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SCANDINAVIAN ANTIQUITIES OF DUBLIN. 109
this story to his wife, so far excited her jealousy that BOOK 11.
" U HI
^_
she struck her attendant, who indignantly returning
the blow, rendered it necessary that Hoskulld should is driven from
her master's
provide a separate residence for Melkorka and her son. house.
As soon as Olaf had passed the age of Scandinavian
manhood, Melkorka became anxious that he should
visit his Irish relations, and Hoskulld declining to
assist in this project, she clandestinely married Send* her son
another, on condition that he would provide means
for the prosecution of Olaf's voyage. The stipulation
was fulfilled, and Olaf, then eighteen years old,
sailed for Norway, where he was graciously received
by King Harald Grosfeld and Queen Gunhild, who
gave him a vessel, which had the appearance of " a
ship of war, having a crew of 1
sixty men." Sailing
ouf Pa u
T driven on the
i i
for Ireland they lost their course during a storm, and coast,
came to a part of the Irish coast " which strangers
could not frequent with safety," not being in possession
of the Ostmen. Here they anchored, but when
the tide ebbed the Irish came towards the vessel
intending " to draw her ashore ;" and we thus obtain
an idea of the size of their ships, for it is added that
" the water was not deeper than their armpits, or the
girdle of the tallest," but yet deep enough to keep
the ship afloat. Olaf, who had been taught the He addnnw
the nativ,- in
Irish language by his mother, began to parley with Irish,
the assailants, who insisted that, according to their
laws, vessels in such a position could be claimed as
and bondage over the broad green well-armed men. Olaf Tryggvasea."
Chap, xxxvi , p. 43, Wars son's Saga, c. xli. Turner's Hist.
of the Gaedhil with the Gaill. of the Anglo-Saxons, TO), i., b. IT.,
1 Each Fylki furnished tweke c. i., p. 425.
ships, having each sixty or seventy