----- Original Message -----

From: AThompson

To: norse_course@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Friday, April 07, 2006 11:11 AM

Subject: RE: [norse_course] Hrafnkell 721-743

Here’s the next instalment of Hrafnkel’s Saga.

 

Kveðja

Alan

 

Saell Alan I think this was one of the best so far

 

 

Kona ein var við vatnit ok þó lérept sín. Hon sér ferð
manna.

A Woman was by the lake (ein seems to say she was alone) and though linen hers (was doing washing) she sees some men passing

 

Griðkona sjá sópar saman léreptunum ok hleypr
heim.

The housemaid (Zoega) this linen gathers together (dat.linen) and runs home

 

Hon kastar þeim niðr úti hjá viðarkesti, en hleypr inn.

She casts it down outside (úti) by a woodpile and runs in

Hrafnkell var þá eigi upp staðinn,

Hrafnkell was not upp standing (i.e. still in bed)

 

ok nökkurir vilðarmenn
lágu í skálanum, en verkmenn váru til iðnar farnir. Þetta var 725
um heyjaannir.
and a few of his favorites (Gordon) were lying in the huts and (the) workmen were gone to their work it was the Haymaking Season (Gordon)

 

Konan tók til orða, er hon kom inn:

That woman (use of suff def art) took to words (started speaking) as she came in

 

'Satt er flest þat, er
fornkveðit er, at svá ergisk hverr sem eldisk.

True it was said in Ancient time (days gone by) that you become (soft or wicked) as you becone old

(Note 1(

 

 Verðr sú lítil
virðing, sem snimma leggsk á,

The respect to you is little worth if soon lost

 

ef maðr lætr síðan sjálfr af með
ósóma ok hefir eigi traust til at reka þess réttar nökkurt sinni,

if a man loses later himself from lack of honour and has not support/strength to rake some of his rights together

 

730
ok eru slík mikil undr um þann mann, sem hraustr hefir verit.

And it is such a great wonder (surprise) to these men as (they) valiant have been

Nú er annan veg þeira lífi, er upp vaxa með föður sínum, ok
þykkja yðr einskis háttar hjá yðr,

Now it is another way of life, to grow up with their fathers and one thinks nothing of them (as compared) with yourself

 

 en þá er þeir eru frumvaxta,
fara land af landi ok þykkja þar mestháttar, sem þá koma þeir,
koma við þat út ok þykkjask þá höfðingjum meiri.

but then they are (just) grown up and travel from country to country and (are) thought There most important.  As they come (back) home comes with this (with the thought??) that they consider themselves better than Chieftains

 

Eyvindr 735
Bjarnason reið hér yfir á á Skálavaði með svá fagran skjöld, at
ljómaði af. Er hann svá menntr, at hefnd væri í honum.

'Eyvind Bjarnason  (Bjom's Son) rifes over the River at Skalavaði with such a beautiful shield

that it shines

 

Lætr griðkonan ganga af kappi.  (nearly got stuck on this)

Loose the Servant goes on like a fighter (presumably relentlessly)

Hrafnkell ríss upp ok svarar henni, 'Kann vera, at þú hjalir
helzti margt satt -- eigi fyrir því, at þér gangi gott til.

Hrafnkell gets up and replies to her, "It could be that you(r) chatter is all too true

mot because you mean good (by it) 

 

Er nú 740
vel, at þér aukisk erfiði.

now well that to you is increase of toil

 

Far þú hart suðr á Víðivöllu eptir
Hallsteinssonum, Sighvati ok Snorra. Bið þá skjótt til mín
koma með þá menn, sem þar eru vápnfœrir.'
Go you quickly south (wards)  to Viðvellir after (i.e. - to get) Hallstein's Sons

Sighvat and Snorri

Ask them to come at once to me, coming with their men who are able to bear weapons

 

 

Why the panic - was she scared or just stirring it, did Hrafnkell take offence at her words - no doubt

this will lead to further bloodshed, my estimation is that she was old and must have been dreaming of the Old Days when things were better (were they)  for distance lends enchantment

 

for note one - we have the saying even now "the older you get the worse you get"

 

Kveðja

Patricia

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