Búi lézk barr at fylgja
bǫðmildum Sigvalda
til hjǫrþrymu harðrar
hugprúðr vera síðan.
Hafa kvazk Hávarð vilja
hranna brjótr at gunni;
sér kvað hann eigi illa
Áslák í fǫr líka.
Síðan lézk hugprúðr Búi vera barr at fylgja bǫðmildum Sigvalda til harðrar hjǫrþrymu. Brjótr hranna kvazk hafa vilja Hávarð at gunni; hann kvað Áslák líka sér eigi illa í fǫr.
Courageous Búi then said he was ready to follow battle-liberal Sigvaldi into hard sword-thunder [BATTLE]. The breaker of waves [SEAFARER = Búi] said he wanted to have Hávarðr for the battle; he said Áslákr was not unpleasing to him on the journey.
[5, 8] Hávarð; Áslák ‘Hávarðr; Áslákr’: Hávarðr hǫggvandi ‘Hewer’ and Áslákr hólmskalli ‘Island-Baldhead’ are said in Jvs (1879, 32) to have been obtained as war-captives by Sigvaldi and Þorkell, sons of Strút-Haraldr, during an expedition to the east (i Austur-ueg), and are described as big, strong men, unyielding and valiant. Presumably it is on this account that Sigvaldi thinks the men will be useful on their expedition. They are portrayed fighting fiercely in st. 26, but are overcome in st. 34. Hólm- ‘Island’ in Áslákr’s nickname could refer specifically to a duelling-ground (Fritzner: holmr 2).