Tjón hǫfum Birkibeina,
bǫðhraustr, fregit austan,
brátt mun bug þann rétta
bragningr, ef vel hagnar.
Virðendr munu verða
vápnglyms funa ymsir
— veitk, at vart hefr Knúti
vegnat — brǫgðum fegnir.
Hǫfum fregit austan tjón Birkibeina; bǫðhraustr bragningr mun brátt rétta þann bug, ef vel hagnar. Virðendr funa vápnglyms munu ymsir verða fegnir brǫgðum; veitk, at hefr vegnat vart Knúti.
We have learned from the east about the destruction of the Birkibeinar; the battle-daring king will soon set that right, if all goes well. The esteemers of the flame of weapon-noise [BATTLE > SWORD > WARRIORS] will in turn be gladdened by the exploits; I know that it has gone badly for Knútr.
[8] brǫgðum: so F, Flat, brǫgnum E, 42ˣ, 8, bragning 81a
[8] brǫgðum (n. dat. pl.) ‘cunning exploits’: So F, Flat. Bragð (n. nom. sg.) can denote either ‘deeds, actions, exploits’ or more specifically ‘(cunning) deeds, tricks, schemes’ (see CVC: bragð III). The variant brǫgnum ‘men’ (so E, 42ˣ, 8) makes little sense in this context and would create a l. with three internal rhymes.