Gripla - 01.01.1995, Page 163

STEFANUS SAGA IN REYKJAHÓLABÓK
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from the Passio to the Inventio in Sth. 3 that is absent in the other re-
dactions. Both Sth. 2 (46ral6-17; Hms 297:30-32) and Sth. 3
(225:27-28) remark that the relics of St. Stephen were found on the
day in December on which we commemorate his passion. Thereupon
we are told in both redactions that his death was avenged in the days
of Vespasian and Titus, which, according to Sth. 2, occurred forty years
or somewhat later (46ra21-23; Hms 296:36-37); Sth. 3 is vague and
writes only that some time passed (226:2), „sem fyr seiger.“ Hereupon
the excerpts from St. Luke are interpolated and the chapter ends in
Sth. 3 with another reference to Vespasian and Titus, „sem fyr seiger
og hverr sem af þessv vill meira heyra. þa leite j sancte Jacobs savgv
ens yngra“ (226:30-31). The two references are to the earlier interpo-
lated comments regarding the vengeance exacted by the two emper-
ors, where the remark is made that this occurred either 41 or 42 years
after the death of Christ (216:4-6; see above).
Whereas the Inventio Stephani commences abruptly in Sth. 2 and
Sth. 15, without any transitional comment, an introductory statement
in Sth. 3 suggests that its source for this part of the legend could origi-
nally have been independent of the Passio. Such is indeed the case in
most of the older recensions, both Latin and vernacular.
<N>v efter þvi sem vor andleg moder heilog kirkia helldr vm
þetta halld sem hier eftera fer. af sancte Stefans likama. hins
fyrsta pislar vottz drottens Jhesv Christi er hann var fvndenn. En
þat skiede aa dogvm tvegia konga þeirra er so hiethv. Annar hiet
Honorivs. en annar Theodosivs. þa er menn skrifvdv arvm efter
gvdz bvrd .cccc. og xvij. aar. og aa þessvm sama thima var sæ einn
prestvr er Lvcianvs hiet. (226:32-227:4)
The introductory sentence is analogous to many an initial statement in
homilies, for example, on the Resurrection in Sth. 15, which begins:
„Vpriso tíþ drotteNS su er ver holdom nu“ (33v35), or Whitsun: „Sia
dagr er nu holdom ver“ (10rl9). A parallel to the above introduction to
the Inventio exists in the Passionael, in which the Inventio and Trans-
latio are separate from the account of the Passio:
De moder der hylgen kerken begheit huten dat fest des hyl-
lighen ersten mertelers sunte Steffens. alze syn hylghe lycham
ghefunden wart vnde dat is ghescheen do men screef .cccc.xvij.
Id was to iherusalem ein prester de hete lucianus. (xcvii, b)
6 Grípla IX