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 Fire he needs who with frozen knees

Has come from the cold without;

Food and clothes must the farer have,

The man from the mountains come.

Water and towels and welcoming speech

Should he find who comes, to the feast;

If renown he would get, and again be greeted,

Wisely and well must he act.

Wits must he have who wanders wide,

But all is easy at home;

At the witless man the wise shall wink

When among such men he sits.

A man shall not boast of his keenness of mind,

But keep it close in his breast;

To the silent and wise does ill come seldom

When he goes as guest to a house;

(For a faster friend one never finds

Than wisdom tried and true.)

The knowing guest who goes to the feast,

In silent attention sits;

With his ears he hears, with his eyes he watches,

Thus wary are wise men all.