Step 4 of 8 · When to Wait, When to Move
Rise early
Why this step
The Hávamál leans the other way. Stanzas 58 and 59 say that whoever wants something from others must rise early, because prey seldom falls to sleeping wolves, and that for the keen, wealth is half won. It values early action with a competitive edge the other entries lack. Read it against the doorway: look first, but do not sleep.
The text, stanzas 58–59
58.
He must rise betimes who fain of another
or life or wealth would win;
scarce falls the prey to sleeping wolves,
or to slumberers victory in strife.
59.
He must rise betimes who hath few to serve him,
and see to his work himself;
who sleeps at morning is hindered much,
to the keen is wealth half-won.
- Olive Bray (editor and translator), The Elder or Poetic Edda, Commonly Known as Sæmund’s Edda, part I: The Mythological Poems (opens in a new tab) (1908), stanzas 58–59 (Bray’s numbering) Rights: Public domain. Published in 1908, so in the public domain in the United States. Text as edited online by D. L. Ashliman, Folklore and Mythology Electronic Texts, University of Pittsburgh.
From the Lorebook
Whoever wants someone else’s life or wealth, or has few to serve him, must get up early. Prey does not fall to sleeping wolves.