early kings of norway(古挪威的国王)-第18章
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timber of his fleet was never seen more。 Had all gone down；broken oaths；
bridal hopes； and all else； mouse and man；into the roaring waters。 There
was no farther Opposition…line； the like of which had lasted ever since old
heathen Hakon Jarl； down to this his grandson Hakon's _finis_ in the
Pentland Frith。 With this Hakon's disappearance it now disappeared。
Indeed Knut himself； though of an empire suddenly so great； was but a
temporary phenomenon。 Fate had decided that the grand and wise Knut
was to be short…lived； and to leave nothing as successors but an ineffectual
young Harald Harefoot； who soon perished； and a still stupider fiercely…
drinking Harda…Knut； who rushed down of apoplexy （here in London City；
as I guess）； with the goblet at his mouth； drinking health and happiness at
a wedding…feast； also before long。
Hakon having vanished in this dark way； there ensued a pause； both on
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Knut's part and on Norway's。 Pause or interregnum of some months； till it
became certain； first； whether Hakon were actually dead； secondly； till
Norway； and especially till King Knut himself； could decide what to do。
Knut； to the deep disappointment； which had to keep itself silent； of three
or four chief Norway men； named none of these three or four Jarl of
Norway； but bethought him of a certain Svein； a bastard son of his own；
who； and almost still more his English mother； much desired a career in
the world fitter for him； thought they indignantly； than that of captain over
Jomsburg； where alone the father had been able to provide for him hitherto。
Svein was sent to Norway as king or vice…king for Father Knut； and along
with him his fond and vehement mother。 Neither of whom gained any
favor from the Norse people by the kind of management they ultimately
came to show。
Olaf on news of this change； and such uncertainty prevailing
everywhere in Norway as to the future course of things； whether Svein
would come； as was rumored of at last； and be able to maintain himself if
he did；thought there might be something in it of a chance for himself and
his rights。 And； after lengthened hesitation； much prayer； pious invocation；
and consideration； decided to go and try it。 The final grain that had turned
the balance； it appears； was a half…waking morning dream； or almost
ocular vision he had of his glorious cousin Olaf Tryggveson； who severely
admonished； exhorted； and encouraged him； and disappeared grandly； just
in the instant of Olaf's awakening； so that Olaf almost fancied he had seen
the very figure of him； as it melted into air。 〃Let us on； let us on！〃 thought
Olaf always after that。 He left his son； not in Russia； but in Sweden with
the Queen； who proved very good and carefully helpful in wise ways to
him：in Russia Olaf had now nothing more to do but give his grateful
adieus； and get ready。 His march towards Sweden； and from that towards
Norway and the passes of the mountains； down Vaerdal； towards
Stickelstad； and the crisis that awaited； is beautifully depicted by Snorro。 It
has； all of it； the description （and we see clearly； the fact itself had）； a kind
of pathetic grandeur； simplicity； and rude nobleness； something Epic or
Homeric； without the metre or the singing of Homer； but with all the
sincerity； rugged truth to nature； and much more of piety； devoutness；
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reverence for what is forever High in this Universe； than meets us in those
old Greek Ballad…mongers。 Singularly visual all of it； too； brought home in
every particular to one's imagination； so that it stands out almost as a thing
one actually saw。
Olaf had about three thousand men with him； gathered mostly as he
fared along through Norway。 Four hundred； raised by one Dag； a kinsman
whom he had found in Sweden and persuaded to come with him； marched
usually in a separate body； and were； or might have been； rather an
important element。 Learning that the Bonders were all arming； especially
in Trondhjem country； Olaf streamed down towards them in the closest
order he could。 By no means very close； subsistence even for three
thousand being difficult in such a country。 His speech was almost always
free and cheerful； though his thoughts always naturally were of a high and
earnest； almost sacred tone； devout above all。 Stickelstad； a small poor
hamlet still standing where the valley ends； was seen by Olaf； and tacitly
by the Bonders as well； to be the natural place for offering battle。 There
Olaf issued out from the hills one morning： drew himself up according to
the best rules of Norse tactics； rules of little complexity； but perspicuously
true to the facts。 I think he had a clear open ground still rather raised above
the plain in front； he could see how the Bonder army had not yet quite
arrived； but was pouring forward； in spontaneous rows or groups；
copiously by every path。 This was thought to be the biggest army that ever
met in Norway； 〃certainly not much fewer than a hundred times a hundred
men；〃 according to Snorro； great Bonders several of them； small Bonders
very many；all of willing mind； animated with a hot sense of intolerable
injuries。 〃King Olaf had punished great and small with equal rigor；〃 says
Snorro； 〃which appeared to the chief people of the country too severe； and
animosity rose to the highest when they lost relatives by the King's just
sentence； although they were in reality guilty。 He again would rather
renounce his dignity than omit righteous judgment。 The accusation against
him； of being stingy with his money； was not just； for he was a most
generous man towards his friends。 But that alone was the cause of the
discontent raised against him； that he appeared hard and severe in his
retributions。 Besides； King Knut offered large sums of money； and the
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great chiefs were corrupted by this； and by his offering them greater
dignities than they had possessed before。〃 On these grounds； against the
intolerable man； great and small were now pouring along by every path。
Olaf perceived it would still be some time before the Bonder army was
in rank。 His own Dag of Sweden； too； was not yet come up； he was to
have the right banner； King Olaf's own being the middle or grand one；
some other person the third or left banner。 All which being perfectly
ranked and settled； according to the best rules； and waiting only the arrival
of Dag； Olaf bade his men sit down； and freshen themselves with a little
rest。 There were religious services gone through： a matins…worship such as
there have been few； sternly earnest to the heart of it； and deep as death
and eternity； at least on Olaf's own part。 For the rest Thormod sang a stave
of the fiercest Skaldic poetry that was in him； all the army straightway
sang it in chorus with fiery mind。 The Bonder of the nearest farm came up；
to tell Olaf that he also wished to fight for him 〃Thanks to thee； but don't；〃
said Olaf； 〃stay at home rather； that the wounded may have some shelter。〃
To this Bonder； Olaf delivered all the money he had； with solemn order to
lay out the whole of it in masses and prayers for the souls of such of his
enemies as fell。 〃Such of thy enemies； King？〃 〃Yes； surely；〃 said Olaf；
〃my friends will all either conquer； or go whither I also am going。〃
At last the Bonder army too was got ranked； three commanders； one of
them with a kind of loose chief command； having settled to take charge of
it； and began to shake itself towards actual advance。 Olaf； in the mean
while； had laid his head on the knees of Finn Arneson； his trustiest man；
and fallen fast asleep。 Finn's brother； Kalf Arneson； once a warm friend of
Olaf； was chief of the three commanders on the opposite side。 Finn and he
addressed angry speech to one another from the opposite ranks； when they
came near enough。 Finn； seeing the enemy fairly approach； stirred Olaf
from his sleep。 〃Oh； why hast thou wakened me from such a dream？〃 said
Olaf； in a deeply solemn tone。 〃What dream was it； then？〃 asked Finn。
〃Idreamt that there rose a ladder here reaching up to very Heaven；〃 said
Olaf； 〃I had climbed and climbed； and got to the very last step； and should
have entered there hadst thou given me another moment。〃 〃King； I doubt
thou art _fey_； I do not quite like that dream。〃
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The actual fight began about one of the clock in a most bright last day
of July； and was very fierce and hot； especially on the part of Olaf's men；
who shook the others back a little； though fierce enough they too； and had
Dag been on the ground； which he wasn't yet； it was thought victory might
have been won。 Soon after battle joined； the sky grew of a ghastly brass or
copper color； darker and darker； till thick night involved all things； and did
not clear away again till battle was near ending。 Dag； with his four
hundred； arrived in the darkness； and made a furious charge； what was
afterwards； in the speech of the people； called 〃Dag's storm。〃 Which had
nearly prevailed； but could not quite； victory again inclining to the so
vastly larger party。 It is uncertain still how the matter would have gone； for
Olaf himself was now fighting with his own hand； and doing deadly
execution on his busiest enemies to right and to left。 But one of these chief
rebels； Thorer Hund （thought to have learnt magic from the Laplanders；
whom he long traded with； and made money by）； mysteriously would not
fall for Olaf's best strokes。 Best str
