‘Þat Lundúnum líkar illa;
eykr hon þrimr hlutum þykka veggi.
Kostar hon keppa við konungíðnir;
ferr suðr of fjall frægð af smíði,
en* Tems of borg tekr at geisa.
‘Þat líkar Lundúnum illa; hon eykr þykka veggi þrimr hlutum. Hon kostar keppa við konungíðnir; frægð af smíði ferr suðr of fjall, en* Tems tekr at geisa of borg.
‘That will displease London; she will increase her thick walls threefold. She will attempt to compete with the king’s exploits; news of the work will travel south over the mountain and the Thames will start to surge around the city.
[9] en* Tems: ‘eyr teins’ Hb
[9] en* Tems ‘and the Thames’: Emended in Bret 1848-9, followed by all subsequent eds, from ms. ‘eyr teins’ (refreshed).