Stanza 73

Original Old Norse:	Auden & Taylor:	Bellows:	Bray:
Tveir ro eins herjar tunga er höfuðs bani er mér í heðin hvern handar væni	Two beat one, the tongue is head's bane, Pockets of fur hide fists.	Two make a battle, | the tongue slays the head; In each furry coat | a fist I look for.	Two are hosts against one, the tongue is the head's bane, 'neath a rough hide a hand may be hid; he is glad at nightfall who knows of his lodging, short is the ship's berth, and changeful the autumn night, much veers the wind ere the fifth day and blows round yet more in a month.
Chisholm:	Hollander:	Terry:	Thorpe:
Two take on one. The tongue is the head’s bane. I expect fists under every fur coat.	Two will down one; of tongue is head's bane; A fist i fear 'neath every furry coat.	Two things cause trouble: the tongue is the bane of the head, a man's fur coat hides his hands.	Two are adversaries: the tongue is the bane of the head: under every cloak I expect a hand.
There are several parts to this stanza. First, don't go picking fights when you are outnumbered. Know your opponents, know your battle field. Secondly, the Christian's have a quote from their book, “The power of life and death lays in the tongue.” You have probably experienced this yourself, at one time or another.. or often, in my case. The tongue gets to wagging, and, as my Gram would say, “your tongue is writing checks your butt can't cash.” Third, make sure you have a plan for the night. Don't get caught out in the cold.