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favor from the Norse people by the kind of management they ultimately
came to show。
Olaf on news of this change； and such uncertainty prevailing
everywhere in Norway as to the future course of things； whether Svein
would come； as was rumored of at last； and be able to maintain himself if
he did；thought there might be something in it of a chance for himself and
his rights。 And； after lengthened hesitation； much prayer； pious invocation；
and consideration； decided to go and try it。 The final grain that had turned
the balance； it appears； was a half…waking morning dream； or almost
ocular vision he had of his glorious cousin Olaf Tryggveson； who severely
admonished； exhorted； and encouraged him； and disappeared grandly； just
in the instant of Olaf's awakening； so that Olaf almost fancied he had seen
the very figure of him； as it melted into air。 〃Let us on； let us on！〃 thought
Olaf always after that。 He left his son； not in Russia； but in Sweden with
the Queen； who proved very good and carefully helpful in wise ways to
him：in Russia Olaf had now nothing more to do but give his grateful
adieus； and get ready。 His march towards Sweden； and from that towards
Norway and the passes of the mountains； down Vaerdal； towards
Stickelstad； and the crisis that awaited； is beautifully depicted by Snorro。 It
has； all of it； the description （and we see clearly； the fact itself had）； a kind
of pathetic grandeur； simplicity； and rude nobleness； something Epic or
Homeric； without the metre or the singing of Homer； but with all the
sincerity； rugged truth to nature； and much more of piety； devoutness；
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reverence for what is forever High in this Universe； than meets us in those
old Greek Ballad…mongers。 Singularly visual all of it； too； brought home in
every particular to one's imagination； so that it stands out almost as a thing
one actually saw。
Olaf had about three thousand men with him； gathered mostly as he
fared along through Norway。 Four hundred； raised by one Dag； a kinsman
whom he had found in Sweden and persuaded to come with him； marched
usually in a separate body； and were； or might have been； rather an
important element。 Learning that the Bonders were all arming； especially
in Trondhjem country； Olaf streamed down towards them in the closest
order he could。 By no means very close； subsistence even for three
thousand being difficult in such a country。 His speech was almost always
free and cheerful； though his thoughts always naturally were of a high and
earnest； almost sacred tone； devout above all。 Stickelstad； a small poor
hamlet still standing where the valley ends； was seen by Olaf； and tacitly
by the Bonders as well； to be the natural place for offering battle。 There
Olaf issued out from the hills one morning： drew himself up according to
the best rules of Norse tactics； rules of little complexity； but perspicuously
true to the facts。 I think he had a clear open ground still rather raised above
the plain in front； he could see how the Bonder army had not yet quite
arrived； but was pouring forward； in spontaneous rows or groups；
copiously by every path。 This was thought to be the biggest army that ever
met in Norway； 〃certainly not much fewer than a hundred times a hundred
men；〃 according to Snorro； great Bonders several of them； small Bonders
very many；all of willing mind； animated with a hot sense of intolerable
injuries。 〃King Olaf had punished great and small with equal rigor；〃 says
Snorro； 〃which appeared to the chief people of the country too severe； and
animosity rose to the highest when they lost relatives by the King's just
sentence； although they were in reality guilty。 He again would rather
renounce his dignity than omit righteous judgment。 The accusation against
him； of being stingy with his money； was not just； for he was a most
generous man towards his friends。 But that alone was the cause of the
discontent raised against him； that he appeared hard and severe in his
retributions。 Besides； King Knut offered large sums of money； and the
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EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY。
great chiefs were corrupted by this； and by his offering them greater
dignities than they had possessed before。〃 On these grounds； against the
intolerable man； great and small were now pouring along by every path。
Olaf perceived it would still be some time before the Bonder army was
in rank。 His own Dag of Sweden； too； was not yet come up； he was to
have the right banner； King Olaf's own being the middle or grand one；
some other person the third or left banner。 All which being perfectly
ranked and settled； according to the best rules； and waiting only the arrival
of Dag； Olaf bade his men sit down； and freshen themselves with a little
rest。 There were religious services gone through： a matins…worship such as
there have been few； sternly earnest to the heart of it； and deep as death
and eternity； at least on Olaf's own part。 For the rest Thormod sang a stave
of the fiercest Skaldic poetry that was in him； all the army straightway
sang it in chorus with fiery mind。 The Bonder of the nearest farm came up；
to tell Olaf that he also wished to fight for him 〃Thanks to thee； but don't；〃
said Olaf； 〃stay at home rather； that the wounded may have some shelter。〃
To this Bonder； Olaf delivered all the money he had； with solemn order to
lay out the whole of it in masses and prayers for the souls of such of his
enemies as fell。 〃Such of thy enemies； King？〃 〃Yes； surely；〃 said Olaf；
〃my friends will all either conquer； or go whither I also am going。〃
At last the Bonder army too was got ranked； three commanders； one of
them with a kind of loose chief command； having settled to take charge of
it； and began to shake itself towards actual advance。 Olaf； in the mean
while； had laid his head on the knees of Finn Arneson； his trustiest man；
and fallen fast asleep。 Finn's brother； Kalf Arneson； once a warm friend of
Olaf； was chief of the three commanders on the opposite side。 Finn and he
addressed angry speech to one another from the opposite ra