Hverr er á öndrum öndverðan dag
gjarn til gunnar í grimmum hug?
Vit skulum freista flein at rjóða
hvárr at öðrum, nema hugr bili.
Hverr er á öndrum öndverðan dag, gjarn til gunnar í grimmum hug? Vit skulum freista at rjóða flein hvárr at öðrum, nema hugr bili.
Who is that on skis in the first part of the day, eager for battle in a hostile frame of mind? We two must try to redden the javelin, each on the other, unless our courage fails.
[3] gjarn til gunnar ‘eager for battle’: This alliterative expression occurs elsewhere in Old Norse poetry, albeit without the prep. til; cf. Ǫrv 7/3, Hálf 36/7 and HHund I 34/7.