Elta ek ásu ørhjartaða tvá,
sem fyr úlfi örg geit rynni.
Illr er Óðinn at eingavin;
skuluð eigi ér skratta blóta.
Ek elta tvá ørhjartaða ásu, sem örg geit rynni fyr úlfi. Óðinn er illr at eingavin; ér skuluð eigi blóta skratta.
I chased the two dispirited gods just as a timid nanny goat runs before a wolf. Óðinn is evil as an intimate friend; you should not worship demons with sacrifice.
[1] Elta: Ætla 343a
[1] ek elta ‘I chased’: The verb elta is often used of the act of chasing or herding animals, so prepares the way for the analogy between Oddr’s pursuit of Freyr and Óðinn and a wolf’s hunting down a timid goat.