early kings of norway(古挪威的国王)-第3节
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〃Thou hast taken him on thy knee ＇common symbol of adoption＇； thou
canst kill him if thou wilt； but thou dost not thereby kill all the sons of
Harald。〃 Athelstan straightway took milder thoughts； brought up； and
carefully educated Hakon； from whom； and this singular adventure； came；
before very long； the first tidings of Christianity into Norway。
Harald Haarfagr； latterly withdrawn from all kinds of business； died at
the age of eighty…threeabout A。D。 933； as is computed； nearly
contemporary in death with the first Danish King； Gorm the Old； who had
done a corresponding feat in reducing Denmark under one head。
Remarkable old men； these two first kings； and possessed of gifts for
bringing Chaos a little nearer to the form of Cosmos； possessed； in fact； of
loyalties to Cosmos； that is to say； of authentic virtues in the savage state；
such as have been needed in all societies at their incipience in this world； a
kind of 〃virtues〃 hugely in discredit at present； but not unlikely to be
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needed again； to the astonishment of careless persons； before all is done！
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CHAPTER III
HAKON THE GOOD。
Eric Blood…axe； whose practical reign is counted to have begun about
A。D。 930； had by this time； or within a year or so of this time； pretty much
extinguished all his brother kings； and crushed down recalcitrant spirits； in
his violent way； but had naturally become entirely unpopular in Norway；
and filled it with silent discontent and even rage against him。 Hakon
Fairhair's last son； the little foster…child of Athelstan in England； who had
been baptized and carefully educated； was come to his fourteenth or
fifteenth year at his father's death； a very shining youth； as Athelstan saw
with just pleasure。 So soon as the few preliminary preparations had been
settled； Hakon； furnished with a ship or two by Athelstan； suddenly
appeared in Norway got acknowledged by the Peasant Thing in Trondhjem
〃the news of which flew over Norway； like fire through dried grass；〃 says
an old chronicler。 So that Eric； with his Queen Gunhild； and seven small
children； had to run； no other shift for Eric。 They went to the Orkneys first
of all； then to England； and he 〃got Northumberland as earldom；〃 I
vaguely hear； from Athelstan。 But Eric soon died； and his queen； with her
children； went back to the Orkneys in search of refuge or help； to little
purpose there or elsewhere。 From Orkney she went to Denmark； where
Harald Blue…tooth took her poor eldest boy as foster…child； but I fear did
not very faithfully keep that promise。 The Danes had been robbing
extensively during the late tumults in Norway； this the Christian Hakon；
now established there； paid in kind； and the two countries were at war； so
that Gunhild's little boy was a welcome card in the hand of Blue…tooth。
Hakon proved a brilliant and successful king； regulated many things；
public law among others （_Gule…Thing_ Law； _Frost…Thing_ Law： these
are little codes of his accepted by their respective Things； and had a
salutary effect in their time）； with prompt dexterity he drove back the
Blue…tooth foster…son invasions every time they came； and on the whole
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gained for himself the name of Hakon the Good。 These Danish invasions
were a frequent source of trouble to him； but his greatest and continual
trouble was that of extirpating heathen idolatry from Norway； and
introducing the Christian Evangel in its stead。 His transcendent anxiety to
achieve this salutary enterprise was all along his grand difficulty and
stumbling…block； the heathen opposition to it being also rooted and great。
Bishops and priests from England Hakon had； preaching and baptizing
what they could； but making only slow progress； much too slow for
Hakon's zeal。 On the other hand； every Yule…tide； when the chief heathen
were assembled in his own palace on their grand sacrificial festival； there
was great pressure put upon Hakon； as to sprinkling with horse…blood；
drinking Yule…beer； eating horse…flesh； and the other distressing rites； the
whole of which Hakon abhorred； and with all his steadfastness strove to
reject utterly。 Sigurd； Jarl of Lade （Trondhjem）； a liberal heathen； not
openly a Christian； was ever a wise counsellor and conciliator in such
affairs； and proved of great help to Hakon。 Once； for example； there
having risen at a Yule…feast； loud； almost stormful demand that Hakon；
like a true man and brother； should drink Yule…beer with them in their
sacred hightide； Sigurd persuaded him to comply； for peace's sake； at least；
in form。 Hakon took the cup in his left hand （excellent hot _beer_）； and
with his right cut the sign of the cross above it； then drank a draught。 〃Yes；
but what is this with the king's right hand？〃 cried the company。 〃Don't you
see？〃 answered shifty Sigurd； 〃he makes the sign of Thor's hammer before
drinking！〃 which quenched the matter for the time。
Horse…flesh； horse…broth； and the horse ingredient generally； Hakon all
but inexorably declined。 By Sigurd's pressing exhortation and entreaty； he
did once take a kettle of horsebroth by the handle； with a good deal of
linen…quilt or towel interposed； and did open his lips for what of steam
could insinuate itself。 At another time he consented to a particle of horse…
liver； intending privately； I guess； to keep it outside the gullet； and
smuggle it away without swallowing； but farther than this not even Sigurd
could persuade him to go。 At the Things held in regard to this matter
Hakon's success was always incomplete； now and then it was plain failure；
and Hakon had to draw back till a better time。 Here is one specimen of the
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response he got on such an occasion； curious specimen； withal； of antique
parliamentary eloquence from an Anti…Christian Thing。
At a Thing of all the Fylkes of Trondhjem； Thing held at Froste in that
region； King Hakon； with all the eloquence he had； signified that it was
imperatively necessary that all Bonders and sub…Bonders should become
Christians； and believe in one God； Christ the Son of Mary； renouncing
entirely blood sacrifices and heathen idols； should keep every seventh day
holy； abstain from labor that day； and even from food； devoting the day to
fasting and sacred meditation。 Whereupon； by way of universal answer；
arose a confused universal murmur of entire dissent。 〃Take away from us
our old belief； and also our time for labor！〃 murmured they in angry
astonishment； 〃how can even the land be got tilled in that way？〃 〃We
cannot work if we don't get food；〃 said the hand laborers and slaves。 〃It
lies in King Hakon's blood；〃 remarked others； 〃his father and all his
kindred were apt to be stingy about food； though liberal enough with
money。〃 At length； one Osbjorn （or Bear of the Asen or Gods； what we
now call Osborne）； one Osbjorn of Medalhusin Gulathal； stept forward；
and said； in a distinct manner； 〃We Bonders （peasant proprietors）thought；
King Hakon； when thou heldest thy first Thing…day here in Trondhjem；
and we took thee for our king； and received our hereditary lands from thee
again that we had got heaven itself。 But now we know not how it is；
whether we have won freedom； or whether thou intendest anew to make us
slaves； with this wonderful proposal that we should renounce our faith；
which our fathers before us have held； and all our ancestors as wel
