Proverbs and proverbial materials in Morkinskinna.

Edition used.  Morkinskinna, ed. Finnur Jónsson. Copenhagen, 1932
Others.
Translations used. Morkinskinna The Earlist Icelandic Chronicle of the Norwegian Kings (1030-1157) Tr. Theodore M. Andersson and Kari Ellen Gade. Islandica LI. Ithaca and London, 2000.
Others.  

Editorial comment.  See The Proverbs of Morkinskinna. A Preliminary Survey. and accompanying Handout for further comment on the data below.

FJ 1.  2-3.   En hon svaraþi oc lezc þann cost taca myndo. oc q. a þegar vm þenna. Þv scalt nv s. hon senda scip iNoreg til Olafs konvngs. þvi at ec hefi spyrt¹) at hann a einn son vngan lavngetenn. bioð honom hingat oc veit honom vppføzlo oc fostr. þvi at sannlict er þat meþ ycr er melt er at sa er ogaufgari er oþrom fostrar barnn.     ¹) sp afr.   L. 1–2. q.–þenna: sagde þegar huers hun villde bidia.  –2. scip: og menn tf.   –4. vngan: ul. lavng.:er Magnus heitir tf.   –6. ycr: Olafe konungi tf. ogaufa.:ok minne tf.
A-G 1. Queen Ingigerðr, daughter of King Óláfr the Swede, to her husband, King Yaroslav of Russia, on the advisability of fostering Magnús, son of King Óláfr of Norway:
90.  She stipulated as follows: "You shall send a ship to King Óláfr in Norway, for I have learned that he has a young son out of wedlock. Invite the boy here and provide for his upbringing and fostering, because it is confirned in the case of you two that it is the less distinguished man who fosters the other's child."^{5     5}According to Heimskringla (ÍF 26, 143-45; trans. Hollander, pp. 92-93), King Æthelstan of England sent King Haraldr hárfagri of Norway a sword delivered to him hilt first in order to suggest Haraldr´s vassal status. Haraldr retaliated by sending Æthelstan his child to be fostered, implying that his was the supperior rank. It seems not unlikely that the author of Morkinskinna may have borrowed the motif from an earlier version of Haralds saga hárfagra. On the existence of such an earlier version, see Jónas Kristjánsson 1977: 449-72.
FJ Proverb word 123. Page 86. fóstr, fóstra (jfr fé) – . . . sá er ógöfgari er öðrum fóstrar barn Mork 2. ´Den der opfostrer en andens barn er denne underlegen i byrd´. GJ: sá er ógöfgari og minni er osv.
TPMA 7. 42. KIND/enfant/child 8. Eigene und fremde (Legitime und illegitime) Kinder 8.2. Fremde Kinder aufziehen ist undankbar Nord. 525 Því at sannlict er þat með ycr er melt er at sa er ogofgari er oþrom fostrar barnn Denn das ist bei euch beiden wahr, was man sagt, dass weniger vornehm ist, wer für einen andern ein Kind aufzieht MORKINSKINNA 2, 6 (= JÓNSSON, ARKIV 123. JÓNSSON 48).
Ed. note. See ÍF III. Borgfirðinga sögur. Hœnsa-Þóris saga p. 7, note 1:  "Það kemur víðar fyrir, að misindismenn og óþokkasælir bjóða vel ættuðum mönnum barnfóstur sér til trausts. Hánefur, "óorðsæll maðr", "fór til fundar við Vémund kögur ok bauð honum at fóstra Þorkötlu, dóttur hans, ok ætlaði hann sér þat mjök til trausts við aðra menn" (Reykd. s., 4. kap.). Hallvarður, fóstri Vigfúss Víga-Glúmssonar, var sauðaþjófur, en ekki varð lögum komið yfir hann vegna þess trausts, er hann naut af Vigfúsi (Víga-Glúms s., 17. – 18. kap.). Einnig var það ekki ótítt, að ótígnir menn fóstruðu ættborna, svo sem Þórður goddi Ólaf pá (Laxd. s., 16. kap.). Svo segir Snorri, að "þat er mál manna, at sá væri ótígnari, er öðrum fóstraði barn" (Heimskr., Har. s. hárf., 40 kap.; sbr. Laxd. s., 75, Morkinskinna (útg. F. J.), bls. 3).

FJ 2.  7. L. 11.  . . . . . : Karl mællti. herra eigi munu aller jafnir j þui. ek em salltkarl eirn litils verdr þo ath nu hafi ek peninga. hefi eg auallt verit til nockurs hentogleika. enn alldri var eg j moti Olafi konungi j huga minum. þat munda eg ætla segir konungr. at þu munir reynazt sem aller adrir Noregsmenn.
Ed. note. Taken from Flateyjarbók. See Andersson's note, below.
A-G 1. Karl to King Yaroslav, who regards him as a Norwegian of the sort that had betrayed Saint Óláfr:
92.  *[Karl said: "Lord, not everyone should be cut over the same comb. I am an insignificant salt burner even though I have made some money at it. I have always known where my advantage lay, but I was never against King Óláfr in my heart." "I rather expect," said the king, "that you will turn out like all the other Norwegians."   A-G 406. [Karl said: U 4.10-19 inserts a long passage from Flat 254.29-255.1, but with a few changes. FJ 7.11 appends the passage in a note.
Ed. note. A-G substitute an English proverb.

FJ 2.  14.  Þeir seigia og kuodu fa verda þannen vid daudann. Deyia skal huer vm sinn seigir Kall. og eiga sligth allir fyrir hondum.
A-G 1. Karl to his guards when they remark upon his nonchalance in the face of approaching execution:
95. They said they hadn't seen many people face death that way. "Everybody's got to die sooner or later," said Karl. "That's something everyone has to contend with."
FJ Proverb word 67. Pages 74-5. deyja, dauði – eitt sinn skal hverr deyja Völs 9, Þórir (Sturl³ I 532). ‘En gang skal enhver dø’. Aasen: “Eingong döya skal alle mann”. Andre former er: deyja verðr (skal) hverr um sinn Örv (Boer) 110 (sål.også GJ), hverr deyr seggr eitt sinn Gisl Illugas. (lausav.) Nærbeslægtet hermed er: dauðr verðr hverr Hallfr. lausav. 28. þá mun hverr deyja er feigr er Reykd 31. ´Da vil enhver dø når hans dødstime kommer´. Jfr Aasen: “Han døyr som er feig (og liver some er seig)”.
Gering 7. deyja (nr. 67^a). — Das sprichwort eitt sinn skal hverr deyja findet sich auch Völs. c. 18 (Olsens ausg. 43¹⁴) und Ævent. 17²⁰⁶.
TPMA 11. 327. TOD/ /death1. Tod als allbekannte und unausweichliche Realität  1.2 Der tod ereilt jeden ohne Ausnahme und Unterschied 1.2.1.2. Einmal (Schlisslich) muss jeder (alles) sterben³  Nord. 86 Þvíat eino sinni skal alda hverr Fara til heliar heðan Den einmal muss jeder Mensch sterben (wörtl. von hier ins Totenreich fahren) FAFNISMÁL 10,4. 87 Dœgr eitt er þér dauði ætlaðr! Eines Tages ist dir der Tod bestimmt GRÍPISPÁ 25, 7 (= JÓNSSON. ARKIV 67. Jónsson 28). 88 Eitt sinn skal hverr deyja Jeder muss einmal sterben JÓMSVÍKINGA SAGA 47 (→ FMS XI, 148). 89 Skal ok eitt sinn hverr deyja Jeder muss doch einmal sterben Óláfr Þórðarson (?), KNÝTLINGA SAGA 96 (→ FMS XI, 339). 90 Þvíatt eitt sinn skal hverr deyja Dann jeder muss einmal sterben VÖLSUNGA SAGA 5, 20 (= JÓNSSON, ARKIV 67. JÓNSSON 28). 91 En eitt sinn skal hverr deyja Aber jeder muss einmal sterben VÖLSUNGA SAGA 18, 56 (= GERING S. 7). 92 Deyja verðr hverr um sinn sakir Sterben muss jeder einmal ÖRVAR-ODDS SAGA 30, 5. 93. 94 Deyja skal hverr um sinn Übers. wie 88 ÖRVAR-ODDS SAGA 14. 16 (→ FAS II, 216. II, 225). 95 Ok skal um sinn hverr deyja Übers. vie 89 ÍSL. ÆV. 17, 206 (= GERING s. 7).      ³Vgl. HASSALL M 225; WHITING D 243.
Ed. note. See Deskis, p. 83, fn 77.

FJ 2.  23.   Einar skipade monnum en Kalfr settizt j rum hans aa medan og þokar ath konungenum. þuiat Einar sat auallt aa adra hond konungi. en er Einar sier þetta snyr hann þa til rums sins og sezt aa oxlina (Kalfs) er (hann) villde eigi adr vndan þoka og mællti. fyrr aa gomlum oxanum at bæsa en kalfinum. og sigr hann sidan nidr aa mille þeirra. og er nu kyrt.
A-G 2. Einarr þambarskelfir in competition with Karl, in Vík, with King Magnús:
102. Einarr arranged the seating of the guests, while Kálfr took Einarr's seat and turned his attention to the king. For it was Einarr's habit always to sit beside the king. When Einarr saw that, he went to his customary seat and stood at Kálfr's shoulder, since he failed to move, and said, "The old ox should be put in his stall before the calf" – then he slid down between them. Nothing more was said.

FJ 2. 28.  Gialltu uaroga uelltir/uidr þeim er nu fer hiedra/þiof skal hond j hofi/holda kuitt of stytta./vinr er eg varmra benia/vorod buds en hlidit/tar muteris teite/til huath bumenn vilia.
A-G 3. A verse by Sigvatr.
107. *13. Gjalt varhuga veltir/viðr (þeims nú ferr hiðra)/þjófs (skal hönd í hófi)/hölða kytt (of stytta):/vinr emk (varmra benja/vörnuð býðk) en hlýðið/(tármútaris teiti)/til hvat búmenn vilja. (FJ 29) "Veltir þjófs, gjalt varhuga viðr hölða kytt, þeims nú ferr hiðra; hönd skal of stytta í hófi. Vinr emk: býðk vörnuð varmra benja tármútaris teiti, en hlýðið til, hvat búmenn vilja." Toppler of the thief, beware men's talk that now comes hither; the hand must be measured by moderation. I am a fiend: I warn the appeaser of the hawk of the tear of warm wounds [tear of warm wonds = blood; hawk of blood = raven; appeaser of the raven = warrior], but you must heed what the farmers want.
FJ Proverb word 196. Page 99. högg – . . . skamma (stutta) stund verðr hönd höggvi fegin Nj 178. 521. 703, K. ‘Stakket stund glæder hånden sig ved (sit) hug’ (ti hævnen kommer hurtig). Almindelig i brug.
Gering 9. högg (nr. 196b). – Zu den dreimal in den Njála überlieferten sprichwort: skamma stund verðr hönd höggvi fegin vgl. Saxo (ed. Holder) 137²⁶: nec diu manum ictu exhilarari solere. S. auch Rosenberg, Nordb. aandsliv 1, 245.
K 157. hönd. . . . 88. stutta stund verdur hond hoggi feigenn (H. 43). Kort tid glæder hånd sig ved hug. Ordsproget, der kendes fra Niáls saga, og som også anføres hos G. Jónsson, forekommer bægge steder med skamma for stutta.
TPMA 10.   120. SCHLAGEN/battre/to hit 16. Die Hand freut sich nicht lange am Schlag Mlat. 217 credo euenturum uobis, quod uulgo dici assolet, ferienti interdum breue percussionis gaudium fore, nec diu manum ictu exhilarari solere Ich glaube, es wird für euch herauskommen, was man allgemein zu sagen pflegt, dass für den, der schlägt, manchmal die Freude des Schlagens kurz sei und sich die Hand nicht lange am Schlag zu freuen pflege SAXO GRAMM. 137, 25. Nord. 218 Þat er mælt, at skamma stund verðr hönd höggvi fegin Das wird gesagt, dass die Hand sich (nur) kurze Zeit am Schlag freut NJÁLS SAGA 42, 9 (= JÓNSSON, ARKIV 196. JÓNSSON 82). 219 Mun hér sannaz þat sem mælt er, at skamma stund verðr hönd höggvi fegin Das wird sich hier deutlich zeigen, was man sagt, dass die Hand sich (nur) kurze Zeit am Schlag freut NJÁLS SAGA 99, 9 (= JÓNSSON, ARKIV 196). 220 Nú er svá orðit, sem mælt er, at skamma stund verðr hönd höggvi fegin Nun ist es so gesprochen, wie es gesagt wird, dass die Hand sich (nur) kurze Zeit am Schlag freut NJÁLS SAGA 134, 3 (= JÓNSSON, ARKIV 196). 221 Stutta stund verdur hond hoggi feigenn (Nur) kurze Zeit freut sich die Hand am Schlag KÅLUND 88 (= JÓNSSON, ARKIV 196).

FJ 2. 29.  Huer eggiar þig hoggua/hialldrgegna buþegna/ofrausn er þat ræse/jnnanlandz ath vinna./angr hafde so vngum/adr bragningi radit/ran hygg eg reckum þinum/reidr er her konungr leidar.
A-G 3. A verse by Sigvatr.
107. *14. Hverr eggjar þik höggva/hjaldrgegna bú þegna/ofrausn es þat jöfri/innanlands at vinna:/engr hafði svá ungum/áðr bragningi ráðit/rán hykk rekkum þínum/(reiðrs herr konungr) leiðask. "Hverr eggjar þik höggva bú hjaldrgegna þegna? Ofrausn es þat jöfri at vinna innanlands. Engr hafði áðr ráðit ungum bragningi svá; hykk rekkum þínum leiðask rán; reiðrs herr, konungr." Who urges you to slay the stock of battle-brave men? It is insolent of a king to harry in his own country. No one had earlier given a young ruler such advice; I think your troops are tired of plunder; people are angry, king.
Ed. note. The cautionary example of the Danish king Heremod in Beowulf.

A-G 3. A verse by Sigvatr.
107. *16. Hverr eggjar þik harri/fastorðr skyli fyrða/heiptar strangr at ganga/fengsæll vesa þengill/(opt rýðr þegnum þýðum/hœfir heit at rjúfa/þunn stál) á bak málum: hjaldrmögnuðr þér aldri. "Hverr eggjar þik, heiptar strangr harri, at ganga á bak málum? Opt rýðr þunn stál þýðum þegnum. Fengsæll fyrða þengill skyli vesa fastorðr; aldri hœfir þér at rjúfa heit, hjaldrmögnuðr." Who urges you, pugnacious lord, to go back on your promises? You frequently redden slender steel for gratified warriors. A prosperous king of the people must be true to his word; it never benefits you to break your pledges, battle increaser [warrior].

FJ 2. 29-30.  Syne Olafs bid eg segía/sid kueda aptans bida/oframs sok medal ockar/allt hagligt so male./ervm Magnus ver vegnir/villda eg med milldum/Haralldz vardar þu hiorfe/heyk eilífa ath deyia.
A-G 3.  A verse by Sigvatr.
108.  *18. Syni Óláfs biðk snúðar/erum Magnús vér vægnir/(síð kveða aptans bíða/vildak með þér mildum/óframs sök) (meðal okkar/(Haralds varðar þú hjörvi/allts háligt) svá mála:/haukey) lifa ok deyja.  "Biðk syni Óláfs svá snúðar mála; kveða óframs sök bíða síð aptans; allts háligt meðal okkar. Magnús, vér erum vægnir; vildak með mildum þér lifa ok deyja; þú varðar Haralds haukey hjörvi."  I thus hope matters will take a good turn for Óláfr's son; they say that the cautious man's business must wait until late in the evening; between us two all is well. Magnús, I am well disposed; I wish to live and die with you, generous one; you protect Haraldr's hawk isle [Norway] with the sword.
FJ Proverb word 304. Page 176. óframr – aptans bíðr óframs (ófröm urigt.) sök Laxd. 119, Hrólf Gautr. 14 og i poetisk form: síð kveða aptans bíða óframs sök Sigv. Bers. 18. ‘Til aften må den tilbageholdnes sag vænte’ (?: den kommer aldrig for til behandling hos fyrsten) = GJ.
Gering 11. óframr (nr. 304). —  Zu den belegen für das sprichwort: aptans bíðr óframs sök füge hinzu Griplur 3, 13 (Rímnasafn 1, 372): aptans bíður ófröm sekt.
TPMA 4. 125. FURCHT/peur/fear 3. Wesen und Äusserungsform der Furcht 3.2. Furcht wirkt sich auf Verhalten und Handlungsweise aus 3.2.6. Wer zaghaft ist, sucht immer Aufschub Nord. 202 Síð kveða aptans biða Óframs sök Man sagt, die Angelegenheit des Zaghaften warte bis spät am Abend SIGVATR 11, 18 (= JÓNSSON, ARKIV 304). 203 Aptans bíðr óframs sök Die Angelegenheit des Zaghaften wartet bis am Abend LAXDŒLA SAGA 35, 11 (= JÓNSSON, ARKIV 304). 204 Þvíat satt er þat mælt, er aptans bíðr ófróm sök Denn wahr ist, was man sagt, dass die Angelegenheit des Zaghaften bis am Abend warte HRÓLFS SAGA GAUTREKSSONAR 8 (? FAS III, 80 [= JÓNSSON, ARKIV 303]). 205 Er þat satt, sem mælt er, at aptans bíðr ófröm sök Wahr ist, was man sagt, dass . . . HRÓLFS SAGA 14, 5. 206 Aptans bíður ófröm sekt Übers. wie 203 GRIPLUR 3, 13 (? GERING S. 11).
ÍM 404. ÓFRAMUR Aftans bíður ófröm sekt. Griplur III. 13.

FJ 2. 31.  Þa stendr vpp eirn madr aa þingino er Atli hiet og mællti eigi fleire ord en þesse. so skorpnar skor aa fæti mer ath huergi ma eg vr stad komazt. Þessi ord hugsudu konungs vinir med sier og huad hier mundi j bua.
A-G 3. A man named Atli comments upon the burdens placed upon the farmers at the thingmeeting:
109. Then a man named Atli stood up and said only the following words: "My shoes pinch me so that I can't move from the spot."⁷ The king's friends considered these words and what they might mean.      ⁷"Svá skorpnar skór á fœti mér, at hvergi má ek úr stað komask." See Halldór Halldórsson, Orðtakasafn, 2, 138. Morkinskinna has a real predilection for riddling dialogue (see notes 28.1, 48.7, 56.3-4, 68.8), but in this case, the riddle appears to be borrowed from Ágrip (ÍF 29 32). The meaning seems to be that King Magnús's demands are so restrictive that the farmers have lost any independence of movement, or, more broadly, any political independence. But see also Ármann Jakobsson 1997: 239.
ÍF 29.  32.  Stóð þá upp þá maðr, Atli at nafni, ok mælti eigi fleiri orð en þessor: "Svá skorpnar skór at fœti mér, at ek má eigi ór stað komask."

FJ.  2.  36.  og hier med segir konungr vil eg gefa þier jallzsnafn og þuilikt af landzgædzslu j Danmork sem þa vilium uær hafa aa kuedit er vær komum þar. Sveirn tekr vid skikiunne og kastar eigi yfir sig gefr þegar einhuerium sinum manne og rodnar vid miog. en hann skikir sialfr grafelld eirn islenzskann. Og er Einar þambarskelfir sier þetta þa mællti hann. ofiall ofiall fostri segir hann.
A-G 4.  Einarr þambarskelfir comments when King Magnús will only make Sveinn Úlfsson a jarl:
113.  "And herewith," said the king, "I will give you the title of 'jarl' and that part of Denmark that I desire to delegate when I come there." Sveinn took the cloak but did not put it on. He gave it immediately to one of his men and turned bright crimson. But he himself put on an Icelandic fur cloak. When Einarr þambarskelfir saw that, he said "Too great a jarl, too great a jarl, foster son."^8     8"Too great a jarl" translates ofjarl. On the title "jarl," see Arne Bøe, "Jarl," in KLNM 7, 559-64. Ch. 48 of "Haralds saga Sigurðarsonar" (ÍF 28, 130; trans. Hollander, p. 615) tells us that in the time of Óláfr Haraldsson and Magnús, there was only one jarl in Norway. Such a jarl might therefore potentially be the king's most powerful rival.

FJ   2.   67. Þeir Nordbrigt setiaz nu vm eina borg agæta bædi ath fiolmenne og storaudigum gersimum. og uerdr þeim (t)orsott og fast fyrir og fa þeir eingi suig aa vnnid. Þa mællti Gyrgir. hier mun eigi þat til ath taka et minna er eigi fæzth hid meira. þuiat eigi liggr sia borg laus fyrir og eigi verdr hun af vorum styrk unninn. og munum uer uerda til ath fara og uæntir mig ath oss ueite betr vt vm strandernar þar sem minne afle er fyrir.
A-G 11.  Gyrgir, commander of the Byzantine forces, is more eager than 'Norðbrikt' to give up an attack on a Sicilian town:
137.  Norðbrikt and his men now laid siege to a town that was exceptional both in terms of a large population and rich treasures. The town resisted stoutly and was difficult to breach, so that they accomplished nothing. Then Gyrgir said: "Where the greater remedies won´t work, there's no point in trying the lesser ones.⁶ This town is not vulnerable and will not fall to our attack. We will have to desist, and I suspect that we will fare better out on the coast, where the is less manpower."     ⁶"Hér mun eigi þat til at taka et minna, er eigi fæsk et meira." The saying is not included in Halldór Halldórsson's Orðtakasafn.
TPMA 7.  95. KLEIN/petit/small  2. Wert und Bedeutung der Kleinen. 2.3. Vorrang des Kleinen gegenüber dem Grossen. 2.3.6. Ein kleiner Gewinn ist besser als ein grosser Verlust (als gar keiner)  Nord. 172 Þat mun ráð at taka hit minna, ef eigi færr hit meira Es wird wohl ratsam sein, das Kleinere zu nehmen, wenn man das Grössere nicht bekommen kann HARALDS SAGA HARÐRÁÐA 8 (→FMS VI, 148[= GERING 90]).

FJ.  3.   67-8. Þa mællti Nordbrigt. nu er groftr sia vordin mikell sem eg villda. skyllde vær og gott fyrir taka en giptan munde rada. grofum vær nu vpp þar sem vær væntum ath ver komum vpp j einhueriu herbergi j borginne. og grofum eigi fyr vpp wr jordunne enn ver erum adr aller vitbunir og herklæddir. en þa hefir sa happ er hlytr og audit verdr. en ef vel villde til takazt vm uppkuomuna vora j borgina mætti so vera ath þeim brygde nockut vndarliga vid er fyrir eru og yrde nockut vm felmt edr otta er menn koma uouifliga vr jordu upp ath þeim. hattum og so bunade vorum og sialfum oss ath þeim mætti mestr grunr aa uera huat dreingia vær erum. þuiath marga geth egh ecke sidr ætla onnr kuikende muno koma vr jordunne vpp enn menn. Þeir giora nu so med rade Nordbrigt.
A-G 11.  'Norðbrikt' encourages his men as they tunnel under the well fortified Sicilian town:
138. Then Norðbrikt said: "Now the tunnel is the size I want. We should do our best and let fortune take its course. Let us dig upward to where we think we can get into some house in the town. But let us not surface before we are all armed and ready. Luck goes to the lucky, as destiny determines.⁷ If our break-out goes well, it may be that those who are present will be rather startled and fearful when they see men coming at them out of the earth all of a sudden. Let us also dress in such a way as to keep them guessing, for (FJ 68) I suspect that there are plenty of people who expect creatures other than humans to emerge from the earth." They followed Norðbrikt's advice.     ⁷"En þá hefir sá happ, er hlýtr ok auðit verðr." On such fatalistic phrases, see Hermann Pálsson 1975: 140-41.
Ed. note. Hermann Pálsson, "Um gæfumenn ok ógæfu í íslenzkum fornsögum," in Afmælisrit Björns Sigfússonsar, ed. Björn Teitsson et al. Reykjavík, 1975, 135-53.

FJ.  3.   67-8. Þa mællti Nordbrigt. nu er groftr sia vordin mikell sem eg villda. skyllde vær og gott fyrir taka en giptan munde rada. grofum vær nu vpp þar sem vær væntum ath ver komum vpp j einhueriu herbergi j borginne. og grofum eigi fyr vpp wr jordunne enn ver erum adr aller vitbunir og herklæddir. en þa hefir sa happ er hlytr og audit verdr. en ef vel villde til takazt vm uppkuomuna vora j borgina mætti so vera ath þeim brygde nockut vndarliga vid er fyrir eru og yrde nockut vm felmt edr otta er menn koma uouifliga vr jordu upp ath þeim. hattum og so bunade vorum og sialfum oss ath þeim mætti mestr grunr aa uera huat dreingia vær erum. þuiath marga geth egh ecke sidr ætla onnr kuikende muno koma vr jordunne vpp enn menn. Þeir giora nu so med rade Nordbrigt.
A-G 11.  'Norðbrikt' encourages his men as they tunnel under the well fortified Sicilian town:
138. Then Norðbrikt said: "Now the tunnel is the size I want. We should do our best and let fortune take its course. Let us dig upward to where we think we can get into some house in the town. But let us not surface before we are all armed and ready. Luck goes to the lucky, as destiny determines.⁷ If our break-out goes well, it may be that those who are present will be rather startled and fearful when they see men coming at them out of the earth all of a sudden. Let us also dress in such a way as to keep them guessing, for (FJ 68) I suspect that there are plenty of people who expect creatures other than humans to emerge from the earth." They followed Norðbrikt's advice.     ⁷"En þá hefir sá happ, er hlýtr ok auðit verðr." On such fatalistic phrases, see Hermann Pálsson 1975: 140-41.
Ed. note. Hermann Pálsson, "Um gæfumenn ok ógæfu í íslenzkum fornsögum," in Afmælisrit Björns Sigfússonsar, ed. Björn Teitsson et al. Reykjavík, 1975, 135-53.
Ed. note.  See above 27. 225.
FJ Proverb word 163. Page 92. happ – sá skal hafa happ er hlotit hefr Eyrb 11. ‘Den skal beholde det vundne som har fået det’ (?: enhver skal beholde hvad han har fået), er måske ikke egl. ordsprog men en juridisk termin.
Gering 8. happ (nr. 163). – Das nur aus Eyrb. (c. 10, 5) citierte sprichwort: sá skal hafa happ er hlotit hefir steht auch Heimskr. 3, 178²: skyldi . . . sá hafa happ er hlotit hafði. Vgl. ferner Ól. s. helga c. 60 (Fms. 4, 110¹³): konungr segir, at þat skyldi þá hverr hafa sem fengit hafði, u. ebda c. 169 (5, 14²²): munu nú hafa hvárir sem fengit hafa.
FJ 65. happ Sá skal hafa happ er hlotið hefur (Eyrb. 11).
ÍM 131. HAPP Sá skal hafa happ er hlotið hefur. Eyrb. 10. kap.
TPMA 4. 488. GEWINN/gain/profit 10. Gewinnen und festhalten (sparen) 10.1. Man halte das Gewonnene fest und spare 10.1.1. Allg. Nord. 269 Sá skal hafa happ er hlotit hefir Jeder soll den Vorteil behalten, den er erlangt har EYRBYGGJA SAGA 10, 5 (=JÓNSSON, ARKIV 163. JÓNSSON 65). ? HALTEN 6 – 7a, 10, 12, 16, 21, 24, 34, 36, SPAREN 8, 13, VERLIEREN 138. Vgl. EIGEN 5.2.2., GUT (Subst.) 5.2., HALTEN 1.1., HÜTEN 1.

FJ   3.   69.  Nu leggia þeir til annarrar borgar er bædi uar meire og torsottari. Gyrgir mællti. þetta rad muno þier vm megn ydr taka og treystiz þu nu offramarliga af sigri þeim er þu hefir nu vnnid. og forum nu helldr uidara til og latum eigi þat hlægi henda oss ath briotazt uid þat er ecke verdr ath giort og er illt ath setiazt optar nidr enn hann ris vpp.
A-G 12.  Gyrgir, the commander of the Byzantine troops, is typically discouraging when 'Norðbrikt' undertakes the siege of another well fortified town in Sicily.
139.   They now besieged another town that was both larger and harder to reduce. Gyrgir spoke: "You will now risk this enterprise beyound your capacity and trust too boldly in the victory you have won. Let us rather explore further and not commit the foolishness of undertaking what we cannot achieve. It is no good to sit down more often than you get up."^1     1"Er illt at setjask optarr niðr en hann ríss upp." This saying is not registered in Halldór Halldórsson's Orðtakasafn.

FJ   3.   69.  Nu leggia þeir til annarrar borgar er bædi uar meire og torsottari. Gyrgir mællti. þetta rad muno þier vm megn ydr taka og treystiz þu nu offramarliga af sigri þeim er þu hefir nu vnnid. og forum nu helldr uidara til og latum eigi þat hlægi henda oss ath briotazt uid þat er ecke verdr ath giort og er illt ath setiazt optar nidr enn hann ris vpp.
A-G 12.  Gyrgir, the commander of the Byzantine troops, is typically discouraging when 'Norðbrikt' undertakes the siege of another well fortified town in Sicily.
139.   They now besieged another town that was both larger and harder to reduce. Gyrgir spoke: "You will now risk this enterprise beyound your capacity and trust too boldly in the victory you have won. Let us rather explore further and not commit the foolishness of undertaking what we cannot achieve. It is no good to sit down more often than you get up."^1     1"Er illt at setjask optarr niðr en hann ríss upp." This saying is not registered in Halldór Halldórsson's Orðtakasafn.

FJ 3. 73.  þa scolo þer segia mic sivkan. og liGia þar itialdino. oc þar mon ec vera. oc scolom þannoc lata fara fram viko. oc er sva er comit þa scolo þer allz viþ leita¹) at hryGva andlit yþor oc segia þa andlat mitt. Siþan scolo þer biþia þangat leyfis likino iborgina til einhverrar kirkio. oc segit eigi feit scorta scolo beþi gvll oc dyrgripi meþ likino. oc vettir mic at þetta myni þeir leyfa, þvi at margir ero fegiarnir.       ¹)Skr. lieta.   L. 19. – 20. oc(2)– vera: ul. – 23. iborgina: ul. – 25. gvll: og silfr tf. dyrgripi: dyrgripi ath fara.
A-G 12. From a lengthy speech of exhortation by 'Norðbrikt' to the troops encouraging them to gain entrance to a Sicilian town by means of the funeral trick--again, in response to the discouragements of Gyrgir.
142. You should say that I am sick and confined to bed there, as indeed I will be. We will let a week pass in that manner. After that you should make the most dismal face you can and say that I am dead. Then you should ask for permission to bring the corpse to some church in the town. Say that there will be no shortage of money in connection with the burial, either in the form of gold or precious objects. I suspect that they will give permission, because many people are eager for money."
TPMA 4. 336.  GELD/argent/money  1. Grosse Macht, Geltung und Wirkung des Guldes 1.8. Geld wird (am meisten) geliebt und begehrt Nord. 113 Þvíat margra manna augu verða féskjálg Denn vieler Leute Auden schielen mach Geld BANDAMANNA SAGA 21, 11 Var.
FJ 392. Fús er hver til fjárins Magus s. 18 kap. ÍM 79.

FJ 5.  98.  Þat hvgðom ver sagþi² Haralldr at nv verim ver comnir meþ vinom.³ en þo grvnaþi oss aþan vm hriþ hvart er mvndot sva etla. oc er þat satt er menn mela at braðgeþ⁴ er bernsca. oc viliom sva virþa frendi at þetta veri øscobragþ. Þa melti M. konvngr. Þetta var ettar bragþ en eigi øsco bragþ. þo at ec metta mvna hvat ec gaf yðr eþa hvat ec bannaþa. Ef þessi litli lvtr veri nv tekinn fyr lof mitt. þa mondi vera bratt annat. en alla sett viliom ver hallda er gor var oc allt þat er ver gafvm yþr. en þat sama viliom ver hafa af yþr er ver eigom scilt. Þa svaraþi Haralldr konvngr oc stoþ vpp. Þat er fornt mal at enn vitrari scyli vegia. gecc abrot siðan oc aptr ascip sitt.     ²hvgsagþi hds., idet g er rettet til s.     ³Rettet fra hdss. vnom.    ⁴geþ er tf. over l. med nedvisn.tegn.    L. – 15. þetta–bragþ: brad bernska hafe ydr til geingit. – 19. vera–annat: þier skiott hafa tekinn annan. – 20–21. ocd–yþr: ul. – 24. vegia: Alldre skorter ydr vit segir Magnus konungr og skyllde þier þa til gods hafa vilia tf.
A-G 14. Haraldr when Magnús rows at and takes possession of his ship:
156. "We thought," said Haraldr, "that we were among friends, but a few moments ago we began to have doubts about your intentions. It is true what people say, that youth is impetuous, and I am willing to believe, kinsman, that this was youthfulness." "This was proof of ancestry, not youthfulness," said King Magnús. "I am able to remember what I gave you and what I withheld. If this little matter had been subtracted from my honor, something else would have followed it quickly. I wish to honor fully the agreement we made and acknowledge everything I gave you, but I also wish to have from you everything that is my due." King Haraldr arose and replied: "It is an old saw that the wiser man should yield." He then departed and went to his ship.
Ed. note. See below, FJ 12. 116.
FJ Proverb word 34. Page 69. bernska (sml. barn) —  bernska er brátt geð, FSK 245 eller: bráðgeð er bernskan som det hedder i parallelstedet Mork 22.
TPMA 6. 376.  JUNG/jeune/young  2. Eignschaften der Jugend 2.8. Jugend ist heftig, hastig und unbeständig Nord. 54, 55 Þat er mælt at bráðgeð verði úngmenni Man sagt, dass junge Leute heftig seien HARALDS SAGA HARÐRÁÐA 24 (→ FMS VI, 195 [= GERING S. 6 JÓNSSON 14]). MORKINSKINNA 31, 18. 56 En þat er satt, sem mælt er, at bráðgeð er bernskan Und das ist wahr, was man sagt, dass die Jugend heftig ist HARALDS SAGA HARÐRÁÐA 31 (→ FMS VI, 220). 57 Bernska er brátt geð Jugend ist heftig FAGRSKINNA 245 (→ JÓNSSON, ARKIV 34 [= JÓNSSON 14]). 58 En þat er satt, er mælt er, at bráðgeð er bernska Übers. wie 56 SNORRI, HEIMSKRINGLA 463, 37 (Haralds saga harðráða 27). 59 Oc er þat satt er menn mela at braðgeþ er bernska Und das ist wahr, was die Leute sagen, dass . . . MORKINSKINNA 22, 21 (= JÓNSSON, ARKIV 34. JÓNSSON 14). → HUND 707. Vgl. KIND 5.10.
ÍM 28. Bernska er bráðgeð Hrk. III 104 o.v. Bernska er brátt geð. Fagrsk 245.

FJ 5.  98.  Þat hvgðom ver sagþi² Haralldr at nv verim ver comnir meþ vinom.³ en þo grvnaþi oss aþan vm hriþ hvart er mvndot sva etla. oc er þat satt er menn mela at braðgeþ⁴ er bernsca. oc viliom sva virþa frendi at þetta veri øscobragþ. Þa melti M. konvngr. Þetta var ettar bragþ en eigi øsco bragþ. þo at ec metta mvna hvat ec gaf yðr eþa hvat ec bannaþa. Ef þessi litli lvtr veri nv tekinn fyr lof mitt. þa mondi vera bratt annat. en alla sett viliom ver hallda er gor var oc allt þat er ver gafvm yþr. en þat sama viliom ver hafa af yþr er ver eigom scilt. Þa svaraþi Haralldr konvngr oc stoþ vpp. Þat er fornt mal at enn vitrari scyli vegia. gecc abrot siðan oc aptr ascip sitt.     ²hvgsagþi hds., idet g er rettet til s.     ³Rettet fra hdss. vnom.    ⁴geþ er tf. over l. med nedvisn.tegn.    L. – 15. þetta–bragþ: brad bernska hafe ydr til geingit. – 19. vera–annat: þier skiott hafa tekinn annan. – 20–21. ocd–yþr: ul. – 24. vegia: Alldre skorter ydr vit segir Magnus konungr og skyllde þier þa til gods hafa vilia tf.
A-G 14. Haraldr when Magnús rows at and takes possession of his ship:
156. "We thought," said Haraldr, "that we were among friends, but a few moments ago we began to have doubts about your intentions. It is true what people say, that youth is impetuous, and I am willing to believe, kinsman, that this was youthfulness." "This was proof of ancestry, not youthfulness," said King Magnús. "I am able to remember what I gave you and what I withheld. If this little matter had been subtracted from my honor, something else would have followed it quickly. I wish to honor fully the agreement we made and acknowledge everything I gave you, but I also wish to have from you everything that is my due." King Haraldr arose and replied: "It is an old saw that the wiser man should yield." He then departed and went to his ship.
FJ Proverb word 463. Page 202. vitr —  enn vitrari vægir (skal vægja) Hkr III 114 (Mork 22). 'Den klogeste giver efter'.
Gerings 13. vitr (nr. 463^a). —  Das von FJ nur aus der Heimskr. (3, 114²⁰) belegte sprichworte: enn vitrari vægir findet sich auch Ól. s. Tr. c. 161 (Fms. 2, 33²⁶) in der fassung: jafnan vægir enn vitrari. Vgl. ferner die umkehrung Stjórn 544²⁸: sjaldan vægir enn verri.
TPMA 8. 308. NACHGEBEN/céder/to yield 1. Der Klügere gibt nach Nord. 1 Þat er ok forn orðskviðr, at jafnan vægir hinn vitrari Das ist auch ein altes Sprichwort, dass stets der Klügere nachgibt HARALDS SAGA HARÐRÁÐA 31 (→ FMS VI, 220). 2 Þat er ok forn siðr, at inn vitrari vægi Das ist auch eine alte Regel, dass der Klügere nachgebe SNORRI, HEIMSKRINGLA 464, 6 (Haralds saga harðráða 27 [= JÓNSSON, ARKIV 463. JÓNSSON 182]). 3 Þat er fornt mal at enn vitrari scyli vegia Das ist ein altes Sprichwort, dass der Klügere nachgeben solle MORKINSKINNA 22, 28 (= JÓNSSON, ARKIV 463). 4 Jafnan vægir hinn vitrari Stets gibt der Klügere nach GROSSE ÓLÁFS SAGA TRYGGVASONAR 161 (→ FMS II, 33 [= GERING S. 13. JÓNSSON 184]).

FJ 10.  108.  Einarr stoð vpp oc þaccaþi honom orþ sin. oc ollom þeim bvondom er þingit sotto. oc M. konvngi vildo mestan soma gera. Þa melti Haralldr konvngr. Hatt beR þv nv hialminn Einarr. oc mioc synir þv þic ímotgongo viþ mic nv sem fyR. oc goþr veri sa dagr er þinn ofsi steypiz. oc sva sem nv ertv hofþi heri en aþrir. scyldir þv bratt hofþi legri.  Þeir scilþo nv þingit viþ sva bvit.    L. – 26.–27. oc–gera: ul.   – 29. nv–fyR: nær sem þier uerdr þath golldit.
A-G 19. King Haraldr responds with threats when Einarr þambarskelfir checks another of his bids for dominance over Magnús.
162. Einarr stood up and thanked him for his words, as well as all the farmers who had assembled and wished to accord King Magnús the greatest honor. Then King Haraldr spoke: "You are high and mighty (U 28) now, Einarr, and now as always you are making your opposition to me clear. It will be a fine (FJ 109) day when pride takes a fall. By as much as you are now a head taller than everyone else, you will soon be a head shorter." With that, the thingmeeting was disbanded.
FJ Proverb word 306. Page 176. ofsi —  illa sezk opt ofsinn Gl 22. 'Overmod får ofte en dårlig udgang.' GJ: illa sezt ofstopinn.
TPMA 6. 134. HOCHMUT/orgueil/arrogance 5. Auswirkungen und Folgen von Hochmut 5.6. Hochmut bringt Gefahr, Verderben und schlimmes Ende Nord. 177 Illa sezk opt ofsinn Der Hochmut ender oft schlecht VÍGA-GLÚMS SAGA 13, 10 (= JÓNSSON, ARKIV 306. JÓNSSON 127). 178 Finem dampnosum capit omne superciliosum. – All hoffærdighet fangher oond ændhe Ein Ende mit Schaden nimmt alle Hoffart. – Alle Hoffart nimmt ein schltes Ende LÅLE 381.

FJ 10.  108.  Einarr stoð vpp oc þaccaþi honom orþ sin. oc ollom þeim bvondom er þingit sotto. oc M. konvungi vildo mestan soma gera. Þa melti Haralldr konvngr. Hatt beR þv nv hialminn Einarr. oc mioc synir þv þic ímotgongo viþ mic nv sem fyR. oc goþr veri sa dagr er þinn ofsi steypiz. oc sva sem nv ertv hofþi heri en aþrir. scyldir þv bratt hofþi legri.  Þeir scilþo nv þingit viþ sva bvit.    L. – 26.–27. oc–gera: ul.   – 29. nv–fyR: nær sem þier uerdr þath golldit.
A-G 19. King Haraldr responds with threats when Einarr þambarskelfir checks another of his bids for dominance over Magnús.
162. Einarr stood up and thanked him for his words, as well as all the farmers who had assembled and wished to accord King Magnús the greatest honor. Then King Haraldr spoke: "You are high and mighty (U 28) now, Einarr, and now as always you are making your opposition to me clear. It will be a fine (FJ 109) day when pride takes a fall. By as much as you are now a head taller than everyone else, you will soon be a head shorter." With that, the thingmeeting was disbanded.
Ed. note. Closure to an apophthegmatic scene.

FJ 12.  116.  Þa s. Haralldr konvngr. Hvarom scal fyR føra qveþit. Hann s. FyR enom yngra. Konvngr spyrr. Hvi hann fyR. HeRa s. hann. þat er melt at braðgeþ verþa vngmenni.     L. – 15. -geþ: -giord.
A-G 21.  Arnórr jarlaskald converses with the two kings over which of them should hear his poem first.
165.  Then King Haraldr said: "Which of us will hear his poem first"? "The younger," said he. The king asked, "Why the younger first?" "Sire," he said, "we are told that youth is impatient." It seemed to both of them that it was more honorable to be addressed first.^2     2The order of recitation is reminiscent of an episode in Gunnlaugs saga (ÍF 3, 79-81), in which Gunnlaugr and Hrafn dispute the order in which they will present their panegyrics at the court of King Ólálf of Sweden. Here, too, the order is determined by personality; Gunnlaugr is judged to be more willful and is therefore allowed to go first.
Ed. note.  See above, 5. 98.
FJ Proverb word 34. Page 69. bernska (sml. barn) —  bernska er brátt geð, FSK 245 eller: bráðgeð er bernskan som det hedder i parallelstedet Mork 22.
TPMA 6. 376.  JUNG/jeune/young  2. Eignschaften der Jugend 2.8. Jugend ist heftig, hastig und unbeständig Nord. 54, 55 Þat er mælt at bráðgeð verði úngmenni Man sagt, dass junge Leute heftig seien HARALDS SAGA HARÐRÁÐA 24 (→ FMS VI, 195 [= GERING S. 6 JÓNSSON 14]). MORKINSKINNA 31, 18. 56 En þat er satt, sem mælt er, at bráðgeð er bernskan Und das ist wahr, was man sagt, dass die Jugend heftig ist HARALDS SAGA HARÐRÁÐA 31 (→ FMS VI, 220). 57 Bernska er brátt geð Jugend ist heftig FAGRSKINNA 245 (→ JÓNSSON, ARKIV 34 [= JÓNSSON 14]). 58 En þat er satt, er mælt er, at bráðgeð er bernska Übers. wie 56 SNORRI, HEIMSKRINGLA 463, 37 (Haralds saga harðráða 27). 59 Oc er þat satt er menn mela at braðgeþ er bernska Und das ist wahr, was die Leute sagen, dass . . . MORKINSKINNA 22, 21 (= JÓNSSON, ARKIV 34. JÓNSSON 14). → HUND 707. Vgl. KIND 5.10.

FJ 15.  125.  [Hreiðars þáttur heimska.] Oc snemma vm morgoninn aþr menn veri vacnaþir stendr Hreiþarr vpp oc kallar. vaki þv broþir. fatt veit sa er søfr. Ec veit tiþindi oc heyrþac aþan leti kynlig.
A-G 24.  Hreiðarr heimski wakens his brother, Þórðr, upon hearing a trumpet blast.
171.  Early in the morning, before the others awoke, Hreiðarr got up and called out: "Wake up, brother. The slug-a-bed is slow to learn. I'm onto something and have just heard a strange sound."
FJ Proverb word 461. Page 201. vita —  fátt veit sá er søfr Mork 36. 'Lidet ved (får at vide) den som sover'; måske betuder fátt veit her blot 'er uden bevidsthed', men sammenhængen viser at veit her (også ialfald) opfattedes som 'får at vide'. =
GJ.
TPMA 10. 103. SCHLAFEN/dormir/to sleep 7. Negative Folgen des (übermässigen) Schlafens 7.1. Schlafen führt zur Sünde Nord. 88 Ofsvefni tæla Lát þik aldrigi, Kosta vakr at vera; Leti ok lasta Verðr þeim er lengi sefr Auðit iðuliga  Lass dich nie von übermässigen Schlaf verlocken! Bemühe dich, wach zu sein! Oft befallen Faulheit und Laster denjenigen, der lange schläft HUGSVINNSMÁL 18, 1.
TPMA 10. 105. SCHLAFEN/dormir/to sleep 7. Negative Folgen des (übermässigen) Schlafens 7.12. Verschiedenes Nord. 116, 117 Fátt veit sá er sefr Wenig weiss, wer schläft HARALDS SAGA HARÐRÁÐA 26 (→ FMS VI, 201). MORKINSKINNA 36, 28 (= JÓNSSON, ARKIV 461. jÓNSSON 184) (vgl. WISSEN 11).
Ed. note.  See Hávamál: 58 Ár scal rísa,/ sá er annars vill/fé eða fiör hafa;/sialdan liggiandi úlfr/lær um getr,/né sofandi maðr sigr.  59 Ár scal rísa,/ sá er á yrkendr fá,/oc ganga síns verca á vit;/ mart um dvelr,/ þann er um morgin sefr,/ hálfr er auðr und hvötum.   Larrington: 58. He should get up early, the man who means to take/ another´s life or property;/the slumbering wolf does not get the ham,/nor a sleeping man victory.  59. He should get up early, the man who has few workers,/and go about his work with thought;/ much he neglects, the man who sleeps in in the mornings,/ wealth is half-won by the vigorous.

FJ 15.  125-6.  [Hreiðars þáttur heimska.]   Þa scytr i tvau hornn maþ ocr s. Þorþr. mer þøtti þvi betr er þv kømir þar siþr er fiolment veri.
A-G 24. Þórðr argues against taking Hreiðarr into crowded places:
172.  "That makes for a real difference between us," (FJ 126) said Þórðr, "because the less you get into crowds, the better off you seem to me (U 37), and I have no intention of going."
Ed. note. A-G does not treat this as a proverbial phrase, presumably finding nothing equivalent in English.
TPMA 10. 81. SCHIESSEN/tirer (arme)/to shoot 11. Redensarten Nord. 39 Þá skýtr í 2 horn með okkr Da geht der Schuss bei uns in zwei (verschiedene) Ecken hin⁴ HARALDS SAGA HARÐRÁÐA 26 (→ FMS VI, 202). 40 Þa scytr í tvav hornn meþ ocr MORKINSKINNA 36, 38. 41 Enn all miög skytr þessu i tváv horn fyrir mer Aber damit geht der Schuss für mich nach zwei ganz anderen Ecken hin⁵ MAGUS SAGA 5 S. 9, 23.     ⁴Sinn: Da gehen wir zwei verschiedene Wege, da sind wir nicht derselben Meinung.   ⁵Sinn: Da bin ich ganz anderer Meinung.

FJ 15.  126.  [Hreiðars þáttur heimska.]  Oc er Hreiþarr ser at Þorþr for seint. þa melti hann. Þat er þo satt at illt er litill at vera. þa er aflit ner ecki. en þo metti vera fraleicrinn. en litit etla ec þic af honom hafa hlotit.
A-G 24.  Hreiðarr taunts his brother Þórðr for his reluctance to hasten to the king's meeting:
172.  When Hreiðarr saw that Þórðr was lagging behind, he said: "It's a disadvantage to be small and have almost no strength, but you could at least have had spee, though I can see that you did not get much."
TPMA 7. 95. KLEIN/petit/small 2. Wert und Bedeutung des Kleinen 2.4. Unterlegenheit des Kleinen gegenüber dem Grossen 2.4.1. Allg. Nord. 177 Þat er þó satt, at íllt er litlum at vera Es ist doch wahr, dass es schlimm ist, klein zu sein (wörtl.: für den Kleinen schlimm ist zu sein) HARALDS SAGA HARÐRÁÐA 26 (→ FMS VI, 202). 178 Þat er þo satt at illt er litill at vera . . . klein zu sein MORKINSKINNA 37, 6 (= JÓNSSON, ARKIV 254. JÓNSSON 107).

FJ 15.  129.  [Hreišars žįttur heimska.]  Konvngr s. heimil er min vmsia en betr þicci mer þer þar vistin felld vera er helldr er fatt manna. Hreiþarr s. Sva er þat oc s. hann. en eigi mon sva mannfatt vera at eigi comi þat þo vpp er melt verðr. allra hellzt þat er hløgi þiccir í. en ec maþr ecki orðvaR oc iafnan beR mer mart ágóma nv cann vera at þeir reiþi orþ min fyr aþra menn oc spotti mic oc drepi þat at ferligo er ec hefi at gamni e. melig. Nv syniz mer hitt vitrligra at vera helldr hia þeim er vm mic hyGr sem Þorðr er broþir minn þott þar se helldr fiolmenni. en hinnog þott menn se fair oc se þar engi til vmbota.
A-G 24.  King Magnús tries to persuade Hreiðarr heimski to find winter lodging away from his court.
174.  The king replied: "You are in my care, but I think you would be lodged better where there are fewer people." "That is so," said Hreiðarr, "but there are never so few people that word of what is said doesn´t get around, especially if it is amusing. I´m not cautious in my speech, and a lot of words slip out. It might happen that people are angered at my words and mock me and make too much of what I have said in jest. It seems to me wiser to be near someone who cares for me, like my brother Þórðr, even if there are a lot of people present, rather than to be where there are few people and none to take a hand on my behalf."
Ed. note. Proverbial allusion.  See:
FJ Proverb word 314. Page 177. orð (jfr dróttinn) – . . . (þegar) ferr orð af (er) um munn líðr Vápnf 15 (Austf. 43), Dropl * 38, Fms IV 279, ÞSíð 1 (Austf. 215), Sturl3 I 249, eller i poetisk form: orðin fara þegar munninn líðr Mhk 16. ‘Ordet (ordene) farer afsted (bliver bekendte) så snart de har forladt munden’. = GJ.
TPMA 13. 241. WORT/parole/word 9. Vergänglichkeit und Unwiderruflichkeit der Worte Vgl. unten 612, 22.13. 9.3. Worte fliegen (fahren) davon (wie der Wind) Nord. 168 En þat var, sem mælt er, at ferr orð er mun líðr Und es war, wie das Sprichwort sagt, dass das Wort (davon) fährt, wenn es den Mund verlässt SNORRI, ÓLÁFS SAGA HELGA 120 (?FMS IV, 279 [= JÓNSSON, ARKIV 314]). 169 En svá er satt, sem mælt er: "Ferr orð, er munn líðr" Und so ist es wahr, wie das Sprichwort sagt: "Das Wort fährt (davon), wenn es den Mund verlässt" VÁPNFIRÐINGA SAGA 7 S. 40 (= JÓNSSON, ARKIV 314. JÓNSSON 128). 170 Orðin fara þegar munninn líðr Die Worte fahren (davon), sobald eines den Mund verlässt MÁLSHÁTTAKVÆÐI 16, 10 (= JÓNSSON, ARKIV 314. JÓNSSON 128). 171 Svá er, sem mælt er, at ferr orð, er um munn líðr So ist es, wie das Sprichwort sagt, dass das Wort (davon) fährt, wenn es aus dem Munde geht ÞORSTEINS SAGA SÍÐU-HALLSSONAR 1 S. 299 (= JÓNSSON, ARKIV 314). 172 Þviat brat ferr orð, er um mvnn líðr Denn schnell fährt das Wort (davon), wenn es aus dem Munde geht STURLUNGA SAGA I, 249, 10 (= JÓNSSON, ARKIV 314). 173 Og kemur [off]t ad þui, sem mællt er, ad fer orð, er umm munn lijdur Und es kommt oft dazu, wie das Sprichwort sagt, dass das Wort (davon) fährt, wenn es aus dem Munde geht FLJÓTSDŒLA SAGA 38, 12.

FJ 15.  129.  [Hreiðars þáttur heimska.]  Konvngr s. heimil er min vmsia en betr þicci mer þer þar vistin felld vera er helldr er fatt manna. Hreiþarr s. Sva er þat oc s. hann. en eigi mon sva mannfatt vera at eigi comi þat þo vpp er melt verðr. allra hellzt þat er hløgi þiccir í. en ec maþr ecki orðvaR oc iafnan beR mer mart ágóma nv cann vera at þeir reiþi orþ min fyr aþra menn oc spotti mic oc drepi þat at ferligo er ec hefi at gamni e. melig. Nv syniz mer hitt vitrligra at vera helldr hia þeim er vm mic hyGr sem Þorðr er broþir minn þott þar se helldr fiolmenni. en hinnog þott menn se fair oc se þar engi til vmbota.
A-G 24.  King Magnús tries to persuade Hreiðarr heimski to find winter lodging away from his court.
174.  The king replied: "You are in my care, but I think you would be lodged better where there are fewer people." "That is so," said Hreiðarr, "but there are never so few people that word of what is said doesn´t get around, especially if it is amusing. I´m not cautious in my speech, and a lot of words slip out. It might happen that people are angered at my words and mock me and make too much of what I have said in jest. It seems to me wiser to be near someone who cares for me, like my brother Þórðr, even if there are a lot of people present, rather than to be where there are few people and none to take a hand on my behalf."
Ed. note. Proverbial allusion. See:
FJ Proverb word 25. Page 66. bak – berr er hverr á bakinu nema sér bróður eigi Grett 185 (Boer 283). ‘Enhver er bar på ryggen (værgeløs bagfra) medmindre han har sig en broder’. Også i GJ med udeladelse af sér.
Gering 6. bak (nr. 25^b). – Das sprichwort: berr er hverr á bakinu nema sér broður eigi (Grett. c. 82, 13) steht auch Njála c. 152, 5. Vgl. Saxo (ed. Holder) 135¹⁹: nudum habere tergum fraternitatis inopem; Peder Låle nr. 395: fraternitatis orbatus est pro nudo reputatus (bar ær brodherløss man).
Saxo (Kallstenius) 20. Frändskap. 17. nudum habere tergum fraternitatis inopem, referebat, s. 135¹⁹. – Bar er broderløs Bag, Vedel s. 89¹¹. Se vidare D n:r 395 med komm., Rosenberg a. a. II s. 601 not, Gering Ark 32 s. 6 och JR II n:r 169 (s. 19).
TPMA 2.   128. BRUDER/frère/brother 1. Ein Bruder ist wertvoll und von grossem Nutzen 1.3. Wer keinen Bruder hat, ist nackt (ungeschützt) Mlat. 9 Nudum habere tergum fraternitatis inopem, referebat (scil. Ericus) Er (Ericus) rief, dass der Bruderlose einen ungeschützten Rücken habe SAXO GRAMM. 135, 19. Nord. 10.11 Berr er hverr á bakinu (NJÁLS SAGA: at baki), nema sér bróður eigi Jeder ist am Rücken nackt, ausser demjenigen, der einen Bruder hat GRETTIS SAGA 82, 13 (= JÓNSSON, ARKIV 25. GERING S. 6. JÓNSSON 22). NJÁLS SAGA 152, 5. 12 Fratribus orbatus est pro nudo reputatus. – Bar ær brodherløss man Jemand, der seiner Brüder beraubt ist, wird als nackt angesehen. – Ein bruderloser Mann ist nackt LÅLE 395. Variiert: 13 Opt kømr mér Mána brúþar (H.s.: bjarnar²) Í byrvind Brœþraleyse; Hyggjomk umb, Es hildr þróask Oft kommt mir der Mangel an Brüdern in den Sinn (wörtl.: in den Fahrtwind der Mondbraut [des Mondbären]); ich denke darüber nach, wenn der Kampflärm anschwillt EGILL, SONATORREK 13, 1 (→EGILS SAGA S. 305).

FJ 15.  132.  [Hreiðars þáttur heimska.]  Oc er konvngar toloþo. þa gengr Heiþarr íflocc Harallz manna. oc hofþo þeir hann til scogar er scamt var þaþan. scauttogoþo hann mioc. oc hrvndo honom stvndom. en þar lec ymso stvndom fauc hann fyrir sem vindli. en stvndom var hann fastr fyrir sem vegr. oc hrvto þeir fra honom.
A-G 24.  From the episode in which Hreiðarr heimski finally experiences anger.
176.  As the kings were discussing, Hreiðarr joined Haraldr's men, and they took him off to a nearby woods. They tugged at his clothing and pushed him about. Sometimes he flew about like a wisp of straw and sometimes he stood like a stone wall so that they bounced off him.^15    15Cf. the style of roughhousing in Ljósvetninga saga (ÍF 10, 72-73).

FJ 15.  132.  [Hreiðars þáttur heimska.]   Oc er konvngar toloþo. þa gengr Heiþarr íflocc Harallz manna. oc hofþo þeir hann til scogar er scamt var þaþan. scauttogoþo hann mioc. oc hrvndo honom stvndom. en þar lec ymso stvndom fauc hann fyrir sem vindli. en stvndom var hann fastr fyrir sem vegr. oc hrvto þeir fra honom.
A-G 24.  From the episode in which Hreiðarr heimski finally experiences anger.
176.  As the kings were discussing, Hreiðarr joined Haraldr's men, and they took him off to a nearby woods. They tugged at his clothing and pushed him about. Sometimes he flew about like a wisp of straw and sometimes he stood like a stone wall so that they bounced off him.^15    15Cf. the style of roughhousing in Ljósvetninga saga (ÍF 10, 72-73).

FJ 17.  141.  .  .  . yþr biþia at þer seþ vinir vina minna. Scyllt er þat oc s. Haralldr fyr yþrar sacir. en mioc ero þeir ser ørnir.
A-G 26. King Magnús on his death bed asks King Haraldr, who has inquired about his illness, to be kind to Einarr þambarskelfir when he is dead:
182.  King Magnús replied: "Yes, I am ill, kinsman, and I wish to request that you be a friend to my friends." "It is fitting that I do that for you," said Haraldr, "but they are quite self-sufficient and look rather askance at me."
TPMA 4. 63. FREUND/ami/friend  Empfehlenswerte und verwerfliche Freudnschaften 5.6. Freundschaft mit dem Freund des Freundes is angemessen Nord. 1086 Vil ek yðr þess biðja, at þèr sèð vinir minna vina Ich will euch darum bitten, dass ihr Freunde meiner Freunde seid HARALDS SAGA HARÐRÁÐA 35 (→ FMS VI, 226). 1087 Vertu vinr Vinar míns Werde du Freund meines Freundes! SKJALDEDIGTNING B II, 158, 55. 1088 Þess vil ec yþr biþja at þer seþ vinir minna Übers. wie 1086 MORKINSKINNA 46, 24. Vgl. oben 676, DIENEN 9.10.9.3., LIEBE 4.6., MUTTER 2.3.

FJ  148. [Halldórs þáttr Snorrasonar.]  This portion of the second lacuna in Morkinskinna is supplied by Andersson and Gade from Laxdœla saga. Halldórs þættir Snorrasonar. Stúfs þáttr. Einar Ól. Sveinsson gaf út. Íslenzk fornrit V. Reykjavík, 1934:
ÍF V.  2.  268.  Þá mælti konungr: "Seint er þó menn at reyna, Halldórr," segir hann, "er þú níðisk á drykkju við gamalmenni ok hleypr at vændiskonum um síðkveldum, en fylgir eigi konungi þínum."
A-G
189.  The king said: "It takes years to test men, Halldórr, since I now see that you cheat old men at drinking and run to whore late at night rather than accompanying your king."^4    4On whores in medieval Norway, see Allen Karker, "Prostitution," in KLNM 13, 505-8.
FJ Proverb word 333. Page 180. reyna (jfr vita) – . . . lengi skal manninn reyna Grett 48 (Boer 81). ‘Længe (det tager lang tid at . .) skal man prøve et menneske’ (pludselig kan en vise en ny side af sin karakter, man ikke för har kendt). = GJ (med var.: marka).
TPMA 8. 193.  MENSCH/être humain/man  1. Wesen, Eigenschaften und Markmale des Menschen 1.7. Unzuverlässigkeit un Undurchschaubarkeit des Menschen 1.7.3. Der Mensch ist schwer zu erkennen Nord. 111 Seint ma reyna mennina hvilikir ero Langsam (nur) kann man erkennen, wie die Menschen sind MORKINSKINNA 190, 38 (= GERING S. 11).
TPMA 9.162.  PRÜFEN/mettre à l'épreuve/to test 1.Prüfen (Versuchen) als positive Handlung 1.1 Prüfen (Versuchen) ist gut und weise 1.1.2. Spez.
1.1.2.2. Man prüfe die Menschen  Nord. 16 Satt er þat, er mælt er: lengi skal manninn reyna Wahr ist, was gesagt wird: "Lange soll man den Menschen auf die Probe stellen" GRETTIS SAGA 29, 6 (= JÓNSSON, ARKIV 333. JÓNSSON 137). 17 Ýmist verðr at freista Man muss sich gegenseitig prüfen ÄLTERE FRIÐÞJÓFS SAGA 3 (→ FAS II, 493). → FREUND 546 – 554.
163. 1.3. Prüfen (Versuchen) verschafft: 1.3.1.1. Ohne Prüfen (Versuchen) kein Wissen 163. Nord. 42 Fátt veit fyrr en reynt er Wenig weiss man, bevor man is versucht hat HARALDS SAGA HARÐRÁÐA 10 (→FMS VI, 155 [=JÓNSSON, ARKIV 461. JÓNSSON 183]). 43 Fundit mun þat er reynt er lengr Man wird herausfinden, was man länger geprüft hat MÁLSHÁTTAKVÆÐI 17, 4 (= GERING 105. JÓNSSON 137). 44 Hvat veit sá er einskis freistar Was weiss der, der nichts versucht? ERREKS SAGA 37 (→JÓNSSON, ARKIV 461[= JÓNSSON 183]). 45 Önundr kvað þat eigi vita mega fyrr en reynt væri Önund sagte, das könne man nicht wissen, bevor man es versucht habe GRETTIS SAGA 4, 5. 46 Fleira veit, sá er fleira reynir Mehr weiss der, der mehr versucht EBD. 14, 7 (=JÓNSSON, ARKIV 461. JÓNSSON 183). 47 Þá veit þat, er reynt er Dann weiss man es, wenn man es versucht hat EBD. 40, 5 (= JÓNSSON, ARKIV 333. JÓNSSON 137).
Ed. note.  See Ljósvetninga saga: ÍF X.   6.(14.) 35. C-text. Guðmundr kvað þetta upphafit mega heita. “Ok er seint mann at reyna. Ek hugða, at þú myndir hlutvandr maðr vera.”

FJ 18.  155.  [Halldórs þáttr Snorrasonar.]  oc er Halldori com sia orðsending konvngs. þa er sagt at hann scyti þvi orþi viþ ifyrsto. elldisc argalinn nv sagþi hann end sendi honom belgi.
A-G 30.  Halldórr Snorrason when, in old age, King Haraldr sends for foxskins to make a bedcover:
194. When the king's messenger reached him, it is said that the first words that escaped him were: "The old cock is drooping now."¹² But he sent him the skins.      ¹²Einar Ól. Sveinsson prints "Eldisk árgalinn nú" in ÍF 5, 277 and glosses "hani" (rooster), an understanding retained by Ármann Jakobsson 1997: 126, but Sverrir Tómasson points out to us that "árgali" could have the meaning "penis" and refers us to Jón Helgason 1975. This meaning gives the necessary bite to the phrase, and we translate accordingly.
FJ 64. Proverb word 14. árgali . . .

FJ 20.  179-80. stofan stoð við ana Nið þar sem nv er haullin. Oc Einarr gecc at havllinni⁴ oc in siþan.⁵ þa melti hann. myrt er imalstofo konungs. Einarr bað Einnriþa son sinn standa iforstofunni. oc letz etla at kongungr mindi eigi ahann raþa ef hann veri eftir. Oc er EinaR kemr istofvna þa bera þeir Menn vapn ahann er þar ero fyrir. EinaR veþr þa at þar er konungr er og haugr til hans oc sacar hann ecci þvi at hann er fyr itveim bryniom. Þa melti Einarr. hvat⁶ bita nv hvndar konungs. Oc er Eindriþi heyrdi þat. þa stenz hann eigi oc leypr inn oc er sa maþr Arni nefndr er honom varþ at bana. oc var þar nv drepinn Einarr oc Eindriþi s. hans er allra Manna var vaskastr oc giaurfiligastr.     ⁴Rettet fra hdss. haulli.   ⁵Skr. 2 gg.   ⁶Vist fejl f. hvast. L. – 16–19. stofan-konungs: ul.
A-G 35.  At the assassination of Einarr þambarskelfir:
210. The chambers were down by the River Nið, where the hall now stands. Einarr went to the building and entered it, saying, "It's hard to see in the king's quarters." Einarr told his son Eindriði to stand in the antechamber, thinking that the king would not attack him if his son remained behind. When Einarr entered the room, the men who were there set upon him with their weapons. Einarr plunged ahead to where the king was and struck at him without inflicting a wound because he was encased in two byrnies. Einarr said: "The king's dogs (FJ 180) have sharp fangs." When Eindriði heard that, he could not be restrained and ran in. The man who killed him was named Árni. That was the end of Einarr and his son Eindriði, who was a most valiant and accomplished man.

FJ 20.  179-80. stofan stoð við ana Nið þar sem nv er haullin. Oc Einarr gecc at havllinni⁴ oc in siþan.⁵ þa melti hann. myrt er imalstofo konungs. Einarr bað Einnriþa son sinn standa iforstofunni. oc letz etla at kongungr mindi eigi ahann raþa ef hann veri eftir. Oc er EinaR kemr istofvna þa bera þeir Menn vapn ahann er þar ero fyrir. EinaR veþr þa at þar er konungr er og haugr til hans oc sacar hann ecci þvi at hann er fyr itveim bryniom. Þa melti Einarr. hvat⁶ bita nv hvndar konungs. Oc er Eindriþi heyrdi þat. þa stenz hann eigi oc leypr inn oc er sa maþr Arni nefndr er honom varþ at bana. oc var þar nv drepinn Einarr oc Eindriþi s. hans er allra Manna var vaskastr oc giaurfiligastr.     ⁴ Rettet fra hdss. haulli.   ⁵ Skr. 2 gg.   ⁶ Vist fejl f. hvast. L. – 16–19. stofan-konungs: ul.
A-G 35.  At the assassination of Einarr þambarskelfir:
210.  The chambers were down by the River Nið, where the hall now stands. Einarr went to the building and entered it, saying, "It's hard to see in the king's quarters." Einarr told his son Eindriði to stand in the antechamber, thinking that the king would not attack him if his son remained behind. When Einarr entered the room, the men who were there set upon him with their weapons. Einarr plunged ahead to where the king was and struck at him without inflicting a wound because he was encased in two byrnies. Einarr said: "The king's dogs (FJ 180) have sharp fangs." When Eindriði heard that, he could not be restrained and ran in. The man who killed him was named Árni. That was the end of Einarr and his son Eindriði, who was a most valiant and accomplished man.

FJ 27. 220.  . . . oc vill abraut fara oc melti siþan. Hvat er nv tit of iarlldoms giaufina við os eþa lendur .er er ver skylldom eignaz af yþr oc samir þat eigi at hon misi sins soma oc se henne svivirþing at mer oc er þat konungligt at hallda vel orð sinn.
A-G 42.  Hákon Ívarsson attempts to get the King Haraldur to give him the title of jarl, as he implied he would do when he inveigled Ragnhildur, daughter of King Magnús, into marrying him:
236. Before leaving he said: "What is your intention with respect to your gift of a jarldom and the lands that we were to receive from you? It is not proper that she should forego her honor and that she should be disgraced because of me, and it is fitting for a king to keep his word."
TPMA 7. 130. KÖNIG/roi/king 3. Voraussetzungen, die ein (guter) König erfüllen muss 3.3 Der König muss mit Weisheit, tugend, Gerechtigkeit und Güte regieren 3.3.5. Der König soll sein Wort halten⁵   Nord. 80 Fastorðr skyli . . . vesa þengill Ein König soll sein Wort halten SIGVATR 11, 10 (= GERING 30). 81 Eigi muntu, konungr, vilja ganga á bak orðum þínum Du wirst, König, deine worte nicht zurücknehmen wollen SNORRI, HEIMSKRINGLA 163, 9 (Ólafs saga Tryggvasonar 28). 82 Oc er þat konungligt at hallda vel orþ sinn Und es ist königlich, sein Wort gut zu halten MORKINSKINNA 84, 39. 83 Þvi at eigi byriar konungligu valldi þvi at heita, sem at falsi reyniz Denn es ziemt sich für die königliche Herrschaft nicht, das zu versprechen, was sich als Betrug erweist HEIL. M. S. I, 414, 18 (Katerine saga).

FJ  27.  225.  oc var með þeim hétti görr at hvaR þeira scylldi hava ifrelsi³ sit rici þaþan i fra Haralldr Noreg en S. Danmorc bota lausa. scylldi þar leGiaz hernadr sem hafiz hafði. en sa happ hava er hlotið hafði.     ³ Rettet fra hdss. fresli.
A-G 42. The terms of peace between King Haraldr and King Sveinn:
238-9.  From that time on, Haraldr was to have Norway and Sveinn was to have Denmark unencumbered. The harrying expeditions were to cease and each side was to keep what fortune had allotted.
FJ Proverb word 163. Page 92. happ – sá skal hafa happ er hlotit hefr Eyrb 11. ‘Den skal beholde det vundne som har fået det’ (?: enhver skal beholde hvad han har fået), er måske ikke egl. ordsprog men en juridisk termin.
Gering 8. happ (nr. 163). – Das nur aus Eyrb. (c. 10, 5) citierte sprichwort: sá skal hafa happ er hlotit hefir steht auch Heimskr. 3, 178²: skyldi . . . sá hafa happ er hlotit hafði. Vgl. ferner Ól. s. helga c. 60 (Fms. 4, 110¹³): konungr segir, at þat skyldi þá hverr hafa sem fengit hafði, u. ebda c. 169 (5, 14²²): munu nú hafa hvárir sem fengit hafa.
FJ 65. happ Sá skal hafa happ er hlotið hefur (Eyrb. 11).
ÍM 131. HAPP Sá skal hafa happ er hlotið hefur. Eyrb. 10. kap.
TPMA 4. 488. GEWINN/gain/profit 10. Gewinnen und festhalten (sparen) 10.1. Man halte das Gewonnene fest und spare 10.1.1. Allg. Nord. 269 Sá skal hafa happ er hlotit hefir Jeder soll den Vorteil behalten, den er erlangt har EYRBYGGJA SAGA 10, 5 (=JÓNSSON, ARKIV 163. JÓNSSON 65). ? HALTEN 6 – 7a, 10, 12, 16, 21, 24, 34, 36, SPAREN 8, 13, VERLIEREN 138. Vgl. EIGEN 5.2.2., GUT (Subst.) 5.2., HALTEN 1.1., HÜTEN 1.

FJ  27.  231.  Haralldr konungr recr nv flottan oc melto Menn hans at Hacon hefþi vart launað iarlldominn Stenkeli² konungi oc hann kynni eigi sia efnitre sitt mindi honom vera ofrefli at beriaz við konung sialfan.      ² Sål.
A-G 42.  King Harald's men comment upon Hákon jarl as they pursue him.
242.  King Haraldr now pursued the fugitives, and his men said that Hákon had given a poor return for King Steinkell's jarldom. They said that he did not know his own limitations well enough to realize that he was not strong enough to contend against the king himself.
Ed. note. Possibly a proverbial allusion. See:
TPMA 3.   28. ERKENNEN/(re)connaître/to recognize 12. Selbsterkenntnis 12.2. Beurteilung von Selbsterkenntnis 12.2.2. Wer sich selbst erkennt, ist weise Nord. 84 Ok er þat satt, at sá er svinnr, er sik kann Und das ist wahr, dass der klug ist, der sich kennt HRAFNKELS SAGA FREYSGOÐA 3 S. 106 (= JÓNSSON, ARKIV 403. JÓNSSON 163).

FJ   27.  233.  oc er þeir voro at þa melti⁵ engi dvgir sva sem Koþrans bani. Þat melti sa til Hallz OtryGs s. er vegit hafþi Koþran Gvþmvndar s. en Hallr var þar með Haralldi konungi. oc þa liop at Þormoðr Eindriþa⁶ s. oc hio Hall banahaugg þvi at hann stoþz eigi er hrosat veri vigino Koþrans.     ⁵ Her mgl. maðr.   ⁶ Rettet fra hdss. eindra.
A-G 42.  From an episode in which vengeance is taken for the killing of Koðrán Guðmundarson while King Harald´s men are chopping ice to free his ships.
243.  As they were at work, somebody said: "No one does his job like Koðrán's Killer."²⁶ He was referring to Hallr Ótryggsson, who had killed Koðrán Guðmundarson, and Hallr was there in King Haraldr's army. Þormóðr Eindriðason jumped up and delivered hallr's death blow because he could not stand to hear the praise of Koðrán's killing.     ²⁶On the following episode, see "The Native Sources." It is paralleled in Ljósvetninga saga (ÍF 10, 103) and Heimskringla (ÍF 28, 165), but the version in Morkinskinna may well be the point of departure. The events referred to took place in Eyjafjörðr, and it seems most likely that the story was transmitted there.
Ed. note.  Possibly a proverbial source phrase--fable and proverb.  For instance, in Brennu-Njáls saga, Kári:  ÍF XII.   155. 444. Sigurðr jarl svaraði: “Engum manni er Kári líkr at hvatleik sínum.” CSI III.   155. Earl Sigurd to King Sigtrygg after Kari has killed Gunnar Lambason in Orkney:  211. Earl Sigurd answered, “There’s no man like Kari for bravery.”
Check Guðmundur Jónsson.

FJ   28.  240. [Sneglu-Halla þáttr] Þat bar² til heRa s. H. at ec var þa barn at alldri er hann var veginn oc toko frendr malið oc settvz á firir mina haund. en þat nafn þiccir eKi vel sama með oss at heita gridniþingr.      ² Skr. 2 gg.
A-G 43.  Halli assures King Haraldr of his family's concern with honor, even as he explains why he did not take vengeance for his father's killing:
248.  "The reason was, sire," said Halli, "that I was a child at the time he was killed, and my kinsmen were in charge of the case. They settled on my behalf. The name of a truce-breaker does not sit well with us."

FJ  28.   241.  oc varð einn Maþr heRa sva storlatr at hann gaf kalf svmar gamlann. For hann sidan eftir kalfinom oc þotti þat mest nauþsyn at sekia þangat fyrst til beinan er mestr var.
A-G 43.  Halli explains to King Haraldr how his competitor at the court, Þjóðólfr, avenged his father--which was a calf!
248.  "To make a long story short, sire, one man was so generous that he contributed a calf of six months. Þjóðólfr's father went to collect the calf because it seemed important to go to where the greatest help was.^9    9This passage apparently refers to the disbursement of tithes. According to the Icelandic tithe law, one fourth of the tithes was to be distributed among needy people with dependents, and the disbursement could be made in cloth, marketable furs, sheepskins, food, or any kind of livestock (except horses). However, tithes were not legislated until 1097, that is, considerably later than our story would imply.  See Jón Jóhannesson 1974: 169, 174.
Ed note.   Jón Jóhannesson. 1974. A History of the Old Icelandic Commonwealth. Trans. Haraldur Bessason. N.p.: University of Manitoba Press.

FJ  32.   252.  Ek heiti Stvfr s. hann. Konungr m. Þo varþ onafnligt e. hvers s. ertv. Hann s. ec emc Kattar s. Allt feR nv at eino s. konungr. eþa hvaR er sa kauttrin.
A-G 47.  From the story of Stúfr enn blindi, who makes fun of the nickname of King Harald´s father, Sigurðr sýr.  
256.  "My name is Stúfr," he said. "That's not much to go by," said the king, "and whose son are you?" "I am the cat's son," he said.² "That's the same kind of answer," said the king. "Who is the cat?"     ²The text of MskMS is defective in the following passage and must be supplemented from Flat (Unger 104-5; FJ 252-53). That there is something funny about being the "the cat's son" ("kattar sonr") is suggested by the line "óneiss sem kattar sonr" (blameless as a cat's son) in "Helgakviða Hundingsbana I," st. 18 (Neckel/Kuhn, Edda, p. 133).

FJ  33.    258. L. 13.  . . . Konungr mællti. eigi ma egh þetta skilia þuiath ekki er þar aa moti ath feit er hier aa skipino þat er ver leitum. Oddr suarar. þath er fornt mal herra ath opt verdr villr saa er geta skal.
A-G 48.  From the episode in which King Haraldr searches Oddr Ófeigsson's ship for unlawful earnings from the Lapp trade.
259.  The king said: "I am puzzled because there is no reason to think that the money we are looking for is not on the ship." Oddr answered: "It's an old proverb, sire, that the man who guesses often goes astray."^7     7"Þat er fornt mál, herra, at opt verðr villr, sá er geta skal." The saying is not included in Halldór Hallfórsson's Orðtakasafn.
ÍM 110. GETA Oft verður villur sá er geta skal. Fóstbr. 23. kap. o. v. verða villur: skjátlast. Oft fer sá villt er geta skal. HSch
TPMA 3.    41. ERRATEN/deviner/to guess   Wer erraten soll, irrt oft  Nord. 1 Nv kemr at þvi sem mællt er, "opt verdr villr, er geta skal" Jetzt geschieht es, wie es heisst: "Oft irrt, wer erraten sol" FÓSTBRŒÐRA SAGA 185, 6 (= JÓNSSON, ARKIV 145). 2 Þat er fornt mál . . . at opt verðr villr sá er geta skal Es gibt ein altes Sprichwort, dass oft irrt, wer erraten soll ODDS ÞATTR 60, 8 (= MORKINSKINNA 107, 37. JÓNSSON, ARKIV 145. JÓNSSON 56).

FJ  34.  263.  Þa svaraþi Tosti. frendr varir gøraz oss fiandr. þeira fiandmenn scolo oc þa vera minir frendr. Scilsc i. sva fra Dana konvngi at baþir ero reiþir.
A-G 49.  Tostig, brother of King Harold Godwinsson, responds in anger when King Sveinn refuses to join him in attack on Harold.
262.  The Tostig answered: "Our kinsmen become our enemies, but their enemies can also be our kin."² He took his leave of the Danish king in such a way that both were angered.      ²Tostig elaborates the logic of "Hávamál," st. 43 (Neckel/Kuhn, Edda, p. 23): "Vin sínum/skal maðr vinr vera/þeim ok þess vin;/en óvinar síns/skyli engi maðr/vinar vinr vera" (A man should be a friend to his friend, and to that friend's friend; but no man should be a friend to his friend's enemy). The next step is to be a friend to your enemy's enemy.

FJ   35.  274.   oc iþesi reiþ fell hestriN vndir konvngi. oc hann fram af oc melti. Fall er farar heill.
A-G 50.  King Haraldr falls before the Battle of Stamford Bridge.
269. As he was riding, the horse fell under him, and he pitched off it and said: "A fall is good fortune."^3     3On the motif of the ominous fall, see Ove Moberg 1940-42:545-75.
TPMA 3. 149.  FALL/chute/fall 8. Beurteilung des Fallens  8.1. Fallen (for der Reise) ist ein gutes Omen6   Mlat. 210 Ille sibi in lapsu faustum ominatus euentum Er sagte sich selbst im Fall ein glückliches Ereignis voraus SAXO GRAMM. 132, 14 (= Gering S. 7).  Nord. 211-214  Fall er farar heill Fall ist ein gutes Reiseomen SVERRIS SAGA 33 (→ FMS VIII, 85 [= GERING S. 7]). HARALDS SAGA HARÐRÁÐA 118 (→ FMS VI, 414). SNORRI, HEIMSKRINGLA 505, 32 (Haralds saga harðráða) (= JÓNSSON, ARKIV 98. JÓNSSON 38). MORKINSKINNA 116, 30.  215 Hefir oss nú farit, sem mælt er, at fall er fararheill Es is uns jetzt so ergangen, wie es im Sprichwort heisst, dass Fall ein gutes Reiseomen ist SVERRIS SAGA 163 (→ FMS VIII, 403 [= GERING S. 7]).

FJ  35.  275.  Riddarinn svarar. Sagt hefir konvngr nacqvat fra hvers hann vill honom vnna af Englandi. hann scal hafa .vii. feta rum e. þvi lengra sem hann er héri en flestir menn aðrir.
A-G 50. Harold Godwinsson tells Earl Tostig what he has in store for Haraldr Sigurðsson:
270.  The horseman answered: "He did say something about how much of England he would grant him. King Haraldr will have seven feet of sod, or as much more as he needs because he is taller than other men."
TPMA 4. 142.  FUSS/pied/foot  5. Fuss als kleine Masseinheit (zur Bezeichnung des Grabumfanges) Nord. 92 Sagt hefir hann nökkut til, hvers hann mun unna Haraldi konúngi Sigurðarsyni af Einglandi, þat er 7 fóta rúm, ok því öllu leingra, sem hann er hærri enn flestir menn aðrir Er hat etwas bezüglich dessen gesagt, was von England er dem König Harald Sigurdssohn gönnen werde, nämlich einen Platz von sieben Fuss oder einen um ingesamt soviel längeren, als er grösser sei als die meisten andern Männer HARALDS SAGA HARÐRÁÐA 118 (→ FMS VI, 415). 93 Sagt hefir hann þar nökkut frá, hvers hann mun honum unna af Englandi, vii. fóta rúm eða því lengra, sem hann er hæri en aðrir menn Er hat da etwas davon gesagt, was er ihm von England gönnen werde, (nämlich) einen Platz von sieben Fuss oder einen um soviel längeren, als er grösser sei als andere Männer SNORRI, HEIMSKRINGLA 506, 14 (Haralds saga harðráða 91). 94 Sagt hefir konvngr þar nacqvat fra hvers hann vill honum vnna af Englandi. hann scal hafa .vii. feta rum eþa þvi lengra sem hann er heri en flestir menn aðrir Der König hat da etwas davon gesagt, was er ihm von England gönnen wolle. Er solle einen Platz von sieben Fuss haben oder einen um soviel längeren, als er grösser sei als die meisten andern Männer MORKINSKINNA 117, 1.

FJ  35.  275-6.  I. s. Sam ver þat heRa at ovarliga for þvilicr hofþingi. oc verþa matti þetta sem þer segit. for hann með þvi at hann villdi bioþa griþ b. sinom oc mikit valld. vist vera ec þa saNliga kallaðr veRi hofþingi ef ec biþa sva elli. at ec vera bana maþr broþor mins. oc betra er at þiGia bana af brøþr sinom en veita honom bana
A-G 50.  Jarl Tostig responds when King Haraldr asks him why he did not reveal the identity of King Harold when he came as a messenger, offering terms to them.
270.  The jarl replied: "I saw, sire, that this chieftain advanced imprudently, and it may have turned out as you say. But he came to offer his brother a truce and a great fief, and I would surely have been called a wicked chieftain if I had awaited old age with the reputation of being my brother's killer. (FJ 276) It is better to suffer death at the hands of your brother than to be responsible for his death."
TPMA 11.   363. TOD/mort/death   5. Tod als Wert und Vorteil 5.3. Der Tod ist besser als das Leben 5.3.2. Spez. 5.3.2.1. Ehrenvoller Tod ist bessar als ein Leben in Schande⁴¹ Nord. 772 En hinn er annarr (scil. kostr), at falla með drengskap ok hugprýði, ok er þat betra en at lifa með skömm Aber das ist die andere (Möglichkeit), mit Mut und Tapferkeit zu sterben, und das ist besser, als mit Schande zu leben BJARNAR SAGA 4 S. 121. 773 Betra er at deyja med sœmd en lifva med skom Es ist besser, mit Ehre zu sterben, als mit Schande zu leben ORKNEYINGA SAGA 11 S. 20, 25. 774 Deyum heldr við sœmd, enn lifum við skömm Lieber sterben wir mit Ehre, als dass wir mit Schande leben HRÓLFS SAGA GAUTREKSSONAR 24 (→ FAS III, 150). 775 Því betra er at deyja dyrliga en liva við skomm Denn es ist besser, ruhmfoll zu sterben, als mit Schande zu leben FLÓVENTS SAGA I 25 S. 166, 30 (= GERING 17. JÓNSSON 28). 776 Gott er at velia vm tuo kosti: lifa med sœmd eda falla med dreingskap Es ist gut, zwischen zwei Möglichkeiten zu wählen: leben mit Ehre oder sterben mit Mut FLÓVENTS SAGA II 19 S. 204, 29. 777 En þó vildi hann heldr deyja með sœmd en lifa með skömm Und doch wollte er lieber mit Ehre sterben als mit Schande leben ÞORSTEINS SAGA VÍKINGSSONAR 17 (→ FAS II, 431). 778 Betur er at skilia med heidur . en lifa med skömm Besser ist es, mit Ehre zu sterben, als mit Schande zu leben KÅLUND 69 (= JÓNSSON, ARKIV 167. JÓNSSON 67).     ⁴¹Vgl. ZILTENER 5202. 5212; HASSELL M 228; WHITING D 95. D 104. D 239.

FJ  35.  280.  Þeir borþvz nv vm hriþ. oc logðo sic sva til. at nv scylldo þeir fa sciott aNnathvart bana e. sigr. En sia orrosta for sem von var. at þeir hofþo meira lvt sem fiolmennari voro.    L. 1–2. Þeir–hriþ: ul.
A-G 50.  Authorial comment near the end of the Battle of Stamford Bridge, following the death of King Haraldr.
273. They now fought for a time and resolved that they would either die or gain the victory. But the battle went as might be expected, and the army with the greater numbers had the upper hand.

FJ  35.  280.  Þeir borþvz nv vm hriþ. oc logðo sic sva til. at nv scylldo þeir fa sciott aNnathvart bana e. sigr. En sia orrosta for sem von var. at þeir hofþo meira lvt sem fiolmennari voro.    L. 1–2. Þeir–hriþ: ul.
A-G 50.  Authorial comment near the end of the Battle of Stamford Bridge, following the death of King Haraldr.
273. They now fought for a time and resolved that they would either die or gain the victory. But the battle went as might be expected, and the army with the greater numbers had the upper hand.
ÍM 223 Ekki (eigi, engi) má við margnum. Hálf. 4 kap. o. v.
TPMA 12.  249. VIEL/beaucoup/much 2. Viel(e) als überlegene Mehrheit 2.2. Viele sind stärker und einflussreicher als wenige 2.2.1. Gegn viele ist nichts auszurichten 2.2.1.1. Allg. Nord. 26,27 Ecki ma við margnum Man kann gegen viele nichts ausrichten HALLFREÐAR SAGA 38, 1 (= JÓNSSON, ARKIV 275. JÓNSSON 116). KARLAMAGNÚS SAGA 97 (→ JÓNSSON, ARKIV 275). 28 Ok kom þa at því, sem mælt er, at ekki má við margnum Und es kam dann so, wie es im Sprichwort heisst, dass man gegen viele nichts ausrichten kann ÓLÁFR ÞÓRÐARSON(?), KNÝTLINGA SAGA 59 (→ FMS XI, 278). 29 Nú er sem mélt, at eigi má viþ margnum Nun ist es so, wie . . . VÖLSUNGA SAGA 11, 55 (= JÓNSSON, ARKIV 275). 30 Fór hónum þá, sem mælt er, at ecki má við marginum Es erging ihm da so, wie . . . HRÓLFS SAGA 62, 4 (= GERING S. 11). 31 En þó kom at því sem mælt er, at ekki má við margnum Aber es kam doch so, wie . . . GROSSE ÓLÁFS SAGA TRYGGVASONAR 153 (→ FMS II, 10). 32 Þviat eingi er sva roskr, at eigi verþi sottr, ef margir sekia Denn keiner ist so tapfer, dass er nicht bezwungen würde, wenn viele (ihn) angreifen FLÓVENTS SAGA I 18 S. 144, 58. 33 Munn her koma at þui, sem mælt er, ath, 'ecki maa vid margnum' Es wird hier so kommen, wie es im Sprichwort heisst, dass man gegen viele nichts ausrichten kann FLÓVENTS SAGA II 19 S. 205, 24 (= JÓNSSON, ARKIV 275). 34 Þvíat hann mun ekki mega einn við mörgum Denn er wird als einziger gegen viele nichts ausrichten können PARCEVALS SAGA 22, 29. 35 En þo matti hann ecki við marginvm Und doch konnte er gegen viele nichts ausrichten BÆRINGS SAGA 23 S. 110, 18 (= GERING S. 11).
Vgl. EIN 4.7., ZWEI 4.1.5.

FJ  40.  303.  Þa er scipin rendo saman aþr en Þorir yrþi handtekiN callaþi² Sigurðr vlstrengr³ aÞori. Ertv heill Steigarþorir Hann s. Heill at hondvm en hrvmaþr at fotom. Þa var þetta qveþit. 120. Spvrði Vllstrengr orþi/at rendvsc scip hvatla/sverþ bito snarpa fyrþa/slett hve Þorir metti:/lvndr qvasc heill at hondom/hiørs fragom þat gørva/gørþi glam aborþi/griotz en hrvmr at fotom.      ²Herefter skr. þorir, men overstr.   ³Sål.
A-G 55.  From a scene when King Magnús attacks the forces of Steigar-Þórir.
289. When the ships closed, and before Þórir was captured, Sigurðr ullstrengr called out to him: "How is your health, Þórir?" He replied: "Hale of hand, but halt of foot." The following stanza was composed: 178. Spurði Ull strengr orði/lundr kvazk heill at höndum/(at renndusk skip hvatla)/hjörs (frágum þat görva)/(sverð bitu snarpa fyrða/(gerðisk glamm á borði/slætt) hvé Þórir mætti:/grjóts) en hrumr at fótum.   "Ullstrengr spurði orði, hvé Þórir mætti: skip renndusk at hvatla; sverð bitu snarpa fyrða slætt. Lundr hjörs kvazk heill at höndum en hrumr at fótum; frágum þat görva; glamm grjóts gerðisk á borði." Ullstrengr asked how Þórir was faring; the ships closed quickly; the swords bit keen warriors bluntly. The wood of the sword [warrior] said he was hale of hand but halt of foot; I certainly heard that; the crash of stones resounded against the ship side.

FJ  40. 303.  Þa er scipin rendo saman aþr en Þorir yrþi handtekiN callaþi² Sigurðr vlstrengr³ aÞori. Ertv heill Steigarþorir Hann s. Heill at hondvm en hrvmaþr at fotom. Þa var þetta qveþit. 120. Spvrði Vllstrengr orþi/at rendvsc scip hvatla/sverþ bito snarpa fyrþa/slett hve Þorir metti:/lvndr qvasc heill at hondom/hiørs fragom þat gørva/gørþi glam aborþi/griotz en hrvmr at fotom.
² Herefter skr. þorir, men overstr.   ³ Sål.
A-G 55.  From a scene when King Magnús attacks the forces of Steigar-Þórir.
289. When the ships closed, and before Þórir was captured, Sigurðr ullstrengr called out to him: "How is your health, Þórir?" He replied: "Hale of hand, but halt of foot." The following stanza was composed: 178. Spurði Ull strengr orði/lundr kvazk heill at höndum/(at renndusk skip hvatla)/hjörs (frágum þat görva)/(sverð bitu snarpa fyrða/(gerðisk glamm á borði/slætt) hvé Þórir mætti:/grjóts) en hrumr at fótum.   "Ullstrengr spurði orði, hvé Þórir mætti: skip renndusk at hvatla; sverð bitu snarpa fyrða slætt. Lundr hjörs kvazk heill at höndum en hrumr at fótum; frágum þat görva; glamm grjóts gerðisk á borði." Ullstrengr asked how Þórir was faring; the ships closed quickly; the swords bit keen warriors bluntly. The wood of the sword [warrior] said he was hale of hand but halt of foot; I certainly