Réðum krapt í kvæði
kross þíns fyr þjóð inna,
árs, þó at, eflir, værak
allítt til þess fallinn.
Sízt em ek samr of baztan
sýnt — öngrumz því löngum —
fyr lundfasta löstu,
líknfæðir, þik ræða.
Eflir árs, réðum inna fyr þjóð krapt kross þíns í kvæði, þó at værak allítt fallinn til þess. Sýnt em ek sízt samr, líknfæðir, ræða of þik baztan fyr lundfasta löstu; því öngrumz löngum.
Strengthener of year’s abundance [= God (= Christ)], we [I] undertook to relate to the people the power of your Cross in a poem, even though I was poorly equipped to do so. Clearly I am least suited, begetter of grace [= God (= Christ)], to speak of you, the best, on account of mind-fixed sins; for that reason we are [I am] continuously troubled.
[5] samr: ‘s[...]’ B, ‘s[...]n⸜m⸝r’ 399a‑bˣ
[5] em ek samr ‘I am suited’: Restoration is based upon 399a-bˣ, including note; all subsequent eds follow Sveinbjörn Egilsson here. The sense ‘suited to, fitting’ for samr occurs only in poetry (LP: samr 2).