and begged that
Denmark should be instructed in divinity by Agapete, who was then Pope
of Rome. But he was cut off before his prayers attained this wish. His
death befell before the arrival of the messengers from Rome: and indeed
his intention was better than his fortune, and he won as great a reward
in heaven for his intended piety as others are vouchsafed for their
achievement.

His son GORM, who had the surname of "The Englishman," because he was
born in England, gained the sovereignty in the island on his father's
death; but his fortune, though it came soon, did not last long. He left
England for Denmark to put it in order; but a long misfortune was the
fruit of this short absence. For the English, who thought that their
whole chance of freedom lay in his being away, planned an open revolt
from the Danes, and in hot haste took heart to rebel. But the greater
the hatred and contempt of England, the greater the loyal attachment of
Denmark to the king. Thus while he stretched out his two hands to both
provinces in his desire for sway, he gained one, but lost the lordship
of the other irretrievably; for he never made any bold effort to regain
it. So hard is it to keep a hold on very large empires.

After this man his son HARALD came to be king of Denmark; he is
half-forgotten by posterity, and lacks all record for famous deeds,
because he rather preserved than extended the possessions of the realm.

After this the throne was obtained by GORM, a man whose soul was ever
hostile to religion, and who tried to efface all regard for Christ's
worshippers, as though they were the most abominable of men. All those
who shared this rule of life he harassed with divers kinds of injuries
and incessantly pursued with whatever slanders he could. Also, in
order to restore the old worship to the shrines, he razed to its lowest
foundations, as though it were some unholy abode of impiety, a temple
which religious men had founded in a stead in Sleswik; and those whom
he did not visit with tortures he punished by the demolition of the holy
chapel. Though this man was thought notable for his stature, his mind
did not answer to his body; for he kept himself so well sated with power
that he rejoiced more in saving than increasing his dignity, and thought
it better to guard his own than to attack what belonged to others:
caring more to look to what he had than to swell his havings.

This man was counselled by the elders to celebrate the rit