Note 278 — Chapter XXIII · IDRÓTTIR.—POETRY OR SCALDSHIP, MUSIC AND MENTAL EXERCISES.
Reading edition
Skaldskap = scald-ship, derived from skald, a poet.
The leading poets were:—
Bragi Boddason the old (about 800). The earliest who appears within historical periods.
Thjodolf of Hvin and Thorbjörn Hornklofi, Harald Fairhair’s scalds.
Eyvind Skaldaspillir, Hakon the Good’s greatest poet.
Egil Skallagrimsson.
Kormak Ogmundsson, famous for love songs.
Hallfred Vandrœdaskald, the troublesome scald, Olaf Tryggvason’s greatest poet.
Sighvat Thordarson, St. Olaf’s greatest scald.
Thjodolf Arnorsson, Harald Hardradi’s scald.
The scalds who made songs on Knut the Great were: Thord Kolbeinsson, Sighvat Thordarson, Ottar the black, Thorarin Loftunga (praise-tongue), Hallvard Harekublesi, Bersi Skaldtorfuson.
The greatest masterpiece of scaldic art was composed in 1222–23 by Snorri Sturluson on Hakon Hakonsson, King of Norway, and the jarl Skuli, Bard’s son. Hattatal (the list of metres) is its title, and of the 102 strophes each one is in a different metre.