early kings of norway(古挪威的国王)-第9节
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him； and； after some reflection； accepted Christian baptism from the
venerable man。 In Snorro the story is involved in miracle； rumor； and fable；
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but the fact itself seems certain； and is very interesting； the great； wild；
noble soul of fierce Olaf opening to this wonderful gospel of tidings from
beyond the world； tidings which infinitely transcended all else he had ever
heard or dreamt of！ It seems certain he was baptized here； date not fixable；
shortly before poor heart…broken Dunstan's death； or shortly after； most
English churches； monasteries especially； lying burnt； under continual
visitation of the Danes。 Olaf such baptism notwithstanding； did not quit
his viking profession； indeed； what other was there for him in the world as
yet？
We mentioned his occasional copartneries with Svein of the Double…
beard； now become King of Denmark； but the greatest of these； and the
alone interesting at this time； is their joint invasion of England； and
Tryggveson's exploits and fortunes there some years after that adventure
of baptism in the Scilly Isles。 Svein and he 〃were above a year in England
together；〃 this time： they steered up the Thames with three hundred ships
and many fighters； siege； or at least furious assault； of London was their
first or main enterprise； but it did not succeed。 The Saxon Chronicle gives
date to it； A。D。 994； and names expressly； as Svein's co…partner； 〃Olaus；
king of Norway；〃which he was as yet far from being； but in regard to the
Year of Grace the Saxon Chronicle is to be held indisputable； and； indeed；
has the field to itself in this matter。 Famed Olaf Tryggveson； seen visibly
at the siege of London； year 994； it throws a kind of momentary light to us
over that disastrous whirlpool of miseries and confusions； all dark and
painful to the fancy otherwise！ This big voyage and furious siege of
London is Svein Double…beard's first real attempt to fulfil that vow of his
at Father Blue…tooth's 〃funeral ale；〃 and conquer England；which it is a
pity he could not yet do。 Had London now fallen to him； it is pretty
evident all England must have followed； and poor England； with Svein as
king over it； been delivered from immeasurable woes； which had to last
some two…and…twenty years farther； before this result could be arrived at。
But finding London impregnable for the moment （no ship able to get
athwart the bridge； and many Danes perishing in the attempt to do it by
swimming）； Svein and Olaf turned to other enterprises； all England in a
manner lying open to them； turn which way they liked。 They burnt and
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plundered over Kent； over Hampshire； Sussex； they stormed far and wide；
world lying all before them where to choose。 Wretched Ethelred； as the
one invention he could fall upon； offered them Danegelt （16；000 pounds
of silver this year； but it rose in other years as high as 48；000 pounds）； the
desperate Ethelred； a clear method of quenching fire by pouring oil on it！
Svein and Olaf accepted； withdrew to Southampton；Olaf at least did；till
the money was got ready。 Strange to think of； fierce Svein of the Double…
beard； and conquest of England by him； this had at last become the one
salutary result which remained for that distracted； down…trodden； now
utterly chaotic and anarchic country。 A conquering Svein； followed by an
ably and earnestly administrative； as well as conquering； Knut （whom
Dahlmann compares to Charlemagne）； were thus by the mysterious
destinies appointed the effective saviors of England。
Tryggveson； on this occasion； was a good while at Southampton； and
roamed extensively about； easily victorious over everything； if resistance
were attempted； but finding little or none； and acting now in a peaceable
or even friendly capacity。 In the Southampton country he came in contact
with the then Bishop of Winchester； afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury；
excellent Elphegus； still dimly decipherable to us as a man of great natural
discernment； piety； and inborn veracity； a hero…soul； probably of real
brotherhood with Olaf's own。 He even made court visits to King Ethelred；
one visit to him at Andover of a very serious nature。 By Elphegus； as we
can discover； he was introduced into the real depths of the Christian faith。
Elphegus； with due solemnity of apparatus； in presence of the king； at
Andover； baptized Olaf anew； and to him Olaf engaged that he would
never plunder in England any more； which promise； too； he kept。 In fact；
not long after； Svein's conquest of England being in an evidently forward
state； Tryggveson （having made； withal； a great English or Irish marriage；…
…a dowager Princess； who had voluntarily fallen in love with him；see
Snorro for this fine romantic fact！） mainly resided in our island for two or
three years； or else in Dublin； in the precincts of the Danish Court there in
the Sister Isle。 Accordingly it was in Dublin； as above noted； that Hakon's
spy found him； and from the Liffey that his squadron sailed； through the
Hebrides； through the Orkneys； plundering and baptizing in their strange
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way； towards such success as we have seen。
Tryggveson made a stout； and； in effect； victorious and glorious
struggle for himself as king。 Daily and hourly vigilant to do so； often
enough by soft and even merry methods； for he was a witty； jocund man；
and had a fine ringing laugh in him； and clear pregnant words ever ready；
or if soft methods would not serve； then by hard and even hardest he put
down a great deal of miscellaneous anarchy in Norway； was especially
busy against heathenism （devil…worship and its rites）： this； indeed； may be
called the focus and heart of all his royal endeavor in Norway； and of all
the troubles he now had with his people there。 For this was a serious； vital；
all…comprehending matter； devil…worship； a thing not to be tolerated one
moment longer than you could by any method help！ Olaf's success was
intermittent； of varying complexion； but his effort； swift or slow； was
strong and continual； and on the whole he did succeed。 Take a sample or
two of that wonderful conversion process：
At one of his first Things he found the Bonders all assembled in arms；
resolute to the death seemingly； against his proposal and him。 Tryggveson
said little； waited impassive； 〃What your reasons are； good men？〃 One
zealous Bonder started up in passionate parliamentary eloquence； but after
a sentence or two； broke down； one； and then another； and still another；
and remained all three staring in open…mouthed silence there！ The peasant…
proprietors accepted the phenomenon as ludicrous； perhaps partly as
miraculous withal； and consented to baptism this time。
On another occasion of a Thing； which had assembled near some
heathen temple to meet him；temple where Hakon Jarl had done much
repairing； and set up many idol figures and sumptuous ornaments；
regardless of expense； especially a very big and splendid Thor； with
massive gold collar round the neck of him； not the like of it in Norway；
King Olaf Tryggveson was clamorously invited by the Bonders to step in
there； enlighten his eyes； and partake of the sacred rites。 Instead of which
he rushed into the temple with his armed men； smashed down； with his
own battle…axe； the god Thor； prostrate on the ground at one stroke； to set
an example； and； in a few minutes； had the whole Hakon Pantheon
wrecked； packing up meanwhile all the gold and preciosities accumulated
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there （not forgetting Thor's illustrious gold collar； of which we shall hear
again）； and victoriously took the plunder home with him for his own royal
uses a
