early kings of norway(古挪威的国王)-第16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！
own brother；a quiet man； who had always avoided war。 Olaf landed in
54
… Page 55…
EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY。
Norway without obstacle； but decided to be quiet till he had himself
examined and consulted friends。
His reception by his mother Aasta was of the kindest and proudest； and
is lovingly described by Snorro。 A pretty idyllic； or epic piece； of _Norse_
Homeric type： How Aasta； hearing of her son's advent； set all her maids
and menials to work at the top of their speed； despatched a runner to the
harvest…field； where her husband Sigurd was； to warn him to come home
and dress。 How Sigurd was standing among his harvest folk； reapers and
binders； and what he had on；broad slouch hat； with veil （against the
midges）； blue kirtle； hose of I forget what color； with laced boots； and in
his hand a stick with silver head and ditto ring upon it；a personable old
gentleman； of the eleventh century； in those parts。 Sigurd was cautious；
prudentially cunctatory； though heartily friendly in his counsel to Olaf as
to the King question。 Aasta had a Spartan tone in her wild maternal heart；
and assures Olaf that she； with a half…reproachful glance at Sigurd； will
stand by him to the death in this his just and noble enterprise。 Sigurd
promises to consult farther in his neighborhood； and to correspond by
messages； the result is； Olaf resolutely pushing forward himself； resolves
to call a Thing； and openly claim his kingship there。 The Thing itself was
willing enough： opposition parties do here and there bestir themselves； but
Olaf is always swifter than they。 Five kinglets somewhere in the
Uplands；＇11＇all descendants of Haarfagr； but averse to break the peace；
which Jarl Eric and Hakon Jarl both have always willingly allowed to
peaceable people；seem to be the main opposition party。 These five take
the field against Olaf with what force they have； Olaf； one night； by
beautiful celerity and strategic practice which a Friedrich or a Turenne
might have approved； surrounds these Five； and when morning breaks；
there is nothing for them but either death； or else instant surrender； and
swearing of fealty to King Olaf。 Which latter branch of the alternative they
gladly accept； the whole five of them； and go home again。
This was a beautiful bit of war…practice by King Olaf on land。 By
another stroke still more compendious at sea； he had already settled poor
young Hakon； and made him peaceable for a long while。 Olaf by diligent
quest and spy…messaging； had ascertained that Hakon； just returning from
55
… Page 56…
EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY。
Denmark and farewell to Papa and Knut； both now under way for England；
was coasting north towards Trondhjem； and intended on or about such a
day to land in such and such a fjord towards the end of this Trondhjem
voyage。 Olaf at once mans two big ships； steers through the narrow mouth
of the said fjord； moors one ship on the north shore； another on the south；
fixes a strong cable； well sunk under water； to the capstans of these two；
and in all quietness waits for Hakon。 Before many hours； Hakon's royal or
quasi…royal barge steers gaily into this fjord； is a little surprised； perhaps；
to see within the jaws of it two big ships at anchor； but steers gallantly
along； nothing doubting。 Olaf with a signal of 〃All hands；〃 works his two
capstans； has the cable up high enough at the right moment； catches with it
the keel of poor Hakon's barge； upsets it； empties it wholly into the sea。
Wholly into the sea； saves Hakon； however； and his people from drowning；
and brings them on board。 His dialogue with poor young Hakon；
especially poor young Hakon's responses； is very pretty。 Shall I give it； out
of Snorro； and let the reader take it for as authentic as he can？ It is at least
the true image of it in authentic Snorro's head； little more than two
centuries later。
〃Jarl Hakon was led up to the king's ship。 He was the handsomest man
that could be seen。 He had long hair as fine as silk； bound about his head
with a gold ornament。 When he sat down in the forehold the king said to
him：
_King。_ 〃'It is not false； what is said of your family； that ye are
handsome people to look at； but now your luck has deserted you。'
_Hakon。_ 〃'It has always been the case that success is changeable； and
there is no luck in the matter。 It has gone with your family as with mine to
have by turns the better lot。 I am little beyond childhood in years； and at
any rate we could not have defended ourselves； as we did not expect any
attack on the way。 It may turn out better with us another time。'
_King。_ 〃'Dost thou not apprehend that thou art in such a condition
that； hereafter； there can be neither victory nor defeat for thee？'
_Hakon。_ 〃'That is what only thou canst determine； King； according to
thy pleasure。'
_King。_ 〃'What wilt thou give me； Jarl； if； for this time； I let thee go；
56
… Page 57…
EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY。
whole and unhurt？'
_Hakon。_ 〃'What wilt thou take； King？'
_King。_ 〃'Nothing； except that thou shalt leave the country； give up
thy kingdom； and take an oath that thou wilt never go into battle against
me。'〃＇12＇
Jarl Hakon accepted the generous terms； went to England and King
Knut； and kept his bargain for a good few years； though he was at last
driven； by pressure of King Knut； to violate it；little to his profit； as we
shall see。 One victorious naval battle with Jarl Svein； Hakon's uncle； and
his adherents； who fled to Sweden； after his beating；battle not difficult to
a skilful； hard…hitting king；was pretty much all the actual fighting Olaf
had to do in this enterprise。 He various times met angry Bonders and
refractory Things with arms in their hand； but by skilful； firm
management；perfectly patient； but also perfectly ready to be active；he
mostly managed without coming to strokes； and was universally
recognized by Norway as its real king。 A promising young man； and fit to
be a king； thinks Snorro。 Only of middle stature； almost rather shortish；
but firm…standing； and stout…built； so that they got to call him Olaf the
Thick （meaning Olaf the Thick…set； or Stout…built）； though his final epithet
among them was infinitely higher。 For the rest； 〃a comely； earnest；
prepossessing look； beautiful yellow hair in quantity； broad； honest face；
of a complexion pure as snow and rose；〃 and finally （or firstly） 〃the
brightest eyes in the world； such that； in his anger； no man could stand
them。〃 He had a heavy task ahead； and needed all his qualities and fine
gifts to get it done。
57
… Page 58…
EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY。
CHAPTER X。
REIGN OF KING OLAF THE SAINT。
The late two Jarls； now gone about their business； had both been
baptized； and called themselves Christians。 But during their government
they did nothing in the conversion way； left every man to choose his own
God or Gods； so that some had actually two； the Christian God by land；
and at sea Thor； whom they considered safer in that element。 And in effect
the mass of the people had fallen back into a sluggish heathenism or half…
heathenism； the life…labor of Olaf Tryggveson lying ruinous or almost
quite overset。 The new Olaf； son of Harald； set himself with all his
strength to mend such a state of matters； and stood by his enterprise to the
end； as the one highest interest； including all others； for his People and
him。 His method was by no means soft； on the contrary； it was hard； rapid；
severe；somewhat on the model of Tryggveson's； though with more of
_bishoping_ and preaching superadded。 Yet still there was a great deal of
mauling； vigorou
