Re: Njal 45 beginning / Alan's Translation

> Þá mælti Skarphéðinn: "Þú skalt gera að ekki Höskuldur því að þú

munt oft sendur einn saman óvarlega (?).

> Then Skarphéðin spoke: `You shall do nothing, Höskuld, because you

will often (be) sent (on errands) one alone (z) unwarily

"Unwarily" seems to jar a bit in the context; I see that MM & HP have
"without protection." Anthony Faulkes in his glossary to
Skáldskaparmál has "unwarily, unguardedly." Either of which would fit
the context there. Þjálfi is speaking to the giant Hrungnir:

Þú stendr óvarliga, jötunn, hefir skjöldinn fyrir þér, en Þórr hefir
sét þik, ok ferr hann it neðra í jörðu, ok mun hann koma neðan at þér.

"You stand unwarily/unprotected, giant, holding the shield in front of
you, but Thor has seen you, and he's coming below in the earth, and
he'll come at you from below."

> (ie so best not to make enemies for yourself?).

I guess so -- although what we've seen so far might suggest that he's
taking rather an optimistic view of the feuding mentality.

> skjöldinn og festi sverðið í skildinum. Skarphéðinn snaraði svo fast

skjöldinn að Sigmundur lét laust sverðið.

> the shield and the sword became-fastened (stuck) in the shield.

Skarphéðin twisted the shield so fast (or firmly?) that Sigmund let
the sword loose (go free).

'fast' here = "hard" (firmly, strongly, sharply, vigorously).

> Sigmundur var í pansara.
> Sigmund was in a coat-of-mail.

According to Fritzner's dictionary, a padded jacket worn for
protection either over, under or in place of mail.

> ('It´s only a flesh wound!')

"She turned me into a newt." ;-)

LN