> Var það bæði að honum þurru lausafé ...
> That was to him both decreasing money (i.e., he was
> running short on cash) ...
> It was both that money for him (had run) dry ...
> That (There) was both a shortage (typo for þurrð?) of
> moveable-property for him ...
No typo, according to both of my other versions. I take
<lausafé> to be a dative of respect, <þurru> agreeing with
it, the whole being 'It was ... that to him was dry in
respect of cash' or the like.
> Þótti þeim í hönd falla að taka upp land þetta hjá sér
> sjálfum og bað Ósvífur þau eigi láta smátt slíta.
> It seemed to them (it) falls in (their) hands to extend
> this land beside themselves and asked the Osvifurs not to
> let (the) deal break (i.e., not miss snapping up the deal
> before it's gone).
> It seemed to them to fall into their hands to take up this
> land near themselves and Osvif bade them not to allow
> (negotiations) to end meanly.
> (It) seemed to them to fall into hand (to be a suitable
> arrangement?) to take up this land near to themselves and
> Ósvífr bade them not to cause to break-off (negotiations)
> over small (things, ie trifles).
More 'convenient' than 'suitable', I think: it was a 'handy'
thing to do.
> Síðan réðu þau Þórarinn um kaup þetta og urðu ásátt hversu
> dýrt vera skyldi og svo það er í móti skyldi vera og var
> mælt til kaups með þeim Bolla.
> The they, the Thorarinns, rode concerning this purchase
> and became agreed to terms however expensive it would be
> and so that when against would be and was agreed to
> purchase with the Bollis.
> Afterwards they, Thorarin (and the couple), settled on
> this bargain and became agreed how expensive (it) should
> be also (what?) should be against? and (it) was agreed on
> the bargain between them, Bolli (and Thorarinn).
> After-that they consulted Þórarinn about this deal and
> (they) became agreed how expensive (it) (ie what the
> price) should be and also that which should be in exchange
> and (it) was spoken to a deal (a deal was negotiated)
> between them, Bolli (and Þórarinn).
I think that <þau Þórarinn> is a joint subject, as Grace
interpreted it.
> Þórarinn svarar: "Dýrt mun mér verða drottins orð um þetta
> mál.
> Thorarinn answers: "The master's word is strong concerning
> this case.
> Thorarinn answers, “Costly? will be to me (the) lord’s
> word concerning this case.
> Þórarinn answers: Of high worth (weighty) will become to
> me (the) masters words concerning this matter.
<Dýrt er dróttins orð> and variants appears in a number of
sagas and must have been a genuine proverb; not quite 'the
master's word is law', but definitely leaning in that
direction in practical terms.
Brian