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In brief their one basis there was the power of Knut the Great； and that；
like all earthly things； was liable to sudden collapse；and it suffered such
in a notable degree。 King Knut； hardly yet of middle age； and the greatest
King in the then world； died at Shaftesbury； in 1035； as Dahlmann
thinks＇16＇；leaving two legitimate sons and a busy； intriguing widow
（Norman Emma； widow of Ethelred the Unready）； mother of the younger
of these two； neither of whom proved to have any talent or any
continuance。 In spite of Emma's utmost efforts； Harald； the elder son of
Knut； not hers； got England for his kingdom； Emma and her Harda…Knut
had to be content with Denmark； and go thither； much against their will。
Harald in England；light…going little figure like his father before him；got
the name of Harefoot here； and might have done good work among his
now orderly and settled people； but he died almost within year and day；
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and has left no trace among us； except that of 〃Harefoot；〃 from his swift
mode of walking。 Emma and her Harda…Knut now returned joyful to
England。 But the violent； idle； and drunken Harda…Knut did no good there；
and； happily for England and him； soon suddenly ended； by stroke of
apoplexy at a marriage festival； as mentioned above。 In Denmark he had
done still less good。 And indeed；under him； in a year or two； the grand
imperial edifice； laboriously built by Knut's valor and wisdom； had
already tumbled all to the ground； in a most unexpected and remarkable
way。 As we are now to indicate with all brevity。
Svein's tyrannies in Norway had wrought such fruit that； within the
four years after Olaf's death； the chief men in Norway； the very slayers of
King Olaf； Kalf Arneson at the head of them； met secretly once or twice；
and unanimously agreed that Kalf Arneson must go to Sweden； or to
Russia itself； seek young Magnus； son of Olaf home： excellent Magnus； to
be king over all Norway and them； instead of this intolerable Svein。 Which
was at once done；Magnus brought home in a kind of triumph； all
Norway waiting for him。 Intolerable Svein had already been rebelled
against： some years before this； a certain young Tryggve out of Ireland；
authentic son of Olaf Tryggveson； and of that fine Irish Princess who
chose him in his low habiliments and low estate； and took him over to her
own Green Island；this royal young Tryggve Olafson had invaded the
usurper Svein； in a fierce； valiant； and determined manner； and though
with too small a party； showed excellent fight for some time； till Svein；
zealously bestirring himself； managed to get him beaten and killed。 But
that was a couple of years ago； the party still too small； not including one
and all as now！ Svein； without stroke of sword this time； moved off
towards Denmark； never showing face in Norway again。 His drunken
brother； Harda…Knut； received him brother…like； even gave him some
territory to rule over and subsist upon。 But he lived only a short while； was
gone before Harda…Knut himself； and we will mention him no more。
Magnus was a fine bright young fellow； and proved a valiant； wise；
and successful King； known among his people as Magnus the Good。 He
was only natural son of King Olaf but that made little difference in those
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times and there。 His strange…looking； unexpected Latin name he got in this
way： Alfhild； his mother； a slave through ill…luck of war； though nobly
born； was seen to be in a hopeful way； and it was known in the King's
house how intimately Olaf was connected with that occurrence； and how
much he loved this 〃King's serving…maid；〃 as she was commonly
designated。 Alfhild was brought to bed late at night； and all the world；
especially King Olaf was asleep； Olaf's strict rule； then and always； being；
Don't awaken me：seemingly a man sensitive about his sleep。 The child
was a boy； of rather weakly aspect； no important person present； except
Sigvat； the King's Icelandic Skald； who happened to be still awake； and
the Bishop of Norway； who； I suppose； had been sent for in hurry。 〃What
is to be done？〃 said the Bishop： 〃here is an infant in pressing need of
baptism； and we know not what the name is： go； Sigvat； awaken the King；
and ask。〃 〃I dare not for my life；〃 answered Sigvat； 〃King's orders are
rigorous on that point。〃 〃But if the child die unbaptized；〃 said the Bishop；
shuddering； too certain； he and everybody； where the child would go in
that case！ 〃I will myself give him a name；〃 said Sigvat； with a desperate
concentration of all his faculties； 〃he shall be namesake of the greatest of
mankind；imperial Carolus Magnus； let us call the infant Magnus！〃 King
Olaf； on the morrow； asked rather sharply how Sigvat had dared take such
a liberty； but excused Sigvat； seeing what the perilous alternative was。
And Magnus； by such accident； this boy was called； and he； not another； is
the prime origin and introducer of that name Magnus； which occurs rather
frequently； not among the Norman Kings only； but by and by among the
Danish and Swedish； and； among the Scandinavian populations； appears to
be rather frequent to this day。
Magnus； a youth of great spirit； whose own； and standing at his beck；
all Norway now was； immediately smote home on Denmark； desirous
naturally of vengeance for what it had done to Norway； and the sacred
kindred of Magnus。 Denmark； its great Knut gone； and nothing but a
drunken Harda…Knut； fugitive Svein and Co。； there in his stead； was
become a weak dislocated Country。 And Magnus plundered in it； burnt it；
beat it； as often as he pleased； Harda…Knut struggling what he could to
make resistance or reprisals； but never once getting any victory over
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Magnus。