Erling the Bold | Page 6

calls
himself Christian, tells me that his god is not a god of war, like Odin;
he says that his god permits no war to men, save that of self-defence;
but, Erling, would slaying the King be indeed an act of
self-preservation?"
"Aye, in good sooth would it," replied the youth quickly, while a dark
frown crossed his brow.
"How can that be?" asked the maiden.
"Hast such small love for gossip, Hilda, that the foul deeds and
ambitious projects of Harald Haarfager have not reached thine ear?"
"I have heard," replied Hilda, "that he is fond of war, which, truly, is no
news, and that he is just now more busy with his bloody game than
usual; but what does that matter to thee?"
"Matter!" cried the youth impatiently, as he seized the lump of metal on
which he had been at work, and, thrusting it into the smouldering
charcoal, commenced to blow the fire energetically, as if to relieve his
feelings. "Know ye not that the King--this Harald Fairhair--is not
satisfied with the goodly domains that of right belong to him, and the

kingly rule which he holds, according to law, over all Norway, but that
he means to subdue the whole land to himself, and trample on our
necks as he has already trampled on our laws?"
"I know somewhat of this," said Hilda.
"No one," pursued Erling vehemently, and blowing the fire into a
fervent heat--"no one denies to Harald the right to wear the crown of
Norway. That was settled at the Ore Thing [see note 1] in Drontheim
long ago; but everyone denies his right to interfere with our established
laws and privileges. Has he not, by mere might and force of arms, slain
many, and enslaved others, of our best and bravest men? And now he
proposes to reduce the whole land to slavery, or something like it, and
all because of the foolish speech of a proud girl, who says she will not
wed him until he shall first subdue to himself the whole of Norway, and
rule over it as fully and freely as King Eric rules over Sweden, or King
Gorm over Denmark. He has sworn that he will neither clip nor comb
his hair, until he has subdued all the land with scatt [taxes] and duties
and domains, or die in the attempt. Trust me! he is like to die in the
attempt; and since his Kingship is to be so little occupied with his hair,
it would please me well if he would use his time and his shears in
clipping the tongue of the wench that set him on so foul an errand. All
this thou knowest, Hilda, as well as I; but thou dost not know that men
have been at the stede to-day, who tell us that the King is advancing
north, and is victorious everywhere. Already King Gandalf and Hako
are slain; the two sons of King Eystein have also fallen, and many of
the upland kings have been burned, with most of their men, in a house
at Ringsager. It is not many days since Harald went up Gudbrandsdal,
and north over the Doverfielde, where he ordered all the men to be
slain, and everything wide around to be given to the flames. King
Gryting of Orkadal and all his people have sworn fidelity to him, and
now--worst news of all--it is said he is coming over to pay us a visit in
Horlingdal. Is not here cause for fighting in self-defence, or rather for
country, and laws and freedom, and wives, and children, and--"
The excited youth stopped abruptly, and, seizing the tongs, whirled the
white mass of semi-molten steel upon the anvil, and fell to belabouring

it with such goodwill that a bright shower of sparks drove Hilda
precipitately out of the workshop.
The wrongs which roused the young Norseman's indignation to such a
pitch are matters of history.
The government of the country at that time involved the democratic
element very largely. No act or expedition of any importance could be
done or undertaken without the previous deliberation and consent of a
"Thing", or assembly of landed proprietors. There were many different
Things--such as General Things, District Things, House Things of the
King's counsellors, and Herd Things of the Court, etcetera, and to such
of these there was a distinct and well-known trumpet call. There were
also four great Things which were legislative, while the small district
Things were only administrative. In addition to which there was the
Ore Thing of Drontheim, referred to by Erling. At these Things the
King himself possessed no greater power than any of the bonders. He
was only a "Thing-man" at a Thing.
No wonder, then, that the self-governing and warlike Norsemen could
not bring themselves