Page:The Early Kings of Norway.djvu/168

 158 EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY Magnus was a fine bright young felbw, and proved a valiant, wise, and successful King, known among his people as Magnus the Good. He was only natural son of King Olaf ; but that made little difference in those times and there. His strange-looking, unex- pected Latin name he got in this way : Alf hild, his mother, a slave through ill-luck of war, though nobly born, was seen to be in a hopeful way ; and it was known in the King's house how intimately Olaf was connected with that occurrence, and how much he loved this 'King's serving-maid,' as she was com- monly designated. Alfhild was brought to bed late at night; and all the world, especially King Olaf, was asleep ; Olaf 's strict rule, then and always, being, don't awaken me : — seemingly a man sensitive about his sleep. The child was a boy, of rather weakly aspect; no important person present, except Sigvat, the King's Icelandic Skald, who happened to be still awake ; and the Bishop of Norway, who, I suppose, had been sent for in hurry. " What is to be done ? '* said the Bishop, " here is an infant in pressing need of baptism ; and we know not what the name is : go, Sigvat, awaken the King, and ask." " I dare not for