Then he placed himself before his relation Harald, holding two sticks in his hand, and said, "Which of these two sticks wilt thou have, my friend?"Harald replies, "The one nearest me.""Then," said King Magnus, "with this stick I give thee half of the Norwegian power, with all the scat and duties, and all the domains thereunto belonging, with the condition that everywhere thou shalt be as lawful king in Norway as I am myself; but when we are both together in one place, I shall be the first man in seat, service and salutation; and if there be three of us together of equal dignity, that I shall sit in the middle, and shall have the royal tent-ground and the royal landing-place.
Thou shalt strengthen and advance our kingdom, in return for making thee that man in Norway whom we never expected any man should be so long as our head was above ground." Then Harald stood up, and thanked him for the high title and dignity.
Thereupon they both sat down, and were very merry together.The same evening Harald and his men returned to their ships.
24.HARALD GIVES MAGNUS THE HALF OF HIS TREASURES.
The following morning King Magnus ordered the trumpets to sound to a General Thing of the people; and when it was seated, he made known to the whole army the gift he had given to his relation Harald.Thorer of Steig gave Harald the title of King there at the Thing; and the same day King Harald invited King Magnus to table with him, and he went with sixty men to King Harald's land-tent, where he had prepared a feast.The two kings sat together on a high-seat, and the feast was splendid; everything went on with magnificence, and the kings' were merry and glad.
Towards the close of the day King Harald ordered many caskets to be brought into the tent, and in like manner people bore in weapons, clothes and other sorts of valuables; and all these King Harald divided among King Magnus's men who were at the feast.
Then he had the caskets opened and said to King Magnus, "Yesterday you gave us a large kingdom, which your hand won from your and our enemies, and took us in partnership with you, which was well done; and this has cost you much.Now we on our side have been in foreign parts, and oft in peril of life, to gather together the gold which you here see.Now, King Magnus, I will divide this with you.We shall both own this movable property, and each have his equal share of it, as each has his equal half share of Norway.I know that our dispositions are different, as thou art more liberal than I am; therefore let us divide this property equally between us, so that each may have his share free to do with as he will." Then Harald had a large ox-hide spread out, and turned the gold out of the caskets upon it.Then scales and weights were taken and the gold separated and divided by weight into equal parts; and all people wondered exceedingly that so much gold should have come together in one place in the northern countries.But it was understood that it was the Greek emperor's property and wealth; for, as all people say, there are whole houses there full of red gold.The kings were now very merry.Then there appeared an ingot among the rest as big as a man's hand.Harald took it in his hands and said, "Where is the gold, friend Magnus, that thou canst show against this piece?"King Magnus replied, "So many disturbances and levies have been in the country that almost all the gold and silver I could lay up is gone.I have no more gold in my possession than this ring."And he took the ring off his hand and gave it to Harald.
Harald looked at it, and said, "That is but little gold, friend.
for the king who owns two kingdoms; and yet some may doubt whether thou art rightful owner of even this ring."Then King Magnus replied, after a little reflection, "If I be not rightful owner of this ring, then I know not what I have got right to; for my father, King Olaf the Saint, gave me this ring at our last parting."Then said King Harald, laughing, "It is true, King Magnus, what thou sayest.Thy father gave thee this ring, but he took the ring from my father for some trifling cause; and in truth it was not a good time for small kings in Norway when thy father was in full power."King Harald gave Thorer of Steig at that feast a bowl of mountain birch, that was encircled with a silver ring and had a silver handle, both which parts were gilt; and the bowl was filled with money of pure silver.With that came also two gold rings, which together stood for a mark.He gave him also his cloak of dark purple lined with white skins within, and promised him besides his friendship and great dignity.Thorgils Snorrason, an intelligent man, says he has seen an altar-cloth that was made of this cloak; and Gudrid, a daughter of Guthorm, the son of Thorer of Steig, said, according to Thorgil's account, that she had seen this bowl in her father Guthorm's possession.Bolverk also tells of these matters: --"Thou, generous king, I have been told, For the green land hast given gold;And Magnus got a mighty treasure, That thou one half might'st rule at pleasure.
The people gained a blessed peace, Which 'twixt the kings did never cease;While Svein, disturbed with war's alarms, Had his folk always under arms."25.OF KING MAGNUS.
The kings Magnus and Harald both ruled in Norway the winter after their agreement (A.D.1047), and each had his court.In winter they went around the Upland country in guest-quarters; and sometimes they were both together, sometimes each was for himself.They went all the way north to Throndhjem, to the town of Nidaros.King Magnus had taken special care of the holy remains of King Olaf after he came to the country; had the hair and nails clipped every twelve month, and kept himself the keys that opened the shrine.Many miracles were worked by King Olaf's holy remains.It was not long before there was a breach in the good understanding between the two kings, as many were so mischievous as to promote discord between them.
26.OF SVEIN ULFSON.