Odin's Love Wisdom

Give praise to the day at evening, to a woman on her pyre, To a weapon which is tried, to a maid at wed lock, To ice when it is crossed, to ale that is drunk.

When the gale blows hew wood, in fair winds seek the water; Sport with maidens at dusk, for day's eyes are many; From the ship seek swiftness, from the shield protection, Cuts from the sword, from the maiden kisses.

By the fire drink ale, over ice go on skates; Buy a steed that is lean, and a sword when tarnished, [81. With this stanza the verse-form, as indicated in the translation, abruptly changes to Malahattr. What has happened seems to have been something like this. Stanza 80 introduces the idea of man's love for woman. Consequently some reciter or compiler (or possibly even a copyist) took occasion to insert at this point certain stanzas concerning the ways of women. Thus stanza 80 would account for the introduction of stanzas 81 and 82, which, in turn, apparently drew stanza 83 in with them. Stanza 84 suggests the fickleness of women, and is immediately followed--again with a change of verse-form--by a list of things equally untrustworthy (stanzas 85-90). Then, after a few more stanzas on love in the regular measure of the Hovamol (stanza 91-9s), is introduced, by way of illustration, Othin's story of his adventure with Billing's daughter (stanzas 96-102). Some such process of growth, whatever its specific stages may have been, must be assumed to account for the curious chaos of the whole passage from stanza 81 to stanza 102.]

A man shall trust not the oath of a maid, Nor the word a woman speaks; For their hearts on a whirling wheel were fashioned, And fickle their breasts were formed.

In a breaking bow or a burning flame, A ravening wolf or a croaking raven, In a grunting boar, a tree with roots broken, In billowy seas or a bubbling kettle,

In a flying arrow or falling waters, In ice new formed or the serpent's folds, In a bride's bed-speech or a broken sword, In the sport of bears or in sons of kings,

In a calf that is sick or a stubborn thrall, file:///C|/WINDOWS/Desktop/sacred-texts/neu/poe/poe04.htm (12 of 26) [4/8/2002 10:06:48 PM] Hovamol A flattering witch or a foe new slain. [84. Lines 3 and 4 are quoted in the Fostbræthrasaga.

In a brother's slayer, if thou meet him abroad, In a half-burned house, in a horse full swift-- One leg is hurt and the horse is useless-- None had ever such faith as to trust in them all.

Hope not too surely for early harvest, Nor trust too soon in thy son; The field needs good weather, the son needs wisdom, And oft is either denied. * * *

The love of women fickle of will Is like starting o'er ice with a steed unshod, A two-year-old restive and little tamed, Or steering a rudderless ship in a storm, Or, lame, hunting reindeer on slippery rocks. * * *

Clear now will I speak, for I know them both, Men false to women are found; When fairest we speak, then falsest we think, Against wisdom we work with deceit.

Soft words shall he speak and wealth shall he offer Who longs for a maiden's love, And the beauty praise of the maiden bright; He wins whose wooing is best. [89. This stanza follows stanza 89 in the manuscript. Many editors have changed the order, for while stanza 89 is pretty clearly an interpolation wherever it stands, it seriously interferes with the sense if it breaks in between 87 and 88.]

Fault for loving let no man find Ever with any other; Oft the wise are fettered, where fools go free, file:///C|/WINDOWS/Desktop/sacred-texts/neu/poe/poe04.htm (13 of 26) [4/8/2002 10:06:48 PM] Hovamol By beauty that breeds desire.

Fault with another let no man find For what touches many a man; Wise men oft into witless fools Are made by mighty love.

The head alone knows what dwells near the heart, A man knows his mind alone; No sickness is worse to one who is wise Than to lack the longed-for joy.

This found I myself, when I sat in the reeds, And long my love awaited; As my life the maiden wise I loved, Yet her I never had.

Billing's daughter I found on her bed, In slumber bright as the sun; Empty appeared an earl's estate Without that form so fair. [96. Here begins the passage (stanzas 96-102) illustrating the falseness of woman by the story of Othin's unsuccessful love affair with Billing's daughter. Of this person we know nothing beyond what is here told, but the story needs little comment.]

"Othin, again at evening come, If a woman thou wouldst win; Evil it were if others than we Should know of such a sin."

Away I hastened, hoping for joy, And careless of counsel wise; Well I believed that soon I should win Measureless joy with the maid.

So came I next when night it was, The warriors all were awake; With burning lights and waving brands I learned my luckess way.

At morning then, when once more I came, And all were sleeping still, A dog found in the fair one's place, Bound there upon her bed.

Many fair maids, if a man but tries them, False to a lover are found; file:///C|/WINDOWS/Desktop/sacred-texts/neu/poe/poe04.htm (14 of 26) [4/8/2002 10:06:48 PM] Hovamol That did I learn when I longed to gain With wiles the maiden wise; [102. Rask adds at the beginning of this stanza two lines from a late paper manuscript, running: "Few are so good that false they are never To cheat the mind of a man." He makes these two lines plus lines I and 2 a full stanza, and line 3, 4, 5, and 6 a second stanza.]

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.

I found the old giant, now back have I fared, Small gain from silence I got; Full many a word, my will to get, I spoke in Suttung's hall.

The mouth of Rati made room for my passage, And space in the stone he gnawed; [103. With this stanza the subject changes abruptly, and apparently the virtues of fair speech, mentioned in the last three lines, account for the introduction, from what source cannot be known, of the story of Othin and the mead of song (stanzas 104-110).

Gunnloth gave on a golden stool A drink of the marvelous mead; A harsh reward did I let her have For her heroic heart, And her spirit troubled sore. file:///C|/WINDOWS/Desktop/sacred-texts/neu/poe/poe04.htm (15 of 26) [4/8/2002 10:06:48 PM] Hovamol

The well-earned beauty well I enjoyed, Little the wise man lacks; So Othrörir now has up been brought To the midst of the men of earth.

Hardly, methinks, would I home have come, And left the giants' land, Had not Gunnloth helped me, the maiden good, Whose arms about me had been.

The day that followed, the frost-giants came, Some word of Hor to win, (And into the hall of Hor;) [106. Probably either the fourth or the fifth line is a spurious addition.

On his ring swore Othin the oath, methinks; Who now his troth shall trust? Suttung's betrayal he sought with drink, And Gunnloth to grief he left. * * *