uncertain; Dahlmann, the latest critic, inclining for 1030, and its
indisputable eclipse.[15]



CHAPTER XI.

MAGNUS THE GOOD AND OTHERS.

St. Olaf is the highest of these Norway Kings, and is the last that
much attracts us. For this reason, if a reason were not superfluous,
we might here end our poor reminiscences of those dim Sovereigns. But
we will, nevertheless, for the sake of their connection with bits of
English History, still hastily mention the Dames of one or two who
follow, and who throw a momentary gleam of life and illumination on
events and epochs that have fallen so extinct among ourselves at
present, though once they were so momentous and memorable.

The new King Svein from Jomsburg, Knut's natural son, had no success
in Norway, nor seems to have deserved any. His English mother and he
were found to be grasping, oppressive persons; and awoke, almost from
the instant that Olaf was suppressed and crushed away from Norway into
Heaven, universal odium more and more in that country.
Well-deservedly, as still appears; for their taxings and extortions of
malt, of herring, of meal, smithwork and every article taxable in
Norway, were extreme; and their service to the country otherwise
nearly imperceptible. In brief their one basis there was the power of
Knut the Great; and that, like all earthly things, was liable to
sudden collapse,--and it suffered such in a notable degree. King
Knut, hardly yet of middle age, and the greatest King in the then