第 8 节
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北方网 更新:2021-02-24 22:10 字数:9322
thralls; who had to leave rapidly; but threatened to return in better strength
before long。 Whereupon; instantly; the indignant Bonder and his Sunbeam
of the Grove sent out their war…arrow; rousing all the country into angry
promptitude; and more than one perhaps into greedy hope of revenge for
their own injuries。 The rest of Hakon's history now rushes on with extreme
rapidity。
Sunbeam of the Grove; when next demanded of her Bonder; has the
whole neighborhood assembled in arms round her; rumor of Tryggveson is
fast making it the whole country。 Hakon's insolent messengers are cut in
pieces; Hakon finds he cannot fly under cover too soon。 With a single
slave he flies that same night;but whitherward? Can think of no safe
place; except to some old mistress of his; who lives retired in that
neighborhood; and has some pity or regard for the wicked old Hakon。 Old
mistress does receive him; pities him; will do all she can to protect and
hide him。 But how; by what uttermost stretch of female artifice hide him
here; every one will search here first of all! Old mistress; by the slave's
help; extemporizes a cellar under the floor of her pig…house; sticks Hakon
and slave into that; as the one safe seclusion she can contrive。 Hakon and
slave; begrunted by the pigs above them; tortured by the devils within and
about them; passed two days in circumstances more and more horrible。
For they heard; through their light…slit and breathing…slit; the triumph of
Tryggveson proclaiming itself by Tryggveson's own lips; who had
mounted a big boulder near by and was victoriously speaking to the people;
winding up with a promise of honors and rewards to whoever should bring
him wicked old Hakon's head。 Wretched Hakon; justly suspecting his
slave; tried to at least keep himself awake。 Slave did keep himself awake
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till Hakon dozed or slept; then swiftly cut off Hakon's head; and plunged
out with it to the presence of Tryggveson。 Tryggveson; detesting the traitor;
useful as the treachery was; cut off the slave's head too; had it hung up
along with Hakon's on the pinnacle of the Lade Gallows; where the
populace pelted both heads with stones and many curses; especially the
more important of the two。 〃Hakon the Bad〃 ever henceforth; instead of
Hakon the Rich。
This was the end of Hakon Jarl; the last support of heathenry in
Norway; among other characteristics he had: a stronghanded; hard…headed;
very relentless; greedy and wicked being。 He is reckoned to have ruled in
Norway; or mainly ruled; either in the struggling or triumphant state; for
about thirty years (965…995?)。 He and his seemed to have formed; by
chance rather than design; the chief opposition which the Haarfagr
posterity throughout its whole course experienced in Norway。 Such the
cost to them of killing good Jarl Sigurd; in Greyfell's time! For 〃curses;
like chickens;〃 do sometimes visibly 〃come home to feed;〃 as they always;
either visibly or else invisibly; are punctually sure to do。
Hakon Jarl is considerably connected with the _Faroer Saga_ often
mentioned there; and comes out perfectly in character; an altogether
worldly…wise man of the roughest type; not without a turn for practicality
of kindness to those who would really be of use to him。 His tendencies to
magic also are not forgotten。
Hakon left two sons; Eric and Svein; often also mentioned in this Saga。
On their father's death they fled to Sweden; to Denmark; and were busy
stirring up troubles in those countries against Olaf Tryggveson; till at
length; by a favorable combination; under their auspices chiefly; they got
his brief and noble reign put an end to。 Nay; furthermore; Jarl Eric left
sons; especially an elder son; named also Eric; who proved a sore
affliction; and a continual stone of stumbling to a new generation of
Haarfagrs; and so continued the curse of Sigurd's murder upon them。
Towards the end of this Hakon's reign it was that the discovery of
America took place (985)。 Actual discovery; it appears; by Eric the Red; an
Icelander; concerning which there has been abundant investigation and
discussion in our time。 _Ginnungagap_ (Roaring Abyss) is thought to be
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the mouth of Behring's Straits in Baffin's Bay; _Big Helloland_; the coast
from Cape Walsingham to near Newfoundland; _Little Helloland_;
Newfoundland itself。 _Markland_ was Lower Canada; New Brunswick;
and Nova Scotia。 Southward thence to Chesapeake Bay was called _Wine
Land_ (wild grapes still grow in Rhode Island; and more luxuriantly
further south)。 _White Man's Land_; called also _Great Ireland_; is
supposed to mean the two Carolinas; down to the Southern Cape of
Florida。 In Dahlmann's opinion; the Irish themselves might even pretend
to have probably been the first discoverers of America; they had evidently
got to Iceland itself before the Norse exiles found it out。 It appears to be
certain that; from the end of the tenth century to the early part of the
fourteenth; there was a dim knowledge of those distant shores extant in the
Norse mind; and even some straggling series of visits thither by roving
Norsemen; though; as only danger; difficulty; and no profit resulted; the
visits ceased; and the whole matter sank into oblivion; and; but for the
Icelandic talent of writing in the long winter nights; would never have
been heard of by posterity at all。
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CHAPTER VII。
REIGN OF OLAF TRYGGVESON。
Olaf Tryggveson (A。D。 995…1000) also makes a great figure in the
_Faroer Saga_; and recounts there his early troubles; which were strange
and many。 He is still reckoned a grand hero of the North; though his
_vates_ now is only Snorro Sturleson of Iceland。 Tryggveson had indeed
many adventures in the world。 His poor mother; Astrid; was obliged to fly;
on murder of her husband by Gunhild;to fly for life; three months before
he; her little Olaf; was born。 She lay concealed in reedy islands; fled
through trackless forests; reached her father's with the little baby in her
arms; and lay deep…hidden there; tended only by her father himself;
Gunhild's pursuit being so incessant; and keen as with sleuth…hounds。 Poor
Astrid had to fly again; deviously to Sweden; to Esthland (Esthonia); to
Russia。 In Esthland she was sold as a slave; quite parted from her boy;
who also was sold; and again sold; but did at last fall in with a kinsman
high in the Russian service; did from him find redemption and help; and so
rose; in a distinguished manner; to manhood; victorious self…help; and
recovery of his kingdom at last。 He even met his mother again; he as king
of Norway; she as one wonderfully lifted out of darkness into new life and
happiness still in store。
Grown to manhood; Tryggveson;now become acquainted with his
birth; and with his; alas; hopeless claims;left Russia for the one
profession open to him; that of sea…robbery; and did feats without number
in that questionable line in many seas and scenes;in England latterly; and
most conspicuously of all。 In one of his courses thither; after long labors in
the Hebrides; Man; Wales; and down the western shores to the very Land's
End and farther; he paused at the Scilly Islands for a little while。 He was
told of a wonderful Christian hermit living strangely in these sea…solitudes;
had the curiosity to seek him out; examine; question; and discourse with
him; and; after some reflection; accepted Christian baptism from the
venerable man。 In Snorro the s