Lǫgðu heiptar hvattir
herðimenn, þar er bǫrðusk,
— herr var hauðr at verja
hundmargr — saman randir.
Ok víkingi váru
— varð raun at því — einum
— þat kveða eigi aukit —
ýtar fimm at móti.
Herðimenn hvattir heiptar lǫgðu randir saman, þar er bǫrðusk; hundmargr herr var at verja hauðr. Ok fimm ýtar váru at móti einum víkingi; raun varð at því; kveða þat eigi aukit.
Brave men, urged into combat, laid shields together where they fought; there was an immense army to defend the land. And five men were against one viking; there was proof of that; they say that is not exaggerated.
[5] víkingi: víkingum all
[5] víkingi (m. dat. sg.) ‘viking’: Emended by most eds from dat. pl. víkingum to agree with einum ‘one, a single’. Jvs 1879, 133 suggested that the pl. could be retained with the sense ‘single vikings’.