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Olaf； was chief of the three commanders on the opposite side。 Finn and he
addressed angry speech to one another from the opposite ranks； when they
came near enough。 Finn； seeing the enemy fairly approach； stirred Olaf
from his sleep。 〃Oh； why hast thou wakened me from such a dream？〃 said
Olaf； in a deeply solemn tone。 〃What dream was it； then？〃 asked Finn。
〃Idreamt that there rose a ladder here reaching up to very Heaven；〃 said
Olaf； 〃I had climbed and climbed； and got to the very last step； and should
have entered there hadst thou given me another moment。〃 〃King； I doubt
thou art _fey_； I do not quite like that dream。〃
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The actual fight began about one of the clock in a most bright last day
of July； and was very fierce and hot； especially on the part of Olaf's men；
who shook the others back a little； though fierce enough they too； and had
Dag been on the ground； which he wasn't yet； it was thought victory might
have been won。 Soon after battle joined； the sky grew of a ghastly brass or
copper color； darker and darker； till thick night involved all things； and did
not clear away again till battle was near ending。 Dag； with his four
hundred； arrived in the darkness； and made a furious charge； what was
afterwards； in the speech of the people； called 〃Dag's storm。〃 Which had
nearly prevailed； but could not quite； victory again inclining to the so
vastly larger party。 It is uncertain still how the matter would have gone； for
Olaf himself was now fighting with his own hand； and doing deadly
execution on his busiest enemies to right and to left。 But one of these chief
rebels； Thorer Hund （thought to have learnt magic from the Laplanders；
whom he long traded with； and made money by）； mysteriously would not
fall for Olaf's best strokes。 Best strokes brought only dust from the
（enchanted） deer…skin coat of the fellow； to Olaf's surprise；when another
of the rebel chiefs rushed forward； struck Olaf with his battle…axe； a wild
slashing wound； and miserably broke his thigh； so that he staggered or was
supported back to the nearest stone； and there sat down； lamentably calling
on God to help him in this bad hour。 Another rebel of note （the name of
him long memorable in Norway） slashed or stabbed Olaf a second time； as
did then a third。 Upon which the noble Olaf sank dead； and forever quitted
this doghole of a world；little worthy of such men as Olaf one sometimes
thinks。 But that too is a mistake； and even an important one； should we
persist in it。
With Olaf's death the sky cleared again。 Battle； now near done； ended
with complete victory to the rebels； and next to no pursuit or result； except
the death of Olaf everybody hastening home； as soon as the big Duel had
decided itself。 Olaf's body was secretly carried； after dark； to some out…
house on the farm near the spot； whither a poor blind beggar； creeping in
for shelter that very evening； was miraculously restored to sight。 And；
truly with a notable； almost miraculous； speed； the feelings of all Norway
for King Olaf changed themselves； and were turned upside down； 〃within
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a year；〃 or almost within a day。 Superlative example of _Extinctus
amabitur idem。_ Not 〃Olaf the Thick…set〃 any longer； but 〃Olaf the
Blessed〃 or Saint； now clearly in Heaven； such the name and character of
him from that time to this。 Two churches dedicated to him （out of four that
once stood） stand in London at this moment。 And the miracles that have
been done there； not to speak of Norway and Christendom elsewhere； in
his name； were numerous and great for long centuries afterwards。 Visibly a
Saint Olaf ever since； and； indeed； in _Bollandus_ or elsewhere； I have
seldom met with better stuff to make a Saint of； or a true World…Hero in all
good senses。
Speaking of the London Olaf Churches； I should have added that from
one of these the thrice…famous Tooley Street gets its name；where those
Three Tailors； addressing Parliament and the Universe； sublimely styled
themselves； 〃We； the People of England。〃 Saint Olave Street； Saint Oley
Street； Stooley Street； Tooley Street； such are the metamorphoses of
human fame in the world！
The battle…day of Stickelstad； King Olaf's death…day； is generally
believed to have been Wednesday； July 31； 1033。 But on investigation； it
turns out that there was no total eclipse of the sun visible in Norway that
year； though three years before； there was one； but on the 29th instead of
the 31st。 So that the exact date still remains uncertain； Dahlmann； the
latest critic； inclining for 1030； and its indisputable eclipse。＇15＇
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CHAPTER XI。
MAGNUS THE GOOD AND OTHERS。
St。 Olaf is the highest of these Norway Kings； and is the last that much
attracts us。 For this reason； if a reason were not superfluous； we might here
end our poor reminiscences of those dim Sovereigns。 But we will；
nevertheless； for the sake of their connection with bits of English History；
still hastily mention the Dames of one or two who follow； and who throw
a momentary gleam of life and illumination on events and epochs that
have fallen so extinct among ourselves at present； though once they were
so momentous and memorable。
The new King Svein from Jomsburg； Knut's natural son； had no
success in Norway； nor seems to have deserved any。 His English mother
and he were found to be grasping； oppressive persons； and awoke； almost
from the instant that Olaf was suppressed and crushed away from Norway
into Heaven； universal odium more and more in that country。 Well…
deservedly； as still appears； for their taxings and extortions of malt； of
herring； of meal； smithwork and every article taxable in Norway； were
extreme； and their service to the country otherwise nearly imperceptible。
In brief their one basis there was the power of Knut the Great； and that；
like all earthly things； was liable to sudden collapse；an