OLAF TRYGGVESON 8? operations, and became important to him, he did not even know of, and would have much despised if he had. It was this : Sigrid, queen-dowager of Sweden, thought to be among the most shining women of the world, was also known for one of the most imperious, revengeful, and relentless, and had got for herself the name of Sigrid the Proud. In her high widowhood she had naturally many wooers ; but treated them in a manner unexampled. In spite of which, however, there went from Tryggveson, who was now a widower, some incipient marriage proposals to this proud widow ; by whom they were favorably received ; as from the brightest man in all the world, they might seem worth being. Now, in one of these anti-heathen onslaughts of King Olaf's on the idol temples of Hakon (I think it was that case where Olaf's own battle- axe struck down the monstrous refulgent Thor, and conquered an immense gold ring from the neck of him, or from the door of his temple) a huge gold ring, at any rate, had come into Olaf's hands ; and this he bethought him might be a pretty present to Queen Sigrid, the now favorable, though the proud. Sigrid re- ceived the ring with joy ; fancied what a collar it would make for her own fair neck ; but noticed that her two goldsmiths, weighing it on their fingers, exchanged a glance. " What is that ? " exclaimed Queen Sigrid. " Nothing," answered they, or endeavored to answer, dreading mischief. But Sigrid compelled them to break open the ring ; and there was found, all along the inside of it, an occult ring of copper, not a heart of gold at all ! " Ha," said the proud queen, flinging it away, " he that could deceive in this matter can deceive in many others ! " And was in hot wrath with Olaf ; though, by degrees, again she took milder thoughts. Milder thoughts, we say ; and consented to a meeting next autumn at some half-way station, where their great business might be brought to a happy settle- ment and betrothment. Both Olaf -Tryggveson and the high dowager appear to have been tolerably of willing mind at this meeting ; but Olaf interposed, what was always one condition with him, " Thou must consent to baptism, and give up thy idol-gods." "They are the gods of all my forefathers," answered the lady ; "choose thou what gods thou pleasest, but leave me mine." Whereupon an al- tercation ; and Tryggveson, as was his wont, towered up into shining wrath, and exclaimed at last, " Why should I care about thee then, old faded heathen creat- ure ? " And impatiently wagging his glove, hit her, or slightly switched her, on the face with it, and contemptuously turning away, walked out of the adventure. " This is a feat that may cost thee dear one day," said Sigrid. And in the end it came to do so, little as the magnificent Olaf deigned to think of it at the mo- ment. Olaf Tryggveson, though his kingdom was the smallest of the Norse Three, had risen to a renown over all the Norse world which neither he of Denmark nor he of Sweden could pretend to rival. A magnificent, far-shining man ; more ex- pert in all " bodily exercises," as the Norse called them, than any man had ever been before him, or after was. Could keep five daggers in the air, always catch- ing the proper fifth by its handle, and sending it aloft again ; could shoot su- premely, throw a javelin with either hand ; and, in fact, in battle usually threw
