Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages

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Sturl Hákkv 8II

Kari Ellen Gade (ed.) 2009, ‘Sturla Þórðarson, Hákonarkviða 8’ in Kari Ellen Gade (ed.), Poetry from the Kings’ Sagas 2: From c. 1035 to c. 1300. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 2. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 705.

Sturla ÞórðarsonHákonarkviða

text and translation

Svalg hvert hús
heitum munni
viðar hundr
Verma bygðar,
ok svipkárr
selju rakki
of garðshlið
grenjandi fór.

{Hundr viðar} svalg hvert hús bygðar Verma heitum munni, ok {svipkárr rakki selju} fór grenjandi of garðshlið.
‘The hound of the forest [FIRE] swallowed every house of the settlement of the Vermir with its hot mouth, and the violent dog of the willow [FIRE] ran howling through the yard-gate.

notes and context

As st. 7 above.

Sturla appears to have had a fascination with fire. He uses similar vivid imagery of wolves or dogs devouring buildings and houses in Hryn 10-11, which describe Hákon and his troops harrying in Halland in 1256. See also st. 7 above.




editions and texts

Skj: Sturla Þórðarson, 4. Hákonarkviða 9: AII, 110-11, BII, 120, Skald II, 64; E 1916, 529, F 1871, 448, Hák 1910-86, 405, Flat 1860-8, III, 69.


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