Heyr á uppreist orða,
ótvínn konungr, mína!
Gaf mér gull it rauða
gramr; vas þat fyr skǫmmu.
Saddir ǫrn, ok eyddir
ǫrum blámanna fjǫrvi;
gall styrfengins stillis
strengr; vas þat fyr lengra.
Ótvínn konungr, heyr á uppreist orða mína! Gramr gaf mér it rauða gull; þat vas fyr skǫmmu. Saddir ǫrn, ok eyddir fjǫrvi blámanna ǫrum; strengr styrfengins stillis gall; þat vas fyr lengra.
Unwavering king, hear the improvement of my poetry! The ruler gave me red gold; that was recently. You satiated the eagle, and destroyed the lives of dark men with arrows; the bowstring of the battle-fit lord resounded; that was longer ago.
[1] uppreist ‘the improvement’: The word can mean ‘improvement, restoration, increasing power and honour’ or ‘insurrection’ (see Fritzner: uppreist). Skj B translates uppreist orða as mitt ordelag ‘my wording’. Þorgils has just composed one st. about Haraldr, and he now suggests that he will produce another, even better st. in his honour. See also Note to Mark Eirdr 21/1.