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."