The Iceland year-book - 01.01.1926, Blaðsíða 45

important fishing base, and, as a consequence, is
undergoing rapid expansion.
From an architectural point of view Reykjavik
naturally falls behind other European capitals, hut
in the matter of picturesque scenery surrounding
it there is perhaps no town in Europe against which
it cannot hold its own. It was certainly not the
handiwork of man which, a generation ago, inspired
the noble English poetess, Swinburne’s cousin, to
sing of Reykjavik in the enraptured strains of
which, for lack of space, only the first and the
last stanzas can be quoted here:—
O, Fair is bonnie Scotland, with river, moor and tree,
And fair mine own dear islet*, beloved of the sea;
And fairer yet than these be, in foreign lands, they say,
But who may paint thy fairness, O lovely Reekie Bay?**
O ne’er shall I forget thee, ,Eldgamla Isafold!4
The sea shall watch between us; with love that grows not cold;
O ne’er can I forget thee until my latest day,
Thou queenly land of Iceland, and lovely Reekie Bay.***
In Reykjavik are the principal educational insti-
tutions, including the museums and art collec-
tions, the National Library (100.000 printed vol-
umes and about 8000 MSS, some of them very
valuable). Other items of special interest to the
visitor are the statue of Albert Thorvaldsen (in
front of the Parliament House), his own work, a
gift of the people of Copenhagen to the people of
Reykjavik in 1874; and a much admired baptismal
font in the Cathedral, the work of Thorvaldsen and a
* Isle of Wight. ** Reekie Bay is a literal translation
of Reykjavik. (Author’s notes).
*** Mrs. Disney Leith: Original Verses and Translations,
London 1895.
39