For a long time, words were not written among Norsemen, but instead passed on from elder to child, and from them to their children, and so on. There is a poem passed down through the ages from Norseman to Norseman, that speaks of lessons and wisdom to live by. This is the Hávamál. It is presented as a single poem in the 13th century Codex Regius, a collection of Old Norse poems from the Viking age that we were fortunate someone who finally inscribed the spoken word, did so, and is the only surviving source for Hávamál.
The Hávamál
Young and alone on a
long road,
Once I lost my way:
Rich I felt when I found another;
Man rejoices in man,
Once I lost my way:
Rich I felt when I found another;
Man rejoices in man,
A kind word need not
cost much,
The price of praise can be cheap:
With half a loaf and an empty cup
I found myself a friend,
The price of praise can be cheap:
With half a loaf and an empty cup
I found myself a friend,
Two wooden stakes stood
on the plain,
On them I hung my clothes:
Draped in linen, they looked well born,
But, naked, I was a nobody
On them I hung my clothes:
Draped in linen, they looked well born,
But, naked, I was a nobody
Too early to many homes
I came,
Too late, it seemed, to some:
The ale was finished or else un-brewed,
The unpopular cannot please,
Too late, it seemed, to some:
The ale was finished or else un-brewed,
The unpopular cannot please,
Some would invite me to
visit their homes,
But none thought I needed a meal,
As though I had eaten a whole joint,
Just before with a friend who had two
But none thought I needed a meal,
As though I had eaten a whole joint,
Just before with a friend who had two
The man who stands at a
strange threshold,
Should be cautious before he cross it,
Glance this way and that:
Who knows beforehand what foes may sit
Awaiting him in the hall?
Should be cautious before he cross it,
Glance this way and that:
Who knows beforehand what foes may sit
Awaiting him in the hall?
Greetings to the
host,
The guest has arrived,
In which seat shall he sit?
Rash is he who at unknown doors
Relies on his good luck,
The guest has arrived,
In which seat shall he sit?
Rash is he who at unknown doors
Relies on his good luck,
Fire is needed by the
newcomer
Whose knees are frozen numb;
Meat and clean linen a man needs
Who has fared across the fells,
Whose knees are frozen numb;
Meat and clean linen a man needs
Who has fared across the fells,
Water, too, that he may
wash before eating,
Handcloth's and a hearty welcome,
Courteous words, then courteous silence
That he may tell his tale,
Handcloth's and a hearty welcome,
Courteous words, then courteous silence
That he may tell his tale,
Who travels widely needs
his wits about him,
The stupid should stay at home:
The ignorant man is often laughed at
When he sits at meat with the sage,
The stupid should stay at home:
The ignorant man is often laughed at
When he sits at meat with the sage,
Of his knowledge a man
should never boast,
Rather be sparing of speech
When to his house a wiser comes:
Seldom do those who are silent Make mistakes;
mother wit Is ever a faithful friend,
Rather be sparing of speech
When to his house a wiser comes:
Seldom do those who are silent Make mistakes;
mother wit Is ever a faithful friend,
A guest should be
courteous
When he comes to the table
And sit in wary silence,
His ears attentive,
his eyes alert:
So he protects himself,
When he comes to the table
And sit in wary silence,
His ears attentive,
his eyes alert:
So he protects himself,
Fortunate is he who is favored in his lifetime
With praise and words of wisdom:
Evil counsel is often given
By those of evil heart,
With praise and words of wisdom:
Evil counsel is often given
By those of evil heart,
Blessed is he who in his
own lifetime
Is awarded praise and wit,
For ill counsel is often given
By mortal men to each other,
Is awarded praise and wit,
For ill counsel is often given
By mortal men to each other,
Better gear than good
sense
A traveler cannot carry,
Better than riches for a wretched man,
Far from his own home,
A traveler cannot carry,
Better than riches for a wretched man,
Far from his own home,
Better gear than good
sense
A traveler cannot carry,
A more tedious burden than too much drink
A traveler cannot carry,
A traveler cannot carry,
A more tedious burden than too much drink
A traveler cannot carry,
Less good than belief
would have it
Is mead for the sons of men:
A man knows less the more he drinks,
Becomes a befuddled fool,
Is mead for the sons of men:
A man knows less the more he drinks,
Becomes a befuddled fool,
I-forget is the name men
give the heron
Who hovers over the fast:
Fettered I was in his feathers that night,
When a guest in Gunnlod's court
Who hovers over the fast:
Fettered I was in his feathers that night,
When a guest in Gunnlod's court
Drunk I got, dead drunk,
When Fjalar the wise was with me:
Best is the banquet one looks back on after,
And remembers all that happened,
When Fjalar the wise was with me:
Best is the banquet one looks back on after,
And remembers all that happened,
Silence becomes the Son
of a prince,
To be silent but brave in battle:
It befits a man to be merry and glad
Until the day of his death,
To be silent but brave in battle:
It befits a man to be merry and glad
Until the day of his death,
The coward believes he
will live forever
If he holds back in the battle,
But in old age he shall have no peace
Though spears have spared his limbs
If he holds back in the battle,
But in old age he shall have no peace
Though spears have spared his limbs
When he meets friends,
the fool gapes,
Is shy and sheepish at first,
Then he sips his mead and immediately
All know what an oaf he is,
He who has seen and suffered much,
And knows the ways of the world,
Who has traveled', can tell what spirit
Governs the men he meets,
Drink your mead, but in moderation,
Talk sense or be silent:
No man is called discourteous who goes
To bed at an early hour
Is shy and sheepish at first,
Then he sips his mead and immediately
All know what an oaf he is,
He who has seen and suffered much,
And knows the ways of the world,
Who has traveled', can tell what spirit
Governs the men he meets,
Drink your mead, but in moderation,
Talk sense or be silent:
No man is called discourteous who goes
To bed at an early hour
A gluttonous man who
guzzles away
Brings sorrow on himself:
At the table of the wise he is taunted often,
Mocked for his bloated belly,
Brings sorrow on himself:
At the table of the wise he is taunted often,
Mocked for his bloated belly,
The herd knows its
homing time,
And leaves the grazing ground:
But the glutton never knows how much
His belly is able to hold,
And leaves the grazing ground:
But the glutton never knows how much
His belly is able to hold,
An ill tempered, unhappy
man
Ridicules all he hears,
Makes fun of others, refusing always
To see the faults in himself
Ridicules all he hears,
Makes fun of others, refusing always
To see the faults in himself
Foolish is he who frets
at night,
And lies awake to worry'
A weary man when morning comes,
He finds all as bad as before,
And lies awake to worry'
A weary man when morning comes,
He finds all as bad as before,
The fool thinks that
those who laugh
At him are all his friends,
Unaware when he sits with wiser men
How ill they speak of him.
At him are all his friends,
Unaware when he sits with wiser men
How ill they speak of him.
The fool thinks that
those who laugh
At him are all his friends:
When he comes to the Thing and calls for support,
Few spokesmen he finds
At him are all his friends:
When he comes to the Thing and calls for support,
Few spokesmen he finds
The fool who fancies he
is full of wisdom
While he sits by his hearth at home.
Quickly finds when questioned by others .
That he knows nothing at all.
While he sits by his hearth at home.
Quickly finds when questioned by others .
That he knows nothing at all.
The ignorant booby had
best be silent
When he moves among other men,
No one will know what a nit-wit he is
Until he begins to talk;
No one knows less what a nit-wit he is
Than the man who talks too much.
When he moves among other men,
No one will know what a nit-wit he is
Until he begins to talk;
No one knows less what a nit-wit he is
Than the man who talks too much.
To ask well, to answer
rightly,
Are the marks of a wise man:
Men must speak of men's deeds,
What happens may not be hidden.
Are the marks of a wise man:
Men must speak of men's deeds,
What happens may not be hidden.
Wise is he not who is
never silent,
Mouthing meaningless words:
A glib tongue that goes on chattering
Sings to its own harm.
Mouthing meaningless words:
A glib tongue that goes on chattering
Sings to its own harm.
A man among friends
should not mock another:
Many believe the man
Who is not questioned to know much
And so he escapes their scorn.
An early meal a man should take
Before he visits friends,
Lest, when he gets there,
he go hungry,
Afraid to ask for food.
Many believe the man
Who is not questioned to know much
And so he escapes their scorn.
An early meal a man should take
Before he visits friends,
Lest, when he gets there,
he go hungry,
Afraid to ask for food.
The fastest friends may
fall out
When they sit at the banquet-board:
It is, and shall be, a shameful thing
When guest quarrels with guest,
When they sit at the banquet-board:
It is, and shall be, a shameful thing
When guest quarrels with guest,
The wise guest has his
way of dealing
With those who taunt him at table:
He smiles through the meal,
not seeming to hear
The twaddle talked by his foes.
With those who taunt him at table:
He smiles through the meal,
not seeming to hear
The twaddle talked by his foes.
The tactful guest will
take his leave Early,
not linger long:
He starts to stink who outstays his welcome
In a hall that is not his own.
not linger long:
He starts to stink who outstays his welcome
In a hall that is not his own.
A small hut of one' s
own is better,
A man is his master at home:
A couple of goats and a corded roof
Still are better than begging.
A man is his master at home:
A couple of goats and a corded roof
Still are better than begging.
A small hut of one's own
is better,
A man is his master at home:
His heart bleeds in the beggar who must
Ask at each meal for meat.
A man is his master at home:
His heart bleeds in the beggar who must
Ask at each meal for meat.
A wayfarer should not
walk unarmed,
But have his weapons to hand:
He knows not when he may need a spear,
Or what menace meet on the road.
But have his weapons to hand:
He knows not when he may need a spear,
Or what menace meet on the road.
No man is so generous he
will jib at accepting
A gift in return for a gift,
No man so rich that it really gives him
Pain to be repaid.
A gift in return for a gift,
No man so rich that it really gives him
Pain to be repaid.
Once he has won wealth
enough,
A man should not crave for more:
What he saves for friends, foes may take;
Hopes are often liars.
A man should not crave for more:
What he saves for friends, foes may take;
Hopes are often liars.
With presents friends
should please each other,
With a shield or a costly coat:
Mutual giving makes for friendship,
So long as life goes well,
A man should be loyal through life to friends,
To them and to friends of theirs,
But never shall a man make offer
Of friendship to his foes.
With a shield or a costly coat:
Mutual giving makes for friendship,
So long as life goes well,
A man should be loyal through life to friends,
To them and to friends of theirs,
But never shall a man make offer
Of friendship to his foes.
A man should be loyal
through life to friends,
And return gift for gift,
Laugh when they laugh,
but with lies repay
A false foe who lies.
And return gift for gift,
Laugh when they laugh,
but with lies repay
A false foe who lies.
If you find a friend you
fully trust
And wish for his good-will,
exchange thoughts,
exchange gifts,
Go often to his house.
And wish for his good-will,
exchange thoughts,
exchange gifts,
Go often to his house.
If you deal with another
you don't trust
But wish for his good-will,
Be fair in speech but false in thought
And give him lie for lie.
But wish for his good-will,
Be fair in speech but false in thought
And give him lie for lie.
Even with one you
ill-trust
And doubt what he means to do,
False words with fair smiles
May get you the gift you desire.
And doubt what he means to do,
False words with fair smiles
May get you the gift you desire.
To a false friend the
footpath winds
Though his house be on the highway.
To a sure friend there is a short cut,
Though he live a long way off.
Though his house be on the highway.
To a sure friend there is a short cut,
Though he live a long way off.
Hotter than fire among
false hearts burns
Friendship for five days,
But suddenly slackens when the sixth dawns:
Feeble their friendship then.
Friendship for five days,
But suddenly slackens when the sixth dawns:
Feeble their friendship then.
The generous and bold
have the best lives,
Are seldom beset by cares, ,
But the base man sees bogies everywhere
And the miser pines for presents.
Are seldom beset by cares, ,
But the base man sees bogies everywhere
And the miser pines for presents.
The young fir that falls
and rots
Having neither needles nor bark,
So is the fate of the friendless man:
Why should he live long?
Having neither needles nor bark,
So is the fate of the friendless man:
Why should he live long?
Little a sand-grain,
little a dew drop,
Little the minds of men:
All men are not equal in wisdom,
The half-wise are everywhere
Little the minds of men:
All men are not equal in wisdom,
The half-wise are everywhere
It is best for man to be
middle-wise,
Not over cunning and clever:
The fairest life is led by those
Who are deft at all they do.
It is best for man to be middle-wise,
Not over cunning and clever:
No man is able to know his future,
So let him sleep in peace.
Not over cunning and clever:
The fairest life is led by those
Who are deft at all they do.
It is best for man to be middle-wise,
Not over cunning and clever:
No man is able to know his future,
So let him sleep in peace.
It is best for man to be
middle-wise,
Not over cunning and clever:
The learned man whose lore is deep
Is seldom happy at heart.
Not over cunning and clever:
The learned man whose lore is deep
Is seldom happy at heart.
Brand kindles brand till
they burn out,
Flame is quickened by flame:
One man from another is known by his speech
The simpleton by his silence.
Early shall he rise who has designs
On another's land or life:
His prey escapes the prone wolf,
The sleeper is seldom victorious.
Flame is quickened by flame:
One man from another is known by his speech
The simpleton by his silence.
Early shall he rise who has designs
On another's land or life:
His prey escapes the prone wolf,
The sleeper is seldom victorious.
Early shall he rise who
rules few servants,
And set to work at once:
Much is lost by the late sleeper,
Wealth is won by the swift,
And set to work at once:
Much is lost by the late sleeper,
Wealth is won by the swift,
A man should know how
many logs
And strips of bark from the birch
To stock in autumn, that he may have enough
Wood for his winter fires.
And strips of bark from the birch
To stock in autumn, that he may have enough
Wood for his winter fires.
Washed and fed,
one may fare to the Thing:
Though one's clothes be the worse for Wear,
None need be ashamed of his shoes or hose,
Nor of the horse he owns,
Although no thoroughbred.
one may fare to the Thing:
Though one's clothes be the worse for Wear,
None need be ashamed of his shoes or hose,
Nor of the horse he owns,
Although no thoroughbred.
As the eagle who comes
to the ocean shore,
Sniffs and hangs her head,
Dumbfounded is he who finds at the Thing
No supporters to plead his case.
Sniffs and hangs her head,
Dumbfounded is he who finds at the Thing
No supporters to plead his case.
It is safe to tell a
secret to one,
Risky to tell it to two,
To tell it to three is thoughtless folly,
Everyone else will know.
Risky to tell it to two,
To tell it to three is thoughtless folly,
Everyone else will know.
Often words uttered to
another
Have reaped an ill harvest:
Two beat one, the tongue is head's bane,
Pockets of fur hide fists.
Have reaped an ill harvest:
Two beat one, the tongue is head's bane,
Pockets of fur hide fists.
Moderate at council
should a man be,
Not brutal and over bearing:
Among the bold the bully will find
Others as bold as he.
Not brutal and over bearing:
Among the bold the bully will find
Others as bold as he.
These things are thought
the best:
Fire, the sight of the sun,
Good health with the gift to keep it,
And a life that avoids vice.
Fire, the sight of the sun,
Good health with the gift to keep it,
And a life that avoids vice.
Not all sick men are
utterly wretched:
Some are blessed with sons,
Some with friends,
some with riches,
Some with worthy works.
Some are blessed with sons,
Some with friends,
some with riches,
Some with worthy works.
The halt can manage a
horse,
the handless a flock,
The deaf be a doughty fighter,
To be blind is better than to burn on a pyre:
There is nothing the dead can do.
the handless a flock,
The deaf be a doughty fighter,
To be blind is better than to burn on a pyre:
There is nothing the dead can do.
It is always better to
be alive,
The living can keep a cow.
Fire, I saw, warming a wealthy man,
With a cold corpse at his door.
The living can keep a cow.
Fire, I saw, warming a wealthy man,
With a cold corpse at his door.
A son is a blessing,
though born late
To a father no longer alive:
Stones would seldom stand by the highway
If sons did not set them there.
To a father no longer alive:
Stones would seldom stand by the highway
If sons did not set them there.
He welcomes the night
who has enough provisions
Short are the sails of a ship,
Dangerous the dark in autumn,
The wind may veer within five days,
And many times in a month.
Short are the sails of a ship,
Dangerous the dark in autumn,
The wind may veer within five days,
And many times in a month.
The half wit does not
know that gold
Makes apes of many men:
One is rich, one is poor
There is no blame in that.
Makes apes of many men:
One is rich, one is poor
There is no blame in that.
Cattle die, kindred
die,
Every man is mortal:
But the good name never dies
Of one who has done well
Every man is mortal:
But the good name never dies
Of one who has done well
Cattle die, kindred
die,
Every man is mortal:
But I know one thing that never dies,
The glory of the great dead
Every man is mortal:
But I know one thing that never dies,
The glory of the great dead
Fields and flocks had
Fitjung's sons,
Who now carry begging bowls:
Wealth may vanish in the wink of an eye,
Gold is the falsest of friends.
Who now carry begging bowls:
Wealth may vanish in the wink of an eye,
Gold is the falsest of friends.
In the fool who acquires
cattle and lands,
Or wins a woman's love,
His wisdom wanes with his waxing pride,
He sinks from sense to conceit.
Or wins a woman's love,
His wisdom wanes with his waxing pride,
He sinks from sense to conceit.
Now is answered what you
ask of the runes,
Graven by the gods,
Made by the All Father,
Sent by the powerful sage:
lt. is best for man to remain silent.
Graven by the gods,
Made by the All Father,
Sent by the powerful sage:
lt. is best for man to remain silent.
For these things give
thanks at nightfall:
The day gone, a guttered torch,
A sword tested, the troth of a maid,
Ice crossed, ale drunk.
The day gone, a guttered torch,
A sword tested, the troth of a maid,
Ice crossed, ale drunk.
Hew wood in
wind-time,
in fine weather sail,
Tell in the night-time tales to house-girls,
For too many eyes are open by day:
From a ship expect speed, from a shield, cover,
Keenness from a sword,
but a kiss from a girl.
in fine weather sail,
Tell in the night-time tales to house-girls,
For too many eyes are open by day:
From a ship expect speed, from a shield, cover,
Keenness from a sword,
but a kiss from a girl.
Drink ale by the hearth,
over ice glide,
Buy a stained sword, buy a starving mare
To fatten at home: and fatten the watch-dog.
Buy a stained sword, buy a starving mare
To fatten at home: and fatten the watch-dog.
Trust not an acre early
sown,
Nor praise a son too soon:
Weather rules the acre, wit the son,
Both are exposed to peril,
Nor praise a son too soon:
Weather rules the acre, wit the son,
Both are exposed to peril,
A snapping bow, a
burning flame,
A grinning wolf, a grunting boar,
A raucous crow, a rootless tree,
A breaking wave, a boiling kettle,
A flying arrow, an ebbing tide,
A coiled adder, the ice of a night,
A bride's bed talk, a broad sword,
A bear's play, a prince' s children,
A witch' s welcome, the wit of a slave,
A sick calf, a corpse still fresh,
A brother's killer encountered upon
The highway a house half-burned,
A racing stallion who has wrenched a leg,
Are never safe: let no man trust them.
A grinning wolf, a grunting boar,
A raucous crow, a rootless tree,
A breaking wave, a boiling kettle,
A flying arrow, an ebbing tide,
A coiled adder, the ice of a night,
A bride's bed talk, a broad sword,
A bear's play, a prince' s children,
A witch' s welcome, the wit of a slave,
A sick calf, a corpse still fresh,
A brother's killer encountered upon
The highway a house half-burned,
A racing stallion who has wrenched a leg,
Are never safe: let no man trust them.
No man should trust a
maiden's words,
Nor what a woman speaks:
Spun on a wheel were women's hearts,
In their breasts was implanted caprice,
Nor what a woman speaks:
Spun on a wheel were women's hearts,
In their breasts was implanted caprice,
To love a woman whose
ways are false
Is like sledding over slippery ice
With unshod horses out of control,
Badly trained two-year-olds,
Or drifting rudderless on a rough sea,
Or catching a reindeer with a crippled hand
On a thawing hillside: think not to do it.
Is like sledding over slippery ice
With unshod horses out of control,
Badly trained two-year-olds,
Or drifting rudderless on a rough sea,
Or catching a reindeer with a crippled hand
On a thawing hillside: think not to do it.
Naked I may speak now
for I know both:
Men are treacherous too
Fairest we speak when falsest we think:
many a maid is deceived.
Men are treacherous too
Fairest we speak when falsest we think:
many a maid is deceived.
Gallantly shall he speak
and gifts bring
Who wishes for woman's love:
praise the features of the fair girl,
Who courts well will conquer.
Who wishes for woman's love:
praise the features of the fair girl,
Who courts well will conquer.
Never reproach another
for his love:
It happens often enough
That beauty ensnares with desire the wise
While the foolish remain unmoved.
It happens often enough
That beauty ensnares with desire the wise
While the foolish remain unmoved.
Never reproach the
plight of another,
For it happens to many men:
Strong desire may stupefy heroes,
Dull the wits of the wise
For it happens to many men:
Strong desire may stupefy heroes,
Dull the wits of the wise
The mind alone knows
what is near the heart,
Each is his own judge:
The worst sickness for a wise man
Is to crave what he cannot enjoy.
Each is his own judge:
The worst sickness for a wise man
Is to crave what he cannot enjoy.
So I learned when I sat
in the reeds,
Hoping to have my desire:
Lovely was the flesh of that fair girl,
But nothing I hoped for happened.
Hoping to have my desire:
Lovely was the flesh of that fair girl,
But nothing I hoped for happened.
I saw on a bed Billing's
daughter,
Sun white, asleep:
No greater delight I longed for then
Than to lie in her lovely arms.
Sun white, asleep:
No greater delight I longed for then
Than to lie in her lovely arms.
"Come" Odhinn,
after nightfall
If you wish for a meeting with me:
All would be lost if anyone saw us
And learned that we were lovers."
If you wish for a meeting with me:
All would be lost if anyone saw us
And learned that we were lovers."
Afire with longing"
I left her then,
Deceived by her soft words:
I thought my wooing had won the maid,
That I would have my way.
Deceived by her soft words:
I thought my wooing had won the maid,
That I would have my way.
After nightfall I
hurried back,
But the warriors were all awake,
Lights were burning, blazing torches:
So false proved the path
But the warriors were all awake,
Lights were burning, blazing torches:
So false proved the path
Towards daybreak back I
came
The guards were sound asleep:
I found then that the fair woman
Had tied a bitch to her bed.
The guards were sound asleep:
I found then that the fair woman
Had tied a bitch to her bed.
Many a girl when one
gets to know her
Proves to be fickle and false:
That treacherous maiden taught me a lesson,
The crafty woman covered me with shame"
That was all I got from her.
Proves to be fickle and false:
That treacherous maiden taught me a lesson,
The crafty woman covered me with shame"
That was all I got from her.
Let a man with his
guests be glad and merry,
Modest a man should be"
But talk well if he intends to be wise
And expects praise from men:
Fimbul fambi is the fool called "
Unable to open his mouth.
Fruitless my errand, had I been silent
When I came to Suttung's courts:
With spirited words I spoke to my profit
In the hall of the aged giant.
Modest a man should be"
But talk well if he intends to be wise
And expects praise from men:
Fimbul fambi is the fool called "
Unable to open his mouth.
Fruitless my errand, had I been silent
When I came to Suttung's courts:
With spirited words I spoke to my profit
In the hall of the aged giant.
Rati had gnawed a narrow
passage,
Chewed a channel through stone,
A path around the roads of giants:
I was like to lose my head
Chewed a channel through stone,
A path around the roads of giants:
I was like to lose my head
Gunnlod sat me in the
golden seat,
Poured me precious mead:
Ill reward she had from me for that,
For her proud and passionate heart,
Her brooding foreboding spirit.
Poured me precious mead:
Ill reward she had from me for that,
For her proud and passionate heart,
Her brooding foreboding spirit.
What I won from her I
have well used:
I have waxed in wisdom since I came back,
bringing to Asgard Odrerir,
the sacred draught.
I have waxed in wisdom since I came back,
bringing to Asgard Odrerir,
the sacred draught.
Hardly would I have come
home alive
From the garth of the grim troll,
Had Gunnlod not helped me, the good woman,
Who wrapped her arms around me.
From the garth of the grim troll,
Had Gunnlod not helped me, the good woman,
Who wrapped her arms around me.
The following day the
Frost Giants came,
Walked into Har's hall To ask for Har's advice:
Had Bolverk they asked, come back to his friends,
Or had he been slain by Suttung?
Walked into Har's hall To ask for Har's advice:
Had Bolverk they asked, come back to his friends,
Or had he been slain by Suttung?
Odhinn, they said, swore
an oath on his ring:
Who from now on will trust him?
By fraud at the feast he befuddled Suttung
And brought grief to Gunnlod.
Who from now on will trust him?
By fraud at the feast he befuddled Suttung
And brought grief to Gunnlod.
It is time to sing in
the seat of the wise,
Of what at Urd's Well I saw in silence,
saw and thought on.
Long I listened to men
Runes heard spoken, (counsels revealed.)
At Har's hall, In Har's hall:
There I heard this.
Of what at Urd's Well I saw in silence,
saw and thought on.
Long I listened to men
Runes heard spoken, (counsels revealed.)
At Har's hall, In Har's hall:
There I heard this.
Loddfafnir, listen to my
counsel:
You will fare well if you follow it,
It will help you much if you heed it.
You will fare well if you follow it,
It will help you much if you heed it.
Never rise at night
unless you need to spy
Or to ease yourself in the outhouse.
Or to ease yourself in the outhouse.
Shun a woman, wise in
magic,
Her bed and her embraces:
If she cast a spell, you will care no longer
To meet and speak with men,
Desire no food, desire no pleasure,
In sorrow fall asleep.
Her bed and her embraces:
If she cast a spell, you will care no longer
To meet and speak with men,
Desire no food, desire no pleasure,
In sorrow fall asleep.
Never seduce another's
wife,
Never make her your mistress.
Never make her your mistress.
If you must journey to
mountains and firths,
Take food and fodder with you.
Take food and fodder with you.
Never open your heart to
an evil man
When fortune does not favor you:
From an evil man, if you make him your friend,
You will get evil for good.
When fortune does not favor you:
From an evil man, if you make him your friend,
You will get evil for good.
I saw a warrior wounded
fatally
By the words of an evil woman
Her cunning tongue caused his death,
Though what she alleged was a lie.
By the words of an evil woman
Her cunning tongue caused his death,
Though what she alleged was a lie.
If you know a friend you
can fully trust,
Go often to his house
Grass and brambles grow quickly
Upon the untrodden track.
Go often to his house
Grass and brambles grow quickly
Upon the untrodden track.
With a good man it is
good to talk,
Make him your fast friend:
But waste no words on a witless oaf,
Nor sit with a senseless ape.
Make him your fast friend:
But waste no words on a witless oaf,
Nor sit with a senseless ape.
Cherish those near you,
never be
The first to break with a friend:
Care eats him who can no longer
Open his heart to another.
The first to break with a friend:
Care eats him who can no longer
Open his heart to another.
An evil man, if you make
him your friend,
Will give you evil for good:
A good man, if you make him your friend"
Will praise you in every place,
Will give you evil for good:
A good man, if you make him your friend"
Will praise you in every place,
Affection is mutual when
men can open
All their heart to each other:
He whose words are always fair
Is untrue and not to be trusted.
All their heart to each other:
He whose words are always fair
Is untrue and not to be trusted.
Bandy no speech with a
bad man:
Often the better is beaten
In a word fight by the worse.
Often the better is beaten
In a word fight by the worse.
Be not a cobbler nor a
carver of shafts,
Except it be for yourself:
If a shoe fit ill or a shaft be crooked"
The maker gets curses and kicks.
Except it be for yourself:
If a shoe fit ill or a shaft be crooked"
The maker gets curses and kicks.
If aware that another is
wicked, say so:
Make no truce or treaty with foes.
Make no truce or treaty with foes.
Never share in the
shamefully gotten,
But allow yourself what is lawful.
But allow yourself what is lawful.
Never lift your eyes and
look up in battle,
Lest the heroes enchant you,
who can change warriors
Suddenly into hogs,
With a good woman, if you wish to enjoy
Her words and her good will,
Pledge her fairly and be faithful to it:
Enjoy the good you are given,
Lest the heroes enchant you,
who can change warriors
Suddenly into hogs,
With a good woman, if you wish to enjoy
Her words and her good will,
Pledge her fairly and be faithful to it:
Enjoy the good you are given,
Be not over wary, but
wary enough,
First, of the foaming ale,
Second, of a woman wed to another,
Third, of the tricks of thieves.
First, of the foaming ale,
Second, of a woman wed to another,
Third, of the tricks of thieves.
Mock not the traveler met On the road,
Nor maliciously laugh at the guest:
Scoff not at guests nor to the gate chase them,
But relieve the lonely and wretched,
Nor maliciously laugh at the guest:
Scoff not at guests nor to the gate chase them,
But relieve the lonely and wretched,
The sitters in the hall
seldom know
The kin of the new-comer:
The best man is marred by faults,
The worst is not without worth.
The kin of the new-comer:
The best man is marred by faults,
The worst is not without worth.
Never laugh at the old
when they offer counsel,
Often their words are wise:
From shriveled skin, from scraggy things
That hand among the hides
And move amid the guts,
Clear words often come.
Often their words are wise:
From shriveled skin, from scraggy things
That hand among the hides
And move amid the guts,
Clear words often come.
Heavy the beam above the
door;
Hang a horse-shoe On it
Against ill-luck, lest it should suddenly
Crash and crush your guests.
Hang a horse-shoe On it
Against ill-luck, lest it should suddenly
Crash and crush your guests.
Medicines exist against
many evils:
Earth against drunkenness, heather against worms
Oak against costiveness, corn against sorcery,
Spurred rye against rupture, runes against bales
The moon against feuds, fire against sickness,
Earth makes harmless the floods.
Earth against drunkenness, heather against worms
Oak against costiveness, corn against sorcery,
Spurred rye against rupture, runes against bales
The moon against feuds, fire against sickness,
Earth makes harmless the floods.
Wounded I hung on a
wind-swept gallows
For nine long nights,
Pierced by a spear, pledged to Odhinn,
Offered, myself to myself
The wisest know not from whence spring
The roots of that ancient rood
For nine long nights,
Pierced by a spear, pledged to Odhinn,
Offered, myself to myself
The wisest know not from whence spring
The roots of that ancient rood
They gave me no
bread,
They gave me no mead,
I looked down;
with a loud cry
I took up runes;
from that tree I fell.
They gave me no mead,
I looked down;
with a loud cry
I took up runes;
from that tree I fell.
Nine lays of power
I learned from the famous Bolthor, Bestla' s father:
He poured me a draught of precious mead,
Mixed with magic Odrerir.
I learned from the famous Bolthor, Bestla' s father:
He poured me a draught of precious mead,
Mixed with magic Odrerir.
Waxed and throve
well;
Word from word gave words to me,
Deed from deed gave deeds to me,
Word from word gave words to me,
Deed from deed gave deeds to me,
Runes you will find, and
readable staves,
Very strong staves,
Very stout staves,
Staves that Bolthor stained,
Made by mighty powers,
Graven by the prophetic god,
Very strong staves,
Very stout staves,
Staves that Bolthor stained,
Made by mighty powers,
Graven by the prophetic god,
For the gods by Odhinn,
for the elves by Dain,
By Dvalin, too, for the dwarves,
By Asvid for the hateful giants,
And some I carved myself:
Thund, before man was made, scratched them,
Who rose first, fell thereafter
By Dvalin, too, for the dwarves,
By Asvid for the hateful giants,
And some I carved myself:
Thund, before man was made, scratched them,
Who rose first, fell thereafter
Know how to cut them,
know how to read them,
Know how to stain them, know how to prove them,
Know how to evoke them, know how to score them,
Know how to send them" know how to send them,
Know how to stain them, know how to prove them,
Know how to evoke them, know how to score them,
Know how to send them" know how to send them,
Better not to ask than
to over-pledge
As a gift that demands a gift"
Better not to send than to slay too many,
As a gift that demands a gift"
Better not to send than to slay too many,
The first charm I know
is unknown to rulers
Or any of human kind;
Help it is named,
for help it can give In hours of sorrow and anguish.
Or any of human kind;
Help it is named,
for help it can give In hours of sorrow and anguish.
I know a second that the
sons of men
Must learn who wish to be leeches.
Must learn who wish to be leeches.
I know a third: in the
thick of battle,
If my need be great enough,
It will blunt the edges of enemy swords,
Their weapons will make no wounds.
If my need be great enough,
It will blunt the edges of enemy swords,
Their weapons will make no wounds.
I know a fourth:
it will free me quickly
If foes should bind me fast
With strong chains, a chant that makes Fetters spring from the feet,
Bonds burst from the hands.
it will free me quickly
If foes should bind me fast
With strong chains, a chant that makes Fetters spring from the feet,
Bonds burst from the hands.
I know a fifth: no
flying arrow,
Aimed to bring harm to men,
Flies too fast for my fingers to catch it
And hold it in mid-air.
Aimed to bring harm to men,
Flies too fast for my fingers to catch it
And hold it in mid-air.
I know a sixth:
it will save me if a man
Cut runes on a sapling' s Roots
With intent to harm; it turns the spell;
The hater is harmed, not me.
it will save me if a man
Cut runes on a sapling' s Roots
With intent to harm; it turns the spell;
The hater is harmed, not me.
If I see the hall
Ablaze around my bench mates,
Though hot the flames, they shall feel nothing,
If I choose to chant the spell.
Ablaze around my bench mates,
Though hot the flames, they shall feel nothing,
If I choose to chant the spell.
I know an eighth:
that all are glad of,
Most useful to men:
If hate fester in the heart of a warrior,
It will soon calm and cure him.
that all are glad of,
Most useful to men:
If hate fester in the heart of a warrior,
It will soon calm and cure him.
I know a ninth:
when need I have
To shelter my ship on the flood,
The wind it calms, the waves it smoothed
And puts the sea to sleep,
when need I have
To shelter my ship on the flood,
The wind it calms, the waves it smoothed
And puts the sea to sleep,
I know a tenth:
if troublesome ghosts
Ride the rafters aloft,
I can work it so they wander astray,
Unable to find their forms,
Unable to find their homes.
if troublesome ghosts
Ride the rafters aloft,
I can work it so they wander astray,
Unable to find their forms,
Unable to find their homes.
I know an
eleventh:
when I lead to battle Old comrades in-arms,
I have only to chant it behind my shield,
And unwounded they go to war,
Unwounded they come from war,
U unscathed wherever they are.
when I lead to battle Old comrades in-arms,
I have only to chant it behind my shield,
And unwounded they go to war,
Unwounded they come from war,
U unscathed wherever they are.
I know a twelfth:
If a tree bear
A man hanged in a halter,
I can carve and stain strong runes
That will cause the corpse to speak,
Reply to whatever I ask.
If a tree bear
A man hanged in a halter,
I can carve and stain strong runes
That will cause the corpse to speak,
Reply to whatever I ask.
I know a
thirteenth
if I throw a cup Of water over a warrior,
He shall not fall in the fiercest battle,
Nor sink beneath the sword,
if I throw a cup Of water over a warrior,
He shall not fall in the fiercest battle,
Nor sink beneath the sword,
I know a fourteenth,
that few know:
If I tell a troop of warriors
About the high ones, elves and gods,
I can name them one by one.
(Few can the nit-wit name.)
If I tell a troop of warriors
About the high ones, elves and gods,
I can name them one by one.
(Few can the nit-wit name.)
I know a
fifteenth,
that first Thjodrerir
Sang before Delling's doors,
Giving power to gods, prowess to elves,
Fore-sight to Hroptatyr Odhinn,
that first Thjodrerir
Sang before Delling's doors,
Giving power to gods, prowess to elves,
Fore-sight to Hroptatyr Odhinn,
I know a
sixteenth:
if I see a girl
With whom it would please me to play,
I can turn her thoughts, can touch the heart
Of any white armed woman.
if I see a girl
With whom it would please me to play,
I can turn her thoughts, can touch the heart
Of any white armed woman.
I know a
seventeenth:
if I sing it,
the young Girl will be slow to forsake me.
if I sing it,
the young Girl will be slow to forsake me.
I know an eighteenth that
I never tell
To maiden or wife of man,
A secret I hide from all
Except the love who lies in my arms,
Or else my own sister.
To maiden or wife of man,
A secret I hide from all
Except the love who lies in my arms,
Or else my own sister.
To learn to sing them,
Loddfafnir,
Will take you a long time,
Though helpful they are if you understand them,
Useful if you use them,
Needful if you need them.
Will take you a long time,
Though helpful they are if you understand them,
Useful if you use them,
Needful if you need them.
The Wise One has spoken
words in the hall,
Needful for men to know,
Unneedful for trolls to know:
Needful for men to know,
Unneedful for trolls to know:
Hail to the
speaker,
Hail to the knower,
Joy to him who has understood,
Delight to those who have listened.
Hail to the knower,
Joy to him who has understood,
Delight to those who have listened.
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