Oddr, klauftu eigi at orrostu
— hrökk hjálmat lið — Hamðis skyrtur.
Guðr geisaði, gekk eldr í bæ,
þá er á Vinðum vá sigr konungr.
Oddr, klauftu eigi skyrtur Hamðis at orrostu; hjálmat lið hrökk. Guðr geisaði, eldr gekk í bæ, þá er konungr vá sigr á Vinðum.
Oddr, you did not cleave the shirts of Hamðir <legendary hero> [MAIL-SHIRTS] in battle; the helmeted band retreated. Battle raged, fire penetrated farms when the king won a victory over the Wends.
[4] Hamðis: ‘handis’ 344a, ‘hanndiss’ 343a, ‘hamdis’ or ‘handis’ 471
[2] skyrtur Hamðis ‘the shirts of Hamðir <legendary hero> [MAIL-SHIRTS]’: Hamðir and his brother Sǫrli were legendary heroes who attacked the Gothic king Jǫrmunrekkr (Ermanaric) in his hall, according to the eddic poem Hamð. Kennings for mail-shirts are often constructed with a hero’s name as determinant.