except the death of Olaf everybody hastening home, as soon as the big
Duel had decided itself. Olaf's body was secretly carried, after
dark, to some out-house on the farm near the spot; whither a poor
blind beggar, creeping in for shelter that very evening, was
miraculously restored to sight. And, truly with a notable, almost
miraculous, speed, the feelings of all Norway for King Olaf changed
themselves, and were turned upside down, "within a year," or almost
within a day. Superlative example of _Extinctus amabitur idem._ Not
"Olaf the Thick-set" any longer, but "Olaf the Blessed" or Saint, now
clearly in Heaven; such the name and character of him from that time
to this. Two churches dedicated to him (out of four that once stood)
stand in London at this moment. And the miracles that have been done
there, not to speak of Norway and Christendom elsewhere, in his name,
were numerous and great for long centuries afterwards. Visibly a
Saint Olaf ever since; and, indeed, in _Bollandus_ or elsewhere, I
have seldom met with better stuff to make a Saint of, or a true
World-Hero in all good senses.

Speaking of the London Olaf Churches, I should have added that from
one of these the thrice-famous Tooley Street gets its name,--where
those Three Tailors, addressing Parliament and the Universe, sublimely
styled themselves, "We, the People of England." Saint Olave Street,
Saint Oley Street, Stooley Street, Tooley Street; such are the
metamorphoses of human fame in the world!

The battle-day of Stickelstad, King Olaf's death-day, is generally
believed to have been Wednesday, July 31, 1033. But on investigation,
it turns out that there was no total eclipse of the sun visible in
Norway that year; though three years before, there was one; but on the
29th instead of the 31st. So that the exact date still remains