Further gold-kennings are gathered from the old Bjarkamál, which enumerate gold as Fenja's work, Fáfnir's bed, Glasir's foliage and Draupnir's sweat. The chapter also establishes that gold is 'the fire of the hand' (red) and silver its 'snow' or 'ice' (white), with verse examples by Þorleikr, Einarr and Þórðr.
Í Bjarkarmálum inum fornum eru tölð mörg gullsheiti. Svá segir þar:
In the old Bjarkamál many gold-heiti are enumerated. Thus it says there:
Gull er kallat í kenningum eldr handar eða liðs eða leggjar, því at þat er rautt, en silfr snær eða svell eða héla, því at þat er hvítt. Með sama hætti skal ok kenna gull eða silfr til sjóðs eða diguls eða lauðar, en hvárttveggja silfr ok gull má vera grjót handar eða hálsgjörð nökkurs þess manns, er títt var at hafa men. Men ok hringar eru bæði silfr ok gull, ef eigi er annan veg greint. Sem kvað Þorleikr fagri:
Gold is called in kennings the fire of the hand or joint or limb, because it is red, but silver [is called] snow or ice or hoar-frost, because it is white. In the same way gold or silver is to be periphrased by the purse or crucible or lather; and both silver and gold may be the stone of the hand or the neck-ring of any man for whom it was customary to wear a necklace. Necklaces and rings are both silver and gold, if it is not otherwise distinguished. As Þorleikr the Fair spoke:
Ok sem kvað Einarr skálaglamm:
And as Einarr skálaglamm spoke:
Svá kvað Einarr Skúlason:
Thus spoke Einarr Skúlason:
Ok enn sem hann kvað:
And again as he spoke:
Hér er gull kallat eldr áls hrynbrautar, en silfr snær skálanna. Svá kvað Þórðr Mæraskáld:
Here gold is called the fire of the eel's resounding-road [the sea], and silver the snow of the scales. Thus spoke Þórðr Mæraskáld:
Skaldic quotations
Bjarkamál (guldkenningar)
Gramr inn gjöflasti gæddi hirð sína Fenju forverki, Fáfnis Miðgarði, Glasis glóbarri, Grana fagrbyrði, Draupnis dýrsveita, dúni Grafvitnis.
The most generous prince enriched his retinue with Fenja's work [gold], Fáfnir's Miðgarðr [the serpent's abode], Glasir's glowing foliage, Grani's fair burden, Draupnir's precious sweat [the gold drops], the down of Grafvitnir [the serpent — gold].
Bjarkamál (guldkenningar)
Ýtti örr hilmir, aldir við tóku, Sifjar svarðfestum, svelli dalnauðar, tregum otrsgjöldum, tárum Mardallar, eldi Órunar, Iðja glysmálum.
The open-handed ruler dispensed — and men received — Sif's scalp-bonds [her golden hair], the ice of the arm [gold], the grievous otter-payment, Mardöll's [Freyja's] tears, the fire of Órun [the river], the glittering speech of Iði [the giant] — all gold.
Bjarkamál (guldkenningar)
Gladdi gunnveitir, gengum fagrbúnir, Þjaza þingskilum þjóðir hermargar, Rínar rauðmalmi, rógi Niflunga, vísi inn vígdjarfi. Varði hann Baldr þeygi.
The battle-granter gladdened — we went fair-arrayed — the numerous peoples with Þjazi's assembly-speech [gold], with the red metal of the Rhine, with the strife of the Niflungs, the battle-bold prince.
Þorleikr fagri (guld = digulfarmr, degelns last)
Kastar gramr á glæstar gegn valstöðvar þegnum, ungr vísi gefr eisu armleggs, digulfarmi.
The upright prince casts the crucible's cargo [gold] to the splendid men; the young prince gives the ember of the forearm [gold] to the men of the falcon-perch.
Einarr skálaglamm (guld = Rínar grjót, Rhens sten)
Liðbröndum kná Lundar landfrækn jöfurr granda. Hykka ek ræsis rekka Rínar grjót of þrjóta.
The land-valiant prince destroys the joint-brands [arm-rings, gold]; I do not think the Rhine's stones [gold] will run out for the prince's warriors.
Einarr Skúlason (guld = eldr, silver = snær)
Blóðeisu liggr bæði bjargs tveim megin geima sjóðs, á ek sökkva stríði, snær ok eldr, at mæra.
Both snow and fire [silver and gold] of the blood-ember's [gold's] purse lie on both sides of the sea; I have to praise the sinker of treasure [the generous prince].
Einarr Skúlason (guld = eldr áls hrynbrautar, silver = digulskafl)
Dægr þrymr hvert, en hjarta hlýrskildir ræðr mildu Heita blakks, of hvítum hafleygr digulskafli. Aldri má fyr eldi áls hrynbrautar skála, öll viðr folka fellir framræði snæ bræða.
Every day passes, and the generous heart of the cheek-shielder of Heiti's steed [the ship — the prince] rules over the sea-flame [gold] above the white crucible-drift [silver]; the snow of the eel's resounding-road [silver] can never melt before the fire [gold]; the feller of hosts furthers all boldness.
Þórðr Mæraskáld (guld = hrauns handa, handens lava)
Sér á seima rýri, sigðis látrs at átti, hrauns glaðsendir handa, Hermóðr föður góðan.
One sees in the diminisher of gold [the generous prince] — the glad-sender of the hand's lava [gold] — that Hermóðr had a good father.