Studia Islandica - 01.06.1957, Blaðsíða 13

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written and oral evidence in support of his opinion.1)
This is probably a more correct view of the matter, as
anyone who has read Þorláksson’s poems, original and
translated, will feel constrained to admit.
In 1814 Ebenezer Henderson visited the poet. His ac-
count is of interest and not without its value:
“We had scarcely entered the beautiful valley called
öxnadal, when Síra Jón [Henderson’scompanion] madea
sudden stop, and pointing to a house on the opposite side
of the river, told me it was the abode of their celebrated
poet. ‘What!’ I exclaimed, somewhat taken by surprise,
‘is it there the translator of Milton resides?’ ‘Yes,’ was
the reply. ‘He is still alive, and it is some time since he
finished his translation of that sublime poem’ [i.e. Para-
dise Lost]. I now stopped my horse and felt at a loss to
determine whether I should return to the poet’s that
evening, or postpone my visit till my return from the
west...
About ten o’clock I rode in company with Síra Jón,
and Síra Hallgrímur, to Bægisá, the dwelling of the poet,
Síra Jón Thorláksson. Like most of his brethren at this
season of the year, we found him in the meadow, assisting
his people in the hay-making. On hearing of our arrival he
made all the haste home which his age and infirmity would
allow; and, bidding us welcome to his humble abode, he
ushered us into the apartment where he translated my
countryman into Icelandic. The door is not quite four
feet in height, and the room may be about eight feet in
length, by six in breadth. At the inner end is the poet’s
bed, and close to the door, over against a small window
not exceeding two feet square, is a table where he com-
mits to paper the effusions of his muse.2) On my telling
1) Jón Þorláksson, Dánarminning, pp. 228-229.
2) Dr. Jón Þorkelsson seems to doubt this description, saying:
“Henderson does not describe as ample the house-accomodations at
Bægisá at that time, and not very credibly, but his report can now