Skáldskaparmál

209

     Came from the North, the Wolf
     To lure from the wood to the wound.

Here he is called Ravener also.
Greedy One, as Egill sang:

     The Greedy One gashed
     Grisly wounds, when plashed
     The red Point-Creek
     On the raven's beak.

Witch-Beast, as Einarr sang:

     The Götha, cold with venom,
     With hot Wound-Gush was reddened;
     The Witch-Beast's warm drink, mingled
     With the water, in the sea poured.

She-Wolf, as Arnórr sang:

     The She-Wolf's evil Kindred
     Swallowed the corpse, harm-swollen,
     When the green sea was turned
     To red, with gore commingled.

Strangler, as Illugi sang:

     There was happiness for the Strangler
     When my lord pursued hosts full many;
     With the sword the Necklet-Minisher
     Pierced the swart Snake of the Forest.


210

Thus sang Hallr:

     He sated the Heath-Beasts' Hunger:
     The hoar howler in wounds gladdened;
     The king reddened the Wild One's mouth-hairs,-
     The Wolf went to drink of the wound.

And again, as Thórdr sang:

     In blood Gjálp's Stud-Horse waded,
     The dusty pack got fullness
     Of the Greedy One's Wheat; the howler
     Enjoyed the Ravener's Gore-Drink.

The bear is called Wide-Stepper, Cub, Winterling, Ourse, Gib-Cat, Tusker,
Youngling, Roarer, Jölfudr, (1) Wilful-Sharp, She-Bear, Horse-Chaser,
Scratcher, Hungry One, Blómr, (1) Bustler. The hart is called Módrödnir, (2)
Dalarr, (3) Dalr, (3)' Dáinn, (4) Dvalinn, (4) Duneyrr, (4) Durathrór. (4)
These are the names of horses enumerated in the Rhymes of Thorgrímr: (5)

     Hrafn (6) and Sleipnir,
     The famous horses;
     Valr (7) and Léttfeti;
     Tjaldari (8) was there too;
     Gulltopr and Goti; (9)
     I heard Sóti (10) told of;
     Mór (11) and Lungr (12) with Marr. (13)

1. Meaning ?
2. Angry-minded?
3. Meaning?
4. These are the names of the harts that feed on the leaves of the Ash
Yggdrasill. See Gylfag., ch. xvi.
5. For meanings not given in footnotes, see Gylfag., ch. xv, and Skálds., ch.
xvii.
6. Raven.
7. Hawk.
8. Racer? (Cl.-Vig., p. 635).
9. ?
10. Soot-Colored.
11. Dark-Gray.
12. ?
13. Steed.


211

     Vigg (1) and Stúfr (2)
     Were with Skćvadr; (3)
     Blakkr (4) could well bear Thegh;
     Silfrtoppr and Sinir; (5)
     I heard Fákr (6) spoke of;
     Gulifaxi and Jór (7) with the Gods were.

     Blódughófi (8) hight a horse
     That they said beareth
     The strength-eminent Atridi;
     Gísl (9) and Falhófnir; (10)
     Glćr (11) and Skeidbrimir; (12)
     Mention, too, was made of Gyllir. (13)

These also are recorded in Kálfsvísa:

     Dagr rode Drösull, (14)
     And Dvalinn rode Módnir; (15)
     Hjálmthér, Háfeti; (16)
     Haki rode Fákr;
     The Slayer of Beli
     Rode Blödughófi,
     An4 Skćvadr was ridden
     By the Ruler of Haddings.


     Vésteinn rode Vair,
     And Vifill rode Stúfr;
     Meinthjófr rode Mór,

1. Carrier.
2. Stump.
3. Hoof-Tosser.
4. Black.
5. Sinewy.
6. Jade.
7. Horse, Steed.
8. Bloody-Hoof.
9. Hostage.
10. Hollow-Hoof.
11. Shining.
12. Swift-Runner.
13. Golden.
14. Roamer.
15. Spirited.
16. High-Heels.


212


     And Morginn on Vakr; (1)
     Áli rode Hrafn,
     They who rode onto the ice:
     But another, southward,
     Under Adils,
     A gray one, wandered,
     Wounded with the spear.

     Björn rode Blakkr,
     And Bjárr rode Kertr; (2)
     Atli rode Glaumr, (3)
     And Adils on Slöngvir; (4)
     Högni on Hölvir, (5)
     And Haraldr on Fölkvir; (6)
     Gunnarr rode Goti, (7)
     And Sigurdr, Grani. (8)

Arvakr (9) and Alsvidr (10) draw the Sun, as is written before; Hrímfaxi (11)
or Fjörsvartnir (12) draw the Night; Skinfaxi (13) and Gladr (14) are the Day's
horses.
"These names of oxen are in Thorgrímr's Rhymes:

     Of all oxen the names
     Have I accurately learned,.-
     Of these: Raudr (15) and Hœfir, (16)
     Rekinn (17) and Hýrr, (18)

1. Watchful, Nimble, Ambling, or perhaps Hawk.
2. Related to Kerti=a candle?
3. Tumult.
4. Slinger.
5. Horse; etymology?
6. ?
7. Goth.
8. Shining-Lip? (Jónsson).
9. Early-Wake.
10. All-Swift.
11. Frosty-Mane.
12. Swan-Life.
13. Shining-Mane.
14. Bright, or Glad.
15. Red.
16. Meet.
17. Driven.
18. Gentle.



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