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the wife of another; and when you find yourself among robbers.
“Do not accustom yourself to
mocking; neither laugh at your guest, or a
stranger: they who remain at home,
often know not who the stranger is that
cometh to their gate.
“Where is there to be found a virtuous
man without some failing? or one so
wicked as to have no good quality?
“Laugh not at the gray-headed
declaimer, nor at thy aged grandfire.
There often come forth from the
wrinkles of the skin, words full of wisdom.
“The fire drives away diseases: the oak
expels the stranguary: straws dissolve
inchantments[1]: Runic characters destroy
the effect of imprecations: the earth
swallows up inundations; and death
extinguishes hatred and quarrels.”
- ↑ Hence probably is derived the custom of laying two straws crosswise in the path where a witch is expected to come.
