early kings of norway(古挪威的国王)-第15章
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your opposition； and believe in the God who has your fate wholly in his
hands。'
〃The king now whispers to Kolbein the Strong； without the Bonders
perceiving it； 'If it come so in the course of my speech that the Bonders
look another way than towards their idol； strike him as hard as thou canst
with thy club。'
〃The king then stood up and spoke。 'Much hast thou talked to us this
morning； and greatly hast thou wondered that thou canst not see our God；
but we expect that he will soon come to us。 Thou wouldst frighten us with
thy God； who is both blind and deaf； and cannot even move about without
being carried； but now I expect it will be but a short time before he meets
his fate： for turn your eyes towards the east；behold our God advancing in
great light。'
〃The sun was rising； and all turned to look。 At that moment Kolbein
gave their God a stroke； so that he quite burst asunder； and there ran out of
him mice as big almost as cats； and reptiles and adders。 The Bonders were
so terrified that some fled to their ships； but when they sprang out upon
them the ships filled with water； and could not get away。 Others ran to
their horses； but could not find them。 The king then ordered the Bonders to
be called together； saying he wanted to speak with them； on which the
Bonders came back； and the Thing was again seated。
〃The king rose up and said； 'I do not understand what your noise and
running mean。 You yourselves see what your God can do；the idol you
adorned with gold and silver； and brought meat and provisions to。 You see
now that the protecting powers； who used and got good of all that； were
the mice and adders； the reptiles and lizards； and surely they do ill who
trust to such； and will not abandon this folly。 Take now your gold and
ornaments that are lying strewed on the grass； and give them to your wives
and daughters； but never hang them hereafter upon stocks and stones。 Here
are two conditions between us to choose upon： either accept Christianity；
or fight this very day； and the victory be to them to whom the God we
worship gives it。'
〃Then Dale Gudbrand stood up and said； 'We have sustained great
damage upon our God； but since he will not help us； we will believe in the
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God whom thou believest in。'
〃Then all received Christianity。 The Bishop baptized Gudbrand and his
son。 King Olaf and Bishop Sigurd left behind them teachers； and they who
met as enemies parted as friends。 And afterwards Gudbrand built a church
in the valley。〃＇13＇
Olaf was by no means an unmerciful man；much the reverse where he
saw good cause。 There was a wicked old King Raerik； for example； one of
those five kinglets whom； with their bits of armaments； Olaf by stratagem
had surrounded one night； and at once bagged and subjected when
morning rose； all of them consenting； all of them except this Raerik；
whom Olaf； as the readiest sure course； took home with him； blinded； and
kept in his own house； finding there was no alternative but that or death to
the obstinate old dog； who was a kind of distant cousin withal； and could
not conscientiously be killed。 Stone…blind old Raerik was not always in
murderous humor。 Indeed； for most part he wore a placid； conciliatory
aspect； and said shrewd amusing things； but had thrice over tried； with
amazing cunning of contrivance； though stone…blind； to thrust a dagger
into Olaf and the last time had all but succeeded。 So that； as Olaf still
refused to have him killed； it had become a problem what was to be done
with him。 Olaf's good humor； as well as _his_ quiet； ready sense and
practicality； are manifested in his final settlement of this Raerik problem。
Olaf's laugh； I can perceive； was not so loud as Tryggveson's but equally
hearty； coming from the bright mind of him！
Besides blind Raerik； Olaf had in his household one Thorarin； an
Icelander； a remarkably ugly man； says Snorro； but a far…travelled；
shrewdly observant； loyal…minded； and good…humored person； whom Olaf
liked to talk with。 〃Remarkably ugly；〃 says Snorro； 〃especially in his
hands and feet； which were large and ill…shaped to a degree。〃 One morning
Thorarin； who； with other trusted ones； slept in Olaf's apartment； was
lazily dozing and yawning； and had stretched one of his feet out of the bed
before the king awoke。 The foot was still there when Olaf did open his
bright eyes； which instantly lighted on this foot。
〃Well； here is a foot；〃 says Olaf； gayly； 〃which one seldom sees the
match of； I durst venture there is not another so ugly in this city of
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Nidaros。〃
〃Hah； king！〃 said Thorarin； 〃there are few things one cannot match if
one seek long and take pains。 I would bet； with thy permission； King； to
find an uglier。〃
〃Done！〃 cried Olaf。 Upon which Thorarin stretched out the other foot。
〃A still uglier；〃 cried he； 〃for it has lost the little toe。〃
〃Ho； ho！〃 said Olaf； 〃but it is I who have gained the bet。 The _less_ of
an ugly thing the less ugly； not the more！〃
Loyal Thorarin respectfully submitted。
〃What is to be my penalty； then？ The king it is that must decide。〃
〃To take me that wicked old Raerik to Leif Ericson in Greenland。〃
Which the Icelander did； leaving two vacant seats henceforth at Olaf's
table。 Leif Ericson； son of Eric discoverer of America； quietly managed
Raerik henceforth； sent him to Iceland；I think to father Eric himself；
certainly to some safe hand there； in whose house； or in some still quieter
neighboring lodging； at his own choice； old Raerik spent the last three
years of his life in a perfectly quiescent manner。
Olaf's struggles in the matter of religion had actually settled that
question in Norway。 By these rough methods of his； whatever we may
think of them； Heathenism had got itself smashed dead； and was no more
heard of in that country。 Olaf himself was evidently a highly devout and
pious man；whosoever is born with Olaf's temper now will still find； as
Olaf did； new and infinite field for it！ Christianity in Norway had the like
fertility as in other countries； or even rose to a higher； and what Dahlmann
thinks； exuberant pitch； in the course of the two centuries which followed
that of Olaf。 Him all testimony represents to us as a most righteous no less
than most religious king。 Continually vigilant； just； and rigorous was
Olaf's administration of the laws； repression of robbery； punishment of
injustice； stern repayment of evil…doers； wherever he could lay hold of
them。
Among the Bonder or opulent class； and indeed everywhere； for the
poor too can be sinners and need punishment； Olaf had； by this course of
conduct； naturally made enemies。 His severity so visible to all； and the
justice and infinite beneficence of it so invisible except to a very few。 But；
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at any rate； his reign for the first ten years was victorious； and might have
been so to the end； had it not been intersected； and interfered with； by
King Knut in his far bigger orbit and current of affairs and interests。 Knut's
English affairs and Danish being all settled to his mind； he seems；
especially after that year of pilgrimage to Rome； and association with the
Pontiffs and Kaisers of the world on that occasion； to have turned his more
particular attention upon Norway； and the claims he himself had there。 Jarl
Hakon； too； sister's son of Knut； and always well seen by him； had long
been busy in this direction； much forgetful of that oath to Olaf when his
barge got canted over by the cable of two capstans； and his life was given
him； not without conditions altogether！
About the year 1026 there arrived two splendid persons out of England；
bearing King Knut the Great's letter and seal； with a message； likely
enough to be far from welcome to Olaf。 For some days Olaf refused to see
them or their letter； shrewdly guessing what the purport would be。 Which
indeed was couched in mild language； but of sharp meaning enough： a
notice to King Olaf namely； That Norway was properly； by just heritage；
Knut the Great's； and that Olaf must become the great Knut's liegeman；
and pay tribute to him； or worse would follow。 King Olaf listening to these
two splendid persons and their letter； in indignant silence till they quite
ended； made answer： 〃I have heard say； by old accounts there are； that
King Gorm of Denmark ＇Blue…tooth's father； Knut's great…grandfather＇
was considered but a small king； having Denmark only and few people to
rule over。 But the kings who succeeded him thought that insufficient for
them； and it has since come so far that King Knut rules over both
Denmark and England； and has conquered for himself a part of Scotland。
And now he claims also my paternal bit of heritage； cannot be contented
without that too。 Does he wish to rule over all the countries of the North？
Can he eat up all the kale in England itself； this Knut the Great？ He shall
do that； and reduce his England to a desert； before I lay my head in his
hands； or show him any other kind of vassalage。 And so I bid you tell him
these my words： I will defend Norway with battle…axe and sword as long
as life is given me； and will pay tax to no man for my kingdom。〃 Words
which naturally irritated Knut to a high degree。
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Next year accordingly （year 1027）； tenth or eleventh year of Olaf's
reign； there came bad rumors out of England： That Knut
