early kings of norway(古挪威的国王)-第32章
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scarcity of food； to thatch their bodies from the cold with whatever
covering could be got； and their legs especially with birch bark； sad
species of fleecy hosiery； whence their nickname）；his Birkebeins I guess
always to have been a kind of Norse _Jacquerie_： desperate rising of
thralls and indigent people； driven mad by their unendurable sufferings
and famishings；theirs the _deepest_ stratum of misery； and the densest
and heaviest； in this the general misery of Norway； which had lasted
towards the third generation and looked as if it would last forever：
whereupon they had risen proclaiming； in this furious dumb manner；
unintelligible except to Heaven； that the same could not； nor would not； be
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endured any longer！ And； by their Sverrir； strange to say； they did attain a
kind of permanent success； and； from being a dismal laughing…stock in
Norway； came to be important； and for a time all…important there。 Their
opposition nicknames； 〃_Baglers_ （from Bagall； _baculus_； bishop's staff；
Bishop Nicholas being chief Leader）；〃 〃_Gold…legs_；〃 and the like obscure
terms （for there was still a considerable course of counter…fighting ahead；
and especially of counter…nicknaming）； I take to have meant in Norse
prefigurement seven centuries ago； 〃bloated Aristocracy；〃 〃tyrannous…
_Bourgeoisie_；〃till； in the next century； these rents were closed again！
King Sverrir； not himself bred to comb…making； had； in his fifth year；
gone to an uncle； Bishop in the Faroe Islands； and got some considerable
education from him； with a view to Priesthood on the part of Sverrir。 But；
not liking that career； Sverrir had fled and smuggled himself over to the
Birkebeins； who； noticing the learned tongue； and other miraculous
qualities of the man； proposed to make him Captain of them； and even
threatened to kill him if he would not accept；which thus at the sword's
point； as Sverrir says； he was obliged to do。 It was after this that he
thought of becoming son of Wry…Mouth and other higher things。
His Birkebeins and he had certainly a talent of campaigning which has
hardly ever been equalled。 They fought like devils against any odds of
number； and before battle they have been known to march six days
together without food； except； perhaps； the inner barks of trees； and in
such clothing and shoeing as mere birch bark：at one time； somewhere in
the Dovrefjeld； there was serious counsel held among them whether they
should not all； as one man； leap down into the frozen gulfs and precipices；
or at once massacre one another wholly； and so finish。 Of their conduct in
battle； fiercer than that of _Baresarks_； where was there ever seen the
parallel？ In truth they are a dim strange object to one； in that black time；
wondrously bringing light into it withal； and proved to be； under such
unexpected circumstances； the beginning of better days！
Of Sverrir's public speeches there still exist authentic specimens；
wonderful indeed； and much characteristic of such a Sverrir。 A comb…
maker King； evidently meaning several good and solid things； and
effecting them too； athwart such an element of Norwegian chaos…come…
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again。 His descendants and successors were a comparatively respectable
kin。 The last and greatest of them I shall mention is Hakon VII。； or Hakon
the Old； whose fame is still lively among us； from the Battle of Largs at
least。
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CHAPTER XV。
HAKON THE OLD AT LARGS。
In the Norse annals our famous Battle of Largs makes small figure； or
almost none at all among Hakon's battles and feats。 They do say indeed；
these Norse annalists； that the King of Scotland； Alexander III。 （who had
such a fate among the crags about Kinghorn in time coming）； was very
anxious to purchase from King Hakon his sovereignty of the Western Isles；
but that Hakon pointedly refused； and at length； being again importuned
and bothered on the business； decided on giving a refusal that could not be
mistaken。 Decided； namely； to go with a big expedition； and look
thoroughly into that wing of his Dominions； where no doubt much has
fallen awry since Magnus Barefoot's grand visit thither； and seems to be
inviting the cupidity of bad neighbors！ 〃All this we will put right again；〃
thinks Hakon； 〃and gird it up into a safe and defensive posture。〃 Hakon
sailed accordingly； with a strong fleet； adjusting and rectifying among his
Hebrides as he went long； and landing withal on the Scotch coast to
plunder and punish as he thought fit。 The Scots say he had claimed of
them Arran； Bute； and the Two Cumbraes （〃given my ancestors by Donald
Bain；〃 said Hakon； to the amazement of the Scots） 〃as part of the Sudoer〃
（Southern Isles）： so far from selling that fine kingdom！and that it was
after taking both Arran and Bute that he made his descent at Largs。
Of Largs there is no mention whatever in Norse books。 But beyond
any doubt； such is the other evidence； Hakon did land there； land and fight；
not conquering； probably rather beaten； and very certainly 〃retiring to his
ships；〃 as in either case he behooved to do！ It is further certain he was
dreadfully maltreated by the weather on those wild coasts； and altogether
credible； as the Scotch records bear； that he was so at Largs very specially。
The Norse Records or Sagas say merely； he lost many of his ships by the
tempests； and many of his men by land fighting in various parts；tacitly
including Largs； no doubt； which was the last of these misfortunes to him。
〃In the battle here he lost 15；000 men； say the Scots； we 5；000〃！ Divide
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these numbers by ten； and the excellently brief and lucid Scottish
summary by Buchanan may be taken as the approximately true and
exact。＇19＇ Date of the battle is A。D。 1263。
To this day； on a little plain to the south of the village； now town； of
Largs； in Ayrshire； there are seen stone cairns and monumental heaps； and；
until within a century ago； one huge； solitary； upright stone； still mutely
testifying to a battle there；altogether clearly； to this battle of King
Hakon's； who by the Norse records； too； was in these neighborhoods at
that same date； and evidently in an aggressive； high kind of humor。 For
〃while his ships and army were doubling the Mull of Cantire； he had his
own boat set on wheels； and therein； splendidly enough； had himself
drawn across the Promontory at a flatter part；〃 no doubt with horns
sounding； banners waving。 〃All to the left of me is mine and Norway's；〃
exclai
