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.
[8] jǫfurr spendi: so 39, F, E, J2ˣ, Holm2, 972ˣ, 325VI, 321ˣ, 325V, 61, Bb, FskBˣ, H, Hr, Flat, jǫfurs spendu Kˣ, jǫfur spendar Tóm
[8] jǫfurr spendi ‘the prince clenched’: This has much the stronger ms. authority, but Kˣ’s hendr tvær jǫfurs spendu (of skapt) ‘the prince’s two hands clenched (round the shaft)’ gives equally good sense, and is printed in Skj B, but must be secondary.