Skáldskaparmál - 01.01.1997, Qupperneq 55

Stæri ek brag
53
en eigi mun þurfa at spyria ath. s(egir) hann. Maðr mvn komÍN at biðia þin. En ecki
trui ek at þat verði vel sva buit. Kolfinna svar(ar). Latþu þa fyrir sea er raða eigu. Þat
rað skal eigi hafa s(egir) hann. þo at þer þicki biðill þinn nu þegar betri en ek.
(1:340,23-341,2)
Kolfmna’s response to Hallfreðr suggests not only her own indifference regarding
the choice of a marital partner but also an acceptance, and thereby implicit
approval, no matter how reluctant, albeit unexpressed, of her father’s decision in
regard to her future. Her response to Hallfreðr: “Latþu þa fyrir sea er raða eigu,”
is countered by his: “Þat rað skal eigi hafa.” On his part, Kolfinna’s father transfers
his own authority over Kolfmna to Gríss, informing him that as the betrothed he
is now the one who must decide what to do about Hallfreðr’s provocative
behavior: “En þu att nv af at raða þessi vandrœði er hun er þin festar kona”
(1:341,7—8). When Hallfreðr threatens action if the marriage comes about, Már
reiterates Kolfinna’s words by noting that Avaldi has the power to make decisions
forhis daughter: “man Avalldi raðaeigad(ottur) sinni” (1:341:12). Thisstatement
elicits Hallfreðr’s poetic threat of using his tongue: “stæri ek brag” (1:341:19), the
meaning of which he subsequently elucidates. In reply to Már’s threat: “þat skal
þer grimmu giallda ef þu flimtir mik,” Hallfreðr counters with: “Ek man raða
orðum minum” (1:341,21—23). One can easily imagine Hallfreðr’s reply uttered
in a firm staccato.
Subsequent events reveal that paternal authority determines not only Kolfmna’s
fate but also Hallfreðr’s. He is incapable of having his way, as his shackled figure
in the woods makes clear. When his father releases him, and Hallfreðr learns that
his father and Gríss had come to an understanding about the matter, he remarks
that he does not care about the negotiations with Gríss as long as the latter does
not get Kolfinna. Once more, however, the poet is confronted by his own
impotence, as his father states: “Þvi skaltv eigi raða” (1:343,8); Gríss will get the
woman. Furthermore, Hallfreðr is given an ultimatum: “En þu skalt fara vtan
frændi ok leita þer þar meiri sæmdar ok heilla” (1:343,10). Hallfreðr’s attempt to
assert himself vis-á-vis his father— “skaltu eigi einn raða her vm” (1:343,12-13)
— by announcing that he will challenge Gríss in combat remains but a threat. For
Hallfreðr finds himself fettered a second time, this time by his own father, who
gives him an ultimatum: he will either remain in bonds “eþr lata mik einn ollu
raða fyrir þina hpnd” (1:344,2—3). Hallfreðr capitulates: “Nv muntu helldr raða
hliota en ek sitia her ifiptrum ok pínv” (1:344,4—5). He would rather have his
father determine his fate than remain in chains. His parting words to his father
and grandfather - cited earlier - express both his realizadon that the course of his
life is being set by paternal authority and an implicit threat, one he will not come
to realize, as we shall see, that he will yet win out in the affair with Gríss.
In Hallfreðar saga a father forces his son to leave not only his home but also
his country; indeed, the paternal authority is represented by two generations,
Hallfreðr’s fatherand grandfather. The poet’s subsequent dealings with and special