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diff --git a/1932-h/1932-h.htm b/1932-h/1932-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..61db92a --- /dev/null +++ b/1932-h/1932-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,4362 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="us-ascii"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> + <head> + <title> + Early Kings of Norway, by Thomas Carlyle + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Early Kings of Norway, by Thomas Carlyle + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Early Kings of Norway + +Author: Thomas Carlyle + +Release Date: October 10, 2008 [EBook #1932] +Last Updated: November 30, 2012 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY *** + + + + +Produced by Ron Burkey, and David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h1> + EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY. + </h1> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + by Thomas Carlyle + </h2> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <div class="mynote"> + <p> + Transcriber's Note: The text has been taken from volume 19 of the + "Sterling Edition" of Carlyle's complete works. All footnotes have been + collected as endnotes. The pound (currency) symbol has been replaced by + the word "pounds". + </p> + <br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <p> + The Icelanders, in their long winter, had a great habit of writing; and + were, and still are, excellent in penmanship, says Dahlmann. It is to this + fact, that any little history there is of the Norse Kings and their old + tragedies, crimes and heroisms, is almost all due. The Icelanders, it + seems, not only made beautiful letters on their paper or parchment, but + were laudably observant and desirous of accuracy; and have left us such a + collection of narratives (<i>Sagas</i>, literally "Says") as, for quantity + and quality, is unexampled among rude nations. Snorro Sturleson's History + of the Norse Kings is built out of these old Sagas; and has in it a great + deal of poetic fire, not a little faithful sagacity applied in sifting and + adjusting these old Sagas; and, in a word, deserves, were it once well + edited, furnished with accurate maps, chronological summaries, &c., to + be reckoned among the great history-books of the world. It is from these + sources, greatly aided by accurate, learned and unwearied Dahlmann, <a + href="#linknote-1" name="linknoteref-1" id="linknoteref-1"><small>1</small></a> + the German Professor, that the following rough notes of the early Norway + Kings are hastily thrown together. In Histories of England (Rapin's + excepted) next to nothing has been shown of the many and strong threads of + connection between English affairs and Norse. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <blockquote> + <p class="toc"> + <big><b>CONTENTS</b></big> + </p> + <p> + <br /> <a href="#link2HCH0001"> CHAPTER I. </a> HARALD + HAARFAGR. <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0002"> CHAPTER II. </a> ERIC + BLOOD-AXE AND BROTHERS. <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0003"> CHAPTER III. + </a> HAKON THE GOOD. <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0004"> + CHAPTER IV. </a> HARALD GREYFELL AND BROTHERS. <br /><br /> <a + href="#link2HCH0005"> CHAPTER V. </a> HAKON JARL. <br /><br /> + <a href="#link2HCH0006"> CHAPTER VI. </a> OLAF TRYGGVESON. + <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0007"> CHAPTER VII. </a> REIGN + OF OLAF TRYGGVESON. <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0008"> CHAPTER VIII. + </a> JARLS ERIC AND SVEIN. <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0009"> + CHAPTER IX. </a> KING OLAF THE THICK-SET'S VIKING DAYS. <br /><br /> + <a href="#link2HCH0010"> CHAPTER X. </a> REIGN OF KING OLAF + THE SAINT. <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0011"> CHAPTER XI. </a> MAGNUS + THE GOOD AND OTHERS. <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0012"> CHAPTER XII. + </a> OLAF THE TRANQUIL, MAGNUS BAREFOOT, AND SIGURD THE + CRUSADER. <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0013"> CHAPTER XIII. </a> MAGNUS + THE BLIND, HARALD GYLLE, AND MUTUAL EXTINCTION OF THE HAARFAGRS. <br /><br /> + <a href="#link2HCH0014"> CHAPTER XIV. </a> SVERRIR AND + DESCENDANTS, TO HAKON THE OLD. <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0015"> + CHAPTER XV. </a> HAKON THE OLD AT LARGS. <br /><br /> <a + href="#link2HCH0016"> CHAPTER XVI. </a> EPILOGUE. <br /><br /> + <a href="#link2H_FOOT"> FOOTNOTES: </a> + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2HCH0001" id="link2HCH0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <h2> + CHAPTER I. HARALD HAARFAGR. + </h2> + <p> + Till about the Year of Grace 860 there were no kings in Norway, nothing + but numerous jarls,—essentially kinglets, each presiding over a kind + of republican or parliamentary little territory; generally striving each + to be on some terms of human neighborhood with those about him, but,—in + spite of "<i>Fylke Things</i>" (Folk Things, little parish parliaments), + and small combinations of these, which had gradually formed themselves,—often + reduced to the unhappy state of quarrel with them. Harald Haarfagr was the + first to put an end to this state of things, and become memorable and + profitable to his country by uniting it under one head and making a + kingdom of it; which it has continued to be ever since. His father, + Halfdan the Black, had already begun this rough but salutary process,—inspired + by the cupidities and instincts, by the faculties and opportunities, which + the good genius of this world, beneficent often enough under savage forms, + and diligent at all times to diminish anarchy as the world's worst + savagery, usually appoints in such cases,—conquest, hard fighting, + followed by wise guidance of the conquered;—but it was Harald the + Fairhaired, his son, who conspicuously carried it on and completed it. + Harald's birth-year, death-year, and chronology in general, are known only + by inference and computation; but, by the latest reckoning, he died about + the year 933 of our era, a man of eighty-three. + </p> + <p> + The business of conquest lasted Harald about twelve years (A.D. 860-872?), + in which he subdued also the vikings of the out-islands, Orkneys, + Shetlands, Hebrides, and Man. Sixty more years were given him to + consolidate and regulate what he had conquered, which he did with great + judgment, industry and success. His reign altogether is counted to have + been of over seventy years. + </p> + <p> + The beginning of his great adventure was of a romantic character.—youthful + love for the beautiful Gyda, a then glorious and famous young lady of + those regions, whom the young Harald aspired to marry. Gyda answered his + embassy and prayer in a distant, lofty manner: "Her it would not beseem to + wed any Jarl or poor creature of that kind; let him do as Gorm of Denmark, + Eric of Sweden, Egbert of England, and others had done,—subdue into + peace and regulation the confused, contentious bits of jarls round him, + and become a king; then, perhaps, she might think of his proposal: till + then, not." Harald was struck with this proud answer, which rendered Gyda + tenfold more desirable to him. He vowed to let his hair grow, never to cut + or even to comb it till this feat were done, and the peerless Gyda his + own. He proceeded accordingly to conquer, in fierce battle, a Jarl or two + every year, and, at the end of twelve years, had his unkempt (and almost + unimaginable) head of hair clipt off,—Jarl Rognwald (<i>Reginald</i>) + of More, the most valued and valuable of all his subject-jarls, being + promoted to this sublime barber function;—after which King Harald, + with head thoroughly cleaned, and hair grown, or growing again to the + luxuriant beauty that had no equal in his day, brought home his Gyda, and + made her the brightest queen in all the north. He had after her, in + succession, or perhaps even simultaneously in some cases, at least six + other wives; and by Gyda herself one daughter and four sons. + </p> + <p> + Harald was not to be considered a strict-living man, and he had a great + deal of trouble, as we shall see, with the tumultuous ambition of his + sons; but he managed his government, aided by Jarl Rognwald and others, in + a large, quietly potent, and successful manner; and it lasted in this + royal form till his death, after sixty years of it. + </p> + <p> + These were the times of Norse colonization; proud Norsemen flying into + other lands, to freer scenes,—to Iceland, to the Faroe Islands, + which were hitherto quite vacant (tenanted only by some mournful hermit, + Irish Christian <i>fakir</i>, or so); still more copiously to the Orkney + and Shetland Isles, the Hebrides and other countries where Norse squatters + and settlers already were. Settlement of Iceland, we say; settlement of + the Faroe Islands, and, by far the notablest of all, settlement of + Normandy by Rolf the Ganger (A.D. 876?). <a href="#linknote-2" + name="linknoteref-2" id="linknoteref-2"><small>2</small></a> + </p> + <p> + Rolf, son of Rognwald, <a href="#linknote-3" name="linknoteref-3" + id="linknoteref-3"><small>3</small></a> was lord of three little islets + far north, near the Fjord of Folden, called the Three Vigten Islands; but + his chief means of living was that of sea robbery; which, or at least + Rolf's conduct in which, Harald did not approve of. In the Court of + Harald, sea-robbery was strictly forbidden as between Harald's own + countries, but as against foreign countries it continued to be the one + profession for a gentleman; thus, I read, Harald's own chief son, King + Eric that afterwards was, had been at sea in such employments ever since + his twelfth year. Rolf's crime, however, was that in coming home from one + of these expeditions, his crew having fallen short of victual, Rolf landed + with them on the shore of Norway, and in his strait, drove in some cattle + there (a crime by law) and proceeded to kill and eat; which, in a little + while, he heard that King Harald was on foot to inquire into and punish; + whereupon Rolf the Ganger speedily got into his ships again, got to the + coast of France with his sea-robbers, got infestment by the poor King of + France in the fruitful, shaggy desert which is since called Normandy, land + of the Northmen; and there, gradually felling the forests, banking the + rivers, tilling the fields, became, during the next two centuries, + Wilhelmus Conquaestor, the man famous to England, and momentous at this + day, not to England alone, but to all speakers of the English tongue, now + spread from side to side of the world in a wonderful degree. Tancred of + Hauteville and his Italian Normans, though important too, in Italy, are + not worth naming in comparison. This is a feracious earth, and the grain + of mustard-seed will grow to miraculous extent in some cases. + </p> + <p> + Harald's chief helper, counsellor, and lieutenant was the above-mentioned + Jarl Rognwald of More, who had the honor to cut Harald's dreadful head of + hair. This Rognwald was father of Turf-Einar, who first invented peat in + the Orkneys, finding the wood all gone there; and is remembered to this + day. Einar, being come to these islands by King Harald's permission, to + see what he could do in them,—islands inhabited by what miscellany + of Picts, Scots, Norse squatters we do not know,—found the + indispensable fuel all wasted. Turf-Einar too may be regarded as a + benefactor to his kind. He was, it appears, a bastard; and got no coddling + from his father, who disliked him, partly perhaps, because "he was ugly + and blind of an eye,"—got no flattering even on his conquest of the + Orkneys and invention of peat. Here is the parting speech his father made + to him on fitting him out with a "long-ship" (ship of war, "dragon-ship," + ancient seventy-four), and sending him forth to make a living for himself + in the world: "It were best if thou never camest back, for I have small + hope that thy people will have honor by thee; thy mother's kin throughout + is slavish." + </p> + <p> + Harald Haarfagr had a good many sons and daughters; the daughters he + married mostly to jarls of due merit who were loyal to him; with the sons, + as remarked above, he had a great deal of trouble. They were ambitious, + stirring fellows, and grudged at their finding so little promotion from a + father so kind to his jarls; sea-robbery by no means an adequate career + for the sons of a great king, two of them, Halfdan Haaleg (Long-leg), and + Gudrod Ljome (Gleam), jealous of the favors won by the great Jarl + Rognwald, surrounded him in his house one night, and burnt him and sixty + men to death there. That was the end of Rognwald, the invaluable jarl, + always true to Haarfagr; and distinguished in world history by producing + Rolf the Ganger, author of the Norman Conquest of England, and Turf-Einar, + who invented peat in the Orkneys. Whether Rolf had left Norway at this + time there is no chronology to tell me. As to Rolf's surname, "Ganger," + there are various hypotheses; the likeliest, perhaps, that Rolf was so + weighty a man no horse (small Norwegian horses, big ponies rather) could + carry him, and that he usually walked, having a mighty stride withal, and + great velocity on foot. + </p> + <p> + One of these murderers of Jarl Rognwald quietly set himself in Rognwald's + place, the other making for Orkney to serve Turf-Einar in like fashion. + Turf-Einar, taken by surprise, fled to the mainland; but returned, days or + perhaps weeks after, ready for battle, fought with Halfdan, put his party + to flight, and at next morning's light searched the island and slew all + the men he found. As to Halfdan Long-leg himself, in fierce memory of his + own murdered father, Turf-Einar "cut an eagle on his back," that is to + say, hewed the ribs from each side of the spine and turned them out like + the wings of a spread-eagle: a mode of Norse vengeance fashionable at that + time in extremely aggravated cases! + </p> + <p> + Harald Haarfagr, in the mean time, had descended upon the Rognwald scene, + not in mild mood towards the new jarl there; indignantly dismissed said + jarl, and appointed a brother of Rognwald (brother, notes Dahlmann), + though Rognwald had left other sons. Which done, Haarfagr sailed with all + speed to the Orkneys, there to avenge that cutting of an eagle on the + human back on Turf-Einar's part. Turf-Einar did not resist; submissively + met the angry Haarfagr, said he left it all, what had been done, what + provocation there had been, to Haarfagr's own equity and greatness of + mind. Magnanimous Haarfagr inflicted a fine of sixty marks in gold, which + was paid in ready money by Turf-Einar, and so the matter ended. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0002" id="link2HCH0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER II. ERIC BLOOD-AXE AND BROTHERS. + </h2> + <p> + In such violent courses Haarfagr's sons, I know not how many of them, had + come to an untimely end; only Eric, the accomplished sea-rover, and three + others remained to him. Among these four sons, rather impatient for + property and authority of their own, King Harald, in his old days, tried + to part his kingdom in some eligible and equitable way, and retire from + the constant press of business, now becoming burdensome to him. To each of + them he gave a kind of kingdom; Eric, his eldest son, to be head king, and + the others to be feudatory under him, and pay a certain yearly + contribution; an arrangement which did not answer well at all. Head-King + Eric insisted on his tribute; quarrels arose as to the payment, + considerable fighting and disturbance, bringing fierce destruction from + King Eric upon many valiant but too stubborn Norse spirits, and among the + rest upon all his three brothers, which got him from the Norse populations + the surname of <i>Blod-axe</i>, "Eric Blood-axe," his title in history. + One of his brothers he had killed in battle before his old father's life + ended; this brother was Bjorn, a peaceable, improving, trading economic + Under-king, whom the others mockingly called "Bjorn the Chapman." The + great-grandson of this Bjorn became extremely distinguished by and by as + <i>Saint</i> Olaf. Head-King Eric seems to have had a violent wife, too. + She was thought to have poisoned one of her other brothers-in-law. Eric + Blood-axe had by no means a gentle life of it in this world, trained to + sea-robbery on the coasts of England, Scotland, Ireland and France, since + his twelfth year. + </p> + <p> + Old King Fairhair, at the age of seventy, had another son, to whom was + given the name of Hakon. His mother was a slave in Fairhair's house; slave + by ill-luck of war, though nobly enough born. A strange adventure connects + this Hakon with England and King Athelstan, who was then entering upon his + great career there. Short while after this Hakon came into the world, + there entered Fairhair's palace, one evening as Fairhair sat Feasting, an + English ambassador or messenger, bearing in his hand, as gift from King + Athelstan, a magnificent sword, with gold hilt and other fine trimmings, + to the great Harald, King of Norway. Harald took the sword, drew it, or + was half drawing it, admiringly from the scabbard, when the English + excellency broke into a scornful laugh, "Ha, ha; thou art now the + feudatory of my English king; thou hast accepted the sword from him, and + art now his man!" (acceptance of a sword in that manner being the symbol + of investiture in those days.) Harald looked a trifle flurried, it is + probable; but held in his wrath, and did no damage to the tricksy + Englishman. He kept the matter in his mind, however, and next summer + little Hakon, having got his weaning done,—one of the prettiest, + healthiest little creatures,—Harald sent him off, under charge of + "Hauk" (Hawk so called), one of his Principal, warriors, with order, "Take + him to England," and instructions what to do with him there. And + accordingly, one evening, Hauk, with thirty men escorting, strode into + Athelstan's high dwelling (where situated, how built, whether with logs + like Harald's, I cannot specifically say), into Athelstan's high presence, + and silently set the wild little cherub upon Athelstan's knee. "What is + this?" asked Athelstan, looking at the little cherub. "This is King + Harald's son, whom a serving-maid bore to him, and whom he now gives thee + as foster-child!" Indignant Athelstan drew his sword, as if to do the gift + a mischief; but Hauk said, "Thou hast taken him on thy knee [common symbol + of adoption]; thou canst kill him if thou wilt; but thou dost not thereby + kill all the sons of Harald." Athelstan straightway took milder thoughts; + brought up, and carefully educated Hakon; from whom, and this singular + adventure, came, before very long, the first tidings of Christianity into + Norway. + </p> + <p> + Harald Haarfagr, latterly withdrawn from all kinds of business, died at + the age of eighty-three—about A.D. 933, as is computed; nearly + contemporary in death with the first Danish King, Gorm the Old, who had + done a corresponding feat in reducing Denmark under one head. Remarkable + old men, these two first kings; and possessed of gifts for bringing Chaos + a little nearer to the form of Cosmos; possessed, in fact, of loyalties to + Cosmos, that is to say, of authentic virtues in the savage state, such as + have been needed in all societies at their incipience in this world; a + kind of "virtues" hugely in discredit at present, but not unlikely to be + needed again, to the astonishment of careless persons, before all is done! + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0003" id="link2HCH0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER III. HAKON THE GOOD. + </h2> + <p> + Eric Blood-axe, whose practical reign is counted to have begun about A.D. + 930, had by this time, or within a year or so of this time, pretty much + extinguished all his brother kings, and crushed down recalcitrant spirits, + in his violent way; but had naturally become entirely unpopular in Norway, + and filled it with silent discontent and even rage against him. Hakon + Fairhair's last son, the little foster-child of Athelstan in England, who + had been baptized and carefully educated, was come to his fourteenth or + fifteenth year at his father's death; a very shining youth, as Athelstan + saw with just pleasure. So soon as the few preliminary preparations had + been settled, Hakon, furnished with a ship or two by Athelstan, suddenly + appeared in Norway got acknowledged by the Peasant Thing in Trondhjem "the + news of which flew over Norway, like fire through dried grass," says an + old chronicler. So that Eric, with his Queen Gunhild, and seven small + children, had to run; no other shift for Eric. They went to the Orkneys + first of all, then to England, and he "got Northumberland as earldom," I + vaguely hear, from Athelstan. But Eric soon died, and his queen, with her + children, went back to the Orkneys in search of refuge or help; to little + purpose there or elsewhere. From Orkney she went to Denmark, where Harald + Blue-tooth took her poor eldest boy as foster-child; but I fear did not + very faithfully keep that promise. The Danes had been robbing extensively + during the late tumults in Norway; this the Christian Hakon, now + established there, paid in kind, and the two countries were at war; so + that Gunhild's little boy was a welcome card in the hand of Blue-tooth. + </p> + <p> + Hakon proved a brilliant and successful king; regulated many things, + public law among others (<i>Gule-Thing</i> Law, <i>Frost-Thing</i> Law: + these are little codes of his accepted by their respective Things, and had + a salutary effect in their time); with prompt dexterity he drove back the + Blue-tooth foster-son invasions every time they came; and on the whole + gained for himself the name of Hakon the Good. These Danish invasions were + a frequent source of trouble to him, but his greatest and continual + trouble was that of extirpating heathen idolatry from Norway, and + introducing the Christian Evangel in its stead. His transcendent anxiety + to achieve this salutary enterprise was all along his grand difficulty and + stumbling-block; the heathen opposition to it being also rooted and great. + Bishops and priests from England Hakon had, preaching and baptizing what + they could, but making only slow progress; much too slow for Hakon's zeal. + On the other hand, every Yule-tide, when the chief heathen were assembled + in his own palace on their grand sacrificial festival, there was great + pressure put upon Hakon, as to sprinkling with horse-blood, drinking + Yule-beer, eating horse-flesh, and the other distressing rites; the whole + of which Hakon abhorred, and with all his steadfastness strove to reject + utterly. Sigurd, Jarl of Lade (Trondhjem), a liberal heathen, not openly a + Christian, was ever a wise counsellor and conciliator in such affairs; and + proved of great help to Hakon. Once, for example, there having risen at a + Yule-feast, loud, almost stormful demand that Hakon, like a true man and + brother, should drink Yule-beer with them in their sacred hightide, Sigurd + persuaded him to comply, for peace's sake, at least, in form. Hakon took + the cup in his left hand (excellent hot <i>beer</i>), and with his right + cut the sign of the cross above it, then drank a draught. "Yes; but what + is this with the king's right hand?" cried the company. "Don't you see?" + answered shifty Sigurd; "he makes the sign of Thor's hammer before + drinking!" which quenched the matter for the time. + </p> + <p> + Horse-flesh, horse-broth, and the horse ingredient generally, Hakon all + but inexorably declined. By Sigurd's pressing exhortation and entreaty, he + did once take a kettle of horsebroth by the handle, with a good deal of + linen-quilt or towel interposed, and did open his lips for what of steam + could insinuate itself. At another time he consented to a particle of + horse-liver, intending privately, I guess, to keep it outside the gullet, + and smuggle it away without swallowing; but farther than this not even + Sigurd could persuade him to go. At the Things held in regard to this + matter Hakon's success was always incomplete; now and then it was plain + failure, and Hakon had to draw back till a better time. Here is one + specimen of the response he got on such an occasion; curious specimen, + withal, of antique parliamentary eloquence from an Anti-Christian Thing. + </p> + <p> + At a Thing of all the Fylkes of Trondhjem, Thing held at Froste in that + region, King Hakon, with all the eloquence he had, signified that it was + imperatively necessary that all Bonders and sub-Bonders should become + Christians, and believe in one God, Christ the Son of Mary; renouncing + entirely blood sacrifices and heathen idols; should keep every seventh day + holy, abstain from labor that day, and even from food, devoting the day to + fasting and sacred meditation. Whereupon, by way of universal answer, + arose a confused universal murmur of entire dissent. "Take away from us + our old belief, and also our time for labor!" murmured they in angry + astonishment; "how can even the land be got tilled in that way?" "We + cannot work if we don't get food," said the hand laborers and slaves. "It + lies in King Hakon's blood," remarked others; "his father and all his + kindred were apt to be stingy about food, though liberal enough with + money." At length, one Osbjorn (or Bear of the Asen or Gods, what we now + call Osborne), one Osbjorn of Medalhusin Gulathal, stept forward, and + said, in a distinct manner, "We Bonders (peasant proprietors) thought, + King Hakon, when thou heldest thy first Thing-day here in Trondhjem, and + we took thee for our king, and received our hereditary lands from thee + again that we had got heaven itself. But now we know not how it is, + whether we have won freedom, or whether thou intendest anew to make us + slaves, with this wonderful proposal that we should renounce our faith, + which our fathers before us have held, and all our ancestors as well, + first in the age of burial by burning, and now in that of earth burial; + and yet these departed ones were much our superiors, and their faith, too, + has brought prosperity to us. Thee, at the same time, we have loved so + much that we raised thee to manage all the laws of the land, and speak as + their voice to us all. And even now it is our will and the vote of all + Bonders to keep that paction which thou gavest us here on the Thing at + Froste, and to maintain thee as king so long as any of us Bonders who are + here upon the Thing has life left, provided thou, king, wilt go fairly to + work, and demand of us only such things as are not impossible. But if thou + wilt fix upon this thing with so great obstinacy, and employ force and + power, in that case, we Bonders have taken the resolution, all of us, to + fall away from thee, and to take for ourselves another head, who will so + behave that we may enjoy in freedom the belief which is agreeable to us. + Now shalt thou, king, choose one of these two courses before the Thing + disperse." "Whereupon," adds the Chronicle, "all the Bonders raised a + mighty shout, 'Yes, we will have it so, as has been said.'" So that Jarl + Sigurd had to intervene, and King Hakon to choose for the moment the + milder branch of the alternative. <a href="#linknote-4" + name="linknoteref-4" id="linknoteref-4"><small>4</small></a> At other + Things Hakon was more or less successful. All his days, by such methods as + there were, he kept pressing forward with this great enterprise; and on + the whole did thoroughly shake asunder the old edifice of heathendom, and + fairly introduce some foundation for the new and better rule of faith and + life among his people. Sigurd, Jarl of Lade, his wise counsellor in all + these matters, is also a man worthy of notice. + </p> + <p> + Hakon's arrangements against the continual invasions of Eric's sons, with + Danish Blue-tooth backing them, were manifold, and for a long time + successful. He appointed, after consultation and consent in the various + Things, so many war-ships, fully manned and ready, to be furnished + instantly on the King's demand by each province or fjord; watch-fires, on + fit places, from hill to hill all along the coast, were to be carefully + set up, carefully maintained in readiness, and kindled on any alarm of + war. By such methods Blue-tooth and Co.'s invasions were for a long while + triumphantly, and even rapidly, one and all of them, beaten back, till at + length they seemed as if intending to cease altogether, and leave Hakon + alone of them. But such was not their issue after all. The sons of Eric + had only abated under constant discouragement, had not finally left off + from what seemed their one great feasibility in life. Gunhild, their + mother, was still with them: a most contriving, fierce-minded, + irreconcilable woman, diligent and urgent on them, in season and out of + season; and as for King Blue-tooth, he was at all times ready to help, + with his good-will at least. + </p> + <p> + That of the alarm-fires on Hakon's part was found troublesome by his + people; sometimes it was even hurtful and provoking (lighting your + alarm-fires and rousing the whole coast and population, when it was + nothing but some paltry viking with a couple of ships); in short, the + alarm-signal system fell into disuse, and good King Hakon himself, in the + first place, paid the penalty. It is counted, by the latest commentators, + to have been about A.D. 961, sixteenth or seventeenth year of Hakon's + pious, valiant, and worthy reign. Being at a feast one day, with many + guests, on the Island of Stord, sudden announcement came to him that ships + from the south were approaching in quantity, and evidently ships of war. + This was the biggest of all the Blue-tooth foster-son invasions; and it + was fatal to Hakon the Good that night. Eyvind the Skaldaspillir + (annihilator of all other Skalds), in his famed <i>Hakon's Song</i>, gives + account, and, still more pertinently, the always practical Snorro. Danes + in great multitude, six to one, as people afterwards computed, springing + swiftly to land, and ranking themselves; Hakon, nevertheless, at once + deciding not to take to his ships and run, but to fight there, one to six; + fighting, accordingly, in his most splendid manner, and at last gloriously + prevailing; routing and scattering back to their ships and flight homeward + these six-to-one Danes. "During the struggle of the fight," says Snorro, + "he was very conspicuous among other men; and while the sun shone, his + bright gilded helmet glanced, and thereby many weapons were directed at + him. One of his henchmen, Eyvind Finnson (<i>i.e.</i> Skaldaspillir, the + poet), took a hat, and put it over the king's helmet. Now, among the + hostile first leaders were two uncles of the Ericsons, brothers of + Gunhild, great champions both; Skreya, the elder of them, on the + disappearance of the glittering helmet, shouted boastfully, 'Does the king + of the Norsemen hide himself, then, or has he fled? Where now is the + golden helmet?' And so saying, Skreya, and his brother Alf with him, + pushed on like fools or madmen. The king said, 'Come on in that way, and + you shall find the king of the Norsemen.'" And in a short space of time + braggart Skreya did come up, swinging his sword, and made a cut at the + king; but Thoralf the Strong, an Icelander, who fought at the king's side, + dashed his shield so hard against Skreya, that he tottered with the shock. + On the same instant the king takes his sword "quernbiter" (able to cut <i>querns</i> + or millstones) with both hands, and hews Skreya through helm and head, + cleaving him down to the shoulders. Thoralf also slew Alf. That was what + they got by such over-hasty search for the king of the Norsemen. <a + href="#linknote-5" name="linknoteref-5" id="linknoteref-5"><small>5</small></a> + </p> + <p> + Snorro considers the fall of these two champion uncles as the crisis of + the fight; the Danish force being much disheartened by such a sight, and + King Hakon now pressing on so hard that all men gave way before him, the + battle on the Ericson part became a whirl of recoil; and in a few minutes + more a torrent of mere flight and haste to get on board their ships, and + put to sea again; in which operation many of them were drowned, says + Snorro; survivors making instant sail for Denmark in that sad condition. + </p> + <p> + This seems to have been King Hakon's finest battle, and the most + conspicuous of his victories, due not a little to his own grand qualities + shown on the occasion. But, alas! it was his last also. He was still + zealously directing the chase of that mad Danish flight, or whirl of + recoil towards their ships, when an arrow, shot Most likely at a venture, + hit him under the left armpit; and this proved his death. + </p> + <p> + He was helped into his ship, and made sail for Alrekstad, where his chief + residence in those parts was; but had to stop at a smaller place of his + (which had been his mother's, and where he himself was born)—a place + called Hella (the Flat Rock), still known as "Hakon's Hella," faint from + loss of blood, and crushed down as he had never before felt. Having no son + and only one daughter, he appointed these invasive sons of Eric to be sent + for, and if he died to become king; but to "spare his friends and + kindred." "If a longer life be granted me," he said, "I will go out of + this land to Christian men, and do penance for what I have committed + against God. But if I die in the country of the heathen, let me have such + burial as you yourselves think fittest." These are his last recorded + words. And in heathen fashion he was buried, and besung by Eyvind and the + Skalds, though himself a zealously Christian king. Hakon the <i>Good</i>; + so one still finds him worthy of being called. The sorrow on Hakon's + death, Snorro tells us, was so great and universal, "that he was lamented + both by friends and enemies; and they said that never again would Norway + see such a king." + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0004" id="link2HCH0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IV. HARALD GREYFELL AND BROTHERS. + </h2> + <p> + Eric's sons, four or five of them, with a Harald at the top, now at once + got Norway in hand, all of it but Trondhjem, as king and under-kings; and + made a severe time of it for those who had been, or seemed to be, their + enemies. Excellent Jarl Sigurd, always so useful to Hakon and his country, + was killed by them; and they came to repent that before very long. The + slain Sigurd left a son, Hakon, as Jarl, who became famous in the northern + world by and by. This Hakon, and him only, would the Trondhjemers accept + as sovereign. "Death to him, then," said the sons of Eric, but only in + secret, till they had got their hands free and were ready; which was not + yet for some years. Nay, Hakon, when actually attacked, made good + resistance, and threatened to cause trouble. Nor did he by any means get + his death from these sons of Eric at this time, or till long afterwards at + all, from one of their kin, as it chanced. On the contrary, he fled to + Denmark now, and by and by managed to come back, to their cost. + </p> + <p> + Among their other chief victims were two cousins of their own, Tryggve and + Gudrod, who had been honest under-kings to the late head-king, Hakon the + Good; but were now become suspect, and had to fight for their lives, and + lose them in a tragic manner. Tryggve had a son, whom we shall hear of. + Gudrod, son of worthy Bjorn the Chapman, was grandfather of Saint Olaf, + whom all men have heard of,—who has a church in Southwark even, and + another in Old Jewry, to this hour. In all these violences, Gunhild, widow + of the late king Eric, was understood to have a principal hand. She had + come back to Norway with her sons; and naturally passed for the secret + adviser and Maternal President in whatever of violence went on; always + reckoned a fell, vehement, relentless personage where her own interests + were concerned. Probably as things settled, her influence on affairs grew + less. At least one hopes so; and, in the Sagas, hears less and less of + her, and before long nothing. + </p> + <p> + Harald, the head-king in this Eric fraternity, does not seem to have been + a bad man,—the contrary indeed; but his position was untowardly, + full of difficulty and contradictions. Whatever Harald could accomplish + for behoof of Christianity, or real benefit to Norway, in these cross + circumstances, he seems to have done in a modest and honest manner. He got + the name of <i>Greyfell</i> from his people on a very trivial account, but + seemingly with perfect good humor on their part. Some Iceland trader had + brought a cargo of furs to Trondhjem (Lade) for sale; sale being slacker + than the Icelander wished, he presented a chosen specimen, cloak, doublet, + or whatever it was, to Harald; who wore it with acceptance in public, and + rapidly brought disposal of the Icelander's stock, and the surname of <i>Greyfell</i> + to himself. His under-kings and he were certainly not popular, though I + almost think Greyfell himself, in absence of his mother and the + under-kings, might have been so. But here they all were, and had wrought + great trouble in Norway. "Too many of them," said everybody; "too many of + these courts and court people, eating up any substance that there is." For + the seasons withal, two or three of them in succession, were bad for + grass, much more for grain; no <i>herring</i> came either; very cleanness + of teeth was like to come in Eyvind Skaldaspillir's opinion. This scarcity + became at last their share of the great Famine Of A.D. 975, which + desolated Western Europe (see the poem in the Saxon Chronicle). And all + this by Eyvind Skaldaspillir, and the heathen Norse in general, was + ascribed to anger of the heathen gods. Discontent in Norway, and + especially in Eyvind Skaldaspillir, seems to have been very great. + </p> + <p> + Whereupon exile Hakon, Jarl Sigurd's son, bestirs himself in Denmark, + backed by old King Blue-tooth, and begins invading and encroaching in a + miscellaneous way; especially intriguing and contriving plots all round + him. An unfathomably cunning kind of fellow, as well as an audacious and + strong-handed! Intriguing in Trondhjem, where he gets the under-king, + Greyfell's brother, fallen upon and murdered; intriguing with Gold Harald, + a distinguished cousin or nephew of King Blue-tooth's, who had done fine + viking work, and gained, such wealth that he got the epithet of "Gold," + and who now was infinitely desirous of a share in Blue-tooth's kingdom as + the proper finish to these sea-rovings. He even ventured one day to make + publicly a distinct proposal that way to King Harald Blue-tooth himself; + who flew into thunder and lightning at the mere mention of it; so that + none durst speak to him for several days afterwards. Of both these Haralds + Hakon was confidential friend; and needed all his skill to walk without + immediate annihilation between such a pair of dragons, and work out Norway + for himself withal. In the end he found he must take solidly to + Blue-tooth's side of the question; and that they two must provide a recipe + for Gold Harald and Norway both at once. + </p> + <p> + "It is as much as your life is worth to speak again of sharing this Danish + kingdom," said Hakon very privately to Gold Harald; "but could not you, my + golden friend, be content with Norway for a kingdom, if one helped you to + it?" + </p> + <p> + "That could I well," answered Harald. + </p> + <p> + "Then keep me those nine war-ships you have just been rigging for a new + viking cruise; have these in readiness when I lift my finger!" + </p> + <p> + That was the recipe contrived for Gold Harald; recipe for King Greyfell + goes into the same vial, and is also ready. + </p> + <p> + Hitherto the Hakon-Blue-tooth disturbances in Norway had amounted to but + little. King Greyfell, a very active and valiant man, has constantly, + without much difficulty, repelled these sporadic bits of troubles; but + Greyfell, all the same, would willingly have peace with dangerous old + Blue-tooth (ever anxious to get his clutches over Norway on any terms) if + peace with him could be had. Blue-tooth, too, professes every willingness; + inveigles Greyfell, he and Hakon do; to have a friendly meeting on the + Danish borders, and not only settle all these quarrels, but generously + settle Greyfell in certain fiefs which he claimed in Denmark itself; and + so swear everlasting friendship. Greyfell joyfully complies, punctually + appears at the appointed day in Lymfjord Sound, the appointed place. + Whereupon Hakon gives signal to Gold Harald, "To Lymfjord with these nine + ships of yours, swift!" Gold Harald flies to Lymfjord with his ships, + challenges King Harald Greyfell to land and fight; which the undaunted + Greyfell, though so far outnumbered, does; and, fighting his very best, + perishes there, he and almost all his people. Which done, Jarl Hakon, who + is in readiness, attacks Gold Harald, the victorious but the wearied; + easily beats Gold Harald, takes him prisoner, and instantly hangs and ends + him, to the huge joy of King Blue-tooth and Hakon; who now make instant + voyage to Norway; drive all the brother under-kings into rapid flight to + the Orkneys, to any readiest shelter; and so, under the patronage of + Blue-tooth, Hakon, with the title of Jarl, becomes ruler of Norway. This + foul treachery done on the brave and honest Harald Greyfell is by some + dated about A.D. 969, by Munch, 965, by others, computing out of Snorro + only, A.D. 975. For there is always an uncertainty in these Icelandic + dates (say rather, rare and rude attempts at dating, without even an + "A.D." or other fixed "year one" to go upon in Iceland), though seldom, I + think, so large a discrepancy as here. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0005" id="link2HCH0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER V. HAKON JARL. + </h2> + <p> + Hakon Jarl, such the style he took, had engaged to pay some kind of + tribute to King Blue-tooth, "if he could;" but he never did pay any, + pleading always the necessity of his own affairs; with which excuse, + joined to Hakon's readiness in things less important, King Blue-tooth + managed to content himself, Hakon being always his good neighbor, at + least, and the two mutually dependent. In Norway, Hakon, without the title + of king, did in a strong-handed, steadfast, and at length, successful way, + the office of one; governed Norway (some count) for above twenty years; + and, both at home and abroad, had much consideration through most of that + time; specially amongst the heathen orthodox, for Hakon Jarl himself was a + zealous heathen, fixed in his mind against these chimerical Christian + innovations and unsalutary changes of creed, and would have gladly + trampled out all traces of what the last two kings (for Greyfell, also, + was an English Christian after his sort) had done in this respect. But he + wisely discerned that it was not possible, and that, for peace's sake, he + must not even attempt it, but must strike preferably into "perfect + toleration," and that of "every one getting to heaven or even to the other + goal in his own way." He himself, it is well known, repaired many heathen + temples (a great "church builder" in his way!), manufactured many splendid + idols, with much gilding and such artistic ornament as there was,—in + particular, one huge image of Thor, not forgetting the hammer and + appendages, and such a collar (supposed of solid gold, which it was not + quite, as we shall hear in time) round the neck of him as was never seen + in all the North. How he did his own Yule festivals, with what magnificent + solemnity, the horse-eatings, blood-sprinklings, and other sacred rites, + need not be told. Something of a "Ritualist," one may perceive; perhaps + had Scandinavian Puseyisms in him, and other desperate heathen notions. He + was universally believed to have gone into magic, for one thing, and to + have dangerous potencies derived from the Devil himself. The dark heathen + mind of him struggling vehemently in that strange element, not altogether + so unlike our own in some points. + </p> + <p> + For the rest, he was evidently, in practical matters, a man of sharp, + clear insight, of steadfast resolution, diligence, promptitude; and + managed his secular matters uncommonly well. Had sixteen Jarls under him, + though himself only Hakon Jarl by title; and got obedience from them + stricter than any king since Haarfagr had done. Add to which that the + country had years excellent for grass and crop, and that the herrings came + in exuberance; tokens, to the thinking mind, that Hakon Jarl was a + favorite of Heaven. + </p> + <p> + His fight with the far-famed Jomsvikings was his grandest exploit in + public rumor. Jomsburg, a locality not now known, except that it was near + the mouth of the River Oder, denoted in those ages the impregnable castle + of a certain hotly corporate, or "Sea Robbery Association (limited)," + which, for some generations, held the Baltic in terror, and plundered far + beyond the Belt,—in the ocean itself, in Flanders and the opulent + trading havens there,—above all, in opulent anarchic England, which, + for forty years from about this time, was the pirates' Goshen; and + yielded, regularly every summer, slaves, Danegelt, and miscellaneous + plunder, like no other country Jomsburg or the viking-world had ever + known. Palnatoke, Bue, and the other quasi-heroic heads of this + establishment are still remembered in the northern parts. <i>Palnatoke</i> + is the title of a tragedy by Oehlenschlager, which had its run of + immortality in Copenhagen some sixty or seventy years ago. + </p> + <p> + I judge the institution to have been in its floweriest state, probably now + in Hakon Jarl's time. Hakon Jarl and these pirates, robbing Hakon's + subjects and merchants that frequented him, were naturally in quarrel; and + frequent fightings had fallen out, not generally to the profit of the + Jomsburgers, who at last determined on revenge, and the rooting out of + this obstructive Hakon Jarl. They assembled in force at the Cape of Stad,—in + the Firda Fylke; and the fight was dreadful in the extreme, noise of it + filling all the north for long afterwards. Hakon, fighting like a lion, + could scarcely hold his own,—Death or Victory, the word on both + sides; when suddenly, the heavens grew black, and there broke out a + terrific storm of thunder and hail, appalling to the human mind,—universe + swallowed wholly in black night; only the momentary forked-blazes, the + thunder-pealing as of Ragnarok, and the battering hail-torrents, + hailstones about the size of an egg. Thor with his hammer evidently + acting; but in behalf of whom? The Jomsburgers in the hideous darkness, + broken only by flashing thunder-bolts, had a dismal apprehension that it + was probably not on their behalf (Thor having a sense of justice in him); + and before the storm ended, thirty-five of their seventy ships sheered + away, leaving gallant Bue, with the other thirty-five, to follow as they + liked, who reproachfully hailed these fugitives, and continued the now + hopeless battle. Bue's nose and lips were smashed or cut away; Bue + managed, half-articulately, to exclaim, "Ha! the maids ('mays') of Funen + will never kiss me more. Overboard, all ye Bue's men!" And taking his two + sea-chests, with all the gold he had gained in such life-struggle from of + old, sprang overboard accordingly, and finished the affair. Hakon Jarl's + renown rose naturally to the transcendent pitch after this exploit. His + people, I suppose chiefly the Christian part of them, whispered one to + another, with a shudder, "That in the blackest of the thunder-storm, he + had taken his youngest little boy, and made away with him; sacrificed him + to Thor or some devil, and gained his victory by art-magic, or something + worse." Jarl Eric, Hakon's eldest son, without suspicion of art-magic, but + already a distinguished viking, became thrice distinguished by his style + of sea-fighting in this battle; and awakened great expectations in the + viking public; of him we shall hear again. + </p> + <p> + The Jomsburgers, one might fancy, after this sad clap went visibly down in + the world; but the fact is not altogether so. Old King Blue-tooth was now + dead, died of a wound got in battle with his unnatural (so-called + "natural") son and successor, Otto Svein of the Forked Beard, afterwards + king and conqueror of England for a little while; and seldom, perhaps + never, had vikingism been in such flower as now. This man's name is Sven + in Swedish, Svend in German, and means boy or lad,—the English + "swain." It was at old "Father Bluetooth's funeral-ale" (drunken + burial-feast), that Svein, carousing with his Jomsburg chiefs and other + choice spirits, generally of the robber class, all risen into height of + highest robber enthusiasm, pledged the vow to one another; Svein that he + would conquer England (which, in a sense, he, after long struggling, did); + and the Jomsburgers that they would ruin and root out Hakon Jarl (which, + as we have just seen, they could by no means do), and other guests other + foolish things which proved equally unfeasible. Sea-robber volunteers so + especially abounding in that time, one perceives how easily the + Jomsburgers could recruit themselves, build or refit new robber fleets, + man them with the pick of crews, and steer for opulent, fruitful England; + where, under Ethelred the Unready, was such a field for profitable + enterprise as the viking public never had before or since. + </p> + <p> + An idle question sometimes rises on me,—idle enough, for it never + can be answered in the affirmative or the negative, Whether it was not + these same refitted Jomsburgers who appeared some while after this at Red + Head Point, on the shore of Angus, and sustained a new severe beating, in + what the Scotch still faintly remember as their "Battle of Loncarty"? + Beyond doubt a powerful Norse-pirate armament dropt anchor at the Red + Head, to the alarm of peaceable mortals, about that time. It was thought + and hoped to be on its way for England, but it visibly hung on for several + days, deliberating (as was thought) whether they would do this poorer + coast the honor to land on it before going farther. Did land, and + vigorously plunder and burn south-westward as far as Perth; laid siege to + Perth; but brought out King Kenneth on them, and produced that "Battle of + Loncarty" which still dwells in vague memory among the Scots. Perhaps it + might be the Jomsburgers; perhaps also not; for there were many pirate + associations, lasting not from century to century like the Jomsburgers, + but only for very limited periods, or from year to year; indeed, it was + mainly by such that the splendid thief-harvest of England was reaped in + this disastrous time. No Scottish chronicler gives the least of exact date + to their famed victory of Loncarty, only that it was achieved by Kenneth + III., which will mean some time between A.D. 975 and 994; and, by the + order they put it in, probably soon after A.D. 975, or the beginning of + this Kenneth's reign. Buchanan's narrative, carefully distilled from all + the ancient Scottish sources, is of admirable quality for style and + otherwise quiet, brief, with perfect clearness, perfect credibility even, + except that semi-miraculous appendage of the Ploughmen, Hay and Sons, + always hanging to the tail of it; the grain of possible truth in which can + now never be extracted by man's art! <a href="#linknote-6" + name="linknoteref-6" id="linknoteref-6"><small>6</small></a> In brief, + what we know is, fragments of ancient human bones and armor have + occasionally been ploughed up in this locality, proof positive of ancient + fighting here; and the fight fell out not long after Hakon's beating of + the Jomsburgers at the Cape of Stad. And in such dim glimmer of wavering + twilight, the question whether these of Loncarty were refitted Jomsburgers + or not, must be left hanging. Loncarty is now the biggest bleach-field in + Queen Victoria's dominions; no village or hamlet there, only the huge + bleaching-house and a beautiful field, some six or seven miles northwest + of Perth, bordered by the beautiful Tay river on the one side, and by its + beautiful tributary Almond on the other; a Loncarty fitted either for + bleaching linen, or for a bit of fair duel between nations, in those + simple times. + </p> + <p> + Whether our refitted Jomsburgers had the least thing to do with it is only + matter of fancy, but if it were they who here again got a good beating, + fancy would be glad to find herself fact. The old piratical kings of + Denmark had been at the founding of Jomsburg, and to Svein of the Forked + Beard it was still vitally important, but not so to the great Knut, or any + king that followed; all of whom had better business than mere thieving; + and it was Magnus the Good, of Norway, a man of still higher anti-anarchic + qualities, that annihilated it, about a century later. + </p> + <p> + Hakon Jarl, his chief labors in the world being over, is said to have + become very dissolute in his elder days, especially in the matter of + women; the wretched old fool, led away by idleness and fulness of bread, + which to all of us are well said to be the parents of mischief. Having + absolute power, he got into the habit of openly plundering men's pretty + daughters and wives from them, and, after a few weeks, sending them back; + greatly to the rage of the fierce Norse heart, had there been any means of + resisting or revenging. It did, after a little while, prove the ruin and + destruction of Hakon the Rich, as he was then called. It opened the door, + namely, for entry of Olaf Tryggveson upon the scene,—a very much + grander man; in regard to whom the wiles and traps of Hakon proved to be a + recipe, not on Tryggveson, but on the wily Hakon himself, as shall now be + seen straightway. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0006" id="link2HCH0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VI. OLAF TRYGGVESON. + </h2> + <p> + Hakon, in late times, had heard of a famous stirring person, victorious in + various lands and seas, latterly united in sea-robbery with Svein, Prince + Royal of Denmark, afterwards King Svein of the Double-beard ("<i>Zvae + Skiaeg</i>", <i>Twa Shag</i>) or fork-beard, both of whom had already done + transcendent feats in the viking way during this copartnery. The fame of + Svein, and this stirring personage, whose name was "Ole," and, recently, + their stupendous feats in plunder of England, siege of London, and other + wonders and splendors of viking glory and success, had gone over all the + North, awakening the attention of Hakon and everybody there. The name of + "Ole" was enigmatic, mysterious, and even dangerous-looking to Hakon Jarl; + who at length sent out a confidential spy to investigate this "Ole;" a + feat which the confidential spy did completely accomplish,—by no + means to Hakon's profit! The mysterious "Ole" proved to be no other than + Olaf, son of Tryggve, destined to blow Hakon Jarl suddenly into + destruction, and become famous among the heroes of the Norse world. + </p> + <p> + Of Olaf Tryggveson one always hopes there might, one day, some real + outline of a biography be written; fished from the abysses where (as + usual) it welters deep in foul neighborhood for the present. Farther on we + intend a few words more upon the matter. But in this place all that + concerns us in it limits itself to the two following facts first, that + Hakon's confidential spy "found Ole in Dublin;" picked acquaintance with + him, got him to confess that he was actually Olaf, son of Tryggve (the + Tryggve, whom Blood-axe's fierce widow and her sons had murdered); got him + gradually to own that perhaps an expedition into Norway might have its + chances; and finally that, under such a wise and loyal guidance as his + (the confidential spy's, whose friendship for Tryggveson was so + indubitable), he (Tryggveson) would actually try it upon Hakon Jarl, the + dissolute old scoundrel. Fact second is, that about the time they two set + sail from Dublin on their Norway expedition, Hakon Jarl removed to + Trondhjem, then called Lade; intending to pass some months there. + </p> + <p> + Now just about the time when Tryggveson, spy, and party had landed in + Norway, and were advancing upon Lade, with what support from the public + could be got, dissolute old Hakon Jarl had heard of one Gudrun, a Bonder's + wife, unparalleled in beauty, who was called in those parts, "Sunbeam of + the Grove" (so inexpressibly lovely); and sent off a couple of thralls to + bring her to him. "Never," answered Gudrun; "never," her indignant + husband; in a tone dangerous and displeasing to these Court thralls; who + had to leave rapidly, but threatened to return in better strength before + long. Whereupon, instantly, the indignant Bonder and his Sunbeam of the + Grove sent out their war-arrow, rousing all the country into angry + promptitude, and more than one perhaps into greedy hope of revenge for + their own injuries. The rest of Hakon's history now rushes on with extreme + rapidity. + </p> + <p> + Sunbeam of the Grove, when next demanded of her Bonder, has the whole + neighborhood assembled in arms round her; rumor of Tryggveson is fast + making it the whole country. Hakon's insolent messengers are cut in + pieces; Hakon finds he cannot fly under cover too soon. With a single + slave he flies that same night;—but whitherward? Can think of no + safe place, except to some old mistress of his, who lives retired in that + neighborhood, and has some pity or regard for the wicked old Hakon. Old + mistress does receive him, pities him, will do all she can to protect and + hide him. But how, by what uttermost stretch of female artifice hide him + here; every one will search here first of all! Old mistress, by the + slave's help, extemporizes a cellar under the floor of her pig-house; + sticks Hakon and slave into that, as the one safe seclusion she can + contrive. Hakon and slave, begrunted by the pigs above them, tortured by + the devils within and about them, passed two days in circumstances more + and more horrible. For they heard, through their light-slit and + breathing-slit, the triumph of Tryggveson proclaiming itself by + Tryggveson's own lips, who had mounted a big boulder near by and was + victoriously speaking to the people, winding up with a promise of honors + and rewards to whoever should bring him wicked old Hakon's head. Wretched + Hakon, justly suspecting his slave, tried to at least keep himself awake. + Slave did keep himself awake till Hakon dozed or slept, then swiftly cut + off Hakon's head, and plunged out with it to the presence of Tryggveson. + Tryggveson, detesting the traitor, useful as the treachery was, cut off + the slave's head too, had it hung up along with Hakon's on the pinnacle of + the Lade Gallows, where the populace pelted both heads with stones and + many curses, especially the more important of the two. "Hakon the Bad" + ever henceforth, instead of Hakon the Rich. + </p> + <p> + This was the end of Hakon Jarl, the last support of heathenry in Norway, + among other characteristics he had: a stronghanded, hard-headed, very + relentless, greedy and wicked being. He is reckoned to have ruled in + Norway, or mainly ruled, either in the struggling or triumphant state, for + about thirty years (965-995?). He and his seemed to have formed, by chance + rather than design, the chief opposition which the Haarfagr posterity + throughout its whole course experienced in Norway. Such the cost to them + of killing good Jarl Sigurd, in Greyfell's time! For "curses, like + chickens," do sometimes visibly "come home to feed," as they always, + either visibly or else invisibly, are punctually sure to do. + </p> + <p> + Hakon Jarl is considerably connected with the <i>Faroer Saga</i> often + mentioned there, and comes out perfectly in character; an altogether + worldly-wise man of the roughest type, not without a turn for practicality + of kindness to those who would really be of use to him. His tendencies to + magic also are not forgotten. + </p> + <p> + Hakon left two sons, Eric and Svein, often also mentioned in this Saga. On + their father's death they fled to Sweden, to Denmark, and were busy + stirring up troubles in those countries against Olaf Tryggveson; till at + length, by a favorable combination, under their auspices chiefly, they got + his brief and noble reign put an end to. Nay, furthermore, Jarl Eric left + sons, especially an elder son, named also Eric, who proved a sore + affliction, and a continual stone of stumbling to a new generation of + Haarfagrs, and so continued the curse of Sigurd's murder upon them. + </p> + <p> + Towards the end of this Hakon's reign it was that the discovery of America + took place (985). Actual discovery, it appears, by Eric the Red, an + Icelander; concerning which there has been abundant investigation and + discussion in our time. <i>Ginnungagap</i> (Roaring Abyss) is thought to + be the mouth of Behring's Straits in Baffin's Bay; <i>Big Helloland</i>, + the coast from Cape Walsingham to near Newfoundland; <i>Little Helloland</i>, + Newfoundland itself. <i>Markland</i> was Lower Canada, New Brunswick, and + Nova Scotia. Southward thence to Chesapeake Bay was called <i>Wine Land</i> + (wild grapes still grow in Rhode Island, and more luxuriantly further + south). <i>White Man's Land</i>, called also <i>Great Ireland</i>, is + supposed to mean the two Carolinas, down to the Southern Cape of Florida. + In Dahlmann's opinion, the Irish themselves might even pretend to have + probably been the first discoverers of America; they had evidently got to + Iceland itself before the Norse exiles found it out. It appears to be + certain that, from the end of the tenth century to the early part of the + fourteenth, there was a dim knowledge of those distant shores extant in + the Norse mind, and even some straggling series of visits thither by + roving Norsemen; though, as only danger, difficulty, and no profit + resulted, the visits ceased, and the whole matter sank into oblivion, and, + but for the Icelandic talent of writing in the long winter nights, would + never have been heard of by posterity at all. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0007" id="link2HCH0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VII. REIGN OF OLAF TRYGGVESON. + </h2> + <p> + Olaf Tryggveson (A.D. 995-1000) also makes a great figure in the <i>Faroer + Saga</i>, and recounts there his early troubles, which were strange and + many. He is still reckoned a grand hero of the North, though his <i>vates</i> + now is only Snorro Sturleson of Iceland. Tryggveson had indeed many + adventures in the world. His poor mother, Astrid, was obliged to fly, on + murder of her husband by Gunhild,—to fly for life, three months + before he, her little Olaf, was born. She lay concealed in reedy islands, + fled through trackless forests; reached her father's with the little baby + in her arms, and lay deep-hidden there, tended only by her father himself; + Gunhild's pursuit being so incessant, and keen as with sleuth-hounds. Poor + Astrid had to fly again, deviously to Sweden, to Esthland (Esthonia), to + Russia. In Esthland she was sold as a slave, quite parted from her boy,—who + also was sold, and again sold; but did at last fall in with a kinsman high + in the Russian service; did from him find redemption and help, and so + rose, in a distinguished manner, to manhood, victorious self-help, and + recovery of his kingdom at last. He even met his mother again, he as king + of Norway, she as one wonderfully lifted out of darkness into new life and + happiness still in store. + </p> + <p> + Grown to manhood, Tryggveson,—now become acquainted with his birth, + and with his, alas, hopeless claims,—left Russia for the one + profession open to him, that of sea-robbery; and did feats without number + in that questionable line in many seas and scenes,—in England + latterly, and most conspicuously of all. In one of his courses thither, + after long labors in the Hebrides, Man, Wales, and down the western shores + to the very Land's End and farther, he paused at the Scilly Islands for a + little while. He was told of a wonderful Christian hermit living strangely + in these sea-solitudes; had the curiosity to seek him out, examine, + question, and discourse with him; and, after some reflection, accepted + Christian baptism from the venerable man. In Snorro the story is involved + in miracle, rumor, and fable; but the fact itself seems certain, and is + very interesting; the great, wild, noble soul of fierce Olaf opening to + this wonderful gospel of tidings from beyond the world, tidings which + infinitely transcended all else he had ever heard or dreamt of! It seems + certain he was baptized here; date not fixable; shortly before poor + heart-broken Dunstan's death, or shortly after; most English churches, + monasteries especially, lying burnt, under continual visitation of the + Danes. Olaf such baptism notwithstanding, did not quit his viking + profession; indeed, what other was there for him in the world as yet? + </p> + <p> + We mentioned his occasional copartneries with Svein of the Double-beard, + now become King of Denmark, but the greatest of these, and the alone + interesting at this time, is their joint invasion of England, and + Tryggveson's exploits and fortunes there some years after that adventure + of baptism in the Scilly Isles. Svein and he "were above a year in England + together," this time: they steered up the Thames with three hundred ships + and many fighters; siege, or at least furious assault, of London was their + first or main enterprise, but it did not succeed. The Saxon Chronicle + gives date to it, A.D. 994, and names expressly, as Svein's co-partner, + "Olaus, king of Norway,"—which he was as yet far from being; but in + regard to the Year of Grace the Saxon Chronicle is to be held + indisputable, and, indeed, has the field to itself in this matter. Famed + Olaf Tryggveson, seen visibly at the siege of London, year 994, it throws + a kind of momentary light to us over that disastrous whirlpool of miseries + and confusions, all dark and painful to the fancy otherwise! This big + voyage and furious siege of London is Svein Double-beard's first real + attempt to fulfil that vow of his at Father Blue-tooth's "funeral ale," + and conquer England,—which it is a pity he could not yet do. Had + London now fallen to him, it is pretty evident all England must have + followed, and poor England, with Svein as king over it, been delivered + from immeasurable woes, which had to last some two-and-twenty years + farther, before this result could be arrived at. But finding London + impregnable for the moment (no ship able to get athwart the bridge, and + many Danes perishing in the attempt to do it by swimming), Svein and Olaf + turned to other enterprises; all England in a manner lying open to them, + turn which way they liked. They burnt and plundered over Kent, over + Hampshire, Sussex; they stormed far and wide; world lying all before them + where to choose. Wretched Ethelred, as the one invention he could fall + upon, offered them Danegelt (16,000 pounds of silver this year, but it + rose in other years as high as 48,000 pounds); the desperate Ethelred, a + clear method of quenching fire by pouring oil on it! Svein and Olaf + accepted; withdrew to Southampton,—Olaf at least did,—till the + money was got ready. Strange to think of, fierce Svein of the + Double-beard, and conquest of England by him; this had at last become the + one salutary result which remained for that distracted, down-trodden, now + utterly chaotic and anarchic country. A conquering Svein, followed by an + ably and earnestly administrative, as well as conquering, Knut (whom + Dahlmann compares to Charlemagne), were thus by the mysterious destinies + appointed the effective saviors of England. + </p> + <p> + Tryggveson, on this occasion, was a good while at Southampton; and roamed + extensively about, easily victorious over everything, if resistance were + attempted, but finding little or none; and acting now in a peaceable or + even friendly capacity. In the Southampton country he came in contact with + the then Bishop of Winchester, afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury, + excellent Elphegus, still dimly decipherable to us as a man of great + natural discernment, piety, and inborn veracity; a hero-soul, probably of + real brotherhood with Olaf's own. He even made court visits to King + Ethelred; one visit to him at Andover of a very serious nature. By + Elphegus, as we can discover, he was introduced into the real depths of + the Christian faith. Elphegus, with due solemnity of apparatus, in + presence of the king, at Andover, baptized Olaf anew, and to him Olaf + engaged that he would never plunder in England any more; which promise, + too, he kept. In fact, not long after, Svein's conquest of England being + in an evidently forward state, Tryggveson (having made, withal, a great + English or Irish marriage,—a dowager Princess, who had voluntarily + fallen in love with him,—see Snorro for this fine romantic fact!) + mainly resided in our island for two or three years, or else in Dublin, in + the precincts of the Danish Court there in the Sister Isle. Accordingly it + was in Dublin, as above noted, that Hakon's spy found him; and from the + Liffey that his squadron sailed, through the Hebrides, through the + Orkneys, plundering and baptizing in their strange way, towards such + success as we have seen. + </p> + <p> + Tryggveson made a stout, and, in effect, victorious and glorious struggle + for himself as king. Daily and hourly vigilant to do so, often enough by + soft and even merry methods, for he was a witty, jocund man, and had a + fine ringing laugh in him, and clear pregnant words ever ready,—or + if soft methods would not serve, then by hard and even hardest he put down + a great deal of miscellaneous anarchy in Norway; was especially busy + against heathenism (devil-worship and its rites): this, indeed, may be + called the focus and heart of all his royal endeavor in Norway, and of all + the troubles he now had with his people there. For this was a serious, + vital, all-comprehending matter; devil-worship, a thing not to be + tolerated one moment longer than you could by any method help! Olaf's + success was intermittent, of varying complexion; but his effort, swift or + slow, was strong and continual; and on the whole he did succeed. Take a + sample or two of that wonderful conversion process:— + </p> + <p> + At one of his first Things he found the Bonders all assembled in arms; + resolute to the death seemingly, against his proposal and him. Tryggveson + said little; waited impassive, "What your reasons are, good men?" One + zealous Bonder started up in passionate parliamentary eloquence; but after + a sentence or two, broke down; one, and then another, and still another, + and remained all three staring in open-mouthed silence there! The + peasant-proprietors accepted the phenomenon as ludicrous, perhaps partly + as miraculous withal, and consented to baptism this time. + </p> + <p> + On another occasion of a Thing, which had assembled near some heathen + temple to meet him,—temple where Hakon Jarl had done much repairing, + and set up many idol figures and sumptuous ornaments, regardless of + expense, especially a very big and splendid Thor, with massive gold collar + round the neck of him, not the like of it in Norway,—King Olaf + Tryggveson was clamorously invited by the Bonders to step in there, + enlighten his eyes, and partake of the sacred rites. Instead of which he + rushed into the temple with his armed men; smashed down, with his own + battle-axe, the god Thor, prostrate on the ground at one stroke, to set an + example; and, in a few minutes, had the whole Hakon Pantheon wrecked; + packing up meanwhile all the gold and preciosities accumulated there (not + forgetting Thor's illustrious gold collar, of which we shall hear again), + and victoriously took the plunder home with him for his own royal uses and + behoof of the state. In other cases, though a friend to strong measures, + he had to hold in, and await the favorable moment. Thus once, in beginning + a parliamentary address, so soon as he came to touch upon Christianity, + the Bonders rose in murmurs, in vociferations and jingling of arms, which + quite drowned the royal voice; declared, they had taken arms against king + Hakon the Good to compel him to desist from his Christian proposals; and + they did not think King Olaf a higher man than him (Hakon the Good). The + king then said, "He purposed coming to them next Yule to their great + sacrificial feast, to see for himself what their customs were," which + pacified the Bonders for this time. The appointed place of meeting was + again a Hakon-Jarl Temple, not yet done to ruin; chief shrine in those + Trondhjem parts, I believe: there should Tryggveson appear at Yule. Well, + but before Yule came, Tryggveson made a great banquet in his palace at + Trondhjem, and invited far and wide, all manner of important persons out + of the district as guests there. Banquet hardly done, Tryggveson gave some + slight signal, upon which armed men strode in, seized eleven of these + principal persons, and the king said: "Since he himself was to become a + heathen again, and do sacrifice, it was his purpose to do it in the + highest form, namely, that of Human Sacrifice; and this time not of slaves + and malefactors, but of the best men in the country!" In which stringent + circumstances the eleven seized persons, and company at large, gave + unanimous consent to baptism; straightway received the same, and abjured + their idols; but were not permitted to go home till they had left, in + sons, brothers, and other precious relatives, sufficient hostages in the + king's hands. + </p> + <p> + By unwearied industry of this and better kinds, Tryggveson had trampled + down idolatry, so far as form went,—how far in substance may be + greatly doubted. But it is to be remembered withal, that always on the + back of these compulsory adventures there followed English bishops, + priests and preachers; whereby to the open-minded, conviction, to all + degrees of it, was attainable, while silence and passivity became the duty + or necessity of the unconvinced party. + </p> + <p> + In about two years Norway was all gone over with a rough harrow of + conversion. Heathenism at least constrained to be silent and outwardly + conformable. Tryggveson, next turned his attention to Iceland, sent one + Thangbrand, priest from Saxony, of wonderful qualities, military as well + as theological, to try and convert Iceland. Thangbrand made a few + converts; for Olaf had already many estimable Iceland friends, whom he + liked much, and was much liked by; and conversion was the ready road to + his favor. Thangbrand, I find, lodged with Hall of Sida (familiar + acquaintance of "Burnt Njal," whose Saga has its admirers among us even + now). Thangbrand converted Hall and one or two other leading men; but in + general he was reckoned quarrelsome and blusterous rather than eloquent + and piously convincing. Two skalds of repute made biting lampoons upon + Thangbrand, whom Thangbrand, by two opportunities that offered, cut down + and did to death because of their skaldic quality. Another he killed with + his own hand, I know not for what reason. In brief, after about a year, + Thangbrand returned to Norway and king Olaf; declaring the Icelanders to + be a perverse, satirical, and inconvertible people, having himself, the + record says, "been the death of three men there." King Olaf was in high + rage at this result; but was persuaded by the Icelanders about him to try + farther, and by a wilder instrument. He accordingly chose one Thormod, a + pious, patient, and kindly man, who, within the next year or so, did + actually accomplish the matter; namely, get Christianity, by open vote, + declared at Thingvalla by the general Thing of Iceland there; the roar of + a big thunder-clap at the right moment rather helping the conclusion, if I + recollect. Whereupon Olaf's joy was no doubt great. + </p> + <p> + One general result of these successful operations was the discontent, to + all manner of degrees, on the part of many Norse individuals, against this + glorious and victorious, but peremptory and terrible king of theirs. + Tryggveson, I fancy, did not much regard all that; a man of joyful, cheery + temper, habitually contemptuous of danger. Another trivial misfortune that + befell in these conversion operations, and became important to him, he did + not even know of, and would have much despised if he had. It was this: + Sigrid, queen dowager of Sweden, thought to be amongst the most shining + women of the world, was also known for one of the most imperious, + revengeful, and relentless, and had got for herself the name of Sigrid the + Proud. In her high widowhood she had naturally many wooers; but treated + them in a manner unexampled. Two of her suitors, a simultaneous Two, were, + King Harald Graenske (a cousin of King Tryggveson's, and kind of king in + some district, by sufferance of the late Hakon's),—this luckless + Graenske and the then Russian Sovereign as well, name not worth + mentioning, were zealous suitors of Queen Dowager Sigrid, and were + perversely slow to accept the negative, which in her heart was inexorable + for both, though the expression of it could not be quite so emphatic. By + ill-luck for them they came once,—from the far West, Graenske; from + the far East, the Russian;—and arrived both together at Sigrid's + court, to prosecute their importunate, and to her odious and tiresome + suit; much, how very much, to her impatience and disdain. She lodged them + both in some old mansion, which she had contiguous, and got compendiously + furnished for them; and there, I know not whether on the first or on the + second, or on what following night, this unparalleled Queen Sigrid had the + house surrounded, set on fire, and the two suitors and their people burnt + to ashes! No more of bother from these two at least! This appears to be a + fact; and it could not be unknown to Tryggveson. + </p> + <p> + In spite of which, however, there went from Tryggveson, who was now a + widower, some incipient marriage proposals to this proud widow; by whom + they were favorably received; as from the brightest man in all the world, + they might seem worth being. Now, in one of these anti-heathen onslaughts + of King Olaf's on the idol temples of Hakon—(I think it was that + case where Olaf's own battle-axe struck down the monstrous refulgent Thor, + and conquered an immense gold ring from the neck of him, or from the door + of his temple),—a huge gold ring, at any rate, had come into Olaf's + hands; and this he bethought him might be a pretty present to Queen + Sigrid, the now favorable, though the proud. Sigrid received the ring with + joy; fancied what a collar it would make for her own fair neck; but + noticed that her two goldsmiths, weighing it on their fingers, exchanged a + glance. "What is that?" exclaimed Queen Sigrid. "Nothing," answered they, + or endeavored to answer, dreading mischief. But Sigrid compelled them to + break open the ring; and there was found, all along the inside of it, an + occult ring of copper, not a heart of gold at all! "Ha," said the proud + Queen, flinging it away, "he that could deceive in this matter can deceive + in many others!" And was in hot wrath with Olaf; though, by degrees, again + she took milder thoughts. + </p> + <p> + Milder thoughts, we say; and consented to a meeting next autumn, at some + half-way station, where their great business might be brought to a happy + settlement and betrothment. Both Olaf Tryggveson and the high dowager + appear to have been tolerably of willing mind at this meeting; but Olaf + interposed, what was always one condition with him, "Thou must consent to + baptism, and give up thy idol-gods." "They are the gods of all my + forefathers," answered the lady, "choose thou what gods thou pleasest, but + leave me mine." Whereupon an altercation; and Tryggveson, as was his wont, + towered up into shining wrath, and exclaimed at last, "Why should I care + about thee then, old faded heathen creature?" And impatiently wagging his + glove, hit her, or slightly switched her, on the face with it, and + contemptuously turning away, walked out of the adventure. "This is a feat + that may cost thee dear one day," said Sigrid. And in the end it came to + do so, little as the magnificent Olaf deigned to think of it at the + moment. + </p> + <p> + One of the last scuffles I remember of Olaf's having with his refractory + heathens, was at a Thing in Hordaland or Rogaland, far in the North, where + the chief opposition hero was one Jaernskaegg ("ironbeard") Scottice + ("Airn-shag," as it were!). Here again was a grand heathen temple, Hakon + Jarl's building, with a splendid Thor in it and much idol furniture. The + king stated what was his constant wish here as elsewhere, but had no + sooner entered upon the subject of Christianity than universal murmur, + rising into clangor and violent dissent, interrupted him, and Ironbeard + took up the discourse in reply. Ironbeard did not break down; on the + contrary, he, with great brevity, emphasis, and clearness, signified "that + the proposal to reject their old gods was in the highest degree + unacceptable to this Thing; that it was contrary to bargain, withal; so + that if it were insisted on, they would have to fight with the king about + it; and in fact were now ready to do so." In reply to this, Olaf, without + word uttered, but merely with some signal to the trusty armed men he had + with him, rushed off to the temple close at hand; burst into it, shutting + the door behind him; smashed Thor and Co. to destruction; then reappearing + victorious, found much confusion outside, and, in particular, what was a + most important item, the rugged Ironbeard done to death by Olaf's men in + the interim. Which entirely disheartened the Thing from fighting at that + moment; having now no leader who dared to head them in so dangerous an + enterprise. So that every one departed to digest his rage in silence as he + could. + </p> + <p> + Matters having cooled for a week or two, there was another Thing held; in + which King Olaf testified regret for the quarrel that had fallen out, + readiness to pay what <i>mulct</i> was due by law for that unlucky + homicide of Ironbeard by his people; and, withal, to take the fair + daughter of Ironbeard to wife, if all would comply and be friends with him + in other matters; which was the course resolved on as most convenient: + accept baptism, we; marry Jaernskaegg's daughter, you. This bargain held + on both sides. The wedding, too, was celebrated, but that took rather a + strange turn. On the morning of the bride-night, Olaf, who had not been + sleeping, though his fair partner thought he had, opened his eyes, and + saw, with astonishment, the fair partner aiming a long knife ready to + strike home upon him! Which at once ended their wedded life; poor + Demoiselle Ironbeard immediately bundling off with her attendants home + again; King Olaf into the apartment of his servants, mentioning there what + had happened, and forbidding any of them to follow her. + </p> + <p> + Olaf Tryggveson, though his kingdom was the smallest of the Norse Three, + had risen to a renown over all the Norse world, which neither he of + Denmark nor he of Sweden could pretend to rival. A magnificent, + far-shining man; more expert in all "bodily exercises" as the Norse call + them, than any man had ever been before him, or after was. Could keep five + daggers in the air, always catching the proper fifth by its handle, and + sending it aloft again; could shoot supremely, throw a javelin with either + hand; and, in fact, in battle usually throw two together. These, with + swimming, climbing, leaping, were the then admirable Fine Arts of the + North; in all which Tryggveson appears to have been the Raphael and the + Michael Angelo at once. Essentially definable, too, if we look well into + him, as a wild bit of real heroism, in such rude guise and environment; a + high, true, and great human soul. A jovial burst of laughter in him, + withal; a bright, airy, wise way of speech; dressed beautifully and with + care; a man admired and loved exceedingly by those he liked; dreaded as + death by those he did not like. "Hardly any king," says Snorro, "was ever + so well obeyed; by one class out of zeal and love, by the rest out of + dread." His glorious course, however, was not to last long. + </p> + <p> + King Svein of the Double-Beard had not yet completed his conquest of + England,—by no means yet, some thirteen horrid years of that still + before him!—when, over in Denmark, he found that complaints against + him and intricacies had arisen, on the part principally of one Burislav, + King of the Wends (far up the Baltic), and in a less degree with the King + of Sweden and other minor individuals. Svein earnestly applied himself to + settle these, and have his hands free. Burislav, an aged heathen + gentleman, proved reasonable and conciliatory; so, too, the King of + Sweden, and Dowager Queen Sigrid, his managing mother. Bargain in both + these cases got sealed and crowned by marriage. Svein, who had become a + widower lately, now wedded Sigrid; and might think, possibly enough, he + had got a proud bargain, though a heathen one. Burislav also insisted on + marriage with Princess Thyri, the Double-Beard's sister. Thyri, + inexpressibly disinclined to wed an aged heathen of that stamp, pleaded + hard with her brother; but the Double-Bearded was inexorable; Thyri's + wailings and entreaties went for nothing. With some guardian + foster-brother, and a serving-maid or two, she had to go on this hated + journey. Old Burislav, at sight of her, blazed out into marriage-feast of + supreme magnificence, and was charmed to see her; but Thyri would not join + the marriage party; refused to eat with it or sit with it at all. Day + after day, for six days, flatly refused; and after nightfall of the sixth, + glided out with her foster-brother into the woods, into by-paths and + inconceivable wanderings; and, in effect, got home to Denmark. Brother + Svein was not for the moment there; probably enough gone to England again. + But Thyri knew too well he would not allow her to stay here, or anywhere + that he could help, except with the old heathen she had just fled from. + </p> + <p> + Thyri, looking round the world, saw no likely road for her, but to Olaf + Tryggveson in Norway; to beg protection from the most heroic man she knew + of in the world. Olaf, except by renown, was not known to her; but by + renown he well was. Olaf, at sight of her, promised protection and asylum + against all mortals. Nay, in discoursing with Thyri Olaf perceived more + and more clearly what a fine handsome being, soul and body, Thyri was; and + in a short space of time winded up by proposing marriage to Thyri; who, + humbly, and we may fancy with what secret joy, consented to say yes, and + become Queen of Norway. In the due months they had a little son, Harald; + who, it is credibly recorded, was the joy of both his parents; but who, to + their inexpressible sorrow, in about a year died, and vanished from them. + This, and one other fact now to be mentioned, is all the wedded history we + have of Thyri. + </p> + <p> + The other fact is, that Thyri had, by inheritance or covenant, not + depending on her marriage with old Burislav, considerable properties in + Wendland; which, she often reflected, might be not a little behooveful to + her here in Norway, where her civil-list was probably but straitened. She + spoke of this to her husband; but her husband would take no hold, merely + made her gifts, and said, "Pooh, pooh, can't we live without old Burislav + and his Wendland properties?" So that the lady sank into ever deeper + anxiety and eagerness about this Wendland object; took to weeping; sat + weeping whole days; and when Olaf asked, "What ails thee, then?" would + answer, or did answer once, "What a different man my father Harald Gormson + was [vulgarly called Blue-tooth], compared with some that are now kings! + For no King Svein in the world would Harald Gormson have given up his own + or his wife's just rights!" Whereupon Tryggveson started up, exclaiming in + some heat, "Of thy brother Svein I never was afraid; if Svein and I meet + in contest, it will not be Svein, I believe, that conquers;" and went off + in a towering fume. Consented, however, at last, had to consent, to get + his fine fleet equipped and armed, and decide to sail with it to Wendland + to have speech and settlement with King Burislav. + </p> + <p> + Tryggveson had already ships and navies that were the wonder of the North. + Especially in building war ships, the Crane, the Serpent, last of all the + Long Serpent, <a href="#linknote-7" name="linknoteref-7" id="linknoteref-7"><small>7</small></a>—he + had, for size, for outward beauty, and inward perfection of equipment, + transcended all example. + </p> + <p> + This new sea expedition became an object of attention to all neighbors; + especially Queen Sigrid the Proud and Svein Double-Beard, her now king, + were attentive to it. + </p> + <p> + "This insolent Tryggveson," Queen Sigrid would often say, and had long + been saying, to her Svein, "to marry thy sister without leave had or asked + of thee; and now flaunting forth his war navies, as if he, king only of + paltry Norway, were the big hero of the North! Why do you suffer it, you + kings really great?" + </p> + <p> + By such persuasions and reiterations, King Svein of Denmark, King Olaf of + Sweden, and Jarl Eric, now a great man there, grown rich by prosperous sea + robbery and other good management, were brought to take the matter up, and + combine strenuously for destruction of King Olaf Tryggveson on this grand + Wendland expedition of his. Fleets and forces were with best diligence got + ready; and, withal, a certain Jarl Sigwald, of Jomsburg, chieftain of the + Jomsvikings, a powerful, plausible, and cunning man, was appointed to find + means of joining himself to Tryggveson's grand voyage, of getting into + Tryggveson's confidence, and keeping Svein Double-Beard, Eric, and the + Swedish King aware of all his movements. + </p> + <p> + King Olaf Tryggveson, unacquainted with all this, sailed away in summer, + with his splendid fleet; went through the Belts with prosperous winds, + under bright skies, to the admiration of both shores. Such a fleet, with + its shining Serpents, long and short, and perfection of equipment and + appearance, the Baltic never saw before. Jarl Sigwald joined with new + ships by the way: "Had," he too, "a visit to King Burislav to pay; how + could he ever do it in better company?" and studiously and skilfully + ingratiated himself with King Olaf. Old Burislav, when they arrived, + proved altogether courteous, handsome, and amenable; agreed at once to + Olaf's claims for his now queen, did the rites of hospitality with a + generous plenitude to Olaf; who cheerily renewed acquaintance with that + country, known to him in early days (the cradle of his fortunes in the + viking line), and found old friends there still surviving, joyful to meet + him again. Jarl Sigwald encouraged these delays, King Svein and Co. not + being yet quite ready. "Get ready!" Sigwald directed them, and they + diligently did. Olaf's men, their business now done, were impatient to be + home; and grudged every day of loitering there; but, till Sigwald pleased, + such his power of flattering and cajoling Tryggveson, they could not get + away. + </p> + <p> + At length, Sigwald's secret messengers reporting all ready on the part of + Svein and Co., Olaf took farewell of Burislav and Wendland, and all gladly + sailed away. Svein, Eric, and the Swedish king, with their combined + fleets, lay in wait behind some cape in a safe little bay of some island, + then called Svolde, but not in our time to be found; the Baltic tumults in + the fourteenth century having swallowed it, as some think, and leaving us + uncertain whether it was in the neighborhood of Rugen Island or in the + Sound of Elsinore. There lay Svein, Eric, and Co. waiting till Tryggveson + and his fleet came up, Sigwald's spy messengers daily reporting what + progress he and it had made. At length, one bright summer morning, the + fleet made appearance, sailing in loose order, Sigwald, as one acquainted + with the shoal places, steering ahead, and showing them the way. + </p> + <p> + Snorro rises into one of his pictorial fits, seized with enthusiasm at the + thought of such a fleet, and reports to us largely in what order + Tryggveson's winged Coursers of the Deep, in long series, for perhaps an + hour or more, came on, and what the three potentates, from their knoll of + vantage, said of each as it hove in sight, Svein thrice over guessed this + and the other noble vessel to be the Long Serpent; Eric, always correcting + him, "No, that is not the Long Serpent yet" (and aside always), "Nor shall + you be lord of it, king, when it does come." The Long Serpent itself did + make appearance. Eric, Svein, and the Swedish king hurried on board, and + pushed out of their hiding-place into the open sea. Treacherous Sigwald, + at the beginning of all this, had suddenly doubled that cape of theirs, + and struck into the bay out of sight, leaving the foremost Tryggveson + ships astonished, and uncertain what to do, if it were not simply to + strike sail and wait till Olaf himself with the Long Serpent arrived. + </p> + <p> + Olaf's chief captains, seeing the enemy's huge fleet come out, and how the + matter lay, strongly advised King Olaf to elude this stroke of treachery, + and, with all sail, hold on his course, fight being now on so unequal + terms. Snorro says, the king, high on the quarter-deck where he stood, + replied, "Strike the sails; never shall men of mine think of flight. I + never fled from battle. Let God dispose of my life; but flight I will + never take." And so the battle arrangements immediately began, and the + battle with all fury went loose; and lasted hour after hour, till almost + sunset, if I well recollect. "Olaf stood on the Serpent's quarter-deck," + says Snorro, "high over the others. He had a gilt shield and a helmet + inlaid with gold; over his armor he had a short red coat, and was easily + distinguished from other men." Snorro's account of the battle is + altogether animated, graphic, and so minute that antiquaries gather from + it, if so disposed (which we but little are), what the methods of Norse + sea-fighting were; their shooting of arrows, casting of javelins, pitching + of big stones, ultimately boarding, and mutual clashing and smashing, + which it would not avail us to speak of here. Olaf stood conspicuous all + day, throwing javelins, of deadly aim, with both hands at once; + encouraging, fighting and commanding like a highest sea-king. + </p> + <p> + The Danish fleet, the Swedish fleet, were, both of them, quickly dealt + with, and successively withdrew out of shot-range. And then Jarl Eric came + up, and fiercely grappled with the Long Serpent, or, rather, with her + surrounding comrades; and gradually, as they were beaten empty of men, + with the Long Serpent herself. The fight grew ever fiercer, more furious. + Eric was supplied with new men from the Swedes and Danes; Olaf had no such + resource, except from the crews of his own beaten ships, and at length + this also failed him; all his ships, except the Long Serpent, being beaten + and emptied. Olaf fought on unyielding. Eric twice boarded him, was twice + repulsed. Olaf kept his quarterdeck; unconquerable, though left now more + and more hopeless, fatally short of help. A tall young man, called Einar + Tamberskelver, very celebrated and important afterwards in Norway, and + already the best archer known, kept busy with his bow. Twice he nearly + shot Jarl Eric in his ship. "Shoot me that man," said Jarl Eric to a + bowman near him; and, just as Tamberskelver was drawing his bow the third + time, an arrow hit it in the middle and broke it in two. "What is this + that has broken?" asked King Olaf. "Norway from thy hand, king," answered + Tamberskelver. Tryggveson's men, he observed with surprise, were striking + violently on Eric's; but to no purpose: nobody fell. "How is this?" asked + Tryggveson. "Our swords are notched and blunted, king; they do not cut." + Olaf stept down to his arm-chest; delivered out new swords; and it was + observed as he did it, blood ran trickling from his wrist; but none knew + where the wound was. Eric boarded a third time. Olaf, left with hardly + more than one man, sprang overboard (one sees that red coat of his still + glancing in the evening sun), and sank in the deep waters to his long + rest. + </p> + <p> + Rumor ran among his people that he still was not dead; grounding on some + movement by the ships of that traitorous Sigwald, they fancied Olaf had + dived beneath the keels of his enemies, and got away with Sigwald, as + Sigwald himself evidently did. "Much was hoped, supposed, spoken," says + one old mourning Skald; "but the truth was, Olaf Tryggveson was never seen + in Norseland more." Strangely he remains still a shining figure to us; the + wildly beautifulest man, in body and in soul, that one has ever heard of + in the North. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0008" id="link2HCH0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VIII. JARLS ERIC AND SVEIN. + </h2> + <p> + Jarl Eric, splendent with this victory, not to speak of that over the + Jomsburgers with his father long ago, was now made Governor of Norway: + Governor or quasi-sovereign, with his brother, Jarl. Svein, as partner, + who, however, took but little hand in governing;—and, under the + patronage of Svein Double-Beard and the then Swedish king (Olaf his name, + Sigrid the Proud, his mother's), administered it, they say, with skill and + prudence for above fourteen years. Tryggveson's death is understood and + laboriously computed to have happened in the year 1000; but there is no + exact chronology in these things, but a continual uncertain guessing after + such; so that one eye in History as regards them is as if put out;—neither + indeed have I yet had the luck to find any decipherable and intelligible + map of Norway: so that the other eye of History is much blinded withal, + and her path through those wild regions and epochs is an extremely dim and + chaotic one. An evil that much demands remedying, and especially wants + some first attempt at remedying, by inquirers into English History; the + whole period from Egbert, the first Saxon King of England, on to Edward + the Confessor, the last, being everywhere completely interwoven with that + of their mysterious, continually invasive "Danes," as they call them, and + inextricably unintelligible till these also get to be a little understood, + and cease to be utterly dark, hideous, and mythical to us as they now are. + </p> + <p> + King Olaf Tryggveson is the first Norseman who is expressly mentioned to + have been in England by our English History books, new or old; and of him + it is merely said that he had an interview with King Ethelred II. at + Andover, of a pacific and friendly nature,—though it is absurdly + added that the noble Olaf was converted to Christianity by that extremely + stupid Royal Person. Greater contrast in an interview than in this at + Andover, between heroic Olaf Tryggveson and Ethelred the forever Unready, + was not perhaps seen in the terrestrial Planet that day. Olaf or "Olaus," + or "Anlaf," as they name him, did "engage on oath to Ethelred not to + invade England any more," and kept his promise, they farther say. + Essentially a truth, as we already know, though the circumstances were all + different; and the promise was to a devout High Priest, not to a crowned + Blockhead and cowardly Do-nothing. One other "Olaus" I find mentioned in + our Books, two or three centuries before, at a time when there existed no + such individual; not to speak of several Anlafs, who sometimes seem to + mean Olaf and still oftener to mean nobody possible. Which occasions not a + little obscurity in our early History, says the learned Selden. A thing + remediable, too, in which, if any Englishman of due genius (or even + capacity for standing labor), who understood the Icelandic and Anglo-Saxon + languages, would engage in it, he might do a great deal of good, and bring + the matter into a comparatively lucid state. Vain aspirations,—or + perhaps not altogether vain. + </p> + <p> + At the time of Olaf Tryggveson's death, and indeed long before, King Svein + Double-Beard had always for chief enterprise the Conquest of England, and + followed it by fits with extreme violence and impetus; often advancing + largely towards a successful conclusion; but never, for thirteen years + yet, getting it concluded. He possessed long since all England north of + Watling Street. That is to say, Northumberland, East Anglia (naturally + full of Danish settlers by this time), were fixedly his; Mercia, his + oftener than not; Wessex itself, with all the coasts, he was free to + visit, and to burn and rob in at discretion. There or elsewhere, Ethelred + the Unready had no battle in him whatever; and, for a forty years after + the beginning of his reign, England excelled in anarchic stupidity, + murderous devastation, utter misery, platitude, and sluggish + contemptibility, all the countries one has read of. Apparently a very + opulent country, too; a ready skill in such arts and fine arts as there + were; Svein's very ships, they say, had their gold dragons, top-mast + pennons, and other metallic splendors generally wrought for them in + England. "Unexampled prosperity" in the manufacture way not unknown there, + it would seem! But co-existing with such spiritual bankruptcy as was also + unexampled, one would hope. Read Lupus (Wulfstan), Archbishop of York's + amazing <i>Sermon</i> on the subject, <a href="#linknote-8" + name="linknoteref-8" id="linknoteref-8"><small>8</small></a> addressed to + contemporary audiences; setting forth such a state of things,—sons + selling their fathers, mothers, and sisters as Slaves to the Danish + robber; themselves living in debauchery, blusterous gluttony, and + depravity; the details of which are well-nigh incredible, though clearly + stated as things generally known,—the humor of these poor wretches + sunk to a state of what we may call greasy desperation, "Let us eat and + drink, for to-morrow we die." The manner in which they treated their own + English nuns, if young, good-looking, and captive to the Danes; buying + them on a kind of brutish or subter-brutish "Greatest Happiness Principle" + (for the moment), and by a Joint-Stock arrangement, far transcends all + human speech or imagination, and awakens in one the momentary red-hot + thought, The Danes have served you right, ye accursed! The so-called + soldiers, one finds, made not the least fight anywhere; could make none, + led and guided as they were, and the "Generals" often enough traitors, + always ignorant, and blockheads, were in the habit, when expressly + commanded to fight, of taking physic, and declaring that nature was + incapable of castor-oil and battle both at once. This ought to be + explained a little to the modern English and their War-Secretaries, who + undertake the conduct of armies. The undeniable fact is, defeat on defeat + was the constant fate of the English; during these forty years not one + battle in which they were not beaten. No gleam of victory or real + resistance till the noble Edmund Ironside (whom it is always strange to me + how such an Ethelred could produce for son) made his appearance and ran + his brief course, like a great and far-seen meteor, soon extinguished + without result. No remedy for England in that base time, but yearly asking + the victorious, plundering, burning and murdering Danes, "How much money + will you take to go away?" Thirty thousand pounds in silver, which the + annual <i>Danegelt</i> soon rose to, continued to be about the average + yearly sum, though generally on the increasing hand; in the last year I + think it had risen to seventy-two thousand pounds in silver, raised yearly + by a tax (Income-tax of its kind, rudely levied), the worst of all + remedies, good for the day only. Nay, there was one remedy still worse, + which the miserable Ethelred once tried: that of massacring "all the Danes + settled in England" (practically, of a few thousands or hundreds of them), + by treachery and a kind of Sicilian Vespers. Which issued, as such things + usually do, in terrible monition to you not to try the like again! Issued, + namely, in redoubled fury on the Danish part; new fiercer invasion by + Svein's Jarl Thorkel; then by Svein himself; which latter drove the + miserable Ethelred, with wife and family, into Normandy, to wife's + brother, the then Duke there; and ended that miserable struggle by Svein's + becoming King of England himself. Of this disgraceful massacre, which it + would appear has been immensely exaggerated in the English books, we can + happily give the exact date (A.D. 1002); and also of Svein's victorious + accession (A.D. 1013), <a href="#linknote-9" name="linknoteref-9" + id="linknoteref-9"><small>9</small></a>—pretty much the only benefit + one gets out of contemplating such a set of objects. + </p> + <p> + King Svein's first act was to levy a terribly increased Income-Tax for the + payment of his army. Svein was levying it with a stronghanded diligence, + but had not yet done levying it, when, at Gainsborough one night, he + suddenly died; smitten dead, once used to be said, by St. Edmund, whilom + murdered King of the East Angles; who could not bear to see his shrine and + monastery of St. Edmundsbury plundered by the Tyrant's tax-collectors, as + they were on the point of being. In all ways impossible, however,—Edmund's + own death did not occur till two years after Svein's. Svein's death, by + whatever cause, befell 1014; his fleet, then lying in the Humber; and only + Knut, <a href="#linknote-10" name="linknoteref-10" id="linknoteref-10"><small>10</small></a> + his eldest son (hardly yet eighteen, count some), in charge of it; who, on + short counsel, and arrangement about this questionable kingdom of his, + lifted anchor; made for Sandwich, a safer station at the moment; "cut off + the feet and noses" (one shudders, and hopes not, there being some + discrepancy about it!) of his numerous hostages that had been delivered to + King Svein; set them ashore;—and made for Denmark, his natural + storehouse and stronghold, as the hopefulest first thing he could do. + </p> + <p> + Knut soon returned from Denmark, with increase of force sufficient for the + English problem; which latter he now ended in a victorious, and + essentially, for himself and chaotic England, beneficent manner. Became + widely known by and by, there and elsewhere, as Knut the Great; and is + thought by judges of our day to have really merited that title. A most + nimble, sharp-striking, clear-thinking, prudent and effective man, who + regulated this dismembered and distracted England in its Church matters, + in its State matters, like a real King. Had a Standing Army (<i>House + Carles</i>), who were well paid, well drilled and disciplined, capable of + instantly quenching insurrection or breakage of the peace; and piously + endeavored (with a signal earnestness, and even devoutness, if we look + well) to do justice to all men, and to make all men rest satisfied with + justice. In a word, he successfully strapped up, by every true method and + regulation, this miserable, dislocated, and dissevered mass of bleeding + Anarchy into something worthy to be called an England again;—only + that he died too soon, and a second "Conqueror" of us, still weightier of + structure, and under improved auspices, became possible, and was needed + here! To appearance, Knut himself was capable of being a Charlemagne of + England and the North (as has been already said or quoted), had he only + lived twice as long as he did. But his whole sum of years seems not to + have exceeded forty. His father Svein of the Forkbeard is reckoned to have + been fifty to sixty when St. Edmund finished him at Gainsborough. We now + return to Norway, ashamed of this long circuit which has been a truancy + more or less. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0009" id="link2HCH0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IX. KING OLAF THE THICK-SET'S VIKING DAYS. + </h2> + <p> + King Harald Graenske, who, with another from Russia accidentally lodging + beside him, got burned to death in Sweden, courting that unspeakable + Sigrid the Proud,—was third cousin or so to Tryggve, father of our + heroic Olaf. Accurately counted, he is great-grandson of Bjorn the + Chapman, first of Haarfagr's sons whom Eric Bloodaxe made away with. His + little "kingdom," as he called it, was a district named the Greenland (<i>Graeneland</i>); + he himself was one of those little Haarfagr kinglets whom Hakon Jarl, much + more Olaf Tryggveson, was content to leave reigning, since they would keep + the peace with him. Harald had a loving wife of his own, Aasta the name of + her, soon expecting the birth of her and his pretty babe, named Olaf,—at + the time he went on that deplorable Swedish adventure, the foolish, fated + creature, and ended self and kingdom altogether. Aasta was greatly + shocked; composed herself however; married a new husband, Sigurd Syr, a + kinglet, and a great-grandson of Harald Fairhair, a man of great wealth, + prudence, and influence in those countries; in whose house, as favorite + and well-beloved stepson, little Olaf was wholesomely and skilfully + brought up. In Sigurd's house he had, withal, a special tutor entertained + for him, one Rane, known as Rane the Far-travelled, by whom he could be + trained, from the earliest basis, in Norse accomplishments and arts. New + children came, one or two; but Olaf, from his mother, seems always to have + known that he was the distinguished and royal article there. One day his + Foster-father, hurrying to leave home on business, hastily bade Olaf, no + other being by, saddle his horse for him. Olaf went out with the saddle, + chose the biggest he-goat about, saddled that, and brought it to the door + by way of horse. Old Sigurd, a most grave man, grinned sardonically at the + sight. "Hah, I see thou hast no mind to take commands from me; thou art of + too high a humor to take commands." To which, says Snorro, Boy Olaf + answered little except by laughing, till Sigurd saddled for himself, and + rode away. His mother Aasta appears to have been a thoughtful, prudent + woman, though always with a fierce royalism at the bottom of her memory, + and a secret implacability on that head. + </p> + <p> + At the age of twelve Olaf went to sea; furnished with a little fleet, and + skilful sea-counsellor, expert old Rane, by his Foster-father, and set out + to push his fortune in the world. Rane was a steersman and counsellor in + these incipient times; but the crew always called Olaf "King," though at + first, as Snorro thinks, except it were in the hour of battle, he merely + pulled an oar. He cruised and fought in this capacity on many seas and + shores; passed several years, perhaps till the age of nineteen or twenty, + in this wild element and way of life; fighting always in a glorious and + distinguished manner. In the hour of battle, diligent enough "to amass + property," as the Vikings termed it; and in the long days and nights of + sailing, given over, it is likely, to his own thoughts and the + unfathomable dialogue with the ever-moaning Sea; not the worst High School + a man could have, and indeed infinitely preferable to the most that are + going even now, for a high and deep young soul. + </p> + <p> + His first distinguished expedition was to Sweden: natural to go thither + first, to avenge his poor father's death, were it nothing more. Which he + did, the Skalds say, in a distinguished manner; making victorious and + handsome battle for himself, in entering Maelare Lake; and in getting out + of it again, after being frozen there all winter, showing still more + surprising, almost miraculous contrivance and dexterity. This was the + first of his glorious victories, of which the Skalds reckon up some + fourteen or thirteen very glorious indeed, mostly in the Western and + Southern countries, most of all in England; till the name of Olaf + Haraldson became quite famous in the Viking and strategic world. He seems + really to have learned the secrets of his trade, and to have been, then + and afterwards, for vigilance, contrivance, valor, and promptitude of + execution, a superior fighter. Several exploits recorded of him betoken, + in simple forms, what may be called a military genius. + </p> + <p> + The principal, and to us the alone interesting, of his exploits seem to + have lain in England, and, what is further notable, always on the + anti-Svein side. English books do not mention him at all that I can find; + but it is fairly credible that, as the Norse records report, in the end of + Ethelred's reign, he was the ally or hired general of Ethelred, and did a + great deal of sea-fighting, watching, sailing, and sieging for this + miserable king and Edmund Ironside, his son. Snorro says expressly, + London, the impregnable city, had to be besieged again for Ethelred's + behoof (in the interval between Svein's death and young Knut's getting + back from Denmark), and that our Olaf Haraldson was the great engineer and + victorious captor of London on that singular occasion,—London + captured for the first time. The Bridge, as usual, Snorro says, offered + almost insuperable obstacles. But the engineering genius of Olaf contrived + huge "platforms of wainscoting [old walls of wooden houses, in fact], + bound together by withes;" these, carried steadily aloft above the ships, + will (thinks Olaf) considerably secure them and us from the destructive + missiles, big boulder stones, and other, mischief profusely showered down + on us, till we get under the Bridge with axes and cables, and do some good + upon it. Olaf's plan was tried; most of the other ships, in spite of their + wainscoting and withes, recoiled on reaching the Bridge, so destructive + were the boulder and other missile showers. But Olaf's ships and self got + actually under the Bridge; fixed all manner of cables there; and then, + with the river current in their favor, and the frightened ships rallying + to help in this safer part of the enterprise, tore out the important piles + and props, and fairly broke the poor Bridge, wholly or partly, down into + the river, and its Danish defenders into immediate surrender. That is + Snorro's account. + </p> + <p> + On a previous occasion, Olaf had been deep in a hopeful combination with + Ethelred's two younger sons, Alfred and Edward, afterwards King Edward the + Confessor: That they two should sally out from Normandy in strong force, + unite with Olaf in ditto, and, landing on the Thames, do something + effectual for themselves. But impediments, bad weather or the like, + disheartened the poor Princes, and it came to nothing. Olaf was much in + Normandy, what they then called Walland; a man held in honor by those + Norman Dukes. + </p> + <p> + What amount of "property" he had amassed I do not know, but could prove, + were it necessary, that he had acquired some tactical or even strategic + faculty and real talent for war. At Lymfjord, in Jutland, but some years + after this (A.D. 1027), he had a sea-battle with the great Knut himself,—ships + combined with flood-gates, with roaring, artificial deluges; right well + managed by King Olaf; which were within a hair's-breadth of destroying + Knut, now become a King and Great; and did in effect send him instantly + running. But of this more particularly by and by. + </p> + <p> + What still more surprises me is the mystery, where Olaf, in this + wandering, fighting, sea-roving life, acquired his deeply religious + feeling, his intense adherence to the Christian Faith. I suppose it had + been in England, where many pious persons, priestly and other, were still + to be met with, that Olaf had gathered these doctrines; and that in those + his unfathomable dialogues with the ever-moaning Ocean, they had struck + root downwards in the soul of him, and borne fruit upwards to the degree + so conspicuous afterwards. It is certain he became a deeply pious man + during these long Viking cruises; and directed all his strength, when + strength and authority were lent him, to establishing the Christian + religion in his country, and suppressing and abolishing Vikingism there; + both of which objects, and their respective worth and unworth, he, must + himself have long known so well. + </p> + <p> + It was well on in A.D. 1016 that Knut gained his last victory, at Ashdon, + in Essex, where the earth pyramids and antique church near by still + testify the thankful piety of Knut,—or, at lowest his joy at having + <i>won</i> instead of lost and perished, as he was near doing there. And + it was still this same year when the noble Edmund Ironside, after forced + partition-treaty "in the Isle of Alney," got scandalously murdered, and + Knut became indisputable sole King of England, and decisively settled + himself to his work of governing there. In the year before either of which + events, while all still hung uncertain for Knut, and even Eric Jarl of + Norway had to be summoned in aid of him, in that year 1015, as one might + naturally guess and as all Icelandic hints and indications lead us to date + the thing, Olaf had decided to give up Vikingism in all its forms; to + return to Norway, and try whether he could not assert the place and career + that belonged to him there. Jarl Eric had vanished with all his war forces + towards England, leaving only a boy, Hakon, as successor, and Svein, his + own brother,—a quiet man, who had always avoided war. Olaf landed in + Norway without obstacle; but decided to be quiet till he had himself + examined and consulted friends. + </p> + <p> + His reception by his mother Aasta was of the kindest and proudest, and is + lovingly described by Snorro. A pretty idyllic, or epic piece, of <i>Norse</i> + Homeric type: How Aasta, hearing of her son's advent, set all her maids + and menials to work at the top of their speed; despatched a runner to the + harvest-field, where her husband Sigurd was, to warn him to come home and + dress. How Sigurd was standing among his harvest folk, reapers and + binders; and what he had on,—broad slouch hat, with veil (against + the midges), blue kirtle, hose of I forget what color, with laced boots; + and in his hand a stick with silver head and ditto ring upon it;—a + personable old gentleman, of the eleventh century, in those parts. Sigurd + was cautious, prudentially cunctatory, though heartily friendly in his + counsel to Olaf as to the King question. Aasta had a Spartan tone in her + wild maternal heart; and assures Olaf that she, with a half-reproachful + glance at Sigurd, will stand by him to the death in this his just and + noble enterprise. Sigurd promises to consult farther in his neighborhood, + and to correspond by messages; the result is, Olaf resolutely pushing + forward himself, resolves to call a Thing, and openly claim his kingship + there. The Thing itself was willing enough: opposition parties do here and + there bestir themselves; but Olaf is always swifter than they. Five + kinglets somewhere in the Uplands, <a href="#linknote-11" + name="linknoteref-11" id="linknoteref-11"><small>11</small></a>—all + descendants of Haarfagr; but averse to break the peace, which Jarl Eric + and Hakon Jarl both have always willingly allowed to peaceable people,—seem + to be the main opposition party. These five take the field against Olaf + with what force they have; Olaf, one night, by beautiful celerity and + strategic practice which a Friedrich or a Turenne might have approved, + surrounds these Five; and when morning breaks, there is nothing for them + but either death, or else instant surrender, and swearing of fealty to + King Olaf. Which latter branch of the alternative they gladly accept, the + whole five of them, and go home again. + </p> + <p> + This was a beautiful bit of war-practice by King Olaf on land. By another + stroke still more compendious at sea, he had already settled poor young + Hakon, and made him peaceable for a long while. Olaf by diligent quest and + spy-messaging, had ascertained that Hakon, just returning from Denmark and + farewell to Papa and Knut, both now under way for England, was coasting + north towards Trondhjem; and intended on or about such a day to land in + such and such a fjord towards the end of this Trondhjem voyage. Olaf at + once mans two big ships, steers through the narrow mouth of the said + fjord, moors one ship on the north shore, another on the south; fixes a + strong cable, well sunk under water, to the capstans of these two; and in + all quietness waits for Hakon. Before many hours, Hakon's royal or + quasi-royal barge steers gaily into this fjord; is a little surprised, + perhaps, to see within the jaws of it two big ships at anchor, but steers + gallantly along, nothing doubting. Olaf with a signal of "All hands," + works his two capstans; has the cable up high enough at the right moment, + catches with it the keel of poor Hakon's barge, upsets it, empties it + wholly into the sea. Wholly into the sea; saves Hakon, however, and his + people from drowning, and brings them on board. His dialogue with poor + young Hakon, especially poor young Hakon's responses, is very pretty. + Shall I give it, out of Snorro, and let the reader take it for as + authentic as he can? It is at least the true image of it in authentic + Snorro's head, little more than two centuries later. + </p> + <p> + "Jarl Hakon was led up to the king's ship. He was the handsomest man that + could be seen. He had long hair as fine as silk, bound about his head with + a gold ornament. When he sat down in the forehold the king said to him: + </p> + <p> + <i>King.</i> "'It is not false, what is said of your family, that ye are + handsome people to look at; but now your luck has deserted you.' + </p> + <p> + <i>Hakon.</i> "'It has always been the case that success is changeable; + and there is no luck in the matter. It has gone with your family as with + mine to have by turns the better lot. I am little beyond childhood in + years; and at any rate we could not have defended ourselves, as we did not + expect any attack on the way. It may turn out better with us another + time.' + </p> + <p> + <i>King.</i> "'Dost thou not apprehend that thou art in such a condition + that, hereafter, there can be neither victory nor defeat for thee?' + </p> + <p> + <i>Hakon.</i> "'That is what only thou canst determine, King, according to + thy pleasure.' + </p> + <p> + <i>King.</i> "'What wilt thou give me, Jarl, if, for this time, I let thee + go, whole and unhurt?' + </p> + <p> + <i>Hakon.</i> "'What wilt thou take, King?' + </p> + <p> + <i>King.</i> "'Nothing, except that thou shalt leave the country; give up + thy kingdom; and take an oath that thou wilt never go into battle against + me.'" <a href="#linknote-12" name="linknoteref-12" id="linknoteref-12"><small>12</small></a> + </p> + <p> + Jarl Hakon accepted the generous terms; went to England and King Knut, and + kept his bargain for a good few years; though he was at last driven, by + pressure of King Knut, to violate it,—little to his profit, as we + shall see. One victorious naval battle with Jarl Svein, Hakon's uncle, and + his adherents, who fled to Sweden, after his beating,—battle not + difficult to a skilful, hard-hitting king,—was pretty much all the + actual fighting Olaf had to do in this enterprise. He various times met + angry Bonders and refractory Things with arms in their hand; but by + skilful, firm management,—perfectly patient, but also perfectly + ready to be active,—he mostly managed without coming to strokes; and + was universally recognized by Norway as its real king. A promising young + man, and fit to be a king, thinks Snorro. Only of middle stature, almost + rather shortish; but firm-standing, and stout-built; so that they got to + call him Olaf the Thick (meaning Olaf the Thick-set, or Stout-built), + though his final epithet among them was infinitely higher. For the rest, + "a comely, earnest, prepossessing look; beautiful yellow hair in quantity; + broad, honest face, of a complexion pure as snow and rose;" and finally + (or firstly) "the brightest eyes in the world; such that, in his anger, no + man could stand them." He had a heavy task ahead, and needed all his + qualities and fine gifts to get it done. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0010" id="link2HCH0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER X. REIGN OF KING OLAF THE SAINT. + </h2> + <p> + The late two Jarls, now gone about their business, had both been baptized, + and called themselves Christians. But during their government they did + nothing in the conversion way; left every man to choose his own God or + Gods; so that some had actually two, the Christian God by land, and at sea + Thor, whom they considered safer in that element. And in effect the mass + of the people had fallen back into a sluggish heathenism or + half-heathenism, the life-labor of Olaf Tryggveson lying ruinous or almost + quite overset. The new Olaf, son of Harald, set himself with all his + strength to mend such a state of matters; and stood by his enterprise to + the end, as the one highest interest, including all others, for his People + and him. His method was by no means soft; on the contrary, it was hard, + rapid, severe,—somewhat on the model of Tryggveson's, though with + more of <i>bishoping</i> and preaching superadded. Yet still there was a + great deal of mauling, vigorous punishing, and an entire intolerance of + these two things: Heathenism and Sea-robbery, at least of Sea-robbery in + the old style; whether in the style we moderns still practise, and call + privateering, I do not quite know. But Vikingism proper had to cease in + Norway; still more, Heathenism, under penalties too severe to be borne; + death, mutilation of limb, not to mention forfeiture and less rigorous + coercion. Olaf was inexorable against violation of the law. "Too severe," + cried many; to whom one answers, "Perhaps in part <i>yes</i>, perhaps also + in great part <i>no</i>; depends altogether on the previous question, How + far the law was the eternal one of God Almighty in the universe, How far + the law merely of Olaf (destitute of right inspiration) left to his own + passions and whims?" + </p> + <p> + Many were the jangles Olaf had with the refractory Heathen Things and + Ironbeards of a new generation: very curious to see. Scarcely ever did it + come to fighting between King and Thing, though often enough near it; but + the Thing discerning, as it usually did in time, that the King was + stronger in men, seemed to say unanimously to itself, "We have lost, then; + baptize us, we must burn our old gods and conform." One new feature we do + slightly discern: here and there a touch of theological argument on the + heathen side. At one wild Thing, far up in the Dovrefjeld, of a very + heathen temper, there was much of that; not to be quenched by King Olaf at + the moment; so that it had to be adjourned till the morrow, and again till + the next day. Here are some traits of it, much abridged from Snorro (who + gives a highly punctual account), which vividly represent Olaf's posture + and manner of proceeding in such intricacies. + </p> + <p> + The chief Ironbeard on this occasion was one Gudbrand, a very rugged + peasant; who, says Snorro, was like a king in that district. Some days + before, King Olaf, intending a religious Thing in those deeply heathen + parts, with alternative of Christianity or conflagration, is reported, on + looking down into the valley and the beautiful village of Loar standing + there, to have said wistfully, "What a pity it is that so beautiful a + village should be burnt!" Olaf sent out his message-token all the same + however, and met Gudbrand and an immense assemblage, whose humor towards + him was uncompliant to a high degree indeed. Judge by this preliminary + speech of Gudbrand to his Thing-people, while Olaf was not yet arrived, + but only advancing, hardly got to Breeden on the other side of the hill: + "A man has come to Loar who is called Olaf," said Gudbrand, "and will + force upon us another faith than we had before, and will break in pieces + all our Gods. He says he has a much greater and more powerful God; and it + is wonderful that the earth does not burst asunder under him, or that our + God lets him go about unpunished when he dares to talk such things. I know + this for certain, that if we carry Thor, who has always stood by us, out + of our Temple that is standing upon this farm, Olaf's God will melt away, + and he and his men be made nothing as soon as Thor looks upon them." + Whereupon the Bonders all shouted as one man, "Yea!" + </p> + <p> + Which tremendous message they even forwarded to Olaf, by Gudbrand's + younger son at the head of 700 armed men; but did not terrify Olaf with + it, who, on the contrary, drew up his troops, rode himself at the head of + them, and began a speech to the Bonders, in which he invited them to adopt + Christianity, as the one true faith for mortals. + </p> + <p> + Far from consenting to this, the Bonders raised a general shout, smiting + at the same time their shields with their weapons; but Olaf's men + advancing on them swiftly, and flinging spears, they turned and ran, + leaving Gudbrand's son behind, a prisoner, to whom Olaf gave his life: "Go + home now to thy father, and tell him I mean to be with him soon." + </p> + <p> + The son goes accordingly, and advises his father not to face Olaf; but + Gudbrand angrily replies: "Ha, coward! I see thou, too, art taken by the + folly that man is going about with;" and is resolved to fight. That night, + however, Gudbrand has a most remarkable Dream, or Vision: a Man surrounded + by light, bringing great terror with him, who warns Gudbrand against doing + battle with Olaf. "If thou dost, thou and all thy people will fall; wolves + will drag away thee and thine; ravens will tear thee in stripes!" And lo, + in telling this to Thord Potbelly, a sturdy neighbor of his and henchman + in the Thing, it is found that to Thord also has come the self same + terrible Apparition! Better propose truce to Olaf (who seems to have these + dreadful Ghostly Powers on his side), and the holding of a Thing, to + discuss matters between us. Thing assembles, on a day of heavy rain. Being + all seated, uprises King Olaf, and informs them: "The people of Lesso, + Loar, and Vaage, have accepted Christianity, and broken down their + idol-houses: they believe now in the True God, who has made heaven and + earth, and knows all things;" and sits down again without more words. + </p> + <p> + "Gudbrand replies, 'We know nothing about him of whom thou speakest. Dost + thou call him God, whom neither thou nor any one else can see? But we have + a God who can be seen every day, although he is not out to-day because the + weather is wet; and he will appear to thee terrible and very grand; and I + expect that fear will mix with thy very blood when he comes into the + Thing. But since thou sayest thy God is so great, let him make it so that + to-morrow we have a cloudy day, but without rain, and then let us meet + again.' + </p> + <p> + "The king accordingly returned home to his lodging, taking Gudbrand's son + as a hostage; but he gave them a man as hostage in exchange. In the + evening the king asked Gudbrand's son What their God was like? He replied + that he bore the likeness of Thor; had a hammer in his hand; was of great + size, but hollow within; and had a high stand, upon which he stood when he + was out. 'Neither gold nor silver are wanting about him, and every day he + receives four cakes of bread, besides meat.' They then went to bed; but + the king watched all night in prayer. When day dawned the king went to + mass; then to table, and from thence to the Thing. The weather was such as + Gudbrand desired. Now the Bishop stood up in his choir-robes, with + bishop's coif on his head, and bishop's crosier in his hand. He spoke to + the Bonders of the true faith, told the many wonderful acts of God, and + concluded his speech well. + </p> + <p> + "Thord Potbelly replies, 'Many things we are told of by this learned man + with the staff in his hand, crooked at the top like a ram's horn. But + since you say, comrades, that your God is so powerful, and can do so many + wonders, tell him to make it clear sunshine to-morrow forenoon, and then + we shall meet here again, and do one of two things,—either agree + with you about this business, or fight you.' And they separated for the + day." + </p> + <p> + Overnight the king instructed Kolbein the Strong, an immense fellow, the + same who killed Gunhild's two brothers, that he, Kolbein, must stand next + him to-morrow; people must go down to where the ships of the Bonders lay, + and punctually bore holes in every one of them; <i>item</i>, to the farms + where their horses wore, and punctually unhalter the whole of them, and + let them loose: all which was done. Snorro continues:— + </p> + <p> + "Now the king was in prayer all night, beseeching God of his goodness and + mercy to release him from evil. When mass was ended, and morning was gray, + the king went to the Thing. When he came thither, some Bonders had already + arrived, and they saw a great crowd coming along, and bearing among them a + huge man's image, glancing with gold and silver. When the Bonders who were + at the Thing saw it, they started up, and bowed themselves down before the + ugly idol. Thereupon it was set down upon the Thing field; and on the one + side of it sat the Bonders, and on the other the King and his people. + </p> + <p> + "Then Dale Gudbrand stood up and said, 'Where now, king, is thy God? I + think he will now carry his head lower; and neither thou, nor the man with + the horn, sitting beside thee there, whom thou callest Bishop, are so bold + to-day as on the former days. For now our God, who rules over all, is + come, and looks on you with an angry eye; and now I see well enough that + you are terrified, and scarcely dare raise your eyes. Throw away now all + your opposition, and believe in the God who has your fate wholly in his + hands.' + </p> + <p> + "The king now whispers to Kolbein the Strong, without the Bonders + perceiving it, 'If it come so in the course of my speech that the Bonders + look another way than towards their idol, strike him as hard as thou canst + with thy club.' + </p> + <p> + "The king then stood up and spoke. 'Much hast thou talked to us this + morning, and greatly hast thou wondered that thou canst not see our God; + but we expect that he will soon come to us. Thou wouldst frighten us with + thy God, who is both blind and deaf, and cannot even move about without + being carried; but now I expect it will be but a short time before he + meets his fate: for turn your eyes towards the east,—behold our God + advancing in great light.' + </p> + <p> + "The sun was rising, and all turned to look. At that moment Kolbein gave + their God a stroke, so that he quite burst asunder; and there ran out of + him mice as big almost as cats, and reptiles and adders. The Bonders were + so terrified that some fled to their ships; but when they sprang out upon + them the ships filled with water, and could not get away. Others ran to + their horses, but could not find them. The king then ordered the Bonders + to be called together, saying he wanted to speak with them; on which the + Bonders came back, and the Thing was again seated. + </p> + <p> + "The king rose up and said, 'I do not understand what your noise and + running mean. You yourselves see what your God can do,—the idol you + adorned with gold and silver, and brought meat and provisions to. You see + now that the protecting powers, who used and got good of all that, were + the mice and adders, the reptiles and lizards; and surely they do ill who + trust to such, and will not abandon this folly. Take now your gold and + ornaments that are lying strewed on the grass, and give them to your wives + and daughters, but never hang them hereafter upon stocks and stones. Here + are two conditions between us to choose upon: either accept Christianity, + or fight this very day, and the victory be to them to whom the God we + worship gives it.' + </p> + <p> + "Then Dale Gudbrand stood up and said, 'We have sustained great damage + upon our God; but since he will not help us, we will believe in the God + whom thou believest in.' + </p> + <p> + "Then all received Christianity. The Bishop baptized Gudbrand and his son. + King Olaf and Bishop Sigurd left behind them teachers; and they who met as + enemies parted as friends. And afterwards Gudbrand built a church in the + valley." <a href="#linknote-13" name="linknoteref-13" id="linknoteref-13"><small>13</small></a> + </p> + <p> + Olaf was by no means an unmerciful man,—much the reverse where he + saw good cause. There was a wicked old King Raerik, for example, one of + those five kinglets whom, with their bits of armaments, Olaf by stratagem + had surrounded one night, and at once bagged and subjected when morning + rose, all of them consenting; all of them except this Raerik, whom Olaf, + as the readiest sure course, took home with him; blinded, and kept in his + own house; finding there was no alternative but that or death to the + obstinate old dog, who was a kind of distant cousin withal, and could not + conscientiously be killed. Stone-blind old Raerik was not always in + murderous humor. Indeed, for most part he wore a placid, conciliatory + aspect, and said shrewd amusing things; but had thrice over tried, with + amazing cunning of contrivance, though stone-blind, to thrust a dagger + into Olaf and the last time had all but succeeded. So that, as Olaf still + refused to have him killed, it had become a problem what was to be done + with him. Olaf's good humor, as well as <i>his</i> quiet, ready sense and + practicality, are manifested in his final settlement of this Raerik + problem. Olaf's laugh, I can perceive, was not so loud as Tryggveson's but + equally hearty, coming from the bright mind of him! + </p> + <p> + Besides blind Raerik, Olaf had in his household one Thorarin, an + Icelander; a remarkably ugly man, says Snorro, but a far-travelled, + shrewdly observant, loyal-minded, and good-humored person, whom Olaf liked + to talk with. "Remarkably ugly," says Snorro, "especially in his hands and + feet, which were large and ill-shaped to a degree." One morning Thorarin, + who, with other trusted ones, slept in Olaf's apartment, was lazily dozing + and yawning, and had stretched one of his feet out of the bed before the + king awoke. The foot was still there when Olaf did open his bright eyes, + which instantly lighted on this foot. + </p> + <p> + "Well, here is a foot," says Olaf, gayly, "which one seldom sees the match + of; I durst venture there is not another so ugly in this city of Nidaros." + </p> + <p> + "Hah, king!" said Thorarin, "there are few things one cannot match if one + seek long and take pains. I would bet, with thy permission, King, to find + an uglier." + </p> + <p> + "Done!" cried Olaf. Upon which Thorarin stretched out the other foot. + </p> + <p> + "A still uglier," cried he; "for it has lost the little toe." + </p> + <p> + "Ho, ho!" said Olaf; "but it is I who have gained the bet. The <i>less</i> + of an ugly thing the less ugly, not the more!" + </p> + <p> + Loyal Thorarin respectfully submitted. + </p> + <p> + "What is to be my penalty, then? The king it is that must decide." + </p> + <p> + "To take me that wicked old Raerik to Leif Ericson in Greenland." + </p> + <p> + Which the Icelander did; leaving two vacant seats henceforth at Olaf's + table. Leif Ericson, son of Eric discoverer of America, quietly managed + Raerik henceforth; sent him to Iceland,—I think to father Eric + himself; certainly to some safe hand there, in whose house, or in some + still quieter neighboring lodging, at his own choice, old Raerik spent the + last three years of his life in a perfectly quiescent manner. + </p> + <p> + Olaf's struggles in the matter of religion had actually settled that + question in Norway. By these rough methods of his, whatever we may think + of them, Heathenism had got itself smashed dead; and was no more heard of + in that country. Olaf himself was evidently a highly devout and pious man;—whosoever + is born with Olaf's temper now will still find, as Olaf did, new and + infinite field for it! Christianity in Norway had the like fertility as in + other countries; or even rose to a higher, and what Dahlmann thinks, + exuberant pitch, in the course of the two centuries which followed that of + Olaf. Him all testimony represents to us as a most righteous no less than + most religious king. Continually vigilant, just, and rigorous was Olaf's + administration of the laws; repression of robbery, punishment of + injustice, stern repayment of evil-doers, wherever he could lay hold of + them. + </p> + <p> + Among the Bonder or opulent class, and indeed everywhere, for the poor too + can be sinners and need punishment, Olaf had, by this course of conduct, + naturally made enemies. His severity so visible to all, and the justice + and infinite beneficence of it so invisible except to a very few. But, at + any rate, his reign for the first ten years was victorious; and might have + been so to the end, had it not been intersected, and interfered with, by + King Knut in his far bigger orbit and current of affairs and interests. + Knut's English affairs and Danish being all settled to his mind, he seems, + especially after that year of pilgrimage to Rome, and association with the + Pontiffs and Kaisers of the world on that occasion, to have turned his + more particular attention upon Norway, and the claims he himself had + there. Jarl Hakon, too, sister's son of Knut, and always well seen by him, + had long been busy in this direction, much forgetful of that oath to Olaf + when his barge got canted over by the cable of two capstans, and his life + was given him, not without conditions altogether! + </p> + <p> + About the year 1026 there arrived two splendid persons out of England, + bearing King Knut the Great's letter and seal, with a message, likely + enough to be far from welcome to Olaf. For some days Olaf refused to see + them or their letter, shrewdly guessing what the purport would be. Which + indeed was couched in mild language, but of sharp meaning enough: a notice + to King Olaf namely, That Norway was properly, by just heritage, Knut the + Great's; and that Olaf must become the great Knut's liegeman, and pay + tribute to him, or worse would follow. King Olaf listening to these two + splendid persons and their letter, in indignant silence till they quite + ended, made answer: "I have heard say, by old accounts there are, that + King Gorm of Denmark [Blue-tooth's father, Knut's great-grandfather] was + considered but a small king; having Denmark only and few people to rule + over. But the kings who succeeded him thought that insufficient for them; + and it has since come so far that King Knut rules over both Denmark and + England, and has conquered for himself a part of Scotland. And now he + claims also my paternal bit of heritage; cannot be contented without that + too. Does he wish to rule over all the countries of the North? Can he eat + up all the kale in England itself, this Knut the Great? He shall do that, + and reduce his England to a desert, before I lay my head in his hands, or + show him any other kind of vassalage. And so I bid you tell him these my + words: I will defend Norway with battle-axe and sword as long as life is + given me, and will pay tax to no man for my kingdom." Words which + naturally irritated Knut to a high degree. + </p> + <p> + Next year accordingly (year 1027), tenth or eleventh year of Olaf's reign, + there came bad rumors out of England: That Knut was equipping an immense + army,—land-army, and such a fleet as had never sailed before; Knut's + own ship in it,—a Gold Dragon with no fewer than sixty benches of + oars. Olaf and Onund King of Sweden, whose sister he had married, well + guessed whither this armament was bound. They were friends withal, they + recognized their common peril in this imminence; and had, in repeated + consultations, taken measures the best that their united skill (which I + find was mainly Olaf's but loyally accepted by the other) could suggest. + It was in this year that Olaf (with his Swedish king assisting) did his + grand feat upon Knut in Lymfjord of Jutland, which was already spoken of. + The special circumstances of which were these: + </p> + <p> + Knut's big armament arriving on the Jutish coasts too late in the season, + and the coast country lying all plundered into temporary wreck by the two + Norse kings, who shrank away on sight of Knut, there was nothing could be + done upon them by Knut this year,—or, if anything, what? Knut's + ships ran into Lymfjord, the safe-sheltered frith, or intricate long + straggle of friths and straits, which almost cuts Jutland in two in that + region; and lay safe, idly rocking on the waters there, uncertain what to + do farther. At last he steered in his big ship and some others, deeper + into the interior of Lymfjord, deeper and deeper onwards to the mouth of a + big river called the Helge (<i>Helge-aa</i>, the Holy River, not + discoverable in my poor maps, but certainly enough still existing and + still flowing somewhere among those intricate straits and friths), towards + the bottom of which Helge river lay, in some safe nook, the small combined + Swedish and Norse fleet, under the charge of Onund, the Swedish king, + while at the top or source, which is a biggish mountain lake, King Olaf + had been doing considerable engineering works, well suited to such an + occasion, and was now ready at a moment's notice. Knut's fleet having idly + taken station here, notice from the Swedish king was instantly sent; + instantly Olaf's well-engineered flood-gates were thrown open; from the + swollen lake a huge deluge of water was let loose; Olaf himself with all + his people hastening down to join his Swedish friend, and get on board in + time; Helge river all the while alongside of him, with ever-increasing + roar, and wider-spreading deluge, hastening down the steeps in the + night-watches. So that, along with Olaf or some way ahead of him, came + immeasurable roaring waste of waters upon Knut's negligent fleet; + shattered, broke, and stranded many of his ships, and was within a trifle + of destroying the Golden Dragon herself, with Knut on board. Olaf and + Onund, we need not say, were promptly there in person, doing their very + best; the railings of the Golden Dragon, however, were too high for their + little ships; and Jarl Ulf, husband of Knut's sister, at the top of his + speed, courageously intervening, spoiled their stratagem, and saved Knut + from this very dangerous pass. + </p> + <p> + Knut did nothing more this winter. The two Norse kings, quite unequal to + attack such an armament, except by ambush and engineering, sailed away; + again plundering at discretion on the Danish coast; carrying into Sweden + great booties and many prisoners; but obliged to lie fixed all winter; and + indeed to leave their fleets there for a series of winters,—Knut's + fleet, posted at Elsinore on both sides of the Sound, rendering all egress + from the Baltic impossible, except at his pleasure. Ulf's opportune + deliverance of his royal brother-in-law did not much bestead poor Ulf + himself. He had been in disfavor before, pardoned with difficulty, by + Queen Emma's intercession; an ambitious, officious, pushing, stirring, + and, both in England and Denmark, almost dangerous man; and this + conspicuous accidental merit only awoke new jealousy in Knut. Knut, + finding nothing pass the Sound worth much blockading, went ashore; "and + the day before Michaelmas," says Snorro, "rode with a great retinue to + Roeskilde." Snorro continues his tragic narrative of what befell there: + </p> + <p> + "There Knut's brother-in-law, Jarl Ulf, had prepared a great feast for + him. The Jarl was the most agreeable of hosts; but the King was silent and + sullen. The Jarl talked to him in every way to make him cheerful, and + brought forward everything he could think of to amuse him; but the King + remained stern, and speaking little. At last the Jarl proposed a game of + chess, which he agreed to. A chess-board was produced, and they played + together. Jarl Ulf was hasty in temper, stiff, and in nothing yielding; + but everything he managed went on well in his hands: and he was a great + warrior, about whom there are many stories. He was the most powerful man + in Denmark next to the King. Jarl Ulf's sister, Gyda, was married to Jarl + Gudin (Godwin) Ulfnadson; and their sons were, Harald King of England, and + Jarl Tosti, Jarl Walthiof, Jarl Mauro-Kaare, and Jarl Svein. Gyda was the + name of their daughter, who was married to the English King Edward, the + Good (whom we call the Confessor). + </p> + <p> + "When they had played a while, the King made a false move; on which the + Jarl took a knight from him; but the King set the piece on the board + again, and told the Jarl to make another move. But the Jarl flew angry, + tumbled the chess-board over, rose, and went away. The King said, 'Run thy + ways, Ulf the Fearful.' The Jarl turned round at the door and said, 'Thou + wouldst have run farther at Helge river hadst thou been left to battle + there. Thou didst not call me Ulf the Fearful when I hastened to thy help + while the Swedes were beating thee like a dog.' The Jarl then went out, + and went to bed. + </p> + <p> + "The following morning, while the King was putting on his clothes, he said + to his footboy, 'Go thou to Jarl Ulf and kill him.' The lad went, was away + a while, and then came back. The King said, 'Hast thou killed the Jarl?' + 'I did not kill him, for he was gone to St. Lucius's church.' There was a + man called Ivar the White, a Norwegian by birth, who was the King's + courtman and chamberlain. The King said to him, 'Go thou and kill the + Jarl.' Ivar went to the church, and in at the choir, and thrust his sword + through the Jarl, who died on the spot. Then Ivar went to the King, with + the bloody sword in his hand. + </p> + <p> + "The King said, 'Hast thou killed the Jarl?' 'I have killed him,' said he. + 'Thou hast done well,' answered the King." I + </p> + <p> + From a man who built so many churches (one on each battlefield where he + had fought, to say nothing of the others), and who had in him such depths + of real devotion and other fine cosmic quality, this does seem rather + strong! But it is characteristic, withal,—of the man, and perhaps of + the times still more. <a href="#linknote-14" name="linknoteref-14" + id="linknoteref-14"><small>14</small></a> In any case, it is an event + worth noting, the slain Jarl Ulf and his connections being of importance + in the history of Denmark and of England also. Ulf's wife was Astrid, + sister of Knut, and their only child was Svein, styled afterwards "Svein + Estrithson" ("Astrid-son") when he became noted in the world,—at + this time a beardless youth, who, on the back of this tragedy, fled + hastily to Sweden, where were friends of Ulf. After some ten years' + eclipse there, Knut and both his sons being now dead, Svein reappeared in + Denmark under a new and eminent figure, "Jarl of Denmark," highest + Liegeman to the then sovereign there. Broke his oath to said sovereign, + declared himself, Svein Estrithson, to be real King of Denmark; and, after + much preliminary trouble, and many beatings and disastrous flights to and + fro, became in effect such,—to the wonder of mankind; for he had not + had one victory to cheer him on, or any good luck or merit that one sees, + except that of surviving longer than some others. Nevertheless he came to + be the Restorer, so called, of Danish independence; sole remaining + representative of Knut (or Knut's sister), of Fork-beard, Blue-tooth, and + Old Gorm; and ancestor of all the subsequent kings of Denmark for some 400 + years; himself coming, as we see, only by the Distaff side, all of the + Sword or male side having died so soon. Early death, it has been observed, + was the Great Knut's allotment, and all his posterity's as well;—fatal + limit (had there been no others, which we see there were) to his becoming + "Charlemagne of the North" in any considerable degree! Jarl Ulf, as we + have seen, had a sister, Gyda by name, wife to Earl Godwin ("Gudin + Ulfnadsson," as Snorro calls him) a very memorable Englishman, whose son + and hers, King Harald, <i>Harold</i> in English books, is the memorablest + of all. These things ought to be better known to English antiquaries, and + will perhaps be alluded to again. + </p> + <p> + This pretty little victory or affront, gained over Knut in <i>Lymfjord</i>, + was among the last successes of Olaf against that mighty man. Olaf, the + skilful captain he was, need not have despaired to defend his Norway + against Knut and all the world. But he learned henceforth, month by month + ever more tragically, that his own people, seeing softer prospects under + Knut, and in particular the chiefs of them, industriously bribed by Knut + for years past, had fallen away from him; and that his means of defence + were gone. Next summer, Knut's grand fleet sailed, unopposed, along the + coast of Norway; Knut summoning a Thing every here and there, and in all + of them meeting nothing but sky-high acclamation and acceptance. Olaf, + with some twelve little ships, all he now had, lay quiet in some safe + fjord, near Lindenaes, what we now call the Naze, behind some little + solitary isles on the southeast of Norway there; till triumphant Knut had + streamed home again. Home to England again "Sovereign of Norway" now, with + nephew Hakon appointed Jarl and Vice-regent under him! This was the news + Olaf met on venturing out; and that his worst anticipations were not + beyond the sad truth all, or almost all, the chief Bonders and men of + weight in Norway had declared against him, and stood with triumphant Knut. + </p> + <p> + Olaf, with his twelve poor ships, steered vigorously along the coast to + collect money and force,—if such could now anywhere be had. He + himself was resolute to hold out, and try. "Sailing swiftly with a fair + wind, morning cloudy with some showers," he passed the coast of Jedderen, + which was Erling Skjalgson's country, when he got sure notice of an + endless multitude of ships, war-ships, armed merchant ships, all kinds of + shipping-craft, down to fishermen's boats, just getting under way against + him, under the command of Erling Skjalgson,—the powerfulest of his + subjects, once much a friend of Olaf's but now gone against him to this + length, thanks to Olaf's severity of justice, and Knut's abundance in gold + and promises for years back. To that complexion had it come with Erling; + sailing with this immense assemblage of the naval people and populace of + Norway to seize King Olaf, and bring him to the great Knut dead or alive. + </p> + <p> + Erling had a grand new ship of his own, which far outsailed the general + miscellany of rebel ships, and was visibly fast gaining distance on Olaf + himself,—who well understood what Erling's puzzle was, between the + tail of his game (the miscellany of rebel ships, namely) that could not + come up, and the head or general prize of the game which was crowding all + sail to get away; and Olaf took advantage of the same. "Lower your sails!" + said Olaf to his men (though we must go slower). + </p> + <p> + "Ho you, we have lost sight of them!" said Erling to his, and put on all + his speed; Olaf going, soon after this, altogether invisible,—behind + a little island that he knew of, whence into a certain fjord or bay (Bay + of Fungen on the maps), which he thought would suit him. "Halt here, and + get out your arms," said Olaf, and had not to wait long till Erling came + bounding in, past the rocky promontory, and with astonishment beheld + Olaf's fleet of twelve with their battle-axes and their grappling-irons + all in perfect readiness. These fell on him, the unready Erling, + simultaneous, like a cluster of angry bees; and in a few minutes cleared + his ship of men altogether, except Erling himself. Nobody asked his life, + nor probably would have got it if he had. Only Erling still stood erect on + a high place on the poop, fiercely defensive, and very difficult to get + at. "Could not be reached at all," says Snorro, "except by spears or + arrows, and these he warded off with untiring dexterity; no man in Norway, + it was said, had ever defended himself so long alone against many,"—an + almost invincible Erling, had his cause been good. Olaf himself noticed + Erling's behavior, and said to him, from the foredeck below, "Thou hast + turned against me to-day, Erling." "The eagles fight breast to breast," + answers he. This was a speech of the king's to Erling once long ago, while + they stood fighting, not as now, but side by side. The king, with some + transient thought of possibility going through his head, rejoins, "Wilt + thou surrender, Erling?" "That will I," answered he; took the helmet off + his head; laid down sword and shield; and went forward to the forecastle + deck. The king pricked, I think not very harshly, into Erling's chin or + beard with the point of his battle-axe, saying, "I must mark thee as + traitor to thy Sovereign, though." Whereupon one of the bystanders, Aslak + Fitiaskalle, stupidly and fiercely burst up; smote Erling on the head with + his axe; so that it struck fast in his brain and was instantly the death + of Erling. "Ill-luck attend thee for that stroke; thou hast struck Norway + out of my hand by it!" cried the king to Aslak; but forgave the poor + fellow, who had done it meaning well. The insurrectionary Bonder fleet + arriving soon after, as if for certain victory, was struck with + astonishment at this Erling catastrophe; and being now without any leader + of authority, made not the least attempt at battle; but, full of + discouragement and consternation, thankfully allowed Olaf to sail away on + his northward voyage, at discretion; and themselves went off lamenting, + with Erling's dead body. + </p> + <p> + This small victory was the last that Olaf had over his many enemies at + present. He sailed along, still northward, day after day; several + important people joined him; but the news from landward grew daily more + ominous: Bonders busily arming to rear of him; and ahead, Hakon still more + busily at Trondhjem, now near by, "—and he will end thy days, King, + if he have strength enough!" Olaf paused; sent scouts to a hill-top: + "Hakon's armament visible enough, and under way hitherward, about the Isle + of Bjarno, yonder!" Soon after, Olaf himself saw the Bonder armament of + twenty-five ships, from the southward, sail past in the distance to join + that of Hakon; and, worse still, his own ships, one and another (seven in + all), were slipping off on a like errand! He made for the Fjord of Fodrar, + mouth of the rugged strath called Valdal,—which I think still knows + Olaf and has now an "Olaf's Highway," where, nine centuries ago, it + scarcely had a path. Olaf entered this fjord, had his land-tent set up, + and a cross beside it, on the small level green behind the promontory + there. Finding that his twelve poor ships were now reduced to five, + against a world all risen upon him, he could not but see and admit to + himself that there was no chance left; and that he must withdraw across + the mountains and wait for a better time. + </p> + <p> + His journey through that wild country, in these forlorn and straitened + circumstances, has a mournful dignity and homely pathos, as described by + Snorro: how he drew up his five poor ships upon the beach, packed all + their furniture away, and with his hundred or so of attendants and their + journey-baggage, under guidance of some friendly Bonder, rode up into the + desert and foot of the mountains; scaled, after three days' effort (as if + by miracle, thought his attendants and thought Snorro), the well-nigh + precipitous slope that led across, never without miraculous aid from + Heaven and Olaf could baggage-wagons have ascended that path! In short, + How he fared along, beset by difficulties and the mournfulest thoughts; + but patiently persisted, steadfastly trusted in God; and was fixed to + return, and by God's help try again. An evidently very pious and devout + man; a good man struggling with adversity, such as the gods, we may still + imagine with the ancients, do look down upon as their noblest sight. + </p> + <p> + He got to Sweden, to the court of his brother-in-law; kindly and nobly + enough received there, though gradually, perhaps, ill-seen by the now + authorities of Norway. So that, before long, he quitted Sweden; left his + queen there with her only daughter, his and hers, the only child they had; + he himself had an only son, "by a bondwoman," Magnus by name, who came to + great things afterwards; of whom, and of which, by and by. With this + bright little boy, and a selected escort of attendants, he moved away to + Russia, to King Jarroslav; where he might wait secure against all risk of + hurting kind friends by his presence. He seems to have been an exile + altogether some two years,—such is one's vague notion; for there is + no chronology in Snorro or his Sagas, and one is reduced to guessing and + inferring. He had reigned over Norway, reckoning from the first days of + his landing there to those last of his leaving it across the Dovrefjeld, + about fifteen years, ten of them shiningly victorious. + </p> + <p> + The news from Norway were naturally agitating to King Olaf and, in the + fluctuation of events there, his purposes and prospects varied much. He + sometimes thought of pilgriming to Jerusalem, and a henceforth exclusively + religious life; but for most part his pious thoughts themselves gravitated + towards Norway, and a stroke for his old place and task there, which he + steadily considered to have been committed to him by God. Norway, by the + rumors, was evidently not at rest. Jarl Hakon, under the high patronage of + his uncle, had lasted there but a little while. I know not that his + government was especially unpopular, nor whether he himself much + remembered his broken oath. It appears, however, he had left in England a + beautiful bride; and considering farther that in England only could bridal + ornaments and other wedding outfit of a sufficiently royal kind be found, + he set sail thither, to fetch her and them himself. One evening of + wildish-looking weather he was seen about the northeast corner of the + Pentland Frith; the night rose to be tempestuous; Hakon or any timber of + his fleet was never seen more. Had all gone down,—broken oaths, + bridal hopes, and all else; mouse and man,—into the roaring waters. + There was no farther Opposition-line; the like of which had lasted ever + since old heathen Hakon Jarl, down to this his grandson Hakon's <i>finis</i> + in the Pentland Frith. With this Hakon's disappearance it now disappeared. + </p> + <p> + Indeed Knut himself, though of an empire suddenly so great, was but a + temporary phenomenon. Fate had decided that the grand and wise Knut was to + be short-lived; and to leave nothing as successors but an ineffectual + young Harald Harefoot, who soon perished, and a still stupider + fiercely-drinking Harda-Knut, who rushed down of apoplexy (here in London + City, as I guess), with the goblet at his mouth, drinking health and + happiness at a wedding-feast, also before long. + </p> + <p> + Hakon having vanished in this dark way, there ensued a pause, both on + Knut's part and on Norway's. Pause or interregnum of some months, till it + became certain, first, whether Hakon were actually dead, secondly, till + Norway, and especially till King Knut himself, could decide what to do. + Knut, to the deep disappointment, which had to keep itself silent, of + three or four chief Norway men, named none of these three or four Jarl of + Norway; but bethought him of a certain Svein, a bastard son of his own,—who, + and almost still more his English mother, much desired a career in the + world fitter for him, thought they indignantly, than that of captain over + Jomsburg, where alone the father had been able to provide for him + hitherto. Svein was sent to Norway as king or vice-king for Father Knut; + and along with him his fond and vehement mother. Neither of whom gained + any favor from the Norse people by the kind of management they ultimately + came to show. + </p> + <p> + Olaf on news of this change, and such uncertainty prevailing everywhere in + Norway as to the future course of things, whether Svein would come, as was + rumored of at last, and be able to maintain himself if he did,—thought + there might be something in it of a chance for himself and his rights. + And, after lengthened hesitation, much prayer, pious invocation, and + consideration, decided to go and try it. The final grain that had turned + the balance, it appears, was a half-waking morning dream, or almost ocular + vision he had of his glorious cousin Olaf Tryggveson, who severely + admonished, exhorted, and encouraged him; and disappeared grandly, just in + the instant of Olaf's awakening; so that Olaf almost fancied he had seen + the very figure of him, as it melted into air. "Let us on, let us on!" + thought Olaf always after that. He left his son, not in Russia, but in + Sweden with the Queen, who proved very good and carefully helpful in wise + ways to him:—in Russia Olaf had now nothing more to do but give his + grateful adieus, and get ready. + </p> + <p> + His march towards Sweden, and from that towards Norway and the passes of + the mountains, down Vaerdal, towards Stickelstad, and the crisis that + awaited, is beautifully depicted by Snorro. It has, all of it, the + description (and we see clearly, the fact itself had), a kind of pathetic + grandeur, simplicity, and rude nobleness; something Epic or Homeric, + without the metre or the singing of Homer, but with all the sincerity, + rugged truth to nature, and much more of piety, devoutness, reverence for + what is forever High in this Universe, than meets us in those old Greek + Ballad-mongers. Singularly visual all of it, too, brought home in every + particular to one's imagination, so that it stands out almost as a thing + one actually saw. + </p> + <p> + Olaf had about three thousand men with him; gathered mostly as he fared + along through Norway. Four hundred, raised by one Dag, a kinsman whom he + had found in Sweden and persuaded to come with him, marched usually in a + separate body; and were, or might have been, rather an important element. + Learning that the Bonders were all arming, especially in Trondhjem + country, Olaf streamed down towards them in the closest order he could. By + no means very close, subsistence even for three thousand being difficult + in such a country. His speech was almost always free and cheerful, though + his thoughts always naturally were of a high and earnest, almost sacred + tone; devout above all. Stickelstad, a small poor hamlet still standing + where the valley ends, was seen by Olaf, and tacitly by the Bonders as + well, to be the natural place for offering battle. There Olaf issued out + from the hills one morning: drew himself up according to the best rules of + Norse tactics, rules of little complexity, but perspicuously true to the + facts. I think he had a clear open ground still rather raised above the + plain in front; he could see how the Bonder army had not yet quite + arrived, but was pouring forward, in spontaneous rows or groups, copiously + by every path. This was thought to be the biggest army that ever met in + Norway; "certainly not much fewer than a hundred times a hundred men," + according to Snorro; great Bonders several of them, small Bonders very + many,—all of willing mind, animated with a hot sense of intolerable + injuries. "King Olaf had punished great and small with equal rigor," says + Snorro; "which appeared to the chief people of the country too severe; and + animosity rose to the highest when they lost relatives by the King's just + sentence, although they were in reality guilty. He again would rather + renounce his dignity than omit righteous judgment. The accusation against + him, of being stingy with his money, was not just, for he was a most + generous man towards his friends. But that alone was the cause of the + discontent raised against him, that he appeared hard and severe in his + retributions. Besides, King Knut offered large sums of money, and the + great chiefs were corrupted by this, and by his offering them greater + dignities than they had possessed before." On these grounds, against the + intolerable man, great and small were now pouring along by every path. + </p> + <p> + Olaf perceived it would still be some time before the Bonder army was in + rank. His own Dag of Sweden, too, was not yet come up; he was to have the + right banner; King Olaf's own being the middle or grand one; some other + person the third or left banner. All which being perfectly ranked and + settled, according to the best rules, and waiting only the arrival of Dag, + Olaf bade his men sit down, and freshen themselves with a little rest. + There were religious services gone through: a matins-worship such as there + have been few; sternly earnest to the heart of it, and deep as death and + eternity, at least on Olaf's own part. For the rest Thormod sang a stave + of the fiercest Skaldic poetry that was in him; all the army straightway + sang it in chorus with fiery mind. The Bonder of the nearest farm came up, + to tell Olaf that he also wished to fight for him "Thanks to thee; but + don't," said Olaf; "stay at home rather, that the wounded may have some + shelter." To this Bonder, Olaf delivered all the money he had, with solemn + order to lay out the whole of it in masses and prayers for the souls of + such of his enemies as fell. "Such of thy enemies, King?" "Yes, surely," + said Olaf, "my friends will all either conquer, or go whither I also am + going." + </p> + <p> + At last the Bonder army too was got ranked; three commanders, one of them + with a kind of loose chief command, having settled to take charge of it; + and began to shake itself towards actual advance. Olaf, in the mean while, + had laid his head on the knees of Finn Arneson, his trustiest man, and + fallen fast asleep. Finn's brother, Kalf Arneson, once a warm friend of + Olaf, was chief of the three commanders on the opposite side. Finn and he + addressed angry speech to one another from the opposite ranks, when they + came near enough. Finn, seeing the enemy fairly approach, stirred Olaf + from his sleep. "Oh, why hast thou wakened me from such a dream?" said + Olaf, in a deeply solemn tone. "What dream was it, then?" asked Finn. "I + dreamt that there rose a ladder here reaching up to very Heaven," said + Olaf; "I had climbed and climbed, and got to the very last step, and + should have entered there hadst thou given me another moment." "King, I + doubt thou art <i>fey</i>; I do not quite like that dream." + </p> + <p> + The actual fight began about one of the clock in a most bright last day of + July, and was very fierce and hot, especially on the part of Olaf's men, + who shook the others back a little, though fierce enough they too; and had + Dag been on the ground, which he wasn't yet, it was thought victory might + have been won. Soon after battle joined, the sky grew of a ghastly brass + or copper color, darker and darker, till thick night involved all things; + and did not clear away again till battle was near ending. Dag, with his + four hundred, arrived in the darkness, and made a furious charge, what was + afterwards, in the speech of the people, called "Dag's storm." Which had + nearly prevailed, but could not quite; victory again inclining to the so + vastly larger party. It is uncertain still how the matter would have gone; + for Olaf himself was now fighting with his own hand, and doing deadly + execution on his busiest enemies to right and to left. But one of these + chief rebels, Thorer Hund (thought to have learnt magic from the + Laplanders, whom he long traded with, and made money by), mysteriously + would not fall for Olaf's best strokes. Best strokes brought only dust + from the (enchanted) deer-skin coat of the fellow, to Olaf's surprise,—when + another of the rebel chiefs rushed forward, struck Olaf with his + battle-axe, a wild slashing wound, and miserably broke his thigh, so that + he staggered or was supported back to the nearest stone; and there sat + down, lamentably calling on God to help him in this bad hour. Another + rebel of note (the name of him long memorable in Norway) slashed or + stabbed Olaf a second time, as did then a third. Upon which the noble Olaf + sank dead; and forever quitted this doghole of a world,—little + worthy of such men as Olaf one sometimes thinks. But that too is a + mistake, and even an important one, should we persist in it. + </p> + <p> + With Olaf's death the sky cleared again. Battle, now near done, ended with + complete victory to the rebels, and next to no pursuit or result, except + the death of Olaf everybody hastening home, as soon as the big Duel had + decided itself. Olaf's body was secretly carried, after dark, to some + out-house on the farm near the spot; whither a poor blind beggar, creeping + in for shelter that very evening, was miraculously restored to sight. And, + truly with a notable, almost miraculous, speed, the feelings of all Norway + for King Olaf changed themselves, and were turned upside down, "within a + year," or almost within a day. Superlative example of <i>Extinctus + amabitur idem.</i> Not "Olaf the Thick-set" any longer, but "Olaf the + Blessed" or Saint, now clearly in Heaven; such the name and character of + him from that time to this. Two churches dedicated to him (out of four + that once stood) stand in London at this moment. And the miracles that + have been done there, not to speak of Norway and Christendom elsewhere, in + his name, were numerous and great for long centuries afterwards. Visibly a + Saint Olaf ever since; and, indeed, in <i>Bollandus</i> or elsewhere, I + have seldom met with better stuff to make a Saint of, or a true World-Hero + in all good senses. + </p> + <p> + Speaking of the London Olaf Churches, I should have added that from one of + these the thrice-famous Tooley Street gets its name,—where those + Three Tailors, addressing Parliament and the Universe, sublimely styled + themselves, "We, the People of England." Saint Olave Street, Saint Oley + Street, Stooley Street, Tooley Street; such are the metamorphoses of human + fame in the world! + </p> + <p> + The battle-day of Stickelstad, King Olaf's death-day, is generally + believed to have been Wednesday, July 31, 1033. But on investigation, it + turns out that there was no total eclipse of the sun visible in Norway + that year; though three years before, there was one; but on the 29th + instead of the 31st. So that the exact date still remains uncertain; + Dahlmann, the latest critic, inclining for 1030, and its indisputable + eclipse. <a href="#linknote-15" name="linknoteref-15" id="linknoteref-15"><small>15</small></a> + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0011" id="link2HCH0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XI. MAGNUS THE GOOD AND OTHERS. + </h2> + <p> + St. Olaf is the highest of these Norway Kings, and is the last that much + attracts us. For this reason, if a reason were not superfluous, we might + here end our poor reminiscences of those dim Sovereigns. But we will, + nevertheless, for the sake of their connection with bits of English + History, still hastily mention the Dames of one or two who follow, and who + throw a momentary gleam of life and illumination on events and epochs that + have fallen so extinct among ourselves at present, though once they were + so momentous and memorable. + </p> + <p> + The new King Svein from Jomsburg, Knut's natural son, had no success in + Norway, nor seems to have deserved any. His English mother and he were + found to be grasping, oppressive persons; and awoke, almost from the + instant that Olaf was suppressed and crushed away from Norway into Heaven, + universal odium more and more in that country. Well-deservedly, as still + appears; for their taxings and extortions of malt, of herring, of meal, + smithwork and every article taxable in Norway, were extreme; and their + service to the country otherwise nearly imperceptible. In brief their one + basis there was the power of Knut the Great; and that, like all earthly + things, was liable to sudden collapse,—and it suffered such in a + notable degree. King Knut, hardly yet of middle age, and the greatest King + in the then world, died at Shaftesbury, in 1035, as Dahlmann thinks <a + href="#linknote-16" name="linknoteref-16" id="linknoteref-16"><small>16</small></a>,—leaving + two legitimate sons and a busy, intriguing widow (Norman Emma, widow of + Ethelred the Unready), mother of the younger of these two; neither of whom + proved to have any talent or any continuance. In spite of Emma's utmost + efforts, Harald, the elder son of Knut, not hers, got England for his + kingdom; Emma and her Harda-Knut had to be content with Denmark, and go + thither, much against their will. Harald in England,—light-going + little figure like his father before him,—got the name of Harefoot + here; and might have done good work among his now orderly and settled + people; but he died almost within year and day; and has left no trace + among us, except that of "Harefoot," from his swift mode of walking. Emma + and her Harda-Knut now returned joyful to England. But the violent, idle, + and drunken Harda-Knut did no good there; and, happily for England and + him, soon suddenly ended, by stroke of apoplexy at a marriage festival, as + mentioned above. In Denmark he had done still less good. And indeed,—under + him, in a year or two, the grand imperial edifice, laboriously built by + Knut's valor and wisdom, had already tumbled all to the ground, in a most + unexpected and remarkable way. As we are now to indicate with all brevity. + </p> + <p> + Svein's tyrannies in Norway had wrought such fruit that, within the four + years after Olaf's death, the chief men in Norway, the very slayers of + King Olaf, Kalf Arneson at the head of them, met secretly once or twice; + and unanimously agreed that Kalf Arneson must go to Sweden, or to Russia + itself; seek young Magnus, son of Olaf home: excellent Magnus, to be king + over all Norway and them, instead of this intolerable Svein. Which was at + once done,—Magnus brought home in a kind of triumph, all Norway + waiting for him. Intolerable Svein had already been rebelled against: some + years before this, a certain young Tryggve out of Ireland, authentic son + of Olaf Tryggveson, and of that fine Irish Princess who chose him in his + low habiliments and low estate, and took him over to her own Green Island,—this + royal young Tryggve Olafson had invaded the usurper Svein, in a fierce, + valiant, and determined manner; and though with too small a party, showed + excellent fight for some time; till Svein, zealously bestirring himself, + managed to get him beaten and killed. But that was a couple of years ago; + the party still too small, not including one and all as now! Svein, + without stroke of sword this time, moved off towards Denmark; never + showing face in Norway again. His drunken brother, Harda-Knut, received + him brother-like; even gave him some territory to rule over and subsist + upon. But he lived only a short while; was gone before Harda-Knut himself; + and we will mention him no more. + </p> + <p> + Magnus was a fine bright young fellow, and proved a valiant, wise, and + successful King, known among his people as Magnus the Good. He was only + natural son of King Olaf but that made little difference in those times + and there. His strange-looking, unexpected Latin name he got in this way: + Alfhild, his mother, a slave through ill-luck of war, though nobly born, + was seen to be in a hopeful way; and it was known in the King's house how + intimately Olaf was connected with that occurrence, and how much he loved + this "King's serving-maid," as she was commonly designated. Alfhild was + brought to bed late at night; and all the world, especially King Olaf was + asleep; Olaf's strict rule, then and always, being, Don't awaken me:—seemingly + a man sensitive about his sleep. The child was a boy, of rather weakly + aspect; no important person present, except Sigvat, the King's Icelandic + Skald, who happened to be still awake; and the Bishop of Norway, who, I + suppose, had been sent for in hurry. "What is to be done?" said the + Bishop: "here is an infant in pressing need of baptism; and we know not + what the name is: go, Sigvat, awaken the King, and ask." "I dare not for + my life," answered Sigvat; "King's orders are rigorous on that point." + "But if the child die unbaptized," said the Bishop, shuddering; too + certain, he and everybody, where the child would go in that case! "I will + myself give him a name," said Sigvat, with a desperate concentration of + all his faculties; "he shall be namesake of the greatest of mankind,—imperial + Carolus Magnus; let us call the infant Magnus!" King Olaf, on the morrow, + asked rather sharply how Sigvat had dared take such a liberty; but excused + Sigvat, seeing what the perilous alternative was. And Magnus, by such + accident, this boy was called; and he, not another, is the prime origin + and introducer of that name Magnus, which occurs rather frequently, not + among the Norman Kings only, but by and by among the Danish and Swedish; + and, among the Scandinavian populations, appears to be rather frequent to + this day. + </p> + <p> + Magnus, a youth of great spirit, whose own, and standing at his beck, all + Norway now was, immediately smote home on Denmark; desirous naturally of + vengeance for what it had done to Norway, and the sacred kindred of + Magnus. Denmark, its great Knut gone, and nothing but a drunken + Harda-Knut, fugitive Svein and Co., there in his stead, was become a weak + dislocated Country. And Magnus plundered in it, burnt it, beat it, as + often as he pleased; Harda-Knut struggling what he could to make + resistance or reprisals, but never once getting any victory over Magnus. + Magnus, I perceive, was, like his Father, a skilful as well as valiant + fighter by sea and land; Magnus, with good battalions, and probably backed + by immediate alliance with Heaven and St. Olaf, as was then the general + belief or surmise about him, could not easily be beaten. And the truth is, + he never was, by Harda-Knut or any other. Harda-Knut's last transaction + with him was, To make a firm Peace and even Family-treaty sanctioned by + all the grandees of both countries, who did indeed mainly themselves make + it; their two Kings assenting: That there should be perpetual Peace, and + no thought of war more, between Denmark and Norway; and that, if either of + the Kings died childless while the other was reigning, the other should + succeed him in both Kingdoms. A magnificent arrangement, such as has + several times been made in the world's history; but which in this + instance, what is very singular, took actual effect; drunken Harda-Knut + dying so speedily, and Magnus being the man he was. One would like to give + the date of this remarkable Treaty; but cannot with precision. Guess + somewhere about 1040: <a href="#linknote-17" name="linknoteref-17" + id="linknoteref-17"><small>17</small></a> actual fruition of it came to + Magnus, beyond question, in 1042, when Harda-Knut drank that wassail bowl + at the wedding in Lambeth, and fell down dead; which in the Saxon + Chronicle is dated 3d June of that year. Magnus at once went to Denmark on + hearing this event; was joyfully received by the headmen there, who + indeed, with their fellows in Norway, had been main contrivers of the + Treaty; both Countries longing for mutual peace, and the end of such + incessant broils. + </p> + <p> + Magnus was triumphantly received as King in Denmark. The only unfortunate + thing was, that Svein Estrithson, the exile son of Ulf, Knut's + Brother-in-law, whom Knut, as we saw, had summarily killed twelve years + before, emerged from his exile in Sweden in a flattering form; and + proposed that Magnus should make him Jarl of Denmark, and general + administrator there, in his own stead. To which the sanguine Magnus, in + spite of advice to the contrary, insisted on acceding. "Too powerful a + Jarl," said Einar Tamberskelver—the same Einar whose bow was heard + to break in Olaf Tryggveson's last battle ("Norway breaking from thy hand, + King!"), who had now become Magnus's chief man, and had long been among + the highest chiefs in Norway; "too powerful a Jarl," said Einar earnestly. + But Magnus disregarded it; and a troublesome experience had to teach him + that it was true. In about a year, crafty Svein, bringing ends to meet, + got himself declared King of Denmark for his own behoof, instead of Jarl + for another's: and had to be beaten and driven out by Magnus. Beaten every + year; but almost always returned next year, for a new beating,—almost, + though not altogether; having at length got one dreadful smashing-down and + half-killing, which held him quiet for a while,—so long as Magnus + lived. Nay in the end, he made good his point, as if by mere patience in + being beaten; and did become King himself, and progenitor of all the Kings + that followed. King Svein Estrithson; so called from Astrid or Estrith, + his mother, the great Knut's sister, daughter of Svein Forkbeard by that + amazing Sigrid the Proud, who <i>burnt</i> those two ineligible suitors of + hers both at once, and got a switch on the face from Olaf Tryggveson, + which proved the death of that high man. + </p> + <p> + But all this fine fortune of the often beaten Estrithson was posterior to + Magnus's death; who never would have suffered it, had he been alive. + Magnus was a mighty fighter; a fiery man; very proud and positive, among + other qualities, and had such luck as was never seen before. Luck + invariably good, said everybody; never once was beaten,—which + proves, continued everybody, that his Father Olaf and the miraculous power + of Heaven were with him always. Magnus, I believe, did put down a great + deal of anarchy in those countries. One of his earliest enterprises was to + abolish Jomsburg, and trample out that nest of pirates. Which he managed + so completely that Jomsburg remained a mere reminiscence thenceforth; and + its place is not now known to any mortal. + </p> + <p> + One perverse thing did at last turn up in the course of Magnus: a new + Claimant for the Crown of Norway, and he a formidable person withal. This + was Harald, half-brother of the late Saint Olaf; uncle or half-uncle, + therefore, of Magnus himself. Indisputable son of the Saint's mother by + St. Olaf's stepfather, who was, himself descended straight from Harald + Haarfagr. This new Harald was already much heard of in the world. As an + ardent Boy of fifteen he had fought at King Olaf's side at Stickelstad; + would not be admonished by the Saint to go away. Got smitten down there, + not killed; was smuggled away that night from the field by friendly help; + got cured of his wounds, forwarded to Russia, where he grew to man's + estate, under bright auspices and successes. Fell in love with the Russian + Princess, but could not get her to wife; went off thereupon to + Constantinople as <i>Vaeringer</i> (Life-Guardsman of the Greek Kaiser); + became Chief Captain of the Vaeringers, invincible champion of the poor + Kaisers that then were, and filled all the East with the shine and noise + of his exploits. An authentic <i>Waring</i> or <i>Baring</i>, such the + surname we now have derived from these people; who were an important + institution in those Greek countries for several ages: Vaeringer + Life-Guard, consisting of Norsemen, with sometimes a few English among + them. Harald had innumerable adventures, nearly always successful, sing + the Skalds; gained a great deal of wealth, gold ornaments, and gold coin; + had even Queen Zoe (so they sing, though falsely) enamored of him at one + time; and was himself a Skald of eminence; some of whose verses, by no + means the worst of their kind, remain to this day. + </p> + <p> + This character of Waring much distinguishes Harald to me; the only + Vaeringer of whom I could ever get the least biography, true or half-true. + It seems the Greek History-books but indifferently correspond with these + Saga records; and scholars say there could have been no considerable + romance between Zoe and him, Zoe at that date being 60 years of age! + Harald's own lays say nothing of any Zoe, but are still full of longing + for his Russian Princess far away. + </p> + <p> + At last, what with Zoes, what with Greek perversities and perfidies, and + troubles that could not fail, he determined on quitting Greece; packed up + his immensities of wealth in succinct shape, and actually returned to + Russia, where new honors and favors awaited him from old friends, and + especially, if I mistake not, the hand of that adorable Princess, crown of + all his wishes for the time being. Before long, however, he decided + farther to look after his Norway Royal heritages; and, for that purpose, + sailed in force to the Jarl or quasi-King of Denmark, the often-beaten + Svein, who was now in Sweden on his usual winter exile after beating. + Svein and he had evidently interests in common. Svein was charmed to see + him, so warlike, glorious and renowned a man, with masses of money about + him, too. Svein did by and by become treacherous; and even attempted, one + night, to assassinate Harald in his bed on board ship: but Harald, + vigilant of Svein, and a man of quick and sure insight, had providently + gone to sleep elsewhere, leaving a log instead of himself among the + blankets. In which log, next morning, treacherous Svein's battle-axe was + found deeply sticking: and could not be removed without difficulty! But + this was after Harald and King Magnus himself bad begun treating; with the + fairest prospects,—which this of the $vein battle-axe naturally + tended to forward, as it altogether ended the other copartnery. + </p> + <p> + Magnus, on first hearing of Vaeringer Harald and his intentions, made + instant equipment, and determination to fight his uttermost against the + same. But wise persons of influence round him, as did the like sort round + Vaeringer Harald, earnestly advised compromise and peaceable agreement. + Which, soon after that of Svein's nocturnal battle-axe, was the course + adopted; and, to the joy of all parties, did prove a successful solution. + Magnus agreed to part his kingdom with Uncle Harald; uncle parting his + treasures, or uniting them with Magnus's poverty. Each was to be an + independent king, but they were to govern in common; Magnus rather + presiding. He, to sit, for example, in the High Seat alone; King Harald + opposite him in a seat not quite so high, though if a stranger King came + on a visit, both the Norse Kings were to sit in the High Seat. With + various other punctilious regulations; which the fiery Magnus was + extremely strict with; rendering the mutual relation a very dangerous one, + had not both the Kings been honest men, and Harald a much more prudent and + tolerant one than Magnus. They, on the whole, never had any weighty + quarrel, thanks now and then rather to Harald than to Magnus. Magnus too + was very noble; and Harald, with his wide experience and greater length of + years, carefully held his heat of temper well covered in. + </p> + <p> + Prior to Uncle Harald's coming, Magnus had distinguished himself as a + Lawgiver. His Code of Laws for the Trondhjem Province was considered a + pretty piece of legislation; and in subsequent times got the name of <i>Gray-goose</i> + (Gragas); one of the wonderfulest names ever given to a wise Book. Some + say it came from the gray color of the parchment, some give other + incredible origins; the last guess I have heard is, that the name merely + denotes antiquity; the witty name in Norway for a man growing old having + been, in those times, that he was now "becoming a gray-goose." Very + fantastic indeed; certain, however, that Gray-goose is the name of that + venerable Law Book; nay, there is another, still more famous, belonging to + Iceland, and not far from a century younger, the Iceland <i>Gray-goose.</i> + The Norway one is perhaps of date about 1037, the other of about 1118; + peace be with them both! Or, if anybody is inclined to such matters let + him go to Dahlmann, for the amplest information and such minuteness of + detail as might almost enable him to be an Advocate, with Silk Gown, in + any Court depending on these Gray-geese. + </p> + <p> + Magnus did not live long. He had a dream one night of his Father Olaf's + coming to him in shining presence, and announcing, That a magnificent + fortune and world-great renown was now possible for him; but that perhaps + it was his duty to refuse it; in which case his earthly life would be + short. "Which way wilt thou do, then?" said the shining presence. "Thou + shalt decide for me, Father, thou, not I!" and told his Uncle Harald on + the morrow, adding that he thought he should now soon die; which proved to + be the fact. The magnificent fortune, so questionable otherwise, has + reference, no doubt, to the Conquest of England; to which country Magnus, + as rightful and actual King of <i>Denmark</i>, as well as undisputed heir + to drunken Harda-Knut, by treaty long ago, had now some evident claim. The + enterprise itself was reserved to the patient, gay, and prudent Uncle + Harald; and to him it did prove fatal,—and merely paved the way for + Another, luckier, not likelier! + </p> + <p> + Svein Estrithson, always beaten during Magnus's life, by and by got an + agreement from the prudent Harald to <i>be</i> King of Denmark, then; and + end these wearisome and ineffectual brabbles; Harald having other work to + do. But in the autumn of 1066, Tosti, a younger son of our English Earl + Godwin, came to Svein's court with a most important announcement; namely, + that King Edward the Confessor, so called, was dead, and that Harold, as + the English write it, his eldest brother would give him, Tosti, no + sufficient share in the kingship. Which state of matters, if Svein would + go ahead with him to rectify it, would be greatly to the advantage of + Svein. Svein, taught by many beatings, was too wise for this proposal; + refused Tosti, who indignantly stepped over into Norway, and proposed it + to King Harald there. Svein really had acquired considerable teaching, I + should guess, from his much beating and hard experience in the world; one + finds him afterwards the esteemed friend of the famous Historian Adam of + Bremen, who reports various wise humanities, and pleasant discoursings + with Svein Estrithson. + </p> + <p> + As for Harald Hardrade, "Harald the Hard or Severe," as he was now called, + Tosti's proposal awakened in him all his old Vaeringer ambitious and + cupidities into blazing vehemence. He zealously consented; and at once, + with his whole strength, embarked in the adventure. Fitted out two hundred + ships, and the biggest army he could carry in them; and sailed with Tosti + towards the dangerous Promised Land. Got into the Tyne and took booty; got + into the Humber, thence into the Ouse; easily subdued any opposition the + official people or their populations could make; victoriously scattered + these, victoriously took the City of York in a day; and even got himself + homaged there, "King of Northumberland," as per covenant,—Tosti + proving honorable,—Tosti and he going with faithful strict + copartnery, and all things looking prosperous and glorious. Except only + (an important exception!) that they learnt for certain, English Harold was + advancing with all his strength; and, in a measurable space of hours, + unless care were taken, would be in York himself. Harald and Tosti + hastened off to seize the post of Stamford Bridge on Derwent River, six or + seven miles east of York City, and there bar this dangerous advent. Their + own ships lay not far off in Ouse River, in case of the worst. The battle + that ensued the next day, September 20, 1066, is forever memorable in + English history. + </p> + <p> + Snorro gives vividly enough his view of it from the Icelandic side: A ring + of stalwart Norsemen, close ranked, with their steel tools in hand; + English Harold's Army, mostly cavalry, prancing and pricking all around; + trying to find or make some opening in that ring. For a long time trying + in vain, till at length, getting them enticed to burst out somewhere in + pursuit, they quickly turned round, and quickly made an end, of that + matter. Snorro represents English Harold, with a first party of these + horse coming up, and, with preliminary salutations, asking if Tosti were + there, and if Harald were; making generous proposals to Tosti; but, in + regard to Harald and what share of England was to be his, answering Tosti + with the words, "Seven feet of English earth, or more if he require it, + for a grave." Upon which Tosti, like an honorable man and copartner, said, + "No, never; let us fight you rather till we all die." "Who is this that + spoke to you?" inquired Harald, when the cavaliers had withdrawn. "My + brother Harold," answers Tosti; which looks rather like a Saga, but may be + historical after all. Snorro's history of the battle is intelligible only + after you have premised to it, what he never hints at, that the scene was + on the east side of the bridge and of the Derwent; the great struggle for + the bridge, one at last finds, was after the fall of Harald; and to the + English Chroniclers, said struggle, which was abundantly severe, is all + they know of the battle. + </p> + <p> + Enraged at that breaking loose of his steel ring of infantry, Norse Harald + blazed up into true Norse fury, all the old Vaeringer and Berserkir rage + awakening in him; sprang forth into the front of the fight, and mauled and + cut and smashed down, on both hands of him, everything he met, + irresistible by any horse or man, till an arrow cut him through the + windpipe, and laid him low forever. That was the end of King Harald and of + his workings in this world. The circumstance that he was a Waring or + Baring and had smitten to pieces so many Oriental cohorts or crowds, and + had made love-verses (kind of iron madrigals) to his Russian Princess, and + caught the fancy of questionable Greek queens, and had amassed such heaps + of money, while poor nephew Magnus had only one gold ring (which had been + his father's, and even his father's <i>mother's</i>, as Uncle Harald + noticed), and nothing more whatever of that precious metal to combine with + Harald's treasures:—all this is new to me, naturally no hint of it + in any English book; and lends some gleam of romantic splendor to that dim + business of Stamford Bridge, now fallen so dull and torpid to most English + minds, transcendently important as it once was to all Englishmen. Adam of + Bremen says, the English got as much gold plunder from Harald's people as + was a heavy burden for twelve men; <a href="#linknote-18" + name="linknoteref-18" id="linknoteref-18"><small>18</small></a> a thing + evidently impossible, which nobody need try to believe. Young Olaf, + Harald's son, age about sixteen, steering down the Ouse at the top of his + speed, escaped home to Norway with all his ships, and subsequently reigned + there with Magnus, his brother. Harald's body did lie in English earth for + about a year; but was then brought to Norway for burial. He needed more + than seven feet of grave, say some; Laing, interpreting Snorro's + measurements, makes Harald eight feet in stature,—I do hope, with + some error in excess! + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0012" id="link2HCH0012"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XII. OLAF THE TRANQUIL, MAGNUS BAREFOOT, AND SIGURD THE CRUSADER. + </h2> + <p> + The new King Olaf, his brother Magnus having soon died, bore rule in + Norway for some five-and-twenty years. Rule soft and gentle, not like his + father's, and inclining rather to improvement in the arts and elegancies + than to anything severe or dangerously laborious. A slim-built, + witty-talking, popular and pretty man, with uncommonly bright eyes, and + hair like floss silk: they called him Olaf <i>Kyrre</i> (the Tranquil or + Easygoing). + </p> + <p> + The ceremonials of the palace were much improved by him. Palace still + continued to be built of huge logs pyramidally sloping upwards, with + fireplace in the middle of the floor, and no egress for smoke or ingress + for light except right overhead, which, in bad weather, you could shut, or + all but shut, with a lid. Lid originally made of mere opaque board, but + changed latterly into a light frame, covered (<i>glazed</i>, so to speak) + with entrails of animals, clarified into something of pellucidity. All + this Olaf, I hope, further perfected, as he did the placing of the court + ladies, court officials, and the like; but I doubt if the luxury of a + glass window were ever known to him, or a cup to drink from that was not + made of metal or horn. In fact it is chiefly for his son's sake I mention + him here; and with the son, too, I have little real concern, but only a + kind of fantastic. + </p> + <p> + This son bears the name of Magnus <i>Barfod</i> (Barefoot, or Bareleg); + and if you ask why so, the answer is: He was used to appear in the streets + of Nidaros (Trondhjem) now and then in complete Scotch Highland dress. + Authentic tartan plaid and philibeg, at that epoch,—to the wonder of + Trondhjem and us! The truth is, he had a mighty fancy for those Hebrides + and other Scotch possessions of his; and seeing England now quite + impossible, eagerly speculated on some conquest in Ireland as next best. + He did, in fact, go diligently voyaging and inspecting among those Orkney + and Hebridian Isles; putting everything straight there, appointing + stringent authorities, jarls,—nay, a king, "Kingdom of the Suderoer" + (Southern Isles, now called <i>Sodor</i>),—and, as first king, + Sigurd, his pretty little boy of nine years. All which done, and some + quarrel with Sweden fought out, he seriously applied himself to visiting + in a still more emphatic manner; namely, to invading, with his best skill + and strength, the considerable virtual or actual kingdom he had in + Ireland, intending fully to enlarge it to the utmost limits of the Island + if possible. He got prosperously into Dublin (guess A.D. 1102). + Considerable authority he already had, even among those poor Irish Kings, + or kinglets, in their glibs and yellow-saffron gowns; still more, I + suppose, among the numerous Norse Principalities there. "King Murdog, King + of Ireland," says the Chronicle of Man, "had obliged himself, every + Yule-day, to take a pair of shoes, hang them over his shoulder, as your + servant does on a journey, and walk across his court, at bidding and in + presence of Magnus Barefoot's messenger, by way of homage to the said + King." Murdog on this greater occasion did whatever homage could be + required of him; but that, though comfortable, was far from satisfying the + great King's ambitious mind. The great King left Murdog; left his own + Dublin; marched off westward on a general conquest of Ireland. Marched + easily victorious for a time; and got, some say, into the wilds of + Connaught, but there saw himself beset by ambuscades and wild Irish + countenances intent on mischief; and had, on the sudden, to draw up for + battle;—place, I regret to say, altogether undiscoverable to me; + known only that it was boggy in the extreme. Certain enough, too certain + and evident, Magnus Barefoot, searching eagerly, could find no firm + footing there; nor, fighting furiously up to the knees or deeper, any + result but honorable death! Date is confidently marked "24 August, 1103,"—as + if people knew the very day of the month. The natives did humanely give + King Magnus Christian burial. The remnants of his force, without further + molestation, found their ships on the Coast of Ulster; and sailed home,—without + conquest of Ireland; nay perhaps, leaving royal Murdog disposed to be + relieved of his procession with the pair of shoes. + </p> + <p> + Magnus Barefoot left three sons, all kings at once, reigning peaceably + together. But to us, at present, the only noteworthy one of them was + Sigurd; who, finding nothing special to do at home, left his brothers to + manage for him, and went off on a far Voyage, which has rendered him + distinguishable in the crowd. Voyage through the Straits of Gibraltar, on + to Jerusalem, thence to Constantinople; and so home through Russia, + shining with such renown as filled all Norway for the time being. A King + called Sigurd Jorsalafarer (Jerusalemer) or Sigurd the Crusader + henceforth. His voyage had been only partially of the Viking type; in + general it was of the Royal-Progress kind rather; Vikingism only + intervening in cases of incivility or the like. His reception in the + Courts of Portugal, Spain, Sicily, Italy, had been honorable and + sumptuous. The King of Jerusalem broke out into utmost splendor and + effusion at sight of such a pilgrim; and Constantinople did its highest + honors to such a Prince of Vaeringers. And the truth is, Sigurd + intrinsically was a wise, able, and prudent man; who, surviving both his + brothers, reigned a good while alone in a solid and successful way. He + shows features of an original, independent-thinking man; something of + ruggedly strong, sincere, and honest, with peculiarities that are amiable + and even pathetic in the character and temperament of him; as certainly, + the course of life he took was of his own choosing, and peculiar enough. + He happens furthermore to be, what he least of all could have chosen or + expected, the last of the Haarfagr Genealogy that had any success, or much + deserved any, in this world. The last of the Haarfagrs, or as good as the + last! So that, singular to say, it is in reality, for one thing only that + Sigurd, after all his crusadings and wonderful adventures, is 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. + </p> + <p> + 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 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! + </p> + <p> + 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 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. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0013" id="link2HCH0013"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIII. MAGNUS THE BLIND, HARALD GYLLE, AND MUTUAL EXTINCTION OF THE + HAARFAGRS. + </h2> + <p> + 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 got their + own death by and by in a ditto. In brief, these two kindreds (reckoned to + be authentic enough Haarfagr people, both kinds of them) proved now to + have become a veritable crop of dragon's teeth; who mutually fought, + plotted, struggled, as if it had been their life's business; never ended + fighting and seldom long intermitted it, till they had exterminated one + another, and did at last all rest in death. One of these later Gylle + temporary Kings I remember by the name of Harald Herdebred, Harald of the + Broad Shoulders. The very last of them I think was Harald Mund (Harald of + the <i>Wry-Mouth</i>), who gave rise to two Impostors, pretending to be + Sons of his, a good while after the poor Wry-Mouth itself and all its + troublesome belongings were quietly underground. What Norway suffered + during that sad century may be imagined. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0014" id="link2HCH0014"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIV. SVERRIR AND DESCENDANTS, TO HAKON THE OLD. + </h2> + <p> + The end of it was, or rather the first abatement, and <i>beginnings</i> of + the end, That, when all this had gone on ever worsening for some forty + years or so, one Sverrir (A.D. 1177), at the head of an armed mob of poor + people called <i>Birkebeins</i>, came upon the scene. A strange enough + figure in History, this Sverrir and his Birkebeins! At first a mere + mockery and dismal laughing-stock to the enlightened Norway public. + Nevertheless by unheard-of fighting, hungering, exertion, and endurance, + Sverrir, after ten years of such a death-wrestle against men and things, + got himself accepted as King; and by wonderful expenditure of ingenuity, + common cunning, unctuous Parliamentary Eloquence or almost Popular + Preaching, and (it must be owned) general human faculty and valor (or + value) in the over-clouded and distorted state, did victoriously continue + such. And founded a new Dynasty in Norway, which ended only with Norway's + separate existence, after near three hundred years. + </p> + <p> + This Sverrir called himself a Son of Harald Wry-Mouth; but was in reality + the son of a poor Comb-maker in some little town of Norway; nothing heard + of Sonship to Wry-Mouth till after good success otherwise. His Birkebeins + (that is to say, <i>Birchlegs;</i> the poor rebellious wretches having + taken to the woods; and been obliged, besides their intolerable scarcity + of food, to thatch their bodies from the cold with whatever covering could + be got, and their legs especially with birch bark; sad species of fleecy + hosiery; whence their nickname),—his Birkebeins I guess always to + have been a kind of Norse <i>Jacquerie</i>: desperate rising of thralls + and indigent people, driven mad by their unendurable sufferings and + famishings,—theirs the <i>deepest</i> stratum of misery, and the + densest and heaviest, in this the general misery of Norway, which had + lasted towards the third generation and looked as if it would last + forever:—whereupon they had risen proclaiming, in this furious dumb + manner, unintelligible except to Heaven, that the same could not, nor + would not, be endured any longer! And, by their Sverrir, strange to say, + they did attain a kind of permanent success; and, from being a dismal + laughing-stock in Norway, came to be important, and for a time + all-important there. Their opposition nicknames, "<i>Baglers</i> (from + Bagall, <i>baculus</i>, bishop's staff; Bishop Nicholas being chief + Leader)," "<i>Gold-legs</i>," and the like obscure terms (for there was + still a considerable course of counter-fighting ahead, and especially of + counter-nicknaming), I take to have meant in Norse prefigurement seven + centuries ago, "bloated Aristocracy," "tyrannous-<i>Bourgeoisie</i>,"—till, + in the next century, these rents were closed again! + </p> + <p> + King Sverrir, not himself bred to comb-making, had, in his fifth year, + gone to an uncle, Bishop in the Faroe Islands; and got some considerable + education from him, with a view to Priesthood on the part of Sverrir. But, + not liking that career, Sverrir had fled and smuggled himself over to the + Birkebeins; who, noticing the learned tongue, and other miraculous + qualities of the man, proposed to make him Captain of them; and even + threatened to kill him if he would not accept,—which thus at the + sword's point, as Sverrir says, he was obliged to do. It was after this + that he thought of becoming son of Wry-Mouth and other higher things. + </p> + <p> + His Birkebeins and he had certainly a talent of campaigning which has + hardly ever been equalled. They fought like devils against any odds of + number; and before battle they have been known to march six days together + without food, except, perhaps, the inner barks of trees, and in such + clothing and shoeing as mere birch bark:—at one time, somewhere in + the Dovrefjeld, there was serious counsel held among them whether they + should not all, as one man, leap down into the frozen gulfs and + precipices, or at once massacre one another wholly, and so finish. Of + their conduct in battle, fiercer than that of <i>Baresarks</i>, where was + there ever seen the parallel? In truth they are a dim strange object to + one, in that black time; wondrously bringing light into it withal; and + proved to be, under such unexpected circumstances, the beginning of better + days! + </p> + <p> + Of Sverrir's public speeches there still exist authentic specimens; + wonderful indeed, and much characteristic of such a Sverrir. A comb-maker + King, evidently meaning several good and solid things; and effecting them + too, athwart such an element of Norwegian chaos-come-again. His + descendants and successors were a comparatively respectable kin. The last + and greatest of them I shall mention is Hakon VII., or Hakon the Old; + whose fame is still lively among us, from the Battle of Largs at least. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0015" id="link2HCH0015"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XV. HAKON THE OLD AT LARGS. + </h2> + <p> + In the Norse annals our famous Battle of Largs makes small figure, or + almost none at all among Hakon's battles and feats. They do say indeed, + these Norse annalists, that the King of Scotland, Alexander III. (who had + such a fate among the crags about Kinghorn in time coming), was very + anxious to purchase from King Hakon his sovereignty of the Western Isles, + but that Hakon pointedly refused; and at length, being again importuned + and bothered on the business, decided on giving a refusal that could not + be mistaken. Decided, namely, to go with a big expedition, and look + thoroughly into that wing of his Dominions; where no doubt much has fallen + awry since Magnus Barefoot's grand visit thither, and seems to be inviting + the cupidity of bad neighbors! "All this we will put right again," thinks + Hakon, "and gird it up into a safe and defensive posture." Hakon sailed + accordingly, with a strong fleet; adjusting and rectifying among his + Hebrides as he went long, and landing withal on the Scotch coast to + plunder and punish as he thought fit. The Scots say he had claimed of them + Arran, Bute, and the Two Cumbraes ("given my ancestors by Donald Bain," + said Hakon, to the amazement of the Scots) "as part of the Sudoer" + (Southern Isles):—so far from selling that fine kingdom!—and + that it was after taking both Arran and Bute that he made his descent at + Largs. + </p> + <p> + Of Largs there is no mention whatever in Norse books. But beyond any + doubt, such is the other evidence, Hakon did land there; land and fight, + not conquering, probably rather beaten; and very certainly "retiring to + his ships," as in either case he behooved to do! It is further certain he + was dreadfully maltreated by the weather on those wild coasts; and + altogether credible, as the Scotch records bear, that he was so at Largs + very specially. The Norse Records or Sagas say merely, he lost many of his + ships by the tempests, and many of his men by land fighting in various + parts,—tacitly including Largs, no doubt, which was the last of + these misfortunes to him. "In the battle here he lost 15,000 men, say the + Scots, we 5,000"! Divide these numbers by ten, and the excellently brief + and lucid Scottish summary by Buchanan may be taken as the approximately + true and exact. <a href="#linknote-19" name="linknoteref-19" + id="linknoteref-19"><small>19</small></a> Date of the battle is A.D. 1263. + </p> + <p> + To this day, on a little plain to the south of the village, now town, of + Largs, in Ayrshire, there are seen stone cairns and monumental heaps, and, + until within a century ago, one huge, solitary, upright stone; still + mutely testifying to a battle there,—altogether clearly, to this + battle of King Hakon's; who by the Norse records, too, was in these + neighborhoods at that same date, and evidently in an aggressive, high kind + of humor. For "while his ships and army were doubling the Mull of Cantire, + he had his own boat set on wheels, and therein, splendidly enough, had + himself drawn across the Promontory at a flatter part," no doubt with + horns sounding, banners waving. "All to the left of me is mine and + Norway's," exclaimed Hakon in his triumphant boat progress, which such + disasters soon followed. + </p> + <p> + Hakon gathered his wrecks together, and sorrowfully made for Orkney. It is + possible enough, as our Guide Books now say, he may have gone by Iona, + Mull, and the narrow seas inside of Skye; and that the <i>Kyle-Akin</i>, + favorably known to sea-bathers in that region, may actually mean the Kyle + (narrow strait) of Hakon, where Hakon may have dropped anchor, and rested + for a little while in smooth water and beautiful environment, safe from + equinoctial storms. But poor Hakon's heart was now broken. He went to + Orkney; died there in the winter; never beholding Norway more. + </p> + <p> + He it was who got Iceland, which had been a Republic for four centuries, + united to his kingdom of Norway: a long and intricate operation,—much + presided over by our Snorro Sturleson, so often quoted here, who indeed + lost his life (by assassination from his sons-in-law) and out of great + wealth sank at once into poverty of zero,—one midnight in his own + cellar, in the course of that bad business. Hakon was a great Politician + in his time; and succeeded in many things before he lost Largs. Snorro's + death by murder had happened about twenty years before Hakon's by broken + heart. He is called Hakon the Old, though one finds his age was but + fifty-nine, probably a longish life for a Norway King. Snorro's narrative + ceases when Snorro himself was born; that is to say, at the threshold of + King Sverrir; of whose exploits and doubtful birth it is guessed by some + that Snorro willingly forbore to speak in the hearing of such a Hakon. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0016" id="link2HCH0016"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVI. EPILOGUE. + </h2> + <p> + Haarfagr's kindred lasted some three centuries in Norway; Sverrir's lasted + into its third century there; how long after this, among the neighboring + kinships, I did not inquire. For, by regal affinities, consanguinities, + and unexpected chances and changes, the three Scandinavian kingdoms fell + all peaceably together under Queen Margaret, of the Calmar Union (A.D. + 1397); and Norway, incorporated now with Denmark, needed no more kings. + </p> + <p> + The History of these Haarfagrs has awakened in me many thoughts: Of + Despotism and Democracy, arbitrary government by one and self-government + (which means no government, or anarchy) by all; of Dictatorship with many + faults, and Universal Suffrage with little possibility of any virtue. For + the contrast between Olaf Tryggveson, and a Universal-Suffrage Parliament + or an "Imperial" Copper Captain has, in these nine centuries, grown to be + very great. And the eternal Providence that guides all this, and produces + alike these entities with their epochs, is not its course still through + the great deep? Does not it still speak to us, if we have ears? Here, + clothed in stormy enough passions and instincts, unconscious of any aim + but their own satisfaction, is the blessed beginning of Human Order, + Regulation, and real Government; there, clothed in a highly different, but + again suitable garniture of passions, instincts, and equally unconscious + as to real aim, is the accursed-looking ending (temporary ending) of + Order, Regulation, and Government;—very dismal to the sane onlooker + for the time being; not dismal to him otherwise, his hope, too, being + steadfast! But here, at any rate, in this poor Norse theatre, one looks + with interest on the first transformation, so mysterious and abstruse, of + human Chaos into something of articulate Cosmos; witnesses the wild and + strange birth-pangs of Human Society, and reflects that without something + similar (little as men expect such now), no Cosmos of human society ever + was got into existence, nor can ever again be. + </p> + <p> + The violences, fightings, crimes—ah yes, these seldom fail, and they + are very lamentable. But always, too, among those old populations, there + was one saving element; the now want of which, especially the unlamented + want, transcends all lamentation. Here is one of those strange, piercing, + winged-words of Ruskin, which has in it a terrible truth for us in these + epochs now come:— + </p> + <p> + "My friends, the follies of modern Liberalism, many and great though they + be, are practically summed in this denial or neglect of the quality and + intrinsic value of things. Its rectangular beatitudes, and spherical + benevolences,—theology of universal indulgence, and jurisprudence + which will hang no rogues, mean, one and all of them, in the root, + incapacity of discerning, or refusal to discern, worth and unworth in + anything, and least of all in man; whereas Nature and Heaven command you, + at your peril, to discern worth from unworth in everything, and most of + all in man. Your main problem is that ancient and trite one, 'Who is best + man?' and the Fates forgive much,—forgive the wildest, fiercest, + cruelest experiments,—if fairly made for the determination of that. + </p> + <p> + "Theft and blood-guiltiness are not pleasing in their sight; yet the + favoring powers of the spiritual and material world will confirm to you + your stolen goods, and their noblest voices applaud the lifting of Your + spear, and rehearse the sculpture of your shield, if only your robbing and + slaying have been in fair arbitrament of that question, 'Who is best man?' + But if you refuse such inquiry, and maintain every man for his neighbor's + match,—if you give vote to the simple and liberty to the vile, the + powers of those spiritual and material worlds in due time present you + inevitably with the same problem, soluble now only wrong side upwards; and + your robbing and slaying must be done then to find out, 'Who is worst + man?' Which, in so wide an order of merit, is, indeed, not easy; but a + complete Tammany Ring, and lowest circle in the Inferno of Worst, you are + sure to find, and to be governed by." <a href="#linknote-20" + name="linknoteref-20" id="linknoteref-20"><small>20</small></a> + </p> + <p> + All readers will admit that there was something naturally royal in these + Haarfagr Kings. A wildly great kind of kindred; counts in it two Heroes of + a high, or almost highest, type: the first two Olafs, Tryggveson and the + Saint. And the view of them, withal, as we chance to have it, I have often + thought, how essentially Homeric it was:—indeed what is "Homer" + himself but the <i>Rhapsody</i> of five centuries of Greek Skalds and + wandering Ballad-singers, done (i.e. "stitched together") by somebody more + musical than Snorro was? Olaf Tryggveson and Olaf Saint please me quite as + well in their prosaic form; offering me the truth of them as if seen in + their real lineaments by some marvellous opening (through the art of + Snorro) across the black strata of the ages. Two high, almost among the + highest sons of Nature, seen as they veritably were; fairly comparable or + superior to god-like Achilleus, goddess-wounding Diomedes, much more to + the two Atreidai, Regulators of the Peoples. + </p> + <p> + I have also thought often what a Book might be made of Snorro, did there + but arise a man furnished with due literary insight, and indefatigable + diligence; who, faithfully acquainting himself with the topography, the + monumental relies and illustrative actualities of Norway, carefully + scanning the best testimonies as to place and time which that country can + still give him, carefully the best collateral records and chronologies of + other countries, and who, himself possessing the highest faculty of a + Poet, could, abridging, arranging, elucidating, reduce Snorro to a + polished Cosmic state, unweariedly purging away his much chaotic matter! A + modern "highest kind of Poet," capable of unlimited slavish labor withal;—who, + I fear, is not soon to be expected in this world, or likely to find his + task in the <i>Heimskringla</i> if he did appear here. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_FOOT" id="link2H_FOOT"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + FOOTNOTES: + </h2> + <p> + <a name="linknote-1" id="linknote-1"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 1 (<a href="#linknoteref-1">return</a>)<br /> [ J. G. Dahlmann, <i>Geschichte + von Dannemark</i>, 3 vols. 8vo. Hamburg, 1840-1843.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-2" id="linknote-2"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 2 (<a href="#linknoteref-2">return</a>)<br /> [ "Settlement," dated 912, by + Munch, Henault, &c. The Saxon Chronicle says (anno 876): "In this year + Rolf overran Normandy with his army, and he reigned fifty winters."] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-3" id="linknote-3"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 3 (<a href="#linknoteref-3">return</a>)<br /> [ Dahlmann, ii. 87.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-4" id="linknote-4"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 4 (<a href="#linknoteref-4">return</a>)<br /> [ Dahlmann, ii. 93.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-5" id="linknote-5"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 5 (<a href="#linknoteref-5">return</a>)<br /> [ <i>Laing's Snorro</i>, i. + 344.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-6" id="linknote-6"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 6 (<a href="#linknoteref-6">return</a>)<br /> [ G. Buchanani <i>Opera Omnia</i>, + i. 103, 104 (Curante Ruddimano, Edinburgi, 1715).] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-7" id="linknote-7"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 7 (<a href="#linknoteref-7">return</a>)<br /> [ His Long Serpent, judged by + some to be of the size of a frigate of forty-five guns (Laing).] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-8" id="linknote-8"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 8 (<a href="#linknoteref-8">return</a>)<br /> [ This sermon was printed by + Hearne; and is given also by Langebek in his excellent Collection, <i>Rerum + Danicarum Scriptores Medii AEri.</i> Hafniae. 1772-1834.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-9" id="linknote-9"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 9 (<a href="#linknoteref-9">return</a>)<br /> [ Kennet, i. 67; Rapin, i. + 119, 121 (from the <i>Saxon Chronicle</i> both).] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-10" id="linknote-10"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 10 (<a href="#linknoteref-10">return</a>)<br /> [ Knut born A.D. 988 + according to Munch's calculation (ii. 126).] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-11" id="linknote-11"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 11 (<a href="#linknoteref-11">return</a>)<br /> [ Snorro, Laing's + Translation, ii. p. 31 et seq., will minutely specify.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-12" id="linknote-12"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 12 (<a href="#linknoteref-12">return</a>)<br /> [ Snorro, ii. pp. 24, 25.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-13" id="linknote-13"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 13 (<a href="#linknoteref-13">return</a>)<br /> [ Snorro, ii. pp. 156-161.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-14" id="linknote-14"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 14 (<a href="#linknoteref-14">return</a>)<br /> [ Snorro, ii. pp. 252, + 253.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-15" id="linknote-15"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 15 (<a href="#linknoteref-15">return</a>)<br /> [ <i>Saxon Chronicle</i> + says expressly, under A.D. 1030: "In this year King Olaf was slain in + Norway by his own people, and was afterwards sainted."] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-16" id="linknote-16"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 16 (<a href="#linknoteref-16">return</a>)<br /> [ <i>Saxon Chronicle</i> + says: "1035. In this year died King Cnut.... He departed at Shaftesbury, + November 12, and they conveyed him thence to Winchester, and there buried + him."] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-17" id="linknote-17"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 17 (<a href="#linknoteref-17">return</a>)<br /> [ Munch gives the date 1038 + (ii. 840), Adam of Bremen 1040.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-18" id="linknote-18"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 18 (<a href="#linknoteref-18">return</a>)<br /> [ Camden, Rapin, &c. + quote.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-19" id="linknote-19"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 19 (<a href="#linknoteref-19">return</a>)<br /> [ <i>Buchanani Hist.</i> i. + 130.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-20" id="linknote-20"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 20 (<a href="#linknoteref-20">return</a>)<br /> [ <i>Fors Clavigera</i>, + Letter XIV. Pp. 8-10.] + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Early Kings of Norway, by Thomas Carlyle + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY *** + +***** This file should be named 1932-h.htm or 1932-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/9/3/1932/ + +Produced by Ron Burkey, and David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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