Thy land and people. From this hour
I join myself to thy young power.
I could not o'er to Russie hie,--
Thy mother's guardian here was I.
It was my punishment for giving
Magnus his name, while scarcely living."

Afterwards Sigvat travelled with Queen Astrid, and followed Magnus to
Norway. Sigvat sang thus:--

"To the crowds streaming to the Thing,
To see and hear Magnus their king,
Loudly, young king, I'll speak my mind--
'God to His people has been kind.'
If He, to whom be all the praise,
Give us a son in all his ways
Like to his sire, no folk on earth
Will bless so much a royal birth."

Now when Magnus became king of Norway Sigvat attended him, and was
his dearest friend. Once it happened that Queen Astrid and Alfhild the
king's mother had exchanged some sharp words with each other, and Sigvat
said:--

"Alfhild! though it was God's will
To raise thee--yet remember still
The queen-born Astrid should not be
Kept out of due respect by thee."

11. KING OLAF'S SHRINE.

King Magnus had a shrine made and mounted with gold and silver, and
studded with jewels. This shrine was made so that in shape and size it
was like a coffin. Under it was an arched way, and above was a raised
roof, with a head and a roof-ridge. Behind were plaited hangings; and
before were gratings with padlocks, which could be locked with a key. In
this shrine King Magnus had the holy remains of King Olaf deposited, and
many were the miracles there wrought. Of this Sigvat speaks:--

"For him a golden shrine is made,
For him whose heart was ne'er afraid
Of mortal man--the holy king,
Whom the Lord God to heaven did bring.
Here many a man shall feel his way,
Stone-blind, unconscious of the day,
And at the shrine where Olaf lies
Give songs of praise for opened eyes."

It was also appointed by law that King Olaf's holy day should be held
sacred over all Norway, and that day has been kept ever afterwards as
the greatest of Church days. Sigvat speaks of it:--

"To Olaf, Magnus' father, raise,
Within my house, the song of praise!
With joy, yet grief, we'll keep the day
Olaf to heaven was called away.
Well may I keep within my breast
A day for him in holy rest,--
My upraised hands a golden ring
On every branch (1) bear from that king."

ENDNOTES: (1) The fingers, th