letters from high latitudes-第51章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
。〃
Thormod then enters the house where the wounded men are lying； and seats himself in silence by the door。
As the people go in and out； one of them casts a look at Thormod； and says； 〃Why art thou so dead pale？ Art thou wounded？〃 He answers carelessly； with a half…jesting rhyme； then rises and stands awhile by the fire。 A woman； who is attending on those who are hurt； bids him 〃go out； and bring in firewood from the door。〃 He returns with the wood； and the girl then looking him in the face； says； 〃Dreadfully pale is this man；〃 and asks to see his wounds。 She examines his wound in his side； and feels that the iron of the arrow is still there； she then takes a pair of tongs and tries to pull it out； 〃but it sat too fast； and as the wound was swelled； little of it stood out to lay hold of。〃 Thormod bids her 〃cut deep enough to reach the iron； and then to give him the tongs； and let him pull。〃 She did as he bade。 He takes the ring from his hand； and gives it to the girl； saying； 〃It is a good man's gift！ King Olaf gave it to me this morning。〃 Then Thormod took the tongs and pulled the iron out。 The arrow…head was barbed； and on it there hung some morsels of flesh。 When he saw that he said； 〃THE KING HAS FED US WELL！ I am fat； even at the heart…roots！〃 And so saying； he leant back； and died。 ＇Footnote： When a man was wounded in the abdomen； it was the habit of the Norse leeches to give him an onion to eat； by this means they learnt whether the weapon had perforated the viscera。＇
Stout； faithful heart！ if they gave you no place in your master's stately tomb； there is room for you by his side in heaven！
I have at last receivedI need not say how joyfullytwo letters from you； one addressed to Hammerfest。 I had begun to think that some Norwegian warlock had bewitched the post…bags； in the approved old ballad fashion； to prevent their rendering up my dues； for when the packet of letters addressed to the 〃Foam〃 was brought on board； immediately after our arrival； I alone got nothing。 From Sigurdr and the Doctor to the cabin…boy； every face was beaming over 〃news from home！〃 while I was left to walk the deck； with my hands in my pockets； pretending not to care。 But the spell is broken now； and I retract my evil thoughts of the warlock and you。
Yesterday； we made an excursion as far as Lade； saw a waterfall； which is one of the lions of this neighbourhood （but a very mitigated lion； which 〃roars you as soft as any sucking dove〃）； and returned in the evening to attend a ball given to celebrate the visit of the Crown Prince。
At Lade； I confess I could think of nothing but 〃the great Jarl〃 Hacon； the counsellor； and maker of kings； king himself in all but the name； for he ruled over the western sea…board of Norway； while Olaf Tryggvesson was yet a wanderer and exile。 He is certainly one of the most picturesque figures of these Norwegian dramas； what with his rude wit； his personal bravery； and that hereditary beauty of his race for which he was conspicuous above the rest。 His very errors； great as they were； have a dash and prestige about them； which in that rude time must have dazzled men's eyes； and especially WOMEN'S； as his story proves。 It was his sudden passion for the beautiful Gudrun Lyrgia （the 〃Sun of Lunde；〃 as she was called）； which precipitated the avenging fate which years of heart…burnings and discontent among his subjects had been preparing。 Gudrun's husband incites the Bonders to throw off the yoke of the licentious despot；Olaf Tryggvesson is proclaimed king；and the 〃great Jarl of Lade〃 is now a fugitive in the land he so lately ruled； accompanied by a single thrall； named Karker。
In this extremity； Jarl Hacon applies for aid to Thora of Rimmol； a lady whom he had once dearly loved； she is faithful in adversity to the friend of happier days； and conceals the Jarl and his companion in a hole dug for this purpose； in the swine…stye； and covered over with wood and litter； as the only spot likely to elude the hot search of his enemies。 Olaf and the Bonders seek for him in Thora's house； but in vain； and finally； Olaf； standing on the very stone against which the swine…stye is built； promises wealth and honours to him who shall bring him the Jarl of Lade's head。 The scene which follows is related by the Icelandic historian with Dante's tragic power。
There was a little daylight in their hiding…place； and the Jarl and Karker both hear the words of Olaf。
〃Why art thou so pale？〃 says the Jarl；〃 and now again as black as earth？ Thou dost not mean to betray me？〃
〃By no means；〃 said Karker。
〃We were born on the same night；〃 said the Jarl； 〃and the time will not be long between our deaths。〃
When night came； the Jarl kept himself awake；but Karker slept；a troubled sleep。 The Jarl awoke him； and asked of what he was dreaming。 He answered； 〃I was at Lade； and Olaf was laying a gold ring about my neck。〃
The Jarl said； 〃It will be a RED ring about thy neck； if he catches thee： from me thou shalt enjoy all that is good；therefore； betray me not！〃
Then they both kept themselves awake； 〃THE ONE； AS IT WERE； WATCHING UPON THE OTHER。〃 But towards day； the Jarl dropped asleep； and in his unquiet slumber he drew his heels under him； and raised his neck as if going to rise； 〃and shrieked fearfully。〃 On this； Karker； 〃dreadfully alarmed；〃 drew a knife from his belt； stuck it into the Jarl's throat； and cut off his head。 Late in the day he came to Lade； brought the Jarl's head to Olaf； and told his story。
It is a comfort to know that 〃the red ring〃 was laid round the traitor's neck： Olaf caused him to be beheaded。
What a picture that is； in the swine…stye； those two haggard faces； travel…stained and worn with want of rest； watching each other with hot； sleepless eyes through the half darkness； and how true to nature is the nightmare of the miserable Jarl！
It was on my return from Lade； that I found your letters； and that I might enjoy them without interruption； I carried them off to the churchyard（such a beautiful place！）to read in peace and quiet。 The churchyard was NOT 〃populous with young men； striving to be alone；〃 as Tom Hood describes it to have been in a certain sentimental parish； so I enjoyed the seclusion I anticipated。
I was much struck by the loving care and ornament bestowed on the graves； some were literally loaded with flowers； and even those which bore the date of a long past sorrow had each its own blooming crown； or fresh nosegay。 These good Throndhjemers must have much of what the French call la religion des souvenirs； a religion in which we English （as a nation） are singularly deficient。 I suppose no people in Europe are so little addicted to the keeping of sentimental anniversaries as we are； I make an exception with regard to our living friends' birthdays； which we are ever tenderly ready to cultivate； when called on； turtle； venison； and champagne； being pleasant investments for the affections。 But time and business do not admit of a faithful adherence to more sombre reminiscences； a busy gentleman 〃on 'Change〃 cannot conveniently shut himself up； on his 〃lost Araminta's natal…day；〃 nor will a railroad committee allow of his running down by the 10。25 A。M。； to shed a tear over that neat tablet in the new Willow…cum…Hatband Cemetery。 He is necessarily content to regret his Araminta in the gross； and to omit the petty details of a too pedantic sorrow。
The fact is； we are an eminently practical people； and are easily taught to accept 〃the irrevocable；〃 if not without regret； at least with a philosophy which repudiates all superfluous methods of showing it。 DECENT is the usual and appropriate term applied to our churchyard solemnities； and we are not only 〃content to dwell in decencies for ever；〃 but to die； and be buried in them。
The cathedral loses a little of its poetical physiognomy on a near approach。 Modern restoration has done something to spoil the outside； and modern refinement a good deal to degrade the interior with pews and partitions； but it is a very fine building； and worthy of its metropolitan dignity。 I am told that the very church built by Magnus the Good；son of Saint Olaveover his father's remains； and finished by his uncle Harald Hardrada； is； or rather was； includ
