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Please excuse, we have a new program and I can't get it to let me start
lines without capitalizing the first letter.
Einarr svarar: "Of síð hefir þú sagt mér til þessa,
E. answered, “You have told me about this a bit late,
því at nú hafa allir ráðit sér vistir,
because all (the others) have found the places
þær er beztar eru, en mér þykkir þó illt at hafa órval af."
That are the best, but it seems to me evil to have dregs.”
Einn dag tók Einarr hest sinn ok reið á Aðalból.
One day E. took his horse and rode to the Manor.
Hrafnkell sat í stofu.
H. sat in the sitting room.
Hann heilsar honum vel ok glaðliga.
He greeted him well and heartily.
Einarr leitar til vistar við Hrafnkel.
E. tried to get employment with H.
Hann svaraði: "Hví leitaðir þú þessa svá síð,
H. answered, “Why do you try this so late,
því at ek munda við þér fyrstum tekit hafa?
Because I would have taken you first.
En nú hefi ek ráðit õllum hjónum nema til þeirar einnar iðju,
But now I have hired all the household (help) except for this one task,
er þú munt ekki hafa vilja."
Which you will not want to have.”
Einarr spurði, hver sú væri.
E. asked, what it was.
Hrafnkell kvazk eigi mann hafa ráðit til smalaferðar,
H. declared he had no man to herd the sheep,
en lézk mikils við þurfa.
(I couldn’t get the grammar, but the sense is that he needed
a shepherd very much.)
Einarr kvazk eigi hirða, hvat hann ynni,
E. declared he wasn’t a shepherd according to experience,
hvárt sem þat væri þetta eða annat,
(I couldn’t make any sense of these two lines)
what as it was that but to provide???
en lézk tveggja missera bjõrg hafa vilja.
But ? two seasons on the cliff want to have???
"Ek geri þér skjótan kost", sagði Hrafnkell.
“I provide you with an opportunity right away,” said H.
"Þú skalt reka heim fimm tigu ásauðar í seli ok viða heim õllum sumarviði.
“You will drive 50 ewes into the shieling and bring in all the summer wood.
Þetta skaltu vinna til tveggja missera vistar.
That you will perform for two seasons for food and lodging (?)
En þó vil ek skilja á við þik einn hlut sem aðra smalamenn mína.
But for that I will (give?) a separate portion as my other shepherds.???
Freyfaxi gengr í dalnum fram með liði sínu.
F. goes forward in the valley with his band of mares.
Honum skaltu umsjá veita vetr ok sumar.
You shall care for him winter and summer.
En varnað býð ek þér á einum hlut:
But a warning I bid you, of one condition:
Ek vil, at þú komir aldri á bak honum,
I want that you never get on his back,
hversu mikil nauðsyn sem þér er á, því ek hefi hér allmikit um mælt,
however great need as you have, as I have made a solemn vow,
at þeim manni skylda ek at bana verða, sem honum riði.
That I would slay the man who rides on him.
Honum fylgja tólf hross.
Twelve horses accompany him.
Hvert, sem þú vilt af þeim hafa á nótt eða degi, skulu þér til reiðu.
You may ride them as you will, as you may have need of them.
Ger nú sem ek mæli, því at þat er forn orðskviðr,
Do now as I say, because it is the old proverb,
at eigi veldr sá, er varar annan.
That not to cause so, but to be another ??? (huh? Oh THAT proverb)
Nú veiztu, hvat ek hefi um mælt."
Now know you (be mindful of?) what I have said.”