--- In norse_course@yahoogroups.com, "Sarah Bowen" <sarahbowen@...>
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? I'm
particularly interested in the different contexts in which the word
víkingr or víking is used. Some of the verses are easier than
others, but any insights into the translation would be very
welcome :-)

Hi Sarah,

I haven't got through them all yet; I'm still battling with the
verse from Tindr Hallkelsson's Hákonardrápa. I think I've got all
of the words and some likely kennings, but haven't managed to fit
them together so far... Anyway, here are attempts at some of the
others, which I hope are more or less right + a link to an online
annotated translation of one. At least young Egill's is a nice
simple one.

Llama Nom

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

Þjóðólfr ór Hvini: Haraldskvæði
Loath grew leaders and chief's men to hold out before Lufa (i.e.
they tired of holding out; it became grim/unpleasant/hard for them
to hold out). Every brave viking who could fled out of Hafrsfjord.


10th C. 1/
Vas til hreggs at hyggja
hrafns víns á bœ mínum
(þurði eldr of aldir)
uggligt (Munins tuggu),
þás á fyrða fundi
frán víkinga mána
lind beit ; lögðis kindir
liðu Högna vé gögnum.

Máhlíðingavísur (Eyrbyggja saga 19)
There was storm of raven's wine (storm of blood = battle) to be
thought of on my farm, terribly--fire of raven's chaw (fire of
carrion = sword) rushed through men--when, in meeting of men
(battle), gleaming moon of vikings (sword) cut through shield. The
sons of stabber (swords) went through Hogni's sanctuaries (shields).

...

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
höggva mann ok annan.

Egils saga
My mother said that a ship and many oars should be bought for me to
go off with vikings, stand up in the prow, steer a fine vessel, set
sail for harbour, hew one man after another.

...

6/
Óðu fast (en) fríðir
(flaut) eiðsvara Gauta
setrs víkingar snotrir
(svarðrunnit fen) gunnar;
þurði hrönn at herði
hauðrs rúmbyggva nauðar
jarðar skafls at afli
áss hretviðri blásin.

Þórsdrápa [ http://www.hi.is/~eybjorn/ugm/thorsd00.html ].