Only one question with this one: the pronoun incorporation tripped
me up the first time (did I miss this in the course?) Gordon says
'ek' and 'þu' can be so incorporated, also 'mér and 'mik'. Under
what circumstances does one do this? Where does it come from?
Especially that bit about 'mik' causing the verb to take the plural.
Erich
Einarr svarar: "Of síð hefir þú sagt mér til þessa,
Einar answered too late have you told me of this
Einar answered: "You've told me this too late,
því at nú hafa allir ráðit sér vistir,
because now have all arranged themself employment
because now everyone has gotten themselves the positions
þær er beztar eru, en mér þykkir þó illt at hafa órval af."
they which best are but to me seems yet evil to have dregs off
that are best, and it seems bad to me to have the dregs."
Einn dag tók Einarr hest sinn ok reið á Aðalból.
one day took Einar horse his and rode to Aðalbol
One day Einar took his horse and rode to Aðalbol.
Hrafnkell sat í stofu.
Hrafnkel sat in sitting-room.
Hrafnkel was sitting in the sitting-room.
Hann heilsar honum vel ok glaðliga.
He greets him well and gladly.
He greeted him well, and gladly.
Einarr leitar til vistar við Hrafnkel.
Einar sought for employment with Hrafnkel
Einar asked Hrafnkel for employemnt.
Hann svaraði: "Hví leitaðir þú þessa svá síð,
He answered why seek you this so late
He answered: "Why do you ask this so late
því at ek munda við þér fyrstum tekit hafa?
because I would with you first taken had
because I would have taken you first?
En nú hefi ek ráðit öllum hjónum nema til þeirar einnar iðju,
but now have I arranged for all household except to this one task
But now I have arranged for all my household, except for this one job
er þú munt ekki hafa vilja."
which you would not have wanted
which you would not want."
Einarr spurði, hver sú væri.
Einar found out what it was
Einar asked what it was.
Hrafnkell kvazk eigi mann hafa ráðit til smalaferðar,
Harfnkel declared no man had arranged to sheep-herding
Hrafnkel said that no man had taken the sheep-herding
en lézk mikils við þurfa.
but let much with need
but allowed there was much need.
Einarr kvazk eigi hirða, hvat hann ynni,
Einar declared not to mind what he worked
Einar said that he didn't mind what he did,
hvárt sem þat væri þetta eða annat,
whether as that was that or another
whether it was that or some other,
en lézk tveggja missera björg hafa vilja.
but let two seasons sustenance have would
but allowed that he wanted to have two seasons of support.
"Ek geri þér skjótan kost", sagði Hrafnkell.
I make to you swift offer said Hrafnkel
"I'll make you an offer now", said Hrafnkel
"Þú skalt reka heim fimm tigu ásauðar í seli
you shall drive home five tens of ewes to shed in pasture
You shall drive fifty of the ewes to the pasture-shed
ok viða heim öllum sumarviði.
and furnish wood home all summer-wood
and bring home all the summer's wood.
Þetta skaltu vinna til tveggja missera vistar.
that should-you work for two seasons employment.
You should do that for two seasons employment.
En þó vil ek skilja á við þik einn hlut sem aðra smalamenn mína.
But yet will I stipulate with you one thing as other sheep-men mine
But yet I will set you one condition, as with my other shepherds.
Freyfaxi gengr í dalnum fram með liði sínu.
Freyfax goes to valley forward with herd his
Frayfax goes ahead to the valley with his herd (ie, to stud)
Honum skaltu umsjá veita vetr ok sumar.
for him should-you care give winter and summer
You should care for him winter and summer.
En varnað býð ek þér á einum hlut:
but warning prepare i for you to one thing
But I will give you a warning about one thing
Ek vil, at þú komir aldri á bak honum,
I will that you come never to back his
I want you never to get on his back
hversu mikil nauðsyn sem þér er á,
however much neccessity as you are in
however much you are in need,
því ek hefi hér allmikit um mælt,
because I have here all-great about spoken
because I have spoken about this very greatly,
at þeim manni skylda ek at bana verða, sem honum riði.
that that man should I to death become as to him rides
that I should be the death of that man as rides him.
Honum fylgja tólf hross.
to him follows twelve mares
Twelve mares follow him.
Hvert, sem þú vilt af þeim hafa á nótt eða degi, skulu þér til reiðu.
each as you will of them have in night or day should you to ride
Each, as you will, night or day, may ride.
Ger nú sem ek mæli, því at þat er forn orðskviðr,
do now as I say because it is ancient proverb
Now, do as I say, because it is an ancient proverb,
at eigi veldr sá, er varar annan.
that not cause that which warns another
that he doesn't cause, who warns another
Nú veiztu, hvat ek hefi um mælt."
Now know-you what I have about spoken
Now you know, what I have spoken about."