Engi knettr of annars mein;
aldri lætk at munni sein;
heimi, heyrik sagt, at snúi;
sumir einir, hykk, at mér trúi.
Erfitt verðr, þeim er illa kann;
engan þarf at hjúfra mann;
þannig hefr mér lagzk í lund:
langviðrum skal eyða grund.
Engi knettr of mein annars; aldri lætk sein at munni; heyrik sagt, at heimi snúi; hykk, at sumir einir trúi mér. Erfitt verðr, þeim er illa kann; þarf at hjúfra engan mann; þannig hefr mér lagzk í lund: langviðrum skal eyða grund.
No one bemoans another’s misfortune; I never rein in my mouth; I hear tell that the world is turning; I think only some believe me. Life is difficult for him who understands poorly; one need not lament any man; thus it has lodged itself in my mind: with long-lasting storms shall the earth be laid waste.
[4] hykk ‘I think’: Ms. R reads ‘hyck ek’, but the pers. pron. has been cliticised (as in ll. 2 and 3) in order to make the line metrical (so Wisén 1886-9, I and Skald; Skj B omits the pron. and normalises to hygg).