Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1878 Excerpt: ...p. 100. We pass on to the year 1015, when a change came over the life and prospects of Olaf. Impelled, partly, as some say, by a resplendent vision, which arrested his steps on his way to the Holy Land,3 and partly by an instinctive longing to bring all his experiences and projects of conquest to bear upon his native country, he crossed "from the west" to Nor 1 Lappenberg, ii. pp. 178 (note), and 184. 3 A single stanza may, however, be quoted of the many songs of praise poured forth by the Skald of the period, as a specimen of the quaint medley of the pompous and the familiar, popular in those days:--"London Bridge is broken down, Gold is won, and bright renown. Shields resounding, War-horns sounding, Hildur shouting in the din! Arrows singing, Mail coats ringing--Odin makes our Olaf win!"--Snorro, ii. 10. 'The Heroes of the North,' p. 96. Snorro, ii. p. 15. way, with a little band of loyal followers, including, as a matter of course, the faithful Rane. The moment was propitious. Jarl Eric, much in request as a tactician since he had figured conspicuously in two momentous naval battles,1 had been invited by Cnut, the Danish king, to combine with him in a descent on England. He had departed accordingly, leaving as his representatives in Norway only his pacific brother Swend, and his own young son Hakon, who, when Olaf arrived on the scene, was daily expected to return from a cruise. Olaf found it an easy matter to intercept and capture this young prince, who thankfully accepted life on condition that he should leave the country, resign his claims to the crown, and never take up arms against the newly-arrived potentate. And here a pause occurs, in which we may survey the picture of the young Olaf at the moment of his return to his native l...
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