The plain (un-periphrased) names for poetry: bragr, hróðr, óðr, mærð, lof. The chapter is framed by Bragi the Old's famous riddling exchange with a troll-woman in the forest — she enumerates the troll's nature, he the skald's.

Hvernig er ókennd setning skáldskapar? Svá, at nefna hvern hlut sem heitir. Hver eru ókennd nöfn skáldskaparins? Hann heitir bragr ok hróðr, óðr, mærð, lof. Þetta kvað Bragi inn gamli, þá er hann ók um skóg nökkurn síð um kveld. Þá stefjaði trollkona á hann ok spurði, hverr þar fór:

What is the un-periphrased setting of poetry? Thus: to name each thing as it is called. What are the un-periphrased names of poetry? It is called bragr and hróðr, óðr, mærð, lof [poem, praise, verse]. This Bragi the Old spoke when he was driving through a forest late in the evening. Then a troll-woman accosted him in verse and asked who was passing there:

Hann svarði svá:

He answered thus:

Ok sem Kormákr kvað:

And as Kormákr spoke:

Ok sem kvað Þórðr Kolbeinsson:

And as Þórðr Kolbeinsson spoke:

Mærð, sem Úlfr Uggason kvað:

Mærð [eulogy], as Úlfr Uggason spoke:

Hér er lof kallat skáldskapr.

Here poetry is called lof [praise].

Skaldic quotations

Trollkvinnan (om trollets natur)

Troll kalla mik tungl sjöt-rungnis, auðsug jötuns, élsólar böl, vílsinn völu, vörð nafjarðar, hvélsvelg himins. Hvat er troll, nema þat?

Trolls call me the moon of the giant's dwelling, the wealth-sucker of the giant, the bane of the storm-sun [the sun], the woeful companion of the seeress, the guardian of the corpse-fjord, the wheel-swallower of heaven. What is a troll but that?

Bragi inn gamli (om skaldens natur)

Skald kalla mik skapsmið Viðurs, Gauts gjafrötuð, grepp óhneppan, Yggs ölbera, óðs skapmóða, hagsmið bragar. Hvat er skald, nema þat?

Skalds call me the shaper-smith of Viðurr [Óðinn], the gift-finder of Gautr [Óðinn], the not-scanty poet, the ale-bearer of Yggr [Óðinn], the mood-shaper of verse, the skilled smith of poetry. What is a skald but that?

Kormákr (skaldskap = haftsænis heið, gudarnas hedersdryck)

Hróðr geri ek of mög mæran meir Sigröðar fleira; haftsænis geld ek hánum heið. Sitr Þórr í reiðu.

I make more praise about the glorious son of Sigröðr; I pay him the honour of the fetter-reconciler [the mead of poetry]. Þórr sits in his chariot.

Þórðr Kolbeinsson (óðr, dikten växer)

Mjök lét margar snekkjur, mærðar örr, sem knörru, óðr vex skalds, ok skeiðar skjaldhlynr á brim dynja.

The praise-generous [prince] ... the skald's verse grows ... made many snekkjur and knerrir and long-ships, the shield-maple [warrior], crash upon the surf.

Úlfr Uggason (mærð, lovkväde)

Þar kemr á, en æri endr bar ek mærð af hendi, ofra ek svá, til sævar, sverðregns, lofi þegna.

It comes to that ... I once delivered a eulogy; so I raise the praise of men ... to the sea ... of the sword-rain [battle].