Part 23 - King Magnus Gives Harald Half Of Norway

King Magnus lay at the shore and had set up tents upon the land. There he invited his relation, King Harald, to be his guest at table; and Harald went to the entertainment with sixty of his men and was feasted excellently. Towards the end of the day King Magnus went into the tent where Harald sat and with him went men carrying parcels consisting of clothes and arms.

Then the king went to the man who sat lowest and gave him a good sword, to the next a shield, to the next a kirtle, and so on, — clothes, or weapons, or gold; to all he gave one or the other valuable gift, and the more costly to the more distinguished men among them.

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.