Átti Egða dróttinn
Ôleifr þrimu stála
við ágætan Jóta
ǫðling, þanns klýfr hringa.
Skaut nær skarpt at móti
Skônunga gramr hônum;
Sveins vasa sonr at reyna
slær; þaut ulfr of hrævi.
Ôleifr, dróttinn Egða, átti þrimu stála við ágætan ǫðling Jóta, þanns klýfr hringa. Gramr Skônunga skaut nær skarpt at móti hônum; sonr Sveins vasa slær at reyna; ulfr þaut of hrævi.
Óláfr, lord of the Egðir [NORWEGIAN KING], had a clash of swords [BATTLE] with the splendid ruler of the Jótar [DANISH KING = Knútr], who cleaves rings. The sovereign of the Skônungar [DANISH KING = Knútr] shot rather sharply against him; the son of Sveinn [= Knútr] was not weak to test; the wolf howled over carrion.
[4] klýfr: klauf Holm2, 972ˣ, J2ˣ, 321ˣ, 73aˣ, 61, 75c, 325V, Bb, Tóm, 325IX 2, 325XI 1, FskAˣ, klauf corrected in the margin to klýfr Kˣ, gaf Flat
[4] klýfr (3rd pers. sg. pres. indic.) ‘cleaves’: The pres. tense of the verb has been retained because Knútr Sveinsson died on 12 November 1035, and was most likely alive when the poem was composed. The designation of Knútr as one who klýfr hringa ‘cleaves rings’ is a stereotypical reference to princely generosity.