ÞjóðA Har 4II/1 — veit ‘will be felt’
Sorgar veit, áðr slíti
sæfang ór mar strǫngum
herr, þars heldr til varra,
hár sjau tøgum ára.
Norðmeðr róa naðri
neglðum straum inn heglða
— úts, sem innan líti
arnarvæng — með jarni.
Sorgar veit, áðr herr slíti sæfang ór strǫngum mar, þars hár heldr sjau tøgum ára til varra. Norðmeðr róa naðri neglðum með jarni inn heglða straum; úts, sem líti innan arnarvæng.
Anguish will be felt, before the troop whips the sea-gear [oar] out of the powerful sea, where the oarport holds [each of] the seventy oars in place for the stroke [lit. strokes]. The Norwegians row the snake [ship] nailed with iron on the hail-beaten current; [looking] out, it is like seeing an eagle’s wing from within.
readings
notes
[1] sorgar veit ‘anguish will be felt’: Especially in light of the companion st. 3 this is likely to be an impersonal verb phrase which refers to the strain on the oars before the voyage ends, but herr ‘troop’ in l. 3 could be the understood subject. In either case the reference could be specifically to sea-battles ahead.