early kings of norway(古挪威的国王)-第21章
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treasures； or uniting them with Magnus's poverty。 Each was to be an
independent king； but they were to govern in common； Magnus rather
presiding。 He； to sit； for example； in the High Seat alone； King Harald
opposite him in a seat not quite so high； though if a stranger King came on
a visit； both the Norse Kings were to sit in the High Seat。 With various
other punctilious regulations； which the fiery Magnus was extremely strict
with； rendering the mutual relation a very dangerous one； had not both the
Kings been honest men； and Harald a much more prudent and tolerant one
than Magnus。 They； on the whole； never had any weighty quarrel； thanks
now and then rather to Harald than to Magnus。 Magnus too was very noble；
and Harald； with his wide experience and greater length of years； carefully
held his heat of temper well covered in。
Prior to Uncle Harald's coming； Magnus had distinguished himself as
a Lawgiver。 His Code of Laws for the Trondhjem Province was considered
a pretty piece of legislation； and in subsequent times got the name of
_Gray…goose_ （Gragas）； one of the wonderfulest names ever given to a
wise Book。 Some say it came from the gray color of the parchment； some
give other incredible origins； the last guess I have heard is； that the name
merely denotes antiquity； the witty name in Norway for a man growing
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old having been； in those times； that he was now 〃becoming a gray…
goose。〃 Very fantastic indeed； certain； however； that Gray…goose is the
name of that venerable Law Book； nay； there is another； still more famous；
belonging to Iceland； and not far from a century younger； the Iceland
_Gray…goose。_ The Norway one is perhaps of date about 1037； the other of
about 1118； peace be with them both！ Or； if anybody is inclined to such
matters let him go to Dahlmann； for the amplest information and such
minuteness of detail as might almost enable him to be an Advocate； with
Silk Gown； in any Court depending on these Gray…geese。
Magnus did not live long。 He had a dream one night of his Father
Olaf's coming to him in shining presence； and announcing； That a
magnificent fortune and world…great renown was now possible for him；
but that perhaps it was his duty to refuse it； in which case his earthly life
would be short。 〃Which way wilt thou do； then？〃 said the shining presence。
〃Thou shalt decide for me； Father； thou； not I！〃 and told his Uncle Harald
on the morrow； adding that he thought he should now soon die； which
proved to be the fact。 The magnificent fortune； so questionable otherwise；
has reference； no doubt； to the Conquest of England； to which country
Magnus； as rightful and actual King of _Denmark_； as well as undisputed
heir to drunken Harda…Knut； by treaty long ago； had now some evident
claim。 The enterprise itself was reserved to the patient； gay； and prudent
Uncle Harald； and to him it did prove fatal；and merely paved the way for
Another； luckier； not likelier！
Svein Estrithson； always beaten during Magnus's life； by and by got an
agreement from the prudent Harald to _be_ King of Denmark； then； and
end these wearisome and ineffectual brabbles； Harald having other work
to do。 But in the autumn of 1066； Tosti； a younger son of our English Earl
Godwin； came to Svein's court with a most important announcement；
namely； that King Edward the Confessor； so called； was dead； and that
Harold； as the English write it； his eldest brother would give him； Tosti； no
sufficient share in the kingship。 Which state of matters； if Svein would go
ahead with him to rectify it； would be greatly to the advantage of Svein。
Svein； taught by many beatings； was too wise for this proposal； refused
Tosti； who indignantly stepped over into Norway； and proposed it to King
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Harald there。 Svein really had acquired considerable teaching； I should
guess； from his much beating and hard experience in the world； one finds
him afterwards the esteemed friend of the famous Historian Adam of
Bremen； who reports various wise humanities； and pleasant discoursings
with Svein Estrithson。
As for Harald Hardrade； 〃Harald the Hard or Severe；〃 as he was now
called； Tosti's proposal awakened in him all his old Vaeringer ambitious
and cupidities into blazing vehemence。 He zealously consented； and at
once； with his whole strength； embarked in the adventure。 Fitted out two
hundred ships； and the biggest army he could carry in them； and sailed
with Tosti towards the dangerous Promised Land。 Got into the Tyne and
took booty； got into the Humber； thence into the Ouse； easily subdued any
opposition the official people or their populations could make；
victoriously scattered these； victoriously took the City of York in a day；
and even got himself homaged there； 〃King of Northumberland；〃 as per
covenant；Tosti proving honorable；Tosti and he going with faithful strict
copartnery； and all things looking prosperous and glorious。 Except only
（an important exception！） that they learnt for certain； English Harold was
advancing with all his strength； and； in a measurable space of hours；
unless care were taken； would be in York himself。 Harald and Tosti
hastened off to seize the post of Stamford Bridge on Derwent River； six or
seven miles east of York City； and there bar this dangerous advent。 Their
own ships lay not far off in Ouse River； in case of the worst。 The battle
that ensued the next day； September 20； 1066； is forever memorable in
English history。
Snorro gives vividly enough his view of it from the Icelandic side： A
ring of stalwart Norsemen； close ranked； with their steel tools in hand；
English Harold's Army； mostly cavalry； prancing and pricking all around；
trying to find or make some opening in that ring。 For a long time trying in
vain； till at length； getting them enticed to burst out somewhere in pursuit；
they quickly turned round； and quickly made an end； of that matter。 Snorro
represents English Harold； with a first party of these horse coming up； and；
with preliminary salutations； asking if Tosti were there； and if Harald were；
making generous proposals to Tosti； but； in regard to Harald and what
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share of England was to be his； answering Tosti with the words； 〃Seven
feet of English earth； or more if he require it； for a grave。〃 Upon which
Tosti； like an honorable man and copartner； said； 〃No； never； let us fight
you rather till we all die。〃 〃Who is this that spoke to you？〃 inquired Harald；
when the cavaliers had withdrawn。 〃My brother Harold；〃 answers Tosti；
which looks rather like a Saga； but may be historical after all。 Snorro's
history of the battle is intelligible only after you have premised to it； what
he never hints at； that the scene was on the east side of the bridge and of
the Derwent； the great struggle for the bridge； one at last finds； was after
the fall of Harald； and to the English Chroniclers； said struggle； which was
abundantly severe； is all they know of the battle。
Enraged at that breaking loose of his steel ring of infantry； Norse
Harald blazed up into true Norse fury； all the old Vaeringer and Berserkir
rage awakening in him； sprang forth into the front of the fight； and mauled
and cut and smashed down； on both hands of him； everything he met；
irresistible by any horse or man； till an arrow cut him through the
windpipe； and laid him low forever。 That was the end of King Harald and
of his workings in this world。 The circumstance that he was a Waring or
Baring and had smitten to pieces so many Oriental cohorts or crowds； and
had made love…verses （kind of iron madrigals） to his Russian Princess； and
caught the fancy of questionable Greek queens； and had amassed such
heaps of money； while poor nephew Magnus had only one gold ring
（which had been his father's； and even his father's _mother's_； as Uncle
Harald noticed）； and nothing more whatever of that precious metal to
combine with Harald's treasures：all this is new to me； naturally no hint of
it in any English book； and lends some gleam of romantic splendor to that
dim business of Stamford Bridge； now fallen so dull and torpid to most
English minds； transcendently important as it once was to all Englishmen。
Adam of Bremen says； the English got as much gold plunder from
Harald's people as was a heavy burden for twelve men；＇18＇ a thing
evidently impossible； which nobody need try to believe。 Young Olaf；
Harald's son； age about sixteen； steering down the Ouse at the top of his
speed； escaped home to Norway with all his ships； and subsequently
reigned there with Magnus； his brother。 Harald's body did lie in English
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earth for about a year； but was then brought to Norway for burial。 He
needed more than seven feet of grave； say some； Laing； interpreting
Snorro's measurements； makes Harald eight feet in stature；I do hope；
with some error in excess！
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CHAPTER XII。
OLAF THE TRANQUIL； MAGNUS BAREFOOT； AND SIGURD
THE CRUSADER。
The new King Olaf； his brother Magnus having soon died； bore rule in
Norway for some fiv
