Page:Poeticedda00belluoft.djvu/64

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

Poetic Edda

3. Fire he needs  who with frozen knees
Has come from the cold without;
Food and clothes  must the farer have,
The man from the mountains come.

4. 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 must he act.

5. Wits must he have  who wanders wide,
But all is easy at home;
At the witless man  the wise shall wink
When among such men he sits.

6.[1] 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 guest to a house;
(For a faster friend  one never finds
Than wisdom tried and true.)

7. The knowing guest  who goes to the feast,
In silent attention sits;
With his ears he hears,  with his eyes he watches,
Thus wary are wise men all.


  1. Lines 5 and 6 appear to have been added to the stanza.

[30]