SAGA-BOOK - Viking Society Web Publications

336 Saga-Book of the Viking Society
compiler specifically includes the ring in Andvari's curse;
en annat mun ek gera (VS 32/22 : Fm. 21/1-2) - in
rejection of Fafnir's counsel; ok vissir pu eigi hvdrt er var
himinn eoa jpro (VS 33/13 : Fm. 28-29) - in the context
of Regin's cowardice; eoa mun her kominn Siguror
Sigmundarson er hefir hjdlm Fdfnis ok hans bana i hendi?
(VS 35/n-12 : Sd. I) - an appropriate addition in the
context of Brynhild's knowledge and wisdom; undir
skentmuveg sinn (VS 57/7 : Sg. 6/1-2) - the place where
Brynhild sat is clearly indicated. A number of other
instances could be cited.
Some additions and changes seem to aim at providing
what the compiler thought necessary circumstantial
detail when a new character is introduced, e.g. ok bar po
ein af plhtm . . . Helgi spyrr pd at nafni er fyrir peim
var. En hon nefndisk Sigricn (ok kvezk vera d6ttir H ogna
konungs) (VS 15/5-7 : HH 16-17) - in HH, Helgi addresses
not Sigrun, but the group of warrior maidens as a whole.
He is answered by 'Hegna dottir whose name is not
mentioned until 30/2. The compiler lets Helgi address
Sigrun, not the whole group, and makes this seem natural
by giving her special prominence in advance. He then
very properly introduces her name to complete the
exposition. Helgi konungr kallar til sin skipstjornarmann
sinn er Leifr ket (VS 15/23-24 : HH 23/5-6). - In HH
(Hjor)Leif's presence is assumed, and he is suddenly
addressed by Helgi, whereas in VS he is formally brought
into the scene. Brynhildr (VS 34/9 : Fm. 43/2) - The
compiler's opinion as to the valkyrie's identity is made
clear when she is first mentioned. H pgni dtti son eptir er
Nijlungr ket (VS 73/10 : Am. 88/5) - (H)Niflung makes
an abrupt appearance in PE and is not revealed as
Hogni's son until Am. 89/7. The compiler gives the
reason for Niflung's animosity towards Atli by mentioning
his relationship to Hogni at the outset.
Additions such as these help to ensure a steady narrative
flow, and there are, in fact, a large number which aim