Heldum allir ór höfn skipum,
þegar fullhugar fengjar væntum.
Hræddumz ekki, meðan höfðingjar
heilir réðu fyr herskipum.
Allir heldum skipum ór höfn, þegar fullhugar væntum fengjar. Hræddumz ekki, meðan heilir höfðingjar réðu fyr herskipum.
We all steered the ships out of the harbour, as soon as we, courageous ones, expected booty. I was not afraid as long as upright chieftains controlled the warships.
[6, 7] heilir höfðingjar ‘upright chieftains’: That is, Þórðr and Hjálmarr. Heill could also mean ‘unharmed, uninjured’. In the prose saga (Ǫrv 1888, 64-5) Hjálmarr is represented as an almost chivalrous figure, who does not take advantage of those who do not belong to his own warrior class and will not attack women. A little later in the saga it is revealed that Hjálmarr has landed estates in Sweden and is a suitor for the hand of the Swedish king’s daughter. The reading of 343a hollir ‘loyal, faithful’ is also acceptable.