Framan unnu gram gunnar
†grafins seiðs† framir meiðar;
biðu Jótar lið ljótan
lagagangs daga strangra.
Lofag sjaldan hóf haldið;
hataz dygð; *rataz lygðir;
tregs halda vegs valdar
veginn arf megindjarfir.
Meiðar †seiðs grafins†, framir gunnar, unnu framan gram; Jótar biðu ljótan lið lagagangs strangra daga. Lofag sjaldan haldið hóf; dygð hataz; lygðir *rataz; megindjarfir valdar tregs vegs halda veginn arf.
The trees … [GOLD? > MEN], outstanding in battle, overcame the prominent prince; the Jótar experienced an ugly situation of legal proceedings during harsh times. I seldom praise moderation preserved; virtue is destroyed; lies are abroad; the very bold possessors of slow honour [CONTEMPTIBLE MEN] keep hold of the slain [man’s] inheritance.
[6] *rataz: hrataz W
[6] *rataz ‘are abroad’: Ms. W has ‘hrataz’. Hrata means ‘tumble down, fall’, rata ‘travel, roam’ (also ‘collapse’). Konráð Gíslason (Nj 1875-89, II, 362-3) first proposed reading rataz, which gives a somewhat better sense with lygðir ‘lies’ and is to be preferred metrically.