Studia Islandica - 01.06.1957, Blaðsíða 43

41
lating Paradise Lost. The reason for this inquiry is that
the English clergyman, Henderson, who has thought of
getting your translation printed in England, has, like I,
noted with admiration how much better than the Danish
translator you have succeeded in retaining the style and
the excellence of the original poet. We should, therefore,
be interested in knowing what other superior means you
may have had.” I regret to add that I have not been
able to locate Þorláksson’s reply to this letter, interest-
ing and illuminating as it would be.
As already mentioned, the translation of Paradise Lost
had to wait almost a quarter of a century before publica-
tion in its completed form. It may, however, have been
circulated in manuscript, although probably never in
great numbers. At any rate, it won for its translator a
just and deserved fame, gaining for him the noble de-
signation, “The Icelandic Milton”.
At this point, a reference to Rask’s interest in the pub-
lication of the translation is appropriate. In his letter to
Grímur Thorkelin previously quoted, Rask states that
he had talked about Þorláksson with Governor Stefán
Þórarinsson and about what loss it would be, if his trans-
lation of Paradise Lost were not published, and he also
laments the fact that conditions in Iceland at that time
did not permit its publication. Then he goes on:
“I also had at one time in Copenhagen a plan to have
it published on subscription basis, according to which
everyone should indicate how much he would contribute,
but the first person whom I showed that plan convinced
me of the impossibility of carrying it out. On the other
hand, the Councillor of Conference [Governor Stefán
Þórarinsson] had an idea which appeared to me so
promising that I can not refrain from communicating it
at once: namely, that Your Excellency [i.e. Thorkelin],
1) See Björn M. Ólsen, Rasmus Kristján Rask. Minningarrit,
1888.