Page:Poeticedda00belluoft.djvu/81

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88.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.

89.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.

90.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.

91.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.

92.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.