Hár inn harðgreipi, Hrólfr skjótandi,
ættum góðir menn, þeirs ekki flýja,
vekka yðr at víni né at vífs rúnum,
heldr vekk yðr at hǫrðum Hildar leiki.
Hár inn harðgreipi, Hrólfr skjótandi, ættum góðir menn, þeirs flýja ekki, vekka yðr at víni né at rúnum vífs, heldr vekk yðr at hǫrðum leiki Hildar.
Hár the Hard-gripper, Hrólfr the Shooter, men of good lineage, who do not flee, I do not wake you for wine nor for a woman’s private conversation, rather I wake you for the hard play of Hildr <valkyrie> [BATTLE].
[7] hǫrðum: ‘havrðo’ 68
[7-8] hǫrðum leiki Hildar ‘the hard play of Hildr <valkyrie> [BATTLE]’: A conventional battle-kenning (cf. Edáð Banddr 3/6, 7I) but here highly appropriate in context, because it contrasts the ‘hard play’ of the valkyrie Hildr, personification of battle, in which men fight one another, with the soft play of the bed, where men and women engage in sexual intercourse (see also SnSt Ht 49 and Note to Vígf Lv 1/7I).