creatures,--Harald sent him off, under charge of "Hauk" (Hawk so
called), one of his Principal, warriors, with order, "Take him to
England," and instructions what to do with him there. And
accordingly, one evening, Hauk, with thirty men escorting, strode into
Athelstan's high dwelling (where situated, how built, whether with
logs like Harald's, I cannot specifically say), into Athelstan's high
presence, and silently set the wild little cherub upon Athelstan's
knee. "What is this?" asked Athelstan, looking at the little cherub.
"This is King Harald's son, whom a serving-maid bore to him, and whom
he now gives thee as foster-child!" Indignant Athelstan drew his
sword, as if to do the gift a mischief; but Hauk said, "Thou hast
taken him on thy knee [common symbol of adoption]; thou canst kill him
if thou wilt; but thou dost not thereby kill all the sons of Harald."
Athelstan straightway took milder thoughts; brought up, and carefully
educated Hakon; from whom, and this singular adventure, came, before
very long, the first tidings of Christianity into Norway.

Harald Haarfagr, latterly withdrawn from all kinds of business, died
at the age of eighty-three--about A.D. 933, as is computed; nearly
contemporary in death with the first Danish King, Gorm the Old, who
had done a corresponding feat in reducing Denmark under one head.
Remarkable old men, these two first kings; and possessed of gifts for
bringing Chaos a little nearer to the form of Cosmos; possessed, in
fact, of loyalties to Cosmos, that is to say, of authentic virtues in
the savage state, such as have been needed in all societies at their
incipience in this world; a kind of "virtues" hugely in discredit at
present, but not unlikely to be needed again, to the astonishment of
careless persons, before all is done!