"Þú munt ráða ferðum þínum Bolli," segir konungur, "því að þér eruð um flest einráðir Íslendingar.

You would decide (to make) your travels, Bolli,” says the king, “because you are the most self-willed Icelander.

 

En þó mun eg því orði á lúka að mér þykir þú Bolli hafa komið merkilegastur maður af Íslandi um mína daga.”

And yet I will end the talk (by saying) that it seems to me you, Bolli, have come (as) the most remarkable man from Iceland during my days.”

 

Og er Bolli hafði fengið orlof af konungi þá býst hann til ferðar og gekk á kugg einn er ætlaði suður til Danmerkur.

And when Bolli had taken leave from the king, he then got ready to travel and went to a large foreign merchant ship which was planning to go south to Denmark. (Bolli wisely having skipped over the ships intending to go east, west, or north to Denmark.)

 

Hann hafði og mikið fé með sér.

He also head much money with him.

 

Fóru og nokkurir menn með honum af hans förunautum.

Some men also went with him from his crew.

 

Skildust þeir Ólafur konungur með mikilli vináttu.

They, (Bolli and) King Olafr, parted with much friendship.

 

Veitti konungur Bolla góðar gjafar að skilnaði.

The king gave Bolli good gifts at (their) parting.

 

Þorleikur var þá eftir með Ólafi konungi.

Thorleikr then remained with King Olafr.  (Z. vera 10 – vera eptir – to be left, remain)

 

En Bolli fór ferðar sinnar þar til er hann kemur suður til Danmerkur.

And Bolli made his trip there to where he came south to Denmark. (Arriving at destination on left.)

 

Hann er þar um veturinn í Danmörku og fékk þar mikinn sóma af ríkum mönnum.

He stays there during the winter in Denmark and got there much honor from powerful men.

 

Hann hélt sig og þar að engu óríkmannlegar en þá er hann var í Noregi.

He comported himself there to no parsimonious (my guess, as the word looks like “un-rich-man”) than when he was in Norway.   (Z halda 5 - h. sik, to comport oneself)

 

Og er Bolli hafði verið einn vetur í Danmörku þá byrjar hann ferð sína út í lönd og léttir eigi fyrr ferðinni en hann kemur út í Miklagarð.

And when Boll had stayed there one winter in Denmark, then he got a wind for his journey out of the country and doesn’t stop his journey before he arrives out in Constantinople.

 

Hann var litla hríð þar áður hann kom sér í Væringjasetu.

He was there little time before he himself came into the guard of the Vaerings.

 

Höfum vér ekki heyrt frásagnir að neinn Norðmaður hafi fyrr gengið á mála með Garðskonungi en Bolli Bollason.

We have never heard the accounts that any Norwegian has previously gone in the pay with the King’s Guard than Bolli Bollason.

 

Var hann í Miklagarði mjög marga vetur og þótti hinn hraustasti maður í öllum mannraunum og gekk jafnan næst hinum fremstum.

He was in Constantinople many a year and he was thought the most most valiant man in all dangers and (he) went even the next step further.

 

Þótti Væringjum mikils vert um Bolla meðan hann var í Miklagarði.

The Vaerings thought the world of Bolli while he was in Constantinople.     (Z. verðr 1 - svá þótti honum mikils um vert, he took it so much to heart)

 

74. kafli

Utanferð Þorkels

Thorkel’s journey abroad

 

Nú er þar til máls að taka að Þorkell Eyjólfsson situr í búi sínu og í höfðingsskap sínum.

Now it must be told that Thorkell Eyholfson resides at his farm on in his leadersip.

 

Gellir son þeirra Guðrúnar óx upp heima þar.

Their, Gudrun’s (and his), son Gellir grew up and home there.

 

Hann var snemma drengilegur maður og vinsæll.

He was soon a most valiant and popular man.

 

Það er sagt eitt sinn að Þorkell sagði Guðrúnu draum sinn.

It is said one time that Thorkell told Gudrun his dream.

 

"Það dreymdi mig," segir hann, "að eg þóttist eiga skegg svo mikið að tæki um allan Breiðafjörð.”

“I dreamed (literally, ‘It dreamed me’),” he says, “that it seemed to me I had a beard so large to take hold of all Broad-fiord.”

 

Þorkell bað hana ráða drauminn.

Thorkel hasked her to advise about the dream.

 

Guðrún spurði: "Hvað ætlar þú þenna draum þýða?"

Gudrun asked: “How do you intend to interpret this dream?”

 

"Auðsætt þykir mér það að þar mun standa ríki mitt um allan Breiðafjörð.”

“It seems clear to me that my power will endure all around Broad-fiord.”