own country, but throughout all the north of Europe. They visited the courts of England, Ireland, Sweden, Denmark and Norway, and were every where received with the hospitality and honours due to their talents, and to the exertions they made in the service of their patrons. From catalogues which are preserved to us of the Skalds who flourished in the three last mentioned kingdoms, it appears that the majority of the whole number were natives of Iceland; and numerous testimonies exist of the superior reputation and influence which these islanders enjoyed in the exercise of their profession."* "Great, however, as was the poetical celebrity of the Icelanders of this age, they derived a still higher character from their historical writings. These may with propriety be divided into the genuine, the fictitious, and those of a mixed character. Of the fabulous histories, which were chiefly composed during the earlier periods of the Icelandic commonwealth, some appear to have had a concealed and figurative meaning; others were mere fables, not connected with any such metaphorical allusions. The Sagas,‡ or historical narratives, form a much more numerous and valuable class of compositions. These may in general be considered to belong to the last or mixed character of history; in which the fictions of the author are to a certain extent blended with the events he describes. Many of them, however, possess throughout all the features of real and authentic narrative, and afford sketches of the state of society during this period, which are highly interesting and important. In the subject of these Sagas there is considerable variety. Some of them furnish the history of particular events, either of a political or religious nature; others give the more simple narrative of a family, or a community of families; others, again, contain biographical sketches of the eminent individuals of the age, the king, the warrior, the poet, or the priest. The merit of these writings is equally various. In many of them we find a minute and wearisome description of events, neither interesting in themselves, nor adorned by any of the graces of narrative; in others we meet

* "See the Skalda-tal, or list of Skalds, in the appendix to Wormius's Litt. Runic. Also the accurate catalogue in the Sciograph. Hist. Literar. Island. p. 49; an excellent work, written by Halfdan Einarsen, rector of the school at Hoolum, and published at Copenhagen in 1777. Under the form of a catalogue raisonnée, with notes and indexes, it affords the most complete account, yet extant, of the literature and learned men of Iceland."

"See Torf. Ser. Reg. Dan. lib. i. cap. 1; and Bartholin's ́Antiq. Dan. lib. i. cap. 11."

"From segia, to say.”

with pictures of manners and feelings, in which simplicity itself is the charm, and where the imagination is insensibly led back to the times, the people, and the scenes, which are so faithfully pourtrayed. Of those which bear the latter character, the finest example, perhaps, is the Gunnlaugs ok SkaldRafni Saga, or the history of Gunnlaug and the poet Rafn; of which interesting story, a short sketch is subjoined without any other ornament than the original itself affords, and with the necessary omission of many circumstances which confer grace and beauty upon the tale. The authenticity of the narrative, and the reality of all the personages it includes, are fully established by the evidence of contemporary writers."

"Thorstein and Illugi, both men of wealth and power, dwelt in the great vale of the Borgar-Fiord, in the western part of Iceland. The former, who was son to the celebrated poet Egill, had a daughter named Helga, the pride of her family, and the loveliest among the women of the island. In the house of Illugi, the most remarkable person was his youngest son, Gunnlaug. Born in 988, he early acquired reputation from his stature, strength, and prowess, both of body and mind; but his temper was turbulent and unvielding, and being opposed by his father in his desire to travel, he abruptly left his home, when only fifteen years of age, and took refuge in the house of Thorstein, by whom he has hospitably received. Here, while his mind was instructed by the father, his heart was subdued by the gentleness and elegance of the daughter. Living with Helga, and partaking in all her occupations and amusements, a mutual affection was quickly formed; and the restless impetuosity of the boy passed into the refinement and delicacy of the youthful lover. His character thus changed, Gunnlaug was reconciled to his father, and, during three years, resided sometimes with him, sometimes at the house of Thorstein. When he had reached the age of eighteen, Illugi consented to his going abroad; but he would not leave Iceland, till he had obtained from the father of his secretly betrothed Helga, a solemn promise that the maiden's hand should be given to him, if, after three years had expired, he returned to claim it. Departing from his native country, Gunnlaug visited the courts of England, Ireland, Norway, and Sweden, and was every where received with the honours to which his person and talents entitled him. His extempore poetry was admired and munificently rewarded: this art he had early cultivated, though with so much tendency to satire, that he was called Ormstunga, or the snake-tongue. At the

court of the Swedish king, Olave, he found the celebrated poet Rafn, likewise an Icelander, and of noble birth. A friendship formed between them, was speedily broken by a dispute, which took place in the royal presence, respecting the comparative merits of their poetry. Rafn, thinking himself disgraced, declares his determination of revenge; and, in pursuance of this, returns to Iceland, where he seeks to obtain in marriage the maiden betrothed to his rival. The three years being gone by, and no tidings received of Gunnlaug, Thorstein, after some delay, gave to Rafn the unwilling hand of Helga, whose heart meanwhile remained with her former lover. The unfortunate Gunnlaug, hastening home to claim his bride, was accidentally detained by a hurt received in wrestling, and reached the abode of his father on the very day on which Helga became a wife. A nuptial feast was prepared, with all the splendour suited to the condition of the families concerned. Gunnlaug shewed himself on a sudden among the assembled guests, eminent above all from the beauty of his person and the richness of his apparel. The eyes of the lovers hung upon each other in mute and melancholy sorrow; and the bitterest pangs went to the heart of the gentle Helga. The nuptial feast was gloomy and without joy. A contest between the rivals was prevented by the interference of their friends, but they parted with increased animosity and hatred."

"The revenge of Rafn, though thus accomplished, gave him little satisfaction. Helga, refusing all conjugal endearments, spent her days in unceasing sadness. At the great public assembly at Thingvalla, the ensuing summer, Gunnlaug challenged his rival to single combat; and the challenge being accepted, they met on an island in the river, which flows into the lake of Thingvalla. The combat, however, though severe, was indecisive; and a renewal of it was prevented by an edict of the assembly, passed the following day, prohibiting the practice of duels in Iceland. Gunnlaug here sees his beloved Helga for the last time; and in the empassioned language of poetry laments their mutual affliction and sorrows. Restrained from deciding their quarrel in Iceland, and each pursued by his own unhappiness and resentments, the rivals pass over to the territory of Sweden, and meet, attended by their respective companions, at a place called Dynguines. A combat takes place: the companions of each party fall victims to the bloody fray, and Gunnlaug and Rafn are left alone to decide their contest. The foot of the latter is severed by the sword of Gunnlaug, who wishes now to discontinue the combat; but Rafn exclaims that he would persevere in it, could he procure

some water to alleviate his thirst. The generous Gunnlaug, trusting to the honour of his adversary, brings him water in his helmet from an adjoining lake. Rafn, seizing the critical moment, when the water was presented to him, strikes with his sword the bare head of Gunnlaug; crying out at the same time, "that he cannot endure that his rival should enjoy the embraces of the beautiful Helga." The fight is fiercely renewed, and Gunnlaug slays his perfidious opponent; but dies soon afterwards of the wound he has himself received, when yet only in the twenty-fifth year of his age."

"The remainder of the story is short and melancholy. The sorrowing Helga, her husband and lover both destroyed, is compelled to give her hand to Thorkell, a noble and wealthy Icelander. But these nuptials are equally joyless as the former. Her mind is wholly devoted to misery and gloom; and she sinks an early victim to the grave, bending her last looks upon a robe she had received from Gunnlaug; and dwelling with her last thoughts upon the memory of her unhappy lover."

"A sketch of this story is given by the elegant pen of Mr. Herbert, in the first volume of his poems. Were it less interesting, as a specimen of the manners and literature of the ancient Icelanders, the repetition of what he has so ably done, would not have been attempted."

"From the Icelandic Sagas, our knowledge of the history and antiquities of the northern nations has derived many important additions. Still more valuable, however, in this respect have been the regular historical writings of the Icelanders; many of which have come down, in a more or less perfect state, to the present time. The causes which led these islanders thus early to the composition of history, as well as poetry, have already been mentioned. Originally bringing with them from Norway numerous traditionary records of the Scandinavian people, they derived progressive additions to these, from the residence of their poets and learned men in the courts of the northern kingdoms, the princes and chieftains of which cherished the talents by which their own actions might be conveyed to posterity. Provided by these means with ample materials for history, they became the annalists of all the north of Europe; and the simplicity and precision which their narratives display, prove that they were well entitled to this preeminence. The history of their own country was not neglected amid the more conspicuous events of other nations; but the most careful record preserved of every circumstance occurring in the little community to which they belonged."

"Though the sister muses, history and poetry, were thus principally cherished, there was not however an entire neglect of other branches of knowledge. The ancient calendars of the country, and the extraordinary skill which was exhibited in the maritime adventures of the people, shew that considerable attention was given to astronomical and physical observations; and many learned men in the island, especially Sturleson and Paul, a bishop of Skalholt, were distinguished by their attainments in mathematics and mechanical science.* The study of jurisprudence was pursued with much ardour and industry: it appears, from passages occurring in the Sagas, to have been made a distinct branch of education among the chiefs of the country, and the excellent code of laws which the Icelanders framed for themselves, is a sufficient proof of the success with which its cultivation was attended. Geography could not fail to engage attention, when their travellers not only visited all the kingdoms of Europe, but penetrated even into the remote regions of Asia and Africa. Philological studies were pursued by the learned men of the island with much diligence; and, in the course of the 11th and 12th centuries, they became familiar with the most celebrated of the Latin authors, deriving assistance to their own compositions from the classical authorities thus laid open to them. The study of the Greek language, though less general, was not however disregarded; as we find from the testimony of several writers of this age."

"It is not easy to ascertain with exactness the population of Iceland at this period; but many circumstances render it probable that it considerably exceeded the number now on the island. As at present, however, the people were much dispersed over the country; their habitations being seldom grouped together, but placed wherever the situation and nature of the soil were propitious. Simplicity in all their habits

"See the Blanda and Rimbeigla books, published at Copenhagen under the patronage of M. Suhm. Also a treatise of the same age de Algorithmo, which is noticed in the Sciograph. Hist. Lit. Island. p. 161. The Rimbeigla book presents a singular assemblage of astronomical, chronological, and theological facts, and will be found well worthy the attention of the curious reader."

"Gissurus, a Laugman of Iceland in 1181, composed a work entitled Flos Peregrinationis, describing the various countries through which he had travelled."

"Arngrim Jonas, in his Brev. Comment. de Island. sect. 4, mentions the fact of an estimate being made in the year 1090, by Gissurus, a bishop of Skalholt, of the number of those who, from the amount of their property, were enabled to pay tribute to the state. They were ascertained to be about 4,000. This estimate, however, does not afford the grounds of even a probable conjecture as to the total number of inhabitants."