letters from high latitudes-第36章

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The　forms　of　those　old　Greeks　and　Romans　whom　we　are　taught　to　reverence；　may　project　taller　shadows　on　the　world's　stage；　but　though　the　scene　be　narrow　here；　and　light　be　wanting；　the　interest　is　not　less　intense；　nor　are　the　passions　less　awful　that　inspired　these　ruder　dramas。

There　is　an　individuality　in　the　Icelandic　historian's　description　of　King　Olaf　that　wins　one's　interestat　first　as　in　an　acquaintanceand　rivets　it　at　last　as　in　a　personal　friend。　The　old　Chronicle　lingers　with　such　loving　minuteness　over　his　attaching　qualities；　his　social；　generous　nature；　his　gaiety　and　〃frolicsomeness；〃　even　his　finical　taste　in　dress；　and　his　evident　proneness　to　fall　too　hastily　in　love；　have　a　value　in　the　portrait；　as　contrasting　with　the　gloomy　colours　in　which　the　story　sinks　at　last。　The　warm；　impulsive　spirit　speaks　in　every　action　of　his　life；　from　the　hour　whena　young　child；　in　exilehe　strikes　his　axe　into　the　skull　of　his　foster…father's　murderer；　to　the　last　grand　scene　near　Svalderoe。　You　trace　it　in　his　absorbing　grief　for　the　death　of　Geyra；　the　wife　of　his　youth；　the　saga　says；　〃he　had　no　pleasure　in　Vinland　after　it；〃　and　then　naively　observes；　〃he　therefore　provided　himself　with　war…ships；　and　went　a…plundering；〃　one　of　his　first　achievements　being　to　go　and　pull　down　London　Bridge。　This　peculiar　kind　of　〃distraction〃　（as　the　French　call　it）　seems　to　have　had　the　desired　effect；　as　is　evident　in　the　romantic　incident　of　his　second　marriage；　when　the　Irish　Princess　Gyda　chooses　himapparently　an　obscure　strangerto　be　her　husband；　out　of　a　hundred　wealthy　and　well…born　aspirants　to　her　hand。　But　neither　Gyda's　love；　nor　the　rude　splendours　of　her　father's　court；　can　make　Olaf　forgetful　of　his　claims　upon　the　throne　of　Norwaythe　inheritance　of　his　father；　and　when　that　object　of　his　just　ambition　is　attained；　and　he　is　proclaimed　King　by　general　election　of　the　Bonders；　as　his　ancestor　Harald　Haarfager　had　been；　his　character　deepens　in　earnestness　as　the　sphere　of　his　duties　is　enlarged。　　All　the　energies　of　his　ardent　nature　are　put　forth　in　the　endeavour　to　convert　his　subjects　to　the　true　Faith。　　As　he　himself　expresses　it；　〃he　would　bring　it　to　this；that　all　Norway　should　be　Christian　or　die！〃　In　the　same　spirit　he　meets　his　heretic　and　rebellious　subjects　at　the　Thing　of　Lade；　and　boldly　replies；　when　they　require　him　to　sacrifice　to　the　false　gods；　〃If　I　turn　with　you　to　offer　sacrifice；　then　shall　it　be　the　greatest　sacrifice　that　can　be　made；　I　will　not　offer　slaves；　nor　malefactors　to　your　gods；I　will　sacrifice　men；and　they　shall　be　the　noblest　men　among　you！〃　It　was　soon　after　this　that　he　despatched　the　exemplary　Thangbrand　to　Iceland。

With　a　front　not　less　determined　does　he　face　his　country's　foes。　The　king　of　Sweden；　and　Svend　〃of　the　forked　beard；〃　king　of　Denmark；　have　combined　against　him。　　With　them　is　joined　the　Norse　jarl；　Eric；　the　son　of　Hacon。　　Olaf　Tryggvesson　is　sailing　homewards　with　a　fleet　of　seventy　ships；himself　commanding　the　famous　〃Long　Serpent；〃　the　largest　ship　built　in　Norway。　His　enemies　are　lying　in　wait　for　him　behind　the　islands。

Nothing　can　be　more　dramatic　than　the　description　of　the　sailing　of　this　gallant　fleet（piloted　by　the　treacherous　Earl　Sigwald）within　sight　of　the　ambushed　Danes　and　Swedes；　who　watch　from　their　hiding…place　the　beautiful　procession　of　hostile　vessels；　mistaking　each　in　turn　for　the　〃Long　Serpent；〃　and　as　often　undeceived　by　a　new　and　yet　more　stately　apparition。　She　appears　at　length；　her　dragon　prow　glittering　in　the　sunshine；　all　canvas　spread；　her　sides　bristling　with　armed　men；　〃and　when　they　saw　her；　none　spoke；　all　knew　it　to　be　indeed　the　'Serpent；'and　they　went　to　their　ships　to　arm　for　the　fight。〃　As　soon　as　Olaf　and　his　forces　had　been　enticed　into　the　narrow　passage；　the　united　fleets　of　the　three　allies　pour　out　of　the　Sound；　his　people　beg　Olaf　to　hold　on　his　way　and　not　risk　battle　with　such　a　superior　force；　but　the　King　replied；　high　on　the　quarter…deck　where　he　stood；　〃Strike　the　sails！　I　never　fled　from　battle：　let　God　dispose　of　my　life；　but　flight　I　will　never　take！〃　He　then　orders　the　warhorns　to　sound；　for　all　his　ships　to　close　up　to　each　other。　〃Then；〃　says　Ulf　the　Red；　captain　of　the　forecastle；　〃if　the　'Long　Serpent'　is　to　lie　so　much　a…head　of　the　other　vessels；　we　shall　have　hot　work　of　it　here　on　the　forecastle。〃

The　King　replies；　〃I　did　not　think　I　had　a　forecastle　man　afraid；　as　well　as　red。〃　＇Footnote：　There　is　a　play　on　these　two　words　in　the　Icelandic；　〃Raudau　oc　Ragan。〃＇

Says　Ulf；　〃Defend　thou　the　quarter…deck；　as　_I_　shall　the　forecastle。〃

The　King　had　a　bow　in　his　hands；　he　laid　an　arrow　on　the　string；　and　made　as　if　he　aimed　at　Ulf。

Ulf　said；　〃Shoot　another　way；　King；　where　it　is　more　needful；my　work　is　thy　gain。〃

Then　the　King　asks；　〃Who　is　the　chief　of　the　force　right　opposite　to　us？〃　He　is　answered；　〃Svend　of　Denmark；　with　his　army。〃

Olaf　replies；　〃We　are　not　afraid　of　these　soft　Danes！　Who　are　the　troops　on　the　right？〃

They　answer；　〃Olaf　of　Sweden；　and　his　forces。〃

〃Better　it　were；〃　replies　the　King；　〃for　these　Swedes　to　be　sitting　at　home；　killing　their　sacrifices；　than　venturing　under　the　weapons　of　the　'Long　Serpent。'　But　who　owns　the　large　ships　on　the　larboard　side　of　the　Danes？〃

〃That　is　Jarl　Eric；　son　of　Hacon；〃　say　they。

The　King　says；　〃He　has　reason　for　meeting　us；　we　may　expect　hard　blows　from　these　men；　they　are　Norsemen　like　ourselves。〃

The　fierce　conflict　raged　for　many　hours。　It　went　hard　with　the　〃soft　Danes；〃　and　idolatrous　Swedes；　as　Olaf　had　foreseen：　after　a　short　struggle　they　turn　and　fly。　But　Jarl　Eric　in　his　large　ship　the　〃Iron　Beard〃　is　more　than　a　match　for　Olafs　lighter　vessels。　One　by　one　their　decks　are　deluged　with　blood；　their　brave　defenders　swept　into　the　sea；　one　by　one　they　are　cut　adrift　and　sent　loose　with　the　tide。　And　now　at　last　the　〃Iron　Beard〃　lies　side　by　side　with　the　〃Long　Serpent；〃　and　it　is　indeed　〃hot　work〃　both　on　forecastle　and　quarter…deck。

〃Einar　Tambarskelvar；　one　of　the　sharpest　of　bowmen；　stood　by　the　mast；　and　shot　with　his　bow。〃　His　arrow　hits　the　tiller…end；　just　over　the　Earl's　head；　and　buries　itself　up　to　the　shaft　in　the　wood。　〃Who　shot　that　bolt？〃　says　the　Jarl。　Another　flies　between　his　hand　and　side；　and　enters　the　stuffing　of　the　chief's　stool。　Then　said　the　Jarl　to　a　man　named　Fin；　〃Shoot　that　tall　archer　by　the　mast！〃　Fin　shoots；　the　arrow　hits　the　middle　of　Einar's　bow　as　he　is　in　the　act　of　drawing　it；　and　the　bow　is　split　in　two。

〃What　is　that；〃　cried　King　Olaf；　〃that　broke　with　such　a　noise？〃

〃NORWAY；　King；　from　thy　hands！〃　cried　Einar。

〃No！　not　so　much　as　that；〃　says　the　King；　〃take　my　bow；　and　shoot；〃flinging　the　bow　to　him。

Einar　took　the　bow；　and　drew　it　over　the　head　of　the　arrow。　〃Too　weak；　too　weak；〃　said　he；　〃for　the　bow　of　a　mighty　King！〃　and　throwing　the　bow　aside；　〃he　took　sword　and　buckler；　and　fought　valiantly。〃

But　Olaf's　hour　is　come。　Many　slain　lie　around　him；　many　that　have　fallen　by　his　hand；　more　that　have　fallen　at　his　side。　The　thinned　ranks　on　board　the　〃Iron　Beard〃　are　constantly　replenished　by　fresh　combatants　from　other　vessels；　even　by　the　Swedes　and　soft　Danes；　now　〃strong；　upon　the　stronger　side；〃while　Olaf；　cut　off　from　succour；　stands　almost　alone　upon　the　〃Serpent's〃　deck；　made　slippery　by　his　people's　blood。　The　jarl　had　laid　out　boats　to　intercept　all　who　might　escape　from　the　ship；　but　escape　is　not　in　the　King's　thoughts。　He　casts　one　look　around　him；　glances　at　his　swordbroken　like　Einar's　bowdraws　a　deep　breath；　and；　holding　his　shield　above　his　head；　springs　overboard。　A　shouta　rush！　who　shall　first　grasp　that　noble　prisoner？　Back；　slaves！　the　shield　that　has　brought　him　scathless　through　a　hundred　fights；　shall　yet　shelter　him　from　dishonour。

Countless　hands　are　stretched　to　snatch　him　back　to　worthless　life；　but　the　shield　alone　floats　on　the　swirl　of　the　wave；King　Olaf　has　sunk　beneath　it。

Perhaps　you　have　already　had　enough　of　my　Saga　lore；　but　with　that　grey　cathedral　full　in　sight；　I　cannot　but　dedicate　a　few　lines　to　another　Olaf；　king　and　warrior　like　the　last；　but　to　whom　after　times　have　accorded　a　yet　higher　title。

Saint　Olaf'sSaint　Olave；　as　we　call　himearly　history　savours　little　of　the　odour　of　sanctity；　but　has　rather　that　〃ancient　and　fish…like　smell〃　which　characterised　the　doings　of　the　Vikings；　his　ancestors。　But　those　were　days　when　honour　rather　than　disgrace　attached　to　the　ideas　of　booty　and　plunder；　especially　in　an　enemy's　country；　it　was　a　〃spoiling　of　the　Egyptians〃　sanctioned　by　custom；　and　even　permitted　by　the　Church；　which　did　not　disdain　occasionally　to　share　in　the　profits　of　a　successful　cruise；　when　presented　in　the　decent　form　of　silver　candlesticks　and　other　ecclesiastical　gauds。　As　to　the　ancient　historian；　he　mentions　these　matters　as　a　thing　of　course。　〃Here　the　King　landed；　burnt；　and　ravaged；〃　〃there　the　Jarl　gained　much　booty；〃　〃this　summer；　they　took　a　cruise　in　the　Baltic；　to　gather　property；〃　etc。；　much　as　a　modern　biographer　would　speak　of　a　gentleman's　successful　railroad　speculations；　his　taking　shares　in　a　coal　mine；　or　coming　into　a　〃nice　little　thing　in　the　Long　Annuities。〃　Nevertheless；　there　is　something　significant　of　his　future　vocation；　in　a　speech　which　Olaf　makes　to　his　assembled　friends　and　relations；　imparting　to　them　his　design　of　endeavouring　to　regain　possession　of　the　throne：　〃I　and　my　men　have　nothing　for　our　support　save　what　we　captured　in　war；　FOR　WHICH　WE　HAVE　HAZARDED　BOTH　LIFE　AND　SOUL；　for　many　an　innocent　man　have　we　deprived　of　his　property；　and　some　of　their　lives；　and　foreigners　are　now　sitting　in　the　possessions　of　my　fathers。〃　One　sees　here　a　faint　glimmer　of　the　Saint's　nimbus；　over　the　helmet　of　the　Viking；　a　dawning　perception　of　the　〃rights　of　property；〃　which；　no　doubt；　must　have　startled　his　hearers　into　the　most　ardent　conservative　zeal　for　the　good　old　marauding　customs。

But　though　years　elapsed；　and　fortunes　changed；　before　this　dim　light　of　the　early　Church　became　that　scorching　and　devouring　flame　which；　later；　spread　terror　and　confusion　among　the　haunts　of　the　still　lingering　ancient　gods；　an　earnest　sense　of　duty　seems　to　have　been　ever　present　with　him。　If　it　cannot　be　denied　that　he　shared　the　errors　of　other　proselytizing　monarchs；　and　put　down　Paganism　with　a　stern　and　bloody　hand；　no　merely　personal　injury　ever　weighed　with　him。　How　grand　is　his　reply　to　those　who　advise　him　to　ravage　with　fire　and　sword　the　rebellious　district　of　Throndhjem；　as　he　had　formerly　punished　numbers　of　his　subjects　who　had　rejected　Christianity：〃We　had　then　GOD'S　honour　to　defend；　but　this　treason　against　their　sovereign　is　a　much　less　grievous　crime；　it　is　more　in　my　power　to　spare　those　who　have　dealt　ill　with　me；　than　those　whom　God　hated。〃　The　same　hard　measure　which　he　meted　to　others　he　applied　to　his　own　actions：　　witness　that　curiously　characteristic　scene；　when；　sitting　in　his　high　seat；　at　table；　lost　in　thought；　he　begins　unconsciously　to　cut　splinters　from　a　piece　of　fir…wood　which　he　held　in　his　hand。　The　table　servant；　seeing　what　the　King　was　about；　says　to　him；　（mark　the　respectful　periphrasis！）　〃IT　IS　MONDAY；　SIRE；　TO…MORROW。〃　The　King　looks　at　him；　and　i