Loptbyggvir, mátt leggja
lands rétt, þanns skal standask,
unnar, allra manna,
eykja, liðs á miðli.
Loptbyggvir eykja unnar, mátt leggja rétt lands, þanns skal standask á miðli liðs allra manna.
Inhabitant of the loft of the draught-animals of the wave [(lit. ‘loft-inhabitant of the draught-animals of the wave’) SHIPS > AFTER-DECK > SEAFARER], you are able to establish the law of the land which shall remain in force among the troop of all men.
[1] ‑byggvir: so J1ˣ, J2ˣ, Holm2, R686ˣ, 325VI, 321ˣ, 78aˣ, 68, Holm4, 325V, 325VII, Bb, Flat, Tóm, ‑byggir Kˣ, papp18ˣ, 73aˣ, ‑byggjum 61
[1] loptbyggvir ‘inhabitant of the loft (lit. loft-inhabitant)’: In poetry, lopt normally means ‘air’ (LP: lopt 1), but here it evidently has its common prose meaning of ‘floor or space above the cross-beams of a house’ (Fritzner: lopt 3), and therefore, when qualified by a kenning for ‘ship’, is an equivalent to lypting ‘(raised) after-deck’ (cf. Sigv Erlfl 3/7, Arn Hryn 10/1II, 16/6II).
case: nom.