Ethics of Odinism / Asatru

[Hropt]

109

The following day the Frost Giants came,
Walked into Har's hall To ask for Har's advice:
Had Bolverk they asked, come back to his friends,
Or had he been slain by Suttung?

[Hropt]

110

Odhinn, they said, swore an oath on his ring:
Who from now on will trust him?
By fraud at the feast he befuddled Suttung
And brought grief to Gunnlod.

[Hropt]

111

It is time to sing in the seat of the wise,
Of what at Urd's Well I saw in silence,
saw and thought on.
Long I listened to men
Runes heard spoken, (counsels revealed.)
At Har's hall, In Har's hall:
There I heard this.

[Hropt]

112

Loddfafnir, listen to my counsel:
You will fare well if you follow it,
It will help you much if you heed it.
Never rise at night unless you need to spy
Or to ease yourself in the outhouse.

[Hropt]

113

Shun a woman, wise in magic,
Her bed and her embraces:

[Hropt]

114

If she cast a spell, you will care no longer
To meet and speak with men,
Desire no food, desire no pleasure,
In sorrow fall asleep.

[Hropt]

115

Never seduce anothers wife,
Never make her your mistress.

[Hropt]

116

If you must journey to mountains and firths,
Take food and fodder with you.

[Hropt]

117

Never open your heart to an evil man
When fortune does not favour you:
From an evil man, if you make him your friend,
You will get evil for good.

[Hropt]

118

I saw a warrior wounded fatally
By the words of an evil woman
Her cunning tongue caused his death,
Though what she alleged was a lie.

[Hropt]

119

If you know a friend you can fully trust,
Go often to his house
Grass and brambles grow quickly
Upon the untrodden track.

[Hropt]

120

With a good man it is good to talk,
Make him your fast friend:
But waste no words on a witless oaf,
Nor sit with a senseless ape.

[Hropt]

121

Cherish those near you, never be
The first to break with a friend:
Care eats him who can no longer
Open his heart to another.

[Hropt]

122

An evil man, if you make him your friend,
Will give you evil for good:

[Hropt]

123

A good man, if you make him your friend";
Will praise you in every place,

[Hropt]

124

Affection is mutual when men can open
All their heart to each other:
He whose words are always fair
Is untrue and not to be trusted.

[Hropt]

125

Bandy no speech with a bad man:
Often the better is beaten
In a word fight by the worse.

[Hropt]

126

Be not a cobbler nor a carver of shafts,
Except it be for yourself:
If a shoe fit ill or a shaft be crooked";
The maker gets curses and kicks.

[Hropt]

127

If aware that another is wicked, say so:
Make no truce or treaty with foes.

[Hropt]

128

Never share in the shamefully gotten,
But allow yourself what is lawful.

[Hropt]

129

Never lift your eyes and look up in battle,
Lest the heroes enchant you,
who can change warriors
Suddenly into hogs,

[Hropt]

130

With a good woman, if you wish to enjoy
Her words and her good will,
Pledge her fairly and be faithful to it:
Enjoy the good you are given,

[Hropt]

131

Be not over wary, but wary enough,
First, of the foaming ale,
Second, of a woman wed to another,
Third, of the tricks of thieves.

[Hropt]

132

Mock not the traveler met on the road,
Nor maliciously laugh at the guest:

[Hropt]

133

The sitters in the hall seldom know
The kin of the new-comer:
The best man is marred by faults,
The worst is not without worth.