Gripla - 2019, Qupperneq 230

GRIPLA230
Ever since antiquity people had believed that the death of an important
person was preceded by portents and even accompanied by catastrophes of
various kinds; and as Bishop Guðbrandur was undoubtedly a great figure
in the history of his country, his death was no exception in this regard.
Thus Arngrímur mentions portents such as the appearance of a comet in
1617 and a volcanic eruption in south Iceland in 1625 which spread a dark
mist over the country, resembling the episodes from church history when
St. Paul was carried away from Asia, Augustine from Africa, Ambrosius
from Italy and Athanasios from Greece. Not wishing to tax the patience
of his readers, the author adds only the ominous sudden collapse of the
church at Hólar, which followed the decline of the bishop’s health and
somehow foreshadowed his death. More calamities accompanied or fol-
lowed Guðbrandur’s death. Plagues such as harvest failure and famine went
on for years; but the most serious disaster which struck Iceland occurred
in the very month when he died: Algerian pirates, commonly but incor-
rectly called Turks, attacked several communities in Iceland with arms and
fire, killing people and transporting more than three hundred as slaves to
North Africa. No wonder that this event, which was to haunt Icelanders
for generations, was interpreted by Arngrímur as a divine sign that Iceland,
ungrateful towards God in spite of the blessings it had enjoyed through
the works of Guðbrandur and others, would perform due obsequies on its
father’s departure from life.
After this harsh interpretation of the incursion of the Algerian pirates,
the author moves on to exhort the remaining leaders of the Icelandic
church to show courage and fight on its behalf. They are encouraged to
wake the somnolent from their deep sleep, so they may unite and take
their stand with God, the wrathful Lord, to mend the manifest schism,
displaying due devotion and following the example of the dearly missed
Guðbrandur. This thought leads to the main theme of this section, which
may be characterized as a consolation, a common feature of writings of
this kind. Though Arngrímur refers to several authorities, both biblical
and classical, the most dominant reference is to the story of Job and his
acceptance of misfortunes.18 Arngrímur’s submissive conclusion was that
God’s will had to be borne with equanimity, an attitude endorsed by the
eulogy. This medicine against grief is further strengthened by the certainty
18 Job. I: 21.