Knútr, lézt framm til Fljóta
— frægr leið vǫrðr of ægi
heiptsnarr hildar leiptra —
harðbrynjuð skip dynja.
Ullar lézt við Ellu
ættleifð ok mô reifðir
sverðmans snyrtiherðir
sundviggs flota bundit.
Knútr, lézt harðbrynjuð skip dynja framm til Fljóta; frægr, heiptsnarr vǫrðr leiptra hildar leið of ægi. Snyrtiherðir Ullar sundviggs, lézt flota bundit við ættleifð Ellu ok reifðir mô sverðmans.
Knútr, you caused your hard-armoured ships to rush forward to Fljót; the famous, battle-bold guardian of the lightnings of battle [SWORDS > WARRIOR] glided across the sea. Splendid strengthener of Ullr’s <god’s> sea-horse [SHIP > SHIELD > WARRIOR], you had your fleet moored in the patrimony of Ælla [= England], and you gladdened the gull of the sword-girl [VALKYRIE > RAVEN/EAGLE].
[4] harðbrynjuð skip ‘hard-armoured ships’: The cpd harðbrynjaðr occurs only here and in Ótt Knútdr 1/6I, where it also describes Knútr’s ships. On account of the likely dates of composition for their Knútsdrápur, it is more likely that Hallvarðr is borrowing from Óttarr than vice versa. See further Jesch (2001a, 157-9), who suggests that the armour concerned is shields along the sides of the ship.