Skattgilda vann skyldir
skautjalfaðar Gauta;
gollskýflir vann gjǫflastr
geirveðr í fǫr þeiri.
Skyldir skautjalfaðar vann Gauta skattgilda; gjǫflastr gollskýflir vann geirveðr í þeiri fǫr.
The requisitioner of the sail-bear [SHIP > SEAFARER] made the Gautar tribute-paying; the most generous gold-destroyer [GENEROUS MAN] made spear-storms [BATTLES] on that expedition.
[1] skyldir ‘the requisitioner’: The agentive skyldir, from skylda ‘to require, exact, oblige’, has few attestations, and emendation to skildir ‘equipper with shields’ has been suggested, as being a natural collocation with expressions for ‘ship’ (Meissner 301). Previous eds have retained skyldir, assuming the general sense ‘controller, steerer’ (Skj B; ÍF 26; Hkr 1991), but a more specific reference is possible, to a naval levy by which the ruler required building or provision of ships as a form of tribute; this would fit with saga evidence that Hákon organised such a levy (Krag 2003b, 189).
case: nom.