Page:The Early Kings of Norway.djvu/69

 REIGN OF OLAF TRYGGVESON 59 iSaxon Chronicle gives date to it, a.d. 994, and names expressly, as Svein's co-partner, * Olaus, king of Nor- way,' — which he was as yet far from being ; but in regard to the Year of Grace the Saxon Chronicle is to be held indisputable, and, indeed, has the field to itself in this matter. Famed Olaf Tryggveson, seen visibly at the siege of London, year 994, it throws a kind of momentary light to us over that disastrous whirlpool of miseries and confusions, all dark and painful to the fancy otherwise ! This big voyage and furious siege of London is Svein Double-beard's first real attempt to fulfil that vow of his at Father Blue- tooth's * funeral ale,' and conquer England, — which it is a pity he could not yet do. Had London now fallen to him, it is pretty evident all England must have followed, and poor England, with Svein as king over it, been delivered from immeasurable woes, which had to last some two and twenty years farther, before this result could be arrived at. But finding London impregnable for the moment (no ship able to get athwart the bridge, and many Danes perishing in the attempt to do it by swimming), Svein and Olaf turned to other enterprises ; all England in a manner lying