early kings of norway(古挪威的国王)-第16章
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reign； there came bad rumors out of England： That Knut was equipping an
immense army；land…army； and such a fleet as had never sailed before；
Knut's own ship in it；a Gold Dragon with no fewer than sixty benches of
oars。 Olaf and Onund King of Sweden； whose sister he had married； well
guessed whither this armament was bound。 They were friends withal； they
recognized their common peril in this imminence； and had； in repeated
consultations； taken measures the best that their united skill （which I find
was mainly Olaf's but loyally accepted by the other） could suggest。 It was
in this year that Olaf （with his Swedish king assisting） did his grand feat
upon Knut in Lymfjord of Jutland； which was already spoken of。 The
special circumstances of which were these：
Knut's big armament arriving on the Jutish coasts too late in the season；
and the coast country lying all plundered into temporary wreck by the two
Norse kings； who shrank away on sight of Knut； there was nothing could
be done upon them by Knut this year；or； if anything； what？ Knut's ships
ran into Lymfjord； the safe…sheltered frith； or intricate long straggle of
friths and straits； which almost cuts Jutland in two in that region； and lay
safe； idly rocking on the waters there； uncertain what to do farther。 At last
he steered in his big ship and some others； deeper into the interior of
Lymfjord； deeper and deeper onwards to the mouth of a big river called
the Helge （_Helge…aa_； the Holy River； not discoverable in my poor maps；
but certainly enough still existing and still flowing somewhere among
those intricate straits and friths）； towards the bottom of which Helge river
lay； in some safe nook； the small combined Swedish and Norse fleet；
under the charge of Onund； the Swedish king； while at the top or source；
which is a biggish mountain lake； King Olaf had been doing considerable
engineering works； well suited to such an occasion； and was now ready at
a moment's notice。 Knut's fleet having idly taken station here； notice from
the Swedish king was instantly sent； instantly Olaf's well…engineered
flood…gates were thrown open； from the swollen lake a huge deluge of
water was let loose； Olaf himself with all his people hastening down to
join his Swedish friend； and get on board in time； Helge river all the while
alongside of him； with ever…increasing roar； and wider…spreading deluge；
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hastening down the steeps in the night…watches。 So that； along with Olaf or
some way ahead of him； came immeasurable roaring waste of waters upon
Knut's negligent fleet； shattered； broke； and stranded many of his ships；
and was within a trifle of destroying the Golden Dragon herself； with Knut
on board。 Olaf and Onund； we need not say； were promptly there in person；
doing their very best； the railings of the Golden Dragon； however； were
too high for their little ships； and Jarl Ulf； husband of Knut's sister； at the
top of his speed； courageously intervening； spoiled their stratagem； and
saved Knut from this very dangerous pass。
Knut did nothing more this winter。 The two Norse kings； quite unequal
to attack such an armament； except by ambush and engineering； sailed
away； again plundering at discretion on the Danish coast； carrying into
Sweden great booties and many prisoners； but obliged to lie fixed all
winter； and indeed to leave their fleets there for a series of winters；Knut's
fleet； posted at Elsinore on both sides of the Sound； rendering all egress
from the Baltic impossible； except at his pleasure。 Ulf's opportune
deliverance of his royal brother…in…law did not much bestead poor Ulf
himself。 He had been in disfavor before； pardoned with difficulty； by
Queen Emma's intercession； an ambitious； officious； pushing； stirring； and；
both in England and Denmark； almost dangerous man； and this
conspicuous accidental merit only awoke new jealousy in Knut。 Knut；
finding nothing pass the Sound worth much blockading； went ashore； 〃and
the day before Michaelmas；〃 says Snorro； 〃rode with a great retinue to
Roeskilde。〃 Snorro continues his tragic narrative of what befell there：
〃There Knut's brother…in…law； Jarl Ulf； had prepared a great feast for
him。 The Jarl was the most agreeable of hosts； but the King was silent and
sullen。 The Jarl talked to him in every way to make him cheerful； and
brought forward everything he could think of to amuse him； but the King
remained stern； and speaking little。 At last the Jarl proposed a game of
chess； which he agreed to。 A chess…board was produced； and they played
together。 Jarl Ulf was hasty in temper； stiff； and in nothing yielding； but
everything he managed went on well in his hands： and he was a great
warrior； about whom there are many stories。 He was the most powerful
man in Denmark next to the King。 Jarl Ulf's sister； Gyda； was married to
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Jarl Gudin （Godwin） Ulfnadson； and their sons were； Harald King of
England； and Jarl Tosti； Jarl Walthiof； Jarl Mauro…Kaare； and Jarl Svein。
Gyda was the name of their daughter； who was married to the English
King Edward； the Good （whom we call the Confessor）。
〃When they had played a while； the King made a false move； on which
the Jarl took a knight from him； but the King set the piece on the board
again； and told the Jarl to make another move。 But the Jarl flew angry；
tumbled the chess…board over； rose； and went away。 The King said； 'Run
thy ways； Ulf the Fearful。' The Jarl turned round at the door and said；
'Thou wouldst have run farther at Helge river hadst thou been left to battle
there。 Thou didst not call me Ulf the Fearful when I hastened to thy help
while the Swedes were beating thee like a dog。' The Jarl then went out；
and went to bed。
〃The following morning； while the King was putting on his clothes； he
said to his footboy； 'Go thou to Jarl Ulf and kill him。' The lad went； was
away a while； and then came back。 The King said； 'Hast thou killed the
Jarl？' 'I did not kill him； for he was gone to St。 Lucius's church。' There was
a man called Ivar the White； a Norwegian by birth； who was the King's
courtman and chamberlain。 The King said to him； 'Go thou and kill the
Jarl。' Ivar went to the church； and in at the choir； and thrust his sword
through the Jarl； who died on the spot。 Then Ivar went to the King； with
the bloody sword in his hand。
〃The King said； 'Hast thou killed the Jarl？' 'I have killed him；' said he。
'Thou hast done well；' answered the King。〃 I
From a man who built so many churches （one on each battlefield
where he had fought； to say nothing of the others）； and who had in him
such depths of real devotion and other fine cosmic quality； this does seem
rather strong！ But it is characteristic； withal；of the man； and perhaps of
the times still more。＇14＇ In any case； it is an event worth noting； the slain
Jarl Ulf and his connections being of importance in the history of
Denmark and of England also。 Ulf's wife was Astrid； sister of Knut； and
their only child was Svein； styled afterwards 〃Svein Estrithson〃 （〃Astrid…
son〃） when he became noted in the world；at this time a beardless youth；
who； on the back of this tragedy； fled hastily to Sweden； where were
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friends of Ulf。 After some ten years' eclipse there； Knut and both his sons
being now dead； Svein reappeared in Denmark under a new and eminent
figure； 〃Jarl of Denmark；〃 highest Liegeman to the then sovereign there。
Broke his oath to said sovereign； declared himself； Svein Estrithson； to be
real King of Denmark； and； after much preliminary trouble； and many
beatings and disastrous flights to and fro； became in effect such；to the
wonder of mankind； for he had not had one victory to cheer him on； or any
good luck or merit that one sees； except that of surviving longer than some
others。 Nevertheless he came to be the Restorer； so called； of Danish
independence； sole remaining representative of Knut （or Knut's sister）； of
Fork…beard； Blue…tooth； and Old Gorm； and ancestor of all the subsequent
kings of Denmark for some 400 years； himself coming； as we see； only by
the Distaff side； all of the Sword or male side having died so soon。 Early
death； it has been observed； was the Great Knut's allotment； and all his
posterity's as well；fatal limit （had there been no others； which we see
there were） to his becoming 〃Charlemagne of the North〃 in any
considerable degree！ Jarl Ulf； as we have seen； had a sister； Gyda by name；
wife to Earl Godwin （〃Gudin Ulfnadsson；〃 as Snorro calls him） a very
memorable Englishman； whose son and hers； King Harald； _Harold_ in
English books； is the memorablest of all。 These things ought to be better
known to English antiquaries； and will perhaps be alluded to again。
This pretty little victory or affront； gained over Knut in _Lymfjord_；
was among the last successes of Olaf against that mighty man。 Olaf； the
skilful captain he was； need not have despaired to defend his Norway
against Knut and all the world。 But he learned henceforth； month by
month ever more tragically； that his own people； seeing softer prospects
under Knut； and in particular the chiefs of them； industriously bribed by
Knut for years past； had fallen away from him； and that his means of
defence were gone。 Next summer； Knut's grand fleet sailed； unopposed；
along the coast of Norway； Knut summoning a Thing every here and there；
and in all of them meeting nothing
