Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/80

 72 CHRONICLE OF THE saga vii. " With the king's marshals all have I, In days gone by, Lived joyously, — With all who on the king attend, And knee before him humbly bend. Biorn, thou oft hast ta'en my part — Pleaded with art, And touched the heart. Biorn ! brave stainer of the sword, Thou art my friend — I trust thy word/' While they were riding up to Gotland Sigvat made these verses : — ft Down the Fiord sweep wind and rain, Our stout ship's sails and tackle strain ; Wet to the skin, We're sound within, And gaily o'er the waves are dancing, Our sea-steed o'er the waves high prancing! Through Lister sea Flying all free ; Off from the wind with swelling sail, We merrily scud before the gale, And reach the sound Where we were bound. And now our ship, so gay and grand, Glides past the green and lovely land, And at the isle Moors for a while. Our horse-hoofs now leave hasty print; We ride — of ease there's scanty stint — In heat and haste O'er Gotland's waste: Though in a hurry to be married, The king can't say that we have tarried." One evening late they were riding through Got- land, and Sigvat made these verses : " The weary horse will at nightfall Gallop right well to reach his stall; When night meets day, with hasty hoof He plies the road to reach a roof. Far from the Danes, we now may ride Safely by stream or mountain side; But, in this twilight, in some ditch The horse and rider both may pitch."