Hildr stendr hverjan myrgin
hjaldrs und rauðum skildi;
nú hafa sigrmeyjar settan
sverðleik Dǫnum harðan.
Eiguð víga vægi
(vill Baldrs faðir illan
Óðinn harðr) sem allir
(óljósan val kjósa).
Hildr hjaldrs stendr hverjan myrgin und rauðum skildi; nú hafa sigrmeyjar settan Dǫnum harðan sverðleik. Eiguð víga vægi, sem allir; Óðinn, harðr faðir Baldrs, vill kjósa illan, óljósan val.
The Hildr of battle [VALKYRIE] stands every morning under a red shield; now the victory-maidens [VALKYRIES] have established hard sword-play [BATTLE] for the Danes. You have to fight with a sword, like everyone; Óðinn, the hard father of Baldr, wishes to choose the wretched, dark slain.
[3] sigrmeyjar ‘the victory-maidens [VALKYRIES]’: Skj B and Skald both print sig- ‘battle’, but the ms. reads sigr- ‘victory-’; sigrmær is the (nom. sg.) form given in LP; on sig, sigr see also Notes to st. 3/6 and Gizsv Lv 1/5.