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Bersi Skáldtorfuson^[1] was an Icelandic skald, active around the year 1000 CE. He was a court poet to Earl Sveinn Hákonarson. During the Battle of Nesjar he was captured by King Óláfr Haraldsson's forces. Three of the four stanzas of his that have survived were ostensibly composed while in captivity.

One lausavísa is attributed to Bersi in the surviving fragments of Óláfs saga helga by Styrmir Kárason. However, the same stanza is attributed to Sigvatr Þórðarson in Heimskringla and to Óttarr svarti in other sagas on St. Óláfr.^[2] Styrmir's saga gives some information on Bersi's career in St. Óláfr's service and indicates that he died in 1030.

Bersi was at some point at the court of King Canute the Great where Sigvatr Þórðarson addressed him in verse after they had both received gifts from the king.^[3] Apart from being mentioned in the kings' sagas, Bersi also has a minor role in Grettis saga, chapters 15, 23 and 24, where he asks Earl Sveinn to spare Grettir Ásmundarson's life.^[4]

Bersi's mother, Skáld-Torfa, was apparently also a poet but none of her works have survived.

Poetry

Bersi Skáldtorfuson: "Flokkr um Óláf" 1-3:

Hróðrs batt heilan líða

hagkennanda þenna,

en snarrœki slíku

svarat unnum vér gunnar ;

orð seldum þau elda

úthauðrs boða, trauðir,

knarrar, hapts, sem keyptak,

kynstórs, at við brynju.

Sveins raunir hefk sénar

(snart rekninga bjartar)

þars (svaltungur sungu)

saman fórum vér, stórar ;

elds, munk eigi fylgja

út, hríðboði, síðan,

hests, at hverjum kosti,

hranna, dýrra manni.^[5]

Krýpk eigi svá, sveigir

sára linns - í ári

búum ólítinn Áta

öndur þér til handa -,

at herstefnir hafnak

heiðmildr eða þá leiðumk,

ungr kunnak, þar, þrøngvi

þínn, hollvini mína.

Finnur Jónsson's edition^[6]

Thou badest this eager

Worshipper of poetry^[7] farewell,

And we could answer

The same, O strife-wont warrior!

It listed me not to be delayed

Longer; therefore I sold

To the noble-born giver of gold^[8]

Those words as I bought them.

I have seen the great fights

Of Swein; we fared together

Once when the cool blades^[9]

Afterwards sang loudly;

Never again hereafter

Shall I follow in a host,

O king, any chieftain

More glorious than he.

This year I lie in chains

For a long while in the great ship.^[10]

O swinger of the sword! I humble

Myself never so lowly,

That I betray, O wise war king,

My loyal friends or be loath

To have them. In my youth

Among my friends I found thy foe.

Translation by Monsen and Smith^[11]

"Depart in peace," thou didst,

prince, bid me, the poet;

and I said the same to

seasoned tree-of-combat.^[12]

Unwillingly these words in

weapon-thing returned I

as from the Fáfnir's-treasure's-

foe^[8] I had received them.

Seen have I Svein tested

since we fared together—

sang loud polished swords—in

serious conflicts, ruler.

Never on shipboard shall I,

should whate'er betide me,

in fiercest fray tested

follow a better master.

Crouch I shall not, King, nor

crawl before thee—rather,

let us ready, liege, a

large ship, this year—and so

turn my back on true and

tried friends and aggrieve them.

Young when I was I held dear

him who was your enemy.

Hollander's translation^[13]

References

Notes

^ The names can be represented or Anglicized as Bersi/Bessi/Berse/Besse Skáld-Torfuson/Skáldtorfuson/Skald-Torfuson/Skaldtorfuson/Torfuson/Torfasson/Torfason.
^ Poole 1991, p. 95.
^ Monsen 2004, p. 357.
^ Fox 2001, page 54. See [1] for an alternative translation (by William Morris and Eiríkr Magnússon) of the relevant chapter or [2] for an edition of the Old Norse text.
^ Eysteinn Björnsson translates [3] Archived 2006-07-21 at the Wayback Machine: "I will never again, under no circumstance, follow a greater leader (than this) storm-herald of fire of horse of waves."
^ Here taken from Eysteinn Björnsson's online edition of the skaldic corpus. [4] Archived 2007-03-11 at the Wayback Machine
^ The original has hagkennandi hróðrs, a kenning for "poet".
^ ^a ^b The original kenning is boði elda úthauðrs knarrar; "herald of the fire of the outer land of the knörr", i.e. "herald of the fire of the sea", i.e. "herald of the gold", i.e. "generous man". Hollander substitutes a kenning referring to the dragon Fáfnir who lay on a pile of gold.
^ The original has a kenning for "blades"; bjartar svaltungur rekninga, "bright cool tongues of swords".
^ The original has a kenning for "ship"; Áta öndurr, "ski of Áti (a sea-king)".
^ Monsen 2004, p. 253.
^ A kenning for "warrior". The kenning in the original is snarrœkir gunnar; "swift tender of gunnr (battle)". See [5] Archived 2006-12-15 at the Wayback Machine.
^ Hollander 1991, p. 285.

Bibliography

Björnsson, Eysteinn (2001). Lexicon of Kennings: The Domain of Battle.
Fox, Denton and Hermann Pálsson (translators) (2001). Grettir's Saga. University of Toronto Press. ISBN 0-8020-6165-6
Jónsson, Finnur (1931). Lexicon Poeticum. København: S. L. Møllers Bogtrykkeri.
Hollander, Lee M (editor and translator). (1991). Heimskringla: History of the Kings of Norway. University of Texas Press. ISBN 0-292-73061-6
Monsen, Erling (editor and translator) and A. H. Smith (translator) (2004). Heimskringla Or the Lives of the Norse Kings. Kessinger Publishing. ISBN 0-7661-8693-8
Poole, Russell G. (1991). Viking Poems on War and Peace. University of Toronto Press. ISBN 0-8020-6789-1
Bersi Skáldtorfuson Extant poetry

[1] The names can be represented or Anglicized as Bersi/Bessi/Berse/Besse Skáld-Torfuson/Skáldtorfuson/Skald-Torfuson/Skaldtorfuson/Torfuson/Torfasson/Torfason.

[2] Poole 1991, p. 95.

[3] Monsen 2004, p. 357.

[4] Fox 2001, page 54. See [1] for an alternative translation (by William Morris and Eiríkr Magnússon) of the relevant chapter or [2] for an edition of the Old Norse text.

[5] Eysteinn Björnsson translates [3] Archived 2006-07-21 at the Wayback Machine: "I will never again, under no circumstance, follow a greater leader (than this) storm-herald of fire of horse of waves."

[6] Here taken from Eysteinn Björnsson's online edition of the skaldic corpus. [4] Archived 2007-03-11 at the Wayback Machine

[7] The original has hagkennandi hróðrs, a kenning for "poet".

[1-7-8] The original kenning is boði elda úthauðrs knarrar; "herald of the fire of the outer land of the knörr", i.e. "herald of the fire of the sea", i.e. "herald of the gold", i.e. "generous man". Hollander substitutes a kenning referring to the dragon Fáfnir who lay on a pile of gold.

[9] The original has a kenning for "blades"; bjartar svaltungur rekninga, "bright cool tongues of swords".

[10] The original has a kenning for "ship"; Áta öndurr, "ski of Áti (a sea-king)".

[11] Monsen 2004, p. 253.

[12] A kenning for "warrior". The kenning in the original is snarrœkir gunnar; "swift tender of gunnr (battle)". See [5] Archived 2006-12-15 at the Wayback Machine.

[13] Hollander 1991, p. 285.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{short description|Icelandic skald}}
 [[File:Olav den helliges saga - Skalden Berse - C. Krogh.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Bersi in chains after being captured by King [[Olaf II of Norway|Óláfr Haraldsson]]]]
-'''Bersi Skáldtorfuson'''<ref>The names can be represented or Anglicized as ''Bersi''/''Bessi''/''Berse''/''Besse'' ''Skáld-Torfuson''/''Skáldtorfuson''/''Skald-Torfuson/Skaldtorfuson/Torfuson/Torfasson/Torfason.</ref> was an Icelandic [[skald]], active around the year 1000. He was a [[court poet]] to Earl [[Sveinn Hákonarson]]. During the [[Battle of Nesjar]] he was captured by King [[Olaf II of Norway|Óláfr Haraldsson]]'s forces. In captivity he composed three of his four stanzas which have survived.
+'''Bersi Skáldtorfuson'''<ref>The names can be represented or Anglicized as ''Bersi''/''Bessi''/''Berse''/''Besse'' ''Skáld-Torfuson''/''Skáldtorfuson''/''Skald-Torfuson/Skaldtorfuson/Torfuson/Torfasson/Torfason''.</ref> was an Icelandic [[skald]], active around the year 1000 CE. He was a [[court poet]] to Earl [[Sveinn Hákonarson]]. During the [[Battle of Nesjar]] he was captured by King [[Olaf II of Norway|Óláfr Haraldsson]]'s forces. Three of the four stanzas of his that have survived were ostensibly composed while in captivity.
+One ''[[lausavísa]]'' is attributed to Bersi in the surviving fragments of ''Óláfs saga helga'' by [[Styrmir Kárason]]. However, the same stanza is attributed to [[Sigvatr Þórðarson]] in [[Heimskringla]] and to [[Óttarr svarti]] in other sagas on St. Óláfr.<ref>Poole 1991, p. 95.</ref> Styrmir's saga gives some information on Bersi's career in St. Óláfr's service and indicates that he died in 1030.
+Bersi was at some point at the court of King [[Canute the Great]] where Sigvatr Þórðarson addressed him in verse after they had both received gifts from the king.<ref>Monsen 2004, p. 357.</ref> Apart from being mentioned in the [[kings' sagas]], Bersi also has a minor role in ''[[Grettis saga]]'', chapters 15, 23 and 24, where he asks Earl Sveinn to spare [[Grettir Ásmundarson]]'s life.<ref>Fox 2001, page 54. See [http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/gre/gre29.htm] for an alternative translation (by [[William Morris]] and [[Eiríkr Magnússon]]) of the relevant chapter or [http://www.snerpa.is/net/isl/grettir.htm] for an edition of the Old Norse text.</ref>
+Bersi's mother, Skáld-Torfa, was apparently also a poet but none of her works have survived.
+==Poetry==
+Bersi Skáldtorfuson: "Flokkr um Óláf" 1-3:
 {|
 |
@@ Line 20: / Line 29: @@
 :út, hríðboði, síðan,
 :hests, at hverjum kosti,
-:hranna, dýrra manni.<ref>Eysteinn Björnsson translates [http://www.hi.is/~eybjorn/ugm/kennings/bersi2.html]: "I will never again, under no circumstance, follow a greater leader (than this) storm-herald of fire of horse of waves."</ref>
+:hranna, dýrra manni.<ref>Eysteinn Björnsson translates [http://www.hi.is/~eybjorn/ugm/kennings/bersi2.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060721222806/http://www.hi.is/~eybjorn/ugm/kennings/bersi2.html|date=2006-07-21}}: "I will never again, under no circumstance, follow a greater leader (than this) storm-herald of fire of horse of waves."</ref>
 :Krýpk eigi svá, sveigir
@@ Line 30: / Line 39: @@
 :ungr kunnak, þar, þrøngvi
 :þínn, hollvini mína.
-::Finnur Jónsson's edition<ref>Here taken from Eysteinn Björnsson's online edition of the skaldic corpus. [http://www.hi.is/~eybjorn/ugm/skindex/bers1.html]</ref>
+::Finnur Jónsson's edition<ref>Here taken from Eysteinn Björnsson's online edition of the skaldic corpus. [http://www.hi.is/~eybjorn/ugm/skindex/bers1.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311031315/http://www.hi.is/~eybjorn/ugm/skindex/bers1.html|date=2007-03-11}}</ref>
 |
 :Thou badest this eager
@@ Line 63: / Line 72: @@
 :prince, bid me, the poet;
 :and I said the same to
-:seasoned tree-of-combat.<ref>A kenning for "warrior". The kenning in the original is ''snarrœkir gunnar''; "swift tender of [[gunnr]] (battle)". See [http://www.hi.is/~eybjorn/ugm/kennings/wartest.html].</ref>
+:seasoned tree-of-combat.<ref>A kenning for "warrior". The kenning in the original is ''snarrœkir gunnar''; "swift tender of [[gunnr]] (battle)". See [http://www.hi.is/~eybjorn/ugm/kennings/wartest.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061215002749/http://www.hi.is/~eybjorn/ugm/kennings/wartest.html|date=2006-12-15}}.</ref>
 :Unwillingly these words in
 :weapon-thing returned I
@@ Line 90: / Line 99: @@
 |}
+== See also ==
-One ''[[lausavísa]]'' is attributed to Bersi in the surviving fragments of ''Óláfs saga helga'' by [[Styrmir Kárason]]. But the same stanza is attributed to [[Sigvatr Þórðarson]] in [[Heimskringla]] and to [[Óttarr svarti]] in other sagas on St. Óláfr.<ref>Poole 1991, p. 95.</ref> Styrmir's saga gives some information on Bersi's career in St. Óláfr's service and indicates that he died in 1030.
+{{Portal|Iceland}}
+* [[List of Icelandic writers]]
-Bersi was at some point at the court of King [[Canute the Great]] where Sigvatr Þórðarson addressed him in verse after they had both received gifts from the king.<ref>Monsen 2004, p. 357.</ref> Apart from being mentioned in the [[kings' sagas]] Bersi also has a minor role in ''[[Grettis saga]]'' where he asks Earl Sveinn to spare [[Grettir Ásmundarson]]'s life.<ref>Fox 2001, page 54. See [http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/gre/gre29.htm] for an alternative translation (by [[William Morris]] and [[Eiríkr Magnússon]]) of the relevant chapter or [http://www.snerpa.is/net/isl/grettir.htm] for an edition of the Old Norse text.</ref>
+* [[List of skalds]]
+* [[Icelandic literature]]
-Bersi's mother, Skáld-Torfa, was apparently also a poet but none of her works have come down to us.
-==Notes==
-<references />
 ==References==
+===Notes===
+{{Reflist}}
+===Bibliography===
-* Björnsson, Eysteinn (2001). ''[http://www.hi.is/~eybjorn/ugm/kennings/kennings.html Lexicon of Kennings: The Domain of Battle]''.
+* Björnsson, Eysteinn (2001). ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20090328200122/http://www3.hi.is/~eybjorn/ugm/kennings/kennings.html Lexicon of Kennings: The Domain of Battle]''.
-*Fox, Denton and Hermann Pálsson (translators) (2001). ''Grettir's Saga''. University of Toronto Press. ISBN 0-8020-6165-6
+*Fox, Denton and Hermann Pálsson (translators) (2001). ''Grettir's Saga''. University of Toronto Press. {{ISBN|0-8020-6165-6}}
 * [[Finnur Jónsson|Jónsson, Finnur]] (1931). ''Lexicon Poeticum''. København: S. L. Møllers Bogtrykkeri.
-*Hollander, Lee M (editor and translator). (1991). ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=qHpwje7-wNkC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Heimskringla+:+History+of+the+Kings+of+Norway&ei=L1_TSovEMZeeMp7M1eAN#v=onepage&q=&f=false Heimskringla: History of the Kings of Norway]''. [[University of Texas Press]]. ISBN 0-292-73061-6
+*Hollander, Lee M (editor and translator). (1991). ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=qHpwje7-wNkC&q=Heimskringla+:+History+of+the+Kings+of+Norway Heimskringla: History of the Kings of Norway]''. [[University of Texas Press]]. {{ISBN|0-292-73061-6}}
-*Monsen, Erling (editor and translator) and A. H. Smith (translator) (2004). ''Heimskringla Or the Lives of the Norse Kings.'' Kessinger Publishing. ISBN 0-7661-8693-8
+*Monsen, Erling (editor and translator) and A. H. Smith (translator) (2004). ''Heimskringla Or the Lives of the Norse Kings.'' Kessinger Publishing. {{ISBN|0-7661-8693-8}}
-*Poole, Russell G. (1991). ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=ND5Su1szecAC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Viking+Poems+on+War+and+Peace&ei=tlzTSuuqGojYNv6viewN#v=onepage&q=&f=false Viking Poems on War and Peace]''. [[University of Toronto Press]]. ISBN 0-8020-6789-1
+*Poole, Russell G. (1991). ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=ND5Su1szecAC&q=Viking+Poems+on+War+and+Peace Viking Poems on War and Peace]''. [[University of Toronto Press]]. {{ISBN|0-8020-6789-1}}
-*[http://www.hi.is/~eybjorn/ugm/skindex/bersi.html Bersi Skáldtorfuson] Extant poetry
+*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070311031153/http://www.hi.is/~eybjorn/ugm/skindex/bersi.html Bersi Skáldtorfuson] Extant poetry
+{{authority control}}
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Bersi Skaldtorfuson}}
-[[Category:Viking Age poets|Bersi Skaltorfuson]]
+[[Category:11th-century Icelandic poets]]
-[[Category:Icelandic poets|Bersi Skaltorfuson]]
-[[Category:Skalds|Bersi Skaltorfuson]]
-[[Category:11th-century Icelandic people]]
-[[Category:11th-century poets]]