Kirkju sótti krossmarks
kennir, en brúðmenn
byggvis skyldu byrviggs
bíða, unz hann lyki tíð.
Höfgi rann á segg sýnn;
sofa gjörði stund þá
byrjar, er á bæn var,
blakkþollr gieðrakkr.
Kennir krossmarks sótti kirkju, en brúðmenn byggvis byrviggs skyldu bíða, unz hann lyki tíð. Sýnn höfgi rann á segg, er var á bæn; byrjar blakkþollr gieðrakkr gjörði þá sofa stund.
The knower of the sign of the cross [HOLY MAN] attended church, but the groomsmen of the inhabitant of the wind-horse [SHIP > SEAFARER] had to wait until he finished his devotions. An evident drowsiness came over the man, who was at prayer; the mind-bold tree of the horse of the wind [(lit. ‘horse-tree of the wind’) SHIP > SEAFARER] then did sleep for a while.
[3] byggvis: byggvir 721
[3] byggvis ‘inhabitant’: This is the base-word of a kenning qualifying brúðmenn ‘groomsmen’ and must therefore be in the gen. sg. indicating possession. Emendation suggested by Jón Helgason.
case: gen.