TIIE HAVAMAL. 



405 



They seldom harbour grief; 



But unwise men 



Fear everything ; 



The miser always longs for gifts. 



My clothes 



Gave I to two wood-men (men of the 



forest) 

 In the field ; 



They thought themselves men, 

 When they got the garments ; 

 Ashamed is a naked man. 



The fir withers 



That stands on a fenced field ; 



Neither bark nor foliage shelter it ; 



Thus is a man 



Whom no one loves ; 



Why should he live long ? 



Hotter than fire 



Burns between bad friends 



Friendship for five days ; 



But when the sixth comes 



It is quenched 



And all the friendship vanishes. 



Much at once 



Should one not give ; 



With little you often get praise; 



With half a loaf 



And a half-filled cup 



I got a companion. 



Small are sand grains, 



Small are drops of water, 



Small are men's minds ; 



For all men 



Were not made equally wise ; 



Men are everywhere by halves. 1 



Middling wise 



Should every man be, 



Never too wise ; 



Happiest live 



Those men 



Who know many things well. 



Middling wise 



Should every man be, 



Never too wise ; 



For the heart of a wise man 



Is seldom glad 



If its owner is all-wise. 



Middling wise 



Should every man be 



Never too wise ; 



No man ought to 



Know his fate beforehand, 



Then his mind is freest from sorrow 



Brand is kindled from brand 



Till it is burnt out ; 



Fire is kindled from fire ; 



A man gets knowledge 



By talk with a man 



But becomes wilful by self-conceit. 



Early should rise 



He who wants the property 



Or the life of another ; 



Seldom a sleeping wolf 



Gets a thigh-bone 



Or a sleeping man victory. 



Early should rise 



He who has few workers 



And go to his work ; 



Many hindrances has he 



Who sleeps in the morning ; 



Halt' one's wealth depends on activity. 



Of dry logs 



And thatching-bark 



A man knows the measure 



And of the fire-wood 



Which can last 



For meals and for seasons. 2 



Washed and well-fed 

 Should a man ride to the thing, 

 Though he be not so well dressed ; 

 Of his shoes and breeches 

 Let no man be ashamed, 

 Nor of his horse, though he has not a 

 good one. 



1 The meaning of this line is somewhat 

 obscure ; it probably means that every 



mau has two sides to his character. 

 2 The application is missing in the text. 



