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1.Gáttir allar Before one would advance
áðr gangi fram through each doorway,
um skoðask skylione must look about
   4um skygnask skyliand peer around,
því at óvíst
er at vitabecause one can't know for sure
hvar óvinirwhere enemies
   8sitja á fleti fyrirsit in the hall beforehand.

2.Gefendr heilirGreetings to the hosts,
gestr er inn kominna guest is come.
hvar skal sitja sjá?where must this one sit?
   4Mjök er bráðrHe is very impatient,
sá er bröndum skalthe one who must sit on the firewood,
síns um freista framato test his luck.

3.Elds er þörfThere is need of fire
þeims inn er kominnfor him who is come in
ok á kné kalinnwith cold knees;
   4matar ok váða there is need of food and clothes
es manni þörffor the man
þeims hefir um fjall faritwho has journeyed on the mountainside.

4.Vats er þörfThere is need of water,
þeims til verðar kømrfor the one who comes for a meal,
þerru ok þjóðlaðarof towel and friendly intonation;
   4góðs um œðisof good disposition,
ef sér geta mættiif he can get it,
orðs ok endrþöguof speech and silence in return.

5.Vits er þörfSense is needed
þeims viða ratarfor the one who travels widely;
dælt er heima hvateverything is easy at home.
   4at 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 geðibut wary in disposition;
   4þá er horskr ok þögullwhen he, wise and silent,
kømr heimisgarða tilcomes to the homestead,
sjaldan verðr viti vörummisfortune rarely befalls the wary,
því at óbrigðra vinbecause man can never have
   8fær maðr aldregi a more reliable guide
en manvit mikitthan great common sense.

7.Hinn vari gestrThe wary guest
er til verðar kømrwho comes for a meal
þunnu hljóði þegiris silent with strained hearing,
   4eyrum hlýðirlistens with ears
en augum skoðarand examines with eyes;
svá nýsisk fróðra hverr fyrirso each of the wise searches about himself.

8.Hinn er sællHe is blessed
er sér of getrwho has within himself
lof ok líknstafipraise and esteem;
   4ódælla er við þatit is harder to deal with that
er maðr eiga skalwhich a man must own
annars brjóstum íin the breast of another.

9.Sá er sællHe is blessed
er sjalfr of áwho has within himself
lof ok vit meðan lifirpraise and sense while he lives,
   4því at ill röðbecause man has often received
hefr maðr opt þegit ill-counsel
annars brjóstum órfrom the breast of another.

10.Byrði betriA man does not bear
berrat maðr brautu ata better burden on the road
en sé manvit mikitthan is great commonsense;
   4auði betrait seems a greater wealth
þykkir þat í ókunnum staðin an unknown place --
slíkt er válaðs verasuch is the refuge of the needy.

11.Byrði betriA man does not bear
berrat maðr brautu ata better burden on the road
en sé manvit mikitthan is great commonsense;
   4vegnest verrahe does not carry a worse journey-provision
vegra hann velli atin the open field than is
an sé ofdrykkja ölsthe over-drinking of ale.

12.Era svá góttAle is not as good
sem gótt kveðaas it is said to be good
öl alda sonumfor the sons of men;
   4því at færa veitbecause the man knows less
er fleira drekkr-- he who drinks more --
síns til geðs gumiof his disposition.

13.Óminnishegri heitirHe is called the heron of forgetfulness,
sá er yfir ölðrum þrumirhe who hovers over ale-parties;
hann stelr geði gumahe steals the disposition of men.
   4þess fugls fjöðrumBy the feathers of this bird
ek fjötraðr vaskI was fettered,
í garði Gunnlaðarin the courts of Gunnlöth.

14.Ölr ek varðI got drunk,
varð ofrölvireally drunk,
at hins fróða Fjalarsat Fjalarr the Wise's;
   4því er ölðr baztit is the best ale-feast
at aptr of heimtirwhen each man recovers his disposition
hverr sitt geð gumi

15.Þagalt ok hugaltA ruler's son must be
skyli þjóðans barnsilent and thoughtful
ok vígdjarft veraand brave in battle;
   4glaðr ok reifreach man must be
skyli gumna hverrhappy and cheerful
unz sínn bíðr banauntil he suffers death.

16.Ósnjallr maðrThe foolish man
hyggsk munu ey lifathinks he will live forever
ef hann við víg varaskif he avoids battle;
   4en elli gefrbut old age gives
honum engi friðhim no peace,
þótt honum geirar gefithough spears might spare him.

17.Kópir afglapiThe fool stares
er til kynnis kømrwhen he comes on a visit to acquaintances;
þylsk hann umbeða þrumirhe mumbles to himself or hovers.
   4alt er sennEverything happens at once
ef hann sylg um getrif he gets a drink:
uppi er þá geð gumathen his disposition is revealed.

18.Sá einn veitHe alone knows,
er víða ratarhe who wanders widely
ok hefr fjölð um faritand has travelled a great deal,
   4hverju geðiwhat disposition
stýrir gumna hverreach man possesses.
sá er vitandi er vitsHe is knowing in commonsense.

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

20.Gröðugr halrA greedy man,
nema geðs vitiunless he knows his mind,
etr sér aldrtregaoften causes his life's sorrow by eating;
   4opt fær hlœgisoften the stomach gains ridicule,
er með horskum kømrwhen he comes among wise men,
manni heimskum magifor the foolish man.

21.Hjarðir þat vituThe herds know
nær þær heim skuluwhen they must be home
ok ganga þá af grasiand leave the pasture then;
   4en ósviðr maðrbut the unwise man
kann ævaginever knows
síns um mál magathe measure of his stomach.

22.Vesall maðrThe wretched man
ok illa skapiof bad character
hlær at hvívetnalaughs at all kinds of things.
   4hitki hann veitOn the other hand he doesn't know
er hann vita þyrptiwhat he ought to know,
at hann era vamma vanrthat he is not lacking in faults.

23.Ósviðr maðrThe unwise man
vakir um allar nætris awake all night
ok hyggr at hvívetnaand thinks of all sorts of things;
   4þá er móðrthen he is tired
er at morni kømrwhen morning comes,
alt er vil sem varand all the trouble is as it was.

24.Ósnotr maðrThe unwise man
hyggr sér alla verathinks them all to be
viðhlæjendr vinihis friends, those who laugh at him;
   4hitki hann fiðrhe does not notice
þótt þeir um hann fár lesieven if they express malice against him
ef hann með snotrum sitrwhen he sits among wise men.

25.Ósnotr maðrThe unwise man
hyggr sér alla verathinks them all to be
viðhlæjendr vinihis friends, those who laugh at him;
   4þá þat fiðrthen he finds
er at þingi kømrwhen he comes to the Thing [assembly]
at hann á formælendr fáthat he has few supporters.

26.Ósnotr maðrThe unwise man
þykkisk alt vitathinks he knows everything
ef hann á sér í vá veruif he has refuge for himself in a corner.
   4hitki hann veitbut he does not know
hvat hann skal við kveðawhat he must say in reply,
ef hans freista firarif men test him.

27.Ósnotr maðrFor the unwise man
er með aldir kømrwho comes among men,
þat er bazt at hann þegiit is best that be he silent.
   4engi þat veitNone know
at hann ekki kannthat he knows nothing,
nema hann mæli til mart [#]unless he should speak too much.
veita maðrThe man does not know it,
   8hinn er vætki veithe who knows nothing,
þótt hann mæli til martwhether he speaks too much.

28.Fróðr sá þykkiskHe seems wise,
er fregna kannhe who knows how to ask
ok segja hit samaand to speak likewise;
   4eyvitu leynathey can conceal nothing,
megu ýta synirthe sons of men,
því er gengr of gumaof what is said about men.

29.Œrna mælir He who is never silent
sá er eva þegir speaks plenty
staðlausu stafiof meaningless words;
   4hraðmælt tungathe fast-talking tongue,
nema haldendr eigiunless it have controllers,
opt sér ógótt um gelroften sings itself harm.

30.At augabragði A man must not make
skala maðr anna hafa a mockery of another
þótt til kynnis komiwhen he comes to visit acquaintances;
   4margr þá fróðr þykkiskmany a man seems wise
ef hann freginn eratif he is not questioned
ok nái hann þurrfjallr þrumaand manages to sit quiet, unscathed.

31.Fróðr þykkiskHe seems wise,
sá er flótta tekrthe guest who takes flight
gestr at gest hæðinnfrom the mocking guest;
   4veita görlahe does not know for certain,
sá er of verði glissirhe who mocks over a meal,
þótt hann með grömum glamiwhether he talks loudly among enemies.

32.Gunnar margirMany men
erusk gagnhollirare most friendly with each other
en at virði vrekaskand yet fight over food;
   4aldar rógstrife among men
þat mun æ verawill always be:
órir gestr við gestguest will be hostile to guest.

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

34.Afhvart mikitIt is a great roundabout way
er til ills vinarto a bad friend,
þótt á brautu búithough he dwell on the road;
   4en til góðs vinarbut to a good friend
liggja gagnvegirthere lead direct routes,
þótt hann sé firr farinnthough he be gone farther away.

35.Ganga skalThe guest must go,
skala gestr verahe must not be
ey í einum staðalways in the same place;
   4ljúfr verðr leiðrloved becomes loathed
ef lengi sitrif he stays a long time
annars fletjum áin the hall of another.

36.Bú er betraThe dwelling is better,
þótt lítit séthough it be small;
halr er heima hverreach man is a free man at home;
   4þótt tvær geitrthough he own two she-goats
eigi ok taugreptan saland a hall roofed with withies,
þat er þó betra an bœnit is still better than begging.

37.Bú er betraThe dwelling is better,
þótt lítit séthough it be small;
halr er heima hverreach man is a free man at home;
   4blóðugt er hjartahe has a bloody heart,
þeims biðja skalthe one who must beg
sér í mál hvert matarfood 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;
   4því at óvist er at vitabecause one can't be sure
nær verðr á vegum útiwhen, outside on the roads,
geirs um þörf gumaa spear will be needed by a warrior.

39.Fanka ek mildan mannI have not found a man so liberal
eða svá matar góðanor so generous with food
at værit þiggja þegitthat to accept was not accepted,
   4eða síns féaror so free
svá gjöflan [#] with his money
at leið sé laun ef þiggrthat 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;
   4opt sparir leiðumoften he saves for enemies
þats hefir ljúfum hugatwhat he has intended for friends;
mart gengr verr en varirmuch goes worse than expected.

41.Vápnum ok váðum Friends must gladden each other
skulu vinir gleðjask with weapons and clothes,
þat er á sjalfum sýnstwhich are most evident on themselves.
   4viðr gefendr ok endrgefendrgivers in return and repeat-givers
erusk vinir lengst,are friends the longest
ef þat bíðr at verða velif 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 gjöfand give gift for gift.
   4hlátr við hlátri Men should use
skyli hölðar taka mockery in return for mockery,
en lausung við lygiand 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 vinrfor himself and for the friend,
   4en 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 áttKnow, if you have a friend
þanns þú vel trúirin whom you have faith,
ok vill þú af honum gótt getaand you wish to get something good from him,
   4geði skalt við þannyou must share with his mind
blanda ok gjöfum skiptaand exchange gifts,
fara at finna optand go often to seek him out.

45.Ef þú át annanIf you have another
þanns þú illa trúirwhom you mistrust,
vildu af honum þó gótt getabut you want to get something good from him,
   4fagrt skalt við þann mælayou must speak fair to him,
en flátt hyggjaand think deceitful thoughts,
ok gjalda lausung við lygiand give deception in return for a lie.

46.Þat er enn of þannThere is more about the one
er þú illa trúirwhom you mistrust
ok þér er grunr at hans geðiand whose disposition you suspect:
   4hlæja skaltu við þeimyou should laugh with him
ok um hug mælaand speak other than your thought.
glík skulu gjöld gjöfumThere should be repayment for such gifts.

47.Ungr var ek forðumLong ago I was young,
fór ek einn samanI travelled on my own,
þá varð ek villr vegathen I turned astray in my paths:
   4auðigr þóttumkI thought myself rich
er ek annan fannwhen I found another,
maðr er manns gamanman is man's entertainment.

48.Mildir frœknirGenerous, valiant
menn bazt lifamen live best,
sjaldan sút alaand seldom nourish sorrow;
   4en ósnjallr maðrbut the cowardly man
uggir hotvetnafears all sorts of things
sýtir æ gløggr við gjöfumand the niggard is always troubled about gifts.

49.Váðir mínarMy clothes
gaf ek velli atI gave in a field
tveim trémönnumto two wooden men:
   4rekkar þat þóttuskthey thought themselves warriors
er þeir ript höfðuwhen they had clothing:
neiss er nøkkviðr halra naked man is shamed.

50.Hrørnar þöllThe fir decays,
sú er stendr þorpi áthe one that stands in the hamlet:
hlýrat henni börkr né barrneither bark nor foliage protects it.
   4svá er maðr So is a man,
sá er mangi annwho 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;
   4en þá sloknarbut it is extinguished
es hinn sétti kømrwhen the sixth day comes
ok versnar allr vinskaprand 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 lofoften one can obtain for onself with a little praise:
   4með hálfum hleifiwith half a loaf
ok með höllu keriand with a sloping goblet
fekk ek mér félagaI got myself a comrade.

53.Lítilla sanda? [of small sands,]
lítilla sæva? [of small seas,]
lítil eru geð gumaSmall are the minds of men,
   4því at allir mennbecause all men
urðut jafnspakirhave 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 sébut never too wise;
   4þeim er fyrðafor those people
fegrst at lifait 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 sébut never too wise;
   4því at snotrs manns hjartabecause the wise man's heart
verðr sjaldan glatt,is seldom glad,
ef sá er alsnotr er áif he who owns it is completely wise.

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

57.Brandr af brandiFirewood from firewood
brinn unz brunninn erburns, until it is burnt,
funi kveykisk af funaflame kindles from flame;
   4maðr af mannifrom man, man
verðr at máli kuðrbecomes wise in speech,
en til dœlskr af dulbut too foolish from folly.

58.Ár skal rísaHe must rise early,
sá er annars villthe one who wants to have another's
fé eða fjör hafawealth or life;
   4sjaldan liggjandi úlfrseldom does a lying wolf
lær um getrget a ham
né sofandi maðr sigror a sleeping man victory.

59.Ár skal rísaHe must rise early,
sá er á yrkendr fáthe one who has few workers,
ok ganga síns verka á vitand go to visit his work;
   4mart um dvelrmuch will delay
þann er um morgin sefr the one who sleeps through the morning;
hálfr er auðr und hvötumwealth 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,
   4ok þess viðarand of this, of wood
er vinnask megiwhich will last
mál ok misserifor 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 velthough he be not clothed too well;
   4skúa ok bróka let no man be ashamed
skammisk engi maðr of shoes and breeches,
né hests in heldrnor of horse either,
þótt hann hafit góðaneven if he hasn't a good one.

62.Snapir ok gnapir The eagle snatches and stretches
er til sævar kømrwhen it comes to the sea,
örn á aldinn mar the ancient sea;
   4svá er maðrso is a man
er með mörgum kømrwho comes among crowds
ok á formælendr fáand has few supporters.

63.Fregna ok segja Each of the wise must
skal fróðra hverr ask and reply,
sá er vill heitinn horskrhe who wishes to be called wise;
   4einn vitaone alone must know
né annarr skalbut not another;
þjóð veit ef þrír rothe 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;
   4þá hann þat finnr then he finds it,
er með frœknum kømr when he comes among valiant men,
at engi er einna hvatastrthat 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 sumaand too late to some;
   4öl var drukkit sometimes the ale was drunk,
sumt var ólagatsometimes it wasn't ready;
sjaldan hittir leiðr í liðthe unwelcome one seldom hits the spot.

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

68.Eldr er beztrFire is best
með ýta sonumfor the sons of men
ok sólar sýn and the sight of the sun;
   4heilyndi sitthis health,
ef maðr hafa náir if he can keep it,
án við löst at lifaand 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,
   4sumr af frændum another with kinsmen,
sumr af fé œrnu another with plenty of money,
sumr af verkum velanother with deeds well done.

70.Betra er lifðumIt is better for the living
en sé ólifðum [#]than for the dead,
ey getr kvikr kúthe living man always gets the cow;
   4eld sá ek upp brennaI saw the fire burn up
auðgum manni fyrir before a rich man,
en úti var dauðr fyr durumbut 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 dugirthe deaf man fights and is useful;
   4blindr er betriit is better to be blind
en brenndr séthan burnt:
nýtr manngi násno-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 gumaafter a man is gone;
   4sjaldan bautarsteinarmemorial stones seldom
standa brautu nærstand by the road
nema reisi niðr at niðunless a kinsman should raise [them] to kin.

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

74.Nótt verðr feginnHe becomes happy at night
sá er nesti trúirwho trusts his journey-provisions;
skammar ro skips rára ship's sailyards are short;
   4hverf er haustgrímaan autumn-night is changeable.
fjölð um viðrirThe weather changes in many ways
á fimm dögum in five days,
en meira á mánuðiand more in a month.

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

76.Deyr fé Cattle die,
deyja frændr kinsmen die,
deyr sjálfr it sama the self dies likewise;
   4en orðstírrbut 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;
   4ek veit einnI know one thing
at aldri deyr that never dies:
dómr um dauðan hvernthe 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:
   4svá er auðrthus wealth is
sem augabragð like the blink of an eye --
hann er valtastr vinait is the most unreliable of friends.

79.Ósnotr maðr If the foolish man
ef eignask getrgains possession of
fé eða fljóðs munuðmoney or a woman's love,
   4metnaðr honum þróaskpride grows in him
en mannvit aldregi but never commonsense;
fram gengr hann drjúgt í dulhe heads straight for haughtiness.

80.Þat er þá reyntThen that is proven
er þú at rúnum spyrr when you consult the runes,
inum reginkunnum originated by the gods,
   4þeim er gerðu ginnreginthose which the gods made
ok fáði fimbulþulr and the mighty sage coloured,
þá hefir hann bazt ef hann þegirthat 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,
   4mey er gefin er a maiden, when she is given away,
ís er yfir kømr ice, when it is crossed,
öl er drukkit erale, 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,
   4mörg eru dags augumany 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
   8en mey til kossaand 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 kaupabuy a lean steed
   4en mæki saurgan [#]and a dirty sword,
heima hest feitafatten a horse at home
en hund á búiand 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,
   4því at á hverfanda hvéli for their hearts were shaped
váru þeim hjörtu sköpuð on a (potter's) turning wheel,
brigð í brjóst um lagitand fickleness placed in their breasts.

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

86.fljúganda fleini a flying spear,
fallandi báru a falling wave,
ísi einnættum ice one night old,
   4ormi hringlegnum a coiled snake,
brúðar beðmáluma bride's bed-talk
eða brotnu sverði or a broken sword,
bjarnar leikia bear's game
   8eða 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,
   4val nýfeldum the newly slain,

88.akri ársánuma field sown early
trúi engi maðrno man should trust,
né til snemma syni nor too quickly in his son;
   4veðr ræðr akriweather rules the field
en vit syni and the mind of the son,
hætt er þeira hvárteach 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,
   4hesti alskjótum in a horse too-speedy --
þá er jór ónýtra steed is useless
ef einn fótr brotnar if he breaks a foot --
verðit maðr svá tryggra man should not be so trustful
   8at þessu trúi ölluthat 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 óbryddumis like riding a smooth-shod horse
   4á ísi hálum on slippery ice,
teitum tvévetrum a spirited two-year-old
ok sé tamr illa and one badly trained,
eða í byr óðumor on a rudderless boat
   8beiti stjórnlausu in a raging wind,
eða skyli haltr hendaor like a lame man trying to catch
hrein í þáfjallia 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;
   4þá vér fegrst mælumwhen we speak most fair
er vér flást hyggjum then we think most false.
þat tælir horska hugiIt deceives the heart of the wise.

92.Fagrt skal mælaFairly must he speak
ok fé bjóðaand offer gifts,
sá er vill fljóðs ást fá he who wants to win a woman's love;
   4líki leyfapraise the figure
ins ljósa mans of the fair maiden;
sá fær er fríarhe wins who flatters.

93.Ástar firna No man must
skyli engi maðr ever mock
annan aldregi another's love.
   4opt fá á horskanoften 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;
   4heimska ór horskum love the mighty
gørir hölða sonumakes fools of the wise
sá inn mátki munr among the sons of men.

95.Hugr einn þat veitOnly 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.
   4øng er sótt verriThere is no sickness worse
hveim snotrum mannifor any wise man
en sér øngu at unathan to have nothing to love.

96.Þat ek þá reyndaThat I proved
er ek í reyri satwhen I sat in the reeds
ok vættak míns munar and waited for my love;
   4hold ok hjarta the wise maid to me
var mér in horska mær was body and soul --
þeygi ek hana at heldr hefikbut 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;
   4jarls ynðia jarl's delight
þótti mér ekki vera seemed nothing to me,
nema við þat lík at lifaunless I could live with that body.

98.Auk nær apni"So towards evening,
skaltu Óðinn komaOthinn, you must come,
ef þú vilt þér mæla manif you want to win the maid for yourself;
   4alt eru ósköpall is amiss,
nema einir vitiunless we alone know
slíkan löst samanof such shame."

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

100.Svá kom ek næst When I came next,
at in nýta varthe able warriors
vígdrótt öll um vakin were all awake;
   4með brennandum ljósumwith burning lights
ok bornum viði [#]and brands raised high,
svá var mér vílstígr of vitaðrso 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 sofinthe hall retainers were asleep.
   4grey eitt ek þá fannThen I found only
innar góðu konuthe good woman's bitch
bundit beðjum ábound 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;
   4þá ek þat reyndaI learned that
er it ráðspakawhen I tried to seduce
teygða ek á flærðir fljóð the wise woman to wantonness,
háðungar hverrar the clever maid heaped
   8leitaði mér it horska man [#] her scorn on me,
ok hafða ek þess vættki vífsand I got nothing from this woman.

103.Heima glaðr gumiAt home a man must be glad
ok við gesti reifr and cheerful with guests,
sviðr skal um sik vera knowing about himself,
   4minnigr 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 heitirHe is called a monstrous fool,
   8sá er fátt kann segja the one who knows how to say almost nothing:
þat er ósnotrs aðalit is the character of the unwise.

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

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

106.Rata munn I let the mouth of the gimlet
létumk rúms um fámake space
ok um grjót gnaga and gnaw through stone;
   4yfir ok undirover and under
stóðumk jötna vegir me stood the giants' paths (rocks):
svá hætta ek höfði tilthus 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 vantlittle is lacking to the wise,
   4því at Óðrerirbecause Othrerir
er nú upp kominnhas now come up
á alda vés jarðar [#]? to Othinn's sanctuary.

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

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

110.Baugeið ÓðinnOthinn, 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?
   4Suttung svikinn he had Suttungr cheated
hann lét sumbli fráof his mead,
ok grœtta Gunnlöðuand made Gunnloth grieve.

111.Mál er at þyljaIt is time to recite
þular stóli áfrom the sage's throne
Urðar brunni at at Urthr's well;
   4sá 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 dœmaI heard and learned about runes,
   8né um ráðum þögþunor 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,
   4þér 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 sérunless you are on guard
eða þú leitir þér innan út staðaror 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,
   4þér 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 liðumso that she locks you in her limbs --

114.Hon svá gørir-- she will make sure
at þú gáir eigithat you do not heed
þings né þjóðans máls the speech of either Thing (assembly) or king;
   4mat þú villatyou 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,
   4þér 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 atto 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,
   4þér 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 velbe 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,
   4þér 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 vitato know of your misfortune,
   8því at af illum mannibecause from a bad man
fær þú aldregiyou will never get
gjöld ins góða hugara 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;
   4fláráð tunga [#]her deceit-crafty tongue
varð honum at fjörlagiwas the death of him,
ok þeygi um sanna sökand 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,
   4þér 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,
   8því at hrísi vexfor 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,
   4þér munu góð ef þú getr good will come to you, if you accept it:
góðan mann draw a good man
teygðu þér at gamanrúnumto you with pleasant conversation,
ok nem líknargaldr meðan þú lifirand 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,
   4þér munu góð ef þú getrgood 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.
   8sorg etr hjartaSorrow eats the heart
ef þú segja ne náirif you cannot tell
einhverjum allan hugsomeone 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,
   4þér 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,
   4en góðr maðrbut a good man
mun þik gørva megacan make you
líknfastan at lofibeloved through praise.

124.Sifjum er þá blandat Peace and trust are exchanged
hverr er segja ræðrwhen one can tell
einum allan huganother his whole mind.
   4alt er betraAnything is better
en sé brigðum at vera than to be faithless:
era sá vinr öðrum he is not another's friend
er vilt eitt segirwho 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,
   4þér 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 mannwith a man less worthy than you:
opt inn betri bilaroften the better man is defeated
   8þá er inn verri vegrwhen 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,
   4þér munu góð ef þú getr good will come to you, if you accept it:
skósmiðr þú verirbe not a shoe-maker
né skeptismiðr or a shaft-maker,
nema þú sjálfum þér sér except for yourself alone;
   8skór er skapaðr illaif the shoe is badly made
eða skapt sé rangt or the shaft bent,
þá er þér böls beðitthen 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,
   4þér 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 friðand 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,
   4þér 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 getitbut 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,
   4þér munu góð ef þú getr good will come to you, if you accept it:
upp líta you must not look up
skalattu í orrostuin battle
gjalti glíkir-- the sons of men become
   8verða 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,
   4þér munu góð ef þú getr good will come to you, if you accept it:
ef þú vilt þér góða konuif you want to attract
kveðja at gamanrúnum a good woman to you with pleasant talk
ok fá fögnuð af and take pleasure with her,
   8fögru skaltu heitayou 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,
   4þér munu góð ef þú getr good will come to you, if you accept it:
varan bið ek þik verawary I bid you be,
en eigi ofvaran [#]but not too wary:
ver þú við öl varastrwith ale be the most wary
   8ok við annars konuand with another's woman,
ok við þat it þriðja and with a third thing,
at þjófar ne leikithat 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,
   4þér munu góð ef þú getr good will come to you, if you accept it:
at háði né hlátrimock or laugh
hafðu aldreginever
gest né gangandaat a guest or traveller.

133.Opt vitu ógörlaOften 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):
   4erat maðr svá góðrno man is so good
at galli ne fylgi that no fault follows him,
né svá illr at einugi duginor 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,
   4þér 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,
   8opt ór skörpum belgoften clear words come
skilin orð koma out of shrivelled skin,
þeim er hangir með hámfrom the one who hangs among the hides
ok skollir með skrámand dangles among the dried skins
   12ok váfir með vílmögumand 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,
   4þér munu góð ef þú getr good will come to you, if you accept it:
gest þú ne geyjado not revile a guest
né á grind hrekir nor drive him away from your gates;
get þú váluðum veltreat the wretched well.

136.Rammt er þat tréPowerful is that beam
er ríða skalthat must move from side to side
öllum at upploki to open for all;
   4baug þú gefgive a ring,
eða þat biðja munor it will call down
þér læs hvers á liðuevery 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,
   4þér 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,
   8en 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,
   12heiptum 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 takathe earth must contend against the sea.

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

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

140.Fimbulljóð níu I took nine mighty spells
nam ek af inum frægja synifrom the famous son
Bölþórs Bestlu föðurof Bolthorr, the father of Bestla,
   4ok ek drykk of gatand I got a drink
ins dýra mjaðarof the precious mead,
ausinn Óðreripoured from Othrerir.

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

142.Rúnar munt þú finnaYou can find runes
ok ráðna stafi and meaning staves,
mjök stóra stafi very mighty staves,
   4mjök stinna stafi very strong staves,
er fáði fimbulþulrwhich a mighty sage coloured
ok gørðu ginnreginand 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,
   4Ásviðr 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?
   4Veiztu 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?
   8Veiztu hvé sóa skal?Do you know how you must kill?

145.Betra er óbeðitIt 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,
   4betra er ósentit is better that it be not sent
en sé ofsóitthan over-immolated.
svá Þundr um reistSo Thundr carved
fyr þjóða rök before the history of the peoples,
   8þar hann upp um reiswhen he rose up
er hann aptr of komand when he came back.

146.Ljóð ek þau kannI know the songs
er kannat þjóðans konathat no ruler's wife knows,
ok mannskis mögr nor anyone's son:
   4hjálp heitir eitt the first is called "Help",
en þat þér hjálpa munand it will help you
við sökum ok sorgumwith disputes and griefs
ok sútum görvöllumand absolutely all sorrows.

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

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

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

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

151.Þat kann ek it sétta I know the sixth:
ef mik særir þegnif a warrior wounds me
á rótum rams viðar [#]with the root of a strong tree
   4ok þann haland 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 logaif I see a high hall
sal um sessmögum to burn around my table-companions,
   4brennrat svá breittit does not burn so bright
at ek honum bjargigak that I cannot save it,
þann kann ek galdr at galawhen I can sing the spell.

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

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

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

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

157.Þat kann ek it tólpta I know the twelfth:
ef ek sé á tré uppiif I see up in a tree
váfa virgilná a hanged corpse swinging,
   4svá ek rístI carve
ok í rúnum fákand colour the runes
at sá gengr gumithat the man moves
ok mælir við mikand speaks with me.

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

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

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

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

162.Þat kann ek it sjautjándaI know the seventeenth,
at mik mun seint firraskthat the youthful maid
it manunga man will never avoid me;
   4ljóða þessa Loddfafnir, you will
mun þú Loddfáfnir be lacking these charms
lengi vanr vera for a long time,
þó sé þér góð ef þú getrthough it be good for you if you get them,
   8nýt ef þú nemruseful if you take them,
þörf ef þú þiggrneedful if you receive them.

163.Þat kann ek it átjándaI know the eighteenth,
er ek æva kennikwhich I never teach
mey né manns konu to maid or man's wife,
   4alt er betra -- everything is better
er einn um kannwhen one person understands it,
þat fylgir ljóða lokum it belongs at the ending of spells --
nema þeiri einnito none but she alone
   8er mik armi verrwho 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 íin Har's hall,
allþörf ýta sonumvery needful to the sons of men,
   4óþörf jötna sonumharmful to the sons of giants.
heill sá er kvaðHail to him who spoke!
heill sá er kannHail to him who understands!
njóti sá er namLet him benefit who took them!
   8heilir þeirs hlýdduBlessings 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 ]