early kings of norway(古挪威的国王)-第10节
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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。
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EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY。
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
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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
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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 business might be brought to a
happy settlement and betrothment。
