Hávamál

_____

The High One's[1] Lay

 

 

1. All door-ways,

before going forward,

should be looked to;

for difficult it is to know

where foes may sit

within a dwelling.

 

2. Givers, hail!

A guest is come in:

where shall he sit?

In much hast is he,

who on the ways has

to try his luck.

 

3. Fire is needful

to him who is come in,

and whose knees are frozen;

food and raiment

a man requires,

who o’er the fell has travelled.

 

4. Water to him is needful

who for refection comes,

a towel and hospitable invitation,

a good reception;

if he can get it,

discourse and answer.

 

5. Wit is needful

to him who travels far:

at home all is easy.

A laughing-stock is he

who nothing knows,

and with the instructed sits.

 

6. Of his understanding

no one should be proud,

but rather in conduct cautious.

When the prudent and taciturn

come to a dwelling,

harm seldom befalls the cautious;

for a firmer friend

no man ever gets

than great sagacity.

 

7. A way guest,[2]

who to refection comes,

keeps a cautious silence,

with his ears listens,

and with his eyes observes:

so explores every prudent man.

 

8. He is happy,

who for himself obtains

fame and kind words:

less sure is that

which a man must have

in another’s breast.

 

9. He is happy,

who in himself possesses

fame and wit while living;

for bad counsels

have oft been received

from another’s breast.

 

10. A better burthen

no man bears on the way

than much good sense;

that is thought better than riches

in a strange place;

such is the recourse of the indigent.

 

11. A worse provision

on the way he cannot carry

than too much beer-bibbing;

so good is not,

as it is said,

beer for the sons of men.

 

12. A worse provision

no man can take from table

than too much beer-bibbing:

for the more he drinks

the less control he has

of his own mind.

 

13. Oblivion’s heron ‘tis called

that over potations hovers,[3]

he steals the minds of men.

With this bird’s pinions

I was fettered

in Gunnlöds dwelling.

 

14. Drunk I was,

I was over-drunk,

at that cunning Fjalar’s.

It’s the best drunkenness,

when every one after it

regains his reason.

 

15. Taciturn and prudent,

and in war daring

should a king’s children be;

joyous and liberal

every one should be

until the hour of his death.

 

16. A cowardly man

thinks he will ever live,

if warfare he avoids;

but old age will

give him no peace,

though spears may spare him.

 

17. A fool gapes

when to a house he comes,

to himself mutters or is silent;

but all at once,

if he gets drink,

then is the man’s mind displayed.

 

18. He alone knows

who wanders wide,

and has much experienced,

by what disposition

each man is ruled,

who common sense possesses.

 

19. Let a man hold the cup,

yet of the mead drink moderately,

speak sensibly or be silent.

As of a fault

no man will admonish thee,

if thou goest betimes to sleep.

 

20. A greedy man,

if he be not moderate,

eats to his mortal sorrow.

Oftentimes his belly

draws laughter on a silly man,

who among the prudent comes.

 

21. Cattle know

when to go home,

and then from grazing cease;

but a foolish man

never knows

his stomach’s measure.

 

22. A miserable man,

and ill-conditioned,

sneers at every thing;

one thing he knows not,

which he ought to know,

that he is not free from faults.

 

23. A foolish man

is all night awake,

pondering over everything;

he than grows tired;

and when morning comes,

all is lament as before.

 

24. A foolish man

thinks all who on him smile

to be his friends;

he feels it not,

although they speak ill of him,

when he sits among the clever.

 

25. A foolish man

thinks all who speak him fair

to be his friends;

but he will find,

if into court he comes,

that he has few advocates.

 

26. A foolish man

thinks he know everything

if placed in unexpected difficulty;

but he knows not

what to answer,

if to the test he is put.

 

27. A foolish man,

who among people comes,

had best be silent;

for no one knows

that he knows nothing,

unless he talks to much.

He who previously knew nothing

will still know nothing

talk he ever so much.

 

28. He thinks himself wise,

who can ask questions

and converse also;

conceal his ignorance

no one can,

because it circulates among men.

 

29. He utters too many

futile words

who is never silent;

a garrulous tongue,

if it be not checked,

sings often to its own harm.

 

30. For a gazing-stock

no man shall have another,

although he come a stranger to his house.

Many a one thinks himself wise,

if he is not questioned,

and can sit in a dry habit.

 

31. Clever thinks himself

the guest who jeers a guest,

if he takes to flight.

Knows it not certainly

he who prates at meat,

whether he babbles among foes.

 

32. Many men

are mutually well-disposed,

yet at table will torment each other.

That strife will ever be;

guest will guest irritate.

 

33. Early meals

a man should often take,

unless to a friend’s house he goes;

else he will sit and mope,

will seem half-famished,

and can of few things inquire.

 

34. Long is and indirect the way

to a bad friend’s,

though by the road he dwell;

but to a good friend’s

the paths lie direct,

though he be far away.

 

35. A guest should depart,

not always stay

in one place.

The welcome becomes unwelcome,

if he too long continues

in another’s house.

 

36. One’s own house is best,

small though it be;

at home is every one his own master.

Though he but two goats possess,

and a straw-thatched cot,

even that is better than begging.

 

37. One’s own house is best,

small though it be,

at home is every one his own master.

Bleeding at heart is he,

who has to ask

for food at every meal-tide.

 

38. Leaving in the field his arms,

let no man go

a foot’s length forward;

for it is hard to know

when on the way

a man may need his weapon.

 

39. I have never found a

man so bountiful,

or so hospitable

that he refused a present;

of his property

so liberal

that he scorned a recompense.

 

40. Of the property

which he has gained

no man should suffer need;

for the hated oft is spared

what for the dear was destined.

Much goes worse than is expected.

 

41. With arms and vestments

friends should each other gladden,

those which are in themselves most sightly.

Givers and requiters

are longest friends,

if all [else] goes well.[4]

 

42. To his friend

a man should be a friend,

and gifts with gifts requite.

Laughter with laughter

men should receive,

but leasing with lying.

 

43. To his friend

a man should be a friend,

to him and to his friend;

but of his foe

no man shall

the friend’s friend be.

 

44. Know, if thou has a friend

whom thou fully trustest,

and from whom thou woulds’t good derive,

thou shouldst blend thy mind with his,

and gifts exchange,

and often go to see him.

 

45. If thou hast another,

whom thou little trustest,

yet wouldst good from him derive,

thou shouldst speak him fair,

but think craftily,

and leasing pay with lying.

 

46. But of him yet further,

whom thou little trustest,

and thou suspectest his affection;

before him thou shouldst laugh,

and contrary to thy thoughts speak:

requital should the gift resemble.

 

47. I was once young,

I was journeying alone,

and lost my way;

rich I thought myself,

when I met another.

Man is the joy of man.

 

48. Liberal and brave men live best,

they seldom cherish sorrow;

but a base-minded man

dreads everything;

the niggardly is uneasy even at gifts.

 

49. My garments in a field

I gave away

to two wooden men:

heroes they seemed to be,

when they got cloaks:

exposed to insult is a naked man.[5]

 

50. A tree withers

that on a hill-top stands;

protects it neither bark nor leaves:

such is the man

whom no one favours:

why should he live long?

 

51. Hotter than fire

love for five days burns

between false friends;

but is quenched

when the sixth day comes,

and friendship is all impaired.

 

52. Something great

is not [always] to be given,

praise is often for a trifle bought.

With half a loaf

and a tilted vessel

I got myself a comrade.

 

53. Little are the sand-grains,

little the wits,

little the minds of [some] men;

for all men

are not wise alike:

men are everywhere by halves.

 

54. Moderately wise

should each one be,

but never over-wise:

of those men

the lives are fairest,

who know much well.

 

55. Moderately wise

should each one be,

but never over-wise;

for a wise man’s heart

is seldom glad,

if he is all-wise who owns it.

 

56. Moderately wise

should each one be,

but never over-wise.

His destiny let know

no man beforehand;

his mind will be freest from care.

 

57. Brand burns from brand

until it is burnt out;

fire is from fire quickened.

Man to man

becomes known by speech,

but a fool by his bashful silence.

 

58. He should early rise,

who another’s property or life

desires to have.

Seldom a sluggish wolf

gets prey,

or a sleeping man victory.

 

59. Early should rise

he who has few workers,

and go his work to see to;

greatly is he retarded

who sleeps the morn away.

Wealth half depends on energy.

 

60. Of dry planks

and roof-shingles

a man knows the measure;

of the fire-wood

that may suffice,

both measure and time.

 

61. Washed and refected

let a man ride to the Thing,[6]

although his garments be not too good;

of his shoes and breeches

let no one be ashamed,

nor of his horse,

although he have not a good one.

 

62. Inquire and impart

should every man of sense,

who will be accounted sage.

Let one only know,

a second may not;

if three, all the world knows.

 

 

63. Gasps and gapes,

when to the sea he comes,

the eagles over old ocean;

so is a man,

who among many comes,

and has few advocates.

 

64. His power should

every sagacious man

use with discretion;

for he will find,

when among the bold he comes,

that no one alone is the doughtiest.

 

65. Circumspect and reserved

every man should be,

and wary in trusting friends.

Of the words

that a man says to another

he often pays the penalty.

 

66. Much too early

I came to many places,

but too late to others;

the beer was drunk,

or not ready:

the disliked seldom hits the moment.

 

67. Here and there I should

have been invited,

if I a meal had needed;

or two hams had hung,

at that true friend’s,

where of one I had eaten.

 

68. Fire is best

among the sons of men,

and the sight of the sun,

if his health

a man can have,

with a life free from vice.

 

69. No man lacks everything,

although his health be bad:

one in his sons is happy,

one in abundant wealth,

one in his good works.

 

70. It is better to live,

even to live miserably;

a living man can always get a cow.

I saw fire consume

the rich man’s property,

and death stood without his door.

 

71. The halt can ride on horseback,

the one-handed drive cattle;

the deaf fight and be useful:

to be blind is better

than to be burnt:[7]

no one gets good from a corpse.

 

72. A son is better,

even if born late,

after his father’s departure.

Gravestones seldom

stand by the way-side

unless raised by a kinsman to a kinsman.

 

73. Two are adversaries:

the tongue is the bane of the head:

under every cloak

I expect a hand.

 

*  *  *

*  *  *

 

74. At night is joyful

he who is sure of travelling enjoyment.

[A ship’s yards are short.][8]

Variable is an autumn night.

Many are the weather’s changes

in five days,

but more in a month.

 

75. He [only] knows not

who knows nothing,

that many a one apes another.

One man is rich,

another poor:

let him not be thought blameworthy.

 

76. Cattle die,

kindred die,

we ourselves also die;

but the fair fame

never dies

of him who has earned it.

 

77. Cattle die,

kindred die,

we ourselves also die;

but I know one thing

that never dies, -

judgment on each one dead.

 

78. Full storehouses I saw

at Dives’ sons’:

now bear they the beggar’s staff.

Such are riches;

as is the twinkling of an eye:

of friends they are most fickle.

 

79. A foolish man,

if he acquires

wealth or a woman’s love,

pride grows within him,

but wisdom never:

he goes on more and more arrogant.

 

80. Then ‘tis made manifest,

if of runes thou questionest him,

those to the high ones known,

which the great powers invented,

and the great talker[9] painted,

that he had best hold silence.

 

81. At eve the day is to be praised,

a woman after she is burnt,

a sword after it is proved,

a maid after she is married,

ice after it has passed away,

beer after it is drunk.

 

82. In the wind one should hew wood,

in a breeze row out to sea,

in the dark talk with a lass:

many are the eyes of day.

In a ship voyages are to be made,

but a shield is for protection,

a sword for striking,

but a damsel for a kiss.

 

83. By the fire one should drink beer,

on the ice slide;

but a horse that is lean,

a sword that is rusty;

feed a horse at home,

but a dog at the farm.

 

84. In a maiden’s words

no one should place faith,

nor in what a woman says;

for on a turning wheel

have their hearts been formed,

and guile in their breasts been laid;

 

85. in a creaking bow,

a burning flame,

a yawning wolf,

a chattering crow,

a grunting swine,

a rootless tree,

a waxing wave,

a boiling kettle,

 

86. a flying dart,

a falling billow,

a one night’s ice,

a coiled serpent,

a woman’s bed-talk,

or a broken sword,

a bear’s play,

or a royal child,

 

87. a sick calf,

a self-willed thrall,

a flattering prophetess,

a corpse newly slain,

[a serene sky,

a laughing lord,

a barking dog,

and a harlot’s grief];

 

88. an early sown field

let no one trust,

nor prematurely in a son:

weather rules the field,

and wit the son,

each of which is doubtful;

 

89. a brother’s murderer,

though on the high road met,

a half-burnt house,

an over-swift horse,

(a horse is useless,

if a leg be broken,

no man is so confiding

as to trust any of these.

 

90. Such is the love of women,

who falsehood meditate,

as if one drove not rough-shod,

on slippery ice,

a spirited two-years old

and unbroken horse;

or as in a raging storm

a helmless ship is beaten;

or as if the halt were set to catch

a reindeer in the thawing fell.[10]

 

91. Openly I now speak,

because I both sexes know:

unstable are men’s minds towards women;

‘tis then we speak most fair

when we most falsely think:

that deceives even the cautious.

 

92. Fair shall speak,

and money offer,

who would obtain a woman’s love.

Praise the form

of a fair damsel;

he gets who courts her.

 

93. At love should no one

ever wonder

in another:

a beauteous countenance

oft captivates the wise,

which captivates not the foolish.

 

94. Let no one wonder at

another’s folly,

it is the lot of many.

All-powerful desire

makes of the sons of men

fools even of the wise.

 

95. The mind only knows

what lies near the heart,

that alone is conscious of our affections.

No disease is worse

to a sensible man

than not to be content with himself.

 

96. That I experienced,

when in the reeds I sat,

awaiting my delight.

Body and soul to me

was that discreet maiden:

nevertheless I posses her not.

 

97. Billing’s lass[11]

on her couch I found,

sun-bright, sleeping.

A prince’s joy

to me seemed naught,

if not with that form to live.

 

98. “Yet nearer eve

must thou, Odin, come,

if thou wilt talk the maiden over;

all will be disastrous,

unless we alone

are privy to such misdeed.”

 

99. I returned,

thinking to love,

at her wise desire.

I thought

I should obtain

her whole heart and love.

 

100. When next I came

the bold warriors were

all awake,

with lights burning,

and bearing torches:

thus was the way to pleasure closed.

 

101. But at the approach of morn,

when again I came,

the household all was sleeping;

the good damsel’s dog

alone I found

tied to the bed.

 

102. Many a fair maiden,

when rightly known,

towards men is fickle:

that I experienced,

when that discreet maiden I

strove to seduce:

contumely of every kind

that wily girl

heaped upon me;

nor of that damsel gained I aught.

 

103. At home let a man be cheerful,

and towards a guest liberal;

of wise conduct he should be,

of good memory and ready speech;

if much knowledge he desires,

he must often talk on good.

 

104. Fimbulfambi he is called

who little has to say:

such is the nature of the simple.

 

 105. The old Jötun I sought;

now I am come back:

little got I there by silence;

in many words

I spoke to my advantage

in Suttung’s halls.[12]

 

106. Gunnlöd gave me,

on her golden seat,

a draught of the precious mead;

a bad recompense

I afterwards made her,

for her whole soul,

her fervent love.

 

 107. Rati’s mouth I caused

to make a space,

and to gnaw the rock;

over and under me

were the Jötun’s ways:

thus I my head did peril.

 

108. Of a well-assumed form

I made good use:

few things fail the wise;

for Odhrærir

is now come up

to men’s earthly dwellings.

 

109. ‘Tis to me doubtful

that I could have come

from the Jötun’s courts,

had not Gunnlöd aided me,

that good damsel,

over whom I laid my arm.

 

110. On the day following

came the Hrim-thursar,

to learn something of the High One,

in the High One’s hall:

after Bölverk they inquired,

whether he with the gods were come,

or Suttung had destroyed him?

 

111. Odin, I believe,

a ring-oath[13] gave.

Who in his faith will trust?

Suttung defrauded,

of his drink bereft,

and Gunnlöd made to weep!

 

~~~~~

 

112. Time ‘tis to discourse

from the preacher’s chair. —

By the well of Urd

I silent sat,

I saw and meditated,

I listened to men’s words.

 

113. Of runes I heard discourse,

and of things divine,

nor of graving them were they silent,

nor of sage counsels,

at the High One’s hall.

In the High One’s hall.

I thus heard say:

 

114. I counsel thee, Loddfafnir,

to take advise:

thou wilt profit if thou takest it.

Rise not a night,

unless to explore,

or art compelled to go out.

 

115. I counsel thee, Loddfafnir,

to take advice,

thou wilt profit if thou takest it.

In an enchantress’s embrace

thou mayest not sleep,

so that in her arms she clasp thee.

 

116. She will be the cause

that thou carest not

for Thing or prince’s words;

food thou wilt shun

and human joys;

sorrowful wilt thou go to sleep.

 

117. I counsel thee, etc.

Another’s wife

entice thou never

to secret converse.

 

118. I counsel thee, etc.

By fell or firth

if thou have to travel,

provide thee well with food.

 

119. I counsel thee, etc.

A bad man

let thou never

know thy misfortunes;

for from a bad man

thou never wilt obtain

a return for thy good will.

 

120. I saw mortally

wound a man

a wicked woman’s words;

a false tongue

caused his death,

and most unrighteously.

 

121. I counsel thee, etc.

If thou knowest thou has a friend,

whom thou well canst trust,

go oft to visit him;

for with brushwood overgrown,

and with high grass,

is the way that no one treads.

 

122. I counsel thee, etc. —

A good man attract to thee

in pleasant converse;

and salutary speech learn while thou livest.

 

123. I counsel thee, etc.

With thy friend

be thou never

first to quarrel.

Care gnaws the heart,

if thou to no one canst

thy whole mind disclose.

 

124. I counsel thee, etc.

Words thou never

shouldst exchange

with a witless fool;

 

125. for from an ill-conditioned man

thou wilt never get

a return for good;

but a good man will

bring thee favour

by his praise.

 

126. There is a mingling of affection,

where one can tell

another all his mind.

Everything is better

than being with the deceitful.

He is not another’s friend

who ever says as he says.

 

127. I counsel thee, etc.

Even in three words

quarrel not with a worse man:

often the better yields,

when the worse strikes.

 

128. I counsel thee, etc.

Be not a shoemaker,

nor a shaftmaker,

unless for thyself it be;

for a shoe if ill made,

or a shaft if crooked,

will call down evil on thee.

 

129. I counsel thee, etc.

Wherever of injury thou knowest,

regard that injury as thy own;

and give to thy foes no peace.

 

130. I counsel thee, etc.

Rejoiced at evil

be thou never;

but let good give thee pleasure.

 

 131. I counsel thee, etc.

In a battle

look not up,

(like swine

the sons of men become)

that men may not fascinate thee.

 

132. If thou wilt induce a good woman

to pleasant converse,

thou must promise fair,

and hold to it;

no one turns from good if it can be got.

 

133. I enjoin thee to be wary,

but not over wary;

at drinking be thou most wary,

and with another’s wife;

and thirdly,

that thieves delude thee not.

 

134. With insult or derision

treat thou never

a guest or wayfarer,

they often little know,

who sit within,

or what race they are who come.

 

135. Vices and virtues

the sons of mortals bear

in their breasts mingled;

no one is so good

that no failing attends him,

nor so bad as to be good for nothing.

 

136. At a hoary speaker

laugh thou never;

often is good that which the aged utter,

oft from a shriveled hide

discreet words issue;

from those whose skin is pendent

and decked with scars,

and who go tottering among the vile.

 

137. I counsel thee, etc.

Rail not at a guest,

nor from thy gate thrust him;

treat well the indigent;

they will speak well of thee.

 

138. Strong is the bar

that must be raised

to admit all.

Do thou give a penny,

or they will call down on thee

every ill in thy limbs.

 

139. I counsel thee, etc.

Wherever thou beer drinkest,

invoke to thee the power of earth;

for earth is good against drink,

fire for distempers,

the oak for constipation,

a corn-ear for sorcery

a hall for domestic strife.

In bitter hates invoke the moon;

the biter for bite-injuries is good;

but runes against calamity;

fluid let earth absorb.

 

Continued in:

RunatalsÞáttr Oðins or Odin´s Rune-song.

---

[1] Odin is the ‘High One.’ The poem is a collection of rules and maxims and stories, of himself, some of them not very consistent with our ideas of a supreme deity.

[2] In the Copenhagen paper Ms. F, this strophe begins with the following three lines—

                         Wit is needful

                         To him who travels far:

                         Harm seldom befalls the wary:

They are printed in the Stockholm edition of the original by Afzelius and Rask, and in the Swedish translation of Afzelius.

[3] I am unable to explain this allusion; but see Grimm, D.M. p. 1086. 2^nd edit. It was in an eagle’s guise that Odin escaped from Gunnlöd’s dwelling. See Northern Mythology I, p. 42

[4] The sense of this line seems doubtful: I have adopted the version of Finn Magnusen.

[5] Akin to this are Danish proverbs: Man kan og klæde en Staver op: Even a stake may be dressed up; Som man er klædt er man hædt: As one is clad so is one honoured, as the toad said springing out of the cream bowl. P. Syv, Danske Ordsprog, p. 70.

[6] The public meeting.

[7] That is dead on a funeral pyre.

[8] This line is evidently an interpolation.

[9] Odin.

[10] From this line it appears that the poem is of Norwegian or Swedish origin, as the reindeer was unknown in Iceland before the middle of the 18^th century, when it was introduced by royal command. Note by Finn Magnusen in 4^to edit. III. P. 107.

[11] The story of Odin and Billing’s daughter is no longer extant; but compare the story of Odin and Rinda in Saxo, p. 126, edit. Müller & Vellschow.

[12] For the story of Suttung and Gunnlöd, see the Prose, or Snorri’s Edda in “Northern Antiquities,” edit. Bohn. P. 461. North. Mythol. I, p. 42.

[13] In the pagan North oaths were taken on a holy ring or bracelet, as with us on the Gospels, a sacred ring being kept in the temple for the purpose.