Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Pages ...
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
VON TROIL’S LETTERS ON ICELAND. 631
either in Iceland itfelf or in Sweden, cannot be underftood ; only very few are capable
of comprehending them; that it is however poffible, is proved by the new editions
of Kriftnis Saga, Landnamabok, and feveral others. The provoft Gunnar Paulfen
in Iceland is particularly diftinguifhed for his great knowledge in this branch of
literature.
The difficulties we meet with in afcertaining the true fenfe of thefe ancient poems,
is likewife the caufe of the contempt with which we confider thefe few remains of the
genius of the ancients. I wall readily acknowledge that they have no poem which
could be propofed as a pattern of wit and elegance; yet it cannot be denied, but that
very fublime thoughts and expreflions, and fometimes very beautiful comparifons, are to
be met with in them: and it is impoflible to read the dying Lodbrok’s Biarkamal,
Eigils, Hofud, Laufn, and Ejvindrs, Haconarma, without pleafure, befides feveral others.
‘They chofe for the fubject of their poetry whatever happened in common life; how-
ever they principally occupied themfelves in compofing fongs in praife of the actions of
their great men; in which they are accufed of not being over fcrupulous in beftowing
their flatteries. We have feveral poems exifting on various fubje@s, among which
there is a tolerable epic one on Charles and Grim, befides another on Hialmar. They
have likewife fome fatirical pieces, which they ufed to call midvifor and the undertaking
ef the author was named yrkia nid; but there are no traces of their having had the
leaft idea of theatrical performances.
From what has been faid, it may be imagined, that there is no language which allows
a poet fo much liberty as the Icelandic ; and indeed there is no language fo rich in
poetical expreffions as this: it muft not however be thought that it is confined by cer-
tain rules; on the contrary, I believe there is no profody fo copious as the Icelandic,
as, according to the Edda, they had no lefs than a hundred and thirty-fix different forts
of yerfifications (in Icelandic hattur) each of which had its particular rules. However
it will be extremely difficult, nay almoft impoffible, to fay any thing certain on this
fubject, before we have a true explanation of that part which treats of it in the third
volume of the Edda.
The Edda is one of the moft celebrated remains of antiquity, and yet it has hitherto
been very imperfectly known. It has generally been confidered as the mythology of
the ancients, and the Volu/pa and Havamal have been forced upon it, as two of its voe
lumes, though they do not in the leaft belong to it. But Chevalier Ihre has thrown
more light on this affair: in his printed letter to Mr. Lagerbring, he has attentively
examined the manufcript of the Edda, in the library at Upfala, and clearly proves that
it is nothing more than an introduction to Icelandic poetry, confifting of three parts :
the firlt, daemifagor, is an extract from the Hiftoria mythica veterum: the fecond,
kenningar, is a mere AKrarium poeticum ; and the third, Jicds greiner, contains the
Icelandic profody, &e. &c. The fo-called demifagorne, are for the moft part tranf-
lated into the Swedifh language by Goranfon, but the tranflation is very incorreét.
Refenius has hkewife publifhed them, together with the Kenningarne in Latin. But
the third part, which deferves no lefs attention, has not yet appeared in print ; and it
is much to be wifhed that Chevalier Ihre would give it to the public, as there are fo few
befides himfelf capable of doing it juftice.
The various conjectures which have been formed concerning the true author of
the Edda, have been no lefs erroneous than thofe relating to the fubje& of the book
itfelf, It has generally been thought that Samundr Sigfufon, who died in 1133, wrote a
very ample work, entitled the Edda, which treated of many important fubjects, and was
in a manner a magazine of all human knowledge ; of which however fcarce one third
VOL. I. 4s has
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
