Því voru nítján niðjar skaufhala
hunds jafningja heldr en tuttugu,
— þar sannaðiz forn fyrða mæli —
að oft verðr örgum eins vant á tög.
Því voru nítján niðjar skaufhala, jafningja hunds, heldr en tuttugu, að oft verðr örgum vant eins á tög; þar sannaðiz forn mæli fyrða.
It was for that reason that there were nineteen offspring of Tassel-tail, a dog’s equal, rather than twenty because the wicked one often lacks one from ten; there the old saying of men came true.
[6] fyrða: so Rask87ˣ, forn‑ 603