Enn lystir mik (austan
erut of spǫrð ór Gǫrðum)
frá ǫðlingi ungum
(opt byrjuð lof) spyrja.
Fréttik smás, þótt smæstir
smoglir ástar foglar
(þinig ljúgumk fǫr) fljúgi
(fylkis niðs) á miðli.
Enn lystir mik spyrja frá ungum ǫðlingi; lof opt byrjuð austan ór Gǫrðum erut of spǫrð. Fréttik smás, þótt smæstir, smoglir foglar ástar fljúgi á miðli; ljúgumk fǫr þinig niðs fylkis.
Still it pleases me to ask about the young prince; the praises often conveyed from the east out of Russia are not too sparing. I enquire about little, though the smallest, smuggling birds of affection fly between; I am cheated of the journey hither of the leader’s offspring [RULER = Magnús].
[8] fylkis niðs: ‘fyl kisliðs’ 39, fylkis liðs F
[7, 8] ljúgumk fǫr þinig niðs fylkis ‘I am cheated of the journey hither of the leader’s offspring [RULER = Magnús]’: This is how the eds generally have understood the clause, the sense being, presumably, ‘I wish Magnús would come west’. It is particularly clever how this intercalary breaks up foglar … fljúgi … á miðli ‘birds fly between’ (in reference to exchanged messages).