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Sigurd disclaimed all further dependance upon that kingdom; & Malcolm ii. the more effectually to detach this great man from the Norwegian interest, gave him his daughter in marriage. It was, this connexion, which afforded Malcolm an opportunity, not only of repelling invaders, but of uniting all the fragments of the Pictish dominions into one solid monarchy.
XVI. Regner makes an expedition to Ireland, where, in the neighbourhood of Waterford, he killed Marstein, possibly the Melbric of Saxo. The fertile Erin was long the great resort of the Scandinavians, who, from the internal dissensions of the natives, gained considerable footing. They, however, met with a stubborn resistance. Hence the Islandic authors represent the Irish as most profuse of life; and the Ira fár was no less terrible to the sons of Lochlin, than the furor Normannorum to the rest of Europe. Some of the Norwegian kings were fond of imitating the Irish manners, and one of them cou’d speak no language perfectly but the Caelic. Several Runic pillars are inscribed to Swedes who fell in Erin.
