Máttit ǫld, þás ótta
ógnfýstr konungr lýsti,
— hljóp fyr hilmis vôpnum
herflótti — bý verja.
Ǫld máttit verja bý, þás ógnfýstr konungr lýsti ótta; herflótti hljóp fyr vôpnum hilmis.
People could not defend the town when the battle-inflamed king [= Magnús] showed fear; the fleeing army ran before the ruler’s weapons.
[3] fyr vôpnum hilmis ‘before the ruler’s weapons’: Or: ‘on account of the ruler’s weapons’. This prepositional phrase could also belong to the first cl. (so Skj B; ÍF 29).