Re: Laxdaela Saga 61 end - Rob's Translation

> Fer það saman að þú ert sakbitinn í meira lagi fyrir því
> að þú eggjaðir mjög að Bolli væri drepinn.

> It ends the same that you are rather guilty for that, that
> you much egged (people) on that Bolli would be killed. (Z.
> lag 9 - í meira lagi, considerably, rather)

> It goes together that you are guilty in many ways for it
> that you urged much that Bolli be killed.

> That goes together (ie it follows) that you are guilty in
> greater degree (see lag, Z9) because you urged much that
> Bolli should-be killed.

I like <sakbitinn>: 'offense-bitten, charge-bitten'.

> Lambi spurði hvers beitt mundi vera.

> Lambi asked who would be (beitt? hunted?).

> Lambi asked how this would affect (him)?

> Lambi asked of what (it) would be requested (beiða) (what
> was being asked of him).

'Lambi asked what would be requested': the genitive simply
marks the direct object of <beiða>.

> Lambi segir: "Illt þykir mér friðkaup í þessu og
> ódrengilegt.

> Lambi says: "It seems to me a poor purchase of peace in
> this and un-noble.

> Lambi says, “A purchase of peace in this (way) seems bad
> to me and unmanly.

> Lambi says: “(The) purchase-of-peace seems to me difficult
> (ie too highly priced) in this and unworthy-of-a-man.

I think that <illt> here is 'evil, bad', not 'difficult': he
thinks that this is an evil price to pay.

> Megum vér ekki annað ætla en leysast af nokkuru eftir slík
> stórvirki.

> We cannot intend another to absent himself from some after
> such great achievements.

> We may not expect otherwise, but get one’s self clear (Z
> leysa) somewhat after such serious deeds.

> We can-not expect other than to get-ourselves-clear (see
> leysast, Z12) somewhat (to some extent) after such
> great-deeds.

Emphasis on <nokkuru>, I think, as opposed to 'completely'.

> Þykir mér og sem svo verði flestum gefið að allt láti
> fjörvi fyrri.

> It seems to me also as so most would become given that all
> lose life first.

> (it) seems to me also as though to most it would be given
> that all give up life before.??

> (It) seems to me also that (it) would-be so given for (ie
> the choice of) most (people) that (they) should-forsake
> all before (forsaking) life. (?)

'I also think that most would be so disposed [as] to give up
everything [else] before life'; it's <gefa> Z6.

> Verður því vandræði fyrst að hrinda er bráðast kemur að
> höndum."

> It becomes that difficulty first to push who most hastily
> happen."

> It is firstly difficult to push what comes soonest to
> hand.”

> (One) must (verða + inf) therefore first cast-off (hrinda,
> Z2) troubles which most-suddenly (soonest) come to hand.”

Which is a bloody long-winded way to say 'First things
first'!

> Lambi mælti: "Auðheyrt er það hvers þú fýsir Þorsteinn.

> Lambi said: "It is clear from what you said who you urge
> Thorsteinn.

> Lambi spoke, “It is easy to hear how you urge Thorstein.

> Lambi spoke:”That is easily-heard (clear) of which you
> urge, Þorsteinn.

I'd say simply 'which you urge': the ON assignment of
genitive and accusative cases to the objects of <fýsa> seems
to me purely functional, just a way of distinguishing the
thing being urged from the person on whom it is being urged.

> Ætla eg það vel fallið að þú ráðir þessu ef þér sýnist svo
> einsætt því að lengi höfum við átt vandræðafélag mikið
> saman.

> I intend that quite right that you decide this if it seems
> to you so clear because we have long had to deal with much
> the same troublesome fellowship.

> I expect it well done that you advise this if it seems to
> you so clear because long have we had much troublesome
> fellowship together.

> I think that well suited that you should-have your-own-way
> in this if it seems to you so unquestioningly-settled (ie
> the only thing to be done) because for-a-long-time we have
> had a mighty troubled fellowship together.

Although it's not clear from the definition of
<vandræðafélag> in CV or Z, it appears that the sense of
this is that they have shared their difficulties and
dangers, not that their fellowship has been beset by
disagreements. At any rate, that's the reading suggested in
a footnote to the Altnordische Saga-Bibliothek edition, as
well as the interpretation used in the MM&HP translation.

> Réðst nú þetta að þeir Þorsteinn og Lambi skulu ráðast með
> Þorgísli til ferðar, kváðu á með sér að þeir skyldu koma
> þriðja dag snemma í Tungu í Hörðadal.

> This was now settled that they, Thorsteinn and Labmi,
> should resolve with Thorgils as to the trip, determined
> with him that they should come early on the third day to
> Tongue in Hordadale.

> This was now settled that they, Thorstein and Lambi,
> should join with Thorgils on the journey, agreed among
> themselves that they should come three days early to
> Tongue in Hordadal.

> This now was-resolved that they, Þorsteinn and Lambi,
> shall undertake (the) expedition with Þorgils, determined
> on between them that they should come on (the) third day
> (Tuesday or three days hence?) early to Tunga in
> Hörðadalr.

I don't think that it's possible to be certain about <þriðja
dag>, but Tuesday fits well: they're talking on Sunday,
Þorgils rides home Sunday evening, and they meet early
Tuesday morning. There's no obvious reason to wait an extra
day, as would be required on the other interpretation.

Brian