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occasional poetry. His poems were not published in book form till
after his death. Thorarensen seldom employs intricate metres, but his
best poems are replete with inspiration, profound wisdom. and weird
power akin to that of Eddic lays.
Sveinbjérn Egilsson, D.D. (1791—1852) head-master of the Grammar
School in Reykjavik, a renowned classical scholar, wrote some very
good poetry, though not of the highest order. But his brilliant prose
translations of Homer are of an unsurpassable beauty of style.
Hjslmar Jénsson (Bélu-Hjilmar) (1796—1875) is a remarkable example
 of a great poetical talent, which even the worst fate cannot quell.
Born and bred in utter poverty and living for many years as a
farmer unpopular and misunderstood by his neighbours, he yet managed
 to acquire considerable culture; and his poetical genius, his command
 of language, and his stern and steely temper are such, that his
poems, which to a great extent consist of satirical verses and complaints
 of his hard fate, are among the most powerful poetical compositions
 in our language.
Sigurdur Breidfiord (1798—1846), was another peasant bard whose
life was no bed of roses. He learned fo be cooper in Copenhagen
and followed that trade in Greenland for some time, but never settled
down permanently anywhere. Breidfjord was our greatest writer of
vimur, and, though sometimes a careless worker, many of his rimur
are really good. He has also written a great number of poems and
ditties remarkable for their sweetness and beauty, especially the pieces
descriptive of his country’s nature, which are inspired by a pure, tender
 and almost child-like delight in natural scenery.
Jénas Hallgrimsson (1807 —1845), naturalist, is perhaps the most
popular and most influential of Icelandic poets of the nineteenth century.
 This is due to his deep appreciation of the grandeur and beauty
of Icelandic scenery, his sincere patriotism. his tenderness of touch
and unrivalled beauty of language.
Grimur Thomsen (1820—1896) Ph.D., was for a number of years
in the Danish foreign office and diplomacy, but during the last thirty
years of his life he lived in Iceland, as a farmer at BessastaBir. In
spite of his cosmopolitan culture he was an Icelander to the core, both
in thought and expression, .and in his poetry he has given us powerful
 and vivid pictures of persons and events. drawn from our sagas
and tales.
Benedikt Gréndal (1826—1907), son of Sveinbjérn Eagilsson, was
a versatile writer, a man of brilliant parts, and a fertile but unre-