early kings of norway(古挪威的国王)-第7节
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have just seen； they could by no means do）； and other guests other foolish
things which proved equally unfeasible。 Sea…robber volunteers so
especially abounding in that time； one perceives how easily the
Jomsburgers could recruit themselves； build or refit new robber fleets；
man them with the pick of crews； and steer for opulent； fruitful England；
where； under Ethelred the Unready； was such a field for profitable
enterprise as the viking public never had before or since。
An idle question sometimes rises on me；idle enough； for it never can
be answered in the affirmative or the negative； Whether it was not these
same refitted Jomsburgers who appeared some while after this at Red
Head Point； on the shore of Angus； and sustained a new severe beating； in
what the Scotch still faintly remember as their 〃Battle of Loncarty〃？
Beyond doubt a powerful Norse…pirate armament dropt anchor at the Red
Head； to the alarm of peaceable mortals； about that time。 It was thought
and hoped to be on its way for England； but it visibly hung on for several
days； deliberating （as was thought） whether they would do this poorer
coast the honor to land on it before going farther。 Did land； and vigorously
plunder and burn south…westward as far as Perth； laid siege to Perth； but
brought out King Kenneth on them； and produced that 〃Battle of
Loncarty〃 which still dwells in vague memory among the Scots。 Perhaps it
might be the Jomsburgers； perhaps also not； for there were many pirate
associations； lasting not from century to century like the Jomsburgers； but
only for very limited periods； or from year to year； indeed； it was mainly
by such that the splendid thief…harvest of England was reaped in this
disastrous time。 No Scottish chronicler gives the least of exact date to their
famed victory of Loncarty； only that it was achieved by Kenneth III。；
which will mean some time between A。D。 975 and 994； and； by the order
they put it in； probably soon after A。D。 975； or the beginning of this
Kenneth's reign。 Buchanan's narrative； carefully distilled from all the
ancient Scottish sources； is of admirable quality for style and otherwise
quiet； brief； with perfect clearness； perfect credibility even； except that
semi…miraculous appendage of the Ploughmen； Hay and Sons； always
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EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY。
hanging to the tail of it； the grain of possible truth in which can now never
be extracted by man's art！＇6＇ In brief； what we know is； fragments of
ancient human bones and armor have occasionally been ploughed up in
this locality； proof positive of ancient fighting here； and the fight fell out
not long after Hakon's beating of the Jomsburgers at the Cape of Stad。 And
in such dim glimmer of wavering twilight； the question whether these of
Loncarty were refitted Jomsburgers or not； must be left hanging。 Loncarty
is now the biggest bleach…field in Queen Victoria's dominions； no village
or hamlet there； only the huge bleaching…house and a beautiful field； some
six or seven miles northwest of Perth； bordered by the beautiful Tay river
on the one side； and by its beautiful tributary Almond on the other； a
Loncarty fitted either for bleaching linen； or for a bit of fair duel between
nations； in those simple times。
Whether our refitted Jomsburgers had the least thing to do with it is
only matter of fancy； but if it were they who here again got a good beating；
fancy would be glad to find herself fact。 The old piratical kings of
Denmark had been at the founding of Jomsburg； and to Svein of the
Forked Beard it was still vitally important； but not so to the great Knut； or
any king that followed； all of whom had better business than mere thieving；
and it was Magnus the Good； of Norway； a man of still higher anti…
anarchic qualities； that annihilated it； about a century later。
Hakon Jarl； his chief labors in the world being over； is said to have
become very dissolute in his elder days； especially in the matter of women；
the wretched old fool； led away by idleness and fulness of bread； which to
all of us are well said to be the parents of mischief。 Having absolute power；
he got into the habit of openly plundering men's pretty daughters and
wives from them； and； after a few weeks； sending them back； greatly to
the rage of the fierce Norse heart； had there been any means of resisting or
revenging。 It did； after a little while； prove the ruin and destruction of
Hakon the Rich； as he was then called。 It opened the door； namely； for
entry of Olaf Tryggveson upon the scene；a very much grander man； in
regard to whom the wiles and traps of Hakon proved to be a recipe； not on
Tryggveson； but on the wily Hakon himself； as shall now be seen
straightway。
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EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY。
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EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY。
CHAPTER VI。
OLAF TRYGGVESON。
Hakon； in late times； had heard of a famous stirring person； victorious
in various lands and seas； latterly united in sea…robbery with Svein； Prince
Royal of Denmark； afterwards King Svein of the Double…beard （〃_Zvae
Skiaeg_〃； _Twa Shag_） or fork…beard； both of whom had already done
transcendent feats in the viking way during this copartnery。 The fame of
Svein； and this stirring personage； whose name was 〃Ole；〃 and； recently；
their stupendous feats in plunder of England； siege of London； and other
wonders and splendors of viking glory and success； had gone over all the
North； awakening the attention of Hakon and everybody there。 The name
of 〃Ole〃 was enigmatic； mysterious； and even dangerous…looking to
Hakon Jarl； who at length sent out a confidential spy to investigate this
〃Ole；〃 a feat which the confidential spy did completely accomplish；by
no means to Hakon's profit！ The mysterious 〃Ole〃 proved to be no other
than Olaf； son of Tryggve； destined to blow Hakon Jarl suddenly into
destruction； and become famous among the heroes of the Norse world。
Of Olaf Tryggveson one always hopes there might； one day； some real
outline of a biography be written； fished from the abysses where （as usual）
it welters deep in foul neighborhood for the present。 Farther on we intend
a few words more upon the matter。 But in this place all that concerns us in
it limits itself to the two following facts first； that Hakon's confidential spy
〃found Ole in Dublin；〃 picked acquaintance with him； got him to confess
that he was actually Olaf； son of Tryggve （the Tryggve； whom Blood…axe's
fierce widow and her sons had murdered）； got him gradually to own that
perhaps an expedition into Norway might have its chances； and finally that；
under such a wise and loyal guidance as his （the confidential spy's； whose
friendship for Tryggveson was so indubitable）； he （Tryggveson） would
actually try it upon Hakon Jarl； the dissolute old scoundrel。 Fact second is；
that about the time they two set sail from Dublin on their Norway
expedition； Hakon Jarl removed to Trondhjem； then called Lade； intending
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EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY。
to pass some months there。
Now just about the time when Tryggveson； spy； and party had landed
in Norway； and were advancing upon Lade； with what support from the
public could be got； dissolute old Hakon Jarl had heard of one Gudrun； a
Bonder's wife； unparalleled in beauty； who was called in those parts；
〃Sunbeam of the Grove〃 （so inexpressibly lovely）； and sent off a couple of
thralls to bring her to him。 〃Never；〃 answered Gudrun； 〃never；〃 her
indignant husband； in a tone dangerous and displeasing to these Court
thralls； who had to leave rapidly； but threatened to return in better strength
b
