Hi Alan
A certain ambiguity in the way it was written - yes - I did see that too, and no I do not think it is - just Alan - there are times I find myself thinking "aww this don't read right" just as when I finish my translation I go to my C.S.I  and find my self muttering "where do they get that from - it is not in the text"
I could always go to Iceland for a holiday - I think it would be more of a Sabbatical if I have the meaning correctly - go and study - and spend spare time talking to the people at that famous Publishing House - I feel sure they do not only publish just the one set of books, and there are distinct gaps - small ones - on my bookshelves
Kveðja
Patricia
 
-------Original Message-------
 
From: AThompson
Date: 08/11/2006 09:27:39
Subject: RE: [norse_course] Njal 32 - Patricia's offering
 

Hi Patricia

 

Yes, I fully agree with your reading of the context but it seemed to me one had to read several lines on from Njál’s speech before you find out that Kolskegg is urging Gunnar Thingwards and hence before being able to make sense of what Njál said. I´m sure Njál, with all his legal skills, would hardly have intended his advice to be ambiguous so I was really wondering whether there would actually be any ambiguity in the statement (as written) for a native speaker or whether it was just me.

 

Regards

Alan

 

-----Original Message-----
From: norse_course@ yahoogroups. com [mailto:norse_ course@... ps.com] On Behalf Of Patricia
Sent: Wednesday, 8 November 2006 2:27 AM
To: norse_course@ yahoogroups. com
Subject: [norse_course] Njal 32 - Patricia's offering

 

Saell Alan - I noticed your comment about MM&HP's translation and was slightly inclined to see as you did that they  understood in context - but it seemed logical to observe that -

Njall is an older person - and had a "premonition" that there will be disturbance at the Thing - and would have Gunnar to do the hame as he - Njall - with that svo - weird or what I cannot find the word but I have seen it used to mean - as, likewise, and in this context I have used thus ( I would have you do the same as I do - that is what I read into what Njal is saying)

Otherwise why did Kolskegg want to urge his Brother to go - in the manner of the young - he does not see what could happen - or am I reading too much into this.

What do you think

 

32. kafli

Um vorið spurði jarl Gunnar hvað hann vildi láta ráða sinna. Hann kveðst
vilja til Íslands

In Spring the Earl asked Gunnar what he would reveal for his plans He declared - for himself to wish to go to Iceland

.Jarlinn kvað vera illa ært í landi "og mun vera lítil útsigling en þó skalt
þú hafa mjöl og við í skip þitt sem þú vilt.

The Earl (? why suff.def.art) declared it to be a bad season (Z) in the country "and there will be (only) little outsailing (going trading) but you just the same (?nevertheless) shall have meal/ flour and (other stuff ) woth it in your ship as you wish.

Gunnar þakkaði honum og bjó skip sitt snemmendis. Hallvarður fór út með þeim
Kolskeggi.

Gunnar thanked him and soon (Z) had his ship ready Hallvarð went out (abroad) with them (Including Kolskegg)

Þeir komu út snemma sumars og tóku Arnarbælisós og var það fyrir alþingi.

They came out quickly in the Summer and took to (reached - arrived at Arnabeli (that place on the estuary) and were there before the Allthing.

Reið Gunnar þegar heim frá skipi en fékk menn til að ryðja skipið og fór
Kolskeggur með honum.

Gunnar road home at once and got men to unload the ship, and Kolskegg went with him

En er þeir komu heim urðu menn þeim fegnir. Þeir voru
blíðir við heimamenn sína og hafði ekki vaxið dramb þeirra.

When they came home  people became glad to see them. They were cheerful with their house servants - they had not grown (become) proud/haughty

Gunnar spurði hvort Njáll væri heima. Honum var sagt að hann var heima. Lét
hann þá taka hest sinn og reið til Bergþórshvols og Kolskeggur með honum.

Gunnar asked  whether/if Njal was at home and it was said to him that he was at home. Then he  had his horse fetched and rode to Bergthors Knoll abd Kolskegg with him

Njáll varð feginn komu þeirra og bað að þeir skyldu vera þar um nóttina.
Þeir gerðu svo og sagði Gunnar frá ferðum sínum.

Njall was  happy with their coming (happy to see them ) and asked them to stay for the night. They did so and Gunnar told about his travels.

Njáll sagði hann vera hinn mesta afreksmann "og ert þú mjög reyndur en þó
munt þú meir síðar því að margur mun þig öfunda."

Njal said he was the most valiant (Z) man (heroic ?) "and you (now) are very experienced though you will do more (better) later many will envy (Z) (/ bear a grudge against you)

"Við alla vildi eg gott eiga," segir Gunnar.

With all people I  wanted (to have) good " says Gunnar

"Margt mun til verða," segir Njáll, "og munt þú jafnan eiga hendur þínar að
verja."

"Much will happen" says Njal "and you will often have to defend your hands (?yourself)

"Undir því væri þá," segir Gunnar, "að eg hefði málaefni góð."

"Under that (circumstamce)  says Gunnar it were good (?best) to have a good legal-case"

"Svo mun og vera," segir Njáll, "ef þú geldur eigi annarra að."

"So (thus) it will be" says Njal "if you suffer not for others" (y.e. on their account)

Njáll spurði Gunnar hvort hann mundi til þings ríða. Gunnar segir að hann
mundi ríða og spyr hvort Njáll mundi ríða en hann kveðst eigi ríða mundu "og
svo vildi eg að þú gerðir."

Njal asked of Gunnar  whether ge would ride to Thing. Gunnar says he would ride and asks whether Njal would ride be he (Njal) declared of himself that he would not tide "and thus would I wish you to do"

Gunnar reið þá heim og gaf Njáli góðar gjafar og þakkaði honum
fjárvarðveisluna.

Gunnar road home and gave Njal good gifts and thanked him for the management of the (Gunnar's) Property

Kolskeggur bróðir hans fýsti hann að ríða til þings "mun þar vaxa sæmd þín
við því að margur mun þar að þér víkja."

Koskegg his brother urged him to ride to Thing "Your honour will increase there because many will turn to you (i,e, - with respect)

"Lítt hefi eg það skap haft," segir Gunnar, "að hrósa mér en gott þykir mér
að finna góða menn."

"Little have I had the spirit ?/idea" says Gunnar  "to praise nyself but good it seems to me to meet with good men"

Hallvarður var og þar kominn og bauð að ríða til þings með þeim.

Hallvarðwas also come and offered to ride to Thing with them

I did not rush this - I have got stuck occasionally  and preferred to use a little logic - my sort anyway - where I was lost

Comments welcome

Kveðja

Patricia



 


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