Búinn lézk valdr, ef vildi
valmey konungr heyja,
haulda morðs at halda
— herr fell of gram — velli.
Valdr morðs haulda lézk búinn at halda velli, ef konungr vildi heyja valmey; herr fell of gram.
The controller of the killing of men [BATTLE > RULER = Hákon jarl] declared himself ready to hold the field, if the king [Ragnfrøðr] wanted to wage the maiden of the battle-slain [VALKYRIE = Hildr (hildr ‘battle’)]; the host fell around the ruler.
[3, 4] halda velli ‘hold the field’: The phrase is interpreted either as waiting for the opponent in battle formation (Konráð Gíslason 1895-7, I, 138) or holding the field, resisting (Skj B; LP: halda 2). Cf. also Eyv Hák 12/5.