Bibliotheca Arnamagnæana - 01.06.2005, Page 14
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Jon Helgason
(1) Fragment JL The oldest manuscript of Egils saga of which
anything has survived is from the second half, or perhaps even
the middle, of the thirteenth century. Just four, partly damaged,
leaves have come down to us. Here the text of the saga is fuller
and more archaic than in any other surviving manuscript.
(2) Modruvallabok, M [the principal representative of the A-
redaction], The saga is preserved almost complete in MoSru-
vallabok (AM 132 fol.), which would seem to have been written
in the period 1320-50. Only two leaves are missing from Egils
saga. The text is generally good, though somewhat abbreviated
in comparison with that of 0 (see esp. EglF, introduction pp.
lxxxii ff.). Editions of Egils saga are always based on M and in-
deed no other choice is possible if a single redaction is to be fol-
lowed, for other complete texts are not of comparable quality.
The faet should not be concealed, however, that more original
readings are frequently to be found in other manuscripts.
(3) The Wolfenbiittel Codex, W [the principal representative of
the B-redaction], The next manuscript of the saga is that belong-
ing to the Ducal Library in Wolfenbiittel (9. 10. Aug. 4to). It is
Michael Chesnutt of the Arnamagnæan Institute. Work on the second and third volumes is
in progress, and publication is envisaged within the period of Michael Chesnutt’s con-
tractual affiliation with the institute, which will end in the autumn of 2007. In the mean-
time it has been thought desirable to republish Jon Helgason’s classic article from 1956 in
translation. This will facilitate the reception of the critical edition by the scholarly com-
munity in general, and will also give students of Nordic philology some insight into a
method that in spite of waning popularity remains the only sound basis for the textual
restitution of most medieval Icelandic literary works.
Jon Helgason refers exelusively to the edition of the saga by Finnur Jonsson, Samfund til
udgivelse af gammel nordisk litteratur XVII (Copenhagen 1886-88; abbreviated EgFJ).
In the majority of cases these references have been replaced by references to the first vol-
ume of the new edition, Editiones Arnamagnæanæ A19 (Copenhagen 2001; abbreviated
EgEA I). Most of the replacements have been made by Johnny Lindholm, who has also
adjusted the orthography and punetuation of the quotations from the manuscripts. The
Icelandic original follows Finnur Jonsson and Sigur5ur Nordal in calling the three redac-
tions M, W, and K respectively; here these designations have been altered to A, B, and C
in accordance with Jon Helgason’s own later suggestion. To facilitate reference the pagi-
nation of the 1956 volume is shown in the margin. The translator has allowed himself the
licence of silently changing some technical details of presentation, but all substantive ad-
ditions to Jon Helgason’s text are enclosed in square brackets.