The Heimskringla on Sigvat Skald

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 9. Of Sigvat The Skald.

• attestation: Sigvat the skald was in Rome during the battle of Stiklestad

  "Sigvat the skald had gone to Rome, where he was at the time of the battle of Stiklestad."

• attestation: Sigvat grieved deeply upon learning of King Olaf's death

  "He was on his way back from the South when he heard tidings of King Olaf's fall, which gave him great grief."

• attestation: Sigvat composed a verse mourning Olaf while recalling Stiklestad, also lamenting his father Thord who served the king

  "Where our king fell,--our kind good king, Where now his happy youthful spring? My father too!--for Thord was then One of the good king's chosen men."

• attestation: Sigvat compared his restrained grief for the king to a man loudly mourning his dead wife, suggesting quiet sorrow runs deeper

  "But the brave man who knows no fear Drops for his king a silent tear, And feels, perhaps, his loss as deep As those who clamour when they weep."

• attestation: Sigvat returned to his farm in the Throndhjem country by merchant vessel, passing Hillarsund where he recalled Olaf's ships

  "Sigvat came home to Norway to the Throndhjem country, where he had a farm and children. He came from the South along the coast in a merchant vessel, and as they lay in Hillarsund"

• attestation: King Svein invited Sigvat to stay with him in Throndhjem, since Sigvat had formerly served Svein's father Canute the Great

  "When Sigvat came north to the town of Throndhjem King Svein was there before him. He invited Sigvat to stay with him, as Sigvat had formerly been with his father King Canute the Great"

• attestation: Sigvat declined Svein's invitation, going instead to his farm, where he composed verses contrasting the joyful Norway under Olaf with the present gloom

  "While Olaf lived, how smiled the land! Mountain and cliff, and pebbly strand. All Norway then, so fresh, so gay, On land or sea, where oft I lay. But now to me all seems so dready, All black and dull--of life I'm weary"

• attestation: Sigvat was accused of having deserted King Olaf, but defended himself by pointing out he was in Rome at the time

  "May Christ condemn me still to burn In quenchless fire, if I did turn, And leave King Olaf in his need,-- My soul is free from such base deed. I was at Rome, as men know well"

• attestation: Sigvat traveled west over the mountains to Jamtaland and Helsingjaland, then to Sweden, where he stayed with Queen Astrid

  "Early in winter Sigvat went westward over the ridge of the country to Jamtaland, and onwards to Helsingjaland, and came to Svithjod. He went immediately to Queen Astrid, and was with her a long time"

• attestation: Sigvat also visited Astrid's brother King Emund of Sweden, who gave him ten marks of proved silver

  "He was also with her brother King Emund, and received from him ten marks of proved silver"

• attestation: While in Sweden, Sigvat regularly asked merchants trading to Novgorod for news of the young Magnus Olafson in Russia

  "Sigvat always inquired of the merchants who traded to Novgorod if they could tell him any news of Magnus Olafson."

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 10. Of King Magnus'S First Arrival In Svithjod.

• attestation: Sigvat met Magnus Olafson at Queen Astrid's house in Sweden immediately after Magnus arrived from Russia

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

• attribution: Sigvat claimed credit for guarding Magnus's mother Astrid while Magnus was in Russia, and for having named Magnus at birth

  "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."

• attestation: Sigvat traveled with Queen Astrid and accompanied Magnus to Norway

  "Afterwards Sigvat travelled with Queen Astrid, and followed Magnus to Norway."

• attestation: Sigvat rebuked Alfhild for overstepping her place relative to the queen-born Astrid

  "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."

• attestation: Sigvat became Magnus's dearest friend once Magnus became king of Norway

  "Now when Magnus became king of Norway Sigvat attended him, and was his dearest friend."

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 11. King Olaf'S Shrine.

• attribution: Sigvat composed a verse about the golden shrine, claiming blind men regained sight at Olaf's resting place

  "Here many a man shall feel his way, Stone-blind, unconscious of the day, And at the shrine where Olaf lies Give songs of praise for opened eyes."

• attribution: Sigvat composed a verse celebrating King Olaf's feast day, mentioning golden rings Olaf had given him

  "To Olaf, Magnus' father, raise, Within my house, the song of praise! With joy, yet grief, we'll keep the day Olaf to heaven was called away."

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 16. Of The Threats Of The Bondes.

• attestation: Twelve of the king's friends met and cast lots to decide who would inform Magnus of the people's discontent, and the lot fell on Sigvat

  "twelve men had a meeting, and resolved to determine by casting lots which of them should inform the king of the discontent of the people; and it so happened that the lot fell upon Sigvat."

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 17. Of The Free-Speaking Song ("Bersoglisvisur").

• attestation: Sigvat composed a poem called the Bersoglisvisur (Free-speaking Song) warning Magnus of rising bonde discontent from Sogn

  "Sigvat accordingly composed a poem, which he called the "Free-speaking Song", which begins with saying the king had delayed too long to pacify the people, who were threatening to rise in tumult against him."

• attribution: Sigvat urged Magnus to defend the king but deplored the return of civil strife

  "Let us take arms, and briskly go To battle, if it must be so; Defend our king--but still deplore His land plunged in such strife once more."

• comparison: Sigvat reminded Magnus that his predecessors, including Olaf Tryggvason and Harald, confirmed the bondes' rights to their lands and property

  "The bondes ask but what is fair; The Olafs and the Earls, when there Where Magnus sits, confirmed to all Their lands and gear--to great and small, Bold Trygve's son, and Harald's heir"

• attribution: Sigvat warned Magnus not to let counsellors stir his wrath against truth-speakers, and that the new laws were not as just as those given at Ulfasund

  "Let not thy counsellors stir thy wrath Against the man who speaks the truth; Thy honour lies in thy good sword, But still more in thy royal word; And, if the people do not lie, The new laws turn out not nigh So Just and mild, as the laws given At Ulfasund in face of heaven."

• attribution: Sigvat challenged whoever urged the king to break his pledged word, saying a war-leader must be trusted by his own men

  "Dread king! who urges thee to break Thy pledged word, and back to take Thy promise given?"

• attribution: Sigvat condemned the confiscation of bondes' cattle as viking-work unworthy of a king, warning the counsellors would share in the people's ill-will

  "Who urges thee, who seek'st renown, The bondes' cattle to cut down? No king before e'er took in hand Such viking-work in his own land."

• attestation: Sigvat described the ominous atmosphere at the Thing where old men whispered in corners and young men sat silent, warning of imminent rebellion

  "A dangerous sign it is, I fear, That old grey-bearded men appear In corners whispering at the Thing, As if they had bad news to bring. The young sit still,--no laugh, or shout,-- More looks than words passing shout"

• attestation: Sigvat warned that bondes believed Magnus intended to seize their udal land, which could shake the king's throne

  "Among the udalmen, they say The king, if he could have his way, Would seize the bondes' udal land, And free-born men must this withstand."

• attribution: Sigvat concluded by urging Magnus to act swiftly, take Olaf's merciful spirit along with Olaf's sword, and be kinder to his bondes

  "Then we will serve with heart and hand, With thee we'll fight by sea or land: With Olaf's sword take Olaf's mind, And to thy bondes be more kind."

• attestation: Sigvat's Bersoglisvisur exhorted the king to observe the laws his father had established

  "In this song the king was exhorted to observe the laws which his father had established."