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The
Hávamál (Sayings of Hár, Sayings of the high one) is one of the
poems of the Poetic Edda. It sets out a set of guidelines for wise
living and survival; some verses are written from the perspective of
Odin (particularly towards the end, where it segues into an account
of Odin's obtaining of the magical runes and the spells he learned).
This is Benjamin Thorpe's English translation.
Havamal - The High One´s
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 rainment 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 who to refection
comes, keeps a cautious silence, (Or/Wit is needful to him
who travels far: harm seldom befalls the wary;) with his hears
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, 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.
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.
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 sandgrains, 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, 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: no ones 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.
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74. At night is joyful he who is sure of
travelling enjoyment. (A ship’s yards are short.) 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,
- judgement 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 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 tw0-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.
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 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.
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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.
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
gave. Who in his faith will trust? Suttung defrauded, of
his drink bereft, and Gunnlöd made to weep!
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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.
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RunatalsÞáttr Oðins.
Odin´s Rune-song.
140. I know that I hung, on a wind-rocked
tree, nine whole nights, with a spear wounded, and to Odin
offered, myself to myself; on that tree, of which no one
knows from what root it springs.
141. Bread no one gave me, nor a horn of
drink, downward I peered, to runes applied myself, wailing
learnt them, then fell down thence.
142. Potent songs nine from the famed son
I learned of Bölthorn, Bestla’s sire, and a draught
obtained of the precious mead, drawn from Odhrærir.
143. Then I began to bear fruit, and to
know many things, to grow and well thrive: word by word I
sought out words, fact by fact I sought out facts.
144. Runes thou wilt find, and explained
characters, very large characters, very potent
characters, which the great speaker depicted, and the high
powers formed, and the powers’ prince graved:
145. Odin among the Æsir, but among the
Alfar, Dáin, and Dvalin for the dwarfs, Ásvid for the
Jötuns: some I myself graved.
146. Knowest thou how to grave
them? knowest thou how to expound them? knowest thou how to
depict them? knowest thou how to prove them? knowest thou how
to pray? knowest thou how to offer? knowest thou how to
send? knowest thou how to consume?
147. ‘Tis better not to pray than too
much offer; a gift ever looks to a return. ‘Tis better not to
send than too much consume. So Thund graved before the
origin of men, where he ascended, to whence he afterwards
came.
148. Those songs I know which the king’s
wife knows not nor son of man. Help the first is
called, for that will help thee against strifes and cares.
149. For the second I know, what the sons
of men require, who will as leeches live.
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150. For the third I know, if I have
great need to restrain my foes, the weapons’ edge I
deaden: of my adversaries nor arms nor wiles harm aught.
151. For the forth I know, if men
place bonds on my limbs, I so sing that I can walk; the
fetter starts from my feet, and the manacle from my hands.
152. For the fifth I know, I see a shot
from a hostile hand, a shaft flying amid the host, so swift it
cannot fly that I cannot arrest it, if only I get sight of
it.
153. For the sixth I know, if one wounds
me with a green tree’s roots; also if a man declares hatred
to me, harm shall consume them sooner than me.
154. For the seventh I know, if a lofty
house I see blaze o’er its inmates, so furiously it shall not
burn that I cannot save it. That song I can sing.
155. For the eighth I know, what to all
is useful to learn: where hatred grows among the sons of
men - that I can quickly assuage.
156. For the ninth I know, if I stand in
need my bark on the water to save, I can the wind on the
waves allay, and the sea lull.
157. For the tenth I know, if I see
troll-wives sporting in air, I can so operate that they
will forsake their own forms, and their own minds.
158. For the eleventh I know, if I have
to lead my ancient friends to battle, under their shields I
sing, and with power they go safe to the fight, safe from
the fight; safe on every side they go.
159. For the twelfth I know, if on a tree
I see a corpse swinging from a halter, I can so grave and
in runes depict, that the man shall walk, and with me
converse.
160. For the thirteenth I know, if on a
young man I sprinkle water, he shall not fall, though he
into battle come: that man shall not sink before swords.
161. For the fourteenth I know, if in the
society of men I have to enumerate the gods, Æsir and
Alfar, I know the distinctions of all. This few unskilled can
do.
162. For the fifteenth I know what the
dwarf Thiodreyrir sang before Delling’s doors. Strength he
sang to the Æsir, and to the Alfar prosperity, wisdom to
Hroptatýr.
163. For the sixteenth I know, if a
modest maiden’s favour and affection I desire to possess, the
soul I change of the white-armed damsel, and wholly turn her
mind.
164. For the seventeenth I know, that
that young maiden will reluctantly avoid me. These songs,
Loddfafnir! thou wilt long have lacked; yet it may be good if
thou understandest them, profitable if thou learnest them.
165. For the eighteenth I know that which
I never teach to maid or wife of man, (all is better what
one only knows. This is the closing of the songs) save her
alone who claspsme in her arms, or is my sister.
166. Now are sung the High-one’s
songs, in the High-one’s hall, to the sons of men
all-useful, but useless to the Jötun’s sons. Hail to him who
has sung them!
Hail to him who knows them! May he profit
who has learnt them! Hail to hose who have listened to them!
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