(Back to the main Havamal Analysis page )  ( Go to the Next Stanza ) The discussion and analysis presented after these translated stanzas is our opinion.  Read the translations for yourself and our analysis, but also seek out varied sources and come to your own conclusions. STANZA 11 OF THE HAVAMAL Auden and Taylor: Better gear than good sense A traveler cannot carry, A more tedious burden than too much drink A traveler cannot carry, Bellows: A better burden | may no man bear For wanderings wide than wisdom; Worse food for the journey | he brings not afield Than an over-drinking of ale. Bray: A better burden can no man bear on the way than his mother wit: and no worse provision can he carry with him than too deep a draught of ale. Chisholm: A man bears no better burden, when on the wilderness ways than great wisdom. One can have no worse fare, on road or field, than too much ale. Hollander: Better burden bearest thou nowise than shrewd head on they shoulders; but with worser food farest thou never than an overmuch of mead. Terry: If a man takes with him a mind full of sense he can carry nothing better; nothing is worse to carry on your way than a head heavy with beer. Thorpe: 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. Original Old Norse: Byrði betri ber-at maður brautu að en sé manvit mikið. Vegnest verra vegur-a hann velli að en sé ofdrykkja öls. DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF STANZA 11 Stanza's 10-14 sort of chain together...or at least build on each other. The first two lines of stanza 11 are exactly the same as the first two lines of Stanza 10.  They basically say that the best thing you could carry with you on a journey is wisdom. You can't name another provision, resource, item, or burden to carry than wisdom as you travel along your way. This can be taken to refer to more than just a trip from point A to point B, of course. It makes sense that these lines are talking about life's journey. Our wanderings through life. Lines 3 and 4 then contrast ale (beer, mead, drink...essentially alcohol) with wisdom.  If wisdom is the BEST thing you could take with you on your journey, then too-much-alcohol is the WORST thing you could take with you. It would be interesting to go through the Havamal, making a tick-mark on a piece of paper everytime certain topics come up.  The Importance of Wisdom.  Caution.  Listening.  Watching.  Remaining Sober.  Family.  etc. etc.  Some of these topics are all through the Havamal...over and over, with slight variations.  This only emphasizes the importance of the advice regarding these topic to our ancestors.  ( Back to the main Havamal Analysis page )  ( Go to the Next Stanza )