Sögu kann ek segja sonum Háleygja
vilgi góða, ef þér vilið heyra.
Hér ferr sunnan Svarðar dóttir,
um drifin dreyra, frá Danmörku.
Ek kann segja sonum Háleygja vilgi góða sögu, ef þér vilið heyra. Hér ferr dóttir Svarðar, um drifin dreyra, sunnan frá Danmörku.
I can tell the sons of the Háleygir a story [which is] by no means good, if you want to hear it. Here Svǫrðr’s daughter, drenched with blood, moves from the south from Denmark.
[2] sonum Háleygja ‘the sons of the Háleygir’: The pl. referent is used here, though the merman is in fact directing his remarks to Hjǫrleifr alone. Andrews (Hálf 1909, 84) comments on the fact that here Hjǫrleifr is linked with Háleygjaland (Hålogaland, a district in northern Norway), as is his son Hálfr in Hálf 56/6.