Early-Medieval-England.net

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1.	Gáttir allar	Before one would advance
	áðr gangi fram	through each doorway,
	um skoðask skyli	one must look about
4	um skygnask skyli	and peer around,
	því at óvíst
	er at vita	because one can't know for sure
	hvar óvinir	where enemies
8	sitja á fleti fyrir	sit in the hall beforehand.

2.	Gefendr heilir	Greetings to the hosts,
	gestr er inn kominn	a guest is come.
	hvar skal sitja sjá?	where must this one sit?
4	Mjök er bráðr	He is very impatient,
	sá er bröndum skal	the one who must sit on the firewood,
	síns um freista frama	to test his luck.

3.	Elds er þörf	There is need of fire
	þeims inn er kominn	for him who is come in
	ok á kné kalinn	with cold knees;
4	matar ok váða	there is need of food and clothes
	es manni þörf	for the man
	þeims hefir um fjall farit	who has journeyed on the mountainside.

4.	Vats er þörf	There is need of water,
	þeims til verðar kømr	for the one who comes for a meal,
	þerru ok þjóðlaðar	of towel and friendly intonation;
4	góðs um œðis	of good disposition,
	ef sér geta mætti	if he can get it,
	orðs ok endrþögu	of speech and silence in return.

5.	Vits er þörf	Sense is needed
	þeims viða ratar	for the one who travels widely;
	dælt er heima hvat	everything is easy at home.
4	at augabragði verðr	He who knows nothing
	sá er ekki kann	and sits with wise men
	ok með snotrum sitr	becomes a mockery.

6.	At hyggjandi sinni	A man must not be boastful
	skylit maðr hrœsinn vera	in his mind,
	heldr gætinn at geði	but wary in disposition;
4	þá er horskr ok þögull	when he, wise and silent,
	kømr heimisgarða til	comes to the homestead,
	sjaldan verðr viti vörum	misfortune rarely befalls the wary,
	því at óbrigðra vin	because man can never have
8	fær maðr aldregi	a more reliable guide
	en manvit mikit	than great common sense.

7.	Hinn vari gestr	The wary guest
	er til verðar kømr	who comes for a meal
	þunnu hljóði þegir	is silent with strained hearing,
4	eyrum hlýðir	listens with ears
	en augum skoðar	and examines with eyes;
	svá nýsisk fróðra hverr fyrir	so each of the wise searches about himself.

8.	Hinn er sæll	He is blessed
	er sér of getr	who has within himself
	lof ok líknstafi	praise and esteem;
4	ódælla er við þat	it is harder to deal with that
	er maðr eiga skal	which a man must own
	annars brjóstum í	in the breast of another.

9.	Sá er sæll	He is blessed
	er sjalfr of á	who has within himself
	lof ok vit meðan lifir	praise and sense while he lives,
4	því at ill röð	because man has often received
	hefr maðr opt þegit	ill-counsel
	annars brjóstum ór	from the breast of another.

10.	Byrði betri	A man does not bear
	berrat maðr brautu at	a better burden on the road
	en sé manvit mikit	than is great commonsense;
4	auði betra	it seems a greater wealth
	þykkir þat í ókunnum stað	in an unknown place --
	slíkt er válaðs vera	such is the refuge of the needy.

11.	Byrði betri	A man does not bear
	berrat maðr brautu at	a better burden on the road
	en sé manvit mikit	than is great commonsense;
4	vegnest verra	he does not carry a worse journey-provision
	vegra hann velli at	in the open field than is
	an sé ofdrykkja öls	the over-drinking of ale.

12.	Era svá gótt	Ale is not as good
	sem gótt kveða	as it is said to be good
	öl alda sonum	for the sons of men;
4	því at færa veit	because the man knows less
	er fleira drekkr	-- he who drinks more --
	síns til geðs gumi	of his disposition.

13.	Óminnishegri heitir	He is called the heron of forgetfulness,
	sá er yfir ölðrum þrumir	he who hovers over ale-parties;
	hann stelr geði guma	he steals the disposition of men.
4	þess fugls fjöðrum	By the feathers of this bird
	ek fjötraðr vask	I was fettered,
	í garði Gunnlaðar	in the courts of Gunnlöth.

14.	Ölr ek varð	I got drunk,
	varð ofrölvi	really drunk,
	at hins fróða Fjalars	at Fjalarr the Wise's;
4	því er ölðr bazt	it is the best ale-feast
	at aptr of heimtir	when each man recovers his disposition
	hverr sitt geð gumi

15.	Þagalt ok hugalt	A ruler's son must be
	skyli þjóðans barn	silent and thoughtful
	ok vígdjarft vera	and brave in battle;
4	glaðr ok reifr	each man must be
	skyli gumna hverr	happy and cheerful
	unz sínn bíðr bana	until he suffers death.

16.	Ósnjallr maðr	The foolish man
	hyggsk munu ey lifa	thinks he will live forever
	ef hann við víg varask	if he avoids battle;
4	en elli gefr	but old age gives
	honum engi frið	him no peace,
	þótt honum geirar gefi	though spears might spare him.

17.	Kópir afglapi	The fool stares
	er til kynnis kømr	when he comes on a visit to acquaintances;
	þylsk hann umbeða þrumir	he mumbles to himself or hovers.
4	alt er senn	Everything happens at once
	ef hann sylg um getr	if he gets a drink:
	uppi er þá geð guma	then his disposition is revealed.

18.	Sá einn veit	He alone knows,
	er víða ratar	he who wanders widely
	ok hefr fjölð um farit	and has travelled a great deal,
4	hverju geði	what disposition
	stýrir gumna hverr	each man possesses.
	sá er vitandi er vits	He is knowing in commonsense.

19.	Haldit maðr á keri	Do not let a man hold on to a goblet,
	drekki þó at hófi mjöð	but let him drink mead in moderation,
	mæli þarft eða þegi	let him talk sense or be silent.
4	ókynnis þess	No man blames you
	var þik engi maðr	of bad manners,
	at þú gangir snemma at sofa	that you go early to sleep.

20.	Gröðugr halr	A greedy man,
	nema geðs viti	unless he knows his mind,
	etr sér aldrtrega	often causes his life's sorrow by eating;
4	opt fær hlœgis	often the stomach gains ridicule,
	er með horskum kømr	when he comes among wise men,
	manni heimskum magi	for the foolish man.

21.	Hjarðir þat vitu	The herds know
	nær þær heim skulu	when they must be home
	ok ganga þá af grasi	and leave the pasture then;
4	en ósviðr maðr	but the unwise man
	kann ævagi	never knows
	síns um mál maga	the measure of his stomach.

22.	Vesall maðr	The wretched man
	ok illa skapi	of bad character
	hlær at hvívetna	laughs at all kinds of things.
4	hitki hann veit	On the other hand he doesn't know
	er hann vita þyrpti	what he ought to know,
	at hann era vamma vanr	that he is not lacking in faults.

23.	Ósviðr maðr	The unwise man
	vakir um allar nætr	is awake all night
	ok hyggr at hvívetna	and thinks of all sorts of things;
4	þá er móðr	then he is tired
	er at morni kømr	when morning comes,
	alt er vil sem var	and all the trouble is as it was.

24.	Ósnotr maðr	The unwise man
	hyggr sér alla vera	thinks them all to be
	viðhlæjendr vini	his friends, those who laugh at him;
4	hitki hann fiðr	he does not notice
	þótt þeir um hann fár lesi	even if they express malice against him
	ef hann með snotrum sitr	when he sits among wise men.

25.	Ósnotr maðr	The unwise man
	hyggr sér alla vera	thinks them all to be
	viðhlæjendr vini	his friends, those who laugh at him;
4	þá þat fiðr	then he finds
	er at þingi kømr	when he comes to the Thing [assembly]
	at hann á formælendr fá	that he has few supporters.

26.	Ósnotr maðr	The unwise man
	þykkisk alt vita	thinks he knows everything
	ef hann á sér í vá veru	if he has refuge for himself in a corner.
4	hitki hann veit	but he does not know
	hvat hann skal við kveða	what he must say in reply,
	ef hans freista firar	if men test him.

27.	Ósnotr maðr	For the unwise man
	er með aldir kømr	who comes among men,
	þat er bazt at hann þegi	it is best that be he silent.
4	engi þat veit	None know
	at hann ekki kann	that he knows nothing,
	nema hann mæli til mart [#]	unless he should speak too much.
	veita maðr	The man does not know it,
8	hinn er vætki veit	he who knows nothing,
	þótt hann mæli til mart	whether he speaks too much.

28.	Fróðr sá þykkisk	He seems wise,
	er fregna kann	he who knows how to ask
	ok segja hit sama	and to speak likewise;
4	eyvitu leyna	they can conceal nothing,
	megu ýta synir	the sons of men,
	því er gengr of guma	of what is said about men.

29.	Œrna mælir	He who is never silent
	sá er eva þegir	speaks plenty
	staðlausu stafi	of meaningless words;
4	hraðmælt tunga	the fast-talking tongue,
	nema haldendr eigi	unless it have controllers,
	opt sér ógótt um gelr	often sings itself harm.

30.	At augabragði	A man must not make
	skala maðr anna hafa	a mockery of another
	þótt til kynnis komi	when he comes to visit acquaintances;
4	margr þá fróðr þykkisk	many a man seems wise
	ef hann freginn erat	if he is not questioned
	ok nái hann þurrfjallr þruma	and manages to sit quiet, unscathed.

31.	Fróðr þykkisk	He seems wise,
	sá er flótta tekr	the guest who takes flight
	gestr at gest hæðinn	from the mocking guest;
4	veita görla	he does not know for certain,
	sá er of verði glissir	he who mocks over a meal,
	þótt hann með grömum glami	whether he talks loudly among enemies.

32.	Gunnar margir	Many men
	erusk gagnhollir	are most friendly with each other
	en at virði vrekask	and yet fight over food;
4	aldar róg	strife among men
	þat mun æ vera	will always be:
	órir gestr við gest	guest will be hostile to guest.

33.	Árliga verðar	A man should often take
	skyli maðr opt fá	a meal early,
	nema til kynnis komi	unless he comes to visit friends;
4	sitr ok snópir	[else] he sits and looks around hungrily,
	lætr sem solginn sé	behaves as though he's famished,
	ok kann fregna at fá	and can talk about little.

34.	Afhvart mikit	It is a great roundabout way
	er til ills vinar	to a bad friend,
	þótt á brautu búi	though he dwell on the road;
4	en til góðs vinar	but to a good friend
	liggja gagnvegir	there lead direct routes,
	þótt hann sé firr farinn	though he be gone farther away.

35.	Ganga skal	The guest must go,
	skala gestr vera	he must not be
	ey í einum stað	always in the same place;
4	ljúfr verðr leiðr	loved becomes loathed
	ef lengi sitr	if he stays a long time
	annars fletjum á	in the hall of another.

36.	Bú er betra	The dwelling is better,
	þótt lítit sé	though it be small;
	halr er heima hverr	each man is a free man at home;
4	þótt tvær geitr	though he own two she-goats
	eigi ok taugreptan sal	and a hall roofed with withies,
	þat er þó betra an bœn	it is still better than begging.

37.	Bú er betra	The dwelling is better,
	þótt lítit sé	though it be small;
	halr er heima hverr	each man is a free man at home;
4	blóðugt er hjarta	he has a bloody heart,
	þeims biðja skal	the one who must beg
	sér í mál hvert matar	food for himself every meal-time.

38.	Vápnum sínum	A man in the open country must not
	skala maðr velli á	go more than one step
	feti ganga framar	from his weapons;
4	því at óvist er at vita	because one can't be sure
	nær verðr á vegum úti	when, outside on the roads,
	geirs um þörf guma	a spear will be needed by a warrior.

39.	Fanka ek mildan mann	I have not found a man so liberal
	eða svá matar góðan	or so generous with food
	at værit þiggja þegit	that to accept was not accepted,
4	eða síns féar	or so free
	svá gjöflan [#]	with his money
	at leið sé laun ef þiggr	that the reward is unwelcome if he gets one.

40.	Féar síns	A man should not endure want
	er fengit hefir	when he has gained
	skylit maðr þörf þola	his money;
4	opt sparir leiðum	often he saves for enemies
	þats hefir ljúfum hugat	what he has intended for friends;
	mart gengr verr en varir	much goes worse than expected.

41.	Vápnum ok váðum	Friends must gladden each other
	skulu vinir gleðjask	with weapons and clothes,
	þat er á sjalfum sýnst	which are most evident on themselves.
4	viðr gefendr ok endrgefendr	givers in return and repeat-givers
	erusk vinir lengst,	are friends the longest
	ef þat bíðr at verða vel	if it endures to turn out well.

42.	Vin sínum	A man must be a friend
	skal maðr vinr vera	to his friend
	ok gjalda gjöf við gjöf	and give gift for gift.
4	hlátr við hlátri	Men should use
	skyli hölðar taka	mockery in return for mockery,
	en lausung við lygi	and deception in return for a lie.

43.	Vin sínum	A man must be a friend
	skal maðr vinr vera	to his friend,
	þeim ok þess vinr	for himself and for the friend,
4	en óvinar síns	but no man must
	skyli engi maðr	be a friend of a friend
	vinar vinr vera	of his foe.

44.	Veiztu ef þú vin átt	Know, if you have a friend
	þanns þú vel trúir	in whom you have faith,
	ok vill þú af honum gótt geta	and you wish to get something good from him,
4	geði skalt við þann	you must share with his mind
	blanda ok gjöfum skipta	and exchange gifts,
	fara at finna opt	and go often to seek him out.

45.	Ef þú át annan	If you have another
	þanns þú illa trúir	whom you mistrust,
	vildu af honum þó gótt geta	but you want to get something good from him,
4	fagrt skalt við þann mæla	you must speak fair to him,
	en flátt hyggja	and think deceitful thoughts,
	ok gjalda lausung við lygi	and give deception in return for a lie.

46.	Þat er enn of þann	There is more about the one
	er þú illa trúir	whom you mistrust
	ok þér er grunr at hans geði	and whose disposition you suspect:
4	hlæja skaltu við þeim	you should laugh with him
	ok um hug mæla	and speak other than your thought.
	glík skulu gjöld gjöfum	There should be repayment for such gifts.

47.	Ungr var ek forðum	Long ago I was young,
	fór ek einn saman	I travelled on my own,
	þá varð ek villr vega	then I turned astray in my paths:
4	auðigr þóttumk	I thought myself rich
	er ek annan fann	when I found another,
	maðr er manns gaman	man is man's entertainment.

48.	Mildir frœknir	Generous, valiant
	menn bazt lifa	men live best,
	sjaldan sút ala	and seldom nourish sorrow;
4	en ósnjallr maðr	but the cowardly man
	uggir hotvetna	fears all sorts of things
	sýtir æ gløggr við gjöfum	and the niggard is always troubled about gifts.

49.	Váðir mínar	My clothes
	gaf ek velli at	I gave in a field
	tveim trémönnum	to two wooden men:
4	rekkar þat þóttusk	they thought themselves warriors
	er þeir ript höfðu	when they had clothing:
	neiss er nøkkviðr halr	a naked man is shamed.

50.	Hrørnar þöll	The fir decays,
	sú er stendr þorpi á	the one that stands in the hamlet:
	hlýrat henni börkr né barr	neither bark nor foliage protects it.
4	svá er maðr	So is a man,
	sá er mangi ann	who is loved by no-one:
	hvat skal hann lengi lifa?	how should he live a long time?

51.	Eldi heitari	Friendship among bad friends
	brinn með illum vinum	burns hotter than fire
	friðr fimm daga,	for five days;
4	en þá sloknar	but it is extinguished
	es hinn sétti kømr	when the sixth day comes
	ok versnar allr vinskapr	and the whole friendship spoils.

52.	Mikit eitt	One should not give a man
	skala manni gefa	a single large gift:
	opt kaupir sér í lítlu lof	often one can obtain for onself with a little praise:
4	með hálfum hleifi	with half a loaf
	ok með höllu keri	and with a sloping goblet
	fekk ek mér félaga	I got myself a comrade.

53.	Lítilla sanda	? [of small sands,]
	lítilla sæva	? [of small seas,]
	lítil eru geð guma	Small are the minds of men,
4	því at allir menn	because all men
	urðut jafnspakir	have not turned out equally wise,
	hálf er öld hvar	? mankind is everywhere halved.

54.	Meðalsnotr	Each man must be
	skyli manna hverr	moderately wise,
	æva til snotr sé	but never too wise;
4	þeim er fyrða	for those people
	fegrst at lifa	it is most pleasant to live
	er vel mart vitut [#]	when they don't know a great many things.

55.	Meðalsnotr	Each man must be
	skyli manna hverr	moderately wise,
	æva til snotr sé	but never too wise;
4	því at snotrs manns hjarta	because the wise man's heart
	verðr sjaldan glatt,	is seldom glad,
	ef sá er alsnotr er á	if he who owns it is completely wise.

56.	Meðalsnotr	Each man must be
	skyli manna hverr	moderately wise,
	æva til snotr sé	but never too wise;
4	ørlög sín	no-one should know beforehand
	viti engi fyrir	his fate;
	þeim er sorgalausastr sefi	for that one is the mind most free from care.

57.	Brandr af brandi	Firewood from firewood
	brinn unz brunninn er	burns, until it is burnt,
	funi kveykisk af funa	flame kindles from flame;
4	maðr af manni	from man, man
	verðr at máli kuðr	becomes wise in speech,
	en til dœlskr af dul	but too foolish from folly.

58.	Ár skal rísa	He must rise early,
	sá er annars vill	the one who wants to have another's
	fé eða fjör hafa	wealth or life;
4	sjaldan liggjandi úlfr	seldom does a lying wolf
	lær um getr	get a ham
	né sofandi maðr sigr	or a sleeping man victory.

59.	Ár skal rísa	He must rise early,
	sá er á yrkendr fá	the one who has few workers,
	ok ganga síns verka á vit	and go to visit his work;
4	mart um dvelr	much will delay
	þann er um morgin sefr	the one who sleeps through the morning;
	hálfr er auðr und hvötum	wealth is half in the hands of the active.

60.	Þurra skíða	Man knows the measure of this,
	ok þakinna næfra	of dry sticks
	þess kann maðr mjöt	and of birch-bark for roofing,
4	ok þess viðar	and of this, of wood
	er vinnask megi	which will last
	mál ok misseri	for the short and long seasons.

61.	Þveginn ok mettr	A man should ride to the Thing
	ríði maðr þingi at	washed and fed,
	þótt hann sét væddr til vel	though he be not clothed too well;
4	skúa ok bróka	let no man be ashamed
	skammisk engi maðr	of shoes and breeches,
	né hests in heldr	nor of horse either,
	þótt hann hafit góðan	even if he hasn't a good one.

62.	Snapir ok gnapir	The eagle snatches and stretches
	er til sævar kømr	when it comes to the sea,
	örn á aldinn mar	the ancient sea;
4	svá er maðr	so is a man
	er með mörgum kømr	who comes among crowds
	ok á formælendr fá	and has few supporters.

63.	Fregna ok segja	Each of the wise must
	skal fróðra hverr	ask and reply,
	sá er vill heitinn horskr	he who wishes to be called wise;
4	einn vita	one alone must know
	né annarr skal	but not another;
	þjóð veit ef þrír ro	the people knows if there are three [who know].

64.	Ríki sitt	Each of the prudent must
	skyli ráðsnotra	hold in moderation
	hverr í hófi hafa	his power;
4	þá hann þat finnr	then he finds it,
	er með frœknum kømr	when he comes among valiant men,
	at engi er einna hvatastr	that none is keenest of all.

65.	Orða þeira	Often a man gets a repayment
	er maðr öðrum segir	for the words
	opt hann gjöld um getr	which he says to another.

66.	Mikilsti snemma	I came to many places
	kom ek í marga staði	very much too soon,
	en til síð í suma	and too late to some;
4	öl var drukkit	sometimes the ale was drunk,
	sumt var ólagat	sometimes it wasn't ready;
	sjaldan hittir leiðr í lið	the unwelcome one seldom hits the spot.

67.	Hér ok hvar	Here and there
	myndi mér heim of boðit	I would be invited home
	ef þyrftak at málungi mat	if I needed no food at meals;
4	eða tvau lær hengi	or two hams would hang
	at ins tryggva vinar	at a loyal friend's
	þars ek hafða eitt etit	where I had eaten one.

68.	Eldr er beztr	Fire is best
	með ýta sonum	for the sons of men
	ok sólar sýn	and the sight of the sun;
4	heilyndi sitt	his health,
	ef maðr hafa náir	if he can keep it,
	án við löst at lifa	and to live without shame.

69.	Erat maðr alls vesall	A man is not wholly wretched,
	þótt hann sé illa heill	though he be in rotten health;
	sumr er af sonum sæll	one is blessed with sons,
4	sumr af frændum	another with kinsmen,
	sumr af fé œrnu	another with plenty of money,
	sumr af verkum vel	another with deeds well done.

70.	Betra er lifðum	It is better for the living
	en sé ólifðum [#]	than for the dead,
	ey getr kvikr kú	the living man always gets the cow;
4	eld sá ek upp brenna	I saw the fire burn up
	auðgum manni fyrir	before a rich man,
	en úti var dauðr fyr durum	but death was outside the door.

71.	Haltr ríðr hrossi	The lame man rides a horse,
	hjörð rekr handarvanr	the one-armed man drives the herd,
	daufr vegr ok dugir	the deaf man fights and is useful;
4	blindr er betri	it is better to be blind
	en brenndr sé	than burnt:
	nýtr manngi nás	no-one is helped by a corpse.

72.	Sonr er betri	A son is better,
	þótt sé síð of alinn	though he be late-begotten,
	eptir genginn guma	after a man is gone;
4	sjaldan bautarsteinar	memorial stones seldom
	standa brautu nær	stand by the road
	nema reisi niðr at nið	unless a kinsman should raise [them] to kin.

73.	Tveir ro eins herjar	Two men are the destroyers of one:
	tunga er höfuðs bani	the tongue is the head's slayer;
	er mér í heðin hvern	I expect a fist
4	handar væni	in every fur cloak.

74.	Nótt verðr feginn	He becomes happy at night
	sá er nesti trúir	who trusts his journey-provisions;
	skammar ro skips rár	a ship's sailyards are short;
4	hverf er haustgríma	an autumn-night is changeable.
	fjölð um viðrir	The weather changes in many ways
	á fimm dögum	in five days,
	en meira á mánuði	and more in a month.

75.	Veita hinn	He does not know,
	er vættki veit	he who knows nothing:
	margr verðr af aurum api	many a man becomes a fool through ores [money];
4	maðr er auðigr	one man is rich,
	annarr óauðigr	another poor;
	skylit þann vítka vár	he must not blame his woe on him.

76.	Deyr fé	Cattle die,
	deyja frændr	kinsmen die,
	deyr sjálfr it sama	the self dies likewise;
4	en orðstírr	but the renown
	deyr aldregi	for the one who gets good fame
	hveim er sér góðan getr	dies never.

77.	Deyr fé	Cattle die,
	deyja frændr	kinsmen die,
	deyr sjálfr it sama	the self dies likewise;
4	ek veit einn	I know one thing
	at aldri deyr	that never dies:
	dómr um dauðan hvern	the repute of each of the dead.

78.	Fullar grindr	I saw the full cattle-pens
	sá ek fyr Fitjungs sonum	of the sons of Fitjung,
	nú bera þeir vánarvöl	now they are beggars:
4	svá er auðr	thus wealth is
	sem augabragð	like the blink of an eye --
	hann er valtastr vina	it is the most unreliable of friends.

79.	Ósnotr maðr	If the foolish man
	ef eignask getr	gains possession of
	fé eða fljóðs munuð	money or a woman's love,
4	metnaðr honum þróask	pride grows in him
	en mannvit aldregi	but never commonsense;
	fram gengr hann drjúgt í dul	he heads straight for haughtiness.

80.	Þat er þá reynt	Then that is proven
	er þú at rúnum spyrr	when you consult the runes,
	inum reginkunnum	originated by the gods,
4	þeim er gerðu ginnregin	those which the gods made
	ok fáði fimbulþulr	and the mighty sage coloured,
	þá hefir hann bazt ef hann þegir	that it is best if he is silent.

81.	At kveldi skal dag leyfa	The day must be praised in the evening,
	konu er brennd er	a woman, when she is cremated,
	mæki er reyndr er	a sword, when it is proven,
4	mey er gefin er	a maiden, when she is given away,
	ís er yfir kømr	ice, when it is crossed,
	öl er drukkit er	ale, when it is drunk.

82.	Í vindi skal við höggva	Wood must be hewed in the wind,
	veðri á sjó róa	row out to sea in good weather,
	myrkri við man spjalla	talk with maidens in the dark,
4	mörg eru dags augu	many are the eyes of the day.
	á skip skal skriðar orka	A ship must be used for a swift journey
	en á skjöld til hlífar	and a shield for protection,
	mæki höggs	a sword for a blow
8	en mey til kossa	and a maiden for kisses.

83.	Við eld skal öl drekka	Drink ale by the fire
	en á ísi skríða	and skate on the ice,
	magran mar kaupa	buy a lean steed
4	en mæki saurgan [#]	and a dirty sword,
	heima hest feita	fatten a horse at home
	en hund á búi	and farm out a dog.

84.	Meyjar orðum	No-one should trust
	skyli manngi trúa	in the words of a maid,
	né því er kveðr kona	nor in what a woman says,
4	því at á hverfanda hvéli	for their hearts were shaped
	váru þeim hjörtu sköpuð	on a (potter's) turning wheel,
	brigð í brjóst um lagit	and fickleness placed in their breasts.

85.	Brestanda boga	A cracking bow,
	brennanda loga	a burning flame,
	gínanda úlfi	a gaping wolf,
4	galandi kráku	a screaming crow,
	rýtanda svíni	a grunting pig,
	rótlausum viði	a rootless tree,
	vaxanda vági	a rising sea,
8	vellanda katli	a boiling kettle,

86.	fljúganda fleini	a flying spear,
	fallandi báru	a falling wave,
	ísi einnættum	ice one night old,
4	ormi hringlegnum	a coiled snake,
	brúðar beðmálum	a bride's bed-talk
	eða brotnu sverði	or a broken sword,
	bjarnar leiki	a bear's game
8	eða barni konungs	or a king's son,

87.	sjúkum kálfi	a sick calf,
	sjálfráða þræli	a self-willed thrall,
	völu vilmæli	the favouring speech of a seeress,
4	val nýfeldum	the newly slain,

88.	akri ársánum	a field sown early
	trúi engi maðr	no man should trust,
	né til snemma syni	nor too quickly in his son;
4	veðr ræðr akri	weather rules the field
	en vit syni	and the mind of the son,
	hætt er þeira hvárt	each of these is unreliable.

89.	Bróðurbana sínum	In his brother-slayer,
	þótt á brautu mœti	though he is met on the road,
	húsi hálfbrunnu	in a half-burnt house,
4	hesti alskjótum	in a horse too-speedy --
	þá er jór ónýtr	a steed is useless
	ef einn fótr brotnar	if he breaks a foot --
	verðit maðr svá tryggr	a man should not be so trustful
8	at þessu trúi öllu	that he trusts all these.

90.	Svá er friðr kvenna	The love of women
	þeira er flátt hyggja	who are deceitful in spirit
	sem aki jó óbryddum	is like riding a smooth-shod horse
4	á ísi hálum	on slippery ice,
	teitum tvévetrum	a spirited two-year-old
	ok sé tamr illa	and one badly trained,
	eða í byr óðum	or on a rudderless boat
8	beiti stjórnlausu	in a raging wind,
	eða skyli haltr henda	or like a lame man trying to catch
	hrein í þáfjalli	a reindeer on a thawing mountainside.

91.	Bert ek nú mæli	Now I will speak openly,
	því at ek bæði veit	because I know both:
	brigðr er karla hugr konum	men's hearts are fickle with women;
4	þá vér fegrst mælum	when we speak most fair
	er vér flást hyggjum	then we think most false.
	þat tælir horska hugi	It deceives the heart of the wise.

92.	Fagrt skal mæla	Fairly must he speak
	ok fé bjóða	and offer gifts,
	sá er vill fljóðs ást fá	he who wants to win a woman's love;
4	líki leyfa	praise the figure
	ins ljósa mans	of the fair maiden;
	sá fær er fríar	he wins who flatters.

93.	Ástar firna	No man must
	skyli engi maðr	ever mock
	annan aldregi	another's love.
4	opt fá á horskan	often ravishingly fair looks
	er á heimskan ne fá	capture the wise man
	lostfagrir litir	when they do not capture the fool.

94.	Eyvitar firna	A man must
	er maðr annan skal	in no way mock another,
	þess er um margan gengr guma	for what happens to many a man;
4	heimska ór horskum	love the mighty
	gørir hölða sonu	makes fools of the wise
	sá inn mátki munr	among the sons of men.

95.	Hugr einn þat veit	Only the mind knows
	er býr hjarta nær	what lives near the heart;
	einn er hann sér um sefa	a man is alone with his own spirit.
4	øng er sótt verri	There is no sickness worse
	hveim snotrum manni	for any wise man
	en sér øngu at una	than to have nothing to love.

96.	Þat ek þá reynda	That I proved
	er ek í reyri sat	when I sat in the reeds
	ok vættak míns munar	and waited for my love;
4	hold ok hjarta	the wise maid to me
	var mér in horska mær	was body and soul --
	þeygi ek hana at heldr hefik	but still I do not have her.

97.	Billings mey	I found her in bed,
	ek fann beðjum á	Billingr's kinswoman,
	sólhvíta sofa	sun-white, asleep;
4	jarls ynði	a jarl's delight
	þótti mér ekki vera	seemed nothing to me,
	nema við þat lík at lifa	unless I could live with that body.

98.	Auk nær apni	"So towards evening,
	skaltu Óðinn koma	Othinn, you must come,
	ef þú vilt þér mæla man	if you want to win the maid for yourself;
4	alt eru ósköp	all is amiss,
	nema einir viti	unless we alone know
	slíkan löst saman	of such shame."

99.	Aptr ek hvarf	Back I turned
	ok unna þóttumk	and seemed out of my head
	vísum vilja frá	with love;
4	hitt ek hugða	I thought
	at ek hafa mynda	that I would have
	geð hennar alt ok gaman	it all, her heart and pleasure.

100.	Svá kom ek næst	When I came next,
	at in nýta var	the able warriors
	vígdrótt öll um vakin	were all awake;
4	með brennandum ljósum	with burning lights
	ok bornum viði [#]	and brands raised high,
	svá var mér vílstígr of vitaðr	so was my wretched path marked out.

101.	Ok nær morni	And towards morning,
	er ek var enn um kominn	when I came back again,
	þá var saldrótt um sofin	the hall retainers were asleep.
4	grey eitt ek þá fann	Then I found only
	innar góðu konu	the good woman's bitch
	bundit beðjum á	bound to the bed.

102.	Mörg er góð mær	Many a good maid,
	ef görva kannar	if you look closely,
	hugbrigð við hali	is fickle-minded towards men;
4	þá ek þat reynda	I learned that
	er it ráðspaka	when I tried to seduce
	teygða ek á flærðir fljóð	the wise woman to wantonness,
	háðungar hverrar	the clever maid heaped
8	leitaði mér it horska man [#]	her scorn on me,
	ok hafða ek þess vættki vífs	and I got nothing from this woman.

103.	Heima glaðr gumi	At home a man must be glad
	ok við gesti reifr	and cheerful with guests,
	sviðr skal um sik vera	knowing about himself,
4	minnigr ok málugr	mindful and fluent,
	ef hann vill margfróðr vera	if he wants to be well-informed;
	opt skal góðs geta	he should often speak of good things.
	fimbulfambi heitir	He is called a monstrous fool,
8	sá er fátt kann segja	the one who knows how to say almost nothing:
	þat er ósnotrs aðal	it is the character of the unwise.

104.	Inn aldna jötum ek sótta	I sought the old giant,
	nú em ek aptr um kominn	now I have come back again.
	fátt gat ek þegjandi þar	I got little from being silent there.
4	mörgum orðum	With many words
	mælta ek í minn frama	I spoke to my own advantage
	í Suttungs sölum	in Suttungr's hall.

105.	Gunnlöð mér um gaf	Gunnloth gave to me
	gullnum stóli á	a drink of the precious mead
	drykk ins dýra mjaðar	on her golden throne;
4	ill iðgjöld	A bad reward
	lét ek hana eptir hafa	I gave her afterwards
	síns ins heila hugar	for her whole heart,
	síns ins svára sefa	for her sorrowful spirit.

106.	Rata munn	I let the mouth of the gimlet
	létumk rúms um fá	make space
	ok um grjót gnaga	and gnaw through stone;
4	yfir ok undir	over and under
	stóðumk jötna vegir	me stood the giants' paths (rocks):
	svá hætta ek höfði til	thus I risked my head.

107.	Vel keypts litar [#]	I have taken great advantage
	hefi ek vel notit	? from the well-purchased appearance;
	fás er fróðum vant	little is lacking to the wise,
4	því at Óðrerir	because Othrerir
	er nú upp kominn	has now come up
	á alda vés jarðar [#]	? to Othinn's sanctuary.

108.	Ifi er mér á	Doubtful it is to me
	at ek væra enn kominn	that I could have come again
	jötna görðum ór	out of the giant's court,
4	ef ek Gunnlaðar ne nytak	if I had not enjoyed Gunnloth,
	innar góðu konu	the good woman,
	þeirar er lögðumk arm yfir	over whom I laid my arm.

109.	Ins hindra dags	On the next day
	gengu hrímþursar	the frost giants went
	Háva ráðs at fregna	to ask for Har's advice
4	Háva höllu í	in Har's hall:
	at Bölverki þeir spurðu	they asked about Bolverkr (the Evil-doer, Othinn),
	ef hann væri með böndum kominn	whether he had come back among the gods,
	eða hefði honum Suttungr of sóit	or whether Suttungr had sacrificed him.

110.	Baugeið Óðinn	Othinn, I think, has sworn
	hygg ek at unnit hafi	an oath on the sacred ring --
	hvat skal hans tryggðum trúa?	who shall trust in his troth?
4	Suttung svikinn	he had Suttungr cheated
	hann lét sumbli frá	of his mead,
	ok grœtta Gunnlöðu	and made Gunnloth grieve.

111.	Mál er at þylja	It is time to recite
	þular stóli á	from the sage's throne
	Urðar brunni at	at Urthr's well;
4	sá ek ok þagðak	I saw and stayed silent,
	sá ek ok hugðak	I saw and reflected,
	hlýdda ek á manna mál	I listened to the speech of men,
	of rúnar heyrða ek dœma	I heard and learned about runes,
8	né um ráðum þögþu	nor were they silent in counsels
	Háva höllu at	at Har's hall,
	Háva höllu í	in Har's hall,
	heyrða ek segja svá	thus I heard it said --

112.	Ráðumk þér Loddfáfnir	I advise you, Loddfafnir,
	en þú ráð nemir	to take advice;
	njóta mundu ef þú nemr	you would benefit, it you took it,
4	þér munu góð ef þú getr	good will come to you, if you accept it:
	nótt þú rísat	don't get up at night,
	nema á njósn sér	unless you are on guard
	eða þú leitir þér innan út staðar	or are seeking a place outside for yourself.

113.	Ráðumk þér Loddfáfnir	I advise you, Loddfafnir,
	en þú ráð nemir	to take advice;
	njóta mundu ef þú nemr	you would benefit, it you took it,
4	þér munu góð ef þú getr	good will come to you, if you accept it:
	fjölkunnigri konu	you must not sleep in the embrace
	skalattu í faðmi sofa	of a woman skilled in magic
	svá at hon lyki þik liðum	so that she locks you in her limbs --

114.	Hon svá gørir	-- she will make sure
	at þú gáir eigi	that you do not heed
	þings né þjóðans máls	the speech of either Thing (assembly) or king;
4	mat þú villat	you will not desire food
	né mannskis gaman	or mankind's pleasure;
	ferr þú sorgafullr at sofa [#]	you will go sorrowfully to sleep.

115.	Ráðumk þér Loddfáfnir	I advise you, Loddfafnir,
	en þú ráð nemir	to take advice;
	njóta mundu ef þú nemr	you would benefit, it you took it,
4	þér munu góð ef þú getr	good will come to you, if you accept it:
	annars konu	never seduce
	teygðu þér aldregi	another's wife
	eyrarúnu at	to be your mistress.

116.	Ráðumk þér Loddfáfnir	I advise you, Loddfafnir,
	en þú ráð nemir	to take advice;
	njóta mundu ef þú nemr	you would benefit, it you took it,
4	þér munu góð ef þú getr	good will come to you, if you accept it:
	á fjalli eða firði	if you long to travel
	ef þik fara tíðir	over mountain or fjord,
	fásktu at virði vel	be sure you have ample food.

117.	Ráðumk þér Loddfáfnir	I advise you, Loddfafnir,
	en þú ráð nemir	to take advice;
	njóta mundu ef þú nemr	you would benefit, it you took it,
4	þér munu góð ef þú getr	good will come to you, if you accept it:
	illan mann	never allow
	láttu aldregi	a bad man
	óhöpp at þér vita	to know of your misfortune,
8	því at af illum manni	because from a bad man
	fær þú aldregi	you will never get
	gjöld ins góða hugar	a good return for your good will.

118.	Ofarla bíta	I saw a man
	ek sá einum hal	deeply bitten
	orð illrar konu;	by the word of a bad woman;
4	fláráð tunga [#]	her deceit-crafty tongue
	varð honum at fjörlagi	was the death of him,
	ok þeygi um sanna sök	and yet the charge was not true.

119.	Ráðumk þér Loddfáfnir	I advise you, Loddfafnir,
	en þú ráð nemir	to take advice;
	njóta mundu ef þú nemr	you would benefit, it you took it,
4	þér munu góð ef þú getr	good will come to you, if you accept it:
	veiztu ef þú vin átt	know this, if you have a friend
	þanns þú vel trúir	whom you trust well,
	farðu at finna opt	go to visit him often,
8	því at hrísi vex	for the path which no-one treads
	ok hávu grasi	grows with underbrush
	vegr er vættki trøðr	and high grass.

120.	Ráðumk þér Loddfáfnir	I advise you, Loddfafnir,
	en þú ráð nemir	to take advice;
	njóta mundu ef þú nemr	you would benefit, it you took it,
4	þér munu góð ef þú getr	good will come to you, if you accept it:
	góðan mann	draw a good man
	teygðu þér at gamanrúnum	to you with pleasant conversation,
	ok nem líknargaldr meðan þú lifir	and learn healing charms while you live.

121.	Ráðumk þér Loddfáfnir	I advise you, Loddfafnir,
	en þú ráð nemir	to take advice;
	njóta mundu ef þú nemr	you would benefit, it you took it,
4	þér munu góð ef þú getr	good will come to you, if you accept it:
	vin þínum	never be
	ver þú aldregi	the first to make a breach
	fyrri at flaumslitum	with your friend.
8	sorg etr hjarta	Sorrow eats the heart
	ef þú segja ne náir	if you cannot tell
	einhverjum allan hug	someone your whole mind.

122.	Ráðumk þér Loddfáfnir	I advise you, Loddfafnir,
	en þú ráð nemir	to take advice;
	njóta mundu ef þú nemr	you would benefit, it you took it,
4	þér munu góð ef þú getr	good will come to you, if you accept it:
	orðum skipta	you must never
	þú skalt aldregi	bandy words
	við ósvinna apa	with a stupid fool --

123.	því at af illum manni	-- because you can never
	mundu aldregi	get a reward for good
	góðs laun um geta	from a bad man,
4	en góðr maðr	but a good man
	mun þik gørva mega	can make you
	líknfastan at lofi	beloved through praise.

124.	Sifjum er þá blandat	Peace and trust are exchanged
	hverr er segja ræðr	when one can tell
	einum allan hug	another his whole mind.
4	alt er betra	Anything is better
	en sé brigðum at vera	than to be faithless:
	era sá vinr öðrum	he is not another's friend
	er vilt eitt segir	who says only what the friend wants to hear.

125.	Ráðumk þér Loddfáfnir	I advise you, Loddfafnir,
	en þú ráð nemir	to take advice;
	njóta mundu ef þú nemr	you would benefit, it you took it,
4	þér munu góð ef þú getr	good will come to you, if you accept it:
	þrimr orðum senna	you must not dispute even three words
	skalattu þér við verra mann	with a man less worthy than you:
	opt inn betri bilar	often the better man is defeated
8	þá er inn verri vegr	when the worser attacks.

126.	Ráðumk þér Loddfáfnir	I advise you, Loddfafnir,
	en þú ráð nemir	to take advice;
	njóta mundu ef þú nemr	you would benefit, it you took it,
4	þér munu góð ef þú getr	good will come to you, if you accept it:
	skósmiðr þú verir	be not a shoe-maker
	né skeptismiðr	or a shaft-maker,
	nema þú sjálfum þér sér	except for yourself alone;
8	skór er skapaðr illa	if the shoe is badly made
	eða skapt sé rangt	or the shaft bent,
	þá er þér böls beðit	then misfortune is in store for you.

127.	Ráðumk þér Loddfáfnir	I advise you, Loddfafnir,
	en þú ráð nemir	to take advice;
	njóta mundu ef þú nemr	you would benefit, it you took it,
4	þér munu góð ef þú getr	good will come to you, if you accept it:
	hvars þú böl kannt	when you come upon misdeeds
	kveðu þat bölvi at [#]	speak out about those misdeeds,
	ok gefat þínum fjándum frið	and give your enemies no peace.

128.	Ráðumk þér Loddfáfnir	I advise you, Loddfafnir,
	en þú ráð nemir	to take advice;
	njóta mundu ef þú nemr	you would benefit, it you took it,
4	þér munu góð ef þú getr	good will come to you, if you accept it:
	illu feginn	never be
	verðu aldregi	glad in evil,
	en lát þér at góðu getit	but let yourself be pleased by good.

129.	Ráðumk þér Loddfáfnir	I advise you, Loddfafnir,
	en þú ráð nemir	to take advice;
	njóta mundu ef þú nemr	you would benefit, it you took it,
4	þér munu góð ef þú getr	good will come to you, if you accept it:
	upp líta	you must not look up
	skalattu í orrostu	in battle
	gjalti glíkir	-- the sons of men become
8	verða gumna synir	like men terror-crazed --
	síðr þitt um heilli halir [#]	lest men cast spells upon you.

130.	Ráðumk þér Loddfáfnir	I advise you, Loddfafnir,
	en þú ráð nemir	to take advice;
	njóta mundu ef þú nemr	you would benefit, it you took it,
4	þér munu góð ef þú getr	good will come to you, if you accept it:
	ef þú vilt þér góða konu	if you want to attract
	kveðja at gamanrúnum	a good woman to you with pleasant talk
	ok fá fögnuð af	and take pleasure with her,
8	fögru skaltu heita	you must make a fair promise
	ok láta fast vera	and stick fast to it
	leiðisk manngi gott ef getr	-- no one loathes the good, if he gets it.

131.	Ráðumk þér Loddfáfnir	I advise you, Loddfafnir,
	en þú ráð nemir	to take advice;
	njóta mundu ef þú nemr	you would benefit, it you took it,
4	þér munu góð ef þú getr	good will come to you, if you accept it:
	varan bið ek þik vera	wary I bid you be,
	en eigi ofvaran [#]	but not too wary:
	ver þú við öl varastr	with ale be the most wary
8	ok við annars konu	and with another's woman,
	ok við þat it þriðja	and with a third thing,
	at þjófar ne leiki	that thieves do not trick you.

132.	Ráðumk þér Loddfáfnir	I advise you, Loddfafnir,
	en þú ráð nemir	to take advice;
	njóta mundu ef þú nemr	you would benefit, it you took it,
4	þér munu góð ef þú getr	good will come to you, if you accept it:
	at háði né hlátri	mock or laugh
	hafðu aldregi	never
	gest né ganganda	at a guest or traveller.

133.	Opt vitu ógörla	Often they don't precisely know,
	þeir er sitja inni fyrir	those who sit first in a house,
	hvers þeir ro kyns er koma	whose kinsmen they are who come (later):
4	erat maðr svá góðr	no man is so good
	at galli ne fylgi	that no fault follows him,
	né svá illr at einugi dugi	nor so bad that he is of no use.

134.	Ráðumk þér Loddfáfnir	I advise you, Loddfafnir,
	en þú ráð nemir	to take advice;
	njóta mundu ef þú nemr	you would benefit, it you took it,
4	þér munu góð ef þú getr	good will come to you, if you accept it:
	at hárum þul	never laugh
	hlæðu aldregi	at a gray-haired sage
	opt er gott þat er gamlir kveða	often what an old man says is good,
8	opt ór skörpum belg	often clear words come
	skilin orð koma	out of shrivelled skin,
	þeim er hangir með hám	from the one who hangs among the hides
	ok skollir með skrám	and dangles among the dried skins
12	ok váfir með vílmögum	and moves among the entrails.

135.	Ráðumk þér Loddfáfnir	I advise you, Loddfafnir,
	en þú ráð nemir	to take advice;
	njóta mundu ef þú nemr	you would benefit, it you took it,
4	þér munu góð ef þú getr	good will come to you, if you accept it:
	gest þú ne geyja	do not revile a guest
	né á grind hrekir	nor drive him away from your gates;
	get þú váluðum vel	treat the wretched well.

136.	Rammt er þat tré	Powerful is that beam
	er ríða skal	that must move from side to side
	öllum at upploki	to open for all;
4	baug þú gef	give a ring,
	eða þat biðja mun	or it will call down
	þér læs hvers á liðu	every evil on your limbs.

137.	Ráðumk þér Loddfáfnir	I advise you, Loddfafnir,
	en þú ráð nemir	to take advice;
	njóta mundu ef þú nemr	you would benefit, it you took it,
4	þér munu góð ef þú getr	good will come to you, if you accept it:
	hvars þú öl drekkr	when you drink ale,
	kjós þú þér jarðar megin	choose for yourself the might of the earth,
	því at jörð tekr við ölðri	because earth fights against beer,
8	en eldr við sóttum	and fire against sickness,
	eik við abbindi	oak against constipation,
	ax við fjölkynngi	an ear of corn against sorcery,
	höll við hýrógi [#]	the hall-tree against domestic strife,
12	heiptum skal mána kveðja	-- one must invoke the moon against wrathful deeds --
	beiti við bitsóttum	alum against bite-sickness
	en við bölvi rúnar	and runes against misfortune;
	fold skal við flóð taka	the earth must contend against the sea.

138.	Veit ek at ek hekk	I know that I hung
	vindga meiði á	upon a windy tree
	nætr allar níu	for nine whole nights,
4	geiri undaðr	wounded with a spear
	ok gefinn Óðni	and given to Othinn,
	sjálfr sjálfum mér	myself to myself for me;
	á þeim meiði	on that tree
8	er manngi veit	I knew nothing
	hvers hann af rótum renn	of what kind of roots it came from.

139.	Við hleifi mik sældu	They cheered me with a loaf
	né við hornigi	and not with any horn,
	nýsta ek niðr	I investigated down below,
4	nam ek upp rúnar	I took up the runes,
	œpandi nam	screaming I took them,
	fell ek aptr þaðan	and I fell back from there.

140.	Fimbulljóð níu	I took nine mighty spells
	nam ek af inum frægja syni	from the famous son
	Bölþórs Bestlu föður	of Bolthorr, the father of Bestla,
4	ok ek drykk of gat	and I got a drink
	ins dýra mjaðar	of the precious mead,
	ausinn Óðreri	poured from Othrerir.

141.	Þá nam ek frævask	Then I began to be
	ok fróðr vera	fruitful and wise,
	ok vaxa ok vel hafask	to grow and to flourish;
4	orð mér af orði	speech fetched my speech for speech,
	orðs leitaði
	verk mér af verki	action fetched my action for action.
	verks leitaði

142.	Rúnar munt þú finna	You can find runes
	ok ráðna stafi	and meaning staves,
	mjök stóra stafi	very mighty staves,
4	mjök stinna stafi	very strong staves,
	er fáði fimbulþulr	which a mighty sage coloured
	ok gørðu ginnregin	and mighty powers made,
	ok reist Hroptr rögna	and Hroptr of the gods carved.

143.	Óðinn með ásum	Othinn among the gods,
	en fyr álfum Dáinn	Dainn for the elves
	ok Dvalinn dvergum fyrir	and Dvalinn for the dwarves,
4	Ásviðr jötnum fyrir	Asvithr for the giants
	ek reist sjálfr sumar	-- I myself carved some.

144.	Veiztu hvé rísta skal?	Do you know how you must cut [them]?
	Veiztu hvé ráða skal?	Do you know how you must interpret?
	Veiztu hvé fá skal?	Do you know how you must colour?
4	Veiztu hvé freista skal?	Do you know how you must try?
	Veiztu hvé biðja skal?	Do you know how you must invoke?
	Veiztu hvé blóta skal?	Do you know how you must sacrifice?
	Veiztu hvé senda skal?	Do you know how you must send?
8	Veiztu hvé sóa skal?	Do you know how you must kill?

145.	Betra er óbeðit	It is better that it be not invoked
	en sé ofblótit	than over-sacrificed,
	ey sér til gildis gjöf	the gift is always for the repayment,
4	betra er ósent	it is better that it be not sent
	en sé ofsóit	than over-immolated.
	svá Þundr um reist	So Thundr carved
	fyr þjóða rök	before the history of the peoples,
8	þar hann upp um reis	when he rose up
	er hann aptr of kom	and when he came back.

146.	Ljóð ek þau kann	I know the songs
	er kannat þjóðans kona	that no ruler's wife knows,
	ok mannskis mögr	nor anyone's son:
4	hjálp heitir eitt	the first is called "Help",
	en þat þér hjálpa mun	and it will help you
	við sökum ok sorgum	with disputes and griefs
	ok sútum görvöllum	and absolutely all sorrows.

147.	Þat kann ek annat	I know a second
	er þurfu ýta synir	which the sons of men need,
	þeir er vilja læknar lifa	those who want to live as physicians.

148.	Þat kann ek it þriðja	I know the third:
	ef mér verðr þörf mikil	if great need befalls me
	hapts við mína heiptmögu	for a fetter for my enemy,
4	eggjar ek deyfi	I can blunt the edges
	minna andskota	of my enemies,
	bítat þeim vápn né velir	that weapons and staves do not bite for them.

149.	Þat kann ek it fjórða [#]	I know the fourth:
	ef mér fyrðar bera	if men put
	bönd at bóglimum	fetters on my limbs,
4	svá ek gel	I sing so that
	at ek ganga má	I can go:
	sprettr mér af fótum fjöturr	fetter springs from my feet
	en af höndum hapt	and bond from my hands.

150.	Þat kann ek it fimmta	I know the fifth:
	ef ek sé af fári skotinn	if I see a spear, shot in malice
	flein í fólki vaða	to fly into a host,
4	flýgra hann svá stinnt	it does not fly so strongly
	at ek stöðvigak	that I cannot stop it,
	ef ek hann sjónum of sék	if I catch sight of it.

151.	Þat kann ek it sétta	I know the sixth:
	ef mik særir þegn	if a warrior wounds me
	á rótum rams viðar [#]	with the root of a strong tree
4	ok þann hal	and calls forth hatreds from me,
	er mik heipta kveðr	then the harms eat the man and not me.
	þann eta mein heldr en mik

152.	Þat kann ek it sjaunda	I know the seventh:
	ef ek sé hávan loga	if I see a high hall
	sal um sessmögum	to burn around my table-companions,
4	brennrat svá breitt	it does not burn so bright
	at ek honum bjargigak	that I cannot save it,
	þann kann ek galdr at gala	when I can sing the spell.

153.	Þat kann ek it átta	I know the eighth,
	er öllum er	which is useful for all
	nytsamligt at nema	to take:
4	hvars hatr vex	wherever hatred grows
	með hildings sonum	among the sons of the prince,
	þat má ek bœta brátt	I can quickly cure it.

154.	Þat kann ek it níunda	I know the ninth:
	ef mik nauðr um stendr	if I need
	at bjarga fari mínu á floti	to save my ship afloat
4	vind ek kyrri	I can calm the wind
	vági á	on the wave
	ok svæfik allan sæ	and lull the whole sea to sleep.

155.	Þat kann ek it tíunda	I know the tenth:
	ef ek sé túnriðir	if I see witches
	leika lopti á	playing in the air,
4	ek svá vinnk	I can so arrange it
	at þeir villir fara	that they go astray
	sinna heimhama	from their proper shapes
	sinna heimhuga	and proper thoughts.

156.	Þat kann ek it ellipta	I know the eleventh:
	ef ek skal til orrostu	if I must lead old friends
	leiða langvini	to battle,
4	undir randir ek gel	I sing under the shields,
	en þeir með ríki fara	and they go victoriously:
	heilir hildar til	safe to the battle,
	heilir hildi frá	safe from the battle,
8	koma þeir heilir hvaðan	they come safe from everywhere.

157.	Þat kann ek it tólpta	I know the twelfth:
	ef ek sé á tré uppi	if I see up in a tree
	váfa virgilná	a hanged corpse swinging,
4	svá ek ríst	I carve
	ok í rúnum fák	and colour the runes
	at sá gengr gumi	that the man moves
	ok mælir við mik	and speaks with me.

158.	Þat kann ek it þrettánda	I know the thirteenth:
	ef ek skal þegn ungan	if I will throw water
	verpa vatni á	on a young warrior,
4	munat hann falla	he cannot fall,
	þótt hann í fólk komi	though he may come to battle
	hnígra sá halr fyr hjörum	the man does not fall before swords.

159.	Þat kann ek it fjórtánda	I know the fourteenth:
	ef ek skal fyrða liði	if I must reckon up
	telja tíva fyrir	a troop before gods and men,
4	ása ok álfa	I know the details of all
	ek kann allra skil	the Æsir and the Elves --
	fár kann ósnotr svá	the unwise man knows that not at all.

160.	Þat kann ek it fimmtánda	I know the fifteenth,
	er gól Þjóðreyrir	which Thjothreyrir sang,
	dvergr fyr Dellings durum	the dwarf, before the doors of Dellingr:
4	afl gól hann ásum	He sang the might of the gods,
	en álfum frama	the courage of the elves,
	hyggju Hroptatý	the understanding of Hroptatyr.

161.	Þat kann ek it sextánda	I know the sixteenth:
	ef ek vil ins svinna mans	if I wish to have all the heart and pleasure
	hafa geð alt ok gaman	of a cunning girl,
4	hugi ek hverfi	I turn the feelings
	hvítarmri konu	of the white-armed woman,
	ok sný ek hennar öllum sefa	and I change the whole of her mind.

162.	Þat kann ek it sjautjánda	I know the seventeenth,
	at mik mun seint firrask	that the youthful maid
	it manunga man	will never avoid me;
4	ljóða þessa	Loddfafnir, you will
	mun þú Loddfáfnir	be lacking these charms
	lengi vanr vera	for a long time,
	þó sé þér góð ef þú getr	though it be good for you if you get them,
8	nýt ef þú nemr	useful if you take them,
	þörf ef þú þiggr	needful if you receive them.

163.	Þat kann ek it átjánda	I know the eighteenth,
	er ek æva kennik	which I never teach
	mey né manns konu	to maid or man's wife,
4	alt er betra	-- everything is better
	er einn um kann	when one person understands it,
	þat fylgir ljóða lokum	it belongs at the ending of spells --
	nema þeiri einni	to none but she alone
8	er mik armi verr	who is wrapped in my arm
	eða mín systir sé [#]	or is my sister.

164.	Nú era Háva mál	Now the sayings of Har are spoken
	kveðin Háva höllu í	in Har's hall,
	allþörf ýta sonum	very needful to the sons of men,
4	óþörf jötna sonum	harmful to the sons of giants.
	heill sá er kvað	Hail to him who spoke!
	heill sá er kann	Hail to him who understands!
	njóti sá er nam	Let him benefit who took them!
8	heilir þeirs hlýddu	Blessings on those who listened!

Notes

line 27.6: The sentiment recalls the Latin tag praestat tacere et stultus haberi quam edicere et omne dubium removere, "It's better to be silent and appear stupid than to speak up and remove all doubt". [ Back to text ]

line 39.5: The manuscript has svagi at leið se la/n ef þegi. Jónsson (p. 49) reads svági gløggvan at..., "so-not stingy that...", while also admitting the possibility that the gi was not meant to be attached to svá but was an abbreviation of or scribal error for gjöflan, which would give svá gjöflan at..., "so free that...". Evans prefers to read svá gjöflan. [ Back to text ]

line 54.6: mart vitu. I follow David Evans's emendation from mart vitu, "they know a great many things", which doesn't make sense in the context, to mart vitut, "they don't know a great many things". There is precedent for this in verses 12.1 and 22.6, already emended in Jónsson's edition from an original er (it/he is) to era (it/he is not) to make sense of the verse. [ Back to text ]

line 70.2: The manuscript has ok sel lifðom, nonsensically; Jónsson (p. 75) records the suggested emendation adopted here, en sé ólif?um. [ Back to text ]

line 83.4: en mæki saurgan, literally a "dirty" sword, but perhaps meaning something more like a well-used sword, a sword which has proven its worth by not breaking, which has survived to be stained. (Thanks to Serge Boffa for this suggestion.) [ Back to text ]

line 100.5: "with brands raised high". Literally "with carried timber", but often taken to go with the brennandum ljósum of the previous line, hence torches, here called brands to alliterate with burning. [ Back to text ]

line 102.8: it horska man leitaði hverrar háðungar mér "the clever maid heaped her scorn on me". Literally something more like "the clever maid sought to bring her scorn on me", but "heaped her scorn" is tighter, brings the alliteration closer to the original, and fits the sense of the following line. [ Back to text ]

line 107.1: vel keypts litar. This line is probably corrupt as it stands. See David Evans, p. 121, for commentary. It is tempting to follow Corpus Poeticum Boreale and read litar as something to do with mead, because the rest of the verse does seem to refer to the benefits of the acquisition of the vélkeypts mjaðar, "fraud-bought mead". On the other hand, this might be Othinn congratulating himself for the carefully deceitful behaviour (the "well-purchased appearance"?) which enabled him to steal the mead in the first place. [ Back to text ]

line 107.6: á alda vés iarþar. This is the manuscript reading, and clearly corrupt. See David Evans, pp. 121-2, for discussion and options -- I am following Jonsson's emendation á vé alda jaðars, "to the sacred place of the lord of men (Othinn)", i.e. "to Othinn's sanctuary". [ Back to text ]

line 114.6: It is tempting to compare the hapless victim of the woman skilled in magic going sorrowfully to sleep with Mæðhild in the Old English poem Deor, of whom it was said "sorrowful love deprived her of all sleep" (þæt him seo sorglufu slæp ealle binom). [ Back to text ]

line 118.4: A longer but clearer unpacking of flá-ráðr would be "deceitfully counselling", but "deceit-crafty" is in the right sort of register and packs more of the punch of the original. [ Back to text ]

line 127.6: qveþu þ' ba/lvi at. Evans, p. 127, notes that Bugge in his first edition of the poem expanded þ' as þér in his main text and as þat in his appendix, and the variants have existed side by side ever since. [ Back to text ]

line 129.9: síðr þitt of heilli halir. Jónsson, p. 128, suggests that þitt here would make more sense as þik, and Evans emends to thorn;ik. [ Back to text ]

line 131.6: oc eigi of váran. The manuscript text would translate "wary I bid you be, and not too wary"; "but not too wary" would make more sense, so perhaps ok (and) should be emended to en (but), as it had to be in the corrupt verse 70.2. [ Back to text ]

line 137.11: höll við hýrógi. As it stands, this says "the hall, against domestic strife", but this seems inexplicable. See David Evans, pp. 132-3, for other possible solutions to this cryptic remark. [ Back to text ]

line 149.1: This charm, which prevents fetters from holding a prisoner, is presumably what the Mercians were looking for in the clothing of the Northumbrian Imma, who was captured after the Battle of Trent in 679 but could not be chained (see Bede's Ecclesiastical History, IV.22). Bede explains that in his case, the effect was caused by Imma's brother Tunna, an abbot who thought that Imma was dead and was offering Masses for the repose of his soul. [ Back to text ]

line 151.3: á rotom rás viðar "With the root of a green/sappy tree", but see Evans, pp. 138-9, on the difficulty with rás here, and a note of the several editors who have settled on the emendation rams ("strong") as a solution. [ Back to text ]

line 163.9: er mik armi verr eða mín systir sé. This odd exception, that Othinn will only reveal the last charm to the one who is his wife or sister, might suggest a parallel to Jupiter's relations with Juno, who was et soror et coniunx (Æneid, I.47) [ Back to text ]