Gripla - 2019, Side 221
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himself is described as contented with his lot, in a portrayal that evokes
some of the great figures of Republican Rome, when the author quotes
three unidentified elegiac couplets on the divergent characters of Scaurus
and Fabricius.6
II. There then follows a short passage on Guðbrandur’s birth and birth-
place. He was born under a felici sidere “lucky star” in the year 1542 on the
small parish farm of Staðarbakki in North Iceland, which had no renown
of its own until it became illustrious as the birthplace and cradle of such a
man. An event of this kind was not unprecedented. Holy men such as the
prophets Jeremiah, Hosea, Nahum, Zephaniah and Joel were all destined
to be born in insignificant places that later became famous as their birth-
places. Scripture tells us about their fatherland, and how God chose them
from humble places to become his instruments and priests; he always cares
for the low from his high position and by virtue of his paternal affection
wants to lead us, his sons, away from the inflated arrogance of men and de-
mons, desiring us to ennoble our fatherland just as we are ennobled by it.
III. This passage, which is also very brief, deals with Guðbrandur’s
education as an infant and young boy. We are told that he eagerly imbibed
the rudiments of the true faith from his parents, although the papist dark-
ness was at that time just beginning to be dispersed. Later, already imbued
with moral sanctity, he was sent off at a rather late age to the Latin school
of Hólar; there he was at first slow of memory but endowed with a most
sagacious mind, as may be seen from the documents and events of later
years. The author deliberately does not at this point continue his account
of Guðbrandur’s youth nor does he describe his travels, studies or mental
and physical gifts, which will often recur in the narrative of the rest of his
life. Concluding the passage, Arngrímur begs the reader’s pardon for this
kind of hysteron proteron.
IV. After these short passages comes a rather lengthy chapter on the
Episcopate of Hólar, the importance of which may be judged from the
6 Scaurus habet nummos, urbana palatia, villas, /Pinguiaque innumeris prædia bobus arat; / Huic
tamen assidue major succrescit habendi / Nunquam divitiis exaturata fames. / Ditior est igitur
patrio contentus agello / Qui vivit nullo fænore Fabricius. “Scaurus has money, palaces in Rome
and villas. He cultivates fertile estates for his innumerable cattle. Nevertheless his hunger
for having things will never be sated by riches and grows steadily stronger. Consequently
Fabricius who lives on no gain is richer being content with the small piece of land inher-
itated from his father.”
TO TELL THE TRUTH – BUT NOT THE WHOLE TRUTH