letters from high latitudes-第37章

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ful　periphrasis！）　〃IT　IS　MONDAY；　SIRE；　TO…MORROW。〃　The　King　looks　at　him；　and　it　came　into　his　mind　what　he　was　doing　on　a　Sunday。　　He　sweeps　up　the　shavings　he　had　made；　sets　fire　to　them；　and　lets　them　burn　on　his　naked　hand；　〃showing　thereby　that　he　would　hold　fast　by　God's　law；　and　not　trespass　without　punishment。〃

But　whatever　human　weaknesses　may　have　mingled　with　the　pure　ore　of　this　noble　character；　whatever　barbarities　may　have　stained　his　career；　they　are　forgotten　in　the　pathetic　close　of　his　martial　story。

His　subjects；alienated　by　the　sternness　with　which　he　administers　his　own　severely　religious　laws；　or　corrupted　by　the　bribes　of　Canute；　king　of　Denmark　and　England；　are　fallen　from　their　allegiance。　The　brave；　single…hearted　monarch　is　marching　against　the　rebellious　Bonders；　at　the　head　of　a　handful　of　foreign　troops；　and　such　as　remained　faithful　among　his　own　people。　On　the　eve　of　that　last　battle；　on　which　he　stakes　throne　and　life；　he　intrusts　a　large　sum　of　money　to　a　Bonder；　to　be　laid　out　〃on　churches；　priests；　and　alms…men；　as　gifts　for　the　souls　of　such　as　may　fall　in　battle　AGAINST　HIMSELF；〃strong　in　the　conviction　of　the　righteousness　of　his　cause；　and　the　assured　salvation　of　such　as　upheld　it。

He　makes　a　glorious　end。　Forsaken　by　many　whom　he　had　loved　and　served；yet　forgiving　and　excusing　them；　rejecting　the　aid　of　all　who　denied　that　holy　Faith　which　had　become　the　absorbing　interest　of　his　life；but　surrounded　by　a　faithful　few；　who　share　his　fate；　〃in　the　lost　battle；　borne　down　by　the　flying〃he　falls；　transpierced　by　many　wounds；　and　the　last　words　on　his　fervent　lips　are　prayer　to　God。　＇Footnote：　The　exact　date　of　the　battle　of　Sticklestad　is　known：　an　eclipse　of　the　sun　occurred　while　it　was　going　on。＇

Surely　there　was　a　gallant　saint　and　soldier。　Yet　he　was　not　the　only　one　who　bore　himself　nobly　on　that　day。　Here　is　another　episode　of　that　same　fatal　fight。

A　certain　Thormod　is　one　of　the　Scalds　（or　Poets）　in　King　Olaf's　army。　The　night　before　the　battle　he　sings　a　spirited　song　at　the　King's　request；　who　gives　him　a　gold　ring　from　his　finger　in　token　of　his　approval。　Thormod　thanks　him　for　the　gift；　and　says；　〃It　is　my　prayer；　Sire；　that　we　shall　never　part；　either　in　life　or　death。〃　When　the　King　receives　his　death…wound　Thormod　is　near　him；but；　wounded　himself；　and　so　weak　and　weary　that　in　a　desperate　onslaught　by　the　King's　men；nicknamed　〃Dag's　storm；〃HE　ONLY　STOOD　BY　HIS　COMRADE　IN　THE　RANKS；　ALTHOUGH　HE　COULD　DO　NOTHING。

The　noise　of　the　battle　has　ceased；　the　King　is　lying　dead　where　he　fell。　The　very　man　who　had　dealt　him　his　death…wound　has　laid　the　body　straight　out　on　the　ground；　and　spread　a　cloak　over　it。　〃And　when　he　wiped　the　blood　from　the　face　it　was　very　beautiful；　and　there　was　red　in　the　cheeks；　as　if　he　only　slept。〃

Thormod；　who　had　received　a　second　wound　as　he　stood　in　the　ranks（an　arrow　in　his　side；　which　he　breaks　off　at　the　shaft）；wanders　away　towards　a　large　barn；　where　other　wounded　men　have　taken　refuge。　Entering　with　his　drawn　sword　in　his　hand；　he　meets　one　of　the　Bonders　coming　out；　who　says；　〃It　is　very　bad　there；　with　howling　and　screaming；　and　a　great　shame　it　is；　that　brisk　young　fellows　cannot　bear　their　wounds。　The　King's　men　may　have　done　bravely　to…day；　but　truly　they　bear　their　wounds　ill。〃

Thormod　asks　what　his　name　is；　and　if　he　was　in　the　battle。　Kimbe　was　his　name；　and　he　had　been　〃with　the　Bonders；　which　was　the　best　side。〃　〃And　hast　thou　been　in　the　battle　too？〃　asks　he　of　Thormod。

Thormod　replies；　〃I　was　with　them　that　had　the　best。〃

〃Art　thou　wounded？〃　says　Kimbe。

〃Not　much　to　signify；〃　says　Thormod。

Kimbe　sees　the　gold　ring；　and　says；　〃Thou　art　a　King's　man：　give　me　thy　gold　ring；　and　I　will　hide　thee。〃

Thormod　replies；　〃Take　the　ring　if　thou　canst　get　it；　_I_　HAVE　LOST　THAT　WHICH　IS　MORE　WORTH。〃

Kimbe　stretches　out　his　hand　to　seize　the　ring；　but　Thormod；　swinging　his　sword；　cuts　off　his　hand；　〃and　it　is　related；　that　Kimbe　behaved　no　better　under　his　wound　than　those　he　had　just　been　blaming。〃

Thormod　then　enters　the　house　where　the　wounded　men　are　lying；　and　seats　himself　in　silence　by　the　door。

As　the　people　go　in　and　out；　one　of　them　casts　a　look　at　Thormod；　and　says；　〃Why　art　thou　so　dead　pale？　Art　thou　wounded？〃　He　answers　carelessly；　with　a　half…jesting　rhyme；　then　rises　and　stands　awhile　by　the　fire。　A　woman；　who　is　attending　on　those　who　are　hurt；　bids　him　〃go　out；　and　bring　in　firewood　from　the　door。〃　He　returns　with　the　wood；　and　the　girl　then　looking　him　in　the　face；　says；　〃Dreadfully　pale　is　this　man；〃　and　asks　to　see　his　wounds。　She　examines　his　wound　in　his　side；　and　feels　that　the　iron　of　the　arrow　is　still　there；　she　then　takes　a　pair　of　tongs　and　tries　to　pull　it　out；　〃but　it　sat　too　fast；　and　as　the　wound　was　swelled；　little　of　it　stood　out　to　lay　hold　of。〃　Thormod　bids　her　〃cut　deep　enough　to　reach　the　iron；　and　then　to　give　him　the　tongs；　and　let　him　pull。〃　She　did　as　he　bade。　He　takes　the　ring　from　his　hand；　and　gives　it　to　the　girl；　saying；　〃It　is　a　good　man's　gift！　King　Olaf　gave　it　to　me　this　morning。〃　Then　Thormod　took　the　tongs　and　pulled　the　iron　out。　The　arrow…head　was　barbed；　and　on　it　there　hung　some　morsels　of　flesh。　When　he　saw　that　he　said；　〃THE　KING　HAS　FED　US　WELL！　I　am　fat；　even　at　the　heart…roots！〃　And　so　saying；　he　leant　back；　and　died。　＇Footnote：　When　a　man　was　wounded　in　the　abdomen；　it　was　the　habit　of　the　Norse　leeches　to　give　him　an　onion　to　eat；　by　this　means　they　learnt　whether　the　weapon　had　perforated　the　viscera。＇

Stout；　faithful　heart！　if　they　gave　you　no　place　in　your　master's　stately　tomb；　there　is　room　for　you　by　his　side　in　heaven！

I　have　at　last　receivedI　need　not　say　how　joyfullytwo　letters　from　you；　one　addressed　to　Hammerfest。　I　had　begun　to　think　that　some　Norwegian　warlock　had　bewitched　the　post…bags；　in　the　approved　old　ballad　fashion；　to　prevent　their　rendering　up　my　dues；　for　when　the　packet　of　letters　addressed　to　the　〃Foam〃　was　brought　on　board；　immediately　after　our　arrival；　I　alone　got　nothing。　From　Sigurdr　and　the　Doctor　to　the　cabin…boy；　every　face　was　beaming　over　〃news　from　home！〃　while　I　was　left　to　walk　the　deck；　with　my　hands　in　my　pockets；　pretending　not　to　care。　But　the　spell　is　broken　now；　and　I　retract　my　evil　thoughts　of　the　warlock　and　you。

Yesterday；　we　made　an　excursion　as　far　as　Lade；　saw　a　waterfall；　which　is　one　of　the　lions　of　this　neighbourhood　（but　a　very　mitigated　lion；　which　〃roars　you　as　soft　as　any　sucking　dove〃）；　and　returned　in　the　evening　to　attend　a　ball　given　to　celebrate　the　visit　of　the　Crown　Prince。

At　Lade；　I　confess　I　could　think　of　nothing　but　〃the　great　Jarl〃　Hacon；　the　counsellor；　and　maker　of　kings；　king　himself　in　all　but　the　name；　for　he　ruled　over　the　western　sea…board　of　Norway；　while　Olaf　Tryggvesson　was　yet　a　wanderer　and　exile。　He　is　certainly　one　of　the　most　picturesque　figures　of　these　Norwegian　dramas；　what　with　his　rude　wit；　his　personal　bravery；　and　that　hereditary　beauty　of　his　race　for　which　he　was　conspicuous　above　the　rest。　His　very　errors；　great　as　they　were；　have　a　dash　and　prestige　about　them；　which　in　that　rude　time　must　have　dazzled　men's　eyes；　and　especially　WOMEN'S；　as　his　story　proves。　It　was　his　sudden　passion　for　the　beautiful　Gudrun　Lyrgia　（the　〃Sun　of　Lunde；〃　as　she　was　called）；　which　precipitated　the　avenging　fate　which　years　of　heart…burnings　and　discontent　among　his　subjects　had　been　preparing。　Gudrun's　husband　incites　the　Bonders　to　throw　off　the　yoke　of　the　licentious　despot；Olaf　Tryggvesson　is　proclaimed　king；and　the　〃great　Jarl　of　Lade〃　is　now　a　fugitive　in　the　land　he　so　lately　ruled；　accompanied　by　a　single　thrall；　named　Karker。

In　this　extremity；　Jarl　Hacon　applies　for　aid　to　Thora　of　Rimmol；　a　lady　whom　he　had　once　dearly　loved；　she　is　faithful　in　adversity　to　the　friend　of　happier　days；　and　conceals　the　Jarl　and　his　companion　in　a　hole　dug　for　this　purpose；　in　the　swine…stye；　and　covered　over　with　wood　and　litter；　as　the　only　spot　likely　to　elude　the　hot　search　of　his　enemies。　Olaf　and　the　Bonders　seek　for　him　in　Thora's　house；　but　in　vain；　and　finally；　Olaf；　standing　on　the　very　stone　against　which　the　swine…stye　is　built；　promises　wealth　and　honours　to　him　who　shall　bring　him　the　Jarl　of　Lade's　head。　The　scene　which　follows　is　related　by　the　Icelandic　historian　with　Dante's　tragic　power。

There　was　a　little　daylight　in　their　hiding…place；　and　the　Jarl　and　Karker　both　hear　the　words　of　Olaf。

〃Why　art　thou　so　pale？〃　says　the　Jarl；〃　and　now　again　as　black　as　earth？　Thou　dost　not　mean　to　betray　me？〃

〃By　no　means；〃　said　Karker。

〃We　were　born　on　the　same　night；〃　said　the　Jarl；　〃and　the　time　will　not　be　long　between　our　deaths。〃

When　night　came；　the　Jarl　kept　himself　awake；but　Karker　slept；a　troubled　sleep。　The　Jarl　awoke　him；　and　asked　of　what　he　was　dreaming。　He　answered；　〃I　was　at　Lade；　and　Olaf　was　laying　a　gold　ring　about　my　neck。〃

The　Jarl　said；　〃It　will　be　a　RED　ring　about　thy　neck；　if　he　catches　thee：　from　me　thou　shalt　enjoy　all　that　is　good；therefore；　betray　me　not！〃

Then　they　both　kept　themselves　awake；　〃THE　ONE；　AS　IT　WERE；　WATCHING　UPON　THE　OTHER。〃　But　towards　day；　the　Jarl　dropped　asleep；　and　in　his　unquiet　slumber　he　drew　his　heels　under　him；　and　raised　his　neck　as　if　going　to　rise；　〃and　shrieked　fearfully。〃　On　this；　Karker；　〃dreadfully　alarmed；〃　drew　a　knife　from　his　belt；　stuck　it　into　the　Jarl's　throat；　and　cut　off　his　head。　Late　in　the　day　he　came　to　Lade；　brought　the　Jarl's　head　to　Olaf；　and　told　his　story。

It　is　a　comfort　to　know　that　〃the　red　ring〃　was　laid　round　the　traitor's　neck：　Olaf　caused　him　to　be　beheaded。

What　a　picture　that　is；　in　the　swine…stye；　those　two　haggard　faces；　travel…stained　and　worn　with　want　of　rest；　watching　each　other　with　hot；　sleepless　eyes　through　the　half　darkness；　and　how　true　to　nature　is　the　nightmare　of　the　miserable　Jarl！

It　was　on　my　return　from　Lade；　that　I　found　your　letters；　and　that　I　might　enjoy　them　without　interruption；　I　carried　them　off　to　the　churchyard（such　a　beautiful　place！）to　read　in　peace　and　quiet。　The　churchyard　was　NOT　〃populous　with　young　men；　striving　to　be　alone；〃　as　Tom　Hood　describes　it　to　have　been　in　a　certain　sentimental　parish；　so　I　enjoyed　the　seclusion　I　anticipated。

I　was　much　struck　by　the　loving　care　and　ornament　bestowed　on　the　graves；　some　were　literally　loaded　with　flowers；　and　even　those　which　bore　the　date　of　a　long　past　sorrow　had　each　its　own　blooming　crown；　or　fresh　nosegay。　　These　good　Throndhjemers　must　have　much　of　what　the　French　call　la　religion　des　souvenirs；　a　religion　in　which　we　English　（as　a　nation）　are　singularly　deficient。　I　suppose　no　people　in　Europe　are　so　little　addicted　to　the　keeping　of　sentimental　anniversaries　as　we　are；　I　make　an　exception　with　regard　to　our　living　friends'　birthdays；　which　we　are　ever　tenderly　ready　to　cultivate；　when　called　on；　turtle；　venison；　and　champagne；　being　pleasant　investments　for　the　affections。　But　time　and　business　do　not　admit　of　a　faithful　adherence　to　more　sombre　reminiscences；　a　busy　gentleman　〃on　'Change〃　cannot　conveniently　shut　himself　up；　on　his　〃lost　Araminta's　natal…day；〃　nor　will　a　railroad　committee　allow　of　his　running　down　by　the　10。25　A。M。；　to　shed　a　tear　over　that　n