Heimskringla, or the Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Part 40

With many a grumble, many a groan.

A hundred miles we trudged right on; And every king's man of us bore On each foot-sole a bleeding sore."

They came then through Gautland, and in the evening reached a farm-house called Hof. The door was bolted so that they could not come in; and the servants told them it was a fast-day, and they could not get admittance.

Sigvat sang:--

"Now up to Hof in haste I hie, And round the house and yard I pry.

Doors are fast locked--but yet within, Methinks, I hear some stir and din.

I peep, with nose close to the ground.

Below the door, but small cheer found.

My trouble with few words was paid-- "'Tis holy time,' the house-folkd said.

Heathens! to shove me thus away!

I' the foul fiend's claws may you all lay."

Then they came to another farm, where the good-wife was standing at the door, and told them not to come in, for they were busy with a sacrifice to the elves. Sigvat sang of it thus:--

"'My poor lad, enter not, I pray!'

Thus to me did the old wife say; 'For all of us are heathens here, And I for Odin's wrath do fear.'

The ugly witch drove me away, Like scared wolf sneaking from his prey.

When she told me that there within Was sacrifice to foul Odin."

Another evening, they came to three bondes, all of them of the name of Olver, who drove them away. Sigvat sang:--

"Three of one name, To their great shame, The traveller late Drove from their gate!

Travellers may come From our viking-home, Unbidden guests At these Olvers' feasts."

They went on farther that evening, and came to a fourth bonde, who was considered the most hospitable man in the country; but he drove them away also. Then Sigvat sang:--

"Then on I went to seek night's rest From one who was said to be the best, The kindest host in the land around, And there I hoped to have quarters found.

But, faith,'twas little use to try; For not so much as raise an eye Would this huge wielder of the spade: If he's the hest, it must be said Bad is the best, and the skald's praise Cannot be given to churls like these.

I almost wished that Asta's son In the Eid forest had been one When we, his men, were even put Lodging to crave in a heathen's hut.

I knew not where the earl to find; Four times driven off by men unkind, I wandered now the whole night o'er, Driven like a dog from door to door."

Now when they came to Earl Ragnvald's the earl said they must have had a severe journey. Then Sigvat sang:--

"The message-bearers of the king From Norway came his words to bring; And truly for their master they Hard work have done before to-day.

We did not loiter on the road, But on we pushed for thy abode: Thy folk, in sooth, were not so kind That we cared much to lag hehind.

But Eid to rest safe we found, From robbers free to the eastern bound: This praise to thee, great earl, is due-- The skald says only what is true."

Earl Ragnvald gave Sigvat a gold arm-ring, and a woman said "he had not made the journey with his black eyes for nothing." Sigvat sang:--

"My coal-black eyes Dost thou despise?

They have lighted me Across the sea To gain this golden prize: They have lighted me, Thy eyes to see, O'er Iceland's main, O'er hill and plain: Where Nanna's lad would fear to be They have lighted me."

Sigvat was long entertained kindly and well in the house of Earl Ragnvald. The earl heard by letters, sent by Ingegerd the king's daughter, that amba.s.sadors from King Jarisleif were come from Russia to King Olaf of Svithjod to ask his daughter Ingegerd in marriage, and that King Olaf had given them hopes that he would agree to it. About the same time King Olaf's daughter Astrid came to Earl Ragnvald's court, and a great feast was made for her. Sigvat soon became acquainted by conversation with the king's daughter, and she knew him by name and family, for Ottar the skald, Sigvat's sister's son, had long intimate acquaintance with King Olaf, the Swedish king. Among other things talked of, Earl Ragnvald asked Sigvat if the king of Norway would not marry the king's daughter Astrid. "If he would do that," said he, "I think we need not ask the Swedish king for his consent." Astrid, the kings daughter, said exactly the same. Soon after Sigvat returns home, and comes to King Olaf at Sarpsborg a little before Yule.

When Sigvat came home to King Olaf he went into the hall, and, looking around on the walls, he sang:--

"When our men their arms are taking The raven's wings with greed are shaking; When they come back to drink in hall Brave spoil they bring to deck the wall-- s.h.i.+eld, helms, and panzers (1), all in row, Stripped in the field from lifeless fow.

In truth no royal nail comes near Thy splendid hall in precious gear."

Afterwards Sigvat told of his journey, and sang these verses:--

"The king's court-guards desire to hear About our journey and our cheer, Our s.h.i.+ps in autumn reach the sound, But long the way to Swedish ground.

With joyless weather, wind and raind, And pinching cold, and feet in pain-- With sleep, fatigue, and want oppressed, No songs had we--we scarce had rest."

And when he came into conversation with the king he sang:--

"When first I met the earl I told How our king loved a friend so bold; How in his heart he loved a man With hand to do, and head to plan.

Thou generous king! with zeal and care I sought to advance thy great affair; For messengers from Russian land Had come to ask Ingegerd's hand.

The earl, thy friend, bids thee, who art So mild and generous of heart, His servants all who here may come To cherish in thy royal home; And thine who may come to the east In Ragnvald's hall shall find a feast-- In Ragnvald's house shall find a home-- At Ragnvald's court be still welcome.

When first I came the people's mind Incensed by Eirik's son I find; And he refused the wish to meet, Alleging treachery and deceit.

But I explained how it was here, For earl and king, advantage clear With thee to hold the strictest peace, And make all force and foray cease.

The earl is wise, and understands The need of peace for both the lands; And he entreats thee not to break The present peace for vengeance's sake!"

He immediately tells King Olaf the news he had heard; and at first the king was much cast down when he heard of King Jarisleif's suit, and he said he expected nothing but evil from King Olaf; but wished he might be able to return it in such a way as Olaf should remember. A while afterwards the king asks Sigvat about various news from Gautland. Sigvat spoke a great deal about Astrid, the kings daughter; how beautiful she was, how agreeable in her conversation; and that all declared she was in no respect behind her sister Ingegerd. The king listened with pleasure to this. Then Sigvat told him the conversation he and Astrid had had between themselves, and the king was delighted at the idea. "The Swedish king," said he, "will scarcely think that I will dare to marry a daughter of his without his consent." But this speech of his was not known generally. King Olaf and Sigvat the skald often spoke about it. The king inquired particularly of Sigvat what he knew about Earl Ragnvald, and "if he be truly our friend," said the king. Sigvat said that the earl was King Olaf's best friend, and sang these verses:--

"The mighty Olaf should not cease With him to hold good terms and peace; For this good earl unwearied shows He is thy friend where all are foes.

Of all who dwell by the East Sea So friendly no man is as he: At all their Things he takes thy part, And is thy firm friend, hand and heart."

ENDNOTES: (1) The Pantzer--a complete suit of plate-armour.

93. RAGNVALD AND ASTRA'S JOURNEY.

After Yule (A.D. 1019), Thord Skotakol, a sister's son of Sigvat, attended by one of Sigvat's footboys, who had been with Sigvat the autumn before in Gautland, went quite secretly from the court, and proceeded to Gautland. When they came to Earl Ragnvald's court, they produced the tokens which Olaf himself had sent to the earl, that he might place confidence in Thord. Without delay the earl made himself ready for a journey, as did Astrid, the king's daughter; and the earl took with him 120 men, who were chosen both from among his courtmen and the sons of great bondes, and who were carefully equipped in all things, clothes, weapons, and horses. Then they rode northwards to Sarpsborg, and came there at Candlemas.

94. OF KING OLAF'S MARRIAGE.

King Olaf had put all things in order in the best style. There were all sorts of liquors of the best that could be got, and all other preparations of the same quality. Many people of consequence were summoned in from their residences. When the earl arrived with his retinue the king received him particularly well; and the earl was shown to a large, good, and remarkably well-furnished house for his lodging; and serving-men and others were appointed to wait on him; and nothing was wanting, in any respect, that could grace a feast. Now when the entertainment had lasted some days, the king, the earl, and Astrid had a conference together; and the result of it was, that Earl Ragnvald contracted Astrid, daughter of the Swedish king Olaf, to Olaf king of Norway, with the same dowry which had before been settled that her sister Ingegerd should have from home. King Olaf, on his part, should give Astrid the same bride-gift that had been intended for her sister Ingegerd. Thereupon an eke was made to the feast, and King Olaf and Queen Astrid's wedding was drunk in great festivity. Earl Ragnvald then returned to Gautland, and the king gave the earl many great and good gifts at parting; and they parted the dearest of friends, which they continued to be while they lived.

95. THE AGREEMENT BROKEN BY OLAF.

The spring (A.D. 1019) thereafter came amba.s.sadors from King Jarisleif in Novgorod to Svithjod, to treat more particularly about the promise given by King Olaf the preceding summer to marry his daughter Ingegerd to King Jarisleif. King Olaf tallied about the business with Ingegerd, and told her it was his pleasure that she should marry King Jarisleif.

She replied. "If I marry King Jarisleif, I must have as my bride-gift the town and earldom of Ladoga." The Russian amba.s.sadors agreed to this, on the part of their sovereign. Then said Ingegerd, "If I go east to Russia, I must choose the man in Svithjod whom I think most suitable to accompany me; and I must stipulate that he shall not have any less t.i.tle, or in any respect less dignity, privilege, and consideration there, than he has, here." This the king and the amba.s.sadors agreed to, and gave their hands upon it in confirmation of the condition.

"And who," asked the king, "is the man thou wilt take with thee as thy attendant?"

"That man," she replied, "is my relation Earl Ragnvald."

The king replies, "I have resolved to reward Earl Ragnvald in a different manner for his treason against his master in going to Norway with my daughter, and giving her as a concubine to that fellow, who he knew was my greatest enemy. I shall hang him up this summer."