Here’s my translation. A very enjoyable passage. There are a couple of small points that I would appreciate help on

Kveðja

Alan

151. kafli
Chapter 151


Kári spurði Björn: "Hvað skulum við nú til ráða taka? Skal eg nú reyna vitsmuni þína."
Kári asked Björn: ‘What shall we now take (adopt) as a plan? I shall now test your wits.’


Björn svaraði: "Hvort (hvárt) þykir þér undir því mest að við séum sem vitrastir?"
Björn answered: ‘Does it seem to you (to be) depending (see undir, Z3) most on that, that we be as wise as possible?’


"Já," sagði Kári, "svo er víst."
’Yes,’ said Kári, ‘(It) is certainly so.’


"Þá er skjótt til ráða að taka," segir Björn. "Við skulum ginna þá alla sem
’Then (one) must (see vera + inf, Z7) quickly take (adopt) a plan,’ says Björn. ‘We shall fool all those as (we would)

þursa og skulum við láta sem við munum ríða norður á fjall. En þegar er
giants and we shall make like we will ride north to (the) mountains. But as-soon as

leiti ber á milli vor (vár) þá skulum við snúa aftur og ofan með Skaftá og felast
a hill stands between us (Z, bera II, 2 - thanks Grace!), then we shall turn back and down along Skaftá (Shaft-River) and conceal-ourselves

þar sem okkur þykir vænlegast meðan leitin er sem áköfust ef þeir ríða eftir."
there where (it) seems to us most promising. * (?) Meanwhile the search is (ie will be) as furious-as-possibe (ie at its most intense), if they ride back.’
* Its seems to make more sense if I put a full-stop here.

Kári mælti: "Svo munum við gera og hafði eg þetta ætlað áður."
Kári spoke: ‘We will do so and I had intended (to do) this already.’


"Svo mun þér reynast," sagði Björn, "að eg mun ekki vera hjátækur (hjátoekr) í
’So will (it) be proven to you,’ said Björn, ‘that I will not be missing-(my)-hold (lacking?) in

vitsmunum eigi síður en í harðræðunum."
wits, no less than (see eigi síðr en, under síðr, adv, Z1) in the hardihoods.’


Þeir Kári riðu nú sem þeir höfðu ætlað ofan með Skaftá. Þá fellur áin sum í
They, Kári (and co) ride now as they had intended down along Skaftá (Shaft-River), Then, some (part of, ie one branch of the) river flows into

austur en sum í landsuður. Sneru þeir þá ofan með miðkvíslinni og léttu eigi
(the) east but some (ie another branch) into (the) south-east. They turned then down along (the) middle branch (ie the east-south-east one) and stopped not

fyrr en þeir komu í Meðalland og á mýri þá (pron acc sg of sá, rather than adv) er Kringlumýri heitir. Þar er
before they came into Meðalland (Middle-Earth) and to that swamp which is called Kringlumýri. There is

hraun allt umhverfis.
a lava-field all round.


Kári mælti þá við Björn að hann skyldi gæta hesta þeirra og vera á varðhaldi
Kári spoke then with Björn that he should take-care-of there horses and be on (the) lookout (keep watch)

"en mér gerir svefnhöfugt."
’but I am becoming drowsy (lit. (it) acts on me drowsily).


Björn gætti hestanna en Kári lagðist niður og svaf allskamma stund áður en
Björn took-care-of the horses but (and) Kári laid-himself down and slept for a very-short time before

Björn vakti hann. Hann hafði þá leidda saman hestana og voru þar hjá þeim.
Björn woke him. He had then lead the horses together and (they) were there beside them.


Björn mælti þá til Kára: "Allmjög þarft (þurfa) þú þó mín til. Mundi sá nú hafa
Björn spoke then to Kári: ‘You very-much had-need of me. That (one) (ie he) would now have

hlaupið í braut frá þér er (rel part ‘who’ (Z.I)seems to me better than conj ‘when’ (Z.II) here) eigi væri jafnvel hugaður sem eg er því að nú
run away from you who was not equally-well courageous as I am because now

ríða hér óvinir þínir að þér og skalt þú svo við búast."
your enemies ride here towards you and you shall thus get-yourself ready for (them).’


Kári gekk þá undir hamarskúta nokkurn.
Kári walked then under a certain overhanging-crag.


Björn mælti: "Hvar skal eg nú standa?"
Björn spoke: ‘Where shall I now stand?’


Kári svarar: "Tveir eru nú kostir fyrir höndum. Sá er annar að þú standir að
Kári answers: ‘Twain are now (the) choices at your disposal (?) . That (one) is first that you stand at

baki mér og hafir skjöldinn að hlífa þér með ef þér kemur hann að nokkuru
my back and have the shield to protect yourself with, if it (hann) comes to (brings about, see koma at, Z4) some

gagni. Hinn er annar að þú stígir á hest þinn og ríðir undan sem þú mátt mest."
advantage to you (if you can make use of it). That is (the) second that you mount your horse and ride away as fast as you can.’