Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/382

 374 CHRONICLE OF THE saga vni. discontent of the people; and it so happened that the the lot fell upon Sigvat. chapter Sigvat accordingly composed a poem, which he oSfL- called the Free-speaking Song, which begins with speaking saying the kins: had delayed too long to pacify the Song, and -, ^ i, • i ,. , . of the law people, who were threatening to rise in tumult against book ' him. He said : — " Here in the South, from Sogn is spread The news that strife draws to a head : The bonders w T i]l the king oppose — Kings and their folk should ne'er be foes. Let us take arms, and briskly go To battle, if it must be so; Defend our king, — but still deplore His land plunged in such strife once more." In this song are also these verses : — " Hakon*, who at Fitia died, — Hakon the Good, could not abide The viking rule, or robber train, And all men's love he thus did gain. The people since have still in mind The laws of Hakon, just and kind ; And men will never see the day When Hakon's laws have passed away. " The bonders ask but what is fair : The Olafsf and the Earls ^, when there Where Magnus sits, confirmed to all Their lands and gear — to great and small. Bold Tryggve's son, and Harald's heir, The Olafs, while on earth they were, Observed the laws themselves had made, And none was for his own afraid. " Let not thy counsellors stir thy wrath Against the man who speaks the truth: Thy honour lies in thy good sword, But still more in thy royal word ; system, with its escheats and forfeitures, instead of the udal rights, by King Magnus. t Olaf Tryygvesson, and Olaf the Saint, Harald's son, X Earl Hakon the Great, and Earl Swend.
 * This song appears to refer to some attempt to introduce the feudal