early kings of norway(古挪威的国王)-第5章
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King Harald Greyfell to land and fight； which the undaunted Greyfell；
though so far outnumbered； does； and； fighting his very best； perishes
there； he and almost all his people。 Which done； Jarl Hakon； who is in
readiness； attacks Gold Harald； the victorious but the wearied； easily beats
Gold Harald； takes him prisoner； and instantly hangs and ends him； to the
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huge joy of King Blue…tooth and Hakon； who now make instant voyage to
Norway； drive all the brother under…kings into rapid flight to the Orkneys；
to any readiest shelter； and so； under the patronage of Blue…tooth； Hakon；
with the title of Jarl； becomes ruler of Norway。 This foul treachery done on
the brave and honest Harald Greyfell is by some dated about A。D。 969； by
Munch； 965； by others； computing out of Snorro only； A。D。 975。 For there
is always an uncertainty in these Icelandic dates （say rather； rare and rude
attempts at dating； without even an 〃A。D。〃 or other fixed 〃year one〃 to go
upon in Iceland）； though seldom； I think； so large a discrepancy as here。
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CHAPTER V。
HAKON JARL。
Hakon Jarl； such the style he took； had engaged to pay some kind of
tribute to King Blue…tooth； 〃if he could；〃 but he never did pay any；
pleading always the necessity of his own affairs； with which excuse；
joined to Hakon's readiness in things less important； King Blue…tooth
managed to content himself； Hakon being always his good neighbor； at
least； and the two mutually dependent。 In Norway； Hakon； without the title
of king； did in a strong…handed； steadfast； and at length； successful way；
the office of one； governed Norway （some count） for above twenty years；
and； both at home and abroad； had much consideration through most of
that time； specially amongst the heathen orthodox； for Hakon Jarl himself
was a zealous heathen； fixed in his mind against these chimerical Christian
innovations and unsalutary changes of creed； and would have gladly
trampled out all traces of what the last two kings （for Greyfell； also； was
an English Christian after his sort） had done in this respect。 But he wisely
discerned that it was not possible； and that； for peace's sake； he must not
even attempt it； but must strike preferably into 〃perfect toleration；〃 and
that of 〃every one getting to heaven or even to the other goal in his own
way。〃 He himself； it is well known； repaired many heathen temples （a
great 〃church builder〃 in his way！）； manufactured many splendid idols；
with much gilding and such artistic ornament as there was；in particular；
one huge image of Thor； not forgetting the hammer and appendages； and
such a collar （supposed of solid gold； which it was not quite； as we shall
hear in time） round the neck of him as was never seen in all the North。
How he did his own Yule festivals； with what magnificent solemnity； the
horse…eatings； blood…sprinklings； and other sacred rites； need not be told。
Something of a 〃Ritualist；〃 one may perceive； perhaps had Scandinavian
Puseyisms in him； and other desperate heathen notions。 He was
universally believed to have gone into magic； for one thing； and to have
dangerous potencies derived from the Devil himself。 The dark heathen
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mind of him struggling vehemently in that strange element； not altogether
so unlike our own in some points。
For the rest； he was evidently； in practical matters； a man of sharp；
clear insight； of steadfast resolution； diligence； promptitude； and managed
his secular matters uncommonly well。 Had sixteen Jarls under him； though
himself only Hakon Jarl by title； and got obedience from them stricter than
any king since Haarfagr had done。 Add to which that the country had years
excellent for grass and crop； and that the herrings came in exuberance；
tokens； to the thinking mind； that Hakon Jarl was a favorite of Heaven。
His fight with the far…famed Jomsvikings was his grandest exploit in
public rumor。 Jomsburg； a locality not now known； except that it was near
the mouth of the River Oder； denoted in those ages the impregnable castle
of a certain hotly corporate； or 〃Sea Robbery Association （limited）；〃 which；
for some generations； held the Baltic in terror； and plundered far beyond
the Belt；in the ocean itself； in Flanders and the opulent trading havens
there；above all； in opulent anarchic England； which； for forty years from
about this time； was the pirates' Goshen； and yielded； regularly every
summer； slaves； Danegelt； and miscellaneous plunder； like no other
country Jomsburg or the viking…world had ever known。 Palnatoke； Bue；
and the other quasi…heroic heads of this establishment are still remembered
in the northern parts。 _Palnatoke_ is the title of a tragedy by
Oehlenschlager； which had its run of immortality in Copenhagen some
sixty or seventy years ago。
I judge the institution to have been in its floweriest state； probably now
in Hakon Jarl's time。 Hakon Jarl and these pirates； robbing Hakon's
subjects and merchants that frequented him； were naturally in quarrel； and
frequent fightings had fallen out； not generally to the profit of the
Jomsburgers； who at last determined on revenge； and the rooting out of
this obstructive Hakon Jarl。 They assembled in force at the Cape of Stad；
in the Firda Fylke； and the fight was dreadful in the extreme； noise of it
filling all the north for long afterwards。 Hakon； fighting like a lion； could
scarcely hold his own；Death or Victory； the word on both sides； when
suddenly； the heavens grew black； and there broke out a terrific storm of
thunder and hail； appalling to the human mind；universe swallowed
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wholly in black night； only the momentary forked…blazes； the thunder…
pealing as of Ragnarok； and the battering hail…torrents； hailstones about
the size of an egg。 Thor with his hammer evidently acting； but in behalf of
whom？ The Jomsburgers in the hideous darkness； broken only by flashing
thunder…bolts； had a dismal apprehension that it was probably not on their
behalf （Thor having a sense of justice in him）； and before the storm ended；
thirty…five of their seventy ships sheered away； leaving gallant Bue； with
the other thirty…five； to follow as they liked； who reproachfully hailed
these fugitives； and continued the now hopeless battle。 Bue's nose and lips
were smashed or cut away； Bue managed； half…articulately； to exclaim；
〃Ha！ the maids （'mays'） of Funen will never kiss me more。 Overboard； all
ye Bue's men！〃 And taking his two sea…chests； with all the gold he had
gained in such life…struggle from of old； sprang overboard accordingly；
and finished the affair。 Hakon Jarl's renown rose naturally to the
transcendent pitch after this exploit。 His people； I suppose chiefly the
Christian part of them； whispered one to another； with a shudder； 〃That in
the blackest of the thunder…storm； he had taken his youngest little boy； and
made away with him； sacrificed him to Thor or some devil； and gained his
victory by art…magic； or something worse。〃 Jarl Eric； Hakon's eldest son；
without suspicion of art…magic； but already a distinguished viking； became
thrice distinguished by his style of sea…fighting in this battle； and
awakened great expectations in the viking public； of him we shall hear
again。
The Jomsburgers； one might fancy； after this sad clap went visibly
down in the world； but the fact is not altogether so。 Old King Blue…tooth
was now dead； died of a wound got in battle with his unnatural （so…called
〃natural〃） son and successor； Otto Svein of the Forked Beard； afterwards
king and conqueror of England for a little while； and seldom； perhaps
never； had vikingism been in such flower as now。 This man's name is Sven
in Swedish； Svend in German； and means boy or lad；the English
〃swain。〃 It was at old 〃Father Bluetooth's funeral…ale〃 （drunken burial…
feast）； that Svein； carousing with his Jomsburg chiefs and other choice
spirits； generally of the robber class； all risen into height of highest robber
enthusiasm； pledged the vow to one another； Svein that he would conquer
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England （which； in a sense； he； after long struggling； did）； and the
Jomsburgers that they would ruin and root out Hakon Jarl （which； as we
have just seen； they could by no means do）； and other guests other foolish
things which proved equally unfeasible。 Sea…robber volunteers so
especially abounding in that time； one perceives how easily the
Jomsburgers could recruit themselves； build or refit new robber fleets；
man them with the pick of crews； and steer for opulent； fruitful England；
where； under Ethelred the Unready； was such a field for profitable
enterprise as the viking public never had before or since。
An idle question sometimes rises on me；idle enough； for it never can
be answered in the affirmative or the negative； Whether it was not these
same refitted Jomsburgers who appeared some while after this at Red
Head Point； on the shore of Angus； and sustained a new severe beating； in
what the Scotch still faintly remember as their 〃Battle of Loncarty〃？
Beyond doubt a powerful Norse…pirate armament dropt anchor at the Red
H
