early kings of norway-第8节
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his people there。 For this was a serious； vital； all…comprehending matter； devil…worship； a thing not to be tolerated one moment longer than you could by any method help！ Olaf's success was intermittent； of varying complexion； but his effort； swift or slow； was strong and continual； and on the whole he did succeed。 Take a sample or two of that wonderful conversion process：
At one of his first Things he found the Bonders all assembled in arms； resolute to the death seemingly； against his proposal and him。 Tryggveson said little； waited impassive； 〃What your reasons are； good men？〃 One zealous Bonder started up in passionate parliamentary eloquence； but after a sentence or two； broke down； one； and then another； and still another； and remained all three staring in open…mouthed silence there！ The peasant…proprietors accepted the phenomenon as ludicrous； perhaps partly as miraculous withal； and consented to baptism this time。
On another occasion of a Thing； which had assembled near some heathen temple to meet him；temple where Hakon Jarl had done much repairing； and set up many idol figures and sumptuous ornaments； regardless of expense； especially a very big and splendid Thor； with massive gold collar round the neck of him； not the like of it in Norway；King Olaf Tryggveson was clamorously invited by the Bonders to step in there； enlighten his eyes； and partake of the sacred rites。 Instead of which he rushed into the temple with his armed men； smashed down； with his own battle…axe； the god Thor； prostrate on the ground at one stroke； to set an example； and； in a few minutes； had the whole Hakon Pantheon wrecked； packing up meanwhile all the gold and preciosities accumulated there （not forgetting Thor's illustrious gold collar； of which we shall hear again）； and victoriously took the plunder home with him for his own royal uses and behoof of the state。 In other cases； though a friend to strong measures； he had to hold in； and await the favorable moment。 Thus once； in beginning a parliamentary address； so soon as he came to touch upon Christianity； the Bonders rose in murmurs； in vociferations and jingling of arms； which quite drowned the royal voice； declared； they had taken arms against king Hakon the Good to compel him to desist from his Christian proposals； and they did not think King Olaf a higher man than him （Hakon the Good）。 The king then said； 〃He purposed coming to them next Yule to their great sacrificial feast； to see for himself what their customs were；〃 which pacified the Bonders for this time。 The appointed place of meeting was again a Hakon…Jarl Temple； not yet done to ruin； chief shrine in those Trondhjem parts； I believe ： there should Tryggveson appear at Yule。 Well； but before Yule came； Tryggveson made a great banquet in his palace at Trondhjem； and invited far and wide； all manner of important persons out of the district as guests there。 Banquet hardly done； Tryggveson gave some slight signal； upon which armed men strode in； seized eleven of these principal persons； and the king said： 〃Since he himself was to become a heathen again； and do sacrifice； it was his purpose to do it in the highest form； namely； that of Human Sacrifice； and this time not of slaves and malefactors； but of the best men in the country！〃 In which stringent circumstances the eleven seized persons； and company at large； gave unanimous consent to baptism； straightway received the same； and abjured their idols； but were not permitted to go home till they had left； in sons； brothers； and other precious relatives； sufficient hostages in the king's hands。
By unwearied industry of this and better kinds； Tryggveson had trampled down idolatry； so far as form went；how far in substance may be greatly doubted。 But it is to be remembered withal； that always on the back of these compulsory adventures there followed English bishops； priests and preachers； whereby to the open…minded； conviction； to all degrees of it； was attainable； while silence and passivity became the duty or necessity of the unconvinced party。
In about two years Norway was all gone over with a rough harrow of conversion。 Heathenism at least constrained to be silent and outwardly conformable。 Tryggveson； next turned his attention to Iceland； sent one Thangbrand； priest from Saxony； of wonderful qualities； military as well as theological； to try and convert Iceland。 Thangbrand made a few converts； for Olaf had already many estimable Iceland friends； whom he liked much； and was much liked by； and conversion was the ready road to his favor。 Thangbrand； I find； lodged with Hall of Sida （familiar acquaintance of 〃Burnt Njal；〃 whose Saga has its admirers among us even now）。 Thangbrand converted Hall and one or two other leading men；； but in general he was reckoned quarrelsome and blusterous rather than eloquent and piously convincing。 Two skalds of repute made biting lampoons upon Thangbrand； whom Thangbrand； by two opportunities that offered； cut down and did to death because of their skaldic quality。 Another he killed with his own hand； I know not for what reason。 In brief； after about a year； Thangbrand returned to Norway and king Olaf； declaring the Icelanders to be a perverse； satirical； and inconvertible people； having himself； the record says； 〃been the death of three men there。〃 King Olaf was in high rage at this result； but was persuaded by the Icelanders about him to try farther； and by a wilder instrument。 He accordingly chose one Thormod； a pious； patient； and kindly man； who； within the next year or so； did actually accomplish the matter； namely； get Christianity； by open vote； declared at Thingvalla by the general Thing of Iceland there； the roar of a big thunder…clap at the right moment rather helping the conclusion； if I recollect。 Whereupon Olaf's joy was no doubt great。
One general result of these successful operations was the discontent； to all manner of degrees； on the part of many Norse individuals； against this glorious and victorious； but peremptory and terrible king of theirs。 Tryggveson； I fancy； did not much regard all that； a man of joyful； cheery temper； habitually contemptuous of danger。 Another trivial misfortune that befell in these conversion operations； and became important to him； he did not even know of； and would have much despised if he had。 It was this： Sigrid； queen dowager of Sweden； thought to be amongst the most shining women of the world； was also known for one of the most imperious； revengeful； and relentless； and had got for herself the name of Sigrid the Proud。 In her high widowhood she had naturally many wooers； but treated them in a manner unexampled。 Two of her suitors； a simultaneous Two； were； King Harald Graenske （a cousin of King Tryggveson's； and kind of king in some district； by sufferance of the late Hakon's）；this luckless Graenske and the then Russian Sovereign as well； name not worth mentioning； were zealous suitors of Queen Dowager Sigrid； and were perversely slow to accept the negative； which in her heart was inexorable for both； though the expression of it could not be quite so emphatic。 By ill…luck for them they came once；from the far West； Graenske； from the far East； the Russian；and arrived both together at Sigrid's court； to prosecute their importunate； and to her odious and tiresome suit； much； how very much； to her impatience and disdain。 She lodged them both in some old mansion； which she had contiguous； and got compendiously furnished for them； and there； I know not whether on the first or on the second； or on what following night； this unparalleled Queen Sigrid had the house surrounded； set on fire； and the two suitors and their people burnt to ashes！ No more of bother from these two at least！ This appears to be a fact； and it could not be unknown to Tryggveson。
In spite of which； however； there went from Tryggveson； who was now a widower； some incipient marriage proposals to this proud widow； by whom they were favorably received； as from the brightest man in all the world； they might seem worth being。 Now； in one of these anti…heathen onslaughts of King Olaf's on the idol temples of Hakon（I think it was that case where Olaf's own battle…axe struck down the monstrous refulgent Thor； and conquered an immense gold ring from the neck of him； or from the door of his temple）；a huge gold ring； at any rate； had come into Olaf's hands； and this he bethought him might be a pretty present to Queen Sigrid； the now favorable； though the proud。 Sigrid received the ring with joy； fancied what a collar it would make for her own fair neck； but noticed that her two goldsmiths； weighing it on their fingers； exchanged a glance。 〃What is that？〃 exclaimed Queen Sigrid。 〃Nothing；〃 answered they； or endeavored to answer； dreading mischief。 But Sigrid compelled them to break open the ring； and there was found； all along the inside of it； an occult ring of copper； not a heart of gold at all！ 〃Ha；〃 said the proud Queen； flinging it away； 〃he that could deceive in this matter can deceive in many others！〃 And was in hot wrath with Olaf； though； by degrees； again she took milder thoughts。
Milder thoughts； we say； and consented to a meeting next autumn； at some half…way station； where their great busine
