Bibliotheca Arnamagnæana - 01.06.1957, Page 48
28
INTRODUCTION
for the countless practical tasks of an Icelandic farmer. It is un-
likely that he had much concerned himself with agriculture in his
younger days, both because other work had a stronger hold on
him and because his financial position was such that he did not
need to occupy himself directly with running an estate. It was
scarcely to have been expected therefore that he should develop
into a capable manager in his latter years, even though his eco-
nomic position might have been strengthened by it.
AJ was seeking medical advice from Worm already in 1629
(see Bibi. Arnam. VII 14-5), though there seems to have been
no question of any grave complaint then or when he makes
similar queries in the following years (see op. cit. 56, 61, 68).
In the spring of 1642 he was, it seems, seriously ill (op. cit. 69),
but apparently returned to more or less good health afterwards.
In 1643 he sent Worm the manuscript of an epitaph for himself
and asked him to see to the printing of it (ib. 78). In 1646 he
asked Worm to see to the preparation of another epitaph, this
time a long Latin poem, which was to be painted on a wooden
board (ib. 86-7) ; this is still extant in the church at MelstaSur.
AJ seems however to have enjoyed moderately good health to
the end; in his last letter but one to Worm (ib. 92) he asks only
for a new pair of spectacles to replace his old ones which had
been broken. We know also that only a fortnight before he died
he received a manuscript of some length to read through, the
Discursus oppositivus of GuSmundur Andrésson, and that he
really read it is shown by his autograph marginal notes on the
manuscript which is still extant1.
AJ died 27/6 1648, smitten, according to Bishop Lorlåkur
Skulason’s words (Bibi. Arnam. VII 321), by an epidemic dis-
ease. The priest of the neighbouring parish, Einar Arnfinnsson,
describes his death in a letter to Worm (op. cit. 136). According
to him, AJ died sitting up in his bed, after having called his
family round him “concionatus ad patientiam in fide exhortando
postremaque verba Psalmo claudendo”; then he leaned back, as
if to sleep, and so died.
1 See further Bibi. Arnam. VII 440-8, and tRSA II, 1948, where the work is
edited with introduction and commentary. AJ had obviously no time to express an
opinion on the work, the purpose for which the manuscript had been sent him.