Anon Mhkv 16III/8 — líðr ‘they leave’
Engi þarf at hræðask hót;
heldr kømr opt við sáran fót;
hlutgjarn ferr með annars sǫk.
Nøkkvi ríkstr er heima hverr;
†ta† ek umb at síðr;
orðin fara, þegar munninn líðr.
Engi þarf at hræðask hót; heldr opt kømr við sáran fót; hlutgjarn ferr með sǫk annars. Nøkkvi ríkstr er hverr heima; ... †ta† ek umb at síðr; orðin fara, þegar munninn líðr.
No one needs to fear threats; rather often does something touch a sore foot; … a busybody conducts another’s suit. At home each man is something of a king; … I … about [it] the less; words travel as soon as they leave the mouth.
notes
[8] þegar munninn líðr ‘as soon as they leave the mouth’: Lit. ‘as soon as the mouth closes’. The clause is impersonal, with munninn ‘the mouth’ as the acc. object (see Fritzner: líða 4). Cf. Vápnfirðinga saga (Vápnf ch. 7, ÍF 11, 40): Ferr orð, er munn líðr ‘A word travels when it leaves the mouth’. Wisén (1886-9, I) emends the Mhkv line accordingly: orðit ferr þás of munn líðr ‘a word travels when it leaves the mouth’.