Eigi skaltu hlæja, ef þú vilt horskr vera,
at öldruðum afa;
opt þat ellibjúgr man, sem ungr veit eigi,
ok kennir gott gum*um.
Skaltu eigi hlæja at öldruðum afa, ef þú vilt vera horskr; ellibjúgr man opt þat, sem ungr veit eigi, ok kennir gum*um gott.
You must not laugh at an elderly grandfather, if you want to be wise; often one bowed down with age remembers what a young person does not know, and teaches men well.
[3] afa: so 723aˣ, veðrafa 1199ˣ, om. 624
[3] afa ‘grandfather’: 723aˣ’s reading is chosen here for alliteration. 1199ˣ’s veðrafa (from veðrafi ‘weather-grandfather’) is a hap. leg.