The Havamal was written down around the 9th or 10th
century, and like most Northern European literature it was put down after
Christian conversion. Attributed to Odin as “sayings of the High Ones” collected
in the Codex Regius around the 13th century it is like many other
sayings and advice from other cultures on how to conduct oneself and how best to
live.
There are numerous sources and places where the work is
gathered, one in particular is an illustrated version that I backed as a kick
starter from Sam Flegal.
Sam is an impressive artist and not because I am partial to
his Nordic themes. He can be found here:
The hard bound edition is a quality production with a red
cover and pen and ink art throughout. Flegal utilizes the 1923 translation by
Henry Adams Bellows with annotations on stanzas themselves, in their relations
or how they might have been combined though not related or from different
authors. The right column is English translation with the Norse to the left. The
stanzas are laid out in the traditional “books”.
His table of contents consist of introductions followed by
seven sections.
The Wisdom of the High One
The Story of Odin and Billing’s Daughter
Odin and the Mead of Song
Odin’s Tale of the Runes
A List of Charms
A couple of my personal favorites:
On friendship:
A bad friend
is far away
though his cottage is
close.
To a true friend
lies a trodden road
though his farm lies
far away
Work Ethic:
Wake early
if you want
another man’s life or
land.
No lamb
for the lazy wolf.
No battles won in
bed.
Again, like many of
the sayings of other cultures, the Havamal of the Norse resonates today. Sam
Flegal’s edition is a beautiful work to find that timeless advice.
