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; Half 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.[311] 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. Sniffs and hangs with its head, When it comes on the sea, The eagle on the old ocean; So is the man Who comes among many And has few spokesmen. Ask and answer Should every sage man Who wants to be called wise; One may know But not another; All know if three know. His power Should every foresighted man Use moderately; He will feel When he comes among the skilled That no one is the best. * * * * * For the words That a man says to another He has often to pay the penalty.[312] Much too early Came I to many places And too late to some; The ale was drunk Or it was unbrewed; An unwelcome man seldom finds the ale. Here and there Might I be invited home If I needed not food for a meal Or if two hams hung At my trusty friend’s Where I had eaten one. Fire is the best thing Among the sons of men, And the sight of the sun, His good health If a man can keep it, And a blameless life. A man is not utterly unhappy Though he be in ill-health; Some are happy in sons, Some in kinsmen, Some in much wealth, Some in good deeds. Better is it to live Than not to live; A living man (may) always get a cow; I saw fire blaze Before a wealthy man And outside was death at the door. The lame may ride a horse, The handless may drive a herd, The deaf may fight and do well; A blind man is better Than a burnt one; The dead are of no use.