Breðr í Bjarkey miðri
ból, þats ek veit gólast;
téra þarft af Þóri
— þýtr vandar bǫl — standa.
Jóan mun eigi frýja
elds né ráns, es kveldar;
svíðr bjartr logi breiðan
bý; leggr reyk til skýja.
Ból, þats ek veit gólast, breðr í miðri Bjarkey; téra þarft standa af Þóri; bǫl vandar þýtr. Jóan mun eigi frýja elds né ráns, es kveldar; bjartr logi svíðr breiðan bý; reyk leggr til skýja.
The farm, which I find the best, burns in the middle of Bjarkøy; nothing good will be gained from Þórir; the destruction of the stick [FIRE] roars. Jón will not have to complain about a lack of fire or plunder when evening comes; the bright flame scorches the broad farmstead; smoke swirls toward the clouds.
[2] ból, þats ek veit gólast ‘the farm, which I find the best’: The anonymous poet must have been present on the occasion when the farm was scorched, and the phrase ‘which I find the best’ (þats ek veit gólast) indicates that he was a member of Jón’s household (see Introduction above).