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From the sharp strife I was not far； I heard the din and the clang of war； And the Hordaland men at last gave way； And their leader fell； and they lost the day。〃
This battle is also told of in the ballad about King Svein； thus：
〃My girl！ it was a Sunday morn； And many a man ne'er saw its eve； Though ale and leeks by old wives borne The bruised and wounded did relieve。 'Twas Sunday morn； when Svein calls out； ‘Stem to stem your vessels bind；' The raven a mid…day feast smells out； And he comes croaking up the wind。〃
After this battle King Svein ruled the country for some time； and there was peace in the land。 The winter after it （A。D。 1034） he passed in the south parts of the country。
264。 OF THE COUNSELS OF EINAR TAMBASKELFER AND KALF ARNASON。
Einar Tambaskelfer and Kalf Arnason had this winter meetings and consultations between themselves in the merchant town （1）。 Then there came a messenger from King Canute to Kalf Arnason； with a message to send him three dozen axes； which must be chosen and good。 Kalf replies； 〃I will send no axes to King Canute。 Tell him I will bring his son Svein so many； that he shall not think he is in want of any。〃
ENDNOTES： （1） Nidaros； or Throndhjem； is usually called merely the merchant town。 L。
265。 OF EINAR TAMBASKELFER AND KALF ARNASON'S JOURNEY。
Early in spring （A。D。 1034） Einar Tambaskelfer and Kalf Arnason made themselves ready for a journey； with a great retinue of the best and most select men that could be found in the Throndhjem country。 They went in spring eastward over the ridge of the country to Jamtaland； from thence to Helsingjaland； and came to Svithjod； where they procured ships； with which in summer they proceeded east to Russia； and came in autumn to Ladoga。 They sent men up to Novgorod to King Jarisleif； with the errand that they offered Magnus； the son of King Olaf the Saint； to take him with them； follow him to Norway； and give him assistance to attain his father's heritage and be made king over the country。 When this message came to King Jarisleif he held a consultation with the queen and some chiefs； and they all resolved unanimously to send a message to the Northmen； and ask them to come to King Jarisleif and Magnus； for which journey safe conduct was given them。 When they came to Novgorod it was settled among them that the Northmen who had come there should become Magnus's men； and be his subjects； and to this Kalf and the other men who had been against King Olaf at Stiklestad were solemnly bound by oath。 On the other hand； King Magnus promised them； under oath； secure peace and full reconciliation； and that he would be true and faithful to them all when he got the dominions and kingdom of Norway。 He was to become Kalf Arnason's foster…son； and Kalf should be bound to do all that Magnus might think necessary for extending his dominion； and making it more independent than formerly。
SAGA OF MAGNUS THE GOOD。
PRELIMINARY REMARKS。
Magnus reigned from A。D。 1035 to 1047； when he died。 During the last year of his reign his half…brother Harald Sigurdson was his co…regent。
The history of Magnus is treated in 〃Agrip。〃； ch。 28…32； in 〃Fagrskinna〃； ch。 119…146； in 〃Fornmannasogur〃； part vi。； and in 〃Knytlinga Saga〃。
The skalds quoted in this saga are： Arnor the earls' skald （Arnor Jarlaskald）； Sigvat； Thjodulf； Bjarne Gullbrarskald； Thorgeir Flek； Od Kikinaskald。
1。 MAGNUS OLAFSON'S JOURNEY FROM THE WEST。
After Yule Magnus Olafson began his journey from the East from Novgorod to Ladoga； where he rigged out his ships as soon as the ice was loosened in spring （A。D。 1035）。 Arnor； the earls' skald； tells of this in the poem on Magnus：
〃It is no loose report that he； Who will command on land and sea； In blood will make his foeman feel Olaf's sword Hneiter's sharp blue steel。 This generous youth； who scatters gold； Norway's brave son； but ten years old； Is rigging ships in Russia's lake； His crown； with friend's support； to take。〃
In spring Magnus sailed from the East to Svithjod。 So says Arnor：
〃The young sword…stainer called a Thing； Where all his men should meet their king： Heroes who find the eagle food Before their lord in arms stood。 And now the curved plank of the bow Cleaves the blue sea； the ocean…plough By grey winds driven across the main； Reaches Sigtuna's grassy plain。〃
Here it is related that when King Magnus and his fellow… travellers sailed from the East to Svithjod； they brought up at Sigtuna。 Emund Olafson was then king in Svithjod。 Queen Astrid； who had been married to King Olaf the Saint； was also there。 She received very gladly and well her stepson King Magnus； and summoned immediately a numerous Thing of Swedes at a place called Hangtar。 At the Thing Queen Astrid spoke these words： 〃Here is come to us a son of Olaf the Saint； called Magnus； who intends to make an expedition to Norway to seek his father's heritage。 It is my great duty to give him aid towards this expedition； for he is my stepson； as is well known to all； both Swedes and Norwegians。 Neither shall he want men or money； in so far as I can procure them or have influence； in order that his strength may be as great as possible； and all the men who will support this cause of his shall have my fullest friendship； and I would have it known that I intend myself to go with him on this attempt； that all may see I will spare nothing that is in my power to help him。〃 She spoke long and cleverly in this strain； but when she had ended many replied thus： 〃The Swedes made no honourable progress in Norway when they followed King Olaf his father； and now no better success is to be expected； as this man is but in years of boyhood； and therefore we have little inclination for this expedition。〃 Astrid replies； 〃All men who wish to be thought of true courage must not be deterred by such considerations。 If any have lost connections at the side of King Olaf； or been themselves wounded； now is the time to show a man's heart and courage； and go to Norway to take vengeance。〃 Astrid succeeded so far with words and encouragement that many men determined to go with her； and follow King Magnus to Norway。 Sigvat the skald speaks of this：
〃Now Astrtd； Olaf's widowed Queen； She who so many a change had seen； Took all the gifts of happier days； Jewels and rings； all she could raise； And at a Thing at Hangrar； where The Swedes were numerous； did declare What Olaf's son proposed to do； And brought her gifts their pay in view。
〃And with the Swedes no wiser plan； To bring out every brave bold man； Could have been found； had Magnus been The son himself of the good queen。 With help of Christ； she hoped to bring Magnus to be the land's sole king； As Harald was； who in his day Obtained o'er all the upper sway。
〃And glad are we so well she sped； The people's friend is now their head； And good King Magnus always shows How much be to Queen Astrid owes。 Such stepmothers as this good queen In t