i ————a 
341 
relate, to Biadmynja, a daughter of Myrjartak, King of Con- 
naught, or, as the Norsemen called it, ** Kunnaktir.” King 
Myrjartak was consequently an ally of King Magnus Bare- 
foot on the occasion of his expedition to Ireland. But when 
Magnus was killed, Sigurd left his wife in Ireland, and after- 
wards sent an ambassador thither, requiring the Irish to pay 
him a large sum of money as a fine for the murder of his 
father, else he would again invade the country. It is said 
that the Irish, at a numerous meeting, when the ambassador 
delivered his message, resolved to pay the money. 
The saga introduces the two kings comparing themselves 
(vid. Laing’s Translation of Snorre Sturleson’s History of the 
Kings of Norway, vol. iii. pag. 176, sq.), and gives in the two 
characters an admirable picture of the old and new time in 
Norway. Sigurd is the old viking, who cares only for war- 
like achievements, and viking expeditions, and looks with con- 
tempt upon the man who sits at home. LEistein has in the 
mean time been building churches, fishing villages, and light- 
houses; he has made roads over the mountains, and restored 
peace in the country; and he says that the state of Norway 
has perhaps been more benefited by these domestic services 
than by his brother’s victories over the infidels in the Holy 
Land. 
The last fragment of the sayas read was a part of the his- 
tory of an Irishman named Gillekrist or Harald Gille, who is 
_ said to have been a son of King Magnus Barefoot, and who, 
to satisfy King Sigurd the Crusader, proved his descent by 
undergoing the ordeal of treading over nine red-hot plough- 
shares ; he afterwards became King of Norway, and left his 
sons as kings after him. The saga describes some quarrels 
between Harald and Magnus the son of King Sigurd, and 
gives a very spirited account of a race between Harald, who 
was on foot, and Magnus on horseback. The saga says : 
** Harald Gille was a tall, slender man, with a long neck and 
face, black eyes and dark hair, brisk and quick, and generally 
VOL. If. 2F 
