kind of triumph, all Norway waiting for him. Intolerable Svein had
already been rebelled against: some years before this, a certain
young Tryggve out of Ireland, authentic son of Olaf Tryggveson, and of
that fine Irish Princess who chose him in his low habiliments and low
estate, and took him over to her own Green Island,--this royal young
Tryggve Olafson had invaded the usurper Svein, in a fierce, valiant,
and determined manner; and though with too small a party, showed
excellent fight for some time; till Svein, zealously bestirring
himself, managed to get him beaten and killed. But that was a couple
of years ago; the party still too small, not including one and all as
now! Svein, without stroke of sword this time, moved off towards
Denmark; never showing face in Norway again. His drunken brother,
Harda-Knut, received him brother-like; even gave him some territory to
rule over and subsist upon. But he lived only a short while; was gone
before Harda-Knut himself; and we will mention him no more.

Magnus was a fine bright young fellow, and proved a valiant, wise, and
successful King, known among his people as Magnus the Good. He was
only natural son of King Olaf but that made little difference in those
times and there. His strange-looking, unexpected Latin name he got in
this way: Alfhild, his mother, a slave through ill-luck of war,
though nobly born, was seen to be in a hopeful way; and it was known
in the King's house how intimately Olaf was connected with that
occurrence, and how much he loved this "King's serving-maid," as she
was commonly designated. Alfhild was brought to bed late at night;
and all the world, especially King Olaf was asleep; Olaf's strict
rule, then and always, being, Don't awaken me:--seemingly a man
sensitive about his sleep. The child was a boy, of rather weakly
aspect; no important person present, except Sigvat, the King's
Icelandic Skald, who happened to be still awake; and the Bishop of