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Sæll all,

I've been lurking for awhile, but I've been meaning to add a couple comments to this passage. Just been busy.

1) Tafl is often translated as chess, but is better untranslated, as it is quite an unique game. I've been playing it for years, and the strategies and rules are quite different from any other commonly-known board-game. For more info, check out http://user.tninet.se/~jgd996c/hnefatafl/hnefatafl.html.

2) Although skýtk appears to match 'row' in the sense of 'launch', I believe that he is actually referring to archery - shooting a bow - a common skill of the time, and a difficult one to master (and also one I have some experience with).

Just my two bits' worth.

Kveðja,
Dan

Patricia wrote:
Sael Alan,
and it was not by any means unenjoyable  I have taken copies of your comments on my work and also copied your contribution and shall read through with your copy at my right and my work at my left, eventually I shall then find that my left hand will learn what my right hand is doing in effect!!
I am driven to succeed at this, and remain most enthusiastic, corrections are good and in the way I percieve them they are very clearly put and I thank you for the trouble you go to
Kveðja
Patricia
----- Original Message -----
From: AThompson
Sent: Tuesday, June 28, 2005 11:03 AM
Subject: RE: [norse_course] Miscellanea Section L Subsection (i)/Feedback Patricia

Sæl Patricia

 

Comments as usual, but I also suggest you go over my translation for further explanation. This piece was more difficult than what we have encountered previously, but I hope not so difficult as to become unenjoyable. I find that an understanding of parts of speech and inflexions is very important for reading ON poetry because very rarely can one rely on a straightforward word order to provide clues to the meaning.

 

Kveðja

Alan

 

-----Original Message-----
From: norse_course@yahoogroups.com [mailto:norse_course@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Patricia
Sent: Saturday, 25 June 2005 7:44 AM
To: norse_course@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [norse_course] Miscellanea Section L Subsection (i)

 

 

Saell Alan, I do not believe I did too badly stuff I put in brackets rather than guess, he has done a lot of Emk (em-ek) and Kank (kann-ek) and I am glad to have seen those, for I am still on adjectives, I shall not be on verbs and stuff till probably after you come back from that glorious holiday in Iceland

 

Kali var inn efniligsti maðr, meðalmaðr á vöxt, kominn vel á sik,

 

Kali was a [the, inn=definite article] most promising man, middle man in size and on good estate [accomplished (Gordon)]

Kali was a successful man of medium build and well set up

 

 limaðr manna bezt, ljósjarpr á hár. Manna var  hann vinsælastr

 

Limbs [fine-limbed, adjective masc sg agreeing with subj Kali] of men the best light chestnut in hair of men the [no article in text] most popular

a strong man, his hair of Light chestnut (/Auburn) and the most popular of men

 

ok atgørvimaðr meiri en vel flestir menn  aðrir. Hann orti vísu þessa:

 

and ableman in more wellthat [than] most, of them other men He composed verse this

and more able (at many things)than most of the other men He composed this verse

 

 

'Tafl emk örr at efla,   Tafl is a board gane suggest chess)

 

Tafl am I (em-ek)    ( örr) [adjective = swift, keen, bold] and strong [at efla tafl = to play Tables (Gordon)]

I am a good chess plater

 

 

íþróttir kank níu,

 

Skills know I nine

I have nine skills

 

týnik trauðla rúnum,

 

losing [forget I = týna ek] scarcely at Runes

I seldom lose at Runes        (did they play a game with Runes) [I think he means he doesn’t lose the ability/forget how to read/interpret runes]

 

tíð erum bók ok smíðir,

 

Time [tíðr, adj = usual, normal] (erum) [erum = eru mér = are to me]  book and work in metal [plural, not necessarily metal]

(? write in a book)  and work in metal

 

skríða kank á skíðum,

 

a landslide [skríða, verb = to slide] I know (kann-ek) and snowski [on skis, dat plural]

I know of a landslide and can snow ski   ( he says he can out ski a landslide ???)

 

skýtk ok rœk, svát nýtir;

 

(skyt-ek) I skate [launch, 1 pers sg of skjóta, to shoot, push, shove, launch (a boat)]  and [I] row (roa-ek) such as will serve   "(he's modest)"

I can skate and Row well enough

 

hvártveggja kank hyggja harpslátt ok bragþáttu.

 

Each of these two know I (kann-ek)    (Hyggia I intend or I can) [kunna hyggja = to understand (Gordon)] harp-playing and poetry

I know of these two - Harp playing and Poetry (I am a harpist and a poet)

 

I know what throws me off Alan it's the order of the verses, and the lines and where the words fit in

I am finding it difficult but enjoyable , please will you excuse my "Comments" I try to show I do at

least have the "gist " of it, this man is not boastful he's telling as it is

IMO

 

Kveðja

Patricia

----- Original Message -----

From: AThompson

Sent: Friday, June 24, 2005 10:19 AM

Subject: RE: [norse_course] Miscellanea Section L Subsection (i)

 

Sæl

 

I’ve chosen Section L from Gordon´s Miscellanea for this week’s text. The text is from Orkneyinga saga, Gordon states that ‘Rögnvald was Earl of the Orkneys 1135ö58. His verses are simpler and more direct in statement than most of those composed in dróttkvætt.’ Subsections (ii) and (iii) will follow in coming weeks

 

Kveðja

Alan

 

Verses by Earl Rögnvald Kali

1. A Gentleman´s Accomplishments

 

Kali var inn efniligsti maðr, meðalmaðr á vöxt, kominn vel á sik, limaðr manna bezt, ljósjarpr á hár. Manna var  hann vinsælastr ok atgørvimaðr meiri en vel flestir menn  aðrir. Hann orti vísu þessa:

 

'Tafl emk örr at efla,

íþróttir kank níu,

týnik trauðla rúnum,

tíð erum bók ok smíðir,

skríða kank á skíðum,

skýtk ok rœk, svát nýtir;

hvártveggja kank hyggja,

harpslátt ok bragþáttu.'

 





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