Auði né heilsu ræðr enginn maðr,
þótt honum gangi greitt;
margan þat sækir, er minst of varir;
enginn ræðr sættum sjálfr.
Enginn maðr ræðr auði né heilsu, þótt honum gangi greitt; þat sækir margan, er minst of varir; enginn ræðr sjálfr sættum.
No man has control over riches or health, though it may go smoothly for him; what he least expects comes upon many a man; no one can set his own terms.
[1-2] auði né heilsu ræðr enginn maðr ‘no man has control over riches or health’: cf. Hsv 35/4-5 aldrlagi sínu ræðr engi maðr ‘No man has power over his life-span’, and Hsv 112 which also couples concepts of riches and health.
Pronouns and determiners: engi (none, no)
masc. | fem. | neut. | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
sing. | N A G D | engi engan, engi engis, enskis engum | engi enga engrar engri | ekki ekki engis, enskis engu |
pl. | N A G D | engir enga engra engum | engar engar engra engum | engi engi engra engum |