Page:The Early Kings of Norway.djvu/119

 KING OLAF THE THICK-SET'S VIKING DAYS. 109 with Jarl Svein, Hakon's uncle, and Lis adherents, who fled to Sweden, after his heating, — ^battle not difficult to a skilful, hard-hitting king, — was pretty much all the actual fighting Olaf had to do in this enterprise. He various times met angry Bonders and refractory Things with arms in their hand ; but by skilful, firm management, — ^perfectly patient, but also perfectly ready to be active, — ^he mostly managed without coming to strokes ; and was universally recognised by Norway as its real king. A promising young man, and fit to be a king, thinks Snorro. Only of middle stature, almost rather shortish ; but firm- standing, and stout-built ; so that they got to call him Olaf the Thick (meaning Olaf the Thickset, or Stout-built), though his final epithet among them was infinitely higher. For the rest, * a comely, earnest, his qualities and fine gifts to get it done.
 * prepossessing look ; beautiful yellow hair in quantity ;
 * broad, honest face, of a complexion pure as snow and
 * rose;' and finally (or firstly) 'the brightest eyes in the
 * world ; such that, in his anger, no man could stand
 * them.' He had a heavy task ahead, and needed aU