First, I'd just like to say thanks (belatedly) to Eysteinn for setting
us straight with the last one. Like Patricia, I've had a bit of
computer trouble, so I've been out of action and incommunicado for a
couple of days.


--- In norse_course@yahoogroups.com, "Patricia Wilson"
<originalpatricia@...> wrote:

>
> Skarphedin IMO was speaking jocularly but appreciatively the

alternative I

> saw to be "that will come in handy" and he grinned - he was a son

talking

> to his father and grinned, well with his teeth (you will recall) he

could

> not simply smile - you grin with teeth like that (JMO)

Heh heh, you could have a point there. I think he's also relishing
the prospect of coming violence.

> Hinn veg værir þú undir brún að líta," well that I sort of "Got

round" by

> seeing it as from another Saga - Egil;s actually the brows were an
> important means of conveying expression - hedge of the eyes - and

the way I

> see it - Atli had "beetling" brows in the style of Egil and he

glowered out

> from under them in a way that implied he was not to be "messed" with - I
> apologise for the circumlocution but that is what I "saw" in it
>
> I hope at least some of this helps
> Patricia

I'm not sure why past subjunctive is used, but 'líta' "to appear",
'hinn veg' "the other way" (i.e. you don't look like the sort of
person to be scared) -- CV cites this passage with the contracted form
'hinnig' -- 'úndir brún' "under the brow" I *think* is the look of his
face, the look in his eyes -- from the way you look, you don't seem
like someone who would be scared of him.

óhýrligr undir brún at líta (Hrólfs saga kraka) = grim looking, unfriendly

ískyggilegur undir brún að líta (MI) = ominous, threatening
ógurlegur undir brún að sjá (MI) = dreadful

Do the expressions 'léttur undir brún' and 'þungur und brún' mean
something like "cheerful" and "dour, miserable-looking" respectively?

LN