Studia Islandica - 01.07.1966, Blaðsíða 27

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strain is put on the meaning of hagligr, which usually
means “skilful” or “proper, convenient, fitting”.
Magnús Berfœttr is symbolised by the part of the body
where the genitals (skgpin) are: he will fulfil his destiny
(fylgja skgpum sínum — /yZy/a means both “accom-
pany” and “follow”). The silver on this part of the figure
had images (“likenesses”) on it (var vel líkat: this could
also mean “was finely polished”): so Magnús will please
everyone (gllum vel líka). This part of the body ac-
companies (fylgir) the trunk: so Magnús will be the
equal or peer (maki, which also means “companion”)
of his predecessors.
The sons of Magnús are symbolised by the human
flesh of the thighs: they will treat each other humanely
(mannliga) and their reign will be conducted with com-
mon humanity (almenniligri mennsku). As the legs
hold up the body, so they will uphold the customs of
their predecessors.
The legs below the knees were of wood: so the reign
they symbolise will go on wooden legs, a proverbial ex-
pression meaning that it will go badly.1
The feet were placed crookedly (mislggum) on the
cross: the rulers they represent will commit crooked acts
(mislggur).
There are other cases where word-play symbolism may
be intended, although it is often not possible to be absolutely
sure whether the author intended it or not. The toes of the
figure came forwards piled one on top of the other (IggSusk
hver fram yfir dSra). This may simply imply that the off-
spring of the rulers represented by the feet were all trying
to get on top of each other, i.e. to overcome each other, but
there may also be a play intended on the two meanings of
1 See Halldór Halldórsson, Islenzk orStök (Reykjavík 1954), p. 376.
Tréfótr seems not to be found elsewhere in Old Icelandic in a metaphori-
cal sense.