Norse mythology; or, The religion of our forefathers, containing all the myths of the Eddas, systematized and interpretedAnderson, Rasmus Björn
Religion
Norse mythology; or, The religion of our forefathers, containing all the myths of the Eddas, systematized and interpreted
Anderson, Rasmus Björn
Mythology, Norse; Northmen -- Religion; Old Norse literature; Tales, Medieval
22. A miserable man,
And ill-conditioned,
Sneers at everything:
One thing he knows not,
Which he ought to know,
That he is not free from faults.
23. A foolish man
Is all night awake,
Pondering over everything;
He then grows tired,
And when morning comes
All is lament as before.
24. A foolish man
Thinks all who on him smile
To be his friends;
He feels it not,
Although they speak ill of him,
When he sits among the clever.
25. A foolish man
Thinks all who speak him fair
To be his friends;
But he will find,
If into court he comes,
That he has few advocates.
26. A foolish man
Thinks he knows everything
If placed in unexpected difficulty;
But he knows not
What to answer
If to the test he is put.
27. A foolish man,
Who among people comes,
Had best be silent;
For no one knows
That he knows nothing
Unless he talks too much.
He who previously knew nothing
Will still know nothing,
Talk he ever so much.
28. He thinks himself wise
Who can ask questions
And converse also;
Conceal his ignorance
No one can,
Because it circulates among men.
29. He utters too many
Futile words
Who is never silent;
A garrulous tongue,
If it be not checked,
Sings often to its own harm.
30. For a gazing-stock
No man shall have another,
Although he come a stranger to his house.
Many a one thinks himself wise,
If he is not questioned,
And can sit in a dry habit.
31. Clever thinks himself
The guest who jeers a guest,
If he takes to flight.
Knows it not certainly
He who prates at meat,
Whether he babbles among foes.
32. Many men are mutually
Well-disposed,
Yet at table will torment each other.
That strife will ever be;
Guest will guest irritate.
33. Early meals
A man should often take,
Unless to a friend’s house he goes;
Else he will sit and mope,
Will seem half famished,
And can of few things inquire.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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