Studia Islandica - 01.06.1957, Page 27

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homage from his fellow-poets and writers. In the paro-
chial register at Bægisá, reference is made to his passing
as that of “a widely renowned national poet.” 3)
The tribute paid by Magnús Stephensen, Þorláksson’s
one-time antagonist, is of interest and significance. He
speaks of him as “the national poet of the Icelanders”
and bids him farewell in generous verses of his own com-
position, in which he too refers to him as “Iceland’s
Milton.” 2)
Such tributes speak for themselves. They leave no
doubt as to what many of the educated class in Iceland
in Þorláksson’s day thought of him as a poet. As regards
his original poems that estimate was probably in some
degree shared by the people at large; knowledge and ap-
preciation of his great translations were no doubt much
less common, as these did not reach the people to any
large extent until they were printed, years after his death.
In spite of that measure of appreciation, our poet had
throughout life his full share of lack of understanding
and of indifference, thus suffering the traditional fate of
genius. It remained largely for later generations fully to
appreciate the value of his unusual contribution to the
literature of his country. As evinced by the memorial
edition of 1919, frequently referred to in this study, and
no less by the volume of selections from his works pub-
lished in 1956, he is still to this day held in high regard
by many of his countrymen.
III. Tlie Translation of the ESSAY ON MAN.
Important as Jón Þorláksson’s original poems are in
literary merit and general significance, they are over-
shadowed and surpassed by his translations.
Early in life he showed promise in that direction. His
1) Jón Þorláksson: Dánarminning, p. 24 (footnote).
2) Klaustur-Pósturinn, II, pp. 190-192.