© Gunnar Tómasson

20 February 2017

Introduction

(Wikipedia)

Sonatorrek („the irreparable loss of sons“) is a skaldic poem in 25 stanzas by Egill Skallagrímsson (ca. 910–990). The work laments the death of two of the poet’s sons, Gunnar, who died of a fever, and Böðvarr, who drowned during a storm. It is preserved in a few manuscripts of Egils saga Skalla-Grímssonar, ch. 78. According to the saga, after Egill placed Böðvarr in the family burial mound, he locked himself in his bed-chamber, determined to starve himself to death. Egill’s daughter Thorgerd diverted him from this plan in part by convincing him to compose a memorial poem for Böðvarr, to be carved on a rune-staff.

***

I. Sonatorrek¹

(Egilssaga, Ch. 78)

1803203

    17813 = Böðvarr, sonr Egils, var þá frumvaxti.

25713 = Hann var inn efniligsti maðr, fríðr sýnum, mikill ok sterkr,

19535 = svá sem verit hafði Egill eða Þórólfr á hans aldri.

10358 = Egill unni honum mikit.

13607 = Var Böðvarr ok elskr at honum.

18005 = Þat var eitt sumar, at skip var í Hvítá,

12242 = ok var þar mikil kaupstefna.

21818 = Hafði Egill þar keypt við margan ok lét flytja heim á skipi.

23077 = Fóru húskarlar ok höfðu skip áttært, er Egill átti.

23201 = Þat var þá eitt sinn, at Böðvarr beiddist at fara með þeim,

12918 = ok þeir veittu honum þat.

16692 = Fór hann þá inn á Völlu með húskörlum.

16425 = Þeir váru sex saman á áttæru skipi.

20161 = Ok er þeir skyldu út fara, þá var flæðrin síð dags,

24818 = ok er þeir urðu hennar at bíða, þá fóru þeir um kveldit síð.

14539 = Þá hljóp á útsynningr steinóði,

16199 = en þar gekk í móti útfallsstraumr.

20864 = Gerði þá stórt á firðinum, sem þar kann oft verða.

17071 = Lauk þar svá, at skipit kafði undir þeim,

10743 = ok týndust þeir allir.

17148 = En eftir um daginn skaut upp líkunum.

13462 = Kom lík Böðvars inn í Einarsnes,

25304 = en sum kómu fyrir sunnan fjörðinn, ok rak þangat skipit.

13523 = Fannst þat inn við Reykjarhamar.

15130 = Þann dag spurði Egill þessi tíðendi,

12576 = ok þegar reið hann at leita líkanna.

11096 = Hann fann rétt lík Böðvars.

15973 = Tók hann þat upp ok setti í kné sér

19641 = ok reið með út í Digranes til haugs Skalla-Gríms.

9509 = Hann lét þá opna hauginn

15273 = ok lagði Böðvar þar niðr hjá Skalla-Grími.

13416 = Var síðan aftr lokinn haugrinn,

18566 = ok var eigi fyrr lokit en um dagsetrsskeið.

21492 = Eftir þat reið Egill heim til Borgar, ok er hann kom heim,

16481 = þá gekk hann þegar til lokrekkju þeirar,

10226 = er hann var vanr at sofa í.

16736 = Hann lagðist niðr ok skaut fyrir loku.

11480 = Engi þorði at krefja hann máls.

26679 = En svá er sagt, þá er þeir settu Böðvar niðr, at Egill var búinn:

13340 = Hosan var strengð fast at beini.

13819 = Hann hafði fustanskyrtil rauðan,

17790 = þröngvan upphlutinn ok láz at síðu.

17450 = En þat er sögn manna, at hann þrútnaði svá,

21079 = at kyrtillinn rifnaði af honum ok svá hosurnar.

20239 = En eftir um daginn lét Egill ekki upp lokrekkjuna.

11544 = Hann hafði þá ok engan mat né drykk.

14671 = Lá hann þar þann dag ok nóttina eftir.

11864 = Engi maðr þorði at mæla við hann.

15186 = En inn þriðja morgin, þegar er lýsti,

17056 = þá lét Ásgerðr skjóta hesti undir mann, –

17879 = reið sá sem ákafligast vestr í Hjarðarholt – ,

19348 = ok lét segja Þorgerði þessi tíðendi öll saman,

16487 = ok var þat um nónskeið, er hann kom þar.

19812 = Hann sagði ok þat með, at Ásgerðr hafði sent henni orð

15295 = at koma sem fyrst suðr til Borgar.

15575 = Þorgerðr lét þegar söðla sér hest,

11243 = ok fylgðu henni tveir menn.

14810 = Riðu þau um kveldit ok nóttina,

15057 = til þess er þau kómu til Borgar.

13884 = Gekk Þorgerðr þegar inn í eldahús.

13816 = Ásgerðr heilsaði henni ok spurði,

13836 = hvárt þau hefði náttverð etit.

9814 = Þorgerðr segir hátt:

10123 = „Engan hefi ek náttverð haft,

12888 = ok engan mun ek fyrr en at Freyju.

13694 = Kann ek mér eigi betri ráð en faðir minn.

17821 = Vil ek ekki lifa eftir föður minn ok bróður.”

13793 = Hon gekk at lokhvílunni ok kallaði:

10405 = „Faðir, lúk upp hurðinni,

11738 = vil ek, at vit farim eina leið bæði.”

12189 = Egill spretti frá lokunni.

26881 = Gekk Þorgerðr upp í hvílugólfit ok lét loku fyrir hurðina.

16663 = Lagðist hon niðr í aðra rekkju, er þar var.                                   (A = 1176599)

5677 = Þá mælti Egill:

22682 = „Vel gerðir þú, dóttir, er þú vill fylgja feðr þínum.

13720 = Mikla ást hefir þú sýnt við mik.

18183 = Hver ván er, at ek mun lifa vilja við harm þenna?”

10553 = Síðan þögðu þau um hríð.

5677 = Þá mælti Egill:

19073 = „Hvat er nú, dóttir, tyggr þú nú nökkut?”

9035 = „Tygg ek söl,” segir hon,

16647 = „því at ek ætla, at mér muni þá verra en áðr.

11876 = Ætla ek ella, at ek muna of lengi lifa.”

12183 = „Er þat illt manni?” segir Egill.

13215 = „Allillt,” segir hon, „villtu eta?”

10804 = „Hvat mun varða?” segir hann.

18230 = En stundu síðar kallaði hon ok bað gefa sér drekka.

14139 = Síðan var henni gefit vatn at drekka.

5677 = Þá mælti Egill:

24378 = „Slíkt gerir at, er sölin etr, þyrstir æ þess at meir.”

12628 = „Villtu drekka, faðir?” segir hon.

24379 = Hann tók við ok svalg stórum, ok var þat í dýrshorni.

8515 = Þá mælti Þorgerðr:

15658 = „Nú erum vit vélt.  Þetta er mjólk.”

24051 = Þá beit Egill skarð ór horninu, allt þat er tennr tóku,

10730 = ok kastaði horninu síðan.

8515 = Þá mælti Þorgerðr:

15810 = „Hvat skulum vit nú til ráðs taka?”

11266 = Lokit er nú þessi ætlan.

16202 = Nú vilda ek, faðir, at við lengðim líf okkart,

20548 = svá at þú mættir yrkja erfikvæði eftir Böðvar,

8636 = en ek mun rista á kefli,

15102 = en síðan deyjum vit, ef okkr sýnist.

26566 = Seint ætla ek Þorstein, son þinn, yrkja kvæðit eftir Böðvar,

14385 = en þat hlýðir eigi, at hann sé eigi erfðr,

25605 = því at eigi ætla ek okkr sitja at drykkjunni, at hann er erfðr.”

13837 = Egill segir, at þat var þá óvænt,

18544 = at hann myndi þá yrkja mega, þótt hann leitaði við, –

12965 = „en freista má ek þess,” segir hann.

15113 = Egill hafði þá átt son, er Gunnarr hét,

11952 = ok hafði sá ok andazt litlu áðr.

11522 = Ok er þetta upphaf kvæðis:

14939 = Mjök erum tregt tungu at hræra

11201 = eða loftvætt ljóðpundara.

13979 = Esa nú vænligt of Viðurs þýfi

    12207 = né hógdrægt ór hugarfylgsni.                   (B = + 626604)

1803203

I-A + III = 1176599 + 7572 = 1184171

ii. The Epistle Dedicatory

(First Folio, 1623)

1184171

      8208 = TO THE MOST NOBLE

13267 = AND INCOMPARABLE PAIRE OF BRETHREN

10897 = WILLIAM Earle of Pembroke,

100 = [&] c.

23572 = Lord Chamberlaine to the Kings most Excellent Maiesty.

12457 = AND PHILIP Earle of Montgomery,

100 = [&] c.

14413 = Gentleman of his Maiesties Bed-Chamber,

22026 = Both Knights of the most Noble Order of the Garter,

12835 = and our singular good LORDS.

7826 = Right Honourable,

25994 = Whilst we studie to be thankful in our particular,

22062 = for the many fauors we haue receiued from your L.L.

15163 = we are falne vpon the ill fortune,

23449 = to mingle two the most diuerse things that can bee,

7485 = feare, and rashnesse;

23489 = rashnesse in the enterprize, and feare of the successe.

23541 = For, when we valew the places your H.H. sustaine,

20442 = we cannot but know their dignity greater,

19953 = then to descend to the reading of these trifles:

13987 = and, while we name them trifles,

25700 = we haue depriu’d our selues of the defence of our Dedication.

14022 = But since your L.L. haue beene pleas’d

21688 = to thinke these trifles some-thing, emainse;

25557 = and haue prosequuted both them, and their Authour liuing,

17599 = with so much fauour: we hope, that

27770 = (they out-liuing him, and he not hauing the fate, common with some,

21390 = to be exequutor to his owne writings)

21711 = you will vse the like indulgence toward them,

14513 = you haue done vnto their parent.

10083 = There is a great difference,

23131 = whether any Booke choose his Patrones, or finde them:

8125 = This hath done both.

26340 = For, so much were your L.L. likings of the seuerall parts,

22932 = when they were acted, as before they were published,

12680 = the Volume ask’d to be yours.

21363 = We haue but collected them, and done an office to the dead,

16553 = to procure his Orphanes, Guardians;

22380 = without ambition either of selfe-profit, or fame:

20760 = onely to keepe the memory of so worthy a Friend, &

17475 = Fellow aliue, as was our SHAKESPEARE,

24877 = by humble offer of his playes, to your most noble patronage.

17511 = Wherein, as we haue justly obserued,

28933 = no man to come neere your L.L. but with a kind of religious addresse;

25208 = it hath bin the height of our care, who are the Presenters,

25744 = to make the present worthy of your H.H. by the perfection.

31596 = But, there we must also craue our abilities to be considerd, my Lords.

19548 = We cannot go beyond our owne powers.

29952 = Country hands reach foorth milke, creame, fruites, or what they haue:

20669 = and many Nations (we haue heard) that had not gummes &

22965 = incense, obtained their requests with a leauened Cake.

29471 = It was no fault to emains their Gods, by what meanes they could:

26494 = And the most, though meanest, of things are made more precious,

14733 = when they are dedicated to Temples.

27816 = In that name therefore, we most humbly consecrate to your H.H.

19643 = these emains of your seruant Shakespeare;

29906 = that what delight is in them, may be euer your L.L. the reputation his, &

23734 = the faults ours, if any be committed, by a payre so carefull

26463 = to shew their gratitude both to the liuing, and the dead, as is

15589 = Your Lordshippes most bounden,

4723 = IOHN HEMINGE.

      5558 = HENRY CONDELL.

1184171

INSERT

The Two Sons of Egill

  3665 = Böðvarr

6960 = Jarðlig Skilning – Earthly Understanding

4127 = Gunnarr

  5596 = Andlig Spekðin – Spiritual Wisdom

20348

Saga Myth

         1 = Monad

3045 = LOGOS

7154 = Askr Yggdrasils

10148 = Snorri fólgsnarjarl – Snorri hidden earl/Earl = Cosmic Procreative Tool

 20348

Shakespeare Myth

         1 = Monad

3045 = LOGOS

7154 = Askr Yggdrasils

6148 = Miranda

  4000 = Flaming Sword – Cosmic Creative Power

20348

Loss of Two Sons

Advent of Cosmic Consciousness

a.k.a. William Shakespeare

  1000 = FIRE of SPIRIT

10026 = Will Shakspere, gent.

  9322 = William Shakespeare

20348

END INSERT

III. Advent of Cosmic Consciousness

(Saga Myth)

7572

My Dumb Man

 7141 = Þórir jökull

6960 = Jarðlig Skilning – Earthly Understanding

-5596 = Andlig Spekðin – Spiritual Wisdom

Advent of Cosmic Consciousness

2859 = KJÖLR

4000 = Flaming Sword – Cosmic Creative Power

Drowning/Death of Two Sons

-3665 = Böðvarr

-4127 = Gunnarr

 7572

I-B = 626604 = IV

IV.  Overcoming the Grave‘s Dark Dominion

(Augustan-Saga-Shakespeare Myth)

626604

The Holy Sepulchre

    5979 = Girth House – Circular Stone Church, Orkney Islands

-1000 = Darkness

The Gods today Stand Friendly

(Julius Cæsar, Act V, Sc. i – First Folio)

            Cassius

12879 = Now most Noble Brutus,

17568 = The gods today stand friendly, that we may,

15686 = Louers in peace, leade on our dayes to age!

23178 = But since the affayres of men rests still incertaine,

21190 = Let’s reason with the worst that may befall.

17931 = If we do lose this Battaile, then is this

19984 = The very last time we shall speake together:

15404 = What are you then determined to do?

            Brutus

15472 = Euen by the rule of that Philosophy,

14051 = By which I did blame Cato, for the death

19501 = Which he did giue himselfe, I know not how:

14406 = But I do finde it Cowardly, and vile,

19113 = For feare of what might fall, so to preuent

19095 = The time of life, arming my selfe with patience,

20623 = To stay the prouidence of some high Powers,

11326 = That gouerne vs below.

            Cassius

13765 = Then, if we loose this battaile,

16527 = You are contented to be led in Triumph

14976 = Thorow the streets of Rome.

            Brutus

7042 = No, Cassius, no:

13000 = Thinke not thou Noble Romane,

19844 = That euer Brutus will go bound to Rome,

16711 = He beares too great a minde.  But this same day

19149 = Must end that work the Ides of March begun.

20191 = And whether we shall meete againe, I know not:

19155 = Therefore our euerlasting farewell take:

17976 = For euer, and for euer, farewell Cassius,

17336 = If we do meete againe, why we shall smile;

21165 = If not, why then, this parting was well made.

            Cassius

18046 = For euer, and for euer, farewell, Brutus:

14916 = If we do meete againe, wee’l smile indeed;

21535 = If not, ’tis true, this parting was well made.

            Brutus

17661 = Why then leade on.  O that a man might know

17668 = The end of this dayes businesse, ere it come:

17050 = But it sufficeth, that the day will end,

  20505 = And then the end is knowne.  Come ho, away.   Exeunt.

626604

IV + VI = 626604 + 32329 = 658933

V. Man, Wretched Man, Thou Shalt Be Taught

Transl. By Nicholas Rowe, Poet Laureate and

First Biographer of “Shakspere“

(The Golden Verse of Pythagoras, 1707)

658933

  22268 = Man, wretched Man, thou shalt be taught to know,

23953 = Who bears within himself the inborn Cause of Woe.

16941 = Unhappy Race!  that never yet could tell

20275 = How near their Good and Happiness they dwell.

17740 = Depriv’d of Sense, they neither hear nor see;

16072 = Fetter’d in Vice, they seek not to be free,

17950 = But stupid to their own sad Fate agree.

25196 = Like pond’rous Rolling-stones, oppress’d with Ill,

21053 = The Weight that loads ’em makes ’em roll on still,

15792 = Bereft of Choice, and Freedom of the Will.

18066 = For native Strife in ev’ry Bosom reigns,

17850 = And secretly an impious War maintains:

19029 = Provoke not THIS, but let the Combat cease,

16118 = And ev’ry yielding Passion sue for Peace.

23006 = Wouldst thou, great Jove, thou Father of Mankind,

16365 = Reveal the Demon for that Task assign’d,

20915 = The wretched Race an End to Woes would find.

13682 = And yet be bold, O Man, Divine thou art,

15669 = And of the Gods Celestial Essence Part.

16846 = Nor sacred Nature is from thee conceal’d,

18826 = But to thy Race her mystick Rules reveal’d.

17583 = These if to know thou happily attain,

19994 = Soon shalt thou perfect be in all that I ordain.

23807 = Thy wounded Soul to Health thou shalt restore,

14688 = And free from ev’ry Pain she felt before.

18437 = Abstain, I warn, from Meats unclean and foul,

16826 = So keep thy Body pure, so free thy Soul;

17633 = So rightly judge; thy Reason, so, maintain;

18256 = Reason which Heav’n did for thy Guide ordain,

16921 = Let that best Reason ever hold the Rein.

16695 = Then if this mortal Body thou forsake,

16669 = And thy glad Flight to the pure Æther take,

17175 = Among the Gods exalted shalt thou shine,

14884 = Immortal, Incorruptible, Divine:

19453 = The Tyrant Death securely shalt thou brave,

  16300 = And scorn the dark Dominion of the Grave.

658933

VI. How Shakspere Shall be Taught:

Jacob‘s Ladder²

(Ancient Creation Myth)

32329

Shakspere‘s Baptismal Name

17252 = Gulielmus filius Johannes Shakspere

Jacob‘s Ladder

  5015 = Eight Natural Notes, Descending

5015 = Eight Natural Notes, Ascending

Shakspere‘s Burial Name

10026 = Will Shakspere, gent.

Lesson Learned

  1000 = LIGHT

Grave‘s Dominion Scorned

The Holy Sepulchre

 -5979 = Girth House – Circular Stone Church, Orkney Islands

32329

***

Calculator for converting letters to cipher values is at:

http://www.light-of-truth.com/ciphersaga.htm

¹Sonatorrek – Translation

(Internet)

Bodvar Egil’s son was just now growing up; he was a youth of great promise, handsome, tall and strong as had been Egil or Thorolf at his age. Egil loved him dearly, and Bodvar was very fond of his father.

One summer it happened that there was a ship in White-river, and a great fair was held there. Egil had there bought much wood, which he was having conveyed home by water: for this his house-carles went, taking with them an eight-oared boat belonging to Egil. It chanced one time that Bodvar begged to go with them, and they allowed him so to do. So he went into the field with the house-carles. They were six in all on the eight-oared boat. And when they had to go out again, high-water was late in the day, and, as they must needs wait for the turn of tide, they did not start till late in the evening. Then came on a violent south-west gale, against which ran the stream of the ebb. This made a rough sea in the firth, as can often happen. The end was that the boat sank under them, and all were lost.

The next day the bodies were cast up: Bodvar’s body came on shore at Einars-ness, but some came in on the south shore of the firth, whither also the boat was driven, being found far in near Reykjarhamar.

Egil heard these tidings that same day, and at once rode to seek the bodies: he found Bodvar’s, took it up and set it on his knees, and rode with it out to Digra-ness, to Skallagrim’s mound. Then he had the mound opened, and laid Bodvar down there by Skallagrim. After which the mound was closed again; this task was not finished till about nightfall. Egil then rode home to Borg, and, when he came home, he went at once to the locked bed-closet in which he was wont to sleep. He lay down, and shut himself in, none daring to crave speech of him.

It is said that when they laid Bodvar in earth Egil was thus dressed: his hose were tight-fitting to his legs, he wore a red kirtle of fustian, closely-fitting, and laced at the sides: but they say that his muscles so swelled with his exertion that the kirtle was rent off him, as were also the hose.

On the next day Egil still did not open the bed-closet: he had no meat or drink: there he lay for that day and the following night, no man daring to speak with him.

But on the third morning, as soon as it was light, Asgerdr had a man set on horseback, who rode as hard as he could westwards to Hjardarholt, and told Thorgerdr all these tidings; it was about nones when he got there. He said also that Asgerdr had sent her word to come without delay southwards to Borg. Thorgerdr at once bade them saddle her a horse, and two men attended her. They rode that evening and through the night till they came to Borg. Thorgerdr went at once into the hall. Asgerdr greeted her, and asked whether they had eaten supper. Thorgerdr said aloud, ‘No supper have I had, and none will I have till I sup with Freyja. I can do no better than does my father: I will not overlive my father and brother.’ She then went to the bed-closet and called, ‘Father, open the door! I will that we both travel the same road.’ Egil undid the lock. Thorgerdr stepped up into the bed-closet, and locked the door again, and lay down on another bed that was there.

Then said Egil, ‘You do well, daughter, in that you will follow your father. Great love have you shown to me. What hope is there that I shall wish to live with this grief?’ After this they were silent awhile. Then Egil spoke: ‘What is it now, daughter? You are chewing something, are you not?’ ‘I am chewing samphire,’ said she, ‘because I think it will do me harm. Otherwise I think I may live too long.’ ‘Is samphire bad for man?’ said Egil. ‘Very bad,’ said she; ‘will you eat some?’ ‘Why should I not?’ said he. A little while after she called and bade them give her drink. Water was brought to her. Then said Egil, ‘This comes of eating samphire, one ever thirsts the more.’ ‘Would you like a drink, father?’ said she. He took and swallowed the liquid in a deep draught: it was in a horn. Then said Thorgerdr: ‘Now are we deceived; this is milk.’ Whereat Egil bit a sherd out of the horn, all that his teeth gripped, and cast the horn down.

Then spoke Thorgerdr: ‘What counsel shall we take now? This our purpose is defeated. Now I would fain, father, that we should lengthen our lives, so that you may compose a funeral poem on Bodvar, and I will grave it on a wooden roller; after that we can die, if we like. Hardly, I think, can Thorstein your son compose a poem on Bodvar; but it were unseemly that he should not have funeral rites. Though I do not think that we two shall sit at the drinking when the funeral feast is held.’ Egil said that it was not to be expected that he could now compose, though he were to attempt it. ‘However, I will try this,’ said he.

Egil had had another son named Gunnar, who had died a short time before.

So then Egil began the poem, and this is the beginning. [Translation of four-line verse omitted.]

²Description of Jacob’s Ladder

(Genesis 28:10-19)

Jacob left Beersheba, and went toward Haran. He came to the place and stayed there that night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! And behold, the Lord stood above it [or „beside him“] and said, „I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your descendants; and your descendants shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and by you and your descendants shall all the families of the earth bless themselves. Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done that of which I have spoken to you.“ Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, „Surely the Lord is in this place; and I did not know it.“ And he was afraid, and said, „This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.

Afterwards, Jacob names the place, „Bethel“ (literally, „House of God“).

NB. In the Latin version of Gen. 28:17, Jacob, on awakening, says:

Terribilis est locus iste. (This place is dreadful.)

The Cipher Value of the phrase is 13561.

As in second Dedication of The First Folio of 1623:

 13561 = To the great Variety of Readers.