letters from high latitudes-第46节
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Then they both kept themselves awake； 〃THE ONE； AS IT WERE； WATCHING UPON THE OTHER。〃 But towards day； the Jarl dropped asleep； and in his unquiet slumber he drew his heels under him； and raised his neck as if going to rise； 〃and shrieked fearfully。〃 On this； Karker； 〃dreadfully alarmed；〃 drew a knife from his belt； stuck it into the Jarl's throat； and cut off his head。 Late in the day he came to Lade； brought the Jarl's head to Olaf； and told his story。
It is a comfort to know that 〃the red ring〃 was laid round the traitor's neck： Olaf caused him to be beheaded。
What a picture that is； in the swine…stye； those two haggard faces； travel…stained and worn with want of rest； watching each other with hot； sleepless eyes through the half darkness； and how true to nature is the nightmare of the miserable Jarl！
It was on my return from Lade； that I found your letters； and that I might enjoy them without interruption； I carried them off to the churchyard（such a beautiful place！）to read in peace and quiet。 The churchyard was NOT 〃populous with young men； striving to be alone；〃 as Tom Hood describes it to have been in a certain sentimental parish； so I enjoyed the seclusion I anticipated。
I was much struck by the loving care and ornament bestowed on the graves； some were literally loaded with flowers； and even those which bore the date of a long past sorrow had each its own blooming crown； or fresh nosegay。 These good Throndhjemers must have much of what the French call la religion des souvenirs； a religion in which we English （as a nation） are singularly deficient。 I suppose no people in Europe are so little addicted to the keeping of sentimental anniversaries as we are； I make an exception with regard to our living friends' birthdays； which we are ever tenderly ready to cultivate； when called on； turtle； venison； and champagne； being pleasant investments for the affections。 But time and business do not admit of a faithful adherence to more sombre reminiscences； a busy gentleman 〃on 'Change〃 cannot conveniently shut himself up； on his 〃lost Araminta's natal…day；〃 nor will a railroad committee allow of his running down by the 10。25 A。M。； to shed a tear over that neat tablet in the new Willow…cum…Hatband Cemetery。 He is necessarily content to regret his Araminta in the gross； and to omit the petty details of a too pedantic sorrow。
The fact is； we are an eminently practical people； and are easily taught to accept 〃the irrevocable；〃 if not without regret； at least with a philosophy which repudiates all superfluous methods of showing it。 DECENT is the usual and appropriate term applied to our churchyard solemnities； and we are not only 〃content to dwell in decencies for ever；〃 but to die； and be buried in them。
The cathedral loses a little of its poetical physiognomy on a near approach。 Modern restoration has done something to spoil the outside； and modern refinement a good deal to degrade the interior with pews and partitions； but it is a very fine building； and worthy of its metropolitan dignity。 I am told that the very church built by Magnus the Good；son of Saint Olaveover his father's remains； and finished by his uncle Harald Hardrada； is； or rather was； included in the walls of the cathedral； and though successive catastrophes by fire have perhaps left but little of the original building standing； I like to think that some of these huge stones were lifted to their place under the eyes of Harald The Stern。 It was on the eve of his last fatal expedition against our own Harold of England that the shrine of St。 Olave was opened by the king； who； having clipped the hair and nails of the dead saint （most probably as relics； efficacious for the protection of himself and followers）； then locked the shrine； and threw the keys into the Nid。 Its secrets from that day were respected until the profane hands of Lutheran Danes carried it bodily away； with all the gold and silver chalices； and jewelled pyxes； which； by kingly gifts and piratical offerings； had accumulated for centuries in its treasury。
He must have been a fine； resolute fellow； that Harald the Stern； although； in spite of much church…building and a certain amount of Pagan…persecuting； his character did not in any way emulate that of his saintly brother。 The early part of his history reads like a fairy tale； and is a favourite subject for Scald songs； more especially his romantic adventures in the East；
〃Well worthy of the golden prime Of good Haroun Alraschid。〃
where Saracens flee like chaff upon the wind before him； and impregnable Sicilian castles fall into his power by impossible feats of arms； or incredible stratagems。 A Greek empress； 〃the mature Zoe；〃 as Gibbon calls her； falls in love with him； and her husband； Constantine Monomachus； puts him in prison； but Saint Olaf still protects his mauvais sujet of a brother； and inspires 〃a lady of distinction〃 with the successful idea of helping Harald out of his inaccessible tower by the prosaic expedient of a ladder of ropes。 A boom； however； across the harbour's mouth still prevents the escape of his vessel。 The Sea…king is not to be so easily baffled。 Moving all his ballast； arms； and men； into the afterpart of the ship； until her stem slants up out of the sea； he rows straight at the iron chain。 The ship leaps almost half…way over。 The weight being then immediately transferred to the fore…part； she slips down into the water on the other side；having topped the fence like an Irish hunter。 A second galley breaks her back in the attempt。 After some questionable acts of vengeance on the Greek court； Harald and his bold Vaeringers go fighting and plundering their way through the Bosphorus and Black Sea back to Novogorod； where the first part of the romance terminates； as it should； by his marriage with the object of his secret attachment； Elisof； the daughter of the Russian king。
Hardrada's story darkens towards the end； as most of the tales of that stirring time are apt to do。 His death on English ground is so striking； that you must have patience with one other short Saga； it will give you the battle of Stanford Bridge from the Norse point of view。
The expedition against Harold of England commences ill； dreams and omens affright the fleet； one man dreams he sees a raven sitting on the stern of each vessel； another sees the fair English coast；
〃But glancing shields Hide the green fields；〃
and other fearful phenomena mar the beautiful vision。 Harald himself dreams that he is back again at Nidaros； and that his brother Olaf meets him with a prophecy of ruin and death。 The bold Norsemen are not to be daunted by these auguries； and their first successes on the English coast seem to justify their persistence。 But on a certain beautiful Monday in September （A。D。 1066； according to the Saxon Chronicle）； part of his army being encamped at Stanford Bridge； 〃Hardrada； HAVING TAKEN BREAKFAST； ordered the trumpets to sound for going on shore；〃 but he left half his force behind； to guard the ships： and his men； anticipating no resistance from the castle； which had already surrendered； 〃went on shore （the weather being hot）； with only their helmets； shields； and spears； and girt with swords； some had bows and arrows；and all were very merry。〃 On nearing the castle； they see 〃a cloud of dust as from horses' feet； and under it shining shields and bright armour。〃 English Harold's army is before them。 Hardrada sends back to his ship for succour； and sets up his banner； 〃Land Ravager；〃 undismayed by the inequality of his force； and their comparatively unarmed condition。 The men on each side are drawn up in battle array； and the two kings in presence； each gazes eagerly to discover his noble foe among the multitude。 Harald Hardrada's black horse stumbles and falls； 〃the King got up in haste； and said； 'A fall is lucky for a traveller。'〃
The English King said to the Northmen who were with him； 〃Do you know the stout man who fell from his horse； with the blue kirtle； and beautiful helmet？〃
〃That is the Norwegian King；〃 said they。
English Harold replied； 〃A great man； and of stately appearance is he； but I think his luck has left him。〃
And now twenty gallant English knights ride out of their ranks to parley with the Northmen。 One advances beyond the rest and asks if Earl Toste； the brother of English Harold （who has banded with his enemy against him）； is with the army。
The Earl himself proudly answers； 〃It is not to be denied that you will find him here。〃
The Saxon says； 〃Thy brother； Harold； sends his salutation； and offers thee the third part of his kingdom； if thou wilt be reconciled and submit to him。〃
The Earl replies； at the suggestion of the Norse King； 〃What will my brother the King give to Harald Hardrada for his trouble？〃
〃He will give him；〃 says the Knight； 〃SEVEN FEET OF ENGLISH GROUND； OR AS MUCH MORE AS HE MAY BE TALLER THAN OTHER MEN。〃
〃Then；〃 says the Earl； 〃let the English King； my brother； make ready for battle； for it never shall be said that Earl Toste broke faith with his friends when they came with him to fight west here in England。〃
When the knights rode off； King Harald Hardrada asked the Earl； 〃Who was the man who spoke so well？〃
The Earl replied； 〃That kni
