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diff --git a/old/33089.txt b/old/33089.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 51d35f9..0000000 --- a/old/33089.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,13516 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Kalevala, Volume II (of 2), by Anonymous - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: Kalevala, Volume II (of 2) - The Land of Heroes - -Author: Anonymous - -Compiler: Elias Loennrot - -Translator: W. F. Kirby - -Release Date: July 5, 2010 [EBook #33089] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK KALEVALA, VOLUME II (OF 2) *** - - - - -Produced by Kathryn Lybarger, Brian Janes, Christine -Aldridge and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - -Transcriber's Notes: - -1. Passages in italics are surrounded by _underscores_. - -2. Punctuation and accents have been made consistent. - -3. All hyphenation irregularities have been retained as printed. - -4. Advertisment decorative "grapes and leaves" separators have been - converted to double asterisks "**". - -5. The following word used the [oe] ligature in the original text and - has been converted to "oe" in this e-text: Vannam[oe]nen. - - - - -EVERYMAN'S LIBRARY -EDITED BY ERNEST RHYS - - -ROMANCE - - -KALEVALA, TRANSLATED BY -W. F. KIRBY, F.L.S., F.E.S. -CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF -THE FINNISH LITERARY SOCIETY -IN TWO VOLS. VOL. TWO - - -+-------------------------------------+ -| THE PUBLISHERS OF _EVERYMAN'S | -| LIBRARY_ WILL BE PLEASED TO SEND | -| FREELY TO ALL APPLICANTS A LIST OF | -| THE PUBLISHED AND PROJECTED VOLUMES | -| TO BE COMPRISED UNDER THE FOLLOWING | -| TWELVE HEADINGS: | -|-------------------------------------| -| TRAVEL ** SCIENCE ** FICTION | -| | -| THEOLOGY & PHILOSOPHY | -| | -| HISTORY ** CLASSICAL | -| | -| FOR YOUNG PEOPLE | -| | -| ESSAYS ** ORATORY | -| | -| POETRY & DRAMA | -| | -| BIOGRAPHY | -| | -| ROMANCE | -| | -| [Illustration] | -|-------------------------------------| -|IN TWO STYLES OF BINDING, CLOTH, FLAT| -| BACK, COLOURED TOP, AND LEATHER, | -| ROUND CORNERS, GILT TOP. | -|-------------------------------------| -| LONDON: J. M. DENT & CO. | -| NEW YORK: E. P. DUTTON & CO. | -+-------------------------------------+ - - -[Decorative Border] - -A ROMANCE, -AND IT -ME TOOK -TO READ -& DRIVE -THE NIGHT -AWAY - -CHAUCER - - - - -[Decorative Border] - -KALEVALA - -THE LAND OF HEROES - - -TRANSLATED FROM -THE ORIGINAL -FINNISH . BY -W.F.KIRBY FLS.FES. - - -VOLUME TWO - -[Decoration] - -LONDON: PUBLISHED -by J.M.DENT.&.CO -AND IN NEW YORK -E.P.DUTTON & CO - - -RICHARD CLAY & SONS, LIMITED, -BREAD STREET HILL, E.C., AND -BUNGAY, SUFFOLK. - - - - -CONTENTS OF VOL. II - - - RUNO PAGE - - XXVI. LEMMINKAINEN'S JOURNEY TO POHJOLA 1 - - XXVII. THE DUEL AT POHJOLA 21 - - XXVIII. LEMMINKAINEN AND HIS MOTHER 32 - - XXIX. LEMMINKAINEN'S ADVENTURES ON THE ISLAND 40 - - XXX. LEMMINKAINEN AND TIERA 55 - - XXXI. UNTAMO AND KULLERVO 68 - - XXXII. KULLERVO AND THE WIFE OF ILMARINEN 78 - - XXXIII. THE DEATH OF ILMARINEN'S WIFE 92 - - XXXIV. KULLERVO AND HIS PARENTS 100 - - XXXV. KULLERVO AND HIS SISTER 106 - - XXXVI. THE DEATH OF KULLERVO 116 - - XXXVII. THE GOLD AND SILVER BRIDE 125 - -XXXVIII. ILMARINEN'S NEW BRIDE FROM POHJOLA 132 - - XXXIX. THE EXPEDITION AGAINST POHJOLA 141 - - XL. THE PIKE AND THE KANTELE 152 - - XLI. VAeINAeMOeINEN'S MUSIC 161 - - XLII. THE CAPTURE OF THE SAMPO 168 - - XLIII. THE FIGHT FOR THE SAMPO 182 - - XLIV. VAeINAeMOeINEN'S NEW KANTELE 194 - - XLV. THE PESTILENCE IN KALEVALA 202 - - XLVI. VAeINAeMOeINEN AND THE BEAR 212 - - XLVII. THE ROBBERY OF THE SUN AND MOON 228 - - XLVIII. THE CAPTURE OF THE FIRE 238 - - XLIX. FALSE AND TRUE MOONS AND SUNS 248 - - L. MARJATTA 259 - - NOTES TO RUNOS XXVI-L 275 - - GLOSSARY OF FINNISH NAMES 281 - - - - -KALEVALA - - - - -RUNO XXVI.--LEMMINKAINEN'S JOURNEY TO POHJOLA - - -_Argument_ - -Lemminkainen, greatly offended that he was not invited to the wedding, -resolves to go to Pohjola, although his mother dissuades him from it, -and warns him of the many dangers that he will have to encounter -(1-382). He sets forth and succeeds in passing all the dangerous places -by his skill in magic (383-776). - - Ahti dwelt upon an island, - By the bay near Kauko's headland, - And his fields he tilled industrious, - And the fields he trenched with ploughing, - And his ears were of the finest, - And his hearing of the keenest. - - Heard he shouting in the village, - From the lake came sounds of hammering, - On the ice the sound of footsteps, - On the heath a sledge was rattling, 10 - Therefore in his mind he fancied, - In his brain the notion entered, - That at Pohjola was wedding, - And a drinking-bout in secret. - - Mouth and head awry then twisting, - And his black beard all disordered, - In his rage the blood departed - From the cheeks of him unhappy, - And at once he left his ploughing, - 'Mid the field he left the ploughshare, 20 - On the spot his horse he mounted, - And he rode directly homeward, - To his dearest mother's dwelling, - To his dear and aged mother. - - And he said as he approached her, - And he called, as he was coming, - "O my mother, aged woman, - Bring thou food, and bring it quickly, - That the hungry man may eat it, - And the moody man devour it, 30 - While they warm the bathroom for me, - And the bathroom set in order, - That the man may wash and cleanse him, - And adorn him like a hero." - - Then did Lemminkainen's mother, - Bring him food, and bring it quickly, - That the hungry man might eat it, - And the moody man devour it, - While they put the bath in order, - And arranged the bathroom for him. 40 - - Then the lively Lemminkainen - Quickly ate the food she gave him, - Hurried then into the bathroom, - Hastened quickly to the bathroom, - There it was the finch now washed him, - There the bullfinch washed and cleansed him, - Washed his head to flaxen whiteness, - And his throat to shining whiteness. - - From the bath the room he entered, - And he spoke the words which follow: 50 - "O my mother, aged woman, - Seek the storehouse on the mountain, - Bring me thence my shirt, the fine one, - Likewise bring the finest clothing, - That I now may put it on me, - And may fitly clothe me in it." - - But his mother asked him quickly, - Asked him thus, the aged woman, - "Whither goes my son, my dearest, - Dost thou go to hunt the lynxes, 60 - Or to chase the elk on snowshoes, - Or perchance to shoot a squirrel?" - - Answered lively Lemminkainen, - Said the handsome Kaukomieli, - "O my mother who hast borne me, - Not to hunt the lynx I wander, - Nor to chase the elk on snowshoes, - Neither go I squirrel shooting, - But I seek the feast at Pohja, - And the secret drinking-party, 70 - Therefore fetch my shirt, the fine one, - Bring me, too, the finest clothing, - That I hasten to the wedding, - And may wander to the banquet." - - But his mother would forbid him, - Vainly would his wife dissuade him, - Two, whose like were not created, - And three daughters of Creation, - Sought to hold back Lemminkainen - Back from Pohjola's great banquet. 80 - - To her son then said the mother, - And her child advised the old one, - "Do not go, my son my dearest, - O my dearest son, my Kauko, - Go not to the feast at Pohja, - To that mansion's drinking-party, - For indeed they did not ask you, - And 'tis plain they do not want you." - - Then the lively Lemminkainen - Answered in the words which follow: 90 - "Only bad men go for asking; - Uninvited good men dance there. - There are always invitations, - Always a sufficient summons, - In the sword with blade of sharpness, - And the edge so brightly flashing." - - Still did Lemminkainen's mother - Do her utmost to restrain him. - "Go not, son, to sure destruction, - Unto Pohjola's great banquet. 100 - Full of terrors is thy journey, - On thy way are mighty wonders, - Thrice indeed doth death await thee; - Thrice the man with death is threatened." - - Answered lively Lemminkainen, - Said the handsome Kaukomieli, - "Death is only for the women, - Everywhere they see destruction; - But a hero need not fear it, - Nor need take extreme precautions. 110 - But let this be as it may be, - Tell me that my ears may hear it, - Tell me the first death that waits me, - Tell the first and tell the last one." - - Then said Lemminkainen's mother, - Answered then, the aged woman: - "I will tell the deaths that wait you, - Not as you would have me tell them; - Of the first death I will tell you, - And this death is first among them. 120 - When a little way you've travelled - On the first day of your journey, - You will reach a fiery river, - Flaming right across your pathway, - In the stream a cataract fiery, - In the fall a fiery island, - On the isle a peak all fiery, - On the peak a fiery eagle, - One who whets his beak at night-time, - And his claws in daytime sharpens, 130 - For the strangers who are coming, - And the people who approach him." - - Answered lively Lemminkainen, - Said the handsome Kaukomieli, - "This is perhaps a death for women, - But 'tis not a death for heroes. - For I know a plan already, - And a splendid scheme to follow. - I'll create, by songs of magic, - Both a man and horse of alder. 140 - They shall walk along beside me, - And shall wander on before me, - While I like a duck am diving, - Like a scoter duck am diving, - 'Neath the soaring eagle's talons, - Talons of the mighty eagle. - O my mother, who hast borne me, - Tell me now of death the second." - - Then said Lemminkainen's mother, - "Such the second death that waits you: 150 - When a little way you've journeyed, - On the second day of travel, - You will reach a trench of fire, - Right across the path extending, - Ever to the east extending, - North-west endlessly extending, - Full of stones to redness heated, - Full of blocks of stone all glowing, - And a hundred there have ventured, - And a thousand there have perished, 160 - Hundreds with their swords have perished, - And a thousand steel-clad heroes." - - Answered lively Lemminkainen, - Said the handsome Kaukomieli, - "Such a death no man will perish, - Nor is this a death for heroes, - For I know a trick already, - Know a trick, and see a refuge; - And a man of snow I'll sing me, - Make of frozen snow a hero, 170 - Push him in the raging fire, - Push him in the glowing torment, - Bathe him in the glowing bathroom, - With a bath-whisk made of copper, - I myself behind him pressing, - Pushing through the fire a pathway, - That my beard unburnt remaineth, - And my locks escape a singeing. - O my mother who hast borne me, - Of the third death tell me truly." 180 - - Then said Lemminkainen's mother, - "Such the third death that awaits you: - When you've gone a little further, - And another day have travelled, - Unto Pohjola's dread gateway, - Where the pathway is the narrowest, - Then a wolf will rush upon you, - And a bear for his companion, - There in Pohjola's dread gateway, - Where the pathway is the narrowest. 190 - Hundreds have been there devoured, - Heroes have by thousands perished; - Wherefore should they not devour thee, - Kill thee likewise, unprotected?" - - Answered lively Lemminkainen, - Said the handsome Kaukomieli, - "Perhaps a young ewe might be eaten, - Or a lamb be torn to pieces, - Not a man, how weak soever, - Not the sleepiest of the heroes! 200 - With a hero's belt I'm girded, - And I wear a hero's armour, - Fixed with buckles of a hero, - So be sure I shall not hasten, - Unto Untamo's dread wolf's jaws, - In the throat of that curst creature. - - "'Gainst the wolf I know a refuge, - 'Gainst the bear I know a method; - For the wolfs mouth sing a muzzle, - For the bear sing iron fetters, 210 - Or to very chaff will chop them, - Or to merest dust will sift them; - Thus I'll clear the path before me, - Reach the ending of my journey." - - Then said Lemminkainen's mother, - "Even yet your goal you reach not, - There are still upon your pathway, - On your road tremendous marvels. - Three terrific dangers wait you, - Three more deaths await the hero; 220 - And there even yet await you, - On the spot the worst of marvels. - - "When a little way you've travelled, - Up to Pohjola's enclosure, - There a fence is reared of iron, - And a fence of steel erected, - From the ground to heaven ascending, - From the heavens to earth descending. - Spears they are which form the hedgestakes, - And for wattles, creeping serpents, 230 - Thus the fence with snakes is wattled, - And among them there are lizards, - And their tails are always waving, - And their thick heads always swelling, - And their round heads always hissing, - Heads turned out, and tails turned inwards. - - "On the ground are other serpents, - On the path are snakes and adders, - And above, their tongues are hissing, - And below, their tails are waving. 240 - One of all the most terrific - Lies before the gate across it, - Longer is he than a roof-tree, - Than the roof-props is he thicker, - And above, his tongue is hissing, - And above, his mouth is hissing, - Lifted not against another, - Threatening thee, O luckless hero!" - - Answered lively Lemminkainen, - Said the handsome Kaukomieli: 250 - "Such a death is perhaps for children; - But 'tis not a death for heroes, - For I can enchant the fire, - And can quench a glowing furnace, - And can ban away the serpents, - Twist the snakes between my fingers. - Only yesterday it happened - That I ploughed a field of adders; - On the ground the snakes were twisting, - And my hands were all uncovered. 260 - With my nails I seized the vipers, - In my hands I took the serpents, - Ten I killed among the vipers, - And the serpents black by hundreds. - Still my nails are stained with snake-blood, - And my hands with slime of serpents. - Therefore will I not permit me, - And by no means will I journey - As a mouthful for the serpents, - To the sharp fangs of the adders. 270 - I myself will crush the monsters, - Crush the nasty things to pieces, - And will sing away the vipers, - Drive the serpents from my pathway, - Enter then the yard of Pohja, - And into the house will force me." - - Then said Lemminkainen's mother, - "O my son, forbear to venture, - Into Pohjola's dread castle, - House of Sariola all timbered; 280 - For the men with swords are girded, - Heroes all equipped for battle, - Men with drink of hops excited, - Very furious from their drinking. - They will sing thee, most unhappy, - To the swords of all the keenest; - Better men their songs have vanquished, - Mighty ones been overpowered." - - Answered lively Lemminkainen, - Said the handsome Kaukomieli: 290 - "Well, but I have dwelt already - There in Pohjola's dread fortress. - Not a Lapp with spells shall chain me, - Forth no son of Turja drive me. - I'll enchant the Lapp by singing, - Drive away the son of Turja, - And in twain will sing his shoulders, - From his chin his speech I'll sever, - Tear his shirt apart by singing, - And I'll break in two his breastbone." 300 - - Then said Lemminkainen's mother, - "O alas, my son unhappy, - Dost thou think of former exploits, - Brag'st thou of thy former journey? - True it is thou hast resided - There in Pohjola's dread fortress, - But they sent thee all a-swimming, - Floating overgrown with pond-weed, - O'er the raging cataract driven, - Down the stream in rushing waters. 310 - Thou hast known the Falls of Tuoni, - Manala's dread stream hast measured, - There would'st thou to-day be swimming, - But for thine unhappy mother! - - "Listen now to what I tell thee. - When to Pohjola thou comest, - All the slope with stakes is bristling, - And the yard with poles is bristling, - All with heads of men surmounted, - And one stake alone is vacant, 320 - And to fill the stake remaining, - Will they cut thy head from off thee." - - Answered lively Lemminkainen, - Said the handsome Kaukomieli: - "Let a weakling ponder o'er it, - Let the worthless find such ending! - After five or six years' warfare, - Seven long summers spent in battle, - Not a hero would concern him, - Nor retire a step before it. 330 - Therefore bring me now my mail-shirt, - And my well-tried battle armour; - I my father's sword will fetch me, - And my father's sword-blade look to. - In the cold it long was lying, - In a dark place long was hidden; - There has it been ever weeping, - For a hero who should wield it." - - Thereupon he took his mail-shirt, - Took his well-tried battle armour, 340 - And his father's trusty weapon, - Sword his father always wielded, - And against the ground he thrust it, - On the floor the point he rested, - With his hand the sword he bended - Like the fresh crown of the cherry, - Or the juniper when growing. - Said the lively Lemminkainen, - "Hard 'twill be in Pohja's castle, - Rooms of Sariola the misty, 350 - Such a sword as this to gaze on, - Such a sword-blade to encounter." - - From the wall his bow he lifted, - From the peg he took a strong bow, - And he spoke the words which follow, - And expressed himself in thiswise: - "I would hold the man deserving, - And regard him as a hero, - Who to bend this bow was able, - And could bend it and could string it, 360 - There in Pohjola's great castle, - Rooms of Sariola the misty." - - Then the lively Lemminkainen, - He the handsome Kaukomieli, - Put his shirt of mail upon him, - Clad himself in arms of battle, - And his slave he thus commanded, - And he spoke the words which follow: - "O my servant, bought with money, - Workman, whom I got for money, 370 - Harness now my horse of battle, - Harness me my fiery war-horse, - That unto the feast I journey, - Drinking-bout at house of Lempo." - - Then the prudent slave, obedient, - Hastened quickly to the courtyard, - And the foal at once he harnessed, - And prepared the fiery red one, - And he said on his returning, - "I have done what you commanded, 380 - And the horse have harnessed for you, - And the best of foals have harnessed." - - Then the lively Lemminkainen, - Thought him ready for his journey, - Right hand urging, left restraining, - And his sinewy fingers smarting, - Now would start, and then reflected, - Started then in reckless fashion. - - Then her son his mother counselled, - Warned her child, the aged woman, 390 - At the door, beneath the rafters, - At the place where stand the kettles. - "O my only son, my dearest, - O my child, of all the strongest, - When thou com'st to the carousal, - And thou comest where thou wishest, - Drink thou half a goblet only, - Drink the measure to the middle, - And the other half return thou; - Give the worst half to a worse one. 400 - In the goblet rests a serpent, - And a worm within the measure." - - Yet again her son she cautioned, - To her child again gave warning, - At the last field's furthest limit, - At the last of all the gateways. - "When thou com'st to the carousal, - And thou comest where thou wishest, - Sit upon a half-seat only, - Step thou with a half-step only, 410 - And the other half return thou; - Give the worst half to a worse one, - Thus wilt thou a man be reckoned, - And a most illustrious hero, - And through armies push thy pathway, - And will crush them down beneath thee, - In the press of mighty heroes, - In the throng of men of valour." - - Then departed Lemminkainen, - When the horse in sledge was harnessed. 420 - With his ready whip he struck him, - With his beaded whip he smote him, - And the fiery steed sprang forward, - Onward sped the rapid courser. - - When a short way he had journeyed, - For about an hour had travelled, - There he saw a flock of blackfowl, - In the air the grouse flew upward, - And the flock ascended rushing - From before the speeding courser. 430 - - On the ice there lay some feathers - Cast by grouse upon the roadway; - These collected Lemminkainen, - And he put them in his pocket, - For he knew not what might happen, - Or might chance upon his journey. - In a house are all things useful, - Can at need be turned to something. - - Then he drove a little further, - On his road a little further, 440 - When to neigh began the courser, - Pricked his long ears up in terror. - - Then the lively Lemminkainen, - He the handsome Kaukomieli, - In the sledge at once leaned forward, - Bending down to gaze about him. - There he saw, as said his mother, - As his own old mother warned him, - How there flowed a fiery river, - Right across the horse's pathway, 450 - In the stream a cataract fiery, - In the fall a fiery island, - On the isle a peak all fiery, - On the peak a fiery eagle. - In his throat the fire was seething, - And his mouth with flame was glowing, - And his plumage fire was flashing, - And the sparks around were scattering. - - Kauko from afar he noticed, - From afar saw Lemminkainen. 460 - - "Whither wilt thou go, O Kauko, - Whither goes the son of Lempi?" - - Answered lively Lemminkainen, - Said the handsome Kaukomieli, - "Unto Pohja's feast I journey, - The carousal held in secret. - Turn thee on one side a little, - From the youth's path do thou turn thee, - Let the traveller make his journey, - Do not hinder Lemminkainen, 470 - Therefore move aside a little, - Let him now pursue his journey." - - Thereupon the eagle answered, - Hissing from his throat of fire, - "I will let the traveller pass me, - Will not hinder Lemminkainen, - Through my mouth will let him hasten, - Let him thus pursue his journey. - Thither shall thy path direct thee, - Fortunate shall be thy journey, 480 - To the banquet thou art seeking, - Where thou all thy life may'st rest thee." - - Little troubled Lemminkainen, - And he let it not concern him, - But he felt into his pocket, - And his pouch he opened quickly, - Took the feathers of the blackfowl, - Leisurely he rubbed the feathers, - And between his palms he rubbed them, - 'Twixt his fingers ten in number, 490 - And a flock of grouse created, - And a flock of capercailzies, - In the eagle's beak he thrust them, - To his greedy throat he gave them, - To the eagle's throat all fiery, - In the fire-bird's beak he thrust them, - Thus he freed himself from danger, - And escaped the first day's danger. - - With his whip he struck the courser, - With the beaded whip he struck him, 500 - And the horse sped quickly onward, - And the steed sprang lightly forward. - - Then he drove a little further, - But a little way had travelled, - When the horse again was shying, - And again the steed was neighing. - From the sledge again he raised him, - And he strove to gaze around him, - And he saw, as said his mother, - As his aged mother warned him, 510 - Right in front a trench of fire, - Right across the path extending, - Ever to the east extending, - North-west endlessly extending, - Full of stones to redness heated, - Full of blocks of stone all glowing. - - Little troubled Lemminkainen, - But he raised a prayer to Ukko. - "Ukko, thou, of Gods the highest, - Ukko, thou, our Heavenly Father, 520 - Send thou now a cloud from north-west, - Send thou from the west a second, - And a third to east establish. - - "In the north-east let them gather, - Push their borders all together, - Drive them edge to edge together, - Let the snow fall staff-deep round me, - Deep as is the length of spear-shaft, - On these stones to redness heated, - Blocks of stone all fiery glowing." 530 - - Ukko, then, of Gods the highest, - He the aged Heavenly Father, - Sent a cloud from out the north-west, - From the west he sent a second, - In the east a cloud let gather, - Let them gather in the north-east; - And he heaped them all together, - And he closed the gaps between them, - Let the snow fall staff-deep downward, - Deep as is the length of spear-shaft, 540 - On the stones to redness heated, - Blocks of stone all fiery glowing. - From the snow a pond was fashioned, - And a lake with icy waters. - Then the lively Lemminkainen - Sang a bridge of ice together, - Stretching right across the snow-pond, - From the one bank to the other, - O'er the fiery trench passed safely, - Passed the second day in safety. 550 - - With his whip he urged the courser, - Cracked the whip all bead-embroidered, - And began to travel quickly, - As the courser trotted onward. - - Quick he ran a verst, a second, - For a short space well proceeded, - When he suddenly stopped standing, - Would not stir from his position. - - Then the lively Lemminkainen - Started up to gaze around him. 560 - In the gate the wolf was standing, - And the bear before the passage, - There in Pohjola's dread gateway, - At the end of a long passage. - Then the lively Lemminkainen, - He the handsome Kaukomieli, - Quickly felt into his pocket, - What his pouch contained exploring, - And he took some ewe's wool from it, - And until 'twas soft he rubbed it, 570 - And between his palms he rubbed it, - 'Twixt his fingers ten in number. - - On his palms then gently breathing, - Ewes ran bleating forth between them, - Quite a flock of sheep he fashioned, - And a flock of lambs among them, - And the wolf rushed straight upon them, - And the bear rushed after likewise, - While the lively Lemminkainen, - Further drove upon his journey. 580 - - Yet a little space he journeyed, - Unto Pohjola's enclosure. - There a fence was raised of iron, - Fenced with steel the whole enclosure, - In the ground a hundred fathoms, - In the sky a thousand fathoms, - Spears they were which formed the hedgestakes, - And for wattles creeping serpents, - Thus the fence with snakes was wattled - And among them there were lizards, 590 - And their tails were always waving, - And their thick heads always swelling, - Rows of heads erected always, - Heads turned out and tails turned inwards. - - Then the lively Lemminkainen - Gave himself to his reflections. - "This is what my mother told me, - This is what my mother dreaded; - Here I find a fence tremendous - Reared aloft from earth to heaven, 600 - Down below there creeps a viper, - Deeper yet the fence is sunken, - Up aloft a bird is flying, - But the fence is builded higher." - - Natheless was not Lemminkainen - Greatly troubled or uneasy; - From the sheath he drew his knife out, - From the sheath an iron weapon, - And he hewed the fence to pieces, - And in twain he clove the hedgestakes; 610 - Thus he breached the fence of iron, - And he drove away the serpents - From the space between five hedgestakes, - Likewise from the space 'twixt seven, - And himself pursued his journey, - On to Pohjola's dark portal. - - In the path a snake was twisting, - Just in front across the doorway, - Even longer than the roof-tree, - Thicker than the hall's great pillars, 620 - And the snake had eyes a hundred, - And the snake had tongues a thousand, - And his eyes than sieves were larger, - And his tongues were long as spear-shafts, - And his fangs were like rake-handles; - Seven boats' length his back extended. - Then the lively Lemminkainen - Would not instantly move onward - To the snake with eyes a hundred, - And the snake with tongues a thousand. 630 - - Spoke the lively Lemminkainen, - Said the handsome Kaukomieli: - "Serpent black and subterranean, - Worm whose hue is that of Tuoni, - Thou amidst the grass who lurkest, - At the roots of Lempo's foliage, - Gliding all among the hillocks, - Creeping all among the tree-roots, - Who has brought thee from the stubble, - From the grass-roots has aroused thee, 640 - Creeping here on ground all open, - Creeping there upon the pathway? - Who has sent thee from thy nettles, - Who has ordered and provoked thee - That thy head thou liftest threatening, - And thy neck thou stiffly raisest? - Was't thy father or thy mother, - Or the eldest of thy brothers, - Or the youngest of thy sisters, - Or some other near relation? 650 - - "Close thy mouth, thy head conceal thou, - Hide thou quick thy tongue within it, - Coil thyself together tightly, - Roll thyself into a circle, - Give me way, though but a half-way, - Let the traveller make his journey, - Or begone from out the pathway. - Creep, thou vile one, in the bushes, - In the holes among the heathland, - And among the moss conceal thee, 660 - Glide away, like ball of worsted, - Like a withered stick of aspen. - Hide thy head among the grass-roots, - Hide thyself among the hillocks, - 'Neath the turf thy mouth conceal thou, - Make thy dwelling in a hillock. - If you lift your head from out it, - Ukko surely will destroy it, - With his nails, all steely-pointed, - With a mighty hail of iron." 670 - - Thus was Lemminkainen talking, - But the serpent heeded nothing, - And continued always hissing, - Darting out its tongue for ever, - And its mouth was always hissing - At the head of Lemminkainen. - Then the lively Lemminkainen - Of an ancient spell bethought him, - Which the old crone once had taught him, - Which his mother once had taught him. 680 - - Said the lively Lemminkainen, - Spoke the handsome Kaukomieli, - "If you do not heed my singing, - And it is not quite sufficient, - Still you will swell up with anguish - When an ill day comes upon you. - Thou wilt burst in two, O vile one, - O thou toad, in three will burst thou, - If I should seek out your mother, - And should search for your ancestress. 690 - Well I know thy birth, vile creature, - Whence thou comest, earthly horror, - For Syoejaetaer was your mother, - And the sea-fiend was your parent. - - "Syoejaetaer she spat in water, - In the waves she left the spittle, - By the wind 'twas rocked thereafter, - Tossed upon the water-current, - Thus for six years it was shaken, - Thus for seven whole summers drifted, 700 - On the ocean's shining surface, - And upon the swelling billows. - Thus for long the water stretched it, - By the sun 'twas warmed and softened, - To the land the billows drove it, - On the beach a wave upcast it. - - "Walked three Daughters of Creation - On the beach of stormy ocean, - On the beach, the waves that bounded, - On the beach they saw the spittle, 710 - And they spoke the words which follow: - 'What might perhaps of this be fashioned, - If a life by the Creator, - And if eyes were granted to it?' - - "This was heard by the Creator, - And he spoke the words which follow: - 'Evil only comes from evil, - And a toad from toad's foul vomit, - If I gave a life unto it, - And if eyes were granted to it.' 720 - - "But the words were heard by Hiisi, - One for mischief always ready, - And he set about creating; - Hiisi gave a life unto it, - Of the slime of toad disgusting, - From Syoejaetaer's filthy spittle, - Formed from this a twisting serpent, - To a black snake he transformed it. - - "Whence the life he gave unto it? - Life he brought from Hiisi's coal-heap. 730 - Whence was then its heart created? - Out of Syoejaetaer's own heartstrings. - Whence the brains for this foul creature? - From a mighty torrent's foaming. - Whence its sense obtained the monster? - From a furious cataract's foaming. - Whence a head, this foul enchantment? - From the bean, a bean all rotten. - Whence were then its eyes created? - From a seed of flax of Lempo. 740 - Whence were the toad's ears created? - From the leaves of Lempo's birch-tree. - Whence was then its mouth constructed? - Syoejaetaer's own mouth supplied it. - Whence the tongue in mouth so evil? - From the spear of Keitolainen. - Teeth for such an evil creature? - From the beard of Tuoni's barley. - Whence its filthy gums created? - From the gums of Kalma's maiden. 750 - Whence was then its back constructed? - Of the coals of fire of Hiisi. - Whence its wriggling tail constructed? - From the plaits of Pahalainen. - Whence its entrails were constructed? - These were drawn from Death's own girdle. - - "This thy origin, O serpent, - This thy honour, as reported; - Black snake from the world infernal, - Serpent of the hue of Tuoni, 760 - Hue of earth, and hue of heather, - All the colours of the rainbow. - Go from out the wanderer's pathway, - From before the travelling hero, - Yield the pathway to the traveller, - Make a way for Lemminkainen - To the feast at Pohja holden, - Where they hold the great carousal." - - Then the snake obeyed his orders, - And the hundred-eyed drew backward, 770 - And the great snake twisted sideways, - Turning in a new direction, - Giving thus the traveller pathway, - Making way for Lemminkainen - To the feast at Pohja holden, - And the secret-held carousal. - - - - -RUNO XXVII.--THE DUEL AT POHJOLA - - -_Argument_ - -Lemminkainen comes to Pohjola and behaves with the greatest insolence -(1-204). The Lord of Pohjola grows angry, and as he can do nothing -against Lemminkainen by magic, he challenges him to a duel (205-282). In -the course of the duel Lemminkainen strikes off the head of the Lord of -Pohjola, and to avenge this, the Mistress of Pohjola raises an army -against him (283-420). - - Now that I have brought my Kauko, - Carried Ahto Saarelainen, - Often past Death's jaw expanded, - Past the very tongue of Kalma, - To the banquet held at Pohja, - And to the concealed carousal, - Now must I relate in detail, - And my tongue relate in fulness, - How the lively Lemminkainen, - He the handsome Kaukomieli, 10 - To the homestead came of Pohja, - Halls of Sariola the misty, - Uninvited to the banquet, - To the drinking-bout unbidden. - - Thus the lively Lemminkainen, - Ruddy youth, and arrant scoundrel, - In the room at once came forward, - Walking to the very middle; - 'Neath him swayed the floor of linden, - And the room of firwood rattled. 20 - - Spoke the lively Lemminkainen, - And he said the words which follow: - "Greetings to ye on my coming, - Greetings also to the greeter! - Hearken, Pohjola's great Master, - Have you here within this dwelling, - Barley for the horse's fodder, - Beer to offer to the hero?" - - There sat Pohjola's great Master, - At the end of the long table, 30 - And from thence he made his answer, - In the very words which follow: - "Perhaps there is within this dwelling, - Standing room for your fine courser, - Nor would I indeed forbid you - In the room a quiet corner, - Or to stand within the doorway, - In the doorway, 'neath the rafters, - In the space between two kettles, - There where three large hoes are standing." 40 - - Then the lively Lemminkainen - Tore his black beard in his anger, - ('Twas the colour of a kettle), - And he spoke the words which follow: - "Lempo might perchance be willing, - Thus to stand within the doorway, - Where he might with soot be dirtied, - While the soot falls all around him! - But at no time did my father, - Never did my aged father 50 - Ever stand in such a station, - In the doorway, 'neath the rafters! - There was always room sufficient - For his horse within the stable, - And a clean room for the hero, - And a place to put his gloves in, - Pegs whereon to hang his mittens, - Walls where swords may rest in order. - Why should I not also find it, - As my father always found it?" 60 - - After this he strode on further, - To the end of the long table, - At the bench-end then he sat him, - At the end of bench of firwood, - And the bench it cracked beneath him, - And the bench of firwood tottered. - - Said the lively Lemminkainen, - "Seems to me that I'm unwelcome, - As no ale is offered to me, - To the guest who just has entered." 70 - - Ilpotar, the noble Mistress, - Answered in the words which follow: - "O thou boy, O Lemminkainen, - Not as guest thou com'st among us, - But upon my head to trample, - And to make it bow before you, - For our ale is still in barley. - Still in malt the drink delicious, - And the wheatbread still unbaken, - And unboiled the meat remaineth. 80 - Yesternight you should have entered, - Or perchance have come to-morrow." - - Then the lively Lemminkainen, - Twisted mouth and turned his head round, - Tore his black beard in his anger, - And he spoke the words which follow: - "Eaten is the feast already, - Finished feast, and drunk the bride-ale, - And the ale has been divided, - To the men the mead been given, 90 - And the cans away been carried, - And the pint-pots laid in storage. - - "Pohjola's illustrious Mistress, - Long-toothed Mistress of Pimentola, - Thou hast held the wedding badly, - And in doggish fashion held it, - Baked the bread in loaves enormous, - Thou hast brewed the beer of barley, - Six times sent thy invitations, - Nine times hast thou sent a summons, 100 - Thou hast asked the poor, the spectres, - Asked the scum, and asked the wastrels, - Asked the leanest of the loafers, - Labourers with one garment only; - All folks else thou hast invited, - Me rejected uninvited. - - "Wherefore should I thus be treated, - When I sent myself the barley? - Others brought it by the spoonful, - Others poured it out by dishfuls, 110 - But I poured it out in bushels, - By the half-ton out I poured it, - Of my own, the best of barley, - Corn which I had sown aforetime. - - "'Tis not now that Lemminkainen, - Is a guest of great distinction, - For no ale is offered to me, - Nor the pot set on the fire. - In the pot is nothing cooking, - Not a pound of pork you give me, 120 - Neither food nor drink you give me, - Now my weary journey's ended." - - Ilpotar, the noble Mistress, - Uttered then the words which follow: - "O my little waiting-maiden, - O my ever-ready servant, - Put into the pot some dinner, - Bring some ale to give the stranger." - - Then the girl, the child so wretched, - Washed the worst of all the dishes, 130 - And the spoons she then was wiping, - And the ladles she was scouring, - Then into the pot put dinner, - Bones of meat, and heads of fishes, - Very ancient stalks of turnips, - Crusts of bread of stony hardness, - And a pint of ale she brought him, - And a can of filthy victuals, - Gave it lively Lemminkainen - That he should drink out the refuse, 140 - And she spoke the words which follow: - "If you are indeed a hero, - Can you drink the ale I bring you, - Nor upset the can that holds it?" - - Lemminkainen, youth so lively, - Looked at once into the pint-pot, - And below a worm was creeping, - In the midst there crept a serpent, - On the edge were serpents creeping, - Lizards also there were gliding. 150 - - Said the lively Lemminkainen, - Loudly grumbled Kaukomieli, - "Off to Tuonela the bearer, - Quick to Manala the handmaid, - Ere the moon again has risen, - Or this very day is ended!" - - Afterwards these words he added, - "O thou beer, thou drink so nasty, - In an evil hour concocted, - Evil only lurks within thee! 160 - Notwithstanding I will drink it, - On the ground will cast the refuse, - With my nameless finger lift it, - With my left thumb will I lift it." - - Then he felt into his pocket, - And within his pouch was searching, - Took an angle from his pocket, - Iron hooks from out his satchel, - Dropped it down into the pint-pot, - In the ale began to angle, 170 - Hooked the snakes upon his fish-hooks, - On his hooks the evil vipers, - Up he drew of toads a hundred, - And of dusky snakes a thousand. - Down upon the ground he threw them, - Threw them all upon the planking, - Thereupon a sharp knife taking, - From the sheath he quickly drew it, - Cut the heads from off the serpents, - Broke the necks of all the serpents. 180 - Then he drank the ale with gusto, - Drank the black mead with enjoyment, - And he spoke the words which follow: - "As a guest I am not honoured, - Since no ale was brought unto me - Which was better worth my drinking, - Offered me by hands more careful, - In a larger vessel brought me; - Since no sheep was slaughtered for me, - No gigantic steer was slaughtered, 190 - In the hall no ox they brought me, - From the house of hoofed cattle." - - Then did Pohjola's great Master, - Answer in the words which follow: - "Wherefore have you then come hither, - Who invited you among us?" - - Answered lively Lemminkainen, - Said the handsome Kaukomieli: - "Good is perhaps the guest invited, - Better still if uninvited. 200 - Hearken then, thou son of Pohja, - Pohjola's illustrious Master, - Give me ale for cash directly, - Reach me here some drink for money." - - Then did Pohjola's great Master, - Angry grow and greatly furious, - Very furious and indignant, - Sang a pond upon the flooring, - In the front of Lemminkainen, - And he said the words which follow: 210 - "Here's a river you may drink of, - Here's a pond that you may splash in." - - Little troubled Lemminkainen, - And he spoke the words which follow: - "I'm no calf by women driven, - Nor a bull with tail behind me, - That I drink of river-water, - Or from filthy ponds the water." - - Then himself began to conjure, - And, himself commenced his singing, 220 - Sang upon the floor a bullock, - Mighty ox with horns all golden, - And he soon drank up the puddle, - Drank the river up with pleasure. - - But the mighty son of Pohja, - By his spells a wolf created, - And upon the floor he sang him, - To devour the fleshy bullock. - - Lemminkainen, youth so lively, - Sang a white hare to his presence, 230 - And upon the floor 'twas leaping, - Near the wolf-jaws widely opened. - - But the mighty son of Pohja, - Sang a dog with pointed muzzle; - And the dog the hare devoured, - Rent the Squint-eye into fragments. - - Lemminkainen, youth so lively, - On the rafters sang a squirrel, - And it frolicked on the rafters, - And the dog was barking at it. 240 - - But the mighty son of Pohja, - Sang a golden-breasted marten, - And the marten seized the squirrel, - On the rafter's end while sitting. - - Lemminkainen, youth so lively, - Sang a fox of ruddy colour, - And it killed the gold-breast marten, - And destroyed the handsome-haired one. - - But the mighty son of Pohja - By his spells a hen created, 250 - And upon the ground 'twas walking, - Just before the fox's muzzle. - - Lemminkainen, youth so lively, - Thereupon a hawk created, - Quickly with its claws it seized it, - And it tore the hen to pieces. - - Then said Pohjola's great Master, - In the very words which follow: - "Better will not be the banquet, - Nor the guest-provision lessened. 260 - House for work, the road for strangers, - Unrefreshed from the carousal! - Quit this place, O scamp of Hiisi, - Haste away from all folks' knowledge, - To thy home, O toad the basest, - Forth, O scoundrel, to thy country!" - - Answered lively Lemminkainen, - Said the handsome Kaukomieli, - "None would let himself be banished, - Not a man, how bad soever, 270 - From this place be ever driven, - Forced to fly from such a station." - - Then did Pohjola's great Master, - Snatch his sword from wall where hanging, - Grasped in haste the sharpened weapon, - And he spoke the words which follow: - "O thou Ahti Saarelainen, - Or thou handsome Kaukomieli, - Let us match our swords together, - Match the glitter of the sword-blades, 280 - Whether my sword is the better, - Or is Ahti Saarelainen's." - - Said the lively Lemminkainen, - "Little of my sword is left me, - For on bones it has been shattered, - And on skulls completely broken! - But let this be as it may be, - If no better feast is ready, - Let us struggle, and determine - Which of our two swords is favoured. 290 - Ne'er in former times my father - In a duel has been worsted, - Why should then his son be different, - Or his child be like a baby?" - - Sword he took, and bared his sword-blade, - And he drew his sharp-edged weapon, - Drew it from the leather scabbard, - Hanging at his belt of lambskin. - Then they measured and inspected - Which of their two swords was longer, 300 - And a very little longer, - Was the sword of Pohja's Master, - As upon the nail the blackness, - Or a half-joint of a finger. - - Spoke then Ahti Saarelainen, - Said the handsome Kaukomieli, - "As your sword is rather longer, - Let the first attack be yours." - - Then did Pohjola's great Master, - Aim a blow, and tried to strike him, 310 - Aimed his sword, but never struck it, - On the head of Lemminkainen. - Once indeed he struck the rafters, - And the beams resounded loudly, - And across the beam was shattered, - And the arch in twain was broken. - - Then spoke Ahti Saarelainen, - Said the handsome Kaukomieli: - "Well, what mischief did the rafters, - And what harm the beam effected, 320 - That you thus attack the rafters, - And have made the arch to rattle? - - "Hear me, son of Pohja's country, - Pohjola's illustrious Master, - Awkward 'tis in room to combat, - Trouble would it give the women, - If the clean room should be damaged, - And with blood defiled the flooring. - Let us go into the courtyard, - In the field outside to battle, 330 - On the grass outside to combat. - In the yard the blood looks better, - In the yard it looks more lovely, - On the snow it looks much better." - - Out into the yard they wandered, - And they found therein a cowhide, - And they spread it in the courtyard, - And they took their stand upon it. - - Then said Ahti Saarelainen, - "Hearken, O thou son of Pohja! 340 - As your sword is rather longer, - And your sword is more terrific, - Perhaps indeed you need to use it, - Just before your own departure, - Or before your neck is broken. - Strike away, O son of Pohja." - - Fenced away the son of Pohja, - Struck a blow, and struck a second, - And he struck a third blow after, - But he could not strike him fairly, 350 - Could not scratch the flesh upon him, - From his skin a single bristle. - - Then spoke Ahti Saarelainen, - Said the handsome Kaukomieli, - "Give me leave to try a little, - For at last my time is coming." - - Natheless Pohjola's great Master, - Did not pay the least attention, - Striking on, without reflection, - Ever striking, never hitting. 360 - From his sword-blade flashed red fire, - And its edge was always gleaming - In the hands of Lemminkainen, - And the sheen extended further, - As against the neck he turned it, - Of the mighty son of Pohja. - - Said the handsome Lemminkainen, - "Hearken, Pohjola's great Master, - True it is, thy neck so wretched, - Is as red as dawn of morning." 370 - - Thereupon the son of Pohja, - He, the mighty lord of Pohja, - Bent his eyes that he might witness - How his own neck had been reddened. - Then the lively Lemminkainen, - Hurriedly a stroke delivered, - With his sword he struck the hero, - Quickly with the sword he struck him. - - Full and fair he struck the hero, - Struck his head from off his shoulders, 380 - And the skull from neck he severed, - As from off the stalk a turnip, - Or an ear of corn is severed, - From a fish a fin divided. - In the yard the head went rolling, - And the skull in the enclosure, - As when it is struck by arrow - Falls the capercail from tree-top. - - In the ground stood stakes a hundred, - In the yard there stood a thousand, 390 - On the stakes were heads a hundred, - Only one stake still was headless. - Then the lively Lemminkainen - Took the head of the poor fellow; - From the ground the skull he lifted, - And upon the stake he set it. - - Then did Ahti Saarelainen, - He the handsome Kaukomieli, - Once again the house re-enter, - And he spoke the words which follow: 400 - "Wicked maid, now bring me water, - That I wash my hands and cleanse them, - From the blood of wicked Master, - From the gore of man of evil." - - Furious was the Crone of Pohja, - Wild with wrath and indignation, - And at once she sang up swordsmen, - Heroes well equipped for battle. - Up she sang a hundred swordsmen, - Sang a thousand weapon-bearers, 410 - Lemminkainen's head to capture, - From the neck of Kaukomieli. - - Now the time seemed really coming, - Fitting time for his departure, - Terror came at length upon him, - And too hard the task before him; - From the house the youthful Ahti - Lemminkainen quick departed, - From the feast prepared at Pohja, - From the unannounced carousal. 420 - - - - -RUNO XXVIII.--LEMMINKAINEN AND HIS MOTHER - - -_Argument_ - -Lemminkainen escapes with all speed from Pohjola, comes home and asks -his mother where he can hide himself from the people of Pohjola, who -will soon attack him in his home, a hundred to one (1-164). His mother -reproaches him for his expedition to Pohjola, suggests various places of -concealment, and at length advises him to go far across the lakes to a -distant island, where his father once lived in peace during a year of -great war (165-294). - - Then did Ahti Saarelainen, - He the lively Lemminkainen, - Haste to reach a place for hiding, - Hasten quickly to remove him - From the gloomy land of Pohja, - From the gloomy house of Sara. - - From the room he rushed like snowfall, - To the yard like snake he hurried, - That he might escape the evil, - From the crime he had committed. 10 - - When he came into the courtyard, - Then he gazed around and pondered, - Seeking for the horse he left there, - But he nowhere saw him standing; - In the field a stone was standing, - On the waste a clump of willows. - - Who will come to give him counsel, - Who will now advise and help him, - That his head come not in danger, - And his hair remain uninjured, 20 - Nor his handsome hair be draggled - In the courtyard foul of Pohja? - In the village heard he shouting, - Uproar too from other homesteads, - Lights were shining in the village, - Eyes were at the open windows. - - Then must lively Lemminkainen, - Then must Ahti Saarelainen, - Alter now his shape completely, - And transform without delaying, 30 - And must soar aloft as eagle, - Up to heaven to soar attempting; - But the sun his face was scorching, - And the moon shone on his temples. - - Then the lively Lemminkainen, - Sent aloft a prayer to Ukko: - "Ukko, Jumala most gracious, - Thou the wisest in the heavens, - Of the thunderclouds the leader, - Of the scattered clouds the ruler! 40 - Let it now be gloomy weather, - And a little cloudlet give me, - So that under its protection - I may hasten homeward quickly, - Homeward to my dearest mother, - Unto the revered old woman." - - As he flew upon his journey, - As he chanced to look behind him, - There he saw a hawk, a grey one, - And its eyes were fiery-glowing, 50 - As it were the son of Pohja, - Like the former lord of Pohja. - - And the grey hawk called unto him, - "Ahti, O my dearest brother, - Think you on our former combat, - Head to head in equal contest?" - - Then said Ahti Saarelainen, - Said the handsome Kaukomieli, - "O my hawk, my bird so charming, - Turn thyself and hasten homeward, 60 - To the place from which you started, - To the gloomy land of Pohja. - Hard it is to catch the eagle, - Clutch the strong-winged bird with talons." - - Then he hurried quickly homeward, - Homeward to his dearest mother, - And his face was full of trouble, - And his heart with care o'erladen. - - Then his mother came to meet him, - As along the path he hurried, 70 - As he past the fence was walking, - And his mother first bespoke him. - "O my son, my son, my youngest, - Thou the strongest of my children! - Why returnest thou so sadly, - Home from Pohjola's dark regions? - Hast thou harmed thyself by drinking - At the drinking-bout of Pohja? - If the goblet made thee suffer, - Here a better one awaits thee, 80 - Which thy father won in battle, - Which he fought for in the contest." - - Said the lively Lemminkainen, - "O my mother who hast borne me, - If the goblet made me suffer, - I would overcome the masters, - Overcome a hundred heroes, - And would face a thousand heroes." - - Then said Lemminkainen's mother, - "Wherefore art thou then in trouble? 90 - If the horse has overcome you, - Wherefore let the horse annoy you? - If the horse has overcome you, - You should buy yourself a better, - With your father's lifelong savings, - Which the aged man provided." - - Said the lively Lemminkainen, - "O my mother who hast borne me, - If I quarrelled with the courser, - Or the foal had over-reached me, 100 - I myself have shamed the masters, - Overcome the horses' drivers, - Foals and drivers I have vanquished, - And the heroes with their coursers." - - Then said Lemminkainen's mother, - "Wherefore art thou then in trouble, - Wherefore is thy heart so troubled, - As from Pohjola thou comest? - Have the women laughed about you, - Or the maidens ridiculed you? 110 - If the women laughed about you, - Or the maidens ridiculed you, - There are maidens to be jeered at, - Other women to be laughed at." - - Said the lively Lemminkainen, - "O my mother who hast borne me, - If the women laughed about me, - Or the maidens ridiculed me, - I would laugh at all their menfolk, - And would wink at all the maidens, 120 - I would shame a hundred women, - And a thousand brides would make them." - - Then said Lemminkainen's mother, - "What has chanced, my son, my darling, - Hast thou perhaps encountered something - As to Pohjola thou wentest? - Have you eaten perhaps too freely, - Eaten much, too much have drunken, - Or at night perchance when resting - Have you seen a dream of evil?" 130 - - Then the lively Lemminkainen, - Answered in the words which follow: - "Perhaps old women may remember, - What in sleep they saw in vision! - Though my nightly dreams I think on, - Yet are those of daytime better. - O my mother, aged woman, - Fill my bag with fresh provisions, - With a good supply of flour, - And a lump of salt add likewise, 140 - For thy son must travel further, - Journey to another country, - Journey from this house beloved, - Journey from this lovely dwelling, - For the men their swords are whetting, - And the lance-tips they are sharpening." - - Then his mother interrupted, - Asking him his cause of trouble. - "Wherefore whet the men their sword-blades, - Wherefore sharpen they the lance-tips?" 150 - - Answered lively Lemminkainen, - Said the handsome Kaukomieli, - "Therefore do they whet their sword-blades, - Therefore they the lance-tips sharpen: - On the head of me unhappy, - On my neck to bring destruction. - From a quarrel rose a duel, - There in Pohjola's enclosure; - I have slain the son of Pohja, - Slain the very lord of Pohja, 160 - Then rose Pohjola to battle, - Close behind me comes the tumult, - Raging all for my destruction, - To surround a single warrior." - - Then his mother gave him answer, - To her child the old crone answered: - "I myself already told you, - And I had already warned you, - And forbidden you most strictly - Not to Pohjola to venture. 170 - Had you stayed at home in quiet, - Living in your mother's dwelling, - Safely in your parent's homestead, - In the home of her who bore thee, - Then no war had ever risen, - Nor appeared a cause of contest. - - "Whither now, my son unhappy, - Canst thou flee, unhappy creature, - Go to hide thee from destruction, - Flying from thy wicked action, 180 - Lest thy wretched head be captured, - And thy handsome neck be severed, - That thy hair remain uninjured, - Nor thy glossy hair downtrodden?" - - Said the lively Lemminkainen, - "No such refuge do I know of, - Where a safe retreat awaits me, - Where I from my crime can hide me. - O my mother who hast borne me, - Where do you advise my hiding?" 190 - - Answered Lemminkainen's mother, - And she spoke the words which follow: - "No, I know not where to hide you, - Where to hide you or to send you. - As a pine upon the mountain, - Juniper in distant places, - There might still misfortune find thee, - Evil fate might rise against thee. - Often is the mountain pine-tree - Cut to pieces into torches, 200 - And the juniper on heathland, - Into posts is often cloven. - - "As a birch-tree in the valley, - Or an alder in the greenwood, - There might still misfortune find thee, - Evil fate might rise against thee. - Often is the valley birch-tree - Chopped to pieces into faggots, - Often is the alder-thicket - Cut away to make a clearing. 210 - - "As a berry on the mountain, - Or upon the heath a cranberry, - Or upon the plain a strawberry, - Or in other spots a bilberry, - There might still misfortune find thee, - Evil fate might rise against thee, - For the girls might come to pluck thee, - Tin-adorned ones might uproot thee. - - "In the lake as pike when hiding, - Powan in slow-flowing river, 220 - There misfortune still might find thee, - And at last destruction reach thee. - If there came a youthful fisher, - He might cast his net in water, - And the young in net might take thee, - And the old with net might capture. - - "Didst thou roam as wolf in forest, - Or a bear in rugged country, - There might still misfortune find thee, - Evil fate might rise against thee; 230 - If a sooty tramp was passing, - He perchance might spear the growler, - Or the wolves bring to destruction, - And the forest bears might slaughter." - - Then the lively Lemminkainen - Answered in the words which follow: - "I myself know evil places, - Worst of all do I esteem them, - There where any death might seize me, - And at last destruction reach me. 240 - O my mother who hast reared me, - Mother who thy milk hast given, - Whither would'st thou bid me hide me, - Whither should I now conceal me? - Death's wide jaws are just before me, - At my beard destruction's standing, - Every day for me it waiteth, - Till my ruin is accomplished." - - Then said Lemminkainen's mother, - And she spoke the words which follow: 250 - "I can tell the best of places, - Tell you one the best of any, - Where to hide yourself completely, - And your crime conceal for ever, - For I know a little country, - Know a very little refuge, - Wasted not, and safe from battle, - And untrodden by the swordsmen. - Swear me now by oaths eternal, - Binding, free from all deception, 260 - In the course of sixty summers, - Nevermore to go to battle, - Neither for the love of silver, - Nor perchance if gold was needed." - - Then said lively Lemminkainen, - "Now I swear by oaths the strongest, - Never in the first of summers, - Nor in any other summer, - Mix myself in mighty battles, - In the clashing of the sword-blades. 270 - Wounds are still upon my shoulders, - In my breast deep wounds still rankle, - From my former battle-pleasures, - In the midst of all the tumult, - In the midst of mighty battles, - Where the heroes all contended." - - Then did Lemminkainen's mother - Answer in the words which follow: - "Take the boat your father left you, - And betake yourself to hiding. 280 - Traverse nine lakes in succession, - Half the tenth one must thou traverse, - To an island on its surface, - Where the cliffs arise from water. - There in former times your father - Hid, and kept himself in safety, - In the furious fights of summer, - In the hardest years of battle. - There you'll find a pleasant dwelling, - And a charming place to linger. 290 - Hide thyself a year, a second, - In the third year come thou homeward, - To your father's well-known homestead, - To the dwelling of your parents." - - - - -RUNO XXIX.--LEMMINKAINEN'S ADVENTURES ON THE ISLAND - - -_Argument_ - -Lemminkainen sails across the lakes in his boat and comes safely to the -island (1-180). There he lives pleasantly among the girls and women till -the return of the men from warfare, who conspire against him (181-290). -Lemminkainen flies from the island, much to the grief both of the girls -and himself (291-402). His boat is wrecked in a violent storm, but he -escapes by swimming to land, makes a new boat, and arrives safely on the -shores of his own country (403-452). He finds his old house burned, and -the whole surroundings laid waste, when he begins to weep and lament, -especially for the loss of his mother (453-514). His mother, however, is -still alive, having taken refuge in a thick forest where Lemminkainen -finds her to his great joy (515-546). She relates how the army of -Pohjola came and burned down the house. Lemminkainen promises to build a -finer house after he has revenged himself upon the people of Pohjola, -and describes his pleasant life in the island of refuge (547-602). - - Lemminkainen, youth so lively, - He the handsome Kaukomieli, - Took provisions in his satchel, - In his wallet summer-butter, - Butter for a year to last him, - For another, pork sufficient, - Then he travelled off to hide him, - Started in the greatest hurry, - And he said the words which follow: - "Now I go, and I'm escaping, 10 - For the space of three whole summers, - And for five years in succession. - Be the land to snakes abandoned, - Let the lynxes snarl in greenwood, - In the fields the reindeer wander, - In the brakes the geese conceal them. - - "Fare thee well, my dearest mother, - If the people come from Pohja, - From Pimentola the army, - And about my head they ask you, 20 - Say that I have fled before them, - And have taken my departure, - And I have laid waste my clearing, - That which I had reaped so lately." - - Then he pushed his boat in water, - On the waves he launched his vessel, - From the rollers steel he launched it, - From the haven lined with copper. - On the mast the sails he hoisted, - And he spread the sails of linen, 30 - At the stern himself he seated, - And prepared him for his journey, - Sitting by his birchwood rudder, - With the stern-oar deftly steering. - - Then he spoke the words which follow, - And in words like these expressed him: - "Wind, inflate the sails above me, - Wind of spring drive on the vessel, - Drive with speed the wooden vessel, - Onward drive the boat of pinewood 40 - Forward to the nameless island, - And the nameless promontory." - - So the wind the bark drove onward, - O'er the foaming lake 'twas driven, - O'er the bright expanse of water, - Speeding o'er the open water, - Rocking while two moons were changing, - Till a third was near its ending. - - At the cape were maidens sitting, - There upon the blue lake's margin 50 - They were gazing, and were casting - Glances o'er the azure billows. - One was waiting for her brother, - And another for her father, - But the others all were waiting, - Waiting each one for a lover. - - In the distance spied they Kauko, - Sooner still the boat of Kauko, - Like a little cloud in distance, - Just between the sky and water. 60 - - And the island-maids reflected, - Said the maidens of the island: - "What's this strange thing in the water, - What this wonder on the billows? - If a boat of our relations, - Sailing vessel of our island, - Hasten then, and speed thee homeward, - To the harbour of the island, - That we hear the tidings quickly, - Hear the news from foreign countries, 70 - If there's peace among the shore-folks, - Or if war is waged among them." - - Still the wind the sail inflated, - And the billows drove the vessel. - Then the lively Lemminkainen - Guided to the isle the vessel, - To the island's end he drove it, - Where it ends in jutting headland. - - And he said on his arrival, - To the cape as he was coming, 80 - "Is there room upon this island, - On the surface of the island, - Where the boat may land upon it, - And to dry land I may bring it?" - - Said the girls upon the island, - And the island-maidens answered: - "There is room upon this island, - On the surface of the island, - Where the boat may land upon it, - And to dry land you may bring it. 90 - There are harbours for the vessel, - On the beach sufficient rollers, - To receive a hundred vessels, - Though the boats should come by thousands." - - Then the lively Lemminkainen - On the land drew up his vessel, - On the wooden rollers laid it, - And he spoke the words which follow: - "Is there room upon this island, - On the surface of the island, 100 - Where a little man may hide him, - And a weak man may take refuge - From the din of furious battle, - And the clash of steely sword-blades?" - - Said the girls upon the island, - And the island-maidens answered: - "There is room upon this island, - On the surface of the island, - Where a little man may hide him, - And a weak man may conceal him. 110 - Here are very many castles, - Stately castles to reside in, - Though there came a hundred heroes, - And a thousand men of valour." - - Said the lively Lemminkainen, - And he spoke the words which follow: - "Is there room upon this island, - On the surface of the island, - Where there stands a birch-tree forest, - And a stretch of other country, 120 - Where I perhaps may make a clearing, - Work upon my goodly clearing?" - - Said the girls upon the island, - And the island-maidens answered: - "There is not upon this island, - On the surface of the island, - Not the space your back could rest on, - Land not of a bushel's measure, - Where you perhaps might make a clearing, - Work upon your goodly clearing. 130 - All the land is now divided, - And the fields in plots are measured, - And allotted are the fallows, - Grassland managed by the commune." - - Said the lively Lemminkainen, - Asked the handsome Kaukomieli, - "Is there room upon this island, - On the surface of the island, - Space where I my songs may carol, - Space where I may sing my ballads? 140 - Words within my mouth are melting, - And between my gums are sprouting." - - Said the girls upon the island, - And the island-maidens answered: - "There is room upon this island, - On the surface of the island, - Space where you may sing your ballads, - And intone your splendid verses, - While you sport amid the greenwood, - While you dance among the meadows." 150 - - Then the lively Lemminkainen - Hastened to commence his singing. - In the court sang mountain-ashtrees, - In the farmyard oaks grew upward. - On the oaks were equal branches, - And on every branch an acorn, - Golden globes within the acorns, - And upon the globes were cuckoos. - When the cuckoos all were calling, - From their mouths was gold distilling, 160 - From their beaks was copper flowing, - Likewise silver pouring onward - To the hills all golden-shining, - And among the silver mountains. - - Once again sang Lemminkainen, - Once again he sang and chanted, - Gravel sang to pearls of beauty, - All the stones to gleaming lustre, - All the stones to glowing redness, - And the flowers to golden glory. 170 - - Then again sang Lemminkainen; - In the yard a well created, - O'er the well a golden cover, - And on this a golden bucket, - That the lads might drink the water, - And their sisters wash their faces. - Ponds he sang upon the meadows, - In the ponds blue ducks were floating, - Temples golden, heads of silver, - And their claws were all of copper. 180 - - Then the island-maidens wondered, - And the girls were all astounded - At the songs of Lemminkainen, - And the craft of that great hero. - - Said the lively Lemminkainen, - Spoke the handsome Kaukomieli, - "I have sung a song most splendid, - But perchance might sing a better, - If beneath a roof I sang it, - At the end of the deal table. 190 - If a house you cannot give me, - There to rest upon the planking, - I will hum my tunes in forest, - Toss my songs among the bushes." - - Said the maidens of the island, - Answered after full reflection: - "There are houses you may enter, - Handsome halls that you may dwell in, - Safe from cold to sing your verses, - In the open speak your magic." 200 - - Then the lively Lemminkainen, - Entered in a house directly, - Where he sang a row of pint-pots, - At the end of the long table. - All the pots with ale were brimming, - And the cans with mead the finest, - Filled as full as one could fill them, - Dishes filled to overflowing. - In the pots was beer in plenty, - And the mead in covered tankards, 210 - Butter too, in great abundance, - Pork was likewise there in plenty, - For the feast of Lemminkainen, - And for Kaukomieli's pleasure. - - Kauko was of finest manners, - Nor to eat was he accustomed, - Only with a knife of silver, - Fitted with a golden handle. - - So he sang a knife of silver, - And a golden-hafted knife-blade, 220 - And he ate till he was sated, - Drank the ale in full contentment. - - Then the lively Lemminkainen, - Roamed about through every village, - For the island-maidens' pleasure, - To delight the braidless damsels, - And where'er his head was turning, - There he found a mouth for kissing, - Wheresoe'er his hand was outstretched, - There he found a hand to clasp it. 230 - - And at night he went to rest him, - Hiding in the darkest corner; - There was not a single village - Where he did not find ten homesteads, - There was not a single homestead - Where he did not find ten daughters, - There was none among the daughters, - None among the mother's children, - By whose side he did not stretch him, - On whose arm he did not rest him. 240 - - Thus a thousand brides he found there, - Rested by a hundred widows; - Two in half-a-score remained not, - Three in a completed hundred, - Whom he left untouched as maidens, - Or as widows unmolested. - - Thus the lively Lemminkainen - Lived a life of great enjoyment, - For the course of three whole summers - In the island's pleasant hamlets, 250 - To the island-maidens' rapture, - The content of all the widows; - One alone he did not trouble, - 'Twas a poor and aged maiden, - At the furthest promontory, - In the tenth among the hamlets. - - As he pondered on his journey, - And resolved to wend him homeward, - Came the poor and aged maiden, - And she spoke the words which follow: 260 - "Handsome hero, wretched Kauko, - If you will not think upon me, - Then I wish that as you travel, - May your boat on rocks be stranded." - - Rose he not before the cockcrow, - Nor before the hen's child rose he, - From his sporting with the maiden, - Laughing with the wretched woman. - - Then upon a day it happened, - And upon a certain evening, 270 - He resolved to rise and wander, - Waiting not for morn or cockcrow. - - Long before the time he rose up, - Sooner than the time intended, - And he went around to wander, - And to wander through the village, - For his sporting with the damsels, - To amuse the wretched women. - - As alone by night he wandered, - Through the villages he sauntered 280 - To the isle's extremest headland, - To the tenth among the hamlets, - He beheld not any homestead - Where three rooms he did not notice, - There was not a room among them - Where he did not see three heroes, - And he saw not any hero, - With a sword-blade left unwhetted, - Sharpened thus to bring destruction - On the head of Lemminkainen. 290 - - Then the lively Lemminkainen - Spoke aloud the words which follow: - "Woe to me, the day is dawning, - And the pleasant sun is rising - O'er a youth, of all most wretched, - O'er the neck of me unhappy! - Lempo may perchance a hero - With his shirt protect and cover, - Perhaps will cover with his mantle, - Cast it round him for protection 300 - Though a hundred men attacked him, - And a thousand pressed upon him." - - Unembraced he left the maidens, - And he left them unmolested, - And he turned him to his vessel, - Luckless to his boat he hurried, - But he found it burned to ashes, - Utterly consumed to ashes. - - Mischief now he saw approaching, - O'er his head ill days were brooding, 310 - So began to build a vessel, - And a new boat to construct him. - - Wood was failing to the craftsman, - Boards with which a boat to fashion, - But he found of wood a little, - Begged some wretched bits of boarding, - Five small splinters of a spindle, - And six fragments of a bobbin. - - So from these a boat he fashioned, - And a new boat he constructed, 320 - By his magic art he made it, - With his secret knowledge made it, - Hammered once, one side he fashioned, - Hammered twice, called up the other, - Hammered then a third time only, - And the boat was quite completed. - Then he pushed the boat in water, - On the waves he launched the vessel, - And he spoke the words which follow, - And expressed himself in thiswise: 330 - "Float like bladder on the water, - On the waves like water-lily. - Eagle, give me now three feathers, - Eagle, three, and two from raven, - For the wretched boat's protection, - For the wretched vessel's bulwarks." - - Then he stepped upon the planking, - At the stern he took his station, - Head bowed down, in deep depression, - And his cap awry adjusted, 340 - Since by night he dare not tarry, - Nor by day could linger longer, - For the island-maidens' pleasure, - Sporting with unbraided damsels. - - Spoke the lively Lemminkainen, - Said the handsome Kaukomieli: - "Now the youth must take departure, - And must travel from these dwellings, - Joyless leave behind these damsels, - Dance no longer with the fair ones. 350 - Surely when I have departed, - And have left this land behind me, - Never will rejoice these damsels, - Nor unbraided girls be jesting, - In their homes so full of sadness, - In the courtyards now so dreary." - - Wept the island girls already, - Damsels at the cape lamented: - "Wherefore goest thou, Lemminkainen, - And departest, hero-bridegroom? 360 - Dost thou go for maidens' coyness, - Or for scarcity of women?" - - Spoke the lively Lemminkainen, - Said the handsome Kaukomieli, - "'Tis not for the maidens' coyness, - Nor the scarcity of women. - I have had a hundred women, - And embraced a thousand maidens; - Thus departeth Lemminkainen, - Quits you thus your hero-bridegroom, 370 - Since the great desire has seized me, - Longing for my native country, - Longing for my own land's strawberries, - For the slopes where grow the raspberries, - For the maidens on the headland, - And the poultry of my farmyard." - - Then the lively Lemminkainen - Pushed into the waves the vessel, - Blew the wind, and then it blustered, - Rising waves drove on the vessel 380 - O'er the blue lake's shining surface, - And across the open water. - - On the beach there stood the sad ones, - On the shingles the unhappy, - And the island girls were weeping, - And the golden maids lamenting. - Wept for long the island-maidens, - Damsels on the cape lamented, - Long as they could see the masthead, - And the ironwork was gleaming, 390 - But they wept not for the masthead, - Nor bewailed the iron fittings, - By the mast they wept the steersman, - He who wrought the iron fittings. - - Lemminkainen too was weeping, - Long he wept, and long was saddened, - Long as he could see the island, - Or the outline of its mountains; - But he wept not for the island, - Nor lamented for the mountains, 400 - But he wept the island-damsels, - For the mountain geese lamented. - - Then the lively Lemminkainen - O'er the blue lake took his journey, - And he voyaged one day, a second, - And at length upon the third day - Rose a furious wind against him, - And the whole horizon thundered. - Rose a great wind from the north-west, - And a strong wind from the north-east, 410 - Struck one side and then the other, - Thus the vessel overturning. - - Then the lively Lemminkainen - Plunged his hands into the water, - Rowing forward with his fingers, - While his feet he used for steering. - - Thus he swam by night and daytime - And with greatest skill he steered him, - And a little cloud perceived he, - In the west a cloud projecting, 420 - Which to solid land was changing, - And became a promontory. - - On the cape he found a homestead, - Where he found the mistress baking, - And her daughters dough were kneading. - "O thou very gracious mistress, - If you but perceived my hunger, - Thought upon my sad condition, - You would hurry to the storehouse, - To the alehouse like a snowstorm, 430 - And a can of ale would fetch me, - And a strip of pork would fetch me, - In the pan would broil it for me, - And would pour some butter on it, - That the weary man might eat it, - And the fainting hero drink it. - Nights and days have I been swimming - Out upon the broad lake's billows, - With the wind as my protector, - At the mercy of the lake-waves." 440 - - Thereupon the gracious mistress - Hastened to the mountain storehouse, - Sliced some butter in the storehouse, - And a slice of pork provided, - In the pan thereafter broiled it, - That the hungry man might eat it. - Then she fetched of ale a canful, - For the fainting hero's drinking, - And she gave him a new vessel, - And a boat completely finished, 450 - Which to other lands should take him, - And convey him to his birthplace. - - Then the lively Lemminkainen - Started on his homeward journey, - Saw the lands and saw the beaches, - Here the islands, there the channels, - Saw the ancient landing-stages, - Saw the former dwelling-places, - And he saw the pine-clad mountains, - All the hills with fir-trees covered, 460 - But he found no more his homestead, - And the walls he found not standing; - Where the house before was standing, - Rustled now a cherry-thicket, - On the mound were pine-trees growing, - Juniper beside the well-spring. - - Spoke the lively Lemminkainen, - Said the handsome Kaukomieli, - "I have roamed among these forests, - O'er the stones, and plunged in river, 470 - And have played about the meadows, - And have wandered through the cornfields. - Who has spoiled my well-known homestead, - And destroyed my charming dwelling? - They have burned the house to ashes, - And the wind's dispersed the ashes." - - Thereupon he fell to weeping, - And he wept one day, a second, - But he wept not for the homestead, - Nor lamented for the storehouse, 480 - But he wept the house's treasure, - Dearer to him than the storehouse. - - Then he saw a bird was flying, - And a golden eagle hovering, - And he then began to ask it: - "O my dearest golden eagle, - Can you not perchance inform me, - What has happened to my mother, - To the fair one who has borne me, - To my dear and much-loved mother?" 490 - - Nothing knew the eagle of her, - Nor the stupid bird could tell him, - Only knew that she had perished; - Said a raven she had fallen, - And had died beneath the sword-blades, - 'Neath the battle-axes fallen. - - Answered lively Lemminkainen, - Said the handsome Kaukomieli: - "O my fair one who hast borne me, - O my dear and much-loved mother! 500 - Hast thou perished, who hast borne me, - Hast thou gone, O tender mother? - Now thy flesh in earth has rotted, - Fir-trees o'er thy head are growing, - Juniper upon thy ankles, - On thy finger-tips are willows. - - "Thus my wretched doom has found me, - And an ill reward has reached me, - That my sword I dared to measure, - And I dared to raise my weapons 510 - There in Pohjola's great castle, - In the fields of Pimentola. - But my own race now has perished, - Perished now is she who bore me." - - Then he looked, and turned on all sides, - And he saw a trace of footsteps, - Where the grass was lightly trampled, - And the heath was slightly broken. - Then he went the way they led him, - And he found a little pathway; 520 - To the forest led the pathway, - And he went in that direction. - - Thus he walked a verst, a second, - Hurried through a stretch of country, - And in darkest shades of forest, - In the most concealed recesses, - There he saw a hidden bath-house, - Saw a little cottage hidden, - In a cleft two rocks protected, - In a nook between three fir-trees; 530 - There he saw his tender mother, - There beheld the aged woman. - - Then the lively Lemminkainen, - Felt rejoiced beyond all measure, - And he spoke the words which follow, - And in words like these expressed him: - "O my very dearest mother, - O my mother who hast nursed me, - Thou art living still, O mother, - Watchful still, my aged mother! 540 - Yet I thought that thou had'st perished, - And wast lost to me for ever, - Perished underneath the sword-blades, - Or beneath the spears had'st fallen, - And I wept my pretty eyes out, - And my handsome cheeks were ruined." - - Then said Lemminkainen's mother, - "True it is that I am living, - But was forced to fly my dwelling, - And to seek a place of hiding 550 - In this dark and gloomy forest, - In the most concealed recesses, - When came Pohjola to battle, - Murderous hosts from distant countries, - Seeking but for thee, unhappy, - And our home they laid in ruins, - And they burned the house to ashes, - And they wasted all the holding." - - Said the lively Lemminkainen: - "O my mother who hast borne me, 560 - Do not give thyself to sadness, - Be not sad, and be not troubled. - We will now erect fresh buildings, - Better buildings than the others, - And will wage a war with Pohja, - Overthrowing Lempo's people." - - Then did Lemminkainen's mother - Answer in the words which follow: - "Long hast thou, my son, been absent, - Long, my Kauko, hast been living 570 - In a distant foreign country, - Always in the doors of strangers, - On a nameless promontory, - And upon an unknown island." - - Answered lively Lemminkainen, - Said the handsome Kaukomieli: - "There to dwell was very pleasant, - Charming was it there to wander. - There the trees are crimson-shining, - Red the trees, and blue the country, 580 - And the pine-boughs shine like silver, - And the flowers of heath all golden, - And the mountains are of honey, - And the rocks are made of hens' eggs, - Flows the mead from withered pine-trees, - Milk flows from the barren fir-trees, - Butter flows from corner-fences, - From the posts the ale is flowing. - - "There to dwell was very pleasant, - Lovely was it to reside there; 590 - Afterwards 'twas bad to live there, - And unfit for me to live there. - They were anxious for the maidens, - And suspicious of the women, - Lest the miserable wenches, - And the fat and wicked creatures, - Might by me be badly treated, - Visited too much at night-time. - But I hid me from the maidens, - And the women's daughters guarded 600 - Just as hides the wolf from porkers, - Or the hawks from village poultry." - - - - -RUNO XXX.--LEMMINKAINEN AND TIERA - - -_Argument_ - -Lemminkainen goes to ask his former comrade-in-arms, Tiera, to join him -in an expedition against Pohjola (1-122). The Mistress of Pohjola sends -the Frost against them, who freezes the boat in the sea, and almost -freezes the heroes themselves in the boat, but that Lemminkainen -restrains it by powerful charms and invocations (123-316). Lemminkainen -and his companion walk across the ice to the shore, wander about in the -waste for a long time in a miserable plight, and at last make their way -home (317-500). - - Ahti, youth for ever youthful, - Lemminkainen young and lively, - Very early in the morning, - In the very earliest morning, - Sauntered downward to the boathouse, - To the landing-stage he wandered. - - There a wooden boat was weeping, - Boat with iron rowlocks grieving; - "Here am I, for sailing ready, - But, O wretched one, rejected. 10 - Ahti rows not forth to battle, - For the space of sixty summers, - Neither for the lust of silver, - Or if need of gold should drive him." - - Then the lively Lemminkainen - Struck his glove upon the vessel, - With his coloured glove he struck it, - And he said the words which follow: - "Care thou not, O deck of pinewood, - Nor lament, O timber-sided. 20 - Thou once more shalt go to battle, - And shalt mingle in the combat, - Shalt again be filled with warriors, - Ere to-morrow shall be ended." - - Then he went to seek his mother, - And he said the words which follow: - "Do not weep for me, O mother, - Nor lament, thou aged woman, - If I once again must wander, - And again must go to battle; 30 - For my mind resolve has taken, - And a plan my brain has seized on, - To destroy the folk of Pohja, - And revenge me on the scoundrels." - - To restrain him sought his mother, - And the aged woman warned him: - "Do not go, my son, my dearest, - Thus 'gainst Pohjola to combat! - There perchance might death o'ercome thee, - And destruction fall upon thee." 40 - - Little troubled Lemminkainen, - But he thought on his departure, - And he started on his journey, - And he spoke the words which follow: - "Can I find another hero, - Find a man, and find a swordsman, - Who will join in Ahti's battle, - And with all his strength will aid me? - - "Well is Tiera known unto me, - Well with Kuura I'm acquainted, 50 - He will be a second hero, - He's a hero and a swordsman, - He will join in Ahti's battle, - And with all his strength will aid me." - - Through the villages he wandered, - Found his way to Tiera's homestead, - And he said on his arrival, - Spoke the object of his coming: - "O my Tiera, faithful comrade, - Of my friends most loved and dearest, 60 - Thinkest thou on days departed, - On the life we lived aforetime, - When we wandered forth together, - To the fields of mighty battles? - There was not a single village - Where ten houses were not numbered, - There was none among the houses, - Where ten heroes were not living, - There was none among the heroes, - Not a man, however valiant, 70 - None who did not fall before us, - By us twain who was not slaughtered." - - At the window worked the father, - And a spear-shaft he was carving; - By the threshold stood the mother, - Busy as she churned the butter; - At the door the ruddy brothers, - And they wrought a sledge's framework; - At the bridge-end stood the sisters, - And the clothes they there were wringing. 80 - - From the window spoke the father, - And the mother from the threshold, - From the door the ruddy brothers, - From the bridge-end spoke the sisters, - "Tiera cannot go to battle, - Nor may strike with spear in warfare. - Other duties call for Tiera, - He has made a lifelong compact, - For a young wife has he taken - As the mistress of his household, 90 - But untouched is she at present, - Uncaressed is still her bosom." - - By the stove was Tiera resting, - By the stove-side Kuura rested, - At the stove one foot he booted, - And the other at the stove-bench, - At the gate his belt he tightened, - In the open girt it round him; - Then did Tiera grasp his spear-shaft, - Not the largest of the largest, 100 - Nor the smallest of the smallest, - But a spear of mid dimensions. - On the blade a steed was standing, - On the side a foal was trotting, - At the joint a wolf was howling, - At the haft a bear was growling. - - Thus his spear did Tiera brandish, - And he brandished it to whirring, - Hurled it then to fathom-deepness - In the stiff clay of the cornfield, 110 - In a bare spot of the meadow, - In a flat spot free from hillocks. - - Then his spear was placed by Tiera - With the other spears of Ahti, - And he went and made him ready - Swift to join in Ahti's battle. - - Then did Ahti Saarelainen - Push his boat into the water, - Like a snake in grass when creeping, - Even like a living serpent, 120 - And he sailed away to north-west, - On the lake that borders Pohja. - - Then did Pohjola's old Mistress - Call the wicked Frost to aid her, - On the lake that borders Pohja, - On the deep and open water, - And she said the words which follow, - Thus she spoke and thus commanded: - "O my Frost, my boy so little, - O thou foster-child I nurtured! 130 - Go thou forth where I shall bid thee, - Where I bid thee, and I send thee. - Freeze the boat of that great scoundrel, - Boat of lively Lemminkainen, - On the lake's extended surface, - On the deep and open water, - Freeze thou too the master in it, - Freeze thou in the boat the rascal, - That he nevermore escape thee, - In the course of all his lifetime, 140 - If myself I do not loose him, - If myself I do not free him." - - Then the Frost, that wicked fellow, - And a youth the most malicious, - Went upon the lake to freeze it, - And upon the waves he brooded. - Forth he went, as he was ordered, - And upon the land he wandered, - Bit the leaves from off the branches, - Grass from off the flowerless meadows. 150 - - Then he came upon his journey - To the lake that borders Pohja, - To the endless waste of water, - And upon the first night only - Froze the bays and froze the lakelets, - Hurried forward on the seashore, - But the lake was still unfrozen, - And the waves were still unstiffened. - If a small finch swam the water, - On the waves a water-wagtail, 160 - Still its claws remained unfrozen, - And its little head unstiffened. - - On the second night, however, - He began to work more strongly, - Growing insolent extremely, - And he now grew most terrific, - Then the ice on ice he loaded, - And the great Frost still was freezing, - And with ice he clothed the mountains, - Scattered snow to height of spear-shaft, 170 - Froze the boat upon the water, - Ahti's vessel on the billows; - Then he would have frozen Ahti, - And in ice his feet would fasten, - And he seized upon his fingers, - And beneath his toes attacked him. - Angry then was Lemminkainen, - Very angry and indignant, - Pushed the Frost into the fire, - Pushed him in an iron furnace. 180 - - With his hands the Frost then seized he, - Grasped him in his fists securely, - And he spoke the words which follow, - And in words like these expressed him: - "Pakkanen, Puhuri's offspring, - Thou, the son of cold of winter, - Do not make my fingers frozen, - Nor my little toes thus stiffen. - Let my ears remain unhandled, - Do not freeze my head upon me. 190 - - "There's enough that may be frozen, - Much is left you for your freezing, - Though the skins of men you freeze not, - Nor the forms of mother's children. - Be the plains and marshes frozen, - Freeze the stones to frozen coldness, - Freeze the willows near the water, - Grasp the aspen till it murmurs, - Peel the bark from off the birch-tree, - And the pine-trees break to pieces, 200 - But the men you shall not trouble, - Nor the hair of mother's children. - - "If this is not yet sufficient, - Other things remain for freezing. - Thou may'st freeze the stones when heated, - And the slabs of stone when glowing, - Thou may'st freeze the iron mountains, - And the rocks of steely hardness, - And the mighty river Vuoksi, - Or the Imatra terrific, 210 - Stop the course of raging whirlpool, - Foaming in its utmost fury. - - "Shall I tell you of your lineage, - And shall I make known your honours? - Surely do I know thy lineage, - All I know of thine uprearing; - For the Frost was born 'mid willows, - Nurtured in the sharpest weather, - Near to Pohjola's great homestead, - Near the hall of Pimentola, 220 - Sprung from father, ever crime-stained, - And from a most wicked mother. - - "Who was it the Frost who suckled, - Bathed him in the glowing weather? - Milkless wholly was his mother, - And his mother wholly breastless. - - "Adders 'twas the Frost who suckled, - Adders suckled, serpents fed him, - Suckled with their pointless nipples, - Suckled with their dried-up udders, 230 - And the Northwind rocked his cradle, - And to rest the cold air soothed him, - In the wretched willow-thicket, - In the midst of quaking marshes. - - "And the boy was reared up vicious, - Led an evil life destructive, - But as yet no name was given, - To a boy so wholly worthless; - When at length a name was given, - Frost it was they called the scoundrel. 240 - - "Then he wandered by the hedges, - Always dancing in the bushes, - Wading through the swamps in summer - On the broadest of the marshes, - Roaring through the pines in winter, - Crying out among the fir-trees, - Crashing through the woods of birch-trees, - Sweeping through the alder-thickets, - Freezing all the trees and grasses, - Making level all the meadows. 250 - From the trees he bit the foliage, - From the heather bit the blossoms, - Cracked the bark from off the pine-trees, - And the twigs from off the fir-trees. - - "Now that thou hast grown to greatness, - And attained thy fullest stature, - Dar'st thou me with cold to threaten, - And to seize my ears attemptest, - To attack my feet beneath me, - And my finger-tips attacking? 260 - - "But I shall not let you freeze me. - Not to miserably freeze me, - Fire I'll thrust into my stockings, - In my boots thrust burning firebrands, - In the seams thrust burning embers, - Fire will thrust beneath my shoestrings, - That the Frost may never freeze me, - Nor the sharpest weather harm me. - - "Thither will I now condemn thee, - To the furthest bounds of Pohja, 270 - To the place from whence thou camest, - To the home from whence thou camest. - Freeze upon the fire the kettles, - And the coals upon the hearthstone, - In the dough the hands of women, - And the boy in young wife's bosom, - In the ewes the milk congeal thou, - And in mares let foals be frozen. - - "If to this thou pay'st no heeding, - Then indeed will I condemn thee 280 - To the midst of coals of Hiisi, - Even to the hearth of Lempo, - Thrust thee there into the furnace, - Lay thee down upon the anvil, - Unprotected from the hammer, - From the pounding of the hammer, - That the hammer beat thee helpless, - And the hammer beat thee sorely. - - "If this will not overcome thee, - And my spells are insufficient, 290 - Still I know another station, - Know a fitting station for thee. - I will lead thy mouth to summer, - And thy tongue to home of summer, - Whence thou never canst release thee, - In the course of all thy lifetime, - If I do not give thee freedom, - And I should myself release thee." - - Then the Frost, the son of Northwind, - Felt that he was near destruction, 300 - Whereupon he prayed for mercy, - And he spoke the words which follow: - "Let us understand each other, - Nor the one the other injure, - In the course of all our lifetime, - While the golden moon is shining. - - "Should'st thou hear that I would freeze you, - Or again should misbehave me, - Thrust me then into the furnace, - Sink me in the blazing fire, 310 - In the smith's coals do thou sink me, - Under Ilmarinen's anvil, - Or my mouth to summer turn thou, - And my tongue to home of summer, - Never more release to hope for, - In the course of all my lifetime." - - Then the lively Lemminkainen - Left his vessel in the ice-floes, - Left his captured ship of battle, - And proceeded on his journey; 320 - Tiera too, the other hero, - Followed in his comrade's footsteps. - - O'er the level ice they wandered, - 'Neath their feet the smooth ice crunching, - And they walked one day, a second, - And at length upon the third day, - Then they saw a cape of hunger, - And afar a wretched village. - - 'Neath the cape there stood a castle, - And they spoke the words which follow: 330 - "Is there meat within the castle, - Is there fish within the household, - For the worn and weary heroes, - And the men who faint with hunger?" - Meat was none within the castle, - Nor was fish within the household. - - Spoke the lively Lemminkainen, - Said the handsome Kaukomieli: - "Fire consume this wretched castle, - Water sweep away such castles!" 340 - - He himself pursued his journey, - Pushing onward through the forest, - On a path with houses nowhere, - On a pathway that he knew not. - - Then the lively Lemminkainen, - He the handsome Kaukomieli, - Shore the wool from stones in passing, - From the rocks the hair he gathered, - And he wove it into stockings, - Into mittens quickly wrought it, 350 - In the mighty cold's dominion, - Where the Frost was freezing all things. - - On he went to seek a pathway, - Searching for the right direction. - Through the wood the pathway led him, - Led him in the right direction. - - Spoke the lively Lemminkainen, - Said the handsome Kaukomieli, - "O my dearest brother Tiera, - Now at length we're coming somewhere, 360 - Now that days and months we've wandered, - In the open air for ever." - - Then did Tiera make him answer, - And he spoke the words which follow: - "We unhappy sought for vengeance, - Recklessly we sought for vengeance, - Rushing forth to mighty conflict - In the gloomy land of Pohja, - There our lives to bring in danger, - Rushing to our own destruction, 370 - In this miserable country, - On a pathway that we knew not. - - "Never is it known unto us, - Never known and never guessed at, - What the pathway is that leads us, - Or the road that may conduct us - To our death at edge of forest, - Or on heath to meet destruction, - Here in the abode of ravens, - In the fields by crows frequented. 380 - - "And the ravens here are flocking, - And the evil birds are croaking, - And the flesh the birds are tearing, - And with blood the crows are sated, - And the ravens' beaks are moistened - In the wounds of us, the wretched, - To the rocks our bones they carry, - And upon the stones they cast them. - - "Ah, my hapless mother knows not, - Never she, with pain who bore me, 390 - Where her flesh may now be carried, - And her blood may now be flowing, - Whether in the furious battle, - In the equal strife of foemen, - Or upon a lake's broad surface, - On the far-extending billows, - Or on hills with pine-cones loaded, - Wandering 'mid the fallen branches. - - "And my mother can know nothing - Of her son, the most unhappy, 400 - Only know that he has perished, - Only know that he has fallen; - And my mother thus will weep me, - Thus lament, the aged woman: - - "'Thus my hapless son has perished, - And the wretched one has fallen; - He has sown the seed of Tuoni, - Harrows now in Kalma's country. - Perhaps the son I love so dearly, - Perhaps my son, O me unhappy, 410 - Leaves his bows untouched for ever, - Leaves his handsome bows to stiffen. - Now the birds may live securely, - In the leaves the grouse may flutter, - Bears may live their lives of rapine, - In the fields the reindeer roll them.'" - - Answered lively Lemminkainen, - Said the handsome Kaukomieli: - "Thus it is, unhappy mother, - Thou unhappy, who hast borne me! 420 - Thou a flight of doves hast nurtured, - Quite a flock of swans hast nurtured, - Rose the wind, and all were scattered, - Lempo came, and he dispersed them, - One in one place, one in other, - And a third in yet another. - - "I remember times aforetime, - And the better days remember, - How like flowers we gathered round thee, - In one homeland, just like berries. 430 - Many gazed upon our figures, - And admired our forms so handsome, - Otherwise than in the present, - In this time so full of evil. - Once the wind was our acquaintance, - And the sun was gazing on us: - Now the clouds are gathering round us, - And the rain has overwhelmed us. - But we let not trouble vex us, - Even in our greatest sorrow, 440 - Though the girls were living happy, - And the braidless maids were jesting, - And the women all were laughing, - And the brides were sweet as honey, - Tearless, spite of all vexation, - And unshaken when in trouble. - - "But we are not here enchanted, - Not bewitched, and not enchanted, - Here upon the paths to perish, - Sinking down upon our journey, 450 - In our youth to sadly perish, - In our bloom to meet destruction. - - "Let those whom the sorcerers harassed - And bewitched with eyes of evil, - Let them make their journey homeward, - And regain their native country. - Be the sorcerers' selves enchanted, - And with songs bewitched their children; - Let their race for ever perish, - And their race be brought to ruin. 460 - - "Ne'er in former times my father, - Never has my aged father - Yielded to a sorcerer's orders, - Or the wiles of Lapland's children. - Thus my father spoke aforetime, - And I now repeat his sayings: - 'Guard me, O thou kind Creator, - Guard me, Jumala most gracious, - Aid me with thy hand of mercy, - With thy mighty power protect me, 470 - From the plots of men of evil, - And the thoughts of aged women, - And the curses of the bearded, - And the curses of the beardless. - Grant us now thy aid eternal, - Be our ever-faithful guardian, - That no child be taken from us, - And no mother's child shall wander - From the path of the Creator, - Which by Jumala was fashioned.'" 480 - - Then the lively Lemminkainen, - He the handsome Kaukomieli, - From his care constructed horses, - Coursers black composed from trouble, - Reins from evil days he fashioned, - Saddles from his secret sorrows, - Then his horse's back he mounted, - On his white-front courser mounted, - And he rode upon his journey, - At his side his faithful Tiera, 490 - And along the shores he journeyed, - On the sandy shores proceeded, - Till he reached his tender mother, - Reached the very aged woman. - - Now will I abandon Kauko, - Long from out my song will leave him; - But he showed the way to Tiera, - Sent him on his homeward journey. - Now my song aside will wander, - While I turn to other matters. 500 - - - - -RUNO XXXI.--UNTAMO AND KULLERVO - - -_Argument_ - -Untamo wages war against his brother Kalervo, overthrows Kalervo and his -army, sparing only a single pregnant woman of the whole clan. She is -carried away to Untamo's people, and gives birth to her son Kullervo -(1-82). Kullervo resolves in his cradle to take revenge on Untamo, and -Untamo attempts several times to put him to death, but without success -(83-202). When Kullervo grows up, he spoils all his work, and therefore -Untamo sells him as a slave to Ilmarinen (203-374). - - 'Twas a mother reared her chickens, - Large the flock of swans she nurtured; - By the hedge she placed the chickens, - Sent the swans into the river, - And an eagle came and scared them, - And a hawk that came dispersed them, - And a flying bird dispersed them. - One he carried to Carelia, - Into Russia bore the second, - In its home he left the third one. 10 - - Whom the bird to Russia carried - Soon grew up into a merchant; - Whom he carried to Carelia, - Kalervo was called by others, - While the third at home remaining, - Bore the name of Untamoinen, - For his father's lifelong anguish, - And his mother's deep affliction. - - Untamoinen laid his netting - Down in Kalervo's fish-waters: 20 - Kalervoinen saw the netting, - In his bag he put the fishes. - Untamo of hasty temper - Then became both vexed and angry, - And his fingers turned to battle, - With his open palms he urged it, - Making strife for fishes' entrails, - And for perch-fry made a quarrel. - - Thus they fought and thus contended, - Neither overcame the other, 30 - And though one might smite the other, - He himself again was smitten. - - At another time it happened, - On the next and third day after, - Kalervoinen oats was sowing, - Back of Untamoinen's dwelling. - - Sheep of Untamo most reckless - Browsed the oats of Kalervoinen, - Whereupon his dog ferocious - Tore the sheep of Untamoinen. 40 - - Untamo began to threaten - Kalervo, his very brother; - Kalervo's race vowed to slaughter, - Smite the great, and smite the little, - And to fall on all the people, - And their houses burn to ashes. - - Men with swords in belt he mustered, - Weapons for their hands provided, - Little boys with spears in girdle, - Handsome youths who shouldered axes, 50 - And he marched to furious battle, - Thus to fight his very brother. - - Kalervoinen's son's fair consort - Then was sitting near the window, - And she looked from out the window, - And she spoke the words which follow: - "Is it smoke I see arising, - Or a gloomy cloud that rises, - On the borders of the cornfields, - Just beyond the new-made pathway?" 60 - - But no dark cloud there was rising, - Nor was smoke ascending thickly, - But 'twas Untamo's assemblage - Marching onward to the battle. - - On came Untamo's assemblage, - In their belts their swords were hanging, - Kalervo's folk overwhelming, - And his mighty race they slaughtered, - And they burned his house to ashes, - Like a level field they made it. 70 - - Left of Kalervo's folk only - But one girl, and she was pregnant; - Then did Untamo's assemblage - Lead her homeward on their journey, - That she there might sweep the chamber, - And the floor might sweep from litter. - - But a little time passed over, - When a little boy was born her, - From a most unhappy mother, - So by what name should they call him? 80 - Kullervo his mother called him, - Untamo, the Battle-hero. - - Then the little boy they swaddled, - And the orphan child they rested - In the cradle made for rocking, - That it might be rocked to lull him. - - So they rocked the child in cradle, - Rocked it till his hair was tossing, - Rocked him for one day, a second, - Rocked him on the third day likewise, 90 - When the boy began his kicking, - And he kicked and pushed about him, - Tore his swaddling clothes to pieces, - Freed himself from all his clothing, - Then he broke the lime-wood cradle, - All his rags he tore from off him. - - And it seemed that he would prosper, - And become a man of mettle. - Untamola thought already - That when he was grown to manhood, 100 - He would grow both wise and mighty, - And become a famous hero, - As a servant worth a hundred, - Equal to a thousand servants. - Thus he grew for two and three months, - But already in the third month, - When a boy no more than knee-high, - He began to speak in thiswise: - "Presently when I am bigger, - And my body shall be stronger, 110 - I'll avenge my father's slaughter, - And my mother's tears atone for." - - This was heard by Untamoinen, - And he spoke the words which follow: - "He will bring my race to ruin, - Kalervo reborn is in him." - Thereupon the heroes pondered - And the old crones all considered - How to bring the boy to ruin, - So that death might come upon him. 120 - - Then they put him in a barrel, - In a barrel did they thrust him, - And they pushed it to the water, - Pushed it out upon the billows. - - Then they went to look about them, - After two nights, after three nights, - If the boy had sunk in water, - Or had perished in the barrel. - - In the waves he was not sunken, - Nor had perished in the barrel, 130 - He had 'scaped from out the barrel, - And upon the waves was sitting, - In his hand a rod of copper, - At the end a line all silken, - And for lake-fish he was fishing, - As he floated on the water. - There was water in the lakelet, - Which perchance might fill two ladles, - Or if more exactly measured, - Partly was a third filled also. 140 - - Untamo again reflected, - "How can we o'ercome the infant, - That destruction come upon him, - And that death may overtake him?" - - Then he bade his servants gather - First a large supply of birch-trees, - Pine-trees with their hundred needles, - Trees from which the pitch was oozing, - For the burning of the infant, - And for Kullervo's destruction. 150 - - So they gathered and collected - First a large supply of birch-trees, - Pine-trees with their hundred needles, - Trees from which the pitch was oozing, - And of bark a thousand sledgefuls, - Ash-trees, long a hundred fathoms. - Fire beneath the wood they kindled, - And the pyre began to crackle, - And the boy they cast upon it, - 'Mid the glowing fire they cast him. 160 - Burned the fire a day, a second, - Burning likewise on the third day, - When they went to look about them. - Knee-deep sat the boy in ashes, - In the embers to his elbows. - In his hand he held the coal-rake, - And was stirring up the fire, - And he raked the coals together. - Not a hair was singed upon him, - Not a lock was even tangled. 170 - - Then did Untamo grow angry. - "Where then can I place the infant, - That we bring him to destruction, - And that death may overtake him?" - So upon a tree they hanged him, - Strung him up upon an oak-tree. - - Two nights and a third passed over, - And upon the dawn thereafter, - Untamo again reflected: - "Time it is to look around us, 180 - Whether Kullervo has fallen, - Or is dead upon the gallows." - - Then he sent a servant forward, - Back he came, and thus reported: - "Kullervo not yet has perished, - Nor has died upon the gallows. - Pictures on the tree he's carving, - In his hands he holds a graver. - All the tree is filled with pictures, - All the oak-tree filled with carvings; 190 - Here are men, and here are sword-blades, - And the spears are leaning by them." - - Where should Untamo seek aidance, - 'Gainst this boy, the most unhappy? - Whatsoever deaths he planned him, - Or he planned for his destruction, - In the jaws of death he fell not, - Nor could he be brought to ruin. - - And at length he grew full weary - Of his efforts to destroy him, 200 - So he reared up Kullervoinen - As a slave beneath his orders. - - Thereupon said Untamoinen, - And he spoke the words which follow: - "If you live as it is fitting, - Always acting as is proper, - In my house I will retain you, - And the work of servants give you. - I will pay you wages for it, - As I think that you deserve it, 210 - For your waist a pretty girdle, - Or upon your ear a buffet." - - So when Kullervo was taller, - And had grown about a span-length, - Then he found some work to give him, - That he should prepare to labour. - 'Twas to rock a little infant, - Rock a child with little fingers. - "Watch with every care the infant, - Give it food, and eat some also, 220 - Wash his napkins in the river, - Wash his little clothes and cleanse them." - - So he watched one day, a second, - Broke his hands, and gouged his eyes out, - And at length upon the third day, - Let the infant die of sickness, - Cast the napkins in the river, - And he burned the baby's cradle. - - Untamo thereon reflected, - "Such a one is quite unfitted 230 - To attend to little children, - Rock the babes with little fingers. - Now I know not where to send him, - Nor what work I ought to give him. - Perhaps he ought to clear the forest?" - So he went to clear the forest. - - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring - Answered in the words which follow: - "Now I first a man can deem me, - When my hands the axe are wielding. 240 - I am handsomer to gaze on, - Far more noble than aforetime, - Five men's strength I feel within me - And I equal six in valour." - - Then he went into the smithy, - And he spoke the words which follow: - "O thou smith, my dearest brother, - Forge me now a little hatchet, - Such an axe as fits a hero, - Iron tool for skilful workman, 250 - For I go to clear the forest, - And to fell the slender birch-trees." - - So the smith forged what he needed, - And an axe he forged him quickly; - Such an axe as fits a hero, - Iron tool for skilful workman. - - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, - Set to work the axe to sharpen, - And he ground it in the daytime, - And at evening made a handle. 260 - - Then he went into the forest, - High upon the wooded mountains, - There to seek the best of planking, - And to seek the best of timber. - With his axe he smote the tree-trunks, - With the blade of steel he felled them, - At a stroke the best he severed, - And the bad ones at a half-stroke. - - Five large trees at length had fallen, - Eight in all he felled before him, 270 - And he spoke the words which follow, - And in words like these expressed him: - "Lempo may the work accomplish, - Hiisi now may shape the timber!" - - In a stump he struck his axe-blade, - And began to shout full loudly, - And he piped, and then he whistled, - And he said the words which follow: - "Let the wood be felled around me, - Overthrown the slender birch-trees, 280 - Far as sounds my voice resounding, - Far as I can send my whistle. - - "Let no sapling here be growing, - Let no blade of grass be standing, - Never while the earth endureth, - Or the golden moon is shining, - Here in Kalervo's son's forest, - Here upon the good man's clearing. - - "If the seed on earth has fallen, - And the young corn should shoot upward, 290 - If the sprout should be developed, - And the stalk should form upon it, - May it never come to earing, - Or the stalk-end be developed." - - Then the mighty Untamoinen, - Wandered forth to gaze about him, - Learn how Kalervo's son cleared it, - And the new slave made a clearing. - But he found not any clearing, - And the young man had not cleared it. 300 - - Untamo thereon reflected, - "For such labour he's unsuited, - He has spoiled the best of timber, - And has felled the best for planking. - Now I know not where to send him, - Nor what work I ought to give him. - Should I let him make a fencing?" - So he went to make a fencing. - - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, - Set himself to make a fencing, 310 - And for this he took whole pine-trees, - And he used them for the fence-stakes, - Took whole fir-trees from the forest, - Wattled them to make the fencing, - Bound the branches fast together - With the largest mountain-ashtrees; - But he made the fence continuous, - And he made no gateway through it, - And he spoke the words which follow, - And in words like these expressed him: 320 - "He who cannot raise him birdlike, - Nor upon two wings can hover, - Never may he pass across it, - Over Kalervo's son's fencing!" - - Then did Untamo determine - Forth to go and gaze around him, - Viewing Kalervo's son's fencing - By the slave of war constructed. - - Stood the fence without an opening - Neither gap nor crevice through it, 330 - On the solid earth it rested, - Up among the clouds it towered. - - Then he spoke the words which follow: - "For such labour he's unsuited. - Here's the fence without an opening, - And without a gateway through it. - Up to heaven the fence is builded, - To the very clouds uprising; - None can ever pass across it, - Pass within through any opening. 340 - Now I know not where to send him, - Nor what work I ought to give him. - There is rye for threshing ready." - So he sent him to the threshing. - - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, - Set himself to do the threshing, - And the rye to chaff he pounded, - Into very chaff he threshed it. - Soon thereafter came the master, - Strolling forth to gaze around him, 350 - See how Kalervo's son threshed it, - And how Kullervoinen pounded. - All the rye to chaff was pounded, - Into very chaff he'd threshed it. - - Untamoinen then was angry. - "As a labourer he is useless. - Whatsoever work I give him, - All his work he spoils from malice. - Shall I take him into Russia, - Shall I sell him in Carelia, 360 - To the smith named Ilmarinen, - That he there may wield the hammer?" - - Kalervo's son took he with him, - And he sold him in Carelia, - To the smith named Ilmarinen, - Skilful wielder of the hammer. - - What then gave the smith in payment? - Great the payment that he made him; - For he gave two worn-out kettles, - And three halves of hooks he gave him, 370 - And five worn-out scythes he gave him, - And six worn-out rakes he gave him, - For a man the most unskilful, - For a slave completely worthless. - - - - -RUNO XXXII.--KULLERVO AND THE WIFE OF ILMARINEN - - -_Argument_ - -The wife of Ilmarinen makes Kullervo her herdsman and maliciously bakes -him a stone in his lunch (1-32). She then sends him out with the cattle, -after using the usual prayers and charms for their protection from bears -in the pastures (33-548). - - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, - Old man's son, with blue-dyed stockings, - Finest locks of yellow colour, - And with shoes of best of leather, - To the smith's house went directly, - Asked for work that very evening, - Asked the master in the evening, - And the mistress in the morning: - "Give me something now to work at, - Give me work that I may do it, 10 - Set me something now to work at, - Give some work to me the wretched!" - - Then the wife of Ilmarinen, - Pondered deeply on the matter, - What the new slave could accomplish, - What the new-bought wretch could work at, - And she took him as her herdsman, - Who should herd her flocks extensive. - - Then the most malicious mistress, - She, the smith's wife, old and jeering, 20 - Baked a loaf to give the herdsman, - And a great cake did she bake him, - Oats below and wheat above it, - And between, a stone inserted. - - Then she spread the cake with butter, - And upon the crust laid bacon, - Gave it as the slave's allowance, - As provision for the herdsman. - She herself the slave instructed, - And she spoke the words which follow: 30 - "Do not eat the food I give you, - Till in wood the herd is driven." - - Then did Ilmarinen's housewife - Send the herd away to pasture, - And she spoke the words which follow, - And in words like these expressed her: - "Send the cows among the bushes, - And the milkers in the meadow, - Those with wide horns to the aspens, - Those with curved horns to the birches, 40 - That they thus may fatten on them, - And may load themselves with tallow, - There upon the open meadows, - And among the wide-spread borders, - From the lofty birchen forest, - And the lower growing aspens, - From among the golden fir-woods, - From among the silver woodlands. - - "Watch them, Jumala most gracious, - Guard them, O thou kind Creator, 50 - Guard from harm upon the pathway, - And protect them from all evil, - That they come not into danger, - Nor may fall in any evil. - - "As beneath the roof-tree watch them, - Keep them under thy protection, - Watch them also in the open, - When beyond the fold protect them, - That the herd may grow more handsome, - And the mistress' cattle prosper, 60 - To the wish of our well-wishers, - 'Gainst the wish of our ill-wishers. - - "If my herdsman is a bad one, - Or the herd-girls should be timid, - Make the willow then a herdsman, - Let the alder watch the cattle, - Let the mountain-ash protect them, - And the cherry lead them homeward, - That the mistress need not seek them, - Nor need other folks be anxious. 70 - - "If the willow will not herd them, - Nor the mountain-ash protect them, - Nor the alder watch the cattle, - Nor the cherry lead them homeward, - Send thou then thy better servants, - Send the Daughters of Creation, - That they may protect my cattle, - And the whole herd may look after. - Very many are thy maidens, - Hundreds are beneath thy orders, 80 - Dwelling underneath the heavens, - Noble Daughters of Creation. - - "Suvetar, the best of women, - Etelaetaer, Nature's old one, - Hongatar, the noble mistress, - Katajatar, maiden fairest, - Pihlajatar, little damsel, - Tuometar, of Tapio daughter, - Mielikki, the wood's step-daughter, - Tellervo, the maid of Tapio, 90 - May ye all protect my cattle, - And protect the best among them, - Through the beauty of the summer, - In the pleasant time of leafage, - While the leaves on trees are moving, - Grass upon the ground is waving. - - "Suvetar, the best of women, - Etelaetaer, Nature's old one, - Spread thou out thy robe of softness, - And do thou spread out thy apron, 100 - As a covering for my cattle, - For the hiding of the small ones, - That no ill winds blow upon them, - Nor an evil rain fall on them. - - "Do thou guard my flock from evil, - Guard from harm upon the pathways, - And upon the quaking marshes, - Where the surface all is shifting, - Where the marsh is always moving, - And the depths below are shaking, 110 - That they come not into danger, - Nor may fall in any evil, - That no hoof in swamp is twisted, - Nor may slip among the marshes, - Save when Jumala perceives it, - 'Gainst the will of him, the Holy. - - "Fetch the cow-horn from a distance, - Fetch it from the midst of heaven, - Bring the mead-horn down from heaven, - Let the honey-horn be sounded. 120 - Blow into the horn then strongly, - And repeat the tunes resounding, - Blow then flowers upon the hummocks, - Blow then fair the heathland's borders, - Make the meadow's borders lovely, - And the forest borders charming, - Borders of the marshes fertile, - Of the springs the borders rolling. - - "Then give fodder to my cattle, - Give the cattle food sufficient, 130 - Give them food of honey-sweetness, - Give them drink as sweet as honey, - Feed them now with hay all golden, - And the heads of silvery grasses, - From the springs of all the sweetest, - From the streams that flow most swiftly, - From the swiftly-rushing torrents, - From the swiftly-running rivers, - From the hills all golden-shining, - And from out the silvery meadows. 140 - - "Dig them also wells all golden - Upon both sides of the pastures, - That the herd may drink the water, - And the sweet juice then may trickle - Down into their teeming udders, - Down into their swelling udders, - That the veins may all be moving, - And the milk may flow in rivers, - And the streams of milk be loosened, - And may foam the milky torrents, 150 - And the milk-streams may be silent, - And the milk-streams may be swollen, - And the milk be always flowing, - And the stream be always dropping, - Down upon the greenest haycocks, - And no evil fingers guide it; - That no milk may flow to Mana, - Nor upon the ground be wasted. - - "There are many who are wicked, - And who send the milk to Mana, 160 - And upon the ground who waste it, - Give the cattle's yield to others. - They are few, but they are skilful - Who can bring the milk from Mana, - Sourest milk from village storage, - And when new from other quarters. - - "Never has indeed my mother - Sought for counsel in the village, - Brought it from another household; - But she fetched her milk from Mana, 170 - Sour milk brought from those who stored it, - And fresh milk obtained from others; - Had the milk from distance carried, - Had it fetched from distant regions, - Fetched the milk from realms of Tuoni, - 'Neath the earth in Mana's kingdom. - Secretly at night they brought it, - And in murky places hid it, - That the wicked should not hear it, - Nor the worthless ones should know it, 180 - Nor bad hay should fall into it, - And it should be saved from spoiling. - - "Thus my mother always told me - In the very words which follow: - 'Where has gone the yield of cattle, - Whither has the milk now vanished? - Has it been conveyed to strangers, - Carried to the village storehouse, - In the laps of beggar-wenches, - In the arms of those who envy, 190 - Or among the trees been carried, - And been lost amid the forest, - And been scattered in the woodlands, - Or been lost upon the heathlands? - - "'But no milk shall go to Mana, - Nor the yield of cows to strangers, - In the laps of beggar-wenches, - In the arms of those who envy, - Nor among the trees be carried, - Nor be lost amid the forest, 200 - Nor be scattered in the woodlands - Nor be lost upon the heathlands. - In the house the milk is useful, - And at all times it is needed; - In the house there waits the mistress, - In her hand the wooden milk-pail.' - - "Suvetar, the best of women, - Etelaetaer, Nature's old one, - Go and fodder my Syoetikki, - Give thou drink to my Juotikki, 210 - Milk confer upon Hermikki, - And fresh fodder give Tuorikki, - Give thou milk unto Mairikki, - Put fresh milk into the cowhouse, - From the heads of brightest herbage, - And the reeds of all the forest, - From the lovely earth up-springing, - From the hillocks rich in honey, - From the sweetest meadow-grasses, - And the berry-bearing regions, 220 - From the goddess of the heather, - And the nymph who tends the grasses, - And the milkmaid of the cloudlets, - And the maid in midst of heaven. - Give the cows their milk-filled udders - Always filled to overflowing, - To be milked by dwarfish women, - That a little girl may milk them. - - "Rise, O virgin, from the valley, - From the spring, in gorgeous raiment, 230 - From the spring, O maiden, rise thou, - From the ooze arise, O fairest. - From the spring take thou some water, - Sprinkle thou my cattle with it, - That the cattle may be finer, - And the mistress' cattle prosper, - Ere the coming of the mistress, - Ere the herd-girl look upon them, - She, the most unskilful mistress, - And the very timid herd-girl. 240 - - "Mielikki, the forest's mistress, - Of the herds the bounteous mother, - Send the tallest of thy handmaids, - And the best among thy servants, - That they may protect my cattle, - And my herd be watched and tended - Through the finest of the summer, - In the good Creator's summer, - Under Jumala's protection, - And protected by his favour. 250 - - "Tellervo, O maid of Tapio, - Little daughter of the forest, - Clad in soft and beauteous garments, - With thy yellow hair so lovely, - Be the guardian of the cattle, - Do thou guard the mistress' cattle - All through Metsola so lovely, - And through Tapiola's bright regions - Do thou guard the herd securely, - Do thou watch the herd unsleeping. 260 - - "With thy lovely hands protect them, - With thy slender fingers stroke them, - Rub them with the skins of lynxes, - Comb them with the fins of fishes, - Like the hue of the lake creatures, - Like the wool of ewe of meadow. - Come at evening and night's darkness, - When the twilight round is closing, - Then do thou lead home my cattle, - Lead them to their noble mistress, 270 - On their backs the water pouring, - Lakes of milk upon their cruppers. - - "When the sun to rest has sunken, - And the bird of eve is singing, - Then I say unto my cattle, - Speak unto my horned creatures. - - "'Come ye home, ye curve-horned cattle, - Milk-dispensers to the household, - In the house 'tis very pleasant, - Where the floor is nice for resting. 280 - On the waste 'tis bad to wander, - Or upon the shore to bellow, - Therefore you should hasten homeward, - And the women fire will kindle, - In the field of honeyed grasses, - On the ground o'ergrown with berries.' - - "Nyyrikki, O son of Tapio, - Blue-coat offspring of the forest! - Take the stumps of tallest pine-trees, - And the lofty crowns of fir-trees, 290 - For a bridge in miry places, - Where the ground is bad for walking, - Deep morass, and swampy moorland, - And the treacherous pools of water. - Let the curve-horned cattle wander, - And the split-hoofed cattle gallop, - Unto where the smoke is rising, - Free from harm, and free from danger, - Sinking not into the marshes, - Nor embogged in miry places. 300 - - "If the cattle pay no heeding, - Nor will home return at nightfall, - Pihlajatar, little damsel, - Katajatar, fairest maiden, - Quickly cut a branch of birch-tree, - Take a rod from out the bushes, - Likewise take a whip of cherry, - And of juniper to scourge them, - From the back of Tapio's castle, - From among the slopes of alder. 310 - Drive the herd towards the household, - At the time for bathroom-heating; - Homeward drive the household cattle, - Cows from Metsola's great forest. - - "Otso, apple of the forest, - With thy honey-paws so curving, - Let us make a peace between us, - Haste to make a peace between us, - So that always and for ever - In the days that we are living, 320 - Thou wilt fell no hoofed cattle, - Nor wilt overthrow the milch-kine, - Through the finest of the summer, - In the good Creator's summer. - - "When thou hear'st the cow-bells ringing, - Or thou hear'st the cow-horn sounding, - Cast thee down among the hillocks, - Sleep thou there upon the meadow, - Thrust thine ears into the stubble, - Hide thy head among the hillocks, 330 - Or conceal thee in the thickets, - To thy mossy lair retreat thou, - Go thou forth to other districts, - Flee away to other hillocks, - That thou mayst not hear the cow-bells, - Nor the talking of the herdsmen. - - "O my Otso, O my darling, - Handsome one, with paws of honey, - I forbid thee to approach them, - Or molest the herd of cattle, 340 - Neither with thy tongue to touch them, - Nor with ugly mouth to seize them, - With thy teeth to tear to pieces, - Neither with thy claws to scratch them. - - "Go thou slouching through the meadow, - Go in secret through the pasture, - Slinking off when bells are ringing, - Shun the talking of the shepherds. - If the herd is on the heathland, - Then into the swamps retreat thou, 350 - If the herd is in the marshes, - Then conceal thee in the thickets, - If the herd should climb the mountain, - Quickly then descend the mountain, - If the herd should wander downward, - Wander then along the mountain, - If they wander in the bushes, - To the thicker woods retreat thou, - If the thicker wood they enter, - Wander then into the bushes, 360 - Wander like the golden cuckoo, - Like the dove of silver colour, - Move aside as moves the powan, - Glide away like fish in water, - As a flock of wool drifts sideways, - Or a roll of flax the lightest, - In thy fur thy claws conceal thou, - In thy gums thy teeth conceal thou, - That the herd thou dost not frighten, - Nor the little calves be injured. 370 - - "Let the cattle rest in quiet, - Leave in peace the hoofed cattle, - Let the herd securely wander, - Let them march in perfect order - Through the swamps and through the open, - Through the tangle of the forest, - Never do thou dare to touch them, - Nor to wickedly molest them. - - "Keep the former oath thou sworest, - There by Tuonela's deep river, 380 - By the raging fall of water, - At the knees of the Creator. - Thou hast been indeed permitted, - Three times in the course of summer, - To approach the bells when ringing, - And the tinkling of the cow-bells, - But 'tis not permitted to thee, - Nor permission has been given, - To commence a work of evil, - Or a deed of shame accomplish. 390 - - "Should thy frenzy come upon thee, - And thy teeth be seized with longing, - Cast thy frenzy in the bushes, - On the heath thy evil longing, - Then attack the trees all rotten, - Overthrow the rotten birch-trees, - Turn to trees in water standing, - Growl in berry-bearing districts. - - "If the need for food should seize thee, - Or for food the wish thou feelest, 400 - Eat the fungi in the forest, - And do thou break down the ant-hills, - And the red roots do thou delve for; - These are Metsola's sweet dainties. - Eat no grass reserved for fodder, - Neither do thou hurt my pasture. - - "When in Metsola the honey - Is fermenting and is working, - On the hills of golden colour, - And upon the plains of silver, 410 - There is food for those who hunger, - There is drink for all the thirsty, - There is food to eat that fails not, - There is drink that never lessens. - - "Let us make a league eternal, - Make an endless peace between us, - That we live in perfect quiet - And in comfort all the summer, - And to us the lands are common, - And our provender delicious. 420 - - "If thou dost desire a combat, - And wouldst live in hopes of battle, - Let us combat in the winter, - And contend in time of snowfall. - When the marshes thaw in summer, - And the pools are all unfrozen, - Never venture to approach thou, - Where the golden herd is living. - - "When thou comest to this country, - And thou movest in this forest, 430 - We at any time will shoot you, - Though the gunners should be absent. - There are very skilful women, - All of them accomplished housewives, - And they will destroy your pathway, - On your journey bring destruction, - Lest you might work any evil, - Or indulge in any mischief, - Ill by Jumala not sanctioned, - And against his blessed orders. 440 - - "Ukko, thou, of Gods the highest, - Shouldst thou hear that he is coming, - Then do thou transform my cattle, - Suddenly transform my cattle, - Into stones convert my own ones, - Change my fair ones into tree-trunks, - When the monster roams the district, - And the big one wanders through it. - - "If I were myself a Bruin, - Roamed about a honey-pawed one, 450 - Never would I dare to venture - To the feet of aged women. - There are many other regions, - There are many other penfolds, - Where a man may go to wander, - Roaming aimless at his pleasure. - Therefore move thy paws across them, - Do thou move thy paws across them, - In the blue wood's deep recesses, - In the depths of murmuring forest. 460 - - "On the heath o'er pine-cones wander, - Tramp thou through the sandy districts, - Go thou where the way is level, - Do thou bound along the lakeshore, - To the furthest bounds of Pohja, - To the distant plains of Lapland. - There indeed mayst thou be happy, - Good it is for thee to dwell there, - Wandering shoeless in the summer, - Wandering sockless in the autumn, 470 - Through the wide expanse of marshland, - And across the wide morasses. - - "But if thou should not go thither, - If thou canst not find the pathway, - Hasten then to distant regions, - Do thou wander, on thy pathway - Unto Tuonela's great forest, - Or across the heaths of Kalma. - There are marshes to be traversed, - There are heaths that thou mayst traverse, 480 - There is Kirjos, there is Karjos, - There are many other cattle, - Fitted with their iron neck-chains, - Ten among them altogether; - There the lean kine quickly fatten, - And their bones are soon flesh-covered. - - "Be propitious, wood and forest, - Be thou gracious, O thou blue wood, - Give thou peace unto the cattle, - And protection to the hoofed ones, 490 - Through the whole length of the summer, - Of the Lord the loveliest season. - - "Kuippana, thou king of woodland, - Active greybeard of the forest, - Hold thy dogs in careful keeping, - Watch thou well thy dogs and guard them; - Thrust some fungus in one nostril, - In the other thrust an apple, - That they may not smell the cattle, - And they may not scent their odour. 500 - Bind their eyes with silken ribands, - Likewise bind their ears with linen, - That they may not hear them moving, - And they may not see them walking. - - "If this is not yet sufficient, - And they do not much regard it, - Then do thou forbid thy children, - Do thou drive away thy offspring. - Lead them forth from out this forest, - From this lakeshore do thou drive them, 510 - From the lands where roam the cattle, - From among the spreading willows, - Do thou hide thy dogs in caverns, - Nor neglect to bind them firmly, - Bind them with the golden fetters, - With the slender silver fetters, - That they may commit no evil, - And be guilty of no outrage. - - "If this is not yet sufficient, - And they do not much regard it, 520 - Ukko, then, O golden monarch, - Ukko, O thou silver guardian, - Hearken to my words so golden, - Listen to my lovely sayings! - Take a snaffle made of rowan, - Fix it on their stumpy muzzles, - Or if rowan will not hold them, - Cast thou then a copper muzzle, - If too weak is found the copper, - Forge thou then an iron muzzle, 530 - If they break the iron muzzle, - And it should itself be shattered, - Drive thou then a stake all golden, - Through the chin and through the jawbone, - Do thou close their jaws securely, - Fix them that they cannot move them, - That they cannot move their jawbones, - And their teeth can scarcely open, - If the iron is not opened, - If the steel should not be loosened, 540 - If with knife it is not severed, - If with hatchet 'tis not broken." - - Then did Ilmarinen's housewife, - Of the smith the wife so artful, - Drive from out their stalls the cattle, - Send the cattle forth to pasture, - After them she sent the shepherd, - That the slave should drive the cattle. - - - - -RUNO XXXIII.--THE DEATH OF ILMARINEN'S WIFE - - -_Argument_ - -While Kullervo is in the pasture in the afternoon he tries to cut the -cake with his knife which he completely spoils, and this goes to his -heart the more because the knife was the only remembrance left to him of -his family (1-98). To revenge himself on the mistress, he drives the -cattle into the marshes to be devoured by beasts of the forest, and -gathers together a herd of wolves and bears, which he drives home in the -evening (99-184). When the mistress goes to milk them she is torn to -pieces by the wild beasts (185-296). - - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, - Put his lunch into his wallet, - Drove the cows along the marshes, - While across the heath he wandered, - And he spoke as he was going, - And repeated on his journey, - "Woe to me, a youth unhappy, - And a youth of wretched fortune! - Wheresoe'er I turn my footsteps, - Nought but idleness awaits me; 10 - I must watch the tails of oxen, - And must watch the calves I follow, - Always tramping through the marshes, - Through the worst of level country." - - Then upon the ground he rested, - On a sunny slope he sat him, - And he then composed these verses, - And expressed himself in singing: - "Sun of Jumala, O shine thou, - Of the Lord, thou wheel, shine warmly, 20 - On the warder of the smith's herd, - And upon the wretched shepherd, - Not on Ilmarinen's household, - Least of all upon the mistress, - For the mistress lives luxurious, - And the wheaten-bread she slices, - And the finest cakes devours, - And she spreads them o'er with butter, - Gives the wretched shepherd dry bread, - Dry crusts only for his chewing, 30 - Only oaten-cake she gives me, - Even this with chaff she mixes, - Even straw she scatters through it, - Gives for food the bark of fir-tree, - Water in a birch-bark bucket, - Upscooped 'mid the grassy hillocks. - March, O sun, and wheat, O wander, - Sink in Jumala's own season, - Hasten, sun, among the pine-trees, - Wander, wheat, into the bushes, 40 - 'Mid the junipers, O hasten, - Fly thou to the plains of alder, - Lead thou then the herdsman homeward, - Give him butter from the barrel, - Let him eat the freshest butter, - Over all the cakes extending." - - But the wife of Ilmarinen - While the shepherd was lamenting, - And while Kullervo was singing, - Ate the butter from the barrel, 50 - And she ate the freshest butter, - And upon the cakes she spread it, - And hot soup had she made ready, - But for Kullervo cold cabbage, - Whence the dog the fat had eaten, - And the black dog made a meal from, - And the spotted dog been sated, - And the brown dog had sufficient. - - From the branch there sang a birdling, - Sang a small bird from the bushes, 60 - "Time 'tis for the servant's supper, - O thou orphan boy, 'tis evening." - - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, - Looked, and saw the sun was sinking, - And he said the words which follow: - "Now the time has come for eating, - Yes, the time has come for eating, - Time it is to take refreshment." - - So to rest he drove the cattle, - On the heath he drove the cattle, 70 - And he sat him on a hillock, - And upon a green hill sat him. - From his back he took his wallet, - Took the cake from out the wallet, - And he turned it round and eyed it, - And he spoke the words which follow: - "Many a cake is outside handsome, - And the crust looks smooth from outside, - But within is only fir-bark, - Only chaff beneath the surface." 80 - - From the sheath he took his knife out, - And to cut the cake attempted. - On the stone the knife struck sharply, - And against the stone was broken. - From the knife the point was broken; - And the knife itself was broken. - - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, - Looked, and saw the knife was broken, - And at length he burst out weeping, - And he said the words which follow: 90 - "Save this knife I'd no companion, - Nought to love except this iron, - 'Twas an heirloom from my father, - And the aged man had used it. - Now against a stone 'tis broken, - 'Gainst a piece of rock 'tis shattered - In the cake of that vile mistress, - Baked there by that wicked woman. - - "How shall I for this reward her, - Woman's prank, and damsel's mockery, 100 - And destroy the base old woman, - And that wicked wench, the bakeress?" - - Then a crow cawed from the bushes, - Cawed the crow, and croaked the raven. - "O thou wretched golden buckle, - Kalervo's surviving offspring, - Wherefore art thou so unhappy, - Wherefore is thy heart so troubled? - Take a switch from out the bushes, - And a birch from forest-valley, 110 - Drive the foul beasts in the marshes, - Chase the cows to the morasses, - Half to largest wolves deliver, - Half to bears amid the forest. - - "Call thou all the wolves together, - All the bears do thou assemble, - Change the wolves to little cattle, - Make the bears the larger cattle, - Lead them then like cattle homeward, - Lead them home like brindled cattle; 120 - Thus repay the woman's jesting, - And the wicked woman's insult." - - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, - Uttered then the words which follow: - "Wait thou, wait thou, whore of Hiisi, - For my father's knife I'm weeping, - Soon wilt thou thyself be weeping, - And be weeping for thy milchkine." - - From the bush a switch he gathered, - Juniper as whip for cattle, 130 - Drove the cows into the marshes, - And the oxen in the thickets, - Half of these the wolves devoured, - To the bears he gave the others, - And he sang the wolves to cattle, - And he changed the bears to oxen, - Made the first the little cattle, - Made the last the larger cattle. - - In the south the sun was sinking, - In the west the sun descended, 140 - Bending down towards the pine-trees - At the time of cattle-milking. - Then the dusty wicked herd-boy, - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, - Homeward drove the bears before him, - And the wolf-flock to the farmyard, - And the bears he thus commanded, - And the wolves he thus instructed: - "Tear the mistress' thighs asunder, - See that through her calves you bite her, 150 - When she comes to look around her, - And she bends her down to milk you." - - Then he made a pipe of cow-bone, - And a whistle made of ox-horn, - From Tuomikki's leg a cow-horn, - And a flute from heel of Kirjo, - Then upon the horn blew loudly, - And upon his pipe made music. - Thrice upon the hill he blew it, - Six times at the pathway's opening. 160 - - Then did Ilmarinen's housewife, - Wife of smith, an active woman, - Who for milk had long been waiting, - And expecting summer butter, - Hear the music on the marshes, - And upon the heath the cattle, - And she spoke the words which follow, - And expressed herself in thiswise: - "Praise to Jumala be given, - Sounds the pipe, the herd is coming, 170 - Whence obtained the slave the cow-horn, - That he made a horn to blow on? - Wherefore does he thus come playing, - Blowing tunes upon the cow-horn, - Blowing till he bursts the eardrums, - And he gives me quite a headache?" - - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, - Answered in the words which follow: - "In the swamp the horn was lying, - From the sand I brought the cow-horn, 180 - To the lane I brought your cattle, - In the shed the cows are standing; - Come you forth to smoke the cattle, - And come out to milk the cattle." - - Then did Ilmarinen's housewife - Bid the mother milk the cattle. - "Mother, go and milk the cattle, - Do thou go to tend the cattle, - For I think I cannot finish - Kneading dough as I would have it." 190 - - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, - Answered in the words which follow: - "Ever do the thrifty housewives, - Ever do the careful housewives - Go the first to milk the cattle, - Set themselves to milk the cattle." - - Then did Ilmarinen's housewife - Hasten forth to smoke the cattle, - And she went to milk the cattle, - And surveyed the herd before her, 200 - Gazed upon the horned cattle, - And she spoke the words which follow: - "Beauteous is the herd to gaze on, - Very sleek the horned cattle, - They have all been rubbed with lynx-skin - And the wool of sheep of forest, - Well-filled, too, are all their udders, - And expanded with their fulness." - - So she stooped her down to milk them, - And she sat her down for milking, 210 - Pulled a first time and a second, - And attempted it a third time, - And the wolf sprang fiercely at her, - And the bear came fiercely after. - At her mouth the wolf was tearing, - And the bear tore through her tendons, - Halfway through her calves they bit her, - And they broke across her shinbones. - - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring - Thus repaid the damsel's jesting, 220 - Damsel's jesting, woman's mocking, - Thus repaid the wicked woman. - - Ilmarinen's wife illustrious - Then herself was brought to weeping, - And she spoke the words which follow: - "Ill thou dost, O wicked herdsman, - Driving bears unto the homestead, - To the yard these wolves gigantic." - - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring - Heard, and thus he made her answer: 230 - "Ill I did, a wicked herd-boy, - Not so great as wicked mistress. - In my cake a stone she baked me, - Baked a lump of rock within it, - On the stone my knife struck sharply, - 'Gainst the rock my knife was shattered; - 'Twas the knife of mine own father, - Of our race a cherished heirloom." - - Then said Ilmarinen's housewife, - "O thou herd-boy, dearest herd-boy, 240 - Wilt thou alter thy intention, - And recall thy words of magic, - And release me from the wolf's jaws, - From the bear's claws now release me? - Better shirts will I then give you, - And will give you handsome aprons, - Give you wheaten-bread, and butter, - And the sweetest milk for drinking, - For a year no work will give you, - Give you light work in the second. 250 - - "If you haste not to release me, - Come not quickly to my rescue, - Death will quickly fall upon me, - And to earth shall I be altered." - - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, - Answered in the words which follow: - "If you die, so may you perish, - If you perish, may you perish! - Room there is in earth to hold you, - Room in Kalma's home for lost ones, 260 - For the mightiest there to slumber, - For the proudest to repose them." - - Then said Ilmarinen's housewife, - "Ukko, thou, of Gods the highest, - Haste to bend thy mighty crossbow, - Of thy bows the best select thou, - Take thou then a bolt of copper, - And adjust it to the crossbow, - Shoot thou then a flaming arrow, - Shoot thou forth the bolt of copper, 270 - Shoot it quickly through the arm-pits, - Shoot it that it split the shoulders. - Thus let Kalervo's son perish, - Shoot thou dead this wicked creature, - Shoot him with the steel-tipped arrow, - Shoot him with thy bolt of copper." - - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, - Uttered then the words which follow: - "Ukko, thou, of Gods the highest, - Shoot me not as she has prayed thee, 280 - Shoot the wife of Ilmarinen, - Do thou kill this wicked woman, - Ere from off this spot she riseth, - Or can move herself from off it." - - Then did Ilmarinen's housewife, - Wife of that most skilful craftsman, - On the spot at once fall dying, - Fell, as falls the soot from kettle, - In the yard before her homestead, - In the narrow yard she perished. 290 - - Thus it was the young wife perished, - Thus the fairest housewife perished, - Whom the smith so long had yearned for, - And for six long years was sought for, - As the joy of Ilmarinen, - Pride of him, the smith so famous. - - - - -RUNO XXXIV.--KULLERVO AND HIS PARENTS - - -_Argument_ - -Kullervo escapes from the homestead of Ilmarinen, and wanders -sorrowfully through the forest, where he meets with the Old Woman of the -Forest, who informs him that his father, mother, brothers and sisters -are still living (1-128). Following her directions he finds them on the -borders of Lapland (129-188). His mother tells him that she had long -supposed him to be dead, and also that her elder daughter had been lost -when gathering berries (189-246). - - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, - He, the youth with blue-dyed stockings, - And with yellow hair the finest, - And with shoes of finest leather, - Hurried quickly on his journey - From the home of Ilmarinen, - Ere report could reach the master - Of the death his wife had suffered, - And might harm him in his anger, - And he might at once destroy him. 10 - - From the smith he hurried piping, - Joyful left the lands of Ilma, - On the heath his horn blew loudly, - Shouted loudly in the clearing, - And he dashed through plains and marshes, - While the heath re-echoed loudly, - And his horn kept loudly blowing, - And made horrible rejoicing. - - In the smithy did they hear it, - At the forge the smith was standing, 20 - To the lane he went to listen, - To the yard to look around him, - Who was playing in the forest, - And upon the heath was piping. - - Then he saw what just had happened, - Saw the truth without deception, - There he saw his wife was resting, - Saw the fair one who had perished, - Where she in the yard had fallen, - On the grass where she had fallen. 30 - - Even while the smith was standing, - All his heart was dark with sorrow; - Many nights he spent in weeping, - Many weeks his tears were flowing, - And his soul like tar was darkened, - And his heart than soot no lighter. - - Kullervo still wandered onwards, - Aimlessly he hurried forward, - For a day through thickest forest, - Through the timber-grounds of Hiisi, 40 - And at evening, when it darkened, - Down upon the ground he threw him. - - There the orphan boy was sitting, - And the friendless one reflected: - "Wherefore have I been created, - Who has made me, and has doomed me, - Thus 'neath moon and sun to wander - 'Neath the open sky for ever? - - "Others to their homes may journey, - And may travel to their dwellings, 50 - But my home is in the forest, - And upon the heath my homestead. - In the wind I find my fire-place, - In the rain I find my bathroom. - - "Never, Jumala most gracious, - Never in the course of ages, - Form a child thus mis-created, - Doomed to be for ever friendless, - Fatherless beneath the heavens, - From the first without a mother, 60 - As thou, Jumala, hast made me, - And hast formed me to be wretched, - Formed me like a wandering seagull, - Like a seagull on the lake-cliffs. - Shines the sun upon the swallow, - Brightly shines upon the sparrow, - In the air the birds are joyous, - I myself am never happy, - On my life the sun shines never, - And my life is always joyless. 70 - - "Now I know not who has nursed me, - And I know not who has borne me, - For, as water-hens are used to, - Or as ducks among the marshes, - Like the teal on shore she left me, - Or in hollow stone, merganser. - - "I was small, and lost my father, - I was weak, and lost my mother, - Dead is father, dead is mother, - All my mighty race has perished, 80 - Shoes of ice to wear they left me, - Filled with snow they left my stockings, - On the ice they left me lying, - Rolling on the platform left me, - Thus I fell into the marshes, - And amid the mud was swallowed. - - "But in all my life I never, - Never in my life I hastened, - Through the swamp to make a platform, - Or a bridge in marshy places; 90 - But I sank not in the marshes, - For I had two hands to help me, - And I had five nimble fingers, - And ten nails to lift me from it." - - Then into his mind it entered - In his brain he fixed the notion - Unto Untamo to journey, - There his father's wrongs avenging, - Father's wrongs, and tears of mother, - And the wrongs himself had suffered. 100 - - Then he spoke the words which follow: - "Wait thou, wait thou, Untamoinen, - Watch thou, of my race destroyer! - If I seek thee out in battle, - I will quickly burn thy dwelling, - And thy farms to flame deliver." - - Then an old dame came to meet him, - Blue-robed Lady of the Forest, - And she spoke the words which follow, - And in words like these expressed her: 110 - "Whither goeth Kullervoinen, - Where will Kalervo's son hasten?" - - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, - Answered in the words which follow: - "In my mind the thought has entered, - In my brain has fixed the notion - Hence to other lands to wander, - Unto Untamo's own village, - There my father's death avenging, - Father's wrongs, and tears of mother, 120 - There with fire to burn the houses, - And to burn them up completely." - - But the old wife made him answer, - And she spoke the words which follow: - "No, your race has not yet perished, - Nor has Kalervo been murdered; - For your father still is living, - And on earth in health your mother." - - "O my dearest of old women, - Tell me, O my dear old woman, 130 - Where I yet may find my father, - Where the fair one who has borne me?" - - "Thither is thy father living, - There the fair one who has borne thee, - Far away on Lapland's borders, - On the borders of a fishpond." - - "O my dearest of old women, - Tell me, O my dear old woman, - How I best can journey to them, - And the road I may discover?" 140 - - "Easy 'tis for thee to journey, - Though to thee unknown the pathway. - Through the forest must thou journey, - By the river thou must travel, - Thou must march one day, a second, - And must march upon the third day, - Then must turn thee to the north-west, - Till you reach a wooded mountain, - Then march on beneath the mountain, - Go the left side of the mountain, 150 - Till thou comest to a river, - (On the right side thou wilt find it,) - By the riverside go further, - Till three waterfalls rush foaming, - When thou comest to a headland, - With a narrow tongue projecting, - And a house at point of headland, - And beyond a hut for fishing. - There thy father still is living, - There the fair one who has borne thee, 160 - There thou'lt also find thy sisters, - Two among the fairest maidens." - - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, - Started then upon his journey, - And he marched one day, a second, - Likewise marched upon the third day, - Then he turned him to the north-west, - Till he reached a wooded mountain, - Then he marched halfway below it, - Turning westward from the mountain, 170 - Till at length he found the river, - And he marched along the river, - On the west bank of the river, - Past three water-falls he journeyed, - Till at length he reached a headland - With a narrow tongue projecting, - And a house at point of headland, - And beyond, a hut for fishing. - - Thereupon the house he entered, - In the room they did not know him. 180 - "From what lake has come the stranger, - From what country is the wanderer?" - - "Is your son then all forgotten, - Know you not your child, your offspring, - Who by Untamo's marauders, - With them to their home was carried, - Greater not than span of father, - Longer not than mother's spindle?" - - Then his mother interrupted, - And exclaimed the aged woman, 190 - "O my son, my son unhappy, - O my golden brooch so wretched, - Hast thou then, with eyes yet living, - Wandered through these countries hither, - When as dead I long had mourned thee, - Long had wept for thy destruction? - - "I had two sons in the past days, - And two daughters of the fairest, - And among them two have vanished, - Two are lost among the elder, 200 - First my son in furious battle, - Then my daughter, how I know not. - Though my son has reached the homestead, - Never has returned my daughter." - - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, - In his turn began to question. - "How then has your daughter vanished, - What has happened to my sister?" - - Then his mother made him answer, - And she spoke the words which follow: 210 - "Thus has disappeared my daughter, - Thus it happened to your sister. - To the wood she went for berries, - Sought for raspberries 'neath the mountain, - There it is the dove has vanished, - There it is the bird has perished, - Thus she died without our knowledge, - How she died we cannot tell you. - - "Who is longing for the maiden? - Save her mother, no one missed her. 220 - First her mother went to seek her, - And her mother sought, who missed her, - Forth I went, unhappy mother, - Forth I went to seek my daughter, - Through the wood like bear I hurried, - Speeding through the wastes like otter, - Thus I sought one day, a second, - Sought her also on the third day. - When the third day had passed over, - For a long time yet I wandered, 230 - Till I reached a mighty mountain, - And a peak of all the highest, - Calling ever on my daughter, - Ever grieving for the lost one. - - "'Where is now my dearest daughter? - O my daughter, come thou homeward!' - - "Thus I shouted to my daughter, - Grieving ever for the lost one, - And the mountains made me answer, - And the heaths again re-echoed, 240 - 'Call no more upon thy daughter, - Call no more, and shout no longer, - Never will she come back living, - Nor return unto her household, - Never to her mother's dwelling, - To her aged father's boathouse.'" - - - - -RUNO XXXV.--KULLERVO AND HIS SISTER - - -_Argument_ - -Kullervo attempts to do different kinds of work for his parents, but -only succeeds in spoiling everything, so his father sends him to pay the -land-dues (1-68). On his way home he meets his sister who was lost -gathering berries, whom he drags into his sledge (69-188). Afterwards, -when his sister learns who he is, she throws herself into a torrent, but -Kullervo hurries home, relates his sister's terrible fate to his mother, -and proposes to put an end to his own life (189-344). His mother -dissuades him from suicide, and advises him to retire to some retreat -where he may be able to recover from his remorse. But Kullervo resolves -before all things to avenge himself on Untamo (345-372). - - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, - With the very bluest stockings, - After this continued living, - In the shelter of his parents, - But he comprehended nothing, - Nor attained to manly wisdom, - For his rearing had been crooked, - And the child was rocked all wrongly, - By perversest foster-father, - And a foolish foster-mother. 10 - - Then to work the boy attempted, - Many things he tried his hand at, - And he went the fish to capture, - And to lay the largest drag-net, - And he spoke the words which follow, - Pondered as he grasped the oar: - "Shall I pull with all my efforts, - Row, exerting all my vigour; - Shall I row with common efforts, - Row no stronger than is needful?" 20 - - And the steersman made him answer, - And he spoke the words which follow: - "Pull away with all your efforts, - Row, exerting all your vigour, - Row the boat in twain you cannot, - Neither break it into fragments." - - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, - Pulled thereat with all his efforts, - Rowed, exerting all his vigour, - Rowed in twain the wooden rowlocks, 30 - Ribs of juniper he shattered, - And he smashed the boat of aspen. - - Kalervo came forth to see it, - And he spoke the words which follow: - "No, you understand not rowing, - You have split the wooden rowlocks, - Ribs of juniper have shattered, - Shattered quite the boat of aspen. - Thresh the fish into the drag-net, - Perhaps you'll thresh the water better." 40 - - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, - Then went forth to thresh the water, - And as he the pole was lifting, - Uttered he the words which follow: - "Shall I thresh with all my efforts, - Putting forth my manly efforts; - Shall I thresh with common efforts, - As the threshing-pole is able?" - - Answered thereupon the net-man, - "Would you call it proper threshing, 50 - If with all your strength you threshed not, - Putting forth your manly efforts?" - - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, - Threshed away with all his efforts, - Putting forth his manly efforts. - Into soup he churned the water, - Into tow he threshed the drag-net, - Into slime he crushed the fishes. - - Kalervo came forth to see it, - And he spoke the words which follow: 60 - "No, you understand not threshing, - Into tow is threshed the drag-net, - And the floats to chaff are beaten, - And the meshes torn to fragments, - Therefore go and pay the taxes, - Therefore go and pay the land-dues. - Best it is for you to travel, - Learning wisdom on the journey." - - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, - With the very bluest stockings, 70 - And with yellow hair the finest, - And with shoes of finest leather, - Went his way to pay the taxes, - And he went to pay the land-dues. - - When he now had paid the taxes, - And had also paid the land-dues, - In his sledge he quickly bounded, - And upon the sledge he mounted, - And began to journey homeward, - And to travel to his country. 80 - - And he drove, and rattled onward, - And he travelled on his journey, - Traversing the heath of Vaeinoe, - And his clearing made aforetime. - - And by chance a maiden met him, - With her yellow hair all flowing, - There upon the heath of Vaeinoe, - On his clearing made aforetime. - - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, - Checked the sledge upon the instant, 90 - And began a conversation, - And began to talk and wheedle: - "Come into my sledge, O maiden, - Rest upon the furs within it." - - From her snowshoes said the maiden, - And she answered, as she skated, - "In thy sledge may Death now enter, - On thy furs be Sickness seated." - - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, - With the very bluest stockings, 100 - With his whip then struck his courser, - With his beaded whip he lashed him. - Sprang the horse upon the journey, - Rocked the sledge, the road was traversed, - And he drove and rattled onward, - And he travelled on his journey, - On the lake's extended surface, - And across the open water, - And by chance a maiden met him, - Walking on, with shoes of leather, 110 - O'er the lake's extended surface, - And across the open water. - - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, - Checked his horse upon the instant, - And his mouth at once he opened, - And began to speak as follows: - "Come into my sledge, O fair one, - Pride of earth, and journey with me." - - But the maiden gave him answer, - And the well-shod maiden answered: 120 - "In thy sledge may Tuoni seek thee, - Manalainen journey with thee." - - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, - With the very bluest stockings, - With the whip then struck his courser, - With his beaded whip he lashed him. - Sprang the horse upon his journey, - Rocked the sledge, the way was shortened, - And he rattled on his journey, - And he sped upon his pathway, 130 - Straight across the heaths of Pohja, - And the borders wide of Lapland. - - And by chance a maiden met him, - Wearing a tin brooch, and singing, - Out upon the heaths of Pohja, - And the borders wide of Lapland. - - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, - Checked his horse upon the instant, - And his mouth at once he opened, - And began to speak as follows: 140 - "Come into my sledge, O maiden, - Underneath my rug, my dearest, - And you there shall eat my apples, - And shall crack my nuts in comfort." - - But the maiden made him answer, - And the tin-adorned one shouted: - "At your sledge I spit, O villain, - Even at your sledge, O scoundrel! - Underneath your rug is coldness, - And within your sledge is darkness." 150 - - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, - With the very bluest stockings, - Dragged into his sledge the maiden, - And into the sledge he pulled her, - And upon the furs he laid her, - Underneath the rug he pushed her. - - And the maiden spoke unto him, - Thus outspoke the tin-adorned one: - "From the sledge at once release me, - Leave the child in perfect freedom, 160 - That I hear of nothing evil, - Neither foul nor filthy language, - Or upon the ground I'll throw me, - And will break the sledge to splinters, - And will smash your sledge to atoms, - Break the wretched sledge to pieces." - - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, - With the very bluest stockings, - Opened then his hide-bound coffer, - Clanging raised the pictured cover, 170 - And he showed her all his silver, - Out he spread the choicest fabrics, - Stockings too, all gold-embroidered, - Girdles all adorned with silver. - - Soon the fabrics turned her dizzy, - To a bride the money changed her, - And the silver it destroyed her, - And the shining gold deluded. - - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, - With the very bluest stockings, 180 - Thereupon the maiden flattered, - And he wheedled and caressed her, - With one hand the horse controlling, - On the maiden's breast the other. - - Then he sported with the maiden, - Wearied out the tin-adorned one, - 'Neath the rug all copper-tinselled, - And upon the furs all spotted. - - Then when Jumala brought morning, - On the second day thereafter, 190 - Then the damsel spoke unto him, - And she asked, and spoke as follows: - "Tell me now of your relations, - What the brave race that you spring from, - From a mighty race it seems me, - Offspring of a mighty father." - - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, - Answered in the words which follow: - "No, my race is not a great one, - Not a great one, not a small one, 200 - I am just of middle station, - Kalervo's unhappy offspring, - Stupid boy, and very foolish, - Worthless child, and good for nothing. - Tell me now about your people, - And the brave race that you spring from, - Perhaps from mighty race descended, - Offspring of a mighty father." - - And the girl made answer quickly, - And she spoke the words which follow: 210 - "No, my race is not a great one, - Not a great one, not a small one, - I am just of middle station, - Kalervo's unhappy daughter, - Stupid girl, and very foolish, - Worthless child, and good for nothing. - - "When I was a little infant, - Living with my tender mother, - To the wood I went for berries, - 'Neath the mountain sought for raspberries. 220 - On the plains I gathered strawberries, - Underneath the mountain, raspberries, - Plucked by day, at night I rested, - Plucked for one day and a second, - And upon the third day likewise, - But the pathway home I found not, - In the woods the pathways led me, - And the footpath to the forest. - - "There I stood, and burst out weeping, - Wept for one day and a second, 230 - And at length upon the third day, - Then I climbed a mighty mountain, - To the peak of all the highest. - On the peak I called and shouted, - And the woods made answer to me, - While the heaths re-echoed likewise: - 'Do not call, O girl so senseless, - Shout not, void of understanding! - There is no one who can hear you, - None at home to hear your shouting.' 240 - - "Then upon the third and fourth days, - Lastly on the fifth and sixth days, - I to take my life attempted, - Tried to hurl me to destruction, - But by no means did I perish, - Nor could I, the wretched perish. - - "Would that I, poor wretch, had perished, - Hapless one, had met destruction, - That the second year thereafter, - Or the third among the summers, 250 - I had shone forth as a grass-blade, - As a lovely flower existed, - On the ground a beauteous berry, - Even as a scarlet cranberry, - Then I had not heard these horrors, - Would not now have known these terrors." - - Soon as she had finished speaking, - And her speech had scarce completed, - Quickly from the sledge she darted, - And she rushed into the river, 260 - In the furious foaming cataract, - And amid the raging whirlpool, - There she found the death she sought for, - There at length did death o'ertake her, - Found in Tuonela a refuge, - In the waves she found compassion. - - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, - From his sledge at once descended, - And began to weep full loudly, - With a piteous lamentation. 270 - "Woe my day, O me unhappy, - Woe to me, and all my household, - For indeed my very sister, - I my mother's child have outraged! - Woe my father, woe my mother, - Woe to you, my aged parents, - To what purpose have you reared me, - Reared me up to be so wretched! - Far more happy were my fortune, - Had I ne'er been born or nurtured, 280 - Never in the air been strengthened, - Never in this world had entered. - Wrongly I by death was treated, - Nor disease has acted wisely, - That they did not fall upon me, - And when two nights old destroy me." - - With his knife he loosed the collar, - From the sledge the chains he severed, - On the horse's back he vaulted, - On the whitefront steed he galloped, 290 - But a little way he galloped, - But a little course had traversed, - When he reached his father's dwelling, - Reached the grass-plot of his father. - - In the yard he found his mother, - "O my mother who hast borne me, - O that thou, my dearest mother, - E'en as soon as thou hadst borne me, - In the bath-room smoke hadst laid me, - And the bath-house doors had bolted, 300 - That amid the smoke I smothered, - And when two nights old had perished, - Smothered me among the blankets, - With the curtain thou hadst choked me, - Thrust the cradle in the fire, - Pushed it in the burning embers. - - "If the village folk had asked thee, - 'Why is in the room no cradle? - Wherefore have you locked the bath-house?' - Then might this have been the answer: 310 - 'In the fire I burned the cradle, - Where on hearth the fire is glowing, - While I made the malt in bath-house, - While the malt was fully sweetened.'" - - Then his mother asked him quickly, - Asked him thus, the aged woman: - "O my son, what happened to thee, - What the dreadful news thou bringest? - Seems from Tuonela thou comest; - As from Manala thou comest." 320 - - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, - Answered in the words which follow: - "Horrors now must be reported, - And most horrible misfortunes. - I have wronged my very sister, - And my mother's child dishonoured. - - "First I went and paid the taxes, - And I also paid the land-dues, - And by chance there came a maiden, - And I sported with the maiden, 330 - And she was my very sister, - And the child of mine own mother. - - "Thereupon to death she cast her, - Plunged herself into destruction, - In the furious foaming cataract, - And amid the raging whirlpool. - But I cannot now determine - Not decide and not imagine - How myself to death should cast me, - I the hapless one, should slay me, 340 - In the mouths of wolves all howling, - In the throats of bears all growling, - In the whale's vast belly perish, - Or between the teeth of lake-pike." - - But his mother made him answer: - "Do not go, my son, my dearest, - To the mouths of wolves all howling, - Nor to throats of bears all growling, - Neither to the whale's vast belly, - Neither to the teeth of lake-pike. 350 - Large enough the Cape of Suomi, - Wide enough are Savo's borders, - For a man to hide from evil, - And a criminal conceal him. - Hide thee there for five years, six years, - There for nine long years conceal thee, - Till a time of peace has reached thee, - And the years have calmed thine anguish." - - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, - Answered in the words which follow: 360 - "Nay, I will not go in hiding, - Fly not forth, a wicked outcast, - To the mouth of Death I wander, - To the gate of Kalma's courtyard, - To the place of furious fighting, - To the battle-field of heroes. - Upright still is standing Unto, - And the wicked man unfallen, - Unavenged my father's sufferings, - Unavenged my mother's tear-drops, 370 - Counting not my bitter sufferings, - Wrongs that I myself have suffered." - - - - -RUNO XXXVI.--THE DEATH OF KULLERVO - - -_Argument_ - -Kullervo prepares for war and leaves home joyfully, for no one but his -mother is sorry that he is going to his death (1-154). He comes to -Untamola, lays waste the whole district, and burns the homestead -(155-250). On returning home he finds his home deserted, and no living -thing about the place but an old black dog, with which he goes into the -forest to shoot game for food (251-296). While traversing the forest he -arrives at the place where he met his sister, and ends his remorse by -killing himself with his own sword (297-360). - - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, - With the very bluest stockings, - Now prepared himself for battle, - And prepared himself for warfare. - For an hour his sword he sharpened, - Sharpened spear-points for another. - - Then his mother spoke unto him, - "Do not go, my son unhappy, - Go not to this mighty battle, - Go not where the swords are clashing! 10 - He who goes for nought to battle, - He who wilful seeks the combat, - In the fight shall find his death-wound, - And shall perish in the conflict, - By the sword-blades shall he perish, - Thus shall fall, and thus shall perish. - - "If against a goat thou fightest, - And wouldst meet in fight a he-goat, - Then the goat will overcome thee, - In the mud the he-goat cast thee, 20 - That like dog thou home returnest, - Like a frog returnest homeward." - - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, - Answered in the words which follow: - "In the swamps I shall not sink me, - Nor upon the heath will stumble, - In the dwelling-place of ravens, - In the fields where crows are croaking. - If I perish in the battle, - Sinking on the field of battle, 30 - Noble 'tis to fall in battle, - Fine 'mid clash of swords to perish, - Exquisite the battle-fever, - Quickly hence a youth it hurries, - Takes him quickly forth from evil, - There he falls no more to hunger." - - Then his mother spoke and answered, - "If you perish in the battle, - Who shall cater for your father, - And shall tend the old man daily?" 40 - - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, - Answered in the words that follow: - "Let him perish on the dust-heap, - Leave him in the yard to perish." - - "Who shall cater for your mother, - And shall tend the old dame daily?" - - "Let her die upon a haycock, - In the cowshed let her stifle." - - "Who shall cater for thy brother, - Tend him day by day in future?" 50 - - "Let him perish in the forest, - Let him faint upon the meadow." - - "Who shall cater for thy sister, - Tend her day by day in future?" - - "Let her fall in well, and perish, - Let her fall into the wash-tub." - - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, - Just as he his home was leaving, - Spoke these words unto his father: - "Now farewell, O noble father! 60 - Shall you perhaps be weeping sorely, - If you hear that I have perished, - And have vanished from the people, - And have perished in the battle?" - - Then his father gave him answer: - "Not for thee shall I be weeping, - If I hear that you have perished, - For another son I'll rear me, - And a better son will rear me, - And a son by far more clever." 70 - - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, - Answered in the words which follow: - "Nor for you shall I be weeping, - If I hear that you have perished. - I will make me such a father, - Mouth of clay, and head of stonework, - Eyes of cranberries from the marshes, - And a beard of withered stubble, - Legs of willow-twigs will make him, - Flesh of rotten trees will make him." 80 - - Then he spoke unto his brother: - "Now farewell, my dearest brother. - Shall you weep for my destruction, - If you hear that I have perished, - And have vanished from the people, - And have fallen in the battle?" - - But his brother gave him answer, - "Not for you shall I be weeping, - If I hear that you have perished. - I will find myself a brother, 90 - Better brother far than thou art, - And a brother twice as handsome." - - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, - Answered in the words which follow: - "Nor for you shall I be weeping, - If I hear that you have perished. - I will make me such a brother, - Head of stone, and mouth of sallow, - Eyes of cranberries I will make him, - Make him hair of withered stubble, 100 - Legs of willow-twigs will make him, - Flesh of rotten trees will make him." - - Then he spoke unto his sister, - "Now farewell, my dearest sister. - Shall you weep for my destruction, - If you hear that I have perished, - And have vanished from the people, - And have perished in the battle?" - - But his sister gave him answer: - "Not for you shall I be weeping, 110 - If I hear that you have perished. - I will find myself a brother, - Better brother far than thou art, - And a brother far more clever." - - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, - Answered in the words which follow: - "Nor for you shall I be weeping, - If I hear that you have perished. - I will make me such a sister, - Head of stone and mouth of sallow, 120 - Eyes of cranberries I will make her, - Make her hair of withered stubble, - Ears of water-lily make her, - And of maple make her body." - - Then he said unto his mother, - "O my mother, O my dearest, - Thou the fair one who hast borne me, - Thou the golden one who nursed me, - Shalt thou weep for my destruction, - Shouldst thou hear that I have perished, 130 - And have vanished from the people, - And have perished in the battle?" - - Then his mother gave him answer, - And she spoke the words which follow: - "Not thou knowest a mother's feelings, - Nor a mother's heart esteemest. - I shall weep for thy destruction, - If I hear that thou hast perished, - And from out the people vanished, - And have perished in the battle; 140 - Weep until the house is flooded, - Weep until the floor is swimming, - Weep until the paths are hidden, - And with tears the cowsheds weighted, - Weep until the snows are slippery, - Till the ground is bare and slippery, - Lands unfrozen teem with verdure, - And my tears flow through the greenness. - - "If I cannot keep on weeping, - And no strength is left for grieving, 150 - Weeping in the people's presence, - I will weep in bath-room hidden, - Till the seats with tears are flowing, - And the flooring all is flooded." - - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, - With the very bluest stockings, - Went with music forth to battle, - Joyfully he sought the conflict, - Playing tunes through plains and marshes, - Shouting over all the heathland, 160 - Crashing onwards through the meadows, - Trampling down the fields of stubble. - - And a messenger o'ertook him, - In his ear these words he whispered: - "At thy home has died thy father, - And thy aged parent perished. - Now return to gaze upon him, - And arrange for his interment." - - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, - Made him answer on the instant: 170 - "Is he dead, so let him perish. - In the house there is a gelding, - Which unto the grave can drag him, - And can sink him down to Kalma." - - Played he, as he passed the marshes, - And he shouted in the clearings, - And a messenger o'ertook him, - In his ear these words he whispered: - "At thy home has died thy brother, - And thy parent's child has perished. 180 - Now return to gaze upon him, - And arrange for his interment." - - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, - Made him answer on the instant: - "Is he dead, so let him perish. - In the house there is a stallion, - Which unto the grave can drag him, - And can sink him down to Kalma." - - Through the marshes passed he, playing, - Blew his horn amidst the fir-woods, 190 - And a messenger o'ertook him, - In his ear these words he whispered: - "At thy home has died thy sister, - And thy parent's child has perished. - Now return to gaze upon her, - And arrange for her interment." - - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, - Made him answer on the instant: - "Is she dead, so let her perish. - In the house a mare is waiting, 200 - Which unto the grave can drag her, - And can sink her down to Kalma." - - Through the meadows marched he shouting, - In the grassfields he was shouting, - And a messenger o'ertook him, - In his ear these words he whispered: - "Now has died thy tender mother, - And thy darling mother perished. - Now return to gaze upon her, - And arrange for her interment." 210 - - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, - Answered in the words which follow: - "Woe to me, a youth unhappy, - For my mother now has perished, - Wearied as she made the curtains, - And the counterpane embroidered. - With her long spool she was working, - As she turned around her spindle. - I was not at her departure, - Near her when her soul was parting. 220 - Perhaps the cold was great and killed her, - Or perchance was bread too scanty. - - "In the house with care, O wash her, - With the Saxon soap, the finest, - Wind her then in silken wrappings, - Wrap her in the finest linen, - Thus unto the grave convey her, - Sink her gently down to Kalma, - Then upraise the songs of mourning, - Let resound the songs of mourning, 230 - For not yet can I turn homeward, - Untamo is still unfallen, - Yet unfelled the man of evil, - Undestroyed is yet the villain." - - Forth he went to battle, playing, - Went to Untola rejoicing, - And he said the words which follow: - "Ukko, thou, of Gods the highest, - Give me now a sword befitting, - Give me now a sword most splendid, 240 - Which were worth an army to me, - Though a hundred came against me." - - Then the sword he asked was granted, - And a sword of all most splendid, - And he slaughtered all the people, - Untamo's whole tribe he slaughtered, - Burned the houses all to ashes, - And with flame completely burned them, - Leaving nothing but the hearthstones, - Nought but in each yard the rowan. 250 - - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, - Then to his own home retired, - To his father's former dwelling, - To the home-fields of his parents. - Empty did he find the homestead, - Desolate the open places; - No one forward came to greet him, - No one came his hand to offer. - - To the hearth he stretched his hand out, - On the hearth the coals were frozen, 260 - And he knew on his arrival, - That his mother was not living. - - To the stove he stretched his hand out, - At the stove the stones were frozen, - And he knew on his arrival, - That his father was not living. - - On the floor his eyes then casting, - All he noticed in confusion, - And he knew on his arrival, - That his sister was not living. 270 - - To the mooring-place he hastened, - But no boats were at their moorings, - And he knew on his arrival, - That his brother was not living. - - Thereupon he broke out weeping, - And he wept one day, a second, - And he spoke the words which follow: - "O my mother, O my dearest, - Hast thou left me nought behind thee, - When thou livedst in this country? 280 - - "But thou hearest not, O mother, - Even though my eyes are sobbing, - And my temples are lamenting, - And my head is all complaining." - - In the grave his mother wakened, - And beneath the mould made answer: - "Still there lives the black dog, Musti, - Go with him into the forest, - At thy side let him attend thee, - Take him to the wooded country, 290 - Where the forest rises thickest, - Where reside the forest-maidens, - Where the Blue Maids have their dwelling, - And the birds frequent the pine-trees, - There to seek for their assistance, - And to seek to win their favour." - - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, - At his side the black dog taking, - Tracked his path through trees of forest, - Where the forest rose the thickest. 300 - But a short way had he wandered, - But a little way walked onward, - When he reached the stretch of forest, - Recognized the spot before him, - Where he had seduced the maiden, - And his mother's child dishonoured. - - There the tender grass was weeping, - And the lovely spot lamenting, - And the young grass was deploring, - And the flowers of heath were grieving, 310 - For the ruin of the maiden, - For the mother's child's destruction. - Neither was the young grass sprouting, - Nor the flowers of heath expanding, - Nor the spot had covered over, - Where the evil thing had happened, - Where he had seduced the maiden, - And his mother's child dishonoured. - - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, - Grasped the sharpened sword he carried, 320 - Looked upon the sword and turned it, - And he questioned it and asked it, - And he asked the sword's opinion, - If it was disposed to slay him, - To devour his guilty body, - And his evil blood to swallow. - - Understood the sword his meaning, - Understood the hero's question, - And it answered him as follows: - "Wherefore at thy heart's desire 330 - Should I not thy flesh devour, - And drink up thy blood so evil? - I who guiltless flesh have eaten, - Drank the blood of those who sinned not?" - - Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, - With the very bluest stockings, - On the ground the haft set firmly, - On the heath the hilt pressed tightly, - Turned the point against his bosom, - And upon the point he threw him, 340 - Thus he found the death he sought for, - Cast himself into destruction. - - Even so the young man perished, - Thus died Kullervo the hero, - Thus the hero's life was ended, - Perished thus the hapless hero. - - Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen, - When he heard that he had perished, - And that Kullervo had fallen, - Spoke his mind in words that follow: 350 - "Never, people, in the future, - Rear a child in crooked fashion, - Rocking them in stupid fashion, - Soothing them to sleep like strangers. - Children reared in crooked fashion, - Boys thus rocked in stupid fashion, - Grow not up with understanding, - Nor attain to man's discretion, - Though they live till they are aged, - And in body well-developed." 360 - - - - -RUNO XXXVII.--THE GOLD AND SILVER BRIDE - - -_Argument_ - -Ilmarinen weeps long for his dead wife and then forges himself a wife of -gold and silver with great labour and trouble (1-162). At night he rests -by the golden bride, but finds in the morning that the side which he has -turned towards her is quite cold (163-196). He offers his golden bride -to Vaeinaemoeinen, who declines to receive her, and advises him to forge -more useful things, or to send her to other countries where people wish -for gold (197-250). - - Afterwards smith Ilmarinen - Mourned his wife throughout the evenings, - And through sleepless nights was weeping, - All the days bewailed her fasting, - And he mourned her all the mornings, - In the morning hours lamented, - Since the time his young wife perished, - Death the fair one had o'ertaken. - In his hand he swung no longer, - Copper handle of his hammer, 10 - Nor his hammer's clang resounded, - While a month its course was running. - - Said the smith, said Ilmarinen, - "Hapless youth, I know no longer, - How to pass my sad existence, - For at night I sit and sleep not, - Always in the night comes sorrow, - And my strength grows weak from trouble. - - "All my evenings now are weary, - Sorrowful are all my mornings, 20 - And the nights indeed are dismal, - Worst of all when I am waking. - Grieve I not because 'tis evening, - Sorrow not because 'tis morning, - Trouble not for other seasons; - But I sorrow for my fair one, - And I sorrow for my dear one, - Grieve for her, the dark-browed beauty. - - "Sometimes in these times so dismal, - Often in my time of trouble, 30 - Often in my dreams at midnight, - Has my hand felt out at nothing, - And my hand seized only trouble, - As it strayed about in strangeness." - - Thus the smith awhile lived wifeless, - And without his wife grew older, - Wept for two months and for three months, - But upon the fourth month after, - Gold from out the lake he gathered, - Gathered silver from the billows, 40 - And a pile of wood collected, - Nothing short of thirty sledgeloads, - Then he burned the wood to charcoal, - Took the charcoal to the smithy. - - Of the gold he took a portion, - And he chose him out some silver, - Even like a ewe of autumn, - Even like a hare of winter, - And the gold to redness heated, - Cast the silver in the furnace, 50 - Set his slaves to work the bellows, - And his labourers pressed the bellows. - - Toiled the slaves, and worked the bellows, - And the labourers pressed the bellows, - With their ungloved hands they pressed them, - Worked them with their naked shoulders, - While himself, smith Ilmarinen, - Carefully the fire was tending, - As he strove a bride to fashion - Out of gold and out of silver. 60 - - Badly worked the slaves the bellows, - And the labourers did not press them, - And on this smith Ilmarinen - Went himself to work the bellows. - Once and twice he worked the bellows, - For a third time worked the bellows, - Then looked down into the furnace, - Looking closely to the bellows, - What rose up from out the furnace, - What from out the flames ascended. 70 - - Then a ewe rose from the furnace, - And it rose from out the bellows. - One hair gold, another copper, - And the third was all of silver; - Others might therein feel pleasure, - Ilmarinen felt no pleasure. - - Said the smith, said Ilmarinen, - "Such as you a wolf may wish for, - But I want a golden consort, - One of silver half constructed." 80 - - Thereupon smith Ilmarinen - Thrust the ewe into the furnace, - Gold unto the mass he added, - And he added silver to it, - Set his slaves to work the bellows, - And his labourers pressed the bellows. - - Toiled the slaves and worked the bellows, - And the labourers pressed the bellows, - With their ungloved hands they pressed them - Worked them with their naked shoulders, 90 - While himself, smith Ilmarinen, - Carefully the fire was tending, - As he strove a bride to fashion - Out of gold and out of silver. - - Badly worked the slaves the bellows, - And the labourers did not press them, - And on this smith Ilmarinen - Went himself to work the bellows. - Once and twice he worked the bellows, - For the third time worked the bellows, 100 - Then looked down into the furnace, - Looking closely to the bellows, - What rose up from out the furnace, - What from out the flames ascended. - - Then a foal rose from the furnace, - And it rose from out the bellows, - Mane of gold, and head of silver, - And his hoofs were all of copper; - But though others it delighted, - Ilmarinen felt no pleasure. 110 - - Said the smith, said Ilmarinen, - "Such as you a wolf may wish for, - But I want a golden consort, - One of silver half constructed." - - Thereupon smith Ilmarinen - Thrust the foal into the furnace, - Gold unto the mass he added, - And he added silver to it, - Set his slaves to work the bellows, - And his labourers pressed the bellows. 120 - - Toiled the slaves and worked the bellows, - And the labourers pressed the bellows, - With their ungloved hands they pressed them, - Worked them with their naked shoulders, - While himself, smith Ilmarinen, - Carefully the fire was tending, - As he strove a bride to fashion, - Out of gold and out of silver. - - Badly worked the slaves the bellows, - And the labourers did not press them, 130 - And on this, smith Ilmarinen - Went himself to work the bellows, - Once and twice he worked the bellows, - For a third time worked the bellows, - Then looked down into the furnace, - Looking closely to the bellows, - What rose up from out the furnace, - What from out the flames ascended. - - Then a maid rose from the furnace, - Golden-locked, from out the bellows, 140 - Head of silver, hair all golden, - And her figure all was lovely. - Others might have shuddered at her, - Ilmarinen was not frightened. - - Thereupon smith Ilmarinen - Set to work to shape the image, - Worked at night without cessation, - And by day he worked unresting. - Feet he fashioned for the maiden, - Fashioned feet; and hands he made her, 150 - But the feet would not support her, - Neither would the arms embrace him. - - Ears he fashioned for the maiden, - But the ears served not for hearing, - And a dainty mouth he made her, - Tender mouth and shining eyeballs, - But the mouth served not for speaking, - And the eyes served not for smiling. - - Said the smith, said Ilmarinen - "She would be a pretty maiden, 160 - If she had the art of speaking, - And had sense, and spoke discreetly." - - After this he laid the maiden - On the softest of the blankets, - Smoothed for her the softest pillows, - On the silken bed he laid her. - - After this smith Ilmarinen, - Quickly warmed the steaming bath-room, - Took the soap into the bath-room, - And provided twigs for bath-whisks, 170 - And of water took three tubs full, - That the little finch should wash her, - And the little goldfinch cleanse her, - Cleanse her beauty from the ashes. - - When the smith had also bathed him, - Washed him to his satisfaction, - At the maiden's side he stretched him, - On the softest of the blankets, - 'Neath the steel-supported hangings, - 'Neath the over-arching iron. 180 - - After this smith Ilmarinen, - Even on the very first night, - Asked for coverlets in plenty, - And for blankets to protect him, - Also two and three of bearskins, - Five or six of woollen mantles, - All upon one side to lay him, - That towards the golden image. - - And one side had warmth sufficient - Which was covered by the bedclothes; 190 - That beside the youthful damsel, - Turned towards the golden image, - All that side was fully frozen, - And with frost was quite contracted, - Like the ice on lake when frozen, - Frozen into stony hardness. - - Said the smith, said Ilmarinen, - "This is not so pleasant for me. - I will take the maid to Vaeinoe, - Pass her on to Vaeinaemoeinen, 200 - On his knee as wife to seat her, - Dovelike in his arms to nestle." - - So to Vaeinoelae he took her, - And he said upon his coming, - In the very words which follow: - "O thou aged Vaeinaemoeinen, - Here I bring a damsel for you, - And a damsel fair to gaze on, - And her mouth gapes not too widely, - And her chin is not too broadened." 210 - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - Looked upon the golden image, - Looked upon her head all golden, - And he spoke the words which follow: - "Wherefore have you brought her to me, - Brought to me this golden spectre?" - - Said the smith, said Ilmarinen, - "With the best intent I brought her, - On your knee as wife to rest her, - Dovelike in your arms to nestle." 220 - - Said the aged Vaeinaemoeinen, - "O thou smith, my dearest brother, - Thrust the damsel in the furnace, - Forge all sorts of objects from her, - Or convey her hence to Russia, - Take your image to the Saxons, - Since they wed the spoils of battle, - And they woo in fiercest combat; - But it suits not my position, - Nor to me myself is suited, 230 - Thus to woo a bride all golden, - Or distress myself for silver." - - Then dissuaded Vaeinaemoeinen, - And forbade the wave-sprung hero, - All the rising generation, - Likewise those upgrown already, - For the sake of gold to bow them, - Or debase themselves for silver, - And he spoke the words which follow, - And in words like these expressed him: 240 - "Never, youths, however wretched, - Nor in future, upgrown heroes, - Whether you have large possessions, - Or are poor in your possessions, - In the course of all your lifetime, - While the golden moon is shining, - May you woo a golden woman, - Or distress yourselves for silver, - For the gleam of gold is freezing, - Only frost is breathed by silver." 250 - - - - -RUNO XXXVIII.--ILMARINEN'S NEW BRIDE FROM POHJOLA - - -_Argument_ - -Ilmarinen goes to Pohjola to woo the younger sister of his first wife, -but as he receives only insulting words in reply, he becomes angry, -seizes the maiden, and starts on his homeward journey (1-124). On the -way the maiden treats Ilmarinen with contempt, and provokes him till he -changes her into a seagull (125-286). When Ilmarinen comes home, he -relates to Vaeinaemoeinen how the inhabitants of Pohjola live free from -care since they possessed the Sampo; and also tells him how badly his -wooing has prospered (287-328). - - Thereupon smith Ilmarinen, - He the great primeval craftsman, - Cast away the golden image, - Cast away the silver damsel, - Afterwards his horse he harnessed, - Yoked before the sledge the chestnut, - On the sledge himself he mounted, - And within the sledge he sat him, - And departed on his journey, - And proposed, as he was driving, 10 - He to Pohjola would travel, - There to ask another daughter. - - So he drove for one day onward, - Journeyed also on the second, - And at length upon the third day, - Came to Pohjola's broad courtyard. - - Louhi, Pohjola's old Mistress - Came into the yard to meet him, - And began the conversation, - And she turned to him and asked him 20 - How her child's health was at present, - If her daughter was contented, - As the daughter-in-law of master, - And the daughter-in-law of mistress. - - Thereupon smith Ilmarinen, - Head bowed down, and deeply grieving, - And his cap all sloping sideways, - Answered in the words which follow: - "Do thou not, O mother, ask me, - Do not question me in thiswise 30 - How your daughter may be living, - How your dear one now is dwelling! - Death has borne her off already, - Grisly death has seized upon her. - In the ground is now my berry, - On the heath is now my fair one, - And her dark locks 'neath the stubble, - 'Neath the grass my silver-fair one. - Give me now your second daughter, - Give me now that youthful maiden, 40 - Give her to me, dearest mother, - Give me now your second daughter, - Thus to occupy the dwelling, - And the station of her sister." - - Louhi, Pohjola's old Mistress, - Answered in the words which follow: - "Ill have I, unhappy, acted, - And it was a sad misfortune - When to thee my child I promised, - And I gave to thee the other, 50 - In her early youth to slumber, - For the rosy-cheeked one perished. - To the mouth of wolf I gave her, - To the jaws of bear when growling. - - "No more daughters will I give you, - Nor my daughter will I give you, - That she wash the soot from off you, - And she scratch the soot from off you, - Sooner would I give my daughter, - And would give my tender daughter, 60 - To the fiercely-foaming cataract, - To the ever-seething whirlpool, - As a prey to worms of Mana, - To the teeth of pike of Tuoni." - - Thereupon smith Ilmarinen, - Mouth and head both turning sideways, - With his black hair in disorder, - As his head he shook in anger, - Pushed his way into the chamber, - And beneath the roof he entered, 70 - And he spoke the words which follow: - "Come thou now with me, O maiden, - In the station of thy sister, - And to occupy her dwelling, - Cakes of honey there to bake me, - And the best of ale to brew me." - - From the floor there sang a baby, - Thus he sang, and thus made answer: - "Quit our castle, guest unwelcome, - From our doors, O stranger, hasten! 80 - Thou before hast harmed our castle, - Evil much hast wrought our castle, - When the first time here thou camest, - And within our doors hast entered. - - "Maiden, O my dearest sister, - O rejoice not in this lover, - Neither in his mouth so subtle, - Neither in his feet well-shapen, - For his gums are like a wolf's gums, - Curved his claws like those of foxes, 90 - And the claws of bears conceals he, - And his belt-knife blood is drinking, - 'Tis with this that heads he severs, - And with this the backs lays open." - - Then the maiden's self made answer, - Thus she spoke to Ilmarinen: - "I myself will not go with you, - Trouble not for such a scoundrel, - For your first wife you have murdered, - And my sister you have slaughtered. 100 - You perchance would also slay me, - Murder me, as her you murdered. - Such a maiden is deserving - Of a man of greater standing, - And whose form is far more handsome, - In a finer sledge to take me, - To a larger, finer dwelling, - To a better home than thou hast, - Not unto a smith's black coalhouse, - To a stupid husband's homestead." 110 - - Thereupon smith Ilmarinen, - He the great primeval craftsman, - Mouth and head both turning sideways, - And his black hair in disorder, - Seized without ado the maiden, - In his grasp he seized the maiden, - From the room he rushed like snowstorm, - Dragged her where his sledge was standing, - In the sledge he pushed the maiden, - And within the sledge he cast her, 120 - Started quickly on his journey, - And prepared him for his journey, - With one hand the horse he guided, - On the girl's breast laid the other. - - Wept the maiden and lamented, - And she spoke the words which follow: - "Now I come where grow the cranberries, - To the swamps where grow the arums, - Now the dove approaches ruin, - And the bird is near destruction. 130 - - "Hear me now, smith Ilmarinen, - If you will not now release me, - I will smash your sledge to pieces, - And will break it into fragments, - Break it with my knees asunder, - Break it with my legs to fragments." - - Thereupon smith Ilmarinen - Answered in the words that follow: - "Know, the sledge by smith was fashioned, - And the boards are bound with iron, 140 - And it can withstand the pushing, - And the noble maiden's struggles." - - Then the hapless girl lamented, - And bewailed, the copper-belted, - Struggled till she broke her fingers, - Struggled till her hands were twisted, - And she spoke the words which follow: - "If you will not now release me, - To a lake-fish I'll transform me, - In the deepest waves a powan." 150 - - Thereupon smith Ilmarinen - Answered in the words which follow: - "Even so you will not 'scape me, - I myself as pike will follow." - - Then the hapless girl lamented, - And bewailed, the copper-belted, - Struggled till she broke her fingers, - Struggled till her hands were twisted, - And she spoke the words which follow: - "If you will not now release me, 160 - To the wood will I betake me, - Hiding in the rocks like ermine." - - Thereupon smith Ilmarinen - Answered in the words which follow: - "Even thus you will not 'scape me, - For as otter I'll pursue you." - - Then the hapless girl lamented, - And bewailed, the copper-belted, - Struggled till she broke her fingers, - Struggled till her hands were twisted, 170 - And she spoke the words which follow: - "If you will not now release me, - As a lark I'll soar above you, - And behind the clouds will hide me." - - Thereupon smith Ilmarinen, - Answered in the words which follow: - "Even thus you will not 'scape me, - For as eagle I'll pursue you." - - But a little way they journeyed, - Short the distance they had traversed, 180 - When the horse pricked ears to listen, - And the long-eared steed was shying. - - Then her head the maiden lifted, - In the snow she saw fresh footprints, - And she thereupon inquired, - "What has passed across our pathway?" - - Said the smith, said Ilmarinen, - "'Twas a hare that ran across it." - - Then the hapless girl was sighing, - Much she sobbed, and much was sighing, 190 - And she spoke the words which follow: - "Woe to me, unhappy creature! - Better surely had I found it, - And my lot were surely better - If the hare's track I could follow, - In the traces of the Crook-leg. - Than in sledge of such a suitor, - 'Neath the rug of one so wrinkled, - For the hairs of hare are finer, - And his mouth-cleft is more handsome." 200 - - Thereupon smith Ilmarinen, - Bit his lips, his head turned sideways, - And the sledge drove rattling onward, - And a little way they journeyed, - When the horse pricked ears to listen, - And the long-eared steed was shying. - - Then her head the maiden lifted, - In the snow she saw fresh footprints, - And she thereupon inquired, - "What has passed across our pathway?" 210 - - Said the smith, said Ilmarinen, - "'Twas a fox that ran across it." - - Then the hapless girl was sighing, - Much she sobbed, and much was sighing, - And she spoke the words which follow: - "Woe to me, unhappy creature, - Better surely had I found it, - And my lot were surely better, - Were I riding in a fox-sledge, - And in Lapland sledge were fleeing, 220 - Than in sledge of such a suitor, - 'Neath the rug of one so wrinkled, - For the hairs of fox are finer, - And his mouth-cleft is more handsome." - - Thereupon smith Ilmarinen - Bit his lips, his head turned sideways, - And the sledge drove rattling onward, - And a little way they journeyed, - When the horse pricked ears to listen, - And the long-eared steed was shying. 230 - - Then her head the maiden lifted, - In the snow she saw fresh footprints, - And she thereupon inquired, - "What has passed across our pathway?" - - Said the smith, said Ilmarinen, - "'Twas a wolf that ran across it." - - Then the hapless girl was sighing, - Much she sobbed, and much was sighing, - And she spoke the words which follow: - "Woe to me, unhappy creature! 240 - Better surely had I found it, - And my lot were surely better - If a growling wolf I followed, - Tracked the pathway of the Snouted, - Than in sledge of such a suitor, - 'Neath the rug of one so wrinkled, - For the hair of wolf is finer, - And his mouth-cleft is more handsome." - - Thereupon smith Ilmarinen - Bit his lips, his head turned sideways, 250 - And the sledge drove rattling onwards, - And at night they reached a village. - - With the journey overwearied, - Slept the smith, and slept profoundly, - And another than her husband - Made the girl laugh as he slept there. - - Thereupon smith Ilmarinen - In the morning when he wakened, - Mouth and head both twisted sideways, - Tossed his black hair in disorder. 260 - - After this, smith Ilmarinen - Pondered till he spoke as follows: - "Shall I now commence my singing, - Shall I sing a bride like this one, - To a creature of the forest, - Or a creature of the water? - - "Not to forest beast I'll sing her, - All the forest would be troubled; - Neither to a water-creature, - Lest the fishes all should shun her; 270 - Better slay her with my hanger, - With my sword will I despatch her." - - But the sword perceived his object, - Understood the hero's language, - And it spoke the words which follow: - "Not for this was I constructed, - That I should despatch the women, - And the weak I thus should slaughter." - - Thereupon smith Ilmarinen - Presently commenced his singing, 280 - And began to speak in anger, - Sung his wife into a seamew, - Thenceforth round the cliffs to clamour, - Scream upon the rocks in water, - Moan around the jutting headlands, - Struggle with the winds against her. - - After this smith Ilmarinen - In his sledge again dashed forward, - And the sledge drove rattling onward, - Head bowed down in great depression, 290 - Back he journeyed to his country, - Till he reached the well-known regions. - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - Came upon the road to meet him, - And began to speak as follows: - "Ilmarinen, smith and brother, - Wherefore is your mood so gloomy, - Wherefore is your cap pushed sideways, - As from Pohjola thou comest? - How at Pohjola exist they?" 300 - - Said the smith, said Ilmarinen, - "How at Pohjola exist they? - There the Sampo grinds for ever, - And revolves the pictured cover, - And one day it grinds provisions, - Grinds for sale upon the second, - On the third what needs the household. - - "Thus I speak, and tell you truly, - And again repeat it to you, - How at Pohjola exist they, 310 - When at Pohjola's the Sampo! - There is ploughing, there is sowing, - There is every kind of increase, - And their welfare is eternal." - - Said the aged Vaeinaemoeinen, - "Ilmarinen, smith and brother, - Where hast thou thy wife abandoned, - Where thy youthful bride so famous, - That you here return without her, - Ever driving homeward wifeless?" 320 - - Thereupon smith Ilmarinen, - Answered in the words which follow: - "Such a wife she was, I sang her - To the sea-cliffs as a seamew; - Now she screams aloud as seagull, - Shrieks aloud without cessation, - Moans about the rocks in water, - And around the cliffs she clamours." - - - - -RUNO XXXIX.--THE EXPEDITION AGAINST POHJOLA - - -_Argument_ - -Vaeinaemoeinen persuades Ilmarinen to go with him to Pohjola to bring away -the Sampo. Ilmarinen consents, and the heroes start off on their journey -in a boat (1-330). Lemminkainen hails them from the shore, and on -hearing where they are going, proposes to join them, and is accepted as -a third comrade (331-426). - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - Uttered then the words which follow: - "O thou smith, O Ilmarinen, - Unto Pohjola we'll travel, - And will seize this splendid Sampo, - And behold its pictured cover." - - Thereupon smith Ilmarinen - Answered in the words which follow: - "No, we cannot seize the Sampo, - Cannot bring the pictured cover, 10 - From the gloomy land of Pohja, - Sariola for ever misty. - There the Sampo has been carried, - And removed the pictured cover - Unto Pohjola's stone mountain, - And within the hill of copper. - There by nine locks is it fastened, - And three roots have sprouted from it, - Firmly fixed, nine fathoms deeply. - In the earth the first is rooted, 20 - By the water's edge the second, - And the third within the home-hill." - - Said the aged Vaeinaemoeinen, - "O thou smith, my dearest brother, - Unto Pohjola we'll travel, - And will carry off the Sampo. - Let us build a ship enormous, - Fit to carry off the Sampo, - And convey the pictured cover, - Forth from Pohjola's stone mountain, 30 - From within the hill of copper, - And the ninefold locks that hold it." - - Said the smith, said Ilmarinen, - "Safest is by land the journey. - Lempo on the lake is brooding, - Death upon its mighty surface, - And the wind might drive us onward, - And the tempest might o'erturn us; - We might have to row with fingers, - And to use our hands for steering." 40 - - Said the aged Vaeinaemoeinen, - "Safest is by land the journey, - Safest, but the most fatiguing, - And moreover, full of windings. - Pleasant 'tis in boat on water, - Swaying as the boat glides onward, - Gliding o'er the sparkling water, - Driving o'er its shining surface, - While the wind the boat is rocking, - And the waves drive on the vessel, 50 - While the west-wind rocks it gently, - And the south-wind drives it onward, - But let this be as it may be, - If you do not like the lake-voyage, - We by land can journey thither, - And along the shore can journey. - - "First a new sword do you forge me, - Make me now a keen-edged weapon, - So that I with beasts can struggle, - Chase away the folks of Pohja. 60 - Forth I go to seize the Sampo, - From the cold and dismal village, - From the gloomy land of Pohja, - Sariola for ever misty." - - Thereupon smith Ilmarinen - He the great primeval craftsman, - Cast some iron in the fire, - Steel upon the glowing charcoal, - And of gold he took a handful, - And of silver took a handful, 70 - Set the slaves to work the bellows, - And he made the labourers press them. - - Worked the slaves the bellows strongly, - Well the labourers pressed the bellows, - Till like soup spread out the iron, - And like dough the steel was yielding, - And the silver shone like water, - And the gold swelled up like billows. - - Thereupon smith Ilmarinen, - He the great primeval craftsman, 80 - Stooped to look into the furnace, - At the edges of the bellows, - And he saw a sword was forming, - With a hilt of gold constructed. - - From the fire he took the weapon, - Took the work so finely fashioned, - From the furnace to the anvil, - To the hammer and the mallet, - Forged the sword as he would wish it, - And a blade the best of any, 90 - And with finest gold inlaid it, - And with silver he adorned it. - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - Entered then to view the weapon, - And he found a keen-edged sword-blade. - Straightway in his hand he raised it, - And he turned it and surveyed it, - And he spoke the words which follow: - "Does this sword befit a hero, - Is the sword to bearer suited?" 100 - And the sword the hero suited. - - Well did it befit the bearer. - On its point the moon was shining, - On its side the sun was shining, - On the haft the stars were gleaming, - At the tip a horse was neighing, - On the knob a cat was mewing, - On the sheath a dog was barking. - - After this the sword he brandished, - And he cleft an iron mountain, 110 - And he spoke the words which follow: - "Thus, with such a blade as this is, - Can I cleave the mountains open, - Cleave the rocky hills asunder." - - After this did Ilmarinen - Speak aloud the words which follow: - "How shall I myself, unhappy, - How shall I, the weak, defend me, - And shall armour me, and belt me, - 'Gainst the risks of land and water? 120 - Shall I clothe myself in armour, - In a coat of mail the strongest, - Gird a belt of steel around me? - Stronger is a man in armour, - In a coat of mail is better, - With a belt of steel more mighty." - - Then arrived the time for starting, - And preparing for departure; - First the aged Vaeinaemoeinen, - Secondly smith Ilmarinen, 130 - And they went to seek the courser, - And to find the yellow-maned one, - And the one-year old to bridle, - And to see the foal was rough-shod. - Then they went to seek the courser, - Went to seek him in the forest, - And they gazed around them keenly, - And they sought around the blue wood, - Found the horse among the bushes, - Found the yellow-maned in firwood. 140 - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - Secondly smith Ilmarinen, - On his head the bit adjusted, - And the one-year old they bridled, - And they drove upon their journey. - On the shore drove both the heroes, - On the shore they heard lamenting, - From the haven heard complaining. - - Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen - Spoke aloud the words which follow: 150 - "Perhaps it is a girl complaining, - Or perchance a dove lamenting. - Shall we go to look about us, - Shall we nearer go to listen?" - - Therefore to the spot they sauntered, - Nearer went to gaze around them, - But no maiden there was weeping, - And no dove was there lamenting, - But they found a vessel weeping, - And a boat was there lamenting. 160 - - Said the aged Vaeinaemoeinen - As he went towards the vessel, - "Wherefore weep, O wooden vessel, - Boat with rowlocks, why lamentest? - Dost thou weep that thou art clumsy, - And art dreaming at thy moorings?" - - Then the wooden boat made answer, - Thus replied the boat with rowlocks: - "Know, a vessel longs for water, - And its tarry sides desire it, 170 - As a maiden may be longing - For the fine home of a husband. - Therefore weeps the boat unhappy, - And the hapless boat lamenteth, - And I weep to speed through water, - And to float upon the billows. - - "It was said when I was fashioned, - When my boards were sung together, - That I should become a warship, - And should be employed for warboat, 180 - And should bear the plunder homeward, - In my hold should carry treasure, - But I have not been in battle, - Neither have been stored with plunder. - - "Other boats, and even bad ones, - Always wander forth to battle, - And are led to battle-struggle - Three times in the course of summer, - And return with money loaded, - In their hold they carry treasure, 190 - But for me, though well constructed, - Of a hundred boards constructed, - Here upon my rests I'm rotting, - Lying idly at my moorings, - And the worst worms of the country - Underneath my ribs are lurking, - While the birds, of all most horrid, - In my masts their nests are building, - All the toads from out the forest - Over all my deck are leaping. 200 - Twice it had been better for me, - Two or three times were it better - Had I been a mountain pine-tree, - Or upon the heath a fir-tree, - With a squirrel in my branches, - Underneath my boughs a puppy." - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - Answered in the words which follow: - "Do not weep, O wooden vessel, - Fret thyself, O boat with rowlocks! 210 - Soon shalt thou go forth to battle, - There to mix in furious conflict. - Boat, who wast by builder fashioned, - 'Twas this gift the builder gave thee, - That thy prow should reach the water, - And thy sides the billows traverse, - Even though no hand should touch thee, - Neither arm be thrust against thee, - Though no shoulder should direct thee, - And although no arm should guide thee." 220 - - Then replied the wooden vessel, - Answered thus the boat with rowlocks: - "None of all my race so mighty, - Neither will the boats, my brothers, - Move unpushed into the water, - Nor unrowed upon the billows, - If no hand is laid upon us, - And no arm should urge us forward." - - Said the aged Vaeinaemoeinen, - "If I push you in the water, 230 - Will you make, unrowed, your journey, - Unassisted by the oars, - By the rudder undirected, - When the sails no breeze is filling?" - - Answer made the wooden vessel, - Thus replied the boat with rowlocks: - "None of all my race so noble, - Nor the host of other vessels, - Speed along unrowed by fingers, - Unassisted by the oars, 240 - By the rudder undirected, - When the sails no breeze is filling." - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - Answered in the words which follow: - "Can you speed if some one rows you, - If assisted by the oars, - By the rudder if directed, - When the sails the breeze is filling?" - - Answered then the wooden vessel, - Thus replied the boat with rowlocks: 250 - "Yes, my race would hasten onward, - All the other boats my brothers, - Speed along if rowed by fingers, - If assisted by the oars, - By the rudder if directed, - When the sails the breeze is filling." - - Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen - Left his horse upon the sandhills, - On a tree he fixed the halter, - Tied the reins upon the branches, 260 - Pushed the boat into the water, - Sang the vessel in the billows, - And he asked the wooden vessel, - And he spoke the words which follow: - "O thou boat, of shape so curving, - O thou wooden boat with rowlocks, - Art thou just as fit to bear us, - As thyself art fair to gaze on?" - - Answered thus the wooden vessel, - Thus replied the boat with rowlocks: 270 - "I am fitted well to bear you, - And my floor is very spacious, - And a hundred men might row me, - And a thousand others stand there." - - So the aged Vaeinaemoeinen - Softly then began to carol, - Sang on one side of the vessel - Handsome youths, with hair brushed smoothly, - Hair smoothed down and hands all hardened, - And their feet were finely booted; 280 - Sang on other side of vessel - Girls with tin upon their head-dress, - Head-dress tin, and belts of copper, - Golden rings upon their fingers; - And again sang Vaeinaemoeinen, - Till the seats were full of people, - Some were very aged people, - Men whose lives were nearly over, - But for these the space was scanty, - For the young folks came before them. 290 - - In the stern himself he seated, - Sat behind the birchwood vessel, - And he steered the vessel onward, - And he spoke the words which follow: - "Speed thou on through treeless regions, - O'er the wide expanse of water, - O'er the lake do thou float lightly, - As on waves a water-lily." - - Then he set the youths to rowing, - But he left the maidens resting; 300 - Rowed the youths, and bent the oars, - Yet the vessel moved not onward. - - Then he set the girls to rowing, - But he left the youths reposing; - Rowed the girls, and bent their fingers, - Yet the vessel moved not onward. - - Then the old folks set to rowing, - While the young folks gazed upon them; - Rowed they till their heads were shaking, - Still the vessel moved not onward. 310 - - Thereupon smith Ilmarinen - Sat him down, and set to rowing; - Now moved on the wooden vessel, - Sped the boat and made good progress, - Far was heard the splash of oars, - Far the splashing of the rudder. - - On he rowed, while splashed the water, - Cracked the seats, and shook the planking, - Clashed the mountain-ashwood oars, - Creaked like hazel-grouse the rudders, 320 - And their tips like cry of blackcock. - Like a swan the prow clove onward, - Croaked the stern as croaks a raven, - Hissed the rowlocks just as geese hiss. - - And the aged Vaeinaemoeinen - Steered the vessel quickly onward, - From the stern of the red vessel, - With the aid of the strong rudder, - Till they saw a cliff before them, - And perceived a wretched village. 330 - - On the cape was Ahti dwelling, - In its bend was Kauko living, - Weeping that the fish had failed him, - Weeping that the bread had failed him; - For the smallness of his storehouse, - Wept the scamp his wretched fortune. - - At a boat's planks he was working, - At a new boat's keel was working, - On this hungry promontory, - And beside the wretched village. 340 - - Very keen was Ahti's hearing, - But his sight was even keener; - As he gazed afar to north-west, - And to south his head was turning, - Suddenly he saw a rainbow, - And a single cloud beyond it; - What he saw was not a rainbow, - Nor a little cloud beyond it; - But a boat that speeded swiftly, - And a vessel rushing onward 350 - O'er the broad lake's shining surface, - Out upon the open water, - In the stern a noble hero, - And a handsome man was rowing. - - Said the lively Lemminkainen, - "What this boat may be I know not, - Whose may be this handsome vessel, - Which is hither rowed from Suomi, - From the east, with strokes of oars, - And its rudder to the north-west." 360 - - Then with all his might he shouted, - Shouted, and continued shouting, - From the cape the hero shouted, - Shouted loudly o'er the water, - "Whose the boat that cleaves the water, - Whose the vessel on the billows?" - - From the boat the men made answer, - And the women answered likewise, - "Who art thou, O forest-dweller, - Hero, breaking through the thicket, 370 - That thou dost not know this vessel, - Whose from Vaeinoela this vessel, - Dost not even know the steersman, - Nor the hero at the oars?" - - Said the lively Lemminkainen, - "Now do I perceive the steersman, - And I recognize the oarsman. - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - In the vessel's stern is sitting, - Ilmarinen at the oars. 380 - Whither then away, O heroes, - Whither do you journey, heroes?" - - Said the aged Vaeinaemoeinen, - "To the northward do we journey, - Journey through the foaming billows, - And above the foam-flecked billows. - Forth we go to seize the Sampo, - Gaze upon its pictured cover, - There in Pohjola's stone mountain, - And within the hill of copper." 390 - - Said the lively Lemminkainen, - "O thou aged Vaeinaemoeinen, - Take me with you as your comrade, - As the third among the heroes, - When you go to seize the Sampo, - Bear away the pictured cover. - Perhaps my manly sword may aid you, - In the combat may be useful, - As my hands may bear you witness, - And my shoulders witness to you." 400 - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - Took the man upon his journey, - In the boat he took the rascal, - And the lively Lemminkainen - Hurried on to climb upon it, - And he hastened quick to board it, - And his planks he carried with him - To the boat of Vaeinaemoeinen. - - Said the aged Vaeinaemoeinen, - "In my boat is wood in plenty, 410 - Planks sufficient for the vessel, - And besides 'tis heavy laden. - Wherefore do you bring more planking, - Bringing timber to the vessel?" - - Said the lively Lemminkainen, - "Foresight will not sink the vessel, - Nor o'erturns a prop the haystack. - Often on the lake of Pohja, - Does the wind destroy the planking, - When the sides are dashed together." 420 - - Said the aged Vaeinaemoeinen, - "Therefore in a ship for battle, - Are the sides composed of iron, - And the prow of steel constructed, - Lest the wind aside should turn it, - Storms should shatter it to pieces." - - - - -RUNO XL.--THE PIKE AND THE KANTELE - - -_Argument_ - -The Sampo-raiders come to a waterfall, beneath which the boat is caught -fast on the back of a great pike (1-94). The pike is killed, and the -front part is taken into the boat, cooked, and eaten (94-204). -Vaeinaemoeinen makes the jaws of the pike into a kantele, on which several -of the party attempt to play, but without success (205-342). - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - Steered the vessel swiftly forward, - On beyond the jutting headland, - On beyond the wretched village, - Singing songs upon the water, - Joyous songs upon the billows. - - On the cape were maidens standing, - And they looked around and listened. - "From the lake there comes rejoicing, - And what song from lake re-echoes, 10 - Far more joyous than aforetime, - And a finer song than any?" - - Onward steered old Vaeinaemoeinen, - For a day o'er lake was steering, - For the next through marshy waters, - For the third day past a cataract. - - Then the lively Lemminkainen - Thought of spells he heard aforetime, - For the ears of furious cataract, - And the sacred river's whirlpool. 20 - And he spoke the words which follow, - And expressed himself in singing: - - "Cease, O Cataract, thy foaming, - Mighty water, cease thy rushing, - Thou, foam-maiden, Cataract's daughter, - On the foam-flecked stones, O seat thee, - On the wet stones do thou seat thee, - In thy lap the waters gather, - And in both thy hands collect them, - With thy hands repress their fury, 30 - That upon our breasts they splash not, - Nor upon our heads are falling. - - "Thou, old dame, beneath the billows, - Lady, pillowed on the waters, - Raise thy head above the waters, - Rise from bosom of the waters, - That the foam be heaped together, - And that thou mayst watch the foam-wreaths, - Lest they should o'erwhelm the guiltless, - And should overthrow the faultless. 40 - - "Stones that stand amid the river, - Slabs of stone with foam o'ercovered, - Be ye sunk into the water, - And your heads be pressed beneath it, - From the red boat's pathway banished, - From the course the tarred boat follows. - - "If this is not yet sufficient, - Kimmo-stone, O son of Kammo, - Make an opening with thy auger, - Pierce an opening with thy auger, 50 - Through the stones in river standing, - And the dangerous slabs that border, - That the boat may pass uninjured, - And the vessel pass undamaged. - - "If this is not yet sufficient, - Water-Father, 'neath the river, - Into moss the rocks transform thou, - Make the boat like pike's light bladder, - As amid the foam it rushes, - As beneath the banks it passes. 60 - - "Maiden in the cataract dwelling, - Girl who dwell'st beside the river, - Do thou spin a thread of softness, - In a soft ball do thou wind it, - Drop thy thread into the water, - Through the blue waves do thou guide it, - That the boat its track may follow, - While its tarry breast speeds onward, - So that men the least instructed, - E'en the inexperienced find it. 70 - - "Melatar, thou gracious matron! - Of thy favour, take the rudder, - That with which thou guid'st the vessel, - Safely through the streams enchanted, - To the house that lies beyond them, - And beneath the sorcerer's windows. - - "If this is not yet sufficient, - Ukko, Jumala in heaven, - With thy sword direct the vessel, - With thy naked sword direct it, 80 - That the wooden boat speed onward, - Journey on, the pinewood vessel." - - Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen, - Steered the vessel swiftly forward, - Through the river-rocks he steered it, - Steered it through the foaming waters, - And the wooden vessel wedged not, - Nor the wise man's boat was grounded. - - But as they their voyage continued - Once again in open water, 90 - Suddenly the vessel halted, - Stopped the boat upon its journey, - In its place remained it fastened, - And the vessel rocked no longer. - - Thereupon smith Ilmarinen, - With the lively Lemminkainen, - Pushed into the lake the rudder, - In the waves the spar of pinewood, - And they tried to loose the vessel, - And to free the wooden vessel, 100 - But they could not move the vessel, - Nor release the wooden vessel. - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - Uttered then the words which follow: - "O thou lively son of Lempi, - Stoop thou down, and look around thee. - Look what stops the boat from moving, - Look what keeps the vessel moveless - Here amid the open water; - What the force beneath that holds it, 110 - Whether stopped by rocks or branches, - Or by any other hindrance." - - Then the lively Lemminkainen - Stooped him down to look about him, - And he looked beneath the vessel, - And he spoke the words which follow: - "Not on rock the boat is resting, - Not on boat, and not on branches, - But upon a pike's broad shoulders, - And on water-dog's great backbone." 120 - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - Answered in the words which follow: - "All things may be found in rivers, - Whether they are pikes or branches. - If we rest on pike's broad shoulders, - And on water-dog's great backbone, - Plunge your sword into the water, - Thus in twain the fish to sever." - - Then the lively Lemminkainen - Ruddy youth, accomplished rascal, 130 - Drew his sword from out his sword-belt, - From his side the bone-destroyer, - In the lake his sword plunged deeply, - Thrust it underneath the vessel, - But he splashed into the water, - Plunged his hands into the billows. - - Thereupon smith Ilmarinen - By the hair seized fast the hero, - Dragged from out the lake the hero, - And he spoke the words which follow: 140 - "All pretend to grow to manhood, - And are ready to be bearded, - Such as these we count by hundreds, - And their number mounts to thousands." - - From his belt he drew his sword-blade, - From the sheath the keen-edged weapon, - And he struck the fish with fury, - Striking down beneath the vessel, - But the sword in pieces shivered, - And the pike was injured nothing. 150 - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - Uttered then the words which follow: - "Not the half of manhood have you, - Not the third part of a hero, - But a man is now required, - And a man's sense now is needed, - All the sense of the unskilful, - All the efforts of the others." - - Then himself he drew his sword-blade, - Firmly grasped the keen-edged weapon, 160 - In the lake his sword then thrust he, - Underneath the boat he struck it, - At the pike's great shoulders striking - At the water-dog's great backbone. - - But the sword was fixed securely, - In the fish's jaws fixed firmly; - Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen - Presently the fish uplifted, - Dragged it up from out the water, - And the pike in twain he severed. 170 - To the bottom sank the fish-tail, - In the boat the head he hoisted. - - Now again moved on the vessel, - And the boat-prow now was loosened. - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast - To the shoals steered on the vessel, - To the shore the boat he guided, - And he turned and looked about him, - And the pike's great head examined, - And he spoke the words which follow: 180 - "Let the eldest of the yeomen, - Come and cleave the pike to pieces, - Let him carve it into slices, - Let him hew the head to pieces." - - From the boat the men made answer, - From the boat replied the women, - "But the captor's hands are finer, - And the speaker's fingers better." - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - Drew from out the sheath his knife-blade, 190 - From his side the cold sharp iron, - That the pike might be divided, - And he cut the fish to pieces, - And he spoke the words which follow: - "Let the youngest of the maidens, - Cook the pike that we have captured, - Let her mince it for our breakfast, - That on fish we make our dinner." - - Then the maidens set to cooking, - Ten there were who made the effort, 200 - And they cooked the pike for eating, - And they minced it for their breakfast; - On the reefs the bones they scattered, - On the rocks they left the fishbones. - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - Saw the bones where they were lying, - And he turned to look upon them, - And he spoke the words which follow: - "What might perhaps be fashioned from them, - From the pike's teeth be constructed, 210 - From the fragments of the jawbones, - Were they to the smithy taken, - To the skilful smith entrusted, - To the hands of one most skilful?" - - Said the smith, said Ilmarinen, - "Nothing comes from what is useless, - Nothing can be made of fishbones, - By a smith in smithy working, - Though to skilful smith entrusted, - To the hands of one most skilful." 220 - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - Answered in the words which follow: - "Yet a harp might be constructed - Even of the bones of fishes, - If there were a skilful workman, - Who could from the bones construct it." - - As no craftsman there was present, - And there was no skilful workman - Who could make a harp of fishbones, - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, 230 - Then began the harp to fashion, - And himself the work accomplished, - And he made a harp of pikebones, - Fit to give unending pleasure. - Out of what did he construct it? - Chiefly from the great pike's jawbones, - Whence obtained he pegs to suit it? - Of the teeth of pike he made them; - Out of what were harpstrings fashioned? - From the hairs of Hiisi's gelding. 240 - - Now the instrument was ready, - And the kantele completed, - Fashioned from the pike's great jawbones, - And from fins of fish constructed. - - Thereupon the youths came forward, - Forward came the married heroes, - And the half-grown boys came forward, - And the little girls came likewise, - Maidens young, and aged women, - And the women middle-aged, 250 - All advanced the harp to gaze on, - And the instrument examine. - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - Bade the young folks and the old ones, - And the people middle-aged, - With their fingers play upon it, - On the instrument of fishbone, - On the kantele of fishbone. - - Played the young and played the aged, - Likewise played the middle-aged, 260 - Played the young, and moved their fingers, - Tried the old, whose heads were shaking, - But they drew no music from it, - Nor composed a tune when playing. - - Said the lively Lemminkainen, - "O ye boys half-witted only, - And ye maidens, all so stupid, - And you other wretched people, - 'Tis not thus you play upon it, - Neither are you skilled musicians. 270 - Give me now the harp of fishbone, - Let me try to play upon it, - On my knees now place it for me, - At the tips of my ten fingers." - - Then the lively Lemminkainen - In his hands the harp uplifted - And he drew it nearer to him, - Held it underneath his fingers, - And he tried to play upon it, - And the kantele he twisted, 280 - But could play no tune upon it, - Draw no cheerful music from it. - - Said the aged Vaeinaemoeinen, - "There are none among the youthful, - Nor among the growing people, - Nor among the aged people, - Who can play upon these harpstrings, - Drawing cheerful music from them. - Perhaps in Pohjola 'twere better, - Tunes might perhaps be played upon it, 290 - Cheerful music played upon it, - If to Pohjola I took it." - - So to Pohjola he took it, - And to Sariola he brought it, - And the boys they played upon it, - Boys and girls both played upon it, - And the married men played on it, - Likewise all the married women, - And the Mistress played upon it, - And they turned the harp and twisted, 300 - Held it firmly in their fingers, - At the tips of their ten fingers. - Thus played all the youths of Pohja, - People played of every station, - But no cheerful notes came from it, - And they played no music on it, - For the strings were all entangled, - And the horsehair whined most sadly, - And the notes were all discordant, - And the music all was jarring. 310 - - In the corner slept a blind man, - By the stove there lay an old man, - And beside the stove he wakened. - From the stove he raised an outcry, - From his couch he grumbled loudly, - And he grumbled, and he mumbled, - "Leave it off, and stop your playing, - Cut it short and finish quickly, - For the noise my ears is bursting, - Through my head the noise is echoing, 320 - And through all my hair I feel it, - For a week you've made me sleepless. - - "And the harp of Suomi's people - Cannot really give us pleasure, - Lulls us not to sleep when weary, - Nor to rest does it incline us. - Cast it forth upon the waters, - Sink it down beneath the billows, - Send it back to where it came from, - And the instrument deliver 330 - To the hands of those who made it, - To the fingers which constructed." - - With its tongue the harp made answer, - As the kantele resounded: - "No, I will not sink in water, - Nor will rest beneath the billows, - But will play for a musician, - Play for him who toiled to make me." - - Carefully the harp they carried, - And with greatest care conveyed it 340 - Back to him whose hands had made it, - To the knees of its constructor. - - - - -RUNO XLI.--VAeINAeMOeINEN'S MUSIC - - -_Argument_ - -Vaeinaemoeinen plays on the kantele, and all living things, whether -belonging to the air, earth, or water, hasten to the spot to listen -(1-168). The hearts of all listeners are so affected by the music that -tears fall from their eyes, and Vaeinaemoeinen's own eyes shed large drops -which fall to the ground and trickle into the water, where they are -changed into beautiful blue pearls (169-266). - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - He the great primeval minstrel, - Presently stretched out his fingers, - Washed his thumbs, the harp for playing, - On the stone of joy he sat him, - On the singer's stone he sat him, - On a hill all silver-shining, - From a golden heath arising. - - Then the harp he grasped with fingers, - And upon his knee he propped it, 10 - And his hands he placed beneath it, - Then he spoke the words which follow: - "Come ye now to listen to me, - Ye before who never heard me, - Hear with joy my songs primeval, - While the kantele is sounding." - - Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen, - Quick commenced his skilful playing - On the instrument of pikebone, - On the kantele of fishbone, 20 - And he raised his fingers nimbly, - And his thumb he lifted lightly. - - Now came pleasure after pleasure, - As the sweet notes followed others, - As he sat and played the music, - As he sang his songs melodious, - As he played upon the pike-teeth, - And he lifted up the fish-tail, - And the horsehair sounded sweetly, - And the horsehair sounded clearly. 30 - - Played the aged Vaeinaemoeinen. - Nothing was there in the forest, - Which upon four feet was running, - Or upon their legs were hopping, - And which came not near to listen, - Came not to rejoice and wonder. - - Gathered round him all the squirrels, - As from branch to branch they clambered, - And the ermines flocked around him, - Laid them down against the fences, 40 - On the plains the deer were springing, - And the lynxes shared the pleasure. - - In the swamp each wolf awakened, - From the heath the bear aroused him, - From his lair among the fir-trees, - And the thickly growing pine-trees, - And the wolves ran lengthy journeys, - And the bears came through the heather, - Till they sat upon the fences, - Side by side against the gateway. 50 - On the rocks the fence fell over, - On the field the gate fell over, - Then they climbed upon the pine-trees, - And they ran around the fir-trees, - Just to listen to the music, - All rejoicing, and in wonder. - - Sage of Tapiola illustrious, - He of Metsola the Master, - And the whole of Tapio's people, - All the boys and all the maidens, 60 - Climbed upon a mountain summit, - That they might enjoy the music, - While the Mistress of the Forest, - Keen-eyed matron of Tapiola, - (Fine her stockings, blue in colour, - Firmly tied with crimson ribands,) - Climbed into a crooked birch-tree, - Rested in a curving alder, - To the kantele to listen, - That she might enjoy the music. 70 - - And the birds of air assembled, - Those upon two wings that raise them, - Backwards sailing, forwards sailing, - And with all their speed came flying, - Swift to listen to the music, - All in wonder and rejoicing. - - When the eagle in his eyry, - Heard the sweet tones sound from Suomi, - In the nest she left her fledgelings, - And she hovered round to listen 80 - To the gallant hero's playing, - And to Vaeinaemoeinen's singing. - High in air there soared the eagle, - Through the clouds the hawk was sailing, - Came the ducks from deepest waters, - Came the swans from snow-wreathed marshes, - And the smallest of the finches, - All the twittering birds assembled, - Singing-birds flocked round by hundreds, - And in thousands they assembled 90 - In the air, and heard delighted, - And alighted on his shoulders, - All rejoicing in the patriarch, - And in Vaeinaemoeinen's playing. - - E'en the Daughters of Creation, - Of the air the charming maidens, - Gathered to rejoice and wonder, - To the kantele to listen. - Some on arch of air were seated, - Seated on the dazzling rainbow, 100 - Some on little clouds were seated, - Resting on their crimson borders. - Then were Kuutar, slender damsel; - Paeivaetaer, that maid accomplished; - Casting with their hands the shuttle, - Drawing threads that they were weaving, - As they wove a golden fabric, - And they wove the threads of silver, - High upon the red cloud-borders, - On the borders of the rainbow. 110 - - But when they began to listen - To the notes of charming music, - From their hands they let the comb fall, - Cast from out their hands the shuttle, - And the golden bands were broken, - And the silver shaft was broken. - - There remained no living creature, - None of those who dwell in water, - None who with six fins are moving, - Nor the largest shoals of fishes, 120 - Which assembled not to listen, - Came not to rejoice and wonder. - Thither came the pikes all swimming, - And the water-dogs swam forward, - From the rocks swam swift the salmon, - From the deeps there came the powans, - Perch and little roach came also, - Powans white, and other fishes; - Through the reeds they pushed their bodies, - Straightway to the shore they hastened, 130 - There to hear the songs of Vaeinoe, - And to listen to his playing. - - Ahto, king of all the billows, - Grass-beard ancient of the waters, - Mounted to the water's surface, - Climbed upon a water-lily, - To the notes with joy he listened, - And he spoke the words which follow: - "Never have I heard such music, - In the course of all my lifetime, 140 - As is played by Vaeinaemoeinen, - Joyous and primeval minstrel." - - And the sisters, Sotko's daughters, - Cousins of the reeds on lakeshore, - At the time their hair were brushing, - And their locks were deftly combing, - With a comb composed of silver, - And with golden brush they brushed it. - When they heard the strains unwonted, - And they heard the skilful playing, 150 - In the waves they dropped the brushes, - Dropped the comb among the lake-waves, - And their hair unsmoothed was hanging, - Nor they smoothed it in the middle. - - E'en the Mistress of the Waters, - Water-Mother, towards the rushes, - From the lake herself ascended, - Raised herself from out the billows, - Quickly moved her to the rushes, - Climbed a rock in water standing, 160 - And she listened to the music, - And to Vaeinaemoeinen playing, - Listened to the wondrous music, - And to the delightful playing, - And she fell in deepest slumber, - Sank upon the ground in slumber, - On the mottled rocky surface, - Underneath a great rock's shelter. - - Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen, - Played one day, and played a second. 170 - There was none among the heroes, - None among the men so mighty, - None among the men or women, - None of those whose hair is plaited, - Whom he did not move to weeping, - And whose hearts remained unmelted. - Wept the young and wept the aged, - All the married men were weeping, - Likewise all the married women, - And the half-grown boys were weeping, 180 - All the boys, and all the maidens, - Likewise all the little children, - When they heard the tones so wondrous, - And the noble sage's music. - - He himself, old Vaeinaemoeinen, - Felt his own tears rolling downward, - From his eyes the tears dropped downward, - And the water-drops fell downward; - They were tears than cranberries larger, - They were tears than peas much larger, 190 - Then the eggs of grouse still rounder, - Larger than the heads of swallows. - - From his eyes there fell the tear-drops, - Others followed after others, - Tears upon his cheeks were falling, - Down upon his cheeks so handsome, - Rolling from his cheeks so handsome, - Down upon his chin's expansion, - Rolling from his chin's expansion, - Down upon his panting bosom, 200 - Rolling from his panting bosom, - Down upon his strong knee's surface, - Rolling from his strong knee's surface - Down upon his feet so handsome, - Rolling from his feet so handsome, - Down upon the ground beneath them, - And five woollen cloaks were soaking, - Likewise six of gilded girdles, - Seven blue dresses too were soaking, - And ten overcoats were soaking. 210 - - And the tear-drops still were falling, - From the eyes of Vaeinaemoeinen, - Till they reached the blue lake's margin, - Overflowed the blue lake's margin, - Down below the sparkling water, - To the black ooze at the bottom. - - Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen - Spoke aloud the words which follow: - "Is there in this youthful party, - 'Mid the young and fair here gathered, 220 - 'Mid these high-descended people, - Any darling child of father, - Who the tears I shed can gather, - From beneath the sparkling water?" - - And the young folks gave him answer, - And the old folks likewise answered: - "There are none among the youthful, - In this young and fair assemblage, - 'Mid these high-descended people, - Not a darling child of father, 230 - Who the tears you shed can gather, - From beneath the sparkling water." - - Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen, - Spoke again in words that follow: - "He who brings my tears unto me, - And the tears again can gather, - From beneath the sparkling waters, - Shall receive a dress of feathers." - - Forth there came a raven passing; - Said the aged Vaeinaemoeinen: 240 - "Bring me now my tears, O raven, - From beneath the sparkling water, - And receive the dress of feathers." - But the raven could not do it. - - And the blue duck heard him likewise, - And the blue duck next came forward. - - Said the aged Vaeinaemoeinen: - "Often, blue duck, does it happen - That thy beak thou plungest downward, - As thou speedest through the water. 250 - Go thou forth my tears to gather, - From beneath the sparkling water, - Bounteous guerdon will I give thee, - And will give a dress of feathers." - - Then the duck went forth to seek them, - Seek the tears of Vaeinaemoeinen, - Underneath the sparkling water, - On the black ooze of the bottom. - In the lake she found the tear-drops, - And to Vaeinoe's hands she brought them, 260 - But they were transformed already, - Suffered beauteous transformation. - Into pearls were they developed, - Like the blue pearls of the mussel, - Fit for every king's adornment, - To the great a lifelong pleasure. - - - - -RUNO XLII.--THE CAPTURE OF THE SAMPO - - -_Argument_ - -The heroes arrive at Pohjola, and Vaeinaemoeinen announces that he has come -to take possession of the Sampo, either with good-will, or by force -(1-58). The Mistress of Pohjola refuses to yield it either by consent or -by compulsion, and calls together her people to oppose him (59-64). -Vaeinaemoeinen takes the kantele, begins to play, and lulls to sleep all -the people of Pohjola, and goes with his companions to search for the -Sampo; they take it from the stone mountain and convey it to the boat -(65-164). They sail homewards well satisfied, carrying the Sampo with -them (165-308). On the third day the Mistress of Pohjola wakes from her -sleep, and when she finds that the Sampo has been carried off, she -prepares a thick fog, a strong wind, and other impediments, to oppose -the robbers of the Sampo, which reach the vessel, and during the tempest -Vaeinaemoeinen's kantele falls into the water (309-562). - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - Secondly, smith Ilmarinen, - Third, the lively son of Lempi, - He the handsome Kaukomieli, - Sailed upon the lake's broad surface, - O'er the far-extending billows, - To the cold and dreary village, - To the misty land of Pohja, - To the land where men are eaten, - Where they even drown the heroes. 10 - - Who should row the vessel onward? - First, the smith named Ilmarinen. - He it was who rowed the vessel, - He was first among the rowers, - And the lively Lemminkainen - Was the last among the rowers. - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - In the stern himself was seated, - And he steered the vessel onward, - Through the waves he steered it onward, 20 - Through the foaming waves he steered it, - Steered it o'er the foam-capped billows, - Unto Pohja's distant haven, - To his well-known destination. - - When they reached the goal they sought for, - And the voyage at length was ended, - To the land they drew the vessel, - Up they drew the tarry vessel, - Laid it on the steely rollers, - At the quay with copper edging. 30 - - After this the house they entered, - Crowding hastily within it, - Then did Pohjola's old Mistress, - Ask the purport of their coming. - "Men, what tidings do you bring us, - What fresh news, O heroes, bring you?" - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - Answered in the words which follow: - "Men are speaking of the Sampo, - Heroes, of its pictured cover. 40 - We have come to share the Sampo, - And behold its pictured cover." - - Then did Pohjola's old Mistress - Answer in the words which follow: - "Two men cannot share a grouseling, - Nor can three divide a squirrel, - And the Sampo loud is whirring, - And the pictured cover grinding, - Here in Pohjola's stone mountain, - And within the hill of copper. 50 - I myself rejoice in welfare, - Mistress of the mighty Sampo." - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - Answered in the words which follow: - "If you will not share the Sampo, - Give us half to carry with us, - Then the Sampo, all entire, - To our vessel will we carry." - - Louhi, Pohjola's old Mistress, - Heard him with the greatest anger, 60 - Called together all her people, - Summoned all her youthful swordsmen, - Bade them all to aim their weapons - At the head of Vaeinaemoeinen. - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - Took the kantele and played it, - Down he sat and played upon it, - And began a tune delightful. - All who listened to his playing - Heard it with delight and wonder, 70 - And the men were all delighted, - And the women's mouths were laughing. - Tears from heroes' eyes were falling, - Boys upon the ground were kneeling. - - At the last their strength forsook them, - And the people all were wearied, - All the listeners sank in slumber, - On the ground sank all beholders, - Slept the old and slept the youthful, - All at Vaeinaemoeinen's playing. 80 - - Then the crafty Vaeinaemoeinen, - He the great primeval minstrel, - Put his hand into his pocket, - And he drew his purse from out it, - And sleep-needles took he from it, - And their eyes he plunged in slumber, - And their eyelashes crossed tightly, - Locked their eyelids close together, - Sank the people all in slumber. - Into sleep he plunged the heroes, 90 - And they sank in lasting slumber, - And he plunged in lasting slumber - All the host of Pohja's people, - All the people of the village. - - Then he went to fetch the Sampo, - And behold its pictured cover, - There in Pohjola's stone mountain, - And within the hill of copper. - Nine the locks that there secured it, - Bars secured it, ten in number. 100 - - Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen - Gently set himself to singing - At the copper mountain's entrance, - There beside the stony fortress, - And the castle doors were shaken, - And the iron hinges trembled. - - Thereupon smith Ilmarinen, - Aided by the other heroes, - Overspread the locks with butter, - And with bacon rubbed the hinges, 110 - That the doors should make no jarring, - And the hinges make no creaking. - Then the locks he turned with fingers, - And the bars and bolts he lifted, - And he broke the locks to pieces, - And the mighty doors were opened. - - Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen - Spoke aloud the words which follow: - "O thou lively son of Lempi, - Of my friends the most illustrious, 120 - Come thou here to take the Sampo, - And to seize the pictured cover." - - Then the lively Lemminkainen, - He the handsome Kaukomieli, - Always eager, though unbidden, - Ready, though men did not praise him, - Came to carry off the Sampo, - And to seize the pictured cover, - And he said as he was coming, - Boasted as he hastened forward, 130 - "O, I am a man of mettle, - And a hero-son of Ukko! - I can surely move the Sampo, - And can seize its pictured cover, - Standing on my right foot only, - If I touch it with my shoe-heel." - - Lemminkainen pushed against it, - Turned himself, and pushed against it, - Pushed his arms and breast against it, - On the ground his knees down-pressing, 140 - But he could not move the Sampo, - Could not stir the pictured cover, - For the roots were rooted firmly - In the depths nine fathoms under. - - There was then a bull in Pohja, - Which had grown to size enormous, - And his sides were sleek and fattened, - And his sinews of the strongest; - Horns he had in length a fathom, - One-half more his muzzle's thickness. 150 - - So they led him from the meadow, - On the borders of the ploughed field, - Up they ploughed the roots of Sampo, - Those which fixed the pictured cover, - Then began to move the Sampo, - And to sway the pictured cover. - - Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen, - Secondly, smith Ilmarinen, - Third, the lively Lemminkainen - Carried forth the mighty Sampo, 160 - Forth from Pohjola's stone mountain, - From within the hill of copper, - To the boat away they bore it, - And within the ship they stowed it. - In the boat they stowed the Sampo, - In the hold the pictured cover, - Pushed the boat into the water, - In the waves the hundred-boarded; - Splashed the boat into the water, - In the waves its sides descended. 170 - - Asked the smith, said Ilmarinen, - And he spoke the words which follow: - "Whither shall we bear the Sampo, - Whither now shall we convey it, - Take it from this evil country, - From the wretched land of Pohja?" - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - Answered in the words which follow: - "Thither will we bear the Sampo, - And will take the pictured cover, 180 - To the misty island's headland, - At the end of shady island, - There in safety can we keep it, - There it can remain for ever. - There's a little spot remaining, - Yet a little plot left over, - Where they eat not and they fight not, - Whither swordsmen never wander." - - Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen - Steered away from Pohja's borders, 190 - Sailed away in great contentment, - Joyous to his native country, - And he spoke the words which follow: - "Speed from Pohjola, O vessel, - Make thy way directly homeward, - Leave behind the foreign country. - - "Blow, thou wind, and sway the vessel, - Urge the boat upon the water, - Lend assistance to the rowers, - To the rudder give thou lightness, 200 - On the wide expanse of water, - Out upon the open water. - - "If the oars should be too little, - And too weak should be the oarsmen, - In the stern too small the steerer, - And the vessel's master's children, - Ahto, give thyself thy oars, - To the boat, O Water-Master, - Give the best and newest oars, - Give us, too, a stronger rudder. 210 - Do thou seat thee at the oars, - Do thou undertake the rowing, - Speed thou on this wooden vessel, - Urge the iron-rowlocked forward, - Drive it through the foaming billows, - Through the foam-capped billows drive it." - - Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen - Steered the vessel swiftly forward, - While the smith named Ilmarinen, - And the lively Lemminkainen, 220 - Set themselves to work the oars, - And they rowed, and speeded onward - O'er the sparkling water's surface, - O'er the surface of the billows. - - Said the lively Lemminkainen, - "Formerly when I was rowing, - There was water for the rowers, - There was singing for the minstrels, - But at present time, when rowing, - Nothing do we hear of singing, 230 - In the boat we hear no singing, - On the waves we hear no chanting." - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - Answered in the words which follow: - "Do not sing upon the waters, - Do not chant upon the billows; - Singing brings the boat to halting, - Songs would but impede the rowing, - Then would wane the golden daylight, - And the night descend upon us, 240 - On the wide expanse of water, - On the surface of the billows." - - Then the lively Lemminkainen - Answered in the words which follow: - "Anyway, the time is passing, - Fades away the lovely daylight, - And the night is swift approaching, - And the twilight comes upon us, - Though no song our life enlivens, - Nor the time is given to chanting." 250 - - Steered the aged Vaeinaemoeinen - O'er the blue lake's shining water, - And he steered one day, a second, - And at length upon the third day. - Then the lively Lemminkainen - For a second time inquired, - "Wherefore sing not, Vaeinaemoeinen? - O thou great one, sing unto us! - We have won the splendid Sampo; - Straight the course that now we follow." 260 - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - Gave him a decided answer: - "'Tis too early yet for singing, - 'Tis too early for rejoicing. - Soon a time will come for singing, - Fitting time for our rejoicing, - When we see our doors before us, - And we hear our own doors creaking." - - Said the lively Lemminkainen, - "In the stern I'll take position, 270 - And with all my might will sing there, - And with all my force will bellow. - Perhaps indeed I cannot do so, - Loud enough I cannot bellow: - If you will not sing unto us, - Then will I commence the singing." - - Then the lively Lemminkainen, - He the handsome Kaukomieli, - Quickly pursed his mouth for singing, - And prepared himself to carol, 280 - And began to sing his carols, - But his songs were most discordant, - And his voice it sounded hoarsely, - And his tones were most discordant. - - Sang the lively Lemminkainen, - Shouted loudly Kaukomieli, - Moved his mouth, his beard was wagging, - And his chin was likewise shaking. - Far away was heard his singing, - Far away across the water, 290 - In six villages they heard it, - Over seven the song resounded. - - On a stump a crane was sitting, - On a mound from swamp arising, - And his toe-bones he was counting, - And his feet he was uplifting, - And was terrified extremely - At the song of Lemminkainen. - - Left the crane his strange employment, - With his harsh voice screamed in terror, 300 - From his perch he flew in terror, - Over Pohjola in terror, - And upon his coming thither, - When he reached the swamp of Pohja, - Screaming still, and screaming harshly, - Screaming at his very loudest, - Waked in Pohjola the people, - And aroused that evil nation. - - Up rose Pohjola's old Mistress - From her long and heavy slumber, 310 - And she hastened to the farmyard, - Ran to where the corn was drying, - And she looked upon the cattle, - And the corn in haste examined. - Nought was missing from the cattle, - And the corn had not been plundered. - - To the hill of stone she wandered, - And the copper mountain's entrance, - And she said as she was coming, - "Woe to me, this day unhappy, 320 - For a stranger here has entered, - And the locks have all been opened, - And the castle's doors been opened, - And the iron hinges broken. - Has the Sampo perhaps been stolen, - And the whole been taken from us?" - - Yes, the Sampo had been taken, - Carried off the pictured cover, - Forth from Pohjola's stone mountain, - From within the hill of copper, 330 - Though by ninefold locks protected, - Though ten bars protected likewise. - - Louhi, Pohjola's old Mistress, - Fell into the greatest fury, - But she felt her strength was failing, - And her power had all departed, - So she prayed to the Cloud-Maiden. - "Maiden of the Clouds, Mist-Maiden, - Scatter from thy sieve the cloudlets, - And the mists around thee scatter, 340 - Send the thick clouds down from heaven, - Sink thou from the air of vapour, - O'er the broad lake's shining surface, - Out upon the open water, - On the head of Vaeinaemoeinen, - Falling on Uvantolainen. - - "But if this is not sufficient, - Iku-Turso, son of Aeijoe, - Lift thy head from out the water, - Raise thy head above the billows, 350 - Crush thou Kaleva's vile children, - Sink thou down Uvantolainen, - Sink thou down the wicked heroes - In the depths beneath the billows, - Bring to Pohjola the Sampo, - Let it fall not from the vessel. - - "But if this is not sufficient, - Ukko, thou, of Gods the highest, - Golden king in airy regions, - Mighty one, adorned with silver, 360 - Let the air be filled with tempest, - Raise a mighty wind against them, - Raise thou winds and waves against them, - With their boat contending ever, - Falling on the head of Vaeinoe, - Rushing on Uvantolainen." - - Then the Maid of Clouds, Mist-Maiden, - From the lake a cloud breathed upward, - Through the air the cloud she scattered, - And detained old Vaeinaemoeinen, 370 - And for three whole nights she kept him - Out upon the lake's blue surface, - And he could not move beyond it, - Nor could he escape beyond it. - - When for three nights he had rested - Out upon the lake's blue surface, - Spoke the aged Vaeinaemoeinen, - And expressed himself in thiswise: - "There's no man, how weak soever, - Not among the laziest heroes, 380 - Who by clouds would thus be hindered, - And by mists would thus be worsted." - - With his sword he clove the water, - In the lake his sword plunged deeply, - Mead along his blade was flowing, - Honey from his sword was dropping. - Then the fog to heaven ascended, - And the cloud in air rose upward, - From the lake the mist ascended, - And the vapour from the lake-waves, 390 - And the lake extended widely, - Wider spread the whole horizon. - - But a little time passed over, - Short the time that then passed over, - When they heard a mighty roaring, - At the red boat's side they heard it, - And the foam flew wildly upwards, - Near the boat of Vaeinaemoeinen. - - Thereupon smith Ilmarinen, - Felt the very greatest terror. 400 - From his cheeks the blood departed, - From his cheeks the ruddy colour; - O'er his head he drew his felt-cap, - And above his ears he drew it, - And his cheeks with care he covered, - And his eyes he covered better. - - Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen - Looked into the water round him, - Cast his gaze beside the vessel, - And he saw a little wonder. 410 - Iku-Turso, son of Aeijoe, - By the red boat's side was lifting - High his head from out the water, - Raising it from out the billows. - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - Grasped his ears upon the instant, - By his ears he dragged him upward, - And he sang aloud, and questioned, - And he said the words which follow: - "Iku-Turso, son of Aeijoe, 420 - Wherefore from the lake uplift thee, - Wherefore rise above the lake-waves, - Thus thyself to men revealing, - Even Kaleva's own children?" - - Iku-Turso, son of Aeijoe, - Was not pleased with this reception, - But he was not very frightened, - And no answer he returned him. - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - Asked again an explanation, 430 - And a third time asked him loudly, - "Iku-Turso, son of Aeijoe, - Wherefore from the lake uplift thee, - Wherefore rise above the billows?" - - Iku-Turso, son of Aeijoe, - When for the third time he asked him, - Answered in the words which follow: - "Therefore from the lake I raise me, - Therefore rise above the billows, - For that in my mind I purpose 440 - Kaleva's great race to ruin, - Bear to Pohjola the Sampo. - In the waves if you will send me, - And my wretched life concede me, - Not another time ascending, - In the sight of men I'll venture." - - Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen - Cast the wretch into the billows, - And he said the words which follow: - "Iku-Turso, son of Aeijoe, 450 - Nevermore from lake arising, - Or ascending from the lake-waves, - Venture forth where men can see thee, - From this very day henceforward." - - Therefore from that day thenceforward, - Never from the lake rose Turso, - In the sight of men to venture, - Long as sun and moon are shining, - Or the pleasant day is dawning, - And the air is most delightful. 460 - - Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen - Once again steered on the vessel. - But a little time passed over, - Short the time that then passed over, - When did Ukko, God the Highest, - Of the air the mighty ruler, - Winds arouse in magic fury, - Made the tempests rage around them. - - Then the winds arose in fury, - And the tempests raged around them, 470 - And the west wind blew most fiercely, - From the south-west just as fiercely, - And the south wind still more fiercely, - And the east wind whistled loudly, - Roared the south-east wind tremendous, - And the north wind howled in fury. - - From the trees the leaves were scattered, - And the pine-trees lost their needles, - And the heather lost its flowerets, - And the grasses lost their tassels, 480 - And the black ooze was uplifted - To the sparkling water's surface. - - Still the winds were wildly blowing, - And the waves assailed the vessel, - Swept away the harp of pikebone, - And the kantele of fish-fins, - Joy for Vellamo's attendants, - And to Ahtola a pleasure. - Ahto on the waves perceived it, - On the waves his children saw it, 490 - And they took the harp so charming, - And unto their home conveyed it. - - Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen - From his eyes wept tears of sadness, - And he spoke the words which follow: - "Thus has gone what I constructed, - And my cherished harp has vanished, - And is lost my life-long pleasure. - Never will it happen to me, - In the course of all my lifetime 500 - To rejoice again in pike-teeth, - Or to play on bones of fishes." - - Thereupon smith Ilmarinen - Felt the very greatest sadness, - And he spoke the words which follow: - "Woe to me, this day unhappy, - That upon the lake I travel, - On this wide expanse of water, - That I tread on wood that's rolling, - And on planks that shake beneath me. 510 - Now my hair has seen the tempest, - And my hair begins to shudder, - And my beard ill days has witnessed, - Which it saw upon the water, - Yet have we but seldom witnessed, - Such a storm as rages round us, - Witnessed such tremendous breakers, - Or have seen such foam-capped billows. - Let the wind be now my refuge, - And the waves have mercy on me." 520 - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - Heard his words, and thus responded: - "In the boat's no place for weeping, - Room is none for lamentation, - Weeping helps not in misfortune, - Howling, not when days are evil." - - Then he spoke the words which follow, - And he sang and thus expressed him: - "Water, now restrain thy children, - And, O wave, do thou restrain them. 530 - Ahto, do thou calm the billows, - Vellamo, o'ercome the waters, - That they splash not on our timbers, - Nor may overwhelm my boat-ribs. - - "Rise, O wind, aloft to heaven, - And among the clouds disport thee, - To thy race, where thou wast nurtured, - To thy family and kindred. - Do not harm this wooden vessel, - Sink thou not this boat of pinewood. 540 - Rather fell burnt trees in clearings, - On the slopes o'erthrow the pine-trees." - - Then the lively Lemminkainen, - He the handsome Kaukomieli, - Spoke aloud the words which follow: - "Come, O eagle, thou from Turja, - Do thou bring three feathers with thee, - Three, O eagle, two, O raven, - To protect this little vessel, - To protect this bad boat's timbers." 550 - - He himself enlarged the bulwarks, - Fixed the timbers in their places, - And to these fresh boards he added, - And to fathom-height he raised them, - Higher than the waves were leaping, - Nor upon his beard they splashed him. - - All his work was now completed, - And the bulwarks raised protecting, - Though the winds might blow most fiercely, - And the waves might beat in fury, 560 - And the foam be wildly seething, - And like hillocks be uprising. - - - - -RUNO XLIII.--THE FIGHT FOR THE SAMPO - - -_Argument_ - -The Mistress of Pohjola equips a war-vessel and goes in pursuit of the -robbers of the Sampo (1-22). When she overtakes them a fight ensues -between the forces of Pohjola and Kalevala in which the latter conquer -(23-258). Nevertheless the Mistress of Pohjola succeeds in dragging the -Sampo from the boat into the lake, where it breaks to pieces (259-266). -The larger portions sink in the lake, and form its riches, while the -smaller pieces are thrown on shore by the waves, at which Vaeinaemoeinen is -much pleased (267-304). The Mistress of Pohjola threatens to send all -evil upon Kalevala, to which Vaeinaemoeinen pays no attention (305-368). -The Mistress of Pohjola returns home in great distress, taking with her -only a small fragment of the cover of the Sampo (369-384). Vaeinaemoeinen -carefully collects the fragments of the Sampo on the shore, and plants -them, hoping for continuous good fortune (385-434). - - Louhi, Pohjola's old Mistress, - Called together all her forces, - Bows delivered to her army, - And the men with swords provided, - Fitted out a ship of Pohja, - As a war-ship she prepared it. - - In the ship the men she stationed, - And equipped for war the heroes, - As the duck her ducklings musters, - Or the teal her children marshals; 10 - There she ranged a hundred swordsmen, - And a thousand men with crossbows. - - In the boat the mast she lifted, - Put the yards and spars in order, - On the mast the sails adjusted, - Spread the canvas o'er the sailyards; - Like a hanging cloud it waved there, - Like a cloud in heaven suspended; - Then upon her voyage she started, - Sailed away and speeded onward, 20 - Soon to struggle for the Sampo, - With the boat of Vaeinaemoeinen. - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - O'er the blue lake steered his vessel, - And he spoke the words which follow, - From the stern where he was seated: - "O thou lively son of Lempi, - Of my friends the dearest to me, - Climb thou quickly to the masthead, - And among the canvas hasten. 30 - Look thou to the air before thee, - Look thou to the sky behind thee, - Whether clear is the horizon, - Or the sky is somewhat clouded." - - Then the lively Lemminkainen, - Ruddy youth, accomplished scoundrel, - Very active, though unbidden, - Very quick, though never boastful, - To the masthead then ascended, - Up aloft among the canvas. 40 - East he looked, and looked to westward, - Looked to north-west and to southward, - Looked across to Pohja's coast-line, - And he spoke the words which follow: - "Clear in front is the horizon, - Dark behind is the horizon, - Rises north a cloud, a small one, - Hangs a single cloud to north-west." - - Said the aged Vaeinaemoeinen, - "What you say is surely nonsense, 50 - For no cloud is there ascending, - Nor a single cloud arising, - But perchance a sailing vessel; - Look again, and look more sharply." - - Then he looked again more sharply, - And he spoke the words which follow: - "Far away I see an island, - Dimly looming in the distance, - Aspens covered o'er with falcons, - Speckled grouse upon the birch-trees." 60 - - Said the aged Vaeinaemoeinen, - "What you say is surely nonsense, - For no falcons do you see there, - And no speckled grouse you see there, - But perchance the sons of Pohja; - Look more sharply for the third time." - - Then the lively Lemminkainen - For the third time looked around him, - And he spoke the words which follow, - And in words like these expressed him: 70 - "'Tis a ship from Pohja sailing, - With a hundred rowlocks fitted, - And I see a hundred oarsmen, - And a thousand men beside them." - - Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen, - All the truth at once perceiving, - Spoke aloud the words which follow: - "Row, thou smith; row, Ilmarinen; - Row, O lively Lemminkainen; - Row ye also, all ye people, 80 - That the boat be hurried forward, - And the vessel onward driven." - - Rowed the smith, rowed Ilmarinen, - Rowed the lively Lemminkainen, - All the people joined in rowing. - Swayed about the pinewood oars, - Loudly rang the rowan rowlocks, - And the pinewood boat was swaying. - Like a seal the prow dashed onward, - Boiled the waves behind like cataract, 90 - Like a bell uprose the water, - And the foam flew up in masses. - - As for wager rowed the heroes, - As in race the heroes struggled, - But they rowed, and made no progress, - Nor could urge the wooden vessel - Further from the sailing vessel, - And the ship that came from Pohja. - - Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen - Saw misfortune fast approaching. 100 - On his head was doomsday falling, - And he pondered and reflected, - How to act and how to save him, - And he spoke the words which follow: - "Still I know a plan of safety, - Still I see a little marvel." - - Then he took a piece of tinder, - In his tinder-box he found it, - And of pitch he took a little, - And a little piece of tinder, 110 - And into the lake he threw it, - O'er his shoulder left he threw it, - And he spoke the words which follow, - And in words like these expressed him: - "Let a reef of this be fashioned, - And a cliff be fashioned from it, - Where may run the ship of Pohja, - Fitted with a hundred rowlocks, - And may strike in lake tempestuous, - And amid the waves be shattered." 120 - - Thereupon a reef grew upward, - In the lake a cliff was fashioned, - Half its length to east directed, - And its breadth to north directed. - - Onward sped the ship of Pohja, - Gliding swiftly through the lake-waves, - And upon the reef came rushing, - And upon the rocks wedged firmly. - Broke across the wooden vessel, - And to splinters it was broken; 130 - In the lake the masts fell crashing, - And the sails fell drooping downward, - By the wind away were carried, - And the spring wind all dispersed them. - - Louhi, Pohjola's old Mistress, - Plunged her feet into the water, - And she tried to push the vessel, - And she tried to raise the vessel, - But no spear could lift the vessel, - And she could not even move it, 140 - For the ribs had all been shattered, - All the rowlocks had been broken. - - And she pondered and reflected, - And she spoke the words which follow: - "Who can aid me now with counsel? - Who can help me in this trouble?" - - Then her form she quickly altered, - To another shape transformed her, - And she took five scythes the sharpest, - And six hoes, worn out completely; 150 - These she fashioned into talons, - Into claws did she convert them; - Half the broken vessel's fragments - Did she then arrange beneath her, - And the sides to wings she fashioned, - And to tail she turned the rudder, - 'Neath her wings took men a hundred, - On her tail she took a thousand, - And the hundred men were swordsmen, - And the thousand men were archers. 160 - Then she flew, her wings extending, - And she soared aloft as eagle, - And she poised herself and hovered, - To attack old Vaeinaemoeinen; - In the clouds one wing was flapping, - In the water splashed the other. - - Then the fairest Water-Mother - Spoke aloud the words which follow: - "O thou aged Vaeinaemoeinen, - Turn thy head beneath the sunrise, 170 - Do thou turn thine eyes to north-west, - Look a little now behind thee." - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - Turned his head beneath the sunrise, - And he turned his eyes to north-west, - Looked a little just behind him. - Onward came the crone of Pohja, - And the wondrous bird was hovering - Like a hawk about his shoulders, - With the body of an eagle. 180 - - Soon she came near Vaeinaemoeinen, - And she flew upon the masthead, - Clambered out upon the sailyard, - And upon the pole she sat her, - And the boat was nearly sinking, - And the vessel's side lurched downward. - - Thereupon smith Ilmarinen - Sought from Jumala assistance, - And invoking the Creator, - Then he spoke the words which follow: 190 - "Save us, O thou good Creator, - Gracious Jumala, protect us, - That the son may not be hurried, - Nor the mother's child hurled downward, - From among the living creatures, - From the creatures whom thou rulest. - - "Ukko, Jumala the Highest, - Thou our Father in the heavens, - Cast a fiery robe around me, - Over me a shirt of fire, 200 - That I thus may fight protected, - And may thus contend protected, - That my head may fear no evil, - Nor my hair may be disordered, - When the shining swords are clashing, - And the steely points are meeting." - - Said the aged Vaeinaemoeinen, - And he spoke the words which follow: - "Hail, O Pohjola's great Mistress! - Wilt thou now divide the Sampo, 210 - Out upon the jutting headland, - On the misty island's summit?" - - Then said Pohjola's old Mistress, - "No, I'll not divide the Sampo, - Not with thee, thou wretched creature, - Not with thee, O Vaeinaemoeinen!" - And she swooped to snatch the Sampo - From the boat of Vaeinaemoeinen. - - Then the lively Lemminkainen - Drew his sword from out his swordbelt, 220 - Firm he grasped the sharpened iron, - And from his left side he drew it, - Striking at the eagle's talons, - At the claws of eagle striking. - - Struck the lively Lemminkainen, - As he struck, these words he uttered: - "Down ye men, and down ye swordsmen, - Down with all the sleepy heroes! - From her wings, ye men a hundred, - Ten from ends of every feather." 230 - - Answered then the crone of Pohja, - And she answered from the masthead: - "O thou lively son of Lempi, - Wretched Kauko, worthless fellow, - For thou hast deceived thy mother, - Lied unto thy aged mother! - Thou wast pledged to seek no battle - In the space of sixty summers, - Whether need of gold should tempt thee, - Or the love of silver urge thee." 240 - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - He the great primeval minstrel, - Thought his doom had come upon him, - And he felt his bane approaching; - From the lake he drew the rudder, - Took the oak-spar from the billows, - And with this he struck the monster, - On the claws he struck the eagle, - All the other claws he shattered, - There remained the smallest only. 250 - - From her wings the youths dropped downward, - In the lake the men splashed downward, - From beneath her wings a hundred, - From her tail a thousand heroes; - Down there dropped the eagle likewise, - Crashing down upon the boat-ribs, - As from tree the capercailzie, - Or from fir-branch drops the squirrel. - - Then she tried to seize the Sampo, - Seized it with her nameless finger, 260 - From the boat she dragged the Sampo, - Down she pulled the pictured cover, - From the red boat's hold she pulled it, - 'Mid the blue lake's waters cast it, - And the Sampo broke to pieces, - And was smashed the pictured cover. - - Then the fragments all were scattered, - And the Sampo's larger pieces - Sank beneath the peaceful waters - To the black ooze at the bottom; 270 - Thence there springs the water's riches, - And the wealth of Ahto's people. - Nevermore in all his lifetime, - While the golden moon is shining, - Shall the wealth of Ahto fail him, - Neither shall his watery honours. - - Other pieces were remaining, - Rather small those other fragments, - On the blue lake's surface floating, - Tossing on the broad lake's billows, 280 - And the wind for ever rocked them, - And the billows drove them onward. - - And the wind still rocked the fragments, - And the lake-waves ever tossed them, - On the blue lake's surface floating, - Tossing on the broad lake's billows; - To the land the wind impelled them, - To the shore the billows drove them. - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - In the surf beheld them floating, 290 - Through the breakers shoreward driving, - Then on shore upcast by billows, - Saw the fragments of the Sampo, - Splinters of the pictured cover. - - Very greatly did it please him, - And he spoke the words which follow: - "From these seeds the plant is sprouting, - Lasting welfare is commencing, - Here is ploughing, here is sowing, - Here is every kind of increase, 300 - Thence there comes the shining moonlight, - Thence there comes the lovely sunlight, - O'er the mighty plains of Suomi, - And the lovely land of Suomi." - - Then did Pohjola's old Mistress - Speak aloud the words which follow: - "Still can I devise a method, - Find a method and contrivance, - 'Gainst thy ploughing and thy sowing, - 'Gainst thy cattle and thine increase, 310 - That thy moon shall cease its shining, - And thy sun shall cease its shining. - In the rocks the moon I'll carry, - Hide the sun in rocky mountains, - And will send the Frost to freeze you, - That the frozen air destroyeth - What thou ploughest and thou sowest, - Thy provisions and thy harvests. - I will send a hail of iron, - And a hail of steel o'erwhelming, 320 - Over all thy finest clearings, - And the best among the cornfields. - - "On the heath the bear I'll waken, - From the pines the wide-toothed monster, - That he may destroy thy geldings, - And that he thy mares may slaughter, - And that he may kill thy cattle, - And that he thy cows may scatter. - I'll with sickness slay thy people, - And thy race will wholly slaughter, 330 - That so long as shines the moonlight, - In the world no more 'tis mentioned." - - Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen - Answered in the words that follow: - "Never Lapland spell affects me, - Neither threats from Turjalainen. - Jumala is lord of weather, - Keys of fate are the Creator's, - Not to wicked men entrusted, - Neither to malicious fingers. 340 - - "If I turn to my Creator, - To my Jumala upreaching, - From my corn he'll banish maggots, - That they do not spoil my harvests, - That they may not harm my seed-corn, - Nor destroy my corn when growing, - Nor may take my seed-corn from me, - Nor my splendid corn when growing. - - "Go thou, Pohjola's great Mistress, - Drag unto the stones the lost ones, 350 - Crush thou in the rocks the wicked, - Evils in thy chosen mountain, - Not the shining of the moonlight, - Nor the shining of the sunlight. - - "Send the Frost to freeze the country, - Send the frozen air destroying, - Send it only on thy seed-corn, - That thy corn when sown be injured. - Send thou forth a hail of iron, - And a hail of steel o'erwhelming, 360 - Let it fall on thine own ploughing, - Only on the fields of Pohja. - - "On the heath the bear awaken, - And the fierce cat in the bushes, - From the wood the curving-clawed one, - 'Neath the pines the wide-toothed monster, - But to range the paths of Pohja, - And to prey on Pohja's cattle." - - Then did Pohjola's old Mistress - Answer in the words which follow: 370 - "Now my might has all departed, - And my strength has greatly weakened. - By the lake my wealth was taken, - By the waves was crushed the Sampo." - - Then she hastened homeward weeping, - Back to Pohjola lamenting. - Nothing worthy to be mentioned - Of the Sampo brought she homeward, - Nothing but a little fragment, - By her nameless finger carried, 380 - But a fragment of the cover, - Which to Sariola she carried: - Hence the poverty of Pohja, - And the starving life of Lapland. - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - Went back likewise to his country, - But he took the Sampo's fragments, - And the fragments of the cover, - From the lakeshore where he found them, - From the fine sand of the margin. 390 - - And he sowed the Sampo's fragments, - And the pieces of the cover, - Out upon the jutting headland, - On the misty island's summit, - That they there might grow and flourish, - Might increase and yield their produce, - As the ale obtained from barley, - As the bread that rye is yielding. - - Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen - Spoke aloud the words which follow: 400 - "Grant, O Jumala, Creator, - That we now may live in comfort, - And be joyous all our lifetime, - And thereafter die in honour, - In our pleasant land of Suomi, - And in beautiful Carelia. - - "Keep us, O thou great Creator, - Guard us, Jumala most gracious, - From the men to us unfriendly, - And from that old woman's malice. 410 - Guard us from terrestrial evils, - And the spells of water-sorcerers. - - "O protect thy sons for ever, - May'st thou always aid thy children, - Guard them always in the night-time, - And protect them in the daytime, - Lest the sun should cease from shining, - Lest the moon should cease from beaming, - Lest the winds should cease from blowing, - Lest the rain should cease from falling, 420 - Lest the Frost should come and freeze us, - And the evil weather harm us. - - "Build thou up a fence of iron, - And of stone a castle build us, - Round the spot where I am dwelling, - And round both sides of my people. - Build it up from earth to heaven, - Build it down to earth from heaven, - As my own, my lifelong dwelling, - As my refuge and protection, 430 - That the proud may not devour us, - And they may not spoil our harvests, - In the course of all our lifetime, - When the golden moon is shining." - - - - -RUNO XLIV.--VAeINAeMOeINEN'S NEW KANTELE - - -_Argument_ - -Vaeinaemoeinen goes to seek for his kantele which was lost in the lake, but -cannot find it (1-76). He makes himself a new kantele of birchwood, on -which he plays, and delights every creature in the neighbourhood -(77-334). - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - In his mind was thus reflecting: - "Now the time has come for music, - Time to give ourselves to pleasure, - In our dwelling newly chosen, - In our homestead now so charming, - But the kantele is sunken, - And my joy has gone for ever - To the dwelling-place of fishes, - To the rock-caves of the salmon, 10 - Where it may enchant the lake-pike, - Likewise Vellamo's attendants; - But they never will return it, - Ahto will no more return it. - - "O thou smith, O Ilmarinen, - Yestreen and before thou workedst, - Work to-day with equal vigour. - Forge me now a rake of iron, - Let the teeth be close together, - Close the teeth, and long the handle 20 - That I rake among the billows, - And may rake the waves together, - And may rake among the lake-reeds, - With the rake rake all the margins, - And my instrument recover, - And the kantele recover, - From the devious paths of fishes, - From the rocky caves of salmon." - - Thereupon smith Ilmarinen, - He the great primeval craftsman, 30 - Forged for him a rake of iron, - Furnished with a copper handle, - Teeth in length a hundred fathoms, - And the handle full five hundred. - - Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen - Took the mighty rake of iron, - And a little way he wandered, - Made a very little journey, - Till he reached the quay, steel-fitted, - And the landing-stage of copper. 40 - There he found a boat, found two boats, - Both the boats were waiting ready - On the quay, with steel all fitted, - On the landing-stage of copper, - And the first boat was a new one, - And the second was an old one. - - Said the aged Vaeinaemoeinen, - To the new boat firstly speaking: - "Go, thou boat, into the water, - To the waves, O vessel, rush thou, 50 - Even though no arm should turn thee, - Even though no thumbs should touch thee." - - Sped the boat into the water, - Rushed amid the waves the vessel. - Old and steadfast Vaeinaemoeinen, - In the stern made haste to seat him, - And he went to sweep the water, - And to sweep among the billows. - Scattered leaves of water-lilies, - Raked he up among the shore-drift, 60 - All the rubbish raked together, - All the rubbish, bits of rushes, - Every scrap he raked together, - All the shoals with care raked over, - But he found not, nor discovered, - Where his pike-bone harp was hidden, - And this joy was gone for ever, - With the kantele was sunken. - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - Then returned unto his dwelling, 70 - Head bowed down, and sadly grieving, - And his cap awry adjusted, - And he said the words which follow: - "Unto me is lost for ever - Pleasure from the harp of pike-teeth, - From the harp I made of fish-bone." - - As he wandered through the country, - On the borders of the woodlands, - There he heard a birch-tree weeping, - And a speckled tree lamenting, 80 - And in that direction hastened, - Walking till he reached the birch-tree. - - Thereupon he spoke and asked it, - "Wherefore weep'st thou, beauteous birch-tree, - Shedding tears, O green-leaved birch-tree, - By thy belt of white conspicuous? - To the war thou art not taken, - Longest not for battle-struggle." - - Answer made the leaning birch-tree, - And the green-leaved tree responded: 90 - "There is much that I could speak of, - Many things I might reflect on, - How I best might live in pleasure, - And I might rejoice for pleasure. - I am wretched in my sorrow, - And can but rejoice in trouble, - Living with my life o'erclouded, - And lamenting in my sorrow. - - "And I weep my utter weakness, - And my worthlessness lament for, 100 - I am poor, and all unaided, - Wholly wretched, void of succour, - Here in such an evil station, - On a plain among the willows. - - "Perfect happiness and pleasure - Others always are expecting, - When arrives the beauteous summer, - In the warm days of the summer. - But my fate is different, wretched, - Nought but wretchedness awaits me; 110 - And my bark is peeling from me, - Down are hewed my leafy branches. - - "Often unto me defenceless - Oft to me, unhappy creature, - In the short spring come the children, - Quickly to the spot they hurry, - And with sharpened knives they score me, - Draw my sap from out my body, - And in summer wicked herdsmen, - Strip from me my white bark-girdle, 120 - Cups and plates therefrom constructing, - Baskets too, for holding berries. - - "Often unto me defenceless, - Oft to me, unhappy creature, - Come the girls beneath my branches, - Come beneath, and dance around me. - From my crown they cut the branches, - And they bind them into besoms. - - "Often too, am I, defenceless, - Oft am I, unhappy creature, 130 - Hewed away to make a clearing, - Cut to pieces into faggots. - Thrice already in this summer, - In the warm days of the summer, - Unto me have come the woodmen, - And have hewed me with their axes, - Hewed the crown from me unhappy, - And my weak life has departed. - - "This has been my joy in summer, - In the warm days of the summer, 140 - But no better was the winter, - Nor the time of snow more pleasant. - - "And in former times already, - Has my face been changed by trouble, - And my head has drooped with sadness, - And my cheeks have paled with sorrow, - Thinking o'er the days of evil, - Pondering o'er the times of evil. - - "And the wind brought ills upon me, - And the frost brought bitter sorrows. 150 - Tore the wind my green cloak from me, - Frost my pretty dress from off me. - Thus am I of all the poorest, - And a most unhappy birch-tree, - Standing stripped of all my clothing, - As a naked trunk I stand here, - And in cold I shake and tremble, - And in frost I stand lamenting." - - Said the aged Vaeinaemoeinen, - "Weep no more, O verdant birch-tree! 160 - Leafy sapling, weep no longer, - Thou, equipped with whitest girdle, - For a pleasant future waits thee, - New and charming joys await thee. - Soon shalt thou with joy be weeping, - Shortly shalt thou sing for pleasure." - - Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen - Carved into a harp the birch-tree, - On a summer day he carved it, - To a kantele he shaped it, 170 - At the end of cloudy headland, - And upon the shady island, - And the harp-frame he constructed, - From the trunk he formed new pleasure, - And the frame of toughest birchwood; - From the mottled trunk he formed it. - - Said the aged Vaeinaemoeinen - In the very words which follow: - "Now the frame I have constructed, - From the trunk for lasting pleasure. 180 - Whence shall now the screws be fashioned, - Whence shall come the pegs to suit me?" - - In the yard there grew an oak-tree, - By the farmyard it was standing, - 'Twas an oak with equal branches, - And on every branch an acorn, - In the acorns golden kernels, - On each kernel sat a cuckoo. - - When the cuckoos all were calling, - In the call five tones were sounding, 190 - Gold from out their mouths was flowing, - Silver too they scattered round them, - On a hill the gold was flowing, - On the ground there flowed the silver, - And from this he made the harp-screws, - And the pegs from that provided. - - Said the aged Vaeinaemoeinen - In the very words which follow: - "Now the harp-screws are constructed, - And the harp-pegs are provided. 200 - Something even now is wanting, - And five strings as yet are needed. - How shall I provide the harp-strings, - Which shall yield the notes in playing?" - - Then he went to seek for harp-strings, - And along the heath he wandered. - On the heath there sat a maiden, - Sat a damsel in the valley, - And the maiden was not weeping, - Neither was she very joyful. 210 - To herself she sang full softly, - Sang, that soon might come the evening, - Hoping for her lover's coming, - For the dear one she had chosen. - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - Crept without his shoes towards her, - Sprang to her without his stockings, - And as soon as he approached her, - He besought her hair to give him, - And he spoke the words which follow: 220 - "Give thy hair to me, O maiden, - Give me of thy hair, O fair one, - Give me hair to form my harp-strings, - For the tones of lasting pleasure." - - Then her hair the maiden gave him, - From her soft locks hair she gave him, - And she gave him five and six hairs, - Seven the hairs she gave unto him, - That he thus might form his harp-strings, - For the tones of lasting pleasure. 230 - - Now the harp at last was finished, - And the aged Vaeinaemoeinen - On a rock his seat selected, - Near the steps, upon a stone bench. - - In his hands the harp then taking, - Very near he felt his pleasure, - And the frame he turned to heaven, - On his knees the knob then propping, - All the strings he put in order, - Fit to make melodious music. 240 - When he had the strings adjusted, - Then the instrument was ready; - Underneath his hands he placed it, - And across his knees he laid it, - With his ten nails did he play it, - And he let five active fingers - Draw the tunes from out the harp-strings, - Making most delightful music. - - When the aged Vaeinaemoeinen - Thus upon his harp was playing, 250 - Fine his hands, his fingers tender, - And his fingers curving outwards, - Then rang out the wood so speckled, - Sang the sapling green full loudly, - Loudly called the golden cuckoo, - And rejoiced the hair of maiden. - - Thus played Vaeinaemoeinen's fingers, - And the harp-strings loud resounded, - Mountains shook and plains resounded, - All the rocky hills resounded, 260 - In the waves the stones were rocking, - In the water moved the gravel, - And the pine-trees were rejoicing, - On the heath the stumps were skipping. - - All of Kaleva's step-daughters, - All the fair ones flocked together, - And in streams they rushed together, - Like a river in its flowing. - Merry laughed the younger women, - And the mothers all were joyful, 270 - As they heard the music playing, - And they wondered at their pleasure. - - Likewise many men were present, - In their hands their caps all holding, - All the old dames in the party - To their sides their hands were holding, - And the maidens' eyes shed tear-drops, - On the ground the boys were kneeling, - To the kantele all listening, - And they wondered at their pleasure. 280 - With one voice they all were singing, - With one tongue they all repeated: - "Never have we heard aforetime, - Heard before such charming music, - In the course of all our lifetime, - When the brilliant moon was shining." - - Far was heard the charming music, - In six villages they heard it, - There was not a single creature - But it hurried forth to listen, 290 - And to hear the charming music - From the kantele resounding. - - All the wild beasts of the forest - Upright on their claws were resting - To the kantele to listen, - And they wondered at their pleasure. - - All the birds in air then flying, - Perched upon the neighbouring branches, - All the fish that swam the waters, - To the margin hastened quickly, 300 - And the worms in earth then creeping, - Up above the ground then hastened, - And they turned themselves and listened, - Listened to the charming music, - In the kantele rejoicing, - And in Vaeinaemoeinen's singing. - - Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen - Played in his most charming manner, - Most melodiously resounding; - And he played one day, a second, 310 - Playing on, without cessation, - Every morning after breakfast, - Girded with the selfsame girdle, - And the same shirt always wearing. - - When he in his house was playing, - In his house of fir constructed, - All the roofs resounded loudly, - And the boards resounded likewise, - Ceilings sang, the doors were creaking, - All the windows were rejoicing, 320 - And the hearthstones all were moving, - Birchwood columns sang in answer. - - When he walked among the pinewoods, - And he wandered through the firwoods, - All the pines bowed down before him, - To the very ground the fir-trees; - On the grass the cones rolled round him, - On the roots the needles scattered. - - When he hurried through the greenwood, - Or across the heath was hastening, 330 - All the leaves called gaily to him, - And the heath was all rejoicing, - And the flowers breathed fragrance round him, - And the young shoots bowed before him. - - - - -RUNO XLV.--THE PESTILENCE IN KALEVALA - - -_Argument_ - -The Mistress of Pohjola sends terrible diseases to Kalevala (1-190). -Vaeinaemoeinen heals the people by powerful incantations and unguents -(191-362). - - Louhi, Pohjola's old Mistress, - In her ears received the tidings - That in Vaeinoelae it prospered, - And that Kalevala had flourished, - Through the fragments of the Sampo, - Fragments of the pictured cover. - - Thereupon she grew most envious, - And for evermore reflected - On the death that she might fashion, - How she best might bring destruction 10 - On the people in Vaeinoelae, - And on Kalevala's whole people. - - Then she prayed aloud to Ukko, - And she thus implored the Thunderer: - "Ukko, thou of Gods the highest, - Slay thou Kaleva's whole people, - Slay them with thy hail of iron, - With thy steely needles slay them, - Or by sickness let them perish, - Let the evil nation perish, 20 - Let the men die in the farmyard, - On the cowshed floor the women." - - Lived in Tuonela a blind maid, - Loviatar, an aged woman, - She the worst of Tuoni's daughters, - And of Mana's maids most hideous, - She, the source of every evil, - Origin of woes a thousand, - With a face of perfect blackness, - And a skin of hue most hideous. 30 - - Then this daughter black of Tuoni, - Ulappala's blind-eyed damsel, - Made her bed upon the pathway, - On the straw in evil country, - And her back she turned to windward, - Sideways to the bitter weather, - Backwards to the blast so freezing, - And the chilling winds of morning. - - Then a great wind rose in fury, - From the east a mighty tempest, 40 - Blew this wretched creature pregnant, - And she quickened from the tempest, - On a barren waste all treeless, - On the bare and grassless meadows. - - And she bore a heavy burden, - Bore a heavy painful burden, - Bore it two months, bore it three months, - And for four and five months bore it, - Bore it seven months, bore it eight months, - For the ninth month also bore it, 50 - As old wives are wont to reckon, - And for half the tenth month likewise. - - When the ninth month had passed over, - And the tenth month was beginning, - Then she writhed about in anguish, - And the greatest pain oppressed her, - But as yet she brought forth nothing, - And no brood as yet resulted. - - From her lair at length she moved her, - In another place she laid her, 60 - And the wench in childbed laid her, - Sport of winds, in hopes of children. - There betwixt two rocks she laid her, - In the clefts among five mountains, - But as yet she brought forth nothing, - And no brood as yet resulted. - - And she sought a place for breeding, - Sought a place for bearing suited, - In the quaking swamps she sought it, - And among the waves she sought it, 70 - But she found no place to suit her, - Where she could relieve her burden. - - Then she fain would bring forth children, - And relieve her body's burden - In the foam of furious cataract, - 'Neath where whirl the furious waters, - Where three waterfalls are falling, - Under nine of precipices, - But as yet she brought forth nothing, - Nor the foul one eased her burden. 80 - Then began to weep, the foul one, - And to howl, the wicked monster. - Whither now to go she knew not, - And in what direction wander, - Where she might relieve her burden, - Where to go to cast her offspring. - - From the clouds then bespoke her Jumala, - The Creator spoke from heaven: - "Stands in swamp a hut three-cornered, - Just upon a lakelet's margin, 90 - In the gloomy land of Pohja, - Near where Sariola's bay stretches. - There thou may'st bring forth thy offspring, - There lay down thy heavy burden, - There it is that people need thee, - There do they expect thy offspring." - - Therefore Tuoni's blackest daughter, - Manala's most hideous damsel, - Came unto the house of Pohja, - Came to Sariola's great bathroom, 100 - That she there might bear her children, - And she might bring forth her offspring. - - Louhi, Pohjola's old Mistress, - Old and gap-toothed dame of Pohja, - Secret led her to the bathroom, - Secretly into the bathroom, - But the village did not know it, - Nought was spoken in the village. - - Secretly she warmed the bathroom, - Hastily she made it ready, 110 - And with ale the doors smeared over, - And with beer the hinges wetted, - That the doors should make no jarring, - And the hinges make no creaking. - - Then she spoke the words which follow, - And expressed herself in thiswise: - "Noble dame, Creation's daughter, - Noble one, as gold all lustrous, - Thou the oldest of all women, - Thou the first of all the mothers, 120 - Knee-deep in the lake descend thou, - To thy waist among the billows, - From the perch the slime obtain thou, - And the slime from creeping creatures, - Do thou smear with this the gateway, - And upon the sides anoint it, - Free the damsel from her burden, - And the woman from her sufferings, - Free her from this grievous torment, - And release her from her sufferings. 130 - - "But if this is not sufficient, - Ukko, thou of Gods the highest, - Hither come where thou art needed, - Come thou at our supplication. - Here there is a girl in childbed, - And a woman suffering greatly, - Here amid the bathroom's vapour, - Brought into the village bathroom. - - "Do thou take thy club all golden, - In thy right hand do thou take it, 140 - Each impediment remove thou, - And the door-posts move asunder, - Bend thou the Creator's castles, - Break thou all the bars asunder, - Push the large ones and the small ones, - Even to the very smallest." - - Then this foul and wicked creature, - She, the daughter blind of Tuoni, - Presently relieved her burden, - And she brought forth evil children, 150 - 'Neath a rug adorned with copper, - Underneath the softest blankets. - - Thus became she nine sons' mother, - In a single night of summer, - With the bath prepared once only, - With the bath but once made ready, - With a single effort only, - From the fulness of her body. - - To the boys their names assigned she, - And she nurtured well the children 160 - Just as each one names the children - Whom themselves have brought to being. - One as Pleurisy she destined, - One did she send forth as Colic, - And as Gout she reared another, - One as Scrofula she fashioned, - Boil, another designated, - And as Itch proclaimed another, - Thrust another forth as Cancer, - And as Plague she formed another. 170 - - One remained, and he was nameless, - In the straw the lowest lying, - Therefore did she send him onward, - As a sorcerer on the waters, - Also to bewitch the lowlands, - Everywhere to practise malice. - - Louhi, Pohjola's old Mistress, - Sent the others forth to journey - To the cloud-encompassed headland, - And the shady island's summit, 180 - Sent in rage these evil monsters, - These diseases all unheard of, - Forth to Vaeinoelae she sent them, - Kaleva's great race to slaughter. - - Sickened Vaeinoelae's own people, - Kaleva's descendants sickened, - With diseases all unheard of, - And whose names were known to no one, - And the floors beneath them rotted, - And the sheet above corrupted. 190 - - Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen, - He the great primeval sorcerer, - Went to drive away the evil, - And his people's lives to succour, - Forth he went to war with Tuoni, - And against disease to struggle. - - Thereupon he warmed the bathroom, - And the stones prepared to heat it, - And the finest wood provided, - Faggots, too, he laid in water; 200 - Water brought in covered vessels, - Bath-whisks also, well-protected, - Warmed the bath-whisks to perfection, - And the hundred twigs he softened. - - Then he raised a warmth like honey, - Raised a heat as sweet as honey, - From the heated stones he raised it, - From the glowing stones he raised it, - And he spoke the words which follow, - And in words like these expressed him: 210 - "Now the bath approach, O Jumala, - To the warmth, O heavenly Father, - Healthfulness again to grant us, - And our peace again secure us. - Drive away these foul diseases, - From these dread diseases save us, - Calm thou down this heat excessive - Drive away this heat so evil, - That it may not burn thy children, - Neither may destroy thy offspring. 220 - - "Therefore will I sprinkle water, - On the glowing stones I cast it, - Let it now be changed to honey, - May it trickle down like honey, - Let it flow a stream like honey, - Flowing to a lake of honey, - As it flows along the hearthstones, - Flowing through the mossy bathroom. - - "Do not let us guiltless perish, - Nor be overcome by sickness, 230 - 'Gainst the great Creator's mandate, - When sends Jumala our death not. - He who slaughters us, the sinless, - Let his mouth his own words swallow - On his head cast back the evils, - Evil thoughts recoil upon him. - - "If myself I am not manly, - Nor is Ukko's son a hero, - Nor can drive away these evils, - Nor from off my head can lift them, 240 - Ukko is a man and hero, - He it is the clouds who marshals, - And the rainless clouds he governs, - Ruling o'er the clouds so scattered. - - "Ukko, thou of Gods the highest, - Thou above the clouds who dwellest, - Come thou here where thou art needed, - Listen to our supplications, - Do thou look upon our sufferings, - Do thou end our days of anguish, 250 - Free us from this evil magic, - Free us now from every evil. - - "Bring me now a sword of fire, - Bring me now a flashing sword-blade, - That I may oppose these evils - Quite subdue these frightful evils, - On the wind's path drive our sufferings, - Drive them far amid the deserts. - - "Thence I'll drive these sorcerers' torments, - Thence these sufferings will I banish, 260 - Far away to rocky caverns, - Rocky caves as hard as iron, - Torments to the stones to carry, - And upon the rocks heap suffering. - Never weeps the stone for anguish, - Nor the rock complains of suffering, - Though it should be greatly beaten, - And though blows be heaped upon it. - - "Kiputyttoe, Tuoni's maiden, - Sitting on the Stone of Sickness, 270 - In the rush of three great rivers, - Where three waters are divided, - Turning round the torture-millstone, - And the Mount of Sickness turning! - Go and turn away these sufferings, - To the blue stone gorge direct them, - Or amid the waters send them, - To the deep lake, O condemn them, - Which by wind is never troubled, - Where the sun is never shining. 280 - - "If this is not yet sufficient, - Kivutar, O noble Mistress, - Vammatar, O noble matron, - Come ye all, and come together, - Once again to work us healing, - And restore our peace unto us! - Take the sufferings from the suffering, - And the ulcers from the ulcered, - That the sick may fall in slumber, - And the weak may rise from weakness, 290 - And the sufferer hope recover, - And our mourning have an ending. - - "Put the sufferings in a barrel, - And with copper hasps enclose them, - Carry thou away the sufferings, - And do thou cast down the tortures, - In the midst of Torture-Mountain, - On the peak of Mount of Suffering, - Do thou there boil up the tortures - In the very smallest kettle, 300 - Larger not than round a finger, - And no wider than a thumb-breadth. - - "There's a stone in midmost mountain, - 'Mid the stone there is an opening, - Which has there been bored by auger, - Where the auger has transpierced it. - Do thou thrust therein the sufferings, - Overcome these painful ulcers, - Crush thou in these raging tortures, - Do thou end our days of suffering, 310 - That by night they may be harmless, - And be harmless in the daytime." - - Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen, - He the great primeval sorcerer, - Salved o'er all the ulcered places, - And the open wounds anointed, - With nine various salves anointed, - With eight magic drugs he rubbed them, - And he spoke the words which follow, - And in words like these expressed him: 320 - "Ukko, thou of Gods the highest, - O thou aged man in heaven! - Let a cloud appear to eastward, - Let another rise from north-west, - Send thou from the west another, - Grant us honey, grant us water, - That our sores may be anointed, - And our wounds be all salved over. - - "Yet to me no power is given, - Save by my Creator granted. 330 - Grant us now thy grace, Creator, - Grant us, Jumala, thy mercy. - With my eyes have I been seeing, - And my hands have been uplifting, - With my mouth have I been speaking, - With my breath have I been sighing. - - "Where my hands avail to reach not, - Let the hands of God be resting; - Where I cannot reach my fingers, - There let God extend his fingers; 340 - Far more skilful are his fingers, - The Creator's hands more active. - - "O Creator, work thy magic, - Speak, O Jumala, unto us, - Deign to gaze on us, Almighty! - Let those who at night are healthy, - Likewise in the day be healthy, - Let no suffering fall upon them, - And no sickness come among them, - Nor their hearts be filled with anguish, 350 - That they feel no slightest evil, - Feel no more the slightest suffering, - In the course of all their lifetime, - While the golden moon is shining." - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - He the great primeval sorcerer, - Thus at length dispelled the evils, - Raised their burdens from his people, - Drove away the plagues of magic, - Healed the magical diseases, 360 - And from death he saved his people, - Thus saved Kaleva's descendants. - - - - -RUNO XLVI.--VAeINAeMOeINEN AND THE BEAR - - -_Argument_ - -The Mistress of Pohjola sends a bear to destroy the herds of Kalevala -(1-20). Vaeinaemoeinen kills the bear, and a great feast is held in -Kalevala in honour of the occasion (21-606). Vaeinaemoeinen sings, plays on -the kantele, and hopes that a time of great happiness and prosperity is -coming to Kalevala (607-644). - - Unto Pohjola came tidings, - To the village cold the tidings - That in Vaeinoela 'twas healthy, - Freed was Kalevala completely - From the evil plagues of magic, - And the scourge of nameless sickness. - - Louhi, Pohjola's old Mistress, - Old and gap-toothed dame of Pohja, - Thereupon again grew furious, - And she spoke the words which follow: 10 - "Still I know another method, - And a cunning scheme have thought on. - On the heath the Bear I'll waken, - On the waste the curving-clawed one, - Vaeinoela's fine flocks to ravage, - Herds of Kalevala to slaughter." - - On the heath the bear she wakened, - From his native land she drove him - To the heathlands of Vaeinoelae, - And to Kalevala's green pastures. 20 - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - Uttered then the words which follow: - "Ilmarinen, smith and brother, - Make a new spear quickly for me, - Make it with three cutting edges, - With a copper shaft construct it. - With the bear I now must struggle, - Overthrow the shaggy monster, - That he slay no more my geldings, - Nor shall fall upon my brood-mares, 30 - Neither shall destroy my cattle, - Or attempt my cows to injure." - - Then the smith a spear constructed, - Not a long one, not a short one, - But of middle length he forged it. - On the blade a wolf was sitting, - On the edge a bear was standing, - At the joint an elk was trotting, - On the shaft a colt was running, - At the end a reindeer leaping. 40 - Then fresh snow was gently falling, - And a little snow had drifted - As it drifts in early autumn, - White as is the hare in winter. - - Said the aged Vaeinaemoeinen, - And he spoke the words which follow: - "Now my inclination leads me - Unto Metsola to travel; - To the forest's daughter's dwelling, - And to the Blue Maiden's homestead. 50 - Leaving men, I seek the forest, - Heroes leave, for distant regions. - Take me as thy man, O forest, - Take me, Tapio, for thy hero. - May good fortune now be granted, - And to fell the forest-beauty. - - "Mielikki, the forest's Mistress, - Tellervo, the wife of Tapio, - Do thou bind thy dogs securely, - Do thou keep thy whelps in order, 60 - In the paths, 'mid honeysuckle, - And beneath the roof of oakwood. - - "Otso, apple of the forest, - O thou lazy honey-pawed one! - If thou hearest me approaching, - Hearest me, the hero, coming, - In thy hair thy claws conceal thou, - In thy gums thy teeth conceal thou, - That thou never more may'st move them, - That they motionless remain there. 70 - - "O my Otso, O my darling, - Fair one with the paws of honey, - Do thou rest in hilly country, - And among the rocks so lovely, - Where the pines above are waving, - And the firs below are rustling. - Turn thyself around, O Otso, - Turn thee round, O honey-pawed one, - As upon her nest the woodgrouse, - Or as turns the goose when brooding." 80 - - Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen - Heard his dog was barking loudly, - And the dog was fiercely baying - Just beside the Small-eye's dwelling, - In the pathway of the Broad-nose; - And he spoke the words which follow: - "First I thought it was a cuckoo, - Thought I heard a love-bird singing, - But no cuckoo there is calling, - And no love-bird there is singing, 90 - But it is my dog that's baying, - Here my faithful hound awaits me, - At the door of Otso's dwelling, - At the handsome hero's homestead." - - Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen - Struck the bear where he was lying, - Overturned his bed of satin, - Overthrew his lair so golden, - And he spoke the words which follow, - And in words like these expressed him: 100 - "Praise, O Jumala, unto thee, - Praise to thee alone, Creator, - Unto me the bear who gavest, - And the forest gold hast granted." - - Gazed he on the golden booty, - And he spoke the words which follow: - "O my Otso, O my darling, - Fair one with the paws of honey, - Be not filled with causeless anger, - I myself have not o'erthrown thee, 110 - Thou thyself hast left the forest, - Wandered from thy pine-tree covert, - Thou hast torn away thy clothing, - Ripped thy grey cloak in the thicket. - Slippery is this autumn weather, - Cloudy are the days and misty. - - "Golden cuckoo of the forest, - Shaggy-haired and lovely creature, - Do thou quit thy chilly dwelling, - Do thou quit thy native desert, 120 - And thy home of birchen branches, - Wattled wigwam where thou dwellest. - Go to wander in the open, - O thou beauty of the forest, - On thy light shoes wandering onward, - Marching in thy blue-hued stockings, - Leaving now this little dwelling. - Do thou leave this narrow dwelling, - Leave it for the mighty heroes, - To the race of men resign it. 130 - There are none will treat thee badly, - And no wretched life awaits thee. - For thy food they'll give thee honey, - And for drink, of mead the freshest, - When thou goest to a distance, - Whither with the staff they guide thee. - - "From this place depart thou quickly, - From thy little nest depart thou, - From beneath these famous rafters, - From beneath this roof so handsome; 140 - Glide along upon thy snowshoes, - As on pond a water-lily, - Then glide on among the fir-trees, - Like a squirrel in the branches." - - Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen, - He the great primeval minstrel, - Walked across the plains, loud-playing, - O'er the heath he wandered singing, - And he brought the noble stranger. - With his shaggy friend he wandered. 150 - In the house was heard his playing, - 'Neath the roofs they heard his singing. - - In the house there cried the people, - And exclaimed the handsome people, - "Listen to the noise resounding, - To the music from the forest, - Like the singing of the crossbill, - Or a maiden's flute in forest." - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - Then the house was fast approaching. 160 - From the house there called the people, - And the handsome people asked him, - "Have you brought the bright gold with you, - Have you brought the silver hither, - Brought our darling money with you, - Gathered money on your journey? - Gave the wood the honey-eater, - And a lynx to lord of forest, - That you come among us singing, - On your snowshoes come rejoicing?" 170 - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - Answered in the words which follow: - "Singing would I bring the otter, - Give to Jumala my praises, - So I sing as I am coming, - On my snowshoes come rejoicing. - - "What I bring is not an otter, - Not a lynx, and not an otter, - One more famous is approaching, - Comes the pride of all the forest. 180 - Comes an old man wandering hither, - With his overcoat he cometh. - If it be a pleasure to you, - Let the doors be widely opened; - But if you dislike the stranger, - Close the doors against him firmly." - - And the people gave him answer, - Shouted all the handsome people, - "Welcome, Otso, be thy coming, - Honey-pawed, who now approachest 190 - To our dwelling, freshly scoured, - To our household, now so charming. - - "This I wished for all my lifetime, - All my youth I waited for it, - Tapio's horn to hear resounding, - And to hear the wood-pipe whistling, - Wandering through the golden forest, - Coming through the silver woodland, - And our little house approaching, - And along the narrow pathway. 200 - - "I had hoped a year of fortune, - Waiting for the coming summer, - As for new-fallen snow the snowshoe, - Or a path for gliding suited, - As a maiden for her lover, - Or a consort for a red-cheek. - - "In the eve I sat at window, - Morning, at the door of storehouse, - At the gate a week I waited, - And a month at pathway's opening. 210 - In the lane I stayed a winter, - Stood in snow while ground was hardened, - Till the hardened land grew softer, - And the soft ground turned to gravel, - And to sand was changed the gravel, - And the sand at length grew verdant, - And I pondered every morning, - In my head reflected daily, - 'Wherefore is the Bear delaying? - Why delays the forest's darling? 220 - Has he travelled to Esthonia, - Wandered from the land of Suomi?'" - - Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen - Answered in the words that follow: - "Where's my guest to be conducted, - Whither shall I lead my gold one? - To the barn shall I conduct him - On a bed of straw to lay him?" - - And the people gave him answer, - Shouted all the handsome people, 230 - "Better lead our guest illustrious, - And conduct our golden beauty - Underneath these famous rafters, - Underneath this roof so handsome. - There is food arranged for eating, - There is drink poured out for drinking, - All the floors have there been dusted, - And the floors been swept most cleanly, - All the women finely dressed them, - In their very finest garments, 240 - Donned their head-dresses the finest, - In their brightest robes arrayed them." - - Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen - Spoke aloud the words which follow: - "O my Otso, O my birdling, - O my charge, with paws of honey, - Still there's ground for thee to walk on, - And upon the heath to wander. - - "Golden one, go forth to wander, - Dear one, range about the country, 250 - Forth to march with sable stockings, - Wander in thy cloth-made trousers, - On the pathway of the titmouse, - And the path where sparrows wander, - Underneath five rafters straying, - Underneath six roof-trees walking. - - "Now be careful, luckless woman, - That the herd may not be frightened, - Terrified the little cattle, - Nor the mistress' calves be frightened, 260 - If the bear approach the homestead, - And his shaggy jaws should seize them. - - "Now, ye boys, the porch abandon, - Girls, depart ye from the door-posts, - To the house there comes the hero, - And the pride of men approaches. - - "Otso, apple of the forest, - Fair and bulky forest dweller, - Be not frightened at the maidens, - Fear not the unbraided maidens, 270 - Be not fearful of the women, - They the wearers of the stockings. - All the women of the household, - Quickly round the stove will gather, - When they see the hero enter, - And behold the youth advancing." - - Said the aged Vaeinaemoeinen, - "Jumala be gracious to us, - Underneath these famous rafters, - Underneath this roof so handsome. 280 - Whither shall I take my darling, - And shall bring the shaggy creature?" - - And the people spoke in answer, - "Hail, all hail to thee who comest! - Thither shalt thou bring thy birdling, - Thither take thy golden beauty - To the end of pole of pinewood, - To the end of bench of iron, - That his shaggy coat we gaze on, - And his hair may well examine. 290 - - "Be not grieved for this, O Otso, - Neither let it make thee angry, - That we take thy hide an hour, - And thy hair to gaze on always. - For thy hide will not be injured, - And thy hair will not be draggled, - Like the rags of evil people, - Or the clothing of the beggars." - - Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen - From the bear stripped off the bearskin, 300 - On the storehouse floor he laid it, - Put the flesh into the kettles, - Put it in the gilded kettles, - In the copper caldrons placed it. - - On the fire the pots arranged he, - In the blaze their sides of copper, - Filled them up, and overfilled them, - With the meat he overfilled them, - Salt unto the stew he added, - Brought from very distant regions, 310 - From the Saxon land they brought it, - And from distant waters brought it, - Through the Sound of Salt they rowed it, - And they from the ships conveyed it. - - When the meat enough was sodden, - From the fire they took the kettles, - And the booty then was carried, - And the crossbill then they carried - Quickly to the long deal table, - In the golden dishes laid it, 320 - Where they sat the mead enjoying, - And the beer they were imbibing. - - And of firwood was the table, - And the dishes were of copper, - And the spears were all of silver, - And the knives of gold constructed. - All the plates were overloaded, - Brimming o'er were all the dishes, - With the darling of the forest, - Booty of the golden woodland. 330 - - Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen - Spoke aloud the words that follow: - "Comrade old, with golden bosom, - Master thou of Tapio's household; - Thou of Metsola sweet matron, - Gracious Mistress of the Forest; - Handsome man, the son of Tapio, - Handsome red-capped son of Tapio; - Tellervo, the maid of Tapio; - All the rest of Tapio's people. 340 - - "Come ye to the feast of cattle, - Where the shaggy beast is eaten; - Here is plenty to be eaten, - Here is food and drink abundant, - Here there is enough for storage, - Plenty too, to give the village." - - And the people then responded, - Answered thus the handsome people: - "Where was Otso born and nurtured, - Whence was formed his hide so shaggy, 350 - Was he born perchance in straw-bed, - Was he born near stove in bathroom?" - - Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen - Answered in the words which follow: - "Otso was not born in straw-bed. - Nor was born on chaff in malt-house; - There was Otso brought to being, - There was born the honey-pawed one, - Near the moon, in gleams of sunshine, - And upon the Great Bear's shoulders, 360 - There beside the Air's fair maiden, - Near the daughter of Creation. - - "On Air's borders walked a maiden, - Through mid heaven there walked a damsel, - Through the rifted clouds she wandered, - On the borders of the heavens, - Clad in stockings, blue in colour, - And with shoes most gaily coloured, - In her hand a wool-filled satchel, - 'Neath her arm a hair-filled basket. 370 - Wool she cast upon the waters, - Hair she threw among the billows, - And the wind arose and tossed it, - And the air unceasing rocked it, - And the breeze on water rocked it, - To the shore the waves impelled it, - To the edge of honeyed forest, - To the end of honeyed headland. - - "Mielikki, the forest's Mistress, - Tapiola's accomplished matron, 380 - Took the wool from out the water, - Took the soft wool from the billows. - Then she wrapped it all together, - With a handsome band she wrapped it, - Put it in her maple basket, - In a beauteous cradle laid it, - Then she lifted up the bundle, - And the golden chains she carried - Where the branches were the thickest - And the leaves were most abundant. 390 - - "Then she rocked the charming object, - And she rocked the lovely creature - Underneath a spreading fir-tree, - Underneath a blooming pine-tree. - Thus it was the bear was nurtured, - And the furry beast was fostered, - There beside a bush of honey, - In a forest dripping honey. - - "Now the bear grew up most handsome, - And attained his perfect stature. 400 - Short his legs, his knees were crooked, - Broad his nose, both thick and stumpy, - Broad his head and short his muzzle, - And his handsome hair was shaggy, - But as yet the bear was tailless, - And with claws was unprovided. - - "Mielikki, the forest's Mistress, - Uttered then the words which follow: - 'Now let claws be granted to him, - And let teeth be also sought for, 410 - If he does no mischief with them, - Nor to evil purpose turns them.' - - "Then the bear by oath engaged him, - Kneeling by the forest's Mistress, - And in Jumala's high presence, - 'Fore the face of Him Almighty, - Never would he work a mischief, - And would work no evil with them. - - "Mielikki, the forest's Mistress, - Tapiola's accomplished matron, 420 - Went to seek the teeth he needed, - And to seek the claws he wanted, - From the wood of mountain ash-tree, - And from juniper the hardest, - From the hardest roots of any, - From the hardest resinous tree-stumps, - But she found no claws among them, - Neither found she teeth among them. - - "On the heath there grew a pine-tree, - On the hill there rose a fir-tree, 430 - And the pine had silver branches, - And the fir-tree golden branches. - With her hands she plucked the branches, - And from these the claws constructed, - Others fixed in Otso's jawbones, - In his gums securely fixed them. - - "Forth she sent the shaggy creature, - Sent her darling forth to wander, - Let him wander through the marshes, - Let him wander through the forest, 440 - Walk along the woodland's borders, - Step along across the heathland, - And she bade him walk discreetly, - And to march along demurely, - And to live a life of pleasure, - And upon fine days to wander, - Through the plains and o'er the marshes, - Past the heaths where men are dancing, - Wandering shoeless in the summer, - Wandering sockless in the autumn, 450 - Resting in the worst of weather, - Idling in the cold of winter, - In a hollow stump of cherry, - In the castle of the pine-trees, - At the foot of beauteous fir-trees, - 'Mid the junipers close-growing, - Underneath five woollen mantles, - 'Neath eight mantles was he hidden, - And from thence I fetched my booty, - There I found it on my journey." 460 - - Then the younger people asked him, - And the old folks asked him likewise: - "Wherefore was the wood so gracious, - Gracious wood, and forest lavish, - And the greenwood's lord so joyous, - So propitious friendly Tapio, - That he thus his pet has given, - And resigned the honey-eater? - Did you with the spear attack him, - Was he overcome with arrows?" 470 - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - Answered in the words which follow: - "Very gracious was the forest, - Gracious wood, and forest lavish, - And the greenwood's lord was joyous, - And propitious friendly Tapio. - - "Mielikki, the forest's Mistress, - Tellervo, the maid of Tapio, - Fair-haired damsel of the forest, - Little damsel of the forest, 480 - Went along the path to guide me, - And to raise the landmarks for me, - By the roadside posts erected, - And directed all my journey, - And the trees she blazed before me, - Marks she set upon the mountains, - To the door of noble Otso, - To the borders of his dwelling. - - "When I reached the place I sought for, - And arrived upon its borders, 490 - With the spear I smote not Otso, - And I shot no arrows at him. - He himself lurched from the archway, - Tumbled from the pine-tree's summit, - And the branches broke his breastbone, - Others ripped his belly open." - - Then he spoke the words which follow, - And in words like these expressed him: - "O my Otso, O my dearest, - O my birdling, O my darling, 500 - Now resign to us thy headland, - Lay aside thine eye-teeth likewise, - Cast away the few teeth left thee, - And thy wide jaws give us also, - Yet thou needest not be angry, - That I come to thee in thiswise, - And thy bones and skull have broken, - And have dashed thy teeth together. - - "Now I take the nose from Otso, - That my own nose may be lengthened, 510 - But I take it not completely, - And I do not take it only. - - "Now I take the ears of Otso, - That my own ears I may lengthen, - But I take them not completely, - And I do not take them only. - - "Now I take the eyes of Otso, - That my own eyes I may lengthen, - But I take them not completely, - And I do not take them only. 520 - - "Now will I take Otso's forehead, - That my forehead I may lengthen, - But I take it not completely, - And I do not take it only. - - "Now I take the mouth of Otso, - That my own mouth may be lengthened, - But I take it not completely, - And I do not take it only. - - "Now I take the tongue of Otso, - That my own tongue may be lengthened, 530 - But I take it not completely, - And I do not take it only. - - "He shall be a man respected, - And as hero shall be reckoned, - Who the bear's teeth now can number, - And the rows of teeth can loosen - From the jaws of steely hardness, - With his grasp as strong as iron." - - As no other man came forward, - And no hero would attempt it, 540 - He himself the bear's teeth numbered, - And the rows of teeth he reckoned, - Kneeling down beneath the jawbones, - With his grasp as strong as iron. - - From the bear the teeth then taking, - Uttered he the words which follow: - "Otso, apple of the forest, - Fair and bulky forest-dweller, - Thou must go upon thy journey, - Leap along upon the journey, 550 - Forth from out this narrow dwelling, - From this low and narrow cottage, - To a lofty house that waits thee, - To a wide and pleasant dwelling. - - "Golden one, go forth to wander, - Dearest treasure, march thou onward, - On the swine's path march thou onward, - Traversing the road of piglings, - To the firwood so luxuriant, - To the needle-covered pine-trees, 560 - To the hills all clothed with forest, - To the lofty-rising mountains. - Here for thee to dwell is pleasant, - Charming is it to abide there, - Where the cattle-bells are ringing, - And the little bells are tinking." - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - After this his dwelling entered, - And the younger people asked him, - All the handsome people asked him, 570 - "Where have you bestowed your booty, - Whither did you make your journey? - Have you left him in the icefield, - In the snow-slush have you sunk him, - Pushed him down in the morasses, - Buried him upon the heathland?" - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - Answered in the words which follow: - "In the ice I did not leave him, - Sunk him not among the snow-slush, 580 - For the dogs from thence would drag him, - Likewise would the birds befoul him. - In the swamp I have not sunk him, - Nor upon the heath have buried, - For the worms would there destroy him - And the black ants would devour him. - - "Thither have I brought my booty, - There bestowed my little captive, - On a golden mountain's summit, - On a copper mountain's summit. 590 - In a splendid tree I laid him, - Pine-tree with a hundred needles, - In the very largest branches, - In the broad and leafy summit, - As a joy to men for ever, - And a pleasure to the travellers. - - "Then I turned his gums to eastward, - And his eyes I turned to north-west, - Not too high upon the summit, - Lest if they were in the summit, 600 - Then the wind might perhaps destroy them, - And the spring wind treat them badly. - Nor too near the ground I placed them, - Lest if I too low had laid them, - Then the pigs might perhaps disturb them, - And the snouted ones o'erturn them." - - Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen - Once again prepared for singing, - For a splendid evening's pleasure, - And a charm to day departing. 610 - - Said the aged Vaeinaemoeinen, - And in words like these expressed him: - "Keep thy light, O holder, shining, - So that I can see while singing, - For the time has come for singing, - And my mouth to sing is longing." - - Played and sang old Vaeinaemoeinen, - Charming all throughout the evening, - And when he had ceased his singing, - Then a speech he made concluding: 620 - - "Grant, O Jumala, in future, - Once again, O good Creator, - That once more we meet rejoicing, - And may once again assemble - Here to feast on bear so fattened, - Feasting on the shaggy creature. - - "Grant, O Jumala, for ever, - Grant again, O good Creator, - That the posts be raised to guide us, - And the trees be blazed before us, 630 - For the most heroic people, - For the manly race of heroes. - - "Grant, O Jumala, for ever, - Grant again, O good Creator, - That may sound the horn of Tapio, - And the forest-pipe may whistle - Even in this little courtyard, - Even in this narrow homestead. - - "In the day may we be playing, - And at eventide rejoicing, 640 - In this firm and solid country, - In the wide expanse of Suomi, - With the young who now are growing, - With the rising generation." - - - - -RUNO XLVII.--THE ROBBERY OF THE SUN AND MOON - - -_Argument_ - -The moon and sun descend to listen to Vaeinaemoeinen's playing. The -Mistress of Pohjola succeeds in capturing them, hides them in a -mountain, and steals the fire from the homes of Kalevala (1-40). Ukko, -the Supreme God, is surprised at the darkness in the sky, and kindles -fire for a new moon and a new sun (41-82). The fire falls to the ground, -and Vaeinaemoeinen and Ilmarinen go to search for it (83-126). The Virgin -of the Air informs them that the fire has fallen into Lake Alue, and has -been swallowed by a fish (127-312). Vaeinaemoeinen and Ilmarinen try to -catch the fish with a net of bast, but without success (313-364). - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - On his kantele was playing, - Long he played, and long was singing, - And was ever full of gladness. - - In the moon's house heard they playing - Came delight to the sun's window, - And the moon came from his dwelling, - Standing on a crooked birch-tree, - And the sun came from his castle, - Sitting on a fir-tree's summit, 10 - To the kantele to listen, - Filled with wonder and rejoicing. - - Louhi, Pohjola's old Mistress, - Old and gap-toothed dame of Pohja, - Set to work the sun to capture, - In her hands the moon seized likewise. - From the birch the moon she captured, - And the sun from fir-tree's summit; - Straightway to her home she brought them, - To the gloomy land of Pohja. 20 - - Then she hid the moon from shining, - In the mottled rocks she hid him, - Sang the sun to shine no longer, - Hidden in a steel-hard mountain; - And she spoke the words which follow: - "Never more again in freedom - Shall the moon arise for shining, - Nor the sun be free for shining, - If I come not to release them, - If I do not go to fetch them, 30 - When I bring nine stallions with me, - Which a single mare has littered." - - When the moon away was carried, - And the sun had been imprisoned - Deep in Pohjola's stone mountain, - In the rocks as hard as iron, - Then she stole away the brightness, - And from Vaeinoelae the fires, - And she left the houses fireless, - And the rooms no flame illumined. 40 - - Therefore was the night unending, - And for long was utter darkness, - Night in Kalevala for ever, - And in Vaeinoelae's fair dwellings, - Likewise in the heavens was darkness, - Darkness round the seat of Ukko. - - Life without the fire was weary, - And without the light a burden, - Unto all mankind 'twas dismal, - And to Ukko's self 'twas dismal. 50 - - Ukko, then, of Gods the highest, - In the air the great Creator, - Now began to feel most strangely, - And he pondered and reflected, - What strange thing the moon had darkened, - How the sun had been obstructed, - That the moon would shine no longer, - And the sun had ceased his shining. - - Then he stepped to cloudland's borders, - On the borders of the heavens, 60 - Wearing now his pale blue stockings, - With the heels of varied colour, - And he went the moon to seek for, - And he went to find the sunlight, - Yet he could not find the moonlight, - Nor the sun he could discover. - - In the air a light struck Ukko, - And a flame did Ukko kindle, - From his flaming sword he struck it, - Sparks he struck from off the sword-blade, 70 - From his nails he struck the fire, - From his limbs he made it crackle, - High above aloft in heaven, - On the starry plains of heaven. - When the fire had thus been kindled, - Then he took the spark of fire, - In his golden purse he thrust it, - Placed it in his silver casket, - And he bade the maiden rock it, - Told the maid of air to rock it, 80 - That a new moon might be fashioned, - And a new sun be constructed. - - On the long cloud's edge she sat her, - On the air-marge sat the maiden, - There it was she rocked the fire, - There she rocked the glowing brightness, - In a golden cradle rocked it, - With a silver cord she rocked it. - - Then the silver props were shaken, - Rocked about the golden cradle, 90 - Moved the clouds and creaked the heavens, - And the props of heaven were swaying, - With the rocking of the fire, - And the rocking of the brightness. - - Thus the maid the fire was rocking, - And she rocked the fire to brightness, - With her fingers moved the fire, - With her hands the fire she tended, - And the stupid maiden dropped it, - Dropped the flame the careless maiden, 100 - From her hands the fire dropped downward - From the fingers of its guardian. - - Then the sky was cleft asunder, - All the air was filled with windows, - Burst asunder by the fire-sparks, - As the red drop quick descended, - And a gap gleamed forth in heaven, - As it through the clouds dropped downward, - Through nine heavens the drop descended, - Through six spangled vaults of heaven. 110 - - Said the aged Vaeinaemoeinen, - "Smith and brother, Ilmarinen, - Let us go and gaze around us, - And the cause perchance discover, - What the fire that just descended, - What the strange flame that has fallen - From the lofty height of heaven, - And to earth beneath descended. - Of the moon 'tis perhaps a fragment, - Of the sun perchance a segment." 120 - - Thereupon set forth the heroes, - And they wandered on, reflecting - How they might perchance discover, - How they might succeed in finding, - Where the fire had just descended, - Where the brightness had dropped downward. - - And a river flowed before them, - And became a lake extensive, - And the aged Vaeinaemoeinen - Straight began a boat to fashion, 130 - In the wood he worked upon it, - And beside him Ilmarinen - Made a rudder out of firwood, - Made it from a log of pinewood. - - Thus the boat at length was ready, - Rowlocks, rudder all completed, - And they pushed it in the water, - And they rowed and steered it onward, - All along the river Neva, - Steering round the Cape of Neva. 140 - - Ilmatar, the lovely damsel, - Eldest Daughter of Creation, - Then advanced to meet the heroes, - And in words like these addressed them: - "Who among mankind may ye be? - By what names do people call you?" - - Said the aged Vaeinaemoeinen, - "You may look on us as sailors. - I am aged Vaeinaemoeinen, - Ilmarinen, smith, is with me, 150 - But inform us of your kindred; - By what name do people call you?" - - Then the matron made them answer, - "I am oldest of all women, - Of the air the oldest damsel, - And the first of all the mothers. - Five times now have I been married, - Six times as a bride attired. - Whither do you take your journey, - Whither, heroes, are you going?" 160 - - Said the aged Vaeinaemoeinen, - And he spoke the words which follow: - "All our fires have been extinguished, - And their flames died down in darkness, - Long already were we fireless, - And in darkness were we hidden, - But at length have we determined - That the fire we ought to seek for, - Which has just dropped down from heaven, - From above the clouds has fallen." 170 - - Then the woman gave them answer, - And she spoke the words which follow: - "Hard it is to track the fire, - And the bright flame to discover. - It has evil wrought already, - And the flame has crime committed, - For the red spark has shot downward, - And the red ball has descended - From the realms of the Creator, - Where it was by Ukko kindled, 180 - Through the level plains of heaven, - Through the void aerial spaces, - Downwards through the sooty smoke-hole, - Downward through the seasoned roof-tree - Of the new-built house of Tuuri, - Of a wretched roofless dwelling. - - "When the fire at length came thither, - In the new-built house of Tuuri, - Evil deeds he then accomplished, - Shocking deeds he then accomplished, 190 - Burning up the maidens' bosoms, - Tearing at the breasts of maidens, - And the knees of boys destroying, - And the master's beard consuming. - - "And her child the mother suckled, - In a cradle of misfortune. - Thither, too, the fire rushed onward, - And its evil work accomplished, - In the cradle burned the baby, - Burning, too, the mother's bosom, 200 - And the child went off to Mana, - And the boy went straight to Tuoni. - Thus it was the infant perished, - And was cast into destruction, - In the red flame's fiery torture, - In the anguish of its glowing. - - "Great the knowledge of the mother, - And to Manala she went not. - Means she knew to ban the fire, - And to drive away its glowing, 210 - Through the little eye of needle, - And across the back of axe-blade, - Through the sheath of glowing sword-blade, - Past the ploughed land did she drive it." - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - Heard her words, and then made answer: - "Whither has the fire retreated, - Whither did the pest take refuge, - Was it in the field of Tuuri, - In a lake, or in a forest?" 220 - - Then the matron made him answer, - And she spoke the words which follow: - "When from thence the fire departed, - And the flame went wandering onward, - First it burned o'er many districts, - Many districts, many marshes, - Rushed at last into the water, - In the billows of Lake Alue, - And the fire rose up all flaming, - And the sparks arose all crackling. 230 - - "Three times in the nights of summer, - Nine times in the nights of autumn, - Rose the lake the height of fir-trees, - Roaring rose above the lake-banks, - With the strength of furious fire, - With the strength of heat all flaming. - - "On the bank were thrown the fishes, - On the rocks the perch were stranded, - And the fishes looked around them, - And the perch were all reflecting 240 - How they could continue living. - Perch were weeping for their dwellings, - Fish were weeping for their homesteads, - Perches for their rocky castles. - - "And the perch with back all crooked, - Tried to seize the streak of fire, - But the perch was not successful; - Seized upon it the blue powan. - Down he gulped the streak of fire, - And extinguished thus its brightness. 250 - - "Then retired the Lake of Alue, - And fell back from all its margins, - Sinking to its former level - In a single night of summer. - - "When a little time passed over, - Fire-pain seized on the devourer, - Anguish came upon the swallower, - Grievous suffering on the eater. - - "Up and down the fish swam turning, - Swam for one day and a second, 260 - All along the powan's island, - Clefts in rocks where flock the salmon, - To the points of capes a thousand, - Bays among a hundred islands. - Every cape made declaration, - Every island spoke in thiswise: - - "'Nowhere in these sluggish waters, - In the narrow Lake of Alue, - Can the wretched fish be swallowed, - Or the hapless one may perish 270 - In the torture of the fire, - In the anguish of its glowing.' - - "But a salmon-trout o'erheard it, - And the powan blue he swallowed. - When a little time passed over, - Fire-pain seized on the devourer, - Anguish came upon the swallower, - Grievous suffering on the eater. - - "Up and down the fish swam turning, - Swam for one day and a second, 280 - Through the clefts where flock the salmon, - And the depths where sport the fishes, - To the points of capes a thousand, - Bays among a hundred islands. - Every cape made declaration, - Every island spoke in thiswise: - - "'Nowhere in these sluggish waters, - In the narrow Lake of Alue, - Can the wretched fish be swallowed, - Or the hapless one may perish 290 - In the pain of burning fire, - In the anguish of its glowing.' - - "But a grey pike hurried forward, - And the salmon-trout he swallowed. - When a little time passed over, - Fire-pain seized on the devourer, - Anguish came upon the swallower, - Grievous suffering on the eater. - - "Up and down the fish swam turning, - Swam for one day and a second, 300 - Past the cliffs where flock the seagulls, - And the rocks where sport the seamews, - To the points of capes a thousand, - Bays among a hundred islands. - Every cape made declaration, - Every island spoke in thiswise: - - "'Nowhere in these sluggish waters, - In the narrow Lake of Alue, - Can the wretched fish be swallowed, - Or the hapless one may perish 310 - In the pain of burning fire, - In the anguish of its glowing.'" - - Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen, - Secondly, smith Ilmarinen, - Wove a net of bast constructed, - Which from juniper they gathered, - Steeped it in the juice of willow, - And of sallow-bark they made it. - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast - Sent the women to the drag-net; 320 - To the net there went the women, - Sisters came to draw the drag-net; - And he steered, and glided onward - Past the capes and round the islands, - To the clefts where flock the salmon, - And along the powan's island, - Where the red-brown reeds are waving, - And among the beauteous rushes. - - Eager now to make a capture, - Then he cast the net and sunk it, 330 - But he cast the net out twisted, - And in wrong direction drew it, - And the fish they could not capture, - Though with eagerness they laboured. - - In the water went the brothers, - To the net the men proceeded, - And they swung it and they pushed it, - And they pulled it and they dragged it, - Through the deeps, and rocky places, - Drew it o'er Kalevala's shingle; 340 - But the fish they could not capture; - Not the fish so greatly needed. - Came the grey pike never near them, - Neither on the placid water, - Nor upon its ample surface; - Fish are small, and nets not many. - - Now the fish were all complaining; - Said one pike unto another, - And the powan asked the ide-fish, - And one salmon asked another: 350 - "Can the famous men have perished, - Perished Kaleva's great children, - They who drag the net of linen, - And of yarn have made the fish-net, - With long poles who beat the water, - With long sticks who move the waters?" - - Old and famous Vaeinaemoeinen - Answered in the words which follow: - "No, the heroes have not perished, - Kaleva's great race has died not, 360 - When one dies, is born another, - And the best of staves they carry, - Longer sticks to sound the water, - And their nets are twice as fearful." - - - - -RUNO XLVIII.--THE CAPTURE OF THE FIRE - - -_Argument_ - -The heroes prepare a linen net, and at length capture the fish which has -swallowed the fire (1-192). The fire is found in the fish's belly, but -flashes up suddenly, and burns Ilmarinen's cheeks and hands severely -(193-248). The fire rushes into the forest, burns over many countries, -and spreads further and further, till at length it is captured and -carried to the dark dwellings of Kalevala (249-290). Ilmarinen recovers -from his burns (291-372). - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - He the great primeval minstrel, - Thereupon began to ponder, - And reflected on the method - How to make a net of linen, - How to make the hundred meshes. - - Then he spoke the words which follow, - And expressed himself in thiswise: - "Is there one who flax can sow me, - Who can sow the flax and card it, 10 - And of this a net can make me, - Weave for me its hundred meshes, - Thus this wretched fish to slaughter, - And destroy the fish unhappy?" - - So a little spot they found him, - Found a place not yet burned over, - In the wide extent of marshes, - There between two stumps they found it. - - Thereupon they dug the roots out, - And 'twas there they found the flaxseed, 20 - Guarded by the worm of Tuoni, - There protected by the earthworm. - - There they found a heap of ashes; - Dry the ashes that they found there, - Of a wooden burned-up vessel, - Of a boat that once had burned there. - There it was they sowed the flaxseed, - In the loose ash did they sow it, - On the shore of Lake of Alue, - There they sowed it in the clayfield. 30 - - Presently the shoot rose upward, - And the flax grew thick and strongly, - Grew beyond their expectations, - In a single night of summer. - Then they steeped it in the night-time, - And they carded it by moonlight, - And they cleansed it and they stripped it, - And they beat it and they rubbed it, - With their tools of steel they scraped it, - And with all their strength they stripped it. 40 - Then they took the flax to steeping, - And it soon began to soften, - And they hastened then to pound it, - Afterwards in haste they dried it. - - Then into the house they brought it, - And they hastened then to strip it, - And they hastened next to beat it, - And they hastened then to break it. - - Then with diligence they cleansed it, - In the twilight did they comb it, 50 - And upon the loom arranged it, - Quicker brought it to the spindle, - In a single night of summer; - Thus between two days they worked it. - - After this the sisters spun it, - And their brothers' wives were netting, - And the brothers worked the meshes, - And the fathers also aided. - - Quickly did they turn the netter, - And the mesh with speed they twisted, 60 - Till the net was quite completed, - And the cords were fixed upon it, - In a single night of summer, - Half another in addition. - - Thus the net was quite completed, - And the cords were fixed upon it. - And its length was hundred fathoms, - And its breadth was hundreds seven; - Stones for weights were fastened to it, - Likewise proper floats provided. 70 - - With the net the youths were walking, - And at home the old men pondered, - Whether they would make a capture, - And secure the fish they wished for. - - Then they drew the net and dragged it, - Much they toiled, and threshed the water, - Drew it lengthwise through the water, - Dragged it crosswise through the water, - Captured many little fishes, - Many luckless perch they captured, 80 - Many bony perch they captured, - And a large-galled Redeye likewise, - But the fish they could not capture - That for which the net was fashioned. - - Said the aged Vaeinaemoeinen, - "O thou smith, O Ilmarinen, - Let us now go forth together - Where the net is in the water." - - Thereupon went both the heroes, - And they drew it through the water, 90 - And upon one side they spread it - Round the islands in the water, - And the other side directed, - Round about the promontories, - And the balance-pole was guided - Just as aged Vaeinoe pushed it. - - Thus they cast the net and pushed it, - And they drew the net and dragged it, - Captured fishes in abundance, - And they captured perch in plenty, 100 - Salmon-trout in great abundance, - Bream and salmon too they captured, - All the fishes of the water, - Only not the fish they sought for, - That for which the net was woven, - And the ropes were fastened to it. - - Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen - Worked to make the net yet longer, - Wider yet the sides expanded, - Perhaps five hundred fathoms broader, 110 - Netted full seven hundred fathoms, - And he spoke the words which follow: - "To the depths the nets we'll carry, - And will now extend them further, - Once again will drag the water, - Thus another cast attempting." - - To the depths the nets they carried, - Further did they then convey them, - And again they dragged the water, - Thus another cast attempting. 120 - - Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen - Spoke aloud the words which follow: - "Vellamo, O Water-Mother, - Old one with the lavish bosom, - Do thou change the shift upon thee, - Do thou change thy dress completely, - For thou hast a shift of rushes, - On thy head a cap of lake-foam, - Fashioned by the Wind's fair daughter, - Which the billows' daughter gave thee. 130 - Now assume a shift of linen, - Of the finest flax that's woven, - Which by Kuutar has been woven, - Paeivaetaer has wrought when spinning. - - "Ahto, master of the billows, - Ruler thou of caves a hundred, - Take thy pole in length five fathoms, - Take thy stake, in length full seven, - Thresh with this the open water, - And do thou stir up the lake-bed, 140 - Stir thou all the heaps of refuse, - Drive thou on the shoals of fishes, - Where the net is spread to catch them, - And its hundred floats are swimming, - From the bays by fish frequented, - From the caves where hide the salmon, - From the wide lake's seething whirlpool, - And from the profound abysses, - Where the sun was never shining, - Undisturbed the sand for ever." 150 - - From the lake a dwarf ascended, - From the waves arose a hero, - Stood upon the lake's broad surface, - And he spoke the words which follow: - "Is there need to thresh the water, - With a long pole to disturb it?" - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - Answered in the words that follow: - "There is need to thresh the water, - With a long pole to disturb it." 160 - Then the dwarf, the little hero, - Lifted from the bank a pine-tree, - Took a tall tree from the pinewood, - And prepared to thresh the water, - And he asked, and spoke as follows: - "Shall I thresh with strength sufficient, - Putting forth my utmost efforts, - Or as hard as may be needful?" - - Old and prudent Vaeinaemoeinen - Answered in the words which follow: 170 - "If you thresh as hard as needful, - You will have to do much threshing." - - Then the man, the little hero, - Set to work to thresh the water, - And he threshed as much as needful, - And he drove the shoals of fishes, - And into the net he drove them, - In the net with floats a hundred. - - Rested now the smith his oars; - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, 180 - Now the net himself drew upward, - At the rope as he was pulling. - - Said the aged Vaeinaemoeinen, - "We have caught a shoal of fishes, - In the net that I am lifting, - With a hundred floats provided." - - Then the net was soon drawn upward, - And they drew it up and shook it - In the boat of Vaeinaemoeinen, - Finding mid the shoal of fishes, 190 - That for which the net was fashioned, - And the hundred floats provided. - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - To the land then urged the vessel, - To the blue bridge-side he brought it, - To the red bridge-end he brought it, - There the shoal of fishes sorted, - Turned the heap of bony fishes, - And the grey pike found among them, - Which he long had sought to capture. 200 - - Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen - Thus unto himself reflected: - "Is it wise with hands to seize it, - Save with gauntlets made of iron, - Save with gloves of stone constructed, - Save with mittens made of copper?" - - And the Sun's son heard him speaking, - And replied in words that follow: - "I myself would rip the pike up, - Venture in my hand to take him, 210 - If I had my large knife only, - Which my noble father gave me." - - Then from heaven the knife descended, - From the clouds the knife fell downward, - Golden-hafted, silver-bladed, - To the Sun's son's belt dropped downward. - - Thereupon the Sun's son seized it, - Firmly in his hand he grasped it, - And with this the pike ripped open, - Cleft the body of the Broad-snout, 220 - And within the grey pike's belly - There the grey trout he discovered, - And within the grey trout's belly - There he found the smooth-skinned powan. - - Then he split the smooth-skinned powan, - And a blue clew he discovered, - In the powan's entrails hidden, - In the third fold of the entrails. - - Then the blue clew he unwinded; - From the inside of the blue clew 230 - Fell a red clew from within it, - And when he unwound the red clew, - In the middle of the red clew, - There he found a spark of fire - Which had once from heaven descended, - Through the clouds had fallen downward, - From above eight heavens descending, - From the ninth aerial region. - - Vaeinaemoeinen then considered - How the spark might best be carried, 240 - To the cold and fireless dwellings, - To the rooms so dark and gloomy. - But the fire flashed up most fiercely, - From the Sun's son's hands who held it, - Singed the beard of Vaeinaemoeinen, - Burned the smith much more severely, - For upon his cheeks it burned him, - And upon his hands it scorched him. - - And it hastened quickly onward - O'er the waves of Lake of Alue, 250 - Through the junipers fled onward, - Burnt its way through all the thicket, - Then rushed upward through the fir-trees, - Burning up the stately fir-trees, - Rushing ever further onward, - Burned up half the land of Pohja, - And the furthest bounds of Savo, - Over both halves of Carelia. - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - Followed hard upon its traces, 260 - And he hastened through the forest, - Close behind the furious fire, - And at length he overtook it, - 'Neath the roots of two great tree-stumps, - In the stumps of alders hidden, - In the rotten stumps he found it. - - Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen - Spoke aloud the words which follow: - "Fire, whom Jumala created, - Creature of the bright Creator, 270 - Idly to the depths thou goest, - Aimlessly to distant regions. - It were better far to hide thee - In the hearth of stone constructed, - There thy sparks to bind together, - And within the coals enclose them, - That by day thou may'st be flickering - In the kitchen birchen faggots, - And at night thou may'st be hidden - Close within the golden fire-box." 280 - - Then he thrust the spark of fire - In a little piece of tinder, - In the fungus hard of birch-tree, - And among the copper kettles. - Fire he carried to the kettles, - Took it in the bark of birch-tree, - To the end of misty headland, - And the shady island's summit. - Now was fire within the dwellings, - In the rooms again 'twas shining. 290 - - But the smith named Ilmarinen - Quickly hastened to the lakeshore, - Where the rocks the water washes, - And upon the rocks he sat him, - In the pain of burning fire, - In the anguish of its glowing. - - There it was he quenched the fire, - There it was he dimmed its lustre, - And he spoke the words which follow, - And in words like these expressed him: 300 - "Fire whom Jumala created - And O thou, the Sun's son, Panu! - Who has made ye thus so angry, - As to scorch my cheeks in thiswise, - And to burn my hips so badly, - And my sides so much to injure? - - "How shall I the fire extinguish, - How shall I reduce its glowing, - Make the fire for evil powerless, - And its lustre render harmless, 310 - That no longer it may pain me, - And may cause me pain no longer? - - "Come, thou girl, from land of Turja, - Come, thou maiden, forth from Lapland, - Frosty-stockinged, icy-booted, - And thy skirts all frosted over, - In thy hand the icy kettle, - And the ice-spoon in the kettle. - Sprinkle me with freezing water, - Sprinkle me with icy water, 320 - On the places scorched so badly, - And the burns the fire has caused me. - - "But if this is not sufficient, - Come, thou youth, come forth from Pohja, - Come, thou child, from midst of Lapland, - From Pimentola, O tall one, - Tall as is a forest fir-tree, - Tall as pine-tree in the marshes, - On thy hands the gloves of hoarfrost, - On thy feet the boots of hoarfrost, 330 - On thy head the cap of hoarfrost, - Round thy waist the belt of hoarfrost. - - "Bring from Pohjola the hoarfrost, - Ice from out the frozen village. - Hoarfrost's plentiful in Pohja, - Ice enough in frozen village. - Lakes of ice, and frozen rivers, - All the air with ice is laden. - O'er the hoarfrost hares are skipping, - On the ice the bears are sporting, 340 - In the middle of the snow-heaps, - On the edge of the snow mountains, - On the rims the swans are walking, - On the ice the ducks are waddling, - In the midst of snow-filled rivers, - Cornices of icy cataracts. - - "On thy sledge bring thou the hoarfrost, - On thy sledge the ice convey thou, - From the slopes of rugged mountains, - From the lofty mountains' borders. 350 - Make them hoary with the hoarfrost, - With the ice, O make them icy, - All the hurts by fire occasioned, - All the burns the fire has caused me. - - "But if this is not sufficient, - Ukko, thou of Gods the highest, - Ukko, thou the clouds who leadest, - Thou the scattered clouds who herdest, - Send a cloud from out the eastward, - And a thick cloud from the westward, 360 - Link the edges close together, - Close thou up the gaps between them, - Send thou ice, and send thou hoarfrost, - Send thou, too, the best of ointment, - For the places scorched so badly, - And the hurts by fire occasioned." - - Thus it was smith Ilmarinen - Found a means to quench the fire, - And to dim the brilliant fire. - Thus the smith was healed completely, 370 - And regained his former vigour, - Healed from wounds the fire occasioned. - - - - -RUNO XLIX.--FALSE AND TRUE MOONS AND SUNS - - -_Argument_ - -Ilmarinen forges a new moon and sun but cannot make them shine (1-74). -Vaeinaemoeinen discovers by divination that the moon and sun are hidden in -the mountain of Pohjola, goes to Pohjola and conquers the whole nation -(75-230). He sees the moon and sun in the mountain, but cannot enter -(231-278). He returns home to procure tools with which to break open the -mountain. While Ilmarinen is forging them, the Mistress of Pohjola, -fearing that it may go ill with her, releases the moon and sun -(279-362). When Vaeinaemoeinen sees the moon and sun reappear in the sky, -he salutes them, hoping that they will always go brightly on their -course, and bring happiness to the country (363-422). - - Still the sun was never shining, - Neither gleamed the golden moonlight, - Not in Vaeinoelae's dark dwellings, - Not on Kalevala's broad heathlands. - Frost upon the crops descended, - And the cattle suffered greatly, - And the birds of air felt strangely, - All mankind felt ever mournful, - For the sunlight shone no longer, - Neither did there shine the moonlight. 10 - - Though the pike knew well the pike-deeps, - And the bird-paths knew the eagle, - And the wind the vessel's journey, - Yet mankind were all unknowing - If the time was really morning, - Or if perhaps it still was night-time, - Out upon the cloudy headland, - And upon the shady island. - And the young men then took counsel, - And the older men considered 20 - How to live without the moonlight, - And exist without the sunlight, - In that miserable country, - In the wretched land of Pohja. - - And the girls took likewise counsel, - And their cousins too considered; - And they hastened to the smithy, - And they spoke the words which follow: - "Smith, from 'neath the wall arise thou, - From the hearthstone rise, O craftsman, 30 - That a new moon thou may'st forge us, - And a new sun thou may'st make us. - Ill it is without the moonlight, - Strange it is without the sunlight." - - From the hearth arose the craftsman, - From beneath the wall the craftsman, - That a new moon he might forge them, - And a new sun he might make them, - And a moon of gold constructed, - And a sun he made of silver. 40 - - Came the aged Vaeinaemoeinen, - And beside the door he sat him, - And he spoke the words which follow: - "O thou smith, my dearest brother, - What art thou in smithy forging, - Hammering thus without cessation?" - - Thereupon smith Ilmarinen - Answered in the words that follow: - "Out of gold a moon I'm shaping, - And a sun of silver making, 50 - In the sky I then will place them, - Over six of starry heavens." - - Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen - Answered in the words that follow: - "O thou smith, O Ilmarinen, - What you make is wholly useless. - Gold will never shine like moonlight, - Silver will not shine like sunlight." - - Thus the smith a moon constructed, - And a sun completely finished, 60 - Eagerly he raised them upward, - Raised them to the best position, - Raised the moon to fir-tree's summit, - Set the sun upon a pine-tree. - From his head the sweat was streaming, - From his forehead sweat was falling, - With the greatness of his efforts, - And the weight that he was lifting. - - Thus the moon was now uplifted, - In his place the sun was stationed, 70 - Moon amid the crown of fir-tree, - Sun upon a pine-tree's summit, - But the moon shed forth no lustre, - And the sun was likewise rayless. - - Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen - Spoke aloud the words which follow: - "Time it is the lots to shuffle, - And the signs with care to question - Where the sun is hidden from us, - And the moon has vanished from us." 80 - - Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen, - He the great primeval sorcerer, - Hastened alder-sticks to cut him, - And arranged the sticks in order, - And began the lots to shuffle, - With his fingers to arrange them, - And he spoke the words which follow, - And in words like these expressed him: - "Leave I ask of the Creator, - Seek an answer that misleads not. 90 - Tell me, signs of the Creator, - Lots of Jumala, instruct me, - Where the sun is hidden from us, - And the moon has vanished from us, - Since no more as time elapses, - In the sky do we behold them? - - "Speak, O lot, and tell me truly - With man's reason speak unto me, - Speak thou faithful words unto us, - Make thou faithful compacts with us! 100 - If the lot should lie unto me, - Then its worth I hold as nothing, - And upon the fire will cast it, - And will burn the signs upon it." - - And the lot spoke words most faithful, - And the signs made answer truly, - For they said the sun was hidden, - And the moon was also sunken, - Deep in Pohjola's stone mountain, - And within the hill of copper. 110 - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - Uttered then the words which follow: - "I to Pohjola must journey, - On the path of Pohja's children, - And will bring the moon to shining, - And the golden sun to shining." - - Forth he journeyed, and he hastened - Unto Pohjola's dark regions, - And he walked one day, a second, - And at length upon the third day 120 - Came in view the gate of Pohja, - And appeared the rocky mountains. - - Then with all his strength he shouted, - As he came to Pohja's river, - "Bring me here a boat directly - Which shall take me o'er the river." - - As his shouting was not heeded, - And no boat for him provided, - Wood into a heap he gathered, - And the dead twigs of a fir-tree. 130 - On the shore he made a fire, - And thick clouds of smoke rose upward; - To the sky the flame rose upward, - In the air the smoke ascended. - - Louhi, Pohjola's old Mistress - Came herself unto the window, - And, at the sound's opening gazing, - Then she spoke the words which follow: - "What's the flame that's burning yonder, - Where the Sound of Saari opens? 140 - For a camp too small I think it, - But 'tis larger than a fisher's." - - Then the son of Pohja's country - Hurried out into the open, - And he looked about and listened, - Seeking thus for information. - "On the river's other margin, - Is a stately hero marching." - - Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen - Once again commenced his shouting. 150 - "Bring a boat, O son of Pohja, - Bring a boat for Vaeinaemoeinen." - - Answer made the son of Pohja, - And in words like these responded: - "Here the boats are never ready; - You to row must use your fingers, - And must use your hands for rudder, - Crossing Pohjola's deep river." - - Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen - Pondered deeply and reflected, 160 - "Not as man should he be reckoned - Who retreats upon his pathway." - - Like a pike in lake then plunging, - Powan-like in sluggish river, - Through the sound he swam right quickly, - Speedily the strait he traversed, - And he moved one foot, a second, - And he reached the shore of Pohja. - - Then spoke out the sons of Pohja, - And the evil army shouted: 170 - "Go into the yard of Pohja," - And on this the yard he entered. - - Then exclaimed the sons of Pohja, - And the evil army shouted: - "Enter now the house of Pohja." - And on this the house he entered, - On the floor his foot he planted, - Grasped he the door-handle firmly, - Forced his way into the dwelling, - And beneath the roof he entered, 180 - There the men the mead were drinking, - And the honey-drink imbibing. - All the men with swords were girded, - And the heroes aimed their weapons - At the head of Vaeinaemoeinen, - Thus to slay Suvantolainen. - Then they questioned the intruder - In the very words that follow: - "What's your news, you wretched fellow, - What's your need, O swimming hero?" 190 - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - Answered in the words which follow: - "Of the moon are curious tidings, - Of the sun are wondrous tidings. - Where is now the sun imprisoned, - Whither has the moon been taken?" - - Answered then the sons of Pohja, - And the evil army answered: - "Thus it is the sun is hidden, - Sun is hidden, moon imprisoned, 200 - In the stones of many colours, - In the rocks as hard as iron, - And from this, escape they cannot, - And release shall never reach them." - - Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen - Answered in the words that follow: - "If the sun from rock ascends not, - Nor the moon from rocky mountain, - Let us join in closest conflict, - Let us grasp our trusty sword-blades." 210 - - Sword they drew, and tried their sword-blades, - Drew from out the sheaths their weapons; - At the point the moon was shining, - On the hilt the sun was shining, - On the back a horse was standing, - At the knob a cat was mewing. - - After this the swords they measured, - And they thus compared their weapons, - And the sword of aged Vaeinoe - Was a little trifle longer, 220 - Longer, as a grain of barley, - As the width of straw-stalk longer. - - Out into the yard they hastened, - On the grass to meet in conflict, - And the aged Vaeinaemoeinen - Struck a blow with lightning swiftness, - Struck a blow, and struck a second, - And he sheared, like roots of turnips, - Off he shore, like heads of flax-plant, - Heads of all the sons of Pohja. 230 - - Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen - Sought for where the moon was hidden, - Likewise would release the sunlight - From the rocks of varied colour, - From the depths of steely mountain, - From the rocks as hard as iron. - - Then he walked a little distance, - But a very little distance, - When he saw a copse all verdant, - In the copse a lovely birch-tree, 240 - And a large stone block beneath it, - And a rock beneath the stone block, - And there were nine doors before it, - In the doors were bolts a hundred. - - In the stone a crack perceiving, - In the rock some lines engraven, - Then he drew his sword from scabbard, - On the coloured stone he scraped it, - With the sharp point of his sword-blade, - With his gleaming blade he scraped it, 250 - Till the stone in two divided, - And in three he quickly split it. - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - Looked into the stone all pictured; - Many serpents ale were drinking, - In the wort the snakes were writhing, - In the coloured stone were hiding, - In the cracks of liver-colour. - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - Uttered then the words that follow: 260 - "Thus it is the hapless Mistress - Has so little ale acquired, - For the snakes the ale are drinking, - In the wort the snakes are writhing." - - Off he cut the heads of serpents, - Broke the necks of all the serpents, - And he spoke the words which follow, - And in words like these expressed him: - "Never while the world existeth, - From this very day henceforward, 270 - Let our ale by snakes be drunken, - And our malt-drink by the serpents." - - Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen, - He the great primeval sorcerer, - Sought with hands the doors to open, - And the bolts by spells to loosen, - But to hands the doors would yield not, - By his spells the bolts were moved not. - - Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen - Spoke his thoughts in words that follow: 280 - "Man unarmed is weak as woman; - Weak as frog, without a hatchet." - And at once he wended homeward, - Head bowed down, in great vexation, - For the moon was not recovered, - Neither had the sun been captured. - - Said the lively Lemminkainen, - "O thou aged Vaeinaemoeinen, - Wherefore didst forget to take me, - As your very trusty comrade? 290 - I had brought the locks to creaking, - And the bars asunder broken, - And released the moon for shining, - And had raised the sun for shining." - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - Answered in the words that follow: - "Unto spells the bolts will yield not, - And the locks my magic breaks not; - Strength of hands will never move them, - And no strength of arm will force them." 300 - - To the smith's forge then he wandered, - And he spoke the words which follow: - "O thou smith, O Ilmarinen, - Forge me now a mighty trident, - And a dozen hatchets forge me, - And a bunch of keys enormous, - From the stone the moon to rescue, - From the rock the sun deliver." - - Thereupon smith Ilmarinen, - He the great primeval craftsman, 310 - Forged the hero what he needed, - And a dozen hatchets forged him, - Forged a bunch of keys enormous, - And of spears a mighty bundle, - Not too large and not too little, - But of middle size he forged them. - - Louhi, Pohjola's old Mistress, - Old and gap-toothed dame of Pohja, - Then with wings herself provided, - And extended them for flying, 320 - Near the house at first was flying, - Then her flight extended further, - Straight across the lake of Pohja - Unto Ilmarinen's smithy. - - Then the smith his window opened, - Looking if the wind was blowing; - 'Twas no wind that there was blowing, - But a hawk, and grey in colour. - - Thereupon smith Ilmarinen - Spoke aloud the words that follow: 330 - "Bird of prey, what brings thee hither, - Sitting underneath my window?" - - Hereupon the bird spoke language, - And the hawk at once made answer: - "O thou smith, O Ilmarinen, - Thou the most industrious craftsman, - Truly art thou very skilful, - And a most accomplished craftsman." - - Thereupon smith Ilmarinen - Answered in the words that follow: 340 - "But indeed 'tis not a wonder - If I am a skilful craftsman, - For 'twas I who forged the heavens, - And the arch of air who welded." - - Hereupon the bird spoke language, - And the hawk at once responded: - "What is this, O smith, thou makest, - What, O blacksmith, art thou forging?" - - Thereupon smith Ilmarinen - Answered in the words that follow: 350 - "'Tis a neck-ring I am forging, - For the aged crone of Pohja, - That she may be firmly fettered - To the side of a great mountain." - - Louhi, Pohjola's old Mistress, - Old and gap-toothed dame of Pohja, - Felt on this her doom was coming, - On her head the days of evil, - And at once to flight betook her, - Swift to Pohjola escaping. 360 - - From the stone the moon released she, - From the rock the sun released she, - Then again her form she altered, - And to dove herself converted, - And her flight again directed - Unto Ilmarinen's smithy, - To the door in bird-form flying, - Lit as dove upon the threshold. - - Thereupon smith Ilmarinen - Asked her in the words which follow: 370 - "Why, O bird, hast thou flown hither? - Dove, why sit'st thou on the threshold?" - - From the door the wild bird answered, - And the dove spoke from the threshold: - "Here I sit upon the threshold, - That the news I now may bring thee. - From the stone the moon has risen, - From the rock the sun is loosened." - - Thereupon smith Ilmarinen - Hastened forth to gaze around him, 380 - And he stood at door of smithy, - Gazing anxiously to heaven, - And he saw the moon was gleaming, - And he saw the sun was shining. - - Then he went to Vaeinaemoeinen, - And he spoke the words which follow: - "O thou aged Vaeinaemoeinen, - Thou the great primeval minstrel, - Come to gaze upon the moonlight, - Come to gaze upon the sunlight. 390 - Now they stand in midst of heaven, - In their old accustomed places." - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - Hurried out into the open, - And at once his head uplifted, - And he gazed aloft to heaven. - Moon was risen, sun was loosened, - In the sky the sun was beaming. - - Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen - Made a speech without delaying, 400 - And he spoke the words which follow, - And in words like these expressed him: - "Hail, O Moon, who beamest yonder, - Thus thy fair cheeks well displaying, - Golden sun who risest yonder, - Sun who once again arisest! - - "Golden Moon from stone delivered, - Fairest Sun from rock arisen, - Like the golden cuckoo rise you, - Like the silver dove arise you, 410 - Lead the life ye led aforetime, - And resume your former journeys. - - "Rise for ever in the morning, - From this present day hereafter. - Bring us always happy greetings, - That our wealth increases ever, - Game for ever in our fingers, - Fortune at the points of fish-hooks. - - "Go ye on your path with blessings, - Go ye on your charming journey, 420 - Let your crescent now be beauteous, - Rest ye joyful in the evening." - - - - -RUNO L.--MARJATTA - - -_Argument_ - -The virgin Marjatta swallows a cranberry and brings forth a boy (1-346). -The child disappears and is found after a long search in a swamp -(347-430). He is taken to an old man to be baptized, but the latter will -not baptize the fatherless child until after due consideration -(431-440). Vaeinaemoeinen comes to inquire into the matter, and advises -that the ill-omened boy should be put to death, but the child reproaches -him for his unjust sentence (441-474). The old man baptizes the boy as -King of Carelia, at which Vaeinaemoeinen is grievously offended and leaves -the country, but first declares that he will again make a new Sampo and -kantele, and light for the people. He sails away in a copper boat to a -land between earth and heaven, but he leaves behind his kantele and his -great songs as a parting gift to his people (475-512). Concluding verses -(513-620). - - Marjatta the petted damsel - In her home long time was growing, - In the home of her great father, - In her tender mother's dwelling, - And five chains wore out completely, - And six rings she wore out likewise; - For her father's keys she used them, - Which around her waist were hanging. - - And she wore out half the threshold, - With her skirts as she was passing, 10 - And she half destroyed the rafters - Where she hung her silken ribands, - And she half destroyed the door-posts - As her fine sleeves rubbed against them, - And the planking of the flooring - Wore away beneath her slippers. - - Marjatta the petted damsel - Was a very little damsel, - And was always pure and holy, - And was ever very modest, 20 - And she fed on fish the finest, - And the soft bark of the fir-tree, - But the eggs of hens ate never, - Over which the cocks were crowing, - And the flesh of ewe she ate not, - Had the ewe with ram been running. - - If her mother sent her milking, - Yet she did not go to milking, - And she spoke the words which follow: - "Never such a maid as I am 30 - Udders of the cows should handle, - Which with bulls have been disporting, - If no milk from calf is flowing, - Or from calf it is not running." - - If her father sent her sledging, - In a stallion's sledge she went not, - If a mare her brother brought her, - Then these words the maiden uttered: - "Never will I sit in mares' sledge, - Which with stallion has been running, 40 - If no foals the sledge are drawing, - Which have numbered six months only." - - Marjatta the petted damsel, - She who always lived a virgin, - Always greeted as a maiden, - Modest maid with locks unbraided, - Went to lead the herds to pasture, - And beside the sheep was walking. - - On the hill the sheep were straying, - To the top the lambs were climbing, 50 - On the plain the maiden wandered, - Tripping through the alder bushes, - While there called the golden cuckoo, - And the silvery birds were singing. - - Marjatta the petted damsel, - Looked around her and she listened, - Sitting on the hill of berries, - Resting on the sloping hillside, - And she spoke the words which follow, - And in words like these expressed her: 60 - "Call thou on, O golden cuckoo, - Sing thou still, O bird of silver, - Sing thou from thy breast of silver! - Tell me true, O Saxon strawberry, - Shall I long remain unhooded, - Long among the flocks as herd-girl, - On the wide-extending heathlands, - And the far-extending woodlands, - For one summer, for two summers, - Or for five or six of summers, 70 - Or perchance for ten long summers, - Or the time fulfilled already?" - - Marjatta the petted damsel, - For a while lived on as herd-girl. - Evil is the life of shepherd, - Far too heavy for a maiden; - In the grass a snake is creeping, - In the grass the lizards wriggling. - - But not there a snake was writhing, - Nor in grass the lizards wriggling. 80 - From the hill there cried a berry, - From the heath there cried a cranberry, - "O thou maiden, come and pluck me, - Rosy-cheeked one, come and gather, - Come with breast of tin to pluck me, - With thy copper belt to choose me, - Ere the slug should come to eat me, - Or the black worm should disturb me. - - "There are hundreds who have seen me, - Thousands more have sat beside me, 90 - Girls by hundreds, wives by thousands, - Children, too, that none can number; - None among them yet has touched me, - None has gathered me, the wretched." - - Marjatta the petted damsel, - Went a very little distance, - Went to look upon the berry, - And the cranberry to gather, - With her skilful hands to pluck it, - With her beauteous hands to pluck it. 100 - - On the hill she found the berry, - On the heath she found the cranberry; - 'Twas a berry in appearance, - And it seemed to be a cranberry, - But from ground too high for eating, - On a tree too weak for climbing. - - From the heath a stick she lifted, - That she might pull down the berry; - Then from ground the berry mounted - Upward to her shoes so pretty, 110 - From her pretty shoes arose it, - Upward to her knees of whiteness, - Rising from her knees of whiteness - Upward to her skirts that rustled. - - To her buckled belt arose it, - To her breast from buckled girdle, - From her breast to chin arose it, - To her lips from chin arose it, - Then into her mouth it glided, - And along her tongue it hastened, 120 - From her tongue to throat it glided, - And it dropped into her stomach. - - Marjatta the petted damsel, - After this had chanced grew pregnant, - And it soon increased upon her, - And her burden soon was heavy. - - Then she cast aside her girdle, - Loosely dressed, without a girdle, - Secretly she sought the bathroom, - And she hid her in the darkness. 130 - - Always was her mother thinking, - And her mother pondered ever: - "What has chanced to our Marjatta, - What has happened to our house-dove, - That she casts aside her girdle, - Always dresses loosely, beltless, - Goes in secret to the bathroom, - And she hides her in the darkness?" - - And a baby gave her answer, - And the little child made answer: 140 - "This has chanced to our Marjatta, - This befel the wretched creature, - She has been too long a herd-girl, - With the flocks too far has wandered." - - And she bore her heavy burden, - And the pain it brought upon her, - Bore it seven months, bore it eight months, - Bore it through the ninth month also, - By the reckoning of old women, - And for half the tenth month also. 150 - - While the tenth month thus was passing, - Then the girl was filled with anguish, - Grievous sufferings came upon her, - And the weight oppressed her sorely. - - For a bath she asked her mother, - "O my very dearest mother, - Make a warm place ready for me, - And a warm room ready for me, - Where the girl awhile may rest her. - In the house of suffering women." 160 - - But her mother gave her answer, - Answered thus, the aged woman: - "Woe to thee, O whore of Hiisi, - Tell me now with whom thou restedst, - With a man as yet unmarried, - Or beside a married hero?" - - Marjatta the petted damsel, - Then replied to her in thiswise: - "Neither with a man unmarried, - Nor with any married hero, 170 - But I sought the hill of berries, - And I went to pluck the cranberries, - And I took what seemed a berry, - And upon my tongue I laid it, - Quickly in my throat it glided, - And it dropped into my stomach. - Thus it is that I am pregnant, - Thus it comes that I am pregnant." - - For a bath she asked her father, - "O my very dearest father, 180 - Give me now a well-warmed refuge, - Make a warm room ready for me, - Where the suffering one may rest her, - And the girl endure her suffering." - - But her father gave her answer, - Gave her back a shameful answer: - "Go thou forth from here, O strumpet, - Wander forth, O wench for burning, - To the bears' own rocky caverns, - To the caves where bears are lurking, 190 - Thither forth to bear, O strumpet, - Bear thy children, wench of fire." - - Marjatta the petted damsel, - Then returned submissive answer: - "Not at all am I a strumpet, - Neither am a wench for burning; - I shall bear a mighty hero, - And shall bear a noble offspring, - He shall be a mighty conqueror, - Strong as even Vaeinaemoeinen." 200 - - Then the maid was greatly troubled - Where to go, and how to journey, - Where a bath she might provide her, - And she spoke the words which follow: - "O my little damsel Piltti, - Thou the best of all my handmaids, - Find me now a bath in village, - Find a bath near reed-fringed brooklet, - Where the suffering one may rest her, - And the girl endure her suffering. 210 - Go at once, and hasten quickly, - For my need is of the greatest." - - Then the little damsel Piltti, - Answered in the words that follow: - "Where am I to ask a bathroom, - Who will help me to obtain it?" - - Thereupon did our Marjatta - Answer in the words which follow: - "Go and ask a bath from Ruotus, - Near where issues forth the Reed-brook." 220 - - Then the little maiden Piltti - Listened to her words obedient, - Always ready, heedless never, - Always quick, avoiding gossip, - Like a mist, away she hurried, - To the yard like snake she hastened, - With her hands her skirts she lifted, - In her hands her dress she twisted, - And upon her course she hastened - Straight unto the house of Ruotus. 230 - Hills re-echoed to her footsteps, - Shook the mountains as she climbed them, - On the heath the cones were dancing, - Gravel scattered o'er the marshes; - Thus she came to Ruotus' dwelling, - And the house she quickly entered. - - In his shirt sat wicked Ruotus, - Eating, drinking like the great ones, - In his shirt at end of table, - In a shirt of finest linen, 240 - And he asked as he was eating, - Grunted, leaning o'er the table, - "What have you to say, you beggar, - Wretch, why come you running hither?" - - Then the little damsel Piltti - Answered in the words that follow: - "Here I seek a village bathroom, - Seek a bath near reed-fringed brooklet, - That relief may reach the suffering, - For the need is very pressing." 250 - - Then the wicked wife of Ruotus - Presently with arms a-kimbo, - Slouched along upon the flooring, - Swept to middle of the flooring, - And she asked upon her coming, - Speaking in the words which follow: - "Who is seeking for a bathroom, - Who is seeking for assistance?" - - Said the little damsel Piltti, - "Needed 'tis for our Marjatta." 260 - - Then the wicked wife of Ruotus - Answered in the words that follow: - "Vacant baths are rare in village, - None at mouth of reed-fringed streamlet. - There's a bath upon the clearing, - And a stable in the pinewood, - Where the whore may bear her children, - And the vile one cast her offspring, - While the horses there are breathing, - Let her take a bath and welcome." 270 - - Then the little maiden Piltti, - Hurried back with rapid footsteps, - And upon her course she hastened, - And she said on her arrival: - "In the village is no bathroom, - None beside the rush-fringed streamlet, - And the wicked wife of Ruotus, - Only spoke the words which follow: - 'Vacant baths are none in village, - None at mouth of reed-fringed streamlet. 280 - There's a bath upon the clearing, - And a stable in the pinewood, - Where the whore may bear her children, - And the vile one cast her offspring, - While the horses there are breathing, - Let her take a bath and welcome.' - This was all she said unto me, - This is truly what she answered." - - Marjatta the hapless maiden - When she heard, burst forth in weeping, 290 - And she spoke the words that follow: - "Thither must I then betake me, - Even like an outcast labourer, - Even like a hired servant, - I must go upon the clearing, - And must wander to the pinewood." - - In her hands her skirt she lifted, - With her hands her skirt she twisted, - And she took the bath-whisks with her, - Of the softest leaves and branches, 300 - And with hasty steps went onward, - In the greatest pain of body, - To the stable in the pinewood, - And the stall on hill of Tapio. - - And she spoke the words which follow, - And in words like these expressed her: - "Come thou to my aid, Creator, - To my aid, O thou most gracious, - In this anxious time of labour, - In this time of hardest labour. 310 - Free the damsel from her burden, - From her pains release the woman, - That she perish not in torment, - May not perish in her anguish." - - When at length her journey ended, - Then she spoke the words which follow: - "O thou good horse, breathe upon me, - O thou draught-foal, snort upon me, - Breathe a vapour-bath around me, - Send thou warmth throughout the bathroom, 320 - That relief may reach the sufferer, - For the need is very pressing." - - Then the good horse breathed upon her, - And the draught-foal snorted on her, - Over all her suffering body. - When the horse desisted breathing, - Steam was spread throughout the stable, - Like the steam of boiling water. - - Marjatta the hapless maiden, - She, the holy little maiden, 330 - Bathed her in a bath sufficient, - Till she had relieved her suffering, - And a little boy was born her, - And a sinless child was given, - On the hay in horses' stable, - On the hay in horses' manger. - - Then she washed the little infant, - And in swaddling-clothes she wrapped him, - On her knees she took the infant, - And she wrapped her garments round him. 340 - There she reared the little infant, - Thus she reared the beauteous infant, - Reared her little golden apple, - And her little staff of silver, - And upon her lap she nursed it, - With her hands did she caress it. - - On her knees she laid the infant, - On her lap she laid the infant, - And began to brush his hair straight, - And began to smooth his hair down, 350 - When from off her knees he vanished, - From her lap the infant vanished. - - Marjatta the hapless maiden - Fell into the greatest trouble, - And she hurried off to seek him, - Seek her little boy, the infant, - And she sought her golden apple, - Sought her little staff of silver, - Sought him underneath the millstones, - Underneath the sledge while running, 360 - Underneath the sieve while sifting, - Underneath the lidless basket; - Trees she moved, and grass divided, - Spreading out the tender herbage. - - Long the little boy she sought for, - Sought her son, the little infant, - Sought him through the hills and pinewoods, - On the heath among the heather, - Searched through every tuft of heather, - And in every bush she sought him, 370 - Roots of juniper updigging, - And of trees the branches straightening. - - Then she thought to wander further, - And she went upon her wanderings, - And there came a star to meet her, - And before the star she bowed her. - "Star, whom Jumala created, - Know you nothing of my infant, - Where my little son is hidden, - Where is hid my golden apple?" 380 - - And the star made answer to her: - "If I knew I would not tell it. - He it was who me created, - Made me, through these days of evil - In the cold to shine for ever, - And to glimmer through the darkness." - - Then she thought to wander further, - And she went upon her wanderings, - And the moon came next to meet her, - And she bowed herself before him. 390 - "Moon, whom Jumala created, - Know you nothing of my infant, - Where my little son is hidden, - Where is hid my golden apple?" - - And the moon made answer to her: - "If I knew I would not tell it. - He it was who me created, - Always in these days of evil - Through the night to watch all lonely, - And to sleep throughout the daytime." 400 - - Then she thought to wander further, - And she went upon her wanderings, - And there came the sun to meet her, - And she bowed herself before him. - "Sun, whom Jumala created, - Know you nothing of my infant, - Where my little son is hidden, - Where is hid my golden apple?" - - And the sun made answer wisely: - "Well indeed I know your infant. 410 - He it was who me created, - In these days of finest weather, - Golden rays to shed about me, - Silver rays to scatter round me. - - "Well indeed I know your infant, - Know your son, unhappy mother! - There thy little son is hidden, - There is hid thy golden apple, - In the swamps to waistband sunken, - To his arm-pits in the marshlands." 420 - - Marjatta the hapless maiden - Sought her infant in the marshes, - In the swamps her son discovered, - And she brought him home in triumph. - Then the son of our Marjatta - Grew into a youth most beauteous, - But they knew not what to call him, - Did not know what name to give him, - But his mother called him Floweret, - And the strangers called him Sluggard. 430 - - And they sought a man to cross him, - And to sprinkle him with water; - And an old man came to cross him, - Virokannas to baptize him. - - Then these words the old man uttered, - And in words like these expressed him: - "With the cross I will not sign him, - Nor will I baptize the infant, - Not till he has been examined, - And a judgment passed upon him." 440 - - Who shall dare to come to try him, - Test him, and pass sentence on him? - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - He the great primeval sorcerer, - He alone came forth to try him, - And to test him and pass sentence. - - Vaeinaemoeinen, old and steadfast, - Sentence gave in words that follow: - "As the boy from marsh has risen, - From the ground, and from a berry, 450 - On the ground they now shall lay him, - Where the hills are thick with berries, - Or shall to the swamps conduct him, - On the trees his head to shatter." - - Then the half-month old spoke loudly, - And the fortnight-old cried loudly: - "O thou old and wretched creature, - Wretched old man, void of insight, - O how stupid is your judgment, - How contemptible thy sentence! 460 - Thou hast grievous crimes committed, - Likewise deeds of greatest folly, - Yet to swamps they did not lead thee, - Shattered not thy head on tree-trunks, - When thyself, in youthful folly, - Gave the child of thine own mother, - That thou thus mightst 'scape destruction, - And release thyself in thiswise. - - "And again thou wast not carried, - And abandoned in the marshes, 470 - When thyself in youthful folly, - Caused the young maids to be sunken, - In the depths beneath the billows, - To the black ooze at the bottom." - - Then the old man quickly crossed him, - Quick baptized the child with water, - As the king of all Carelia, - And the lord of all the mighty. - - Then was Vaeinaemoeinen angry, - Greatly shamed and greatly angry, 480 - And prepared himself to journey - From the lake's extended margin, - And began his songs of magic, - For the last time sang them loudly, - Sang himself a boat of copper, - With a copper deck provided. - - In the stern himself he seated, - Sailing o'er the sparkling billows, - Still he sang on his departure, - And he sang as he was sailing: 490 - "May the time pass quickly o'er us, - One day passes, comes another, - And again shall I be needed. - Men will look for me, and miss me, - To construct another Sampo, - And another harp to make me, - Make another moon for gleaming, - And another sun for shining. - When the sun and moon are absent, - In the air no joy remaineth." 500 - - Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen - Went upon his journey singing, - Sailing in his boat of copper, - In his vessel made of copper, - Sailed away to loftier regions, - To the land beneath the heavens. - - There he rested with his vessel, - Rested weary, with his vessel, - But his kantele he left us, - Left his charming harp in Suomi, 510 - For his people's lasting pleasure, - Mighty songs for Suomi's children. - - * * * * * - - Now my mouth must cease from speaking, - And my tongue be bound securely, - Cease the chanting of my verses, - And my lively songs abandon. - Even thus must horses rest them, - When a long course is completed, - Even iron must be wearied - When the grass is mown in summer, 520 - And the water-drops be weary, - As they trace the river's windings, - And the fire must be extinguished - When throughout the night 'tis burning. - Wherefore should our songs not falter; - As our sweet songs we are singing, - For the lengthy evenings' pleasure, - Singing later than the sunset? - - Thus I heard the people talking, - And again it was repeated: 530 - "E'en the waterfall when flowing - Yields no endless stream of water, - Nor does an accomplished singer, - Sing till all his knowledge fail him. - Better 'tis to sit in silence - Than to break off in the middle." - - Now my song remains completed, - 'Tis completed and abandoned. - In a ball I wind my lays up, - As a ball I cast them from me, 540 - On the storehouse floor I lay them, - With a lock of bone secure them, - That from thence escape they never, - Nor in time may be untwisted, - Not unless the lock be opened, - And its jaws should be extended, - Not unless the teeth be opened, - And the tongue again is moving. - - What would now avail my singing, - If the songs I sang were bad ones, 550 - If I sang in every valley, - And I sang in every firwood? - For my mother lives no longer, - Wakes no more my own old mother, - Nor my golden one can hear me, - Nought can learn my dear old mother, - None would hear me but the fir-trees, - Learn, save branches of the pine-trees, - Or the tender leaves of birch-trees, - Or the charming mountain ash-tree. 560 - - I was small when died my mother, - Weak was I without my mother; - On the stones like lark she left me, - On the rocks like thrush she left me, - Left me like a lark to sing there, - Or to sing as sings the throstle, - In the wardship of a stranger, - At the will of a step-mother, - And she drove me forth, unhappy, - Forth she drove the unloved infant, 570 - To a wind-swept home she drove me, - To the north-wind's home she drove me - That against the wind defenceless, - Winds might sweep away the orphan. - - Like a lark away I wandered, - Like a hapless bird I wandered - Shelterless about the country; - Wearily I wandered onward, - Till with every wind acquainted, - I their roaring comprehended; 580 - In the frost I learned to shudder, - And I learned to cry with freezing. - - Even now do many people, - Many people I encounter, - Speak to me in angry accents, - Rudest speeches hurl against me, - Curses on my tongue they shower, - And about my voice cry loudly, - Likewise they abuse my grumbling - And they call my songs too lengthy, 590 - And they say I sing too badly, - And my song's accented wrongly. - - May you not, O friendly people, - As a wondrous thing regard it - That I sang so much in childhood, - And when small, I sang so badly. - I received no store of learning, - Never travelled to the learned. - Foreign words were never taught me, - Neither songs from distant countries. 600 - Others have had all instruction, - From my home I journeyed never, - Always did I help my mother, - And I dwelt for ever near her, - In the house received instruction, - 'Neath the rafters of my storehouse, - By the spindle of my mother, - By my brother's heap of shavings, - In my very earliest childhood, - In a shirt that hung in tatters. 610 - - But let this be as it may be, - I have shown the way to singers, - Showed the way, and broke the tree-tops, - Cut the branches, shown the pathways. - This way therefore leads the pathway, - Here the path lies newly opened, - Widely open for the singers, - And for greater ballad singers, - For the young, who now are growing, - For the rising generation. 620 - - - - -NOTES TO RUNOS XXVI-L - -(These are by the translator, when not otherwise stated. K. K. indicates -Prof. Kaarle Krohn, and A. M. Madame Aino Malmberg. For proper names, -refer to the Glossary at page 281.) - - -RUNO XXVI - -129. Literally, "his teeth." - -230. In the _Voeluspa_, we read of a Hall of Serpents in Nastroend, one of -the Icelandic hells, composed of serpents wattled together, with their -heads turned inwards, vomiting floods of venom in which wade murderers, -perjurers, and adulterers. - -271. Literally, "the toads." - - "Seven monarchs' wealth in that castle lies stowed; - The foul fiends brood o'er them like raven and toad." (Scott.) - -A diabolical creature, half dragon and half frog, is described in a -well-known Esthonian story. - -427. _Tetrao tetrix_, known as the Black-cock and Grey-hen. - -555. Virsta, a Russian word naturalized in Finnish. - -617. This description recalls the serpents of Indian mythology, such as -those described in the first book of the _Mahabharata_. - -619. Such a passage might have suggested to Longfellow the following: - - "Bigger than the Big-Sea-Water, - Broader than the Gitche Gumee." - - _Hiawatha_, xxi. - - -RUNO XXVII - -208. Here commences a magical contest somewhat resembling the -transformation scenes in the stories of the Second Calendar, and of -Nooreddin and Bedreddin, in the _1001 Nights_. - -326. "I don't want to have a mess made upon my floor here, or any noise -or shooting." (Tanta Coetzee, in Rider Haggard's _Jess_.) - - -RUNO XXVIII. - -15, 16. His horse and sledge seem to have been transformed, like those -of Joukahainen in Runo III. - -195. In Finnish and Esthonian tales we often find persons transformed -into trees and flowers; sometimes for purposes of concealment. - - -RUNO XXIX - -242. "Grass-widows" are probably intended. - -253-268. Even this old woman did not appeal to him in vain. We might -compare with this passage Byron's _Don Juan_, VIII., cxxxi., cxxxii. - - -RUNO XXX - -175, 187. Literally, "nails." - -185. Pakkanen, Puhurin poika. Frost, the son of the North Wind. - -389. The unmanly lamentations of the heroes over a fate that has not -befallen them may remind us of Grimm's story of "Die kluge Else." It -will also be noticed that the heroes are only concerned about their -mothers; and Tiera has as little thought for his virgin bride as -Lemminkainen has for Kyllikki. - - -RUNO XXXI - -1. The tragedy of Kullervo is the favourite episode of the _Kalevala_ in -Finland, next to that of Aino. The preamble (lines 1-10) is the same as -the opening of the Esthonian _Kalevipoeg_. The story of the Esthonian -hero, though he was a king and not a slave, resembles that of Kullervo -in so many respects that he must have been the same character -originally. - -19. I think the change of style, indicative of different authorship, in -this episode is sufficiently obvious even in a translation. Many words -used here do not occur earlier in the poem. - -91-96. The same story is told of the infant Kalevipoeg. - -107. Esthonians call dwarfs "Ox-knee people"; _i. e._ people as high as -an ox's knee. - -137. Like Simple Simon. - -337. It is obvious that some of the youthful exploits of Kwasind -(slightly varied, after Longfellow's manner) are imitated from those of -Kullervo. (Compare also Runo XXXV., 11-68.) - - -RUNO XXXII - -24. The rye-bread, on which the Finnish peasants largely subsist, is -described as baked in very hard round loaves, like quoits, which are -strung on a pole. But Kullervo's cake seems to have been prepared to -look nice on the outside. - -156-162. Does this refer to stories of witches milking cattle? - -206. Of juniper wood. - -498. Literally, an apple-berry. Probably a small crab-apple is intended. - -513. I think wolves are here intended, not dogs. - -533. In the Esthonian story of the Northern Frog, the monster is secured -by an iron stake driven through the jaws. (Kirby's _Hero of Esthonia_, -II., 253, 256.) - -542. These elaborate and ineffectual prayers and incantations may be -compared with the prayers of Achilles for the safety of Patroclus, in -_Iliad_, XVI. - - -RUNO XXXIII - -40. Wheat is used in the folk-songs as a term of endearment. (K. K.) - -61, 62. The Esthonian Kalevipoeg was constantly instructed by the voice -of birds. - -285-290. In Esthonia this episode occurs in the story of the Royal -Herdboy. (_Hero of Esthonia_, I., pp. 279-305.) - - -RUNO XXXV - -2. Are blue stockings supposed to be an emblem of strength? Ukko is also -represented as wearing them. - -29. "All with incredible stupendous force, - None daring to appear antagonist." (Milton.) - -65. As Kalervo appears to have been a chief in his own right, it not -very clear why, or to whom, he had to pay taxes. - -107, 108. The lake of course was frozen. - -153. As in several other instances in the _Kalevala_, this does not -appear to be abduction in the modern sense, but merely marriage by -capture. - -214. There is another celebrated poem written by a Finn, but in Swedish, -Runeberg's _Kong_ (King) _Fjalar_, in which a similar chance meeting -between a brother and sister forms the principal subject. - -343. Sea-beasts are very rarely mentioned in the _Kalevala_, for nearly -all aquatic animals referred to are lake- or river-fish. Here the -allusion is probably to the story of Jonah. - - -RUNO XXXVI - -80. Literally "the rest of his flesh." Having regard to the supposed -powers of Finnish magicians, this passage is not to be taken merely as -an impudent rejoinder, but as asserting powers which Kullervo actually -claimed to be able to exert. - -307. In an old English romance we read concerning the suicide of a -sorcerer, "The ground whereon he died was ever afterwards unfortunate, -and to this present time it is called in that country, 'a vale of -walking spirits.'" (_Seven Champions of Christendom_, Part I., chap. -xix.) - -327. This reminds us of Sir Peter's "Sword of Vengeance." (Prior's -_Danish Ballads_, I., pp. 269-275.) - -341. The Esthonian Kalevipoeg was also slain, like Kullervo, by his own -sword. (_Hero of Esthonia_, I., pp. 140, 141.) - - -RUNO XXXVII - -56. Literally, their hatless shoulders. - -61. Compare the account of the forging of the Sampo in Runo X. - - -RUNO XXXVIII - -94. This might allude to the Viking practice of carving the Blood-Eagle -on the backs of enemies; but Prof. Krohn remarks that this was unknown -in Finland. - -255. Here it seems that the mere fact of Ilmarinen having carried off -the girl, even against her will, was enough to constitute her his lawful -wife. - -273. Ilmarinen's sword was less bloodthirsty than that of Kullervo; but -it will be noticed that there is as little real chivalry in the -_Kalevala_ generally as in old Scandinavian literature. - - -RUNO XL - -274. Literally, "at the tips of my ten nails." - - -RUNO XLI - -238. Similar incidents are common in folktales. The reader will -recollect the decoration of Mama, the Woodpecker. (_Hiawatha_, IX.) - - -RUNO XLII - -1-3. Here again we notice a difference of expression, indicating a -different authorship. - -52. "Mistress of the mighty spell." (Southey.) - -146. Compare Runo XX., lines 17-118. - -295. Literally, his finger-bones. - -403. Perhaps the cap had ear-flaps to be worn in bad weather. - - -RUNO XLIII - -37, 38. This seems to be meant ironically. - -115-120. This, or something similar, is a common device for impeding a -pursuer in European fairy tales. - -177. Pohjan eukko. Another epithet for Louhi. - -383, 384. The Sampo being not only an unfailing corn, salt, and -money-mill, but a palladium of general prosperity, Pohjola would -naturally fall into famine and misery when nothing remained but an -almost worthless fragment of the cover. It is possible that the story -may refer to some great and permanent change for the worse of the -climate of the North; either during the storms and earthquakes of the -fourteenth century, which would connect it with the plague described in -Runo XLV.; or perhaps to a much earlier period, when, as old Persian -books tell us, the climate of some part of Asia (?) was changed from -nine months summer and three months winter, to nine months winter and -three months summer. - - -RUNO XLV - -41. Loviatar represents the evil and destructive powers of Nature, as -opposed to the beneficent powers, represented in the _Kalevala_ under -the twin aspects of Ilmatar and Marjatta. - -117. This speech or invocation is not addressed to Loviatar, but -apparently to some goddess similar to the Roman Lucina. - -168. Dr. Russell says that the itch was more dreaded than the plague in -Aleppo in the eighteenth century. - -181. Pestilence has often been attributed to the anger of gods or -demons; and Finland suffered severely from plague till well into the -eighteenth century. But I am inclined to regard the plague described -here as the Black Death, which must have ravaged Finland about 1350. - -269, 282, 283. All these names have nearly the same significance, and -might be rendered by "Dolores, our Lady of Pain." - - -RUNO XLVI - -13, 14. The pestilence having abated at the approach of winter, the wild -beasts naturally overran the devastated country. So I would interpret -this passage. - -25. Literally, three feathers, but the commentary gives the meaning -adopted above. - -81. For an account of bear-hunting in Finland, compare Acerbi's _Voyage -to the North Cape_, I., pp. 288, 289. - -168. Tapio is the lord of the forest here alluded to, according to the -commentary. - -246. The word here rendered "charge" literally means "bundle" or -"package." - -313. Probably the Danish Sound. - -377. A honeyed forest perhaps means a forest abounding in honey-dew. - -565, 566. These lines are rather musical: - - Kuuluvilla karjan kellon, - Luona tiukujen tirinaen. - - -RUNO XLVII - -15, 16. There is a Finnish ballad relating how the sun and moon were -stolen by German and Esthonian sorcerers, and recovered by the son of -Jumala. (_Kanteletar_, III., 2; translated by Mr. C. J. Billson, -_Folklore_, VI., 343, 344.) - -37. Compare the story of Maui stealing the fire in New Zealand legends. - -128. Lake Ladoga seems to be intended. - -233. Does this refer to tides? Tides can hardly be known in Finland, -except by hearsay; the Baltic itself is almost tideless. - - -RUNO XLVIII - -137, 138. Neptune's trident? - -169. Here a different epithet is applied to Vaeinaemoeinen. - -283. Probably _Polyporus igniarius_ or _P. fomentarius_, both of which -are much used for tinder. - -302. He appears to have thought that Panu was in league with the Fire. - - -RUNO XLIX - -83. This is Rhabdomancy, or divination by rods. - -417. Literally, at the end of our thumbs. - - -RUNO L - -1. Marjatta korea kuopus. - -Literally, Marjatta the elegant darling; an expression occurring nowhere -else in the _Kalevala_. The story in the present Runo seems to exhibit a -veneer of Christianity over Shaman legends. Even the name Marjatta, -notwithstanding its resemblance to Maria, seems to be really derived -from the word marja, a berry. An old writer says that the favourite -deities of the Finns in his time were Vaeinaemoeinen and the Virgin Mary. - -188. That is, a criminal who deserves to be burnt at the stake. - -199, 200. She already recognizes her unborn son as an Avatar. - -289. The word here rendered "hapless" properly means "little." - -465. This is the only passage in the _Kalevala_ in which Vaeinaemoeinen is -spoken of as ever having been young; though he is occasionally called -young in variants. - -465-468. This passage apparently alludes to Vaeinaemoeinen having sent -Ilmarinen to Pohjola by a trick. - -471-474. This must allude either to the fate of Aino, or to some story -not included in the _Kalevala_. - -501. In Esthonian legends, Vanemuine is not an Avatar and culture-hero, -but the God of Music, who withdrew from men on account of the ribaldry -with which some of his hearers received his divine songs. (_Hero of -Esthonia_, II., pp. 80-85.) Longfellow also makes Hiawatha depart in a -boat after the conclusion of his mission. - -613, 614. These expressions remind us of the Buddha "breaking down the -rafters and the roof-tree" preparatory to reaching Nirvano. - - - - -GLOSSARY OF FINNISH NAMES - -(The dotted vowels are included with the others.) - - -AHAVA, _the cold spring East Wind_. - -AHTI, _a name of Lemminkainen_. - -AHTO, _the God of the Sea and of the Waters_. - -AHTOLA, _the dominions of Ahto_. - -AeIJOe, _the father of Iku-Turso_. - -AINIKKI, _Lemminkainen's sister_. - -AINO, _a Lapp maiden, Joukahainen's sister_. - -ALUE, _name of a lake_. - -ANNIKKI, _Ilmarinen's sister_. - -ANTERO VIPUNEN, _a primeval giant or Titan, whom some commentators - suppose to be the same as Kaleva_. - - -ETELAeTAeR, _the goddess of the South Wind_. - - -HAeLLAePJOeRAe, _name of a waterfall_. - -HAeME, _Tavastland_. - -HERMIKKI (SINEWY), _name of a cow_. - -HIISI, _the same as Lempo, the Evil Power, somewhat resembling the - Scandinavian Loki in character. His name is often used as a term of - reprobation_. - -HIITOLA, _the dominions of Hiisi_. - -HONGATAR, _the goddess of the Fir-trees_. - -HORNA (HELL), _name of a mountain_. - - -IKU-TURSO, _a water-giant; the name is doubtless connected with the - Icelandic word Thurs, which means a giant, and which is also the name - of the letter þ, called þa in Old English_. - -ILMA (AIR), _name of Ilmarinen's homestead_. - -ILMARI, } - } _the primeval smith; still used as a proper name in -ILMARINEN, } Finland_. - -ILMATAR, _the Daughter of the Air; the Creatrix of the world, and the - mother of Vaeinaemoeinen_. - -ILPOTAR, _a name of Louhi_. - -IMATRA, _the great falls or rapids in the river Vuoksi_. - -INGERLAND, _usually known as Ingermanland_. - - -JOUKAHAINEN, } - } _a young Laplander_. -JOUKO, } - -JOUKOLA, _the land of Joukahainen_. - -JUMALA, OR UKKO, _God_. - -JUOTIKKI (DRINKER), _name of a cow_. - -JUUTAS, _a name probably derived from Judas. It is used as a name for - Hiisi, and also as a term of reprobation_. - - -KAATRAKOSKI, _name of a waterfall_. - -KALERVO, _a chieftain, the brother of Untamo, and the father of - Kullervo_. - -KALERVOINEN, _epithet of Kullervo_. - -KALEVA, _the ancestor of the heroes, who does not appear in person in - the Kalevala_. - -KALEVALA, _the land of Kaleva_. - -KALEVALAINEN, _a descendant of Kaleva_. - -KALEVATAR, OR OSMOTAR, _the daughter of Kaleva_. - -KALMA, _Death personified; he is more often called Tuoni or Mana_. - -KAMMO, _a rock, the father of Kimmo_. - -KANKAHATAR, _the goddess of Weaving_. - -KANTELE, _the Finnish harp or zither_. - -KANTELETAR, _the Daughter of the Harp; name given by Loennrot to his - published collection of Finnish ballads_. - -KARJALA, _Carelia_. - -KATAJATAR, _the nymph of the Juniper_. - -KAUKO, } - } -KAUKOLAINEN, } _Names of Lemminkainen_. - } -KAUKOMIELI, } - -KAUPPI, _a Laplander, skilled in making snowshoes_. - -KEITOLAINEN, _the Contemptible One, one of the names of the Evil Power_. - -KEMI, _name of a river_. - -KIMMO, (1) _a stone_; (2) _name of a cow_. - -KIPUTYTTOe, _Maiden of Pain_. - -KIRJO (_variegated, or dappled_), _name of a cow_. - -KIVUTAR, _Daughter of Pain_. - -KUIPPANA, _a name of Tapio_. - -KULLERVO, } - } _a hero, the son of Kalervo_. -KULLERVOINEN, } - -KUURA, _a name of Tiera_. - -KUUTAR, _the Daughter of the Moon_. - -KYLLI, } - } _a maiden of Saari, whom Lemminkainen carries off and -KYLLIKKI, } marries_. - - -LEMMINKAINEN, _a reckless adventurer_. - -LEMPI (LOVE), _the father of Lemminkainen_. - -LEMPO, or HIISI, _the Evil Power_. - -LOKKA, _the mother of Ilmarinen_. - -LOUHI, _the Mistress of Pohjola_. - -LOVIATAR, _one of the daughters of Tuoni, and the mother of the - Plagues_. - -LUONNOTAR, _Daughter of Creation, a name applied to Ilmatar, and other - celestial goddesses_. - -LUOTOLA, _name of a bay_. - -LYYLIKKI, _a name of Kauppi_. - - -MAIRIKKI, _name of a cow_. - -MANA, or TUONI, _the God of Hades_. - -MANALA, or TUONELA, _Hades_. - -MANALAINEN = _Mana_. - -MANALATAR, _Daughter of Mana_. - -MANSIKKA (STRAWBERRY), _name of a cow_. - -MARJATTA, _the mother of Vaeinaemoeinen's supplanter. She is usually - identified with the Virgin Mary_. - -MAeRKAeHATTU (WET-HAT), _name or epithet of a cow-herd who has been - exposed to the rain_. - -MELATAR, _the goddess of the Rudder_. - -METSOLA, _the Woodlands, from metsa, a forest_. - -MIELIKKI, _the Mistress of the Forests, the spouse of Tapio_. - -MIMERKKI, _a name of Mielikki_. - -MUSTI (BLACKIE), _a dog's name_. - -MUURIKKI (BLACKIE), _name of a cow_. - - -NYYRIKKI, _the son of Tapio_. - - -OSMO, _a name of Kaleva_. - -OSMOLA = _Kalevala_. - -OSMOINEN, _an epithet of Vaeinaemoeinen_. - -OSMOTAR, _the daughter of Osmo_. - -OTAVA, _the constellation of the Great Bear_. - -OTSO, _pet name for the bear_. - - -PAHALAINEN (THE WICKED ONE), _a name of the Evil Power_. - -PAeIVAeTAeR, _the Daughter of the Sun_. - -PAKKANEN, _the personified Frost_. - -PALVONEN, _apparently the same as Tuuri_. - -PANU, _the son of the Sun_. - -PELLERVOINEN, _vide Sampsa_. - -PIHLAJATAR, _the nymph of the Mountain-Ash tree_. - -PILTTI, _the handmaid of Marjatta_. - -PIMENTOLA, _a name of Pohjola_. - -PISA, _name of a mountain_. - -POHJA, _the North_. - -POHJOLA, _the North Country_; (_a_) _A dark and dismal country to the - north of Lapland, but sometimes identified with Lapland itself_; - (_b_) _The castle or homestead of Louhi, to which the name of the - country itself was applied_. - -PUHURI, _the North Wind_. - -PUOLUKKA (CRANBERRY), _name of a cow_. - - -RUOTUS, _the headman of a village_. (_Herod, according to the - commentators._) - -RUTJA, _a cataract, said to be the same as Turja_. - - -SAARELAINEN (THE ISLANDER), _an epithet of Lemminkainen_. - -SAARI, _an island, especially the island now called Kronstadt_. - -SAMPO, _a magic corn, salt and coin-mill_. - -SAMPSA PELLERVOINEN, _the genius of agriculture_ (_from pellon or pelto, a - field_), _the servant or agent of Vaeinaemoeinen_. - -SARA } - } _names of Pohjola_. -SARIOLA } - -SAVO (SAVOLAKS), _a province of Finland_. - -SIMA, _a Sound in Pohjola_. - -SINETAR, _a nymph who colours flowers blue_. - -"SOTKO'S DAUGHTERS"; _the protecting nymphs of ducks_. - -SUOMI, _Finland_. - -SUONETAR, _the nymph of the veins_. - -SURMA, _Death, or the God of Death_. - -SUOVAKKO, _name of an old woman_. - -SUVANTOLA (_the land of still waters_), _a name of Vaeinoelae_. - -SUVANTOLAINEN, _an epithet of Vaeinaemoeinen_. - -SUVETAR, _the goddess of Summer_. - -SYOeJAeTAeR, _an ogress, the mother of the serpents_. - -SYOeTIKKI (EATER), _name of a cow_. - - -TAMMATAR, _the goddess of the oak tree_. - -TANIKA, _name of the builder of a castle_. - -TAPIO, _the God of the Forests_. - -TAPIOLA, _the dominions of Tapio_. - -TELLERVO, _the daughter of Tapio, but in some passages apparently - identified with Mielikki_. - -TERHENETAR, _the goddess of the Clouds_. - -TIERA, _Lemminkainen's comrade in arms_. - -TUOMETAR, _the goddess of the Bird Cherry_. - -TUOMIKKI, _name of a cow_. - -TUONELA, or MANALA, _Hades_. - -TUONETAR, _the daughter of Tuoni_. - -TUONI, or MANA, _the God of Hades_. - -TUORIKKI, _name of a cow_. - -TURJA, _Lapland; also name of a cataract_. - -TURJALAINEN, _a Laplander_. - -TURSAS, _vide Iki-Turso_. - -TUULIKKI, _a daughter of Tapio_. - -TUURI, _the builder of a house where honey is stored_. - - -UKKO (OLD MAN), _usually identified with Jumala, the God of Heaven, with - special authority over the clouds_. - -ULAPPALA (_the country of the open sea_), _apparently the same as - Tuonela_. - -UNTAMO } - } (_a_) _the god of Sleep and Dreams;_ (_b_) _a turbulent -UNTAMOINEN, } chieftain, the brother of Kalervo_. - -UNTAMOLA, _the dominions of Untamo; sometimes used for Untamo himself_. - -UNTO, _short for Untamo_. - -UNTOLA, _the dominions of Unto_. - -UVANTO } - } _names of Vaeinaemoeinen_. -UVANTOLAINEN } - - -VAeINAeMOeINEN, _the primeval minstrel and culture-hero, the son of Ilmatar_ - (_the name, as pronounced, sounds like Vannamoenen_). - -VAeINOe, _short for Vaeinaemoeinen_. - -VAeINOeLAe, _the dominions of Vaeinaemoeinen_ (=_Kalevala_.) - -VAMMATAR, _the Daughter of Evil_. - -VELLAMO, _the goddess of the Sea and of the Waters, the spouse of Ahto_. - -VIPUNEN, _vide Antero Vipunen_. - -VIRO, _Esthonia_. - -VIROKANNAS, _used as a proper name; apparently meaning the Wise - Esthonian_. - -VUOJALAINEN, _a name of Lyylikki_. - -VUOKSI, _an important river which flows into Lake Ladoga_. - - -THE END - - -RICHARD CLAY & SONS, LIMITED, -BREAD STREET HILL, E.C., AND -BUNGAY, SUFFOLK. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Kalevala, Volume II (of 2), by Anonymous - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK KALEVALA, VOLUME II (OF 2) *** - -***** This file should be named 33089.txt or 33089.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/3/3/0/8/33089/ - -Produced by Kathryn Lybarger, Brian Janes, Christine -Aldridge and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -http://www.pgdp.net - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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