86 SOLDIERS AND SAILORS by the Bonders to step in there, enlighten his eyes, and partake of the sacred rites. Instead of which he rushed into the temple with his armed men ; smashed down, with his own battle-axe, the god Thor prostrate on the floor at one stroke, to set an example ; and in a few minutes had the whole Hakon Pantheon wrecked ; packing up, meanwhile, all the gold and preciosities accumulated there (not forgetting Thor's illustrious gold collar, of which we shall hear again), and victoriously took the plunder home with him for his own royal uses and behoof of the state. By unwearied industry of this and better kinds, Tryggveson had trampled down idolatry, so far as form went, how far in substance may be greatly doubted. But it is to be remembered withal, that always on the back of these compulsory adventures there followed English bishops, priests, and preachers ; whereby to the open-minded, conviction, to all degrees of it, was attainable, while silence and passivity became the duty or necessity of the unconvinced party. In about two years Norway was all gone over with a rough harrow of con- version. Heathenism at least constrained to be silent and outwardly comform- able. Tryggveson next turned his attention to Iceland, sent one Thangbrand, priest from Saxony, of wonderful qualities, military, as well as theological, to try and convert Iceland. Thangbrand made a few converts ; for Olaf had already many estimable Iceland friends, whom he liked much, and was much liked by ; and conversion was the ready road to his favor. Thangbrand, I find, lodged with Hall of Sida (familiar acquaintance of " Burnt Njal," whose Saga has its admirers among us even now). Thangbrand converted Hall and one or two other leading men ; but in general he was reckoned quarrelsome and blusterous rather than eloquent and piously convincing. Two skalds of repute made biting lampoons upon Thangbrand, whom Thangbrand, by two opportunities that offered, cut down and did to death because of their skaldic quality. Another fie killed with his own hand, I know not for what reason. In brief, after about a year, Thangbrand returned to Norway and King Olaf, declaring the Icelanders to be a perverse, satirical, and inconvertible people, having himself, the record says, been " the death of three men there." King Olaf was in high rage at this result ; but was persuaded by the Icelanders about him to try farther, and by a milder instrument. He accordingly chose one Thormod, a pious, patient, and kindly man, who, within the next year or so, did actually accomplish the matter ; namely, get Christianity, by open vote, declared at Thingvalla by the general Thing of Iceland there ; the roar of a volcanic eruption at the right moment rather helping the conclusion, if I recollect. Whereupon Olaf's joy was no doubt great. One general result of these successful operations was the discontent, to all manner of degrees, on the part of many Norse individuals, against this glorious and victorious, but peremptory and terrible king of theirs. Tryggveson, I fancy, did not much regard all that ; a man of joyful, cheery temper, habitually con- temptuous of danger. Another trivial misfortune that befell in these conversion
