early kings of norway(古挪威的国王)-第16章
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1013）；＇9＇pretty much the only benefit one gets out of contemplating such
a set of objects。
King Svein's first act was to levy a terribly increased Income…Tax for
the payment of his army。 Svein was levying it with a stronghanded
diligence； but had not yet done levying it； when； at Gainsborough one
night； he suddenly died； smitten dead； once used to be said； by St。 Edmund；
whilom murdered King of the East Angles； who could not bear to see his
shrine and monastery of St。 Edmundsbury plundered by the Tyrant's tax…
collectors； as they were on the point of being。 In all ways impossible；
however；Edmund's own death did not occur till two years after Svein's。
Svein's death； by whatever cause； befell 1014； his fleet； then lying in the
Humber； and only Knut；＇10＇ his eldest son （hardly yet eighteen； count
some）； in charge of it； who； on short counsel； and arrangement about this
questionable kingdom of his； lifted anchor； made for Sandwich； a safer
station at the moment； 〃cut off the feet and noses〃 （one shudders； and
hopes not； there being some discrepancy about it！） of his numerous
hostages that had been delivered to King Svein； set them ashore；and
made for Denmark； his natural storehouse and stronghold； as the
hopefulest first thing he could do。
Knut soon returned from Denmark； with increase of force sufficient
for the English problem； which latter he now ended in a victorious； and
essentially； for himself and chaotic England； beneficent manner。 Became
widely known by and by； there and elsewhere； as Knut the Great； and is
thought by judges of our day to have really merited that title。 A most
nimble； sharp…striking； clear…thinking； prudent and effective man； who
regulated this dismembered and distracted England in its Church matters；
in its State matters； like a real King。 Had a Standing Army （_House
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EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY。
Carles_）； who were well paid； well drilled and disciplined； capable of
instantly quenching insurrection or breakage of the peace； and piously
endeavored （with a signal earnestness； and even devoutness； if we look
well） to do justice to all men； and to make all men rest satisfied with
justice。 In a word； he successfully strapped up； by every true method and
regulation； this miserable； dislocated； and dissevered mass of bleeding
Anarchy into something worthy to be called an England again；only that
he died too soon； and a second 〃Conqueror〃 of us； still weightier of
structure； and under improved auspices； became possible； and was needed
here！ To appearance； Knut himself was capable of being a Charlemagne of
England and the North （as has been already said or quoted）； had he only
lived twice as long as he did。 But his whole sum of years seems not to
have exceeded forty。 His father Svein of the Forkbeard is reckoned to have
been fifty to sixty when St。 Edmund finished him at Gainsborough。 We
now return to Norway； ashamed of this long circuit which has been a
truancy more or less。
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EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY。
CHAPTER IX。
KING OLAF THE THICK…SET'S VIKING DAYS；
King Harald Graenske； who； with another from Russia accidentally
lodging beside him； got burned to death in Sweden； courting that
unspeakable Sigrid the Proud；was third cousin or so to Tryggve； father of
our heroic Olaf。 Accurately counted； he is great…grandson of Bjorn the
Chapman； first of Haarfagr's sons whom Eric Bloodaxe made away with。
His little 〃kingdom；〃 as he called it； was a district named the Greenland
（_Graeneland_）； he himself was one of those little Haarfagr kinglets whom
Hakon Jarl； much more Olaf Tryggveson； was content to leave reigning；
since they would keep the peace with him。 Harald had a loving wife of his
own； Aasta the name of her； soon expecting the birth of her and his pretty
babe； named Olaf；at the time he went on that deplorable Swedish
adventure； the foolish； fated creature； and ended self and kingdom
altogether。 Aasta was greatly shocked； composed herself however； married
a new husband； Sigurd Syr； a kinglet； and a great…grandson of Harald
Fairhair； a man of great wealth； prudence； and influence in those countries；
in whose house； as favorite and well…beloved stepson； little Olaf was
wholesomely and skilfully brought up。 In Sigurd's house he had； withal； a
special tutor entertained for him； one Rane； known as Rane the Far…
travelled； by whom he could be trained； from the earliest basis； in Norse
accomplishments and arts。 New children came； one or two； but Olaf； from
his mother； seems always to have known that he was the distinguished and
royal article there。 One day his Foster…father； hurrying to leave home on
business； hastily bade Olaf； no other being by； saddle his horse for him。
Olaf went out with the saddle； chose the biggest he…goat about； saddled
that； and brought it to the door by way of horse。 Old Sigurd； a most grave
man； grinned sardonically at the sight。 〃Hah； I see thou hast no mind to
take commands from me； thou art of too high a humor to take commands。〃
To which； says Snorro； Boy Olaf answered little except by laughing； till
Sigurd saddled for himself； and rode away。 His mother Aasta appears to
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have been a thoughtful； prudent woman； though always with a fierce
royalism at the bottom of her memory； and a secret implacability on that
head。
At the age of twelve Olaf went to sea； furnished with a little fleet； and
skilful sea…counsellor； expert old Rane； by his Foster…father； and set out to
push his fortune in the world。 Rane was a steersman and counsellor in
these incipient times； but the crew always called Olaf 〃King；〃 though at
first； as Snorro thinks； except it were in the hour of battle； he merely
pulled an oar。 He cruised and fought in this capacity on many seas and
shores； passed several years； perhaps till the age of nineteen or twenty； in
this wild element and way of life； fighting always in a glorious and
distinguished manner。 In the hour of battle； diligent enough 〃to amass
property；〃 as the Vikings termed it； and in the long days and nights of
sailing； given over； it is likely； to his own thoughts and the unfathomable
dialogue with the ever…moaning Sea； not the worst High School a man
could have； and indeed infinitely preferable to the most that are going
even now； for a high and deep young soul。
His first distinguished expedition was to Sweden： natural to go thither
first； to avenge his poor father's death； were it nothing more。 Which he did；
the Skalds say； in a distinguished manner； making victorious and
handsome battle for himself； in entering Maelare Lake； and i
