Marcel Mauss's influential essay The Gift begins by quoting some stanzas from the Hamaval, one of the poems of the Scandinavian Edda that Mauss suggests ‘may serve as an epigraph for this study, so powerfully do they plunge the reader into the immediate atmosphere of ideas and facts in which our exposition will unfold’ (Mauss 1990:1). I want to take the same text as this chapter's point of departure.

1. I have never found a man so generous

2. And so liberal in feeding his guests

3. That ‘to receive would not be received’,

4. Nor a man so . . . [the adjective is missing]

5. Of his goods

6. That to receive in return was disagreeable to Him

1. With weapons and clothes

2. Friends must give pleasure to one another;

3. Everyone knows that for himself [through his Own experience].

4. Those who exchange presents with one another

5. Remain friends the longest

6. If things turn out successfully.

1. One must be a friend

2. To one's friend,

3. And give present for present;

4. One must have

5. Laughter for laughter

6. And sorrow for lies

1. You know, if you have a friend

2. In whom you have confidence

3. And if you wish to get good results

4. Your soul must blend in with his

5. And you must exchange presents

6. And frequently pay him visits.

1. But if you have another person

2. Whom you mistrust

3. And if you wish to get good results,

4. You must speak fine words to him

5. But your thoughts must be false

6. And you must lament in lies.

1. This is the way with him

2. In whom you have no trust

3. And whose sentiments you suspect,

4. You must smile at him

5. And speak in spite of yourself:

6. Presents given in return must be similar to those received.

1. Noble and valiant men

2. Have the best life;

3. They have no fear at all

4. But a coward fears everything:

5. The miser always fears presents.

1. It is better not to beg [ask for something]

2. Than to sacrifice too much [to the gods]:

3. A present given always expects one in return.

4. It is better not to bring any offering

5. Than to spend too much on it . . .

6. (Mauss 1990:1–2)