Atlast,whatwithZoes,whatwithGreekperversitiesandperfidies,andtroublesthatcouldnotfail,hedeterminedonquittingGreece;
packeduphisimmensitiesofwealthinsuccinctshape,andactuallyreturnedtoRussia,wherenewhonorsandfavorsawaitedhimfromoldfriends,andespecially,ifImistakenot,thehandofthatadorablePrincess,crownofallhiswishesforthetimebeing。Beforelong,however,hedecidedfarthertolookafterhisNorwayRoyalheritages;
and,forthatpurpose,sailedinforcetotheJarlorquasi-KingofDenmark,theoften-beatenSvein,whowasnowinSwedenonhisusualwinterexileafterbeating。Sveinandhehadevidentlyinterestsincommon。Sveinwascharmedtoseehim,sowarlike,gloriousandrenownedaman,withmassesofmoneyabouthim,too。Sveindidbyandbybecometreacherous;andevenattempted,onenight,toassassinateHaraldinhisbedonboardship:butHarald,vigilantofSvein,andamanofquickandsureinsight,hadprovidentlygonetosleepelsewhere,leavingaloginsteadofhimselfamongtheblankets。Inwhichlog,nextmorning,treacherousSvein’sbattle-axewasfounddeeplysticking:andcouldnotberemovedwithoutdifficulty!ButthiswasafterHaraldandKingMagnushimselfbadbeguntreating;withthefairestprospects,——whichthisofthe$veinbattle-axenaturallytendedtoforward,asitaltogetherendedtheothercopartnery。
Magnus,onfirsthearingofVaeringerHaraldandhisintentions,madeinstantequipment,anddeterminationtofighthisuttermostagainstthesame。Butwisepersonsofinfluenceroundhim,asdidthelikesortroundVaeringerHarald,earnestlyadvisedcompromiseandpeaceableagreement。Which,soonafterthatofSvein’snocturnalbattle-axe,wasthecourseadopted;and,tothejoyofallparties,didproveasuccessfulsolution。MagnusagreedtoparthiskingdomwithUncleHarald;unclepartinghistreasures,orunitingthemwithMagnus’spoverty。Eachwastobeanindependentking,buttheyweretogovernincommon;Magnusratherpresiding。He,tosit,forexample,intheHighSeatalone;KingHaraldoppositehiminaseatnotquitesohigh,thoughifastrangerKingcameonavisit,boththeNorseKingsweretositintheHighSeat。Withvariousotherpunctiliousregulations;whichthefieryMagnuswasextremelystrictwith;renderingthemutualrelationaverydangerousone,hadnotboththeKingsbeenhonestmen,andHaraldamuchmoreprudentandtolerantonethanMagnus。They,onthewhole,neverhadanyweightyquarrel,thanksnowandthenrathertoHaraldthantoMagnus。Magnustoowasverynoble;andHarald,withhiswideexperienceandgreaterlengthofyears,carefullyheldhisheatoftemperwellcoveredin。
PriortoUncleHarald’scoming,MagnushaddistinguishedhimselfasaLawgiver。HisCodeofLawsfortheTrondhjemProvincewasconsideredaprettypieceoflegislation;andinsubsequenttimesgotthenameof_Gray-goose_(Gragas);oneofthewonderfulestnamesevergiventoawiseBook。Somesayitcamefromthegraycoloroftheparchment,somegiveotherincredibleorigins;thelastguessIhaveheardis,thatthenamemerelydenotesantiquity;thewittynameinNorwayforamangrowingoldhavingbeen,inthosetimes,thathewasnow\"becomingagray-goose。\"Veryfantasticindeed;certain,however,thatGray-gooseisthenameofthatvenerableLawBook;nay,thereisanother,stillmorefamous,belongingtoIceland,andnotfarfromacenturyyounger,theIceland_Gray-goose。_TheNorwayoneisperhapsofdateabout1037,theotherofabout1118;peacebewiththemboth!
Or,ifanybodyisinclinedtosuchmatterslethimgotoDahlmann,fortheamplestinformationandsuchminutenessofdetailasmightalmostenablehimtobeanAdvocate,withSilkGown,inanyCourtdependingontheseGray-geese。
Magnusdidnotlivelong。HehadadreamonenightofhisFatherOlaf’scomingtohiminshiningpresence,andannouncing,Thatamagnificentfortuneandworld-greatrenownwasnowpossibleforhim;
butthatperhapsitwashisdutytorefuseit;inwhichcasehisearthlylifewouldbeshort。\"Whichwaywiltthoudo,then?\"saidtheshiningpresence。\"Thoushaltdecideforme,Father,thou,notI!\"
andtoldhisUncleHaraldonthemorrow,addingthathethoughtheshouldnowsoondie;whichprovedtobethefact。Themagnificentfortune,soquestionableotherwise,hasreference,nodoubt,totheConquestofEngland;towhichcountryMagnus,asrightfulandactualKingof_Denmark_,aswellasundisputedheirtodrunkenHarda-Knut,bytreatylongago,hadnowsomeevidentclaim。Theenterpriseitselfwasreservedtothepatient,gay,andprudentUncleHarald;andtohimitdidprovefatal,——andmerelypavedthewayforAnother,luckier,notlikelier!
SveinEstrithson,alwaysbeatenduringMagnus’slife,byandbygotanagreementfromtheprudentHaraldto_be_KingofDenmark,then;andendthesewearisomeandineffectualbrabbles;Haraldhavingotherworktodo。Butintheautumnof1066,Tosti,ayoungersonofourEnglishEarlGodwin,cametoSvein’scourtwithamostimportantannouncement;
namely,thatKingEdwardtheConfessor,socalled,wasdead,andthatHarold,astheEnglishwriteit,hiseldestbrotherwouldgivehim,Tosti,nosufficientshareinthekingship。Whichstateofmatters,ifSveinwouldgoaheadwithhimtorectifyit,wouldbegreatlytotheadvantageofSvein。Svein,taughtbymanybeatings,wastoowiseforthisproposal;refusedTosti,whoindignantlysteppedoverintoNorway,andproposedittoKingHaraldthere。Sveinreallyhadacquiredconsiderableteaching,Ishouldguess,fromhismuchbeatingandhardexperienceintheworld;onefindshimafterwardstheesteemedfriendofthefamousHistorianAdamofBremen,whoreportsvariouswisehumanities,andpleasantdiscoursingswithSveinEstrithson。
AsforHaraldHardrade,\"HaraldtheHardorSevere,\"ashewasnowcalled,Tosti’sproposalawakenedinhimallhisoldVaeringerambitiousandcupiditiesintoblazingvehemence。Hezealouslyconsented;andatonce,withhiswholestrength,embarkedintheadventure。Fittedouttwohundredships,andthebiggestarmyhecouldcarryinthem;andsailedwithTostitowardsthedangerousPromisedLand。GotintotheTyneandtookbooty;gotintotheHumber,thenceintotheOuse;easilysubduedanyoppositiontheofficialpeopleortheirpopulationscouldmake;victoriouslyscatteredthese,victoriouslytooktheCityofYorkinaday;andevengothimselfhomagedthere,\"KingofNorthumberland,\"aspercovenant,——Tostiprovinghonorable,——Tostiandhegoingwithfaithfulstrictcopartnery,andallthingslookingprosperousandglorious。Exceptonly(animportantexception!)thattheylearntforcertain,EnglishHaroldwasadvancingwithallhisstrength;and,inameasurablespaceofhours,unlesscareweretaken,wouldbeinYorkhimself。HaraldandTostihastenedofftoseizethepostofStamfordBridgeonDerwentRiver,sixorsevenmileseastofYorkCity,andtherebarthisdangerousadvent。TheirownshipslaynotfaroffinOuseRiver,incaseoftheworst。Thebattlethatensuedthenextday,September20,1066,isforevermemorableinEnglishhistory。
SnorrogivesvividlyenoughhisviewofitfromtheIcelandicside:A
ringofstalwartNorsemen,closeranked,withtheirsteeltoolsinhand;EnglishHarold’sArmy,mostlycavalry,prancingandprickingallaround;tryingtofindormakesomeopeninginthatring。Foralongtimetryinginvain,tillatlength,gettingthementicedtoburstoutsomewhereinpursuit,theyquicklyturnedround,andquicklymadeanend,ofthatmatter。SnorrorepresentsEnglishHarold,withafirstpartyofthesehorsecomingup,and,withpreliminarysalutations,askingifTostiwerethere,andifHaraldwere;makinggenerousproposalstoTosti;but,inregardtoHaraldandwhatshareofEnglandwastobehis,answeringTostiwiththewords,\"SevenfeetofEnglishearth,ormoreifherequireit,foragrave。\"UponwhichTosti,likeanhonorablemanandcopartner,said,\"No,never;letusfightyourathertillwealldie。\"\"Whoisthisthatspoketoyou?\"inquiredHarald,whenthecavaliershadwithdrawn。\"MybrotherHarold,\"
answersTosti;whichlooksratherlikeaSaga,butmaybehistoricalafterall。Snorro’shistoryofthebattleisintelligibleonlyafteryouhavepremisedtoit,whatheneverhintsat,thatthescenewasontheeastsideofthebridgeandoftheDerwent;thegreatstruggleforthebridge,oneatlastfinds,wasafterthefallofHarald;andtotheEnglishChroniclers,saidstruggle,whichwasabundantlysevere,isalltheyknowofthebattle。
Enragedatthatbreakinglooseofhissteelringofinfantry,NorseHaraldblazedupintotrueNorsefury,alltheoldVaeringerandBerserkirrageawakeninginhim;sprangforthintothefrontofthefight,andmauledandcutandsmasheddown,onbothhandsofhim,everythinghemet,irresistiblebyanyhorseorman,tillanarrowcuthimthroughthewindpipe,andlaidhimlowforever。ThatwastheendofKingHaraldandofhisworkingsinthisworld。ThecircumstancethathewasaWaringorBaringandhadsmittentopiecessomanyOrientalcohortsorcrowds,andhadmadelove-verses(kindofironmadrigals)tohisRussianPrincess,andcaughtthefancyofquestionableGreekqueens,andhadamassedsuchheapsofmoney,whilepoornephewMagnushadonlyonegoldring(whichhadbeenhisfather’s,andevenhisfather’s_mother’s_,asUncleHaraldnoticed),andnothingmorewhateverofthatpreciousmetaltocombinewithHarald’streasures:——allthisisnewtome,naturallynohintofitinanyEnglishbook;andlendssomegleamofromanticsplendortothatdimbusinessofStamfordBridge,nowfallensodullandtorpidtomostEnglishminds,transcendentlyimportantasitoncewastoallEnglishmen。AdamofBremensays,theEnglishgotasmuchgoldplunderfromHarald’speopleaswasaheavyburdenfortwelvemen;[18]athingevidentlyimpossible,whichnobodyneedtrytobelieve。YoungOlaf,Harald’sson,ageaboutsixteen,steeringdowntheOuseatthetopofhisspeed,escapedhometoNorwaywithallhisships,andsubsequentlyreignedtherewithMagnus,hisbrother。Harald’sbodydidlieinEnglishearthforaboutayear;butwasthenbroughttoNorwayforburial。Heneededmorethansevenfeetofgrave,saysome;
Laing,interpretingSnorro’smeasurements,makesHaraldeightfeetinstature,——Idohope,withsomeerrorinexcess!
CHAPTERXII。
OLAFTHETRANQUIL,MAGNUSBAREFOOT,ANDSIGURDTHECRUSADER。
ThenewKingOlaf,hisbrotherMagnushavingsoondied,boreruleinNorwayforsomefive-and-twentyyears。Rulesoftandgentle,notlikehisfather’s,andincliningrathertoimprovementintheartsandeleganciesthantoanythingsevereordangerouslylaborious。A
slim-built,witty-talking,popularandprettyman,withuncommonlybrighteyes,andhairlikeflosssilk:theycalledhimOlaf_Kyrre_
(theTranquilorEasygoing)。
Theceremonialsofthepalaceweremuchimprovedbyhim。Palacestillcontinuedtobebuiltofhugelogspyramidallyslopingupwards,withfireplaceinthemiddleofthefloor,andnoegressforsmokeoringressforlightexceptrightoverhead,which,inbadweather,youcouldshut,orallbutshut,withalid。Lidoriginallymadeofmereopaqueboard,butchangedlatterlyintoalightframe,covered(_glazed_,sotospeak)withentrailsofanimals,clarifiedintosomethingofpellucidity。AllthisOlaf,Ihope,furtherperfected,ashedidtheplacingofthecourtladies,courtofficials,andthelike;butIdoubtiftheluxuryofaglasswindowwereeverknowntohim,oracuptodrinkfromthatwasnotmadeofmetalorhorn。Infactitischieflyforhisson’ssakeImentionhimhere;andwiththeson,too,Ihavelittlerealconcern,butonlyakindoffantastic。
ThissonbearsthenameofMagnus_Barfod_(Barefoot,orBareleg);andifyouaskwhyso,theansweris:HewasusedtoappearinthestreetsofNidaros(Trondhjem)nowandthenincompleteScotchHighlanddress。Authentictartanplaidandphilibeg,atthatepoch,——tothewonderofTrondhjemandus!Thetruthis,hehadamightyfancyforthoseHebridesandotherScotchpossessionsofhis;
andseeingEnglandnowquiteimpossible,eagerlyspeculatedonsomeconquestinIrelandasnextbest。Hedid,infact,godiligentlyvoyagingandinspectingamongthoseOrkneyandHebridianIsles;
puttingeverythingstraightthere,appointingstringentauthorities,jarls,——nay,aking,\"KingdomoftheSuderoer\"(SouthernIsles,nowcalled_Sodor_),——and,asfirstking,Sigurd,hisprettylittleboyofnineyears。Allwhichdone,andsomequarrelwithSwedenfoughtout,heseriouslyappliedhimselftovisitinginastillmoreemphaticmanner;namely,toinvading,withhisbestskillandstrength,theconsiderablevirtualoractualkingdomhehadinIreland,intendingfullytoenlargeittotheutmostlimitsoftheIslandifpossible。
HegotprosperouslyintoDublin(guessA。D。1102)。Considerableauthorityhealreadyhad,evenamongthosepoorIrishKings,orkinglets,intheirglibsandyellow-saffrongowns;stillmore,I
suppose,amongthenumerousNorsePrincipalitiesthere。\"KingMurdog,KingofIreland,\"saystheChronicleofMan,\"hadobligedhimself,everyYule-day,totakeapairofshoes,hangthemoverhisshoulder,asyourservantdoesonajourney,andwalkacrosshiscourt,atbiddingandinpresenceofMagnusBarefoot’smessenger,bywayofhomagetothesaid\"King。\"Murdogonthisgreateroccasiondidwhateverhomagecouldberequiredofhim;butthat,thoughcomfortable,wasfarfromsatisfyingthegreatKing’sambitiousmind。
ThegreatKingleftMurdog;lefthisownDublin;marchedoffwestwardonageneralconquestofIreland。Marchedeasilyvictoriousforatime;andgot,somesay,intothewildsofConnaught,buttheresawhimselfbesetbyambuscadesandwildIrishcountenancesintentonmischief;andhad,onthesudden,todrawupforbattle;——place,I
regrettosay,altogetherundiscoverabletome;knownonlythatitwasboggyintheextreme。Certainenough,toocertainandevident,MagnusBarefoot,searchingeagerly,couldfindnofirmfootingthere;nor,fightingfuriouslyuptothekneesordeeper,anyresultbuthonorabledeath!Dateisconfidentlymarked\"24August,1103,\"——asifpeopleknewtheverydayofthemonth。ThenativesdidhumanelygiveKingMagnusChristianburial。Theremnantsofhisforce,withoutfurthermolestation,foundtheirshipsontheCoastofUlster;andsailedhome,——withoutconquestofIreland;nayperhaps,leavingroyalMurdogdisposedtoberelievedofhisprocessionwiththepairofshoes。
MagnusBarefootleftthreesons,allkingsatonce,reigningpeaceablytogether。Buttous,atpresent,theonlynoteworthyoneofthemwasSigurd;who,findingnothingspecialtodoathome,lefthisbrotherstomanageforhim,andwentoffonafarVoyage,whichhasrenderedhimdistinguishableinthecrowd。VoyagethroughtheStraitsofGibraltar,ontoJerusalem,thencetoConstantinople;andsohomethroughRussia,shiningwithsuchrenownasfilledallNorwayforthetimebeing。AKingcalledSigurdJorsalafarer(Jerusalemer)orSigurdtheCrusaderhenceforth。HisvoyagehadbeenonlypartiallyoftheVikingtype;ingeneralitwasoftheRoyal-Progresskindrather;
Vikingismonlyinterveningincasesofincivilityorthelike。HisreceptionintheCourtsofPortugal,Spain,Sicily,Italy,hadbeenhonorableandsumptuous。TheKingofJerusalembrokeoutintoutmostsplendorandeffusionatsightofsuchapilgrim;andConstantinoplediditshighesthonorstosuchaPrinceofVaeringers。Andthetruthis,Sigurdintrinsicallywasawise,able,andprudentman;who,survivingbothhisbrothers,reignedagoodwhilealoneinasolidandsuccessfulway。Heshowsfeaturesofanoriginal,independent-thinkingman;somethingofruggedlystrong,sincere,andhonest,withpeculiaritiesthatareamiableandevenpatheticinthecharacterandtemperamentofhim;ascertainly,thecourseoflifehetookwasofhisownchoosing,andpeculiarenough。Hehappensfurthermoretobe,whatheleastofallcouldhavechosenorexpected,thelastoftheHaarfagrGenealogythathadanysuccess,ormuchdeservedany,inthisworld。ThelastoftheHaarfagrs,orasgoodasthelast!Sothat,singulartosay,itisinreality,foronethingonlythatSigurd,afterallhiscrusadingsandwonderfuladventures,ismemorabletoushere:theadventofanIrishgentlemancalled\"GylleKrist\"(Gil-christ,ServantofChrist),who,——notoverwelcome,Ishouldthink,but(unconsciously)bigwiththeaboveresult,——appearedinNorway,whileKingSigurdwassupreme。Letusexplainalittle。
ThisGylleKrist,theunconsciouslyfatalindividual,who\"spokeNorseimperfectly,\"declaredhimselftobethenaturalsonofwhilomMagnusBarefoot;borntohimtherewhileengagedinthatunfortunate\"ConquestofIreland。\"\"Hereismymothercomewithme,\"saidGilchrist,\"whodeclaresmyrealbaptismalnametohavebeenHarald,givenmebythatgreatKing;andwhowillcarrythered-hotploughsharesordoanyreasonableordealintestimonyofthesefacts。
IamKingSigurd’sveritablehalf-brother:whatwillKingSigurdthinkitfairtodowithme?\"Sigurdclearlyseemstohavebelievedthemantobespeakingtruth;andindeednobodytohavedoubtedbuthewas。Sigurdsaid,\"Honorablesustenanceshaltthouhavefrommehere。
But,underpainofextirpation,swearthat,neitherinmytime,norinthatofmyyoungsonMagnus,wiltthoueverclaimanyshareinthisGovernment。\"Gylleswore;andpunctuallykepthispromiseduringSigurd’sreign。ButduringMagnus’s,heconspicuouslybrokeit;and,inresult,throughmanyreigns,andduringthreeorfourgenerationsafterwards,producedunspeakablecontentions,massacrings,confusionsinthecountryhehadadopted。Therearereckoned,fromthetimeofSigurd’sdeath(A。D。1130),aboutahundredyearsofcivilwar:nokingallowedtodistinguishhimselfbyasolidreignofwell-doing,orbyanycontinuingreignatall,——sometimesasmanyasfourkingssimultaneouslyfighting;——andinNorway,fromsiretoson,nothingbutsanguinaryanarchy,disasterandbewilderment;aCountrysinkingsteadilyasiftowardsabsoluteruin。OfallwhichfrightfulmiseryanddiscordIrishGylle,styledafterwardsKingHaraldGylle,was,byilldestinyandotherwise,thevisibleorigin:anillegitimateIrishHaarfagrwhoprovedtobehisowndestruction,andthatoftheHaarfagrkindredaltogether!
SigurdhimselfseemsalwaystohaveratherfavoredGylle,whowasacheerful,shrewd,patient,witty,andeffectivefellow;andhadatfirstmuchquizzingtoendure,fromtheyoungerkind,onaccountofhisIrishwayofspeakingNorse,andforotherreasons。Oneevening,forexample,whilethedrinkwasgoinground,GyllementionedthattheIrishhadawonderfultalentofswiftrunningandthattherewereamongthempeoplewhocouldkeepupwiththeswiftesthorse。Atwhich,especiallyfromyoungMagnus,therewerepealsoflaughter;andadeclarationfromthelatterthatGylleandhewouldhaveittriedto-morrowmorning!GylleinvainurgedthathehadnothimselfprofessedtobesoswiftarunnerastokeepupwiththePrince’shorses;butonlythatthereweremeninIrelandwhocould。Magnuswaspositive;and,earlynextmorning,Gyllehadtobeontheground;andtherace,naturallyunderheavybet,actuallywentoff。GyllestartedparalleltoMagnus’sstirrup;ranlikeaveryroe,andwasclearlyaheadatthegoal。\"Unfair,\"saidMagnus;\"thoumusthavehadholdofmystirrup-leather,andhelpedthyselfalong;wemusttryitagain。\"
Gylleranbehindthehorsethissecondtime;thenattheend,sprangforward;andagainwasfairlyinahead。\"Thoumusthaveheldbythetail,\"saidMagnus;\"notbyfairrunningwasthispossible;wemusttryathirdtime!\"GyllestartedaheadofMagnusandhishorse,thisthirdtime;keptaheadwithincreasingdistance,Magnusgallopinghisverybest;andreachedthegoalmorepalpablyforemostthanever。SothatMagnushadtopayhisbet,andotherdamageandhumiliation。Andgotfromhisfather,whoheardofitsoonafterwards,scoffingrebukeasasillyfellow,whodidnotknowtheworthofmen,butonlytheclothesandrankofthem,andwelldeservedwhathehadgotfromGylle。AllthetimeKingSigurdlived,Gylleseemstohavehadgoodrecognitionandprotectionfromthatfamousman;and,indeed,tohavegainedfavorallround,byhisquietsocialdemeanorandthequalitiesheshowed。
CHAPTERXIII。
MAGNUSTHEBLIND,HARALDGYLLE,ANDMUTUALEXTINCTIONOFTHE
HAARFAGRS。
OnSigurdtheCrusader’sdeath,Magnusnaturallycametothethrone;
Gyllekeepingsilenceandacheerfulfaceforthetime。ButitwasnotlongtillclaimaroseonGylle’spart,tillwarandfightarosebetweenMagnusandhim,tilltheskilful,popular,ever-activeandshiftyGyllehadentirelybeatenMagnus;putouthiseyes,mutilatedthepoorbodyofhiminahorridandunnamablemanner,andshuthimupinaconventasoutofthegamehenceforth。ThereinhisdarkmiseryMagnuslivednowasamonk;called\"MagnustheBlind\"bythoseNorsepopulations;KingHaraldGyllereigningvictoriouslyinhisstead。
Butthisalsowasonlyforatime。TherearoseavengingkinsfolkofMagnus,whohadnoIrishaccentintheirNorse,andwerethemselveseagerenoughtobearruleintheirnativecountry。Byoneofthese,——aterriblystronghanded,fighting,violent,andregardlessfellow,whoalsowasaBastardofMagnusBarefoot’s,andhadbeenmadeaPriest,butlikeditunbearablyill,andhadbrokenloosefromitintothewildestcoursesathomeandabroad;sothathiscurrentnamegottobe\"Slembi-diakn,\"SlimorIllDeacon,underwhichheismuchnoisedofinSnorroandtheSagas:bythisSlim-Deacon,Gyllewasputanendto(murderedbynight,drunkinhissleep);andpoorblindMagnuswasbroughtout,andagainsettoactasKing,orKing’sCloak,inhopesGylle’sposteritywouldneverrisetovictorymore。ButGylle’sposteritydid,tovictoryandalsotodefeat,andwerethedeathofMagnusandofSlim-Deacontoo,inafrightfulway;andallgottheirowndeathbyandbyinaditto。Inbrief,thesetwokindreds(reckonedtobeauthenticenoughHaarfagrpeople,bothkindsofthem)provednowtohavebecomeaveritablecropofdragon’steeth;
whomutuallyfought,plotted,struggled,asifithadbeentheirlife’sbusiness;neverendedfightingandseldomlongintermittedit,tilltheyhadexterminatedoneanother,anddidatlastallrestindeath。OneoftheselaterGylletemporaryKingsIrememberbythenameofHaraldHerdebred,HaraldoftheBroadShoulders。TheverylastofthemIthinkwasHaraldMund(Haraldofthe_Wry-Mouth_),whogaverisetotwoImpostors,pretendingtobeSonsofhis,agoodwhileafterthepoorWry-Mouthitselfandallitstroublesomebelongingswerequietlyunderground。WhatNorwaysufferedduringthatsadcenturymaybeimagined。
CHAPTERXIV。
SVERRIRANDDESCENDANTS,TOHAKONTHEOLD。
Theendofitwas,orratherthefirstabatement,and_beginnings_oftheend,That,whenallthishadgoneoneverworseningforsomefortyyearsorso,oneSverrir(A。D。1177),attheheadofanarmedmobofpoorpeoplecalled_Birkebeins_,cameuponthescene。AstrangeenoughfigureinHistory,thisSverrirandhisBirkebeins!Atfirstameremockeryanddismallaughing-stocktotheenlightenedNorwaypublic。Neverthelessbyunheard-offighting,hungering,exertion,andendurance,Sverrir,aftertenyearsofsuchadeath-wrestleagainstmenandthings,gothimselfacceptedasKing;andbywonderfulexpenditureofingenuity,commoncunning,unctuousParliamentaryEloquenceoralmostPopularPreaching,and(itmustbeowned)generalhumanfacultyandvalor(orvalue)intheover-cloudedanddistortedstate,didvictoriouslycontinuesuch。AndfoundedanewDynastyinNorway,whichendedonlywithNorway’sseparateexistence,afternearthreehundredyears。
ThisSverrircalledhimselfaSonofHaraldWry-Mouth;butwasinrealitythesonofapoorComb-makerinsomelittletownofNorway;
nothingheardofSonshiptoWry-Mouthtillaftergoodsuccessotherwise。HisBirkebeins(thatistosay,_Birchlegs;_thepoorrebelliouswretcheshavingtakentothewoods;andbeenobliged,besidestheirintolerablescarcityoffood,tothatchtheirbodiesfromthecoldwithwhatevercoveringcouldbegot,andtheirlegsespeciallywithbirchbark;sadspeciesoffleecyhosiery;whencetheirnickname),——hisBirkebeinsIguessalwaystohavebeenakindofNorse_Jacquerie_:desperaterisingofthrallsandindigentpeople,drivenmadbytheirunendurablesufferingsandfamishings,——theirsthe_deepest_stratumofmisery,andthedensestandheaviest,inthisthegeneralmiseryofNorway,whichhadlastedtowardsthethirdgenerationandlookedasifitwouldlastforever:——whereupontheyhadrisenproclaiming,inthisfuriousdumbmanner,unintelligibleexcepttoHeaven,thatthesamecouldnot,norwouldnot,beenduredanylonger!And,bytheirSverrir,strangetosay,theydidattainakindofpermanentsuccess;and,frombeingadismallaughing-stockinNorway,cametobeimportant,andforatimeall-importantthere。
Theiroppositionnicknames,\"_Baglers_(fromBagall,_baculus_,bishop’sstaff;BishopNicholasbeingchiefLeader),\"\"_Gold-legs_,\"
andthelikeobscureterms(fortherewasstillaconsiderablecourseofcounter-fightingahead,andespeciallyofcounter-nicknaming),I
taketohavemeantinNorseprefigurementsevencenturiesago,\"bloatedAristocracy,\"\"tyrannous-_Bourgeoisie_,\"——till,inthenextcentury,theserentswereclosedagain!
KingSverrir,nothimselfbredtocomb-making,had,inhisfifthyear,gonetoanuncle,BishopintheFaroeIslands;andgotsomeconsiderableeducationfromhim,withaviewtoPriesthoodonthepartofSverrir。But,notlikingthatcareer,SverrirhadfledandsmuggledhimselfovertotheBirkebeins;who,noticingthelearnedtongue,andothermiraculousqualitiesoftheman,proposedtomakehimCaptainofthem;andeventhreatenedtokillhimifhewouldnotaccept,——whichthusatthesword’spoint,asSverrirsays,hewasobligedtodo。ItwasafterthisthathethoughtofbecomingsonofWry-Mouthandotherhigherthings。
HisBirkebeinsandhehadcertainlyatalentofcampaigningwhichhashardlyeverbeenequalled。Theyfoughtlikedevilsagainstanyoddsofnumber;andbeforebattletheyhavebeenknowntomarchsixdaystogetherwithoutfood,except,perhaps,theinnerbarksoftrees,andinsuchclothingandshoeingasmerebirchbark:——atonetime,somewhereintheDovrefjeld,therewasseriouscounselheldamongthemwhethertheyshouldnotall,asoneman,leapdownintothefrozengulfsandprecipices,oratoncemassacreoneanotherwholly,andsofinish。Oftheirconductinbattle,fiercerthanthatof_Baresarks_,wherewasthereeverseentheparallel?Intruththeyareadimstrangeobjecttoone,inthatblacktime;wondrouslybringinglightintoitwithal;andprovedtobe,undersuchunexpectedcircumstances,thebeginningofbetterdays!
OfSverrir’spublicspeechestherestillexistauthenticspecimens;
wonderfulindeed,andmuchcharacteristicofsuchaSverrir。A
comb-makerKing,evidentlymeaningseveralgoodandsolidthings;andeffectingthemtoo,athwartsuchanelementofNorwegianchaos-come-again。Hisdescendantsandsuccessorswereacomparativelyrespectablekin。ThelastandgreatestofthemIshallmentionisHakonVII。,orHakontheOld;whosefameisstilllivelyamongus,fromtheBattleofLargsatleast。
CHAPTERXV。
HAKONTHEOLDATLARGS。
IntheNorseannalsourfamousBattleofLargsmakessmallfigure,oralmostnoneatallamongHakon’sbattlesandfeats。Theydosayindeed,theseNorseannalists,thattheKingofScotland,AlexanderIII。(whohadsuchafateamongthecragsaboutKinghornintimecoming),wasveryanxioustopurchasefromKingHakonhissovereigntyoftheWesternIsles,butthatHakonpointedlyrefused;andatlength,beingagainimportunedandbotheredonthebusiness,decidedongivingarefusalthatcouldnotbemistaken。Decided,namely,togowithabigexpedition,andlookthoroughlyintothatwingofhisDominions;
wherenodoubtmuchhasfallenawrysinceMagnusBarefoot’sgrandvisitthither,andseemstobeinvitingthecupidityofbadneighbors!
\"Allthiswewillputrightagain,\"thinksHakon,\"andgirditupintoasafeanddefensiveposture。\"Hakonsailedaccordingly,withastrongfleet;adjustingandrectifyingamonghisHebridesashewentlong,andlandingwithalontheScotchcoasttoplunderandpunishashethoughtfit。TheScotssayhehadclaimedofthemArran,Bute,andtheTwoCumbraes(\"givenmyancestorsbyDonaldBain,\"saidHakon,totheamazementoftheScots)\"aspartoftheSudoer\"(SouthernIsles):
——sofarfromsellingthatfinekingdom!——andthatitwasaftertakingbothArranandButethathemadehisdescentatLargs。
OfLargsthereisnomentionwhateverinNorsebooks。Butbeyondanydoubt,suchistheotherevidence,Hakondidlandthere;landandfight,notconquering,probablyratherbeaten;andverycertainly\"retiringtohisships,\"asineithercasehebehoovedtodo!Itisfurthercertainhewasdreadfullymaltreatedbytheweatheronthosewildcoasts;andaltogethercredible,astheScotchrecordsbear,thathewassoatLargsveryspecially。TheNorseRecordsorSagassaymerely,helostmanyofhisshipsbythetempests,andmanyofhismenbylandfightinginvariousparts,——tacitlyincludingLargs,nodoubt,whichwasthelastofthesemisfortunestohim。\"Inthebattleherehelost15,000men,saytheScots,we5,000\"!Dividethesenumbersbyten,andtheexcellentlybriefandlucidScottishsummarybyBuchananmaybetakenastheapproximatelytrueandexact。[19]DateofthebattleisA。D。1263。
Tothisday,onalittleplaintothesouthofthevillage,nowtown,ofLargs,inAyrshire,thereareseenstonecairnsandmonumentalheaps,and,untilwithinacenturyago,onehuge,solitary,uprightstone;stillmutelytestifyingtoabattlethere,——altogetherclearly,tothisbattleofKingHakon’s;whobytheNorserecords,too,wasintheseneighborhoodsatthatsamedate,andevidentlyinanaggressive,highkindofhumor。For\"whilehisshipsandarmyweredoublingtheMullofCantire,hehadhisownboatsetonwheels,andtherein,splendidlyenough,hadhimselfdrawnacrossthePromontoryataflatterpart,\"nodoubtwithhornssounding,bannerswaving。\"AlltotheleftofmeismineandNorway’s,\"exclaimedHakoninhistriumphantboatprogress,whichsuchdisasterssoonfollowed。
Hakongatheredhiswreckstogether,andsorrowfullymadeforOrkney。
Itispossibleenough,asourGuideBooksnowsay,hemayhavegonebyIona,Mull,andthenarrowseasinsideofSkye;andthatthe_Kyle-Akin_,favorablyknowntosea-bathersinthatregion,mayactuallymeantheKyle(narrowstrait)ofHakon,whereHakonmayhavedroppedanchor,andrestedforalittlewhileinsmoothwaterandbeautifulenvironment,safefromequinoctialstorms。ButpoorHakon’sheartwasnowbroken。HewenttoOrkney;diedthereinthewinter;
neverbeholdingNorwaymore。
HeitwaswhogotIceland,whichhadbeenaRepublicforfourcenturies,unitedtohiskingdomofNorway:alongandintricateoperation,——muchpresidedoverbyourSnorroSturleson,sooftenquotedhere,whoindeedlosthislife(byassassinationfromhissons-in-law)andoutofgreatwealthsankatonceintopovertyofzero,——onemidnightinhisowncellar,inthecourseofthatbadbusiness。HakonwasagreatPoliticianinhistime;andsucceededinmanythingsbeforehelostLargs。Snorro’sdeathbymurderhadhappenedabouttwentyyearsbeforeHakon’sbybrokenheart。HeiscalledHakontheOld,thoughonefindshisagewasbutfifty-nine,probablyalongishlifeforaNorwayKing。Snorro’snarrativeceaseswhenSnorrohimselfwasborn;thatistosay,atthethresholdofKingSverrir;ofwhoseexploitsanddoubtfulbirthitisguessedbysomethatSnorrowillinglyforboretospeakinthehearingofsuchaHakon。
CHAPTERXVI。
EPILOGUE。
Haarfagr’skindredlastedsomethreecenturiesinNorway;Sverrir’slastedintoitsthirdcenturythere;howlongafterthis,amongtheneighboringkinships,Ididnotinquire。For,byregalaffinities,consanguinities,andunexpectedchancesandchanges,thethreeScandinaviankingdomsfellallpeaceablytogetherunderQueenMargaret,oftheCalmarUnion(A。D。1397);andNorway,incorporatednowwithDenmark,needednomorekings。
TheHistoryoftheseHaarfagrshasawakenedinmemanythoughts:OfDespotismandDemocracy,arbitrarygovernmentbyoneandself-government(whichmeansnogovernment,oranarchy)byall;ofDictatorshipwithmanyfaults,andUniversalSuffragewithlittlepossibilityofanyvirtue。ForthecontrastbetweenOlafTryggveson,andaUniversal-SuffrageParliamentoran\"Imperial\"CopperCaptainhas,intheseninecenturies,growntobeverygreat。AndtheeternalProvidencethatguidesallthis,andproducesaliketheseentitieswiththeirepochs,isnotitscoursestillthroughthegreatdeep?
Doesnotitstillspeaktous,ifwehaveears?Here,clothedinstormyenoughpassionsandinstincts,unconsciousofanyaimbuttheirownsatisfaction,istheblessedbeginningofHumanOrder,Regulation,andrealGovernment;there,clothedinahighlydifferent,butagainsuitablegarnitureofpassions,instincts,andequallyunconsciousastorealaim,istheaccursed-lookingending(temporaryending)ofOrder,Regulation,andGovernment;——verydismaltothesaneonlookerforthetimebeing;notdismaltohimotherwise,hishope,too,beingsteadfast!Buthere,atanyrate,inthispoorNorsetheatre,onelookswithinterestonthefirsttransformation,somysteriousandabstruse,ofhumanChaosintosomethingofarticulateCosmos;
witnessesthewildandstrangebirth-pangsofHumanSociety,andreflectsthatwithoutsomethingsimilar(littleasmenexpectsuchnow),noCosmosofhumansocietyeverwasgotintoexistence,norcaneveragainbe。
Theviolences,fightings,crimes——ahyes,theseseldomfail,andtheyareverylamentable。Butalways,too,amongthoseoldpopulations,therewasonesavingelement;thenowwantofwhich,especiallytheunlamentedwant,transcendsalllamentation。Hereisoneofthosestrange,piercing,winged-wordsofRuskin,whichhasinitaterribletruthforusintheseepochsnowcome:——
\"Myfriends,thefolliesofmodernLiberalism,manyandgreatthoughtheybe,arepracticallysummedinthisdenialorneglectofthequalityandintrinsicvalueofthings。Itsrectangularbeatitudes,andsphericalbenevolences,——theologyofuniversalindulgence,andjurisprudencewhichwillhangnorogues,mean,oneandallofthem,intheroot,incapacityofdiscerning,orrefusaltodiscern,worthandunworthinanything,andleastofallinman;whereasNatureandHeavencommandyou,atyourperil,todiscernworthfromunworthineverything,andmostofallinman。Yourmainproblemisthatancientandtriteone,’Whoisbestman?’andtheFatesforgivemuch,——forgivethewildest,fiercest,cruelestexperiments,——iffairlymadeforthedeterminationofthat。
Theftandblood-guiltinessarenotpleasingintheirsight;yetthefavoringpowersofthespiritualandmaterialworldwillconfirmtoyouyourstolengoods,andtheirnoblestvoicesapplaudtheliftingofYourspear,andrehearsethesculptureofyourshield,ifonlyyourrobbingandslayinghavebeeninfairarbitramentofthatquestion,’Whoisbestman?’Butifyourefusesuchinquiry,andmaintaineverymanforhisneighbor’smatch,——ifyougivevotetothesimpleandlibertytothevile,thepowersofthosespiritualandmaterialworldsinduetimepresentyouinevitablywiththesameproblem,solublenowonlywrongsideupwards;andyourrobbingandslayingmustbedonethentofindout,’Whoisworstman?’Which,insowideanorderofmerit,is,indeed,noteasy;butacompleteTammanyRing,andlowestcircleintheInfernoofWorst,youaresuretofind,andtobegovernedby。\"[20]
AllreaderswilladmitthattherewassomethingnaturallyroyalintheseHaarfagrKings。Awildlygreatkindofkindred;countsinittwoHeroesofahigh,oralmosthighest,type:thefirsttwoOlafs,TryggvesonandtheSaint。Andtheviewofthem,withal,aswechancetohaveit,Ihaveoftenthought,howessentiallyHomericitwas:——indeedwhatis\"Homer\"himselfbutthe_Rhapsody_offivecenturiesofGreekSkaldsandwanderingBallad-singers,done(i。e。
\"stitchedtogether\")bysomebodymoremusicalthanSnorrowas?OlafTryggvesonandOlafSaintpleasemequiteaswellintheirprosaicform;offeringmethetruthofthemasifseenintheirreallineamentsbysomemarvellousopening(throughtheartofSnorro)
acrosstheblackstrataoftheages。Twohigh,almostamongthehighestsonsofNature,seenastheyveritablywere;fairlycomparableorsuperiortogod-likeAchilleus,goddess-woundingDiomedes,muchmoretothetwoAtreidai,RegulatorsofthePeoples。
IhavealsothoughtoftenwhataBookmightbemadeofSnorro,didtherebutariseamanfurnishedwithdueliteraryinsight,andindefatigablediligence;who,faithfullyacquaintinghimselfwiththetopography,themonumentalreliesandillustrativeactualitiesofNorway,carefullyscanningthebesttestimoniesastoplaceandtimewhichthatcountrycanstillgivehim,carefullythebestcollateralrecordsandchronologiesofothercountries,andwho,himselfpossessingthehighestfacultyofaPoet,could,abridging,arranging,elucidating,reduceSnorrotoapolishedCosmicstate,unweariedlypurgingawayhismuchchaoticmatter!Amodern\"highestkindofPoet,\"capableofunlimitedslavishlaborwithal;——who,Ifear,isnotsoontobeexpectedinthisworld,orlikelytofindhistaskinthe_Heimskringla_ifhedidappearhere。
Footnotes:
_______________________________
[1]J。G。Dahlmann,_GeschichtevonDannemark_,3vols。8vo。
Hamburg,1840-1843。
[2]\"Settlement,\"dated912,byMunch,Henault,&c。TheSaxonChroniclesays(anno876):\"InthisyearRolfoverranNormandywithhisarmy,andhereignedfiftywinters。\"
[3]Dahlmann,ii。87。
[4]Dahlmann,ii。93。
[5]_Laing’sSnorro_,i。344。
[6]G。Buchanani_OperaOmnia_,i。103,104(CuranteRuddimano,Edinburgi,1715)。
[7]HisLongSerpent,judgedbysometobeofthesizeofafrigateofforty-fiveguns(Laing)。
[8]ThissermonwasprintedbyHearne;andisgivenalsobyLangebekinhisexcellentCollection,_RerumDanicarumScriptoresMediiAEri。_Hafniae。1772-1834。
[9]Kennet,i。67;Rapin,i。119,121(fromthe_SaxonChronicle_
both)。
[10]KnutbornA。D。988accordingtoMunch’scalculation(ii。
126)。
[11]Snorro,Laing’sTranslation,ii。p。31etseq。,willminutelyspecify。
[12]Snorro,ii。pp。24,25。
[13]Snorro,ii。pp。156-161。
[14]Snorro,ii。pp。252,253。
[15]_SaxonChronicle_saysexpressly,underA。D。1030:\"InthisyearKingOlafwasslaininNorwaybyhisownpeople,andwasafterwardssainted。\"
[16]_SaxonChronicle_says:\"1035。InthisyeardiedKingCnut……
HedepartedatShaftesbury,November12,andtheyconveyedhimthencetoWinchester,andthereburiedhim。\"
[17]Munchgivesthedate1038(ii。840),AdamofBremen1040。
[18]Camden,Rapin,&c。quote。
[19]_BuchananiHist。_i。130。
[20]_ForsClavigera_,LetterXIV。Pp。8-10。