Publication details
- Work
- Hávamál
- Translator
- Olive Bray
- Editor
- Olive Bray
- Year
- 1908
- Language
- English and Old Norse
- Text source
- Internet Archive / Wikisource scan
Edition
Olive Bray
The Elder or Poetic Edda, published 1908.
Use and attribution
- License
- Public domain
- Read online
- Available
- Noncommercial reuse
- Permitted
- Commercial reuse
- Permitted
- Quote cards
- Available
- Attribution
- Hávamál, translated and edited by Olive Bray, The Elder or Poetic Edda (1908).
Stanzas in this edition
Stanza 1At every door-way,Comparison availableStanza 2Hail, ye givers! a guest is come;Comparison availableStanza 3He hath need of fire, who now is come,Comparison availableStanza 4He craves for water, who comes for refreshment,Comparison availableStanza 5He hath need of his wits who wanders wide,Comparison availableStanza 6Let no man glory in the greatness of his mind,Comparison availableStanza 7Let the wary stranger who seeks refreshmentComparison availableStanza 8Happy is he who wins for himselfComparison availableStanza 9Happy is he who hath in himselfComparison availableStanza 10A better burden can no man bearComparison availableStanza 11A better burden can no man bearComparison availableStanza 12Less good than they say for the sons of menComparison availableStanza 13A bird of Unmindfulness flutters o’er ale feasts,Comparison availableStanza 14Drunk was I then, I was over drunkComparison availableStanza 15Silent and thoughtful and bold in strifeComparison availableStanza 16A coward believes he will ever liveComparison availableStanza 17A fool will gape when he goes to a friend,Comparison availableStanza 18He knows alone who has wandered wide,Comparison availableStanza 19Keep not the mead cup but drink thy measure;Comparison availableStanza 20A greedy man, if he be not mindful,Comparison availableStanza 21Herds know the hour of their going homeComparison availableStanza 22The miserable man and evil mindedComparison availableStanza 23The unwise man is awake all night,Comparison availableStanza 24The unwise man weens all who smileComparison availableStanza 25The unwise man weens all who smileComparison availableStanza 26The unwise man thinks all to knowComparison availableStanza 27For the unwise man ‘tis best to be muteComparison availableStanza 28Wise he is deemed who can question well,Comparison availableStanza 29Too many unstable words are spokenComparison availableStanza 30Let no man be held as a laughing-stock,Comparison availableStanza 31A guest thinks him witty who mocks at a guestComparison availableStanza 32Oft, though their hearts lean towards one another,Comparison availableStanza 33A man should take always his meals betimesComparison availableStanza 34Long is the round to a false friend leading,Comparison availableStanza 35A guest must depart again on his way,Comparison availableStanza 36One’s own house is best, though small it may be;Comparison availableStanza 37One’s own house is best, though small it may be,Comparison availableStanza 38Let a man never stir on his road a stepComparison availableStanza 39I found none so noble or free with his food,Comparison availableStanza 40Let no man stint him and suffer needComparison availableStanza 41With raiment and arms shall friends gladden each other,Comparison availableStanza 42To his friend a man should bear him as friend,Comparison availableStanza 43To his friend a man should bear him as friend,Comparison availableStanza 44Hast thou got a friend whom thou trustest well,Comparison availableStanza 45But hast thou one whom thou trustest illComparison availableStanza 46Yet further of him whom thou trusted ill,Comparison availableStanza 47Young was I once, I walked alone,Comparison availableStanza 48Most blest is he who lives free and boldComparison availableStanza 49My garments once I gave in the fieldComparison availableStanza 50The pine tree wastes which is perched on the hill,Comparison availableStanza 51Fiercer than fire among ill friendsComparison availableStanza 52Not great things alone must one give to another,Comparison availableStanza 53Little the sand if little the seas,Comparison availableStanza 54Wise in measure let each man be;Comparison availableStanza 55Wise in measure should each man be;Comparison availableStanza 56Wise in measure should each man be,Comparison availableStanza 57Brand kindles from brand till it be burned,Comparison availableStanza 58He must rise betimes who fain of anotherComparison availableStanza 59He must rise betimes who hath few to serve him,Comparison availableStanza 60Of dry logs saved and roof-bark storedComparison availableStanza 61Fed and washed should one ride to courtComparison availableStanza 62Like an eagle swooping over old ocean,Comparison availableStanza 63Each man who is wise and would wise be calledComparison availableStanza 64A wise counselled man will be mild in bearingComparison availableStanza 65Each man should be watchful and wary in speech,Comparison availableStanza 66At many a feast I was far too late,Comparison availableStanza 67Here and there to a home I had haply been askedComparison availableStanza 68Most dear is fire to the sons of men,Comparison availableStanza 69Not reft of all is he who is ill,Comparison availableStanza 70More blest are the living than the lifeless,Comparison availableStanza 71The lame can ride rose, the handless drive cattle,Comparison availableStanza 72Best have a son though he be late bornComparison availableStanza 73Two are hosts against one, the tongue is the head’s bane,Comparison availableStanza 74He that learns nought will never knowComparison availableStanza 75Cattle die and kinsmen die,Comparison availableStanza 76Cattle die and kinsmen die,Comparison availableStanza 77Full-stocked folds had the Fatling’s sons,Comparison availableStanza 78If haply a fool should find for himselfComparison availableStanza 79All will prove true that thou askest of runes—Comparison availableStanza 80Praise day at even, a wife when dead,Comparison availableStanza 81Hew wood in wind, sail the seas in a breeze,Comparison availableStanza 82Drink ale by the fire, but slide on the ice;Comparison availableStanza 83The speech of a maiden should no man trustComparison availableStanza 84Breaking bow, or flaring flame,Comparison availableStanza 85flying arrows, or falling billow,Comparison availableStanza 86sickly calf or self-willed thrall,Comparison availableStanza 87Let none put faith in the first sown fruitComparison availableStanza 88Like the love of women whose thoughts are liesComparison availableStanza 89Now plainly I speak, since both I have seen;Comparison availableStanza 90—Let him speak soft words and offer wealthComparison availableStanza 91—Never a whit should one blame anotherComparison availableStanza 92Never a whit should one blame anotherComparison availableStanza 93The mind knows alone what is nearest the heartComparison availableStanza 94This once I felt when I sat withoutComparison availableStanza 95Billing’s daughter I found on her bed,Comparison availableStanza 96‘Yet nearer evening come thou, Odin,Comparison availableStanza 97So away I turned from my wise intent,Comparison availableStanza 98When I came ere long the war troop boldComparison availableStanza 99Yet nearer morning I went, once more,—Comparison availableStanza 100Many a sweet maid when one knows her mindComparison availableStanza 101In thy home be joyous and generous to guestsComparison availableStanza 102I sought that old Jötun, now safe am I back,Comparison availableStanza 103I bored me a road there with Rati’s tuskComparison availableStanza 104‘Twas Gunnlod who gave me on a golden throneComparison availableStanza 105In a wily disguise I worked my will;Comparison availableStanza 106I misdoubt me if ever again I had comeComparison availableStanza 107Came forth, next day, the dread Frost Giants,Comparison availableStanza 108A ring-oath Odin I trow had taken –Comparison availableStanza 109‘Tis time to speak from the Sage’s Seat;Comparison availableStanza 110Of runes they spoke, and the reading of runesComparison availableStanza 111I counsel thee, Stray-Singer, accept my counsels,Comparison availableStanza 112I counsel thee, Stray-Singer, accept my counsels,Comparison availableStanza 113So shall she charm that thou shalt not heedComparison availableStanza 114I counsel thee, Stray-Singer, accept my counsels,Comparison availableStanza 115I counsel thee, Stray-Singer, accept my counsels,Comparison availableStanza 116I counsel thee, Stray-Singer, accept my counsels,Comparison availableStanza 117Wounded to death, have I seen a manComparison availableStanza 118I counsel thee, Stray-Singer, accept my counsels,Comparison availableStanza 119I counsel thee, Stray-Singer, accept my counsels,Comparison availableStanza 120I counsel thee, Stray-Singer, accept my counsels,Comparison availableStanza 121I counsel thee, Stray-Singer, accept my counsels,Comparison availableStanza 122From the lips of such thou needst not lookComparison availableStanza 123There is mingling in friendship when man can utterComparison availableStanza 124I counsel thee, Stray-Singer, accept my counsels,Comparison availableStanza 125I counsel thee, Stray-Singer, accept my counsels,Comparison availableStanza 126I counsel thee, Stray-Singer, accept my counsels,Comparison availableStanza 127I counsel thee, Stray-Singer, accept my counsels,Comparison availableStanza 128I counsel thee, Stray-Singer, accept my counsels,Comparison availableStanza 129I counsel thee, Stray-Singer, accept my counsels,Comparison availableStanza 130I counsel thee, Stray-Singer, accept my counsels,Comparison availableStanza 131I counsel thee, Stray-Singer, accept my counsels,Comparison availableStanza 132They know but unsurely who sit withinComparison availableStanza 133I counsel thee, Stray-Singer, accept my counsels,Comparison availableStanza 134I counsel thee, Stray-Singer, accept my counsels,Comparison availableStanza 135Mighty is the bar to be moved awayComparison availableStanza 136I counsel thee, Stray-Singer, accept my counsels,Comparison availableStanza 137I trow I hung on that windy TreeComparison availableStanza 138None refreshed me ever with food or drink,Comparison availableStanza 139Nine mighty songs I learned from the greatComparison availableStanza 140Ere long I bare fruit, and throve full well,Comparison availableStanza 141Hidden Runes shalt thou seek and interpreted signs,Comparison availableStanza 142For gods graved Odin, for elves graved Da ï n,Comparison availableStanza 143Dost know how to write, dost know how to read,Comparison availableStanza 144* * * * *Comparison availableStanza 145Those songs I know, which nor sons of menComparison availableStanza 146A second I know, which the son of menComparison availableStanza 147A third I know: if sore need should comeComparison availableStanza 148A fourth I know: if men make fastComparison availableStanza 149A fifth I know: when I see, by foes shot,Comparison availableStanza 150A sixth I know: when some thane would harm meComparison availableStanza 151A seventh I know: if I see a hallComparison availableStanza 152An eighth I know: which all can singComparison availableStanza 153A ninth I know: when need befalls meComparison availableStanza 154A tenth I know: when at night the witchesComparison availableStanza 155An eleventh I know: if haply I leadComparison availableStanza 156ok mǽlir viþ mik.Comparison availableStanza 157A thirteenth I know: if the new-born sonComparison availableStanza 158A fourteenth I know: if I needs must numberComparison availableStanza 159A fifteenth I know, which Folk-stirrer sang,Comparison availableStanza 160A sixteenth I know: when all sweetness and loveComparison availableStanza 161A seventeenth I know: so that e’en the shy maidenComparison availableStanza 162These songs, Stray-Singer, which man’s son knows not,Comparison availableStanza 163An eighteenth I know: which I ne’er shall tellComparison availableStanza 164Now the sayings of the High One are uttered in the hallComparison available