Hello!
Can anyone tell me the significance (if any) of Hrafnkel wearing blue when
he goes out to confront Einar?
Thanks.
Here's my translation attempt...
'Hvat mun garprinn vilja, er hann er heim kominn?'
What is the champion doing coming home?
segir Hrafnkell. 'Eigi mun þat góðu gegna.'
asks Hrafnkel. This does not look
good.
Síðan gekk hann út ok sér Freyfaxa ok mælti við hann:
Then he goes out and sees Freyfaxi and says to
him
'Illa þykkir mér, at þú ert þann veg til gõrr, fóstri minn,
I think it's bad that you've been treated this way, my
fosterling,
en heima hafðir þú vit þitt, er þú sagðir mér til,
but you had your wits (about you) when you told me
(this) at home
ok skal þessa hefnt verða. Far þú til liðs þíns.'
and this shall be avenged. Go back to your
herd.
En hann gekk þegar upp eptir dalnum til stóðs síns.
And then he went back up the valley to his
stud.
Hrafnkell ferr í rekkju sína um kveldit
Hrafnkel went to bed in the evening
ok svaf af um nóttina.
and slept through the night.
En um morguninn lét hann taka sér hest
And in the morning he had a horse brought to
him
ok leggja á sõðul ok ríðr upp til
sels.
and saddled and he rode up to the
shieling.
Hann ríðr í blám klæðum.
He rode dressed in blue.
Øxi hafði hann í hendi, en ekki fleira vápna.
He had an axe in his hand, but no other
weapons.
Þá hafði Einarr nýrekit fé í kvíar.
Einar had just herded the sheep into the
fold.
Hann lá á kvíagarðinum ok talði fé,
He leant on the wall of the sheepfold and was counting
the flock,
en konur váru at mjólka.
and the women were doing the milking.
Þau heilsuðu honum.
They greeted him.
Hann spurði, hversu þeim fri (foeri) at.
He asked them how they were.
Einarr svarar: 'Illa hefir mér at farit,
Einar replied: Things have gone badly for
me,
því at vant varð þriggja tiga ásauðar nær viku,
for 30 ewes went missing for nearly a
week,
en nú er fundinn.'
but now they've been found.
Hann kvazk ekki at slíku telja.
He said not to talk of such things.
'Eða hefir ekki verr at farit?
Rather hasn't something worse happened?
Hefir þat ok ekki svá opt til borit sem ván hefir at verit,
It hasn't happened as often as was to be
expected,
at fjárins hafi vant verit.
that the sheep have gone missing.
En hefir þú ekki nõkkut riðit Freyfaxa
mínum hinn fyrra dag?'
And did you not ride my Freyfaxi for a while the other
day?
Hann kvezk eigi þræta þess mega.
He said he could not deny it.
Hrafnkell svarar: 'Fyrir hví reiztu þessu hrossi,
Hrafnkel replied: What did you ride this horse
for,
er þér var bannat, þar er hin váru nóg til,
which you were forbidden to, when there were some
others around
er þér var lofat?
who you were allowed (to ride)?
Þar munda ek hafa gefit þér upp eina sõk,
I would not press charges against you,
ef ek hefða eigi svá mikit um mælt,
if I had not stressed this so much,
en þó hefir þú vel við gengit.'
even though you have freely confessed to
(it).
Now I've done mine, I shall read what the others made of it and learn from
you!!
Cheers,
Sarah.