early kings of norway(古挪威的国王)-第3章
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EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY。
gained for himself the name of Hakon the Good。 These Danish invasions
were a frequent source of trouble to him； but his greatest and continual
trouble was that of extirpating heathen idolatry from Norway； and
introducing the Christian Evangel in its stead。 His transcendent anxiety to
achieve this salutary enterprise was all along his grand difficulty and
stumbling…block； the heathen opposition to it being also rooted and great。
Bishops and priests from England Hakon had； preaching and baptizing
what they could； but making only slow progress； much too slow for
Hakon's zeal。 On the other hand； every Yule…tide； when the chief heathen
were assembled in his own palace on their grand sacrificial festival； there
was great pressure put upon Hakon； as to sprinkling with horse…blood；
drinking Yule…beer； eating horse…flesh； and the other distressing rites； the
whole of which Hakon abhorred； and with all his steadfastness strove to
reject utterly。 Sigurd； Jarl of Lade （Trondhjem）； a liberal heathen； not
openly a Christian； was ever a wise counsellor and conciliator in such
affairs； and proved of great help to Hakon。 Once； for example； there
having risen at a Yule…feast； loud； almost stormful demand that Hakon；
like a true man and brother； should drink Yule…beer with them in their
sacred hightide； Sigurd persuaded him to comply； for peace's sake； at least；
in form。 Hakon took the cup in his left hand （excellent hot _beer_）； and
with his right cut the sign of the cross above it； then drank a draught。 〃Yes；
but what is this with the king's right hand？〃 cried the company。 〃Don't you
see？〃 answered shifty Sigurd； 〃he makes the sign of Thor's hammer before
drinking！〃 which quenched the matter for the time。
Horse…flesh； horse…broth； and the horse ingredient generally； Hakon all
but inexorably declined。 By Sigurd's pressing exhortation and entreaty； he
did once take a kettle of horsebroth by the handle； with a good deal of
linen…quilt or towel interposed； and did open his lips for what of steam
could insinuate itself。 At another time he consented to a particle of horse…
liver； intending privately； I guess； to keep it outside the gullet； and
smuggle it away without swallowing； but farther than this not even Sigurd
could persuade him to go。 At the Things held in regard to this matter
Hakon's success was always incomplete； now and then it was plain failure；
and Hakon had to draw back till a better time。 Here is one specimen of the
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EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY。
response he got on such an occasion； curious specimen； withal； of antique
parliamentary eloquence from an Anti…Christian Thing。
At a Thing of all the Fylkes of Trondhjem； Thing held at Froste in that
region； King Hakon； with all the eloquence he had； signified that it was
imperatively necessary that all Bonders and sub…Bonders should become
Christians； and believe in one God； Christ the Son of Mary； renouncing
entirely blood sacrifices and heathen idols； should keep every seventh day
holy； abstain from labor that day； and even from food； devoting the day to
fasting and sacred meditation。 Whereupon； by way of universal answer；
arose a confused universal murmur of entire dissent。 〃Take away from us
our old belief； and also our time for labor！〃 murmured they in angry
astonishment； 〃how can even the land be got tilled in that way？〃 〃We
cannot work if we don't get food；〃 said the hand laborers and slaves。 〃It
lies in King Hakon's blood；〃 remarked others； 〃his father and all his
kindred were apt to be stingy about food； though liberal enough with
money。〃 At length； one Osbjorn （or Bear of the Asen or Gods； what we
now call Osborne）； one Osbjorn of Medalhusin Gulathal； stept forward；
and said； in a distinct manner； 〃We Bonders （peasant proprietors）thought；
King Hakon； when thou heldest thy first Thing…day here in Trondhjem；
and we took thee for our king； and received our hereditary lands from thee
again that we had got heaven itself。 But now we know not how it is；
whether we have won freedom； or whether thou intendest anew to make us
slaves； with this wonderful proposal that we should renounce our faith；
which our fathers before us have held； and all our ancestors as well； first in
the age of burial by burning； and now in that of earth burial； and yet these
departed ones were much our superiors； and their faith； too； has brought
prosperity to us。 Thee； at the same time； we have loved so much that we
raised thee to manage all the laws of the land； and speak as their voice to
us all。 And even now it is our will and the vote of all Bonders to keep that
paction which thou gavest us here on the Thing at Froste； and to maintain
thee as king so long as any of us Bonders who are here upon the Thing has
life left； provided thou； king； wilt go fairly to work； and demand of us only
such things as are not impossible。 But if thou wilt fix upon this thing with
so great obstinacy； and employ force and power； in that case； we Bonders
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EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY。
have taken the resolution； all of us； to fall away from thee； and to take for
ourselves another head； who will so behave that we may enjoy in freedom
the belief which is agreeable to us。 Now shalt thou； king； choose one of
these two courses before the Thing disperse。〃 〃Whereupon；〃 adds the
Chronicle； 〃all the Bonders raised a mighty shout； 'Yes； we will have it so；
as has been said。'〃 So that Jarl Sigurd had to intervene； and King Hakon to
choose for the moment the milder branch of the alternative。＇4＇ At other
Things Hakon was more or less successful。 All his days； by such methods
as there were； he kept pressing forward with this great enterprise； and on
the whole did thoroughly shake asunder the old edifice of heathendom；
and fairly introduce some foundation for the new and better rule of faith
and life among his people。 Sigurd； Jarl of Lade； his wise counsellor in all
these matters； is also a man worthy of notice。
Hakon's arrangements against the continual invasions of Eric's sons；
with Danish Blue…tooth backing them； were manifold； and for a long time
successful。 He appointed； after consultation and consent in the various
Things； so many war…ships； fully manned and ready； to be furnished
instantly on the King's demand by each province or fjord； watch…fires； on
fit places； from hill to hill all along the coast； were to be carefully set up；
carefully maintained in readiness； and kindled on any alarm of war。 By
such methods Blue…tooth and Co。's invasions were for a long while
triumphantly； and even rapidly； one and all of them； beaten back； till at
length they seemed as if intending to cease altogether； and leave Hakon
alone of them。 But such was not their issue after all。 The sons of Eric had
only abated under constant discouragement； had not finally left off from
what seemed their one great feasibility in life。 Gunhild； their mother； was
still with them： a most contriving； fierce…minded； irreconcilable woman；
diligent and urgent on them； in season and out of season； and as for King
Blue…tooth； he was at all times ready to help； with his good…will at least。
That of the alarm…fires on Hakon's part was found troublesome by his
people； sometimes it was even hurtful and provoking （lighting your alarm…
fires and rousing the whole coast and population； when it was nothing but
some paltry viking with a couple of ships）； in short； the alarm…signal
system fell into disuse； and good King Hakon himself； in the first place；
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EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY。
paid the penalty。 It is counted； by the latest commentators； to have been
about A。D。 961； sixteenth or seventeenth year of Hakon's pious； valiant；
and worthy reign。 Being at a feast one day； with many guests； on the
Island of Stord； sudden announcement came to him that ships from the
south were approaching in quantity； and evidently ships of war。 This was
the biggest of all the Blue…tooth foster…son invasions； and it was fatal to
Hakon the Good that night。 Eyvind the Skaldaspillir （annihilator of all
other Skalds）； in his famed _Hakon's Song_； gives account； and； still more
pertinently； the always practical Snorro。 Danes in great multitude； six to
one； as people afterwards computed； springing swiftly to land； and ranking
themselves； Hakon； nevertheless； at once deciding not to take to his ships
and run； but to fight there； one to six； fighting； accordingly； in his most
splendid manner； and at last gloriously prevailing； routing and scattering
back to their ships and flight homeward these six…to…one Danes。 〃During
the struggle of the fight；〃 says Snorro； 〃he was very conspicuous among
other men； and while the sun shone； his bright gilded helmet glanced； and
thereby many weapons were directed at him。 One of his henchmen；
Eyvind Finnson （_i。e。_ Skaldaspillir； the poet）； took a hat； and put it over
the king's helmet。 Now； among the hostile first leaders were two uncles of
the Ericsons； brothers of Gunhild； great champions both； Skreya； the elder
of them； on the disappearance of the glittering helmet； shouted boastfully；
'Does the king of the Norsemen hide himself； then； or has he fled？ Where
now is the golden helmet？' And so saying； Skreya； and his brother Alf with
him； pushed on like fools or madmen。 The king said； 'Come on in that way；
and you shall find the king of the Norsemen。'〃 And in a short space of time
braggart Skreya did come up； swinging his sword； and made a cut at the
king； but Thoralf the Strong； an Icelander； who fought at the
