3 translations are aligned to this passage.
Though glad at home, and merry with guests,A man shall be wary and wise;The sage and shrewd, wide wisdom seeking,Must see that his speech be fair;A fool is he named who nought can say,For such is the way of the witless.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.Fimbulfambi he is calledwho little has to say:such is the nature of the simple.In thy home be joyous and generous to guestsdiscreet shalt thou be in thy bearing,mindful and talkative, wouldst thou gain wisdom,oft making mention of good.he is ‘Simpleton’ named who has nought to say,for such is the fashion of fools.Hávamál, translated by Henry Adams Bellows, in The Poetic Edda (1923). Public-domain transcription sourced from Project Gutenberg ebook 73533.
A man shall not boast of his keenness of mind, But keep it close in his breast; To the silent and wise does ill come seldom When he goes as…
Read passage →I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,— Profit thou hast if thou hearest, Great thy gain if thou learnest: A good man find to hold…
Read passage →Hail to the giver! a guest has come; Where shall the stranger sit? Swift shall he be who with swords shall try The proof of his might to ma…
Read passage →Water and towels and welcoming speech Should he find who comes to the feast; If renown he would get, and again be greeted, Wisely and well…
Read passage →Only you can see these notes.
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