Slow Havamal 67
Oct. 5th, 2022 12:09 pm
The 67th verse recounts how Odin has been invited to friends’ houses for dinner only when he had no need for food, or could could fill the inhospitable host’s larder more than he emptied it.
I suppose as long as there’s something good exchanged between men, there will be someone who tries to take advantage of it. From this verse, we can gather that the Norse had well-established hospitality laws, and that people either followed them, or knew it was wise to look like they did. Miserly friends take their turn hosting when the guest is already full or well-supplied. In fact, there must be some obligation on the part of the guest to provide what he can to his host in exchange for hospitality, or else there would be no attempts to fill cellars by inviting over the wealthy.
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