Svá beit þá sverð ór siklings hendi
váðir Váfaðar, sem í vatn brygði.
Brǫkuðu broddar, brotnuðu skildir,
glumruðu gylfringar í gotna hausum.
Svá beit þá sverð ór hendi siklings váðir Váfaðar, sem brygði í vatn. Broddar brǫkuðu, skildir brotnuðu, gylfringar glumruðu í hausum gotna.
Then the sword in the sovereign’s hand bit the garments of Váfuðr <= Óðinn> [ARMOUR], as if it were cutting through water. Points clanged, shields burst, swords clattered in men’s skulls.
[1, 4] svá beit þá sverð ... sem brygði í vatn ‘then the sword bit ... as if it were cutting through water’: As remarked by Heinrichs (1990, 435), the author of Fsk seems to have regarded this poetic convention as an unfamiliar paradox, since he feels compelled to explain it (see Context above).