Bibliotheca Polyglotta

Snorri-Edda

Complete text

Christ

Hvernig skal Krist kenna? Svá at kalla hann skapara himins ok jarðar, engla ok sólar, stýranda heimsins ok himinríkis ok engla, konung himna ok sólar ok engla ok Jórsala ok Jórdánar ok Griklands, ráðandi postola ok heilagra manna. Forn skáld hafa kent hann við Urðar brunn ok Róm

LI. “How should one periphrase Christ? Thus: by calling Him Fashioner of Heaven and Earth, of Angels, and of the Sun; Governor of the World and of the Heavenly Kingdom and of Jerusalem and Jordan and the Land of the Greeks; Counsellor of the Apostles and of the Saints. Ancient skalds have written of Him in metaphors of Urdr’s Well and Rome;

sem kvað Eilífr Guðrúnarson:
(268) Setbergs — kveða sitja
suðr at Urðar brunni —
svá hefir ramr konungr remðan
Róms banda sik lǫndum.

as Eilífr Gudrúnarson sang:
(195,1) So has Rome’s Mighty Ruler
In the Rocky Realms confirmèd
His power; they say He sitteth
South, at the Well of Urdr.

(77,1) Svá kvað Skapti Þóroddsson:
(269) Máttr er munka dróttins
mestr; aflar guð flestu.
Kristr skóp ríkr ok reisti
Rúms hǫll verǫld alla.

Thus sang Skapti Thóroddssen:
The King of Monks is greatest
Of might, for God all governs;
Christ’s power wrought this earth all,
And raised the Hall of Rome.

Himna konungr, sem Markús kvað:
(270) Gramr skóp grund ok himna
glyggranns sem her dyggjan.
Einn stillir má ǫllu
aldar Kristr of valda.

King of the Heavens, as Markús sang:
The King of the Wind-House fashioned
Earth, sky, and faithful peoples;
Christ, sole Prince of Mortals,
Hath power o’er all that liveth.

Svá kvað Eilífr kúlnasveinn:
(271) Hróts lýtr helgum krúzi
heims ferð ok lið beima,
sǫnn er en ǫll dýrð ǫnnur
einn sólkonungr hreinni.

Thus sang Eilífr Kúlnasveinn:
The Host of the beaming World’s Roof
And the Band of Illustrious bow down
To the Holy Cross; than all glory
Else the Sole Sun’s King is brighter.

Máríu sonr, enn sem Eilífr kvað:
(272) Hirð lýtr himna dýrðar
hrein Máríu sveini,
mátt viðr mildingr dróttar
— maðr er hann ok guð — ok sannan.

Son of Mary, as Eilífr sang further:
The bright Host of Heaven boweth
To Mary’s Bairn: He winneth,
The Gentle Prince, of glory
The true might, God and man both.

Engla konungr, enn sem Eilífr kvað:
(273) Máttr er en menn of hyggi
mætr guðs sonar betri.
Þó er engla gramr ǫllu
ǫrr helgari ok dýrri.

(196,1) King of Angels, as Eilífr sang again:
The goodly might of God’s friend
Is better than men guess of;
Yet the Gracious King of Angels
Is dearer than all, and holier.

Jórdánar konungr; svá kvað Sighvatr:
(274) Endr réð engla senda
Jórdánar gramr fjóra
(78,1) — fors þó hans á hersi
heilagt skopt — ór lopti.

King of Jordan, as Sigvatr sang:
Four angels the King of Jordan
Sent long ago through aether
To earthward; and the stream washed
The holy head of the World’s Lord.

Grikkja konungr, sem Arnórr kvað:
(275) Bœnir hefi ek fyrir beini
bragna falls við snjallan
Gríkja vǫrð ok Garða;
gjǫf launak svá jǫfri.

King of Greeks, as Arnórr sang:
I have lodged for the hero’s ashes
Prayers with the Lordly Warder
Of Greeks and men of Gardar:
Thus I pay my Prince for good gifts.

Svá kvað Eilífr kúlnasveinn:
(276) Himins dýrð lofar hǫlða
— hann er alls konungr — stilli.

Thus sang Eilífr Kúlnasveinn:
The Glory of Heaven praises
Man’s Prince: He is King of all things.

Hér kallaði hann fyrst Krist konung manna ok annat sinn alls konung.

Here he called Christ, first, King of Men, and again, King of All.

Enn kvað Einarr Skúlason:
(277) Lét sá er landfólks gætir
líkbjartr himinríki
umgeypnandi opna
alls heims fyrir gram snjǫllum.

Eínarr Skúlason sang:
He who compasseth, Bright in Mercy,
All the world, and gently careth
For all, caused the realm of Heaven
To ope for the valiant ruler.

Þar koma saman kenningar, ok verðr sá at skilja af stoð, er ræðr skáldskapinn, um hvárn kveðit er konunginn, þvíat rétt er at kalla Miklagarðs keisara Grikkja konung, ok svá þann konung er ræðr Jórsalalandi, at kalla Jórsala konung, svá ok at kalla Róms konung Rómaborgar keisara eða Engla konung þann er Englandi ræðr. En sú kenning er áðr var ritat, at kalla Krist konung manna, þá kenning má eiga hverr konungr. Konunga alla er rétt at kenna svá at kalla þá landráðendr eða lands vǫrðu eða lands sœki eða hirðstjóra eða vǫrð landfólks.

(197,1) LII. “There the metaphors coincide; and he who interprets the language of poesy learns to distinguish which king is meant; for it is correct to call the Emperor of Constantinople King of Greeks, and similarly to call the king who rules over the land of Jerusalem King of Jerusalem, and also to call the Emperor of Rome King of Rome, and to call him King of Angles’ who governs England. But that periphrasis which was cited but now, which called Christ King of Men, may be had by, every king. It is proper to periphrase all kings by calling them Land-Rulers, or Land-Warders, or Land-Attackers, or Leader of Henchmen, or Warder of the People.

Svá kvað Eyvindr skáldaspillir:
(278) Farmatýs
fjǫrvi næmðu
jarðráðendr
á Ǫglói.

Thus sang Eyvindr Skald-Despoiler:
Who filled the ravens
From life was reft
By the Earth-Rulers
At Ögló.

Ok sem Glúmr kvað Geirason: (79,1)
(279) Hilmir rauð und hjálmi
heina laut á Gautum.
Þar varð í gný geira
grundar vǫrðr of fundinn.

And as Glúmr Geirason sang:
The Prince beneath the helmet
Reddened the sword hone-hollowed
On the Geats: there the Land-Warder
Was found in the grinding spear-din.

Sem Þjóðólfr kvað:
(280) Hár skyli hirðar stjóri
hugreifr sonum leifa
arf ok óðaltorfu
— ósk mín er þat — sína.

As Thjódólfr sang:
’T is my wish that the glorious Leader
Of Henchmen, the Glad-hearted,
Should leave his sons the heritage
And the sod of his fair freehold.

Sem Einarr kvað:
(281) Snáks berr fald of frœknu
foldvǫrðr — konungs Hǫrða
frama telr greppr fyrir gumnum —
geðsnjallr skarar fjalli.

(198,1) As Einarr sang:
The valiant-souled Earth-Warder
On his stern head the helm bears;
The bard before heroes telleth
The fame of the King of Hördland.

Rétt er ok um þann konung er undir honum eru skattkonungar at kalla hann konung konunga. Keisari er œztr konunga, en þar næst er konungr sá er ræðr fyrir þjóðlandi jafn í kenningum ǫllum hverr við annan í skáldskap. Þar næst eru þeir menn er jarlar heita eða skattkonungar, ok eru þeir jafnir í kenningum við konung nema eigi má þá kalla þjóðkonunga er skattkonungar eru.

It is right also to call him King of Kings, under whom are tributary kings. An emperor is highest of kings, and next under him is that king who reigns over a nation; and each of these is equal to the other in the periphrases made of them in poesy. Next to them are those men who are called earls or tributary kings: and they are equal in periphrasis with a king, save that one may not term them kings of nations.

Ok svá kvað Arnórr jarlaskáld of Þorfinn jarl:
(282) Nemi drótt hvé sjá sótti
snarlyndr konungr jarla.
Eigi þraut við ægi
ofvægjan gram bægja.

And thus sang Arnórr Earl’s Skald concerning Earl Thorfinnr:
Let the men hear how the Earl’s King,
Hardy of mind, the sea sought:
The overwhelming Ruler
Failed not to thwart the ocean.

Þar næst eru í kenningum í skáldskap þeir menn er hersar heita. Kenna má þá sem konung eða jarl svá at kalla þá gullbrjóta ok auðmildinga ok merkismenn ok fólks stjóra eða kalla hann oddvita liðsins eða orrostu, fyrir því at þjóðkonungr hverr sá er ræðr mǫrgum lǫndum þá setr hann til landstjórnar með sér skattkonunga ok jarla at dœma lands lǫg ok verja land fyrir ófriði í þeim lǫndum er konungi liggja fjarri, ok skulu þeir dómar ok refsingar vera þar (80,1) jafnréttir sem sjálfs konungs. Ok í einu landi eru mǫrg heruð ok er þat háttr konunga at setja þar réttara yfir svá mǫrg heruð sem hann gefr vald yfir ok heita þeir hersar eða lendir menn í Danskri tungu, en greifar í Saxlandi en barúnar í Englandi. Þeir skulu ok vera réttir dómarar ok réttir landvarnarmenn yfir því ríki er þeim er fengit til stjórnar. Ef eigi er konungr nær, þá skal fyrir þeim merki bera í orrostum ok eru þeir þá jafnréttir herstjórar sem konungar eða jarlar.

Next to these in the figures of poesy are those men who are called chiefs: one may periphrase them as one might a king or an earl, calling them Dispensers of Gold, Wealth Munificent, Men of the Standards, and Captains of the Host, or Van-Leaders of the Array or of Battle; since each king of a nation, who rules over many lands, appoints tributary kings and earls in joint authority with himself, to administer the laws of the land and defend it from attack in those parts which lie far removed from the king. And in those parts they shall be equal with the king’s self in giving (199,1) judgment and meting punishment. Now there are many districts in one land; and it is the practice of kings to appoint justiciars over as many districts as one chooses to give into their hands. These justiciars are called chiefs or landed men in the Danish tongue, reeves in Saxony, and barons in England. They are also to be righteous judges and faithful warriors over the land which is entrusted to them for governance. If the king is not near, then a standard shall be borne before them in battle; and then they are quite as lawful war-captains as kings or earls.

Þar næst eru þeir menn er hǫlðar heita. Þat eru búendr þeir er gildir eru at ættum ok réttum fullum. Þá má svá kenna at kalla þá veitanda fjár ok gætanda ok sætti manna. Þessar kenningar megu ok eiga hǫfðingjar.

“Next under them are those men who are called franklins: they are those freeholders who are of honorable kindred, and possessed of full rights. One may periphrase them by calling them Wealth-Givers, and Protectors, and Reconcilers of Men; headmen also may have these titles.

Konungar ok jarlar hafa til fylgðar með sér þá menn er hirðmenn heita ok húskarlar, en lendir menn hafa ok sér handgengna menn þá er í Danmǫrku ok í Svíþjóð eru hirðmenn kallaðir, en í Nóregi húskarlar, ok sverja þeir þó eiða svá sem hirðmenn konungum. Húskarlar konunga váru mjǫk hirðmenn kallaðir í forneskju.

“Kings and earls have as their following the men called henchmen and house-carles; landed-men also have in their service those who are called henchmen in Denmark and Sweden, and house-carles in Norway, and these men swear oaths of service to them, even as henchmen do to kings. The house-carles of kings were often called henchmen in the old heathen time.

Svá kvað Þorvaldr blǫnduskáld:
(283) Konungr heill ok svá snjallir
sóknǫrr — við lof gjǫrvan
óð hafa menn í munni
minn — húskarlar þínir.

Thus sang Thorvaldr Blending Skald:
Hail, King, swift in the onset!
And thy sturdy house-carles with thee!
In their mouths men have my verses,
Made for a song of praising.

Þetta orti Haraldr konungr Sigurðarson:
(284) Fullafli beið fyllar
— finn ek opt at drífr minna —
hilmis stóls — á hæla
húskarla lið jarli.

King Haraldr Sigurdarson composed this:
The man full mighty waiteth
The filling of the King’s seat;
(200,1) Oft, I find, to the Earl’s heels
Throngs my host of house-carles.

Hirðmenn ok húskarla hǫfðingja má svá kenna at kalla þá inndrótt eða verðung eða heiðmenn.

Henchmen and house-carles may be periphrased by calling them House-Guard, or Wage-Band, or Men of Honor:

Svá kvað Sighvatr:
(285) Þat frá ek víg á vatni
verðung jǫfurs gerðu,
nadda él at, nýla,
næst tel engin smæstu.

thus sang Sigvatr:
I learned the Warrior’s Wage-Band
On the water fought that battle
Newly: ‘t is not the smallest
Snow-shower of Shields I tell of.

Ok enn þetta: (81,1)]
(286) Þági var sem þessum
þengils á jó strengjar
mjǫð fyrir málma kveðju
mær heiðþegum bæri.

And thus also:
When on the Steed of Cables
The clashing steel was meeting,
’T was not as when a maid bears
The Chief’s mead to the Honor-Winners.

Heiðfé heitir máli ok gjǫf er hǫfðingjar gefa.

The service-fee which headmen give is called wages and gifts;

Svá kvað Óttarr svarti:
(287) Góðmennis þarf ek gunnar
glóðbrjótanda at njóta;
hér er alnennin inni
inndrótt með gram svinnum.

thus sang Óttarr the Swarthy:
I needs must use the Breaker
Of the Battle-Glow of good men;
Here is the watch war-doughty
Of the Wise King assembled.

Jarlar ok hersar ok hirðmenn eru svá kendir at kallaðir konungs rúnar eða málar eða sessar.

Earls and chiefs and henchmen are periphrased by calling them Counsellors or Speech-Friends or Seat-Mates of the King,

Svá kvað Hallfrøðr:
(288) Grams rúni lætr glymja
gunnríkr hinn er hvǫt líkar
Hǫgna hamri slegnar
heiptbráðr of sik váðir.

as Hallfredr sang:
(201,1) The Counsellor battle-mighty
Of the Prince, whom boldness pleases,
Lets the feud-fiery weeds of Högni,
Hammer-beaten, clash upon him.

Sem Snæbjǫrn kvað:
(289) Stjórviðjar lætr styðja
stáls buðlunga máli
hlemmisverð við harðri
húflangan skæ dúfu.

As Snaebjörn sang:
The Speech-Friend of Kings letteth
The long-hulled steer-rope’s Race-Horse
Steady the swordlike steel beak
Of the ship against the stern wave.

Svá kvað Arnórr:
(290) Bera sýn of mik mínir
morðkends taka enda
þess of þengils sessa
þung mein synir ungir.

Thus sang Arnórr:
My young sons do bear for my sake
Grave sorrow for the slaughter
Of the Earl, destroyed by murder,
The Bench-Mate of our Monarch.

Konungs spjalli, sem Hallfrøðr kvað:
(291) Ráð lukusk at sá síðan
snjallmæltr konungs spjalli
átti eingadóttur
Ónars viði gróna.

King’s Counsel-Friend, as Hallfredr sang:
In council ‘t was determined
That the King’s Friend, wise in counsel,
Should wed the Land, sole Daughter
Of Ónarr, greenly wooded.

(82,1) Svá skal menn kenna við ætt, sem Kormakr kvað:
(292) Heyri sonr á (Sýrar)
sannreynis (fentanna
ǫrr greppa lætk uppi
jast-Rín) Haralds (mína).

One should periphrase men by their kindred; as Kormákr sang:
Let the son of Haraldr’s true friend
Give ear, and hearken to me:
I raise my song, the Yeast-Stream
Of Sýr’s snow-covered Monsters.

Hann kallaði jarlinn sannreyni konungsins, en Hákun jarl son Sigurðar jarls.

(202,1) He called the Earl True Friend of the King, and Hákon, Son of Earl Sigurdr.

En Þjóðólfr kvað svá um Harald:
(293) Vex Óláfs feðr
Járnsaxa veðr
harðræðit hvert
svá at hróðrs er vert.

And Thjódólfr sang thus concerning Haraldr:
About Ólafr’s sire
Waxed the steel-knife-storm’s ire,
That of wightness each deed
Is worthy fame’s meed.

Ok enn svá:
(294) Jarizleifr of sá
hvert jǫfri brá,
hófsk hlýri frams
ins helga grams.

And again:
Jarizleifr could espy
Where the king passed by:
The brave, sainted lord’s kin
Stoutly praise did win.

Ok enn kvað hann:
(295) Andaðr er sá
er of alla brá
haukstalla konr
Haralds bróðursonr.

And again he sang:
Breath-bereft is he
Who o’er all bore the gree,--
Of chiefs kinsman mild,
Haraldr’s brother’s child.

Enn kvað svá Arnórr í Rǫgnvaldsdrápu:
(296) Réð Heita konr hleyti
herþarfr við mik gjǫrva.
Styrk lét oss of orkat
jarls mægð af því frægðar.

Arnórr also sang thus in Rögnvaldr’s Song of Praise:
Heiti’s war-good kinsman
Made wedlock-kindred with me:
The earl’s strong tie of marriage
Made honor to us rendered.

Ok enn sem hann kvað of Þorfinn jarl:
(297) Bitu sverð — en þar þurðu —
þunngjǫr fyrir Mǫn sunnan
(83,1) Rǫgnvalds kind — und randir
ramlig fólk — ins gamla.

And again, concerning Earl Thorfinnr, he sang:
The thin-made swords bit keenly
Old Rögnvaldr’s kin, to southward
(203,1) Of Man, where rushed the strong hosts
Under the sheltering shield-rims.

Ok enn kvað hann:
(298) Ættbœti firr ítran
allríks — en ek bið líkna
trúra tiggja dýrum —
Torf-Einars, guð, meinum.

And he sang further:
O God, guard the glorious
Kin-Betterer of great Turf-Einarr
From harm; I pray, show mercy
To him whom faithful chiefs love.

Ok enn kvað Einarr skálaglamm:
(299) Ne ættstuðill ættar
ógnherðir mun verða
— skyldr em ek hróðri at halda —
Hilditanns in mildri.

And Einarr Tinkling-Scale sang:
The House-Prop of the Kindred
Of Hilditönn shall not lack
Hardihood more munificent;
I am bound to maintain praises.

Hvernig er ókend setning skáldskapar? Svá at nefna hvern hlut sem heitir. Hver eru ókend heiti skáldskaparins? Hann heitir bragr ok hróðr, óðr, mærð, lof. Þetta kvað Bragi hinn gamli þá er hann ók um skóg nokkvorn síð um kveld, þá stefjaði trǫllkona á hann ok spurði hverr þar fór:

LIII. “How are the uninvolved terms of poesy made? By calling each thing by its proper name. What are the simple terms for poesy? It is called Poetry, Glorifying, Song, Laud, and Praise. Bragi the Old sang this, when he was travelling through a forest late at evening: a troll woman hailed him in verse, asking who passed:

(300a) ‘Trǫll kalla mik
tungl sjǫt-Rungnis,
auðsúg jǫtuns,
élsólar bǫl,
vilsinn vǫlu,
vǫrð náfjarðar,
hvélsvelg himins.
Hvat er trǫll nema Þat?’

’Trolls do call me
Moon’s . . .
of the giant,
Storm-sun’s (?) bale,
Fellow-in-misery of the sibyl,
Warder of the circled ring-earth,
Wheel-devourer of the heaven.
What is the troll but that?”

Hann svarar svá:
(300b) ‘Skáld kalla mik
skapsmið Viðurs,
Gauts gjafrǫtuð,
grepp óhneppan,
Yggs ǫlbera,
óðs skap-Móða,
(84,1) hagsmið bragar.
Hvat er skáld nema þat?’

(204,1) He answered thus:
’Skalds do call me
Vidurr’s Shape-Smith,
Gautr’s Gift-Finder,
Bard not faulty,
Yggr’s Ale-Bearer,
Song’s Arrayer,
Skilled Smith of Verse:
What is the Skald but this?’

Ok sem Kormakr kvað:
(301) Hróðr geri ek of mǫg mæran
meir Sigrøðar fleira;
haptsœnis galt ek hánum
heið. Sitr Þórr í reiðum.

And as Kormákr sang:
I make more Glorifying
By far o’er Hákon’s great son:
I pay him the song-atonement
Of the gods
In his wain Thor sitteth.

Ok sem kvað Þórðr Kolbeinsson:
(302) Mjǫk lét margar snekkjur
— mærðar ǫrr — sem knǫrru
— óðr vex skálds — ok skeiðar
skjǫldhlynr á brim dynja.

And as Thórdr Kolbeinsson sang:
The Shield-Maple let many swift ships
And merchant-craft, and speedy
War-boats o’er the sea pour;
The skald’s ready Song of Laud waxed.

Mærð, sem Úlfr Uggason kvað:
(303) Þar kømr á, en æri
endr bar ek mærð af hendi
— ofra ek svá — til sævar,
sverðregns — lofi þegna.

Laud, as Úlfr Uggason sang:
Now the stream to the sea cometh;
But first the Laud I sang forth
Of the Messenger of Sword-Rain:
Thus I raise the praise of warriors.

Hér er ok lof kallat skáldskapr.

Here poesy is called praise also.

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