Asatru Folk Assembly - February 03, 2024


Atlakviða en Grönlenzku, a reading


Episode Stats


Length

20 minutes

Words per minute

120.86565

Word count

2,530

Sentence count

116

Harmful content

Misogyny

1

sentences flagged

Hate speech

34

sentences flagged


Summary

Summaries generated with gmurro/bart-large-finetuned-filtered-spotify-podcast-summ .

Transcript

Transcript generated with Whisper (turbo).
Misogyny classifications generated with MilaNLProc/bert-base-uncased-ear-misogyny .
Hate speech classifications generated with facebook/roberta-hate-speech-dynabench-r4-target .
00:00:00.000 Atlikwitha in Grunlindska, the Greenland lay of Atli.
00:00:26.760 There are two Atli poems in the Curex Regis, the Atlecvitha, Lay of Atli, and the Arlamor, Ballad of Atli.
00:00:39.160 The poems are not preserved or quoted in any other old manuscript, but they were extensively used by the compilers of the Vlsunga Saga.
00:00:49.620 In the manuscript's superscription to each of these poems appears the word Greenland,
00:00:57.180 which has given rise to a large amount of arguments.
00:01:01.700 The scribe was by no means infallible,
00:01:05.360 and in this case his statement proves no more than that in the period around 1300
00:01:10.460 there was a tradition that these two poems originated in the Greenland settlement.
00:01:15.760 The two Atli poems deal with substantially the same material.
00:01:22.160 The visit of the sons of Gyuki to Atli's court, their deaths,
00:01:26.520 and the subsequent revenge of their sister Guthrun, Atli's wife, on her husband.
00:01:32.940 The shorter of the two, the Atla Kvitha, tells the story with little elaboration.
00:01:39.460 The Atla Mol, with about the same narrative basis, adds many details.
00:01:45.060 some of them apparently of the poet's invention,
00:01:48.840 and with a romantic, not to say sentimental, quality quite lacking in the Atla Kvitha.
00:01:55.820 Both poems are sharply distinguished from the rest of the collection by their metrical form,
00:02:02.180 which is the Malahatr, used regularly also in the Harbar Slioth,
00:02:09.200 employed consistently and smoothly in the Atlamal,
00:02:12.120 and with a considerable mixture of what appears to be Furnisslag lines in C. Introduction in the Atlecvitha.
00:02:20.980 It is altogether probable that both poems belong to the 11th century,
00:02:28.280 the shorter Atlecvitha being generally dated from the first quarter thereof,
00:02:32.340 and the longer Atlemal some 50 years or more later.
00:02:37.100 In each case, the poet was apparently a Christian,
00:02:40.020 In the Alamal, stanza 82, Guthrun expresses her readiness to die and go into another light.
00:02:47.700 And in the Alakvitha, there is frequent use of mythological names,
00:02:52.940 example Varhal, Hyliskoth,
00:02:56.540 with an evident lack of understanding of their relation to the older gods.
00:03:02.060 These facts fit the theory of a Greenland origin exceedingly well,
00:03:05.980 for the Greenland settlement grew rapidly after the first explorations of Eirik the Red,
00:03:11.500 which were in 982-985, and its most flourishing period was in the 11th century.
00:03:18.260 The internal evidence, particularly in the case of the Atlema,
00:03:22.560 points likewise to an origin remote from Iceland, Norway, and the Western Isles,
00:03:29.240 and the two poems are sufficiently alike so that despite the efforts of Finner Johnson
00:03:34.320 and others to separate them, assigning one to Greenland and the other to Norway or elsewhere.
00:03:41.920 It seems probable that the manuscript statement is correct in both instances,
00:03:47.300 and that the two Otley poems did actually originate in Greenland.
00:03:53.340 An interesting account of this Greenland settlement is given in William Håvgård's
00:03:58.500 Voyage of the Norsemen to America, published by the American Scandinavian Foundation in 1914.
00:04:05.840 And an extraordinarily vivid picture of the sufferings of the early settlers
00:04:10.220 appears in Maurice Hewlett's Torghils, taken from the Floamonaga saga.
00:04:18.280 And from the standpoint of narrative material,
00:04:21.440 there is little that is distinctively Norse in either the Atla Kvitha or the Atla Mall.
00:04:28.500 The story is the one outlined in the prose Drapnefrunga, largely based on these two poems,
00:04:36.960 representing almost exclusively the southern blending of the Attila and Burgundian legends,
00:04:43.420 as the introductory note to Grapispa.
00:04:47.040 In the Atlecvitha, indeed the word Burgundians is actually used.
00:04:53.020 Brynhild is not mentioned in either poem.
00:04:56.120 Sigrid's name appears but once in the Atlemall.
00:05:00.200 Thus, the material goes directly back to its South Germanic origins,
00:05:04.820 with little of the Norse making over which resulted in such extensive changes in most parts of the Sigrid's story.
00:05:12.320 The general atmosphere, on the other hand, particularly in the Atlemall, is essentially Norse.
00:05:19.100 As has been said, the Atalikvitha is materically in a chaotic state, the normal Malahatar lines being frequently interspersed with lines and even stanzas, which apparently are of the older Forneslog type.
00:05:35.960 How much of this confusion is due to faulty transmission is uncertain,
00:05:42.100 but it has been suggested that the composer of the Alakvitha made over in Malhattar an older Otli poem in Forneslog,
00:05:51.000 and this suggestion has much to recommend it.
00:05:54.880 That he worked on the basis of an older poem is indeed almost certain,
00:05:59.560 For an older oral prose tradition, a far larger amount of distinctively Norse traits would unquestionably have crept in
00:06:11.040 than are found in the material of the Atlikvitha.
00:06:15.200 As for the Atlamal, here again the poet seems to have used an older poem as his basis,
00:06:21.480 possibly the Atlikvitha itself, although in that case he must have had other material as well.
00:06:27.820 for there are frequent divergences in such materials and matters as proper names.
00:06:37.640 The translation of the Alicvita is rendered peculiarly difficult
00:06:43.540 by the irregularity of the meter,
00:06:47.820 by the evident faultiness of the transmission,
00:06:50.460 and above all by the exceptionally large number of words found nowhere else in Old Norse.
00:06:57.820 involving much guesswork as to their meaning.
00:07:01.800 The notes do not attempt to indicate all the varying suggestions made by editors and commentators
00:07:07.700 as to the reconstruction of defective stanzas and the probable meanings of obscure passages.
00:07:13.720 In cases which are purely or largely guesswork,
00:07:18.640 the notes merely point out the uncertainty without cataloging the proposed solutions.
00:07:24.640 Atle Kvitha in Grunlinska
00:07:30.880 Guthrun, Gyuki's daughter, avenged her brothers, as has become well known.
00:07:38.940 She slew first Atle's sons, and thereafter she slew Atle, 0.51
00:07:43.760 and burned the hall with his whole company. 0.69
00:07:47.700 Concerning this was the following poem made.
00:07:50.920 Atli sent of old Tugunar, a keen-witted rider, Caninfroth, did men call him.
00:08:01.340 To Gyuki's home came he, and to Gunar's dwelling, With benches round the hearth, and to the
00:08:07.420 beer so sweet.
00:08:09.560 Then the followers, hiding their falseness, all drank Their wine in the war-hall of the
00:08:18.040 Hun's wrath wary.
00:08:21.220 And Gnithroth spake loudly, his words were crafty, the hero from the south on the high
00:08:27.940 bench sitting, Now Watley has sent me to his errand to ride,
00:08:35.740 On my bit-champing steed through Mirkwood the secret,
00:08:40.760 To bid you, Gunnar, to his benches to come,
00:08:45.680 With helms round the hearth, And at least home seek.
00:08:50.700 Shields shall ye choose there, And shafts made of ash wood,
00:08:55.380 Gold-adorned helmets, And slaves out of Hunland,
00:09:00.080 Silver-gilt saddle-cloths, Shirts of bright scarlet,
00:09:05.000 With lances and spears too, And bit-champing steeds.
00:09:10.120 The field shall be given you of wide gnithith, With loud ringing lances and stems gold o'erlaid,
00:09:19.920 Treasures full huge in the home of Dump, And the mighty forest that Mirkwood is called.
00:09:30.220 His head turned Gunnar, and to Hogni he said, What doth thy counsel, young hero, when such
00:09:37.280 Such things we hear, No gold do I know on Gnitahe flying,
00:09:42.280 So fair the other its equal we have not.
00:09:45.720 We have seven halls, each of swords is full, And all of gold is the hilt of each.
00:09:52.500 My steed is the swiftest, my sword is sharpest, My bows adorned benches, my bernies are golden,
00:10:01.000 My harem is the brightest that came from Kiara's hall. 0.81
00:10:05.180 Mine own is better than all the Hun's treasure. 1.00
00:10:09.720 Hogni spake. 0.63
00:10:13.260 What seeks she to say, That she sends us a ring,
00:10:18.320 Woven with a wolf's hair?
00:10:20.960 Methinks it gives warning. 0.81
00:10:23.340 In the red ring a hair Of the heath-dweller found I.
00:10:27.480 Like shall our road be, if we ride on this journey.
00:10:32.520 Not eager were his comrades, nor the men of his kin,
00:10:36.620 The wise nor the wary, nor the warriors bold,
00:10:40.340 But Gunnar spake forth, as befitted a king,
00:10:44.600 Noble in the beard-hall, and bitter his scorn.
00:10:50.080 Stand forth, Fjornir, and hither on the floor,
00:10:54.140 The beakers all golden shalt thou bring to the warriors. 0.99
00:11:00.020 The wolves then shall rule, the wealth of the Nifrungs, 0.87
00:11:05.520 Wolves aged and grey-hued, if Gunnar is lost, 0.93
00:11:10.280 And black-coated bears with rinding teeth bite,
00:11:14.040 And make glad to dogs, if Gunnar returns not.
00:11:20.760 A following gallant fell forth with the ruler, yet they wept as their home with the hero
00:11:26.640 they left, and the little air of Hogni called out loudly,
00:11:32.180 Go safe now, ye wise ones, wherever ye will.
00:11:38.840 Then let the bold heroes, their bit-champing horses, on the mountains gallop and through
00:11:44.820 Markwood the secret. All Hoonland was shaken, Where the hard-souled ones rode, On the whip-fearers
00:11:52.840 Fared they, though fields that were green. Then they saw Otley's halls, and his watchtowers
00:12:00.780 high, And the walls so lofty stood the warriors of Boothley. The hall of the southrons, with
00:12:09.540 The seats was surrounded, With targets bound and shields full bright.
00:12:16.040 Mid weapons and lances did Atli his wine, In the war hall drink, without were his watchmen.
00:12:24.140 For Gunnar they waited, if forth he should go, With their ringing spears they would fight
00:12:30.100 with the ruler.
00:12:32.500 This their sister saw, As soon as her brothers had entered the hall.
00:12:38.100 Little ale had she drunk, Betrayed art thou Gunnar, what guard hast thou
00:12:43.820 Hero, gainst the plots of the Huns?
00:12:48.260 From the hall flee swiftly, Brother, t'were it far better to have come
00:12:54.020 In barony, with thy household hand To see Otli's home, and to sit in the saddle
00:13:00.100 All day neath the sun, that the sword Norns might weep For the death-pale warriors, and 0.65
00:13:07.480 the hunish shield-maids might shun not the sword, and send Atri himself to the din of 0.82
00:13:14.080 the snakes. 1.00
00:13:15.080 Now the din of the snakes for thee is destined. 1.00
00:13:20.520 Gunnar spake, too lawfully is it, sister, to summon the Nifrungs. 1.00
00:13:27.120 Long is it to come to the throng of our comrades, the heroes gallant from the hills of the Rhine. 1.00
00:13:36.240 King Gunnar they seized, and they set him in chains, the Burgundian's king, and fast
00:13:41.960 they bound him.
00:13:44.360 Hogni slew seven with swords so keen, and an eighth he flung in the fire hot.
00:13:49.900 A hero should fight with his foemen thus, as Hogni strove in Gunnar's behalf.
00:13:59.260 The leader, they asked, if his life he feigned, with gold would buy the king of the Goths. 0.92
00:14:06.220 Gunnar spake, first the heart of Hogni shall ye lay in my hands, and all bloody from the
00:14:15.960 breast of the bold one cuts, with keen biting sword from the son of the king. 0.87
00:14:25.380 They cut out the heart from the breast of Hjalli, on the platter they bore it and brought 0.89
00:14:30.360 to Gunnar. Then Gunnar spake forth the lord of the folk, 0.98
00:14:38.040 Here have I the heart of Hjalli the Treven, unlike to the heart of Hogni the valiant.
00:14:45.300 For it trembles still as it stands on the platter, twice more did it tremble in the
00:14:50.760 breast of the man. Then Hogni laughed when they cut out the heart
00:14:57.560 Of the living helmed hammerer, Tears he had not.
00:15:03.200 On the platter they bore it, And brought it to Gunnar. 0.96
00:15:07.320 Then Gunnar spake forth, The spear of the Nifrungs, 0.66
00:15:12.560 Here have I the heart of Hogni the valiant, Unlike the heart of Hjalli the creven,
00:15:18.680 Little it trembles as it lies on the platter, Still lest it tremble when it lay in his breast.
00:15:26.300 More distant, Otley, from all men's eyes, Shalt thou be as thou, from the gold. 0.81
00:15:34.960 To no one save me is the secret known, Of the Niflung's horde, now Hogni is dead.
00:15:42.420 Of old there were two, while we twain were alive, Now is none but I, for I only am living.
00:15:51.480 The swift Rhine shall hold the strife gold of heroes,
00:15:55.840 That once was the gods the wealth of the Niflungs.
00:15:58.980 In the depths of the waters the death-rings shall glitter, 1.00
00:16:04.380 And not shine on the hands of the hoonish men. 1.00
00:16:09.240 Otley spake, Ye shall bring the wagon, for now is he bound. 0.98
00:16:17.620 On the long main ground wrote Atli the Great, About him were warriors.
00:16:24.880 But Guthrin, akin to the gods of slaughter, Yielded not to her tears in the Hall of Tumult.
00:16:32.440 Guthrin spake, It shall go with thee, Atli, as with Gunnar thou heldest,
00:16:39.160 The oaths oftentimes, and of old make firm, By the sun in the south, by Sigtir's mountain,
00:16:47.420 the horse of the respire in the ring of Ul. In the chamber of bits, through the chieftain
00:16:54.040 great, the gold garter down to the place of death. By the warrior's host was the living
00:17:01.460 hero, cast in the din, or crawling about. Within were serpents, but soon did Gunnar,
00:17:10.300 With his hand in wrath on the harp-string smite, The strings resounded, so shall a hero,
00:17:18.000 A ring-breaker galled from his enemy's guard.
00:17:23.860 Then Otley rode on his earth-threading steed, Seeking his home from the slaughtered place,
00:17:31.540 The perclatter of hoofs of the steeds in the court, And the clashing of arms as they came
00:17:36.740 from the field.
00:17:39.420 Often came Guthrun to meeting with Atli, with the golden beaker as a gift to the monarch.
00:17:46.940 Thou mayst eat now, chieftain, within thy dwelling, blithely with Guthrun young beasts
00:17:52.460 fresh slaughtered. 0.99
00:17:55.320 The wine-heavy ale-cups of Atli resounded, when there in the hall the hoonish youths 0.99
00:18:00.920 clamoured, and the warriors bearded the brave ones entered. 0.94
00:18:08.640 Then came in the Shining One, And drink she bore him.
00:18:15.460 Unwilling and bitter Brought she food to the warrior,
00:18:19.880 Till in scorn to the white-faced Hotly did she speak. 0.97
00:18:24.940 Thou give her of swords Of thy sons the hearts, 0.92
00:18:28.600 All heavy with blood and honey Thou hast eaten.
00:18:32.360 Thou shalt stomach, thou hero, The flesh of the slain,
00:18:36.520 Who eateth thy feast, and to send to thy followers.
00:18:40.720 Thou shalt never call to thy knees again, Earp, or Eitel, when merry with ale.
00:18:48.760 Thou shalt never see in their seats again, The sharers of gold, their lances shaping,
00:18:55.640 Clipping the manes, or minding the steeds.
00:19:00.360 There was clamour on the benches, And the cry of men,
00:19:03.760 The clashing of weapons, and the weeping of the Huns.
00:19:07.200 Save for Guthrun alone, she wept not ever.
00:19:10.760 For her bare, fierce brothers were the boys so dear,
00:19:15.660 So young and so unhappy, whom withoutly she had.
00:19:20.660 Gold did she scotter, and swan-white one,
00:19:24.280 And the rings of red gold to the followers she gave.
00:19:28.900 The fate she let grow, and the shining wealth go,
00:19:32.920 For spared she the treasure of the temple itself.
00:19:37.920 Unwise, then, was Otli, he had drunk to the wildness.
00:19:42.120 No weapon did he have, and of Guthrin beware not.
00:19:46.380 Oft their play was better, when both in gladness
00:19:50.060 Each other embraced among princes all.
00:19:54.360 With her sword she gave blood for the bed to drink,
00:19:58.280 With her death-dealing hand and the hounds she loosed,
00:20:02.140 The thrall she awakened and the firebrand threw, In the door of the hall so vengeance
00:20:08.180 she had. 0.91
00:20:09.460 To the flames she gave all, who yet were within, And from Mirkaim she had come, From the murderer
00:20:17.720 of the Gunnar. 0.74
00:20:19.720 The timbers old fell, the temple was in flames, The dwelling of the Boothlings, and the shieldmaids 0.54
00:20:27.460 burned. They were slain in the house, in the hot flames they sank. 0.99
00:20:34.020 Now the tale is all told, nor in later time will the woman in Birney avenge so her brothers.
00:20:42.640 The fair one to three, of the kings of the folk, brought the doom of death ere herself
00:20:49.700 she died. Still more is told in the Greenland Ballad of Otley.