early kings of norway(古挪威的国王)-第17章
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along the coast of Norway； Knut summoning a Thing every here and there；
and in all of them meeting nothing but sky…high acclamation and
acceptance。 Olaf； with some twelve little ships； all he now had； lay quiet in
some safe fjord； near Lindenaes； what we now call the Naze； behind some
little solitary isles on the southeast of Norway there； till triumphant Knut
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had streamed home again。 Home to England again 〃Sovereign of Norway〃
now； with nephew Hakon appointed Jarl and Vice…regent under him！ This
was the news Olaf met on venturing out； and that his worst anticipations
were not beyond the sad truth all； or almost all； the chief Bonders and men
of weight in Norway had declared against him； and stood with triumphant
Knut。
Olaf； with his twelve poor ships； steered vigorously along the coast to
collect money and force；if such could now anywhere be had。 He himself
was resolute to hold out； and try。 〃Sailing swiftly with a fair wind；
morning cloudy with some showers；〃 he passed the coast of Jedderen；
which was Erling Skjalgson's country； when he got sure notice of an
endless multitude of ships； war…ships； armed merchant ships； all kinds of
shipping…craft； down to fishermen's boats； just getting under way against
him； under the command of Erling Skjalgson； the powerfulest of his
subjects； once much a friend of Olaf's but now gone against him to this
length； thanks to Olaf's severity of justice； and Knut's abundance in gold
and promises for years back。 To that complexion had it come with Erling；
sailing with this immense assemblage of the naval people and populace of
Norway to seize King Olaf； and bring him to the great Knut dead or alive。
Erling had a grand new ship of his own； which far outsailed the
general miscellany of rebel ships； and was visibly fast gaining distance on
Olaf himself；who well understood what Erling's puzzle was； between the
tail of his game （the miscellany of rebel ships； namely） that could not
come up； and the head or general prize of the game which was crowding
all sail to get away； and Olaf took advantage of the same。 〃Lower your
sails！〃 said Olaf to his men （though we must go slower）。
〃Ho you； we have lost sight of them！〃 said Erling to his； and put on all
his speed； Olaf going； soon after this； altogether invisible；behind a little
island that he knew of； whence into a certain fjord or bay （Bay of Fungen
on the maps）； which he thought would suit him。 〃Halt here； and get out
your arms；〃 said Olaf； and had not to wait long till Erling came bounding
in； past the rocky promontory； and with astonishment beheld Olaf's fleet of
twelve with their battle…axes and their grappling…irons all in perfect
readiness。 These fell on him； the unready Erling； simultaneous； like a
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cluster of angry bees； and in a few minutes cleared his ship of men
altogether； except Erling himself。 Nobody asked his life； nor probably
would have got it if he had。 Only Erling still stood erect on a high place on
the poop； fiercely defensive； and very difficult to get at。 〃Could not be
reached at all；〃 says Snorro； 〃except by spears or arrows； and these he
warded off with untiring dexterity； no man in Norway； it was said； had
ever defended himself so long alone against many；〃an almost invincible
Erling； had his cause been good。 Olaf himself noticed Erling's behavior；
and said to him； from the foredeck below； 〃Thou hast turned against me
to…day； Erling。〃 〃The eagles fight breast to breast；〃 answers he。 This was a
speech of the king's to Erling once long ago； while they stood fighting； not
as now； but side by side。 The king； with some transient thought of
possibility going through his head； rejoins； 〃Wilt thou surrender； Erling？〃
〃That will I；〃 answered he； took the helmet off his head； laid down sword
and shield； and went forward to the forecastle deck。 The king pricked； I
think not very harshly； into Erling's chin or beard with the point of his
battle…axe； saying； 〃I must mark thee as traitor to thy Sovereign； though。〃
Whereupon one of the bystanders； Aslak Fitiaskalle； stupidly and fiercely
burst up； smote Erling on the head with his axe； so that it struck fast in his
brain and was instantly the death of Erling。 〃Ill…luck attend thee for that
stroke； thou hast struck Norway out of my hand by it！〃 cried the king to
Aslak； but forgave the poor fellow； who had done it meaning well。 The
insurrectionary Bonder fleet arriving soon after； as if for certain victory；
was struck with astonishment at this Erling catastrophe； and being now
without any leader of authority； made not the least attempt at battle； but；
full of discouragement and consternation； thankfully allowed Olaf to sail
away on his northward voyage； at discretion； and themselves went off
lamenting； with Erling's dead body。
This small victory was the last that Olaf had over his many enemies at
present。 He sailed along； still northward； day after day； several important
people joined him； but the news from landward grew daily more ominous：
Bonders busily arming to rear of him； and ahead； Hakon still more busily
at Trondhjem； now near by； 〃and he will end thy days； King； if he have
strength enough！〃 Olaf paused； sent scouts to a hill…top： 〃Hakon's
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armament visible enough； and under way hitherward； about the Isle of
Bjarno； yonder！〃 Soon after； Olaf himself saw the Bonder armament of
twenty…five ships； from the southward； sail past in the distance to join that
of Hakon； and； worse still； his own ships； one and another （seven in all）；
were slipping off on a like errand！ He made for the Fjord of Fodrar； mouth
of the rugged strath called Valdal；which I think still knows Olaf and has
now an 〃Olaf's Highway；〃 where； nine centuries ago； it scarcely had a path。
Olaf entered this fjord； had his land…tent set up； and a cross beside it； on
the small level green behind the promontory there。 Finding that his twelve
poor ships were now reduced to five； against a world all risen upon him；
he could not but see and admit to himself that there was no chance left；
and that he must withdraw across the mountains and wait for a better time。
His journey through that wild country； in these forlorn and straitened
circumstances； has a mournful dignity and homely pathos； as described by
Snorro： how he drew up his five poor ships upon the beach； packed all
their furniture away； and with his hundred or so of attendants and their
journey…baggage； under guidance of some friendly Bonder； rode up into
the desert and foot of the mountains； scaled； after three days' effort （as if
by miracle； thought his attendants and thought Snorro）； the well…nigh
precipitous slope that led across； never without miraculous aid from
Heaven and Olaf could baggage…wagons have ascended that path！ In short；
How he fared along； beset by difficulties and the mournfulest thoughts；
but patiently persisted； steadfastly trusted in God； and was fixed to return；
and by God's help try again。 An evidently very pious and devout man； a
good man struggling with adversity； such as the gods； we may still
imagine with the ancients； do look down upon as their noblest sight。
He got to Sweden； to the court of his brother…in…law； kindly and nobly
enough received there； though gradually； perhaps； ill…seen by the now
authorities of Norway。 So that； before long； he quitted Sweden； left his
queen there with her only daughter； his and hers； the only child they had；
he himself had an only son； 〃by a bondwoman；〃 Magnus by name； who
came to great things afterwards； of whom； and of which； by and by。 With
this bright little boy； and a selected escort of attendants； he moved away to
Russia； to King Jarroslav； where he might wait secure against all risk of
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hurting kind friends by his presence。 He seems to have been an exile
altogether some two years；such is one's vague notion； for there is no
chronology in Snorro or his Sagas； and one is reduced to guessing and
inferring。 He had reigned over Norway； reckoning from the first days of
his landing there to those last of his leaving it across the Dovrefjeld； about
fifteen years； ten of them shiningly victorious。
The news from Norway were naturally agitating to King Olaf and； in
the fluctuation of events there； his purposes and prospects varied much。
He sometimes thought of pilgriming to Jerusalem； and a henceforth
exclusively religious life； but for most part his pious thoughts themselves
gravitated towards Norway； and a stroke for his old place and task there；
which he steadily considered to have been committed to him by God。
Norway； by the rumors； was evidently not at rest。 Jarl Hakon； under the
high patronage of his uncle； had lasted there but a little while。 I know not
that his government was especially unpopular； nor whether he himself
much remembered his broken oath。 It appears； however； he had left in
England a beautiful bride； and considering farther that in England only
could bridal ornaments and other wedding outfit of a sufficiently royal
kind be found； he set sail thither； to fetch her and them himself。 One
evening of wildish…looking weather he was seen about the northeast corner
of the Pentland Frith； the night rose to be tempestuous； Hakon or any
timber of his fleet was never seen more。 Had all gone down；broken oaths；
brida
