early kings of norway-第21节
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Svein Estrithson； always beaten during Magnus's life； by and by got an agreement from the prudent Harald to _be_ 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。
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。
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。
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 _mother's_； 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；＇18＇ 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！
CHAPTER XII。
OLAF THE TRANQUIL； MAGNUS BAREFOOT； AND SIGURD THE CRUSADER。
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 _Kyrre_ （the Tranquil or Easygoing）。
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 （_glazed_； 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。
This son bears the name of Magnus _Barfod_ （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 _Sodor_）；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
