Winifred Hodge Rose
Frith and friendship fail not while faring
Boldly along the byways of Worlds.
Bare is back without brother behind it:
Frith makes friend the fairest of kin.
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Always while young alone I traveled;
Ever and again I wandered from my way.
I knew myself wealthy when I found a friend:
Man is the joy, the joy of man!
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Now, an untrusty friend lives too far away,
Even though their path lies right upon your road.
But it’s no distance to one who is dear,
Though you fare far over mile after mile.
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Always be faithful, always keep troth,
Never be the first to fail in friendship.
Grief grips the heart* that must ever be wary,
Keeping itself always hidden away.
(*Hugr)
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True bonds are formed when folk keep faith,
Hiding not their hearts from one another.
Anything’s better than breach of friendship:
A true friend will say what you’d rather not hear!
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No need to give away great gifts always,
Small things are very often enough.
Half a loaf and a lifted horn
Oft and again have found me a friend.
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If you have faith in a friend of yours,
Fare you to find them again and again.
Brushwood and grass will soon grow high,
Covering the path no wayfarer walks.
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Frith and friendship fail not while faring
Boldly along the byways of Worlds.
Bare is back without brother behind it:
Frith makes friend the fairest of kin.
The first / last verse are by Winifred Hodge Rose. The rest of the verses I adapted from the Havamal (Poetic Edda). I’ve written a tune for this song, but I’m having trouble posting the score here. I’ll work on it!