>>8796253
120
I counsel you, Stray-Singer, accept my counsels,
they will be your boon if you obey them,
they will work your weal if you win them:
in sweet converse call the righteous to your side,
learn a healing song while you live.
121
I counsel you, Stray-Singer, accept my counsels,
they will be your boon if you obey them,
they will work your weal if you win them:
be never the first with friend of thine
to break the bond of fellowship;
care shall gnaw your heart if you cannot tell
all your mind to another.
122
I counsel you, Stray-Singer, accept my counsels,
they will be your boon if you obey them,
they will work your weal if you win them:
never in speech with a foolish knave
should you waste a single word.
123
From the lips of such you need not look
for reward of thine own good will;
but a righteous man by praise will render you
firm in favour and love.
124
There is mingling in friendship when man can utter
all his whole mind to another;
there is nothing so vile as a fickle tongue;
no friend is he who but flatters.
125
I counsel you, Stray-Singer, accept my counsels,
they will be your boon if you obey them,
they will work your weal if you win them:
often the worst lays the best one low.
126
I counsel you, Stray-Singer, accept my counsels,
they will be your boon if you obey them,
they will work your weal if you win them:
be not a shoemaker nor yet a shaft maker
save for yourself alone:
let the shoe be misshapen, or crooked the shaft,
and a curse on your head will be called.
127
I counsel you, Stray-Singer, accept my counsels,
they will be your boon if you obey them,
they will work your weal if you win them:
when in peril you see you, confess you in peril,
nor ever give peace to your foes.
128
I counsel you, Stray-Singer, accept my counsels,
they will be your boon if you obey them,
they will work your weal if you win them:
rejoice not ever at tidings of ill,
but glad let your soul be in good.
129
I counsel you, Stray-Singer, accept my counsels,
they will be your boon if you obey them,
they will work your weal if you win them:
look not up in battle, when men are as beasts,
lest the wights bewitch you with spells.
130
I counsel you, Stray-Singer, accept my counsels,
they will be your boon if you obey them,
they will work your weal if you win them:
would you win joy of a gentle maiden,
and lure to whispering of love,
make fair promise, and let it be fast, -
none will scorn their weal who can win it.
131
I counsel you, Stray-Singer, accept my counsels,
they will be your boon if you obey them,
they will work your weal if you win them:
I pray you be wary, yet not too wary,
be wariest of all with ale,
with another's wife, and a third thing eke,
that knaves outwit you never.
132
I counsel you, Stray-Singer, accept my counsels,
they will be your boon if you obey them,
they will work your weal if you win them:
hold not in scorn, nor mock in your halls
a guest or wandering wight.
133
They know but unsurely who sit within
what kind of man is come:
none is found so good, but some fault attends him,
or so ill but he serves for somewhat.
134
I counsel you, Stray-Singer, accept my counsels,
they will be your boon if you obey them,
they will work your weal if you win them:
hold never in scorn the hoary singer;
often the counsel of the old is good;
come words of wisdom from the withered lips
of him left to hang among hides,
to rock with the rennets
and swing with the skins.
135
I counsel you, Stray-Singer, accept my counsels,
they will be your boon if you obey them,
they will work your weal if you win them:
growl not at guests, nor drive them from the gate
but show yourself gentle to the poor.
136
Mighty is the bar to be moved away
for the entering in of all.
Shower your wealth, or men shall with you
every ill in your limbs.