But all this caution about silence and about watchfulness did not mean that a man should be unable to speak to the purpose when speech was required.  “A wise man,” says the “Havamal,” “should be able both to ask and to answer.”  There is a proverb which you know, to the effect that you can not shut the door upon another man’s mouth.  So says the Norse poet:  “The sons of men can keep silence about nothing that passes among men; therefore a man should be able to take his own part, prudently and strongly.”  Says the “Havamal”:  “A fool thinks he knows everything if he sits snug in his little corner; but he is at a loss for words if the people put to him a question.”  Elsewhere it is said:  “Arch dunce is he who can speak nought, for that is the mark of a fool.”  And the sum of all this teaching about the tongue is that men should never speak without good reason, and then should speak to the point strongly and wisely.

On the subject of fools there is a great deal in the “Havamal”; but you must understand always by the word fool, in the Northern sense, a man of weak character who knows not what to do in time of difficulty.  That was a fool among those men, and a dangerous fool; for in such a state of society mistakes in act or in speech might reach to terrible consequences.  See these little observations about fools: 

    Open-handed, bold-hearted men live most happily, they never feel
    care; but a fool troubles himself about everything.  The niggard
    pines for gifts.

    A fool is awake all night, worrying about everything; when the
    morning comes he is worn out, and all his troubles are just the
    same as before.

    A fool thinks that all who smile upon him are his friends, not
    knowing, when he is with wise men, who there may be plotting
    against him.

    If a fool gets a drink, all his mind is immediately displayed.

But it was not considered right for a man not to drink, although drink was a dangerous thing.  On the contrary, not to drink would have been thought a mark of cowardice and of incapacity for self-control.  A man was expected even to get drunk if necessary, and to keep his tongue and his temper no matter how much he drank.  The strong character would only become more cautious and more silent under the influence of drink; the weak man would immediately show his weakness.  I am told the curious fact that in the English army at the present day officers are expected to act very much after the teaching of the old Norse poet; a man is expected to be able on occasion to drink a considerable amount of wine or spirits without showing the effects of it, either in his conduct or in his speech.  “Drink thy share of mead; speak fair or not at all”—­that was the old text, and a very sensible one in its way.