Studia Islandica - 01.06.1994, Page 140

138
At least four important and ambiguous implications are
made here which should be preserved in a translation if at
all possible: firstly, it is important to note the apparent
casualness of the encounters as reflected in the wording
jafnan bar svá til. It could be simply chance that Kjartan
and Gudrún meet so often at the hot springs, it is likely to
be more than that.
Secondly, the expression þótti Kjartani gott at tala við
Guðrúnu can mean exactly what it says although it could
be (and most likely is) a euphemism for something more.
The same expression is used to describe Kjartan’s relation-
ship with Ingibjörg, the sister of King Óláfr Tryggvason:
Hon fagnaði honum vel ok gefr rúm at sitja hjá sér, ok taka
þau tal saman (131). Again more is implied than is actual-
ly said.
Next there is the reference to the suitability of the pair
for each other, carefully couched in the terms mest jafnræði
þeira manna, er þá óxu upp. The phrasing dwells on their
equality, which has already been pointed out in the similar
introductory characterisations they were both given (see
earlier in this section) and behind this is only the sugges-
tion of a match.
Finally the author indicates the warm feelings between
the two families, making it no less fitting that kœrt gerðisk
með inum yngrum mönnum. Note the use of the phrase “the
younger members of the families”; here Guðrún and
Kjartan are not specified as the only younger family mem-
bers to be included, although upon first hearing the phrase
most minds are likely to draw that conclusion.
Significantly enough, the sentence preceding this passage
innocently states, fór Kjartan hvergi þess, er eigi fylgdi
Bolli honum (112).
Press’s translation preserves the element of chance
encounter, but removes the possibility of variant readings
in other instances, and includes several misleading transla-
tions: