Margr verðr sekr at sauðum
seggr með fǫgru skeggi,
en ek at ungs í Eyjum
allvalds sonar falli.
Hætt segja mér hǫlðar
við hugfullan stilli;
Haralds hefk skarð í skildi
— skala ugga þat — hǫggvit.
Margr seggr með fǫgru skeggi verðr sekr at sauðum, en ek at falli ungs sonar allvalds í Eyjum. Hǫlðar segja mér hætt við hugfullan stilli; hefk hǫggvit skarð í skildi Haralds; skala ugga þat.
Many a man with a handsome beard is convicted for sheep, but I [am convicted] for the death of the young son of the mighty ruler [= Hálfdan] in the Islands [Orkney]. Freeholders say there is danger for me from the resolute ruler; I have cut a notch in Haraldr’s shield; I shall not fear that.
[7] skildi ‘shield’: Some eds (Orkn 1913-16; ÍF 34) emend to acc. pl. skjǫldu, presumably to obtain acc. of motion towards. — [7] skarð í skildi ‘a notch in … shield’: The recurring mentions of Haraldr in these lausavísur and the gloating emphasis on how Torf-Einarr’s actions will affect him or his family may imply that, contrary to the prose accounts, it was the king himself who instigated the death of Rǫgnvaldr (von See 1960, 37).