--- In norse_course@yahoogroups.com, "Neil Peterson" <neil@...> wrote:

>

> Verse 19 of the havamal offers "Haldit maðr á keri"
> which has the concept of "don't hold the cup" which isn't
> quite right for me. Zoega also doesn't seem to have any
> help on "haldit".

'haldi' is the 3rd person subjunctive singular of the verb 'halda' "to
hold", used here in an imperative sense "let a man hold", "one should
hold". The suffix -at negates the verb. The -a- of the suffix is
dropped after a vowel, so 'haldi' + 'at' = 'haldit' "let him not hold".

Haldit maðr á keri, ........ One should not hold onto the cup,
drekki þó af hófi mjöð, .... but drink mead in moderation,
mæli þarft eða þegi. ....... speak what is needful, or be silent.