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Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages

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Nóregs konungatal — Anon NktII

Anonymous Poems

Kari Ellen Gade 2009, ‘ Anonymous, Nóregs konungatal’ in Kari Ellen Gade (ed.), Poetry from the Kings’ Sagas 2: From c. 1035 to c. 1300. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 2. Turnhout: Brepols, pp. 761-806. <https://skaldic.org/m.php?p=text&i=1035> (accessed 18 April 2024)

 

1.
Þat verðr skylt,
ef at skilum yrkja,
greppum þeim,
at gleði fyrða,
allra helzt,
ef eru færi
virðar þeir,
an verit hǫfðu.
 
‘It is the obligation of the poets, if they compose correctly, that they gladden people, above all, if those men are fewer than they have been.’
2.
Róa skal fyrst
fjarri reyði,
* koma þó niðr
nær, áðr lúki.
Þar hefk hugt
hróðri þessum
orðum þeim
eptir at mynda.
 
‘One must first row far from the whale, yet come down close before it is finished. Now I have thought to imitate those words with this praise.’
3.
Þar vilk fyrst,
ef firar hlýði
minni mærð,
til máls taka,
es hugprúðr
Halfdan svarti
erfivǫrð
átti frœknan.
 
‘I will first begin the story, if people will listen to my praise, where splendid-minded Hálfdan svarti (‘the Black’) had a bold heir.’
4.
Tók kappsamr
við konungsnafni
Haraldr brátt
inn hárfagri,
þás Halfdan
hafði drukknat
í hœings
hallar næfri.
 
‘Vigorous Haraldr inn hárfagri (‘the Fair-haired’) at once received the title of king when Hálfdan had drowned in the roof-shingle of the salmon’s hall [WATER > ICE].’
5.
Ok es hann
í haug lagiðr
á herskô
Hringaríki,
en barnungr
burr Halfdanar
tók framlyndr
við fǫðurarfi.
 
‘And he is laid in a mound in war-worn Ringerike, and the child-young son of Hálfdan [= Haraldr], ambitious, received his paternal inheritance.’
6.
* Hann þat eitt
eiga vildit,
es * langfeðr
leifðu hônum.
Svá vas ríkr
ræsir Sygna
ok ágjarn
við auðgefendr,
at allt land
Elfar á milli
ok Finnmerkr
fylkir átti.
Náði hann
fyr Nóregi
ǫllum fyrst
einn at ráða.
 
‘He did not only want to possess that which his ancestors had left him. The ruler of the Sygnir [NORWEGIAN KING = Haraldr] was so powerful and aggressive toward wealth-givers [GENEROUS MEN], that the leader possessed all the land between the Götaälv and Finnmark. He was the first to rule alone over all of Norway.’
7.
Átti gramr,
sás gjafir veitti,
barna mart,
þaus biðu þroska.
Því kømr hvers
til Haralds síðan
skjǫldungs kyn
ins skararfagra.
 
‘The monarch, who gave gifts, had many children who reached maturity. Therefore the kin of each ruler since is traced to Haraldr the fair-haired.’
8.
Réð þría vetr
Þundar beðju
siklingr snarr
ok sjautøgu,
áðr * lofðung
lífi at ræna
ǫðlings kom
einkadóttir.
 
‘The brave lord ruled the bedmate of Þundr <= Óðinn> [= Jǫrð (jǫrð ‘earth’)] for three and seventy years, before the only daughter of the chieftain [Loptr] <= Loki> [= Hel (hel ‘death’)] came to rob the ruler of his life.’
9.
Þá vas haugr
ept Harald orpinn
reisuligr
á Rogalandi.
Þess mun æ
uppi lengi
hildings nafn
Halfdans sonar.
 
‘Then a magnificent mound was erected in memory of Haraldr in Rogaland. The name of the ruler, of Hálfdan’s son [= Haraldr], will be remembered for a very long time.’
10.
Tók Eirekr
við jǫfursnafni
blóðøx brátt,
sem búendr vildu.
Vas vígfimr
vetr at landi
Eirekr alls
einn ok fjóra,
áðr * vinsæll
vestan kœmi
Aðalsteins
einkafóstri,
ok Hôkon
halfrar allrar
bróður sinn
beiddi erfðar.
 
‘Eiríkr blóðøx (‘Blood-axe’) at once received the royal title, as the farmers wanted. Battle-swift Eiríkr was altogether one year and four [king] in the country, before the popular only foster-son of Æthelstan [= Hákon] came from the west, and Hákon asked his brother for half of the whole inheritance.’
11.
En Eirekr
undan flýði
heiptargjarn
ok hans synir.
Kom harðráðr
hersa mýgir
aptr í land
aldri síðan.
 
‘But Eiríkr fled away, vengeance-eager, and his sons [as well]. The harsh-ruling oppressor of hersar [RULER] never again returned to the land.’
12.
Réð kappsamr
fyr konungdómi
Hôkon einn
hríð nǫkkura.
Vas sex vetr
samt at landi
tírargjarn
ok tuttugu.
 
‘Vigorous Hákon ruled the kingdom alone for some time. The glory-eager one was altogether six and twenty years [king] in the country.’
13.
Háði gramr
gunni á Fitjum
við Eireks
erfivǫrðu.
Varð í hǫnd
hilmir skotinn,
þás folkmeiðr
flótta knúði.
 
‘The lord fought a battle at Fitjar against Eiríkr’s heirs. The ruler was shot in the arm when the battle-tree [WARRIOR] chased those who fled.’
14.
Þat hykk brátt
til bana leiddi
lítit sár
lǫfðung snaran.
Þars ávallt,
es vísir dó,
hella kennd
til Hôkonar.
 
‘I believe that little wound led the keen lord quickly to his death. There, where the leader died, a flat rock is forever named after Hákon.’
15.
Enn í haug
hauldar lǫgðu
sikling þann
á Sæheimi.
Hurfu svá
frá Haralds arfa
frœknir menn
fjǫrvi ræntum.
 
‘And freeholders placed that prince in a mound at Seim. Thus valiant men turned away from Haraldr’s heir [= Hákon], robbed of his life.’
16.
Þá hefk heyrt,
at Haraldr tœki
óársæll
jǫrð ok ríki.
Réð Gráfeldr
Gunnhildarson
níu vetr
fyr Nóregi,
áðr * Gorms sonr
ok Gull-Haraldr
nafna sinn
at nái gerði.
Vas siklingr
suðr at Halsi
lífi ræntr
í Limafirði.
 
‘Then I have heard that Haraldr, not blessed with prosperity, seized land and realm. Gráfeldr (‘Grey-cloak’) Gunnhildarson ruled Norway for nine years before Gormr’s son and Gull-Haraldr (‘Gold-Haraldr’) turned their namesake into a corpse. The ruler was robbed of his life south by Hals in Limfjorden.’
17.
Tók harðráðr
ept Harald fallinn
Hôkon jarl
við Hárs vífi.
Sá réð tyggi
ok tuttugu
þrettán vetr
Þundar beðju.
 
‘Harsh-ruling Hákon jarl received Hárr’s <= Óðinn’s> wife [= Jǫrð (jǫrð ‘earth’)] after Haraldr’s death. That lord ruled Þundr’s <= Óðinn’s> bedmate [= Jǫrð (jǫrð ‘earth’)] for thirteen and twenty years.’
18.
Urðut * góð
í Gaulardal
ævilok
Eireks fǫður,
þás Karkr þræll
knífi meitti
hattarstall
af Hôkoni.
 
‘The death of Eiríkr’s father [= Hákon] did not turn out well in Gauldalen, when Karkr the slave sliced the hat-support [HEAD] off Hákon with a knife.’
19.
Missti lítt,
sús lǫgum stýrði,
rekka kind,
ráðs ins bezta,
þá es norðr
í Nóregi
kristinn mann
til konungs tóku.
 
‘The offspring of heroes, who controlled the laws, little lacked the best counsel when they elected a Christian man king north in Norway.’
20.
Ok Óláfr
arfi Tryggva
tók liðdrjúgr
lǫnd ok þegna,
hinn, es fimm
á fôm vetrum,
lofða vinr,
lǫnd kristnaði.
 
‘And Óláfr, the heir of Tryggvi, strong in number, took lands and subjects, that friend of the people who christianised five countries within a few years.’
21.
Vas Óláfr
alls at landi
fimm at eins
faðmis galla,
áðr Eirekr
með ofrliði
ræsi þann
rómu beiddi.
 
‘Óláfr was [king] in the country altogether only five destructions of the snake [WINTERS] before Eiríkr, with an overwhelming host, offered that ruler battle.’
22.
Sú vas alls,
áðr Ormr ryddisk,
Hrotta hríð
hǫrð ok lengi.
Þar hefir ǫld,
es Óláfr fell,
Svǫlðrarvág
síðan kallat.
 
‘That blizzard of Hrotti <sword> [BATTLE] was very hard and long before Ormr (‘the Serpent’) was cleared. That place where Óláfr fell people later called the Bay of Svolder.’
23.
Réð tolf vetr
tíri gǫfgaðr
Eirekr jarl
fyr Yggs mani,
áðr * lofðungr
ór landi fór
vestr of haf,
sás vini gœddi.
 
‘Eiríkr jarl, endowed with glory, ruled twelve years over Yggr’s <= Óðinn’s> girl [= Jǫrð (jǫrð ‘earth’)], before the lord, who enriched his friends, went from the land west across the sea.’
24.
Þá vas úfr
Eireks skorinn,
áðr * Rómfǫr
ræsir hœfi,
ok blóðrôs
til bana leiddi
vitran jarl
vestr með Englum.
 
‘Then Eiríkr’s uvula was cut, before the ruler could embark on a journey to Rome, and blood-loss led the wise jarl to his death in the west among the English.’
25.
Talði lǫnd
ok lausafé
sína eign
Sveinn ok Hôkon,
ok tvá vetr
at tali fyrða
Eireks arf
jarlar hǫfðu,
áðr í land
með lítinn her
konungmaðr
kœmi vestan,
ok Óláfr
jarli mœtti
í Sauðungs
sundi miðju.
 
‘Sveinn and Hákon declared lands and loose chattel their property, and for two years, according to people’s reckoning, the jarls held Eiríkr’s inheritance, before a royal claimant, with a small army, came to the country from the west, and Óláfr met the jarl in the middle of Sauesund.’
26.
Varð Hôkon *
hilmi at sverja
eiða þess,
es Óláfr bað:
at folk-Baldr
flýja skyldi
óðǫl sín
til aldrslita.
 
‘Hákon had to swear to the lord oaths concerning that which Óláfr stipulated: that the battle-Baldr <god> [WARRIOR] should flee from his ancestral properties to the end of his life.’
27.
Bauð Óláfr
austr fyr Nesjum
snarpa sókn
Sveini jarli.
Varð liðfár
lǫnd at flýja
sigri sviptr
sonr Hôkonar.
 
‘Óláfr offered Sveinn jarl a fierce fight east off Nesjar. The poorly supported son of Hákon [= Sveinn] was forced to flee the lands, deprived of victory.’
28.
Fekk lofsæll
land með hringum
Óláfr einn
allt inn digri.
Réð hróðmǫgr
Haralds ins grenska
fimtán vetr
foldu grýttri.
 
‘The glorious Óláfr inn digri (‘the Stout’) alone received the entire land from border to border. The glory-son of Haraldr inn grenski (‘the one from Grenland’) [= Óláfr] ruled the rocky ground for fifteen years.’
29.
Bar kappsamr
Knútr inn ríki
bjartan seim
und búendr marga.
Sparði lítt
við lenda menn
auð, til þess
at * jǫfur vélti.
 
‘Vigorous Knútr inn ríki (‘the Mighty’) distributed bright gold among many farmers. He hardly withheld wealth from the district chieftains to the end that they should betray the prince.’
30.
Reisti her
hilmi á móti
kynjað*r vel
Kalfr ok Þórir.
Þar vas felldr
fylkir Þrœnda,
sem staðir
Stikla heita.
 
‘Kálfr, of good family, and Þórir raised an army against the ruler. The lord of the Þrœndir [NORWEGIAN KING = Óláfr] was killed at the place called Stiklestad.’
31.
Þá bar raun,
at ræsir vas
Kristi kærr,
um konung helgan.
Stendr í Krists
kirkju miðri
heilagt skrín
of Haralds arfa.
 
‘Then there was true testimony concerning the holy king, that the ruler was dear to Christ. In the middle of Kristkirken a holy shrine stands over Haraldr’s heir [= Óláfr].’
32.
Þá réð Sveinn
sonr Alfífu
snáka stríð
sex fyr landi,
áðr * Knúts sonr
af konungdómi
vinalauss
varð at flýja.
 
‘Then Sveinn, the son of Ælfgifu, ruled the country for six distresses of snakes [WINTERS], before Knútr’s son [= Sveinn] had to flee friendless from the kingdom.’
33.
Kom ágætr
austan ór Gǫrðum
einkason
Óláfs konungs.
Fekk Magnús
ok mikit ríki
óðalsjǫrð
alla sína.
 
‘The magnificent only son of King Óláfr [= Magnús] came west from Russia. Magnús received all his ancestral land and great power.’
34.
Vas tállaust
tolf vetr konungr
mǫnnum þarfr
Magnús góði,
áðr í sótt
Sygna dróttinn
afreksmaðr
andar missti.
 
‘Magnús góði (‘the Good’), beneficial to men, was king without deceit for twelve years, before the lord of the Sygnir [NORWEGIAN KING = Magnús], the outstanding man, lost his life through an illness.’
35.
Vas harmdauðr
hverjum manni
fylkir fœrðr,
þars * faðir hvílir.
Sá vas norðr
í Nóregi
Krists * kirkju
konungmaðr grafinn.
 
‘The leader, whose death was lamented by all men, was brought back to where his father rests. That king was buried in Kristkirken north in Norway.’
36.
Nú hefk talt
tíu landreka,
þás hverr vas
frá Haraldi.
Inntak svá
ævi þeira,
sem Sæmundr
sagði inn fróði.
 
‘Now I have enumerated ten sovereigns, each of whom was descended from Haraldr. I recounted their lives just as Sæmundr inn fróði (‘the Learned’) said.’
37.
Þós þess máls,
es ek mæla hygg,
meiri hlutr
miklu eptir.
Nú skal þat
þaðan af greiða
jǫfra kyns,
es enn lifir.
 
‘Yet there is a much greater part left of the story which I intend to tell. I shall now, henceforth, present that [story] of the kin of princes which still lives.’
38.
Þats mér sagt,
at Sigurðr hrísi
Haralds sonr
héti forðum.
Vas Halfdan
Hrísa arfi
en Sigurðr sýrr
sonr Halfdanar.
 
‘That has been told me that Haraldr’s son was called Sigurðr hrísi (‘Illegitimate’) in olden times. Hálfdan was the heir of Hrísi, and Sigurðr sýrr (‘Sow’) [was] the son of Hálfdan.’
39.
Þá gat son
Sigurðr ok Ásta,
þanns Haralds
heiti átti.
Sá réð einn
allvitr konungr
víðri fold*
vetr tuttugu,
áðr herfǫr
hilmir gerði
til Englands
með ofstopa.
Felldu vestr
í vápnþrumu
enskir menn
Óláfs bróður.
 
‘Then Sigurðr and Ásta begot a son who bore Haraldr’s name. That very wise king ruled the wide land alone for twenty years, before the lord made a war-expedition to England with insolence. English men killed Óláfr’s brother [= Haraldr] in the west in weapon-thunder [BATTLE].’
40.
Tók friðsamr
til fǫðurleifðar
ok ársæll
Óláfr kyrri.
Sá réð* gramr
grýttri foldu
samfast ve*tr
sjau ok tuttugu.
 
‘Peaceful and prosperous Óláfr kyrri (‘the Quiet’) assumed his paternal inheritance. That lord ruled the rocky ground continuously for seven and twenty years.’
41.
Kom ofbrátt
ǫndu at ræna
mikil sótt
Magnúss fǫður.
Sá vas enn
ǫðlingr grafinn
Krists * kirkju
í Kaupangi.
 
‘A great illness came very suddenly to rob Magnús’s father [= Óláfr] of his life. That ruler was also buried in Kristkirken in Trondheim.’
42.
En Óláfr
átti inn kyrri
frœknan son
ok fjárgóðan.
Réð Magnús
fyr mani Yggjar
tíu vetr
at tali fyrða.
 
‘But Óláfr inn kyrri (‘the Quiet’) had a bold and generous son. Magnús ruled Yggr’s <= Óðinn’s> girl [= Jǫrð (jǫrð ‘earth’)] for ten years according to people’s reckoning.’
43.
Frák, berfœttr
bǫrn at ætti
Magnús mǫrg,
þaus metorð hǫfðu.
Vôru þess
þengils synir
fremðar fljóts
fimm konungar.
 
‘I heard that Magnús berfœttr (‘Barelegs’) had many children who obtained noble status. Five kings were sons of that lord, swift in fame.’
44.
Fór málsnjallr
Magnús konungr
til Írlands
ungr at herja.
Varð ágætr
Eysteins faðir
fleina flaug
felldr í þeiri.
 
‘Eloquent King Magnús went young to Ireland to harry. The famous father of Eysteinn [= Magnús] was killed in that flight of spears [BATTLE].’
45.
Þats þá sagt,
at saman réði
þjóðkonungar
þrír fyr landi.
Þat hefk heyrt,
at hafi varla
fremri brœðr
á fold komit.
 
‘It is said, then, that three mighty kings ruled the country together. I have heard, that more outstanding brothers have hardly been born on earth.’
46.
Varð Óláfr
ungr inn góði
lofsæll fyrstr
líf at missa.
Môttu þess
Magnúss sonar
skamma stund
skatnar njóta.
 
‘The glorious, young Óláfr inn góði (‘the Good’) was the first to lose his life. People were able to enjoy that son of Magnús [= Óláfr] for a short time.’
47.
Gerði flest,
þats frama gegnði
innanlands,
Eysteinn konungr,
unz hjartverkr
hilmi frœknan
brigða brátt
til bana leiddi.
 
‘King Eysteinn did much that brought progress within the country, until a heart-disease very suddenly led the daring lord to his death.’
48.
Þeir eru brœðr
báðir lagðir
norðr í grund
á Niðarbakka.
Þar stendr hátt
í hǫfuðkirkju
Óláfs skrín
of altári.
 
‘Those brothers are both laid in the ground in the north on the banks of Nidelven. There the lofty shrine of Óláfr stands above the altar in the cathedral.’
49.
En Sigurðr
sýnu lifði
þeira lengst
þriggja brœðra,
hinn, es út
til Jórsala
frægsta fǫr
fór ór landi.
 
‘But Sigurðr lived clearly the longest of those three brothers, that one who went on the most renowned journey abroad out to Jerusalem.’
50.
Réð ágætr
ok ellifu
sextán vetr
Sigurðr fyr ríki,
áðr mannskœð
Mœra dróttins
banasótt
brygði lífi.
 
‘Splendid Sigurðr ruled the realm sixteen and eleven years before a man-harming, deadly disease ended the life of the lord of the Mœrir [NORWEGIAN KING = Sigurðr].’
51.
Þess es austr
í Ósló bœ
lofðungs lík
lagit í kistu.
Nú grœr jǫrð
of jǫfurs beinum
at Hallvarðs
hári kirkju.
 
‘The corpse of that king is laid in a coffin east in the city of Oslo. Now earth grows over the prince’s bones in lofty Hallvardskirken.’
52.
En biltrauðr
bæði lifði
ept Sigurð
sonr ok dóttir.
Þess mun enn
þokkum síðar
dóttir nefnd
Dœla hilmis.
 
‘But both a resolute son and a daughter survived Sigurðr. The daughter of that lord of the Dœlir [NORWEGIAN KING = Sigurðr] will again be mentioned somewhat later.’
53.
Nú es heldr,
svát halla tekr,
ævilok
jǫfra at telja:
hét Magnús
mǫgr Sigurðar
heiptargjarn
en Haraldr bróðir.
 
‘Now I shall indeed recount the deaths of princes, so that it begins to draw to a close: the vengeance-eager son of Sigurðr [= Magnús] was called Magnús and the brother Haraldr.’
54.
Þeir * rógsamt
ríki hǫfðu
nánir frændr
í Nóregi.
Allt fór verr,
an vesa skyldi
— þess galt margr —
á meðal þeira,
unz Magnús
missti beggja
sœmðarlaust
sigrs ok heilsu.
 
‘Those close kinsmen had a discordant reign in Norway. Everything went worse between them than it should have—many paid for that—, until Magnús lost both victory and health without honour.’
55.
Þat veit hverr,
at Haraldr gilli
vas samfast
sex vetr konungr,
áðr * lofðung
af lífdǫgum
tírarlaust
tóku fyrðar.
Sás at Krists
kirkju jarðaðr
í Bjǫrgyn
bróðir jǫfra.
 
‘Everyone knows that Haraldr gilli (‘Servant’) was king continuously for six years before men deprived that lord of his life without glory. That brother of princes is buried in Kristkirken in Bergen.’
56.
Frák, landvǫrn
ept liðinn ræsi
Sygna grams
at synir tœki.
Vas Eysteinn
Inga bróðir
sóknar snarr
en Sigurðr annarr.
 
‘I heard that the sons of the lord of the Sygnir [NORWEGIAN KING = Haraldr gilli] took over the defence of the land after the death of the ruler. Eysteinn, swift in battle, was a brother of Ingi and Sigurðr another. ’
57.
Náði frægt
í friði standa
þeygi lengr
þeira ríki,
þvít þeir brœðr,
es brutu sœri,
banaspjót
bôrusk eptir.
 
‘The splendid realm of theirs could not at all endure any longer in peace, because those brothers, who broke oaths, aimed to kill one another.’
58.
Vasat saklaust,
þás Sigurð hǫfðu
frœkinn mann
fjǫrvi ræntan.
Sás í fold
hjá feðr sínum
í Bjǫrgyn
búinn at liggja.
 
‘It was not without cause when they robbed Sigurðr, the daring man, of his life. That one is fit to lie in the ground next to his father in Bergen.’
59.
Vas Eysteinn
austan fjarðar
lífi ræntr
af liði Inga.
Nús sá gramr
grundu ausinn
andar sparr
austr at Forsi.
 
‘Eysteinn was robbed of his life east of the fjord by Ingi’s host. Now that lord is covered with earth, bereft of life, east at Foss.’
60.
Stóð einart
Inga ríki
átján vetr
ok aðra sjau,
unz Hôkon
með herliði
austr í Vík
Inga felldi.
Sás gunndjarfr
gramr í Ósló
hauðri hulðr
at hǫfuðkirkju.
 
‘Ingi’s power stood firmly for eighteen years and another seven, until Hákon killed Ingi east in Viken with a war-host. That battle-brave ruler is covered with earth in the cathedral in Oslo.’
61.
En Hôkon
hlaut at ráða
lítla stund
landi ok þegnum,
þvít Erlingr
átti inn skakki
vænan son
ok velborinn.
Gaf* landsfolk
ept liðinn Inga
konungsnafn
Kristínar bur.
 
‘But Hákon was destined to rule land and subjects for a short time, because Erlingr inn skakki (‘the Tilting’) had a promising and well-born son. The people of the country gave Kristín’s son [= Magnús] the royal title after the death of Ingi.’
62.
Ok Magnús
á Mœri norðr
fremðargjarn
felldi Hôkon.
Sá vas vinsæll
vígðri moldu
ræsir hulðr
í Raumsdali.
 
‘And Magnús, eager for fame, killed Hákon north in Møre. That popular prince was covered by hallowed soil in Romsdalen.’
63.
Vas sókndjarfr
sonr Kristínar
sjautján vetr
ok sex konungr,
unz ágætr
austr í Sogni
frœkinn gram*
felldi Sverrir.
 
‘The battle-brave son of Kristín [= Magnús] was king for seventeen years and six, until renowned Sverrir killed the bold ruler east in Sogn.’
64.
Nús gunndjarfs
í grǫf lagit
Magnúss lík
í musteri
í Bjǫrgyn,
þars búit gulli
stendr skrautgǫrt
skrín Sunnifu.
 
‘Now the body of battle-daring Magnús is laid in a grave in the cathedral in Bergen, where the splendidly-crafted shrine of Sunnifa stands adorned with gold.’
65.
Nús þat sýnt,
at Sverrir ræðr
ógnarǫrr
einn fyr ríki
ǫllu því,
es átt hefir
Haralds kyn
Halfdanssonar.
 
‘Now it is evident that battle-generous Sverrir alone rules the entire realm which the kin of Haraldr Hálfdansson [= Haraldr hárfagri] possessed.’
66.
Þó skalk enn
þokkum fleira
frá Berfœtts
bǫrnum segja
ǫðlings þess,
es aldrigi
eld né járn
óttazk hafði.
 
‘Yet I shall still tell somewhat more about the children of Barelegs, of that lord, who never feared fire nor iron.’
67.
Hét * dǫglings
dóttir Þóra;
sú vas gipt
gǫfgum manni.
Allra helzt,
sús Jóan fœddi,
vas sonsæl
systir jǫfra.
 
‘The daughter of the monarch was called Þóra; she was married to a noble man. The sister of princes who gave birth to Jón was above all son-blessed.’
68.
Kom ráðvǫnd
ræsis dóttir
til næfrlands
nykra borgar
gǫfuglynd
góðrar tíðar
allra helzt
Íslendingum,
þvít hugrakkr
henni * fylgði
einkasonr
jǫfra systur
hjartaprúðr
sás hefir allra,
ýta vinr,
orðlof fira.
 
‘The counsel-heeding daughter of the ruler came to the land of the roof-shingle of the water-monsters’ stronghold [(lit. ‘roof-shingle-land of the water-monsters’ stronghold’) SEA > ICE > = Iceland], noble-minded, at a good time above all for the Icelanders, because the upright only son of the sovereigns’ sister, the proud-hearted friend of the people who possesses all men’s words of praise, accompanied her.’
69.
Þats ok víst,
at Jóans verða
metorð mest
Mistar runna
einarðlynds,
þars eigusk við
merkismenn
môlum skipta.
 
‘It is also certain, that the honours of Jón, the faithful-minded one, are the greatest of the shrubs of Mist <valkyrie> [WARRIORS], where noteworthy men have dealings with each other arbitrating cases.’
70.
Nú vill kapp*
við konungsfrænda
afreksmaðr
engi deila.
Giptudrjúgr,
sem glíkligt es,
verðr vinsæll
vella deilir.
 
‘Now no outstanding man wishes to try his courage against the king’s kinsman. The popular distributor of pure gold [GENEROUS MAN] becomes lasting in good luck, as is likely.’
71.
Þótti ǫrr
ok ósvikall
faðir hans
flestum mǫnnum.
Vissi Loptr
und logi skýja
óvin sinn
engan fœddan.
 
‘His father seemed liberal and honest to most men. Loptr had no enemy born beneath the flame of the clouds [SUN].’
72.
En Sæmundr
sína vissi
Sigfúss sonr
snilli jafnan
faðir Lopts,
sás firum þótti
hǫfuðsmaðr
við hluti alla.
 
‘But Sæmundr, Sigfúss’s son, always showed his prowess, Loptr’s father [= Sæmundr], who seemed to people a leader in all respects.’
73.
Þat hefir ætt
Oddaverja
jǫfra kyn*
alla prýdda
dótturson,
sás dǫgum optar
fremsk margnýtr,
Magnúss konungs.
 
‘That descendant of princes has graced the entire family of the Oddaverjar, the daughter’s son of King Magnús [= Jón], who excels, much-bountiful, more often than there are days.’
74.
Nefnðak áðr
nær þrjátøgu
tígna menn*
tíri gœdda,
þrætulaust
en þeir eru
Jóans ættar
allir jǫfrar.
 
‘Earlier I mentioned almost thirty distinguished men, endowed with glory, and all those princes are indisputably of Jón’s family.’
75.
Nú biðk Krist,
at konungs spjalli
hafi þat allt,
es œskir sér,
giptudrjúgr
af guði sjǫlfum,
allan aldr
ok unaðs njóti.
 
‘Now I ask Christ that the confidant of the king should have all that which he wishes for himself, the one of lasting good luck, from God himself, and that he should enjoy bliss all his life.’
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