early kings of norway-第9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！
Milder thoughts； we say； and consented to a meeting next autumn； at some half…way station； where their great business might be brought to a happy settlement and betrothment。 Both Olaf Tryggveson and the high dowager appear to have been tolerably of willing mind at this meeting； but Olaf interposed； what was always one condition with him； 〃Thou must consent to baptism； and give up thy idol…gods。〃 〃They are the gods of all my forefathers；〃 answered the lady； 〃choose thou what gods thou pleasest； but leave me mine。〃 Whereupon an altercation； and Tryggveson； as was his wont； towered up into shining wrath； and exclaimed at last； 〃Why should I care about thee then； old faded heathen creature？〃 And impatiently wagging his glove； hit her； or slightly switched her； on the face with it； and contemptuously turning away； walked out of the adventure。 〃This is a feat that may cost thee dear one day；〃 said Sigrid。 And in the end it came to do so； little as the magnificent Olaf deigned to think of it at the moment。
One of the last scuffles I remember of Olaf's having with his refractory heathens； was at a Thing in Hordaland or Rogaland； far in the North； where the chief opposition hero was one Jaernskaegg （〃ironbeard〃） Scottice （〃Airn…shag；〃 as it were！）。 Here again was a grand heathen temple； Hakon Jarl's building； with a splendid Thor in it and much idol furniture。 The king stated what was his constant wish here as elsewhere； but had no sooner entered upon the subject of Christianity than universal murmur； rising into clangor and violent dissent； interrupted him； and Ironbeard took up the discourse in reply。 Ironbeard did not break down； on the contrary； he； with great brevity； emphasis； and clearness； signified 〃that the proposal to reject their old gods was in the highest degree unacceptable to this Thing； that it was contrary to bargain； withal； so that if it were insisted on； they would have to fight with the king about it； and in fact were now ready to do so。〃 In reply to this； Olaf； without word uttered； but merely with some signal to the trusty armed men he had with him； rushed off to the temple close at hand； burst into it； shutting the door behind him； smashed Thor and Co。 to destruction； then reappearing victorious； found much confusion outside； and； in particular； what was a most important item； the rugged Ironbeard done to death by Olaf's men in the interim。 Which entirely disheartened the Thing from fighting at that moment； having now no leader who dared to head them in so dangerous an enterprise。 So that every one departed to digest his rage in silence as he could。
Matters having cooled for a week or two； there was another Thing held； in which King Olaf testified regret for the quarrel that had fallen out； readiness to pay what _mulct_ was due by law for that unlucky homicide of Ironbeard by his people； and； withal； to take the fair daughter of Ironbeard to wife； if all would comply and be friends with him in other matters； which was the course resolved on as most convenient： accept baptism； we； marry Jaernskaegg's daughter； you。 This bargain held on both sides。 The wedding； too； was celebrated； but that took rather a strange turn。 On the morning of the bride…night； Olaf； who had not been sleeping； though his fair partner thought he had； opened his eyes； and saw； with astonishment； the fair partner aiming a long knife ready to strike home upon him！ Which at once ended their wedded life； poor Demoiselle Ironbeard immediately bundling off with her attendants home again； King Olaf into the apartment of his servants； mentioning there what had happened； and forbidding any of them to follow her。
Olaf Tryggveson； though his kingdom was the smallest of the Norse Three； had risen to a renown over all the Norse world； which neither he of Denmark nor he of Sweden could pretend to rival。 A magnificent； far…shining man； more expert in all 〃bodily exercises〃 as the Norse call them； than any man had ever been before him； or after was。 Could keep five daggers in the air； always catching the proper fifth by its handle； and sending it aloft again； could shoot supremely； throw a javelin with either hand； and； in fact； in battle usually throw two together。 These； with swimming； climbing； leaping； were the then admirable Fine Arts of the North； in all which Tryggveson appears to have been the Raphael and the Michael Angelo at once。 Essentially definable； too； if we look well into him； as a wild bit of real heroism； in such rude guise and environment； a high； true； and great human soul。 A jovial burst of laughter in him； withal； a bright； airy； wise way of speech； dressed beautifully and with care； a man admired and loved exceedingly by those he liked； dreaded as death by those he did not like。 〃Hardly any king；〃 says Snorro； 〃was ever so well obeyed； by one class out of zeal and love； by the rest out of dread。〃 His glorious course； however； was not to last long。
King Svein of the Double…Beard had not yet completed his conquest of England；by no means yet； some thirteen horrid years of that still before him！when； over in Denmark； he found that complaints against him and intricacies had arisen； on the part principally of one Burislav； King of the Wends （far up the Baltic）； and in a less degree with the King of Sweden and other minor individuals。 Svein earnestly applied himself to settle these； and have his hands free。 Burislav； an aged heathen gentleman； proved reasonable and conciliatory； so； too； the King of Sweden； and Dowager Queen Sigrid； his managing mother。 Bargain in both these cases got sealed and crowned by marriage。 Svein； who had become a widower lately； now wedded Sigrid； and might think； possibly enough； he had got a proud bargain； though a heathen one。 Burislav also insisted on marriage with Princess Thyri； the Double…Beard's sister。 Thyri； inexpressibly disinclined to wed an aged heathen of that stamp； pleaded hard with her brother； but the Double…Bearded was inexorable； Thyri's wailings and entreaties went for nothing。 With some guardian foster…brother； and a serving…maid or two； she had to go on this hated journey。 Old Burislav； at sight of her； blazed out into marriage…feast of supreme magnificence； and was charmed to see her； but Thyri would not join the marriage party； refused to eat with it or sit with it at all。 Day after day； for six days； flatly refused； and after nightfall of the sixth； glided out with her foster…brother into the woods； into by…paths and inconceivable wanderings； and； in effect； got home to Denmark。 Brother Svein was not for the moment there； probably enough gone to England again。 But Thyri knew too well he would not allow her to stay here； or anywhere that he could help； except with the old heathen she had just fled from。
Thyri； looking round the world； saw no likely road for her； but to Olaf Tryggveson in Norway； to beg protection from the most heroic man she knew of in the world。 Olaf； except by renown； was not known to her； but by renown he well was。 Olaf； at sight of her； promised protection and asylum against all mortals。 Nay； in discoursing with Thyri Olaf perceived more and more clearly what a fine handsome being； soul and body； Thyri was； and in a short space of time winded up by proposing marriage to Thyri； who； humbly； and we may fancy with what secret joy； consented to say yes； and become Queen of Norway。 In the due months they had a little son； Harald； who； it is credibly recorded； was the joy of both his parents； but who； to their inexpressible sorrow； in about a year died； and vanished from them。 This； and one other fact now to be mentioned； is all the wedded history we have of Thyri。
The other fact is； that Thyri had； by inheritance or covenant； not depending on her marriage with old Burislav； considerable properties in Wendland； which； she often reflected； might be not a little behooveful to her here in Norway； where her civil…list was probably but straitened。 She spoke of this to her husband； but her husband would take no hold； merely made her gifts； and said； 〃Pooh； pooh； can't we live without old Burislav and his Wendland properties？〃 So that the lady sank into ever deeper anxiety and eagerness about this Wendland object； took to weeping； sat weeping whole days； and when Olaf asked； 〃What ails thee； then？〃 would answer； or did answer once； 〃What a different man my father Harald Gormson was ＇vulgarly called Blue…tooth＇； compared with some that are now kings！ For no King Svein in the world would Harald Gormson have given up his own or his wife's just rights！〃 Whereupon Tryggveson started up； exclaiming in some heat； 〃Of thy brother Svein I never was afraid； if Svein and I meet in contest； it will not be Svein； I believe； that conquers；〃 and went off in a towering fume。 Consented； however； at last； had to consent； to get his fine fleet equipped and armed； and decide to sail with it to Wendland to have speech and settlement with King Burislav。
Tryggveson had already ships and navies that were the wonder of the North。 Especially in building war ships； the Crane； the Serpent； last of all the Long Serpent；＇7＇he had； for size； for outward beauty； and inward perfection of equipment； transcended all example。
This new sea expedition became an
