BO O K , i t able a climate, ihould be capable, in thofe dark ages, o f
v_™L“ manifefting fuch a tafte for literature. Were we better
informed of certain particulars relating to the ftate o f the
% North during thofe remote ages, we might poifibly find the
If caufe o f this -phenomenon, either in the .poverty o f the
“ inhabitants o f Iceland, which drove them to leek their for-
“ tunes in the neighbouring countries; or in the fuccefs of
“ their firft bards at foreign courts, which excited their
“ emulation, and at the fame time prepofleffed ftrangers in
« their favour; or, laftly, in the nature o f their republican
a government, in which the talent of oratory, and the rcpu-
« tation o f fuperior fenfe and capacity, are the diretft roads to
•i dignity, refpedt, and preferment
To thefe caufes may perhaps be joined the political tranquility
o f Iceland, which remaining unihaken amid the civil
commotions that convulfed the neighbouring nations, its
inhabitants had fufficient leifure for literary occupations;
and fome may alfo be induced to add, the nature o f their climate,
which obliged them to feek for fome relief againft the
rtedioufnefs of the long nights and continued darknefs t.
But to return to the Icelandick authors. The moil antient
hiftorian was Iilief, bifhop o f Skalholt. This writer was fon
o f Giffur Al'bus, a perfon o f great diftintftion in Iceland, and
defcended from the antient kings o f Denmark, who confider-
ably promoted the reception and eftabliihment o f Chriftia-
nity. Ifleif was born in 1006; and, having received the
firft rudiments of learning from his father, was fent, about
the 1 6th year of his age, for the purpofe of completing his
-education, into Saxony, and made rapid advances in feveral
* N o r A n f . V o l. I . p. 392.
^ Ipfi in defoffis fpecubns fecu ra fub alta
-Otia agu n t terra — ■—
¿ l i e noitem Iiid'o dacunt.' V ir g il,-G e o r g . I I I . 37ft.
z ‘ branches
¡branches o f knowledge*. Being ordained prieft, he returned CHAP*
to Iceland, and fixed his refidence at Skalholt, where his fa- ■ *
ther had eretSled a church ; and preached the Gofpel with a
moil fervent and perfuaiive eloquence. Ifleif was the firft
native bifhop o f Iceland : he was raifed to that dignity in
the 50th year o f his age, at the requeft of the inhabitants,
by particular defire of the emperor Henry III. and during the
pontificate of Leo IX. He was confecrated by the archbiihop
o f Bremen, on the 6th o f January, 1056, and returning the
fame year to Iceland, fixed the fee at Skalholt, where he
continued until his death, which happened in 1080, in the
7 5{b year o f his age; . Ifleif is defcribed as a perfon o f a
dignified afpecft, affable, juft and upright in all his aitions,
liberal and beneficent, though, from the narrownefs o f his
income, he was frequently expofed to extreme penury. The
fame o f his learning and piety was fo widely diffufed, that
many foreign bifiiops vifited Iceland, for the purpofe o f receiving
his inftruflions ; and his memory was fo highly revered
among his countrymen, that his name was efteemed
fynonymous to fanflity and erudition.
He was married to Dalla, daughter o f Thorwaldus, by
whom he had three fons, all o f whom were celebrated for
their talents and knowledge; but particularly Giffur, who
fucceeded his father in the bilhoprick, and in his zeal for the
propagation of the Gofpel, and the promotion o f learning.
Iilief guarded againft the decline o f literature in Iceland, by
affiduoufly inftrii&ing many pupils, fome o f whom became
eminently diftinguiihed ; and two were advanced to the epif-
copal dignity. He was well verfed in the hiftory o f the
North; and compiled feveral annals, which,though now loft,
* T h is ac count o f I fle i f I have extra cted from K r iftn i S a g a , p . 206 to 109, 130 to 1 4 1 .
H u n gu rva k a S ag a , p . 13 to ¿5»