Page:The Early Kings of Norway.djvu/189

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

OLAF, MAGNUS, AND SIGURD. 179 reigning peaceably together. But to us, at present, the only noteworthy one of them was Sigurd ; who, finding nothing special to do at home, left his brothers to manage for him, and went off on a far Voyage, which has rendered him distinguishable in the crowd. Voyage through the Straits of Gibraltar, on to Jerusalem, thence to Constantinople; and so home through Russia, shining with such renown as filled all Norway for the time being. A King called Sigurd Jorsalafarer (Jerusalemer) or Sigurd the Crusader henceforth. His voyage had been only partially of the Viking type; in general it was of the Royal- Progress kind rather ; Vikingism only intervening in cases of incivility or the like. His reception in the Courts of Portugal, Spain, Sicily, Italy, had been honourable and sumptuous. The King of Jerusalem broke out into utmost splendour and effusion at sight of such a pilgrim ; and Constantinople did its highest honours to such a Prince of Vseringers. And the truth is, Sigurd intrinsically was a wise, able and prudent man ; who, surviving both his brothers, reigned a good while alone in a solid and successful way. He shows features of an original, independ- N 2