Gripla - 2019, Qupperneq 231

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of the resurrection of the flesh and the reunion of dear souls. The dead
and those of us who are still alive will soon be gathered together by our
Redeemer. Thus we should not grieve immoderately. This ambrosia of
God’s word combined with the sovereign remedy of Job are sacred oracles;
Guðbrandur himself always kept them in mind, not theoretically but prac-
tically, following the recent example set by the two martyrs, Johann Huss
and Hieronymus of Prague, who no doubt also shook off their fear of
death with this soothing medicine. The departure of Father Guðbrandur,
non amissus sed præmissus “not lost but sent ahead,” is thus both sacred
and salutary; readers may look forward to seeing and embracing him and
enjoying his daily company if they will freely and humbly commit to God
the finality of Fate. In the same God-fearing spirit readers should be grate-
ful to God for the new bishop, Þorlákur Skúlason, and place their utmost
hope in him, acknowledging that by his succession God has compensated
us for half the loss we suffered through Guðbrandur’s death. This thought
prompts the author to ask his readers to pray in the words of Jeremiah:
Agnoscimus Domine quia peccavimus, veniam petimus quam non meremur;
manum tuam porrige lapsis “We acknowledge, O Lord, that we have sinned,
we ask forgiveness which we do not deserve; offer your hand to those who
have fallen,” thus recalling Guðbrandur’s own words on his tombstone and
at the same time giving hope to the Icelanders in their distress.19
At this point the author sees fit to round off his work. He modestly
excuses himself for having said less than he ought about the life and death
of Guðbrandur; to sum up, of all the things contributing to the immor-
talitas “immortality” of Guðbrandur’s name and fame, those which bear
the palm are his printing press and his inestimable work on the Bible in
promoting God’s word. Thanks to this work he could justifiably have con-
gratulated himself in the famous words of Horace, Exegi monumentum ære
perennius “I have raised a monument which will last longer than bronze”
although Guðbrandur would have been the last to claim the honour of
a laurel wreath, as Horace does in the final verses of the ode.20 No, in
Guðbrandur’s case the celestial judge, Βραβουτής [sic!], has decreed a differ-
19 The author refers to Jerem. 14: 20 but only the first part of the quotation agrees with the
words of that verse.
20 Horace, Odes, ed. by Niall Rudd. Loeb Classical Library 33 (Cambridge Mass. and London:
Harvard University Press, 2012), III. 30, 1–8. Arngrímur quotes the whole ode.
TO TELL THE TRUTH – BUT NOT THE WHOLE TRUTH