Page:The Early Kings of Norway.djvu/115

 KING OLAF THE THICK-SET'S VIKING DAYS. 105 heartily friendly in his counsel to Olaf, as to the King question. Aasta had a Spartan tone in her wild maternal heart; and assures Olaf that she, with a half-reproachful glance at Sigurd, will stand hy him to the death in this his just and nohle enterprise. Sigurd promises to consult farther in his neighbour- hood, and to correspond by messages ; the result is, Olaf, resolutely pushing forward himself, resolves to call a Thing, and openly claim his kingship there. The Thing itself was willing enough : opposition parties do here and there bestir themselves ; but Olaf is always swifter than they. Five kinglets somewhere in the Uplands,* — all descendants of Haarfagr ; but averse to break the peace, which Jarl Eric and Hakon Jarl both have always willingly allowed to peaceable people, — seem to be the main opposition party. These five take the field against Olaf with what force they have; Olaf, one night, by beautiful celerity and strategic practice which a Friedrich or a Turenne might have approved, surrounds these Five ; and when morning breaks, there is nothing for them but specify.
 * SnorrOf Laing's Translation, ii. p. 31 et scq., will minutely