Fœrir reiðr, sás rauða
rǫnd hefr opt fyr lǫndum,
breið á Buðla slóðir
borðraukn Haraldr norðan.
En lauks of sæ sœkja
Sveins fagrdrifin steini
glæsidýr, þess’s geira,
gullmunnuð, rýðr, sunnan.
Reiðr Haraldr, sás opt hefr rauða rǫnd fyr lǫndum, fœrir breið borðraukn norðan á slóðir Buðla. En gullmunnuð glæsidýr lauks Sveins, þess’s rýðr geira, sœkja sunnan of sæ, fagrdrifin steini.
The enraged Haraldr, who frequently raises the red shield-rim off the shores, steers the broad draught-animals of the ship-board [SHIPS] from the north onto Buðli’s <sea-king’s> trails [SEA]. And the gold-mouthed splendid beasts of the mast [SHIPS] of Sveinn, who reddens spears, advance from the south across the sea, beautifully covered with colour.
[6] fagrdrifin steini ‘beautifully covered with colour’: Ships could be adorned with painted pictures (see Jesch 2001a, 144, 158; Steinn Óldr 13/2). See also the description in Encomium Emmae Reginae of Sveinn tjúguskegg’s fleet setting out to conquer England (Campbell 1998, 4, 4, pp. 12-13): Sed quid nunc tibi latera carinarum memorem, non modo ornatitiis depicta coloribus, uerum etiam aureis argenteisque aspera signis ‘But why should I now dwell upon the sides of the ships, which were not only painted with ornate colours, but were covered with gold and silver figures’.