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Thangbrand； priest from Saxony； of wonderful qualities； military as well
as theological； to try and convert Iceland。 Thangbrand made a few
converts； for Olaf had already many estimable Iceland friends； whom he
liked much； and was much liked by； and conversion was the ready road to
his favor。 Thangbrand； I find； lodged with Hall of Sida （familiar
acquaintance of 〃Burnt Njal；〃 whose Saga has its admirers among us even
now）。 Thangbrand converted Hall and one or two other leading men；； but
in general he was reckoned quarrelsome and blusterous rather than
eloquent and piously convincing。 Two skalds of repute made biting
lampoons upon Thangbrand； whom Thangbrand； by two opportunities that
offered； cut down and did to death because of their skaldic quality。
Another he killed with his own hand； I know not for what reason。 In brief；
after about a year； Thangbrand returned to Norway and king Olaf；
declaring the Icelanders to be a perverse； satirical； and inconvertible
people； having himself； the record says； 〃been the death of three men
there。〃 King Olaf was in high rage at this result； but was persuaded by the
Icelanders about him to try farther； and by a wilder instrument。 He
accordingly chose one Thormod； a pious； patient； and kindly man； who；
within the next year or so； did actually accomplish the matter； namely； get
Christianity； by open vote； declared at Thingvalla by the general Thing of
Iceland there； the roar of a big thunder…clap at the right moment rather
helping the conclusion； if I recollect。 Whereupon Olaf's joy was no doubt
great。
One general result of these successful operations was the discontent； to
all manner of degrees； on the part of many Norse individuals； against this
glorious and victorious； but peremptory and terrible king of theirs。
Tryggveson； I fancy； did not much regard all that； a man of joyful； cheery
temper； habitually contemptuous of danger。 Another trivial misfortune that
befell in these conversion operations； and became important to him； he did
not even know of； and would have much despised if he had。 It was this：
Sigrid； queen dowager of Sweden； thought to be amongst the most shining
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women of the world； was also known for one of the most imperious；
revengeful； and relentless； and had got for herself the name of Sigrid the
Proud。 In her high widowhood she had naturally many wooers； but treated
them in a manner unexampled。 Two of her suitors； a simultaneous Two；
were； King Harald Graenske （a cousin of King Tryggveson's； and kind of
king in some district； by sufferance of the late Hakon's）；this luckless
Graenske and the then Russian Sovereign as well； name not worth
mentioning； were zealous suitors of Queen Dowager Sigrid； and were
perversely slow to accept the negative； which in her heart was inexorable
for both； though the expression of it could not be quite so emphatic。 By ill…
luck for them they came once；from the far West； Graenske； from the far
East； the Russian；and arrived both together at Sigrid's court； to prosecute
their importunate； and to her odious and tiresome suit； much； how very
much； to her impatience and disdain。 She lodged them both in some old
mansion； which she had contiguous； and got compendiously furnished for
them； and there； I know not whether on the first or on the second； or on
what following night； this unparalleled Queen Sigrid had the house
surrounded； set on fire； and the two suitors and their people burnt to ashes！
No more of bother from these two at least！ This appears to be a fact； and it
could not be unknown to Tryggveson。
In spite of which； however； there went from Tryggveson； who was
now a widower； some incipient marriage proposals to this proud widow；
by whom they were favorably received； as from the brightest man in all
the world； they might seem worth being。 Now； in one of these anti…heathen
onslaughts of King Olaf's on the idol temples of Hakon（I think it was
that case where Olaf's own battle…axe struck down the monstrous refulgent
Thor； and conquered an immense gold ring from the neck of him； or from
the door of his temple）；a huge gold ring； at any rate； had come into Olaf's
hands； and this he bethought him might be a pretty present to Queen
Sigrid； the now favorable； though the proud。 Sigrid received the ring with
joy； fancied what a collar it would make for her own fair neck； but noticed
that her two goldsmiths； weighing it on their fingers； exchanged a glance。
〃What is that？〃 exclaimed Queen Sigrid。 〃Nothing；〃 answered they； or
endeavored to answer； dreading mischief。 But Sigrid compelled them to
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break open the ring； and there was found； all along the inside of it； an
occult ring of copper； not a heart of gold at all！ 〃Ha；〃 said the proud Queen；
flinging it away； 〃he that could deceive in this matter can deceive in many
others！〃 And was in hot wrath with Olaf； though； by degrees； again she
took milder thoughts。
Milder thoughts； we say； and consented to a meeting next autumn； at
some half…way station； where their great business might be brought to a
happy settlement and betrothment。 Both Olaf Tryggveson and the high
dowager appear to have been tolerably of willing mind at this meeting； but
Olaf interposed； what was always one condition with him； 〃Thou must
consent to baptism； and give up thy idol…gods。〃 〃They are the gods of all
my forefathers；〃 answered the lady； 〃choose thou what gods thou pleasest；
but leave me mine。〃 Whereupon an altercation； and Tryggveson； as was
his wont； towered up into shining wrath； and exclaimed at last； 〃Why
should I care about thee then； old faded heathen creature？〃 And
impatiently wagging his glove； hit her； or slightly switched her； on the face
with it； and contemptuously turning away； walked out of the adventure。
〃This is a feat that may cost thee dear one day；〃 said Sigrid。 And in the end
it came to do so； little as the magnificent Olaf deigned to think of it at the
moment。
One of the last