Section 1c

Gunnloth : the daughter of the giant Suttung, from whom Othin won the mead of poetry. For this episode see stanzas 104-110. 14. Fjalar : apparently another name for Suttung. This stanza, and probably 13, seem to have been inserted as illustrative.] p. 33 18. He alone is aware | who has wandered wide, And far abroad has fared, How great a mind | is guided by him That wealth of wisdom has. 19. Shun not the mead, | but drink in measure; Speak to the point or be still; For rudeness none | shall rightly blame thee If soon thy bed thou seekest. 20. The greedy man, | if his mind be vague, Will eat till sick he is; The vulgar man, | when among the wise, To scorn by his belly is brought. 21. The herds know well | when home they shall fare, And then from the grass they go; But the foolish man | his belly's measure Shall never know aright. 22. A paltry man | and poor of mind At all things ever mocks; For never he knows, | what he ought to know, That he is not free from faults. 23. The witless man | is awake all night, Thinking of many things; Care-worn he is | when the morning comes, And his woe is just as it was. 24. The foolish man | for friends all those Who laugh at him will hold; p. 34 When among the wise | he marks it not Though hatred of him they speak. 25. The foolish man | for friends all those Who laugh at him will hold; But the truth when he comes | to the council he learns, That few in his favor will speak. 26. An ignorant man | thinks that all he knows, When he sits by himself in a corner; But never what answer | to make he knows, When others with questions come. 27. A witless man, | when he meets with men, Had best in silence abide; For no one shall find | that nothing he knows, If his mouth is not open too much. (But a man knows not, | if nothing he knows, When his mouth has been open too much.) 28. Wise shall he seem | who well can question, And also answer well; Nought is concealed | that men may say Among the sons of men. 29. Often he speaks | who never is still With words that win no faith; [25. The first two lines are abbreviated in the manuscript, but are doubtless identical with the first two lines of stanza 24. 27. The last two lines were probably added as a commentary on lines 3 and 4.] p. 35 The babbling tongue, | if a bridle it find not, Oft for itself sings ill. 30. In mockery no one | a man shall hold, Although he fare to the feast; Wise seems one oft, | if nought he is asked, And safely he sits dry-skinned. 31. Wise a guest holds it | to take to his heels, When mock of another he makes; But little he knows | who laughs at the feast, Though he mocks in the midst of his foes. 32. Friendly of mind | are many men, Till feasting they mock at their friends; To mankind a bane | must it ever be When guests together strive. 33. Oft should one make | an early meal, Nor fasting come to the feast; Else he sits and chews | as if he would choke, And little is able to ask. 34. Crooked and far | is the road to a foe, Though his house on the highway be; But wide and straight | is the way to a friend, Though far away he fare. 35.