Herfanga bauð Hringi
hjaldr einskǫpuðr galdra
— Gautr hvatti þrym þreyta
þann — ok Hilditanni.
Oflengi veldr yngva
ósætt, en vel mætti
herstefnandi hafna
hans dóm, Vǫlundr rómu.
Einskǫpuðr galdra herfanga bauð Hringi ok Hilditanni hjaldr; Gautr hvatti þreyta þann þrym. Oflengi veldr Vǫlundr rómu ósætt yngva, en herstefnandi mætti vel hafna dóm hans.
The one creator of incantations of army-tunics [BYRNIES > BATTLES > = Óðinn] ordered Hringr (‘Ring’) and Hilditǫnn (‘War-tooth’) to fight; Gautr <= Óðinn> incited [them] to prolong that clash. For too long the Vǫlundr <legendary smith> of strife [WARRIOR = Gautr Jónsson] has caused the rulers’ conflict, and the army-summoner [RULER = Hákon] would do well to reject his judgement.
[4] ‑tanni: ‑tannar W
[1, 4] Hringi ok Hilditanni ‘Hringr (“Ring”) and Hilditǫnn (“War-tooth”)’: The Danish legendary king Haraldr hilditǫnn Hrœreksson and his son-in-law, the Swedish king Sigurðr hringr Randvésson, known from Saxo (Saxo 2005, I, 8, 1, 1-5, 1, pp. 510-23) and Skjǫldunga saga (ÍF 35, 58-69). See also Notes to RvHbreiðm Hl 39 [All] and 41 [All]. The battle instigated by Óðinn and used as a frame of reference by Snorri here is the epic battle of Brávellir at which Haraldr hilditǫnn fell. According to legend, Óðinn participated in that battle disguised as Brúni, a counsellor of Haraldr’s, but he turned against Haraldr and ultimately killed him.