Tuesday, May 22, 2018

Stanza 91



Original Old Norse: Auden & Taylor: Bellows: Bray:
Bert ek nú mæli
því at ek bæði veit
brigðr er karla hugr konum
þá vér fegrst mælum
er vér flást hyggjum
þat tælir horska hugi
Naked I may speak now for I know both:
Men are treacherous too
Fairest we speak when falsest we think:
many a maid is deceived.
Clear now will I speak, | for I know them both,
Men false to women are found;
When fairest we speak, | then falsest we think,
Against wisdom we work with deceit.
(89) Now plainly I speak, since both I have seen;
unfaithful is man to maid;
we speak them fairest when thoughts are falsest
and wile the wisest of hearts.
Chisholm: Hollander: Terry: Thorpe:
I say this openly, for I know both.
A man’s heart is false with women.
Our hearts are most false when our words roost fair,
which deceive the hearts of the wise.
Heed my words now, for i know them both:
mainsworn are men to women;
we speak most fair when most foul our thoughts,
for that wiles the wariest wits.
Believe what I say -- I know them both --
men don't keep faith with women;
we speak fair words when we think most falsely
to bewilder the wits of the wise.
Openly I now speak,
because I both sexes know:
unstable are men’s minds towards women;
‘tis then we speak most fair
when we most falsely think:
that deceives even the cautious.




See, ladies? The last handful of stanzas has spoken of the ladies, and how they are not to be trusted.. in this stanza, the author declares that men are just as bad at times.

Men are the bravest, strongest, wisest, richest, dashing, daring.. when they first meet a woman. It's not until after the heart is won that the truth comes out.

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