16) The unwise man thinks that he ay will live

if from fighting he flees;

but the ails and aches of old age dog him

though spears have spared him.

17) The fool but gapes when to folks he comes,

he mumbles and mopes;

soon is seen, when his swillhe had,

what the mind of the man is like.

18) Only he is aware who hath wandered much,

and far hath been afield;

what manner of man be he whom he meets,

if himself be not wanting in wit.

19) The cup spurn not, yet be sparing withal:

say what is needful or naught;

for ill breedingupbraids thee no man

if soon thou goest to sleep.

20) The greedy guest gainsays his head

and eats untill he is ill;

his belly oft maketh a butt of a man

on bench 'midst the sage when he sits.

21) The herd to know when from home they shall,

and gang from the grass to their stalls;

but the unwise man will not ever learn

how much his maw will hold.

22) The ill-minded man who meanly thinks,

fleers at both foul and fair;

he does not know, as know he ought,

that he is not free from flaws.

23) The unwise man waketh all night,

thinking of this and that-

tosses, sleepless, and is tired at morn:

nor lighter for that is load.

24) the unwise man weens that all

wo laugh with him, like him too;

nor sees their scorn, though they sneer at him,

on bench 'midst the sag when he sits.

25) The unwise man weens that all

that laugh with him like him too;

but then he finds, when to the Thing he comes,

few spokesman to speed his cause.

26) The unwise man wens heknows all,

if from harm he is far at home;

but knows not ever what answer to make

when others ask him aught.

27) The unwise man amongst others who comes,

let him be sparing of speech;

for no one knows that naught is in him,

but he opens his mouth too much.

28) Clever is he who is keen to ask,

and eke to answer , all men;

'tis hard tohide from the hearing of men

what is on everyone' slips.

29) Much at random oft rambles he

whose tongue does ever tattle;

a talker's tongue, unless tamed it be,

will often work him woe.

30) No mock make though of any man,

though thou comest amongsth kinsmen;

he knowing weens him whom no one has asked,

and dry-shod hies him home.