Studia Islandica - 01.06.1956, Side 44

42
með enum mesta fagnaði (twice) are ornaments testi-
fying to the prepossession of the author.
After Glúm’s threat of Þorkell getting the worse of it,
should he not accept his proposal, V repeats this in the
phrase: ok þat muntu muna eiga, at ék mun ngkJcurs
virða mína umræðu. Þorkell then agrees; V adds: hvárt
honum líkar betr eða verr. Towards his host, who ac-
corded him a hearty welcome, Glúm’s words as well as
the addition about Þorkell seem rather misplaced.
While Ingólfr after his retum is Glúm’s guest, his
host one day asks him whether he will stay with him.
Ingólfr answers: ‘I have in mind not to separate my-
seif from you, if I have the choice’. In V Glúm’s ques-
tion is different: ‘Would you, Ingólfr, like to ride to the
men’s meeting, or stay with me?’ Ingólf’s answer is the
same as it is in M. At first sight V seems to have the
more probable wording of the question. But from Ing-
ólf’s answer and his subsequent offer to give his horses
as a present to Glúmr it follows that it is M which
apparently gives a better account of the situation and
the dialogue.
It is mere verbosity which accounts for Ws greater
length.
Again: we can see no reason whatsoever why M,
having these phrases before him, should have left them
aside.
8.4. The longer extra passages in R. over against V. Gl.
(M and or V) are:
1. The final sentence of Skúta’s long speech to Ás-
bjgm.
This is a superfluous repetition of what is said in
the introduction of the chapter: ok Skúta hét hon-
um ásjá, ef hann fœri sendifgr hans tU Glúms (27
words extra).