TEXT: Odli Athys (oad-li ath-is, tr. teaching rhymes) 
   
   
   
  Way of The Bow to Hunt 
   
  One and Eight and Twenty to quiver 
  Your target shall both eyes to meet. 
  Slow and calm and patient, don't shiver 
  for after the clean strike shall eat. 
   
  (This rhyme is basically reminding the person being taught that you have 
  your bow, and one shot. The eight are the fingers, five holding the bow, 
  and three holding the arrow and string. The twenty are the arrows in the 
  quiver which is standard, so you have twenty chances before you go 
  home for the day. The rhyme also reminds the hunter that you should 
  never close one of your eyes as is a natural reaction to gauge the 
  straightness of the arrow. Both eyes are needed for depth perception and 
  noticing movements. The rhym reiterates itself in the third line by informing 
  the hunter over and over again to take their time with the shot and gently 
  release it so that you get the clean shot in the last line. The clean shot of 
  course refers to the shot through the heart so that the deer or other 
  animal dies swiftly, with no suffering. If you just wound it, you must chase it 
  down to finish it off, otherwise there is no eating.) 
   
   
   
  On Religion 
   
  For those who think to stay at home 
  when others to church do reflect 
  for even if you follow not 
  the gods of the Old Faith, respect. 
   
  (This one is a general call for those who think not to flock to congregations 
  because of travel distance. It is still good to acknowledge the gods of the 
  Old Faith, and revere the land.) 
   
   
   
  Honor and Love 
  (This rhyme is actually believed to be a devotional that the druids used to 
  use when Gyruff was but a wandering flock of Flannae. The Prydythi have 
  taken it up as a sort of prayer said before he departs for the time being. 
  
  The first line is spoken by the visiting bard, and the second by the family. 
  The third by the bard and the fourth by the family. It alternates thus 
  throughout.) 
   
  Honor your parents 
  but love your family 
  Honor the gods 
  but love your faith 
  Honor your obligation 
  but love your duty 
  Honor your word 
  but love the attempt 
  Honor the Brenin 
  but love the Land 
  Honor our Gyruff 
  but love its people 
  Honor your love 
  and love thine honor. 
   
   
  The Wise Man Quintuplets 
  (these rhymes were part of a greater collection, made by one of the more 
  venerable prydythi in the days when Gorna was still young. Some have 
  survived, though their meanings are open to interpretation, common 
  meanings have been provided. It should be noted this prydyth was quite 
  old, and not known for his stability) 
   
   
   
  A squire, to sire, shall never aspire 
  to be nothing more than a knight. 
  A fool to rule, though even not cruel, 
  he never could run things quite right. 
   
  (This one refers to the paths to leadership. A squire tries to emulate a 
  knight, one who helps others and devotes his life to others protection and 
  well being. A fool does what he wills and cares not for repercussions, only 
  for himself. Of the two it is commonly agreed that the first is the better 
  ruler, so try to be the first, though you don't have to be a knight.) 
   
  A priest with feast of all kinds of beasts, 
  with all kinds of fruit there as well, 
  shall dare to fare, near as can tell, 
  as any poor soldier who fell. 
  
   
  (Remember, you are just a man, no matter your occupation, and when 
  your time has come to return to the land, you will go.) 
   
  A farmer, or charmer, or thief who’s a palmer 
  though friendly at first, so am I. 
  To label, so able, this truth as a fable, 
  Behind every smile hides a lie. 
   
  (Everyone lies, and everyone hides something. To refuse this truth brings 
  about misfortune.) 
  
   
  Doythin Gwerin (doy-thin goo-air-in, tr. folk wisdom) 
   
   
   
  A Foolish man eats his last potato, a Wise man plants it. (meaning: 
  Don't be rash, plan ahead for the future, even if you suffer till then.) 
   
   
  Even on a busted wagon can you depend. You can depend on it to 
  be trouble. (meaning: Everything can be counted upon for something.) 
   
   
  The ffolk and the llywri both must eat. (meaning: All men are equal 
  in regard to the Land which provides for all.) 
   
   
  Even the Old Oak was once an acorn.  (meaning: Big things come 
  from small things.) 
   
   
  All trails are connected. Some are harder than others, but each one 
  can lead you home. (meaning: No matter how far astray you go, there is 
  always a way back if you mean to repent, if you seek forgiveness. This one 
  has multiple meanings but this is the primary.) 
   
   
  No one can make the sun rise or the moon fall. (meaning: There are 
  always things out of your control, just try and live through them.) 
   
   
  You can't get to Greyhawk without walking. (meaning: You have to 
  start the project before you can finish it.) 
   
   
  Even a blind hog roots up an acorn now and then. (meaning: Don’t 
  dismiss an idea out of hand just because of its source.)  
   
   
   
   
   
   
  
SOURCE: textdata/thevault/Living Greyhawk/Metaorg Material/Geoff/History and Geography/teaching rhymes folk wisdom post Eric.pdf