conversation as Earl Ragnvald's great friend, and
often spoke of him to King Olaf; and he offered to the king to travel to
Earl Ragnvald's and spy after the Swedish kings doings, and to attempt,
if possible, to get the settlement of the agreement. The king thought
well of this plan; for he oft, and with pleasure, spoke to his
confidential friends about Ingegerd, the king's daughter. Early
in winter (A.D. 1019) Sigvat the skald, with two companions, left
Sarpsborg, and proceeded eastwards over the moors to Gautland. Before
Sigvat and King Olaf parted he composed these verses:--

"Sit happy in thy hall, O king!
Till I come back, and good news bring:
The skald will bid thee now farewell,
Till he brings news well worth to tell.
He wishes to the helmed hero
Health, and long life, and a tull flow
Of honour, riches, and success--
And, parting, ends his song with this.
The farewell word is spoken now __
The word that to the heart lies nearest;
And yet, O king! before I go,
One word on what I hold the dearest,
I fain would say, "O! may God save
To thee the bravest of the brave,
The land, which is thy right by birth!"
This is my dearest with on earth."

Then they proceeded eastwards towards Eid, and had difficulty in
crossing the river in a little cobble; but they escaped, though with
danger: and Sigvat sang:--

"On shore the crazy boat I drew,
Wet to the skin, and frightened too;
For truly there was danger then;
The mocking hill elves laughed again.
To see us in this cobble sailing,
And all our sea-skill unavailing.
But better did it end, you see,
Than any of us could foresee."

Then they went through the Eid forest, and Sigvat sang:--

"A hundred miles through Eid's old wood,
And devil an alehouse, bad or good,--
A hundred miles, and tree and sky
Were all that met the weary eye.
With many a grumble, many a groan.
A hundred miles we trudged right on;
And every king's man of us bore
On each foot-sole a bleeding sore."

They came then through Gautland, and in the evening reached a farm-house
called Hof. The door was bolted so that they could not come in; and the
servants told them it was a fast-day, and they could not get admittance.
Sigvat sang:--

"Now up to Hof in haste I hie,
And round the house and yard I pry.
Doors are fast locked