Studia Islandica - 01.06.1957, Page 45

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The Rev. E. Henderson, whose visit to Þorláksson is
discussed in detail in a previous chapter, has this to say
about the translation of Paradise Lost: “That the entire
poem has never been printed is a real loss to Scandi-
navian literature, as it not only rises superior to any
other translation of Milton, but rivals, and in many in-
stances in which the Eddaic phraseology is introduced,
almost seems to surpass the original itself. Besides sup-
porting its prevailing character, a quality required of
every translator, Þorláksson has nicely imitated its pecu-
liar turns and more refined modifications, and though, on
certain occasions, he has found it impossible to give the
peculiar effect of certain sounds, yet this defect is more
than compensated by the multiplicity of happy combina-
tions, where none exist in the original, which is to be
ascribed to the richness which the Icelandic possesses of
such combinations, and the complete command the trans-
lator has had of his native language.
The kind of verse he has employed is that called
Fornyrdadag [fornyrðislag], or “the versification of
antiquity”, which is remarkable for its natural ease and
simplicity, and hardly requires any farther study than
regards alliteration. It is of this kind of versification that
the Völuspá and other sublime poems in Sæmundar Edda
consist... I was fortunate enough to obtain a well written
copy of the Icelandic Milton, carefully revised by the
translator himself, so that it may be regarded as possess-
ing all the accuracy of an autograph. Should circum-
stances prove favourable, I may, perhaps, at some future
period, get it printed in England.” x) However, this hope
did not come true. Yet, to a countryman of Milton’s, John
Heath, the Icelandic people are indebted for the publica-
tion of the translation. Heath was a man interested in
Scandinavian languages and literature, having spent
1) Op. cit., pp. 98-99.