early kings of norway(古挪威的国王)-第14章
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baptized； and called themselves Christians。 But during their government
they did nothing in the conversion way； left every man to choose his own
God or Gods； so that some had actually two； the Christian God by land；
and at sea Thor； whom they considered safer in that element。 And in effect
the mass of the people had fallen back into a sluggish heathenism or half…
heathenism； the life…labor of Olaf Tryggveson lying ruinous or almost
quite overset。 The new Olaf； son of Harald； set himself with all his
strength to mend such a state of matters； and stood by his enterprise to the
end； as the one highest interest； including all others； for his People and
him。 His method was by no means soft； on the contrary； it was hard； rapid；
severe；somewhat on the model of Tryggveson's； though with more of
_bishoping_ and preaching superadded。 Yet still there was a great deal of
mauling； vigorous punishing； and an entire intolerance of these two things：
Heathenism and Sea…robbery； at least of Sea…robbery in the old style；
whether in the style we moderns still practise； and call privateering； I do
not quite know。 But Vikingism proper had to cease in Norway； still more；
Heathenism； under penalties too severe to he borne； death； mutilation of
limb； not to mention forfeiture and less rigorous coercion。 Olaf was
inexorable against violation of the law。 〃Too severe；〃 cried many； to whom
one answers； 〃Perhaps in part _yes_； perhaps also in great part _no_；
depends altogether on the previous question； How far the law was the
eternal one of God Almighty in the universe； How far the law merely of
Olaf （destitute of right inspiration） left to his own passions and whims？〃
Many were the jangles Olaf had with the refractory Heathen Things
and Ironbeards of a new generation： very curious to see。 Scarcely ever did
it come to fighting between King and Thing； though often enough near it；
but the Thing discerning； as it usually did in time； that the King was
stronger in men； seemed to say unanimously to itself； 〃We have lost； then；
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baptize us； we must burn our old gods and conform。〃 One new feature we
do slightly discern： here and there a touch of theological argument on the
heathen side。 At one wild Thing； far up in the Dovrefjeld； of a very
heathen temper； there was much of that； not to be quenched by King Olaf
at the moment； so that it had to be adjourned till the morrow； and again till
the next day。 Here are some traits of it； much abridged from Snorro （who
gives a highly punctual account）； which vividly represent Olaf's posture
and manner of proceeding in such intricacies。
The chief Ironbeard on this occasion was one Gudbrand； a very rugged
peasant； who； says Snorro； was like a king in that district。 Some days
before； King Olaf； intending a religious Thing in those deeply heathen
parts； with alternative of Christianity or conflagration； is reported； on
looking down into the valley and the beautiful village of Loar standing
there； to have said wistfully； 〃What a pity it is that so beautiful a village
should be burnt！〃 Olaf sent out his message…token all the； same； however；
and met Gudbrand and an immense assemblage； whose humor towards
him was uncompliant to a high degree indeed。 Judge by this preliminary
speech of Gudbrand to his Thing…people； while Olaf was not yet arrived；
but only advancing； hardly got to Breeden on the other side of the hill： 〃A
man has come to Loar who is called Olaf；〃 said Gudbrand； 〃and will force
upon us another faith than we had before； and will break in pieces all our
Gods。 He says he has a much greater and more powerful God； and it is
wonderful that the earth does not burst asunder under him； or that our God
lets him go about unpunished when he dares to talk such things。 I know
this for certain； that if we carry Thor； who has always stood by us； out of
our Temple that is standing upon this farm； Olaf's God will melt away； and
he and his men be made nothing as soon as Thor looks upon them。〃
Whereupon the Bonders all shouted as one man； 〃Yea！〃
Which tremendous message they even forwarded to Olaf； by
Gudbrand's younger son at the head of 700 armed men； but did not terrify
Olaf with it； who； on the contrary； drew up his troops； rode himself at the
head of them； and began a speech to the Bonders； in which he invited them
to adopt Christianity； as the one true faith for mortals。
Far from consenting to this； the Bonders raised a general shout；
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smiting at the same time their shields with their weapons； but Olaf's men
advancing on them swiftly； and flinging spears； they turned and ran；
leaving Gudbrand's son behind； a prisoner； to whom Olaf gave his life：
〃Go home now to thy father； and tell him I mean to be with him soon。〃
The son goes accordingly； and advises his father not to face Olaf； but
Gudbrand angrily replies： 〃Ha； coward！ I see thou； too； art taken by the
folly that man is going about with；〃 and is resolved to fight。 That night；
however； Gudbrand has a most remarkable Dream； or Vision： a Man
surrounded by light； bringing great terror with him； who warns Gudbrand
against doing battle with Olaf。 〃If thou dost； thou and all thy people will
fall； wolves will drag away thee and thine； ravens will tear thee in stripes！〃
And lo； in telling this to Thord Potbelly； a sturdy neighbor of his and
henchman in the Thing； it is found that to Thord also has come the self
same terrible Apparition！ Better propose truce to Olaf （who seems to have
these dreadful Ghostly Powers on his side）； and the holding of a Thing； to
discuss matters between us。 Thing assembles； on a day of heavy rain。
Being all seated； uprises King Olaf； and informs them： 〃The people of
Lesso； Loar； and Vaage； have accepted Christianity； and broken down their
idol…houses： they believe now in the True God； who has made heaven and
earth； and knows all things；〃 and sits down again without more words。
〃Gudbrand replies； 'We know nothing about him of whom thou
speakest。 Dost thou call him God； whom neither thou nor any one else can
see？ But we have a God who can be seen every day； although he is not out
to…day because the weather is wet； and he will appear to thee terrible and
very grand； and I expect that fear will mix with thy very blood when he
comes into the Thing。 But since thou sayest thy God is so great； let him
make it so that to…morrow we have a cloudy day； but without rain； and
then let us meet again。'
〃The king accordingly returned home to his lodging； taking
Gudbrand's son as a hostage； but he gave them a man as hostage in
exchange。 In the evening the king asked Gudbrand's son What their God
was like？ He replied that he bore the likeness of Thor； had a hammer in
his hand； was of great size； but hollow within； and had a high stand； upon
which he stood when he was out。 'Neither gold nor silver are wanting
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about him； and every day he receives four cakes of bread； besides meat。'
They then went to bed； but the king watched all night in prayer。 When day
dawned the king went to mass； then to table； and from thence to the Thing。
The weather was such as Gudbrand desired。 Now the Bishop stood up in
his choir…robes； with bishop's coif on his head； and bishop's crosier in his
hand。 He spoke to the Bonders of the true faith； told the many wonderful
acts of God； and concluded his speech well。
〃Thord Potbelly replies； 'Many things we are told of by this learned
man with the staff in his hand； crooked at the top like a ram's horn。 But
since you say； comrades； that your God is so powerful； and can do so
many wonders； tell him to make it clear sunshine to…morrow forenoon； and
then we shall meet here again； and do one of two things；either agree with
you about this business； or fight you。' And they separated for the day。〃
Overnight the king instructed Kolbein the Strong； an immense fellow；
the same who killed Gunhild's two brothers； that he； Kolbein； must stand
next him to…morrow； people must go down to where the ships of the
Bonders lay； and punctually bore holes in every one of them； _item_； to
the farms where their horses wore； and punctually unhalter the whole of
them； and let them loose： all which was done。 Snorro continues：
〃Now the king was in prayer all night； beseeching God of his goodness
and mercy to release him from evil。 When mass was ended； and morning
was gray； the king went to the Thing。 When he came thither； some
Bonders had already arrived； and they saw a great crowd coming along；
and bearing among them a huge man's image； glancing with gold and
silver。 When the Bonders who were at the Thing saw it； they started up；
and bowed themselves down before the ugly idol。 Thereupon it was set
down upon the Thing field； and on the one side of it sat the Bonders； and
on the other the King and his people。
〃Then Dale Gudbrand stood up and said； 'Where now； king； is thy God？
I think he will now carry his head lower； and neither thou； nor the man
with the horn； sitting beside thee there； whom thou callest Bishop； are so
bold to…day as on the former days。 For now our God； who rules over all； is
come； and looks on you with an angry eye； and now I see well enough that
you are terrified； and scarcely dare raise your eyes。 Throw away now all
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your opposition； and believe in the God who has your fate wholly in his
hands。'
〃The king now whispers to Kolbein the Strong； w
