_yes_, perhaps also in great part _no_; depends altogether on the
previous question, How far the law was the eternal one of God Almighty
in the universe, How far the law merely of Olaf (destitute of right
inspiration) left to his own passions and whims?"

Many were the jangles Olaf had with the refractory Heathen Things and
Ironbeards of a new generation: very curious to see. Scarcely ever
did it come to fighting between King and Thing, though often enough
near it; but the Thing discerning, as it usually did in time, that the
King was stronger in men, seemed to say unanimously to itself, "We
have lost, then; baptize us, we must burn our old gods and conform."
One new feature we do slightly discern: here and there a touch of
theological argument on the heathen side. At one wild Thing, far up
in the Dovrefjeld, of a very heathen temper, there was much of that;
not to be quenched by King Olaf at the moment; so that it had to be
adjourned till the morrow, and again till the next day. Here are some
traits of it, much abridged from Snorro (who gives a highly punctual
account), which vividly represent Olaf's posture and manner of
proceeding in such intricacies.

The chief Ironbeard on this occasion was one Gudbrand, a very rugged
peasant; who, says Snorro, was like a king in that district. Some
days before, King Olaf, intending a religious Thing in those deeply
heathen parts, with alternative of Christianity or conflagration, is
reported, on looking down into the valley and the beautiful village of
Loar standing there, to have said wistfully, "What a pity it is that
so beautiful a village should be burnt!" Olaf sent out his
message-token all the, same, however, and met Gudbrand and an immense
assemblage, whose humor towards him was uncompliant to a high degree
indeed. Judge by this preliminary speech of Gudbrand to his