early kings of norway(古挪威的国王)-第20节
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Gyda was the name of their daughter； who was married to the English
King Edward； the Good （whom we call the Confessor）。
〃When they had played a while； the King made a false move； on which
the Jarl took a knight from him； but the King set the piece on the board
again； and told the Jarl to make another move。 But the Jarl flew angry；
tumbled the chess…board over； rose； and went away。 The King said； 'Run
thy ways； Ulf the Fearful。' The Jarl turned round at the door and said；
'Thou wouldst have run farther at Helge river hadst thou been left to battle
there。 Thou didst not call me Ulf the Fearful when I hastened to thy help
while the Swedes were beating thee like a dog。' The Jarl then went out；
and went to bed。
〃The following morning； while the King was putting on his clothes； he
said to his footboy； 'Go thou to Jarl Ulf and kill him。' The lad went； was
away a while； and then came back。 The King said； 'Hast thou killed the
Jarl？' 'I did not kill him； for he was gone to St。 Lucius's church。' There was
a man called Ivar the White； a Norwegian by birth； who was the King's
courtman and chamberlain。 The King said to him； 'Go thou and kill the
Jarl。' Ivar went to the church； and in at the choir； and thrust his sword
through the Jarl； who died on the spot。 Then Ivar went to the King； with
the bloody sword in his hand。
〃The King said； 'Hast thou killed the Jarl？' 'I have killed him；' said he。
'Thou hast done well；' answered the King。〃 I
From a man who built so many churches （one on each battlefield
where he had fought； to say nothing of the others）； and who had in him
such depths of real devotion and other fine cosmic quality； this does seem
rather strong！ But it is characteristic； withal；of the man； and perhaps of
the times still more。＇14＇ In any case； it is an event worth noting； the slain
Jarl Ulf and his connections being of importance in the history of
Denmark and of England also。 Ulf's wife was Astrid； sister of Knut； and
their only child was Svein； styled afterwards 〃Svein Estrithson〃 （〃Astrid…
son〃） when he became noted in the world；at this time a beardless youth；
who； on the back of this tragedy； fled hastily to Sweden； where were
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friends of Ulf。 After some ten years' eclipse there； Knut and both his sons
being now dead； Svein reappeared in Denmark under a new and eminent
figure； 〃Jarl of Denmark；〃 highest Liegeman to the then sovereign there。
Broke his oath to said sovereign； declared himself； Svein Estrithson； to be
real King of Denmark； and； after much preliminary trouble； and many
beatings and disastrous flights to and fro； became in effect such；to the
wonder of mankind； for he had not had one victory to cheer him on； or any
good luck or merit that one sees； except that of surviving longer than some
others。 Nevertheless he came to be the Restorer； so called； of Danish
independence； sole remaining representative of Knut （or Knut's sister）； of
Fork…beard； Blue…tooth； and Old Gorm； and ancestor of all the subsequent
kings of Denmark for some 400 years； himself coming； as we see； only by
the Distaff side； all of the Sword or male side having died so soon。 Early
death； it has been observed； was the Great Knut's allotment； and all his
posterity's as well；fatal limit （had there been no others； which we see
there were） to his becoming 〃Charlemagne of the North〃 in any
considerable degree！ Jarl Ulf； as we have seen； had a sister； Gyda by name；
wife to Earl Godwin （〃Gudin Ulfnadsson；〃 as Snorro calls him） a very
memorable Englishman； whose son and hers； King Harald； _Harold_ in
English books； is the memorablest of all。 These things ought to be better
known to English antiquaries； and will perhaps be alluded to again。
This pretty little victory or affront； gained over Knut in _Lymfjord_；
was among the last successes of Olaf against that mighty man。 Olaf； the
skilful captain he was； need not have despaired to defend his Norway
against Knut and all the world。 But he learned henceforth； month by
month ever more tragically； that his own people； seeing softer prospects
under Knut； and in particular the chiefs of them； industriously bribed by
Knut for years past； had fallen away from him； and that his means of
defence were gone。 Next summer； Knut's grand fleet sailed； unopposed；
along the coast of Norway； Knut summoning a Thing every here and there；
and in all of them meeting nothing but sky…high acclamation and
acceptance。 Olaf； with some twelve little ships； all he now had； lay quiet in
some safe fjord； near Lindenaes； what we now call the Naze； behind some
little solitary isles on the southeast of Norway there； till triumphant Knut
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had streamed home again。 Home to England again 〃Sovereign of Norway〃
now； with nephew Hakon appointed Jarl and Vice…regent under him！ This
was the news Olaf met on venturing out； and that his worst anticipations
were not beyond the sad truth all； or almost all； the chief Bonders and men
of weight in Norway had declared against him； and stood with triumphant
Knut。
Olaf； with his twelve poor ships； steered vigorously along the coast to
collect money and force；if such could now anywhere be had。 He himself
was resolute to hold out； and try。 〃Sailing swiftly with a fair wind；
morning cloudy with some showers；〃 he passed the coast of Jedderen；
which was Erling Skjalgson's country； when he got sure notice of an
endless multitude of ships； war…ships； armed merchant ships； all kinds of
shipping…craft； down to fishermen's boats； just getting under way against
him； under the command of Erling Skjalgson； the powerfulest of his
subjects； once much a friend of Olaf's but now gone against him to this
length； thanks to Olaf's severity of justice； and Knut's abundance in gold
and promises for years back。 To that complexion had it come with Erling；
sailing with this immense assemblage of the naval people and populace of
Norway to seize King Olaf； and bring him to the great Knut dead or alive。
Erling had a grand new ship of his own； which far outsailed the
general miscellany of rebel ships； and was visibly fast gaining distance on
Olaf himself；who well understood what Erling's puzzle was； between the
tail of his game （the miscellany of rebel ships； namely） that could not
come up； and the head or general prize of the game which was crowding
all sail to get away； and Olaf took advantage of the same。 〃Lower your
sails！〃 said Olaf to his men （though we must go slower）。
〃Ho you； we have lost sight of them！〃 said Erling to his； and put on all
his speed； Olaf going； soon after this； altogether invisible；behind a little
island that he knew of； whence into a certain fjord or bay （Bay of Fungen
on the maps）； which he thought would suit him。 〃Halt here； and get out
your arms；〃 said Olaf； and had not to wait long till Erling came bounding
in； past the rocky promontory； and with astonishment beheld Olaf's fleet of
twelve with their battle…axes and their grappling…irons all in perfect
readiness。 These fell on him； the unready Erling； simultaneous； like a
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cluster of angry bees； and in a few minutes cleared his ship of men
altogether； except Erling himself。 Nobody asked his life； nor probably
would have got it if he had。 Only Erling still stood erect on a high place on
the poop； fiercely defensive； and very difficult to get at。 〃Could not be
reached at all；〃 says Snorro； 〃except by spears or arrows； and these he
warded off with untiring dexterity； no man in Norway； it was said； had
ever defended himself so long alone against many；〃an almost invincible
Erling； had his cause been good。 Olaf himself noticed Erling's behavior；
and said to him
