Setr of vísa vitran
vígdrótt, en þar hníga,
— ýr dregsk — við skotskúrum
skjaldborg, í gras aldir.
Vápnrjóðr stikar víða
(vellbrjótr á lǫg) spjótum
(þryngr at sverða sǫngvi
sóknharðr) þrǫmu jarðar.
Vígdrótt setr skjaldborg of vitran vísa við skotskúrum; ýr dregsk, en þar hníga aldir í gras. Vápnrjóðr stikar víða þrǫmu jarðar spjótum; sóknharðr vellbrjótr þryngr á lǫg at sǫngvi sverða.
The battle-retinue sets up a shield-wall around the wise leader against the showers of shots; the yew-bow is pulled, and there people sink down in the grass. The weapon-reddener [WARRIOR = Hákon] encloses the wide edges of the earth with spears; the battle-strong gold-breaker [GENEROUS MAN] advances on the ocean towards the song of swords [BATTLE].
[4] skjaldborg ‘a shield-wall’: Lit. ‘shield-fortification’. For the practice of protecting a king or war-leader in battle by surrounding him with a wall of shields, see Falk (1914b, 151).