1) Have they eyes about thee when thou enterest

be wary alway, be watchful alway,

for one never knoweth when need will be

to meet hidden foe in the hall.

2) All hail to the givers! A guest hath come

say where shall he sit?

In haste is he to the hall who cometh

to find a place by the fire.

3) The warmth seeketh who hath wandered long

and is numb about the knees;

meat and dry clothes the man needeth

over the fells who hath fared.

4) A drink needeth to full dishes who cometh,

a towel, and the prayer to partake;

good bearing eke, to be well liked

and be bidden to banquet again.

5) Of his wit hath need who widely fareth--

a dull wit will do at home;

a laughingstock he who lacketh words

amongst smart wits when he sits.

6) To be bright of brain let no man boast,

but take good heed of his tongue;

the sage and silent come seldom to grief

as they fare amongst folk in the hall.

{More faithful friend findest thou never

than shrewd head on thy shoulders.}

7) The wary guest to wassail who comes

listens that he may learn,

opens his ears, casts his eyes about;

thus wards him the wise man 'gainst harm.

8) Happy is he who hath won him

the love and liking of all;

for hard it is one's help to seek

from the mind of another man.

9) Happy is he who hath won him

both winning ways and wisdom;

for ill it is oft who asketh help

from the wit and words of another.

10) Better burden bearest thou nowise

than shrewd head on they shoulders;

in good stead will it stand amongst stranger folk,

and shield when unsheltered thou art.

11) Better burden bearest thou nowise

than shrewd head on they shoulders;

but with worser food farest thou never

than an overmuch of mead.

12) For good it is not, though good it is thought,

mead for the sond sof men;

the deeper he drinks the dimmer grows

the mind of many a man.

13) the heron of heedlessness hovers o'er the feast;

and stealeth the minds of men.

14) That bout is best from which back fetches

each man his mind full clear.

15) Let us all be sparing in words,

and bold in battle;

glad and wholesome the hero be

till comes his dying day.