Page:Norse mythology or, the religion of our forefathers, containing all the myths of the Eddas, systematized and interpreted with an introduction, vocabulary and index.djvu/156

102. Many a fair maiden,
      When rightly known,
      Toward men is fickle:
      That I experienced
      When that discreet maiden
      I decoyed into danger:
      Contumely of every kind
      That wily girl
      Heaped upon me;
      Nor of that damsel gained I aught.

103. At home let a man be cheerful,
      And toward a guest liberal;
      Of wise conduct he should be,
      Of good memory and ready speech;
      If much knowledge he desires,
      He must often talk on what is good.
      Fimbulfambi he is called
      Who little has to say:
      Such is the nature of the simple.

 

104. The old giant I sought;
      Now I am come back:
      Little got I there by silence;
      In many words
      I spoke to my advantage
      In Suttung's halls.^[1]

105. Gunlad gave me,
      On her golden seat,
      A draught of the precious mead;
      A bad recompense I afterwards made her
      For her whole soul,
      Her fervent love.

106. Rate's mouth I caused
      To make a space,
      And to gnaw the rock;
      Over and under me

1. For the story of Suttung and Gunlad, see second part, pp. 246-253.