meaning, viz.: “lacking confidence, without anyone or anything to rely upon." Nor does “tråƫəlȯs” agree well phonetically with “traustlauss”. Notwithstanding phonetic difficulties, the most reasonable explanation seems to be “*trygðalauss”, faithless, unreliable, from O.N. trygðar, trygðir, f. pl., safe conditions. This definition suits logically, and is the expression to be expected. “*trygðalauss” would normally have become *trødelos, *trødjelos, in Shetland Norn, but the preceding line gives the combination trott se [tråt ᶊə], which may quite probably have influenced the sound of a following *trød(j)elos, changing the word by assimilation to trott(j)elos and trots(j)elos. Moreover, a development ð > d > t is not without parallel in Shetland Norn.
Having regard to this definition, Jonsa trottelos may be a “‘yon’ (hon?) er svá trygðalaus”, she (she there) is so faithless, in which case, the words contain the crab’s opinion of the crow, and constitute the reason for her refusing the invitation.
Riddles.
A riddle from Unst, noted down by John Irvine in Lerwick, dictated by an Unst-man. Comparatively well preserved.
einn eptir drallar ok optast óhreinn.Førə hoŋgə, førə gɔŋgə,
førə stad əpo skø̄,
twa vɩstrə vegəbi
and en comes atə drɩᶅandɩ.
The original form is probably:
einn eptir drallar ok optast óhreinn.Fjórir hanga, fjórir ganga,
fjórir standa upp á ský,
(tveir) vísa veg í bý
(ok) einn (kemr) aptan drallandi.
(Solution: the cow — four teats, four legs; ears and horns: four; two eyes, one tail.)
Cf. Gest the Blind’s riddle about the cow (in Hervarar Saga):
Fjórir ganga, fjórir hanga,
tveir veg vísa,
tveir hundum verja,
einn eptir drallar ok optast óhreinn.
From Fetlar comes a corrupted variant of the above-mentioned riddle from Unst.
einn eptir drallar ok optast óhreinn.Twa standən opa skø̄,
twa vegəbi, four hɔŋga,
four gɔŋga, etom ȯita drȯita.
