Bibliotheca Polyglotta

Snorri-Edda

Complete text

Examples from various skalds

Enn skal láta heyra dœmin hvernig hǫfuðskáldin hafa látit sér sóma at yrkja eptir þessum heitum ok kenningum,

II. Now you may hear examples of the way in which Chief Skalds have held it becoming to compose, making use of these simple terms and periphrases:

svá sem segir Arnórr jarlaskáld at hann heiti Alfǫðr:
(1) Nú hykk slíðrhugaðs segja
— síð léttir mér stríða;
þýtr Alfǫður — ýtum
jarls kostu — brim hrosta.

as when Arnórr Earls’ Skald says that Odin is called Allfather:
Now I’ll tell men the virtue
Of the terrible Jarl;
Allfather’s Song-Surf streams;
Late my sorrows lighten,

Hér kallar hann ok skáldskapinn hrostabrim Alfǫður. Hávarðr halti
kvað svá:
(7,1) (2) Nú er jódraugum ægis
arnar flaug — ok bauga,
hygg ek at heimboð þiggi
Hangagoðs — of vangi.

Here, moreover, he calls poesy the Song-Surf of Allfather. Hávardr the Halt sang thus:
Now is the flight of eagles
Over the field; the sailors
Of the sea-horses hie them
To the Hanged-God’s gifts and feasting.

Svá kvað Víga-Glúmr:
(3) Lattisk herr með hǫttu
Hangatýs at ganga —
þóttit þeim at hætta
þekkiligt — fyrir brekku.

(98,1) Thus sang Viga-Glúmr:
With the Hanged-God’s helmet
The hosts have ceased from going
By the brink; not pleasant
The bravest held the venture.

Svá kvað Refr:
(4) Opt kom — jarðar leiptra
er Baldr hniginn skaldi —
hollr at helgu fulli
hrafn - Ásar mér — stafna.

Thus sang Refr:
Oft the Gracious One came to me
At the holy cup of the Raven-God;
The king of the stem-ploughed sea’s gold
From the skald in death is sundered.

Svá kvað Eyvindr skáldaspillir:
(5) Ok Sigurðr
hinn er svǫnum veitti
hróka bjór
Haddingja vals
Farmatýs —
fjǫrvi næmðu
jarðráðendr
á Ǫglói.

Thus sang Eyvindr Skald-Despoiler:
And Sigurdr,
He who sated the ravens
Of Cargo-God
With the gore of the host
Of slain Haddings
Of life was spoiled
By the earth-rulers
At Ögló.

Svá kvað Glúmr Geirason:
(6) Þar var þrafna byrjar,
þeim er stýrðu goð, Beima
sjálfr í sœkiálfi
Sigtýr Atals dýra.

Thus sang Glúmr Geirason:
There the Týr of Triumph
Himself inspired the terror
Of ships; the gods of breezes
That favor good men steered them.

Svá kvað Eyvindr enn:
(8,1) (7) Gǫndul ok Skǫgul
sendi Gautatýr
at kjósa of konunga
hverr Yngva ættar
skyldi með Óðni fara
ok í Valhǫllu vera.

Thus sang Eyvindr:
(99,1)Göndull and Skögull
Gauta-Týr sent
To choose from kings
Who of Yngvi’s kin
Should go with Odin
And be in Valhall.

Svá kvað Úlfr Uggason:
(8) Ríðr at vilgi víðu
víðfrægr (en mér líða)
Hroptatýr (of hvapta
hróðrmál) sonar báli.

Thus sang Úlfr Uggason:
Swiftly the Far-Famed rideth,
The Foretelling God, to the fire speeds,
To the wide pyre of his offspring;
Through my cheeks praise-songs are pouring.

Svá kvað Þjóðólfr inn hvinverski:
(9) Valr lá þar á sandi
vitinn inum eineygja
Friggjar faðmbyggvi.
Fǫgnuðum dáð slíkri.

Thus sang Thjódólfr of Hvin:
The slain lay there sand-strewing,
Spoil for the Single-Eyed
Dweller in Frigg’s bosom;
In such deeds we rejoiced.

Þat kvað Hallfrøðr:
(10) Sannyrðum spenr sverða
snarr þiggjandi viggjar
barrhaddaða byrjar
biðkván und sik þriðja.

Hallfredr sang thus:
The doughty ship-possessor
With sharpened words and soothfast
Lures our land, the patient,
Barley-lockèd Wife of Thridi.

Hér er þess dœmi at jǫrð er kǫlluð kona Óðins í skáldskap. Svá er
hér sagt at Eyvindr kvað:
(11) Hermóðr ok Bragi
(kvað Hroptatýr)
gangið í gǫgn grami
þvíat konungr ferr
sá er kappi þykkir
til hallar hinig.

Here is an example of this metaphor, that in poesy the earth is called the Wife of Odin. Here is told what Eyvindr sang:
Hermódr and Bragi,
Spake Hropta-Týr.
(100,1)Go ye to greet the Prince;
For a king who seemeth
A champion cometh
To the hall hither.

Svá kvað Kormakr:
(9,1)(12) Eykr með ennidúki
jarðhljótr díafjarðar
breyti hún sá er beinan
bindr. Seið Yggr til Rindar.

Thus sang Kormákr:
The Giver of Lands, who bindeth
The sail to the top, with gold-lace
Honors him who pours god’s verse-mead;
Odin wrought charms on Rindr.

Svá sagði Steinþórr:
(13) Forngervan á ek firnum
farms Gunnlaðar arma
horna fors at hrósa
hlítstyggs ok þó lítinn.

Thus sang Steinthórr:
Much have I to laud
The ancient-made (though little)
Liquor of the valiant
Load of Gunnlöd’s arm-clasp.

Svá kvað Úlfr Uggason:
(14) Þar hykk sigrunni svinnum
sylgs valkyrjur fylgja
heilags tafns ok hrafna.
Hlaut innan svá minnum.

Thus sang Úlfr Uggason:
There I think the Valkyrs follow,
And ravens, Victorious Odin
To the blood of holy Baldr.
With old tales the hall was painted.

Svá kvað Egill Skallagrímsson:
(15) Blót ek eigi af því
bróður Vílis
guð jarðar
at ek gjarna sjá.
Þó hefir Míms vinr
mér of fengit
bǫlva bœtr
er it betra telk.

Thus sang Egill Skallagrímsson:
No victims for this
To Víli’s brother,
The High-God, I offer,
Glad to behold him;
(101,1)
Yet has Mímir’s friend
On me bestowed
Amends of evil
Which I account better.

(16) Gáfumk íþrótt
úlfs ok bági
vígi vanr
vammi firða.
Hér er hann kallaðr guðjaðarr ok Míms vinr ok úlfs bági.

He has given me the art
He, the Wolf’s Opposer,
Accustomed to battle,
Of blemish blameless.
Here he is called High God, and Friend of Mímir, and Adversary of the Wolf.

Svá kvað Refr:
(17) Þér eigu vér veigar
Valgautr salar brautar
(10,1)Fals hrannvalar fannar
framr valdi tamr gjalda.

Thus sang Refr:
Swift God of Slain, that wieldeth
The snowy billow’s wave-hawks,
The ships that drive the sea-road,
To thee we owe the dwarves’ drink.

Svá kvað Einarr skálaglamm:
(18) Hljóta mun ek (ne hlítir)
Hertýs (of þat frýju)
fyrir ǫrþeysi at ausa
austr víngnoðar flausta.

Thus sang Einarr Tinkling-Scale:
’T is mine to pour the liquor
Of the Host-God’s mead-cask freely
Before the ships’ swift Speeder:
For this I win no scorning.

Svá sem Úlfr kvað Uggason:
(19) Kostigr ríðr at kesti
kynfróðs þeim er goð hlóðu
hrafnfreistaðar hesti
Heimdallr at mǫg fallinn.

Thus sang Úlfr Uggason:
His steed the lordly Heimdallr
Spurs to the pyre gods builded
For the fallen son of Odin,
The All-Wise Raven-Ruler.

Svá er sagt í Eiríksmálum:
(20) ‘Hvat er þat drauma?’ kvað Óðinn.
‘Ek hugðumk fyrir dag rísa
Valhǫll ryðja
fyrir vegnu fólki,
vekða ek einherja,
bæða ek upp rísa
bekki at strá,
bjórker leyðra,
valkyrjur vín bera
sem vísi komi.’

(102,1) This is said in Eiríksmál:
What dream is that?
quoth Odin,--
I thought to rise ere day-break
To make Valhall ready
For troops of slain;
I roused the champions,
Bade them rise swiftly
Benches to strew,
To wash beer-flagons;
The Valkyrs to pour wine,
As a Prince were coming.

Þat kvað Kormakr:
(21) Algildan bið ek aldar
allvald of mér halda
ýs bifvangi Yngva
ungr. Fór Hroptr með Gungni.

Kormákr sang this:
I pray the precious Ruler
Of Yngvi’s people, o’er me
To hold his hand, bow-shaking.
Hroptr bore with him Gungnir.

Þat kvað Þórólfr:(11,1)
(22) Sagði hitt er hugði
Hliðskjálfar gramr sjálfum
hlífar styggr þar er hǫgnir
Háreks liðar váru.

Thórálfr sang this:
The Mighty One of Hlidskjálf
Spake his mind unto them
Where the hosts of fearless
Hárekr were slaughtered.

Svá kvað Eyvindr:
(23) Hinn er Surts
ór søkkdǫlum
farmagnuðr
fljúgandi bar.

Thus sang Eyvindr:
The mead which forth
From Surtr’s sunk dales
The Strong-through-spells
Swift-flying bore.

Svá kvað Bragi:
(24) Þat erumk sent at snemma
sonr Aldafǫðrs vildi
afls við úri þafðan
jarðar reist of freista.

(103,1) So sang Bragi:‘Tis seen, on my shield’s surface,
How the Son of the Father of Peoples
Craved to try his strength full swiftly
’Gainst the rain-beat Snake earth-circling.

Svá kvað Einarr:
(25) Þvíat fjǫlkostigr flestu
flestr ræðr við son Bestlu
— tekit hefi ek morðs til mærðar —
mæringr en þú færa.

Thus sang Eínarr:
Since less with Bestla’s Offspring
Prevail most lordly princes
Than thou, my task is singing
Thy praise in songs of battle.

Svá kvað Þorvaldr blǫnduskáld:
(26) Nú hefi ek mart
í miði greipat
burar Bors
Búra arfa.

Thus sang Thorvaldr Blending-Skald:
Now have I much
In the middle grasped
Of the son of Borr,
Of Búri’s heir.

Hér skal heyra hvé skáldin hafa kent skáldskapinn eptir þessum heitum er áðr eru rituð, svá sem er at kalla Kvasis dreyra ok dverga skip, dverga mjǫð, jǫtna mjǫð, Suttunga mjǫð, Óðins mjǫð, Ása mjǫð, fǫðurgjǫld jǫtna, lǫgr Óðreris ok Boðnar ok Sónar ok fyllr, lǫgr Hnitbjarga, fengr ok fundr ok farmr ok gjǫf Óðins,

III. “Now you shall hear how the skalds have termed the art of poesy in these metaphorical phrases which have been recorded before: for example, by calling it Kvasir’s Gore and Ship of the Dwarves, Dwarves’ Mead, Mead of the Æsir, Giants’ Father-Ransom, Liquor of Ódrerir and of Bodn and of Són, and Fullness of these, Liquor of Hnitbjörg, Booty and Find and Gift of Odin,

svá sem hér er kveðit er orti Einarr skálaglamm: (12,1)
(27) Hugstóran bið ek heyra
— heyr, jarl, Kvasis dreyra —
foldar vǫrð á fyrða
fjarðleggjar brim dreggjar.

even as has been sung in these verses which Einarr Tinkling-Scale wrought:
I pray the high-souled Warder
Of earth to hear the Ocean
Of the Cliff of Dwarves, my verses:
Hear, Earl, the Gore of Kvasir.

Ok sem kvað Einarr enn skálaglamm:
(28) Ullar gengr of alla
asksǫgn þess er hvǫt magnar
byrgis bǫðvar sorgar
bergs geymilá dverga.

(104,1) And as Einarr Tinkling-Scale sang further:
The Dwarves’ Crag’s Song-wave rushes
O’er all the dauntless shield-host
Of him who speeds the fury
Of the shield-wall’s piercing sword-bane.

Svá sem kvað Ormr Steinþórsson:
(29) At væri borit bjórs
bríkar ok mitt lík
— rekkar nemi dauðs drykk
Dvalins — í einn sal.

Even as Ormr Steinthórsson sang:
The body of the dame
And my dead be borne
Into one hall; the Drink
Of Dvalinn, Franklins, hear.

Ok sem Refr kvað:
(30) Grjótaldar ték gildi
geðreinar Þorsteini.
Berg-Mœra glymr bára,
bið ek lýða† kyn hlýða.

And as Refr sang:
I reveal the Thought’s Drink
Of the Rock-Folk to Thorsteinn;
The Billow of the Dwarf-Crag
Plashes; I bid men hearken.

Svá sem kvað Egill:
(31) Buðumk hilmir lǫð,
þar á ek hróðrs of kvǫð.
Bar ek Óðins mjǫð
á Engla bjǫð.

Even as Egill sang:
The Prince requires my lore,
And bound his praise to pour,
Odin’s Mead I bore
To English shore.

Ok sem kvað Glúmr Geirason:
(32) Hlýði, hapta beiðis
hefk mildinga gildi.
Því biðjum vér þǫgnar
þegna tjón at fregnum.

And as Glúmr Geirason sang:
Let the Princely Giver hearken:
I hold the God-King’s liquor.
(105,1)Let silence, then, be granted,
While we sing the loss of thanes.

(13,1) Ok sem kvað Eyvindr:
(33) Vilja ek hljóð
at Hárs líði
meðan Gillings
gjǫldum yppik,
meðan hans ætt
í hverlegi
gálga farms
til goða teljum.

And as Eyvindr sang:
A hearing I crave
For the High One’s Liquor,
While I utter
Gillingr’s Atonement;
While his kin
In the Kettle-Brewing
Of the Gallows-Lord
To the gods I trace.

Svá sem Einarr kvað skálaglamm:
(34) Eisar vágr fyrir vísa,
verk Rǫgnis mér hagna,
þýtr Óðreris alda
aldr hafs við fles galdra.

Even as Einarr Tinkling-Scale sang:
The Wave of Odin surges;
Of Ódrerir’s Sea a billow
’Gainst the tongue’s song-glade crashes;
Aye our King’s works are goodly.

Ok enn sem hann kvað:
(35) Nú er þats Boðnar bára,
berg-Saxa, tér vaxa,
gørvi í hǫll ok hlýði
hljóð fley jǫfurs þjóðir.

And as he sang further:
Now that which Bodn’s Billow
Bodes forth will straight be uttered:
Let the War-King’s host make silence
In the hall, and hear the Dwarves’ Ship.

Ok sem kvað Eilífr Guðrúnarson:
(36) Verði þér, alls orða
oss grœr of kon mæran
á sefreinu Sónar
sáð, vingjǫfum ráða.

And as Eilífr Gudrúnarson sang:
Grant shall ye gifts of friendship,
Since grows of Són the Seedling
In our tongue’s fertile sedge-bank:
True praise of our High Lord.

Svá sem kvað Vǫlu-Steinn:
(37) Heyr Míms vinar mína
— mér er fundr gefinn Þundar —
við góma sker glymja
glaumbergs, Egill, strauma.

(106,1) Even as Völu-Steinn sang: Egill, hear the Heart-streams
Of Odin beat in cadence
’Gainst my palate’s skerry;
The God’s Spoil to me is given.

Svá kvað Ormr Steinþórsson: (14,1)
(38) Seggir þurfut ala ugg —
engu sný ek í Viðurs feng
háði, kunnum hróðrsmíð
haga — of minn brag.

Thus sang Ormr Steinthórsson:
No verse of mine men need to fear,
No mockery I intertwine
In Odin’s Spoil; my skill is sure
In forging songs of praise.

Svá kvað Úlfr Uggason:
(39) Hoddmildum ték hildar
hugreifum Óleifi —
hann vil ek at gjǫf Grímnis —
geð-Njarðar lá — kveðja.

Thus sang Úlfr Uggason:
I show to host-glad Áleifr
The Heart-Fjord’s Shoal of Odin,--
My song: him do I summon
To hear the Gift of Grímnir.

Skáldskapr er kallaðr sjár eða lǫgr dverganna, fyrir því at Kvasis blóð var lǫgr í Óðreri áðr mjǫðrinn væri gjǫrr, ok þar gerðisk hann í katlinum, ok er hann kallaðr fyrir því hverlǫgr Óðins svá sem kvað

Poesy is called Sea, or Liquid of the Dwarves, because Kvasir’s blood was liquid in Ódrerir before the mead was made, and then it was put into the kettle; wherefore it is called Odin’s Kettle-Liquor,

Eyvindr ok fyrr var ritat:
(40) Meðan hans ætt
í hverlegi
gálga farms
til goða teljum.

even as Eyvindr sang and as we have recorded before:
While his kin
In the Kettle-Brewing
Of the Gallows-Lord
To the gods I trace.

Enn er kallaðr skáldskaprinn far eða lið dverganna; líð heitir ǫl ok lið heitir skip. Svá er tekit til dœma at skáldskapr er nú kallaðr fyrir því skip dverga,

(107,1) Moreover, poesy is called Ship or Ale of the Dwarves: ale is líð, and lið is a word for ships; therefore it is held that it is for this reason that poesy is now called Ship of the Dwarves,

svá sem hér segir:
(41) Bæði á ek til brúðar
bergjarls ok skip dverga
sollinn vind at senda
seinfyrnd gǫtu eina.

even as this verse tells:
The wit of Gunnlöd’s Liquor
In swelling wind-like fullness,
And the everlasting Dwarves’ Ship
I own, to send the same road.

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