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: 666 My poor lad, enter not, I pray!' 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, 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 And there I hoped to have quarters found. I knew not where the earl to find; Now when they came to Earl Ragnvald's the earl said they must have had a severe journey. Sigvat sang : "The message-bearers of the king From Norway came his words to bring; And truly for their master they But on we pushed for thy abode : From robbers free to the eastern bound: This praise to thee, great earl, is due- Then 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: Sigvat was long entertained kindly and well in the house of Earl Ragnvald. The earl heard by letters, sent by Ingigerd the king's daughter, that ambassadors from King Jarisleif were come from Russia to King Olaf of Svithiod to ask his daughter Ingigerd 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 king's 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; Afterwards Sigvat told of his journey, and sang these verses : "The king's court-guards desire to hear About our journey and our cheer, The Pantzer-a complete suit of plate-armour-is a word we want in the English, but is used in the cognate German and Northern languages.-L. Our ships in autumn reach the sound, 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; And he entreats thee not to break The present peace for vengeance' 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 king's daughter; how beautiful she was, how agreeable in her conversation; and that all declared she was in no respect behind her sister Ingigerd. 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." CHAPTER XCIII.—Earl Ragnvald and Astrid's Journey to Norway. After Yule [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 |