第 6 节
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北方网 更新:2021-02-24 22:10 字数:9322
is always an uncertainty in these Icelandic dates (say rather; rare and rude
attempts at dating; without even an 〃A。D。〃 or other fixed 〃year one〃 to go
upon in Iceland); though seldom; I think; so large a discrepancy as here。
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CHAPTER V。
HAKON JARL。
Hakon Jarl; such the style he took; had engaged to pay some kind of
tribute to King Blue…tooth; 〃if he could;〃 but he never did pay any;
pleading always the necessity of his own affairs; with which excuse;
joined to Hakon's readiness in things less important; King Blue…tooth
managed to content himself; Hakon being always his good neighbor; at
least; and the two mutually dependent。 In Norway; Hakon; without the title
of king; did in a strong…handed; steadfast; and at length; successful way;
the office of one; governed Norway (some count) for above twenty years;
and; both at home and abroad; had much consideration through most of
that time; specially amongst the heathen orthodox; for Hakon Jarl himself
was a zealous heathen; fixed in his mind against these chimerical Christian
innovations and unsalutary changes of creed; and would have gladly
trampled out all traces of what the last two kings (for Greyfell; also; was
an English Christian after his sort) had done in this respect。 But he wisely
discerned that it was not possible; and that; for peace's sake; he must not
even attempt it; but must strike preferably into 〃perfect toleration;〃 and
that of 〃every one getting to heaven or even to the other goal in his own
way。〃 He himself; it is well known; repaired many heathen temples (a
great 〃church builder〃 in his way!); manufactured many splendid idols;
with much gilding and such artistic ornament as there was;in particular;
one huge image of Thor; not forgetting the hammer and appendages; and
such a collar (supposed of solid gold; which it was not quite; as we shall
hear in time) round the neck of him as was never seen in all the North。
How he did his own Yule festivals; with what magnificent solemnity; the
horse…eatings; blood…sprinklings; and other sacred rites; need not be told。
Something of a 〃Ritualist;〃 one may perceive; perhaps had Scandinavian
Puseyisms in him; and other desperate heathen notions。 He was
universally believed to have gone into magic; for one thing; and to have
dangerous potencies derived from the Devil himself。 The dark heathen
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mind of him struggling vehemently in that strange element; not altogether
so unlike our own in some points。
For the rest; he was evidently; in practical matters; a man of sharp;
clear insight; of steadfast resolution; diligence; promptitude; and managed
his secular matters uncommonly well。 Had sixteen Jarls under him; though
himself only Hakon Jarl by title; and got obedience from them stricter than
any king since Haarfagr had done。 Add to which that the country had years
excellent for grass and crop; and that the herrings came in exuberance;
tokens; to the thinking mind; that Hakon Jarl was a favorite of Heaven。
His fight with the far…famed Jomsvikings was his grandest exploit in
public rumor。 Jomsburg; a locality not now known; except that it was near
the mouth of the River Oder; denoted in those ages the impregnable castle
of a certain hotly corporate; or 〃Sea Robbery Association (limited);〃 which;
for some generations; held the Baltic in terror; and plundered far beyond
the Belt;in the ocean itself; in Flanders and the opulent trading havens
there;above all; in opulent anarchic England; which; for forty years from
about this time; was the pirates' Goshen; and yielded; regularly every
summer; slaves; Danegelt; and miscellaneous plunder; like no other
country Jomsburg or the viking…world had ever known。 Palnatoke; Bue;
and the other quasi…heroic heads of this establishment are still remembered
in the northern parts。 _Palnatoke_ is the title of a tragedy by
Oehlenschlager; which had its run of immortality in Copenhagen some
sixty or seventy years ago。
I judge the institution to have been in its floweriest state; probably now
in Hakon Jarl's time。 Hakon Jarl and these pirates; robbing Hakon's
subjects and merchants that frequented him; were naturally in quarrel; and
frequent fightings had fallen out; not generally to the profit of the
Jomsburgers; who at last determined on revenge; and the rooting out of
this obstructive Hakon Jarl。 They assembled in force at the Cape of Stad;
in the Firda Fylke; and the fight was dreadful in the extreme; noise of it
filling all the north for long afterwards。 Hakon; fighting like a lion; could
scarcely hold his own;Death or Victory; the word on both sides; when
suddenly; the heavens grew black; and there broke out a terrific storm of
thunder and hail; appalling to the human mind;universe swallowed
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wholly in black night; only the momentary forked…blazes; the thunder…
pealing as of Ragnarok; and the battering hail…torrents; hailstones about
the size of an egg。 Thor with his hammer evidently acting; but in behalf of
whom? The Jomsburgers in the hideous darkness; broken only by flashing
thunder…bolts; had a dismal apprehension that it was probably not on their
behalf (Thor having a sense of justice in him); and before the storm ended;
thirty…five of their seventy ships sheered away; leaving gallant Bue; with
the other thirty…five; to follow as they liked; who reproachfully hailed
these fugitives; and continued the now hopeless battle。 Bue's nose and lips
were smashed or cut away; Bue managed; half…articulately; to exclaim;
〃Ha! the maids ('mays') of Funen will never kiss me more。 Overboard; all
ye Bue's men!〃 And taking his two sea…chests; with all the gold he had
gained in such life…struggle from of old; sprang overboard accordingly;
and finished the affair。 Hakon Jarl's renown rose naturally to the
transcendent pitch after this exploit。 His people; I suppose chiefly the
Christian part of them; whispered one to another; with a shudder; 〃That in
the blackest of the thunder…storm; he had taken his youngest little boy; and
made away with him; sacrificed him to Thor or some devil; and gained his
victory by art…magic; or something worse。〃 Jarl Eric; Hakon's eldest son;
without suspicion of art…magic; but already a distinguished viking; became
thrice distinguished by his style of sea…fighting in this battle; and
awakened great expectations in the viking public; of him we shall hear
again。
The Jomsburgers; one might fancy; after this sad clap went visibly
down in the world; but the fact is not altogether so。 Old King Blue…tooth
was now dead; died of a wound got in battle with his unnatural (so…called
〃natural〃) son and successor; Otto Svein of the Forked Beard; afterwards
king and conqueror of England for a little while; and seldom; perhaps
never; had vikingism been in such flower as now。 This man's name is Sven
in Swedish; Svend in German; and means boy or lad;the English
〃swain。〃 It was at old 〃Father Bluetooth's funeral…ale〃 (drunken burial…
feast); that Svein; carousing with his Jomsburg chiefs and other choice
spirits; generally of the robber class; all risen into height of highest robber
enthusiasm; pledged the vow to one another; Svein that he would conquer
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England (which; in a sense; he; after long struggling; did); and the
Jomsburgers that they would ruin and root out Hakon Jarl (which; as we
have just seen; they could by no means do); and other guests other foolish
things which proved equally