Slow Havamal: 122

In verse 122, Odin counsels Loddfafnir not to trade words with someone who will not see reason.

This verse is one that makes me wish I knew a little more Old Norse—or any at all. The word “reason” is clear enough, but I doubt that whatever word was translated as such meant exactly the same thing to the poet. Crawford is a skilled translator, and in this context it’s probably the best approximation, but there was no Greek logic guiding the actions of men at that time and place. That said, they were a pragmatic people, and surely had some notion for actions that made sense to others; for a style of debate that grounded itself in the world we can agree on and avoided fits of emotion. That will be my tack. ( Read more... )