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strange chance lost？ First； of course； by the length and danger of the
coasting voyage。 It was one thing to have； like Columbus and Vespucci；
Cortes and Pizarro； the Azores as a halfway port； another to have
Greenland； or even Iceland。 It was one thing to run south…west upon
Columbus's track； across the Mar de Damas； the Ladies' Sea； which hardly
knows a storm； with the blazing blue above； the blazing blue below； in an
ever…warming climate； where every breath is life and joy； another to
struggle against the fogs and icebergs； the rocks and currents of the dreary
North Atlantic。 No wonder； then； that the knowledge of Markland； and
Vinland； and Whiteman's Land died away in a few generations； and
became but fireside sagas for the winter nights。
But there were other causes； more honourable to the dogged energy of
the Norse。 They were in those very years conquering and settling nearer
home as no other peopleunless； perhaps； the old Ionian Greeks
conquered and settled。
Greenland； we have seen； they heldthe western side at leastand held
it long and well enough to afford； it is said； 2；600 pounds of walrus' teeth
as yearly tithe to the Pope； besides Peter's pence； and to build many a
convent； and church； and cathedral； with farms and homesteads round； for
one saga speaks of Greenland as producing wheat of the finest quality。
All is ruined now； perhaps by gradual change of climate。
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But they had richer fields of enterprise than Greenland； Iceland； and
the Faroes。 Their boldest outlaws at that very timewhether from
Norway； Sweden； Denmark； or Britainwere forming the imperial life…
guard of the Byzantine Emperor； as the once famous Varangers of
Constantinople； and that splendid epoch of their race was just dawning； of
which my lamented friend； the late Sir Edmund Head； says so well in his
preface to Viga Glum's Icelandic Saga； 〃The Sagas； of which this tale is
one； were posed for the men who have left their mark in every corner
of Europe； and whose language and laws are at this moment important
elements in the speech and institutions of England； America； and Australia。
There is no page of modern history in which the influence of the
Norsemen and their conquests must not be taken into accountRussia；
Constantinople； Greece； Palestine； Sicily； the coasts of Africa； Southern
Italy； France； the Spanish Peninsula； England； Scotland； Ireland； and every
rock and island round them； have been visited； and most of them at one
time or the other ruled； by the men of Scandinavia。 The motto on the
sword of Roger Guiscard was a proud one：
Appulus et Calaber； Siculus mihi servit et Afer。
Every island； says Sir Edmund Head； and trulyfor the name of
almost every island on the coast of England； Scotland； and Eastern Ireland；
ends in either EY or AY or OE； a Norse appellative； as is the word 〃island〃
itselfis a mark of its having been； at some time or other； visited by the
Vikings of Scandinavia。
Norway； meanwhile； was convulsed by war； and what perhaps was of
more immediate consequence； Svend Fork…beard； whom we Englishmen
call Sweynthe renegade from that Christian Faith which had been forced
on him by his German conqueror； the Emperor Otto II。with his illustrious
son Cnut； whom we call Canute； were just calling together all the most
daring spirits of the Baltic coasts for the subjugation of England； and when
that great feat was performed； the Scandinavian emigration was paralysed；
probably； for a time by the fearful wars at home。 While the king of
Sweden； and St。 Olaf Tryggvason； king of Norway； were setting on
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Denmark during Cnut's pilgrimage to Rome； and Cnut； sailing with a
mighty fleet to Norway； was driving St。 Olaf into Russia； to return and fall
in the fratricidal battle of Stiklesteadduring； strangely enough； a total
eclipse of the sunVinland was like enough to remain still uncolonised。
After Cnut's short…lived triumphking as he was of Denmark； Norway；
England； and half Scotland； and what not of Wendish Folk inside the
Balticthe force of the Norsemen seems to have been exhausted in their
native lands。 Once more only； if I remember right； did 〃Lochlin；〃 really
and hopefully send forth her 〃mailed swarm〃 to conquer a foreign land；
and with a result unexpected alike by them and by their enemies。 Had it
been otherwise； we might not have been here this day。
Let me sketch for you once morethough you have heard it； doubtless；
many a timethe tale of that tremendous fortnight which settled the fate of
Britain； and therefore of North America； which decidedjust in those great
times when the decision was to be made… …whether we should be on a par
with the other civilised nations of Europe； like them the 〃heirs of all the
ages；〃 with our share not only of Roman Christianity and Roman
centralisationa member of the great ity of European nations； held
together in one Christian bond by the Popebut heirs also