Kálfsvísa

The Kálfsvísa ("Kálfr's vísa", Kálfr being maybe the name of its author^[1]), sometimes mistakenly called Alsvinnsmál,^[2] is a poem partially preserved in Snorri Sturluson’s Skáldskaparmál.

Its three stanzas in fornyrðislag mostly consist of a þula of horses and their riders, Norse heroes (for instance Grani and Sigurðr). The Kálfsvísa also includes a narrative dealing with the Battle on the Ice of Lake Vänern between Áli and Aðils.^[3]

262. Dagr reið Drösli, en Dvalinn Móðni, Hjalmr Háfeta, en Haki Fáki, reið bani Belja Blóðughófa, en Skævaði skati Haddingja. 263. Vésteinn Vali, en Vífill Stúfi, Meinþjófr Mói, en Morginn Vakri, Áli Hrafni, er til íss riðu, en annarr austr und Aðilsi grár hvarfaði, geiri undaðr. 264. Björn reið Blakki, en Bjárr Kerti, Atli Glaumi, en Aðils Slöngvi, Högni Hölkvi, en Haraldr Fölkvi, Gunnarr Gota, en Grana Sigurð.[4]

- Dagr rode Drösull ("Roamer"), And Dvalinn rode Módnir ("Spirited"); Hjálmthér, Háfeti ("High-Heels"); Haki rode Fákr; The Slayer of Beli Rode Blódughófi, And Skævadr was ridden By the Ruler of Haddings. - Vésteinn rode Valr, And Vifill rode Stúfr; Meinthjófr rode Mór, And Morginn on Vakr ("Watchful, Nimble, Ambling, or perhaps Hawk"); 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 ("Related to Kerti = a candle?"); Atli rode Glaumr ("Tumult"), And Adils on Slöngvir ("Slinger"); Högni on Hölvir (Horse; etymology?"), And Haraldr on Fölkvir (?); Gunnarr rode Goti ("Goth"), And Sigurdr, Grani ("Shining-Lip?").[5]

Notes

1. Simek, Rudolf. Hermann Pálsson. 2007. Lexikon der altnordischen Literatur: die mittelalterliche Literatur Norwegens und Islands. Stuttgart: Kröner. ISBN 978-3-520-49002-5.
2. In the Skáldskaparmál, Alsvinnsmál is also used as an alternative name for the Eddic poem Alvíssmál, Alsvinnr and Alvíss both meaning "All-wise".
3. This battle is also referred to in the Skáldskaparmál (44), in the Ynglinga saga (29), in the Skjöldunga saga and in Beowulf (2391-2396).)
4. Skálskaparmál at Norrøne Tekster og Kvad, Norway.
5. Translation by Arthur Gilchrist Brodeur at Cybersamurai.

External links

• The Kálfsvísa in the original language.