• you ask if "sé" is a form of "vera".  Yes, it is.  It's the 3rd person singular present subjunctive!  I believe the subjunctive is used more in reported speech, or when things are alleged to be the case, or where there is generally some doubt about the action.

• ok vildu þeir láta drepa manninn                              and they wanted to be allowed to kill the man          Well, that's exactly how I wanted to translate this bit but I was told 'láta' does not convey such an active sense.  It is more they wanted to have the man killed.  A minor nuance to me, but there you go!

----- Original Message -----

From: Laurel Bradshaw

To: norse_course@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Wednesday, July 09, 2003 11:32 PM

Subject: Re: [norse_course] Bodvar meets King Hrolf, lines 49-71/Laurel's attempt

Bøðvarr meets King Hrólfr

Kømr nú þessi fregn fyrir Hrólf konung ok kappa hans upp í kastalann,

Comes - now - this - news/information - before/in front of - Hrolfr - king - and - champions - his - up - in/within - the castle,

This news now came to the ears of King Hrolf and his champions up in the castle,

------------------------------

at maðr mikilúðligr sé kominn til hallarinnar ok hafi drepit einn hirðmann hans,

how - a man - most imposing - was [from vera?] - come - to - the hall - and - had - killed - one - retainer - of his,

how a most imposing man had come to the hall and had killed one of his retainers,

-------------------------

ok vildu þeir láta drepa manninn.

and - wanted/intended - they - to let/allow/cause - to smite - the man.

and they wanted to be allowed to kill the man.

-------------------------

Hrólfr konungr spurðisk eptir, hvárt hirðmaðrinn hefði verit saklauss drepinn.

Hrolfr - king - inquired - after, whether - the retainer - had - been - innocent/guiltless - the killing.

King Hrolf asked whether the retainer had been guiltless in the killing.

--------------------------

“Því var næsta”, sơgðu þeir.

such - was - nearly, said - they.

"It was almost so," they said.

---------------------------

Kómusk þá fyrir Hrólf konung ơll sannindi hér um.

arrived - then - before - Hrolf - king - all - truth (pl.) - here - concerning

Then the whole truth about this became known to King Hrolf.

---------------------------

Hrólfr konungr sagði þat skyldu fjarri, at drepa skyldi manninn –

Hrolf - king - said - that - should - by no means, that - to kill - should - the man

King Hrolf said it should by no means be so, that they should kill the man --

-------------------------

“hafi þit hér illan vanda upp tekit, at berja saklausa menn beinum;

have - you two - here - bad/evil/ugly - custom/habit - up - taken, concerning - to smite/beat - innocent - men - with bones

"you have taken up a wicked custom here, of striking innocent men with bones;

---------------------------

er mér í því óvirðing, en yðr stór skơmm, at gøra slíkt.

it is - to me - such - disgrace, and - to you - great - shame, to do - such.

it is such a disgrace to me, and great shame to you, to do such a thing.

-----------------------------

Hefi ek jafnan roett um þetta áðr, ok hafi þit at þessu engan gaum gefit,

have - I - ever/always - counseled [from ráða?] - about - this - before, and - have - you two - to - this - no - heed/attention - given,

I have continually warned (you) about this before, and you have paid no attention to it,

-----------------------------

ok hygg ek at þessi maðr muni ekki allítill fyrir sér, er þér hafið nú á leitat;

and - think - I - concerning - man - this - will - not - very little - before - himself (?), who - you two - have - now - attacked/assaulted;

and I think that this man, whom you have now attacked, will prove himself no mouse;

---------------------------

ok kallið hann til mín, svá at ek viti hverr hann er.”

and - summon - him - to - me, so that - I - know/find out - who - he - is

and summon him to me, so that I may learn who he is."

---------------------------

Bơðvarr gengr fyrir konung ok kveðr hann kurteisliga.

Bodvar - goes - before - king - and - greets - him - courteously

Bothvar went before the king and greeted him courteously.

----------------------------

Konungr spyrr hann at nafni.

king - asks - him - for - a name

The king asked him his name.

----------------------------

“Hattargriða kalla mik hirðmenn yðar, en Bơðvarr heiti ek.”

Hott's guardian - call - me - retainers - your, but - Bodvar - am named - I

"Your retainers call me 'Hood's guardian,' but my name is Bothvar."

-------------------------

Konungr mælti, “Hverjar boetr viltu bjóða mér fyrir hirðmann minn?”

king - spoke, what - compensation - intend you - to offer - to me - for - retainer - my

The king asked, "What compensation do you intend to offer me for my retainer?"

------------------------

Bơðvarr segir, “Til þess gørði hann, sem hann fekk.”

Bodvar - said, as - that - created -he, which - he - got

Bothvar said, "What he got was of his own making."

------------------------

Konungr mælti, “Viltu vera minn maðr ok skipa rúm hans?”

king - spoke, intend you - to be - my - man - and - occupy - space - his

The king asked, "Do you intend to be my man and fill his place?"

-------------------------

Bơðvarr segir, “Ekki neita ek at vera yðarr maðr, ok munu vit ekki skiljask svá búit, vit Hơttr,

Bodvar - said, not - to refuse - I - to be - your - man, but - shall - we two - not - be separated - as - it is, we two Hott

Bothvar said, "I do not refuse to be your man, but I will not be separated by these circumstances, from Hood,

-------------------------

ok dveljask nær þér báðir, heldr en þessi hefir setit;

and - to stay - nearer - to you - both, more than - this one - has (been)- seated

and we both will sit closer to you than that fellow was seated;

--------------------------

elligar vit fơrum brott báðir.”

otherwise - we two - go - away (adv. from "road") - both

otherwise we both will hit the road."

Konungr mælti, “Eigi sé ek at honum soemd, en ek spara ekki mat við hann.”

king - spoke, no - perceive - I - in - him - honor/compensation, but - I - deny - not - food - to - him

The king replied, "I see no redeeming virtue in him, but I won't deny him food."

 

 

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