Now, admitting that
eg dogge maa
dei grøne straa
som vaar dronning dansar paa.
is a better translation than in the Syn og Segn text—which is doubtful enough—it is difficult to see what can be the excuse for such pompous banality as
Kvart nykelband
er adelsmann,
med ordenar dei glime kann;
the first version is not above reproach in this respect. It might fairly be asked: where does Eggen get his authority for
sjaa dei stjernur alvar gav deim!
But the lines are not loaded down with imagery which is both misleading and in bad taste. Eggen should have left his first version unchanged. Such uninspired prose as:
kvar blank rubin,
paa bringa skin,