NOTE: 
There are the two opening lines of an Old Swedish epic poem called 'Sancto Erico'. People should remember that they were not written specifically for the show, but the great coincidence is that they actually are pretty close to working as they relate to Eric's character - all total coincidence! 

WORDS: 
Sithan Erik var kjaer allom landsins hoefdingjom ok allom allmogan, tha valdo the han til konungh ok sattis hetherlica a konunghks stool vith Upsala. Sidan foor han alt sit rike ok doemde raetta doma utan allan vinskap ella paenninghavild ok ey oraetta doma for raeddogha ella hat skuld

TRANSLATION: As Erik was dear to the chieftains and populace of the land, he was elected king and installed honorably on the royal throne in Uppsala. He traveled all over the country, and neither personal attachment nor gain, neither fear nor animosity ever made him swerve from the path of justice.