tude towards the wager--which one notices in Hrolf Kraki's talk
with Voegg[10]. Yet combined with the amiability of both kings is a
certain natural dignity which is very convincing.

[Footnote 1: An abridged translation of the longer saga by
J. Sephton is published in the _Northern Library_, Vol. II
(London, 1898).]

[Footnote 2: _Fornaldarsoegur Northrlanda_ (Copenhagen, 1829),
Introduction, pp. xix, xx.]

[Footnote 3: Wilken, _Die Prosaische Edda nebst Voelsungasaga
und Nornageststhattr_ (Paderborn, 1877), p. lxxxv ff.]

[Footnote 4: _Norrone Skrifter af Sagnhistorisk Indhold_
(Christiania, 1873).]

[Footnote 5: _Op. cit._, p. lxxxviii.]

[Footnote 6: See _Fornaldarsoegur Northrlanda_ (Reykjavik,
1891), Vol. I, pp. 247-266.]

[Footnote 7: The second edition follows the _Codex Regius_ in
the text of the poems included in the _Thattr_ more closely
than did the first edition.]

[Footnote 8: Cf. Finnur Jonsson, _Den Oldnorske og
Oldislandske Litteraturs Historie_, Vol. II, p. 847; also
Mogk, _Norwegisch-Islaendischen Literatur_ (Strassburg, 1904),
p. 822.]

[Footnote 9: Cf. p. 19 below and note (p. 222).]

[Footnote 10: Cf. _Skaldskaparmal_, ch. 3; also _Hrolfs Saga
Kraka_, ch. 42.]

THE THATTR OF NORNAGEST

I. The story goes that on one occasion when King Olaf Tryggvason was
living at Trondhjem, it chanced that a man came to him late in the day
and addressed him respectfully. The King welcomed him and asked him
who he was, and he said that his name was Guest.

The King answered: "You shall be guest here, whatever you are called."

Guest said: "I have told you my name truly, Sire, and I will gladly
receive your hospitality if I may."

The King told him he could have it readily. But since the day was far
spent, the King would not enter into conversation with his guest; for
he was going soon to vespers, and after that to dinner, and then to
bed and to sleep.

Now on that same night King Olaf Tryggvason was lying awake in his
bed and saying his prayers, while all the other men in the hall were
asleep. Then the King noticed that an elf or spirit of some kind had
come into the hall, though all the doors were locked. He made his way
past the beds of the men who were asleep there, one after another, and
at last reached the bed of a man at the far end.

Then the elf stopped and said: "An empty house, and a mighty stron