Segið þat Karla, es komið þangat,
nýtum þegni fyr norðan haf,
at fleira skal í fǫrum vinna
an hylda hval hvǫssum knífi.
Segið þat Karla, nýtum þegni, fyr norðan haf, es komið þangat, at skal vinna fleira í fǫrum an hylda hval hvǫssum knífi.
Say this [lit. that] to Karli, a handy lad, north across the sea, when you get there, that [he] must do more on his travels than butcher whale with a sharp knife.
[7] hylda hval ‘butcher whale’: The verb hylda is formed from hold ‘flesh’. References to the flensing, butchering and cooking of whales appear to have been a standard element in insulting verses (cf. Þorhv Lv 2V (Eir 2), Anon (Gr) 2V (Gr 6)).