historical lectures and essays(查尔斯金斯利历史讲座)
Historical Lectures and Essays
Historical Lectures and
Essays
by Charles Kingsley
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Historical Lectures and Essays
THE FIRST DISCOVERY OF
AMERICA
Let me begin this lecture ｛1｝ with a scene in the North Atlantic 863
years since。
〃Bjarne Grimolfson was blown with his ship into the Irish Ocean； and
there came worms and the ship began to sink under them。 They had a
boat which they had payed with seals’ blubber； for that the sea… worms will
not hurt。 But when they got into the boat they saw that it would not hold
them all。 Then said Bjarne； ’As the boat will only hold the half of us； my
advice is that we should draw lots who shall go in her； for that will not be
unworthy of our manhood。’ This advice seemed so good that none gainsaid
it； and they drew lots。 And the lot fell to Bjarne that he should go in the
boat with half his crew。 But as he got into the boat； there spake an
Icelander who was in the ship and had followed Bjarne from Iceland； ’Art
thou going to leave me here； Bjarne？’ Quoth Bjarne； ’So it must be。’
Then said the man； ’Another thing didst thou promise my father； when I
sailed with thee from Iceland； than to desert me thus。 For thou saidst that
we both should share the same lot。’ Bjarne said； ’And that we will not do。
Get thou down into the boat； and I will get up into the ship； now I see that
thou art so greedy after life。’ So Bjarne went up into the ship； and the
man went down into the boat； and the boat went on its voyage till they
came to Dublin in Ireland。 Most men say that Bjarne and his rades
perished among the worms； for they were never heard of after。〃
This story may serve as a text for my whole lecture。 Not only does it
smack of the sea…breeze and the salt water； like all the finest old Norse
sagas； but it gives a glimpse at least of the nobleness which underlay the
grim and often cruel nature of the Norseman。 It belongs； too； to the
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culminating epoch； to the beginning of that era when the Scandinavian
peoples had their great times； when the old fierceness of the worshippers
of Thor and Odin was tempered； without being effeminated； by the Faith
of the 〃White Christ；〃 till the very men who had been the destroyers of
Western Europe became its civilisers。
It should have； moreover； a special interest to Americans。 Foras
American antiquaries are well awareBjarne was on his voyage home
from the coast of New England； possibly from that very Mount Hope Bay
which seems to have borne the same name in the time of those old
Norsemen； as afterwards in the days of King Philip； the last sachem of the
Wampanong Indians。 He was going back to Greenland； perhaps for
reinforcements； finding； he and his fellow…captain； Thorfinn； the
Esquimaux who then dwelt in that land too strong for them。 For the
Norsemen were then on the very edge of discovery； which might have
changed the history not only of this continent but of Europe likewise。
They had found and colonised Iceland and Greenland。 They had found
Labrador； and called it Helluland； from its ice…polished rocks。 They had
found Nova Scotia seemingly； and called it Markland； from its woods。
They had found New England； and called it Vinland the Good。 A fair
land they found it； well wooded； with good pasturage； so that they had
already imported cows； and a bull whose lowings terrified the Esquimaux。
They had found self…sown corn too； probably maize。 The streams were
full of salmon。 But they had called the land Vinland； by reason of its
grapes。 Quaint enough； and bearing in its very quaintness the stamp of
truth； is the story of the first finding of the wild fox…grapes。 How Leif
the Fortunate； almost as soon as he first landed； missed a little wizened old
German servant of his father’s； Tyrker by name； and was much vexed
thereat； for he had been brought up on the old man’s knee； and hurrying off
to find him met Tyrker ing back twisting his eyes abouta trick of his…
…smacking his lips and talking German to himself in high excitement。
And when they get him to talk Norse again； he says： 〃I have not been
far； but I have news for you。 I have found vines and grapes！〃 〃Is that
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true； foster…father？〃 says Leif。 〃True it is；〃 says the old German； 〃for I
was brought up where there was never any lack of them。〃
The sagaas given by Rafnhad a detailed description of this quaint
personage’s appearance； and it would not he amiss if American wine…
growers should employ an American sculptorand there are great
American sculptorsto render that description into marble； and set up little
Tyrker in some public place； as the Silenus of the New World。
Thus the first cargoes homeward from Vinland to Greenland had been
of timber and of raisins； and of vine…stocks； which were not like to thrive。
And more。 Beyond Vinland the Good there was said to be another
land； Whiteman’s Landor Ireland the Mickle； as some called it。 For these
Norse traders from Limerick had found Ari Marson； and Ketla of
Ruykjanes； supposed to have been long since drowned at sea； and said that
the people had made him and Ketla chiefs； and baptized Ari。 What is all
this？ and what is this； too； which the Esquimaux children taken in
Markland told the Northmen； of a land beyond them where the folk wore
white clothes； and carried flags on poles？ Are these all dreams？ or was
some part of that great civilisation； the relics whereof your antiquarians
find in so many parts of the United States； still in existence some 900
years ago； and were these old Norse cousins of ours upon the very edge of
it？ Be that as it may； how nearly did these fierce Vikings； some of whom
seemed to have sailed far south along the shore； bee aware that just
beyond them lay a land of fruits and spices； gold and gems？ The adverse
current of the Gulf Stream； it may be； would have long prevented their
getting past the Bahamas into the Gulf of Mexico； but； sooner or later；
some storm must have carried a Greenland viking to San Domingo or to
Cuba； and then； as has been well said； some Scandinavian dynasty might
have sat upon the throne of Mexico。
These stories are well known to antiquarians。 They may be found；
almost all of them； in Professor Rafn’s 〃Antiquitates Americanae。〃 The
action in them stands out often so clear and dramatic； that the internal
evidence of historic truth is irresistible。 Thorvald； who； when he saw
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what seems to be； they say； the bluff head of Alderton at the south…east end
of Boston Bay； said； 〃Here should I like to dwell；〃 and； shot by an
Esquimaux arrow； bade bury him on that place； with a cross at his head
and a cross at his feet； and call the place Cross Ness for evermore；
Gudrida； the magnificent widow； who wins hearts and sees strange deeds
from Iceland to Greenland； and Greenland to Vinland and back； and at last；
worn out and sad； goes off on a pilgrimage to Rome； Helgi and Finnbogi；
the Norwegians； who； like our Arctic voyagers in after times； devise all
sorts of sports and games to keep the men in humour during the long
winter at Hope； and l