Drakk eigi ek drykkju
dag þann, es mér sǫgðu
Erlings tál, at jólum
allglaðr, þess’s réð Jaðri.
Hans mun dráp of drúpa
dýrmennis mér kenna;
hǫfuð bôrum vér hæra
— hart morð vas þat — forðum.
Ek drakk eigi drykkju allglaðr at jólum þann dag, es sǫgðu mér tál Erlings, þess’s réð Jaðri. Dráp hans, dýrmennis, mun kenna mér of drúpa; vér bôrum hǫfuð hæra forðum; þat vas hart morð.
I did not drink my drink very happily [lit. happy] at Christmas on the day when they told me of the betrayal of Erlingr, the one who ruled Jæren. The killing of him, the splendid person, will cause me to droop; we [I] carried our head higher before; that was a harsh murder.
[5] of drúpa ‘droop’: I.e. be bowed down in sorrow. Cf. the description of sorrowing men burying their heads in their cloaks in Sigv Berv 13/5-8II, and Note to l. 6 ad loc. Of is the expletive particle.