Þat var fyrri, at faðir okkarr
burtu seiddi báru hjarðir.
Skuluð aldrigi, nema sköp ráði,
heilir heðan heim um komaz.
Þat var fyrri, at faðir okkarr seiddi burtu hjarðir báru. Skuluð aldrigi um komaz heilir heim heðan, nema sköp ráði.
That happened earlier, that our father removed herds of the wave [FISH] by magic. You will never return home from here in one piece, unless fate determines it that way.
[4] hjarðir báru ‘herds of the wave [FISH]’: Meissner 116 interprets this kenning as a reference to swarms of herring; he and LP: hjǫrð adduce a supposedly similar kenning (fjarðhjǫrð ‘fjord-livestock’) of Eyv Lv 14/2I (see Note there); but cf. Hkr (ÍF 26, 223-4 and n. to st. 104).
case: acc.
number: pl.