Tarrin Wills and Stefanie Gropper (eds) 2007, ‘Anonymous Poems, Hugsvinnsmál 133’ in Margaret Clunies Ross (ed.), Poetry on Christian Subjects. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 7. Turnhout: Brepols, pp. 439-40.
Mikit vatn gerir mörgum skaða,
þótt eigi falli straumar strítt;
svá er seggr slægr ok langþögull;
þarf æ við þeim at sjá.
Mikit vatn gerir skaða mörgum, þótt straumar falli eigi strítt; svá er slægr ok langþögull seggr; þarf æ at sjá við þeim.
A large river does harm to many, although the currents do not run strong; so too is a sly and long-silent man; it is always necessary to beware of that one.
Mss: 1199ˣ(75r-v), 624(147)
Readings: [1] vatn: vondt 624 [2] mörgum: so 624, mögum 1199ˣ [3] eigi falli: falli eigi 624; strítt: ‘firitt’ 624 [4] seggr: segir 624 [6] þarf æ: þörf er 624
Editions: Skj AII, 194, Skj BII, 208, Skald II, 109; Hallgrímur Scheving 1831, 31, Gering 1907, 36, Tuvestrand 1977, 144, Hermann Pálsson 1985, 121.
Notes: [All]: Lat. parallel: (Dist. IV, 31) Demissos animo et tacitos vitare memento: / quod flumen placidum est, forsan latet altius unda ‘Remember to avoid those who are depressed and silent in their minds; when a river is peaceful, perhaps deeper water is hidden’. The same idea is expressed in st. 99, albeit in a less metaphorical way.
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