and cleverly in this strain; but when
she had ended many replied thus: "The Swedes made no honourable progress
in Norway when they followed King Olaf his father, and now no better
success is to be expected, as this man is but in years of boyhood;
and therefore we have little inclination for this expedition." Astrid
replies, "All men who wish to be thought of true courage must not be
deterred by such considerations. If any have lost connections at the
side of King Olaf, or been themselves wounded, now is the time to show
a man's heart and courage, and go to Norway to take vengeance." Astrid
succeeded so far with words and encouragement that many men determined
to go with her, and follow King Magnus to Norway. Sigvat the skald
speaks of this:--

"Now Astrtd, Olaf's widowed Queen,--
She who so many a change had seen,--
Took all the gifts of happier days,
Jewels and rings, all she could raise,
And at a Thing at Hangrar, where
The Swedes were numerous, did declare
What Olaf's son proposed to do,
And brought her gifts--their pay--in view.

"And with the Swedes no wiser plan,
To bring out every brave bold man,
Could have been found, had Magnus been
The son himself of the good queen.
With help of Christ, she hoped to bring
Magnus to be the land's sole king,
As Harald was, who in his day
Obtained o'er all the upper sway.

"And glad are we so well she sped,--
The people's friend is now their head;
And good King Magnus always shows
How much be to Queen Astrid owes.
Such stepmothers as this good queen
In truth are very rarely seen;
And to this noble woman's praise
The skald with joy his song will raise."

Thiodolf the skald also says in his song of Magnus:--

"When thy brave ship left the land,
The bending yard could scarce withstand
The fury of the whistling gale,
That split thy many-coloured sail;
And many a stout ship, tempest-tost,
Was in that howling storm lost
That brought them safe to Sigtuna's shore,
Far from the sound of ocean's roar."

2. MAGNUS'S EXPEDITION FROM SVITHJOD.

King Magnus set out on his journey from Sigtuna with a great force,
which he had gathered in Svithjod. They proceeded through Svithjod on
foot to Helsingjaland. So says Arnor, the earl's skald:--

"And many a dark-red Swedish shield
Marched with thee from the