Greinar (Vísindafélag Íslendinga) - 01.01.1943, Síða 159

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beauty of nature fascinates him. He seems to have been
in good health. It is a pity how few of Hallgrímur Pét-
ursson’s hymns and poems from these years can be dated.
They are mostly funeral poems, as for instance the one on
his friend Árni Gíslason, who died in 1654, or occasional
and seasonal poems. But however this may be, the next
phase is characterised by his Passion-Hymns and his
prose writings, which now begin to appear.
Moreover many of his best and most beautiful poems,
both spiritual and secular, date from this flourishing
period. Therefore it is appropriate to give here a brief
analysis of Pétursson’s poetry in general, leaving out
the Passion-Hymns, and other things which we know
with some degree of certainty to have been written later.
VII.
It is noteworthy that by far the greater part of Pét-
ursson’s poetry is written on special occasions. He seldom
seems to write a hymn merely for the sake of writing a
hymn, but there is always a certain event which inspires
him. He has for instance written a great number of occa-
sional hymns and verses. He has no doubt composed a
large number of wedding songs, although only a few have
been preserved, which are really of no particular interest.
Then he has written some funeral poems, which are of a
considerably higher order. Of these the most beautiful is
the one written in memory of his above-mentioned friend,
Árni Gíslason. Besides he has composed poems or hymns
to various people, celebrating some important' events in
their lives. Then there are New-Year’s hymns, seasonal
hymns and prayers, traveller’s prayers and graces. On-
ly rarely does he attain to any great height in these, ex-
cept in respect of metre, which is often elaborate and
ingenious. His evening and morning prayers are more
inspired. The mornings and evenings were devoted to
prayer more than any other time of the day, and there-
fore many of these rhymed prayers belong to the gems of