early kings of norway(古挪威的国王)-第11节
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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
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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
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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
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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 menti
