Then sang Egil:

’Ljot asketh but little,

Loth were I to baulk him.

Pale wight, my hand pliant

Shall play on his mail.

Come, busk we for combat;

Nor quarter expect thou:

Strife-stirrer, in Mæri

Stern shield-cutting ours.’

After this Egil made him ready for combat with Ljot. Egil had the shield that he was wont to have, was
girded with the sword which he called Adder, but in his hand he had Dragvandill. He went in over the
boundary that marked the battle-ground, but Ljot was then not ready. Egil shook his sword and sang:

’Hew we with hilt-wands flashing,

Hack we shield with falchion,

Test we moony targets,

Tinge red sword in blood.

Ljot from life be sundered,

Low stern play shall lay him,

Quelled the quarrel-seeker:

Come, eagles, to your prey.’