The Iceland year-book - 01.01.1927, Side 83

J. E. Boggild. While the Danish officials entrusted with
the safeguarding of Icelandic interests abroad appear al-
most invariably desirous of discharging that duty in a sat-
isfactory manner, certain among them have made them-
selves particularly conspicuous in this respect. Of these
none has excelled Mr. Boggild, who has, moreover, the un-
usual advantage of an intimate knowledge of Iceland and
a thorough mastery of the Icelandic language. His enthusi-
astic devotion to the interests of Iceland has earned for
him the gratitude of the country he so well and faithfully
serves.
A. C. Johnson. Much the same may be said of Mr. John-
son, his able lieutenant in Winnipeg; nor is Mr. Boggild
lacking in just appreciation of the loyal co-operation of
his colleague.
TV. A. Craigie. Among the Anglo-Saxon peoples there have
been many scholars distinguished for their comprehensive
knowledge of the Icelandic language and literature, and no
less noted for their devoted friendship to Iceland. But, with
possibly a single exception, there has never been one with
such profound and all-embracing knowledge of these things
as Professor W. A. Graigie, the celebrated Scottish philo-
logist. Neither has there ever been one more sincerely con-
cerned for the advancement and honour of the Icelandic
people in every respect.
Unsurpassed accuracy, keen discernment and sober judg-
ment are the noted characteristics of Professor Graigie’s
writings on Icelandic subjects, and his work in that field is
therefore held in universal esteem by all competent schol-
ars. His translations of Old Icelandic poetry in drottkvseSur
hattur (“court metre”) are unique, not only among English
renderings but almost certainly among all that have been
made in whatsoever language. He alone has succeeded (and
apparently with perfect ease) in reproducing all the in-
tricacies and niceties of the original metre with absolute
fidelity to the sense and the atmosphere of the Icelandic
poems. Only those who have read drottkvsctt verses in the
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