Edition used.
J. Olrik and H. Ræder. Saxonis Gesta Danorum.
Copenhagen, 1931.
Others.
Translations. Saxo
Grammaticus. The History of the Danes. Books I-IX. Tr.
Peter Fisher, ed. and commentary Hilda Ellis Davidson. Cambridge, 1979-80. Repr.
one volume Woodbridge, Suffolk. 1996, 2002.
Anders Sørensen Vedel. Den Danske krønicke.
Copenhagen, 1575, facs. edn. Copenhagen, 1967.
J. Olrik tr 1908-1912.
Others. The
First Nine Books of the Danish History of Saxo Grammaticus. Tr. Oliver
Elton. With some considerations on Saxo's Sources, Historical Methods, and Folkore[including
9.--Saws and Proverbs], by Frederick York
Powell. London, 1894.
Other
materials.
Karen Friis-Jensen,
ed. Saxo Grammaticus. A Medieval Author Between Norse and Latin Culture.
Museum Tusculanum Press. Copenhagen, 1981.
Gottfrid Kallstenius, "Nordiska ordspråk hos Saxo samlade av Gottfrid
Kallstenius" Studier til Axel Kock, ANF (Tillagsband til bd. 40
(NF) Lund 1929) 16-31.
Rosenberg, Nordboernes Aandsliv II (1880)
600.
Stephani Johannis Stephanii. Notæ uberiores in historiam danicam Saxonis
Grammatici. Sorø 1645. Facs., intro. H. D. Schepelern.
Museum Tusculanum Press. Copenhagen, 1978. Contains references to comments by
Bishop Brynjólfur Sveinsson
Editorial comment. For the purposes of this Concordance, book V is of special interest, the adventures of Ericus disertus, Eric the Eloquent, whose rhetorical powers rely heavily on the paroemial side of phraseological skills. It is difficult to ascertain the seriousness with which Saxo presents this character, but there are impressive affinities with the proverbial inventory of the Icelandic sagas. THIS FILE IS IN THE EARLY STAGES OF ITS DEVELOPMENT.
Book I.
16. (14) Gro speaks to Bess:
"Can it be the giant, loathsome to the king,/shadowing with his
steps the middle of the road?/Yet bold warriors have frequently concealed
themselves beneath the pelts of beasts." HED 28.
Stephanius (p. 34) gives an Icelandic parallel to this: Oft eru vaskar hendur
undir vargs belgie (Manly hands may often be hidden under a wolfskin.)
See Gering, Ark nord Fil 28 (N.F. 1916) p. 22 and Book II, note 16.
Book I.
18. (16) Bess answering Gro:
"A stubborn woman,/harshly refusing/her wooer at first,/will
often yield when/the plea is repeated." HED 28.
The second part of this stanza seems to be another proverbial utterance, and
Stephanius (p. 35) gives a parallel from Icelandic: Byst er brúður
að fyrstu biðli, en viknar siðan (The bride is angry at the
first offer, but gives way later on).
Book I.
34. (35) Ulvild incites her husband, Guthorm, to murder her father, Hading:
"I had rather my husband were monarch, not my parent; I had rather
be rated a ruler's wife, not his daughter. It is better to enjoy the close caresses
of the sovereign than pay homage to him at a distance, more glorious to be the
bride of majesty than its parasite. You should prefer your hand to hold the
sceptre rather than his. Nature has made each man his own best friend.
You won't lack opportunity if the will to do it is there. All things
give way to sharp wits." HED 38. Kallstenius (p. 18, no.
3) notes an Icelandic parallel to the first of these proverbial sayings: Hvör
er sjálfum sèr nœstr. (Everyone is nearest to himself.)
cf. the English proverb: A man is his own best friend. The next two sentences
appear to be two versions of another proverb, for which Kallstenius gives no
northern parallel, similar to the English proverb: Where there´s a will
there´s a way.
Book I.
34. (35) Ulvild incites her husband, Guthorm, to murder her father, Hading:
"I had rather my husband were monarch, not my parent; I had rather
be rated a ruler's wife, not his daughter. It is better to enjoy the close caresses
of the sovereign than pay homage to him at a distance, more glorious to be the
bride of majesty than its parasite. You should prefer your hand to hold the
sceptre rather than his. Nature has made each man his own best friend. You
won't lack opportunity if the will to do it is there. All things give
way to sharp wits." HED 38. Kallstenius (p. 18, no. 3)
notes an Icelandic parallel to the first of these proverbial sayings: Hvör
er sjálfum sèr nœstr. (Everyone is nearest to himself.)
cf. the English proverb: A man is his own best friend. The next two sentences
appear to be two versions of another proverb, for which Kallstenius gives no
northern parallel, similar to the English proverb: Where there´s a will
there´s a way.
Book I.
34. (35) Ulvild incites her husband, Guthorm, to murder her father, Hading:
"I had rather my husband were monarch, not my parent; I had rather be rated
a ruler's wife, not his daughter. It is better to enjoy the close caresses of
the sovereign than pay homage to him at a distance, more glorious to be the
bride of majesty than its parasite. You should prefer your hand to hold the
sceptre rather than his. Nature has made each man his own best friend. You won't
lack opportunity if the will to do it is there. All things give way
to sharp wits." HED 38. Kallstenius (p. 18, no.
3) notes an Icelandic parallel to the first of these proverbial sayings: Hvör
er sjálfum sèr nœstr. (Everyone is nearest to himself.)
cf. the English proverb: A man is his own best friend. The next two sentences
appear to be two versions of another proverb, for which Kallstenius gives no
northern parallel, similar to the English proverb: Where there´s a will
there´s a way.
Book II.
44. (41) 44 Regner answers Svanhvita, who has seen his excellence
beneath his humble clothing:
He therefore went on to say that servitude is not always devoid of manliness;
shabby and grimy clothes often envelop a stout arm, and poor circumstances are
redeemed by bravery, deficiency in birth recompensed by freedom of spirit. Consequently
he was afraid of no supernatural power save that of the god Thor.
Book II.
44. (41) 44 Regner answers Svanhvita, who has seen his excellence
beneath his humble clothing:
He therefore went on to say that servitude is not always devoid of manliness;
shabby and grimy clothes often envelop a stout arm*, and poor
circumstances are redeemed by bravery, deficiency in birth recompensed by freedom
of spirit. Consequently he was afraid of no supernatural power save that of
the god Thor. *HED 41. The same proverb is quoted by
Saxo in Book VI (note 61) and Stephanius (p. 67) gives an Icelandic parallel
(see Book I, note 13). cf. Kallstenius, pl. 20, no. 13.
Book II.
44. (41) 44 Regner answers Svanhvita, who has seen
his excellence beneath his humble clothing:
He therefore went on to say that servitude is not always devoid of manliness;
shabby and grimy clothes often envelop a stout arm, and poor circumstances
are redeemed by bravery, deficiency in birth recompensed by freedom
of spirit. Consequently he was afraid of no supernatural power save that of
the god Thor.
Book II.
44. (41) 44 Regner answers Svanhvita, who has seen
his excellence beneath his humble clothing:
He therefore went on to say that servitude is not always devoid of manliness;
shabby and grimy clothes often envelop a stout arm, and poor circumstances are
redeemed by bravery, deficiency in birth recompensed by freedom of spirit.
Consequently he was afraid of no supernatural power save that of the god Thor.
Book V. 119. Frothi objects to the wooing
of the King of the Hun's daughter for his wife:
When he withstood this proposal and they pushed him for his reasons, he replied
that his father had taught him kings should not look to distant lands
for their partners; love should only be demanded from neighbours.
Book V. 119. Frothi objects to the wooing
of the King of the Hun's daughter for his wife:
When he withstood this proposal and they pushed him for his reasons, he replied
that his father had taught him kings should not look to distant lands for their
partners; love should only be demanded from neighbours.
Book V. 119. Gøtvara, of persuasive tongue,
uses rhetoric to sway Frothi towards the King of the Huns' daughter:
"A wedding suits a younger person; only funerals await
the old. Youth strides forward in its desires and in success, while helpless
age sinks into the grave. Hope attends a stripling but the ancient are bowed
by inexorable death. A boy's fortune matures with him and will never leave unfinished
what it has begun."
Book V. 119. Gøtvara, of persuasive tongue,
uses rhetoric to sway Frothi towards the King of the Huns' daughter:
"A wedding suits a younger person; only funerals await the old.
Youth strides forward in its desires and in success, while helpless age sinks
into the grave. Hope attends a stripling but the ancient are bowed by inexorable
death. A boy's fortune matures with him and will never leave unfinished what
it has begun."
Book V. 119. Gøtvara, of persuasive tongue,
uses rhetoric to sway Frothi towards the King of the Huns' daughter:
"A wedding suits a younger person; only funerals await the old. Youth
strides forward in its desires and in success, while helpless age sinks
into the grave. Hope attends a stripling but the ancient are bowed by inexorable
death. A boy's fortune matures with him and will never leave unfinished what
it has begun."
Book V. 119. Gøtvara, of persuasive tongue,
uses rhetoric to sway Frothi towards the King of the Huns' daughter:
"A wedding suits a younger person; only funerals await the old. Youth strides
forward in its desires and in success, while helpless age sinks into
the grave. Hope attends a stripling but the ancient are bowed by inexorable
death. A boy's fortune matures with him and will never leave unfinished what
it has begun."
Book V. 119. Gøtvara, of persuasive tongue,
uses rhetoric to sway Frothi towards the King of the Huns' daughter:
"A wedding suits a younger person; only funerals await the old. Youth strides
forward in its desires and in success, while helpless age sinks into the grave.
Hope attends a stripling but the ancient are bowed by inexorable
death. A boy's fortune matures with him and will never leave unfinished what
it has begun."
Book V. 119. Gøtvara, of persuasive tongue,
uses rhetoric to sway Frothi towards the King of the Huns' daughter:
"A wedding suits a younger person; only funerals await the old. Youth strides
forward in its desires and in success, while helpless age sinks into the grave.
Hope attends a stripling but the ancient are bowed by inexorable death.
A boy's fortune matures with him and will never leave unfinished what it has
begun."
Book V. 119. Gøtvara, of persuasive tongue,
uses rhetoric to sway Frothi towards the King of the Huns' daughter:
"A wedding suits a younger person; only funerals await the old. Youth strides
forward in its desires and in success, while helpless age sinks into the grave.
Hope attends a stripling but the ancient are bowed by inexorable death. A
boy's fortune matures with him and will never leave unfinished what
it has begun."
Book V. 119. Gøtvara, of persuasive tongue,
uses rhetoric to sway Frothi towards the King of the Huns' daughter:
"A wedding suits a younger person; only funerals await the old. Youth strides
forward in its desires and in success, while helpless age sinks into the grave.
Hope attends a stripling but the ancient are bowed by inexorable death. A
boy's fortune matures with him and will never leave unfinished
what it has begun."
Book V. 120. The King of the Huns objects
when Vestmar holds his sword to his throat to get pemission for his daughter
to marry Frothi:
The monarch for his part asserted that it was unfitting for his own royal grandeur
to be matched in conflict with one of inferiour rank; for those of unequal
authority to fight on equal terms was undignified.
Book V. 120. Vestmar goes to discover
the princess's own desires in this matter:
Referred in this way to the sentiments of the princess's heart, Vestmar, knowing
that every female has a veering mind and shifting aims, began
to seek his goal with more confidence, inasmuch as he was aware how changeable
a maid's wishes can be. His assurance in the task increased and hope attached
to his endeavours by the artlessness of a girl left to her own decision; a woman
free to be coaxed by smooth, flattering compliments would be easily led and
quick to comply.
Book V. 120. Vestmar goes to discover
the princess's own desires in this matter:
Referred in this way to the sentiments of the princess's heart, Vestmar, knowing
that every female has a veering mind and shifting aims, began to seek his goal
with more confidence, inasmuch as he was aware how changeable a maid's
wishes can be. His assurance in the task increased and hope attached
to his endeavours by the artlessness of a girl left to her own decision; a woman
free to be coaxed by smooth, flattering compliments would be easily led and
quick to comply.
Kålund 158. no. 97. ja er meyiar nei astenn minn
Book V. 120. Vestmar goes to discover
the princess's own desires in this matter:
Referred in this way to the sentiments of the princess's heart, Vestmar, knowing
that every female has a veering mind and shifting aims, began to seek his goal
with more confidence, inasmuch as he was aware how changeable a maid's wishes
can be. His assurance in the task increased and hope attached to his endeavours
by the artlessness of a girl left to her own decision; a woman free
to be coaxed by smooth, flattering compliments would be easily
led and quick to comply.
Book V. 121. The princess is seduced also
by the love potion concocted by Gøtvara:
Drawn into loving her suitor by the secret workings of the philtre, she answered
that she expected more from Frothi's talents in the future than his present
reputation indicated; he came of a famous father and every man's nature
tended to reflect his birth.
Book V. 121. Married to Hanunda, Frothi neglects his rule,
and Denmark sinks into chaos:
Guests and strangers were treated to abuse instead of a welcome; so many were
the scornful provocations found among this lewd and impudent crew, for under
a boy-king freedom fostered recklessness. Nothing prolongs open sin
as much as the postponement of due vengeance.
Book V. 122. Gøtar, king of the Norwegians, plans
to invade Denmark in its discontent, but Erik, unintroduced in the text, makes
his first eloquent speech:
"We can recall how people who grasp at someone else's goods are
frequently stripped of their own, and in an attempt to seize double
wealth have lost everything. It needs a powerful bird to wrest the prey from
another's claws. You are rashly optimistic at the internal dissatisfaction in
that area; usually in such cases an enemy incursion dispels it. Although the
Danes now appear to be divided in their motives, they will soon unite in the
face of an invader. Squabbling pigs often form a solid front when threatened
by wolves. As every man prefers a fellow-countryman to a foreigner for his leader,
so every state cherishes its native prince more dearly than a stranger. Frothi
will not stand about waiting in his palace but will sally for to intercept your
arrival. Eagles tear at one another with beaks and talons. You know yourself
a wise man's plan must leave no room for regrets."
Book V. 122. Gøtar, king of the Norwegians, plans
to invade Denmark in its discontent, but Erik, unintroduced in the text, makes
his first eloquent speech:
"We can recall how people who grasp at someone else's goods are frequently
stripped of their own, and in an attempt to seize double wealth have lost everything.
It needs a powerful bird to wrest the prey from another's claws.
You are rashly optimistic at the internal dissatisfaction in that area; usually
in such cases an enemy incursion dispels it. Although the Danes now appear to
be divided in their motives, they will soon unite in the face of an invader.
Squabbling pigs often form a solid front when threatened by wolves. As every
man prefers a fellow-countryman to a foreigner for his leader, so every state
cherishes its native prince more dearly than a stranger. Frothi will not stand
about waiting in his palace but will sally forth to intercept your arrival.
Eagles tear at one another with beaks and talons. You know yourself a wise man's
plan must leave no room for regrets."
Book V. 122. Gøtar, king of the Norwegians, plans
to invade Denmark in its discontent, but Erik, unintroduced in the text, makes
his first eloquent speech:
"We can recall how people who grasp at someone else's goods are frequently
stripped of their own, and in an attempt to seize double wealth have lost everything.
It needs a powerful bird to wrest the prey from another's claws. You are rashly
optimistic at the internal dissatisfaction in that area; usually in such cases
an enemy incursion dispels it. Although the Danes now appear to be divided in
their motives, they will soon unite in the face of an invader. Squabbling
pigs often form a solid front when threatened by wolves. As every man
prefers a fellow-countryman to a foreigner for his leader, so every state cherishes
its native prince more dearly than a stranger. Frothi will not stand about waiting
in his palace but will sally forth to intercept your arrival. Eagles tear at
one another with beaks and talons. You know yourself a wise man's plan must
leave no room for regrets."
Book V. 122. Gøtar, king of the Norwegians, plans
to invade Denmark in its discontent, but Erik, unintroduced in the text, makes
his first eloquent speech:
"We can recall how people who grasp at someone else's goods are frequently
stripped of their own, and in an attempt to seize double wealth have lost everything.
It needs a powerful bird to wrest the prey from another's claws. You are rashly
optimistic at the internal dissatisfaction in that area; usually in such cases
an enemy incursion dispels it. Although the Danes now appear to be divided in
their motives, they will soon unite in the face of an invader. Squabbling pigs
often form a solid front when threatened by wolves. As every man prefers a fellow-countryman
to a foreigner for his leader, so every state cherishes its native prince
more dearly than a stranger. Frothi will not stand about waiting in
his palace but will sally forth to intercept your arrival. Eagles tear at one
another with beaks and talons. You know yourself a wise man's plan must leave
no room for regrets."
Book V. 122. Gøtar, king of the Norwegians, plans
to invade Denmark in its discontent, but Erik, unintroduced in the text, makes
his first eloquent speech:
"We can recall how people who grasp at someone else's goods are frequently
stripped of their own, and in an attempt to seize double wealth have lost everything.
It needs a powerful bird to wrest the prey from another's claws. You are rashly
optimistic at the internal dissatisfaction in that area; usually in such cases
an enemy incursion dispels it. Although the Danes now appear to be divided in
their motives, they will soon unite in the face of an invader. Squabbling pigs
often form a solid front when threatened by wolves. As every man prefers a fellow-countryman
to a foreigner for his leader, so every state cherishes its native prince more
dearly than a stranger. Frothi will not stand about waiting in his palace but
will sally forth to intercept your arrival. Eagles tear at one another
with beaks and talons. You know yourself a wise man's plan must leave
no room for regrets."
Book V. 122. Erik continues his speech:
"Let your soldiers make a preliminary test . . . It's
better for a slave to perish than his lord. Your retainer should serve
you as tongs do a blacksmith, whose iron implement prevents him searing his
hand and fingers; you too must learn to take thought and spare yourself by the
help of your followers."
Book V. 122. Erik continues his speech:
"Let your soldiers make a preliminary test . . . It's better
for a slave to perish than his lord. Your retainer should serve you
as tongs do a blacksmith, whose iron implement prevents him searing
his hand and fingers; you too must learn to take thought and spare yourself
by the help of your followers."
Book V. 122. Erik continues his speech:
"Let your soldiers make a preliminary test . . . It's better
for a slave to perish than his lord. Your retainer should serve you as tongs
do a blacksmith, whose iron implement prevents him searing his hand and fingers;
you too must learn to take thought and spare yourself
by the help of your followers."
Book V. 124. Erik, when he takes the stronger portion of
snake venom broth and gives Roller the weaker:
To prevent his motive for the change being detected he said, "That's
how the stern becomes the prow when the sea grows rough." It required
some mental agility in the man ot take a simile from sailing to cover up his
purposeful action.
Book V. 125. Erik, when he has eaten the stronger snake porridge
Kraka had intended for her son, Roller, replies when she asks him to take care
of her son.
Erik replied that he was naturally drawn to stand by his brother;
it was a shameful bird which fouled its own nest. Kallstenius
(p. 20) finds Icelandic and Danish parallels to both sayings here: (no. 16)
bróður sinn skal eingin vjela (One must not trick one's
brother); (no. 18) Thi det maatte vere en slemer Ful som besmitter sin egen
Rede: (It's a wretched bird that fouls its own nest).
Book V. 125. Erik, when he has eaten the stronger snake porridge
Kraka had intended for her son, Roller, replies when she asks him to take care
of her son.
Erik replied that he was naturally drawn to stand by his brother; it
was a shameful bird which fouled its own nest.* *Kallstenius
(p. 20) finds Icelandic and Danish parallels to both sayings here: (no. 16)
bróður sinn skal eingin vjela (One must not trick one's
brother); (no. 18) Thi det maatte vere en slemer Ful som besmitter sin egen
Rede: (It's a wretched bird that fouls its own nest).
Book V. 126. Erik has defeated Oddi by cunning.
Artifice and victory went hand in hand; swamped vessels had no chance
to be pugnacious. That is how Oddi and his comrades were killed and the look-outs
captured, nor did anyone, it seems, escape to report the calamity.
Book V. 126. Erik falls as he approaches Frothi's court.
Next Erik reached a harbour not far from where Frothi was staying,
but the very instant he stepped from the boat he inadvertently tripped and fell
to the earth. He interpreted the stumble as boding well and
predicted that after this weak start more propitious events would ensue.*
*This may have been suggested by the
story of Brutus and his deliberate fall in order to kiss the earth and so fulfil
the prophecy of the oracle at Delphi (Book IV, note 43 above). There are, however,
other tales of a fall taken as either a good or a bad omen; William of Normandy
fell when landing in England, but is said to have insisted that this was a lucky
sign; the fall of Harald at Stamford Bridge was afterwards interpreted as an
omen of defeat, although the king himself is said to have declared 'A fall is
good luck on a journey' (Heimskringla, Haralds S. Sigurð. 90).
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]).
Book V. 127. Erik engages in a contest of words with Grep, who bullies
with insolence, while the hero relies particularly upon proverbial wisdom for
his own rhetorical weapons. Grep:
Those men have special strength, their guardian deity
royal,/who have never strayed away from their own dwellings.*/There
are few people warm to a deed wrought by a rascal,/and the acts of detestable
fellows rarely please. *The attendant
or guardian spirit, called hamingja, which seems to personify a man's
luck, could be extended by a king to his followers in order to bring them protection
and good fortune, even though he was not with them; possibly Grep claims this
kind of support from the 'luck' of the king, which Erik, as a stranger, is denied.
Book V. 127. Erik engages in a contest of words with Grep, who bullies
with insolence, while the hero relies particularly upon proverbial wisdom for
his own rhetorical weapons. Grep:
Those men have special strength, their guardian deity royal,/who have
never strayed away from their own dwellings.*/There are few
people warm to a deed wrought by a rascal,/and the acts of detestable
fellows rarely please. *The attendant
or guardian spirit, called hamingja, which seems to personify a man's
luck, could be extended by a king to his followers in order to bring them protection
and good fortune, even though he was not with them; possibly Grep claims this
kind of support from the 'luck' of the king, which Erik, as a stranger, is denied.
Book V. 127. Erik engages in a contest of words with Grep, who bullies
with insolence, while the hero relies particularly upon proverbial wisdom for
his own rhetorical weapons. Grep:
Those men have special strength, their guardian deity royal,/who have
never strayed away from their own dwellings.*/There are few
people warm to a deed wrought by a rascal,/and the acts of detestable
fellows rarely please. *The
attendant or guardian spirit, called hamingja, which seems to personify
a man's luck, could be extended by a king to his followers in order to bring
them protection and good fortune, even though he was not with them; possibly
Grep claims this kind of support from the 'luck' of the king, which Erik, as
a stranger, is denied.
Book V. 127. Erik engages in a contest of words with Grep, who
bullies with insolence, while the hero relies particularly upon proverbial wisdom
for his own rhetorical weapons. Erik:
A blockhead, unrestrained and unseemly in his emotions,/cannot
conduct his affairs with due moderation.*1/Sailing
tackle outstrips the pull of rowers; gales/ruffle the seas, but a drearier breeze
the earth./Oars cleave the wave, falsehood the land; the latter/is vexed by
men's mouths, but hands weigh hard on the other.*2 *1Certain
passages in this poem recall statements in Hávamál on
the subject of wisdom and folly, and the kind of behaviour distinguishing the
wise man from the fool: e.g. 'The foolish man in company will do best to keep
silent; no one will know how ignorant he is unless he talks too much' (27).
*2Kallstenius' parallels here
are not very close (p. 26, nos. 57, 58). However, resemblances can again be
seen to the kind of simile used in Hávamál where in verse
53 the limited wisdom of men is likened to shallow seas, and in verse 90 the
putting of trust in a deceitful woman to driving a young untrained colt over
ice. Saxo's argument is not altogether easy to follow. He seems to imply that
the wind over the sea blows freely and unchecked, but on land an evil wind of
lies and rumours passes over men. As the sea is oppressed by oars of rowers,
a slow and difficult method of forcing a boat over the water compared with sailing,
so the duplicity of men makes progress slow and difficult on land. He may also
be expressing the feeling that life is more healthy and honest at sea. The Icelandic
proverb quoted by Kallstenius (p. 29, no. 74) Biðendur byr eiga en bráðir
handaróður is given by Vigfusson under and-róði
(pulling against wind and current): Those who wait get a fair wind, those who
are hasty pull against wind and tide.
Book V. 127. Erik engages in a contest of words with Grep, who
bullies with insolence, while the hero relies particularly upon proverbial wisdom
for his own rhetorical weapons. Erik:
A blockhead, unrestrained and unseemly in his emotions,/cannot conduct
his affairs with due moderation.*1/Sailing tackle outstrips
the pull of rowers; gales/ruffle the seas, but a drearier breeze the
earth./Oars cleave the wave, falsehood the land; the latter/is vexed by men's
mouths, but hands weigh hard on the other.*2 *1Certain
passages in this poem recall statements in Hávamál on
the subject of wisdom and folly, and the kind of behaviour distinguishing the
wise man from the fool: e.g. 'The foolish man in company will do best to keep
silent; no one will know how ignorant he is unless he talks too much' (27).
*2Kallstenius' parallels here
are not very close (p. 26, nos. 57, 58). However, resemblances can again be
seen to the kind of simile used in Hávamál where in verse
53 the limited wisdom of men is likened to shallow seas, and in verse 90 the
putting of trust in a deceitful woman to driving a young untrained colt over
ice. Saxo's argument is not altogether easy to follow. He seems to imply that
the wind over the sea blows freely and unchecked, but on land an evil wind of
lies and rumours passes over men. As the sea is oppressed by oars of rowers,
a slow and difficult method of forcing a boat over the water compared with sailing,
so the duplicity of men makes progress slow and difficult on land. He may also
be expressing the feeling that life is more healthy and honest at sea. The Icelandic
proverb quoted by Kallstenius (p. 29, no. 74) Biðendur byr eiga en bráðir
handaróður is given by Vigfusson under and-róði
(pulling against wind and current): Those who wait get a fair wind, those who
are hasty pull against wind and tide.
Book V. 127. Erik engages in a contest of words with Grep, who
bullies with insolence, while the hero relies particularly upon proverbial wisdom
for his own rhetorical weapons. Erik:
A blockhead, unrestrained and unseemly in his emotions,/cannot conduct
his affairs with due moderation.*1/Sailing tackle outstrips
the pull of rowers; gales/ruffle the seas, but a drearier breeze the
earth./Oars cleave the wave, falsehood the land; the latter/is vexed
by men's mouths, but hands weigh hard on the other.*2 *1Certain
passages in this poem recall statements in Hávamál on
the subject of wisdom and folly, and the kind of behaviour distinguishing the
wise man from the fool: e.g. 'The foolish man in company will do best to keep
silent; no one will know how ignorant he is unless he talks too much' (27).
*2Kallstenius' parallels here
are not very close (p. 26, nos. 57, 58). However, resemblances can again be
seen to the kind of simile used in Hávamál where in verse
53 the limited wisdom of men is likened to shallow seas, and in verse 90 the
putting of trust in a deceitful woman to driving a young untrained colt over
ice. Saxo's argument is not altogether easy to follow. He seems to imply that
the wind over the sea blows freely and unchecked, but on land an evil wind of
lies and rumours passes over men. As the sea is oppressed by oars of rowers,
a slow and difficult method of forcing a boat over the water compared with sailing,
so the duplicity of men makes progress slow and difficult on land. He may also
be expressing the feeling that life is more healthy and honest at sea. The Icelandic
proverb quoted by Kallstenius (p. 29, no. 74) Biðendur byr eiga en bráðir
handaróður is given by Vigfusson under and-róði
(pulling against wind and current): Those who wait get a fair wind, those who
are hasty pull against wind and tide.
Book V. 127. Erik engages in a contest of words with Grep, who
bullies with insolence, while the hero relies particularly upon proverbial wisdom
for his own rhetorical weapons. Erik:
A blockhead, unrestrained and unseemly in his emotions,/cannot conduct
his affairs with due moderation.*1/Sailing tackle outstrips
the pull of rowers; gales/ruffle the seas, but a drearier breeze the earth./Oars
cleave the wave, falsehood the land; the latter/is vexed by men's mouths,
but hands weigh hard on the other.*2 *1Certain
passages in this poem recall statements in Hávamál on
the subject of wisdom and folly, and the kind of behaviour distinguishing the
wise man from the fool: e.g. 'The foolish man in company will do best to keep
silent; no one will know how ignorant he is unless he talks too much' (27).
*2Kallstenius' parallels here
are not very close (p. 26, nos. 57, 58). However, resemblances can again be
seen to the kind of simile used in Hávamál where in verse
53 the limited wisdom of men is likened to shallow seas, and in verse 90 the
putting of trust in a deceitful woman to driving a young untrained colt over
ice. Saxo's argument is not altogether easy to follow. He seems to imply that
the wind over the sea blows freely and unchecked, but on land an evil wind of
lies and rumours passes over men. As the sea is oppressed by oars of rowers,
a slow and difficult method of forcing a boat over the water compared with sailing,
so the duplicity of men makes progress slow and difficult on land. He may also
be expressing the feeling that life is more healthy and honest at sea. The Icelandic
proverb quoted by Kallstenius (p. 29, no. 74) Biðendur byr eiga en bráðir
handaróður is given by Vigfusson under and-róði
(pulling against wind and current): Those who wait get a fair wind, those who
are hasty pull against wind and tide.
Book V. 127. Erik engages in a contest of words with Grep, who
bullies with insolence, while the hero relies particularly upon proverbial wisdom
for his own rhetorical weapons. Erik:
A blockhead, unrestrained and unseemly in his emotions,/cannot conduct
his affairs with due moderation.*1/Sailing tackle outstrips
the pull of rowers; gales/ruffle the seas, but a drearier breeze the earth./Oars
cleave the wave, falsehood the land; the latter/is vexed by men's mouths,
but hands weigh hard on the other.*2 *1Certain
passages in this poem recall statements in Hávamál on
the subject of wisdom and folly, and the kind of behaviour distinguishing the
wise man from the fool: e.g. 'The foolish man in company will do best to keep
silent; no one will know how ignorant he is unless he talks too much' (27).
*2Kallstenius' parallels here
are not very close (p. 26, nos. 57, 58). However, resemblances can again be
seen to the kind of simile used in Hávamál where in verse
53 the limited wisdom of men is likened to shallow seas, and in verse 90 the
putting of trust in a deceitful woman to driving a young untrained colt over
ice. Saxo's argument is not altogether easy to follow. He seems to imply that
the wind over the sea blows freely and unchecked, but on land an evil wind of
lies and rumours passes over men. As the sea is oppressed by oars of rowers,
a slow and difficult method of forcing a boat over the water compared with sailing,
so the duplicity of men makes progress slow and difficult on land. He may also
be expressing the feeling that life is more healthy and honest at sea. The Icelandic
proverb quoted by Kallstenius (p. 29, no. 74) Biðendur byr eiga en bráðir
handaróður is given by Vigfusson under and-róði
(pulling against wind and current): Those who wait get a fair wind, those who
are hasty pull against wind and tide.
Book V. 127. Erik engages in a contest of words with Grep, who
bullies with insolence, while the hero relies particularly upon proverbial wisdom
for his own rhetorical weapons. Grep:
You are crammed full of disputes, they say, as
a cock with filth,*/stinking of low breeding and accusations./It
is hard to bring a case against a buffoon, who thrives/on a dance of words without
expressing a meaning. *The cock is full of
filth because he picks up grains from the midden, where he is said to rule (Book
VII, note 84), cf. Kallstenius, p. 31, no. 89.
Book V. 127. Erik engages in a contest of words with Grep, who
bullies with insolence, while the hero relies particularly upon proverbial wisdom
for his own rhetorical weapons. Grep:
You are crammed full of disputes, they say, as a cock with filth,*/stinking
of low breeding and accusations./It is hard to bring a case against
a buffoon, who thrives/on a dance of words without expressing a meaning.
*The cock is full of filth because he picks
up grains from the midden, where he is said to rule (Book VII, note 84), cf.
Kallstenius, p. 31, no. 89.
Book V. 127. Erik engages in a contest of words with Grep, who
bullies with insolence, while the hero relies particularly upon proverbial wisdom
for his own rhetorical weapons. Erik:
By heaven, brainless talk, unless I am much mistaken,/often
rebounds on the head of him who uttered it./Through the righteous
dispensation of the gods, words poured forth/with too little wit return to plague
the deliverer./As soon as we first detect a pair of suspicious wolf's ears,*/we
believe the creature itself is lurking near./No one thinks we should trust a
person empty of faith,/one whom report pronounces guilty of treason. *The
same proverb is found in Fáfnismál 35: Mér
ulfs vón es eyru sék (I know the wolf is not far off when
I spy his ears).
Book V. 127. Erik engages in a contest of words with Grep, who
bullies with insolence, while the hero relies particularly upon proverbial wisdom
for his own rhetorical weapons. Erik:
By heaven, brainless talk, unless I am much mistaken,/often rebounds
on the head of him who uttered it./Through the righteous dispensation of the
gods, words poured forth/with too little wit return to plague the deliverer./As
soon as we first detect a pair of suspicious wolf's ears,*/we
believe the creature itself is lurking near./No one thinks we should trust a
person empty of faith,/one whom report pronounces guilty of treason. *The
same proverb is found in Fáfnismál 35: Mér
ulfs vón es eyru sék (I know the wolf is not far off when
I spy his ears).
Book V. 127. Erik engages in a contest of words with Grep, who
bullies with insolence, while the hero relies particularly upon proverbial wisdom
for his own rhetorical weapons. Erik:
By heaven, brainless talk, unless I am much mistaken,/often rebounds
on the head of him who uttered it./Through the righteous dispensation of the
gods, words poured forth/with too little wit return to plague the deliverer./As
soon as we first detect a pair of suspicious wolf's ears,*/we believe the creature
itself is lurking near./No one thinks we should trust a person empty
of faith,/one whom report pronounces guilty of treason. *The
same proverb is found in Fáfnismál 35: Mér
ulfs vón es eyru sék (I know the wolf is not far off when
I spy his ears).
Book V. 127. Erik engages in a contest of words with Grep, who
bullies with insolence, while the hero relies particularly upon proverbial wisdom
for his own rhetorical weapons. Erik:
By heaven, brainless talk, unless I am much mistaken,/often rebounds
on the head of him who uttered it./Through the righteous dispensation of the
gods, words poured forth/with too little wit return to plague the deliverer./As
soon as we first detect a pair of suspicious wolf's ears,*/we
believe the creature itself is lurking near./No one thinks we should
trust a person empty of faith,/one whom report pronounces guilty of
treason. *The same proverb
is found in Fáfnismál 35: Mér ulfs vón
es eyru sék (I know the wolf is not far off when I spy his ears).
Book V. 127. Erik engages in a contest of words with Grep, who
bullies with insolence, while the hero relies particularly upon proverbial wisdom
for his own rhetorical weapons. Erik:
The predictions of the coward and the hardened cravings of the vicious/were
never contained within their proper bounds./He who cheats his lord
and hatches lewd designs/will be a snare to his comrades and himself./Whoever
nurses a wolf in his home is generally thought/to be fostering a thief, a murderer
of his own household.* *Another proverb quoted
in the Poetic Edda, in Sigurðarkviða 12: Skalat
ulf ala ungan lengi (Never foster a wolf cub too long).
Book V. 127. Erik engages in a contest of words with Grep, who
bullies with insolence, while the hero relies particularly upon proverbial wisdom
for his own rhetorical weapons. Erik:
The predictions of the coward and the hardened cravings of the vicious/were
never contained within their proper bounds./He who cheats his lord and
hatches lewd designs/will be a snare to his comrades and himself./Whoever
nurses a wolf in his home is generally thought/to be fostering a thief, a murderer
of his own household.* *Another proverb quoted
in the Poetic Edda, in Sigurðarkviða 12: Skalat
ulf ala ungan lengi (Never foster a wolf cub too long).
Book V. 127. Erik engages in a contest of words with Grep, who
bullies with insolence, while the hero relies particularly upon proverbial wisdom
for his own rhetorical weapons. Erik:
The predictions of the coward and the hardened cravings of the vicious/were
never contained within their proper bounds./He who cheats his lord and hatches
lewd designs/will be a snare to his comrades and himself./Whoever nurses
a wolf in his home is generally thought/to be fostering a thief, a murderer
of his own household.* *Another proverb
quoted in the Poetic Edda, in Sigurðarkviða 12: Skalat
ulf ala ungan lengi (Never foster a wolf cub too long).
Book V. 127. Erik engages in a contest of words with Grep, who
bullies with insolence, while the hero relies particularly upon proverbial wisdom
for his own rhetorical weapons. Erik:
See! your pressing anxiety indicts you. Independence/is safer where the mind
remains untainted./He is deceived who wants a servant for his friend;/a menial
often damages his master.* *Kallstenius (p. 22,
no. 28) quotes an Icelandic proverb: Ilt er að eiga þræl
firi einkavin (It´s a bad thing to have a thrall for a close friend).
Book V. 128. When Grep returns to court in defeat, Frothi counsels
him to restrain his wrath:
The king on the other hand suggested he should reflect a while in his
wrath; hasty schemes very often misfired, nothing could be
carried out both quickly and warily, and frantic ventures mostly turned against
their devisers; lastly it was improper for a few men to be attacked by a great
swarm.* The clever individual was one who could throw a curb
on his rage and interrupt his violent impetuosity in time. In this way the king
forced the young man to be thoughtful in his impuslive anger. *There
are a number of proverbs of the 'More haste, less speed' type (see Kallstenius,
p. 29, no. 75; cf. note 33 above). The final maxim, that it is improper for
a few to be attacked by many, is used again by Erik later in the book (note
94 below) to good effect.
Book V. 128. When Grep returns to court in defeat, Frothi counsels
him to restrain his wrath:
The king on the other hand suggested he should reflect a while in his
wrath; hasty schemes very often misfired, nothing could be carried out
both quickly and warily, and frantic ventures mostly turned against
their devisers; lastly it was improper for a few men to be attacked by a great
swarm.* The clever individual was one who could throw a curb
on his rage and interrupt his violent impetuosity in time. In this way the king
forced the young man to be thoughtful in his impuslive anger. *There
are a number of proverbs of the 'More haste, less speed' type (see Kallstenius,
p. 29, no. 75; cf. note 33 above). The final maxim, that it is improper for
a few to be attacked by many, is used again by Erik later in the book (note
94 below) to good effect.
Book V. 128. When Grep returns to court in defeat, Frothi counsels
him to restrain his wrath:
The king on the other hand suggested he should reflect a while in his
wrath; hasty schemes very often misfired, nothing could be carried out both
quickly and warily, and frantic ventures mostly turned against their
devisers; lastly it was improper for a few men to be attacked by a
great swarm.* The clever individual was one who could throw
a curb on his rage and interrupt his violent impetuosity in time. In this way
the king forced the young man to be thoughtful in his impuslive anger. *There
are a number of proverbs of the 'More haste, less speed' type (see Kallstenius,
p. 29, no. 75; cf. note 33 above). The final maxim, that it is improper for
a few to be attacked by many, is used again by Erik later in the book (note
94 below) to good effect.
Book V. 128. When Grep returns to court in defeat, Frothi counsels
him to restrain his wrath:
The king on the other hand suggested he should reflect a while in his
wrath; hasty schemes very often misfired, nothing could be carried out both
quickly and warily, and frantic ventures mostly turned against their devisers;
lastly it was improper for a few men to be attacked by a great swarm.*
The clever individual was one who could throw a curb on his rage and interrupt
his violent impetuosity in time. In this way the king forced the young man to
be thoughtful in his impuslive anger. *There
are a number of proverbs of the 'More haste, less speed' type (see Kallstenius,
p. 29, no. 75; cf. note 33 above). The final maxim, that it is improper for
a few to be attacked by many, is used again by Erik later in the book (note
94 below) to good effect.
Book V. 128. When Grep returns to court in defeat, Frothi counsels
him to restrain his wrath:
The king on the other hand suggested he should reflect a while in his
wrath; hasty schemes very often misfired, nothing could be carried out both
quickly and warily, and frantic ventures mostly turned against their devisers;
lastly it was improper for a few men to be attacked by a great swarm.*
The clever individual was one who could throw a curb on his rage
and interrupt his violent impetuosity in time. In this way the king forced the
young man to be thoughtful in his impuslive anger. *There
are a number of proverbs of the 'More haste, less speed' type (see Kallstenius,
p. 29, no. 75; cf. note 33 above). The final maxim, that it is improper for
a few to be attacked by many, is used again by Erik later in the book (note
94 below) to good effect.
Book V. 128. Erik speaks in response to Grep's niðstöng:
"May this burden's bad luck recoil on its bearer and ours be the better
fortune! Let evil come to evil-doers. Let this accursed load
break its carrier. Let stronger auspices bring us safety." The sequel came
exactly as he wished, for the neck was immediately shaken free, and the stake
fell and crushed the man who held it.
Book V. 128. Erik approaches Frothi's court:
After Erik had proceeded a little further, it occurred to him that strangers
ought to offer gifts to the king. Chancing to discover a piece of ice,
he wrapped it carefully in his cloak to preserve and offer it to the ruler as
a present. When he reached the palace, before seeking admittance he asked his
brother to follow close behind him. Now the royal servants, to have some fun
at the expense of their new arrival, had laid down a slippery hide at the threshold;
when Erik entered and stepped on it their quick jerk on the rope would have
overturned him, had not Roller, coming up behind, caught him against his chest
as he reeled.*1 Erik, leaning at an angle, remarked that a
brotherless man has a bare back.*2 Although Gunvara stated
that a king should not be allowed to play such tricks, Frothi criticised the
envoy for his foolishness in not watching for a trap. He made out that his prank
was excusable because Erik, its butt, had been careless. *1
Another example of skinndráttr (see note 11 above). *2
This is a popular saying quoted more than once in the sagas: Berr er hverr
at baki, nema sér bróður eigi (Bare is the back of the
man without a brother). This is found in Njáls Saga 152 and
Grettis Saga 82. cf. Kallstenius p. 20, no. 17, where he gives a Danish
equivalent.
Book V. 128. Erik approaches Frothi's court:
After Erik had proceeded a little further, it occurred to him that strangers
ought to offer gifts to the king. Chancing to discover a piece of ice, he wrapped
it carefully in his cloak to preserve and offer it to the ruler as a present.
When he reached the palace, before seeking admittance he asked his brother
to follow close behind him. Now the royal servants, to have some fun
at the expense of their new arrival, had laid down a slippery hide at the threshold;
when Erik entered and stepped on it their quick jerk on the rope would have
overturned him, had not Roller, coming up behind, caught him against his chest
as he reeled.*1 Erik, leaning at an angle, remarked that a
brotherless man has a bare back.*2 Although Gunvara stated that a king
should not be allowed to play such tricks, Frothi criticised the envoy for his
foolishness in not watching for a trap. He made out that his prank was excusable
because Erik, its butt, had been careless. *1
Another example of skinndráttr (see note 11 above). *2
This is a popular saying quoted more than once in the sagas: Berr er hverr
at baki, nema sér bróður eigi (Bare is the back of the
man without a brother). This is found in Njáls Saga 152 and
Grettis Saga 82. cf. Kallstenius p. 20, no. 17, where he gives a Danish
equivalent.
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. 25b). – 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).
Book V. 128. Erik approaches Frothi's court:
After Erik had proceeded a little further, it occurred to him that strangers
ought to offer gifts to the king. Chancing to discover a piece of ice, he wrapped
it carefully in his cloak to preserve and offer it to the ruler as a present.
When he reached the palace, before seeking admittance he asked his brother to
follow close behind him. Now the royal servants, to have some fun at the expense
of their new arrival, had laid down a slippery hide at the threshold; when Erik
entered and stepped on it their quick jerk on the rope would have overturned
him, had not Roller, coming up behind, caught him against his chest as he reeled.*1
Erik, leaning at an angle, remarked that a brotherless man has a bare back.*2
Although Gunvara stated that a king should not be allowed to play such tricks,
Frothi criticised the envoy for his foolishness in not watching for
a trap. He made out that his prank was excusable because Erik,
its butt, had been careless. *1
Another example of skinndráttr (see note 11 above). *2
This is a popular saying quoted more than once in the sagas: Berr er hverr
at baki, nema sér bróður eigi (Bare is the back of the
man without a brother). This is found in Njáls Saga 152 and
Grettis Saga 82. cf. Kallstenius p. 20, no. 17, where he gives a Danish
equivalent.
[Hávamál advice.]
Book V. 129. Erik when Frothi's champions begin howling:
Whe Erik joined the latter, they emitted blood-curdling cries like
howling wolves. The king began to restrain their ululation, telling them that
human throats ought not to make animal noises, but Erik put in that it was dog-like
enough for the rest to bark when one had set them going; everyone's
habits revealed his true origin and species.
Book V. 130. The altercation when Erik reveals Grep has
slept with Hanunda, Frothi's wife:
. . . Grep sprang from his seat and ran at Erik to transfix him with his weapon,
aiming to rescue his own life by killing his accuser. But Roller forestalled
his attempt with drawn sword and paid him in his own coin. "Kinsmen's
service is very valuable when you need help", remarked Erik. "In
desperate straits you must have good men to oblige you",*1
replied Roller. "I believe", Frothi said, "that the common saying
will apply to you two. The assassin's pleasure will often be short-lived and
the joy of his hand brief once it has struck.*2 You can't
criticise a fully-justified action", Erik answered. "The difference
between Grep's work and ours is that between self-defence and a malicious attack."
*1 Kallstenius (p. 23, no. 35)
quotes similar but not parallel proverbs: e.g. Í þörf
reynist vinr bezt (In time of need you discover your best friend).
*2 A similar proverb is quoted in Njáls Saga
42: Skamma stund verðr hönd höggvi fegin (The hand will
not have long to rejoice over the blow). Kallstenius (p. 24, no. 38) has similar
but not identical instances from Denmark.
Book V. 130. The altercation when Erik reveals Grep has
slept with Hanunda, Frothi's wife:
. . . Grep sprang from his seat and ran at Erik to transfix him with his weapon,
aiming to rescue his own life by killing his accuser. But Roller forestalled
his attempt with drawn sword and paid him in his own coin. "Kinsmen's service
is very valuable when you need help", remarked Erik. "In desperate
straits you must have good men to oblige you",*1
replied Roller. "I believe", Frothi said, "that the common saying
will apply to you two. The assassin's pleasure will often be short-lived and
the joy of his hand brief once it has struck.*2 You can't
criticise a fully-justified action", Erik answered. "The difference
between Grep's work and ours is that between self-defence and a malicious attack."
*1 Kallstenius (p. 23, no. 35)
quotes similar but not parallel proverbs: e.g. Í þörf
reynist vinr bezt (In time of need you discover your best friend).
*2 A similar proverb is quoted in Njáls Saga
42: Skamma stund verðr hönd höggvi fegin (The hand will
not have long to rejoice over the blow). Kallstenius (p. 24, no. 38) has similar
but not identical instances from Denmark.
Book V. 130. The altercation when Erik reveals Grep has
slept with Hanunda, Frothi's wife:
. . . Grep sprang from his seat and ran at Erik to transfix him with his weapon,
aiming to rescue his own life by killing his accuser. But Roller forestalled
his attempt with drawn sword and paid him in his own coin. "Kinsmen's service
is very valuable when you need help", remarked Erik. "In desperate
straits you must have good men to oblige you",*1 replied
Roller. "I believe", Frothi said, "that the common saying will
apply to you two. The assassin's pleasure will often be short-lived
and the joy of his hand brief once it has struck.*2 You
can't criticise a fully-justified action", Erik answered. "The difference
between Grep's work and ours is that between self-defence and a malicious attack."
*1 Kallstenius (p. 23, no. 35)
quotes similar but not parallel proverbs: e.g. Í þörf
reynist vinr bezt (In time of need you discover your best friend).
*2 A similar proverb is quoted in Njáls Saga
42: Skamma stund verðr hönd höggvi fegin (The hand will
not have long to rejoice over the blow). Kallstenius (p. 24, no. 38) has similar
but not identical instances from Denmark.
Book V. 130. The altercation when Erik reveals Grep has
slept with Hanunda, Frothi's wife:
. . . Grep sprang from his seat and ran at Erik to transfix him with his weapon,
aiming to rescue his own life by killing his accuser. But Roller forestalled
his attempt with drawn sword and paid him in his own coin. "Kinsmen's service
is very valuable when you need help", remarked Erik. "In desperate
straits you must have good men to oblige you",*1 replied
Roller. "I believe", Frothi said, "that the common saying will
apply to you two. The assassin's pleasure will often be short-lived
and the joy of his hand brief once it has struck.*2
You can't criticise a fully-justified action", Erik answered.
"The difference between Grep's work and ours is that between self-defence
and a malicious attack." *1
Kallstenius (p. 23, no. 35) quotes similar but not parallel proverbs: e.g. Í
þörf reynist vinr bezt (In time of need you discover your best
friend). *2 A similar proverb is quoted in Njáls
Saga 42: Skamma stund verðr hönd höggvi fegin (The
hand will not have long to rejoice over the blow). Kallstenius (p. 24, no. 38)
has similar but not identical instances from Denmark.
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).
Book V. 130. The altercation when Erik reveals Grep has
slept with Hanunda, Frothi's wife:
. . . Grep sprang from his seat and ran at Erik to transfix him with his weapon,
aiming to rescue his own life by killing his accuser. But Roller forestalled
his attempt with drawn sword and paid him in his own coin. "Kinsmen's service
is very valuable when you need help", remarked Erik. "In desperate
straits you must have good men to oblige you",*1 replied
Roller. "I believe", Frothi said, "that the common saying will
apply to you two. The assassin's pleasure will often be short-lived and the
joy of his hand brief once it has struck.*2 You
can't criticise a fully-justified action", Erik answered. "The
difference between Grep's work and ours is that between self-defence and a malicious
attack." *1 Kallstenius
(p. 23, no. 35) quotes similar but not parallel proverbs: e.g. Í
þörf reynist vinr bezt (In time of need you discover your best
friend). *2 A similar proverb is quoted in Njáls
Saga 42: Skamma stund verðr hönd höggvi fegin (The
hand will not have long to rejoice over the blow). Kallstenius (p. 24, no. 38)
has similar but not identical instances from Denmark.
Book V. 131. Erik responds when Grep´s brothers threaten
him:
"The sick must make strict provision for a journey; a
man whose knife edge is blunt must only look for the soft and tender parts and
find a way of cutting piece by piece. Someone in difficulties can't do better
than stave off coming evil; delay is the surest answer to pressing circumstances,
and I beg three days for preparation, provided the king will let me have the
skin from the back of a freshly-slaughtered ox."
Book V. 131. Erik responds when Grep´s brothers threaten
him:
"The sick must make strict provision for a journey; a man whose
knife edge is blunt must only look for the soft and tender parts and
find a way of cutting piece by piece. Someone in difficulties can't do better
than stave off coming evil; delay is the surest answer to pressing circumstances,
and I beg three days for preparation, provided the king will let me have the
skin from the back of a freshly-slaughtered ox."
Book V. 131. Erik responds when Grep´s brothers threaten
him:
"The sick must make strict provision for a journey; a man whose knife edge
is blunt must only look for the soft and tender parts and find a way of cutting
piece by piece. Someone in difficulties can't do better than stave off
coming evil; delay is the surest answer to pressing circumstances,
and I beg three days for preparation, provided the king will let me have the
skin from the back of a freshly-slaughtered ox."
Book V. 131. Erik responds when Grep´s brothers threaten
him:
"The sick must make strict provision for a journey; a man whose knife edge
is blunt must only look for the soft and tender parts and find a way of cutting
piece by piece. Someone in difficulties can't do better than stave off coming
evil; delay is the surest answer to pressing circumstances,
and I beg three days for preparation, provided the king will let me have the
skin from the back of a freshly-slaughtered ox."
Book V. 131. Frothi answers Erik's request:
"One who has fallen on a hide deserves a hide", said
Frothi, openly taunting the petitioner by alluding to his earlier fall.
Book V. 131. Frothi effects a truce until the time of confrontation
between Erik and the sons of Vestmar:
The king granted a truce for their preparation and bade Vestmar's sons withdraw,
declaring that it was wrong to drive away a stranger, even
an ill-deserving one, without hospitable treatment.
Book V. 131. Erik supports Hanunda's bid for pardon from Frothi
for her unfaithfulness:
Next he returned to find out the queen's decision on her mode of punishment.
She made no mention of her verdict, but begged to be forgiven for the misdemeanour;
Erik commented that it was often right to overlook a woman's errors
and withhold the penalty, if the fault could be removed and there were hope
of improvement.
Book V. 131-2. In a lengthy exchange Erik responds to Frothi's complaint
when he repeatedly throws away the food served him:
"Whoever opposes traditional customs declares himself a rebel and
deserter." "A wise man must be educated by a wiser.*1
Teaching assists learning and sound doctrine enhances teaching." "What
marvellous lesson will this over-affected style of yours teach me?" "A
king is more stoutly defended by a small measure of loyalty than widespread
knavery." "Are you suggesting that you are more devoted to me than
the rest, then?" enquired Frothi. "No man ties the unborn animal to
a stall or pen.*2 You haven't yet experienced everything. Besides,
with Gøtar we usually have some beverage to go with our feasts; liquid
added to a meal pleases the banqueters." "I've never met a more shameless
request for food or drink", Frothi replied, to which Erik rejoined, "Few
value or calculate the needs of a man who keeps quiet."*3 *1
Kallstenius (p. 31, no 84) has a Danish version: Den vijse skal lære
aff den som vijsere er (The wise must learn from someone wiser). It is
interesting to note that the king refers here to Erik's 'over-affected style'
in his reply. *2 Stephanius in his commentary
(p. 117) quotes the proverb: Hart er wfød Hest at binde Krybbe,
and gives a variant: Ont er at baase for wfød Fee (It's a bad
thing to tie up the unborn beast). The meaning is equivalent to the popular
saying "Don't count your chickens before they're hatched' and 'First catch
your hare'. Erik is not yet prepared to accept a place in Frothi's service because
the king has not yet fully accepted him. *3
Kallstenius gives parallels in Danish and Icelandic (p. 29, no. 72): e.g. Fár
hyggr þegjanda þorf (Few heed the wants of the silent).
Book V. 131-2. In a lengthy exchange Erik responds to Frothi's complaint
when he repeatedly throws away the food served him:
"Whoever opposes traditional customs declares himself a rebel and deserter."
"A wise man must be educated by a wiser.*1
Teaching assists learning and sound doctrine enhances teaching." "What
marvellous lesson will this over-affected style of yours teach me?" "A
king is more stoutly defended by a small measure of loyalty than widespread
knavery." "Are you suggesting that you are more devoted to me than
the rest, then?" enquired Frothi. "No man ties the unborn animal to
a stall or pen.*2 You haven't yet experienced everything. Besides,
with Gøtar we usually have some beverage to go with our feasts; liquid
added to a meal pleases the banqueters." "I've never met a more shameless
request for food or drink", Frothi replied, to which Erik rejoined, "Few
value or calculate the needs of a man who keeps quiet."*3 *1
Kallstenius (p. 31, no 84) has a Danish version: Den vijse skal lære
aff den som vijsere er (The wise must learn from someone wiser). It is
interesting to note that the king refers here to Erik's 'over-affected style'
in his reply. *2 Stephanius in his commentary
(p. 117) quotes the proverb: Hart er wfød Hest at binde Krybbe,
and gives a variant: Ont er at baase for wfød Fee (It's a bad
thing to tie up the unborn beast). The meaning is equivalent to the popular
saying "Don't count your chickens before they're hatched' and 'First catch
your hare'. Erik is not yet prepared to accept a place in Frothi's service because
the king has not yet fully accepted him. *3
Kallstenius gives parallels in Danish and Icelandic (p. 29, no. 72): e.g. Fár
hyggr þegjanda þorf (Few heed the wants of the silent).
Book V. 131-2. In a lengthy exchange Erik responds to Frothi's complaint
when he repeatedly throws away the food served him:
"Whoever opposes traditional customs declares himself a rebel and deserter."
"A wise man must be educated by a wiser.*1 Teaching
assists learning and sound doctrine enhances teaching." "What
marvellous lesson will this over-affected style of yours teach me?" "A
king is more stoutly defended by a small measure of loyalty than widespread
knavery." "Are you suggesting that you are more devoted to me than
the rest, then?" enquired Frothi. "No man ties the unborn animal to
a stall or pen.*2 You haven't yet experienced everything. Besides,
with Gøtar we usually have some beverage to go with our feasts; liquid
added to a meal pleases the banqueters." "I've never met a more shameless
request for food or drink", Frothi replied, to which Erik rejoined, "Few
value or calculate the needs of a man who keeps quiet."*3 *1
Kallstenius (p. 31, no 84) has a Danish version: Den vijse skal lære
aff den som vijsere er (The wise must learn from someone wiser). It is
interesting to note that the king refers here to Erik's 'over-affected style'
in his reply. *2 Stephanius in his commentary
(p. 117) quotes the proverb: Hart er wfød Hest at binde Krybbe,
and gives a variant: Ont er at baase for wfød Fee (It's a bad
thing to tie up the unborn beast). The meaning is equivalent to the popular
saying "Don't count your chickens before they're hatched' and 'First catch
your hare'. Erik is not yet prepared to accept a place in Frothi's service because
the king has not yet fully accepted him. *3
Kallstenius gives parallels in Danish and Icelandic (p. 29, no. 72): e.g. Fár
hyggr þegjanda þorf (Few heed the wants of the silent).
Book V. 131-2. In a lengthy exchange Erik responds to Frothi's complaint
when he repeatedly throws away the food served him:
"Whoever opposes traditional customs declares himself a rebel and deserter."
"A wise man must be educated by a wiser.*1 Teaching assists
learning and sound doctrine enhances teaching." "What marvellous lesson
will this over-affected style of yours teach me?" "A king
is more stoutly defended by a small measure of loyalty than widespread knavery."
"Are you suggesting that you are more devoted to me than the rest, then?"
enquired Frothi. "No man ties the unborn animal to a stall or pen.*2
You haven't yet experienced everything. Besides, with Gøtar we usually
have some beverage to go with our feasts; liquid added to a meal pleases the
banqueters." "I've never met a more shameless request for food or
drink", Frothi replied, to which Erik rejoined, "Few value or calculate
the needs of a man who keeps quiet."*3 *1
Kallstenius (p. 31, no 84) has a Danish version: Den vijse skal lære
aff den som vijsere er (The wise must learn from someone wiser). It is
interesting to note that the king refers here to Erik's 'over-affected style'
in his reply. *2 Stephanius in his commentary
(p. 117) quotes the proverb: Hart er wfød Hest at binde Krybbe,
and gives a variant: Ont er at baase for wfød Fee (It's a bad
thing to tie up the unborn beast). The meaning is equivalent to the popular
saying "Don't count your chickens before they're hatched' and 'First catch
your hare'. Erik is not yet prepared to accept a place in Frothi's service because
the king has not yet fully accepted him. *3
Kallstenius gives parallels in Danish and Icelandic (p. 29, no. 72): e.g. Fár
hyggr þegjanda þorf (Few heed the wants of the silent).
Book V. 131-2. In a lengthy exchange Erik responds to Frothi's complaint
when he repeatedly throws away the food served him:
"Whoever opposes traditional customs declares himself a rebel and deserter."
"A wise man must be educated by a wiser.*1 Teaching assists
learning and sound doctrine enhances teaching." "What marvellous lesson
will this over-affected style of yours teach me?" "A king is more
stoutly defended by a small measure of loyalty than widespread knavery."
"Are you suggesting that you are more devoted to me than the rest, then?"
enquired Frothi. "No man ties the unborn animal to a stall or pen.*2
You haven't yet experienced everything. Besides, with Gøtar we usually
have some beverage to go with our feasts; liquid added to a meal pleases the
banqueters." "I've never met a more shameless request for food or
drink", Frothi replied, to which Erik rejoined, "Few value or calculate
the needs of a man who keeps quiet."*3 *1
Kallstenius (p. 31, no 84) has a Danish version: Den vijse skal lære
aff den som vijsere er (The wise must learn from someone wiser). It is
interesting to note that the king refers here to Erik's 'over-affected style'
in his reply. *2 Stephanius in his commentary
(p. 117) quotes the proverb: Hart er wfød Hest at binde Krybbe,
and gives a variant: Ont er at baase for wfød Fee (It's a bad
thing to tie up the unborn beast). The meaning is equivalent to the popular
saying "Don't count your chickens before they're hatched' and 'First catch
your hare'. Erik is not yet prepared to accept a place in Frothi's service because
the king has not yet fully accepted him. *3
Kallstenius gives parallels in Danish and Icelandic (p. 29, no. 72): e.g. Fár
hyggr þegjanda þorf (Few heed the wants of the silent).
Book V. 131-2. In a lengthy exchange Erik responds to Frothi's complaint
when he repeatedly throws away the food served him:
"Whoever opposes traditional customs declares himself a rebel and deserter."
"A wise man must be educated by a wiser.*1 Teaching assists
learning and sound doctrine enhances teaching." "What marvellous lesson
will this over-affected style of yours teach me?" "A king is more
stoutly defended by a small measure of loyalty than widespread knavery."
"Are you suggesting that you are more devoted to me than the rest, then?"
enquired Frothi. "No man ties the unborn animal to a stall or pen.*2
You haven't yet experienced everything. Besides, with Gøtar we usually
have some beverage to go with our feasts; liquid added to a meal pleases
the banqueters." "I've never met a more shameless request
for food or drink", Frothi replied, to which Erik rejoined, "Few value
or calculate the needs of a man who keeps quiet."*3 *1
Kallstenius (p. 31, no 84) has a Danish version: Den vijse skal lære
aff den som vijsere er (The wise must learn from someone wiser). It is
interesting to note that the king refers here to Erik's 'over-affected style'
in his reply. *2 Stephanius in his commentary
(p. 117) quotes the proverb: Hart er wfød Hest at binde Krybbe,
and gives a variant: Ont er at baase for wfød Fee (It's a bad
thing to tie up the unborn beast). The meaning is equivalent to the popular
saying "Don't count your chickens before they're hatched' and 'First catch
your hare'. Erik is not yet prepared to accept a place in Frothi's service because
the king has not yet fully accepted him. *3
Kallstenius gives parallels in Danish and Icelandic (p. 29, no. 72): e.g. Fár
hyggr þegjanda þorf (Few heed the wants of the silent).
Book V. 131-2. In a lengthy exchange Erik responds to Frothi's complaint
when he repeatedly throws away the food served him:
"Whoever opposes traditional customs declares himself a rebel and deserter."
"A wise man must be educated by a wiser.*1 Teaching assists
learning and sound doctrine enhances teaching." "What marvellous lesson
will this over-affected style of yours teach me?" "A king is more
stoutly defended by a small measure of loyalty than widespread knavery."
"Are you suggesting that you are more devoted to me than the rest, then?"
enquired Frothi. "No man ties the unborn animal to a stall or pen.*2
You haven't yet experienced everything. Besides, with Gøtar we usually
have some beverage to go with our feasts; liquid added to a meal pleases the
banqueters." "I've never met a more shameless request for food or
drink", Frothi replied, to which Erik rejoined, "Few value
or calculate the needs of a man who keeps quiet."*3 *1
Kallstenius (p. 31, no 84) has a Danish version: Den vijse skal lære
aff den som vijsere er (The wise must learn from someone wiser). It is
interesting to note that the king refers here to Erik's 'over-affected style'
in his reply. *2 Stephanius in his commentary
(p. 117) quotes the proverb: Hart er wfød Hest at binde Krybbe,
and gives a variant: Ont er at baase for wfød Fee (It's a bad
thing to tie up the unborn beast). The meaning is equivalent to the popular
saying "Don't count your chickens before they're hatched' and 'First catch
your hare'. Erik is not yet prepared to accept a place in Frothi's service because
the king has not yet fully accepted him. *3
Kallstenius gives parallels in Danish and Icelandic (p. 29, no. 72): e.g. Fár
hyggr þegjanda þorf (Few heed the wants of the silent).
Book V. 132. Frothi when Erik makes a grab for Gunvara, Frothi´s
sister, pretending to think the king has given her to him:
"A simpleton is revealed by his actions. Among us a maiden's
freedom is regarded as inviolable."
Book V. 132. Frothi when Erik makes a grab for Gunvara, Frothi´s
sister, pretending to think the king has given her to him:
"A simpleton is revealed by his actions. Among us a maiden's freedom
is regarded as inviolable."
Book V. 132. Frothi capitulates, giving his sister to Erik:
The king realised the mistake of his promise and gave him the
girl, for he did not wish to be fickle and repeal what was
the fault of his inattentiveness. The weight of his word must appear strong;
yet to go back on foolish agreements is counted the mark of a mature rather
than a shifting judgment.
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).
Book V. 132. Frothi capitulates, giving his sister to Erik:
The king realised the mistake of his promise and gave him the girl, for he did
not wish to be fickle and repeal what was the fault of his inattentiveness.
The weight of his word must appear strong; yet to go back on
foolish agreements is counted the mark of a mature rather than a shifting judgment.
Book V. 132. Frothi capitulates, giving his sister to Erik:
The king realised the mistake of his promise and gave him the girl, for he did
not wish to be fickle and repeal what was the fault of his inattentiveness.
The weight of his word must appear strong; yet to go back on foolish
agreements is counted the mark of a mature rather than a shifting judgment.
Book V. 133. Frothi comments on the unfairness of the rope pulling
contest between Erik and Vestmar:
When Frothi saw this he said: "I think it's difficult
to tug the rope against a strong man."* "Diffcult, certainly,"
said Erik, "when you have a tumour on your body or a hump on your back."
*This is close to a saying in Njáls
Saga 6: Við ramman mun reip at draga (This is tugging against
a strong opponent), found again in Hrólfs Saga kraka 1. The
metaphor is that of a tug-of-war, and the meaning is that it is useless to contend
against a force too strong to resist; the implication in the saga passages is
that magic powers are involved (cf. Kallstenius, p. 22, no. 31).
FJ Proverb word 311. Page 180. reip – (þar
er) við ramman reip at draga Nj 22, Fms II 107. ‘Det
er en stærk mand at trække reb med’, om noget meget vanskeligt.
Alml. i brug. Findes også hos Låle (I 25).
Gering 11. reip (nr. 331). – Die redensart: hér
er við ramman reip at draga findet sich auch in der Hrólfs s.
kraka c. 1 (Fas. 1, 416), Vatnsd. c. 44 (Forns. 754) und
Kjalnes. s. c. 3 (Ísl. s. II2, 4089).
Saxo (Kallstenius) 22-3. Kraft. 31. Arduum,
inquit, reor contra fortem fune contendere, s. 14027. – Illt
er vid ramman reip ad draga, se JR II n:r 179 (s. 19). Jfr D n:r 304 och Rosenberg
a. a. II s. 601 not.
ÍOS II. 79. REIP VIÐ RAMMAN ER REIP AÐ DRAGA
"við mikla öðugleika er að etja, við erfiðan andstæðing er að fást".
Orðtakið kemur nokkrum sinnum fyrir í fornritum, sbr. t. d.: "Við ramman
mun reip at draga", segir Gunnhildr, "ok leyfið þér honum at fara
sem honum gegnir bezt". ÍF XII, 20, sbr. enn fremur VIII, 122, FMS
II, 107, FAS I, 4. Þess má geta, að orðtakið kemur fyrir í tveimur gervum hjá
Saxo (SAXO LIB V, 119; XII, 333 (Kbh. 1931). Frá 19. öld eru kunnig afbrigðin:
eiga við ramman reip að draga og draga reip við hinn ramma: Hann
á við ramman reip að draga (GJ 129 (OB)) – að taka því, sem í
boði er og draga ekki reip við hinn ramma. JSBRÉF2, 125 (OB).
Orðtakið á rætur að rekja til reipdráttar, við ramman (sérstætt lo.)
merkir "á móti sterkum manni". HHÍO 309, EÓS í Skírni 1954, 217.
TPMA 11. 175. STRICK/corde/rope 2. Ziehen am Strick
(Seil) 2.3 Gegen einem Starken am Seil ziehen
Nord. 37 Er þar við ramman reip at draga Man muss dort gegen
einen Starken am Seil ziehen GROSSE ÓLÁFS SAGA TRYGGVASONAR 184
(→FMS II, 170 [=JÓNSSON, ARKIV 331]). 38 Hér er við
ramman reip at draga Hier muss man gegen einen Starken am Strick ziehen
HRÓLFS SAGA KRAKA 1 (→FAS I, 4 [GERING S. 11]). 39 Ok má
vera, at við ramman væri reip at draga Und es mag sein, dass
wir gegen einen Starken am Seil habe ziehen müssen VATNSDŒLA SAGA
44, 30 (= GERING S. 11). 40 Vid ramman mun reip at draga (Hier) muss
man gegen einen Starken am Seil ziehen NJÁLS SAGA 6, 5 (= JÓNSSON,
ARKIV, 331. JÓNSSON, 136). 41 Creditur incautum forti resti (lies:
restis) dare tractum. – Onth ær meth ramme stærcke
reeb (lies: meth ramme reeb) at drawæ Es gilt als
unvorsichtig, mit einem Starken am Seil zu ziehen. – Es ist schlecht,
mit einem Starken am Seil zu ziehen Låle 204. 42 Est graue grandeuum
(lies mit Låle S. 259: gradiuum) per restis vincere tractum.
– Thet ær onth at drawe reeb meth gamlæ (lies mit Druck
B: ramme) Es ist schwierig, den Kampftüchtigen durch das Ziehen
des Seiles zu besiegen. – Es ist schlecht, mit einem Starken am Seil zu
ziehen EBD. 338. 43 Nú er við raman reip at draga Man muss
jetzt gegen einen Starken am Seil ziehen KJALNESINGA SAGA 3 S. 11 (= GERING
S. 11).
Book V. 133. Erik's eloquence when Frothi is attempting to kill
him with a knife:
While Frothi contemplated hurling his dagger to transfix Erik, Gunvara,
sensing her brother's purpose and wishing to warn her betrothed of his peril,
stated that a person could only be called wise if he kept watch for
his safety. Perceptive of her caution, Erik alerted himself against
treachery and, jumping up immediately, declared that the wise man's fame would
triumph but guile carried its own destruction, thus challenging by a modest
hint Frothi's intention to spring a surprise on him. Even so, the king suddenly
flung the kinfe, but Erik successfully dodged it and it struck the opposite
wall. "You should hand presents to your friends, not throw them,"
said Erik; "it would have made a commendable gift
if you'd offered the sheath as its companion."
Book V. 133. Erik's eloquence when Frothi is attempting to kill
him with a knife:
While Frothi contemplated hurling his dagger to transfix Erik, Gunvara,
sensing her brother's purpose and wishing to warn her betrothed of his peril,
stated that a person could only be called wise if he kept watch for his safety.
Perceptive of her caution, Erik alerted himself against treachery and, jumping
up immediately, declared that the wise man's fame would triumph
but guile carried its own destruction, thus challenging by a modest hint Frothi's
intention to spring a surprise on him. Even so, the king suddenly flung the
kinfe, but Erik successfully dodged it and it struck the opposite wall. "You
should hand presents to your friends, not throw them," said Erik; "it
would have made a commendable gift if you'd offered the sheath as its companion."
Book V. 133. Erik's eloquence when Frothi is attempting to kill
him with a knife:
While Frothi contemplated hurling his dagger to transfix Erik, Gunvara,
sensing her brother's purpose and wishing to warn her betrothed of his peril,
stated that a person could only be called wise if he kept watch for his safety.
Perceptive of her caution, Erik alerted himself against treachery and, jumping
up immediately, declared that the wise man's fame would triumph but guile
carried its own destruction, thus challenging by a modest hint Frothi's
intention to spring a surprise on him. Even so, the king suddenly flung the
kinfe, but Erik successfully dodged it and it struck the opposite wall. "You
should hand presents to your friends, not throw them," said Erik; "it
would have made a commendable gift if you'd offered the sheath as its companion."
Book V. 133. Erik's eloquence when Frothi is attempting to kill
him with a knife:
While Frothi contemplated hurling his dagger to transfix Erik, Gunvara,
sensing her brother's purpose and wishing to warn her betrothed of his peril,
stated that a person could only be called wise if he kept watch for his safety.
Perceptive of her caution, Erik alerted himself against treachery and, jumping
up immediately, declared that the wise man's fame would triumph but guile carried
its own destruction, thus challenging by a modest hint Frothi's intention to
spring a surprise on him. Even so, the king suddenly flung the kinfe, but Erik
successfully dodged it and it struck the opposite wall. "You should
hand presents to your friends, not throw them," said Erik; "it
would have made a commendable gift if you'd offered the sheath as its companion."
Havamal, presents for friends, and Erik's joke about it.
Book V. 134. Gunvara warns Erik of the need to escape:
During the night Gunvara quietly awoke Erik, declaring they must flee;
it would be a distinct advantage if they could return safely while the
wagon was still sound.* *This
appears to be a proverb, and Kallstenius (p. 25, no. 50) quotes the Icelandic
equivalent: Hollast er í heilum vagni heim að aka (It's
best to drive home while the wagon's still sound), cf. the English expression
'Go while the going's good'.
Book V. 134. Frothi, defeated by a commoner,
wants to die:
In vain you have saved one who wished to perish. As you forbade me to drown,
at least I can stab myself. Hitherto defeated by no one, I yielded first to
your cleverness, Erik, and more miserably because, whereas I had never been
vanquished by famous men, I let a commoner beat me. That provokes great
shame in a monarch. For a leader this is sufficient reason for dying,
since glory is rightly his greatest pleasure; where that has gone you can be
sure everything else has. Nothing about a ruler is talked of more than his renown.
Book V. 134. Frothi, defeated by a commoner,
wants to die:
In vain you have saved one who wished to perish. As you forbade me to drown,
at least I can stab myself. Hitherto defeated by no one, I yielded first to
your cleverness, Erik, and more miserably because, whereas I had never been
vanquished by famous men, I let a commoner beat me. That provokes great shame
in a monarch. For a leader this is sufficient reason for dying, since glory
is rightly his greatest pleasure; where that has gone you can be sure
everything else has. Nothing about a ruler is talked of more than his renown.
TPMA 9. 386. Fylki skal til frægðar hafa
Book V. 135. Frothi, defeated by a commoner, wants
to die, his speech continued:
"What advantage will a lengthy life be if it only carries gloomy memories?
The happiest event for sufferers is death. A man's departure is fortunate if
it comes when desired; it does not remove any pleasantness in his existence,
merely destroys his nausea at the world. Good times are for living, in bad situations
we had best seek our end."
Book V. 135. Frothi, defeated by a commoner, wants
to die, his speech continued:
"What advantage will a lengthy life be if it only carries gloomy
memories? The happiest event for sufferers is death. A man's
departure is fortunate if it comes when desired; it does not remove any pleasantness
in his existence, merely destroys his nausea at the world. Good times are for
living, in bad situations we had best seek our end."
Book V. 135. Frothi, defeated by a commoner,
wants to die, his speech continued:
"What advantage will a lengthy life be if it only carries gloomy
memories? The happiest event for sufferers is death. A man's departure
is fortunate if it comes when desired; it does not remove any pleasantness
in his existence, merely destroys his nausea at the world. Good times are for
living, in bad situations we had best seek our end."
Book V. 135. Frothi, defeated by a commoner,
wants to die, his speech continued:
"What advantage will a lengthy life be if it only carries gloomy
memories? The happiest event for sufferers is death. A man's departure is fortunate
if it comes when desired; it does not remove any pleasantness in his existence,
merely destroys his nausea at the world. Good times are for living,
in bad situations we had best seek our end."
Book V. 135. Frothi's lament continued:
"No mended article will ever regain its original sheen."* *Kallstenius
(p. 28, no. 67) has a popular form of this saying from Denmark: Brudet bliffuer
aldrig ret helt (Once broken, never really whole).
Book V. 135. Frothi's lament continued:
"My heart, let me tell you, brims with
harmful intent, something often rated as tantamount to crime."
Book V. 135. Erik replies:
"Surely the heavens forbid a benefactor of others to be his own
unnatural murderer."
Book V. 135. Erik replies:
"A man must learn to grin and bear it if he is going to behave
with self-control during prosperity; he can see how to use his affluence
provided he has willingly acknowledged evil times, and besides, pleasure following
on bitter circumstances is sweeter.* *Kallstenius
(p. 26, no. 55) gives the Danish versions: Mand veed da først huad
det søde er / naar mand haffuer smagt det Sure (You won't know what's
sweet till you've tasted the sour).
Book V. 135. Erik replies:
"A man must learn to grin and bear it if he is going to behave with self-control
during prosperity; he can see how to use his affluence provided he has
willingly acknowledged evil times, and besides, pleasure following
on bitter circumstances is sweeter.* *Kallstenius
(p. 26, no. 55) gives the Danish versions: Mand veed da først huad
det søde er / naar mand haffuer smagt det Sure (You won't know what's
sweet till you've tasted the sour).
Book V. 135. Erik replies:
"A man must learn to grin and bear it if he is going to behave with self-control
furing prosperity; he can see how to use his affluence provided he has willingly
acknowledged evil times, and besides, pleasure following on bitter circumstances
is sweeter.* *Kallstenius (p. 26, no.
55) gives the Danish versions: Mand veed da først huad det søde
er / naar mand haffuer smagt det Sure (You won't know what's sweet till
you've tasted the sour).
Book V. 135. Erik replies:
"Most unmanly of all is the one who fears hardship
so much he loses his zest to remain alive."
Book V. 136. Erik replies:
"Who is insane enough to punish vacillating Fortune by
suicide? Has anyone lived such a happy existence that he never struck
a bad patch?"
Book V. 136. Erik replies:
"Who is insane enough to punish vacillating Fortune by suicide?
Has anyone lived such a happy existence that he never struck a bad patch?"
Book V. 136. Erik replies:
"May the gods never allow you to reach that pitch of frenzy where you can
call your preserver a snake in the grass. Shall we be held
at fault because we are your benefactors, and reap disdain for our services?"
Book V. 136. Erik replies:
"Please do no let anger harden your mind against your own interests,
since you have been damaged by no loss of property, nor has your freedom been
eroded."
Book V. 137. Erik and Roller return to Norway with their new
wives:
Afterwards they sailed back to Norway taking their wives with them;
neither the length of the voyage nor fears of peril could tear them from their
husband's sides, for each declared she would stick to her partner like
a feather to bristles.* *This is one
of Saxo's idiomatic phrases; it is noted with other examples by Powell in his
preface to Elton's translation (p. lxxxix).
Book V. 137. Erik discovers Gøtar's plan
to separate him from his wife and marry his sister to him:
When Erik discovered this scheme he called his comrades together and informed
them that his destiny was not yet clear of the reefs. He could
see that a bundle was liable to slip if it were not securely tied,* and in the
same way, if it were not fastened by a chain of guilt, the whole weight of a
punishment could suddenly collapse.
Book V. 137. Erik discovers Gøtar's plan
to separate him from his wife and marry his sister to him:
When Erik discovered this scheme he called his comrades together and informed
them that his destiny was not yet clear of the reefs. He could see that a
bundle was liable to slip if it were not securely tied,* and in the
same way, if it were not fastened by a chain of guilt, the whole weight of a
punishment could suddenly collapse. *Kallstenius
(p. 22, no. 26) quotes two Icelandic forms of this saying: Fellst fetillaus
byrði (The unbound bundle falls apart) and Laus er bandlaus baggi
(the untied bag stays loose). The obvious meaning is that a job has to be done
properly and the ends tied up, and may refer in the first place to Erik´s
marriage, which the king is plotting to undo; Saxon seems to extend the meaning
by applying it to the innocent escaping scatheless from threats and perils.
Book V. 137. Erik plans response to his discovery
of Gøtar's plan to separate him from his wife and marry his sister to
him:
Were Gøtar to take the initiative in challenging them, they
should pretend to flee for a short while and would thereby have a sounder pretext
for battling with him. The hand had every right to resist when the head
was endangered.* Anyone who started a broil with blameless men seldom
rejoiced in the consequences. *Kallstenius
(p. 28, no. 68) quotes the Icelandic version: Skylt er hendi af höfði
að bera (the hand is bound to protect the head).
Book V. 141. Erik comments on the fate of pirate ships:
During the voyage, when he happened to catch sight of a pirate ship run aground
in shallow waters, in his usual way he pronounced serious comment on chance
circumstances: "The fate of the meaner sort is ignoble,
the lot of base individuals squalid."
Book V. 141. Erik comments on the fate of pirate ships:
During the voyage, when he happened to catch sight of a pirate ship run aground
in shallow waters, in his usual way he pronounced serious comment on chance
circumstances: "The fate of the meaner sort is ignoble, the lot
of base individuals squalid."
Book V. 141-2. Frothi's martial policies:
Although Strumik, the Slav king, sent ambassadors to ask for a cessation of
hostilities, Frothi refused him time to equip himself; an enemy,
he said, should not be supplied with a truce.
Book V. 142. Erik concurs:
Erik praised the wisdom of his reply, stating that he should
play the game abroad as it had begun at home, by which he meant that
the Danes had been provoked by the Slavs.
Book V. 144. Gøtar, fearing Frothi's power, sends envoys
asking for peace:
Erik talked to them: "It's a shameless robber who is the first
to ask for a truce or ventures to offer one to blameless men. Those
who long for possession must struggle for it; blow must be pitted against blow,
hatred repel hatred."* Gøtar listened to his words attentively from
a distance and, in as distinct tones as he could muster, replied, "A man's
gallantry in action is measured by his recollection of benefits received."
Erik answered, "I've requited your generosity with the sound advice I've
given you." He meant that excellent counsel was more valuable than any
sort of gift, . . .
Book V. 144. Gøtar, fearing Frothi's power, sends envoys
asking for peace:
Erik talked to them: "It's a shameless robber who is the first to ask for
a truce or ventures to offer one to blameless men. Those who long for
possession must struggle for it; blow must be pitted against blow,
hatred repel hatred."* Gøtar listened to his words attentively from
a distance and, in as distinct tones as he could muster, replied, "A man's
gallantry in action is measured by his recollection of benefits received."
Erik answered, "I've requited your generosity with the sound advice I've
given you." He meant that excellent counsel was more valuable than any
sort of gift, . . .
Book V. 144. Gøtar, fearing Frothi's power, sends envoys
asking for peace:
Erik talked to them: "It's a shameless robber who is the first to ask for
a truce or ventures to offer one to blameless men. Those who long for possession
must struggle for it; blow must be pitted against blow, hatred repel
hatred."* Gøtar listened to his words attentively from
a distance and, in as distinct tones as he could muster, replied, "A man's
gallantry in action is measured by his recollection of benefits received."
Erik answered, "I've requited your generosity with the sound advice I've
given you." He meant that excellent counsel was more valuable than any
sort of gift, . . .
Book V. 144. Gøtar, fearing Frothi's power, sends envoys
asking for peace:
Erik talked to them: "It's a shameless robber who is the first to ask for
a truce or ventures to offer one to blameless men. Those who long for possession
must struggle for it; blow must be pitted against blow, hatred repel hatred."*
Gøtar listened to his words attentively from a distance and, in as distinct
tones as he could muster, replied, "A man's gallantry in action
is measured by his recollection of benefits received." Erik answered,
"I've requited your generosity with the sound advice I've given you."
He meant that excellent counsel was more valuable than any sort of gift, . .
.
Book V. 144. Gøtar, fearing Frothi's power, sends envoys
asking for peace:
Erik talked to them: "It's a shameless robber who is the first to ask for
a truce or ventures to offer one to blameless men. Those who long for possession
must struggle for it; blow must be pitted against blow, hatred repel hatred."*
Gøtar listened to his words attentively from a distance and, in as distinct
tones as he could muster, replied, "A man's gallantry in action is measured
by his recollection of benefits received." Erik answered, "I've requited
your generosity with the sound advice I've given you." He meant that excellent
counsel was more valuable than any sort of gift, . . .
Book V. 144. Erik chides Olimar for thinking he could defeat
Frothi:
Erik answered, "To allow into your mind hope of conquering
the unconquerable/is fruitless. No man can overpower Frothi."
Olimar objected: "Every thing that happens has its first occurrence;/events
unhoped-for come to pass quite often."* *Kallstenius
(p. 31, no. 88) has the Icelandic phrase Einusinni verður alt fyrst,
equivalent to the modern saying: 'There's always a first time for everything.'
Book V. 144. Erik chides Olimar for thinking he could defeat
Frothi:
Erik answered, "To allow into your mind hope of conquering the unconquerable/is
fruitless. No man can overpower Frothi." Olimar objected: "Every
thing that happens has its first occurrence;/events unhoped-for come
to pass quite often."* *Kallstenius
(p. 31, no. 88) has the Icelandic phrase Einusinni verður alt fyrst,
equivalent to the modern saying: 'There's always a first time for everything.'
Book V. 144. Erik chides Olimar for thinking he could defeat
Frothi:
Erik answered, "To allow into your mind hope of conquering the unconquerable/is
fruitless. No man can overpower Frothi." Olimar objected: "Every
thing that happens has its first occurrence;/events unhoped-for come
to pass quite often."* *Kallstenius
(p. 31, no. 88) has the Icelandic phrase Einusinni verður alt fyrst,
equivalent to the modern saying: 'There's always a first time for everything.'
Book V. 145. Hun, the Hunnish king, recognizes Erik by his eloquence:
"Frothi never waits at home, lingering in his halls, for a hostile army.
Whoever intends to scale another's pinnacle must be watchful and wakeful.
Nobody has ever won victory by snoring, nor has any sleeping wolf found a carcase."*1
The king recognised his intelligence from these carefully chosen apothegms and
reflected, "Here perhaps is the Erik who, so I've heard, laid a false charge
against my daughter." He gave orders for him to be pinioned at once, but
Erik pointed out how unsuitable it was for one creature to be manhandled by
many.*2 *1Similar proverbial sayings are found
in Hávamál 58: 'A man should get up early if he wants
to take the life or wealth of another; the wolf snug in his lair never gets
a bite at the leg, nor does the sleeping man gain a victory.' Kallstenius (p.
30, no. 79) also refers to a Danish proverb: Siællen kommer ligghende
wlff lam in mwnnæ. (The wolf who lies down is not likely to get a
lamb in his jaws). *2This appears to be a recognised
proverb or maxim (see note 39 above), and this may be why the king is so impressed
by Erik's words. There is a similar reaction in The Battle of the Goths
and Huns, when the command to seize Gizur, the messenger of Angangyr, is
countermanded by King Humli with the words: "We must not do harm to heralds
who travel alone' (28).
Book V. 145. Hun, the Hunnish king, recognizes Erik by his eloquence:
"Frothi never waits at home, lingering in his halls, for a hostile army.
Whoever intends to scale another's pinnacle must be watchful and wakeful. Nobody
has ever won victory by snoring, nor has any sleeping wolf found a
carcase."*1 The king recognised his intelligence from these carefully chosen
apothegms and reflected, "Here perhaps is the Erik who, so I've heard,
laid a false charge against my daughter." He gave orders for him to be
pinioned at once, but Erik pointed out how unsuitable it was for one creature
to be manhandled by many.*2 *1Similar proverbial
sayings are found in Hávamál 58: 'A man should get up
early if he wants to take the life or wealth of another; the wolf snug in his
lair never gets a bite at the leg, nor does the sleeping man gain a victory.'
Kallstenius (p. 30, no. 79) also refers to a Danish proverb: Siællen
kommer ligghende wlff lam in mwnnæ. (The wolf who lies down is not
likely to get a lamb in his jaws). *2This appears
to be a recognised proverb or maxim (see note 39 above), and this may be why
the king is so impressed by Erik's words. There is a similar reaction in The
Battle of the Goths and Huns, when the command to seize Gizur, the messenger
of Angangyr, is countermanded by King Humli with the words: "We must not
do harm to heralds who travel alone' (28).
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: 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.
Book V. 145. Hun, the Hunnish king, recognizes Erik by his eloquence:
"Frothi never waits at home, lingering in his halls, for a hostile army.
Whoever intends to scale another's pinnacle must be watchful and wakeful. Nobody
has ever won victory by snoring, nor has any sleeping wolf found a carcase."*1
The king recognised his intelligence from these carefully chosen apothegms and
reflected, "Here perhaps is the Erik who, so I've heard, laid a false charge
against my daughter." He gave orders for him to be pinioned at once, but
Erik pointed out how unsuitable it was for one creature to be manhandled by
many.*2 *1Similar proverbial sayings are found
in Hávamál 58: 'A man should get up early if he wants
to take the life or wealth of another; the wolf snug in his lair never gets
a bite at the leg, nor does the sleeping man gain a victory.' Kallstenius (p.
30, no. 79) also refers to a Danish proverb: Siællen kommer ligghende
wlff lam in mwnnæ. (The wolf who lies down is not likely to get a
lamb in his jaws). &nbs