KINGS OF NORWAY. 107 arms five ells long, and so narrow that they must be saga x. drawn up with ties, and lay in folds all the way up " to the shoulders. The shoes were high, and all edged with silk, or even mth gold. Many other kinds of wonderful ornaments were used at that time. King Olaf used the fashion, which was introduced Chapteh from the courts of foreign kings, of letting his grand- Fashion of butler stand at the end of the table, and fill the 5;"| . . . Olat s table-cups for himself and the other distinguished court, guests who sat at the table. He had also torch-bear- ers, who held as many candles at the table as there were guests of distinction present. There was also a marshal's bench outside of the table-circle*, where the marshal and other persons of distinction sat with their faces towards the high seat. King Harald, and the kings before him, used to drink out of a deer- horn ; and the ale was handed from the high seat to the other side over the fire, and he drank to the me- mory of any one he thought of. So says Stuff the scald : —
- ' He who in battle is the firsts
And now in peace is best to trusty A welcome^ hearty and sincere. Gave to me on my coming here. He whom the ravens watch with care, He who the gold rings does not spare, A golden horn full to the brink Gave me himself at Haugt to drink." King Olaf had 120 courtmen-at-arms, and 60 pur- Chapter suivants, besides 60 house-servants, who provided Arrange- what was wanted for the kino:'s house wherever it ^?"* ^^ might be, or did other work required for the king, oiafs When the bonders asked why he kept a greater retinue ^^^^ '
- Trapiza, — no doubt from the Greek word, — is used here by the
saga writer, and seems to mean the space around the king's table in the hall, which appears, with the high seat, to have occupied one end ; and by this description the fire has been in the middle, and the marshal's seat and the court upon the other side of the fire, facing the king's table. t The name of the king's farm is Vaerdal.
