Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 3.djvu/152

 l-iO ClIKONICLE OF THE sAGAjci. ^^^ -jj^^ ^|j^ ^yg^;[^ three crosses, — one for Harald's stature, one for Olaf's, and one for Magnus's; and which crosses each of them could with the greatest ease kiss. The upper was Harald's cross ; the lowest was Magnus's ; and Olaf 's was in the middle, about equally distant from both. It is said that Magnus composed the following verses about the emperor's daughter : — The battle-shout, the eagle's scream. The joy of war, no more can please : Matilda* is far o'er the seas. My sword may break, my shield be cleft. Of land or life I may be reft ; Yet I could sleep, but for one care, — One, o'er the seas, with light-brown hair." He also composed the following : — The scald feels weary of his song ; What sweetens, brightens, eases life.'* 'Tis a sweet-smiling lovely wife. My time feels long in Thing affairs, In Things my loved one ne'er appears. The folk full-dressed, while I am sad. Talk and oppose — can I be glad ? " When King Magnus heard the friendly words the emperor's daughter had spoken about him, — that she had said such a man as King Magnus was appeared to her an excellent man, he composed the follow- ing A favouring word was breathed to me. The lovely one with light-brown hair May trust her thoughts to senseless air : Her thoughts will find like thoughts in me; And though my love 1 cannot see. Affection's thoughts fly in the wind, And meet each other, true and kind." c. 5. p. 439.) to have been a daughter of the emperor Henry IV.
 * ' The ring of arms where blue swords gleam.
 * ' The time that breeds delay feels long.
 * ^ The lover hears, — across the sea,
 * This Matilda is considered by Torfajus (Hist. Norv. vol. iii. lib. 7.