THE KING'S MIRROR 67 



translation and a Latin paraphrase of the same and for- 

 warded the whole to Denmark to be published. The 

 materials were given into the editorial charge of another 

 learned Icelander, Jon Erichsen, teacher of jurispru- 

 dence at Soro Academy. Although Jon Erichsen's name 

 does not appear on the title page, it is quite clear that 

 the general excellence of the work is in large measure 

 due to his careful collation of Einersen's text with man- 

 uscripts to which the Icelandic rector had not had ac- 

 cess. Professor Erichsen discarded Einersen's Danish 

 translation and prepared one of his own. He also found 

 place in the volume for a dissertation by Hans Finsen, 

 which was first published in 1766, and in which the 

 learned theologian discusses various literary problems, 

 such as the authorship of the work, the date of compo- 

 sition, and the like. All these materials were brought to- 

 gether and published at Soro in 1768. On the whole the 

 Soro edition is an excellent piece of work. The Icelandic 

 text was made with great care and reveals the fact that 

 the editors were possessed of a critical insight which for 

 the time was remarkable. The Danish translation is 

 somewhat stiff and literal and does not always follow 

 the laws of Danish syntax; but it is generally accurate 

 and retains an unmistakable flavor of the Old Norse 

 original. 



Except for some assistance rendered by Professor 

 Scheming, the first edition of the King's Mirror was 

 the work of Icelanders. The Norwegians were also be- 

 ginning to show some interest in their medieval past; 

 but Norway was still a part of the Danish monarchy, 

 the political and intellectual center of which was Co- 



