Skáldskaparmál - 01.01.1997, Qupperneq 147

Riti Kroesen
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parallels). Biarco, best known under his Old Norse name Böðvar(r)-Bjarki, was
married to king Rolvo’s sister Ruta. Biarco was the main champion of Rolvo’s
war-band. Rolvo’s last battle, in which Biarco also died, is largely known to us
through Saxo’s impressive Latin rendering of the so-called Bjarkamál. At the
beginning Biarco’s friend Hialto summons all the warriors to the battlefield. He
also calls upon Ruta:
Tu quoque consurgens niveum caput exsere, Ruta,
et latebris egressa tuis inprœliaprodi. Saxo, p. 55,11. 32—3
(Arise too, Ruta, and show your snow-pale head,
come forth from hiding and issue into battle.) F/ED, p. 58
At the end of the battle she comes to look for her dying husband. He expresses
his longing to see Óðinn, although he is angry with the god, and he asks her, how
this can be brought about:
At nunc, ille ubi sit, qui vulgo dicitur Othin
armipotents, uno semper contentus ocello,
dic mihi, Ruta, precor, usquam si conspicis illum. Saxo, p. 60,11. 21-33
(But now, where is the one whom the people call Odin,
powerful in arms, content with a single eye?
Tell me, Ruta, is there anywhere you can spy him?) F/ED, p. 62
She answers:
Adde oculum propius et nostra perspice chelas,
ante sacraturus victrici lumina signo,
si visprœsentem tuto cognoscere Martem. Saxo, p. 50,11. 25—27
(Bring your gaze nearer and look through my arm akimbo.
You must first hallow your eyes with the sign of victory
to recognise the war-god safely face-to-face.) F/ED, p. 63
Bjarki’s scoffing comment is:
Si potero horrendum Friggæ spectare maritum,
quantumcumque albo clipeo sit tectus et altum
flectat equum, Lethra nequaqitam sospes abibit;
fas est belligerum belloprosternere divum. Saxo, p. 60,11. 29-32
(If I should set eyes on the fearsome husfiand of Frigg,
though he is protected by his white shield, and manoeuvres
his tall horse, he shall not go unhurt from Leire;
it is right to lay low the warrior god in battle.) F/ED, p. 63