margur verður af aurum api

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 Icelandic 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Proverb 1.2.1 References

[edit] Icelandic

[edit] Etymology

From margur (“‘many a man’”) + verður (“‘becomes’”), the third person singular of verða (“‘to become’”) + af (“‘by, from’”) + aurum, form of aur (“‘money’”) + api (“‘monkey, ape’”). Literally meaning "many become a monkey from money" or "money makes monkeys out of men".^[1]

This proverb originated from the 75th verse of Hávamál (“‘Sayings of the high one’”) in the Konungsbók (“‘King's book’”) of the Eddukvæði (“‘Poetic Edda’”):

Original text from Hávamál[2] 75. Veit-a hinn er vætki veit: Margur verður af aurum api. Maður er auðigur, annar óauðigur, skyli-t þann vítka vár.

English translated by Benjamin Thorpe[3] 75. He (only) knows not who knows nothing, that many a one apes another. One man is rich, another poor: let him not be thought blameworthy.

English translated by H. A. Bellows[4] 75. A man knows not, if nothing he knows, That gold oft apes begets; One man is wealthy and one is poor, Yet scorn for him none should know.

English translated by Olive Bray[5] 75. He that learns nought will never know how one is the fool of another, for if one be rich another is poor and for that should bear no blame.

English translated by W. H. Auden and P. B. Taylor[6][7] 75. The half wit does not know that gold Makes apes of many men: One is rich, one is poor, There is no blame in that.

[edit] Proverb

margur verður af aurum api

1. possession of money or worldly goods can make fools out of people

[edit] References

• Notes:

1. ^ (Icelandic) Í Hávamálum er sagt að margur verði af aurum api. Hefur höfundurinn vitað hvað api var? (It is written in Hávamál that money makes monkeys out of men. Did the author actually know of monkeys?)
2. ^ [1]
3. ^ Poetic Edda - Thorpe Trans.
4. ^ HOVAMOL- The Ballad of the High One an English translation of Hávamál
5. ^ Hávamál - Wisdom for Wanderers and Counsel to Guests The Elder or Poetic Edda, edited and translated by Olive Bray (London: Printed for the Viking Club, 1908), pp. 61-111.
6. ^ Havamal - Guest's Chapter W.H.Auden & P.B.Taylor translation. Believed to be in the public domain. Source Rob Goodson.
7. ^ http://vta.gamall-steinn.org/havamal.htm Hávamál- The Sayings of Hár