Tarrin Wills and Stefanie Gropper (eds) 2007, ‘Anonymous Poems, Hugsvinnsmál 123’ in Margaret Clunies Ross (ed.), Poetry on Christian Subjects. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 7. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 434.
Íþróttir margar þótt þú öðlaz hafir,
kosta þú at vinna vel;
erfiði drýgja þurfu alda synir,
meðan þeir heilsu hafa.
Kosta þú at vinna vel, þótt þú hafir öðlaz margar íþróttir; alda synir þurfu drýgja erfiði, meðan þeir hafa heilsu.
Try to work well, even if you have attained many accomplishments; the sons of men need to endure hardship while they have their health.
Mss: 1199ˣ(75r), 720a IV(2v), 723aˣ(83), 624(146)
Readings: [2] þótt: ef 624; öðlaz: so 720a IV, 723aˣ, 624, eignaz 1199ˣ; hafir: hefir 624 [3] þú: þó 720a IV, vel 723aˣ [5] þurfu: so 624, þurfa 1199ˣ, 720a IV, 723aˣ; alda: allir manns 723aˣ [6] meðan: om. 723aˣ; þeir: so 720a IV, 624, sína 1199ˣ, þeir eð 723aˣ; hafa: halda 624
Editions: Skj AII, 193, Skj BII, 206, Skald II, 108; Hallgrímur Scheving 1831, 29, Gering 1907, 34, Tuvestrand 1977, 140, Hermann Pálsson 1985, 115.
Notes: [All]: Lat. parallel: (Dist. IV, 21) Exerce studium, quamvis perceperis artem: / ut cura ingenium, sic et manus adiuvat usum ‘Practise zeal in whatever art you have taken up, that care and attention may aid talent, and practise likewise the hand’.
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