Weapons and armor should be periphrased in figures of battle, and with reference to Odin and the Valkyrs and host-kings: one should call a helmet Cowl, or Hood; a birnie, Sark, or Kirtle; a shield, Tent; and a shield-wall is termed Hall and Roof, Wall and Floor. Shields, periphrased in figures of warships, are called Sun, or Moon, or Leaf, or Sheen, or Garth, of the Ship; the shield is also called Ship of Ullr, or periphrased in terms of Hrungnir's feet, since he stood upon his shield. On ancient shields it was customary to paint a circle, which was called the 'ring,' and shields are called in metaphors of that ring. Hewing weapons, axes or swords, are called Fires of Blood, or of Wounds; swords are called Odin's Fires; but men call axes by the names of troll-women, and periphrase them in terms of blood or wounds or a forest or wood. Thrusting weapons are properly periphrased by calling them by names of serpents or fishes. Missile weapons are often metaphorically termed hail or sleet or storm. Variants of all these figures have been made in many ways, for they are used chiefly in poems of praise, where there is need of such metaphors.

So sang Víga-Glúmr:

With the Hanged-God's helmet
The hosts have ceased from going
By the brink; not pleasant
The bravest held the venture.

Thus sang Einarr Tinkling-Scale:

Helm-folded strife-bold Búi,--
Who from the south went forth
Into Gunn's Crash,--and din-swift
Sigvaldi offered battle.

Sark of Ródi, as Tindr sang:

When came the birnied Hákon
To cast away the ring-rent
Streaming Sark of Odin,
Ródi's rocking sea-steeds were cleared.

Hamdir's Kirtle, as Hallfredr sang:

The war-sleet hard and streaming
Of Egill's weapons breaketh
Fiercely on Hamdir's Kirtles
Of the foremost wave-deer's warriors.

Sörli's Garments, as he sang further:

Thence the bright Weeds of Sörli
In men's blood must be reddened;
I hear it clearly: Wound-Fire
In cutting showers of iron.

Shields are called Tents of Hlökk, as Grettír sang:

Hlökk's Tent-Raisers held their noses
Together, and the heroes
Of the Rain-Storm of Hildr's Shield-Wall
Hewed at each other's beards.

Ródi's Roof, as Einarr sang:

Ródi's Roof's great Ice-Lump
For the Rain of Freyja's Eyelids
Grows not less, my fair axe-head;
His age my lord so useth.

Wall of Hildr, as Grettír sang, and as we have written before.

Ship-Sun, as Einarr sang:

In the sea Ólafr's Kinsman
Reddens the flame of the Ship-Sun.

Moon of the Ship's Cheek, as Refr sang:

Fair was the day, when Scatterers
Of Arm-Fire thrust the clear Moon
Of the Cheek into my hand-clasp,
The coiling track of red rings.

Ship's Garth, as here:

The swift Sweller of the Spear-Crash
Shot through the stain-dyed Prow-Garth
As it were birch-bark; truly
He was a bitter battler.

Ash of Ullr, as here:

The Snow-Gusts of Ullr's Ash-Ship
Grimly o'er our Prince shoot
With fullness, where are tossing
The fearsome covered spike-spars.

Blade of Hrungnir's Foot-Soles, as Bragi sang:

Wilt hear, O Hrafnketill,
How I shall praise the Sole-Blade
Of Thrúdr's thief, stain-covered
With skill, and praise my king.

Bragi the Skald sang this concerning the ring on the shield:

Unless it be, that Sigurdr's
Renowned Son would have payment
In good kind for the ring-nave
Of the Ringing Wheel of Hildr.

He called the shield Wheel of Hildr, and the ring the Nave of the Wheel.

Ring-Earth, as Hallvardr sang:

The Chief of ranks of Combat
Sees the red-gleaming Ring-Earth
Fly in two parts; the white disk,
The pictured, bursts in sunder.

It is also sung:

A ring befits the shield best;
Arrows befit the bow.

A sword is Odin's Fire, as Kormákr sang:

The fight swelled, when the Warrior,
The Wolf's blithe Feeder, in tumult
Fared with Odin's ringing Fire-Flame;
Urdr came forth from the Well.

Fire of the Helm, as Úlfr Uggason sang:

The very mighty Maiden
Of the Mountain made the Sea-Horse
Roll forward, but the Champions
Of Odin's Helm-Fire felled her Wolf-Steed.

Fire of the Birnie, as Glúmr Geirason sang:

At that the Land-Protector
Let the Birnie's Streaming Fire whine,
Hone-whetted, he who warded
Him strongly 'gainst the warriors.

Ice of the Rim, and Hurt of Sheltering Weapons, as Einarr sang:

I received the Ice of Wed Rims,
With Freyja's golden Eye-Thaw,
From the upright prince high-hearted;
We bear in hand the Helm's Hurt.

An axe is called Troll-Woman of Sheltering Weapons, as Einarr sang:

Ræfill's Sea-Steed's Riders
May see how, richly carven,
The dragons close are brooding
'Gainst the brow of the Helm-Ogress.

A spear is called Serpent, as Refr sang:

My angry Murky Serpent
Of the markings of the Shield-Board
Savagely doth sport, in
My palms, where men in strife meet.

Arrows are called Hail of the Bow or Bowstring, or of the
Shelters, or of Battle, as Einarr Tinkling-Scale sang:

The hammering King of Swords shook
From the Sails of Hlökk the Bow-Hail:
Bravely the Wolf's Supporter
Warded his life in battle.

And Hallfredr:

And the armor of the Spear-Sleet,
Knitted with iron, saved not
The saters of hungry ravens
From the Shaft-Hail of the Bowstring.

And Eyvindr Skald- Despoiler:

They said, O Hörds' Land-Warder,
Thy spirit little faltered,
When the Birnie's Hail in the wound burst;
Bent were the stringèd elm-bows.

62. Of the war of the Hjaðnings

Battle is called Storm or Snow-Shower of the Hjadnings, and weapons are termed Fire or Wands of Hjadnings; and this is the tale thereof: that king who was called Högni had a daughter named Hildr: her King Hedinn, son of Hjarrandi, took as the spoils of war, while King Högni attended an assembly of kings. But when he learned that there had been raiding in his realm and his daughter had been borne off, he departed with his host to seek Hedinn, and heard tidings of him, that he was proceeding northward along the land. When Högni had come into Norway, he learned that Hedinn had sailed westward over the sea. Then Högni sailed after him, even to the Orkneys; and when he landed at the place called Hoy, Hedinn was already there before him with his host. Then Hildr went to meet her father, and offered him a necklace on Hedinn's behalf, for reconciliation and peace; but if it were not accepted, she said, Hedinn was ready to fight, and Högni might hope for no mercy at his hands.

"Högni answered his daughter harshly; and when she returned to Hedinn, she told him that Högni desired no reconciliation, and she bade him make ready for battle. So did both parties: they went to the island and marshalled their hosts. Then Hedinn called to Högni his father-in-law, offering him reconciliation and much gold in compensation. But Högni answered: 'Thou hast made this offer over-late, if thou wouldst make peace: for now I have drawn Dáinsleif, which the dwarves made, and which must cause a man's death every time it is bared, nor ever fails in its stroke; moreover, the wound heals not if one be scratched with it.' Then said Hedinn: 'Thou dost boast in the sword, but not in the victory; I call any sword good which is faithful to its lord.' Then they began that famous battle which is called the Hjadnings' Strife, and they fought all that day, but at evening the kings went to their ships. Now Hildr went to the slain by night, and with magic quickened all those that were dead. The next day the kings went to the battlefield and fought, and so did all those that had fallen on the day before. So the fight went one day after the other: all who fell, and all those weapons which lay on the field, and the shields also, were turned to stone; but when day dawned, up rose all the dead men and fought, and all weapons were renewed. It is said in songs that in this fashion the Hjadnings shall continue unto the Weird of the Gods. Bragi the Skald composed verses after this tale in Ragnarr Lodbrók's Song of Praise:

And the belovèd Maiden
Of the veins' blood-letting
Purposed to bring, for wrath's sake,
The bow-storm to her father:
When the ring-wearing lady,
The woman full of evil,
Bore the neck-ring of War-Doom
To the Battler of the Wind's Steeds.

That gory Wound-Amender
To the glorious Monarch offered
The necklace not for fear's sake,
At the mote of fatal weapons:
Ever as restraining battle
She seemed, although she goaded
Warriors to walk the death-road
With the ravening Wolf's dire Sister.

The Prince of Folk, the Land-God,
Let not the fight, wolf-gladdening,
Halt, nor slaughter on the sands cease,--
Hate, deadly, swelled in Högni,
When the stern Lords of Sword-Din
Sought Hedinn with stern weapons,
Rather than receive
The necklet-rings of Hildr.

And that baleful Witch of Women,
Wasting the fruits of victory,
Took governance on the island
O'er the axe, the Birnie's Ruin;
All the Ship-King's war-host
Went wrathful 'neath the firm shields
Of Hjarrajidi, swift-marching
From Reifnir's fleet sea-horses.

On the fair shield of Svölnir
One may perceive the onslaught;
Ragnarr¹gave me the Ship-Moon,
With many tales marked on it.

63. Battle referred to in relation to Óðinn

Battle is called Storm of Odin, as is recorded above; so sang Víga-Glúmr:

I cleared my way aforetime
Like earls to lands; the word went
Of this among the Storm-Staves,
The men of Vidrir's Sword-Wand.

Here battle is called Storm of Vidrir, and the sword is the Wand of Battle; men are Staves of the Sword. Here, then, both battle and weapons are used to make metaphors for man. It is called 'inlaying,' when one writes thus.

"The shield is the Land of Weapons, and weapons are Hail or Rain of that land, if one employs figures of later coinage.

64. Kennings for ships

How should the ship be periphrased? Call it Horse or Deer or Snowshoe of the Sea-King, or of Ship's Rigging, or of Storm. Steed of the Billow, as Hornklofi sang:

The Counsel-Stern Destroyer
Of the pale Steed of the Billow
When full young let the ships' prows
Press on the sea at flood-tide.

Geitir's Steed, as Erringar-Steinn sang:

But though to the skald all people
This strife from the south are telling,
We shall yet load Geitir's Sea-Steed
With stone; we voyage gladly.

Sveidi's Reindeer:

O Son of Sveinn strife-valiant,
Thou comest with Sveidi's Reindeer,
Long of seam, on the Seat of Sölsi;
The Sound-Deer from land glided.

So sang Hallvardr. Here the ship is also called Deer of the Sound; and the Sea is called Sölsi's Seat.

Thus sang Thórdr Sjáreksson:

The swift Steed of the Gunwale
Around Sigg veered from northward,
The gust shoved Gylfi's Stream's Mirth,
The Gull's Wake-Horse, to southward
Of Aumar, laying fleetly
Both Körmt and Agdir's coastline
Along the stern; by Listi
The Leek's Steed lightly bounded.

Here the ship is called Steed of the Gunwale; and the sea is Gylfi's Land; the sea is also called Gull's Wake. The ship is called Horse, and further, Horse of the Leek: for 'leek' means 'mast.'

And again, as Markús sang:

The Stream's Winterling waded
Stoutly the Firth-Snake's Snow-Heaps;
The Tusker of the Mast-Head
Leaped o'er the Whale's spurned House-Tops;
The Bear of the Flood strode forward
On the ancient paths of sea-ships;
The Stay's Bear, shower-breasting.
Broke the Reef's splashing Fetter.

Here the ship is called Winterling of the Stream: a bear cub is called a Winterling; and a bear is called Tusker; the Bear of the Stay is a ship.

The ship is also called Reindeer, and so Hallvardr sang, as we have written before; and Hart, as King Haraldr Sigurdarson sang:

By Sicily then widely
The Seam cut: we were stately;
The Sea-Hart glided swiftly
As we hoped beneath the heroes.

And Elk, as Einarr sang:

The ring's mild Peace-Dispenser,
The princely hero, may not
Long bide with thee, if something
Aid not; we boune the Flood's Elk.

And Otter, as Máni sang:

What, laggard carle with gray cheeks,
Canst do among keen warriors
On the Otter of the Sea-Waves?
For thy strength is ebbing from thee.

Wolf, as Refr sang:

And the Hoard-Diminisher hearkened
To Thorsteinn; true my heart is
To the Lord of the Wolf of Billows
In the baleful Wrath-Wand's conflict.

And Ox also. The ship is called Snowshoe, or Wagon, or Wain. Thus sang Eyjólfr the Valiant Skald:

Late in the day the young Earl
In the Snowshoe of Landless Waters
Fared with equal following
To meet the fearless chieftain.

Thus sang Styrkárr Oddason:

Högni's host drove the Wagons
Of Rollers o'er Heiti's snow-Heaps,
Angrily pursuing
The great Giver of Flood-Embers.

And as Thorbjörn sang:

The Freighter of Wave-Crests' Sea-Wain
Was in the font of christening,
Hoard-Scatterer, who was given
The White Christ's highest favor.

65. Kennings for Christ

How should one periphrase Christ? Thus: by calling Him Fashioner of Heaven and Earth, of Angels, and of the Sun; Governor of the World and of the Heavenly Kingdom and of Jerusalem and Jordan and the Land of the Greeks; Counsellor of the Apostles and of the Saints. Ancient skalds have written of Him in metaphors of Urdr's Well and Rome; as Eilífr Gudrúnarson sang:

So has Rome's Mighty Ruler
In the Rocky Realms confirmèd
His power; they say He sitteth
South, at the Well of Urdr.

Thus sang Skapti Thóroddssen:

The King of Monks is greatest
Of might, for God all governs;
Christ's power wrought this earth all,
And raised the Hall of Rome.

King of the Heavens, as Markús sang:

The King of the Wind-House fashioned
Earth, sky, and faithful peoples;
Christ, sole Prince of Mortals,
Hath power o'er all that liveth.

Thus sang Eilífr Kúlnasveinn:

The Host of the beaming World's Roof
And the Band of Illustrious bow down
To the Holy Cross; than all glory
Else the Sole Sun's King is brighter.

Son of Mary, as Eilífr sang further:

The bright Host of Heaven boweth
To Mary's Bairn: He winneth,
The Gentle Prince, of glory
The true might, God and man both.

King of Angels, as Eilífr sang again:

The goodly might of God's friend
Is better than men guess of;
Yet the Gracious King of Angels
Is dearer than all, and holier.

King of Jordan, as Sigvatr sang:

Four angels the King of Jordan
Sent long ago through aether
To earthward; and the stream washed
The holy head of the World's Lord.

King of Greeks, as Arnórr sang:

I have lodged for the hero's ashes
Prayers with the Lordly Warder
Of Greeks and men of Gardar:
Thus I pay my Prince for good gifts.

Thus sang Eilífr Kúlnasveinn:

The Glory of Heaven praises
Man's Prince: He is King of all things.

Here he called Christ, first, King of Men, and again, King of All. Eínarr Skúlason sang:

He who compasseth, Bright in Mercy,
All the world, and gently careth
For all, caused the realm of Heaven
To ope for the valiant ruler.

66. Kennings for kings and chieftains

There the metaphors coincide; and he who interprets the language of poesy learns to distinguish which king is meant; for it is correct to call the Emperor of Constantinople King of Greeks, and similarly to call the king who rules over the land of Jerusalem King of Jerusalem, and also to call the Emperor of Rome King of Rome, and to call him King of Angles' who governs England. But that periphrasis which was cited but now, which called Christ King of Men, may be had by, every king. It is proper to periphrase all kings by calling them Land-Rulers, or Land-Warders, or Land-Attackers, or Leader of Henchmen, or Warder of the People.

Thus sang Eyvindr Skald-Despoiler:

Who filled the ravens
From life was reft
By the Earth-Rulers
At Ögló.²

And as Glúmr Geirason sang:

The Prince beneath the helmet
Reddened the sword hone-hollowed
On the Geats: there the Land-Warder
Was found in the grinding spear-din.

As Thjódólfr sang:

'T is my wish that the glorious Leader
Of Henchmen, the Glad-hearted,
Should leave his sons the heritage
And the sod of his fair freehold.

As Einarr sang:

The valiant-souled Earth-Warder
On his stern head the helm bears;
The bard before heroes telleth
The fame of the King of Hördland.

It is right also to call him King of Kings, under whom are tributary kings. An emperor is highest of kings, and next under him is that king who reigns over a nation; and each of these is equal to the other in the periphrases made of them in poesy. Next to them are those men who are called earls or tributary kings: and they are equal in periphrasis with a king, save that one may not term them kings of nations. And thus sang Arnórr Earl's Skald concerning Earl Thorfinnr:

Let the men hear how the Earl's King,
Hardy of mind, the sea sought:
The overwhelming Ruler
Failed not to thwart the ocean.

Next to these in the figures of poesy are those men who are called chiefs: one may periphrase them as one might a king or an earl, calling them Dispensers of Gold, Wealth Munificent, Men of the Standards, and Captains of the Host, or Van-Leaders of the Array or of Battle; since each king of a nation, who rules over many lands, appoints tributary kings and earls in joint authority with himself, to administer the laws of the land and defend it from attack in those parts which lie far removed from the king. And in those parts they shall be equal with the king's self in giving judgment and meting punishment. Now there are many districts in one land; and it is the practice of kings to appoint justiciars over as many districts as one chooses to give into their hands. These justiciars are called chiefs or landed men in the Danish tongue, reeves in Saxony, and barons in England. They are also to be righteous judges and faithful warriors over the land which is entrusted to them for governance. If the king is not near, then a standard shall be borne before them in battle; and then they are quite as lawful war-captains as kings or earls.

"Next under them are those men who are called franklins: they are those freeholders who are of honorable kindred, and possessed of full rights. One may periphrase them by calling them Wealth-Givers, and Protectors, and Reconcilers of Men; headmen also may have these titles.

"Kings and earls have as their following the men called henchmen and house-carles; landed-men also have in their service those who are called henchmen in Denmark and Sweden, and house-carles in Norway, and these men swear oaths of service to them, even as henchmen do to kings. The house-carles of kings were often called henchmen in the old heathen time.

Thus sang Thorvaldr Blending Skald:

Hail, King, swift in the onset!
And thy sturdy house-carles with thee!
In their mouths men have my verses,
Made for a song of praising.

King Haraldr Sigurdarson composed this:

The man full mighty waiteth
The filling of the King's seat;
Oft, I find, to the Earl's heels
Throngs my host of house-carles.

Henchmen and house-carles may be periphrased by calling them House-Guard, or Wage-Band, or Men of Honor: thus sang Sigvatr:

I learned the Warrior's Wage-Band
On the water fought that battle
Newly: 't is not the smallest
Snow-shower of Shields I tell of.

And thus also:

When on the Steed of Cables
The clashing steel was meeting,
'T was not as when a maid bears
The Chief's mead to the Honor-Winners.

The service-fee which headmen give is called wages and gifts; thus sang Óttarr the Swarthy:

I needs must use the Breaker
Of the Battle-Glow of good men;
Here is the watch war-doughty
Of the Wise King assembled.³

Earls and chiefs and henchmen are periphrased by calling them Counsellors or Speech-Friends or Seat-Mates of the King, as Hallfredr sang:

The Counsellor battle-mighty
Of the Prince, whom boldness pleases,
Lets the feud-fiery weeds of Högni,
Hammer-beaten, clash upon him.

As Snaebjörn sang:

The Speech-Friend of Kings letteth
The long-hulled steer-rope's Race-Horse
Steady the swordlike steel beak
Of the ship against the stern wave.

Thus sang Arnórr:

My young sons do bear for my sake
Grave sorrow for the slaughter
Of the Earl, destroyed by murder,
The Bench-Mate of our Monarch.

King's Counsel-Friend, as Hallfredr sang:

In council 't was determined
That the King's Friend, wise in counsel,
Should wed the Land, sole Daughter
Of Ónarr, greenly wooded.⁴

One should periphrase men by their kindred; as Kormákr sang:

Let the son of Haraldr's true friend
Give ear, and hearken to me:
I raise my song, the Yeast-Stream
Of Sýr's snow-covered Monsters.

He called the Earl True Friend of the King, and Hákon, Son of Earl Sigurdr. And Thjódólfr sang thus concerning Haraldr:

About Ólafr's sire
Waxed the steel-knife-storm's ire,
That of wightness each deed
Is worthy fame's meed.

And again:

Jarizleifr could espy
Where the king passed by:
The brave, sainted lord's kin
Stoutly praise did win.

And again he sang:

Breath-bereft is he
Who o'er all bore the gree,--
Of chiefs kinsman mild,
Haraldr's brother's child.

Arnórr also sang thus in Rögnvaldr's Song of Praise:

Heiti's war-good kinsman
Made wedlock-kindred with me:
The earl's strong tie of marriage
Made honor to us rendered.

And again, concerning Earl Thorfinnr, he sang:

The thin-made swords bit keenly
Old Rögnvaldr's kin, to southward
Of Man, where rushed the strong hosts
Under the sheltering shield-rims.

And he sang further:

O God, guard the glorious
Kin-Betterer of great Turf-Einarr
From harm; I pray, show mercy
To him whom faithful chiefs love.

And Einarr Tinkling-Scale sang:

The House-Prop of the Kindred
Of Hilditönn shall not lack
Hardihood more munificent;
I am bound to maintain praises.

67. Heiti for poesy

How are the uninvolved terms of poesy made? By calling each thing by its proper name. What are the simple terms for poesy? It is called Poetry, Glorifying, Song, Laud, and Praise. Bragi the Old sang this, when he was travelling through a forest late at evening: a troll woman hailed him in verse, asking who passed:

'Trolls do call me
Moon's . . .
. . . of the giant,
Storm-sun's (?) bale,
Fellow-in-misery of the sibyl,
Warder of the circled ring-earth,
Wheel-devourer of the heaven.
What is the troll but that?'⁵

He answered thus:

'Skalds do call me
Vidurr's Shape-Smith,
Gautr's Gift-Finder,
Bard not faulty,
Yggr's Ale-Bearer,
Song's Arrayer,
Skilled Smith of Verse:
What is the Skald but this?'

And as Kormákr sang:

I make more Glorifying
By far o'er Hákon's great son:
I pay him the song-atonement
Of the gods. In his wain Thor sitteth.

And as Thórdr Kolbeinsson sang:

The Shield-Maple let many swift ships
And merchant-craft, and speedy
War-boats o'er the sea pour;
The skald's ready Song of Laud waxed.

Laud, as Úlfr Uggason sang:

Now the stream to the sea cometh;
But first the Laud I sang forth
Of the Messenger of Sword-Rain:
Thus I raise the praise of warriors.

Here poesy is called praise also.

68. Heiti for gods

How are the gods named? They are called Fetters, as Eyjólfr the Valiant Skald sang:

Eiríkr draws the lands beneath him
At the pleasure of the Fetters,
And fashions the Spear-Battle.

And Bonds, as Thjódólfr of Hvin sang:

The skilful God-Deceiver
To the Bonds proved a stern sharer
Of bones: the Helmet-Hooded
Saw somewhat hindered seething.⁶

Powers, as Einarr Tinkling-Scale sang:

I say, the Mighty Powers
Magnify Hákon's empire.

Jólnar,⁷ as Eyvindr sang:

We have fashioned
The Feast of Jólnar,
The Prince's praise-song,
Strong as a stone bridge.

Deities,⁸ as Kormákr sang:

The Giver of Lands, who bindeth
The sail to the top, with gold-lace
Honors him who pours Deities' verse-mead;
Odin wrought charms on Rindr.⁹

69. Heiti for the heavens, the sun, and stars

These names of the heavens are recorded (but we have not found all these terms in poems; and these skaldic terms, even as others, are not meet for use in skaldic writing, methinks, unless one first find such names in the works of Chief Skalds): Heaven, Hlýrnir, Heidthornir, Storm Mímir, Long-Lying, Light-Farer, Driving, Topmost Sky, Wide-Fathom, Vet-Mímir, Lightning, Destroyer, Wide-Blue. The solar planet is called Sun, Glory, Ever-Glow, All-Bright, Sight, Fair Wheel, Healing Ray, Dvalinn's Playmate, Elfin-Beam, Doubtful-Beam, Luminary. The lunar planet is called Moon, Waxer, Waner, Year-Teller, Mock-Sun, Fengari,¹⁰ Glamour, Haster, Crescent, Glare.

70. Heiti for the earth

Which are the simple terms for Earth? She is called Earth, as Thjódólfr sang:

The hardy Point-Rain's Urger
Oft caused the harsh sword-shower,
Ere under him the broad Earth
With battle he subjected.

Field, as Óttarr sang:

The Prince guards the Field:
Few kings are so mighty;
Óleifr fattens the eagle,
Foremost is the Swedes' King.

Ground, as Hallvardr sang:

The broad Ground, 'neath the venom-cold Adder
Bound, lies subject to the Warrior
Of the Island-Fetter's heaped gold;
The Hone-Land's Lord the hoard dispenseth.

Haudr,¹¹ as Einarr sang:

Brave heroes are defending
The hard Haudr of famous princes
With the sword; oft splits the helmet
Before the furious edge-storm.

Land, as Thórdr Kolbeinsson sang:

The Land, after the battle,
Was laid low from Veiga northward
To Agdir south, or farther:
Hard is song in conflict.

Fief, as Óttarr sang:

Thou, fierce War-Staff, maintainedst
The Fief despite two Monarchs
With heroes' kin. where the ravens
Starved not; keen-hearted art thou.¹²

Hlödyn,¹³ as Völu-Steinn sang:

I remember how murky earth yawned
With graven mouth for the Sender
Of the Gold-Words of the Giant
Of the hard bones of Green Hlödyn.

Country, as Úlfr Uggason sang:

But the flashing-eyed stiff Edge-Rope
Of the Earth stared past the gunwale
At the Rowan-Tree of the Country
Of Stone, the Giant-Tester.¹⁴

Fjörgyn,¹⁵ as is said here:

I was faithful to the free Payer
Of the stream-bed of Fjörgyn's Serpent;
May honor be closely guarded
By the Giver of the Giant's Stream-gold.

[1. See Stanza 51 Of the Völsungar.

2. The reverse of Gregory's pun: "Non Angli sed angeli."

3. See Stanza 56 Further on kennings for gold.

4. Stanza 32 Kennings for the earth.

5. "Eru tröll-kenningar, sumar myrkar." Jónsson, p. 403.

6. See Stanza 30 Kennings for Iðunn.

7. This word, in the singular, is one of the names of Odin. I can find no etymology for it.

8. A rare and doubtful word. According to Cl.-Vig., the word occurs only twice: Yngl. S., ch. ii, and here. Cl.-Vig. holds that the word probably meant priests: "The díar of the Yngl. S. were probably analogous to the Icel. godi, from god (deus)" (p. 100).

9. See Stanza 9 Heiti and kennings for Óðinn.

10. Byzant. {Greek fegga'ri}; an {Greek a?'p. leg.}" (Cl.-Vig., p. 151).

11. "Etymology not known" (Cl.-Vig., p. 241).

12. See Stanza 59. Men referred to as trees.

13. A personification.

14. See Stanza 59. Men referred to as trees.

15. Cf. Goth. fairguni (= a mountain) and A.-S. fyrgen. A personification: Fjörgynn is father of Frigg and of Jörd (Earth).]

Vápn ok herklæði skal kenna til orrostu ok til Óðins ok valmeyja ok herkonunga, kalla hjálm hött eða fald, en brynju serk eða skyrtu, en skjöld tjald, ok skjaldborgin er kölluð höll ok ræfr, veggr ok gólf. Skildir eru kallaðir ok kenndir við herskip, sól eða tungl eða lauf eða blik eða garðr skipsins. Skjöldr er ok kallaðr skip Ullar eða kennt til fóta Hrungnis, er hann stóð á skildi. Á fornum skjöldum var títt at skrifa rönd þá, er baugr var kallaðr, ok eru við þann baug skildir kenndir. Höggvápn, öxar eða sverð, er kallat eldar blóðs eða benja. Sverð heita Óðins eldar, en öxar kalla menn trollkvinna heitum ok kenna við blóð eða benjar eða skóg eða við. Lagvápn eru vel kennd til orma eða fiska. Skotvápn eru mjök kennd til hagls eða drífu eða rotu. Öllum þessum kenningum er marga lund breytt, því at þat er flest ort í lofkvæðum, er þessar kenningar þarf við. Svá kvað Víga-Glúmr:

164. Lattisk herr með höttu
Hangatýs at ganga,
þóttit þeim at hætta
þekkiligt, fyr brekku.

Svá kvað Einarr skálaglamm:

165. Hjalmfaldinn bauð hildi
hjaldrörr ok Sigvaldi,
hinn er fór í gný Gunnar,
gunndjarfr Búi, sunnan.

Róða serkr, sem Tindr kvað:

166. Þá er hringfáum Hanga
hrynserk, viðum brynju
hruðusk riðmarar Róða
rastar, varð at kasta.

Hamðis skyrta, sem Hallfreðr kvað:

167. Ólítinn brestr úti
unndýrs frömum runnum
hart á Hamðis skyrtum
hryngráp Egils vápna.

Sörla föt, enn sem hann kvað:

168. Þaðan verða föt fyrða,
fregn ek görla þat, Sörla
rjóðask björt í blóði
benfúr méil-skúrum.

[Hlakkar tjöld], sem Grettir kvað:

169. Heldu Hlakkar tjalda
hefjendr saman nefjum
Hildar veggs ok hjuggusk
hregg-Nirðir til skeggjum.

Róða ræfr, sem Einarr kvað:

170. Eigi þverr fyrir augna
Óðs beðvinu Róða
ræfrs, eignisk sá, regni
ramsvell, konungr elli.

Hildar veggr, sem kvað Grettir ok áðr er ritat. Skipsól, sem Einarr kvað:

171. Leyg rýðr ætt á ægi
Óláfs skipa sólar.

Hlýrtungl, sem Refr kvað:

172. Dagr var fríðr, sá er fögru
fleygjendr alinleygjar
í hangferil hringa
hlýrtungli mér þrungu.

Garðr skips, sem hér er:

173. Svá skaut gegn í gögnum
garð steinfarinn barða,
sá var, gnýstærir geira,
gunnar æfr, sem næfrar.

Askr Ullar, sem Þjóðólfr kvað:

174. Ganga él of yngva
Ullar skips með fullu,
þar er samnagla siglur
slíðrdúkaðar ríða.

Ilja blað Hrungnis, sem Bragi kvað:

175. Vilið, Hrafnketill, heyra,
hvé hreingróit steini
Þrúðar skal ek ok þengil
þjófs ilja blað leyfa?

Bragi skáld kvað þetta um bauginn á skildinum:

176. Nema svá at góð ins gjalla
gjöld baugnafaðs vildi
meyjar hjóls inn mæri
mögr Siguðar Högna.

Hann kallaði skjöldinn Hildar hjól, en bauginn nöf hjólsins. Baugjörð, sem Hallvarðr kvað:

177. Rauðljósa sér ræsir,
rít brestr sundr in hvíta,
baugjörð brodda ferðar,
bjúgrennd, í tvau fljúga.

Svá er enn kveðit:

178. Baugr er á beru sæmstr,
en á boga örvar.

Sverð er Óðins eldr, sem Kormákr kvað:

179. Svall, þá er gekk með gjallan
Gauts eld, hinn er styr belldi,
glaðfæðandi Gríðar,
gunnr. Komsk Urðr ór brunni

Hjálms eldr, sem kvað Úlfr Uggason:

180. Fullöflug lét fjalla
fram haf-Sleipni þramma
Hildr, en Hrofts of gildar
hjalmelda mar felldu.

Brynju eldr, sem kvað Glúmr Geirason:

181. Heinþynntan lét hvína
hryneld at þat brynju
foldar vörðr, sá er fyrðum
fjörn-harðan sik varði.

Randar íss ok grand hlífar, sem Einarr kvað:

182. Ráðvöndum þá ek rauðra
randa ís at vísa,
grand berum hjalms í hendi,
hvarmþey drifinn Freyju.

Öx heitir trollkona hlífa, sem Einarr kvað:

183. Sjá megu rétt, hvé, Ræfils
ríðendr, við brá Gríðar
fjörnis fagrt of skornir,
foldviggs, drekar liggja.

Spjót er ormr kallat, sem Refr kvað:

184. Kná myrkdreki marka
minn, þar er ýtar finnask,
æfr á aldar lófum
eikinn borðs at leika.

Örvar eru kallaðar hagl boga eða strengjar eða hlífa eða orrostu, sem Einarr kvað skálaglamm:

185. Brak-Rögnir skók bogna,
barg óþyrmir varga,
hagl ór Hlakkar seglum,
hjörs, rakkliga fjörvi.

Ok Hallfreðr:

186. Ok geir-Rótu götvar
gagls við strengjar hagli
hungreyðöndum hanga
hléðut járni séðar.

Ok Eyvindr skáldaspillir:

187. Lítt kváðu þik láta,
landvörðr, er brast, Hörða,
brynju hagl í benjum,
bugusk almar, geð falma.

62. Frá Hjaðningavígum.

Orrosta er kölluð Hjaðninga veðr eða él ok vápn Hjaðninga eldr eða vendir, en saga er til þess. Konungr sá, er Högni er nefndr, átti dóttur, er Hildr hét. Hana tók at herfangi konungr sá, er Heðinn hét Hjarrandason. Þá var Högni konungr farinn í konunga stefnu. En er hann spuðri, at herjat var í ríki hans ok dóttir hans í braut tekin, þá fór hann með sínu liði at leita Heðins ok spurði til hans, at hann fór norðr með landi. Þá er Högni konungr kom í Nóreg, spurði hann, at Heðinn hafði siglt vestr of haf. Þá siglir Högni eftir honum allt til Orkneyja, ok er hann kom þar, sem heitir Háey, þá var þar fyrir Heðinn með lið sitt.

Þá fór Hildr á fund föður síns ok bauð honum men at sætt af hendi Heðins, en í öðru orði sagði hon, at Heðinn væri búinn at berjast ok ætti Högni af honum engrar vægðar ván. Högni svarar stirt dóttur sinni. En er hon hitti Heðin, sagði hon honum, at Högni vildi enga sætt, ok bað hann búast til orrostu, ok svá gera þeir hvárirtveggju, ganga upp á eyna ok fylkja liðinu.

Þá kallar Heðinn á Högna, mág sinn, ok bauð honum sætt ok mikit gull at bótum.

Þá svarar Högni: "Of síð bauttu þetta, ef þú vill sættast, því að nú hefi ek dregit Dáinsleif, er dvergarnir gerðu, er mannsbani skal verða, hvert sinn er bert er, ok aldri bilar í höggvi ok ekki sár grær, ef þar skeinist af."

Þá mælti Heðinn: "Sverði hælir þú þar, en eigi sigri. Þat kallak gott hvert, er dróttinhollt er."

Þá hófu þeir orrostu þá, er Hjaðningavíg er kallat, ok börðust þann dag allan, ok at kveldi fóru konungar til skipa. En Hildr gekk of nóttina til valsins ok vakði upp með fjölkynngi alla þá, er dauðir váru. Ok annan dag gengu konungarnir á vígvöllinn ok börðust ok svá allir þeir, er fellu inn fyrra daginn. Fór svá sú orrosta hvern dag eftir annan, at allir, þeir er fellu, ok öll vápn, þau er lágu á vígvelli, ok svá hlífar, urðu, at grjóti. En er dagaði, stóðu upp allir dauðir menn ok börðust, ok öll vápn váru þá nýt. Svá er sagt í kvæðum, at Hjaðningar skulu svá bíða ragnaröks. Eftir þessi sögu orti Bragi skáld í Ragnars drápu loðbrókar.

63. Orrosta kennd til Óðins.

Orrosta er veðr Óðins, sem fyrr er ritat. Svá kvað Víga-Glúmr:

188. Rudda ek sem jarlar,
orð lék á því, forðum
með veðrstöfum Viðris
vandar mér til landa.

Viðris veðr er hér kallat orrusta, en vöndr vígs sverðit, en menn stafir sverðsins. Hér er bæði orrosta ok vápn haft til kenningar mannins. Þat er rekit kallat, er svá er ort. Skjöldr er land vápnanna, en vápn er hagl eða regn þess lands, ef nýgervingum er ort.

64. Skipskenningar.

Hvernig skal kenna skip? Svá, at kalla hest eða dýr eða skíð sækonunga eða sævar eða skipreiða eða veðrs. Báru fákr, sem Hornklofi kvað:

189. Hrjóðr lét hæstrar tíðar
harðráðr skipa börðum
báru fáks ins bleika
barnungr á lög þrungit.

Geitis marr, svá kvað Erringar-Steinn:

190. En þótt ófrið sunnan
öll þjóð segi skaldi,
hlöðum Geitis mar grjóti,
glaðir nennum vér, þenna.

Sveiða hreinar:

191. Súðlöngum komt sveiða,
sunds liðu dýr frá grundu,
sigrakkr, Sölsa bekkjar,
Sveins mögr, á tröð hreinum.

Svá kvað Hallvarðr. Hér er ok kölluð sunds dýr ok særinn Sölsa bekkr. Svá kvað Þórðr Sjáreksson:

192. Sveggja lét fyr Siggju
sólborðs goti norðan.
Gustr skaut Gylfa rastar
glaumi suðr fyr Aumar
En slóðgoti síðan
sæðings fyr skut bæði,
hestr óð lauks fyr Lista,
lagði Körmt ok Agðir.

Hér er skip kallat sólborðs hestr ok sær Gylfa land, sæðings slóð særinn ok hestr skipit ok enn lauks hestr. Laukr heitir siglutré. Ok enn sem Markús kvað:

193. Fjarðlinna óð fannir
fast vetrliði rastar.
Hljóp of húna gnípur
hvals rann íugtanni.
Björn gekk fram á fornar
flóðs hafskíða slóðir.
Skúrörðigr braut skorðu
skers glymfjötur bersi.

Hér er skip kallat björn rasta. Björn heitir vetrliði ok íugtanni ok bersi, ok björn skorðu er hér kallat. Skip er ok kallat hreinn, svá kvað Hallvarðr, sem áðr er ritat, ok hjörtr, sem kvað Haraldr konungr Sigurðarson:

194. Sneið fyr Sikiley víða
súð, várum þá prúðir.
Brýnt skreið vel til vánar
vengis hjörtr und drengjum.

Ok elgr, sem Einarr kvað:

195. Baugs, getr með þér þeygi,
þýðr, drengr vera lengi,
elg búum flóðs, nema fylgi,
friðstökkvir, því nökkut.

Otr, sem Máni kvað:

196. Hvat munt hafs á otri,
hengiligr, með drengjum,
karl, því at kraftr þinn förlask,
kinngrár, mega vinna?

Vargr, sem kvað Refr:

197. En hoddvönuðr hlýddi,
hlunnvitnis em ek runni
hollr til hermðar-spjalla
heinvandils, Þórsteini.

Ok oxi. Skip er kallat skíð eða vagn eða reið. Svá kvað Eyjólfr dáðaskáld:

198. Meita fór at móti
mjök síð of dag skíði
ungr með jöfnu gengi
útvers frömum hersi.

Svá kvað Styrkárr Oddason:

199. Ok eft ítrum stökkvi
ók Högna lið vögnum
hlunns á Heita fannir
hyrjar flóðs af móði.

Ok sem Þorbjörn kvað:

200. Hafreiðar var hlæðir
hlunns í skírnar brunni,
Hvíta-Krists sá er hæsta
hoddsviptir fekk giftu.

65. Kristskenningar.

Hvernig skal Krist kenna? Svá, at kalla hann skapara himins ok jarðar, engla ok sólar, stýranda heims ok himinríkis ok engla, konung himna ok sólar ok engla ok Jórsala ok Jórdánar ok Gríklands, ráðandi postula ok heilagra manna. Forn skáld hafa kennt hann við Urðarbrunn ok Róm, sem kvað Eilífr Guðrúnarson:

201. Setbergs, kveða sitja
sunnr at Urðarbrunni,
svá hefir rammr konungr remmðan
Róms banda sig löndum.

Svá kvað Skafti Þóroddsson:

202. Máttr er munka dróttins
mestr, aflar goð flestu.
Kristr skóp ríkr ok reisti
Rúms höll veröld alla.

Himna konungr, sem Markús kvað:

203. Gramr skóp grund ok himna
glyggranns sem her dyggvan,
einn stillir má öllu
aldar Kristr of valda.

Svá kvað Eilifr kúlnasveinn:

204. Hróts lýtr helgum krúzi
heims ferð ok lið beima.
Sönn er en öll dýrð önnur
einn sólkonungr hreinni.

Máríu sonr, enn sem Eilífr kvað:

205. Hirð lýtr himna, dýrðar,
hvein Máríu sveini,
mátt vinnr mildingr dróttar,
maðr er hann ok goð, sannan.

Engla konungr, enn sem Eilífr kvað:

206. Máttr er en menn of hyggi
mætr goðs vinar betri.
Þó er engla gramr öllu
örr helgari ok dýrri.

Jórdánar konungr, sem kvað Sighvatr:

207. Endr réð engla senda
Jórdánar gramr fjóra,
fors þó hans á hersi
heilagt skoft, ór lofti.

Grikkja konungr, sem Arnórr kvað:

208. Bænir hefi ek fyr beini
bragna falls við snjallan
Grikkja vörð ok Garða.
Gjöf launak svá jöfri.

Svá kvað Eilífr kúlnasveinn:

209. Himins dýrð lofar hölða,
hann er alls konungr, stilli.

Hér kallaði hann fyrst Krist konung manna ok annat sinn alls konung. Enn kvað Einarr Skúlason:

210. Lét, sá er landfolks gætir,
líknbjartr himinríki
umgeypnandi opna
alls heims fyr gram snjöllum.

66. Konungakenningar ok fyrirmanna.

Þar koma saman kenningar, ok verðr sá at skilja af stöð, er ræðr skáldskapinn, um hvárn kveðit er konunginn, því at rétt er at kalla Miklagarðskeisara Grikkjakonung, ok svá þann konung, er ræðr Jórsalalandi, at kalla Jórsalakonung, svá ok at kalla Rómskonung Rómaborgarkeisara, eða Englakonung, þann er Englandi ræðr. En sú kenning, er áðr var ritat, at kalla Krist konung manna, þá kenning má eiga hverr konungur. Konunga alla er rétt at kenna svá at kalla þá landráðendr eða landsvörðu eða landssæki eða hirðstjóra eða vörð landsfólks. Svá kvað Eyvindr skáldaspillir:

211. Farmatýs
fjörvi næmðu
jarðráðendr
á Öglói.

Ok sem Glúmr kvað Geirason:

212. Hilmir rauð und hjalmi
heina laut á Gautum.
Þar varð í gný geira
grundar vörðr of fundinn.

Sem Þjóðólfr kvað:

213. Hár skyli hirðar stjóri
hugreifr sonum leifa
arf ok óðaltorfu,
ósk mín er þat, sína.

Sem Einarr kvað:

214. Snáks berr fald of fræknu
folkvörðr, konungs Hörða
frama telr greppr fyr gumnum,
geðsnjallr skarar fjalli.

Rétt er ok um hann konung, er undir honum eru skattkonungar, at kalla hann konung konunga. Keisari er æðstr konunga, en þar næst er konungr sá, er ræðr fyrir þjóðlandi, jafn í kenningum öllum hverr við annan í skáldskap. Þar næst eru þeir menn, er jarlar heita eða skattkonungar, ok eru þeir jafnir í kenningum við konung, nema eigi má þá kalla þjóðkonunga, er skattkonungar eru. Ok svá kvað Arnórr jarlaskáld of Þorfinn jarl:

215. Nemi drótt, hvé sjá sótti
snarlyndr konungr jarla.
Eigi þraut við ægi
ofvægjan gram bægja.

Þar næst eru í kenningum í skáldskap þeir menn, er hersar heita. Kenna má þá sem konung eða jarl, svá at kalla þá gullbrjóta ok auðmildinga ok merkismenn ok fólksstjóra eða kalla hann oddvita liðsins eða orrostu, fyrir því at þjóðkonungr hverr, sá er ræðr mörgum löndum, þá setr hann til landstjórnar með sér skattkonunga ok jarla at dæma landslög ok verja land fyrir ófriði í þeim löndum, er konungi liggja fjarri, ok skulu þeir dómar ok refsingar vera þar jafnréttir sem sjálfs konungs. En í einu landi eru mörg heruð, ok er þat háttr konunga at setja þar réttara yfir svá mörg heruð sem hann gefr til valds, ok heita þeir hersar eða lendir menn í danskri tungu, en greifar í Saxlandi, en barúnar í Englandi. Þeir skulu ok vera réttir dómarar ok réttir landvarnarmenn yfir því ríki, er þeim er fengit til stjórnar. Ef eigi er konungr nær, þá skal fyrir þeim merki bera í orrostum, ok eru þeir þá jafnréttir herstjórar sem konungar eða jarlar. Þar næst eru þeir menn, er hölðar heita. Þat eru búendr þeir, er gildir eru at ættum ok réttum fullum. Þá má svá kenna at kalla þá veitanda fjár ok gætanda ok sætti manna. Þessar kenningar megu ok eiga höfðingjar. Konungar ok jarlar hafa til fylgðar með sér þá menn, er hirðmenn heita ok húskarlar, en lendir menn hafa ok sér handgengna menn, þá er í Danmörku ok í Svíðjóð eru hirðmenn kallaðir, en í Nóregi húskarlar, ok sverja þeir þó eiða svá sem hirðmenn konungum. Húskarlar konunga váru mjök hirðmenn kallaðir í forneskju. Svá kvað Þorvaldr blönduskáld:

216. Konungr heill ok svá snjallir
sókn-örr, við lof görvan
óð hafa menn í munni
mínn, húskarlar þínir.

Þetta orti Haraldr konungr Sigurðarson: 217. Fullafli bíðr fyllar,
finn ek oft at drífr minna,
hilmis stóls, á hæla
húskarla lið jarli.

Hirðmenn ok húskarla höfðingja má svá kenna at kalla þá inndrótt eða verðung eða heiðmenn. Svá kvað Sighvatr:

218. Þat frá ek víg á vatni
verðung jöfurs gerðu,
nadda él en, nýla,
næst tel ek engi in smæstu.

Ok enn þetta:

219. Þági var sem þessum
þengils á jó strengjar
mjöð fyr malma kveðju
mær heiðþegum bæri.

Heiðfé heitir máli ok gjöf, er höfðingjar gefa. Svá kvað Óttarr svarti:

220. Góðmennis þarf ek gunnar
glóðbrjótanda at njóta.
Hér er alnennin inni
inndrótt með gram svinnum.

Jarlar ok hersar ok hirðmenn eru svá kenndir, kallaðir konungs rúnar eða málar eða sessar. Svá kvað Hallfreðr:

221. Grams rúni lætr glymja
gunnríkr, hinn er hvöt líkar,
Högna hamri slegnar
heiftbráðr of sik váðir.

Sem Snæbjörn kvað:

222. Stjórnviðjar lætr styðja
stáls buðlinga máli
hlemmisverð við harðri
húflagan skæ dúfu.

Svá kvað Arnórr:

223. Bera sýn of mik mínir
morðkennds taka enda
þess of þengils sessa
Þung mein synir ungir.

Konungs spjalli, sem Hallfreðr kvað:

224. Ráð lukusk, at sá, síðan,
snjallráðr konungs spjalli
átti eingadóttur
Ónars viði gróna.

Svá skal menn kenna við ættir, sem Kormákr kvað:

225. Heyri sonr á, Sýrar,
sannreynis, fentanna
örr greppa lætk uppi
jast-Rín, Haralds, mína.

Hann kallaði jarlinn sannreyni konungsins, en Hákon jarl son Sigurðar jarls. En Þjóðólfr kvað svá um Harald:

226. Vex Óláfs feðr
járnsaxa veðr,
harðræði hvert
svá at hróðrs er vert.

Ok enn svá:

227. Jarizleifr of sá,
hvert jöfri brá.
Hófsk hlýri fram
ins helga grams.

Ok enn kvað hann:

228. Andaðr er sá,
er of alla brá,
haukstalla konr,
Haralds bróðursonr.

Enn kvað svá Arnórr í Rögnvaldsdrápu:

229. Réð Heita konr hleyti
herþarfr við mik gerva.
Styrk lét oss of orkat
jarls mægð af því frægðar.

Ok enn kvað hann of Þorfinn jarl:

230. Bitu sverð, en þar þurðu,
þunngör fyr Mön sunnan
Rögnvalds kind, und randir
ramlig folk, ins gamla.

Ok enn kvað hann:

231. Ættbæti firr ítran
allríks, en ek bið líkna
trúra tyggja dýrum,
Torf-Einars goð meinum.

Ok enn kvað Einarr skálaglamm:

232. Né ættstuðill ættar
ógnherði mun verða,
skyldr em ek hróðri at halda,
Hilditanns in mildri.

67. Skáldskaparheiti.

Hvernig er ókennd setning skáldskapar? Svá, at nefna hvern hlut sem heitir. Hver eru ókennd nöfn skáldskaparins? Hann heitir bragr ok hróðr, óðr, mærð, lof. Þetta kvað Bragi inn gamli, þá er hann ók um skóg nökkurn síð um kveld. Þá stefjaði trollkona á hann ok spurði, hverr þar fór:

233. Troll kalla mik
tungl sjöt-rungnis,
auðsug jötuns,
élsólar böl,
vílsinn völu,
vörð nafjarðar,
hvélsvelg himins.
Hvat er troll, nema þat?

Hann svarði svá:

234. Skald kalla mik
skapsmið Viðurs,
Gauts gjafrötuð,
grepp óhneppan,
Yggs ölbera,
óðs skapmóða,
hagsmið bragar.
Hvat er skald, nema þat?

Ok sem Kormákr kvað:

235. Hróðr geri ek of mög mæran
meir Sigröðar fleira;
haftsænis geld ek hánum
heið. Sitr Þórr í reiðu.

Ok sem kvað Þórðr Kolbeinsson:

236. Mjök lét margar snekkjur,
mærðar örr, sem knörru,
óðr vex skalds, ok skeiðar
skjaldhlynr á brim dynja.

Mærð, sem Úlfr Uggason kvað:

237. Þar kemr á, en æri
endr bar ek mærð af hendi,
ofra ek svá, til sævar,
sverðregns, lofi þegna.

Hér er lof kallat skáldskapr.

68. Goðaheiti.

Hvernig eru nöfn goðanna? Þau heita bönd, sem kvað Eyjólfr dáðaskáld:

238. Dregr land at mun banda
Eiríkr und sik geira
veðmildr ok semr hildi.

Ok höft, sem kvað Þjóðólfr inn hvinverski:

239. Tormiðlaðr var tívum
tálhreinn meðal beina.
Hvat kvað hafta snytrir
hjalmfaldinn því valda.

Rögn, sem Einarr kvað skálaglamm:

240. Rammaukin kveð ek ríki
rögn Hákunar magna.

Jólnar, sem Eyvindr kvað:

241. Jólna sumbl
enn vér gátum,
stillis lof,
sem steina brú.

Díar, sem Kormákr kvað:

242. Eykr með ennidúki
jarðhljótr día fjarðar
breyti, hún sá er, beinan,
bindr. Seið Yggr til Rindar.

69. Himins heiti, sólar ok tungls.

Þessi nöfn himins eru rituð, en eigi höfum vér fundit í kvæðum öll þessi heiti. En þessi skáldskaparheiti sem önnur þykkir mér óskylt at hafa í skáldskap, nema áðr finni hann í verka höfuðskálda þvílík heiti.

Himinn: hlýrnir, heiðþorrnir, hreggmímir, andlangr, ljósfari, drífandi, skatyrnir, víðfeðmir, vetmímir, leiftr, hrjóðr, víðbláinn.

Sól: sunna, röðull, eyglóa, alskír, sýni, fagrahvél, líknskin, Dvalins leika, álfröðull, ifröðull, mylin.

Tungl: máni, ný, nið, ártali, mulinn, fengari, glámr, skyndir, skjálgr, skrámr.

70. Jarðarheiti.

Hver eru jarðarheiti? Hon heitir jörð, sem Þjóðólfr kvað:

243. Jarl lætr odda skúrar
oft herðir gör verða
hrings, áðr hann of þryngvi,
hörð él, und sik jörðu.

Fold, sem Óttarr kvað:

244. Fold verr folk-Baldr,
fár má konungr svá,
örnu reifir Óleifr,
er framr Svía gramr.

Grund, sem Hallfreðr kvað:

245. Grund liggr und bör bundin
breið holmfjöturs leiðar,
heinlands hoddum grandar
Höðr, eitrsvélum naðri.

Hauðr, sem Einarr kvað:

246. Verja hauðr með hjörvi
hart döglinga bjartra
hjalmr springr oft fyr olmri
egghríð, framir seggir.

Land, sem Þórðr Kolbeinsson kvað:

247. En eft víg frá Veigu,
vant er orð at styr, norðan
land eða lengra stundu
lagðisk suðr til Agða.

Láð, sem Óttarr kvað:

248. Heltu, þar er hrafn né svalta,
hvatráðr ertu, láði
ógnar stafr, fyr jöfrum,
ýgr, tveimr, við kyn beima.

Hlöðyn, sem kvað Völu-Steinn:

249. Man ek þat, er jörð við orða
endr myrk Danar sendi
grænnar gröfnum munni
gein Hlöðynjar beina.

Frón, sem kvað Úlfr Uggason:

250. En stirðþinull starði
storðar leggs fyr borði
fróns á folka reyni
fránleitr ok blés eitri.

Fjörgyn, sem hér er kveðit:

251. Örgildi var ek, Eldis,
áls Fjörgynjar, mála,
dyggr, sé heiðr ok hreggi,
hrynbeðs, áar steðja.