kind
That we cared much to lag hehind.
But Eid to rest safe we found,
From robbers free to the eastern bound:
This praise to thee, great earl, is due--
The skald says only what is true."

Earl Ragnvald gave Sigvat a gold arm-ring, and a woman said "he had not
made the journey with his black eyes for nothing." Sigvat sang:--

"My coal-black eyes
Dost thou despise?
They have lighted me
Across the sea
To gain this golden prize:
They have lighted me,
Thy eyes to see,
O'er Iceland's main,
O'er hill and plain:
Where Nanna's lad would fear to be
They have lighted me."

Sigvat was long entertained kindly and well in the house of Earl
Ragnvald. The earl heard by letters, sent by Ingegerd the king's
daughter, that ambassadors from King Jarisleif were come from Russia to
King Olaf of Svithjod to ask his daughter Ingegerd in marriage, and that
King Olaf had given them hopes that he would agree to it. About the same
time King Olaf's daughter Astrid came to Earl Ragnvald's court, and
a great feast was made for her. Sigvat soon became acquainted by
conversation with the king's daughter, and she knew him by name and
family, for Ottar the skald, Sigvat's sister's son, had long intimate
acquaintance with King Olaf, the Swedish king. Among other things talked
of, Earl Ragnvald asked Sigvat if the king of Norway would not marry the
king's daughter Astrid. "If he would do that," said he, "I think we need
not ask the Swedish king for his consent." Astrid, the kings daughter,
said exactly the same. Soon after Sigvat returns home, and comes to King
Olaf at Sarpsborg a little before Yule.

When Sigvat came home to King Olaf he went into the hall, and, looking
around on the walls, he sang:--

"When our men their arms are taking
The raven's wings with greed are shaking;
When they come back to drink in hall
Brave spoil they bring to deck the wall--
Shield, helms, and panzers (1), all in row,
Stripped in the field from lifeless fow.
In truth no royal nail comes near
Thy splendid hall in precious gear."

Afterwards Sigvat told of his journey, and sang these verses:--

"The king's court-guards desire to hear
About our journey and our cheer,
Our ships in autumn reach the sound,
But long the way to Swedish ground.
With joyless weather, wind and raind,
And pinching cold, and feet in pai