> við ramman mun reip að draga

Zoega: "við ramman mun reip at d., it will be pulling a rope against a
strong man, i. e. it will be a difficult task"

This is a proverbial expression [
http://www.usask.ca/english/icelanders/proverbs_BNS.html ]. It
appears in a few sagas and in Latin form in the writings of the Danish
historian Saxo Grammaticus. It isn't always used to say that it isn't
worth even trying to stand up against the strong man in question, cf.
Hrólfs saga kraka, although that's the implication here. The verb
'munu' besides indicating future tense can sometimes express
probability or a strong suspicion. Could that be the case here?

> "Eigi mun þat," sagði Hrútr, "en það verður hver að vinna er ætlað er."

MM & HP: "'No,' replied Hrut, 'but each must do as destiny decides.'"

Have a look at the proverbs page for this one too. One translation
there has: "Probably not," said Hrut, "but a man must do what is
demanded". Other comments make reference to fate: "in sprichwort,
das, wie so manche andre, die macht des schicksals ausspricht" (a
saying that, as so many others, expresses the power of fate".

> svá mikit vald á þér sem ek ætla

"as much power over you as I expect/suspect/think [that I have]"

> þá legg eg það á við þig að þú megir engri munúð fram

> then I invoke that against you that you may

'leggja e-t á við e-n' "to impose something on someone". Patricia has
the right idea about Gunnhildr. It's a typical spell-casting formula.
Compare the noun 'á-lag', Zoega: n. (1) esp. pl., álög, impost, tax,
burden; (2) visitation, tribulation; (3) law term, additional fine;
(4) spell, charm. MM & HP: "The spell I now lay on you will prevent
your ever enjoying the woman in Iceland on whom you have set your heart."

> koma við þá konu er þú ætlar þér á Íslandi að eiga en fremja skalt

þú mega

> bring about (produce) no more pleasure with that woman who you you

mean to possess in Iceland but you shall be able to accomplish

> við aðrar konur vilja þinn. Og hefir nú hvortgi okkað vel. Þú trúðir mér

> your desires with other women. And now neither of us two (will) have

well(-being). You believe

> eigi til málsins."

nothing of my speech.'


MM & HP: "With other women you may have your will but never with her.
And now you must suffer as well as I, since you did not trust me with
the truth."

> ...hinn röskvasta mann og vel kunna að vera með tignum mönnum.

Magnús Magnússon and Hermann Pálsson: "...a very brave man, who knew
well how to associate with men of rank." I think the king is saying
that he knew how to behave appropriately at court, polite forms of
address, refined speech, etc.