Kømr nú þessi fregn fyrir Hrólf konung ok kappa hans upp í
kastalann,
News of this now came to King Hrolf and his champions up
in the castle,
at maðr mikilúðligr sé kominn til hallarinnar ok hafi drepit
einn hirðmann hans,
that a man of imposing appearance had come to the
hall and killed one of his retainers,
ok vildu þeir láta drepa manninn. Hrólf konungr spurðisk
eptir,
and they wanted to have the man killed. Kinf Hrolf
enquired about this,
hvárt hirðmaðrinn hefði verit saklauss drepinn. 'Ðví var
næsta' sogðu þeir.
had the retainer who was killed, been guiltless? 'It was
very close to this' they said
Kómusk þá fyrir Hrólf konung öll sannindi hér um. Hrólf
konungr sagði þat skyldu fjarri, at drepa skyldi mannin -
Then all the truth concerning this came before the king.
King Hrolf said that they should be far from this, that the man should be
killed -
'Hafi þit hér illan vanda upp tekit, at berja saklausa menn
beinum; er mér í því óvirðing,
You two have taken up a bad practice, to strike innocent
men with bones; there is disgrace for me in this,
en yðr stórr skömm, at gøra slíkt. Hefi ek jafnan rtt um
þetta aðr,
and great shame on you, to do such a thing. I have always
spoken about this before,
ok hafi þit at þessu engan gaum gefit, ok hygg ek at þessi
maðr muni ekki alllítill fyrir sér,
and you have given no heed to this, and I think that this
man will not be a weakling
er þér hafið nú á leitat; ok kallið hann til mín svá at ek
viti hverr hann er.'
who you have attacked; and now call him to me so that I
may know who he is'.
Böðvarr gengr fyrir konung ok kveð hann kurteisliga. Konung spyrr
hann at nafni.
Bothvarr went before the king and greeted him courteously. The king
asked him his name.
'Hattargriða kalla mik hirðmenn yðar, en Böðvarr heiti ek.' Konungr
mælti,
'Hott's Protector your retainers call me, but my name is Bothvarr.' The
king said.
'Hverjar btr viltu bjóða mér fyrir hirðmann minn?' Boðvarr segir, 'Til
þess gørði hann, sem hann fekk.'
'What recompense will you offer me for my retainer?' Bothvar
said, ' He deserved what he got.'
Konungr mælti, 'Viltu vera minn maðr ok skipa rúm hans?' Boðvarr
segir,
The king said, ' Will you be my man and take his place?' Bothvar
said,
'Ekki neita ek at vera ýðar maðr, ok munu vit ekki skiljask svá búit, vit
Höttr,
'I do no not refuse to be your man, but as things are, we will not be
parted, Hott and I,
ok dveljask nær þér báðir, heldr en þessi hefir setit; elligar vit
förum brott baðir.'
and will stay nearer to you more than this one was placed,
otherwise we both go
away.'
Konungr mælti, ''Eigi sé ek at honum smd, en ek spara ekki mat við
hann,'
The king said, 'I see no honour in him, but I will not grudge him
food.'