Prose Edda - Brodeur Trans.
Skáldskaparmál
Moon of the Ship's Cheek, as Refr sang:
Fair was the day, when ScatterersShip's Garth, as here:
Of Arm-Fire thrust the clear Moon
Of the Cheek into my hand-clasp,
The coiling track of red rings.
The swift Sweller of the Spear-CrashAsh of Ullr, as here:
Shot through the stain-dyed Prow-Garth
As it were birch-bark; truly
He was a bitter battler.
The Snow-Gusts of Ullr's Ash-ShipBlade of Hrungnir's Foot-Soles, as Bragi sang:
Grimly o'er our Prince shoot
With fullness, where are tossing
The fearsome covered spike-spars.
Wilt hear, O Hrafnketill,Bragi the Skald sang this concerning the ring on the shield:
How I shall praise the Sole-Blade
Of Thrádr's thief, stain-covered
With skill, and praise my king.
Unless it be, that Sigurdr's
Renowned Son would have payment
In good kind for the ring-nave
Of the Ringing Wheel of Hildr.
186
He called the shield Wheel of Hildr, and the ring the Nave of the Wheel.
Ring-Earth, as Hallvardr sang:
The Chief of ranks of CombatIt is also sung:
Sees the red-gleaming Ring-Earth
Fly in two parts; the white disk,
The pictured, bursts in sunder.
A ring befits the shield best;A sword is Odin's Fire, as Kormákr sang:
Arrows befit the bow.
The fight swelled, when the Warrior,Fire of the Helm, as Úlfr Uggason sang:
The Wolf's blithe Feeder, in tumult
Fared with Odin's ringing Fire-Flame;
Urdr came forth from the Well.
The very mighty MaidenFire of the Birnie, as Glúmr Geirason sang:
Of the Mountain made the Sea-Horse
Roll forward, but the Champions
Of Odin's Helm-Fire felled her Wolf-Steed.
At that the Land-Protector
Let the Birnie's Streaming Fire whine,
Hone-whetted, he who warded
Him strongly 'gainst the warriors.
187
Ice of the Rim, and Hurt of Sheltering Weapons, as Einarr sang:
I received the Ice of Red Rims,An axe is called Troll-Woman of Sheltering Weapons, as Einarr sang:
With Freyja's golden Eye-Thaw,
From the upright prince high-hearted;
We bear in hand the Helm's Hurt.
Ræfill's Sea-Steed's RidersA spear is called Serpent, as Refr sang:
May see how, richly carven,
The dragons close are brooding
'Gainst the brow of the Helm-Ogress.
My angry Murky SerpentArrows are called Hail of the Bow or Bowstring, or of the Shelters, or of Battle, as Einarr Tinkling-Scale sang:
Of the markings of the Shield-Board
Savagely doth sport, in
My palms, where men in strife meet.
The hammering King of Swords shookAnd Hallfredr:
From the Sails of Hlökk the Bow-Hail:
Bravely the Wolf's Supporter
Warded his life in battle.
And the armor of the Spear-Sleet,
Knitted with iron, saved not
188
The saters of hungry ravensAnd Eyvindr Skald-Despoiler:
From the Shaft-Hail of the Bowstring.
They said, O Hörds' Land-Warder,XLIX. "Battle is called Storm or Snow-Shower of the Hjadnings, and weapons are termed Fire or Wands of Hjadnings; and this is the tale thereof: that king who was called Högni had a daughter named Hildr: her King Hedinn, son of Hjarrandi, took as the spoils of war, while King Högni attended an assembly of kings. But when he learned that there had been raiding in his realm and his daughter had been borne off; he departed with his host to seek Hedinn, and heard tidings of him, that he was proceeding northward along the land. When Högni had come into Norway, he learned that Hedinn had sailed westward over the sea. Then Högni sailed after him, even to the Orkneys; and when he landed at the place called Hoy, Hedinn was already there before him with his host. Then Hildr went to meet her father, and offered him a necklace on Hedinn's behalf, for reconciliation and peace; but if it were not accepted, she said, Hedinn was ready to fight, and Högni might hope for no mercy at his hands.
Thy spirit little faltered,
When the Birnie's Hail in the wound burst;
Bent were the stringed elm-bows.
"Högni answered his daughter harshly; and when she returned to Hedinn, she told him that Högni desired no reconciliation, and she bade him make ready for battle. So did both parties: they went to the island and marshaled
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