Greinar (Vísindafélag Íslendinga) - 01.01.1943, Blaðsíða 171

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rendered into hymns by the poetry-loving Icelandic clergy,
but others appeared in prose translations. Hallgrímur
Pétursson was too independent to occupy himself with
translations. His poems are nearly all original composi-
tions, and when he took to writing prose, the same thing
happened.
PIis principal work was: “Diarium Christianum”, or
“Daily practice of all God’s works”. They consist of
seven practices and meditations, fairly long, one for
each day of the week. The book is thus composed,
that first there is a paraphrased text of the Bible
about what God did on that day of the week. The-
reupon he addresses his soul, as often happens in
the Passion-Hymns, expounding the text with many
similes and allegories, often showing great learning.
Then reference is made to one of the commandments.
The name of the day is then discussed with many
allegories and farfetched interpretations of the sym-
bolic meaning of numbers. Finally there is a heading,
Jesus, a prayer to Jesus. Thus it is for each day.
This book appeared in 1660, and I think that Hall-
grímur Pétursson wrote it, among other things, to
introduce different things, which he had collected for
the Passion-Hymns, but for which he did not find
a place there.
He seems to have applied himself assiduously to
theological studies in those years.
The “Diarium” passed through five editions and enjoyed
great popularity, although our generation would not
think much of it. The prayers to Jesus are of great
beauty, often showing rare power of imagination and
intensity of feeling.
Still more popular, however, became another book
°f his, also in prose: “Soliloquy of a Christian”, which
went through nine editions from 1677 to 1905.
This is a small booklet, 14 meditations, one for each
niorning and evening of the week, and on the whole
free from that kind of inflated learning, which is