re cut into the wall three crosses, one for Harald's stature,
one for Olaf's, and one for Magnus's; and which crosses each of them
could with the greatest ease kiss. The upper was Harald's cross; the
lowest was Magnus's; and Olaf's was in the middle, about equally distant
from both.

It is said that Magnus composed the following verses about the emperor's
daughter:--

"The ring of arms where blue swords gleam,
The battle-shout, the eagle's scream,
The Joy of war, no more can please:
Matilda is far o'er the seas.
My sword may break, my shield be cleft,
Of land or life I may be reft;
Yet I could sleep, but for one care,--
One, o'er the seas, with light-brown hair."

He also composed the following:--

"The time that breeds delay feels long,
The skald feels weary of his song;
What sweetens, brightens, eases life?
'Tis a sweet-smiling lovely wife.
My time feels long in Thing affairs,
In Things my loved one ne'er appears.
The folk full-dressed, while I am sad,
Talk and oppose--can I be glad?"

When King Magnus heard the friendly words the emperor's daughter had
spoken about him--that she had said such a man as King Magnus was
appeared to her an excellent man, he composed the following:--

"The lover hears,--across the sea,
A favouring word was breathed to me.
The lovely one with light-brown hair
May trust her thoughts to senseless air;
Her thoughts will find like thoughts in me;
And though my love I cannot see,
Affection's thoughts fly in the wind,
And meet each other, true and kind."

19. OF THE QUARREL OF KING MAGNUS AND SKOPTE.

Skopte Ogmundson came into variance with King Magnus, and they
quarrelled about the inheritance of a deceased person which Skopte
retained; but the king demanded it with so much earnestness, that it had
a dangerous appearance. Many meetings were held about the affair,
and Skopte took the resolution that he and his son should never put
themselves into the king's power at the same time; and besides there was
no necessity to do so. When Skopte was with the king he represented to
him that there was relationship between the king and him; and also
that he, Skopte, had always been the king's friend, and his father's
likewise, and that their friendship had never been shaken. He added,
"People might know that I have sense enough not to hold a strife, sire,
with you,