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there is no luck in the matter。 It has gone with your family as with mine to
have by turns the better lot。 I am little beyond childhood in years； and at
any rate we could not have defended ourselves； as we did not expect any
attack on the way。 It may turn out better with us another time。'
_King。_ 〃'Dost thou not apprehend that thou art in such a condition
that； hereafter； there can be neither victory nor defeat for thee？'
_Hakon。_ 〃'That is what only thou canst determine； King； according to
thy pleasure。'
_King。_ 〃'What wilt thou give me； Jarl； if； for this time； I let thee go；
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EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY。
whole and unhurt？'
_Hakon。_ 〃'What wilt thou take； King？'
_King。_ 〃'Nothing； except that thou shalt leave the country； give up
thy kingdom； and take an oath that thou wilt never go into battle against
me。'〃＇12＇
Jarl Hakon accepted the generous terms； went to England and King
Knut； and kept his bargain for a good few years； though he was at last
driven； by pressure of King Knut； to violate it；little to his profit； as we
shall see。 One victorious naval battle with Jarl Svein； Hakon's uncle； and
his adherents； who fled to Sweden； after his beating；battle not difficult to
a skilful； hard…hitting king；was pretty much all the actual fighting Olaf
had to do in this enterprise。 He various times met angry Bonders and
refractory Things with arms in their hand； but by skilful； firm
management；perfectly patient； but also perfectly ready to be active；he
mostly managed without coming to strokes； and was universally
recognized by Norway as its real king。 A promising young man； and fit to
be a king； thinks Snorro。 Only of middle stature； almost rather shortish；
but firm…standing； and stout…built； so that they got to call him Olaf the
Thick （meaning Olaf the Thick…set； or Stout…built）； though his final epithet
among them was infinitely higher。 For the rest； 〃a comely； earnest；
prepossessing look； beautiful yellow hair in quantity； broad； honest face；
of a complexion pure as snow and rose；〃 and finally （or firstly） 〃the
brightest eyes in the world； such that； in his anger； no man could stand
them。〃 He had a heavy task ahead； and needed all his qualities and fine
gifts to get it done。
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EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY。
CHAPTER X。
REIGN OF KING OLAF THE SAINT。
The late two Jarls； now gone about their business； had both been
baptized； and called themselves Christians。 But during their government
they did nothing in the conversion way； left every man to choose his own
God or Gods； so that some had actually two； the Christian God by land；
and at sea Thor； whom they considered safer in that element。 And in effect
the mass of the people had fallen back into a sluggish heathenism or half…
heathenism； the life…labor of Olaf Tryggveson lying ruinous or almost
quite overset。 The new Olaf； son of Harald； set himself with all his
strength to mend such a state of matters； and stood by his enterprise to the
end； as the one highest interest； including all others； for his People and
him。 His method was by no means soft； on the contrary； it was hard； rapid；
severe；somewhat on the model of Tryggveson's； though with more of
_bishoping_ and preaching superadded。 Yet still there was a great deal of
mauling； vigorous punishing； and an entire intolerance of these two things：
Heathenism and Sea…robbery； at least of Sea…robbery in the old style；
whether in the style we moderns still practise； and call privateering； I do
not quite know。 But Vikingism proper had to cease in Norway； still more；
Heathenism； under penalties too severe to he borne； death； mutilation of
limb； not to mention forfeiture and less rigorous coercion。 Olaf was
inexorable against violation of the law。 〃Too severe；〃 cried many； to whom
one answers； 〃Perhaps in part _yes_； perhaps also in great part _no_；
depends altogether on the previous question； How far the law was the
eternal one of God Almighty in the universe； How far the law merely of
Olaf （destitute of right inspiration） left to his own passions and whims？〃
Many were the jangles Olaf had with the refractory Heathen Things
and Ironbeards of a new generation： very curious to see。 Scarcely ever did
it come to fighting between King and Thing； though often enough near it；
but the Thing discerning； as it usually did in time； that the King was
stronger in men； seemed to say unanimously to itself； 〃We have lost； then；
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baptize us； we must burn our old gods and conform。〃 One new feature we
do slightly discern： here and there a touch of theological argument on the
heathen side。 At one wild Thing； far up in the Dovrefjeld； of a very
heathen temper； there was much of that； not to be quenched by King Olaf
at the moment； so that it had to be adjourned till the morrow； and again till
the next day。 Here are some traits of it； much abridged from Snorro （who
gives a highly punctual account）； which vividly represent Olaf's posture
and manner of proceeding in such intricacies。
The chief Ironbeard on this occasion was one Gudbrand； a very rugged
peasant； who； says Snorro； was like a king in that district。 Some days
before； King Olaf； intending a religious Thing in those deeply heathen
parts； with alternative of Christianity or conflagration； is reported； on
looking down into the valley and the beautiful village of Loar standing
there； to have said wistfully； 〃What a pity it is that so beautiful a village
should be burnt！〃 Olaf sent out his message…token all the； same； however；
and met Gudbrand and an immense assemblage； whose humor towards
him was uncompliant to a high degree indeed。 Judge by this preliminary
speech of Gudbrand to his Thing…people； while Olaf was not yet arrived；
but only advancing； hardly got to Breeden on the other side of the hill： 〃A
man has come to Loar who