Þrim nóttum síðar kallaði meykonungrinn Knút til sín.
On the third night after, the maid-king called Knutr to her.
Hon mælti þá til hans, “sendiferð hef ek þér hugað.”
She then spoke to him, "I have thought of your mission."
“Hvárt skal ek fara?” segir hann.
"Whether shall I go?" he says.
“Þú skalt sækja uxa mina.
"You shall look for my oxen.
Þeir eru hundrað saman, ok koma þeim heilum ok ómeiddum til mín sumarsdaginn fyrsta.
They are 100 altogether, and bring them home hale and hearty to me the first day of summer.
Horn þat sem fram stendr ór hausi einum þeira skaltu taka ok færa mér fult af gulli.
The horn that stands forward out of the skull of one of them, you shall take and fetch me full of gold.
Á þínum veg er eitt vatn.
On your way is a lake.
Þar er í einn hólmr, þar á ek í eggvarp nökkut.
In there is an island, there I have on (it) somewhat of an egg-field.
Þau skaltu týna.
You shall destroy them.
Þar liggr líf þitt á ef þú færir mér þau ei öll óbrotin, ok ef þú skilr nökkut eptir.”
You life lies (in jeapordy) if you don't bring me them all unbroken, and if you leave something behind."
“Hvert á þeira at vænta?” segir hann.
"Where do I have to expect them?" he says.
“Ei mundir þú mik at spyrja,” segir hon, “ef þér þætti eptirlæti í at fara.
"You would not ask me," she says, "if you intended enjoyment in travelling.
Ok eigi mundi Sigrgarðr torfelt hafa þessa för.”
And Sigrgardr would not have (torfelt?) this for."
“Minnst þú vel á þat,” segir hann.
"Least you well to that (???)," he says.
“Þegi vanmenna,” segir hon.
"Be silent, worthless person," she says.
Var hon þá reiðulig at sjá.
She was then angry looking at that.
Hann sneri þegar í burtu ok bjóst þegar at fara sína sendiferð.
He at once turned away and immediately began to prepare to go on his mission.
Ok hafði með sér sex menn sína.
And he had with him six of his men.
En aðrir váru eptir hjá því sem þeir áttu.
But others remained by that as they had. (??)
11
Knútr fór nú leið sína.
Knutr now went on his way.
Ferr hann margan ókunnigan stig.
He went many unknown steps.
Eitt kveld koma þeir at einu sæluhúsi.
One evening they came to a hospice.
Þat var timbrhús.
It was a wooden house.
Þeir komu þar snemma um kveldit.
They arrived there early during the evening.
Bjuggust þeir þar um.
They encamped there. (Z. búa 10: búast um (= búa um sik), to make one’s own bed, to make oneself comfortable, to encamp)
Hann sendi þrjá eptir eldiviði en tvá menn at sækja vatn.
He sent three (men) for firewood and two men to look for water.
Þótti honum þeir seinir aptr.
It seemed to him they (were) slow (to come) back.
Fór hann síðan at vitja þeira, ok fann hann dauða hvártveggju.
He then went to get them, and he found each one dead.
Ok váru aðrir snaraðir úr hálsliðinum.
And there were others thrown out of the neck joint.
En af öðrum váru bitin höfuðin.
But of others, they were bitten in the head.
Ferr hann nú heim aptr í sæluhúsit.
He then went back home to the hospice.
En er hann kom þar þá váru þar fyrir þrír menn.
But when he arrived there, then three men were before (him).
Þeir váru féhirðar meykonungsins.
They were the maid-king's shepherds.
Einn hét Kampi, annar Skeggi, þriði hét Toppr.
One was named Kampi, the second Skeggi, the third was named Toppr.
Þeir váru illvirkjar miklir ok drápu þeir menn.
They were great criminals and they killed men.
En færðu meykonunginum fé þeira.
And they conveyed the maid-king's livestock.
Þeir sóttu þegar at Knúti allir er þeir sjá hann.
At once they attacked Knutr, all they who saw him.
váru þeir bæði sterkir ok stórhöggvir.
They were both strong and dealing heavy blows.
Aldri þóttist hann í viðrlíka raun ok mannhættu komit hafa.
He never thought himself to have come in a similar experience and danger of life.