Illt vas, þats ulfa sultar
optþverri stóðk ferri,
mest þars malmar brustu,
mein, þótt smátt sé und einum.
Skiliðr em ek við skylja;
skalmǫld hefr því valdit;
vættik virða dróttins;
vils mest ok dul flestum.
Illt mein vas, þats stóðk ferri optþverri sultar ulfa, þars malmar brustu mest, þótt smátt sé und einum. Skiliðr em ek við skylja; skalmǫld hefr valdit því; vættik dróttins virða; flestum [e]s mest vil ok dul.
It was an evil, harmful thing that I stood far from the frequent diminisher of the famine of wolves [WARRIOR], where metal weapons clashed most, though little may depend on one man. I am separated from the ruler; a sword-age [BATTLE] has caused that; I hope for the lord of men [RULER]; to most it [that hope] is the greatest wilfulness and delusion.
[7] virða: ‘[…]’ B, virða 744ˣ, ‘vida’ C
[7] dróttins virða ‘the lord of men [RULER]’: Ruler-kennings of this type are also used of God (Meissner 369-70), and this cannot be ruled out here, though see Note to ll. 7-8. The gen. case of dróttins is required by the verb vættik ‘I hope’.