Here’s my translation and grammar notes:
Þorkell segir: 'Þat má vera, at svá fœri mér at, ef ek væri
Þorkel says: ‘That may be, that it would go (turn out) so (likewise) for me that, if I were
höfðingi, at mér þœtti illt at deila við Hrafnkel, en eigi sýnisk
a chieftain, that to me (it) would seem bad to contend against Hrafnkel, but (it) seems not
mér svá, fyrir því at mér þœtti við þann bezt at eiga, er allir
so (like that) to me, because to me it would seem best to have to deal with that one, who all
hrekjask fyrir áðr. Ok þœtti mér mikit vaxa mín virðing eða
are confounded by before. And (it) would seem to me my honour would increase greatly or
445 þess höfðingja, er á
Hrafnkel gæti nökkura vík róit, en minnkask
of that chieftain, who could pull off a come-uppance (turn the tables) on Hrafnkel, but to be diminished
ekki, þó at mér fœri sem öðrum, fyrir því at má mér þat, sem
not, even though (it) were to go (turn out) with me as for others, because that may (happen) to me, as
yfir margan gengr. Hefir sá ok jafnan, er hættir.'
(it) goes with many (a one). That (one) begins ( or raises?) also always, who dares.’
'Sé ek', segir Þorgeirr, 'hversu þér er gefit, at þú vilt veita
’I see,’ says Þorgeirr, ’how (it) is given (disposed) with you, that you want to help
þessum mönnum. Nú mun ek selja þér í hendr goðorð mitt
these men. Now I will deliver into your hands my rank of goði
450 ok mannaforráð, ok haf þú þat,
sem ek hefi haft áðr, en þaðan
and authority, and you have that, (in like manner) as I have had (it) before, but from that point
af höfum vit jöfnuð af báðir, ok veittu þá þeim, er þú vilt.'
Forward we both (will) have an equal share of (it), and help you then those, who you want (to).’
'Svá sýnisk mér', segir Þorkell, 'sem þá muni goðorð várt
’So (it) seems to me’, says Þorkel, ’as then our rank of goði will
bezt komit, er þú hafir sem lengst. Ann ek engum svá vel sem
best be bestowe, when you have (it) for the longest (possible time). I allowed none so well as
þér at hafa, því at þú hefir marga hluti til menntar um fram
you to have (it), because you have many sorts of accomplishment in advance
455 alla oss brœðr, en ek
óráðinn, hvat er ek vil af mér gera at
of all us brothers, but I (am) undecided, what (it) is I want to do for myself for
bragði. En þú veizt, frændi, at ek hefi til fás hlutazk, síðan ek
(the) moment. But you know, kinsman, that I have interfered in few (matters), since I
kom til Íslands. Má ek nú sjá, hvat mín ráð eru. Nú hefi ek
came to Iceland. I may now see, what my intentions are. Now I have
flutt sem ek mun at sinni. Kann vera, at Þorkell leppr komi
pleaded as (much as) I will for (the) time being. (It) may be, that Þorkell ’lock’ (will) come
þar, at hans orð verði meir metin.'
there (to that place), such that his word be more valued.’
Grammar notes:
Þorkell Þorkell: (n) nom sg Þorkel
segir: segja: (v) 3s pres ind says:
'Þat þat: (pron) nom sg 'That
má mega: (v) 3s pres ind may
vera, vera: (v) inf be,
at at: that
svá svá: (adv) so
fœri fara: (v) 3s past subj (it) would go
mér ek: (pron) dat sg (for) me
at, at: that,
ef ef: (conj) if
ek ek: (pron) nom sg I
væri vera: (v) 1s past subj were
höfðingi, höfðingi: (n) nom sg (a) chieftain,
at at: that
mér ek: (pron) dat sg (to) me
þœtti Þykkja: (v) 3s past subj (it) would seem
illt illt: (adv) bad
at at: to
deila deila: (n) inf contend
við við: (prep) against
Hrafnkel, Hrafnkell: (n) acc sg Hrafnkel,
en en: (conj) but
eigi eigi: (adv) not
sýnisk sýna: (v) 3s pres ind refl (it) seems
mér ek: (pron) dat sg (to) me
svá, svá: (adv) so,
fyrir því at fyrir því at: (conj) because
mér ek: (pron) dat sg (to) me
þœtti Þykkja: (v) 3s past subj (it) would seem
við við: (prep) with
þann sá: (pron) acc sg that (one)
bezt beztr: (adj) nom sg best
at at: to
eiga, eiga: (v) inf have to deal,
er er: (prep) who
allir allr: (pron) nom pl all
hrekjask hrekja: (v) inf refl are confounded
fyrir fyrir: (adv) by
áðr. áðr: (adv) before.
Ok ok: (conj) And
þœtti Þykkja: (v) 3s past subj would seem
mér ek: (pron) dat sg (to) me
mikit mikill: (adj) greatly
vaxa vaxa: (v) inf (to) increase
mín minn: (pron) nom sg my
virðing virðing: (n) nom sg honour
eða eða: (conj) or
445 445 445
þess sá: (pron) gen sg (of) that
höfðingja, höfðingi: (n) gen sg chieftain,
er er: (pron) who
á á: (prep) on
Hrafnkel Hrafnkell: (n) acc sg Hrafnkel
gæti geta: (v) 3s past subj could
nökkura nökkurr: (pron) acc sg some
vík vík: (n) acc sg (a) turn-around
róit, róa: (v) pp pull off,
en en: (conj) but
minnkask minnka: (v) inf refl (to) be diminished
ekki, ekki: (adv) not,
þó at þó at: (conj) even though
mér ek: (pron) dat sg (for) me
fœri fara: (v) 3s past subj (it) were to go
sem sem: (pron) as
öðrum, annarr: (pron) dat pl (for) others,
fyrir því at fyrir því at: (conj) because
má mega: (v) 3s pres ind may (happen)
mér ek: (pron) dat sg (to) me
þat, þat: (pron) nom sg that,
sem sem: (pron) as
yfir yfir: (prep) over
margan margr: (adj) acc sg many
gengr. ganga: (v) 3s pres ind (it) goes.
Hefir hefja: (v) 3s pres ind begins (?)
sá sá: (pron) nom sg that (one)
ok ok: (adv) also
jafnan, jafnan: (adv) (an) equal,
er er: (pron) who
hættir.' hætta: (v) 3s pres ind ventures.'
'Sé sjá: (v) 1s pres ind 'See
ek', ek: (pron) nom sg I',
segir segja: (v) 3s pres ind says
Þorgeirr, Þorgeirr: (n) nom sg Þorgeir,
'hversu hversu: (pron) 'how
þér þú: (pron) dat sg (with) you
er vera: (v) 3s pres ind (it) is
gefit, gefa: (v) pp disposed,
at at: that
þú þú: (pron) nom sg you
vilt vilja: (v) 2s pres ind want
veita veita: (v) inf (to) help
þessum sjá, þessi: (pron) dat pl these
mönnum. maðr: (n) dat pl men.
Nú nú: (adv) Now
mun munu: (v) 1s pres