41. Friends shall gladden each other | with arms and garments,
As each for himself can see;
Gift-givers' friendships | are longest found,
If fair their fates may be.
42. To his friend a man | a friend shall prove,
And gifts with gifts requite;
But men shall mocking | with mockery answer,
And fraud with falsehood meet.
43. To his friend a man | a friend shall prove,
To him and the friend of his friend;
But never a man | shall friendship make
With one of his foeman's friends.
44. If a friend thou hast | whom thou fully wilt trust,
And good from him wouldst get,
Thy thoughts with his mingle, | and gifts shalt thou make,
And fare to find him oft.
45. If another thou hast | whom thou hardly wilt trust,
Yet good from him wouldst get,
Thou shalt speak him fair, | but falsely think,
And fraud with falsehood requite.
[40. The key-word in line 3 is missing in the manuscript, but editors have agreed in inserting a word meaning "generous."
41. In line 3 the manuscript adds "givers again" to "gift-givers."]
|
|
41. Vápnum ok váðum skulu vinir gleðjask;
þat er á sjalfum sýnst;
viðrgefendr ok endrgefendr erusk lengst vinir,
ef þat bíðr at verða vel.
42. Vin sínum skal maðr vinr vera
ok gjalda gjöf við gjöf;
hlátr við hlátri skyli hölðar taka
en lausung við lygi.
43. Vin sínum skal maðr vinr vera,
þeim ok þess vin;
en óvinar síns skyli engi maðr
vinar vinr vera.
44. Veiztu, ef þú vin átt, þann er þú vel trúir,
ok vill þú af hánum gótt geta,
geði skaltu við þann blanda
ok gjöfum skipta, fara at finna oft.
45. Ef þú átt annan, þanns þú illa trúir,
vildu af hánum þó gótt geta,
fagrt skaltu við þann mæla en flátt hyggja
ok gjalda lausung við lygi.
|
