Olaf retires to Russia 225 



of Olaf s men, who had been strongly in favour of an 

 attack upon Hakon at all risks, now deserted his 

 master. We find Kalf, a short time after this, doing 

 homage to Cnut, and receiving large promises from that 

 monarch. Kalf's brother, Finn Arnason, on the other 

 hand, remained to the end St. Olaf s most devoted and 

 most trusted follower. Meantime the Norse king — 

 though, as the account would have us believe, his 

 troubles were alleviated by more than one miracle — 

 had nothing for it but to make good his retreat to 

 Sweden, and eventually to Paissia. 



Olaf could not rest in his retirement. He still 

 meditated a return, and one more attempt to win back 

 his kingdom ; thoucrh at other times he would talk of 

 resigning even the royal title, of making a pilgrimage 

 to Rome, and of dying in the Eternal City in the habit 

 of a monk. 



One night, when he had been revolving these various 

 schemes, and tossing about irresolute, sleep fell upon 

 him, and there appeared at his bedside a tall and very 

 fair man, in splendid raiment. 'And it came into the 

 king's mind that this was King Olaf Tryggvason who 

 had come to him.' The apparition reproved St. Olaf for 

 his weakness, that he should ever think ' of laying down 

 the kingly dignity which God has given thee. It is 

 the glory of a king to be victorious over his enemies, 

 and it is a glorious death to die in battle. Thou must 

 go back to thy country, and God will give open testi- 

 mony that the kingdom is thine by right of inheritance.' 



This vision determined St. Olaf. He set forth on his 

 return journey from Russia to Sweden, and in the latter 

 country set about collecting an army. Onund, his old 



P 



