Studia Islandica - 01.06.1956, Side 46

44
his assistance when he goes with a message to Glúmr.
Ásbjorn refuses, saying this is none of his business, he
is unable to do it. Without any comment Skúta starts
his long speech of advice and ends by repeating his
conditional promise. Only then Ásbjom is willing.
This is a flaw in the composition. The author as it
were writes while knowing the issue beforehand. Any
listener or reader is inclined to put in the astonished
question: what’s the use of such a long speech after a
refusal? Any brief remark like ‘listen first’ wouid have
been a natural and satisfactory transition.
In M on the other hand the dialogue is flawless. Skúta
asks: ‘What do you want to do in order to receive my
assistance?’ Ásbjorn replies: ‘What do you hint at?’,
after which Skúta’s speech comes as a piece of detailed
information.
It would seem as if M is giving a true account of the
conversation, in well-chosen terms, while R. worked
from an intermediate source and deviated from it to its
own disadvantage.
9.1. In order to assign to V its proper place we have to
go into its character as a version. We choose as the first,
perhaps the most crucial, passage to be scrutinized the
one wherein Skúta’s arrival at Glúm’s shed is told, ad-
duced partly already in section 7.2.
M Skúta ... gengr at sélsdurunum, ök laust á vegginn
ok víkr síðan hjá sétinu. Glúmr gengr út, svá at
hann hafði ekki í hendi; sér engan mann; snýr hjá
sélinu. Komsk þá Skúta í miUi hans ok sélsduranna.
V Gengr hann þá at sélsdurunum ok laust mikit hg(gg
á) vegginn ok víkr síðan gðrum megin hjá sélinu.
Glúmr gékk þá (út ok) hefir ekki í hendi sér ok snýr
gðrum megin hjá sélinu ... Nú víkr Skúta á miUi
sélsduranna.