Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 1.djvu/37

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KINGS OF NORWAY.

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Thorlak Biskups Saga (of Bishop Thorlak). Historical.
Thorleif Saga Jarla Skalldz (of Thorleif the Scald of the Earls of Orkney). Historical.

Ulfars Saga Stærka ok Onundar Fagra (of Ulfar the Strong, and Onund the Fair; the one became a king in Africa, the other in Asia). Fabulous.
Vatsdæla Saga (of Ketil Thrumr, his son Thorstein, Ingimund and Sæmund, his grandsons, who settled in Vatsdal in Iceland). Historical.
Voldemar's Saga (of Valdemar, son of King Philip of Saxland).
Valnaliots Saga (of Valnaliot, an Icelander; the story of the 12th century). Historical.
Victors Saga ok Blaus (of Victor and Blaus). Fabulous.
Vigagleims Saga (of Gleim, son of Eyolf, who went to settle in Iceland 922). Historical.
Vilhialms Saga Siods (of William of the Treasure, a son of King Richard in England). Fabulous.
Vilmundar Saga (of Vilmund and Hierande, a son of a king in Frankland). Fabulous.
Ulfs Saga Ugga sonar (of Ulf the son of Ugga). Fabulous.
Ulfhams Rimur (Rhymes of Ulfham).
Valvers Thattr (Traits of the Life of Valver).
Volsunga Saga. Mythological.

Yugvars Saga Vidforla (of Yugvar the Far-travelled). History and fable.

It does not appear that any saga-manuscript^[1] now existing has been written before the 14th century, however old the saga itself may be. The Flatö manuscript is of 1395. Those supposed to have been written in the

↑ Fagurskinna, Morkinskinna, Hrokkinskinna—fair skin, dark skin, wrinkled skin—are names applied by Torfæus to manuscripts on parchment probably to designate, when he resided at Stavangar in Norway, to his friend and correspondent Arne Magnussen at Copenhagen, the particular skin he wanted to refer to, in a compendious way understood between themselves. It seems now to be doubtful which MSS. they meant by the Morkinskinna and Hrokkinskinna. Arne Magnussen, whose collection of manuscripts is so often quoted under the name of the Arnæ-Magnæi, was the greatest antiquary who never wrote. Although he wrote no books, his judgment and opinions are known from notes, selections, and correspondence, and are of great authority at this day in the Saga literature. Torfæus consulted him in his researches, which gives great weight to the views of Torfæus on many points, as we have in them the combined judgment of two of the greatest northern antiquaries.

[1] Fagurskinna, Morkinskinna, Hrokkinskinna—fair skin, dark skin, wrinkled skin—are names applied by Torfæus to manuscripts on parchment probably to designate, when he resided at Stavangar in Norway, to his friend and correspondent Arne Magnussen at Copenhagen, the particular skin he wanted to refer to, in a compendious way understood between themselves. It seems now to be doubtful which MSS. they meant by the Morkinskinna and Hrokkinskinna. Arne Magnussen, whose collection of manuscripts is so often quoted under the name of the Arnæ-Magnæi, was the greatest antiquary who never wrote. Although he wrote no books, his judgment and opinions are known from notes, selections, and correspondence, and are of great authority at this day in the Saga literature. Torfæus consulted him in his researches, which gives great weight to the views of Torfæus on many points, as we have in them the combined judgment of two of the greatest northern antiquaries.

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