Skáldskaparmál

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summer till the equinox. The month next before winter is called Harvest-Month;
the first in winter is the Month of Cattle-Slaughter; then Freezing Month, then
Rain-Month, then the Month of Winter's Wane, then Gói; (1) then Single-Month,
then Cuckoo-Month and Seed-Time, then Egg-time and Lamb-Weaning-Time; then come
Sun-Month and Pasture Month, then Haying-Season; then Reaping Month.] (2)

LXIII. "What are the simple terms for men? Each, in himself, is Man; the first
and highest name by which man is called is Emperor; next to that, King; the
next thereto, Earl: these three men possess in common all the following titles:
All-Ruler, as this song showeth:

     I know all All-Rulers
     East and south, o'er the Ships' seat:
     Sveinn's son in proof is better
     Than any other War-Prince.

Here he is called War-Prince also; for this reason he is called All-Ruler, that
he is sole Ruler of all his realm.
Host-Arrayer, as Gizurr sang:

     The Host-Arrayer feedeth
     The wolf and the raven in folk-mote;
     Oláfr gladdens, in Skögul's sharp showers
     Of battle, the geese of Odin.

1. I cannot find the meaning of this word.
2. "This passage, which U lacks, is clearly a later addition." Jónsson,
Copenhagen ed. (1900), p. 138, footnote.


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"A King is called Host-Arrayer because he divides his war-host into companies.
Leader, as Ottarr the Swarthy sang:

     The Leader taketh
     Odin's loved Wife,
     The lordless land;
     His a warrior's life.

Lord or Lording, as Arnórr sang:

     The Lord of Hjaltland, highest
     Of heroes, gained the victory
     In every thunderous sword-clash:
     The bard will extol his glory.

An earl is called Host-Duke, and a king also is so termed, forasmuch as he
leads his host to battle. Thus sang Thjódólfr:

     He who put to shame the Host-Duke
     Thrust out the eyes of prisoners,-
     He who speeds the sacrifices;
     In song I chant his praises.

Signor, or Seńor, as Sigvatr sang:

     O Norway's gracious Signor,
     Grant the wretched, as the happy,
     May now enjoy thy wise laws;
     Give greatly, hold thy word!

Munificent One, as Markús sang:


227

     The Munificent Prince brought fire's destruction
     O'er the base people; to the pirates
     Death was fated: Thief-Compeller,
     South at Jóm highest flame-glow kindle!

Illustrious One, as Hallvárdr sang:

     No Illustrious One nearer
     Under Earth's Hazel liveth
     Than thou, 0 Monks' Upholder:
     The Gold-Minisher Danes protecteth.

Land-Driver, as Thjódólfr sang:

     The guileless Land-Driver sprinkles
     Kraki's gleaming barley,

as was written before; (1) he is called so because he drives his host about the
lands of other kings, or drives a host out of his own land.

LXIV. "There was a king named Hálfdan the Old, who was most famous of all
kings. He made a great sacrificial feast at mid-winter, and sacrificed to this
end, that he might live three hundred years in his kingdom; but he received
these answers: he should not live more than the full life of a man, but for
three hundred years there should be no woman and no man in his line who was not
of great repute. He was a great warrior, and went on forays far and wide in the
Eastern Regions : (2) there he slew in single combat the king who was called
Sigtryggr. Then he took in

1. See page 173.
2. That is, in the lands bordering the Baltic.


228

marriage that woman named Alvig the Wise, daughter of King Eymundr of
Hólmgardr: (1) they had eighteen Sons, nine born at one birth. These were their
names: the first, Thengill, (2) who was called Manna-Thengill; (2) the second,
Rćsir; (3) the third, Gramr; (3) the fourth, Gylfi; (3) the fifth, Hilmir: (3)
the sixth, Jöfurr; (3) the seventh,Tyggi ; (3) eighth, Skyli (3) or Skúli; (3)
the ninth, Harri (3) or Herra. (3) These nine brothers became so famous in
foraying that, in all records since, their names are used as titles of rank,
even as the name of King or that of Earl. They had no children, and all fell in
battle. Thus sang Óttarr the Swarthy:

     In his youth stalwart Thengill
     Was swift and staunch in battle:
     I pray his line endureth;
     O'er all men I esteem him.

Thus sang Markús:

     The Rćsir let the Rhine's Sun shimmer
     From the reddened Skull's ship on the Sea-Fells.

Thus sang Egill:

     The Gramr the hood hath lifted
     From the hair-fenced brows of the Singer.

Thus sang Eyvindr:

     He played with the land-folk
     Who should have defended;

1. Russia.
2. This word means Prince or King; Manna-Thengill = Prince of Men.
3. All of these words are poetic names for a Prince or King.



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