296 Norway and the Norwegians 



epochal, in the sense that it is the last flicker of the 

 Viking spirit before it finally expires. Magnus Bare- 

 foot's expeditions at the end of the eleventh century 

 fell far behind the achievements in the same parts of 

 the Avorld of his forerunners of the ninth and tenth 

 centuries. But, compared to Hakon, in spite of the 

 vast preparations which had preceded the voyage of the 

 latter, Magnus Barefoot might be reckoned a successful 

 leader. 



It is appropriate enough that vsre find a bard of these 

 later days celebrating Hakon's expedition in the inflated 

 style and false imagery to which the Norse poetry had 

 now descended, since, for many generations, it had 

 ceased to be really national, and had become merely an 

 affected versification, patronised at courts and kept up 

 for the glorification of its patrons. This last breath of 

 the old Norse poetry may be placed side by side with 

 the last flicker of the old Norse spirit of adventure. 



