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memorable to us here： the advent of an Irish gentleman called 〃Gylle
Krist〃 （Gil…christ； Servant of Christ）； who；not over welcome； I should
think； but （unconsciously） big with the above result；appeared in Norway；
while King Sigurd was supreme。 Let us explain a little。
This Gylle Krist； the unconsciously fatal individual； who 〃spoke Norse
imperfectly；〃 declared himself to be the natural son of whilom Magnus
Barefoot； born to him there while engaged in that unfortunate 〃Conquest
of Ireland。〃 〃Here is my mother come with me；〃 said Gilchrist； 〃who
declares my real baptismal name to have been Harald； given me by that
great King； and who will carry the red…hot ploughshares or do any
reasonable ordeal in testimony of these facts。 I am King Sigurd's veritable
half…brother： what will King Sigurd think it fair to do with me？〃 Sigurd
clearly seems to have believed the man to be speaking truth； and indeed
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nobody to have doubted but he was。 Sigurd said； 〃Honorable sustenance
shalt thou have from me here。 But； under pain of extirpation； swear that；
neither in my time； nor in that of my young son Magnus； wilt thou ever
claim any share in this Government。〃 Gylle swore； and punctually kept his
promise during Sigurd's reign。 But during Magnus's； he conspicuously
broke it； and； in result； through many reigns； and during three or four
generations afterwards； produced unspeakable contentions； massacrings；
confusions in the country he had adopted。 There are reckoned； from the
time of Sigurd's death （A。D。 1130）； about a hundred years of civil war： no
king allowed to distinguish himself by a solid reign of well…doing； or by
any continuing reign at all；sometimes as many as four kings
simultaneously fighting；and in Norway； from sire to son； nothing but
sanguinary anarchy； disaster and bewilderment； a Country sinking steadily
as if towards absolute ruin。 Of all which frightful misery and discord Irish
Gylle； styled afterwards King Harald Gylle； was； by ill destiny and
otherwise； the visible origin： an illegitimate Irish Haarfagr who proved to
be his own destruction； and that of the Haarfagr kindred altogether！
Sigurd himself seems always to have rather favored Gylle； who was a
cheerful； shrewd； patient； witty； and effective fellow； and had at first much
quizzing to endure； from the younger kind； on account of his Irish way of
speaking Norse； and for other reasons。 One evening； for example； while
the drink was going round； Gylle mentioned that the Irish had a wonderful
talent of swift running and that there were among them people who could
keep up with the swiftest horse。 At which； especially from young Magnus；
there were peals of laughter； and a declaration from the latter that Gylle
and he would have it tried to…morrow morning！ Gylle in vain urged that he
had not himself professed to be so swift a runner as to keep up with the
Prince's horses； but only that there were men in Ireland who could。
Magnus was positive； and； early next morning； Gylle had to be on the
ground； and the race； naturally under heavy bet； actually went off。 Gylle
started parallel to Magnus's stirrup； ran like a very roe； and was clearly
ahead at the goal。 〃Unfair；〃 said Magnus； 〃thou must have had hold of my
stirrup…leather； and helped thyself along； we must try it again。〃 Gylle ran
behind the horse this second time； then at the end； sprang forward； and
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again was fairly in ahead。 〃Thou must have held by the tail；〃 said Magnus；
〃not by fair running was this possible； we must try a third time！〃 Gylle
started ahead of Magnus and his horse； this third time； kept ahead with
increasing distance； Magnus galloping his very best； and reached the goal
more palpably foremost than ever。 So that Magnus had to pay his bet； and
other damage and humiliation。 And got from his father； who heard of it
soon afterwards； scoffing rebuke as a silly fellow； who did not know the
worth of men； but only the clothes and rank of them； and well deserved
what he had got from Gylle。 All the time King Sigurd lived； Gylle seems
to have had good recognition and protection from that famous man； and；
indeed； to have gained favor all round； by his quiet social demeanor and
the qualities he showed。
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CHAPTER XIII。
MAGNUS THE BLIND； HARALD GYLLE； AND MUTUAL
EXTINCTION OF THE HAARFAGRS。
On Sigurd the Crusader's death； Magnus naturally came to the throne；
Gylle keeping silence and a cheerful face for the time。 But it was not long
till claim arose on Gylle's part； till war and fight arose between Magnus
and him； till the skilful； popular； ever…active and shifty Gylle had entirely
beaten Magnus； put out his eyes； mutilated the poor body of him in a
horrid and unnamable manner； and shut him up in a convent as out of the
game henceforth。 There in his dark misery Magnus lived now as a monk；
called 〃Magnus the Blind〃 by those Norse populations； King Harald Gylle
reigning victoriously in his stead。 But this also was only for a time。 There
arose avenging kinsfolk of Magnus； who had no Irish accent in their Norse；
and were themselves eager enough to bear rule in their native country。 By
one of these；a terribly stronghanded； fighting； violent； and regardless
fellow； who also was a Bastard of Magnus Barefoot's； and had been made
a Priest； but liked it unbearably ill； and had broken loose from it into the
wildest courses at home and abroad； so that his current name got to be
〃Slembi…diakn；〃 Slim or Ill Deacon； under which he is much noised of in
Snorro and the Sagas： by this Slim…Deacon； Gylle was put an end to
（murdered by night； drunk in his sleep）； and poor blind Magnus was
brought out； and again set to act as King； or King's Cloak； in hopes Gylle's
posterity would never rise to victory more。 But Gylle's posterity did； to
victory and also to defeat； and were the death of Magnus and of Slim…
Deacon too； in a frightful way； and all go