80. Praise day at even, a wife when dead, a weapon when tried, a maid
when married, ice when you’ve crossed it, and ale when it is drunk.
You should praise things only after they are over and done with.
81. Hew wood in wind, sail the seas in a breeze, woo a maid in the
dark, -- for day's eyes are many, -- work a ship for its gliding, a shield
for its shelter, a sword for its striking, a maid for her kiss.
Work to accomplish things you desire in environments that favor your task
and know what you want in return for your work.
82. Drink ale by the fire, but slide on the ice; buy a steed when its
lanky, a sword when its rusty; feed your horse beneath a roof, and
your hound in the yard.
Drink when you are relaxed but not when you are stressed. Do not buy the
newest things. Instead, buy the well worn equipment. This way, you know
it is trustworthy. Feed any animals you keep in places appropriate to their
nature.
83. No man should trust the speech of a maiden or the words which a
woman says; for their hearts were shaped on a whirling wheel and
falsehood fixed in their breasts.
If you hear a rumor, do not simply take it at face value. Either ignore it or
get verification. Many people simply pass rumors along that have no basis
in fact. This is true of either sex, not just women.
84. Breaking bow, or flaring flame, ravening wolf, or croaking raven,
routing swine, or rootless tree, waxing wave, or seething cauldron,
85. flying arrows, or falling billow, ice of a nighttime, coiling adder,
woman's bed-talk, or broken blade, play of bears or a prince's child,
86. sickly calf or self-willed thrall, witch's flattery, new-slain foe,
brother's slayer, youth seen on the highway, half burned house, or
horse too swift -- be never so trustful as these to trust.
If you believe you have reason to doubt something, do not trust it.
87. Let none put faith in the first sown fruit nor yet in his son too
soon; whim rules the child, and weather the field, each is open to
chance.
Do not count on things that are open to chance.
88. Like the love of women whose thoughts are lies is the driving unroughshod over slippery ice of a two year old, ill-tamed and gay; or in a wild wind steering a helmless ship, or the lame catching reindeer in the rime-thawed fell.
It is useless to remain with a woman that is not loyal to you.