Bragi explains the poetic circumlocutions for battle and war. Battle is called Odin's weather, the din of spears, and Hild's game, and the skald may choose among many figurative expressions drawn from gods, weapons, and valkyries.
Orrostan heitir veðr Óðins, þá er hann sendir valkyrjur til deilanna. Hún heitir ok leikr Hildar, þvíat Hildr er nöfn valkyrju. Svá má kalla orrustuna dynr geirs ok skjaldarbrak ok rím hjálma.
Battle is called Odin's weather, for he sends the valkyries to the conflicts. It is also called Hild's game, since Hild is the name of a valkyrie. Thus one may call battle the din of spears, the crash of shields, and the clang of helmets.
Orrosta heitir þar til sverða leikr, þing skjalda, regn brodda, ok stormr hjörva. Allt þetta er skáldum heimilt at nota þá er þeir yrkja um víg.
Battle is further called the play of swords, the assembly of shields, the rain of points, and the storm of blades. All these are permitted for skalds to use when they compose about battle.