Editiones Arnamagnæanæ. Series B - 01.10.1983, Blaðsíða 88
LXXXIV
least two variants which cannot be explained on the
basis of the stemma:
4:53-54 enn fyrer A3 (= A1'2), sem fyrr SÁM 6] enn braut (burt)
423, 272, W 108; á burt þaðan 1159.
4:80 ei skal ek fyrer ecki lata lijfed A3 (= AL2)] fyrr skal eg lata
lifed, enn nockur madur take konu af mier SÁM 6, og skal eg
(+ nu 423) fir láta lijfed 423, 272, W 108, 1159.
If the above stemma is correct, then the scribe of
A3 must have corrected the readings of his source at
these two points. It would, however, hardly be pos-
sible to construct an alternative stemma without
having to assume that even more comprehensive
correction of texts had taken place.
The relationship between the A- and B-redactions
It is no easy matter to determine which of the two
redactions, A or B, provides the more accurate repre-
sentation of the archetype, since the archetype itself
must already have diverged greatly from its foreign
source.
It is, however, clear that of the two redactions, B is
not secondary to A. This is because the B-redaction
has preserved certain features which must have been
a part of the original saga, since they have parallels in
other European versions of the story, but which are
absent from, or incorrectly represented in, A (cf.
Klockhoff, op.cit., pp. vi-ix, Trampe Bodtker, op.cit.,
pp. 10-13). These are first and foremost the following
passages:
1. B1 1:30-77. Marmoria sends a delegation of wise
and trusted men to find a suitable husband for her;
they agree that Partalopi is the most fitting candi-
date. Cf. PartFra w. 1355-72, E2 vv. 52-68. Nothing
corresponding in A.