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VON TROIL’S LETTERS ON ICELAND, 713
This at leaft may be perceived by every one, that the fkalds therein mentioned have
not all lived in the thirteenth century ; but that a great part of them exifted in the
tenth, eleventh, and twelfth centurics. The two hundred and thirty fkalds, who, ac-
cording to Mr. Schloczer’s reckoning, lived in the thirteenth century, may be confider-
ably reduced in number, by one and the fame fkald being mentioned in three or four
different places, as if he had been in the fervice of as many matters. It is very remark-
able that fome of thefe fkalds, as Oltar Svarte, Sigvatur Thordarfon, and others, have
been received as poets laureat in all the three northern courts.
Nor is it lefs remarkable, that fome of thefe Icelandic {kalds were taken into pay at
the Englifh court, by kings Athelftan and Etheldred: this would require an examina-
tion to difcover how their Skaldhaparmal, or poetical language, could be underftood in
a foreign country, as both languages, without thefe poetical figures, differ fo widely
from each other, as is evident from the remains of both.
It is laftly afked, if there are any internal or external marks, from which it might be
guefled that the three parts of the Edda mentioned by me belong together, and form
one work? But this queftion is anfwered by the title quoted above, wherein all the.
parts are clearly enumerated.
In regard to the third part, called Liod/greinir, Mr, Schloczer defires to know how
this title fuits to an ars poetica?
I have already in fome meafure anfwered this queftion in my letter to Mr. Lager-
bring, by citing the f{trange titles the ancients {ometimes prefixed to their books. How-
ever, that a clearer idea may be formed of what relates to this appellation, it fhould be
obferved, that Sturlefon immediately in the beginning divides all founds or tones into
three kinds. The firft he calls vittlaus hliod, or the found of inanimate things, as of
thunder, waves, wind, and the like; to the fecond he reckons the founds of irrational
animals; and to the laft, the articular founds of men, which are produced by means
of the tongue, the palate, &c. He then {peaks of the found of the letters, how fome
are long, others fhort ; fome confonants, and others vowels and diphthongs: he then
proceeds to the rules of prcfody, and whatever elfe belongs to the Icelandic /Aald/eap
or poetry.
From ‘hence it may be feen what has given rife to this appellation ; Liod/greinir lite-
rally fignifying no more than diftintion of founds. Sturlefon has given as ftrange
a title to this northern hiftory, which he calls heim/kringla ; and this from no other
reafon, but becaufe it was the firft word with which the book began.
LETTER XXIV.—rrom CHEVALIER BACK TO DR. TROIL.
Of the Icelandic Scurvy.
SIR, Stockholm, June 12, 1776.
Tue accounts with which you have favoured us.of the difeafes which moftly abound
in Iceland muft be of univerfal fervice to the Swedes. When I had the pleafure and
bappinels of converfing with you on this fubject, my attention was peculiarly raifed
by the information you gave me of the Icelandic feurvy, and of its dreadful confe-
quences on thofe perfons who were affected with it.
What Mr. Peterfen calls the Icelandic {curvy, is the true elephantiafis, which is nearly
related tothe leprofy. Celfus has defcribed it in the days of Augu{tus under the name
of elephantiafis; and yet Aretaeus has treated more fully upon it, in fect. 5, under the
fame name. It is more terrible than any other difeafe, producing frequently a dread-
VOL. I, ay ful
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