Kirkju sótti krossmarks
kennir, en brúðmenn
byggvis skyldu byrviggs
bíða, unz hann lyki tíð.
Höfgi rann á segg sýnn;
sofa gjörði stund þá
byrjar, er á bæn var,
blakkþollr gieðrakkr.
Kennir krossmarks sótti kirkju, en brúðmenn byggvis byrviggs skyldu bíða, unz hann lyki tíð. Sýnn höfgi rann á segg, er var á bæn; byrjar blakkþollr gieðrakkr gjörði þá sofa stund.
The knower of the sign of the cross [HOLY MAN] attended church, but the groomsmen of the inhabitant of the wind-horse [SHIP > SEAFARER] had to wait until he finished his devotions. An evident drowsiness came over the man, who was at prayer; the mind-bold tree of the horse of the wind [(lit. ‘horse-tree of the wind’) SHIP > SEAFARER] then did sleep for a while.
[1] krossmarks: krossmark 721
[1] krossmarks ‘sign of the cross’: As Jón Helgason pointed out, the word must be in gen., not nom. as it is the determinant of the kenning kennir krossmarks ‘the knower of the sign of the cross’. This kenning could denote a priest or monk, rather than a devout layman; see Note to st. 6.