HKB
A worse provision on the way he cannot carry than too much beer-bibbing; so good is not, as it is said, beer for the sons of men.
A worse provision no man can take from table than too much beer-bibbing: for the more he drinks the less control he has of his own mind.
Oblivion's heron 'tis called that over potations hovers; he steals the minds of men. With this bird's pinions I was fettered in Gunnlods dwelling.
Drunk I was, I was over-drunk, at that cunning Fialar's. It's the best drunkenness, when every one after it regains his reason.
Taciturn and prudent, and in war daring, should a king's children be; joyous and liberal every one should be until his hour of death.
A cowardly man thinks he will ever live, if warfare he avoids; but old age will give him no peace, though spears may spare him.
A fool gapes when to a house he comes, to himself mutters or is silent; but all at once, if he gets drink, then is the man's mind displayed.
He alone knows who wanders wide, and has much experienced, by what disposition each man is ruled, who common sense possesses.
Let a man hold the cup, yet of the mead drink moderately, speak sensibly or be silent. As of a fault no man will admonish thee, if thou goest betimes to sleep.
A greedy man, if he be not moderate, eats to his mortal sorrow. Oftentimes his belly draws laughter on a silly man, who among the prudent comes.
Cattle know when to go home, and then from grazing cease; but a foolish man never knows his stomach's measure.
A miserable man, and ill-conditioned, sneers at every thing: one thing he knows not, which he ought to know, that he is not free from faults.
A foolish man is all night awake, pondering over everything; he then grows tired; and when morning comes, all is lament as before.
A foolish man thinks all who on him smile to be his friends; he feels it not, although they speak ill of him, when he sits among the clever.
A foolish man thinks all who speak him fair to be his friends; but he will find, if into court he comes, that he has few advocates.
A foolish man thinks he knows everything if placed in unexpected difficulty; but he knows not what to answer, if to the test he is put.
A foolish man, who among people comes, had best be silent; for no one knows that he knows nothing, unless he talks too much. He who previously knew nothing will still know nothing, talk he ever so much.
He thinks himself wise, who can ask questions and converse also; conceal his ignorance no one can, because it circulates among men.
He utters too many futile words who is never silent; a garrulous tongue, if it be not checked, sings often to its own harm.
For a gazing-stock no man shall have another, although he come a stranger to his house. Many a one thinks himself wise, if he is not questioned, and can sit in a dry habit.
Clever thinks himself the guest who jeers a guest, if he takes to flight. Knows it not certainly he who prates at meat, whether he babbles among foes.
Many men are mutually well-disposed, yet at table will torment each other. That strife will ever be; guest will guest irritate.
Early meals a man should often take, unless to a friend's house he goes; else he will sit and mope, will seem half-famished, and can of few things inquire.
Long is and indirect the way to a bad friend's, though by the road he dwell; but to a good friend's the paths lie direct, though he be far away.