Gripla - 2021, Síða 271

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While the first three examples belong to episodes which are present in both
17HsG and 19HsG, the following three examples do not have counterparts
in 17HsG and are present exclusively in 19HsG and the rímur. Based on
these verbal similarities, we can assume that there is a direct influence from
Griplur on 19HsG.
In order to determine which branch of Griplur tradition might have
served as the basis for 19HsG, it is useful to compare the order in which
certain elements of the story are introduced. The comparative analysis of
19HsG and Griplur reveals extensive repositioning of the contents of the
stanzas in relation to all known manuscripts of Griplur. For example, in
19HsG, the contents of stanza III:51 are narrated before the contents of
stanza III:50 as follows:
Griplur 19HsG
III:50. “Svó hef eg lengi loðað á fé
og lifað í haugi mínum,
ei er gott, þó góðir sé,
gripum að treysta sínum.
III:51. Garprinn jafnt og sjálfum sér
sverði þessu trúði,
nú skal verða að meini mér
Mistilteinn inn prúði.”
Þá mælir Þráinn: “gjæfo munr varþ nú
meþ ockor, at þú náþir sverþi míno,
oc ætlaþi ec þat aldrei, at þú, minn
góþi Mistilteinn! mundir mér at meini
verþa, oc er því alldrei gott at treysta á
gripi oc gersemar sínar, oc sannast þat
nú á mér” (114r:11–15)
Similarly, the contents of stanza I:44 are placed between the contents of
I:36 and I:37 in 19HsG (107v:14–25), the contents of stanza III:24 are
placed after III:34, and the contents of III:33 after III:36. This suggests that
the saga-writer may have worked with some “version” of the rímur other
than the one we know today. At the same time, it seems equally possible
that the saga-writer of 19HsG intentionally did not follow the order of the
stanzas, but rather was focused on narrating the events in a logical and stylis-
tically pleasing way, with little regard for the order of the rímur. Finally, it
is not improbable that the saga-writer actually utilized orally transmitted
material. An oral account would also explain some of the misunderstandings
occurring in 19HsG, especially regarding the confusion in the direct speech
discussed further on in this article.
HRÓ MUNDUR IN PROSE AND VERSE