Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/250

 242 CHRONICLE OF THE SAGA VII. King Onund came to fight, In Sealand's plains, Against the Danes, With his steel-clad men so bright. Canute is on the land ; Side to side His long-ships ride Along the yellow strand. Where waves wash the green banks, Mast to mast, All bound fast, His great fleet lies in ranks." Chapter CLVI. King Canute had heard in England that King Olaf of Norway had called out a levy, and had gone with Canute the ^ s f orces to Denmark, and was making great ravages in his dominions there. Canute began to gather people, and he had speedily collected a great army and a numerous fleet. Earl Hakon was second in command over the whole. Sigvat the scald came this summer from the West, from Rouen in Valland, and with him was a man called Berg. They had made a merchant voyage there the summer before. Sigvat had made a little poem about this journey, called " The Western Travel- ler's Song," which begins thus: — " Berg ! many a merry morn was pass'd, When our vessel was made fast, And we lay on the glittering tide Of Rouen river's western side." When Sigvat came to England he went directly to King Canute, and asked his leave to proceed to Nor- way; for King Canute had forbidden all merchant vessels to sail until he himself was ready with his fleet. When Sigvat arrived he went to the house in which the king was lodged ; but the doors were locked, and he had to stand a long time outside, but when he got admittance he obtained the permission he desired. He then sang — " The way to Jutland's king I sought ; A little patience I was taught.