A fool gapes When he comes into company, He mutters or sulks; All at once If he gets a drink His mind is displayed. He alone knows Who widely travels And has seen much What the temper is Of every man Who has his wits about him. A man shall not send away the cup But drink mead moderately, Speak usefully or be silent; No man will blame thee For ill-breeding Though thou goest early to sleep. A greedy man Unless he has sense Eats ill-health for himself; A foolish man’s belly Often causes laughter When he is among the wise. Herds know When they shall go home And then walk off the grass; But an unwise man Never knows The measure of his stomach. A wretched man With evil mind Sneers at everything; He knows not that, Which he needed to know, That he is not himself faultless. An unwise man Is awake all night Worrying about everything; He is weary When the morning comes All the woe is as it was. An unwise man Thinks all who smile on him To be his friends; He does not know When he sits among wise men Though they speak badly of him. An unwise man Thinks all who smile on him To be his friends; But he will find When he comes to the thing That he has few spokesmen.[308] An unwise man Thinks he knows everything If he has shelter in a corner; He knows not What he should say If men test him. An unwise man When he comes among people, Had best be silent; No one knows That he nothing knows, Unless he talks too much; The man who nothing knows Knows not of it Though he talk too much. He who can ask And answer questions Thinks himself wise; The sons of men Can hide nothing That passes among men. He who is never silent Speaks too many Meaningless words; A glib tongue Unless it has restrainers Often does harm to itself. A man shall not Have another for a gazing-stock[309] Though he come into company; Many one thinks himself wise If he is not asked questions And can loiter with dry clothes.