Blés of böðfúsa
bragna fjölmagnat
hregg á herbygðum
hríðar brimskíðum.
Upp rak alkeppna
öld með herskjöldu
grundar gjálfrs undit
grand at Skotlandi.
Fjölmagnat hregg blés of böðfúsa bragna á herbygðum brimskíðum hríðar. Undit grand grundar gjálfrs rak alkeppna öld með herskjöldu upp at Skotlandi.
The sorcery-strengthened hailstorm blew around the battle-eager men on the troop-inhabited surf-skis of the sea [SHIPS]. The twisted harm of the land of the surge [SEA > STORM] drove the very vigorous crew with war-shields towards [the shores of] Scotland.
[3, 4] á herbygðum brimskíðum hríðar ‘on the troop-inhabited surf-skis of the sea [SHIPS]’: So NN §1359 with reference to st. 2/7 above. Skj B takes hríðar ‘of the sea’ with hregg ‘hailstorm’ (l. 3), presumably to avoid an over-determined kenning. Sturla did not seem to find such kennings unacceptable at all, however. For the first element in the cpd brimskíðum ‘surf-skis’, see Note to st. 1/3-4 above. Herbygðr ‘troop-inhabited’ (dat. pl. herbygðum) (l. 3) is a hap. leg.