Eyv Lv 10I/6 — tveim ‘two’
Einn dróttin hefk áttan,
jǫfurr dýrr, an þik fyrra;
bellir, bragningr, elli;
biðkat mér ins þriðja.
Trúr vask tyggja dýrum;
tveim skjǫldum lékk aldri;
fyllik flokk þinn, stillir;
fellr á hendr mér elli.
Hefk áttan einn dróttin fyrra an þik, dýrr jǫfurr; elli bellir, bragningr; biðkat mér ins þriðja. Vask trúr dýrum tyggja; lékk aldri tveim skjǫldum; fyllik flokk þinn, stillir; elli fellr á hendr mér.
I have had one lord before you, dear king; old age presses, prince; I do not ask for a third for myself. I was true to the prized leader; I never played with two shields; I fill up your following, ruler; old age descends on me.
notes
[6] lékk aldri tveim skjǫldum ‘I never played with two shields’: The line apparently contains an idiom leika tveim skjǫldum ‘play with two shields’ denoting duplicity (cf. Am 74/8), perhaps based on the idea of swiftly exchanging one shield for another (LP: 3. leika 2).