Page:Great Men and Famous Women Volume 1.djvu/152

 88 SOLDIERS AND SAILORS two together. These, with swimming, climbing, leaping, were the then admirable Fine Arts of the North ; in all which Tryggveson appears to have been the Ra- phael and the Michael Angelo at once. Essentially definable, too, if we look well into him, as a wild bit of real heroism, in such rude guise and environment ; a high, true, and great human soul. A jovial burst of laughter in him, too ; a bright, airy, wise way of speech ; dressed beautifully and with care ; a man ad- mired and loved exceedingly by those he liked ; dreaded as death by those he did not like. "Hardly any king," says Snorro, "was ever so well obeyed, by one class out of zeal and love, by the rest out of dread." His glorious course, how- ever, was not to last long. King Svein of the Double-beard had not yet completed his conquest of Eng- land, by no means yet, some thirteen horrid years of that still before him ! when, over in Denmark, he found that complaints against him and intricacies had arisen, on the part principally of one Burislav, King of the Wends (far up the Baltic), and in a less degree with the King of Sweden and other minor individuals. Svein earnestly applied himself to settle these, and have his hands free. Burislav, an aged heathen gentleman, proved reasonable and conciliatory ; so, too, the King of Sweden, and Dowager Queen Sigrid, his managing mother. Bargain in both these cases got sealed and crowned by marriage. Svein, who had become a wid- ower lately, now wedded Sigrid ; and might think, possibly enough, he had got a proud bargain, though a heathen one. Burislav also insisted on marriage with Princess Thyri, the Double-beard's sister. Thyri, inexpressibly disinclined to wed an aged heathen of that stamp, pleaded hard with her brother ; but the Double- bearded was inexorable ; Thyri's wailings and entreaties went for nothing. With some guardian foster-brother, and a serving-maid or two, she had to go on this hated journey. Old Burislav, at sight of her, blazed out into marriage feast of supreme magnificence, and was charmed to see her, but Thyri would not join the marriage party, refused to eat with it or sit with it at all. Day after day, for six days, flatly refused ; and after nightfall of the sixth, glided out with her foster- brother into the woods, into by-paths and inconceivable wanderings ; and, in effect, got home to Denmark. Brother Svein was not for the moment there ; probably enough gone to England again. But Thyri knew too well he would not allow her to stay here, or anywhere that he could help, except with the old heathen she had just fled from. Thyri, looking round the world, saw no likely road for her, but to Olaf Trygg- veson in Norway ; to beg protection from the most heroic man she knew of in the world. Olaf, except by renown, was not known to her ; but by renown he well was. Olaf, at sight of her, promised protection and asylum against all mortals. Nay, in discoursing with Thyri Olaf perceived more and more clearly what a fine handsome being, soul and body, Thyri was ; and in a short space of time winded up by proposing to Thyri, who, humbly, and we may fancy with what secret joy, consented to say yes, and become Queen of Norway. In the due months they had a little son, Harald ; who, it is credibly recorded, was the joy of both his parents ; but who, to their inexpressible sorrow, in about a year