Hi Sarah,

I suppose the language is fairly plain to you, since you don't
provide a translation. Two of the verses were already familiar to me.
See below.

---Sarah Bowen wrote:

>
> Hello all,
>
> Just wondering if there was anyone out there who could shed some

light on the following 9th and 10th century skaldic verses?

>
> 9th C/
> Leiddisk þá fyr Lúfu
> lengr at haldask
> hersa drótt
> ok hǫfðingjum;
> flýði hverr
> sem fara mátti
> hraustra víkinga
> ór Hafrsfirði

This one is from "Hrafnsmál", as I believe it was called,
or "Haraldskvæði". (How do you manage to write the hooked
o in your editor, I wonder?) It describes the battle at
Hafrsfjǫrðr, as recounted by a raven. It says that
"the bold vikings" fled from the battle site -- any one
who could still walk.

>
> 5/
> Þat mælti mín móðir,
> at mér skyldi kaupa
> fley ok fagrar árar,
> fara á braut með víkingum,
> standa upp í stafni,
> stýra dýrum knerri,
> halda svá til hafnar
> hǫggva mann ok annan
>

This one is from Egil's saga.
I don't know if all the verses in E.S. are by Egill
himself, but I believe it has been demonstrated that
at least the "Hǫfuðlausn" is. (the poem by which he
saved his head)

Any way, the text above means:


This my mother told me
that they me would buy
flag and fair oars
to fare away with vikings
stand upright in the prow
steer the precious ship
then take to harbours
hew down some men.


It tells us something about how viking mothers
influenced their sons. (I think)


Best regards
Xigung

>
> Kveðjur,
> Sarah.
>