Hi Sarah!
Your translation looks fine to me.
Though I only read through it rather quickly,
there were no obvious errors that I could detect.
(which in no way is a guarantee, since I am only
beginning to learn myself)



-- In norse_course@yahoogroups.com, "Sarah Bowen" <sarahbowen@...> wrote:

> Hello!
>
> Can anyone tell me the significance (if any) of Hrafnkel wearing

blue when he goes out to confront Einar?

> Thanks.

The blue clothing has something to do with revenge.
Actually the "blár" may equally well be read as
the black color. Negroes, for example, were called
"blámenn" by Snorri.

The blue-black dress may perhaps be compared to
a similar dress-code we use today on some special
occasions, such as college graduation or weddings.
(or better: judges wearing black)

Later in Hrafnkells saga, there are described other
customs that may perhaps be seen as belonginging
to a similar catgory, such as the description of
the excecution of the féransdómr.

In the Gísla saga Súrssonar, you can read in Ch. 16:

" Hann tekr spjótit Grásíðu úr örkinni ok er í kápu blárri
ok skyrtu og í línbrókum "
And a few paragraphs later:
" Nú kallar hún Þórdís og mælti: "Vaki menn í skálanum,
Þorgrímur er veginn, bóndi minn."


There are other examples of the same in other sagas as well.
Here from the Bjarnar saga Hítdælakappa:

" Hann þóttisk vita at Þórður mundi vera ok menn með honum. Sjá
þóttisk hann sex menn. Björn bjósk at verja sik ef þyrfti. Hann var í
blárri kápu og gyrti hann at utan og brá síðan sverðinu. Hann hafði
spjót í hendi haft og sendir þat fram í veginn þegar hann kom í
skotfæri við þá ok vart þar fyrir maðr er Steinn hét ok var
Guðbrandsson ok stóð í gegnum hann ok fékk þegar bana. "


Best regards
Xigung

> Here's my translation attempt...
>
> 'Hvat mun garprinn vilja, er hann er heim kominn?'
> What is the champion doing coming home?
> segir Hrafnkell. 'Eigi mun þat góðu gegna.'
> asks Hrafnkel. This does not look good.
>
> Síðan gekk hann út ok sér Freyfaxa ok mælti við hann:
> Then he goes out and sees Freyfaxi and says to him
> 'Illa þykkir mér, at þú ert þann veg til gõrr, fóstri minn,
> I think it's bad that you've been treated this way, my fosterling,
> en heima hafðir þú vit þitt, er þú sagðir mér til,
> but you had your wits (about you) when you told me (this) at home
> ok skal þessa hefnt verða. Far þú til liðs þíns.'
> and this shall be avenged. Go back to your herd.
>
> En hann gekk þegar upp eptir dalnum til stóðs síns.
> And then he went back up the valley to his stud.
>
> Hrafnkell ferr í rekkju sína um kveldit
> Hrafnkel went to bed in the evening
> ok svaf af um nóttina.
> and slept through the night.
> En um morguninn lét hann taka sér hest
> And in the morning he had a horse brought to him
> ok leggja á sõðul ok ríðr upp til sels.
> and saddled and he rode up to the shieling.
> Hann ríðr í blám klæðum.
> He rode dressed in blue.
> Øxi hafði hann í hendi, en ekki fleira vápna.
> He had an axe in his hand, but no other weapons.
> Þá hafði Einarr nýrekit fé í kvíar.
> Einar had just herded the sheep into the fold.
> Hann lá á kvíagarðinum ok talði fé,
> He leant on the wall of the sheepfold and was counting the flock,
> en konur váru at mjólka.
> and the women were doing the milking.
>
> Þau heilsuðu honum.
> They greeted him.
>
> Hann spurði, hversu þeim fori (foeri) at.
> He asked them how they were.
>
> Einarr svarar: 'Illa hefir mér at farit,
> Einar replied: Things have gone badly for me,
> því at vant varð þriggja tiga ásauðar nær viku,
> for 30 ewes went missing for nearly a week,
> en nú er fundinn.'
> but now they've been found.
>
> Hann kvazk ekki at slíku telja.
> He said not to talk of such things.
> 'Eða hefir ekki verr at farit?
> Rather hasn't something worse happened?
> Hefir þat ok ekki svá opt til borit sem ván hefir at verit,
> It hasn't happened as often as was to be expected,
> at fjárins hafi vant verit.
> that the sheep have gone missing.
> En hefir þú ekki nõkkut riðit Freyfaxa mínum hinn fyrra dag?'
> And did you not ride my Freyfaxi for a while the other day?
>
> Hann kvezk eigi þræta þess mega.
> He said he could not deny it.
>
> Hrafnkell svarar: 'Fyrir hví reiztu þessu hrossi,
> Hrafnkel replied: What did you ride this horse for,
> er þér var bannat, þar er hin váru nóg til,
> which you were forbidden to, when there were some others around
> er þér var lofat?
> who you were allowed (to ride)?
> Þar munda ek hafa gefit þér upp eina sõk,
> I would not press charges against you,
> ef ek hefða eigi svá mikit um mælt,
> if I had not stressed this so much,
> en þó hefir þú vel við gengit.'
> even though you have freely confessed to (it).
>
> Now I've done mine, I shall read what the others made of it and

learn from you!!

>
> Cheers,
> Sarah.