Grænn kvað viðr á víði
— varð skrjúpr í því — djúpan:
‘út man eg rýma …
ríkis míns af þínu.
Betr samir bolr með skrauti
blóms en unnir tómar;
skóg man eg upp yfir ægi
angrlestan rótfesta.’
Grænn viðr kvað á djúpan víði – varð skrjúpr í því –: ‘eg man rýma út … ríkis míns af þínu. Bolr með skrauti blóms samir betr en tómar unnir; eg man rótfesta skóg upp yfir angrlestan ægi.’
The green wood said to the deep sea – in that it was weak –: ‘I want to expand the … of my kingdom from yours. A tree-trunk with ornament of blossom looks better than empty waves; I will fasten a forest by its roots up over the sorrow-damaged ocean.’
[2] varð skrjúpr í því ‘in that it was weak’: That is, the forest did not foresee that its plan to take over the sea’s territory could lead to its own destruction by fire.