Náði jarl at eyða
jǫfra setr á vetri;
lézt eigi þú lítla
landvǫrn af þér standa.
Máttir, Magnús, hætta,
mildr, í folk und skildi;
nefa Knúts vas þá nýtum
nær sem ráðinn væri.
Jarl náði at eyða setr jǫfra á vetri; þú lézt eigi lítla landvǫrn standa af þér. Mildr Magnús, máttir hætta í folk und skildi; nýtum nefa Knúts vas þá nær sem ráðinn væri.
The jarl succeeded in clearing the seat of princes in the winter; you caused no meagre defence of territory to issue from you. Generous Magnús, you were able to venture into battle behind a shield; for the capable nephew of Knútr [= Sveinn] it was then almost as though he were destroyed.
[8] ráðinn ‘destroyed’: Ráða can mean ‘betray’ or ‘seal another’s fate’, often by killing, as in GSúrs Lv 21/5, 8V, segja Þorketil ráðinn ‘report that Þorkell has been killed’, and ráða e-n can mean ‘plot sby’s death’ (Fritzner: ráða 7). While no treachery is involved here, the sense of destruction is present. Cf. Note to Arn Þorfdr 20/5.