Stanza 24

Original Old Norse:

Ósnotr maðr 

hyggr sér alla vera

viðhlæjendr vini;

hittki hann fiðr, þótt þeir um hann fár lesi,

ef hann með snotrum sitr.

Auden & Taylor:

The fool thinks that those who laugh 

At him are all his friends, 

Unaware when he sits with wiser men 

How ill they speak of him.

Bellows:

The foolish man | for friends all those

Who laugh at him will hold;

When among the wise | he marks it not

Though hatred of him they speak.

Bray:

The unwise man weens all who smile 

and flatter him are his friends, 

nor notes how oft they speak him ill 

when he sits in the circle of the wise.

Chisholm:

The stupid man thinks

that all who laugh at him are friends

He does not notice how the talk goes

when he sits with wise men.

Hollander:

The unwise man weens that all

who laugh with him, like him too;

nor sees their scorn, though they sneer at him,

on bench 'midst the sag when he sits.

Terry:

The foolish man thinks everyone his friend

who laughs when he does;

if wise men mock him behind his back,

he'll never know.

Thorpe:

A foolish man

thinks all who on him smile 

to be his friends;

he feels it not,

although they speak ill of him,

when he sits among the clever.

DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF STANZA 24

At first reading, several of these translations (Auden & Taylor, Bellows, and Chisholm) make it sound like the foolish man thinks that all who "laugh at him are his friends."  And, this makes it sort of sound like people are laughing at him...or making fun of him.  But, I think Bray, Hollander, Terry, and Thorpe translations are closer to the intended meaning, when they suggest that the fool believes that everyone who laughs with him is his friend.  Everyone who "laughs when he does."  Bray attempts to make this as clear as possible by putting, "all who smile and flatter him."

Essentially, lines 1 and 2 say that the Fool believes that everyone who is nice to him is his friend.  Everyone who glad-hands him.  Everyone who laughs at his jokes.  Everyone who smiles when he walks in a room.  The fool takes these rather shallow indications...as indications of friendship with others.

Lines 3 and 4, describe the truth of the matter.  If these "friends" mock the fool behind his back he'll never know it (Terry).  The fool has no clue about how these "friends" speak ill of him when he sits among the wise (at a feast or at Thing).

This stanza warns against falling for the tricks of those that are two-faced.  Those that glad-hand you, laugh at your jokes, and tell you over and over how great you are.  It warns that these people may have an entirely different attitude about you when you are not present...or not looking.  To your face they may be all smiles and pleasantries, but behind your back they may be working against you.  The fool is unaware of this, but the wise man takes note.

The wise man also knows the difference between acquaintances and true friends.  The difference betwen those you are familiar with and those that are actually loyal to you.  The difference between those you've met and those you truly know.