Among the poems of the elder Edda is a Book of Proverbs, like those of Solomon in their sagacious observations on human life and manners.  It is called the Havamal.  At first we should hardly expect to find these maxims of worldly wisdom among a people whose chief business was war.  But war develops cunning as well as courage, and battles are won by craft no less than by daring.  Consequently, among a warlike people, sagacity is naturally cultivated.

The Havamal contains (in its proverbial section) one hundred and ten stanzas, mostly quatrains.  The following are specimens:—­

1.  “Carefully consider the end Before you go to do anything, For all is uncertain, when the enemy Lies in wait in the house.

4.  “The guest who enters Needs water, a towel, and hospitality.  A kind reception secures a return In word and in deed.

7.  “The wise man, on coming in, Is silent and observes, Hears with his ears, looks with his eyes, And carefully reflects on every event.

11.  “No worse a companion can a man take on his journey Than drunkenness.  Not as good as many believe Is beer to the sons of men.  The more one drinks, the less he knows, And less power has he over himself.

26.  “A foolish man, in company, had better be silent.  Until he speaks no one observes his folly.  But he who knows little does not know this, When he had better be silent.

29.  “Do not mock at the stranger Who comes trusting in your kindness; For when he has warmed himself at your fire, He may easily prove a wise man.

34.  “It is better to depart betimes, And not to go too often to the same house.  Love tires and turns to sadness When one sits too often at another man’s table.

35.  “One’s own house, though small, is better, For there thou art the master.  It makes a man’s heart bleed to ask For a midday meal at the house of another.

36.  “One’s own house, though small, is better; At home thou art the master.  Two goats and a thatched roof Are better than begging.

38.  “It is hard to find a man so rich As to refuse a gift.  It is hard to find a man so generous As to be always glad to lend.

42.  “Is there a man whom you distrust, And who yet can help you?  Be smooth in words and false in thought, And pay back his deceit with cunning.

48.  “I hung my garments on two scarecrows, And, when dressed, they seemed Ready for the battle.  Unclothed they were jeered at by all.

52.  “Small as a grain of sand Is the small sense of a fool; Very unequal is human wisdom.  The world is made of two unequal halves.

53.  “It is well to be wise; it is not well To be too wise.  He has the happiest life Who knows well what he knows.