Skyldak, skerja foldar
skíðrennandi, síðan
þursa týs frá þvísa
þinn góðan byr finna,
es, valjarðar, verðum,
veljandi, þér selja
lyngva mens, þats lengi,
látr, minn faðir átti.
Skerja foldar skíðrennandi, skyldak síðan frá þvísa finna þinn góðan byr týs þursa, es, veljandi valjarðar, verðum selja þér látr mens lyngva, þats faðir minn átti lengi.
Runner of the ski of the land of skerries [(lit. ‘ski-runner of the land of skerries’) SEA > SHIP > SEAFARER], I should from this time on meet with your good wind of the bondwoman of giants [GIANTESS > THOUGHT], when, chooser of the battlefield [RULER], we [I] have to give you the resting-place of the necklace of heathers [SNAKE > GOLD] which my father long owned.
[5] val‑: vél Bb
[5, 6] veljandi valjarðar ‘chooser of the battlefield [RULER]’: This kenning has not been conclusively explained. (a) Adopted in this edn is an analysis due to Sveinbjörn Egilsson (LP (1860): velja, followed by ÍF 26; ÍF 29; Hkr 1991), who sees a reference to the warrior’s role of choosing the locality in which to fight a battle. (b) Finnur Jónsson (Hkr 1893-1901, IV; Skj B) initially suggested that valjǫrð could be ‘falcon-land [ARM]’, part of an incomplete or corrupted kenning for ‘ring’ , but in LP: valjǫrð favoured explanation (a).