ld 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