Re: Hrafnkell 420-440 \ Alan's Translation

Here’s my translation and grammar notes

Kveðja

Alan:

Þorgeirr segir: 'Ekki hugða ek, at hann mætti mik þessa 420

Þorgeir says: ’I did not think, that he might blame me for this,

kunna, því at eigi drap ek son hans, ok má hann af því eigi á

because I did not kill his son, and he may because of that not

mér þessu hefna.'

take it out on me for this.’

'Eigi vildi hann á þér þessu hefna', segir Þorkell, 'en fór

’He did not want to take it out on you for this,’ says Þorkell, ’ but

hann at þér harðara en hann vildi, ok galt hann óskygnleika

he went at you more forcefully than he wanted, and he paid for his poor eyesight,

425 síns, en vænti sér af þér nökkurs trausts. Er þat nú drengskapr

but expects for himself some help from you. That is now noble-mindedness

at veita gömlum manni ok þurftigum. Er honum þetta

to give (help) to an old man and needy. This is to him

nauðsyn, en eigi seiling, þó at hann mæli eptir son sinn, en nú

a necessity, but not greed, even though he takes up the prosecution for his son, but now

ganga allir höfðingjar undan liðveizlu við þessa menn ok sýna

all chieftains walk away from support to these men and show

í því mikinn ódrengskap.'

in that great meanness.’

430 Þorgeirr mælti: 'Við hvern eigu þessir menn at kæra?'

Þorgeir spoke: ’With whom have these men to lay a charge?’

Þorkell svaraði: 'Hrafnkell goði hefir vegit son hans

Þorkell answered: ’Hrafnkel (the) priest has killed his, Þorbjörn´s innocent son

Þorbjarnar saklausan. Vinnr hann hvert óverk at öðru, en vill

He performs one wicked deed after another, but wants

engum manni sóma vinna fyrir.'

to pay compensation to no man.’

Þorgeirr mælti: 'Svá mun mér fara sem öðrum, at ek veit

Þorgeir spoke: ’Thus will (it) go with me as with (the) others, that I know

435 eigi mik þessum mönnum svá gott upp at inna, at ek vilja

myself not (obliged) to pay up to these for (any) such good (deed), that I want

ganga í deilur við Hrafnkel. Þykki mér hann einn veg fara

to go in contentions with Hrafnkel. He seems to me to proceed one way

hvert sumar við þá menn, sem málum eigu at skipta við hann,

each summer with those men, who have cases to bring against him,

at flestir menn fá litla virðing eða enga, áðr lúki, ok sé ek þar

that most men receive little honour, or none, before (the case) concludes, and I see there

fara einn veg öllum. Get ek af því flesta menn ófúsa til, þá

(it) to go one way with all. I suppose because of that most men (are) unwilling to (proceed), those

440 sem engi nauðsyn dregr til.'
whom no necessity draws (compels) to (it).’

Grammar Notes: