early kings of norway(古挪威的国王)-第23节
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whom he long traded with； and made money by）； mysteriously would not
fall for Olaf's best strokes。 Best strokes brought only dust from the
（enchanted） deer…skin coat of the fellow； to Olaf's surprise；when another
of the rebel chiefs rushed forward； struck Olaf with his battle…axe； a wild
slashing wound； and miserably broke his thigh； so that he staggered or was
supported back to the nearest stone； and there sat down； lamentably calling
on God to help him in this bad hour。 Another rebel of note （the name of
him long memorable in Norway） slashed or stabbed Olaf a second time； as
did then a third。 Upon which the noble Olaf sank dead； and forever quitted
this doghole of a world；little worthy of such men as Olaf one sometimes
thinks。 But that too is a mistake； and even an important one； should we
persist in it。
With Olaf's death the sky cleared again。 Battle； now near done； ended
with complete victory to the rebels； and next to no pursuit or result； except
the death of Olaf everybody hastening home； as soon as the big Duel had
decided itself。 Olaf's body was secretly carried； after dark； to some out…
house on the farm near the spot； whither a poor blind beggar； creeping in
for shelter that very evening； was miraculously restored to sight。 And；
truly with a notable； almost miraculous； speed； the feelings of all Norway
for King Olaf changed themselves； and were turned upside down； 〃within
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a year；〃 or almost within a day。 Superlative example of _Extinctus
amabitur idem。_ Not 〃Olaf the Thick…set〃 any longer； but 〃Olaf the
Blessed〃 or Saint； now clearly in Heaven； such the name and character of
him from that time to this。 Two churches dedicated to him （out of four that
once stood） stand in London at this moment。 And the miracles that have
been done there； not to speak of Norway and Christendom elsewhere； in
his name； were numerous and great for long centuries afterwards。 Visibly a
Saint Olaf ever since； and； indeed； in _Bollandus_ or elsewhere； I have
seldom met with better stuff to make a Saint of； or a true World…Hero in all
good senses。
Speaking of the London Olaf Churches； I should have added that from
one of these the thrice…famous Tooley Street gets its name；where those
Three Tailors； addressing Parliament and the Universe； sublimely styled
themselves； 〃We； the People of England。〃 Saint Olave Street； Saint Oley
Street； Stooley Street； Tooley Street； such are the metamorphoses of
human fame in the world！
The battle…day of Stickelstad； King Olaf's death…day； is generally
believed to have been Wednesday； July 31； 1033。 But on investigation； it
turns out that there was no total eclipse of the sun visible in Norway that
year； though three years before； there was one； but on the 29th instead of
the 31st。 So that the exact date still remains uncertain； Dahlmann； the
latest critic； inclining for 1030； and its indisputable eclipse。＇15＇
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CHAPTER XI。
MAGNUS THE GOOD AND OTHERS。
St。 Olaf is the highest of these Norway Kings； and is the last that much
attracts us。 For this reason； if a reason were not superfluous； we might here
end our poor reminiscences of those dim Sovereigns。 But we will；
nevertheless； for the sake of their connection with bits of English History；
still hastily mention the Dames of one or two who follow； and who throw
a momentary gleam of life and illumination on events and epochs that
have fallen so extinct among ourselves at present； though once they were
so momentous and memorable。
The new King Svein from Jomsburg； Knut's natural son； had no
success in Norway； nor seems to have deserved any。 His English mother
and he were found to be grasping； oppressive persons； and awoke； almost
from the instant that Olaf was suppressed and crushed away from Norway
into Heaven； universal odium more and more in that country。 Well…
deservedly； as still appears； for their taxings and extortions of malt； of
herring； of meal； smithwork and every article taxable in Norway； were
extreme； and their service to the country otherwise nearly imperceptible。
In brief their one basis there was the power of Knut the Great； and that；
like all earthly things； was liable to sudden collapse；and it suffered such
in a notable degree。 King Knut； hardly yet of middle age； and the greatest
King in the then world； died at Shaftesbury； in 1035； as Dahlmann
thinks＇16＇；leaving two legitimate sons and a busy； intriguing widow
（Norman Emma； widow of Ethelred the Unready）； mother of the younger
of these two； neither of whom proved to have any talent or any
continuance。 In spite of Emma's utmost efforts； Harald； the elder son of
Knut； not hers； got England for his kingdom； Emma and her Harda…Knut
had to be content with Denmark； and go thither； much against their will。
Harald in England；light…going little figure like his father before him；got
the name of Harefoot here； and might have done good work among his
now orderly and settled people； but he died almost within year and day；
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and has left no trace among us； except that of 〃Harefoot；〃 from his swift
mode of walking。 Emma and her Harda…Knut now returned joyful to
England。 But the violent； idle； and drunken Harda…Knut did no good there；
and； happily for England and him； soon suddenly ended； by stroke of
apoplexy at a marriage festival； as mentioned above。 In Denmark he had
done still less good。 And indeed；under him； in a year or two； the grand
imperial edifice； laboriously built by Knut's valor and wisdom； had
already tumbled all to the ground； in a most unexpected and remarkable
way。 As we are now to indicate with all brevity。
Svein's tyrannies in Norway had wrought such fruit that； within the
four years after Olaf's death； the chief men in Norway； the very slayers of
King Olaf； Kalf Arneson at the head of them； met secretly once or twice；
and unanimously agreed that Kalf Arneson must go to Sweden； or to
Russia itself； seek young Magnus； son of Olaf home： excellent Magnus； to
be king over all Norway and them； instead of this intolerable Svein。 Which
was at once done；Magnus brought home in a kind of triumph； all
Norway waiting for him。 Intolerable Svein had already been rebelled
against： some years before this； a certain young Tryggve out of Ireland；
authentic son of Olaf Tryggveson； and of that fine Irish Princess who
chose him in his low habiliments and low estate； and took him over to her
own Green Island；this royal young Tryggve Olafson had invaded the
usurper Svein； in a fierce； valiant； and determined manner； and though
with too small a party； showed excellent fight for some time； till Svein；
zealously bestirring himself； managed to get him beaten and killed。 But
that was a couple of years ago； the party still too small； not including one
and all as now！ Svein； without stroke of sword this time； moved off
towards Denmark； never showing face in Norway again。 His drunken
brother； Harda…Knut； received him brother…like； even gave him some
territory to rule over and subsist upon。 But he lived only a short while； was
gone before Harda…Knut himself； and we will mention him no more。
Magnus was a fine bright young fellow； and proved a valiant； wise；
and successful King； known among his people as Magnus the Good。 He
was only natural son of King Olaf but that made little difference in those
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times and there。 H
