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d him in safety； but the cattle had not made their appearance the evening before Bartholomew's mass。 On the mass…day itself； when the sun rose in the sky； King Magnus went on shore himself with the greater part of his men； to look after his people； and to carry off cattle from the coast。 The weather was calm； the sun shone； and the road lay through mires and mosses； and there were paths cut through； but there was brushwood on each side of the road。 When they came somewhat farther； they reached a height from which they had a wide view。 They saw from it a great dust rising up the country； as of horsemen； and they said to each other； 〃That must be the Irish army；〃 but others said； 〃It was their own men returning with the cattle。〃 They halted there； and Eyvind Olboge said； 〃How； sire； do you intend to direct the march？ The men think we are advancing imprudently。 You know the Irish are treacherous； think； therefore； of a good counsel for your men。〃 Then the king said； 〃Let us draw up our men； and be ready； if there be treachery。〃 This was done； and the king and Eyvind went before the line。 King Magnus had a helmet on his head； a red shield； in which was inlaid a gilded lion； and was girt with the sword of Legbit； of which the hilt was of tooth （ivory）； and handgrip wound about with gold thread； and the sword was extremely sharp。 In his hand he had a short spear； and a red silk short cloak； over his coat； on which； both before and behind； was embroidered a lion in yellow silk； and all men acknowledged that they never had seen a brisker； statelier man。 Eyvind had also a red silk cloak like the king's； and he also was a stout； handsome； warlike man。
27。 FALL OF KING MAGNUS。
When the dust…cloud approached nearer they knew their own men； who were driving the cattle。 The Irish king had been faithful to the promises he had given the king； and had sent them。 Thereupon they all turned towards the ships； and it was mid…day。 When they came to the mires they went but slowly over the boggy places； and then the Irish started up on every side against them from every bushy point of land； and the battle began instantly。 The Northmen were going divided in various heaps； so that many of them fell。
Then said Eyvind to the king； 〃Unfortunate is this march to our people； and we must instantly hit upon some good plan。〃
The king answered； 〃Call all the men together with the war…horns under the banner； and the men who are here shall make a rampart with their shields； and thus we will retreat backwards out of the mires； and we will clear ourselves fast enough when we get upon firm ground。〃
The Irish shot boldly； and although they fell in crowds； there came always two in the place of one。 Now when the king had come to the nearest ditch there was a very difficult crossing； and few places were passable； so that many Northmen fell there。 Then the king called to his lenderman Thorgrim Skinhufa； who was an Upland man； and ordered him to go over the ditch with his division。 〃We shall defend you；〃 said he； 〃in the meantime； so that no harm shall come to you。 Go out then to those holms； and shoot at them from thence； for ye are good bowmen。〃
When Thorgrim and his men came over the ditch they cast their shields behind their backs； and set off to the ships。
When the king saw this； he said； 〃Thou art deserting thy king in an unmanly way。 I was foolish in making thee a lenderman； and driving Sigurd Hund out of the country； for never would he have behaved so。〃
King Magnus received a wound； being pierced by a spear through both thighs above the knees。 The king laid hold of the shaft between his legs； broke the spear in two； and said； 〃Thus we break spear…shafts； my lads； let us go briskly on。 Nothing hurts me。〃 A little after King Magnus was struck in the neck with an Irish axe； and this was his death…wound。 Then those who were behind fled。 Vidkun Jonson instantly killed the man who had given the king his death…wound； and fled； after having received three wounds； but brought the king's banner and the sword Legbit to the ships。 Vidkun was the last man who fled； the other next to him was Sigurd Hranason； and the third before him； Dag Eilifson。 There fell with King Magnus； Eyvind Olboge； Ulf Hranason； and many other great people。 Many of the Northmen fell； but many more of the Irish。 The Northmen who escaped sailed away immediately in autumn。 Erling； Earl Erlend's'son； fell with King Magnus in Ireland； but the men who fled from Ireland came to the Orkney Islands。 Now when King Sigurd heard that his father had fallen； he set off immediately； leaving the Irish king's daughter behind； and proceeded in autumn with the whole fleet directly to Norway。
28。 OF KING MAGNUS AND VIDKUN JONSON。
King Magnus was ten years king of Norway （A。D。 1094…1105）； and in his days there was good peace kept within the country； but the people were sorely oppressed with levies。 King Magnus was beloved by his men； but the bondes thought him harsh。 The words have been transmitted from him that he said when his friends observed that he proceeded incautiously when he was on his expeditions abroad； 〃The kings are made for honour； not for long life。〃 King Magnus was nearly thirty years of age when he fell。 Vidkun did not fly until he had killed the man who gave the king his mortal wound； and for this cause King Magnus's sons had him in the most affectionate regard。
SAGA OF SIGURD THE CRUSADER AND HIS BROTHERS EYSTEIN AND OLAF。
PRELIMINARY REMARKS。
〃Agrip〃； 〃Fagrskinna〃； and 〃Morkinskinna〃 more or less complete the story of the sons of Magnus。 They contain some things omitted by Snorre； while； on the other hand； some facts related by Snorre are not found in the above sources。
Thjodrek the Monk tells of Sigurd that he made a Journey to Jerusalem； conquered many heathen cities； and among them Sidon； that he captured a cave defended by robbers； received presents from Baldwin； returned to Norway in Eystein's lifetime； and became insane； as a result； as some say； of a poisonous drink。
The three brothers became kings in the year A。D。 1103。 Olaf died 1115； Eystein 1122 or 1123； Sigurd 1130。
Skalds quoted in this saga are： Thorarin Stutfeld； Einar Skulason； Haldor Skvaldre； and Arne Fjoruskeif。
1。 BEGINNING OF THE REIGN OF KING MAGNUS'S SONS。
After King Magnus Barefoot's fall； his sons； Eystein； Sigurd； and Olaf； took the kingdom of Norway。 Eystein got the northern； and Sigurd the southern part of the country。 King Olaf was then four or five years old； and the third part of the country which he had was under the management of his two brothers。 King Sigurd was chosen king when he was thirteen or fourteen years old； and Eystein was a year older。 King Sigurd left west of the sea the Irish king's daughter。 When King Magnus's sons were chosen kings； the men who had followed Skopte Ogmundson returned home。 Some had been to Jerusalem； some to Constantinople； and there they had made themselves renowned； and they had many kinds of novelties to talk about。 By these extraordinary tidings many men in Norway were incited to the same expedition； and it was also told that the Northmen who liked to go into the military servi