Gripla - 2021, Qupperneq 275

273
These stanzas contain information about both the act of reciting verses
(I:30:2) and calling the opponents vikings (I:27:3). Even though there is no
information in Griplur regarding the subject matter of the recited verses,
19HsG most likely borrowed the fact of reciting verses from the rímur,
while the information that the verses were about the ships must be the
saga-writer’s own invention. Another example of borrowing from Griplur
is the passage in 19HsG which informs us that Kári and Örnúlfur take
their weapons with them when they go on the island (“taca þeir bræþr vapn
sín oc ganga á land upp” 107r: 25), which must be a borrowing from stanza
I:28:2, as there is no mention of weapons in 17HsG.
The hypothesis that 19HsG depends on Griplur can be also supported
by the example found in the sequence of prophetic dreams that Blindur
presents to the Swedish king. Even though Blindur’s dreams are difficult
material for comparison, as there is no clear logical pattern behind the
ways they are presented and interpreted, there are still clear discrepancies
between 17HsG and 19HsG, some of which can be explained by borrow-
ings from the rímur. The dreams in all the manifestations of the story are
presented following a consistent pattern: first Blindur gives an account
of his dream, and then the king provides his interpretation of it. In both
sagas, however, this pattern is disrupted when the sixth dream is presented.
There is no interpretation of this dream. Instead, immediately afterwards,
another dream is presented.
HRÓ MUNDUR IN PROSE AND VERSE
Griplur
VI:17. “Kómu úr norðri kolsvǫrt
ský með klær og vængi bjúga
og með þenna breiða bý
burtu gjǫrði að fljúga.”
VI:25. “Dreki þinn leiz mér færðr á
flóð, flaut í báru miðri,
hǫfuðlaus allur herrinn stóð
í heitu vatni niðri.”
17HsG
“Siötta sinn dreimde
mik,” segir Blindur
“aþ mier þótti koma af
landi suört ský. med
klóm oc vængiom oc
flugu brott med þic
kongr.”
--No corresponding
text--
19HsG
“Sá er hinn sjötti
draumr minn,” segir
Blindr “at ec sá kolsvort
ský qvoma or norþri,
þau höfþo klær oc
bjúga vængi, þau flugo
burto meþ þic, oc ec
vissi ecki hvaþ af yþr
varþ,