early kings of norway(古挪威的国王)-第2节
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extent in some cases。
Harald's chief helper； counsellor； and lieutenant was the above…
mentioned Jarl Rognwald of More； who had the honor to cut Harald's
dreadful head of hair。 This Rognwald was father of Turf…Einar； who first
invented peat in the Orkneys； finding the wood all gone there； and is
remembered to this day。 Einar； being come to these islands by King
Harald's permission； to see what he could do in them；islands inhabited
by what miscellany of Picts； Scots； Norse squatters we do not know；
found the indispensable fuel all wasted。 Turf…Einar too may be regarded as
a benefactor to his kind。 He was； it appears； a bastard； and got no coddling
from his father； who disliked him； partly perhaps； because 〃he was ugly
and blind of an eye；〃got no flattering even on his conquest of the
Orkneys and invention of peat。 Here is the parting speech his father made
to him on fitting him out with a 〃long…ship〃 （ship of war； 〃dragon…ship；〃
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EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY。
ancient seventy…four）； and sending him forth to make a living for himself
in the world： 〃It were best if thou never camest back； for I have small hope
that thy people will have honor by thee； thy mother's kin throughout is
slavish。〃
Harald Haarfagr had a good many sons and daughters； the daughters
he married mostly to jarls of due merit who were loyal to him； with the
sons； as remarked above； he had a great deal of trouble。 They were
ambitious； stirring fellows； and grudged at their finding so little promotion
from a father so kind to his jarls； sea…robbery by no means an adequate
career for the sons of a great king； two of them； Halfdan Haaleg （Long…
leg）； and Gudrod Ljome （Gleam）； jealous of the favors won by the great
Jarl Rognwald。 surrounded him in his house one night； and burnt him and
sixty men to death there。 That was the end of Rognwald； the invaluable
jarl； always true to Haarfagr； and distinguished in world history by
producing Rolf the Ganger； author of the Norman Conquest of England；
and Turf…Einar； who invented peat in the Orkneys。 Whether Rolf had left
Norway at this time there is no chronology to tell me。 As to Rolf's surname；
〃Ganger；〃 there are various hypotheses； the likeliest； perhaps； that Rolf
was so weighty a man no horse （small Norwegian horses； big ponies rather）
could carry him； and that he usually walked； having a mighty stride withal；
and great velocity on foot。
One of these murderers of Jarl Rognwald quietly set himself in
Rognwald's place； the other making for Orkney to serve Turf…Einar in like
fashion。 Turf…Einar； taken by surprise； fled to the mainland； but returned；
days or perhaps weeks after； ready for battle； fought with Halfdan； put his
party to flight； and at next morning's light searched the island and slew all
the men he found。 As to Halfdan Long…leg himself； in fierce memory of
his own murdered father； Turf…Einar 〃cut an eagle on his back；〃 that is to
say； hewed the ribs from each side of the spine and turned them out like
the wings of a spread…eagle： a mode of Norse vengeance fashionable at
that time in extremely aggravated cases！
Harald Haarfagr； in the mean time； had descended upon the Rognwald
scene； not in mild mood towards the new jarl there； indignantly dismissed
said jarl； and appointed a brother of Rognwald （brother； notes Dahlmann）；
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EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY。
though Rognwald had left other sons。 Which done； Haarfagr sailed with
all speed to the Orkneys； there to avenge that cutting of an eagle on the
human back on Turf…Einar's part。 Turf…Einar did not resist； submissively
met the angry Haarfagr； said he left it all； what had been done； what
provocation there had been； to Haarfagr's own equity and greatness of
mind。 Magnanimous Haarfagr inflicted a fine of sixty marks in gold；
which was paid in ready money by Turf…Einar； and so the matter ended。
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EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY。
CHAPTER II。
ERIC BLOOD…AXE AND BROTHERS。
In such violent courses Haarfagr's sons； I know not how many of them；
had come to an untimely end； only Eric； the accomplished sea…rover； and
three others remained to him。 Among these four sons； rather impatient for
property and authority of their own； King Harald； in his old days； tried to
part his kingdom in some eligible and equitable way； and retire from the
constant press of business； now becoming burdensome to him。 To each of
them he gave a kind of kingdom； Eric； his eldest son； to be head king； and
the others to be feudatory under him； and pay a certain yearly contribution；
an arrangement which did not answer well at all。 Head…King Eric insisted
on his tribute； quarrels arose as to the payment； considerable fighting and
disturbance； bringing fierce destruction from King Eric upon many valiant
but too stubborn Norse spirits； and among the rest upon all his three
brothers； which got him from the Norse populations the surname of _Blod…
axe_； 〃Eric Blood…axe；〃 his title in history。 One of his brothers he had
killed in battle before his old father's life ended； this brother was Bjorn； a
peaceable； improving； trading economic Under…king； whom the others
mockingly called 〃Bjorn the Chapman。〃 The great…grandson of this Bjorn
became extremely distinguished by and by as _Saint_ Olaf。 Head…King
Eric seems to have had a violent wife； too。 She was thought to have
poisoned one of her other brothers…in…law。 Eric Blood…axe had by no
means a gentle life of it in this world； trained to sea…robbery on the coasts
of England； Scotland； Ireland and France； since his twelfth year。
Old King Fairhair； at the age of seventy； had another son； to whom was
given the name of Hakon。 His mother was a slave in Fairhair's house；
slave by ill…luck of war； though nobly enough born。 A strange adventure
connects this Hakon with England and King Athelstan； who was then
entering upon his great career there。 Short while after this Hakon came
into the world； there entered Fairhair's palace； one evening as Fairhair sat
Feasting； an English ambassador or messenger； bearing in his hand； as gift
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EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY。
from King Athelstan； a magnificent sword； with gold hilt and other fine
trimmings； to the great Harald； King of Norway。 Harald took the sword；
drew it； or was half drawing it； admiringly from the scabbard； when the
English excellency broke into a scornful laugh； 〃Ha； ha； thou art now the
feudatory of my English king； thou hast accepted the sword from him； and
art now his man！〃 （acceptance of a sword in that manner being the symbol
of investiture in those days。） Harald looked a trifle flurried； it is probable；
but held in his wrath； and did no damage to the tricksy Englishman。 He
kept the matter in his mind； however； and next summer little Hakon；
having got his weaning done；one of the prettiest； healthiest little
creatures；Harald sent him off； under charge of 〃Hauk〃 （Hawk so called）；
one of his Principal； warriors； with order； 〃Take him to England；〃 and
instructions what to do with him there。 And accordingly； one evening；
Hauk； with thirty men escorting； strode into Athelstan's high dwelling
（where situated； how built； whether with logs like Harald's； I cannot
specifically say）； into Athelstan's high presence； and silently set the wild
little cherub upon Athelstan's knee。 〃What is this？〃 asked Athelstan；
looking at the little cherub。 〃This is King Harald's son； whom a serving…
maid bore to him； and whom he now gives thee as foster…child！〃 Indignant
Athelstan drew his sword； as if to do the gift a mischief； but Hauk said；
〃Thou hast taken him on thy knee ＇common symbol of adoption＇； thou
canst kill him if th
