day, as Sigvat was walking in the street,
he saw the king's men at play, and he sang:--

"One day before I passed this way,
When the king's guards were at their play,
Something there was--I need not tell--
That made me pale, and feel unwell.
Perhaps it was I thought, just then,
How noble Olaf with his men,
In former days, I oft have seen
In manly games upon this green."

Sigvat then went to his farm; and as he heard that many men upbraided
him with having deserted King Olaf, he made these verses:--

"May Christ condemn me still to burn
In quenchless fire, if I did turn,
And leave King Olaf in his need,--
My soul is free from such base deed.
I was at Rome, as men know well
Who saw me there, and who can tell
That there in danger I was then:
The truth I need not hide from men."

Sigvat was ill at ease in his home. One day he went out and sang:--

"While Olaf lived, how smiled the land!
Mountain and cliff, and pebbly strand.
All Norway then, so fresh, so gay,
On land or sea, where oft I lay.
But now to me all seems so dready,
All black and dull--of life I'm weary;
Cheerless to-day, cheerless to-morrow--
Here in the North we have great sorrow."

Early in winter Sigvat went westward over the ridge of the country to
Jamtaland, and onwards to Helsingjaland, and came to Svithjod. He went
immediately to Queen Astrid, and was with her a long time, and was a
welcome guest. He was also with her brother King Emund, and received
from him ten marks of proved silver, as is related in the song of
Canute. Sigvat always inquired of the merchants who traded to Novgorod
if they could tell him any news of Magnus Olafson. Sigvat composed these
lines at that time:--

"I ask the merchant oft who drives
His trade to Russia, 'How he thrives,
Our noble prince? How lives he there?
And still good news--his praise--I hear.
To little birds, which wing their way
Between the lands, I fain would say,
How much we long our prince to see,
They seem to hear a wish from me."

10. OF KING MAGNUS'S FIRST ARRIVAL IN SVITHJOD.

Immediately after Magnus Olafson came to Svithjod from Russia, Sigvat
met him at Queen Astrid's house, and glad they all were at meeting.
Sigvat then sang:--

"Thou art come here, prince, young and bold!
Thou art come home! With joy behold