Þorleifr jarlsskáld
Þorleifr Rauðfeldarson or Þorleifr jarlsskáld (Poet of the Earl) was an Icelandic skald. He was one of the court poets of Hákon Sigurðarson, though only a couple of his verses on the ruler have come down to us. The following is quoted in Heimskringla.
- Hǫ́kon, vitum hvergi
- (hafizk hefr runnr af gunni)
- fremra jarl und ferli
- (folk-Ránar) þér mána ;
- þú hefr ǫðlinga Óðni
- (etr hrafn af ná getnum),
- vesa mátt af því vísi
- víðlendr, níu senda. Hákonardrápa 1, FJ's edition
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- Hákon, heard we under
- heaven no doughtier earl than
- thou—but greater grew thy
- glory fram wars—to govern.
- Athelings nine to Óthin—
- feeds the raven on flesh of
- fallen men—spread far thy
- fame aye—thou didst send forth. (Hollander's translation)
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- In Norway's land was never known
- A braver earl than the brave Hakon.
- At sea, beneath the clear moon's light,
- No braver man e'er sought to fight.
- Nine kings to Odin's wide domain
- Were sent, by Hakon's right hand slain!
- So well the raven-flocks were fed --
- So well the wolves were filled with dead! (Laing's translation)
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Þorleifr is the protagonist of Þorleifs þáttr, a largely fictional work. He also has a role in Svarfdœla saga where some lausavísur are attributed to him.
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