Heimskringla; Or, The Chronicle of the Kings of Norway

10. OF KING MAGNUS'S FIRST ARRIVAL IN SVITHJOD.

Immediately after Magnus Olafson came to Svithjod from Russia, Sigvat met him at Queen Astrid's house, and glad they all were at meeting. Sigvat then sang:—

     "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 Russie 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.'
     If He, to whom be all the praise,
     Give us a son in all his ways
     Like to his sire, no folk on earth
     Will bless so much a royal birth."

Now when Magnus became king of Norway Sigvat attended him, and was his dearest friend. Once it happened that Queen Astrid and Alfhild the king's mother had exchanged some sharp words with each other, and Sigvat said:—

     "Alfhild!  though it was God's will
     To raise thee—yet remember still
     The queen-born Astrid should not be
     Kept out of due respect by thee."