Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages

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Sturl Hryn 17II

Valgerður Erna Þorvaldsdóttir (ed.) 2009, ‘Sturla Þórðarson, Hrynhenda 17’ 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, pp. 694-5.

Sturla ÞórðarsonHrynhenda

text and translation

Renna þótti upp á unnum
alla leið af flota breiðum
hilmis frægs, þar er herskip lágu,
himna eldr í Danaveldi.
Þengill kom þar annarr engi
innanlands, svát dæmi finniz,
— ræsir, stýrðuð rétt til jarðar,
ríkilátr — með afla slíkan.

{Eldr himna} þótti renna upp af breiðum flota frægs hilmis á unnum alla leið í Danaveldi, þar er herskip lágu. Engi annarr þengill kom þar innanlands með slíkan afla, svát dæmi finniz; ríkilátr ræsir, stýrðuð rétt til jarðar.
‘The fire of the heavens [SUN] seemed to be rising up from the broad fleet of the famous ruler on the waves all the way to the realm of the Danes, where warships lay. No other prince came within the land there with such a force, to the extent that there are examples; high-minded ruler, you steered straight for the shore.

notes and context

The fleet sailed through Øresund on the way to Copenhagen. The Danes were impressed by the size of the fleet, which was far greater than any that had ever come there.




editions and texts

Skj: Sturla Þórðarson, 3. Hrynhenda 16: AII, 106-7, BII, 117, Skald II, 62, NN §§1352, 2040; F 1871, 555, E 1916, 653, Hák 1910-86, 665, Hák 1977-82, 176, Flat 1860-8, III, 200.


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