《高者之言》原典
Hávamál
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古諾爾斯語原文採用冰島學者 Guðni Jónsson 版本的標準化拼寫。
Gáttir allar,
áðr gangi fram,
um skoðask skyli,
um skyggnast skyli,
því at óvíst er at vita,
hvar óvinir
sitja á fleti fyrir.
Gefendr heilir!
Gestr er inn kominn,
hvar skal sitja sjá?
Mjök er bráðr,
sá er á bröndum skal
síns of freista frama.
Elds er þörf,
þeims inn er kominn
ok á kné kalinn;
matar ok váða
er manni þörf,
þeim er hefr um fjall farit.
Vatns er þörf,
þeim er til verðar kemr,
þerru ok þjóðlaðar,
góðs of æðis,
ef sér geta mætti,
orðs ok endrþögu.
Vits er þörf,
þeim er víða ratar;
dælt er heima hvat;
at augabragði verðr,
sá er ekki kann
ok með snotrum sitr.
At hyggjandi sinni
skyli-t maðr hræsinn vera,
heldr gætinn at geði;
þá er horskr ok þögull
kemr heimisgarða til,
sjaldan verðr víti vörum,
því at óbrigðra vin
fær maðr aldregi
en mannvit mikit.
Inn vari gestr,
er til verðar kemr,
þunnu hljóði þegir,
eyrum hlýðir,
en augum skoðar;
svá nýsisk fróðra hverr fyrir.
Hinn er sæll,
er sér of getr
lof ok líknstafi;
ódælla er við þat,
er maðr eiga skal
annars brjóstum í.
Sá er sæll,
er sjalfr of á
lof ok vit, meðan lifir;
því at ill ráð
hefr maðr oft þegit
annars brjóstum ór.
Byrði betri
berr-at maðr brautu at
en sé mannvit mikit;
auði betra
þykkir þat í ókunnum stað;
slíkt er válaðs vera.
Byrði betri
berr-at maðr brautu at
en sé mannvit mikit;
vegnest verra
vegr-a hann velli at
en sé ofdrykkja öls.
Er-a svá gótt
sem gótt kveða
öl alda sona,
því at færa veit,
er fleira drekkr
síns til geðs gumi.
Óminnishegri heitir
sá er yfir ölðrum þrumir,
hann stelr geði guma;
þess fugls fjöðrum
ek fjötraðr vark
í garði Gunnlaðar.
Ölr ek varð,
varð ofrölvi
at ins fróða Fjalars;
því er ölðr bazt,
at aftr of heimtir
hverr sitt geð gumi.
Þagalt ok hugalt
skyli þjóðans barn
ok vígdjarft vera;
glaðr ok reifr
skyli gumna hverr,
unz sinn bíðr bana.
Ósnjallr maðr
hyggsk munu ey lifa,
ef hann við víg varask;
en elli gefr
hánum engi frið,
þótt hánum geirar gefi.
Kópir afglapi
er til kynnis kemr,
þylsk hann um eða þrumir;
allt er senn,
ef hann sylg of getr,
uppi er þá geð guma.
Sá einn veit
er víða ratar
ok hefr fjölð of farit,
hverju geði
stýrir gumna hverr,
sá er vitandi er vits.
Haldi-t maðr á keri,
drekki þó at hófi mjöð,
mæli þarft eða þegi,
ókynnis þess
vár þik engi maðr,
at þú gangir snemma at sofa.
Gráðugr halr,
nema geðs viti,
etr sér aldrtrega;
oft fær hlægis,
er með horskum kemr,
manni heimskum magi.
Hjarðir þat vitu,
nær þær heim skulu,
ok ganga þá af grasi;
en ósviðr maðr
kann ævagi
síns of mál maga.
Vesall maðr
ok illa skapi
hlær at hvívetna;
hittki hann veit,
er hann vita þyrfti,
at hann er-a vamma vanr.
Ósviðr maðr
vakir um allar nætr
ok hyggr at hvívetna;
þá er móðr,
er at morgni kemr,
allt er víl sem var.
Ósnotr maðr
hyggr sér alla vera
viðhlæjendr vini;
hittki hann fiðr,
þótt þeir um hann fár lesi,
ef hann með snotrum sitr.
Ósnotr maðr
hyggr sér alla vera
viðhlæjendr vini;
þá þat finnr,
er at þingi kemr,
at hann á formælendr fáa.
Ósnotr maðr
þykkisk allt vita,
ef hann á sér í vá veru;
hittki hann veit,
hvat hann skal við kveða,
ef hans freista firar.
Ósnotr maðr,
er með aldir kemr,
þat er bazt, at hann þegi;
engi þat veit,
at hann ekki kann,
nema hann mæli til margt;
veit-a maðr,
hinn er vettki veit,
þótt hann mæli til margt.
Fróðr sá þykkisk,
er fregna kann
ok segja it sama;
eyvitu leyna
megu ýta synir,
því er gengr um guma.
Ærna mælir,
sá er æva þegir,
staðlausu stafi;
hraðmælt tunga,
nema haldendr eigi,
oft sér ógótt of gelr.
At augabragði
skal-a maðr annan hafa,
þótt til kynnis komi;
margr þá fróðr þykkisk,
ef hann freginn er-at
ok nái hann þurrfjallr þruma.
Fróðr þykkisk,
sá er flótta tekr,
gestr at gest hæðinn;
veit-a görla,
sá er of verði glissir,
þótt hann með grömum glami.
Gumnar margir
erusk gagnhollir,
en at virði vrekask;
aldar róg
þat mun æ vera,
órir gestr við gest.
Árliga verðar
skyli maðr oft fáa,
nema til kynnis komi:
str ok snópir,
lætr sem solginn sé
ok kann fregna at fáu.
Afhvarf mikit
er til ills vinar,
þótt á brautu búi,
en til góðs vinar
liggja gagnvegir,
þótt hann sé firr farinn.
Ganga skal,
skal-a gestr vera
ey í einum stað;
ljúfr verðr leiðr,
ef lengi sitr
annars fletjum á.
Bú er betra,
þótt lítit sé,
halr er heima hverr;
þótt tvær geitr eigi
ok taugreftan sal,
þat er þó betra en bæn.
Bú er betra,
þótt lítit sé,
halr er heima hverr;
blóðugt er hjarta,
þeim er biðja skal
sér í mál hvert matar.
Vápnum sínum
skal-a maðr velli á
feti ganga framar,
því at óvíst er at vita,
nær verðr á vegum úti
geirs of þörf guma.
Fannk-a ek mildan mann
eða svá matar góðan,
at væri-t þiggja þegit,
eða síns féar
svági [glöggvan],
at leið sé laun, ef þægi.
Féar síns,
er fengit hefr,
skyli-t maðr þörf þola;
oft sparir leiðum,
þats hefr ljúfum hugat;
margt gengr verr en varir.
Vápnum ok váðum
skulu vinir gleðjask;
þat er á sjalfum sýnst;
viðrgefendr ok endrgefendr
erusk lengst vinir,
ef þat bíðr at verða vel.
Vin sínum
skal maðr vinr vera
ok gjalda gjöf við gjöf;
hlátr við hlátri
skyli hölðar taka
en lausung við lygi.
Vin sínum
skal maðr vinr vera,
þeim ok þess vin;
en óvinar síns
skyli engi maðr
vinar vinr vera.
Veiztu, ef þú vin átt,
þann er þú vel trúir,
ok vill þú af hánum gótt geta,
geði skaltu við þann blanda
ok gjöfum skipta,
fara at finna oft.
Ef þú átt annan,
þanns þú illa trúir,
vildu af hánum þó gótt geta,
fagrt skaltu við þann mæla
en flátt hyggja
ok gjalda lausung við lygi.
Það er enn of þann
er þú illa trúir
ok þér er grunr at hans geði,
hlæja skaltu við þeim
ok um hug mæla;
glík skulu gjöld gjöfum.
Ungr var ek forðum,
fór ek einn saman,
þá varð ek villr vega;
auðigr þóttumk,
er ek annan fann,
maðr er manns gaman.
Mildir, fræknir
menn bazt lifa,
sjaldan sút ala;
en ósnjallr maðr
uggir hotvetna,
sýtir æ glöggr við gjöfum.
Váðir mínar
gaf ek velli at
tveim trémönnum;
rekkar þat þóttusk,
er þeir rift höfðu;
neiss er nökkviðr halr.
Hrörnar þöll,
sú er stendr þorpi á,
hlýr-at henni börkr né barr;
svá er maðr,
sá er manngi ann.
Hvat skal hann lengi lifa?
Eldi heitari
brennr með illum vinum
friðr fimm daga,
en þá sloknar,
er inn sétti kemr,
ok versnar allr vinskapr.
Mikit eitt
skal-a manni gefa;
oft kaupir sér í litlu lof,
með halfum hleif
ok með höllu keri
fekk ek mér félaga.
Lítilla sanda
lítilla sæva
lítil eru geð guma;
því allir menn
urðu-t jafnspakir;
half er öld hvar.
Meðalsnotr
skyli manna hverr;
æva til snotr sé;
þeim er fyrða
fegrst at lifa,
er vel margt vitu.
Meðalsnotr
skyli manna hverr,
æva til snotr sé;
því at snotrs manns hjarta
verðr sjaldan glatt,
ef sá er alsnotr, er á.
Meðalsnotr
skyli manna hverr,
æva til snotr sé;
örlög sín
viti engi fyrir,
þeim er sorgalausastr sefi.
Brandr af brandi
brenn, unz brunninn er,
funi kveikisk af funa;
maðr af manni
verðr at máli kuðr,
en til dælskr af dul.
Ár skal rísa,
sá er annars vill
fé eða fjör hafa;
sjaldan liggjandi ulfr
lær of getr
né sofandi maðr sigr.
Ár skal rísa,
sá er á yrkjendr fáa,
ok ganga síns verka á vit;
margt of dvelr,
þann er um morgin sefr,
hálfr er auðr und hvötum.
Þurra skíða
ok þakinna næfra,
þess kann maðr mjöt,
þess viðar,
er vinnask megi
mál ok misseri.
Þveginn ok mettr
ríði maðr þingi at,
þótt hann sé-t væddr til vel;
skúa ok bróka
skammisk engi maðr
né hests in heldr,
þótt hann hafi-t góðan
Snapir ok gnapir,
er til sævar kemr,
örn á aldinn mar;
svá er maðr,
er með mörgum kemr
ok á formælendr fáa.
Fregna ok segja
skal fróðra hverr,
sá er vill heitinn horskr;
einn vita
né annarr skal,
þjóð veit, ef þrír ro.
Ríki sitt
skyli ráðsnotra
hverr í hófi hafa;
þá hann þat finnr,
er með fræknum kemr
at engi er einna hvatastr.
-- -- -- --
orða þeira,
er maðr öðrum segir
oft hann gjöld of getr.
Mikilsti snemma
kom ek í marga staði,
en til síð í suma;
öl var drukkit,
sumt var ólagat,
sjaldan hittir leiðr í líð.
Hér ok hvar
myndi mér heim of boðit,
ef þyrftak at málungi mat,
eða tvau lær hengi
at ins tryggva vinar,
þars ek hafða eitt etit.
Eldr er beztr
með ýta sonum
ok sólar sýn,
heilyndi sitt,
ef maðr hafa náir,
án við löst at lifa.
Er-at maðr alls vesall,
þótt hann sé illa heill;
sumr er af sonum sæll,
sumr af frændum,
sumr af fé ærnu,
sumr af verkum vel.
Betra er lifðum
en sé ólifðum,
ey getr kvikr kú;
eld sá ek upp brenna
auðgum manni fyrir,
en úti var dauðr fyr durum.
Haltr ríðr hrossi,
hjörð rekr handar vanr,
daufr vegr ok dugir,
blindr er betri
en brenndr séi,
nýtr manngi nás.
Sonr er betri,
þótt sé síð of alinn
eftir genginn guma;
sjaldan bautarsteinar
standa brautu nær,
nema reisi niðr at nið.
Tveir ro eins herjar,
tunga er höfuðs bani;
er mér í heðin hvern
handar væni.
Nótt verðr feginn
sá er nesti trúir,
skammar ro skips ráar;
hverf er haustgríma;
fjölð of viðrir
á fimm dögum
en meira á mánuði.
Veit-a hinn,
er vettki veit,
margr verðr af aurum api;
maðr er auðigr,
annar óauðigr,
skyli-t þann vítka váar.
Deyr fé,
deyja frændr,
deyr sjalfr it sama,
en orðstírr
deyr aldregi,
hveim er sér góðan getr.
Deyr fé,
deyja frændr,
deyr sjalfr it sama,
ek veit einn,
at aldrei deyr:
dómr um dauðan hvern.
Fullar grindr
sá ek fyr Fitjungs sonum,
nú bera þeir vánar völ;
svá er auðr
sem augabragð,
hann er valtastr vina.
Ósnotr maðr,
ef eignask getr
fé eða fljóðs munuð,
metnaðr hánum þróask,
en mannvit aldregi,
fram gengr hann drjúgt í dul.
Þat er þá reynt,
er þú að rúnum spyrr
inum reginkunnum,
þeim er gerðu ginnregin
ok fáði fimbulþulr,
þá hefir hann bazt, ef hann þegir.
At kveldi skal dag leyfa,
konu, er brennd er,
mæki, er reyndr er,
mey, er gefin er,
ís, er yfir kemr,
öl, er drukkit er.
Í vindi skal við höggva,
veðri á sjó róa,
myrkri við man spjalla,
mörg eru dags augu;
á skip skal skriðar orka,
en á skjöld til hlífar,
mæki höggs,
en mey til kossa.
Við eld skal öl drekka,
en á ísi skríða,
magran mar kaupa,
en mæki saurgan,
heima hest feita,
en hund á búi.
II.
Meyjar orðum
skyli manngi trúa
né því, er kveðr kona,
því at á hverfanda hvéli
váru þeim hjörtu sköpuð,
brigð í brjóst of lagið.
Brestanda boga,
brennanda loga,
gínanda ulfi,
galandi kráku,
rýtanda svíni,
rótlausum viði,
vaxanda vági,
vellanda katli,
Fljúganda fleini,
fallandi báru,
ísi einnættum,
ormi hringlegnum,
brúðar beðmálum
eða brotnu sverði,
bjarnar leiki
eða barni konungs.
Sjúkum kalfi,
sjalfráða þræli,
völu vilmæli,
val nýfelldum.
Akri ársánum
trúi engi maðr
né til snemma syni,
- veðr ræðr akri.
en vit syni;
hætt er þeira hvárt.
Bróðurbana sínum
þótt á brautu mæti,
húsi hálfbrunnu,
hesti alskjótum,
- þá er jór ónýtr,
ef einn fótr brotnar -,
verði-t maðr svá tryggr
at þessu trúi öllu.
Svá er friðr kvenna,
þeira er flátt hyggja,
sem aki jó óbryddum
á ísi hálum,
teitum, tvévetrum
ok sé tamr illa,
eða í byr óðum
beiti stjórnlausu,
eða skyli haltr henda
hrein í þáfjalli.
Bert ek nú mæli,
því at ek bæði veit,
brigðr er karla hugr konum;
þá vér fegrst mælum,
er vér flást hyggjum:
þat tælir horska hugi.
Fagrt skal mæla
ok fé bjóða,
sá er vill fljóðs ást fá,
líki leyfa
ins ljósa mans,
sá fær, er fríar.
Ástar firna
skyli engi maðr
annan aldregi;
oft fá á horskan,
er á heimskan né fá,
lostfagrir litir.
Eyvitar firna
er maðr annan skal,
þess er um margan gengr guma;
heimska ór horskum
gerir hölða sonu
sá inn máttki munr.
Hugr einn þat veit,
er býr hjarta nær,
einn er hann sér of sefa;
öng er sótt verri
hveim snotrum manni
en sér engu at una.
Þat ek þá reynda,
er ek í reyri sat,
ok vættak míns munar;
hold ok hjarta
var mér in horska mær;
þeygi ek hana at heldr hefik.
Billings mey
ek fann beðjum á
sólhvíta sofa;
jarls ynði
þótti mér ekki vera
nema við þat lík at lifa.
"Auk nær aftni
skaltu, Óðinn, koma,
ef þú vilt þér mæla man;
allt eru ósköp,
nema einir viti
slíkan löst saman."
Aftr ek hvarf
ok unna þóttumk
vísum vilja frá;
hitt ek hugða,
at ek hafa mynda
geð hennar allt ok gaman.
Svá kom ek næst,
at in nýta var
vígdrótt öll of vakin
með brennandum ljósum
ok bornum viði,
svá var mér vílstígr of vitaðr.
Auk nær morgni,
er ek var enn of kominn,
þá var saldrótt of sofin;
grey eitt ek þá fann
innar góðu konu
bundit beðjum á.
Mörg er góð mær,
ef görva kannar,
hugbrigð við hali;
þá ek þat reynda,
er it ráðspaka
teygða ek á flærðir fljóð;
háðungar hverrar
leitaði mér it horska man,
ok hafða ek þess vettki vífs.
III.
Heima glaðr gumi
ok við gesti reifr,
sviðr skal um sig vera,
minnigr ok málugr,
ef hann vill margfróðr vera,
oft skal góðs geta;
fimbulfambi heitir,
sá er fátt kann segja,
þat er ósnotrs aðal.
Inn aldna jötun ek sótta,
nú em ek aftr of kominn:
fátt gat ek þegjandi þar;
mörgum orðum
mælta ek í minn frama
í Suttungs sölum.
Gunnlöð mér of gaf
gullnum stóli á
drykk ins dýra mjaðar;
ill iðgjöld
lét ek hana eftir hafa
síns ins heila hugar,
síns ins svára sefa.
Rata munn
létumk rúms of fá
ok um grjót gnaga;
yfir ok undir
stóðumk jötna vegir,
svá hætta ek höfði til.
Vel keypts litar
hefi ek vel notit,
fás er fróðum vant,
því at Óðrerir
er nú upp kominn
á alda vés jaðar.
Ifi er mér á,
at ek væra enn kominn
jötna görðum ór,
ef ek Gunnlaðar né nytak,
innar góðu konu,
þeirar er lögðumk arm yfir.
Ins hindra dags
gengu hrímþursar
Háva ráðs at fregna
Háva höllu í;
at Bölverki þeir spurðu,
ef hann væri með böndum kominn
eða hefði hánum Suttungr of sóit.
Baugeið Óðinn,
hygg ek, at unnit hafi;
hvat skal hans tryggðum trúa?
Suttung svikinn
hann lét sumbli frá
ok grætta Gunnlöðu.
IV.
Mál er at þylja
þular stóli á
Urðarbrunni at,
sá ek ok þagðak,
sá ek ok hugðak,
hlýdda ek á manna mál;
of rúnar heyrða ek dæma,
né of ráðum þögðu
Háva höllu at,
Háva höllu í,
heyrða ek segja svá:
Ráðumk þér, Loddfáfnir,
en þú ráð nemir, -
njóta mundu, ef þú nemr,
þér munu góð, ef þú getr -:
nótt þú rís-at
nema á njósn séir
eða þú leitir þér innan út staðar.
Ráðumk þér, Loddfáfnir,
en þú ráð nemir, -
njóta mundu, ef þú nemr,
þér munu góð, ef þú getr -:
fjölkunnigri konu
skal-at-tu í faðmi sofa,
svá at hon lyki þik liðum.
Hon svá gerir,
at þú gáir eigi
þings né þjóðans máls;
mat þú vill-at
né mannskis gaman,
ferr þú sorgafullr at sofa.
Ráðumk þér, Loddfáfnir,
en þú ráð nemir, -
njóta mundu, ef þú nemr,
þér munu góð, ef þú getr -:
annars konu
teygðu þér aldregi
eyrarúnu at.
Ráðumk þér, Loddfáfnir,
en þú ráð nemir, -
njóta mundu, ef þú nemr,
þér munu góð, ef þú getr -:
á fjalli eða firði,
ef þik fara tíðir,
fásktu at virði vel.
Ráðumk þér, Loddfáfnir,
en þú ráð nemir, -
njóta mundu, ef þú nemr,
þér munu góð, ef þú getr -:
illan mann
láttu aldregi
óhöpp at þér vita,
því at af illum manni
fær þú aldregi
gjöld ins góða hugar.
Ofarla bíta
ek sá einum hal
orð illrar konu;
fláráð tunga
varð hánum at fjörlagi
ok þeygi of sanna sök.
Ráðumk þér, Loddfáfnir,
en þú ráð nemir, -
njóta mundu, ef þú nemr,
þér munu góð, ef þú getr -:
veistu, ef þú vin átt,
þann er þú vel trúir,
far þú at finna oft,
því at hrísi vex
ok hávu grasi
vegr, er vættki treðr.
Ráðumk þér, Loddfáfnir,
en þú ráð nemir, -
njóta mundu, ef þú nemr,
þér munu góð, ef þú getr -:
góðan mann
teygðu þér at gamanrúnum
ok nem líknargaldr, meðan þú lifir.
Ráðumk þér, Loddfáfnir,
en þú ráð nemir, -
njóta mundu, ef þú nemr,
þér munu góð, ef þú getr -:
vin þínum
ver þú aldregi
fyrri at flaumslitum;
sorg etr hjarta,
ef þú segja né náir
einhverjum allan hug.
Ráðumk þér, Loddfáfnir,
en þú ráð nemir, -
njóta mundu, ef þú nemr,
þér munu góð, ef þú getr -:
orðum skipta
þú skalt aldregi
við ósvinna apa,
Því at af illum manni
mundu aldregi
góðs laun of geta,
en góðr maðr
mun þik gerva mega
líknfastan at lofi.
Sifjum er þá blandat,
hver er segja ræðr
einum allan hug;
allt er betra
en sé brigðum at vera;
er-a sá vinr öðrum, er vilt eitt segir.
Ráðumk, þér Loddfáfnir,
en þú ráð nemir, -
njóta mundu, ef þú nemr,
þér munu góð, ef þú getr -:
þrimr orðum senna
skal-at-tu þér við verra mann
oft inn betri bilar,
þá er inn verri vegr.
Ráðumk þér, Loddfáfnir,
en þú ráð nemir, -
njóta mundu, ef þú nemr,
þér munu góð, ef þú getr -:
skósmiðr þú verir
né skeftismiðr,
nema þú sjalfum þér séir:
skór er skapaðr illa
eða skaft sé rangt,
þá er þér böls beðit.
Ráðumk þér, Loddfáfnir,
en þú ráð nemir, -
njóta mundu, ef þú nemr,
þér munu góð, ef þú getr -:
hvars þú böl kannt,
kveð þú þér bölvi at
ok gef-at þínum fjándum frið.
Ráðumk þér, Loddfáfnir,
en þú ráð nemir, -
njóta mundu, ef þú nemr,
þér munu góð, ef þú getr -:
illu feginn
ver þú aldregi,
en lát þér at góðu getit.
Ráðumk þér, Loddfáfnir,
en þú ráð nemir, -
njóta mundu, ef þú nemr,
þér munu góð, ef þú getr -:
upp líta
skal-at-tu í orrustu,
- gjalti glíkir
verða gumna synir, -
síðr þitt of heilli halir.
Ráðumk þér, Loddfáfnir,
en þú ráð nemir, -
njóta mundu, ef þú nemr,
þér munu góð, ef þú getr -:
ef þú vilt þér góða konu
kveðja at gamanrúnum
ok fá fögnuð af,
fögru skaltu heita
ok láta fast vera;
leiðisk manngi gótt, ef getr.
Ráðumk þér, Loddfáfnir,
en þú ráð nemir, -
njóta mundu, ef þú nemr,
þér munu góð, ef þú getr -:
varan bið ek þik vera
ok eigi ofvaran;
ver þú við öl varastr
ok við annars konu
ok við þat it þriðja,
at þjófar né leiki.
Ráðumk þér, Loddfáfnir,
en þú ráð nemir, -
njóta mundu, ef þú nemr,
þér munu góð, ef þú getr -:
at háði né hlátri
hafðu aldregi
gest né ganganda.
Oft vitu ógörla,
þeir er sitja inni fyrir,
hvers þeir ro kyns, er koma;
er-at maðr svá góðr
at galli né fylgi,
né svá illr, at einugi dugi.
Ráðumk þér, Loddfáfnir,
en þú ráð nemir, -
njóta mundu, ef þú nemr,
þér munu góð, ef þú getr -:
at hárum þul
hlæ þú aldregi,
oft er gótt, þat er gamlir kveða;
oft ór skörpum belg
skilin orð koma
þeim er hangir með hám
ok skollir með skrám
ok váfir með vílmögum.
Ráðumk þér, Loddfáfnir,
en þú ráð nemir, -
njóta mundu, ef þú nemr,
þér munu góð, ef þú getr -:
gest þú né geyja
né á grind hrekir;
get þú váluðum vel.
Rammt er þat tré,
er ríða skal
öllum at upploki;
baug þú gef,
eða þat biðja mun
þér læs hvers á liðu.
Ráðumk þér, Loddfáfnir,
en þú ráð nemir, -
njóta mundu, ef þú nemr,
þér munu góð, ef þú getr -:
hvars þú öl drekkir,
kjós þér jarðar megin,
því at jörð tekr við ölðri,
en eldr við sóttum,
eik við abbindi,
ax við fjölkynngi,
höll við hýrógi,
- heiftum skal mána kveðja, -
beiti við bitsóttum,
en við bölvi rúnar,
fold skal við flóði taka.
V.
Veit ek, at ek hekk
vindga meiði á
nætr allar níu,
geiri undaðr
ok gefinn Óðni,
sjalfr sjalfum mér,
á þeim meiði,
er manngi veit
hvers af rótum renn.
Við hleifi mik sældu
né við hornigi;
nýsta ek niðr,
nam ek upp rúnar,
æpandi nam,
fell ek aftr þaðan.
Fimbulljóð níu
nam ek af inum frægja syni
Bölþorns, Bestlu föður,
ok ek drykk of gat
ins dýra mjaðar,
ausinn Óðreri.
Þá nam ek frævask
ok fróðr vera
ok vaxa ok vel hafask,
orð mér af orði
orðs leitaði,
verk mér af verki
verks leitaði.
Rúnar munt þú finna
ok ráðna stafi,
mjök stóra stafi,
mjök stinna stafi,
er fáði fimbulþulr
ok gerðu ginnregin
ok reist hroftr rögna.
Óðinn með ásum,
en fyr alfum Dáinn,
Dvalinn ok dvergum fyrir,
Ásviðr jötnum fyrir,
ek reist sjalfr sumar.
Veistu, hvé rísta skal?
Veistu, hvé ráða skal?
Veistu, hvé fáa skal?
Veistu, hvé freista skal?
Veistu, hvé biðja skal?
Veistu, hvé blóta skal?
Veistu, hvé senda skal?
Veistu, hvé sóa skal?
Betra er óbeðit
en sé ofblótit,
ey sér til gildis gjöf;
betra er ósent
en sé ofsóit.
Svá Þundr of reist
fyr þjóða rök,
þar hann upp of reis,
er hann aftr of kom.
VI.
Ljóð ek þau kann,
er kann-at þjóðans kona
ok mannskis mögr.
Hjalp heitir eitt,
en þat þér hjalpa mun
við sökum ok sorgum
ok sútum görvöllum.
Þat kann ek annat,
er þurfu ýta synir,
þeir er vilja læknar lifa.
Það kann ek þriðja:
ef mér verðr þörf mikil
hafts við mína heiftmögu,
eggjar ek deyfi
minna andskota,
bíta-t þeim vápn né velir.
Þat kann ek it fjórða:
ef mér fyrðar bera
bönd að boglimum,
svá ek gel,
at ek ganga má,
sprettr mér af fótum fjöturr,
en af höndum haft.
Þat kann ek it fimmta:
ef ek sé af fári skotinn
flein í folki vaða,
fýgr-a hann svá stinnt,
at ek stöðvig-a-k,
ef ek hann sjónum of sék.
Þat kann ek it sétta:
ef mik særir þegn
á vrótum hrás viðar,
ok þann hal
er mik heifta kveðr,
þann eta mein heldr en mik.
Þat kann ek it sjaunda:
ef ek sé hávan loga
sal of sessmögum,
brennr-at svá breitt,
at ek hánum bjargig-a-k;
þann kann ek galdr at gala.
Þat kann ek it átta,
er öllum er
nytsamligt at nema:
hvars hatr vex
með hildings sonum
þat má ek bæta brátt.
Þat kann ek it níunda:
ef mik nauðr of stendr
at bjarga fari mínu á floti,
vind ek kyrri
vági á
ok svæfik allan sæ.
Þat kann ek it tíunda:
ef ek sé túnriður
leika lofti á,
ek svá vinnk,
at þær villar fara
sinna heimhama,
sinna heimhuga.
Þat kann ek it ellifta:
ef ek skal til orrostu
leiða langvini,
und randir ek gel,
en þeir með ríki fara
heilir hildar til,
heilir hildi frá,
koma þeir heilir hvaðan.
Þat kann ek it tolfta:
ef ek sé á tré uppi
váfa virgilná,
svá ek ríst
ok í rúnum fák,
at sá gengr gumi
ok mælir við mik.
Þat kann ek it þrettánda:
ef ek skal þegn ungan
verpa vatni á,
mun-at hann falla,
þótt hann í folk komi,
hnígr-a sá halr fyr hjörum.
Þat kann ek it fjögurtánda:
ef ek skal fyrða liði
telja tíva fyrir,
ása ok alfa
ek kann allra skil;
fár kann ósnotr svá.
Þat kann ek it fimmtánda
er gól Þjóðrerir
dvergr fyr Dellings durum:
afl gól hann ásum,
en alfum frama,
hyggju Hroftatý.
Þat kann ek it sextánda:
ef ek vil ins svinna mans
hafa geð allt ok gaman,
hugi ek hverfi
hvítarmri konu,
ok sný ek hennar öllum sefa.
Þat kann ek it sjautjánda
at mik mun seint firrask
it manunga man.
Ljóða þessa
mun þú, Loddfáfnir,
lengi vanr vera;
þó sé þér góð, ef þú getr,
nýt ef þú nemr,
þörf ef þú þiggr.
Þat kann ek it átjánda,
er ek æva kennik
mey né manns konu,
- allt er betra,
er einn of kann;
þat fylgir ljóða lokum, -
nema þeiri einni,
er mik armi verr,
eða mín systir sé.
VII.
Nú eru Háva mál
kveðin Háva höllu í,
allþörf ýta sonum,
óþörf jötna sonum;
heill sá, er kvað,
heill sá, er kann,
njóti sá, er nam,
heilir, þeirs hlýddu.
英譯採用 Henry Adams Bellows 的1923年譯本,已屬公有領域;詩節編號可能與原文不同。
Within the gates ere a man shall go,
(Full warily let him watch,)
Full long let him look about him;
For little he knows where a foe may lurk,
And sit in the seats within.
Hail to the giver! a guest has come;
Where shall the stranger sit?
Swift shall he be who with swords shall try
The proof of his might to make.
Fire he needs who with frozen knees
Has come from the cold without;
Food and clothes must the farer have,
The man from the mountains come.
Water and towels and welcoming speech
Should he find who comes to the feast;
If renown he would get, and again be greeted,
Wisely and well must he act.
Wits must he have who wanders wide,
But all is easy at home;
At the witless man the wise shall wink
When among such men he sits.
A man shall not boast of his keenness of mind,
But keep it close in his breast;
To the silent and wise does ill come seldom
When he goes as guest to a house;
(For a faster friend one never finds
Than wisdom tried and true.)
The knowing guest who goes to the feast,
In silent attention sits;
With his ears he hears, with his eyes he watches,
Thus wary are wise men all.
Happy the one who wins for himself
Favor and praises fair;
Less safe by far is the wisdom found
That is hid in another's heart.
Happy the man who has while he lives
Wisdom and praise as well,
For evil counsel a man full oft
Has from another's heart.
A better burden may no man bear
For wanderings wide than wisdom;
It is better than wealth on unknown ways,
And in grief a refuge it gives.
A better burden may no man bear
For wanderings wide than wisdom;
Worse food for the journey he brings not afield
Than an over-drinking of ale.
Less good there lies than most believe
In ale for mortal men;
For the more he drinks the less does man
Of his mind the mastery hold.
Over beer the bird of forgetfulness broods,
And steals the minds of men;
With the heron's feathers fettered I lay
And in Gunnloth's house was held.
Drunk I was, I was dead-drunk,
When with Fjalar wise I was;
'Tis the best of drinking if back one brings
His wisdom with him home.
The son of a king shall be silent and wise,
And bold in battle as well;
Bravely and gladly a man shall go,
Till the day of his death is come.
The sluggard believes he shall live forever,
If the fight he faces not;
But age shall not grant him the gift of peace,
Though spears may spare his life.
The fool is agape when he comes to the feast,
He stammers or else is still;
But soon if he gets a drink is it seen
What the mind of the man is like.
He alone is aware who has wandered wide,
And far abroad has fared,
How great a mind is guided by him
That wealth of wisdom has.
Shun not the mead, but drink in measure;
Speak to the point or be still;
For rudeness none shall rightly blame thee
If soon thy bed thou seekest.
The greedy man, if his mind be vague,
Will eat till sick he is;
The vulgar man, when among the wise,
To scorn by his belly is brought.
The herds know well when home they shall fare,
And then from the grass they go;
But the foolish man his belly's measure
Shall never know aright.
A paltry man and poor of mind
At all things ever mocks;
For never he knows, what he ought to know,
That he is not free from faults.
The witless man is awake all night,
Thinking of many things;
Care-worn he is when the morning comes,
And his woe is just as it was.
The foolish man for friends all those
Who laugh at him will hold; When among the wise he marks it not
Though hatred of him they speak.
The foolish man for friends all those
Who laugh at him will hold;
But the truth when he comes to the council he learns,
That few in his favor will speak.
An ignorant man thinks that all he knows,
When he sits by himself in a corner;
But never what answer to make he knows,
When others with questions come.
A witless man, when he meets with men,
Had best in silence abide;
For no one shall find that nothing he knows,
If his mouth is not open too much.
(But a man knows not, if nothing he knows,
When his mouth has been open too much.)
Wise shall he seem who well can question,
And also answer well;
Nought is concealed that men may say
Among the sons of men.
Often he speaks who never is still
With words that win no faith; The babbling tongue, if a bridle it find not,
Oft for itself sings ill.
In mockery no one a man shall hold,
Although he fare to the feast;
Wise seems one oft, if nought he is asked,
And safely he sits dry-skinned.
Wise a guest holds it to take to his heels,
When mock of another he makes;
But little he knows who laughs at the feast,
Though he mocks in the midst of his foes.
Friendly of mind are many men,
Till feasting they mock at their friends;
To mankind a bane must it ever be
When guests together strive.
Oft should one make an early meal,
Nor fasting come to the feast;
Else he sits and chews as if he would choke,
And little is able to ask.
Crooked and far is the road to a foe,
Though his house on the highway be;
But wide and straight is the way to a friend,
Though far away he fare.
Forth shall one go, nor stay as a guest
In a single spot forever; Love becomes loathing if long one sits
By the hearth in another's home.
Better a house, though a hut it be,
A man is master at home;
A pair of goats and a patched-up roof
Are better far than begging.
Better a house, though a hut it be,
A man is master at home;
His heart is bleeding who needs must beg
When food he fain would have.
Away from his arms in the open field
A man should fare not a foot;
For never he knows when the need for a spear
Shall arise on the distant road.
If wealth a man has won for himself,
Let him never suffer in need;
Oft he saves for a foe what he plans for a friend,
For much goes worse than we wish.
None so free with gifts or food have I found
That gladly he took not a gift, Nor one who so widely scattered his wealth
That of recompense hatred he had.
Friends shall gladden each other with arms and garments,
As each for himself can see;
Gift-givers' friendships are longest found,
If fair their fates may be.
To his friend a man a friend shall prove,
And gifts with gifts requite;
But men shall mocking with mockery answer,
And fraud with falsehood meet.
To his friend a man a friend shall prove,
To him and the friend of his friend;
But never a man shall friendship make
With one of his foeman's friends.
If a friend thou hast whom thou fully wilt trust,
And good from him wouldst get,
Thy thoughts with his mingle, and gifts shalt thou make,
And fare to find him oft.
If another thou hast whom thou hardly wilt trust,
Yet good from him wouldst get,
Thou shalt speak him fair, but falsely think,
And fraud with falsehood requite.
So is it with him whom thou hardly wilt trust,
And whose mind thou mayst not know;
Laugh with him mayst thou, but speak not thy mind,
Like gifts to his shalt thou give.
Young was I once, and wandered alone,
And nought of the road I knew;
Rich did I feel when a comrade I found,
For man is man's delight.
The lives of the brave and noble are best,
Sorrows they seldom feed;
But the coward fear of all things feels,
And not gladly the niggard gives.
My garments once in a field I gave
To a pair of carven poles;
Heroes they seemed when clothes they had,
But the naked man is nought.
On the hillside drear the fir-tree dies,
All bootless its needles and bark;
It is like a man whom no one loves,—
Why should his life be long?
Hotter than fire between false friends
Does friendship five days burn;
When the sixth day comes the fire cools,
And ended is all the love.
No great thing needs a man to give,
Oft little will purchase praise;
With half a loaf and a half-filled cup
A friend full fast I made.
A little sand has a little sea,
And small are the minds of men;
Though all men are not equal in wisdom,
Yet half-wise only are all.
A measure of wisdom each man shall have,
But never too much let him know;
The fairest lives do those men live
Whose wisdom wide has grown.
A measure of wisdom each man shall have,
But never too much let him know;
For the wise man's heart is seldom happy,
If wisdom too great he has won.
A measure of wisdom each man shall have,
But never too much let him know; Let no man the fate before him see,
For so is he freest from sorrow.
A brand from a brand is kindled and burned,
And fire from fire begotten;
And man by his speech is known to men,
And the stupid by their stillness.
He must early go forth who fain the blood
Or the goods of another would get;
The wolf that lies idle shall win little meat,
Or the sleeping man success.
He must early go forth whose workers are few,
Himself his work to seek;
Much remains undone for the morning-sleeper,
For the swift is wealth half won.
Of seasoned shingles and strips of bark
For the thatch let one know his need,
And how much of wood he must have for a month,
Or in half a year he will use.
Washed and fed to the council fare,
But care not too much for thy clothes;
Let none be ashamed of his shoes and hose,
Less still of the steed he rides.
(Though poor be the horse he has.)
When the eagle comes to the ancient sea,
He snaps and hangs his head;
So is a man in the midst of a throng,
Who few to speak for him finds.
To question and answer must all be ready
Who wish to be known as wise;
Tell one thy thoughts, but beware of two,—
All know what is known to three.
The man who is prudent a measured use
Of the might he has will make;
He finds when among the brave he fares
That the boldest he may not be.
................
...............
Oft for the words that to others one speaks
He will get but an evil gift.
Too early to many a meeting I came,
And some too late have I sought;
The beer was all drunk, or not yet brewed;
Little the loathed man finds.
To their homes men would bid me hither and yon,
If at meal-time I needed no meat,
Or would hang two hams in my true friend's house,
Where only one I had eaten.
Fire for men is the fairest gift,
And power to see the sun;
Health as well, if a man may have it,
And a life not stained with sin.
All wretched is no man, though never so sick;
Some from their sons have joy,
Some win it from kinsmen, and some from their wealth,
And some from worthy works.
It is better to live than to lie a corpse,
The live man catches the cow;
I saw flames rise for the rich man's pyre,
And before his door he lay dead.
The lame rides a horse, the handless is herdsman,
The deaf in battle is bold;
The blind man is better than one that is burned,
No good can come of a corpse.
A son is better, though late he be born,
And his father to death have fared;
Memory-stones seldom stand by the road
Save when kinsman honors his kin.
Two make a battle, the tongue slays the head;
In each furry coat a fist I look for.
He welcomes the night whose fare is enough,
(Short are the yards of a ship,)
Uneasy are autumn nights;
Full oft does the weather change in a week,
And more in a month's time.
A man knows not, if nothing he knows,
That gold oft apes begets;
One man is wealthy and one is poor,
Yet scorn for him none should know.
Among Fitjung's sons saw I well-stocked folds,—
Now bear they the beggar's staff; Wealth is as swift as a winking eye,
Of friends the falsest it is.
Cattle die, and kinsmen die,
And so one dies one's self;
But a noble name will never die,
If good renown one gets.
Cattle die, and kinsmen die,
And so one dies one's self;
One thing I know that never dies,
The fame of a dead man's deeds.
Certain is that which is sought from runes,
That the gods so great have made,
And the Master-Poet painted;
................
.....of the race of gods:
Silence is safest and best.
An unwise man, if a maiden's love
Or wealth he chances to win, His pride will wax, but his wisdom never,
Straight forward he fares in conceit.
***
Give praise to the day at evening, to a woman on her pyre,
To a weapon which is tried, to a maid at wedlock,
To ice when it is crossed, to ale that is drunk.
When the gale blows hew wood, in fair winds seek the water;
Sport with maidens at dusk, for day's eyes are many;
From the ship seek swiftness, from the shield protection,
Cuts from the sword, from the maiden kisses.
By the fire drink ale, over ice go on skates;
Buy a steed that is lean, and a sword when tarnished, The horse at home fatten, the hound in thy dwelling.
***
A man shall trust not the oath of a maid,
Nor the word a woman speaks;
For their hearts on a whirling wheel were fashioned,
And fickle their breasts were formed.
***
In a breaking bow or a burning flame,
A ravening wolf or a croaking raven,
In a grunting boar, a tree with roots broken,
In billowy seas or a bubbling kettle,
In a flying arrow or falling waters,
In ice new formed or the serpent's folds,
In a bride's bed-speech or a broken sword,
In the sport of bears or in sons of kings,
In a calf that is sick or a stubborn thrall,
A flattering witch or a foe new slain.
In a brother's slayer, if thou meet him abroad,
In a half-burned house, in a horse full swift—
One leg is hurt and the horse is useless—
None had ever such faith as to trust in them all.
***
Hope not too surely for early harvest,
Nor trust too soon in thy son;
The field needs good weather, the son needs wisdom,
And oft is either denied.
***
The love of women fickle of will
Is like starting o'er ice with a steed unshod,
A two-year-old restive and little tamed,
Or steering a rudderless ship in a storm,
Or, lame, hunting reindeer on slippery rocks.
***
Clear now will I speak, for I know them both,
Men false to women are found;
When fairest we speak, then falsest we think,
Against wisdom we work with deceit.
Soft words shall he speak and wealth shall he offer
Who longs for a maiden's love,
And the beauty praise of the maiden bright;
He wins whose wooing is best.
Fault for loving let no man find
Ever with any other;
Oft the wise are fettered, where fools go free,
By beauty that breeds desire.
Fault with another let no man find
For what touches many a man;
Wise men oft into witless fools
Are made by mighty love.
The head alone knows what dwells near the heart,
A man knows his mind alone;
No sickness is worse to one who is wise
Than to lack the longed-for joy.
This found I myself, when I sat in the reeds,
And long my love awaited;
As my life the maiden wise I loved,
Yet her I never had.
Billing's daughter I found on her bed,
In slumber bright as the sun;
Empty appeared an earl's estate
Without that form so fair.
"Othin, again at evening come,
If a woman thou wouldst win;
Evil it were if others than we
Should know of such a sin."
Away I hastened, hoping for joy,
And careless of counsel wise;
Well I believed that soon I should win
Measureless joy with the maid.
So came I next when night it was,
The warriors all were awake;
With burning lights and waving brands
I learned my luckless way.
At morning then, when once more I came,
And all were sleeping still,
A dog I found in the fair one's place,
Bound there upon her bed.
Many fair maids, if a man but tries them,
False to a lover are found;
That did I learn when I longed to gain
With wiles the maiden wise; Foul scorn was my meed from the crafty maid,
And nought from the woman I won.
***
Though glad at home, and merry with guests,
A man shall be wary and wise;
The sage and shrewd, wide wisdom seeking,
Must see that his speech be fair;
A fool is he named who nought can say,
For such is the way of the witless.
I found the old giant, now back have I fared,
Small gain from silence I got;
Full many a word, my will to get,
I spoke in Suttung's hall.
The mouth of Rati made room for my passage,
And space in the stone he gnawed; Above and below the giants' paths lay,
So rashly I risked my head.
Gunnloth gave on a golden stool
A drink of the marvelous mead;
A harsh reward did I let her have
For her heroic heart,
And her spirit troubled sore.
The well-earned beauty well I enjoyed,
Little the wise man lacks;
So Othrörir now has up been brought
To the midst of the men of earth.
Hardly, methinks, would I home have come,
And left the giants' land,
Had not Gunnloth helped me, the maiden good,
Whose arms about me had been.
The day that followed, the frost-giants came,
Some word of Hor to win,
(And into the hall of Hor;) Of Bolverk they asked, were he back midst the gods,
Or had Suttung slain him there?
On his ring swore Othin the oath, methinks;
Who now his troth shall trust?
Suttung's betrayal he sought with drink,
And Gunnloth to grief he left.
***
It is time to chant from the chanter's stool;
By the wells of Urth I was,
I saw and was silent, I saw and thought,
And heard the speech of Hor.
(Of runes heard I words, nor were counsels wanting,
At the hall of Hor,
In the hall of Hor;
Such was the speech I heard.)
I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,—
Profit thou hast if thou hearest,
Great thy gain if thou learnest:
Rise not at night, save if news thou seekest,
Or fain to the outhouse wouldst fare.
I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,—
Profit thou hast if thou hearest,
Great thy gain if thou learnest:
Beware of sleep on a witch's bosom,
Nor let her limbs ensnare thee.
Such is her might that thou hast no mind
For the council or meeting of men;
Meat thou hatest, joy thou hast not,
And sadly to slumber thou farest.
I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,—
Profit thou hast if thou hearest,
Great thy gain if thou learnest: Seek never to win the wife of another,
Or long for her secret love.
I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,—
Profit thou hast if thou hearest,
Great thy gain if thou learnest:
If o'er mountains or gulfs thou fain wouldst go,
Look well to thy food for the way.
I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,—
Profit thou hast if thou hearest,
Great thy gain if thou learnest:
An evil man thou must not let
Bring aught of ill to thee;
For an evil man will never make
Reward for a worthy thought.
I saw a man who was wounded sore
By an evil woman's word;
A lying tongue his death-blow launched,
And no word of truth there was.
I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,—
Profit thou hast if thou hearest,
Great thy gain if thou learnest:
If a friend thou hast whom thou fully wilt trust,
Then fare to find him oft;
For brambles grow and waving grass
On the rarely trodden road.
I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,—
Profit thou hast if thou hearest,
Great thy gain if thou learnest:
A good man find to hold in friendship,
And give heed to his healing charms.
I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,—
Profit thou hast if thou hearest,
Great thy gain if thou learnest:
Be never the first to break with thy friend
The bond that holds you both;
Care eats the heart if thou canst not speak
To another all thy thought.
I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,—
Profit thou hast if thou hearest,
Great thy gain if thou learnest:
Exchange of words with a witless ape
Thou must not ever make.
For never thou mayst from an evil man
A good requital get;
But a good man oft the greatest love
Through words of praise will win thee.
Mingled is love when a man can speak
To another all his thought; Nought is so bad as false to be,
No friend speaks only fair.
I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,—
Profit thou hast if thou hearest,
Great thy gain if thou learnest:
With a worse man speak not three words in dispute,
Ill fares the better oft
When the worse man wields a sword.
I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,—
Profit thou hast if thou hearest,
Great thy gain if thou learnest:
A shoemaker be, or a maker of shafts,
For only thy single self;
If the shoe is ill made, or the shaft prove false,
Then evil of thee men think.
I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,—
Profit thou hast if thou hearest,
Great thy gain if thou learnest:
If evil thou knowest, as evil proclaim it,
And make no friendship with foes.
I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,—
Profit thou hast if thou hearest, Great thy gain if thou learnest:
In evil never joy shalt thou know,
But glad the good shall make thee.
I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,—
Profit thou hast if thou hearest,
Great thy gain if thou learnest:
Look not up when the battle is on,—
(Like madmen the sons of men become,—)
Lest men bewitch thy wits.
I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,—
Profit thou hast if thou hearest,
Great thy gain if thou learnest:
If thou fain wouldst win a woman's love,
And gladness get from her,
Fair be thy promise and well fulfilled;
None loathes what good he gets.
I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,—
Profit thou hast if thou hearest,
Great thy gain if thou learnest:
I bid thee be wary, but be not fearful;
(Beware most with ale or another's wife,
And third beware lest a thief outwit thee.)
I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,—
Profit thou hast if thou hearest,
Great thy gain if thou learnest:
Scorn or mocking ne'er shalt thou make
Of a guest or a journey-goer.
Oft scarcely he knows who sits in the house
What kind is the man who comes;
None so good is found that faults he has not,
Nor so wicked that nought he is worth.
I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,—
Profit thou hast if thou hearest,
Great thy gain if thou learnest:
Scorn not ever the gray-haired singer,
Oft do the old speak good;
(Oft from shrivelled skin come skillful counsels,
Though it hang with the hides,
And flap with the pelts,
And is blown with the bellies.)
I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,—
Profit thou hast if thou hearest,
Great thy gain if thou learnest:
Curse not thy guest, nor show him thy gate,
Deal well with a man in want.
Strong is the beam that raised must be
To give an entrance to all;
Give it a ring, or grim will be
The wish it would work on thee.
I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,—
Profit thou hast if thou hearest,
Great thy gain if thou learnest:
When ale thou drinkest, seek might of earth,
(For earth cures drink, and fire cures ills,
The oak cures tightness, the ear cures magic,
Rye cures rupture, the moon cures rage,
Grass cures the scab, and runes the sword-cut;)
The field absorbs the flood.
Now are Hor's words spoken in the hall,
Kind for the kindred of men,
Cursed for the kindred of giants:
Hail to the speaker, and to him who learns!
Profit be his who has them!
Hail to them who hearken!
***
I ween that I hung on the windy tree,
Hung there for nights full nine;
With the spear I was wounded, and offered I was
To Othin, myself to myself,
On the tree that none may ever know
What root beneath it runs.
None made me happy with loaf or horn,
And there below I looked;
I took up the runes, shrieking I took them,
And forthwith back I fell.
Nine mighty songs I got from the son
Of Bolthorn, Bestla's father;
And a drink I got of the goodly mead
Poured out from Othrörir.
Then began I to thrive, and wisdom to get,
I grew and well I was;
Each word led me on to another word,
Each deed to another deed.
Runes shalt thou find, and fateful signs,
That the king of singers colored,
And the mighty gods have made; Full strong the signs, full mighty the signs
That the ruler of gods doth write.
Othin for the gods, Dain for the elves,
And Dvalin for the dwarfs,
Alsvith for giants and all mankind,
And some myself I wrote.
Knowest how one shall write, knowest how one shall rede?
Knowest how one shall tint, knowest how one makes trial?
Knowest how one shall ask, knowest how one shall offer?
Knowest how one shall send, knowest how one shall sacrifice?
Better no prayer than too big an offering,
By thy getting measure thy gift;
Better is none than too big a sacrifice,
..............
So Thund of old wrote ere man's race began,
Where he rose on high when home he came.
***
The songs I know that king's wives know not,
Nor men that are sons of men;
The first is called help, and help it can bring thee
In sorrow and pain and sickness.
A second I know, that men shall need
Who leechcraft long to use;
..............
.............
A third I know, if great is my need
Of fetters to hold my foe;
Blunt do I make mine enemy's blade,
Nor bites his sword or staff.
A fourth I know, if men shall fasten
Bonds on my bended legs;
So great is the charm that forth I may go,
The fetters spring from my feet,
Broken the bonds from my hands.
A fifth I know, if I see from afar
An arrow fly 'gainst the folk;
It flies not so swift that I stop it not,
If ever my eyes behold it.
A sixth I know, if harm one seeks
With a sapling's roots to send me;
The hero himself who wreaks his hate
Shall taste the ill ere I.
A seventh I know, if I see in flames
The hall o'er my comrades' heads;
It burns not so wide that I will not quench it,
I know that song to sing.
An eighth I know, that is to all
Of greatest good to learn;
When hatred grows among heroes' sons,
I soon can set it right.
A ninth I know, if need there comes
To shelter my ship on the flood;
The wind I calm upon the waves,
And the sea I put to sleep.
A tenth I know, what time I see
House-riders flying on high;
So can I work that wildly they go,
Showing their true shapes,
Hence to their own homes.
An eleventh I know, if needs I must lead
To the fight my long-loved friends;
I sing in the shields, and in strength they go
Whole to the field of fight,
Whole from the field of fight,
And whole they come thence home.
A twelfth I know, if high on a tree
I see a hanged man swing; So do I write and color the runes
That forth he fares,
And to me talks.
A thirteenth I know, if a thane full young
With water I sprinkle well;
He shall not fall, though he fares mid the host,
Nor sink beneath the swords.
A fourteenth I know, if fain I would name
To men the mighty gods;
All know I well of the gods and elves,—
Few be the fools know this.
A fifteenth I know, that before the doors
Of Delling sang Thjothrörir the dwarf;
Might he sang for the gods, and glory for elves,
And wisdom for Hroptatyr wise.
A sixteenth I know, if I seek delight
To win from a maiden wise;
The mind I turn of the white-armed maid,
And thus change all her thoughts.
A seventeenth I know, so that seldom shall go
A maiden young from me;
................
...............
Long these songs thou shalt, Loddfafnir,
Seek in vain to sing;
Yet good it were if thou mightest get them,
Well, if thou wouldst them learn,
Help, if thou hadst them.
An eighteenth I know, that ne'er will I tell
To maiden or wife of man,—
The best is what none but one's self doth know,
So comes the end of the songs,—
Save only to her in whose arms I lie,
Or who else my sister is.
繁體中文譯文由 AI 根據古諾爾斯語原文翻譯,並參考英文譯文。
所有門口,
在跨入之前,
都該仔細察看,
都該四下探望,
因為誰也無法確知,
敵人會在何處
坐在廳堂裡等候。
願施惠的主人安好!
客人已進門,
他該坐在哪裡?
心中十分焦急的,
是那要在爐火旁
試探自己會受何種禮遇的人。
需要爐火的,
是那剛進門、
雙膝凍僵的人;
食物與衣裳,
是一個人的必需,
若他剛翻山而來。
清水是必需的,
對前來赴宴的人而言,
還有擦手巾與親切的款待,
友善的心意,
若能得到的話,
交談,以及回應的靜聽。
需要智慧的,
是四處遠行的人;
在家事事容易;
一無所知的人,
坐在智者之間,
便會招來譏笑的眼色。
對於自己的才智,
人不該誇耀,
心中更該謹慎;
明智而寡言的人,
來到別人家中,
謹慎便少有災殃,
因為人永遠找不到
比豐富的智慧
更可靠的朋友。
謹慎的客人,
來到宴席時,
默默屏息靜聽,
用耳朵聆聽,
用眼睛觀察;
有智慧的人都這樣探察周遭。
有福的是那人,
能為自己贏得
讚譽與善意;
若必須仰賴
藏在別人胸中的東西,
便難以安心。
有福的是那人,
在世之日,自己擁有
讚譽與智慧;
因為惡劣的忠告,
人往往曾從
別人的胸中領受。
沒有更好的行囊,
可供人帶上旅途,
勝過豐富的智慧;
在陌生的地方,
它比財富更可貴;
那是困苦之人的庇護。
沒有更好的行囊,
可供人帶上旅途,
勝過豐富的智慧;
沒有更壞的旅糧,
可供人帶往野外,
勝過飲啤酒過量。
啤酒對世人,
並不像人們所說的
那樣有益,
因為喝得越多,
一個人對自己心智的
掌握便越少。
那叫作遺忘之鷺的鳥,
盤踞在酒宴上方,
竊走人的心智;
那隻鳥的羽毛,
曾將我束縛,
在貢露的宅院裡。
我喝醉了,
醉得不省人事,
在睿智的法亞拉家中;
最好的酒宴,
是每個人都能重新
取回自己的心智。
寡言而深思,
君王之子應當如此,
戰鬥時也當勇敢;
快樂而歡暢,
每個人都應當如此,
直到死亡來臨。
怯懦的人,
以為自己能永遠活著,
只要避開戰鬥;
然而衰老
不會給他安寧,
即使長矛肯放過他。
傻子來作客,
呆呆張望,
不是喃喃自語,便是一聲不響;
可是一旦
有酒下肚,
他的心思立刻全露了出來。
唯有那人知道,
他曾四處漫遊,
走過許多地方,
每個人是受
何種心性支配,
只要他自己也有智慧。
別緊握酒杯不放,
喝蜜酒仍須適量,
說有用的話,否則便沉默,
沒有人會責怪你
有這樣的失禮之舉:
早早上床睡覺。
貪吃的人,
若不懂節制,
便會吃出一生的苦痛;
愚人的肚腹,
在他來到智者之間時,
往往為他招來嘲笑。
牲畜知道,
何時該回家,
到時便離開草地;
愚蠢的人,
卻永遠不懂
自己肚腹的分量。
卑劣的人,
心性惡劣,
對任何事都嘲笑;
他卻不知道
自己該知道的事:
他自己也並非毫無過失。
愚蠢的人,
整夜不眠,
為所有事情思慮;
等到清晨來臨,
他已疲憊不堪,
煩憂卻仍和原先一樣。
愚蠢的人,
以為所有對他笑的人,
都是自己的朋友;
他卻察覺不到,
即使坐在智者之間,
他們仍在說他的壞話。
愚蠢的人,
以為所有對他笑的人,
都是自己的朋友;
等他來到議會,
才會發現,
肯為他說話的人寥寥無幾。
愚蠢的人,
自以為無所不知,
只要獨自待在角落;
他卻不知道,
當別人試探他時,
自己該如何作答。
愚蠢的人,
來到人群之中,
最好保持沉默;
沒有人知道
他一無所知,
除非他說得太多;
可是一無所知的人,
也不會知道,
自己已經說得太多。
能夠發問,
也能應答的人,
自以為有智慧;
世人無法
將任何事情隱藏,
一旦它在人群間流傳。
從不沉默的人,
說了許許多多
毫無根據的話;
快嘴的舌頭,
若無人約束,
往往為自己唱來禍殃。
不該用譏笑的眼色
看待別人,
即使他前來作客;
許多人顯得有智慧,
只要無人向他發問,
又能一身乾爽地靜坐。
自以為明智的,
是那嘲弄別的客人後
便逃開的客人;
席間咧嘴嘲笑的人,
並不十分明白,
即使他正對仇敵嬉鬧。
許多人
彼此心懷善意,
卻在宴席上爭鬥;
客人與客人相互挑釁,
永遠都將成為
人世的紛爭。
人常該
早些吃飯,
除非要去作客;
他又吃又呆望,
顯出狼吞虎嚥的模樣,
也問不出幾句話。
通往壞朋友家的路,
總有許多彎繞,
即使他就住在路旁;
通往好朋友家的路,
卻條條筆直,
即使他遠在他方。
該走就走,
作客的人不該
永遠待在一處;
討喜的人也會惹人厭,
若他長久坐在
別人家的廳堂裡。
有自己的家更好,
即使十分狹小,
人人在家都是主人;
即使只有兩隻山羊,
一間以繩索充椽的屋子,
也比乞討更好。
有自己的家更好,
即使十分狹小,
人人在家都是主人;
那人的心在淌血,
若他每一餐
都必須向人乞食。
在野外,
人不該離開自己的武器
哪怕只有一步,
因為誰也無法確知,
何時在旅途中
就會需要長矛。
我未見過如此慷慨的人,
或如此好客的主人,
竟會不樂意收禮;
也未見有人對自己的財物
如此[吝嗇],
竟會在得到回報時心生厭惡。
對於自己
已經獲得的財富,
人不該捨不得用而忍受匱乏;
為親愛的人留下的東西,
往往省下來給了仇人;
許多事的結果比預料更壞。
朋友應以武器和衣裳
使彼此歡喜;
這在自己身上便能看見;
贈禮與回禮的人,
友誼維持最久,
只要一切得以順遂。
對自己的朋友,
人應以朋友相待,
以禮物回報禮物;
對笑聲,
人應以笑聲回應,
對謊言則以欺瞞相報。
對自己的朋友,
人應以朋友相待,
對他,也對他的朋友;
但對自己仇敵的
朋友,任何人
都不該與之為友。
你要知道,若你有個朋友,
是你充分信任的人,
又想從他那裡得到好處,
就該與他交心,
互贈禮物,
常常前去探望。
若你另有一人,
是你不大信任的,
卻仍想從他那裡得到好處,
你就該對他說好聽的話,
心中卻懷著欺詐,
以欺瞞回報謊言。
還是說那個人,
你不大信任他,
又對他的心意存疑,
你就該對他笑,
說話卻繞開自己的真心;
回報應與所得的禮物相稱。
從前我年輕時,
獨自一人旅行,
曾在路上迷失方向;
當我遇見另一個人,
便覺得自己富足,
人是人的喜悅。
慷慨而勇敢的人,
日子過得最好,
很少滋養憂愁;
怯懦的人,
卻對一切都恐懼,
吝嗇的人總為送禮發愁。
我的衣裳,
我曾在野外送給
兩個木人;
有了衣服之後,
他們自以為是堂堂男子;
赤身露體的人受人輕蔑。
一株松樹,
獨自立在空曠處,漸漸枯萎,
樹皮與針葉都不能庇護它;
人也是如此,
若他不愛任何人。
他何必長久活著?
壞朋友之間的情誼,
燃燒起來比火更熱,
持續五天,
等到第六天來臨,
便熄滅了,
所有友誼也隨之敗壞。
送禮不必
只送貴重的東西;
小小的禮物往往便能贏得讚譽,
憑半條麵包,
再加上一只傾斜的酒杯,
我便為自己交到一位同伴。
小小的沙岸,
小小的海域,
人心也一樣狹小;
因為並非所有人
都一樣明智;
世人處處都只有一半智慧。
每個人
都該有適度的智慧;
切莫過於聰明;
人群之中,
日子過得最美好的,
是那些懂得不少事情的人。
每個人
都該有適度的智慧,
切莫過於聰明;
因為智者的心
很少歡樂,
若擁有它的人事事通曉。
每個人
都該有適度的智慧,
切莫過於聰明;
誰也不該
預知自己的命運,
這樣心中才最少憂愁。
一根燃木引燃另一根,
一直燒到燃盡,
火焰由火焰點起;
人與人交談,
便能增進見識,
閉口獨處卻使人愚鈍。
想奪取別人
財物或性命的人,
就該早起;
躺著的狼
很少能得到腿肉,
沉睡的人也得不到勝利。
幫手稀少的人,
就該早起,
前去料理自己的工作;
早晨貪睡的人,
會耽擱許多事情,
財富有一半取決於勤勉。
乾燥的木柴,
蓋好存放的樺樹皮,
人該知道所需的分量,
也該知道多少木材
才足以用過
一季與半年。
人該洗淨吃飽,
騎馬前往議會,
即使穿得不夠體面;
誰也不該為鞋子和褲子
感到羞恥,
更不該為坐騎羞恥,
即使他的馬並不好。
鷹來到海邊,
伸頸又低頭,
望著古老的大海;
人也是如此,
當他來到眾人之間,
卻少有人肯為他說話。
凡有學識的人,
都該善問善答,
若想被稱為智者;
一人知道便好,
別讓第二人知曉,
三人知道,便舉世皆知。
自己的權勢,
凡謀慮明智的人,
都該運用有度;
等他置身
勇者之間,便會發現,
沒有人能獨佔英勇之冠。
── ── ── ──
一個人
對別人說出的話,
往往會給自己招來回報。
許多地方,
我都到得太早,
有些地方卻又到得太遲;
啤酒已喝光,
或是尚未釀好,
不受歡迎的人,少有趕上酒喝的時候。
這裡那裡,
人們或許都會邀我到家中,
若我用餐時需要食物,
或在忠實朋友家裡,
掛上兩條羊腿,
而我只曾在那裡吃過一條。
火最美好,
對人世子民而言,
還有看得見太陽,
以及自身的健康,
若能保有,
並且一生無過。
沒有人全然不幸,
即使身染重病;
有人因兒子而幸福,
有人因親族,
有人因家財豐厚,
有人因善有所成。
活著總比
死去更好,
活人總還能得到一頭牛;
我看見爐火熊熊,
為富人而燃,
他卻死在門外。
跛者能騎馬,
缺手的人能趕牲畜,
聾者能作戰,也能有所作為;
盲人總比
已被火化的人好,
屍體對誰都無益。
有個兒子總好,
縱使他出生得遲,
父親已經去世;
路旁少有
矗立的紀念石,
除非親人為親人立起。
兩人便能毀掉一人,
舌頭能招來殺身之禍;
每件皮袍裡,
我都提防有隻拳頭。
確信乾糧充足的人,
樂見夜晚到來,船上的帆桁短小;
秋夜變幻無常;
五天之內,
天氣就有許多變化,
一個月裡,
變化更是繁多。
一無所知的人,
並不知道,
錢財常使許多人變成傻子;
有人富有,
有人貧窮,
不該因此責怪他遭逢的困境。
牲畜會死,
親人會死,
自己也終將一死,
唯有聲名
永不消亡,
只要為自己贏得美譽。
牲畜會死,
親人會死,
自己也終將一死,
我知道有一樣東西,
永不消亡:
世人對每個死者的評斷。
我曾看見牲畜滿欄,
都屬於菲特容的兒子們,
如今他們卻手持乞討的杖;
財富就是如此,
轉眼即逝,
它是最靠不住的朋友。
愚昧的人,
若能得到
財富或女子的歡愛,
傲氣便日益滋長,
智慧卻絲毫不增,
他滿懷自負,大步向前。
當你向盧恩符文求問,
向那源自諸神的符文求問,
便能驗明這一點:
那些符文由威赫的神祇造就,
由偉大的吟誦者著色,
此時守口不言,對人最有益。
一天要到黃昏才可讚美,
女人要等火化,
劍要等試過,
少女要等出嫁,
冰面要等走過,
啤酒要等喝過。
砍樹要趁起風,
划船出海要趁風順,
與姑娘談情要趁天黑,
白日裡有太多眼睛;
船要能疾駛,
盾要能護身,
劍要能劈砍,
姑娘則要能親吻。
啤酒要在火旁喝,
冰面要滑行而過,
買馬要買瘦的,
買劍要買髒污的,
馬要在家養肥,
狗要在農莊飼養。
II.
少女的話,
誰也不該相信,
女人說的也一樣,
因為她們的心
是在旋轉的輪上塑成,
胸中安放了反覆無常。
將斷的弓,
燃燒的火焰,
張口的狼,
啼叫的烏鴉,
吼叫的豬,
無根的樹,
高漲的海浪,
沸騰的鍋,
飛馳的矛,
落下的浪,
一夜結成的冰,
盤成一圈的蛇,
新娘的枕邊話,
或斷裂的劍,
熊的嬉戲,
或國王的孩子。
病弱的牛犢,
自行其是的奴隸,
女先知的甜言,
剛被殺倒的死者。
早播的田地,
誰也別信賴,
對兒子也別太早放心,
——田地由天候主宰,
兒子由心智決定;
兩者都難以逆料。
殺害自己兄弟的人,
縱使在路上相逢,
燒毀一半的房屋,
飛快的馬,
——只要斷了一條腿,
馬就不中用了——
誰也別太過放心,
竟把這一切都信以為可靠。
心懷欺詐的女人,
她們的愛情,
就像駕著蹄上未加冰釘的馬,
行經滑溜的冰面,
那馬才兩歲,性情躁動,
又未好好馴服,
或在狂風中
駕駛無舵的船,
或像跛者要在融雪的山上,
追捕馴鹿。
如今我坦白說,
因為兩邊我都了解,
男人對女人也會變心;
我們說得最動聽時,
正是心懷欺詐之際:
那會迷惑明智的心。
要說動聽的話,
要獻上財物,
若想贏得女子的愛情,
就該讚美
那明豔姑娘的容貌,
求愛的人才能得償所願。
任何人都不該
因為愛情,
責怪別人;
惹人愛慕的美貌,
往往擄獲智者,
卻打動不了愚人。
許多人都會遭逢的事,
誰也不該
拿來責怪別人;
那強大的愛欲,
會使人世子民
從智者變成愚人。
唯有自己的心神,知道
心頭藏著什麼,
也唯有自己明白自己的心緒;
對明智的人而言,
沒有比這更苦的病痛,
就是一無所樂。
我曾親自嚐過這滋味,
那時我坐在蘆葦間,
等待心愛的人;
那聰慧的少女,
就是我的血肉與心,
然而我仍未能得到她。
我發現比林的姑娘,
正在床上熟睡,
白皙如日光;
雅爾的榮華,
我也覺得毫無樂趣,
若不能與那美人共度一生。
「奧丁,你要
近黃昏時再來,
若想與姑娘私語;
這樣的私情,
若非只有你我知曉,
便會惹來一切禍殃。」
我轉身離去,
自以為已蒙垂愛,
篤信她的心意;
我心裡想著,
自己將會得到
她全部的心與歡情。
等我再來時,
那群精悍的
戰士全都醒著,
燈火燃燒,
手執木炬,
就這樣為我指明了苦惱之路。
近清晨時,
我又一次前來,
廳堂裡的人都已睡去;
那時我只找到一條母狗,
拴在那好姑娘的
床榻上。
許多好姑娘,
若仔細探究,
對男人都心意反覆;
我曾親自領教,
那時我試著用詭計,
誘引那深諳謀略的女子;
那聰慧的姑娘,
想盡辦法羞辱我,
我絲毫也沒得到她。
III.
男子在家要愉快,
待客要和悅,
處事要機敏,
要善記,也要善談,
若想見多識廣,
就該常說有益的話;
說不出幾句話的人,
被叫作大傻瓜,
這正是愚者的本色。
我去探訪那年老的巨人,
如今已經歸來:
在那裡,沉默讓我所得無幾;
為了自己的利益,
我在蘇通的廳堂裡,
說了許許多多的話。
貢露讓我
坐在黃金座椅上,
喝下珍貴的蜜酒;
對她一片赤誠的心,
對她深切的情意,
我留給她的,
卻是惡劣的回報。
我讓拉提的鑽口,
替我鑽出容身的空間,
啃穿岩石;
在我上方與下方,
都是巨人的岩石路徑,
我就這樣冒著喪命的危險。
以好代價換來的姿容,
我已善加利用,
智者少有欠缺,
因為奧德勒里爾
如今已被帶上來,
來到人世聖域的邊界。
我不敢確信,
自己是否還能
走出巨人的庭院,
若未得到貢露的幫助,
那位好女子,
曾伸出手臂摟住我。
第二天,
霜巨人前來,
向哈爾探問消息,
走進哈爾的廳堂;
他們問起博爾維爾克,
是否已回到諸神之間,
還是被蘇通殺了。
奧丁曾對著臂環,
我想,立下誓言;
誰還能相信他的信義?
他騙得蘇通,
讓他失去了蜜酒,
又使貢露淚流。
IV.
是時候吟誦了,
坐在吟誦者的座上,
就在烏爾德泉旁,
我看著,默不作聲,
我看著,心中思索,
我聆聽人們的話語;
我聽見他們談論盧恩符文,
也不吝說出忠告,
在哈爾的廳堂旁,
在哈爾的廳堂裡,
我聽見有人這樣說:
洛德法夫尼爾,我勸告你,
你要聽取忠告,——
聽進去,你便會受益,
領會了,便對你有好處——:
夜裡不要起身,
除非要巡察守望,
或要出門尋個便溺的地方。
洛德法夫尼爾,我勸告你,
你要聽取忠告,——
聽進去,你便會受益,
領會了,便對你有好處——:
精通巫術的女人,
你不可睡在她懷中,
讓她用四肢纏住你。
她會使你
無心顧及
議會或君王的事務;
你不想吃飯,
也不想與人同樂,
只會滿懷愁苦地去睡。
洛德法夫尼爾,我勸告你,
你要聽取忠告,——
聽進去,你便會受益,
領會了,便對你有好處——:
別人的妻子,
你永遠不要誘引,
讓她成為與你耳語的情人。
洛德法夫尼爾,我勸告你,
你要聽取忠告,——
聽進去,你便會受益,
領會了,便對你有好處——:
若你有意出行,
翻山或越過峽灣,
就要備足路上的食糧。
洛德法夫尼爾,我勸告你,
你要聽取忠告,——
聽進去,你便會受益,
領會了,便對你有好處——:
永遠不要
讓惡人知道
你遭逢的不幸,
因為從惡人那裡,
你永遠得不到
一片善意的回報。
我曾看見
惡婦的話語,
深深咬傷一個男人;
陰險的舌頭
使他喪命,
所控告的罪名卻並不真實。
洛德法夫尼爾,我勸告你,
你要聽取忠告,——
聽進去,你便會受益,
領會了,便對你有好處——:
你要知道,若有一位朋友,
是你深深信賴的,
就要常去探望他,
因為無人踏過的路,
會長滿灌木,
也會長滿高草。
我勸你,洛德法夫尼爾,
你當聽取忠告,——
聽取便能受益,
領會便有好處——:
尋一位良善之人,
引他與你暢談知心話,
有生之年,都要學習療癒的咒歌。
我勸你,洛德法夫尼爾,
你當聽取忠告,——
聽取便能受益,
領會便有好處——:
對你的朋友,
你絕不可
先行斷絕情誼;
若你無法
向任何人傾吐全部心事,
憂愁便會啃噬心靈。
我勸你,洛德法夫尼爾,
你當聽取忠告,——
聽取便能受益,
領會便有好處——:
你絕不可
與愚昧的猿猴
爭辯,
因為從惡人那裡,
你永遠得不到
善意的回報;
但良善之人
能以讚譽
使你贏得眾人的愛戴。
一個人若肯
向另一人傾吐全部心事,
彼此便結下親密情誼;
什麼都好過
反覆無信;
只說順耳話的人,算不得朋友。
我勸你,洛德法夫尼爾,
你當聽取忠告,——
聽取便能受益,
領會便有好處——:
別與比你卑劣的人
爭吵到第三句;
較良善的人往往遭殃,
當較卑劣的人動手攻擊。
我勸你,洛德法夫尼爾,
你當聽取忠告,——
聽取便能受益,
領會便有好處——:
別替人製鞋,
也別替人製作武器柄,
除非只是供自己使用:
鞋子若做得不好,
或是柄身歪斜,
你便會招來咒罵。
我勸你,洛德法夫尼爾,
你當聽取忠告,——
聽取便能受益,
領會便有好處——:
凡你知道有惡行之處,
便要直斥其惡,
別讓你的仇敵安寧。
我勸你,洛德法夫尼爾,
你當聽取忠告,——
聽取便能受益,
領會便有好處——:
對於惡事,
絕不可欣喜,
卻要以善事為樂。
我勸你,洛德法夫尼爾,
你當聽取忠告,——
聽取便能受益,
領會便有好處——:
交戰之時,
不要抬頭仰望,
——人的子嗣
會變得如驚狂的野豬,——
免得有人施咒迷惑你。
我勸你,洛德法夫尼爾,
你當聽取忠告,——
聽取便能受益,
領會便有好處——:
若你想邀一位好女子
與你私語情話,
並從中得到歡愉,
你就當許下美好的承諾,
並且堅守不渝;
沒有人會厭棄自己所得的美好。
我勸你,洛德法夫尼爾,
你當聽取忠告,——
聽取便能受益,
領會便有好處——:
我勸你謹慎,
卻不要過分戒懼;
面對啤酒,尤其要當心,
面對別人的妻子也是如此,
還有第三件事:
莫讓竊賊捉弄了你。
我勸你,洛德法夫尼爾,
你當聽取忠告,——
聽取便能受益,
領會便有好處——:
絕不要
拿賓客或過路人
嘲弄取笑。
坐在屋裡的人,
往往並不清楚
來者是何等出身;
沒有人好到
全無缺點,
也沒有人壞到一無可取。
我勸你,洛德法夫尼爾,
你當聽取忠告,——
聽取便能受益,
領會便有好處——:
對白髮的智者,
你絕不可嘲笑,
老人所說的話往往有益;
明智的言語,往往
出自乾癟的皮囊,
它懸在獸皮之間,
垂在毛皮之間,
晃在臟腑之間。
我勸你,洛德法夫尼爾,
你當聽取忠告,——
聽取便能受益,
領會便有好處——:
別辱罵賓客,
也別將他趕到門外;
要善待困苦的人。
那根門閂必須結實,
才能抬起,
讓所有人進門;
你當贈出指環,
否則人們會祈願
你全身關節都被鎖住。
我勸你,洛德法夫尼爾,
你當聽取忠告,——
聽取便能受益,
領會便有好處——:
無論何處飲用啤酒,
都要借助大地之力,
因為大地能解酒,
火能治病,
橡樹能通便,
穀穗能破巫術,
接骨木能解家中紛爭,
——要祈求月亮消除仇恨,——
石楠能治咬傷,
盧恩符文能禳災,
泥土能擋住洪水。
V.
我知道,我曾懸掛
在風吹的樹上,
整整九夜,
受長矛刺傷,
獻給奧丁,
以自身獻給自身,
就在那棵樹上,
無人知曉
它從何處的根生長。
無人給我麵包充飢,
也無人給我角杯解渴;
我向下探望,
拾起盧恩符文,
呼喊著將它們拾起,
隨後便從那裡落下。
九首威力強大的歌,
我從那位聞名的兒子學得,
他是貝斯特拉之父波爾索恩的兒子;
我還獲得一口
珍貴的蜜酒,
從奧德勒里爾舀出。
於是我開始茁壯,
開始擁有智慧,
成長而昌盛,
一言引著我
尋得另一言,
一事引著我
尋得另一事。
你將找到盧恩符文,
以及可供解讀的字形,
威力極大的字形,
力量極強的字形,
由大智者著色,
由至高的神祇創造,
由諸神之主霍夫特刻下。
奧丁為阿薩神族,
達因為精靈,
德瓦林為矮人,
阿斯維德為巨人,
其中有些,是我親手刻下。
你懂得如何刻寫嗎?
你懂得如何解讀嗎?
你懂得如何著色嗎?
你懂得如何試驗嗎?
你懂得如何祈求嗎?
你懂得如何獻祭嗎?
你懂得如何送呈嗎?
你懂得如何宰牲嗎?
寧可不祈求,
也勝過獻祭太多,
贈禮總盼著回報;
寧可不送呈,
也勝過宰牲太多。
通德如此刻下,
在萬民命運定下之前,
在他起身之處,
在他歸來之時。
VI.
我懂得那些咒歌,
君王的妻子不懂,
任何人的兒子也不懂。
第一首名為「援助」,
它能助你
應付爭訟與悲傷,
以及一切憂苦。
我懂得第二首,
世人的子嗣需要它,
若他們想以醫者身分度日。
我懂得第三首:
若我急需
束縛我的仇敵,
我便使敵手的
刀刃鈍去,
他們的武器與棍杖都無法傷人。
我懂得第四首:
若有人將
鐐銬加在我的四肢,
我便如此吟唱,
使我能夠行走,
腳上的鎖鏈崩開,
手上的束縛也脫落。
我懂得第五首:
若我看見一支惡意射出的
飛矛穿過軍陣,
無論它飛得多麼猛烈,
我都能使它停住,
只要我親眼看見它。
我懂得第六首:
若有人以鮮木的根
施咒傷我,
那個
吟咒加害我的人,
將受災禍吞噬,而我得免。
我懂得第七首:
若我看見熊熊烈焰
包圍同席眾人所在的廳堂,
無論火勢蔓延多廣,
我都能救下廳堂;
我懂得吟唱那首咒歌。
我懂得第八首,
人人學會它,
都能受益:
無論何處,若仇恨滋長
在君王的子嗣之間,
我都能迅速化解。
我懂得第九首:
若我迫切需要
救護水上的船,
我便使風
在浪上平息,
使整片大海沉睡。
我懂得第十首:
若我看見騎籬女巫
在空中飛舞,
我便施法,
使她們迷失,無法回到
自己原有的軀體,
自己原有的心神。
我懂得第十一首:
若我要帶領
相交多年的朋友出征,
我便對著盾牌底下吟唱,
他們便威武前行,
安然走向戰場,
安然離開戰場,
從任何地方都安然歸來。
我懂得第十二首:
若我看見樹上
有吊死的屍身搖晃,
我便如此刻寫,
為盧恩符文著色,
使那人走動,
與我交談。
我懂得第十三首:
若我要為年輕的戰士
灑上清水,
他便不會倒下,
縱使置身軍陣,
那人也不會在刀劍前殞命。
我懂得第十四首:
若我要在眾人面前
逐一列舉神祇,
阿薩神族與精靈,
我全都分辨得清;
鮮有愚人能如此。
我懂得第十五首,
是矮人休德勒里爾
在德林的門前所唱:
他唱給阿薩神族力量,
唱給精靈榮耀,
唱給霍夫塔提爾智慧。
我懂得第十六首:
若我想贏得聰慧女子
全部的心意與歡情,
我便轉動
那白臂女子的心,
扭轉她所有的思緒。
我懂得第十七首,
使那年輕的少女
不會輕易離我而去。
這些咒歌,
洛德法夫尼爾,你
還要長久不得其門而入;
然而領會便有好處,
學會便能受益,
接受便能得助。
我懂得第十八首,
我從不將它傳授
給少女或他人的妻子,
——唯有自己知曉的,
總是最好;
這便是咒歌的結尾,——
除非是那唯一的女子,
她以雙臂擁抱我,
或是我的姊妹。
VII.
如今至高者的話語,
已在至高者的廳堂中吟出,
對世人的子嗣大有裨益,
對巨人的子嗣毫無益處;
願吟誦者安好,
願通曉者安好,
願學得者受益,
願聆聽的眾人安好。