Færðum seggi frá svikaráðum
ok trégoðum tynda ek þeira.
Barða ek Bjálka í borghliði
eikikylfu, áðr hann önd um lét.
Færðum seggi frá svikaráðum ok ek tynda trégoðum þeira. Ek barða Bjálka eikikylfu í borghliði, áðr hann um lét önd.
We [I] turned men away from a deceitful state of life and I destroyed their wooden gods. I hit Bjálki with an oaken club in the fortress gateway before he gave up the ghost.
[2] frá svikaráðum: seggja kindir 343a, 471, 173ˣ
[2] frá svikaráðum ‘from a deceitful state of life’: Undoubtedly a reference to the pagan rites performed by the people of Bjálkaland and by the king’s wife in particular, and an indication that this stanza has a Christian perspective. Svikaráð n. pl. occurs only here and in GunnLeif Merl II 64/2, where it is coupled with the word synd ‘sin’.