--- In norse_course@yahoogroups.com, Haukur Þorgeirsson
<haukurth@...> wrote:

> "Golli Gautrekr þótti
> góðr illr kyni þjóðar,
> saddr varð svanr, en hræddisk
> seint, skjótt, konungr, Þróttar."

I was a bit unsure about which words go with which in the first two
lines. In particular I wondered about what is being called 'illr'.
But here's my guess:

To kin of people [tautology for people?] Gautrek seemed good
[generous] with gold. Odin's bad swan [raven] got full fast. The
king was slow to fear [understatement for he wasn't scared at all].

Theoretically I think it could mean the opposite: raven got full
slowly; the king was quick to fear. But I'll bet on politeness--in
the words of Han Solo, "It's not wise to upset a wookie."

Llama Nom