OLAF TRYGGrVESSON. 
351 
dours of her father’s court, can make Olaf forgetful of 
his claims upon the throne of Norway—the inheritance 
of his father; and when that object of his just ambition 
is attained, and he is proclaimed King by general 
election of the Bonders, as his ancestor Harald Haar- 
fager had been,—his character deepens in earnestness as 
the sphere of his duties is enlarged. All the energies 
of his ardent nature are put forth in the endeavour 
to convert his subjects to the true Faith. As he himself 
expresses it, “ he would bring it to this,—that all 
Norway should be Christian—or die /” In the same 
spirit he meets his heretic and rebellious subjects at the 
Thing of Lade, and boldly replies, when they require 
him to sacrifice to the false gods, “ If I turn with you to 
offer sacrifice,—then shall it be the greatest sacrifice 
that can be made; I will not offer slaves, nor malefactors 
to your gods,—I will sacrifice men ;—and they shall be 
the noblest men among you !” It was soon after this 
that he despatched the exemplary Thaugtrand to 
Iceland. 
With a front not less determined does he face his 
country’s foes. The king of Sweden, and Svend “of 
the forked beard,” king of Denmark, have combined 
