olaf, II. 142, 158, 161, 287, 
 
 330- 
 
 St. Columba, attributed to King Olaf 
 Tryggvason, II. 603. 
 KTunnery, II. 277. 
 Ordeal, Christian. 
 
 Of King Sigurd Slembi, II. 262. 
 Palestine, II, 235, 237, 
 
 Brigands in, II. 223. 
 St, Peter and his keys, II. 136. 
 Pilgrimage of — 
 
 King Canute, II. 136. 
 
 King Sigurd Crusader, II. 252. 
 
 Earl Eric, II. 98, 
 
 King Eric, II, 237. 
 
 King Sigurd Slembi, II. 262, 
 
 King Harold Hardrede, II, 222. 
 
 Sighwat, II. 123. 
 
 Erling and Earl Rognwald of Orkney, 
 II. 273. 
 Pilgrims. 
 
 Bathing in Jordan, II. 251, 262, 273. 
 
 Gifts of, H. 251, 252. 
 Pope, II. 486. 
 
 and King Eric, II. 236. 
 
 Praise, II. 115, 282, 283. 
 Prayer, I. 210, 215 ; II. 54. 
 
 Lorica of the four Evangelists, I. 569. 
 Priest, his profanity punished, II, 389. 
 Rome, Fates' Burn fancied at, where 
 
 Christ rules, II. 22, 486. 
 Sins, Deadly, I. 211, 
 Shrine. 
 
 St. Olaf's, at Throndham, II. 590. 
 
 Oath taken on, II, 201, 
 "Wickedness of dance, II. 412. 
 of Ovid, II, 259. 
 
 * Anderson's Christian Scotland contains the best account of the old Scottish 
 Church legends gathered from its surviving relics. 
 
 Z Z 2
 
 7o8 
 
 INDEX III. 12. 
 
 12. Proverbs and Saws. 
 
 See Proverb Song, II. 364 ; also Rune Song, II. 369. 
 
 In the Icelandic Reader, p. 259, will be found a collection of O. N. Proverbs from 
 the Prose Sagas, etc. Saxo has in his earlier books full paraphrases of several 
 proverb-poems now lost. 
 
 Amor, Earls-Scald, II. 594. 
 
 Atlamal, II. 260, 261, 262, 332. 
 
 Bersi, II. 70, 
 
 Biarkamal (Saxo), App., 11. 66, 265. 
 
 Biorn Hitdale champion, II. 109. 
 
 Christian's Wisdom, 11. 35, 36, 42, 79, 
 
 80, 116, 120, 124, 135, 136. 
 Egil, I. 279. 
 Einar, II. 292, 601. 
 Erling, I. 382 (1. 66); II. 137. 
 Eywind, II. 36, 37, 566, 567. 
 Gisl Illugison, II. 243. 
 Gripi's Lay, 11. 94, 209. 
 Guest's Wisdom, 11. 14, 60, 78, 100. 
 Gunnlaug's Saga, I. 364. 
 Haconar-mal, 11. 53, 66. 
 Half Saga, I. 358. 
 Hallfred, II. 93, 97. 
 Harald Fairhair's Life, ch. 24; I. 373. 
 Harbards Liod, 11. 66, 67, 102. 
 King Harold Hardrede's Life, I. 374 ; II. 
 
 598. 
 Hamtheow Lay, 11. 74, 135 ; I. 477. 
 Helgi and Sigrun fragment, 1. 2. 
 Hromund, II. 56. 
 
 Icelandic Proverbs, II. 586, 589. 
 Lacuna Lays, § I, I. 391 b, 392 a, 392 b. 
 
 § 2, I. 392 a. 
 
 Loddfafni Lesson, 11. 49, 59, 80, 92, 93. 
 
 Loka-senna, 1. 60. 
 
 Long Brunhild Lay, 11. 46, 47, 48, 340. 
 
 Olaf, II. 172. 
 
 Othere, II. 157. 
 
 O. W. PI., 11. 34, 64, 80, 83, 84, 88, 104, 
 
 201, 259, 267, 286, 290, 311. 
 King Sigurd, II. 253. 
 Sighwat, H. 133, 135, 148, 150, 582, 
 
 586, 587. 
 Skirnis Lay, II. 49, 51. 
 Solar-hod, 11. 7, 8, 16, 20, 60, 66, 144. 
 Song of Saws, 11. i, 5, 39, 41-46. 
 Stein Herdisarsson, II. 226. 
 Sturlunga, L 357, 370. 
 Thiodwulf, II. 207, 594. 
 Thorarin, II. 60, 77. 
 Thorkell, II. 248. 
 Thorrod, II. 103. 
 Thrym's Lay, 11. 39, 40. 
 Western Wolsung Lay, 11. 14, 54. 
 Wiglund's Saga, II. 35 7, 360. 
 
 In Proverb Song, 1. 26, orve would read Ector var i hvildom hoegr, ' Hector 
 was of gentle mood.' That true Trojan's courtesy being renowned from Homer's 
 days to Eglinton's. 
 
 |jeygi war sia aflausn ill, 
 Eiga skal nu huerr sem will. 
 
 The Proverb Song, 116.
 
 L 
 
 709 
 
 THE ISLANDS. 
 
 Thulor 650-677 put into alphabetical order. 
 
 [N. B.= North Britain; 
 
 S. B. = South Britai 
 
 Ala, 
 
 Hnotirnar, 
 
 Midi. 
 
 HgS. 
 
 Algst. 
 
 Horn. 
 
 AskroS. 
 
 Hrafnista. 
 
 Asparnir. 
 
 Hrott. 
 
 Aurn. 
 
 Hrund. 
 
 Batalldr. 
 
 Hugl. 
 
 Biarkey. 
 
 Hiigro. 
 
 Bokn. 
 
 HveSn. [D.] 
 
 Bolm. 
 
 lala. [N. B.] 
 
 Bgnn. 
 
 11. [N. B.] 
 
 Borgund. 
 
 Ira. [N. B.] 
 
 Brising. 
 
 ivist. [N. B.] 
 
 Brua. 
 
 Kinn. 
 
 Dimun. [Faro.] 
 
 Kipr. [Cyprus.] 
 
 Dyn. 
 
 Kgrmt. 
 
 Erri. [D.] 
 
 RHt. [Crete.] 
 
 Ey. [N. B.] 
 
 Laland. [D.] 
 
 Falstr. [D.] 
 
 Laug. 
 
 Fenring. 
 
 Lauga. 
 
 Fiolbyrja. 
 
 Leka. 
 
 Fion, [D.] 
 
 Lodda. 
 
 Folskn, 
 
 Lognd. 
 
 Foetilgr. [N. B.] 
 
 Lygra. 
 
 FriSnar. 
 
 Marsey. [N. B.] 
 
 F"gg- 
 
 Miola. 
 
 Frikn. 
 
 Mgn. [N. B.] 
 
 Frosta. 
 
 M^st. 
 
 Gartar. 
 
 M:^l. [N. B.] 
 
 Gizki. 
 
 Mystr. 
 
 Gylling. 
 
 Nala. 
 
 Hanki, 
 
 Naunia. 
 
 Hasley. 
 
 Ngrva. 
 
 HeSinsey. [Foreign.] 
 
 Nf^s. 
 
 H*]. 
 
 Oilum-Iengi [?], 
 
 Hellis-kor. 
 
 Oma. 
 
 Hsering. 
 
 Ormst. [N. B.] 
 
 Herna. 
 
 Raufa. 
 
 Hin. 
 
 Rist, 
 
 Hirar(?), 
 
 R(>a. 
 
 Hising. [Sweden.] 
 
 Rr^kstr. 
 
 Hitra. 
 
 Rott, 
 
 Hlessey. [D.] 
 
 Saga. 
 
 , = Denmark; the rest Norway.] 
 
 Salarey. 
 Salbi^rn. 
 Siimsey. [D.] 
 Seima (?). 
 Saekk. 
 
 [D.] 
 
 [D.] 
 
 Saela. 
 Selja. 
 Selund. 
 Senja. 
 
 Sigg- 
 
 Sild. 
 
 Sioland. 
 
 Siri. 
 
 Ski5. [N. B.] 
 
 Skolm. 
 
 Skrofa. 
 
 Smyl. 
 
 Solrgnn. 
 
 Solskel. 
 
 Solundir. 
 
 Sortoland. 
 
 Sotr. 
 
 Stolm, 
 
 Stord. 
 
 Strind. 
 
 Syllingar. [S. B.] 
 
 Tigr. 
 
 Torgar. 
 
 Usiia. 
 
 Vaa, 
 
 Var3a. 
 
 Veey. 
 
 Veig. 
 
 Vigr. [N. B.] 
 
 Vikna. 
 
 Vingr. 
 
 Vgrl. 
 
 {>i6rn. 
 
 |)iotta. 
 
 {>2nib, 
 
 {>ri8na. 
 
 firunia. 
 
 For British Rivers, Thulor 333-356, see Diet,, last page.
 
 7IO 
 
 AFTER:MATH, August, 1883. 
 
 The Spirit-path, Waetlinga-braut (I, 420). This myth is aptly illustrated by 
 Ovid— 
 
 Est via sublimis coelo manifesta sereno, 
 Lactea nomen habet, candore notabilis ipso ; 
 Hac iter est superii ad magni tecta Tonantis 
 Regalemque domum. — Me/, i. 168-171. 
 
 It is indeed probable that (pace the compiler of Gylfa-ginning) the word Bil-rost 
 or Bif-rost, which clearly indicates a stream, path, road, or the like, was originally 
 applied to the Milky Way, for it was not till the arch-bridges of the Romans were 
 known to the Teutons that they would think of the rainbow as an arch, bridge, or 
 door, they would imagine it as a serpent perhaps (like the Bretons) or the bow 
 of a mighty archer (as the Hebrews did), but certainly not as a Spirit-path. The 
 etymology of Bil- or Bif- is unknown. Can Bil- be a parallel form of Gala- ? 
 
 Ovid also gives a most interesting parallel to the 'aldar-far' etc. of the beginning 
 of the Wolospa (II. 645), with which it should be carefully compared — 
 Primaque ab origine mundi 
 Ad mea perpetuum deducite tempora carmen : 
 Ante mare et terras et, quod tegit omnia, coelum 
 Unus erat toto naturae vultus in orbe 
 Quem dixere chaos, rudis indigestaque moles, 
 Nee quicquam, nisi pondus iners, congestaque eodem 
 Non bene junctarum discordia semina rerum. 
 Nullus adhuc mundo praebebat lumina Titan, 
 Nee nova crescendo reparabat cornua Phoebe, 
 Nee circumfuso pendebat in aere Tellus 
 Ponderibus librata suis, nee brachia longo 
 Margine terrarum porrexerat Amphitrite. — Met. i. 3, 4. 
 
 There can be no question of the Teuton poet borrowing here ; and it is, one 
 would say, pretty clear that Ovid is writing from some lost original (probably 
 Greek) which was like the Northern Lay, a Song of the Beginnings. The Wesso- 
 brunner Prayer supplies another parallel, Gill's Polynesian Collection includes others. 
 The Latin text justifies the transposition which we have effected in the text of 
 Wolospa. 
 
 The Tanner's epithet (II. 2\2), for 'skap-dreki skinna' read 'skaf-dreki skinna,' 
 meaning the skin-scraper-monster. 
 
 Haleygja-tal (II. 657). There is still an emendation to be made in the last line 
 — 'stillis-lof is not satisfactory; a more substantial word is wanted for the image. 
 Now when we recollect Egil's ' hl69 ek /o/-kost ' we find the two similes identical, 
 and the word lof in both ; under ' stillis ' some word, meaning structure, tower, 
 pillar, must needs be concealed ; ' studla,' we doubt not, is right, it has three 
 letters in common with stillis. So we read — 
 
 Enn ver yrkja gatom 
 
 stuQla lofs sem steina-brii, 
 I have reared columns 0/ praise lasting like a stone bridge (the ' bridge ' here in the 
 sense used in the Swedish Runic Stones), which completes the image properly ; 
 ' lasting ' would have stood in the preceding lost line. If either poet borrows here, 
 it is Eywind, whose poem is twenty 3'ears later than Egil's. 
 
 Kvdsi, The poem from which Kvasi's story (II. 636) is drawn having perished, 
 we have no clue to the history of the word or legend. Is it possible that the word 
 may be parallel to the Greek BoK^oy, Kvah-[si = Bak-]chos, the termination alone 
 differing? 
 
 At the end oi HornUoJis Song, read 'Disar dramblatrar."
 
 ADDENDA AND CORRIGENDA. 711 
 
 A law-phrase in the Old Wolsnng Play, line 262. There is an Old Norse term, 
 akveQins orS, okvedins or3, which (no doubt through the stage ' okveiis ord ') 
 appears as the modern Danish ukvems-ord («s = ms). It means lampoon, libel, scan- 
 dalunt of the bitter kind, so greatly dreaded by the Old Irish and Old Northmen, 
 who thought that such words of hate and cursing were bound to take effect, unless 
 counteracted by proper proceedings on the part of the injured person. As it stands, 
 verse 68, O. W. PI., makes no good sense at all. Under 'opt kveSin or9 ' we inti- 
 mate okve9in or9 ; ' verri ' would be a gloss ; we sound word for or& ; ' an viti ' 
 may be a corruption for cer-viti, which occurs in this connection in Lokas, 1. 82, and 
 Helgi i. 271, Oddr. i. At any rate, okve6ins 016 is safe, and we read — 
 
 |)viat 6svi3r ma3r laetr 6kve9in 
 vor5 , . . cer-viti, 
 
 for a fool in frantic mood may use cursing words. The remainder of the lines 
 contain the precautions to be adopted and the consequences which may come : 
 ' Either thou must go to law, and that is risky, or thou must go to the sword, and 
 that leads one into feuds.' ' Heimis-kviSr ' is probably ' compurgation ' by the 
 fellow-township-men. 
 
 ADDENDA AND CORRIGENDA TO EXCURSUS I, 
 VOLUME II. 
 
 (JThe reconstructed texts involve some addenda and emendenda in Excursus I, 
 vol. ii, pp. 447-486.) 
 
 Page 452. Mouth — add, froe5a-salr, Sonat. 22, Ski5a R. 375; 63ar-grunnr, 
 Sonat. II ; hiarta strond, Sonat. 10. 
 
 Tongue — add, 65ar lokarr, Sonat. 21 ; rynis rce9i, Sonat. 12. 
 454, 1. 16, read, 'thong, garter, or necklace of the woods.' 
 
 457. Heavens — dele, Mistar mar, Helgi i. 192. 
 
 458. Porpoises — add, brim-svin, Hym. 104 ; and dele the same word in para- 
 graph above. 
 
 461. "Woden, Lord of Soma — add, farma-go8, Sonat. 9; and dele, ' forns 
 hrosta hilmir . . .' 
 
 462, 1. 3, insert. Lord of the "Wolves — skoll-bloetr, Hit. 9. 
 
 After Earth insert. The "World-tree — Yggjar galgi, Sonat. 74; Yggdrasils 
 askr, ut infra. 
 
 Poetry — add, Farma-go3s hrosta-brim, Sonat. lo. 
 
 1. 6 from bottom, read, Alfo9rs hrosta- 6n'm. 
 
 463, 1. I, dele, 'Forniotz hrosti?' 
 
 466. Human kind — add, Yggjar galga alj)i63, Sonat. 74. 
 
 Balder — add, Gnita go6, Vsp. 65. 
 
 After Heimdal add, Hoeni — Fetmeili (step-meter), Haust. 13; cp. Aur-konungr, 
 Langi-fotr, I. 575. 
 
 479. Pontiff — dele, ve-fromo6r, Rogna hroers fromoSr, Skiald blcetr. 
 
 480. Icelanders — dele, elgjar galga alJ)io5. 
 Henchmen — inndrott, add, Hornkl. 26.
 
 712 
 
 ERRATA TO VOLUME II. 
 
 Bragi 9, read boeti-J)niSr. 
 
 „ 46, read larSar reist. 
 Haustlong 28, read hollz. 
 |>d. 52, read gnipo. 
 p. 37, foot-note to 1. 44, read sporom. 
 p. 54, 1. 3 from bottom, read skz. 
 p. 62, top, read svellz. • 
 Kormak 3, read fari. 
 
 ,, 16, read HagbarSz . . . star5i. 
 p. 80, 1. 30, read gina. 
 p. 98, 1. 16 from bottom, read was about 
 to make /or made, and ere he 
 sat out /or on his return, 
 p. 115, 1. 10, reatf Alpta-firSi. 
 Sighvat iv. 8, read kouungs. 
 „ iv. 40, read elld. 
 „ V. 23, read varr gloestr. 
 „ vii. 15, read morgo; fcot-note, 
 
 dele or viva. 
 „ vii. 44, foot-note, readiXobo, 
 ,, X. 7^ J read ran mun. 
 Ott. i. 29, read Yngvi. 
 p. 136, 1. 8 of transl., read black /or blue, 
 p. 176, 1. 39, dele from. 
 Amor vi. 2, for fen read brim, 
 p. 1 88, 1. 59, read runs down Meiti's 
 clins with his sea-skate for 
 plows the main with his gal- 
 leys, 
 p. 195, 1. 1 of trans!., /or ' Duncan' read 
 
 ' Hundason ' [Macbeth]. 
 Amor vi. 60, read drakk. 
 Thiod. i. 28, read munSot. 
 „ iii. 78, read el-kers. 
 „ iv. II, read sae-fang. 
 „ viii. 21, read Hitt tefig heyrt. 
 p. 215, 1. 15 of trans!., insert the king 
 raised the mast in a heavy sea. 
 p. 218, 1, 3, read brynnir. 
 Mark. i. 3, read or3z-tir. 
 ,, i. 49, read sungo. 
 ,, V. 6, read sli3r-als. 
 p. 229, 1. I of trans]., read journey ^^or 
 
 hasten, 
 p. 247, 1. 5 of trans!., read lassie for 
 darling. 
 
 p. 250, 11. 15-17 of trans!., read as it 
 
 told that of yore kings' sons 
 
 took service with the wise 
 
 Kraki's kinsman. 
 
 p. 268, 1. 10 of trans!., read fir-shaw /or 
 
 fire-shaw. 
 p. 269, 1, 3 of trans!., read I have heard 
 
 XhMjive kings, 
 p. 270, !. 20, read ora. 
 p. 273, L 9 of transl., read Thou didst 
 
 break the eagle's /os^ 
 p. 277, 1. 12, read leikara. 
 Geisli 32, read Iserdrar. 
 „ 152, read fyr3a ; dele brackets, 
 „ 195, reatf snyrtiss. 
 Rekst. 86, read strangr. 
 lomsv. 54, read frcekn at. 
 p. 326, 1. 12 of transl., read morsels /or 
 
 mortals. 
 P- 337» J- 31. ^^°<i HlebarSr. 
 p. 361, 1. 20, read grip J)0 ek gamall 
 
 ver5i. 
 Merl. i. 152, read gollor-hallir. 
 Skida R. 144, read kappa gilda. 
 Thulor, 1. i'].for Solsi read Scilvi. 
 „ 47 7, for rai read rati ? 
 ,, 588, read Andhrimnir. 
 ,, 657, read Skolm. 
 „ 667, read Solnnd. 
 p. 44O, 1. 20, read Hising. 
 p. 450, read Blondo-skald. 
 p. 529, 1. 13 from bottom, read Hreid- 
 
 marr /or Hreidarr. 
 p. 577, 1. 10 from bottom, read truck 
 
 for trunk. 
 p. 580, 1. 7, read like /or as. - 
 p. 591, 1. 16 from bottom, read 62 for 
 
 162. 
 p. 637, 1. 13, read cleft /or cleaft. 
 
 Note that the piece of verse paraphrased 
 here is probably by the author of the 
 poem on Hell, paraphrased p. 546, 
 both of which pieces were origin- 
 ally in the Dialogue-metre, 
 p. 646, 1. 9 from bottom, read elilenti 
 for elilenfi. 
 
 END OF VOLUME U..
 
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