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The new King Olaf； his brother Magnus having soon died； bore rule in
Norway for some five…and…twenty years。 Rule soft and gentle； not like his
father's； and inclining rather to improvement in the arts and elegancies
than to anything severe or dangerously laborious。 A slim…built； witty…
talking； popular and pretty man； with uncommonly bright eyes； and hair
like floss silk： they called him Olaf _Kyrre_ （the Tranquil or Easygoing）。
The ceremonials of the palace were much improved by him。 Palace
still continued to be built of huge logs pyramidally sloping upwards； with
fireplace in the middle of the floor； and no egress for smoke or ingress for
light except right overhead； which； in bad weather； you could shut； or all
but shut； with a lid。 Lid originally made of mere opaque board； but
changed latterly into a light frame； covered （_glazed_； so to speak） with
entrails of animals； clarified into something of pellucidity。 All this Olaf； I
hope； further perfected； as he did the placing of the court ladies； court
officials； and the like； but I doubt if the luxury of a glass window were
ever known to him； or a cup to drink from that was not made of metal or
horn。 In fact it is chiefly for his son's sake I mention him here； and with
the son； too； I have little real concern； but only a kind of fantastic。
This son bears the name of Magnus _Barfod_ （Barefoot； or Bareleg）；
and if you ask why so； the answer is： He was used to appear in the streets
of Nidaros （Trondhjem） now and then in complete Scotch Highland dress。
Authentic tartan plaid and philibeg； at that epoch；to the wonder of
Trondhjem and us！ The truth is； he had a mighty fancy for those Hebrides
and other Scotch possessions of his； and seeing England now quite
impossible； eagerly speculated on some conquest in Ireland as next best。
He did； in fact； go diligently voyaging and inspecting among those Orkney
and Hebridian Isles； putting everything straight there； appointing stringent
authorities； jarls；nay； a king； 〃Kingdom of the Suderoer〃 （Southern Isles；
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EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY。
now called _Sodor_）；and； as first king； Sigurd； his pretty little boy of
nine years。 All which done； and some quarrel with Sweden fought out； he
seriously applied himself to visiting in a still more emphatic manner；
namely； to invading； with his best skill and strength； the considerable
virtual or actual kingdom he had in Ireland； intending fully to enlarge it to
the utmost limits of the Island if possible。 He got prosperously into Dublin
（guess A。D。 1102）。 Considerable authority he already had； even among
those poor Irish Kings； or kinglets； in their glibs and yellow…saffron gowns；
still more； I suppose； among the numerous Norse Principalities there。
〃King Murdog； King of Ireland；〃 says the Chronicle of Man； 〃had obliged
himself； every Yule…day； to take a pair of shoes； hang them over his
shoulder； as your servant does on a journey； and walk across his court； at
bidding and in presence of Magnus Barefoot's messenger； by way of
homage to the said 〃King。〃 Murdog on this greater occasion did whatever
homage could be required of him； but that； though comfortable； was far
from satisfying the great King's ambitious mind。 The great King left
Murdog； left his own Dublin； marched off westward on a general conquest
of Ireland。 Marched easily victorious for a time； and got； some say； into
the wilds of Connaught； but there saw himself beset by ambuscades and
wild Irish countenances intent on mischief； and had； on the sudden； to
draw up for battle；place； I regret to say； altogether undiscoverable to me；
known only that it was boggy in the extreme。 Certain enough； too certain
and evident； Magnus Barefoot； searching eagerly； could find no firm
footing there； nor； fighting furiously up to the knees or deeper； any result
but honorable death！ Date is confidently marked 〃24 August； 1103；〃as if
people knew the very day of the month。 The natives did humanely give
King Magnus Christian burial。 The remnants of his force； without further
molestation； found their ships on the Coast of Ulster； and sailed home；
without conquest of Ireland； nay perhaps； leaving royal Murdog disposed
to be relieved of his procession with the pair of shoes。
Magnus Barefoot left three sons； all kings at once； reigning peaceably
together。 But to us； at present； the only noteworthy one of them was Sigurd；
who； finding nothing special to do at home； left his brothers to manage for
him； and went off on a far Voyage； which has rendered him distinguishable
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in the crowd。 Voyage through the Straits of Gibraltar； on to Jerusalem；
thence to Constantinople； and so home through Russia； shining with such
renown as filled all Norway for the time being。 A King called Sigurd
Jorsalafarer （Jerusalemer） or Sigurd the Crusader henceforth。 His voyage
had been only partially of the Viking type； in general it was of the Royal…
Progress kind rather； Vikingism only intervening in cases of incivility or
the like。 His reception in the Courts of Portugal； Spain； Sicily； Italy； had
been honorable and sumptuous。 The King of Jerusalem broke out into
utmost splendor and effusion at sight of such a pilgrim； and
Constantinople did its highest honors to such a Prince of Vaeringers。 And
the truth is； Sigurd intrinsically was a wise； able； and prudent man； who；
surviving both his brothers； reigned a good while alone in a solid and
successful way。 He shows features of an original； independent…thinking
man； something of ruggedly strong； sincere； and honest； with peculiarities
that are amiable and even pathetic in the character and temperament of
him； as certainly； the course of life he took was of his own choosing； and
peculiar enough。 He happens furthermore to be； what he least of all could
have chosen or expected； the last of the Haarfagr Genealogy that had any
success； or much deserved any； in this world。 The last of the Haarfagrs； or
as good as the last！ So that； singular to say； it is in reality； for one thing
only that Sigurd； after all his crusadings and wonderful adventures； is
memorable to us here： t