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three others remained to him。 Among these four sons； rather impatient for
property and authority of their own； King Harald； in his old days； tried to
part his kingdom in some eligible and equitable way； and retire from the
constant press of business； now becoming burdensome to him。 To each of
them he gave a kind of kingdom； Eric； his eldest son； to be head king； and
the others to be feudatory under him； and pay a certain yearly contribution；
an arrangement which did not answer well at all。 Head…King Eric insisted
on his tribute； quarrels arose as to the payment； considerable fighting and
disturbance； bringing fierce destruction from King Eric upon many valiant
but too stubborn Norse spirits； and among the rest upon all his three
brothers； which got him from the Norse populations the surname of _Blod…
axe_； 〃Eric Blood…axe；〃 his title in history。 One of his brothers he had
killed in battle before his old father's life ended； this brother was Bjorn； a
peaceable； improving； trading economic Under…king； whom the others
mockingly called 〃Bjorn the Chapman。〃 The great…grandson of this Bjorn
became extremely distinguished by and by as _Saint_ Olaf。 Head…King
Eric seems to have had a violent wife； too。 She was thought to have
poisoned one of her other brothers…in…law。 Eric Blood…axe had by no
means a gentle life of it in this world； trained to sea…robbery on the coasts
of England； Scotland； Ireland and France； since his twelfth year。
Old King Fairhair； at the age of seventy； had another son； to whom was
given the name of Hakon。 His mother was a slave in Fairhair's house；
slave by ill…luck of war； though nobly enough born。 A strange adventure
connects this Hakon with England and King Athelstan； who was then
entering upon his great career there。 Short while after this Hakon came
into the world； there entered Fairhair's palace； one evening as Fairhair sat
Feasting； an English ambassador or messenger； bearing in his hand； as gift
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from King Athelstan； a magnificent sword； with gold hilt and other fine
trimmings； to the great Harald； King of Norway。 Harald took the sword；
drew it； or was half drawing it； admiringly from the scabbard； when the
English excellency broke into a scornful laugh； 〃Ha； ha； thou art now the
feudatory of my English king； thou hast accepted the sword from him； and
art now his man！〃 （acceptance of a sword in that manner being the symbol
of investiture in those days。） Harald looked a trifle flurried； it is probable；
but held in his wrath； and did no damage to the tricksy Englishman。 He
kept the matter in his mind； however； and next summer little Hakon；
having got his weaning done；one of the prettiest； healthiest little
creatures；Harald sent him off； under charge of 〃Hauk〃 （Hawk so called）；
one of his Principal； warriors； with order； 〃Take him to England；〃 and
instructions what to do with him there。 And accordingly； one evening；
Hauk； with thirty men escorting； strode into Athelstan's high dwelling
（where situated； how built； whether with logs like Harald's； I cannot
specifically say）； into Athelstan's high presence； and silently set the wild
little cherub upon Athelstan's knee。 〃What is this？〃 asked Athelstan；
looking at the little cherub。 〃This is King Harald's son； whom a serving…
maid bore to him； and whom he now gives thee as foster…child！〃 Indignant
Athelstan drew his sword； as if to do the gift a mischief； but Hauk said；
〃Thou hast taken him on thy knee ＇common symbol of adoption＇； thou
canst kill him if thou wilt； but thou dost not thereby kill all the sons of
Harald。〃 Athelstan straightway took milder thoughts； brought up； and
carefully educated Hakon； from whom； and this singular adventure； came；
before very long； the first tidings of Christianity into Norway。
Harald Haarfagr； latterly withdrawn from all kinds of business； died at
the age of eighty…threeabout A。D。 933； as is computed； nearly
contemporary in death with the first Danish King； Gorm the Old； who had
done a corresponding feat in reducing Denmark under one head。
Remarkable old men； these two first kings； and possessed of gifts for
bringing Chaos a little nearer to the form of Cosmos； possessed； in fact； of
loyalties to Cosmos； that is to say； of authentic virtues in the savage state；
such as have been needed in all societies at their incipience in this world； a
kind of 〃virtues〃 hugely in discredit at present； but not unlikely to be
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needed again； to the astonishment of careless persons； before all is done！
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CHAPTER III
HAKON THE GOOD。
Eric Blood…axe； whose practical reign is counted to have begun about
A。D。 930； had by this time； or within a year or so of this time； pretty much
extinguished all his brother kings； and crushed down recalcitrant spirits； in
his violent way； but had naturally become entirely unpopular in Norway；
and filled it with silent discontent and even rage against him。 Hakon
Fairhair's last son； the little foster…child of Athelstan in England； who had
been baptized and carefully educated； was come to his fourteenth or
fifteenth year at his father's death； a very shining youth； as Athelstan saw
with just pleasure。 So soon as the few preliminary preparations had been
settled； Hakon； furnished with a ship or two by Athelstan； suddenly
appeared in Norway got acknowledged by the Peasant Thing in Trondhjem
〃the news of which flew over Norway； like fire through dried grass；〃 says
an old chronicler。 So that Eric； with his Queen Gunhild； and seven small
children； had to run； no other shift for Eric。 They went to the Orkneys first
of all； then to England； and he 〃got Northumberland as earldom；〃 I
vaguely hear； from Athelstan。 But Eric soon died； and his queen； with her
children； went back to the Orkneys in search of refuge or help； to little
purpose there or elsewhere。 F