Bibliotheca Arnamagnæana - 01.06.1981, Síða 39
listening to a tale is an outstanding form of entertainment - fat er
skemmtiligt at heyra godar sogur frå ågætum monnum17 - but even go so
far as to compare the activity - favorably - with other pastimes:
F>at er sam[)ykki margra manna svå at einn madr må gledja |)å
marga stund, en flestir skemmtanar leikar eru settir med erfidi
en sumir med miklum fékostnadi; sumir verda eigi algervir
nema med mannfjolda; sumir leikar eru fåra manna skemmtan
ok standa skamma stund; sumir leikar eru med mannhættu;
en sagna skemmtan edr kvæda er med engum fékostnadi edr
mannhættu. Må einn |jar skemmta morgum monnum sem til
vilja hlyda. bessa skemmtan må ok hafa vid få menn ef vill.
Hon er jafnbuin nott sem dag ok hvårt sem er ljost eda
myrkt.18
(Many agree that one man can entertain them for many hours [by
telling stories], whereas most forms of entertainment are bound up
with considerable difficulty and some with great expense. Some
cannot take place except in large groups; some forms of amusement
are entertainment for only a few and last only a short time. Some
pleasures involve risks, but entertainment by stories or tales in-
volves neither money nor risks. One person can entertain many
who wish to listen. This form of entertainment can also be provided
with only few present, if they so desire. It is available both night
and day, whether it is light or dark.)
The author of Viktors saga ok Blåvus praises King Håkon Magnusson’s
support of the translation of foreign romances and proudly mentions that
the king himself derived great pleasure from hearing the tales. Listeners
are urged to emulate the king and like him to seek their entertainment in
literature. Remarkable is the faet that the author is not so mueh trying to
exalt one type of narrative but rather one form of entertainment over
another. He suggests that people who seek enjoyment through literature
will cease other, less worthy pursuits, such as dancing.19 One is tempted
17 Rémundar saga keisarasonar, ed. Sven Gren Broberg, STUAGNL, 38 (Copenhagen,
1909-12), 12:10-11.
18 Pidriks saga af Bern, ed. Henrik Bertelsen, STUAGNL, 34 (Copenhagen, 1905-11), I,
6:13-24.
19 Viktors saga ok Blåvus, ed. Jonas Kristjånsson (Reykjavlk: Handritastofnun Islands,
1964), p. 3:1-8.
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