early kings of norway(古挪威的国王)-第12章
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some）； in charge of it； who； on short counsel； and arrangement about this
questionable kingdom of his； lifted anchor； made for Sandwich； a safer
station at the moment； 〃cut off the feet and noses〃 （one shudders； and
hopes not； there being some discrepancy about it！） of his numerous
hostages that had been delivered to King Svein； set them ashore；and
made for Denmark； his natural storehouse and stronghold； as the
hopefulest first thing he could do。
Knut soon returned from Denmark； with increase of force sufficient
for the English problem； which latter he now ended in a victorious； and
essentially； for himself and chaotic England； beneficent manner。 Became
widely known by and by； there and elsewhere； as Knut the Great； and is
thought by judges of our day to have really merited that title。 A most
nimble； sharp…striking； clear…thinking； prudent and effective man； who
regulated this dismembered and distracted England in its Church matters；
in its State matters； like a real King。 Had a Standing Army （_House
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Carles_）； who were well paid； well drilled and disciplined； capable of
instantly quenching insurrection or breakage of the peace； and piously
endeavored （with a signal earnestness； and even devoutness； if we look
well） to do justice to all men； and to make all men rest satisfied with
justice。 In a word； he successfully strapped up； by every true method and
regulation； this miserable； dislocated； and dissevered mass of bleeding
Anarchy into something worthy to be called an England again；only that
he died too soon； and a second 〃Conqueror〃 of us； still weightier of
structure； and under improved auspices； became possible； and was needed
here！ To appearance； Knut himself was capable of being a Charlemagne of
England and the North （as has been already said or quoted）； had he only
lived twice as long as he did。 But his whole sum of years seems not to
have exceeded forty。 His father Svein of the Forkbeard is reckoned to have
been fifty to sixty when St。 Edmund finished him at Gainsborough。 We
now return to Norway； ashamed of this long circuit which has been a
truancy more or less。
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CHAPTER IX。
KING OLAF THE THICK…SET'S VIKING DAYS；
King Harald Graenske； who； with another from Russia accidentally
lodging beside him； got burned to death in Sweden； courting that
unspeakable Sigrid the Proud；was third cousin or so to Tryggve； father of
our heroic Olaf。 Accurately counted； he is great…grandson of Bjorn the
Chapman； first of Haarfagr's sons whom Eric Bloodaxe made away with。
His little 〃kingdom；〃 as he called it； was a district named the Greenland
（_Graeneland_）； he himself was one of those little Haarfagr kinglets whom
Hakon Jarl； much more Olaf Tryggveson； was content to leave reigning；
since they would keep the peace with him。 Harald had a loving wife of his
own； Aasta the name of her； soon expecting the birth of her and his pretty
babe； named Olaf；at the time he went on that deplorable Swedish
adventure； the foolish； fated creature； and ended self and kingdom
altogether。 Aasta was greatly shocked； composed herself however； married
a new husband； Sigurd Syr； a kinglet； and a great…grandson of Harald
Fairhair； a man of great wealth； prudence； and influence in those countries；
in whose house； as favorite and well…beloved stepson； little Olaf was
wholesomely and skilfully brought up。 In Sigurd's house he had； withal； a
special tutor entertained for him； one Rane； known as Rane the Far…
travelled； by whom he could be trained； from the earliest basis； in Norse
accomplishments and arts。 New children came； one or two； but Olaf； from
his mother； seems always to have known that he was the distinguished and
royal article there。 One day his Foster…father； hurrying to leave home on
business； hastily bade Olaf； no other being by； saddle his horse for him。
Olaf went out with the saddle； chose the biggest he…goat about； saddled
that； and brought it to the door by way of horse。 Old Sigurd； a most grave
man； grinned sardonically at the sight。 〃Hah； I see thou hast no mind to
take commands from me； thou art of too high a humor to take commands。〃
To which； says Snorro； Boy Olaf answered little except by laughing； till
Sigurd saddled for himself； and rode away。 His mother Aasta appears to
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have been a thoughtful； prudent woman； though always with a fierce
royalism at the bottom of her memory； and a secret implacability on that
head。
At the age of twelve Olaf went to sea； furnished with a little fleet； and
skilful sea…counsellor； expert old Rane； by his Foster…father； and set out to
push his fortune in the world。 Rane was a steersman and counsellor in
these incipient times； but the crew always called Olaf 〃King；〃 though at
first； as Snorro thinks； except it were in the hour of battle； he merely
pulled an oar。 He cruised and fought in this capacity on many seas and
shores； passed several years； perhaps till the age of nineteen or twenty； in
this wild element and way of life； fighting always in a glorious and
distinguished manner。 In the hour of battle； diligent enough 〃to amass
property；〃 as the Vikings termed it； and in the long days and nights of
sailing； given over； it is likely； to his own thoughts and the unfathomable
dialogue with the ever…moaning Sea； not the worst High School a man
could have； and indeed infinitely preferable to the most that are going
even now； for a high and deep young soul。
His first distinguished expedition was to Sweden： natural to go thither
first； to avenge his poor father's death； were it nothing more。 Which he did；
the Skalds say； in a distinguished manner； making victorious and
handsome battle for himself； in entering Maelare Lake； and in getting out
of it again； after being frozen there all winter； showing still more
surprising； almost miraculous contrivance and dexterity。 This was the first
of his glorious victories； of which the Skalds reckon up some fourteen or
thirteen very glorious indeed； mostly in the Western and Southern
countries； most of all in England； till the name of Olaf Haraldson became
quite famous in the Viking and strategic world。 He seems really to have
learned the secrets of his trade； and to have been； then and afterwards； for
vigilance； contrivance； valor； and promptitude of execution； a superior
fighter。 Several exploits recorded of him betoken； in simple forms； what
may be called a military genius。
The principal； and to us the alone interesting； of his exploits seem to
have lain in England； and； what is further notable； always on the anti…
Svein side。 English books do not mention him at all that I can find； but it
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is fairly credible that； as the Norse records report； in the end of Ethelred's
reign； he was the ally or hired general of Ethelred； and did a great deal of
sea…fighting； watching； sailing； and sieging for this miserable king and
Edmund Ironside； his son。 Snorro says expressly； London； the impregnable
city； had to be besieged again for Ethelred's behoof （in the interval
between Svein's death and young Knut's getting back from Denmark）； and
that our Olaf Haraldson was the great engineer and victorious captor of
London on that singular occasion；London captured for the first time。 The
Bridge； as usual； Snorro says； offered almost insuperable obstacles。 But
the engineering genius of Olaf contrived huge 〃platforms of wainscoting
＇old walls of wooden houses； in fact＇； bound together by withes；〃 these；
carried steadily aloft above the ships； will （thinks Olaf） considerably
secure them and us from the destructive missiles； big boulder stones； and
other； mischief profusely showered down on us； till we get under the
Bridge with axes and cables； and do some good upon it。 Olaf's plan was
tried； most of the other ships； in spite of their wainscoting and withes；
recoiled on reaching the Bridge； so destructive were the boulder and other
missile showers。 But Olaf's ships and self got actually under the Bridge；
fixed all manner of cables there； and then； with the river current in their
favor； and the frightened ships rallying to help in this safer part of the
enterprise； tore out the important piles and props； and fairly broke the poor
Bridge； wholly or partly； down into the river； and its Danish defenders into
immediate surrender。 That is Snorro's account。
On a previous occasion； Olaf had been deep in a hopeful combination
with Ethelred's two younger sons； Alfred and Edward； afterwards King
Edward the Confessor： That they two should sally out from Normandy in
strong force； unite with Olaf in ditto； and； landing on the Thames； do
something effectual for themselves。 But impediments； bad weather or the
like； disheartened the poor Princes； and it came to nothing。 Olaf was much
in Normandy； what they then called Walland； a man held in honor by those
Norman Dukes。
What amount of 〃property〃 he had amassed I do not know； but could
prove； were it necessary； that he had acquired some tactical or even
strategic faculty and real talent for war。 At Lymfjord； in Jutland； but some
