Greinar (Vísindafélag Íslendinga) - 01.01.1943, Blaðsíða 157

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cult to induce clergymen to take over the benefice, partly
because they were usually badly treated by some of the
parishioners.
At last Hallgrímur Pétursson went to Skálholt on foot
and shabbily dressed to see the bishop. Most likely Árni
Gíslason and some others had already talked to the bishop
about Hallgrímur’s straitened circumstances and he had
sent him word to see him.
Hallgrímur Pétursson was thereupon ordained to Hvals-
nes, the bishop also giving him a horse and some clo-
thes, an act which was typical of him, having once taken
him back into favour. As a matter of course, Brynjólfur
Sveinsson could not help realizing what a genius Hall-
grímur Pétursson was in spite of his faults.
This was a great change for the better for Hallgrímur
Pétursson. He was elevated from the lowest station of
daylabourer and cottager, which was generally looked
down upon, to the rank of a respectable official, although
m a meagre living. This must also have had some influence
°n Hallgrímur Pétursson himself, increasing his self-con-
fidence and self-respect, of which he was in sad need. In
the following years he attends synods, enjoying the esteem
nnd respect of everybody. But at home his difficulties were
nnrelieved. He continued to be poor, and his family life
^as anything but good. He and his wife lost some of
their children and the neighbours seem to have been un-
nble to overcome their old contempt. We know very little
nbout Hallgrímur’s poetical activity from these years. He
Probably continued composing “rímur”.
But no doubt he' tried his hand at some other kinds of
poetry, when the escape from daily drudgery afforded
him more leisure. He is said to have composed in these
years thé satirical poem “Flærðarsenna” (“On false-
hood”), which belongs to his masterpieces, and shows
that he had attained to complete mastery over his art.
It is no less remarkable that during these years he com-
Posed two hymns in memory of his daughter Steinunn,
whom he lost there, three and a half years of age. She