Óð með øxi breiða
ódæsinn framm ræsir
— varð of hilmi Hǫrða
hjǫrdynr — ok varp brynju,
þás of skapt, en skipti
skapvǫrðr himins jǫrðu,
— Hel klauf hausa fǫlva —
hendr tvær jǫfurr spendi.
Ódæsinn ræsir óð framm með breiða øxi ok varp brynju; hjǫrdynr varð of hilmi Hǫrða, þás jǫfurr spendi tvær hendr of skapt, en skapvǫrðr himins skipti jǫrðu; Hel klauf fǫlva hausa.
The unsluggish ruler stormed forth with broad axe, and cast off his byrnie; a sword-clash [BATTLE] arose around the ruler of the Hǫrðar [NORWEGIAN KING = Magnús], as the prince clenched both hands around the shaft, and the shaping guardian of heaven [= God] allotted earth; Hel clove pallid skulls.
[4] ok: so F, Holm2, 972ˣ, 325VI, 321ˣ, 325V, 61, Bb, Tóm, FskBˣ, FskAˣ, H, Hr, Flat, en Kˣ, er E, J2ˣ
[4] ok ‘and’: En ‘and/but’ in the main ms. Kˣ and 39 also gives excellent sense, but ok has by far the stronger ms. support.