Hávamál: The Sayings of the Vikings
2 journalers for this copy...
Translated from the Original by Björn Jónasson. 6. impression. Reykjavik: Gudrun 1992/1995. Hardback, 92 pages.The blurb:
Hávamál is words of wisdom which served as spiritual provisions for the Vikings on their long journeys over the rough sea to discover new lands. These sayings give a clear picture of their attitude to and view of life.
Hávamál has often been compared to the old Chinese book of the Tao (the Way), which could be called the wisdom of the east. In the same manner the Hávamál is well described as The Wisdom of the North.
This is a new and readable translation of this classic and famous northern guide on how to manage in everyday life.
Hávamál at Wikipedia
According to the blurb, Hávamál has been compared to the book of the Tao. I don't quite see why. To me, Hávamál seems much more shallow than the book of Tao. Yet I liked it. Some of the poems were quite thought-provoking, eg. the ones about friendship. The book also made me see how similar western cultures are, the same ideas can be seen and read all over the (western, at least) world.
One of my favourites is When and How to Eat. It says that one should always eat so much one is full before going to a party because ”If you're hungry / you have no time / to talk at the table.” Wisely put.
However, I was most touched by Self-Deceit: ”Only fools / hope to live forever / by escaping enemies. / Age promises / no peace / though the spear spares them.” — My dad has Alzheimer's disease and a few weeks ago we realised the symptoms have rapidly worsened. I feel the last lines, ”Age promises / no peace / though the spear spares them,” tell about my father.
There are some explanations in the book. I found them quite interesting, especially The Metre of Hávamál. But most of all, I like the history of this very copy. On the flyleaf, someone has written,
Peter Zuik tämän lahjoitti. Kiertelemme yhdessä asiakkaita toppauskaupoilla. Sitkeyttä tarvitaan, kun toppaukset eivät ole nyt muotia.
Hávamál on muinaisislantia.
The text is dated in Herning, Danmark on Feb. 28, 2000. He says he got the book as a gift from Peter Zuik, apparently his colleague. They were salesmen travelling together and meeting customers trying to sell them fillings and/or batting. (I hope it is the right word. I'm thinking of upholstering furniture but I don't really know what he means.) Anyway, he says that perseverance is needed since batting/filling/whatever are not fashionable now. In the end, he mentions that Hávamál is Old Islandic.
This book is now reserved for myntti.
One of my favourites is When and How to Eat. It says that one should always eat so much one is full before going to a party because ”If you're hungry / you have no time / to talk at the table.” Wisely put.
However, I was most touched by Self-Deceit: ”Only fools / hope to live forever / by escaping enemies. / Age promises / no peace / though the spear spares them.” — My dad has Alzheimer's disease and a few weeks ago we realised the symptoms have rapidly worsened. I feel the last lines, ”Age promises / no peace / though the spear spares them,” tell about my father.
There are some explanations in the book. I found them quite interesting, especially The Metre of Hávamál. But most of all, I like the history of this very copy. On the flyleaf, someone has written,
Peter Zuik tämän lahjoitti. Kiertelemme yhdessä asiakkaita toppauskaupoilla. Sitkeyttä tarvitaan, kun toppaukset eivät ole nyt muotia.
Hávamál on muinaisislantia.
The text is dated in Herning, Danmark on Feb. 28, 2000. He says he got the book as a gift from Peter Zuik, apparently his colleague. They were salesmen travelling together and meeting customers trying to sell them fillings and/or batting. (I hope it is the right word. I'm thinking of upholstering furniture but I don't really know what he means.) Anyway, he says that perseverance is needed since batting/filling/whatever are not fashionable now. In the end, he mentions that Hávamál is Old Islandic.
This book is now reserved for myntti.
Released 9 yrs ago (4/1/2015 UTC) at Tampere, Pirkanmaa / Birkaland Finland
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Happy Reading, myntti!
Thank you, Tarna!
