Bibliotheca Arnamagnæana - 01.06.2005, Síða 17
Observations on Some Manuscripts of Egils saga
7
§2.
The manuscripts just described form the basis of Finnur Jonsson’s edi-
tion of the saga from 1886-88. This is the only existing edition with a
substantial variant apparatus. The text follows M and is to all intents
and purposes complete, though not quite: after the word konungi (EgEA
I, ch. 15,2) M reads med tolfta maN, but these words have been over-
looked by Finnur Jonsson because they are written in the line above.
Finnur Jonsson obviously compiled his variant apparatus hastily and
without checking it carefully enough against the manuscripts. Its princi-
pal deficiency lies in its selectiveness: while some readings are inclu-
ded, others are omitted, and such a procedure can only result in arbitra-
riness. One of the dangers is that a reading counted worthy of mention
in one place may be ignored in another, and this in faet happens all the
time, e.g. (EgFJ, page and line):
42,2-3 a and K read ok hafdi konungr ccc manna en Porolfur hit
fiorda h(undrat). This is passed over in silence but the same
variant is quoted from W.
84,12-13 The words badu - sinna are wanting in both y and W; it is
only mentioned that they are not in W.
85,9 It is mentioned that W and y have the addition sem hundi,
but not that 8 has sem hundyri.
86,5-6 The words ok hiner vænligstu menn are wanting not only in
W, as stated in the edition, but also in y and 8.
313,20 It is mentioned that W has til sæfvarins [after gotuna], but
not that K has og inn til siåfar.
Anyone trying to deduce what is actually in K, W, or indeed any of the
other manuscripts by combining the text with the variant apparatus in
EgFJ is liable constantly to be misled. Compare, for example, the text
and variants at EgFJ, p. 35,1-9 with the following passage from K:
Pier hafed veitt hønum storar si'slur, og var mi buid vid sialft, ad hann munde
Ylla launa idr pad, pv'i i sumar, pa pad spurdist, ad pier forud nordr a Haloga-
land, med ecke meira lid enn ccc. manna, pa var pad radagiørd, ad hann
skilide saman draga lid, og taka pig af li'fe, og var Porolfr firer peirre rada-
giørd.