Since starting on the Norse course - I have begun to read the Havamal more often, I could be thus thinking like a Viking - thanks for that.
The Devil yes, does quote scripture - he knows his Latin very well
I imagine that the main subject of the verses was one of accusing the Menfolk of the house of being "ergi" - unmanly - seeing them without beards
Skarpheðin from my P. of V. is probably trying to defuse the situation a little - to begin with - however - reading on - they all react differently.
"Gersemi ert þu ..." from Hallgerð  - yes I did smile and muttered "Bitch" the best laugh was when Gunnar walked in like "Judgement" and shook them up - honesttly I am still chuckling
Thanks a bundle for your comments LN
These too are getting copied up I find the notes - as I find Grace's and Alan's translations good to study
Kveðja
Patricia
 
 
 
----- Original Message -----
From: llama_nom
To: norse_course@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2007 2:04 PM
Subject: [norse_course] Re: Njal chapter 44 part 2 Patricia's translation


> (Havamal 145 "a gift demands a gift")

Ey sér til gildis gjöf.

Excellent! You're thinking like a true Viking now. I imagine that
would be exactly the sort of traditional wisdom Bergþóra (or the
author) was appealing to. There's a few verses in Hávamál which
express a similar idea.

Glík skulu gjöld gjöfum.

And more ominously:

Vin sínum
skal maðr vinr vera
ok gjalda gjöf við gjöf.
Hlátr við hlátri
skyli hölðar taka
en lausung við lygi.

But as they say, the Devil can quote scripture.

> Hann kveðst þess vera albúinn og kvað þegar vísur þrjár eða fjórar
og voru allar illar.

Too wicked to repeat in the saga, I guess ;)

> "Þér synir mínir eigið allir eina gjöf saman.
> "To you - sons of mine have but one gift between you.

'þér' "you" here is 2nd person nominative plural (which happens to be
identical in form with dative singular "to thee", just to keep us on
our toes). So it's just "You, my sons, have one gift between you."

> "Gersemi ert þú," sagði Hallgerður, "hversu þú ert mér eftirlátur."

This made me laugh.

> It looks as if the pace is hotting up again - I shall not care to
invite Beggarwomen into my homestead - after this

Ah, maybe we should be slow to blame the traveling women this time:
they saw a chance and took it. A bit naughty, but still -- if that's
what it takes to get some sympathy off their social betters? At least
they were careful to tell Bergþóra in secret, so really it was up to
her what she did with the information. Although I suppose it would
have got out one way or another, it being THAT kind of story.

> (why can she not shut up until dinner is over - gives you indigestion)

;) Kind of ironic too coming from Sk.H., considering how easily he
gets manipulated into violence.

LN