Editiones Arnamagnæanæ. Series B - 01.10.1965, Blaðsíða 159
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her and asks Tnow (-h) his court ífirst [! cf. note to text]
(chaplain on the spot) to marry them (+ then). But Tthe court
(he) says, íthat is not God’s law (that not to be a very good
plan), unless she fgave permission for it (herself consented to
that).” But that was fnot (by no means) gotten from her.
Nonetheless rnow the earl uses [!] great love for her (great
attacks [error for “love” ?—cf. note to text] on her now blind
the earl), and he has men invited none the less (+ on the spot)
to a feast. Tables are set up and the hall occupied by rthe
earl’s (his) retainers and the townsmen. He Tputs (has brought)
before Evida gold and costly things and all kind of treasures
and Ttries to soften her as best he can (pays her the little
attentions of a sweetheart—as he is able—) in all ways. But
she rejects everything and refuses and says he should never
become her husband. The earl becomes angry now and boxes 57
her ears and bids her eat with fher (a new) husband. She
(+ now) weeps sorely, and the retainers dislike (+ very much
now) the earl’s actions. From this (+ now) arises a great
tumult íin (and clamor through) the hall.
Next Erex begins to recóver consciousness and (+ now)
soon sees Evida and Tsoon (in addition) perceives what is
going on. He Tdoes not like it now (just does not like this
at all) and leaps from the bier and draws his sword and strikes
the earl in the head, so (+ hard) that his brains lay on the
íground (floor of the hall). From this deed such great fear
comes over all the retainers, íthat (and) each Tone (man)
rushes out of the hall Tas hard as he (who) can, speaking thus:.
“Let us (+ now) hurry away as fast as we can, because the
devil is in the corpse and has (+ now) killed Tthe (our) earl.”
rAll now (they) did thus and fhid themselves—each as one
man (each hides himself now as best he can). [The Iines
which B by error repeats—though with some differences—are
not reproduced here.] Erex and his Tlady get ready to leave 58
(wife—going away from) the hall. TFinding (they find) their
horses Tquickly (standing out) in the courtyard, they mount
and (+ ride quickly) Taway from (out of) the castle. They ride
íquickly (-y) all that day and the night too until they take
up a place for the night on Tsome beautiful fields (singular)
by a riovely (-=-) spring. (+ Now) Evida binds fup (now
[cf. note to text]) Erex’ wounds, and they sleep afterward
until day. Afterward they take their horses, (+ and) ride
Lifterward (-y) to a certain castle and rstayed (rest now)
there three nights rand rest (-y).