Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/376

 368 CHRONICLE OF THE saga viii. Early in winter Sigvat went westward over the ridge of the country to Jemteland, and onwards to Helsingialand, and came to Sweden. He went imme- diately to Queen Astrid, and was with her a long time, and was a welcome guest. He was also with her brother King Onund, and received from him ten marks of proved silver, as is related in the song of Canute. Sigvat always inquired of the merchants who traded to Novogorod if they could tell him any news of Magnus Olafsson. Sigvat composed these lines at that time : — (t I ask the merchant oft who drives His trade to Russia, ' How he thrives, Our noble prince ? How lives he there ? ' And still good news — his praise — I hear To little birds, which wing their way Between the lands, I fain would say How much we long our prince to see ; They seem to bear a wish from me." Chapter Immediately after Magnus Olafsson came to Sweden of k^no- from Russia, Sigvat met him at Queen Astrid's house, Magnus's an( j <Aa& they all were at meeting. Sisrvat then first arrival ° J ° ° in Sweden. Sailg, " Thou art come here, prince, young and bold ! Thou art come home! With joy behold Thy land and people. From this hour I join myself to thy young power. I could not o'er to Russia 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.' father of King Magnus, and having given him his name in baptism. See Olaf the Saint's Saga, chapter 131.
 * Sigvat often refers to the circumstance of his having been the god-