early kings of norway-第15节
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lley。〃＇13＇
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 _his_ 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！
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。
〃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。〃
〃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。〃
〃Done！〃 cried Olaf。 Upon which Thorarin stretched out the other foot。
〃A still uglier；〃 cried he； 〃for it has lost the little toe。〃
〃Ho； ho！〃 said Olaf； 〃but it is I who have gained the bet。 The _less_ of an ugly thing the less ugly； not the more！〃
Loyal Thorarin respectfully submitted。
〃What is to be my penalty； then？ The king it is that must decide。〃
〃To take me that wicked old Raerik to Leif Ericson in Greenland。〃
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。
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。
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！
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。
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：
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 （_Helge…aa_； 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
