1 Of the Knot and the Troll begins here the tale
And not to forget of a woman of Dale
Skjalddís the Snjógvurdreiki she was called
Men light of heart who beheld her were appalled
2 She was high in growth and mighty of hand
Also the Knot came from the very same land
Alfknutr, the Ælf-Knot he was named
Stolen the secret of elven rope he claimed
3 Now it is to be told that to one day
Skjalddís came to Bree on her way
And with her was the daughter
Frøydis whose eyes were blue such as water
4 They sought for the Hofding's hall
Made from the wood of a lime and tall
Gold adorned and silver versed
Where Tyrgrim was the lord as first
5 Skjalddís and Frøydis met then the Knot
"Thou! Where is the mead-hall?" asked in fraught
"Speak! Where are the men of the north?
Whom I call kin I was made thenceforth."
6 There the Knot finally stirred
"Let me say that I have heard
Of thy quest what thee wish to find
But let it be said: Thy words are not kind."
7 "Tell me of the men that thou seek
then thou shalt hear my answer speak."
The Knot said to the Maiden of War
And awaited a long tale of lore
8 (Skjalddís) "Tyrgrim is the one
Many battles he won
And Torgrun his cousin
Also he slew men to a dozen"
9 (Alfknutr) "Is that all thou canst say?
Allow me a question if I may
A third man there was?
Making rope for their cause."
10 (Skjalddís) "Aye, Alfknutr he is named
The Elves' secret he stole he claimed
And he suffered a jótun's fist
Was hurled over the Mountains of Mist."
11 (Alfknutr) "I see thou knowest the stories all
I am Alfknutr, the Knot and I will show thee the hall
But not ere for thy unkind words thou said
We have had a small contest of blade."
12 There Skjalddís drew her sword
Nothung! Gleaming like a fjord
Made from Dwarf Regún's hands who did know:
That Nothung could slay any foe
13 Three times Nothung met the sword of Knot
Ere to the hard ground he was brought
Just one strike of Skjalddís' hand was required
Between the eyes of the Knot and he got tired
14 By all the clamor lured
A troll ugly and matured
Came down to the two not unknown
For he had a quest of his own
15 (Troll) "Ye two fight grand and of battle are not afraid
Maybe ye would lend me some aid?
I promise; If ye will join
I pay ye with silver coin"
16 (Skjalddís) "Speak then, ugly troll
Or return swiftly into thy hole
What shall we fight?
Answer or vanish from our sight."
17 The troll grew angry from Skjalddís' word
But he dared not grasp her, her deeds not unheard
"Say what price you ask
That thou halt thy tongue and let me tell of my task?"
18 "Fifty silvers! Twenty-five for each!"
Alfknutr said as he took up his speech
"And then ye will do as I say"
The troll said and reached for the pay
20 "Fifty silvers for us to let you speak"
Alfknutr said and hit the troll's hand still a bit weak
The dumb troll agreed
Knew not; More than coins he would bleed
21 (Troll) "Favarþr is the man I want
A puny shape so weak and gaunt
I like his pale white skin
So bring it me and more coin ye win"
22 Favarþr was a friend of the Knot
So he sought to adorn the troll's head with a swat
Skjalddís and Alfknutr hewed the monster in half
From this day they had coin and a laugh
