Spell Eighteen

163 I know an eighteenth, which I shall never teach
to any girl or any man’s wife—
it’s always better when just one person knows,
that follows at the end of the spells—
except that one woman who embraces me in her arms,
or who may be my sister.

164 Now the High One’s song is recited, in the High One’s hall
very useful to the sons of men,
quite useless to the sons of men,
luck to him who recited, luck to him who knows!
May he benefit, he who learnt it,
luck to those who listened!


- Poetic Edda, Havamal