early kings of norway-第16节
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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。
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：
〃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）。
〃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。
〃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。
〃The King said； 'Hast thou killed the Jarl？' 'I have killed him；' said he。 'Thou hast done well；' answered the King。〃 I
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。＇14＇ 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； _Harold_ 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。
This pretty little victory or affront； gained over Knut in _Lymfjord_； 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。
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。
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）。
〃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 bound
