early kings of norway-第19节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
uch are the metamorphoses of human fame in the world！
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。＇15＇
CHAPTER XI。
MAGNUS THE GOOD AND OTHERS。
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。
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＇16＇；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。
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。
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。
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：＇17＇ 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。
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
