--- In norse_course@yahoogroups.com, "AThompson" <athompso@......> wrote:

> It all depends whether Sigríð was a queen before her marriage. I assumed
> that she wasn´t and therefore translated eiga as to `have'.

Good point.

>  > Hann var blíðr við vini sína,

> > He was agreeable towards his friends [acc pl?],

> My concern here was not so much about whether vini was acc pl but rather
> as to why, especially when in the same sentence grimmr sínum óvinum
> employs the dative.

I think this is Zoega's við + acc. (6) "towards (a person or thing), respecting, regarding (mildr, blíðr við e-n)."  The difference between this construction and the dative with no preposition seems to be purely stylistic, compare Yngvars saga Víðförla: mildr ok stórgjöfull við sína vini, en grimmr við sína óvini "generous and benificent towards his friends, but grim/fierce with his enemies."

>  > Hann var mikill vexti ok sterkr at afli, fimr var hann á alla leika.

> > He was large in stature and strong in might, agile was he in all
> sports
> > [acc pl?].
> Yup, that´s right, acc.pl., masc. a-stem.
> Again, my concern here was not so much about whether leika was acc pl
> but rather as to why.

See Zoega á + acc. III. fig. (3) denoting skill, dexterity; hagr á tré "a good carpenter"... fimr á boga "good at the bow"... mikill á íþrótt "highly accomplished", etc.

Llama Nom