p. 146 Hilarius: A reference to a drinking game and the Latin names given to the shot-glasses (Hilarius being the fourth of seven) by students in Copenhagen.
p. 150 Quod felix (Latin): What luck.
p. 151 Versificaturam (Latin): poesy.
p. 151 Vigfús’s grandmother inherits land to the value of a hundred duodecimal “hundreds” (100 x 120), probably five average-sized farms; an average-sized farm was worth twenty “hundreds” (2400).
p. 152 In Völsunga saga, Brynhildur, a valkyrie, sleeps under a spell, guarded by a wall of flame; she is freed by Sigurður.
p. 152 Tungur: Biskupstungur.
p. 156 Mary-mass: The Feast of the Annunciation, March 25.
p. 156 Cross-mass: Inventio Crucis, the feast celebrating the discovery of Christ’s cross, May 3.
p. 159 Didrik of Münden was regent in Iceland in the early sixteenth century, but was killed at Skálholt in 1539.
p. 167 Salutem (Latin): Greetings.
p. 170 In nomine domini amen salutem et officia (Latin): In the name of the Lord, amen, attesting my reverence and deference.
p. 171 Item (Latin): Furthermore.
p. 177 Giant’s ox (Icelandic jötunuxi): The Icelandic name for the rove beetle (Creophilus maxillosus).
p. 177 Apex perfectionis (Latin): The apex of perfection.
p. 177 Summum bonum (Latin): The highest good.
p. 178 Doctores (Latin): Authorities.
p. 178 Doctor angelicus (Latin): A reference to the philosopher and theologian Thomas Aquinas (1225–74).
p. 179 In civilibus . . . in ecclesiasticis (Latin): In civil or ecclesiastical law.
p. 179 Merlin’s Prophecies is found in Geoffrey of Monmouth’s (1100–1154) History of the Kings of Britain; Tungdal’s Vision is thought to have been composed in the mid–twelfth century by an Irish monk, Marcus, in Regensburg. This work, which was one of the most popular works of visionary or ecstatic literature in the Middle Ages, describes the torment of condemned souls and the blessed condition of the saved. It was translated into Norse in the thirteenth century.
p. 180 In casu (Latin): In court.
p. 180 Sacramentum (Latin): Sacrament.
p. 181 Spiritus mali (Latin): Evil spirit.
p. 190 Hretbyggja in Icelandic can be translated approximately as “Storm-dwelling.”
p. 198 Lais (Old French): Ballads or short narrative poems.
p. 203 Baccalaureus (Latin): Advanced student; one holding a university degree.
p. 203 O tempora, O mores (Latin): What times, what customs.
p. 205 Plaisanterie (French): Pleasantry.
p. 206 Commissarius (Latin): Commissary.
p. 206 Pecca fortiter (Latin): Sin bravely; sin without fear.
p. 206 Status perfectionis (Latin): State of perfection.
p. 207 Naturaliter (Latin): By nature.
p. 208 Imperfectio, imperfectiones (Latin): Imperfections.
p. 208 Praeclari et illustrissimi (Latin): My excellent and illustrious (guests).
p. 209 In temporalibus . . . in spiritualibus (Latin): In the realms of the temporal and the spiritual.
p. 210 Inexorabilia (Latin): Unable to be gotten by prayer or entreaty.
p. 210 Sebaoth: A name of God (in the Old Testament).
p. 211 This verse was written by a Danish priest H. C. Stehn (1544–1610) and translated into Icelandic by Reverend Ólafur Jónsson from Sandar (1560–1627).
p. 214 Fabulae (Latin): Fables; stories.
p. 214 America terra (Latin): America.
p. 214 Hislant terra (Latin): Iceland.
p. 215 Liber Islandorum: The Book of Icelanders (in Icelandic Íslendingabók), written by the priest Ari Þorgilsson (1067–1148) in the twelfth century, is a history of the church and the bishoprics in Iceland. Ari wrote a Latin version first and then an Icelandic one, in which he leaves out genealogical material and the biographies of Norse kings. The Breviarium Holense was a Latin missal written for use by priests in the diocese of Hólar. For Bishop Jón Arason, see note for page 31 above. The Þorlákur referred to here is St. Þorlákur, bishop of Skálholt (1133–1193). He was proclaimed a saint by the Alþingi in 1198, and his feast-days are July 20 and December 23 (the latter is still observed in a certain way in Iceland, even after centuries of Lutheranism).
p. 215 Schedulae (Latin): Registers.
p. 218 The stories of the Vínland voyages can be read in Grænlendinga saga (The Saga of the Greenlanders) and Eiríks saga rauða (The Saga of Eirík the Red ).
p. 218 Sturla Sighvatsson (1199–1238) is a principal persona in Sturlunga saga (thirteenth century), a primarily historical work on the events and conflicts leading up to the acceptance of the Norwegian king’s authority over Iceland in 1262. The Völuspá is a prophetic work contained in the Poetic Edda; it describes the creation of the world and the gods’ activities leading up to their destruction at Ragnarök.
p. 220 Musica (Latin): Music.
p. 221 Auctor, auctores (Latin): Authorities, sources.
p. 221 Reformatores (Latin): Reformers.
p. 223 Venus hac perjuria ridet (Latin): Venus smiles at this betrayal.
p. 223 Lofn: An old Norse goddess of love.
p. 225 Coquetterie (French): Coquettishness.
p. 229 Faldur (Icelandic): A type of tall, traditional women’s headgear.
p. 229 Privatim (Latin): In private, in trust.
p. 230 Opera antiquaria: Ancient works.
p. 230 Grettir Ásmundarson: A famous poet and criminal; the eponymous hero of Grettis saga Ásmundarsonar (Grettir’s Saga ).
p. 239 Gens paene barbara (Latin): A race of half-civilized barbarians.
p. 239 Volumina (Latin): Editions.
p. 239 Plantino: Christophe Plantin (1520–1589), a French printer. Gutenburg: Johannes Gutenburg (1399?–1468), a German craftsman and inventor, considered to be the father of the art of printing.
p. 239 Þorri and Góa are the Icelandic names for the fourth and fifth months of winter, roughly corresponding to January and February.
p. 241 Bjarni-prayers and Þórður-prayers: Prayers from the prayer books written by Reverend Bjarni Arngrímsson (1768–1821; Snæfríður’s reference to this work is an obvious anachronism) and Þórður Bárðarson (d. 1690; his prayer book came out in 1693).
p. 241 Ora pro nobis . . . (Latin): Pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.
p. 242 Nulla viro . . . (Latin): No woman should trust a man who swears an oath.
p. 242 “Sagas of Icelanders” (in Icelandic, Íslendingasögur ) refers to what are now generally known as “the Icelandic sagas,” that is, those sagas that were written down primarily in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries and that are concerned with specific families or individuals that lived during the “Saga Age” in Iceland, the period between the settlement of Iceland (870– 930) and the middle of the eleventh century (when the church began to reshape Icelandic society and culture). Sagas such as Egils saga, Grettis saga Ásmundarsonar, and Njáls saga all belong to this particular category. Due to their subject matter these sagas are also often referred to as “family sagas.”
p. 244 Persons in the sagas described as being “drowsy in the evening” (in Icelandic, kvöldsvæf ) generally turned out to engage in nocturnal activities, such as shapeshifting. Skallagrímur Kveldúlfsson, in Egils saga, is a famous example: some suggested he turned into a werewolf at night.
p. 246 The Great Decree (Icelandic Stóridómur): A court ruling made law by the Alþingi in 1564 (revoked in 1838) imposing stringent penalties for crimes against decency and chastity (the penalties of burning and hanging for men and drowning for women described in the novel are a result of this law).
p. 247 Ragnheiður: see note for page 63.
p. 248 Vulgaria (Latin): Vulgarities.
p. 250 Deo gratias (Latin): Thanks be to God (a greeting used by members of the Benedictine order).
p. 251 In cruce . . . (Latin): In the cross was hidden divinity alone bu
t here humanity is concealed as well.
p. 253 Fac me . . . (Latin): “Let me bear the wounds of the scourge, let me be intoxicated by the Cross,” from the hymn Stabat mater dolorosa written by the Italian Franciscan friar Jacopone da Todi (d. 1306).
p. 255 De Operatione Daemonum (Latin): Concerning the Workings of Demons.
p. 256 Mos, mores (Latin): Customs.
p. 258 Videlicet (Latin): That is to say.
p. 259 Characteres (Latin): Magical signs.
p. 259 In generali (Latin): In summary.
p. 259 Sine allegationibus . . . (Latin): Without reference to law or wisdom.
p. 266 This is a citation of a line in the Völuspá that refers to the apprehension felt by the gods concerning future hostilities with the giants: hostilities that lead to Ragnarök.
p. 269 Sum, ergo loquor (Latin): I am, therefore I speak.
p. 273 Hallgrímur Pétursson (1614–1674) was a priest and is one of the most renowned Icelandic religious poets. His wife was Guðríður Símonardóttir, known as Gudda of the Turks; she had been ransomed from Algerian pirates, called “Turks” in Icelandic (Tyrkjar) after several hundred Icelanders were kidnapped by them in 1627 (thirty-five were ransomed and twenty-seven made it back home to Iceland).
p. 275 Gálgaklettur: Gallows Cliff, at Þingvellir, where male criminals were hanged (although a precise location for Gálgaklettur is not known, some suggest that it was in the ravine called Stekkjargjá, just north of Almannagjá).
p. 276 Mensa (Latin): Table, desk.
p. 282 In praejudicio Arnæi (Latin): Against Arnas; to censure Arnas.
p. 283 Ars casuistica (Latin): The art of casuistry.
p. 283 In desperatione vitae (Latin): In despair of her life.
p. 286 Battledore: A wooden utensil (a bat or cudgel) used for beating clothes.
p. 286 Spindehus (Danish): A women’s prison and workhouse in Copenhagen, established in 1662 and in use until 1928. The women labored at spinning wool and weaving clothing for the Danish army.
p. 297 Jaegersborg was the king’s private deer park, located about eight kilometers north of Copenhagen. The area was fenced off by Frederik III in 1669, and the park’s area was doubled by Christian V in 1670.
p. 299 Ein Land . . . (German): A land blessed by dear God.
p. 299 The Furusee is the largest lake on Sjaelland in Denmark.
p. 299 Galanterie (French): Gallantry.
p. 299 Volières (French): Aviaries.
p. 299 Ach ja . . . (German): Oh, yes, my lord, life is difficult.
p. 303 Galanthomme (French): Stately man; gallant.
p. 311 Justo dolore (Latin): Righteous affliction.
p. 311 Causa prima (Latin): Chief cause.
p. 311 Jure talionis (Latin): According to the laws on compensation.
p. 311 Studiosus antiquitatum (Latin): Student of antiquities.
p. 312 Certe (Latin): Definitely.
p. 313 Maríusaga is a thirteenth-century Icelandic compilation of the legends and miracles of the Virgin Mary.
p. 313 Vivat . . . (Latin): May he live, thrive, and flourish—Marteinsson.
p. 314 Rasphus (Danish): A house of corrections in Copenhagen, in use until 1850.
p. 318 Gilitrutt: This trollish name is used by Jón Marteinsson to suggest that Árni can now divorce his “troll-wife” (as opposed to Snæfriður being an “elf-wife”).
p. 318 Acta, petitiones, appellationes (Latin): Arbitrament, petitioning, and appeals.
p. 318 Requiescas . . . (Latin): Rest in peace, whoever you are, amen.
p. 321 Impotentiae causa (Latin): Due to impotence.
p. 321 Omnium rerum . . . (Latin): Everything will soon change.
p. 321 The great smallpox epidemic occurred in Iceland during the years 1707–1709, and wiped out approximately one-third of the country’s population.
p. 325 Das ist eine Schweinerei (German): This is a scandal.
p. 325 In classicis (Latin): In the classics.
p. 327 Non facile . . . (Latin): Men of virtue who become involved in complicated domestic affairs do not easily get out of their situations.
p. 327 Donatus was a Roman rhetorician who lived in the fourth century A.D.
p. 341 The Fenris Wolf was the offspring of the god/giant Loki and the troll-woman Angurboða, and was one of the chief enemies of the gods. The binding of the Fenris Wolf is described in Snorri Sturluson’s Edda (see note for page 24 above).
p. 346 Bergur Sokkason was an abbot of the Munkaþverá monastery in north Iceland (late thirteenth and early fourteenth centuries). He wrote a number of sagas of saints and kings.
p. 347 Moria (Greek): Foolishness (here personified).
p. 349 Sine dubio (Latin): No doubt.
p. 349 Dignum neque justum (Latin): Neither applicable nor just. Scriba (Latin): Secretary. Famulus (Latin): Servant.
p. 351 Electus (Latin): Chosen one (here the bishop-elect).
p. 351 Bonis auguriis (Latin): Good auspices.
p. 351 Vicarius (Latin): Proxy, deputy.
p. 352 In the Völsunga saga there is an episode in which a man named Heimir from Hlymdalir protects Áslaug, the daughter of Sigurður and Brynhildur, by hiding her (and a great amount of gold and silver treasure and expensive clothing) in a large harp that he has constructed specially for this purpose. The saga says that when the maiden cried he played the harp to comfort her (see Völsunga saga, chapter 43).
p. 352 Rosa rosarum, virgo virginum (Latin): Rose of roses, maiden of maidens. Virgo ante . . . (Latin): A virgin before giving birth, while giving birth, and after giving birth.
p. 355 Suavium (Latin): Kiss of passion.
p. 356 Faeces diaboli (Latin): Devil’s dregs, residue.
p. 358 Durchlaucht (German): Highness.
p. 360 Pfui deibel (French débile): What nonsense.
p. 361 Auctoritas (Latin): Authority. Très obéissant serviteur (French): Most devoted servant.
p. 362 Hew ick nich verstahn (Low German): This I don’t understand.
p. 362 Ásgarður is the home of the gods in old Scandinavian mythology. In Snorri Sturluson’s Edda, he euhemeristically states that Ásgarður was located in Asia Minor, and that the gods traveled from there to Scandinavia. Snæfríður’s statement reflects this idea.
p. 363 Ma chère madame (French): My dear madam.
p. 363 Wat schall ick maken (Low German): What can I do? What am I to think?
p. 364 “The laws of St. Ólafur” is a reference to old traditions concerning the laws prescribed by Ólafur Haraldsson, king of Norway 1015–1028 and Norway’s patron saint. Gray Goose (Icelandic Grágás) is a term given to the corpus of law existent in Iceland prior to Iceland’s union with Norway in 1262.
p. 365 Ad arbitrium (Latin): At his own pleasure.
p. 365 In principio (Latin): Originally.
p. 369 Magister (Latin): Master.
p. 378 Lex Salica (Latin): A law corpus (concerning inheritances) of the inhabitants of the Rhine region in France in the fifth and sixth centuries.
p. 378 Viðey is an island in Kollafjörður, just off the north coast of Reykjavík. It was considered valuable property throughout Iceland’s history. An Augustinian monastery was in existence there from 1225–1539, and in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries the offices of various Icelandic officials were located there.
p. 378 The description of the golden game pieces lying in the grass is found in the Völuspá (see note for page 218 above). In the “Golden Age” described in the poem, the Æsir (the original Norse gods) spend their time peaceably, making treasures, tools, and games; their leisure is disturbed by war against the Vanir (a second class of gods) and then the Giants. The war with the Giants ends with the destruction of the world at Ragnarök, but after the destruction, when the world starts to renew itself, the game pieces of old are found lying in the grass.
p. 380 In 1262, after years of internal disturbances (tantamount to civil war), the Icelanders finally relinquished control of the
ir country to the Norwegian king, Hákon the Old (Hákon Hákonarson, reigned from 1217– 1264); a covenant was made, and a new code of laws, Járnsíða (Ironside), was introduced shortly afterward (in 1271; this in turn was replaced by the Jónsbók law code in 1281).
p. 381 Collegium, collegia (Latin): Colleges, fraternities.
p. 384 Relatio, relationes (Latin): Aspects, items, circumstances.
p. 386 Augmundus: Ögmundur Pálsson (1475?–1541), the last Catholic bishop of Skálholt. Jona Aronis is Bishop Jón Arason (see above note for page 31).
p. 391 Abi, scurra (Latin): Begone, you vagrant.
p. 401 Paa Skage (Danish): From Skagi.
p. 403 Saint Ólafur: see note for page 364.
p. 405 Beneficium paupertatis (Latin): Assistance for the poor.
For the notes, reference was made to Guðrún Ingólfsdóttir and Margrét Guðmundsdóttir, Lykilbók að fjórum skáldsögum eftir Halldór Laxness (Reykjavík: Vaka-Helgafell hf., 1997).
HALLDÓR LAXNESS
ICELAND’S BELL
Halldór Laxness was born near Reykjavík, Iceland, in 1902. His first novel was published when he was seventeen. The undisputed master of contemporary Icelandic fiction, and one of the outstanding novelists of the century, he wrote more than sixty books, including novels, short stories, essays, poems, plays, and memoirs. In 1955 he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. Laxness died in 1998.
INTERNATIONAL
Also by HALLDÓR LAXNESS
Independent People
Paradise Reclaimed
World Light
A VINTAGE INTERNATIONAL ORIGINAL, OCTOBER 2003
Translation copyright © 2003 by Philip Roughton
Introduction copyright © 2003 by Adam Haslett
Íslandsklukkan copyright © 1943 by Audur Laxness. Published by
agreement with Licht & Burr Literary Agency, Denmark.
Vintage is a registered trademark and Vintage International and
colophon are trademarks of Random House, Inc.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Halldór Laxness, 1902–1998.
Iceland's Bell Page 49