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Early Kings of Norway by Thomas Carlyle
page 61 of 122 (50%)
forced partition-treaty "in the Isle of Alney," got scandalously
murdered, and Knut became indisputable sole King of England, and
decisively settled himself to his work of governing there. In the
year before either of which events, while all still hung uncertain for
Knut, and even Eric Jarl of Norway had to be summoned in aid of him,
in that year 1015, as one might naturally guess and as all Icelandic
hints and indications lead us to date the thing, Olaf had decided to
give up Vikingism in all its forms; to return to Norway, and try
whether he could not assert the place and career that belonged to him
there. Jarl Eric had vanished with all his war forces towards
England, leaving only a boy, Hakon, as successor, and Svein, his own
brother,--a quiet man, who had always avoided war. Olaf landed in
Norway without obstacle; but decided to be quiet till he had himself
examined and consulted friends.

His reception by his mother Aasta was of the kindest and proudest, and
is lovingly described by Snorro. A pretty idyllic, or epic piece, of
_Norse_ Homeric type: How Aasta, hearing of her son's advent, set all
her maids and menials to work at the top of their speed; despatched a
runner to the harvest-field, where her husband Sigurd was, to warn him
to come home and dress. How Sigurd was standing among his harvest
folk, reapers and binders; and what he had on,--broad slouch hat, with
veil (against the midges), blue kirtle, hose of I forget what color,
with laced boots; and in his hand a stick with silver head and ditto
ring upon it;--a personable old gentleman, of the eleventh century, in
those parts. Sigurd was cautious, prudentially cunctatory, though
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 by him
to the death in this his just and noble enterprise. Sigurd promises
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