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Rune Poems
Rune Poems
Icelandic Rune
Poem
The Icelandic Runic Poem
which is
supposed to date from the 15th century, is somewhat
more elaborate than its Norwegian prototype. It consists of 16 short
stanzas dealing in succession with the letter names of the
Scandinavian Runic alphabet. In each of these stanzas are contained
three kenningar---the elaborate periphrases which is commonly
found in Icelandic literature.
The first and
second lines are connected by alliteration, the third has two
alliterating syllables of its own. The Icelandic Runic alphabet
contained several more letters at this time; but only the sixteen
current in the Viking Age are treated here. It is suggested that
this poem is based on an earlier original now lost to us.
The Poem is taken from
four MSS. in the Arnamagnaean Library at Copenhagen.
1. AM 687,4to,
parchment of the fifteenth century and containing the runic
charecters, but not the names.
2. AM.461,12mo,
parchment of the sixteenth century, with names only.
3. AM.749, 4to, paper
of the seventeenth century, with names and letters in alphabetical
order, followed by "dotted runes."
4.
AM.413,folio,pp.130-5,140ff.,from parchments of the sixteenth
century copied in Jon Olafsson of Grunnavik's MS.Runologia
(1732-52)
(a) with names and
letters in alphabetical order,
(b) with names and
letters in runic order except that logr precedes maðr.
Cf.Kalund,
Smastykker, pp. 16 ff.; Wimmer, Die Runenschrift,pp.281
ff.
Old Norse
Modern English
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Fé er
frænda róg
ok flæðar
viti
ok grafseiðs gata
aurum fylkir.
Úr er
skýja grátr
ok skára
þverrir
ok hirðis hatr.
umbre vísi
Þurs er
kvenna kvöl
ok kletta
búi
ok varðrúnar verr.
Saturnus þengill.
Óss er
algingautr
ok ásgarðs
jöfurr,
ok valhallar vísi.
Jupiter oddviti.
Reið er
sitjandi sæla
ok snúðig
ferð
ok jórs erfiði.
iter ræsir.
Kaun er
barna böl
ok bardaga
[för]
ok holdfúa hús.
flagella konungr.
Hagall er
kaldakorn
ok
krapadrífa
ok snáka sótt.
grando hildingr.
Nauð er
Þýjar þrá
ok þungr
kostr
ok vássamlig verk.
opera niflungr.
Íss er
árbörkr
ok unnar
þak
ok feigra manna fár.
glacies jöfurr.
Ár er
gumna góði
ok gott
sumar
algróinn akr.
annus allvaldr.
Sól er
skýja skjöldr
ok
skínandi röðull
ok ísa aldrtregi.
rota siklingr.
Týr er
einhendr áss
ok ulfs
leifar
ok hofa hilmir.
Mars tiggi.
Bjarkan er
laufgat lim
ok lítit
tré
ok ungsamligr viðr.
abies buðlungr.
Maðr er
manns gaman
ok moldar
auki
ok skipa skreytir.
homo mildingr.
Lögr er
vellanda vatn
ok viðr
ketill
ok glömmungr grund.
lacus lofðungr.
Ýr er
bendr bogi
ok
brotgjarnt járn
ok fífu fárbauti.
arcus ynglingr.
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Wealth
source of
discord among kinsmen
and fire of the sea
and path of the serpent.
Shower
lamentation of the clouds
and ruin of the hay-harvest
and abomination of the shepherd.
Giant
torture of
women
and cliff-dweller
and husband of a giantess.
God
aged Gautr
and prince of Ásgarðr
and lord of Vallhalla.
Riding
joy of the
horsemen
and speedy journey
and toil of the steed.
Ulcer
disease
fatal to children
and painful spot
and abode of mortification.
Hail
cold grain
and shower of sleet
and sickness of serpents.
Constraint
grief of
the bond-maid
and state of oppression
and toilsome work.
Ice
bark of
rivers
and roof of the wave
and destruction of the doomed.
Plenty
boon to
men
and good summer
and thriving crops.
Sun
shield of
the clouds
and shining ray
and destroyer of ice.
Týr
god with
one hand
and leavings of the wolf
and prince of temples.
Birch
leafy twig
and little tree
and fresh young shrub.
Man
delight of
man
and augmentation of the earth
and adorner of ships.
Water
eddying
stream
and broad geysir
and land of the fish.
Yew
bent bow
and brittle iron
and giant of the arrow.
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Rune Poem] [Norwegian Rune
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