Sæl Grace

 

Comments inserted as usual. No major dramas here. I have noted instances where you have used the past tense where the original is in the present. I´m not sure whether you intended this or not so thought it best to highlight these just the same. See web-site link for full gloss and grammar:

 

http://www.pcug.org.au/~athompso/Misc_G.htm

 

 

Kveðja

Alan

 

-----Original Message-----
From: norse_course@yahoogroups.com [mailto:norse_course@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Fred and Grace Hatton
Sent: Sunday, 19 June 2005 8:12 AM
To: norse_course@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [norse_course] Halldórr and Bersi

 

Í þenna tíma bjó Hólmgöngu-Bersi í Saurboe á þeim boe er í Tungu

In this (Zoega or alternately “that” acc. Gordon) Dueling-Bersi lived at

(the) Muddy Farm at that farm which is called at (the) Tongue. [heita i e-u seems to be a common expression for locations meaning simply “to be called place name”]

 

heitir. Hann ferr á fund Óláfs ok bauð Halldóri  syni hans til fóstrs.

He went [goes, sg] to a meeting (with) Olaf and offered to foster[ing, a noun] Halldor, his (Olaf’s) son.

 

Þat þiggr Óláfr, ok ferr Halldórr heim  með honum. Hann var þá

Olaf accepted [accepts, sg] it, and (he) took Halldor [literally Halldór (nom) goes] home with him.  He (Halldorr) was then

 

vetrgamall. Þat sumar tekr  Bersi sótt ok liggr lengi sumars. Þat er

one year old.  That summer Bersi took [takes, sg] sick and lay [lies, sg] (abed) a long time in the summer. It is

 

sagt einn dag, er  menn váru at heyvirki í Tungu, en þeir tveir inni,

said one day, when men were at making hay at Tunga, when they two were

inside,

 

Halldórr ok  Bersi, lá Halldórr í vöggu. Þá fellr vaggan undir

Halldorr and Bersi, Halldorr lay in a cradle. Then (the) [the definite article is there] cradle fell (out from? [perhaps]) under

 

 

sveininum  ok hann ór vöggunni á gólfit. Þá mátti Bersi eigi til fara.

the boy and he (fell) out of the cradle to the floor.  Then Bersi was

not able to go (to him? [yes, I think so]).

 

Þá kvað Bersi þetta:

Then Bersi said this:

 

'Liggjum báðir í lamasessi

“Both lie on the bench for the lame (?) [Gordon glosses lamasess as “meaning helpless state”]

 

Halldórr ok ek, höfum engi þrek;

Halldorr and I, have no strength;

 

veldr elli mér en oeska þér,

old age is the cause for me, but youth for thee,

 

þess batnar þér, en þeygi mér.'

Of it [From that?] you [will, I suggest present is used here with future sense] recover, but yet not me.”

 

  Síðan koma menn ok taka Halldór upp af gólfinu; en Bersa batnar.

Then men come and take Halldor up from [off] the floor, and (it) improves for Bersi.

 

Grace

 

--

 

Fred & Grace Hatton

Hawley , Pa.