Water is needed By the one who comes to the meal, A towel and a hearty welcome, Good-will If he can get it, Talk and answer. Wisdom is wanted By him who travels widely; Anything is easy at home;[303] He who nothing knows And sits among the wise Becomes a gazing-stock. A man with a thinking mind Should not boast, But rather be heedful in his mood. When a wise and silent man Comes to a homestead The wary man seldom makes a slip, For a more faithful friend Will a man never get Than great man-wit.[304] The wary guest Who comes to a meal Is silent and talks little, Listens with (his) ears, Looks on with (his) eyes; Thus every wise man looks about him. He is happy Who gets for himself Praise and good-will; That which a man must own In the mind[305] of another Is less easy to deal with. He is happy Who himself has Praise and wits while alive; For evil counsels Has one often got Out of another’s breast. A better burthen A man carries not on the road Than great wits; Better than wealth It is thought at strange places; It is the strength of the poor. Better burthen A man carries not on the road Than great good sense; No worse journey-provisions Weigh him to the ground Than too much ale-drinking. The ale of men’s sons Is not so good As men say it is; For the more A man drinks The less has he his senses. He is called heron of Oblivion The one who soars over ale-bouts, He steals away men’s senses; With the feathers of that bird I was bound[306] In the house of Gunnlód.[307] I got drunk, I got too drunk At the wise Fjalar’s; The ale is best when Every man Gets his reason back. Silent and thoughtful Should a king’s son be And bold in battle; Glad and cheerful Should every man be Till he meet his death. The unwise man Thinks he will live for ever If he shuns fight, But old age gives him No peace Though spears may spare him.