early kings of norway(古挪威的国王)-第14节
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human speech or imagination； and awakens in one the momentary red…hot
thought； The Danes have served you right； ye accursed！ The so…called
soldiers； one finds； made not the least fight anywhere； could make none；
led and guided as they were； and the 〃Generals〃 often enough traitors；
always ignorant； and blockheads； were in the habit； when expressly
commanded to fight； of taking physic； and declaring that nature was
incapable of castor…oil and battle both at once。 This ought to be explained
a little to the modern English and their War…Secretaries； who undertake the
conduct of armies。 The undeniable fact is； defeat on defeat was the
constant fate of the English； during these forty years not one battle in
which they were not beaten。 No gleam of victory or real resistance till the
noble Edmund Ironside （whom it is always strange to me how such an
Ethelred could produce for son） made his appearance and ran his brief
course； like a great and far…seen meteor； soon extinguished without result。
No remedy for England in that base time； but yearly asking the victorious；
plundering； burning and murdering Danes； 〃How much money will you
take to go away？〃 Thirty thousand pounds in silver； which the annual
_Danegelt_ soon rose to； continued to be about the average yearly sum；
though generally on the increasing hand； in the last year I think it had risen
to seventy…two thousand pounds in silver； raised yearly by a tax （Income…
tax of its kind； rudely levied）； the worst of all remedies； good for the day
only。 Nay； there was one remedy still worse； which the miserable Ethelred
once tried： that of massacring 〃all the Danes settled in England〃
（practically； of a few thousands or hundreds of them）； by treachery and a
kind of Sicilian Vespers。 Which issued； as such things usually do； in
terrible monition to you not to try the like again！ Issued； namely； in
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redoubled fury on the Danish part； new fiercer invasion by Svein's Jarl
Thorkel； then by Svein himself； which latter drove the miserable Ethelred；
with wife and family； into Normandy； to wife's brother； the then Duke
there； and ended that miserable struggle by Svein's becoming King of
England himself。 Of this disgraceful massacre； which it would appear has
been immensely exaggerated in the English books； we can happily give
the exact date （A。D。 1002）； and also of Svein's victorious accession （A。D。
1013）；＇9＇pretty much the only benefit one gets out of contemplating such
a set of objects。
King Svein's first act was to levy a terribly increased Income…Tax for
the payment of his army。 Svein was levying it with a stronghanded
diligence； but had not yet done levying it； when； at Gainsborough one
night； he suddenly died； smitten dead； once used to be said； by St。 Edmund；
whilom murdered King of the East Angles； who could not bear to see his
shrine and monastery of St。 Edmundsbury plundered by the Tyrant's tax…
collectors； as they were on the point of being。 In all ways impossible；
however；Edmund's own death did not occur till two years after Svein's。
Svein's death； by whatever cause； befell 1014； his fleet； then lying in the
Humber； and only Knut；＇10＇ his eldest son （hardly yet eighteen； count
some）； in charge of it； who； on short counsel； and arrangement about this
questionable kingdom of his； lifted anchor； made for Sandwich； a safer
station at the moment； 〃cut off the feet and noses〃 （one shudders； and
hopes not； there being some discrepancy about it！） of his numerous
hostages that had been delivered to King Svein； set them ashore；and
made for Denmark； his natural storehouse and stronghold； as the
hopefulest first thing he could do。
Knut soon returned from Denmark； with increase of force sufficient
for the English problem； which latter he now ended in a victorious； and
essentially； for himself and chaotic England； beneficent manner。 Became
widely known by and by； there and elsewhere； as Knut the Great； and is
thought by judges of our day to have really merited that title。 A most
nimble； sharp…striking； clear…thinking； prudent and effective man； who
regulated this dismembered and distracted England in its Church matters；
in its State matters； like a real King。 Had a Standing Army （_House
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EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY。
Carles_）； who were well paid； well drilled and disciplined； capable of
instantly quenching insurrection or breakage of the peace； and piously
endeavored （with a signal earnestness； and even devoutness； if we look
well） to do justice to all men； and to make all men rest satisfied with
justice。 In a word； he successfully strapped up； by every true method and
regulation； this miserable； dislocated； and dissevered mass of bleeding
Anarchy into something worthy to be called an England again；only that
he died too soon； and a second 〃Conqueror〃 of us； still weightier of
structure； and under improved auspices； became possible； and was needed
here！ To appearance； Knut himself was capable of being a Charlemagne of
England and the North （as has been already said or quoted）； had he only
lived twice as long as he did。 But his whole sum of years seems not to
have exceeded forty。 His father Svein of the Forkbeard is reckoned to have
been fifty to sixty when St。 Edmund finished him at Gainsborough。 We
now return to Norway； ashamed of this long circuit which has been a
truancy more or less。
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EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY。
CHAPTER IX。
KING OLAF THE THICK…SET'S VIKING DAYS；
King Harald Graenske； who； with another from Russia accidentally
lodging beside him； got burned to death in Sweden； courting that
unspeakable Sigrid the Proud；was third cousin or so to Tryggve； father of
our heroic Olaf。 Accurately counted； he is great…grandson of Bjorn the
Chapman； first of Haarfagr's sons whom Eric Bloodaxe made away with。
His little 〃kingdom；〃 as he called it； was a district named the Greenland
（_Graeneland_）； he himself was one of those little Haarfagr kinglets whom
Hakon Jarl； much more Olaf Tryggveson； was content to leave reigning；
since they would keep the peace with him。 Harald had a loving wife of his
own； Aasta the name of her； soon expecting the birth of her and his pretty
babe； named Olaf；at the time he went on that deplorable Swedish
adventure； the foolish； fated creature； and ended self and kingdom
altogether。 Aasta was greatly shocked； composed herself however； married
a new husband； Sigurd Syr； a kinglet； and a great…grandson of Harald
Fairhair； a man of great wealth； prudence； and influence in those countries；
in whose house； as favorite and well…beloved stepson； little Olaf was
wholesomely and skilfully brought up。 In Sigurd's house he had； withal； a
special tutor entertained for him； one Rane； known as Rane the Far…
travelled； by whom he could be trained； from the earliest basis； in Norse
accomplishments and arts。 New children came； one or two； but Olaf； from
his mother； seems always to have known that he was the distinguished and
royal article there。 One day his Foster…father； hurrying to leave home on
business； hastily bade Olaf； no other being by； saddle his horse for him。
Olaf went out with the saddle； chose the biggest he…goat about； saddled
that； and brought it to the door by way of horse。 Old Sigurd； a most grave
man； grinned sardonically at the sight。 〃Hah； I see thou hast no mind to
take commands from me； thou art of too high a humor to take commands。〃
To
