Geisli stendr til grundar
Gunnar jarðar munna;
ofan fellr blóð á báðar
benskeiðr, en gramr reiðisk.
Hristisk hjǫrr í brjósti
hringi grœnna lyngva,
en folkþorinn fylkir
ferr við steik at leika.
Geisli jarðar Gunnar stendr til grundar munna; blóð fellr ofan á báðar benskeiðr, en gramr reiðisk. Hjǫrr hristisk í brjósti hringi grœnna lyngva, en folkþorinn fylkir ferr at leika við steik.
The sunbeam of the land of Gunnr <valkyrie> [SHIELD > SWORD] stabs into the ground of jaws [HEAD]; blood flows down onto both wound-ships [SWORDS], and the prince grows angry. The sword quivers in the breast of the ring of green heathers [SERPENT], and the battle-daring leader proceeds to amuse himself with roasting.
[5, 6, 7] hjǫrr í brjósti hringi grœnna lyngva en: ‘[...]’ NRA52
[6] lyngva ‘of heathers’: This word (nom. sg. lyng n.) occurs quite frequently in kennings for ‘snake, serpent’, and is perhaps especially appropriate here, since in Fáfn 21/2, 28/6 and 29/2 (NK 184-5) it is í lyngvi that the dragon Fáfnir lies. Lyng applies to the plant Erica ‘heather’ and similar moorland species, and hence also to land overgrown with these plants.
number: pl.