The Poetic Edda: Hovamol

The introductory note describes the Hovamol as following the Voluspo in the Codex Regius, identifying it as an accreted collection attributed to Othin, and lists five recognizable elements: the Hovamol proper, the Loddfafnismol, the Ljothatal, the love-story of Othin and Billing's daughter with its introduction on women's faithlessness, and the story of Othin winning the mead from Gunnloth, plus a passage on Othin winning the runes. The stanzas then proceed. Stanza 1 counsels caution on entering a hall. Stanzas 2-4 concern the guest and hospitality. Stanzas 5-27 praise wisdom, wariness, and silence, and warn against ale's effects; stanza 13 names Gunnloth's house, stanza 14 names Fjalar. Stanzas 28-35 treat questioning, mockery, and not overstaying. Stanzas 36-37 favor one's own home over begging. Stanzas 38-52 concern weapons, wealth, gifts, and friendship, including the giver reciprocating. Stanza 47 recalls the speaker young and alone finding a comrade; stanza 49 recalls giving garments to carven poles. Stanzas 53-56 counsel measured wisdom. Stanzas 57-66 treat speech, early rising, and preparation. Stanzas 67-76 treat guests, gifts, life over death, and Fitjung's sons losing wealth. Stanzas 77-78 state cattle and kinsmen die but fame endures. Stanza 79 concerns runes; stanza 80 the unwise man winning love or wealth. Stanzas 81-90 list untrustworthy things and warn against women's oaths. Stanzas 91-95 speak of men false to women and love's power. Stanzas 96-102 tell Othin seeking Billing's daughter, being turned away, finding a dog bound on her bed. Stanzas 103-110 tell Othin winning the mead: Rati gnawing passage, Gunnloth giving the drink, Othroerir brought forth, and Othin leaving Gunnloth to grief. Stanza 111 begins the Loddfafnismol at the wells of Urth.

The text advises never trusting a brother's slayer, a half-burned house, a swift but injured horse, and similar things. It warns against hoping too soon for harvest or trusting a son too early. Women's love is likened to riding unshod on ice or steering a rudderless ship. The speaker declares men false to women, then says soft words and wealth win a maiden. It counsels finding no fault in others for loving, since love makes even the wise foolish. The speaker recounts sitting in the reeds awaiting a love never won, and finding Billing's daughter on her bed; she tells Othin to return at evening, but he finds warriors awake, then a dog bound in her place, learning maids prove false. The subject shifts: Othin visits Suttung's hall, the gimlet Rati bores through stone, Gunnloth gives the mead from a golden stool, and Othin repays her with grief, bringing Othrörir to men. Frost-giants question whether Bolverk returned to the gods; Othin swore a ring-oath and betrayed Suttung. Then begins the Loddfafnismol: the speaker repeatedly addresses Loddfafnir with counsels—not to rise at night, beware a witch's embrace, not seek another's wife, guard food when traveling, avoid evil men, visit friends often, keep bonds unbroken, avoid disputes with lesser men, proclaim evil, not look up in battle, keep promises to women, scorn no guest or gray-haired singer, and deal well with the needy. Hor's words close the hall. Othin describes hanging nine nights on the windy tree, wounded by a spear, taking up the runes. He gains nine songs from Bolthorn's son and mead from Othrörir. Runes are attributed to Othin, Dain, Dvalin, Alsvith. The Ljothatal begins, listing charms for help, leechcraft, fettering foes, freeing bonds, and stopping arrows.

The speaker lists charms he knows: a sixth against harm from a sapling's roots; a seventh to quench flames over comrades; an eighth to end hatred among heroes' sons; a ninth to calm sea and wind; a tenth to send house-riders home; an eleventh to sing strength into friends' shields; a twelfth to make a hanged man talk; a thirteenth to sprinkle a thane; a fourteenth naming gods and elves; a fifteenth Thjothrörir sang before Delling's doors; a sixteenth to turn a maiden's mind; a seventeenth. Loddfafnir is addressed; an eighteenth stays secret.