Það var einu hverju sinni að Lýtingur hafði boð inni á Sámsstöðum.
It was at one time that it happened Lyting had a feast there at Samsteads
 
Hann
hafði þangað boðið Höskuldi Hvítanesgoða og Sigfússonum. Þeir komu þar allir.
He had invited thither Hoskuld Hvitanes-Chief and the Sigfussons.
They all came there  [everyone who was anyone]
 
Þar var og Grani Gunnarsson og Gunnar Lambason og Lambi Sigurðarson.
There were also Grani Gunnarsson and Gunnar Lambisson and Lambi Sigurdsson
 
Höskuldur Njálsson átti bú í Holti og móðir hans og reið hann jafnan til bússíns frá Bergþórshvoli
Hoskuld Njalsson had a dwelling/farm at Holt with his Mother and he rode always to his farm from Bergthors Knoll
 
og lá leið hans um garð á Sámsstöðum. Höskuldur átti
son er Ámundi hét. Hann hafði blindur verið borinn. Hann var þó mikill vexti og öflugur.
and this (his path) led him past the yard/garden at Samssteads
Hoskuld  had a son named Amund, he had been blind from birth. He was evenso tall - well grown and strong/powerful
 
Lýtingur átti bræður tvo. Hét annar Hallsteinn en annar Hallgrímur.
Lyting had two brothers. One named Hallstein and one Hallgrim
 
Þeir voru hinir mestu óeirðarmenn og voru þeir jafnan með Lýtingi bróður sínum því að aðrir menn komu ekki skapi við þá.
They were the most unpleasant of men and they were always with Lyting their brother, because the other men could not agree with them (Z2) [couldn't stand the sight of them]
 
Lýtingur var úti löngum um daginn en stundum gekk hann inn. Hann gekk til sætis síns.
Lyting was outside (most of) that day/during the day - but for a time he went inside
 
Þá kom kona inn er úti hafði verið.
Hún mælti: "Of fjarri voruð þér úti að sjá er oflátinn reið um garð."
Then a woman came in who had been out-doors.
She spoke  "You were afar (away) when that show-off rode by the yard"
 
"Hver ofláti var sá," segir Lýtingur, "er þú segir frá?"
"What show off was that " says Lyting "that you speak about"
 
"Höskuldur Njálsson reið hér um garð," segir hún.
"Hoskuld Njalsson rode across the yard " says she
 
Lýtingur mælti: "Oft ríður hann hér um garð og er mér eigi skapraunarlaust
Lyting spoke " Often he rides past the yard and to me it is not without provocation [(CV) skap-rauna-laust]
[he sounds very peeved]
 
og býðst eg til þess Höskuldur mágur að fara með þér ef þú vilt hefna föður þíns og drepa Höskuld Njálsson."
and I offer - myself - thus - Hoskuld to go with you if you want to avenge your father and kill Hoskuld Njalsson"
 
"Það vil eg eigi," segir Höskuldur, "og launa eg þá verr en vera skyldi
Njáli fóstra mínum og þrífst þú aldrei fyrir heimboð" og spratt upp undan borðinu og lét taka hesta sína og reið heim.
"I do not want that" says Hoskuld "to repay Njal my foster-father worse than he should be. AND may you gain no luck with this homefeast, and he sprang up - away from the table and had his horse fetched and rode home
 
Lýtingur mælti þá til Grana Gunnarssonar: "Þú varst hjá er Þráinn var veginn og mun þér það minnisamt
Lyting spoke then to Grani Gunnarsson "You were (sing. thou wast) there when Thrain was killed and it must be called to mind
 
og svo þú Gunnar Lambason og þú Lambi Sigurðarson.
and (also) thus to you  Gunnar Lambisson and you Lambi Sigurdsson
 
Vil eg nú að vér ráðum að Höskuldi Njálssyni og drepum hann í kveld er hann ríður heim."
I want now that we attack Hoskuld Njalsson and kill him in the evening when he rides home"
 
"Nei," segir Grani, "ekki mun eg fara að Njálssonum og rjúfa sætt þá er góðir menn gerðu."
"No" says Grani "I shall not go against Njal's Sons and so (in that act) break a truce made by good men"
 
Slíkum orðum mælti hver þeirra og svo Sigfússynir og tóku það ráð allir að ríða í braut.
Such (similar words spoke each of them and the Sigfussons and all (the others) took that plan to ride away
 
Þá mælti Lýtingur er þeir voru í brautu: "Það vita allir menn að eg hefi við engum bótum tekið eftir Þráin mág minn.
Then spoke Lyting when they were gone "Everyone knows I have received no compensation for Thrain my in-law/relative.
 
Skal eg og aldrei una því að engi
komi mannhefnd eftir hann."
I shall never be satisfied because no blood was shed for him (lit. no blood comes after him)
 
I hope to have done better this time
Kveðja
Patricia
 
Hoskuld's words to Lyting - to "have no luck from the Feast" - smack a trifle of the Italian Curse "Mala Pasqua" which wishes a person a Bad Feast Day at Easter - I wonder if the Norsemen had similar constraints against cursing a meal, if not a Spiritual Assembly