Slow Havamal: 84

The 84th verse says not to trust girls or women; that their hearts are molded on a wobbly wheel, and faithlessness lies in their hearts.

I’ll remind any women who may be reading this that I’m just the messenger. I’m sure many women could legitimately levy the same complaint at men. But for this week, we deal with the words of the 84th verse, which concerns women.

In terms of the value to an Old Norseman, this verse seems to warn of infidelities, and the deceptions of love. Women were probably less-likely to be involved, at the time, in highway banditry and pyramid schemes. It must have been a somewhat-ordinary occurrence that some woman pledged her love to a man, then left for or at least consorted with another. ( Read more... )