Í þenna tíma bjó Hólmgöngu-Bersi í Saurboe á þeim boe er í Tungu
In this (Zoega or alternately “that” acc. Gordon) Dueling-Bersi lived at
(the) Muddy Farm at that farm which is called at (the) Tongue.

heitir. Hann ferr á fund Óláfs ok bauð Halldóri syni hans til fóstrs.
He went to a meeting (with) Olaf and offered to foster Halldor, his
(Olaf’s) son.

Þat þiggr Óláfr, ok ferr Halldórr heim með honum. Hann var þá
Olaf accepted it, and (he) took Halldor home with him. He (Halldorr)
was then

vetrgamall. Þat sumar tekr Bersi sótt ok liggr lengi sumars. Þat er
one year old. That summer Bersi took sick and lay (abed) a long time in
the summer. It is

sagt einn dag, er menn váru at heyvirki í Tungu, en þeir tveir inni,
said one day, when men were at making hay at Tunga, when they two were
inside,

Halldórr ok Bersi, lá Halldórr í vöggu. Þá fellr vaggan undir
Halldorr and Bersi, Halldorr lay in a cradle. Then (the) cradle fell
(out from?) under


sveininum ok hann ór vöggunni á gólfit. Þá mátti Bersi eigi til fara.
the boy and he (fell) out of the cradle to the floor. Then Bersi was
not able to go (to him?).

Þá kvað Bersi þetta:
Then Bersi said this:

'Liggjum báðir í lamasessi
“Both lie on the bench for the lame (?)

Halldórr ok ek, höfum engi þrek;
Halldorr and I, have no strength;

veldr elli mér en oeska þér,
old age is the cause for me, but youth for thee,

þess batnar þér, en þeygi mér.'
Of it you recover, but yet not me.”

Síðan koma menn ok taka Halldór upp af gólfinu; en Bersa batnar.
Then men come and take Halldor up from the floor, and (it) improves for
Bersi.

Grace

--

Fred & Grace Hatton
Hawley, Pa.