Bersi Skáldtorfuson[1] was an Icelandic skald, active around the year 1000 CE. He was a court poet to Earl Sveinn Hákonarson. During the Battle of Nesjar he was captured by King Óláfr Haraldsson's forces. Three of the four stanzas of his that have survived were ostensibly composed while in captivity.
One lausavísa is attributed to Bersi in the surviving fragments of Óláfs saga helga by Styrmir Kárason. But the same stanza is attributed to Sigvatr Þórðarson in Heimskringla and to Óttarr svarti in other sagas on St. Óláfr.[2] Styrmir's saga gives some information on Bersi's career in St. Óláfr's service and indicates that he died in 1030.
Bersi was at some point at the court of King Canute the Great where Sigvatr Þórðarson addressed him in verse after they had both received gifts from the king.[3] Apart from being mentioned in the kings' sagas Bersi also has a minor role in Grettis saga, chapters 15, 23 and 24, where he asks Earl Sveinn to spare Grettir Ásmundarson's life.[4]
Bersi's mother, Skáld-Torfa, was apparently also a poet but none of her works have come down to us.
^The names can be represented or Anglicized as Bersi/Bessi/Berse/BesseSkáld-Torfuson/Skáldtorfuson/Skald-Torfuson/Skaldtorfuson/Torfuson/Torfasson/Torfason.
^Fox 2001, page 54. See [1] for an alternative translation (by William Morris and Eiríkr Magnússon) of the relevant chapter or [2] for an edition of the Old Norse text.
^Eysteinn Björnsson translates [3] 2006-07-21 at the Wayback Machine: "I will never again, under no circumstance, follow a greater leader (than this) storm-herald of fire of horse of waves."
^Here taken from Eysteinn Björnsson's online edition of the skaldic corpus. [4] 2007-03-11 at the Wayback Machine
^The original has hagkennandi hróðrs, a kenning for "poet".
^ abThe original kenning is boði elda úthauðrs knarrar; "herald of the fire of the outer land of the knörr", i.e. "herald of the fire of the sea", i.e. "herald of the gold", i.e. "generous man". Hollander substitutes a kenning referring to the dragon Fáfnir who lay on a pile of gold.
^The original has a kenning for "blades"; bjartar svaltungur rekninga, "bright cool tongues of swords".
^The original has a kenning for "ship"; Áta öndurr, "ski of Áti (a sea-king)".
^A kenning for "warrior". The kenning in the original is snarrœkir gunnar; "swift tender of gunnr (battle)". See [5] 2006-12-15 at the Wayback Machine.
Monsen, Erling (editor and translator) and A. H. Smith (translator) (2004). Heimskringla Or the Lives of the Norse Kings. Kessinger Publishing. ISBN0-7661-8693-8
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Bersi Skaldtorfuson 1 was an Icelandic skald active around the year 1000 CE He was a court poet to Earl Sveinn Hakonarson During the Battle of Nesjar he was captured by King olafr Haraldsson s forces Three of the four stanzas of his that have survived were ostensibly composed while in captivity Bersi in chains after being captured by King olafr HaraldssonOne lausavisa is attributed to Bersi in the surviving fragments of olafs saga helga by Styrmir Karason But the same stanza is attributed to Sigvatr THordarson in Heimskringla and to ottarr svarti in other sagas on St olafr 2 Styrmir s saga gives some information on Bersi s career in St olafr s service and indicates that he died in 1030 Bersi was at some point at the court of King Canute the Great where Sigvatr THordarson addressed him in verse after they had both received gifts from the king 3 Apart from being mentioned in the kings sagas Bersi also has a minor role in Grettis saga chapters 15 23 and 24 where he asks Earl Sveinn to spare Grettir Asmundarson s life 4 Bersi s mother Skald Torfa was apparently also a poet but none of her works have come down to us Contents 1 Poetry 2 See also 3 References 3 1 Notes 3 2 BibliographyPoetry EditBersi Skaldtorfuson Flokkr um olaf 1 3 Hrodrs batt heilan lida hagkennanda thenna en snarrœki sliku svarat unnum ver gunnar ord seldum thau elda uthaudrs boda traudir knarrar hapts sem keyptak kynstors at vid brynju Sveins raunir hefk senar snart rekninga bjartar thars svaltungur sungu saman forum ver storar elds munk eigi fylgja ut hridbodi sidan hests at hverjum kosti hranna dyrra manni 5 Krypk eigi sva sveigir sara linns i ari buum olitinn Ata ondur ther til handa at herstefnir hafnak heidmildr eda tha leidumk ungr kunnak thar throngvi thinn hollvini mina Finnur Jonsson s edition 6 dd Thou badest this eager Worshipper of poetry 7 farewell And we could answer The same O strife wont warrior It listed me not to be delayed Longer therefore I sold To the noble born giver of gold 8 Those words as I bought them I have seen the great fights Of Swein we fared together Once when the cool blades 9 Afterwards sang loudly Never again hereafter Shall I follow in a host O king any chieftain More glorious than he This year I lie in chains For a long while in the great ship 10 O swinger of the sword I humble Myself never so lowly That I betray O wise war king My loyal friends or be loath To have them In my youth Among my friends I found thy foe Translation by Monsen and Smith 11 dd Depart in peace thou didst prince bid me the poet and I said the same to seasoned tree of combat 12 Unwillingly these words in weapon thing returned I as from the Fafnir s treasure s foe 8 I had received them Seen have I Svein tested since we fared together sang loud polished swords in serious conflicts ruler Never on shipboard shall I should whate er betide me in fiercest fray tested follow a better master Crouch I shall not King nor crawl before thee rather let us ready liege a large ship this year and so turn my back on true and tried friends and aggrieve them Young when I was I held dear him who was your enemy Hollander s translation 13 dd See also Edit nbsp Iceland portalList of Icelandic writers List of skalds Icelandic literatureReferences EditNotes Edit The names can be represented or Anglicized as Bersi Bessi Berse Besse Skald Torfuson Skaldtorfuson Skald Torfuson Skaldtorfuson Torfuson Torfasson Torfason Poole 1991 p 95 Monsen 2004 p 357 Fox 2001 page 54 See 1 for an alternative translation by William Morris and Eirikr Magnusson of the relevant chapter or 2 for an edition of the Old Norse text Eysteinn Bjornsson translates 3 Archived 2006 07 21 at the Wayback Machine I will never again under no circumstance follow a greater leader than this storm herald of fire of horse of waves Here taken from Eysteinn Bjornsson s online edition of the skaldic corpus 4 Archived 2007 03 11 at the Wayback Machine The original has hagkennandi hrodrs a kenning for poet a b The original kenning is bodi elda uthaudrs knarrar herald of the fire of the outer land of the knorr i e herald of the fire of the sea i e herald of the gold i e generous man Hollander substitutes a kenning referring to the dragon Fafnir who lay on a pile of gold The original has a kenning for blades bjartar svaltungur rekninga bright cool tongues of swords The original has a kenning for ship Ata ondurr ski of Ati a sea king Monsen 2004 p 253 A kenning for warrior The kenning in the original is snarrœkir gunnar swift tender of gunnr battle See 5 Archived 2006 12 15 at the Wayback Machine Hollander 1991 p 285 Bibliography Edit Bjornsson Eysteinn 2001 Lexicon of Kennings The Domain of Battle Fox Denton and Hermann Palsson translators 2001 Grettir s Saga University of Toronto Press ISBN 0 8020 6165 6 Jonsson Finnur 1931 Lexicon Poeticum Kobenhavn S L Mollers Bogtrykkeri Hollander Lee M editor and translator 1991 Heimskringla History of the Kings of Norway University of Texas Press ISBN 0 292 73061 6 Monsen Erling editor and translator and A H Smith translator 2004 Heimskringla Or the Lives of the Norse Kings Kessinger Publishing ISBN 0 7661 8693 8 Poole Russell G 1991 Viking Poems on War and Peace University of Toronto Press ISBN 0 8020 6789 1 Bersi Skaldtorfuson Extant poetry Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bersi Skaldtorfuson amp oldid 1145163893, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
