Chapter 10

Interesting Conversations With Icelandic Scholars

6 min

Dinner was ready. Professor Liedenbrock devoured his portion voraciously, for his compulsory fast on board had converted his stomach into a vast unfathomable gulf. There was nothing remarkable in the meal itself; but the hospitality of our host, more Danish than Icelandic, reminded me of the heroes of old. It was evident that we were more at home than he was himself.

Dinner was ready. Professor Liedenbrock devoured his portion. His forced fast on board had turned his stomach into a vast, bottomless gulf. The meal itself was ordinary, but our host’s hospitality was more Danish than Icelandic. It reminded me of the heroes of old. Clearly, we felt more at home than our host did.

The conversation was carried on in the vernacular tongue, which my uncle mixed with German and M. Fridrikssen with Latin for my benefit. It turned upon scientific questions as befits philosophers; but Professor Liedenbrock was excessively reserved, and at every sentence spoke to me with his eyes, enjoining the most absolute silence upon our plans.

They spoke in the local language, though my uncle mixed in German and M. Fridrikssen mixed in Latin for my benefit. They discussed scientific questions, as philosophers should. But Professor Liedenbrock was extremely reserved. With every sentence, he gave me a look, warning me to keep our plans absolutely secret.

In the first place M. Fridrikssen wanted to know what success my uncle had had at the library.

First, M. Fridrikssen wanted to know how much success my uncle had had at the library.

"Your library! why there is nothing but a few tattered books upon almost deserted shelves."

"Your library! There are only a few tattered books on almost empty shelves."

"Indeed!" replied M. Fridrikssen, "why we possess eight thousand volumes, many of them valuable and scarce, works in the old Scandinavian language, and we have all the novelties that Copenhagen sends us every year."

"Indeed!" replied M. Fridrikssen. "Why, we have eight thousand books, many of them valuable and rare works in Old Scandinavian. We also have all the new books Copenhagen sends us each year."

"Where do you keep your eight thousand volumes? For my part—"

"Where do you keep your eight thousand books? As for me..."

"Oh, M. Liedenbrock, they are all over the country. In this icy region we are fond of study. There is not a farmer nor a fisherman that cannot read and does not read. Our principle is, that books, instead of growing mouldy behind an iron grating, should be worn out under the eyes of many readers. Therefore, these volumes are passed from one to another, read over and over, referred to again and again; and it often happens that they find their way back to their shelves only after an absence of a year or two."

"Oh, M. Liedenbrock, they are all over the country. In this icy region, we love to study. Every farmer and fisherman can read, and every one of them does. We believe books should not grow moldy behind an iron grating. They should be worn out by the eyes of many readers. So these books are passed from one person to another. They are read over and over and consulted again and again. Often, they return to their shelves only after a year or two."

"And in the meantime," said my uncle rather spitefully, "strangers—"

"And meanwhile," my uncle said rather spitefully, "strangers..."

"Well, what would you have? Foreigners have their libraries at home, and the first essential for labouring people is that they should be educated. I repeat to you the love of reading runs in Icelandic blood. In 1816 we founded a prosperous literary society; learned strangers think themselves honoured in becoming members of it. It publishes books which educate our fellow-countrymen, and do the country great service. If you will consent to be a corresponding member, Herr Liedenbrock, you will be giving us great pleasure."

"Well, what can you expect? Foreigners have libraries at home, and the first essential for working people is an education. I tell you again, the love of reading runs in Icelandic blood. In 1816, we founded a thriving literary society. Learned visitors from abroad consider it an honor to join. The society publishes books that educate our fellow-countrymen and do the country a great service. If you agree to become a corresponding member, Herr Liedenbrock, you will give us great pleasure."

My uncle, who had already joined about a hundred learned societies, accepted with a grace which evidently touched M. Fridrikssen.

My uncle had already joined about a hundred scholarly societies. He accepted graciously, and M. Fridrikssen was clearly touched by his response.

"Now," said he, "will you be kind enough to tell me what books you hoped to find in our library and I may perhaps enable you to consult them?"

"Now," he said, "please tell me what books you hoped to find in our library. Perhaps I can help you consult them."

My uncle's eyes and mine met. He hesitated. This direct question went to the root of the matter. But after a moment's reflection he decided on speaking.

My uncle and I looked at each other. He hesitated. The direct question got to the heart of the matter. But after a moment's thought, he decided to speak.

"Monsieur Fridrikssen, I wished to know if amongst your ancient books you possessed any of the works of Arne Saknussemm?"

"Monsieur Fridrikssen, I wanted to know if any of your old books include works by Arne Saknussemm?"

"Arne Saknussemm!" replied the Rejkiavik professor. "You mean that learned sixteenth century savant, a naturalist, a chemist, and a traveller?"

"Arne Saknussemm!" replied the Rejkiavik professor. "You mean the learned sixteenth-century scholar who was a naturalist, chemist, and traveler?"

"Just so!"

"Exactly!"

"One of the glories of Icelandic literature and science?"

"One of the great figures in Icelandic literature and science?"

"That's the man."

"An illustrious man anywhere!"

"A famous man anywhere!"

"Quite so."

"Exactly."

"And whose courage was equal to his genius!"

"And whose courage matched his genius!"

"I see that you know him well."

"I can see that you know him well."

My uncle was bathed in delight at hearing his hero thus described. He feasted his eyes upon M. Fridrikssen's face.

My uncle was delighted to hear his hero described this way. He gazed at M. Fridrikssen's face with pleasure.

"Well," he cried, "where are his works?"

"Well," he exclaimed, "where are his works?"

"His works, we have them not."

"We do not have his works."

"What—not in Iceland?"

"What, not in Iceland?"

"They are neither in Iceland nor anywhere else."

"They aren't in Iceland or anywhere else."

"Why is that?"

"Because Arne Saknussemm was persecuted for heresy, and in 1573 his books were burned by the hands of the common hangman."

"Because Arne Saknussemm was persecuted for heresy, and in 1573 the public executioner burned his books."

"Very good! Excellent!" cried my uncle, to the great scandal of the professor of natural history.

"Very good! Excellent!" my uncle cried, much to the shock of the natural history professor.

"What!" he cried.

"Yes, yes; now it is all clear, now it is all unravelled; and I see why Saknussemm, put into the Index Expurgatorius, and compelled to hide the discoveries made by his genius, was obliged to bury in an incomprehensible cryptogram the secret—"

"Yes, yes. Now it is all clear. Now it has all been unraveled. And I see why Saknussemm had to bury the secret in an incomprehensible cryptogram. He was put in the Index Expurgatorius and forced to hide the discoveries his genius had made..."

"What secret?" asked M. Fridrikssen, starting.

"What secret?" asked M. Fridrikssen, startled.

"Oh, just a secret which—" my uncle stammered.

"Oh, just a secret that..." my uncle stammered.

"Have you some private document in your possession?" asked our host.

"Do you have a private document?" our host asked.

"No; I was only supposing a case."

"No, I was only imagining a situation."

"Oh, very well," answered M. Fridrikssen, who was kind enough not to pursue the subject when he had noticed the embarrassment of his friend. "I hope you will not leave our island until you have seen some of its mineralogical wealth."

"Oh, all right," answered M. Fridrikssen. When he noticed his friend's embarrassment, he was kind enough not to pursue the subject. "I hope you won't leave our island until you've seen some of its mineral wealth."

"Certainly," replied my uncle; "but I am rather late; or have not others been here before me?"

"Certainly," my uncle replied. "But I'm rather late. Haven't others been here before me?"

"Yes, Herr Liedenbrock; the labours of MM. Olafsen and Povelsen, pursued by order of the king, the researches of Troïl the scientific mission of MM. Gaimard and Robert on the French corvette La Recherche, and lately the observations of scientific men who came in the Reine Hortense, have added materially to our knowledge of Iceland. But I assure you there is plenty left."

"Yes, Herr Liedenbrock. Olafsen and Povelsen carried out their work by order of the king. Troïl did research, and Gaimard and Robert led a scientific mission on the French corvette La Recherche,. More recently, scientists who came on the Reine Hortense, made observations. All this has greatly increased our knowledge of Iceland. But I assure you, there is plenty left to discover."

In 1835, Admiral Duperré sent the Recherche to learn what happened to M. de Blosseville's lost expedition aboard the Lilloise. The expedition was never heard from.

"Do you think so?" said my uncle, pretending to look very modest, and trying to hide the curiosity was flashing out of his eyes.

"Do you think so?" my uncle said, pretending to be modest and trying to hide the curiosity flashing in his eyes.

"Oh, yes; how many mountains, glaciers, and volcanoes there are to study, which are as yet but imperfectly known! Then, without going any further, that mountain in the horizon. That is Snæfell."

"Oh, yes, there are so many mountains, glaciers, and volcanoes to study that we still know very little about! And look at that mountain on the horizon. We don't even have to go any farther. That is Snæfell."

"Ah!" said my uncle, as coolly as he was able, "is that Snæfell?"

"Ah!" said my uncle, as calmly as he could, "is that Snæfell?"

"Yes; one of the most curious volcanoes, and the crater of which has scarcely ever been visited."

"Yes, one of the most unusual volcanoes. Its crater has hardly ever been visited."

"Is it extinct?"

"Oh, yes; more than five hundred years."

"Oh, yes, more than five hundred years."

"Well," replied my uncle, who was frantically locking his legs together to keep himself from jumping up in the air, "that is where I mean to begin my geological studies, there on that Seffel—Fessel—what do you call it?"

"Well," replied my uncle, frantically locking his legs together to keep from jumping into the air, "that's where I intend to begin my geological studies. There on that Seffel, Fessel, what do you call it?"

"Snæfell," replied the excellent M. Fridrikssen.

This part of the conversation was in Latin; I had understood every word of it, and I could hardly conceal my amusement at seeing my uncle trying to keep down the excitement and satisfaction which were brimming over in every limb and every feature. He tried hard to put on an innocent little expression of simplicity; but it looked like a diabolical grin.

This part of the conversation was in Latin, and I understood every word. I could hardly hide my amusement as my uncle tried to contain his excitement and satisfaction. They showed in every movement and every expression. He tried hard to look innocent and guileless, but he looked as if he were grinning like a devil.

"Yes," said he, "your words decide me. We will try to scale that Snæfell; perhaps even we may pursue our studies in its crater!"

"Yes," he said, "your words have convinced me. We will try to climb Snæfell. Perhaps we may even continue our studies in its crater!"

"I am very sorry," said M. Fridrikssen, "that my engagements will not allow me to absent myself, or I would have accompanied you myself with both pleasure and profit."

"I'm very sorry," said M. Fridrikssen, "but my commitments won't allow me to leave. Otherwise, I would have gladly joined you and benefited from the trip myself."

"Oh, no, no!" replied my uncle with great animation, "we would not disturb any one for the world, M. Fridrikssen. Still, I thank you with all my heart: the company of such a talented man would have been very serviceable, but the duties of your profession—"

"Oh, no, no!" my uncle replied eagerly. "We wouldn't dream of disturbing anyone, M. Fridrikssen. Still, I thank you with all my heart. Having such a talented man with us would have been very helpful, but the duties of your profession..."

I am glad to think that our host, in the innocence of his Icelandic soul, was blind to the transparent artifices of my uncle.

I'm glad our host, in his innocent Icelandic way, didn't see through my uncle's obvious tricks.

"I very much approve of your beginning with that volcano, M. Liedenbrock. You will gather a harvest of interesting observations. But, tell me, how do you expect to get to the peninsula of Snæfell?"

"I think it is a very good idea to start with that volcano, M. Liedenbrock. You will make many interesting observations. But tell me, how do you expect to get to the peninsula of Snæfell?"

"By sea, crossing the bay. That's the most direct way."

"By sea, across the bay. That's the most direct way."

"No doubt; but it is impossible."

"Of course, but it's impossible."

"Why?"

"Because we don't possess a single boat at Rejkiavik."

"Because we don't have a single boat in Rejkiavik."

"You don't mean to say so?"

"You don't mean that?"

"You will have to go by land, following the shore. It will be longer, but more interesting."

"You'll have to travel by land, following the shore. The trip will be longer, but more interesting."

"Very well, then; and now I shall have to see about a guide."

"All right, then. Now I'll have to find a guide."

"I have one to offer you."

"A safe, intelligent man."

"A reliable, intelligent man."

"Yes; an inhabitant of that peninsula. He is an eider-down hunter, and very clever. He speaks Danish perfectly."

"Yes, he lives on that peninsula. He is an eiderdown hunter and very clever. He speaks Danish perfectly."

"When can I see him?"

"To-morrow, if you like."

"Tomorrow, if you like."

"Why not to-day?"

"Why not today?"

"Because he won't be here till to-morrow."

"Because he won't be here until tomorrow."

"To-morrow, then," added my uncle with a sigh.

"Tomorrow, then," my uncle added with a sigh.

This momentous conversation ended in a few minutes with warm acknowledgments paid by the German to the Icelandic Professor. At this dinner my uncle had just elicited important facts, amongst others, the history of Saknussemm, the reason of the mysterious document, that his host would not accompany him in his expedition, and that the very next day a guide would be waiting upon him.

The important conversation ended a few minutes later, with the German warmly thanking the Icelandic Professor. During dinner, my uncle had learned important facts, including the history of Saknussemm and the reason for the mysterious document. He also learned that his host would not join the expedition and that a guide would be waiting for him the very next day.