Varðir, Hǫrða
hvatr fylkir, at
grǫf góðra lof*
geti kviksettra.
Á skínn æva
Yggs fjǫldyggra
sól svangœli,
siklingr, an þik.
Hvatr fylkir Hǫrða, varðir, at grǫf góðra kviksettra geti lof*. Sól skínn æva á fjǫldyggra Yggs svangœli an þik, siklingr.
Swift ruler of the Hǫrðar [NORWEGIAN KING = Sigurðr], may you ensure that the grave of the good holy ones obtains glory. The sun will never shine upon a more virtuous pleaser of Yggr’s <= Óðinn’s> swan [(lit. ‘Yggr’s swan-pleaser’) RAVEN/EAGLE > WARRIOR] than you, lord.
[3] góðra (m. gen. pl.) ‘of the good’: In H, the l. (grǫf guðs lofs ‘the grave of God’s glory’) is hypometrical but has internal rhyme, whereas, in Hr, grǫf góðu golli ‘the grave with the good gold’ has three alliterative staves, lacks internal rhyme and is hypermetrical.