Mangt er sagt um Magnus konga

Abstract

Among the Faroese ballads printed in CORPUS CARMINUM FÆROENSIUM, type 31 Margretu kvæði, or Magnus kongur í Noregi, is represented by two variants (A, B), both from the island of Suðuroy. The ballad was also recorded in Iceland as early as the 17th century (cf ÍFkv 14 and TSB D 94 Margretar kvæði — Sister raped by brother is punished by father). However, even though it was first recorded in Iceland, the Icelandic ballad scholar Vesteinn Ólason believes it to be originally from the Faroes. In my paper anothcr three Faroese variants (C, D, and E) are published for the first time. Variant C was found in a MS from the village Kirkjubøur on the island of Streymoy, while D and E were recorded on Suðuroy. Of special interest is the last stanza (35) of variant E because it declares the foregoing ballad story as false. The aim of this paper is (1) to publish the new variants together with some information and comments about them and the already printed variants, (2) to say something
about the relationship among the five Faroese variants, and (3) to explain the nature of the above-mentioned last stanza of the E-text. In my opinion, it represents a secondary element of fairly recent date, created probably in the context of the dance by a competing or jesting participant more to tease the ballad performer (Far. skipari) than to discredit the ballad itself.