Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 3.djvu/168

 156 CHRONICLE OF THE SAGA XII. the city, he let valuable clothes be brought and spread upon the road, and the nearer to the city the more valuable ; and said, " Now ye must know that a cele- brated king from the northern part of the earth is come to visit us ; and many are the gallant deeds and celebrated actions told of him, therefore we shall re- ceive him well ; and in doing so we shall also know his magnificence and power. If he ride straight on to the city, taking little notice of these splendid prepar- ations, I will conclude that he has enough of such things in his own kingdom ; but, on the other hand, if he rides off the road, I shall not think so highly of his royal dignity at home." Now King Sigurd rides to the city with great state; and when he saw this magnificence, he rode straight forward over the clothes, and told all his men to do the same. King Baldwin received him particularly well, and rode with him all the way to the river Jordan, and then back to the city of Jerusalem. Einar Skuleson speaks thus of it : — " Good reason has the scald to sing The generous temper of the king. Whose sea-cold keel from northern waves Ploughs the blue sea that green isles laves. At Acre scarce were we made fast, In holy ground our anchors cast, When the king made a joyful morn To all who toil with him had borne." And again he made these lines: — '' To Jerusalem he came. He who loves war's noble game, (The scald no greater monarch finds Beneath the heaven's wide hall of winds) All sin and evil from him flings In Jordan's wave: for all his sins (Which all must praise) he pardon wins." King Sigurd staid a long time in the land of Jerusalem in autumn, and in the beginning of winter. Ch^^er ^ King Baldwin made a magnificent feast for King sidon ' Sigurd and many of his people, and gave him many taken. holy relics. By the orders of Kinj? Baldwin and the