ABSTRACT
Everywhere one still hears people, both high-born and low-born, expressing universal praise for the humanity and generosity of the widely celebrated and highly placed Englishmen Bank [sic] and Solander, who last autumn decided to visit the country. For instance it is recounted that the farmer who piloted the ship into Hafnarfjörður, where these gentlemen chose to anchor and dwell for some time, received a considerable reward. On their way to the re-breathing mountain Hecla they are reported to have given attention with great precision to everything of importance to be found in the kingdom of nature. They were also very diligent in collecting all kinds of books and where they could be had, curious printed books and manuscripts. On the occasion of their arrival at the bishopric of Skálholt Bjarni Jónsson, the local rector of the Latin school, composed some congratulatory verses (Gratulations vers) in Icelandic with a Latin translation. Among them are the following ones: [Here follow nine verses of the twenty-ve stanzas of the poem Tripudium, both in Icelandic and in Latin].2
