Beið, þó að styrjöld stæði,
stálharðr, en guð varði;
snúða liet happa hlæðir
herferð og brá sverði.
Sneið af eyra íðinn
ástverka þræl sterkum,
áðr en andlags gæðir
umgerðar batt sverði.
Stálharðr beið, þó að styrjöld stæði, en varði guð; hlæðir happa liet snúða herferð, og brá sverði. Íðinn ástverka sneið af eyra sterkum þræl, áðr en gæðir andlags batt umgerðar sverði.
Steel-hard he stood firm, though conflict took place, and defended God; the accumulator of blessings [HOLY MAN = Peter] made battle hasten, and drew his sword. Zealous for acts of devotion he cut off the ear of a strong slave, before the strengthener of the counterthrust [WARRIOR = Peter] fastened the bindings on the sword [i.e. returned his sword to its scabbard].
[2] en varði guð ‘and defended God’: Finnur Jónsson (Skj B) takes the cl. with the sentence which follows and translates: men gud forbød ham det ‘but God forbade him that’ (i.e. forbade him to use his sword). As Kock points out (NN §2880), the order of clauses argues strongly against such an awkward reading. Taking guð as the object of varði gives better sense.