‘Biðja vil eg yðr enn
elsku, meðan boðið dvelz,
stýrir, ef stoðar mier,
stagþjórs, og vinlags.
Betri mun eigi falds fit
finnaz þier vinr minn
hæfa nein heldr víf
hittaz, þóttu farir vítt.’
‘Eg vil enn biðja yðr elsku og vinlags, stýrir stagþjórs, meðan boðið dvelz, ef stoðar mier. Víf mun eigi hæfa þier, betri fit falds finnaz, vinr minn, heldr nein hittaz, þóttu farir vítt.’
‘I want to ask you in addition for love and friendship, steerer of the ox of the fore-stay [SHIP > SEAFARER], while the feast is delayed, if that is of any use to me. A wife will not suit you, a better meadow of the head-dress [WOMAN] [will not] be found, my friend, on the contrary none will be met, although you travel widely.’
[2] meðan boðið dvelz ‘while the feast is delayed’: That is, the wedding feast in contrast to the betrothal feast, referred to in st. 10. Mary’s strategy is to persuade the young man to abandon his fiancée before the second part to his marriage, the wedding, could be finalised and the union thus consummated. On the two distinct steps in a legitimated Icel. marriage, see Foote and Wilson 1980, 111-14; Jochens 1995, 20-52.