against thee; bear and forbear, and win for thee thereby long
enduring praise of men.

"Take good heed of evil things: a may's love, and a man's wife;
full oft thereof doth ill befall!

"Let not thy mind be overmuch crossed by unwise men at thronged
meetings of folk; for oft these speak worse than they wot of;
lest thou be called a dastard, and art minded to think that thou
art even as is said; slay such an one on another day, and so
reward his ugly talk.

"If thou farest by the way whereas bide evil things, be well ware
of thyself; take not harbour near the highway, though thou be
benighted, for oft abide there ill wights for men's bewilderment.

"Let not fair women beguile thee, such as thou mayst meet at the
feast, so that the thought thereof stand thee in stead of sleep,
and a quiet mind; yea, draw them not to thee with kisses or other
sweet things of love.

"If thou hearest the fool's word of a drunken man, strive not
with him being drunk with drink and witless; many a grief, yea,
and the very death, groweth from out such things.

"Fight thy foes in the field, nor be burnt in thine house.

'Never swear thou wrongsome oath; great and grim is the reward
for the breaking of plighted troth.