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4 - Latin Oratory at the Edge of the World: The Fragments of Gizurr Hallsson’s *Gesta Scalotensis ecclesie presulum and the *Vita sancti Thorlaci

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 January 2023

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Summary

On the second day of Christmas in 1193, as the burial ceremony of Bishop Þorlákr Þórhallsson (1133–1193) was coming to an end, the aged lawspeaker of Iceland Gizurr Hallsson (c. 1116–1206) gave a long and elaborate funeral speech in the graveyard of Skálholt Cathedral. In his speech, he summarized the history of the Skálholt diocese and concluded with a short account of the life of the soon-to-be holy man. The best source for the contents of this oration is the B-redaction of Þorláks saga helga, which includes an excerpt from the speech itself, in which Gizurr reputedly said:

Ek hefi hér verit nǫkkurum sinnum staddr þá er þau tíðendi hafa gǫrzk er þessum eru lík. Fimm byskupar hafa hér verit niðr settir at mér hjáveranda. Fyrst Þorlákr byskup Runólfsson, þá Ketill byskup, en síðan Magnús byskup, eftir þat Kloengr byskup, en nú Þorlákr byskup. Ek hefi ok talat hér nǫkkur orð, þá ⟨er⟩ þessir atburðir hafa gǫrzk, sem siðvenja er til í ǫðrum lǫndum yfir tiginna manna grepti. En málaefni hafa verit jafnan stóriliga góð, því at þeir hafa allir verit inir mestu merkismenn í sínum byskupsdómi. Ok er gott á þat at minnast at várri grein ok at sǫgn várra forellra, um þá byskupa er hér hafa verit fyrir vára daga ok á várum dǫgum, at sá þykkir hverjum beztr sem kunnastr er. En svá dýrligir menn sem þeir hafa verit allir þá er þat þó eitt sér hversu Þorlákr hefir sik til búit biskupstignar, lángt frá því sem allir aðrir.

[Several times before I have found myself here in this place, when events have transpired that were similar to the present occasion. Five bishops have been buried here in my presence. First Bishop Þorlákr, son of Runólfr, then Bishop Ketill, later Bishop Magnús, after that Bishop Kloengr, and now Bishop Þorlákr. I have also spoken a few words here, when these events took place, as is customary in other countries at the burial of noble men. The subject-matter has always been outstanding, because these men have all proven excellent in the office of bishop.

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Publisher: Boydell & Brewer
Print publication year: 2021

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