This happened nearly a millennium ago, now poor Auðun, had
fallen humbly on his face at the Kings feet, and King Sweinn did the proper
part of a King he bent down and caught Auðun by the hand, and most likely
wanted to say something like "Get up yer daft beggar" but he kept a hold of
Auðun's hand and led him into the Hall even as a Teacher kindly takes a pupil
"by the hand" or a parent takes ahold of a child's hand to give it support, I
am sure that when this happened the King knew what his house-carles were like
and held Auðun by his hand till He saw fit to let the man go (thus Auðun was
honoured by the Kings approval)
I also notice that the name "Audun" is given in
dative, the same case as "honum". In English it would be more natural to
use the genitive
We are not dealing here with an English story nor with
English people, things (I believe I'm glad to say) were a trifle different
then
The king ordered a bath for Auðun of course he did, in those
days there were servants scampering about the place, all intent on doing King
Sweinn's bidding, all he had to do was clap his hands and Order
Kveðja
Patricia
Never mind if you do not believe what I say - ask
Alan
I'd have some comments/questions. Hope you don't
mind.
> Ok þegar er konungr veit hverr hann er, tók
konungr à hǫnd honum Auðuni ok bað hann vel
kominn:
Here is mentioned the "taking by the hand". I wonder
if it, at the time, was customary to "shake hands", in the same manner as
is done today? In that case, why not write "the king shook his
hand"? I also notice that the name "Audun" is given in dative, the
same case as "honum". In English it would be more natural to use the
genitive, as in "he shook Audun's hand", but here we have an example of a
pronoun and a proper name juxtaposed both with the same case. The case
(dative) must be due to the standard expression "taka e-m à hönd"
(to shake someone's hand). I suppose the dative may be due to the
possibility of inserting the preposition "á", since "taka" (to take,
grab) normally rules the accusative. But you don't "take"
someone's hand as you would take or catch a ball or a prisoner. (the
ball out of the air, the prisoner into the jail) (Grr.. May I now have my
hand back, please? :-)
> and at once when the King was
[is, veit is pres. tense] certain who he is took the king by the hand of
Auð[u]n and bid [bade, past tense] him welcome > As soon as the
King was sure of who he was he took Auðun by the hand and bade him
welcome > > 'Ok hefir þú mikit skipazk', segir hann,
'sÃðan vit sámk > and hast thou much changed said [says]
he (?2nd sing) since we together [saw each other,
reflexive form of sjá, 1st pers pl] > You have changed a lot said he
since we last met.
The form "sámk" at first seemed
difficult. Sometimes the 1st plural pret. of "sjá" is
written "ságum", which makes sense. Alternatively it is shortened to
"sóm" or "sám". The reflexive form would then be "ságumsk", but
I guess the "s" is dropped because it becomes squeezed between "m" and
"k". Another explanation is that it might be due to the combination of
"sám" with the dual pronoun "okr", i.e. sám + okr ->
sámk.
I think you are right that "þurfa" is to need. (German
"dürfen" is 'to be allowed', which might cause Germans to translate with
"you may not laugh", but that is wrong)
Why not simply use the English "let" here? i.e.
The king let [the servants] prepare a bath for him. In fact, to me the
word "caused" seems so formal here, as to be misplaced. Wouldn't "The
king had them prepare a bath" sound less formal? Anyway, you
decide.
> Then the King ordered a bath for him and
afterwards gave him clothes, and he (Audun) was now with him (?to
stay)
The word "ordered" also seems misplaced here. To me it
sounds as if the king uses battle-commands to have simple things done,
such as bathing.
Vale, Xigung.
> It seems to
me the king has made his royal mind up, to keep Auðun with him and I
hope I am not seen to quibble over calling the King''s men his
house-carles, I'm afraid it is personal Alan, they are not
so mannerly as their Master > Also I found with this passage I was
able to scan it and really get the gist of it, without any study, does
this seem right, I never took to any of my others so well - almost
instantly - as this one. > Kveðja > Patricia >
> > > >