Snorri Sturluson

Edda
Skáldskaparmál 1

Snorri Sturluson

Edda
Skáldskaparmál
1. Introduction, Text and Notes

Edited by

ANTHONY FAULKES

VIKING SOCIETY FOR NORTHERN RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON

1998

© Anthony Faulkes 1998
First published by Viking Society for Northern Research 1998
Reprinted with minor corrections 2007
ISBN:
978 0 903521 36 9 Volume 1
978 0 903521 38 3 Volume 2

Printed by Short Run Press Limited, Exeter

Contents of Volume 1
Introduction ............................................................................. vii
Title ....................................................................................... vii
Synopsis ............................................................................... viii
The composition of the work ............................................... x
Date and authorship .............................................................. xi
The verse quotations .......................................................... xiii
The ﬂulur .............................................................................. xv
The dialogue frame...........................................................xviii
The prose narratives .......................................................... xxii
The analysis of poetic diction .......................................... xxv
Purpose ............................................................................xxxvii
Manuscripts ..................................................................... xxxix
This edition ............................................................................ li
Table of verse quotations and their preservation .............. lv
Bibliographical references ...................................................... lx
Manuscript sigla ..................................................................... lxx
Glossary of technical terms ................................................. lxxi
Text ............................................................................................. 1
Textual notes ......................................................................... 135
General notes ......................................................................... 153

Contents of Volume 2
Glossary ................................................................................. 231
Index of names ...................................................................... 443

PREFACE
These two volumes contain the second part of Snorri Sturluson’s
Edda, Skáldskaparmál. Part I, Prologue and Gylfaginning, was published by the Clarendon Press, Oxford, in 1982, and reissued in
paperback by the Viking Society for Northern Research in 1988. A
second, corrected edition was published by the Viking Society in
2005. Part III, Háttatal, was published by the Clarendon Press in
1991, and reissued in paperback with addenda and corrigenda by the
Viking Society in 1999. Part II thus makes the work complete.
Skáldskaparmál contains a lot of poetry that was composed mainly
in Norway and Iceland in the ninth to twelfth centuries. Thoughmuch of it is quoted in short extracts, it constitutes an anthology ofverse of various kinds, including mythological, historical, lyricaland other types of verse, selected and commented on by one of the
major authors of thirteenth-century Iceland. This edition provides
these examples of Old Norse verse with extensive explanatory notes
and, in volume 2, a full glossary and index. It is hoped that it will
be useful to students as an introduction to a wide variety of early
Scandinavian poetry, presented in an authentic context and reflecting the taste and interests of an educated Icelander of the great ageof saga-writing, himself a practised poet.
I am grateful for the comments and corrections of Peter Foote,
Richard Perkins and Mats Malm on the final draft of this book.
A. F.

INTRODUCTION
Title
Skáldskaparmál (‘the language of poetry’) is the second major partof Snorri Sturluson’s Edda (‘Treatise on poetry’; sometimes called
the Prose Edda), coming in those manuscripts that include morethan one part of the work between Gylfaginning and Háttatal. The
name is not found as the heading of this part of the text in any earlymanuscript (R and W have large ornamental initials at 1/2, thoughneither they nor T have any heading at 1/1; see textual note), but isused in the rubric at the head of the whole text in the Uppsalamanuscript (U): ‘Er fyrst frá Ásum ok Ymi, ﬂar næst Skáldskapar
mál ok heiti margra hluta.’ At 3/10 this manuscript also includes thewords ‘hér hefr [or hefir] mjƒk setning skáldskapar’ and in theversion of the beginning of ch. 3 that it has before before ch. 2 (SnE
1848–87, II 302) ‘Hér hefr Skáldskapar mál ok heiti margra hluta’.
In fact the editors of the Arnamagnæan edition (SnE 1848–87) took
the first narrative sections of Skáldskaparmál as a continuation of
Gylfaginning, and numbered the first chapters 55–8 accordingly,
entitling this section Bragaræ›ur (‘speeches of Bragi’), labelling
5/25–6/29 the Eptirmáli (‘Epilogue’; placed at 5/8) and beginning
Skáldskaparmál itself at 5/9 (this arrangement of the text follows
that of Rask (SnE 1818),where Skáldskaparmál is often called ‘Skálda’).
Their chapters 55–8, however, do not continue the dialogue of Gylfaginning; they open a new narrative frame, a conversation between
the god Bragi and Ægir, a personification of the sea, which seems tocontinue through much of Skáldskaparmál. Though the indicationsof the speakers peter out in the course of this section as they do in
Háttatal, and there is little sign of dialogue from ch. 43 onwards,
several later chapters are introduced by a question, and the whole of
the rest of Skáldskaparmál, to the end of ch. 74, can be taken as thewords of Bragi. Apart from the opening chapter, only in 5/25–6/29
is the voice clearly authorial, and though ch. 33 does not really fit into
the scheme (see below), chapters G55–58 seem designed as an
introduction to Skáldskaparmál even if they were perhaps written
after the bulk of the rest of the section. The word skáldskaparmál
appears also at 5/15 and in the passage in A which introduces a list of
kennings which is placed immediately before the extracts from Skáldskaparmál in that manuscript (see p. xlvii below; note also TGT 104).

viii

Skáldskaparmál

Synopsis
Chapter G55: (The chapter numbers are those of SnE 1848–87, andthe first four are a continuation of the chapter numbers of Gylfaginning):Ó›inn and the Æsir entertain Ægir to a feast.
Chapter G56: Bragi tells Ægir the story of the giant ﬁjazi’s theft ofI›unn and her golden apples, their recovery by Loki and how theÆsir killed ﬁjazi and compensated his daughter Ska›i; and how
ﬁjazi and his brothers had taken their father’s inheritance.
Chapter G57: The origin of the mead of poetry in the blood of Kvasir.
Chapter G58: How Ó›inn brought the mead of poetry to the Æsir.
Chapter 1: The categories of poetry.
Eptirmáli (‘Epilogue’, 5/25–6/29): The meaning and purpose of thework. The story of Troy as an allegory of Norse myths.
Chapter 2: Kennings for Ó›inn. Verses 1–26.
Chapter 3: Kennings for poetry. Verses 27–41.
Chapter 4: Kennings for ﬁórr. Verses 42–58.
Chapter 5: Kennings for Baldr.
Chapter 6: Kennings for Njƒr›r. Verse 59.
Chapter 7: Kennings for Freyr. Verses 60–63.
Chapter 8: Kennings for Heimdallr.
Chapter 9: Kennings for T‡r.
Chapter 10: Kennings for Bragi.
Chapter 11: Kennings for Vi›arr.
Chapter 12: Kennings for Váli.
Chapter 13: Kennings for Hƒ›r.
Chapter 14: Kennings for Ullr.
Chapter 15: Kennings for Hœnir.
Chapter 16: Kennings for Loki. Verse 64.
Chapter 17: ﬁórr’s duel with Hrungnir. Verses 65–71 (Haustlƒng 14–20).
Chapter 18: ﬁórr’s journey to Geirrø›argar›ar. Verses 72, 73–91(ﬁórsdrápa 1–15 , 17–20).
Chapter 19: Kennings for Frigg.
Chapter 20: Kennings for Freyja.
Chapter 21: Kennings for Sif.
Chapter 22: Kennings for I›unn. Verses 92–104 (Haustlƒng 1–13).
Chapter 23: Kennings for the sky. Verses 105–16.
Chapter 24: Kennings for the earth. Verses 117–22.
Chapter 25: Kennings for the sea. Verses 123–34.
Chapter 26: Kennings for the sun. Verses 135–6.

Introductionix

Chapter 27: Kennings for the wind. Verse 137.
Chapter 28: Kennings for fire.
Chapter 29: Kennings for winter. Verses 138–9.
Chapter 30: Kennings for summer. Verse 140.
Chapter 31: Kennings for man and woman.
Chapter 32: Kennings for gold.
Chapter 33: Gold = Ægir’s fire; Ægir’s feast for the gods. Verse 141.
Chapter 34: Gold = Glasir’s foliage. Verse 142.
Chapter 35: Gold = Sif’s hair. The dwarfs make treasures for the gods.
Chapter 36: Gold = Fulla’s head-band. Verse 143.
Chapter 37: Gold = Freyja’s tears; her daughter Hnoss. Verses 144–9.
Chapter 38: Gold = giants’ words. Verse 150.
Chapter 39: Gold = otter-payment. The origin of this kenning.
Chapter 40: Gold = Fáfnir’s lair. Sigur›r’s slaying of the serpent
Fáfnir. Verses 151–2 (from Fáfnismál).
Chapter 41: Sigur›r and Brynhildr; his marriage to Gu›rún anddeath.
Chapter 42: Deaths of the Niflungar, Atli and Jƒrmunrekkr. Verses
153–8 (Ragnarsdrápa 18, 3–7).
Chapter 43: Gold = Fró›i’s meal. The mill Grotti. Verses 159–82(Grottasƒngr), 183–4.
Chapter 44: The origin of Hrólfr kraki’s nickname. Gold = Kraki’s
seed. Hrólfr’s expedition to Uppsala. Verses 185–6.
Chapter 45: Gold = Hƒlgi’s mound-roof. The old lay of Bjarki.
Verses 187, 188–90 (Bjarkamál 4–6).
Chapter 46: Gold = fire of the hand, etc. Verses 191–5.
Chapter 47: Kennings for man and woman as givers of gold and as
trees. Verses 196–218.
Chapter 48: Kennings for battle. Verses 219–25.
Chapter 49: Kennings for weapons and armour. Verses 226–49.
Chapter 50: Battle = the Hja›nings’ storm. Hja›ningavíg. Further
kennings for battle and weapons. Verses 250–54 (Ragnarsdrápa
8–12), 255.
Chapter 51: Kennings for ship. Verses 256–67.
Chapter 52: Kennings for Christ. Verses 268–77.
Chapter 53: Kennings for kings. Terms for kings and noblemen.
Verses 278–99.
Chapter 54: Ókend heiti. Terms for poetry. Verses 300a–b, 301–3.
Chapter 55: Terms for pagan gods. Verses 304–8.

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Chapter 56: Terms for the heavens, sun and moon.
Chapter 57: Terms for the earth. Verses 309–17.
Chapter 58: Terms for wolves, bears, stags, horses, oxen, snakes,
cattle, sheep, swine. Verses 318–31 (including ﬁorgrímsﬂula andKálfsvísa or Alsvinnsmál ).
Chapter 59: Terms for the sky and weather. Verse 332 (from Alvíssmál).
Chapter 60: Terms for raven and eagle. Verses 333–43.
Chapter 61: Terms for the sea. Verses 344–69.
Chapter 62: Terms for fire. Verses 370–79.
Chapter 63: Terms for times and seasons. Verse 380 (from Alvíssmál).
Chapter 64: Terms for men. Kings. Hálfdan the Old and his sons.
Verses 381–411.
Chapter 65: Terms for men.
Chapter 66: ﬁula of terms for men.
Chapter 67: Terms for men:vi›kenningar, sannkenningar and fornƒfn.
Chapter 68: Terms for women;vi›(r)kenningar.
Chapter 69: Terms for the head, eyes, ears, mouth, teeth, tongue, hair.
Chapter 70: Terms for heart, mind and emotions.
Chapter 71: Terms for arms and legs, hands and feet.
Chapter 72: Terms for speech (and kennings for battle).
Chapter 73: Terms for wisdom and other mental qualities.
Chapter 74: Homonyms, ofljóst.
Chapter 75: ﬁulur of names and synonyms for sea-kings, giants,
troll-wives, gods and goddesses, women, men, battle, various
weapons and armour, sea, rivers, fish, whales, ships, land, various
animals, domestic and wild, the heavens and the sun. Verses 412–517.

The composition of the work
Háttatal, which is a poem illustrating the use of various verse-forms
with a commentary that is mostly concerned with explaining themetrical and other formal devices used in their construction, andwas probably written before Skáldskaparmál, also includes somepassages concerned with poetical language (e. g. Háttatal 1/55–
6/21; i. e. verses 2–6 and commentary), and it seems likely that theauthor did not at first envisage compiling a separate section on thelanguage of poetry. When he did start doing that, he listed various
poetical terms under their designations, and the fact that in thesecond half of Skáldskaparmál kennings and heiti (simplex poetical

Introduction

xi

terms) are not consistently separated (cf. note to 87/8–9) suggeststhat at first he did not plan to separate these two categories in his
treatment of them (there is even more mixing of the two categories
in the version of Skáldskaparmál in the Uppsala manuscript), andthat when he did decide to have separate sections dealing withkennings and heiti he did not take all the kennings out of the heiti
lists; this may imply that the work was still in the process of revision at the author’s death. This second half of Skáldskaparmál also
makes less consistent use of the dialogue form, and as in Háttatal
the speakers are here not generally named, and it is likely that the
dialogue in the form it now has evolved gradually, only perhaps
being provided with a narrative introduction after the bulk of thematerial had been compiled. In various parts of Skáldskaparmál
narratives are also included to account for the origins of some of thekennings by recounting the myths and legends that were thought tohave given rise to them. These are added in a somewhat unsystematicway (and are not all present in all of the manuscripts), and some(particularly the account of Otrgjƒld and the Gjúkungar) have bysome been thought to be interpolations. Whether they were added by
the original author or by a later reviser, it is likely that these were
not in the original plan of the work, and the introductory chapters(1/1–5/8), which among other things recount the myth of the originof poetry, may have been the last to be compiled. Then, as with thediscussions of poetical language in Háttatal, it may be that thewriter felt that there were too many such narratives to incorporate
into Skáldskaparmál, and it is likely that Gylfaginning and its prologue
were made into a separate introduction to the whole work to provide
the mythical and legendary background to the whole of skaldic verse.

Date and authorship
Háttatal must have been written soon after Snorri Sturluson’s first
visit to Norway in 1218–20; Skáldskaparmál may have been begun
shortly afterwards and is likely to have been in process of compilation for some time. Its lack of organisation (compared with bothGylfaginning and Háttatal, as well as with Heimskringla) suggeststhat it was unfinished at the time of Snorri’s death in 1241. Thoughvarious interpolations may have been made by a later hand, theattribution of the main part of Skáldskaparmál to Snorri is generally

xii

Skáldskaparmál

accepted, and is implied by the rubric at the beginning of the Uppsalamanuscript (SnE 1848–87, II 250: ‘Bók ﬂessi heitir Edda. Hana
hefir saman setta Snorri Sturlusonr eptir ﬂeim hætti sem hér erskipat. Er fyrst frá Ásum ok Ymi, ﬂar næst Skáldskapar mál ok heiti
margra hluta’) and the reference in the fragmentary manuscript AM
748 I b 4to (SnE 1848–87, II 427–8: ‘Hér er lykt ﬂeim hlut bókar erÓláfr ﬁór›arson hefir samansett ok upphefr Skáldskaparmál ok
kenningar eptir ﬂví sem fyrirfundit var í kvæ›um hƒfu›skálda ok
Snorri hefir sí›an samanfœra látit’), even though this is here followed
by a passage not thought to be part of Skáldskaparmál, extracts fromwhich begin some three manuscript pages later (Óláfr ﬁór›arson was anephew of Snorri and the author of The Third Grammatical Treatise).
Skáldskaparmál was, however, the part of Snorri’s Edda that both in
the Middle Ages and later most attracted modifications and additions
by various hands. Already Codex Wormianus (W) has (the remainsof) a substantially revised version of the second part (the ókend heiti
section, beginning at 83/13) and two fragmentary manuscripts (AM748 I b 4to (A) and AM 757 a 4to (B)) contain extensively revised
versions of various parts of Skáldskaparmál where the order has
been much changed and additions have been made. The Utrecht
manuscript (T) and AM 748 II 4to (C) have texts that do not differ
much from that in the Codex Regius (R), which is taken to represent
Snorri’s work most accurately, though it is likely that scribal or
editorial changes of various kinds have been made in all these
versions. In particular it is uncertain whether Snorri intended the
ﬂulur (verses 412–517) to be included in Skáldskaparmál. The version in the Uppsala manuscript differs from the others in all parts ofthe Edda, but particularly in Skáldskaparmál, where various passages and verses are absent, the material is very differently ordered
and the whole structure of the work is different. It is difficult toknow whether these differences are due to a later redactor of Snorri’s
work or whether they derive from another version, perhaps a draftof the work, made by Snorri himself. It is unlikely, however, that thearrangement in the Uppsala manuscript gives a better idea of how
Snorri intended the work to be than the Codex Regius does.
Even after the end of the Middle Ages, Skáldskaparmál continued
to be the part of the Edda that attracted the most attention; it was
influential on the language of rímur poets and others, and various
revisions and adaptations of the work were made in the seventeenth
century and later (see Faulkes 1977–9).

Introductionxiii

The verse quotations
The major part of Skáldskaparmál consists of lists of kennings andheiti provided for the use of ‘young poets’ (this purpose of the work
is clearly stated at 5/25–30) illustrated from the work of more than
70 earlier poets (see the table below, pp. lv–lix, and cf. SnE 1931
xlvii–xlviii; Hallberg 1975, 5–6) with narratives (some in prose,some in verse) to explain the origin of some kennings. Unlike
Háttatal, Skáldskaparmál contains no verse by Snorri himself. Someof the lists are derived from earlier versified lists such as are included in some manuscripts (but not in W or U) at the end of
Skáldskaparmál (verses 412–517; more of these are included in A
and B than in R, T and C); some versified lists are included in the
body of the work (verses 325–31) and a rhythmical list is included
at 106/23–107/11. These are likely to have been part of the learned
activity of twelfth-century Icelandic compilers (Einarr Skúlason’s
poetry and eddic poems like Alvíssmál provide further evidence of
this sort of activity), though of course it is possible that some of the
ﬂulur are actually compiled from Snorri’s prose lists. Some lists ofnames are derived from eddic poems (e. g. 88/8, 90/1, 10–12 use
Grímnismál 33, 37, 34) and Alvíssmál 20 and 30 are quoted asverses 332 and 380; Rígsﬂula seems to be used in the names fordifferent kinds of men and women in chs 65–8. Rígsﬂula itself isincluded in Codex Wormianus, and only there, where it is presumably an interpolation. Three stanzas from Bjarkamál are quoted fortheir lists of terms for gold (verses 188–90; only fragments are
known of this poem, one of them in Heimskringla, Hkr II 361–2;
two more are attributed to it in Edda Magnúsar Ólafssonar 265,
272; see Skj A I 180–81, B I 170–71). Many mythological names in
Skáldskaparmál and the ﬂulur also occur in Hyndluljó›, and in somecases nowhere else, though it is uncertain whether this poem is later
than Snorri’s Edda and makes use of it or the reverse. Grottasƒngr
is quoted entire in R and T (and only there) in connection with thestory of Fró›i Fri›leifsson which gives the origin of the kenning‘Fró›i’s meal’ for gold (ch. 43). Like Rígsﬂula in W, this may be aninterpolation. Many of the lists of kennings and heiti are of course
simply compiled from their occurrences in the skaldic verses which
are quoted; sometimes such verses are not quoted, however, andsome of the kennings for sky and the sun in chs 23 and 26, forinstance, are parts of kennings for God in Christian poems that arexiv

Skáldskaparmál

not always quoted there either; cf. 85/13–16 (see ch. 52 and Meissner
1921, 378–82). The little treatise on poetic language known as Denlille Skálda (in A and B; SnE 1848–87, II 428–31, 511–15), if older
than Snorri’s work, might have been a source, and there may havebeen other such compilations. Finnur Jónsson evidently assumed
that Den lille Skálda was compiled from Snorri’s work, and heprinted at the foot of the pages of his edition references to thepassages in Skáldskaparmál that may have been used in it, see SnE
1931, 255–9; cf. Finnur Jónsson 1920–24, II 926. Schedae by Sæmundr
fró›i have been suggested as a further source, see de Vries 1964–7,
II 226 (see also 230 n. 130). But the majority of Snorri’s sourcesmust have been oral, and most others non-learned (no Latin sources
can be demonstrated for any part of Skáldskaparmál except for theso-called Eptirmáli, 5/36–6/29; but some narratives are derived
from vernacular sagas, see below).
Most of the illustrative quotations consist of half-stanzas attributed to named skaldic poets, though a few are anonymous. Some ofthese appear in other Icelandic books, especially Heimskringla andother versions of the Kings’ Sagas (where usually whole stanzas arequoted) but the variations from the texts that appear in other sources
imply that in Skáldskaparmál Snorri has quoted from memory or
used oral variants; and it is likely that most of the other verses
quoted that are not found elsewhere (and there are many of these)are similarly quoted from memory. Especially where the quotations
are part of extensive poems, however, there is a possibility that
Snorri or another had previously copied them into manuscripts,
though no anthologies of skaldic verse and few complete poems
have been preserved. Finnur Jónsson has pointed out (SnE 1931,
xlviii) that a number of the poets quoted appear only in one sectionof the work, though there are also many that appear in both sections(i. e. the section on kennings and the one on ókend heiti). There does
not seem to be any conclusion to be drawn from this.
Verses are seldom assigned to named poems in Skáldskaparmál,
though many are believed to belong to long poems, flokkar or
drápur. For instance, ten quotations in Skáldskaparmál are believed
to be from ﬁjó›ólfr Arnórsson’s Sexstefja, but the poem itself is notnamed. It is therefore often difficult to be certain which poems
verses belong to, and whether or not they are independent lausavísur(i. e. stanzas that are complete poems in themselves; many of theIntroduction

xv

attributions in Skj are based on guesswork). Moreover when there ismore than one poet of the same name, the patronymic or nickname
is not always given, and some verses that are, for instance, attributedto ‘Einarr’ could be either by Einarr skálaglamm or Einarr Skúlason.
In a few cases there are quotations without any attribution which
may belong to the work of known poets and be parts of known poems.
There are some so-called ‘mythological skaldic poems’ quoted in
Skáldskaparmál, mainly in connection with the lists of kennings forﬁórr (also I›unn): there are extensive extracts from ﬁórsdrápa,
Húsdrápa, Haustlƒng and Ragnarsdrápa (the last two of these are
Norwegian ‘shield’ poems, describing pictures on shields given thepoets by patrons; Húsdrápa describes decorations in a hall in Iceland). Some verses from these poems are quoted elsewhere in theProse Edda, but there are no quotations from these poems outside
the work (except for quotations of single stanzas from Ragnarsdrápa
in The Fourth Grammatical Treatise and Heimskringla as well as in
Gylfaginning; there is also a quotation from Húsdrápa among theadditions to Skáldskaparmál in W). It is uncertain whether Snorri
himself intended these extended quotations to be included in
Skáldskaparmál (they are not in all manuscripts), but obviously heknew the poems since he quotes individual verses from the poems aswell and uses material from them in prose paraphrase in both Gylfaginningand Skáldskaparmál. They were probably composed in heathen times
or in the period of transition to Christianity and were presumably
known to Snorri from oral tradition, though their poor preservationand the abnormal spellings in the extant manuscripts suggest thatthey may have been copied from earlier poorly copied manuscripts.

The ﬂulur
There are 106 stanzas contining ﬂulur at the end of Skáldskaparmál
in R, T and C and more in A and B. Some of these seem to have beensources for prose lists of kennings and heiti in Skáldskaparmál thatare not all just compiled from examples in skaldic verse, but areevidently from earlier lists; cf. 85/13–15 (but note that A has Himins
heiti ﬂessi er hér eru ritin instead of ﬂessi nƒfn himins eru ritu›, en).
The lists of names for the sky and sun that follow (85/17–20) areclearly partly based on the ﬂulur in verses 516–17 (cf. also theadditional ﬂula of Himins heiti in A and B, Skj A I 683, andxvi

Skáldskaparmál

Alvíssmál 12, 16; few of the names are found in other extant poems,
those that are being anyway in verse later than Snorri’s Edda; seenote to 85/13). Other prose lists in Skáldskaparmál that seem to be
derived from ﬂulur are those of names for bears (88/6–7, cf.
verses 510–11); stags (88/8, cf. verse 512; also Grímnismál 33, see
Gylfaginning ch. 16); the moon (85/21–2, cf. verse 11 in Skj A I
682–3 (Tungls heiti, in AB); the lists of words in chs 70–71 seem tobe related to the ﬂulur of Hugar heiti ok hjarta and Heiti á hendi in
A, Skj A I 688–9; and there are other examples of the probable useof verse ﬂulur. It is clear that it is not just the ﬂulur in R that wereused by the compiler of Skáldskaparmál, and not even those in thesame form as they have in R (the order is often different, there areboth additional words and omissions as well as variant forms); andthose that are in R are not used exhaustively in Skáldskaparmál. On
the other hand, Finnur Jónsson (SnE 1931, xlviii–xlix) assumed not
only that Snorri did not use the ﬂulur that are in R, but that theadditional ones in A and B were later than his time anyway. Some ofthe ﬂulur seem to be compiled from earlier extant sources. For
instance, since the list of names of earth (85/23–87/7) is derived
from the verse examples that accompany it, the ﬂula in verses 501–2
may be derived partly from these too, though words are also included there that are not in other extant verse. The ﬂula of rivernames in verses 479–84 is partly based on Grímnismál 27–29, or it
may be the other way round. Only some of the river-names in the
ﬂulur are of mythical rivers mentioned in Gylfaginning and Grímnismál;others are geographical (cf. note to verses 479–84) and may bederived from actual geographical knowledge, and several are also
among the names of Ægir’s daughters, see 95/7–9 and note, and36/25–6. The horses of the sun (90/1) and some of the serpentnames (90/11) are from Grímnismál 37, 34 (cf. also Grímnismál 30,
Vafﬂrú›nismál 12, 14), and some of these names (and Grímnismál34) have also appeared already in Gylfaginning chs 10–11, 16. The
names for men (chs. 65–8) are partly from Rígsﬂula, which also
includes some of the names in verses 438–48. Weapon-names andship-names seem in many cases to be derived from sagas, particularly fornaldarsögur. The list of sea-kings (i. e. kings whose territory was the sea; vikings who took the title of king, verses 412–16)
contains names that appear elsewhere as names of semi-historicalcharacters in poetry or prose narratives (e. g. Atli, Gjúki, Gylfi,

Introduction

xvii

Hagbar›r, Hjálmarr, Randvér) and this suggests that this list is no
more than a list of legendary names. The coincidence of names of
sea-kings, giants, dwarves and gods on the one hand, and of namesof goddesses, giantesses, valkyries, norns and heroines of fornaldarsögur
on the other, is probably due partly to the vagueness of these categories in Norse mythology generally, and partly to the random way inwhich lists of these kinds of beings were compiled.
Some of the ﬂulur contain foreign words (Latin, French, Greek);
this confirms their learned character and implies that they were
mostly compiled in the twelfth century or later. They have theirclosest literary parallels in the work of Einarr Skúlason; cf. especially his lists of kennings for sea using names of islands, Skj A I
484–5, verses 11–14. Two of these are in A and all four are attributed
to Einarr in Edda Magnúsar Ólafssonar 266–8. Magnús Ólafsson
possibly found them in W, but more likely in some other medieval
manuscript. There are further dróttkvætt verses of a similar kind
containing terms for woman in U and A (SnE II 363, together witha verse of mansƒngr, and SnE II 490–91) and Málsháttakvæ›i is acollection of versified proverbs of a similar nature (Skj A II 130–36;
in R after Háttatal ). S. Bugge (1875, 237–42) suggested that both
the ﬂulur and Málsháttakvæ›i were the work of Bjarni Kolbeinsson,
along with Jómsvíkinga drápa (Skj A II 1–10; also in R after Háttatal).
This is not demonstrable, though it is true that these writings are all
in a similar spirit. Also comparable are Haukr Valdísarson’sÍslendingadrápa (Skj A I 556–60; in A) and Háttalykill (attributed toEarl Rƒgnvaldr of Orkney and the Icelander Hallr ﬁórarinsson), andthis group of writings may testify to the development of a particularkind of learned activity in Orkney. The ﬂulur contain many words
not actually found in poetry (and often not in prose either), so that
their purpose as collections of names for use by poets is not always
certain. Among their sources are skaldic verses as well as eddic
poems, but also written prose sources and perhaps personal knowledge
and travellers’ accounts for the foreign geographical names; cf.
Apardjón in verse 481. This is included as a river-name, but though
it contains a river-name, it is actually derived from the name of thetown of Aberdeen, ‘At the mouth of the River Don’, and it is likelythat it is based on garbled personal knowledge of the place. Some ofthe verse ﬂulur are, however, older than the twelfth century, e. g.
presumably the lists of dwarfs in Vƒluspá and those of rivers andxviii

Skáldskaparmál

other items in Grímnismál; there are some similar lists in poems in
Hei›reks saga and in Anglo-Saxon poems such as Widsiﬂ; the dateof Alvíssmál must be regarded as uncertain. Many of the whalenames (some are obviously fabulous) in verses 489–90 are found in
the chapter on whales in Konungs skuggsjá, though it is difficult toknow how old such traditions are.
It seems clear that whether or not they were intended to be included as part of Skáldskaparmál, the ﬂulur appended to the work in
RTABC were not compiled by Snorri himself, and may have been
added by another hand.

The dialogue frame
The scene is set in the first chapter, which parallels the second
chapter of Gylfaginning, and it is probably based on the situation in
Lokasenna (sometimes called Ægisdrekka, ‘Ægir’s feast’). This poem
was certainly known to Snorri, for there are quotations from it in
Gylfaginning, though in Skáldskaparmál it is mainly the prose
introduction to the poem that is paralleled. The scene in both is afeast where the gods and Ægir are in the same hall (in Ásgar›r in
Skáldskaparmál, in Ægir’s hall in Lokasenna), and Snorri himself
draws attention to the similarity in his prose account based on (theprose introduction to) Lokasenna in ch. 33 (41/1–2), where the feast
does take place in Ægir’s hall. There is hardly any mention of the
speakers from ch. 2 onwards, however, and as in Háttatal the speakers’ names are generally not given and the dialogue is not kept up
to the end of the section. This part of Skáldskaparmál is in conception rather like Alvíssmál: both works are concerned with esotericnames and kennings for various concepts, and the narrative framework in both is definitely subsidiary, though the didactic content inboth is presented with considerable artistry. Grímnismál too hassimilarities, though there the content seems to be purely informational (i. e. has no practical purpose).
The conversation between Bragi and Ægir in Skáldskaparmál ismore artistic than that in Háttatal, like that in Gylfaginning, where
the speakers are also given names and embryonic characters, thoughunlike Gylfaginning it is not rounded off with a conclusion. (There
are verbal similarities with the introduction to the dialogue inGylfaginning, compare 1/2–5 and Gylfaginning 7/20–27.) Ægir makes

Introduction

xix

some comments on Bragi’s narration that are comparable to those of
Gylfi on the narrations of Hár, Jafnhár and ﬁri›i (e. g. 3/9, 4/6,
24/17–18). Unlike that in Gylfaginning, where the dialogue is acontest, the content of the conversation in Skáldskaparmál has noreal connection with the frame other than that Bragi, as god of
poetry, is a suitable person to talk about the language of poetry andits origin (even though Ó›inn is more often actually mentioned bypoets and is the god who obtained the mead of poetry for the use ofmen); on the other hand it is not quite clear why Ægir should havebeen chosen for the role of questioner, except that the tradition ofÆgir’s feast for the gods in Lokasenna provides an ideal setting forthe conversation; and being an outsider among the gods (he isusually regarded as one of the giants, a personification of one of thechaotic forces of nature) Ægir would be a suitable person to be
instructed in the esoteric, sophisticated and civilised art of poetry.
After the opening and the beginning of ch. 1, the references to Bragiand Ægir as speakers are mostly in the stories of ﬁórr’s adventures,
which may originally have been a separate section of Skáldskaparmál(as they are in U). If they were only later linked with the rest of
Skáldskaparmál (which may like Háttatal originally have had unnamed speakers), this would explain why in the later part of
Skáldskaparmál there are references to both in the third person.
As in Gylfaginning (14/2 and perhaps elsewhere) and Háttatal(e. g. 16/13–17) there are some places where the voice of the author
seems to break into the conversation. For instance, there are references
to the text as a written one at 73/31, 85/13–15 (see Glossary underrita and cf. Háttatal 11/9, 23/11, etc.). There are three phases to theconversation in Skáldskaparmál. After the scene-setting of 1/2–15,
Bragi tells Ægir a story purportedly chosen at random about one of
the exploits of the gods against the giants, at the end of which Bragi
incidentally mentions that it gave rise to some kennings in poetry(3/5–8). This leads to Ægir’s first question about poetry: he asks
about its origin (3/10–11), and Bragi tells the myth of the origin of
the mead of inspiration (3/12–5/8). Ægir then asks specifically about
the language of poetry (5/9–10), and then begins the second phase:the analysis of poetic diction in the form of questions and answers,
enumerating categories and sub-categories (5/9–24), in the samestyle as the beginning of Háttatal. The dialogue is then interrupted
by a passage in the author’s voice giving the purpose of the work,

xx

Skáldskaparmálemphasising the mythological background to many of the kennings,
and suggesting an allegorical origin for some myths in the story of
the Trojan War (5/25–6/29). Then the conversation is apparently
resumed (but to begin with, in chs. 2 and 3, with no mention of the
speakers; only in B is ch. 3 said to be part of Bragi’s speeches,though 6/30 seems to follow on from 5/24, see note to 6/32), and in
this second phase kennings are enumerated according to theirsignifications, beginning with those for Ó›inn, and illustrated bynumerous quotations from skaldic verse. The conversation fromnow on becomes perfunctory; the next actual question is at 14/25,
from which point the dialogue is handled very much in the same
way as in Háttatal, and various sections are introduced thus, without
the speakers being identified (e. g. at the beginnings of chs 5–16).
The speakers’ names are only reintroduced again at the beginningand end of ch. 17, where further extended narrations (ﬁórr’s exploits) interrupt the enumeration of kennings. Chs 17–18, whichhave rather little to do with the origins of kennings, are in U placed
immediately after the first group of narratives and the interruption
at 5/25–35; it may be that they were afterthoughts (cf. 20/18 n.), but
in any case the desire to include more such narratives perhaps fortheir own sake (there are others later in Skáldskaparmál that are not
all mythological ones) may have been one of the reasons that Snorri
went on to compile Gylfaginning. When the dialogue is maintained
after ch. 18, it is quite perfunctory, as it is in Háttatal, and thenarrative frame seems to be forgotten. Both speakers are from time
to time referred to in the dialogue in the third person (in chs 10, 22,
25, 27, 28, 32, 61), and one episode is related, in which both appear,
which must have taken place after the conversation in which it isnarrated (ch. 33; cf. note to 2/2–4). This suggests that phase two was
not originally intended to be included in the frame of phase one, andthat when they were joined together, the author neglected to makethe changes that would have been necessary to avoid these absurdities. It is conceivable, but by no means certain, that the absurdities
were deliberately intended as a joke or included for ironical purposes, to emphasise the fictional nature of the frame story. Phase
three is the ókend heiti section (from 83/13), where the dialogue,
when there is any trace of it at all, is entirely perfunctory, as in
Háttatal, and towards the end is abandoned completely; there is no
narrative conclusion. The last question is at 99/21. The ﬂulur areIntroductionxxi

clearly not intended to be part of the conversation. There are several
more extended narratives in phases 2 (chs 33–5, Ægir’s feast, themaking of the gods’ treasures; chs 39–42, Otrgjƒld and the Gjúkungar;
chs 43–4, Fró›i’s mill, Hrólfr kraki; ch. 50, Hja›ningavíg) and 3(ch. 64, the descendants of Hálfdan gamli); towards the end ofphase 3 there are rather few verse illustrations (chs 65–74).
Skáldskaparmál is thus more varied in content and structure thaneither Gylfaginning or Háttatal; the organisation is not entirely
coherent and this adds to the impression that the work was not completed by the author. In Skáldskaparmál some sections are organisedwith an introductory list of kennings for a particular concept, followed by a series of illustrations from earlier poets exemplifying
these kennings in the same order as in the introductory list. But thisis not always by any means carried out with regularity; there aremany inconsistencies and much randomness, and it is not possible todismiss all these as the result of the activity of interpolators or
scribal interference (cf. SnE 1931, xliv–xlvii). Similarly, there aresome verses adduced as examples of kennings that in fact containnone (see SnE 1931, xlv): verses 10 and 12 contain only ókend heiti
for Ó›inn; verse 20 contains no names or kennings except the nameÓ›inn itself; verse 14 has only the kenning sigrunnr, which is a
generalised one for warrior, not a specific name for Ó›inn; in verse
23 farmagnu›r only refers to Ó›inn in the particular situation of
flying to escape ﬁjazi. The fact that some of these verses are not in
all manuscripts is no argument for their being interpolations; it ismore likely that some scribes omitted them when they realised thatthey did not contain the expected kennings. There are similar inconsistencies in the ókend heiti section of Skáldskaparmál, where kennings
are sometimes listed alongside heiti (see notes to 87/8–9, 90/16–17,
26–9, 95/1, 108/6–9, 109/8–9); there is no reason there either toexplain the inconsistencies as due to scribes rather than to theauthor’s incomplete working out of his scheme (cf. 95/7–9 n.).
The Uppsala manuscript has a less consistent division of Skáldskaparmál into kennings and heiti than some other manuscripts, andfor instance has chs 50, 34–6, 39–40, 43–5 after the section onókend heiti (SnE II 339–355), though many of the other chapters
dealing with kennings come before (see pp. xl–xliv below). If U
represents an earlier stage in the evolution of Skáldskaparmál thanother manuscripts, this perhaps indicates that the division into ken-xxii

Skáldskaparmál

nings and heiti only occurred to the author after he had assembled
most of his material; though the material was then arranged roughly
into two sections, many remnants of the undifferentiated treatment
survived at various points in the compilation, particularly in theókend heiti section. Of course it is also possible that the last chapters in Skáldskaparmál in U, which also contain some extended
narratives, represent material that came to hand later, when the bulkof the compilation was complete.

The prose narratives
There is very little to be added to Finnur Jónsson’s summary of thesources of these in SnE 1931, liv–lvi. Like the stories in Gylfaginning,those in Skáldskaparmál are in many cases derived from eddic
poems, though in some cases they are taken from or influenced byskaldic mythological poems such as ﬁórsdrápa, Ragnarsdrápa, Húsdrápa, Haustlƒng (or references to mythology in kennings in skaldic
verse); in some cases parts of these verse sources are quoted.
(Genealogical poems such as Ynglingatal, Háleygjatal and Nóregskonungatal seem not to be used in Skáldskaparmál.) Other stories
are from learned prose writings of the twelfth or early thirteenth
centuries such as the mainly lost Skjƒldunga saga (which may also
have been used in the first chapter of Gylfaginning as well as in its
Prologue). As with Gylfaginning, it is difficult to gauge the extent towhich Snorri may have been dependent in Skáldskaparmál on oral
prose stories, either instead of verse sources or to supplement them.
Where supposed Celtic motifs come into his narratives (for instanceSigur›r gaining knowledge from sucking his finger, or the everlasting battle motif in the Hja›ningavíg; cf. Saxo Grammaticus 1979–80, II 75, 84–5) it is likely that his knowledge came from (via)written sources such as versions of Vƒlsunga saga and Skjƒldunga
saga rather than oral ones.
The opening frame story that introduces the speakers through whose
words the following narratives are presented is probably based mainlyon the situation described in Lokasenna (see p. xviii above); thepreparation for the feast of the gods is described in Hymiskvi›a.
1/16–2/37 tells the story of how the Æsir slew ﬁjazi, which is the
subject of part of Haustlƒng (with the text of which the prose accounthas some striking verbal correspondences). This is quoted in verses

Introduction

xxiii

92–104, though it seems likely that Snorri would have had other sources
for the story too. Hárbar›sljó› 19 has a rather different version of
the conclusion of this affair. The story of how ﬁjazi and his brothers
shared their inheritance (3/1–5) is not told elsewhere, though kennings
based on it are widespread (cf. verse 150; see Meissner 1921, 227–8).
A version of the story of the origin of the mead of poetry (3/10–5/8)
appears also in Hávamál 104–10. Though this cannot have been Snorri’s
only source, conceivably some of the differences in his account may
be the result of his own rationalisation and expansion of the Hávamálaccount. The story is alluded to in many skaldic kennings, though it
is not certain that they all originate in heathen times (see Frank 1981).
The account of the Trojan war (5/36–6/29) could be derived from
Trójumanna saga, and thus ultimately based on Latin versions ofHomer (see Faulkes 1978–9, 119 n. 127), though it differs considerably from the saga in details. In fact the name Volukrontem at 6/3
seems to connect this account particularly with the version of thesaga in Hauksbók (though this book was of course compiled later
than Skáldskaparmál; see Faulkes 1978–9, 122).
The story of ﬁórr and Hrungnir (20/17–22/19) appears also in
Haustlƒng (quoted in verses 65–71), but it seems likely that Snorri
knew other versions too. The beginning of the story and 22/20–32
seem to have no parallel in extant sources.
The story of ﬁórr and Geirrø›r (24/19–25/34) seems to be based
mainly on ﬁórsdrápa (quoted in verses 73–91, as well as in verses
44 and 53), though the quotation of a fragment of a poem in ljó›aháttr(verse 72; another in U, 25/27 n.) implies that there was an eddic
poem that related this story too, and Snorri’s account does notfollow ﬁórsdrápa closely. The story has reflexes in Saxo Grammaticus
Book VIII (1979–80, II 142, 144–5) and there may have been many
versions current in Scandinavia (cf. McKinnell 1994, 57–86).
The story of Ægir entertaining the Æsir (40/32–41/10) may havebeen suggested by Hymiskvi›a, though it is mainly based on thescene of Lokasenna, which may thus have been the model for this as
well as for the frame of Skáldskaparmál. The peculiarity is that thisevent is said to be a return visit by the Æsir three months after theconversation of which the narration of ch. 33 still seems to be part.
This may be another indication that the idea of the frame to
Skáldskaparmál was only developed after much of the work had
been compiled, and the compiler forgot that he had included anxxiv

Skáldskaparmál

account of events that could not have been part of Bragi’s original
narrative; but in that case, it is still odd that at 40/32–3 there is areference to the frame story at the beginning of Skáldskaparmál.
The note in 41/22–4 is clearly based on verse 142, another verse inljó›aháttr that is probably derived from an otherwise lost eddic poem.
The account of Loki’s cutting off of Sif’s hair and the creation of
the gods’ treasures that result (41/29–43/10) has no parallel in extant sources, and it is difficult to know whether it was derived fromlost poems or from oral prose stories. The account of the origin ofDraupnir’s magic properties conflicts with that in Gylfaginning 47.
The story of Otrgjƒld and the Gjúkungar (45/3–50/21) has parallels in Vƒlsunga saga and the Poetic Edda; it seems likely that thecompiler knew not only the poems of the latter (he quoted twoverses of Fáfnismál (32–3) in verses 151–2), but also some versionof the prose links (or the stories part in prose and part in verse) thatappear in the Codex Regius (cf. especially PE 173). It is also
probable that he knew (an earlier version of) Vƒlsunga saga as well,though the Sigur›ar saga he refers to in Háttatal 35/13 need nothave been a written saga, and the fact that the story of Otrgjƒld andthe Gjúkungar is not in all manuscripts of Skáldskaparmál has beentaken to strengthen the possibility that it is a later interpolation,
which need not have been written earlier than the extant Vƒlsungasaga. But the details of the Skáldskaparmál account indicate that noone extant source has been used exclusively. Ragnarsdrápa is quoted
in verses 153–8, but not many details in the prose account seem tobe derived from that. The version of the story of Jƒrmunrekkr’s
proxy wooing of Svanhildr and the role of his son Randvér (which
seems to show the influence of the Tristram story) link the Skáldskaparmál
account particularly with Vƒlsunga saga.
The story of the mill Grotti is clearly based mainly on Grottasƒngr,quoted in R and T (verses 159–82) and not found elsewhere, so thatthe poem itself may be an interpolation, though Snorri must have
known it. The introductory prose however probably also contains
information from Skjƒldunga saga, and it may have been there that
Snorri found the text of the poem, too.
The Hrólfr kraki stories (58/4–59/32) must also be derived fromSkjƒldunga saga (cf. Skjƒldunga saga 42, Hkr I 57; much of thestory—but with important differences—also appears in the later
Hrólfs saga kraka). The Bjarkamál verses (188–90) could also befrom Skjƒldunga saga (on which see ÍF XXXV, xix–lxx).

Introduction

xxv

The account of Hƒlgi (60/10–13) may come from a lost Hla›ajarlasaga (cf. ÍF XXVI, xvi and Finnur Jónsson 1920–24, II 633).
The Hja›ningar story (72/1–31) may be derived from Skjƒldunga
saga; the account in Ragnarsdrápa, quoted in verses 250–54, canscarcely be the only source of Snorri’s knowledge of the story.
There is another account in Sƒrla ﬂáttr in Flateyjarbók (I 304–13)
which differs greatly from these two and is probably a later development of the legend.
The account of Hálfdan gamli and his descendants (101/10–24
and 103/1–17, see notes; many of the names appear in the ﬂula ofnames for king in SnE 1848–87, II 469) is related to the genealogical passages in Flateyjarbók I 22–30 (Hversu Noregr bygg›ist,
which prefaces Óláfs saga Tryggvasonar) and these are related to
Fundinn Noregr, Flb I 241–3; the latter is the introduction to Orkneyinga
saga, ÍF XXXIV 2–7. All three may be derived from a common
earlier (twelfth-century?) source, which was perhaps a saga likeSkjƒldunga saga (see Faulkes 1993a, 61). The account is comparable to the last part of Hei›reks saga (59–63) and Af Upplendinga
konungum in Hauksbók 1892–6, 456–7. Many of the names andsome narrative details appear in Hyndluljó› 14–16, but it does notlook as though this was a direct source, though its existence suggests the possibility that there could have been other poems like itthat may have contained some of the information Snorri gives about
the descendants of Hálfdan. Cf. Clunies Ross 1983, 60, where it isclaimed that Hversu Noregr bygg›ist is ‘almost certainly’ later thanboth Fundinn Noregr and Snorri’s Edda; and ÍF XXXIV, ix–xvi,
where Finnbogi Gu›mundsson suggests that the introductory chapters to Orkneyinga saga were compiled by Snorri Sturluson himself.

The analysis of poetic diction
The major part of Skáldskaparmál is devoted to the exemplificationof kennings and heiti (arranged roughly into these two categories)
for various concepts. Relatively little space is devoted to theoreticalanalysis of poetic diction or to comment. It is only in two passages,
the first at the beginning of Skáldskaparmál (ch. 1, 5/9–24), thesecond at the very end (chs 67–68, 107/12–108/5) that Snorri actually discusses his categories. And as far as the language of poetry
goes, his categories are actually rather few: they are kenning, heiti,
and the parallel phrases kent heiti and ókent heiti; vi›(r)kenning,xxvi

Skáldskaparmálsannkenning, and fornafn; ofljóst (ch. 74, 109/11–22) and n‡gervingar(41/11–17); nykrat he only mentions in Háttatal in opposition ton‡gervingar. (The most important earlier analyses of Snorri’s categories are Brodeur 1952 and Halldór Halldórsson 1975; cf. also
Clunies Ross 1987; Faulkes 1994.)
Of these nine main terms that Snorri uses to describe poeticallanguage, vi›(r)kenning is least problematical. He uses it only in
one passage, in chs 67–68 of Skáldskaparmál, and both his definition (107/13–14) and the examples he gives make it clear that heuses it to mean kennings referring to people (men and women) by
their possessions or relationships (including those of friendship andenmity). But it is also clear that nearly all kennings for people which
are designed to specify an individual person are in this category.
Other kinds of kenning like ‘tree of weapons’ cannot usually designate a particular person, only a member of the class of warriors.
(Incidentally it should be noted that even when Snorri lists kennings
as expressions for ‘man’ or ‘woman’, most of them as they are
actually used in verse refer to individuals, whether they mention
individual characteristics or not; they rarely in fact replace common
nouns.) The term vi›(r)kenning presumably relates to Snorri’s phrase
at kenna einhvern vi› eitthvert, ‘to refer to someone in terms ofsomething’, when that something is generally a relative or a possession or other attribute. (The term vi›(r)kenning as Snorri uses itcannot have anything to do with the same term as used by religious
writers to mean ‘confession (of faith)’. Cf. Glossary under kenning.)
Sannkenning is more difficult because Snorri uses the term both in
Skáldskaparmál ch. 67 and in Háttatal, and apart from the questionof whether the commentary to Háttatal is by the same author as
Skáldskaparmál, it is not entirely certain whether one can assume
that Snorri was absolutely consistent in his use of such terms over
all his writings. In Skáldskaparmál he gives as examples of sannkenningar references to people as having certain qualities of character (107/26–8; the terms used here are nearly all compound nouns)
while in Háttatal he uses the term to refer to the use of attributives(whether with nouns for persons or inanimate objects) and also to
the use of adverbials (Háttatal 3/9–5/11).
In spite of the etymology of the term sannkenningar (= ‘true
kennings’), it does not seem that Snorri is contrasting literalness
with the use of metaphor; some of his examples of sannkenningar

Introduction

xxvii

would probably be analysed by modern readers as metaphorical, andmoreover it is not in connection with sannkenningar that Snorri
discusses metaphor. The element sann- in the term as it is used in
Skáldskaparmál seems to be related to the idea of the essential
nature of the persons referred to (i. e. what they are truly like), in theterm as used in Háttatal to the verb sanna in the sense of ‘affirm’(since the examples are mostly of affirmatory or intensive attributives
and adverbs; they refer to what can truly be said to be the case). In
distinguishing vi›(r)kenningar and sannkenningar Snorri is attempting
to distinguish descriptions based on accidents and those based on
essences in the Aristotelian sense (compare the terms vi›rnefni‘surname, soubriquet’ and sannnefni ‘accurate, appropriate name’);all his examples of vi›(r)kenningar seem to describe people in termsof their ‘accidental’ attributes (possessions, relationships) while his
examples of sannkenningar both in Skáldskaparmál and Háttatal areof descriptions in terms of inherent or innate qualities. In Skáldskaparmál
all the examples are descriptions of people, but in Háttatal some ofthem are of things or actions. In both parts of the work, most of theexamples of sannkenningar are not kennings at all in the modern
sense of the word since they are not constructed with the use ofbase-words and determinants. In The Third Grammatical Treatise,sannkenning is said to be the Norse name for epitheton, and some ofthe examples there relate to essential characteristics, but some toaccidents; most are attributive adjectives, often compound ones: see
TGT 100, 103 (here it is an error for mannkenningar) and 107–8.
Very many of Snorri’s examples of kennings do not contain metaphor. He does, however, on a few occasions draw attention to metaphorical expressions, his term for which seems to be n‡gervingar(n‡gjƒrvingar). This term has also caused some confusion becauseof its etymology. It appears in four passages in Skáldskaparmál (seeGlossary) and in one passage in Háttatal (5/12–6/16), and again
seems to be used slightly differently in the two parts of the work. In
neither does it refer to neologisms, rather it seems to mean either the
making of new meanings for words (i. e. metaphors) or the construction of new (metaphorical) kennings. In the examples in Háttatal
this is done mainly by varying the base-word in kennings, in Skáldskaparmál by varying the determinant (or both). At Skáldskaparmál
41/7–17 there is the most detailed definition, and there n‡gerving issaid to be the substitution of synonyms or near-synonyms for thexxviii

Skáldskaparmál

determinant, so that gold can be called fire of Ægir, and then by
substitution fire of the sea, lakes, rivers or brooks. ‘ﬁví er ﬂat kallatn‡gervingar alt er út er sett heiti lengra en fyrr finnsk’ (‘For thisreason it is all called n‡gervingar when the term is extended further
than there are earlier examples of’). Here Snorri is describing how
by substitution of words of related meaning, the correspondence
between the literal meaning of the kenning and what it actuallyrefers to becomes remoter, so that the meaning of words is so to
speak extended; but it is interesting that he is imagining that thishappens chiefly through word-substitution rather than through theuse of metaphor or allegory in the usual senses of those terms. The
other examples in Skáldskaparmál are slightly different: at 74/5–6
kennings for weapons are developed from land of weapons = shield
to hail or rain of the land of weapons. (Extending the kenning withseveral determinants is called rekit here as in Háttatal.) At 108/14,
16, 37 the examples are of the creation of new kennings for parts ofthe body by analogy (ears = mouth or eyes of the hearing; mouth =ship of words, the lips the gunwale of the ship, the tongue the oar or
rudder; arm = shoulder’s leg). The example in Háttatal is similar tothese last ones, in that an example is given (the only actual verse
exemplification in the Edda—from Snorri’s own poem—of n‡gerving)of how the metaphors may be developed though a stanza: the sword
conceived as a snake, the scabbard as its path, the fittings its slough,the blood its drink (a river that it seeks), the victim’s breast its
route; the verbs are also chosen to fit these concepts. Thus themetaphors here are extended or continued throughout the stanza (sothat he is almost producing allegory), and Snorri contrasts the coherence of his example with what he calls nykrat, where conflicting
metaphors for the same concept are used in the same stanza. He does
not give examples of this, though they can be found particularly inpoems in kvi›uháttr (and in Egill Skallagrímsson’s Hƒfu›lausn; see
Háttatal pp. 50 and 84). But the emphasis in Skáldskaparmál is on
the creation of new kennings, or perhaps on metaphorical kennings
in general, rather than on extended metaphor. (On n‡gervingar andnykrat in Old Norse verse see Marold 1993.) Snorri says that nykrat
is thought to be a blemish (Háttatal 6/16), and in Skáldskaparmál
41/17 he emphasises that n‡gervingar are thought to be all rightwhen they are in accordance with verisimilitude and nature—one of
his few evaluatory comments on kennings which suggests accord

Introductionxxix

with the classical idea of restraint and conformity to nature found,for example, at the beginning of Horace’s Ars Poetica where monstrosities (i. e. representations contrary to nature) are condemned. In
TGT 80 nykrat or finngálknat is said to be one kind of cacemphatonfound especially in n‡gervingar (cf. also FoGT 131).
It is the term fornafn that has provoked the most discussion. The
word is used (in the plural) in Háttatal in its ordinary grammaticalsense of ‘pronoun’ in the prose after stanza 1. In Skáldskaparmál
the term appears twice, without explanation in ch. 1, and in ch. 67.
It is clear that there the term is used for references to people which
replace their proper names (as opposed to terms that can refer to any
person, i. e. replacements for common nouns); these replacementsfor proper names are what classical rhetoricians, whether Snorri
knew it or not, sometimes called not pronouns but pronominatio (adescription pro nomine; though commoner was the Greek termantonomasia). It is also clear that sannkenningar can be one kind of
fornafn, and vi›(r)kenningar seem to be another. These are therefore
not exclusive or contrastive terms, but overlapping ones. Some(though not all) sannkenningar and vi›(r)kenningar are varieties offornafn, and there are presumably others. Note that in the Uppsalamanuscript (SnE II 346) the section on fornƒfn corresponding to
Skáldskaparmál ch. 67 begins not as in the Codex Regius ‘enn eru
ﬂau heiti er menn láta ganga fyrir nƒfn manna’ (107/12), but ‘enn
eru ﬂær kenningar er menn láta ganga fyrir nƒfn manna; ﬂat kƒllum
vér fornƒfn manna’; nevertheless it seems clear from the examples
in both manuscripts that some fornƒfn are kennings and some areókend heiti—though it is true that there are no unequivocal examples of ókend heiti among them. The equivalent term to fornafn inmodern Icelandic is sérkenning, but Snorri does not use that term.
It is significant that these three terms, sannkenningar, vi›(r)kenningar
and fornafn, occur in connection with kennings for man and woman,after a section listing common nouns that can be used for the classof human beings in general, i. e. terms that are not specific inapplication, and that they come under the general heading of ‘terms
that are put in place of men’s names’ (‘ﬂau heiti er menn láta ganga
fyrir nƒfn manna’, 107/12). Again it seems that Snorri’s principal
interest is in terms that can be used to refer to particular people inskaldic poetry. The explanation for this must be that Snorri saw
skaldic poetry primarily as praise poetry (the sentence at 67/28–9

xxx

Skáldskaparmál

seems to imply this, and most of his own verse seems to have beenof this kind). So Snorri’s emphasis on kennings and heiti for persons
is probably due to his seeing skaldic poetry as mainly concernedwith the praise of persons (human and divine), and kennings andheiti principally as means of referring to the subjects of the poems.
This is in fact the commonest use he himself makes of kennings in
Háttatal, where the majority of his kennings refer to King Hákon
and Earl Skúli. (Háttatal contains roughly 120 kennings for ruler,referring to King Hákon and Earl Skúli, and 25 referring to men
more generally; there are 5 for gods, 29 for parts of the body, 61 forweapons, 29 for ships, 30 for gold, 32 for battle, 23 for parts of thenatural world (earth, sea etc.), 5 for animals, and about 23 others.)
This could also be the reason why he does not give examples ofkennings or heiti for giants, though there are lists of giant-names inthe ﬂulur at the end of Skáldskaparmál and many kennings for
giants in some of the poems quoted, e. g. in ﬁórsdrápa, see note toverses 73–91. As Snorri says in ch. 31 of Skáldskaparmál (40/15),
when names of giants are used in kennings for men, this is mostly
as satire or criticism (though he quotes no examples of this; seesómmi›jungr in Glossary). Since he is mainly concerned with praise
poetry, he has little use for references to giants. It is important toremember that Snorri’s Edda is not a treatise on earlier Norse
poetry; it is a book of instruction for young poets of his day illustrated from the work of earlier poets. It was no part of the requirement of young poets in the thirteenth century to be able to compose
about giants (or indeed to write satire): their function was to learn
to praise kings. It is this that determines the content of the Prose
Edda, which not surprisingly does not well represent or cover thewhole range of skaldic verse, and generally concentrates on thekinds of kennings that would be most useful for praising kings.
This is also probably the reason why Snorri shows so little interestin metaphor and figures of speech. He sees poetical language largelyin terms of substitutions of one name for another, rather than interms of transference of meaning. The latter he describes as n‡gervingar
and exemplifies in a number of places in both Skáldskaparmál and
Háttatal, but always with the implication that it is somewhat exceptional. Even kennings which seem to us obviously metaphorical,
such as when gold is called fire of the sea or poetry the ship of thedwarfs as well as ale of dwarfs, are explained by Snorri in terms

Introductionxxxi

of substitutions, and the fundamental kenning type as arising fromthe events of a particular story. That is, a word for sea may be
subsituted for the name Ægir as a variation on the kenning-type ‘fireof Ægir’, based according to Snorri on the story of how Ægir used
gold as a source of light when he entertained the Æsir to a feast(Skáldskaparmál ch. 33); and li›/lí› was a word for ale and forvessel, so that other words for ship could be used as a variation of thekenning-type ‘mead of the dwarfs’ which arose from an episode in
the story of the origin of poetry (Skáldskaparmál ch. 3, 14/18–20). In
his account of the origin of the mead of poetry at the beginning ofSkáldskaparmál, however, Snorri seems to favour a metaphoricalinterpretation of the latter: ‘kƒllum vér skáldskap . . . farskost
dverga, fyrir ﬂví at sá mjƒ›r flutti ﬂeim fjƒrlausn ór skerinu’, 4/1–4.
Indeed Snorri’s interest in word-play, which he calls ofljóst, both as
a device in itself and as a generator of kennings, does not seem tobe justified by its frequency in recorded verse (see in particular
Skáldskaparmál ch. 74 and Háttatal stanzas 17–23), while he gives
rather little space to metaphor (Háttatal stanza 6 and the commentary on it, 41/10–17, 74/5–6, 108/14–17, 37–8).
It also seems somewhat odd that Snorri consistently ‘explains’kennings, and heiti too, as having their origin in stories or events,and scarcely seems to acknowledge other sources of poetical language (such as e. g. picture language or symbolism, metaphor ormetonymy, or archaisms or loan-words from other languages). His
concept of causation is still largely mythological. Indeed he seems
to dismiss ‘imagination’ as a source of poetical language by his
insistence that it must be in accordance with líkindum ok e›li,‘verisimilitude and nature’ (41/17; cf. his criticism of mixed metaphors as nykrat ‘monstrous’, Háttatal 6/16).
There seems to be no difference in Snorri’s usage between theterms nafn and heiti. They are apparently interchangeable both in
his usage and that of his scribes, who have sometimes substituted
one for the other, e. g. 83/14 (heiti R, nƒfn TAU), 85/13–14 (cf. SnE
1848–87, II 460), 99/21–2 (cf. SnE 1848–87, II 604), as indeed does
Finnur Jónsson in his 1931 edition, who tries by emendation rather
unsuccessfully to impose consistency on his text, e. g. in the firstfew sentences of chs 54 and 64 of Skáldskaparmál. But at the
beginning of ch. 55 all manuscripts introduce the list of ókend heiti
for gods as nƒfn; the section on names for the heavens (ch. 56) is

xxxii

Skáldskaparmál

introduced ‘ﬁessi nƒfn himins eru ritu›, en eigi hƒfum vér fundit íkvæ›um ƒll ﬂessi heiti; en ﬂessi skáldskaparheiti . . .’—and thefollowing list includes both kend and ókend nƒfn. One might haveexpected that Snorri would reserve one of these labels (nafn orheiti ) for the normal or natural name for things, and the other for
specifically poetical terms or secondary names, and thus contrast
for instance the name Ó›inn with his alternative names such as Hár
or Grímnir and the term hestr ‘horse’ with fákr ‘steed’, but he does
not use separate terms for these different kinds of names. Nor does
he make a terminological distinction between what we call proper
names (names of people) and common nouns (names of things)
although he spends more time on the former, and seems to use theterms vi›(r)kenning and fornafn only for references to people; andhe does use the term einkarnafn of proper names of possessions
such as ships (107/25). There is one place in Skáldskaparmál where
Snorri does discuss the problem of kennings that can only indicate
a class of persons, not an individual, i. e. those that are substitutions
for common nouns rather than proper nouns; this is in ch. 53, in theaccount of kennings for kings: ‘ﬁar koma saman kenningar, ok ver›rsá at skilja af sto›, er ræ›r skáldskapinn, um hvárn kve›it er konunginn,
ﬂvíat rétt er at kalla Miklagar›s keisara Grikkja konung, ok svá
ﬂann konung er ræ›r Jórsalalandi, at kalla Jórsala konung, svá ok at
kalla Róms konung Rómaborgar keisara e›a Engla konung ﬂann er
Englandi ræ›r. En sú kenning er á›r var ritat, at kalla Krist konung
manna, ﬂá kenning má eiga hverr konungr. Konunga alla er rétt at
kenna svá at kalla ﬂá landrá›endr.’ But Snorri does not use special
terms to distinguish kennings for common nouns from those forproper nouns, though vi›(r)kenning and fornafn usually refer to thelatter. In ch. 64 he lists common nouns for ruler that are derived
from proper nouns (according to his explanation of their origin—asort of reverse substitution, the opposite of pronominatio), such as
ﬁengill, Gramr, Skilfingr, Ynglingr, but even here he does not use aterm to distinguish common nouns from proper nouns. Indeed in
Skáldskaparmál it is often difficult to tell which is which, for instance with items such as Jƒr›/jƒr› and many of the names in the
ﬂulur. The distinction between common and proper nouns is not
dealt with at all clearly by Margaret Clunies Ross (1987, 33, 66,
95–6, 102–7), who assumes too readily that Snorri was trying to
make the distinction, and both she and Halldór Halldórsson assume

Introduction

xxxiiithat his terminology somehow reflects that of Latin grammarians.
The latter (1975, 15; cf. 17 and 21) takes ókend heiti to mean thesame as verbum proprium as used by Quintilian.
It is apparent from the examples Snorri gives not only that most
kennings for people are vi›(r)kenningar, but also that most kennings
for individuals are fornƒfn: expressions where the name of theperson referred to is not used. Vi›(r)kenningar and fornafn are
overlapping sub-categories of kennings and are usually kend heiti;
all kennings and ókend heiti are sub-categories of the general classof heiti or nƒfn. Only the pair kend heiti and ókend heiti are exclusive
categories. After his initial description of the kenning in ch. 1, Snorri
returns three times in Skáldskaparmál to the description of kennings
for persons in terms of substitutions for their names by means of references to their activities or attributes, in ch. 20: ‘Svá má kenna allarÁsynjur at nefna annarrar nafni ok kenna vi› eign e›a verk sín e›aættir’; in ch. 22: ‘Ásu er svá rétt at kenna at kalla einnhvern annars
nafni ok kenna vi› verk sín e›a eign e›a ættir’; and ch. 31: ‘[mann]skal kenna vi› verk sín, ﬂat er hann veitir e›a ﬂiggr e›a gerir . . . til
eignar sinnar ﬂeirar er hann á ok svá ef hann gaf, svá ok vi› ættir ﬂær
er hann kom af, svá ﬂær er frá honum kómu . . . Konu er ok rétt at
kenna vi› alla athƒfn sína e›a vi› eign sína e›a ætt’ (cf. also 107/25).
It is clear that Snorri is particularly interested in this kind of kenning,
and that he in a sense thinks of it as the normal kind of kenning.
The term heiti moreover does not mean the same as ‘at nefna
hvern hlut sem heitir’ (5/17) which seems to refer to the use of
simplex terms whether poetical or not, while both heiti and nafn
often refer to compound descriptions like kennings. So, at the beginning of the ókend heiti section of Skáldskaparmál (83/13–14),ókend setning skáldskapar, ‘the rule for poetry without periphrasis’,is defined as ‘at nefna hvern hlut sem heitir’, and paraphrased by theterm ókend heiti. (Incidentally when Halldór Halldórsson (1975, 14)
takes setning at 83/13 as a synonym for heiti he must be mistaken;
the word means ‘rule’ there as elsewhere.) When introducing various kinds of kennings in Skáldskaparmál, Snorri frequently describes them as heiti (4/7, 6/31, 11/26, 60/18). Ch. 2 begins: ‘Ennskal láta heyra dœmin hvernig hƒfu›skáldin hafa látit sér sóma at
yrkja eptir ﬂessum heitum ok kenningum.’ Ch. 3 begins ‘Hér skal
heyra hvé skáldin hafa kent skáldskapinn eptir ﬂessum heitum er á›r
eru ritu›, svá sem er at kalla Kvasis dreyra’ (there follow examples

xxxiv

Skáldskaparmál

of kennings). The verses from Bjarkamál in ch. 45 illustrating kennings
for gold are introduced ‘Í Bjarkamálum inum fornum eru tƒl› mƒrggulls heiti.’ Moreover there is not an absolute separation of thecategories of kenning and ókend heiti in Skáldskaparmál; in many
chapters in the section on kennings, verses are included that contain
only ókend heiti (e. g. verse 20 in ch. 2) and simplex names arelisted (e. g. in ch. 53), and conversely in the section on ókend heiti
that begins in ch. 54, kennings are frequently listed and exemplified(ch. 56, names for the heavens; ch. 58, names for wolf; ch. 69,
names for parts of the body). One explanation may be that Snorri
left his work in Skáldskaparmál unfinished and disordered, andintended to separate the lists of kennings and ókend heiti moreconsistently, or it may be that in his classification other distinctions
were more important than the simple one between kennings andókend heiti; but it seems inescapable that in Snorri’s usage the termheiti (and nafn) is an inclusive one, meaning any appellative term
whether simple or compound, literal or metaphorical, referring to anindividual or a class, normal or poetical.
Snorri uses the term kenning to refer to a structural device, whereby
a person or object is indicated by a periphrastic description containing two or more terms (which can be a noun with one or more
dependent genitives or a compound noun or a combination of these
two structures). This is clearest in his definition of the term in
Háttatal in the commentary to verse 2, where he unequivocallydescribes the kenning as containing a base-word and one or moredeterminants (though he does not have separate terms for theselatter concepts; cf. kenna vi›, kenna til in Glossary). His terminology in describing extended kennings (rekit) also makes this clear:‘At reka til hinnar fimtu kenningar’ (Háttatal 8/29) means to extend
a kenning to the fifth determinant (in this phrase kenning seems tomean the determinant itself). The verb kenna means ‘to use a kenning’(Háttatal 1/53), ‘to use a determinant’ (at kenna rétt, 6/9), or ‘todenote or express by means of a kenning’ (kenna [manns] nafn,
8/38–9; see kenna, kenning in Glossaries to Háttatal and
Skáldskaparmál ). In Háttatal, however, sannkenna and sannkenningrefer not to the use of base-words and determinants, but to the useof attributives and adverbials with nouns, adjectives and verbs.
The analysis of the kinds of poetical expression in Skáldskaparmál
ch. 1 is found in only four of the independent manuscripts of Snorri’s

Introduction

xxxv

Edda besides the Codex Regius. The Utrecht manuscript and Codex
Wormianus, as usual, have texts almost identical to that of theCodex Regius, and it is only in these that the well-known three-folddivision into kennings, heiti and fornƒfn is found. In the Uppsalamanuscript (SnE 1848–87, II 296) the only categories are kent andókent, of which only the first is defined and exemplified at thispoint. In AM 757 a 4to (SnE 1848–87, II 532) the passage is garbled
and the category of kenning is omitted. No one has succeeded in
explaining adequately the relationships between the various manuscripts of the Prose Edda, and there is no single stemma that canreflect all the evidence. The Codex Regius is assumed to be the besttext mainly because it is the most complete, and has fewest passages
that are obvious interpolations. The text of the Uppsala manuscript
is often unclear and muddled, but it is far from certain that all the
muddle is due to scribal interference with Snorri’s text. It is alsomuch shorter. The best explanation of it is probably that it is derived
from an unfinished draft of the work, maybe on loose sheets ofparchment, which someone has tried to order without great success.
Alternatively it may be that the text of the Uppsala manuscript was
in many places derived from Snorri’s notes for lectures on poetry, oreven from notes on his lectures made by one of his audience. In
particular the arrangement of Háttatal in the Uppsala manuscript
which begins with a list of the names of the various metres accompanied by (generally) the first line only of the verses exemplifying
them looks like an aide-mémoire to recital. The Codex Regius may
be derived from a more complete version of the Prose Edda, but hasvery likely also been tidied up by a later hand. It may be therefore
that the Uppsala text’s twofold division of poetical language was
Snorri’s first try at analysis, and that the category of fornafn wasadded later. This could explain why the fornafn is not exemplified
until the very end of Skáldskaparmál, and then not very clearly, andwhy it does not feature except in its grammatical sense in Háttatal.
Snorri’s categories show signs of being an emerging system, notfully worked out, rather than a completely formulated one. If this isso, it follows that it cannot have been the usual way of referring to
the categories of poetical language before Snorri’s day.
Investigation of what Snorri meant by his terms must be based on
his usage and exemplification; one must not be led astray by the
supposed etymology of these terms. For this reason I doubt thexxxvi

Skáldskaparmál

relevance of kenning in the meaning ‘teaching’ to the understandingof the term as Snorri uses it as the name of a grammatical device. If
any of the non-technical meanings of the verb kenna are relevant tothe understanding of the noun kenning it is the meaning ‘attribute’,since kennings are generally nouns with attributives accompanying
them in some form (cf. the term kenningarnafn ‘nickname, surname’). Similarly the meaning of heiti in Modern Icelandic is notnecessarily the key to its meaning in Snorri’s Edda; the key is thecontext in which Snorri uses the term. The category of heiti is
inclusive of all Snorri’s other categories (grammatically it concerns
only the noun phrase), and these other categories overlap eachother; they are not discrete or exclusive. Thus the kenning is a typeof heiti, and some kennings are either sannkenningar or vi›kenningar;
many heiti in each of these categories are fornƒfn, and some involve
ofljóst. The kenning is characterised by its structure, while the othercategories relate to types of content or meaning, the way in which
they relate to their referents. Snorri’s categories seem pragmatic andad hoc; he appears not to be concerned to give an exhaustive classification of the kinds of poetical language, either of poetical terms
or of types of kenning. They reflect his very particular interests
rather than any desire to give a full account of the art of poetry.
There is very little evidence that Snorri was influenced by classical rhetorical theory in Skáldskaparmál, except in his adoption of
the term fornafn for pronominatio. His description of the kenningfinds its closest parallel in a passage in Aristotle’s Poetics, but it ishighly unlikely that he could have known that work either directly
or indirectly (see Faulkes 1993a, 63–4). He has a small range ofrhetorical devices that he exemplifies and shows little interest in theusual classical figures of speech, even metaphor and metonymy.
Although Snorri includes the story of Ó›inn’s winning of themead of poetry from the giants and giving it to the Æsir and to poetsand scholars (4/6–5/8), there is little other indication that heregarded poetry as an inspirational activity. Even the mead of poetry
is perhaps best regarded as bestowing a skill or accomplishment(íﬂrótt 3/10, verse 16/1) rather than inspiration. It is anyway what
the poet produces, not that from which the poetry proceeds (seeFaulkes 1997, 5–6). Both in Skáldskaparmál and Háttatal the emphasis
seems to be on the craftsmanship of verse-making and the ability toembellish utterances. The phrase fólgit í rúnum (3/9; cf. 3/6–7)

Introduction

xxxviisuggests an idea that poetical language is intended to conceal meaning rather than to reveal it; that the language is superimposed on themeaning to wrap it up so that it then requires interpretation (as dorunes). The analogy with runes as a secret writing appears more thanonce (3/6–7, cf. note; 3/9; cf. 5/27, 109/15; cf. also Háttatal 1/43).
Both runes and the art of poetry were given to men by Ó›inn (andBragi was another god who was a patron of poetry), but only as askill or technology, not as religious inspiration. Such evaluative
comments as Snorri includes suggest that he adhered to the classicalidea of moderation in the use of figures of speech (cf. his references
to nykrat, Háttatal 6/15–16 and n‡gervingar, Skáldskapamál 41/16–17).
If the space devoted to analysis of diction in Skáldskaparmál isrelatively small, the comments on the content or subject matter of
poetry are even more sparse. There are, for instance, a number ofinteresting verses quoted which use sexual imagery to describe
rulers gaining control over territory (see note to verse 10), but
Snorri makes no remark about this or any other aspect of the imagery of skaldic verse except that on the use of names of giants andelves as base-words (40/15–16).
The intellectual background to Skáldskaparmál thus seems to be
the same as that for the Grammatical Treatises; it is a scholarly anddidactic milieu, concerned with the techniques of poetical expression.
Both the author and the audience must have been fully literate, andthere is little reason to connect the work with oral tradition of any kind.

PurposeMost Icelandic prose writings have no statement of the purpose or
origin of the work. Some fornaldarsögur and Romance sagas have apreface or epilogue where the author (or translator) says something
about his intention, and learned writings like Íslendingabók and theGrammatical Treatises have prefaces. Snorri’s Edda has a prologue,
but this is mainly a narrative introduction to Gylfaginning and says
nothing about the author’s purpose. He discusses his historical methods
in the Prologues to Heimskringla and Óláfs saga helga. But the
purpose of Skáldskaparmál is, unusually, stated clearly at 5/25–35
between the first few narratives and the exemplification of the useof kennings in skaldic verse. It interrupts the dialogue in which bothnarratives and analysis are otherwise contained, and appears to be inxxxviii

Skáldskaparmál

an authorial voice. This purpose is clearly didactic, that is, the work
was intended for use in training young poets, whether or not there
was any formal organisation of that training in Iceland in the thirteenth century. It seems likely that there was not, and there is little
indication that the work was actually intended for practical teaching
purposes (i. e. as a basis for lectures). But though there is not muchevidence for formal training of poets in vernacular verse, the teaching of (presumably) Latin verse composition is said to have takenplace at the cathedral school at Hólar (Jóns saga helga ch. 8, ÍF XV2
217 and note 2). It was taught orally as part of the normal curriculumin schools throughout Europe in the Middle Ages after the elementary study of Latin, and there may have been places in Iceland wherestudy of vernacular verse composition was introduced on the sameplan, perhaps with the intention of replacing Latin as a didactic
medium. The arrangement of Háttatal in U seems adapted for suchuse, as notes for an oral presentation, and may be modelled on theprocedures for teaching Latin verse in schools; but in general it
seems likely that Skáldskaparmál would be used for private study
rather than for formal teaching, and one may speculate that it was infact more and more used as an aid to the understanding of the poetryof the past rather than as a guide for actual composition, though
fourteenth-century references (see Foote 1982, 114–15; 1984b, 257;
Faulkes 1977, 34) suggest that (literate) poets did use it as a textbook. (On the purpose of Snorri’s Edda and the Grammatical Treatises, especially that of the individual manuscript compilations that
contain them, see Sverrir Tómasson 1993, where it is argued that thecompiler of W, in particular, was a clerical educator concerned topreserve traditional kinds of native learning.)
Icelandic writers do not distinguish the genres of skaldic andeddic verse as modern scholars do. Snorri includes the metres characteristic of eddic verse alongside skaldic metres in Háttatal without
distinguishing the two, and quotes both eddic and skaldic verse in
Skáldskaparmál (though predominantly the latter). He does not quoteskaldic verse within the dialogue of Gylfaginning, probably because
he was aware that the setting of his dialogue was in a time long
before the earliest known skaldic poets, so he probably did make a
distinction between anonymous poetry believed to be from prehistoric
times and poetry attributed to named poets who lived in the Viking
Age or later. Skáldskaparmál is chiefly concerned with the complex

Introduction

xxxix

diction we now associate most with skaldic verse, with a high proportion of kennings and heiti (poetical words), though these are not confined to what is now classed as skaldic verse; but some of the comments
indicate that Snorri was most concerned with praise poetry (seeparticularly 67/28–9), and if he really was trying to revive the art ofskaldic poetry, it seems to have been mostly as a vehicle for praiseof kings and earls (whether alive or recently dead) that he valued it,
and most of the poetry he himself is known for is of that kind. He
acknowledges the existence of other kinds of verse—such as satirical verse, verse in praise of women, God (and heathen gods) andsaints, mythological and devotional poems and occasional verse ofvarious sorts—but most of his discussion centres on court poetry.
The kennings and heiti that are listed in Skáldskaparmál, and thenarratives that explain their origins, apart from those that concern
poetry itself, mostly relate to ways of referring to people; mostly
men, but also women and including gods and goddesses, Christ andother kings. There are also terms listed for parts of the human bodyand emotions and other mental attributes, and the long section ongold seems to be there because gold appears so often in kennings formen, particularly kings (as givers of gold; cf. note to 74/3–6). Many of
the other items included, such as ships, the sea, land, weapons andarmour, battle, wolves and carrion birds, are most often found asparts of kennings for men, or else in statements about men. Many
kennings for the sky are parts of kennings for God in Christianpoems. There are a few other miscellaneous items, such as times andseasons and weather, and domestic animals, but the list of contents
can hardly be said to cover all the concepts that a poet might wish
to describe or refer to. The ﬂulur have a somewhat wider range, andinclude, for instance, giants and troll-wives, rivers, fish and otheranimals. It seems reasonable to conclude that in Skáldskaparmál
Snorri was mainly concerned with the appropriate poetical language
to use in poems of praise about people, particularly kings and noblemen.

Manuscripts
As in other parts of the Edda, in Skáldskaparmál R and T have very
similar texts and contain virtually the same material in the sameorder (each has only minor and apparently accidental omissions). C,
which is fragmentary, contains the parts corresponding to 48/14 toxl

Skáldskaparmál

70/20 (50/17–21 is inserted at 48/31 and 50/22–9 is omitted; 60/18–
61/10 is inserted at 60/9) and after a lacuna of three leaves 83/21 to
the end of the ﬂulur (p. 133; Vafﬂrú›nismál 47/4–6 is added as an
example of regin = gods at 85/2, cf. Gylfaginning 54). The text isvery similar to that in R (there is no sign that it ever included
Háttatal, or indeed Gylfaginning, though there is no reason to thinkthat Skáldskaparmál was not once complete). It lacks verses 183–4
and the text of Grottasƒngr in ch. 43, which is probably an interpolation in R and T, so that here C may have a more original text thaneither of those two (it quotes the first verse only at 52/14). W has atext similar to these three as far as the end of the section on kennings(83/12), except that some narrative passages are missing (45/3–
58/3; this manuscript thus also does not include Grottasƒngr). Then,instead of the second half of Skáldskaparmál (but after Háttatal as
the volume is now bound), there are the remains of what was evidently an extensively revised and interpolated version of the sectionon ókend heiti (chs 54–74); fragments survive of the parts concerned with names for man, corresponding to chs 65–7 (in ch. 65
there are rather a lot of agreements between W and U), and parts ofthe body (ch. 69); a short passage is included reminiscent of Háttatal
4/21–6/21 and some material is repeated from the earlier part of
Skáldskaparmál (ch. 31). The poem Rígsﬂula, probably one of Snorri’s
sources, which is found on a separate leaf in W, may have been
included in connection with the terms for men and women (although
the word edda appears as a term for great-grandmother both in theprose lists and in the poem, no connection is indicated with thename of the book), but there is no sign that the ﬂulur (ch. 75) wereever included. There is, however, an additional half-verse attributedto Úlfr Uggason (from Húsdrápa; SnE 1848–87, II 499; SnE 1924,
112). Seventeenth-century versions of Skáldskaparmál contain what
seem to be further parts of this redaction, but neither these nor whatsurvives in W are close enough to R to provide much help inreconstructing Snorri’s original (see Faulkes 1977–9, especially I
158–9; on the dates of the manuscripts with independent textual
value see Faulkes 2005, xxviii–xxx).
In U, A and B Skáldskaparmál appears in versions that differ
considerably from RTCW both in content and in the order of material. In U the opening frame story and the first set of narratives(1/2–5/8) appear in very abbreviated form. Corresponding to 5/9–35

Introductionxli

U has the first account of the rhetorical categories of poetry not only
in a shorter form than RTW, but also different in that the third
category of fornƒfn (5/18) is lacking and the exemplification of
kennings is also quite different (though the examples given are of
kennings for Ó›inn, the first sentence describing the kenning isreminiscent of ch. 31). 5/32–6/29 (which includes all the references
to the Trojan War and the allegorical explanation of mythology
associated with it) is entirely lacking. There follow instead more of
the narratives that in the other manuscripts come after the treatmentof kennings for names of Æsir (chs 17–18), but omitting the extended quotations of Haustlƒng and ﬁórsdrápa (though the names
and authorship of these two poems are quoted, see p. xlii below);
and another fragment of ljó›aháttr that is absent in RTW is included
in connection with ﬁórr’s visit to Geirrø›argar›ar (25/27 n.). At thispoint U includes four folios with some material that is clearly notpart of Skáldskaparmál : Skáldatal, a genealogy of the Sturlung
family and a list of lawspeakers ending with Snorri Sturluson’s
name. On the last of these pages, originally blank, has been added
the illustration of the frame of Gylfaginning (reproduced in Faulkes
1987, 6). Then, after the heading Hér hefr Skáldskapar mál ok heiti
margra hluta, comes a passage similar to 11/25–9, the beginning ofch. 3, but shorter and different in wording, and unaccompanied byany verse quotations (the passage is in fact compiled from 4/1–5 and5/7–8, already included in shortened form at the end of chs G57 andG 58), then ch. 2, and ch. 3 again, this time corresponding moreclosely to the content of this chapter in RTW. Then follow chs 4–16
(with various rewordings and omissions, including that of the final
verse quotation of ch. 16), 19–20 (21 is omitted), 22 (omitting theextended quotation from Haustlƒng), 23–32 (ch. 33 is omitted), ch.
36, then chs 37–8. In place of chs 39–44 at this point there is a justa brief list of the kennings derived from the stories narrated in thesechapters (compiled from [45/3,] 46/6, 47/21, 48/30, 49/5, 59/32)
and the verses quoted in chs 44 (verses 185, 186/5–8) and 45. Then
come chs 46–49 (omitting verses 248–9), part of the first sentenceof ch. 50 and 73/31–74/6 (i. e. omitting at this point both the storyof Hja›ningavíg and the verses from Ragnarsdrápa, verses 250–54),
chs 51–56, omitting here 85/19–22, but including here the beginning of ch. 23 (33/24–7) again, this time in a shortened and alteredform. Ch. 57 is entirely missing, and ch. 63 follows (omitting thexlii

Skáldskaparmál

second half, 99/15–20) before the end of ch. 56 (85/21–2, 19–20, inthat order) with the first two lines of ch. 26 added again. After a half
page originally left blank, though now filled with a drawing, there
comes next the second part of ch. 64, from 101/10 (the first part ofthis chapter is not included, and nor is verse 411), then chs 65–74(ending at 109/15). U does not include ch. 75, the ﬂulur, though twoverses containing terms for woman are included at the end of
Skáldskaparmál (SnE 1848–87, II 363; see below). After ch. 74
come various chapters omitted earlier: ch. 58 (omitting 90/1–3,
13–15 and with 88/6–8 after 88/18; ch. 59 is omitted); ch. 60 (ch. 61
is omitted); ch. 62; ch. 50 (the story of Hja›ningavíg omitting theverses from Ragnarsdrápa and repeating 72/1–2, but omitting 73/31–74/6,
which was included earlier); chs 34–6 (ch. 36 is thus included twicein this manuscript, but the second time with a fuller introduction);ch. 39 (the beginning of the story of Otrgjƒld, omitting the first 10
words (see above)); the story breaks off soon after the beginning of
ch. 40 (46/20) with a brief summary of the first paragraph; theremainder of the chapter and chs 41–42 are omitted (so that thequotations from Ragnarsdrápa at the end of ch. 42 are also absent
from U); ch. 44 (repeating the verses at the end of the chapter, thistime without the omission of verse 186/1–4, though the four lines
are written as a separate verse from 186/5–8); a summary of ch. 43(omitting Grottasƒngr as well as verses 183–4); ch. 45 (without
verses 187 and 188–90, the stanzas from Bjarkamál, which were
included earlier, in their proper place just before ch. 46). This
manuscript then concludes Skáldskaparmál with three stanzas (terms
for woman, Skj A I 652, verses 2a and b; a mansƒngsvísa, Skj A I
601, verse 36) which were perhaps written over an erasure (see thefacsimile edition of U, II 168; SnE 1848–87, II 363 n. 2). The firsttwo of these verses are also in A among the ﬂulur (they are similar
to some of Einarr Skúlason’s verses). After this U has a version of
The Second Grammatical Treatise and parts of Háttatal.
In many of these chapters verses are missing and in ch. 62 someare quoted by their first line only. This suggests that in the redactor’s
exemplar they may have been complete; compare the treatment of
Háttatal in this manuscript (see Faulkes 1999, xxv): quoting just thefirst lines of verses suggests that the manuscript was used as anaide-mémoire for a reciter or lecturer. But the most significant
omissions are the extended quotations from Haustlƒng, ﬁórsdrápa,

Introduction

xliii

Ragnarsdrápa and the ﬂulur. This has been taken to strengthen thecase for these poems being interpolations into Snorri’s text, though
the fact that even in U the first two of these, and the names of theirauthors, are referred to, and lists of names that seem to be derived
from ﬂulur are included (e. g. those of stags, SnE 1848–87, II 350,
though the name eikﬂyrnir (see verse 512) seems to have been added
here by a later hand) shows that the text in U is not independent ofthese sources. Similarly, though nearly all of chs 40–42 are omitted
from U, the kennings derived from the story were listed earlier(after ch. 38), so it is clear that the redactor knew these chapters.
The treatment of ch. 3 in U is the best evidence that U is in fact a
shortening and adaptation of Skáldskaparmál in a form more likethe other manuscripts, since though the beginning of the chapter
first appears in abbreviated and altered form, like many other chapters in this manuscript, the scribe copied the chapter out again in aform closer to that of the other manuscripts and clearly did not lacka complete text in his exemplar; cf. his treatment of the last sentences of chs G57–8. The inclusion of the beginning of ch. 23 twice,
the second time in shortened and altered form, again implies that thevariations and shortening in U are not always due to a faulty exemplar. Otherwise the interesting thing about the different order ofmaterial in U is the tendency for narratives to be separated from theenumeration of the kennings they exemplify and the several cases ofkennings and heiti being listed together instead of separated as they
more often are in RTC (though even in these manuscripts there isnot complete consistency in this). It cannot be said that the arrangement in U is either more logical or more consistent, but it is possiblethat in some respects U retains an earlier ordering of material thanthe other manuscripts, though this does not have to be because theorder in the other manuscripts has been altered by a hand later thanSnorri’s. There is a good deal that points to U having been derived
from a draft of Snorri’s work in which the material was arranged in
random order, perhaps on loose pieces of parchment, and the othermanuscripts may derive from a revision made by Snorri himself (cf.
pp. xi–xii above). But since some of the passages in U that havebeen shortened appear elsewhere in the manuscript in fuller andmore accurate form, not all the omissions can have been in theredactor’s exemplar, and the repetitions of material in U, where one
version of a passage is fuller and more accurate than another, implyxliv

Skáldskaparmálthat the redactor was neither working from a rough draft nor from adamaged exemplar, but that he included material in shortened form
(whether he did the shortening himself or found it in Snorri’s draft)as well as in its completer form, because of a change in plan either
by himself or by Snorri. In many respects even the texts of R and T
seem illogically ordered and it is likely, as said before, that Snorri
had not finished working on the material at the time of his death,and he may have left more than one draft of it. U is however
inaccurately copied as well, and in many cases the shortening ofpassages has left them incoherent, and the verses too are poorly
copied. This shows that many of the characteristic readings of thismanuscript are the result of careless work by a copyist or redactor.
A is a fragmentary manuscript, though the part containing extracts
from Skáldskaparmál does not actually have any pages missing. The
extracts begin with ch. 45 (with only the heading Frá Hƒlga konungi)
and continue to the end of ch. 49 (verse 198 is placed after verse
199) but include only the first part of the first sentence and the last
few lines of ch. 50 (73/31–74/6, thus omitting the quotation from
Ragnarsdrápa; this is similar to the corresponding part of U). Thenfollow chs 51–52 and the beginning of ch. 53, as far as verse 278,of which only the first word is written, followed by leita capitula
fyrr í bókinni (probably a reference to verse 5 in ch. 2, showing thatthe scribe or redactor had access to the earlier part of Skáldskaparmál),and the beginning (line 1 only) of verse 292 with its introduction(82/1–2) from later in the chapter. Then follow chs 54 (the first in
the ókend heiti section of Skáldskaparmál; verse 300a is omitted)
and 55 (ch. 56 is lacking), ch. 57, then chs 61 (verse 350 comes afterverse 351; verse 357 is complete with 8 lines) and 62, ch. 58 as far
as 88/18, but omitting 88/6–8, then ch. 60, then the remaining partsof ch. 58: 90/10–12 (with a list of additional names), 90/13–15,
88/19–90/2 (88/6–8 and 90/3–9 still omitted; two extra lines inverse 330). Then come chs 59, 56, 63. Of ch. 64, there is included
only the second sentence (followed by leita fyrr í bókinni alt til ﬂess
er Stúfr kva›) and 102/16–105/16. Instead of verse 398 a different
verse attributed to Markús is included, Skj A I 452, no. 2 (see note
to verse 270), and there are two additional lines in verse 400 and
two omitted in verse 403. After the first line of verse 411 is written
ok fyrr er ritat, which is a reference to verse 386, not included
earlier in this manuscript. Then there are chs 65–75, concludingIntroduction

xlv

with a greatly extended series of ﬂulur (cf. note to verses 412–517).
These include some verses in dróttkvætt with names for womenand islands, an example of a word for heart in a verse of Illugi
Bryndœlaskáld (Skj A I 384), and four lines from Hallfrø›r’s Óláfsdrápa(erfidrápa) (Skj A I 160), a prose list of names associated with Hel(cf. Gylf. 27/18–21) and a glossary of poetical words and two lines
in Latin about euphonia (see SnE III lxxii). The manuscript concludes with the incomplete (but only extant) text of Haukr Valdísarson’s Íslendingadrápa (Skj A I 556–60).
Though there are some similarities between this manuscript andU, both in the arrangement of material and in some of the readings,
the two manuscripts do not seem to be very closely related andcannot be said to contain the same redaction. The explanation of thistext may be the same as that proposed for U, however, that it isderived from a draft of the work on loose sheets, since the order ofmaterial in general seems rather random. Though much is omitted,
the references to earlier parts of the work that are not included showthat the redactor was working from a version much more complete
than that which he wrote out. There is variation in the order of someof the verse quotations within chapters, and some verses are more
complete. The verses are in general better copied than in U, andcontain some interesting additions to those quoted in R. It is difficult to say how much of the additional material and reorganisation
dates from after Snorri’s time.
B has an arrangement of parts of Skáldskaparmál that is similar invarious ways to that in A, and these two manuscripts are clearlyclosely related, though B includes between chs 46 and 47 some ofthe earlier parts of Skáldskaparmál that are not in A. As in A, thetext of Skáldskaparmál in B begins with chs 45–6 of Skáldskaparmál(with the heading Kenningar gulls), and then it has chs 2 (omittingsome verse quotations), 3, 4–16 (omitting all the verse quotations);
chs 19–22 (omitting 30/21–2 and the extended quotation from Haustlƒng; 30/15–16 placed after 33/23); chs 23–31; then a version ofch. 1 (introduced with the words Svá segir í bók ﬂeirri sem Edda
heitir at sá ma›r sem Ægir hét spur›i Braga skáld me›al annarra
hluta . . . ; cf. Bragi (1) in Index), which like that in U omits allreference to Troy and the allegorical explanation of myths as basedon the Troy story (5/33–6/29), though it adds a reference to fyrsta
capitula greindrar bókar ﬂar sem segir af skipan himins ok jar›ar okxlvi

Skáldskaparmál

allra hluta er ﬂeim fylgja etc., which seems to refer to the Prologue
to Gylfaginning. Then follow chs 32 and 47 (where verse 198 is
replaced by verse 192 from ch. 46, already included earlier). Thereis a lacuna of probably one leaf beginning at the point corresponding to 62/29, and the next extant leaf begins in ch. 61 (95/1; verse
357 is here complete as in A) and the text continues to the end of ch.
62. The text of the missing leaf may have included some of the same
parts of the text as A has between chs 47 and 61, though this sectionof the text covers 6 pages in A. The pages of B contain almost twice
as much text as those of A, but still it is doubful whether there would
have been enough room on one leaf for all the text that is missing.
Then come chs 58 (as far as 88/18 and omitting 88/6–8 and the first
five words of 88/9), 64 (from 101/10; the same substitution forverse 398 as A, and like A having two additional lines in verse 400
and two omitted in verse 403, but omitting verse 411 entirely; verse
486 is included later with the first half of this chapter), 60, 64(omitting the first five words; cf. A) as far as 101/9; and finally chs
65–75; the ﬂulur appear in a similar extended redaction to that in A,
though the last part is lost where one or more further leaves are missing.
As with A and U, there seems to be no clear reason for the differences in the ordering of the material in B; there is the same tendency
to omit extended narratives and quotations from the mythological skaldic
poems in the chapters it includes where R has them. Though it isdifficult to read because of deterioration of the parchment, the text,
like that in A, often contains readings (for instance in the verses)that are better than those in R, and has a number of additional lines
of verse. The redaction is not just a series of extracts; it represents
a collection of material which is sometimes fuller than that in RTW.
The best explanation of it is that like A and perhaps U it was basedon a draft of material on loose sheets of parchment copied out without
much conscious attempt at ordering it, though one might argue thatsome of the rearrangement of items has resulted in a more logicalordering of material, especially in chs 54–63; see table below.
All these manuscripts contain items that were probably not intended to be part of Snorri’s Edda. Besides the additional items at
the end of A that are not in R (which may also have been on thesecond lost leaf of B), there are some that are related to Snorri’s
Edda in various ways earlier in the manuscript. Before the text ofSkáldskaparmál both A and B have parts of The Third Grammatical

Introduction

xlvii

Treatise which is by Snorri’s nephew Óláfr hvítaskáld (A has before
this a fragment of a fifth treatise that is not found elsewhere) andthen a collection of kennings for various concepts without muchapparent organisation (printed in SnE 1931, 255–9). In A this isprefaced (in red) by ‘Hér er lykt ﬂeim hlut bókar er Óláfr ﬁór›arson
hefir samansett ok upphefr Skáldskaparmál ok kenningar eptir ﬂví
sem fyrirfundit var í kvæ›um hƒfu›skálda ok Snorri hefir sí›ansamanfœra látit’ (in B by ‘Hér byrjask kenningar skáldskapar’). It is
unlikely that this collection is actually part of Snorri’s work, though
it could be part of the material he had collected for Skáldskaparmálor it could be a draft; the material in it does not, however, seem tobe used in Skáldskaparmál, at any rate not systematically, and it
may be just a collection made by someone else to supplement Snorri’s
work (cf. p. xiv above). Two verses from Grímnismál (40–41) arequoted near the end of the passage, and it is followed in both A and
B by a short passage about the wolf Fenrir which is related to
Gylfaginning ch. 34 but includes some verse lines describing thefetter Gleipnir that are not in Gylfaginning (cf. the names associatedwith Hel towards the end of A, which are related to the same chapterof Gylfaginning). Both A and B include some poems: A has a fragment of a collection of eddic poems similar to that in the Codex
Regius, though the six leaves (fols 1–6) that contain them need nothave been part of the same book as the rest of A originally; they
have now been separated and remain in Copenhagen as AM 748 I a
4to, while the rest has been transferred to Reykjavík as AM 748 I b
4to. At the end A has a glossary of poetical words and Haukr
Valdísarson’s Íslendingadrápa, and B a collection of Christian religious poems, some of them probably composed in the fourteenth
century. C has at the end (in a different hand) a genealogy ofSnorri’s family, the Sturlungs, from Adam down to about the end of
the fourteenth century. U has (in the middle of the text of Skáldskaparmál, after ch. 18) Skáldatal, a genealogy of the Sturlung family anda list of lawspeakers (as well as the well-known drawing of Gangleri
and the three kings that illustrates the frame of Gylfaginning), andbetween Skáldskaparmál and Háttatal a version of The Second Grammatical Treatise. R and T contain Grottasƒngr, R also has
Jómsvíkingadrápa and Málsháttakvæ›i (at the end). W contains
Rígsﬂula with a revised version of the second part of Skáldskaparmál
as well as the four Grammatical Treatises.

xlviii

Skáldskaparmál

Since the Prose Edda is a treatise on poetry, it is not surprisingthat manuscripts of it should also contain poems of various kinds,
whether or not these were poems collected by Snorri either in connection with the compilation of his Edda or for other reasons. Snorri’s
Edda may well have been a stimulus to the collection and copyingof poems both eddic and other in the thirteenth and fourteenth
centuries. Skáldskaparmál clearly also belongs in the series of treatises about language and rhetoric with the so-called GrammaticalTreatises (it may be noted that just as Ari’s Íslendingabók sets thepattern for the later sagas by including a piece of skaldic verse in the
narrative, so The First Grammatical Treatise provides a model for
Skáldskaparmál by quoting Icelandic poetry to illustrate a linguistic
point (FGT 1972, 226, cf. 84). The other items (genealogies, lists ofpoets and lawspeakers) associate various redactions of Skáldskaparmál
particularly with Snorri Sturluson and his family. It is clear that theProse Edda, and Skáldskaparmál in particular, was in a continual
process of revision and expansion, and it is likely that this process
began with Snorri himself, so that some redactions, such as that in
U and maybe those in A and B, could be based on drafts he madehimself (or had someone make). Some of the additional material inthese manuscripts dates from after Snorri’s death (some of the poems
appended to B, The Third and The Fourth Grammatical Treatise) andW (in its redaction of the second part of Skáldskaparmál, SnE 1924,
112) contains verse probably composed in the fourteenth century, thatascribed to ‘bró›ir Árni (Jónsson?)’, c.1370 (Skj A II 430; cf. Finnur
Jónsson 1920–24, III 14–15). Thus the process of expansion clearly went
on after Snorri’s death. It continued after the Renaissance with adaptations like Magnús Ólafsson’s Edda (the so-called Laufás Edda) on
into the eighteenth century (Hraundals Edda etc.; see Faulkes 1977–9).
The compilers of the extant manuscripts that contain Snorri’s
Edda were clearly interested in material that concerned poeticaltechnique, particularly rhetoric, and the contents of the manuscripts
illustrate this, though attitudes to the material may differ from onecompiler to another. It may well be, for instance, that the compilerof W was principally interested in traditional vernacular poetry as a
medium for religious teaching (cf. Sverrir Tómasson 1993), while
the compiler of U may have been more interested in the prose
narratives (he seems not to have understood much of the verses).
The following table shows the arrangement of the lists of kennings
and heiti in U, A and B.

Introduction

xlix

A
U
B
Gold = Hƒlgi’s mound- Gold = Hƒlgi’s moundBragaræ›ur.
roof. The old lay of
The categories of poetry.
roof. The old lay of
Bjarki.
Eptirmáli.
Bjarki.
ﬁórr’s duel with Hrungnir. Gold = fire of theGold = fire of thehand, etc.
ﬁórr’s journey tohand, etc.
Kennings for man and Kennings for Ó›inn.
Geirrø›argar›ar.
woman as givers of Kennings for poetry.
Skáldatal.
gold and as trees.
Sturlung genealogy.
Kennings for other gods.
Kennings for battle.
Lawspeakers.
Kennings for goddesses.
[Kennings for poetry.] Kennings for weapons Kennings for the sky.
and armour.
Kennings for Ó›inn.
Kennings for the earth.
Kennings for battle.
Kennings for poetry.
Kennings for the sea.
Further kennings for Kennings for the sun.
Kennings for other gods.
weapons.
Kennings for goddesses.
Kennings for the wind.
Kennings for ship.
Kennings for the sky.
Kennings for fire.
Kennings for the earth. Kennings for Christ.
Kennings for winter.
Kennings for kings.
Kennings for the sea.
Kennings for summer.
(Men by family.)
Kennings for the sun.
Kennings for man and
Kennings for the wind. Ókend heiti. Terms for
woman.
poetry.
Kennings for fire.
The categories of poetry.
Terms for pagan gods. Eptirmáli.
Kennings for winter.
Kennings for summer. Terms for the earth.
Kennings for gold.
Kennings for man and Terms for the sea.
Kennings for man as
Terms for fire.
woman.
giver of gold
Terms for wolves.
Kennings for gold.
[lacuna]Gold = Fulla’s head-band. Terms for birds ofTerms for the sea.
battle.
Gold = Freyja’s tears;
Terms for fire.
her daughter Hnoss. Terms for snakes, cattle, Terms for wolves.
sheep, swine, horses. Hálfdan the Old andGold = giants’ words.
Terms for the sky and
Kennings for gold.
his sons; other terms
weather.
Gold = fire of thefor kings.
Terms for the heavens, Terms for birds ofhand, etc.
sun and moon.
Kennings for man andbattle.
woman as givers of Terms for times andTerms for men. Kings.
seasons.
gold and as trees.
Terms for men.
Terms for men, kings
Kennings for battle.
ﬁula of terms for men.
(Halfdan the Old’s
Kennings for weapons
Terms for men:second series of sons).
and armour.
vi›kenningar, sannTerms for men.
Kennings for battle.
kenningar and fornƒfn.
Further kennings for ﬁula of terms for men. Terms for women;
Terms for men:
weapons.
vi›kenningar.
vi›kenningar, sann- Terms for the head,
Kennings for ship.
kenningar andKennings for Christ.
eyes, ears, mouth,fornƒfn.
Kennings for kings.
teeth, tongue, hair.
Terms for kings and Terms for women;
Terms for heart, mindvi›kenningar.
noblemen.
and emotions.

l

Skáldskaparmál

UAÓkend heiti. Terms for Terms for the head,eyes, ears, mouth,
poetry.
Terms for pagan gods.
teeth, tongue, hair.
Terms for the heavens Terms for heart, mind
and emotions.
(including somekennings).
Terms for arms andTerms for times.
legs, hands and feet.
Terms for speech (andTerms for moon andsun (including somebattle).
kennings).
Terms for wisdom etc.
Homonyms. Ofljóst.
Hálfdan the Old andhis sons.
ﬁulur (extended
Terms for men.
series).
ﬁula of terms for men. Íslendingadrápa.
Terms for men:vi›kenningar, sannkenningar and fornƒfn.
Terms for women;vi›kenningar.
Terms for the head,eyes, ears, mouth,
teeth, tongue, hair.
Terms for heart, mind
and emotions.
Terms for arms andlegs, hands and feet.
Terms for speech (andbattle).
Terms for wisdom etc.
Homonyms.
Terms for wolves,
bears, stags, horses,
U (continued)
oxen, snakes.
Terms for birds of battle. The origin of Hrólfr
kraki’s nickname.
Terms for fire.
Gold = Kraki’s seed.
Battle = the Hja›nings’
Hrólfr’s expedition
storm. Hja›ningavíg.
to Uppsala.
Gold = Glasir’s foliage.
Gold = Sif’s hair. The Gold = Fró›i’s meal.
The mill Grotti.
dwarfs make treasGold = Hƒlgi’s moundures for the gods.
roof.
Gold = Fulla’s head-band.
Gold = otter-payment. Names for women.
Second Grammatical
The origin of thisTreatise.
kenning.
Háttatal.
Gold = Fáfnir’s lair.

B
Terms for arms andlegs, hands and feet.
Terms for speech (andbattle).
Terms for wisdom etc.
Homonyms. Ofljóst.
ﬁulur (extended series)[lacuna]IntroductionliThis edition
Parts at least of Skáldskaparmál appear in all seven of the manuscripts of the Prose Edda that have independent textual value. On
the dates and relationships of these manuscripts see Faulkes 2005,
xxviii–xxxi. It is assumed that R, which has the fullest text of anyof the medieval manuscripts, represents the contents and arrangement of the Prose Edda in the form nearest to that in which Snorri
left it; the second part of Skáldskaparmál in W is clearly a later
redaction of the material, and U is verbally shortened and carelessly
copied to the point of incomprehensibility in many places. So eventhough additions and other changes may have been made to Snorri’s
text in R too, it has usually been the manuscript on which the textof editions of the work have been based. Where there are gaps in thetext, and where it is clearly corrupt and incomprehensible, it is filled
out, mainly from T and W. Emended words in the text are marked
with an asterisk; where a word that is in R is omitted from the text
or the order of words is changed, † is printed. Words or letters accidentallyomitted by the scribe are included in angle brackets ‹ ›, illegible
words or letters are supplied in square brackets [ ] (some words are
now illegible in R or have disappeared which are visible either inthe facsimile edition or in the photographs that were made before themost recent restoration of the manuscript, and brackets are not normally used for these; sometimes, too, words seem to have been visible
to Finnur Jónsson that are now unclear or illegible, and these areoften accepted as certain). The textual notes list all the places where
the readings of R have been departed from, giving the original readings
and the source of the emendation in the same normalised form as therest of the text (where it is necessary to give the spelling of the manuscript, it is put in inverted commas; readings from manuscripts otherthan R are quoted either from the facsimile editions or from photographs, though where they are unclear, readings from SnE 1848–87
and 1924 have sometimes been accepted). A few of the more interesting and significant variants in other manuscripts, in particular someof the additional lines of verse, are included in the General Notes.
The glossary attempts to explain all words in the verses and all
those words in the prose that are likely to cause difficulty or are notadequately glossed in the edition of Gylfaginning (Faulkes 1982).
Inflected forms are added to the headword in brackets where they
may cause problems. The translations of many of the names in thelii

Skáldskaparmál

ﬂulur, especially those of animal species, are little more than guesses,
but explanations of a lot of the names are given in ÁBM, and theinformation there is not normally repeated here (on names in the
ﬂulur see also Bugge 1875; there is a useful guide to modern Icelandic animal and plant-names in Óskar Ingimarsson 1989). In the
explanations of the verses in the Glossary and notes, the attempt has
been made as far as possible to avoid emendation of the text of R,i. e. to interpret the text in this version rather than to attempt torestore supposed archetypal readings even when the texts of verses
are preserved in other works. The most likely meanings of words
and their syntax are given in the Glossary, where explanations arealso given of all the kennings; some other possible interpretations
are indicated in the notes, using some of K. Reichardt’s suggestions(1928, 1948, 1969) and occasionally those of D. Davidson (DD) andothers. It was not thought necessary also to give the verses in ‘prose
word order’. The basis is the interpretations of Finnur Jónsson in
Skj B and LP, but particular attention is paid to those of Magnús
Finnbogason (SnE 1952). Frequent use has also been made of thecomments of E. A. Kock (in NN ), who has often tried to simplify
Finnur Jónsson’s syntactical interpretations, which can be unnecessarily complicated. But since poets sometimes did use complex
structures (e. g. tmesis) it is not clear that one should always belooking for the simplest interpretation. There are good discussionsof the problem in Reichardt 1928 (especially pp. 1–17) and 1969,
where the author studies 24 supposed examples of tmesis in single
dróttkvætt lines and finds that only 9 of them are clear examples, 12of them being easily got rid of by making the first element genitiveby adding -s. Kock also proposes that a number of words should betaken as descriptive genitives instead of as determinants of kennings,
and these too are difficult to be certain of. Another problematicalkind of interpretation requires words to be taken as adverbial dative
singular when they do not have a distinctive ending, e. g. hjarta
v49/2, hƒ› v252/4; kind in v297/3 is apparently dat. of advantage;
there is no grammatical reason why this should not be so, but it
seems best avoided if possible. It is the same with prepositions
separated from their object. There are some fairly clear examples(v65/3, v79/7, v85/7–8 (see note), v134/1, v146/1, v260/3, v315/1,
v363/1 (cf. NN 785), v401/2) but others are less certain (v85/1,
250/2, 290/3; see notes) and it is difficult to imagine oral poets

Introductionliii

using such a confusing procedure unnecessarily. The same may besaid of the phenomenon of the transference of determinants or interchange of elements in kennings, often involving a kind of tmesis,though again there are some clear examples: v39/4, v89/6, v90/3–4,
v91/5–6, v95/5, v103/6, v133/6 (?—see note), v140/4, v149/3 (?),
v150/2, v192/2 (?), v246/1, v322/3, v333/8; v73/6 according to DD;
see Glossary under ﬂing, herﬂruma, myrkaurri›i, myrkdreki.
Snorri himself uses this feature in Háttatal 28/1, while the commentary to verse 255 of Skáldskaparmál suggests such an interpretation
when it is clearly unnecessary. When there are two possible interpretations of the same words which both give acceptable meanings,
it seems natural to take the simpler one, except that it is not certainthat simplicity was what most poets were aiming at; but it is hard tobelieve that their original audience would not have understood theirverse in the most obvious way (cf. Faulkes 1997).
The normalisation follows the same pattern as in Gylfaginning and
Háttatal, both in the prose and verse passages, where the languageof the thirteenth century is largely what is being represented. The
spelling only has been normalised; variant word-forms (such as 3rd
pers. sg. vil at 1/36, for instance) are retained where they occur.
Accents are not used in most foreign names, nor in other words
where the original quantity of the vowel is uncertain (e. g. in thename Vi›arr, even though in some occurrences in verse the longvowel is required). The following spellings may be noted.
In R, vér and vél are frequently spelt vær, væl. Often ey seems tobe written for ø or œ, e. g. in œgir v48/3, hœli- v71/4, -œra‹n›v100/2, køpt v340/3, lœgis v364/3; cf. Ó›reyrir in Index; conversely
Ø in Eym›it v376/1; thus ‘leyra’ 106/12 may be for lœra or løra.
Sometimes ƒ is found used for æ, as in æri v303/1 (cf. v93/8 t. n.;perhaps here for á (or ), see below), though more often for œ, as inHœnir 45/4, grœnnar v315/3; but o is used in hlœ›ir v267/1, œpiv332/4, cf. note (see also v20/10 t. n.; v15/1 and Glossary underblóta), while √ is used in skól- v514/10 (cf. SnE 1848–87, III xvi–xvii).
The spellings a and av (√) alternate in ‘bavllfagr g√tv’ v157/6. The
scribe uses o for á (or ) in ‘koﬂvt’ v249/1, cf. t. n., ‘koﬂv’ v94/3
t. n. and ‘kvomv’ 48/2, as well as in ‘troﬂvz’ v86/3 and ‘toﬂv’ 49/33,
where it is unlikely that the modern form tró›u for the past tense pl.
of tro›a is intended; cf. also v480/5 t. n. and lóg, lág at 40/19 andliv

Skáldskaparmál

20, 63/16 and 17. The spelling ei seems sometimes to be used for e,é (or æ) in lætr v128/3, Helju v332/6, brig›ræ›i 109/11, hétu 49/17(cf. 3/21 t. n. and 49/31 n.); and conversely e for ei in tveimr v217/4,
Meila v95/2, steini v127/3, steinsins 45/1, heilagt v274/4, reistu
v353/3, rei›i 108/32; also e for ey in hleytamenn 107/20, ∂ for ey inhleytama›r v447/1. There is alternation of u (v) and y in skatyrnir,
where -yr- is written with the abbreviation for -ur- 85/18 (see Hreinn
Benediktsson 1965, 91), and Yggs v300b/5 which is written with v. See
v141/4 n. and t. n. and v28/4 t. n. Thus ‘mysen’ 85/20, ‘mvleN’
85/21 could both be for either m‡lin(n) or múlin(n); at v480/3 ‘dyna’
could be for Dúna (same symbol as in -ﬂul v483/8) and at v480/7
Mun is written with y in A. Then v is written in sóm- v223/2, ór
v241/4 (only; cf. v501/1 t. n.). On unmutated forms like varn forvƒrn (confirmed by the hending v148/4), vƒgna (‘v√gna’) for vagna
v67/7, see Hreinn Benediktsson 1963.
Among the departures from normal spelling that may be phonological rather than orthographical is the frequent disappearance of d
between consonants (before or after n), e. g. in munnlaug v110/4;
annvanar v156/4; ranngrí› v449/6; vinnbjartr v454/4; munngjallr
v458/1 (cf. Glossary and note v130/1 t. n.). Conversely, ‘Stnyrti-’ iswritten for Snyrti-106/18; and ‘fyrst-’ is written for f‡st- v74/3,‘hvrs-’ for hús- v444/4.
The manuscript is inconsistent in the distribution of ›/d/t: li› isspelled ‘lit’ v171/8; muntu is spelled ‘mvndv’ v263/1; ritat spelled‘rita›’ 78/22 (if it is not ritu› that is intended; cf. note).
Some consonants are doubled without reason, and in some cases
they are written single where doubling would be normal: the manuscript has ‘-hattar’ v83/2; ‘varar’ v131/2; ‘ﬂruttinn’ v145/3; ‘ætti’v151/8; ‘halr’ v168/4; ‘skaptre’ v181/5; ‘Rƒkkr’ v213/1 (cf. Noreen
1923, § 279.2); ‘ifrrav›vll’ 85/20; ‘næ Ri’ (rhyming with mæringr)
v388/4; ‘skattvrnir’ v516/19. Some contracted forms of words areused where the metre presupposes uncontracted forms, e. g. brá for
bráa; see note to verse 143 and á (2) in Glossary.
Abbreviations are sometimes inconsistently used: ‘kall’ with abbreviation mark for kƒllu›u 5/38, ‘ml’ with abbreviation sign (i. e. mælir)for what surely should be mælti 52/9 (usually this scribe writes ‘mæl’with a curl on the l for mælir (2/28, 38, 3/9, 10), ‘mæli’ with a curl
for mælti (48/19, 59/14); apparently ‘mti’ at 1/24); ‘svan’ with signfor -us for svans v147/6; -r with abbreviation for -ir 9/28 (see t. n.) andIntroduction

lvv316/4 (similarly in the heading in U, SnE 1848–87, II 295, where
hefr seems to be written ‘hefir’; see 1/1–2 t. n. and Hreinn Benediktsson
1965, 92); also unusual are ‘svﬂo’ for sú›um v367/1 (perhaps analteration) and ‘sin–’ for sínum v250/2, ‘son–’ for sonum v280/2.
Punctuation is editorial (including round brackets), but note istaken of the capitalisation of the manuscript in the arrangement ofparagraphs. Verses have been arranged in lines and divided in accordance with what seem the scribe’s intentions. Stanza divisions in
the ﬂulur are marked only by capital letters in R and are in somecases unclear, while divisions between ﬂulur are generally indicatedby larger ornamental capitals (they are marked in this edition byhorizontal lines at the end of each ﬂula).
In the margins the chapter numbers of SnE 1848–87 I are given (asin SnE 1931 in brackets in the text); the first four (‘Bragaræ›ur’) are
there numbered 55–8 (here G55 etc.) in continuation from Gylfaginning,
and in that edition Skáldskaparmál was taken to begin at 5/9.

Table of verse quotations and their preservation+ before a source means that further verses or lines from the same poem (orin the case of lausavísur, further verses by the same poet) appear in thesource indicated. Without this sign the source indicated includes one ormore of the verses of the poem quoted in Skáldskaparmál. When the sign
follows the source, it indicates that one or more of the verses and also
further verses (or lines) from the same poem appear there. KS = Kings’
Sagas (i. e. two or more of Fagrskinna, Morkinskinna, Hulda–Hrokkinskinna,
Heimskringla, ÓTM, ÓH etc.). EMÓ = Edda Magnúsar Ólafssonar. Morespecific references to sources of the verse quotations are to be found in the
General Notes.
* means that the verse is only found in Snorri’s Edda. Square brackets
indicate a second quotation of the same verse. A question mark before averse number means that it is doubtful whether the verse belongs in thepoem it is attributed to.
Anon, Eiríksmál: 20; Fagrskinna+—, ?A love poem: *41—, A love poem: *208—, ?Poem about Magnús gó›i: *370—, ?Poem about St Knútr: *381—, ?: *209—, ?: *215—, ?: *224, *225—, ?: *235

lvi

Skáldskaparmál—, ?: *240—, ?: *317—, ?: *342—, ?: *349, 356, *364; TGT (356)—, ?: *372—, Fáfnismál: 151, 152; PE+; +Gylf., +Sverris saga—, Grímnismál: 62; PE+; +Gylf.
—, An eddic poem: *72; ?+U (25/27 n.)—, An eddic poem: *142—, Grottasƒngr : *159–82—, Bjarkamál: *188, *189, *190; +Hkr and ÓH, +EMÓ—, ﬁorgrímsﬂula: *325, *326, *327, *331; (+AB, hesta heiti; cf. verses 503–6)—, Alsvinnsmál (Kálfsvísa): *328, *329, *330—, Alvíssmál: 332, 380; PE+—, ﬁula of words for groups of men: pp. *106/23–107/11—, ﬁula (sea kings): *412–416; (+TGT)—, ﬁula (giants): *417–22, *430–431—, ﬁula (troll-women): *423–427—, ﬁula (ﬁórr): *428—, ﬁula (Æsir): *429, *432—, ﬁula (Ásynjur etc.): *433–437; (+A, valkyries)—, ﬁula (women): *438; (+A and U; +A)—, ﬁula (men): *439–448—, ﬁula (battle): *449–450—, ﬁula (swords): *451–462—, ﬁula (axes): *463—, ﬁula (spears): *464—, ﬁula (arrows): *465–6—, ﬁula (bows): *467—, ﬁula (weapons): *468—, ﬁula (shields): *469–71—, ﬁula (helmets): *472–3—, ﬁula (mail-coats): *474—, ﬁula (sea): *475–478; (+A, waves; fiords)—, ﬁula (rivers): *479–484—, ﬁula (fish): *485–488—, ﬁula (whales): *489–90; cf. Konungs skuggsjá—, ﬁula (ships): *491–500—, ﬁula (earth): *501–2—, ﬁula (oxen, cows): *503–506; (cf. ﬁorgrímsﬂula)—, ﬁula (rams): *507—, ﬁula (goats): *508–9—, ﬁula (bears): *510–511—, ﬁula (stags): *512—, ﬁula (boars): *513

Introductionlvii—, ﬁula (wolves): *514–15—, ﬁula (heavens): *516; (+AB)—, ﬁula (sun): *517
Arnórr jarlaskáld, ﬁorfinnsdrápa: *1, 106, *282 [344], *290, 297, *298, *384;+KS, Orkneyinga saga+—, Hrynhenda: 387, *406; Hkr+, +KS, +TGT and FoGT, +W, +Kn‡tlinga saga—, Magnúsdrápa: ?*105, 213, 218, 352; KS+—, Poem on Hermundr Illugason: *113—, Rƒgnvaldsdrápa: *114, *296; +ÓH and Orkneyinga saga—, ?: *116—, ?Blágagladrápa: *404—, Memorial poem on Haraldr har›rá›i: *275, *321, *376; +TGT, +KSÁsgrímr, ?Poem about King Sverrir: *139
Atli, Poem about Óláfr kyrri: *374
Bersi (Hólmgƒngu-), Lausavísa: 221; Kormaks saga+
Bragi, Ragnarsdrápa: *24, *42, *48, *51, *110, ?*150, *153, 154, *155, *156, *157,*158, *237, *238, *250, *251, *252, *253, *254, *366; FoGT, +Gylf. and Hkr—, Poem about ﬁórr: *52—, ?: *141—, ?Lausavísur : *300a–b
Brennu-Njáll, Lausavísa: 355; KS(+)
Bƒ›varr balti, Sigur›ardrápa: *107; +MorkinskinnaBƒlverkr, Poem on Haraldr har›rá›i: 353; KS+
Egill, Sonatorrek: 15, 16; Egils saga+—, Hƒfu›lausn: 31, 184, 319, 350; Egils saga+—, Arinbjarnarkvi›a: 60; Egils saga+, + W, +TGT—, Lausavísur: 140, 392; Egils saga+
Eilífr Gu›rúnarson, Poem on Earl Hákon: *36—, ﬁórsdrápa: *44, *53, *73–91—, A Christian poem: *268
Eilífr kúlnasveinn, A poem about Christ?: *271, *272, *273, *276; ?+FoGT
Einarr skálaglamm, Vellekla: *18, *25, *27, *28, *34, *35, *197, *223, *227,
247, 306, *334; +TGT, Hkr+, ÓTM+, +Fagrskinna—, Poem about a Danish king: *192, *299
Einarr (skálaglamm or Skúlason?), ?: *222
Einarr (skálaglamm or Skúlason?), Lausavísa: *262
Einarr Skúlason, ?: *128, *129, *130, *131, *132, *134, *339, *346, *351, *357(+AB), *362—, Poem about a ruler: *136 (or part of Øxarflokkr?)—, Øxarflokkr: *145, *146 [232], *147, *148, *149, *183, *193, *194, *244,*245, ?*368; ?+TGT—, Elfarvísur : 320; Ólsen 1884, 159, Hkr +, Hulda–Hrokkinskinna+—, ?Haraldssonakvæ›i I: *233, *281, *312, *335, *336; +U (2 extra lines inverse 233), +Hkr, +Msk, +Hulda–Hrokkinskinna—, ?Haraldssonakvæ›i II: *399; +KSlviii

Skáldskaparmál—, Runhenda: *367, *377, 403; KS+—, Geisli: 277; Flb+, Bergsbók+, +KS, +W, +TGT
Erringar-Steinn, ?Lausavísa: *257
Eyjólfr dá›askáld, Bandadrápa: 265, 304 (stef); KS+
Eysteinn Valdason, Poem about ﬁórr: *45, *46, *47
Eyvindr skáldaspillir, Háleygjatal: 5 [278], *23, *33 [40], *61, *220, *307;
TGT, KS+—, Hákonarmál: 7, 11, 393; Hkr+, Fagrskinna+—, Lausavísur: 117, 143, 185, 249; KS+, TGT
Gamli, Poem about ﬁórr: *49—, A praise poem: *401
Gizurr, Poem about a King Óláfr: *382; (+KS)
Glúmr Geirason, Gráfeldardrápa: *6, *32, 243, *279 [394]; Fagrskinna+, +TGT
+Landnámabók, +KS
Grani, Poem about Haraldr har›rá›i: *373, 400; KS+ (AB+)
Grettir, Lausavísa: 231; Grettis saga+
Gunnlaugr ormstunga, Lausavísa: 202; Gunnlaugs saga+
Hallar-Steinn, Poem about a woman: *201, *203, *204; +TGT
Halldórr skvaldri, Útfarardrápa: ?*379; +KS, +TGT
Hallfrø›r, Hákonardrápa: *10, *118 [291], *119, *121, *212, *229, *230, *248, *288—, Óláfsdrápa (erfidrápa): 397; ÓTM+, +KS, +A, +ﬁi›reks saga, +Hallfre›ar saga
Hallr, Poem on Magnús Erlingsson: *323; ?+Sverris saga
Hallvar›r, Knútsdrápa: *115 (stef ), *239, *258, *311, *348, *388; +Kn‡tlinga
saga, +Hkr and ÓH
Haraldr har›rá›i, Lausavísur: 261, 284; KS+ (cf. Brennu-Njáll above)
Hávar›r halti, Lausavísa: *2; +Hávar›ar saga
Illugi, Poem on Haraldr har›rá›i: *322; +A, +KS
Jórunn, Sendibítr: *402; +Hkr, +ÓH, +ÓTMKolli see Bƒ›varr
Kormakr, Sigur›ardrápa: *12 [308], *21, *211, *241, *292, *301; +Hkr
Máni, Lausavísa: 263; TGT, +Sverris saga, +Sturlunga saga
Markús, Eiríksdrápa: *111 (stef ?), *391, *398, *409; +Kn‡tlinga saga—, ?Poem about St Knútr: *270; +TGT, +AB—, Lausavísur: 260, *369; TGT
Ormr Barreyjarskáld, ?: *109, *123
Ormr Steinﬂórsson, Poem about a woman: *29, *38, 205, *207, *360; TGT, +Flb,EMÓ+—, ?: *138; ?+U (v303 n.)Óttarr svarti: Hƒfu›lausn: *196 [287], *359, 408; KS+, Orkneyinga saga, +FGT—, Knútsdrápa: 217 [314]; KS+, +Kn‡tlinga saga—, Óláfsdrápa sœnska: *310, *340, *365, *383, *390, *395
Refr, Poem on Gizurr: *4, *17; +Hkr and ÓH—, Poem about ﬁorsteinn: *30, *216, *264; +Háttatal—, Travel poem: *124, *126 [347], *127, *354, *363—, ?: *214; (?+EMÓ)Introduction

lix—, ?Poem to a ruler: *234, ?*246
Sighvatr, Bersƒglisvísur: *386 [411]; +KS, +TGT—, ?Religious poem: *274—, ?: *285—, Nesjavísur: 286; Hkr+, ÓH+, +KS, +TGT
Skapti ﬁóroddsson, ?A poem about Christ: *269
Skúli ﬁorsteinsson, Lausavísa: *135—, Poem on the Battle of Svƒl›: *144, *187, *338, *343; +KSSnæbjƒrn, Lausavísur: *133, *289
Steinarr, Poem about a woman: *206
Steinn Herdísarson, Óláfsdrápa: *112; +KS
Steinﬂórr, ?: *13
Stúfr, Stúfsdrápa: *396; +KS
Styrkárr Oddason, ?: *266
Sveinn, Nor›rsetudrápa: *125, *137; +TGT
Tindr, Drápa on Earl Hákon: 228; Hkr and ÓTM+, Jómsvíkinga saga+Úlfr Uggason, Húsdrápa: *8, *14, *19, *39, *54, *55, *56, *63, *64, *210 [316],*242, *303; +W
Valgar›r, Poem about Haraldr har›rá›i: 358, *371, *378, *410; KS+
Vetrli›i, ?Poem to ﬁórr: *57
Víga-Glúmr, Lausavísa: 3 [226], 255, 337; Víga-Glúms saga+, +Reykdœla saga;
3 and 337 also in Landnámabók
Vƒlu-Steinn, Poem about his son ¯gmundr: *37, *315
ﬁjó›ólfr Arnórsson, Sexstefja: *120, 122, *186 [389], *236, *280, *309, *318,*333, *385; KS+, +TGT—, Runhent poem on Haraldr har›rá›i: *293, *294, *295; +KS—, Lausavísa: 405; KS+, Hemings ﬂáttr +, +FGT, +TGT, +Sneglu-Halla ﬂáttrﬁjó›ólfr hvinverski, Haustlƒng: *65–71, *92–104, [*108, *305, *341][ﬁórarinn loftunga], Tøgdrápa: *200; +Kn‡tlinga saga, +KS; poet only named in A
ﬁorbjƒrn dísarskáld, Poem about ﬁórr: *50, *58?—, ?A Christian poem: *267
ﬁorbjƒrn hornklofi, Haraldskvæ›i: *9; +Gylf., +KS—, Glymdrápa: 219, 256, 345; KS+ﬁór›r Kolbeinsson, Eiríksdrápa: 302, 313, *324; KS+, Jómsvíkinga saga+,+Kn‡tlinga sagaﬁór›r mauraskáld, ?: *195ﬁór›r Sjáreksson, Poem on Klœngr Brúsason: 375; Hkr, ÓH, Fagrskinna—, ?: *59—, ?Lausavísa: *259; +W, +EMÓﬁorkell hamarskáld, ?Poem about Óláfr kyrri: *407
ﬁorleikr fagri, Flokkr on Sveinn Úlfsson: *191, *198, *361; +Kn‡tlinga saga, +KS
ﬁórólfr (ﬁórálfr, ﬁorvaldr), ?: *22
ﬁorvaldr blƒnduskáld, ?: *26—, ?Sigur›ardrápa: *199, *283
¯lvir hnúfa, ?Poem about ﬁórr: *43

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SGT = The so-called Second Grammatical Treatise. 1982. Ed. F. D.
Raschellà. Firenze.
Shetelig H. and Falk, H. 1937. Scandinavian Archaeology. Trans.
E. V. Gordon. Oxford.
Sigrdrífumál: PE 189–97.
Sigur›arkvi›a in skamma: PE 207–18.
Skáldatal: in SnE 1848–87, III 270–86.
Skar›sárbók. Landnámabók Björns Jónssonar á Skar›sá. 1958. Ed.
Jakob Benediktsson. Reykjavík.
Skírnismál : PE 69–77.
Skj = Finnur Jónsson (ed.). 1912–15. Den norsk-islandske Skjaldedigtning A I–II, B I–II. København.
Skjƒldunga saga: in Danakonunga sƒgur 1982, 3–90.
SnE = Snorra Edda, the Prose Edda.
SnE 1818 = Snorra-Edda ásamt Skáldu og ﬂarme› fylgjandi ritgjör›um.
Ed. R. Kr. Rask. Stockhólmi.
SnE 1848–87 = Edda Snorra Sturlusonar I–III. Hafniæ.
SnE 1924 = Edda Snorra Sturlusonar. Codex Wormianus. AM 242,
fol. Ed. Finnur Jónsson. København.
SnE 1931 = Edda Snorra Sturlusonar. Ed. Finnur Jónsson. København.
SnE [1952] = Edda Snorra Sturlusonar. Ed. Magnús Finnbogason.
Reykjavík.
Spearing, A. C. 1987. Readings in Medieval Poetry. Cambridge.
Stúfs ﬂáttr : in Laxdœla saga 1934.
Sturl. = Sturlunga saga I–II. 1946. Ed. Jón Jóhannesson, Magnús
Finnbogason, Kristján Eldjárn. Reykjavík.
Sturlaugs saga starfsama: Fas III 105–60.
Sverrir Tómasson. 1983. ‘Helgisögur, mælskufræ›i og forn frásagnarlist’.
Skírnir CLVII, 130–62.

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Sverrir Tómasson. 1993. ‘Formáli málfræ›iritger›anna fjögurra íWormsbók’. Íslenskt mál XV, 221–40.
Sverris saga. 1920. Ed. Gustav Indrebø. Kristiania.
Sƒrla saga sterka: Fas III 367–410.
Sƒrla ﬂáttr : Flb I 304–13. Also in Fas I 365–82.
TGT = The Third Grammatical Treatise in Ólsen, Björn Magnússon
(ed.) 1884, 1–119.
Tóka ﬂáttr : Flb II 220–22. Also in Fas II 135–41.
Tolley, C. 1995. ‘The Mill in Norse and Finnish Mythology’. SagaBook XXIV:2–3, 63–82.
Tolley, C. 1996. ‘Beowulf ’s Scyld Scefing Episode. Some Norse andFinnish Analogues’. ARV. Nordic Yearbook of Folklore LII, 7–48.
Trójumanna saga. 1963. Ed. J. Louis-Jensen. Copenhagen. (Editiones
Arnamagnæanæ A:8)
Tryggvi Gíslason. 1984. ‘hverr skyldi dverga dróttir skepia’. Festskrift
til Ludvig Holm-Olsen på hans 70-årsdag den 9. juni 1984. ØvreErvik, 84–8.
Turville-Petre, E. O. G. 1964. Myth and Religion of the North. London.
Turville-Petre, E. O. G. 1976. Scaldic Poetry. Oxford.
Vafﬂrú›nismál: PE 45–55.
Vatnsdœla saga. Hallfre›ar saga. Kormáks saga. 1939. Ed. Einar Ól.
Sveinsson. Reykjavík. (ÍF VIII)
Vestfir›inga sƒgur. 1943. Ed. Björn K. ﬁórólfsson and Gu›ni Jónsson.
Reykjavík. (ÍF VI)
Viborg Amts Stednavne. 1948. København.
Víga-Glúms saga: in Eyfir›inga sƒgur. 1956. Ed. Jónas Kristjánsson.
Reykjavík. (ÍF IX)
Vilhjálms saga sjó›s : in Late Medieval Icelandic Romances IV.
1964. Ed. Agnete Loth. Copenhagen, 1–136. (Editiones Arnamagnæanæ B:23)
de Vries, J. 1956–7. Altgermanische Religionsgeschichte I–II. Berlin.
de Vries, J. 1964–7. Altnordische Literaturgeschichte I–II. Berlin.
de Vries, J. 1977. Altnordisches etymologisches Wörterbuch. Leiden.
Vƒlsa ﬂáttr : in Anthony Faulkes (ed.). 1980. Stories from the Sagasof the Kings. London, 49–61.
Vƒlsunga saga. 1965. The Saga of the Volsungs. Ed. and trans. R. G.
Finch. London.
Vƒlundarkvi›a: PE 116–23.
Vƒluspá: PE 1–16.
Vƒluspá. 1978. Ed. Sigur›ur Nordal. Durham.

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Wessén, E. (ed.). 1940. Codex Regius of the Younger Edda. Copenhagen. (CCIMA XIV)
Wessén, E. (ed.). 1945. Fragments of the Elder and the Younger
Edda. AM 748 I and II 4:o. Copenhagen. (CCIMA XVII)
Worm, Ole. 1636. 52ñç˚ Seu Danica literatura antiquissima. Hafniæ.
Wyatt, I. and Cook, J. (eds). 1993. Two Tales of Icelanders. Durham.
Yngvars saga ví›fƒrla: Fas II 423–59.
Zoëga, Geir T. 1942. Íslenzk-Ensk Or›abók. Reykjavík.
ﬁi›reks saga. 1951. Ed. Gu›ni Jónsson. Reykjavík.
ﬁór›ar saga hre›u: in Kjalnesinga saga. 1959. Ed. Jóhannes
Halldórsson. Reykjavík. (ÍF XIV)
ﬁorsteins saga Víkingssonar : Fas III 1–73.
ﬁorsteins ﬂáttr bæjarmagns: Fas IV 319–44.
ﬁórunn Valdimarsdóttir. 1989. Snorri á Húsafelli. Reykjavík.
ﬁrymskvi›a: PE 111–15.
¯rvar-Odds saga: Fas II 199–363.

MANUSCRIPT SIGLA
R = GkS 2367 4to (Stofnun Arna Magnússonar, Reykjavík); ed. SnE
1931; facsimile in Wessén 1940.
T = University Library Utrecht MS No. 1374; ed. W. van Eeden, De
Codex Trajectinus van de Snorra Edda, Leiden 1913; Árni Björnsson,
Snorra Edda, Reykjavík 1975; facsimile in Codex Trajectinus, ed.
Anthony Faulkes, Copenhagen 1985. (Early Icelandic Manuscripts
in Facsimile XV)
U = University Library Uppsala DG 11; ed. SnE 1848–87, II 250–
396; facsimile in Snorre Sturlas(s)ons Edda. Uppsala-handskriften
DG 11, I, Stockholm 1962; II, Uppsala 1977.
W = AM 242 fol. (Det Arnamagnæanske Institut, Copenhagen); ed.
SnE 1924; facsimile in Codex Wormianus, Copenhagen 1931.
(CCIMA II)
A = AM 748 I b 4to (Stofnun Árna Magnússonar, Reykjavík); ed.
SnE 1848–87, II 397–494; facsimile in Wessén 1945.
B = AM 757 a 4to (Stofnun Árna Magnússonar, Reykjavík); ed. SnE
1848–87, II 501–72.
C = AM 748 II 4to (Stofnun Árna Magnússonar, Reykjavík); ed. SnE
1848–87, II 573–627, where it is referred to as AM 1 e β fol.;
facsimile in Wessén 1945.

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GLOSSARY OF TECHNICAL TERMSa›alhending: the chief hending in a couplet, full (internal) rhyme,
where two syllables have the same vowel and following consonant
or consonant group.
drápa (pl. drápur): a formally constructed poem (expected to havea stef or refrains).
dróttkvætt: a verse-form with stanzas of 8 six-syllable lines withregular alliteration and hendings (Háttatal verses 1–6).
erfidrápa: a memorial poem, a drápa in praise of a dead person.
flokkr: a poem consisting of a series of stanzas without refrain (stef ).
forn minni: ancient tradition, inherited statement, proverb.
fornaldarsaga: saga of ancient times, Heroic saga.
fornyr›islag: a verse-form common in eddic poems as well as inskaldic verse, and similar to that of West Germanic poetry, having
two-stress lines linked in pairs by alliteration.
heiti: name, appellation, designation, term (usually, though not always, of a name which is not the usual one by which a person orthing is called; see Glossary).
hending: rhyme, assonance (usually internal rhyme, but also used of
end-rhyme).
hrynhent: a verse-form similar to dróttkvætt but with lines of eightsyllables (Háttatal 62–4).
kenning: description, designation (usually a periphrastic one).
klofastef : a refrain in the form of two or more continuous lines ofverse separated from each other and distributed individually among
two or more stanzas (usually appearing as the last lines of thesestanzas, and unrelated syntactically to the rest of them); see Háttatal,
note to 70/12–16.
kvi›uháttr : a verse-form with alternating lines of three and foursyllables (Háttatal 102).
lausavísa (pl. -vísur), laus vísa: a separate strophe not part of asequence or long poem.
li›hent, li›hendur : a verse-form with rhyme and alliteration fallingon the same syllables, and/or with assonance between the first(rhyming) syllable of the even line and the hendings of the preceding odd line (Háttatal 41 and 53).
ljó›aháttr : ‘song-form’, a verse form in which two alliterating shortlines are followed by one longer line with independent internal
alliteration.

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málaháttr : a verse-form with lines having an extra syllable compared with fornyr›islag (Háttatal 95).
mansƒngr: a love poem, or a passage of love poetry in a narrative
poem. Mansƒngsvísa is a verse from such a passage, or a verse
similar to those in a mansƒngr.
ofljóst: punning, word-play; often by substituting homonyms when
one is a proper name, i. e. using a proper name or a kenning for
it for the common noun equivalent.
ókend heiti: names, appellations, designations, terms without periphrasis,
without qualifiers or attributives (determinants).
runhent: end-rhymed; see runhenda in Glossary to Háttatal.
skothending: (internal) half-rhyme, assonance (where two syllables
end with the same consonant or consonant group but contain adifferent vowel).
stef : refrain, a stanza or line or series of lines that are repeated atintervals in (part of) a drápa; see Glossary to Háttatal.
tmesis: the separation of a word into two parts with another word orwords between.
ﬂula: a (versified) list of names or synonyms (heiti ).

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Snorri Sturluson

Edda
PA RT I I

lxxiii[SKÁLDSKAPARMÁL]E[INN ma]›r er nefndr Ægir e›a Hlér. Hann bjó í ey ﬂeiri er nú
er kƒllu› [Hlé]sey. Hann var mjƒk fjƒlkunnigr. Hann ger›i fer›sína til Ásgar›s, en er Æsir vissu fer› hans var honum fagnat vel ok
ﬂó margir hlutir me› sjónhverfingum. Ok um kveldit er drekka
skyldi, ﬂá lét Ó›inn bera inn í hƒllina sver›, ok váru svá bjƒrt at ﬂar
af l‡sti, ok var ekki haft ljós annat me›an vi› drykkju var setit. ﬁá
gengu Æsir at gildi sínu ok settusk í hásæti tólf Æsir, ﬂeir er dómendr
skyldu vera ok svá váru nefndir: ﬁórr, Njƒr›r, Freyr, T‡r, Heimdallr,
Bragi, Vi›arr, Váli, Ullr, Hœnir, Forseti, Loki; slíkt sama Ásynjur:
Frigg, Freyja, Gefjun, I›unn, Ger›r, Sigyn, Fulla, Nanna. Ægi ﬂóttigƒfugligt ﬂar um at sjásk. Veggﬂili ƒll váru ﬂar tjƒldu› me› fƒgrum
skjƒldum. ﬁar var ok áfenginn mjƒ›r ok mjƒk drukkit. Næsti ma›r
Ægi sat Bragi, ok áttusk ﬂeir vi› drykkju ok or›askipti. Sag›i BragiÆgi frá mƒrgum tí›indum ﬂeim er Æsir hƒf›u átt.
Hann hóf ﬂar frásƒgn at ‘ﬂrír Æsir fóru heiman, Ó›inn ok Loki okHœnir, ok fóru um fjƒll ok ey›imerkr ok var ilt til matar. En er ﬂeir
koma ofan í dal nakkvarn, sjá ﬂeir øxna flokk ok taka einn uxann ok
snúa til sey›is. En er ﬂeir hyggja at so›it mun vera, raufa ﬂeir
sey›inn ok var ekki so›it. Ok í annat sinn er ﬂeir raufa sey›inn, ﬂáer stund var li›in, ok var ekki so›it. Mæla ﬂeir ﬂá sín á milli hverju
ﬂetta mun gegna. ﬁá heyra ﬂeir mál í eikina upp yfir sik at sá er ﬂar
sat kvazk rá›a ﬂví er eigi so›na›i á sey›inum. ﬁeir litu til ok sat ﬂar
ƒrn ok eigi lítill. ﬁá mælti ƒrninn:‘ “Vili› ﬂér gefa mér fylli mína af oxanum, ﬂá mun so›na á
sey›inum.”‘ﬁeir játa ﬂví. ﬁá lætr hann sígask ór trénu ok sezk á sey›inn okleggr upp ﬂegar it fyrsta lær oxans tvau ok bá›a bógana. ﬁá var›
Loki rei›r ok greip upp mikla stƒng ok rei›ir af ƒllu afli ok rekr ákroppinn erninum. ¯rninn bregzk vi› hƒggit ok fl‡gr upp. ﬁá varfƒst stƒngin vi› kropp arnarins ok hendr Loka vi› annan enda.
¯rninn fl‡gr hátt svá at fœtr taka ni›r grjótit ok ur›ir ok vi›u, [en]hendr hans hyggr hann at slitna munu ór ƒxlum. Hann kallar ok bi›r
allﬂarfliga ƒrninn fri›ar, en hann segir at Loki skal aldri lauss ver›anema hann veiti honum svardaga at koma I›unni út of Ásgar› me›epli sín, en Loki vil ﬂat. Ver›r hann ﬂá lauss ok ferr til lagsmanna
sinna ok er eigi at sinni sƒg› fleiri tí›indi um ﬂeira fer› á›r ﬂeir

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koma heim. En at ákve›inni stundu teygir Loki I›unni út um Ásgar›
í skóg nokkvorn ok segir at hann hefir fundit epli ﬂau er henni munu
gripir í ﬂykkja, ok ba› at hon skal hafa me› sér sín epli ok bera
saman ok hin. ﬁá kemr ﬂar ﬁjazi jƒtunn í arnarham ok tekr I›unni ok
fl‡gr braut me› ok í ﬁrymheim til bús síns.
‘En Æsir ur›u illa vi› hvarf I›unnar ok ger›usk ﬂeir brátt hárir okgamlir. ﬁá áttu ﬂeir Æsir ﬂing ok [spyrr hverr annan] hvat sí›arst
vissi til I›unnar, en ﬂat var sét sí›arst at hon gekk ór Ásgar›i me›
Loka. ﬁá var Loki tekinn ok fœr›r á ﬂingit ok var honum heitit banae›a píslum. En er hann var› hræddr ﬂá kvazk hann mundu sœk‹j›aeptir I›unni í Jƒtunheima ef Freyja vill ljá honum valshams er hon
á. Ok er hann fær valshaminn fl‡gr hann nor›r í Jƒtunheima ok kemr
einn dag til ﬁjaza jƒtuns. Var hann róinn á sæ, en I›unn var ein
heima. Brá Loki henni í hnotar líki ok haf›i *í klóm sér ok fl‡gr sem
mest. [E]n er ﬁjazi kom heim ok saknar I›unnar, tekr hann arnarhaminn
ok fl‡gr eptir Loka ok dró arnsúg í flugnum. En er Æsirnir sá ervalrinn flaug me› hnotina ok hvar ƒrninn flaug, ﬂá gengu ﬂeir útundir Ásgar› ok báru ﬂannig byr›ar af lokarspánum, ok ﬂá er valrinn
flaug inn of borgina, lét hann fallask ni›r vi› borgarvegginn. ﬁá
slógu Æsirnir eldi í lokarspánu en ƒrninn mátti eigi stƒ›va er hannmisti valsins. Laust ﬂá eldinum í fi›ri arnarins ok tók ﬂá af fluginn.
ﬁá váru Æsirnir nær ok drápu ﬁjaza jƒtun fyrir innan Ásgrindr ok er
ﬂat víg allfrægt.
‘En Ska›i, dóttir ﬁjaza jƒtuns, tók hjálm ok brynju ok ƒll hervápn
ok ferr til Ásgar›s at hefna fƒ›ur síns. En Æsir bu›u henni sætt ok
yfirbœtr, ok hit fyrsta at hon skal kjósa sér mann af Ásum ok kjósa
at fótum ok sjá ekki fleira af. ﬁá sá hon eins manns fœtr forkunnar
fagra ok mælir:‘ “ﬁenna k‡s ek, fátt mun ljótt á Baldri.”‘En ﬂat var Njƒr›r ór Nóatúnum. ﬁat haf›i hon ok í sættargjƒr›sinni at Æsir skyldu ﬂat gera er hon hug›i at ﬂeir skyldu eigi mega,
at hlœgja hana. ﬁá ger›i Loki ﬂat at hann batt um skegg geitar
nokkvorrar ok ƒ›rum enda um hre›jar sér ok létu ﬂau ymsi eptir okskrækti hvárttveggja vi› hátt. ﬁá lét Loki fallask í kné Ska›a ok ﬂá
hló hon. Var ﬂá gjƒr sætt af Ásanna hendi vi› hana.
‘Svá er sagt at Ó›inn ger›i ﬂat til yfirbóta vi› hana at hann tók
augu ﬁjaza ok kasta›i upp á himin ok ger›i af stjƒrnur tvær.’ﬁá mælir Ægir: ‘Mikill ﬂykki mér ﬁjazi fyrir sér hafa verit, e›ahvers kyns var hann?’Skáldskaparmál

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Bragi svarar: ‘¯lvaldi hét fa›ir hans, ok merki munu ﬂér at ﬂykkja
ef ek segi ﬂér frá honum. Hann var mjƒk gullau›igr, en er hann dó
ok synir hans skyldu skipta arfi, ﬂá hƒf›u ﬂeir mæling at gullinu er
ﬂeir skiptu at hverr skyldi taka munnfylli sína ok allir jafnmargar.
Einn ﬂeira var ﬁjazi, annarr I›i, ﬂri›i Gangr. En ﬂat hƒfum véror›tak nú me› oss at kalla gullit munntal ﬂessa jƒtna, en vér felum
í rúnum e›a í skáldskap svá at vér kƒllum ﬂat mál e›a or›ta‹k›, tal
ﬂessa jƒtna.’ﬁá mælir Ægir: ‘ﬁat ﬂykki mér vera vel fólgit í rúnum.’
Ok enn mælir Ægir: ‘Hva›an af hefir hafizk sú íﬂrótt er ﬂér kalli›skáldskap?’
Bragi svarar: ‘ﬁat váru upphƒf til ﬂess at gu›in hƒf›u ósætt vi› ﬂat
fólk er Vanir heita, en ﬂeir lƒg›u me› sér fri›stefnu ok settu gri› áﬂá lund at ﬂeir gengu hvárirtveggju til eins kers ok sp‡ttu í hráka*sínum. En at skilna›i ﬂá tóku go›in ok vildu eigi láta t‡nask ﬂat
gri›amark ok skƒpu›u ﬂar ór mann. Sá heitir Kvasir. Hann er svá
vitr at engi spyrr hann ﬂeira hluta er eigi kann hann órlausn. Hann
fór ví›a um heim at kenna mƒnnum frœ›i, ok ﬂá er hann kom at
heimbo›i til dverga nokkvorra, Fjalars ok Galars, ﬂá kƒllu›u ﬂeir
hann me› sér á einmæli ok drápu hann, létu renna bló› hans í tvau
ker ok einn ketil, ok heitir sá Ó›reyrir, en kerin *heita Són ok Bo›n.
ﬁeir blendu hunangi vi› bló›it ok var› ﬂar af mjƒ›r sá er hverr er af
drekkr ver›r skáld e›a frœ›ama›r. Dvergarnir sƒg›u Ásum at Kvasir
hef›i kafnat í mannviti fyrir ﬂví at engi var ﬂar svá fró›r at spyrja
kynni hann fró›leiks.
‘ﬁá bu›u ﬂessir dvergar til sín jƒtni ﬂeim er Gillingr heitir ok konu
hans. ﬁá bu›u dvergarnir Gillingi at róa á sæ me› sér. En er ‹ﬂeir›
fóru fyrir land fram, røru dvergarnir á bo›a ok hvelf›i skipinu.
Gillingr var ósyndr ok t‡ndisk hann, en dvergarnir réttu skip sitt okreru til lands. ﬁeir sƒg›u konu hans ﬂenna atbur›, en hon kunni illa
ok grét hátt. ﬁá spur›i Fjalarr hana ef henni mundi hugléttara ef hon
sæi út á sæinn ﬂar er hann haf›i t‡nzk, en hon vildi ﬂat. ﬁá mælti
hann vi› Galar bró›ur sinn at hann skal fara upp yfir dyrrnar er hon
gengi út ok láta kvernstein falla í hƒfu› henni, ok tal›i sér lei›ask
óp hennar, ok svá ger›i hann. ﬁá er ﬂetta spur›i Suttungr bró›urson
Gillings, ferr hann til ok tók dvergana ok flytr á sæ út ok setr ﬂá íflœ›arsker. ﬁeir bi›ja Suttung sér lífsgri›a ok bjó›a honum tilsættar í fƒ›urgjƒld mjƒ›inn d‡ra, ok ﬂat ver›r at sætt me› ﬂeim.
Flytr Suttungr mjƒ›inn heim ok hir›ir ﬂar sem heita Hnitbjƒrg, setr

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ﬂar til gæzlu dóttur sína Gunnlƒ›u. Af ﬂessu kƒllum vér skáldskap
Kvasis bló› e›a dverga drekku e›a fylli e›a nakkvars konar lƒgÓ›reris e›a Bo›nar e›a Sónar e›a farskost dverga, fyrir ﬂví at sámjƒ›r f[lut]ti ﬂeim fjƒrlausn ór skerinu, e›a Suttunga mjƒ› e›a
Hnitbjarga lƒgr.’ﬁá mælir Ægir: ‘Myrkt ﬂykki mér ﬂat mælt at kalla skáldskap me›
ﬂessum heitum, en hvernig kómu ﬂeir Æsir at Suttunga mi›i?’
Bragi svarar: ‘Sjá saga er til ﬂess at Ó›inn fór heiman ok kom ﬂar
er ﬂrælar níu slógu hey. Hann spyrr ef ﬂeir vili at hann br‡ni ljá
ﬂeira. ﬁeir játa ﬂví. ﬁá tekr hann hein af belti sér ok br‡ndi, en ﬂeim
ﬂótti bíta ljárnir myklu betr ok fƒlu›u heinina. En hann mat svá at
sá er kaupa vildi skyldi gefa vi› hóf, en allir kvá›usk vilja ok bá›uhann sér selja, en hann kasta›i heininni í lopt upp. En er allir vildu
henda ﬂá skiptusk ﬂeir svá vi› at hverr brá ljánum á háls ƒ›rum.
Ó›inn sótti til náttsta›ar til jƒtuns ﬂess er Baugi hét, bró›ir Suttungs.
Baugi kalla›i ilt fjárhald sitt ok sag›i at ﬂrælar hans níu hƒf›udrepizk, en tal›isk eigi vita sér ván verkmanna. En Ó›inn nefndisk
fyrir honum Bƒlverkr. Hann bau› at taka upp níu manna verk fyrir
Bauga, en mælir sér til kaups einn drykk af Suttunga mi›i. Baugi*kvazk enskis *rá› eiga af mi›inum, sag›i at Suttungr vildi einnhafa, en fara kvezk hann mundu me› Bƒlverki ok freista ef ﬂeir
fengi mjƒ›inn. Bƒlverkr vann um sumarit níu mannsverk fyrir
Bauga, en at vetri beiddisk hann Bauga leigu sinnar. ﬁá fara ﬂeirbá›ir ‹til Suttungs›. Baugi segir Suttungi bró›ur sínum kaup ﬂeiraBƒlverks, en Suttungr synjar ﬂverliga hvers dropa af mi›inum. ﬁámælir Bƒlverkr til Bauga at ﬂeir skyldu freista véla nokkvorra, ef
ﬂeir megi ná mi›inum, en Baugi lætr ﬂat vel vera. ﬁá dregr Bƒlverkr
fram nafar ﬂann er Rati heitir ok mælir at Baugi skal bora bjargit ef
nafarrinn bítr. Hann gerir svá. ﬁá segir Baugi at gƒgnum er borat
bjargit, en Bƒlverkr blæss í nafars raufina ok hrjóta spænirnir upp ímóti honum. ﬁá fann hann at Baugi vildi svíkja hann, ok ba› boragƒgnum bjargit. Baugi bora›i enn. En er Bƒlverk‹r› blés annat sinn,ﬂá fuku inn spænirnir. ﬁá brásk Bƒlverkr í orms líki ok skrei› ínafars raufina, en Baugi stakk eptir honum nafrinum ok misti hans.
Fór Bƒlverkr ﬂar til sem Gunnlƒ› var ok *lá hjá henni ﬂrjár nætr, ok
ﬂá lofa›i hon honum at drekka af mi›inum ﬂrjá drykki. Í inum fyrsta
drykk drakk hann al‹t› ór Ó›reri, en í ƒ›rum ór Bo›n, í inu‹m› ﬂri›ja
ór Són, ok haf›i hann ﬂá allan mjƒ›inn. ﬁá brásk hann í arnarhamok flaug sem ákafast. En er *Suttungr sá flug arnarins, tók hann sér

Skáldskaparmál

5

arnarham ok flaug eptir honum. En er Æsir sá hvar Ó›inn flaug ﬂásettu *ﬂeir út í gar›inn ker sín, en er Ó›inn kom inn of Ásgar› ﬂá
sp‡tti hann upp mi›inum í kerin, en honum var ﬂá svá nær komit at
Suttungr mundi ná honum at hann sendi aptr suman mjƒ›inn, ok var
ﬂess ekki gætt. Haf›i ﬂat hverr er vildi, ok kƒllum vér ﬂat skáldfífla*hlut. En Suttunga mjƒ› gaf Ó›inn Ásunum ok ﬂeim mƒnnum eryrkja kunnu. ﬁví kƒllum v[ér] skáldskapinn feng Ó›ins ok fund ok
drykk hans ok gjƒf hans ok drykk Ásanna.’ﬁá mælir Ægir: ‘Hversu á marga lund breyti› ﬂér or›tƒkum skáldskapar, e›a hversu mƒrg eru kyn skáldskaparins?’ﬁá mælir Bragi: ‘Tvenn eru kyn ﬂau er greina skáldskap allan.’Ægir spyrr: ‘Hver tvenn?’
Bragi segir: ‘Mál ok hættir.’‘Hvert máltak er haft til skáldskapar?’‘ﬁrenn *er grein skáldskaparmáls.’‘Hver?’‘Svá: at nefna hvern hlut sem heitir; ƒnnur grein er sú er heitirfornƒfn; in ﬂri›ja málsgrein er kƒllu› er kenning, ok ‹er› sú grein
svá sett at vér kƒllum Ó›in e›a ﬁór e›a T‡ e›a einnhvern af Ásume›a álfum, at hverr ﬂeira er ek nefni til, ﬂá tek ek me› heiti af eignannars Ássins e›a get ek hans verka nokkvorra. ﬁá eignask hannnafnit en eigi hinn er nefndr var, svá sem vér kƒllum Sigt‡ e›a
Hangat‡ e›a Farmat‡, ﬂat er ﬂá Ó›ins heiti, ok kƒllum vér ﬂat kentheiti. Svá ok at kalla Rei›art‡.’En ﬂetta er nú at segja ungum skáldum ﬂeim er girnask at nemamál skáldskapar ok heyja sér or›fjƒl›a me› fornum heitum e›agirnask ﬂeir at kunna skilja ﬂat er hulit er kve›it: ﬂá skili hann ﬂessa
bók til fró›leiks ok skemtunar. En ekki er at gleyma e›a ósanna svá
ﬂessar sƒgur at taka ór skáldskapinum for[nar ke]nningar ﬂær erhƒfu›skáld hafa sér líka látit. En eigi skulu kristnir menn trúa áhei›in go› ok eigi á sannyndi ﬂessar sagnar annan veg en svá sem
hér finnsk í upphafi bókar er sagt er frá atbur›um ﬂeim er mannfólkit
viltisk frá réttri trú, ok ﬂá næst frá Tyrkjum, hvernig Asiamenn ﬂeir
er Æsir eru kalla›ir fƒlsu›u frásagnir ﬂær frá ﬂeim tí›indum erger›usk í Troju til ﬂess at landfólkit skyldi trúa ﬂá gu› vera.
Priamus konungr í Troju var hƒf›ingi mikill yfir ƒllum her Tyrkja
ok hans synir váru tignastir af ƒllum her hans. Sá salr hinn ágæti erÆsir kƒllu›u Brimis sal e›a bjórsal, ﬂat var hƒll Priamus konungs.
En ﬂat er ﬂeir gera langa frásƒgn of ragnrøkr, ﬂat er Trojumanna

5

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5

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orrosta. ﬁat er frá sagt at ¯kuﬂórr engdi oxahƒf›i ok dró at bor›iMi›gar›sorm, en ormrinn helt svá lífinu at hann søktisk í hafit.
Eptir ﬂeim dœmum er ﬂetta sagt er Ektor drap Volukrontem ágætan
kappa at ás‹j›ánda inum mikla Akille ok teyg›i hann svá at sér me›hƒf›i hins drepna ﬂess er ﬂeir jƒfnu›u til oxans ﬂess er ¯kuﬂórr
haf›i hƒfu›it af. En er Akilleus var dreginn í ﬂetta ófœri me› sínu
kappi ﬂá var honum sú ein lífshjálpin at fl‡ja undan banvænliguhƒggvi Hektoris ok ﬂó sárr. Svá er ok sagt at Ektor sótti svá ákafliga
orrostuna ok svá miklir váru ofrhugir hans er hann sá Akilleus at
engi hlutr var svá sterkr at standask mætti fyrir honum, ok er hannmisti Akilleus ok hann var fl‡i›r ﬂá sefa›i hann svá rei›i sína athann drap ﬂann kappa er Roddrus hét. Svá sƒg›‹u› Æsir at ﬂá er¯kuﬂórr misti ormsins ﬂá drap hann Ymi jƒtunn, en vi› ragnarøkr
kom Mi›gar›sormr váveifliga at ﬁór ok blés á hann eitri ok hjó hanntil bana, en eigi nentu Æsir at segja svá at ¯kuﬂórr hef›i ﬂí látizk ateinn stigi yfir hann dau›an ﬂótt svá hef›i verit, en meir hrƒpu›u ﬂeir
frásƒgninni en satt var en ﬂeir sƒg›u at Mi›gar›sormr fengi ﬂar
bana. En ﬂat fœr›u ﬂeir til, ﬂótt Akilleus bar banaor› af Ektori ﬂá láhann dau›r á sama velli af ﬂeim sƒkum. ﬁat ger›u ﬂeir Elenus ok
Alexander. ﬁann Elenus kalla Æsir Ála. ﬁat segja ﬂeir at hann hefndi
bró›ur síns ok hann lif›i ﬂá er ƒll go›in váru dau› ok slokna›r var
eldrinn sá er brendr var Ásgar›r ok allar eignir go›anna. En Pirrus,
honum jƒfnu›u ﬂeir til Fenrisúlfs, hann drap Ó›in, en Pirrus máttivargr heita at ﬂeira trú ﬂvíat eigi ﬂyrm›i hann gri›astƒ›unum erhann drap konunginn í hofinu fyrir stalla ﬁórs. ﬁat kalla ﬂeir Surtaloga er Troja brann. En Mó›i ok Magni synir ¯kuﬂórs kvámu at
krefja landa Ála e›a Vi›ar. Hann er Eneas, hann kom braut af Troju
ok vann sí›an stór verk. Svá er ok sagt at synir Ektoris kómu til
Frigialands ok settusk sjálfir í ﬂat ríki, en ráku í braut Elenum.
Enn skal láta heyra dœmin hvernig hƒfu›skáldin hafa látit sér
sóma at yrkja eptir ﬂessum heitum ok kenni‹n›gum, svá sem segir
Arnórr jarlaskáld at hann heiti Alfƒ›r:(1)

35

Snorra Edda

Nú hykk slí›rhuga›‹s› segja—sí› léttir mér strí›a;ﬂ‡tr Alfƒ›ur—‡tum
jarls kostu—brim hrosta.

Hér kallar hann ok skáldskapinn hrostabrim Alfƒ›ur. Hávar›r halti
kva› svá:Skáldskaparmál(2)

Nú er jódraugum ægisarnar flaug—ok bauga,
hygg ek at heimbo› ﬂiggi
Hangago›s—of vangi.

Svá kva› Víga-Glúmr:(3)

10

Opt kom—jar›ar leiptra
er Baldr hniginn skaldi—
hollr at helgu fulli*hrafn-Ásar mér—stafna.

Svá kva› Eyvindr skáldaspillir:(5)5Lattisk herr me› hƒttu
Hangat‡s at ganga—ﬂóttit ﬂeim at hætta
ﬂekkiligt—fyrir brekku.

Svá kva› Refr:(4)

7

Ok Sigur›rhinn er svƒnum veitti*hróka bjór
Haddingja vals
Farmat‡s—fjƒrvi næm›u*jar›rá›endrá ¯glói.

15

20

Svá kva› Glúmr Geirason:(6)

ﬁar var ﬂrafna byrjar,
ﬂeim er st‡r›u ‹go››, Beimasjálfr í sœkiálfi
Sigt‡r Atals d‡ra.

Svá kva› Eyvindr enn:25Snorra Edda

8
(7)

5

Gƒndul ok Skƒgul
sendi Gautat‡r
at kjósa of konunga
hverr Yngva ættar
skyldi me› Ó›ni faraok í Valhƒllu vera.

Svá kva› Úlfr Uggason:(8)
10

Rí›r at vilgi *ví›uví›frægr (en mér lí›a)
Hroptat‡r (of hvapta
hró›rmál) sonar báli.

Svá kva› ﬁjó›ólfr inn hvinverski:(9)15

Valr lá ﬂar á sandi
vit‹inn› inum eineygja
Friggjar fa›mbyggvi.
Fƒgnu›um dá› slíkri.

ﬁat kva› Hallf‹r›ø›r:(10)
20

Sannyr›um spenr sver›a*snarr ﬂiggjandi viggjar*barrhadda›a byrjar*bi›kván *und sik ﬁri›ja.

Hér er ﬂess dœmi at jƒr› er kƒllu› kona Ó›ins í skáldskap. Svá er
hér sagt at Eyvindr kva›:
(11)
25

30

Hermó›r ok Bragi(kva› Hroptat‡r)
gangi› í gƒgn grami
ﬂvíat konungr ferr
sá er kappi ﬂykkir
til hallar hinig.

Svá kva› Kormakr:

Skáldskaparmál(12)

9

Eykr me› ennidúki*jar›hljótr díaf‹j›ar›ar
breyti hún sá er beinanbindr. Sei› Yggr til Rindar.

Svá sag›i Steinﬂórr:(13)

Forngervan á ek firnum
farms Gunnla›ar arma
horna fors at hrósa
hlítstyggs ok ﬂó *lítinn.

Svá kva› Úlfr Uggason:
(14)

(16)

10

ﬁar hykk sigrunni svinnum
sylgs valkyrjur fylgja
heilags tafns ok hrafna.
Hlaut innan svá minnum.

Svá kva› Egill Skallagrímsson:(15)

5

Blót ek eigi af ﬂví
bró›ur Vílis
gu› jar›arat ek gjarna sjá.
ﬁó hefir Míms vinr
mér of fengitbƒlva bœtrer it betra telk.
Gáfumk íﬂróttúlfs ok bági
vígi *vanr
vammi fir›a.

15

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25

Hér er hann kalla›r gu›ja›arr ok Míms vinr ok úlfs bági. Svákva› Refr:(17)ﬁér eigu vér veigar
Valgautr salar brautar

30

Snorra Edda

10

Fals hrannvalar fannar
framr valdi tamr gjalda.
Svá kva› Einarr skálaglamm:(18)
5

Hljóta mun ek (ne hlítir)Hert‡s (of ﬂat fr‡ju)
fyrir ƒrﬂeysi at ausa
austr víngno›ar flausta.

Svá sem Úlfr kva› Uggason:(19)
10

Kostigr rí›r at kesti
kynfró›s ﬂeim er go› hló›uhrafnfreista›ar hesti
Heimdallr at mƒg fallinn.

Svá er sagt í Eiríksmálum:
(20)
15

20

‘Hvat er ﬂat drauma?’ ‹kva›› Ó›inn.
‘Ek hug›umk fyrir dag rísaValhƒll ry›ja
fyrir vegnu fólki,vek›a ek einherja,bæ›a ek upp rísa
bekki at strá,
bjórker ley›ra,valkyrjur vín berasem vísi komi.’

ﬁat kva› Kormakr:
25

(21)

Algildan bi› ek aldar
allvald of mér halda‡s bifvangi Yngva
ungr. Fór Hroptr me› Gu‹n›gni.

ﬁat kva› ﬁórólfr:Skáldskaparmál
(22)

11

Sag›i hitt er hug›i
Hli›skjálfar gramr sjálfum
hlífar styggr ﬂar er hƒgnir
Háreks li›ar váru.

Svá kva› Eyvindr:(23)

Hinn er Surtsór søkkdƒlum
farmagnu›r
fljúgandi bar.

Svá kva› Bragi:
(24)

15

ﬁvíat fjƒlkostigr flestu
flestr ræ›r vi› son Bestlu—‹tekit› *hefi ek mor›s til mær›ar—mæringr en ﬂú færa.

Svá kva› ﬁorvaldr blƒnduskáld:
(26)

10

ﬁat erumk sent at snemma
sonr Aldafƒ›‹r›s vildi
afls vi› úri ﬂaf›anjar›ar reist of freista.

Svá kva› Einarr:
(25)

5

20

Nú hefi ek martí mi›i greipatburar Bors
Búra arfa.

Hér skal heyra hvé skáldin hafa kent skáldskapinn eptir ﬂessum
heitum er á›r eru ritu›, svá sem er at kalla Kvasis dreyra ok dverga
skip, dverga mjƒ›, jƒtna mjƒ›, Suttunga mjƒ›, Ó›ins mjƒ›, Ásamjƒ›, fƒ›urgjƒld jƒtna, lƒgr Ó›reris ok Bo›nar ok Sónar ok fyllr,lƒgr Hnitbjarga, fengr ok fundr ok farmr ok gjƒf Ó›ins, svá sem hér
er kve›it er orti Einarr skálaglamm:

25 3

30

Snorra Edda

12
(27)

5

Ok sem kva› Einarr enn skálaglamm:
(28)

10

Grjótaldar *ték gildi
ge›reinar ﬁorsteini.
Berg-Mœra glymr bára,bi› ek l‡›a† kyn hl‡›a.

Svá sem kva› Egill:
(31)

25

At væri borit bjórs
bríkar ok mitt lík—rekkar nemi dau›s drykk
Dvalins—í einn sal.

Ok sem Refr kva›:
(30)

20

Ullar gengr of allaasksƒgn ﬂess er hvƒt magnar
byrgis bƒ›var sorgar
bergs geymilá dverga.

Svá sem kva› Ormr Steinﬂórsson:
(29)

15

Hugstóran bi› ek heyra—heyr, jarl, Kvasis dreyra—
foldar vƒr› á fyr›afjar›leggjar brim dreggjar.

Bu›umk hilmir lƒ›,*ﬂar á ek hró›rs of kvƒ›.
Bar ek Ó›ins mjƒ›
á Engla bjƒ›.

Ok sem kva› Glúmr Geirason:(32)

Hl‡›i, hapta bei›ishefk mildinga gildi.
ﬁví *bi›jum vér ﬂƒgnar
ﬂegna tjón *at fregnum.

Skáldskaparmál

13

Ok sem kva› Eyvindr:(33)

Vilja ek hlj‹ó››at *Hárs lí›ime›an Gillingsgjƒldum yppik,me›an hans ættí hverlegi
gálga farms
til go›a teljum.

Svá sem Einarr kva› skálaglamm:
(34)

20

*Ver›i *ﬂér, alls or›aoss grœr of kon *mæran
á sefreinu Sónar
sá›, vingjƒfum rá›a.

Svá sem kva› Vƒlu-Steinn:
(37)

15

Nú er ﬂats Bo›nar bára,
berg-Saxa, tér vaxa,
gørvi í hƒll ok hl‡›ihljó› fley jƒfurs ﬂjó›ir.

Ok sem kva› Eilífr Gu›rúnarson:
(36)

10

Eisar *vágr fyrir vísa,verk Rƒgnis mér *hagna,
ﬂ‡tr Ó›reris alda
aldr hafs vi› fles galdra.

Ok enn sem hann kva›:
(35)

5

25

Heyr Míms vinar *mína—mér er fundr gefinn ﬁundar—vi› góma sker glymja
glaumbergs, *Egill, strauma.

Svá kva› Ormr Steinﬂórsson:30Snorra Edda

14
(38)

5

Svá kva› Úlfr Uggason:
(39)

10

(40)

30

Me›an hans ættí hverlegi
gálga farms
til go›a teljum.

Enn er kalla›r skáldskaprinn far e›a li› dverganna; lí› heitir ƒl okli› heitir skip. Svá er tekit til dœma at skáldskapr er nú kalla›r fyrir
ﬂví skip dverga, svá sem hér segir:
(41)

4 25

Hoddmildum *ték hildar
hugreifum Óleifi—hann vil ek at gjƒf Grímnis—ge›-Njar›ar lá—kve›ja.

Skáldskapr er kalla›r sjár e›a lƒgr dverganna, fyrir ﬂví at Kvasis
bló› var lƒgr í Ó›reri á›r mjƒ›rinn væri gjƒrr, ok ﬂar ger›isk hanní katlinum, ok er hann kalla›r fyrir ﬂví hverlƒgr Ó›ins svá sem kva›
Eyvindr ok fyrr var ritat:

15

20

Seggir *ﬂurfut *ala ugg—
engu *sn‡ ek í Vi›urs fenghá›i, kunnum hró›rsmí›haga—of minn brag.

*Bæ›i á ek til brú›ar
bergjarls ok skip dverga
sollinn vind at senda
seinfyrnd gƒtu eina.

Hvernig skal kenna ﬁór? Svá at kalla hann son Ó›ins ok Jar›ar,fa›ir Magna ok Mó›a ok ﬁrú›ar, verr Sifjar, stjúpfa›ir Ullar, st‡randi
ok eigandi Mjƒllnis ok megingjar›a, Bilskirnis, verjandi Ásgar›s,
Mi›gar›s, dólgr ok bani jƒtna ok trƒllkvinna, vegandi Hrungnis,
Geirrø›ar, ﬁrívalda, dróttinn ﬁjálfa ok Rƒsku, dólgr Mi›gar›sorms,
fóstri Vingnis ok *Hlóru. Svá kva› Bragi skáld:(42)

Va›r lá Vi›ris arfa
vilgi slakr er rak›isk,

Skáldskaparmál

15

á Eynæfis ƒndri,Jƒrmungandr at sandi.
Svá kva› ¯lvir hnúfa:(43)Œstisk allra landaumgjƒr› ok sonr Jar›ar.

5

Svá kva› Eilífr:(44)

Rei›r stó› Rƒsku bró›ir;
vá gagn fa›ir Magna.
Skelfra ﬁórs né ﬁjálfa
ﬂróttar steinn vi› ótta.

10

Ok sem kva› Eysteinn Valdason:(45)

Leit á bratt‹r›ar *brautar
baug hvassligum augum,œstisk á›r at flaustiƒggs bú›, fa›ir ﬁrú›ar.

15

Enn kva› Eysteinn:(46)

Sín bjó Sifjar rúni
snarla fram me› karli—hornstraum getum Hrímnis
hrœra—vei›arfœri.

20

Ok enn kva› hann:(47)

Svá brá vi›r at s‡jur
sei›r rendi fram brei›arjar›ar; út at bor›i
Ulls mág[s] hnefar skullu.

Svá kva› Bragi:(48)

Hamri fórsk í hœgri
hƒnd ﬂar er allra landa

25

Snorra Edda

16œgir ¯flugbar›a*endisei›s *of kendi.
Svá kva› Gamli:(49)
5Me›an gramr hinn er svik sam›i‹t›
snart Bilskirnis hjarta
grundar fisk me› grandi
gljúfrskeljungs nam rjúfa.

Svá kva› ﬁorbjƒrn dísarskáld:(50)
10ﬁórr hefir Yggs me› árumÁsgar› af ﬂrek var›an.

Svá kva› Bragi:
(51)

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Ok *bor›róins bar›abrautar hringr inn ljóti‹á haussprengi Hrungnis›har›ge›r ne›an star›i.

Enn kva› Bragi:
(52)

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Vel hafi› y›rum eykjum
aptr, *ﬁrívalda, haldit
simbli sumbls of mærum
sundrkljúfr níu hauf›a.

Svá kva› Eilífr:
(53)

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ﬁrøngvir gein vi› ﬂungum
ﬂangs rau›bita tangar
kveldrunninna kvinna
kunnleggs alinmunni.

Svá kva› Bragi:(54)

ﬁjokkvƒxnum kva› ﬂykkja
ﬂikling *firinmiklaSkáldskaparmál

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hafra njóts at ‹hƒfgum›hætting megindrætti.
Svá kva› Úlfr:(55)Fullƒflugr lét fellir
fjall-Gauts hnefa skjalla—ramt mein var ‹ﬂat›—reyni*reyrar leggs vi› eyra.

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Enn kva› Úlfr:(56)

Ví›gymnir laust Vimrarva›s af fránum na›rihlusta grunn vi› hrƒnnum.
Hlaut innan svá minnum.

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Hér er hann kalla›r jƒtunn Vimrar va›s. Á heitir Vimur, er ﬁórr ó›ﬂá er hann sótti til Geirrø›argar›a. Ok svá kva› Vetrli›i:(57)

Leggi brauzt ﬂú Leiknar,*lam›ir ﬁrívalda,
steyptir *Starke›i,stóttu of Gjálp dau›a.

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Ok svá kva› ﬁorbjƒrn dísarskáld:(58)

Ball í Keilu kolli,
Kjallandi brauzt ﬂú alla,á›r draptu Lút ok Lei›a,léztu dreyra Búseyru,*heptir ﬂú Hengjankjƒptu,Hyrrokkin dó fyrri,ﬂó var snemr hin sámaSvívƒr numin *lífi.

Hvernig skal kenna Baldr? Svá at kalla hann son Ó›ins ok Friggjar,ver Nƒnnu, fa›ir Forseta, eigandi Hringhorna ok Draupnis, dólgrHa›ar, Heljar sinni, gráta gu›. Úlfr Uggason hefir kve›it eptir sƒgu

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Snorra Edda

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Baldrs langt skei› í Húsdrápu, ok ritat er á›r dœmi til ﬂess er Baldrer svá kendr.
Hvernig skal kenna Njƒr›? Svá at kalla hann vagna gu› e›a Vanani› e›a Van ok fƒ›ur Freys ok Freyju, *gefanda gu›. Svá segirﬁór›r Sjáreksson:
(59)

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7 15

Var› sjálf sonar—
nama snotr una—
Kjalarr of tam›i—kvá›ut Ham›i——Go›rún bani—go›brú›r Vani
—heldr vel mara—hƒrleik spara.

Hér er ﬂess getit er Ska›i gekk frá Nir›i sem fyrr er ritat.
Hvernig skal kenna Frey? Svá at kalla hann son Njar›ar, bró›ur
Freyju ok enn Vana gu› ok Vana ni› ok Vanr ok árgu› ok fégjafa.
Svá kva› Egill Skallagrímsson:
(60)

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ﬁvíat Grjótbjƒrn
of gœddan hefr
Freyr ok Njƒr›r
at fjárafli.

Freyr er kalla›r Belja dólgr, svá sem kva› Eyvindr skáldaspillir:(61)25

ﬁá er útrƒst
jarla bági
Belja dólgs
byggja vildi.

Hann ‹er› eigandi Skí›bla›nis ok galtar ﬂess er Gullinbusti heitir,
svá sem hér segir:(62)30Ívalda synir
gengu í árdaga
Skí›bla›ni at skipa,
skipa bazt,

Skáldskaparmál

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skírum Frey,n‡tum Njar›ar bur.
Svá segir Úlfr Uggason:(63)

Rí›r á *bƒrg til borgarbƒ›fró›r sonar Ó›ins
Freyr ok fólkum st‡rir
fyrst ok gulli byrstum.

Hann heitir ok Slí›rugtanni.
Hvernig skal Heimdall kenna? Svá at kalla hann son níu mœ›ra,vƒr› gu›a, svá sem fyrr er ritat, e›a hvíta Ás, Loka dólg, mensœkir
Freyju. Heimdalar hƒfu› heitir sver›; svá er sagt at hann var lostinnmanns hƒf›i í gƒgnum. Um hann er kve›it í Heimdalargaldri, ok er
sí›an kallat hƒfu› mjƒtu›r Heimdalar; sver› heitir manns mjƒtu›r.
Heimdalr er eigandi Gulltopps. Hann er ok tilsœkir Vágaskers okSingasteins; ﬂá deildi hann vi› Loka um Brísingamen. Hann heitir
ok Vindlér. Úlfr Uggason kva› í Húsdrápu langa stund eptir ﬂeiri
frásƒgu; er ﬂess ﬂar getit er ﬂeir váru í sela líkjum; ok sonr Ó›ins.
Hvernig skal kenna T‡? Svá at kalla hann einhenda Ás ok úlfsfóstra, víga gu›, son Ó›ins.
Hvernig skal kenna Braga? Svá at kalla hann I›unna‹r› ver, frumsmi›
bragar ok hinn sí›skeggja Ás; af hans nafni er sá kalla›r skeggbragi
er mikit skegg hefir; ok sonr Ó›ins.
Hvernig skal ‹kenna› Vi›ar? Hann má kalla hinn ﬂƒgla Ás, eiganda
jár‹n›skós, dólg ok bana Fenrisúlfs, hefni-Ás go›anna, byggvi-Ásfƒ›urtopta ok son Ó›ins, bró›ur Ásanna.
Hvernig skal kenna Vála? Svá at kalla hann son Ó›ins ok Rindar,
stjúp Friggjar, bró›ur Ásanna, hefni-Ás Baldr‹s›, dólg Ha›ar okbana hans, byggvanda fƒ›urtopta.
Hvernig skal kenna Hƒ›? Svá at kalla hann blinda Ás, Baldrs
bana, skjótanda mistilteins, *son Ó›ins, Heljar sinna, Vála dólg.
Hvernig skal kenna Ull? Svá at kalla hann son Sifjar, stjúp ﬁórs,ƒndur-Ás, boga Ás, vei›i-Ás, skjaldar Ás.
Hvernig skal kenna Hœni? Svá at kalla hann sessa e›a sinna e›amála Ó›ins ok hinn skjóta Ás ok hinn langa fót ok aurkonung.
Hvernig skal kenna Loka? Svá at kalla son Fárbauta ok Laufeyjar, Nálar, bró›ur B‡leists ok Helblinda, fƒ›ur Vánargands (ﬂat

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er Fenrisúlfr) ok Jƒrmungands (ﬂat er Mi›gar›sormr) ok Heljar ok
Nara, ok Ála frænda ok fƒ›urbró›ur, sinna ok sessa Ó›ins ok Ása,heimsœki ok kistuskrú› Geirrø›ar, ﬂjófr jƒtna, hafrs ok Brísingamens ok I›unnar epla, Sleipnis frænda, verr Sigynjar, go›a dólgr,hárska›i Sifjar, bƒlva smi›r, hinn slœgi Áss, rœgjanda ok vélandigo›anna, rá›bani Baldrs, hinn bundni, ﬂrætudólgr Heimdala‹r› okSka›a. Svá sem hér segir Úlfr Uggason:
(64)

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Snorra Edda

Rá›gegninn breg›r ragna
rein- at Singasteinifrægr vi› firna *slœgjan
Fárbauta *mƒg -vári.
Mó›ƒflugr ræ›r mœ›ramƒgr hafn‡ra fƒgru
—kynni ek—á›r *ok einnarátta—mær›ar ﬂáttum.

Hér er ﬂess getit at Heimdallr er son níu mœ›ra.
Nú skal enn segja dœmi af hverju ﬂær kenni‹n›gar eru er nú váru
rita›ar, er á›r váru eigi dœmi til sƒg›, svá sem Bragi sag›i Ægi at‘ﬁórr var farinn í Austrvega at berja trƒll, en Ó›inn rei› Sleipni íJƒtunheima ok kom til ﬂess jƒtuns er Hrungnir hét. ﬁá spyrr Hru‹n›gnir
hvat manna sá er me› gullhjálminn er rí›r lopt ok lƒg ok segir athann á fur›u gó›an hest. Ó›inn sag›i at ﬂar vill hann ve›ja fyrirhƒf›i sínu at engi hestr skal vera jafngó›r í Jƒtunheimum. Hrungnirs[ag›i] at sá er gó›r hestr, en hafa lézk hann mundu myklu stórfeta›rahest; sá heitir Gullfaxi. Hru‹n›gnir var› rei›r ok hleypr upp á hestsinn ok hleypir eptir honum ok hyggr at launa honum ofrmæli.
Ó›inn hleypti svá mikit at hann var á ƒ›ru leiti fyrir, en Hrungnir
var í svá miklum jƒtunmó› at hann fann eigi fyrr en hann sótti innof Ásgrindr. Ok er hann kom at hallardurum, bu›u Æsir honum til
drykkju. Hann gekk í hƒllina ok ba› fá sér drykkju. Váru ﬂá teknar
ﬂær skálir er ﬁórr var vanr at drekka ór, ok snerti Hru‹n›gnir órhverri. En er hann ger›isk drukkinn ﬂá skorti eigi stór or›. Hannlézk skyldu taka upp Valhƒll ok fœra í Jƒtunheima, en søkkva
Ásgar›i en drepa gu› ƒll, nema Freyju ok Sif vill hann heim fœrame› sér. En Freyja fór ﬂá at skenkja honum, ok drekka lézk hannmun‹d›u alt Ása ƒl. En er Ásum leiddisk ofrefli hans ﬂá nefna ﬂeirﬁór. ﬁví næst kom ﬁórr í hƒllina ok haf›i uppi á lopti hamarinn okSkáldskaparmál

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var allrei›r ok spyrr hverr ﬂví ræ›r er jƒtnar hundvísir skulu ﬂar
drekka, e›a hverr seldi Hrungni gri› at vera í Valhƒll e›a hví Freyja
skal skenkja honum sem at gildi Ása. ﬁá svarar Hrungnir ok sér ekki
vinaraugum til ﬁórs, sag›i at Ó›inn bau› honum til drykkju ok hannvar á hans gri›um. ﬁá mælir ﬁórr at ﬂess bo›s skal Hrungnir i›raská›r hann komi út. Hrungnir segir at Ásaﬂór er ﬂat lítill frami at
drepa hann vápnlausan; hitt er meiri hugraun ef hann ﬂorir berjaskvi› hann at landamæri á Grjótúnagƒr›um.
‘ “Ok hefir ﬂat verit mikit fólskuverk,” sag›i hann, “er ek lét eptir
heima skjƒld minn ok hein. En ef ek hef›a hér vápn mín ﬂá skyldu
vit nú reyna hólmgƒnguna. En at ƒ›rum kosti legg ek ﬂér vi› ní›ingsskap
ef ﬂú vill drepa mik vápnlausan.”‘ﬁórr vill fyrir øngan mun bila at koma til einvígis er honum var
hólmr skora›r, ﬂvíat engi hefir honum ﬂat fyrr veitt. Fór ﬂá Hrungnirbraut lei› sína ok hleypti ákafliga ﬂar til er hann kom í Jƒtunheima,
ok var fƒr hans allfræg me› jƒtnum ok ﬂat at stefnulag var komit áme› ﬂeim ﬁór. ﬁóttusk jƒtnar hafa mikit í ábyrg›, hvárr sigr fengi;
ﬂeim var ills ván at ﬁór ef Hrungnir létisk fyrir ﬂví at hann var ﬂeira
sterkastr. ﬁá ger›u jƒtnar mann á Grjótúnagƒr›um af leiri ok var
hann níu rasta hár en ﬂriggja brei›r undir hƒnd, en ekki fengu ﬂeir
hjarta svá mikit at honum sóm›i fyrr en ﬂeir tóku *ór *meri *nokkvorri,ok var› honum ﬂat eigi stƒ›ugt ﬂá er ﬁórr kom. Hrungnir átti hjarta
ﬂat er frægt er, af hƒr›um steini ok tindótt me› ﬂrim hornum svá
sem sí›an er gert var ristubrag› ﬂat er Hrungnis hjarta heitir. Af
steini var ok hƒfu› hans. Skjƒldr ‹hans› var ok steinn, ví›r ok
ﬂjokkr, ok haf›i hann skjƒldinn fyrir sér er hann stó› á Grjótúnagƒr›um ok bei› ﬁórs, en hein haf›i hann fyrir vápn ok reiddi of ƒxl
ok var ekki dælligr. Á a›ra hli› honum stó› leirjƒtunninn, er nefndr
er Mƒkkurkálfi, ok var hann allhræddr. Svá er sagt at hann meig erhann sá ﬁór. ﬁórr fór til hólmstefnu ok me› honum ﬁjálfi. ﬁá rannﬁjálfi fram at ﬂar er Hrungnir stó› ok mælti til hans:‘ “ﬁú stendr óvarliga, jƒtunn, hefir skjƒ‹l›dinn fyrir ﬂér, en ﬁórr
hefir sét ﬂik ok ferr hann it ne›ra í jƒr›u ok mun hann koma ne›anat ﬂér.”‘ﬁá skaut Hrungnir skildinum undir fœtr sér ok stó› á, en tvíhendi
heinina. ﬁví næst sá hann eldingar ok heyr›i ﬂrumur stórar. Sá hannﬂá ﬁór í ásmó›i, fór hann ákafliga ok reiddi hamarinn ok kasta›i um
langa lei› at Hrungni. Hrungnir fœrir upp heinina bá›um hƒndum,
kastar í mót. Mœtir hon hamrinum á flugi, heinin, ok brotnar sundr

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Snorra Edda

heinin; fellr annarr hlutr á jƒr› ok eru ﬂar af or›in ƒll heinberg.
Annarr hlutr brast í hƒf›i ﬁór svá at hann fell fram á jƒr›. En
hamarrinn Mjƒllnir kom í mitt hƒfu› Hru‹n›gni ok lam›i hausinn ísmán mola ok fell hann fram yfir ﬁór svá at fótr hans lá of háls ﬁór.
En ﬁjálfi vá at Mƒkkurkálfa, ok fell hann vi› lítinn or›stír. ﬁá gekk
ﬁjálfi til ﬁórs ok skyldi taka fót Hrungnis af honum ok gat hvergi
valdit. ﬁá gengu til Æsir allir er ﬂeir spur›u at ﬁórr var fallinn okskyldu taka fótinn af honum ok fengu hvergi komit. ﬁá kom til
Magni, sonr ﬁórs ok Járnsƒxu. Hann var ﬂá ﬂrívetr. Hann kasta›ifœti Hrungnis af ﬁór ok mælir:‘ “Sé ﬂar ljótan harm, fa›ir, er ek kom svá sí›. Ek hygg at jƒtun
ﬂenna mundak hafa lostit í Hel me› hnefa mér ef ek hef›a fundit
hann.”‘ﬁá stó› ﬁórr upp ok fagna›i vel syni sínum ok sag›i hann munduver›a mikinn fyrir sér.
‘ “Ok vil ek,” sag›i hann, “gefa ﬂér hestinn Gullfaxa, er Hrungnir
haf›i átt.”‘ﬁá mælir Ó›inn ok sag›i at ﬁórr ger›i rangt er hann gaf ﬂann
hinn gó›a hest g‡gjarsyni en eigi fƒ›ur sínum.
‘*ﬁórr fór heim til ﬁrú›vanga ok stó› heinin í hƒf›i honum. ﬁá
kom til vƒlva sú er Gróa hét, kona Aurvandils hins frœkna. Hon gól
galdra sína yfir ﬁór til ﬂess er heinin losna›i. En er ﬁórr fann ﬂat okﬂótti ﬂá ván at braut mundi ná heininni, ﬂá vildi hann launa Grólækningina ok gera hana fegna, sag›i henni ﬂau tí›indi at hann haf›iva›it nor›an yfir Élivága ok haf›i borit í meis á baki sér Aurvandil
nor›an ór Jƒtunheimum, ok ﬂat til jartegna at ein tá hans haf›i sta›itór meisinum ok var sú frerin svá at ﬁórr braut af ok kasta›i upp áhimin ok ger›i af stjƒrnu ﬂá er heitir Aurvandilstá. ﬁórr sag›i at eigi
mundi langt til at Aurvandill mundi heim, en Gróa var› svá fegin athon mun›i ønga galdra, ok var› heinin eigi lausari ok stendr enn íhƒf›i ﬁór; ok er ﬂat bo›it til varnanar at kasta hein of gólf ﬂvert,
ﬂvíat ﬂá hrœrisk heinin í hƒfu› ﬁór.’Eptir ﬂessi sƒgu hefir ort ﬁjó›ólfr hvinverski í Haustlƒng. Svásegir ﬂar:
(65)E›r of sér er jƒtna
ótti lét of *sóttan
hellis *bƒrr á hyrjar
haug Grjótúna baugi;Skáldskaparmál

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ók at ísarnleiki
Jar›‹a›r sunr, en dun›i—mó›r svall Meila bró›ur—
mána vegr und hánum.
(66)

(67)

(68)

(69)

Knáttu ƒll, en Ullar
endilág fyrir mági
grund var grápi hrundin,*ginnunga vé *brinna
ﬂá er hofregin *hafrar
hógrei›ar fram drógu—se›r gekk Svƒlnis ekkja
sundr—at Hrungnis fundi.
ﬁyrm›it Baldrs of barmi—berg—sólgnum ﬂar dólgi—hristusk, bjƒrg ok brustu,
brann upphiminn—manna;mjƒk frá ek móti hrøkkva
*myrkbeins *Haka reinar,ﬂá er vígligan, vƒgna
*vátt, sinn bana *ﬂátti.
Brátt fló bjarga gæti—bƒnd ollu ﬂví—randaímunfƒlr *und iljar
íss; vildu svá dísir.
Var›at hƒggs frá hƒr›u‹m›*hraundrengr ﬂa›an lengi
trjónu trƒlls of rúna*tí›s fjƒllama at bí›a.
Fjƒrspillir lét falla
fjálfrs ólágra gjálfra
bƒlver›ungar Beljabólm á randar hólmi.
ﬁar hné grundar gilja
gramr fyrir skƒrpum hamri
en berg-Dana bag›i
brjótr vi› jƒrmun‹ﬂrjóti›.

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(70)

Ok har›brotin herju
heimﬂingu›ar Vingnis
hvein í *hjarna mœnihein at grundar sveini,
ﬂar svá e›r í Ó›insólaus burar hausi
stála *vikr of stokkin
stó› Eindri›a bló›i,(71)á›r ór hneigihlí›um
hárs ƒl-Gefjun sárarei›it‡rs it rau›ary›s hœlibƒl gœli.
Gƒrla lít ek á Geitis
gar›i *ﬂær of far›ir.
Baugs ﬂá ek *bifum fá›abifkleif at ﬁorleifi.

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Snorra Eddaﬁá mælir Ægir: ‘Mikill ﬂótti mér Hrungnir fyrir sér. Vann ﬁórrmeira ﬂrekvirki nokkvot ﬂá er hann átti vi› trƒll?’ﬁá svarar Bragi: ‘Mikillar frásagnar er ﬂat vert er ﬁórr fór til
Geirrø›argar›a. ﬁá haf›i hann eigi hamarinn Mjƒllni e›a megingjar›are›a járngreipr, ok olli ﬂví Loki. Hann fór me› honum, ﬂvíat Lokahaf›i ﬂat hent ﬂá er hann flaug einu sinni at skemta sér me› valsham
Friggjar at hann flaug fyrir forvitni sakar í Geirrø›argar›a ok sá ﬂarhƒll mikla, settisk ok sá inn of glugg. En Geirrø›r leit í móti honumok mælir at taka skyldi fuglinn ok fœra honum. En sendima›rkomsk nau›uliga á hallar vegginn, svá var hann hár. ﬁat ﬂótti Lokagott er hann sótti erfi›liga til hans ok ætla›i sér stund at fljúga eigi
upp fyrr en hann haf›i farit alt torlei›it. En er ma›rinn sótti athonum ﬂá beinir hann fluginn ok spyrnir vi› fast ok eru ﬂá fœtrnir
fastir. Var Loki tekinn ﬂar hƒndum ok fœr›r Geirrø›i jƒtni. En erhann sá augu hans ﬂá gruna›i hann at ma›r mundi vera ok ba› hannsvara, en Loki ﬂag›i. ﬁá læsti Geirrø›r Loka í kistu ok svelti hannﬂar ﬂrjá mánu›r. En ﬂá er Geirrø›r tók hann upp ok beiddi hannor›a, ok sag›i Loki hverr hann var, ok til *fjƒrlausnar vann hannGeirrø›i ﬂess ei›a at hann skyldi koma ﬁór í Geirrø›argar›a svá athann hef›i hvárki hamarinn né megingjar›ar. ﬁórr kom til gistingar
til g‡gjar ﬂeirar er Grí›r er kƒllu›. Hon var mó›ir Vi›ars hins ﬂƒgla.

Skáldskaparmál

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Hon sag›i ﬁór satt frá Geirrø›i at hann var jƒtunn hundvíss ok illr
vi›reignar. Hon lé›i honum megingjar›a ok járngreipr er hon átti okstaf sinn er heitir Grí›arvƒlr. ﬁá fór ﬁórr til ár ﬂeirar er Vimur heitir,
allra á mest. ﬁá spenti hann sik megingjƒr›um ok studdi forstreymis
Grí›arvƒl, en Loki helt undir megingjar›ar. Ok ﬂá er ﬁórr kom ámi›ja ána ﬂá óx svá mjƒk áin at uppi braut á ƒxl honum. ﬁá kva›ﬁórr ﬂetta:(72)‘ “Vaxattu nú, Vimur,
alls mik ﬂik va›a tí›irjƒtna gar›a í;
veiztu ef ﬂú vex
at ﬂá vex mér ásmeginjafnhátt upp sem himinn.”‘ﬁá sér ﬁórr uppi í gljúfrum nokkvorum at Gjálp, dóttir Geirrø›ar,stó› ﬂar tveim megin árinnar ok ger›i hon árvƒxtinn. ﬁá tók ﬁórrupp ór ánni stein mikinn ok kasta›i at henni ok mælti svá:
‘ “At ósi skal á stemma.”‘Eigi misti hann ﬂar er hann kasta›i til. Ok í ﬂví bili bar hann at
landi ok fekk tekit reynirunn nokkvorn ok steig svá ór ánni. ﬁví er
ﬂat or›tak haft at reynir er bjƒrg ﬁórs.
‘En er ﬁórr kom til Geirrø›ar ﬂá var ﬂeim félƒgum vísat fyrst ígeitahús til herbergis, ok var ﬂar einn stóll til sætis ok sat ﬂar ﬁórr.
ﬁá var› hann ﬂess varr at stóllinn fór undir honum upp at ræfri.
Hann stakk Grí›arveli upp í raptana ok lét sígask fast á stólinn. Var›ﬂá brestr mikill ok fylg›i skrækr mikill. ﬁar hƒf›u verit undir stólinumdœtr Geirrø›ar Gjálp ok Greip, ok haf›i hann brotit hrygginn íbá›um.
‘ﬁá lét Geirrø›r kalla ﬁór í hƒllina til leika. ﬁar váru eldar stórir
eptir endilangri hƒllinni. En er ﬁórr kom í hƒllina gagnvart Geirrø›iﬂá tók Geirrø›r me› tƒng járnsíu glóandi ok kastar at ﬁór, en ﬁórrtók í móti me› járngreipum ok fœrir á lopt síuna, en Geirrø›r hljóp
undir járnsúlu at for›a sér. ﬁórr kasta›i síunni ok laust gƒgnum
súluna ok gƒgnum Geirrø› ok gƒgnum vegginn ok svá fyrir útan ‹í›jƒr›ina.’
Eptir ﬂessi sƒgu hefir ort Eilífr Gu›rúnarson í ﬁórsdrápu:(73)

Flugstalla ré› *felli*fjƒrnets go›a at *hvetja

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—drjúgr var Loptr at ljúga—lƒgseims fa›ir heiman.
Ge›reynir kva› *grœnar
Gauts herﬂrumu brautir
vilgi tryggr til veggjar
viggs Geirrø›ar liggja.

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(74)

Ge›strangrar lét gƒngu
gammlei› ﬁórr skƒmmu
—f‡stusk ﬂeir at ﬂr‡sta*ﬁorns ni›jum—sik bi›ja,
ﬂá er *gar›venju›r gƒr›isk
Gandvíkr Skotum ríkri
endr til Ymsa kindarI›ja setrs frá ﬁri›ja.

(75)Gƒrr var› í fƒr fyrri*farmr meinsvárans armasóknar hapts me› svipti
sagna galdrs en *Rƒgnir.
ﬁyl ek *granstrauma Grímnis.
Gall- mantælir halla-ópnis ilja gaupnum
Endils á mó *spendi.

(76)

Ok *gangs vanir gengu
gunnvargs; himintƒrgu
Frí›ar vers til fljó›afrumseyris kom dreyra,ﬂá er bƒlkve‹i›tir brjóta
brag›mildr Loka vildi
bræ›i vændr á brú›i
bág sef-Grímnis mága.

(77)

Ok vegﬂverrir *varra
vann fetrunnar Nƒnnu
hjalts af *hagli oltnar
hlaupár um ver gaupu.
Mjƒk lei› ór sta› støkkvir
stiklei›ar veg brei›an

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27

ur›ar ﬂrjóts ﬂar er eitriœstr ﬂjó›ár fnœstu.
(78)

(79)

(80)

(81)

ﬁar í mƒrk fyrir markar
málhvettan byr settu(ne hvélvƒlur hálar)háf- skotna›ra (sváfu).
Knátti hreggi hƒggvin
hlymﬂél vi› mƒl glymja
en fellihryn fjalla
Fe›ju ﬂaut me› ste›ja.
Har›vaxnar sér her›ir
halllands of sik falla(*gatat ma›r) njótr (hin neytri)njar›- (rá› fyrir sér) -gjar›ar.
ﬁverrir lætr nema ﬂyrri
ﬁo‹r›ns *barna sér Mƒrnar
snerribló› til svíra
salﬂaks megin vaxa.
Ó›u fast (en) *frí›ir(flaut) ei›svara Gauta
setrs víkingar snotrir(*svar›runnit fen) gunnar.
ﬁur›i hrƒnn at her›ihau›rs runkykva nau›arjar›ar skafls af afli
áss hretvi›ri blásin,unz me› ‡ta sinni(aflraun var ﬂat) skaunará seil [(himinsjóla)sjálflopta kom ﬁjálfi.
*Há›u stáli strí›an
straum Hrekkmímis ekkjur.
Stophnísu] fór stey[pirstrí›lundr me› v]ƒl Grí›ar.

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(82)

Ne djúp- *akƒrn drápu
dólgs vamms firum gl[ammastrí›kvi›jun]dum stƒ›var
stall vi› rastar *-falli.
Ógndjarfan hlaut *Atli*eir[fjar›an hug] meira.
Skalfa ﬁórs né ﬁjálfa
ﬂróttar steinn vi› ótta.

(83)

Ok sifuna sí›ansver›s li›hatar ger›u
hlífar bor›s vi› Hƒr›ahar›gleipnis dyn *bar›a,á›r hylri›ar *hæ›ihrjó›endr fjƒru ﬂjó›arvi› skyld-Breta skytju
skálleik He›ins reikar.

(84)

Dreif me› dróttar kneyfi(dólg- Sví›jó›ar *kólgu,sótti -fer› á flótta)flesdrótt í vá nesja,ﬂá er funhristis fasta(fló›rifs Danir) stó›u(knáttu) Jólnis ættir
(útvés fyrir lúta).

(85)*ﬁars í ﬂróttar hersa‹r›*ﬁornrann hugum bornir,hlymr var› *hellis Kumra
hrin‹g›bálkar, fram gingu.
*Lista ‹var› fœr›r í fasta(fri›sein var ﬂar) *hreina
gnípu hlƒ›r á greypan(grán) hƒtt *risa kvánar.

(86)

Ok (hám) loga himni
hall- (fylvingum) -vallar(trá›usk ﬂær) vi› tró›itungls brá *salar ﬂrungu.

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29

Húfstjóri braut hváru
hreggs váfrei›a‹r› tveggja
hlátrelli›a hellis*hundfornan kjƒl *sprundi.
(87)

(88)

(89)

(90)

Fátí›a nam frœ›i(fjar›eplis) kon Jar›ar(Mœrar legs ne m‡g›umenn ƒlteiti) kenna.
Álmtaugar laust œgirangrﬂjóf *sega *tangar*Ó›ins afli so›numáttru›r í gin Su›ra.
Svá at hra›skyndir handa
hrapmunnum svalg gunnar*lyptisylg á lopti†langvinr síu *ﬁrƒngvar,
ﬂá er *ƒrﬂrasis *eisa*ós Hrímnis fló drósar
til ﬂrámó›nis ﬁrú›ar
ﬂjóst af greipar brjósti.
Bif›isk hƒll ﬂá er hƒf›i
Hei›reks of kom brei›u
und fletbjarnar *fornan
fótlegg ﬁurnis veggjar.
Ítr gulli laust Ullar
jótrs vegtaugar ﬂrjóti
meina ni›r í mi›jan
mest bígyr›il nestu.
Glaums ni›jum fór gƒrva
gramr me› dreyrgum hamri;of salvani›-Synjar
sigr hlaut *arinbauti.
Komat tvívi›ar t‡vi
tollur karms sá er harmi
brautarli›s of beitti
bekk- fall jƒtuns -rekka.

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(91)

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*Herblótinn vá hneitir
hógbrotningi skógar
undirfjálfrs af *afli
álfheims bliku kálfa.
Ne li›fƒstum Lista
látrval-Ryg‹j›ar máttu
aldrminkanda *aldar
Ellu steins of bella.

Hvernig skal kenna Frigg? Svá at kalla hana dóttur Fjƒrgyns, konuÓ›ins, mó›ur Baldrs, elju Jar›ar ok Rindar ok Gunnla›ar ok Ger›ar,sværa Nƒnnu, drottning Ása ok Ásynja, Fullu ok valshams ok *Fensala.
Hvernig skal Freyju kenna? Svá at kalla dóttur Njar›ar, systur
Freys, konu *Ó›s, mó›ur Hnossar, eigandi valfalls ok Sessrúmnis
ok fressa, Brísingamens, Vana go›, Vana dís, it grátfagra go›. Svámá kenna allar Ásynjur at nefna annarrar nafni ok kenna vi› eigne›a verk sín e›a ættir.
Hvernig skal kenna Sif? Svá at kalla hana konu ﬁórs, mó›ur Ullar,
it hárfagra go›, elja Járnsƒxu, mó›ir ﬁrú›ar.
Hvernig skal kenna I›unni? Kalla hana konu Braga ok gætandi
eplanna, en eplin ellilyf Ásanna; hon er ok ránfengr ﬁjaza jƒtuns,
svá sem fyrr er sagt at hann tók hana braut frá Ásum. Eptir ﬂeiri
sƒgu orti ﬁjó›ólfr hinn hvinverski í Haustlƒng:(92)

Hvé skal ek gott gjƒldum
gunnveggjar b[rú leggja...................
raddkleif] at ﬁo[rleifi].
T‡framra sé ek tíva
trygglaust *of *far [ﬂriggja
á hreingƒ]ru hl‡ri
hild[ar] *fats ok ﬁjaza.

(93)Segjƒndum fló sagna
sn[ótar úlfr at m]óti
í gemlis ha[m] gƒmlum
glamma *ó- fyr -skƒmmu.
Settisk ƒrn ﬂar er Æs[ir]ár *Gefnar mat báru

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31(vara byrgit‡r bjargabley›i *vændr) á se‹y››i.
(94)

(95)

(96)

(97)

*Tormi›la›r var tívum
tálhreinn me›al beina.
Hvat *kva› hapta snytrir
hjálmfaldinn ﬂví valda.
Margspakr of nam mælamár valkastar báru
—vara Hœnis *vinr hánum
hollr—af fornum ﬂolli.
Fjallgyl›ir ba› *fyllar
fet-Me‹i›la ‹sér deila›—hl‹a›ut—af helgu‹m› skutli—hrafn-Ásar vin blása.
Ving-Rƒgnir lét ‹vagna›
vígfrekr ofan sígask
ﬂar er vélsparir váru
varnendr go›a farnir.
Fljótt ba› foldar dróttinn
Fárbauta mƒg *Várar
ﬂekkiligr me› ﬂegnum
ﬂrymseilar hval deila.
En af brei›u bjó›ibrag›víss at ﬂat lag›iósvifrandi Ása
upp ﬂjórhl‹ut›i fjóra.
Ok slí›rliga sí›ansvangr—var ﬂat fyrir lƒngu—át af eikirót[um]okbjƒrn fa›ir Mƒrna‹r›á›r djúphuga›r dræpi
dólg ballastan vallarhir›[i]t‡r me›al her›aherfangs †ofan stƒngu.

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(98)

ﬁá var› fastr vi› fóstra
farmr *Sigynjar arma
sá er ƒll regin eygjaƒndurgu›s í bƒndum.
Loddi rá vi› ramman
reimu› Jƒtunheima
en holls vinar Hœnis
hendr vi› stangar enda.

(99)

Fló me› fró›gum tívi
fangsæll of veg langan
sveita nagr svá at slitna
sundr *úlfs *fa›ir mundi.
ﬁá var› ﬁórs of rúni—*ﬂungr var Loptr of sprunginn—*málunaut hvats mátti*Mi›jungs fri›ar bi›ja.

(100)

Sér ba› sagna hrœri
sorgœra‹n› mey fœraﬂá er ellilyf Ása,áttrunnr Hymis, kunni.
Brunnakrs of kom *bekkjar
Brísings go›a dísi
gir›iﬂjófr í gar›a
grjót-Ní›a›ar sí›an.

(101)

Ur›ut bjartra bor›a
byggvendr at ﬂat hryggvir
ﬂá var I›- me› jƒtnum
-u›r n‡komin sunnan.
Gƒr›usk allar áttir
Ingi-Freys at ﬂingi—váru heldr—ok hárar—hamljót regin—gamlar,(102)

unz hrynsævar hræva
*hund ƒl-Gefnar fundu
lei›iﬂír ok læv[a]lund ƒl-Gefnar bundu.

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33‘ﬁú skalt véltr nema vélum,’rei›r mælir svá, ‘*lei›irmunstœrandi mæramey aptr, Loki, ‹hapta›.’
(103)

(104)

*Heyr›ak svá ﬂat sí›ansveik *apt Ása *leiku
hugreynandi Hœnis
*hauks flugbjálfa aukinn,
ok lómhuga›r lag›ileikbla›s reginn fja›rar
ern at ƒglis barni
arnsúg fa›ir Mƒrnar.
Hófu skjótt (en skófu)skƒpt (ginnregin) brinna
en son *bi›ils ‹svi›nar›—sveipr var› í fƒr—Greipar.
ﬁats of fátt á fjalla
Finns ilja brú minni.
Baugs ‹ﬂá ek› bifum fá›abifkleif at ﬁorleifi.

Ásu er svá rétt at kenna at kalla einnhvern annars nafni ok kenna vi›
verk sín e›a eign e›a ættir.
Hvernig skal kenna himin? Svá at kalla hann Ymis haus ok ﬂar afjƒtuns haus ok erfi›i e›a byr›i dverganna e›a hjálm Vestra okAustra, Su›ra, Nor›ra, land sólar ok tungls ok himintungla, vagna
ok ve›ra, hjálmr e›a hús lopts ok jar›ar ok sólar. Svá kva› Arnórr
jarlaskáld:(105)

Ungr skjƒldungr stígr aldri
jafnmildr á vi› skjaldar—ﬂess var grams—und gƒmlum—
gnóg rausn—Ymis hausi.

Ok enn sem hann kva›:(106)Bjƒrt ver›r sól at svartri,søkkr fold í mar døkkvan,

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34

brestr erfi›i Austra,allr glymr sjár á fjƒllum.
Ok enn sem kva› Kolli:(107)
5Alls engi ver›r Inga
undir sólar grundubƒ›var hvatr né betribrœ›r landreki œ›ri.

Ok sem kva› ﬁjó›ólfr inn hvinverski:
(108)
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Ók at isarnleiki
Jar›ar sunr ok dun›i—mó›r svall Meila bló›a—mána vegr und hánum.

Svá sem kva› Ormr Barreyjaskáld:
(109)
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Hvégi er, Draupnis drógar
dís, ramman spyr ek vísa,sá ræ›r—valdr—fyrir veldi—
vagnbrautar mér fagnar.

Svá sem kva› Bragi skáld:
(110)
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Hinn er varp á ví›avinda ƒndurdísar
yfir manna sjƒt margra
munnlaug fƒ›ur augum.

Ok sem Markús kva›:
(111)
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Fjarri hefir at fœ›isk d‡rri
flotna vƒr›r á élkers botni—háva leyfir hverr ma›r ævi
hringvarpa›ar—gjálfri kring›um.

Svá sem kva› Steinn Herdísarson:

Skáldskaparmál
(112)

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Hás kve› ek helgan ræsiheimtjalds at brag ﬂeima—*mær› ræzk fram—en fyr›afyrr ﬂvíat hann er d‡rri.

Ok sem kva› Arnórr jarlaskáld:
(113)

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Hjálp ﬂú d‡rr konungr d‡rum
dags grundar Hermundi.

Ok enn sem kva› Arnórr:(114)

Sa›r stillir hjálp ﬂú snjƒllum
sóltjalda Rƒgnvaldi.

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Ok sem kva› Hallvar›r:(115)

Knútr verr jƒr› *sem ítran
alls *dróttinn sal fjalla.

Sem Arnórr kva›:(116)

Míkáll vegr ﬂat er misgert ﬂikkir
mannvits fró›r ok alt it gó›a,tiggi skiptir sí›an seggjum
sólar hjálms á dœmistóli.

Hvernig skal jƒr› kenna? Kalla Ymis hold ok mó›ur ﬁórs, dóttur
Ónars, brú›i Ó›ins, elju Friggjar ok Rindar ok Gunnla›ar, sværu
Sifjar, *gólf ok botn ve›ra hallar, sjá d‡ranna, dóttir Náttar, systirAu›s ok Dags. Svá sem kva› Eyvindr skáldaspillir:(117)

Nú er álfrƒ›ull elfarjƒtna dólgs of fólginn—rá› eru rammrar ﬂjó›arrík—í mó›ur líki.

Sem kva› Hallfrø›r vandræ›askáld:(118)

Rá› lukusk at sá sí›ansnjall‹r›á›r konungs spjalli

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36átti eingadóttur
Ónars vi›i gróna.
Ok enn sag›i hann:(119)
5Brei›leita gat brú›i
Báleygs at sér teygja
stefnir stƒ›var hrafna
stála ríkismálum.

Svá sem fyrr er ritat, ‘Fjarri hefir at fœ›isk d‡rri . . .’ Svá sem kva›ﬁjó›ólfr:
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(120)

Útan bindr vi› enda
elgvers glƒ›u›r hersa
hreins vi› húfi rónum
hafs botni *far gotna.

Sem Hallfrø›r kva›:
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(121)

ﬁví hygg fleygjanda frægjan
—ferr jƒr› und menﬂverri—ítra eina látaAu›s ‹systur› mjƒk trau›an.

Svá kva› ﬁjó›ólfr:
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(122)

Dólgljóss hefir dási
darrlatr sta›it fjarri
endr ﬂá er elju Rindar*ómynda tók skyndir.

Hvernig skal sæ kenna? Svá at kalla hann Ymis bló›, heimsœkir
gu›anna, verr ‹R›ánar, fa›ir Ægis dœtra ﬂeira er svá heita: Himinglæva,Dúfa, Bló›ughadda, Hefring, U›r, Hrƒnn, Bylgja, Bára, Kólga; landRánar ok Ægis dœtra ok skipa ok sæskips heita, kjalar, stála, sú›a,s‡ju, fiska, ísa, sækonunga lei› ok brautir, eigi sí›r hringr eyjanna,
hús sanda ok ﬂangs ok skerja, dorgar land og sæfogla, byrjar. Svá
sem kva› Ormr *Barreyjarskáld:

Skáldskaparmál
(123)

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Útan gn‡r á eyri
Ymis bló› fara gó›ra.

Svá kva› Refr:(124)

Vágﬂr‡sta berr vestan—vætti ek lands fyrir brandi,*hvalmœni skefr—húna
hógd‡r of lƒg bógu.

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Svá sem kva› Sveinn:(125)ﬁá er élre‹i›far ófuÆgis dœtr ok teyg›u*fƒls vi› frost of alnar
fjallgar›s rokur har›ar.

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Ok sem kva› Refr:(126)Fœrir bjƒrn, ﬂar er bára
brestr, undinna festa
opt í Ægis kjƒpta
*úrsvƒl Gymis vƒlva.

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Hér er sagt at alt er eitt, Ægir ok Hlér ok Gymir. Ok enn kva› hann:(127)

En sjágnípu Sleipnir
slítr úrdrifinn hvítrar
Ránar rau›um ste‹i›ni
runnit brjóst ór munni.

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Sem kva› Einarr Skúlason:(128)

Har›r hefir ƒrt frá jƒr›uélvindr—svana strindar
blakk‹r› *lætr í sog søkkva
s‹n›ægrund—skipi hrundit.

Ok enn sem hann kva›:

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38
(129)

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Ok enn kva› hann:
(130)

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Margr ríss en drífr dorgar
dynstrƒnd í svig lƒndum—
spend ver›a *stƒg stundum—stir›‹r› *keipr—fira greipum.

*Grams bera gollna spánu—gƒfug fer› er sú jƒfri;sk‡tr hó‹l›mfjƒturr Heita
hrafni—snekkju stafna‹r›.

Enn sem hann kva›:(131)

Haustkƒld skotar héldum
hólmrƒnd varrar ƒndri.

Ok enn svá:
(132)
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Sundr springr svalra landa
sverrigjƒr› fyrir bƒr›um.

Sem Snæbjƒrn kva›:
(133)

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Hvatt kve›a hrœra Grotta
hergrimmastan skerjaút fyrir jar›a‹r› skauti
eylú›rs níu brú›ir,
ﬂær er—lungs—fyrir lƒngu
li›meldr—skipa hlí›arbaugsker›ir rístr bar›iból—Amló›a mólu.

Hér er kallat hafit *Amló›a kvern. Enn sem kva› Einarr Skúlason:(134)

Viknar ramr í (Rakna)
reksaumr flugastraumi—dúks hrindr bƒl—ﬂar bleikir
bifgrund—*á stag rifjum.

Skáldskaparmál

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Hvernig skal kenna sól? Svá at kalla hana dóttur Mundilfœra,systur Mána, kona Glens, eldr himins ok lopts. Svá sem kva› Skúli
ﬁorsteinsson:(135)

Glens be›ja ve›r gy›ju
gu›blí› í vé, sí›anljós kemr gott me› geislum
gránserks ofan mána.

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Svá kva› Einarr Skúlason:(136)

Hvargi er Beita borgar*bálgrimmustum skála
hár *of hnossvin várum
heims vafrlogi sveimar.

Hvernig skal kenna vind? Svá at kalla hann son Fornjóts, bró›urÆgis ok elds, brjót vi›ar, ska›i ok bani e›a hundr e›a vargr vi›are›a segls e›a seglrei›a. Svá sag›i Sveinn í Nor›rsetudrápu:
(137)

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Tóku fyrst til fjúka
Fornjóts synir ljótir.

Hvernig skal kenna eld? Svá at kalla hann bró›ur vinds og Ægis,bana ok grand vi›ar ok húsa, Hálfs bani, sól húsanna.
Hvernig skal kenna vetr? Svá at kalla hann son Vindsvals ok banaorma, *hrí›mál. Svá kva› Ormr Steinﬂórsson:
(138)

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Ræ› ek ﬂenna mƒg manni
Vindsvals una› blindum.

Svá kva› Ásgrímr:(139)

Sigrgœ›ir var sí›anseimƒrr í *ﬁrándheimi—ﬂjó› veit ﬂínar í›ir—
ﬂann orms trega—sannar.

Hvernig skal kenna sumar? Svá at kalla son Svása›ar ok líkn‹or›manna, gró›r manna. Svá sem kva› Egill Skallagrímsson:

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Snorra Edda
Upp skulum órum sver›um,úlfs tannlitu›r, glitra;
eigum dá› at dr‡gja
í dalmiskunn fiska.

Hvernig skal kenna mann? Hann skal kenna vi› verk sín, ﬂat er
hann veitir e›a ﬂiggr e›a gerir. Hann má ok kenna til eignar sinnar
ﬂeirar er hann á ok svá ef hann gaf, svá ok vi› ættir ﬂær er hann kom
af, svá ﬂær er frá honum kómu. Hvernig skal hann kenna vi› ﬂessa
hluti? Svá at kalla hann vinnanda e›a fremjanda e›a ‹til› fara sinna e›aathafnar, víga e›a sæfara e›a vei›a e›a vápna e›a skipa. Ok fyrir
ﬂví at hann er reynir vápnanna ok vi›r víganna—alt eitt ok vinnandi;vi›r heitir ok tré, reynir heitir tré—af ﬂessum heitum hafa skáldin
kallat menn ask e›a hlyn, lund e›a ƒ›rum vi›ar heitum karlkendum
ok kent til víga e›a skipa e›a fjár. Mann er ok rétt at kenna til allraÁsa heita. Kent er ok vi› jƒtna heiti, ok er ﬂat flest há› e›a lastmæli.
Vel ﬂykkir kent til álfa. Konu skal kenna til alls kvenbúna›ar, gulls
ok gimsteina, ƒls e›a víns e›a annars drykkjar ﬂess er hon selr e›agefr, svá ok til ƒlgagna ok til allra ﬂeira hluta er henni samir at vinnae›a veita. Rétt er at kenna hana svá at kalla hana selju e›a lóg ﬂess
er hon mi›lar, en selja e›a lág, ﬂat eru tré. Fyrir ﬂví er kona kƒllu›til kenningar ƒllum kvenkendum vi›ar heitum. En fyrir ﬂví er kona†kend til gimsteina e›a glersteina, ﬂat var í forneskju kvinna búna›r
er kallat var steinasørvi er ﬂær hƒf›u á hálsi sér. Nú er svá fœrt til
kenningar at konan er nú kend vi› stein e›a vi› ƒll steins heiti. Konaer ok kend vi› allar Ásynjur e›a nornir e›a dísir. Konu er ok rétt at
kenna vi› alla athƒfn sína e›a vi› eign sína e›a ætt.
Hvernig skal kenna gull? Sva at kalla ﬂat eld Ægis ok barr Glasis,
haddr Sifjar, hƒfu›band Fullu, grátr Freyju, munntal ok rƒdd ok or›jƒtna, dropa Draupnis ok regn e›a skúr Draupnis e›a augna Freyju,
otrgjƒld, slƒggjald Ásanna, *sá› F‡risvalla, haugﬂak Hƒlga, eldr
allra vatna ok handar, grjót ok sker e›a blik handar.
Fyrir hví er gull kallat eldr Ægis? ﬁessi saga er til ﬂess, er fyrr ergetit, at Ægir sótti heimbo› til Ásgar›s, en er hann var búinn til
heimfer›ar ﬂá bau› hann til sín Ó›ni ok ƒllum Ásum á ﬂriggja
mána›a fresti. Til ﬂeirar fer›ar var› fyrst Ó›inn ok Njƒr›r, Freyr,T‡r, Bragi, Vi›arr, Loki; svá ok Ásynjur, Frigg, Freyja, Gefjun,
Ska›i, I›unn, Sif. ﬁórr var eigi ﬂar. Hann var farinn í Austrveg at
drepa trƒll. En er go›in hƒf›u sezk í sæti ﬂá lét Ægir bera inn áhallargólf l‡sigull ﬂat er birti ok l‡sti hƒllina sem eldr ‹ok ﬂat var

Skáldskaparmál

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ﬂar haft fyrir ljós at hans v[eiz]lu svá› sem í Valhƒllu váru sver›infyrir eld. ﬁá senti Loki ﬂar vi› ƒll go› ok drap ﬂræl Ægis ﬂann er
Fimafengr hét. Annarr ﬂræll hans er nefndr *Eldir. Rán er nefnd
kona Ægis, en níu dœtr ﬂeira, svá sem fyrr er ritat. At ﬂeiri veizlu
vannsk alt sjálft, bæ›i vist ok ƒl ok ƒll rei›a er til veizlunnar ﬂurfti.
ﬁá ur›u Æsir ﬂess varir at Rán átti net ﬂat er hon veiddi í menn allaﬂá er á sæ kómu. Nú er ﬂessi saga til ﬂess hva›an af ﬂat er, gull er
kallat eldr e›a ljós e›a birti Ægis, Ránar e›a Ægis dœtra. Ok af
ﬂeim kenningum er nu svá sett at gull er kallat eldr sævar ok allra
hans heita, svá sem Ægir e›a Rán eigu heiti vi› sæinn. Ok ﬂa›an af
er nú gull kallat eldr vatna e›a á ok allra árheita. En ﬂessi heiti hafa
svá farit sem ƒnnur ok kenningar, at hin yngri skáld hafa ort eptirdœmum hinna gƒmlu skálda, svá sem stó› í ﬂeira kvæ›um, en settsí›an út í hálfur ﬂær er ﬂeim ﬂóttu líkar vi› ﬂat er fyrr var ort, svá
sem vatnit er sænum en áin vatninu en lœkr ánni. ﬁví er ﬂat kallatn‡gervingar alt er út er sett heiti lengra en fyrr finnsk, ok ﬂykkir ﬂat
vel alt er me› líkindum ferr ok e›li. Svá kva› Bragi skáld:(141)

Eld of ﬂák af jƒfri
ƒlna bekks vi› drykkju—ﬂat gaf—Fjƒlnis fjalla—me› fulli mér stillir.

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Hví er gull kallat barr e›a lauf Glasis? Í Ásgar›i fyrir durum
Valhallar stendr lundr sá er Glasir er kalla›r, en lauf hans alt er gullrautt, svá sem hér er kve›it at(142)

Glasir stendrme› gullnu laufi
fyrir Sigt‡s sƒlum.

Sá er vi›r *fegrstr me› go›um ok mƒnnum.
Hví er gull kallat haddr Sifjar? Loki Laufeyjarson haf›i ﬂat gert tillævísi at klippa hár alt af Sif. En er ﬁórr var› ﬂess *varr, tók hann
Loka ok mundi lemja hvert bein í honum á›r hann svar›i ﬂess athann skal fá af svartálfum at ﬂeir skulu gera af gulli Sifju hadd ﬂann
er svá skal vaxa sem annat hár. Eptir ﬂat fór Loki til ﬂeira dverga erheita Ívalda synir, ok ger›u ﬂeir haddinn ok Skí›bla›ni ok geirinn
er Ó›inn átti er Gungnir heitir. ﬁá *ve›ja›i Loki hƒf›i sínu vi› ﬂann
dverg er ‹Brokkr› heitir, hvárt bró›ir hans ‹Eitri› mundi gera jafngó›a

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gripi ﬂrjá sem ﬂessir váru. En er ﬂeir kómu til smi›ju, ﬂá lag›i‹Eitri› svínskinn í aflinn ok ba› blása ‹Brokk› ok létta eigi fyrr enat tœki ﬂat ór aflinum er hann lag›i í. En ﬂegar er hann gekk ór
smi›junni en hinn blés, ﬂá settisk fluga ein á hƒnd honum ok kroppa›i,en hann blés sem á›r ﬂar til er smi›rinn tók ór aflinum, ok var ﬂatgƒltr ok var bur‹s›tin ór gulli. ﬁví næst lag›i hann í aflinn gull okba› hann blása ok hætta eigi fyrr blæstrinum en hann kvæmi aptr.
Gekk á braut. En ﬂá kom flugan ok settisk á háls honum ok kroppa›inú hálfu fastara, en hann blés ﬂar til er smi›rinn tók ór aflinum
gullhring ﬂann er Draupnir heitir. ﬁá lag›i hann járn í aflinn ok ba›
hann blása ok sag›i at ón‡tt mundi ver›a ef blástrinn felli. ﬁá settisk
flugann milli augna honum ok kroppa›i hvarmana, en er bló›it fell
í augun svá at hann sá ekki, ﬂá greip hann til hendinni sem skjótast
me›an belgrinn lag›isk ni›r ok sveipti af sér flugunni. Ok ﬂá kom
ﬂar smi›rinn at, sag›i at nú lag›i nær at alt mundi ón‡task er íaflinum var. ﬁá tók hann ór aflinum ‹hamar›. Fekk hann ﬂá alla
gripina í hendr bró›ur sínum ‹Brokk› ok ba› hann fara me› tilÁsgar›s ok leysa ve›jun‹i›na. En er ﬂeir Loki báru fram gripina, ﬂá
settusk Æsirnir á dómstóla ok skyldi ﬂat atkvæ›i standask sem seg›iÓ›inn, ﬁórr, Freyr. ﬁá gaf Loki Ó›ni geirinn Gungni, en ﬁór haddinn
er Sif skyldi hafa, en Frey Skí›bla›ni, ok sag›i skyn á ƒllum gripum,
at *geirrinn nam aldri sta›ar í lagi, en haddrinn var holdgróinn
ﬂegar er hann kom á hƒfu› Sif, en Skí›bla›nir haf›i byr ﬂegar er
segl kom á lopt, hvert er fara skyldi, en mátti vefja saman sem dúk
ok hafa í pung sér ef ﬂat vildi. ﬁá bar fram ‹Brokkr› sína gripi. Hann
gaf Ó›ni hringinn ok sag›i at ina níundu hverja nótt mundi drjúpa
af honum átta hringar jafnhƒfgir sem hann. En Frey gaf hann gƒltinn
ok sag›i at hann mátti renna lopt ok lƒg nótt ok dag meira en hverr
hestr, ok aldri var› svá myrkt af nótt e›a í myrkheimum at eigi væriœrit ljóst ﬂar er hann fór, svá l‡sti af burstinni. ﬁá gaf hann ﬁórhamarinn ok sag›i at hann mundi mega ljósta svá stórt sem hannvildi, hvat sem fyrir væri, ok eigi mundi hamarrinn bila, ok ef hannvyrpi honum til ﬂá mundi hann aldri missa, ok aldri fljúgja svá langt
at eigi mundi hann sœkja heim hƒnd. Ok ef hann vildi, ﬂá var hannsvá lítill at hafa mátti í serk sér. En ﬂat var l‡ti á at forskeptit var
heldr skamt. ﬁat var dómr ﬂeira at hamarrinn var beztr af ƒllum
gripum ok mest vƒrn í fyrir hrímﬂursum, ok dœm›u ﬂeir at dvergrinnætti ve›féit. ﬁá bau› Loki at leysa hƒfu› sitt. Dvergrinn svarar,sag›i at ﬂess var engi ván.

Skáldskaparmál

43‘Taktu mik ﬂá,’ kva› Loki.
En hann vildi taka hann; ﬂá var hann ví›s fjarri. Loki átti skúa erhann rann á lopt ok lƒg. ﬁá ba› dvergrinn ﬁór at hann skyldi takahann, en hann ger›i svá. ﬁá vildi dvergrinn hƒggva af Loka hƒfu›,en Loki sag›i at hann átti hƒfu› en eigi hálsinn. ﬁá tók dvergrinn
ﬂveng ok kníf ok vill stinga rauf á vƒrrum Loka ok vill rifa saman
munninn, en knífrinn beit ekki. ﬁá mælti hann at betri væri ﬂar Alr
bró›ir hans, en jafnskjótt sem hann nefndi hann, ﬂá var ﬂar alrinn okbeit hann varrarnar. *Rifa›i hann saman varrarnar ok reif ór æsunum.
Sá ﬂvengr er mu›rinn Loka var saman rifa›r heitir Vartari.
Hér heyrir at gull er kent til hƒfu›bands Fullu, er orti Eyvindr
skáldaspillir:(143)

Fullu skein á fjƒllum
fallsól brá vallar
Ullar kjóls of allan
aldr Hákunar skaldum.

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Gull er kallat grátr Freyju sem fyrr er sagt. Svá kva› Skúli ﬁorsteinsson:(144)

Margr of hlaut of morginmor›elds ﬂar er vér feldumsk
Freyju tár at fleiri
fárbjó›r. At ﬂar várum.

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Ok sem kva› Einarr Skúlason:(145)

ﬁar er Mardallar milli
meginhur›ar liggr skur›aGauts berum galla ﬂrútinn
grátr dalrey›ar látra.

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Ok hér hefir Einarr enn kent svá Freyju at kalla hana mó›ur Hnossare›a konu Ó›s; svá segir hér:(146)

Ok enn svá:

Eigi ﬂverr fyrir augnaÓ›s be›vinu Ró›aræfs—eignisk svá—regni*ramsvell—konungr elli.

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N‡t bu›umk—Njar›ar dóttur
(*nálægt var ﬂat skála)
vel of hrósa ek ﬂví—vísa
varn (sjávar) ƒll—barni.

Hér er hon kƒllu› dóttir Njar›ar. Ok enn svá:
(149)

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Hró›rbarni kná ek Hƒrnar
—hlutum d‡ran grip—st‡ra,brandr ﬂrymr gjálfr‹s› á grandi
gullvífi›u *hlífar;-sá›s—berr sinnar mó›ur—svans unni mér gunnar
fóstr- gœ›andi Fró›a—Freys nipt brá driptir.

Hér getr ok ﬂess at Freyju má svá kenna at kalla hana systur Freys.
Ok enn svá:
(148)

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Gaf sá er erring ofrarógnprú›r Vanabrú›ar
ﬂing- Váfa›ar -ﬂrøngvir
ﬂróttƒfl‹g›a mér dóttur.
Ríkr leiddi mey mækis
mótvaldr á *be› *skaldi
Gefnar gló›um drifna
Gautreks svana brautar.

Hér er hon kƒllu› Gefn ok Vana brú›r. Til allra heita Freyju er réttat kenna grátinn ok kalla svá gullit, ok á marga lund er ﬂessum
kenningum breytt, kallat hagl e›a regn e›a él e›a dropar e›a skúrire›a forsar augna hennar e›a kinna e›a hl‡ra e›a brá e›a hvarma.
Hér má ﬂat heyra at kallat er or› e›a rƒdd jƒtna gullit, svá sem
fyrr er sagt. Svá kva› Bragi skáld:(150)

ﬁann átta ek vin verstan*vazt- *rƒdd en mér baztan
Ála -undirkúlu*óni›ra›an ﬂri›ja.

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Hann kalla›i stein vazta undirkúlu—steinninn—en jƒtun *Álaste‹i›nsins, en gull rƒdd jƒtuns.
Sú er sƒk til ﬂess at gull er kallat otrgjƒld: svá er sagt at ﬂá er Æsirfóru at kanna heim allan, Ó›inn ok Loki ok Hœnir, ﬂeir kómu at á
nokkvorri ok gengu me› ánni til fors nokkvors, ok vi› forsinn var
otr einn ok haf›i tekit lax ór forsinum ok át blundandi. ﬁá tók Loki
upp stein ok kasta›i at otrinum ok laust í hƒfu› honum. ﬁá hrósa›i
Loki vei›i sinni, at hann hef›i veitt í einu hƒggvi otr ok lax. Tóku
ﬂeir ﬂá laxinn ok otrinn ok báru me› sér, kómu ﬂá at bœ nokkvorum
ok gengu inn. En sá búandi er nefndr Hrei›marr er ﬂar bjó. Hann var
mikill fyrir sér ok mjƒk fjƒlkunnigr. Beiddusk Æsir at hafa ﬂar
náttsta› ok kvá›usk hafa me› sér vist œrna ok s‡ndu búandanumvei›i sína. En er Hrei›marr sá otrinn, ﬂá kalla›i hann sonu sína,
Fáfni ok Regin, ok segir at Otr, bró›ir ﬂeira, var drepinn ok svá
hverir ﬂat hƒf›u gert. Nú ganga ﬂeir fe›gar at Ásunum ok taka ﬂáhƒndum ok binda ok segja ﬂá um otrinn at hann var sonr Hrei›mars.
Æsir bjó›a fyrir sik fjƒrlausn svá mikit fé sem Hrei›marr sjálfr villá kve›a, ok var› ﬂat at sætt me› ﬂeim ok bundit svardƒgum. ﬁá var
otrinn fleginn. Tók Hrei›marr otrbelginn ok mælir vi› ﬂá at ﬂeir
skulu fylla belginn af rau›u gulli ok svá hylja hann allan ok svá skal
ﬂat vera at sætt ﬂeira. ﬁá sendi Ó›inn Loka í Svartálfaheim ok komhann til dvergs ﬂess er heitir *Andvari. Hann var fiskr í vatni, ok tók
Loki hann hƒndum ok lag›i á hann fjƒrlausn alt gull ﬂat er hann áttií steini sínum. Ok er ﬂeir koma í steininn, ﬂá bar dvergrinn fram alt
gull ﬂat er hann átti, ok var ﬂat allmikit fé. ﬁá svipti dvergrinn undirhƒnd sér einum litlum gullbaug. ﬁá sá Loki ok ba› hann fram látabauginn. Dvergrinn ba› hann taka eigi bauginn af sér ok lézk megaœxla sér fé af bauginum ef hann heldi. Loki kva› hann eigi skyldu
hafa einn penning eptir ok tók bauginn af honum ok gekk út, en
dvergrinn mælti at sá baugr skyldi vera hverjum hƒfu›sbani er átti.
Loki segir at honum ﬂótti ﬂat vel ok sag›i at ﬂat skyldi haldask
mega fyrir ﬂví, sá formáli, at hann skyldi flytja ﬂeim til eyrna er ﬂátœki vi›. Fór hann í braut til Hrei›mars ok s‡ndi Ó›ni gullit. En erhann sá bauginn ﬂá s‡ndisk honum fagr ok tók hann af fénu, engreiddi Hrei›mari gullit. ﬁá fyldi hann otrbelginn sem mest máttihann ok setti upp er fullr var. Gekk ﬂá Ó›inn til ok skyldi hylja
belginn me› gullinu, ok ﬂá mælir hann vi› Hrei›mar at hann skal sjá
hvárt belgrinn er ﬂá allr hul›r. En Hrei›marr leit til ok hug›i at
vandliga ok sá eitt granahár ok ba› ﬂat hylja, en at ƒ›rum kosti væri

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lokit sætt ﬂeira. ﬁá dró Ó›inn fram bauginn ok hul›i granahárit oksag›i at ﬂá váru ﬂeir lausir frá otrgjƒldunum. En er Ó›inn haf›i tekit
geir sinn en Loki skúa sína ok ﬂurftu ﬂá ekki at óttask, ﬂá mælti Lokiat ﬂat skyldi haldask er Andvari haf›i mælt, at sá baugr ok ﬂat gullskyldi ver›a ﬂess bani er átti, ok ﬂat helzk sí›an. Nú er ﬂat sagt ‹af›
hverju gull er otrgjƒld kallat e›a nau›gjald Ásanna e›a rógmálmr.
Hvat er fleira at segja frá gullinu? Hrei›marr tók ﬂá gullit atsonargjƒldum, en Fáfnir ok Reginn beiddusk af nokkvors í bró›urgjƒld. Hrei›marr unni ﬂeim enskis pennings af gullinu. ﬁat var›órá› ﬂeira brœ›ra at ﬂeir drápu fƒ›ur sinn til gullsins. ﬁá beiddisk
Reginn at Fáfnir skyldi skipta gullinu í helminga me› ﬂeim. Fáfnir
svarar svá at lítil ván var at hann mundi mi›la gullit vi› bró›ur sinn
er hann drap fƒ›ur sinn til gullsins ok ba› Regin fara braut, en atƒ›rum kosti mundi hann fara sem Hrei›marr. Fáfnir haf›i ﬂá tekit
hjálm er Hrei›marr haf›i átt ok setti á hƒfu› sér er kalla›r varœgishjálmr er ƒll kvikvendi hræ›ask er sjá, ok sver› ﬂat er Hrotti
heitir. Reginn haf›i ﬂat sver› er Refill er kalla›r. Fl‡›i hann ﬂábraut, en Fáfnir fór upp á Gnitahei›i ok ger›i sér ﬂar ból ok brásk
í orms líki ok lag›isk á gullit.
Reginn fór ﬂá til Hjálpreks konungs á ﬁjó›i ok ger›isk ﬂar smi›rhans. ﬁá tók hann ﬂar til fóstrs Sigur›, son Sigmundar, sonar Vƒlsungs,
ok son Hjƒrdísar, dóttur Eylima. Sigur›r var ágætastr allra herkonunga
af ætt ok afli ok hug. Reginn sag›i honum til hvar Fáfnir lá á gullinu
ok eggja›i hann at sœkja gullit. ﬁá ger›i Reginn sver› ﬂat er Gramr‹heitir› at svá hvast var at Sigur›r brá ni›r í rennanda vatn ok tók ísundr ullarlag› er rak fyrir strauminum at sver›s egginni. ﬁví næstklauf Sigur›r ste›ja Regins ofan í stokkinn me› sver›inu. Eptir ﬂat
fóru ﬂeir Sigur›r ok Reginn á Gnitahei›i. ﬁá gróf Sigur›r grƒf á veg
Fáfnis ok settisk ﬂar í. En er Fáfnir skrei› til vatns ok hann kom yfirgrƒfna, ﬂá lag›i Sigur›r sver›inu í gƒgnum hann ok var ﬂat hansbani. Kom ﬂá Reginn at ok sag›i at hann hef›i drepit bró›ur hans okbau› honum ﬂat at sætt at hann skyldi taka hjarta Fáfnis ok steikjavi› eld. En Reginn lag›isk ni›r ok drakk bló› Fáfnis ok lag›isk at
sofa. En er Sigur›r steikti hjartat ok hann hug›i at fullsteikt mundi
ok tók á fingrinum hvé hart var, en er frau›it rann ór hjartanu á
fingrinn ﬂá brann hann ok drap fingrinum í munn sér. En er hjartabló›itkom á tunguna ﬂá kunni hann fugls rƒdd ok skil›i hvat ig›urnarsƒg›u er sátu í vi›num. ﬁá mælti ein:Skáldskaparmál
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47

ﬁar sitr Sigur›r
sveita stokkinn,
Fáfnis hjartavi› funa steikir.
Spakr ﬂœtti mér
spillir bauga
ef fjƒrsega
fránan æti.
ﬁar liggr Reginn (kva› ƒnnur),ræ›r um vi› sik,
vill tæla mƒg
ﬂann er trúir hánum,berr af rei›irƒng or› saman,vill bƒlvasmi›r
bró›ur hefna.

ﬁá gekk Sigur›r til Regins ok drap hann, en sí›an til hests síns er
Grani heitir, ok rei› til ﬂess er hann kom til bóls Fáfnis, tók ﬂá upp
gullit ok batt í klyfjar ok lag›i upp á bak Grana ok steig upp sjálfr
ok rei› ﬂá lei› sína. Nú er ﬂat sagt hver saga til er ﬂess, gullit er
kallat ból e›a byg› Fáfnis e›a málmr Gnitahei›ar e›a byr›r Grana.
ﬁá rei› Sigur›r til ﬂess er hann fann á fjallinu hús. ﬁar svaf inni
ein kona ok haf›i sú hjálm ok brynju. Hann brá sver›inu ok reist
brynjuna af henni. ﬁá vakna›i hon ok nefndisk Hildr. Hon er kƒllu›Brynhildr ok var valkyrja. Sigur›r rei› ﬂa›an ok kom til ﬂess konungs
er Gjúki hét. Kona hans er nefnd Grímhildr. Bƒrn ﬂeira váru ﬂau
Gunnarr, Hƒgni, Gu›rún, Gu›n‡. Gothormr var stjúpsonr Gjúka.
ﬁar dval›isk Sigur›r langa hrí›. ﬁá fekk hann Gu›rúnar Gjúkadóttur,
en Gunnarr ok Hƒgni sórusk í brœ›ralag vi› Sigur›. ﬁví næst fóru
ﬂeir Sigur›r ok Gjúkasynir at bi›ja Gunnari konu til Atla Bu›lasonar,
Brynhildar, systur hans. Hon sat á Hindafjalli ok var um sal hennar
vafrlogi, en hon haf›i ﬂess heit strengt at eiga ﬂann einn mann er
ﬂor›i at rí›a vafrlogann. ﬁá ri›u ﬂeir Sigur›r ok Gjúkungar (ﬂeir eru
ok kalla›ir Niflungar) upp á fjallit ok skyldi ﬂá Gunnarr rí›a vafrlogann.
Hann átti hest ﬂann er Goti heitir, en sá hestr ﬂor›i eigi at hla‹u›pa
í eldinn. ﬁá skiptu ﬂeir litum Sigur›r ok Gunnarr ok svá nƒfnum,
ﬂvíat Grani vildi undir øngum manni ganga nema Sigur›i. ﬁá hljóp

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Snorra Edda

Sigur›r á Grana ok rei› vafrlogann. ﬁat kveld gekk hann at brú›laupime› Brynhildi. En er ﬂau kvámu í sæing ﬂá dró hann sver›it Gram
ór slí›rum ok lag›i í milli ﬂeira. En at morni ﬂá er hann stó› upp okklæddi sik, ﬂá gaf hann Brynhildi at línfé gullbauginn ﬂann er Lokihaf›i tekit af Andvara, en tók af henni annan baug til minja. Sigur›r
hljóp ﬂá á hest sinn ok rei› til félaga sinna. Skipta ﬂeir Gunnarr ﬂáaptr litum ok fóru aptr til Gjúka me› Brynhildi. Sigur›r átti tvaubƒrn me› Gu›rúnu, Sigmund ok Svanhildi.
ﬁat var eitt sinn at Brynhildr ok Gu›rún gengu til vatns at bleikja
hadda sína. ﬁá er ﬂær kómu til árinnar ﬂá ó› Brynhildr út á ána frá
landi ok mælir at hon vildi eigi bera í hƒfu› sér ﬂat vatn er rynni órhári Gu›rúnu, ﬂvíat hon átti búanda huga›an betr. ﬁá gekk Gu›rún
á ána eptir henni ok sag›i at hon mátti fyrir ﬂví ﬂvá ofar sinn haddí ánni at hon átti ﬂann mann er eigi Gunnarr ok engi annarr í verƒldu
var jafnfrœkn, ﬂvíat hann vá Fáfni ok Regin ok tók arf eptir bá›a ﬂá.
ﬁá svarar Brynhildr:‘Meira var ﬂat vert er Gunnarr rei› vafrlogann, en Sigur›r ﬂor›ieigi.’
ﬁá hló Gu›rún ok mælti: ‘Ætlar ﬂú at Gunnarr ri›i vafrlogann? Sáætla ek at gengi í rekkju hjá ﬂér er mér gaf gullbaug ﬂenna, en sá
gullbaugr er ﬂú hefir á hendi ok ﬂú ﬂátt at línfé, hann er kalla›r
Andvaranautr, ok ætlak at eigi sótti Gunnarr hann á Gnitahei›i.’ﬁá ﬂagna›i Brynhildr ok gekk heim. Eptir ﬂat eggja›i hon Gunnarok Hƒgna at drepa Sigur›, en fyrir ﬂví at ﬂeir váru ei›svarar Sigur›arﬂá eggju›u ﬂeir til Gothorm, bró›ur sinn, at drepa Sigur›. Hannlag›i Sigur› sver›i í gƒgnum sofanda, en er hann fekk sárit ﬂá
kasta›i hann sver›inu Gram eptir honum svá at sundr snei› í mi›ju
manninn. ﬁar fell Sigur›r ok sonr hans ﬂrévetr ‹er› Sigmundr hét er
ﬂeir drápu. Eptir ﬂat lag›i Brynhildr sik sver›i ok var hon brendme› Sigur›i, en Gunnarr ok Hƒgni tóku ﬂá Fáfnis arf ok Andvaranautok ré›u ﬂá lƒndum.
Atli konungr Bu›lason, bró›ir Brynhildar, fekk ﬂá Gu›rúnar er
Sigur›r haf›i átta, ok áttu ﬂau bƒrn. Atli konungr bau› til sín
Gunnari ok Hƒgna, en ﬂeir fóru at heimbo›inu. En á›r ﬂeir fóru
heiman ﬂá fálu ﬂeir gullit Fáfnis arf í Rín, ok hefir ﬂat gull aldrisí›an fundizk. En Atli konungr haf›i ﬂar li› fyrir ok bar›isk vi›
Gunnar ok Hƒgna ok ur›u ﬂeir handteknir. Lét Atli konungr skera
hjarta ór Hƒgna kykvum. Var ﬂat hans bani. Gunnari lét hann kasta
í ormgar›, en honum var fengin leyniliga harpa ok sló hann me›Skáldskaparmál

49

tánum ﬂvíat hendr hans váru bundnar, svá at allir ormarnir sofnu›unema sú na›ra er rendi at honum ok hjó svá fyrir flagbrjóskat at hon
steypti hƒf›inu inn í holit ok hang›i hon á lifrinni ﬂar til er hann dó.
Gunnarr ok Hƒgni eru kalla›ir Niflungar ok Gjúkungar. Fyrir ﬂví ergull kallat Niflunga skattr e›a arfr. Litlu sí›ar drap Gu›rún tvá sonu
sína ok lét gera me› gulli ok silfri bor›ker af hausum ﬂeira, ok ﬂá
var gert erfi Niflunga. At ﬂeiri veizlu lét Gu›rún skenkja Atlakonungi me› ﬂeim bor›kerum mjƒ› ok var blandit vi› bló›i sveinanna,en hjƒrtu ﬂeira lét hon steikja ok fá konungi at eta. En er ﬂat var gert
ﬂá sag›i hon honum sjálfum me› mƒrgum ófƒgrum or›um. Eigi
skorti ﬂar áfenginn mjƒ› svá at flest fólk sofna›i ﬂar sem sat. Á
ﬂeiri nótt gekk hon til konungs er hann svaf ok me› henni sonrHƒgna ok vágu at honum. ﬁat var hans bani. ﬁá skutu ﬂau eldi áhƒllina ok brann ﬂat fólk er ﬂar var inni. Eptir ﬂat fór hon til sjóvar
ok hljóp á sæinn ok vildi t‡na sér, en hana rak yfir fjƒr›inn, kom ﬂáá ﬂat land er átti Jónakr konungr. En er hann sá hana tók hann hanatil sín ok fekk hennar. Áttu ﬂau ﬂrjá sonu er svá hétu: Sƒrli, Ham›ir,
Erpr. ﬁeir váru allir svartir sem hrafn á hárslit sem Gunnarr okHƒgni ok a›rir Niflungar. ﬁar fœddisk upp Svanhildr, dóttir Sigur›arsveins. Hon var allra kvinna fegrst. ﬁat spur›i Jƒrmunrekkr konungr
hinn ríki. Hann sendi son sinn Randvé at bi›ja hennar sér til handa.
En er hann kom til Jónakrs ﬂá var Svanhildr seld honum í hendr.
Skyldi hann fœra hana Jƒrmunrekk. ﬁá sag›i Bikki at ﬂat var betr
fallit at Randvér ætti Svanhildi, er hann var ungr ok bæ›i ﬂau enJƒrmunrekkr var gamall. ﬁetta rá› líka›i ﬂeim vel inum ungummƒnnum. ﬁví næst sag›i Bikki ﬂetta konungi. ﬁá lét Jƒrmunrekkr
konungr taka son sinn ok lei›a til gálga. ﬁá tók Randvér hauk sinnok plokka›i af fja›rarnar ok ba› senda fe›r sínum. ﬁá var hannheng›r. En er Jƒrmunrekkr konungr sá haukinn ﬂá kom honum í hug
at svá sem haukrinn var ófleygr ok fja›rlauss, ok svá var ríki hansófœrt er hann var gamall ok sonlauss. ﬁá lét Jƒrmunrekkr konungr,
er hann rei› ór skógi frá vei›um me› hir› sína, en Svanhildr drottning
sat at haddbliki, ﬂá ri›u ﬂeir á hana ok trá›u hana undir hesta fótum
til bana. En er ﬂetta spur›i Gu›rún ﬂá eggja›i hon sonu sína til
hefndar eptir Svanhildi. En er ﬂeir bjoggusk til fer›ar ﬂá fekk hon
ﬂeim brynjur ok hjálma svá sterka at eigi mundi járn á festa. Honlag›i rá› fyrir ﬂá at ﬂá er ﬂeir kvæmi til Jƒrmunrekks konungs, atﬂeir skyldu ganga of nótt at honum sofanda. Skyldi Sƒrli ok Ham›irhƒggva af honum hendr ok fœtr en Erpr hƒfu›it. En er ﬂeir kómu á

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Snorra Eddalei› ﬂá spur›u ﬂeir Erp hver li›sem› ﬂeim mundi at honum ef ﬂeir
hitti Jƒrmunrekk konung. Hann svarar at hann mundi veita ﬂeim
ﬂvílíkt sem hƒnd fœti. ﬁeir segja at ﬂat var alls ekki at fótr styddiskvi› hƒnd. ﬁeir váru svá rei›ir mó›ur sinni er hon haf›i leitt ﬂá útme› heiptyr›um, ok ﬂeir vildu gera ﬂat er henni ﬂœtti verst ok drápu
Erp, ﬂvíat hon unni honum mest. Litlu sí›ar er Sƒrli gekk skri›na›ihann ƒ›rum fœti, studdi sik me› hendinni. ﬁá mælir hann:‘Veitti nú ‹hƒndin› fœtinum. Betr væri nú at Erpr lif›i.’
En er ﬂeir kómu til Jƒrmunrekks konungs of nótt ﬂar sem hannsvaf, ok hjoggu af honum hendr ok fœtr, svá vakna›i hann okkalla›i á menn sína, ba› ﬂá vaka. ﬁá mælir Ham›ir:‘Af mundi nú hƒfu›it ef Erpr lif›i.’
ﬁá stó›u upp hir›menninir ok sóttu ﬂá ok fengu eigi sótt ﬂá me›
vápnum. ﬁá kalla›i Jƒrmunrekkr at ﬂá skal berja grjóti. Var svá gert.
ﬁar fellu ﬂeir Sƒrli ok Ham›ir. ﬁá var ok dau› ƒll ætt ok afkvæmi
Gjúka.
Eptir Sigur› svein lif›i dóttir er Áslaug hét er fœdd var at Heimisí Hlymdƒlum, ok eru ﬂa›an ættir komnar stórar. Svá er sagt at
Sigmundr Vƒlsungsson var svá máttugr at hann drakk eitr ok saka›iekki, en Simfjƒtli, sonr hans, ok Sigur›r váru svá har›ir á hú›na at
ﬂá saka›i ekki eitr at útan kvæmi á ﬂá bera. ﬁví hefir Bragi skáld svá
kve›it:(153)

25

ﬁá er forns Litar flotna
á fangbo›a ƒngli
hrøkkviáll of hrokkinn
hekk Vƒlsunga drekku.

Eptir ﬂessum sƒgum hafa flest skáld ort ok tekit ymsa ﬂáttu. Bragi
hinn gamli orti um fall Sƒrla ok Ham›is í drápu ﬂeiri er hann orti um
Ragnar lo›brók:
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Knátti e›r vi› illanJƒrmunrekkr at vakname› dreyrfár dróttir
draum í sver›a flaumi.
Rósta var› í ranni
Randvés hƒfu›ni›ja
ﬂá er hrafnbláir hefndu
harma Erps of barmar.

Skáldskaparmál
(155)

(156)

(157)

(158)

51

Flaut of set vi› sveita
sóknar *álfs á gólfihræva dƒgg *ﬂars hƒggnar
hendr sem fœtr of kendu.
Fell í bló›i *blandinn
brunn ƒlskakki runna—ﬂat er á Leifa landa
laufi fátt—at hauf›i.
ﬁar svá at ger›u gyr›an
gólfhƒlkvis sá *fylkis
segls naglfara siglur
saums annvanar standa.
Ur›u snemst ok Sƒrli
samrá›a ﬂeir Ham›irhƒr›um her›im‡lum
Hergauts vinu bar›ir.
Mjƒk lét stála støkkvir
sty›ja Gjúka ni›jaflaums ﬂá er fjƒrvi *næmaFoglhildar mun vildu,
ok *bláserkjar birkis*ballfƒgr gátu allir
ennihƒgg ok eggjar
Jónakrs sonum launa.
ﬁat segik fall á fƒgrum
flotna randar botni.
Ræs gáfumk rei›ar mána
Ragnarr ok fjƒl› sagna.

Hví er gull kallat mjƒl Fró›a? Til ﬂess er saga sjá at Skjƒldr hét
sonr Ó›ins er Skjƒldungar eru frá komnir. Hann haf›i atsetu ok ré›lƒndum ﬂar sem nú er kƒllu› Danmƒrk en ﬂá var kallat Gotland.
Skjƒldr átti ﬂann son er Fri›leifr hét er lƒndum ré› eptir hann. Sonr
Fri›leifs hét Fró›i. Hann tók konungdóm eptir fƒ›ur sinn í ﬂann tí›
er Augustus keisari lag›i fri› of heim allan. ﬁá var Kristr borinn. En
fyrir ﬂví at Fró›i var allra konunga ríkastr á Nor›rlƒndum ﬂá var

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honum kendr fri›rinn um alla Danska tungu, ok kalla Nor›menn ﬂat
Fró›a fri›. Engi ma›r granda›i ƒ›rum ﬂótt hann hitti fyrir sér
fƒ›urbana e›a bró›urbana lausan e›a bundinn. ﬁá var ok engi ﬂjófr
e›a ránsma›r, svá at gullhringr einn lá á Jalangrshei›i lengi. Fró›ikonungr sótti heimbo› í Svíﬂjó› til ﬂess konungs er Fjƒlnir er
nefndr. ﬁá keypti hann ambáttir tvær er hétu Fenja ok Menja. ﬁær
váru miklar ok sterkar. Í ﬂann tíma fannsk í Danmƒrk kvernsteinar
tveir svá miklir at engi var svá sterkr at dregit gæti. En sú náttúra
fylg›i kvernunum at ﬂat mólsk á kverninni sem sá mælir fyrir ermól. Sú kvern hét Grotti. Hengikjƒptr er sá nefndr er Fró›a konungi
gaf kvernina. Fró›i konungr lét lei›a ambáttirnar til kvernarinnar okba› ﬂær mala gull ok fri› ok sælu Fró›a. ﬁá gaf hann ﬂeim eigi
lengri hvíld e›a svefn en gaukrinn ﬂag›i e›a hljó› mátti kve›a. ﬁá
er sagt at ﬂær kvæ›i ljó› ﬂau er kallat er Grottasƒngr. Ok á›r léttikvæ›inu mólu ﬂær her at Fró›a svá at á ﬂeiri nótt kom ﬂar sásækonungr er M‡singr hét ok drap Fró›a, tók ﬂar herfang mikit. ﬁá
lag›isk Fró›a fri›r. M‡singr haf›i me› sér Grotta ok svá Fenju ok
Menju ok ba› ﬂær mala salt. Ok at mi›ri nótt spur›u ﬂær ef eigi
leiddisk M‡singi salt. Hann ba› ﬂær *mala lengr. ﬁær mólu litlahrí› á›r ni›r sukku skipin ok var ﬂar eptir svelgr í hafinu er særinn
fellr í kvernaraugat. ﬁá var› sær saltr.
(159)‘Nú erum komnar
til konungs húsa
framvísar tværFenja ok Menja.’ﬁær ró at Fró›aFri›leifssonar
máttkar meyjar
at mani haf›ar.

(160)

ﬁær at lú›ri
leiddar váru
ok grjóts grjá
gangs of beiddu.
Hét hann hvárigri
hvíld né yn›iá›r hann heyr›ihljóm ambátta.

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(162)

(163)

(164)

(165)

ﬁær ﬂyt ﬂulu
ﬂƒgnhorfinnar.
‘Leggjum lú›ra,léttum steinum.’Ba› hann enn meyjar
at ﬂær mala skyldu.
Sungu ok slungu
snú›gasteini
svá at Fró›a manflest sofna›i.
ﬁá kva› ﬂat Menj‹a›(var til meldr‹s› komin):‘Au› mƒlum Fró›a,mƒlum alsælan,‹mƒlum› fjƒl› fjárá feginslú›ri.
Siti hann á au›i,
sofi hann á dúni,
vaki hann at vilja,
ﬂá er vel malit.
‘Hér skyli engi
ƒ›rum granda,
til bƒls búa
né til bana orka,né hƒggva ﬂvíhvƒssu sver›iﬂó at bana bró›urbundinn finni.’
En hann kva› ekkior› it fyrra:‘Sofi› eigi ﬂit
né of sal gaukare›a lengr en svá
ljó› eitt kve›ak.’

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54
(166)

‘Varattu, Fró›i,
fullspakr of ﬂik,
málvinr manna,er ﬂú man keyptir.
Kauss ﬂú at afli
ok at álitum,
en at ætterni
ekki spur›ir.

(167)‘Har›r var Hrungnir
ok hans fa›ir,
ﬂó var ﬁjazi
ﬂeim ƒflgari,I›i ok Aurnir,
okkrir ni›jar,brœ›r bergrisa:
ﬂeim erum bornar.

(168)‘Kœmia Grottiór grjá fjalli
né sá hinn har›i
hallr ór jƒr›uné mœli svámær bergrisa
ef vissi vitvætr til hennar.

(169)‘Vér vetr níu
várum leikur,ƒflgar, alnar
fyrir jƒr› ne›an.
Stó›u meyjar
at meginverkum,fœr›um sjálfar
setberg ór sta›.

(170)‘Veltum grjóti
of gar› risa
svá at fold fyrir
fór skjálfandi.

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Skáldskaparmál

55

Svá sløng›um vit
snú›gasteinihƒfgahalli,at halir tóku.
(171)

(172)

(173)

(174)

‘En vit sí›aná Svíﬂjó›uframvísar tværí fólk stigum.
Beiddum bjƒrnu
en brutum skjƒldu,gengum í gegnum
gráserkjat li›.
‘Steyptum stilli,
studdum annan,
veittum gó›um
Gothormi li›.
Vara kyrrseta
á›r Knúi felli.
‘Fram heldum ﬂví
ﬂau misseri
at vit at kƒppum
kendar váru‹m›.
ﬁar skor›u vitskƒrpum geirum
bló› ór benjum
ok brand ru›um.
‘Nú erum komnar
til konungs húsa
miskunnlausar
ok at mani haf›ar.
Aurr etr iljar
en ofan kul›i,drƒgum dólgs sjƒtul.
Daprt er at Fró›a.

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56
(175)

‘Hendr skulu hvílask,hallr standa mun,malit hefi ek fyrir mik,
mitt of létti.
Nú muna hƒndum
hvíld vel gefa
á›r fullmalit
Fró›a ﬂykki.

(176)‘Hendr skulu hƒl›ahar›ar trjónur,vápn valdreyrug.
Vaki ﬂú Fró›i!
Vaki ﬂú Fró›i
ef ﬂú hl‡›a villsƒngum okkrum
ok sƒgum fornum.

(177)‘Eld sé ek brenna
fyrir austan borg
—vígspjƒll vaka—
ﬂat mun viti kalla›r.
Mun herr koma
hinig af brag›iok brenna bœfyrir bu›lungi.

(178)‘Munat ﬂú halda
Hlei›rar stóli,rau›um hringum
né regingrjóti.
Tƒkum á mƒndli,mær, skarpara,
eruma valmar
í valdreyra.

(179)‘Mól míns fƒ›ur
mær ramliga
ﬂvíat hon feig› firafjƒlmargra sá.

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57

Stukku stórar
ste›r frá lú›ri,*járni *var›ar.
Mƒlum enn framar!
(180)

(181)

(182)

‘Mƒlum enn framar!
Mun Yrsu sonrvi› Hálfdana
hefna Fró›a.
Sá mun hennar
heitinn ver›aburr ok bró›ir.
Vitum bá›ar *ﬂat.’Mólu meyjar,
megins kostu›u.
Váru ungarí jƒtunmó›i.
Skulfu skapttré,
skauzk lú›r ofan,
hraut hinn hƒfgi
hallr sundr í tvau.
En bergrisa
brú›r or› um kva›:‘Malit hƒfum, Fró›i,
sem munum hætta.
Hafa fullsta›it
fljó› at meldri.’

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Einarr Skúlason kva› svá:
(183)

Frá ek at Fró›a meyjar
fullgóliga mólu—lætr stillir gri› gulli—
Grafvitnis be›—slitna.
Mjúks—bera minnar øxarmeldr ﬂann vi› hlyn *feldrar—
konungs d‡rkar fé—Fenjufƒgr hl‡r—bragar st‡ri.

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Snorra Edda

58
Svá kva› Egill:
(184)

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Gla›ar flotna fjƒl›vi› Fró›a mjƒl.

Konungr einn í Danmƒrk er nefndr Hrólfr kraki. Hann er ágætastr
fornkonunga fyrst af mildi ok frœknleik ok lítillæti. ﬁat er eitt markum lítillæti hans er mjƒk er fœrt í frásagnir at einn lítill sveinn okfátœkr er nefndr Vƒggr. Hann kom í hƒll Hrólfs konungs. ﬁá var
konungrinn ungr at aldri ok grannligr á vƒxt. ﬁá gekk Vƒggr fyrirhann ok sá upp á hann. ﬁá mælir konungrinn:‘Hvat viltu mæla, sveinn, er ﬂú sér á mik?’Vƒggr segir: ‘ﬁá er ek var heima, heyr›ak sagt at Hrólfr konungr
at Hlei›ru var mestr ma›r á Nor›rlƒndum, en nú sitr hér í hásæti
kraki einn lítill ok kalli› ﬂér hann konung sinn.’ﬁá svarar konungrinn: ‘ﬁú, sveinn, hefir gefit mér nafn, at ek skalheita Hrólfr kraki, en ﬂat er títt at gjƒf skal fylgja nafnfesti. Nú sé
ek ﬂik enga gjƒf hafa til at gefa mér at nafnfesti ﬂá er mér séﬂægilig. Nú skal sá gefa ƒ›rum er til hefir,’ tók gullhring af hendi
sér ok gaf honum. ﬁá mælir Vƒggr:‘Gef ﬂú allra konunga heilastr, ok ﬂess strengi ek heit at ver›aﬂess manns bani er ﬂinn banama›r ver›r.’ﬁá mælir konungr ok hló vi›: ‘Litlu ver›r Vƒggr feginn.’
Annat mark var ﬂat sagt frá Hrólfi kraka um frœknleik hans at sá
konungr ré› fyrir Uppsƒlum er A›ils hét. Hann átti Yrsu, mó›ur
Hrólfs kraka. Hann haf›i ósætt vi› ﬂann konung er ré› fyrir Nóregi
er Áli hét. ﬁeir stefndu orrostu milli sín á ísi vatns ﬂess er Væniheitir. A›ils konungr sendi bo› Hrólfi kraka, mági sínum, at hannkvæmi til li›veizlu vi› hann ok hét mála ƒllum her hans me›an ﬂeir
væri í fer›inni, en konungr sjálfr skyldi eignask ﬂrjá kostgripi ﬂá erhann kaus ór Svíﬂjó›. Hrólfr konungr mátti eigi fara fyrir ófri›i
ﬂeim er hann átti vi› Saxa, en ﬂó sendi hann A›ilsi berserki sínatólf. ﬁar var einn Bƒ›varr bjarki ok Hjalti hugprú›i, Hvítserkr hvati,Vƒttr, *Véseti, ﬂeir brœ›r Svipdagr ok Beigu›r. Í ﬂeiri orrostu fellÁli konungr ok mikill hluti li›s hans. ﬁá tók A›ils konungr af
honum dau›um hjálminn Hildisvín ok hest hans Hrafn. ﬁá beiddusk
ﬂeir berserkir Hrólfs kraka at taka mála sinn, ﬂrjú pund gulls hverr
ﬂeira, ok um fram beiddusk ﬂeir at flytja Hrólfi kraka kostgripi ﬂáer ﬂeir kuru til handa honum. ﬁat var hjálmrinn Hildigƒltr ok brynjan

Skáldskaparmál

59

Finnsleif er hvergi festi vápn á ok gullhringr sá er kalla›r var
Svíagríss er átt hƒf›u langfe›gar A›ils. En konungr varna›i allra
gripanna ok eigi heldr galt hann málann. Fóru berserkirnir braut okun›u illa sínum hlut, sƒg›u svá búit Hrólfi kraka ok jafnskjótt
byrja›i hann fer› sína til Uppsala. Ok er hann kom skipum sínum íána F‡ri ﬂá rei› hann til Uppsala ok me› honum tólf berserkir hans,allir gri›alausir. Yrsa, mó›ir hans, fagna›i honum ok fylg›i honum
til herbergis ok eigi til konungs hallar. Váru ﬂá gervir eldar stórir
fyrir ﬂeim ok gefit ƒl at drekka. ﬁá kómu menn A›ils konungs inn
ok báru skí›in á eldinn ok ger›u svá mikinn at klæ›i brunnu af ﬂeim
Hrólfi ok mæltu:‘Er ﬂat satt at Hrólfr kraki ok berserkir hans fl‡ja hvárki eld né
járn?’
ﬁá hljóp *Hrólfr kraki upp ok allir ﬂeir. ﬁá mælti hann:‘Aukum enn elda at A›ils húsum!’—tók skjƒld sinn ok kasta›i áeldinn ok hljóp yfir eldinn me›an skjƒldrinn brann ok mælti enn:‘Fl‡ra sá elda er yfir hleypr.’
Svá fór hverr at ƒ›rum hans manna, tóku ﬂá er eldinn hƒf›u aukitok kƒstu›u ﬂeim á eldinn. ﬁá kom Yrsa ok fekk Hrólfi kraka d‡rshorn
fult af gulli ok ﬂar me› hringinn Svíagrís ok ba› ﬂá braut rí›a tilli›sins. ﬁeir hljópu á hesta sína ok rí›a ofan á F‡risvƒllu. ﬁá sá ﬂeir
at A›ils konungr rei› eptir ﬂeim me› her sinn alvápna›an ok vill
drepa ﬂá. Tók Hrólfr kraki hœgri hendi gullit ofan í hornit ok søri alt
um gƒtuna. En er Svíar sjá ﬂat, hlaupa ﬂeir ór sƒ›lunum ok tók hverr
slíkt er fekk, en A›ils konungr ba› ﬂá rí›a ok rei› sjálfr ákafliga.
Slu‹n›gnir hét hestr hans, allra hesta skjótastr. ﬁá sá Hrólfr kraki atA›ils konungr rei› nær honum, tók ﬂá hringinn Svíagrís ok kasta›itil hans ok ba› hann ﬂiggja at gjƒf. A›ils konungr rei› at hringinum
ok tók til me› spjótsoddinum ok rendi upp á falinn. ﬁá veyk Hró‹l›fr
kraki aptr ok sá er hann laut ni›r. ﬁá mælir hann:‘Svínbeygt hefi ek nú ﬂann er ríkastr er me› Svíum.’Svá skil›usk ﬂeir. Af ﬂessi sƒk er gull kallat sá› Kraka e›aF‡risvalla. Svá kva› Eyvindr skáldaspillir:(185)

Bárum, Ullr, of *alla,ímunlauks, á haukafjƒllum F‡risvalla
fræ Hákunar ævi.

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60
Svá sem ﬁjó›ólfr kva›:
(186)

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45 10

¯r› sær Yrsu bur›arinndrótt jƒfurr sinni
bjartplóga›an bauga
brattakr vƒluspakra.
Eyss landreki ljósu
lastvarr Kraka barriá hlémildar holdi
hauks kálfur mér sjálfum.

Svá er sagt at konungr sá er Hƒlgi er kalla›r, er Hálogaland er vi›
nefnt, var fa›ir ﬁorger›ar Hƒlgabrú›ar. ﬁau váru bæ›i blótu› ok var
haugr Hƒlga kasta›r, ƒnnur fló af gulli e›a silfri (ﬂat var blótféit) enƒnnur fló af moldu ok grjóti. Svá kva› Skúli ﬁorsteinsson:
(187)

15

ﬁá er ræfrvita Reifnis
rau› ek fyrir Svƒl› til au›ar,*herfylgins *bar ek Hƒlga
haugﬂƒk sama‹n› baugum.

Í Bjarkamálum inum fornum eru tƒ‹l›› mƒrg gulls heiti. Svásegir ﬂar:
20

(188)

Gramr hinn gjƒflastigœddi hir› sínaFenju forverki,
Fáfnis mi›gar›i,
Glasis glóbarri,
Grana fagrbyr›i,
Draupnis d‡rsveita,
dúni Grafvitnis.

(189)*†tti ƒrr hilmir,
aldir vi› tóku,
S‹i›fjar svar›festum,svelli *dalnau›ar,tregum Otrs gjƒldum,
tárum Mardallar,

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Skáldskaparmál

61

eldi Órunar,I›ja glysmálum.
(190)

Gladdi gunnveiti‹r›—gengum fagrbúnir—ﬁjaza ﬂingskilum
ﬂjó›ir hermargar
Rínar rau›málmi,rógi Niflunga,
vísi hinn vígdjarfi.
Var›i hann Baldr ﬂƒgli.

Gull er kallat í kenningum eldr handar e›a li›s e›a leggjar ﬂvíat
ﬂat er rautt, en silfr snær e›a svell e›a héla ﬂvíat ﬂat er hvítt. Me›sama hætti skal ok kenna gull e›a silfr til sjó›s e›a diguls e›alau›ar. En hvártt‹v›eggja silfr ok gull má vera grjót handar e›ahálsgjƒr› nokkvors ﬂess manns er títt var at hafa men, ok hringar
eru bæ›i silfr ok gull ef eigi er annan veg greint, sem kva› ﬁorle‹i›fr
fagri:(191)

Kastar gramr á glæstar
gegn valstƒ›var ﬂegnum—ungr vísir gefr eisu
armleggs—digulfarmi.

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Ok sem kva› Einarr skálaglamm:(192)

Li›brƒndum kná Lundar
landfrœkn jƒfurr granda.
Hykka ek ræsis rekka
Rínar grjót of ﬂrjóti.

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Svá kva› Einarr Skúlason:(193)

Bló›eisu liggr bæ›i
bjargs tveim megin geima
sjó›s—á ek søkkva strí›i—snær ok eldr—at mæra.

Ok enn sem hann kva›:

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62
(194)

5

Snorra EddaDœgr ﬂrymr hvert—[en hjartahl‡rskildir ræ›r mildu
Heita blakks—of hvítum
hafleygr digulskaf]li.
Aldri má fyrir eldiáls hrynbrautar skála—ƒll vi›r fólka [fellir
framræ›i—snæ] bræ›a.

Hér er gull kallat snær skálanna. Svá kva› ﬁór›r mauraskáld:
10

(195)

[Sér á sei]ma r‡ri
sig›is látrs ok áttihrauns gla›sendir handa
Hermó›r fƒ›ur gó›an.

Ma›r er kalla›r brjótr gullsins, svá sem kva› Óttarr svarti:

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(196)

Gó›mennis ﬂarf ek gunnar
gulls brjótanda at njóta.
Hér er alnennin inni
inndrótt me› gram svinnum.

E›a gullsendir, sem kva› Einarr skálaglamm:
20

(197)

Gullsendir lætr grundar—gla›ar ﬂengill herdrengi,
hans mæti kná ek hljóta—
hljót Yggs mja›ar njóta.

Gullvƒrpu›r, sem kva› ﬁorleikr:
25

(198)

Hir› vi›r grams me› ger›um
gullvƒrpu›r sér holla.

Gullstrí›ir, sem kva› ﬁorvaldr blƒnduskáld:(199)

Gullstrí›ir verpr gló›um—
gefr au› konungr rau›an;Skáldskaparmál63

óﬂjó›ar breg›r ey›ir—
armleggs—Grana farmi.
Gullskati, sem hér er:(200)

Gat ek gullskata.
Gƒr er leygs of bƒrgƒtu gunnvita
gráps *tøgdrápa.

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Kona er kend til gulls, kƒllu› selja gulls, sem kva› Hallar-Steinn:(201)

Svalteigar mun selju
salts Vi›blinda galtar
rafkastandi rastar
reyrﬂvengs muna lengi.

Hér er kallat hvalir Vi›blinda geltir. Hann var jƒtunn ok dró hvalií hafi út sem fiska. Teigr hvala er sær, rƒf sævar er gull. Kona er
selja gulls ﬂess er hon gefr ok samheiti vi› selju er tré, sem fyrr erritat at kona er kend vi› alls konar trjáheiti kvenkend. Hon er ok lógkƒllu› ﬂess er hon gefr. Lág heitir ok tré ﬂat er fellr í skógi. Svákva› Gunnlaugr ormstunga:(202)

Alin var r‡gr at rógi—
runnr olli ﬂví gunnar,*lág var ek au›s at eigaó›gjarn—fira bƒrnum.

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Kona kallask mƒrk. Svá kva› Hallar-Steinn:(203)

Ek hefi ó›ar lokriƒlstafna *Bil skafna,*væn mƒrk skála, verki
vandr, stefknarrar branda.

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Tró›a, enn sem kva› Steinn:(204)ﬁú munt fúrs sem fleiri
fló›s hir›i-Sif *tró›ur

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Snorra Edda

64grƒnn vi› gæfu ﬂinni
grjóts Hja›ninga brjótask.
Skor›a; svá kva› Ormr Steinﬂórsson:(205)
5Skor›a var í fƒt fœr›fjar›beins afar hrein.
N‡ri s‹l›ƒng nadd-Freyrnisting of mja›ar Hrist.

Sto›, sem Steinarr kva›:
(206)
10

Mens hafa mildrar Synjar
mjúkstalls *logit allir—sjá hƒfumk *veltisto› stiltan
straumtungls—at mér draumar.

Bjƒrk, enn sem Ormr kva›:
(207)
15

ﬁvíat hols hrynbáls
hramma ﬂats ek berk framBillings á burar fullbjarkar hefi ek lagit mark.

Eik, svá sem hér er:
(208)
20

Aura stendr fyrir órumeik fagrbúin leiki.

Lind, svá sem hér er:
(209)

25

Ógnrakkr skalat okkurálmr dynskúrar málma—svá bau› lind—í landi—líns—hugrekki dvína.

Ma›r er kendr til vi›a sem fyrr er rita›, kalla›r reynir vápna e›avíga, fer›a ok athafnar, skipa ok alls ﬂess er hann [ræ›r ok reynir.
Svá] kva› Úlfr Uggason:

Skáldskaparmál(210)

En stir›ﬂinull star›istor›ar leggs [fyrir bor›ifr]óns á fólka reyni
fránleitr ok blés eitri.

Vi›r ok mei›r, sem [kva› Korma]kr:
(211)

20

Gekk í gulli stokknagjƒfrífr—Hárs drífu
askr vi›‹r› œrinn ﬂroska—*as-Freyr sæing meyjar.

Hlynr:(215)

15

Røkr ƒndurt ba› randir
reggbúss saman leggja—rógsk‡ja helt—Rygja—*regni haustnótt gegnum.

Askr, sem Refr kva›:
(214)

10

Askﬂollum stendr Ullar
austr at miklu traustirœkilundr hinn ríki
randfárs bruma›r hári.

Hér er ok ﬂollr nefndr. Búss; svá kva› Arnórr:
(213)

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Mei›r er mƒrgum œ›ri*mor›teins í dyn fleina.
Hjƒrr fær *hildibƒrrum
hjarl Sigur›i jarli.

Lundr; svá ‹kva›› Hallfrø›r vandræ›askáld:
(212)

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25

Heill kom ﬂú, handar svellahlynr! Kvaddi svá brynja.

Bƒrr, sem Refr kva›:

Snorra Edda

66
(216)

5

Stafr, sem Óttarr kva›:
(217)

10

Heltu ﬂar er hraf‹n› ne svalta—hvatrá›r ertu—lá›i‹ógnar stafr› fyr jƒfrum
‡gr tve‹i›mr—vi› kyn beima.

ﬁorn, sem Arnórr kva›:
(218)

48 15

Alls *bƒ›gœ›i‹s› *bjó›a—bƒrr ræ›r til ﬂess hjƒrva—ógnstƒ›var hefi ek ægi
einrá›it ﬁorsteini.

Hló›—en hála té›uhir›menn arngrenni—
au›ar ﬂorn fyrir ƒrnuungr valkƒstu ﬂunga.

Hvernig skal kenna orrostu? Svá at kalla ve›r vápna e›a hlífa e›aÓ›ins e›a valkyrju e›a herkonunga e›a gn‡ e›a glym. Svá kva›
Hornklofi:
(219)

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Há›i gramr, ﬂar er gnú›u,geira hregg vi› seggi,—rau› fn‡stu ben bló›i—bengƒgl at dyn Skƒglar.

Svá kva› Eyvindr:
(220)
25

Ok sá halrat Hárs ve›rihƒsvan serk
hrísgrísnis bar.

Svá kva› Bersi:
(221)
30

ﬁótta ek ﬂá er œri
ár—sagt er ﬂat—várumhœfr at Hlakkar drífu
hyrrunnum vel Gunnar.

Skáldskaparmál

67

Svá kva› Einarr:(222)

Glymvindi lætr Gƒndla‹r›—gnest‹r› hjƒrr—taka mestum
Hildar segl ﬂar er hagli,hraustr ﬂengill, drífr st‹r›engjar.

5

Sem kva› Einarr skálaglamm:(223)

Ne sigbjarka serkir
sómmi›jungum rómu
Hárs vi› Hƒgna skúrir
hlé›ut fast of sé›ir.

10

Svá sem hér:(224)

Odda gn‡s vi› œsi
oddne‹t›s ﬂinul setja.

Ok enn ﬂetta:(225)

Hnigu fjándr at glym Gƒndlar
grams und arnar hramma.

Vápn ok herklæ›i skal kenna til orrostu ok til Ó›ins ok valmeyja
ok herkonunga, kalla hjálma hjálm, hƒtt e›a fald, en brynju serk e›askyrtu, en skjƒld tjald, ok skjaldborgin er kƒllu› hƒll ok ræfr, veggr
ok gólf. Skildir eru kalla›ir—ok kendir vi› herskip—sól e›a tungle›a lauf e›a blik e›a gar›r skipsins. Skjƒldr er ok kalla›r skip Ullare›a kent til fóta Hrungnis er hann stó› á skildi. Á fornum skjƒldum
var títt at skrifa rƒnd ﬂá er baugr var kalla›r, ok er vi› ﬂann baugskildir kendir. Hƒggvápn, øxar e›a sver›, er kallat eldar bló›s e›abenja. Sver› heita Ó›ins eldar en øxar kalla menn trƒllkvinna heitum
ok kenna vi› bló› e›a benjar e›a skóg e›a vi›. Lagvápn eru vel
kend til orma e›a fiska. Skotvápn eru mjƒk kend til hagls e›a drífue›a rotu. ¯llum ﬂessum kenningum er marga lund breytt ﬂvíat ﬂat
er flest ort í lofkvæ›um er ﬂessar kenni‹n›gar ﬂarf vi›.
(226)

Lattisk herr me› hƒttu
Hangat‡s at ganga

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Snorra Edda

68—*ﬂóttit ﬂeim at hætta
ﬂekkiligt—fyrir brekku.
Svá kva› Einarr skálaglamm:(227)
5

Hjálm‹faldinn› bau› hildi
hjaldrƒrr ‹ok› Sigvaldi,
hinn er fór í gn‡ Gunnar,
gunndjarfr Búi, sunnan.

Ró›a serkr, sem Tindr kva›:
(228)
10

ﬁá er hringfám Hanga
hrynserk—vi›um brynju
hru›usk ri›marar Ró›arastar—var› at kasta.

Ham›is skyrta, sem Hallfrø›r kva›:
(229)
15

Ólítit brestr úti
unnd‡rs sumum runnum
hart á Ham›is skyrtum
hryngráp Egils vápna.

Sƒrla fƒt, enn sem hann kva›:
(230)
20

ﬁa›an ver›a fƒt fyr›a—fregn ek gerla ﬂat—Sƒrla
rjó›ask *bjƒrt í bló›i*benfúr méilskúrum.

Sem Grettir kva›:
(231)
25

Heldu Hlakkar tjalda
hefjendr saman nefjum
Hildar veggs ok hjoggusk
hregg-Nir›ir til skeggjum.

Ró›a ræfr, sem Einarr kva›:

Skáldskaparmál
(232)

69

Eigi ﬂverr fyrir augnaÓ›s be›vinu Ró›aræfr‹s›—eignisk sá—regni*ramsvell—konungr elli.

Hildar veggr, sem kva› Grettir ok á›r er ritat. Skipsól, sem Einarr
kva›:
(233)

5

Leyg r‡›r ætt á ægiÓláfs skipa sólar.

Hl‡rtungl, sem Refr kva›:(234)

Dagr var frí›r sá er fƒgru
fleygjendr alinleygjar
í hangferil hringahl‡rtungli mér ﬂrungu.

10Gar›r skips, sem hér er:(235)

Svá skaut gegn í gƒgnum
gar› steinfarinn bar›a—sá var gn‡stœrir geira
gunnar æfr—sem næfrar.

15

Askr Ullar, sem hér er:(236)

Ganga él of yng‹v›aUllar skips me› fullu
ﬂar er samnagla siglur
slí›rdúka›ar rí›a.

20

Ilja bla› Hrungnis, sem Bragi kva›:(237)

Vili›, Hrafnketill, heyra
hvé hreingróit steiniﬁrú›ar skal ek ok ﬂengil
ﬂjófs ilja bla› leyfa?

Bragi skáld kva› ﬂetta um bauginn á skildinum:25

Snorra Edda

70
(238)

5

Nema svá at gó› ins gjallagjƒld *baugnafa›s vildi
meyjar hjóls inn mærimƒgr Sigur›ar Hƒgna.

Hann kalla›i skjƒldinn Hildar hjól, en bauginn nƒf hjólsins. Baugjƒr›,sem Hallvar›r kva›:
(239)

10

Rau›ljósa sér ræsir
—rít brestr sundr hin hvíta—
baugjƒr› brodda fer›ar—bjúgrend—í tvau fljúga.

Svá er enn kve›it:(240)

Baugr er á beru sœmstr
en á boga ƒrvar.

Sver› er Ó›ins eldr, sem Kormakr kva›:
15

(241)

Svall ﬂá er gekk me› gjallan
Gauts eld hinn er styr beldigla›fœ›andi Grí›argunnr. Komsk U‹r››r ór brunni.

Hjálms eldr, sem kva› Úlfr Uggason:
20

(242)

Fullƒflug lét fjalla
fram haf-Sleipni ﬂramma
Hildr, en Hropts of gildar*hjálmelda mar feldu.

Brynju eldr, sem kva› Glúmr Geirason:
25

(243)

Heinﬂyntan lét hvína
hryneld at ﬂat brynju*foldar vƒr›r sá er fyr›umfjƒrnhar›an sik var›i.

Randar íss ok grand hlífar, sem Einarr kva›:

Skáldskaparmál
(244)

71

Rá›vƒndum ﬂá ek ra‹u››raranda ís at vísa
—grand berum hjálms í hendi—
hvarmﬂey drifinn Freyju.

Øx heitir trƒllkona hlífa, sem Einarr kva›:(245)

Sjá megu rétt hvé Ræfils
rí›endr vi› brá Grí›arfjƒrnis fagrt of skornir
foldviggs drekar liggja.

Spjót er ormr kallat, sem Refr kva›:
(246)

10

Kná myrkdreki marka
minn ﬂar er ‡tar finnask
æfr á aldar lófum
eikinn *bor›s at leika.

¯rvar eru kalla›ar hagl boga e›a strengjar e›a hlífa e›a orrostu,
sem Einarr kva› skálaglamm:
(247)

5

Brak-Rƒgnir *skók bogna—barg óﬂyrmir varga—*hagl ór Hlakkar seglumhjƒrs—rakkliga fjƒrvi.

15

20

Ok Hallfrø›r:(248)

Ok geirrotu gƒtvar
gagls vi› strengjar hagli
hungrey›undum Hanga*hlé›ut járni sé›ar.

25

Ok Eyvindr skáldaspillir:(249)

Lítt *kvá›u *ﬂik láta
landvƒr›r er brast Hƒr›abrynju hagl í benjum—bugusk álmar—ge› fálma.

30

72
50

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30

Orrosta er kƒllu› Hja›ninga ve›r e›a él ok vápn Hja›ninga eldare›a vendir, en saga er til ﬂess. Konungr sá er Hƒgni er nefndr áttidóttur er Hildr hét. Hana tók at herfangi konungr sá er He›inn hét
Hjarrandason. ﬁá var Hƒgni konungr farinn í konunga stefnu. En erhann spur›i at herjat var í ríki hans ok dóttir hans var í braut tekinﬂá fór hann me› sínu li›i at leita He›ins ok spur›i til hans at He›inn
haf›i siglt nor›r me› landi. ﬁá er Hƒgni konungr kom í Nóreg
spur›i hann at He›inn haf›i siglt vestr of haf. ﬁá siglir Hƒgni eptir
honum alt til Orkneyja, ok er hann kom ﬂar sem heitir Háey ﬂá var
ﬂar fyrir He›inn me› li› sitt. ﬁá fór Hildr á fund fƒ›ur síns ok bau›honum men ‹at› sætt af hendi He›ins, en í ƒ›ru or›i sag›i hon at
He›inn væri búinn at berjask ok ætti Hƒgni af honum øngrar væg›arván. Hƒgni svarar stirt dóttur sinni, en er hon hitti He›in sag›i hon
honum at Hƒgni vildi ønga sætt ok ba› hann búask til orrostu. Ok
svá gera ﬂeir hvárirtveggju, ganga upp á eyna ok fylkja li›inu. ﬁá
kallar He›inn á Hƒgna mág sinn ok bau› honum sætt ok mikit gullat bótum. ﬁá svarar Hƒgni:‘Of sí› bau›tu ﬂetta ef ﬂú vill sættask, ﬂvíat nú hefi ek dregit
Dáinsleif er dvergarnir ger›u, er manns bani skal ver›a hvert sinn er
bert er ok aldri bilar í hƒggvi ok ekki sár grœr ef ﬂar skeinisk af.’ﬁá segir He›inn: ‘Sver›i hœlir ﬂú ﬂar en eigi sigri. ﬁat kalla ek
gott hvert er dróttinholt er.’ﬁá hófu ﬂeir orrostu ﬂá er Hja›ningavíg er kallat ok bƒr›usk ﬂann
dag allan ok at kveldi fóru konungar til skipa. En Hildr gekk ofnóttina til valsins ok vak›i upp me› fjƒlkyngi alla ﬂá er dau›ir váru.
Ok annan dag gengu konungarnir á vígvƒllinn ok bƒr›usk ok svá
allir ﬂeir er fellu hinn fyrra daginn. Fór svá sú orrosta hvern dag
eptir annan at allir ﬂeir er fellu ok ƒll vápn ﬂau er lágu á vígvelli ok
svá hlífar ur›u at grjóti. En er daga›i stó›u upp allir dau›ir menn okbƒr›usk ok ƒll vápn váru ﬂá n‡t. Svá er sagt í kvæ›um at Hja›ningar
skulu svá bí›a ragnarøkrs. Eptir ﬂessi sƒgu orti Bragi skáld í Ragna‹r›s
drápu lo›brókar:
(250)

35

Snorra Edda

Ok *ofﬂerris *æ›a
ósk-Rán at ﬂat sínum
til fárhuga fœrife›r ve›r *boga hug›i,ﬂá er hristi-Sif hringa
háls *in bƒls of fylda

Skáldskaparmál

73

bar til byrjar drƒsla
baug ørlygis draugi.
(251)

(252)

(253)

(254)

Bau›a sú til bley›ibœti-ﬁrú›r at móti
málma mætum hilm‹i›men dre‹y›rug‹r›a benja.
Svá lét ey ﬂótt etti
sem *orrostu lettijƒfrum úlfs at sinname› algífris lifru.
Letrat l‡›a stillir
landa vanr á sandi—ﬂá svall heipt í Hƒgna—hƒ› glamma *mun stƒ›va,
er ﬂrymregin ﬂremja
ﬂróttig *He›in s[óttu]heldr en Hildar *svíra
hringa ﬂeir of fingu.
ﬁá má sókn á Svƒlnis
salpenningi kenna.
Ræs gáfumk rei›ar mána
Ragnarr ok fjƒl› sagna.
Ok fyrir hƒnd í hólmi
Hve›ru brynju Vi›ris
fengey›andi fljó›afordæ›a nam rá›a.
Allr gekk herr und hur›ir
Hjarranda fram kyrrar
rei›r *af Reifnis skei›i*ra›álfs *af mar brá›um.

Orrosta er ve›r Ó›ins sem fyrr er ritat. Svá kva› Víga-Glúmr:(255)

Rudda ek sem jarlar—or› *lék á ﬂví—for›um

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Snorra Edda74

me› ve›rstƒfum Vi›ris
vandar mér til *landa.

5
51

10

Vi›ris ve›r er hér kallat *orrosta en vƒndr vígs sver›it en menn
stafir sver›sins. Hér er bæ›i orrosta ok vápn haft til kenningar
mannsins. ﬁat er rekit kallat er ‹svá er› ort. Skjƒldr er land vápnanna
en vápn er hagl e›a regn ﬂess lands ef n‡gjƒrvingum er ort.
Hvernig skal kenna skip? Svá at kalla hest e›a d‡r e›a skí›sækonunga e›a sævar e›a skiprei›a e›a ve›rs. Báru fákr, sem Hornklofi
kva›:
(256)

Hrjó›r lét hæztrar tí›arhar›rá›r skipa bƒr›um
báru fáks ins bleika
barnungr á lƒg ﬂrungit.

Geitis marr (hest‹r›); svá kva› Erringar-Steinn:
15

(257)

Enn ﬂótt *ófri› sunnan
ƒll ﬂjó› segir †skaldi—hlƒ›um Geitis mar grjóti—
gla›ir nennum vér ﬂenna.

Svei›a hreinar:
20

(258)

25

Svá kva› Hallvar›r. Hér er ok kƒllu› sunds d‡r ok særinn Sƒlsa
bekkr. Svá kva› ﬁór›r *Sjáreksson:
(259)

30

Sú›lƒngum komt *Svei›a—sunds li›u d‡r frá grundu—
sigrakkr Sƒlsa bekkjar
Sveins mƒgr á trƒ› hreinum.

Sveggja lét fyrir Siggju
sólbor›s goti no‹r››an.
Gustr skaut Gylfa rastar
Glaumi su›r fyrir Aumar.
En sló›goti sí›ansæ›ings fyrir skut bæ›i

Skáldskaparmál

75—hestr ó› lauks fyrir Lista—lag›i Kƒrmt ok Ag›ir.
Hér er skip kallat sólbor›s hestr ok sær Gylfa land, sæ›ings sló›særinn ok hestr skipit ok enn lauks hestr (laukr heitir siglutré). Ok
enn sem Markús kva›:(260)

Fjar›linna ó› fannir
fast vetrli›i rastar;
hljóp of *húna -gnípur
hvals *rann- íugtanni.
Bjƒrn gekk fram á fornar
fló›s hafskí›a sló›ir;skúrƒr›igr braut skor›uskers glymfjƒtur bersi.

Hér er skip kallat bjƒrn rasta. Bjƒrn heitir vetrli›i ok íugtanni ok
bersi ok bjƒrn skor›u er hér kallat skip; er ok kallat hreinn (svá kva›
Hallvar›r sem á›r er ritat) ok hjƒrtr, sem kva› Haraldr konungr
Sigur›arson:(261)

Snei› fyrir Sikiley ví›asú›; várum ﬂá prú›ir;
br‡nt skrei› vel til varnar
vengis hjƒrtr um drengjum.

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20

Ok elgr, sem Einarr kva›:(262)

Baugs getr me› ﬂér ﬂeygi
ﬂ‡›r drengr vera lengi—elg búum fló›s—nema fylgi
fri›støkkvir ﬂví nakkva‹t›.

25

Sem Máni kva›:(263)

Hvat muntu hafs á [ot]ri
hengiligr me› drengum
karl, ﬂvíat kraptr ﬂinn fƒrlask,
kinngrár mega vinna?

30

Snorra Edda

76
Vargr, sem kva› Refr:
(264)

5

En hoddvƒnu›r hl‡ddi—
hlunnvitnis em ek runni
hollr til herm›arspjalla
heinvandil‹s›—ﬁorsteini.

Ok oxi. Skip er ok kallat skí› e›a vagn e›a rei›. Svá kva› Eyjólfr
dá›askáld:
(265)
10

Meita var at mótimjƒk sí› um dag skí›i
ungr me› jƒfnu gengiútvers frƒmum hersi.

Svá kva› Styrkárr Oddason:
(266)
15

Ok ept ítrum ‹støkkvi›ók Hƒgna li› vƒgnum
hlunns á Hei›a fannir
hyrjar fló›s af mó›i.

Ok sem ﬁorbjƒrn kva›:
(267)
20

52

25

Hvernig skal Krist kenna? Svá at kalla hann skapara himins ok
jar›a‹r›, engla ok sólar, st‡randa heimsins ok himinríkis ok engla,
konung himna ok sólar ok engla ok Jórsala ok Jórdánar ok Griklands,rá›andi postola ok heilagra manna. Forn skáld hafa kent hann vi›
Ur›ar brunn ok Róm, sem kva› Eilífr Gu›rúnarson:
(268)

30

Hafrei›ar var hlœ›irhlunns í skírnar brunni
Hvíta-Krists sá er hæsta
hoddsviptir fekk giptu.

Setbergs—kve›a sitja
su›r at Ur›ar brunni—
svá hefir ramr konungr rem›an
Róms banda sik lƒndum.

Skáldskaparmál

77

Svá kva› Skapti ﬁóroddsson:(269)

Máttr er munka dróttins
mestr; aflar gu› flestu.
Kristr skóp ríkr ok reisti
Rúms hƒll verƒld alla.

5

Himna konungr, sem Markús kva›:(270)

Gramr skóp grund ok himna
glyggranns sem her dyggjan.
Einn stillir má ƒllualdar Kristr of valda.

10

Svá kva› Eilífr kúlnasveinn:(271)

Hróts l‡tr helgum krúzi
heims fer› ok li› beima,sƒnn er en ƒll d‡r› ƒnnur
einn *sólkonungr *hreinni.

15

Máríu sonr, enn sem Eilífr kva›:(272)

Hir› l‡tr himna d‡r›arhrein Máríu sveini,mátt vi›r milding‹r› dróttar
—ma›r er hann ok gu›—ok sannan.

20

Engla konungr, enn sem Eilífr kva›:(273)

Máttr er en menn of hyggimætr gu›s sonar betri.
ﬁó er engla gramr ƒlluƒrr helgari ok d‡rri.

Jórdánar konungr; svá kva› Sighvatr:(274)

Endr ré› engla senda
Jórdánar gram‹r› fjóra

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Snorra Edda

78

—fors ﬂó han‹s› á hersi
he‹i›lagt skopt—ór lopti.
Grikkja konungr, sem Arnórr kva›:(275)
5Bœnir hefi ek fyrir beini
bragna falls vi› snjallan
Gríkja vƒr› ok Gar›a;gjƒf *launak svá jƒfri.

Svá kva› Eilífr kúlnasveinn:
(276)
10

Himins d‡r› lofar hƒl›a—hann er alls konungr—stilli.

Hér kalla›i hann fyrst Krist konung manna ok annat sinn alls konung.
Enn kva› Einarr Skúlason:
(277)
15

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25

ﬁar koma saman kenningar, ok †ver›r sá at skilja af sto›, er ræ›r
skáldskapinn, um hvárn kve›it er konunginn, ﬂvíat rétt er at kalla
Miklagar›s keisara Grikkja konung, ok svá ﬂann konung er ræ›r
Jórsalalandi, at kalla Jórsala konung, svá ok at kalla Róms konung
Rómaborgar keisara e›a Engla konung ﬂann er Englandi ræ›r. En sú
kenning er á›r var ritat, at kalla Krist konung manna, ﬂá kenning máeiga hverr konungr. Konunga alla er rétt at kenna svá at kalla ﬂá
landrá›endr e›a lands vƒr›u e›a lands sœki e›a hir›stjóra e›a vƒr›landfólks. Svá kva› Eyvindr skáldaspillir:
(278)

30

Lét sá er landfólks gætir
líkbjartr himinríki
umgeypnandi opna
alls heims fyrir gram snjƒllum.

Farmat‡sfjƒrvi næm›u*jar›rá›endrá ¯glói.

Ok sem Glúmr kva› Geirason:

Skáldskaparmál
(279)

79

Hilmir rau› und hjálmi
heina laut *á Gautum.
ﬁar var› í gn‡ geira
grundar vƒr›r of fundinn.

Sem ﬁjó›ólfr kva›:(280)

Hár skyli *hir›ar stjóri
hugreifr sonum leifa
arf ok ó›altorfu—ósk mín er ﬂat—sína.

Sem Einarr kva›:
(281)

10

Snáks berr fald of *frœknu
foldvƒr›r—konungs Hƒr›aframa telr greppr fyrir gumnum—ge›snjallr skarar fjalli.

Rétt er ok um ﬂann konung er undir honum eru skattkonungar at
kalla hann konung konunga. Keisari er œztr konunga, en ﬂar næst er
konungr sá er ræ›r fyrir ﬂjó›landi jafn í kenningum ƒllum hverr vi›
annan í skáldskap. ﬁar næst eru ﬂeir menn er jarlar heita e›askattkonungar, ok eru ﬂeir jafnir í kenningum vi› konung nema eigi
má ﬂá kalla ﬂjó›konunga er skattkonungar eru. Ok svá kva› Arnórr
jarlaskáld of ﬁorfinn jarl:
(282)

5

Nemi drótt hvé sjá sótti
snarlyndr konungr jarla.
Eigi ﬂraut vi› ægiofvægjan gram bægja.

ﬁar næst eru í kenningum í skáldskap ﬂeir menn er hersar heita.
Kenna má ﬂá sem konung e›a jarl svá at kalla ﬂá gullbrjóta okau›mildinga ok merkismenn ok fólks stjóra e›a kalla hann oddvita
li›sins e›a orrostu, fyrir ﬂví at ﬂjó›konungr hverr sá er ræ›r mƒrgum
lƒndum ﬂá setr hann til landstjórnar me› sér skattkonunga ok jarlaat dœma lands lƒg ok verja land fyrir ófri›i í ﬂeim lƒndum er
konungi liggja fjarri, ok skulu ﬂeir dómar ok refsingar vera ﬂar

15

20

25

30

Snorra Edda

80

5

10

15

jafnréttir sem sjálfs konungs. Ok í einu landi eru mƒrg heru› ok er
ﬂat háttr konunga at setja ﬂar réttara yfir svá mƒrg heru› sem hanngefr vald yfir ok heita ﬂeir hersar e›a lendir menn í Danskri tungu,
en greifar í Saxlandi en barúnar í Englandi. ﬁeir skulu ok vera réttir
dómarar ok réttir landvarnarmenn yfir ﬂví ríki er ﬂeim er fengit til
stjórnar. Ef eigi er konungr nær, ﬂá skal fyrir ﬂeim merki bera íorrostum ok eru ﬂeir ﬂá jafnréttir herstjórar sem konungar e›a jarlar.
ﬁar næst eru ﬂeir menn er hƒl›ar heita. ﬁat eru búendr ﬂeir ergildir eru *at ættum ok réttum fullum. ﬁá má svá kenna at kalla ﬂáveitanda fjár ok gætanda ok sætti manna. ﬁessar kenningar megu okeiga hƒf›ingjar. Konungar ok jarlar hafa til fylg›ar me› sér ﬂá menner hir›menn heita ok húskarlar, en lendir menn hafa ok sér handgengna
menn ﬂá er í Danmƒrku ok í Svíﬂjó› eru hir›menn *kalla›ir, en í
Nóregi húskarlar, ok sverja ﬂeir ﬂó ei›a svá sem hir›menn konungum.
Húskarlar konunga váru mjƒk hir›menn kalla›ir í fornesk‹j›u. Svákva› ﬁorvaldr blƒnduskáld:
(283)

20

Konungr heill ok svá snjall‹i›rsóknƒrr—vi› lof gjƒrvan
ó› hafa menn í munni
minn—húskarlar ﬂínir.

ﬁetta orti Haraldr konungr Sigur›arson:
(284)

25

Fullafli bei› fyllar—finn ek *opt at drífr minna—
hilmis stóls—á hælahúskarla li› jarli.

Hir›menn ok húskarla hƒf›ingja má svá kenna at kalla ﬂá inndrótte›a ver›ung e›a *hei›menn. Svá kva› Sighvatr:
(285)
30

ﬁat frá ek víg á vatni
ver›ung jƒfurs ger›u,nadda él at, n‡la,næst tel engin smæstu.

Ok enn ﬂetta:

Skáldskaparmál
(286)

81

ﬁági var sem ﬂessum
ﬂengils á jó strengjarmjƒ› fyrir málma kve›jumær hei›ﬂegum bæri.

Hei›fé heitir máli ok gjƒf er hƒf›ingjar gefa. Svá kva› Óttarr svarti:(287)

Gó›mennis ﬂarf ek gunnar
gló›brjótanda at njóta;
hér er alnennin inni
inndrótt me› gram svinnum.

Jarlar ok hersar ok hir›menn er‹u› svá kendir at kalla›ir konungs
rúnar e›a málar e›a sessar. Svá kva› Hallfrø›r:
(288)

5

Grams rúni lætr glymja
gunnríkr hinn er hvƒt líkarHƒgna hamri slegnar
heiptbrá›r of sik vá›ir.

10

15

Sem Snæbjƒrn kva›:(289)

Stjórvi›jar lætr sty›jastáls bu›lunga málihlemmisver› vi› har›ri
húflangan *skæ dúfu.

20

Svá kva› Arnórr:(290)

Bera *s‡n *of mik mínir
mor›kends taka enda
ﬂess of ﬂengils sessa
ﬂung mein synir ungir.

25

Konungs spjalli, sem Hallfrø›r kva›:(291)

Rá› lukusk at sá sí›ansnjallmælt‹r› konungs spjalliátti eingadóttur
Ónars *vi›i gróna.

30

Snorra Edda

82

Svá skal menn kenna vi› ætt, sem Kormakr kva›:
(292)

5

Heyri sonr á (S‡rar)
sannreynis (fentanna
ƒrr greppa *lætk uppi
jast-Rín) Haralds (mína).

Hann kalla›i jarlinn sannreyni konungsins, en Hákun jarl son Sigur›arjarls. En ﬁjó›ólfr kva› svá um Harald:
(293)
10

Vex Óláfs fe›r
Járnsaxa ve›r
har›ræ›it hvert
svá at hró›rs er vert.

Ok enn svá:
(294)
15

Jarizleifr of sá
hvert jƒfri brá,hófsk hl‡ri framsins helga grams.

Ok enn kva› hann:
(295)
20

Anda›r er sá
er of alla brá
haukstalla konr
Haralds bró›ursonr.

Enn kva› svá Arnórr í Rƒgnvaldsdrápu:
(296)
25

Ré› Heita konr *hleyti
herﬂarf‹r› vi› mik gjƒrva.
Styrk lét oss of orkat
jarls mæg› af ﬂví fræg›ar.

Ok enn sem hann kva› of ﬁorfinn jarl:(297)

Bitu sver›—en ﬂar *ﬂur›u—ﬂunngjƒr fyrir Mƒn sunnanSkáldskaparmál

83Rƒgnvalds kind—und randirramlig fólk—ins gamla.
Ok enn kva› hann:(298)Ættbœti *firr ítran
allríks—en ek bi› líkna
trúra tiggja d‡rum—
Torf-Einars, gu›, meinum.

5

Ok enn kva› Einarr skálaglamm:(299)

Ne ættstu›ill ættar
ógnher›ir mun ver›a—skyldr em ek hró›ri at halda—
Hilditanns in mild‹r›i.

Hvernig er ókend setni‹n›g skáldskapar? Svá at nefna hvern hlut
sem heitir. Hver eru ókend heiti skáldskaparins? Hann heitir bragr
ok hró›r, ó›r, *mær›, lof. ﬁetta kva› Bragi hinn gamli ﬂá er hannók um skóg *nokkvorn sí› um kveld, ﬂá stefja›i trƒllkona á hann okspur›i hverr ﬂar fór:
(300a)‘Trƒll kalla mik
tungl sjƒt-Rungnis,au›súg jƒtuns,élsólar bƒl,vilsinn vƒlu,vƒr› náfjar›ar,hvélsvelg himins.
Hvat er trƒll nema ﬂat?’

10

54
15

20

25

Hann svarar svá:
(300b)‘Skáld kalla mik*skapsmi› Vi›urs,
Gauts gjafrƒtu›,grepp óhneppan,
Yggs ƒlbera,ó›s skap-Mó›a,30

Snorra Edda

84

*hagsmi› bragar.
Hvat er skáld nema ﬂat?’
Ok sem Kormakr kva›:(301)
5

Hró›r geri ek of mƒg mæran
meir Sigrø›ar fleira;haptsœnis galt ek hánum
hei›. Sitr ﬁórr í rei›um.

Ok sem kva› ﬁór›r Kolbeinsson:
(302)
10

Mjƒk lét margar snekkjur—mær›ar ƒrr—sem knƒrru
—*ó›r vex skálds—*ok skei›a‹r›skjƒldhlynr á brim dynja.

Mær›, sem Úlfr Uggason kva›:
(303)
15

55
20

ﬁar kømr á, en æri
endr bar ek mær› af hendi—ofra ek svá—til sævar,sver›regns—lofi ﬂegna.

Hér er ok lof kallat skáldskapr.
Hvernig eru nƒfn go›anna? ﬁau heita ok bƒnd, sem kva› *Eyjólfr
dá›askáld:(304)

Dregr land at mun banda
Eiríkr und sik geirave›rmildr ok semr hildi.

Ok hƒpt, sem kva› ﬁjó›ólfr inn hvinverski:
25

(305)

*Tormi›la›r var tívi
tálhreinn me›al beina.
Hvat *kva› hapta *snytrir
hjálmfaldinn ﬂví valda.

Rƒgn, sem Einarr kva› skálaglamm:

Skáldskaparmál
(306)

85

Rammaukin kve› ek ríkirƒgn Hákunar magna.

Jólnar, sem Eyvindr kva›:(307)

Jólna sumblenn vér gátum
stillis lof
sem steina brú.

5

Díar, sem Kormakr kva›:(308)

Eykr me› ennidúki*jar›hljótr díafjar›ar
breyti, *hún sá er *beinanbindr. Sei› Yggr til Rindar.

ﬁessi nƒfn himins eru ritu›, en eigi hƒfum vér fundit í kvæ›um ƒll
ﬂessi heiti. En ﬂessi skáldskaparheiti sem ƒnnur ﬂykki mér óskylt at
hafa í skáldskap nema á›r finni hann í verka hƒfu›skálda ﬂvílík
heiti:
Himinn, hl‡rnir, hei›ﬂornir, hregg-Mímir, Andlangr, ljósfari,drífandi, skatyrnir, ví›fe›mir, vet-Mímir, leiptr, hrjó›r, ví›bláinn.
Sól: sunna, rƒ›ull, eyglóa, alskír, s‡ni, fagrahvél, líknskin, Dvalinsleika, álfrƒ›ull, ifrƒ›ull, *m‡lin.
Tungl: máni, n‡, ni›, ártali, múlinn, fengari, glámr, skyndir, skjálgr,sk‹r›ámr.
Jƒr›, sem ﬁjó›ólfr kva›:(309)

J‹arl› lætr odda skúrar
opt her›ir gjƒr ver›ahrings á›r hann of ﬂryngvihƒr› él und sik jƒr›u.

10

56
15

20

57

25

Fold, sem Óttarr kva›:(310)

Fold verr fólk-Baldr,
fár má konungr svá;ƒrnu reifir Óleifr,
er framr Svía gramr.

30

Snorra Edda

86
Grund, sem Haraldr kva›:
(311)

5

Grund liggr und bƒr bundinbrei› hólmfjƒturs lei›ar—*heinlands hoddum grandarHƒ›r—*eitrsvƒlum *na›ri.

Hau›r, sem Einarr kva›:
(312)

10

Verja hau›r me› hjƒrvi
hart dƒglinga bjartir—hjálmr springr opt fyrir ólmri
egghrí›—framir seggir.

Land, sem ﬁór›r Kolbeinsson kva›:
(313)

15

En ept víg *frá Veigu—vant er or› at styr—nor›anland e›a lengra stundu
lag›isk su›r til Ag›a.

Lá›, sem Óttarr kva›:
(314)

20

Helztu ﬂar er hrafn ne svalta—hvatrá›r ertu—lá›iógnar stafr fyrir jƒfrum
‡gr t‹v›eimr—vi› kyn beima.

Hlƒ›yn, sem kva› Vƒlu-Steinn:
(315)

25

Man ek ﬂat er jƒr› vi› or›aendr myrk Danar *sendigrœnnar grƒfnum munni
gein Hlƒ›ynjar beina.

Frón, sem Úlfr kva› Uggason:(316)

En stir›ﬂinull star›istor›ar leggs fyrir bor›i

Skáldskaparmál

87

fróns á fólka reyni
fránleitr ok blés eitri.
Fjƒrgyn:(317)*¯rgildi var ek (Eldi‹s›)áls Fjƒrgynjar (mála)dyggr; sé hei›r ok hreggi(hrynbe›s) ár ste›ja.

Vargr heitir d‡r. ﬁat er rétt at kenna vi› bló› e›a hræ svá at kallaver› hans e›a drykk. Eigi er rétt at kenna svá vi› fleiri d‡r. Vargrheitir ok úlfr, sem ﬁjó›ólfr kva›:
(318)

15

20

Elfr var› unda gjálfri
eitrkƒld ro›in heitu.
Vitnis fell me› vatni
var‹m›t ƒl›r í men Karmtar.

Ylgr, sem Arnórr kva›:
(321)

10

ﬁá er oddbreki—sleit und Freki—
gnú›i hrafniá hƒfu›stafni.

Vitnir, sem Einarr kva›:
(320)

58

Gera var gisting ‹byrju››
gnóg en úlfr ór skógi—sonr á sár at spenja
Sigur›ar—kom nor›an.

Hér er hann ok Geri kalla›r. Freki, sem Egill kva›:
(319)

5

Svalg áttbogi ylgjar
ógó›r—en var bló›igrœ›ir grœnn at rau›um—
grandauknum ná—blandinn.

25

Snorra Edda

88
Vargr, sem Illugi kva›:
(322)

5

Vargs var munr ﬂat er margan—mensker›ir stakk sver›i
myrkaurri›a markar—minn dróttinn rak flótta.

Bjƒrn: fetvi›nir, húnn, vetrli›i, bersi, fress, íugtanni, ifjungr, glúmr,jƒlfu›r, vilskarpr, bera, jórekr, riti, frekr, blómr, ysjungr.
Hjƒrtr: *mótro›nir, dalarr, dalr, Dáinn, Dvalinn, Duneyrr, Duraﬂrór.
ﬁetta er enn vargs heiti sem Hallr kva›:
10

(323)

Hei›ingja sleit hungri,
hárr *gyl›ir naut sára,
granar rau› gramr á Fenri,gekk úlfr í *ben drekka.

Ok enn sem ﬁór›r kva›:
15

(324)

Ó›—en œrnu ná›iíms sveit Freka hveiti,
Gera *ƒl›ra naut gyl›ir—
Gjálpar stó› í bló›i.

ﬁessi eru heiti hesta tali›; ﬂessi eru hesta heiti í ﬁorgrímsﬂulu:
20

(325)

Hrafn ok Sleipnir,
hestar ágætir
Valr ok Léttfeti
var ﬂar Tjaldari,
Gulltoppr ok Goti,
getit heyr›ak Sóta,
Mór ok Lungr me› Mari.

(326)

Vigg ok Stúfr
var me› Skæva›i,ﬁegn knátti Blakkr bera,
Silfrtoppr ok *Sinir,
svá heyr›ak Fáks of getit,
Gullfaxi ok Jór me› go›um.

25

30

Skáldskaparmál(327)

Bló›ughófi hét hestr
ok bera kvá›uƒflgan Atri›a.
Gils ok *Falhófnir,Glær ok Skei›brimir;
ﬂar var ok *Gyllis of *getit.

89

5

ﬁessir ró enn tal›ir í Alsvinnsmálum:
(328)

(329)

(330)

Dagi rei› Drƒsli
en Dvalinn Mó›ni,‹Hƒ›› Hjálmﬂér
en Haki Fáki;rei› bani Belja
Bló›ughófa
en Skæva›i
skati Haddingja.
Vésteinn Valien Vifill Stúfi,
Meinﬂjófr Mói
en Morginn Vakri,
Áli Hrafni,
til íss ri›u
en annarr austrund A›ilsi,
grár hvarfa›ige‹i›ri unda›r.
Bjƒrn rei› Blakkien Bjárr Kerti,
Atli Glaumi
en A›ils Slungni,Hƒgni Hƒlkvi
en Haraldr Fƒlkvi,
Gunnarr Gotaen Grana Sigur›r.

10

15

20

25

30

90

Snorra EddaÁrvakr ok Alsvi›r *draga sólina sem fyrr er ritat. Hrímfaxi e›aFjƒrsva‹r›tnir draga nóttina. Skinfaxi e›a Gla›r ‹fylgja deginum›.
ﬁessi øxna heiti eru í ﬁorgrímsﬂulu:
(331)
5

10

15
59

Gamalla yxna nƒfnhefi ek *gerla ‹fregit›
ﬂeira Rau›s ok Hœfis;Rekinn ok K‡rr,*Himinhrjótr ok Apli,
Arfr ok Arfuni.

ﬁessi eru orma heiti: dreki, Fáfnir, Jƒrmungandr, na›r, Ní›hƒggr,linnr, na›ra, Góinn, Móinn, Grafvitnir, Grábakr, Ófnir, Sváfnir,
grímr.
Naut: k‡r, kálfr, yxin, kvíga, vetrungr, gri›ungr, boli.
Sau›r: hrútr, bekri, ær, lamb, ve›r.
Svín: s‡r, gylta, runi, gƒltr, gríss.
Hver eru heiti lopts ok ve›ranna? Lopt heitir ginnungagap okme›alheimr, foglheimr, *ve›rheimr. Ve›r heitir hregg, byrr, glygg,
hret, gjósta, vindr. Svá segir í Alsvinnsmálum:
(332)

20

Vindr heitir me› mƒnnum
en *vƒnsu›r me› go›um,
kalla gneggju› ginnregin,œpi kalla jƒtnar
en álfar gn‡fara;
heitir í Helju hlummu›r.

25

Ve›r heitir ok gustr.
Tveir eru fuglar ﬂeir er eigi ﬂarf at kenna annan veg en kalla bló›e›a hræ drykk ﬂeira e›a ver›, ﬂat er hrafn ok ƒrn. Alla a›ra fuglakarlkenda má kenna vi› bló› e›a hræ ok er ﬂat ﬂá nafn ƒrn e›ahrafn, sem ﬁjó›ólfr kva›:

30

(333)

60

35

Bló›orra lætr barri
bragningr ara fagna,
Gauts berr sig› á sveita
svans ƒr› konungr Hƒr›a.
Geirs oddum lætr greddir
grunn hvert stika sunnar

Skáldskaparmál

91

hir› ﬂat er hann skal var›ahrægamms ara sævar.
ﬁessi eru nƒfn hrafns: krákr, Huginn, Muninn, borginmó›i, árflognir,ártali, holdbo›i. Svá kva› Einarr skálaglamm:(334)

Fjallvƒn›um gaf fylli—fullr var›—(en spjƒr gullu)
herstefnandi hrƒfnum—
hrafn á ylgjar tafni.

5

Svá kva› Einarr Skúlason:(335)

Dólgskára kná d‡rum
d‡rr magna‹n›di st‡ra—Hugins fermu breg›r harmi
harmr—bliksólar garmi.

10

Ok enn sem hann kva›:(336)

En vi› hjaldr ﬂar er hƒl›a‹r›,
hugﬂrútit svellr, lúta
—Muninn drekkr bló› ór benjum
blásvartr—konungs hjarta.

15

Sem kva› Víga-Glúmr:(337)

ﬁá er *dynfúsir *dísar
dreyra mens á e‹y›ri—brá› fekk borginmó›i
bló›‹s›—skjalda›ir stó›um.

20

Sem Skúli kva› ﬁorsteinsson:(338)

Mundit efst ﬂar er undirárflogni gaf ek sárarHlƒkk í hundra›s flokki
hvítinga mik líta.

25

Snorra Edda92

¯rn heitir svá: ari, gemlir, hreggskornir, eg›ir, ginnarr, undskornir,
gallópnir. Sem Einarr kva›:(339)
5

Sámleitum rau› sveita—sleit ƒrn Gera beitu,
fekksk arnar matr járnum—
Járnsƒxu grƒn *faxa.

Sem Óttarr kva›:
(340)
10

¯rn drekkr undarn,ylgr fær at hræm sylg,
opt r‡›r úlfr køpt,ari getr ver› ﬂar.

Sem ﬁjó›ólfr kva›:
(341)
15

Segjundum fló sagna
snótar *úlfr at mótií gemlis ham gƒmlum
glamma ó- fyr -skƒmmu.

Ok sem hér er:
(342)

20

Ok enn sem Skúli kva›:
(343)

61 25

Hreggskornis vil ek handa
háleitan mjƒ› *vanda.

Vaki ek (ﬂar er vel leizk) ekka
(ví›is) á›r ok sí›an;greppr hl‡›ir ﬂá gó›u
(gallópnis *val) spjalli.

Hver ró sævar heiti? Hann heitir marr, ægir, gymir, hlér, haf, lei›,ver, salt, †lƒg‹r›, grœ›ir, sem Arnórr kva› ok fyrr var ritat:(344)

Nemi drótt ‹hvé› sæ *sótti
snarlyndr konungr jarla.

Skáldskaparmál

93

Eigi ﬂraut vi› ægióvæginn fram bægja.
Hér er nefndr sær ok svá ægir. Marr, sem Hornklofi kva›:(345)ﬁá er út á mar *mœtir
mannskœ›r *lagar tannaræsina›r til rausnar
rak vébra‹u›tar Nƒkkva.

5Lƒgr er ok hér nefndr. Svá kva› Einarr:(346)Lƒgr ‹ﬂv›ær flaust en fagrir—fló›s vaskar brim *stó›um—
ﬂar er sær á hli› hvára
hlymr, ve›rvitar glymja.

10

Hér er fló› kallat. Svá kva› Refr, sem fyrr var ritat:(347)*Fœrir bjƒrn, ﬂar er bára
brestr, undinna festa
opt í Ægis kjapta*úrsvƒl Gymis vƒlva.

15

Haf, sem Hallvar›r kva›:(348)

Vestr léztu í haf, *hristir,har›viggs, *sikulgjar›ar,umbands allra landa,
íss, framstafni vísat.

20

Lei›, sem hér er:(349)

Erum á lei› frá lá›i*li›nir Finnum skri›nu.
Austr sé ek fjƒll af flausta
ferli geisla merlu›.

Sem Egill kva›, ver:25Snorra Edda

94
(350)

5

Marr, sem Einarr kva›:
(351)

10

Lei›angr bjóttu af lá›i—lƒgr gekk of skip—fƒgru.
Gjálfrstó›um re‹i›stu grœ›iglæstum ár it næsta.

Hér er ok gjálfr kallat særinn. Ví›ir, sem kva› Refr:
(354)

25

Salt skar húfi héltum
hraustr ﬂjó›konungr austan.
Báru brimlogs r‡ri
brún ve›r at Sigtúnum.

Grœ›ir, sem Bƒlverkr kva›:
(353)

20

Kaldr ﬂvær marr und mildum
mart dœgr vi›u svarta—grefr élsnúin—jƒfri—álmsorg Manar ﬂjálma.

Salt, sem Arnórr kva›:
(352)

15

Vestr fer ek of ver
en ek Vi›ris ber
munstrandar mar.
Svá er mitt of far.

Bar›ristinn nemr brjósti*bor›heim drasill skor›u—nau› ﬂolir vi›r—en ví›i
verpr inn of ﬂrƒm stinnan.

Húmr, sem Brennu-Njáll kva›:(355)

Senn jósu vér, svanni,
sextán en brim vexti—dreif á hafskips húfa
húm—í fjórum rúmum.

Skáldskaparmál

95

ﬁessi eru enn sævar heiti svá at rétt er at kenna til skips e›a gulls:
Rán, er sagt er at var kona Ægis, svá sem hér er:(356)

Hrau› í himin upp gló›um
hafs; gekk sær af afli;bƒr› hygg ek at sk‡ *sker›u;skaut Ránar vegr mána.

5Dœtr ﬂeira Ægis ok Ránar eru níu ok eru nƒfn ﬂeira fyrr ritu›:
Himinglæva, Dúfa, Bló›ughadda, Hefring, U›r, Hrƒnn, Bylgja, Drƒfn,Kólga. Einarr Skúlason tal›i í ﬂessi vísu er fyrr var ritat—(357)Œsir hvast at hraustum
Himinglæva ﬂyt sævar—10

sex nƒfn ﬂeira: Himinglæva, U›r, Dúfa, Bló›ughadda, Kólga, Hefring.
Hrƒnn, sem Valgar›r kva›:(358)

Lau›r var lagt í be›j‹a›,lék sollit haf golli,
en herskipum hrannirhƒfu› ógurlig ﬂógu.

15

Bylgja, sem Óttarr svarti kva›:(359)

Skáru› skƒfnu st‡ri—skaut—sylghár bylgjur—lék vi› hún á hreini
hlunns *ﬂat er drósir spunnu.

20Drƒfn, sem Ormr kva›:(360)

Hrosta dr‡gir hvern kosthauk lú›rs gæi-ﬁrú›r
en drafnar loga Lofnlƒstu rækir vinfƒst.

Bára, sem ﬁorleifr fagri kva›:

25Snorra Edda

96
(361)

5

Lá, sem Einarr kva›:
(362)

10

Ne framlyndir fundu
fyrr—hykkat lá kyr›u—
ﬂar er sjár á vi› *varra—vini óra—fell stórum.

Fyllr, sem Refr kva›:
(363)

15

Sjár ﬂ‡tr en berr bára
bjart lau›‹r› of vi› rau›an*gránn ﬂar er gulli búnum
gínn hlunnvísundr munni.

Hrynja fjƒll á fyllar—fram œsisk nú Glammaskei› vetrli›i skí›a—skautbjƒrn Gusis nauta.

Bo›i, sem hér er:(364)

Bo›i fell á mik brálla;bau› heim me› sér geimi;
ﬂá *ek eigi lƒ› lœgis.

Breki, sem Óttarr kva›:
20

(365)

Braut—en breki ﬂaut—
bor›—óx vi›ar mor›,‹me›r fengu mikit ve›r—
mjó fyrir ofan sjó.›

Vágr, sem Bragi kva›:
25

(366)

Vildit rƒngum ofravágs byrsendir œgi
hinn er mjótygil mávaMœrar skar fyrir ﬁóri.

Sund, sem Einarr kva›:

Skáldskaparmál(367)

Skar ek sú›um sundfyrir sunnan Hrund;mín pr‡ddisk mundvi› mildings fund.

Fjƒr›r, sem Einarr kva›:
(368)

20

Snarla skaut ór sóti—
sve‹y›k of hús ok reykir
stó›u stop›ir sí›an—steinó›r logi gló›um.

Bál, sem hér er:
(372)

15 62

Eldr brennat sá sjaldan—sví›r dyggr jƒfurr bygg›ir,
blása rƒnn fyr ræsireyk—er Magnús kveykvir.

Logi, sem Valgar›r kva›:
(371)

10

Sœgs mun ek sí›r en eigi
—sá er illr er brag spillir—
sólar sverri málan—slí›ráls reginn—ní›a.

Hver ró elds heiti? Svá sem hér er:
(370)

5

Næst sé ek orm á jastarítrserki vel merktan—nemi bjó›r hvé ek fer—flœ›ar—fjar›báls of hlyn máli.

Sœgr, sem Markús kva›:
(369)

97

Haki var brendr á báli
ﬂar er brimsló›ir ó›u . . .

Glœ›r, sem Grani kva›:

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98
(373)

Glœ›r hygg ek Glamma sló›ar—gramr eldi svá—feldu . . .

Eisa, sem Atli kva›:(374)
5

Øx r‡›sk—eisur vaxa,
allmƒrg—loga hallir—
hús brenna, gim geisar,gó›mennit fellr—bló›i.

Hér er ok gim kallat eldrinn. Eimr, sem hér er:
(375)
10

Brunnu allvalds inni—
eldr hygg ek at sal feldi,
eimr skaut á her hrími—
hálfgjƒr vi› Ni› sjálfa.

Hyrr, sem Arnórr kva›:
(376)
15

Eym›it rá› vi› Rauma
rei›r Ey-Dana mei›ir.
Heit dvínu›u *Heina.
Hyrr ger›i ﬂá kyrra.

Viti. Funi, sem Einarr kva›:
(377)
20

Funi kyndisk [flj]ótt
en fl‡›i skjótt
Hísingar herr
sá er haf›i verr.

Brími, sem Valgar›r kva›:
(378)
25

Bjart‹r› sveima›i brími—brutu víkingar fíkjum—
vísa styrks *of virki—varp [sorg á mey—borgar.

Leygr, sem Halldórr *skvaldri kva›:

Skáldskaparmál
(379)

99

Ér knáttu› ﬂar ﬂeira—ﬂú vart aldrigi (skjaldar*leygr ﬂaut of sjƒt) sigri
sviptr—gørsimum skipta.

ﬁessi eru nƒfn stundanna: ƒld, for›um, aldr, fyrir lƒngu, ár, misseri,vetr, sumar, vár, haust, mánu›r, vika, dagr, nótt, morginn, aptann,kveld, árla, snemma, sí›la, í sinn, fyrra dag, í næst, í gær, á morgun,
stund, mél. ﬁessi eru enn heiti nætrinnar í Alsvinnsmálum:(380)

Nótt heitir me› mƒnnum
en njóla í Helju,kƒllu› er gríma] me› go›um,ósorg kalla jƒtnar,álfar svefngaman,
dvergar draum-Njƒ‹r›un.

5 63

10

Frá jafndœgri er haust til ﬂess er sól sezk í eyktarsta›. ﬁá er vetr til
jafndœgris, ﬂá er vár til fardaga, ﬂá er sumar til jafndœgris. Haustmánu›r
heitir inn næsti fyrir vetr, fyrstr í vetri heitir gormánu›r, ﬂá er
frermánu›r, ﬂá er hrútmánu›r, ﬂá er ﬂorri, ﬂá gói, ﬂá einmánu›r, ﬂá
gaukmánu›r ok sá›tí›, ﬂá eggtí› ok stekktí›, ﬂá er sólmánu›r ok
selmánu›r, ﬂá eru heyannir, ﬂá er kornskur›armánu›r.
Hver eru manna nƒfn ókend? Ma›r er hverr fyrir sér. It fyrsta ok
it œzta heiti manns er kallat ma›r keisari, ﬂví næst konungr, ﬂarnæst jarl. ﬁessir ﬂrír menn eigu saman ﬂessi heiti ƒll. Allvaldr, svá
sem hér er kve›it:

15

(381)

25

Allvalda kann ek alla
austr ok su›r of flausta—Sveins er sonr at reyna—
setr—hverjum gram betri.

Hér er ok gramr kalla›r. ﬁví heitir hann allvaldr at hann er einvaldi
alls ríkis síns. Fylkir, sem Gizurr kva›:(382)

Fylkir gle›r í fólki
fl‹ag›s bl›akk ok svan Hlakkar.
Óláfr of vi›r élumYggs gƒgl fegin Skƒg‹l›ar.

20
64

30

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Snorra Edda

Fyrir ﬂví er fylkir kalla›r konungr at hann skipar í fylkingar herli›isínu. Vísi, sem kva› Óttarr svarti:(383)
5

Vísi tekr—víg-Freys—
víst austr munlaust—aldar hefir allvaldr—Ósk‹a› víf—gott líf.

Harri e›a herra, sem kva› Arnórr:
(384)
10

Harri fekk í hverri
Hjaltlands ﬂrumu branda—greppr vill grams d‡r› yppa—
gagn, sá er *hæstr er bragna.

Hertogi heitir jarl ok er konungr svá kalla›r ok fyrir ﬂví er hannlei›ir her til orrostu. Svá kva› ﬁjó›ólfr:
(385)
15

Ok hertoga hneykir
herfengnum lét stinga—leyf› ber ek hans—ór hauf›ihaugs skunda›i augu.

Sinnjór e›a senjór, sem Sighvatr kva›:
(386)
20

Lát auman nú njóta,
Nóregs, ok gef stórum—mál halt†—svá sem sælan,sinnjór, laga ﬂinna.

Mildingr, sem Markús kva›:
(387)
25

Mildingr fór of óﬂjó› eldi,
au›it var› ﬂá flotnum dau›a;hæstan kyndu›, hlenna ﬂr‡stir,hyrjar ljóma su›r at Jómi.

Mæringr, sem Hallvar›r kva›:

Skáldskaparmál
(388)

101

Erat und jar›ar hƒslu
—or›brjótr Dƒnum for›armoldreks—munka valdimæringr en ﬂú nærri.

Landreki, sem ﬁjó›ólfr kva›:(389)

Eyss landreki ljósu
lastvarr Kraka barri,sem fyrr var ritat. ﬁví heitir hann svá at hann rekr her um landannara konunga e›a rekr her ór sínu landi.
[Konungr er nefndr Hálfdan gamli er allra konunga var ágætastr.
Hann gƒr›i blót mikit at mi›jum vetri ok blóta›i til ﬂess at hannskyldi lifa í konungdómi sínum ﬂrjú hundru› vetra. En hann fekk
ﬂau andsvƒr at hann myndi lifa ekki meir en einn mikinn mannsaldr,
en ﬂat mundi ﬂó vera ﬂrjú hundru› vetra er engi mundi vera í ætt
hans kona e›a ótiginn ma›r. Hann var herma›r mikill ok fór ví›aum Austrvegu. ﬁar drap hann í einvígi ﬂann konung er Sigtryggr
hét. ﬁá fekk hann ﬂeirar konu er kƒllu› er Alvig in spaka, dóttir
*Emundar konungs ór] Hólmgar›i in‹s› ríka. ﬁau áttu son‹u› átján
ok váru níu senn bornir. ﬁeir hétu svá: einn var ﬁengill er kalla›r var
Manna-ﬁengill, annarr Ræsir, ﬂri›i Gramr, fjór›i Gylfi, fimti Hilmir,sétti Jƒfurr, sjaundi Tiggi, átti Skyli e›a Skúli, níundi Harri e›aHerra. ﬁessir níu brœ›r ur›u svá ágætir í herna›i at í ƒllum frœ›um
sí›an eru nƒfn ﬂeira haldin fyrir tignarnƒfn svá sem konungs nafne›a nafn jarls. ﬁeir áttu engi bƒrn ok fellu allir í orrostum. Svá sag›iÓttarr svarti:
(390)

10

15

20

25

ﬁengill var ﬂegar ungr
ﬂreks gjƒrr vígƒrr.
Haldask bi› ek hans aldr,
hann tel ek yfirmann.

Svá kva› Markús:
(391)

5

Ræsir lét af ro›num hausi
Rínar sól á marfjƒll skína.

Svá kva› Egill:30

Snorra Edda

102
(392)

Gramr hefir ger›ihƒmrum
grundar upp of hrundit . . .

Svá kva› Eyvindr:(393)
5

Lék vi› ljó›mƒgu,skyldi land ver‹j›a,gylfi inn gla›væri
stó› und gullhjálmi.

Svá kva› Glúmr:
(394)
10

Hilmir rau› und hjálmi
heina laut ágætum.

Svá kva› Óttarr svarti:
(395)

15

Jƒfurr heyri upphaf—ofrask mun konungs lof,háttu nemi hann rétthró›r‹s› míns—bragar síns.

Sem Stúfr kva›:
(396)

20

Tíreggja›r hjó tiggi
tveim hƒndum li› beima;reif‹r› gekk herr und hlífar
hizig su›r fyrir Nizi.

Svá kva› Hallfrø›r:
(397)

25

Skili›r em ek vi› skylja,
skálmƒld hefir ﬂví valdit;vætti ek vir›a dróttins;
vil er mest ok dul flestum.

Svá kva› Markús:(398)

Harra kve› ek at hró›rgjƒr› d‡rri
hauklunda›an Dana grundar.

Skáldskaparmál

103

Enn áttu ﬂau Hálfdan a›ra níu sonu er svá heita: Hildir, er Hildingar
eru frá komnir; annarr Nefir, er Niflungar eru frá komnir; ﬂri›i
Au›i, er ¯›li‹n›gar eru frá komnir; fjór›i Yngvi, er Ynglingar eru
frá komnir; fimti Dagr, er Daglingar eru frá komnir; sétti Bragi, er
Bragningar eru frá komnir (ﬂat er ætt Hálfdanar ins milda); sjaundi
Bu›li—af Bu›lunga ætt kom Atli ok Brynhildr; átti er Lof›i, hannvar herkonungr mikill, honum fylg›i ﬂat li› er Lof›ar váru kalla›ir,
hans ættmenn eru kalla›ir Lof›ungar, ﬂa›an er kominn Eylimi,
mó›urfa›ir Sigur›ar Fáfnisbana; níundi Sigarr, ﬂa›an eru komnir
Siklingar, ﬂat er ætt Siggeirs er var mágr Vƒlsungs ok ætt Sigars erheng›i Hagbar›. Af Hildinga ætt var kominn Haraldr inn granrau›i,mó›urfa›ir Hálfdanar svarta. Af Niflunga ætt var Gjúki. Af ¯›lingaætt var Kjárr. Af Ylfinga ætt var Eiríkr inn málspaki. ﬁessar eru okkonunga ættir ágætar: frá Yngvari er Ynglingar eru frá komnir, frá
Skildi í Danmƒrk er Skjƒldungar eru frá komnir, frá Vƒlsungi áFraklandi (ﬂeir heita Vƒlsungar). Skelfir hét einn herkonungr ok erhans ætt kƒllu› Skilfinga ætt. Sú kynsló› er í Austrvegum. ﬁessarættir er nú eru nefndar hafa menn sett svá í skáldskap at halda ƒll
ﬂessi fyrir tignarnƒfn. Svá sem Einarr kva›:

10

(399)

20

Frá ek vi› hólm at heyja
hildingar fram gingu—lind var› grœn—inn grána*geirﬂing—í tvau springa.

5

15

Sem Grani kva›:(400)Dƒglingr fekk at drekka
danskt bló› ara jó›i.

25

Sem Gamli kva› Gnæva›arskáld:(401)¯›lingr drap sér ungum
ungr naglfara ‹á› tungu
innan bor›s ok or›a*aflgjƒr› me›alkafla.

Sem Jórunn kva›:

30

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104
(402)

5

Svá kva› Einarr:
(403)

10

Siklinga venr snekkjur
sjálútar konr úti.
Hann litar herskip innan—hrafns gó› er ﬂat—bló›i.

Sem ﬁjó›ólfr kva›:
(405)

20

Beit bu›lungs hjƒrr,bló› fell á dƒrr.
Raufsk Hildar sk‡vi› Hvítab‡.

Svá kva› Arnórr:
(404)

15

Bragningr ré› í bló›i—bei› herr konungs rei›i,
hús lutu opt fyrir eisum—*óﬂjó›ar slƒg rjó›a.

Svá lauk siklings ævi
snjalls at vérom allir—lof›ungr bei› inn leyf›ilífs grand—í sta› vandum.

Lof›a konungi fylg›i ﬂat li› er Lof›ar heita. Sem Arnórr kva›:(406)Skjƒldungr mun ﬂér annarr aldriœ›ri, gramr, und sólu fœ›ask.

Vƒlsungr, sem kva› ﬁorkell hamarskáld:
(407)
25

Mér ré› sendaof svalan ægiVƒlsunga ni›rvápn gullbúin.

Ynglingr, sem kva› Óttarr svarti:

Skáldskaparmál
(408)

105

Engi var› á jƒr›uógnbrá›r, á›r ﬂér ná›i,austr, sá er eyjum vestan,ynglingr, *und *sik ﬂryngvi.

Yngvi; ﬂat er ok konungs heiti, sem Markús kva›:(409)

Eiríks lof ver›r ƒld at heyra,engi ma›r veit fremra ﬂengil—yngvi helt vi› or›stír langanjƒfra sess—í verƒld ﬂessi.

Skilfingr, sem Valgar›r kva›:
(410)

10

Skilfingr, helztu ﬂar er skulfu
skei›r fyrir lƒnd hin brei›u—au› var› su›r um sí›ir
Sikiley—li›i miklu.

Sinnjór, sem Sighvatr kva›:
(411)

5

15

Lát auman nú njóta,
Nóregs, ok g[ef stórum].

Skáld heita greppar ok rétt er í skáldskap at kenna svá hvern mannef vill. Rekkar váru kalla›ir ﬂeir menn er fylg›u Hálfi konungi ok
af ﬂeira nafni eru rekkar kalla›ir hermenn ok er rétt at kenna svá alla
menn. Lof›ar heita ok menn í skáldskap sem fyrr er ritat. Skatnarváru ﬂeir menn kalla›ir er fylg›u ﬂeim konungi er Skati mildi var
kalla›r. Af hans nafni er skati kalla›r hverr er mildr er. Bragnar
heita ﬂeir er fylg›u Braga konungi inum gamla. Vir›ar heita ﬂeir
menn er meta mál manna. Fyr›ar ok firar ok verar heita landvarnarmenn. Víkingar ok flotnar, ﬂat er skipa herr. Beimar: svá hétu ﬂeir erfylg›u Beimuna konungi. Gumnar e›a gumar heita flokkstjórar, svá
sem gumi er kalla›r í brú›fƒr. Gotnar eru kalla›ir af heiti konungs
ﬂess er Goti er nefndr er Gotland er vi› kent. Hann var kalla›r af
nafni Ó›ins ok dregit af Gauts nafni, ﬂvíat Gautland e›a Gotland var
kallat af nafni Ó›ins, en Svíﬂjó› af nafni Svi›urs—ﬂat er ok heitiÓ›ins. Í ﬂann tíma var kallat alt meginland ﬂat er hann átti Rei›gota-

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20

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Snorra Edda

land, en eyjar allar Eygotaland. ﬁat er nú kallat Danaveldi ok Svíaveldi. Drengir heita ungir menn búlausir me›an ﬂeir afla sér fjár e›aor›stír, ﬂeir fardrengir er milli landa fara, ﬂeir konungs drengir erhƒf›ingjum ﬂjóna, ﬂeir ok drengir er ﬂjóna ríkum mƒnnum e›abœndum. Drengir heita vaskir menn ok batnandi.
Seggir eru kalla›ir ok kníar ok li›ar, ﬂat eru fylg›armenn. ﬁegnar
ok hƒl›ar (ok hƒl›a), svá eru búendr kalla›ir. Ljónar heita ﬂeir
menn er ganga um sættir manna. ﬁeir menn eru er svá eru kalla›ir:
kappar, kenpur, garpar, *snillingar, hreystimenn, har›menni, afarmenni, hetjur.
ﬁessi heiti standa hér í mót at kalla mann blau›an, veykan, ﬂjarfan,
ﬂirfing, blotamann, skau›, skreyju, *skrjá›, vák, vám, leyra, sleyma,
tey›a, dugga, dási, dirokkr, dusilmenni, ƒlmusa, auvir›, vílmƒgr.
¯rr ma›r heitir mildingr, mæringr, skati, ﬂjó›skati, gullskati,
mannbaldr, sælingr, sælkeri, au›k‡fingr, ríkmenni, hƒf›ingi. Hér í
mót er svá kallat: hnøggvingr, gløggvingr, mælingr, vesalingr, féní›ingr,gjƒflati. Heitir spekingr rá›valdr, heitir ok óvitr ma›r fífl, afglapi,
gassi, ginningr, gaurr, glópr, snápr, fóli, œrr, ó›r, galinn. Snyrtima›r:
ofláti, drengr, glæsima›r, stertima›r, pr‡›ima›r. Heitir hraumi, skrápr,
skrokkr, skei›klofi, flangi, slinni, fjósnir, slápr, drƒttr.
L‡›r heitir landfólk e›a ljó›r. Heitir ok ﬂræll kefsir, ﬂjónn,ƒnnungr, ﬂírr.
Ma›r heitir einn hverr,
tá ef tveir ró,
ﬂorp ef ﬂrír ró,
fjórir ró fƒruneyti,
flokkr eru fimm menn,sveit ef sex eru,
sjau fylla sƒgn,átta bera ámælisskor,
nautar eru níu,
dúnn ef tíu eru,ærir eru ellifu,toglƒ› er ef tólf fara,
ﬂyss eru ﬂréttán,fer› er fjórtán,fundr er ﬂá er fimtán hittask,seta eru sextán,Skáldskaparmál

107

sókn eru sjautján,œrnir ﬂykkja óvinir ﬂeim er átján mœtir,neyti hefir sá er nítján menn ‹hefir›,drótt er tuttugu menn,
ﬂjó› eru ﬂrír tigir,
fólk eru fjórir tigir,
fylki eru fimm tigir,samn‹a››r of eru sex tigir,
sørvar eru sjau tigir,
ƒld eru átta tigir,
herr er hundra›.
Enn eru ﬂau heiti er menn láta ganga fyrir nƒfn manna. ﬁat kƒllum
vér vi›kenningar e›a sannkenningar e›a fornƒfn. ﬁat eru vi›kenningar
at nefna annan hlut réttu nafni ok kalla ﬂann er hann vill nefna
eiganda e›a svá at kalla hann ﬂess er hann nefndi fƒ›ur e›a afa; áier hinn ﬂri›i. Heitir ok sonr ok arfi, arfuni, barn, jó› ok mƒgr,erfingi. Heitir ok bró›ir bló›i, barmi, hl‡ri, lifri.
Heitir ok ni›r nefi, áttungr, konr, kundr, frændi, kynstafr, ni›jungr,ættstu›ill, ættbarmr, kynkvísl, ættbogi, afkvæmi, afspringr, hƒfu›ba›mr,ofskƒpt. Heita ok mágar sifjungar, hle‹y›tamenn. Heitir ok vinr okrá›unautr, rá›gjafi, máli, rúni, spjalli, aldaﬂopti, einkili, sessi, sessunautr. ﬁopti er *hálfr‡mis félagi. Heitir ok *óvinr dólgr, andskoti,
fjándi, søkkvi, ska›ama›r, banama›r, ﬂrøngvir, søkkvir, ósvifru›r.
ﬁessi heiti kƒllum vér vi›kenningar ok svá ﬂótt ma›r sé kendr vi›
bœ sinn e›a skip sitt ﬂat er nafn á e›a eign sína ﬂá er einkarnafn er
gefit. ﬁetta kƒllum vér sannkenningar at kalla mann spekimann,*ætlunarmann, or›speking, rá›snilling, au›milding, óslœkinn, gæimann, glæsimann. ﬁetta eru fornƒfn.
ﬁessi eru kvinna heiti ókend í skáldskap: Víf ok brú›r ok fljó›
heita ﬂær konur er manni eru gefnar. Sprund ok svanni heita ﬂær
konur er mjƒk fara me› dramb ok skart. Snótir heita ﬂær er or›næfrar
eru. Drósir heita ﬂær er kyrrlátar eru. Svarri ok svarkr, ﬂær eru
mikillátar. Ristill er kƒllu› sú kona er skƒruglynd er. R‡gr heitir súkona er ríkust er. Feima er sú kƒllu› er ófrƒm er svá sem ungar
meyjar, e›a ﬂær konur er ódjarfar eru. Sæta heitir sú kona er búandi
hennar er af landi farinn, hæll er sú kona kƒllu› er búandi hennar er
veginn. Ekkja heitir sú er búandi hennar var› sóttdau›r. Mær heitir
fyrst hver, en kerli‹n›gar er gamlar eru. Eru enn ﬂau kvinna heiti er

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Snorra Edda

til lastmælis eru ok má ﬂau finna í kvæ›um ﬂótt ﬂat sé eigi ritat. ﬁær
konur heita eljur er einn mann eigu. Snƒr heitir sonar kván. Sværa
heitir vers mó›ir. ‹Heitir ok mó›ir,› amma, ﬂri›ja edda. Ei›a heitirmó›ir. Heitir ok dóttir ok barn, jó›. Heitir ok systir dís, jó›dís.
Kona er ok kƒllu› be›ja, mála, rún‹a› búanda síns ok er ﬂat vi›rkenning.
Hƒfu› heitir á manni. ﬁat skal svá kenna at kalla erfi›i háls e›abyr›i, land hjálms ok hattar ok heila, hárs ok brúna, svar›ar, eyrna,
augna, munns; Heimdalar sver›, ok er rétt at nefna hvert sver›s heiti
er vill ok kenna vi› eitthvert nafn Heimdalar. Hƒfu› heitir ókent
hauss, hjarni, kjannr, kollr. Augu heita sjón ok lit e›a vi›rlit, ørmjƒt.
ﬁau má svá kenna at kalla sól e›a tungl, skjƒldu ok gler e›a gimsteinae›a stein brá e›a brúna, hvarma e›a ennis. Eyru heita hlustir okheyrn. ﬁau skal svá kenna at kalla land e›a jar›ar heitum nokkvorum,e›a munn e›a rás e›a sjón e›a augu heyrnarinnar ef n‡gjƒrvingar
eru. Munn skal svá kenna at kalla land e›a hús tungu e›a tanna, or›ae›a góma, varra e›a ﬂvílíkt, ok ef n‡gjƒrvingar eru ﬂá kalla mennmunninn skip en varrarnar bor›it, tunga rœ›it e›a st‡rit. Tennar eru
stundum kalla›ar grjót e›a sker or›a, munns e›a tungu. Tunga er
opt kƒllu› sver› máls e›a munns. Skegg heitir bar›, grƒn e›a kanpar
er stendr á vƒrrum. Hár heitir lá, haddr ﬂat er konur hafa. Skopt
heitir hár. Hár er svá kent at kalla skóg e›a vi›ar heiti nokkvoru,
kenna til hauss e›a hjarna e›a hƒfu›s, e›a skegg kenna vi› hƒku e›akinnr e›a kverkr. Hjarta heitir negg. ﬁat skal svá kenna, kalla korne›a stein e›a epli e›a hnot e›a m‡l e›a líkt ok kenna vi› brjóst e›ahug. Kalla má ok hús e›a jƒr› e›a berg hugarins. Brjóst skal svá
kenn‹a› at kalla hús e›a gar› e›a skip hjarta, anda e›a lifrar, eljunar
land, hugar ok minnis. Hugr heitir sefi ok *sjafni, ást, elskugi, vili,
munr. Huginn skal svá kenna at kalla vind trƒllkvinna ok rétt at
nefna til hverja er vill ok svá at nefna jƒtnana e›a kenna ﬂá til konue›a mó›ur e›a dóttur ﬂess. ﬁessi nƒfn eru sér. Hugr heitir ok ge›,ﬂokki, eljun, ﬂrekr, nenning, minni, vit, skap, lund, tryg›. Heitir okhugr re‹i››i, fjándskapr, fár, grim›, bƒl, harmr, tregi, óskap, grellskap,lausung, ótryg›, ge›leysi, ﬂunnge›i, gessni, hra›ge›i, óﬂveri. Hƒndmá kalla mund, arm, lám, hramm. Á hendi heitir *alnbogi, armleggr,úlfli›r, li›r, fingr, greip, hreifi, nagl, gómr, ja›arr, kvikva. Hƒnd má
kalla jƒr› vápna e›a hlífa, vi› axlar ok ermar, lófa ok hreifa, gullhringa
jƒr› ok vals ok hauks ok allra hans heita, ok í n‡gjƒrvingum fót
axlar, bognau›. Fœtr má kalla tré ilja, rista, leista e›a ﬂvílíkt, renniflein
brautar e›a gƒngu, fets. Má kalla fótinn tré e›a sto› ﬂessa. Vi› skí›

Skáldskaparmál109

ok s‹k›úa ok brœkr eru fœtr kendir. †Á fœti heitir lær, kné, kálfi,bein, leggr, rist, jarki, ‹il›, tá. Vi› ﬂetta alt má fótinn kenna ok kalla
hann tré ok kallat er sigla ok rá fótrinn ok ken‹t› vi› ﬂessa hluti. Mál
heitir ok or› ok or›tak ok or›snilli, tala, saga, senna, ﬂræta, sƒngr,galdr, kve›andi, skjal, bifa, hjald‹r›, hjal, skval, glaumr, ﬂjarka,gyss, ﬂrapt, skálp, hól, skraf, dœlska, ljó›æska, hégómi, afgelja.
Heitir ok rƒdd hljómr, rómr, ómun, ﬂytr, gƒll, gn‡r, glymr, ﬂrymr,
rymr, brak, svipr, svipun, gangr. Svá skal orrostu kenna vi› sver›e›a ƒnnur vápn e›a hlífar. Vit heitir speki, rá›, skilning, minni,ætlun, hyggjandi, tƒlvísi, langsæi, bragvísi, or›speki, skƒrungskapr.
Heitir undirhyggja vélræ›i, fláræ›i, *brig›ræ›i. Læti er tvent. Lætiheitir rƒdd, læti heitir œ›i, ok œ›i er ok ólund. Rei›i er ok tvíkent.
Rei›i heitir ﬂat er ma›r er í illum hug, rei›i heitir ok fargervi skipse›a hross. Far er ok tvíkent. Fár er rei›i, far er skip. ﬁvílík or›tƒkhafa menn mjƒk til ﬂess at yrkja fó‹l›git ok er ﬂat kallat mjƒkofljóst. Li› kalla menn ﬂat á manni er leggir mœtask, li› heitir skip,li› heitir mannfólk. Li› er ok ﬂat kallat er ma›r veitir ƒ›rum *li›sinni.
Lí› heitir ƒl. Hli› heitir á gar›i ok hli› kalla menn oxa, en hlí› er
brekka. ﬁessar greinir má setja svá í skáldskap at gera ofljóst at vanter at skilja ef a›ra skal hafa greinina en á›r ﬂykki til horfa in fyrrivísuor›. Slíkt sama eru ok ƒnnur mƒrg nƒfn ﬂau er saman eigu heitit
margir hlutir.
(412)

(413)

Atli Fró›iÁli Glammi
Be‹i›ti Áti
ok Beimuni
Au›mundr Gu›mundr
Atall ok Gestill
Geitir Gauti
Gylfi Svei›i.
Gœir Eynefr
Gaupi ok Endill
Skekkill Ekkill
Skefill ok Sƒlvi
Hálfr ok Hemlir
Hárekr ok Gorr
Hagbar›r Haki
Hrau›n[ir Meiti.]

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Snorra Edda

(414)Hjƒrólfr ok Hrau›ungrHƒgni M‡singr
Hundingr Hvítingr
Heiti [M]ævill
Hjálmarr MóirHæmir MæviRó›i Rakni
Rerr ok Leifi.

(415)

Randvér Rƒkni Rƒknir
Reifnir LeifnirNæfill Ræfill
Nóri Lyngvi
Byrvill Kilmundr
Beimi Jórekr
Jƒsmundr ﬁvinnill
Yngvi Teiti.

(416)

Virfill Vinnill
Vandill Sƒlsi
Gau‹t›rekr ok Húnn
Gjúki Bu›li
Hómarr Hnefi
Hyrvi Syrvi.
Sékkat ek fleirisækonunga.

(417)

Ek mun jƒtna
inna heiti:
Ymir Gangr ok Mímir
I›i ok ﬁjazi
Hrungnir Hrímnir
Hrau›nir Grímnir
Hve›rungr Hafli
Hripsto›r Gymir.

(418)

Har›verkr Hrøkkvir
ok Hástigi

SkáldskaparmálHræsvelgr Herkir
ok Hrímgrímnir
Hymir ok Hrímﬂurs
Hvalr ﬁrígeitir
ﬁrymr ﬁrú›gelmirﬁistilbar›i.
(419)

Geirrø›r Fyrnir
Galarr *ﬁrívaldiFjƒlverkr Geitir
Fleggr Blapﬂvari
Fornjótr Sprettingr
Fjalarr Stígandi
Sómr ok Svásu›r
Svárangr Skrati.

(420)

Surtr ok StórverkrSækarlsmúli
Skorir Skr‡mir
Skerkir Salfangr¯skru›r ok Svartr
Andu›r Stúmi
Alsvartr AurnirÁmr ok Skalli.

(421)Kƒttr ¯sgrúi
ok Alfarinn
Vindsvalr Víparr
ok Vafﬂrú›nir
Eldr ok AurgelmirÆgir RangbeinnVindr Vi›blindi
Vingnir Leifi.

(422)

Beinvi›r Bjƒrgólfr
ok BrandingiDum‹b›r Bergelmir
Dofri ok Mi›jungr
Nati Sekmímir.

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112

Snorra Edda
Nú er upp tali›ámáttligrajƒtna heiti.

(423)

Skal ek trƒllkvinna
telja heiti:Grí›r ok GnissaGr‡la Br‡ja
Glumra Geitla
Gríma ok Bakrauf
Guma Gestilja
Grottintanna.

(424)

Gjálp Hyrrokkin
Hengikepta
Gneip ok Gnepja
Geysa HálaHƒrn ok Hrúga
Har›greip Fora›
Hryg›a Hve›raok Hƒlgabrú›r.

(425)

Hrímger›r HæraHerkja Fála
Im› Járnsaxa
Íma Fjƒlvƒr
*Mƒrn Ívi›jaÁmger›r SimulSívƒr Skríkja
Sveipinfalda.

(426)¯flugbar›aok Járnglumra*Ímger›r Áma
ok Járnvi›jaMarger›r Atla
Eisurfála
Leikn Munnharpa
ok Munnri›a.

Skáldskaparmál(427)

Leirvƒr Ljóta
ok Lo›infingra
Kráka Var›rún
ok Kjallandi
Vígglƒ› ﬁurbƒr›.
Viljum nefna
R‡gi sí›arst
ok Rifingƒflu.

(428)ﬁórr heitir Atliok Ásabragr,
sá er Ennilangr
ok Eindri›iBjƒrn Hlórri›iok Har›véorr
Vingﬂórr Sƒnnungr
Véu›r ok Rymr.

Ása *heiti:

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17

(429)

Burir eru Ó›ins
Baldr ok MeiliVi›arr ok Nepr
Váli Áli
ﬁórr ok Hildólfr
Hermó›r SigiSkjƒldr Yngvi-Freyrok Ítreksjó›
Heimdallr Sæmingr.

(430)

Enn eru eptirjƒtna heiti:
Eimgeitir VerrÍmr Hringvƒlnir
Viddi Vingrípr
Vandill Gyllir
Grímnir Glaumarr
Glámr Sámendill.

114

Snorra Edda

(431)Vƒrnir Har›greipr
ok Vagnhƒf›i
Kyrmir Suttungr
ok KallgraniJƒtunn Ógla›nir
ok Aurgrímnir
Grimlingr GusirÓfóti Hlói Ganglati
ok Helreginn
Hrossﬂjófr Durnir
Hundallr Baugi
Hrau›ungr Fenrir
Hróarr ok Mi›i.

(432)

Enn skal telja
Ása heiti:
ﬂar er Yggr ok ﬁórrok Yngvi-FreyrVi›arr ok Baldr
Váli ok Heimdallr.
ﬁá er T‡r ok Njƒr›r.
Tel ek næst BragaHƒ›r Forseti.
Hér er efstr Loki.

(433)

Nú skal Ásynj[ur]allar nefna:
Frigg ok Freyja
Fulla ok SnotraGer›r ok Gefjun
Gná Lofn Ska›iJƒr› ok I›unn
Ilmr Bil Njƒrun.

(434)

Hlín ok Nanna
Hnoss Rindr ok Sjƒfn
Sól ok Sága
Sigyn ok Vƒr.

Skáldskaparmálﬁá er Vár, ok Synver›r at nefna
en ﬁrú›r ok Rán
ﬂeim næst tali›.

(435)

Grét ok at Ó›igulli Freyja.
Heiti eru hennar[Hjƒrn ﬁrungra
S‡r Skjálf Gefn
ok it sama Mardƒll.
Dœtr eru hennar]
Hnoss ok Gersimi.

(436)

Enn eru a›rarÓ›ins meyjar:
Hildr ok Gƒndul
Hlƒkk Mist Skƒgul.
ﬁá er Hrund ok Mist
Hrist Skuld tali›.

(437)

Nornir heitaﬂær er nau› skapa.
Nipt ok dísi
nú mun ek telja.

(438)

Snót brú›r svannisvarri sprakki
fljó› sprund konafeima ekkjar‡gr víf ok drós
ristill sætaman svarkr ok hællmær ok kerling.

(439)

Mál er at segja
manna heiti:

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116

Snorra Edda
greppar ok gumnar
gumar ok drengir
gotnar rekkar
garpar seggir
sveit snillingar
ok sælkerar.

(440)

Bragnar ﬂegnar
beimar hƒl›arfirar ok flotnar
fyr›ar hƒl›arfƒruneyti dróttflokkr har›menni
kníar ok kappar
kenpur nautar.

(441)¯ld ok ærirok afarmennili›ar ok lof›arl‡›r ok sagnir
ljó›r *oflátar
ljónar ok fer›ir
mildingr mæringr
mannbaldr spekingr.

(442)

ﬁá er glæsima›rok gullskati,ﬂá eru snyrtimenn
ok au›k‡fingar
ok oflátar
herr ok helmingrok hƒf›ingjar.

(443)

Fólk ok fylki
fundr almenning,
nú er ﬂrƒng ok ﬂyss
ﬂorp au›skatar
drótt ok syrvar
dúnn pr‡›imenn

Skáldskaparmálsƒgn ok samna›rseta stertimennfjƒrr ok brjónar.

(444)

Enn eru eptir
aldar heiti:hir› ok gestir
ok húskarlar
inndrótt ok hjón.
Ef ek alt segi:
rúni ok ﬂopti
ok rá›gjafi.

(445)Innh‡singar
aldaﬂoptar
sessi ok máliserlar ok fylg›ir.
ﬁá er félagar
ok frændr saman
vinr einkiliver›ung halir.

(446)

Ái ok áttungr
afi sonr fa›ir
bró›ir barmi
bló›i ok lifrijó› burr nefi
ok arfuni.
ﬁá eru hl‡rarok hƒfu›ba›mar.

(447)

Ni›r hle‹y›tama›rni›jungr ok barnkonr ok kynkvísl
kundr ættbogi
mƒgr málunautrmágr ok spjalliættba›mr æ‹tt›sló›ofskƒpt ok sveinn.

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(448)

Sessunautar
ok sifjungar,
afspringr er ﬂáok ættstu›ill,
ﬂá er rá›unautr,
ﬂjónar ﬂrælar
ﬂírr ƒnnungar
verkmenn kefsar.

(449)

ﬁau eru heiti:
hjaldr ok rimmagƒll geirahƒ›ok geirﬂriful
róg ok rómaranngrí› ok stor›
svipul ok snerra
sig fólk jara.

(450)

Sóta mor› ok víg
sókn ok í›dólg ógn tara
drima ok ímun.
ﬁá er orrostaok ørlygi
hrí› ok etja
herﬂƒgn ﬂrima.

(451)

Ek mun segja
sver›a heiti:hjƒrr ok Hrottihƒgu›r Dragvandill
Gróa Gramr gellir
gjallr ok ne›anskar›r
sig›r ok snyrtir
sómi skjómi.

(452)

Skálkr skerkir stúfr
Skr‡mir Laufi

Skáldskaparmálƒltirr langbar›rok ormﬂvari
Leggbiti ok kyrr
ok Leifnis grandherberi H‹n›eitirok hafrakan.
(453)

Lotti hrƒndu›rlƒg›ir mækir
mƒndu›r mundri›iok Mistilteinnmálmr ﬂrór ok marr
ok mi›fáinn
Fetbrei›r *grindlogi
ok fjƒrso›nir.

(454)Vægir veigarr
vallangr ok brandr
verúlfr valnir
vinnbjartr ok kvƒlaskr Angrva›ill
eggjumskarpi
svipu›r ok svipaljótr
salgar›r hnefi.

(455)

Hvati hƒf[u›hv]essingr*hausamƒlvir
hræva-Gautr herbrái
ok hold-Mímirbensœgr brig›ir
Brim[ir] huglognir
skyg›ir skreifirskar›r grindlogi.

(456)

Mímungr ok fellir
ok málvitnirtaurarr hrævar›r
trani vindﬂvarili›nir kvernbiti
ljómi her›ir

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120
vitnir yfrir
veggjalestir.
(457)

Skelkvingr fylvingr
flæmingr sker›ingr
skotningr skilfingrSkƒfnungr rifjungr
brotni‹n›gr hvítingrBæsingr Tyrfingrhœkingr ok hringr.
Hittask mun nættingr.

(458)

Logi ok munngjallr
langhvass ok eldrƒrn ok eygir
ok naglfari
brig›ir mƒrnir
blær ok sker›irhyrr ok helsingr
hrí›ir atti.

(459)

Fellir fƒlvir
Fáfnir raufnirímnir eimnir
afspringr ﬂinurr
sig›ir snyrtir
svelgr skarr ok nár
Góinn gest-Móinn ok gárr
ﬂrimarr ní›hƒggr.

(460)

Oddr bló›varta
ok benknúar
bló›refill bló›varp
ok bló›i›a
bló›vaka ljúgfengr
ok bló›hnefi
i›hvarf ok brandr
eggteinar fólk.

Skáldskaparmál(461)

Emjar ﬂremjar
ok ¯lrø›arnautr
merki véttrim
ok missifengr
ónn ok skafningr
undirdregni‹n›gr
vargr ok Kaldhamarsnautrvalbƒst ok her›r.

(462)

Sver› ok gelmingrok samnagli
hugró sigrhno›
hjalt ok tangi
mundri›r hƒggfá›r
ok me›alkafli.

(463)

Øx ok jar›spar›ahyrna
skjáfa ok skeggja
skráma ok genja
reginspƒnn Gnepjag‡gr ok Fálasnaga ok búlda
bar›a ok vígglƒ›ﬂveita ok ﬂenja.
ﬁá er arghyrna,
hon er œzt tali›øxar heita.

(464)

Darr spjót ok nƒtdƒf len‹z› ok vigr
snata fleinn ok sváf
svi›a hræmæki
geirr spjƒr natagefja kesja
gaflak Frakka
Gungnir Peita.

121

122

Snorra Edda(465)

¯r er ok akka
oddr hvítm‡lingr
fenja ok drífa
flug dynfarabƒsl bƒl bílda
broddr ok Hremsagƒgnflaug ok ﬂrƒsgƒgn ok skaptsnƒr.

(466)

Flugglƒ› flugsvinn
Fífa ok skeyti;
geta skal fenna
ok Gusis smí›is.
Jól‹f›s smí›i eren øfst ﬂura.

(467)Álmr dalr bogi‡r ok tvívi›r
sveigr glær ok ﬂrymr
sómr skalgelmir.

(468)

Enn kve› ek heita
ƒll vápn saman
járn ƒr ok slƒgísarn ok spjƒr.

(469)

Skjƒldr ﬂrunginsalr
skaunn salbendingr
bognir hlébar›rok buklarivéttlimi targave›rgla›r ok hlíf
ví›bleiknir rít
víggla›r ok lind

(470)

Gjallr dƒggskafi
ok gimsk‡lir

Skáldskaparmál*bƒ›ljós gr‡taok bƒ›sk‡lirsvalinn ok randi
saurnir bor›iskuttingr bar›iskírr tvíbyr›ingr.
(471)

Yrlygr ok svarmr
eilífnir hei›rbaugr fagrbláinnbera mi›f‹j›ƒrnir.

(472)

Hropts hattar skal ek
segja heiti:
hjálmr gullfáinnhraunn valhrímnir
hallhrímnir *skólkr
ok hlífandifjƒrnir ﬂokki
ok fík-Móinn.

(473)

Hildigƒltr kellir
herkumbl ok velgr
gríma œgirglævir stefnir.

(474)

Brynja kund hjálmgƒll
hrau› ok natikƒld Finnsleifbƒ‹››fœra ﬂ‡› s‡nok bló›leika.

(475)

Sær sílægja
salt ægir haflƒgr sumr lœgir
lƒgr stop ok vágr

123

124

Snorra Edda
gjallr gnap geimi
gnarr svífr ok marr
súgr sog sami
svelgr rƒst ok fjƒr›r.

(476)

Sund ƒgr [velf]œrr
s[imi] ok ví›ir
hrí› ver breki
húm fló› ok brimgrœ›ir gl‡ju›r
gymir ok væg[ir]gni›r ok órórgjálfr fen snapi.

(477)

Gnat vƒrr vikavƒzt hóp ok mi›vatn djúp ok kaf
vík tjƒrn ok sík
stormr díki hylr
straumr lœkr ok bekkr
áll bru›r kelda
i›a fors ok kíll.

(478)

Hefring alda
hvítingr ok láHrƒnn Rán kelda
ok Himinglæva
Drƒfn U›r ok sólmr
Dúfa Bylgja
bo›i ok Bára
Bló›ughadda.

(479)Gjƒll Glit Gera
Gló› ok Valskjálf
Ván Ví› Vimur
Ving ok †sa
Sí› Su›r FrekaSœkin Einstika

Skáldskaparmál
Elfr Ró Ekla
Ekin Rennandi.
(480)

ﬁyn Rín ok Ni›
ﬁƒll Rimr Ysja
Dun Ógn D‡na
Dyn HƒllfaraÓrun ok Bró
Au›skjálg Lodda
Mun Merkri›aMein ok Saxelfr.

(481)

Tifr Durn Vína
Tems Vƒnd ok Strƒnd
*Mƒrn Mó›a ﬁrym
Morn ok Gautelfr
Alin U›r Alkoga
ok Eufrates
Ógn Ei›rennir
ok Apardjón.

(482)Rƒgn Hrƒnn ok Raun
Raumelfr HnipulHnƒpul Hjálmunlá
Humra Vína
Vil Vin Vella
Valin Sem› Salin
Nepr Drƒfn Strauma
Nis Mynt Gnapa.

(483)

Gilling ok Níl
Ganges Tvedda
Luma Verva›aLeira ok Gunnﬂró
Vi›svƒl Vegsvinn
Yn ﬁjó›numaFjƒrm Strƒnd ok Spé
ok Fimbulﬂul.

125

Snorra Edda

126
(484)

Nyt Hrƒnn ok Nau›Nƒt Slí›r ok Hrí›Kƒrmt Leiptr ok ¯rmt
Kerlaugar tværGƒmul Sylgr ok Yn
ok Geirvimul
Ylgr Vƒ› ok Fold.
Jórdán er á lesti.

(485)

Lax ok langal‡sa brosma
birtingr hœingr
bust ok hrygna
humarr hrognkelsi
hve›nir flókiƒlunn aurri›iok Andvari.

(486)

Síld sei›r skata
síl rey›r ok ƒgr
skrei›ungr ok síkr
skálgi fly›rafyldingr styrja
ok fu›ryskill
hámerr steinbítr
ok hásker›ingr.

(487)Fjƒrsungr ﬂrƒmmungr
ok marﬂvara
sílungr skelfingr
sver›fiskr ok l‡rhamarr sandhverfa
ok horngæla
marknútr glƒmmu‹n›gr
ok fengrani.

(488)

ﬁyrslingr ufsi
ﬂorskr vartariSkáldskaparmál
grunnungr geddagjƒlnir keila
áll ok karfi
krabbi geirsíl
hár ok go›lax
hornsíl ígull.

(489)

Hafrhvalr geirhvalr
ok hafgufa
hnísa hafstrambr
ok hn‡›ingar
rey›r rey›arkálfr
ok rau›kembingr
bunungr rostungrblæjuhvalr.

(490)

Nor›hvalr k‡rhvalr
náhvalr ok le‹i›ptr
skeljungr fiskreki
ok skútuhvalr
sléttibaka skjaldhvalr
ok sandlægja
hrosshvalr andhvalr
hrafnrey›r ok vƒgn.

(491)

Nú mun ek sk‡raof skipa heiti:ƒrk árakló
askr Sessrúmnir
skei› skúta skip
ok Skí›bla›nir
nór Naglfarinƒkkvi snekkja.

(492)

Byr›ingr búzaBar›kaldr ok Hreinn
bakki hƒmlungr
Hélugbar›i

127

128

Snorra Eddarƒst bátr ok reggrƒ› Hringhornirlung kjóll langskip
Leifnir karfi.

(493)

Hringr Gno› frekihrau› Mó›rói
hemlir bar›iok hylbauti
ugla le›ja
ok Askvitullkœna ketla
kati rei› ok Skálpr.

(494)

Knƒrr kuggr knúi
keipull eikja
dreki Elli›idrómundr ok prámr
fura vigg galei›ferja skalda
fley flaust ok ﬂekkr
fartí›r ok li›.

(495)

Segl skƒr sigla
svi›vís st‡ris‡jur saumfƒr
sú› ok skautreip
stag stafn stjƒrnv[i›stu›ill sikul]gjƒr›snotra ok sólbor›sess skutr ok strengr.

(496)

Sƒx stœ›inga[r]svipting‹r› ok skaut
spíkr siglutré
saumr lekstopar
laukr siglutoppr
lína eyru

Skáldskaparmál
flaug flaugarskegg
ok farnagli.
(497)‹Húnn› húnbora
ok hjálmunvƒlr
húfr hl‡r hremni
ok hálsstemni
hefill háls hankiok hƒfu›bendur
háir hæll hamarr
hjálpreip ok lík.

(498)

Ró rakki rif
rengr ok hƒmlur
vindáss vengivƒndr langnefjurvƒlt beitiássvarta brandar
bitar bóglínabúlkastokkar.

(499)

Bar› kné byg›i
belti ok kinnungrkjƒlbor› keili
ok kjƒls‡ja
kraptar kerlingklœr ok ﬂoptur
kalreip ﬂrimir
klofar ok ﬂiljur.

(500)

Drengir dragreipdæla árar
aktaumar rœr
arinn ok nálar
aurbor› kjalarhæll
ok akkeri*hnakkmi›i ausker
ok húnspænir.

129

130

Snorra Edda

(501)

Jƒr› fjƒrn rufa
eskja ok Hlƒ›yn
gyma Sif Fjƒrgyn
grund hau›r ok rƒndfold vangr ok *Fíf
frón hjarl ok *barmr
land bjƒ›ﬂruma ok merski.

(502)

Holt háls ok fjƒll
hlí› ok leiti
hóll hei›r ok hvilpt
hváll ok brekka
hró dalr ok vƒllr
hvammr ok tunga
mold flag rimi
mór laut ok sandr.

(503)

Enn skal segjaøxna heiti:Árvakr drjóni
ok Jƒrmunrekr
simi Freyr Reginn
smi›r eyﬂvari
Rau›r ok rekningr
ok røkkvihli›rviggi *bautu›rVingnis stjóri.

(504)

Himinhrjótr simirok har›fari*Hœfir dignihjƒllu›r simull
Hli›r Stúfr ok Litr
Hrí›‹r› forsimi*Arfr Jƒrmuni
ok eikismi›r.

Skáldskaparmál(505)

Gneisti Apliok gollinhorniau›r kvígr ƒldungr
ok Arfuni
gri›ungr ólgr gellir
glymr ok hre‹i››i
tí›ungr boli
tarfr aurgefinn.

(506)

K‡r heitir skirja
kvíga ok frenja
ok Au›humbla:
hon er œzt kúa.

(507)

Hrútr ofrhyrningr
hornumskváli
gumarr hornglóinn
ok gjaldhróinn
hve›urr Hallinskí›iberr hornhróinn
ok Heimdali
bekri mi›jungrblær Mƒr›r ok ve›r.

(508)

Hafr heitir Grímnir
ok Geirƒlnir
Tanngnjóstr kjappi
ok Tanngrísnir
skimu›r ok brúsi;
bokkr Grímr *tali›r.

(509)

Heitir ok Hei›rún
ha›na ok ki›lingr.
Er *kolmúla
ok ki› saman.

131

132

Snorra Edda

(510)

Bjƒrn bersi blómr
bera elgvi›nir
blájaxl ísólfr
ok brei›vegi
bestingr bassi
balti hlébar›rúfr frekr vilnir
jórekr mƒsni.

(511)

Fetvi›nir húnn
fress vetrli›iíugtanni jálfu›rifjungr vilskarpr.

(512)*‹H›jƒrtr Duraﬂrór
hli›r Eikﬂyrnir
Duneyrr Dáinn
Dvalarr *mótro›nir.

(513)Gƒltr valglitnir
gríss ok *Hrímnir
svíntarr runiSæhrímnir *bƒrgr
tarr valbassi‹rø›r› dritro›i
ﬂrór vigrir skunpr
ﬁrándr vaningi.

(514)

Vargr úlfr Geri
vitnir ok hninnir ok grád‡ri
H[ati] Hró›vitnir
ok hei›ingi
Freki ok vi›nir
Fenrir hlébar›r
Goti gildr glammi
gyl›ir ímarr
ímr eg›ir
ok skólkinni.

Skáldskaparmál(515)

Enn heitir svá
ylgr: vargynja
borkn ok íma
svimul.

(516)

Níu [eru himnar]á hæ› talit.
Veit ek hinn nezta,
sá er Vindbláinn
sá er Hei›‹ﬂ›yrnirok H[regg]-Mímir.
Annarr heitirAndlangr himinn—ﬂat máttu skilja—
ﬂri›i Ví›bláinn;Ví›fe›mi kve› ekvera hinn fjór›a,
Hrjó›r, ok Hl‡rni
hygg inn sétta,Gimir, Vet-Mímir.
Get ek nú veraátta himna
upp um tal›a.
Skatyrnir stendrsk‡jum efri.
Hann er útanalla heima.

5

10

15

20

(517)

Sól ok sunnas‡n fagrahvél
leiptr hrjó›r leika
líknskin rƒ›ullleiptr ifrƒ›ull
ok ljósfari
drífandi álfrƒ›ull
ok Dvalins leika.

133

TEXTUAL NOTESThe spelling of manuscript readings is normalised in the same way as the text, exceptthat when necessary the spelling of the manuscript is quoted in inverted commas anditalics are used for the expansion of abbreviations.

P. 1/1–2 No heading in RTW, but both R and W have a large
ornamental capital E; T has a line space. U has the heading Frá
heimbo›i Ása me› Ægi. The name Skáldskapar mál appears in U
in its heading to its first version of ch. 3 (SnE 1848–87, II 302)
and the words Hér hefr (or hefir) mjƒk setning skáldskapar in its
heading to ch. G57 (SnE 1848–87, II 295). Many words in the first
few lines in R are unclear due to damage to the page. 9 ‘THor’
R. 13 ﬁar] ﬁ in margin R. 18 dal] perhaps dalinn (with -innabbreviated by a horizontal stroke) R.
P. 2/7 spur›i hverr annan W, spyrr hverr ﬂeira annan T. 8 út issupplied after gekk in SnE 1848–87, I 212 and 1931, 80, but although
there is a tear in the parchment and a space in the text, it is notcertain that anything is missing. The word is not in the other MSS.
14 í (2) TW; ‘o’ R. 34 í] so apparently R; though it might be read á.
P. 3/2 ef] repeated and the second time deleted R. 10 Hva›an]large capital in R, W (ornamented in these two) and T, which also
has the heading Frá Kvasi. 15 sínum TWU, sína R. 21 heita WU,
heitu R (perhaps for hétu, see Introduction p. liv; abbreviated h. in T).
P. 4/15 er written twice over page division R. 20 kvazk T, kvezk
W, lézk U; kva› R. rá› TWU, rá›s R. 24 til Suttungs TWU. 35
lá hjá T, ljá hjá R, hvíldi hjá U, ljá W (omits hjá). 37 all R. 39
Suttungr TU, ﬁjazi RW.
P. 5/2 ﬂeir (abbreviated) TW, ﬂú R. 6 ‘lut’ (i. e. hlut) TW, lit R.
11 Large capital ﬁ in R, and space (2 lines) for one in W. 15 er
TWB, eru R. 18 er TWB. 38 kƒllu›u] abbreviated kall with astroke through -ll R.
P. 6/12 Rodduus ?R, Roduus W, Rodirus T.
Verse 4/4 hrafnásar W, hrafna sár T, hrafn á sár U, hranna lár B;
hrafnálar R.
Verse 5/3 hróka TWUB, hráka R. 7 jar›rá›endr TWUB, jar›ráﬂrændr R.
Verse 6/2 go› B, g[..] U, kyn T, lacking RW.
Verse 8/1 blí›u RTWB, ví›u U. Blí›u would make sense (with vilgi
as neg.), but ought to alliterate.
Verse 9/2 vitinn W (verse 9 omitted in T, and in U, which has anopen space for it, though both include line 12).

136

Skáldskaparmál

Verse 10/2 snarr TUB, ﬂvarr R, svarr W. 3 barrhadda›a WB, barrhár hadda›a T, barr hoddu›u U; bjarr hadda›a R. 4 bi›kván undU, bifkván und TWB; bifkván of R.
Verse 11/6 hinig altered from hniginn R.
Verse 12/2 jar›hlutr RTWU; jar›hljótr Konrá› Gíslason (see Skj A
I 79).
Verse 13/4 lítinn T, litlum RWUB.
Verse 16/3 vanr TWUB, vamr R.
P. 9/28 vinr with abbreviation for vinir R.
Verse 20/10 perhaps kœmi R (o written for œ; W also has ‘komí’);kœmi UB, abbreviated in T. Cf. Introduction p. liii.
Verse 25/3 tekit hefi TWU, tekit hefir B; væri R.
Verse 28/4 ‘gvmilá’ R, i. e. geymilá? (Konrá› Gíslason 1889, 302–3;
u or v interchange with y in the orthography of R, see Introduction
p. liv); grymilá TU, grymi lá W, grynni lá B.
Verse 30/1 ‘rÃr’ R, tér TB, tær (i. e. tér?) W, tel ek U (cf. verse 39/1).
4 l‡›a ﬂá R (over line division: ‘lyﬂa | ﬂa’).
Verse 31/2 ﬂat R (abbreviated), ﬂar B (abbreviated), nú U; W omits;
T has ﬂar er, but omits á ek.
Verse 32/3 bi›jum WUB, bi›ju T, bjó›um R. 4 at TWUB, af R.
Verse 33/2 Hárs TWUB, hans R (abbreviated).
Verse 34/1 vágr TW, vargr RUB. 2 hagna] emendation; hƒgna
RTWUB.
Verse 36/1 Ver›i ﬂér WUB, Ver›it ér T, Ver›r ei R. 2 mæran U;mærar RWB; ‘morar’ T, i. e. mœrar, cf. ÁBM 651.
Verse 37/1 mína TWB, mínar U; míma R. 4 Egill WUB, Egils RT.
Verse 38/1 ﬂurfut ala WU, ﬂurfa at ala T, ﬂurfu at ala B; ﬂurfu at
Ása R. 2 sn‡ WUB, sn‡r RT (sn‡r is a late form of the 1st pers.
sg., see Noreen 1923, § 531.1).
Verse 39/1 Hoddmildum tér RTWB (all four omit ek), Hjaldrgegnis
tel ek U; ték SnE 1848–87, III 14; perhaps telk? (cf. verse 30/1)
4 ge›-Njar›ar R, ge›fjar›ar TWUB.
Verse 41/1 Bæ›i WUB, Té›i R. T reads ‘bedia ec’.
P. 14/30 Hlóru TWB, Lóru U; Hjƒru R.
Verse 45/1 brattrar brautar W, brattar brautir RU. T omits this verse.
Verse 48/4 endisei›s of TW, endisei›s um U, endiskei›s af R.
Verse 49/1 sam›i RTW, sam›it U.
Verse 51/1 bor›róins TWU, bor›tóins R. 3 So T; á haus‹s›prengi
Hrung‹n›is W, á haus prengju Hrungnis U.

Textual notes

137

Verse 52/2 ﬁrívalda TW, ﬁrívaldra R.
Verse 54/2 farin mikla W, firing mikla R, fyrir miklum U. 3 hƒfgum
W (blank space in R). T omits this verse.
Verse 55/3 ﬂat TWU. 4 reyrar TWU, ‘reyrƒz’ R.
Verse 57/2 lam›ir TWU, lim›ir R. 3 Starke›i W, Starka›i TU,
Stalke›i R.
Verse 58/5 heptir ﬂú W, hepp ok ﬂú RT, heptu› U. 8 lífi TWU, lifa R.
P. 18/3 vagna] vanga W. Vana altered from vápna R. 4 gefjanda
R; fégjafa TWUB. 15 hann] + vagna gu› deleted R.
Verse 63/1 ‘borg’ W, ‘baurg’ TU, ‘b√gr’ R.
P. 19/30 son TWU, sons R; illegible in B.
Verse 64/3 slœgjan TW, slœgjum R. 4 mƒg W, mƒgr RT. 7 ok T,
at W, en R.
P. 21/21 ór meri nokkurri TWU, ok mann nokkvorn R. 28 ‘-iotun’ R,jƒtunninn TW.
P. 22/20 ﬁórr TWU, Tror R. 27 frerin written frer with abbreviationfor -ir R.
Verse 65/2 sóttan TW, sóttum R. 3 bjƒr (written ‘bi√r’) á R, bƒrva
W, maur á T (see note on p. 170). 7 mó›r with abbreviation for-ur R.
Verse 66/4 ‘ginnivnga’ R. brinna W, brinra T, hrinna R. 5 hafrir
R, haf›i T, hƒf›u W.
Verse 67/6 myrkbeins Haka W, meinﬂorns Haka T, myrk hreinsbaka R. 8 vátt . . . ﬂátti TW, ‘varr . . . ﬂarri’ R (or ‘vatr . . . ﬂatri’;r and t have very similar shapes).
Verse 68/3 und TW, ok R. 5 hƒr›u RTW. 6 hraundrengr TW,
hraundrengs R. 8 tí›r RTW.
Verse 69/8 jƒrmunﬂrjóti W, jƒrman T.
Verse 70/1 R appears to have har›r brotinn. 3 hina (perhaps withabbreviation for -ar- obliterated, i. e. hjarna) W, hinka RT. 7 vikr
TW, virtr R.
Verse 71/6 ﬂeir (abbreviated) RW, ‘ﬂeyr’ T. 7 bifum T, bif› R (andbaugs written twice), bifa W.
P. 24/34 fjƒrlausnar TWU, fjƒrlauslar R.
Verse 73/1 fellir RTW. 2 fjƒrnjóts RT, fjƒr | nats over line break W.
hvetja TW, hverja R. 5 grœnar TW, greinar R.
Verse 74/3 written ‘fyrstvz’ R. 4 ﬂoms RT, ﬂóins W. 5 gjar›RTW.
Verse 75/2 farmr TW, farms R. 3 hapts written ‘hafsz’ R. 4

138

SkáldskaparmálRƒgnir TW, tƒgnir R. 5 gran- W, gram- T, grunnstrauma R (withabbreviation for -ru-). 7 ‘opniz’ R, ‘apnís’ W, opins T. 8 spendu
RTW.
Verse 76/1 gangs TW, gagns R.
Verse 77/1 vƒrru RTW. 3 hagli altered from ‘hiallti’, but first i notdeleted R; hagli TW.
Verse 79/3 gatat TW, gatar R. 4 gjar›ar altered from fjar›ar ?R. 6
ﬁons ljarna R; ﬁons barna T, ﬁórs barna W.
Verse 80/1 frí›ar RTW. 4 sver›runnar R, sver› runnit TW. 5
spelled ‘hr√N’ R, ‘hraun’ T, ‘hron’ W.
Verse 81/3–8 Top of page damaged in R; gaps supplied from TW.
5 Há›u stáli] ó› óstáli T, ‘a› ostali’ W. 6 Hrekkmímis] bekk
Mími T. 8 -lyndr T.
Verse 82/1 akarn RTW. 2–3, 6 R damaged, gaps supplied from TW.
3 st[. .]› W. 4 falli W, palli RT. 5 arfi RTW. 6 ei›s[. . .]R, ei›sfjar›ar hug TW.
Verse 83/4 bar›i RTW. 5 hei›i RTW. 8 skal eik RT; skáleik W.
Verse 84/2 kólgu TW, kólga R.
Verse 85/1 ﬁeirs RTW. hersa T, bersa W. 2 ﬁornranns RTW. 3
hellis W (the ending abbreviated and unclear), hellir RT (perhaps
bellir T?). 4 hrin RW, hrim- T. 5 Listi RTW (TW also lack var).
6 hreini RTW. 8 res (i. e. ræs?) RTW.
Verse 86/4 sólar R, -sólir TW. 6 -rey›a RTW. 8 hundfornan kjƒlsprundi W, horn fornan kjƒl sprundi T, hornfornan kjƒl sporna R.
Verse 87/6 segu tƒngu R, segi tƒngu W, sega tungu T. 7 Ó›nis
RTW.
Verse 88/3 lypti- TW, sypti- R. 4 langvinr síu ﬁrƒngvar TW, síu
langvinr ﬁrungvar R. 5 ‘avrﬂvrsis eisv’ R, aurﬂrasir esju W,
aurﬂrasir eisu T. 6 os T, ás RW.
Verse 89/3 fornan TW, fornar R.
Verse 90/4 arinbauti TW, arinbrauti R. 7 ‘beiti’ RTW.
Verse 91/1 Hel blótin R, Helblótinn W, Hilblótinn T. 4 afli T, álfiRW. 6 Rygir TW. 7 aldar W, eldar R, elda T.
P. 30/11 Fensala TB, Fun- R, W illegible. 13 Ó›s WTB, Ó›ins R,
altered from Ó›ins U.
Verses 92–104 and p. 33/22–3 in a different (contemporary) handfrom the rest of the text in R.
Verse 92/1–4 Largely illegible in R, where line 3 has completely
disappeared. Gaps in lines 2 and 4 supplied from TW. Line 3 is

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139

omitted in both T and W (space is left in W). 1 at in TW beforegjƒldum (gjƒldu T); at may have been written in R too.
2
gunnveigar T. 4 nadd- T, first letter illegible in W. 5 framma
T. 6 ok far W, ok fjár T, ok fia[. . .] R. Gap in lines 6–7 is
supplied from TW (of is emendation). 7 hlein- T. 8 hildar TW.
fats emendation; vets RTW (‘vez’ or ‘uez’ in all three).
Verse 93/2–3 Gaps supplied from TW. Cf. verse 341. 4 á RW, ó T.
6 ár Gefnar T, árgefnar W, ár gnæfar R. mat] mar T; perhaps mar
R; ma with perhaps an erased letter W. 8 vƒndr R (perhaps
intended as vándr a. ‘wicked’?), ‘vendr’ TW; cf. Introduction
p. liii. sey›i altered from sendi ?T, sei›i W.
Verse 94/1 Tormi›la›r TW, Tormi›la›ar R. 3 ‘koﬂo’ R, kvá›u W,
kve›u T; cf. verse 305/3 and t. n. 7 vinr W, vior R; [.]inr T.
Verse 95 omitted in T. 1 fyllar W, fullan R. 2–3 fet-Meila sér
deila hlaut af helgu W. 5 vagna W. 6 Perhaps siga› R.
Verse 96/2 váru R (‘vƒru’), ‘uara’ W, [..]ra T. 8 ﬂjórir hluti fjóra
T, ﬂjór hlífi óra R, ﬁór hluti fjóra W.
Verse 97/3 -rótum T, -rótu W. 4 ‘niorna’ T, ‘morna’ W. 7 hir›iTW. 8 herfangs ofan T, herfang ofan W, herfangs ofangs ofan R.
stƒngu altered to (or from) strƒngu ?R.
Verse 98/2 Sigynjar TW, Sign‡jar R.
Verse 99/4 úlfs fa›ir TW; álfs fƒ›ur R (fƒ›r could be a possible
nom. form, see note to 6/37). 5 rúni TW, runni R. 6 ﬂungrs R,
ﬂungs TW. 7 málunautr R and T (with -r altered to -z) and W. 8
Mi›jungs TW, mildings R.
Verse 100/2 ‘sorg eyra’ RTW. 5 bekkjar TW, kekkjar R.
Verse 102/2 hund TW, hrund R. 3 læva TW. The a is invisible in R
and was perhaps never written. 6 lei›ar RT. From this line to theend of the poem was omitted in W, with space left vacant. 8
hapta lacking in both R and T.
Verse 103/1 heyr›a ek T, heyr›at R. 2 ept RT. leiku T, leikum R.
4 hauks T, hau›s R (= Hƒ›s?)
Verse 104/3 ‘biﬂiss’ R, bi›ils svi›nar T. 7 ﬂá er T; cf. verse 71.
P. 33/21–2 partly illegible R. 21 Ásu TB, Ása U, [Á]sa W. 22
ættir B, ætt TWU. 23 Large ornamental initial in R and spacefor one in B.
Verse 112/3 mær› TWUB; mei› ?R.
Verse 115/1 sem TWUB, me› R. 2 dróttinn TWUB, drótni R.
P. 35/20 elju written ‘eleiv’ R. 21 gólf TWU, gefl R, gólflok B.

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Verse 118/2 snjallrá›r TWUB, snjalla›r R.
Verse 120/4 far TWB, fjár R.
Verse 121/3 ítran TWUB, ítra R. einn at TB, ein at W, eina at U,
ein a (perhaps altered from ein at) R. 4 systur U; ‘ﬂerssa’ B,
lacking RTW (space left in W).
Verse 122/4 ‘ymynda’ RTW, illegible B; ómilda U.
P. 36/30 Bareyjarskáld TW (but Barr- (‘BaR-’) at 34/13 in W),
Barreyja- UB (also at 34/13), Darreyjarskáld R.
Verse 124/3 hvalmœni TWB, hvalmæris U; hvalmuni (or perhaps‘hvalmoni’, i. e. hvalmœni; see Introduction, p. liii) R.
Verse 125/3 fƒls emendation (Konrá› Gíslason 1889, 361, 609–10);
fals RTWB (cf. Hreinn Benediktsson 1963).
Verse 126/4 úr svƒl U; útsvƒl RTWB (written as two words in
RTW).
Verse 128/3 blakkr lætr WUB, ‘bla er letr’?T, blakkleitr R. 4 snæTWB.
Verse 129/3 stƒg TWUB, stƒng R. 4 stir›r TWUB; stir› R. keipr
TWB, kipr U; skeipr R.
Verse 130/1 Grams U, ‘Grans’ (i. e. Gráns or Granns?) RTW, ‘gras’ B.
gollna] spelled goldna R (this may be a genuine form; cf. Noreen
1923, § 275); gullna TWB, gyllta U. 3 hólm- WB; hjólm- T,‘hvm’ or ‘hom’ R, ‘hlomn-’ U. 4 stafna RTWUB.
Verse 131/2 ‘varar’ RTB (this verse omitted in WU; W also omits
verse 132).
P. 38/25 Amló›a TWU, Amlona R.
Verse 134/4 bifgrund á TWU, bifgrunda B, bifgrundar R.
Verse 136/2 bálgrimmastan RTWB, bar grimmustum U. 3 of TB,
um W, vin U, af R.
P. 39/21 hrí›mál TWUB, hrímdal ?R.
Verse 139/2 ﬁrándheimi TUB, ﬁ[rá]ndheimi W, ﬁramheimi R.
P. 40/9 e›a til W, e›a RB, verka sinna e›a U; T omits. farar B.
19, 20 lóg and lág both written ‘log’ in RTW (π W in line 19; seenote on p. 184) and lág, lag in U, lág in B. 21–2 er kona kend
TUB; R adds er after kona; W has at kona er kend. 30 sá›F‡risvallar U; ok F‡risvalla RTB, fræ F‡risvalla, sá› Kraka W.
39–41/1 Missing text supplied from W; T lacks ﬂar (and sem, 41/1).
P. 41/3 Eldir T, El[d]ir W, Reseldr R.
Verse 141/4 fulli WT; written fylli R (where u/v alternates with y in
the scribe’s orthography, see Introduction p. liv).

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141

P. 41/28 fegrstr TW, fegrst er R, frægr U. 30 varr TWU, var› R.
35 ve›ja›i TWU, ‘veﬂaa›i’ R. 36 The name Brokkr in W; left
blank and filled in later R; also blank in T. Unnamed in U.
Similarly on the later occurrences, where T simply omits thename or uses a pronoun: 42/2 (Brokk bró›ur sinn here in W),
42/17, 25; at the last occurrence the name before fram in W. Eitri
W; left blank in R and filled in later as Sindri; not named in TU.
Similarly at 42/2.
P. 42/16 hamar TWU; added in lower margin in a later hand withindicative sign R. 22 geirrinn TWU, greirrinn R.
P. 43/9 rifa›i TWU (W omits beit hann varrarnar), rifja›i (with stop
before) R.
Verse 146/4 ‘ramsvel’ U, ramsvelli RW, ramsvells T (altered from-snells).
Verse 147/3 gjálfrs T, gjálfs W. 4 hlífar T, hlí›ar RW. 6 svans]s above line (or the abbreviation for -us or -ir?) R.
Verse 148/2 nálægt WU, ‘ne legt’ R, ‘nelegt’ T.
Verse 149/6 be› skaldi TU, bei› skjaldi R, bei› skaldi W.
Verse 150/1 verstan first written vísarstan or vístrstan R (?—cf. Skj
A I 5). 2 ‘[v]atzt rodd’ U, ‘vazraud’ T, ‘uaz rodd’ W; ‘vatzrav›la’R (all these spellings probably imply a first element vatns-). 4óni›ra›an TW, óni›jó›an R, ‘o[...]ﬂiaﬂan’ U.
P. 45/1–2 Ála steinsins TW, Ála steins U, ‘asa stensins’ R. 3
Chapters 39–43 omitted in W. 22 Andvari T, Andvarri U, Andﬂvari
R. 27 taka repeated after bauginn af sér, which is written af sér
bauginn with transposing signs R; bauginn af sér T, af sér bauginn U.
P. 46/5 ﬂat repeated above line after helzk R.
P. 50/8 hƒndin TC; added above line in later hand R.
P. 50/20 Sim- RT, Sin- C (‘sínfiotli’).
Verse 155/2 álfs TC, afls R. 3 ﬂars] of RT, ﬂar er C. 5 ‘blandin’C, brunninn RT.
Verse 156/2 fylkis C, fylkir RT.
Verse 157/3 næma C, náma RT. 5 bláserkjar C, bláserkjan R,
bláserkja T. 6 ‘baullfagr g√tu’ RT, ballfagr gauta C.
P. 52/19 mala TC, mæla R.
Verse 162/2 snú›ga altered from ‘stiv›ga-’ ?R.
Verse 163/3 mƒlum T.
Verse 179/7 járni var›ar T, járnar fjar›ar R.
Verse 180/8 ﬂat T, ﬂar R.

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Verse 183/6 feldrar T, feldrat R.
P. 58/32 Véseti TWC, Vi›seti R.
P. 59/14 Hrólfr TWU, Hlofr R; abbreviated in C.
Verse 185/1 alla TWU, allan RC.
2 -lauks written ‘-lecs’ (or‘-lets’) with ‘√’ written above (if this is not the sign for -ur-,giving ‘letvrs’) R; leiks C, -lauks TWU.
Verse 187/3 -ins TWAB, -nis RUC. bar TWUAB, ba› R, haug C.
4 saman UABC, sama RTW.
Verse 189/1 †tti TWUBC, †ti A, Veitti R (the emendation is required for the alliteration, and veitti would require the acc. inlines 3–8). 3 Sifjar WUA, Sif[...] C, ‘sviar’ R, ‘suuar’ T, sjáfar B.
4 dalnau›ar TWUABC, dalnaunar R.
Verse 190/1 gunnveitir UABC, gunnveiti RTW.
Verse 194/1–4, 7–8 Words in brackets supplied from TWCAB. A line
has gone from the top of the page in R. 2 -skildis C. ré›u T.
mildi C. 3 of] um CU. 4 hafley B. 7 ‘follir’ T, fellis C. 8 ræ›a C.
Verse 195/1 Gap supplied from TWUABC.
Verse 198/2 holla apparently altered from ﬂolla R.
Verse 200/4 ‘t√gdrapu’ R, ‘taug drapo’ T, ‘taugdrapu’ C, ‘tƒgdrapu’A, ‘taugdrapa’ W.
P. 63/16 ‘l»g’ R, i. e. lóg; written ‘lag’ WAC, ‘lág’ U, ‘log’ T. 17
Lág written ‘log’ RT; ‘lág’ WA, ‘la[g]’ U, ‘lag’ C; cf. p. 40/19–20.
Verse 202/3 lág CUA, ﬂá R; space left open in W, T omits.
Verse 203/2 Bil A, ﬂér RTWUC. 3 væn TWUAC, ‘vetz’ R.
Verse 204/2 tró›ur A, tró›ar R, tró›a TWC, ‘troﬂ[.]’ U.
Verse 205/3 slƒng A, sƒng RTWUC.
Verse 206/2 logit TWC, abbreviated in A, ‘logvt’ R. 3 velti(-)
TWAC, vilti R.
P. 64/27–8 Gap supplied from TWC; ræ›r e›a reynir UA.
Verse 210/2–3 Gap supplied from TW(U)AC (fyrir abbreviated in
TWUA; frá C).
P. 65/5 Gap supplied from TW; Kormakr kva› AC.
Verse 211/2 mor›reins RTWUAC.
3 hildibƒrrum WA, hildumbƒrrum R, hildibarrum ?T (altered to -bƒrrum), hildar bƒrrum C,[. . .]bƒrrum U.
Verse 213/4 regni A, r[..]ni U, regn C, rƒgni W, rogni or regni T,
regin R.
Verse 214/3 vi›r TW, vinnr A, vi› RUC (abbreviated in R and C).
4 as- W, es- RT, él- CA, egg- U.

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143

Verse 216/1 bƒ›gœ›i bjó›a TWUA, ‘baud auglis galla’ C, bƒ›œg›i
gjø›a R.
Verse 217/1 hrafn ne TWUA, hrafn of C, hrafne R. 3 ógnar stafr
UAC (C lacks the rest of the verse); lacking RT, open space filled
in a later hand W. Cf. verse 314.
Verse 220/4 hrísgrísnis RT, hrísnis W, hrímgrímnis A, hergrímnis
C, Hrungnis U.
Verse 222/2 gnast C, gnestr TWUA.
Verse 223/2 sóm- written ‘svm’ R.
Verse 226/3 ﬂóttit TWUA, ﬂóttir R; abbreviated ﬂ C.
Verse 227/1 -faldinn UA, RT omit; -eldum C. W also omits -faldinn
and has ólmum after hildi. 2 ok TWUA; me› C. Sigvalda WC.
Verse 230/3 bjƒrt TWUA, bjƒrk RC. 4 benfúr T, ‘ben fur’ WU, benfyrir R; benfúr fyrir C, ben benfúr vi› A.
Verse 232/3 ræfrs TW (altered from ræfs in T?), ræfr RCUA. 4-svell TWUA, -svells RC.
Verse 236/1 yngva TAC (-va abbreviated in A), yng[..] U, unga W,‘vnga’ R (this would normally be read unga; v and y alternate,however, in the scribe’s orthography, see Introduction p. liv) and W.
Verse 238/2 baugnafa›s TA, baugnafar W, baugna›rs (altered to-nafrs) U, ‘gaugn nafads’ C, baugnafag›rs R.
Verse 241/4 Ur›r W, u›r RTA, ru›r U; C illegible.
Verse 242/4 hjálmƒldum RW, hjálmeldum T, hjálmeldar A, hjálmseldﬂá er U; C lacks this line.
Verse 243/3 foldar WUA, fyldar R, fylda T.
Verse 246/4 bor›s A (‘borz’), [b]or›s U, bezt R, ‘bez’ T, ‘bozt’ W.
Verse 247/1 skók TA, skaut R, skóg WU. 3 hagl TWU, hagl ﬂat A,
hagls R.
Verse 248/4 hló›ut RT, ‘hlƒ›ut’ W, hlæ›ur A.
Verse 249/1 kvá›u ﬂik TWA, ‘qoﬂvt ﬂit’ R.
P. 72/2 Konungr has a large ornamental capital in R and space forone in W. 11 mensætt R, sætt TWU.
Verse 250/1 um ﬂeris á›a R (though the last a may belong to thenext word, which may then be ‘avsc-’ rather than ‘osc-’, giving
the phrase at ƒsk- rather than á›a ósk-), um ﬂerris æ›a W, um
ﬂerris á›an T. 2 sínum abbreviated ‘sin’ with superior stroke R.
4 boga altered from bo›a W, bo›a RT. 6 ‘en’ TW, of R.
Verse 251/3 hilmi TW. 4 dreyrugar T (ending abbreviated), dreyrugra
W. 6 orrostu TW, orrosta R.

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Verse 252/4 glammr or glamms ?R, glamma TW. mun W, man RT.
6 He›ins RTW. sóttu TW; R is illegible, but may have read sóttu.
7 svíra W, svika R; T omits.
Verse 253/4 Line supplied from verse 158; R has e(tc.), WT omit.
Verse 254/7 at RTW. 8 ra›álfr of R, ra›álfr af TW.
Verse 255/2 lék TWUA, lér R. 4 landa WA, handa RTU.
P. 74/3 orrosta TWUA, orrostu R. 5 svá er TWUA.
P. 74/14 hestr T, hest R, WUA omit.
Verse 257/1 ófri› UA, ófri›r RTW (written with abbreviation for-ur R). 2 R adds ﬂat after segir.
Verse 258/1 Svei›a TWA, sveita R.
P. 74/25 Sjáreks- W, Sjárreks T, ‘siaRaks’ altered from ‘snaRaks’ R(U and A omit this sentence).
Verse 259/2 nor›an WUA, nor›ra T.
Verse 260/3 húna W, hrútar (or hvítar?) T, hvíta RA. 4 rann]
emendation (SnE 1848–87, I 442–3); ﬂann R; T omits; W hashranna after íugtanni, A has hvallands íugtanna (apparently altered to -tanni). U omits the first half of this verse.
Verse 262/4 nakkva RW, nƒkkva T, ‘nockvt’ U and A (abbreviated).
– tv’ U, mantu A, written mundu
Verse 263/1 muntu W, montu T, ‘m
R. otri TWA; akri U.
Verse 264/4 -vandil RWTUA.
Verse 266/1 støkkvi WUA, strøkkvi T.
Verse 267/1 hlœ›ir WU, hlœ›i A; written ‘hloﬂir’ R, ‘hlodir’ T.
– s’ R.
P. 76/23 ‘heim
Verse 271/4 sólkonungr hreinni UA; Máríu sveini (cf. verse 272/2)
RTW.
Verse 272/3 mildingr UA, milding RWT.
Verse 274/2 gramr WTUA. 3 hans UA, hann RTW (abbreviated in
all five manuscripts). 4 heilagt TUA (W illegible).
Verse 275/4 launat R (or perhaps ‘launac’) and T, ‘launag’ W, launa
ek UA.
P. 78/17 ok] R adds var.
Verse 278/3 jar›rá›endr TWU, jar›aﬂrændr R (cf. verse 5/7).
Verse 279/2 á TWU, und R.
Verse 280/1 hir›ar TWU, hildar R.
Verse 281/1 frœknu U, frœknum RTW.
P. 79/20 Ok T, WU omit; perhaps written in margin in R; it is not
visible in photographs.

Textual notes

145

P. 80/9 at TWU, af R. 13 kalla›ir TWU, kalla ﬂeir R.
Verse 283/1 snjallir TWU.
Verse 284/2 opt TWU, optr R.
P. 80/27 hei›menn TW, hir›menn R, hei›[e]ng U.
Verse 285/3 at R, en W, enn T, it U.
Verse 289/4 skæ TU, sér R, sæ W.
Verse 290/1 s‡n um U, sín en RTW.
Verse 291/2 -mæltr TW, -rá›r U. 4 vi›i TW, vini (for víni?) R.
gróna W; grœna T, perhaps ‘givna’ R (U omits lines 3–4).
Verse 292/3 lætr RT, lætk W, ‘[l]et ek’ U.
Verse 296/1 hleyti U, hljóti R, hlœti T (written with π), hlæti W. 2
herﬂarfr TWU.
Verse 297/1 ﬂur›u TW, ﬂur›ir R, ﬂur›i U.
Verse 298/1 firr U, fi›r RTW.
Verse 299/4 mildi RW, mildri U, ‘mild i’ T.
P. 83/13 Most of the rest of Skáldskaparmál is lacking in W; thefragments that remain are not close enough to the text of R to beusable for emendation. 15 mær› TU, mær› ok A, mær›r R. 16
nokkurn TUA, nokkvonr R.
Verse 300b/2 skapsmi› TUA, skipsmi› C, skapskí› R. 7 hagsmi›
TUAC, hagskí› R.
Verse 302/3 ó›r TUA, á›r RC. ok TUA, at RC. skei›ar U, skei›a
RTCA.
P. 84/19 Eyjólfr TUA, Eyvindr R, ‘eyuuind’ C. C gives the nickname as skáldaspillir (abbreviated).
Verse 305/1 Tormi›la›r TUAC, Tormilda›r R. 3 kva› ﬂú UC,
kve›u RTA (i. e. imperative sg. with suffixed pron.?—but R isabbreviated unclearly and may have kvá›u, which might be interrogative pl.; cf. verse 94/3 t. n.). snytrir T (altered from snyrtir)and UAC, snyrtir R.
Verse 308/2 jar›hlutr R (abbreviated -hlr with superscript curl) andTA, jar›hlut C (abbreviated), ‘iardr lvtr’ U. 3 hún A, ‘hvn̄’ U,
húns RTC. beinan TUC, beinir A, bei›an R.
P. 85/20 m‡lin TA, m‡sin RC.
P. 86/1 Haraldr] abbreviated Har with superscript stroke RC, Hallvar›r
T, Hallv(ar›r) A.
Verse 311/3 heinlands CA, leinlands RT. 4 eitrsvƒlum na›ri C,
eitrsvƒlun nau›ri (with u subpuncted) R, eitrsvalu na›ri T, eitir(ending abbreviated) svƒlum na›ri A.

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Verse 313/1 frá CA, fram RT.
Verse 315/2 sendi] emendation (Konrá› Gíslason 1874, 458–61(26–9); 1879, 189; 1892, 115); sendu RA, senda TC.
Verse 316/4 fránleitr] with abbreviation for -ir R.
Verse 317/1 ¯rgildis RTAC (spelled with ‘Au-’ or ‘Av-’ in all four;
ending unclear in T). Eldi RTA, aldri C.
Verse 318/1 byrju› UC; omitted in RTAB.
Verse 320/2 ro›in TUA, ‘roﬂ’ with abbreviation sign R; drifinn C.
P. 88/8 ‘motraudnir’ TU, mó›rau›nir RC.
Verse 323/2 gyl›ar R (almost certainly). 4 fen RTAB, ben CU.
Verse 324/3 ƒl›ra ABC, ƒl›ri R, ‘aldra’ T, yl›ir U.
Verse 326/4 Sinir T, synir RC; Simr U, sínar (‘sínaÂ’) A.
Verse 327/4 Falhófnir T, Falljafnir RC, Falófnir UA. 6 Gyllis ofgetit TA (-it abbreviated in A), Gyllis um getit UC, Gullir ofgetinn R (though the name is written ‘gvll’ with abbreviation signi. e. perhaps for Gullinn?—but v may be for y, and it should perhaps
be expanded Gyllis).
Verse 328/1 Dagi R and T, Dagr UAC (verse not in B). 3 Hƒ› U,
Há T, lacking in R; the line reads ‘haulda huatra’ in C, ‘hialmr
háfæta’ (i. e. -feta) in A.
P. 90/1 draga TCA, dragu R. 2 fylgja deginum C; RT omit; daginn A.
Verse 331/2 gƒrla (or gerla) fregit T, gjƒrla fregit U, gjƒrla talit C;
ger›a R. 5 Himinhrjó›r CU, Himins hrjótr R, ‘himins riotr’ T.
P. 90/17 ve›rheimr TC, vei›heimr R, ví›heimr A.
Verse 332/2 vƒnsu›r TA, vƒnsundr R, me› vƒfu›r (altered later tovƒnsu›r) C. 4 œpi AC; written ‘opi’ R, ‘πpi’ T. 6 hlummu›r]
written ‘hlav-’ with a subpuncted R; hlumu›r T, hlƒmmu›r A;(kalla . . .) hvi›u› C.
Verse 335/2 magnandi TUAB, magna›i RC. 3 breg›r written withabbreviation for -ir or -er R; berr C.
Verse 337/1 dynfúsir dísar] emendation (Konrá› Gíslason 1879,
191); dynfúsar dísir RTUABC.
Verse 339/2 Gera beitu TUC, Gera beitur A, geira beitur B; apparently altered from (or to?) gróa ﬂeitu R. 4 faxa TUAB, fƒxu RC.
Verse 340/2 at R, af TABC. hræm RC, hræum TA, hræi B.
Verse 341/2 úlfr TUABC; ylgr R.
Verse 342/2 vanda TUABC; vandla R.
Verse 343/4 val written ‘vel’ RTUBC, ‘væl’ A. Cf. the common
Norwegian form val for vel (Noreen 1923, § 168).

Textual notes

147

P. 92/26 R adds sem Arna after salt.
Verse 344/1 hvé TAC. sótti TA; sveiti R, s. C.
Verse 345/1 mœtir A, Meita RTC. 2 lagar TA, la›ar R (written‘laﬂ’ with superior curl) and C.
Verse 346/1 ﬂvær TA, er RC. 2 glƒ›um RTAC (written with o in
all MSS, i. e. perhaps for gló›um).
Verse 347/1 Fœrisk RTAC; cf. verse 126. 4 úrsvƒl TA, útsvƒl RC;
cf. verse 126.
Verse 348/1 hristir TA, hristum RC. 2 sikul- TA, svikul- RC.
Verse 349/2 li›nir TA, li›num RC.
Verse 354/2 bor›heim] emendation (SnE 1848–87, I 498); bor›heimr
RTAC.
Verse 356/3 sker›u C, sker›u or skor›u T, sker›i AB, skor›a (orskor›i or skor›u) R.
Verse 358/1 ‘bæﬂi’ R, ‘be›i’ TB, ‘bædi’ C; the usual normalisationof these forms would be bæ›i or be›i; the latter word would be thenormal acc. pl. of be› but in this position in the line a longsyllable is required. A has be›; be›ja is an emendation (Konrá›
Gíslason 1879, 194).
Verse 359/4 ﬂat A (abbreviated), ﬂar RTC and B (abbreviated).
P. 95/23: Verse 360 attributed to Kormakr, altered to Ormr R; Ormr
TAC; B illegible. 28 ﬁorleifr RC, ﬁorleikr TAB (cf. 62/24, where
T has ﬁorleifr but RWAC ﬁorleikr).
Verse 361/2 lau›r TA, lau› RC; B illegible. 3 gránn] emendation;
gráns RTCA; [. . .]s B.
Verse 362/3 varra] emendation (Konrá› Gíslason, cf. Skj A I 482);
váru RA and B (abbreviated), vara C, fóru T.
Verse 364/3 ek T, er RA; BC omit line 3, A has space for a fourth line.
Verse 365/3–4 Supplied from TA(B) (T lacks mikit ve›r; B only
partly legible: mér ﬂar (or ﬂér) fengu mi›ir (or miki›) ve›[. . .]fyrir ofan sjó); lacking RC.
Verse 366/3 written ‘tygill’ R, ‘-tygil’ TABC.
Verse 367/1 sú›um BC, ‘suﬂo’ with nasal stroke (?) R; sú› um TA.
Verse 371/2 sveit C, su eik T; lacking in UA, illegible in B.
Verse 373/1 sló›ar C; altered from fló›ir R(?); fló›u T, flæ›ar AB.
Verse 376/1 Eym›it UA; spelled with ≈ in R, ∏ in T; Eim›i C, B
illegible. 3 Heina UAB, hveina RT, húna C.
Verse 377/1 fljótt TUAB, skjótt C (the beginning of the word iserased in R; ótt is a possible word, see ó›r (2) in Glossary).

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Verse 378/1 Bjartr UC, Bjart RT, Bratt or Brátt AB (A has anaccent). 3 of A, af RTC, ór B (U lacks lines 2–4).
P. 98/27 Part of a leaf of R has been removed (it must have been
separate from what remains of the leaf, which does not have a lineof writing above the top one extant), leaving a gap in the text to99/11which is supplied from T(U)AC (B does not include ch. 63).
28 skvaldri ABC, Skúlason T; U omits.
Verse 379/1 En knáttusk U. 2 written ‘alldrei’ T, ‘alldregi’ ABC,
‘alldreginn’ U. 3 leygr UAC, laugr T (perhaps for lƒgr?). of T,
um UAC. sjó U.
P. 99/5–7 C has the words in this list in a different order (ár – aptan
after line 7). 5 ﬁessi – stundanna] Stunda heiti A. ár] U omits.
6 vár, haust transposed U. mánu›r lacking in C. vikur C. 7 ímorgin AC; U omits. 8 enn] U omits. náttarinnar C (after next
two words). Alvíssmálum AC, ¯lvismálum U.
Verse 380/2 en] lacking in UA. mola ?T. í Helju] so U, but theí added above line in a later hand; me› go›um AC. 3 kƒllu› er]
kalla AC. gríma me› go›um] grímu ginnregin AC. 6 Njƒrun
TAC; the r is perhaps written in the margin of R; U omits.
P. 99/21 Large ornamental capital H in R and space for one in B
(which omits the first sentence) and C; B has the heading Hƒf›ingja
heiti. Capitulum. 22 kallat] + er C.
Verse 382/2 flag›s blakk emendation (Konrá› Gíslason 1889, 305–8);
flakk RTB, fleinblakk C.
Verse 383/4 ósk víf RT, óskvíf C; [. . .]fr B.
Verse 384/4 hæstr C, næstr RT.
Verse 385/1 hneykir T; n altered from a or e ?R; hnykkir B,
hnekkir C.
Verse 386/3 halt ek RTB (the a unclear in T and B), helt ek C.
P. 101/10–18 Text lacking in R due to part of page being missing(see t. n. to 98/27); supplied from T. 18 Emundar UC, Eymundar
B, Eyvindar T. hins ríka C, in ríka R, lacking in TUB.
Verse 395/4 hró›r RTC, hró›rs U.
P. 103/3 ¯›ling- spelled with ‘au-’ or ‘av-’ in RTABC here (o in U)
and at p. 103/12 in RTC (o with inferior or superior hook AB; U
omits) and in verse 401 in RUBCT (‘◊-’ R, ‘Av-’ U, ‘≈-’ A, ‘Au-’
BCT). 8 eru] so TUA; váru B, clause omitted in C; altered from(or to?) váru R. 10 Vƒlsunga TC and ?R, Vƒlsungs U; omitted
in AB. 13 large ornamental capital ﬁ R.

Textual notes

149

Verse 399/4 geirﬂing TUAB, geirﬂings RC.
Verse 401/2 á TUA, lacking RC (B illegible). 4 aflgjƒr› T, aflger›
UAB, aflgjƒ›r RC (l added later in R, i. e. the word is altered fromafgjƒ›r).
Verse 402/4 óﬂjó›ar TUA, íﬂjó›ar R (i. e. í ﬂjó›ar slƒg?), ‘yﬂiodar’ C.
Verse 405/1 ævi altered from ægi R; ‘efi’ T, ‘Ãfi’ A, ‘êfe’ B, ‘ãfí’C,‘ævi’ U. 2 ‘vÃr om’ R, vér erum TUC, ‘verróm’ A, ‘uerru’ B.
Verse 408/4 und sik TUABC, vi› ﬂik R.
Verse 410/3 au›] so TABC (‘aud’); apparently altered from auld
(i. e. ƒld) R (though perhaps audd = eydd is intended? Cf. SnE
1848–87, III xxvi; it might also be read au›u); au›it U.
Verse 411/2 Remainder of line cut off in margin R. Cf. verse 386.
T completes the quatrain with a slightly different wording (line 3
mál helt sem sælan); AC quote line 1 only and add ok fyrr er (var)ritat (before line 1 in C). The verse is omitted entirely in U; in B
it is omitted here, but included at verse 386.
P. 105/26 ﬂeir A; repeated over line division R; ﬂeir menn TUBC.
P. 106/9 snillingar TUABC, slillingar R. 12 skrjá› TA, skjá›r RC,
skrjó› B; U omits. 18 Snyrti- TUABC, ‘Stnyrti’ R.
P. 107/3 hefr T, hefir BC; RAU omit. 8 samna›r eru TC, samna›r
UA, sƒfnu›r B, samnrof eru R (‘sanr of’; of may be a mistake foref). 22 hálfr‡mis UCA, hálfrynis (hálfr‡nis?) R, hálfmímis T.
óvinr TB, óvin A, óvitr R, óvitr ma›r C; U omits. 27 ætlunarmann
T, ætlanarmann UABC (written as two words in UAC), ætlunarma›r
R (written -m with r above; cf. note to p. 106/11–18, p. 224 below).
P. 108/3 Heitir ok mó›ir TAB (mostly illegible in B), RC omit. 5
rúna UC, rún RT, A omits. 27 sjafni TAB, sjálfs RC; lacking in
U. 34 alnbogi A, ‘aulnbogi’ C, ‘Avlbogi’ U, albogi B, álmbogi
RT. 37 hauks apparently altered from ‘havﬂs’ R.
P. 109/1 skúa TUAB (C omits). á] written twice, small with a point
after, then large, i. e. kendir á. Á fœti RT. 2 il TUAB; lacking
RC. 3 fótinn ok kent T, fótrinn ok kenn R; (kalla hann tré . . ) ok
kenna U, (kalla›r . . .) fótrinn ok kenna C, (kalla . . .) ok kenna
hann B, (kall [with curl for ending] . . .) fótinn ok kenna A. 4 okor›snilli] ok or› written above line R; but TUAB omit these twosyllables; C has or›snilli but omits ok. 5 hjaldr TABC. 11
brig›ræ›i UABC, brig›, rei›i RT. 17 veitir] so TAB; alteredfrom heitr R; heitr C. li›sinni TAB, li›i sínu R, li›sinni sínu C.
Verse 412 Heading: Hér eru ritu› heiti sækonunga A, S[. . .]eiti B.

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Verse 413/8 Gap supplied from TABC.
Verse 414/4 Mævill AC, ‘mπvill’ B, ‘Meuill’ altered to ‘Mefill’ T.
Verse 416/3 Gautrekr C, Gaurekr RT; Gavér AB.
Verses 417–18 Jƒtnar written in margin R (probably in a later
hand). TAB have the heading Jƒtna heiti (added in margin in C).
Verse 419/2 ﬁrívaldi T, ﬁvívaldi R; ﬁrífaldi AC.
Verse 423 has the heading Trƒllkvenna heiti in TAB.
Verse 425/5 Njƒrn T; written ‘niavrn’ R; ‘m»rn’ A, ‘mπrn’ B, ‘Morunn’ C.
Verse 426/3 Ímger›r TA, Unger›r RC; B illegible.
Verse 428 has the heading ﬁórs heiti in T.
P. 113/17 Ása hetja RT (as last line of preceding verse). As heading
to verse 429, C has Ása heiti, T has Sønir Ó›ins, and A and B
have Heiti sona Ó›ins. Cf. next note.
Verse 432 Heading (after verse 428, cf. p. 113/17): Ása heiti AB(+ capitulum B).
Verse 433 Heading: Heiti Ásynja A, Ásynju heiti B.
Verse 435/4–7 Written in margin with indicative sign in R, but now
cut away; supplied from TCAB. 4 Hƒrn ok ﬁungra ABC. 5 ok
Gefn AB, ok Gjƒf C. 6 hit ABC. 8 Gersimi A, Gørsimi T,‘Gessemí’ C; B illegible.
Verse 438 Heading: Kvenna heiti ókend A, Kvenna heiti B. 7 man
svarkr C, mansvarkr RT; the line reads svarkr drós ok man in A,
illegible in B.
Verse 439 Heading: Manna heiti AB.
Verse 441/5 oflátar TAC, ofla[...] B, aflátar R.
Verse 449 Heading: Orrostu heiti AB. 8 fólk jara C, fólkjara RTA;
fjƒlkara B.
Verse 451 Heading: Sver›a heiti AB.
Verse 452/7 Hneitir TAB, heitir R and C, where it is placed before
herberi.
Verse 453/7 grindlogi TAB, grindlagi R; garinn lagi C.
Verse 455/1 hƒfu›hvessingr TAB, hƒfu›s spesingr C; page damaged in R. 2 hausamƒlvir TAB, hausa mjƒlvir C, hausamƒlnir R.
6 brimir T, brimarr AB, brumr C. 7 written ‘skreiver’ in R,
skreyvir T, skryvir A, skry›[ir] B, ‘skræuir’ C.
Verse 456/8 written ‘vægia l∂stir’ R, ‘vegia lestir’ T, ‘v∂gialæstir’ A(with dot above g for gg?), ‘[..]eggia læ[..]ir’ B, ‘vexgía (orveægía) lestir’ C.
Verse 460 Heading: Heiti á sver›i AB.

Textual notes

151

Verse 463 Heading: Øxa heiti A, Øxar heiti B.
Verse 464 Heading: Spjóts heiti AB. 2 dƒf len R (with accent
over e; perhaps as one word) and T (‘doflen’), dƒf lenz AB,‘daufleínn’ C.
Verse 465 Heading: ¯rvar heiti AB.
Verse 466/5 Jólfs A, Júlfs B, Jóls RT, ‘i auls’ C.
Verse 467 Heading: Boga heiti AB.
Verse 469 Heading: Skjaldar heiti AB.
Verse 470/3 ba›ljós RT; bƒ›ljós AB, bar› ljós C.
Verse 471/4 ‘-fornir’ RCA, perhaps for -fƒrnir, ‘-fπrnir’ T; -fjƒrnir B.
Verse 472 Heading: Hjálms heiti AB. 5 skolir R, skólkr T, ‘sk≠lkr’
A, skálkr B, skollr C.
Verse 474 Heading: Brynju heiti AB. 4 ‘borofa’ T, bƒ›fara A(‘-fa’), bló›fara B, ‘bofæda’ C. ﬂ‡› s‡n T (with a stop between)
and C, ﬂ‡›s‡n R; ‘ﬂyn syn’ AB (though B may have ﬂy›).
Verse 475 Heading: Sjóar heiti A, Sjófar (or Sjáfar?) heiti B. 7 sog
sami AC, sogsami RT, sogsa[..]i B.
Verse 476/1–2 Gaps supplied from T. velfœrr sóm (or ‘-søni’) A,[. . .]l ferr (or fœrr?) saman B, ‘vel forsímí’ C. 6 vægir TABC.
Verse 478/3 Ránkelda R; Rán Kólga AB, Rán. Kelda TC.
Verse 479 Heading: Á heiti A (V written and deleted before Á),
Vatna heiti B.
Verse 480/5 ‘bro’ RTA, ‘bra’ B, ‘bro’ or ‘bra’ C. See Introduction,
pp. liii–liv.
Verse 481/3 written ‘mavra’ RC; Mƒrn T (‘Maurn’), A (‘m√rn’) andB (‘mπrn’).
Verse 485 Heading: Fiska heiti AB.
Verse 486/3 síkr TA, síkr or sitr R; litr C (?), líkr B.
Verse 488/1 ﬁyrsklingr TA, ﬁysklingr C, ﬁ[...]klingr B.
Verse 489 Heading: Hvala heiti AB.
Verse 491 Heading: Skipa heiti AB.
Verse 495 Heading: Heiti á skipi AB. 5–6 Gap supplied from
TABC; top of page damaged in R. stjórnvi› TAB, stjórnvi›r C(ABC also add ok after stu›ill).
Verse 496/1–2 Letters supplied from TC. ok stœ›ingr AB.
Verse 497/1 Húnn TAB, lacking in RC.
Verse 500/5 kjalar- TABC, ‘kiælar-’ R (with i above line).
7
hnokkmi›i R, hnakkmi›i TABC. ausker RT, austker AB, austsker C.
Verse 501 Heading: Jar›ar heiti AB. 1 ‘rvfa’ RTB, rofa AC. 5 Fíf

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Skáldskaparmál

AB, Sif R, lacking TC. 6 barmr TAB, bar›mr R (perhaps forba›mr (so C); cf. ættbarmr, ættba›mr in Glossary).
Verse 503 Heading: Øxna heiti AB (perhaps Yxna in A as in line 2).
9 bauta›r A, bautu›r B, bauru›r RT, baurru›r C.
Verse 504/3 Hœfir C, Bœfir R (‘bevir’), ‘begir’ T, Kœfir (or Kæfir)AB. 6 Hrí›r AB, Hrí› RT, Her- C. 7 Arfr AB; Arnr RT, Arn C.
Verse 505/6 hrei›i C, hre›i RTAB (see Introduction p. liv).
Verse 506/2 ‘kvigia’ with second i subpuncted R.
Verse 507 Heading: Hrúts heiti A, Hrúta heiti B.
Verse 508 Heading: Hafrs heiti A, Hafra heiti B. 6 tali›r TA;
talali›r RC (B illegible).
Verse 509 Heading: Geitar heiti A, Geita heiti B. 3 kolmúla TAC;
kolmúsa R, ‘kolm[..]a’ B.
Verse 510 Heading: Bjarnar heiti AB. 3 written ‘isƒlfr’ R, ‘isolfr’
TABC.
Verse 512 Heading: Hjartar heiti AB. This verse follows on fromthe previous list without a break in RTC, and the names in it thus
seem to be taken as names for a bear. 1 Hjƒrtr AB (with the space
for the initial H left blank in B), jƒrtr T, jórir RC. 4 mótro›nir
AB, mjƒ›hro›nir C; metro›nir RT.
Verse 513 Heading: Galtar heiti A.
2 Hrímnir T; Hrinnir R,‘irminir’ A, ‘jvimnir’ B, ‘hrinir’ C. 4 bƒrgr TC (‘baurgr’) andAB; baugr R. 5 tarr] rarr or ‘rare’ T, and R may also have rarr;‘rar’ C, ‘rai’ A, ‘ras’ B. 6 rø›r (or rƒ›r, r›r?—cf. ÁBM underrö›ur) T, ‘ro›r’ AB; lacking RC.
Verse 514 Heading: Vargs heiti AB. 3 Hati TABC. 10 ‘skavllkini’
RTC, ‘skolkini’ A, ‘skollkine’ B.
Verse 516 has the heading Himins heiti in T, Heima heiti in AB. 1
Gap supplied from T; eru heimar ABC; top of page damaged in R.
5 Hei›|yrnir over line division R; Hei›ﬂyrnir TC, Hei›ornir AB.
6 Hregg- TABC. 19 Skatyrnir TA, ‘scattvrnir’ R (v perhaps fory, see Introduction p. liv), ‘skaturnir’ C, ‘skathynir’ B.
Verse 517 has the heading Sólar heiti in AB. 8 Háttatal follows in
RT, without any heading in R, though it there begins with a large
ornamented capital. In T there is the heading Upphaf Háttatals
and a large capital H in Hvat.

GENERAL NOTES
P. 1/2 In SnE 1848–87, I, ch. 1 of Skáldskaparmál begins at 5/9;
5/25–6/29 is placed immediately before, and entitled ‘Eptirmáli’(Epilogue); and 1/2–5/8, entitled ‘Bragaræ›ur’ (‘the speeches ofBragi’), is made into a continuation of Gylfaginning (which iswhat it appears to be in U, which begins at 1/2 ‘ﬁessir Æsir’; cf.
20/18 n.), and given ch. nos 55–8 (here G55–8).
P. 1/8 dómendr : it is not clear what they are going to be judges ofin this episode, but the use of the word suggests that the conversation might have at some stage been conceived as a contest likethat in Gylfaginning; cf. 42/19–20.
P. 1/9–11 Baldr and Hƒ›r are absent (though no reason is given),
but Nanna is present, so this must be before the death of Baldr (cf.
Gylf. 46/33), and thus before the events of Gylfaginning. Compare
the list of Æsir in Gylf. 21–6 (which also includes Ó›inn andtwelve other Æsir including Baldr and Hƒ›r, but omits Hœnir).
P. 1/31 This whole story corresponds closely with the account in
Haustlƒng (verses 92–104 below), and there is verbal correpondence
here with verse 98/8.
P. 1/32 fœtr : i. e. Loka (so TWU).
P. 1/37 at sinni probably refers to the Æsir’s journey home rather
than to the conversation between Ægir and Bragi (i. e. it goes withfer› rather than sƒg›).
P. 2/2–4 The narrator assumes knowledge of the account of I›unn
and her apples in Gylf. 25/23–8; it is odd that though the narrator
here is her husband Bragi, there is no hint of the fact in his narration. It looks as though it was first compiled for a different speaker.
P. 2/33 Though the description is not absolutely clear, it looks as
though the author is implying that Loki was having oral intercourse with the goat. Bestiality would then be added to Loki’s
other sexual perversions.
P. 3/6–7 felum í rúnum: cf. 3/9, 5/27, 109/19–20. On poetic language
as concealment cf. Spearing 1987, 97.
P. 3/35 bró›urson: probably an error for son (WU; W has Suttungrjƒtunn son Gillings).
P. 5/9–24 The analysis of poetic diction in U (SnE 1848–87, II 296)
is quite different, and contains some details similar to parts ofch. 31 below.

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Skáldskaparmál

P. 5/13 No question is asked here about hættir, and no explanation
is given. Verse-forms are discussed in Háttatal, and the topic isclearly being reserved for there.
P. 5/18 Second er redundant, though there are other examples of ok
being used to introduce a main clause after a subordinate one; see
Glossary under ok.
P. 5/24 Since Snorri is discussing kennings which substitute thename of one god for the name of another it is clear that in thispassage the element -t‡r is to be understood as the name of the
god T‡r (i. e. the T‡r of victory = Ó›inn; the T‡r of the chariot =ﬁórr). Nevertheless it is likely that in early poetry the element
would have been understood to be the common noun t‡r = god.
See Glossary s. v. t‡r and Index s. v. T‡r.
P. 5/25 It is difficult to say precisely what ﬂetta refers to. It may
refer to what went before rather than to what follows (cf. Wessén
1940, 13).
P. 5/32–5 Cf. the rather longer reference to the Prologue to Snorra
Edda in B (SnE 1848–87, II 533; quoted in the Introduction, p. xlv
above); von See 1988, 28–9, argues that í upphafi bókar could referto the beginning of Gylfaginning rather than to the Prologue. But
U omits the reference to the beginning of the book, B only mentions the contents of the Prologue, and RWT all continue ‘er sagt
er frá atbur›um ﬂeim er mannfólkit viltist frá réttri trú’, whichmust refer to the Prologue. And anyway the reference of the restof the sentence is more specifically to the last chapter of Gylfaginning.
P. 5/36–6/29 Some details in this account correspond to Trójumannasaga (compare 6/23–7 with Trójumanna saga 1963, 209, 229,
236–8), but others are rather different (e. g. compare 6/3–12, 28–9
with Trójumanna saga 1963, 179–80, 237).
P. 6/5–18: see Gylf. ch. 48 (cf. note to Gylf. 45/10).
P. 6/25–7: cf. Vafﬂrú›nismál 51.
P. 6/28 stór verk: perhaps a reference to the Aeneid and other accounts of Aeneas as founder of the Roman nation (e. g. those in
Breta sƒgur, Hauksbók 1892–6, 231–302, especially p. 233).
P. 6/32 hann: Ó›inn (TUB). The text at 6/30 follows on from 5/24,
although Rei›art‡r is actually a name for ﬁórr. Cf. the ﬂula ofnames for Ó›inn in A and B, SnE 1848–87, II 472–3, 555–6.
Verse 1 Skj A I 344, B I 316; verse 4 of ﬁorfinnsdrápa, composedin honour of Earl ﬁorfinnr of Orkney, probably soon after his

General Notes

155

death in 1064. Only in SnE. Other quotations from this poem areverses 290, 282 [= 344], 297, 384, 106, 298. See Fidjestøl 1982,
131–2, who points out that some of the verses Finnur Jónsson
assigns to this poem could in fact be from Rƒgnvaldsdrápa (seenote to verse 114), especially verses 1, 290 and 384. Cf. also note
to verse 105. There are also verses from ﬁorfinnsdrápa quoted in
Orkneyinga saga, Morkinskinna, Fagrskinna, Hulda–Hrokkinskinna,
Hkr and ÓH.
P. 6/37 fƒ›ur is the regular gen. form of fa›ir both as a simplex andas a second element in a compound (spelled -r in R at 6/37). In
compounds, however the nom. can be -fƒ›r (6/32) and the gen.
-fƒ›rs or -fƒ›r. See Noreen 1923, § 420 n. 2. The first element isspelled All- each time in R.
Verse 2 Skj A I 191, B I 182; cf. NN 2256. Only in SnE; probably
from a lausavísa, of which 13 others attributed to the same poetare quoted in Hávar›ar saga Ísfir›ings (cf. ÍF VI xcii).
Verse 3 Skj A I 119–20, B I 114; also quoted as verse 226. The
second half of the verse is quoted as verse 337. The whole verse
appears as one of 11 lausavísur attributed to Víga-Glúmr in VígaGlúms saga (ÍF IX 95) and is also in Landnámabók (ﬁór›arbók,
see Skar›sárbók 1958, 114 n.); half of one of the others appears
in Skáldskaparmál as verse 255; one (half-)stanza is also quoted
in Reykdœla saga, ÍF X 234. For the narrative contexts of the twoverses quoted in Skáldskaparmál see ÍF IX 95, 89.
Verse 4 Skj A I 319, B I 295. On this poem see Frank 1978, 97–8.
Thought to be from a poem in memory of Gizurr Gullbrá(rskáld),who fell at the battle of Stiklarsta›ir in 1030; only in Snorra Edda.
Verse 17 (also only in SnE) is taken to be from the same poem, anda third quotation is found in Hkr II 382 and ÓH 572. Quotations fromat least four other poems by Refr are found as verses 30, 124, 126,
127, 214, 216, 234, 246, 264, 347, 354, 363, and in Háttatal afterverse 8. A further couplet is attributed to him in Edda MagnúsarÓlafssonar (294 and 377). In Hkr II 358 and ÓH 543 Gizurr gullbrá
is described as this poet’s ‘fóstri’, which may mean that Refr was
Gizurr’s pupil (cf. verse 4/3–4: see Glossary under koma). Cf. Gizurr
in Index. See also Landnámabók (ÍF I 100–01, 104–5), Eyrbyggjasaga, Njáls saga. In line 2 alliteration falls on er, see NN 2070 D,
2338; Kuhn 1983, 116–20, 164–5, 173–4; and the a in skaldi has
to be short to provide a›alhending (see Glossary under skáld).

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Verse 5 Skj A I 69–70, B I 61; verse 11 of Háleygjatal. The reference is to Earl Sigur›r Hákonarson, who died in 962. Also in Hkr
I 207, Fagrskinna 101, Flb I 67 (where the poem is called
Háleygjadrápa); lines 5–8 also quoted as verse 278 and in TGT 27
and 103 (in W). Other verses of this poem are quoted as verses 33,
40, 23, 61, 220, 307. Further quotations appear in Hkr, Fagrskinna
and Flb. The poem is largely a list of rulers, and clearly an
imitation of Ynglingatal (hence perhaps Eyvindr’s nickname),though less of it is preserved than of that poem; both use the metre
kvi›uháttr, cf. Háttatal 102. Háleygjatal was composed about 985
for Earl Hákon Sigur›arson and traced his ancestry back to Sæmingrson of Yngvi-Freyr, according to Snorri’s Prologue to Hkr (I 4;ÓH 4; according to these sources Yngvi-Freyr (Ingunar-FreyrÓH ) was son of Njƒr›r, like Freyr in the Prose Edda); but Sæmingr
was son of Ó›inn according to the Prologue to Gylf., p. 6, and also
Hkr I 21, where his mother is said to be Ska›i. WTBU have theacc. in line 1, but the nom. is perhaps explicable as anacoluthon(‘It was S. whom . . .’). It is the obj. of næm›u. Cf. Hkr I 206–7.
Verse 6 Skj A I 78, B I 68; taken to belong to Glúmr’s Gráfeldardrápa
in memory of Haraldr gráfeldr of Norway who fell at Limfjorden
in 970 (in spite of the appearance of Ó›inn to aid a Christian king;see Fidjestøl 1982, 91, who thinks it somewhat doubtful whether
this verse belongs in the poem). The striking idea that Ó›inn was‘in’ the king in battle is also commented on by Finnur Jónsson(1920–24, I 526). There are other quotations from Gráfeldardrápa
in verses 32, 279 (uncertain according to Fidjestøl 1982, 91), 394(= 279/1–2), 243 and in Hkr, ÓTM, Fagrskinna, TGT and
Landnámabók. See Fidjestøl 1982, 230–33 for an appreciation ofthis poem. Glúmr Geirason appears in Landnámabók and a numberof sagas of Icelanders, including Laxdœla saga and Reykdœla saga.
Verse 7 Skj A I 64, B I 57; verse 1 of Hákonarmál, probably
composed shortly after Hákon gó›i’s death c. 961 (or perhaps a
few years later, see Fidjestøl 1991, 124). Like the anonymous
Eiríksmál (quoted in verse 20 below), of which it is evidently an
imitation (cf. note to verse 5), it is one of the skaldic poems
composed in eddic style and/or using mythological and legendary
motifs that seem to have been in vogue in Norway in the tenthcentury (cf. also notes to verses 9 and 407, and see Fidjestøl 1982,
179–80; 1991; de Vries 1964–7, I 136–46; Háttatal pp. 83–4); theGeneral Notes

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metre is a mixture of málaháttr and ljó›aháttr (Háttatal 95, 100).
Further verses from the poem are quoted in verses 11 and 393, but
most of the surviving poem, including this verse, appears in
Hkr I 186–97 and Fagrskinna 86–95. Hákon was a Christian, but
did not succeed in making his country Christian, and this poem
celebrates him as one of Ó›inn’s heroes (cf. Gylf. 21, 32).
Verse 8 Skj A I 137, B I 129; from Húsdrápa, of which 11 verses arequoted in Skáldskaparmál : verses 39, 64, 54 (this verse is attributed to Bragi except in U), 210 (repeated as verse 316), 55 and 56,
63, 8, 14, 19, 242, 303; one further quotation (verse 4) is only inthe redaction of the second part of Skáldskaparmál in W, SnE
1924, 112. The poem is not known from elsewhere, though its
composition in honour of Óláfr pái is described in Laxdœla sagach. 29 (ÍF V 80), where it is said that the descriptions in it wereof scenes depicted on the panelling of Óláfr’s house at Hjar›arholt
in western Iceland (c. 985). The subjects in the poem are all
mythological, and that quoted here is one of several devoted to thefuneral of Baldr (Gylf. ch. 49); the other topics treated in thesurviving verses are Heimdallr’s conflict with Loki (see note toverse 64 below) and ﬁórr’s fishing for the Midgard serpent (seeGylf. ch. 48). Cf. Turville-Petre 1976, 67–8. Lines 1–2 have thesame a›alhending in each line, cf. Háttatal 24 and 47. There is alausavísa attributed to Úlfr in Njáls saga (ÍF XII, 263), ÓTM II
158 and Kristni saga (1905, 23–4) in which he refuses to side withthe heathens against the missionary ﬁangbrandr.
Verse 9 Probably by ﬁorbjƒrn hornklofi, and from his poem Haraldskvæ›i or Hrafnsmál (verse 12; the poem contains a dialogue between a valkyrie and a raven) rather than ﬁjó›ólfr (several verses
thought to be from this poem are ascribed to ﬁjó›ólfr in manuscripts, see Jón Helgason 1962, 10–14); Skj A I 26, B I 24; lacking
in B and T (which attributes verse 10 to ﬁjó›ólfr instead), open
space in U (though U has 8/12). There is another quotation from
Haraldskvæ›i in Gylf. 7 (there also attributed to ﬁjó›ólfr), but the
majority of the surviving verses are found in Fagrskinna andsome in Hkr, ÓTM and Haralds ﬂáttr in Flb II 53–63. The poem
is mostly in málaháttr (Háttatal 95) and much of it is about
Haraldr hárfagri’s most important victory, that at Hafrsfjƒr›r c. 885,
but the poem as a whole may have been composed much later inHaraldr’s reign. Cf. note to verse 7 and Fidjestøl 1982, 55–6.

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Verse 10 Skj A I 155, B I 147. The number of scribal errors perhaps
indicates that scribes had difficulty with the language of thisverse; in line 4 bifkván ‘trembling wife’ is a possibility, but might
be more applicable to Iceland (a volcanic country) than Norway,
and it would not provide the expected hending. It is thought to befrom Hákonardrápa, composed in honour of Earl Hákon Sigur›arsonc. 990 (cf. Hallfre›ar saga 151); on this poem see Fidjestøl 1982, 102–6
and Frank 1978, 85–6 (it could as well be about some other earl).
All the surviving verses are found as quotations in Skáldskaparmál
and nowhere else (verses 212, 248, 10, 121, 118 [= 291], 119, 288,
229, 230). The poem is marked by a series of images of the earlgaining the land of Norway as a husband gains or subdues a wife(Ó›inn’s wife Jƒr›); such sexual imagery is found in verses 10,
118–19, 121 too, and also in verses 122, 214, 304, 309, 311, 408(cf. also verse 149). Another poem by Hallfrø›r is quoted in verse
397.
Verse 11 Skj A I 66–7, B I 59; verse 14 of Hákonarmál, also in Hkr
I 195; see note to verse 7.
Verse 12 Skj A I 79, B I 69; also quoted as verse 308. Taken to befrom Kormakr’s Sigur›ardrápa, composed c. 960 in honour ofEarl Sigur›r Hákonarson, like the other quotations attributed to
Kormakr in Skáldskaparmál (except for verse 360, see note):verses 292, 211, 241, 301, 21. Some of these verses may, however, be from a poem about his son Hákon (see notes to verses 292
and 301), and Fidjestøl (1982, 92–4) and Frank (1978, 117) question whether all the quotations are from the same poem; moreover
Kormakr is said in Skáldatal (SnE III 274, 280) to have composed
also for Haraldr gráfeldr. Apart from the quotations in Skáldskaparmál, the only other verse preserved from Sigur›ardrápa is in Hkr
I 168, which is the only source to give the name of the poem. The
poem is distinguished by the forn minni (references to ancient
myths or legends) inserted at the end of most quatrains (Háttatal
13, hjástælt). Kock (NN 2511; cf. 261) tries to take beitihún as‘baited bear’, but the interpretation is forced and requires further
emendation.
Verse 13 Skj A I 417, B I 387. This is all that survives of the poetryof Steinﬂórr, about whom nothing further is known. The lines
seem to be the beginning of a poem, since they have the conventional reference to the poet’s talent. Line 1: perhaps emend toGeneral Notes

159

forngervum?—hrósa usually takes the dative case and most manuscripts
have litlum in line 4.
Verse 14 Skj A I 138, B I 129; verse 9 of Húsdrápa, see note to verse
8. This verse is again about Baldr’s funeral. Line 4 appears to bepart of a stef (klofastef ); the other part would have provided thesubject of hlaut, presumably Óláfr pái’s hall, and an object; see
Glossary under hljóta.
Verses 15–16 Skj A I 43, B I 37, ÍF II 255–6; verse 23–24/4 ofSonatorrek, Egill’s poem about the loss of his sons. The wholepoem is found in one independent manuscript only of Egils saga
and may not have been in the original (see ÍF II 245). The 12 lines
quoted here constitute the only quotation from the poem outside
the saga. The comment after verse 16 indicates that the text ofverse 15/3 ought to read gu›ja›ar; manuscripts of Egils saga
mostly have go›s (or gó›s) ja›ar.
Verse 17 Skj A I 319, B I 295. See note to verse 4. The verse-form
is alhent (Háttatal 44) The poet seems to be expressing his gratitude to Ó›inn for the gift of poetry. See Frank 1978, 97–8; Kuhn
1983, 305–6.
Verse 18 Skj A I 123, B I 117. See Foote and Wilson 1970, 366.
Verse 3 of Vellekla (the title is given in Hkr I and Egils saga).
Other quotations in verses 27, 28, 25, 34, 35, 247, 306, 197, 227,
223, 334; many other verses are quoted in Hkr, Fagrskinna, ÓTM;one couplet in TGT. Verse 222 (attributed to ‘Einarr’) may also befrom this poem. The poem was addressed to Earl Hákon Sigur›arson
and composed c. 986. The title (‘lack of gold’) is probably an
ironic hint that the poet expects reward.
Verse 19 Skj A I 138, B I 129; verse 10 of Húsdrápa (see note toverse 8), again about Baldr’s funeral.
Verse 20 Skj A I 174, B I 164; verse 1 of the anonymous Eiríksmál
on the death of Eiríkr bló›øx (died in England 954). Otherwise
the poem survives only in Fagrskinna 77–9, where it states that itwas commissioned by Eiríkr’s queen Gunnhildr. Cf. note to verse
7. It is not clear why this verse should be included in this chapter,as the only reference to Ó›inn is by his proper name, and there areno kennings of any kind. Line 10: perhaps read kœmi (as U and B;
cf. blóta in Glossary and Introduction p. liii).
Verse 21 Skj A I 80, B I 70; Frank 1978, 117–18; see note toverse 12. Allvaldr Yngva aldar ‘he who has complete power over

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the people of Norway’ is the kind of language more usuallyapplied to a king, and is rather a flattering title for a jarl, even one
as powerful as Sigur›r Hla›ajarl or Earl Hákon. See Yngvi in Index.
Verse 22 Skj A I 418, B I 388. Only known from here, and nothing
further is known of the poet, whose name is given as ﬁórálfr in
WB, as ﬁorvaldr in U. His date is uncertain, and the context of theverse is obscure.
Verse 23 Skj A I 68, B I 60. This quotation, which is thought likely
to be from Eyvindr’s Háleygjatal (see note to verse 5), does notinclude a complete sentence, only a relative clause; the antecedentis probably (a kenning for) the mead of poetry, and the subject of
the clause must be Ó›inn (farmagnu›r), who, in the form of aneagle, bore the mead back to the gods from where it had been kept
under a mountain by the giant Suttungr (pp. 4–5). The name Surtr
must be a giant-name used as a common noun to refer to Suttungr,
and may be part of a kenning for the mead of poetry rather thandependent on søkkdƒlum.
Verse 24 Skj A I 3, B I 3; from Bragi’s Ragnarsdrápa, according to
Snorri addressed to Ragnarr lo›brók, and evidently an expressionof gratitude for the gift of a splendid shield, depictions of myths
and legends on which are described in the poem. This poem,
except for verse 13, which is quoted both in Gylf. ch. 1 and Hkr
I 15, and verse 3, which is also in FoGT (see note to verse 154
below), is only preserved in SnE. Other quotations are found asverses 237, 238, 154–8, 250–54, 48, 42, 51, 153, 366, 110. See
also notes to verses 54 and 150. The topics of the extant verses are
the fall of Ham›ir and Sƒrli (cf. Ham›ismál), Hja›ningavíg (cf.
ch. 50 on p. 72 above), ﬁórr fishing for the Midgard serpent (seeGylf. ch. 48), the death of the giant ﬁjazi and Gefjun’s winningland from the Æsir (cf. Gylf. ch. 1). See Turville-Petre 1976, 1,
and cf. Úlfr Uggason’s Húsdrápa, see note to verse 8. This verse
is about ﬁórr’s fight with the Midgard serpent.
Verse 25 Skj A I 123, B I 117; from Einarr skálaglamm’s Vellekla,
see note to verse 18.
Verse 26 Skj A I 492, B I 464. Not known from elsewhere, butevidently from the end of a poem. Cf. note to verse 199.
P. 11/26: presumably a reference back to 3/10–5/8. In U another list
(somewhat different from the one here) of kennings for poetry
precedes ch. 2 (SnE 1848–87, II 302) which is compiled from

General Notes

161

4/1–5 and 5/7–8, see Introduction p. xli. The list of names here
(11/26–9) mixes accusatives and nominatives, though they are all
objects of kalla; cf. note to 14/25–30.
Verses 27–8 Skj A I 122, B I 117; verses 1–2 of Vellekla, not foundelsewhere, see note to verse 18. See Foote and Wilson 1970, 365–6.
Verse 29 Skj A I 415, B I 385. Several verses are quoted in Skáldskaparmál from a poem attributed to Ormr Steinﬂórsson that seems to be
in praise of a certain woman (the others are verses 38, 205, 207,
360). Apart from verse 205, the first couplet of which is also in
TGT, this poem is not known from elsewhere, though there may be
another verse in Edda Magnúsar Ólafssonar 397, see below. But
it has been plausibly argued by Ólafur Halldórsson (1969) that theverses belong with the fragment said in Flb II 70 to be from
Haraldr hárfagri’s Snæfrí›ardrápa or Snjófrí›ardrápa (Skj A I 5)
and that together they are part of a drápa by Ormr Steinﬂórsson
addressed to an unknown woman. Verses 38, 207 and 360, as wellas the verse in Flb, are probably from a mansƒngr, though verse
360 may be a stef. Nothing further is known about the poet, but hewas probably composing in the latter part of the twelfth century(or maybe earlier, c. 1130, see below) and based his poem on a
fairy-tale in which Haraldr hárfagri may have been a principal
character. The story of Haraldr’s love for Snæfrí›r in Flb II 69–70
may be based on Ormr’s drápa and give a better idea of its
original content than the parallel version of the legend in Ágrip
(ÍF XXIX 5–6; Driscoll 1995, 4–7). Two other fragments are
attributed to Ormr, verse 138 and a half-stanza quoted in U at
84/18 (see notes to verses 138 and 303); a third is perhaps to befound in an anonymous verse in Edda Magnúsar Ólafssonar 397(see Jón Helgason 1966, 177; Ólafur Halldórsson 1990, 230–32;
Poole 1982, 126–32). If this verse also belongs to Snjófrí›ardrápa,
it may give a hint as to the recipient (cf. Poole 1982, 128), andperhaps indicates a date of c. 1130, see Ólafur Halldórsson 1990,
231. The sentence quoted in verse 29 is incomplete; the whole ofthe half-verse (except the parenthesis) is an at-clause. The remainder of the sentence is not extant. It is perhaps more likely thatthe sentiment applies to the character in the story rather than to thepoet (see Ólafur Halldórsson 1969, 155).
Verse 30 Skj A I 320, B I 296. One of four half-verses in SnE (andnowhere else) that seem to be from a poem by Refr about a certain

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Skáldskaparmál

ﬁorsteinn, perhaps the son of Snorri go›i mentioned in Landnámabók
and Eyrbyggja saga; the other verses are Skáldskaparmál verses
216, 264 and Háttatal 8/34–7. Cf. note to verse 4 above.
Verse 31 Skj A I 35–6, B I 31. Part of verse 2 of Egill’s Hƒfu›lausn,
in praise of Eiríkr bló›øx; see Egils saga ch. 60. The poem isfound in the Wolfenbüttel manuscript of Egils saga and in the
fragment ε but is not in Mö›ruvallabók and so is unlikely to havebeen included in the original version of the saga (texts of thepoem also appear in Worm 1636, 227–41, and in a transcript byÁrni Magnússon). There are further quotations from the poem asverses 350, 319, 184.
Verse 32 Skj A I 75, B I 66. The opening stanza of Gráfeldardrápa,
see note to verse 6 above; only found here. It confirms that thepoem is a memorial poem, and to judge from the pl. mildinga inline 2 seems to be addressed to an assembly of rulers (or at least
to more than one of the dead king’s brothers; cf. verse 11 of thepoem, Hkr I 243, and see Fidjestøl 1982, 230).
Verse 33 Skj A I 68, B I 60; verse 1 of Háleygjatal, see note to verse
5 above. The second half of the verse is also quoted as verse 40.
Verse 34 Skj A I 123, B I 117; verse 5 of Vellekla, see note to verse
18 above. The syntax of this verse is uncertain: vágr is clearly thebase-word in a kenning for poetry, and is the subject of eisar ; Kock(NN 2916) takes aldrhafs as the determinant, rather than Rƒgnis,
which he takes with verk, though the kenning vágr aldrhafs would
be unparalleled. It would surely require another determinant (Ó›inn’s)
to be an acceptable kenning for poetry. If the determinant is taken
to be Rƒgnis this leaves aldrhafs (if taken as a single word)
unattached; in NN 391 Kock takes the kenning alda Ó›røris ƒldrhafs
as the subject of ﬂ‡tr, leaving vágr unattached as subject of eisar.
Verk Rƒgnis aldrhafs might also be an acceptable kenning for
poetry. Alternatively, aldr could be adverbial (‘always’), and hafs
has been taken as part of the kenning alda hafs Ó›reris (so Reichardt
1928, 199, where verk is taken as absolute and Rƒgnis with vágr),though it is unnecessary, since alda Ó›reris is a complete kenningfor poetry in itself (subject of ﬂ‡tr vi› fles galdra; so NN 2916).
It seems natural to take vísa with fyrir, Rƒgnis with verk (subj. of
hagna) and mér with hagna, but if Rƒgnis is required as thedeterminant in the kenning vágr Rƒgnis, fyrir must go with mér
and vísa with verk, and hagna must be absolute.

General Notes

163

Verse 35 Skj A I 123, B I 117; verse 6 of Vellekla, see note to verse
18. Fley, if dat. as is to be expected after hl‡›i, ought to be fleyi,
but possibly the -i is elided before j- (cf. Noreen 1923, § 369 n.).
Konrá› Gíslason (1872, 13–14 (295–6)) suggests emending hl‡›i
in line 3 to heyri, which takes the acc.
Verse 36 Skj A I 148, B I 139; taken to be from an otherwise
unknown poem about Earl Hákon Sigur›arson, since there appears
to be a pun on his name (of kon mæran: ofljóst, cf. mærr in
Glossary; compare the verse attributed to Queen Gunnhildr inFagrskinna 75 and see NN 249). It may have been composedc. 990. Cf. Skáldatal (SnE 1848–87, III 280). Kock (NN 441)
reads or›a sá› oss grœr á sefreinu Sónar (cf. Frank 1978, 96–7).
Verse 37 Skj A I 98, B I 93. Together with verse 315, this is all thatsurvives of the poetry of Vƒlu-Steinn, which is only found in Snorra
Edda. The verses seem to be fragments of a poem about his deadson ¯gmundr addressed to his other son Egill (see Landnamabók,
ÍF I 159–60, 184, 186; Finnur Jónsson 1920–24, I 510–11). On
the attribution see Frank 1978, 95: Landnamabók 184 could betaken to mean that this verse was actually composed for VƒluSteinn by Gestr Oddleifsson (on whom see Gísla saga, Hávar›arsaga, Laxdœla saga, Njáls saga).
Verse 38 Skj A I 415, B I 385; see note to verse 29 above.
Verse 39 Skj A I 136, B I 128; verse 1 of Húsdrápa, see note to verse
8 above. In SnE 1848–87, III 14, this verse is interpreted without
emendation. Most commentators use the text of U (see t. n.), andin line 1 telk might be preferable to ték.
P. 14/13: see verse 33/5–8.
Verse 40 is lacking in TW. It has already been quoted in verse 33/5–8,
see note to this verse.
P. 14/18–20 A different explanation (and one this time involving
word-play between li› (1) and lí›, cf. p. 109/16–18) from the metaphorical one at 4/3–5, where the mead of poetry was the means bywhich the dwarfs obtained a passage to the shore; here the meadof poetry is simply the possession of the dwarfs, and is called ship
because of the similarity of the words for vessel and strong drink.
P. 14/19 li› heitir skip: cf. 109/16.
Verse 41 Skj A I 183, B I 173. Anonymous; perhaps from a lovepoem. According to 108/28, trƒllkvinna vindr can mean thought, andmaybe giant’s wind can too. See Glossary under bergjarl; ÍF II 251.

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P. 14/25–30 Note that in the lists of names here and elsewhere thenom. is sometimes used when grammatically the acc. would normally be required; some manuscripts (U and, in part, T) regularise
the cases. Cf. also 11/26–9, 17/28–30, 18/15–16, 19/35–20/7,
39/1–2, 13–15, 40/27–31, 106/11–13. The variation in case perhaps implies that some lists were added to after being first written.
P. 14/30 Verse 42 seems to be part of Bragi’s instruction of Ægir,and thus he seems to be either quoting his own verse or that of his
namesake the human poet. The distinction is perhaps implied by
the use of the word skáld after Bragi’s name (see Bragi (1) and (2)in Index).
Verse 42 Skj A I 4, B I 4. Another verse from Ragnarsdrápa aboutﬁórr’s fight with the Midgard serpent; see note to verse 24. Kock,
NN 219, takes at sandi with lá slakr and line 3 with rak›isk; cf.
Turville-Petre 1976, 5.
Verse 43 Skj A I 6, B I 6. This also seems to be from a poem aboutﬁórr’s fight with the Midgard serpent (Gylf. ch. 48). The only
other verse surviving from ¯lvir hnúfa is a lausavísa in Skáldasaga
in Hauksbók (1892–6, 447). Sonr Jar›ar may be subj. of œstisk(parallel to umgjƒr› ) or the sentence may have continued in thefollowing (lost) lines.
Verse 44 Skj A I 152, B I 144. From Eilífr’s ﬁórsdrápa, only known
from SnE, and quoted in extenso as verses 73–91, see note tothese verses. Another half-verse appears in verse 53. This one isplaced by Finnur Jónsson at the end of the extant poem (Skj A I
152). Lines 1–2: the alliteration requires the archaic forms Vrei›r,Vrƒsku. Cf. verse 82: the last two lines of these two verses presumably form a stef. Cf. verses 36 and 268 and notes.
Verses 45–7 Skj A I 140, B I 131. Also from a poem about ﬁórr’sfight with the Midgard serpent (Gylf. ch. 48), and only preserved
here. Nothing else by Eysteinn has been preserved, and he is notreferred to elsewhere. Verse 45 is lacking in T.
Verse 47 Finnur Jónsson’s arrangement of the syntax (Skj B I 131)is very tortuous, and rendi must be emended to rendu if s‡jur isthe subj., cf. NN 421. It might be more natural to take brá vi›r as
impers. (‘it came about’) and sei›r jar›ar as subj. of rendi fram(though actually sei›r could be the subj. of both verbs), andalthough renna usually has a dat. obj., it can take an acc. obj. withthe sense of ‘cause (something) to flow’, though generally thisGeneral Notes

165

will then refer to pouring a liquid (see Fritzner 1886–96 underrenna (nd) 3, 8; there are no unequivocal examples of the acc. under 8).
Verse 48 Skj A I 3, B I 3. Another verse from Ragnarsdrápa aboutﬁórr’s fight with the Midgard serpent; see note to verse 24.
Verse 49 Skj A I 140, B I 132. Also from a poem about ﬁórr’s fightwith the Midgard serpent (Gylf. ch. 48), and only preserved here.
Part of another poem by Gamli is found as verse 401.
Verse 50 Skj A I 144, B I 135. Together with verse 58, this seems tobe part of a poem celebrating ﬁórr’s victories over giants andgiantesses. Verse 267, however, if it is by the same poet, musthave been composed after his conversion to Christianity (cf. Eilífr
Gu›rúnarson). The poet is not referred to elsewhere.
Verse 51 Skj A I 4, B I 4. Another verse from Ragnarsdrápa aboutﬁórr’s fight with the Midgard serpent; see note to verse 24.
Verse 52 Skj A I 4, B I 4. Not found elsewhere. Since this verse
seems to be addressed to ﬁórr, it may be from a separate poem
about him, rather than from Ragnarsdrápa. Mærum simbli sumbls
is taken to be a kenning for a giant, and the dat. to mean that ﬁórris returning from an encounter with him (or of could be emended
to af ). A word simbill or simblir is unknown (symblir would be
more plausible; ‘the feaster of the feast’?); the word sumbl suggest a connection with the mead of poetry, though ﬁórr is not
usually associated with that. On the interpretation given in the
Glossary s. v. simblir see SnE 1952, 345.
Verse 53 Skj A I 151, B I 143; Frank 1978, 112–13. Li›hent (Háttatal
41, cf. notes to verses 88/4 and 334 below). See notes to verses 44
and 73–91. This quatrain seems to belong in the poem between
verses 87 and 88 below.
Verse 54 Skj A I 137, B I 128. In spite of the attribution to Bragi, thisis thought to be more likely part of Úlfr Uggason’s Húsdrápa, seenote to verse 8 (it is attributed to Úlfr Uggason here in U; bothverse and attribution are lacking in T). It relates to the story told
in Gylf. ch. 48, like several verses of Ragnarsdrápa, so the attribution in R and W is an understandable error.
Verses 55–6 Skj A I 137, B I 129, there taken to be two halves of thesame verse from Húsdrápa about ﬁórr’s fight with the Midgard
serpent (they are not separated in U, though the capital V is out inthe margin at 17/9, as well as a v = vísa); see note to verse 8 andFrank 1978, 110–12. In verse 56 (and the prose comment at 17/13)

166

Skáldskaparmálﬁórr is referred to in terms of his opponents, the giants (cf. theAnglo-Saxon poem Beowulf, where both the hero and the monster
Grendel are referred to as aglæca, and where the hero, like his
opponent, fights without weapons; see Beowulf and the Fight at
Finnsburg 1950, 298 under aglæca and lines 435–40 and note); cf.
ch. 31 (40/15) where Snorri says it is inappropriate to refer to people
in terms of giants unless one wants to be satirical. On the other handterms for giant or troll (though more commonly those for giantesses) can simply mean enemy or opponent or destroyer (e. g. 71/5
and verse 245; cf. Hve›ra in Index and note to verse 68; Egils saga
Skalla-Grímssonar verse 32, ÍF II 172; see also SnE 1931, 256/5–7,
257/7–10; Meissner 1921, 147–8; note to verses 451–62). ﬁórrcan be seen as the opponent of the river Vimur (cf. 25/6–13, 15–18).
Verse 57 Skj A I 135, B I 127. A rare example of a verse addressedto ﬁórr (cf. verse 52): all the verbs are 2nd pers. sg. In verse 58,
too, four of the verbs are 2nd pers. sg. Nothing more of Vetrli›i’swork is preserved, but see Njáls saga (ÍF XII 260–61) and Hkr I
320, where he appears as a determined opponent of Christianity;
also Kristni saga, Landnámabók (ÍF I 348) and Egils saga SkallaGrímssonar (ÍF II 59); and Finnur Jónsson 1920–24, I 471.
Verse 58 Skj A I 144, B I 135. See note to verse 50.
P. 18/1 dœmi: a story giving the reason for something; a reference toGylf. ch. 49.
P. 18/3 On Njƒr›r’s association with waggons see Turville-Petre
1964, 170–73; Wyatt and Cook 1993, xviii–xix.
Verse 59 Skj A I 330, B I 303–4; ‘vers rapportés’. Lines 1 and 5, 2
and 6, 3 and 7, 4 and 8 make up respectively four different
independent sentences about mythology or legend. If sonar isemended to sona in line 1 (as in WT), there is not only a more
perfect rhyme, but it accords better with other sources aboutGu›rún, who is said in e. g. Ham›ismál 8 to have killed two of hersons (cf. p. 49 below). The verse is only known from here, and its
context is unknown. It is in runhent (Háttatal 80–94). Cf. notes toverses 259 and 375.
P. 18/14: a reference to Gylf. ch. 23.
P. 18/15–16: alternation of nom. and acc. in R and W, though T and
U have Van for Vanr. Cf. 14/25–30 n.
Verse 60 Skj A I 46, B I 40; lacking in T and U as well as in B. Partof verse 17 of Arinbjarnarkvi›a (Arinbjƒrn’s name is included inGeneral Notes

167

a pun, Grjótbjƒrn), which is preserved (incompletely legible) in
Mö›ruvallabók, where it is written at the end of the text of Egils
saga (in a different hand from the main text). The poem wasprobably not included in the saga originally. Four lines of verse 8
are also quoted in the redaction of the second half of Skáldskaparmál
in W (SnE 1924, 112), and verses 15, 24 and 25 in TGT. The poem
was composed in honour of the Norwegian nobleman Arinbjƒrn,celebrating Egill’s friendship with him. See Egils saga SkallaGrímssonar ch. 78.
Verse 61 Skj A I 68, B I 60; the quotation consists only of asubordinate clause (‘when . . .’). The context (and so the identityof the earls’ enemy and the locality of útrƒst) is unknown, though
the lines are probably part of Háleygjatal, see note to verse 5.
Finnur Jónsson (Skj B 60) suggests that the subject may be bági
Belja dólgs (Surtr?—see Gylf. 50/30) and that jarla goes with útrƒst.
Verse 62 = Grímnismál 43. The only quotation in Skáldskaparmálfrom a mythological poem in the Codex Regius of the eddic
poems except for the two quotations from Alvíssmál.
Verse 63 Skj A I 137, B I 129. From Húsdrápa, about Baldr’s
funeral; see note to verse 8.
P. 19/10 fyrr : cf. Gylf. ch. 27, where a verse from the poem mentioned at 19/12 is quoted. Mensœkir Freyju: cf. 19/15, 20/3–4 andnote and verse 64 n. On the theft of Brísingamen see Sƒrla ﬂáttr(Flb I 304–5).
P. 19/11 sver› is subj. Cf. 108/8–9 and note on p. 225.
P. 19/18–19: cf. Gylf. ch. 34.
P. 19/20–21 The title frumsmi›r bragar might be expected to apply
to Bragi gamli the human poet (the earliest known in Scandinavia)
rather than to the god; Ó›inn is elsewhere credited with being thedivine originator of poetry (3/10–5/8). Cf. Hávamál 105–7; Ynglinga
saga ch. 6 (Hkr I 17); Sonatorrek 24 (ÍF II 256). If the god Bragi
is still the speaker, as at the beginning of Skáldskaparmál, thestatement is even odder (cf. notes to 2/2–4 and 14/30).
P. 19/32 See Gylf. ch. 31. On Ullr’s shield cf. 67/21 and note.
‘Ullr’s ship’ is a kenning for shield (cf. Ullr in Index and see
Meissner 1921, 166), but it is possible that Skjƒldr was the nameof his ship, rather than that Ullr used a shield as a ship, since
there is no story known to provide the origin for this idea. Cf.
Turville-Petre 1964, 182, and Tolley 1996, 22–3 and 44 n. 53,

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Skáldskaparmál

where it is suggested that the reference is to the use of a shield asa means of transport (i. e. as a ski or skate, cf. ƒndur-Áss and Saxo
Grammaticus 1979–80, I 79, II 58).
P. 19/35–20/7 Note alternation between nom. and acc. in lists after
kalla; cf. 11/26–9, 14/25–30 n. above.
P. 20/1: cf. Gylf. ch. 34.
P. 20/2 Áli is elsewhere in SnE said to be son of Ó›inn (Gylf. 26;
Skáldskaparmál verse 429; cf. Skáldskaparmál 6/20, 27), though
he is not mentioned as a god in PE. In Gylf. 26 he is said to be thesame as Váli. There appears to be a Váli son of Ó›inn as well asa Váli son of Loki (Gylf. 49 and 53; Vafﬂrú›nismál 51, Vƒluspá
34), though the texts are not entirely certain (see Gylf. 177–8),
and maybe Snorri took the names Váli and Áli to be alternatives
for both persons, though they are listed separately in verse 429(see Gylf. Index, Áli, Váli). The present passage can be punctuatedto give various meanings: Loki may be called fƒ›ur . . . Ála or Álafrænda ok fƒ›urbró›ur ; Ála frænda ok fƒ›ur, bró›ur, sinna ok
sessa Ó›ins; to call him either fƒ›urbró›ur Ála or Ó›ins, orbró›ur Ó›ins is however problematical, though in Lokasenna 9 heclaims to be Ó›inn’s sworn brother. The reading quoted in SnE
1848–87, I 268, giving Váli here instead of Áli in W, is wrong.
P. 20/2–4 sinna ok sessa Ó›ins: cf. Lokasenna (note also rœgjanda
go›anna and other titles below); heimsœki ok kistuskrú› Geirrø›ar:cf. ch. 18; ﬂjófr jƒtna: i. e. one who steals from giants, e. g. in his
stealing back of I›unn, see below and cf. his theft of Sleipnir,
Gylf. ch. 42; or maybe one who steals on behalf of giants, as in thetheft of I›unn’s apples; ﬂjófr hafrs: cf. Hymiskvi›a 37; ﬂjófr
Brísingamens: see note to 19/10 above and verse 64 below (Húsdrápa 2) and note; ﬂjófr I›unnar epla: see p. 2 above and verses
100–103 below (Haustlƒng, verses 9–11); Sleipnis frænda: see
Gylf. ch. 42. As can be seen, several of these descriptions of Lokicorrespond to parts of Haustlƒng and Húsdrápa.
P. 20/5 hárska›i Sifjar : cf. ch. 35.
P. 20/6 rá›bani Baldrs, hinn bundni: cf. Gylf. chs 49–50. ﬁrætudólgr
Heimdalar is a reference to the conflict described in verse 64
about which nothing further is known; but cf. Lokasenna 47–8.
ﬁrætudólgr Ska›a presumably refers to Lokasenna 49–52 and theconcluding prose.
Verse 64 Skj A I 136–7, B I 128. From Húsdrápa, about the conflictGeneral Notes

169

between Loki and Heimdallr (cf. 19/10–11, 14–15; Turville-Petre
1964, 128–9). There is no more detailed version of this story
extant; see 19/10 n. and verse 100. See note to verse 8.
P. 20/18 Though it could be a reference to Gylf., and thus be intended as a supplement to it, it is perhaps more likely that this isjust a continuation of (and a reference to) the narratives of thefirst four chapters of Skáldskaparmál. In either case it seems tomark the following passages as afterthoughts. In fact these stories
in chs 17–18 have little to do with the origins of kennings andhave not given rise to many of them (except for shield = Hrungnir’spedestal, see Meissner 1921, 166), and they contain few references to poetic diction. The references to Bragi and Ægir in themlink them with those at the beginning of Skáldskaparmál, however, which is where they also appear in U (before ch. 2; in U
Skáldskaparmál is marked as beginning after ch. 18), and thismay have been the original arrangement. The frame may havebeen imposed on Skáldskaparmál later, though ch. 4 and many
later chapters also begin with questions and answers, and
Skáldskaparmál seems to have been conceived from the start as a
dialogue. Cf. Introduction pp. xviii–xx.
P. 20/31 ﬁórr’s exploits as a drinker are referred to in Gylf. ch. 46.
P. 21/24 ristubrag› : a sign for cutting or carving (cf. rísta). Hrungnis(or Hrungners) hjarta is mentioned by Gísli Brynjúlfsson (1823,
141; see Blöndal 1920–24, 361), but it is doubtful whether his
information is derived from a medieval source (other than Snorra
Edda), since there is no other early mention of this sign.
P. 22/32 One would expect hƒf›i; but cf. 22/2–3. Either the cases arebeing used inconsistently (cf. Fritzner 1886–96, II 194b, under í(1) β; Cleasby and Vigfusson 1957, 316–17) or hƒfu› is a rareexample of an endingless dative (otherwise known for certain
only in the word góz, see Noreen 1923, § 361 n. 2).
Verses 65–71 Skj A I 19–20, B I 17–18, Haustlƒng verses 14–20.
Haustlƒng is a shield-poem (sér á baugi verse 65/1, 3–4, i. e. on
the shield or shield-boss or its surround, cf. 67/22–4), cf. note toverse 24. It describes a shield given the poet by a certain ﬁorleifr(thought to be inn spaki, son of Hƒr›a-Kári) c. 900 (or somewhat
later if it was the same ﬁorleifr who was involved in the setting upof the Alﬂingi in Iceland in 930; cf. Hkr I 90–91, 126–7, 163, 304;
ÍF I 7 (cf. n. 5), 313; Ágrip and Fagrskinna); see verses 71/7–8,

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Skáldskaparmál

92/4, 104/8. The poem is only preserved in SnE; there are further
quotations as verses 92–104 and parts of these two passages arerepeated in verses 341, 305, 108. The topics of the extant verses
are the theft of I›unn and the death of ﬁjazi (cf. 1/16–2/23 above),and ﬁórr’s encounter with Hrungnir. See Turville-Petre 1976, 8–9.
Verse 65/3 hellis hyrjar bƒrr is presumably a kenning for (generous)man, and probably vocative, since the rest of the sentence seems
complete in sense; MS ‘bi√r’ clearly needs emending, and thetree-name bƒrr is perhaps the most plausible (W has ‘baur a’ (Skj
A I 19) or ‘borua’ (SnE 1924, 64; this looks the more likely
reading), T ‘maur á’, but hellis hyrr is not a known kenning forgold, and the separation of á from baugi is unsatisfactory. Kock,
NN 139, takes hellis bƒr = giant (acc.), á hyrjar baugi = on theshield (hyrr is a sword-name in verse 458/7; see NN 2722): ‘also
on the sword’s circle can be seen how the terror of giants visitedthe cave-tree, the mound of Grjóttún.’
Verse 66/1–4 Kock (NN 140) takes (en) Ullar fyrir mági with line 3
rather than with lines 1 and 4 (or with both, cf. NN 1812?).
Reichardt (1928, 161) and Finnur Jónsson (1924, 324) take enendilág with line 3 and knáttu ƒll Ullar fyrir mági with line 4 (cf.
Skj B I 17).
Verse 67/2–3 Finnur Jónsson (Skj B I 17) reads bjƒrg hristusk okberg brustu rather than berg hristusk ok bjƒrg brustu (cf. Reichardt
1928, 116); this perhaps links the nouns with more suitable predicatesas well as being stylistically preferable in spite of making theword-order slightly more tortuous. Kock NN 141 reads line 3 as acomplete sentence, in line 2 bjargsólgnum ‘greedy for food’ (orbergfólgnum ‘rock-sheltered’ NN 2506; bergs with dólgi, ‘enemy
in the mountain’ NN 2409); in line 4 upphiminn with manna. Thus
he makes lines 1–2, 3 and 4 three separate statements with bjargsólgnum
dólgi the obj. of ﬂyrm›it and upphiminn manna the subj. of brann.
Verse 67/5–8 It is clear that the three words in line 6 together withvƒgna and vátt must be a kenning (or perhaps two kennings, see
NN 226) for giant, acc. with frá ek, though the elements can betaken in various orders. Reichardt 1928, 102 reads myrkbeins
Haka reinar vagna (or vagnar) váttr, watcher of whale(s) of darkbone of land of Haki (whales of cliffs = giants) as subj. of ﬂátti.
See váttr in Glossary.
Verse 68/5–8 Keeping hraundrengs as gen. dependent on trƒlls

General Notes

171(var›at would then be impers., ‘there was not long to wait’)
would give the kenning hraundrengs rúna trƒll (rock-gentleman’sfriend’s enemy = Mjƒllnir) dependent on trjónu; hƒr›um would
need to be emended to har›ri (with trjónu) as suggested by Meissner
1921, 427. Although this gives a full rhyme in the odd line, it does
make the meaning easier.
Verse 71/1 á›r links with stó› e›r ólaus in verse 70, a rare example
of a sentence continuing over the stanza-division. Cf. verses 81/1,
102/1; Háttatal 15. Line 3: though some whetstones are reddish incolour, it is likely that it rau›a refers to blood.
P. 24/17–19 The motivation for including these stories seems to be
similar to that in Gylf.: they have little to do with poetic diction.
Cf. 20/18 n. This is the last reference to Ægir and Bragi as
speakers in Skáldskaparmál.
P. 25/2 ljá can take either a gen. or acc. obj.; here the first of thethree objects is gen. pl., the other two are acc. (in W and U thefirst two are gen.). Cf. 106/2–3 and afla in Glossary.
Verse 72: evidently a quotation from an otherwise unknown eddic
poem (PE 317).
P. 25/27 Here U adds a further otherwise unknown verse, perhaps
from the same poem (PE 318):ﬁá kva› ﬁórr:Einu ‹sinni›
neytta ek alls me[gin]sjƒtna gƒr›um íﬂá er Gjálp ok Gneipdœtr Geirra›arvildu hefja mik til himins.

Verses 73–91 Skj A I 148–151, B I 139–44. The only record ofﬁórsdrápa (apart from further quotations probably also from thispoem in verses 44 and 53). It is the most detailed skaldic accountof any of ﬁórr’s exploits (all the extant verses are about hisjourney to and encounter with Geirrø›r), though the series of
strange kennings, especially those for giants, suggests it is only
partly serious. This use of kennings for giant that use words
referring to human beings (cf. giant-kennings that use names ofgods as base-words), which is one of the main effects in this
poem, is an extension of the frequent use of self-contradictory
images in kennings (cf. Háttatal 6/15–16 n.), but the result is172

Skáldskaparmál

rather comic. There may have been a stef (verse 44/3–4, verse
82/7–8), see note to verse 44. Eilífr also composed Christian verse(see verse 268 and cf. note to verse 50) as well as a poem about
Earl Hákon (verse 36), but all that survives of his work is preserved in SnE only. See Finnur Jónsson 1900; Reichardt 1948.
Verse 73/1–2 DD interprets fellir fjƒrnets flugstalla go›a as ‘tightenerof the lifenet of the gods of precipitous altars’, taking fjƒrnet as adevice for killing giants.
Verse 74/1 DD takes ge›strangrar with gƒngu, ‘a journey strenuous
to the spirit’; Finnur Jónsson (Skj B I 139) emends to ge›strangr,adjective with ﬁórr. Kock, NN 2502A, 2756D, reads ge›strangra
as gen. pl. with gƒngu, ‘of the determined ones’.
Verse 75/2 farmr meinsvárans arma looks like a kenning for Loki(meinsvárans with arma, referring to one of Loki’s mates; ormeins várans (vári ‘defender’), whether or not sóknar hapts is partof it. Kock’s meinsvarrans (harmful woman, i. e. Angrbo›a, NN
2106) is quite attractive. DD reads mein-Sváran‹g›s as a term fora giant, the burden of whose arms is a giantess; farms gen. withfƒr sóknar (‘a journey of attack against’), and Hapt = ﬁjálfi (ofljóst,
ﬂjálfi m. = fetter) as the subject (though it is n.). Galdrs Rƒgnir =Ó›inn (NN 445) does not, however, fit well into the story, and DD
takes it as a kenning for Loki. Kock also suggests (NN 2106) thatsóknar hapts (i. e. Gunnarr (cf. Atlakvi›a) = gunnar ‘battle’, gen.
sg.) goes with svipti sagna, meaning leader of the battle-crew, i. e.
ﬁórr. Line 8 Endils á mó is taken by Kock (NN 1080) to mean ‘on
the sea, in the water (river)’, and the subject of spendi (spendu) as
gallópnis halla manntælir (-endr), ‘the destroyer(s) of the men of
the eagle’s halls’ (of the giants, i. e. ﬁórr and his companion).
Verse 76 Kock (NN 446) takes gunnvargs himintƒrgu as a kenningfor giant, genitive of destination; and frumseyrir dreyra = ﬁórr as
subject of kom til vers frí›rar fljó›a. DD takes Gangr as the nameof a giant, his vánir as hunting-grounds (acc. of route travelledwith gengu, the subject of which would then be unexpressed), tilvers gunnvargs frí›‹r›ar himintƒrgu as the destination (‘to thefishing-haunt of the war-wolf of heaven’s fair targe’ (i. e. of the sun,the wolf of which means giant); and fljó›a frumseyris kom dreyra asa separate statement, ‘the women’s first rank spill of blood came’.
Verse 78 Kock (NN 447) interprets ‘there on the bottom before themeeting-keen son (bur) of Jƒr› (markar = earth) they set shoot-General Notes

173

ing-snakes’ net; the smooth round stones did not rest’. DD also
takes í mƒrk to mean ‘into the ground’, byr háf-markar ‘storm of
the fish-snare land’.
Verse 79/1–4 Reichardt 1928, 8–9, 208 reads mar (for ma›r) as obj.
of leit, which is substituted for sér in line 1, as in Skj B I 141 (Wand T have lét, see Introduction p. liv), and punctuates (gatat)
mar njótr in neytri njar›- (rá› fyrir sér) -gjar›ar, thus taking in
neytri with njótr. Cf. in in Glossary.
Verse 79/5–8 Kock’s interpretation (NN 450) simplifies the syntax:‘The diminisher of ﬁorn’s children (ﬁórr) said (lét instead of lætr)that unless the surge of Mƒrn’s blood diminished for him, his
might would grow to the height of heaven (til svíra salﬂaks)’.
Verse 80/1–4 Kock’s suggestion that svar›runnit fen is the object ofó›u is attractive, but the rest of his interpretation is unconvincing(NN 451). Gunnar setr might, however, be a kenning for shield(see LP under setr). Kock adduces Vƒluspá 36, Á fellr . . . sƒxum
ok sver›um, as a parallel to sver›runnit fen (NN 2250). DD takessver›runnit (‘knife-streaming’) fen Frí›ar (‘liquid of the woman’= river) as the subject of flaut.
Verse 80/5–8 Possibly ‘Against the causer of trouble for the earth’s
swift runners (giants) surged a wave mightily blown by the stormof the áss of the earth’s snowdrift (giant; see Áss in Index)’, see
NN 452. DD reads runkykva ‘enliveners of the running stream’,i. e. the giantesses causing the river to swell (cf. Reichardt 1948,
357: jar›ar skafls hau›rs runkykva, ‘enliveners of the flow of theland of the world of snow-drift’). Finnur Jónsson (Skj B I 141)
emends to rúmbyggva (with áss hau›rs as a kenning for giants).
Verse 81/1–4 Kock (NN 453) takes skaunar ‡ta sinni as governed byme›, á seilhimin sjóla as ‘on the lord’s shield’. Reichardt 1928, 53
reads á skaunar seilhimin (‘on the shield’) and takes sjóla withaflraun (i. e. a test of strength for ﬁórr). Á seil skaunar himin sjóla might be better.
Verse 81/7–8 fór strí›lundr me› : strí›lundr is probably used as a
virtual adverb, and fara me› may have the sense of ‘use s–thing(in a certain way)’. See me› and strí›lundr in Glossary.
Verse 82/1–4 Kock (NN 454) takes glamma stƒ›var dolgvamms
firum as a kenning for giants, dat. with strí›kvi›jundum; anddjúpakarn as a word for heart. The last at any rate is better than
Finnur Jónsson’s tmesis (Skj B I 141; see djúp in Glossary).

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Verse 82/5–6 arfi in RTW looks like the base-word of a kenning (forﬁórr); if so, ei›s fjar›ar ought to represent a description of Ó›innin the gen.; ei›s of fjar›s ‘of one remote from, i. e. lacking regard
for, his oath’ (cf. Hávamál 110)? But this fails to rhyme. Possiblya kenning for Jƒr› (cf. NN 2502B)? Kock’s suggestion that it is akenning for Loki is improbable (NN 455). Lines 7–8 seem to be astef ; cf. verse 44 and note.
Verse 83/1–4 Kock (NN 456) takes sver›s sífuna (sword’s continual
flame, i. e. blade) with li›hatar ; hlífar bor›s Hƒr›ar as a kenningfor warriors (i. e. in this context giants) and dyn har›gleipnis
bar›a (noise of the hard fetter of the ship, i. e. of shields) as thekenning for battle. DD reads hlí›ar for hlífar (which is probably
unnecessary to the battle-kenning, which she takes as dyn bar›ahar›-Gleipnis, din of the wolf of the shield, i. e. of the sword) as
part of the kenning for giants (Hƒr›ar hlí›ar bor›s ‘Hƒr›alandersof the slope of the river-bank’ (this is not one of the usual meanings of bor›). RTW have -hattar in line 2, but this is probably justa spelling for -hatar, see Introduction p. liv. In lines 6–8 there
seem to be two kennings for giants, one dependent on hrjó›endr,
the other on vi› ; if hrjó›endr governs fjƒru ﬂjó›ar skytju (those
who lay waste the refuge of the beach-people), skyld-Breta might
be taken as also governing fjƒru ﬂjó›ar (the Briton who is kin to
the beach-people; cf. verse 78, where háf- seems to belong withboth mƒrk and markar). Kock (NN 457) reads hylri›a fjƒru (wolf’sbeach = desert) ﬂjó›ar as meaning ‘of the giants’ (gen. withhrjó›endr), and skjald-Breta skytju as meaning ‘female defendersof shield-Britons’, i. e. giantesses.
Verse 84/1–4 There seem to be three phrases that mean giants here.
Kock changes me› to fyr governing kneyfi dróttar dólg-Svíﬂjó›arkólgu and takes line 3 as a parenthesis, flesdrótt as the subj. ofdreif í vá nesja: ‘Because of the crusher of the troops of the waveof hostile Sweden (the giants)—the company took to flight—therock-troop fled to the safety of the nesses’ (NN 458). Reichardt(1928, 210) explains: Flesdrótt dreif fyr kneyfi Svíﬂjó›ar dolgkolgu
dróttar (‘before the crusher of the band of the dangerous stream,i. e. of the giants’); fer› nesja sótti á flótta í vá. DD: ‘At theapproach of the oppressor of the hosts of the hostile Sweden of theicy wave, the rock-company fled; the troop of the headlands took
to flight in danger.’ It is better to take flesdrótt as subject of dreifGeneral Notes

175

í vá; Svíﬂjó›ar kólgu with dróttar kneyfi; and the parenthesis as
dólgfer› nesja sótti á flótta; or flesdrótt as subject of dreif í vá,
nesja with dróttar, and the parenthesis as dólgfer› Svíﬂjó›ar kólgu
sótti á flótta.
Verse 84/5–8 In this half-verse there is a kenning for ﬁórr and one
or perhaps two for giants. Kock (NN 459) takes fasta as a noun:‘When the flood-rib-Danes stood (facing, up to) the flame-shaker’s (ﬁórr’s) flame (fasti), the family of the Jólnir of the outlying
sanctuary (the giants) had to give way’. DD takes fyrir funhristis
fasta ‘before the lightning of the fire-brandisher’ with knáttu lúta.
Verse 85 Kock’s readings provide simpler syntax (see NN 460–61):‘Where among (í ) the mighty (ﬂróttar) lords (hersa) of the giant’s
dwelling (ﬁornranns) the ones gifted with courage went forward—
there was noise among the Cymri of the cave’s round wall—thefeller of peak-Lister reindeer (ﬁórr) was put into a fix—there waslack of peace there—on the dangerous grey (evil) hat of the wifeof giants.’ Greypan and grán (grár a. grey) ought to go with hƒttif possible. DD takes hugumbornir as the subject of the first
sentence, and [vi›] hersa íﬂróttar ﬁornranns (‘against the chiefsof the sport of ﬁorn’s cave’) as (apparently) an accusative phrase
indicating the destination after gingu. It might be preferable toread íﬂróttar with hugum and take ﬁornrann as acc. of the route.
It is awkward to have í separated from ﬁornrann; cf. note to verse 65/3.
Verse 86/1–4 Fylvingr as a sword-name in the ﬂula (verse 457/1)
may well be a deduction from this verse, cf. Falk 1914, 50, andthus cannot confirm that that was the original meaning. Fylvingar,
he points out, means ‘nuts’ according to SnE 1848–87, II 430,
514, and here may be part of a kenning for ‘heads’. Kock takes
hám loga himni ‘the high heaven of the fire, i. e. the roof’ as dat.
after ﬂrungu, and hallfylvingum vallar ‘the field’s leaning brownones (rods)’, i. e. walking-sticks, as instrumental. Lines 3–4: ‘thespheres of the brow-sun (tungl brásólar, i. e. heads) pushed themselves there against the roof’ (according to NN 462; cf. NN 2107:
húmloga ‘dark flame’, tungls brásalir ‘halls of the eyelash-moon’).
DD reads ﬂar in line 3, and brásalir as one word in line 4, so thatthe parenthetical statement becomes tungls brásalir tró›usk ﬂarvi› tró›i (‘the halls of the eyelashes’ moon’, i. e. the giantesses’
heads, ‘were trodden down there under the roof’, and the object of
ﬂrungu is hám himni loga (‘the ceiling’), the instrumental phrase

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hallvallar fylvingum ‘with the swords of the stone-plain’, i. e.
walking-sticks.
Verse 86/5–8 húfstjóri hreggs vafr-ei›a ‘controller of the hull of thestormy shifting necks of land, i. e. of the clouds’ according to
NN 463.
Verse 87/1–4 Possibly ‘The son of Earth began to learn the hateful
one of the fjord-apple’s (giant’s) game—the men of Møre’s bone
(giants; reading leggs for legs) did not repress their merriment’(cf. NN 464, 1833). Kenna frœ›i does not, however, mean ‘tolearn a game’.
Verse 88/4 síu langvinr R, langvinr síu WT; the latter order has thealliterating sound at the beginning of the line, where it should be.
Lines 5–6: li›hent (but not quite like Háttatal 41: linked rhymes
over the two lines, but not with alliteration falling on the same
syllables as the rhymes; cf. notes to verses 53 and 334). See Frank
1978, 112–13.
Verse 89/4 Kock (NN 2253) reads ﬂrasir (cf. ﬁurnir in Index) veggjar(‘wedge-stormer’) as a kenning for ﬁórr (subject of kom); if thisis what is meant, it may refer to the function of a hammer as atool, though some words for thunderbolt also mean wedge. Cf.
Motz 1997, 337–8.
Verse 90/1–2 The expected hending is lacking in line 1. Emending
gørva to gumna (or gri›ja) as gen. with gramr would provide one(see NN 466, 3056).
Verse 90/3–4 salvani›-Synjar arinbauti = salvani›bauti arin-Synjar,
assumed to be a kenning for ﬁórr and the subject of the clause. Thismay be interpreted as double tmesis, or perhaps rather as interchangeof the elements of the kenning. Cf. note to verse 255. But of would
be better as a preposition with acc. than as the pleonastic adv., and thefollowing words perhaps contain a kenning for giant or giantess;then the subj. must be understood from the preceding clause. In NN 467
it is suggested that Arinbauti may be a name for a giant, so thatreading Arinbauta as gen. with salvani›s would make a kenning for
giant in general, whose Synjar (goddesses) are giantesses, acc. with of.
Verse 90/5–8 Kock (NN 468) takes tvívi›ar tívi and tollur karms as
parallel kennings for ﬁórr (dat. with komat) and brautarli›s bekkfall
as subject. In line 6 sá ought to be dat. too (Nygaard 1905, §§ 260,264a); if er were omitted it could be a subj. pron. introducing an
independent statement.

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177

Verse 91/5–6 Kock (NN 2254) points out that látrval-Rygir (látrs
val-Rygir = val[s] látrs Rygir) would be a complete kenning for
giants, and lista could be gen. pl. of list f. ‘art’ with li›fƒstum,‘mighty in skills’.
P. 30/10 elja (‘rival’) here perhaps implies that only Frigg wasÓ›inn’s ‘proper’ wife; the others were illicit unions, and the four
were probably all taken to be with giantesses (cf. 30/18; but suchan implication is clearly not present at 35/20 or verse 122/3; cf.
108/2). Ger›r is elsewhere mentioned only as having a union with
Freyr, so that the name here may be an error for Grí›r mother ofVi›arr (in U the name looks as though it has been altered from
Rindar to Grí›ar (actually ‘gei›ar’, see facsimile II 56, 138), butGer›ar is written in the margin).
P. 30/13–14 eigandi valfalls . . . ok fressa: see Gylf. ch. 24 and p. 47/3.
P. 30/20 Understand kalla before eplin.
P. 30/21 Another reference to Gylf. (25/29)? Or to the narrative atthe beginning of Skáldskaparmál (2/1–23)?
Verses 92–104 Skj A I 16–19, B I 14–17. Haustlƒng verses 1–13, seenote to verses 65–71. They may be an interpolation: they are onlyin R, W (which, however, omits verse 102/6–104) and T (whichomits verse 95), and though the poem was clearly known to
Snorri, it may be that he did not intend to include the whole text
in Skáldskaparmál. He may, however, have kept a written text of
it with his work on Skáldskaparmál, and that may be how a scribe
came to include it. The vocabulary of his prose account (1/16 ff.)
corresponds to that of the verses, showing that Snorri knew thewhole poem; e. g. the phrases leggja upp (1/28, verse 96/6–8);
sígask (1/27, verse 95/6); cf. note to verse 98/8. Verse 93/1–4 isalso quoted as verse 341, verse 94/1–4 as verse 305.
Verse 92/1 add at after gott ? Finnur Jónsson (SnE 1931, 111; Skj A
I 16) thought at was maybe written in R, as in W (which has gó›s)
and T. But it is perhaps not necessary: leggja gott gjƒldum gunnveggjar brú = provide something good as repayment for the shield?
Kock (NN 157) points out that if the first two lines are madecomplete in sense (he suggests by emending brú to brag or or›;or hró›r NN 2985 D), lines 3–4 could be filled out with the stef
from verses 71/7–8 and 104/7–8. Line 8: perhaps nets, as suggested by Kock (NN 1809), which also can be the base-word in a
kenning for shield, see LP.

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Verse 93/1–4 = verse 341. Line 6: Kock (NN 135) suggests taking
Gefnar (or ár-Gefnar) with mat, meaning the ox (cf. ﬁrymskvi›a24), leaving byrgit‡r bjarga (‘god of the rock-refuge’) as a kenningfor the giant. See also NN 2004 (reading árgnæfa mar ‘steed ofgiants’ = ox). Reichardt (1928, 163–4) takes árgefnar marr as akenning for ox (ár-Gefn = Gefjun (ár ‘fruitfulness’); cf. Gylf.
ch. 1), comparing ﬂrymseilar Várar hvalr (Ska›i’s whale = ox,see verse 96). Ingegerd Fries (1994), pointing out that the readingof R may in fact be mar rather than mat, suggests that ár gnæfa
mar is Orion’s horse = Taurus, i. e. ox.
Verse 94/1–4 = verse 305. Kock, NN 1015, interprets lines 1–4:‘Theox (tólhreinn) was difficult to carve among the bones for the gods;Ó›inn said there was something that caused it.’
Verse 96/4 Kock (NN 137) points out that according to Edda MagnúsarÓlafssonar 266, ﬂrymseilar hvalr is a kenning for ox (whale ofthe mighty tackle?) and that Váru (so R, ‘vƒrv’) should therefore
be taken separately, with ﬂekkiligr (‘dear to Vár’).
Verse 97/5 One might have expected the present subjunctive drepi(so R and T; ‘dr∂pí’ W), but the metre demands a long vowel.
Verse 98/8 has unusually close correspondence in wording with
Snorri’s prose account at 1/31.
Verse 99/4 álfs, the apparent reading of R, would scarcely makesense; but fƒ›r is perhaps a possible nom. form, see t. n. and cf.
6/37 n. Line 6: Kock (NN 3038) suggests ﬂá nam to provide (a sortof) assonance with rúni.
Verse 99/8 R’s mildings might perhaps be a word referring to Ó›inn,though málunautr mildings would then be an unusual way to refer
to ﬁjazi; but there is perhaps a reference implied to ch. G56.
Verse 100/1 sagna hrœrir has been interpreted as ‘starter of stories’,
i. e. Loki—an attractive but improbable idea (cf. Turville-Petre
1976, 10).
Verse 101/5 Mœttusk would give a hending.
Verse 102/4 The repetition of ƒl-Gefnar looks like corruption. Cf.
Kock’s suggestion in NN 2721 (lund-allgegnir ‘straightforward incharacter’, of the gods; læva descriptive gen. with lei›iﬂír).
Verse 102/6 The older form vrei›r would provide normal alliteration.
Verse 102/7 The spelling ‘mora’ in R (and ‘mπra’ in T) perhaps
indicates the form mœra (cf. LP under mærr and mœrr ; ÁBMunder mærr (3)). Lines 1 and 5 also have a›alhending.

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179

Verse 104/1 Kock (NN 1811) emends skjótt to skƒf (‘shavings’) as
subject of hófu brinna, with skƒpt as object of skófu. This also
provides a skothending in line 1 (but in addition to the a›alhending).
In NN 225 he had suggested taking skƒpt as subj. of hófu skjóttbrinna and at the same time as obj. of en skófu ginnregin.
Verse 104/7–8 = verse 71/7–8 (stef ). Cf. note to 92/1.
Verse 105 Skj A I 343, B I 315. Taken to be from Arnórr’s Magnúsdrápa,
composed about Magnús gó›i, and if this is correct the poem musthave been composed after his death in 1046 or 1047; the verse
may have been the last in the poem. The poem is also quoted inverses 213, 218, 352. Further substantial quotations from it arefound in various versions of Kings’ Sagas, particularly Hkr, ÓH,
Hulda–Hrokkinskinna, Flb and Fagrskinna. Fidjestøl (1982, 130;
see also 132) thought it uncertain that verse 105 really belonged
to this poem; it has been taken to belong to ﬁorfinnsdrápa (cf.
note to verse 1). Kock (NN 806, 825) understands und gƒmlum
Ymis hausi with ﬂess var grams gnóg rausn.
Verse 106 Skj A I 348, B I 321. From Arnórr’s ﬁorfinnsdrápa, seenote to verse 1. The lines also appear (twice) in Flb III 21 and 41(Orkneyinga saga 83, 122) as the first half of a full stanza whichgoes on to say that these events will happen (i. e. the world willend) before a ruler finer than ﬁorfinnr will be born in Orkney. The
four lines here quoted are reminiscent of Vƒluspá 57.
Verse 107 Skj A I 505, B I 478. These lines are taken to be in factfrom Bƒ›varr balti’s Sigur›ardrápa; they are attributed to Bƒ›varr
balti in U, but to Arnórr in T and W (anonymous in both according
to Fidjestøl 1982, 159, but T has ok enn sem hann [i. e. Arnórr]kva›, and though there is no explicit attribution in W, it looks as
though there too they are taken to be by the same poet as thepreceding verse); they are attributed to Kolli only in R and B.
Sigur›ardrápa was composed c. 1150 about King Sigur›r munnr
Haraldsson, d. 1155. Other verses from the poem are found only
in Morkinskinna. Bƒ›varr balti is listed as having composed about
Sigur›r munnr in Skáldatal (SnE 1846–87, III 277).
Verse 108 Skj A I 19, B I 17. See verse 65/5–8 and note to verses 65–
71. Note the variant in line 3.
Verse 109 Skj A I 143, B I 135. Only this quatrain and the couplet
in verse 123 (perhaps from the same poem) are found of thispoet’s work; the contexts are unknown, though verse 109 may be

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about Ó›inn (and perhaps refers to the poet’s reception in Valhƒll
or heaven). A saga Orms Barreyjarskálds with many verses ismentioned in ﬁorgils saga ok Hafli›a (Sturl. I 27) as having been
recited at a wedding at Reykjahólar in 1119. Kock (NN 427)
suggests that ramman spyr ek vísa and sá valdr ræ›r fyrir veldi
vagnbrautar should be taken as two independent (parenthetical)
statements and that the subject of hvégi mér fagnar should beunderstood.
Verse 110 Skj A I 4, B I 4. The quatrain consists only of a relative
clause; the half-verse that contained the main clause is not extant.
The antecedent should be Ó›inn: the fragment is taken to be partof Ragnarsdrápa (see note to verse 24) and is evidently about thekilling of ﬁjazi and Ó›inn making his eyes into stars; cf. 2/36–7.
Verse 111 Skj A I 445, B I 414. Taken to be from Eiríksdrápa, inmemory of King Eiríkr inn gó›i Sveinsson of Denmark (d. 1103),
like verses 398, 409, 391; cf. also 36/8. This verse may be a stef,
see Fidjestøl 1982, 152–3. Most of the surviving poem, which isin the hrynhent metre (see Háttatal 62–4, cf. pp. 82–3), is preserved in Kn‡tlinga saga. Cf. notes to verses 270, 387 and 398.
Verse 112 Skj A I 409, B I 379. Taken to be verse 1 of Steinn’sÓláfsdrápa about King Óláfr kyrri, composed about 1070 (cf.
Fidjestøl 1982, 147). More of the poem is found in Morkinskinna,
Hulda–Hrokkinskinna and Flb; there are also some quotations in
Hkr and Fagrskinna.
Verse 113 Skj A I 343, B I 316. Assumed to be from a poem
(otherwise unknown) about Gunnlaugr ormstunga’s brother Hermundr Illugason, who died c. 1055 (see SnE 1848–87, III 568).
Verse 114 Skj A I 332, B I 306. From Rƒgnvaldsdrápa, on EarlRƒgnvaldr of Orkney after his death c. 1045. Verse 296 is also fromthis poem, and there is also a quotation in ÓH and in Orkneyinga
saga (ÍF XXVII 440, XXXIV 54). See Fidjestøl 1982, 131–2 andnote to verse 1.
Verse 115 Skj A I 318, B I 294. The stef from Hallvar›r’s Knútsdrápa(on Knútr inn ríki), only found here, from which there are further
quotations (only found in Snorra Edda) in verses 258, 348, 311,
239, 388, and others in Kn‡tlinga saga and Hkr (and ÓH). This is
the only work of his of which anything has survived. It is mainly
about Knútr’s expedition to England and his becoming king there
in 1015–16.

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181

Verse 116 Skj A I 353, B I 326. The poem of which this is a fragment
is otherwise unknown, though it might be from Hrynhenda (seenote to verse 387). See Fidjestøl 1982, 128.
Verse 117 Skj A I 73, B I 64. The second half of a lausavísa composed c. 965 (or somewhat later), after the fall of Hákon gó›i andthe coming to power of the sons of Eiríkr bló›øx and Gunnhildr.
The first half appears as verse 143, which is given twice in U, see
SnE 1848–87, II 315, 319, 358. The whole stanza is also quoted in
Hkr I 201, Fagrskinna 99–100 and ÓTM I 49. Nú: i. e. since
Hákon’s death wealth has been withheld. The parenthesis in lines
3–4 probably means ‘the rulers’ policies are having a great effect’.
Cf. verses 185 and 249.
Verses 118–19 Skj A I 155–6, B I 148. Verse 118 is also quoted asverse 291 with variants. Part of Hákonardrápa, see note to verse
10 (and Frank 1978, 85–6.) On bird-names used in kennings forships (verse 119/3) see ‘Den lille Skálda’, SnE 1931, 255/4, andcf. Hrafn in Index and Glossary.
P. 36/8 The first line of a verse is here used to refer to a quatrain(verse 111), as in modern usage. Cf. verse 357 n.
Verse 120 Skj A I 376, B I 346. Taken to be part of ﬁjó›ólfr
Arnórsson’s Sexstefja, composed in honour of Haraldr har›rá›ic. 1065, like verses 122, 385, 186, 389, 309, 318, 333, 236, 280.
There are two further quotations in TGT, but the major part of theextant poem is preserved in Hkr (and ÓH ), Fagrskinna, Morkinskinna, Hulda–Hrokkinskinna. It is an ambitious poem (the title
implies it had six stef ) covering many of Haraldr’s exploits,
including his part in the battle of Stiklarsta›ir and his campaigns
in the Mediterranean, as well as the major battles of his own
reign. Fidjestøl (1982, 136) is however doubtful whether any ofthe verses that are only in Skáldskaparmál or TGT (i. e. verses 25
and 27–35 in Finnur Jónsson’s arrangement of the poem in Skj;these include all the verses that are in Skáldskaparmál except
verse 122, which is also in Fagrskinna and is less doubtful) arenecessarily from Sexstefja, even though several of them are clearly
about Haraldr har›rá›i, but he provisionally includes verses 25
and 35 (= verses 385 and 280 in Skáldskaparmál ); cf. Fidjestøl
1982, 172. Some of these verses in Skáldskaparmál and TGT,
however, share similarities which suggest that they form a group(Fidjestøl 1982, 142, 172).

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Verse 121 Skj A I 155, B I 147. See note to verse 10. Fleygjanda isincomplete as a kenning for ruler; Finnur Jónsson (Skj B I 147)
emends frægjan to frakna (‘of spears’; so also Frank 1978, 86).
Verse 122 Skj A I 369, B I 339. The whole stanza is in Fagrskinna
231 and Hulda–Hrokkinskinna (Fms VI 140). See note to verse
120. The second half of the verse places it among Haraldr har›rá›i’s
campaigns in Africa, and the darrlatr dási is the king of Africa.
Cf. Fidjestøl 1982, 40–41.
P. 36/25–6 Note the different list of Ægir’s daughters at 95/8–9(Drƒfn instead of Bára; cf. also verse 357 and note). Both Drƒfn
and Bára appear in verse 478, though there they are mixed with
common nouns and it is difficult to be certain whether they are all
ten to be taken as names. There is a further list (the same as at
95/8–9) in a verse in A, SnE 1848–87, II 493.
P. 36/28 hringr eyjanna: cf. the verses of Einarr Skúlason and theﬂula of island-names in A, SnE 1848–87, II 491–2 (and Edda
Magnúsar Ólafssonar 267–8).
Verse 123 Skj A I 143, B I 135. See note to verse 109.
Verse 124 Skj A I 320, B I 296. One of 5 fragments (the others asverses 126 and 347, 127, 354, 363) that seem to be from a travel
poem, only known from Skáldskaparmál.
Verse 125 Skj A I 418, B I 387. From a poem known as Nor›rsetudrápa (39/15), apparently about an expedition to somewhere to
the northwest in Greenland. Other fragments in verse 137 andTGT 30, 113 (compare this with Húsdrápa 12, verse 303 below),
114. Nothing else is known of this poet.
Verses 126–7 Skj A I 320, B I 296. Verse 126 is also quoted as verse
347. See note to verse 124.
Verses 128–32, 134 Skj A I 481–2, B I 453. Fragments from an
unknown poem or poems about a sea journey. Verses 346, 351,
357, 362 may also belong; perhaps also verse 339. Cf. Fidjestøl
1982, 207–8. If verse 128/4 is correctly emended to snægrund (soWTUB) and this means Iceland, it is difficult to see all these
verses as belonging to an account of Sigur›r Jórsalafari’s journey
to Jerusalem; but some of them may. See Fidjestøl 1982, 156.
Verse 133 Skj A I 211, B I 201. Only this verse and verse 289 are
known of this poet’s work. See Finnur Jónsson 1920–24, I 520
and Snæbjƒrn in Index. On the interpretation cf. Tolley 1995,
69–71. Kock (NN 572) interprets Grotti skerja as ‘breakers’; Tolley

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1995, 69 suggests ‘whirlpool’, and for brú›ir eylú›rs ‘brides of
the island quern-frame’, i. e. the waves, though brú›ir eylú›rs
skerja might be the kenning for waves and Grotta might on its
own be a metaphor for the churning sea. In the second half of theverse Kock (NN 573) takes skipa hlí›ar (the waves’) lyngs as a
description of the foam on the surface of the sea, gen. with lí›meldr.
Skipa hli›ar ból ‘the dwelling of the ships’ sides’ would make agood kenning for sea (see Tolley 1995, 72 n.), but hlí›ar is requiredby the metre; on hendings between vowels of different quantity
see Háttatal p. 54). Cf. Saxo Grammaticus 1979–80, I 85 (and II
59 and 60), where it is implied that Amló›a meldr could mean sand.
Verse 135 Skj A I 306, B I 284. A fragment of unknown context. An
unusual example of nature poetry. Cf. note to verse 144.
Verse 136 Skj A I 479, B I 451. A fragment of unknown context,
evidently about a ruler, but the sentence is incomplete: the mainclause must have been in the other half of the stanza. Cf. notes toverses 128–32, 145–9 and 233.
P. 39/13–15 (ch. 27) and 18–19 (ch. 28): cf. 14/25–30 n. On Fornjótr
see Holtsmark 1967, 73–4; Clunies Ross 1983. In Flb I 22 andOrkneyinga saga ch. 1 (ÍF XXXIV 3) the three sons of Fornjótr
are Hlér (= Ægir, the sea), Logi (= fire) and Kári (a name for thewind; cf. ÁBM and the ﬂula of ve›ra heiti in A, SnE 1848–87, II
486). See Fornjótr, Eldr, Logi and Vindr in Index. There is also a
Kári in Hyndluljó› 19.
Verse 137 Skj A I 418, B I 388. See note to verse 125.
P. 39/18–19 With ch. 28 compare the ﬂula of elds heiti in A and B,
SnE 1848–87, II 486, 569–70.
Verse 138 Skj A I 416, B I 386. A fragment of an unknown poem, towhich the verse quoted in U only at 84/18 (see note to verse 303)
may also belong. The lack of alliteration here implies that the twolines do not belong to the same couplet.
Verse 139 Skj A I 540, B I 521. The only known fragment by thispoet (taken to be the Ásgrímr Ketilsson of Sturl. I 166, 168, 203
and Skáldatal, cf. SnE 1848–87, III 646–8), which may be from apoem about King Sverrir composed c. 1200. See Fidjestøl 1982, 160.
Verse 140 Skj A I 50, B I 43; Frank 1978, 147–9; Turville-Petre
1976, 19. From a lausavísa quoted in full in Egils saga ch. 47 (ÍFII 119). Cf. verse 392. The second half of this verse locates theevent referred to at Lund, and according to the saga this would

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have been before the Battle of Vínhei›r, i. e. in the mid 930s, but
the verse is one of those thought by some not to be genuine. Cf.
Háttatal 11: each couplet forms a separate sentence. Glitra canperhaps be taken as intrans., as it ought to be: ‘we shall shine with
our swords aloft.’
P. 40/9 kalla . . . e›a til: presumably to be understood kalla . . . e›a‹kenna› til (cf. t. n.). Alternatively omit e›a til, but some of thegenitives in the list are unsuitable as dependent on vinnanda e›afremjanda.
P. 40/12 Like many of the suggestions in Snorra Edda about kennings
originating in word-play, this explanation is unlikely to be correct(cf. p. 63/15–17 n.). Tree-names are used widely in kennings forboth men and women and probably originally related to comparison of the shape of a tree with that of a human being. Cf. the ﬂulaof tree-names in A and B, SnE 1848–87, II 482–3, 566.
P. 40/15 Cf. SnE 1931, 257/23–5; 1924, 105/35; and see Mi›jungr inIndex and LP ; and Glossary under sómmi›jungr.
P. 40/20 lág spelled ‘log’ in R (like lóg at 40/19; other manuscripts
have log (lπg) or lag (lág) in both cases). See 63/15–17 and noteand lóg in Glossary.
P. 40/21 Cf. the ﬂula of tree-names in A and B, SnE 1848–87, II
482–3, 566.
P. 40/27–31 Alternation of nom. and acc., cf. note to 14/25–30.
P. 40/28 Cf. Gylf. 29/22.
P. 40/32 fyrr : see the beginning of Skáldskaparmál. If the whole ofSkáldskaparmál is supposed to be part of the dialogue beginning
there, we have the illogicality of its including narratives of events thattook place after the feast at which the dialogue took place had ended.
P. 41/4 Understand váru after níu or eru nefndar after ﬂeira? Fyrr :see 36/25–6 and note.
P. 41/9 In the kenning-type fire of the sea = gold, ægir was probably
originally used as a common noun for sea, so that the story is
unlikely to be the origin of the kenning, which most likely beganwith beliefs about gold being able to be found under water. Cf.
Meissner 1921, 225; Faulkes 1994, 171.
P. 41/15 Understand líkt after er (1) and er lík after áin and er líkr
after lækr?
Verse 141 Skj A I 4, B I 4–5. Only here; a fragment of unknown
context, except that this also seems to be in response to a gift from

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a king. Line 4 fulli could be read fylli (fyllr f. ‘a cupful’); see
Introduction p. liv and NN 221.
Verse 142: from an otherwise unknown eddic poem in ljó›aháttr(PE 318).
P. 41/34 Cf. Gylf. ch. 43 and verse 62 above.
P. 42/2–6 Cf. Hyndluljó› 7, where Freyja says that the dwarfs Dáinn
and Nabbi made her a boar called Hilldisvíni. While her boar is
not mentioned elsewhere, however, Freyr’s appears also in Húsdrápa(verse 63 above) and at 18/27, and in Gylf. ch. 49.
P. 42/3 Either understand hann before tœki or the verb is impers.
P. 42/10 Cf. Gylf. ch. 49; cf. note there to 47/4. There is another ringthat can reproduce itself at 45/27–8 below.
P. 42/15 Finnur Jónsson (SnE 1931, 123) emends at (1) to ok (soTWU), but as it stands it could either be an adverb with kom ﬂar
or a relative.
P. 42/18 ve›junina is written ve›iu | na over the line division. The
emendation may be unnecessary, since the first vowel of thearticle could perhaps sometimes be omitted in such forms (seeNoreen 1923, § 472).
P. 42/35 í serk sér : i. e. on a cord around his neck? If so, this remark
may be related to the finds of small medieval representations ofhammers designed to hang round the neck as amulets, e. g. those
illustrated in Turville-Petre 1964, pl. 16–17. The shortness of theforskepti in the next sentence (q. v. in Glossary) is perhaps anallusion to ﬁórr’s hammer having been perceived as similar to a
Christian cross with a short top. This might well have been regarded as a l‡ti (flaw).
Verse 143 Skj A I 73, B I 64. Quoted twice in U (see SnE 1848–87,
II 319, 358). From a lausavísa also quoted in Hkr I 201, Fagrskinna
99–100, ÓTM I 49. The second half is quoted as verse 117, see noteto that verse. In line 2, the uncontracted form bráa would give asixth syllable, cf. Háttatal 7 and note. Similarly verses 77/8, 86/4,
147/8, 154/3, 228/1, 317/4, 359/2; perhaps also verse 77/4, though
this line already has six syllables, and verse 214/2. See under á (2)in Glossary and Introduction p. liv; Noreen 1923, § 130.
P. 43/17 fyrr : cf. Gylf. ch. 35, as well as p. 40/28 above and verse
435 below.
Verse 144 Skj A I 306, B I 284. Taken to be from a poem on the
poet’s various exploits, including the Battle of Svƒl› (AD 999 or

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Skáldskaparmál

1000), probably composed many years later (cf. Hkr I 358, verse
157/3 and note 2), perhaps c. 1020. Other quotations as verses
343, 338, 187; otherwise there survives only the one stanza in Hkr
I 358, Fagrskinna 154 and other versions of the saga of Óláfr
Tryggvason (including that of Oddr Snorrason); see ÓTM II 264
and Fidjestøl 1982, 166. There is another quotation from a poemby Skúli as verse 135. At ﬂar várum is taken by Kock (NN 770) tobe correlative with at fleiri (‘the more, in that we were there’;
perhaps an ironical reference to those who were not).
Verses 145–9 Skj A I 477–8, B I 449–50. These verses seem to bepart of a poem thanking a king for the gift of an inlaid weapon(perhaps an axe; cf. Hnoss, Gersimi in Index); thus the wish forlong life for the king in verse 146. Verse 146 is repeated as verse
232. Other verses probably from the same poem are verses 183,
193, 194, 244, 245 and possibly the anonymous verse in
TGT 19, 80. On this poem see NN 2057. See Fidjestøl 1982, 156,
who suggests that the poem may have been about a series of gifts
and that verses 136 and 368 may have belonged to the same poem.
Verse 147/8: cf. note to verse 143.
Verse 148/4 varn: unmutated form in R, as frequently in verse, forvƒrn. Rhyme of a and ƒ is not uncommon (see Hreinn Benediktsson
1963). Since this verse also seems to be about the gift of a weapon,
it is tempting to follow Finnur Jónsson (Skj B I 450) and emendƒll (spelled ‘ávl’ in R, ‘√l’ in W, ‘avl’ in U, ‘aul’ in T) to øx assubject of bu›umk (with n‡t) and vísa vƒrn as the object (‘a usefulaxe afforded me certain or secure protection’). Otherwise bu›umk
must be taken as 3rd sg. pass.
P. 44/29 fyrr : cf. 3/5–8.
Verse 150 Skj A I 5, B I 5. A fragment of an otherwise unknown
poem, though since it seems to be praising a ruler for generosity
it could be part of Ragnarsdrápa, see note to verse 24.
P. 45/1–2 The text seems to imply some hesitation (the redundant
word steinninn is in RWT (‘steininn’ W), though not in U); vazt(which belongs with undirkúlu) could perhaps be read vatns in theverse (cf. textual note) in spite of the prose.
Chs 39–43 are lacking in U here (SnE 1848–87, II 321), but thesummary in U of kennings for gold derived from the stories inthese chapters implies that the narratives were known to the compiler of the U redaction (so Boer 1924, 165–6, 192), unless theGeneral Notes

187

narratives are an expansion based on the list of kennings in U. The
beginning (only) of the story of otrgjƒld and the Gjúkungar comesin U much later (SnE 1848–87, II 359–60).
P. 45/32 fyrir ﬂví : with at ; i. e. Loki would repeat the curse to
whoever next took possession of the ring; maybe implying that hewould take malicious pleasure in passing on the curse.
Verses 151–2 = Fáfnismál 32–3.
P. 49/31 lét has no complement in R, leaving the construction incomplete (anacoluthon); ﬂá ri›u ﬂeir in line 33 could be regarded
as the virtual complement, or read leit instead of lét (there areother examples of e instead of ei in R, see Introduction, p. liv),
and either regard en Svanhildr drottning sat as the implied object(leit abs.), or read hvar Svanhildr drottning sat. T has ﬂá leitJƒrmunrekr konungr Svanhildi . . . hvar hon sat. The whole sentence is rephrased in C.
Verse 153 Skj A I 4, B I 4. Taken to be from Ragnarsdrápa, aboutﬁórr’s fishing for the Midgard serpent (see note to verse 24).
Verses 154–8 Skj A I 1–2, B I 1–2. See note to verse 24; this isevidently the section of the poem that corresponds in content toHam›ismál. See von See 1981, 233–6. Verse 154 is also in FoGT
129; on verses 154–7 see Turville-Petre 1976, 1–4.
Verse 155 Cf. Dronke 1969, 205–6. ¯lskakki runna is perhaps theequivalent of skakki ƒlrunna: ‘generous giver (one who pours out)
to ale-trees’ (which then includes a complete kenning for men, cf.
runnr in Glossary). Line 8: the form hauf›i (Noreen 1923, § 98.1)
provides a›alhending, though rhymes are not regular in this poem
anyway; cf. Gylf. 7/19, Hkr I 15.
Verse 156/3–4: explained as naglfara siglur (masts of the sword =warriors) standa andvanar saums segls (without sails of the rivets= shields) in NN 2720. Edith Marold (1994, 575) suggests naglfara
means ship or ship’s planking (see Index), and that the kenning is‘masts of the sails of the ship’s planking (i. e. of shields), which
do not have nails’, i. e. warriors (cf. note to verse 401). Cf. von See
1981, 233–4.
Verse 157/5–8 Cf. Reichardt 1928, 23–4.
Verse 158/4 Hendiadys: ‘shield and (i. e. with) with many stories’;
cf. 157/7 (‘forehead- and edge-blows’) and NN 2002.
Verses 159–82 Grottasƒngr, an eddic-type poem, but only foundhere (in R and T; verse 1 only in C, in the middle of the preceding

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Skáldskaparmál

prose (52/14), introduced by the words ok er ﬂetta upphaf at ; C
and U also omit verses 183–4). Apparently a literary reworking ofwhat may originally have been an actual work-song.
Verse 161/3–4 The proposal may be to stop grinding rather than to start.
Verse 165/3–4: Kock suggests reading Sofi› eigi sí›ar en . . . e›alengr en svá . . . (NN 71).
Verse 167/8 late alliteration; change word-order to bornar erum
ﬂeim? See also verse 176/6, where T reads vill hl‡›a.
Verse 183 Skj A I 478, B I 450. See note to verses 145–9. Line 7:
Kock (NN 958) takes fé Fenju as the subject of d‡rkar, leaving ﬂann
meldr as an expression for gold on its own as the object of bera.
Verse 184 Skj A I 39, B I 33. Hƒfu›lausn 17/7–8, see note to verse 31.
P. 58/11 heyr›ak : archaic suffixation of first person pronoun, perhaps to indicate provincial speech?—though such a form may not
yet have seemed archaic at the time Snorri was writing.
P. 58/12 mestr : deliberate play on the two meanings of the word(‘tallest, largest in build’ and ‘greatest in reputation or achievement’).
P. 59/15 and 17: perhaps these two speeches are lines of verse.
P. 59/32 Cf. the ﬂula of sá›s heiti in A, SnE 1848–87, II 493.
Verse 185 Skj A I 73, B I 64. Appears twice in U, SnE 1848–87, II
321, 362. Part of a lausavísa the whole of which appears in Hkr
I 201 (see note there on p. 200) alongside verses 117 and 143
above (which are given in Hkr as the two halves of a single
stanza; see note to verse 117 above). Also in Fagrskinna 19, ÓTMI 49, and lines 1–2 in TGT 16, 71. (See Frank 1978, 82–3, and Ullr
in Index.)
Verse 186 Skj A I 375, B I 345. Lines 5–6 also quoted as verse 389.
See note to verse 120. Fidjestøl (1982, 137–9) suggests brattakr
vala (so WTU) spakra should be taken as ‘(on) the steep field of
the quietly resting falcons (i. e. arm(s))’, with bauga emended tobjúgri (a. with ƒr›).
Verse 187 Skj A I 306, B I 284. See note to verse 144.
Verses 188–90 Skj A I 181, B I 170–71. Only fragments survive of
the eddic poem Bjarkamál in fornu, one of the few such poems
known that had Danish content. Besides these three verses, there
are two quoted from the beginning of the poem in Hkr II 361–2
and ÓH 547 (cf. Fóstbrœ›ra saga, ÍF VI 261–3), and two fragments of four and two lines respectively in Edda Magnúsar Ólafssonar 265, 272. But Saxo Grammaticus includes a Latin version

General Notes

189

of the poem in Book 2 (1979–80, I 56–63, cf. II 57). The original
poem is thought to have been from the tenth century, though all
the lines attributed to it may not be original. Bƒ›varr bjarki was
one of the principal speakers in the poem (hence its name), andthe subject of the verses quoted here was presumably Hrólfr kraki.
The poem relates to the king’s last battle.
Verse 190/8: Baldr ﬂƒgli is not known and Baldr may be part of akenning for warrior; vak›i (vakti ) . . . ﬂeygi (WTAU) suggest thatthe line has something to do with the episode of the apparently
inactive Bƒ›varr in the last battle of Hrólfr kraki (Hrólfs saga
kraka 1960, 118; Saxo Grammaticus 1979–80, I 59–60).
P. 61/11–12 It seems natural to assume that snow and ice in kennings
would refer only to silver (cf. verse 193 and note to 62/9), but cf.
‘Den lille Skálda’, SnE 1931, 256/22.
P. 61/16 eru: i. e. can be (referred to as, taken as); but it is not clear
which is the subj. and which the complement, cf. 61/14 andGlossary under vera).
Verse 191 Skj A I 399, B I 368. Taken to be from ﬁorleikr fagri’s
flokkr on King Sveinn Úlfsson, composed c. 1051 (see Hkr III 113,Kn‡tlinga saga 130, Fagrskinna 253, Morkinskinna 161), like thefragment in verse 198 and verse 361, where the poet’s name isagain given as ﬁorleifr in RC, but ﬁorleikr in TAB (U omits thechapter). Here TCU give the name as ﬁorleifr, though it is ﬁorleikr
in WAB; at verse 198 only T has ﬁorleifr (U has ﬁorleikr there);see Index. There are further quotations from the poem in Kn‡tlinga
saga and Hkr, Fagrskinna, Morkinskinna, Hulda–Hrokkinskinna.
Verse 192 Skj A I 122, B I 116. Together with verse 299 thought tobe all that remains of a poem about a king who must have been
Danish (in view of the mention of Lundr here and his being said
to be of the kin of Haraldr hilditƒnn in verse 299); it was possibly
Haraldr blátƒnn, and the poem may have been composed c. 985.
See Fidjestøl 1982, 96.
Verses 193–4 Skj A I 478–9, B I 450–51. See note to verses 145–9.
With the word-order of verse 193 (sjó›s goes with snær and geima
with eldr ; both phrases are the subject of liggr) compare Háttatal
98. Snær ok eldr in line 4 constitute refhvarfa bró›ir (Háttatal
23), as well as paradox.
P. 62/9 The sentence is fuller in AB: Hér er gull kallat eldr áls(B omits) hrynbrautar, en silfr snær skálanna (SnE 1848–87,

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Skáldskaparmál

II 433 (the text here omits the word silfr, but it is in the manuscript), 517). Cf. 61/11–12 n.
Verse 195 Skj A I 419, B I 388. Part of an otherwise unknown poemby an otherwise unknown poet, probably in praise of some ruler.
There seem to be two nominatives in apposition as the subj. ofátti, both referring to the same person as seima r‡ri; gla›sendir,
however, could be the subject of sér (though it would seem unlikely to refer to the poet; cf. verse 197 n.), or perhaps, if sér isimpers., vocative (see Skj B I 388). Some manuscripts have at for
ok in line 2, see under ok in Glossary.
Verse 196 Skj A I 290, B I 268. Quoted again as verse 287, withdifferences. Taken to be from Óttarr’s head-ransom poem addressedto King Óláfr Haraldsson of Norway (c. 1022), see Hkr II 5 n. (thecontext of the poem is given by Styrmir fró›i, Flb IV 6–7).
Further quotations as verses 359 and 408 and in FGT, but most of
the surviving poem is found in Hkr and ÓH (some brief quotations
also in Fagrskinna, Orkneyinga saga, Kn‡tlinga saga, Legendarysaga, etc.). Whether reading gull- (WTUB), gulls (RC) or gló›(with A and verse 287), the kenning gunnar gull(s) (gló›-)brjótandi
can only mean ‘sword-breaker’; if the lines are not wrongly copied, the commentator must have overlooked the fact that there is
not here a kenning of the type gold-breaker = generous man(62/14; cf. verse 228 n.).
Verse 197 Skj A I 130, B I 123. From Vellekla, see note to verse 18.
Kock’s interpretation (NN 410) avoids giving the poet the inappropriate kenning gullsendir (see Faulkes 1993b, 17–18; cf. verse
195 n.), but makes him the receiver of land as a gift (improbable though not impossible) and describes him as receiver (i. e. ofthe mead of poetry) rather than maker of poetry (cf. Gauts gjafrƒtu›rin verse 300b).
Verse 198 Skj A I 399, B I 368. See note to verse 191.
Verse 199 Skj A I 492, B I 464. Together with verse 283, this is allthat remains of a poem presumed, because of the mention in
Skáldatal (SnE 1848–87, III 276) of the poet having composed
about him, to have been about Sigur›r Jórsalafari (d. 1130). Theseand verse 26 are all that remains of this poet’s work. Finnur Jónsson(1920–24, II 72) suggests the possibility that the nickname is derived
from his having composed a poem (from which verse 26 may come)about someone with the nickname blanda (perhaps the NorwegianGeneral Notes

191

Brynjólfr blanda, d. c. 1180; see Sverris saga 51). See Fidjestøl
1982, 158.
Verse 200 Skj A I 324, B I 299. Thought to be the last verse ofﬁórarinn loftunga’s Tøgdrápa (the poet is named in A), composed
for Knútr inn ríki c. 1028, otherwise known only from quotationsin Kn‡tlinga saga, Fagrskinna, Hkr, ÓH, Legendary saga andother versions of Óláfs saga helga. See ÍF XXXV 125–6. The
word tøgdrápa may be used as a common noun here (for the firsttime?), but subsequently it has come to be taken as the name ofﬁórarinn’s poem. This may have been the first major poem to use
this metre (tøg(drápu)lag is given as the name of the metre in
Háttatal 68–9; tøgdrápuháttr in Háttatal 70), but it is uncertain
whether the name relates to the metre or to the subject of the poem
(Knútr’s journeys or expeditions to Norway). Cf. tøgdrápa in
Glossary.
Verse 201 Skj A I 552, B I 534. From a poem about an unknown
woman which is also quoted in verses 203 and 204 and TGT 21,
85. Besides the poem quoted here Hallar-Steinn composed Rekstefja(preserved in Bergsbók (see note to verse 277) and ÓTM ) aboutÓláfr Tryggvason and there survive fragments of a poem thought
to be perhaps about Skáld-Helgi in Edda Magnúsar Ólafssonar
307, 398 (see Finnur Jónsson 1920–24, II 106–7).
P. 63/13 kallat : written thus without abbreviation in RWT; such lackof concord is not unusual when the participle precedes the subject(Nygaard 1905, § 66 n. 3; § 67 n. 2, 3). U and C have kalla›ir. Cf. 67/23.
P. 63/15–17 samheiti: homonym; i. e. selja can be a word for a tree
(a kind of willow) as well as a word meaning dealer, server, giver.
Fyrr : i. e. ch. 31. Lóg is written ‘l»g’ at 63/16 and lág is written‘log’ at 63/17 (in R; the other manuscripts generally have a (or á)in both words, though T has o; at 40/19–20 R and T have log, W
has log (the first time with π), U and B lag or lág). The play is on
the two words lóg and lág (lg) which would have been distinct inpronunciation but could both be written log or lƒg (see lág and lóg
in Glossary). Cf. 40/19–20 and note. The explanation Snorri gives
is improbable, cf. note to 40/12. On lág in kennings for woman cf.
skor›a, tró›a; all three are likely to be variations of kennings withnames of trees as base-words.
P. 63/16 Cf. 40/21 and note.
Verse 202 Skj A I 197, B I 188. From a lausavísa in Gunnlaugs saga

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Skáldskaparmál

ch. 11 (ÍF III 96), about Helga in fagra after her marriage to Hrafn(c. 1006), though it is doubtful whether it is genuine. The man
referred to in line 2 is Helga’s father, ﬁorsteinn Egilsson.
Verses 203–4 Skj A I 552–3, B I 534. See note to verse 201.
Verse 205 Skj A I 415, B I 385. See note to verse 29. Lines 1–2 arequoted in TGT (in W) 28, 104. This verse seems to refer to what
was done with Snæfrí›r’s dead body.
Verse 206 Skj A I 417, B I 386. Apparently a fragment of a poem
about an unknown woman; nothing further is known of this poet(called Steinn in A and T). Alliteration on the second half of acompound as in line 3 is unusual (cf. Kuhn 1983, 34, 49, 108), but
although sto› straumtungls would be a sufficient kenning, velti(vélti ?) will not fit in as a verb without hƒfu- being omitted (cf.
NN 2314: mik villti sto› stilltan). The line is anyway rather heavy.
Verse 207 Skj A I 416, B I 385. See note to verse 29. Ek hefi lagit
mark (konunnar) á (kvæ›i) may mean simply ‘I have dedicatedthe poem to the woman’ rather than ‘I have fixed the image of thewoman in the poem’.
Verse 208 Skj A I 185, B I 175. Anonymous fragment of an otherwise unknown love poem. It is doubtful whether Finnur Jónsson
is right to class it as tenth century in Skj A I 185 (see Finnur
Jónsson 1920–24, I 522).
Verse 209 Skj A I 184, B I 174. Anonymous fragment of an otherwise unknown poem. Cf. verses 224–5, 235, 317 and Fidjestøl
1982, 167.
P. 64/26 reynir : play on reynir ‘trier’ (cf. reyna ‘try, test’) and reynir‘rowan’; cf. ch. 31. It is more likely that in fact tree-names wereused in kennings because of the similarity in appearance between
a man and a tree. Cf. selja (2) and (3), and lág, lóg in Glossary,and notes to 40/12 and 63/15–17.
Verse 210 Skj A I 137, B I 129. Another verse about ﬁórr fishing for
the Midgard serpent (see note to verse 8), also quoted as verse 316.
Verse 211 Skj A I 79, B I 69. From Sigur›ardrápa, see note to verse 12.
Verse 212 Skj A I 155, B I 147. From Hákonardrápa, see note to verse 10.
Verse 213 Skj A I 341, B I 314. Second half of verse 12 of Magnúsdrápa,
see note to verse 105. The complete stanza is quoted in Hkr III
56–7, Fagrskinna 224, Hulda–Hrokkinskinna (Fms VI 83), thefirst half in Flb IV 53.
Verse 214 Skj A I 321, B I 297. A fragment of unknown context, see

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193

note to verse 4. Finnur Jónsson 1920–24, I 600, suggests that it
relates to Vagn Ákason, cf. Jómsvíkinga saga 1962, 29, 42–3. Inline 4, R appears to have es-Freyr, though it perhaps could be readél-Freyr, which would be synonymous with as-Freyr. The phrase
gekk í meyjar sæing may be metaphorical if the woman concerned
is symbolic (e. g. of death (= Hel) or battle (= Hildr (1) in Index),cf. Háttatal 49 and note). Kock (NN 1128) takes Hárs drífu askr
as subject of gekk (parallel to él-Freyr) and vi› as a preposition
with ærinn ﬂroska (rather than present tense of vinna), though vi›
would not normally be used with this meaning; cf. NN 2988H.
Verse 215 Skj A I 601, B I 601. Anonymous and of unknown context.
If brynja is the subject of kvaddi, handar svella hlynr is vocative;
it is sometimes emended to brynju, making hlynr the subject.
(Kock NN 3132 points out that then heill ought to be feminine.)
The remainder of the verse is not extant, and brynja may belong
in sense to something in the following lines.
Verse 216 Skj A I 320, B I 296. See note to verse 30. Lines 1 and 3–
4 do not comprise a complete sentence, and the main clause musthave been in the other half of the stanza.
Verse 217 Skj A I 298, B I 275. From Knútsdrápa, addressed to
Knútr inn ríki c. 1027; also quoted as verse 314; the whole stanzaof which this is the second half appears in Hkr II 280–1, ÓH 438
and the Legendary saga; the first half only in Fagrskinna 186. It
is about the battle at Áin helga which Knútr fought against King¯nundr Óláfsson of Sweden and King Óláfr Haraldsson of Norway (the tveir jƒfrar) in 1027. Ten other stanzas from the poem arequoted in Kn‡tlinga saga which mostly relate to Knútr’s campaigns in England around 1015–16.
Verse 218 Skj A I 343, B I 315. The second half of verse 17 ofArnórr’s Magnúsdrápa, see note to verse 105. The complete stanza
appears in Hkr III 62, Hulda–Hrokkinskinna (Fms VI 89), the firsthalf only in Fagrskinna 225 and Flb IV 53.
P. 66/15–16 I. e. at kalla hana ve›r vápna . . . e›a gn‡ e›a glym ﬂeira.
Verse 219 Skj A I 23, B I 21. From Glymdrápa, the first half ofverse 5. The whole stanza is found in Hkr I 105–6 (cf. 101 n. 2),
Fagrskinna 70, and in Flb II 59 (Haralds ﬂáttr hárfagra), where
the lines of verse 219 appear as the second half of what is verse 9of the poem in Skj. There are further quotations as verses 345, 256,and several verses appear in Hkr, Fagrskinna, ÓTM, Haralds ﬂáttr

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Skáldskaparmál

hárfagra (Flb II 58–9). The poem is mainly about Haraldr hárfagri’s
battles by which he became ruler of all Norway. It may have been
composed c. 890–900.
Verse 220 Skj A I 69, B I 61. See note to verse 5. It is unclear whom
this verse is about.
Verse 221 Skj A I 93, B I 87. The first half of a lausavísa preserved
like all Hólmgƒngu-Bersi’s verse in Kormaks saga (see ÍF VIII
251). For the context see Kormaks saga ch. 12
Verse 222 Skj A I 480, B I 452. From an unidentified praise-poem.
Cf. note to verse 136. Perhaps by Einarr Skálaglamm (Vellekla?);see note to verse 18 and Fidjestøl 1982, 99–100, where otherambiguous attributions are examined (e. g. verse 281).
Verse 223 Skj A I 131, B I 123. Taken to be from Vellekla, see note
to verse 18. It is difficult to see how the words rómu Hárs fit into
the sentence; since the other three kennings (sigbjarka serkir,
sómmi›jungum, Hƒgna skúrir) seem complete without any further
genitives, it is perhaps best to take rómu Hárs as an adverbial
phrase, ‘in battle’. See sómmi›jungr and róma in Glossary.
Verses 224–5 Skj A I 184, B I 173. Anonymous and of unknown
context. See note to verse 209. Verse 224 is not a complete sentence and a main verb must have been included in an unquoted
line. Cf. Fidjestøl 1982, 167.
P. 67/18 If hjálm is not an error, it is the first heiti in the list ofnames for helmet, though it would be unusual to use it as the baseword in a kenning for helmet. R, W and T all include both hjálma(as first object of kalla) and hjálm (T has hjálma e›a hjálmhƒtt).
P. 67/21 It seems that Ullr had a ship called Skjƒldr, though this is
not mentioned elsewhere (cf. 19/32 and note); but kennings basedon it (calling shields Ullr’s ship) are common. See Glossary underaskr, ask- and Ullr in Index.
P. 67/23 er (2): lack of concord when verb precedes subject (T and
U have eru, C reads skjƒldrinn kendr). Cf. 63/13 n. But there isalso similar lack of concord in the next sentence where the subject
comes first (and the complement is also plural). But it is possiblethat there hƒggvápn is to be taken as sg. and øxar e›a sver› as aparenthesis. U, however, has eru kƒllu› in line 24.
P. 67/28–9 Apparently ‘because it is mostly in what is composed as
eulogy [i. e. of warrior kings] that these kennings are required’.
Since most poems are eulogies which require many terms for warfare

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and its attributes, there are many variations of such terms. Snorri’s
particular concern is to encourage the writing of traditional eulogies, and to encourage the use of the traditional diction associatedwith them.
P. 67/29 Svá kva› Víga-Glúmr add AC.
Verse 226 See verse 3 and note. The attribution in AC is lacking
here in RTWU, probably omitted by a scribe (or scribes).
Verse 227 Skj A I 130, B I 123. Taken to be from Vellekla, see note
to verse 18. Reichardt 1928, 138 reads me› Sigvalda with fór.
Verse 228 Skj A I 145, B I 136. From a drápa about Earl Hákon
Sigur›arson composed c. 987 (cf. Fagrskinna 131). The wholestanza of which this is the second half is preserved in Hkr I 281,
ÓTM I 189–90 and Jómsvíkinga saga 1879, 81–2, and these sources
preserve several further verses from the poem. The verse contrasts
the hardships of battle with the luxury of sleeping with a beautiful
woman (cf. verse 286 and Krákumál 20 (Skj A I 646–7)). Though
Ró›a serkr could well be a kenning for coat of mail, it does notseem to be recorded as such in any extant verse, and in this verse
it is difficult to see how Ró›a can belong with any other word than
rastar. The heading to the quotation must be due to the writer’s
inattention. Cf. verse 196 n.
Verse 229–30 Skj A I 156, B I 148. From Hákonardrápa, see verse 10 n.
Verse 230 If benfúr is n., it might be the (pl.) subject of rjó›ask(indicative rather than inf.) and bjƒrt might go with it; then it isnecessary to read fyrir before méilskúrum (as in C; A has vi›, andR has fyrir instead of fúr ; cf. t. n.) to provide a complement forver›a. Cf. Reichardt 1928, 61–3: ﬁa›an ver›a Sƒrla fƒt fyr›a[fyrir] méilskúrum; bjƒrt benfúr rjó›ask í bló›i.
Verse 231 Skj A I 313, B I 290. First half of a lausavísa preservedin Grettis saga ch. 72 (ÍF VII 234–5), supposed to have been
composed during his visit to Hegranessﬂing, depicting the farmers’ reaction to the discovery that Grettir is their unknown guest.
Verse 232 = verse 146, see note to verses 145–9.
Verse 233 Skj A I 480, B I 452. Two more lines are quoted in U:
ylgr brunar hvatt ins helgahrægjƒrn í spor ƒrnum.

From an unidentified poem by Einarr Skúlason, cf. notes to verses
136, 222 and see note to verse 312. Parts of the description seemto imply a land battle, other parts a sea battle.

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Verse 234 Skj A I 318, B I 295. From a poem addressed to a ruler
or chieftain thanking for a gift; perhaps from the same poem asverse 246.
Verse 235 Skj A I 184, B I 173. Anonymous and context unknown.
See note to verse 209.
Verse 236 Skj A I 376, B I 346. Thought to be from ﬁjó›ólfr
Arnórsson’s Sexstefja (it is attributed to ﬁjó›ólfr in A and U), seenote to verse 120.
Verse 237–8 Skj A I 1, B I 1. Verses 1–2 of Ragnarsdrápa, see note
to verse 24. Verse 237/3: see ﬁrú›r in Index.
Verse 239 Skj A I 317, B I 294. Another verse from Knútsdrápa, seenote to verse 115. Are there two shields (of different colours) or
just one? Is it the king’s own?
Verse 240 Skj A I 182, B I 172. Anonymous fragment of unknown
context. Kock (NN 85) compares the Old English Gnomic poems(Maxims I and II, ASPR III 162, line 153 and VI 56, line 37).
Verse 241 Skj A I 79, B I 69; Frank 1978, 117–18. From Sigur›ardrápa,
see note to verse 12. Line 4 contains a fornt minni.
Verse 242 Skj A I 138, B I 129–30. From Húsdrápa, about Baldr’s
funeral (Gylf. ch. 49). See note to verse 8.
Verse 243 Skj A I 77, B I 67. From Gráfeldardrápa, see note to verse
6; also quoted in Fagrskinna 108. Fidjestøl (1982, 91–2) suggeststhat this half-stanza belongs with stanza 10 of the poem in Skj(which in Fagrskinna is the first half of another stanza).
P. 70/29 grand hlífar : the kenning in verse 244/3 is grand hjálms.
Hlíf ‘protection’ can refer to either shield or helmet, or indeed toany protective armour; cf. verse 472/6. Cf. also note to verse 245/3.
Verses 244–5 Skj A I 479, B I 451. See note to verses 145–9.
Verse 245/3 In view of the commentary, fjƒrnir perhaps here means
shield rather than helmet (cf. verse 471/4); the axe as enemy of
the shield is also a more usual image. Kock NN 959 takes rí›endr
as vocative, megu as indefinite (‘one can’).
Verse 246 Skj A I 319, B I 295. See note to verse 234. Kock (NN783) keeps the reading bezt (adv. ‘best’) in line 4, though bor›sseems necessary to complete the spear-kenning: myrkdreki
marka might mean spear on its own if ofljóst is being used (myrkdreki
marka = ormr = spear; or eikinn could be taken as ‘oaken’ andthus qualifying the meaning of myrkdreki. This seems unlikely, as
the only example in LP of ormr as a heiti for spear is in Krákumál

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197

12 (Skj A I 644). Several serpent-names are, however, also names
for swords (see Fáfnir, Góinn, Móinn in Index; langbar›r, ní›hƒggr
in Glossary; na›r in LP )Verse 247 Skj A I 124, B I 118. Second half of verse 8 of Vellekla,
see note to verse 18. The whole stanza appears in Hkr I 209 andÓTM I 55–6.
Verse 248 Skj A I 155, B I 147. From Hákonardrápa, see note to verse 10.
Verse 249 Skj A I 72–3, B I 63–4. From a lausavísa about Haraldr
gráfeldr (composed c. 962; cf. verse 117); the complete stanza
appears in Hkr I 200, Fagrskinna 58, ÓTM I 48.
P. 72/11 It is possible that the scribe of R intended mensætt ‘asettlement in the form of a neck-ring’.
P. 72/16 mág sinn: presumably ironical, since He›inn did not actually marry Hƒgni’s daughter.
Verses 250–54 Skj A I 2–3, B I 2–3. See note to verse 24.
Verse 250 Kock NN 1505 takes fœri as a noun, object of hug›i(‘thought there was opportunity (to experience))’, til fárhuga ve›rbo›a‘(for) the storm-offerer’s (i. e. He›inn’s?) hostile intent’. There
are various possibilities with at: at ﬂat ‘in this, after this’; atsínum fe›r; at fœri ﬂat ve›r boga.
Verse 251/5–8 Kock, NN 1853 I (cf. 1946–9, I 2), apparently reads
Svá lét ey, ﬂótt etti, sem orrostu letti jƒfrum, with úlfs . . . lifru
parallel to orrostu. But letja takes an accusative object of theperson, and jƒfrum must go with etti. Note the end-rhyme.
Verse 252/1–4 glamma mun is the object of stƒ›va; stopping thewolf’s desire, i. e. hunger, means fighting a battle and providing
carrion. If glamma mun means wolf’s pleasure, i. e. carnage, Letrat
must be read as Lætrat ‘does not cause’). Hƒ› is either in apposition to mun (‘battle, the wolf’s pleasure’) or dat., ‘in battle’ (orinstr., ‘by battle’); or possibly the first element of the compoundhƒ›glamma (‘battle-wolf’; this might be a kenning for sword).
See hƒ› in Glossary.
Verse 253/3–4 Cf. verse 158 (stef ). The stanza is perhaps complete,since a stef does not necessarily have to come in a full 8-line stanza.
Verse 254/7–8 It is uncertain whether these two lines contain one
prepositional phrase or two. In any case at in line 7 is hard toreconcile with the context (at = close by, i. e. along the shore, is
proposed by Kock, NN 217) and af Reifnis skei›i ‘from the sea’
would make better sense. In line 8 ra›álfs af mar would presum-

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Skáldskaparmál

ably mean ‘from the ship’. Finnur Jonsson in Skj B I 3 takesskei›i with brá›um, swift in sailing (with Reifnis mar[i]; andbrá›um at skei›i might also be possible, though brá›um could
also be adverbial, ‘swiftly’), and reads ra›arálfs (with herr), omitting the preposition in line 8. If one reads of (of (3) in Glossary)in line 8 (or omits the word), it is possible to interpret the phrase
af ra›álfs Reifnis mar brá›um skei›i, ‘from the sea-king’s swiftrunning Reifnir’s horse (i. e. ship)’.
P. 73/31 See the beginning of ch. 48 (66/15–16 and verse 220).
Verse 255 Skj A I 119, B I 113–4. Part of a lausavísa quoted in VígaGlúms saga ch. 26 (ÍF IX 89–90). Cf. verse 3 and note. In spite of
the interpretation in the commentary, it seems more natural totake the kenning to be ‘staves of the weather of Vi›rir’s rod’ (andthe rod to be a spear, since this is Ó›inn’s weapon, rather than asword) rather than ‘staves of the rod of Vi›rir’s weather’. Though
there are parallels for the attachment of the first half of a compound to another element of the kenning (e. g. dal-miskunn fiskaverse 140/4), this would not be expected unless there was no morestraightforward alternative (see Introduction pp. liii). See ÍF IX 89 n.
It is not clear also whether the kenning belongs in the mainstatement or in the parenthesis. There is poor manuscript support
for landa in the last line; mér til handa (‘for my own benefit’
however leaves rudda ek without a complement. For›um can betaken with jarlar (‘earls of old’; or the equivalent of sem jarlar
ger›u for›um) or rudda or lék, but since the adverb is probably
contrasted with nú . . . um sí›ir in the second half of the verse(ÍF IX 90), it is perhaps best to take it with rudda.
P. 74/3–6 The author is here still basically concerned with kennings forman, even if they are made up of kennings for weapons or battle.
Cf. Müller 1941, 124–5. In line 3 the subjects are orrosta, sver›it, menn.
Verse 256 Skj A I 22, B I 20. From Glymdrápa, see note to verse
219. Also quoted in Fagrskinna 69 and Flb II 58 (Haralds ﬂáttr
hárfagra); in both of these it appears as the first half of a stanzawith what in Skj is Glymdrápa verse 4/1–4 as the second half, cf.
Hkr I 103 and see Fidjestøl 1982, 87.
Verse 257 Skj A I 414, B I 384. This is all that survives of this poet’s
work, and he is not mentioned elsewhere. The context is unknown. ﬁat cannot be fitted into the sentence, since ófri› ﬂenna is
the object of segir. (But ﬂenna could go with mar (NN 897); Kock

General Notes

199

also takes line 3 (with ﬂenna) as the main clause and the first threewords of line 4 as a parenthesis.) Keeping the manuscript readings, one might perhaps understand the verb to be in line 1 andtake line 2 as a parenthesis. This would make each line a separate
statement (áttmælt, Háttatal 10). On the rhyming of syllables withƒ and a (line 2) see Hreinn Benediktsson 1963.
Verse 258 Skj A I 317, B I 293. From Knútsdrápa, see note to verse
115. In spite of the commentary, lines 3–4 á Sƒlsa bekkjar trƒ›must mean ‘on the path of Sƒlsi’s bench’, i. e. ‘the path of the
ship’, though in itself Sƒlsa bekkr could be a kenning for the sea(‘Sƒlsi’s resting place or land’, 74/24–5). It would also be possible
to take Sƒlsa bekkjar with hreinum (‘reindeer of Sƒlsi’s resting
place’, i. e. ships) and Svei›a with trƒ› (‘Svei›i’s path’, i. e. sea).
Cf. notes to verses 196 and 228 for other cases of apparent discrepance between verses and commentary.
Verse 259 Skj A I 329, B I 303. Perhaps a lausavísa, but the context
is unknown. Finnur Jónsson 1920–24, I 604, suggests it may
relate to Óláfr helgi’s expedition to Denmark in 1026 which culminated in the battle at Áin helga (Helgeå), and that it may be partof Ró›adrápa (on which see Hkr II 281). There are other fragments that may be from this poem in the version of the second halfof Skáldskaparmál in W (SnE 1924, 105) and in some manuscripts
of Edda Magnúsar Ólafssonar (see Jón Helgason 1966, 176; Faulkes
1977–9, I 106, 152; Skj A I 329–30). Cf. verses 59 and 375 and see
Fidjestøl 1982, 127.
Verse 260 Skj A I 452, B I 421. Probably a lausavísa; cf. verse 369.
The verse-form is fjór›ungalok, see Háttatal 11 (and t. n. there).
Lines 5–6 are also quoted in TGT 27, 104 (in W). Lines 3–4 ofhvíta‹r› gnípur hvals ranníugtanni ‘over the white peaks the bearof the whale’s house’ would be closer to the manuscript (T may
have hvítar), though it would be unusual to use gnípur on its ownof the waves. (Cf. Frank 1978, 75–6.)
P. 75/15 In SnE 1931, 157 and SnE 1848–87, I 442 punctuated‘bjƒrn skor›u er hér kallat. Skip er ok kallat hreinn’. See kalla
in Glossary.
P. 75/16 á›r : verse 258.
Verse 261 Skj A I 357, B I 329. The first half of a lausavísa quoted
in Hkr III 89, Fagrskinna 237, Morkinskinna 85, Hulda–Hrokkinskinna(Fms VI 169). In Morkinskinna 86 and Hulda (Fms VI 170) the200

Skáldskaparmál

second half of this verse is also quoted as the second half of theverse attributed to Brennu-Njáll in Skáldskaparmál verse 355, andthe whole is then attributed to King Haraldr. Cf. verses 284, 355
and notes.
Verse 262 Skj A I 483, B I 455. Probably part of a lausavísa byEinarr Skúlason. The king referred to is likely to be King Sveinn
Eiríksson (d. 1157) and the verse may have been composed c. 1153.
Cf. ÍF XXXV 275, where another verse by Einarr Skúlason complaining about his treatment by the king is preserved. Fidjestøl(1982, 100) discusses the possibility that this verse is by Einarr
Skálaglamm.
Verse 263 Skj A I 539, B I 520. Probably part of a lausavísa. Also
quoted in TGT 26, 100. The satirical tone is found in two otherlausavísur by Máni, which are quoted in Sverris saga (1920, 91;
nos 2 and 3 in Skj A I 539, B I 520; no. 4, quoted in Sturl. I 269,
mentions gifts sent to Snorri Sturluson by Earl Hákon galinn).
Line 2 drengum: see Noreen 1923, § 389 n. 4: this may be agenuine alternative form to drengjum (WTAU).
Verse 264 Skj A I 320, B I 296. See note to verse 30.
Verse 265 Skj A I 200, B I 190. The first half of a stanza also quoted
in Hkr I 249 and Fagrskinna 138 from Bandadrápa, the stef ofwhich is quoted as verse 304. Otherwise the only parts of thepoem preserved are in Hkr, Fagrskinna and ÓTM. The poem,
which is all that survives of Eyjólfr dá›askáld’s work, is about
Earl Eiríkr Hákonarson, and composed c. 1010. See Hkr I 249 n.,
ÍF XXIX 165. The name of the poem probably relates to theoccurrence of the word banda in the stef, the poet’s nickname tothe fact that he composed about the earl’s dá›ir.
Verse 266 Skj A I 417, B I 387. Context unknown, though the lines
may be about the story of Hildr Hƒgnadóttir, ch. 50. Nothing
further is known of the poet though he could be the lawspeaker
who died in 1181 (Sturl. I 124, 130, 160).
Verse 267 Skj A I 144, B I 135. Apparently from a Christian poem,
but it is not known who the person being baptised is (it could be
the poet). If this is by the same poet as verses 50 and 58, he isevidently another example of a heathen poet who became Christian (cf. note to verse 50), and the lines must be from the early
eleventh century.
P. 76/22. It is possible that the placing of the chapter on kennings forGeneral Notes

201

Christ was determined by the words of verse 267, and that the
beginning of ch. 53 was suggested by the words of verse 276.
Verse 268 Skj A I 152, B I 144. Like the previous verse, evidently
part of a Christian poem by a poet known otherwise for hisheathen verse. See note to verses 73–91. The context is unknown;
the poem may have been addressed to Christ. Eilífr’s verse is only
known from SnE. In line 2, the form sunnr would give a better
hending. Frank (1978, 118–19; see references there) takes setbergs
as adverbial gen. ‘on a table-mountain’ with sitja; banda lƒndum
then becomes ‘over (with) lands where the (heathen) gods areworshipped’. It is difficult to be sure what the poet had in mind by
his reference to su›r at Ur›ar brunni. It may mean at Rome, or at
the centre of the world (i. e. Jerusalem?). If this extract really isfrom a Christian poem, the phrase presumably implies that Christ
has taken over the reponsibility for fate (or providence) from theheathen norns. Cf. Gylf. chs 15–16, esp. p. 17/30–31: ‘. . . Ur›arbrunnr. ﬁar eigu gu›in dómsta› sinn.’
Verse 269 Skj A I 314, B I 291. Probably part of a poem about
Christ; Finnur Jónsson (1920–24, I 543) suggests it was composedin connection with the dedication of a church built by Skapti (cf.
ÍF XIII 326 and n.). This is all that survives of verse by him,
though he is said to have composed various poems (see Skáldatal,
SnE III 274, 280, 548–52; ¯lkofra ﬂáttr, ÍF XI 91). He appears inseveral of the Sagas of Icelanders and in Hkr II and ÓH, see Index.
Verse 270 Skj A I 452, B I 420. Probably from a poem about Christ;
another fragment may be preserved in TGT 28 and 105 (in W).
But Fidjestøl (1982, 153) suggests that both of these, together
with a half-stanza (perhaps a stef ) that replaces verse 398 in AB(SnE 1848–87, II 461, 540; see note to verse 398 below) may beparts of a poem about St Knútr Sveinsson, probably composed
after his death in 1086 (Markús is named as one of his poets in
Skáldatal, SnE 1848–87, III 283). Cf. note to verse 111. Line 2
dyggjan has the ia written like v and a run together, and perhaps
dyggvan was intended. Cf. Noreen 1923, § 430 n. 4.
Verses 271–3 Skj A I 572, B I 565–6. The four verses attributed to
Eilífr kúlnasveinn in Skáldskaparmál are thought to be from apoem about Christ—besides these verses, verse 276; a verse quotedin FoGT 131–2 (in W) may also belong. Otherwise all that survives of this poet’s work seems to be part of a lausavísa in TGT

202

Skáldskaparmál(14, 65); this is, however, attributed to Eilífr Gu›rúnarson in all
three manuscripts, pace Finnur Jónsson 1920–24, II 116–17.
Verse 272/4 Editors omit the second ok.
Verse 273/2 sonar is emended to vinar (following TWA) in SnE 1931,
159, which would then refer to some saint; see SnE 1848–87, 448–9 n.
Verse 274 Skj A I 265, B I 245. Thought by Finnur Jónsson (1920–24,
I 595) to be from Sighvatr’s memorial poem about St Óláfr,
composed c. 1040, perhaps a stef that emphasised the king’s sanctity (according to ÓH 553 the poem was stælt eptir uppreistarsƒgu,i. e. had interpolated sections referring to uppreistarsaga; uppreist
here may mean the Ascension or Resurrection, or conceivably
Creation). Other verses from this poem are to be found in Hkr andÓH (one of these also in the fragments of the second half ofSkáldskaparmál in W, SnE 1924, 105); one fragment perhaps in
TGT. Fidjestøl (1982, 121) points out that verse 274 seems to beabout the baptism of Christ and that there is little reason to assign
it to a poem about St Óláfr (whatever uppreistarsaga means, it isunlikely to have referred to Christ’s baptism). Cf. SnE 1848–87,
III 345–6, where the verse is more plausibly assigned to an otherwise unknown religious poem about some saint.
Verse 275 Skj A I 353, B I 326. Thought to be from (the final verseof) Arnórr’s memorial poem about Haraldr har›rá›i (composedc. 1067). Further quotations as verses 321, 376 and in TGT 14 and65. The other extant verses from this poem are in Hkr, Hulda–
Hrokkinskinna, Morkinskinna, Fagrskinna, ÓH. Fidjestøl (1982,
131, 132) is doubtful about whether any of the quotations in SnE
and TGT except verse 376 really belong to this poem. In line 3 R
has only one k in Gríkja, though it has two at 78/3 (written ‘ck’)
and 19, but it is not certain that the writer wished to distinguishthe two forms of the name (W has Girkja on the first two occurrences, T and A on all three). ‘Guardian of Greeks and Russia’ isan unusual title, but Gar›ar can hardly mean anything other thanthe Scandinavian towns in Russia.
Verse 276 Skj A I 572, B I 566. See note to verses 271–3.
Verse 277 Skj A I 462, B I 431. The only quotation from Einarr
Skúlason’s Geisli in Skáldskaparmál (though there are others in
the version of Skáldskaparmál in W (SnE 1924, 112), TGT and
Hulda–Hrokkinskinna, Hkr, ÓH ). The poem as a whole is preserved at the beginning of Flb and in Bergsbók (i. e. Royal LibraryGeneral Notes

203

Stockholm Perg. fol. nr 1). It was composed c. 1153 in honourof St Óláfr and commissioned by King Eysteinn. See Hallberg
1975, 169.
P. 78/17 koma saman: overlap, i. e. they are ambiguous. Most kennings
for man or warrior or king are unspecific (i. e. they are fornƒfn,pronominatio or antonomasia), even though generally it is anindividual that is referred to (they are not usually the equivalentof common nouns). Only the context (sto› ) can decide who ismeant, particularly in kennings for king/God (cf. 76/22 n.). Suchkennings are sannkenningar or vi›kenningar, but not sérkenningar(proper-noun kennings) in the sense of unambiguously indicating
one particular person, even though they may mean an individual.
Skaldic poets go to great lengths to avoid naming the persons who
are the topics of their verse. See Introduction pp. xxix–xxxiii.
P. 78/21 Engla konung: presumably in addition to the general ambiguity about kennings for king which in some contexts may refer
to God there is the further ambiguity in the word Engla, which canbe gen. pl. of engill ‘angel’.
P. 78/22 ritat : agrees with a generalised notion of what was written(or› ), hence n., rather than with the actual word kenning ; though
the f. form ritu› may be intended (the scribe of R wrote rita›; ritat
WA, ritu› T and U; cf. 95/9); á›r: 78/11 (cf. hƒl›a stillir in verse 276).
Verse 278 = verse 5/5–8, see note.
Verse 279 Skj A I 76, B I 66. Assumed by Finnur Jónsson (in Skj ) tobe from Gráfeldardrápa, see note to verse 6, though Fidjestøl(1982, 91) points out that the content is too vague for it to becertain whether it belongs to that poem. The first two lines arealso quoted as verse 394.
Verse 280 Skj A I 377, B I 346. Thought to be from Sexstefja (cf.
Fidjestøl 1982, 136), see note to verse 120. In line 1 hildar is apossible reading, but conflicts with the list at 78/24.
Verse 281 Skj A I 480, B I 452. A fragment of unknown context,
evidently about a king of Norway. Cf. note to verses 136 and
128–32. On the attribution, see Fidjestøl 1982, 100 and see also
note to verse 312.
Verse 282 Skj A I 346, B I 318. From ﬁorfinnsdrápa, see note toverse 1. Quoted again as verse 344 (note variants), but not elsewhere.
P. 79/32–80/1 ‘Those judgments and punishments shall be there as
valid as those of the king himself.’

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P. 80/10 veitanda, gætanda, sætti are all, surprisingly, acc. sg. (thoughcf. Noreen 1923, § 422 n. 3).
P. 80/15 forneskju: it is perhaps not necessary to add the j; fornesku
may be a genuine form, see Noreen 1923, § 263 n. 2; cf. verse 263/2 n.
Verse 283 Skj A I 492, B I 464. From a poem about Sigur›r Jórsalafari,see note to verse 199.
Verse 284 Skj A I 359, B I 330. The second half of a lausavísa about
the Norwegian chieftain Einarr ﬂambarskelfir, subsequently killedby the king c. 1056. The whole stanza appears in Hkr III 124,
Fagrskinna 263, Hulda–Hrokkinskinna (Fms VI 270).
Verse 285 Skj A I 275, B I 254. From an unknown poem, context
uncertain; though it is likely to be from a poem about St Óláfr.
There is insufficient evidence to connect this fragment with anyother known poem by Sighvatr, though if it did not seem to beother than an eyewitness report it might be taken to belong to thesame poem as verse 286 (see Fidjestøl 1982, 123, where it issuggested that it may belong in Tryggvaflokkr). Kock (NN 683)
takes the last line as a separate statement, ‘in future I shall nottell about any minor engagements’. He also takes nadda él asparallel to víg and at is emended to enn (as WT; U has it): ‘again
recently’? The form engin would not be expected in verse earlier
than the fourteenth century. In LP 110b it is suggested that thecorrect reading should be engi en (i. e. in)
Verse 286 Skj A I 229, B I 218. The second half of a stanza from
Nesjavísur, about King Óláfr Haraldsson’s battle with Earl Sveinn
Hákonarson at Nesjar in Oslofjord in 1015. This is the only quotation from this poem in Skáldskaparmál; there are others in TGT,
Fagrskinna, the Legendary saga, Hkr, ÓH. The whole stanza appears in Hkr II 63 and ÓH 93, the first half only in Fagrskinna
175. The picture painted is unusual (mead being served on board
ship by a woman before the battle); but if fyrir means ‘instead of’
we have the conventional contrasting of battle with peaceful activities. It also depends on how the adverbial phrases are ordered;possibly ‘It was not then on the ship like when a maid served
mead . . . instead of (or in return for?) battle.’ Cf. verse 228 and note.
Verse 287 = verse 196, see note.
P. 81/10 kalla›ir, i. e. kalla›ir eru.
Verse 288 Skj A I 156, B I 148. From Hákonardrápa, see note toverse 10.

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205

Verse 289 Skj A I 211, B I 201. Context unknown, see note to verse
133. Kock, NN 574, suggests taking stjór(n)vi›jar with hlemmisver›and stáls with bu›lunga máli ; thus leaving húflangan skæ on its
own as a term for ship.
Verse 290 Skj A I 344, B I 316. From ﬁorfinnsdrápa, see note toverse 1. Kock, NN 827, takes the first two lines and the last twowords as one statement (s‡n = sight, glance) and mein as obj. oftaka. At NN 2521 it is suggested that rather than of governing
enda, enda may be an adverb and sessa acc. with of. Arnórr’s sonsdo not seem to be mentioned elsewhere, any more than his marriage in verse 296.
Verse 291 = verse 118, see note.
Verse 292 Skj A I 79, B I 69. Assumed to be from Sigur›ardrápa,
perhaps the first verse; see note to verse 12. It is not certain towhom the poem is addressed. At 82/6 verse 292 is taken to beaddressed to Hákon Sigur›arson, but the verse in Hkr I 168,
which is thought to be from the same poem, is ascribed to
Sigur›ardrápa; Finnur Jónsson (1920–24, I 529) takes the recipient to be Earl Sigur›r. See Haraldr (1) in Index and note to verse
12; and cf. Frank 1978, 117. ¯rr is perhaps more likely to go withsonr than with ek; but emending greppa to greppr would make itpossible to keep the MS lætr (‘the generous poet proclaims’; cf.
Kock’s ƒrgreppa, NN 2510), though the kenning ‘ale of the giantess’ = poetry would be unusual. S‡rar could be spared from thekenning but would be difficult to fit in elsewhere. Kock (NN2510) suggests S‡rar (Freyja’s) sannreynir = Ó›r, cf. Gylf. ch. 35,= ó›r (acc. with á after heyri), i. e. poetry (ofljóst), and takes
fentanna ƒrgreppa jastrín mína as the object of lætk uppi. This ofcourse would make it impossible for the addressee to be either
Sigur›r or Hákon (it would have to be the son of some Haraldr),
and conflicts with the commentary. Fentanna jast-Rín might be aparallel to Hnitbjarga lƒgr.
Verses 293–5 Skj A I 368, B I 338–9. From a runhent poem on
Haraldr har›rá›i (c. 1055). There is another stanza from this poem
preserved in Hkr III 70, Fagrskinna 228 (lines 1–4 only), Hulda–
Hrokkinskinna (Fms VI 132), Flb IV 59. Verse 294 relates to histime in Russia after 1030 (Hkr III 69–70). The king lamented inverse 295 is Magnús gó›i (d. 1047).
Verse 293: it is not clear whether har›ræ›it or ve›r is the subject,

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Skáldskaparmál

and whether vex is trans. or intrans. (see vaxa in Glossary). Kock
(NN 3229) takes svá at as rel. with har›ræ›it.
Verse 294 hl‡ri: Haraldr har›rá›i (Sigur›arson) and St Óláfr (Haraldsson)
were actually only half-brothers; their mother was ÁstaGu›brandsdóttir.
Verse 296 Skj A I 332, B I 306. From Rƒgnvaldsdrápa, see note toverse 114. This verse seems to be the only source for Arnórr’s
marriage with a member of the Earl’s family.
Verse 297–8 Skj A I 346, 348, B I 319, 321. From ﬁorfinnsdrápa,
see note to verse 1. Verse 297 is the second half of a stanza foundin Orkneyinga saga, ÍF XXXIV 61; verse 298 is only found here.
Bitu verse 297/1 is absolute; kind in line 3 dat. of advantage.
Verse 299 Skj A I 122, B I 117. See note to verse 192.
Verse 300a–b Skj A I 5, 182, B I 5, 172. The kennings in these verses
are very obscure and even the literal meanings are in many cases
far from certain. They are reminiscent of Irish retoiric. If either isgenuine, both are likely to be by Bragi. They are not known from
elsewhere. The first is only in R and (in part) C; the second is also
in TUA. In both verses the first word may be the first of the listof complements rather than the subject, ‘They call me troll/poet’
rather than ‘Trolls/poets call me . . .’Verse 301 Skj A I 79, B I 69; Sigrø›r in line 2 is probably Earl
Sigur›r (1); his mƒgr is Earl Hákon, and this stanza at least seems
to be from a poem about him, though A has Hákonar, and Finnur
Jónsson (Skj A I 79; 1920–24, I 529) ascribes the stanza to Sigur›ardrápa. See notes to verses 12 and 292 and cf. Haraldr (1) in
Index. The words meir and fleira imply that the verse is the
beginning of a second or subsequent section of the poem, thoughconceivably they mean just that this is a new poem. Fidjestøl(1982, 93) suggests the possibility that the poem was about both
Earl Sigur›r and his son Hákon.
Verse 302 Skj A I 213, B I 203. From Eiríksdrápa, thought to havebeen composed after the death of Earl Eiríkr Hákonarson (probablyc. 1023, though neither the date of the earl’s death nor that of thepoem is certain; see Hkr II 32 n. and Fidjestøl 1982, 116). The
complete stanza appears in Hkr I 276, Fagrskinna 129, ÓTM I
181–2 and Jómsvíkinga saga 1879, 69–70; these sources, together
with ÓH and Kn‡tlinga saga, altogether preserve 13 stanzas of thepoem (cf. Hkr I 275 n.). Another half-stanza is quoted (probably) inGeneral Notes

207

Skáldskaparmál as verse 324, and half of stanza 6 appears asverse 313. Fidjestøl (1982, 116) took the verses assigned by Finnur
Jónsson to Belgskakadrápa (Skj A I 212; in Fagrskinna, Hkr,
ÓTM, TGT) as part of the same poem, which he thought was notnecessarily a memorial poem. Kock (NN 580) takes mær›ar ƒrr(‘eager for glory’) with skjƒldhlynr ; this is possible, since ó›r is
the word for poetry that is being exemplified in this verse.
Verse 303 Skj A I 138, B I 130; see note to verse 8. U here (after
84/18) adds a verse (perhaps the last verse of a poem) attributed
to Ormr Steinﬂórsson (Skj A I 416, B I 386; SnE 1848–87, II 340),
see notes to verses 29 and 138:
Svá kva› Ormr Steinﬂórsson:
Ek hefi or›gnótt *miklu(o[pt] finnum ﬂat) minni(fram tel ek leyf› fyrir lof›aljós‹a›) en ek munda kjósa.

In line 1 U has mikla, which could be taken with or›gnótt, thoughthat would be uncomfortable with minni following; ljósa in line 4
could go with either or›gnótt or leyf›, though more likely with thelatter, and the omission of -a in the manuscript may simply
indicate that the vowel would be elided before en.
Verse 304 Skj A I 202, B I 192; see note to verse 265. There is noalliteration; the three lines are part of a klofastef, and each line
appears in other stanzas (lines 2 and 3 twice) as the second part ofvarious couplets in the poem (quoted in Hkr I 250, 337, 339–40
and in two cases in ÓTM II 242), though they belong together asa continuous statement (there are also two more lines constituting
probably part of a second stef that are not quoted here). See Skj B
I 191–2; Fidjestøl 1982, 114. Cf. also note to verse 10.
Verse 305 = verse 94/1–4.
Verse 306 Skj A I 130, B I 123; see note to verse 18. The complete
stanza is preserved in Hkr I 262 and the first half of it in Fagrskinna 119. C adds here Vafﬂrú›nismál 47/4–6 (cf. Gylf. 54).
Verse 307 Skj A I 71, B I 62; see note to verse 5. The first line may
belong to words in the unquoted first half of the verse (NN 2305).
The next word would then be a conjunction (en).
Verse 308 = verse 12.
P. 85/13 It is not clear where these names are supposed to berecorded; perhaps the author has access to written lists that he is208

Skáldskaparmál

using in this part of Skáldskaparmál. A adds hér (er hér eru ritin),
but this may be a scribal rationalisation. Cf. SnE 1931, 258/31;
verses 516–17 below; the ﬂula of himins heiti in A and B, SnE
1848–87, II 485–6, 569. Cf. also 108/1 and note below. It is notclear whether í kvæ›um would include ﬂulur. Of the names for sky
or the heavens at 85/17–18, hl‡rnir, andlangr and leiptr (= lightning) appear in various (often rather late) poems (cf. LP ), hl‡rnir
also in Alvíssmál 12 and the ﬂula in verse 516; ljósfari anddrífandi are found only in the ﬂula of names for the sun in verse
517. The rest (or variants of them) all come in verse 516.
P. 85/19–20 Cf. Alvíssmál 14, 16; as well as the ﬂula in verse 517.
Álfrƒ›ull also appears in other eddic and skaldic poetry (alsorƒ›ull in the latter; see LP ). See Álfrƒ›ull in Index and Glossary.
P. 85/21–2 Cf. the ﬂula of tungls heiti in A and B, SnE 1848–87, II
485, 569; and Alvíssmál 14.
Verse 309 Skj A I 375, B I 345. The Jarl is unidentified; the verse isusually taken to be part of Sexstefja addressed to Haraldr har›rá›i(see note to verse 120), and only C has the word Jarl in full; RAT
have what may be the abreviation for it, I or J; editors haveemended to ¯rr (a. ‘liberal’; with her›ir) (or Ár, i. e. ár (3) in
Glossary, Kock NN 3085) and assumed that the person referred tois the king. In line 2 NN 2032 suggests opther›ir (‘frequent
promoter’).
Verse 310 Skj A I 290, B I 267. From Óláfsdrápa sœnska, addressedto King Óláfr of Sweden in about 1018. The metre is hálfhnept(Háttatal 77, cf. p. 85 there). The only remnants of this poem are
the quotations in Skáldskaparmál ; besides this verse, verses 395,
383, 390, 340, 365. Cf. Hkr II 91–2; ÓH 688; Finnur Jónsson
1920–24, I 574.
Verse 311 Skj A I 317, B I 294. It is assumed that Haraldr (in R and C;
written ‘Har’ with abbreviation sign in both) at 86/1 is a mistakefor Hallvar›r (so T; written ‘Hallv’ with superscript r in A), andthat this verse belongs to his Knútsdrápa, see note to verse 115.
Verse 312 Skj A I 458, B I 426. Thought to be possibly from a poem
about the four sons of Haraldr gilli of Norway (note dƒglinga, line2), composed after 1142 (see Finnur Jónsson 1920–24, II 65) but
before the death of Magnús Haraldsson; this cannot be dated
precisely, but was probably not long after 1142 (see Hkr III 321).
There is a stanza in Hkr III 321–2 and Hulda–Hrokkinskinna

General Notes

209(Fms VII 229) that is also taken to be from this poem. Fidjestøl(1982, 155) argues that the verse in Hkr III 331 (also in Hulda–
Hrokkinskinna, Fms VII 238–9) assigned by Finnur Jónsson (inSkj A I 458) to Sigur›ardrápa, the first verse Finnur Jónsson (inSkj A I 475) assigns to Eysteinsdrápa (in Hkr III 327, Morkinskinna
443, Hulda/Hrokkinskinna, Fms VII 235), and also verses 281,
233, 336 and possibly 335 in Skáldskaparmál all belong to thispoem. Cf. note to verse 399.
Verse 313 Skj A I 215, B I 204. The second half of verse 6 ofEiríksdrápa, see note to verse 302. The whole stanza is found in
Hkr I 371, Fagrskinna 166, 163 (here the two halves separated
and the lines in verse 313 attached to a different half-verse), andÓTM II 300.
Verse 314 = verse 217.
Verse 315 Skj A I 99, B I 93. See note to verse 37; about ¯gmundr’s
burial.
Verse 316 = verse 210.
Verse 317 Skj A I 184, B I 174. Anonymous fragment, perhaps tenthcentury. See note to verse 209. It would be possible to takehrynbe›s Fjƒrgynjar áls with hreggi and ár ste›ja Eldis mála withƒrgildi. Cf. Glossary under mál and hrynbe›r.
P. 87/8–9 The compiler is now discussing kennings, although thispart of Skáldskaparmál is mainly about heiti. See also 90/16–17,
26–9, and chs 69–72. Vi› may be adverbial in line 8: ‘It is rightto refer to blood or carrion in terms of it (i. e. the wolf) so as torefer to them as its food or drink’ rather than ‘It is right to refer
to it in terms of blood or carrion so as to call them its food or
drink.’ The next sentence is then more likely to mean ‘It is not
right to refer to them thus using names of other animals’ than ‘It
is not right to refer to other animals in these terms’. Cf. note to90/26–9.
Verse 318 Skj A I 376, B I 345; see note to verse 120. Finnur Jónsson(Skj B I 345, following Konrá› Gíslason (1889, 75)) emends úlfrto úlf, object of spenja, and takes á sár as a prepositional phrase:sonr Sigur›ar kom nor›an at spenja úlf ór skógi á sár.
Verse 319 Skj A I 37, B I 32; see note to verse 31. The text of thefirst two lines agrees fairly closely with the text in Worm 1636,
233 (and less closely with the fragment ε) against Wolfenbüttelbók,
which has Sveit sárs freka svalg und dreka. The kennings imply

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Skáldskaparmál

the hyperbole of blood described as a wave (breki ) washing over
the raven’s beak described in terms of a ship’s stem.
Verse 320 Skj A I 477, B I 449. Half of one of the two stanzas
surviving from Elfarvísur, composed c. 1160 about the chieftain
Grégóríús Dagsson and his battle on the Göta river in 1159. Bothstanzas appear complete in Hkr III 358–9 and Hulda–Hrokkinskinna(Fms VI 266–7). This half-verse is also quoted in the fragment of
the Fifth Grammatical Treatise in A, SnE 1848–87, II 397; Ólsen
1884, 159.
Verse 321 Skj A I 350, B I 323; see note to verse 275.
Verse 322 Skj A I 384, B I 354. Thought to be from a poem about
Haraldr har›rá›i (cf. Skáldatal, SnE 1848–87, III 275, 596–7).
There is another half-stanza in A, with the ﬂulur (SnE 1848–87, II493) and two more in Hulda–Hrokkinskinna (Fms VI 133, 139),
one of which is also in Hkr III 75–6 and Fagrskinna 230, the otherin Flb IV 59. Lines 2–3 of each half-verse constitute forn minni,
in each case referring to part of the story of Sigur›r Fáfnisbani
and the Gjúkungar, chs 40–42 above. Cf. Háttatal 13, though theverse-form is like that of Háttatal 12.
P. 88/9–18 In U verses 323–4 come immediately after verse 322,
before names for bear. A and B also keep the verses illustrating
kennings for wolf together, but T and C have the same order as R.
Verse 323 Skj A I 535, B I 516. Thought to be possibly the only
surviving fragment of a poem about King Magnús Erlingsson of
Norway (1161–84; cf. Skáldatal, SnE 1848–87, III 277, 643).
Otherwise only two verses (probably lausavísur) in Sverris saga
1920, 72 survive of this poet’s work. See Fidjestøl 1982, 160.
Each line means that the king fought brave battles, thus providing
carrion for wolves (áttmælt, cf. Háttatal 10). Verse 324 is similar.
Verse 324 Skj A I 217, B I 206; not recorded elsewhere, see note toverse 302. This presumably belongs with Eiríksdrápa, though
there is nothing in particular to support this (Fidjestøl 1982, 117);ﬁór›r’s patronymic (Kolbeinsson) is not given here (in U theverse is attributed to ﬁjó›ólfr).
Verses 325–7 Skj A I 649–50, B I 656; a further verse from ﬁorgrímsﬂula
as verse 331. Cf. the ﬂula of horse-names in A and B (Skj A I
685–6; SnE 1848–87, II 487, 571). These ﬂulur are assumed to befrom the twelfth century, but nothing further is known of their
origin or authorship.

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211

Verses 328–30 Skj A I 650–51, B I 656–7. Though the genre of thetwo poems is related, the name Alsvinnsmál in RTC, lacking in U,
seems to have nothing to do with the eddic poem Alvíssmál, also
called Alsvinnsmál in SnE, see Index, and is given as Kálfsvísa in
A. Cf. note to verses 325–7. In verse 329 rei› needs to be suppliedin lines 1–5, unless the five nominatives and five datives are all to
be taken with til íss ri›u, in which case 329/1–4 perhaps belongs
with the same incident as that described in 329/7–10 (all taking
part in the same battle?). It may however be pointed out that
although annarr in verse 329/7 probably means annarr [hestr] (orannarr [Hrafn], cf. Hkr I 57), this horse may have been named
Annarr (cf. Gylf., Index), even though A›ils’s horse is said tohave been called Slungnir or Sløngvir (see Slungnir in Index); andlines 9–10 could be read Grár [rei›] Hvarfa›i, Geiri Unda›r,with Hvarfa›r and Geirr being the names of two more horses andGrár and Unda›r the names of their riders. The incident referred
to in verse 329/5–10 does not seem to appear in any other source,
though the battle between A›ils and Áli on the ice of Lake Vänern
appears on p. 58 above. Cf. Hkr I 57–9, ÍF XXXV 29, 42. See
Gering and Sijmons 1927–31, I 436. Verse 330 has two extra lines
in A: Ullr ‡missum | en Ó›inn Sleipni.
P. 90/1–2 The plural verbs draga and fylgja perhaps indicate that thepairs of names are not alternative names for the same horses but
pairs of horses that drag alternate nights and days. Whichever ismeant, it is likely that the explanation is that the writer had two
traditions about the names of the horses of night and day (or evenfour in the case of the latter) and wanted to reconcile them. Cf.
Gylf. chs 10 and 11; sem fyrr er ritat presumably refers to ch. 11.
Verse 331 See note to verses 325–7. Line 1 yxna written ‘vxna’ in
R; cf. Hreinn Benediktsson 1986, 76.
P. 90/10–12 Compare the ﬂula of orma heiti in A and B, SnE 1848–87, II 486–7, 570.
P. 90/16 lopt = sphere (in which a planet moves) in GkS 1812, 4to2v, Alfræ›i II 246: Siπ eru kollut lopt i bokum, ﬂau er himin tungl
hverfi um. Ok er tungl i n∂›sta lopti.
P. 90/16–17 Again the list includes kennings. Cf. 87/8–9 n. With ch.
59 compare the ﬂula of ve›ra heiti in A and B, SnE 1848–87, II
486, 569.
Verse 332 Alvíssmál (this form of the name is found in A and C)

212

Skáldskaparmálverse 20. Cf. also verse 380. Line 4 ópi (see t. n.) is perhaps a genuine
form (and if so must here be n. or f.); cf. Skírnismál 29; ÁBM, s. v.
P. 90/26 With ch. 60 compare the ﬂulur of hauks heiti, hrafns heiti,
hana heiti, ara heiti and fugla heiti in A and B, SnE 1848–87, II
487–9, 571–2.
P. 90/26–9 ‘There are two birds that there is no need to refer to in
any other way than by calling blood or carrion their drink or food,that is the raven and the eagle [i. e. any bird referred to as drinkerof blood or eater of carrion means raven or eagle]. All othermasculine birds can be referred to in terms of blood or carrion andthen it means eagle or raven.’ The object of kenna can be either
the base word or the referent; the object of kenna vi› is normallythe determinant, sometimes the base word. See kenna in Glossary. Again kennings are discussed in this section mainly about
heiti (see 87/8–9 n.).
Verse 333 Skj A I 376, B I 346; see note to verse 120. Fidjestøl(1982, 139) argues that the two halves do not belong together(they are made into two separate quotations in A and C—the firstadds after line 4 Svá kva› hann enn, in the second ok enn is added
above the line) and following Björn Magnússon Ólsen takes verse
333/1–4 as belonging with the four lines in TGT 106 (verse 32 in
Skj ). Cf. his interpretations on pp. 140–1.
Verse 334 Skj A I 131, B I 123–4; see note to verse 18. But thedescription of battle in this verse is very general and it cannot
certainly be said to be about Earl Hákon (see Fidjestøl 1982, 97).
It uses two of the features of li›hendr háttr (cf. Háttatal 41 and 53),
i. e. there is assonance (skothending) between each pair of lines(odd and even) and the first hending in the even lines falls on thefirst syllable. Cf. note to verse 88/4.
Verse 335–6 Skj A I 480, B I 452; fragments of an unknown poem
or poems, perhaps about some ruler’s successful warfare, likeverse 339. See note to verse 312; cf. also notes to verses 128–32
and 136. In verse 335/4 bliksólar garmi must be a kenning forsword or other weapon (dat. with st‡ra) but ‘dog of the sun’ would
not normally mean that. There has probably been some scribal
confusion with Mánagarmr (see Gylf. ch. 12). Bor›- or bar›sólar
garmr would make an acceptable kenning for sword (dog, i. e.
damager of gunwale- or prow-sun, i. e. shield; bar› could mean
ship by synecdoche). Verse 335 is dunhenda (Háttatal 24). On theGeneral Notes

213

metre of verse 336, cf. Háttatal 8 and note there on pp. 50–51;
line 1 has seven syllables, but ﬂar er may originally have been
ﬂars (bragarmál, Háttatal 8/20). Line 3 may have resolution in
Muninn. The rhythm and placing of the hendings and alliterative
staves have some similarity to Háttatal 28 and 35 (skjálfhenda).
Verse 337 is the second half of verse 3, see note to that verse (VígaGlúms saga, ÍF IX 95; note the extensive textual variants from theMö›ruvallabók text of the saga).
Verse 338 Skj A I 306, B I 283. See note to verse 144.
Verse 339 Skj A I 481, B I 452–3. See note to verses 335–6 (and cf.
note to verses 128–32) and Fidjestøl 1982, 156.
Verse 340 Skj A I 289, B I 267. See note to verse 310. The metre isagain hálfhnept.
Verse 341 First half of verse 93. At line 2 the emendation is perhaps
not necessary, though it would be unusual to refer to a giant byusing a feminine base-word, so ylgr is presumably a mistake (allother manuscripts have úlfr). In verse 93 the text has úlfr in TW(R is there illegible).
Verse 342 Skj A I 184, B I 173. Only recorded here, and theauthorship and context as well as the identity of the person addressed are unknown. In Edda Magnúsar Ólafssonar 262, 338 it
is attributed to ﬁjó›ólfr (i. e. the texts there have idem/hinn sami
instead of Ok sem hér er). Kock (NN 844E) maintains that hreggskornis handa mjƒ› is a kenning for poetry (‘mead of, i. e. in thehands of, Ó›inn in eagle shape’) and that the two lines arecomplete in sense.
Verse 343 Skj A I 305, B I 283. See note to verse 144. Like verse
338, this is only preserved here, so the context is uncertain, as isalso the text. It seems that the poet was anxious because a battle
was going to take place (it looked good to the raven), but that thenhe heard good news. Fidjestøl 1982, 166, takes the verse to be an
introductory one, in which case the good news is perhaps thepoem itself and the greppr is the audience. Kock (NN 768) among
other things takes ví›is greppr to be a kenning for seafarer, andthe object of hl‡›i vel to be gó›u gallópnis spjalli. He also makes
ekka the base-word of a kenning for battle.
Verse 344 = verse 282.
Verse 345 Skj A I 22, B I 20; also in Hkr I 102 as the second half ofverse 34 there. See note to verse 219. Snorri (in Hkr I 103)

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clearly took Nƒkkvi as the name of a king against whom Haraldr
hárfagri fought; if he was wrong (cf. Ágrip (ÍF XXIX 4), whereskei›ar brandr, part of a ship, is taken to be the name of a king),
and it is the common noun meaning ‘boat’, it must be acc. pl.,object of rak parallel to rœsina›r. Then the subj. would have to bemœtir lagar tanna vébrautar, ‘meeter of the sea’. See Fidjestøl
1982, 78. Reichardt 1928, 20–24, suggests vé- is the word thatmeans standard or flag, vébraut then meaning flag-road, ship-road(since flags are characteristically carried on ships; cf. vébraut in
Glossary and LP under vé n. (2)). The subject of the sentence isthen taken as mœtir lagar tanna vébrautar, opponent or antagonistof the stones of the sea or river, i. e. spender of gold (= gullbrjótr ;the king). The object is taken to be rœsina›r ok rausnar, i. e. rœsiok rausnarna›r, with Nƒkkva as possessive.
Verse 346 Skj A I 482, B I 453. See note to verses 128–32. Fidjestøl
1982, 208, argues for keeping the reading of R (and all othermanuscripts) in line 2, taking fló›s gló›ir (cf. Glossary s. v.
gló›ir), a kenning for gold, as referring to the ornament on the
ship’s stem. Cf. verse 356/1. If an -ó- were not required by therhyme, glƒ›um would be a possible reading, see Gla›r in Index.
Verse 347 = verse 126.
Verse 348 Skj A I 317, B I 293. See note to verse 115.
Verse 349 Skj A I 185, B I 174. Only recorded here, and the authorship and context are unknown. Cf. verses 356, 364.
Verse 350 Skj A I 35, B I 30. Verse 1 of Egill’s Hƒfu›lausn, see note
to verse 31.
Verse 351 Skj A I 482, B I 454. See note to verses 128–32. In line 3
R has ‘elsnuiN’, i. e. élsnúinn, which could be m. acc. with ﬂjálma.
Verse 352 Skj A I 338, B I 311. The lines appear as the second halfof verse 2 in Hkr III 4; also in ÓH 614, Hrokkinskinna (Fms VI22), Flb IV 28. See note to verse 105.
Verse 353 Skj A I 386–7, B I 356; the first half of verse 102 in Hkr
III 109–10 (and Fagrskinna 251, Morkinskinna 156, Hulda–
Hrokkinskinna, Fms VI 252). Taken to be from a drápa about
Haraldr har›rá›i (composed after 1048) quoted in several places
in Hkr, Fagrskinna, ÓH, Morkinskinna, Hulda–Hrokkinskinna.
The words it næsta perhaps mean that the poem listed a succession of expeditions.
Verse 354 Skj A I 321, B I 297. See note to verses 124 and 4.

General Notes

215

Verse 355 Skj A I 139, B I 130. In Morkinskinna 86 and Hulda (Fms
VI 170) these lines form the first half of a verse attributed toHaraldr har›rá›i (cf. Skj A I 357). In Hkr III 89 (and Fagrskinna
237, Morkinskinna 85 and Hulda–Hrokkinskinna (Fms VI 169))verse 261 appears as the first half instead (see Finnur Jónsson
1920–24, I 463). No other poetry is attributed to Njáll.
P. 95/1 skips e›a gulls: but the following names for the sea aremostly not used in kennings either for ships or for gold, at any ratein the verses quoted here, though there are examples of the secondin verses 360, 368 and 369. The verses illustrating them on thewhole do not contain kennings (the words for wave in verses 358,
359, 361, 362, 364, 365, at any rate, seem to be used literally as
ordinary common nouns). Nevertheless the reading of A, skip e›agull, is preferable, since the meaning must be ‘to refer to ships
and gold in terms of them’.
Verse 356 Skj A I 184, B I 174. Also quoted in TGT 29 and 110 (inW and A), but the authorship and context are unknown. Cf. verses
349 and 364.
P. 95/7–9 See the beginning of ch. 25 (36/24–6; cf. note to 36/25–6).
Einarr Skúlason’s verse, however, has not been quoted before inany version of the text; both references are in RC, but neither isin AB; the first only is in T. A fairly clear indication either that thearrangement of the author’s original has been altered, or that thework was under revision and never completed by the author. See
Introduction, pp. x–xi and xx–xxi.
P. 95/9 ritat: cf. note to 78/22.
Verse 357 Skj A I 482, B I 454. See note to verses 128–32 and cf.
the verse in A, SnE 1848–87, II 493; also verse 478 below. A
verse referred to by its opening lines (though not in T, whichomits the quotation), cf. 36/8. The verse in AB (where it is placed
after ﬂeira in line 12 instead of the second list of names) continues:
glymr Unnar vex—grenniGƒndlar skúfs ok Dúfa;
brædd str‡kr Bló›ughadda—brimsólgin fellr Kólga—hl‡r—ﬂar er Hefring stœrir
haflau›r um vi› rau›an.

B has skilr for ﬂar er in line 7, and of for um in line 8.
Verse 358 Skj A I 393, B I 362–3. The first half of a verse in

216

Skáldskaparmál

Morkinskinna 92 (and Flb IV 80 and Hulda–Hrokkinskinna, Fms
VI 180; only the second half is in Fagrskinna 242) from a poem
about Haraldr har›rá›i also quoted in verses 371, 378, 410 (thesethree are not found elsewhere); further verses in Fagrskinna,
Morkinskinna, Hulda–Hrokkinskinna, Hkr (see Finnur Jónsson
1920–24, I 623; Fidjestøl 1982, 144). In line 1 R and C have bæ›i,but although æ can be for e in medieval manuscripts, and A hasbe›, this cannot be for be›i (so T and B), because a long rootsyllable is required for the metre. See textual note and Noreen
1923, § 368.
Verse 359 Skj A I 296, B I 272. See note to verse 196. In line 2 theform sylgháar would make up the usual six syllables (cf. Háttatal 7).
Verse 360 Skj A I 416, B I 385. See note to verse 29. In R first
attributed to Kormakr, but then altered to Ormr. The description
appears to be of the unknown recipient of the poem rather than ofSnæfrí›r. Cf. Ólafur Halldórsson 1990, 226 and 230.
Verse 361 Skj A I 399, B I 368. See note to verse 191.
Verse 362 Skj A I 482, B I 454. See note to verses 128–32.
Verse 363 Skj A I 321, B I 297. See note to verses 124 and 4. The
verse-form here, as in verse 371, is stælt (Háttatal 12). Kock (NN785) takes fyllar skautbjƒrn as a kenning for ship (with fjƒll
hrynja á ), and vetrli›i skí›a Gusis nauta (‘bear of the skis ofarrows’, i. e. of shields) as another (subject of fram œsisk). As
Finnur Jónsson (LP 503) points out, skautbjƒrn would be anadequate kenning for ship on its own, and moreover fjƒll needs tobe qualified (i. e. by fyllar) if it is to mean waves. Gusis nauta
remains difficult to fit in, but since skí›a vetrli›i does not seem tomake an adequate kenning for ship on its own, perhaps these fourwords do belong together (‘bear of skis of flags’?). Cf. Glossary
under nautr (2).
Verse 364 Skj A I 185, B I 174. Only recorded here, and the authorship and context are unknown. Cf. verses 349, 356.
Verse 365 Skj A I 289–90, B I 267. See note to verse 310. Lines 3–4
are only in TAB.
Verse 366 Skj A I 4, B I 4. See note to verse 24. This verse is again
about ﬁórr’s fight with the Midgard serpent (cf. Gylf. ch. 48).
Verse 367 Skj A I 475, B I 447. From Einarr Skúlason’s Runhenda(composed after 1152), about King Eysteinn Haraldsson of Norway.
There are further quotations from this poem as verses 377 andGeneral Notes

217

403, and in Morkinskinna, Hulda–Hrokkinskinna, Hkr. It is mostly
about the events of c. 1150–52, see Hkr III 326–30.
Verse 368 Skj A I 480, B I 452. It is evidently from a poem by Einarr
Skúlason thanking a patron for the gift of a horn. Cf. notes toverses 128–32 and 136, and note to verses 145–9.
Verse 369 Skj A I 453, B I 421. Probably part of a lausavísa; see note
to verse 260. It is not clear whether sá slí›ráls reginn refers to thepoet or his opponent, and whether the ‘spoiling’ of poetry meanscomposing slander or just making bad verse. The words sí›r en
eigi are presumably ironical: even the poet’s harsh criticism does
not amount to slander, since it is justified. Cf. the verse of Hjalti
Skeggjason in Íslendingabók, ÍF I 15.
P. 97/15 With ch. 62 compare the ﬂula of elds heiti in A and B, SnE
1848–87, II 486, 569–70.
Verse 370 Skj A I 424, B I 393. Anonymous; probably from a poem
about Magnús gó›i (Fidjestøl 1982, 168, 204). It may be about hisburning of Jómsborg, described in Hkr III 38–40; cf. verse 387.
Verse 371 Skj A I 390, B I 360; see notes to verses 358 and 363.
Verse 372 Skj A I 182, B I 171; anonymous fragment (and probably
an incomplete sentence, see under va›a in Glossary) of unknown
context, though it seems to be about the sea burial of Haki, cf.
Hkr I 45.
Verse 373 Skj A I 387, B I 357. Taken to be from a poem about
Haraldr har›rá›i composed after 1048 (cf. Hkr III 111). Twofurther stanzas are found, one in Hkr III 111, Fagrskinna 252,
Morkinskinna 158, Hulda–Hrokkinskinna (Fms VI 254), the otherin Morkinskinna 158–9 and Hulda–Hrokkinskinna (Fms VI 254–5);
part of the second appears also in verse 400 below. Nothing
further is known of the poet, though he is mentioned as having
composed about Haraldr har›rá›i in Skáldatal (SnE 1848–87, III
275). The quotation here is an incomplete sentence, and the objects of feldu and eldi, and the word on which sló›ar depends(presumably the name of an animal, giving a kenning for ship,
which might have been the obj. of feldu) would have been in theunquoted lines. Kock (NN 874), however, takes Glamma sló›arwith gramr and eldi and feldu as absolute.
Verse 374 Skj A I 413, B I 383. A fragment probably of a poem
about Óláfr kyrri composed c. 1070. The poet is presumably the
Atli litli mentioned in Skáldatal (SnE 1848–87, III 275) as one of

218

SkáldskaparmálÓláfr kyrri’s poets, but he is otherwise unknown. See Fidjestøl
1982, 149.
Verse 375 Skj A I 327, B I 302. Also in Hkr II 57 (and ÓH 87,
Fagrskinna 173), where it is said to come from a flokkr about theotherwise unknown Klœngr Brúsason (Brúna- or Bjarnason insome manuscripts of ÓH; some also make him the author). The
name of the poet, ﬁór›r Sjáreksson, is given only in Fagrskinna;
in Hkr and ÓH the verse is anonymous as here. The event referred
to is Earl Sveinn’s burning of Ni›aróss in 1014.
Verse 376 Skj A I 350–51, B I 323; see note to verse 275.
Verse 377 Skj A I 473, B I 446; see note to verse 367.
Verse 378 Skj A I 391, B I 360; see note to verse 358. The context
of the verse is unknown, but it may be surmised that the verse
refers to one of Haraldr har›rá›i’s exploits in the Mediterraneanor Russia and that he and his men (referred to as vikings) areburning an enemy town. Kock (NN 1143) takes the first line as aseparate sentence and virki borgar styrks vísa as the object ofbrutu af ‘broke down’ (af is the reading of R and TC; A has of, Bór). If the vísi is Haraldr har›rá›i this is unlikely. Perhaps thegenitive goes with víkingar (‘the strong leader’s vikings rapaciously broke down the city’s fortification’).
Verse 379 Skj A I 488, B I 460. Taken to be from Halldórr’s Útfarardrápa,
c. 1120, about King Sigur›r Magnússon’s expedition to Jerusalem
in 1109. This verse is only found here, but others are quoted in
Hkr, Morkinskinna, Hulda–Hrokkinskinna, Fagrskinna, and one
in TGT (which may be a stef ). Fidjestøl 1982, 157, points out that
there is actually little in verse 379 to connect it with Útfarardrápa,
and it may belong to another poem. Note the alternation of sg. ﬂúand pl. ér : the latter perhaps refers to the king and his men. Thereis similar alternation in verses 3 and 8 of the poem (Skj B I 458–9), though generally the king and his men are referred to in the 3rdpers.
P. 99/5 With ch. 63 compare the ﬂula of dœgra heiti in A and B, SnE
1848–87, II 485, 569. Lines 5–7 appear in a passage in AM 281
4to supposed to have been part of Hauksbók (1892–6, 502), withthe heading ‘Nƒfn stundanna’. The text there is more similar tothat in U than to any of the other manuscripts that contain thepassage (it omits ár and has haust before vár), though it contains
the additional word líf. Cf. Hauksbók 1892–6, cxxxiv.

General Notes

219

Verse 380 Alvíssmál (thus A and C; called ¯lvismál in U) 30. Cf.
verse 332.
P. 99/21 Ma›r er hverr fyrir sér : possibly ‘each man has a separate
name’ rather than ‘each one in himself is simply “man”’ or ‘each
man is an individual’. Cf. 108/30 and note. With the terms for kingin ch. 64 compare the ﬂula of names for kings in A and B, SnE
1848–87, II 469, 551.
P. 99/22 C adds er after kallat (written ‘kalladr’): ‘[It is] the firstand highest term for man when a man is called emperor’; but thefirst phrase of the sentence can be taken as adverbial: ‘with thefirst and highest term for man a man is called emperor.’
Verse 381 Skj A I 424, B I 394. An anonymous fragment perhaps
about Sveinn Úlfsson’s son Knútr (the saint); or possibly Knútr
inn ríki. See Fidjestøl 1982, 168.
Verse 382 Skj A I 316, B I 292. From an otherwise unknown poem
about a King Óláfr, maybe the Swedish king Óláfr Eiríksson (diedc. 1022), or St Óláfr Haraldsson of Norway (died 1030). See
Fidjestøl 1982, 124–5. The poet is given the nickname svarti in B
(cf. Hkr II 91–2, 95, 100). Otherwise only one lausavísa survivesof Gizurr’s work (if it is the same person; cf. Index) in Hkr II
358–9, ÓH 544 (where one manuscript gives the poet the nickname gullbrá ) and the Legendary saga (where it is ascribed toﬁormó›r Kolbrúnarskáld). Cf. note to verse 4 and Gizurr in Index.
Verse 383 Skj A I 289, B I 267; see note to verse 310. Kock’s interpretation (1946–49, I 137; cf. 1933, 292–3), takes víg-Freys (i. e.
Ó›inn’s) munlaust (joyless?) óskvíf as the object of tekr, and thus
a kenning similar to ﬁri›ja bi›kván, verse 10/4; but in NN 717,
Víg-Freys seems to be taken as in apposition to Óska. Falk (1922,61–2) reads mundlaust, cf. verse 122 and ómyndr in Glossary.
The verse seems to be inciting the Swedish king to invade Norway; cf. Fagrskinna 178.
Verse 384 Skj A I 347, B I 320; see note to verse 1.
Verse 385 Skj A I 375, B I 345; see note to verse 120. This verse
perhaps relates to the same episode as verse 6 of Sexstefja (Skj A
I 370), see Hkr III 86–7, Fagrskinna 235, Morkinskinna 83–4 andFidjestøl 1982, 136, in which case haugs skundu›r refers to Constantine Monomachos; though actually it was Michael Kalafates
who was blinded, see Hkr III 87–8 n.
Verse 386 Skj A I 256, B I 238; lines 1–2 also quoted as verse 411;

220

Skáldskaparmálfrom Bersƒglisvísur, addressed to Magnús gó›i c. 1038, warning
him to be careful how he ruled Norway. There are further quotations from this poem in Hulda–Hrokkinskinna, Hkr, ÓH, Fagrskinna,Ágrip, TGT and in other manuscripts of Kings’ Sagas.
Verse 387 Skj A I 335–6, B I 309. The first half of a stanza thatappears in Hkr III 39–40 (with the first word there Skjƒldungr)
attributed, undoubtedly correctly, to Arnórr jarlaskáld, and taken
to be from his Hrynhenda addressed to Magnús gó›i in 1046.
Another verse is quoted as verse 406 (also attributed to Markús inA), and there are more quotations in Morkinskinna, Hulda–
Hrokkinskinna, Hkr, ÓH, Kn‡tlinga saga, TGT, FoGT, and in theversion of Skáldskaparmál in W (SnE 1924, 105; cf. also note toverse 116). Hrynhenda is the first major court poem in the hrynhent
metre that survives. The error in attribution is presumably due
to Markús Skeggjason’s Eiríksdrápa being in the same metre (cf.
verse 111 n.). On the incident referred to here, cf. verse 370 and n.
Verse 388 Skj A I 318, B I 294; see note to verse 115.
Verse 389 = verse 186/5–6; see note to verse 120. The explanationof landreki (101/8–9) is improbable. The second element is likely
to be related to Old English gerec ‘rule’ and Old Norse rekja‘straighten out’ rather than to reka ‘drive’. See ÁBM under -reki (2).
P. 101/10–24 Cf. the Ættartölur following Hversu Noregr bygg›ist
in Flb I 25–7. Parts of Hyndluljó› (e. g. verses 11–16) seem to be
based on a similar tradition; see also SnE II 469. Cf. 103/1–17 andnote and see Introduction p. xxv.
Verse 390 Skj A I 289, B I 267; see note to verse 310.
Verse 391 Skj A I 445, B I 415; see note to verse 111. See Fidjestøl
1982, 153.
Verse 392 Skj A I 51, B I 45; lines 5–6 of a lausavísa from Egils
saga (ÍF II 145). The sentence and the kenning are incomplete:
the words af augum mér grímu come in lines 7–8. For the context
see Egils saga ch. 55.
Verse 393 Skj A I 65, B I 57; the second half of verse 4 of Hákonarmál;
the whole stanza is quoted in Hkr I 186–7 and Fagrskinna 88 (bothhave gramr instead of gylfi in line 3); see note to verse 7.
Verse 394 = verse 279/1–2 (note the variant reading in the secondline); see note to verse 6.
Verse 395 Skj A I 289, B I 267; see note to verse 310. This wasevidently the first stanza of the poem. Exchanging míns and síns

General Notes

221(as in C) and taking bragar míns with háttu and hró›rs síns withupphaf would perhaps make better sense.
Verse 396 Skj A I 405, B I 374; taken to be part of Stúfsdrápa, theonly poem of Stúfr inn blindi of which anything survives (cf. Stúfs
ﬂáttr, ÍF V 290 and note). Other fragments are found in Hkr,
Morkinskinna, Hulda–Hrokkinskinna, Fagrskinna. The poem wascomposed c. 1067 in memory of Haraldr har›rá›i. Haraldr’s battle
against Sveinn Úlfsson of Denmark by the Niz took place in 1062.
See Hkr III 148–51.
Verse 397 Skj A I 165, B I 156; the second half of stanza 27 ofHallfrø›r’s Óláfsdrápa (erfidrápa) composed in memory of Óláfr
Tryggvason c. 1001; see note to verse 10. The complete stanza isquoted in ÓTM II 294, and other stanzas are quoted in ÓTM, Hkr,
Oddr Snorrason 1932, Fagrskinna, Hallfre›ar saga; and a halfstanza each in A (SnE 1848–87, II 493) and ﬁi›reks saga 4. On
this poem see Fidjestøl 1982, 109–11, 234–5.
Verse 398 Skj A I 444, B I 414; verse 1 (and probably the original
opening) of Eiríksdrápa, see note to verse 111. A and B replace
this verse by:
Ríkr er harra hneykir,
heldr gu› jƒfurs veldi
sanndyggs, vitut seggir
Sveins brœ›r konung œ›ra.

(Skj A I 452, B I 420; in line 3 B has sennir for seggir). This seems
to be from a poem about St Knútr Sveinsson, also by Markús
Skeggjason. See note to verse 270 above. Knútr apparently had
two brothers called Sveinn (one a half-brother; see ÍF XXXV 135,366).
P. 103/1–17 is again related to the Ættartölur in Flb I 25–7, see note
to 101/10–24. Compare the ﬂula of konunga heiti in A and B (Skj
A I 671).
Verse 399 Skj A I 476, B I 448; Finnur Jónsson in Skj makes thisverse 1 of Ingadrápa, composed about King Ingi Haraldsson of
Norway after 1155 (the battle at Holmengrå took place in 1139,
cf. Hkr III 316; other verses in the poem refer to the death of King
Sigur›r in 1155, Hkr III 340–41). There are three further stanzas
quoted in Morkinskinna and Fagrskinna. Fidjestøl (1982, 155)
assigns these four stanzas, together with another half-stanza in
Hkr III 346, Fagrskinna 341 and Hulda–Hrokkinskinna (Fms VII

222

Skáldskaparmál251), assigned by Finnur Jónsson (Skj A I 475) to an Eysteinsdrápa(this verse apparently refers to events of 1157), to a poem about
the sons of Haraldr gilli different from, and later than, the poem
that verse 312 belongs to.
Verse 400 Skj A I 387, B I 357. See note to verse 373. A and B have
two further lines:hir› hygg ek hilmi st‡r›u
Hugins jól vi› nes ﬁjólar.

In line 1 B has hykk for hygg ek; in line 2 ﬂjó›ar for ﬁjólar. The
complete stanza is found in Morkinskinna 158 and Hulda–
Hrokkinskinna (Fms VI 254–5). It is possible to take both hir›and hilmi as either acc. or dat., i. e. it is difficult to see whether
it is the men who provided slain for the king or vice versa. In the
texts in Morkinskinna and Fms where the verb is ger›u it perhaps
seems more likely to be the latter. Cf. st‡ra in Glossary and SnE
1848–87, I 524.
Verse 401 Skj A I 140, B I 132; apparently all that survives of apoem in praise of an unidentifiable king (or hero). Cf verse 49.
These two fragments are all that survives of Gamli’s verse; becauseof the subject of verse 49 he is assumed to have lived in the tenthcentury. See Fidjestøl 1982, 165. Kock (NN 422) takes innanbor›s as an adverbial phrase (‘on a ship’) and the phrase á aflgjƒr›or›a tungu naglfara ok me›alkafla as ‘into the mighty activity ofthe speech of sword’s blade and hilt’, i. e. of battle. Edith Marold(1994, 575) takes naglfari to mean ‘ship’ (cf. Index and note toverse 156), innanbor›s naglfara as ‘on board ship’, me›alkafla
gen. with tungu ok or›a and this phrase gen. with á aflger› (‘Krafttat
der Sprache und der Worte des Schwertes’). Lines 1–2 have dunhenda(Háttatal 24). Lines 3–4 both have a›alhending (cf. Háttatal 42).
Verse 402 Skj A I 60, B I 53. The only verse attributed to a woman
in Skáldskaparmál. Taken to be from Sendibítr, apparently about
Haraldr hárfagri, though it may have been addressed to Haraldr’sson Hálfdan svarti; see Hkr I 142. There are four further halfstanzas in ÓH 12, one of them also in Hkr I 142 and ÓTM I 13
(the other three only in one manuscript of ÓH). Nothing further isknown about the poetess, though she must have been Norwegianand a contemporary of Guthormr sindri (early tenth century; see
Hkr I 141 and Finnur Jónsson 1920–24, I 445–6).
Verse 403 Skj A I 474, B I 446, where the first two lines are lines

General Notes

223

1–2 of verse 6 and the second two are lines 3–4 of verse 7 of thepoem, which is the arrangement in Hkr III 328–9, Morkinskinna
444 and Hulda–Hrokkinskinna (Fms VII 235–6); see note toverse 367.
Verse 404 Skj A I 354, B I 326; a fragment, not found elsewhere, of
an otherwise unknown poem (or perhaps belonging to the lost
Blágagladrápa), possibly about Haraldr har›rá›i. See Fidjestøl
1982, 132; Finnur Jónsson 1920–24, I 609, 611.
Verse 405 Skj A I 383, B I 353; second half of a lausavísa quoted in
Hkr III 190 and in Fagrskinna 288, Morkinskinna 279, Hulda–
Hrokkinskinna (Fms VI 420) and in Hemings ﬂáttr 1962, 53 (Hauksbók
1892–6, 344–5); for the context see Haralds saga Sigur›arsonarin Hkr III, ch. 92. Besides the lausavísur attributed to ﬁjó›ólfr
Arnórs-son in the Kings’ Sagas (two lines of one of which arequoted in FGT ), there is a half-verse quoted in TGT and somefurther quotations in Sneglu-Halla ﬂáttr (ÍF IX 267–8, 273, 293).
Verse 406 Skj A I 338, B I 311; see note to verse 387. Perhaps a stef,
unless it is the conclusion of the poem (see Fidjestøl 1982, 191).
Verse 407 Skj A I 439, B I 409. Perhaps from a poem about Óláfr
kyrri (d. 1093). ﬁorkell is named as one of his poets in one
manuscript of Skáldatal (in U, perhaps as a result of dittography),though he also composed about Magnús berfœttr (d. 1103), see
SnE 1848–87, III 275–6; and this verse was apparently composedin Iceland (cf. of svalan ægi) about a gift he had received. Kingsof Norway did claim descent from Sigur›r Fáfnisbani (cf. Flb
I 26), but Snorri seems to be taking Vƒlsunga ni›r to mean justdescendant of kings, i. e. king. Fidjestøl (1982, 152) points outthat the metre (fornyr›islag) and the reference to eddic material
make the fragment an interesting anticipation of the later twelfthcentury skaldic poems influenced by eddic poetry, e. g. his no. 78(Ívarr Ingimundarson, Skj A I 495–502) and 100c (Anonymous,
Skj A I 597–9); cf. Gísl Illugason, who also composed in fornyr›islag
about Magnús berfœttr c. 1104 (Skj A I 440–44; B I 409–13) andsee note to verse 7 above. Vápn is probably sg. (the details of thegift are not known); in line 4 the manuscript spelling ‘-bviN’implies gullbúinn, which might be a mistake either for gullbúin (Chas a single n) or for gullbúit (which is what TUAB have). Emendation to -búit would give a sense closer to what one might
expect, but the text as it stands is neither ungrammatical nor

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meaningless (gullbúinn with ni›r), though it may be unusual. Pl.
gullbúin would also of course be possible if vápn is taken as pl.
There also survive parts of a poem by ﬁorkell about Magnúsberfœttr (composed c. 1104; in Hkr, Fagrskinna, Morkinskinna, Hulda–
Hrokkinskinna) and one lausavísa (see Hkr III 217, Morkinskinna
305, Fagrskinna 306).
Verse 408 Skj A I 296, B I 272. The second half of verse 82 in Hkr
II 172–3 (also in ÓH 254 and the Legendary saga 106, Fagrskinna
181, Orkneyinga saga 41); see note to verse 196. The reference ofﬂér is to Óláfr Haraldsson of Norway. Ógnbrá›r ynglingr might
be vocative, or it could be taken with engi as part of the subjectof var›. The rel. clause presumably is to be taken with engi or as
the complement, and á jƒr›u as an adv. phrase meaning ‘ever’.
Verse 409 Skj A I 444, B I 414; see note to verse 111. This may be
a stef, see Fidjestøl 1982, 152–3.
Verse 410 Skj A I 390, B I 360; see note to verse 358.
Verse 411 See textual note and verse 386 and note.
P. 105/21 Cf. 103/6–8.
P. 105/23 Here begins the fragment of the redaction of the second
part of Skáldskaparmál in W (SnE 1924, 103).
P. 105/24 Bragi (presumably the same person) also appears at 103/4.
P. 105/29–32 These seem to be euhemeristic explanations of theorigins of names of countries, presumably based on the assumption that they were founded by a king called Ó›inn. The hann inline 32 presumably refers to Ó›inn too. Cf. Gylf. Prologue 5–6.
P. 106/7 ok hƒl›a is not in T, U or C (or in the version of this sectionof Skáldskaparmál in W, SnE 1924, 103), but A has ‘h»lldar okhƒldar’ (B seems to have had the same, but is only partly legiblehere), and R has the spellings ‘havlﬂar ok havlda’ (the ending of
the third word in R here is anomalous). U has ‘haulﬂa’ (and omits
ok hƒl›ar ok). Hƒl›r and hƒldr are two forms of the same word,of which the first is the older (the later form first appears infourteenth-century manuscripts in Iceland; see Noreen 1923,§ 238 b); some scribes seem to have interpreted them as different
words. It is possible that one of them represents the Norwegian
form hauld- corresponding to Icelandic hƒl›- . Cf. verse 440 andnote to verses 439–442.
P. 106/11–18 Some of the words in these lists are adjectives. They
would be what are identified as sannkenningar in Háttatal p. 6,

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though in Skáldskaparmál ch. 67 all the examples of sannkenningar
are (compound) nouns except for óslœkinn. There is a similar alternation between nom. and acc. in 106/11–13 as in some earlier lists(cf. note to 14/25–30), resulting in some ambiguity as to whether
the weak nouns ending in -a are acc. masculine or nom. feminine.
P. 106/30 ámælisskor : possibly a piece of wood with a charge oraccusation (ámæli ) indicated on it by a cut (skor ; English score).
This perhaps needs a number of people to deliver, to prevent theperson charged rejecting it with violence or to provide witnesses.
The second element may, however, be skƒr ‘decision, verdict’; cf.
Ordbog over det norrøne prosasprog I (1995), 412.
P. 107/8 of is perhaps an error for ef. Cf. t. n.
P. 107/23 ósvifru›r perhaps should have a long i, though before a
consonant group vowels were often shortened (Noreen 1923, § 127).
Cf. ósvifrandi in Glossary and ÁBM 1001.
P. 107/29 Cf. the ﬂulur of names for women in verse 438 and the
additional ﬂulur in A, SnE 1848–87, II 489–91, and the verses in
U, SnE 1848–87, II 363; and Rígsﬂula 25.
P. 108/1 eigi ritat, i. e. hér? The comment is unlikely to relate to
unwritten poems, though it could relate to gaps in the writer’ssource; cf. 85/13 and note. Or it may be that the author is squeamish about including insulting words for woman; or that he intended to add to his list later. Cf. SnE 1931, 258/4–8 (‘Den lille
Skálda’); and 40/15 above.
P. 108/6–9 More kennings (see 87/8–9 n.). Note ókent line 9; thewriter is deliberately listing both kennings and heiti. There aremany other examples of kennings being included in the lists in therest of the chapter and in chs 70–72.
P. 108/8–9 On kennings linking sword and head in relation to Heimdallr see also 19/11–13, Háttatal 7 (and Vindhlér in Index there)
and Gylf. 26/1 (see note ad loc.). The reference is clearly to a lostmyth.
P. 108/10 ørmjƒt: ør- intensive or = ƒr ‘arrow’? The second element
is maybe related to meta ‘measure, evaluate’; or it should perhaps
be read mjótt, n. of mjór a. ‘slender’.
P. 108/17 Tennar (so R, A and C) is possibly a genuine alternative
form of the pl. of tƒnn. Cf. Cleasby and Vigfusson 1957, 648;
Biskupa sögur 1858–78, I 641/21; Hrafns saga Sveinbjarnarsonar
1987, t. n. to 3/29. T has Tennr, B Tenn, U Tennrnar.

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P. 108/22 The syntax is rather compressed; presumably (má) kenna(ﬂat) til hauss e›a hjarna e›a hƒfu›s, e›a skegg (má) kenna vi›hƒku . . . U has ok kent for the first kenna and en skegg kenna mennvi› hƒku; ABC omit e›a (3) and continue Skegg skal kenna vi›
hƒku. T has the same as R except for en skegg instead of e›a skegg.
P. 108/23–33 Cf. the ﬂula of hugar heiti ok hjarta in A, SnE 1848–87,
II 490 and the verse of Illugi, SnE 1848–87, II 493.
P. 108/30 eru sér : are on their own, i. e. form a separate group. (Chas eru enn sér, T and U omit the sentence.) But it is not clear
whether this refers to the preceding or the following names, though
in R the next word has a slightly enlarged capital. Cf. 99/21
and note.
P. 108/33–8 Cf. the ﬂula of heiti á hendi in A, SnE 1848–87, II 490.
P. 109/6 ljó›æska: the second element is probably related to ætt, thefirst to ljó›r, l‡›r ‘people’; the meaning ‘childishness’ is probably
a later development due to the influence of æska ‘youth’.
P. 109/8–9 The sudden introduction of comments on kennings forbattle is probably because some of the words for voice in lines
7–8 (e. g. gn‡r, glymr, gangr) can be used as base-words in kennings
for battle with weapons as determinants (see Meissner 1921, 187,
192). Cf. SGT 26, 27.
P. 109/10 bragvísi is perhaps for brag›vísi rather than having bragras the first element.
P. 109/11–22 In ch. 74 word-play is recognised between words withvowels of different lengths (far and fár ; li› and lí›; hli› and hlí› )as well (apparently) as between words beginning with l- and hl-,though the hl- words could be regarded as a different group.
(From the references to ofljóst in TGT 66 and 89, it looks as
though the author of that treatise saw ofljóst as consisting principally of play with words distinguished only by length of a vowel;
cf. Háttatal p. 54.) The writer also disregards the -r ending in thenominatives of li›r (109/16) and the ox-name hli›r (109/18); hisawareness of this is marked by the care he takes to make sure themasculine words appear in the accusative. It seems likely that his
readiness to accept imprecise equivalences arose from the factthat he was influenced by the written forms of words, wherevowel length would not usually have been marked.
Verses 412–517 Skj A I 653–79, B I 658–71. These ﬂulur are allanonymous, though assumed to be from the twelfth century; cf.

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verses 325–31. The verse divisions are not always apparent in R,
though they are usually marked by a point and/or a capital letter.
The beginning of each list (where horizontal lines are printed in
SnE 1931 and this edition) is generally marked by a large capital,
usually but not always in the margin. A and B have the following
additional ﬂulur : konunga heiti (after verse 416 in A, before verse
412 in B), dverga heiti (after konunga heiti in A, after verse 416
in B), Ó›ins nƒfn (heiti) (after verse 427), vi›a(r) heiti (afterverse 502), and the rest after verse 517: tungls heiti, dœgra heiti,
himins heiti (a different list from that in verse 516), ve›ra heiti,
elds heiti, orma heiti, hesta heiti, hauks heiti, hrafns heiti, hana(hœsna) heiti, ara (arnar) heiti, fugla heiti (the extant text of B
ends in the first verse of this ﬂula), kvenna heiti ókend (a different
list from that in verse 438), hugar heiti ok hjarta, gr‡lu heiti, heiti
á hendi, heiti valkyrja, kvenna heiti ókend (a third list), eyja heiti,
fjar›a heiti, sá›s heiti, nƒfn Ægis dœtra.
Verses 412–16 That these are names of sea-kings is not revealed
until the end of the list in R, C and T which (generally) have noheadings for the ﬂulur, though A and B do (see textual notes). (IfR originally had headings in red, they have now disappeared.
Headings have been added in the margins later than the main text
in T, and in some cases also in C.) Cf. the list in TGT 25, 99 (inW and A) and the ﬂula of konunga heiti in A and B (SnE 1848–87,
II 469, 551).
Verse 416/3 For Gautrekr A has ‘Gavær’ and B has ‘Gaver’, perhaps
the source of the name Gavir/Gavér in Gylf. Prologue 5. Cf. also
Gevarus in Saxo Grammaticus (1979–80, II 51).
Verses 423–7 Cf. Vilhjálms saga sjó›s 66–8; Einar Ól. Sveinsson
1942, 140–43.
Verses 436 Cf. Grímnismál 36 (Gylf. ch. 36) and the ﬂula of heiti
valkyrja in A (SnE 1848–87, II 490).
Verse 438 There is the heading kvenna heiti (ókend) in A and B. Cf.
the ﬂulur in A and U, SnE 1848–87, II 363, 489–91, and Rígsﬂula 25.
Verses 439–448 Some of the words in these stanzas are given as
proper names earlier in Skáldskaparmál (chs 64–5), but here seem
unequivocally to be taken as common nouns. Cf. the ﬂula ofkonunga heiti in A and B (SnE 1848–87, II 469, 551) and Rígsﬂula
12, 24, 41.
Verses 440–42 The repetitions presumably imply corruption. Kock,

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NN 2160, suggests aldir for one of the occurrences of hƒl›ar inverse 440 (cf. note to 106/7).
Verse 442/3 There is an additional line here in T and B (ok sælkerar )and A (ok sælingar ) which would make the stanza of regularlength.
Verses 449–50 contain names for battle (headed orrostu heiti in A
and B). Some (or variants of them) are found as proper names
elsewhere (for example among the valkyrie-names in Grímnismál
36, and in the ﬂula of heiti valkyrja in A, SnE 1848–87, II 490).
Verses 451–62 In the sword-names, some are kennings, some halfkennings or base-words for kennings (e. g. eldr, logi in verse 458,
if these are not metaphors; ‘fire of battle’ is a well known kenningtype, see Meissner 1921, 150–51); some are nomina agentis apparently used in a passive sense (e. g. snyrtir, her›ir, sker›ir,
verses 451, 456, 458); some are found as names of swords insagas or poems. Some seem to be names for persons (i. e. they are
personified, sometimes using giant-names). Some words under‘parts of sword’ (verses 460–62) seem to be sword-names. Rather
surprisingly, most sword-names seem to be masculine (they may
be based on mækir rather than sver› ). Many words of all thesetypes may be artificially created and so not in accordance withnatural word-formation.
Verse 455/5 bensœgr : perhaps sœgr m. ‘strip’ (cf. bló›refill), but
the vowel is uncertain. R uses ø, T π, A has æ and B has o. The
second element may be related to sax n. ‘short sword’.
Verse 460–62 The heading is heiti á sver›i in A and B (cf. note toverse 495). Some of the terms clearly are for parts of a sword, others
seem to be names for the whole sword. Cf. note to verses 451–62.
Verse 466/7–8 ‘Jólfr’s artefact (made by him or owned, given byhim?) is the best whizzer’ or perhaps ‘ﬁura is the best work of
Jólfr’. But since øfst is strong, en must be an adverb or conjunction (enn?) rather than a pronoun or article, and the meaningmight be ‘there is Jólfr’s artefact, but the best is ﬁura’.
Verse 472/1–2 I. e. names for helmet. See t. n.
Verses 475–8 Cf. the ﬂulur for names of waves (‘nƒfn Ægis dœtra’)and fiords (‘fjar›a heiti’) in A (SnE 1848–87, II 493). With verse
478 compare verse 357 and note, and see note to 36/25–6. It isdifficult to know how many of the words for wave in verse 478 areto be taken as the names of Ægir’s daughters.

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Verse 479–84 contain names for rivers (the heading in A is Á heiti,
in B Vatna heiti ). Many of the river-names are mythical, somegeographical, in some cases beyond the travels of vikings (e. g.
Ganges, for Old Norse occurrences of which see Index), and probably derived from books. Cf. the identifications in Cleasby and
Vigfusson 1957, 780. Eufrates and several of the other rivers here
are mentioned in Heimsl‡sing in Hauksbók (1892–6, 150); see
Index.
Verse 485 contains names for kinds of fish. See t. n.
Verse 487 In SnE 1931, 207 and SnE 1848–87, I 579, the lines arereordered to make the alliteration regular (lines 2 and 8 exchanged);
they also have lines 3–4 as the final couplet, as in TAB (but notin C).
Verses 489–90 contain names for kinds of whales (see t. n.), someof which can only tentatively be identified with modern terms,
and some of which are fabulous (see Glossary). There are 22
varieties of whale described in KSk 15–17 (cf. also 29), of which
19 correspond more or less to items in Snorri’s list of 26 (cf.
hrafnrey›r and vƒgn in Glossary). 21 of the varieties in the ﬂula
correspond more or less to items in JG 5–13 and 28 (cf. geirhvalr,
rey›arkálfr, k‡rhvalr, vƒgn in Glossary). Three of the varieties inthe ﬂula have no equivalent either in Konungs skuggsjá or in Jón
Gu›mundsson: bunungr, probably a mistake for v. l. (in T) búrungr,which is perhaps the same as búrhvalr ‘sperm whale’, in Konungsskuggsjá and Jón Gu›mundsson; blæjuhvalr, according to Blöndal
1920–24 the same as stökkull (this term is used to mean both afabulous whale and a dolphin, see JG 35–36); and skútuhvalr,
which perhaps, like skútufiskur, means one caught from a skúta.
See also ﬁórunn Valdimarsdóttir 1989, 313–18.
Verses 495–500 Heading in A and B: heiti á skipi, i. e. names forparts of a ship, or in some cases for things on a ship. Cf. note toverse 460.
Verses 501–502 Cf. the ﬂula of fjar›a heiti in A (SnE 1848–87, II
493).
Verses 503–14 With the ﬂulur of animal names, it is particularly uncertain how many are proper names, how many common nouns forparticular kinds of animals, and how many familiar terms for them.
Verse 503/10 Perhaps emend to Vingnir (as in A and B), as anothername for an ox; see Index.

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Verse 509/3 Kolmúla (‘coal-muzzle’) is perhaps a name.
Verse 512/1 The first word in RTC (where this list appears as if acontinuation of verse 511, see t. n.) could perhaps be read as aname Jórir. A and B have Hjƒrtr; A has a large (red) capital H, but
in B there is space left for it, as elsewhere in this manuscript. The
list is of names for stags (heading Hjartar heiti in A and B, see t. n.).
Verse 516 The names for the heavens are here treated as proper
names; in ch. 56 they seem mostly to be common nouns (heiti ) for
the sky. Cf. the additional ﬂula of Himins heiti in A and B (SnE
1848–87, II 485–6, 569).
Verse 517 On the additional ﬂulur after this verse in A and B, seenote to verses 412–517.