early kings of norway(古挪威的国王)-第8节
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thralls； who had to leave rapidly； but threatened to return in better strength
before long。 Whereupon； instantly； the indignant Bonder and his Sunbeam
of the Grove sent out their war…arrow； rousing all the country into angry
promptitude； and more than one perhaps into greedy hope of revenge for
their own injuries。 The rest of Hakon's history now rushes on with extreme
rapidity。
Sunbeam of the Grove； when next demanded of her Bonder； has the
whole neighborhood assembled in arms round her； rumor of Tryggveson is
fast making it the whole country。 Hakon's insolent messengers are cut in
pieces； Hakon finds he cannot fly under cover too soon。 With a single
slave he flies that same night；but whitherward？ Can think of no safe
place； except to some old mistress of his； who lives retired in that
neighborhood； and has some pity or regard for the wicked old Hakon。 Old
mistress does receive him； pities him； will do all she can to protect and
hide him。 But how； by what uttermost stretch of female artifice hide him
here； every one will search here first of all！ Old mistress； by the slave's
help； extemporizes a cellar under the floor of her pig…house； sticks Hakon
and slave into that； as the one safe seclusion she can contrive。 Hakon and
slave； begrunted by the pigs above them； tortured by the devils within and
about them； passed two days in circumstances more and more horrible。
For they heard； through their light…slit and breathing…slit； the triumph of
Tryggveson proclaiming itself by Tryggveson's own lips； who had
mounted a big boulder near by and was victoriously speaking to the people；
winding up with a promise of honors and rewards to whoever should bring
him wicked old Hakon's head。 Wretched Hakon； justly suspecting his
slave； tried to at least keep himself awake。 Slave did keep himself awake
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till Hakon dozed or slept； then swiftly cut off Hakon's head； and plunged
out with it to the presence of Tryggveson。 Tryggveson； detesting the traitor；
useful as the treachery was； cut off the slave's head too； had it hung up
along with Hakon's on the pinnacle of the Lade Gallows； where the
populace pelted both heads with stones and many curses； especially the
more important of the two。 〃Hakon the Bad〃 ever henceforth； instead of
Hakon the Rich。
This was the end of Hakon Jarl； the last support of heathenry in
Norway； among other characteristics he had： a stronghanded； hard…headed；
very relentless； greedy and wicked being。 He is reckoned to have ruled in
Norway； or mainly ruled； either in the struggling or triumphant state； for
about thirty years （965…995？）。 He and his seemed to have formed； by
chance rather than design； the chief opposition which the Haarfagr
posterity throughout its whole course experienced in Norway。 Such the
cost to them of killing good Jarl Sigurd； in Greyfell's time！ For 〃curses；
like chickens；〃 do sometimes visibly 〃come home to feed；〃 as they always；
either visibly or else invisibly； are punctually sure to do。
Hakon Jarl is considerably connected with the _Faroer Saga_ often
mentioned there； and comes out perfectly in character； an altogether
worldly…wise man of the roughest type； not without a turn for practicality
of kindness to those who would really be of use to him。 His tendencies to
magic also are not forgotten。
Hakon left two sons； Eric and Svein； often also mentioned in this Saga。
On their father's death they fled to Sweden； to Denmark； and were busy
stirring up troubles in those countries against Olaf Tryggveson； till at
length； by a favorable combination； under their auspices chiefly； they got
his brief and noble reign put an end to。 Nay； furthermore； Jarl Eric left
sons； especially an elder son； named also Eric； who proved a sore
affliction； and a continual stone of stumbling to a new generation of
Haarfagrs； and so continued the curse of Sigurd's murder upon them。
Towards the end of this Hakon's reign it was that the discovery of
America took place （985）。 Actual discovery； it appears； by Eric the Red； an
Icelander； concerning which there has been abundant investigation and
discussion in our time。 _Ginnungagap_ （Roaring Abyss） is thought to be
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EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY。
the mouth of Behring's Straits in Baffin's Bay； _Big Helloland_； the coast
from Cape Walsingham to near Newfoundland； _Little Helloland_；
Newfoundland itself。 _Markland_ was Lower Canada； New Brunswick；
and Nova Scotia。 Southward thence to Chesapeake Bay was called _Wine
Land_ （wild grapes still grow in Rhode Island； and more luxuriantly
further south）。 _White Man's Land_； called also _Great Ireland_； is
supposed to mean the two Carolinas； down to the Southern Cape of
Florida。 In Dahlmann's opinion； the Irish themselves might even pretend
to have probably been the first discoverers of America； they had evidently
got to Iceland itself before the Norse exiles found it out。 It appears to be
certain that； from the end of the tenth century to the early part of the
fourteenth； there was a dim knowledge of those distant shores extant in the
Norse mind； and even some straggling series of visits thither by roving
Norsemen； though； as only danger； difficulty； and no profit resulted； the
visits ceased； and the whole matter sank into oblivion； and； but for the
Icelandic talent of writing in the long winter nights； would never have
been heard of by posterity at all。
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EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY。
CHAPTER VII。
REIGN OF OLAF TRYGGVESON。
Olaf Tryggveson （A。D。 995…1000） also makes a great figure in the
_Faroer Saga_； and recounts there his early troubles； which were strange
and many。 He is still reckoned a grand hero of the North； though his
_vates_ now is only Snorro Sturleson of Iceland。 Tryggveson had indeed
many adventures in the world。 His poor mother； Astrid； was obliged to fly；
on murder of her husband by Gunhild；to fly for life； three months before
he； her little Olaf； was born。 She lay concealed in reedy islands； fled
through trackless forests； reached her father's with the little baby in her
arms； and lay deep…hidden there； tended only by her father himself；
Gunhild's pursuit being so incessant； and keen as with sleuth…hounds。 Poor
Astrid had to fly again； deviously to Sweden； to Esthland （Esthonia）； to
Russia。 In Esthland she was sold as a slave； quite parted from her boy；
who also was sold； and again sold； but did at last fall in with a kinsman
high in the Russian service； did from him find redemption and help； and so
rose； in a distinguished manner； to manhood； victorious self…help； and
recovery of his kingdom at last。 He even met his mother again； he as king
of Norway； she as one wonderfully lifted out of darkness into new life and
happiness still in store。
Grown to manhood； Tryggveson；now become acquainted with his
birth； and with his； alas； hopeless claims；left Russia for the one
profession open to him； that of sea…robbery； and did feats without number
in that questionable line in many seas and scenes；in England latterly； and
most conspicuously of all。 In one of his courses thither； after long labors in
the Hebrides； Man； Wales； and down the western shores to the very Land's
End and farther； he paused at the Scilly Islands for a little while。 He was
told of a wonderful Christian hermit living strangely in these sea…solitudes；
had the curiosity to seek him out； examine； question； and discourse with
him； and； after some reflection； accepted Christian baptism from the
venerable man。 In Snorro the s
