Nisti ferð í frosti
fárlunduð við tré sáran
— vasa hann verðugr písla —
várn græðara járnum.
Glymr varð hár af hömrum
heyrðr, þá er nagla keyrðu
hjálms gnýviðir hilmi
hófs í ristr ok lófa.
Fárlunduð ferð nisti várn sáran græðara járnum við tré í frosti; hann vasa verðugr písla. Hár glymr varð heyrðr af hömrum, þá er hjálms gnýviðir keyrðu nagla í ristr ok lófa hilmi hófs.
A harm-minded host nailed our wounded Saviour with irons to the tree in the frost; he was not deserving of torment. High clanging was heard from hammers, when the trees of the din of the helmet [(lit. ‘din-trees of the helmet’) BATTLE > WARRIORS] drove nails into the insteps and palms of the prince of moderation [VIRTUOUS RULER = Christ].
[7, 8] hilmi hófs ‘of the prince of moderation [VIRTUOUS RULER = Christ]’: Etymologically hilmir ‘prince’ means ‘helmeter’; with reference to Christ this may also have a religious sense, for Eph. VI.17 exhorts men to put on the galea salutis ‘helmet of salvation’. Christ’s ‘moderation’ (hóf) contrasts with the extremes of frost and loud ringing.