Enn hefsk leyfð, þars lofða
lofkennda frák sendu
at hjalmsǫmum hilmi
hjarls dróttna boð jarli,
at skyldligast skyldi
— skilk, hvat gramr lézk vilja —
endr at ástafundi
Eirekr koma þeira.
Enn hefsk leyfð, þars frák lofkennda lofða sendu boð at hjalmsǫmum hilmi hjarls dróttna, jarli, at Eirekr skyldi skyldligast koma endr at ástafundi þeira; skilk, hvat gramr lézk vilja.
Again praise is beginning, where I have heard that praise-renowned men sent an invitation to the helmet-adorned ruler of the land of lords, to the jarl [Eiríkr], that Eiríkr should most dutifully come again to a friendly meeting with them; I understand what the king [Knútr] declared he wanted.
[1] hefsk: hefk Holm2, J1ˣ, J2ˣ, 75c, 325V, 61(71vb), 53, 54, Bb(106rb), ‘hefv’ R686ˣ, hefi 972ˣ, 325VII, Tóm, Flat, hefir 73aˣ, 78aˣ, ‘hefs’ Bb(127vb)
[1] hefsk ‘is beginning’: Hefk ‘I begin’, the reading of a number of mss across the stemmata, is an acceptable alternative, and is adopted by Finnur Jónsson in Hkr 1893-1901 (but not Skj B).