By the early light of a bright summer morning, long, long ago, two small boats were seen to issue from one of the fiords or firths on the west coast of Norway, and row towards the skerries or low rocky islets that lay about a mile distant from the mainland.
Although the morning was young, the sun was already high in the heavens, and brought out in glowing colours the varied1 characteristics of a mountain scene of unrivalled grandeur2.
The two shallops moved swiftly towards the islands, their oars3 shivering the liquid mirror of the sea, and producing almost the only sound that disturbed the universal stillness, for at that early hour Nature herself seemed buried in deep repose4. A silvery mist hung over the water, through which the innumerable rocks and islands assumed fantastic shapes, and the more distant among them appeared as though they floated in air. A few seagulls rose startled from their nests, and sailed upwards5 with plaintive6 cries, as the keels of the boats grated on the rocks, and the men stepped out and hauled them up on the beach of one of the islets.
A wild uncouth7 crew were those Norsemen of old! All were armed, for in their days the power and the means of self-defence were absolutely necessary to self-preservation.
Most of them wore portions of scale armour8, or shirts of ring mail, and headpieces of steel, though a few among them appeared to have confidence in the protection afforded by the thick hide of the wolf, which, converted into rude, yet not ungraceful, garments, covered their broad shoulders. All, without exception, carried sword or battle-axe9 and shield. They were goodly stalwart men every one, but silent and stern.
It might have been observed that the two boats, although bound for the same islet, did not row in company. They were beached as far from each other as the little bay into which they ran would admit of, and the crews stood aloof10 in two distinct groups.
In the centre of each group stood a man who, from his aspect and bearing, appeared to be superior to his fellows. One was in the prime of life, dark and grave; the other in the first flush of manhood, full grown, though beardless, fair, and ruddy. Both were taller and stouter11 than their comrades.
Both loved a fair Norse maiden13 in Horlingdal. The father of the maid favoured the elder warrior14; the maid herself preferred the younger.
In those days, barbarous though they undoubtedly15 were, law and justice were more respected and more frequently appealed to in Norway than in almost any other country. Liberty, crushed elsewhere under the deadweight of feudalism, found a home in the bleak16 North, and a rough but loving welcome from the piratical, sea-roving! She did not, indeed, dwell altogether scathless among her demi-savage guardians17, who, if their perceptions of right and wrong were somewhat confused, might have urged in excuse that their light was small. She received many shocks and frequent insults from individuals, but liberty was sincerely loved and fondly cherished by the body of the Norwegian people, through all the period of those dark ages during which other nations scarce dared to mention her name.
Nevertheless, it was sometimes deemed more convenient to settle disputes by the summary method of an appeal to arms than to await the issue of a tedious and uncertain lawsuit18 such an appeal being perfectly19 competent to those who preferred it, and the belief being strong among the fiery20 spirits of the age that Odin, the god of war, would assuredly give victory to the right.
In the present instance it was not considered any infringement22 of the law of liberty that the issue of the combat would be the disposal of a fair woman’s hand, with or without her heart. Then, as now, women were often forced to marry against their will.
Having gone to that island to fight—an island being a naturally circumscribed23 battlefield whose limits could not conveniently be transgressed—the two champions set to work at once with the cool businesslike promptitude of men sprung from a warlike race, and nurtured24 from their birth in the midst of war’s alarms.
Together, and without speaking, they ascended25 the rock, which was low and almost barren, with a small extent of turf in the centre, level, and admirably suited to their purpose. Here they faced each other; the one drew his sword, the other raised his battle-axe.
There was no sentiment in that combat. The times and the men were extremely matter-of-fact. The act of slaying26 gracefully27 had not yet been acquired; yet there was much of manly29 grace displayed as each threw himself into the position that nature and experience had taught him was best suited to the wielding30 of his peculiar31 weapon.
For one instant each gazed intently into the face of the other, as if to read there his premeditated plan of attack. At that moment the clear blue eye of the younger man dilated32, and, as his courage rose, the colour mounted to his cheek. The swart brow of the other darkened as he marked the change; then, with sudden spring and shout, the two fell upon each other and dealt their blows with incredible vigour33 and rapidity.
They were a well-matched pair. For nearly two hours did they toil34 and moil over the narrow limits of that sea-girt rock—yet victory leaned to neither side. Now the furious blows rained incessant35 on the sounding shields; anon the din21 of strife36 ceased, while the combatants moved round each other, shifting their position with elastic37 step, as, with wary38 motion and eagle glances, each sought to catch the other off his guard, and the clash of steel, as the weapons met in sudden onset39, was mingled40 with the shout of anger or defiance41. The sun glanced on whirling blade and axe, and sparkled on their coats of mail as if the lightning flash were playing round them; while screaming seamews flew and circled overhead, as though they regarded with intelligent interest and terror the mortal strife that was going on below.
Blood ere long began to flow freely on both sides; the vigour of the blows began to abate42, the steps to falter43. The youthful cheek grew pale; the dark warrior’s brow grew darker, while heaving chests, labouring breath, and an occasional gasp44, betokened45 the approaching termination of the struggle. Suddenly the youth, as if under the influence of a new impulse, dropped his shield, sprang forward, raised himself to his full height, grasped his axe with both hands, and, throwing it aloft (thus recklessly exposing his person), brought it down with terrific violence on the shield of his adversary46.
The action was so sudden that the other, already much exhausted47, was for the moment paralysed, and failed to take advantage of his opportunity. He met but failed to arrest the blow with his shield. It was crushed down upon his head, and in another moment the swarthy warrior lay stretched upon the turf.
Sternly the men conveyed their fallen chief to his boat, and rowed him to the mainland, and many a week passed by ere he recovered from the effects of the blow that felled him. His conqueror48 returned to have his wounds dressed by the bride for whom he had fought so long and so valiantly49 on that bright summer morning.
Thus it was that King Haldor of Horlingdal, surnamed the Fierce, conquered King Ulf of Romsdal, acquired his distinctive50 appellation51, and won Herfrida the Soft-eyed for his bride.
It must not be supposed that these warriors52 were kings in the ordinary acceptation of that term. They belonged to the class of “small” or petty kings, of whom there were great numbers in Norway in those days, and were merely rich and powerful free-landholders or udallers.
Haldor the Fierce had a large family of sons and daughters. They were all fair, strong, and extremely handsome, like himself.
Ulf of Romsdal did not die of his wounds, neither did he die of love. Disappointed love was then, as now, a terrible disease, but not necessarily fatal. Northmen were very sturdy in the olden time. They almost always recovered from that disease sooner or later. When his wounds were healed, Ulf married a fair girl of the Horlingdal district, and went to reside there, but his change of abode53 did not alter his title. He was always spoken of as Ulf of Romsdal. He and his old enemy Haldor the Fierce speedily became fast friends; and so was it with their wives, Astrid and Herfrida, who also took mightily54 to each other. They span, and carded wool, and sewed together oftentimes, and discussed the affairs of Horlingdal, no doubt with mutual55 advantage and satisfaction.
Twenty years passed away, and Haldor’s eldest56 son, Erling, grew to be a man. He was very like his father—almost a giant in size; fair, very strong, and remarkably57 handsome. His silken yellow hair fell in heavy curls on a pair of the broadest shoulders in the dale. Although so young, he already had a thick short beard, which was very soft and curly. His limbs were massive, but they were so well proportioned, and his movements so lithe58, that his great size and strength were not fully28 appreciated until one stood close by his side or fell into his powerful grasp.
Erling was lion-like, yet he was by nature gentle and retiring. He had a kindly59 smile, a hearty60 laugh, and bright blue eyes. Had he lived in modern days he would undoubtedly have been a man of peace. But he lived “long long ago”—therefore he was a man of war. Being unusually fearless, his companions of the valley called him Erling the Bold. He was, moreover, extremely fond of the sea, and often went on viking cruises in his own ships, whence he was also styled Erling the Sea-king, although he did not at that time possess a foot of land over which to exercise kingly authority.
Now, it must be explained here that the words Sea-king and Viking do not denote the same thing. One is apt to be misled by the termination of the latter word, which has no reference whatever to the royal title king. A viking was merely a piratical rover on the sea, the sea-warrior of the period, but a Sea-king was a leader and commander of vikings. Every Sea-king was a viking, but every viking was not a Sea-king; just as every Admiral is a sailor, but every sailor is not an Admiral. When it is said that Erling was a Sea-king, it is much as if we had said he was an admiral in a small way.
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1
varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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grandeur
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| n.伟大，崇高，宏伟，庄严，豪华 | |
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oars
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| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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plaintive
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| adj.可怜的，伤心的 | |
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uncouth
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| adj.无教养的，粗鲁的 | |
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armour
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| （=armor）n.盔甲；装甲部队 | |
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axe
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| n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减 | |
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aloof
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| adj.远离的；冷淡的，漠不关心的 | |
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stouter
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| 粗壮的( stout的比较级 )； 结实的； 坚固的； 坚定的 | |
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feud
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| n.长期不和；世仇；v.长期争斗；世代结仇 | |
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maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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bleak
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| adj.(天气)阴冷的；凄凉的；暗淡的 | |
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17
guardians
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| 监护人( guardian的名词复数 )； 保护者，维护者 | |
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lawsuit
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| n.诉讼，控诉 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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din
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| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
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infringement
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| n.违反；侵权 | |
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23
circumscribed
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| adj.[医]局限的：受限制或限于有限空间的v.在…周围划线( circumscribe的过去式和过去分词 )；划定…范围；限制；限定 | |
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24
nurtured
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| 养育( nurture的过去式和过去分词 )； 培育； 滋长； 助长 | |
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ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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slaying
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| 杀戮。 | |
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gracefully
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| ad.大大方方地；优美地 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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30
wielding
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| 手持着使用（武器、工具等）( wield的现在分词 )； 具有； 运用（权力）； 施加（影响） | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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dilated
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| adj.加宽的，扩大的v.（使某物）扩大，膨胀，张大( dilate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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vigour
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| （=vigor）n.智力，体力，精力 | |
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toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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incessant
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| adj.不停的，连续的 | |
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strife
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| n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争 | |
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elastic
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| n.橡皮圈，松紧带；adj.有弹性的；灵活的 | |
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wary
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| adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的 | |
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onset
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| n.进攻，袭击，开始，突然开始 | |
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40
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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42
abate
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| vi.(风势，疼痛等)减弱，减轻，减退 | |
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43
falter
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| vi.(嗓音)颤抖，结巴地说；犹豫；蹒跚 | |
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44
gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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45
betokened
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| v.预示，表示( betoken的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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46
adversary
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| adj.敌手，对手 | |
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47
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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48
conqueror
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| n.征服者，胜利者 | |
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49
valiantly
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| adv.勇敢地，英勇地；雄赳赳 | |
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50
distinctive
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| adj.特别的，有特色的，与众不同的 | |
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51
appellation
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| n.名称，称呼 | |
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52
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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53
abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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54
mightily
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| ad.强烈地；非常地 | |
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55
mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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56
eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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57
remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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58
lithe
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| adj.(指人、身体)柔软的，易弯的 | |
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59
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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