Vágr þrútnaði, en vefi keyrði
steinóðr á stag storðar galli.
Braut dýrr dreki und Dana skelfi
hrygg í hverri hafs glymbrúði.
Vágr þrútnaði, en steinóðr galli storðar keyrði vefi á stag. Dýrr dreki und skelfi Dana braut hrygg í hverri glymbrúði hafs.
The sea swelled, and the raging destruction of the sapling [STORM] drove the sails against the stays. The precious dragon beneath the terrifier of the Danes [= Magnús] broke the back in every roaring-bride of the ocean [WAVE].
[8] glymbrúði hafs ‘roaring-bride of the ocean [WAVE]’: In ON mythology Ægir was a personification of the sea. His bride was the goddess Rán (see SnE 1998, I, 36 and Note to SnH Lv 6/3), who also personified the destructive powers of the ocean. The sense of this cl. is that the dragon-ship cut through the crest of every wave (broke their backs). For similar imagery portraying vigorous sailing as fights between ships and waves (depicted as destructive female powers), see HHund I 28-30 and HHj 18-23 (NK 134, 144-5).