Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/120

 112 CHRONICLE OF THE SAGA vii. 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 Gotland, and in the even- ing reached a farm-house called Hof. The door was bolted so that they could not come in ; and the ser- vants 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 — 1 'Tis holy time/ the house-folks said. Heathens! to shove me thus away! Y 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 Asa-gods. 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 1 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 bonders', 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."