Christ is periphrased as creator of heaven and earth, king of the angels and the sun, ruler of Jerusalem, Jordan and Greece. Ten verse examples from Christian skalds (Eilífr Guðrúnarson, Skafti, Markús, Sighvatr, Arnórr, Einarr Skúlason); one syncretistically places Christ at Urðarbrunnr and Rome.
Hvernig skal Krist kenna? Svá, at kalla hann skapara himins ok jarðar, engla ok sólar, stýranda heims ok himinríkis ok engla, konung himna ok sólar ok engla ok Jórsala ok Jórdánar ok Gríklands, ráðandi postula ok heilagra manna. Forn skáld hafa kennt hann við Urðarbrunn ok Róm, sem kvað Eilífr Guðrúnarson:
How shall Christ be periphrased? Thus: by calling him creator of heaven and earth, of angels and the sun, ruler of the world and of the heavenly kingdom and of angels, king of the heavens and of the sun and of angels and of Jerusalem and Jordan and Greece, governor of the apostles and holy men. Ancient skalds have periphrased him by Urðarbrunnr and Rome, as Eilífr Guðrúnarson spoke:
Svá kvað Skafti Þóroddsson:
Thus spoke Skafti Þóroddsson:
Himna konungr, sem Markús kvað:
King of the heavens, as Markús spoke:
Svá kvað Eilifr kúlnasveinn:
Thus spoke Eilífr kúlnasveinn:
Máríu sonr, enn sem Eilífr kvað:
Son of Mary, again as Eilífr spoke:
Engla konungr, enn sem Eilífr kvað:
King of angels, again as Eilífr spoke:
Jórdánar konungr, sem kvað Sighvatr:
King of Jordan, as Sighvatr spoke:
Grikkja konungr, sem Arnórr kvað:
King of the Greeks, as Arnórr spoke:
Svá kvað Eilífr kúlnasveinn:
Thus spoke Eilífr kúlnasveinn:
Hér kallaði hann fyrst Krist konung manna ok annat sinn alls konung. Enn kvað Einarr Skúlason:
Here he first called Christ king of men and the second time king of all. Again Einarr Skúlason spoke:
Skaldic quotations
Eilífr Guðrúnarson (Krist vid Urðarbrunnr och Rom)
Setbergs, kveða sitja sunnr at Urðarbrunni, svá hefir rammr konungr remmðan Róms banda sig löndum.
They say that the mighty king [Christ] sits south at Urðarbrunnr; so has he strengthened himself ... with the gods' [bonds] in the lands of Rome.
Skafti Þóroddsson (Krist = munka dróttinn, munkarnas herre)
Máttr er munka dróttins mestr, aflar goð flestu. Kristr skóp ríkr ok reisti Rúms höll veröld alla.
The might of the lord of monks [Christ] is greatest; God accomplishes most. Mighty Christ shaped and raised the hall of Rome [and] all the world.
Markús Skeggjason (Krist = himna konungr, himlarnas konung)
Gramr skóp grund ok himna glyggranns sem her dyggvan, einn stillir má öllu aldar Kristr of valda.
The prince [Christ] shaped the earth and the heavens and the worthy host [of men], as [he shaped] the storm-house [the sky]; the one ruler, Christ, may rule over all.
Eilífr kúlnasveinn (Krist = sólkonungr, solkonung)
Hróts lýtr helgum krúzi heims ferð ok lið beima. Sönn er en öll dýrð önnur einn sólkonungr hreinni.
The company of the world and the host of men bow to the holy cross of the roof of heaven. All other glory is [less]; the one purer sun-king [Christ] is true.
Eilífr kúlnasveinn (Krist = Máríu sonr, Marías son)
Hirð lýtr himna, dýrðar, hvein Máríu sveini, mátt vinnr mildingr dróttar, maðr er hann ok goð, sannan.
The retinue of the heavens bows to Mary's boy [Christ] in glory; the generous one of the host works true might — he is both man and God.
Eilífr kúlnasveinn (Krist = engla gramr, änglarnas furste)
Máttr er en menn of hyggi mætr goðs vinar betri. Þó er engla gramr öllu örr helgari ok dýrri.
The might of God's precious friend [Christ] is better than men can conceive. Yet the prince of angels [Christ] is far holier and more precious than all.
Sighvatr Þórðarson (Krist = Jórdánar konungr, Jordans konung)
Endr réð engla senda Jórdánar gramr fjóra, fors þó hans á hersi heilagt skoft, ór lofti.
The king of Jordan [Christ] once sent four angels; his holy [power] poured from the sky down upon the hersir.
Arnórr jarlaskáld (Krist = Grikkja vörðr, grekernas väktare)
Bænir hefi ek fyr beini bragna falls við snjallan Grikkja vörð ok Garða. Gjöf launak svá jöfri.
I have prayers for the passage of the fall of men [the slain] with the valiant guardian of Greece and Garðar [Christ]. Thus I repay the prince for his gift.
Eilífr kúlnasveinn (Krist = alls konungr, allas konung)
Himins dýrð lofar hölða, hann er alls konungr, stilli.
The glory of heaven [Christ] praises men's ruler; he is king of all.
Einarr Skúlason (Krist = alls heims umgeypnandi, allvärldens omslutare)
Lét, sá er landfolks gætir, líknbjartr himinríki umgeypnandi opna alls heims fyr gram snjöllum.
He who guards the land-folk, mercy-bright, the encompasser of all the world [Christ], let the heavenly kingdom be opened before the valiant prince.