hair out of the fire, and showed
the king and the other chiefs that it was not consumed. Now Alfifa
asked that the hair should be laid upon unconsecrated fire; but Einar
Tambaskelfer told her to be silent, and gave her many severe reproaches
for her unbelief. After the bishop's recognition, with the king's
approbation and the decision of the Thing, it was determined that King
Olaf should be considered a man truly holy; whereupon his body was
transported into Clement's church, and a place was prepared for it near
the high altar. The coffin was covered with costly cloth, and stood
under a gold embroidered tent. Many kinds of miracles were soon wrought
by King Olaf's holy remains.

259. OF KING OLAF'S MIRACLES.

In the sand-hill where King Olaf's body had lain on the ground
a beautiful spring of water came up and many human ailments and
infirmities were cured by its waters. Things were put in order around
it, and the water ever since has been carefully preserved. There was
first a chapel built, and an altar consecrated, where the king's body
had lain; but now Christ's church stands upon the spot. Archbishop
Eystein had a high altar raised upon the spot where the king's grave had
been, when he erected the great temple which now stands there; and it is
the same spot on which the altar of the old Christ church had stood. It
is said that Olaf's church stands on the spot on which the empty house
had stood in which King Olaf's body had been laid for the night. The
place over which the holy remains of King Olaf were carried up from the
vessel is now called Olaf's Road, and is now in the middle of the town.
The bishop adorned King Olaf's holy remains, and cut his nails and hair;
for both grew as if he had still been alive. So says Sigvat the skald:--

"I lie not, when I say the king
Seemed as alive in every thing:
His nails, his yellow hair still growing,
And round his ruddy cheek still flowing,
As when, to please the Russian queen,
His yellow locks adorned were seen;
Or to the blind he cured he gave
A tress, their precious sight to save."

Thorarin Loftunga also composed a song upon Svein Alfifason, called the
"Glelogn Song", in which are these verses:--

"Svein, king of all,
In Olaf's hall
Now sits on high;
And Olaf's eye
Looks down from heaven,
Where it is given
To him to dwell:
Or here in cell,
As heavenly saint,
To h