Hvervetna frák heyja
Harald bardaga stóra;
þeir ruðu bitra branda
bǫðgjarnastir niðjar.
Sjá knáttu þar síðan
siðfornir glym járna;
þótti þeim at efla
þǫrf Véseta arfa.
Frák Harald heyja stóra bardaga hvervetna; þeir bǫðgjarnastir niðjar ruðu bitra branda. Síðan knáttu siðfornir sjá þar glym járna; þótti þeim þǫrf at efla arfa Véseta.
I have heard that Haraldr fought great battles everywhere; those extremely battle-eager kinsmen reddened sharp blades. Then heathens could see there the crash of iron weapons [BATTLE]; it seemed necessary to them to support the heir of Véseti [= Búi].
[8] þǫrf ‘necessary’: Lit. ‘a necessity’. The vows that the Jómsvíkingar made to support Búi in his attack on Hákon jarl Sigurðarson became a major element in the legend (see sts 11-14 and Contexts).