The numbers refer
to stanzas in the Hollander translation. Also known as "The Balad Of The
High One". The "High One" being Odin he gives advice on proper behavior,
a list of charms and tells how he obtained the gift poetry. It also contains
the "Runtal" (the story of how Odin obtained the runes).
1. 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?
2. 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,
3. Fire is needed by the
newcomer Whose knees are frozen numb; Meat and clean linen a man needs
Who has fared across the fells,
4. 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,
5. 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,
6. 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,
7. 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,
8. 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,
9. 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,
10. Better gear than good
sense A traveler cannot carry, Better than riches for a wretched man, Far
from his own home,
11. Better gear than good
sense A traveler cannot carry, A more tedious burden than too much drink
A traveler cannot carry,
12. 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,
13. I forget is the name
men give the heron Who hovers over the feast: Fettered I was in his feathers
that night, When a guest in Gunnlod's court
14. 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,
15. 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,
16. 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
17. 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,
18. 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,
19. Drink your mead, but
in moderation, Talk sense or be silent: No man is called discourteous who
goes To bed at an early hour
20. 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,
21. The herd knows its homing
time, And leaves the grazing ground: But the glutton never knows how much
His belly is able to hold,
22. An ill tempered, unhappy
man Ridicules all he hears, Makes fun of others, refusing always To see
the faults in himself
23. 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,
24. 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.
25. 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
26. 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.
27. 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.
28. 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.
29. Wise is he not who is
never silent, Mouthing meaningless words: A glib tongue that goes on chattering
Sings to its own harm.
30. 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.
31. 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
32. 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,
33. An early meal a man
should take Before he visits friends, Lest, when he gets there, he go hungry,
Afraid to ask for food.
34. 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.
35. 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.
36. 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.
37. 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.
38. 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.
39. 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.
40. 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.
41. 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,
42. 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.
43. 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.
44. If you find a friend
you fully trust And wish for his good-will, exchange thoughts, exchange
gifts, Go often to his house.
45. 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.
46. 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.
47. Young and alone on a
long road, Once I lost my way: Rich I felt when I found a another; Man
rejoices in man.
48. 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.
49. 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
50. 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?
51. Hotter than fire among
false hearts burns Friendship for five days, But suddenly slackens when
the sixth dawns: Feeble their friendship then.
52. 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,
53. 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
54. 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.
55. 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.
56. 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.
57. Brand Kindles Till they
broun out, Flame is quickened by flame: One man from another is known by
his speech The simpleton by his silence.
58. Early shall he rise
who has designs On anothers land or life: His prey escapes the prone wolf,
The sleeper is seldom victorious.
59. 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,
60. 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.
61. 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.
62. As the eagle who comes
to the ocean shore, Sniffs and hangs her head, Dumfounded is he who finds
at the Thing No supporters to plead his case.
63. 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.
64. Moderate at council
should a man be, Not brutal and over bearing: Among the bold the bully
will find Others as bold as he.
65. Often words uttered
to another Have reaped an ill harvest:
66. 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.
67. Some would invite me
to visit their homes, But none thought I Had eaten a whole joint, Just
before with a friend who had two.
68. 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.
69. Not all sick men are
utterly wretched: Some are blessed with sons, Some with friends, some with
riches, Some with worthy works.
70. 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.
71. 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.
72. 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.
73. Two beat one, the tongue
is head's bane, Pockets of fur hide fists.
74. 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.
75. 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.
76. Cattle die, kindred
die, Every man is mortal: But the good name never dies Of one who has done
well
77. Cattle die, kindred
die, Every man is mortal: But I know one thing that never dies, The glory
of the great dead
78. 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.
79. 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.
80. 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.
81. 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.
82. 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.
83. 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.
84. 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,
85. A snapping bow, a burning
flame, A grinning wolf, a grunting boar, A raucous crow, a rootless tree,
A breaking wave, a boiling kettle,
86. 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,
87. A witch' s welcome,
the wit of a slave, A sick calf, a corpse still fresh,
88. 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.
89. Trust not an acre early
sown, Nor praise a son too soon: Weather rules the acre, wit the son, Both
are exposed to peril,
90. 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.
91. 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.
92. 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.
93. Never reproach another
for his love: It happens often enough That beauty ensnares with desire
the wise While the foolish remain unmoved.
94. Never reproach the plight
of another, For it happens to many men: Strong desire may stupefy heroes,
Dull the wits of the wise
95. 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.
96. 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.
97. 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.
98. "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."
99. 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.
100. After nightfall I hurried
back, But the warriors were all awake, Lights were burning, blazing torches:
So false proved the path
101. Towards daybreak back
I came The guards were sound asleep: I found then that the fair woman Had
tied a bitch to her bed.
102. 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.
103. 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.
104. 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.
105. 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
106. 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.
107. 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.
108. 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.
109. 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?
110. 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.
111. 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.
112. Loddfafnir, listen
to my counsel: 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.
113. Shun a woman, wise
in magic, Her bed and her embraces:
114. 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.
115. Never seduce anothers
wife, Never make her your mistress.
116. If you must journey
to mountains and firths, Take food and fodder with you.
117. Never open your heart
to an evil man When fortune does not favour you: From an evil man, if you
make him your friend, You will get evil for good.
118. 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.
119. If you know a friend
you can fully trust, Go often to his house Grass and brambles grow quickly
Upon the untrodden track.
120. 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.
121. 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.
122. An evil man, if you
make him your friend, Will give you evil for good:
123. A good man, if you
make him your friend"; Will praise you in every place,
124. 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.
125. Bandy no speech with
a bad man: Often the better is beaten In a word fight by the worse.
126. 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.
127. If aware that another
is wicked, say so: Make no truce or treaty with foes.
128. Never share in the
shamefully gotten, But allow yourself what is lawful.
129. Never lift your eyes
and look up in battle, Lest the heroes enchant you, who can change warriors
Suddenly into hogs,
130. 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,
131. 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.
132. Mock not the traveler
met On the road, Nor maliciously laugh at the guest:
133. 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.
134. 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.
135. Scoff not at guests
nor to the gate chase them, But relieve the lonely and wretched,
136. Heavy the beam above
the door; Hang a horse-shoe On it Against ill-luck, lest it should suddenly
Crash and crush your guests.
137. 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.
138. 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
139. 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.
140. 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.
141. Waxed and throve well;
Word from word gave words to me, Deed from deed gave deeds to me,
142. 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,
143. 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
144. 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,
145. Better not to ask than
to over-pledge As a gift that demands a gift"; Better not to send than
to slay too many,
146. 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.
147. I know a second that
the sons of men Must learn who wish to be leeches.
148. 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.
149. 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.
150. 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.
151. 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.
152. I know a seventh: 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.
153. 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.
154. I know a ninth: when
need I have To shelter my ship on the flood, The wind it calms, the waves
it smoothes And puts the sea to sleep,
155. 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.
156. 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,
Unscathed wherever they are.
157. 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.
158. 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,
159. 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.)
160. I know a fifteenth,
that first Thjodrerir Sang before Delling's doors, Giving power to gods,
prowess to elves, Fore-sight to Hroptatyr Odhinn,
161. 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.
162. I know a seventeenth:
if I sing it, the young Girl will be slow to forsake me.
163. 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.
164. 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.
165. The Wise One has spoken
words in the hall, 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.
