Stanzas 53-60 demonstrate ljóðaháttr, the metre of the wisdom poems used in Hávamál, Vafþrúðnismál and Grímnismál. It is a six-line metre with alternating bound and free lines, adapted for speech, dialogue and gnomic poetry.
Ljóðaháttr er þat er sex línur eru í hverri vísu. Þrjár línur eru í hverjum helmingi. Önnur línan ok fjórða línan eru stuttar ok lausar. Fyrsta línan ok þriðja ok fimmta ok sjötta eru lengri ok bundnar. Þetta háttr er notað í Hávamáli ok mörgum spekikvæðum.
Ljóðaháttr is the metre in which six lines appear in each stanza. Three lines appear in each half-stanza. The second and fourth lines are short and free. The first, third, fifth and sixth lines are longer and bound. This metre is used in Hávamál and many wisdom poems.
Þat er sagt at Óðinn sjálfr mælti í þessum hátti þá er hann kenndi mönnum vísdom. Þvíat þetta háttr er meðal allra háttar mest líklegt til þess at kenna speki ok dyggð.
It is said that Odin himself spoke in this metre when he taught men wisdom. For this metre is among all metres the most suited to teaching wisdom and virtue.
Stanzas
Háttatal 53
Hákon konungr er hróðrligr. Hann ræðr ríki vítt. Skúli jarl er sterkr ok stórr, þeir tvæir ráða Nóregi.
King Hákon is glorious. He rules a wide realm. Earl Skúli is strong and great, those two rule Norway.