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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/5184-8.txt b/5184-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..746772d --- /dev/null +++ b/5184-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,13992 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Kalevala: the Epic Poem of Finland -- +Volume 01, by Elias Lönnrot + +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: the Epic Poem of Finland -- Volume 01 + +Author: Elias Lönnrot + +Translator: John Martin Crawford + +Posting Date: September 20, 2010 [EBook #5184] +Release Date: February, 2004 +First Posted: May 31, 2002 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK KALEVALA: EPIC POEM OF FINLAND *** + + + + +Produced by John B. Hare and Carrie R. Lorenz. + + + + + + + + +THE KALEVALA + +THE + +EPIC POEM OF FINLAND + +INTO ENGLISH + +BY + +JOHN MARTIN CRAWFORD + +[1888] + + +TO + +DR. J.D. BUCK, + +AN ENCOURAGING AND UNSELFISH FRIEND, +AND TO +HIS AFFECTIONATE FAMILY, + +THESE PAGES +ARE GRATEFULLY INSCRIBED. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + + PREFACE + + PROEM + RUNE I. Birth of Wainamoinen + RUNE II. Wainamoinen's Sowing + RUNE III. Wainamoinen and Youkahainen + RUNE IV. The Fate of Aino + RUNE V. Wainamoinen's Lamentation + RUNE VI. Wainamoinen's Hapless Journey + RUNE VII. Wainamoinen's Rescue + RUNE VIII. Maiden of the Rainbow + RUNE IX. Origin of Iron + RUNE X. Ilmarinen forges the Sampo + RUNE XI. Lemminkainen's Lament + RUNE XII. Kyllikki's Broken Vow + RUNE XIII. Lemminkainen's Second Wooing + RUNE XIV. Death of Lemminkainen + RUNE XV. Lemminkainen's Restoration + RUNE XVI. Wainainoinen's Boat-building + RUNE XVII. Wainamoinen finds the Lost Word + RUNE XVIII. The Rival Suitors + RUNE XIX. Ilmarinen's Wooing + RUNE XX. The Brewing of Beer + RUNE XXI. Ilmarinen's Wedding-feast + RUNE XXII. The Bride's Farewell + RUNE XXIII. Osmotar, the Bride-adviser + RUNE XXIV. The Bride's Farewell + RUNE XXV. Wainamoinen's Wedding-songs + RUNE XXVI. Origin of the Serpent + RUNE XXVII. The Unwelcome Guest + RUNE XXVIII. The Mother's Counsel + RUNE XXIX. The Isle of Refuge + RUNE XXX. The Frost-fiend + RUNE XXXI. Kullerwoinen, Son of Evil + RUNE XXXII. Kullervo as a Shepherd + RUNE XXXIII. Kullervo and the Cheat-cake + RUNE XXXIV. Kullervo finds his Tribe-folk + RUNE XXXV. Kullervo's Evil Deeds + RUNE XXXVI. Kullerwoinen's Victory and Death + RUNE XXXVII Ilmarinen's Bride of Gold + RUNE XXXVIII. Ilmarinen's Fruitless Wooing + RUNE XXXIX. Wainamoinen's Sailing + RUNE XL. Birth of the Harp + RUNE XLI. Wainamoinen's Harp-songs + RUNE XLII. Capture of the Sampo + RUNE XLIII. The Sampo lost in the Sea + RUNE XLIV. Birth of the Second Harp + RUNE XLV. Birth of the Nine Diseases + RUNE XLVI. Otso the Honey-eater + RUNE XLVII. Louhi steals Sun, Moon, and Fire + RUNE XLVIII. Capture of the Fire-fish + RUNE XLIX. Restoration of the Sun and Moon + RUNE L. Mariatta--Wainamoinen's Departure + + EPILOGUE + + + + +PREFACE. + + +The following translation was undertaken from a desire to lay before +the English-speaking people the full treasury of epical beauty, +folklore, and mythology comprised in The Kalevala, the national epic of +the Finns. A brief description of this peculiar people, and of their +ethical, linguistic, social, and religious life, seems to be called for +here in order that the following poem may be the better understood. + +Finland (Finnish, Suomi or Suomenmaa, the swampy region, of which +Finland, or Fen-land is said to be a Swedish translation,) is at +present a Grand-Duchy in the north-western part of the Russian empire, +bordering on Olenetz, Archangel, Sweden, Norway, and the Baltic Sea, +its area being more than 144,000 square miles, and inhabited by some +2,000,000 of people, the last remnants of a race driven back from the +East, at a very early day, by advancing tribes. The Finlanders live in +a land of marshes and mountains, lakes and rivers, seas, gulfs, +islands, and inlets, and they call themselves Suomilainen, +Fen-dwellers. The climate is more severe than that of Sweden. The +mean yearly temperature in the north is about 27°F., and about 38°F., at +Helsingfors, the capital of Finland. In the southern districts the +winter is seven months long, and in the northern provinces the sun +disappears entirely during the months of December and January. + +The inhabitants are strong and hardy, with bright, intelligent faces, +high cheek-bones, yellow hair in early life, and with brown hair in +mature age. With regard to their social habits, morals, and manners, +all travellers are unanimous in speaking well of them. Their temper is +universally mild; they are slow to anger, and when angry they keep +silence. They are happy-hearted, affectionate to one another, and +honorable and honest in their dealings with strangers. They are a +cleanly people, being much given to the use of vapor-baths. This trait +is a conspicuous note of their character from their earliest history to +the present day. Often in the runes of The Kalevala reference is made +to the "cleansing and healing virtues of the vapors of the heated +bathroom." + +The skull of the Finn belongs to the brachycephalic (short-headed) +class of Retzius. Indeed the Finn-organization has generally been +regarded as Mongol, though Mongol of a modified type. His color is +swarthy, and his eyes are gray. He is not inhospitable, but not +over-easy of access; nor is he a friend of new fashions. Steady, +careful, laborious, he is valuable in the mine, valuable in the field, +valuable oil shipboard, and, withal, a brave soldier on land. + +The Finns are a very ancient people. It is claimed, too, that they +began earlier than any other European nation to collect and preserve +their ancient folk-lore. Tacitus, writing in the very beginning of the +second century of the Christian era, mentions the Fenni, as he calls +them, in the 46th chapter of his De Moribus Germanoram. He says of +them: "The Finns are extremely wild, and live in abject poverty. They +have no arms, no horses, no dwellings; they live on herbs, they clothe +themselves in skins, and they sleep on the ground. Their only +resources are their arrows, which for the lack of iron are tipped with +bone." Strabo and the great geographer, Ptolemy, also mention this +curious people. There is evidence that at one time they were spread +over large portions of Europe and western Asia. + +Perhaps it should be stated here that the copper, so often mentioned in +The Kalevala, when taken literally, was probably bronze, or "hardened +copper," the amount and quality of the alloy used being not now known. +The prehistoric races of Europe were acquainted with bronze implements. + +It may be interesting to note in this connection that Canon Isaac +Taylor, and Professor Sayce have but very recently awakened great +interest in this question, in Europe especially, by the reading of +papers before the British Philological Association, in which they argue +in favor of the Finnic origin of the Aryans. For this new theory these +scholars present exceedingly strong evidence, and they conclude that +the time of the separation of the Aryan from the Finnic stock must have +been more than five thousand years ago. + +The Finnish nation has one of the most sonorous and flexible of +languages. Of the cultivated tongues of Europe, the Magyar, or +Hungarian, bears the most positive signs of a deep-rooted similarity to +the Finnish. Both belong to the Ugrian stock of agglutinative +languages, i.e., those which preserve the root most carefully, and +effect all changes of grammar by suffixes attached to the original +stein. Grimin has shown that both Gothic and Icelandic present traces +of Finnish influence. + +The musical element of a language, the vowels, are well developed in +Finnish, and their due sequence is subject to strict rules of euphony. +The dotted o; (equivalent to the French eu) of the first syllable must +be followed by an e or an i. The Finnish, like all Ugrian tongues, +admits rhyme, but with reluctance, and prefers alliteration. Their +alphabet consists of but nineteen letters, and of these, b, c, d, f, g, +are found only in a few foreign words, and many others are never found +initial. + +One of the characteristic features of this language, and one that is +likewise characteristic of the Magyar, Turkish, Mordvin, and other +kindred tongues, consists in the frequent use of endearing diminutives. + By a series of suffixes to the names of human beings, birds, fishes, +trees, plants, stones, metals, and even actions, events, and feelings, +diminutives are obtained, which by their form, present the names so +made in different colors; they become more naive, more childlike, +eventually more roguish, or humorous, or pungent. These traits can +scarcely be rendered in English; for, as Robert Ferguson remarks: "The +English language is not strong in diminutives, and therefore it lacks +some of the most effective means for the expression of affectionate, +tender, and familiar relations." In this respect all translations from +the Finnish into English necessarily must fall short of the original. +The same might be said of the many emotional interjections in which the +Finnish, in common with all Ugrian dialects, abounds. With the +exception of these two characteristics of the Ugrian languages, the +chief beauties of the Finnish verse admit of an apt rendering into +English. The structure of the sentences is very simple indeed, and +adverbs and adjectives are used sparingly. + +Finnish is the language of a people who live pre-eminently close to +nature, and are at home amongst the animals of the wilderness, beasts +and birds, winds, and woods, and waters, falling snows, and flying +sands, and rolling rocks, and these are carefully distinguished by +corresponding verbs of ever-changing acoustic import. Conscious of the +fact that, in a people like the Finns where nature and nature-worship +form the centre of all their life, every word connected with the powers +and elements of nature must be given its fall value, great care has +been taken in rendering these finely shaded verbs. A glance at the +mythology of this interesting people will place the import of this +remark in better view. + +In the earliest age of Suomi, it appears that the people worshiped the +conspicuous objects in nature under their respective, sensible forms. +All beings were persons. The Sun, Moon, Stars, the Earth, the Air, and +the Sea, were to the ancient Finns, living, self-conscious beings. +Gradually the existence of invisible agencies and energies was +recognized, and these were attributed to superior persons who lived +independent of these visible entities, but at the same time were +connected with them. The basic idea in Finnish mythology seems to lie +in this: that all objects in nature are governed by invisible deities, +termed haltiat, regents or genii. These haltiat, like members of the +human family, have distinctive bodies and spirits; but the minor ones +are somewhat immaterial and formless, and their existences are entirely +independent of the objects in which they are particularly interested. +They are all immortal, but they rank according to the relative +importance of their respective charges. The lower grades of the +Finnish gods are sometimes subservient to the deities of greater +powers, especially to those who rule respectively the air, the water, +the field, and the forest. Thus, Pilajatar, the daughter of the aspen, +although as divine as Tapio, the god of the woodlands, is necessarily +his servant. + One of the most notable characteristics of the Finnish mythology is +the interdependence among the gods. "Every deity", says Castren, +"however petty he may be, rules in his own sphere as a substantial, +independent power, or, to speak in the spirit of The Kalevala, as a +self-ruling householder. The god of the Polar-star only governs an +insignificant spot in the vault of the sky, but on this spot he knows +no master." + +The Finnish deities, like the ancient gods of Italy and Greece, are +generally represented in pairs, and all the gods are probably wedded. +They have their individual abodes and are surrounded by their +respective families. The Primary object of worship among the early +Finns was most probably the visible sky with its sun, moon, and stars, +its aurora-lights, its thunders and its lightnings. The heavens +themselves were thought divine. Then a personal deity of the heavens, +coupled with the name of his abode, was the next conception; finally +this sky-god was chosen to represent the supreme Ruler. To the sky, +the sky-god, and the supreme God, the term Jumala (thunder-home) was +given. + +In course of time, however, when the Finns came to have more purified +ideas about religion, they called the sky Taivas and the sky-god Ukko. +The word, Ukko, seems related to the Magyar Agg, old, and meant, +therefore, an old being, a grandfather; but ultimately it came to be +used exclusively as the name of the highest of the Finnish deities. +Frost, snow, hail, ice, wind and rain, sunshine and shadow, are thought +to come from the hands of Ukko. He controls the clouds; he is called +in The Kalevala, "The Leader of the Clouds," "The Shepherd of the +Lamb-Clouds," "The God of the Breezes," "The Golden King," "The Silvern +Ruler of the Air," and "The Father of the Heavens." He wields the +thunder-bolts, striking down the spirits of evil on the mountains, and +is therefore termed, "The Thunderer," like the Greek Zeus, and his +abode is called, "The Thunder-Home." Ukko is often represented as +sitting upon a cloud in the vault of the sky, and bearing on his +shoulders the firmament, and therefore he is termed, "The Pivot of the +Heavens." He is armed as an omnipotent warrior; his fiery arrows are +forged from copper, the lightning is his sword, and the rainbow his +bow, still called Ukkon Kaari. Like the German god, Thor, Ukko swings +a hammer; and, finally, we find, in a vein of familiar symbolism, that +his skirt sparkles with fire, that his stockings are blue, and his +shoes, crimson colored. + +In the following runes, Ukko here and there interposes. Thus, when the +Sun and Moon were stolen from the heavens, and hidden away in a cave of +the copper-bearing mountain, by the wicked hostess of the dismal +Sariola, he, like Atlas in the mythology of Greece, relinquishes the +support of the heavens, thunders along the borders of the darkened +clouds, and strikes fire from his sword to kindle a new sun and a new +moon. Again, when Lemminkainen is hunting the fire-breathing horse of +Piru, Ukko, invoked by the reckless hero, checks the speed of the +mighty courser by opening the windows of heaven, and showering upon him +flakes of snow, balls of ice, and hailstones of iron. Usually, +however, Ukko prefers to encourage a spirit of independence among his +worshipers. Often we find him, in the runes, refusing to heed the call +of his people for help, as when Ilmatar, the daughter of the air, +vainly invoked him to her aid, that Wainamoinen, already seven hundred +years unborn, might be delivered. So also Wainamoinen beseeches Ukko +in vain to check the crimson streamlet flowing from his knee wounded by +an axe in the hands of Hisi. Ukko, however, with all his power, is by +no means superior to the Sun, Moon, and other bodies dwelling in the +heavens; they are uninfluenced by him, and are considered deities in +their own right. Thus, Paeivae means both sun and sun-god; Kun means +moon and moon-god; and Taehti and Ottava designate the Polar-star and +the Great Bear respectively, as well as the deities of these bodies. + +The Sun and the Moon have each a consort, and sons, and daughters. Two +sons only of Paeivae appear in The Kalevala, one comes to aid +Wainamoinen in his efforts to destroy the mystic Fire-fish, by throwing +from the heavens to the girdle of the hero, a "magic knife, +silver-edged, and golden-handled;" the other son, Panu, the Fire-child, +brings back to Kalevala the fire that bad been stolen by Louhi, the +wicked hostess of Pohyola. From this myth Castren argues that the +ancient Finns regarded fire as a direct emanation from the Sun. The +daughters of the Sun, Moon, Great Bear, Polar-star, and of the other +heavenly dignitaries, are represented as ever-young and beautiful +maidens, sometimes seated on the bending branches of the forest-trees, +sometimes on the crimson rims of the clouds, sometimes on the rainbow, +sometimes on the dome of heaven. These daughters are believed to be +skilled to perfection in the arts of spinning and weaving, +accomplishments probably attributed to them from the fanciful likeness +of the rays of light to the warp of the weaver's web. + +The Sun's career of usefulness and beneficence in bringing light and +life to Northland is seldom varied. Occasionally he steps from his +accustomed path to give important information to his suffering +worshipers. For example, when the Star and the Moon refuse the +information, the Sun tells the Virgin Mariatta, where her golden infant +lies bidden. + + + "Yonder is thy golden infant, + There thy holy babe lies sleeping, + Hidden to his belt in water, + Hidden in the reeds and rushes." + + +Again when the devoted mother of the reckless hero, Lemminkainen, +(chopped to pieces by the Sons Of Nana, as in the myth of Osiris) was +raking together the fragments of his body from the river of Tuoui, and +fearing that the sprites of the Death-stream might resent her +intrusion, the Sun, in answer to her entreaties, throws his Powerful +rays upon the dreaded Shades, and sinks them into a deep sleep, while +the mother gathers up the fragments of her son's body in safety. This +rune of the Kalevala is particularly interesting as showing the belief +that the dead can be restored to life through the blissful light of +heaven. + +Among the other deities of the air are the Luonnotars, mystic maidens, +three of whom were created by the rubbing of Ukko's hands upon his left +knee. They forthwith walk the crimson borders of the clouds, and one +sprinkles white milk, one sprinkles red milk, and the third sprinkles +black milk over the hills and mountains; thus they become the "mothers +of iron," as related in the ninth rune of The Kalevala. In the highest +regions of the heavens, Untar, or Undutar, has her abode, and presides +over mists and fogs. These she passes through a silver sieve before +sending them to the earth. There are also goddesses of the winds, one +especially noteworthy, Suvetar (suve, south, summer), the goddess of +the south-wind. She is represented as a kind-hearted deity, healing +her sick and afflicted followers with honey, which she lets drop from +the clouds, and she also keeps watch over the herds grazing in the +fields and forests. +Second only to air, water is the element held most in reverence by the +Finns and their kindred tribes. "It could hardly be otherwise," says +Castren, "for as soon as the soul of the savage began to suspect that +the godlike is spiritual, super-sensual, then, even though he continues +to pay reverence to matter, he in general values it the more highly the +less compact it is. He sees on the one hand how easy it is to lose his +life on the surging waves, and on the other, he sees that from these +same waters he is nurtured, and his life prolonged." Thus it is that +the map of Finland is to this day full of names like Pyhojarvi (sacred +lake) and Pyhajoki (sacred river). Some of the Finlanders still offer +goats and calves to these sacred waters; and many of the Ugrian clans +still sacrifice the reindeer to the river Ob. In Esthonia is a +rivulet, Vohanda, held in such reverence that until very recently, none +dared to fell a tree or cut a shrub in its immediate vicinity, lest +death should overtake the offender within a year, in punishment for his +sacrilege. The lake, Eim, is still held sacred by the Esthonians, and +the Eim-legend is thus told by F. Thiersch, quoted also by Grimm and by +Mace da Charda: + + +"Savage, evil men dwelt by its borders. They neither mowed the meadows +which it watered, nor sowed the fields which it made fruitful, but +robbed and murdered, insomuch that its clear waves grew dark with the +blood of the slaughtered men. Then did the lake Him mourn, and one +evening it called together all its fishes, and rose aloft with them +into the air. When the robbers heard the sound, they exclaimed: 'Eim +hath arisen; let us gather its fishes and treasures.' But the fishes +had departed with the lake, and nothing was found on the bottom but +snakes, and lizards, and toads. And Eim rose higher, and higher, and +hastened through the air like a white cloud. And the hunters in the +forest said: 'What bad weather is coming on!' The herdsmen said: 'What +a white swan is flying above there!' For the whole night the lake +hovered among the stars, and in the morning the reapers beheld it +sinking. And from the swan grew a white ship, and from the ship a dark +train of clouds; and a voice came from the waters: 'Get thee hence with +thy harvest, for I will dwell beside thee.' Then they bade the lake +welcome, if it would only bedew their fields and meadows; and it sank +down and spread itself out in its home to the full limits. Then the +lake made all the neighborhood fruitful, and the fields became green, +and the people danced around it, so that the old men grew joyous as the +youth." + + +The chief water-god is Ahto, on the etymology of which the Finnish +language throws little light. It is curiously like Ahti, another name +for the reckless Lemminkainen. This water-god, or "Wave-host," as he +is called, lives with his "cold and cruel-hearted spouse," Wellamo, at +the bottom of the sea, in the chasms of the Salmon-rocks, where his +palace, Ahtola, is constructed. Besides the fish that swim in his +dominions, particularly the salmon, the trout, the whiting, the perch, +the herring, and the white-fish, he possesses a priceless treasure in +the Sampo, the talisman of success, which Louhi, the hostess of +Pohyola, dragged into the sea in her efforts to regain it from the +heroes of Kalevala. Ever eager for the treasures of others, and +generally unwilling to return any that come into his possession, Ahto +is not incapable of generosity. For example, once when a shepherd lad +was whittling a stick on the bank of a river, he dropped his knife into +the stream. Ahto, as in the fable, "Mercury and the Woodman," moved by +the tears of the unfortunate lad, swam to the scene, dived to the +bottom, brought up a knife of gold, and gave it to the young shepherd. +Innocent and honest, the herd-boy said the knife was not his. Then +Ahto dived again, and brought up a knife of silver, which he gave to +the lad, but this in turn was not accepted. Thereupon the Wave-host +dived again, and the third time brought the right knife to the boy who +gladly recognized his own, and received it with gratitude. To the +shepherd-lad Ahto gave the three knives as a reward for his honesty. + +A general term for the other water-hosts living not only in the sea, +but also in the rivers, lakes, cataracts, and fountains, is Ahtolaiset +(inhabitants of Ahtola), "Water-people," "People of the Foam and +Billow," "Wellamo's Eternal People." Of these, some have specific +names; as Allotar (wave-goddess), Koskenneiti (cataract-maiden), +Melatar (goddess of the helm), and in The Kalevala these are sometimes +personally invoked. Of these minor deities, Pikku Mies (the Pigmy) is +the most noteworthy. Once when the far-outspreading branches of the +primitive oak-tree shut out the light of the sun from Northland, Pikku +Mies, moved by the entreaties of Wainamoinen, emerged from the sea in a +suit of copper, with a copper hatchet in his belt, quickly grew from a +pigmy to a gigantic hero, and felled the mighty oak with the third +stroke of his axe. In general the water-deities are helpful and full +of kindness; some, however, as Wetehilien and Iku-Turso, find their +greatest pleasure in annoying and destroying their fellow-beings. + +Originally the Finlanders regarded the earth as a godlike existence +with personal powers, and represented as a beneficent mother bestowing +peace and plenty on all her worthy worshipers. In evidence of this we +find the names, Maa-emae (mother-earth), and Maan-emo (mother of the +earth), given to the Finnish Demeter. She is always represented as a +goddess of great powers, and, after suitable invocation, is ever +willing and able to help her helpless sufferers. She is according to +some mythologists espoused to Ukko, who bestows upon her children the +blessings of sunshine and rain, as Ge is wedded to Ouranos, Jordh to +Odhin, and Papa to Rangi. + +Of the minor deities of the earth, who severally govern the plants, +such as trees, rye, flax, and barley, Wirokannas only is mentioned in +The Kalevala. Once, for example, this "green robed Priest of the +Forest" abandoned for a time his presidency over the cereals in order +to baptize the infant-son of the Virgin Mariatta. Once again +Wirokannas left his native sphere of action, this time making a most +miserable and ludicrous failure, when he emerged from the wilderness +and attempted to slay the Finnish Taurus, as described in the runes +that follow. The agricultural deities, however, receive but little +attention from the Finns, who, with their cold and cruel winters, and +their short but delightful summers, naturally neglect the cultivation +of the fields, for cattle-raising, fishing, and hunting. + +The forest deities proper, however, are held in high veneration. Of +these the chief is Tapio, "The Forest-Friend," "The Gracious God of the +Woodlands." He is represented as a very tall and slender divinity, +wearing a long, brown board, a coat of tree-moss, and a high-crowned +hat of fir-leaves. His consort is Mielikki, "The Honey-rich Mother of +the Woodland," "The Hostess of the Glen and Forest." When the hunters +were successful she was represented as beautiful and benignant, her +hands glittering with gold and silver ornaments, wearing ear-rings and +garlands of gold, with hair-bands silver-tinseled, on her forehead +strings of pearls, and with blue stockings on her feet, and red strings +in her shoes. But if the game-bag came back empty, she was described +as a hateful, hideous thing, robed in untidy rags, and shod with straw. + She carries the keys to the treasury of Metsola, her husband's abode, +and her bountiful chest of honey, the food of all the forest-deities, +is earnestly sought for by all the weary hunters of Suomi. These +deities are invariably described as gracious and tender-hearted, +probably because they are all females with the exception of Tapio and +his son, Nyrikki, a tall and stately youth who is engaged in building +bridges over marshes and forest-streams, through which the herds must +pass on their way to the woodland-pastures. Nyrikki also busies +himself in blazing the rocks and the trees to guide the heroes to their +favorite hunting-grounds. Sima-suu (honey-mouth), one of the tiny +daughters of Tapio, by playing on her Sima-pilli (honey-flute), also +acts as guide to the deserving hunters. + +Hiisi, the Finnish devil, bearing also the epithets, Juntas, Piru, and +Lempo, is the chief of the forest-demons, and is inconceivably wicked. +He was brought into the world consentaneously with Suoyatar, from whose +spittle, as sung in The Kalevala, he formed the serpent. This demon is +described as cruel, horrible, hideous, and bloodthirsty, and all the +most painful diseases and misfortunes that ever afflict mortals are +supposed to emanate from him. This demon, too, is thought by the +Finlanders to have a hand in all the evil done in the world. + +Turning from the outer world to man, we find deities whose energies are +used only in the domain of human existence. "These deities," says +Castren, "have no dealings with the higher, spiritual nature of man. +All that they do concerns man solely as an object in nature. Wisdom +and law, virtue and justice, find in Finnish mythology no protector +among the gods, who trouble themselves only about the temporal wants of +humanity." The Love-goddess was Sukkamieli (stocking-lover). +"Stockings," says Castren gravely, "are soft and tender things, and the +goddess of love was so called because she interests herself in the +softest and tenderest feelings of the heart." This conception, +however, is as farfetched as it is modern. The Love-deity of the +ancient Finns was Lempo, the evil-demon. It is more reasonable +therefore to suppose that the Finns chose the son of Evil to look after +the feelings of the human heart, because they regarded love as an +insufferable passion, or frenzy, that bordered on insanity, and incited +in some mysterious manner by an evil enchanter. + +Uni is the god of sleep, and is described as a kind-hearted and welcome +deity. Untamo is the god of dreams, and is always spoken of as the +personification of indolence. Munu tenderly looks after the welfare of +the human eye. This deity, to say the least is an oculist of long and +varied experience, in all probability often consulted in Finland +because of the blinding snows and piercing winds of the north. Lemmas +is a goddess in the mythology of the Finns who dresses the wounds of +her faithful sufferers, and subdues their pains. Suonetar is another +goddess of the human frame, and plays a curious and important part in +the restoration to life of the reckless Lemminkainen, as described in +the following runes. She busies herself in spinning veins, and in +sewing up the wounded tissues of such deserving worshipers as need her +surgical skill. + +Other deities associated with the welfare of mankind are the Sinettaret +and Kankahattaret, the goddesses respectively of dyeing and weaving. +Matka-Teppo is their road-god, and busies himself in caring for horses +that are over-worked, and in looking after the interests of weary +travellers. Aarni is the guardian of hidden treasures. This important +office is also filled by a hideous old deity named Mammelainen, whom +Renwall, the Finnish lexicographer, describes as "femina maligna, +matrix serpentis, divitiarum subterranearum custos," a malignant woman, +the mother of the snake, and the guardian of subterranean treasures. +From this conception it is evident that the idea of a kinship between +serpents and hidden treasures frequently met with in the myths of the +Hungarians, Germans, and Slavs, is not foreign to the Finns. + +Nowhere are the inconsistencies of human theory and practice more +curiously and forcibly shown than in the custom in vogue among the +clans of Finland who are not believers in a future life, but, +notwithstanding, perform such funereal ceremonies as the burying in the +graves of the dead, knives, hatchets, spears, bows, and arrows, +kettles, food, clothing, sledges and snow-shoes, thus bearing witness +to their practical recognition of some form of life beyond the grave. +The ancient Finns occasionally craved advice and assistance from the +dead. Thus, as described in The Kalevala, when the hero of Wainola +needed three words of master-magic wherewith to finish the boat in +which he was to sail to win the mystic maiden of Sariola, he first +looked in the brain of the white squirrel, then in the mouth of the +white-swan when dying, but all in vain; then he journeyed to the +kingdom of Tuoni, and failing there, he "struggled over the points of +needles, over the blades of swords, over the edges of hatchets" to the +grave of the ancient wisdom-bard, Antero Wipunen, where he "found the +lost-words of the Master." In this legend of The Kalevala, exceedingly +interesting, instructive, and curious, are found, apparently, the +remote vestiges of ancient Masonry. + +It would seem that the earliest beliefs of the Finns regarding the dead +centred in this: that their spirits remained in their graves until +after the complete disintegration of their bodies, over which Kalma, +the god of the tombs, with his black and evil daughter, presided. +After their spirits had been fully purified, they were then admitted to +the Kingdom of Manala in the under world. Those journeying to Tuonela +were required to voyage over nine seas, and over one river, the Finnish +Styx, black, deep, and violent, and filled with hungry whirlpools, and +angry waterfalls. + +Like Helheim of Scandinavian mythology, Manala, or Tuonela, was +considered as corresponding to the upper world. The Sun and the Moon +visited there; fen and forest gave a home to the wolf, the bear, the +elk, the serpent, and the songbird; the salmon, the whiting, the perch, +and the pike were sheltered in the "coal-black waters of Manala." From +the seed-grains of the death-land fields and forests, the Tuoni-worm +(the serpent) had taken its teeth. Tuoui, or Mana, the god of the +under world, is represented as a hard-hearted, and frightful, old +personage with three iron-pointed fingers on each hand, and wearing a +hat drawn down to his shoulders. As in the original conception of +Hades, Tuoni was thought to be the leader of the dead to their +subterranean home, as well as their counsellor, guardian, and ruler. +In the capacity of ruler he was assisted by his wife, a hideous, +horrible, old witch with "crooked, copper-fingers iron-pointed," with +deformed head and distorted features, and uniformly spoken of in irony +in the Kalevala as "hyva emanta," the good hostess; she feasted her +guests on lizards, worms, toads, and writhing serpents. Tuouen Poika, +"The God of the Red Cheeks," so called because of his bloodthirstiness +and constant cruelties, is the son and accomplice of this merciless and +hideous pair. + +Three daughters of Tuoni are mentioned in the runes, the first of whom, +a tiny, black maiden, but great in wickedness, once at least showed a +touch of human kindness when she vainly urged Wainamoinen not to cross +the river of Tuoui, assuring the hero that while many visit Manala, few +return, because of their inability to brave her father's wrath. +Finally, after much entreaty, she ferried him over the Finnish Styx, +like Charon, the son of Erebus and Nox, in the mythology of Greece. +The second daughter of Tuoni is Lowyatar, black and blind, and is +described as still more malignant and loathsome than the first. +Through the East-wind's impregnation she brought forth the spirits of +the nine diseases most dreaded by mankind, as described in the 45th +Rune of the Kalevala: + + + "Colic, Pleurisy, and Fever. + Ulcer, Plague, and dread Consumption, + Gout, Sterility, and Cancer." + + +The third daughter of Tuoni combines the malevolent and repugnant +attributes of her two sisters, and is represented as the mother and +hostess of the impersonal diseases of mankind. The Finns regarded all +human ailments as evil spirits or indwelling devils, some formless, +others taking the shapes of the most odious forms of animal life, as +worms and mites; the nine, however, described above, were conceived to +have human forms. + +Where the three arms of the Tuoni river meet a frightful rock arises, +called Kipu-Kivi, or Kipuvuori, in a dungeon beneath which the spirits +of all diseases are imprisoned. On this rock the third daughter of +Tuoui sits, constantly whirling it round like a millstone, grinding her +subjects until they escape and go forth to torture and slay the +children of men; as in Hindu mythology, Kali (black) sits in judgment +on the dead. + +Various other spiritual powers than gods and goddesses are held in high +reverence by the Finns. Tontu is represented as a kind-hearted +house-spirit, a sort of diminutive Cyclops, and offerings of bread and +broth are made to him every morning. Putting a mare's collar on one's +neck and walking nine times around a church is thought to be a certain +means of attracting one to the place desired. Para is a mystical, +three-legged being, constructed in many ways, and which, according to +Castren, attains life and action when its possessor, cutting the little +finger of his left hand, lets three drops of blood fall upon it, and at +the same time pronouncing the proper magic word. The possessor, by +whatever means, of this mystic being, is always supplied with abundance +of milk and cheese. The Maahiset are the dwarfs of Finnish mythology. +Their abode is under stumps, trees, blocks, thresholds and +hearth-stones. Though exceedingly minute and invisible to man they +have human forms. They are irritable and resentful, and they punish +with ulcers, tetter, ringworms, pimples, and other cutaneous +affections, all those who neglect them at brewings, bakings, and +feastings. They punish in a similar manner those who enter new houses +without making obeisance to the four corners, and paying them other +kindly attentions; those who live in untidy houses are also likewise +punished. The Kirkonwaeki (church-folk) are little deformed beings +living under the altars of churches. These misshapen things are +supposed to be able to aid their sorrowing and suffering worshipers. + +Certain beasts, and birds, and trees, are held sacred in Finland. In +the Kalevala are evident traces of arctolatry, bear-worship, once very +common among the tribes of the north, Otso, the bear, according to +Finnish mythology, was born on the shoulders of Otava, in the regions +of the sun and moon, and "nursed by a goddess of the woodlands in a +cradle swung by bands of gold between the bending branches of budding +fir-trees." His nurse would not give him teeth and claws until he had +promised never to engage in bloody strife, or deeds of violence. Otso, +however, does not always keep his pledge, and accordingly the hunters +of Finland find it comparatively easy to reconcile their consciences to +his destruction. Otso is called in the runes by many endearing titles +as "The Honey-Eater," "Golden Light-Foot," "The Forest-Apple," +"Honey-Paw of the Mountains," "ThePride of the Thicket," "The Fur-robed +Forest-Friend." Ahava, the West-wind, and Penitar, a blind old witch +of Sariola, are the parents of the swift dogs of Finland, just as the +horses of Achilles, Xanthos and Belios, sprang from Zephyros and the +harpy Podarge. + +As to birds, the duck, according to the Kalevala, the eagle, according +to other traditions, lays the mundane egg, thus taking part in the +creation of the world. Puhuri, the north-wind, the father of Pakkanen +(frost) is sometimes personified as a gigantic eagle. The didapper is +reverenced because it foretells the approach of rain. Linnunrata +(bird-path) is the name given to the Milky-way, due probably to a myth +like those of the Swedes and Slavs, in which liberated songs take the +form of snow-white dovelets. The cuckoo to this day is sacred, and is +believed to have fertilized the earth with his songs. As to insects, +honey-bees, called by the Finns, Mehilainen, are especially sacred, as +in the mythologies of many other nations. Ukkon-koiva (Ukko's dog) is +the Finnish name for the butterfly, and is looked upon as a messenger +of the Supreme Deity. It may be interesting to observe here that the +Bretons in reverence called butterflies, "feathers from the wings of +God." + +As to inanimate nature, certain lakes, rivers, springs, and fountains, +are held in high reverence. In the Kalevala the oak is called Pun +Jumalan (God's tree). The mountain-ash even to this day, and the +birch-tree, are held sacred, and peasants plant them by their cottages +with reverence. + +Respecting the giants of Finnish mythology, Castren is silent, and the +following notes are gleaned from the Kalevala, and from Grimm's +Teutonic Mythology. "The giants," says Grimm, "are distinguished by +their cunning and ferocity from the stupid, good-natured monsters of +Germany and Scandinavia." Soini, for example a synonym of Kullervo, +the here of the saddest episode of the Kalevala when only three days +old, tore his swaddling clothes to tatters. When sold to a forgeman of +Karelia, he was ordered to nurse an infant, but he dug out the eyes of +the child, killed it, and burned its cradle. Ordered to fence the +fields, he built a fence from earth to heaven, using entire pine-trees +for fencing materials, and interweaving their branches with venomous +serpents. Ordered to tend the herds in the woodlands, he changed the +cattle to wolves and bears, and drove them home to destroy his mistress +because she had baked a stone in the centre of his oat-loaf, causing +him to break his knife, the only keepsake of his people. + +Regarding the heroes of the Kalevala, much discussion has arisen as to +their place in Finnish mythology. The Finns proper regard the chief +heroes of the Suomi epic, Wainamoinen, Ilmarinen, and Lemminkainen, as +descendants of the Celestial Virgin, Ilmatar, impregnated by the winds +when Ilma (air), Light, and Water were the only material existences. +In harmony with this conception we find in the Kalevala, a description +of the birth of Wainamoinen, or Vaino, as he is sometimes called in the +original, a word probably akin to the Magyar Ven, old. The Esthonians +regard these heroes as sons of the Great Spirit, begotten before the +earth was created, and dwelling with their Supreme Ruler in Jumala. + +The poetry of a people with such an elaborate mythology and with such a +keen and appreciative sense of nature and of her various phenomena, was +certain, sooner or later, to attract the attention of scholars. And, +in fact, as early as the seventeenth century, we meet men of literary +tastes who tried to collect and interpret the various national songs of +the Finns. Among these were Palmskold and Peter Bang. They collected +portions of the national poetry, consisting chiefly of +wizard-incantations, and all kinds of pagan folk-lore. Gabriel +Maxenius, however, was the first to publish a work on Finnish national +poetry, which brought to light the beauties of the Kalevala. It +appeared in 1733, and bore the title: De Effectibus Naturalibus. The +book contains a quaint collection of Finnish poems in lyric forms, +chiefly incantations; but the author was entirely at a loss how to +account for them, or how to appreciate them. He failed to see their +intimate connection with the religious worship of the Finns in paganism. + +The next to study the Finnish poetry and language was Daniel Juslenius, +a celebrated bishop, and a highly-gifted scholar. In a dissertation, +published as early as 1700, entitled, Aboa vetus et nova, he discussed +the origin and nature of the Finnish language; and in another work of +his, printed in 1745, he treated of Finnish incantations, displaying +withal a thorough understanding of the Finnish folk-lore, and of the +importance of the Finnish language and national poetry. With great +care he began to collect the songs of Suomi, but this precious +collection was unfortunately burned. + +Porthan, a Finnish scholar of great attainments, born in 1766, +continuing the work of Juslenius, accumulated a great number of +national songs and poems, and by his profound enthusiasm for the +promotion of Finnish literature, succeeded in founding the Society of +the Fennophils, which to the present day, forms the literary centre of +Finland. Among his pupils were E. Lenquist, and Chr. Ganander, whose +works on Finnish mythology are among the references used in preparing +this preface. These indefatigable scholars were joined by Reinhold +Becker and others, who were industriously searching for more and more +fragments of what evidently was a great epic of the Finns. For +certainly neither of the scholars just mentioned, nor earlier +investigators, could fail to see that the runes they collected, +gathered round two or three chief heroes, but more especially around +the central figure of Wainamoinen, the hero of the following epic. + +The Kalevala proper was collected by two great Finnish scholars, +Zacharias Topelius and Elias Lonnrot. Both were practicing physicians, +and in this capacity came into frequent contact with the people of +Finland. Topelius, who collected eighty epical fragments of the +Kalevala, spent the last eleven years of his life in bed, afflicted +with a fatal disease. But this sad and trying circumstance did not +dampen his enthusiasm. His manner of collecting these songs was as +follows: Knowing that the Finns of Russia preserved most of the +national poetry, and that they came annually to Finland proper, which +at that time did not belong to Russia, he invited these itinerant +Finnish merchants to his bedside, and induced them to sing their heroic +poems, which he copied as they were uttered. And, when he heard of a +renowned Finnish singer, or minstrel, he did all in his power to bring +the song-man to his house, in order that he might gather new fragments +of the national epic. Thus the first glory of collecting the fragments +of the Kalevala and of rescuing it from literary oblivion, belongs to +Topelius. In 1822 he published his first collections, and in 18317 his +last. + +Elias Lonnrot, who brought the whole work to a glorious completion, was +born April 9, 1802. He entered the University of Abo in 1822, and in +1832, received the degree of Doctor of Medicine from the University of +Helsingfors. After the death of Castren in 1850, Lonnrot was appointed +professor of the Suomi (Finnish) language and literature in the +University, where he remained until 1862, at which time he withdrew +from his academical activity and devoted himself exclusively to the +study of his native language, and its epical productions. Dr. Lonnrot +had already published a scholarly treatise, in 1827, on the chief hero +of the Kalevala, before he went to Sava and Karjala to glean the songs +and parts of songs front the lips of the people. This work was +entitled: De Wainainoine priscorum Fennorum numine. In the year 1828, +he travelled as far as Kajan, collecting poems and songs of the Finnish +people, sitting by the fireside of the aged, rowing on the lakes with +the fishermen, and following the flocks with the shepherds. In 1829 he +published at Helsingfors a work under the following title: Kantele +taikka Suomee Kansan sek vazhoja etta nykysempia Runoja ja Lauluja +(Lyre, or Old and New Songs and Lays of the Finnish Nation). In +another work edited in 1832, written in Swedish, entitled: Om Finnarues +Magiska Medicin (On the Magic Medicine of the Finns), he dwells on the +incantations so frequent in Finnish poetry, notably in the Kalevala. A +few years later he travelled in the province of Archangel, and so +ingratiated himself into the hearts of the simple-minded people that +they most willingly aided him in collecting these songs. These +journeys were made through wild fens, forests, marshes, and ice-plains, +on horseback, in sledges drawn by the reindeer, in canoes, or in some +other forms of primitive conveyance. The enthusiastic physician +described his journeyings and difficulties faithfully in a paper +published at Helsingfors in Swedish in 1834. He had the peculiar good +luck to meet an old peasant, one of the oldest of the runolainen in the +Russian province of Wuokiniem, who was by far the most renowned +minstrel of the country, and with whose closely impending death, +numerous very precious runes would have been irrevocably lost. + +The happy result of his travels throughout Finland, Dr. Lonnrot now +commenced to arrange under the central idea of a great epic, called +Kalevala, and in February, 1835, the manuscript was transmitted to the +Finnish Literary Society, which had it published in two parts. +Lonnrot, however, did not stop here; he went on searching and +collecting, and, in 1840, had brought together more than one thousand +fragments of epical poetry, national ballads, and proverbs. These he +published in two works, respectively entitled, Kanteletar (Lyre-charm), +and The Proverbs of the Suomi People, the latter containing over 1700 +proverbs, adages, gnomic sentences, and songs. + +His example was followed by many of his enthusiastic countrymen, the +more prominent of whom are Castren, Europaeus, Polen and Reniholm. +Through the collections of these scholars so many additional parts of +the epical treasure of Finland were made public that a new edition of +the Kalevala soon became an imperative necessity. The task of sifting, +arranging, and organizing the extensive material, was again allotted to +Dr. Lonnrot, and in his second editions of the Kalevala, which appeared +in 1849, the epic, embracing fifty runes and 22,793 lines, had reached +its mature form. The Kalevala was no sooner published than it +attracted the attention of the leading scholars of Europe. Men of such +world-wide fame as Jacob Grimm, Steinthal, Uhland, Carrière and Max Müller +hastened to acknowledge its surpassing value and intrinsic beauty. +Jacob Grimm, in a separate treatise, published in his Kleinere +Schriften, said that the genuineness and extraordinary value of the +Kalevala is easily proved by the fact that from its mythological ideas +we can frequently interpret the mythological conceptions of the ancient +Germans, whereas the poems of Ossian manifest their modern origin by +their inability to clear up questions of old Saxon or German mythology. + Grimm, furthermore, shows that both the Gothic and Icelandic +literatures display unmistakable features of Finnish influence. + +Max Müller places the Kalevala on a level with the greatest epics of the +world. These are his words: + + +"From the mouths of the aged an epic poem has been collected equalling +the Iliad in length and completeness; nay, if we can forget for a +moment, all that we in our youth learned to call beautiful, not less +beautiful. A Finn is not a Greek, and Wainamoinen was not a Homer +[Achilles?]; but if the poet may take his colors from that nature by +which he is surrounded, if he may depict the men with whom he lives, +the Kalevala possesses merits not dissimilar from those of the Illiad, +and will claim its place as the fifth national epic of the world, side +by side with the Ionian Songs, with the Mahabharata, the Shalinameth, +and the Nibelunge." + + +Steinthal recognizes but four great national epics, viz., the Iliad, +Kalevala, Nibelunge and the Roland Songs. + +The Kalevala describes Finnish nature very minutely and very +beautifully. Grimm says that no poem is to be compared with it in this +respect, unless it be some of the epics of India. It has been +translated into several European languages; into Swedish by Alex. +Castren, in 1844; into French prose by L. LeDuc, in 1845; into German +by Anton Schiefuer, in 1852; into Hungarian by Ferdinand Barna, in +1871; and a very small portion of it--the legend of Aino--into English, +in 1868, by the late Prof. John A. Porter, of Yale College. It must +remain a matter of universal regret to the English-speaking people that +Prof. Porter's life could not have been spared to finish the great work +he had so beautifully begun. + +Some of the most convincing evidences of the genuineness and great age +of the Kalevala have been supplied by the Hungarian translator. The +Hungarians, as is well known, are closely related to the Finns, and +their language, the Magyar dialect, has the same characteristic +features as the Finnish tongue. Barna's translation, accordingly, is +the best rendering of the original. In order to show the genuineness +and antiquity of the Kalevala, Barna adduces a Hungarian book written +by a certain Peter Bornemissza, in 1578, entitled ordogi Kisertetekrol +(on Satanic Specters), the unique copy of which he found in the library +of the University of Budapest. In this book Bornemissza collected all +the incantations (raolvasasok) in use among Hungarian country-people of +his day for the expulsion of diseases and misfortunes. These +incantations, forming the common stock of all Ugrian peoples, of which +the Finns and Hungarians are branches, display a most satisfactory +sameness with the numerous incantations of the Kalevala used for the +same purpose. Barna published an elaborate treatise on this subject; +it appeared in the, Transactions of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, +Philological Department, for 1870. Again, in 1868, twenty-two +Hungarian deeds, dating from 1616-1660, were sent to the Hungarian +Academy of Sciences, as having been found in the Hegyalja, where the +celebrated wine of Tokay is made. These deeds contained several +contracts for the sale of vineyards, and at the end of each deed the +customary cup of wine was said to have been emptied by both parties to +the contract. This cup of wine, in the deeds, was termed, "Ukkon's +cup." Ukko, however, is the chief God according to Finnish mythology, +and thus the coincidence of the Magyar Ukkon and the Finnish Ukko was +placed beyond doubt. + +The Kalevala (the Land of Heroes) relates the ever-varying contests +between the Finns and the "darksome Laplanders", just as the Iliad +relates the contests between the Greeks and the Trojans. Castren is of +the opinion that the enmity between the Finns and the Lapps was sung +long before the Finns had left their Asiatic birth-place. + +A deeper and more esoteric meaning of the Kalevala, however, points to +a contest between Light and Darkness, Good and Evil; the Finns +representing the Light and the Good, and the Lapps, the Darkness and +the Evil. Like the Niebelungs, the heroes of the Finns woo for brides +the beauteous maidens of the North; and the similarity is rendered +still more striking by their frequent inroads into the country of the +Lapps, in order to possess themselves of the envied treasure of +Lapland, the mysterious Sampo, evidently the Golden Fleece of the +Argonautic expedition. Curiously enough public opinion is often +expressed in the runes, in the words of an infant; often too the +unexpected is introduced after the manner of the Greek dramas, by a +young child, or an old man. + +The whole poem is replete with the most fascinating folk-lore about the +mysteries of nature, the origin of things, the enigmas of human tears, +and, true to the character of a national epic, it represents not only +the poetry, but the entire wisdom and accumulated experience of a +nation. Among others, there is a profoundly philosophical trait in the +poem, indicative of a deep insight into the workings of the human mind, +and into the forces of nature. Whenever one of the heroes of the +Kalevala wishes to overcome the aggressive power of an evil force, as a +wound, a disease, a ferocious beast, or a venomous serpent, he achieves +his purpose by chanting the origin of the inimical force. The thought +underlying this idea evidently is that all evil could be obviated had +we but the knowledge of whence and how it came. + +The numerous myths of the poem are likewise full of significance and +beauty, and the Kalevala should be read between the lines, in order +that the fall meaning of this great epic may be comprehended. Even +such a hideous impersonation as that of Kullerwoinen, is rich with +pointed meaning, showing as it does, the incorrigibility of ingrained +evil. This legend, like all others of the poem, has its deep-running +stream of esoteric interpretation. The Kalevala, perhaps, more than +any other, uses its lines on the surface in symbolism to point the +human mind to the brighter gems of truth beneath. + +The three main personages, Wainamoinen, the ancient singer, Ilmarinen, +the eternal forgeman, and Lemminkainen, the reckless wizard, as +mentioned above, are conceived as being of divine origin. In fact, the +acting characters of the Kalevala are mostly superhuman, magic beings. +Even the female actors are powerful sorceresses, and the hostess of +Pohyola, especially, braves the might of all the enchanters of Wainola +combined. The power of magic is a striking feature of the poem. Here, +as in the legends of no other people, do the heroes and demi-gods +accomplish nearly everything by magic. The songs of Wainamoinen disarm +his opponents; they quiet the angry sea; they give warmth to the new +sun and the new moon which his brother, Ilmarinen, forges from the +magic metals; they give life to the spouse of Ilmarinen, which the +"eternal metal-artist" forges from gold, silver, and copper. In fact +we are among a people that endows everything with life, and with human +and divine attributes. Birds, and beasts, and fishes, and serpents, as +well as the Sun, the Moon, the Great Bear, and the stars, are either +kind or unkind. Drops of blood find speech; men and maidens transform +themselves into other shapes and resume again their native forms at +will; ships, and trees, and waters, have magic powers; in short, all +nature speaks in human tongues. + +The Kalevala dates back to an enormous antiquity. One reason for +believing this, lies in the silence of the Kalevala about Russians, +Germans, or Swedes, their neighbors. This evidently shows that the +poem must have been composed at a time when these nations had but very +little or no intercourse with the Finns. The coincidence between the +incantations adduced above, proves that these witch-songs date from a +time when the Hungarians and the Finns were still united as one people; +in other words, to a time at least 3000 years ago. The whole poem +betrays no important signs of foreign influence, and in its entire +tenor is a thoroughly pagan epic. There are excellent reasons for +believing that the story of Mariatta, recited in the 50th Rune, is an +ante-Christian legend. + +An additional proof of the originality and independent rise of the +Kalevala is to be found in its metre. All genuine poetry must have its +peculiar verse, just as snow-flakes cannot exist without their peculiar +crystalizations. It is thus that the Iliad is inseparably united, and, +as it were, immersed in the stately hexametre, and the French epics, in +the graceful Alexandrine verse. The metre of the Kalevala is the +"eight-syllabled trochaic, with the part-line echo," and is the +characteristic verse of the Finns. The natural speech of this people +is poetry. The young men and maidens, the old men and matrons, in +their interchange of ideas, unwittingly fall into verse. The genius of +their language aids to this end, inasmuch as their words are strongly +trochaic. + +This wonderfully versatile metre admits of keeping the right medium +between the dignified, almost prancing hexameter, and the shorter +metres of the lyrics. Its feet are nimble and fleet, but yet full of +vigor and expressiveness. In addition, the Kalevala uses alliteration, +and thus varies the rhythm of time with the rhythm of sound. This +metre is especially fit for the numerous expressions of endearment in +which the Finnish epic abounds. It is more especially the love of the +mother for her children, and the love of the children for their mother, +that find frequent and ever-tender expression in the sonorous lines of +the Kalevala. The Swedish translation by Castren, the German, by +Schiefner, and the Hungarian, by Barna, as well as the following +English translation, are in the original metre of the Kalevala. + +To prove that this peculiar and fascinating style of verse is of very +ancient origin, the following lines have been accurately copied from +the first edition in Finnish of the Kalevala, collated by Dr. Lonnrot, +and published in 1835 at Helsingfors, the quotation beginning with the +150th line of the 2nd Rune: + + + Louhi Pohjolan emanta + Sanan wirkko, noin nimesi: + "Niin mita minulleannat, + Kun saatan omille maille, + Oman pellon pientarelle, + Oman pihan rikkasille?" + Sano wanha Wainamoinen: + "Mitapa kysyt minulta, + Kun saatat omille maille, + Oman kaën kukkumille, + Oman kukon kukkluwille, + Oman saunan lampimille?" + Sano Pohjolan emanta: + "Ohoh wiisas Wainamoinen! + Taiatko takoa sammon, + Kirjokannen kirjaëlla, + Yhen joukkosen sulasta, + Yhen willan kylkyesta, + Yhen otrasen jywasta, + Yhen warttinan muruista." + + +As to the architecture of the Kalevala, it stands midway between the +epical ballads of the Servians and the purely epical structure of the +Iliad. Though a continuous whole, it contains several almost +independent parts, as the contest of Youkahainen, the Kullervo episode, +and the legend of Mariatta. + +By language-masters this epic of Suomi, descending unwritten from the +mythical age to the present day, kept alive from generation to +generation by minstrels, or song-men, is regarded as one of the most +precious contributions to the literature of the world, made since the +time of Milton and the German classics. + +Acknowledgment is hereby made to the following sources of information +used in the preparation of this work: to E. Lenquist's De Superstitione +veterum Fennorum theoretica et practica; to Chr. Ganander's Mythologia +Fennica; to Becker's De Vainamoine; to Max Müller's Oxford Essays; to +Prof. John A. Porter's Selections from the Kalevala; to the writings of +the two Grimms; to Latham's Native Races of the Russian Empire; to the +translations of the Kalevala by Alex. Castren, Anton Schieffier, L. +LeDuc and Ferdinand Barna; and especially to the excellent treatises on +the Kalevala, and on the Mythology of the Finns, by Mace Da Charda and +Alex. Castren; to Prof. Helena Klingner, of Cincinnati, a linguist of +high rank, and who has compared very conscientiously the manuscript of +the following pages with the German translation of the Kalevala by +Anton Schiefner; to Dr. Emil Reich, a native Hungarian, a close student +of the Ugrian tongues, who, in a most thorough manner, has compared +this translation with the Hungarian by Ferdinand Barna, and who, +familiar with the habits, customs, and religious notions of the Finns, +has furnished much valuable material used in the preparation of this +preface; and, finally, to Prof. Thomas C. Porter, D.D., LL.D., of +Lafayette College, who has become an authority on the Kalevala through +his own researches for many years, aided by a long and intimate +acquaintance with Prof. A. F. Soldan, a Finn by birth, an enthusiastic +lover of his country, a scholar of great attainments, acquainted with +many languages, and once at the head of the Imperial Mint at +Helsingfors, the capital of Finland. Prof. Porter has very kindly +placed in the hands of the author of these pages, all the literature on +this subject at his command, including his own writings; he has watched +the growth of this translation with unusual interest; and, with the eye +of a gifted poet and scholar, he has made two careful and critical +examinations of the entire manuscript, making annotations, emendations, +and corrections, by which this work has been greatly improved. + +With this prolonged introduction, this, the first English translation +of the Kalevala, with its many imperfections, is hesitatingly given to +the public. + + +JOHN MARTIN CRAWFORD. + October 1, 1887. + + + + +THE KALEVALA. + + + +PROEM. + + + MASTERED by desire impulsive, + By a mighty inward urging, + I am ready now for singing, + Ready to begin the chanting + Of our nation's ancient folk-song + Handed down from by-gone ages. + In my mouth the words are melting, + From my lips the tones are gliding, + From my tongue they wish to hasten; + When my willing teeth are parted, + When my ready mouth is opened, + Songs of ancient wit and wisdom + Hasten from me not unwilling. + Golden friend, and dearest brother, + Brother dear of mine in childhood, + Come and sing with me the stories, + Come and chant with me the legends, + Legends of the times forgotten, + Since we now are here together, + Come together from our roamings. + Seldom do we come for singing, + Seldom to the one, the other, + O'er this cold and cruel country, + O'er the poor soil of the Northland. + Let us clasp our hands together + That we thus may best remember. + Join we now in merry singing, + Chant we now the oldest folk-lore, + That the dear ones all may hear them, + That the well-inclined may hear them, + Of this rising generation. + These are words in childhood taught me, + Songs preserved from distant ages, + Legends they that once were taken + From the belt of Wainamoinen, + From the forge of Ilmarinen, + From the sword of Kaukomieli, + From the bow of Youkahainen, + From the pastures of the Northland, + From the meads of Kalevala. + These my dear old father sang me + When at work with knife and hatchet + These my tender mother taught me + When she twirled the flying spindle, + When a child upon the matting + By her feet I rolled and tumbled. + Incantations were not wanting + Over Sampo and o'er Louhi, + Sampo growing old in singing, + Louhi ceasing her enchantment. + In the songs died wise Wipunen, + At the games died Lemminkainen. + There are many other legends, + Incantations that were taught me, + That I found along the wayside, + Gathered in the fragrant copses, + Blown me from the forest branches, + Culled among the plumes of pine-trees, + Scented from the vines and flowers, + Whispered to me as I followed + Flocks in land of honeyed meadows, + Over hillocks green and golden, + After sable-haired Murikki, + And the many-colored Kimmo. + Many runes the cold has told me, + Many lays the rain has brought me, + Other songs the winds have sung me; + Many birds from many forests, + Oft have sung me lays n concord + Waves of sea, and ocean billows, + Music from the many waters, + Music from the whole creation, + Oft have been my guide and master. + Sentences the trees created, + Rolled together into bundles, + Moved them to my ancient dwelling, + On the sledges to my cottage, + Tied them to my garret rafters, + Hung them on my dwelling-portals, + Laid them in a chest of boxes, + Boxes lined with shining copper. + Long they lay within my dwelling + Through the chilling winds of winter, + In my dwelling-place for ages. + Shall I bring these songs together + From the cold and frost collect them? + Shall I bring this nest of boxes, + Keepers of these golden legends, + To the table in my cabin, + Underneath the painted rafters, + In this house renowned and ancient? + Shall I now these boxes open, + Boxes filled with wondrous stories? + Shall I now the end unfasten + Of this ball of ancient wisdom, + These ancestral lays unravel? + Let me sing an old-time legend, + That shall echo forth the praises + Of the beer that I have tasted, + Of the sparkling beer of barley. + Bring to me a foaming goblet + Of the barley of my fathers, + Lest my singing grow too weary, + Singing from the water only. + Bring me too a cup of strong-beer, + It will add to our enchantment, + To the pleasure of the evening, + Northland's long and dreary evening, + For the beauty of the day-dawn, + For the pleasure of the morning, + The beginning of the new-day. + Often I have heard them chanting, + Often I have heard them singing, + That the nights come to us singly, + That the Moon beams on us singly, + That the Sun shines on us singly; + Singly also, Wainamoinen, + The renowned and wise enchanter, + Born from everlasting Ether + Of his mother, Ether's daughter. + + + + +RUNE I. + + + + BIRTH OF WAINAMOINEN. + + + In primeval times, a maiden, + Beauteous Daughter of the Ether, + Passed for ages her existence + In the great expanse of heaven, + O'er the prairies yet enfolded. + Wearisome the maiden growing, + Her existence sad and hopeless, + Thus alone to live for ages + In the infinite expanses + Of the air above the sea-foam, + In the far outstretching spaces, + In a solitude of ether, + She descended to the ocean, + Waves her coach, and waves her pillow. + Thereupon the rising storm-wind + Flying from the East in fierceness, + Whips the ocean into surges, + Strikes the stars with sprays of ocean + Till the waves are white with fervor. + To and fro they toss the maiden, + Storm-encircled, hapless maiden; + With her sport the rolling billows, + With her play the storm-wind forces, + On the blue back of the waters; + On the white-wreathed waves of ocean, + Play the forces of the salt-sea, + With the lone and helpless maiden; + Till at last in full conception, + Union now of force and beauty, + Sink the storm-winds into slumber; + Overburdened now the maiden + Cannot rise above the surface; + Seven hundred years she wandered, + Ages nine of man's existence, + Swam the ocean hither, thither, + Could not rise above the waters, + Conscious only of her travail; + Seven hundred years she labored + Ere her first-born was delivered. + Thus she swam as water-mother, + Toward the east, and also southward, + Toward the west, and also northward; + Swam the sea in all directions, + Frightened at the strife of storm-winds, + Swam in travail, swam unceasing, + Ere her first-born was delivered. + Then began she gently weeping, + Spake these measures, heavy-hearted: + "Woe is me, my life hard-fated! + Woe is me, in this my travail! + Into what have I now fallen? + Woe is me, that I unhappy, + Left my home in subtle ether, + Came to dwell amid the sea-foam, + To be tossed by rolling billows, + To be rocked by winds and waters, + On the far outstretching waters, + In the salt-sea's vast expanses, + Knowing only pain and trouble! + Better far for me, O Ukko! + Were I maiden in the Ether, + Than within these ocean-spaces, + To become a water-mother! + All this life is cold and dreary, + Painful here is every motion, + As I linger in the waters, + As I wander through the ocean. + Ukko, thou O God, up yonder, + Thou the ruler of the heavens, + Come thou hither, thou art needed, + Come thou hither, I implore thee, + To deliver me from trouble, + To deliver me in travail. + Come I pray thee, hither hasten, + Hasten more that thou art needed, + Haste and help this helpless maiden!" + When she ceased her supplications, + Scarce a moment onward passes, + Ere a beauteous duck descending, + Hastens toward the water-mother, + Comes a-flying hither, thither, + Seeks herself a place for nesting. + Flies she eastward, flies she westward, + Circles northward, circles southward, + Cannot find a grassy hillock, + Not the smallest bit of verdure; + Cannot find a spot protected, + Cannot find a place befitting, + Where to make her nest in safety. + Flying slowly, looking round her, + She descries no place for resting, + Thinking loud and long debating, + And her words are such as follow: + "Build I in the winds my dwelling, + On the floods my place of nesting? + Surely would the winds destroy it, + Far away the waves would wash it." + Then the daughter of the Ether, + Now the hapless water-mother, + Raised her shoulders out of water, + Raised her knees above the ocean, + That the duck might build her dwelling, + Build her nesting-place in safety. + Thereupon the duck in beauty, + Flying slowly, looking round her, + Spies the shoulders of the maiden, + Sees the knees of Ether's daughter, + Now the hapless water-mother, + Thinks them to be grassy hillocks, + On the blue back of the ocean. + Thence she flies and hovers slowly, + Lightly on the knee she settles, + Finds a nesting-place befitting, + Where to lay her eggs in safety. + Here she builds her humble dwelling, + Lays her eggs within, at pleasure, + Six, the golden eggs she lays there, + Then a seventh, an egg of iron; + Sits upon her eggs to hatch them, + Quickly warms them on the knee-cap + Of the hapless water-mother; + Hatches one day, then a second, + Then a third day sits and hatches. + Warmer grows the water round her, + Warmer is her bed in ocean, + While her knee with fire is kindled, + And her shoulders too are burning, + Fire in every vein is coursing. + Quick the maiden moves her shoulders, + Shakes her members in succession, + Shakes the nest from its foundation, + And the eggs fall into ocean, + Dash in pieces on the bottom + Of the deep and boundless waters. + In the sand they do not perish, + Not the pieces in the ocean; + But transformed, in wondrous beauty + All the fragments come together + Forming pieces two in number, + One the upper, one the lower, + Equal to the one, the other. + From one half the egg, the lower, + Grows the nether vault of Terra: + From the upper half remaining, + Grows the upper vault of Heaven; + From the white part come the moonbeams, + From the yellow part the sunshine, + From the motley part the starlight, + From the dark part grows the cloudage; + And the days speed onward swiftly, + Quickly do the years fly over, + From the shining of the new sun + From the lighting of the full moon. + Still the daughter of the Ether, + Swims the sea as water-mother, + With the floods outstretched before her, + And behind her sky and ocean. + Finally about the ninth year, + In the summer of the tenth year, + Lifts her head above the surface, + Lifts her forehead from the waters, + And begins at last her workings, + Now commences her creations, + On the azure water-ridges, + On the mighty waste before her. + Where her hand she turned in water, + There arose a fertile hillock; + Wheresoe'er her foot she rested, + There she made a hole for fishes; + Where she dived beneath the waters, + Fell the many deeps of ocean; + Where upon her side she turned her, + There the level banks have risen; + Where her head was pointed landward, + There appeared wide bays and inlets; + When from shore she swam a distance, + And upon her back she rested, + There the rocks she made and fashioned, + And the hidden reefs created, + Where the ships are wrecked so often, + Where so many lives have perished. + Thus created were the islands, + Rocks were fastened in the ocean, + Pillars of the sky were planted, + Fields and forests were created, + Checkered stones of many colors, + Gleaming in the silver sunlight, + All the rocks stood well established; + But the singer, Wainamoinen, + Had not yet beheld the sunshine, + Had not seen the golden moonlight, + Still remaining undelivered. + Wainamoinen, old and trusty, + Lingering within his dungeon + Thirty summers altogether, + And of winters, also thirty, + Peaceful on the waste of waters, + On the broad-sea's yielding bosom, + Well reflected, long considered, + How unborn to live and flourish + In the spaces wrapped in darkness, + In uncomfortable limits, + Where he had not seen the moonlight, + Had not seen the silver sunshine. + Thereupon these words be uttered, + Let himself be heard in this wise: + "Take, O Moon, I pray thee, take me, + Take me, thou, O Sun above me, + Take me, thou O Bear of heaven, + From this dark and dreary prison, + From these unbefitting portals, + From this narrow place of resting, + From this dark and gloomy dwelling, + Hence to wander from the ocean, + Hence to walk upon the islands, + On the dry land walk and wander, + Like an ancient hero wander, + Walk in open air and breathe it, + Thus to see the moon at evening, + Thus to see the silver sunlight, + Thus to see the Bear in heaven, + That the stars I may consider." + Since the Moon refused to free him, + And the Sun would not deliver, + Nor the Great Bear give assistance, + His existence growing weary, + And his life but an annoyance, + Bursts he then the outer portals + Of his dark and dismal fortress; + With his strong, but unnamed finger, + Opens he the lock resisting; + With the toes upon his left foot, + With the fingers of his right hand, + Creeps he through the yielding portals + To the threshold of his dwelling; + On his knees across the threshold, + Throws himself head foremost, forward + Plunges into deeps of ocean, + Plunges hither, plunges thither, + Turning with his hands the water; + Swims he northward, swims he southward, + Swims he eastward, swims he westward, + Studying his new surroundings. + Thus our hero reached the water, + Rested five years in the ocean, + Six long years, and even seven years, + Till the autumn of the eighth year, + When at last he leaves the waters, + Stops upon a promontory, + On a coast bereft of verdure; + On his knees he leaves the ocean, + On the land he plants his right foot, + On the solid ground his left foot, + Quickly turns his hands about him, + Stands erect to see the sunshine, + Stands to see the golden moonlight, + That he may behold the Great Bear, + That he may the stars consider. + Thus our hero, Wainamoinen, + Thus the wonderful enchanter + Was delivered from his mother, + Ilmatar, the Ether's daughter. + + + + +RUNE II. + + + + WAINAMOINEN'S SOWING. + + + Then arose old Wainamoinen, + With his feet upon the island, + On the island washed by ocean, + Broad expanse devoid of verdure; + There remained be many summers, + There he lived as many winters, + On the island vast and vacant, + well considered, long reflected, + Who for him should sow the island, + Who for him the seeds should scatter; + Thought at last of Pellerwoinen, + First-born of the plains and prairies, + When a slender boy, called Sampsa, + Who should sow the vacant island, + Who the forest seeds should scatter. + Pellerwoinen, thus consenting, + Sows with diligence the island, + Seeds upon the lands he scatters, + Seeds in every swamp and lowland, + Forest seeds upon the loose earth, + On the firm soil sows the acorns, + Fir-trees sows he on the mountains, + Pine-trees also on the hill-tops, + Many shrubs in every valley, + Birches sows he in the marshes, + In the loose soil sows the alders, + In the lowlands sows the lindens, + In the moist earth sows the willow, + Mountain-ash in virgin places, + On the banks of streams the hawthorn, + Junipers in hilly regions; + This the work of Pellerwoinen, + Slender Sampsa, in his childhood. + Soon the fertile seeds were sprouting, + Soon the forest trees were growing, + Soon appeared the tops of fir-trees, + And the pines were far outspreading; + Birches rose from all the marshes, + In the loose soil grew the alders, + In the mellow soil the lindens; + Junipers were also growing, + Junipers with clustered berries, + Berries on the hawthorn branches. + Now the hero, Wainamoinen, + Stands aloft to look about him, + How the Sampsa-seeds are growing, + How the crop of Pellerwoinen; + Sees the young trees thickly spreading, + Sees the forest rise in beauty; + But the oak-tree has not sprouted, + Tree of heaven is not growing, + Still within the acorn sleeping, + Its own happiness enjoying. + Then he waited three nights longer, + And as many days he waited, + Waited till a week had vanished, + Then again the work examined; + But the oak-tree was not growing, + Had not left her acorn-dwelling. + Wainamoinen, ancient hero, + Spies four maidens in the distance, + Water-brides, he spies a fifth-one, + On the soft and sandy sea-shore, + In the dewy grass and flowers, + On a point extending seaward, + Near the forests of the island. + Some were mowing, some were raking, + Raking what was mown together, + In a windrow on the meadow. + From the ocean rose a giant, + Mighty Tursas, tall and hardy, + Pressed compactly all the grasses, + That the maidens had been raking, + When a fire within them kindles, + And the flames shot up to heaven, + Till the windrows burned to ashes, + Only ashes now remaining + Of the grasses raked together. + In the ashes of the windrows, + Tender leaves the giant places, + In the leaves he plants an acorn, + From the acorn, quickly sprouting, + Grows the oak-tree, tall and stately, + From the ground enriched by ashes, + Newly raked by water-maidens; + Spread the oak-tree's many branches, + Rounds itself a broad corona, + Raises it above the storm-clouds; + Far it stretches out its branches, + Stops the white-clouds in their courses, + With its branches hides the sunlight, + With its many leaves, the moonbeams, + And the starlight dies in heaven. + Wainamoinen, old and trusty, + Thought awhile, and well considered, + How to kill the mighty oak-tree, + First created for his pleasure, + How to fell the tree majestic, + How to lop its hundred branches. + Sad the lives of man and hero, + Sad the homes of ocean-dwellers, + If the sun shines not upon them, + If the moonlight does not cheer them + Is there not some mighty hero, + Was there never born a giant, + That can fell the mighty oak-tree, + That can lop its hundred branches? + Wainamoinen, deeply thinking, + Spake these words soliloquizing: + "Kape, daughter of the Ether, + Ancient mother of my being, + Luonnotar, my nurse and helper, + Loan to me the water-forces, + Great the powers of the waters; + Loan to me the strength of oceans, + To upset this mighty oak-tree, + To uproot this tree of evil, + That again may shine the sunlight, + That the moon once more may glimmer." + Straightway rose a form from oceans, + Rose a hero from the waters, + Nor belonged he to the largest, + Nor belonged he to the smallest, + Long was he as man's forefinger, + Taller than the hand of woman; + On his head a cap of copper, + Boots upon his feet were copper, + Gloves upon his hands were copper, + And its stripes were copper-colored, + Belt around him made of copper, + Hatchet in his belt was copper; + And the handle of his hatchet + Was as long as hand of woman, + Of a finger's breadth the blade was. + Then the trusty Wainamoinen + Thought awhile and well considered, + And his measures are as follow: + "Art thou, sir, divine or human? + Which of these thou only knowest; + Tell me what thy name and station. + Very like a man thou lookest, + Hast the bearing of a hero, + Though the length of man's first finger, + Scarce as tall as hoof of reindeer." + Then again spake Wainamoinen + To the form from out the ocean: + "Verily I think thee human, + Of the race of pigmy-heroes, + Might as well be dead or dying, + Fit for nothing but to perish." + Answered thus the pigmy-hero, + Spake the small one from the ocean + To the valiant Wainamoinen + "Truly am I god and hero, + From the tribes that rule the ocean; + Come I here to fell the oak-tree, + Lop its branches with my hatchet." + Wainamoinen, old and trusty, + Answers thus the sea-born hero: + "Never hast thou force sufficient, + Not to thee has strength been given, + To uproot this mighty oak-tree, + To upset this thing of evil, + Nor to lop its hundred branches." + Scarcely had he finished speaking, + Scarcely had he moved his eyelids, + Ere the pigmy full unfolding, + Quick becomes a mighty giant. + With one step he leaves the ocean, + Plants himself, a mighty hero, + On the forest-fields surrounding; + With his head the clouds he pierces, + To his knees his beard extending, + And his locks fall to his ankles; + Far apart appear his eyeballs, + Far apart his feet are stationed. + Farther still his mighty shoulders. + Now begins his axe to sharpen, + Quickly to an edge he whets it, + Using six hard blocks of sandstone, + And of softer whetstones, seven. + Straightway to the oak-tree turning, + Thither stalks the mighty giant, + In his raiment long and roomy, + Flapping in the winds of heaven; + With his second step he totters + On the land of darker color; + With his third stop firmly planted, + Reaches he the oak-tree's branches, + Strikes the trunk with sharpened hatchet, + With one mighty swing he strikes it, + With a second blow he cuts it; + As his blade descends the third time, + From his axe the sparks fly upward, + From the oak-tree fire outshooting; + Ere the axe descends a fourth time, + Yields the oak with hundred branches, + Shaking earth and heaven in falling. + Eastward far the trunk extending, + Far to westward flew the tree-tops, + To the South the leaves were scattered, + To the North its hundred branches. + Whosoe'er a branch has taken, + Has obtained eternal welfare; + Who secures himself a tree-top, + He has gained the master magic; + Who the foliage has gathered, + Has delight that never ceases. + Of the chips some had been scattered, + Scattered also many splinters, + On the blue back of the ocean, + Of the ocean smooth and mirrored, + Rocked there by the winds and waters, + Like a boat upon the billows; + Storm-winds blew them to the Northland, + Some the ocean currents carried. + Northland's fair and slender maiden, + Washing on the shore a head-dress, + Beating on the rocks her garments, + Rinsing there her silken raiment, + In the waters of Pohyola, + There beheld the chips and splinters, + Carried by the winds and waters. + In a bag the chips she gathered, + Took them to the ancient court-yard, + There to make enchanted arrows, + Arrows for the great magician, + There to shape them into weapons, + Weapons for the skilful archer, + Since the mighty oak has fallen, + Now has lost its hundred branches, + That the North may see the sunshine, + See the gentle gleam of moonlight, + That the clouds may keep their courses, + May extend the vault of heaven + Over every lake and river, + O'er the banks of every island. + Groves arose in varied beauty, + Beautifully grew the forests, + And again, the vines and flowers. + Birds again sang in the tree-tops, + Noisily the merry thrushes, + And the cuckoos in the birch-trees; + On the mountains grew the berries, + Golden flowers in the meadows, + And the herbs of many colors, + Many kinds of vegetation; + But the barley is not growing. + Wainamoinen, old and trusty, + Goes away and well considers, + By the borders of the waters, + On the ocean's sandy margin, + Finds six seeds of golden barley, + Even seven ripened kernels, + On the shore of upper Northland, + In the sand upon the sea-shore, + Hides them in his trusty pouches, + Fashioned from the skin of squirrel, + Some were made from skin of marten; + Hastens forth the seeds to scatter, + Quickly sows the barley kernels, + On the brinks of Kalew-waters, + On the Osma-hills and lowlands. + Hark! the titmouse wildly crying, + From the aspen, words as follow: + "Osma's barley will not flourish, + Not the barley of Wainola, + If the soil be not made ready, + If the forest be not levelled, + And the branches burned to ashes." + Wainamoinen, wise and ancient, + Made himself an axe for chopping, + Then began to clear the forest, + Then began the trees to level, + Felled the trees of all descriptions, + Only left the birch-tree standing + For the birds a place of resting, + Where might sing the sweet-voiced cuckoo, + Sacred bird in sacred branches. + Down from heaven came the eagle, + Through the air be came a-flying, + That he might this thing consider; + And he spake the words that follow: + "Wherefore, ancient Wainamoinen, + Hast thou left the slender birch-tree, + Left the birch-tree only standing?" + Wainamoinen thus made answer: + "Therefore is the birch left standing, + That the birds may liest within it, + That the eagle there may rest him, + There may sing the sacred cuckoo." + Spake the eagle, thus replying: + Good indeed, thy hero-judgment, + That the birch-tree thou hast left us, + Left the sacred birch-tree standing, + As a resting-place for eagles, + And for birds of every feather, + Even I may rest upon it." + Quickly then this bird of heaven, + Kindled fire among the branches; + Soon the flames are fanned by north-winds, + And the east-winds lend their forces, + Burn the trees of all descriptions, + Burn them all to dust and ashes, + Only is the birch left standing. + Wainamoinen, wise and ancient, + Brings his magic grains of barley, + Brings he forth his seven seed-grains, + Brings them from his trusty pouches, + Fashioned from the skin of squirrel, + Some were made from skin of marten. + Thence to sow his seeds he hastens, + Hastes the barley-grains to scatter, + Speaks unto himself these measures: + "I the seeds of life am sowing, + Sowing through my open fingers, + From the hand of my Creator, + In this soil enriched with ashes, + In this soil to sprout and flourish. + Ancient mother, thou that livest + Far below the earth and ocean, + Mother of the fields and forests, + Bring the rich soil to producing, + Bring the seed-grains to the sprouting, + That the barley well may flourish. + Never will the earth unaided, + Yield the ripe nutritious barley; + Never will her force be wanting, + If the givers give assistance, + If the givers grace the sowing, + Grace the daughters of creation. + Rise, O earth, from out thy slumber, + From the slumber-land of ages, + Let the barley-grains be sprouting, + Let the blades themselves be starting, + Let the verdant stalks be rising, + Let the ears themselves be growing, + And a hundredfold producing, + From my plowing and my sowing, + From my skilled and honest labor. + Ukko, thou O God, up yonder, + Thou O Father of the heavens, + Thou that livest high in Ether, + Curbest all the clouds of heaven, + Holdest in the air thy counsel, + Holdest in the clouds good counsel, + From the East dispatch a cloudlet, + From the North-east send a rain-cloud, + From the West another send us, + From the North-west, still another, + Quickly from the South a warm-cloud, + That the rain may fall from heaven, + That the clouds may drop their honey, + That the ears may fill and ripen, + That the barley-fields may rustle." + Thereupon benignant Ukko, + Ukko, father of the heavens, + Held his counsel in the cloud-space, + Held good counsel in the Ether; + From the East, he sent a cloudlet, + From the North-east, sent a rain-cloud, + From the West another sent he, + From the North-west, still another, + Quickly from the South a warm-cloud; + Joined in seams the clouds together, + Sewed together all their edges, + Grasped the cloud, and hurled it earthward. + Quick the rain-cloud drops her honey, + Quick the rain-drops fall from heaven, + That the ears may quickly ripen, + That the barley crop may rustle. + Straightway grow the seeds of barley, + From the germ the blade unfolding, + Richly colored ears arising, + From the rich soil of the fallow, + From the work of Wainamoinen. + Here a few days pass unnoted + And as many nights fly over. + When the seventh day had journeyed, + On the morning of the eighth day, + Wainamoinen, wise and ancient, + Went to view his crop of barley, + How his plowing, how his sowing, + How his labors were resulting; + Found his crop of barley growing, + Found the blades were triple-knotted, + And the ears he found six-sided. + Wainamoinen, old and trusty, + Turned his face, and looked about him, + Lo! there comes a spring-time cuckoo, + Spying out the slender birch-tree, + Rests upon it, sweetly singing: + "Wherefore is the silver birch-tree + Left unharmed of all the forest? " + Spake the ancient Wainamoinen: + "Therefore I have left the birch-tree, + Left the birch-tree only growing, + Home for thee for joyful singing. + Call thou here, O sweet-voiced cuckoo, + Sing thou here from throat of velvet, + Sing thou here with voice of silver, + Sing the cuckoo's golden flute-notes; + Call at morning, call at evening, + Call within the hour of noontide, + For the better growth of forests, + For the ripening of the barley, + For the richness of, the Northland, + For the joy of Kalevala." + + + + +RUNE III. + + + + WAINAMOINEN AND YOUKAHAINEN. + + + Wainamoinen, ancient minstrel, + Passed his years in full contentment, + On the meadows of Wainola, + On the plains of Kalevala, + Singing ever wondrous legends, + Songs of ancient wit and wisdom, + Chanting one day, then a second, + Singing in the dusk of evening, + Singing till the dawn of morning, + Now the tales of old-time heroes, + Tales of ages long forgotten, + Now the legends of creation, + Once familiar to the children, + By our children sung no longer, + Sung in part by many heroes, + In these mournful days of evil, + Evil days our race befallen. + Far and wide the story travelled, + Far away men spread the knowledge + Of the chanting of the hero, + Of the song of Wainamoinen; + To the South were heard the echoes, + All of Northland heard the story. + Far away in dismal Northland, + Lived the singer, Youkahainen, + Lapland's young and reckless minstrel, + Once upon a time when feasting, + Dining with his friends and fellows, + Came upon his ears the story + That there lived a sweeter singer, + On the meadows of Wainola, + On the plains of Kalevala, + Better skilled in chanting legends, + Better skilled than Youkahainen, + Better than the one that taught him. + Straightway then the bard grew angry, + Envy rose within his bosom, + Envy of this Wainamoinen, + Famed to be a sweeter singer; + Hastes he angry to his mother, + To his mother, full of wisdom, + Vows that he will southward hasten, + Hie him southward and betake him + To the dwellings of Wainola, + To the cabins of the Northland, + There as bard to vie in battle, + With the famous Wainamoinen. + "Nay," replies the anxious father, + "Do not go to Kalevala." + "Nay," replies the fearful mother, + "Go not hence to Wainamoinen, + There with him to offer battle; + He will charm thee with his singing + Will bewitch thee in his anger, + He will drive thee back dishonored, + Sink thee in the fatal snow-drift, + Turn to ice thy pliant fingers, + Turn to ice thy feet and ankles." + These the words of Youkahainen: + Good the judgement of a father, + Better still, a mother's counsel, + Best of all one's own decision. + I will go and face the minstrel, + Challenge him to sing in contest, + Challenge him as bard to battle, + Sing to him my sweet-toned measures, + Chant to him my oldest legends, + Chant to him my garnered wisdom, + That this best of boasted singers, + That this famous bard of Suomi, + Shall be worsted in the contest, + Shall become a hapless minstrel; + By my songs shall I transform him, + That his feet shall be as flint-stone, + And as oak his nether raiment; + And this famous, best of singers, + Thus bewitched, shall carry ever, + In his heart a stony burden, + On his shoulder bow of marble, + On his hand a flint-stone gauntlet, + On his brow a stony visor." + Then the wizard, Youkahainen, + Heeding not advice paternal, + Heeding not his mother's counsel, + Leads his courser from his stable, + Fire outstreaming from his nostrils, + From his hoofs, the sparks outshooting, + Hitches to his sledge, the fleet-foot, + To his golden sledge, the courser, + Mounts impetuous his snow-sledge, + Leaps upon the hindmost cross-bench, + Strikes his courser with his birch-whip, + With his birch-whip, pearl-enamelled. + Instantly the prancing racer + Springs away upon his journey; + On he, restless, plunges northward, + All day long be onward gallops, + All the next day, onward, onward, + So the third from morn till evening, + Till the third day twilight brings him + To the meadows of Wainola, + To the plains of Kalevala. + As it happened, Wainamoinen, + Wainamoinen, the magician, + Rode that sunset on the highway, + Silently for pleasure driving + Down Wainola's peaceful meadows, + O'er the plains of Kalevala. + Youkahainen, young and fiery, + Urging still his foaming courser, + Dashes down upon the singer, + Does not turn aside in meeting, + Meeting thus in full collision; + Shafts are driven tight together, + Hames and collars wedged and tangled, + Tangled are the reins and traces. + Thus perforce they make a stand-still, + Thus remain and well consider; + Water drips from hame and collar, + Vapors rise from both their horses. + Speaks the minstrel, Wainamoinen: + "Who art thou, and whence? Thou comest + Driving like a stupid stripling, + Wainamoinen and Youkahainen. + Careless, dashing down upon me. + Thou hast ruined shafts and traces; + And the collar of my racer + Thou hast shattered into ruin, + And my golden sleigh is broken, + Box and runners dashed to pieces." + Youkahainen then make answer, + Spake at last the words that follow: + "I am youthful Youkahainen, + But make answer first, who thou art, + Whence thou comest, where thou goest, + From what lowly tribe descended?" + Wainamolinen, wise and ancient, + Answered thus the youthful minstrel: + "If thou art but Youkahainen, + Thou shouldst give me all the highway; + I am many years thy senior." + Then the boastful Youkahainen + Spake again to Wainamoinen: + "Young or ancient, little matter, + Little consequence the age is; + He that higher stands in wisdom, + He whose knowledge is the greater, + He that is the sweeter singer, + He alone shall keep the highway, + And the other take the roadside. + Art thou ancient Wainamoinen, + Famous sorcerer and minstrel? + Let us then begin our singing, + Let us sing our ancient legends, + Let us chant our garnered wisdom, + That the one may hear the other, + That the one may judge the other, + In a war of wizard sayings." + Wainamoinen, wise and ancient, + Thus replied in modest accents: + "What I know is very little, + Hardly is it worth the singing, + Neither is my singing wondrous: + All my days I have resided + In the cold and dreary Northland, + In a desert land enchanted, + In my cottage home for ayes; + All the songs that I have gathered, + Are the cuckoo's simple measures, + Some of these I may remember; + But since thou perforce demandest, + I accept thy boastful challenge. + Tell me now, my golden youngster, + What thou knowest more than others, + Open now thy store of wisdom." + Thus made answer Youkahainen, + Lapland's young and fiery minstrel: + "Know I many bits of learning + This I know in perfect clearness: + Every roof must have a chimney, + Every fire-place have a hearth-stone; + Lives of seal are free and merry, + Merry is the life of walrus, + Feeding on incautious salmon, + Daily eating perch and whiting; + Whitings live in quiet shallows, + Salmon love the level bottoms; + Spawns the pike in coldest weather, + And defies the storms of winter. + Slowly perches swim in Autumn, + Wry-backed, hunting deeper water, + Spawn in shallows in the summer, + Bounding on the shore of ocean. + Should this wisdom seem too little, + I can tell thee other matters, + Sing thee other wizard sayings: + All the Northmen plow with reindeer, + Mother-horses plow the Southland, + Inner Lapland plows with oxen; + All the trees on Pisa-mountain, + Know I well in all their grandeur; + On the Horna-rock are fir-trees, + Fir-trees growing tall and slender; + Slender grow the trees on mountains. + Three, the water-falls in number, + Three in number, inland oceans, + Three in number, lofty mountains, + Shooting to the vault of heaven. + Hallapyora's near to Yaemen, + Katrakoski in Karyala; + Imatra, the falling water, + Tumbles, roaring, into Wuoksi." + Then the ancient Wainimoinen: + "Women's tales and children's wisdom + Do not please a bearded hero, + Hero, old enough for wedlock; + Tell the story of creation, + Tell me of the world's beginning, + Tell me of the creatures in it, + And philosophize a little." + Then the youthful Youkahainen + Thus replied to Wainamoinen: + "Know I well the titmouse-fountains, + Pretty birdling is the titmouse; + And the viper, green, a serpent; + Whitings live in brackish waters; + Perches swim in every river; + Iron rusts, and rusting weakens; + Bitter is the taste of umber; + Boiling water is malicious; + Fire is ever full of danger; + First physician, the Creator; + Remedy the oldest, water; + Magic is the child of sea-foam; + God the first and best adviser; + Waters gush from every mountain; + Fire descended first from heaven; + Iron from the rust was fashioned; + Copper from the rocks created; + Marshes are of lands the oldest; + First of all the trees, the willow; + Fir-trees were the first of houses; + Hollowed stones the first of kettles." + Now the ancient Wainamoinen + Thus addresses Youkahainen: + "Canst thou give me now some wisdom, + Is this nonsense all thou knowest?" + Youkahainen thus made answer: + "I can tell thee still a trifle, + Tell thee of the times primeval, + When I plowed the salt-sea's bosom, + When I raked the sea-girt islands, + When I dug the salmon-grottoes, + Hollowed out the deepest caverns, + When I all the lakes created, + When I heaped the mountains round them, + When I piled the rocks about them. + I was present as a hero, + Sixth of wise and ancient heroes, + Seventh of all primeval heroes, + When the heavens were created, + When were formed the ether-spaces, + When the sky was crystal-pillared, + When was arched the beauteous rainbow, + When the Moon was placed in orbit, + When the silver Sun was planted, + When the Bear was firmly stationed, + And with stars the heavens were sprinkled." + Spake the ancient Wainamoinen: + "Thou art surely prince of liars, + Lord of all the host of liars; + Never wert thou in existence, + Surely wert thou never present, + When was plowed the salt-sea's bosom, + When were raked the sea-girt islands, + When were dug the salmon-grottoes, + When were hollowed out the caverns, + When the lakes were all created, + When were heaped the mountains round them, + When the rocks were piled about them. + Thou wert never seen or heard of + When the earth was first created, + When were made the ether-spaces, + When the air was crystal-pillared, + When the Moon was placed in orbit, + When the silver Sun was planted, + When the Bear was firmly stationed, + When the skies with stars were sprinkled." + Then in anger Youkahainen + Answered ancient Wainamoinen: + "Then, sir, since I fail in wisdom, + With the sword I offer battle; + Come thou, famous bard and minstrel, + Thou the ancient wonder-singer, + Let us try our strength with broadswords, + let our blades be fully tested." + Spake the ancient Wainamoinen: + "Not thy sword and not thy wisdom, + Not thy prudence, nor thy cunning, + Do I fear a single moment. + Let who may accept thy challenge, + Not with thee, a puny braggart, + Not with one so vain and paltry, + Will I ever measure broadswords." + Then the youthful Youkahainen, + Mouth awry and visage sneering, + Shook his golden locks and answered: + "Whoso fears his blade to measure, + Fears to test his strength at broadswords, + Into wild-boar of the forest, + Swine at heart and swine in visage, + Singing I will thus transform him; + I will hurl such hero-cowards, + This one hither, that one thither, + Stamp him in the mire and bedding, + In the rubbish of the stable." + Angry then grew Wainamoinen, + Wrathful waxed, and fiercely frowning, + Self-composed he broke his silence, + And began his wondrous singing. + Sang he not the tales of childhood, + Children's nonsense, wit of women, + Sang he rather bearded heroes, + That the children never heard of, + That the boys and maidens knew not + Known but half by bride and bridegroom, + Known in part by many heroes, + In these mournful days of evil, + Evil times our race befallen. + Grandly sang wise Wainamoinen, + Till the copper-bearing mountains, + And the flinty rocks and ledges + Heard his magic tones and trembled; + Mountain cliffs were torn to pieces, + All the ocean heaved and tumbled; + And the distant hills re-echoed. + Lo! the boastful Youkahainen + Is transfixed in silent wonder, + And his sledge with golden trimmings + Floats like brushwood on the billows; + Sings his braces into reed-grass, + Sings his reins to twigs of willow, + And to shrubs his golden cross-bench. + Lo! his birch-whip, pearl-enameled, + Floats a reed upon the border; + Lo! his steed with golden forehead, + Stands a statue on the waters; + Hames and traces are as fir-boughs, + And his collar, straw and sea-grass. + Still the minstrel sings enchantment, + Sings his sword with golden handle, + Sings it into gleam of lightning, + Hangs it in the sky above him; + Sings his cross-bow, gaily painted, + To a rainbow o'er the ocean; + Sings his quick and feathered arrows + Into hawks and screaming eagles; + Sings his dog with bended muzzle, + Into block of stone beside him; + Sings his cap from off his forehead, + Sings it into wreaths of vapor; + From his hands he sings his gauntlets + Into rushes on the waters; + Sings his vesture, purple-colored, + Into white clouds in the heavens; + Sings his girdle, set with jewels, + Into twinkling stars around him; + And alas! for Youkahainen, + Sings him into deeps of quick-sand; + Ever deeper, deeper, deeper, + In his torture, sinks the wizard, + To his belt in mud and water. + Now it was that Youkahainen + Comprehended but too clearly + What his folly, what the end was, + Of the journey he had ventured, + Vainly he had undertaken + For the glory of a contest + With the grand, old Wainamoinen. + When at last young Youkahainen, + Pohyola's old and sorry stripling, + Strives his best to move his right foot, + But alas! the foot obeys not; + When he strives to move his left foot, + Lo! he finds it turned to flint-stone. + Thereupon sad Youkahainen, + In the deeps of desperation, + And in earnest supplication, + Thus addresses Wainamoinen: + "O thou wise and worthy minstrel, + Thou the only true, magician, + Cease I pray thee thine enchantment,. + Only turn away thy magic, + Let me leave this slough of horror, + Loose me from this stony prison, + Free me from this killing torment, + I will pay a golden ransom." + Spake the ancient Wainamoinen: + "What the ransom thou wilt give me + If I cease from mine enchantment, + If I turn away my magic, + Lift thee from thy slough of horror, + Loose thee from thy stony prison, + Free thee from thy killing torment?" + Answered youthful Youkahainen: + "Have at home two magic cross-bows, + Pair of bows of wondrous power, + One so light a child can bend it, + Only strength can bend the other, + Take of these the one that pleases." + Then the ancient Wainamoinen: + "Do not wish thy magic cross-bows, + Have a few of such already, + Thine to me are worse than useless + I have bows in great abundance, + Bows on every nail and rafter, + Bows that laugh at all the hunters, + Bows that go themselves a-hunting." + Then the ancient Wainamoinen + Sang alas! poor Youkahainen + Deeper into mud and water, + Deeper in the slough of torment. + Youkahainen thus made answer: + "Have at home two magic shallops, + Beautiful the boats and wondrous; + One rides light upon the ocean, + One is made for heavy burdens; + Take of these the one that pleases." + Spake the ancient Wainamoinen: + "Do not wish thy magic shallops, + Have enough of such already; + All my bays are full of shallops, + All my shores are lined with shallops, + Some before the winds are sailors, + Some were built to sail against them." + Still the Wainola bard and minstrel + Sings again poor Youkahainen + Deeper, deeper into torment, + Into quicksand to his girdle, + Till the Lapland bard in anguish + Speaks again to Wainamoinen: + "Have at home two magic stallions, + One a racer, fleet as lightning, + One was born for heavy burdens; + Take of these the one that pleases." + Spake the ancient Wainamoinen: + "Neither do I wish thy stallions, + Do not need thy hawk-limbed stallions, + Have enough of these already; + Magic stallions swarm my stables, + Eating corn at every manger, + Broad of back to hold the water, + Water on each croup in lakelets." + Still the bard of Kalevala + Sings the hapless Lapland minstrel + Deeper, deeper into torment, + To his shoulders into water. + Spake again young Youkahainen: + "O thou ancient Wainamoinen, + Thou the only true magician, + Cease I pray thee thine enchantment, + Only turn away thy magic, + I will give thee gold abundant, + Countless stores of shining silver; + From the wars my father brought it, + Brought it from the hard-fought battles." + Spake the wise, old Wainamoinen: + "For thy gold I have no longing, + Neither do I wish thy silver, + Have enough of each already; + Gold abundant fills my chambers, + On each nail hang bags of silver, + Gold that glitters in the sunshine, + Silver shining in the moonlight." + Sank the braggart, Youkahainen, + Deeper in his slough of torment, + To his chin in mud and water, + Ever praying, thus beseeching: + "O thou ancient Wainamoinen, + Greatest of the old magicians, + Lift me from this pit of horror, + From this prison-house of torture; + I will give thee all my corn-fields, + Give thee all my corn in garners, + Thus my hapless life to ransom, + Thus to gain eternal freedom." + Wainamoinen thus made answer: + "Take thy corn to other markets, + Give thy garners to the needy; + I have corn in great abundance, + Fields have I in every quarter, + Corn in all my fields is growing; + One's own fields are always richer, + One's own grain is much the sweeter." + Lapland's young and reckless minstrel, + Sorrow-laden, thus enchanted, + Deeper sinks in mud and water, + Fear-enchained and full of anguish, + In the mire, his beard bedrabbled, + Mouth once boastful filled with sea-weed, + In the grass his teeth entangled, + Youkahainen thus beseeches: + "O thou ancient Wainamoinen, + Wisest of the wisdom-singers, + Cease at last thine incantations, + Only turn away thy magic, + And my former life restore me, + Lift me from this stifling torment, + Free mine eyes from sand and water, + I will give thee sister, Aino, + Fairest daughter of my mother, + Bride of thine to be forever, + Bride of thine to do thy pleasure, + Sweep the rooms within thy cottage, + Keep thy dwelling-place in order, + Rinse for thee the golden platters, + Spread thy couch with finest linens, + For thy bed, weave golden covers, + Bake for thee the honey-biscuit." + Wainamoinen, old and truthful, + Finds at last the wished-for ransom, + Lapland's young and fairest daughter, + Sister dear of Youkahainen; + Happy he, that he has won him, + In his age a beauteous maiden, + Bride of his to be forever, + Pride and joy of Kalevala. + Now the happy Wainamoinen, + Sits upon the rock of gladness, + Joyful on the rock of music, + Sings a little, sings and ceases, + Sings again, and sings a third time, + Thus to break the spell of magic, + Thus to lessen the enchantment, + Thus the potent charm to banish. + As the magic spell is broken, + Youkahainen, sad, but wiser, + Drags his feet from out the quicksand, + Lifts his beard from out the water, + From the rocks leads forth his courser, + Brings his sledge back from the rushes, + Calls his whip back from the ocean, + Sets his golden sledge in order, + Throws himself upon the cross-bench, + Snaps his whip and hies him homeward, + Hastens homeward, heavy-hearted, + Sad indeed to meet his mother, + Aino's mother, gray and aged. + Careless thus be hastens homeward, + Nears his home with noise and bustle, + Reckless drives against the pent-house, + Breaks the shafts against the portals, + Breaks his handsome sledge in pieces. + Then his mother, quickly guessing, + Would have chided him for rashness, + But the father interrupted: + "Wherefore dost thou break thy snow-sledge, + Wherefore dash thy thills in fragments, + Wherefore comest home so strangely, + Why this rude and wild behavior?" + Now alas! poor Youkahainen, + Cap awry upon his forehead, + Falls to weeping, broken-hearted, + Head depressed and mind dejected, + Eyes and lips expressing sadness, + Answers not his anxious father. + Then the mother quickly asked him, + Sought to find his cause for sorrow: + "Tell me, first-born, why thou weepest, + Why thou weepest, heavy-hearted, + Why thy mind is so dejected, + Why thine eyes express such sadness." + Youkahainen then made answer: + "Golden mother, ever faithful, + Cause there is to me sufficient, + Cause enough in what has happened, + Bitter cause for this my sorrow, + Cause for bitter tears and murmurs: + All my days will pass unhappy, + Since, O mother of my being, + I have promised beauteous Aino, + Aino, thy beloved daughter, + Aino, my devoted sister, + To decrepit Wainamoinen, + Bride to be to him forever, + Roof above him, prop beneath him, + Fair companion at his fire-side." + Joyful then arose the mother, + Clapped her hands in glee together, + Thus addressing Youkahainen: + "Weep no more, my son beloved, + Thou hast naught to cause thy weeping, + Hast no reason for thy sorrow, + Often I this hope have cherished; + Many years have I been praying + That this mighty bard and hero, + Wise and valiant Wainamoinen, + Spouse should be to beauteous Aino, + Son-in-law to me, her mother." + But the fair and lovely maiden, + Sister dear of Youkahainen, + Straightway fell to bitter weeping, + On the threshold wept and lingered, + Wept all day and all the night long, + Wept a second, then a third day, + Wept because a bitter sorrow + On her youthful heart had fallen. + Then the gray-haired mother asked her: + "Why this weeping, lovely Aino? + Thou hast found a noble suitor, + Thou wilt rule his spacious dwelling, + At his window sit and rest thee, + Rinse betimes his golden platters, + Walk a queen within his dwelling." + Thus replied the tearful Aino: + "Mother dear, and all-forgiving, + Cause enough for this my sorrow, + Cause enough for bitter weeping: + I must loose my sunny tresses, + Tresses beautiful and golden, + Cannot deck my hair with jewels, + Cannot bind my head with ribbons, + All to be hereafter hidden + Underneath the linen bonnet + That the wife. must wear forever; + Weep at morning, weep at evening, + Weep alas! for waning beauty, + Childhood vanished, youth departed, + Silver sunshine, golden moonlight, + Hope and pleasure of my childhood, + Taken from me now forever, + And so soon to be forgotten + At the tool-bench of my brother, + At the window of my sister, + In the cottage of my father." + Spake again the gray-haired mother + To her wailing daughter Aino: + "Cease thy sorrow, foolish maiden, + By thy tears thou art ungrateful, + Reason none for thy repining, + Not the slightest cause for weeping; + Everywhere the silver sunshine + Falls as bright on other households; + Not alone the moonlight glimmers + Through thy father's open windows, + On the work-bench of thy brother; + Flowers bloom in every meadow, + Berries grow on every mountain; + Thou canst go thyself and find them, + All the day long go and find them; + Not alone thy brother's meadows + Grow the beauteous vines and flowers; + Not alone thy father's mountains + Yield the ripe, nutritious berries; + Flowers bloom in other meadows, + Berries grow on other mountains, + There as here, my lovely Aino." + + + + +RUNE IV. + + + + THE FATE OF AINO. + + + When the night had passed, the maiden, + Sister fair of Youkahainen, + Hastened early to the forest, + Birchen shoots for brooms to gather, + Went to gather birchen tassels; + Bound a bundle for her father, + Bound a birch-broom for her mother, + Silken tassels for her sister. + Straightway then she hastened homeward, + By a foot-path left the forest; + As she neared the woodland border, + Lo! the ancient Wainamoinen, + Quickly spying out the maiden, + As she left the birchen woodland, + Trimly dressed in costly raiment, + And the minstrel thus addressed her: + "Aino, beauty of the Northland, + Wear not, lovely maid, for others, + Only wear for me, sweet maiden, + Golden cross upon thy bosom, + Shining pearls upon thy shoulders; + Bind for me thine auburn tresses, + Wear for me thy golden braidlets." + Thus the maiden quickly answered: + "Not for thee and not for others, + Hang I from my neck the crosslet, + Deck my hair with silken ribbons; + Need no more the many trinkets + Brought to me by ship or shallop; + Sooner wear the simplest raiment, + Feed upon the barley bread-crust, + Dwell forever with my mother + In the cabin with my father." + Then she threw the gold cross from her, + Tore the jewels from her fingers, + Quickly loosed her shining necklace, + Quick untied her silken ribbons, + Cast them all away indignant + Into forest ferns and flowers. + Thereupon the maiden, Aino, + Hastened to her mother's cottage. + At the window sat her father + Whittling on an oaken ax-helve: + "Wherefore weepest, beauteous Aino, + Aino, my beloved daughter? + "Cause enough for weeping, father, + Good the reasons for my mourning, + This, the reason for my weeping, + This, the cause of all my sorrow: + From my breast I tore the crosslet, + From my belt, the clasp of copper, + From my waist, the belt of silver, + Golden was my pretty crosslet." + Near the door-way sat her brother, + Carving out a birchen ox-bow: + "Why art weeping, lovely Aino, + Aino, my devoted sister?" + "Cause enough for weeping, brother, + Good the reasons for my mourning + Therefore come I as thou seest, + Rings no longer on my fingers, + On my neck no pretty necklace; + Golden were the rings thou gavest, + And the necklace, pearls and silver!" + On the threshold sat her sister, + Weaving her a golden girdle: + "Why art weeping, beauteous Aino, + Aino, my beloved sister?" + "Cause enough for weeping, sister, + Good the reasons for my sorrow: + Therefore come I as thou seest, + On my head no scarlet fillet, + In my hair no braids of silver, + On mine arms no purple ribbons, + Round my neck no shining necklace, + On my breast no golden crosslet, + In mine ears no golden ear-rings." + Near the door-way of the dairy, + Skimming cream, sat Aino's mother. + "Why art weeping, lovely Aino, + Aino, my devoted daughter?" + Thus the sobbing maiden answered; + "Loving mother, all-forgiving, + Cause enough for this my weeping, + Good the reasons for my sorrow, + Therefore do I weep, dear mother: + I have been within the forest, + Brooms to bind and shoots to gather, + There to pluck some birchen tassels; + Bound a bundle for my father, + Bound a second for my mother, + Bound a third one for my brother, + For my sister silken tassels. + Straightway then I hastened homeward, + By a foot-path left the forest; + As I reached the woodland border + Spake Osmoinen from the cornfield, + Spake the ancient Wainamoinen: + 'Wear not, beauteous maid, for others, + Only wear for me, sweet maiden, + On thy breast a golden crosslet, + Shining pearls upon thy shoulders, + Bind for me thine auburn tresses, + Weave for me thy silver braidlets.' + Then I threw the gold-cross from me, + Tore the jewels from my fingers, + Quickly loosed my shining necklace, + Quick untied my silken ribbons, + Cast them all away indignant, + Into forest ferns and flowers. + Then I thus addressed the singer: + 'Not for thee and not for others, + Hang I from my neck the crosslet, + Deck my hair with silken ribbons; + Need no more the many trinkets, + Brought to me by ship and shallop; + Sooner wear the simplest raiment, + Feed upon the barley bread-crust, + Dwell forever with my mother + In the cabin with my father.'" + Thus the gray-haired mother answered + Aino, her beloved daughter: + "Weep no more, my lovely maiden, + Waste no more of thy sweet young-life; + One year eat thou my sweet butter, + It will make thee strong and ruddy; + Eat another year fresh bacon, + It will make thee tall and queenly; + Eat a third year only dainties, + It will make thee fair and lovely. + Now make haste to yonder hill-top, + To the store-house on the mountain, + Open there the large compartment, + Thou will find it filled with boxes, + Chests and cases, trunks and boxes; + Open thou the box, the largest, + Lift away the gaudy cover, + Thou will find six golden girdles, + Seven rainbow-tinted dresses, + Woven by the Moon's fair daughters, + Fashioned by the Sun's sweet virgins. + In my young years once I wandered, + As a maiden on the mountains, + In the happy days of childhood, + Hunting berries in the coppice; + There by chance I heard the daughters + Of the Moon as they were weaving; + There I also heard the daughters + Of the Sun as they were spinning + On the red rims of the cloudlets, + O'er the blue edge of the forest, + On the border of the pine-wood, + On a high and distant mountain. + I approached them, drawing nearer, + Stole myself within their hearing, + Then began I to entreat them, + Thus besought them, gently pleading: + 'Give thy silver, Moon's fair daughters, + To a poor, but worthy maiden; + Give thy gold, O Sun's sweet virgins, + To this maiden, young and needy.' + Thereupon the Moon's fair daughters + Gave me silver from their coffers; + And the Sun's sweet shining virgins + Gave me gold from their abundance, + Gold to deck my throbbing temples, + For my hair the shining silver. + Then I hastened joyful homeward, + Richly laden with my treasures, + Happy to my mother's cottage; + Wore them one day, than a second, + Then a third day also wore them, + Took the gold then from my temples, + From my hair I took the silver, + Careful laid them in their boxes, + Many seasons have they lain there, + Have not seen them since my childhood. + Deck thy brow with silken ribbon, + Trim with gold thy throbbing temples, + And thy neck with pearly necklace, + Hang the gold-cross on thy bosom, + Robe thyself in pure, white linen + Spun from flax of finest fiber; + Wear withal the richest short-frock, + Fasten it with golden girdle; + On thy feet, put silken stockings, + With the shoes of finest leather; + Deck thy hair with golden braidlets, + Bind it well with threads of silver; + Trim with rings thy fairy fingers, + And thy hands with dainty ruffles; + Come bedecked then to thy chamber, + Thus return to this thy household, + To the greeting of thy kindred, + To the joy of all that know thee, + Flushed thy cheeks as ruddy berries, + Coming as thy father's sunbeam, + Walking beautiful and queenly, + Far more beautiful than moonlight." + Thus she spake to weeping Aino, + Thus the mother to her daughter; + But the maiden, little bearing, + Does not heed her mother's wishes; + Straightway hastens to the court-yard, + There to weep in bitter sorrow, + All alone to weep in anguish. + Waiting long the wailing Aino + Thus at last soliloquizes: + "Unto what can I now liken + Happy homes and joys of fortune? + Like the waters in the river, + Like the waves in yonder lakelet, + Like the crystal waters flowing. + Unto what, the biting sorrow + Of the child of cold misfortune? + Like the spirit of the sea-duck, + Like the icicle in winter, + Water in the well imprisoned. + Often roamed my mind in childhood, + When a maiden free and merry, + Happily through fen and fallow, + Gamboled on the meads with lambkins, + Lingered with the ferns and flowers, + Knowing neither pain nor trouble; + Now my mind is filled with sorrow, + Wanders though the bog and stubble, + Wanders weary through the brambles, + Roams throughout the dismal forest, + Till my life is filled with darkness, + And my spirit white with anguish. + Better had it been for Aino + Had she never seen the sunlight, + Or if born had died an infant, + Had not lived to be a maiden + In these days of sin and sorrow, + Underneath a star so luckless. + Better had it been for Aino, + Had she died upon the eighth day + After seven nights had vanished; + Needed then but little linen, + Needed but a little coffin, + And a grave of smallest measure; + Mother would have mourned a little, + Father too perhaps a trifle, + Sister would have wept the day through, + Brother might have shed a tear-drop, + Thus had ended all the mourning." + Thus poor Aino wept and murmured, + Wept one day, and then a second, + Wept a third from morn till even, + When again her mother asked her: + "Why this weeping, fairest daughter, + Darling daughter, why this grieving? + Thus the tearful maiden answered: + Therefore do I weep and sorrow, + Wretched maiden all my life long, + Since poor Aino, thou hast given, + Since thy daughter thou hast promised + To the aged Wainamoinen, + Comfort to his years declining + Prop to stay him when he totters, + In the storm a roof above him, + In his home a cloak around him; + Better far if thou hadst sent me + Far below the salt-sea surges, + To become the whiting's sister, + And the friend of perch and salmon; + Better far to ride the billows, + Swim the sea-foam as a mermaid, + And the friend of nimble fishes, + Than to be an old man's solace, + Prop to stay him when be totters, + Hand to aid him when he trembles, + Arm to guide him when he falters, + Strength to give him when he weakens; + Better be the whiting's sister + And the friend of perch and salmon, + Than an old man's slave and darling." + Ending thus she left her mother, + Straightway hastened to the mountain? + To the store-house on the summit, + Opened there the box the largest, + From the box six lids she lifted, + Found therein six golden girdles, + Silken dresses seven in number. + Choosing such as pleased her fancy, + She adorned herself as bidden, + Robed herself to look her fairest, + Gold upon her throbbing temples, + In her hair the shining silver, + On her shoulders purple ribbons, + Band of blue around her forehead, + Golden cross, and rings, and jewels, + Fitting ornaments to beauty. + Now she leaves her many treasures, + Leaves the store-house on the mountain, + Filled with gold and silver trinkets, + Wanders over field and meadow, + Over stone-fields waste and barren, + Wanders on through fen and forest, + Through the forest vast and cheerless, + Wanders hither, wanders thither, + Singing careless as she wanders, + This her mournful song and echo: + "Woe is me, my life hard-fated! + Woe to Aino, broken-hearted! + Torture racks my heart and temples, + Yet the sting would not be deeper, + Nor the pain and anguish greater, + If beneath this weight of sorrow, + In my saddened heart's dejection, + I should yield my life forever, + Now unhappy, I should perish! + Lo! the time has come for Aino + From this cruel world to hasten, + To the kingdom of Tuoni, + To the realm of the departed, + To the isle of the hereafter. + Weep no more for me, O Father, + Mother dear, withhold thy censure, + Lovely sister, dry thine eyelids, + Do not mourn me, dearest brother, + When I sink beneath the sea-foam, + Make my home in salmon-grottoes, + Make my bed in crystal waters, + Water-ferns my couch and pillow." + All day long poor Aino wandered, + All the next day, sad and weary, + So the third from morn till evening, + Till the cruel night enwrapped her, + As she reached the sandy margin, + Reached the cold and dismal sea-shore, + Sat upon the rock of sorrow, + Sat alone in cold and darkness, + Listened only to the music + Of the winds and rolling billows, + Singing all the dirge of Aino. + All that night the weary maiden + Wept and wandered on the border + Through the sand and sea-washed pebbles. + As the day dawns, looking round her, + She beholds three water-maidens, + On a headland jutting seaward, + Water-maidens four in number, + Sitting on the wave-lashed ledges, + Swimming now upon the billows, + Now upon the rocks reposing. + Quick the weeping maiden, Aino, + Hastens there to join the mermaids, + Fairy maidens of the waters. + Weeping Aino, now disrobing, + Lays aside with care her garments, + Hangs her silk robes on the alders, + Drops her gold-cross on the sea-shore, + On the aspen hangs her ribbons, + On the rocks her silken stockings, + On the grass her shoes of deer-skin, + In the sand her shining necklace, + With her rings and other jewels. + Out at sea a goodly distance, + Stood a rock of rainbow colors, + Glittering in silver sunlight. + Toward it springs the hapless maiden, + Thither swims the lovely Aino, + Up the standing-stone has clambered, + Wishing there to rest a moment, + Rest upon the rock of beauty; + When upon a sudden swaying + To and fro among the billows, + With a crash and roar of waters + Falls the stone of many colors, + Falls upon the very bottom + Of the deep and boundless blue-sea. + With the stone of rainbow colors, + Falls the weeping maiden, Aino, + Clinging to its craggy edges, + Sinking far below the surface, + To the bottom of the blue-sea. + Thus the weeping maiden vanished. + Thus poor Aino sank and perished, + Singing as the stone descended, + Chanting thus as she departed: + Once to swim I sought the sea-side, + There to sport among the billows; + With the stone or many colors + Sank poor Aino to the bottom + Of the deep and boundless blue-sea, + Like a pretty son-bird. perished. + Never come a-fishing, father, + To the borders of these waters, + Never during all thy life-time, + As thou lovest daughter Aino. + "Mother dear, I sought the sea-side, + There to sport among the billows; + With the stone of many colors, + Sank poor Aino to the bottom + Of the deep and boundless blue-sea, + Like a pretty song-bird perished. + Never mix thy bread, dear mother, + With the blue-sea's foam and waters, + Never during all thy life-time, + As thou lovest daughter Aino. + Brother dear, I sought the sea-side, + There to sport among the billows; + With the stone of many colors + Sank poor Aino to the bottom + Of the deep and boundless blue-sea, + Like a pretty song-bird perished. + Never bring thy prancing war-horse, + Never bring thy royal racer, + Never bring thy steeds to water, + To the borders of the blue-sea, + Never during all thy life-time, + As thou lovest sister Aino. + "Sister dear, I sought the sea-side, + There to sport among the billows; + With the stone of many colors + Sank poor Aino to the bottom + Of the deep and boundless blue-sea, + Like a pretty song-bird perished. + Never come to lave thine eyelids + In this rolling wave and sea-foam, + Never during all thy life-time, + As thou lovest sister Aino. + All the waters in the blue-sea + Shall be blood of Aino's body; + All the fish that swim these waters + Shall be Aino's flesh forever; + All the willows on the sea-side + Shall be Aino's ribs hereafter; + All the sea-grass on the margin + Will have grown from Aino's tresses." + Thus at last the maiden vanished, + Thus the lovely Aino perished. + Who will tell the cruel story, + Who will bear the evil tidings + To the cottage of her mother, + Once the home of lovely Aino? + Will the bear repeat the story, + Tell the tidings to her mother? + Nay, the bear must not be herald, + He would slay the herds of cattle. + Who then tell the cruel story, + Who will bear the evil tidings + To the cottage of her father, + Once the home of lovely Aino? + Shall the wolf repeat the story, + Tell the sad news to her father? + Nay, the wolf must not be herald, + He would eat the gentle lambkins. + Who then tell the cruel story, + Who will bear the evil tidings. + To the cottage of her sister? + 'Will the fox repeat the story + Tell the tidings to her sister? + Nay, the fox must not be herald, + He would eat the ducks and chickens. + Who then tell the cruel story, + Who will bear the evil tidings + To the cottage of her brother, + Once the home of lovely Aino? + Shall the hare repeat the story, + Bear the sad news to her brother? + Yea, the hare shall be the herald, + Tell to all the cruel story. + Thus the harmless hare makes answer: + "I will bear the evil tidings + To the former home of Aino, + Tell the story to her kindred." + Swiftly flew the long-eared herald, + Like the winds be hastened onward, + Galloped swift as flight of eagles; + Neck awry he bounded forward + Till he gained the wished-for cottage, + Once the home of lovely Aino. + Silent was the home, and vacant; + So he hastened to the bath-house, + Found therein a group of maidens, + Working each upon a birch-broom. + Sat the hare upon the threshold, + And the maidens thus addressed him: + "Hie e there, Long-legs, or we'll roast thee, + Hie there, Big-eye, or we'll stew thee, + Roast thee for our lady's breakfast, + Stew thee for our master's dinner, + Make of thee a meal for Aino, + And her brother, Youkahainen! + Better therefore thou shouldst gallop + To thy burrow in the mountains, + Than be roasted for our dinners." + Then the haughty hare made answer, + Chanting thus the fate of Aino: + "Think ye not I journey hither, + To be roasted in the skillet, + To be stewed in yonder kettle + Let fell Lempo fill thy tables! + I have come with evil tidings, + Come to tell the cruel story + Of the flight and death of Aino, + Sister dear of Youkahainen. + With the stone of many colors + Sank poor Aino to the bottom + Of the deep and boundless waters, + Like a pretty song-bird perished; + Hung her ribbons on the aspen, + Left her gold-cross on the sea-shore, + Silken robes upon the alders, + On the rocks her silken stockings, + On the grass her shoes of deer-skin, + In the sand her shining necklace, + In the sand her rings and jewels; + In the waves, the lovely Aino, + Sleeping on the very bottom + Of the deep and boundless blue-sea, + In the caverns of the salmon, + There to be the whiting's sister + And the friend of nimble fishes." + Sadly weeps the ancient mother + From her blue-eyes bitter tear-drops, + As in sad and wailing measures, + Broken-hearted thus she answers: + "Listen, all ye mothers, listen, + Learn from me a tale of wisdom: + Never urge unwilling daughters + From the dwellings of their fathers, + To the bridegrooms that they love not, + Not as I, inhuman mother, + Drove away my lovely Aino, + Fairest daughter of the Northland." + Sadly weeps the gray-haired mother, + And the tears that fall are bitter, + Flowing down her wrinkled visage, + Till they trickle on her bosom; + Then across her heaving bosom, + Till they reach her garment's border; + Then adown her silken stockings, + Till they touch her shoes of deer-skin; + Then beneath her shoes of deer-skin, + Flowing on and flowing ever, + Part to earth as its possession, + Part to water as its portion. + As the tear-drops fall and mingle, + Form they streamlets three in number, + And their source, the mother's eyelids, + Streamlets formed from pearly tear-drops, + Flowing on like little rivers, + And each streamlet larger growing, + Soon becomes a rushing torrent + In each rushing, roaring torrent + There a cataract is foaming, + Foaming in the silver sunlight; + From the cataract's commotion + Rise three pillared rocks in grandeur; + From each rock, upon the summit, + Grow three hillocks clothed in verdure; + From each hillock, speckled birches, + Three in number, struggle skyward; + On the summit of each birch-tree + Sits a golden cuckoo calling, + And the three sing, all in concord: + "Love! O Love! the first one calleth; + Sings the second, Suitor! Suitor! + And the third one calls and echoes, + "Consolation! Consolation!" + He that "Love! O Love!" is calling, + Calls three moons and calls unceasing, + For the love-rejecting maiden + Sleeping in the deep sea-castles. + He that "Suitor! Suitor!" singeth, + Sings six moons and sings unceasing + For the suitor that forever + Sings and sues without a hearing. + He that sadly sings and echoes, + "Consolation! Consolation!" + Sings unceasing all his life long + For the broken-hearted mother + That must mourn and weep forever. + When the lone and wretched mother + Heard the sacred cuckoo singing, + Spake she thus, and sorely weeping: + "When I hear the cuckoo calling, + Then my heart is filled with sorrow; + Tears unlock my heavy eyelids, + Flow adown my, furrowed visage, + Tears as large as silver sea pearls; + Older grow my wearied elbows, + Weaker ply my aged fingers, + Wearily, in all its members, + Does my body shake in palsy, + When I hear the cuckoo singing, + Hear the sacred cuckoo calling." + + + + +RUNE V. + + + + WAINAVOINEN'S LAMENTATION. + + + Far and wide the tidings travelled, + Far away men heard the story + Of the flight and death of Aino, + Sister dear of Youkahainen, + Fairest daughter of creation. + Wainamoinen, brave and truthful, + Straightway fell to bitter weeping, + Wept at morning, wept at evening, + Sleepless, wept the dreary night long, + That his Aino had departed, + That the maiden thus had vanished, + Thus had sunk upon the bottom + Of the blue-sea, deep and boundless. + Filled with grief, the ancient singer, + Wainamoinen of the Northland, + Heavy-hearted, sorely weeping, + Hastened to the restless waters, + This the suitor's prayer and question: + "Tell, Untamo, tell me, dreamer, + Tell me, Indolence, thy visions, + Where the water-gods may linger, + Where may rest Wellamo's maidens?" + Then Untamo, thus made answer, + Lazily he told his dreamings: + "Over there, the mermaid-dwellings, + Yonder live Wellamo's maidens, + On the headland robed in verdure, + On the forest-covered island, + In the deep, pellucid waters, + On the purple-colored sea-shore; + Yonder is the home or sea-maids, + There the maidens of Wellamo, + Live there in their sea-side chambers, + Rest within their water-caverns, + On the rocks of rainbow colors, + On the juttings of the sea-cliffs." + Straightway hastens Wainamoinen + To a boat-house on the sea-shore, + Looks with care upon the fish-hooks, + And the lines he well considers; + Lines, and hooks, and poles, arid fish-nets, + Places in a boat of copper, + Then begins he swiftly rowing + To the forest-covered island, + To the point enrobed In verdure, + To the purple-colored headland, + Where the sea-nymphs live and linger. + Hardly does he reach the island + Ere the minstrel starts to angle; + Far away he throws his fish-hook, + Trolls it quickly through the waters, + Turning on a copper swivel + Dangling from a silver fish-line, + Golden is the hook he uses. + Now he tries his silken fish-net, + Angles long, and angles longer, + Angles one day, then a second, + In the morning, in the evening, + Angles at the hour of noontide, + Many days and nights he angles, + Till at last, one sunny morning, + Strikes a fish of magic powers, + Plays like salmon on his fish-line, + Lashing waves across the waters, + Till at length the fish exhausted + Falls a victim to the angler, + Safely landed in the bottom + Of the hero's boat of copper. + Wainamoinen, proudly viewing, + Speaks these words in wonder guessing: + "This the fairest of all sea-fish, + Never have I seen its equal, + Smoother surely than the salmon, + Brighter-spotted than the trout is, + Grayer than the pike of Suomi, + Has less fins than any female, + Not the fins of any male fish, + Not the stripes of sea-born maidens, + Not the belt of any mermaid, + Not the ears of any song-bird, + Somewhat like our Northland salmon + From the blue-sea's deepest caverns." + In his belt the ancient hero + Wore a knife insheathed with silver; + From its case he drew the fish-knife, + Thus to carve the fish in pieces, + Dress the nameless fish for roasting, + Make of it a dainty breakfast, + Make of it a meal at noon-day, + Make for him a toothsome supper, + Make the later meal at evening. + Straightway as the fish he touches, + Touches with his knife of silver, + Quick it leaps upon the waters, + Dives beneath the sea's smooth surface, + From the boat with copper bottom, + From the skiff of Wainamoinen. + In the waves at goodly distance, + Quickly from the sea it rises + On the sixth and seventh billows, + Lifts its head above the waters, + Out of reach of fishing-tackle, + Then addresses Wainamoinen, + Chiding thus the ancient hero: + "Wainamoinen, ancient minstrel, + Do not think that I came hither + To be fished for as a salmon, + Only to be chopped in pieces, + Dressed and eaten like a whiting + Make for thee a dainty breakfast, + Make for thee a meal at midday, + Make for thee a toothsome supper, + Make the fourth meal of the Northland." + Spake the ancient Wainamoinen: + "Wherefore didst thou then come hither, + If it be not for my dinner?" + Thus the nameless fish made answer: + "Hither have I come, O minstrel, + In thine arms to rest and linger, + And thyself to love and cherish, + At thy side a life-companion, + And thy wife to be forever; + Deck thy couch with snowy linen, + Smooth thy head upon the pillow, + Sweep thy rooms and make them cheery, + Keep thy dwelling-place in order, + Build a fire for thee when needed, + Bake for thee the honey-biscuit, + Fill thy cup with barley-water, + Do for thee whatever pleases. + "I am not a scaly sea-fish, + Not a trout of Northland rivers, + Not a whiting from the waters, + Not a salmon of the North-seas, + I, a young and merry maiden, + Friend and sister of the fishes, + Youkahainen's youngest sister, + I, the one that thou dost fish for, + I am Aino whom thou lovest. + "Once thou wert the wise-tongued hero, + Now the foolish Wainamoinen, + Scant of insight, scant of judgment, + Didst not know enough to keep me, + Cruel-hearted, bloody-handed, + Tried to kill me with thy fish-knife, + So to roast me for thy dinner; + I, a mermaid of Wellamo, + Once the fair and lovely Aino, + Sister dear of Youkahainen." + Spake the ancient Wainamoinen, + Filled with sorrow, much regretting: + "Since thou'rt Youkahainen's sister, + Beauteous Aino of Pohyola, + Come to me again I pray thee!" + Thus the mermaid wisely answered; + Nevermore will Aino's spirit + Fly to thee and be ill-treated." + Quickly dived the water-maiden + From the surface of the billow + To the many-colored pebbles, + To the rainbow-tinted grottoes + Where the mermaids live and linger. + Wainamoinen, not discouraged, + Thought afresh and well reflected, + How to live, and work, and win her; + Drew with care his silken fish-net, + To and fro through foam and billow, + Through the bays and winding channels, + Drew it through the placid waters, + Drew it through the salmon-dwellings, + Through the homes of water-maidens, + Through the waters of Wainola, + Through the blue-back of the ocean, + Through the lakes of distant Lapland, + Through the rivers of Youkola, + Through the seas of Kalevala, + Hoping thus to find his Aino. + Many were the fish be landed, + Every form of fish-like creatures, + But be did not catch the sea-maid, + Not Wellamo's water-maiden, + Fairest daughter of the Northland. + Finally the ancient minstrel, + Mind depressed, and heart discouraged, + Spake these words, immersed in sorrow: + "Fool am I, and great my folly, + Having neither wit nor judgment; + Surely once I had some knowledge, + Had some insight into wisdom, + Had at least a bit of instinct; + But my virtues all have left me + In these mournful days of evil, + Vanished with my youth and vigor, + Insight gone, and sense departed, + All my prudence gone to others! + Aino, whom I love and cherish, + All these years have sought to honor, + Aino, now Wellamo's maiden, + Promised friend of mine when needed, + Promised bride of mine forever, + Once I had within my power, + Caught her in Wellamo's grottoes, + Led her to my boat of copper, + With my fish-line made of silver; + But alas! I could not keep her, + Did not know that I had caught her + Till too late to woo and win her; + Let her slip between my fingers + To the home of water-maidens, + To the kingdom of Wellamo." + Wainamoinen then departed, + Empty-handed, heavy-hearted, + Straightway hastened to his country, + To his home in Kalevala, + Spake these words upon his journey: + "What has happened to the cuckoo, + Once the cuckoo bringing gladness, + In the morning, in the evening, + Often bringing joy at noontide? + What has stilled the cuckoo's singing, + What has changed the cuckoo's calling? + Sorrow must have stilled his singing, + And compassion changed his calling, + As I hear him sing no longer, + For my pleasure in the morning, + For my happiness at evening. + Never shall I learn the secret, + How to live and how to prosper, + How upon the earth to rest me, + How upon the seas to wander! + Only were my ancient mother + Living on the face of Northland, + Surely she would well advise me, + What my thought and what my action, + That this cup of grief might pass me, + That this sorrow might escape me, + And this darkened cloud pass over." + In the deep awoke his mother, + From her tomb she spake as follows: + "Only sleeping was thy mother, + Now awakes to give thee answer, + What thy thought and what thine action, + That this cup of grief may pass thee, + That this sorrow may escape thee, + And this darkened cloud pass over. + Hie thee straightway to the Northland, + Visit thou the Suomi daughters; + Thou wilt find them wise and lovely, + Far more beautiful than Aino, + Far more worthy of a husband, + Not such silly chatter-boxes, + As the fickle Lapland maidens. + Take for thee a life-companion, + From the honest homes of Suomi, + One of Northland's honest daughters; + She will charm thee with her sweetness, + Make thee happy through her goodness, + Form perfection, manners easy, + Every step and movement graceful, + Full of wit and good behavior, + Honor to thy home and kindred." + + + + +RUNE VI. + + + + WAINAMOINEN'S HAPLESS JOURNEY. + + + Wainamoinen, old and truthful, + Now arranges for a journey + To the village of the Northland, + To the land of cruel winters, + To the land of little sunshine, + To the land of worthy women; + Takes his light-foot, royal racer, + Then adjusts the golden bridle, + Lays upon his back the saddle, + Silver-buckled, copper-stirruped, + Seats himself upon his courser, + And begins his journey northward; + Plunges onward, onward, onward, + Galloping along the highway, + In his saddle, gaily fashioned, + On his dappled steed of magic, + Plunging through Wainola's meadows, + O'er the plains of Kalevala. + Fast and far he galloped onward, + Galloped far beyond Wainola, + Bounded o'er the waste of waters, + Till he reached the blue-sea's margin, + Wetting not the hoofs in running. + But the evil Youkahainen + Nursed a grudge within his bosom, + In his heart the worm of envy, + Envy of this Wainamoinen, + Of this wonderful enchanter. + He prepares a cruel cross-bow, + Made of steel and other metals, + Paints the bow in many colors, + Molds the top-piece out or copper, + Trims his bow with snowy silver, + Gold he uses too in trimming, + Then he hunts for strongest sinews, + Finds them in the stag of Hisi, + Interweaves the flax of Lempo. + Ready is the cruel cross-bow, + String, and shaft, and ends are finished, + Beautiful the bow and mighty, + Surely cost it not a trifle; + On the back a painted courser, + On each end a colt of beauty, + Near the curve a maiden sleeping + Near the notch a hare is bounding, + Wonderful the bow thus fashioned; + Cuts some arrows for his quiver, + Covers them with finest feathers, + From the oak the shafts be fashions, + Makes the tips of keenest metal. + As the rods and points are finished, + Then he feathers well his arrows + From the plumage of the swallow, + From the wing-quills of the sparrow; + Hardens well his feathered arrows, + And imparts to each new virtues, + Steeps them in the blood of serpents, + In the virus of the adder. + Ready now are all his arrows, + Ready strung, his cruel cross-bow. + Waiting for wise Wainamoinen. + Youkahainen, Lapland's minstrel, + Waits a long time, is not weary, + Hopes to spy the ancient singer; + Spies at day-dawn, spies at evening, + Spies he ceaselessly at noontide, + Lies in wait for the magician, + Waits, and watches, as in envy; + Sits he at the open window, + Stands behind the hedge, and watches + In the foot-path waits, and listens, + Spies along the balks of meadows; + On his back he hangs his quiver, + In his quiver, feathered arrows + Dipped in virus of the viper, + On his arm the mighty cross-bow, + Waits, and watches, and unwearied, + Listens from the boat-house window, + Lingers at the end of Fog-point, + By the river flowing seaward, + Near the holy stream and whirlpool, + Near the sacred river's fire-fall. + Finally the Lapland minstrel, + Youkahainen of Pohyola, + At the breaking of the day-dawn, + At the early hour of morning, + Fixed his gaze upon the North-east, + Turned his eyes upon the sunrise, + Saw a black cloud on the ocean, + Something blue upon the waters, + And soliloquized as follows: + "Are those clouds on the horizon, + Or perchance the dawn of morning? + Neither clouds on the horizon, + Nor the dawning of the morning; + It is ancient Wainamoinen, + The renowned and wise enchanter, + Riding on his way to Northland; + On his steed, the royal racer, + Magic courser of Wainola." + Quickly now young Youkahainen, + Lapland's vain and evil minstrel, + Filled with envy, grasps his cross-bow, + Makes his bow and arrows ready + For the death of Wainamoinen. + Quick his aged mother asked him, + Spake these words to Youkahainen: + "For whose slaughter is thy cross-bow, + For whose heart thy poisoned arrows?" + Youkahainen thus made answer: + "I have made this mighty cross-bow, + Fashioned bow and poisoned arrows + For the death of Wainamoinen, + Thus to slay the friend of waters; + I must shoot the old magician, + The eternal bard and hero, + Through the heart, and through the liver, + Through the head, and through the shoulders, + With this bow and feathered arrows + Thus destroy my rival minstrel." + Then the aged mother answered, + Thus reproving, thus forbidding. + Do not slay good Wainamoinen, + Ancient hero of the Northland, + From a noble tribe descended, + He, my sister's son, my nephew. + If thou slayest Wainamoinen, + Ancient son of Kalevala, + Then alas! all joy will vanish, + Perish all our wondrous singing; + Better on the earth the gladness, + Better here the magic music, + Than within the nether regions, + In the kingdom of Tuoni, + In the realm of the departed, + In the land of the hereafter." + Then the youthful Youkahainen + Thought awhile and well considered, + Ere he made a final answer. + With one hand he raised the cross-bow + But the other seemed to weaken, + As he drew the cruel bow-string. + Finally these words he uttered + As his bosom swelled with envy: + "Let all joy forever vanish, + Let earth's pleasures quickly perish, + Disappear earth's sweetest music, + Happiness depart forever; + Shoot I will this rival minstrel, + Little heeding what the end is." + Quickly now he bends his fire-bow, + On his left knee rests the weapon, + With his right foot firmly planted, + Thus he strings his bow of envy; + Takes three arrows from his quiver, + Choosing well the best among them, + Carefully adjusts the bow-string, + Sets with care the feathered arrow, + To the flaxen string he lays it, + Holds the cross-bow to his shoulder, + Aiming well along the margin, + At the heart of Wainamoinen, + Waiting till he gallops nearer; + In the shadow of a thicket, + Speaks these words while he is waiting + "Be thou, flaxen string, elastic; + Swiftly fly, thou feathered ash-wood, + Swiftly speed, thou deadly missile, + Quick as light, thou poisoned arrow, + To the heart of Wainamoinen. + If my hand too low should hold thee, + May the gods direct thee higher; + If too high mine eye should aim thee, + May the gods direct thee lower." + Steady now he pulls the trigger; + Like the lightning flies the arrow + O'er the head of Wainamoinen; + To the upper sky it darteth, + And the highest clouds it pierces, + Scatters all the flock of lamb-clouds, + On its rapid journey skyward. + Not discouraged, quick selecting, + Quick adjusting, Youkahainen, + Quickly aiming shoots a second. + Speeds the arrow swift as lightning; + Much too low he aimed the missile, + Into earth the arrow plunges, + Pierces to the lower regions, + Splits in two the old Sand Mountain. + Nothing daunted, Youkahainen, + Quick adjusting shoots a third one. + Swift as light it speeds its journey, + Strikes the steed of Wainamoinen, + Strikes the light-foot, ocean-swimmer, + Strikes him near his golden girdle, + Through the shoulder of the racer. + Thereupon wise Wainamoinen + Headlong fell upon the waters, + Plunged beneath the rolling billows, + From the saddle of the courser, + From his dappled steed of magic. + Then arose a mighty storm-wind, + Roaring wildly on the waters, + Bore away old Wainamoinen + Far from land upon the billows, + On the high and rolling billows, + On the broad sea's great expanses. + Boasted then young Youkahainen, + Thinking Waino dead and buried, + These the boastful words be uttered: + "Nevermore, old Wainamoinen, + Nevermore in all thy life-time, + While the golden moonlight glistens, + Nevermore wilt fix thy vision + On the meadows of Wainola, + On the plains of Kalevala; + Full six years must swim the ocean, + Tread the waves for seven summers, + Eight years ride the foamy billows, + In the broad expanse of water; + Six long autumns as a fir-tree, + Seven winters as a pebble; + Eight long summers as an aspen." + Thereupon the Lapland minstrel + Hastened to his room delighting, + When his mother thus addressed him + "Hast thou slain good Wainamoinen, + Slain the son of Kalevala?" + Youkahainen thus made answer: + "I have slain old Wainamoinen, + Slain the son of Kalevala, + That he now may plow the ocean, + That he now may sweep the waters, + On the billows rock and slumber. + In the salt-sea plunged he headlong, + In the deep sank the magician, + Sidewise turned he to the sea-shore + On his back to rock forever, + Thus the boundless sea to travel, + Thus to ride the rolling billows." + This the answer of the mother: + "Woe to earth for this thine action, + Gone forever, joy and singing, + Vanished is the wit of ages! + Thou hast slain good Wainamoinen. + Slain the ancient wisdom-singer, + Slain the pride of Suwantala, + Slain the hero of Wainola, + Slain the joy of Kalevala." + + + + +RUNE VII. + + + + WAINIOINEN'S RESCUE. + + + Wainamoinen, old and truthful, + Swam through all the deep-sea waters, + Floating like a branch of aspen, + Like a withered twig of willow; + Swam six days in summer weather, + Swam six nights in golden moonlight; + Still before him rose the billows, + And behind him sky and ocean. + Two days more he swam undaunted, + Two long nights be struggled onward. + On the evening of the eighth day, + Wainamoinen grew disheartened, + Felt a very great discomfort, + For his feet had lost their toe-nails, + And his fingers dead and dying. + Wainamoinen, ancient minstrel, + Sad and weary, spake as follows: + "Woe is me, my old life fated! + Woe is me, misfortune's offspring! + Fool was I when fortune, favored, + To forsake my home and kindred, + For a maiden fair and lovely, + Here beneath the starry heavens, + In this cruel waste of waters, + Days and nights to swim and wander, + Here to struggle with the storm-winds, + To be tossed by heaving billows, + In this broad sea's great expanses, + In this ocean vast and boundless. + "Cold my life and sad and dreary, + Painful too for me to linger + Evermore within these waters, + Thus to struggle for existence! + Cannot know how I can prosper, + How to find me food and shelter, + In these cold and lifeless waters, + In these days of dire misfortune. + Build I in the winds my dwelling? + It will find no sure foundation. + Build my home upon the billows? + Surely would the waves destroy it." + Comes a bird from far Pohyola, + From the occident, an eagle, + Is not classed among the largest, + Nor belongs he to the smallest; + One wing touches on the waters, + While the other sweeps the heavens; + O'er the waves he wings his body, + Strikes his beak upon the sea-cliffs, + Flies about, then safely perches, + Looks before him, looks behind him, + There beholds brave Wainamoinen, + On the blue-back of the ocean, + And the eagle thus accosts him: + "Wherefore art thou, ancient hero, + Swimming in the deep-sea billows? + Thus the water-minstrel answered: + "I am ancient Wainamoinen, + Friend and fellow of the waters + I, the famous wisdom-singer; + Went to woo a Northland maiden, + Maiden from the dismal Darkland, + Quickly galloped on my journey, + Riding on the plain of ocean. + I arrived one morning early, + At the breaking of the day-dawn. + At the bay of Luotola, + Near Youkola's foaming river, + Where the evil Youkahainen + Slew my steed with bow and arrow, + Tried to slay me with his weapons. + On the waters fell I headlong, + Plunged beneath the salt-sea's surface, + From the saddle of the courser, + From my dappled steed of magic. + "Then arose a mighty storm-wind, + From the East and West a whirlwind, + Washed me seaward on the surges, + Seaward, seaward, further, further, + Where for many days I wandered, + Swam and rocked upon the billows, + Where as many nights I struggled, + In the dashing waves and sea-foam, + With the angry winds and waters. + "Woe is me, my life hard-fated! + Cannot solve this heavy problem, + How to live nor how to perish + In this cruel salt-sea water. + Build I in the winds my dwelling? + It will find no sure foundation. + Build my home upon the waters? + Surely will the waves destroy it. + Must I swim the sea forever, + Must I live, or must I perish? + What will happen if I perish, + If I sink below the billows, + Perish here from cold and hunger?" + Thus the bird of Ether answered + "Be not in the least disheartened, + Place thyself between my shoulders, + On my back be firmly seated, + I will lift thee from the waters, + Bear thee with my pinions upward, + Bear thee wheresoe'er thou willest. + Well do I the day remember + Where thou didst the eagle service, + When thou didst the birds a favor. + Thou didst leave the birch-tree standing, + When were cleared the Osmo-forests, + From the lands of Kalevala, + As a home for weary song-birds, + As a resting-place for eagles." + Then arises Wainamoinen, + Lifts his head above the waters, + Boldly rises from the sea-waves, + Lifts his body from the billows, + Seats himself upon the eagle, + On the eagle's feathered shoulders. + Quick aloft the huge bird bears him, + Bears the ancient Wainamoinen, + Bears him on the path of zephyrs, + Floating on the vernal breezes, + To the distant shore of Northland, + To the dismal Sariola, + Where the eagle leaves his burden, + Flies away to join his fellows. + Wainamoinen, lone and weary, + Straightway fell to bitter weeping, + Wept and moaned in heavy accents, + On the border of the blue-sea. + On a cheerless promontory, + With a hundred wounds tormented, + Made by cruel winds and waters, + With his hair and beard dishevelled + By the surging of the billows. + Three long days he wept disheartened + Wept as many nights in anguish, + Did not know what way to journey, + Could not find a woodland foot-print, + That would point him to the highway, + To his home in Kalevala, + To his much-loved home and kindred. + Northland's young and slender maiden, + With complexion fair and lovely, + With the Sun had laid a wager, + With the Sun and Moon a wager, + Which should rise before the other, + On the morning of the morrow. + And the maiden rose in beauty, + Long before the Sun had risen, + Long before the Moon bad wakened, + From their beds beneath the ocean. + Ere the cock had crowed the day-break, + Ere the Sun had broken slumber + She had sheared six gentle lambkins, + Gathered from them six white fleeces, + Hence to make the rolls for spinning, + Hence to form the threads for weaving, + Hence to make the softest raiment, + Ere the morning dawn had broken, + Ere the sleeping Sun had risen. + When this task the maid had ended, + Then she scrubbed the birchen tables, + Sweeps the ground-floor of the stable, + With a broom of leaves and branches + From the birches of the Northland, + Scrapes the sweepings well together + On a shovel made of copper, + Carries them beyond the stable, + From the doorway to the meadow, + To the meadow's distant border, + Near the surges of the great-sea, + Listens there and looks about her, + Hears a wailing from the waters, + Hears a weeping from the sea-shore, + Hears a hero-voice lamenting. + Thereupon she hastens homeward, + Hastens to her mother's dwelling, + These the words the maiden utters: + "I have heard a wail from ocean, + Heard a weeping from the sea-coast, + On the shore some one lamenting." + Louhi, hostess of Pohyola, + Ancient, toothless dame of Northland, + Hastens from her door and court-yard, + Through the meadow to the sea-shore, + Listens well for sounds of weeping, + For the wail of one in sorrow; + Hears the voice of one in trouble, + Hears a hero-cry of anguish. + Thus the ancient Louhi answers: + "This is not the wail of children, + These are not the tears of women, + In this way weep bearded heroes; + This the hero-cry of anguish." + Quick she pushed her boat to water, + To the floods her goodly vessel, + Straightway rows with lightning swiftness, + To the weeping Wainamoinen; + Gives the hero consolation, + Comfort gives she to the minstrel + Wailing in a grove of willows, + In his piteous condition, + Mid the alder-trees and aspens, + On the border of the salt-sea, + Visage trembling, locks dishevelled. + Ears, and eyes, and lips of sadness. + Louhi, hostess of Pohyola, + Thus addresses Wainamoinen: + "Tell me what has been thy folly, + That thou art in this condition." + Old and truthful Wainamoinen + Lifts aloft his bead and answers: + "Well I know that it is folly + That has brought me all this trouble, + Brought me to this land of strangers, + To these regions unbefitting + Happy was I with my kindred, + In my distant home and country, + There my name was named in honor." + Louhi, hostess of Pohyola, + Thus replied to Wainamoinen: + "I would gain the information, + Should I be allowed to ask thee, + Who thou art of ancient heroes, + Who of all the host of heroes? + This is Wainamoinen's answer: + "Formerly my name was mentioned, + Often was I heard and honored, + As a minstrel and magician, + In the long and dreary winters, + Called the 'Singer of the Northland, + In the valleys of Wainola, + On the plains of Kalevala; + No one thought that such misfortune + Could befall wise Wainamoinen." + Louhi, hostess of Pohyola, + Thus replied in cheering accents + "Rise, O hero, from discomfort, + From thy bed among the willows; + Enter now upon the new-way, + Come with me to yonder dwelling, + There relate thy strange adventures, + Tell the tale of thy misfortunes." + Now she takes the hapless hero, + Lifts him from his bed of sorrow, + In her boat she safely seats him, + And begins at once her rowing, + Rows with steady hand and mighty + To her home upon the sea-shore, + To the dwellings of Pohyola. + There she feeds the starving hero, + Rests the ancient Wainamoinen, + Gives him warmth, and food, and shelter, + And the hero soon recovers. + Then the hostess of Pohyola + Questioned thus the ancient singer: + "Wherefore didst thou, Wainamoinen, + Friend and fellow of the waters, + Weep in sad and bitter accents, + On the border of the ocean, + Mid the aspens and the willows?" + This is Wainamoinen's answer: + Had good reason for my weeping, + Cause enough for all my sorrow; + Long indeed had I been swimming, + Had been buffeting the billows, + In the far outstretching waters. + This the reason for my weeping; + I have lived in toil and torture, + Since I left my home and country, + Left my native land and kindred, + Came to this the land of strangers, + To these unfamiliar portals. + All thy trees have thorns to wound me, + All thy branches, spines to pierce me, + Even birches give me trouble, + And the alders bring discomfort, + My companions, winds and waters, + Only does the Sun seem friendly, + In this cold and cruel country, + Near these unfamiliar portals." + Louhi thereupon made answer, + Weep no longer, Wainamoinen, + Grieve no more, thou friend of waters, + Good for thee, that thou shouldst linger + At our friendly homes and firesides; + Thou shalt live with us and welcome, + Thou shalt sit at all our tables, + Eat the salmon from our platters, + Eat the sweetest of our bacon, + Eat the whiting from our waters." + Answers thus old Wainamoinen, + Grateful for the invitation: + "Never do I court strange tables, + Though the food be rare and toothsome; + One's own country is the dearest, + One's own table is the sweetest, + One's own home, the most attractive. + Grant, kind Ukko, God above me, + Thou Creator, full of mercy, + Grant that I again may visit + My beloved home and country. + Better dwell in one's own country, + There to drink Its healthful waters + From the simple cups of birch-wood, + Than in foreign lands to wander, + There to drink the rarest liquors + From the golden bowls of strangers." + Louhi, hostess of Pohyola, + Thus replied to the magician: + "What reward wilt thou award me, + Should I take thee where thou willest, + To thy native land and kindred, + To thy much-loved home and fireside, + To the meadows of Wainola, + To the plains of Kalevala?" + These the words of Wainamoinen: + "What would be reward sufficient, + Shouldst thou take me to my people, + To my home and distant country, + To the borders of the Northland, + There to hear the cuckoo singing, + Hear the sacred cuckoo calling? + Shall I give thee golden treasures, + Fill thy cups with finest silver?" + This is Louhi's simple answer: + "O thou ancient Wainamoinen, + Only true and wise magician, + Never will I ask for riches, + Never ask for gold nor silver; + Gold is for the children's flowers, + Silver for the stallion's jewels. + Canst thou forge for me the Sampo, + Hammer me the lid in colors, + From the tips of white-swan feathers + From the milk of greatest virtue, + From a single grain of barley, + From the finest wool of lambkins? + "I will give thee too my daughter, + Will reward thee through the maiden, + Take thee to thy much-loved home-land, + To the borders of Wainola, + There to hear the cuckoo singing, + Hear the sacred cuckoo calling." + Wainamoinen, much regretting, + Gave this answer to her question: + "Cannot forge for thee the Sampo, + Cannot make the lid in colors. + Take me to my distant country, + I will send thee Ilmarinen, + He will forge for thee the Sampo, + Hammer thee the lid in colors, + He may win thy lovely maiden; + Worthy smith is Ilmarinen, + In this art is first and master; + He, the one that forged the heavens. + Forged the air a hollow cover; + Nowhere see we hammer-traces, + Nowhere find a single tongs-mark." + Thus replied the hostess, Louhi: + "Him alone I'll give my daughter, + Promise him my child in marriage, + Who for me will forge the Sampo, + Hammer me the lid in colors, + From the tips of white-swan feathers, + From the milk of greatest virtue, + From a single grain of barley, + From the finest wool of lambkins." + Thereupon the hostess Louhi, + Harnessed quick a dappled courser, + Hitched him to her sledge of birch-wood, + Placed within it Wainamoinen, + Placed the hero on the cross-bench, + Made him ready for his journey; + Then addressed the ancient minstrel, + These the words that Louhi uttered: + "Do not raise thine eyes to heaven, + Look not upward on thy journey, + While thy steed is fresh and frisky, + While the day-star lights thy pathway, + Ere the evening star has risen; + If thine eyes be lifted upward, + While the day-star lights thy pathway, + Dire misfortune will befall thee, + Some sad fate will overtake thee." + Then the ancient Wainamoinen + Fleetly drove upon his journey, + Merrily he hastened homeward, + Hastened homeward, happy-hearted + From the ever-darksome Northland + From the dismal Sariola. + + + + +RUNE VIII. + + + + MAIDEN OF THE RAINBOW. + + + Pohyola's fair and winsome daughter, + Glory of the land and water, + Sat upon the bow of heaven, + On its highest arch resplendent, + In a gown of richest fabric, + In a gold and silver air-gown, + Weaving webs of golden texture, + Interlacing threads of silver; + Weaving with a golden shuttle, + With a weaving-comb of silver; + Merrily flies the golden shuttle, + From the maiden's nimble fingers, + Briskly swings the lathe in weaving, + Swiftly flies the comb of silver, + From the sky-born maiden's fingers, + Weaving webs of wondrous beauty. + Came the ancient Wainamoinen, + Driving down the highway homeward, + From the ever sunless Northland, + From the dismal Sariola; + Few the furlongs he had driven, + Driven but a little distance, + When he heard the sky-loom buzzing, + As the maiden plied the shuttle. + Quick the thoughtless Wainamoinen + Lifts his eyes aloft in wonder, + Looks upon the vault of heaven, + There beholds the bow of beauty, + On the bow the maiden sitting, + Beauteous Maiden of the Rainbow, + Glory of the earth and ocean, + Weaving there a golden fabric, + Working with the rustling silver. + Wainamoinen, ancient minstrel, + Quickly checks his fleet-foot racer, + Looks upon the charming maiden, + Then addresses her as follows: + "Come, fair maiden, to my snow-sledge, + By my side I wish thee seated." + Thus the Maid of Beauty answers: + "Tell me what thou wishest of me, + Should I join thee in the snow-sledge." + Speaks the ancient Wainamoinen, + Answers thus the Maid of Beauty: + "This the reason for thy coming: + Thou shalt bake me honey-biscuit, + Shalt prepare me barley-water, + Thou shalt fill my foaming beer-cups, + Thou shalt sing beside my table, + Shalt rejoice within my portals, + Walk a queen within my dwelling, + In the Wainola halls and chambers, + In the courts of Kalevala." + Thus the Maid of Beauty answered + From her throne amid the heavens: + "Yesterday at hour of twilight, + Went I to the flowery meadows, + There to rock upon the common, + Where the Sun retires to slumber; + There I heard a song-bird singing, + Heard the thrush simple measures, + Singing sweetly thoughts of maidens, + And the minds of anxious mothers. + "Then I asked the pretty songster, + Asked the thrush this simple question: + 'Sing to me, thou pretty song-bird, + Sing that I may understand thee, + Sing to me in truthful accents, + How to live in greatest pleasure, + And in happiness the sweetest, + As a maiden with her father, + Or as wife beside her husband.' + "Thus the song-bird gave me answer, + Sang the thrush this information: + 'Bright and warm are days of summer, + Warmer still is maiden-freedom; + Cold is iron in the winter, + Thus the lives of married women; + Maidens living with their mothers + Are like ripe and ruddy berries; + Married women, far too many, + Are like dogs enchained in kennel, + Rarely do they ask for favors, + Not to wives are favors given.'" + Wainamoinen, old and truthful, + Answers thus the Maid of Beauty: + "Foolish is the thrush thus singing, + Nonsense is the song-bird's twitter; + Like to babes are maidens treated, + Wives are queens and highly honored. + Come, sweet maiden, to my snow-sledge, + I am not despised as hero, + Not the meanest of magicians; + Come with me and I will make thee + Wife and queen in Kalevala." + Thus the Maid of Beauty answered-- + "Would consider thee a hero, + Mighty hero, I would call thee, + When a golden hair thou splittest, + Using knives that have no edges; + When thou snarest me a bird's egg + With a snare that I can see not." + Wainamoinen, skilled and ancient, + Split a golden hair exactly, + Using knives that had no edges; + And he snared an egg as nicely + With a snare the maiden saw not. + "Come, sweet maiden, to my snow-sledge, + I have done what thou desirest." + Thus the maiden wisely answered: + "Never enter I thy snow-sledge, + Till thou peelest me the sandstone, + Till thou cuttest me a whip-stick + From the ice, and make no splinters, + Losing not the smallest fragment." + Wainamoinen, true magician, + Nothing daunted, not discouraged, + Deftly peeled the rounded sandstone, + Deftly cut from ice a whip-stick, + Cutting not the finest splinter, + Losing not the smallest fragment. + Then again be called the maiden, + To a seat within his snow-sledge. + But the Maid or Beauty answered, + Answered thus the great magician: + I will go with that one only + That will make me ship or shallop, + From the splinters of my spindle, + From the fragments of my distaff, + In the waters launch the vessel, + Set the little ship a-floating, + Using not the knee to push it, + Using not the arm to move it, + Using not the hand to touch it, + Using not the foot to turn it, + Using nothing to propel it." + Spake the skilful Wainamoinen, + These the words the hero uttered: + "There is no one in the Northland, + No one under vault of heaven, + Who like me can build a vessel, + From the fragments of the distaff, + From the splinters of the spindle." + Then he took the distaff-fragments, + Took the splinters of the spindle, + Hastened off the boat to fashion, + Hastened to an iron mountain, + There to join the many fragments. + Full of zeal be plies the hammer, + Swings the hammer and the hatchet; + Nothing daunted, builds the vessel, + Works one day and then a second, + Works with steady hand the third day; + On the evening of the third day, + Evil Hisi grasps the hatchet, + Lempo takes the crooked handle, + Turns aside the axe in falling, + Strikes the rocks and breaks to pieces; + From the rocks rebound the fragments, + Pierce the flesh of the magician, + Cut the knee of Wainamoinen. + Lempo guides the sharpened hatchet, + And the veins fell Hisi severs. + Quickly gushes forth a blood-stream, + And the stream is crimson-colored. + Wainamoinen, old and truthful, + The renowned and wise enchanter, + Thus outspeaks in measured accents: + "O thou keen and cruel hatchet, + O thou axe of sharpened metal, + Thou shouldst cut the trees to fragments, + Cut the pine-tree and the willow, + Cut the alder and the birch-tree, + Cut the juniper and aspen, + Shouldst not cut my knee to pieces, + Shouldst not tear my veins asunder." + Then the ancient Wainamoinen + Thus begins his incantations, + Thus begins his magic singing, + Of the origin of evil; + Every word in perfect order, + Makes no effort to remember, + Sings the origin of iron, + That a bolt he well may fashion, + Thus prepare a look for surety, + For the wounds the axe has given, + That the hatchet has torn open. + But the stream flows like a brooklet, + Rushing like a maddened torrent, + Stains the herbs upon the meadows, + Scarcely is a bit of verdure + That the blood-stream does not cover + As it flows and rushes onward + From the knee of the magician, + From the veins of Wainamoinen. + Now the wise and ancient minstrel + Gathers lichens from the sandstone, + Picks them from the trunks of birches, + Gathers moss within the marshes, + Pulls the grasses from the meadows, + Thus to stop the crimson streamlet, + Thus to close the wounds laid open; + But his work is unsuccessful, + And the crimson stream flows onward. + Wainamoinen, ancient minstrel, + Feeling pain and fearing languor, + Falls to weeping, heavy-hearted; + Quickly now his steed he hitches, + Hitches to the sledge of birch-wood, + Climbs with pain upon the cross-bench, + Strikes his steed in quick succession, + Snaps his whip above the racer, + And the steed flies onward swiftly; + Like the winds he sweeps the highway, + Till be nears a Northland village, + Where the way is triple-parted. + Wainamoinen, old and truthful, + Takes the lowest of the highways, + Quickly nears a spacious cottage, + Quickly asks before the doorway: + "Is there any one here dwelling, + That can know the pain I suffer, + That can heal this wound of hatchet. + That can check this crimson streamlet?" + Sat a boy within a corner, + On a bench beside a baby, + And he answered thus the hero: + "There is no one in this dwelling + That can know the pain thou feelest, + That can heal the wounds of hatchet, + That can check the crimson streamlet; + Some one lives in yonder cottage, + That perchance can do thee service." + Wainamoinen, ancient minstrel, + Whips his courser to a gallop, + Dashes on along the highway; + Only drives a little distance, + On the middle of the highways, + To a cabin on the road-side, + Asks one standing on the threshold, + Questions all through open windows, + These the words the hero uses: + "Is there no one in this cabin, + That can know the pain I suffer, + That can heal this wound of hatchet, + That can check this crimson streamlet?" + On the floor a witch was lying, + Near the fire-place lay the beldame, + Thus she spake to Wainamoinen, + Through her rattling teeth she answered. + "There is no one in this cabin + That can know the pain thou feelest, + That can heal the wounds of hatchets, + That can check the crimson streamlet; + Some one lives in yonder cottage, + That perchance can do thee service." + Wainamoinen, nothing daunted, + Whips his racer to a gallop, + Dashes on along the highway; + Only drives a little distance, + On the upper of the highways, + Gallops to a humble cottage, + Asks one standing near the penthouse, + Sitting on the penthouse-doorsill: + "Is there no one in this cottage, + That can know the pain I suffer, + That can heal this wound of hatchet, + That can check this crimson streamlet?" + Near the fireplace sat an old man, + On the hearthstone sat the gray-beard, + Thus he answered Wainamoinen: + "Greater things have been accomplished, + Much more wondrous things effected, + Through but three words of the master; + Through the telling of the causes, + Streams and oceans have been tempered, + River cataracts been lessened, + Bays been made of promontories, + Islands raised from deep sea-bottoms." + + + + +RUNE IX. + + + + ORIGIN OF IRON. + + + Wainamoinen, thus encouraged, + Quickly rises in his snow-sledge, + Asking no one for assistance, + Straightway hastens to the cottage, + Takes a seat within the dwelling. + Come two maids with silver pitchers, + Bringing also golden goblets; + Dip they up a very little, + But the very smallest measure + Of the blood of the magician, + From the wounds of Wainamoinen. + From the fire-place calls the old man, + Thus the gray-beard asks the minstrel: + "Tell me who thou art of heroes, + Who of all the great magicians? + Lo! thy blood fills seven sea-boats, + Eight of largest birchen vessels, + Flowing from some hero's veinlets, + From the wounds of some magician. + Other matters I would ask thee; + Sing the cause of this thy trouble, + Sing to me the source of metals, + Sing the origin of iron, + How at first it was created." + Then the ancient Wainamoinen + Made this answer to the gray-beard: + "Know I well the source of metals, + Know the origin of iron; + f can tell bow steel is fashioned. + Of the mothers air is oldest, + Water is the oldest brother, + And the fire is second brother, + And the youngest brother, iron; + Ukko is the first creator. + Ukko, maker of the heavens, + Cut apart the air and water, + Ere was born the metal, iron. + Ukko, maker of the heavens, + Firmly rubbed his hands together, + Firmly pressed them on his knee-cap, + Then arose three lovely maidens, + Three most beautiful of daughters; + These were mothers of the iron, + And of steel of bright-blue color. + Tremblingly they walked the heavens, + Walked the clouds with silver linings, + With their bosoms overflowing + With the milk of future iron, + Flowing on and flowing ever, + From the bright rims of the cloudlets + To the earth, the valleys filling, + To the slumber-calling waters. + "Ukko's eldest daughter sprinkled + Black milk over river channels + And the second daughter sprinkled + White milk over hills and mountains, + While the youngest daughter sprinkled + Red milk over seas and oceans. + Whero the black milk had been sprinked, + Grew the dark and ductile iron; + Where the white milk had been sprinkled. + Grew the iron, lighter-colored; + Where the red milk had been sprinkled, + Grew the red and brittle iron. + "After Time had gone a distance, + Iron hastened Fire to visit, + His beloved elder brother, + Thus to know his brother better. + Straightway Fire began his roarings, + Labored to consume his brother, + His beloved younger brother. + Straightway Iron sees his danger, + Saves himself by fleetly fleeing, + From the fiery flame's advances, + Fleeing hither, fleeing thither, + Fleeing still and taking shelter + In the swamps and in the valleys, + In the springs that loudly bubble, + By the rivers winding seaward, + On the broad backs of the marshes, + Where the swans their nests have builded, + Where the wild geese hatch their goslings. + "Thus is iron in the swamp-lands, + Stretching by the water-courses, + Hidden well for many ages, + Hidden in the birchen forests, + But he could not hide forever + From the searchings of his brother; + Here and there the fire has caught him, + Caught and brought him to his furnace, + That the spears, and swords, and axes, + Might be forged and duly hammered. + In the swamps ran blackened waters, + From the heath the bears came ambling, + And the wolves ran through the marshes. + Iron then made his appearance, + Where the feet of wolves had trodden, + Where the paws of bears had trampled. + "Then the blacksmith, Ilmarinen, + Came to earth to work the metal; + He was born upon the Coal-mount, + Skilled and nurtured in the coal-fields; + In one hand, a copper hammer, + In the other, tongs of iron; + In the night was born the blacksmith, + In the morn he built his smithy, + Sought with care a favored hillock, + Where the winds might fill his bellows; + Found a hillock in the swamp-lands, + Where the iron hid abundant; + There he built his smelting furnace, + There he laid his leathern bellows, + Hastened where the wolves had travelled, + Followed where the bears had trampled, + Found the iron's young formations, + In the wolf-tracks of the marshes, + In the foot-prints of the gray-bear. + "Then the blacksmith, Ilmarinen, + 'Thus addressed the sleeping iron: + Thou most useful of the metals, + Thou art sleeping in the marshes, + Thou art hid in low conditions, + Where the wolf treads in the swamp-lands, + Where the bear sleeps in the thickets. + Hast thou thought and well considered, + What would be thy future station, + Should I place thee in the furnace, + Thus to make thee free and useful?' + "Then was Iron sorely frightened, + Much distressed and filled with horror, + When of Fire he heard the mention, + Mention of his fell destroyer. + "Then again speaks Ilmarinen, + Thus the smith addresses Iron: + 'Be not frightened, useful metal, + Surely Fire will not consume thee, + Will not burn his youngest brother, + Will not harm his nearest kindred. + Come thou to my room and furnace, + Where the fire is freely burning, + Thou wilt live, and grow, and prosper, + Wilt become the swords of heroes, + Buckles for the belts of women.' + "Ere arose the star of evening, + Iron ore had left the marshes, + From the water-beds had risen, + Had been carried to the furnace, + In the fire the smith had laid it, + Laid it in his smelting furnace. + Ilmarinen starts the bellows, + Gives three motions of the handle, + And the iron flows in streamlets + From the forge of the magician, + Soon becomes like baker's leaven, + Soft as dough for bread of barley. + Then out-screamed the metal, Iron: + 'Wondrous blacksmith, Ilmarinen, + Take, O take me from thy furnace, + From this fire and cruel torture.' + "Ilmarinen thus made answer: + 'I will take thee from my furnace, + 'Thou art but a little frightened, + Thou shalt be a mighty power, + Thou shalt slay the best of heroes, + Thou shalt wound thy dearest brother.' + "Straightway Iron made this promise, + Vowed and swore in strongest accents, + By the furnace, by the anvil, + By the tongs, and by the hammer, + These the words he vowed and uttered: + 'Many trees that I shall injure, + Shall devour the hearts of mountains, + Shall not slay my nearest kindred, + Shall not kill the best of heroes, + Shall not wound my dearest brother; + Better live in civil freedom, + Happier would be my life-time, + Should I serve my fellow-beings, + Serve as tools for their convenience, + Than as implements of warfare, + Slay my friends and nearest. kindred, + Wound the children of my mother.' + "Now the master, Ilmarinen, + The renowned and skilful blacksmith, + From the fire removes the iron, + Places it upon the anvil, + Hammers well until it softens, + Hammers many fine utensils, + Hammers spears, and swords, and axes, + Hammers knives, and forks, and hatchets, + Hammers tools of all descriptions. + "Many things the blacksmith needed, + Many things he could not fashion, + Could not make the tongue of iron, + Could not hammer steel from iron, + Could not make the iron harden. + Well considered Ilmarinen, + Deeply thought and long reflected. + Then he gathered birchen ashes, + Steeped the ashes in the water, + Made a lye to harden iron, + Thus to form the steel most needful. + With his tongue he tests the mixture, + Weighs it long and well considers, + And the blacksmith speaks as follows: + 'All this labor is for nothing, + Will not fashion steel from iron, + Will not make the soft ore harden.' + "Now a bee flies from the meadow, + Blue-wing coming from the flowers, + Flies about, then safely settles + Near the furnace of the smithy. + "'Thus the smith the bee addresses, + These the words of Ilmarinen: + 'Little bee, thou tiny birdling, + Bring me honey on thy winglets, + On thy tongue, I pray thee, bring me + Sweetness from the fragrant meadows, + From the little cups of flowers, + From the tips of seven petals, + That we thus may aid the water + To produce the steel from iron.' + "Evil Hisi's bird, the hornet, + Heard these words of Ilmarinen, + Looking from the cottage gable, + Flying to the bark of birch-trees, + While the iron bars were heating + While the steel was being tempered; + Swiftly flew the stinging hornet, + Scattered all the Hisi horrors, + Brought the blessing of the serpent, + Brought the venom of the adder, + Brought the poison of the spider, + Brought the stings of all the insects, + Mixed them with the ore and water, + While the steel was being, tempered. + "Ilmarinen, skilful blacksmith, + First of all the iron-workers, + Thought the bee had surely brought him + Honey from the fragrant meadows, + From the little cups of flowers, + From the tips of seven petals, + And he spake the words that follow: + 'Welcome, welcome, is thy coming, + Honeyed sweetness from the flowers + Thou hast brought to aid the water, + Thus to form the steel from iron!' + "Ilmarinen, ancient blacksmith, + Dipped the iron into water, + Water mixed with many poisons, + Thought it but the wild bee's honey; + Thus he formed the steel from iron. + When he plunged it into water, + Water mixed with many poisons, + When be placed it in the furnace, + Angry grew the hardened iron, + Broke the vow that he had taken, + Ate his words like dogs and devils, + Mercilessly cut his brother, + Madly raged against his kindred, + Caused the blood to flow in streamlets + From the wounds of man and hero. + This, the origin of iron, + And of steel of light blue color." + From the hearth arose the gray-beard, + Shook his heavy looks and answered: + "Now I know the source of iron, + Whence the steel and whence its evils; + Curses on thee, cruel iron, + Curses on the steel thou givest, + Curses on thee, tongue of evil, + Cursed be thy life forever! + Once thou wert of little value, + Having neither form nor beauty, + Neither strength nor great importance, + When in form of milk thou rested, + When for ages thou wert hidden + In the breasts of God's three daughters, + Hidden in their heaving bosoms, + On the borders of the cloudlets, + In the blue vault of the heavens. + "Thou wert once of little value, + Having neither form nor beauty, + Neither strength nor great importance, + When like water thou wert resting + On the broad back of the marshes, + On the steep declines of mountains, + When thou wert but formless matter, + Only dust of rusty color. + "Surely thou wert void of greatness, + Having neither strength nor beauty, + When the moose was trampling on thee, + When the roebuck trod upon thee, + When the tracks of wolves were in thee, + And the bear-paws scratched thy body. + Surely thou hadst little value + When the skilful Ilmarinen, + First of all the iron-workers, + Brought thee from the blackened swamp-lands, + Took thee to his ancient smithy, + Placed thee in his fiery furnace. + Truly thou hadst little vigor, + Little strength, and little danger, + When thou in the fire wert hissing, + Rolling forth like seething water, + From the furnace of the smithy, + When thou gavest oath the strongest, + By the furnace, by the anvil, + By the tongs, and by the hammer, + By the dwelling of the blacksmith, + By the fire within the furnace. + "Now forsooth thou hast grown mighty, + Thou canst rage in wildest fury; + Thou hast broken all thy pledges, + All thy solemn vows hast broken, + Like the dogs thou shamest honor, + Shamest both thyself and kindred, + Tainted all with breath of evil. + Tell who drove thee to this mischief, + Tell who taught thee all thy malice, + Tell who gavest thee thine evil! + Did thy father, or thy mother, + Did the eldest of thy brothers, + Did the youngest of thy sisters, + Did the worst of all thy kindred + Give to thee thine evil nature? + Not thy father, nor thy mother, + Not the eldest of thy brothers, + Not the youngest of thy sisters, + Not the worst of all thy kindred, + But thyself hast done this mischief, + Thou the cause of all our trouble. + Come and view thine evil doings, + And amend this flood of damage, + Ere I tell thy gray-haired mother, + Ere I tell thine aged father. + Great indeed a mother's anguish, + Great indeed a father's sorrow, + When a son does something evil, + When a child runs wild and lawless. + "Crimson streamlet, cease thy flowing + From the wounds of Wainamoinen; + Blood of ages, stop thy coursing + From the veins of the magician; + Stand like heaven's crystal pillars, + Stand like columns in the ocean, + Stand like birch-trees in the forest, + Like the tall reeds in the marshes, + Like the high-rocks on the sea-coast, + Stand by power of mighty magic! + "Should perforce thy will impel thee, + Flow thou on thine endless circuit, + Through the veins of Wainamoinen, + Through the bones, and through the muscles, + Through the lungs, and heart, and liver, + Of the mighty sage and singer; + Better be the food of heroes, + Than to waste thy strength and virtue + On the meadows and the woodlands, + And be lost in dust and ashes. + Flow forever in thy circle; + Thou must cease this crimson out-flow; + Stain no more the grass and flowers, + Stain no more these golden hill-tops, + Pride and beauty of our heroes. + In the veins of the magician, + In the heart of Wainamoinen, + Is thy rightful home and storehouse. + Thither now withdraw thy forces, + Thither hasten, swiftly flowing; + Flow no more as crimson currents, + Fill no longer crimson lakelets, + Must not rush like brooks in spring-tide, + Nor meander like the rivers. + "Cease thy flow, by word of magic, + Cease as did the falls of Tyrya, + As the rivers of Tuoni, + When the sky withheld her rain-drops, + When the sea gave up her waters, + In the famine of the seasons, + In the years of fire and torture. + If thou heedest not this order, + I shall offer other measures, + Know I well of other forces; + I shall call the Hisi irons, + In them I shall boil and roast thee, + Thus to check thy crimson flowing, + Thus to save the wounded hero. + "If these means be inefficient, + Should these measures prove unworthy, + I shall call omniscient Ukko, + Mightiest of the creators, + Stronger than all ancient heroes, + Wiser than the world-magicians; + He will check the crimson out-flow, + He will heal this wound of hatchet. + "Ukko, God of love and mercy, + God and Master Of the heavens, + Come thou hither, thou art needed, + Come thou quickly I beseech thee, + Lend thy hand to aid thy children, + Touch this wound with healing fingers, + Stop this hero's streaming life-blood, + Bind this wound with tender leaflets, + Mingle with them healing flowers, + Thus to check this crimson current, + Thus to save this great magician, + Save the life of Wainamoinen." + Thus at last the blood-stream ended, + As the magic words were spoken. + Then the gray-beard, much rejoicing, + Sent his young son to the smithy, + There to make a healing balsam, + From the herbs of tender fibre, + From the healing plants and flowers, + From the stalks secreting honey, + From the roots, and leaves, and blossoms. + On the way he meets an oak-tree, + And the oak the son addresses: + "Hast thou honey in thy branches, + Does thy sap run full of sweetness?" + Thus the oak-tree wisely answers: + "Yea, but last night dripped the honey + Down upon my spreading branches, + And the clouds their fragrance sifted, + Sifted honey on my leaflets, + From their home within the heavens." + Then the son takes oak-wood splinters, + Takes the youngest oak-tree branches, + Gathers many healing grasses, + Gathers many herbs and flowers, + Rarest herbs that grow in Northland, + Places them within the furnace + In a kettle made of copper; + Lets them steep and boil together, + Bits of bark chipped from the oak-tree, + Many herbs of healing virtues; + Steeps them one day, then a second, + Three long days of summer weather, + Days and nights in quick succession; + Then he tries his magic balsam, + Looks to see if it is ready, + If his remedy is finished; + But the balsam is unworthy. + Then he added other grasses, + Herbs of every healing virtue, + That were brought from distant nations, + Many hundred leagues from Northland, + Gathered by the wisest minstrels, + Thither brought by nine enchanters. + Three days more be steeped the balsam, + Three nights more the fire be tended, + Nine the days and nights be watched it, + Then again be tried the ointment, + Viewed it carefully and tested, + Found at last that it was ready, + Found the magic balm was finished. + Near by stood a branching birch-tree. + On the border of the meadow, + Wickedly it had been broken, + Broken down by evil Hisi; + Quick he takes his balm of healing, + And anoints the broken branches, + Rubs the balsam in the fractures, + Thus addresses then the birch-tree: + "With this balsam I anoint thee, + With this salve thy wounds I cover, + Cover well thine injured places; + Now the birch-tree shall recover, + Grow more beautiful than ever." + True, the birch-tree soon recovered, + Grew more beautiful than ever, + Grew more uniform its branches, + And its bole more strong and stately. + Thus it was be tried the balsam, + Thus the magic salve he tested, + Touched with it the splintered sandstone, + Touched the broken blocks of granite, + Touched the fissures in the mountains, + And the broken parts united, + All the fragments grew together. + Then the young boy quick returning + With the balsam he had finished, + To the gray-beard gave the ointment, + And the boy these measures uttered + "Here I bring the balm of healing, + Wonderful the salve I bring thee; + It will join the broken granite, + Make the fragments grow together, + Heat the fissures in the mountains, + And restore the injured birch-tree." + With his tongue the old man tested, + Tested thus the magic balsam, + Found the remedy effective, + Found the balm had magic virtues; + Then anointed he the minstrel, + Touched the wounds of Wainamoinen, + Touched them with his magic balsam, + With the balm of many virtues; + Speaking words of ancient wisdom, + These the words the gray-beard uttered: + "Do not walk in thine own virtue, + Do not work in thine own power, + Walk in strength of thy Creator; + Do not speak in thine own wisdom, + Speak with tongue of mighty Ukko. + In my mouth, if there be sweetness, + It has come from my Creator; + If my bands are filled with beauty, + All the beauty comes from Ukko." + When the wounds had been anointed, + When the magic salve had touched them, + Straightway ancient Wainamoinen + Suffered fearful pain and anguish, + Sank upon the floor in torment, + Turning one way, then another, + Sought for rest and found it nowhere, + Till his pain the gray-beard banished, + Banished by the aid of magic, + Drove away his killing torment + To the court of all our trouble, + To the highest hill of torture, + To the distant rocks and ledges, + To the evil-bearing mountains, + To the realm of wicked Hisi. + Then be took some silken fabric, + Quick he tore the silk asunder, + Making equal strips for wrapping, + Tied the ends with silken ribbons, + Making thus a healing bandage; + Then he wrapped with skilful fingers + Wainamoinen's knee and ankle, + Wrapped the wounds of the magician, + And this prayer the gray-beard uttered + "Ukko's fabric is the bandage, + Ukko's science is the surgeon, + These have served the wounded hero, + Wrapped the wounds of the magician. + Look upon us, God of mercy, + Come and guard us, kind Creator, + And protect us from all evil! + Guide our feet lest they may stumble, + Guard our lives from every danger, + From the wicked wilds of Hisi." + Wainamoinen, old and truthful, + Felt the mighty aid of magic, + Felt the help of gracious Ukko, + Straightway stronger grew in body, + Straightway were the wounds united, + Quick the fearful pain departed. + Strong and hardy grew the hero, + Straightway walked in perfect freedom, + Turned his knee in all directions, + Knowing neither pain nor trouble. + Then the ancient Wainamoinen + Raised his eyes to high Jumala, + Looked with gratitude to heaven, + Looked on high, in joy and gladness, + Then addressed omniscient Ukko, + This the prayer the minstrel uttered: + "O be praised, thou God of mercy, + Let me praise thee, my Creator, + Since thou gavest me assistance, + And vouchsafed me thy protection, + Healed my wounds and stilled mine anguish, + Banished all my pain and trouble, + Caused by Iron and by Hisi. + O, ye people of Wainola, + People of this generation, + And the folk of future ages, + Fashion not in emulation, + River boat, nor ocean shallop, + Boasting of its fine appearance, + God alone can work completion, + Give to cause its perfect ending, + Never hand of man can find it, + Never can the hero give it, + Ukko is the only Master." + + + + +RUNE X. + + + + ILMARINEN FORGES THE SAMPO. + + + Wainamoinen, the magician, + Takes his steed of copper color, + Hitches quick his fleet-foot courser, + Puts his racer to the snow-sledge, + Straightway springs upon the cross-seat, + Snaps his whip adorned with jewels. + Like the winds the steed flies onward, + Like a lightning flash, the racer + Makes the snow-sledge creak and rattle, + Makes the highway quickly vanish, + Dashes on through fen and forest, + Over hills and through the valleys, + Over marshes, over mountains, + Over fertile plains and meadows; + Journeys one day, then a second, + So a third from morn till evening, + Till the third day evening brings him + To the endless bridge of Osmo, + To the Osmo-fields and pastures, + To the plains of Kalevala; + When the hero spake as follows: + "May the wolves devour the dreamer, + Eat the Laplander for dinner, + May disease destroy the braggart, + Him who said that I should never + See again my much-loved home-land, + Nevermore behold my kindred, + Never during all my life-time, + Never while the sunshine brightens, + Never while the moonlight glimmers + On the meadows of Wainola, + On the plains of Kalevala." + Then began old Wainamoinen, + Ancient bard and famous singer, + To renew his incantations; + Sang aloft a wondrous pine-tree, + Till it pierced the clouds in growing + With its golden top and branches, + Till it touched the very heavens, + Spread its branches in the ether, + In the ever-shining sunlight. + Now he sings again enchanting, + Sings the Moon to shine forever + In the fir-tree's emerald branches; + In its top he sings the Great Bear. + Then be quickly journeys homeward, + Hastens to his golden portals, + Head awry and visage wrinkled, + Crooked cap upon his forehead, + Since as ransom he had promised + Ilmarinen, magic artist, + Thus to save his life from torture + On the distant fields of Northland + In the dismal Sariola. + When his stallion he had halted + On the Osmo-field and meadow, + Quickly rising in his snow-sledge, + The magician heard one knocking, + Breaking coal within the smithy, + Beating with a heavy hammer. + Wainamoinen, famous minstrel, + Entering the smithy straightway, + Found the blacksmith, Ilmarinen, + Knocking with his copper hammer. + Ilmarinen spake as follows: + "Welcome, brother Wainamoinen, + Old and worthy Wainamoinen! + Why so long hast thou been absent, + Where hast thou so long been hiding?" + Wainamoinen then made answer, + These the words of the magician: + "Long indeed have I been living, + Many dreary days have wandered, + Many cheerless nights have lingered, + Floating on the cruel ocean, + Weeping in the fens and woodlands + Of the never-pleasant Northland, + In the dismal Sariola; + With the Laplanders I've wandered, + With the people filled with witchcraft." + Promptly answers Ilmarinen, + These the words the blacksmith uses: + "O thou ancient Wainamoinen, + Famous and eternal singer, + Tell me of thy journey northward, + Of thy wanderings in Lapland, + Of thy dismal journey homeward." + Spake the minstrel, Wainamoinen: + "I have much to tell thee, brother, + Listen to my wondrous story: + In the Northland lives a virgin, + In a village there, a maiden, + That will not accept a lover, + That a hero's hand refuses, + That a wizard's heart disdaineth; + All of Northland sings her praises, + Sings her worth and magic beauty, + Fairest maiden of Pohyola, + Daughter of the earth and ocean. + From her temples beams the moonlight, + From her breast, the gleam of sunshine, + From her forehead shines the rainbow, + On her neck, the seven starlets, + And the Great Bear from her shoulder. + "Ilmarinen, worthy brother, + Thou the only skilful blacksmith, + Go and see her wondrous beauty, + See her gold and silver garments, + See her robed in finest raiment, + See her sitting on the rainbow, + Walking on the clouds of purple. + Forge for her the magic Sampo, + Forge the lid in many colors, + Thy reward shall be the virgin, + Thou shalt win this bride of beauty; + Go and bring the lovely maiden + To thy home in Kalevala." + Spake the brother, Ilmarinen: + O thou cunning Wainamoinen, + Thou hast promised me already + To the ever-darksome Northland, + Thy devoted head to ransom, + Thus to rescue thee from trouble. + I shall never visit Northland, + Shall not go to see thy maiden, + Do not love the Bride of Beauty; + Never while the moonlight glimmers, + Shall I go to dreary Pohya, + To the plains of Sariola, + Where the people eat each other, + Sink their heroes in the ocean, + Not for all the maids of Lapland." + Spake the brother, Wainamoinen: + "I can tell thee greater wonders, + Listen to my wondrous story: + I have seen the fir-tree blossom, + Seen its flowers with emerald branches, + On the Osmo-fields and woodlands; + In its top, there shines the moonlight, + And the Bear lives in its branches." + Ilmarinen thus made answer: + "I cannot believe thy story, + Cannot trust thy tale of wonder, + Till I see the blooming fir-tree, + With its many emerald branches, + With its Bear and golden moonlight." + This is Wainamoinen's answer: + "Wilt thou not believe my story? + Come with me and I will show thee + If my lips speak fact or fiction." + Quick they journey to discover, + Haste to view the wondrous fir-tree; + Wainamoinen leads the journey, + Ilmarinen closely follows. + As they near the Osmo-borders, + Ilmarinen hastens forward + That be may behold the wonder, + Spies the Bear Within the fir-top, + Sitting on its emerald branches, + Spies the gleam of golden moonlight. + Spake the ancient Wainamoinen, + These the words the singer uttered: + Climb this tree, dear Ilmarinen, + And bring down the golden moonbeams, + Bring the Moon and Bear down with thee + From the fir-tree's lofty branches." + Ilmarinen, full consenting, + Straightway climbed the golden fir-tree, + High upon the bow of heaven, + Thence to bring the golden moonbeams, + Thence to bring the Bear of heaven, + From the fir-tree's topmost branches. + Thereupon the blooming fir-tree + Spake these words to Ilmarinen: + "O thou senseless, thoughtless hero, + Thou hast neither wit nor instinct; + Thou dost climb my golden branches, + Like a thing of little judgment, + Thus to get my pictured moonbeams, + Take away my silver starlight, + Steal my Bear and blooming branches." + Quick as thought old Wainamoinen + Sang again in magic accents, + Sang a storm-wind in the heavens, + Sang the wild winds into fury, + And the singer spake as follows: + `Take, O storm-wind, take the forgeman, + Carry him within thy vessel, + Quickly hence, and land the hero + On the ever-darksome Northland, + On the dismal Sariola." + Now the storm-wind quickly darkens, + Quickly piles the air together, + Makes of air a sailing vessel, + Takes the blacksmith, Ilmarinen, + Fleetly from the fir-tree branches, + Toward the never-pleasant Northland, + Toward the dismal Sariola. + Through the air sailed Ilmarinen, + Fast and far the hero travelled, + Sweeping onward, sailing northward, + Riding in the track of storm-winds, + O'er the Moon, beneath the sunshine, + On the broad back of the Great Bear, + Till he neared Pohyola's woodlands, + Neared the homes of Sariola, + And alighted undiscovered, + Was Dot noticed by the hunters, + Was not scented by the watch-dogs. + Louhi, hostess of Pohyola, + Ancient, toothless dame of Northland, + Standing in the open court-yard, + Thus addresses Ilmarinen, + As she spies the hero-stranger: + "Who art thou of ancient heroes, + Who of all the host of heroes, + Coming here upon the storm-wind, + O'er the sledge-path of the ether, + Scented not by Pohya's watch-dogs? + This is Ilmarinen's answer: + "I have surely not come hither + To be barked at by the watch-dogs, + At these unfamiliar portals, + At the gates of Sariola." + Thereupon the Northland hostess + Asks again the hero-stranger: + "Hast thou ever been acquainted + With the blacksmith of Wainola, + With the hero, Ilmarinen, + With the skilful smith and artist? + Long I've waited for his coming, + Long this one has been expected, + On the borders of the Northland, + Here to forge for me the Sampo." + Spake the hero, Ilmarinen: + "Well indeed am I acquainted + With the blacksmith, Ilmarinen, + I myself am Ilmarinen, + I, the skilful smith and artist." + Louhi, hostess of the Northland, + Toothless dame of Sariola, + Straightway rushes to her dwelling, + These the words that Louhi utters: + "Come, thou youngest of my daughters, + Come, thou fairest of my maidens, + Dress thyself in finest raiment, + Deck thy hair with rarest jewels, + Pearls upon thy swelling bosom, + On thy neck, a golden necklace, + Bind thy head with silken ribbons, + Make thy cheeks look fresh and ruddy, + And thy visage fair and winsome, + Since the artist, Ilmarinen, + Hither comes from Kalevala, + Here to forge for us the Sampo, + Hammer us the lid in colors." + Now the daughter of the Northland, + Honored by the land and water, + Straightway takes her choicest raiment, + Takes her dresses rich in beauty, + Finest of her silken wardrobe, + Now adjusts her silken fillet, + On her brow a band of copper, + Round her waist a golden girdle, + Round her neck a pearly necklace, + Shining gold upon her bosom, + In her hair the threads of silver. + From her dressing-room she hastens, + To the hall she bastes and listens, + Full of beauty, full of joyance, + Ears erect and eyes bright-beaming, + Ruddy cheeks and charming visage, + Waiting for the hero-stranger. + Louhi, hostess of Pohyola, + Leads the hero, Ilmarinen, + To her dwelling-rooms in Northland, + To her home in Sariola, + Seats him at her well-filled table, + Gives to him the finest viands, + Gives him every needed comfort, + Then addresses him as follows: + "O thou blacksmith, Ilmarinen, + Master of the forge and smithy, + Canst thou forge for me the Sampo, + Hammer me the lid in colors, + From the tips of white-swan feathers, + From the milk of greatest virtue, + From a single grain of barley, + From the finest wool of lambkins? + Thou shalt have my fairest daughter, + Recompense for this thy service." + These the words of Ilmarinen: + "I will forge for thee the Sampo, + Hammer thee the lid in colors, + From the tips of white-swan feathers, + From the milk of greatest virtue, + From a single grain of barley, + From the finest wool of lambkins? + Since I forged the arch of heaven, + Forged the air a concave cover, + Ere the earth had a beginning." + Thereupon the magic blacksmith + Went to forge the wondrous Sampo, + Went to find a blacksmith's workshop, + Went to find the tools to work with; + But he found no place for forging, + Found no smithy, found no bellows, + Found no chimney, found no anvil, + Found no tongs, and found no hammer. + Then the-artist, Ilmarinen. + Spake these words, soliloquizing: + "Only women grow discouraged, + Only knaves leave work unfinished, + Not the devils, nor the heroes, + Nor the Gods of greater knowledge." + Then the blacksmith, Ilmarinen, + Sought a place to build a smithy, + Sought a place to plant a bellows, + On the borders of the Northland, + On the Pohya-hills and meadows; + Searched one day, and then a second; + Ere the evening of the third day, + Came a rock within his vision, + Came a stone with rainbow-colors. + There the blacksmith, Ilmarinen, + Set at work to build his smithy, + Built a fire and raised a chimney; + On the next day laid his bellows, + On the third day built his furnace, + And began to forge the Sampo. + The eternal magic artist, + Ancient blacksmith, Ilmarinen, + First of all the iron-workers, + Mixed together certain metals, + Put the mixture in the caldron, + Laid it deep within the furnace, + Called the hirelings to the forging. + Skilfully they work the bellows, + Tend the fire and add the fuel, + Three most lovely days of summer, + Three short nights of bright midsummer, + Till the rocks begin to blossom, + In the foot-prints of the workmen, + From the magic heat and furnace. + On the first day, Ilmarinen + Downward bent and well examined, + On the bottom of his furnace, + Thus to see what might be forming + From the magic fire and metals. + From the fire arose a cross-bow, + "With the brightness of the moonbeams, + Golden bow with tips of silver; + On the shaft was shining copper, + And the bow was strong and wondrous, + But alas! it was ill-natured, + Asking for a hero daily, + Two the heads it asked on feast-days. + Ilmarinen, skilful artist, + Was not pleased with this creation, + Broke the bow in many pieces, + Threw them back within the furnace, + Kept the workmen at the bellows, + Tried to forge the magic Sampo. + On the second day, the blacksmith + Downward bent and well examined, + On the bottom of the furnace; + From the fire, a skiff of metals, + Came a boat of purple color, + All the ribs were colored golden, + And the oars were forged from copper; + Thus the skiff was full of beauty, + But alas! a thing of evil; + Forth it rushes into trouble, + Hastens into every quarrel, + Hastes without a provocation + Into every evil combat. + Ilmarinen, metal artist, + Is not pleased with this creation, + Breaks the skiff in many fragments, + Throws them back within the furnace, + Keeps the workmen at the bellows, + Thus to forge the magic Sampo. + On the third day, Ilmarinen, + First of all the metal-workers, + Downward bent and well examined, + On the bottom of the furnace; + There be saw a heifer rising, + Golden were the horns of Kimmo, + On her head the Bear of heaven, + On her brow a disc of sunshine, + Beautiful the cow of magic; + But alas! she is ill-tempered, + Rushes headlong through the forest, + Rushes through the swamps and meadows, + Wasting all her milk in running. + Ilmarinen, the magician. + Is not pleased with this creation, + Cuts the magic cow in pieces, + Throws them in the fiery furnace, + Sets the workmen at the bellows, + Thus to forge the magic Sampo. + On the fourth day, Ilmarinen + Downward bent and well examined, + To the bottom of the furnace; + There beheld a plow in beauty + Rising from the fire of metals, + Golden was the point and plowshare, + And the beam was forged from copper, + And the handles, molten silver, + Beautiful the plow and wondrous; + But alas! it is ill-mannered, + Plows up fields of corn and barley, + Furrows through the richest meadows. + Ilmarinen, metal artist, + Is not pleased with this creation, + Quickly breaks the plow in pieces, + Throws them back within the furnace, + Lets the winds attend the bellows, + Lets the storm-winds fire the metals. + Fiercely vie the winds of heaven, + East-wind rushing, West-wind roaring, + South-wind crying, North-wind howling, + Blow one day and then a second, + Blow the third from morn till even, + When the fire leaps through the windows, + Through the door the sparks fly upward, + Clouds of smoke arise to heaven; + With the clouds the black smoke mingles, + As the storm-winds ply the bellows. + On the third night Ilmarinen, + Bending low to view his metals, + On the bottom of the furnace, + Sees the magic Sampo rising, + Sees the lid in many colors. + Quick the artist of Wainola + Forges with the tongs and anvil, + Knocking with a heavy hammer, + Forges skilfully the Sampo; + On one side the flour is grinding, + On another salt is making, + On a third is money forging, + And the lid is many-colored. + Well the Sampo grinds when finished, + To and fro the lid in rocking, + Grinds one measure at the day-break, + Grinds a measure fit for eating, + Grinds a second for the market, + Grinds a third one for the store-house. + Joyfully the dame of Northland, + Louhi, hostess of Pohyola, + Takes away the magic Sampo, + To the hills of Sariola, + To the copper-bearing mountains, + Puts nine locks upon the wonder, + Makes three strong roots creep around it; + In the earth they grow nine fathoms, + One large root beneath the mountain, + One beneath the sandy sea-bed, + One beneath the mountain-dwelling. + Modestly pleads Ilmarinen + For the maiden's willing answer, + These the words of the magician: + "Wilt thou come with me, fair maiden, + Be my wife and queen forever? + I have forged for thee the Sampo, + Forged the lid in many colors." + Northland's fair and lovely daughter + Answers thus the metal-worker: + "Who will in the coming spring-time, + Who will in the second summer, + Guide the cuckoo's song and echo? + Who will listen to his calling, + Who will sing with him in autumn, + Should I go to distant regions, + Should this cheery maiden vanish + From the fields of Sariola, + From Pohyola's fens and forests, + Where the cuckoo sings and echoes? + Should I leave my father's dwelling, + Should my mother's berry vanish, + Should these mountains lose their cherry, + Then the cuckoo too would vanish, + All the birds would leave the forest, + Leave the summit of the mountain, + Leave my native fields and woodlands, + Never shall I, in my life-time, + Say farewell to maiden freedom, + Nor to summer cares and labors, + Lest the harvest be ungarnered, + Lest the berries be ungathered, + Lest the song-birds leave the forest, + Lest the mermaids leave the waters, + Lest I sing with them no longer." + Ilmarinen, the magician, + The eternal metal-forger, + Cap awry and head dejected, + Disappointed, heavy-hearted, + Empty-handed, well considers, + How to reach his distant country, + Reach his much-loved home and kinded, + Gain the meadows of Wainola, + From the never-pleasant Northland, + From the darksome Sariola. + Louhi thus addressed the suitor: + "O thou blacksmith, Ilmarinen, + Why art thou so heavy-hearted, + Why thy visage so dejected? + Hast thou in thy mind to journey + From the vales and hills of Pohya, + To the meadows of Wainola, + To thy home in Kalevala? + This is Ilmarinen's answer: + "Thitherward my mind is tending, + To my home-land let me journey, + With my kindred let me linger, + Be at rest in mine own country." + Straightway Louhi, dame of Northland, + Gave the hero every comfort, + Gave him food and rarest viands, + Placed him in a boat of copper, + In a copper-banded vessel, + Called the winds to his assistance, + Made the North-wind guide him homeward. + Thus the skilful Ilmarinen + Travels toward his native country, + On the blue back of the waters, + Travels one day, then a second, + Till the third day evening brings him + To Wainola's peaceful meadows, + To his home in Kalevala. + Straightway ancient Wainamoinen + Thus addresses Ilmarinen: + "O my brother, metal-artist, + Thou eternal wonder-worker, + Didst thou forge the magic Sampo, + Forge the lid in many colors?" + Spake the brother, Ilmarinen, + These the words the master uttered: + "Yea, I forged the magic Sampo, + Forged the lid in many colors; + To and fro the lid in rocking + Grinds one measure at the day-dawn, + Grinds a measure fit for eating, + Grinds a second for the market, + Grinds a third one for the store-house. + Louhi has the wondrous Sampo, + I have not the Bride of Beauty." + + + + +RUNE XI. + + + + LEMMINKAINEN'S LAMENT. + + + This the time to sing of Ahti, + Son of Lempo, Kaukomieli, + Also known as Lemminkainen. + Ahti was the king of islands, + Grew amid the island-dwellings, + At the site of his dear mother, + On the borders of the ocean, + On the points of promontories. + Ahti fed upon the salmon, + Fed upon the ocean whiting, + Thus became a mighty hero, + In his veins the blood of ages, + Read erect and form commanding, + Growth of mind and body perfect + But alas! he had his failings, + Bad indeed his heart and morals, + Roaming in unworthy places, + Staying days and nights in sequences + At the homes of merry maidens, + At the dances of the virgins, + With the maids of braided tresses. + Up in Sahri lived a maiden, + Lived the fair and winsome Kulli, + Lovely as a summer-flower, + From a kingly house descended, + Grew to perfect form and beauty, + Living in her father's cottage, + Home of many ancient heroes, + Beautiful was she and queenly, + Praised throughout the whole of Ehstland; + From afar men came to woo her, + To the birthplace of the virgin, + To the household of her mother. + For his son the Day-star wooes her, + But she will not go to Sun-land, + Will not shine beside the Day-star, + In his haste to bring the summer. + For her son, the bright Moon wooes her, + But she will not go to Moon-land, + By the bright Moon will not glimmer, + Will not run through boundless ether. + For his son the Night-star wooes her, + But she will not go to Star-land, + Will not twinkle in the starlight, + Through the dreary nights in winter. + Lovers come from distant Ehstlaud, + Others come from far-off Ingern, + But they cannot win the maiden, + This the answer that she gives them + "Vainly are your praises lavished + Vainly is your silver offered, + Wealth and praise are no temptation; + Never shall I go to Ehstland, + Never shall I go a-rowing + On the waters of the Ingern, + Shall not cross the Sahri-waters, + Never eat the fish of Ehstland, + Never taste the Ehstland viands. + Ingerland shall never see me, + Will not row upon her rivers, + Will not step within her borders; + Hunger there, and fell starvation, + Wood is absent, fuel wanting, + Neither water, wheat, nor barley, + Even rye is not abundant." + Lemminkainen of the islands, + Warlike hero, Kaukomieli, + Undertakes to win the maiden, + Woo and win the Sahri-flower, + Win a bride so highly honored, + Win the maid with golden tresses, + Win the Sahri maid of beauty; + But his mother gives him warning: + "Nay," replies his gray-haired mother, + "Do not woo, my son beloved, + Maiden of a higher station; + She will never make thee happy + With her lineage of Sahri." + Spake the hero, Lemminkainen, + These the words of Kaukomieli: + "Should I come from lowly station, + Though my tribe is not the highest, + I shall woo to please my fancy, + Woo the maiden fair and lovely, + Choose a wife for worth and beauty." + This the anxious mother's answer: + "Lemminkainen, son beloved, + Listen to advice maternal: + Do not go to distant Sahri, + To her tribe of many branches; + All the maidens there will taunt thee, + All the women will deride thee." + Lemminkainen, little hearing, + Answers thus his mother's pleading: + "I will still the sneers of women, + Silence all the taunts of maidens, + I will crush their haughty bosoms, + Smite the hands and cheeks of infants; + Surely this will check their insults, + Fitting ending to derision!" + This the answer of' the mother: + "Woe is me, my son beloved! + Woe is me, my life hard-fated! + Shouldst thou taunt the Sahri daughters. + Or insult the maids of virtue, + Shouldst thou laugh them to derision, + There will rise a great contention, + Fierce the battle that will follow. + All the hosts of Sahri-suitors, + Armed in thousands will attack thee, + And will slay thee for thy folly." + Nothing listing, Lemminkainen, + Heeding not his mother's warning, + Led his war-horse from the stables, + Quickly hitched the fiery charger, + Fleetly drove upon his journey, + To the distant Sahri-village, + There to woo the Sahri-flower, + There to win the Bride of Beauty. + All the aged Sahri-women, + All the young and lovely maidens + Laughed to scorn the coming stranger + Driving careless through the alleys, + Wildly driving through the court-yard, + Now upsetting in the gate-way, + Breaking shaft, and hame, and runner. + Then the fearless Lemminkainen, + Mouth awry and visage wrinkled, + Shook his sable locks and answered: + "Never in my recollection + Have I heard or seen such treatment, + Never have I been derided, + Never suffered sneers of women, + Never suffered scorn of virgins, + Not in my immortal life-time. + Is there any place befitting + On the Sahri-plains and pastures, + Where to join in songs and dances? + Is there here a hall for pleasure, + Where the Sahri-maidens linger, + Merry maids with braided tresses?" + Thereupon the Sahri-maidens + Answered from their promontory., + "Room enough is there in Sahri, + Room upon the Sahri-pastures, + Room for pleasure-halls and dances; + Sing and dance upon our meadows, + Be a shepherd on the mountains, + Shepherd-boys have room for dancing; + Indolent the Sahri-children, + But the colts are fat and frisky." + Little caring, Lemminkainen + Entered service there as shepherd, + In the daytime on the pastures, + In the evening, making merry + At the games of lively maidens, + At the dances with the virgins, + With the maids with braided tresses. + Thus it was that Lemminkainen, + Thus the shepherd, Kaukomieli, + Quickly hushed the women's laughter, + Quickly quenched the taunts of maidens, + Quickly silenced their derision. + All the dames and Sahri-daughters + Soon were feasting Lemminkainen, + At his side they danced and lingered. + Only was there one among them, + One among the Sahri-virgins, + Harbored neither love nor wooers, + Favored neither gods nor heroes, + This the lovely maid Kyllikki, + This the Sahri's fairest flower. + Lemminkainen, full of pleasure, + Handsome hero, Kaukomieli, + Rowed a hundred boats in pieces, + Pulled a thousand oars to fragments, + While he wooed the Maid of Beauty, + Tried to win the fair Kyllikki. + Finally the lovely maiden, + Fairest daughter of the Northland, + Thus addresses Lemminkainen: + "Why dost linger here, thou weak one, + Why dost murmur on these borders, + Why come wooing at my fireside, + Wooing me in belt of copper? + Have no time to waste upon thee, + Rather give this stone its polish, + Rather would I turn the pestle + In the heavy sandstone mortar; + Rather sit beside my mother + In the dwellings of my father. + Never shall I heed thy wooing, + Neither wights nor whisks I care for, + Sooner have a slender husband + Since I have a slender body; + Wish to have him fine of figure, + Since perchance I am well-shapen; + Wish to have him tall and stately, + Since my form perchance is queenly; + Never waste thy time in wooing + Saliri's maid and favored flower." + Time had gone but little distance, + Scarcely had a month passed over, + When upon a merry evening, + Where the maidens meet for dancing, + In the glen beyond the meadow, + On a level patch of verdure, + Came too soon the maid Kyllikki, + Sahri's pride, the Maid of Beauty; + Quickly followed Lemminkainen, + With his stallion proudly prancing, + Fleetest racer of the Northland, + Fleetly drives beyond the meadow, + Where the maidens meet for dancing, + Snatches quick the maid Kyllikki, + On the settle seats the maiden, + Quickly draws the leathern cover, + And adjusts the brichen cross-bar, + Whips his courser to a gallop. + With a rush, and roar, and rattle, + Speeds he homeward like the storm-wind, + Speaks these words to those that listen: + "Never, never, anxious maidens, + Must ye give the information, + That I carried off Kyllikki + To my distant home and kindred. + If ye do not heed this order, + Ye shall badly fare as maidens; + I shall sing to war your suitors, + Sing them under spear and broadsword, + That for months, and years, and ages, + Never ye will see their faces, + Never hear their merry voices, + Never will they tread these uplands, + Never will they join these dances, + Never will they drive these highways." + Sad the wailing of Kyllikki, + Sad the weeping flower of Sahri! + Listen to her tearful pleading: + "Give, O give me back my freedom, + Free me from the throes of thralldom, + Let this maiden wander homeward, + By some foot-path let me wander + To my father who is grieving, + To my mother who is weeping; + Let me go or I will curse thee! + If thou wilt not give me freedom, + Wilt not let me wander homeward, + Where my loved ones wait my coming, + I have seven stalwart brothers, + Seven sons of father's brother, + Seven sons of mother's sister, + Who pursue the tracks of red-deer, + Hunt the hare upon the heather; + They will follow thee and slay thee, + Thus I'll gain my wished-for freedom." + Lemminkainen, little heeding, + Would not grant the maiden's wishes, + Would not heed her plea for mercy. + Spake again the waiting virgin, + Pride and beauty of the Northland: + "Joyful was I with my kindred, + Joyful born and softly nurtured + Merrily I spent my childhood, + Happy I, in virgin-freedom, + In the dwelling of my father, + By the bedside of my mother, + With my lineage in Sahri; + But alas! all joy has vanished, + All my happiness departed, + All my maiden beauty waneth + Since I met thine evil spirit, + Shameless hero of dishonor, + Cruel fighter of the islands, + Merciless in civil combat." + Spake the hero, Lemminkainen, + These the words of Kaukomieli: + "Dearest maiden, fair Kyllikki, + My sweet strawberry of Pohya, + Still thine anguish, cease thy weeping, + Be thou free from care and sorrow, + Never shall I do thee evil, + Never will my hands maltreat thee, + Never will mine arms abuse thee, + Never will my tongue revile thee, + Never will my heart deceive thee. + "Tell me why thou hast this anguish, + Why thou hast this bitter sorrow, + Why this sighing and lamenting, + Tell me why this wail of sadness? + Banish all thy cares and sorrows, + Dry thy tears and still thine anguish, + I have cattle, food, and shelter, + I have home, and friends, and kindred, + Kine upon the plains and uplands, + In the marshes berries plenty, + Strawberries upon the mountains + I have kine that need no milking, + Handsome kine that need no feeding, + Beautiful if not well-tended; + Need not tie them up at evening, + Need not free them in the morning, + Need not hunt them, need not feed them, + Need not give them salt nor water. + "Thinkest thou my race is lowly, + Dost thou think me born ignoble, + Does my lineage agrieve thee? + Was not born in lofty station, + From a tribe of noble heroes, + From a worthy race descended; + But I have a sword of fervor, + And a spear yet filled with courage, + Surely these are well descended, + These were born from hero-races, + Sharpened by the mighty Hisi, + By the gods were forged and burnished; + Therefore will I give thee greatness, + Greatness of my race and nation, + With my broadsword filled with fervor, + With my spear still filled with courage." + Anxiously the sighing maiden + Thus addresses Lemminkainen: + "O thou Ahti, son of Lempo, + Wilt thou take this trusting virgin, + As thy faithful life-companion, + Take me under thy protection, + Be to me a faithful husband, + Swear to me an oath of honor, + That thou wilt not go to battle, + When for gold thou hast a longing, + When thou wishest gold and silver?" + This is Lemminkainen's answer: + I will swear an oath of honor, + That I'll never go to battle, + When for gold I feel a longing, + When I wish for gold and silver. + Swear thou also on thine honor, + Thou wilt go not to the village, + When desire for dance impels thee, + Wilt not visit village-dances." + Thus the two made oath together, + Registered their vows in heaven, + Vowed before omniscient Ukko, + Ne'er to go to war vowed Ahti, + Never to the dance, Kyllikki. + Lemminkainen, full of joyance, + Snapped his whip above his courser, + Whipped his racer to a gallop, + And these words the hero uttered: + "Fare ye well, ye Sahri-meadows, + Roots of firs, and stumps of birch-trees. + That I wandered through in summer, + That I travelled o'er in winter, + Where ofttimes in rainy seasons, + At the evening hour I lingered, + When I sought to win the virgin, + Sought to win the Maid of Beauty, + Fairest of the Sahri-flowers. + Fare ye well, ye Sahri-woodlands, + Seas and oceans, lakes and rivers, + Vales and mountains, isles and inlets, + Once the home of fair Kyllikki!" + Quick the racer galloped homeward, + Galloped on along the highway, + Toward the meadows of Wainola, + To the plains of Kalevala. + As they neared the Ahti-dwellings, + Thus Kyllikki spake in sorrow: + "Cold and drear is thy cottage, + Seeming like a place deserted; + Who may own this dismal cabin, + Who the one so little honored?" + Spake the hero, Lemminkainen, + These the words that Ahti uttered: + "Do not grieve about my cottage, + Have no care about my chambers; + I shall build thee other dwellings, + I shall fashion them much better, + Beams, and posts, and sills, and rafters, + Fashioned from the sacred birch-wood." + Now they reach the home of Ahti, + Lemminkainen's home and birthplace, + Enter they his mother's cottage; + There they meet his aged mother, + These the words the mother uses: + "Long indeed hast thou been absent, + Long in foreign lands hast wandered, + Long in Sahri thou hast lingered!" + This is Lemminkainen's answer: + "All the host of Sahri-women, + All the chaste and lovely maidens, + All the maids with braided tresses, + Well have paid for their derision, + For their scorn and for their laughter, + That they basely heaped upon me. + I have brought the best among them + In my sledge to this thy cottage; + Well I wrapped her in my fur-robes, + Kept her warm enwrapped in bear-skin, + Brought her to my mother's dwelling, + As my faithful life-companion; + Thus I paid the scornful maidens, + Paid them well for their derision. + "Cherished mother of my being, + I have found the long-sought jewel, + I have won the Maid of Beauty. + Spread our couch with finest linen, + For our heads the softest pillows, + On our table rarest viands, + So that I may dwell in pleasure + With my spouse, the bride of honor, + With the pride of distant Sahri." + This the answer of the mother: + "Be thou praised, O gracious Ukko, + Loudly praised, O thou Creator, + Since thou givest me a daughter, + Ahti's bride, my second daughter, + Who can stir the fire at evening, + Who can weave me finest fabrics, + Who can twirl the useful spindle, + Who can rinse my silken ribbons, + Who can full the richest garments. + "Son beloved, praise thy Maker, + For the winning of this virgin, + Pride and joy of distant Sahri + Kind indeed is thy Creator, + Wise the ever-knowing Ukko! + Pure the snow upon the mountains, + Purer still thy Bride of Beauty; + White the foam upon the ocean, + Whiter still her virgin-spirit; + Graceful on the lakes, the white-swan, + Still more graceful, thy companion: + Beautiful the stars in heaven, + Still more beautiful, Kyllikki. + Larger make our humble cottage, + Wider build the doors and windows, + Fashion thou the ceilings higher, + Decorate the walls in beauty, + Now that thou a bride hast taken + From a tribe of higher station, + Purest maiden of creation, + From the meadow-lands of Sahri, + From the upper shores of Northland." + + + + +RUNE XII. + + + + KYLLIKKI'S BROKEN VOW. + + + Lemminkainen, artful husband, + Reckless hero, Kaukomieli, + Constantly beside his young wife., + Passed his life in sweet contentment, + And the years rolled swiftly onward; + Ahti thought not of the battles, + Nor Kyllikki of the dances. + Once upon a time it happened + That the hero, Lemminkainen, + Went upon the lake a-fishing, + Was not home at early evening, + As the cruel night descended; + To the village went Kyllikki, + To the dance of merry maidens. + Who will tell the evil story, + Who will bear the information + To the husband, Lemminkainen? + Ahti's sister tells the story, + And the sister's name, Ainikki. + Soon she spreads the cruel tidings, + Straightway gives the information, + Of Kyllikki's perjured honor, + These the words Ainikki utters: + "Ahti, my beloved brother, + To the village went Kyllikki, + To the hall of many strangers, + To the plays and village dances, + With the young men and the maidens, + With the maids of braided tresses, + To the halls of joy and pleasure." + Lemminkainen, much dejected, + Broken-hearted, flushed with anger, + Spake these words in measured accents: + "Mother dear, my gray-haired mother, + Wilt thou straightway wash my linen + In the blood of poison-serpents, + In the black blood of the adder? + I must hasten to the combat, + To the camp-fires of the Northland, + To the battle-fields of Lapland; + To the village went Kyllikki, + To the play of merry maidens, + To the games and village dances, + With the maids of braided tresses." + Straightway speaks the wife, Kyllikki: + "My beloved husband, Ahti, + Do not go to war, I pray thee. + In the evening I lay sleeping, + Slumbering I saw in dream-land + Fire upshooting from the chimney, + Flames arising, mounting skyward, + From the windows of this dwelling, + From the summits of these rafters, + Piercing through our upper chambers, + Roaring like the fall of waters, + Leaping from the floor and ceiling, + Darting from the halls and doorways." + But the doubting Lemminkainen + Makes this answer to Kyllikki: + "I discredit dreams or women, + Have no faith in vows of maidens! + Faithful mother of my being, + Hither bring my mail of copper; + Strong desire is stirring in me + For the cup of deadly combat, + For the mead of martial conquest." + This the pleading mother's answer: + "Lemminkainen, son beloved, + Do not go to war I pray thee; + We have foaming beer abundant, + In our vessels beer of barley, + Held in casks by oaken spigots; + Drink this beer of peace and pleasure, + Let us drink of it together." + Spake the hero, Lemminkainen: + "I shall taste no more the viands, + In the home of false Kyllikki; + Rather would I drink the water + From the painted tips of birch-oars; + Sweeter far to me the water, + Than the beverage of dishonor, + At my mother's home and fireside! + "Hither bring my martial doublet, + Bring me now the sword of battle, + Bring my father's sword of honor; + I must go to upper Northland, + To the battle-fields of Lapland, + There to win me gold and silver." + This the anxious mother's answer: + "My beloved Kaukomieli, + We have gold in great abundance, + Gold and silver in the store-room; + Recently upon the uplands, + In the early hours of morning, + Toiled the workmen in the corn-fields, + Plowed the meadows filled with serpents, + When the plowshare raised the cover + From a chest of gold and silver, + Countless was the gold uncovered, + Hid beneath the grassy meadow; + This the treasure I have brought thee, + Take the countless gold in welcome." + Spake the hero, Lemminkainen: + "Do not wish thy household silver, + From the wars I'll earn my silver; + Gold and silver from the combat + Are to me of greater value + Than the wealth thou hast discovered. + Bring me now my heavy armor, + Bring me too my spear and broadsword; + To the Northland I must hasten, + To the bloody wars of Lapland, + Thither does my pride impel me, + Thitherward my heart is turning. + "I have heard a tale of Lapland, + Some believe the wondrous story, + That a maid in Pimentola + Lives that does not care for suitors, + Does not care for bearded heroes." + This the aged mother's answer: + "Warlike Athi, son beloved, + In thy home thou hast Kyllikki, + Fairest wife of all the islands; + Strange to see two wives abiding + In the home of but one husband." + Spake the hero, Lemminkainen: + "To the village runs Kyllikki; + Let her run to village dances, + Let her sleep in other dwellings, + With the village youth find pleasure, + With the maids of braided tresses." + Seeks the mother to detain him, + Thus the anxious mother answers: + "Do not go, my son beloved, + Ignorant of Pohya-witchcraft, + To the distant homes of Northland + Till thou hast the art of magic, + Till thou hast some little wisdom + Do not go to fields of battle, + To the fires of Northland's children, + To the slaughter-fields of Lapland, + Till of magic thou art master. + There the Lapland maids will charm thee, + Turyalanders will bewitch thee, + Sing thy visage into charcoal, + Head and shoulders to the furnace, + Into ashes sing thy fore-arm, + Into fire direct thy footsteps." + Spake the warlike Lemminkainen: + Wizards often have bewitched me, + And the fascinating serpents; + Lapland wizards, three in number, + On an eve in time of summer, + Sitting on a rock at twilight, + Not a garment to protect them, + Once bewitched me with their magic; + This much they have taken from me, + This the sum of all my losses: + What the hatchet gains from flint-stone, + What the auger bores from granite, + What the heel chips from the iceberg, + And what death purloins from tomb-stones. + "Horribly the wizards threatened, + Tried to sink me with their magic, + In the water of the marshes, + In the mud and treacherous quicksand, + To my chin in mire and water; + But I too was born a hero, + Born a hero and magician, + Was not troubled by their magic. + "Straightway I began my singing, + Sang the archers with their arrows, + Sang the spearmen with their weapons, + Sang the swordsmen with their poniards, + Sang the singers with their singing, + The enchanters with their magic, + To the rapids of the rivers, + To the highest fall of waters, + To the all-devouring whirlpool, + To the deepest depths of ocean, + Where the wizards still are sleeping, + Sleeping till the grass shoots upward + Through the beards and wrinkled faces, + Through the locks of the enchanters, + As they sleep beneath the billows." + Still entreats the anxious mother, + Still beseeches Lemminkainen, + Trying to restrain the hero, + While Kyllikki begs forgiveness; + This the language of the mother: + "Do not go, my son beloved, + To the villages of Northland, + Nor to Lapland's frigid borders; + Dire misfortune will befall thee, + Star of evil settle o'er thee, + Lemminkainen's end, destruction. + "Couldst thou speak in tongues a hundred, + I could not believe thee able, + Through the magic of thy singing, + To enchant the sons of Lapland + To the bottom of the ocean, + Dost not know the Tury-language, + Canst but speak the tongue of Suomi, + Canst not win by witless magic." + Lemminkainen, reckless hero, + Also known as Kaukomieli, + Stood beside his mother, combing + Out his sable locks and musing, + Brushing down his beard, debating, + Steadfast still in his decision, + Quickly hurls his brush in anger, + Hurls it to the wall opposing, + Gives his mother final answer, + These the words that Ahti uses: + "Dire misfortune will befall me, + Some sad fate will overtake me, + Evil come to Lemminkainen, + When the blood flows from that hair-brush, + When blood oozes from those bristles." + Thus the warlike Lemminkainen + Goes to never-pleasant Lapland, + Heeding not his mother's warning, + Heeding not her prohibition. + Thus the hero, Kaukomieli, + Quick equips himself for warfare, + On his head a copper helmet, + On his shoulders caps of copper, + On his body iron armor, + Steel, the belt around his body; + As he girds himself for battle, + Ahti thus soliloquizing: + "Strong the hero in his armor, + Strong indeed in copper helmet, + Powerful in mail of iron, + Stronger far than any hero + On the dismal shores of Lapland, + Need not fear their wise enchanters, + Need not fear their strongest foemen, + Need not fear a war with wizards." + Grasped he then the sword of battle, + Firmly grasped the heavy broadsword + That Tuoni had been grinding, + That the gods had brightly burnished, + Thrust it in the leathern scabbard, + Tied the scabbard to his armor. + How do heroes guard from danger, + Where protect themselves from evil? + Heroes guard their homes and firesides, + Guard their doors, and roofs, and windows, + Guard the posts that bold the torch-lights, + Guard the highways to the court-yard, + Guard the ends of all the gate-ways. + Heroes guard themselves from women, + Carefully from merry maidens; + If in this their strength be wanting, + Easy fall the heroes, victims + To the snares of the enchanters. + Furthermore are heroes watchful + Of the tribes of warlike giants, + Where the highway doubly branches, + On the borders of the blue-rock, + On the marshes filled with evil, + Near the mighty fall of waters, + Near the circling of the whirlpool, + Near the fiery springs and rapids. + Spake the stout-heart, Lemminkainen: + "Rise ye heroes of the broadsword, + Ye, the earth's eternal heroes, + From the deeps, ye sickle-bearers, + From the brooks, ye crossbow-shooters, + Come, thou forest, with thine archers, + Come, ye thickets, with your armies, + Mountain spirits, with your powers, + Come, fell Hisi, with thy horrors, + Water-mother, with thy dangers, + Come, Wellamo, with thy mermaids, + Come, ye maidens from the valleys, + Come, ye nymphs from winding rivers, + Be protection to this hero, + Be his day-and-night companions, + Body-guard to Lemminkainen, + Thus to blunt the spears of wizards, + Thus to dull their pointed arrows, + That the spears of the enchanters, + That the arrows of the archers, + That the weapons of the foemen, + May not harm this bearded hero. + "Should this force be insufficient, + I can call on other powers, + I can call the gods above me, + Call the great god of the heavens, + Him who gives the clouds their courses, + Him who rules through boundless ether, + Who directs the march of storm-winds. + "Ukko, thou O God above me, + Thou the father of creation, + Thou that speakest through the thunder, + Thou whose weapon is the lightning, + Thou whose voice is borne by ether, + Grant me now thy mighty fire-sword, + Give me here thy burning arrows, + Lightning arrows for my quiver, + Thus protect me from all danger, + Guard me from the wiles of witches, + Guide my feet from every evil, + Help me conquer the enchanters, + Help me drive them from the Northland; + Those that stand in front of battle, + Those that fill the ranks behind me, + Those around me, those above me, + Those beneath me, help me banish,. + With their knives, and swords, and cross-bows, + With their spears of keenest temper, + With their tongues of evil magic; + Help me drive these Lapland wizards + To the deepest depths of ocean, + There to wrestle with Wellamo." + Then the reckless Lemminkainen + Whistled loudly for his stallion, + Called the racer from the hurdles, + Called his brown steed from the pasture, + Threw the harness on the courser, + Hitched the fleet-foot to the snow-sledge, + Leaped upon the highest cross-bench, + Cracked his whip above the racer, + And the steed flies onward swiftly, + Bounds the sleigh upon its journey, + And the golden plain re-echoes; + Travels one day, then a second, + Travels all the next day northward, + Till the third day evening brings him + To a sorry Northland village, + On the dismal shores of Lapland. + Here the hero, Lemminkainen, + Drove along the lowest highway, + Through the streets along the border, + To a court-yard in the hamlet, + Asked one standing in the doorway: + "Is there one within this dwelling, + That can loose my stallion's breastplate, + That can lift his heavy collar, + That these shafts can rightly lower?" + On the floor a babe was playing, + And the young child gave this answer: + "There is no one in this dwelling + That can loose thy stallion's breastplate, + That can lift his heavy collar, + That the shafts can rightly lower." + Lemminkainen, not discouraged, + Whips his racer to a gallop, + Rushes forward through the village, + On the middle of the highways, + To the court-yard in the centre, + Asks one standing in the threshold, + Leaning on the penthouse door-posts: + "Is there any one here dwelling + That can slip my stallion's bridle, + That can loose his leathern breast-straps, + That can tend my royal racer?" + From the fire-place spake a wizard, + From her bench the witch made answer: + "Thou canst find one in this dwelling, + That can slip thy courser's bridle, + That can loose his heavy breastplate, + That can tend thy royal racer. + There are here a thousand heroes + That can make thee hasten homeward, + That can give thee fleet-foot stallions, + That can chase thee to thy country, + Reckless rascal and magician, + To thy home and fellow minstrels, + To the uplands of thy father, + To the cabins of thy mother, + To the work-bench of thy brother, + To the dairy or thy sister, + Ere the evening star has risen, + Ere the sun retires to slumber." + Lemminkainen, little fearing, + Gives this answer to the wizard: + "I should slay thee for thy pertness, + That thy clatter might be silenced." + Then he whipped his fiery charger, + And the steed flew onward swiftly, + On the upper of the highways, + To the court-yard on the summit. + When the reckless Lemminkainen + Had approached the upper court-yard, + Uttered he the words that follow: + "O thou Hisi, stuff this watch-dog, + Lempo, stuff his throat and nostrils, + Close the mouth of this wild barker, + Bridle well the vicious canine, + That the watcher may be silent + While the hero passes by him." + Then he stepped within the court-room, + With his whip he struck the flooring, + From the floor arose a vapor, + In the fog appeared a pigmy, + Who unhitched the royal racer, + From his back removed the harness, + Gave the weary steed attention. + Then the hero, Lemminkainen, + Carefully advanced and listened. + No one saw the strange magician, + No one heard his cautious footsteps; + Heard he songs within the dwelling, + Through the moss-stuffed chinks heard voices. + Through the walls he beard them singing, + Through the doors the peals of laughter. + Then he spied within the court-rooms, + Lurking slyly in the hall-ways, + Found the court-rooms filled with singers, + By the walls were players seated, + Near the doors the wise men hovered, + Skilful ones upon the benches, + Near the fires the wicked wizards; + All were singing songs of Lapland, + Singing songs of evil Hisi. + Now the minstrel, Lemminkainen, + Changes both his form and stature, + Passes through the inner door-ways, + Enters he the spacious court-hall, + And these words the hero utters: + "Fine the singing quickly ending, + Good the song that quickly ceases; + Better far to keep thy wisdom + Than to sing it on the house-tops." + Comes the hostess of Pohyola, + Fleetly rushing through the door-way, + To the centre of the court-room, + And addresses thus the stranger: + Formerly a dog lay watching, + Was a cur of iron-color, + Fond of flesh, a bone-devourer, + Loved to lick the blood of strangers. + Who then art thou of the heroes, + Who of all the host of heroes, + That thou art within my court-rooms, + That thou comest to my dwelling, + Was not seen without my portals, + Was not scented by my watch-dogs? + Spake the reckless Lemminkainen: + "Do not think that I come hither + Having neither wit nor wisdom, + Having neither art nor power, + Wanting in ancestral knowledge, + Lacking prudence of the fathers, + That thy watch-dogs may devour me. + "My devoted mother washed me, + When a frail and tender baby, + Three times in the nights of summer, + Nine times in the nights of autumn, + That upon my journeys northward + I might sing the ancient wisdom, + Thus protect myself from danger; + When at home I sing as wisely + As the minstrels of thy hamlet." + Then the singer, Lemminkainen, + Ancient hero, Kaukomieli, + Quick began his incantations, + Straightway sang the songs of witchcraft, + From his fur-robe darts the lightning, + Flames outshooting from his eye-balls, + From the magic of his singing + From his wonderful enchantment. + Sang the very best of singers + To the very worst of minstrels, + Filled their mouths with dust and ashes, + Piled the rocks upon their shoulders, + Stilled the best of Lapland witches, + Stilled the sorcerers and wizards. + Then he banished all their heroes, + Banished all their proudest minstrels, + This one hither, that one thither, + To the lowlands poor in verdure, + To the unproductive uplands, + To the oceans wanting whiting, + To the waterfalls of Rutya, + To the whirlpool hot and flaming, + To the waters decked with sea-foam, + Into fires and boiling waters, + Into everlasting torment. + Then the hero, Lemminkainen, + Sang the foemen with their broadswords? + Sang the heroes with their weapons, + Sang the eldest, sang the youngest, + Sang the middle-aged, enchanted; + Only one he left his senses, + He a poor, defenseless shepherd, + Old and sightless, halt and wretched, + And the old man's name was Nasshut. + Spake the miserable shepherd: + "Thou hast old and young enchanted, + Thou hast banished all our heroes, + Why hast spared this wretched shepherd?" + This is Lemminkainen's answer: + "Therefore have I not bewitched thee: + Thou art old, and blind, and wretched + Feeble-minded thou, and harmless, + Loathsome now without my magic. + Thou didst, in thy better life-time, + When a shepherd filled with malice, + Ruin all thy mother's berries, + Make thy sister, too unworthy, + Ruin all thy brother's cattle, + Drive to death thy father's stallions, + Through the marshes, o'er the meadows, + Through the lowlands, o'er the mountains, + Heeding not thy mother's counsel." + Thereupon the wretched Nasshut, + Angry grew and swore for vengeance, + Straightway limping through the door-way, + Hobbled on beyond the court-yard, + O'er the meadow-lands and pastures, + To the river of the death-land, + To the holy stream and whirlpool, + To the kingdom of Tuoni, + To the islands of Manala; + Waited there for Kaukomieli, + Listened long for Lemminkainen, + Thinking he must pass this river + On his journey to his country, + On. the highway to the islands, + From the upper shores of Pohya, + From the dreary Sariola. + + + + +RUNE XIII. + + + + LEMMINIKAINEN'S SECOND WOOING. + + + Spake the ancient Lemminkainen + To the hostess of Pohyola: + "Give to me thy lovely daughter, + Bring me now thy winsome maiden, + Bring the best of Lapland virgins, + Fairest virgin of the Northland." + Louhi, hostess of Pohyola, + Answered thus the wild magician: + "I shall never give my daughter, + Never give my fairest maiden, + Not the best one, nor the worst one, + Not the largest, nor the smallest; + Thou hast now one wife-companion, + Thou has taken hence one hostess, + Carried off the fair Kyllikki." + This is Lemminkainen's answer: + To my home I took Kyllikki, + To my cottage on the island, + To my entry-gates and kindred; + Now I wish a better hostess, + Straightway bring thy fairest daughter, + Worthiest of all thy virgins, + Fairest maid with sable tresses." + Spake the hostess of Pohyola: + "Never will I give my daughter + To a hero false and worthless, + To a minstrel vain and evil; + Therefore, pray thou for my maiden, + Therefore, woo the sweet-faced flower, + When thou bringest me the wild-moose + From the Hisi fields and forests." + Then the artful Lemminkainen + Deftly whittled out his javelins, + Quickly made his leathern bow-string, + And prepared his bow and arrows, + And soliloquized as follows: + "Now my javelins are made ready, + All my arrows too are ready, + And my oaken cross-bow bended, + But my snow-shoes are not builded, + Who will make me worthy snow-shoes?" + Lemminkainen, grave and thoughtful, + Long reflected, well considered, + Where the snow-shoes could be fashioned, + Who the artist that could make them; + Hastened to the Kauppi-smithy, + To the smithy of Lylikki, + Thus addressed the snow-shoe artist: + "O thou skilful Woyalander, + Kauppi, ablest smith of Lapland, + Make me quick two worthy snow-shoes, + Smooth them well and make them hardy, + That in Tapio the wild-moose, + Roaming through the Hisi-forests, + I may catch and bring to Louhi, + As a dowry for her daughter." + Then Lylikki thus made answer, + Kauppi gave this prompt decision: + "Lemminkainen, reckless minstrel, + Thou wilt hunt in vain the wild-moose, + Thou wilt catch but pain and torture, + In the Hisi fens and forests." + Little heeding, Lemminkainen + Spake these measures to Lylikki + "Make for me the worthy snow-shoes, + Quickly work and make them ready; + Go I will and catch the blue-moose + Where in Tapio it browses, + In the Hisi woods and snow-fields." + Then Lylikki, snow-shoe-maker, + Ancient Kauppi, master artist, + Whittled in the fall his show-shoes, + Smoothed them in the winter evenings, + One day working on the runners, + All the next day making stick-rings, + Till at last the shoes were finished, + And the workmanship was perfect. + Then he fastened well the shoe-straps, + Smooth as adder's skin the woodwork, + Soft as fox-fur were the stick-rings; + Oiled he well his wondrous snow-shoes + With the tallow of the reindeer; + When he thus soliloquizes, + These the accents of Lylikki: + "Is there any youth in Lapland, + Any in this generation, + That can travel in these snow-shoes, + That can move the lower sections?" + Spake the reckless Lemminkainen, + Full of hope, and life, and vigor: + Surely there is one in Lapland. + In this rising generation, + That can travel in these snow-shoes, + That the right and left can manage." + To his back he tied the quiver, + Placed the bow upon his shoulder, + With both hands he grasped his snow-cane, + Speaking meanwhile words as follow: + "There is nothing in the woodlands, + Nothing in the world of Ukko, + Nothing underneath the heavens, + In the uplands, in the lowlands, + Nothing in the snow-fields running, + Not a fleet deer of the forest, + That could not be overtaken + With the snow-shoes of Lylikki, + With the strides of Lemminkainen." + Wicked Hisi heard these measures, + Juntas listened to their echoes; + Straightway Hisi called the wild-moose, + Juutas fashioned soon a reindeer, + And the head was made of punk-wood, + Horns of naked willow branches, + Feet were furnished by the rushes, + And the legs, by reeds aquatic, + Veins were made of withered grasses, + Eyes, from daisies of the meadows, + Ears were formed of water-flowers, + And the skin of tawny fir-bark, + Out of sappy wood, the muscles, + Fair and fleet, the magic reindeer. + Juutas thus instructs the wild-moose, + These the words of wicked Hisi: + Flee away, thou moose of Juutas, + Flee away, thou Hisi-reindeer, + Like the winds, thou rapid courser, + To the snow-homes of the ranger, + To the ridges of the mountains, + To the snow-capped hills of Lapland, + That thy hunter may be worn out, + Thy pursuer be tormented, + Lemminkainen be exhausted." + Thereupon the Hisi-reindeer, + Juutas-moose with branching antlers, + Fleetly ran through fen and forest, + Over Lapland's hills and valleys, + Through the open fields and court-yards, + Through the penthouse doors and gate-ways, + Turning over tubs of water, + Threw the kettles from the fire-pole, + And upset the dishes cooking. + Then arose a fearful uproar, + In the court-yards of Pohyola, + Lapland-dogs began their barking, + Lapland-children cried in terror, + Lapland-women roared with laughter, + And the Lapland-heroes shouted. + Fleetly followed Lemminkainen, + Followed fast, and followed faster, + Hastened on behind the wild-moose, + Over swamps and through the woodlands, + Over snow-fields vast and pathless, + Over high uprising mountains, + Fire out-shooting from his runners, + Smoke arising from his snow-cane: + Could not hear the wild-moose bounding, + Could not sight the flying fleet-foot; + Glided on through field and forest, + Glided over lakes and rivers, + Over lands beyond the smooth-sea, + Through the desert plains of Hisi, + Glided o'er the plains of Kalma, + Through the kingdom of Tuoni, + To the end of Kalma's empire, + Where the jaws of Death stand open, + Where the head of Kalma lowers, + Ready to devour the stranger, + To devour wild Lemminkainen; + But Tuoni cannot reach him, + Kalma cannot overtake him. + Distant woods are yet untraveled, + Far away a woodland corner + Stands unsearched by Kaukomieli, + In the North's extensive, borders, + In the realm of dreary Lapland. + Now the hero, on his snow-shoes, + Hastens to the distant woodlands, + There to hunt the moose of Piru. + As he nears the woodland corner, + There he bears a frightful uproar, + From the Northland's distant borders, + From the dreary fields of Lapland, + Hears the dogs as they are barking, + Hears the children loudly screaming, + Hears the laughter or the women, + Hears the shouting of the heroes. + Thereupon wild Lemminkainen + Hastens forward on his snow-shoes, + To the place where dogs are barking, + To the distant woods of Lapland. + When the reckless Kaukomieli + Had approached this Hisi corner, + Straightway he began to question: + "Why this laughter or the women, + Why the screaming of the children, + Why the shouting of the heroes, + Why this barking of the watch-dogs? + This reply was promptly given: + "This the reason for this uproar, + Women laughing, children screaming, + Heroes shouting, watch-dogs barking + Hisi's moose came running hither, + Hither came the Piru-Reindeer, + Hither came with hoofs of silver, + Through the open fields and court-yards, + Through the penthouse doors and gate-ways, + Turning over tubs or water, + Threw the kettles from the fire-pole, + And upset the dishes cooking." + Then the hero, Lemminkainen, + Straightway summoned all his courage, + Pushed ahead his mighty snow-shoes, + Swift as adders in the stubble, + Levelled bushes in the marshes, + Like the swift and fiery serpents, + Spake these words of magic import, + Keeping balance with his snow-staff: + Come thou might of Lapland heroes, + Bring to me the moose of Juutas; + Come thou strength of Lapland-women, + And prepare the boiling caldron; + Come, thou might of Lapland children, + Bring together fire and fuel; + Come, thou strength of Lapland-kettles, + Help to boil the Hisi wild-moose." + Then with mighty force and courage, + Lemminkainen hastened onward, + Striking backward, shooting forward; + With a long sweep of his snow-shoe, + Disappeared from view the hero; + With the second, shooting further, + Was the hunter out of hearing, + With the third the hero glided + On the shoulders of the wild-moose; + Took a pole of stoutest oak-wood, + Took some bark-strings from the willow, + Wherewithal to bind the moose-deer, + Bind him to his oaken hurdle. + To the moose he spake as follows: + "Here remain, thou moose of Juutas + Skip about, my bounding courser, + In my hurdle jump and frolic, + Captive from the fields of Piru, + From the Hisi glens and mountains." + Then he stroked the captured wild-moose, + Patted him upon his forehead, + Spake again in measured accents: + "I would like awhile to linger, + I would love to rest a moment + In the cottage of my maiden, + With my virgin, young and lovely." + Then the Hisi-moose grew angry, + Stamped his feet and shook his antlers, + Spake these words to Lemminkainen: + "Surely Lempo soon will got thee, + Shouldst thou sit beside the maiden, + Shouldst thou linger by the virgin." + Now the wild-moose stamps and rushes, + Tears in two the bands of willow, + Breaks the oak-wood pole in pieces, + And upturns the hunter's hurdle, + Quickly leaping from his captor, + Bounds away with strength of freedom, + Over hills and over lowlands, + Over swamps and over snow-fields, + Over mountains clothed in heather, + That the eye may not behold him, + Nor the hero's ear detect him. + Thereupon the mighty hunter + Angry grows, and much disheartened, + Starts again the moose to capture, + Gliding off behind the courser. + With his might he plunges forward; + At the instep breaks his snow-shoe, + Breaks the runners into fragments, + On the mountings breaks his javelins, + In the centre breaks his snow-staff, + And the moose bounds on before him, + Through the Hisi-woods and snow-fields, + Out of reach of Lemminkainen. + Then the reckless Kaukomieli + Looked with bended head, ill-humored, + One by one upon the fragments, + Speaking words of ancient wisdom: + "Northland hunters, never, never, + Go defiant to thy forests, + In the Hisi vales and mountains, + There to hunt the moose of Juutas, + Like this senseless, reckless hero; + I have wrecked my magic snow-shoes, + Ruined too my useful snow-staff, + And my javelins I have broken, + While the wild-moose runs in safety + Through the Hisi fields and forests." + + + + +RUNE XIV. + + + + DEATH OF LEMMINKAINEN. + + + Lemminkainen, much disheartened, + Deeply thought and long considered, + What to do, what course to follow, + Whether best to leave the wild-moose + In the fastnesses of Hisi, + And return to Kalevala, + Or a third time hunt the ranger, + Hoping thus to bring him captive, + Thus return at last a victor + To the forest home of Louhi, + To the joy of all her daughters, + To the wood-nymph's happy fireside. + Taking courage Lemminkainen + Spake these words in supplication: + "Ukko, thou O God above me, + Thou Creator of the heavens, + Put my snow-shoes well in order, + And endow them both with swiftness, + That I rapidly may journey + Over marshes, over snow-fields, + Over lowlands, over highlands, + Through the realms of wicked Hisi, + Through the distant plains of Lapland, + Through the paths of Lempo's wild-moose, + To the forest hills of Juutas. + To the snow-fields shall I journey, + Leave the heroes to the woodlands, + On the way to Tapiola, + Into Tapio's wild dwellings. + "Greeting bring I to the mountains, + Greeting to the vales and uplands, + Greet ye, heights with forests covered, + Greet ye, ever-verdant fir-trees, + Greet ye, groves of whitened aspen, + Greetings bring to those that greet you, + Fields, and streams, and woods of Lapland. + Bring me favor, mountain-woodlands, + Lapland-deserts, show me kindness, + Mighty Tapio, be gracious, + Let me wander through thy forests, + Let me glide along thy rivers, + Let this hunter search thy snow-fields, + Where the wild-moose herds in numbers + Where the bounding reindeer lingers. + "O Nyrikki, mountain hero, + Son of Tapio of forests, + Hero with the scarlet head-gear, + Notches make along the pathway, + Landmarks upward to the mountains, + That this hunter may not wander, + May not fall, and falling perish + In the snow-fields of thy kingdom, + Hunting for the moose of Hisi, + Dowry for the pride of Northland. + "Mistress of the woods, Mielikki, + Forest-mother, formed in beauty, + Let thy gold flow out abundant, + Let thy silver onward wander, + For the hero that is seeking + For the wild-moose of thy kingdom; + Bring me here thy keys of silver, + From the golden girdle round thee; + Open Tapio's rich chambers, + And unlock the forest fortress, + While I here await the booty, + While I hunt the moose of Lempo. + "Should this service be too menial + Give the order to thy servants, + Send at once thy servant-maidens, + And command it to thy people. + Thou wilt never seem a hostess, + If thou hast not in thy service, + Maidens ready by the hundreds, + Thousands that await thy bidding, + Who thy herds may watch and nurture, + Tend the game of thy dominions. + "Tall and slender forest-virgin, + Tapio's beloved daughter, + Blow thou now thy honey flute-notes, + Play upon thy forest-whistle, + For the hearing of thy mistress, + For thy charming woodland-mistress, + Make her hear thy sweet-toned playing, + That she may arise from slumber. + Should thy mistress not awaken + At the calling of thy flute-notes, + Play again, and play unceasing, + Make the golden tongue re-echo." + Wild and daring Lemminkainen + Steadfast prays upon his journey, + Calling on the gods for succor, + Hastens off through fields and moorlands, + Passes on through cruel brush-wood, + To the colliery of Hisi, + To the burning fields of Lempo; + Glided one day, then a second, + Glided all the next day onward, + Till he came to Big-stone mountain, + Climbed upon its rocky summit, + Turned his glances to the north-west, + Toward the Northland moors and marshes; + There appeared the Tapio-mansion. + All the doors were golden-colored, + Shining in the gleam of sunlight + Through the thickets on the mountains, + Through the distant fields of Northland. + Lemminkainen, much encouraged, + Hastens onward from his station + Through the lowlands, o'er the uplands, + Over snow-fields vast and vacant, + Under snow-robed firs and aspens, + Hastens forward, happy-hearted, + Quickly reaches Tapio's court-yards, + Halts without at Tapio's windows, + Slyly looks into her mansion, + Spies within some kindly women, + Forest-dames outstretched before him, + All are clad in scanty raiment, + Dressed in soiled and ragged linens. + Spake the stranger Lemminkainen: + "Wherefore sit ye, forest-mothers, + In your old and simple garments, + In your soiled and ragged linen? + Ye, forsooth! are too untidy, + Too unsightly your appearance + In your tattered gowns appareled. + When I lived within the forest, + There were then three mountain castles, + One of horn and one of ivory, + And the third of wood constructed; + In their walls were golden windows, + Six the windows in each castle, + Through these windows I discovered + All the host of Tapio's mansion, + Saw its fair and stately hostess; + Saw great Tapio's lovely daughter, + Saw Tellervo in her beauty, + With her train of charming maidens; + All were dressed in golden raiment, + Rustled all in gold and silver. + Then the forest's queenly hostess, + Still the hostess of these woodlands, + On her arms wore golden bracelets, + Golden rings upon her fingers, + In her hair were sparkling, jewels, + On her bead were golden fillets, + In her ears were golden ear-rings, + On her neck a pearly necklace, + And her braidlets, silver-tinselled. + "Lovely hostess of the forest, + Metsola's enchanting mistress, + Fling aside thine ugly straw-shoes, + Cast away the shoes of birch-bark, + Doff thy soiled and ragged linen, + Doff thy gown of shabby fabric, + Don the bright and festive raiment, + Don the gown of merry-making, + While I stay within thy borders, + While I seek my forest-booty, + Hunt the moose of evil Hisi. + Here my visit will be irksome, + Here thy guest will be ill-humored, + Waiting in thy fields and woodlands, + Hunting here the moose of Lempo, + Finding not the Hisi-ranger, + Shouldst thou give me no enjoyment, + Should I find no joy, nor respite. + Long the eve that gives no pleasure, + Long the day that brings no guerdon! + "Sable-bearded god of forests, + In thy hat and coat of ermine, + Robe thy trees in finest fibers, + Deck thy groves in richest fabrics, + Give the fir-trees shining silver, + Deck with gold the slender balsams, + Give the spruces copper belting, + And the pine-trees silver girdles, + Give the birches golden flowers, + Deck their stems with silver fret-work, + This their garb in former ages, + When the days and nights were brighter, + When the fir-trees shone like sunlight, + And the birches like the moonbeams; + Honey breathed throughout the forest, + Settled in the glens and highlands + Spices in the meadow-borders, + Oil out-pouring from the lowlands. + "Forest daughter, lovely virgin, + Golden maiden, fair Tulikki, + Second of the Tapio-daughters, + Drive the game within these borders, + To these far-extending snow-fields. + Should the reindeer be too sluggish, + Should the moose-deer move too slowly + Cut a birch-rod from the thicket, + Whip them hither in their beauty, + Drive the wild-moose to my hurdle, + Hither drive the long-sought booty + To the hunter who is watching, + Waiting in the Hisi-forests. + "When the game has started hither, + Keep them in the proper highway, + Hold thy magic hands before them, + Guard them well on either road-side, + That the elk may not escape thee, + May not dart adown some by-path. + Should, perchance, the moose-deer wander + Through some by-way of the forest, + Take him by the ears and antlers, + Hither lead the pride of Lempo. + "If the path be filled with brush-wood + Cast the brush-wood to the road-side; + If the branches cross his pathway, + Break the branches into fragments; + Should a fence of fir or alder + Cross the way that leads him hither. + Make an opening within it, + Open nine obstructing fences; + If the way be crossed by streamlets, + If the path be stopped by rivers, + Make a bridge of silken fabric, + Weaving webs of scarlet color, + Drive the deer-herd gently over, + Lead them gently o'er the waters, + O'er the rivers of thy forests, + O'er the streams of thy dominions. + "Thou, the host of Tapio's mansion, + Gracious host of Tapiola, + Sable-bearded god of woodlands, + Golden lord of Northland forests, + Thou, O Tapio's worthy hostess, + Queen of snowy woods, Mimerkki, + Ancient dame in sky-blue vesture, + Fenland-queen in scarlet ribbons, + Come I to exchange my silver, + To exchange my gold and silver; + Gold I have, as old as moonlight, + Silver of the age of sunshine, + In the first of years was gathered, + In the heat and pain of battle; + It will rust within my pouches, + Soon will wear away and perish, + If it be not used in trading." + Long the hunter, Lemminkainen, + Glided through the fen and forest, + Sang his songs throughout the woodlands, + Through three mountain glens be sang them, + Sang the forest hostess friendly, + Sang he, also, Tapio friendly, + Friendly, all the forest virgins, + All of Metsola's fair daughters. + Now they start the herds of Lempo, + Start the wild-moose from his shelter, + In the realms of evil Hisi, + Tapio's highest mountain-region; + Now they drive the ranger homeward, + To the open courts of Piru, + To the hero that is waiting, + Hunting for the moose of Juutas. + When the herd had reached the castle, + Lemminkainen threw his lasso + O'er the antlers of the blue-moose, + Settled on the neck and shoulders + Of the mighty moose of Hisi. + Then the hunter, Kaukomieli, + Stroked his captive's neck in safety, + For the moose was well-imprisoned. + Thereupon gay Lemminkainen + Filled with joyance spake as follows: + "Pride of forests, queen of woodlands, + Metsola's enchanted hostess, + Lovely forest dame, Mielikki, + Mother-donor of the mountains, + Take the gold that I have promised, + Come and take away the silver; + Spread thy kerchief well before me, + Spread out here thy silken neck-wrap, + Underneath the golden treasure, + Underneath the shining silver, + that to earth it may not settle, + Scattered on the snows of winter." + Then the hero went a victor + To the dwellings of Pohyola, + And addressed these words to Louhi: + "I have caught the moose of Hisi, + In the Metsola-dominions, + Give, O hostess, give thy daughter, + Give to me thy fairest virgin, + Bride of mine to be hereafter." + Louhi, hostess of the Northland, + Gave this answer to the suitor: + "I will give to thee my daughter, + For thy wife my fairest maiden, + When for me thou'lt put a bridle + On the flaming horse of Hisi, + Rapid messenger of Lempo, + On the Hisi-plains and pastures." + Nothing daunted, Lemminkainen + Hastened forward to accomplish + Louhi's second test of heroes, + On the cultivated lowlands, + On the sacred fields and forests. + Everywhere he sought the racer, + Sought the fire-expiring stallion, + Fire out-shooting from his nostrils. + Lemminkainen, fearless hunter, + Bearing in his belt his bridle, + On his shoulders, reins and halter, + Sought one day, and then a second, + Finally, upon the third day, + Went he to the Hisi-mountain, + Climbed, and struggled to the summit; + To the east he turned his glances, + Cast his eyes upon the sunrise, + There beheld the flaming courser, + On the heath among the far-trees. + Lempo's fire-expiring stallion + Fire and mingled smoke, out-shooting + From his mouth, and eyes, and nostrils. + Spake the daring Lemminkainen, + This the hero's supplication: + "Ukko, thou O God above me, + Thou that rulest all the storm-clouds, + Open thou the vault of heaven, + Open windows through the ether, + Let the icy rain come falling, + Lot the heavy hailstones shower + On the flaming horse of Hisi, + On the fire-expiring stallion." + Ukko, the benign Creator, + Heard the prayer of Lemminkainen, + Broke apart the dome of heaven, + Rent the heights of heaven asunder, + Sent the iron-hail in showers, + Smaller than the heads of horses, + Larger than the heads of heroes, + On the flaming steed of Lempo, + On the fire-expiring stallion, + On the terror of the Northland. + Lemminkainen, drawing nearer, + Looked with care upon the courser, + Then he spake the words that follow: + "Wonder-steed of mighty Hisi, + Flaming horse of Lempo's mountain, + Bring thy mouth of gold, assenting, + Gently place thy head of silver + In this bright and golden halter, + In this silver-mounted bridle. + I shall never harshly treat thee, + Never make thee fly too fleetly, + On the way to Sariola, + On the tracks of long duration, + To the hostess of Pohyola, + To her magic courts and stables, + Will not lash thee on thy journey; + I shall lead thee gently forward, + Drive thee with the reins of kindness, + Cover thee with silken blankets." + Then the fire-haired steed of Juutas, + Flaming horse of mighty Hisi, + Put his bead of shining silver, + In the bright and golden bead-stall, + In the silver-mounted bridle. + Thus the hero, Lemminkainen, + Easy bridles Lempo's stallion, + Flaming horse of evil Piru; + Lays the bits within his fire-mouth, + On his silver head, the halter, + Mounts the fire-expiring courser, + Brandishes his whip of willow, + Hastens forward on his journey, + Bounding o'er the hills and mountains, + Dashing through the valleys northward, + O'er the snow-capped hills of Lapland, + To the courts of Sariola. + Then the hero, quick dismounting, + Stepped within the court of Louhi, + Thus addressed the Northland hostess: + "I have bridled Lempo's fire-horse, + I have caught the Hisi-racer, + Caught the fire-expiring stallion, + In the Piru plains and pastures, + Ridden him within thy borders; + I have caught the moose of Lempo, + I have done what thou demandest; + Give, I pray thee, now thy daughter, + Give to me thy fairest maiden, + Bride of mine to be forever." + Louhi, hostess of Pohyola, + Made this answer to the suitor: + "I will only give my daughter, + Give to thee my fairest virgin, + Bride of thine to be forever, + When for me the swan thou killest + In the river of Tuoni, + Swimming in the black death-river, + In the sacred stream and whirlpool; + Thou canst try one cross-bow only, + But one arrow from thy quiver." + Then the reckless Lemminkainen, + Handsome hero, Kaukomieli, + Braved the third test of the hero, + Started out to hunt the wild-swan, + Hunt the long-necked, graceful swimmer, + In Tuoni's coal-black river, + In Manala's lower regions. + Quick the daring hunter journeyed, + Hastened off with fearless footsteps, + To the river of Tuoni, + To the sacred stream and whirlpool, + With his bow upon his shoulder, + With his quiver and one arrow. + Nasshut, blind and crippled shepherd, + Wretched shepherd of Pohyola, + Stood beside the death-land river, + Near the sacred stream and whirlpool, + Guarding Tuonela's waters, + Waiting there for Lemminkainen, + Listening there for Kaukomieli, + Waiting long the hero's coming. + Finally he hears the footsteps + Of the hero on his journey, + Hears the tread of Lemminkainen, + As he journeys nearer, nearer, + To the river of Tuoni, + To the cataract of death-land, + To the sacred stream and whirlpool. + Quick the wretched shepherd, Nasshut, + From the death-stream sends a serpent, + Like an arrow from a cross-bow, + To the heart of Lemminkainen, + Through the vitals of the hero. + Lemminkainen, little conscious, + Hardly knew that be was injured, + Spake these measures as he perished. + "Ah! unworthy is my conduct, + Ah! unwisely have I acted, + That I did not heed my mother, + Did not take her goodly counsel, + Did not learn her words of magic. + Oh I for three words with my mother, + How to live, and bow to suffer, + In this time of dire misfortune, + How to bear the stings of serpents, + Tortures of the reed of waters, + From the stream of Tuonela! + "Ancient mother who hast borne me, + Who hast trained me from my childhood, + Learn, I pray thee, where I linger, + Where alas! thy son is lying, + Where thy reckless hero suffers. + Come, I pray thee, faithful mother, + Come thou quickly, thou art needed, + Come deliver me from torture, + From the death-jaws of Tuoni, + From the sacred stream and whirlpool." + Northland's old and wretched shepherd, + Nasshut, the despised protector + Of the flocks of Sariola, + Throws the dying Lemminkainen, + Throws the hero of the islands, + Into Tuonela's river, + To the blackest stream of death-land, + To the worst of fatal whirlpools. + Lemminkainen, wild and daring, + Helpless falls upon the waters, + Floating down the coal-black current, + Through the cataract and rapids + To the tombs of Tuonela. + There the blood-stained son of death-land, + There Tuoni's son and hero, + Cuts in pieces Lemminkainen, + Chops him with his mighty hatchet, + Till the sharpened axe strikes flint-sparks + From the rocks within his chamber, + Chops the hero into fragments, + Into five unequal portions, + Throws each portion to Tuoni, + In Manala's lowest kingdom, + Speaks these words when he has ended: + "Swim thou there, wild Lemminkainen, + Flow thou onward in this river, + Hunt forever in these waters, + With thy cross-bow and thine arrow, + Shoot the swan within this empire, + Shoot our water-birds in welcome!" + Thus the hero, Lemminkainen, + Thus the handsome Kaukomieli, + The untiring suitor, dieth + In the river of Tuoni, + In the death-realm of Manala. + + + + +RUNE XV. + + + + LEMMINKAINEN'S RESTORATION. + + + Lemminkainen's aged mother + Anxious roams about the islands, + Anxious wonders in her chambers, + What the fate of Lemminkainen, + Why her son so long has tarried; + Thinks that something ill has happened + To her hero in Pohyola. + Sad, indeed, the mother's anguish, + As in vain she waits his coming, + As in vain she asks the question, + Where her daring son is roaming, + Whether to the fir-tree mountain, + Whether to the distant heath-land, + Or upon the broad-sea's ridges, + On the floods and rolling waters, + To the war's contending armies, + To the heat and din of battle, + Steeped in blood of valiant heroes, + Evidence of fatal warfare. + Daily does the wife Kyllikki + Look about her vacant chamber, + In the home of Lemminkainen, + At the court of Kaukomieli; + Looks at evening, looks at morning, + Looks, perchance, upon his hair-brush, + Sees alas! the blood-drops oozing, + Oozing from the golden bristles, + And the blood-drops, scarlet-colored. + Then the beauteous wife, Kyllikki, + Spake these words in deeps of anguish: + "Dead or wounded is my husband, + Or at best is filled with trouble, + Lost perhaps in Northland forests, + In some glen unknown to heroes, + Since alas! the blood is flowing + From the brush of Lemminkainen, + Red drops oozing from the bristles." + Thereupon the anxious mother + Looks upon the bleeding hair-brush + And begins this wail of anguish: + "Woe is me, my life hard-fated, + Woe is me, all joy departed! + For alas! my son and hero, + Valiant hero of the islands, + Son of trouble and misfortune! + Some sad fate has overtaken + My ill-fated Lemminkainen! + Blood is flowing from his hair-brush, + Oozing from its golden bristles, + And the drops are scarlet-colored." + Quick her garment's hem she clutches, + On her arm she throws her long-robes, + Fleetly flies upon her journey; + With her might she hastens northward, + Mountains tremble from her footsteps, + Valleys rise and heights are lowered, + Highlands soon become as lowlands, + All the hills and valleys levelled. + Soon she gains the Northland village, + Quickly asks about her hero, + These the words the mother utters: + "O thou hostess of Pohyola, + Where hast thou my Lemminkainen? + Tell me of my son and hero!" + Louhi, hostess of the Northland, + Gives this answer to the mother: + "Nothing know I of thy hero, + Of the hero of the islands; + Where thy son may be I know not, + Cannot lend the information; + Once I gave thy son a courser, + Hitched the racer to his snow-sledge, + This the last of Lemminkainen; + May perchance be drowned in Wuhne, + Frozen In the icy ocean, + Fallen prey to wolves in hunger, + In a bear's den may have perished." + Lemminkainen's mother answers: + "Thou art only speaking falsehoods, + Northland wolves cannot devour us, + Nor the bears kill Kaukomieli; + He can slay the wolves of Pohya + With the fingers of his left hand; + Bears of Northland he would silence + With the magic of his singing. + "Hostess of Pohyola, tell me + Whither thou hast sent my hero; + I shall burst thy many garners, + Shall destroy the magic Sampo, + If thou dost not tell me truly + Where to find my Lemminkainen." + Spake the hostess of Pohyola: + "I have well thy hero treated, + Well my court has entertained him, + Gave him of my rarest viands, + Fed him at my well-filled tables, + Placed him in a boat of copper, + Thus to float adown the current, + This the last of Lemminkainen; + Cannot tell where he has wandered. + Whether in the foam of waters, + Whether in the boiling torrent, + Whether in the drowning whirlpool." + Lemminkainen's mother answers: + Thou again art speaking falsely; + Tell me now the truth I pray thee, + Make an end of thy deception, + Where is now my Lemminkainen, + Whither hast thou sent my hero, + Young and daring son of Kalew? + If a third time thou deceivest, + I will send thee plagues, unnumbered, + I will send thee fell destruction, + Certain death will overtake thee." + Spake the hostess of Pohyola: + "This the third time that I answer, + This the truth that I shall tell thee: + I have sent the Kalew-hero + To the Hisi-fields and forests, + There to hunt the moose of Lempo; + Sent him then to catch the fire-horse, + Catch the fire-expiring stallion, + On the distant plains of Juutas, + In the realm of cruel Hisi. + Then I sent him to the Death-stream, + In the kingdom of Tuoni, + With his bow and but one arrow, + There to shoot the swan as dowry + For my best and fairest daughter; + Have not heard about thy hero + Since he left for Tuonela; + May in misery have fallen, + May have perished in Manala; + Has not come to ask my daughter, + Has not come to woo the maiden, + Since he left to hunt the death-swan." + Now the mother seeks her lost one, + For her son she weeps and trembles, + Like the wolf she bounds through fenlands, + Like the bear, through forest thickets, + Like the wild-boar, through the marshes, + Like the hare, along the sea-coast, + To the sea-point, like the hedgehog + Like the wild-duck swims the waters, + Casts the rubbish from her pathway, + Tramples down opposing brush-wood, + Stops at nothing in her journey + Seeks a long time for her hero, + Seeks, and seeks, and does not find him. + Now she asks the trees the question, + And the forest gives this answer: + "We have care enough already, + Cannot think about thy matters; + Cruel fates have we to battle, + Pitiful our own misfortunes! + We are felled and chopped in pieces, + Cut in blocks for hero-fancy, + We are burned to death as fuel, + No one cares how much we suffer." + Now again the mother wanders, + Seeks again her long-lost hero, + Seeks, and seeks, and does not find him. + Paths arise and come to meet her, + And she questions thus the pathways: + "Paths of hope that God has fashioned, + Have ye seen my Lemminkainen, + Has my son and golden hero + Travelled through thy many kingdoms?" + Sad, the many pathways answer: + "We ourselves have cares sufficient, + Cannot watch thy son and hero, + Wretched are the lives of pathways, + Deep indeed our own misfortunes; + We are trodden by, the red-deer, + By the wolves, and bears, and roebucks, + Driven o'er by heavy cart-wheels, + By the feet of dogs are trodden, + Trodden under foot of heroes, + Foot-paths for contending armies." + Seeks again the frantic mother, + Seeks her long-lost son and hero, + Seeks, and seeks, and does not find him; + Finds the Moon within her orbit, + Asks the Moon in pleading measures: + "Golden Moon, whom God has stationed + In the heavens, the Sun's companion, + Hast thou seen my Kaukomieli, + Hast thou seen my silver apple, + Anywhere in thy dominions? " + Thus the golden Moon makes answer: + "I have trouble all-sufficient, + Cannot watch thy daring hero; + Long the journey I must travel, + Sad the fate to me befallen, + Pitiful mine own misfortunes, + All alone the nights to wander, + Shine alone without a respite, + In the winter ever watching, + In the summer sink and perish." + Still the mother seeks, and wanders, + Seeks, and does not find her hero, + Sees the Sun in the horizon, + And the mother thus entreats him: + Silver Sun, whom God has fashioned, + Thou that giveth warmth and comfort, + Hast thou lately seen my hero, + Hast thou seen my Lemminkainen, + Wandering in thy dominions?" + Thus the Sun in kindness answers: + "Surely has thy hero perished, + To ingratitude a victim; + Lemminkainen died and vanished + In Tuoni's fatal river, + In the waters of Manala, + In the sacred stream and whirlpool, + In the cataract and rapids, + Sank within the drowning current + To the realm of Tuonela, + To Manala's lower regions." + Lemminkainen's mother weeping, + Wailing in the deeps of anguish, + Mourns the fate of Kaukomieli, + Hastens to the Northland smithy, + To the forge of Ilmarinen, + These the words the mother utters: + "Ilmarinen, metal-artist, + Thou that long ago wert forging, + Forging earth a concave cover, + Yesterday wert forging wonders, + Forge thou now, immortal blacksmith, + Forge a rake with shaft of copper, + Forge the teeth of strongest metal, + Teeth in length a hundred fathoms, + And five hundred long the handle." + Ilmarinen does as bidden, + Makes the rake in full perfection. + Lemminkainen's anxious mother + Takes the magic rake and hastens + To the river of Tuoni, + Praying to the Sun as follows: + "Thou, O Sun, by God created, + Thou that shinest on thy Maker, + Shine for me in heat of magic, + Give me warmth, and strength, and courage, + Shine a third time full of power, + Lull to sleep the wicked people, + Still the people of Manala, + Quiet all Tuoni's empire." + Thereupon the sun of Ukko, + Dearest child of the Creator, + Flying through the groves of Northland, + Sitting on a curving birch-tree, + Shines a little while in ardor, + Shines again in greater fervor, + Shines a third time full of power, + Lulls to sleep the wicked people + In the Manala home and kingdom, + Still the heroes with their broadswords, + Makes the lancers halt and totter, + Stills the stoutest of the spearmen, + Quiets Tuoni's ghastly empire. + Now the Sun retires in magic, + Hovers here and there a moment + Over Tuoni's hapless sleepers, + Hastens upward to his station, + To his Jumala home and kingdom. + Lemminkainen's faithful mother + Takes the rake of magic metals, + Rakes the Tuoni river bottoms, + Rakes the cataract and whirlpool, + Rakes the swift and boiling current + Of the sacred stream of death-land, + In the Manala home and kingdom. + Searching for her long-lost hero, + Rakes a long time, finding nothing; + Now she wades the river deeper, + To her belt in mud and water, + Deeper, deeper, rakes the death-stream, + Rakes the river's deepest caverns, + Raking up and down the current, + Till at last she finds his tunic, + Heavy-hearted, finds his jacket; + Rakes again and rakes unceasing, + Finds the hero's shoes and stockings, + Sorely troubled, finds these relies; + Now she wades the river deeper, + Rakes the Manala shoals and shallows, + Rakes the deeps at every angle; + As she draws the rake the third time + From the Tuoni shores and waters, + In the rake she finds the body + Of her long-lost Lemminkainen, + In the metal teeth entangled, + In the rake with copper handle. + Thus the reckless Lemminkainen, + Thus the son of Kalevala, + Was recovered from the bottom + Of the Manala lake and river. + There were wanting many fragments, + Half the head, a hand, a fore-arm, + Many other smaller portions, + Life, above all else, was missing. + Then the mother, well reflecting, + Spake these words in bitter weeping: + "From these fragments, with my magic, + I will bring to life my hero." + Hearing this, the raven answered, + Spake these measures to the mother: + "There is not in these a hero, + Thou canst not revive these fragments; + Eels have fed upon his body, + On his eyes have fed the whiting; + Cast the dead upon the waters, + On the streams of Tuonela, + Let him there become a walrus, + Or a seal, or whale, or porpoise." + Lemminkainen's mother does not + Cast the dead upon the waters, + On the streams of Tuonela, + She again with hope and courage, + Rakes the river lengthwise, crosswise, + Through the Manala pools and caverns, + Rakes up half the head, a fore-arm, + Finds a hand and half the back-bone, + Many other smaller portions; + Shapes her son from all the fragments, + Shapes anew her Lemminkainen, + Flesh to flesh with skill she places, + Gives the bones their proper stations, + Binds one member to the other, + Joins the ends of severed vessels, + Counts the threads of all the venules, + Knits the parts in apposition; + Then this prayer the mother offers: + "Suonetar, thou slender virgin, + Goddess of the veins of heroes, + Skilful spinner of the vessels, + With thy slender, silver spindle, + With thy spinning-wheel of copper, + Set in frame of molten silver, + Come thou hither, thou art needed; + Bring the instruments for mending, + Firmly knit the veins together, + At the end join well the venules, + In the wounds that still are open, + In the members that are injured. + "Should this aid be inefficient; + There is living in the ether, + In a boat enriched with silver, + In a copper boat, a maiden, + That can bring to thee assistance. + Come, O maiden, from the ether, + Virgin from the belt of heaven, + Row throughout these veins, O maiden, + Row through all these lifeless members, + Through the channels of the long-bones, + Row through every form of tissue. + Set the vessels in their places, + Lay the heart in right position, + Make the pulses beat together, + Join the smallest of the veinlets, + And unite with skill the sinews. + Take thou now a slender needle, + Silken thread within its eyelet, + Ply the silver needle gently, + Sew with care the wounds together. + "Should this aid be inefficient, + Thou, O God, that knowest all things, + Come and give us thine assistance, + Harness thou thy fleetest racer + Call to aid thy strongest courser, + In thy scarlet sledge come swiftly, + Drive through all the bones and channels, + Drive throughout these lifeless tissues, + Drive thy courser through each vessel, + Bind the flesh and bones securely, + In the joints put finest silver, + Purest gold in all the fissures. + "Where the skin is broken open, + Where the veins are torn asunder, + Mend these injuries with magic; + Where the blood has left the body, + There make new blood flow abundant; + Where the bones are rudely broken, + Set the parts in full perfection; + Where the flesh is bruised and loosened, + Touch the wounds with magic balsam, + Do not leave a part imperfect; + Bone, and vein, and nerve, and sinew, + Heart, and brain, and gland, and vessel, + Heal as Thou alone canst heal them." + These the means the mother uses, + Thus she joins the lifeless members, + Thus she heals the death-like tissues, + Thus restores her son and hero + To his former life and likeness; + All his veins are knit together, + All their ends are firmly fastened, + All the parts in apposition, + Life returns, but speech is wanting, + Deaf and dumb, and blind, and senseless. + Now the mother speaks as follows: + "Where may I procure the balsam, + Where the drops of magic honey, + To anoint my son and hero, + Thus to heal my Lemminkainen, + That again his month may open, + May again begin his singing, + Speak again in words of wonder, + Sing again his incantations? + "Tiny bee, thou honey-birdling, + Lord of all the forest flowers, + Fly away and gather honey, + Bring to me the forest-sweetness, + Found in Metsola's rich gardens, + And in Tapio's fragrant meadows, + From the petals of the flowers, + From the blooming herbs and grasses, + Thus to heal my hero's anguish, + Thus to heal his wounds of evil." + Thereupon the honey-birdling + Flies away on wings of swiftness, + Into Metsola's rich gardens, + Into Tapio's flowery meadows, + Gathers sweetness from the meadows, + With the tongue distills the honey + From the cups of seven flowers, + From the bloom of countless grasses; + Quick from Metsola returning, + Flying, humming darting onward, + With his winglets honey-laden, + With the store of sweetest odors, + To the mother brings the balsam. + Lemminkainen's anxious mother + Takes the balm of magic virtues, + And anoints the injured hero, + Heals his wounds and stills his anguish; + But the balm is inefficient, + For her son is deaf and speechless. + Then again out-speaks the mother: + Lemminkainen's Restoration. + "Little bee, my honey-birdling, + Fly away in one direction, + Fly across the seven oceans, + In the eighth, a magic island, + Where the honey is enchanted, + To the distant Turi-castles, + To the chambers of Palwoinen; + There the honey is effective, + There, the wonder-working balsam, + This may heal the wounded hero; + Bring me of this magic ointment, + That I may anoint his eyelids, + May restore his injured senses." + Thereupon the honey-birdling + Flew away o'er seven oceans, + To the old enchanted island; + Flies one day, and then a second, + On the verdure does not settle, + Does not rest upon the flowers; + Flies a third day, fleetly onward, + Till a third day evening brings him + To the island in the ocean, + To the meadows rich in honey, + To the cataract and fire-flow, + To the sacred stream and whirlpool. + There the honey was preparing, + There the magic balm distilling + In the tiny earthen vessels, + In the burnished copper kettles, + Smaller than a maiden's thimble, + Smaller than the tips of fingers. + Faithfully the busy insect + Gathers the enchanted honey + From the magic Turi-cuplets + In the chambers of Palwoinen. + Time had gone but little distance, + Ere the bee came loudly humming + Flying fleetly, honey-laden; + In his arms were seven vessels, + Seven, the vessels on each shoulder; + All were filled with honey-balsam, + With the balm of magic virtues. + Lemminkainen's tireless mother + Quick anoints her speechless hero, + With the magic Turi-balsam, + With the balm of seven virtues; + Nine the times that she anoints him + With the honey of Palwoinen, + With the wonder-working balsam; + But the balm is inefficient, + For the hero still is speechless. + Then again out-speaks the mother: + "Honey-bee, thou ether birdling, + Fly a third time on thy journey, + Fly away to high Jumala, + Fly thou to the seventh heaven, + Honey there thou'lt find abundant, + Balsam of the highest virtue, + Only used by the Creator, + Only made from the breath of Ukko. + God anoints his faithful children, + With the honey of his wisdom, + When they feel the pangs of sorrow, + When they meet the powers of evil. + Dip thy winglets in this honey, + Steep thy plumage in His sweetness, + Hither bring the all-sufficient + Balsam of the great Creator; + This will still my hero's anguish, + This will heal his wounded tissues, + This restore his long-lost vision, + Make the Northland hills re-echo + With the magic of his singing, + With his wonderful enchantment." + Thus the honey-bee made answer: + "I can never fly to heaven, + To the seventh of the heavens, + To the distant home of Ukko, + With these wings of little virtue." + Lemminkainen's mother answered: + "Thou canst surely fly to heaven, + To the seventh of the heavens, + O'er the Moon, beneath the sunshine, + Through the dim and distant starlight. + On the first day, flying upward, + Thou wilt near the Moon in heaven, + Fan the brow of Kootamoinen; + On the second thou canst rest thee + On the shoulders of Otava; + On the third day, flying higher, + Rest upon the seven starlets, + On the heads of Hetewanè; + Short the journey that is left thee, + Inconsiderable the distance + To the home of mighty Ukko, + To the dwellings of the blessed." + Thereupon the bee arising, + From the earth flies swiftly upward, + Hastens on with graceful motion, + By his tiny wings borne heavenward, + In the paths of golden moonbeams, + Touches on the Moon's bright borders, + Fans the brow of Kootamoinen, + Rests upon Otava's shoulders, + Hastens to the seven starlets., + To the heads of Hetewanè, + Flies to the Creator's castle, + To the home of generous Ukko, + Finds the remedy preparing, + Finds the balm of life distilling, + In the silver-tinted caldrons, + In the purest golden kettles; + On one side, heart-easing honey, + On a second, balm of joyance, + On the third, life-giving balsam. + Here the magic bee, selecting, + Culls the sweet, life-giving balsam, + Gathers too, heart-easing honey, + Heavy-laden hastens homeward. + Time had traveled little distance, + Ere the busy bee came humming + To the anxious mother waiting, + In his arms a hundred cuplets, + And a thousand other vessels, + Filled with honey, filled with balsam, + Filled with the balm of the Creator. + Lemminkainen's mother quickly + Takes them on her, tongue and tests them, + Finds a balsam all-sufficient. + Then the mother spake as follows: + "I have found the long-sought balsam, + Found the remedy of Ukko, + Where-with God anoints his people, + Gives them life, and faith, and wisdom, + Heals their wounds and stills their anguish, + Makes them strong against temptation, + Guards them from the evil-doers." + Now the mother well anointing, + Heals her son, the magic singer, + Eyes, and ears, and tongue, and temples, + Breaks, and cuts, and seams, anointing, + Touching well the life-blood centres, + Speaks these words of magic import + To the sleeping Lemminkainen: + "Wake, arise from out thy slumber, + From the worst of low conditions, + From thy state of dire misfortune!" + Slowly wakes the son and hero, + Rises from the depths of slumber, + Speaks again in magic accents, + These the first words of the singer: + "Long, indeed, have I been sleeping, + Long unconscious of existence, + But my sleep was full of sweetness, + Sweet the sleep in Tuonela, + Knowing neither joy nor sorrow!" + This the answer of his mother: + "Longer still thou wouldst have slumbered, + Were it not for me, thy, mother; + Tell me now, my son beloved, + Tell me that I well may hear thee, + Who enticed thee to Manala, + To the river of Tuoni, + To the fatal stream and whirlpool?" + Then the hero, Lemminkainen, + Gave this answer to his mother: + "Nasshut, the decrepit shepherd + Of the flocks of Sariola, + Blind, and halt, and poor, and wretched, + And to whom I did a favor; + From the slumber-land of envy + Nasshut sent me to Manala, + To the river of Tuoni; + Sent a serpent from the waters, + Sent an adder from the death-stream, + Through the heart of Lemminkainen; + Did not recognize the serpent, + Could not speak the serpent-language, + Did not know the sting of adders." + Spake again the ancient mother: + "O thou son of little insight, + Senseless hero, fool-magician, + Thou didst boast betimes thy magic + To enchant the wise enchanters, + On the dismal shores of Lapland, + Thou didst think to banish heroes, + From the borders of Pohyola; + Didst not know the sting of serpents, + Didst not know the reed of waters, + Nor the magic word-protector! + Learn the origin of serpents, + Whence the poison of the adder. + "In the floods was born the serpent, + From the marrow of the gray-duck, + From the brain of ocean-swallows; + Suoyatar had made saliva, + Cast it on the waves of ocean, + Currents drove it outward, onward, + Softly shone the sun upon it, + By the winds 'twas gently cradled, + Gently nursed by winds and waters, + By the waves was driven shoreward, + Landed by the surging billows. + Thus the serpent, thing of evil, + Filling all the world with trouble, + Was created in the waters + Born from Suoyatar, its maker." + Then the mother of the hero + Rocked her son to rest and comfort, + Rocked him to his former being, + To his former life and spirit, + Into greater magic powers; + Wiser, handsomer than ever + Grew the hero of the islands; + But his heart was full of trouble, + And his mother, ever watchful, + Asked the cause of his dejection. + This is Lemminkainen's answer: + "This the cause of all my sorrow; + Far away my heart is roaming, + All my thoughts forever wander + To the Northland's blooming virgins, + To the maids of braided tresses. + Northland's ugly hostess, Louhi, + Will not give to me her daughter, + Fairest maiden of Pohyola, + Till I kill the swan of Mana, + With my bow and but one arrow, + In the river of Tuoni. + Lemminkainen's mother answers, + In the sacred stream and whirlpool. + "Let the swan swim on in safety, + Give the water-bird his freedom, + In the river of Manala, + In the whirlpool of Tuoni; + Leave the maiden in the Northland., + With her charms and fading beauty; + With thy fond and faithful mother, + Go at once to Kalevala, + To thy native fields and fallows. + Praise thy fortune, all sufficient, + Praise, above all else, thy Maker. + Ukko gave thee aid when needed, + Thou wert saved by thy Creator, + From thy long and hopeless slumber, + In the waters of Tuoni, + In the chambers of Manala. + I unaided could not save thee, + Could not give the least assistance; + God alone, omniscient Ukko, + First and last of the creators, + Can revive the dead and dying, + Can protect his worthy people + From the waters of Manala, . + From the fatal stream and whirlpool, + In the kingdom of Tuoni." + Lemminkainen, filled with wisdom, + With his fond and faithful mother, + Hastened straightway on his journey + To his distant home and kindred, + To the Wainola fields and meadows, + To the plains of Kalevala. + * * * * * + Here I leave my Kaukomieli, + Leave my hero Lemminkainen, + Long I leave him from my singing, + Turn my song to other heroes, + Send it forth on other pathways, + Sing some other golden legend. + + + + +RUNE XVI. + + + + WAINAMOINEN'S BOAT-BUILDING. + + + Wainamoinen, ancient minstrel, + The eternal wisdom-singer, + For his boat was working lumber, + Working long upon his vessel, + On a fog-point jutting seaward, + On an island, forest-covered; + But the lumber failed the master, + Beams were wanting for his vessel, + Beams and scantling, ribs and flooring. + Who will find for him the lumber, + Who procure the timber needed + For the boat of Wainamoinen, + For the bottom of his vessel? + Pellerwoinen of the prairies, + Sampsa, slender-grown and ancient, + He will seek the needful timber, + He procure the beams of oak-wood + For the boat of Wainamoinen, + For the bottom of his vessel. + Soon he starts upon his journey + To the eastern fields and forests, + Hunts throughout the Northland mountain + To a second mountain wanders, + To a third he hastens, searching, + Golden axe upon his shoulder, + In his hand a copper hatchet. + Comes an aspen-tree to meet him + Of the height of seven fathoms. + Sampsa takes his axe of copper, + Starts to fell the stately aspen, + But the aspen quickly halting, + Speaks these words to Pellerwoinen: + "Tell me, hero, what thou wishest, + What the service thou art needing?" + Sampsa Pellerwoinen answers: + "This indeed, the needed service + That I ask of thee, O aspen: + Need thy lumber for a vessel, + For the boat of Wainamoinen, + Wisest of the wisdom-singers." + Quick and wisely speaks the aspen, + Thus its hundred branches answer: + "All the boats that have been fashioned + From my wood have proved but failures; + Such a vessel floats a distance, + Then it sinks upon the bottom + Of the waters it should travel. + All my trunk is filled with hollows, + Three times in the summer seasons + Worms devour my stem and branches, + Feed upon my heart and tissues." + Pellerwoinen leaves the aspen, + Hunts again through all the forest, + Wanders through the woods of Northland, + Where a pine-tree comes to meet him, + Of the height of fourteen fathoms. + With his axe he chops the pine-tree, + Strikes it with his axe of copper, + As he asks the pine this question: + "Will thy trunk give worthy timber + For the boat of Wainamoinen, + Wisest of the wisdom-singers?" + Loudly does the pine-tree answer: + "All the ships that have been fashioned + From my body are unworthy; + I am full of imperfections, + Cannot give thee needed timber + Wherewithal to build thy vessel; + Ravens live within ray branches, + Build their nests and hatch their younglings + Three times in my trunk in summer." + Sampsa leaves the lofty pine-tree, + Wanders onward, onward, onward, + To the woods of gladsome summer, + Where an oak-tree comes to meet him, + In circumference, three fathoms, + And the oak he thus addresses: + "Ancient oak-tree, will thy body + Furnish wood to build a vessel, + Build a boat for Wainamoinen, + Master-boat for the magician, + Wisest of the wisdom-singers?" + Thus the oak replies to Sampsa: + "I for thee will gladly furnish + Wood to build the hero's vessel; + I am tall, and sound, and hardy, + Have no flaws within my body; + Three times in the months of summer, + In the warmest of the seasons, + Does the sun dwell in my tree-top, + On my trunk the moonlight glimmers, + In my branches sings the cuckoo, + In my top her nestlings slumber." + Now the ancient Pellerwoinen + Takes the hatchet from his shoulder, + Takes his axe with copper handle, + Chops the body of the oak-tree; + Well he knows the art of chopping. + Soon he fells the tree majestic, + Fells the mighty forest-monarch, + With his magic axe and power. + From the stems he lops the branches, + Splits the trunk in many pieces, + Fashions lumber for the bottom, + Countless boards, and ribs, and braces, + For the singer's magic vessel, + For the boat of the magician. + Wainamoinen, old and skilful, + The eternal wonder-worker, + Builds his vessel with enchantment, + Builds his boat by art of magic, + From the timber of the oak-tree, + From its posts, and planks, and flooring. + Sings a song, and joins the frame-work; + Sings a second, sets the siding; + Sings a third time, sets the row-locks; + Fashions oars, and ribs, and rudder, + Joins the sides and ribs together. + When the ribs were firmly fastened, + When the sides were tightly jointed, + Then alas! three words were wanting, + Lost the words of master-magic, + How to fasten in the ledges, + How the stern should be completed, + How complete the boat's forecastle. + Then the ancient Wainamoinen, + Wise and wonderful enchanter, + Heavy-hearted spake as follows: + "Woe is me, my life hard-fated! + Never will this magic vessel + Pass in safety o'er the water, + Never ride the rough sea-billows." + Then he thought and long considered, + Where to find these words of magic, + Find the lost-words of the Master: + "From the brains of countless swallows, + From the heads of swans in dying, + From the plumage of the gray-duck?" + For these words the hero searches, + Kills of swans a goodly number, + Kills a flock of fattened gray-duck, + Kills of swallows countless numbers, + Cannot find the words of magic, + Not the lost-words of the Master. + Wainamoinen, wisdom-singer, + Still reflected and debated: + "I perchance may find the lost-words + On the tongue of summer-reindeer, + In the mouth of the white squirrel." + Now again he hunts the lost-words, + Hastes to find the magic sayings, + Kills a countless host of reindeer, + Kills a rafterful of squirrels, + Finds of words a goodly number, + But they are of little value, + Cannot find the magic lost-word. + Long he thought and well considered: + "I can find of words a hundred + In the dwellings of Tuoni, + In the Manala fields and castles." + Wainamoinen quickly journeys + To the kingdom of Tuoni, + There to find the ancient wisdom, + There to learn the secret doctrine; + Hastens on through fen and forest, + Over meads and over marshes, + Through the ever-rising woodlands, + Journeys one week through the brambles, + And a second through the hazels, + Through the junipers the third week, + When appear Tuoni's islands, + And the Manala fields and castles. + Wainamoinen, brave and ancient, + Calls aloud in tones of thunder, + To the Tuonela deeps and dungeons, + And to Manala's magic castle: + "Bring a boat, Tuoni's daughter, + Bring a ferry-boat, O maiden, + That may bear me o'er this channel, + O'er this black and fatal river." + Quick the daughter of Tuoni, + Magic maid of little stature, + Tiny virgin of Manala, + Tiny washer of the linen, + Tiny cleaner of the dresses, + At the river of Tuoni, + In Manala's ancient castles, + Speaks these words to Wainamoinen, + Gives this answer to his calling: + "Straightway will I bring the row-boat, + When the reasons thou hast given + Why thou comest to Manala + In a hale and active body." + Wainamoinen, old and artful., + Gives this answer to the maiden: + "I was brought here by Tuoni, + Mana raised me from the coffin." + Speaks the maiden of Manala: + "This a tale of wretched liars; + Had Tuoni brought thee hither, + Mana raised thee from the coffin, + Then Tuoni would be with thee, + Manalainen too would lead thee, + With Tuoni's hat upon thee, + On thy hands, the gloves of Mana; + Tell the truth now, Wainamoinen, + What has brought thee to Manala?" + Wainamoinen, artful hero, + Gives this answer, still finessing: + "Iron brought me to Manala, + To the kingdom of Tuoni." + Speaks the virgin of the death-land, + Mana's wise and tiny daughter: + "Well I know that this is falsehood, + Had the iron brought thee hither, + Brought thee to Tuoni's kingdom, + Blood would trickle from thy vesture, + And the blood-drops, scarlet-colored. + Speak the truth now, Wainamoinen, + This the third time that I ask thee." + Wainamoinen, little heeding, + Still finesses to the daughter: + "Water brought me to Manala, + To the kingdom of Tuoui." + This the tiny maiden's answer: + "Well I know thou speakest falsely; + If the waters of Manala, + If the cataract and whirlpool, + Or the waves had brought thee hither, + From thy robes the drops would trickle, + Water drip from all thy raiment. + Tell the truth and I will serve thee, + What has brought thee to Manala?" + Then the wilful Wainamoinen + Told this falsehood to the maiden: + "Fire has brought me to Manala, + To the kingdom of Tuoni." + Spake again Tuoni's daughter: + "Well I know the voice of falsehood. + If the fire had brought thee hither, + Brought thee to Tuoni's empire, + Singed would be thy locks and eyebrows, + And thy beard be crisped and tangled. + O, thou foolish Wainamoinen, + If I row thee o'er the ferry, + Thou must speak the truth in answer, + This the last time I will ask thee; + Make an end of thy deception. + What has brought thee to Manala, + Still unharmed by pain or sickness, + Still untouched by Death's dark angel + Spake the ancient Wainamoinen: + "At the first I spake, not truly, + Now I give thee rightful answer: + I a boat with ancient wisdom, + Fashioned with my powers of magic, + Sang one day and then a second, + Sang the third day until evening, + When I broke the magic main-spring, + Broke my magic sledge in pieces, + Of my song the fleetest runners; + Then I come to Mana's kingdom, + Came to borrow here a hatchet, + Thus to mend my sledge of magic, + Thus to join the parts together. + Send the boat now quickly over, + Send me, quick, Tuoni's row-boat, + Help me cross this fatal river, + Cross the channel of Manala." + Spake the daughter of Tuoni, + Mana's maiden thus replying: + "Thou art sure a stupid fellow, + Foresight wanting, judgment lacking, + Having neither wit nor wisdom, + Coming here without a reason, + Coming to Tuoni's empire; + Better far if thou shouldst journey + To thy distant home and kindred; + Man they that visit Mana, + Few return from Maria's kingdom." + Spake the good old Wainamoinen: + "Women old retreat from danger, + Not a man of any courage, + Not the weakest of the heroes. + Bring thy boat, Tuoni's daughter, + Tiny maiden of Manala, + Come and row me o'er the ferry." + Mana's daughter does as bidden, + Brings her boat to Wainamoinen, + Quickly rows him through the channel, + O'er the black and fatal river, + To the kingdom of Manala, + Speaks these words to the magician: + "Woe to thee! O Wainamoinen! + Wonderful indeed, thy magic, + Since thou comest to Manala, + Comest neither dead nor dying." + Tuonetar, the death-land hostess, + Ancient hostess of Tuoni, + Brings him pitchers filled with strong-beer, + Fills her massive golden goblets, + Speaks these measures to the stranger: + "Drink, thou ancient Wainamoinen, + Drink the beer of king Tuoni!" + Wainamoinen, wise and cautious, + Carefully inspects the liquor, + Looks a long time in the pitchers, + Sees the spawning of the black-frogs, + Sees the young of poison-serpents, + Lizards, worms, and writhing adders, + Thus addresses Tuonetar: + "Have not come with this intention, + Have not come to drink thy poisons, + Drink the beer of Tuonela; + Those that drink Tuoni's liquors, + Those that sip the cups of Mana, + Court the Devil and destruction, + End their lives in want and ruin." + Tuonetar makes this answer: + "Ancient minstrel, Wainamoinen, + Tell me what has brought thee hither, + Brought thee to the, realm of Mana, + To the courts of Tuonela, + Ere Tuoni sent his angels + To thy home in Kalevala, + There to cut thy magic life-thread." + Spake the singer, Wainamoinen: + "I was building me a vessel, + At my craft was working, singing, + Needed three words of the Master, + How to fasten in the ledges, + How the stern should be completed, + How complete the boat's forecastle. + This the reason of my coming + To the empire of Tuoni, + To the castles of Manala: + Came to learn these magic sayings, + Learn the lost-words of the Master." + Spake the hostess, Tuonetar: + "Mana never gives these sayings, + Canst not learn them from Tuoni, + Not the lost-words of the Master; + Thou shalt never leave this kingdom, + Never in thy magic life-time, + Never go to Kalevala, + To Wainola's peaceful meadows. + To thy distant home and country." + Quick the hostess, Tuonetar, + Waves her magic wand of slumber + O'er the head of Wainamoinen, + Puts to rest the wisdom-hero, + Lays him on the couch of Mana, + In the robes of living heroes, + Deep the sleep that settles o'er him. + In Manala lived a woman, + In the kingdom of Tuoni, + Evil witch and toothless wizard, + Spinner of the threads of iron, + Moulder of the bands of copper, + Weaver of a hundred fish-nets, + Of a thousand nets of copper, + Spinning in the days of summer, + Weaving in the winter evenings, + Seated on a rock in water. + In the kingdom of Tuoni + Lived a man, a wicked wizard, + Three the fingers of the hero, + Spinner he of iron meshes, + Maker too of nets of copper, + Countless were his nets of metal, + Moulded on a rock in water, + Through the many days of summer. + Mana's son with crooked fingers, + Iron-pointed, copper fingers, + Pulls of nets, at least a thousand, + Through the river of Tuoni, + Sets them lengthwise, sets them crosswise, + In the fatal, darksome river, + That the sleeping Wainamomen, + Friend and brother of the waters, + May not leave the isle of Mana, + Never in the course of ages, + Never leave the death-land castles, + Never while the moonlight glimmers + On the empire of Tuoni. + Wainamoinen, wise and wary, + Rising from his couch of slumber, + Speaks these words as he is waking: + "Is there not some mischief brewing, + Am I not at last in danger, + In the chambers of Tuoni, + In the Manala home and household?" + Quick he changes his complexion, + Changes too his form and feature, + Slips into another body; + Like a serpent in a circle, + Rolls black-dyed upon the waters; + Like a snake among the willows, + Crawls he like a worm of magic, + Like an adder through the grasses, + Through the coal-black stream of death-land, + Through a thousand nets of copper + Interlaced with threads of iron, + From the kingdom of Tuoni, + From the castles of Manala. + Mana's son, the wicked wizard, + With his iron-pointed fingers, + In the early morning hastens + To his thousand nets of copper, + Set within the Tuoni river, + Finds therein a countless number + Of the death-stream fish and serpents; + Does not find old Wainamoinen, + Wainamoinen, wise and wary, + Friend and fellow of the waters. + When the wonder-working hero + Had escaped from Tuonela, + Spake he thus in supplication: + "Gratitude to thee, O Ukko, + Do I bring for thy protection! + Never suffer other heroes, + Of thy heroes not the wisest, + To transgress the laws of nature; + Never let another singer, + While he lives within the body, + Cross the river of Tuoni, + As thou lovest thy creations. + Many heroes cross the channel, + Cross the fatal stream of Mana, + Few return to tell the story, + Few return from Tuonela, + From Manala's courts and castles." + Wainamoinen calls his people, + On the plains of Kalevala, + Speaks these words of ancient wisdom, + To the young men, to the maidens, + To the rising generation: + "Every child of Northland, listen: + If thou wishest joy eternal, + Never disobey thy parents, + Never evil treat the guiltless, + Never wrong the feeble-minded, + Never harm thy weakest fellow, + Never stain thy lips with falsehood, + Never cheat thy trusting neighbor, + Never injure thy companion, + Lest thou surely payest penance + In the kingdom of Tuoni, + In the prison of Manala; + There, the home of all the wicked, + There the couch of the unworthy, + There the chambers of the guilty. + Underneath Manala's fire-rock + Are their ever-flaming couches, + For their pillows hissing serpents, + Vipers green their writhing covers, + For their drink the blood of adders, + For their food the pangs of hunger, + Pain and agony their solace; + If thou wishest joy eternal, + Shun the kingdom of Tuoui!" + + + + +RUNE XVII. + + + + WAINAMOINEN FINDS THE LOST-WORD. + + + Wainamoinen, old and truthful, + Did not learn the words of magic + In Tuoni's gloomy regions, + In the kingdom of Manala. + Thereupon he long debated, + Well considered, long reflected, + Where to find the magic sayings; + When a shepherd came to meet him, + Speaking thus to Wainamoinen: + "Thou canst find of words a hundred, + Find a thousand wisdom-sayings, + In the mouth of wise Wipunen, + In the body of the hero; + To the spot I know the foot-path, + To his tomb the magic highway, + Trodden by a host of heroes; + Long the distance thou must travel, + On the sharpened points of needles; + Then a long way thou must journey + On the edges of the broadswords; + Thirdly thou must travel farther + On the edges of the hatchets." + Wainamoinen, old and trustful, + Well considered all these journeys, + Travelled to the forge and smithy, + Thus addressed the metal-worker: + "Ilmarinen, worthy blacksmith, + Make a shoe for me of iron, + Forge me gloves of burnished copper, + Mold a staff of strongest metal, + Lay the steel upon the inside, + Forge within the might of magic; + I am going on a journey + To procure the magic sayings, + Find the lost-words of the Master, + From the mouth of the magician, + From the tongue of wise Wipunen." + Spake the artist, Ilmarinen: + "Long ago died wise Wipunen, + Disappeared these many ages, + Lays no more his snares of copper, + Sets no longer traps of iron, + Cannot learn from him the wisdom, + Cannot find in him the lost-words." + Wainamoinen, old and hopeful, + Little heeding, not discouraged, + In his metal shoes and armor, + Hastens forward on his journey, + Runs the first day fleetly onward, + On the sharpened points of needles; + 'Wearily he strides the second, + On the edges of the broadswords + Swings himself the third day forward, + On the edges of the hatchets. + Wise Wipunen, wisdom-singer, + Ancient bard, and great magician, + With his magic songs lay yonder, + Stretched beside him, lay his sayings, + On his shoulder grew the aspen, + On each temple grew the birch-tree, + On his mighty chin the alder, + From his beard grew willow-bushes, + From his mouth the dark green fir-tree, + And the oak-tree from his forehead. + Wainamoinen, coming closer, + Draws his sword, lays bare his hatchet + From his magic leathern scabbard, + Fells the aspen from his shoulder, + Fells the birch-tree from his temples, + From his chin he fells the alder, + From his beard, the branching willows, + From his mouth the dark-green fir-tree, + Fells the oak-tree from his forehead. + Now he thrusts his staff of iron + Through the mouth of wise Wipunen, + Pries his mighty jaws asunder, + Speaks these words of master-magic: + "Rise, thou master of magicians, + From the sleep of Tuonela, + From thine everlasting slumber!" + Wise Wipunen, ancient singer, + Quickly wakens from his sleeping, + Keenly feels the pangs of torture, + From the cruel staff of iron; + Bites with mighty force the metal, + Bites in twain the softer iron, + Cannot bite the steel asunder, + Opens wide his mouth in anguish. + Wainamoinen of Wainola, + In his iron-shoes and armor, + Careless walking, headlong stumbles + In the spacious mouth and fauces + Of the magic bard, Wipunen. + Wise Wipunen, full of song-charms, + Opens wide his mouth and swallows + Wainamoinen and his magic, + Shoes, and staff, and iron armor. + Then outspeaks the wise Wipunen: + "Many things before I've eaten, + Dined on goat, and sheep, and reindeer, + Bear, and ox, and wolf, and wild-boar, + Never in my recollection, + Have I tasted sweeter morsels!" + Spake the ancient Wainamoinen: + "Now I see the evil symbols, + See misfortune hanging o'er me, + In the darksome Hisi-hurdles, + In the catacombs of Kalma." + Wainamoinen long considered + How to live and how to prosper, + How to conquer this condition. + In his belt he wore a poniard, + With a handle hewn from birch-wood, + From the handle builds a vessel, + Builds a boat through magic science; + In this vessel rows he swiftly + Through the entrails of the hero, + Rows through every gland and vessel + Of the wisest of magicians. + Old Wipunen, master-singer, + Barely feels the hero's presence, + Gives no heed to Wainamoinen. + Then the artist of Wainola + Straightway sets himself to forging, + Sets at work to hammer metals; + Makes a smithy from his armor, + Of his sleeves he makes the bellows, + Makes the air-valve from his fur-coat, + From his stockings, makes the muzzle, + Uses knees instead of anvil, + Makes a hammer of his fore-arm; + Like the storm-wind roars the bellows, + Like the thunder rings the anvil; + Forges one day, then a second, + Forges till the third day closes, + In the body of Wipunen, + In the sorcerer's abdomen. + Old Wipunen, full of magic, + Speaks these words in wonder, guessing: + "Who art thou of ancient heroes, + Who of all the host of heroes? + Many heroes I have eaten, + And of men a countless number, + Have not eaten such as thou art; + Smoke arises from my nostrils, + From my mouth the fire is streaming, + In my throat are iron-clinkers. + "Go, thou monster, hence to wander, + Flee this place, thou plague of Northland, + Ere I go to seek thy mother, + Tell the ancient dame thy mischief; + She shall bear thine evil conduct, + Great the burden she shall carry; + Great a mother's pain and anguish, + When her child runs wild and lawless; + Cannot comprehend the meaning, + Nor this mystery unravel, + Why thou camest here, O monster, + Camest here to give me torture. + Art thou Hisi sent from heaven, + Some calamity from Ukko? + Art, perchance, some new creation, + Ordered here to do me evil? + If thou art some evil genius, + Some calamity from Ukko, + Sent to me by my Creator, + Then am I resigned to suffer + God does not forsake the worthy, + Does not ruin those that trust him, + Never are the good forsaken. + If by man thou wert created, + If some hero sent thee hither, + I shall learn thy race of evil, + Shall destroy thy wicked tribe-folk. + "Thence arose the violation, + Thence arose the first destruction, + Thence came all the evil-doings: + From the neighborhood of wizards, + From the homes of the magicians, + From the eaves of vicious spirits, + From the haunts of fortune-tellers, + From the cabins of the witches, + From the castles of Tuoni, + From the bottom of Manala, + From the ground with envy swollen, + From Ingratitude's dominions, + From the rocky shoals and quicksands, + From the marshes filled with danger, + From the cataract's commotion, + From the bear-caves in the mountains, + From the wolves within the thickets, + From the roarings of the pine-tree, + From the burrows of the fox-dog, + From the woodlands of the reindeer, + From the eaves and Hisi-hurdles, + From the battles of the giants, + From uncultivated pastures, + From the billows of the oceans, + From the streams of boiling waters, + From the waterfalls of Rutya, + From the limits of the storm-clouds, + From the pathways of the thunders, + From the flashings of the lightnings, + From the distant plains of Pohya, + From the fatal stream and whirlpool, + From the birthplace of Tuoni. + "Art thou coming from these places? + Hast thou, evil, hastened hither, + To the heart of sinless hero, + To devour my guiltless body, + To destroy this wisdom-singer? + Get thee hence, thou dog of Lempo, + Leave, thou monster from Manala, + Flee from mine immortal body, + Leave my liver, thing of evil, + In my body cease thy forging, + Cease this torture of my vitals, + Let me rest in peace and slumber. + "Should I want in means efficient, + Should I lack the magic power + To outroot thine evil genius, + I shall call a better hero, + Call upon a higher power, + To remove this dire misfortune, + To annihilate this monster. + I shall call the will of woman, + From the fields, the old-time heroes? + Mounted heroes from the sand-hills, + Thus to rescue me from danger, + From these pains and ceaseless tortures. + "If this force prove inefficient, + Should not drive thee from my body, + Come, thou forest, with thy heroes, + Come, ye junipers and pine-trees, + With your messengers of power, + Come, ye mountains, with your wood-nymphs, + Come, ye lakes, with all your mermaids, + Come, ye hundred ocean-spearmen, + Come, torment this son of Hisi, + Come and kill this evil monster. + "If this call is inefficient, + Does not drive thee from my vitals, + Rise, thou ancient water-mother, + With thy blue-cap from the ocean, + From the seas, the lakes, the rivers, + Bring protection to thy hero, + Comfort bring and full assistance, + That I guiltless may not suffer, + May not perish prematurely. + "Shouldst thou brave this invocation, + Kapè, daughter of Creation, + Come, thou beauteous, golden maiden, + Oldest of the race of women, + Come and witness my misfortunes, + Come and turn away this evil, + Come, remove this biting torment, + Take away this plague of Piru. + "If this call be disregarded, + If thou wilt not leave me guiltless, + Ukko, on the arch of heaven, + In the thunder-cloud dominions, + Come thou quickly, thou art needed, + Come, protect thy tortured hero, + Drive away this magic demon, + Banish ever his enchantment, + With his sword and flaming furnace, + With his fire-enkindling bellows. + "Go, thou demon, hence to wander, + Flee, thou plague of Northland heroes; + Never come again for shelter, + Nevermore build thou thy dwelling + In the body of Wipunen; + Take at once thy habitation + To the regions of thy kindred, + To thy distant fields and firesides; + When thy journey thou hast ended, + Gained the borders of thy country, + Gained the meads of thy Creator, + Give a signal of thy coming, + Rumble like the peals of thunder, + Glisten like the gleam of lightning, + Knock upon the outer portals, + Enter through the open windows, + Glide about the many chambers, + Seize the host and seize the hostess, + Knock their evil beads together, + Wring their necks and hurl their bodies + To the black-dogs of the forest. + "Should this prove of little value, + Hover like the bird of battle, + O'er the dwellings of the master, + Scare the horses from the mangers, + From the troughs affright the cattle, + Twist their tails, and horns, and forelocks, + Hurl their carcasses to Lempo. + "If some scourge the winds have sent me, + Sent me on the air of spring-tide, + Brought me by the frosts of winter, + Quickly journey whence thou camest, + On the air-path of the heavens, + Perching not upon some aspen, + Resting not upon the birch-tree; + Fly away to copper mountains, + That the copper-winds may nurse thee, + Waves of ether, thy protection. + "Didst those come from high Jumala, + From the hems of ragged snow-clouds, + Quick ascend beyond the cloud-space, + Quickly journey whence thou camest, + To the snow-clouds, crystal-sprinkled, + To the twinkling stars of heaven + There thy fire may burn forever, + There may flash thy forked lightnings, + In the Sun's undying furnace. + "Wert thou sent here by the spring-floods, + Driven here by river-torrents? + Quickly journey whence thou camest, + Quickly hasten to the waters, + To the borders of the rivers, + To the ancient water-mountain, + That the floods again may rock thee, + And thy water-mother nurse thee. + "Didst thou come from Kalma's kingdom, + From the castles of the death-land? + Haste thou back to thine own country, + To the Kalma-halls and castles, + To the fields with envy swollen, + Where contending armies perish. + "Art thou from the Hisi-woodlands, + From ravines in Lempo's forest, + From the thickets of the pine-wood, + From the dwellings of the fir-glen? + Quick retrace thine evil footsteps + To the dwellings of thy master, + To the thickets of thy kindred; + There thou mayest dwell at pleasure, + Till thy house decays about thee, + Till thy walls shall mould and crumble. + Evil genius, thee I banish, + Got thee hence, thou horrid monster, + To the caverns of the white-bear, + To the deep abysm of serpents, + To the vales, and swamps, and fenlands, + To the ever-silent waters, + To the hot-springs of the mountains, + To the dead-seas of the Northland, + To the lifeless lakes and rivers, + To the sacred stream and whirlpool. + "Shouldst thou find no place of resting, + I will banish thee still farther, + To the Northland's distant borders, + To the broad expanse of Lapland, + To the ever-lifeless deserts, + To the unproductive prairies, + Sunless, moonless, starless, lifeless, + In the dark abyss of Northland; + This for thee, a place befitting, + Pitch thy tents and feast forever + On the dead plains of Pohyola. + "Shouldst thou find no means of living, + I will banish thee still farther, + To the cataract of Rutya, + To the fire-emitting whirlpool, + Where the firs are ever falling, + To the windfalls of the forest; + Swim hereafter in the waters + Of the fire-emitting whirlpool, + Whirl thou ever in the current + Of the cataract's commotion, + In its foam and boiling waters. + Should this place be unbefitting, + I will drive thee farther onward, + To Tuoni's coal-black river, + To the endless stream of Mana, + Where thou shalt forever linger; + Thou canst never leave Manala, + Should I not thy head deliver, + Should I never pay thy ransom; + Thou canst never safely journey + Through nine brother-rams abutting, + Through nine brother-bulls opposing + Through nine brother-stallions thwarting, + Thou canst not re-cross Death-river + Thickly set with iron netting, + Interlaced with threads of copper. + "Shouldst thou ask for steeds for saddle, + Shouldst thou need a fleet-foot courser, + I will give thee worthy racers, + I will give thee saddle-horses; + Evil Hisi has a charger, + Crimson mane, and tail, and foretop, + Fire emitting from his nostrils, + As he prances through his pastures; + Hoofs are made of strongest iron, + Legs are made of steel and copper, + Quickly scales the highest mountains, + Darts like lightning through the valleys, + When a skilful master rides him. + "Should this steed be insufficient, + I will give thee Lempo's snow-shoes, + Give thee Hisi's shoes of elm-wood, + Give to thee the staff of Piru, + That with these thou mayest journey + Into Hisi's courts and castles, + To the woods and fields of Juutas; + If the rocks should rise before thee, + Dash the flinty rocks in pieces, + Hurl the fragments to the heavens; + If the branches cross thy pathway, + Make them turn aside in greeting; + If some mighty hero hail thee, + Hurl him headlong to the woodlands. + "Hasten hence, thou thing of evil, + Heinous monster, leave my body, + Ere the breaking of the morning + Ere the Sun awakes from slumber, + Ere the sinning of the cuckoo; + Haste away, thou plague of Northland, + Haste along the track of' moonbeams, + Wander hence, forever wander, + To the darksome fields or Pohya. + "If at once thou dost not leave me, + I will send the eagle's talons, + Send to thee the beaks of vultures, + To devour thine evil body, + Hurl thy skeleton to Hisi. + Much more quickly cruel Lempo + Left my vitals when commanded, + When I called the aid of Ukko, + Called the help of my Creator. + Flee, thou motherless offendant, + Flee, thou fiend of Sariola, + Flee, thou hound without a master, + Ere the morning sun arises, + Ere the Moon withdraws to slumber!" + Wainamoinen, ancient hero, + Speaks at last to old Wipunen: + "Satisfied am I to linger + In these old and spacious caverns, + Pleasant here my home and dwelling; + For my meat I have thy tissues, + Have thy heart, and spleen, and liver, + For my drink the blood of ages, + Goodly home for Wainamoinen. + "I shall set my forge and bellows + Deeper, deeper in thy vitals; + I shall swing my heavy hammer, + Swing it with a greater power + On thy heart, and lungs, and liver; + I shall never, never leave thee + Till I learn thine incantations, + Learn thy many wisdom-sayings, + Learn the lost-words of the Master; + Never must these words be bidden, + Earth must never lose this wisdom, + Though the wisdom-singers perish." + Old Wipunen, wise magician, + Ancient prophet, filled with power, + Opens fall his store of knowledge, + Lifts the covers from his cases, + Filled with old-time incantations, + Filled with songs of times primeval, + Filled with ancient wit and wisdom; + Sings the very oldest folk-songs, + Sings the origin of witchcraft, + Sings of Earth and its beginning + Sings the first of all creations, + Sings the source of good and evil + Sung alas! by youth no longer, + Only sung in part by heroes + In these days of sin and sorrow. + Evil days our land befallen. + Sings the orders of enchantment. + How, upon the will of Ukko, + By command of the Creator, + How the air was first divided, + How the water came from ether, + How the earth arose from water, + How from earth came vegetation, + Fish, and fowl, and man, and hero. + Sings again the wise Wipunen, + How the Moon was first created, + How the Sun was set in heaven, + Whence the colors of the rainbow, + Whence the ether's crystal pillars, + How the skies with stars were sprinkled. + Then again sings wise Wipunen, + Sings in miracles of concord, + Sings in magic tones of wisdom, + Never was there heard such singing; + Songs he sings in countless numbers, + Swift his notes as tongues of serpents, + All the distant hills re-echo; + Sings one day, and then a second, + Sings a third from dawn till evening, + Sings from evening till the morning; + Listen all the stars of heaven, + And the Moon stands still and listens + Fall the waves upon the deep-sea, + In the bay the tides cease rising, + Stop the rivers in their courses, + Stops the waterfall of Rutya, + Even Jordan ceases flowing, + And the Wuoksen stops and listens. + When the ancient Wainamoinen + Well had learned the magic sayings, + Learned the ancient songs and legends, + Learned the words of ancient wisdom, + Learned the lost-words of the Master, + Well had learned the secret doctrine, + He prepared to leave the body + Of the wisdom-bard, Wipunen, + Leave the bosom of the master, + Leave the wonderful enchanter. + Spake the hero, Wainamoinen: + "O, thou Antero Wipunen, + Open wide thy mouth and fauces, + I have found the magic lost-words, + I will leave thee now forever, + Leave thee and thy wondrous singing, + Will return to Kalevala, + To Wainola's fields and firesides." + Thus Wipunen spake in answer: + "Many are the things I've eaten, + Eaten bear, and elk, and reindeer, + Eaten ox, and wolf, and wild-boar, + Eaten man, and eaten hero, + Never, never have I eaten + Such a thing as Wainamoinen; + Thou hast found what thou desirest, + Found the three words of the Master; + Go in peace, and ne'er returning, + Take my blessing on thy going." + Thereupon the bard Wipunen + Opens wide his mouth, and wider; + And the good, old Wainamoinen + Straightway leaves the wise enchanter, + Leaves Wipunen's great abdomen; + From the mouth he glides and journeys + O'er the hills and vales of Northland, + Swift as red-deer or the forest, + Swift as yellow-breasted marten, + To the firesides of Wainola, + To the plains of Kalevala. + Straightway hastes he to the smithy + Of his brother, Ilmarinen, + Thus the iron-artist greets him: + Hast thou found the long-lost wisdom, + Hast thou heard the secret doctrine, + Hast thou learned the master magic, + How to fasten in the ledges, + How the stern should be completed, + How complete the ship's forecastle? + Wainamoinen thus made answer: + "I have learned of words a hundred, + Learned a thousand incantations, + Hidden deep for many ages, + Learned the words of ancient wisdom, + Found the keys of secret doctrine, + Found the lost-words of the Master." + Wainamoinen, magic-builder, + Straightway journeys to his vessel, + To the spot of magic labor, + Quickly fastens in the ledges, + Firmly binds the stern together + And completes the boat's forecastle. + Thus the ancient Wainamoinen + Built the boat with magic only, + And with magic launched his vessel, + Using not the hand to touch it, + Using not the foot to move it, + Using not the knee to turn it, + Using nothing to propel it. + Thus the third task was completed, + For the hostess of Pohyola, + Dowry for the Maid of Beauty + Sitting on the arch of heaven, + On the bow of many colors. + + + + +RUNE XVIII. + + + + THE RIVAL SUITORS + + + Wainamoinen, old and truthful, + Long considered, long debated, + How to woo and win the daughter + Of the hostess of Pohyola, + How to lead the Bride of Beauty, + Fairy maiden of the rainbow, + To the meadows of Wainola, + From the dismal Sariola. + Now he decks his magic vessel, + Paints the boat in blue and scarlet, + Trims in gold the ship's forecastle, + Decks the prow in molten silver; + Sings his magic ship down gliding, + On the cylinders of fir-tree: + Now erects the masts of pine-wood, + On each mast the sails of linen, + Sails of blue, and white, and scarlet, + Woven into finest fabric. + Wainamoinen, the magician, + Steps aboard his wondrous vessel, + Steers the bark across the waters, + On the blue back of the broad-sea, + Speaks these words in sailing northward, + Sailing to the dark Pohyola: + "Come aboard my ship, O Ukko, + Come with me, thou God of mercy, + To protect thine ancient hero, + To support thy trusting servant, + On the breasts of raging billows, + On the far out-stretching waters. + "Rock, O winds, this wondrous vessel, + Causing not a single ripple; + Rolling waves, bear ye me northward, + That the oar may not be needed + In my journey to Pohyola, + O'er this mighty waste of waters." + Ilmarinen's beauteous sister, + Fair and goodly maid, Annikki, + Of the Night and Dawn, the daughter, + Who awakes each morning early, + Rises long before the daylight, + Stood one morning on the sea-shore, + Washing in the foam her dresses, + Rinsing out her silken ribbons, + On the bridge of scarlet color, + On the border of the highway, + On a headland jutting seaward, + On the forest-covered island. + Here Annikki, looking round her, + Looking through the fog and ether, + Looking through the clouds of heaven, + Gazing far out on the blue-sea, + Sees the morning sun arising, + Glimmering along the billows, + Looks with eyes of distant vision + Toward the sunrise on the waters, + Toward the winding streams of Suomi, + Where the Wina-waves were flowing. + There she sees, on the horizon, + Something darkle in the sunlight, + Something blue upon the billows, + Speaks these words in wonder guessing: + What is this upon the surges, + What this blue upon the waters, + What this darkling in the sunlight? + 'Tis perhaps a flock of wild-geese, + Or perchance the blue-duck flying; + Then upon thy wings arising, + Fly away to highest heaven. + "Art thou then a shoal of sea-trout, + Or perchance a school of salmon? + Dive then to the deep sea-bottom, + In the waters swim and frolic. + "Art thou then a cliff of granite, + Or perchance a mighty oak-tree, + Floating on the rough sea-billows? + May the floods then wash and beat thee + Break thee to a thousand fragments." + Wainamoinen, sailing northward, + Steers his wondrous ship of magic + Toward the headland jutting seaward, + Toward the island forest-covered. + Now Annikki, goodly maiden, + Sees it is the magic vessel + Of a wonderful enchanter, + Of a mighty bard and hero, + And she asks this simple question: + "Art thou then my father's vessel, + Or my brother's ship of magic? + Haste away then to thy harbor, + To thy refuge in Wainola. + Hast thou come a goodly distance? + Sail then farther on thy journey, + Point thy prow to other waters." + It was not her father's vessel, + Not a sail-boat from the distance, + 'Twas the ship of Wainamoinen, + Bark of the eternal singer; + Sails within a hailing distance, + Swims still nearer o'er the waters, + Brings one word and takes another, + Brings a third of magic import. + Speaks the goodly maid, Annikki, + Of the Night and Dawn, the daughter, + To the sailor of the vessel: + "Whither sailest, Wainamoinen, + Whither bound, thou friend of waters, + Pride and joy of Kalevala?" + From the vessel Wainamomen + Gives this answer to the maiden: + "I have come to catch some sea-trout, + Catch the young and toothsome whiting, + Hiding in tbese-reeds and rushes." + This the answer of Annikki: + "Do not speak to me in falsehood, + Know I well the times of fishing; + Long ago my honored father + Was a fisherman in Northland, + Came to catch the trout and whiting, + Fished within these seas and rivers. + Very well do I remember + How the fisherman disposes, + How he rigs his fishing vessel, + Lines, and gaffs, and poles, and fish-nets; + Hast not come a-fishing hither. + Whither goest, Wainamoinen, + Whither sailest, friend of waters? + Spake the ancient Wainamoinen: + "I have come to catch some wild-geese, + Catch the hissing birds of Suomi, + In these far-extending borders, + In the Sachsensund dominions." + Good Annikki gives this answer: + "Know I well a truthful speaker, + Easily detect a falsehood; + Formerly my aged father + Often came a-hunting hither, + Came to hunt the hissing wild-geese, + Hunt the red-bill of these waters. + Very well do I remember + How the hunter rigs his vessel, + Bows, and arrows, knives, and quiver, + Dogs enchained within the vessel, + Pointers hunting on the sea-shore, + Setters seeking in the marshes, + Tell the truth now Wainamoinen, + Whither is thy vessel sailing?" + Spake the hero of the Northland: + "To the wars my ship is sailing, + To the bloody fields of battle, + Where the streams run scarlet-colored, + Where the paths are paved with bodies!' + These the words of fair Annikki: + "Know I well the paths to battle. + Formerly my aged father + Often sounded war's alarum, + Often led the hosts to conquest; + In each ship a hundred rowers, + And in arms a thousand heroes, + Oil the prow a thousand cross-bows, + Swords, and spears, and battle-axes; + Know I well the ship of battle. + Speak Do longer fruitless falsehoods, + Whither sailest, Wainamoinen, + Whither steerest, friend of waters? + These the words of Wainamoinen: + "Come, O maiden, to my vessel, + In my magic ship be seated, + Then I'll give thee truthful answer." + Thus Annikki, silver-tinselled, + Answers ancient Wainamoinen: + "With the winds I'll fill thy vessel, + To thy bark I'll send the storm-winds + And capsize thy ship of magic, + Break in pieces its forecastle, + If the truth thou dost not tell me, + If thou dost not cease thy falsehoods, + If thou dost not tell me truly + Whither sails thy magic vessel." + These the words of Wainamoinen: + "Now I make thee truthful answer, + Though at first I spake deception: + I am sailing to the Northland + To the dismal Sariola, + Where the ogres live and flourish, + Where they drown the worthy heroes, + There to woo the Maid of Beauty + Sitting on the bow of heaven, + Woo and win the fairy virgin, + Bring her to my home and kindred, + To the firesides of Walnola." + Then Aunikki, graceful maiden, + Of the Night and Dawn, the daughter, + As she heard the rightful answer, + Knew the truth was fully spoken, + Straightway left her coats unbeaten, + Left unwashed her linen garments, + Left unrinsed her silks and ribbons + On the highway by the sea-shore, + On the bridge of scarlet color + On her arm she threw her long-robes, + Hastened off with speed of roebuck + To the shops of Ilmarinen, + To the iron-forger's furnace, + To the blacksmith's home and smithy, + Here she found the hero-artist, + Forging out a bench of iron, + And adorning it with silver. + Soot lay thick upon his forehead, + Soot and coal upon his shoulders. + On the threshold speaks Annikki, + These the words his sister uses: + "Ilmarinen, dearest brother, + Thou eternal artist-forger, + Forge me now a loom of silver, + Golden rings to grace my fingers, + Forge me gold and silver ear-rings, + Six or seven golden girdles, + Golden crosslets for my bosom, + For my head forge golden trinkets, + And I'll tell a tale surprising, + Tell a story that concerns thee + Truthfully I'll tell the story." + Then the blacksmith Ilmarinen + Spake and these the words he uttered: + "If thou'lt tell the tale sincerely, + I will forge the loom of silver, + Golden rings to grace thy fingers, + Forge thee gold and silver ear-rings, + Six or seven golden girdles, + Golden crosslets for thy bosom, + For thy head forge golden trinkets; + But if thou shouldst tell me falsely, + I shall break thy beauteous jewels, + Break thine ornaments in pieces, + Hurl them to the fire and furnace, + Never forge thee other trinkets." + This the answer of Annikki: + "Ancient blacksmith, Ilmarinen, + Dost thou ever think to marry + Her already thine affianced, + Beauteous Maiden of the Rainbow, + Fairest virgin of the Northland, + Chosen bride of Sariola? + Shouldst thou wish the Maid of Beauty, + Thou must forge, and forge unceasing, + Hammering the days and nights through; + Forge the summer hoofs for horses, + Forge them iron hoofs for winter, + In the long nights forge the snow-sledge, + Gaily trim it in the daytime, + Haste thou then upon thy journey + To thy wooing in the Northland, + To the dismal Sariola; + Thither journeys one more clever, + Sails another now before thee, + There to woo thy bride affianced, + Thence to lead thy chosen virgin, + Woo and win the Maid of Beauty; + Three long years thou hast been wooing. + Wainamoinen now is sailing + On the blue back of the waters, + Sitting at his helm of copper; + On the prow are golden carvings, + Beautiful his boat of magic, + Sailing fleetly o'er the billows, + To the never-pleasant Northland, + To the dismal Sariola." + Ilmarinen stood in wonder, + Stood a statue at the story; + Silent grief had settled o'er him, + Settled o'er the iron-artist; + From one hand the tongs descended, + From the other fell the hammer, + As the blacksmith made this answer: + "Good Annikki, worthy sister, + I shall forge the loom of silver, + Golden rings to grace thy fingers, + Forge thee gold and silver ear-rings, + Six or seven golden girdles, + Golden crosslets for thy bosom; + Go and heat for me the bath-room, + Fill with heat the honey-chambers, + Lay the faggots on the fire-place, + Lay the smaller woods around them, + Pour some water through the ashes, + Make a soap of magic virtue, + Thus to cleanse my blackened visage, + Thus to cleanse the blacksmith's body, + Thus remove the soot and ashes." + Then Annikki, kindly sister, + Quickly warmed her brother's bath-room, + Warmed it with the knots of fir-trees, + That the thunder-winds had broken; + Gathered pebbles from the fire-stream, + Threw them in the heating waters; + Broke the tassels from the birch-trees, + Steeped the foliage in honey, + Made a lye from milk and ashes, + Made of these a strong decoction, + Mixed it with the fat and marrow + Of the reindeer of the mountains, + Made a soap of magic virtue, + Thus to cleanse the iron-artist, + Thus to beautify the suitor, + Thus to make the hero worthy. + Ilmarinen, ancient blacksmith, + The eternal metal-worker, + Forged the wishes of his sister, + Ornaments for fair Annikki, + Rings, and bracelets, pins and ear-drops, + Forged for her six golden girdles, + Forged a weaving loom of silver, + While the maid prepared the bath-room, + Set his toilet-room in order. + To the maid he gave the trinkets, + Gave the loom of molten silver, + And the sister thus made answer: + "I have heated well thy bath-room, + Have thy toilet-things in order, + Everything as thou desirest; + Go prepare thyself for wooing, + Lave thy bead to flaxen whiteness, + Make thy cheeks look fresh and ruddy, + Lave thyself in Love's aroma, + That thy wooing prove successful." + Ilmarinen, magic artist, + Quick repairing to his bath-room, + Bathed his head to flaxen whiteness, + Made his cheeks look fresh and ruddy, + Laved his eyes until they sparkled + Like the moonlight on the waters; + Wondrous were his form and features, + And his cheeks like ruddy berries. + These the words of Ilmarinen: + "Fair Annikki, lovely sister, + Bring me now my silken raiment, + Bring my best and richest vesture, + Bring me now my softest linen, + That my wooing prove successful." + Straightway did the helpful sister + Bring the finest of his raiment, + Bring the softest of his linen, + Raiment fashioned by his mother; + Brought to him his silken stockings, + Brought him shoes of marten-leather, + Brought a vest of sky-blue color, + Brought him scarlet-colored trousers, + Brought a coat with scarlet trimming, + Brought a red shawl trimmed in ermine + Fourfold wrapped about his body; + Brought a fur-coat made of seal-skin, + Fastened with a thousand bottons, + And adorned with countless jewels; + Brought for him his magic girdle, + Fastened well with golden buckles, + That his artist-mother fashioned; + Brought him gloves with golden wristlets, + That the Laplanders had woven + For a head of many ringlets; + Brought the finest cap in Northland, + That his ancient father purchased + When he first began his wooing. + Ilmarinen, blacksmith-artist, + Clad himself to look his finest, + When he thus addressed a servant: + "Hitch for me a fleet-foot racer, + Hitch him to my willing snow-sledge, + For I start upon a journey + To the distant shores of Pohya, + To the dismal Sariola." + Spake the servant thus in answer: + "Thou hast seven fleet-foot racers, + Munching grain within their mangers, + Which of these shall I make ready?" + Spake the blacksmith, Ilmarinen: + "Take the fleetest of my coursers, + Put the gray steed in the harness, + Hitch him to my sledge of magic; + Place six cuckoos on the break-board, + Seven bluebirds on the cross-bars, + Thus to charm the Northland maidens, + Thus to make them look and listen, + As the cuckoos call and echo. + Bring me too my largest bear-skin, + Fold it warm about the cross-bench; + Bring me then my marten fur-robes, + As a cover and protection." + Straightway then the trusty servant + Of the blacksmith, Ilmarinen, + Put the gray steed in the harness, + Hitched the racer to the snow-sledge, + Placed six cuckoos on the break-board, + Seven bluebirds on the cross-bars, + On the front to sing and twitter; + Then he brought the largest bear-skin, + Folded it upon the cross-bench; + Brought the finest robes of marten, + Warm protection for the master. + Ilmarinen, forger-artist, + The eternal metal-worker, + Earnestly entreated Ukko: + "Send thy snow-flakes, Ukko, father, + Let them gently fall from heaven, + Let them cover all the heather, + Let them hide the berry-bushes, + That my sledge may glide in freedom + O'er the hills to Sariola!" + Ukko sent the snow from heaven, + Gently dropped the crystal snow-flakes, + Lending thus his kind assistance + To the hero, Ilmarinen, + On his journey to the Northland. + Reins in hand, the ancient artist + Seats him in his metal snow-sledge, + And beseeches thus his Master: + "Good luck to my reins and traces, + Good luck to my shafts and runners! + God protect my magic snow-sledge, + Be my safeguard on my journey + To the dismal Sariola!" + Now the ancient Ilmarinen + Draws the reins upon the racer, + Snaps his whip above the courser, + To the gray steed gives this order, + And the charger plunges northward: + "Haste away, my flaxen stallion, + Haste thee onward, noble white-face, + To the never-pleasant Pohya, + To the dreary Sariola!" + Fast and faster flies the fleet-foot, + On the curving snow-capped sea-coast, + On the borders of the lowlands, + O'er the alder-hills and mountains. + Merrily the steed flies onward, + Bluebirds singing, cuckoos calling, + On the sea-shore looking northward, + Through the sand and falling snow-flakes + Blinding winds, and snow, and sea-foam, + Cloud the hero, Ilmarinen, + As he glides upon his journey, + Looking seaward for the vessel + Of the ancient Wainamoinen; + Travels one day, then a second, + Travels all the next day northward, + Till the third day Ilmarinen + Overtakes old Wainamoinen, + Rails him in his magic vessel, + And addresses thus the minstrel: + "O thou ancient Wainamoinen, + Let us woo in peace the maiden, + Fairest daughter or the Northland, + Sitting on the bow of heaven, + Let each labor long to win her, + Let her wed the one she chooses, + Him selecting, let her follow." + Wainamoinen thus makes answer: + "I agree to thy proposal, + Let us woo in peace the maiden, + Not by force, nor faithless measures, + Shall we woo the Maid of Beauty, + Let her follow him she chooses; + Let the unsuccessful suitor + Harbor neither wrath nor envy + For the hero that she follows." + Thus agreeing, on they journey, + Each according to his pleasure; + Fleetly does the steed fly onward, + Quickly flies the magic vessel, + Sailing on the broad-sea northward; + Ilmarinen's fleet-foot racer + Makes the hills of Northland tremble, + As he gallops on his journey + To the dismal Sariola. + Wainamoinen calls the South-winds, + And they fly to his assistance; + Swiftly sails his ship of beauty, + Swiftly plows the rough sea-billows + In her pathway to Pohyola. + Time had gone but little distance, + Scarce a moment had passed over, + Ere the dogs began their barking, + In the mansions of the Northland, + In the courts of Sariola, + Watch-dogs of the court of Louhi; + Never had they growled so fiercely, + Never had they barked so loudly, + Never with their tails had beaten + Northland into such an uproar. + Spake the master of Pohyola: + "Go and learn, my worthy daughter, + Why the watch-dogs have been barking, + Why the black-dog signals danger." + Quickly does the daughter answer: + "I am occupied, dear father, + I have work of more importance, + I must tend my flock of lambkins, + I must turn the nether millstone, + Grind to flour the grains of barley, + Run the grindings through the sifter, + Only have I time for grinding." + Lowly growls the faithful watch-dog, + Seldom does he growl so strangely. + Spake the master of Pohyola: + "Go and learn, my trusted consort, + Why the Northland dogs are barking, + Why the black-dog signals danger." + Thus his aged wife makes answer; + "Have no time, nor inclination, + I must feed my hungry household, + Must prepare a worthy dinner, + I must bake the toothsome biscuit, + Knead the dough till it is ready, + Only have I strength for kneading." + Spake the master of Pohyola: + "Dames are always in a hurry, + Maidens too are ever busy, + Whether warming at the oven, + Or asleep upon their couches; + Go my son, and learn the danger, + Why the black-dog growls displeasure," + Quickly does the son give answer: + "Have no time, nor inclination, + Am in haste to grind my hatchet; + I must chop this log to cordwood, + For the fire must cut the faggots, + I must split the wood in fragments, + Large the pile and small the fire-wood, + Only have I strength for chopping." + Still the watch-dog growls in anger, + Growl the whelps within the mansion, + Growl the dogs chained in the kennel, + Growls the black-dog on the hill-top, + Setting Northland in an uproar. + Spake the master of Pohyola: + "Never, never does my black-dog + Growl like this without a reason; + Never does he bark for nothing, + Does not growl at angry billows, + Nor the sighing of the pine-trees." + Then the master of Pohyola + Went himself to learn the reason + For the barking of the watch-dogs; + Strode he through the spacious court-yard, + Through the open fields beyond it, + To the summit of the uplands. + Looking toward his black-dog barking, + He beholds the muzzle pointed + To a distant, stormy hill-top, + To a mound with alders covered; + There he learned the rightful reason, + Why his dogs had barked so loudly, + Why had growled the wool-tail bearer, + Why his whelps had signalled danger. + At full sail, he saw a vessel, + And the ship was scarlet-colored, + Entering the bay of Lempo; + Saw a sledge of magic colors, + Gliding up the curving sea-shore, + O'er the snow-fields of Pohyola. + Then the master of the Northland + Hastened straightway to his dwelling, + Hastened forward to his court-room, + These the accents of the master: + "Often strangers journey hither, + On the blue back of the ocean, + Sailing in a scarlet vessel, + Rocking in the bay of Lempo; + Often strangers come in sledges + To the honey-lands of Louhi." + Spake the hostess of Pohyola: + How shall we obtain a token + Why these strangers journey hither? + My beloved, faithful daughter, + Lay a branch upon the fire-place, + Let it burn with fire of magic + If it trickle drops of scarlet, + War and bloodshed do they bring us; + If it trickle drops of water, + Peace and plenty bring the strangers." + Northland's fair and slender maiden, + Beautiful and modest daughter, + Lays a sorb-branch on the fire-place, + Lights it with the fire of magic; + Does not trickle drops of scarlet, + Trickles neither blood, nor water, + From the wand come drops of honey. + From the corner spake Suowakko, + This the language of the wizard: + "If the wand is dripping honey, + Then the strangers that are coming + Are but worthy friends and suitors." + Then the hostess of the Northland, + With the daughter of the hostess, + Straightway left their work, and hastened + From their dwelling to the court-yard; + Looked about in all directions, + Turned their eyes upon the waters, + Saw a magic-colored vessel + Rocking slowly in the harbor, + Having sailed the bay of Lempo, + Triple sails, and masts, and rigging, + Sable was the nether portion, + And the upper, scarlet-colored, + At the helm an ancient hero + Leaning on his oars of copper; + Saw a fleet-foot racer running, + Saw a red sledge lightly follow, + Saw the magic sledge emblazoned, + Guided toward the courts of Louhi; + Saw and heard six golden cuckoos + Sitting on the break-board, calling, + Seven bluebirds richly colored + Singing from the yoke and cross-bar; + In the sledge a magic hero, + Young, and strong, and proud, and handsome, + Holding reins upon the courser. + Spake the hostess of Pohyola: + "Dearest daughter, winsome maiden, + Dost thou wish a noble suitor? + Should these heroes come to woo thee, + Wouldst thou leave thy home and country, + Be the bride of him that pleases, + Be his faithful life-companion? + "He that comes upon the waters, + Sailing in a magic vessel, + Having sailed the bay of Lempo, + Is the good, old Wainamoinen; + In his ship are countless treasures, + Richest presents from Wainola. + "He that rides here in his snow-sledge + In his sledge of magic beauty, + With the cuckoos and the bluebirds, + Is the blacksmith, Ilmarinen, + Cometh hither empty-handed, + Only brings some wisdom-sayings. + When they come within the dwelling, + Bring a bowl of honeyed viands, + Bring a pitcher with two handles, + Give to him that thou wouldst follow + Give it to old Wainamoinen, + Him that brings thee countless treasures, + Costly presents in his vessel, + Priceless gems from Kalevala." + Spake the Northland's lovely daughter, + This the language of the maiden + "Good, indeed, advice maternal, + But I will not wed for riches, + Wed no man for countless treasures; + For his worth I'll choose a husband, + For his youth and fine appearance, + For his noble form and features; + In the olden times the maidens + Were not sold by anxious mothers + To the suitors that they loved not. + I shall choose without his treasures + Ilmarinen for his wisdom, + For his worth and good behavior, + Him that forged the wondrous Sampo, + Hammered thee the lid in colors." + Spake the hostess of Pohyola: + "Senseless daughter, child of folly, + Thus to choose the ancient blacksmith, + From whose brow drips perspiration, + Evermore to rinse his linen, + Lave his hands, and eyes, and forehead, + Keep his ancient house in order; + Little use his wit and wisdom + When compared with gold and silver." + This the answer of the daughter: + "I will never, never, never, + Wed the ancient Wainamoinen + With his gold and priceless jewels; + Never will I be a helpmate + To a hero in his dotage, + Little thanks my compensation." + Wainamoinen, safely landing + In advance of Ilmarinen, + Pulls his gaily-covered vessel + From the waves upon the sea-beach, + On the cylinders of birch-wood, + On the rollers copper-banded, + Straightway hastens to the guest-room + Of the hostess of Pohyola, + Of the master of the Northland, + Speaks these words upon the threshold + To the famous Maid of Beauty: + "Come with me, thou lovely virgin, + Be my bride and life-companion, + Share with me my joys and sorrows, + Be my honored wife hereafter!" + This the answer of the maiden: + "Hast thou built for me the vessel, + Built for me the ship of magic + From the fragments of the distaff, + From the splinters of the spindle?" + Wainamoinen thus replying: + "I have built the promised vessel, + Built the wondrous ship for sailing, + Firmly joined the parts by magic; + It will weather roughest billows, + Will outlive the winds and waters, + Swiftly glide upon the blue-back + Of the deep and boundless ocean + It will ride the waves in beauty, + Like an airy bubble rising, + Like a cork on lake and river, + Through the angry seas of Northland, + Through Pohyola's peaceful waters." + Northland's fair and slender daughter + Gives this answer to her suitor: + "Will not wed a sea-born hero, + Do not care to rock the billows, + Cannot live with such a husband + Storms would bring us pain and trouble, + Winds would rack our hearts and temples; + Therefore thee I cannot follow, + Cannot keep thy home in order, + Cannot be thy life-companion, + Cannot wed old Wainamoinen." + + + + +RUNE XIX. + + + + ILMARINEN'S WOOING. + + + Ilmarinen, hero-blacksmith, + The eternal metal-worker, + Hastens forward to the court-room + Of the hostess of Pohyola, + Of the master of the Northland, + Hastens through the open portals + Into Louhi's home and presence. + Servants come with silver pitchers, + Filled with Northland's richest brewing; + Honey-drink is brought and offered + To the blacksmith of Wainola, + Ilmarinen thus replying: + "I shall not in all my life-time + Taste the drink that thou hast brought me, + Till I see the Maid of Beauty, + Fairy Maiden of the Rainbow; + I will drink with her in gladness, + For whose hand I journey hither." + Spake the hostess of Pohyola: + "Trouble does the one selected + Give to him that wooes and watches; + Not yet are her feet in sandals, + Thine affianced is not ready. + Only canst thou woo my daughter, + Only canst thou win the maiden, + When thou hast by aid of magic + Plowed the serpent-field of Hisi, + Plowed the field of hissing vipers, + Touching neither beam nor handles. + Once this field was plowed by Piru, + Lempo furrowed it with horses, + With a plowshare made of copper, + With a beam of flaming iron; + Never since has any hero + Brought this field to cultivation." + Ilmarinen of Wainola + Straightway hastens to the chamber + Of the Maiden of the Rainbow, + Speaks these words in hesitation: + "Thou of Night and Dawn the daughter, + Tell me, dost thou not remember + When for thee I forged the Sampo, + Hammered thee the lid in colors? + Thou didst swear by oath the strougest, + By the forge and by the anvil, + By the tongs and by the hammer, + In the ears of the Almighty, + And before omniscient Ukko, + Thou wouldst follow me hereafter, + Be my bride, my life-companion, + Be my honored wife forever. + Now thy mother is exacting, + Will not give to me her daughter, + Till by means of magic only, + I have plowed the field of serpents, + Plowed the hissing soil of Hisi." + The affianced Bride of Beauty + Gives this answer to the suitor: + "O, thou blacksmith, Ilmarinen, + The eternal wonder-forger, + Forge thyself a golden plowshare, + Forge the beam of shining silver, + And of copper forge the handles; + Then with ease, by aid of magic, + Thou canst plow the field of serpents, + Plow the hissing soil of Hisi." + Ilmarinen, welcome suitor, + Straightway builds a forge and smithy, + Places gold within the furnace, + In the forge he lays the silver, + Forges then a golden plowshare, + Forges, too, a beam of silver, + Forges handles out of copper, + Forges boots and gloves of iron, + Forges him a mail of metal, + For his limbs a safe protection, + Safe protection for his body. + Then a horse of fire selecting, + Harnesses the flaming stallion, + Goes to plow the field of serpents, + Plow the viper-lands of Hisi. + In the field were countless vipers, + Serpents there of every species, + Crawling, writhing, hissing, stinging, + Harmless all against the hero, + Thus he stills the snakes of Lempo: + "Vipers, ye by God created, + Neither best nor worst of creatures, + Ye whose wisdom comes from Ukko, + And whose venom comes from Hisi, + Ukko is your greater Master, + By His will your heads are lifted; + Get ye hence before my plowing, + Writ-he ye through the grass and stubble, + Crawl ye to the nearest thicket, + Keep your heads beneath the heather, + Hunt our holes to Mana's kingdom + If your poison-heads be lifted, + Then will mighty Ukko smite them + 'With his iron-pointed arrows, + With the lightning of his anger." + Thus the blacksmith, Ilmarinen, + Safely plows the field of serpents, + Lifts the vipers in his plowing, + Buries them beneath the furrow, + Harmless all against his magic. + When the task had been completed, + Ilmarinen, quick returning, + Thus addressed Pohyola's hostess: + "I have plowed the field of Hisi, + Plowed the field of hissing serpents, + Stilled and banished all the vipers; + Give me, ancient dame, thy daughter, + Fairest maiden of the Northland. + Spake the hostess of Pohyola: + "Shall not grant to thee my daughter, + Shall not give my lovely virgin, + Till Tuoni's bear is muzzled, + Till Manala's wolf is conquered, + In the forests of the Death-land, + In the boundaries of Mana. + Hundreds have been sent to hunt him, + So one yet has been successful, + All have perished in Manala." + Thereupon young Ilmarinen + To the maiden's chamber hastens, + Thus addresses his affianced: + "Still another test demanded, + I must go to Tuonela, + Bridle there the bear of Mana, + Bring him from the Death-land forests, + From Tuoni's grove and empire! + This advice the maiden gives him: + "O thou artist, Ilmarinen, + The eternal metal-worker, + Forge of steel a magic bridle, + On a rock beneath the water, + In the foaming triple currents; + Make the straps of steel and copper, + Bridle then the bear of Mana, + Lead him from Tuoni's forests." + Then the blacksmith, Ilmarinen, + Forged of steel a magic bridle, + On a rock beneath the water, + In the foam of triple currents; + Made the straps of steel and copper, + Straightway went the bear to muzzle, + In the forests of the Death-land, + Spake these words in supplication: + "Terhenetar, ether-maiden, + Daughter of the fog and snow-flake, + Sift the fog and let it settle + O'er the bills and lowland thickets, + Where the wild-bear feeds and lingers, + That he may not see my coming, + May not hear my stealthy footsteps!" + Terhenetar hears his praying, + Makes the fog and snow-flake settle + On the coverts of the wild-beasts; + Thus the bear he safely bridles, + Fetters him in chains of magic, + In the forests of Tuoni, + In the blue groves of Manala. + When this task had been completed, + Ilmarinen, quick returning, + Thus addressed the ancient Louhi: + "Give me, worthy dame, thy daughter, + Give me now my bride affianced, + I have brought the bear of Mana + From Tuoni's fields and forests." + Spake the hostess of Pohyola + To the blacksmith, Ilmarinen: + "I will only give my daughter, + Give to thee the Maid of Beauty, + When the monster-pike thou catchest + In the river of Tuoni, + In Manala's fatal waters, + Using neither hooks, nor fish-nets, + Neither boat, nor fishing-tackle; + Hundreds have been sent to catch him, + No one yet has been successful, + All have perished in Manala." + Much disheartened, Ilmarinen + Hastened to the maiden's chamber, + Thus addressed the rainbow-maiden: + "Now a third test is demanded, + Much more difficult than ever; + I must catch the pike of Mana, + In the river of Tuoni, + And without my fishing-tackle, + Hard the third test of the hero! + This advice the maiden gives him: + "O thou hero, Ilmarinen, + Never, never be discouraged: + In thy furnace, forge an eagle, + From the fire of ancient magic; + He will catch the pike of Mana, + Catch the monster-fish in safety, + From the death-stream of Tuoni, + From Manala's fatal waters." + Then the suitor, Ilmarinen, + The eternal artist-forgeman, + In the furnace forged an eagle + From the fire of ancient wisdom; + For this giant bird of magic + Forged he talons out of iron, + And his beak of steel and copper; + Seats himself upon the eagle, + On his back between the wing-bones, + Thus addresses he his creature, + Gives the bird of fire, this order: + "Mighty eagle, bird of beauty, + Fly thou whither I direct thee, + To Tuoni's coal-black river, + To the blue deeps of the Death-stream, + Seize the mighty fish of Mana, + Catch for me this water-monster." + Swiftly flies the magic eagle, + Giant-bird of worth and wonder, + To the river of Tuoni, + There to catch the pike of Mana; + One wing brushes on the waters, + While the other sweeps the heavens; + In the ocean dips his talons, + Whets his beak on mountain-ledges. + Safely landing, Ilmarinen, + The immortal artist-forger, + Hunts the monster of the Death-stream, + While the eagle hunts and fishes + In the waters of Manala. + From the river rose a monster, + Grasped the blacksmith, Ilmarinen, + Tried to drag him to his sea-cave; + Quick the eagle pounced upon him, + With his metal-beak he seized him, + Wrenched his head, and rent his body, + Hurled him back upon the bottom + Of the deep and fatal river, + Freed his master, Ilmarinen. + Then arose the pike of Mana, + Came the water-dog in silence, + Of the pikes was not the largest, + Nor belonged he to the smallest; + Tongue the length of double hatchets, + Teeth as long as fen-rake handles, + Mouth as broad as triple streamlets, + Back as wide as seven sea-boats, + Tried to snap the magic blacksmith, + Tried to swallow Ilmarinen. + Swiftly swoops the mighty eagle, + Of the birds was not the largest, + Nor belonged he to the smallest; + Mouth as wide as seven streamlets, + Tongue as long as seven javelins, + Like five crooked scythes his talons; + Swoops upon the pike of Mana. + Quick the giant fish endangered, + Darts and flounders in the river, + Dragging down the mighty eagle, + Lashing up the very bottom + To the surface of the river; + When the mighty bird uprising + Leaves the wounded pike in water, + Soars aloft on worsted pinions + To his home in upper ether; + Soars awhile, and sails, and circles, + Circles o'er the reddened waters, + Swoops again on lightning-pinions, + Strikes with mighty force his talons + Into the shoulder of his victim; + Strikes the second of his talons + On the flinty mountain-ledges, + On the rocks with iron hardened; + From the cliffs rebound his talons, + Slip the flinty rocks o'erhanging, + And the monster-pike resisting + Dives again beneath the surface + To the bottom of the river, + From the talons of the eagle; + Deep, the wounds upon the body + Of the monster of Tuoni. + Still a third time soars the eagle, + Soars, and sails, and quickly circles, + Swoops again upon the monster, + Fire out-shooting from his pinoins, + Both his eyeballs flashing lightning; + With his beak of steel and copper + Grasps again the pike of Mana + Firmly planted are his talons + In the rocks and in his victim, + Drags the monster from the river, + Lifts the pike above the waters, + From Tuoni's coal-black river, + From the blue-back of Manala. + Thus the third time does the eagle + Bring success from former failures; + Thus at last the eagle catches + Mana's pike, the worst of fishes, + Swiftest swimmer of the waters, + From the river of Tuoni; + None could see Manala's river, + For the myriad of fish-scales; + Hardly could one see through ether, + For the feathers of the eagle, + Relicts of the mighty contest. + Then the bird of copper talons + Took the pike, with scales of silver, + To the pine-tree's topmost branches, + To the fir-tree plumed with needles, + Tore the monster-fish in pieces, + Ate the body of his victim, + Left the head for Ilmarinen. + Spake the blacksmith to the eagle: + "O thou bird of evil nature, + What thy thought and what thy motive? + Thou hast eaten what I needed, + Evidence of my successes; + Thoughtless eagle, witless instinct, + Thus to mar the spoils of conquest!" + But the bird of metal talons + Hastened onward, soaring upward, + Rising higher into ether, + Rising, flying, soaring, sailing, + To the borders of the long-clouds, + Made the vault of ether tremble, + Split apart the dome of heaven, + Broke the colored bow of Ukko, + Tore the Moon-horns from their sockets, + Disappeared beyond the Sun-land, + To the home of the triumphant. + Then the blacksmith, Ilmarinen, + Took the pike-head to the hostess + Of the ever-dismal Northland, + Thus addressed the ancient Louhi: + "Let this head forever serve thee + As a guest-bench for thy dwelling, + Evidence of hero-triumphs; + I have caught the pike of Mana, + I have done as thou demandest, + Three my victories in Death-land, + Three the tests of magic heroes; + Wilt thou give me now thy daughter, + Give to me the Maid of Beauty?" + Spake the hostess of Pohyola: + "Badly is the test accomplished, + Thou has torn the pike in pieces, + From his neck the head is severed, + Of his body thou hast eaten, + Brought to me this worthless relic! + These the words of Ilmarinen: + "When the victory is greatest, + Do we suffer greatest losses! + From the river of Tuoni, + From the kingdom of Manala, + I have brought to thee this trophy, + Thus the third task is completed. + Tell me is the maiden ready, + Wilt thou give the bride affianced? + Spake the hostess of Pohyola: + "I will give to thee my daughter, + Will prepare my snow-white virgin, + For the suitor, Ilmarinen; + Thou hast won the Maid of Beauty, + Bride is she of thine hereafter, + Fit companion of thy fireside, + Help and joy of all thy lifetime." + On the floor a child was sitting, + And the babe this tale related. + "There appeared within this dwelling, + Came a bird within the castle, + From the East came flying hither, + From the East, a monstrous eagle, + One wing touched the vault of heaven, + While the other swept the ocean; + With his tail upon the waters, + Reached his beak beyond the cloudlets, + Looked about, and eager watching, + Flew around, and sailing, soaring, + Flew away to hero-castle, + Knocked three times with beak of copper + On the castle-roof of iron; + But the eagle could not enter. + "Then the eagle, looking round him, + Flew again, and sailed, and circled, + Flew then to the mothers' castle, + Loudly rapped with heavy knocking + On the mothers' roof of copper; + But the eagle could not enter. + "Then the eagle, looking round him, + Flew a third time, sailing, soaring, + Flew then to the virgins' castle, + Knocked again with beak of copper, + On the virgins' roof of linen, + Easy for him there to enter; + Flew upon the castle-chimney, + Quick descending to the chamber, + Pulled the clapboards from the studding, + Tore the linen from the rafters, + Perched upon the chamber-window, + Near the walls of many colors, + On the cross-bars gaily-feathered, + Looked upon the curly-beaded, + Looked upon their golden ringlets, + Looked upon the snow-white virgins, + On the purest of the maidens, + On the fairest of the daughters, + On the maid with pearly necklace, + On the maiden wreathed in flowers; + Perched awhile, and looked, admiring, + Swooped upon the Maid of Beauty, + On the purest of the virgins, + On the whitest, on the fairest, + On the stateliest and grandest, + Swooped upon the rainbow-daughter + Of the dismal Sariola; + Grasped her in his mighty talons, + Bore away the Maid of Beauty, + Maid of fairest form and feature, + Maid adorned with pearly necklace, + Decked in feathers iridescent, + Fragrant flowers upon her bosom, + Scarlet band around her forehead, + Golden rings upon her fingers, + Fairest maiden of the Northland." + Spake the hostess of Pohyola, + When the babe his tale had ended: + "Tell me bow, my child beloved, + Thou hast learned about the maiden, + Hast obtained the information, + How her flaxen ringlets nestled, + How the maiden's silver glistened, + How the virgin's gold was lauded. + Shone the silver Sun upon thee, + Did the moonbeams bring this knowledge?" + From the floor the child made answer: + "Thus I gained the information, + Moles of good-luck led me hither, + To the home, of the distinguished, + To the guest-room of the maiden, + Good-name bore her worthy father, + He that sailed the magic vessel; + Better-name enjoyed the mother, + She that baked the bread of barley, + She that kneaded wheaten biscuits, + Fed her many guests in Northland. + "Thus the information reached me, + Thus the distant stranger heard it, + Heard the virgin had arisen: + Once I walked within the court-yard, + Stepping near the virgin's chamber, + At an early hour of morning, + Ere the Sun had broken slumber + Whirling rose the soot in cloudlets, + Blackened wreaths of smoke came rising + From the chamber of the maiden, + From thy daughter's lofty chimney; + There the maid was busy grinding, + Moved the handles of the millstone + Making voices like the cuckoo, + Like the ducks the side-holes sounded, + And the sifter like the goldfinch, + Like the sea-pearls sang the grindstones. + "Then a second time I wandered + To the border of the meadow + In the forest was the maiden + Rocking on a fragrant hillock, + Dyeing red in iron vessels, + And in copper kettles, yellow. + "Then a third time did I wander + To the lovely maiden's window; + There I saw thy daughter weaving, + Heard the flying of her shuttle, + Heard the beating of her loom-lathe, + Heard the rattling of her treddles, + Heard the whirring of her yarn-reel." + Spake the hostess of Pohyola: + "Now alas! beloved daughter, + I have often taught this lesson: + 'Do not sing among the pine-trees, + Do not call adown the valleys, + Do not hang thy head in walking, + Do not bare thine arms, nor shoulders, + Keep the secrets of thy bosom, + Hide thy beauty and thy power.' + "This I told thee in the autumn, + Taught thee in the summer season, + Sang thee in the budding spring-time, + Sang thee when the snows were falling: + 'Let us build a place for hiding, + Let us build the smallest windows, + Where may weave my fairest daughter, + Where my maid may ply her shuttle, + Where my joy may work unnoticed + By the heroes of the Northland, + By the suitors of Wainola.'" + From the floor the child made answer, + Fourteen days the young child numbered; + "Easy 'tis to hide a war-horse + In the Northland fields and stables; + Hard indeed to hide a maiden, + Having lovely form and features! + Build of stone a distant castle + In the middle of the ocean, + Keep within thy lovely maiden, + Train thou there thy winsome daughter, + Not long hidden canst thou keep her. + Maidens will not grow and flourish, + Kept apart from men and heroes, + Will not live without their suitors, + Will not thrive without their wooers; + Thou canst never hide a maiden, + Neither on the land nor water." + Now the ancient Wainamoinen, + Head down-bent and heavy-hearted, + Wanders to his native country, + To Wainola's peaceful meadows, + To the plains of Kalevala, + Chanting as he journeys homeward: + "I have passed the age for wooing, + Woe is me, rejected suitor, + Woe is me, a witless minstrel, + That I did not woo and marry, + When my face was young and winsome, + When my hand was warm and welcome! + Youth dethrones my age and station, + Wealth is nothing, wisdom worthless, + When a hero goes a-wooing + With a poor but younger brother. + Fatal error that a hero + Does not wed in early manhood, + In his youth does not be master + Of a worthy wife and household." + Thus the ancient Wainamoinen + Sends the edict to his people: + "Old men must not go a-wooing, + Must not swim the sea of anger, + Must not row upon a wager, + Must not run a race for glory, + With the younger sons of Northland." + + + + +RUNE XX. + + + + THE BREWING OF BEER. + + + Now we sing the wondrous legends, + Songs of wedding-feasts and dances, + Sing the melodies of wedlock, + Sing the songs of old tradition; + Sing of Ilmarinen's marriage + To the Maiden of the Rainbow, + Fairest daughter of the Northland, + Sing the drinking-songs of Pohya. + Long prepared they for the wedding + In Pohyola's halls and chambers, + In the courts of Sariola; + Many things that Louhi ordered, + Great indeed the preparations + For the marriage of the daughter, + For the feasting of the heroes, + For the drinking of the strangers, + For the feeding of the poor-folk, + For the people's entertainment. + Grew an ox in far Karjala, + Not the largest, nor the smallest, + Was the ox that grew in Suomi; + But his size was all-sufficient, + For his tail was sweeping Jamen, + And his head was over Kemi, + Horns in length a hundred fathoms, + Longer than the horns his mouth was; + Seven days it took a weasel + To encircle neck and shoulders; + One whole day a swallow journeyed + From one horn-tip to the other, + Did not stop between for resting. + Thirty days the squirrel travelled + From the tail to reach the shoulders, + But he could not gain the horn-tip + Till the Moon had long passed over. + This young ox of huge dimensions, + This great calf of distant Suomi, + Was conducted from Karjala + To the meadows of Pohyola; + At each horn a hundred heroes, + At his head and neck a thousand. + When the mighty ox was lassoed, + Led away to Northland pastures, + Peacefully the monster journeyed + By the bays of Sariola, + Ate the pasture on the borders; + To the clouds arose his shoulders, + And his horns to highest heaven. + Not in all of Sariola + Could a butcher be discovered + That could kill the ox for Louhi, + None of all the sons of Northland, + In her hosts of giant people, + In her rising generation, + In the hosts of those grown older. + Came a hero from a distance, + Wirokannas from Karelen, + And these words the gray-beard uttered: + "Wait, O wait, thou ox of Suomi, + Till I bring my ancient war-club; + Then I'll smite thee on thy forehead, + Break thy skull, thou willing victim! + Nevermore wilt thou in summer + Browse the woods of Sariola, + Bare our pastures, fields, and forests; + Thou, O ox, wilt feed no longer + Through the length and breadth of Northland, + On the borders of this ocean!" + When the ancient Wirokannas + Started out the ox to slaughter, + When Palwoinen swung his war-club, + Quick the victim turned his forehead, + Flashed his flaming eyes upon him; + To the fir-tree leaped the hero, + In the thicket hid Palwoinen, + Hid the gray-haired Wirokannas. + Everywhere they seek a butcher, + One to kill the ox of Suomi, + In the country of Karelen, + And among the Suomi-giants, + In the quiet fields of Ehstland, + On the battle-fields of Sweden, + Mid the mountaineers of Lapland, + In the magic fens of Turya; + Seek him in Tuoni's empire, + In the death-courts of Manala. + Long the search, and unsuccessful, + On the blue back of the ocean, + On the far-outstretching pastures. + There arose from out the sea-waves, + Rose a hero from the waters, + On the white-capped, roaring breakers, + From the water's broad expanses; + Nor belonged he to the largest, + Nor belonged he to the smallest; + Made his bed within a sea-shell, + Stood erect beneath a flour-sieve, + Hero old, with hands of iron, + And his face was copper-colored; + Quick the hero full unfolded, + Like the full corn from the kernel. + On his head a hat of flint-stone, + On his feet were sandstone-sandals, + In his hand a golden cleaver, + And the blade was copper-handled. + Thus at last they found a butcher, + Found the magic ox a slayer. + Nothing has been found so mighty + That it has not found a master. + As the sea-god saw his booty, + Quickly rushed he on his victim, + Hurled him to his knees before him, + Quickly felled the calf of Suomi, + Felled the young ox of Karelen. + Bountifully meat was furnished; + Filled at least a thousand hogsheads + Of his blood were seven boatfuls, + And a thousand weight of suet, + For the banquet of Pohyola, + For the marriage-feast of Northland. + In Pohyola was a guest-room, + Ample was the hall of Louhi, + Was in length a hundred furlongs, + And in breadth was nearly fifty; + When upon the roof a rooster + Crowed at break of early morning, + No one on the earth could hear him; + When the dog barked at one entrance, + None could hear him at the other. + Louhi, hostess of Pohyola, + Hastens to the hall and court-room, + In the centre speaks as follows: + "Whence indeed will come the liquor, + Who will brew me beer from barley, + Who will make the mead abundant, + For the people of the Northland, + Coming to my daughter's marriage, + To her drinking-feast and nuptials? + Cannot comprehend the malting, + Never have I learned the secret, + Nor the origin of brewing." + Spake an old man from his corner: + "Beer arises from the barley, + Comes from barley, hops, and water, + And the fire gives no assistance. + Hop-vine was the son of Remu, + Small the seed in earth was planted, + Cultivated in the loose soil, + Scattered like the evil serpents + On the brink of Kalew-waters, + On the Osmo-fields and borders. + There the young plant grew and flourished, + There arose the climbing hop-vine, + Clinging to the rocks and alders. + "Man of good-luck sowed the barley + On the Osmo hills and lowlands, + And the barley grew and flourished, + Grew and spread in rich abundance, + Fed upon the air and water, + On the Osmo plains and highlands, + On the fields of Kalew-heroes. + "Time had travelled little distance, + Ere the hops in trees were humming, + Barley in the fields was singing, + And from Kalew's well the water, + This the language of the trio: + 'Let us join our triple forces, + Join to each the other's powers; + Sad alone to live and struggle, + Little use in working singly, + Better we should toil together.' + "Osmotar, the beer-preparer, + Brewer of the drink refreshing, + Takes the golden grains of barley, + Taking six of barley-kernels, + Taking seven tips of hop-fruit, + Filling seven cups with water, + On the fire she sets the caldron, + Boils the barley, hops, and water, + Lets them steep, and seethe, and bubble + Brewing thus the beer delicious, + In the hottest days of summer, + On the foggy promontory, + On the island forest-covered; + Poured it into birch-wood barrels, + Into hogsheads made of oak-wood. + "Thus did Osmotar of Kalew + Brew together hops and barley, + Could not generate the ferment. + Thinking long and long debating, + Thus she spake in troubled accents: + 'What will bring the effervescence, + Who will add the needed factor, + That the beer may foam and sparkle, + May ferment and be delightful?' + Kalevatar, magic maiden, + Grace and beauty in her fingers, + Swiftly moving, lightly stepping, + In her trimly-buckled sandals, + Steps upon the birch-wood bottom, + Turns one way, and then another, + In the centre of the caldron; + Finds within a splinter lying + From the bottom lifts the fragment, + Turns it in her fingers, musing: + 'What may come of this I know not, + In the hands of magic maidens, + In the virgin hands of Kapo, + Snowy virgin of the Northland!' + "Kalevatar took the splinter + To the magic virgin, Kapo, + Who by unknown force and insight. + Rubbed her hands and knees together, + And produced a snow-white squirrel; + Thus instructed she her creature, + Gave the squirrel these directions: + 'Snow-white squirrel, mountain-jewel, + Flower of the field and forest, + Haste thee whither I would send thee, + Into Metsola's wide limits, + Into Tapio's seat of wisdom; + Hasten through the heavy tree-tops, + Wisely through the thickest branches, + That the eagle may not seize thee, + Thus escape the bird of heaven. + Bring me ripe cones from the fir-tree, + From the pine-tree bring me seedlings, + Bring them to the hands of Kapo, + For the beer of Osmo's daughter.' + Quickly hastened forth the squirrel, + Quickly sped the nimble broad-tail, + Swiftly hopping on its journey + From one thicket to another, + From the birch-tree to the aspen, + From the pine-tree to the willow, + From the sorb-tree to the alder, + Jumping here and there with method, + Crossed the eagle-woods in safety, + Into Metsola's wide limits, + Into Tapio's seat of wisdom; + There perceived three magic pine-trees, + There perceived three smaller fir-trees, + Quickly climbed the dark-green branches, + Was not captured by the eagle, + Was not mangled in his talons; + Broke the young cones from the fir-tree, + Cut the shoots of pine-tree branches, + Hid the cones within his pouches, + Wrapped them in his fur-grown mittens + Brought them to the hands of Kapo, + To the magic virgin's fingers. + Kapo took the cones selected, + Laid them in the beer for ferment, + But it brought no effervescence, + And the beer was cold and lifeless. + "Osmotar, the beer-preparer, + Kapo, brewer of the liquor, + Deeply thought and long considered: + 'What will bring the effervescence, + Who will lend me aid efficient, + That the beer may foam and sparkle, + May ferment and be refreshing?' + "Kalevatar, sparkling maiden, + Grace and beauty in her fingers, + Softly moving, lightly stepping, + In her trimly-buckled sandals, + Steps again upon the bottom, + Turns one way and then another, + In the centre of the caldron, + Sees a chip upon the bottom, + Takes it from its place of resting, + Looks upon the chip and muses + 'What may come of this I know not, + In the hands of mystic maidens, + In the hands of magic Kapo, + In the virgin's snow-white fingers.' + "Kalevatar took the birch-chip + To the magic maiden, Kapo, + Gave it to the white-faced maiden. + Kapo, by the aid of magic, + Rubbed her hands and knees together, + And produced a magic marten, + And the marten, golden-breasted; + Thus instructed she her creature, + Gave the marten these directions. + 'Thou, my golden-breasted marten, + Thou my son of golden color, + Haste thou whither I may send thee, + To the bear-dens of the mountain, + To the grottoes of the growler, + Gather yeast upon thy fingers, + Gather foam from lips of anger, + From the lips of bears in battle, + Bring it to the hands of Kapo, + To the hands of Osmo's daughter.' + "Then the marten golden-breasted, + Full consenting, hastened onward, + Quickly bounding on his journey, + Lightly leaping through the distance + Leaping o'er the widest rivers, + Leaping over rocky fissures, + To the bear-dens of the mountain, + To the grottoes of the growler, + Where the wild-bears fight each other, + Where they pass a dread existence, + Iron rocks, their softest pillows, + In the fastnesses of mountains; + From their lips the foam was dripping, + From their tongues the froth of anger; + This the marten deftly gathered, + Brought it to the maiden, Kapo, + Laid it in her dainty fingers. + "Osmotar, the beer-preparer, + Brewer of the beer of barley, + Used the beer-foam as a ferment; + But it brought no effervescence, + Did not make the liquor sparkle. + "Osmotar, the beer-preparer, + Thought again, and long debated: + 'Who or what will bring the ferment, + Th at my beer may not be lifeless?' + "Kalevatar, magic maiden, + Grace and beauty in her fingers, + Softly moving, lightly stepping, + In her trimly-buckled sandals, + Steps again upon the bottom, + Turns one way and then another, + In the centre of the caldron, + Sees a pod upon the bottom, + Lifts it in her snow-white fingers, + Turns it o'er and o'er, and muses: + 'What may come of this I know not, + In the hands of magic maidens, + In the hands of mystic Kapo, + In the snowy virgin's fingers?' + "Kalevatar, sparkling maiden, + Gave the pod to magic Kapo; + Kapo, by the aid of magic, + Rubbed the pod upon her knee-cap, + And a honey-bee came flying + From the pod within her fingers, + Kapo thus addressed her birdling: + 'Little bee with honeyed winglets, + King of all the fragrant flowers, + Fly thou whither I direct thee, + To the islands in the ocean, + To the water-cliffs and grottoes, + Where asleep a maid has fallen, + Girdled with a belt of copper + By her side are honey-grasses, + By her lips are fragrant flowers, + Herbs and flowers honey-laden; + Gather there the sweetened juices, + Gather honey on thy winglets, + From the calyces of flowers, + From the tips of seven petals, + Bring it to the hands of Kapo, + To the hands of Osmo's daughter.' + "Then the bee, the swift-winged birdling, + Flew away with lightning-swiftness + On his journey to the islands, + O'er the high waves of the ocean; + Journeyed one day, then a second, + Journeyed all the next day onward, + Till the third day evening brought him + To the islands in the ocean, + To the water-cliffs and grottoes; + Found the maiden sweetly sleeping, + In her silver-tinselled raiment, + Girdled with a belt of copper, + In a nameless meadow, sleeping, + In the honey-fields of magic; + By her side were honeyed grasses, + By her lips were fragrant flowers, + Silver stalks with golden petals; + Dipped its winglets in the honey, + Dipped its fingers in the juices + Of the sweetest of the flowers, + Brought the honey back to Kapo, + To the mystic maiden's fingers. + "Osmotar, the beer-preparer, + Placed the honey in the liquor; + Kapo mixed the beer and honey, + And the wedding-beer fermented; + Rose the live beer upward, upward, + From the bottom of the vessels, + Upward in the tubs of birch-wood, + Foaming higher, higher, higher, + Till it touched the oaken handles, + Overflowing all the caldrons; + To the ground it foamed and sparkled, + Sank away in sand and gravel. + "Time had gone but little distance, + Scarce a moment had passed over, + Ere the heroes came in numbers + To the foaming beer of Northland, + Rushed to drink the sparkling liquor. + Ere all others Lemminkainen + Drank, and grew intoxicated + On the beer of Osmo's daughter, + On the honey-drink of Kalew. + "Osmotar, the beer-preparer, + Kapo, brewer of the barley, + Spake these words in saddened accents: + 'Woe is me, my life hard-fated, + Badly have I brewed the liquor, + Have not brewed the beer in wisdom, + Will not live within its vessels, + Overflows and fills Pohyola!' + "From a tree-top sings the redbreast, + From the aspen calls the robin: + 'Do not grieve, thy beer is worthy, + Put it into oaken vessels, + Into strong and willing barrels + Firmly bound with hoops of copper.' + "Thus was brewed the beer or Northland, + At the hands of Osmo's daughter; + This the origin of brewing + Beer from Kalew-hops and barley; + Great indeed the reputation + Of the ancient beer of Kalew, + Said to make the feeble hardy, + Famed to dry the tears of women, + Famed to cheer the broken-hearted, + Make the aged young and supple, + Make the timid brave and mighty, + Make the brave men ever braver, + Fill the heart with joy and gladness, + Fill the mind with wisdom-sayings, + Fill the tongue with ancient legends, + Only makes the fool more foolish." + When the hostess of Pohyola + Heard how beer was first fermented, + Heard the origin of brewing, + Straightway did she fill with water + Many oaken tubs and barrels; + Filled but half the largest vessels, + Mixed the barley with the water, + Added also hops abundant; + Well she mixed the triple forces + In her tubs of oak and birch-wood, + Heated stones for months succeeding, + Thus to boil the magic mixture, + Steeped it through the days of summer, + Burned the wood of many forests, + Emptied all the, springs of Pohya; + Daily did the, forests lesson, + And the wells gave up their waters, + Thus to aid the hostess, Louhi, + In the brewing of the liquors, + From the water, hops, and barley, + And from honey of the islands, + For the wedding-feast of Northland, + For Pohyola's great carousal + And rejoicings at the marriage + Of the Malden of the Rainbow + To the blacksmith, Ilmarinen, + Metal-worker of Wainola. + Smoke is seen upon the island, + Fire, upon the promontory, + Black smoke rising to the heavens + From the fire upon the island; + Fills with clouds the half of Pohya, + Fills Karelen's many hamlets; + All the people look and wonder, + This the chorus of the women: + "Whence are rising all these smoke-clouds, + Why this dreadful fire in Northland? + Is not like the smoke of camp-fires, + Is too large for fires of shepherds!" + Lemminkainen's ancient mother + Journeyed in the early morning + For some water to the fountain, + Saw the smoke arise to heaven, + In the region of Pohyola, + These the words the mother uttered: + "'Tis the smoke of battle-heroes, + From the beat of warring armies!" + Even Ahti, island-hero, + Ancient wizard, Lemminkainen, + Also known as Kaukomieli, + Looked upon the scene in wonder, + Thought awhile and spake as follows: + "I would like to see this nearer, + Learn the cause of all this trouble, + Whence this smoke and great confusion, + Whether smoke from heat of battle, + Or the bonfires of the shepherds." + Kaukomieli gazed and pondered, + Studied long the rising smoke-clouds; + Came not from the heat of battle, + Came not from the shepherd bonfires; + Heard they were the fires of Louhi + Brewing beer in Sariola, + On Pohyola's promontory; + Long and oft looked Lemminkainen, + Strained in eagerness his vision, + Stared, and peered, and thought, and wondered, + Looked abashed and envy-swollen, + "O beloved, second mother, + Northland's well-intentioned hostess, + Brew thy beer of honey-flavor, + Make thy liquors foam and sparkle, + For thy many friends invited, + Brew it well for Lemminkainen, + For his marriage in Pohyola + With the Maiden of the Rainbow." + Finally the beer was ready, + Beverage of noble heroes, + Stored away in casks and barrels, + There to rest awhile in silence, + In the cellars of the Northland, + In the copper-banded vessels, + In the magic oaken hogsheads, + Plugs and faucets made of copper. + Then the hostess of Pohyola + Skilfully prepared the dishes, + Laid them all with careful fingers + In the boiling-pans and kettles, + Ordered countless loaves of barley, + Ordered many liquid dishes, + All the delicacies of Northland, + For the feasting of her people, + For their richest entertainment, + For the nuptial songs and dances, + At the marriage of her daughter + With the blacksmith, Ilmarinen. + When the loaves were baked and ready. + When the dishes all were seasoned, + Time had gone but little distance, + Scarce a moment had passed over, + Ere the beer, in casks imprisoned, + Loudly rapped, and sang, and murmured: + "Come, ye heroes, come and take me, + Come and let me cheer your spirits, + Make you sing the songs of wisdom, + That with honor ye may praise me, + Sing the songs of beer immortal!" + Straightway Louhi sought a minstrel, + Magic bard and artist-singer, + That the beer might well be lauded, + Might be praised in song and honor. + First as bard they brought a salmon, + Also brought a pike from ocean, + But the salmon had no talent, + And the pike had little wisdom; + Teeth of pike and gills of salmon + Were not made for singing legends. + Then again they sought a singer, + Magic minstrel, beer-enchanter, + Thus to praise the drink of heroes, + Sing the songs of joy and gladness; + And a boy was brought for singing; + But the boy had little knowledge, + Could not praise the beer in honor; + Children's tongues are filled with questions, + Children cannot speak in wisdom, + Cannot sing the ancient legends. + Stronger grew the beer imprisoned + In the copper-banded vessels, + Locked behind the copper faucets, + Boiled, and foamed, and sang, and murmured: + "If ye do not bring a singer, + That will sing my worth immortal, + That will sing my praise deserving, + I will burst these bands of copper, + Burst the heads of all these barrels; + Will not serve the best of heroes + Till he sings my many virtues." + Louhi, hostess of Pohyola, + Called a trusted maiden-servant, + Sent her to invite the people + To the marriage of her daughter, + These the words that Louhi uttered: + "O my trusted, truthful maiden, + Servant-maid to me belonging, + Call together all my people, + Call the heroes to my banquet, + Ask the rich, and ask the needy, + Ask the blind and deaf, and crippled, + Ask the young, and ask the aged; + Go thou to the hills, and hedges, + To the highways, and the by-ways, + Urge them to my daughter's wedding; + Bring the blind, and sorely troubled, + In my boats upon the waters, + In my sledges bring the halting, + With the old, and sick, and needy; + Ask the whole of Sariola, + Ask the people of Karelen, + Ask the ancient Wainamoinen, + Famous bard and wisdom-singer; + But I give command explicit + Not to ask wild Lemminkainen, + Not the island-dweller, Ahti!" + This the question of the servant: + "Why not ask wild Lemminkainen, + Ancient islander and minstrel?" + Louhi gave this simple answer: + "Good the reasons that I give thee + Why the wizard, Lemminkainen, + Must not have an invitation + To my daughter's feast and marriage + Ahti courts the heat of battle, + Lemminkainen fosters trouble, + Skilful fighter of the virtues; + Evil thinking, acting evil, + He would bring but pain and sorrow, + He would jest and jeer at maidens + In their trimly buckled raiment, + Cannot ask the evil-minded!" + Thus again the servant questions: + "Tell me how to know this Ahti, + Also known as Lemminkainen, + That I may not ask him hither; + Do not know the isle of Ahti, + Nor the home of Kaukomieli + Spake the hostess of Pohyola: + "Easy 'tis to know the wizard, + Easy find the Ahti-dwelling: + Ahti lives on yonder island, + On that point dwells Lemminkainen, + In his mansion near the water, + Far at sea his home and dwelling." + Thereupon the trusted maiden + Spread the wedding-invitations + To the people of Pohyola, + To the tribes of Kalevala; + Asked the friendless, asked the homeless + Asked the laborers and shepherds, + Asked the fishermen and hunters, + Asked the deaf, the dumb, the crippled, + Asked the young, and asked the aged, + Asked the rich, and asked the needy; + Did not give an invitation + To the reckless Lemminkainen, + Island-dweller of the ocean. + + + + +RUNE XXI. + + + + ILMARINEN'S WEDDING-FEAST. + + + Louhi, hostess of the Northland, + Ancient dame of Sariola, + While at work within her dwelling, + Heard the whips crack on the fenlands, + Heard the rattle of the sledges; + To the northward turned her glances, + Turned her vision to the sunlight, + And her thoughts ran on as follow: + "Who are these in bright apparel, + On the banks of Pohya-waters, + Are they friends or hostile armies?" + Then the hostess of the Northland + Looked again and well considered, + Drew much nearer to examine, + Found they were not hostile armies, + Found that they were friends and suitors. + In the midst was Ilmarinen, + Son-in-law to ancient Louhi. + When the hostess of Pohyola + Saw the son-in-law approaching + She addressed the words that follow: + "I had thought the winds were raging, + That the piles of wood were falling, + Thought the pebbles in commotion, + Or perchance the ocean roaring; + Then I hastened nearer, nearer, + Drew still nearer and examined, + Found the winds were not in battle, + Found the piles of wood unshaken, + Found the ocean was not roaring, + Nor the pebbles in commotion, + Found my son-in-law was coming + With his heroes and attendants, + Heroes counted by the hundreds. + "Should you ask of me the question, + How I recognized the bridegroom + Mid the hosts of men and heroes, + I should answer, I should tell you: + 'As the hazel-bush in copses, + As the oak-tree in the forest, + As the Moon among the planets; + Drives the groom a coal-black courser, + Running like the famished black-dog, + Flying like the hungry raven, + Graceful as the lark at morning, + Golden cuckoos, six in number, + Twitter on the birchen cross-bow; + There are seven bluebirds singing + On the racer's hame and collar." + Noises hear they in the court-yard, + On the highway hear the sledges, + To the court comes Ilmarinen, + With his body-guard of heroes; + In the midst the chosen suitor, + Not too far in front of others, + Not too far behind his fellows. + Spake the hostess of Pohyola: + "Hie ye hither, men and heroes, + Haste, ye watchers, to the stables, + There unhitch the suitor's stallion, + Lower well the racer's breast-plate, + There undo the straps and buckles, + Loosen well the shafts and traces, + And conduct the suitor hither, + Give my son-in-law good welcome!" + Ilmarinen turned his racer + Into Louhi's yard and stables, + And descended from his snow-sledge. + Spake the hostess of Pohyola: + "Come, thou servant of my bidding, + Best of all my trusted servants, + Take at once the bridegroom's courser + From the shafts adorned with silver, + From the curving arch of willow, + Lift the harness trimmed in copper, + Tie the white-face to the manger, + Treat the suitor's steed with kindness, + Lead him carefully to shelter + By his soft and shining bridle, + By his halter tipped with silver; + Let him roll among the sand-hills, + On the bottoms soft and even, + On the borders of the snow-banks, + In the fields of milky color. + "Lead the hero's steed to water, + Lead him to the Pohya-fountains, + Where the living streams are flowing, + Sweet as milk of human kindness, + From the roots of silvery birches, + Underneath the shade of aspens. + "Feed the courser of the suitor, + On the sweetest corn and barley, + On the summer-wheat and clover, + In the caldron steeped in sweetness; + Feed him at the golden manger, + In the boxes lined with copper, + At my manger richly furnished, + In the warmest of the stables; + Tie him with a silk-like halter, + To the golden rings and staples, + To the hooks of purest silver, + Set in beams of birch and oak-wood; + Feed him on the hay the sweetest, + Feed him on the corn nutritious, + Give the best my barns can furnish. + "Curry well the suitor's courser + With the curry-comb of fish-bone, + Brush his hair with silken brushes, + Put his mane and tail in order, + Cover well with flannel blankets, + Blankets wrought in gold and silver, + Buckles forged from shining copper. + "Come, ye small lads of the village, + Lead the suitor to my chambers, + With your auburn locks uncovered, + From your hands remove your mittens, + See if ye can lead the hero + Through the door without his stooping, + Lifting not the upper cross-bar, + Lowering not the oaken threshold, + Moving not the birchen casings, + Great the hero who must enter. + "Ilmarinen is too stately, + Cannot enter through the portals, + Not the son-in-law and bridegroom, + Till the portals have been heightened; + Taller by a head the suitor + Than the door-ways of the mansion." + Quick the servants of Pohyola + Tore away the upper cross-bar, + That his cap might not be lifted; + Made the oaken threshold lower + That the hero might not stumble; + Made the birch-wood portals wider, + Opened full the door of welcome, + Easy entrance for the suitor. + Speaks the hostess of the Northland + As the bridegroom freely passes + Through the doorway of her dwelling: + "Thanks are due to thee, O Ukko, + That my son-in-law has entered! + Let me now my halls examine; + Make the bridal chambers ready, + Finest linen on my tables, + Softest furs upon my benches, + Birchen flooring scrubbed to whiteness, + All my rooms in perfect order." + Then the hostess of Pohyola + Visited her spacious dwelling, + Did not recognize her chambers; + Every room had been remodeled, + Changed by force of mighty magic; + All the halls were newly burnished, + Hedge-hog bones were used for ceilings, + Bones of reindeer for foundations, + Bones of wolverine for door-sills, + For the cross-bars bones of roebuck, + Apple-wood were all the rafters, + Alder-wood, the window-casings, + Scales of trout adorned the windows, + And the fires were set in flowers. + All the seats were made of silver, + All the floors of copper-tiling, + Gold-adorned were all the tables, + On the floor were silken mattings, + Every fire-place set in copper, + Every hearth-stone cut from marble, + On each shelf were colored sea-shells, + Kalew's tree was their protection. + To the court-room came the hero, + Chosen suitor from Wainola, + These the words of Ilmarinen: + "Send, O Ukko, health and pleasure + To this ancient home and dwelling, + To this mansion richly fashioned!" + Spake the hostess of Pohyola: + "Let thy coming be auspicious + To these halls of thee unworthy, + To the home of thine affianced, + To this dwelling lowly fashioned, + Mid the lindens and the aspens. + "Come, ye maidens that should serve me, + Come, ye fellows from the village, + Bring me fire upon the birch-bark, + Light the fagots of the fir-tree, + That I may behold the bridegroom, + Chosen suitor of my daughter, + Fairy Maiden of the Rainbow, + See the color of his eyeballs, + Whether they are blue or sable, + See if they are warm and faithful." + Quick the young lads from the village + Brought the fire upon the birch-bark, + Brought it on the tips of pine-wood; + And the fire and smoke commingled + Roll and roar about the hero, + Blackening the suitor's visage, + And the hostess speaks as follows; + "Bring the fire upon a taper, + On the waxen tapers bring it!" + Then the maidens did as bidden, + Quickly brought the lighted tapers, + Made the suitor's eyeballs glisten, + Made his cheeks look fresh and ruddy; + Made his eyes of sable color + Sparkle like the foam of waters, + Like the reed-grass on the margin, + Colored as the ocean jewels, + Iridescent as the rainbow. + "Come, ye fellows of the hamlet, + Lead my son-in-law and hero + To the highest seat at table, + To the seat of greatest honor, + With his back upon the blue-wall, + Looking on my bounteous tables, + Facing all the guests of Northland." + Then the hostess of Pohyola + Served her guests in great abundance, + Richest drinks and rarest viands, + First of all she, served the bridegroom + On his platters, honeyed biscuit, + And the sweetest river salmon, + Seasoned butter, roasted bacon, + All the dainties of Pohyola. + Then the helpers served the others, + Filled the plates of all invited + With the varied food of Northland. + Spake the hostess of Pohyola: + "Come, ye maidens from the village, + Hither bring the beer in pitchers, + In the urns with double handles, + To the many guests in-gathered, + Ere all others, serve the bridegroom." + Thereupon the merry maidens + Brought the beer in silver pitchers + From the copper-banded vessels, + For the wedding-guests assembled; + And the beer, fermenting, sparkled + On the beard of Ilmarinen, + On the beards of many heroes. + When the guests had all partaken + Of the wondrous beer of barley, + Spake the beer in merry accents + Through the tongues of the magicians, + Through the tongue of many a hero, + Through the tongue of Wainamoinen, + Famed to be the sweetest singer + Of the Northland bards and minstrels, + These the words of the enchanter: + "O thou beer of honeyed flavor, + Let us not imbibe in silence, + Let some hero sing thy praises, + Sing thy worth in golden measures; + Let the hostess start the singing, + Let the bridegroom sound thy virtues! + Have our songs thus quickly vanished, + Have our joyful tongues grown silent? + Evil then has been the brewing, + Then the beer must be unworthy, + That it does not cheer the singer, + Does not move the merry minstrel, + That the golden guests are joyless, + And the cuckoo is not singing. + Never will these benches echo + Till the bench-guests chant thy virtues; + Nor the floor resound thy praises + Till the floor-guests sing in concord; + Nor the windows join the chorus + Till the window-guests have spoken; + All the tables will keep silence + Till the heroes toast thy virtues; + Little singing from the chimney + Till the chimney-guests have chanted." + On the floor a child was sitting, + Thus the little boy made answer: + "I am small and young in singing, + Have perchance but little wisdom; + Be that as it may, my seniors, + Since the elder minstrels sing not, + Nor the heroes chant their legends, + Nor the hostess lead the singing, + I will sing my simple stories, + Sing my little store of knowledge, + To the pleasure of the evening, + To the joy of the invited." + Near the fire reclined an old man, + And the gray-beard thus made answer: + "Not the time for children's singing, + Children's wisdom is too ready, + Children's songs are filled with trifles, + Filled with shrewd and vain deceptions, + Maiden-songs are full of follies; + Leave the songs and incantations + To the ancient wizard-singers; + Leave the tales of times primeval + To the minstrel of Wainola, + To the hero of the Northland, + To the, ancient Wainamoinen." + Thereupon Osmoinen answered: + "Are there not some sweeter singers + In this honored congregation, + That will clasp their hands together, + Sing the ancient songs unbroken, + Thus begin the incantations, + Make these ancient halls re-echo + For the pleasure of the evening, + For the joy of the in-gathered?" + From the hearth-stone spake, the gray-beard + "Not a singer of Pohyola, + Not a minstrel, nor magician, + That was better skilled in chanting + Legends of the days departed, + Than was I when I was singing, + In my years of vain ambition; + Then I chanted tales of heroes, + On the blue back of the waters, + Sang the ballads of my people, + In the vales and on the mountains, + Through the verdant fields and forests; + Sweet my voice and skilled my singing, + All my songs were highly lauded, + Rippled like the quiet rivers, + Easy-flowing like the waters, + Easy-gliding as the snow-shoes, + Like the ship upon the ocean. + "Woe is me, my days are ended, + Would not recognize my singing, + All its sweetness gone to others, + Flows no more like rippling waters, + Makes no more the hills re-echo! + Now my songs are full of discord, + Like the rake upon the stubble, + Like the sledge upon the gravel, + Like the boat upon the sea-shore!" + Then the ancient Wainamoinen + Spake these words in magic measures: + "Since no other bard appeareth + That will clasp my hand in singing, + I will sing some simple legends, + Sing my, garnered store of wisdom, + Make these magic halls re-echo + With my tales of ancient story, + Since a bard I was created, + Born an orator and singer; + Do not ask the ways of others, + Follow not the paths of strangers." + Wainamoinen, famous minstrel, + Song's eternal, wise supporter, + Then began the songs of pleasure, + Made the halls resound with joyance, + Filled the rooms with wondrous singing; + Sang the ancient bard-magician + All the oldest wisdom-sayings, + Did not fail in voice nor legends, + All the wisest thoughts remembered. + Thus the ancient Wainamoinen + Sang the joy of all assembled, + To the pleasure of the evening, + To the merriment of maidens, + To the happiness of heroes; + All the guests were stilled in wonder + At the magic of his singing, + At the songs of the magician. + Spake again wise Wainamoinen, + When his wonder-tales had ended: + "l have little worth or power, + Am a bard of little value, + Little consequence my singing, + Mine abilities as nothing, + If but Ukko, my Creator, + Should intone his wisdom-sayings, + Sing the source of good and evil, + Sing the origin of matter, + Sing the legends of omniscience, + Sing his songs in full perfection. + God could sing the floods to honey, + Sing the sands to ruddy berries, + Sing the pebbles into barley, + Sing to beer the running waters, + Sing to salt the rocks of ocean, + Into corn-fields sing the forests, + Into gold the forest-fruitage, + Sing to bread the hills and mountains, + Sing to eggs the rounded sandstones; + He could touch the springs of magic, + He could turn the keys of nature, + And produce within thy pastures, + Hurdles filled with sheep and reindeer, + Stables filled with fleet-foot stallions, + Kine in every field and fallow; + Sing a fur-robe for the bridegroom, + For the bride a coat of ermine, + For the hostess, shoes of silver, + For the hero, mail of copper. + "Grant O Ukko, my Creator, + God of love, and truth, and justice, + Grant thy blessing on our feasting, + Bless this company assembled, + For the good of Sariola, + For the happiness of Northland! + May this bread and beer bring joyance, + May they come in rich abundance, + May they carry full contentment + To the people of Pohyola, + To the cabin and the mansion; + May the hours we spend in singing, + In the morning, in the evening, + Fill our hearts with joy and gladness! + Hear us in our supplications, + Grant to us thy needed blessings, + Send enjoyment, health, and comfort, + To the people here assembled, + To the host and to the hostess, + To the bride and to the bridegroom, + To the sons upon the waters, + To the daughters at their weavings, + To the hunters on the mountains, + To the shepherds in the fenlands, + That our lives may end in honor, + That we may recall with pleasure + Ilmarinen's magic marriage + To the Maiden of the Rainbow, + Snow-white virgin of the Northland." + + + + +RUNE XXII. + + + + THE BRIDE S FAREWELL. + + + When the marriage was completed, + When the many guests had feasted, + At the wedding of the Northland, + At the Dismal-land carousal, + Spake the hostess of Pohyola + To the blacksmith, Ilmarinen: + "Wherefore, bridegroom, dost thou linger, + Why art waiting, Northland hero? + Sittest for the father's pleasure, + For affection of the mother, + For the splendor of the maidens, + For the beauty of the daughter? + Noble son-in-law and brother, + Wait thou longer, having waited + Long already for the virgin, + Thine affianced is not ready, + Not prepared, thy life-companion, + Only are her tresses braided. + "Chosen bridegroom, pride of Pohya, + Wait thou longer, having waited + Long already for the virgin, + Thy beloved is preparing, + Only is one hand made ready. + "Famous artist, Ilmarinen, + Wait still longer, having waited + Long already for the virgin, + Thy beloved is not ready, + Only is one foot in fur-shoes," + Spake again the ancient Louhi: + "Chosen suitor of my daughter, + Thou hast thrice in kindness waited, + Wait no longer for the virgin, + Thy beloved now is ready, + Well prepared thy life-companion, + Fairy Maiden of the Rainbow. + "Beauteous daughter, join thy suitor, + Follow him, thy chosen husband, + Very near is the uniting, + Near indeed thy separation. + At thy hand the honored bridegroom, + Near the door he waits to lead thee, + Guide thee to his home and kindred; + At the gate his steed is waiting, + Restless champs his silver bridle, + And the sledge awaits thy presence. + "Thou wert anxious for a suitor, + Ready to accept his offer, + Wert in haste to take his jewels, + Place his rings upon thy fingers; + Now, fair daughter, keep thy promise; + To his sledge, with happy footsteps, + Hie in haste to join the bridegroom, + Gaily journey to the village + With thy chosen life-companion, + With thy suitor, Ilmarinen. + Little hast thou looked about thee, + Hast not raised thine eyes above thee, + Beauteous maiden of the Northland, + Hast thou made a rueful bargain, + Full of wailing thine engagement, + And thy marriage full of sorrow, + That thy father's ancient cottage + Thou art leaving now forever, + Leaving also friends and kindred, + For the, blacksmith, Ilmarinen? + "O how beautiful thy childhood, + In thy father's dwelling-places, + Nurtured like a tender flower, + Like the strawberry in spring-time + Soft thy couch and sweet thy slumber, + Warm thy fires and rich thy table; + From the fields came corn in plenty, + From the highlands, milk and berries, + Wheat and barley in abundance, + Fish, and fowl, and hare, and bacon, + From thy father's fields and forests. + "Never wert thou, child, in sorrow, + Never hadst thou grief nor trouble, + All thy cares were left to fir-trees, + All thy worry to the copses, + All thy weeping to the willows, + All thy sighing to the lindens, + All thy thinking to the aspens + And the birches on the mountains, + Light and airy as the leaflet, + As a butterfly in summer, + Ruddy as a mountain-berry, + Beautiful as vernal flowers. + "Now thou leavest home and kindred, + Wanderest to other firesides, + Goest to another mother, + Other sisters, other brothers, + Goest to a second father, + To the servant-folk of strangers, + From thy native hills and lowlands. + There and here the homes will differ, + Happier thy mother's hearth-stone; + Other horns will there be sounded, + Other portals there swing open, + Other hinges there be creaking; + There the doors thou canst not enter + Like the daughters of Wainola, + Canst not tend the fires and ovens + As will please the minds of strangers. + "Didst thou think, my fairest maiden, + Thou couldst wed and on the morrow + Couldst return, if thou shouldst wish it, + To thy father's court and dwelling? + Not for one, nor two, nor three days, + Wilt thou leave thy mother's chambers, + Leave thy sisters and thy brothers, + Leave thy father's hills and lowlands. + Long the time the wife must wander, + Many months and years must wander, + Work, and struggle, all her life long, + Even though the mother liveth. + Great, indeed, must be the changes + When thou comest back to Pohya, + Changed, thy friends and nearest kindred, + Changed, thy father's ancient dwellings, + Changed, the valleys and the mountains, + Other birds will sing thy praises!" + When the mother thus had spoken, + Then the daughter spake, departing: + "In my early days of childhood + Often I intoned these measures: + 'Art a virgin, yet no virgin, + Guided by an aged mother, + In a brother's fields and forests, + In the mansion of a father! + Only wilt become a virgin, + Only when thou hast a suitor, + Only when thou wedst a hero, + One foot on the father's threshold, + And the other for the snow-sledge + That will speed thee and thy husband + To his native vales and highlands!' + "I have wished thus many summers, + Sang it often in my childhood, + Hoped for this as for the flowers, + Welcome as the birds of spring-time. + Thus fulfilled are all my wishes, + Very near is my departure, + One foot on my father's threshold, + And the, other for the journey + With my husband to his people; + Cannot understand the reason + That has changed my former feelings, + Cannot leave thee now with gladness, + Cannot go with great rejoicing + From my dear, old home and kindred, + Where as maiden I have lingered, + From the courts where I was nurtured, + From my father's band and guidance, + From my faithful mother's counsel. + Now I go, a maid of sorrow, + Heavy-hearted to the bridegroom, + Like the bride of Night in winter, + Like the ice upon the rivers. + "Such is not the mind of others, + Other brides of Northland heroes; + Others do not leave unhappy, + Have no tears, nor cares, nor sorrows, + I alas! must weep and murmur, + Carry to my grave great sadness, + Heart as dark as Death's black river. + "Such the feelings of the happy, + Such the minds of merry maidens: + Like the early dawn of spring-time, + Like the rising Sun in summer + No such radiance awaits me, + With my young heart filled with terror; + Happiness is not my portion, + Like the flat-shore of the ocean, + Like the dark rift of the storm-cloud, + Like the cheerless nights of winter! + Dreary is the day in autumn, + Dreary too the autumn evening, + Still more dreary is my future!" + An industrious old maiden, + Ever guarding home and kindred, + Spake these words of doubtful comfort: + "Dost thou, beauteous bride, remember, + Canst thou not recall my counsels? + These the words that I have taught thee: + 'Look not joyfully for suitors, + Never heed the tongues of wooers, + Look not in the eyes of charmers, + At their feet let fall thy vision. + He that hath a mouth for sweetness, + He that hath an eye for beauty, + Offers little that will comfort; + Lempo sits upon his forehead, + In his mouth dwells dire Tuoni.' + "Thus, fair bride, did I advise thee, + Thus advised my sister's daughter: + Should there come the best of suitors, + Noblest wooers, proudest lovers, + Give to all these wisdom-sayings, + Let thine answer be as follows: + 'Never will I think it wisdom, + Never will it be my pleasure, + To become a second daughter, + Linger with my husband's mother; + Never shall I leave my father, + Never wander forth to bondage, + At the bidding of a bridegroom: + Never shall I be a servant, + Wife and slave to any hero, + Never will I be submissive + To the orders of a husband.' + "Fairest bride, thou didst not heed me, + Gav'st no thought to my advices, + Didst not listen to my counsel; + Wittingly thy feet have wandered + Into boiling tar and water, + Hastened to thy suitor's snow-sledge, + To the bear-dens of thy husband, + On his sledge to be ill-treated, + Carried to his native country, + To the bondage of his people, + There, a subject to his mother. + Thou hast left thy mother's dwelling, + To the schooling of the master; + Hard indeed the master's teachings, + Little else than constant torture; + Ready for thee are his bridles, + Ready for thy bands the shackles, + Were not forged for any other; + Soon, indeed, thou'lt feel the hardness, + Feel the weight of thy misfortune, + Feel thy second father's censure, + And his wife's inhuman treatment, + Hear the cold words or thy brother, + Quail before thy haughty sister. + "Listen, bride, to what I tell thee: + In thy home thou wert a jewel, + Wert thy father's pride and pleasure, + 'Moonlight,' did thy father call thee, + And thy mother called thee 'Sunshine,' + 'Sea-foam' did thy brother call thee, + And thy sister called thee 'Flower.' + When thou leavest home and kindred + Goest to a second mother, + Often she will give thee censure, + Never treat thee as her daughter, + Rarely will she give thee counsel, + Never will she sound thy praises. + 'Brush-wood,' will the father call thee, + 'Sledge of Rags,' thy husband's mother, + 'Flight of Stairs,' thy stranger brother, + 'Scare-crow,' will the sister call thee, + Sister of thy blacksmith-husband; + Then wilt think of my good counsels, + Then wilt wish in tears and murmurs, + That as steam thou hadst ascended, + That as smoke thy soul had risen, + That as sparks thy life had vanished. + As a bird thou canst not wander + From thy nest to circle homeward, + Canst not fall and die like leaflets, + As the sparks thou canst not perish, + Like the smoke thou canst not vanish. + "Youthful bride, and darling sister, + Thou hast bartered all thy friendships, + Hast exchanged thy loving father, + Thou hast left thy faithful mother + For the mother of thy husband; + Hast exchanged thy loving brother, + Hast renounced thy gentle sister, + For the kindred of thy suitor; + Hast exchanged thy snow-white covers + For the rocky couch of sorrow; + Hast exchanged these crystal waters + For the waters of Wainola; + Hast renounced these sandy sea-shores + For the muddy banks of Kalew; + Northland glens thou hast forsaken + For thy husband's barren meadows; + Thou hast left thy berry-mountains + For the stubble-fields and deserts. + "Thou, O maiden, hast been thinking + Thou wouldst happy be in wedlock; + Neither work, nor care, nor sorrow, + From this night would be thy portion, + With thy husband for protection. + Not to sleep art thou conducted, + Not to happiness, nor joyance, + Wakefulness, thy night-companion, + And thy day-attendant, trouble; + Often thou wilt drink of sorrow, + Often long for vanished pleasures. + "When at home thou hadst no head-gear, + Thou hadst also little sadness; + When thy couch was not of linen, + No unhappiness came nigh thee; + Head-gear brings but pain and sorrow, + Linen breeds bad dispositions, + Linen brings but deeps of anguish, + And the flax untimely mourning. + "Happy in her home, the maiden, + Happy at her father's fireside, + Like the master in his mansion, + Happy with her bows and arrows. + 'Tis not thus with married women; + Brides of heroes may be likened + To the prisoners of Moskva, + Held in bondage by their masters. + "As a wife, must weep and labor, + Carry trouble on both shoulders; + When the next hour passes over, + Thou must tend the fire and oven, + Must prepare thy husband's dinner, + Must direct thy master's servants. + When thine evening meal is ready, + Thou must search for bidden wisdom + In the brain of perch and salmon, + In the mouths of ocean whiting, + Gather wisdom from the cuckoo, + Canst not learn it from thy mother, + Mother dear of seven daughters; + Cannot find among her treasures + Where were born the human instincts, + Where were born the minds of heroes, + Whence arose the maiden's beauty, + Whence the beauty of her tresses, + Why all life revives in spring-time. + "Weep, O weep, my pretty young bride. + When thou weepest, weep sincerely, + Weep great rivers from thine eyelids, + Floods of tears in field and fallow, + Lakelets in thy father's dwelling; + Weep thy rooms to overflowing, + Shed thy tears in great abundance, + Lest thou weepest on returning + To thy native hills and valleys, + When thou visitest thy father + In the smoke of waning glory, + On his arm a withered tassel. + "Weep, O weep, my lovely maiden, + When thou weepest, weep in earnest, + Weep great rivers from thine eyelids; + If thou dost not weep sincerely, + Thou wilt weep on thy returning + To thy Northland home and kindred, + When thou visitest thy mother + Old and breathless near the hurdles, + In her arms a barley-bundle. + "Weep, O weep, sweet bride of beauty, + When thou weepest, weep profusely; + If thou dost not weep in earnest, + Thou wilt weep on thy returning + To thy native vales and highlands, + When thou visitest thy brother + Lying wounded by the way-side, + In his hand but empty honors. + "Weep, O weep, my sister's daughter, + Weep great rivers from thine eyelids; + If thou dost not weep sufficient, + Thou wilt weep on thy returning + To the scenes of happy childhood, + When thou visitest thy sister + Lying, prostrate in the meadow, + In her hand a birch-wood mallet." + When the ancient maid had ended, + Then the young bride sighed in anguish, + Straightway fell to bitter weeping, + Spake these words in deeps of sorrow: + "O, ye sisters, my beloved, + Ye companions of my childhood, + Playmates of my early summers, + Listen to your sister's counsel: + Cannot comprehend the reason, + Why my mind is so dejected, + Why this weariness and sadness, + This untold and unseen torture, + Cannot understand the meaning + Of this mighty weight of sorrow! + Differently I had thought it, + I had hoped for greater pleasures, + I had hoped to sing as cuckoos, + On the hill-tops call and echo, + When I had attained this station, + Reached at last the goal expectant; + But I am not like the cuckoo, + Singing, merry on the hill-tops; + I am like the songless blue-duck, + As she swims upon the waters, + Swims upon the cold, cold ocean, + Icicles upon her pinions. + "Ancient father, gray-haired mother, + Whither do ye wish to lead me, + Whither take this bride, thy daughter, + That this sorrow may pass over, + Where this heavy heart may lighten, + Where this grief may turn to gladness? + Better it had been, O mother, + Hadst thou nursed a block of birch-wood, + Hadst thou clothed the colored sandstone, + Rather than this hapless maiden, + For the fulness of these sorrows, + For this keen and killing trouble. + Many sympathizers tell me: + 'Foolish bride, thou art ungrateful, + Do not grieve, thou child of sorrow, + Thou hast little cause for weeping.' + "O, deceive me not, my people, + Do not argue with me falsely, + For alas! I have more troubles + Than the waterfalls have pebbles, + Than the Ingerland has willows, + Than the Suomi-hills have berries; + Never could the Pohya plow-horse + Pull this mighty weight of sorrow, + Shaking not his birchen cross-bar, + Breaking not his heavy collar; + Never could the Northland reindeer + Heavy shod and stoutly harnessed, + Draw this load of care and trouble." + By the stove a babe was playing, + And the young child spake as follows: + "Why, O fair bride, art thou weeping, + Why these tears of pain and sadness? + Leave thy troubles to the elk-herds, + And thy grief to sable fillies, + Let the steeds of iron bridles + Bear the burden of thine anguish, + Horses have much larger foreheads, + Larger shoulders, stronger sinews, + And their necks are made for labor, + Stronger are their bones and muscles, + Let them bear thy heavy burdens. + There is little good in weeping, + Useless are thy tears of sorrow; + Art not led to swamps and lowlands, + Nor to banks of little rivers; + Thou art led to fields of flowers, + Led to fruitful trees and forests, + Led away from beer of Pohya + To the sweeter mead of Kalew. + At thy shoulder waits thy husband, + On thy right side, Ilmarinen, + Constant friend and life-protector, + He will guard thee from all evil; + Husband ready, steed in waiting, + Gold-and-silver-mounted harness, + Hazel-birds that sing and flutter + On the courser's yoke and cross-bar; + Thrushes also sing and twitter + Merrily on hame and collar, + Seven bluebirds, seven cuckoos, + Sing thy wedding-march in concord. + "Be no longer full of sorrow, + Dry thy tears, thou bride of beauty, + Thou hast found a noble husband, + Better wilt thou fare than ever, + By the side of Ilmarinen, + Artist husband, metal-master, + Bread-provider of thy table, + On the arm of the fish-catcher, + On the breast of the elk-hunter, + By the side of the bear-killer. + Thou hast won the best of suitors, + Hast obtained a mighty hero; + Never idle is his cross-bow, + On the nails his quivers hang not, + Neither are his dogs in kennel, + Active agents is his bunting. + Thrice within the budding spring-time + In the early hours of morning + He arises from his fare-couch, + From his slumber in the brush-wood, + Thrice within the sowing season, + On his eyes the deer has fallen, + And the branches brushed his vesture, + And his locks been combed by fir-boughs. + Hasten homeward with thy husband, + Where thy hero's friends await thee, + Where his forests sing thy welcome. + "Ilmarinen there possesses + All the birds that fly in mid-air, + All the beasts that haunt the woodlands, + All that feed upon the mountains, + All that graze on hill and valley, + Sheep and cattle by the thousands; + Sweet the grass upon his meadows, + Sweet the barley in his uplands, + In the lowlands corn abundant, + Wheat upon the elm-wood fallows, + Near the streamlets rye is waving, + Waving grain on many acres, + On his mountains gold and silver, + Rich his mines of shining copper, + Highlands filled with magic metals, + Chests of jewels in his store-house, + All the wealth of Kalevala." + + + + +RUNE XXIII. + + + + OSMOTAR THE BRIDE-ADVISER + + + Now the bride must be instructed, + Who will teach the Maid of Beauty, + Who instruct the Rainbow-daughter? + Osmotar, the wisdom-maiden, + Kalew's fair and lovely virgin, + Osmotar will give instructions + To the bride of Ilmarinen, + To the orphaned bride of Pohya, + Teach her how to live in pleasure, + How to live and reign in glory, + Win her second mother's praises, + Joyful in her husband's dwelling. + Osmotar in modest accents + Thus the anxious bride addresses; + "Maid of Beauty, lovely sister, + Tender plant of Louhi's gardens, + Hear thou what thy sister teaches, + Listen to her sage instructions: + Go thou hence, my much beloved, + Wander far away, my flower, + Travel on enwrapped in colors, + Glide away in silks and ribbons, + From this house renowned and ancient, + From thy father's halls and court-yards + Haste thee to thy husband's village, + Hasten to his mother's household; + Strange, the rooms in other dwellings, + Strange, the modes in other hamlets. + "Full of thought must be thy going, + And thy work be well considered, + Quite unlike thy home in Northland, + On the meadows of thy father, + On the high-lands of thy brother, + Singing through thy mother's fenlands, + Culling daisies with thy sister. + "When thou goest from thy father + Thou canst take whatever pleases, + Only three things leave behind thee: + Leave thy day-dreams to thy sister, + Leave thou kindness for thy mother, + To thy brother leave thy labors, + Take all else that thou desirest. + Throw away thine incantations, + Cast thy sighing to the pine-trees, + And thy maidenhood to zephyrs, + Thy rejoicings to the couches, + Cast thy trinkets to the children, + And thy leisure to the gray-beards, + Cast all pleasures to thy playmates, + Let them take them to the woodlands, + Bury them beneath the mountain. + "Thou must hence acquire new habits, + Must forget thy former customs, + Mother-love must be forsaken, + Thou must love thy husband's mother, + Lower must thy head be bended, + Kind words only must thou utter. + "Thou must hence acquire new habits, + Must forget thy former customs, + Father-love must be forsaken, + Thou must love thy husband's father, + Lower must thy head be bended, + Kind words only must thou utter. + "Thou must hence acquire new habits, + Must forget thy former customs, + Brother-love must be forsaken, + Thou must love thy husband's brother, + Lower must thy head be bended, + Kind words only must thou utter. + "Thou must hence acquire new habits + Must forget thy former customs, + Sister-love must be forsaken, + Thou must love thy husband's sister, + Lower must thy head be bended, + Kind words only must thou utter. + "Never in the course of ages, + Never while the moonlight glimmers, + Wickedly approach thy household, + Nor unworthily, thy servants, + Nor thy courts with indiscretion; + Let thy dwellings sing good manners, + And thy walls re-echo virtue. + After mind the hero searches. + And the best of men seek honor, + Seek for honesty and wisdom; + If thy home should be immoral, + If thine inmates fail in virtue, + Then thy gray-beards would be black-dogs + In sheep's clothing at thy firesides; + All thy women would be witches, + Wicked witches in thy chambers, + And thy brothers be as serpents + Crawling through thy husband's mansion; + All thy sisters would be famous + For their evil thoughts and conduct. + "Equal honors must be given + To thy husband's friends and kindred; + Lower must thy head be bended, + Than within thy mother's dwelling, + Than within thy father's guest-room, + When thou didst thy kindred honor. + Ever strive to give good counsel, + Wear a countenance of sunshine, + Bear a head upon thy shoulders + Filled with wise and ancient sayings; + Open bright thine eyes at morning + To behold the silver sunrise, + Sharpen well thine ears at evening, + Thus to hear the rooster crowing; + When he makes his second calling, + Straightway thou must rise from slumber, + Let the aged sleep in quiet; + Should the rooster fail to call thee, + Let the moonbeams touch thine eyelids, + Let the Great Bear be thy keeper + Often go thou and consult them, + Call upon the Moon for counsel, + Ask the Bear for ancient wisdom, + From the stars divine thy future; + When the Great Bear faces southward, + When his tail is pointing northward, + This is time to break with slumber, + Seek for fire within the ashes, + Place a spark upon the tinder, + Blow the fire through all the fuel. + If no spark is in the ashes, + Then go wake thy hero-husband, + Speak these words to him on waking: + 'Give me fire, O my beloved, + Give a single spark, my husband, + Strike a little fire from flintstone, + Let it fall upon my tinder.' + "From the spark, O Bride of Beauty, + Light thy fires, and heat thine ovens, + In the holder, place the torch-light, + Find thy pathway to the stables, + There to fill the empty mangers; + If thy husband's cows be lowing, + If thy brother's steeds be neighing, + Then the cows await thy coming, + And the steeds for thee are calling, + Hasten, stooping through the hurdles, + Hasten through the yards and stables, + Feed thy husband's cows with pleasure, + Feed with care the gentle lambkins, + Give the cows the best of clover, + Hay, and barley, to the horses, + Feed the calves of lowing mothers, + Feed the fowl that fly to meet thee. + "Never rest upon the haymow, + Never sleep within the hurdles, + When the kine are fed and tended, + When the flocks have all been watered; + Hasten thence, my pretty matron, + Like the snow-flakes to thy dwelling, + There a crying babe awaits thee, + Weeping in his couch neglected, + Cannot speak and tell his troubles, + Speechless babe, and weeping infant, + Cannot say that he is hungry, + Whether pain or cold distresses, + Greets with joy his mother's footsteps. + Afterward repair in silence + To thy husband's rooms and presence, + Early visit thou his chambers, + In thy hand a golden pitcher, + On thine arm a broom of birch-wood, + In thy teeth a lighted taper, + And thyself the fourth in order. + Sweep thou then thy hero's dwelling, + Dust his benches and his tables, + Wash the flooring well with water. + "If the baby of thy sister + Play alone within his corner, + Show the little child attention, + Bathe his eyes and smoothe his ringlets, + Give the infant needed comforts; + Shouldst thou have no bread of barley, + In his hand adjust some trinket. + "Lastly, when the week has ended, + Give thy house a thorough cleansing, + Benches, tables, walls, and ceilings; + What of dust is on the windows, + Sweep away with broom of birch-twigs, + All thy rooms must first be sprinkled, + at the dust may not be scattered, + May not fill the halls and chambers. + Sweep the dust from every crevice, + Leave thou not a single atom; + Also sweep the chimney-corners, + Do not then forget the rafters, + Lest thy home should seem untidy, + Lest thy dwelling seem neglected. + "Hear, O maiden, what I tell thee, + Learn the tenor of my teaching: + Never dress in scanty raiment, + Let thy robes be plain and comely, + Ever wear the whitest linen, + On thy feet wear tidy fur-shoes, + For the glory of thy husband, + For the honor of thy hero. + Tend thou well the sacred sorb-tree, + Guard the mountain-ashes planted + In the court-yard, widely branching; + Beautiful the mountain-ashes, + Beautiful their leaves and flowers, + Still more beautiful the berries. + Thus the exiled one demonstrates + That she lives to please her husband, + Tries to make her hero happy. + "Like the mouse, have ears for hearing, + Like the hare, have feet for running, + Bend thy neck and turn thy visage + Like the juniper and aspen, + Thus to watch with care thy goings, + Thus to guard thy feet from stumbling, + That thou mayest walk in safety. + "When thy brother comes from plowing, + And thy father from his garners, + And thy husband from the woodlands, + From his chopping, thy beloved, + Give to each a water-basin, + Give to each a linen-towel, + Speak to each some pleasant greeting. + "When thy second mother hastens + To thy husband's home and kindred, + In her hand a corn-meal measure, + Haste thou to the court to meet her, + Happy-hearted, bow before her, + Take the measure from her fingers, + Happy, bear it to thy husband. + "If thou shouldst not see distinctly + What demands thy next attention, + Ask at once thy hero's mother: + 'Second mother, my beloved, + Name the task to be accomplished + By thy willing second daughter, + Tell me how to best perform it.' + "This should be the mother's answer: + 'This the manner of thy workings, + Thus thy daily work accomplish: + Stamp with diligence and courage, + Grind with will and great endurance, + Set the millstones well in order, + Fill the barley-pans with water, + Knead with strength the dough for baking, + Place the fagots on the fire-place, + That thy ovens may be heated, + Bake in love the honey-biscuit, + Bake the larger loaves of barley, + Rinse to cleanliness thy platters, + Polish well thy drinking-vessels. + "If thou hearest from the mother, + From the mother of thy husband, + That the cask for meal is empty, + Take the barley from the garners, + Hasten to the rooms for grinding. + When thou grindest in the chambers, + Do not sing in glee and joyance, + Turn the grinding-stones in silence, + To the mill give up thy singing, + Let the side-holes furnish music; + Do not sigh as if unhappy, + Do not groan as if in trouble, + Lest the father think thee weary, + Lest thy husband's mother fancy + That thy groans mean discontentment, + That thy sighing means displeasure. + Quickly sift the flour thou grindest, + Take it to the casks in buckets, + Bake thy hero's bread with pleasure, + Knead the dough with care and patience, + That thy biscuits may be worthy, + That the dough be light and airy. + "Shouldst thou see a bucket empty, + Take the bucket on thy shoulder, + On thine arm a silver-dipper, + Hasten off to fill with water + From the crystal river flowing; + Gracefully thy bucket carry, + Bear it firmly by the handles, + Hasten houseward like the zephyrs, + Hasten like the air of autumn; + Do not tarry near the streamlet, + At the waters do not linger, + That the father may not fancy, + Nor the ancient dame imagine, + That thou hast beheld thine image, + Hast admired thy form and features, + Hast admired thy grace and beauty + In the mirror of the fountain, + In the crystal streamlet's eddies. + "Shouldst thou journey to the woodlands, + There to gather aspen-fagots, + Do not go with noise and bustle, + Gather all thy sticks in silence, + Gather quietly the birch-wood, + That the father may not fancy, + And the mother not imagine, + That thy calling came from anger, + And thy noise from discontentment. + "If thou goest to the store-house + To obtain the flour of barley, + Do not tarry on thy journey, + On the threshold do not linger, + That the father may not fancy, + And the mother not imagine, + That the meal thou hast divided + With the women of the village. + "If thou goest to the river, + There to wash thy birchen platters, + There to cleanse thy pans and buckets, + Lest thy work be done in neatness, + Rinse the sides, and rinse the handles, + Rinse thy pitchers to perfection, + Spoons, and forks, and knives, and goblets, + Rinse with care thy cooking-vessels, + Closely watch the food-utensils, + That the dogs may not deface them, + That the kittens may not mar them, + That the eagles may not steal them, + That the children may not break them; + Many children in the village, + Many little heads and fingers, + That will need thy careful watching, + Lest they steal the things of value. + "When thou goest to thy bathing, + Have the brushes ready lying + In the bath-room clean and smokeless; + Do not, linger in the water, + At thy bathing do not tarry, + That the father may not fancy, + And the mother not imagine, + Thou art sleeping on the benches, + Rolling in the laps of comfort. + "From thy bath, when thou returnest, + To his bathing tempt the father, + Speak to him the words that follow: + 'Father of my hero-husband, + Clean are all the bath-room benches, + Everything in perfect order; + Go and bathe for thine enjoyment, + Pour the water all-sufficient, + I will lend thee needed service.' + "When the time has come for spinning, + When the hours arrive for weaving, + Do not ask the help of others, + Look not in the stream for knowledge, + For advice ask not the servants, + Nor the spindle from the sisters, + Nor the weaving-comb from strangers. + Thou thyself must do the spinning, + With thine own hand ply the shuttle, + Loosely wind the skeins of wool-yarn, + Tightly wind the balls of flax-thread, + Wind them deftly in the shuttle + Fit the warp upon the rollers, + Beat the woof and warp together, + Swiftly ply the weaver's shuttle, + Weave good cloth for all thy vestments, + Weave of woolen, webs for dresses + From the finest wool of lambkins, + One thread only in thy weaving. + "Hear thou what I now advise thee: + Brew thy beer from early barley, + From the barley's new-grown kernels, + Brew it with the magic virtues, + Malt it with the sweets of honey, + Do not stir it with the birch-rod, + Stir it with thy skilful fingers; + When thou goest to the garners, + Do not let the seed bring evil, + Keep the dogs outside the brew-house, + Have no fear of wolves in hunger, + Nor the wild-beasts of the mountains, + When thou goest to thy brewing, + Shouldst thou wander forth at midnight. + "Should some stranger come to see thee, + Do not worry for his comfort; + Ever does the worthy household + Have provisions for the stranger, + Bits of meat, and bread, and biscuit, + Ample for the dinner-table; + Seat the stranger in thy dwelling, + Speak with him in friendly accents, + Entertain the guest with kindness, + While his dinner is preparing. + When the stranger leaves thy threshold, + When his farewell has been spoken, + Lead him only to the portals, + Do not step without the doorway, + That thy husband may not fancy, + And the mother not imagine, + Thou hast interest in strangers. + "Shouldst thou ever make a journey + To the centre of the village, + There to gain some needed object, + While thou speakest in the hamlet, + Let thy words be full of wisdom, + That thou shamest not thy kindred, + Nor disgrace thy husband's household. + "Village-maidens oft will ask thee, + Mothers of the hamlet question: + 'Does thy husband's mother greet thee + As in childhood thou wert greeted, + In thy happy home in Pohya?' + Do not answer in negation, + Say that she has always given + Thee the best of her provisions, + Given thee the kindest greetings, + Though it be but once a season. + "Listen well to what I tell thee: + As thou goest from thy father + To thy husband's distant dwelling, + Thou must not forget thy mother, + Her that gave thee life and beauty, + Her that nurtured thee in childhood, + Many sleepless nights she nursed thee; + Often were her wants neglected, + Numberless the times she rocked thee; + Tender, true, and ever faithful, + Is the mother to her daughter. + She that can forget her mother, + Can neglect the one that nursed her, + Should not visit Mana's castle, + In the kingdom of Tuoni; + In Manala she would suffer, + Suffer frightful retribution, + Should her mother be forgotten; + Should her dear one be neglected, + Mana's daughters will torment her, + And Tuoni's sons revile her, + They will ask her much as follows: + 'How couldst thou forget thy mother, + How neglect the one that nursed thee? + Great the pain thy mother suffered, + Great the trouble that thou gavest + When thy loving mother brought thee + Into life for good or evil, + When she gave thee earth-existence, + When she nursed thee but an infant, + When she fed thee in thy childhood, + When she taught thee what thou knowest, + Mana's punishments upon thee, + Since thy mother is forgotten!'" + On the floor a witch was sitting, + Near the fire a beggar-woman, + One that knew the ways of people, + These the words the woman uttered: + "Thus the crow calls in the winter: + 'Would that I could be a singer, + And my voice be full of sweetness, + But, alas! my songs are worthless, + Cannot charm the weakest creature; + I must live without the singing + Leave the songs to the musicians, + Those that live in golden houses, + In the homes of the beloved; + Homeless therefore I must wander, + Like a beggar in the corn-fields, + And with none to do me honor.' + "Hear now, sister, what I tell thee, + Enter thou thy husband's dwelling, + Follow not his mind, nor fancies, + As my husband's mind I followed; + As a flower was I when budding, + Sprouting like a rose in spring-time, + Growing like a slender maiden, + Like the honey-gem of glory, + Like the playmates of my childhood, + Like the goslings of my father, + Like the blue-ducks of my mother, + Like my brother's water-younglings, + Like the bullfinch of my sister; + Grew I like the heather-flower, + Like the berry of the meadow, + Played upon the sandy sea-shore, + Rocked upon the fragrant upland, + Sang all day adown the valley, + Thrilled with song the hill and mountain, + Filled with mirth the glen and forest, + Lived and frolicked in the woodlands. + "Into traps are foxes driven + By the cruel pangs of hunger, + Into traps, the cunning ermine; + Thus are maidens wooed and wedded, + In their hunger for a husband. + Thus created is the virgin, + Thus intended is the daughter, + Subject to her hero-husband, + Subject also to his mother. + "Then to other fields I hastened, + Like a berry from the border, + Like a cranberry for roasting, + Like a strawberry for dinner; + All the elm-trees seemed to wound me, + All the aspens tried to cut me, + All the willows tried to seize me, + All the forest tried to slay me. + Thus I journeyed to my husband, + Thus I travelled to his dwelling, + Was conducted to his mother. + Then there were, as was reported, + Six compartments built of pine-wood, + Twelve the number of the chambers, + And the mansion filled with garrets, + Studding all the forest border, + Every by-way filled with flowers + Streamlets bordered fields of barley, + Filled with wheat and corn, the islands, + Grain in plenty in the garners, + Rye unthrashed in great abundance, + Countless sums of gold and silver, + Other treasures without number. + When my journey I had ended, + When my hand at last was given, + Six supports were in his cabin, + Seven poles as rails for fencing. + Filled with anger were the bushes, + All the glens disfavor showing, + All the walks were lined with trouble, + Evil-tempered were the forests, + Hundred words of evil import, + Hundred others of unkindness. + Did not let this bring me sorrow, + Long I sought to merit praises, + Long I hoped to find some favor, + Strove most earnestly for kindness; + When they led me to the cottage, + There I tried some chips to gather, + Knocked my head against the portals + Of my husband's lowly dwelling. + "At the door were eyes of strangers, + Sable eyes at the partition, + Green with envy in his cabin, + Evil heroes in the back-ground, + From each mouth the fire was streaming, + From each tongue the sparks out-flying, + Flying from my second father, + From his eyeballs of unkindness. + Did not let this bring me trouble, + Tried to live in peace and pleasure, + In the homestead of my husband + In humility I suffered, + Skipped about with feet of rabbit, + Flew along with steps of ermine, + Late I laid my head to slumber, + Early rose as if a servant, + Could not win a touch of kindness, + Could not merit love nor honor, + Though I had dislodged the mountains, + Though the rocks had I torn open. + "Then I turned the heavy millstone, + Ground the flour with care and trouble, + Ground the barley-grains in patience, + That the mother might be nourished, + That her fury-throat might swallow + What might please her taste and fancy,. + From her gold-enamelled platters, + From the corner of her table. + "As for me, the hapless daughter, + All my flour was from the siftings + On the table near the oven, + Ate I from the birchen ladle; + Oftentimes I brought the mosses + Gathered in the lowland meadows, + Baked them into loaves for eating; + Brought the water from the river, + Thirsty, sipped it from the dipper, + Ate of fish the worst in Northland, + Only smelts, and worthless swimmers, + Rocking in my boat of birch-bark + Never ate I fish or biscuit + From my second mother's fingers. + "Blades I gathered in the summers, + Twisted barley-stalks in winter, + Like the laborers of heroes, + Like the servants sold in bondage. + In the thresh-house of my husband, + Evermore to me was given + Flail the heaviest and longest, + And to me the longest lever, + On the shore the strongest beater, + And the largest rake in haying; + No one thought my burden heavy, + No one thought that I could suffer, + Though the best of heroes faltered, + And the strongest women weakened. + "Thus did I, a youthful housewife, + At the right time, all my duties, + Drenched myself in perspiration, + Hoped for better times to follow; + But I only rose to labor, + Knowing neither rest nor pleasure. + I was blamed by all the household, + With ungrateful tongues derided, + Now about my awkward manners, + Now about my reputation, + Censuring my name and station. + Words unkind were heaped upon me, + Fell like hail on me unhappy, + Like the frightful flash of lightning, + Like the heavy hail of spring-time. + I did not despair entirely, + Would have lived to labor longer + Underneath the tongue of malice, + But the old-one spoiled Lay temper, + Roused my deepest ire and hatred + Then my husband grew a wild-bear, + Grew a savage wolf of Hisi. + "Only then I turned to weeping, + And reflected in my chamber, + Thought of all my former pleasures + Of the happy days of childhood, + Of my father's joyful firesides, + Of my mother's peaceful cottage, + Then began I thus to murmur: + 'Well thou knowest, ancient mother, + How to make thy sweet bud blossom, + How to train thy tender shootlet; + Did not know where to ingraft it, + Placed, alas! the little scion + In the very worst of places, + On an unproductive hillock, + In the hardest limb of cherry, + Where it could not grow and flourish, + There to waste its life, in weeping, + Hapless in her lasting sorrow. + Worthier had been my conduct + In the regions that are better, + In the court-yards that are wider, + In compartments that are larger, + Living with a loving husband, + Living with a stronger hero. + Shoe of birch-bark was my suitor, + Shoe of Laplanders, my husband; + Had the body of a raven, + Voice and visage like the jackdaw, + Mouth and claws were from the black-wolf, + The remainder from the wild-bear. + Had I known that mine affianced + Was a fount of pain and evil, + To the hill-side I had wandered, + Been a pine-tree on the highway, + Been a linden on the border, + Like the black-earth made my visage, + Grown a beard of ugly bristles, + Head of loam and eyes of lightning, + For my ears the knots of birches, + For my limbs the trunks of aspens.' + "This the manner of my singing + In the hearing of my husband, + Thus I sang my cares and murmurs + Thus my hero near the portals + Heard the wail of my displeasure, + Then he hastened to my chamber; + Straightway knew I by his footsteps, + Well concluded be was angry, + 'Knew it by his steps implanted; + All the winds were still in slumber, + Yet his sable locks stood endwise, + Fluttered round his bead in fury, + While his horrid mouth stood open; + To and fro his eyes were rolling, + In one hand a branch of willow, + In the other, club of alder; + Struck at me with might of malice, + Aimed the cudgel at my forehead. + "When the evening had descended, + When my husband thought of slumber + Took he in his hand a whip-stalk, + With a whip-lash made of deer-skin, + Was not made for any other, + Only made for me unhappy. + "When at last I begged for mercy, + When I sought a place for resting, + By his side I courted slumber, + Merciless, my husband seized me, + Struck me with his arm of envy, + Beat me with the whip of torture, + Deer-skin-lash and stalk of birch-wood. + From his couch I leaped impulsive, + In the coldest night of winter, + But the husband fleetly followed, + Caught me at the outer portals, + Grasped me by my streaming tresses, + Tore my ringlets from my forehead, + Cast in curls upon the night-winds + To the freezing winds of winter. + What the aid that I could ask for, + Who could free me from my torment? + Made I shoes of magic metals, + Made the straps of steel and copper, + Waited long without the dwelling, + Long I listened at the portals, + Hoping he would end his ravings, + Hoping he would sink to slumber, + But he did not seek for resting, + Did not wish to still his fury. + Finally the cold benumbed me; + As an outcast from his cabin, + I was forced to walk and wander, + When I, freezing, well reflected, + This the substance of my thinking: + 'I will not endure this torture, + Will not bear this thing forever, + Will not bear this cruel treatment, + Such contempt I will not suffer + In the wicked tribe of Hisi, + In this nest of evil Piru.' + "Then I said, 'Farewell forever!' + To my husband's home and kindred, + To my much-loved home and husband; + Started forth upon a journey + To my father's distant hamlet, + Over swamps and over snow-fields, + Wandered over towering mountains, + Over hills and through the valleys, + To my brother's welcome meadows, + To my sister's home and birthplace. + "There were rustling withered pine-trees. + Finely-feathered firs were fading, + Countless ravens there were cawing, + All the jackdaws harshly singing, + This the chorus of the ravens: + 'Thou hast here a home no longer, + This is not the happy homestead + Of thy merry days of childhood.' + "Heeding not this woodland chorus, + Straight I journeyed to the dwelling + Of my childhood's friend and brother, + Where the portals spake in concord, + And the hills and valleys answered, + This their saddened song and echo: + 'Wherefore dost thou journey hither, + Comest thou for joy or sorrow, + To thy father's old dominions? + Here unhappiness awaits thee, + Long departed is thy father, + Dead and gone to visit Ukko, + Dead and gone thy faithful mother, + And thy brother is a stranger, + While his wife is chill and heartless!' + "Heeding not these many warnings, + Straightway to my brother's cottage + Were my weary feet directed, + Laid my hand upon the door-latch + Of my brother's dismal cottage, + But the latch was cold and lifeless. + When I wandered to the chamber, + When I waited at the doorway, + There I saw the heartless hostess, + But she did not give me greeting, + Did not give her hand in welcome; + Proud, alas! was I unhappy, + Did not make the first advances, + Did not offer her my friendship, + And my hand I did not proffer; + Laid my hand upon the oven, + All its former warmth departed! + On the coal I laid my fingers, + All the latent heat had left it. + On the rest-bench lay my brother, + Lay outstretched before the fire-place, + Heaps of soot upon his shoulders, + Heaps of ashes on his forehead. + Thus the brother asked the stranger, + Questioned thus his guest politely: + 'Tell me what thy name and station, + Whence thou comest o'er the waters!' + This the answer that I gave him: + Hast thou then forgot thy sister, + Does my brother not remember, + Not recall his mother's daughter + We are children of one mother, + Of one bird were we the fledgelings, + In one nest were hatched and nurtured.' + "Then the brother fell to weeping, + From his eyes great tear-drops flowing, + To his wife the brother whispered, + Whispered thus unto the housewife. + 'Bring thou beer to give my sister, + Quench her thirst and cheer her spirits.' + "Full of envy, brought the sister + Only water filled with evil, + Water for the infant's eyelids, + Soap and water from the bath-room. + "To his wife the brother whispered, + Whispered thus unto the housewife: + 'Bring thou salmon for my sister, + For my sister so long absent, + Thus to still her pangs of hunger.' + "Thereupon the wife obeying, + Brought, in envy, only cabbage + That the children had been eating, + And the house-dogs had been licking, + Leavings of the black-dog's breakfast. + "Then I left my brother's dwelling, + Hastened to the ancient homestead, + To my mother's home deserted; + Onward, onward did I wander, + Hastened onward by the cold-sea, + Dragged my body on in anguish, + To the cottage-doors of strangers, + To the unfamiliar portals, + For the care of the neglected, + For the needy of the village, + For the children poor and orphaned. + "There are many wicked people, + Many slanderers of women, + Many women evil-minded, + That malign their sex through envy. + Many they with lips of evil, + That belie the best of maidens, + Prove the innocent are guilty + Of the worst of misdemeanors, + Speak aloud in tones unceasing, + Speak, alas! with wicked motives, + Spread the follies of their neighbors + Through the tongues of self-pollution. + Very few, indeed, the people + That will feed the poor and hungry, + That will bid the stranger welcome; + Very few to treat her kindly, + Innocent, and lone, and needy, + Few to offer her a shelter + From the chilling storms of winter, + When her skirts with ice are stiffened, + Coats of ice her only raiment! + "Never in my days of childhood, + Never in my maiden life-time, + Never would believe the story + Though a hundred tongues had told + Though a thousand voices sang it, + That such evil things could happen, + That such misery could follow, + Such misfortune could befall one + Who has tried to do her duty, + Who has tried to live uprightly, + Tried to make her people happy." + Thus the young bride was instructed, + Beauteous Maiden of the Rainbow, + Thus by Osmotar, the teacher. + + + + +RUNE XXIV. + + + + THE BRIDE'S FAREWELL. + + + Osmotar, the bride-instructor, + Gives the wedding-guests this counsel, + Speaks these measures to the bridegroom: + "Ilmarinen, artist-brother, + Best of all my hero-brothers, + Of my mother's sons the dearest, + Gentlest, truest, bravest, grandest, + Listen well to what I tell thee + Of the Maiden of the Rainbow, + Of thy beauteous life-companion + Bridegroom, praise thy fate hereafter, + Praise forever thy good fortune; + If thou praisest, praise sincerely, + Good the maiden thou hast wedded, + Good the bride that Ukko gives thee, + Graciously has God bestowed her. + Sound her praises to thy father, + Praise her virtues to thy mother, + Let thy heart rejoice in secret, + That thou hast the Bride of Beauty, + Lovely Maiden of the Rainbow! + "Brilliant near thee stands the maiden, + At thy shoulder thy companion, + Happy under thy protection, + Beautiful as golden moonlight, + Beautiful upon thy bosom, + Strong to do thy kindly bidding, + Labor with thee as thou wishest, + Rake the hay upon thy meadows, + Keep thy home in full perfection, + Spin for thee the finest linen, + Weave for thee the richest fabrics, + Make for thee the softest raiment, + Make thy weaver's loom as merry + As the cuckoo of the forest; + Make the shuttle glide in beauty + Like the ermine of the woodlands; + Make the spindle twirl as deftly + As the squirrel spins the acorn; + Village-maidens will not slumber + While thy young bride's loom is humming, + While she plies the graceful shuttle. + "Bridegroom of the Bride of Beauty, + Noblest of the Northland heroes, + Forge thyself a scythe for mowing, + Furnish it with oaken handle, + Carve it in thine ancient smithy, + Hammer it upon thine anvil, + Have it ready for the summer, + For the merry days of sunshine; + Take thy bride then to the lowlands, + Mow the grass upon thy meadows, + Rake the hay when it is ready, + Make the reeds and grasses rustle, + Toss the fragrant heads of clover, + Make thy hay in Kalevala + When the silver sun is shining. + "When the time has come for weaving, + To the loom attract the weaver, + Give to her the spools and shuttles, + Let the willing loom be worthy, + Beautiful the frame and settle; + Give to her what may be needed, + That the weaver's song may echo, + That the lathe may swing and rattle, + Ma y be heard within the village, + That the aged may remark it, + And the village-maidens question: + 'Who is she that now is weaving, + What new power now plies the shuttle?' + "Make this answer to the question: + 'It is my beloved weaving, + My young bride that plies the shuttle.' + "Shall the weaver's weft be loosened, + Shall the young bride's loom be tightened? + Do not let the weft be loosened, + Nor the weaver's loom be tightened; + Such the weaving of the daughters + Of the Moon beyond the cloudlets; + Such the spinning of the maidens + Of the Sun in high Jumala, + Of the daughters of the Great Bear, + Of the daughters of the Evening. + Bridegroom, thou beloved hero, + Brave descendant of thy fathers, + When thou goest on a journey, + When thou drivest on the highway, + Driving with the Rainbow-daughter, + Fairest bride of Sariola, + Do not lead her as a titmouse, + As a cuckoo of the forest, + Into unfrequented places, + Into copses of the borders, + Into brier-fields and brambles, + Into unproductive marshes; + Let her wander not, nor stumble + On opposing rocks and rubbish. + Never in her father's dwelling, + Never in her mother's court-yard, + Has she fallen into ditches, + Stumbled hard against the fences, + Run through brier-fields, nor brambles, + Fallen over rocks, nor rubbish. + "Magic bridegroom of Wainola, + Wise descendant of the heroes, + Never let thy young wife suffer, + Never let her be neglected, + Never let her sit in darkness, + Never leave her unattended. + Never in her father's mansion, + In the chambers of her mother, + Has she sat alone in darkness, + Has she suffered for attention; + Sat she by the crystal window, + Sat and rocked, in peace and plenty, + Evenings for her father's pleasure, + Mornings for her mother's sunshine. + Never mayest thou, O bridegroom, + Lead the Maiden of the Rainbow + To the mortar filled with sea-grass, + There to grind the bark for cooking, + There to bake her bread from stubble, + There to knead her dough from tan-bark + Never in her father's dwelling, + Never in her mother's mansion, + Was she taken to the mortar, + There to bake her bread from sea-grass. + Thou shouldst lead the Bride of Beauty + To the garner's rich abundance, + There to draw the till of barley, + Grind the flour and knead for baking, + There to brew the beer for drinking, + Wheaten flour for honey-biscuits. + "Hero-bridegroom of Wainola, + Never cause thy Bride of Beauty + To regret her day of marriage; + Never make her shed a tear-drop, + Never fill her cup with sorrow. + Should there ever come an evening + When thy wife shall feel unhappy, + Put the harness on thy racer, + Hitch the fleet-foot to the snow-sled; + Take her to her father's dwelling, + To the household of her mother; + Never in thy hero-lifetime, + Never while the moonbeams glimmer, + Give thy fair spouse evil treatment, + Never treat her as thy servant; + Do not bar her from the cellar, + Do not lock thy best provisions + Never in her father's mansion, + Never by her faithful mother + Was she treated as a hireling. + Honored bridegroom of the Northland, + Proud descendant of the fathers, + If thou treatest well thy young wife, + Worthily wilt thou be treated; + When thou goest to her homestead, + When thou visitest her father, + Thou shalt meet a cordial welcome. + "Censure not the Bride of Beauty, + Never grieve thy Rainbow-maiden, + Never say in tones reproachful, + She was born in lowly station, + That her father was unworthy; + Honored are thy bride's relations, + From an old-time tribe, her kindred; + When of corn they sowed a measure, + Each one's portion was a kernel; + When they sowed a cask of flax-seed, + Each received a thread of linen. + Never, never, magic husband, + Treat thy beauty-bride unkindly, + Teach her not with lash of servants, + Strike her not with thongs of leather; + Never has she wept in anguish + From the birch-whip of her mother. + Stand before her like a rampart, + Be to her a strong protection, + Do not let thy mother chide her, + Let thy father not upbraid her, + Never let thy guests offend her; + Should thy servants bring annoyance, + They may need the master's censure; + Do not harm the Bride of Beauty, + Never injure her thou lovest; + Three long years hast thou been wooing, + Hoping every mouth to win her. + "Counsel with the bride of heaven, + To thy young wife give instruction, + Kindly teach thy bride in secret, + In the long and dreary evenings, + When thou sittest at the fireside; + Teach one year, in words of kindness, + Teach with eyes of love a second, + In the third year teach with firmness. + If she should not heed thy teaching, + Should not hear thy kindly counsel + After three long years of effort, + Cut a reed upon the lowlands, + Cut a nettle from the border, + Teach thy wife with harder measures. + In the fourth year, if she heed not, + Threaten her with sterner treatment, + With the stalks of rougher edges, + Use not yet the thongs of leather, + Do not touch her with the birch-whip. + If she does not heed this warning, + Should she pay thee no attention, + Cut a rod upon the mountains, + Or a willow in the valleys, + Hide it underneath thy mantle, + That the stranger may not see it, + Show it to thy wife in secret, + Shame her thus to do her duty, + Strike not yet, though disobeying. + Should she disregard this warning, + Still refuse to heed thy wishes, + Then instruct her with the willow, + Use the birch-rod from the mountains + In the closet of thy dwelling, + In the attic of thy mansion; + Strike, her not upon the common, + Do not conquer her in public, + Lest the villagers should see thee, + Lest the neighbors hear her weeping, + And the forests learn thy troubles. + Touch thy wife upon the shoulders, + Let her stiffened back be softened. + Do not touch her on the forehead, + Nor upon the ears, nor visage; + If a ridge be on her forehead, + Or a blue mark on her eyelids, + Then her mother would perceive it, + And her father would take notice, + All the village-workmen see it, + And the village-women ask her + 'Hast thou been in heat of battle, + Hast thou struggled in a conflict, + Or perchance the wolves have torn thee, + Or the forest-bears embraced thee, + Or the black-wolf be thy husband, + And the bear be thy protector?'" + By the fire-place lay a gray-beard, + On the hearth-stone lay a beggar, + And the old man spake as follows: + "Never, never, hero-husband, + Follow thou thy young wife's wishes, + Follow not her inclinations, + As, alas! I did, regretful; + Bought my bride the bread of barley, + Veal, and beer, and best of butter, + Fish and fowl of all descriptions, + Beer I bought, home-brewed and sparkling, + Wheat from all the distant nations, + All the dainties of the Northland; + All of this was unavailing, + Gave my wife no satisfaction, + Often came she to my chamber, + Tore my sable locks in frenzy, + With a visage fierce and frightful, + With her eyeballs flashing anger, + Scolding on and scolding ever, + Ever speaking words of evil, + Using epithets the vilest, + Thought me but a block for chopping. + Then I sought for other measures, + Used on her my last resources, + Cut a birch-whip in the forest, + And she spake in tones endearing; + Cut a juniper or willow, + And she called me 'hero-darling'; + When with lash my wife I threatened, + Hung she on my neck with kisses." + Thus the bridegroom was instructed, + Thus the last advices given. + Then the Maiden of the Rainbow, + Beauteous bride of Ilmarinen, + Sighing heavily and moaning, + Fell to weeping, heavy-hearted, + Spake these words from depths of sorrow: + "Near, indeed, the separation, + Near, alas! the time for parting, + Near the time for my departure; + O the anguish of the parting, + O the pain of separation, + From these walls renowned and ancient, + From this village of the Northland, + From these scenes of peace and plenty, + Where my faithful mother taught me, + Where my father gave instruction + To me in my happy childhood, + When my years were few and tender! + As a child I did not fancy, + Never thought of separation + From the confines of this cottage, + From these dear old hills and mountains, + But, alas! I now must journey, + Since I now cannot escape it; + Empty is the bowl of parting, + All the farewell-beer is taken, + And my husband's sledge is waiting, + With the break-board looking southward, + Looking from my father's dwelling. + "How shall I give compensation, + How repay, on my departure, + All the kindness of my mother, + All the counsel of my father, + All the friendship of my brother, + All my sister's warm affection? + Gratitude to thee, dear father, + For my former-life and blessings, + For the comforts of thy table, + For the pleasures of my childhood! + Gratitude to thee, dear mother, + For thy tender care and guidance, + For my birth and for my culture, + Nurtured by thy purest life-blood! + Gratitude to thee, dear brother, + Gratitude to thee, sweet sister, + To the servants of my childhood, + To my many friends and playmates! + "Never, never, aged father, + Never, thou, beloved mother, + Never, ye, my kindred spirits, + Never harbor care, nor sorrow, + Never fall to bitter weeping, + Since thy child has gone to others, + To the distant home of strangers, + To the meadows of Wainola, + From her father's fields and firesides. + Shines the Sun of the Creator, + Shines the golden Moon of Ukko, + Glitter all the stars of heaven, + In the firmament of ether, + Full as bright on other homesteads; + Not upon my father's uplands, + Not upon my home in childhood, + Shines the Star of Joyance only. + "Now the time has come for parting + From my father's golden firesides, + From my brother's welcome hearth-stone, + From the chambers of my sister, + From my mother's happy dwelling; + Now I leave the swamps and lowlands, + Leave the grassy vales and mountains, + Leave the crystal lakes and rivers, + Leave the shores and sandy shallows, + Leave the white-capped surging billows, + Where the maidens swim and linger, + Where the mermaids sing and frolic; + Leave the swamps to those that wander, + Leave the corn-fields to the plowman, + Leave the forests to the weary, + Leave the heather to the rover, + Leave the copses to the stranger, + Leave the alleys to the beggar, + Leave the court-yards to the rambler, + Leave the portals to the servant, + Leave the matting to the sweeper, + Leave the highways to the roebuck, + Leave the woodland-glens to lynxes, + Leave the lowlands to the wild-geese, + And the birch-tree to the cuckoo. + Now I leave these friends of childhood, + Journey southward with my husband, + To the arms of Night and Winter, + O'er the ice-grown seas of Northland. + "Should I once again, returning, + Pay a visit to my tribe-folk, + Mother would not hear me calling, + Father would not see me weeping, + Calling at my mother's grave-stone, + 'Weeping o'er my buried father, + On their graves the fragrant flowers, + Junipers and mournful willows, + Verdure from my mother's tresses, + From the gray-beard of my father. + "Should I visit Sariola, + Visit once again these borders, + No one here would bid me welcome. + Nothing in these hills would greet me, + Save perchance a few things only, + By the fence a clump of osiers, + And a land-mark at the corner, + Which in early youth I planted, + When a child of little stature. + "Mother's kine perhaps will know me, + Which so often I have watered, + Which I oft have fed and tended, + Lowing now at my departure, + In the pasture cold and cheerless; + Sure my mother's kine will welcome + Northland's daughter home returning. + Father's steeds may not forget me, + Steeds that I have often ridden, + When a maiden free and happy, + Neighing now for me departing, + In the pasture of my brother, + In the stable of my father; + Sure my father's steeds will know me, + Bid Pohyola's daughter welcome. + Brother's faithful dogs may know me, + That I oft have fed and petted, + Dogs that I have taught to frolic, + That now mourn for me departing, + In their kennels in the court-yard, + In their kennels cold and cheerless; + Sure my brother's dogs will welcome + Pohya's daughter home returning. + But the people will not know me, + When I come these scenes to visit, + Though the fords remain as ever, + Though unchanged remain the rivers, + Though untouched the flaxen fish-nets + On the shores await my coming. + "Fare thou well, my dear old homestead, + Fare ye well, my native bowers; + It would give me joy unceasing + Could I linger here forever. + Now farewell, ye halls and portals, + Leading to my father's mansion; + It would give me joy unceasing + Could I linger here forever. + Fare ye well, familiar gardens + Filled with trees and fragrant flowers; + It would give me joy unceasing, + Could I linger here forever. + Send to all my farewell greetings, + To the fields, and groves, and berries; + Greet the meadows with their daisies, + Greet the borders with their fences, + Greet the lakelets with their islands, + Greet the streams with trout disporting, + Greet the hills with stately pine-trees, + And the valleys with their birches. + Fare ye well, ye streams and lakelets, + Fertile fields, and shores of ocean, + All ye aspens on the mountains, + All ye lindens of the valleys, + All ye beautiful stone-lindens, + All ye shade-trees by the cottage, + All ye junipers and willows, + All ye shrubs with berries laden, + Waving grass and fields of barley, + Arms of elms, and oaks, and alders, + Fare ye well, dear scenes of childhood, + Happiness of days departed!" + Ending thus, Pohyola's daughter + Left her native fields and fallows, + Left the darksome Sariola, + With her husband, Ilmarinen, + Famous son of Kalevala. + But the youth remained for singing, + This the chorus of the children: + "Hither came a bird of evil' + Flew in fleetness from the forest, + Came to steal away our virgin, + Came to win the Maid of Beauty; + Took away our fairest flower, + Took our mermaid from the waters, + Won her with his youth and beauty, + With his keys of ancient wisdom. + Who will lead us to the sea-beach, + Who conduct us to the rivers? + Now the buckets will be idle, + On the hooks will rest the fish-poles, + Now unswept will lie the matting, + And unswept the halls of birch-wood, + Copper goblets be unburnished, + Dark the handles of the pitchers, + Fare thou well, dear Rainbow Maiden." + Ilmarinen, happy bridegroom, + Hastened homeward with the daughter + Of the hostess of Pohyola, + With the beauty of the Northland + Fleetly flew the hero's snow-sledge, + Loudly creaked, and roared, and rattled + Down the banks of Northland waters, + By the side of Honey-inlet, + On the back of Sandy Mountain. + Stones went rolling from the highway, + Like the winds the sledge flew onward, + On the yoke rang hoops of iron, + Loud the spotted wood resounded, + Loudly creaked the bands of willow, + All the birchen cross-bars trembled, + And the copper-bells rang music, + In the racing of the fleet-foot, + In the courser's gallop homeward; + Journeyed one day, then a second, + Journeyed still the third day onward, + In one hand the reins of magic, + While the other grasped the maiden, + One foot resting on the cross-bar, + And the other in the fur-robes. + Merrily the steed flew homeward, + Quickly did the highways shorten, + Till at last upon the third day, + As the sun was fast declining, + There appeared the blacksmith's furnace, + Nearer, Ilmarinen's dwelling, + Smoke arising high in ether, + Clouds of smoke to lofty heaven, + From the village of Wainola, + From the suitor's forge and smithy, + From the chimneys of the hero, + From the home of the successful. + + + +GLOSSARY. + + + Aar'ni (Ar'ni). The guardian of hidden treasures. + A-ha'va. The West-wind; the father of the swift dogs. + Ah'ti. The same as Lemminkainen. + Ah'to. The great god of the waters. + Ah'to-la. The water-castle of Ahto and his people. + Ah'to-lai'set. The inhabitants of Ahtola. + Ai-nik'ki. A sister of Ahti. + Ai'no (i'no). Youkahainen's sister. + An'te-ro. A goddess of the waves. + Ai'ue-lake. The lake into which the Fire-child falls. + An-nik'ki. Ilmarinen's sister. + An'te-ro. Another name for Wipanen, or Antero Wipunen. + Dus'ter-land. The Northland; Pimentola. + Et'e-le'tar. A daugter of the South-wind. + Fire-Child. A synonym of Panu. + Frost. The English for Pakkanen. + Hal'lap-yo'ra. A lake in Finland. + Hal'ti-a (plural Haltiat). The Genius of Finnish mythology. + Het'e-wa'ne. The Finnish name of the Pleiades. + Hi'si (original Hiisi). The Evil Principle; also called Jutas, Lempo, + and Piru. + Mon'ja-tar. The daughter of the Pine-tree. + Hor'na. A sacred rock in Finland. + I'ku-Tur'so. An evil giant of the sea. + Il'ma-ri'nem. The worker of the metals; a brother of Wainamoinen. + Il'ma-tar. Daughter of the Air, and mother of Wainamoinen. + Il'po-tar. Believed to be the daughter of the Snow flake; the same as + Louhi. + Im-a'tra. A celebrated waterfall near Wiborg. + In'ger-land. The present St. Petersburg. + Ja'men (Ya'men). A river of Finland. + Jor'dan. Curiously, the river of Palestine. + Jou'ka-hai'nen (You-ka-hai'nen). A celebrated minstrel of Pohyola. + Jou-ko'la (You-ko'la). The home or dwelling of Youkahainen. + Ju-ma'la (You-ma'la). Originally the heavens, then the god of the + heavens, and finally God. + Ju'tas (yu'tas). The Evil Principle; Hisi, Piru, and Lempo are + synonyms, + Kai'to-lai'nen. A son of the god of metals; from his spear came the + tongue of the serpent. + Ka-ler'vo. The father of Kullervo. + Ka-le'va (Kalewai'nen). The father of heroes; a hero in general. + Kal'e-va'la (kaleva, hero, and la, the place of). The land of heroes; + the name of the epic poem of Finland. + Kal'e-va'tar (Kalewa'tar). Daughter of Kaleva. + Kal-e'vo. The same as Kaleva. + Ka'lew. Often used for Kaleva. + Kal'ma. The god of death. + Kam'mo. The father of Kimmo. + Kan'ka-hat'ta-ret. The goddesses of weaving. + Ka'pe. A synonym of Ilmatar, the mother of Wainamoinen. + Ka'po. A synonym of Osmotar. + Ka-re'len. A province of Finland. + Kar-ja'la, (karya'la). The seat of the waterfall, Kaatrakoski. + Kat'e-ja'tar (kataya'tar). The daughter of the Pine-tree. + Kat'ra-kos'ki (Kaatrakos'ki). A waterfall in Karjala. + Kau'ko. The same as Kaukomieli. + Kau'ko-miel'li. The same as Lemminkainen. + Kaup'pi. The Snowshoe-builder; Lylikki. + Ke'mi. A river of Finland. + Kim'mo. A name for the cow; the daughter of Kammo, the patron of the + rocks. + Ki'pu-ki'vi. The name of the rock at Hell-river, beneath which the + spirits of all diseases are imprisoned. + Kir'kon-Woe'ki. Church dwarfs living under altars. + Knik'ka-no. Same as Knippana. + Knip'pa-no. Same as Tapio. + Koot'a-moi'nen. The Moon. + Kos'ken-nei'ti. The goddess of the cataract. + Kul-ler'vo. The vicious son of Kalervo. + Kul'ler-woi'nen. The same as Kullervo. + Kul'li. A beautiful daughter of Sahri. + Kun. The Moon, and the Moon-god. + Kun'tar. One of the daughters of the Moon. + Ku'ra (Kuura). The Hoar-frost; also called Tiera, a ball of ice. + Kul-lik'ki (also Kyl'li). The Sahri-maiden whom Lemminkainen + kidnapped. + Lak'ka. Mother of Ilmarinen. + Lak-ko. The hostess of Kalevala. + Lem'min-kai'nen. One of the brothers of Wainamoinen; a son of Lempi. + Lem'pi-bay. A bay of Finland. + Lem'po. The Evil Principle; same as Hisi, Piru, and Jutas. + Lin'nun-ra'ta (Bird-way). The Milky-way. + Lou'hi. The hostess of Pohyola. + Low-ya'tar. Tuoni's blind daughter, and the originator of the Plagues. + Lu'on-no'tar. One of the mystic maidens, and the nurse of Wainamoinen. + Lu'o-to'la. A bay of Finland, named with Joukola. + Ly-lik'ki (Lyylik'ki). Maker of the snow-shoe. + Maan-e'mo (man-e'mo). The mother of the Earth. + Ma'hi-set (Maa'hi-set). The invisibly small deities of Finnish + mythology. + Mam'me-lai'nen. The goddess of hidden treasures. + Ma'na. A synonym of Tuoni, the god of death. + Man'a-lai'nen. The same as Mana. + Masr'i-at'ta (marja, berry). The Virgin Mary of Finnish mythology. + Mat'ka-Tep'po. The road-god. + Meh'i-lai'nen. The honey-bee. + Mel'a-tar. The goddess of the helm. + Met'so-la. The same as Tapiola, the abode of the god of the forest, + Mie-lik'ki. The hostess of the forest. + Mi-merk'ki. A synonym of Mielikki. + Mosk'va. A province of Suomi. + Mu-rik'ki (Muurik'ki). The name of the cow. + Ne'wa. A river of Finland. + Ny-rik'ki. A son of Tapio. + Os'mo. The same as Osmoinen. + Os-noi'nen. A synonym of Wainola's hero. + Os'mo-tar. The daughter of Osmo; she directs the brewing of the beer + for Ilmarinen's wedding-feast. + O-ta'va. The Great Bear of the heavens. + Ot'so. The bear of Finland. + Poe'ivoe. The Sun, and the Sun god. + Pai'va-tar. The goddess of the summer. + Pak'ka-nen. A synonym of Kura. + Pal-woi'nen. A synonym of Turi, and also of Wirokannas. + Pa'nu. The Fire-Child, born from the sword of Ukko. + Pa'ra. A tripod-deity, presiding over milk and cheese. + Pel'ler-woi'nen. The sower of the forests. + Pen'i-tar. A blind witch of Pohyola; and the mother of the dog. + Pik'ku Mies. The water-pigmy that felled the over-spreading oak-tree + for Wainamoinen. + Pil'a-ya'tar (Pilaja'tar). The daughter of the Aspen; and the goddess + of the Mountain-ash. + Pilt'ti. The maid-servant of Mariatta. + Pi'men-to'la. A province of Finland; another name for Pohyola. + Pi'ru. The same as Lempo, Jutas, and Hisi. + Pi'sa. A mountain of Finland. + Poh'ya (Poh'ja). An abbreviated form for Pohyola. + Poh-yo'la (Poh-jo'la). The Northland; Lapland. + Pok-ka'nen. The Frost, the son of Puhuri; a synonym of Tiera. + Puh-hu'ri. The North-wind; the father of Pokkanen. + Rem'men. The father of the hop-vine. + Re'mu. The same as Remmen. + Ru-o'tus. A persecutor of the Virgin Mariatta. + Rut'ya (Rut'ja). A waterfall of Northland. + Sah'ri (Saari). The home of Kyllikki. + Sam'po. The jewel that Ilmarinen forges from the magic metals; a + talisman of success to the possessor; a continual source of strife + between the tribes of the North. + Samp'sa. A synonym of Pellerwoinen. + Sa'ra. The same as Sariola. + Sar'i-o'la. The same as Pohyola. + Sat'ka. A goddess of the sea. + Sa'wa (Sa'wo). The eastern part of Finland. + Sim'a Pil'li (Honey-flute). The flute of Sima-suu. + Sim'a-Suu. One of the maidens of Tapio. + Sin'e-tar. The goddess of the blue sky. + Si-net'ta-ret. The goddesses of dyeing. + Suk'ka-mie'li. The goddess of love. + Suo'mi (swo'mi). The ancient abode of the Finns. + Suo'ne-tar (swone-tar). The goddess of the veins. + Suo-wak'ko. An old wizard of Pohyola. + Suo'ya-tar (Syo'jatar). The mother of the serpent. + Su've-tar (Suve, summer). Goddess of the South-wind + Su-wan'to-lai'nen. Another name for Wainamoinen. + Taeh'ti. The Polar Star. + Ta-he'tar. The daughter of the Stars. + Tai'vas. The firmament in general. + Ta-ni'ka. A magic mansion of Pohja. + Ta'pi-o. The god of the forest. + Tel-le'rvo. A daughter of Tapio. + Ter'he-ne'tar. Daughter of the Fog. + Tie'ra. Same as Kura; the Hoar-frost. + Tont'tu. A little house-spirit. + Tu'a-me'tar. Daughter of the Alder-tree. + Tu-le'tar (Tuule'tar). A goddess of the winds. + Tu-lik'ki (Tuullk'ki). One of the daughters of Tapio. + Tu'o-ne'la. The abode of Tuoni. + Tuo'nen Poi'ka. The son of Tuoni. + Tu'o-ne'tar. The hostess of Death-land; a daughter of Tuoni. + Tu-o'ni. The god of death. + Tu'ri (Tuuri). The god of the Honey-land. + Turja (tur'ya). Another name for Pohya. + Tur'ya-lan'der. An epithet for one of the tribe of Louhi. + Tur'ya (Tyrja). A name for the waterfall of Rutya. + Uk'ko. The Great Spirit of Finnish mythology; his abode is in Jumala. + Uk'on-koi'va (Ukko's dog). The messenger of Ukko; the butterfly. + U'lap-pa'la. Another term for the abode of Tuoni. + Un'du-tar. Goddess of the fog. + U'ni. The god of sleep. + Un'ta-ma'la. A synonym for "the dismal Sariola." + Un-ta'mo. The god of dreams; the dreamer; a brother of Kalervo, and + his enemy. + Un'tar. The same as Undutar. + Un'to. The same as Untamo. + Utu-tyt'to. The same as Undutar. + Wai'nam-oi'nen (Vainamoinen). The chief hero of the Kalevala; the + hero of Wainola, whose mother, Ilmatar, fell from the air into the + ocean. + Wai'no (Vai'no). The same as Wainamoinen. + Wai-no'la. The home of Wainamoinen and his people; a synonym of + Kalevala. + Wel-la'mo. The hostess of the waters. + Wet'e-hi'nen. An evil god of the sea. + Wi-pu'nen (Vipu'nen). An old song-giant that swallowed Wainamoinen + searching for the "lost words." + Wi'ro-kan'nas (Virokan'nas). Ruler of the wilderness; the slayer of + the huge bull of Suomi; the priest that baptizes the son of Mariatta. + Wo'ya-lan'der (Vuojalan'der). An epithet for Laplander. + Wuok'sen (Vuo'ksen). A river in the east of Finland. + Wuok'si. The same as Wuoksen. + + + + +THE END. + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Kalevala: the Epic Poem of Finland -- +Volume 01, by Elias Lönnrot + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK KALEVALA: EPIC POEM OF FINLAND *** + +***** This file should be named 5184-8.txt or 5184-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/5/1/8/5184/ + +Produced by John B. Hare and Carrie R. 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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: the Epic Poem of Finland -- Volume 01 + +Author: Elias Loennrot + +Translator: John Martin Crawford + +Posting Date: September 20, 2010 [EBook #5184] +Release Date: February, 2004 +First Posted: May 31, 2002 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK KALEVALA: EPIC POEM OF FINLAND *** + + + + +Produced by John B. Hare and Carrie R. Lorenz. + + + + + + + + +THE KALEVALA + +THE + +EPIC POEM OF FINLAND + +INTO ENGLISH + +BY + +JOHN MARTIN CRAWFORD + +[1888] + + +TO + +DR. J.D. BUCK, + +AN ENCOURAGING AND UNSELFISH FRIEND, +AND TO +HIS AFFECTIONATE FAMILY, + +THESE PAGES +ARE GRATEFULLY INSCRIBED. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + + PREFACE + + PROEM + RUNE I. Birth of Wainamoinen + RUNE II. Wainamoinen's Sowing + RUNE III. Wainamoinen and Youkahainen + RUNE IV. The Fate of Aino + RUNE V. Wainamoinen's Lamentation + RUNE VI. Wainamoinen's Hapless Journey + RUNE VII. Wainamoinen's Rescue + RUNE VIII. Maiden of the Rainbow + RUNE IX. Origin of Iron + RUNE X. Ilmarinen forges the Sampo + RUNE XI. Lemminkainen's Lament + RUNE XII. Kyllikki's Broken Vow + RUNE XIII. Lemminkainen's Second Wooing + RUNE XIV. Death of Lemminkainen + RUNE XV. Lemminkainen's Restoration + RUNE XVI. Wainainoinen's Boat-building + RUNE XVII. Wainamoinen finds the Lost Word + RUNE XVIII. The Rival Suitors + RUNE XIX. Ilmarinen's Wooing + RUNE XX. The Brewing of Beer + RUNE XXI. Ilmarinen's Wedding-feast + RUNE XXII. The Bride's Farewell + RUNE XXIII. Osmotar, the Bride-adviser + RUNE XXIV. The Bride's Farewell + RUNE XXV. Wainamoinen's Wedding-songs + RUNE XXVI. Origin of the Serpent + RUNE XXVII. The Unwelcome Guest + RUNE XXVIII. The Mother's Counsel + RUNE XXIX. The Isle of Refuge + RUNE XXX. The Frost-fiend + RUNE XXXI. Kullerwoinen, Son of Evil + RUNE XXXII. Kullervo as a Shepherd + RUNE XXXIII. Kullervo and the Cheat-cake + RUNE XXXIV. Kullervo finds his Tribe-folk + RUNE XXXV. Kullervo's Evil Deeds + RUNE XXXVI. Kullerwoinen's Victory and Death + RUNE XXXVII Ilmarinen's Bride of Gold + RUNE XXXVIII. Ilmarinen's Fruitless Wooing + RUNE XXXIX. Wainamoinen's Sailing + RUNE XL. Birth of the Harp + RUNE XLI. Wainamoinen's Harp-songs + RUNE XLII. Capture of the Sampo + RUNE XLIII. The Sampo lost in the Sea + RUNE XLIV. Birth of the Second Harp + RUNE XLV. Birth of the Nine Diseases + RUNE XLVI. Otso the Honey-eater + RUNE XLVII. Louhi steals Sun, Moon, and Fire + RUNE XLVIII. Capture of the Fire-fish + RUNE XLIX. Restoration of the Sun and Moon + RUNE L. Mariatta--Wainamoinen's Departure + + EPILOGUE + + + + +PREFACE. + + +The following translation was undertaken from a desire to lay before +the English-speaking people the full treasury of epical beauty, +folklore, and mythology comprised in The Kalevala, the national epic of +the Finns. A brief description of this peculiar people, and of their +ethical, linguistic, social, and religious life, seems to be called for +here in order that the following poem may be the better understood. + +Finland (Finnish, Suomi or Suomenmaa, the swampy region, of which +Finland, or Fen-land is said to be a Swedish translation,) is at +present a Grand-Duchy in the north-western part of the Russian empire, +bordering on Olenetz, Archangel, Sweden, Norway, and the Baltic Sea, +its area being more than 144,000 square miles, and inhabited by some +2,000,000 of people, the last remnants of a race driven back from the +East, at a very early day, by advancing tribes. The Finlanders live in +a land of marshes and mountains, lakes and rivers, seas, gulfs, +islands, and inlets, and they call themselves Suomilainen, +Fen-dwellers. The climate is more severe than that of Sweden. The +mean yearly temperature in the north is about 27 deg.F., and about 38 +deg.F., at Helsingfors, the capital of Finland. In the southern +districts the winter is seven months long, and in the northern +provinces the sun disappears entirely during the months of December +and January. + +The inhabitants are strong and hardy, with bright, intelligent faces, +high cheek-bones, yellow hair in early life, and with brown hair in +mature age. With regard to their social habits, morals, and manners, +all travellers are unanimous in speaking well of them. Their temper is +universally mild; they are slow to anger, and when angry they keep +silence. They are happy-hearted, affectionate to one another, and +honorable and honest in their dealings with strangers. They are a +cleanly people, being much given to the use of vapor-baths. This trait +is a conspicuous note of their character from their earliest history to +the present day. Often in the runes of The Kalevala reference is made +to the "cleansing and healing virtues of the vapors of the heated +bathroom." + +The skull of the Finn belongs to the brachycephalic (short-headed) +class of Retzius. Indeed the Finn-organization has generally been +regarded as Mongol, though Mongol of a modified type. His color is +swarthy, and his eyes are gray. He is not inhospitable, but not +over-easy of access; nor is he a friend of new fashions. Steady, +careful, laborious, he is valuable in the mine, valuable in the field, +valuable oil shipboard, and, withal, a brave soldier on land. + +The Finns are a very ancient people. It is claimed, too, that they +began earlier than any other European nation to collect and preserve +their ancient folk-lore. Tacitus, writing in the very beginning of the +second century of the Christian era, mentions the Fenni, as he calls +them, in the 46th chapter of his De Moribus Germanoram. He says of +them: "The Finns are extremely wild, and live in abject poverty. They +have no arms, no horses, no dwellings; they live on herbs, they clothe +themselves in skins, and they sleep on the ground. Their only +resources are their arrows, which for the lack of iron are tipped with +bone." Strabo and the great geographer, Ptolemy, also mention this +curious people. There is evidence that at one time they were spread +over large portions of Europe and western Asia. + +Perhaps it should be stated here that the copper, so often mentioned in +The Kalevala, when taken literally, was probably bronze, or "hardened +copper," the amount and quality of the alloy used being not now known. +The prehistoric races of Europe were acquainted with bronze implements. + +It may be interesting to note in this connection that Canon Isaac +Taylor, and Professor Sayce have but very recently awakened great +interest in this question, in Europe especially, by the reading of +papers before the British Philological Association, in which they argue +in favor of the Finnic origin of the Aryans. For this new theory these +scholars present exceedingly strong evidence, and they conclude that +the time of the separation of the Aryan from the Finnic stock must have +been more than five thousand years ago. + +The Finnish nation has one of the most sonorous and flexible of +languages. Of the cultivated tongues of Europe, the Magyar, or +Hungarian, bears the most positive signs of a deep-rooted similarity to +the Finnish. Both belong to the Ugrian stock of agglutinative +languages, i.e., those which preserve the root most carefully, and +effect all changes of grammar by suffixes attached to the original +stein. Grimin has shown that both Gothic and Icelandic present traces +of Finnish influence. + +The musical element of a language, the vowels, are well developed in +Finnish, and their due sequence is subject to strict rules of euphony. +The dotted o; (equivalent to the French eu) of the first syllable must +be followed by an e or an i. The Finnish, like all Ugrian tongues, +admits rhyme, but with reluctance, and prefers alliteration. Their +alphabet consists of but nineteen letters, and of these, b, c, d, f, g, +are found only in a few foreign words, and many others are never found +initial. + +One of the characteristic features of this language, and one that is +likewise characteristic of the Magyar, Turkish, Mordvin, and other +kindred tongues, consists in the frequent use of endearing diminutives. + By a series of suffixes to the names of human beings, birds, fishes, +trees, plants, stones, metals, and even actions, events, and feelings, +diminutives are obtained, which by their form, present the names so +made in different colors; they become more naive, more childlike, +eventually more roguish, or humorous, or pungent. These traits can +scarcely be rendered in English; for, as Robert Ferguson remarks: "The +English language is not strong in diminutives, and therefore it lacks +some of the most effective means for the expression of affectionate, +tender, and familiar relations." In this respect all translations from +the Finnish into English necessarily must fall short of the original. +The same might be said of the many emotional interjections in which the +Finnish, in common with all Ugrian dialects, abounds. With the +exception of these two characteristics of the Ugrian languages, the +chief beauties of the Finnish verse admit of an apt rendering into +English. The structure of the sentences is very simple indeed, and +adverbs and adjectives are used sparingly. + +Finnish is the language of a people who live pre-eminently close to +nature, and are at home amongst the animals of the wilderness, beasts +and birds, winds, and woods, and waters, falling snows, and flying +sands, and rolling rocks, and these are carefully distinguished by +corresponding verbs of ever-changing acoustic import. Conscious of the +fact that, in a people like the Finns where nature and nature-worship +form the centre of all their life, every word connected with the powers +and elements of nature must be given its fall value, great care has +been taken in rendering these finely shaded verbs. A glance at the +mythology of this interesting people will place the import of this +remark in better view. + +In the earliest age of Suomi, it appears that the people worshiped the +conspicuous objects in nature under their respective, sensible forms. +All beings were persons. The Sun, Moon, Stars, the Earth, the Air, and +the Sea, were to the ancient Finns, living, self-conscious beings. +Gradually the existence of invisible agencies and energies was +recognized, and these were attributed to superior persons who lived +independent of these visible entities, but at the same time were +connected with them. The basic idea in Finnish mythology seems to lie +in this: that all objects in nature are governed by invisible deities, +termed haltiat, regents or genii. These haltiat, like members of the +human family, have distinctive bodies and spirits; but the minor ones +are somewhat immaterial and formless, and their existences are entirely +independent of the objects in which they are particularly interested. +They are all immortal, but they rank according to the relative +importance of their respective charges. The lower grades of the +Finnish gods are sometimes subservient to the deities of greater +powers, especially to those who rule respectively the air, the water, +the field, and the forest. Thus, Pilajatar, the daughter of the aspen, +although as divine as Tapio, the god of the woodlands, is necessarily +his servant. + One of the most notable characteristics of the Finnish mythology is +the interdependence among the gods. "Every deity", says Castren, +"however petty he may be, rules in his own sphere as a substantial, +independent power, or, to speak in the spirit of The Kalevala, as a +self-ruling householder. The god of the Polar-star only governs an +insignificant spot in the vault of the sky, but on this spot he knows +no master." + +The Finnish deities, like the ancient gods of Italy and Greece, are +generally represented in pairs, and all the gods are probably wedded. +They have their individual abodes and are surrounded by their +respective families. The Primary object of worship among the early +Finns was most probably the visible sky with its sun, moon, and stars, +its aurora-lights, its thunders and its lightnings. The heavens +themselves were thought divine. Then a personal deity of the heavens, +coupled with the name of his abode, was the next conception; finally +this sky-god was chosen to represent the supreme Ruler. To the sky, +the sky-god, and the supreme God, the term Jumala (thunder-home) was +given. + +In course of time, however, when the Finns came to have more purified +ideas about religion, they called the sky Taivas and the sky-god Ukko. +The word, Ukko, seems related to the Magyar Agg, old, and meant, +therefore, an old being, a grandfather; but ultimately it came to be +used exclusively as the name of the highest of the Finnish deities. +Frost, snow, hail, ice, wind and rain, sunshine and shadow, are thought +to come from the hands of Ukko. He controls the clouds; he is called +in The Kalevala, "The Leader of the Clouds," "The Shepherd of the +Lamb-Clouds," "The God of the Breezes," "The Golden King," "The Silvern +Ruler of the Air," and "The Father of the Heavens." He wields the +thunder-bolts, striking down the spirits of evil on the mountains, and +is therefore termed, "The Thunderer," like the Greek Zeus, and his +abode is called, "The Thunder-Home." Ukko is often represented as +sitting upon a cloud in the vault of the sky, and bearing on his +shoulders the firmament, and therefore he is termed, "The Pivot of the +Heavens." He is armed as an omnipotent warrior; his fiery arrows are +forged from copper, the lightning is his sword, and the rainbow his +bow, still called Ukkon Kaari. Like the German god, Thor, Ukko swings +a hammer; and, finally, we find, in a vein of familiar symbolism, that +his skirt sparkles with fire, that his stockings are blue, and his +shoes, crimson colored. + +In the following runes, Ukko here and there interposes. Thus, when the +Sun and Moon were stolen from the heavens, and hidden away in a cave of +the copper-bearing mountain, by the wicked hostess of the dismal +Sariola, he, like Atlas in the mythology of Greece, relinquishes the +support of the heavens, thunders along the borders of the darkened +clouds, and strikes fire from his sword to kindle a new sun and a new +moon. Again, when Lemminkainen is hunting the fire-breathing horse of +Piru, Ukko, invoked by the reckless hero, checks the speed of the +mighty courser by opening the windows of heaven, and showering upon him +flakes of snow, balls of ice, and hailstones of iron. Usually, +however, Ukko prefers to encourage a spirit of independence among his +worshipers. Often we find him, in the runes, refusing to heed the call +of his people for help, as when Ilmatar, the daughter of the air, +vainly invoked him to her aid, that Wainamoinen, already seven hundred +years unborn, might be delivered. So also Wainamoinen beseeches Ukko +in vain to check the crimson streamlet flowing from his knee wounded by +an axe in the hands of Hisi. Ukko, however, with all his power, is by +no means superior to the Sun, Moon, and other bodies dwelling in the +heavens; they are uninfluenced by him, and are considered deities in +their own right. Thus, Paeivae means both sun and sun-god; Kun means +moon and moon-god; and Taehti and Ottava designate the Polar-star and +the Great Bear respectively, as well as the deities of these bodies. + +The Sun and the Moon have each a consort, and sons, and daughters. Two +sons only of Paeivae appear in The Kalevala, one comes to aid +Wainamoinen in his efforts to destroy the mystic Fire-fish, by throwing +from the heavens to the girdle of the hero, a "magic knife, +silver-edged, and golden-handled;" the other son, Panu, the Fire-child, +brings back to Kalevala the fire that bad been stolen by Louhi, the +wicked hostess of Pohyola. From this myth Castren argues that the +ancient Finns regarded fire as a direct emanation from the Sun. The +daughters of the Sun, Moon, Great Bear, Polar-star, and of the other +heavenly dignitaries, are represented as ever-young and beautiful +maidens, sometimes seated on the bending branches of the forest-trees, +sometimes on the crimson rims of the clouds, sometimes on the rainbow, +sometimes on the dome of heaven. These daughters are believed to be +skilled to perfection in the arts of spinning and weaving, +accomplishments probably attributed to them from the fanciful likeness +of the rays of light to the warp of the weaver's web. + +The Sun's career of usefulness and beneficence in bringing light and +life to Northland is seldom varied. Occasionally he steps from his +accustomed path to give important information to his suffering +worshipers. For example, when the Star and the Moon refuse the +information, the Sun tells the Virgin Mariatta, where her golden infant +lies bidden. + + + "Yonder is thy golden infant, + There thy holy babe lies sleeping, + Hidden to his belt in water, + Hidden in the reeds and rushes." + + +Again when the devoted mother of the reckless hero, Lemminkainen, +(chopped to pieces by the Sons Of Nana, as in the myth of Osiris) was +raking together the fragments of his body from the river of Tuoui, and +fearing that the sprites of the Death-stream might resent her +intrusion, the Sun, in answer to her entreaties, throws his Powerful +rays upon the dreaded Shades, and sinks them into a deep sleep, while +the mother gathers up the fragments of her son's body in safety. This +rune of the Kalevala is particularly interesting as showing the belief +that the dead can be restored to life through the blissful light of +heaven. + +Among the other deities of the air are the Luonnotars, mystic maidens, +three of whom were created by the rubbing of Ukko's hands upon his left +knee. They forthwith walk the crimson borders of the clouds, and one +sprinkles white milk, one sprinkles red milk, and the third sprinkles +black milk over the hills and mountains; thus they become the "mothers +of iron," as related in the ninth rune of The Kalevala. In the highest +regions of the heavens, Untar, or Undutar, has her abode, and presides +over mists and fogs. These she passes through a silver sieve before +sending them to the earth. There are also goddesses of the winds, one +especially noteworthy, Suvetar (suve, south, summer), the goddess of +the south-wind. She is represented as a kind-hearted deity, healing +her sick and afflicted followers with honey, which she lets drop from +the clouds, and she also keeps watch over the herds grazing in the +fields and forests. +Second only to air, water is the element held most in reverence by the +Finns and their kindred tribes. "It could hardly be otherwise," says +Castren, "for as soon as the soul of the savage began to suspect that +the godlike is spiritual, super-sensual, then, even though he continues +to pay reverence to matter, he in general values it the more highly the +less compact it is. He sees on the one hand how easy it is to lose his +life on the surging waves, and on the other, he sees that from these +same waters he is nurtured, and his life prolonged." Thus it is that +the map of Finland is to this day full of names like Pyhojarvi (sacred +lake) and Pyhajoki (sacred river). Some of the Finlanders still offer +goats and calves to these sacred waters; and many of the Ugrian clans +still sacrifice the reindeer to the river Ob. In Esthonia is a +rivulet, Vohanda, held in such reverence that until very recently, none +dared to fell a tree or cut a shrub in its immediate vicinity, lest +death should overtake the offender within a year, in punishment for his +sacrilege. The lake, Eim, is still held sacred by the Esthonians, and +the Eim-legend is thus told by F. Thiersch, quoted also by Grimm and by +Mace da Charda: + + +"Savage, evil men dwelt by its borders. They neither mowed the meadows +which it watered, nor sowed the fields which it made fruitful, but +robbed and murdered, insomuch that its clear waves grew dark with the +blood of the slaughtered men. Then did the lake Him mourn, and one +evening it called together all its fishes, and rose aloft with them +into the air. When the robbers heard the sound, they exclaimed: 'Eim +hath arisen; let us gather its fishes and treasures.' But the fishes +had departed with the lake, and nothing was found on the bottom but +snakes, and lizards, and toads. And Eim rose higher, and higher, and +hastened through the air like a white cloud. And the hunters in the +forest said: 'What bad weather is coming on!' The herdsmen said: 'What +a white swan is flying above there!' For the whole night the lake +hovered among the stars, and in the morning the reapers beheld it +sinking. And from the swan grew a white ship, and from the ship a dark +train of clouds; and a voice came from the waters: 'Get thee hence with +thy harvest, for I will dwell beside thee.' Then they bade the lake +welcome, if it would only bedew their fields and meadows; and it sank +down and spread itself out in its home to the full limits. Then the +lake made all the neighborhood fruitful, and the fields became green, +and the people danced around it, so that the old men grew joyous as the +youth." + + +The chief water-god is Ahto, on the etymology of which the Finnish +language throws little light. It is curiously like Ahti, another name +for the reckless Lemminkainen. This water-god, or "Wave-host," as he +is called, lives with his "cold and cruel-hearted spouse," Wellamo, at +the bottom of the sea, in the chasms of the Salmon-rocks, where his +palace, Ahtola, is constructed. Besides the fish that swim in his +dominions, particularly the salmon, the trout, the whiting, the perch, +the herring, and the white-fish, he possesses a priceless treasure in +the Sampo, the talisman of success, which Louhi, the hostess of +Pohyola, dragged into the sea in her efforts to regain it from the +heroes of Kalevala. Ever eager for the treasures of others, and +generally unwilling to return any that come into his possession, Ahto +is not incapable of generosity. For example, once when a shepherd lad +was whittling a stick on the bank of a river, he dropped his knife into +the stream. Ahto, as in the fable, "Mercury and the Woodman," moved by +the tears of the unfortunate lad, swam to the scene, dived to the +bottom, brought up a knife of gold, and gave it to the young shepherd. +Innocent and honest, the herd-boy said the knife was not his. Then +Ahto dived again, and brought up a knife of silver, which he gave to +the lad, but this in turn was not accepted. Thereupon the Wave-host +dived again, and the third time brought the right knife to the boy who +gladly recognized his own, and received it with gratitude. To the +shepherd-lad Ahto gave the three knives as a reward for his honesty. + +A general term for the other water-hosts living not only in the sea, +but also in the rivers, lakes, cataracts, and fountains, is Ahtolaiset +(inhabitants of Ahtola), "Water-people," "People of the Foam and +Billow," "Wellamo's Eternal People." Of these, some have specific +names; as Allotar (wave-goddess), Koskenneiti (cataract-maiden), +Melatar (goddess of the helm), and in The Kalevala these are sometimes +personally invoked. Of these minor deities, Pikku Mies (the Pigmy) is +the most noteworthy. Once when the far-outspreading branches of the +primitive oak-tree shut out the light of the sun from Northland, Pikku +Mies, moved by the entreaties of Wainamoinen, emerged from the sea in a +suit of copper, with a copper hatchet in his belt, quickly grew from a +pigmy to a gigantic hero, and felled the mighty oak with the third +stroke of his axe. In general the water-deities are helpful and full +of kindness; some, however, as Wetehilien and Iku-Turso, find their +greatest pleasure in annoying and destroying their fellow-beings. + +Originally the Finlanders regarded the earth as a godlike existence +with personal powers, and represented as a beneficent mother bestowing +peace and plenty on all her worthy worshipers. In evidence of this we +find the names, Maa-emae (mother-earth), and Maan-emo (mother of the +earth), given to the Finnish Demeter. She is always represented as a +goddess of great powers, and, after suitable invocation, is ever +willing and able to help her helpless sufferers. She is according to +some mythologists espoused to Ukko, who bestows upon her children the +blessings of sunshine and rain, as Ge is wedded to Ouranos, Jordh to +Odhin, and Papa to Rangi. + +Of the minor deities of the earth, who severally govern the plants, +such as trees, rye, flax, and barley, Wirokannas only is mentioned in +The Kalevala. Once, for example, this "green robed Priest of the +Forest" abandoned for a time his presidency over the cereals in order +to baptize the infant-son of the Virgin Mariatta. Once again +Wirokannas left his native sphere of action, this time making a most +miserable and ludicrous failure, when he emerged from the wilderness +and attempted to slay the Finnish Taurus, as described in the runes +that follow. The agricultural deities, however, receive but little +attention from the Finns, who, with their cold and cruel winters, and +their short but delightful summers, naturally neglect the cultivation +of the fields, for cattle-raising, fishing, and hunting. + +The forest deities proper, however, are held in high veneration. Of +these the chief is Tapio, "The Forest-Friend," "The Gracious God of the +Woodlands." He is represented as a very tall and slender divinity, +wearing a long, brown board, a coat of tree-moss, and a high-crowned +hat of fir-leaves. His consort is Mielikki, "The Honey-rich Mother of +the Woodland," "The Hostess of the Glen and Forest." When the hunters +were successful she was represented as beautiful and benignant, her +hands glittering with gold and silver ornaments, wearing ear-rings and +garlands of gold, with hair-bands silver-tinseled, on her forehead +strings of pearls, and with blue stockings on her feet, and red strings +in her shoes. But if the game-bag came back empty, she was described +as a hateful, hideous thing, robed in untidy rags, and shod with straw. + She carries the keys to the treasury of Metsola, her husband's abode, +and her bountiful chest of honey, the food of all the forest-deities, +is earnestly sought for by all the weary hunters of Suomi. These +deities are invariably described as gracious and tender-hearted, +probably because they are all females with the exception of Tapio and +his son, Nyrikki, a tall and stately youth who is engaged in building +bridges over marshes and forest-streams, through which the herds must +pass on their way to the woodland-pastures. Nyrikki also busies +himself in blazing the rocks and the trees to guide the heroes to their +favorite hunting-grounds. Sima-suu (honey-mouth), one of the tiny +daughters of Tapio, by playing on her Sima-pilli (honey-flute), also +acts as guide to the deserving hunters. + +Hiisi, the Finnish devil, bearing also the epithets, Juntas, Piru, and +Lempo, is the chief of the forest-demons, and is inconceivably wicked. +He was brought into the world consentaneously with Suoyatar, from whose +spittle, as sung in The Kalevala, he formed the serpent. This demon is +described as cruel, horrible, hideous, and bloodthirsty, and all the +most painful diseases and misfortunes that ever afflict mortals are +supposed to emanate from him. This demon, too, is thought by the +Finlanders to have a hand in all the evil done in the world. + +Turning from the outer world to man, we find deities whose energies are +used only in the domain of human existence. "These deities," says +Castren, "have no dealings with the higher, spiritual nature of man. +All that they do concerns man solely as an object in nature. Wisdom +and law, virtue and justice, find in Finnish mythology no protector +among the gods, who trouble themselves only about the temporal wants of +humanity." The Love-goddess was Sukkamieli (stocking-lover). +"Stockings," says Castren gravely, "are soft and tender things, and the +goddess of love was so called because she interests herself in the +softest and tenderest feelings of the heart." This conception, +however, is as farfetched as it is modern. The Love-deity of the +ancient Finns was Lempo, the evil-demon. It is more reasonable +therefore to suppose that the Finns chose the son of Evil to look after +the feelings of the human heart, because they regarded love as an +insufferable passion, or frenzy, that bordered on insanity, and incited +in some mysterious manner by an evil enchanter. + +Uni is the god of sleep, and is described as a kind-hearted and welcome +deity. Untamo is the god of dreams, and is always spoken of as the +personification of indolence. Munu tenderly looks after the welfare of +the human eye. This deity, to say the least is an oculist of long and +varied experience, in all probability often consulted in Finland +because of the blinding snows and piercing winds of the north. Lemmas +is a goddess in the mythology of the Finns who dresses the wounds of +her faithful sufferers, and subdues their pains. Suonetar is another +goddess of the human frame, and plays a curious and important part in +the restoration to life of the reckless Lemminkainen, as described in +the following runes. She busies herself in spinning veins, and in +sewing up the wounded tissues of such deserving worshipers as need her +surgical skill. + +Other deities associated with the welfare of mankind are the Sinettaret +and Kankahattaret, the goddesses respectively of dyeing and weaving. +Matka-Teppo is their road-god, and busies himself in caring for horses +that are over-worked, and in looking after the interests of weary +travellers. Aarni is the guardian of hidden treasures. This important +office is also filled by a hideous old deity named Mammelainen, whom +Renwall, the Finnish lexicographer, describes as "femina maligna, +matrix serpentis, divitiarum subterranearum custos," a malignant woman, +the mother of the snake, and the guardian of subterranean treasures. +From this conception it is evident that the idea of a kinship between +serpents and hidden treasures frequently met with in the myths of the +Hungarians, Germans, and Slavs, is not foreign to the Finns. + +Nowhere are the inconsistencies of human theory and practice more +curiously and forcibly shown than in the custom in vogue among the +clans of Finland who are not believers in a future life, but, +notwithstanding, perform such funereal ceremonies as the burying in the +graves of the dead, knives, hatchets, spears, bows, and arrows, +kettles, food, clothing, sledges and snow-shoes, thus bearing witness +to their practical recognition of some form of life beyond the grave. +The ancient Finns occasionally craved advice and assistance from the +dead. Thus, as described in The Kalevala, when the hero of Wainola +needed three words of master-magic wherewith to finish the boat in +which he was to sail to win the mystic maiden of Sariola, he first +looked in the brain of the white squirrel, then in the mouth of the +white-swan when dying, but all in vain; then he journeyed to the +kingdom of Tuoni, and failing there, he "struggled over the points of +needles, over the blades of swords, over the edges of hatchets" to the +grave of the ancient wisdom-bard, Antero Wipunen, where he "found the +lost-words of the Master." In this legend of The Kalevala, exceedingly +interesting, instructive, and curious, are found, apparently, the +remote vestiges of ancient Masonry. + +It would seem that the earliest beliefs of the Finns regarding the dead +centred in this: that their spirits remained in their graves until +after the complete disintegration of their bodies, over which Kalma, +the god of the tombs, with his black and evil daughter, presided. +After their spirits had been fully purified, they were then admitted to +the Kingdom of Manala in the under world. Those journeying to Tuonela +were required to voyage over nine seas, and over one river, the Finnish +Styx, black, deep, and violent, and filled with hungry whirlpools, and +angry waterfalls. + +Like Helheim of Scandinavian mythology, Manala, or Tuonela, was +considered as corresponding to the upper world. The Sun and the Moon +visited there; fen and forest gave a home to the wolf, the bear, the +elk, the serpent, and the songbird; the salmon, the whiting, the perch, +and the pike were sheltered in the "coal-black waters of Manala." From +the seed-grains of the death-land fields and forests, the Tuoni-worm +(the serpent) had taken its teeth. Tuoui, or Mana, the god of the +under world, is represented as a hard-hearted, and frightful, old +personage with three iron-pointed fingers on each hand, and wearing a +hat drawn down to his shoulders. As in the original conception of +Hades, Tuoni was thought to be the leader of the dead to their +subterranean home, as well as their counsellor, guardian, and ruler. +In the capacity of ruler he was assisted by his wife, a hideous, +horrible, old witch with "crooked, copper-fingers iron-pointed," with +deformed head and distorted features, and uniformly spoken of in irony +in the Kalevala as "hyva emanta," the good hostess; she feasted her +guests on lizards, worms, toads, and writhing serpents. Tuouen Poika, +"The God of the Red Cheeks," so called because of his bloodthirstiness +and constant cruelties, is the son and accomplice of this merciless and +hideous pair. + +Three daughters of Tuoni are mentioned in the runes, the first of whom, +a tiny, black maiden, but great in wickedness, once at least showed a +touch of human kindness when she vainly urged Wainamoinen not to cross +the river of Tuoui, assuring the hero that while many visit Manala, few +return, because of their inability to brave her father's wrath. +Finally, after much entreaty, she ferried him over the Finnish Styx, +like Charon, the son of Erebus and Nox, in the mythology of Greece. +The second daughter of Tuoni is Lowyatar, black and blind, and is +described as still more malignant and loathsome than the first. +Through the East-wind's impregnation she brought forth the spirits of +the nine diseases most dreaded by mankind, as described in the 45th +Rune of the Kalevala: + + + "Colic, Pleurisy, and Fever. + Ulcer, Plague, and dread Consumption, + Gout, Sterility, and Cancer." + + +The third daughter of Tuoni combines the malevolent and repugnant +attributes of her two sisters, and is represented as the mother and +hostess of the impersonal diseases of mankind. The Finns regarded all +human ailments as evil spirits or indwelling devils, some formless, +others taking the shapes of the most odious forms of animal life, as +worms and mites; the nine, however, described above, were conceived to +have human forms. + +Where the three arms of the Tuoni river meet a frightful rock arises, +called Kipu-Kivi, or Kipuvuori, in a dungeon beneath which the spirits +of all diseases are imprisoned. On this rock the third daughter of +Tuoui sits, constantly whirling it round like a millstone, grinding her +subjects until they escape and go forth to torture and slay the +children of men; as in Hindu mythology, Kali (black) sits in judgment +on the dead. + +Various other spiritual powers than gods and goddesses are held in high +reverence by the Finns. Tontu is represented as a kind-hearted +house-spirit, a sort of diminutive Cyclops, and offerings of bread and +broth are made to him every morning. Putting a mare's collar on one's +neck and walking nine times around a church is thought to be a certain +means of attracting one to the place desired. Para is a mystical, +three-legged being, constructed in many ways, and which, according to +Castren, attains life and action when its possessor, cutting the little +finger of his left hand, lets three drops of blood fall upon it, and at +the same time pronouncing the proper magic word. The possessor, by +whatever means, of this mystic being, is always supplied with abundance +of milk and cheese. The Maahiset are the dwarfs of Finnish mythology. +Their abode is under stumps, trees, blocks, thresholds and +hearth-stones. Though exceedingly minute and invisible to man they +have human forms. They are irritable and resentful, and they punish +with ulcers, tetter, ringworms, pimples, and other cutaneous +affections, all those who neglect them at brewings, bakings, and +feastings. They punish in a similar manner those who enter new houses +without making obeisance to the four corners, and paying them other +kindly attentions; those who live in untidy houses are also likewise +punished. The Kirkonwaeki (church-folk) are little deformed beings +living under the altars of churches. These misshapen things are +supposed to be able to aid their sorrowing and suffering worshipers. + +Certain beasts, and birds, and trees, are held sacred in Finland. In +the Kalevala are evident traces of arctolatry, bear-worship, once very +common among the tribes of the north, Otso, the bear, according to +Finnish mythology, was born on the shoulders of Otava, in the regions +of the sun and moon, and "nursed by a goddess of the woodlands in a +cradle swung by bands of gold between the bending branches of budding +fir-trees." His nurse would not give him teeth and claws until he had +promised never to engage in bloody strife, or deeds of violence. Otso, +however, does not always keep his pledge, and accordingly the hunters +of Finland find it comparatively easy to reconcile their consciences to +his destruction. Otso is called in the runes by many endearing titles +as "The Honey-Eater," "Golden Light-Foot," "The Forest-Apple," +"Honey-Paw of the Mountains," "ThePride of the Thicket," "The Fur-robed +Forest-Friend." Ahava, the West-wind, and Penitar, a blind old witch +of Sariola, are the parents of the swift dogs of Finland, just as the +horses of Achilles, Xanthos and Belios, sprang from Zephyros and the +harpy Podarge. + +As to birds, the duck, according to the Kalevala, the eagle, according +to other traditions, lays the mundane egg, thus taking part in the +creation of the world. Puhuri, the north-wind, the father of Pakkanen +(frost) is sometimes personified as a gigantic eagle. The didapper is +reverenced because it foretells the approach of rain. Linnunrata +(bird-path) is the name given to the Milky-way, due probably to a myth +like those of the Swedes and Slavs, in which liberated songs take the +form of snow-white dovelets. The cuckoo to this day is sacred, and is +believed to have fertilized the earth with his songs. As to insects, +honey-bees, called by the Finns, Mehilainen, are especially sacred, as +in the mythologies of many other nations. Ukkon-koiva (Ukko's dog) is +the Finnish name for the butterfly, and is looked upon as a messenger +of the Supreme Deity. It may be interesting to observe here that the +Bretons in reverence called butterflies, "feathers from the wings of +God." + +As to inanimate nature, certain lakes, rivers, springs, and fountains, +are held in high reverence. In the Kalevala the oak is called Pun +Jumalan (God's tree). The mountain-ash even to this day, and the +birch-tree, are held sacred, and peasants plant them by their cottages +with reverence. + +Respecting the giants of Finnish mythology, Castren is silent, and the +following notes are gleaned from the Kalevala, and from Grimm's +Teutonic Mythology. "The giants," says Grimm, "are distinguished by +their cunning and ferocity from the stupid, good-natured monsters of +Germany and Scandinavia." Soini, for example a synonym of Kullervo, +the here of the saddest episode of the Kalevala when only three days +old, tore his swaddling clothes to tatters. When sold to a forgeman of +Karelia, he was ordered to nurse an infant, but he dug out the eyes of +the child, killed it, and burned its cradle. Ordered to fence the +fields, he built a fence from earth to heaven, using entire pine-trees +for fencing materials, and interweaving their branches with venomous +serpents. Ordered to tend the herds in the woodlands, he changed the +cattle to wolves and bears, and drove them home to destroy his mistress +because she had baked a stone in the centre of his oat-loaf, causing +him to break his knife, the only keepsake of his people. + +Regarding the heroes of the Kalevala, much discussion has arisen as to +their place in Finnish mythology. The Finns proper regard the chief +heroes of the Suomi epic, Wainamoinen, Ilmarinen, and Lemminkainen, as +descendants of the Celestial Virgin, Ilmatar, impregnated by the winds +when Ilma (air), Light, and Water were the only material existences. +In harmony with this conception we find in the Kalevala, a description +of the birth of Wainamoinen, or Vaino, as he is sometimes called in the +original, a word probably akin to the Magyar Ven, old. The Esthonians +regard these heroes as sons of the Great Spirit, begotten before the +earth was created, and dwelling with their Supreme Ruler in Jumala. + +The poetry of a people with such an elaborate mythology and with such a +keen and appreciative sense of nature and of her various phenomena, was +certain, sooner or later, to attract the attention of scholars. And, +in fact, as early as the seventeenth century, we meet men of literary +tastes who tried to collect and interpret the various national songs of +the Finns. Among these were Palmskold and Peter Bang. They collected +portions of the national poetry, consisting chiefly of +wizard-incantations, and all kinds of pagan folk-lore. Gabriel +Maxenius, however, was the first to publish a work on Finnish national +poetry, which brought to light the beauties of the Kalevala. It +appeared in 1733, and bore the title: De Effectibus Naturalibus. The +book contains a quaint collection of Finnish poems in lyric forms, +chiefly incantations; but the author was entirely at a loss how to +account for them, or how to appreciate them. He failed to see their +intimate connection with the religious worship of the Finns in paganism. + +The next to study the Finnish poetry and language was Daniel Juslenius, +a celebrated bishop, and a highly-gifted scholar. In a dissertation, +published as early as 1700, entitled, Aboa vetus et nova, he discussed +the origin and nature of the Finnish language; and in another work of +his, printed in 1745, he treated of Finnish incantations, displaying +withal a thorough understanding of the Finnish folk-lore, and of the +importance of the Finnish language and national poetry. With great +care he began to collect the songs of Suomi, but this precious +collection was unfortunately burned. + +Porthan, a Finnish scholar of great attainments, born in 1766, +continuing the work of Juslenius, accumulated a great number of +national songs and poems, and by his profound enthusiasm for the +promotion of Finnish literature, succeeded in founding the Society of +the Fennophils, which to the present day, forms the literary centre of +Finland. Among his pupils were E. Lenquist, and Chr. Ganander, whose +works on Finnish mythology are among the references used in preparing +this preface. These indefatigable scholars were joined by Reinhold +Becker and others, who were industriously searching for more and more +fragments of what evidently was a great epic of the Finns. For +certainly neither of the scholars just mentioned, nor earlier +investigators, could fail to see that the runes they collected, +gathered round two or three chief heroes, but more especially around +the central figure of Wainamoinen, the hero of the following epic. + +The Kalevala proper was collected by two great Finnish scholars, +Zacharias Topelius and Elias Lonnrot. Both were practicing physicians, +and in this capacity came into frequent contact with the people of +Finland. Topelius, who collected eighty epical fragments of the +Kalevala, spent the last eleven years of his life in bed, afflicted +with a fatal disease. But this sad and trying circumstance did not +dampen his enthusiasm. His manner of collecting these songs was as +follows: Knowing that the Finns of Russia preserved most of the +national poetry, and that they came annually to Finland proper, which +at that time did not belong to Russia, he invited these itinerant +Finnish merchants to his bedside, and induced them to sing their heroic +poems, which he copied as they were uttered. And, when he heard of a +renowned Finnish singer, or minstrel, he did all in his power to bring +the song-man to his house, in order that he might gather new fragments +of the national epic. Thus the first glory of collecting the fragments +of the Kalevala and of rescuing it from literary oblivion, belongs to +Topelius. In 1822 he published his first collections, and in 18317 his +last. + +Elias Lonnrot, who brought the whole work to a glorious completion, was +born April 9, 1802. He entered the University of Abo in 1822, and in +1832, received the degree of Doctor of Medicine from the University of +Helsingfors. After the death of Castren in 1850, Lonnrot was appointed +professor of the Suomi (Finnish) language and literature in the +University, where he remained until 1862, at which time he withdrew +from his academical activity and devoted himself exclusively to the +study of his native language, and its epical productions. Dr. Lonnrot +had already published a scholarly treatise, in 1827, on the chief hero +of the Kalevala, before he went to Sava and Karjala to glean the songs +and parts of songs front the lips of the people. This work was +entitled: De Wainainoine priscorum Fennorum numine. In the year 1828, +he travelled as far as Kajan, collecting poems and songs of the Finnish +people, sitting by the fireside of the aged, rowing on the lakes with +the fishermen, and following the flocks with the shepherds. In 1829 he +published at Helsingfors a work under the following title: Kantele +taikka Suomee Kansan sek vazhoja etta nykysempia Runoja ja Lauluja +(Lyre, or Old and New Songs and Lays of the Finnish Nation). In +another work edited in 1832, written in Swedish, entitled: Om Finnarues +Magiska Medicin (On the Magic Medicine of the Finns), he dwells on the +incantations so frequent in Finnish poetry, notably in the Kalevala. A +few years later he travelled in the province of Archangel, and so +ingratiated himself into the hearts of the simple-minded people that +they most willingly aided him in collecting these songs. These +journeys were made through wild fens, forests, marshes, and ice-plains, +on horseback, in sledges drawn by the reindeer, in canoes, or in some +other forms of primitive conveyance. The enthusiastic physician +described his journeyings and difficulties faithfully in a paper +published at Helsingfors in Swedish in 1834. He had the peculiar good +luck to meet an old peasant, one of the oldest of the runolainen in the +Russian province of Wuokiniem, who was by far the most renowned +minstrel of the country, and with whose closely impending death, +numerous very precious runes would have been irrevocably lost. + +The happy result of his travels throughout Finland, Dr. Lonnrot now +commenced to arrange under the central idea of a great epic, called +Kalevala, and in February, 1835, the manuscript was transmitted to the +Finnish Literary Society, which had it published in two parts. +Lonnrot, however, did not stop here; he went on searching and +collecting, and, in 1840, had brought together more than one thousand +fragments of epical poetry, national ballads, and proverbs. These he +published in two works, respectively entitled, Kanteletar (Lyre-charm), +and The Proverbs of the Suomi People, the latter containing over 1700 +proverbs, adages, gnomic sentences, and songs. + +His example was followed by many of his enthusiastic countrymen, the +more prominent of whom are Castren, Europaeus, Polen and Reniholm. +Through the collections of these scholars so many additional parts of +the epical treasure of Finland were made public that a new edition of +the Kalevala soon became an imperative necessity. The task of sifting, +arranging, and organizing the extensive material, was again allotted to +Dr. Lonnrot, and in his second editions of the Kalevala, which appeared +in 1849, the epic, embracing fifty runes and 22,793 lines, had reached +its mature form. The Kalevala was no sooner published than it +attracted the attention of the leading scholars of Europe. Men of such +world-wide fame as Jacob Grimm, Steinthal, Uhland, Carriere and Max Mueller +hastened to acknowledge its surpassing value and intrinsic beauty. +Jacob Grimm, in a separate treatise, published in his Kleinere +Schriften, said that the genuineness and extraordinary value of the +Kalevala is easily proved by the fact that from its mythological ideas +we can frequently interpret the mythological conceptions of the ancient +Germans, whereas the poems of Ossian manifest their modern origin by +their inability to clear up questions of old Saxon or German mythology. + Grimm, furthermore, shows that both the Gothic and Icelandic +literatures display unmistakable features of Finnish influence. + +Max Mueller places the Kalevala on a level with the greatest epics of the +world. These are his words: + + +"From the mouths of the aged an epic poem has been collected equalling +the Iliad in length and completeness; nay, if we can forget for a +moment, all that we in our youth learned to call beautiful, not less +beautiful. A Finn is not a Greek, and Wainamoinen was not a Homer +[Achilles?]; but if the poet may take his colors from that nature by +which he is surrounded, if he may depict the men with whom he lives, +the Kalevala possesses merits not dissimilar from those of the Illiad, +and will claim its place as the fifth national epic of the world, side +by side with the Ionian Songs, with the Mahabharata, the Shalinameth, +and the Nibelunge." + + +Steinthal recognizes but four great national epics, viz., the Iliad, +Kalevala, Nibelunge and the Roland Songs. + +The Kalevala describes Finnish nature very minutely and very +beautifully. Grimm says that no poem is to be compared with it in this +respect, unless it be some of the epics of India. It has been +translated into several European languages; into Swedish by Alex. +Castren, in 1844; into French prose by L. LeDuc, in 1845; into German +by Anton Schiefuer, in 1852; into Hungarian by Ferdinand Barna, in +1871; and a very small portion of it--the legend of Aino--into English, +in 1868, by the late Prof. John A. Porter, of Yale College. It must +remain a matter of universal regret to the English-speaking people that +Prof. Porter's life could not have been spared to finish the great work +he had so beautifully begun. + +Some of the most convincing evidences of the genuineness and great age +of the Kalevala have been supplied by the Hungarian translator. The +Hungarians, as is well known, are closely related to the Finns, and +their language, the Magyar dialect, has the same characteristic +features as the Finnish tongue. Barna's translation, accordingly, is +the best rendering of the original. In order to show the genuineness +and antiquity of the Kalevala, Barna adduces a Hungarian book written +by a certain Peter Bornemissza, in 1578, entitled ordogi Kisertetekrol +(on Satanic Specters), the unique copy of which he found in the library +of the University of Budapest. In this book Bornemissza collected all +the incantations (raolvasasok) in use among Hungarian country-people of +his day for the expulsion of diseases and misfortunes. These +incantations, forming the common stock of all Ugrian peoples, of which +the Finns and Hungarians are branches, display a most satisfactory +sameness with the numerous incantations of the Kalevala used for the +same purpose. Barna published an elaborate treatise on this subject; +it appeared in the, Transactions of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, +Philological Department, for 1870. Again, in 1868, twenty-two +Hungarian deeds, dating from 1616-1660, were sent to the Hungarian +Academy of Sciences, as having been found in the Hegyalja, where the +celebrated wine of Tokay is made. These deeds contained several +contracts for the sale of vineyards, and at the end of each deed the +customary cup of wine was said to have been emptied by both parties to +the contract. This cup of wine, in the deeds, was termed, "Ukkon's +cup." Ukko, however, is the chief God according to Finnish mythology, +and thus the coincidence of the Magyar Ukkon and the Finnish Ukko was +placed beyond doubt. + +The Kalevala (the Land of Heroes) relates the ever-varying contests +between the Finns and the "darksome Laplanders", just as the Iliad +relates the contests between the Greeks and the Trojans. Castren is of +the opinion that the enmity between the Finns and the Lapps was sung +long before the Finns had left their Asiatic birth-place. + +A deeper and more esoteric meaning of the Kalevala, however, points to +a contest between Light and Darkness, Good and Evil; the Finns +representing the Light and the Good, and the Lapps, the Darkness and +the Evil. Like the Niebelungs, the heroes of the Finns woo for brides +the beauteous maidens of the North; and the similarity is rendered +still more striking by their frequent inroads into the country of the +Lapps, in order to possess themselves of the envied treasure of +Lapland, the mysterious Sampo, evidently the Golden Fleece of the +Argonautic expedition. Curiously enough public opinion is often +expressed in the runes, in the words of an infant; often too the +unexpected is introduced after the manner of the Greek dramas, by a +young child, or an old man. + +The whole poem is replete with the most fascinating folk-lore about the +mysteries of nature, the origin of things, the enigmas of human tears, +and, true to the character of a national epic, it represents not only +the poetry, but the entire wisdom and accumulated experience of a +nation. Among others, there is a profoundly philosophical trait in the +poem, indicative of a deep insight into the workings of the human mind, +and into the forces of nature. Whenever one of the heroes of the +Kalevala wishes to overcome the aggressive power of an evil force, as a +wound, a disease, a ferocious beast, or a venomous serpent, he achieves +his purpose by chanting the origin of the inimical force. The thought +underlying this idea evidently is that all evil could be obviated had +we but the knowledge of whence and how it came. + +The numerous myths of the poem are likewise full of significance and +beauty, and the Kalevala should be read between the lines, in order +that the fall meaning of this great epic may be comprehended. Even +such a hideous impersonation as that of Kullerwoinen, is rich with +pointed meaning, showing as it does, the incorrigibility of ingrained +evil. This legend, like all others of the poem, has its deep-running +stream of esoteric interpretation. The Kalevala, perhaps, more than +any other, uses its lines on the surface in symbolism to point the +human mind to the brighter gems of truth beneath. + +The three main personages, Wainamoinen, the ancient singer, Ilmarinen, +the eternal forgeman, and Lemminkainen, the reckless wizard, as +mentioned above, are conceived as being of divine origin. In fact, the +acting characters of the Kalevala are mostly superhuman, magic beings. +Even the female actors are powerful sorceresses, and the hostess of +Pohyola, especially, braves the might of all the enchanters of Wainola +combined. The power of magic is a striking feature of the poem. Here, +as in the legends of no other people, do the heroes and demi-gods +accomplish nearly everything by magic. The songs of Wainamoinen disarm +his opponents; they quiet the angry sea; they give warmth to the new +sun and the new moon which his brother, Ilmarinen, forges from the +magic metals; they give life to the spouse of Ilmarinen, which the +"eternal metal-artist" forges from gold, silver, and copper. In fact +we are among a people that endows everything with life, and with human +and divine attributes. Birds, and beasts, and fishes, and serpents, as +well as the Sun, the Moon, the Great Bear, and the stars, are either +kind or unkind. Drops of blood find speech; men and maidens transform +themselves into other shapes and resume again their native forms at +will; ships, and trees, and waters, have magic powers; in short, all +nature speaks in human tongues. + +The Kalevala dates back to an enormous antiquity. One reason for +believing this, lies in the silence of the Kalevala about Russians, +Germans, or Swedes, their neighbors. This evidently shows that the +poem must have been composed at a time when these nations had but very +little or no intercourse with the Finns. The coincidence between the +incantations adduced above, proves that these witch-songs date from a +time when the Hungarians and the Finns were still united as one people; +in other words, to a time at least 3000 years ago. The whole poem +betrays no important signs of foreign influence, and in its entire +tenor is a thoroughly pagan epic. There are excellent reasons for +believing that the story of Mariatta, recited in the 50th Rune, is an +ante-Christian legend. + +An additional proof of the originality and independent rise of the +Kalevala is to be found in its metre. All genuine poetry must have its +peculiar verse, just as snow-flakes cannot exist without their peculiar +crystalizations. It is thus that the Iliad is inseparably united, and, +as it were, immersed in the stately hexametre, and the French epics, in +the graceful Alexandrine verse. The metre of the Kalevala is the +"eight-syllabled trochaic, with the part-line echo," and is the +characteristic verse of the Finns. The natural speech of this people +is poetry. The young men and maidens, the old men and matrons, in +their interchange of ideas, unwittingly fall into verse. The genius of +their language aids to this end, inasmuch as their words are strongly +trochaic. + +This wonderfully versatile metre admits of keeping the right medium +between the dignified, almost prancing hexameter, and the shorter +metres of the lyrics. Its feet are nimble and fleet, but yet full of +vigor and expressiveness. In addition, the Kalevala uses alliteration, +and thus varies the rhythm of time with the rhythm of sound. This +metre is especially fit for the numerous expressions of endearment in +which the Finnish epic abounds. It is more especially the love of the +mother for her children, and the love of the children for their mother, +that find frequent and ever-tender expression in the sonorous lines of +the Kalevala. The Swedish translation by Castren, the German, by +Schiefner, and the Hungarian, by Barna, as well as the following +English translation, are in the original metre of the Kalevala. + +To prove that this peculiar and fascinating style of verse is of very +ancient origin, the following lines have been accurately copied from +the first edition in Finnish of the Kalevala, collated by Dr. Lonnrot, +and published in 1835 at Helsingfors, the quotation beginning with the +150th line of the 2nd Rune: + + + Louhi Pohjolan emanta + Sanan wirkko, noin nimesi: + "Niin mita minulleannat, + Kun saatan omille maille, + Oman pellon pientarelle, + Oman pihan rikkasille?" + Sano wanha Wainamoinen: + "Mitapa kysyt minulta, + Kun saatat omille maille, + Oman kaen kukkumille, + Oman kukon kukkluwille, + Oman saunan lampimille?" + Sano Pohjolan emanta: + "Ohoh wiisas Wainamoinen! + Taiatko takoa sammon, + Kirjokannen kirjaella, + Yhen joukkosen sulasta, + Yhen willan kylkyesta, + Yhen otrasen jywasta, + Yhen warttinan muruista." + + +As to the architecture of the Kalevala, it stands midway between the +epical ballads of the Servians and the purely epical structure of the +Iliad. Though a continuous whole, it contains several almost +independent parts, as the contest of Youkahainen, the Kullervo episode, +and the legend of Mariatta. + +By language-masters this epic of Suomi, descending unwritten from the +mythical age to the present day, kept alive from generation to +generation by minstrels, or song-men, is regarded as one of the most +precious contributions to the literature of the world, made since the +time of Milton and the German classics. + +Acknowledgment is hereby made to the following sources of information +used in the preparation of this work: to E. Lenquist's De Superstitione +veterum Fennorum theoretica et practica; to Chr. Ganander's Mythologia +Fennica; to Becker's De Vainamoine; to Max Mueller's Oxford Essays; to +Prof. John A. Porter's Selections from the Kalevala; to the writings of +the two Grimms; to Latham's Native Races of the Russian Empire; to the +translations of the Kalevala by Alex. Castren, Anton Schieffier, L. +LeDuc and Ferdinand Barna; and especially to the excellent treatises on +the Kalevala, and on the Mythology of the Finns, by Mace Da Charda and +Alex. Castren; to Prof. Helena Klingner, of Cincinnati, a linguist of +high rank, and who has compared very conscientiously the manuscript of +the following pages with the German translation of the Kalevala by +Anton Schiefner; to Dr. Emil Reich, a native Hungarian, a close student +of the Ugrian tongues, who, in a most thorough manner, has compared +this translation with the Hungarian by Ferdinand Barna, and who, +familiar with the habits, customs, and religious notions of the Finns, +has furnished much valuable material used in the preparation of this +preface; and, finally, to Prof. Thomas C. Porter, D.D., LL.D., of +Lafayette College, who has become an authority on the Kalevala through +his own researches for many years, aided by a long and intimate +acquaintance with Prof. A. F. Soldan, a Finn by birth, an enthusiastic +lover of his country, a scholar of great attainments, acquainted with +many languages, and once at the head of the Imperial Mint at +Helsingfors, the capital of Finland. Prof. Porter has very kindly +placed in the hands of the author of these pages, all the literature on +this subject at his command, including his own writings; he has watched +the growth of this translation with unusual interest; and, with the eye +of a gifted poet and scholar, he has made two careful and critical +examinations of the entire manuscript, making annotations, emendations, +and corrections, by which this work has been greatly improved. + +With this prolonged introduction, this, the first English translation +of the Kalevala, with its many imperfections, is hesitatingly given to +the public. + + +JOHN MARTIN CRAWFORD. + October 1, 1887. + + + + +THE KALEVALA. + + + +PROEM. + + + MASTERED by desire impulsive, + By a mighty inward urging, + I am ready now for singing, + Ready to begin the chanting + Of our nation's ancient folk-song + Handed down from by-gone ages. + In my mouth the words are melting, + From my lips the tones are gliding, + From my tongue they wish to hasten; + When my willing teeth are parted, + When my ready mouth is opened, + Songs of ancient wit and wisdom + Hasten from me not unwilling. + Golden friend, and dearest brother, + Brother dear of mine in childhood, + Come and sing with me the stories, + Come and chant with me the legends, + Legends of the times forgotten, + Since we now are here together, + Come together from our roamings. + Seldom do we come for singing, + Seldom to the one, the other, + O'er this cold and cruel country, + O'er the poor soil of the Northland. + Let us clasp our hands together + That we thus may best remember. + Join we now in merry singing, + Chant we now the oldest folk-lore, + That the dear ones all may hear them, + That the well-inclined may hear them, + Of this rising generation. + These are words in childhood taught me, + Songs preserved from distant ages, + Legends they that once were taken + From the belt of Wainamoinen, + From the forge of Ilmarinen, + From the sword of Kaukomieli, + From the bow of Youkahainen, + From the pastures of the Northland, + From the meads of Kalevala. + These my dear old father sang me + When at work with knife and hatchet + These my tender mother taught me + When she twirled the flying spindle, + When a child upon the matting + By her feet I rolled and tumbled. + Incantations were not wanting + Over Sampo and o'er Louhi, + Sampo growing old in singing, + Louhi ceasing her enchantment. + In the songs died wise Wipunen, + At the games died Lemminkainen. + There are many other legends, + Incantations that were taught me, + That I found along the wayside, + Gathered in the fragrant copses, + Blown me from the forest branches, + Culled among the plumes of pine-trees, + Scented from the vines and flowers, + Whispered to me as I followed + Flocks in land of honeyed meadows, + Over hillocks green and golden, + After sable-haired Murikki, + And the many-colored Kimmo. + Many runes the cold has told me, + Many lays the rain has brought me, + Other songs the winds have sung me; + Many birds from many forests, + Oft have sung me lays n concord + Waves of sea, and ocean billows, + Music from the many waters, + Music from the whole creation, + Oft have been my guide and master. + Sentences the trees created, + Rolled together into bundles, + Moved them to my ancient dwelling, + On the sledges to my cottage, + Tied them to my garret rafters, + Hung them on my dwelling-portals, + Laid them in a chest of boxes, + Boxes lined with shining copper. + Long they lay within my dwelling + Through the chilling winds of winter, + In my dwelling-place for ages. + Shall I bring these songs together + From the cold and frost collect them? + Shall I bring this nest of boxes, + Keepers of these golden legends, + To the table in my cabin, + Underneath the painted rafters, + In this house renowned and ancient? + Shall I now these boxes open, + Boxes filled with wondrous stories? + Shall I now the end unfasten + Of this ball of ancient wisdom, + These ancestral lays unravel? + Let me sing an old-time legend, + That shall echo forth the praises + Of the beer that I have tasted, + Of the sparkling beer of barley. + Bring to me a foaming goblet + Of the barley of my fathers, + Lest my singing grow too weary, + Singing from the water only. + Bring me too a cup of strong-beer, + It will add to our enchantment, + To the pleasure of the evening, + Northland's long and dreary evening, + For the beauty of the day-dawn, + For the pleasure of the morning, + The beginning of the new-day. + Often I have heard them chanting, + Often I have heard them singing, + That the nights come to us singly, + That the Moon beams on us singly, + That the Sun shines on us singly; + Singly also, Wainamoinen, + The renowned and wise enchanter, + Born from everlasting Ether + Of his mother, Ether's daughter. + + + + +RUNE I. + + + + BIRTH OF WAINAMOINEN. + + + In primeval times, a maiden, + Beauteous Daughter of the Ether, + Passed for ages her existence + In the great expanse of heaven, + O'er the prairies yet enfolded. + Wearisome the maiden growing, + Her existence sad and hopeless, + Thus alone to live for ages + In the infinite expanses + Of the air above the sea-foam, + In the far outstretching spaces, + In a solitude of ether, + She descended to the ocean, + Waves her coach, and waves her pillow. + Thereupon the rising storm-wind + Flying from the East in fierceness, + Whips the ocean into surges, + Strikes the stars with sprays of ocean + Till the waves are white with fervor. + To and fro they toss the maiden, + Storm-encircled, hapless maiden; + With her sport the rolling billows, + With her play the storm-wind forces, + On the blue back of the waters; + On the white-wreathed waves of ocean, + Play the forces of the salt-sea, + With the lone and helpless maiden; + Till at last in full conception, + Union now of force and beauty, + Sink the storm-winds into slumber; + Overburdened now the maiden + Cannot rise above the surface; + Seven hundred years she wandered, + Ages nine of man's existence, + Swam the ocean hither, thither, + Could not rise above the waters, + Conscious only of her travail; + Seven hundred years she labored + Ere her first-born was delivered. + Thus she swam as water-mother, + Toward the east, and also southward, + Toward the west, and also northward; + Swam the sea in all directions, + Frightened at the strife of storm-winds, + Swam in travail, swam unceasing, + Ere her first-born was delivered. + Then began she gently weeping, + Spake these measures, heavy-hearted: + "Woe is me, my life hard-fated! + Woe is me, in this my travail! + Into what have I now fallen? + Woe is me, that I unhappy, + Left my home in subtle ether, + Came to dwell amid the sea-foam, + To be tossed by rolling billows, + To be rocked by winds and waters, + On the far outstretching waters, + In the salt-sea's vast expanses, + Knowing only pain and trouble! + Better far for me, O Ukko! + Were I maiden in the Ether, + Than within these ocean-spaces, + To become a water-mother! + All this life is cold and dreary, + Painful here is every motion, + As I linger in the waters, + As I wander through the ocean. + Ukko, thou O God, up yonder, + Thou the ruler of the heavens, + Come thou hither, thou art needed, + Come thou hither, I implore thee, + To deliver me from trouble, + To deliver me in travail. + Come I pray thee, hither hasten, + Hasten more that thou art needed, + Haste and help this helpless maiden!" + When she ceased her supplications, + Scarce a moment onward passes, + Ere a beauteous duck descending, + Hastens toward the water-mother, + Comes a-flying hither, thither, + Seeks herself a place for nesting. + Flies she eastward, flies she westward, + Circles northward, circles southward, + Cannot find a grassy hillock, + Not the smallest bit of verdure; + Cannot find a spot protected, + Cannot find a place befitting, + Where to make her nest in safety. + Flying slowly, looking round her, + She descries no place for resting, + Thinking loud and long debating, + And her words are such as follow: + "Build I in the winds my dwelling, + On the floods my place of nesting? + Surely would the winds destroy it, + Far away the waves would wash it." + Then the daughter of the Ether, + Now the hapless water-mother, + Raised her shoulders out of water, + Raised her knees above the ocean, + That the duck might build her dwelling, + Build her nesting-place in safety. + Thereupon the duck in beauty, + Flying slowly, looking round her, + Spies the shoulders of the maiden, + Sees the knees of Ether's daughter, + Now the hapless water-mother, + Thinks them to be grassy hillocks, + On the blue back of the ocean. + Thence she flies and hovers slowly, + Lightly on the knee she settles, + Finds a nesting-place befitting, + Where to lay her eggs in safety. + Here she builds her humble dwelling, + Lays her eggs within, at pleasure, + Six, the golden eggs she lays there, + Then a seventh, an egg of iron; + Sits upon her eggs to hatch them, + Quickly warms them on the knee-cap + Of the hapless water-mother; + Hatches one day, then a second, + Then a third day sits and hatches. + Warmer grows the water round her, + Warmer is her bed in ocean, + While her knee with fire is kindled, + And her shoulders too are burning, + Fire in every vein is coursing. + Quick the maiden moves her shoulders, + Shakes her members in succession, + Shakes the nest from its foundation, + And the eggs fall into ocean, + Dash in pieces on the bottom + Of the deep and boundless waters. + In the sand they do not perish, + Not the pieces in the ocean; + But transformed, in wondrous beauty + All the fragments come together + Forming pieces two in number, + One the upper, one the lower, + Equal to the one, the other. + From one half the egg, the lower, + Grows the nether vault of Terra: + From the upper half remaining, + Grows the upper vault of Heaven; + From the white part come the moonbeams, + From the yellow part the sunshine, + From the motley part the starlight, + From the dark part grows the cloudage; + And the days speed onward swiftly, + Quickly do the years fly over, + From the shining of the new sun + From the lighting of the full moon. + Still the daughter of the Ether, + Swims the sea as water-mother, + With the floods outstretched before her, + And behind her sky and ocean. + Finally about the ninth year, + In the summer of the tenth year, + Lifts her head above the surface, + Lifts her forehead from the waters, + And begins at last her workings, + Now commences her creations, + On the azure water-ridges, + On the mighty waste before her. + Where her hand she turned in water, + There arose a fertile hillock; + Wheresoe'er her foot she rested, + There she made a hole for fishes; + Where she dived beneath the waters, + Fell the many deeps of ocean; + Where upon her side she turned her, + There the level banks have risen; + Where her head was pointed landward, + There appeared wide bays and inlets; + When from shore she swam a distance, + And upon her back she rested, + There the rocks she made and fashioned, + And the hidden reefs created, + Where the ships are wrecked so often, + Where so many lives have perished. + Thus created were the islands, + Rocks were fastened in the ocean, + Pillars of the sky were planted, + Fields and forests were created, + Checkered stones of many colors, + Gleaming in the silver sunlight, + All the rocks stood well established; + But the singer, Wainamoinen, + Had not yet beheld the sunshine, + Had not seen the golden moonlight, + Still remaining undelivered. + Wainamoinen, old and trusty, + Lingering within his dungeon + Thirty summers altogether, + And of winters, also thirty, + Peaceful on the waste of waters, + On the broad-sea's yielding bosom, + Well reflected, long considered, + How unborn to live and flourish + In the spaces wrapped in darkness, + In uncomfortable limits, + Where he had not seen the moonlight, + Had not seen the silver sunshine. + Thereupon these words be uttered, + Let himself be heard in this wise: + "Take, O Moon, I pray thee, take me, + Take me, thou, O Sun above me, + Take me, thou O Bear of heaven, + From this dark and dreary prison, + From these unbefitting portals, + From this narrow place of resting, + From this dark and gloomy dwelling, + Hence to wander from the ocean, + Hence to walk upon the islands, + On the dry land walk and wander, + Like an ancient hero wander, + Walk in open air and breathe it, + Thus to see the moon at evening, + Thus to see the silver sunlight, + Thus to see the Bear in heaven, + That the stars I may consider." + Since the Moon refused to free him, + And the Sun would not deliver, + Nor the Great Bear give assistance, + His existence growing weary, + And his life but an annoyance, + Bursts he then the outer portals + Of his dark and dismal fortress; + With his strong, but unnamed finger, + Opens he the lock resisting; + With the toes upon his left foot, + With the fingers of his right hand, + Creeps he through the yielding portals + To the threshold of his dwelling; + On his knees across the threshold, + Throws himself head foremost, forward + Plunges into deeps of ocean, + Plunges hither, plunges thither, + Turning with his hands the water; + Swims he northward, swims he southward, + Swims he eastward, swims he westward, + Studying his new surroundings. + Thus our hero reached the water, + Rested five years in the ocean, + Six long years, and even seven years, + Till the autumn of the eighth year, + When at last he leaves the waters, + Stops upon a promontory, + On a coast bereft of verdure; + On his knees he leaves the ocean, + On the land he plants his right foot, + On the solid ground his left foot, + Quickly turns his hands about him, + Stands erect to see the sunshine, + Stands to see the golden moonlight, + That he may behold the Great Bear, + That he may the stars consider. + Thus our hero, Wainamoinen, + Thus the wonderful enchanter + Was delivered from his mother, + Ilmatar, the Ether's daughter. + + + + +RUNE II. + + + + WAINAMOINEN'S SOWING. + + + Then arose old Wainamoinen, + With his feet upon the island, + On the island washed by ocean, + Broad expanse devoid of verdure; + There remained be many summers, + There he lived as many winters, + On the island vast and vacant, + well considered, long reflected, + Who for him should sow the island, + Who for him the seeds should scatter; + Thought at last of Pellerwoinen, + First-born of the plains and prairies, + When a slender boy, called Sampsa, + Who should sow the vacant island, + Who the forest seeds should scatter. + Pellerwoinen, thus consenting, + Sows with diligence the island, + Seeds upon the lands he scatters, + Seeds in every swamp and lowland, + Forest seeds upon the loose earth, + On the firm soil sows the acorns, + Fir-trees sows he on the mountains, + Pine-trees also on the hill-tops, + Many shrubs in every valley, + Birches sows he in the marshes, + In the loose soil sows the alders, + In the lowlands sows the lindens, + In the moist earth sows the willow, + Mountain-ash in virgin places, + On the banks of streams the hawthorn, + Junipers in hilly regions; + This the work of Pellerwoinen, + Slender Sampsa, in his childhood. + Soon the fertile seeds were sprouting, + Soon the forest trees were growing, + Soon appeared the tops of fir-trees, + And the pines were far outspreading; + Birches rose from all the marshes, + In the loose soil grew the alders, + In the mellow soil the lindens; + Junipers were also growing, + Junipers with clustered berries, + Berries on the hawthorn branches. + Now the hero, Wainamoinen, + Stands aloft to look about him, + How the Sampsa-seeds are growing, + How the crop of Pellerwoinen; + Sees the young trees thickly spreading, + Sees the forest rise in beauty; + But the oak-tree has not sprouted, + Tree of heaven is not growing, + Still within the acorn sleeping, + Its own happiness enjoying. + Then he waited three nights longer, + And as many days he waited, + Waited till a week had vanished, + Then again the work examined; + But the oak-tree was not growing, + Had not left her acorn-dwelling. + Wainamoinen, ancient hero, + Spies four maidens in the distance, + Water-brides, he spies a fifth-one, + On the soft and sandy sea-shore, + In the dewy grass and flowers, + On a point extending seaward, + Near the forests of the island. + Some were mowing, some were raking, + Raking what was mown together, + In a windrow on the meadow. + From the ocean rose a giant, + Mighty Tursas, tall and hardy, + Pressed compactly all the grasses, + That the maidens had been raking, + When a fire within them kindles, + And the flames shot up to heaven, + Till the windrows burned to ashes, + Only ashes now remaining + Of the grasses raked together. + In the ashes of the windrows, + Tender leaves the giant places, + In the leaves he plants an acorn, + From the acorn, quickly sprouting, + Grows the oak-tree, tall and stately, + From the ground enriched by ashes, + Newly raked by water-maidens; + Spread the oak-tree's many branches, + Rounds itself a broad corona, + Raises it above the storm-clouds; + Far it stretches out its branches, + Stops the white-clouds in their courses, + With its branches hides the sunlight, + With its many leaves, the moonbeams, + And the starlight dies in heaven. + Wainamoinen, old and trusty, + Thought awhile, and well considered, + How to kill the mighty oak-tree, + First created for his pleasure, + How to fell the tree majestic, + How to lop its hundred branches. + Sad the lives of man and hero, + Sad the homes of ocean-dwellers, + If the sun shines not upon them, + If the moonlight does not cheer them + Is there not some mighty hero, + Was there never born a giant, + That can fell the mighty oak-tree, + That can lop its hundred branches? + Wainamoinen, deeply thinking, + Spake these words soliloquizing: + "Kape, daughter of the Ether, + Ancient mother of my being, + Luonnotar, my nurse and helper, + Loan to me the water-forces, + Great the powers of the waters; + Loan to me the strength of oceans, + To upset this mighty oak-tree, + To uproot this tree of evil, + That again may shine the sunlight, + That the moon once more may glimmer." + Straightway rose a form from oceans, + Rose a hero from the waters, + Nor belonged he to the largest, + Nor belonged he to the smallest, + Long was he as man's forefinger, + Taller than the hand of woman; + On his head a cap of copper, + Boots upon his feet were copper, + Gloves upon his hands were copper, + And its stripes were copper-colored, + Belt around him made of copper, + Hatchet in his belt was copper; + And the handle of his hatchet + Was as long as hand of woman, + Of a finger's breadth the blade was. + Then the trusty Wainamoinen + Thought awhile and well considered, + And his measures are as follow: + "Art thou, sir, divine or human? + Which of these thou only knowest; + Tell me what thy name and station. + Very like a man thou lookest, + Hast the bearing of a hero, + Though the length of man's first finger, + Scarce as tall as hoof of reindeer." + Then again spake Wainamoinen + To the form from out the ocean: + "Verily I think thee human, + Of the race of pigmy-heroes, + Might as well be dead or dying, + Fit for nothing but to perish." + Answered thus the pigmy-hero, + Spake the small one from the ocean + To the valiant Wainamoinen + "Truly am I god and hero, + From the tribes that rule the ocean; + Come I here to fell the oak-tree, + Lop its branches with my hatchet." + Wainamoinen, old and trusty, + Answers thus the sea-born hero: + "Never hast thou force sufficient, + Not to thee has strength been given, + To uproot this mighty oak-tree, + To upset this thing of evil, + Nor to lop its hundred branches." + Scarcely had he finished speaking, + Scarcely had he moved his eyelids, + Ere the pigmy full unfolding, + Quick becomes a mighty giant. + With one step he leaves the ocean, + Plants himself, a mighty hero, + On the forest-fields surrounding; + With his head the clouds he pierces, + To his knees his beard extending, + And his locks fall to his ankles; + Far apart appear his eyeballs, + Far apart his feet are stationed. + Farther still his mighty shoulders. + Now begins his axe to sharpen, + Quickly to an edge he whets it, + Using six hard blocks of sandstone, + And of softer whetstones, seven. + Straightway to the oak-tree turning, + Thither stalks the mighty giant, + In his raiment long and roomy, + Flapping in the winds of heaven; + With his second step he totters + On the land of darker color; + With his third stop firmly planted, + Reaches he the oak-tree's branches, + Strikes the trunk with sharpened hatchet, + With one mighty swing he strikes it, + With a second blow he cuts it; + As his blade descends the third time, + From his axe the sparks fly upward, + From the oak-tree fire outshooting; + Ere the axe descends a fourth time, + Yields the oak with hundred branches, + Shaking earth and heaven in falling. + Eastward far the trunk extending, + Far to westward flew the tree-tops, + To the South the leaves were scattered, + To the North its hundred branches. + Whosoe'er a branch has taken, + Has obtained eternal welfare; + Who secures himself a tree-top, + He has gained the master magic; + Who the foliage has gathered, + Has delight that never ceases. + Of the chips some had been scattered, + Scattered also many splinters, + On the blue back of the ocean, + Of the ocean smooth and mirrored, + Rocked there by the winds and waters, + Like a boat upon the billows; + Storm-winds blew them to the Northland, + Some the ocean currents carried. + Northland's fair and slender maiden, + Washing on the shore a head-dress, + Beating on the rocks her garments, + Rinsing there her silken raiment, + In the waters of Pohyola, + There beheld the chips and splinters, + Carried by the winds and waters. + In a bag the chips she gathered, + Took them to the ancient court-yard, + There to make enchanted arrows, + Arrows for the great magician, + There to shape them into weapons, + Weapons for the skilful archer, + Since the mighty oak has fallen, + Now has lost its hundred branches, + That the North may see the sunshine, + See the gentle gleam of moonlight, + That the clouds may keep their courses, + May extend the vault of heaven + Over every lake and river, + O'er the banks of every island. + Groves arose in varied beauty, + Beautifully grew the forests, + And again, the vines and flowers. + Birds again sang in the tree-tops, + Noisily the merry thrushes, + And the cuckoos in the birch-trees; + On the mountains grew the berries, + Golden flowers in the meadows, + And the herbs of many colors, + Many kinds of vegetation; + But the barley is not growing. + Wainamoinen, old and trusty, + Goes away and well considers, + By the borders of the waters, + On the ocean's sandy margin, + Finds six seeds of golden barley, + Even seven ripened kernels, + On the shore of upper Northland, + In the sand upon the sea-shore, + Hides them in his trusty pouches, + Fashioned from the skin of squirrel, + Some were made from skin of marten; + Hastens forth the seeds to scatter, + Quickly sows the barley kernels, + On the brinks of Kalew-waters, + On the Osma-hills and lowlands. + Hark! the titmouse wildly crying, + From the aspen, words as follow: + "Osma's barley will not flourish, + Not the barley of Wainola, + If the soil be not made ready, + If the forest be not levelled, + And the branches burned to ashes." + Wainamoinen, wise and ancient, + Made himself an axe for chopping, + Then began to clear the forest, + Then began the trees to level, + Felled the trees of all descriptions, + Only left the birch-tree standing + For the birds a place of resting, + Where might sing the sweet-voiced cuckoo, + Sacred bird in sacred branches. + Down from heaven came the eagle, + Through the air be came a-flying, + That he might this thing consider; + And he spake the words that follow: + "Wherefore, ancient Wainamoinen, + Hast thou left the slender birch-tree, + Left the birch-tree only standing?" + Wainamoinen thus made answer: + "Therefore is the birch left standing, + That the birds may liest within it, + That the eagle there may rest him, + There may sing the sacred cuckoo." + Spake the eagle, thus replying: + Good indeed, thy hero-judgment, + That the birch-tree thou hast left us, + Left the sacred birch-tree standing, + As a resting-place for eagles, + And for birds of every feather, + Even I may rest upon it." + Quickly then this bird of heaven, + Kindled fire among the branches; + Soon the flames are fanned by north-winds, + And the east-winds lend their forces, + Burn the trees of all descriptions, + Burn them all to dust and ashes, + Only is the birch left standing. + Wainamoinen, wise and ancient, + Brings his magic grains of barley, + Brings he forth his seven seed-grains, + Brings them from his trusty pouches, + Fashioned from the skin of squirrel, + Some were made from skin of marten. + Thence to sow his seeds he hastens, + Hastes the barley-grains to scatter, + Speaks unto himself these measures: + "I the seeds of life am sowing, + Sowing through my open fingers, + From the hand of my Creator, + In this soil enriched with ashes, + In this soil to sprout and flourish. + Ancient mother, thou that livest + Far below the earth and ocean, + Mother of the fields and forests, + Bring the rich soil to producing, + Bring the seed-grains to the sprouting, + That the barley well may flourish. + Never will the earth unaided, + Yield the ripe nutritious barley; + Never will her force be wanting, + If the givers give assistance, + If the givers grace the sowing, + Grace the daughters of creation. + Rise, O earth, from out thy slumber, + From the slumber-land of ages, + Let the barley-grains be sprouting, + Let the blades themselves be starting, + Let the verdant stalks be rising, + Let the ears themselves be growing, + And a hundredfold producing, + From my plowing and my sowing, + From my skilled and honest labor. + Ukko, thou O God, up yonder, + Thou O Father of the heavens, + Thou that livest high in Ether, + Curbest all the clouds of heaven, + Holdest in the air thy counsel, + Holdest in the clouds good counsel, + From the East dispatch a cloudlet, + From the North-east send a rain-cloud, + From the West another send us, + From the North-west, still another, + Quickly from the South a warm-cloud, + That the rain may fall from heaven, + That the clouds may drop their honey, + That the ears may fill and ripen, + That the barley-fields may rustle." + Thereupon benignant Ukko, + Ukko, father of the heavens, + Held his counsel in the cloud-space, + Held good counsel in the Ether; + From the East, he sent a cloudlet, + From the North-east, sent a rain-cloud, + From the West another sent he, + From the North-west, still another, + Quickly from the South a warm-cloud; + Joined in seams the clouds together, + Sewed together all their edges, + Grasped the cloud, and hurled it earthward. + Quick the rain-cloud drops her honey, + Quick the rain-drops fall from heaven, + That the ears may quickly ripen, + That the barley crop may rustle. + Straightway grow the seeds of barley, + From the germ the blade unfolding, + Richly colored ears arising, + From the rich soil of the fallow, + From the work of Wainamoinen. + Here a few days pass unnoted + And as many nights fly over. + When the seventh day had journeyed, + On the morning of the eighth day, + Wainamoinen, wise and ancient, + Went to view his crop of barley, + How his plowing, how his sowing, + How his labors were resulting; + Found his crop of barley growing, + Found the blades were triple-knotted, + And the ears he found six-sided. + Wainamoinen, old and trusty, + Turned his face, and looked about him, + Lo! there comes a spring-time cuckoo, + Spying out the slender birch-tree, + Rests upon it, sweetly singing: + "Wherefore is the silver birch-tree + Left unharmed of all the forest? " + Spake the ancient Wainamoinen: + "Therefore I have left the birch-tree, + Left the birch-tree only growing, + Home for thee for joyful singing. + Call thou here, O sweet-voiced cuckoo, + Sing thou here from throat of velvet, + Sing thou here with voice of silver, + Sing the cuckoo's golden flute-notes; + Call at morning, call at evening, + Call within the hour of noontide, + For the better growth of forests, + For the ripening of the barley, + For the richness of, the Northland, + For the joy of Kalevala." + + + + +RUNE III. + + + + WAINAMOINEN AND YOUKAHAINEN. + + + Wainamoinen, ancient minstrel, + Passed his years in full contentment, + On the meadows of Wainola, + On the plains of Kalevala, + Singing ever wondrous legends, + Songs of ancient wit and wisdom, + Chanting one day, then a second, + Singing in the dusk of evening, + Singing till the dawn of morning, + Now the tales of old-time heroes, + Tales of ages long forgotten, + Now the legends of creation, + Once familiar to the children, + By our children sung no longer, + Sung in part by many heroes, + In these mournful days of evil, + Evil days our race befallen. + Far and wide the story travelled, + Far away men spread the knowledge + Of the chanting of the hero, + Of the song of Wainamoinen; + To the South were heard the echoes, + All of Northland heard the story. + Far away in dismal Northland, + Lived the singer, Youkahainen, + Lapland's young and reckless minstrel, + Once upon a time when feasting, + Dining with his friends and fellows, + Came upon his ears the story + That there lived a sweeter singer, + On the meadows of Wainola, + On the plains of Kalevala, + Better skilled in chanting legends, + Better skilled than Youkahainen, + Better than the one that taught him. + Straightway then the bard grew angry, + Envy rose within his bosom, + Envy of this Wainamoinen, + Famed to be a sweeter singer; + Hastes he angry to his mother, + To his mother, full of wisdom, + Vows that he will southward hasten, + Hie him southward and betake him + To the dwellings of Wainola, + To the cabins of the Northland, + There as bard to vie in battle, + With the famous Wainamoinen. + "Nay," replies the anxious father, + "Do not go to Kalevala." + "Nay," replies the fearful mother, + "Go not hence to Wainamoinen, + There with him to offer battle; + He will charm thee with his singing + Will bewitch thee in his anger, + He will drive thee back dishonored, + Sink thee in the fatal snow-drift, + Turn to ice thy pliant fingers, + Turn to ice thy feet and ankles." + These the words of Youkahainen: + Good the judgement of a father, + Better still, a mother's counsel, + Best of all one's own decision. + I will go and face the minstrel, + Challenge him to sing in contest, + Challenge him as bard to battle, + Sing to him my sweet-toned measures, + Chant to him my oldest legends, + Chant to him my garnered wisdom, + That this best of boasted singers, + That this famous bard of Suomi, + Shall be worsted in the contest, + Shall become a hapless minstrel; + By my songs shall I transform him, + That his feet shall be as flint-stone, + And as oak his nether raiment; + And this famous, best of singers, + Thus bewitched, shall carry ever, + In his heart a stony burden, + On his shoulder bow of marble, + On his hand a flint-stone gauntlet, + On his brow a stony visor." + Then the wizard, Youkahainen, + Heeding not advice paternal, + Heeding not his mother's counsel, + Leads his courser from his stable, + Fire outstreaming from his nostrils, + From his hoofs, the sparks outshooting, + Hitches to his sledge, the fleet-foot, + To his golden sledge, the courser, + Mounts impetuous his snow-sledge, + Leaps upon the hindmost cross-bench, + Strikes his courser with his birch-whip, + With his birch-whip, pearl-enamelled. + Instantly the prancing racer + Springs away upon his journey; + On he, restless, plunges northward, + All day long be onward gallops, + All the next day, onward, onward, + So the third from morn till evening, + Till the third day twilight brings him + To the meadows of Wainola, + To the plains of Kalevala. + As it happened, Wainamoinen, + Wainamoinen, the magician, + Rode that sunset on the highway, + Silently for pleasure driving + Down Wainola's peaceful meadows, + O'er the plains of Kalevala. + Youkahainen, young and fiery, + Urging still his foaming courser, + Dashes down upon the singer, + Does not turn aside in meeting, + Meeting thus in full collision; + Shafts are driven tight together, + Hames and collars wedged and tangled, + Tangled are the reins and traces. + Thus perforce they make a stand-still, + Thus remain and well consider; + Water drips from hame and collar, + Vapors rise from both their horses. + Speaks the minstrel, Wainamoinen: + "Who art thou, and whence? Thou comest + Driving like a stupid stripling, + Wainamoinen and Youkahainen. + Careless, dashing down upon me. + Thou hast ruined shafts and traces; + And the collar of my racer + Thou hast shattered into ruin, + And my golden sleigh is broken, + Box and runners dashed to pieces." + Youkahainen then make answer, + Spake at last the words that follow: + "I am youthful Youkahainen, + But make answer first, who thou art, + Whence thou comest, where thou goest, + From what lowly tribe descended?" + Wainamolinen, wise and ancient, + Answered thus the youthful minstrel: + "If thou art but Youkahainen, + Thou shouldst give me all the highway; + I am many years thy senior." + Then the boastful Youkahainen + Spake again to Wainamoinen: + "Young or ancient, little matter, + Little consequence the age is; + He that higher stands in wisdom, + He whose knowledge is the greater, + He that is the sweeter singer, + He alone shall keep the highway, + And the other take the roadside. + Art thou ancient Wainamoinen, + Famous sorcerer and minstrel? + Let us then begin our singing, + Let us sing our ancient legends, + Let us chant our garnered wisdom, + That the one may hear the other, + That the one may judge the other, + In a war of wizard sayings." + Wainamoinen, wise and ancient, + Thus replied in modest accents: + "What I know is very little, + Hardly is it worth the singing, + Neither is my singing wondrous: + All my days I have resided + In the cold and dreary Northland, + In a desert land enchanted, + In my cottage home for ayes; + All the songs that I have gathered, + Are the cuckoo's simple measures, + Some of these I may remember; + But since thou perforce demandest, + I accept thy boastful challenge. + Tell me now, my golden youngster, + What thou knowest more than others, + Open now thy store of wisdom." + Thus made answer Youkahainen, + Lapland's young and fiery minstrel: + "Know I many bits of learning + This I know in perfect clearness: + Every roof must have a chimney, + Every fire-place have a hearth-stone; + Lives of seal are free and merry, + Merry is the life of walrus, + Feeding on incautious salmon, + Daily eating perch and whiting; + Whitings live in quiet shallows, + Salmon love the level bottoms; + Spawns the pike in coldest weather, + And defies the storms of winter. + Slowly perches swim in Autumn, + Wry-backed, hunting deeper water, + Spawn in shallows in the summer, + Bounding on the shore of ocean. + Should this wisdom seem too little, + I can tell thee other matters, + Sing thee other wizard sayings: + All the Northmen plow with reindeer, + Mother-horses plow the Southland, + Inner Lapland plows with oxen; + All the trees on Pisa-mountain, + Know I well in all their grandeur; + On the Horna-rock are fir-trees, + Fir-trees growing tall and slender; + Slender grow the trees on mountains. + Three, the water-falls in number, + Three in number, inland oceans, + Three in number, lofty mountains, + Shooting to the vault of heaven. + Hallapyora's near to Yaemen, + Katrakoski in Karyala; + Imatra, the falling water, + Tumbles, roaring, into Wuoksi." + Then the ancient Wainimoinen: + "Women's tales and children's wisdom + Do not please a bearded hero, + Hero, old enough for wedlock; + Tell the story of creation, + Tell me of the world's beginning, + Tell me of the creatures in it, + And philosophize a little." + Then the youthful Youkahainen + Thus replied to Wainamoinen: + "Know I well the titmouse-fountains, + Pretty birdling is the titmouse; + And the viper, green, a serpent; + Whitings live in brackish waters; + Perches swim in every river; + Iron rusts, and rusting weakens; + Bitter is the taste of umber; + Boiling water is malicious; + Fire is ever full of danger; + First physician, the Creator; + Remedy the oldest, water; + Magic is the child of sea-foam; + God the first and best adviser; + Waters gush from every mountain; + Fire descended first from heaven; + Iron from the rust was fashioned; + Copper from the rocks created; + Marshes are of lands the oldest; + First of all the trees, the willow; + Fir-trees were the first of houses; + Hollowed stones the first of kettles." + Now the ancient Wainamoinen + Thus addresses Youkahainen: + "Canst thou give me now some wisdom, + Is this nonsense all thou knowest?" + Youkahainen thus made answer: + "I can tell thee still a trifle, + Tell thee of the times primeval, + When I plowed the salt-sea's bosom, + When I raked the sea-girt islands, + When I dug the salmon-grottoes, + Hollowed out the deepest caverns, + When I all the lakes created, + When I heaped the mountains round them, + When I piled the rocks about them. + I was present as a hero, + Sixth of wise and ancient heroes, + Seventh of all primeval heroes, + When the heavens were created, + When were formed the ether-spaces, + When the sky was crystal-pillared, + When was arched the beauteous rainbow, + When the Moon was placed in orbit, + When the silver Sun was planted, + When the Bear was firmly stationed, + And with stars the heavens were sprinkled." + Spake the ancient Wainamoinen: + "Thou art surely prince of liars, + Lord of all the host of liars; + Never wert thou in existence, + Surely wert thou never present, + When was plowed the salt-sea's bosom, + When were raked the sea-girt islands, + When were dug the salmon-grottoes, + When were hollowed out the caverns, + When the lakes were all created, + When were heaped the mountains round them, + When the rocks were piled about them. + Thou wert never seen or heard of + When the earth was first created, + When were made the ether-spaces, + When the air was crystal-pillared, + When the Moon was placed in orbit, + When the silver Sun was planted, + When the Bear was firmly stationed, + When the skies with stars were sprinkled." + Then in anger Youkahainen + Answered ancient Wainamoinen: + "Then, sir, since I fail in wisdom, + With the sword I offer battle; + Come thou, famous bard and minstrel, + Thou the ancient wonder-singer, + Let us try our strength with broadswords, + let our blades be fully tested." + Spake the ancient Wainamoinen: + "Not thy sword and not thy wisdom, + Not thy prudence, nor thy cunning, + Do I fear a single moment. + Let who may accept thy challenge, + Not with thee, a puny braggart, + Not with one so vain and paltry, + Will I ever measure broadswords." + Then the youthful Youkahainen, + Mouth awry and visage sneering, + Shook his golden locks and answered: + "Whoso fears his blade to measure, + Fears to test his strength at broadswords, + Into wild-boar of the forest, + Swine at heart and swine in visage, + Singing I will thus transform him; + I will hurl such hero-cowards, + This one hither, that one thither, + Stamp him in the mire and bedding, + In the rubbish of the stable." + Angry then grew Wainamoinen, + Wrathful waxed, and fiercely frowning, + Self-composed he broke his silence, + And began his wondrous singing. + Sang he not the tales of childhood, + Children's nonsense, wit of women, + Sang he rather bearded heroes, + That the children never heard of, + That the boys and maidens knew not + Known but half by bride and bridegroom, + Known in part by many heroes, + In these mournful days of evil, + Evil times our race befallen. + Grandly sang wise Wainamoinen, + Till the copper-bearing mountains, + And the flinty rocks and ledges + Heard his magic tones and trembled; + Mountain cliffs were torn to pieces, + All the ocean heaved and tumbled; + And the distant hills re-echoed. + Lo! the boastful Youkahainen + Is transfixed in silent wonder, + And his sledge with golden trimmings + Floats like brushwood on the billows; + Sings his braces into reed-grass, + Sings his reins to twigs of willow, + And to shrubs his golden cross-bench. + Lo! his birch-whip, pearl-enameled, + Floats a reed upon the border; + Lo! his steed with golden forehead, + Stands a statue on the waters; + Hames and traces are as fir-boughs, + And his collar, straw and sea-grass. + Still the minstrel sings enchantment, + Sings his sword with golden handle, + Sings it into gleam of lightning, + Hangs it in the sky above him; + Sings his cross-bow, gaily painted, + To a rainbow o'er the ocean; + Sings his quick and feathered arrows + Into hawks and screaming eagles; + Sings his dog with bended muzzle, + Into block of stone beside him; + Sings his cap from off his forehead, + Sings it into wreaths of vapor; + From his hands he sings his gauntlets + Into rushes on the waters; + Sings his vesture, purple-colored, + Into white clouds in the heavens; + Sings his girdle, set with jewels, + Into twinkling stars around him; + And alas! for Youkahainen, + Sings him into deeps of quick-sand; + Ever deeper, deeper, deeper, + In his torture, sinks the wizard, + To his belt in mud and water. + Now it was that Youkahainen + Comprehended but too clearly + What his folly, what the end was, + Of the journey he had ventured, + Vainly he had undertaken + For the glory of a contest + With the grand, old Wainamoinen. + When at last young Youkahainen, + Pohyola's old and sorry stripling, + Strives his best to move his right foot, + But alas! the foot obeys not; + When he strives to move his left foot, + Lo! he finds it turned to flint-stone. + Thereupon sad Youkahainen, + In the deeps of desperation, + And in earnest supplication, + Thus addresses Wainamoinen: + "O thou wise and worthy minstrel, + Thou the only true, magician, + Cease I pray thee thine enchantment,. + Only turn away thy magic, + Let me leave this slough of horror, + Loose me from this stony prison, + Free me from this killing torment, + I will pay a golden ransom." + Spake the ancient Wainamoinen: + "What the ransom thou wilt give me + If I cease from mine enchantment, + If I turn away my magic, + Lift thee from thy slough of horror, + Loose thee from thy stony prison, + Free thee from thy killing torment?" + Answered youthful Youkahainen: + "Have at home two magic cross-bows, + Pair of bows of wondrous power, + One so light a child can bend it, + Only strength can bend the other, + Take of these the one that pleases." + Then the ancient Wainamoinen: + "Do not wish thy magic cross-bows, + Have a few of such already, + Thine to me are worse than useless + I have bows in great abundance, + Bows on every nail and rafter, + Bows that laugh at all the hunters, + Bows that go themselves a-hunting." + Then the ancient Wainamoinen + Sang alas! poor Youkahainen + Deeper into mud and water, + Deeper in the slough of torment. + Youkahainen thus made answer: + "Have at home two magic shallops, + Beautiful the boats and wondrous; + One rides light upon the ocean, + One is made for heavy burdens; + Take of these the one that pleases." + Spake the ancient Wainamoinen: + "Do not wish thy magic shallops, + Have enough of such already; + All my bays are full of shallops, + All my shores are lined with shallops, + Some before the winds are sailors, + Some were built to sail against them." + Still the Wainola bard and minstrel + Sings again poor Youkahainen + Deeper, deeper into torment, + Into quicksand to his girdle, + Till the Lapland bard in anguish + Speaks again to Wainamoinen: + "Have at home two magic stallions, + One a racer, fleet as lightning, + One was born for heavy burdens; + Take of these the one that pleases." + Spake the ancient Wainamoinen: + "Neither do I wish thy stallions, + Do not need thy hawk-limbed stallions, + Have enough of these already; + Magic stallions swarm my stables, + Eating corn at every manger, + Broad of back to hold the water, + Water on each croup in lakelets." + Still the bard of Kalevala + Sings the hapless Lapland minstrel + Deeper, deeper into torment, + To his shoulders into water. + Spake again young Youkahainen: + "O thou ancient Wainamoinen, + Thou the only true magician, + Cease I pray thee thine enchantment, + Only turn away thy magic, + I will give thee gold abundant, + Countless stores of shining silver; + From the wars my father brought it, + Brought it from the hard-fought battles." + Spake the wise, old Wainamoinen: + "For thy gold I have no longing, + Neither do I wish thy silver, + Have enough of each already; + Gold abundant fills my chambers, + On each nail hang bags of silver, + Gold that glitters in the sunshine, + Silver shining in the moonlight." + Sank the braggart, Youkahainen, + Deeper in his slough of torment, + To his chin in mud and water, + Ever praying, thus beseeching: + "O thou ancient Wainamoinen, + Greatest of the old magicians, + Lift me from this pit of horror, + From this prison-house of torture; + I will give thee all my corn-fields, + Give thee all my corn in garners, + Thus my hapless life to ransom, + Thus to gain eternal freedom." + Wainamoinen thus made answer: + "Take thy corn to other markets, + Give thy garners to the needy; + I have corn in great abundance, + Fields have I in every quarter, + Corn in all my fields is growing; + One's own fields are always richer, + One's own grain is much the sweeter." + Lapland's young and reckless minstrel, + Sorrow-laden, thus enchanted, + Deeper sinks in mud and water, + Fear-enchained and full of anguish, + In the mire, his beard bedrabbled, + Mouth once boastful filled with sea-weed, + In the grass his teeth entangled, + Youkahainen thus beseeches: + "O thou ancient Wainamoinen, + Wisest of the wisdom-singers, + Cease at last thine incantations, + Only turn away thy magic, + And my former life restore me, + Lift me from this stifling torment, + Free mine eyes from sand and water, + I will give thee sister, Aino, + Fairest daughter of my mother, + Bride of thine to be forever, + Bride of thine to do thy pleasure, + Sweep the rooms within thy cottage, + Keep thy dwelling-place in order, + Rinse for thee the golden platters, + Spread thy couch with finest linens, + For thy bed, weave golden covers, + Bake for thee the honey-biscuit." + Wainamoinen, old and truthful, + Finds at last the wished-for ransom, + Lapland's young and fairest daughter, + Sister dear of Youkahainen; + Happy he, that he has won him, + In his age a beauteous maiden, + Bride of his to be forever, + Pride and joy of Kalevala. + Now the happy Wainamoinen, + Sits upon the rock of gladness, + Joyful on the rock of music, + Sings a little, sings and ceases, + Sings again, and sings a third time, + Thus to break the spell of magic, + Thus to lessen the enchantment, + Thus the potent charm to banish. + As the magic spell is broken, + Youkahainen, sad, but wiser, + Drags his feet from out the quicksand, + Lifts his beard from out the water, + From the rocks leads forth his courser, + Brings his sledge back from the rushes, + Calls his whip back from the ocean, + Sets his golden sledge in order, + Throws himself upon the cross-bench, + Snaps his whip and hies him homeward, + Hastens homeward, heavy-hearted, + Sad indeed to meet his mother, + Aino's mother, gray and aged. + Careless thus be hastens homeward, + Nears his home with noise and bustle, + Reckless drives against the pent-house, + Breaks the shafts against the portals, + Breaks his handsome sledge in pieces. + Then his mother, quickly guessing, + Would have chided him for rashness, + But the father interrupted: + "Wherefore dost thou break thy snow-sledge, + Wherefore dash thy thills in fragments, + Wherefore comest home so strangely, + Why this rude and wild behavior?" + Now alas! poor Youkahainen, + Cap awry upon his forehead, + Falls to weeping, broken-hearted, + Head depressed and mind dejected, + Eyes and lips expressing sadness, + Answers not his anxious father. + Then the mother quickly asked him, + Sought to find his cause for sorrow: + "Tell me, first-born, why thou weepest, + Why thou weepest, heavy-hearted, + Why thy mind is so dejected, + Why thine eyes express such sadness." + Youkahainen then made answer: + "Golden mother, ever faithful, + Cause there is to me sufficient, + Cause enough in what has happened, + Bitter cause for this my sorrow, + Cause for bitter tears and murmurs: + All my days will pass unhappy, + Since, O mother of my being, + I have promised beauteous Aino, + Aino, thy beloved daughter, + Aino, my devoted sister, + To decrepit Wainamoinen, + Bride to be to him forever, + Roof above him, prop beneath him, + Fair companion at his fire-side." + Joyful then arose the mother, + Clapped her hands in glee together, + Thus addressing Youkahainen: + "Weep no more, my son beloved, + Thou hast naught to cause thy weeping, + Hast no reason for thy sorrow, + Often I this hope have cherished; + Many years have I been praying + That this mighty bard and hero, + Wise and valiant Wainamoinen, + Spouse should be to beauteous Aino, + Son-in-law to me, her mother." + But the fair and lovely maiden, + Sister dear of Youkahainen, + Straightway fell to bitter weeping, + On the threshold wept and lingered, + Wept all day and all the night long, + Wept a second, then a third day, + Wept because a bitter sorrow + On her youthful heart had fallen. + Then the gray-haired mother asked her: + "Why this weeping, lovely Aino? + Thou hast found a noble suitor, + Thou wilt rule his spacious dwelling, + At his window sit and rest thee, + Rinse betimes his golden platters, + Walk a queen within his dwelling." + Thus replied the tearful Aino: + "Mother dear, and all-forgiving, + Cause enough for this my sorrow, + Cause enough for bitter weeping: + I must loose my sunny tresses, + Tresses beautiful and golden, + Cannot deck my hair with jewels, + Cannot bind my head with ribbons, + All to be hereafter hidden + Underneath the linen bonnet + That the wife. must wear forever; + Weep at morning, weep at evening, + Weep alas! for waning beauty, + Childhood vanished, youth departed, + Silver sunshine, golden moonlight, + Hope and pleasure of my childhood, + Taken from me now forever, + And so soon to be forgotten + At the tool-bench of my brother, + At the window of my sister, + In the cottage of my father." + Spake again the gray-haired mother + To her wailing daughter Aino: + "Cease thy sorrow, foolish maiden, + By thy tears thou art ungrateful, + Reason none for thy repining, + Not the slightest cause for weeping; + Everywhere the silver sunshine + Falls as bright on other households; + Not alone the moonlight glimmers + Through thy father's open windows, + On the work-bench of thy brother; + Flowers bloom in every meadow, + Berries grow on every mountain; + Thou canst go thyself and find them, + All the day long go and find them; + Not alone thy brother's meadows + Grow the beauteous vines and flowers; + Not alone thy father's mountains + Yield the ripe, nutritious berries; + Flowers bloom in other meadows, + Berries grow on other mountains, + There as here, my lovely Aino." + + + + +RUNE IV. + + + + THE FATE OF AINO. + + + When the night had passed, the maiden, + Sister fair of Youkahainen, + Hastened early to the forest, + Birchen shoots for brooms to gather, + Went to gather birchen tassels; + Bound a bundle for her father, + Bound a birch-broom for her mother, + Silken tassels for her sister. + Straightway then she hastened homeward, + By a foot-path left the forest; + As she neared the woodland border, + Lo! the ancient Wainamoinen, + Quickly spying out the maiden, + As she left the birchen woodland, + Trimly dressed in costly raiment, + And the minstrel thus addressed her: + "Aino, beauty of the Northland, + Wear not, lovely maid, for others, + Only wear for me, sweet maiden, + Golden cross upon thy bosom, + Shining pearls upon thy shoulders; + Bind for me thine auburn tresses, + Wear for me thy golden braidlets." + Thus the maiden quickly answered: + "Not for thee and not for others, + Hang I from my neck the crosslet, + Deck my hair with silken ribbons; + Need no more the many trinkets + Brought to me by ship or shallop; + Sooner wear the simplest raiment, + Feed upon the barley bread-crust, + Dwell forever with my mother + In the cabin with my father." + Then she threw the gold cross from her, + Tore the jewels from her fingers, + Quickly loosed her shining necklace, + Quick untied her silken ribbons, + Cast them all away indignant + Into forest ferns and flowers. + Thereupon the maiden, Aino, + Hastened to her mother's cottage. + At the window sat her father + Whittling on an oaken ax-helve: + "Wherefore weepest, beauteous Aino, + Aino, my beloved daughter? + "Cause enough for weeping, father, + Good the reasons for my mourning, + This, the reason for my weeping, + This, the cause of all my sorrow: + From my breast I tore the crosslet, + From my belt, the clasp of copper, + From my waist, the belt of silver, + Golden was my pretty crosslet." + Near the door-way sat her brother, + Carving out a birchen ox-bow: + "Why art weeping, lovely Aino, + Aino, my devoted sister?" + "Cause enough for weeping, brother, + Good the reasons for my mourning + Therefore come I as thou seest, + Rings no longer on my fingers, + On my neck no pretty necklace; + Golden were the rings thou gavest, + And the necklace, pearls and silver!" + On the threshold sat her sister, + Weaving her a golden girdle: + "Why art weeping, beauteous Aino, + Aino, my beloved sister?" + "Cause enough for weeping, sister, + Good the reasons for my sorrow: + Therefore come I as thou seest, + On my head no scarlet fillet, + In my hair no braids of silver, + On mine arms no purple ribbons, + Round my neck no shining necklace, + On my breast no golden crosslet, + In mine ears no golden ear-rings." + Near the door-way of the dairy, + Skimming cream, sat Aino's mother. + "Why art weeping, lovely Aino, + Aino, my devoted daughter?" + Thus the sobbing maiden answered; + "Loving mother, all-forgiving, + Cause enough for this my weeping, + Good the reasons for my sorrow, + Therefore do I weep, dear mother: + I have been within the forest, + Brooms to bind and shoots to gather, + There to pluck some birchen tassels; + Bound a bundle for my father, + Bound a second for my mother, + Bound a third one for my brother, + For my sister silken tassels. + Straightway then I hastened homeward, + By a foot-path left the forest; + As I reached the woodland border + Spake Osmoinen from the cornfield, + Spake the ancient Wainamoinen: + 'Wear not, beauteous maid, for others, + Only wear for me, sweet maiden, + On thy breast a golden crosslet, + Shining pearls upon thy shoulders, + Bind for me thine auburn tresses, + Weave for me thy silver braidlets.' + Then I threw the gold-cross from me, + Tore the jewels from my fingers, + Quickly loosed my shining necklace, + Quick untied my silken ribbons, + Cast them all away indignant, + Into forest ferns and flowers. + Then I thus addressed the singer: + 'Not for thee and not for others, + Hang I from my neck the crosslet, + Deck my hair with silken ribbons; + Need no more the many trinkets, + Brought to me by ship and shallop; + Sooner wear the simplest raiment, + Feed upon the barley bread-crust, + Dwell forever with my mother + In the cabin with my father.'" + Thus the gray-haired mother answered + Aino, her beloved daughter: + "Weep no more, my lovely maiden, + Waste no more of thy sweet young-life; + One year eat thou my sweet butter, + It will make thee strong and ruddy; + Eat another year fresh bacon, + It will make thee tall and queenly; + Eat a third year only dainties, + It will make thee fair and lovely. + Now make haste to yonder hill-top, + To the store-house on the mountain, + Open there the large compartment, + Thou will find it filled with boxes, + Chests and cases, trunks and boxes; + Open thou the box, the largest, + Lift away the gaudy cover, + Thou will find six golden girdles, + Seven rainbow-tinted dresses, + Woven by the Moon's fair daughters, + Fashioned by the Sun's sweet virgins. + In my young years once I wandered, + As a maiden on the mountains, + In the happy days of childhood, + Hunting berries in the coppice; + There by chance I heard the daughters + Of the Moon as they were weaving; + There I also heard the daughters + Of the Sun as they were spinning + On the red rims of the cloudlets, + O'er the blue edge of the forest, + On the border of the pine-wood, + On a high and distant mountain. + I approached them, drawing nearer, + Stole myself within their hearing, + Then began I to entreat them, + Thus besought them, gently pleading: + 'Give thy silver, Moon's fair daughters, + To a poor, but worthy maiden; + Give thy gold, O Sun's sweet virgins, + To this maiden, young and needy.' + Thereupon the Moon's fair daughters + Gave me silver from their coffers; + And the Sun's sweet shining virgins + Gave me gold from their abundance, + Gold to deck my throbbing temples, + For my hair the shining silver. + Then I hastened joyful homeward, + Richly laden with my treasures, + Happy to my mother's cottage; + Wore them one day, than a second, + Then a third day also wore them, + Took the gold then from my temples, + From my hair I took the silver, + Careful laid them in their boxes, + Many seasons have they lain there, + Have not seen them since my childhood. + Deck thy brow with silken ribbon, + Trim with gold thy throbbing temples, + And thy neck with pearly necklace, + Hang the gold-cross on thy bosom, + Robe thyself in pure, white linen + Spun from flax of finest fiber; + Wear withal the richest short-frock, + Fasten it with golden girdle; + On thy feet, put silken stockings, + With the shoes of finest leather; + Deck thy hair with golden braidlets, + Bind it well with threads of silver; + Trim with rings thy fairy fingers, + And thy hands with dainty ruffles; + Come bedecked then to thy chamber, + Thus return to this thy household, + To the greeting of thy kindred, + To the joy of all that know thee, + Flushed thy cheeks as ruddy berries, + Coming as thy father's sunbeam, + Walking beautiful and queenly, + Far more beautiful than moonlight." + Thus she spake to weeping Aino, + Thus the mother to her daughter; + But the maiden, little bearing, + Does not heed her mother's wishes; + Straightway hastens to the court-yard, + There to weep in bitter sorrow, + All alone to weep in anguish. + Waiting long the wailing Aino + Thus at last soliloquizes: + "Unto what can I now liken + Happy homes and joys of fortune? + Like the waters in the river, + Like the waves in yonder lakelet, + Like the crystal waters flowing. + Unto what, the biting sorrow + Of the child of cold misfortune? + Like the spirit of the sea-duck, + Like the icicle in winter, + Water in the well imprisoned. + Often roamed my mind in childhood, + When a maiden free and merry, + Happily through fen and fallow, + Gamboled on the meads with lambkins, + Lingered with the ferns and flowers, + Knowing neither pain nor trouble; + Now my mind is filled with sorrow, + Wanders though the bog and stubble, + Wanders weary through the brambles, + Roams throughout the dismal forest, + Till my life is filled with darkness, + And my spirit white with anguish. + Better had it been for Aino + Had she never seen the sunlight, + Or if born had died an infant, + Had not lived to be a maiden + In these days of sin and sorrow, + Underneath a star so luckless. + Better had it been for Aino, + Had she died upon the eighth day + After seven nights had vanished; + Needed then but little linen, + Needed but a little coffin, + And a grave of smallest measure; + Mother would have mourned a little, + Father too perhaps a trifle, + Sister would have wept the day through, + Brother might have shed a tear-drop, + Thus had ended all the mourning." + Thus poor Aino wept and murmured, + Wept one day, and then a second, + Wept a third from morn till even, + When again her mother asked her: + "Why this weeping, fairest daughter, + Darling daughter, why this grieving? + Thus the tearful maiden answered: + Therefore do I weep and sorrow, + Wretched maiden all my life long, + Since poor Aino, thou hast given, + Since thy daughter thou hast promised + To the aged Wainamoinen, + Comfort to his years declining + Prop to stay him when he totters, + In the storm a roof above him, + In his home a cloak around him; + Better far if thou hadst sent me + Far below the salt-sea surges, + To become the whiting's sister, + And the friend of perch and salmon; + Better far to ride the billows, + Swim the sea-foam as a mermaid, + And the friend of nimble fishes, + Than to be an old man's solace, + Prop to stay him when be totters, + Hand to aid him when he trembles, + Arm to guide him when he falters, + Strength to give him when he weakens; + Better be the whiting's sister + And the friend of perch and salmon, + Than an old man's slave and darling." + Ending thus she left her mother, + Straightway hastened to the mountain? + To the store-house on the summit, + Opened there the box the largest, + From the box six lids she lifted, + Found therein six golden girdles, + Silken dresses seven in number. + Choosing such as pleased her fancy, + She adorned herself as bidden, + Robed herself to look her fairest, + Gold upon her throbbing temples, + In her hair the shining silver, + On her shoulders purple ribbons, + Band of blue around her forehead, + Golden cross, and rings, and jewels, + Fitting ornaments to beauty. + Now she leaves her many treasures, + Leaves the store-house on the mountain, + Filled with gold and silver trinkets, + Wanders over field and meadow, + Over stone-fields waste and barren, + Wanders on through fen and forest, + Through the forest vast and cheerless, + Wanders hither, wanders thither, + Singing careless as she wanders, + This her mournful song and echo: + "Woe is me, my life hard-fated! + Woe to Aino, broken-hearted! + Torture racks my heart and temples, + Yet the sting would not be deeper, + Nor the pain and anguish greater, + If beneath this weight of sorrow, + In my saddened heart's dejection, + I should yield my life forever, + Now unhappy, I should perish! + Lo! the time has come for Aino + From this cruel world to hasten, + To the kingdom of Tuoni, + To the realm of the departed, + To the isle of the hereafter. + Weep no more for me, O Father, + Mother dear, withhold thy censure, + Lovely sister, dry thine eyelids, + Do not mourn me, dearest brother, + When I sink beneath the sea-foam, + Make my home in salmon-grottoes, + Make my bed in crystal waters, + Water-ferns my couch and pillow." + All day long poor Aino wandered, + All the next day, sad and weary, + So the third from morn till evening, + Till the cruel night enwrapped her, + As she reached the sandy margin, + Reached the cold and dismal sea-shore, + Sat upon the rock of sorrow, + Sat alone in cold and darkness, + Listened only to the music + Of the winds and rolling billows, + Singing all the dirge of Aino. + All that night the weary maiden + Wept and wandered on the border + Through the sand and sea-washed pebbles. + As the day dawns, looking round her, + She beholds three water-maidens, + On a headland jutting seaward, + Water-maidens four in number, + Sitting on the wave-lashed ledges, + Swimming now upon the billows, + Now upon the rocks reposing. + Quick the weeping maiden, Aino, + Hastens there to join the mermaids, + Fairy maidens of the waters. + Weeping Aino, now disrobing, + Lays aside with care her garments, + Hangs her silk robes on the alders, + Drops her gold-cross on the sea-shore, + On the aspen hangs her ribbons, + On the rocks her silken stockings, + On the grass her shoes of deer-skin, + In the sand her shining necklace, + With her rings and other jewels. + Out at sea a goodly distance, + Stood a rock of rainbow colors, + Glittering in silver sunlight. + Toward it springs the hapless maiden, + Thither swims the lovely Aino, + Up the standing-stone has clambered, + Wishing there to rest a moment, + Rest upon the rock of beauty; + When upon a sudden swaying + To and fro among the billows, + With a crash and roar of waters + Falls the stone of many colors, + Falls upon the very bottom + Of the deep and boundless blue-sea. + With the stone of rainbow colors, + Falls the weeping maiden, Aino, + Clinging to its craggy edges, + Sinking far below the surface, + To the bottom of the blue-sea. + Thus the weeping maiden vanished. + Thus poor Aino sank and perished, + Singing as the stone descended, + Chanting thus as she departed: + Once to swim I sought the sea-side, + There to sport among the billows; + With the stone or many colors + Sank poor Aino to the bottom + Of the deep and boundless blue-sea, + Like a pretty son-bird. perished. + Never come a-fishing, father, + To the borders of these waters, + Never during all thy life-time, + As thou lovest daughter Aino. + "Mother dear, I sought the sea-side, + There to sport among the billows; + With the stone of many colors, + Sank poor Aino to the bottom + Of the deep and boundless blue-sea, + Like a pretty song-bird perished. + Never mix thy bread, dear mother, + With the blue-sea's foam and waters, + Never during all thy life-time, + As thou lovest daughter Aino. + Brother dear, I sought the sea-side, + There to sport among the billows; + With the stone of many colors + Sank poor Aino to the bottom + Of the deep and boundless blue-sea, + Like a pretty song-bird perished. + Never bring thy prancing war-horse, + Never bring thy royal racer, + Never bring thy steeds to water, + To the borders of the blue-sea, + Never during all thy life-time, + As thou lovest sister Aino. + "Sister dear, I sought the sea-side, + There to sport among the billows; + With the stone of many colors + Sank poor Aino to the bottom + Of the deep and boundless blue-sea, + Like a pretty song-bird perished. + Never come to lave thine eyelids + In this rolling wave and sea-foam, + Never during all thy life-time, + As thou lovest sister Aino. + All the waters in the blue-sea + Shall be blood of Aino's body; + All the fish that swim these waters + Shall be Aino's flesh forever; + All the willows on the sea-side + Shall be Aino's ribs hereafter; + All the sea-grass on the margin + Will have grown from Aino's tresses." + Thus at last the maiden vanished, + Thus the lovely Aino perished. + Who will tell the cruel story, + Who will bear the evil tidings + To the cottage of her mother, + Once the home of lovely Aino? + Will the bear repeat the story, + Tell the tidings to her mother? + Nay, the bear must not be herald, + He would slay the herds of cattle. + Who then tell the cruel story, + Who will bear the evil tidings + To the cottage of her father, + Once the home of lovely Aino? + Shall the wolf repeat the story, + Tell the sad news to her father? + Nay, the wolf must not be herald, + He would eat the gentle lambkins. + Who then tell the cruel story, + Who will bear the evil tidings. + To the cottage of her sister? + 'Will the fox repeat the story + Tell the tidings to her sister? + Nay, the fox must not be herald, + He would eat the ducks and chickens. + Who then tell the cruel story, + Who will bear the evil tidings + To the cottage of her brother, + Once the home of lovely Aino? + Shall the hare repeat the story, + Bear the sad news to her brother? + Yea, the hare shall be the herald, + Tell to all the cruel story. + Thus the harmless hare makes answer: + "I will bear the evil tidings + To the former home of Aino, + Tell the story to her kindred." + Swiftly flew the long-eared herald, + Like the winds be hastened onward, + Galloped swift as flight of eagles; + Neck awry he bounded forward + Till he gained the wished-for cottage, + Once the home of lovely Aino. + Silent was the home, and vacant; + So he hastened to the bath-house, + Found therein a group of maidens, + Working each upon a birch-broom. + Sat the hare upon the threshold, + And the maidens thus addressed him: + "Hie e there, Long-legs, or we'll roast thee, + Hie there, Big-eye, or we'll stew thee, + Roast thee for our lady's breakfast, + Stew thee for our master's dinner, + Make of thee a meal for Aino, + And her brother, Youkahainen! + Better therefore thou shouldst gallop + To thy burrow in the mountains, + Than be roasted for our dinners." + Then the haughty hare made answer, + Chanting thus the fate of Aino: + "Think ye not I journey hither, + To be roasted in the skillet, + To be stewed in yonder kettle + Let fell Lempo fill thy tables! + I have come with evil tidings, + Come to tell the cruel story + Of the flight and death of Aino, + Sister dear of Youkahainen. + With the stone of many colors + Sank poor Aino to the bottom + Of the deep and boundless waters, + Like a pretty song-bird perished; + Hung her ribbons on the aspen, + Left her gold-cross on the sea-shore, + Silken robes upon the alders, + On the rocks her silken stockings, + On the grass her shoes of deer-skin, + In the sand her shining necklace, + In the sand her rings and jewels; + In the waves, the lovely Aino, + Sleeping on the very bottom + Of the deep and boundless blue-sea, + In the caverns of the salmon, + There to be the whiting's sister + And the friend of nimble fishes." + Sadly weeps the ancient mother + From her blue-eyes bitter tear-drops, + As in sad and wailing measures, + Broken-hearted thus she answers: + "Listen, all ye mothers, listen, + Learn from me a tale of wisdom: + Never urge unwilling daughters + From the dwellings of their fathers, + To the bridegrooms that they love not, + Not as I, inhuman mother, + Drove away my lovely Aino, + Fairest daughter of the Northland." + Sadly weeps the gray-haired mother, + And the tears that fall are bitter, + Flowing down her wrinkled visage, + Till they trickle on her bosom; + Then across her heaving bosom, + Till they reach her garment's border; + Then adown her silken stockings, + Till they touch her shoes of deer-skin; + Then beneath her shoes of deer-skin, + Flowing on and flowing ever, + Part to earth as its possession, + Part to water as its portion. + As the tear-drops fall and mingle, + Form they streamlets three in number, + And their source, the mother's eyelids, + Streamlets formed from pearly tear-drops, + Flowing on like little rivers, + And each streamlet larger growing, + Soon becomes a rushing torrent + In each rushing, roaring torrent + There a cataract is foaming, + Foaming in the silver sunlight; + From the cataract's commotion + Rise three pillared rocks in grandeur; + From each rock, upon the summit, + Grow three hillocks clothed in verdure; + From each hillock, speckled birches, + Three in number, struggle skyward; + On the summit of each birch-tree + Sits a golden cuckoo calling, + And the three sing, all in concord: + "Love! O Love! the first one calleth; + Sings the second, Suitor! Suitor! + And the third one calls and echoes, + "Consolation! Consolation!" + He that "Love! O Love!" is calling, + Calls three moons and calls unceasing, + For the love-rejecting maiden + Sleeping in the deep sea-castles. + He that "Suitor! Suitor!" singeth, + Sings six moons and sings unceasing + For the suitor that forever + Sings and sues without a hearing. + He that sadly sings and echoes, + "Consolation! Consolation!" + Sings unceasing all his life long + For the broken-hearted mother + That must mourn and weep forever. + When the lone and wretched mother + Heard the sacred cuckoo singing, + Spake she thus, and sorely weeping: + "When I hear the cuckoo calling, + Then my heart is filled with sorrow; + Tears unlock my heavy eyelids, + Flow adown my, furrowed visage, + Tears as large as silver sea pearls; + Older grow my wearied elbows, + Weaker ply my aged fingers, + Wearily, in all its members, + Does my body shake in palsy, + When I hear the cuckoo singing, + Hear the sacred cuckoo calling." + + + + +RUNE V. + + + + WAINAVOINEN'S LAMENTATION. + + + Far and wide the tidings travelled, + Far away men heard the story + Of the flight and death of Aino, + Sister dear of Youkahainen, + Fairest daughter of creation. + Wainamoinen, brave and truthful, + Straightway fell to bitter weeping, + Wept at morning, wept at evening, + Sleepless, wept the dreary night long, + That his Aino had departed, + That the maiden thus had vanished, + Thus had sunk upon the bottom + Of the blue-sea, deep and boundless. + Filled with grief, the ancient singer, + Wainamoinen of the Northland, + Heavy-hearted, sorely weeping, + Hastened to the restless waters, + This the suitor's prayer and question: + "Tell, Untamo, tell me, dreamer, + Tell me, Indolence, thy visions, + Where the water-gods may linger, + Where may rest Wellamo's maidens?" + Then Untamo, thus made answer, + Lazily he told his dreamings: + "Over there, the mermaid-dwellings, + Yonder live Wellamo's maidens, + On the headland robed in verdure, + On the forest-covered island, + In the deep, pellucid waters, + On the purple-colored sea-shore; + Yonder is the home or sea-maids, + There the maidens of Wellamo, + Live there in their sea-side chambers, + Rest within their water-caverns, + On the rocks of rainbow colors, + On the juttings of the sea-cliffs." + Straightway hastens Wainamoinen + To a boat-house on the sea-shore, + Looks with care upon the fish-hooks, + And the lines he well considers; + Lines, and hooks, and poles, arid fish-nets, + Places in a boat of copper, + Then begins he swiftly rowing + To the forest-covered island, + To the point enrobed In verdure, + To the purple-colored headland, + Where the sea-nymphs live and linger. + Hardly does he reach the island + Ere the minstrel starts to angle; + Far away he throws his fish-hook, + Trolls it quickly through the waters, + Turning on a copper swivel + Dangling from a silver fish-line, + Golden is the hook he uses. + Now he tries his silken fish-net, + Angles long, and angles longer, + Angles one day, then a second, + In the morning, in the evening, + Angles at the hour of noontide, + Many days and nights he angles, + Till at last, one sunny morning, + Strikes a fish of magic powers, + Plays like salmon on his fish-line, + Lashing waves across the waters, + Till at length the fish exhausted + Falls a victim to the angler, + Safely landed in the bottom + Of the hero's boat of copper. + Wainamoinen, proudly viewing, + Speaks these words in wonder guessing: + "This the fairest of all sea-fish, + Never have I seen its equal, + Smoother surely than the salmon, + Brighter-spotted than the trout is, + Grayer than the pike of Suomi, + Has less fins than any female, + Not the fins of any male fish, + Not the stripes of sea-born maidens, + Not the belt of any mermaid, + Not the ears of any song-bird, + Somewhat like our Northland salmon + From the blue-sea's deepest caverns." + In his belt the ancient hero + Wore a knife insheathed with silver; + From its case he drew the fish-knife, + Thus to carve the fish in pieces, + Dress the nameless fish for roasting, + Make of it a dainty breakfast, + Make of it a meal at noon-day, + Make for him a toothsome supper, + Make the later meal at evening. + Straightway as the fish he touches, + Touches with his knife of silver, + Quick it leaps upon the waters, + Dives beneath the sea's smooth surface, + From the boat with copper bottom, + From the skiff of Wainamoinen. + In the waves at goodly distance, + Quickly from the sea it rises + On the sixth and seventh billows, + Lifts its head above the waters, + Out of reach of fishing-tackle, + Then addresses Wainamoinen, + Chiding thus the ancient hero: + "Wainamoinen, ancient minstrel, + Do not think that I came hither + To be fished for as a salmon, + Only to be chopped in pieces, + Dressed and eaten like a whiting + Make for thee a dainty breakfast, + Make for thee a meal at midday, + Make for thee a toothsome supper, + Make the fourth meal of the Northland." + Spake the ancient Wainamoinen: + "Wherefore didst thou then come hither, + If it be not for my dinner?" + Thus the nameless fish made answer: + "Hither have I come, O minstrel, + In thine arms to rest and linger, + And thyself to love and cherish, + At thy side a life-companion, + And thy wife to be forever; + Deck thy couch with snowy linen, + Smooth thy head upon the pillow, + Sweep thy rooms and make them cheery, + Keep thy dwelling-place in order, + Build a fire for thee when needed, + Bake for thee the honey-biscuit, + Fill thy cup with barley-water, + Do for thee whatever pleases. + "I am not a scaly sea-fish, + Not a trout of Northland rivers, + Not a whiting from the waters, + Not a salmon of the North-seas, + I, a young and merry maiden, + Friend and sister of the fishes, + Youkahainen's youngest sister, + I, the one that thou dost fish for, + I am Aino whom thou lovest. + "Once thou wert the wise-tongued hero, + Now the foolish Wainamoinen, + Scant of insight, scant of judgment, + Didst not know enough to keep me, + Cruel-hearted, bloody-handed, + Tried to kill me with thy fish-knife, + So to roast me for thy dinner; + I, a mermaid of Wellamo, + Once the fair and lovely Aino, + Sister dear of Youkahainen." + Spake the ancient Wainamoinen, + Filled with sorrow, much regretting: + "Since thou'rt Youkahainen's sister, + Beauteous Aino of Pohyola, + Come to me again I pray thee!" + Thus the mermaid wisely answered; + Nevermore will Aino's spirit + Fly to thee and be ill-treated." + Quickly dived the water-maiden + From the surface of the billow + To the many-colored pebbles, + To the rainbow-tinted grottoes + Where the mermaids live and linger. + Wainamoinen, not discouraged, + Thought afresh and well reflected, + How to live, and work, and win her; + Drew with care his silken fish-net, + To and fro through foam and billow, + Through the bays and winding channels, + Drew it through the placid waters, + Drew it through the salmon-dwellings, + Through the homes of water-maidens, + Through the waters of Wainola, + Through the blue-back of the ocean, + Through the lakes of distant Lapland, + Through the rivers of Youkola, + Through the seas of Kalevala, + Hoping thus to find his Aino. + Many were the fish be landed, + Every form of fish-like creatures, + But be did not catch the sea-maid, + Not Wellamo's water-maiden, + Fairest daughter of the Northland. + Finally the ancient minstrel, + Mind depressed, and heart discouraged, + Spake these words, immersed in sorrow: + "Fool am I, and great my folly, + Having neither wit nor judgment; + Surely once I had some knowledge, + Had some insight into wisdom, + Had at least a bit of instinct; + But my virtues all have left me + In these mournful days of evil, + Vanished with my youth and vigor, + Insight gone, and sense departed, + All my prudence gone to others! + Aino, whom I love and cherish, + All these years have sought to honor, + Aino, now Wellamo's maiden, + Promised friend of mine when needed, + Promised bride of mine forever, + Once I had within my power, + Caught her in Wellamo's grottoes, + Led her to my boat of copper, + With my fish-line made of silver; + But alas! I could not keep her, + Did not know that I had caught her + Till too late to woo and win her; + Let her slip between my fingers + To the home of water-maidens, + To the kingdom of Wellamo." + Wainamoinen then departed, + Empty-handed, heavy-hearted, + Straightway hastened to his country, + To his home in Kalevala, + Spake these words upon his journey: + "What has happened to the cuckoo, + Once the cuckoo bringing gladness, + In the morning, in the evening, + Often bringing joy at noontide? + What has stilled the cuckoo's singing, + What has changed the cuckoo's calling? + Sorrow must have stilled his singing, + And compassion changed his calling, + As I hear him sing no longer, + For my pleasure in the morning, + For my happiness at evening. + Never shall I learn the secret, + How to live and how to prosper, + How upon the earth to rest me, + How upon the seas to wander! + Only were my ancient mother + Living on the face of Northland, + Surely she would well advise me, + What my thought and what my action, + That this cup of grief might pass me, + That this sorrow might escape me, + And this darkened cloud pass over." + In the deep awoke his mother, + From her tomb she spake as follows: + "Only sleeping was thy mother, + Now awakes to give thee answer, + What thy thought and what thine action, + That this cup of grief may pass thee, + That this sorrow may escape thee, + And this darkened cloud pass over. + Hie thee straightway to the Northland, + Visit thou the Suomi daughters; + Thou wilt find them wise and lovely, + Far more beautiful than Aino, + Far more worthy of a husband, + Not such silly chatter-boxes, + As the fickle Lapland maidens. + Take for thee a life-companion, + From the honest homes of Suomi, + One of Northland's honest daughters; + She will charm thee with her sweetness, + Make thee happy through her goodness, + Form perfection, manners easy, + Every step and movement graceful, + Full of wit and good behavior, + Honor to thy home and kindred." + + + + +RUNE VI. + + + + WAINAMOINEN'S HAPLESS JOURNEY. + + + Wainamoinen, old and truthful, + Now arranges for a journey + To the village of the Northland, + To the land of cruel winters, + To the land of little sunshine, + To the land of worthy women; + Takes his light-foot, royal racer, + Then adjusts the golden bridle, + Lays upon his back the saddle, + Silver-buckled, copper-stirruped, + Seats himself upon his courser, + And begins his journey northward; + Plunges onward, onward, onward, + Galloping along the highway, + In his saddle, gaily fashioned, + On his dappled steed of magic, + Plunging through Wainola's meadows, + O'er the plains of Kalevala. + Fast and far he galloped onward, + Galloped far beyond Wainola, + Bounded o'er the waste of waters, + Till he reached the blue-sea's margin, + Wetting not the hoofs in running. + But the evil Youkahainen + Nursed a grudge within his bosom, + In his heart the worm of envy, + Envy of this Wainamoinen, + Of this wonderful enchanter. + He prepares a cruel cross-bow, + Made of steel and other metals, + Paints the bow in many colors, + Molds the top-piece out or copper, + Trims his bow with snowy silver, + Gold he uses too in trimming, + Then he hunts for strongest sinews, + Finds them in the stag of Hisi, + Interweaves the flax of Lempo. + Ready is the cruel cross-bow, + String, and shaft, and ends are finished, + Beautiful the bow and mighty, + Surely cost it not a trifle; + On the back a painted courser, + On each end a colt of beauty, + Near the curve a maiden sleeping + Near the notch a hare is bounding, + Wonderful the bow thus fashioned; + Cuts some arrows for his quiver, + Covers them with finest feathers, + From the oak the shafts be fashions, + Makes the tips of keenest metal. + As the rods and points are finished, + Then he feathers well his arrows + From the plumage of the swallow, + From the wing-quills of the sparrow; + Hardens well his feathered arrows, + And imparts to each new virtues, + Steeps them in the blood of serpents, + In the virus of the adder. + Ready now are all his arrows, + Ready strung, his cruel cross-bow. + Waiting for wise Wainamoinen. + Youkahainen, Lapland's minstrel, + Waits a long time, is not weary, + Hopes to spy the ancient singer; + Spies at day-dawn, spies at evening, + Spies he ceaselessly at noontide, + Lies in wait for the magician, + Waits, and watches, as in envy; + Sits he at the open window, + Stands behind the hedge, and watches + In the foot-path waits, and listens, + Spies along the balks of meadows; + On his back he hangs his quiver, + In his quiver, feathered arrows + Dipped in virus of the viper, + On his arm the mighty cross-bow, + Waits, and watches, and unwearied, + Listens from the boat-house window, + Lingers at the end of Fog-point, + By the river flowing seaward, + Near the holy stream and whirlpool, + Near the sacred river's fire-fall. + Finally the Lapland minstrel, + Youkahainen of Pohyola, + At the breaking of the day-dawn, + At the early hour of morning, + Fixed his gaze upon the North-east, + Turned his eyes upon the sunrise, + Saw a black cloud on the ocean, + Something blue upon the waters, + And soliloquized as follows: + "Are those clouds on the horizon, + Or perchance the dawn of morning? + Neither clouds on the horizon, + Nor the dawning of the morning; + It is ancient Wainamoinen, + The renowned and wise enchanter, + Riding on his way to Northland; + On his steed, the royal racer, + Magic courser of Wainola." + Quickly now young Youkahainen, + Lapland's vain and evil minstrel, + Filled with envy, grasps his cross-bow, + Makes his bow and arrows ready + For the death of Wainamoinen. + Quick his aged mother asked him, + Spake these words to Youkahainen: + "For whose slaughter is thy cross-bow, + For whose heart thy poisoned arrows?" + Youkahainen thus made answer: + "I have made this mighty cross-bow, + Fashioned bow and poisoned arrows + For the death of Wainamoinen, + Thus to slay the friend of waters; + I must shoot the old magician, + The eternal bard and hero, + Through the heart, and through the liver, + Through the head, and through the shoulders, + With this bow and feathered arrows + Thus destroy my rival minstrel." + Then the aged mother answered, + Thus reproving, thus forbidding. + Do not slay good Wainamoinen, + Ancient hero of the Northland, + From a noble tribe descended, + He, my sister's son, my nephew. + If thou slayest Wainamoinen, + Ancient son of Kalevala, + Then alas! all joy will vanish, + Perish all our wondrous singing; + Better on the earth the gladness, + Better here the magic music, + Than within the nether regions, + In the kingdom of Tuoni, + In the realm of the departed, + In the land of the hereafter." + Then the youthful Youkahainen + Thought awhile and well considered, + Ere he made a final answer. + With one hand he raised the cross-bow + But the other seemed to weaken, + As he drew the cruel bow-string. + Finally these words he uttered + As his bosom swelled with envy: + "Let all joy forever vanish, + Let earth's pleasures quickly perish, + Disappear earth's sweetest music, + Happiness depart forever; + Shoot I will this rival minstrel, + Little heeding what the end is." + Quickly now he bends his fire-bow, + On his left knee rests the weapon, + With his right foot firmly planted, + Thus he strings his bow of envy; + Takes three arrows from his quiver, + Choosing well the best among them, + Carefully adjusts the bow-string, + Sets with care the feathered arrow, + To the flaxen string he lays it, + Holds the cross-bow to his shoulder, + Aiming well along the margin, + At the heart of Wainamoinen, + Waiting till he gallops nearer; + In the shadow of a thicket, + Speaks these words while he is waiting + "Be thou, flaxen string, elastic; + Swiftly fly, thou feathered ash-wood, + Swiftly speed, thou deadly missile, + Quick as light, thou poisoned arrow, + To the heart of Wainamoinen. + If my hand too low should hold thee, + May the gods direct thee higher; + If too high mine eye should aim thee, + May the gods direct thee lower." + Steady now he pulls the trigger; + Like the lightning flies the arrow + O'er the head of Wainamoinen; + To the upper sky it darteth, + And the highest clouds it pierces, + Scatters all the flock of lamb-clouds, + On its rapid journey skyward. + Not discouraged, quick selecting, + Quick adjusting, Youkahainen, + Quickly aiming shoots a second. + Speeds the arrow swift as lightning; + Much too low he aimed the missile, + Into earth the arrow plunges, + Pierces to the lower regions, + Splits in two the old Sand Mountain. + Nothing daunted, Youkahainen, + Quick adjusting shoots a third one. + Swift as light it speeds its journey, + Strikes the steed of Wainamoinen, + Strikes the light-foot, ocean-swimmer, + Strikes him near his golden girdle, + Through the shoulder of the racer. + Thereupon wise Wainamoinen + Headlong fell upon the waters, + Plunged beneath the rolling billows, + From the saddle of the courser, + From his dappled steed of magic. + Then arose a mighty storm-wind, + Roaring wildly on the waters, + Bore away old Wainamoinen + Far from land upon the billows, + On the high and rolling billows, + On the broad sea's great expanses. + Boasted then young Youkahainen, + Thinking Waino dead and buried, + These the boastful words be uttered: + "Nevermore, old Wainamoinen, + Nevermore in all thy life-time, + While the golden moonlight glistens, + Nevermore wilt fix thy vision + On the meadows of Wainola, + On the plains of Kalevala; + Full six years must swim the ocean, + Tread the waves for seven summers, + Eight years ride the foamy billows, + In the broad expanse of water; + Six long autumns as a fir-tree, + Seven winters as a pebble; + Eight long summers as an aspen." + Thereupon the Lapland minstrel + Hastened to his room delighting, + When his mother thus addressed him + "Hast thou slain good Wainamoinen, + Slain the son of Kalevala?" + Youkahainen thus made answer: + "I have slain old Wainamoinen, + Slain the son of Kalevala, + That he now may plow the ocean, + That he now may sweep the waters, + On the billows rock and slumber. + In the salt-sea plunged he headlong, + In the deep sank the magician, + Sidewise turned he to the sea-shore + On his back to rock forever, + Thus the boundless sea to travel, + Thus to ride the rolling billows." + This the answer of the mother: + "Woe to earth for this thine action, + Gone forever, joy and singing, + Vanished is the wit of ages! + Thou hast slain good Wainamoinen. + Slain the ancient wisdom-singer, + Slain the pride of Suwantala, + Slain the hero of Wainola, + Slain the joy of Kalevala." + + + + +RUNE VII. + + + + WAINIOINEN'S RESCUE. + + + Wainamoinen, old and truthful, + Swam through all the deep-sea waters, + Floating like a branch of aspen, + Like a withered twig of willow; + Swam six days in summer weather, + Swam six nights in golden moonlight; + Still before him rose the billows, + And behind him sky and ocean. + Two days more he swam undaunted, + Two long nights be struggled onward. + On the evening of the eighth day, + Wainamoinen grew disheartened, + Felt a very great discomfort, + For his feet had lost their toe-nails, + And his fingers dead and dying. + Wainamoinen, ancient minstrel, + Sad and weary, spake as follows: + "Woe is me, my old life fated! + Woe is me, misfortune's offspring! + Fool was I when fortune, favored, + To forsake my home and kindred, + For a maiden fair and lovely, + Here beneath the starry heavens, + In this cruel waste of waters, + Days and nights to swim and wander, + Here to struggle with the storm-winds, + To be tossed by heaving billows, + In this broad sea's great expanses, + In this ocean vast and boundless. + "Cold my life and sad and dreary, + Painful too for me to linger + Evermore within these waters, + Thus to struggle for existence! + Cannot know how I can prosper, + How to find me food and shelter, + In these cold and lifeless waters, + In these days of dire misfortune. + Build I in the winds my dwelling? + It will find no sure foundation. + Build my home upon the billows? + Surely would the waves destroy it." + Comes a bird from far Pohyola, + From the occident, an eagle, + Is not classed among the largest, + Nor belongs he to the smallest; + One wing touches on the waters, + While the other sweeps the heavens; + O'er the waves he wings his body, + Strikes his beak upon the sea-cliffs, + Flies about, then safely perches, + Looks before him, looks behind him, + There beholds brave Wainamoinen, + On the blue-back of the ocean, + And the eagle thus accosts him: + "Wherefore art thou, ancient hero, + Swimming in the deep-sea billows? + Thus the water-minstrel answered: + "I am ancient Wainamoinen, + Friend and fellow of the waters + I, the famous wisdom-singer; + Went to woo a Northland maiden, + Maiden from the dismal Darkland, + Quickly galloped on my journey, + Riding on the plain of ocean. + I arrived one morning early, + At the breaking of the day-dawn. + At the bay of Luotola, + Near Youkola's foaming river, + Where the evil Youkahainen + Slew my steed with bow and arrow, + Tried to slay me with his weapons. + On the waters fell I headlong, + Plunged beneath the salt-sea's surface, + From the saddle of the courser, + From my dappled steed of magic. + "Then arose a mighty storm-wind, + From the East and West a whirlwind, + Washed me seaward on the surges, + Seaward, seaward, further, further, + Where for many days I wandered, + Swam and rocked upon the billows, + Where as many nights I struggled, + In the dashing waves and sea-foam, + With the angry winds and waters. + "Woe is me, my life hard-fated! + Cannot solve this heavy problem, + How to live nor how to perish + In this cruel salt-sea water. + Build I in the winds my dwelling? + It will find no sure foundation. + Build my home upon the waters? + Surely will the waves destroy it. + Must I swim the sea forever, + Must I live, or must I perish? + What will happen if I perish, + If I sink below the billows, + Perish here from cold and hunger?" + Thus the bird of Ether answered + "Be not in the least disheartened, + Place thyself between my shoulders, + On my back be firmly seated, + I will lift thee from the waters, + Bear thee with my pinions upward, + Bear thee wheresoe'er thou willest. + Well do I the day remember + Where thou didst the eagle service, + When thou didst the birds a favor. + Thou didst leave the birch-tree standing, + When were cleared the Osmo-forests, + From the lands of Kalevala, + As a home for weary song-birds, + As a resting-place for eagles." + Then arises Wainamoinen, + Lifts his head above the waters, + Boldly rises from the sea-waves, + Lifts his body from the billows, + Seats himself upon the eagle, + On the eagle's feathered shoulders. + Quick aloft the huge bird bears him, + Bears the ancient Wainamoinen, + Bears him on the path of zephyrs, + Floating on the vernal breezes, + To the distant shore of Northland, + To the dismal Sariola, + Where the eagle leaves his burden, + Flies away to join his fellows. + Wainamoinen, lone and weary, + Straightway fell to bitter weeping, + Wept and moaned in heavy accents, + On the border of the blue-sea. + On a cheerless promontory, + With a hundred wounds tormented, + Made by cruel winds and waters, + With his hair and beard dishevelled + By the surging of the billows. + Three long days he wept disheartened + Wept as many nights in anguish, + Did not know what way to journey, + Could not find a woodland foot-print, + That would point him to the highway, + To his home in Kalevala, + To his much-loved home and kindred. + Northland's young and slender maiden, + With complexion fair and lovely, + With the Sun had laid a wager, + With the Sun and Moon a wager, + Which should rise before the other, + On the morning of the morrow. + And the maiden rose in beauty, + Long before the Sun had risen, + Long before the Moon bad wakened, + From their beds beneath the ocean. + Ere the cock had crowed the day-break, + Ere the Sun had broken slumber + She had sheared six gentle lambkins, + Gathered from them six white fleeces, + Hence to make the rolls for spinning, + Hence to form the threads for weaving, + Hence to make the softest raiment, + Ere the morning dawn had broken, + Ere the sleeping Sun had risen. + When this task the maid had ended, + Then she scrubbed the birchen tables, + Sweeps the ground-floor of the stable, + With a broom of leaves and branches + From the birches of the Northland, + Scrapes the sweepings well together + On a shovel made of copper, + Carries them beyond the stable, + From the doorway to the meadow, + To the meadow's distant border, + Near the surges of the great-sea, + Listens there and looks about her, + Hears a wailing from the waters, + Hears a weeping from the sea-shore, + Hears a hero-voice lamenting. + Thereupon she hastens homeward, + Hastens to her mother's dwelling, + These the words the maiden utters: + "I have heard a wail from ocean, + Heard a weeping from the sea-coast, + On the shore some one lamenting." + Louhi, hostess of Pohyola, + Ancient, toothless dame of Northland, + Hastens from her door and court-yard, + Through the meadow to the sea-shore, + Listens well for sounds of weeping, + For the wail of one in sorrow; + Hears the voice of one in trouble, + Hears a hero-cry of anguish. + Thus the ancient Louhi answers: + "This is not the wail of children, + These are not the tears of women, + In this way weep bearded heroes; + This the hero-cry of anguish." + Quick she pushed her boat to water, + To the floods her goodly vessel, + Straightway rows with lightning swiftness, + To the weeping Wainamoinen; + Gives the hero consolation, + Comfort gives she to the minstrel + Wailing in a grove of willows, + In his piteous condition, + Mid the alder-trees and aspens, + On the border of the salt-sea, + Visage trembling, locks dishevelled. + Ears, and eyes, and lips of sadness. + Louhi, hostess of Pohyola, + Thus addresses Wainamoinen: + "Tell me what has been thy folly, + That thou art in this condition." + Old and truthful Wainamoinen + Lifts aloft his bead and answers: + "Well I know that it is folly + That has brought me all this trouble, + Brought me to this land of strangers, + To these regions unbefitting + Happy was I with my kindred, + In my distant home and country, + There my name was named in honor." + Louhi, hostess of Pohyola, + Thus replied to Wainamoinen: + "I would gain the information, + Should I be allowed to ask thee, + Who thou art of ancient heroes, + Who of all the host of heroes? + This is Wainamoinen's answer: + "Formerly my name was mentioned, + Often was I heard and honored, + As a minstrel and magician, + In the long and dreary winters, + Called the 'Singer of the Northland, + In the valleys of Wainola, + On the plains of Kalevala; + No one thought that such misfortune + Could befall wise Wainamoinen." + Louhi, hostess of Pohyola, + Thus replied in cheering accents + "Rise, O hero, from discomfort, + From thy bed among the willows; + Enter now upon the new-way, + Come with me to yonder dwelling, + There relate thy strange adventures, + Tell the tale of thy misfortunes." + Now she takes the hapless hero, + Lifts him from his bed of sorrow, + In her boat she safely seats him, + And begins at once her rowing, + Rows with steady hand and mighty + To her home upon the sea-shore, + To the dwellings of Pohyola. + There she feeds the starving hero, + Rests the ancient Wainamoinen, + Gives him warmth, and food, and shelter, + And the hero soon recovers. + Then the hostess of Pohyola + Questioned thus the ancient singer: + "Wherefore didst thou, Wainamoinen, + Friend and fellow of the waters, + Weep in sad and bitter accents, + On the border of the ocean, + Mid the aspens and the willows?" + This is Wainamoinen's answer: + Had good reason for my weeping, + Cause enough for all my sorrow; + Long indeed had I been swimming, + Had been buffeting the billows, + In the far outstretching waters. + This the reason for my weeping; + I have lived in toil and torture, + Since I left my home and country, + Left my native land and kindred, + Came to this the land of strangers, + To these unfamiliar portals. + All thy trees have thorns to wound me, + All thy branches, spines to pierce me, + Even birches give me trouble, + And the alders bring discomfort, + My companions, winds and waters, + Only does the Sun seem friendly, + In this cold and cruel country, + Near these unfamiliar portals." + Louhi thereupon made answer, + Weep no longer, Wainamoinen, + Grieve no more, thou friend of waters, + Good for thee, that thou shouldst linger + At our friendly homes and firesides; + Thou shalt live with us and welcome, + Thou shalt sit at all our tables, + Eat the salmon from our platters, + Eat the sweetest of our bacon, + Eat the whiting from our waters." + Answers thus old Wainamoinen, + Grateful for the invitation: + "Never do I court strange tables, + Though the food be rare and toothsome; + One's own country is the dearest, + One's own table is the sweetest, + One's own home, the most attractive. + Grant, kind Ukko, God above me, + Thou Creator, full of mercy, + Grant that I again may visit + My beloved home and country. + Better dwell in one's own country, + There to drink Its healthful waters + From the simple cups of birch-wood, + Than in foreign lands to wander, + There to drink the rarest liquors + From the golden bowls of strangers." + Louhi, hostess of Pohyola, + Thus replied to the magician: + "What reward wilt thou award me, + Should I take thee where thou willest, + To thy native land and kindred, + To thy much-loved home and fireside, + To the meadows of Wainola, + To the plains of Kalevala?" + These the words of Wainamoinen: + "What would be reward sufficient, + Shouldst thou take me to my people, + To my home and distant country, + To the borders of the Northland, + There to hear the cuckoo singing, + Hear the sacred cuckoo calling? + Shall I give thee golden treasures, + Fill thy cups with finest silver?" + This is Louhi's simple answer: + "O thou ancient Wainamoinen, + Only true and wise magician, + Never will I ask for riches, + Never ask for gold nor silver; + Gold is for the children's flowers, + Silver for the stallion's jewels. + Canst thou forge for me the Sampo, + Hammer me the lid in colors, + From the tips of white-swan feathers + From the milk of greatest virtue, + From a single grain of barley, + From the finest wool of lambkins? + "I will give thee too my daughter, + Will reward thee through the maiden, + Take thee to thy much-loved home-land, + To the borders of Wainola, + There to hear the cuckoo singing, + Hear the sacred cuckoo calling." + Wainamoinen, much regretting, + Gave this answer to her question: + "Cannot forge for thee the Sampo, + Cannot make the lid in colors. + Take me to my distant country, + I will send thee Ilmarinen, + He will forge for thee the Sampo, + Hammer thee the lid in colors, + He may win thy lovely maiden; + Worthy smith is Ilmarinen, + In this art is first and master; + He, the one that forged the heavens. + Forged the air a hollow cover; + Nowhere see we hammer-traces, + Nowhere find a single tongs-mark." + Thus replied the hostess, Louhi: + "Him alone I'll give my daughter, + Promise him my child in marriage, + Who for me will forge the Sampo, + Hammer me the lid in colors, + From the tips of white-swan feathers, + From the milk of greatest virtue, + From a single grain of barley, + From the finest wool of lambkins." + Thereupon the hostess Louhi, + Harnessed quick a dappled courser, + Hitched him to her sledge of birch-wood, + Placed within it Wainamoinen, + Placed the hero on the cross-bench, + Made him ready for his journey; + Then addressed the ancient minstrel, + These the words that Louhi uttered: + "Do not raise thine eyes to heaven, + Look not upward on thy journey, + While thy steed is fresh and frisky, + While the day-star lights thy pathway, + Ere the evening star has risen; + If thine eyes be lifted upward, + While the day-star lights thy pathway, + Dire misfortune will befall thee, + Some sad fate will overtake thee." + Then the ancient Wainamoinen + Fleetly drove upon his journey, + Merrily he hastened homeward, + Hastened homeward, happy-hearted + From the ever-darksome Northland + From the dismal Sariola. + + + + +RUNE VIII. + + + + MAIDEN OF THE RAINBOW. + + + Pohyola's fair and winsome daughter, + Glory of the land and water, + Sat upon the bow of heaven, + On its highest arch resplendent, + In a gown of richest fabric, + In a gold and silver air-gown, + Weaving webs of golden texture, + Interlacing threads of silver; + Weaving with a golden shuttle, + With a weaving-comb of silver; + Merrily flies the golden shuttle, + From the maiden's nimble fingers, + Briskly swings the lathe in weaving, + Swiftly flies the comb of silver, + From the sky-born maiden's fingers, + Weaving webs of wondrous beauty. + Came the ancient Wainamoinen, + Driving down the highway homeward, + From the ever sunless Northland, + From the dismal Sariola; + Few the furlongs he had driven, + Driven but a little distance, + When he heard the sky-loom buzzing, + As the maiden plied the shuttle. + Quick the thoughtless Wainamoinen + Lifts his eyes aloft in wonder, + Looks upon the vault of heaven, + There beholds the bow of beauty, + On the bow the maiden sitting, + Beauteous Maiden of the Rainbow, + Glory of the earth and ocean, + Weaving there a golden fabric, + Working with the rustling silver. + Wainamoinen, ancient minstrel, + Quickly checks his fleet-foot racer, + Looks upon the charming maiden, + Then addresses her as follows: + "Come, fair maiden, to my snow-sledge, + By my side I wish thee seated." + Thus the Maid of Beauty answers: + "Tell me what thou wishest of me, + Should I join thee in the snow-sledge." + Speaks the ancient Wainamoinen, + Answers thus the Maid of Beauty: + "This the reason for thy coming: + Thou shalt bake me honey-biscuit, + Shalt prepare me barley-water, + Thou shalt fill my foaming beer-cups, + Thou shalt sing beside my table, + Shalt rejoice within my portals, + Walk a queen within my dwelling, + In the Wainola halls and chambers, + In the courts of Kalevala." + Thus the Maid of Beauty answered + From her throne amid the heavens: + "Yesterday at hour of twilight, + Went I to the flowery meadows, + There to rock upon the common, + Where the Sun retires to slumber; + There I heard a song-bird singing, + Heard the thrush simple measures, + Singing sweetly thoughts of maidens, + And the minds of anxious mothers. + "Then I asked the pretty songster, + Asked the thrush this simple question: + 'Sing to me, thou pretty song-bird, + Sing that I may understand thee, + Sing to me in truthful accents, + How to live in greatest pleasure, + And in happiness the sweetest, + As a maiden with her father, + Or as wife beside her husband.' + "Thus the song-bird gave me answer, + Sang the thrush this information: + 'Bright and warm are days of summer, + Warmer still is maiden-freedom; + Cold is iron in the winter, + Thus the lives of married women; + Maidens living with their mothers + Are like ripe and ruddy berries; + Married women, far too many, + Are like dogs enchained in kennel, + Rarely do they ask for favors, + Not to wives are favors given.'" + Wainamoinen, old and truthful, + Answers thus the Maid of Beauty: + "Foolish is the thrush thus singing, + Nonsense is the song-bird's twitter; + Like to babes are maidens treated, + Wives are queens and highly honored. + Come, sweet maiden, to my snow-sledge, + I am not despised as hero, + Not the meanest of magicians; + Come with me and I will make thee + Wife and queen in Kalevala." + Thus the Maid of Beauty answered-- + "Would consider thee a hero, + Mighty hero, I would call thee, + When a golden hair thou splittest, + Using knives that have no edges; + When thou snarest me a bird's egg + With a snare that I can see not." + Wainamoinen, skilled and ancient, + Split a golden hair exactly, + Using knives that had no edges; + And he snared an egg as nicely + With a snare the maiden saw not. + "Come, sweet maiden, to my snow-sledge, + I have done what thou desirest." + Thus the maiden wisely answered: + "Never enter I thy snow-sledge, + Till thou peelest me the sandstone, + Till thou cuttest me a whip-stick + From the ice, and make no splinters, + Losing not the smallest fragment." + Wainamoinen, true magician, + Nothing daunted, not discouraged, + Deftly peeled the rounded sandstone, + Deftly cut from ice a whip-stick, + Cutting not the finest splinter, + Losing not the smallest fragment. + Then again be called the maiden, + To a seat within his snow-sledge. + But the Maid or Beauty answered, + Answered thus the great magician: + I will go with that one only + That will make me ship or shallop, + From the splinters of my spindle, + From the fragments of my distaff, + In the waters launch the vessel, + Set the little ship a-floating, + Using not the knee to push it, + Using not the arm to move it, + Using not the hand to touch it, + Using not the foot to turn it, + Using nothing to propel it." + Spake the skilful Wainamoinen, + These the words the hero uttered: + "There is no one in the Northland, + No one under vault of heaven, + Who like me can build a vessel, + From the fragments of the distaff, + From the splinters of the spindle." + Then he took the distaff-fragments, + Took the splinters of the spindle, + Hastened off the boat to fashion, + Hastened to an iron mountain, + There to join the many fragments. + Full of zeal be plies the hammer, + Swings the hammer and the hatchet; + Nothing daunted, builds the vessel, + Works one day and then a second, + Works with steady hand the third day; + On the evening of the third day, + Evil Hisi grasps the hatchet, + Lempo takes the crooked handle, + Turns aside the axe in falling, + Strikes the rocks and breaks to pieces; + From the rocks rebound the fragments, + Pierce the flesh of the magician, + Cut the knee of Wainamoinen. + Lempo guides the sharpened hatchet, + And the veins fell Hisi severs. + Quickly gushes forth a blood-stream, + And the stream is crimson-colored. + Wainamoinen, old and truthful, + The renowned and wise enchanter, + Thus outspeaks in measured accents: + "O thou keen and cruel hatchet, + O thou axe of sharpened metal, + Thou shouldst cut the trees to fragments, + Cut the pine-tree and the willow, + Cut the alder and the birch-tree, + Cut the juniper and aspen, + Shouldst not cut my knee to pieces, + Shouldst not tear my veins asunder." + Then the ancient Wainamoinen + Thus begins his incantations, + Thus begins his magic singing, + Of the origin of evil; + Every word in perfect order, + Makes no effort to remember, + Sings the origin of iron, + That a bolt he well may fashion, + Thus prepare a look for surety, + For the wounds the axe has given, + That the hatchet has torn open. + But the stream flows like a brooklet, + Rushing like a maddened torrent, + Stains the herbs upon the meadows, + Scarcely is a bit of verdure + That the blood-stream does not cover + As it flows and rushes onward + From the knee of the magician, + From the veins of Wainamoinen. + Now the wise and ancient minstrel + Gathers lichens from the sandstone, + Picks them from the trunks of birches, + Gathers moss within the marshes, + Pulls the grasses from the meadows, + Thus to stop the crimson streamlet, + Thus to close the wounds laid open; + But his work is unsuccessful, + And the crimson stream flows onward. + Wainamoinen, ancient minstrel, + Feeling pain and fearing languor, + Falls to weeping, heavy-hearted; + Quickly now his steed he hitches, + Hitches to the sledge of birch-wood, + Climbs with pain upon the cross-bench, + Strikes his steed in quick succession, + Snaps his whip above the racer, + And the steed flies onward swiftly; + Like the winds he sweeps the highway, + Till be nears a Northland village, + Where the way is triple-parted. + Wainamoinen, old and truthful, + Takes the lowest of the highways, + Quickly nears a spacious cottage, + Quickly asks before the doorway: + "Is there any one here dwelling, + That can know the pain I suffer, + That can heal this wound of hatchet. + That can check this crimson streamlet?" + Sat a boy within a corner, + On a bench beside a baby, + And he answered thus the hero: + "There is no one in this dwelling + That can know the pain thou feelest, + That can heal the wounds of hatchet, + That can check the crimson streamlet; + Some one lives in yonder cottage, + That perchance can do thee service." + Wainamoinen, ancient minstrel, + Whips his courser to a gallop, + Dashes on along the highway; + Only drives a little distance, + On the middle of the highways, + To a cabin on the road-side, + Asks one standing on the threshold, + Questions all through open windows, + These the words the hero uses: + "Is there no one in this cabin, + That can know the pain I suffer, + That can heal this wound of hatchet, + That can check this crimson streamlet?" + On the floor a witch was lying, + Near the fire-place lay the beldame, + Thus she spake to Wainamoinen, + Through her rattling teeth she answered. + "There is no one in this cabin + That can know the pain thou feelest, + That can heal the wounds of hatchets, + That can check the crimson streamlet; + Some one lives in yonder cottage, + That perchance can do thee service." + Wainamoinen, nothing daunted, + Whips his racer to a gallop, + Dashes on along the highway; + Only drives a little distance, + On the upper of the highways, + Gallops to a humble cottage, + Asks one standing near the penthouse, + Sitting on the penthouse-doorsill: + "Is there no one in this cottage, + That can know the pain I suffer, + That can heal this wound of hatchet, + That can check this crimson streamlet?" + Near the fireplace sat an old man, + On the hearthstone sat the gray-beard, + Thus he answered Wainamoinen: + "Greater things have been accomplished, + Much more wondrous things effected, + Through but three words of the master; + Through the telling of the causes, + Streams and oceans have been tempered, + River cataracts been lessened, + Bays been made of promontories, + Islands raised from deep sea-bottoms." + + + + +RUNE IX. + + + + ORIGIN OF IRON. + + + Wainamoinen, thus encouraged, + Quickly rises in his snow-sledge, + Asking no one for assistance, + Straightway hastens to the cottage, + Takes a seat within the dwelling. + Come two maids with silver pitchers, + Bringing also golden goblets; + Dip they up a very little, + But the very smallest measure + Of the blood of the magician, + From the wounds of Wainamoinen. + From the fire-place calls the old man, + Thus the gray-beard asks the minstrel: + "Tell me who thou art of heroes, + Who of all the great magicians? + Lo! thy blood fills seven sea-boats, + Eight of largest birchen vessels, + Flowing from some hero's veinlets, + From the wounds of some magician. + Other matters I would ask thee; + Sing the cause of this thy trouble, + Sing to me the source of metals, + Sing the origin of iron, + How at first it was created." + Then the ancient Wainamoinen + Made this answer to the gray-beard: + "Know I well the source of metals, + Know the origin of iron; + f can tell bow steel is fashioned. + Of the mothers air is oldest, + Water is the oldest brother, + And the fire is second brother, + And the youngest brother, iron; + Ukko is the first creator. + Ukko, maker of the heavens, + Cut apart the air and water, + Ere was born the metal, iron. + Ukko, maker of the heavens, + Firmly rubbed his hands together, + Firmly pressed them on his knee-cap, + Then arose three lovely maidens, + Three most beautiful of daughters; + These were mothers of the iron, + And of steel of bright-blue color. + Tremblingly they walked the heavens, + Walked the clouds with silver linings, + With their bosoms overflowing + With the milk of future iron, + Flowing on and flowing ever, + From the bright rims of the cloudlets + To the earth, the valleys filling, + To the slumber-calling waters. + "Ukko's eldest daughter sprinkled + Black milk over river channels + And the second daughter sprinkled + White milk over hills and mountains, + While the youngest daughter sprinkled + Red milk over seas and oceans. + Whero the black milk had been sprinked, + Grew the dark and ductile iron; + Where the white milk had been sprinkled. + Grew the iron, lighter-colored; + Where the red milk had been sprinkled, + Grew the red and brittle iron. + "After Time had gone a distance, + Iron hastened Fire to visit, + His beloved elder brother, + Thus to know his brother better. + Straightway Fire began his roarings, + Labored to consume his brother, + His beloved younger brother. + Straightway Iron sees his danger, + Saves himself by fleetly fleeing, + From the fiery flame's advances, + Fleeing hither, fleeing thither, + Fleeing still and taking shelter + In the swamps and in the valleys, + In the springs that loudly bubble, + By the rivers winding seaward, + On the broad backs of the marshes, + Where the swans their nests have builded, + Where the wild geese hatch their goslings. + "Thus is iron in the swamp-lands, + Stretching by the water-courses, + Hidden well for many ages, + Hidden in the birchen forests, + But he could not hide forever + From the searchings of his brother; + Here and there the fire has caught him, + Caught and brought him to his furnace, + That the spears, and swords, and axes, + Might be forged and duly hammered. + In the swamps ran blackened waters, + From the heath the bears came ambling, + And the wolves ran through the marshes. + Iron then made his appearance, + Where the feet of wolves had trodden, + Where the paws of bears had trampled. + "Then the blacksmith, Ilmarinen, + Came to earth to work the metal; + He was born upon the Coal-mount, + Skilled and nurtured in the coal-fields; + In one hand, a copper hammer, + In the other, tongs of iron; + In the night was born the blacksmith, + In the morn he built his smithy, + Sought with care a favored hillock, + Where the winds might fill his bellows; + Found a hillock in the swamp-lands, + Where the iron hid abundant; + There he built his smelting furnace, + There he laid his leathern bellows, + Hastened where the wolves had travelled, + Followed where the bears had trampled, + Found the iron's young formations, + In the wolf-tracks of the marshes, + In the foot-prints of the gray-bear. + "Then the blacksmith, Ilmarinen, + 'Thus addressed the sleeping iron: + Thou most useful of the metals, + Thou art sleeping in the marshes, + Thou art hid in low conditions, + Where the wolf treads in the swamp-lands, + Where the bear sleeps in the thickets. + Hast thou thought and well considered, + What would be thy future station, + Should I place thee in the furnace, + Thus to make thee free and useful?' + "Then was Iron sorely frightened, + Much distressed and filled with horror, + When of Fire he heard the mention, + Mention of his fell destroyer. + "Then again speaks Ilmarinen, + Thus the smith addresses Iron: + 'Be not frightened, useful metal, + Surely Fire will not consume thee, + Will not burn his youngest brother, + Will not harm his nearest kindred. + Come thou to my room and furnace, + Where the fire is freely burning, + Thou wilt live, and grow, and prosper, + Wilt become the swords of heroes, + Buckles for the belts of women.' + "Ere arose the star of evening, + Iron ore had left the marshes, + From the water-beds had risen, + Had been carried to the furnace, + In the fire the smith had laid it, + Laid it in his smelting furnace. + Ilmarinen starts the bellows, + Gives three motions of the handle, + And the iron flows in streamlets + From the forge of the magician, + Soon becomes like baker's leaven, + Soft as dough for bread of barley. + Then out-screamed the metal, Iron: + 'Wondrous blacksmith, Ilmarinen, + Take, O take me from thy furnace, + From this fire and cruel torture.' + "Ilmarinen thus made answer: + 'I will take thee from my furnace, + 'Thou art but a little frightened, + Thou shalt be a mighty power, + Thou shalt slay the best of heroes, + Thou shalt wound thy dearest brother.' + "Straightway Iron made this promise, + Vowed and swore in strongest accents, + By the furnace, by the anvil, + By the tongs, and by the hammer, + These the words he vowed and uttered: + 'Many trees that I shall injure, + Shall devour the hearts of mountains, + Shall not slay my nearest kindred, + Shall not kill the best of heroes, + Shall not wound my dearest brother; + Better live in civil freedom, + Happier would be my life-time, + Should I serve my fellow-beings, + Serve as tools for their convenience, + Than as implements of warfare, + Slay my friends and nearest. kindred, + Wound the children of my mother.' + "Now the master, Ilmarinen, + The renowned and skilful blacksmith, + From the fire removes the iron, + Places it upon the anvil, + Hammers well until it softens, + Hammers many fine utensils, + Hammers spears, and swords, and axes, + Hammers knives, and forks, and hatchets, + Hammers tools of all descriptions. + "Many things the blacksmith needed, + Many things he could not fashion, + Could not make the tongue of iron, + Could not hammer steel from iron, + Could not make the iron harden. + Well considered Ilmarinen, + Deeply thought and long reflected. + Then he gathered birchen ashes, + Steeped the ashes in the water, + Made a lye to harden iron, + Thus to form the steel most needful. + With his tongue he tests the mixture, + Weighs it long and well considers, + And the blacksmith speaks as follows: + 'All this labor is for nothing, + Will not fashion steel from iron, + Will not make the soft ore harden.' + "Now a bee flies from the meadow, + Blue-wing coming from the flowers, + Flies about, then safely settles + Near the furnace of the smithy. + "'Thus the smith the bee addresses, + These the words of Ilmarinen: + 'Little bee, thou tiny birdling, + Bring me honey on thy winglets, + On thy tongue, I pray thee, bring me + Sweetness from the fragrant meadows, + From the little cups of flowers, + From the tips of seven petals, + That we thus may aid the water + To produce the steel from iron.' + "Evil Hisi's bird, the hornet, + Heard these words of Ilmarinen, + Looking from the cottage gable, + Flying to the bark of birch-trees, + While the iron bars were heating + While the steel was being tempered; + Swiftly flew the stinging hornet, + Scattered all the Hisi horrors, + Brought the blessing of the serpent, + Brought the venom of the adder, + Brought the poison of the spider, + Brought the stings of all the insects, + Mixed them with the ore and water, + While the steel was being, tempered. + "Ilmarinen, skilful blacksmith, + First of all the iron-workers, + Thought the bee had surely brought him + Honey from the fragrant meadows, + From the little cups of flowers, + From the tips of seven petals, + And he spake the words that follow: + 'Welcome, welcome, is thy coming, + Honeyed sweetness from the flowers + Thou hast brought to aid the water, + Thus to form the steel from iron!' + "Ilmarinen, ancient blacksmith, + Dipped the iron into water, + Water mixed with many poisons, + Thought it but the wild bee's honey; + Thus he formed the steel from iron. + When he plunged it into water, + Water mixed with many poisons, + When be placed it in the furnace, + Angry grew the hardened iron, + Broke the vow that he had taken, + Ate his words like dogs and devils, + Mercilessly cut his brother, + Madly raged against his kindred, + Caused the blood to flow in streamlets + From the wounds of man and hero. + This, the origin of iron, + And of steel of light blue color." + From the hearth arose the gray-beard, + Shook his heavy looks and answered: + "Now I know the source of iron, + Whence the steel and whence its evils; + Curses on thee, cruel iron, + Curses on the steel thou givest, + Curses on thee, tongue of evil, + Cursed be thy life forever! + Once thou wert of little value, + Having neither form nor beauty, + Neither strength nor great importance, + When in form of milk thou rested, + When for ages thou wert hidden + In the breasts of God's three daughters, + Hidden in their heaving bosoms, + On the borders of the cloudlets, + In the blue vault of the heavens. + "Thou wert once of little value, + Having neither form nor beauty, + Neither strength nor great importance, + When like water thou wert resting + On the broad back of the marshes, + On the steep declines of mountains, + When thou wert but formless matter, + Only dust of rusty color. + "Surely thou wert void of greatness, + Having neither strength nor beauty, + When the moose was trampling on thee, + When the roebuck trod upon thee, + When the tracks of wolves were in thee, + And the bear-paws scratched thy body. + Surely thou hadst little value + When the skilful Ilmarinen, + First of all the iron-workers, + Brought thee from the blackened swamp-lands, + Took thee to his ancient smithy, + Placed thee in his fiery furnace. + Truly thou hadst little vigor, + Little strength, and little danger, + When thou in the fire wert hissing, + Rolling forth like seething water, + From the furnace of the smithy, + When thou gavest oath the strongest, + By the furnace, by the anvil, + By the tongs, and by the hammer, + By the dwelling of the blacksmith, + By the fire within the furnace. + "Now forsooth thou hast grown mighty, + Thou canst rage in wildest fury; + Thou hast broken all thy pledges, + All thy solemn vows hast broken, + Like the dogs thou shamest honor, + Shamest both thyself and kindred, + Tainted all with breath of evil. + Tell who drove thee to this mischief, + Tell who taught thee all thy malice, + Tell who gavest thee thine evil! + Did thy father, or thy mother, + Did the eldest of thy brothers, + Did the youngest of thy sisters, + Did the worst of all thy kindred + Give to thee thine evil nature? + Not thy father, nor thy mother, + Not the eldest of thy brothers, + Not the youngest of thy sisters, + Not the worst of all thy kindred, + But thyself hast done this mischief, + Thou the cause of all our trouble. + Come and view thine evil doings, + And amend this flood of damage, + Ere I tell thy gray-haired mother, + Ere I tell thine aged father. + Great indeed a mother's anguish, + Great indeed a father's sorrow, + When a son does something evil, + When a child runs wild and lawless. + "Crimson streamlet, cease thy flowing + From the wounds of Wainamoinen; + Blood of ages, stop thy coursing + From the veins of the magician; + Stand like heaven's crystal pillars, + Stand like columns in the ocean, + Stand like birch-trees in the forest, + Like the tall reeds in the marshes, + Like the high-rocks on the sea-coast, + Stand by power of mighty magic! + "Should perforce thy will impel thee, + Flow thou on thine endless circuit, + Through the veins of Wainamoinen, + Through the bones, and through the muscles, + Through the lungs, and heart, and liver, + Of the mighty sage and singer; + Better be the food of heroes, + Than to waste thy strength and virtue + On the meadows and the woodlands, + And be lost in dust and ashes. + Flow forever in thy circle; + Thou must cease this crimson out-flow; + Stain no more the grass and flowers, + Stain no more these golden hill-tops, + Pride and beauty of our heroes. + In the veins of the magician, + In the heart of Wainamoinen, + Is thy rightful home and storehouse. + Thither now withdraw thy forces, + Thither hasten, swiftly flowing; + Flow no more as crimson currents, + Fill no longer crimson lakelets, + Must not rush like brooks in spring-tide, + Nor meander like the rivers. + "Cease thy flow, by word of magic, + Cease as did the falls of Tyrya, + As the rivers of Tuoni, + When the sky withheld her rain-drops, + When the sea gave up her waters, + In the famine of the seasons, + In the years of fire and torture. + If thou heedest not this order, + I shall offer other measures, + Know I well of other forces; + I shall call the Hisi irons, + In them I shall boil and roast thee, + Thus to check thy crimson flowing, + Thus to save the wounded hero. + "If these means be inefficient, + Should these measures prove unworthy, + I shall call omniscient Ukko, + Mightiest of the creators, + Stronger than all ancient heroes, + Wiser than the world-magicians; + He will check the crimson out-flow, + He will heal this wound of hatchet. + "Ukko, God of love and mercy, + God and Master Of the heavens, + Come thou hither, thou art needed, + Come thou quickly I beseech thee, + Lend thy hand to aid thy children, + Touch this wound with healing fingers, + Stop this hero's streaming life-blood, + Bind this wound with tender leaflets, + Mingle with them healing flowers, + Thus to check this crimson current, + Thus to save this great magician, + Save the life of Wainamoinen." + Thus at last the blood-stream ended, + As the magic words were spoken. + Then the gray-beard, much rejoicing, + Sent his young son to the smithy, + There to make a healing balsam, + From the herbs of tender fibre, + From the healing plants and flowers, + From the stalks secreting honey, + From the roots, and leaves, and blossoms. + On the way he meets an oak-tree, + And the oak the son addresses: + "Hast thou honey in thy branches, + Does thy sap run full of sweetness?" + Thus the oak-tree wisely answers: + "Yea, but last night dripped the honey + Down upon my spreading branches, + And the clouds their fragrance sifted, + Sifted honey on my leaflets, + From their home within the heavens." + Then the son takes oak-wood splinters, + Takes the youngest oak-tree branches, + Gathers many healing grasses, + Gathers many herbs and flowers, + Rarest herbs that grow in Northland, + Places them within the furnace + In a kettle made of copper; + Lets them steep and boil together, + Bits of bark chipped from the oak-tree, + Many herbs of healing virtues; + Steeps them one day, then a second, + Three long days of summer weather, + Days and nights in quick succession; + Then he tries his magic balsam, + Looks to see if it is ready, + If his remedy is finished; + But the balsam is unworthy. + Then he added other grasses, + Herbs of every healing virtue, + That were brought from distant nations, + Many hundred leagues from Northland, + Gathered by the wisest minstrels, + Thither brought by nine enchanters. + Three days more be steeped the balsam, + Three nights more the fire be tended, + Nine the days and nights be watched it, + Then again be tried the ointment, + Viewed it carefully and tested, + Found at last that it was ready, + Found the magic balm was finished. + Near by stood a branching birch-tree. + On the border of the meadow, + Wickedly it had been broken, + Broken down by evil Hisi; + Quick he takes his balm of healing, + And anoints the broken branches, + Rubs the balsam in the fractures, + Thus addresses then the birch-tree: + "With this balsam I anoint thee, + With this salve thy wounds I cover, + Cover well thine injured places; + Now the birch-tree shall recover, + Grow more beautiful than ever." + True, the birch-tree soon recovered, + Grew more beautiful than ever, + Grew more uniform its branches, + And its bole more strong and stately. + Thus it was be tried the balsam, + Thus the magic salve he tested, + Touched with it the splintered sandstone, + Touched the broken blocks of granite, + Touched the fissures in the mountains, + And the broken parts united, + All the fragments grew together. + Then the young boy quick returning + With the balsam he had finished, + To the gray-beard gave the ointment, + And the boy these measures uttered + "Here I bring the balm of healing, + Wonderful the salve I bring thee; + It will join the broken granite, + Make the fragments grow together, + Heat the fissures in the mountains, + And restore the injured birch-tree." + With his tongue the old man tested, + Tested thus the magic balsam, + Found the remedy effective, + Found the balm had magic virtues; + Then anointed he the minstrel, + Touched the wounds of Wainamoinen, + Touched them with his magic balsam, + With the balm of many virtues; + Speaking words of ancient wisdom, + These the words the gray-beard uttered: + "Do not walk in thine own virtue, + Do not work in thine own power, + Walk in strength of thy Creator; + Do not speak in thine own wisdom, + Speak with tongue of mighty Ukko. + In my mouth, if there be sweetness, + It has come from my Creator; + If my bands are filled with beauty, + All the beauty comes from Ukko." + When the wounds had been anointed, + When the magic salve had touched them, + Straightway ancient Wainamoinen + Suffered fearful pain and anguish, + Sank upon the floor in torment, + Turning one way, then another, + Sought for rest and found it nowhere, + Till his pain the gray-beard banished, + Banished by the aid of magic, + Drove away his killing torment + To the court of all our trouble, + To the highest hill of torture, + To the distant rocks and ledges, + To the evil-bearing mountains, + To the realm of wicked Hisi. + Then be took some silken fabric, + Quick he tore the silk asunder, + Making equal strips for wrapping, + Tied the ends with silken ribbons, + Making thus a healing bandage; + Then he wrapped with skilful fingers + Wainamoinen's knee and ankle, + Wrapped the wounds of the magician, + And this prayer the gray-beard uttered + "Ukko's fabric is the bandage, + Ukko's science is the surgeon, + These have served the wounded hero, + Wrapped the wounds of the magician. + Look upon us, God of mercy, + Come and guard us, kind Creator, + And protect us from all evil! + Guide our feet lest they may stumble, + Guard our lives from every danger, + From the wicked wilds of Hisi." + Wainamoinen, old and truthful, + Felt the mighty aid of magic, + Felt the help of gracious Ukko, + Straightway stronger grew in body, + Straightway were the wounds united, + Quick the fearful pain departed. + Strong and hardy grew the hero, + Straightway walked in perfect freedom, + Turned his knee in all directions, + Knowing neither pain nor trouble. + Then the ancient Wainamoinen + Raised his eyes to high Jumala, + Looked with gratitude to heaven, + Looked on high, in joy and gladness, + Then addressed omniscient Ukko, + This the prayer the minstrel uttered: + "O be praised, thou God of mercy, + Let me praise thee, my Creator, + Since thou gavest me assistance, + And vouchsafed me thy protection, + Healed my wounds and stilled mine anguish, + Banished all my pain and trouble, + Caused by Iron and by Hisi. + O, ye people of Wainola, + People of this generation, + And the folk of future ages, + Fashion not in emulation, + River boat, nor ocean shallop, + Boasting of its fine appearance, + God alone can work completion, + Give to cause its perfect ending, + Never hand of man can find it, + Never can the hero give it, + Ukko is the only Master." + + + + +RUNE X. + + + + ILMARINEN FORGES THE SAMPO. + + + Wainamoinen, the magician, + Takes his steed of copper color, + Hitches quick his fleet-foot courser, + Puts his racer to the snow-sledge, + Straightway springs upon the cross-seat, + Snaps his whip adorned with jewels. + Like the winds the steed flies onward, + Like a lightning flash, the racer + Makes the snow-sledge creak and rattle, + Makes the highway quickly vanish, + Dashes on through fen and forest, + Over hills and through the valleys, + Over marshes, over mountains, + Over fertile plains and meadows; + Journeys one day, then a second, + So a third from morn till evening, + Till the third day evening brings him + To the endless bridge of Osmo, + To the Osmo-fields and pastures, + To the plains of Kalevala; + When the hero spake as follows: + "May the wolves devour the dreamer, + Eat the Laplander for dinner, + May disease destroy the braggart, + Him who said that I should never + See again my much-loved home-land, + Nevermore behold my kindred, + Never during all my life-time, + Never while the sunshine brightens, + Never while the moonlight glimmers + On the meadows of Wainola, + On the plains of Kalevala." + Then began old Wainamoinen, + Ancient bard and famous singer, + To renew his incantations; + Sang aloft a wondrous pine-tree, + Till it pierced the clouds in growing + With its golden top and branches, + Till it touched the very heavens, + Spread its branches in the ether, + In the ever-shining sunlight. + Now he sings again enchanting, + Sings the Moon to shine forever + In the fir-tree's emerald branches; + In its top he sings the Great Bear. + Then be quickly journeys homeward, + Hastens to his golden portals, + Head awry and visage wrinkled, + Crooked cap upon his forehead, + Since as ransom he had promised + Ilmarinen, magic artist, + Thus to save his life from torture + On the distant fields of Northland + In the dismal Sariola. + When his stallion he had halted + On the Osmo-field and meadow, + Quickly rising in his snow-sledge, + The magician heard one knocking, + Breaking coal within the smithy, + Beating with a heavy hammer. + Wainamoinen, famous minstrel, + Entering the smithy straightway, + Found the blacksmith, Ilmarinen, + Knocking with his copper hammer. + Ilmarinen spake as follows: + "Welcome, brother Wainamoinen, + Old and worthy Wainamoinen! + Why so long hast thou been absent, + Where hast thou so long been hiding?" + Wainamoinen then made answer, + These the words of the magician: + "Long indeed have I been living, + Many dreary days have wandered, + Many cheerless nights have lingered, + Floating on the cruel ocean, + Weeping in the fens and woodlands + Of the never-pleasant Northland, + In the dismal Sariola; + With the Laplanders I've wandered, + With the people filled with witchcraft." + Promptly answers Ilmarinen, + These the words the blacksmith uses: + "O thou ancient Wainamoinen, + Famous and eternal singer, + Tell me of thy journey northward, + Of thy wanderings in Lapland, + Of thy dismal journey homeward." + Spake the minstrel, Wainamoinen: + "I have much to tell thee, brother, + Listen to my wondrous story: + In the Northland lives a virgin, + In a village there, a maiden, + That will not accept a lover, + That a hero's hand refuses, + That a wizard's heart disdaineth; + All of Northland sings her praises, + Sings her worth and magic beauty, + Fairest maiden of Pohyola, + Daughter of the earth and ocean. + From her temples beams the moonlight, + From her breast, the gleam of sunshine, + From her forehead shines the rainbow, + On her neck, the seven starlets, + And the Great Bear from her shoulder. + "Ilmarinen, worthy brother, + Thou the only skilful blacksmith, + Go and see her wondrous beauty, + See her gold and silver garments, + See her robed in finest raiment, + See her sitting on the rainbow, + Walking on the clouds of purple. + Forge for her the magic Sampo, + Forge the lid in many colors, + Thy reward shall be the virgin, + Thou shalt win this bride of beauty; + Go and bring the lovely maiden + To thy home in Kalevala." + Spake the brother, Ilmarinen: + O thou cunning Wainamoinen, + Thou hast promised me already + To the ever-darksome Northland, + Thy devoted head to ransom, + Thus to rescue thee from trouble. + I shall never visit Northland, + Shall not go to see thy maiden, + Do not love the Bride of Beauty; + Never while the moonlight glimmers, + Shall I go to dreary Pohya, + To the plains of Sariola, + Where the people eat each other, + Sink their heroes in the ocean, + Not for all the maids of Lapland." + Spake the brother, Wainamoinen: + "I can tell thee greater wonders, + Listen to my wondrous story: + I have seen the fir-tree blossom, + Seen its flowers with emerald branches, + On the Osmo-fields and woodlands; + In its top, there shines the moonlight, + And the Bear lives in its branches." + Ilmarinen thus made answer: + "I cannot believe thy story, + Cannot trust thy tale of wonder, + Till I see the blooming fir-tree, + With its many emerald branches, + With its Bear and golden moonlight." + This is Wainamoinen's answer: + "Wilt thou not believe my story? + Come with me and I will show thee + If my lips speak fact or fiction." + Quick they journey to discover, + Haste to view the wondrous fir-tree; + Wainamoinen leads the journey, + Ilmarinen closely follows. + As they near the Osmo-borders, + Ilmarinen hastens forward + That be may behold the wonder, + Spies the Bear Within the fir-top, + Sitting on its emerald branches, + Spies the gleam of golden moonlight. + Spake the ancient Wainamoinen, + These the words the singer uttered: + Climb this tree, dear Ilmarinen, + And bring down the golden moonbeams, + Bring the Moon and Bear down with thee + From the fir-tree's lofty branches." + Ilmarinen, full consenting, + Straightway climbed the golden fir-tree, + High upon the bow of heaven, + Thence to bring the golden moonbeams, + Thence to bring the Bear of heaven, + From the fir-tree's topmost branches. + Thereupon the blooming fir-tree + Spake these words to Ilmarinen: + "O thou senseless, thoughtless hero, + Thou hast neither wit nor instinct; + Thou dost climb my golden branches, + Like a thing of little judgment, + Thus to get my pictured moonbeams, + Take away my silver starlight, + Steal my Bear and blooming branches." + Quick as thought old Wainamoinen + Sang again in magic accents, + Sang a storm-wind in the heavens, + Sang the wild winds into fury, + And the singer spake as follows: + `Take, O storm-wind, take the forgeman, + Carry him within thy vessel, + Quickly hence, and land the hero + On the ever-darksome Northland, + On the dismal Sariola." + Now the storm-wind quickly darkens, + Quickly piles the air together, + Makes of air a sailing vessel, + Takes the blacksmith, Ilmarinen, + Fleetly from the fir-tree branches, + Toward the never-pleasant Northland, + Toward the dismal Sariola. + Through the air sailed Ilmarinen, + Fast and far the hero travelled, + Sweeping onward, sailing northward, + Riding in the track of storm-winds, + O'er the Moon, beneath the sunshine, + On the broad back of the Great Bear, + Till he neared Pohyola's woodlands, + Neared the homes of Sariola, + And alighted undiscovered, + Was Dot noticed by the hunters, + Was not scented by the watch-dogs. + Louhi, hostess of Pohyola, + Ancient, toothless dame of Northland, + Standing in the open court-yard, + Thus addresses Ilmarinen, + As she spies the hero-stranger: + "Who art thou of ancient heroes, + Who of all the host of heroes, + Coming here upon the storm-wind, + O'er the sledge-path of the ether, + Scented not by Pohya's watch-dogs? + This is Ilmarinen's answer: + "I have surely not come hither + To be barked at by the watch-dogs, + At these unfamiliar portals, + At the gates of Sariola." + Thereupon the Northland hostess + Asks again the hero-stranger: + "Hast thou ever been acquainted + With the blacksmith of Wainola, + With the hero, Ilmarinen, + With the skilful smith and artist? + Long I've waited for his coming, + Long this one has been expected, + On the borders of the Northland, + Here to forge for me the Sampo." + Spake the hero, Ilmarinen: + "Well indeed am I acquainted + With the blacksmith, Ilmarinen, + I myself am Ilmarinen, + I, the skilful smith and artist." + Louhi, hostess of the Northland, + Toothless dame of Sariola, + Straightway rushes to her dwelling, + These the words that Louhi utters: + "Come, thou youngest of my daughters, + Come, thou fairest of my maidens, + Dress thyself in finest raiment, + Deck thy hair with rarest jewels, + Pearls upon thy swelling bosom, + On thy neck, a golden necklace, + Bind thy head with silken ribbons, + Make thy cheeks look fresh and ruddy, + And thy visage fair and winsome, + Since the artist, Ilmarinen, + Hither comes from Kalevala, + Here to forge for us the Sampo, + Hammer us the lid in colors." + Now the daughter of the Northland, + Honored by the land and water, + Straightway takes her choicest raiment, + Takes her dresses rich in beauty, + Finest of her silken wardrobe, + Now adjusts her silken fillet, + On her brow a band of copper, + Round her waist a golden girdle, + Round her neck a pearly necklace, + Shining gold upon her bosom, + In her hair the threads of silver. + From her dressing-room she hastens, + To the hall she bastes and listens, + Full of beauty, full of joyance, + Ears erect and eyes bright-beaming, + Ruddy cheeks and charming visage, + Waiting for the hero-stranger. + Louhi, hostess of Pohyola, + Leads the hero, Ilmarinen, + To her dwelling-rooms in Northland, + To her home in Sariola, + Seats him at her well-filled table, + Gives to him the finest viands, + Gives him every needed comfort, + Then addresses him as follows: + "O thou blacksmith, Ilmarinen, + Master of the forge and smithy, + Canst thou forge for me the Sampo, + Hammer me the lid in colors, + From the tips of white-swan feathers, + From the milk of greatest virtue, + From a single grain of barley, + From the finest wool of lambkins? + Thou shalt have my fairest daughter, + Recompense for this thy service." + These the words of Ilmarinen: + "I will forge for thee the Sampo, + Hammer thee the lid in colors, + From the tips of white-swan feathers, + From the milk of greatest virtue, + From a single grain of barley, + From the finest wool of lambkins? + Since I forged the arch of heaven, + Forged the air a concave cover, + Ere the earth had a beginning." + Thereupon the magic blacksmith + Went to forge the wondrous Sampo, + Went to find a blacksmith's workshop, + Went to find the tools to work with; + But he found no place for forging, + Found no smithy, found no bellows, + Found no chimney, found no anvil, + Found no tongs, and found no hammer. + Then the-artist, Ilmarinen. + Spake these words, soliloquizing: + "Only women grow discouraged, + Only knaves leave work unfinished, + Not the devils, nor the heroes, + Nor the Gods of greater knowledge." + Then the blacksmith, Ilmarinen, + Sought a place to build a smithy, + Sought a place to plant a bellows, + On the borders of the Northland, + On the Pohya-hills and meadows; + Searched one day, and then a second; + Ere the evening of the third day, + Came a rock within his vision, + Came a stone with rainbow-colors. + There the blacksmith, Ilmarinen, + Set at work to build his smithy, + Built a fire and raised a chimney; + On the next day laid his bellows, + On the third day built his furnace, + And began to forge the Sampo. + The eternal magic artist, + Ancient blacksmith, Ilmarinen, + First of all the iron-workers, + Mixed together certain metals, + Put the mixture in the caldron, + Laid it deep within the furnace, + Called the hirelings to the forging. + Skilfully they work the bellows, + Tend the fire and add the fuel, + Three most lovely days of summer, + Three short nights of bright midsummer, + Till the rocks begin to blossom, + In the foot-prints of the workmen, + From the magic heat and furnace. + On the first day, Ilmarinen + Downward bent and well examined, + On the bottom of his furnace, + Thus to see what might be forming + From the magic fire and metals. + From the fire arose a cross-bow, + "With the brightness of the moonbeams, + Golden bow with tips of silver; + On the shaft was shining copper, + And the bow was strong and wondrous, + But alas! it was ill-natured, + Asking for a hero daily, + Two the heads it asked on feast-days. + Ilmarinen, skilful artist, + Was not pleased with this creation, + Broke the bow in many pieces, + Threw them back within the furnace, + Kept the workmen at the bellows, + Tried to forge the magic Sampo. + On the second day, the blacksmith + Downward bent and well examined, + On the bottom of the furnace; + From the fire, a skiff of metals, + Came a boat of purple color, + All the ribs were colored golden, + And the oars were forged from copper; + Thus the skiff was full of beauty, + But alas! a thing of evil; + Forth it rushes into trouble, + Hastens into every quarrel, + Hastes without a provocation + Into every evil combat. + Ilmarinen, metal artist, + Is not pleased with this creation, + Breaks the skiff in many fragments, + Throws them back within the furnace, + Keeps the workmen at the bellows, + Thus to forge the magic Sampo. + On the third day, Ilmarinen, + First of all the metal-workers, + Downward bent and well examined, + On the bottom of the furnace; + There be saw a heifer rising, + Golden were the horns of Kimmo, + On her head the Bear of heaven, + On her brow a disc of sunshine, + Beautiful the cow of magic; + But alas! she is ill-tempered, + Rushes headlong through the forest, + Rushes through the swamps and meadows, + Wasting all her milk in running. + Ilmarinen, the magician. + Is not pleased with this creation, + Cuts the magic cow in pieces, + Throws them in the fiery furnace, + Sets the workmen at the bellows, + Thus to forge the magic Sampo. + On the fourth day, Ilmarinen + Downward bent and well examined, + To the bottom of the furnace; + There beheld a plow in beauty + Rising from the fire of metals, + Golden was the point and plowshare, + And the beam was forged from copper, + And the handles, molten silver, + Beautiful the plow and wondrous; + But alas! it is ill-mannered, + Plows up fields of corn and barley, + Furrows through the richest meadows. + Ilmarinen, metal artist, + Is not pleased with this creation, + Quickly breaks the plow in pieces, + Throws them back within the furnace, + Lets the winds attend the bellows, + Lets the storm-winds fire the metals. + Fiercely vie the winds of heaven, + East-wind rushing, West-wind roaring, + South-wind crying, North-wind howling, + Blow one day and then a second, + Blow the third from morn till even, + When the fire leaps through the windows, + Through the door the sparks fly upward, + Clouds of smoke arise to heaven; + With the clouds the black smoke mingles, + As the storm-winds ply the bellows. + On the third night Ilmarinen, + Bending low to view his metals, + On the bottom of the furnace, + Sees the magic Sampo rising, + Sees the lid in many colors. + Quick the artist of Wainola + Forges with the tongs and anvil, + Knocking with a heavy hammer, + Forges skilfully the Sampo; + On one side the flour is grinding, + On another salt is making, + On a third is money forging, + And the lid is many-colored. + Well the Sampo grinds when finished, + To and fro the lid in rocking, + Grinds one measure at the day-break, + Grinds a measure fit for eating, + Grinds a second for the market, + Grinds a third one for the store-house. + Joyfully the dame of Northland, + Louhi, hostess of Pohyola, + Takes away the magic Sampo, + To the hills of Sariola, + To the copper-bearing mountains, + Puts nine locks upon the wonder, + Makes three strong roots creep around it; + In the earth they grow nine fathoms, + One large root beneath the mountain, + One beneath the sandy sea-bed, + One beneath the mountain-dwelling. + Modestly pleads Ilmarinen + For the maiden's willing answer, + These the words of the magician: + "Wilt thou come with me, fair maiden, + Be my wife and queen forever? + I have forged for thee the Sampo, + Forged the lid in many colors." + Northland's fair and lovely daughter + Answers thus the metal-worker: + "Who will in the coming spring-time, + Who will in the second summer, + Guide the cuckoo's song and echo? + Who will listen to his calling, + Who will sing with him in autumn, + Should I go to distant regions, + Should this cheery maiden vanish + From the fields of Sariola, + From Pohyola's fens and forests, + Where the cuckoo sings and echoes? + Should I leave my father's dwelling, + Should my mother's berry vanish, + Should these mountains lose their cherry, + Then the cuckoo too would vanish, + All the birds would leave the forest, + Leave the summit of the mountain, + Leave my native fields and woodlands, + Never shall I, in my life-time, + Say farewell to maiden freedom, + Nor to summer cares and labors, + Lest the harvest be ungarnered, + Lest the berries be ungathered, + Lest the song-birds leave the forest, + Lest the mermaids leave the waters, + Lest I sing with them no longer." + Ilmarinen, the magician, + The eternal metal-forger, + Cap awry and head dejected, + Disappointed, heavy-hearted, + Empty-handed, well considers, + How to reach his distant country, + Reach his much-loved home and kinded, + Gain the meadows of Wainola, + From the never-pleasant Northland, + From the darksome Sariola. + Louhi thus addressed the suitor: + "O thou blacksmith, Ilmarinen, + Why art thou so heavy-hearted, + Why thy visage so dejected? + Hast thou in thy mind to journey + From the vales and hills of Pohya, + To the meadows of Wainola, + To thy home in Kalevala? + This is Ilmarinen's answer: + "Thitherward my mind is tending, + To my home-land let me journey, + With my kindred let me linger, + Be at rest in mine own country." + Straightway Louhi, dame of Northland, + Gave the hero every comfort, + Gave him food and rarest viands, + Placed him in a boat of copper, + In a copper-banded vessel, + Called the winds to his assistance, + Made the North-wind guide him homeward. + Thus the skilful Ilmarinen + Travels toward his native country, + On the blue back of the waters, + Travels one day, then a second, + Till the third day evening brings him + To Wainola's peaceful meadows, + To his home in Kalevala. + Straightway ancient Wainamoinen + Thus addresses Ilmarinen: + "O my brother, metal-artist, + Thou eternal wonder-worker, + Didst thou forge the magic Sampo, + Forge the lid in many colors?" + Spake the brother, Ilmarinen, + These the words the master uttered: + "Yea, I forged the magic Sampo, + Forged the lid in many colors; + To and fro the lid in rocking + Grinds one measure at the day-dawn, + Grinds a measure fit for eating, + Grinds a second for the market, + Grinds a third one for the store-house. + Louhi has the wondrous Sampo, + I have not the Bride of Beauty." + + + + +RUNE XI. + + + + LEMMINKAINEN'S LAMENT. + + + This the time to sing of Ahti, + Son of Lempo, Kaukomieli, + Also known as Lemminkainen. + Ahti was the king of islands, + Grew amid the island-dwellings, + At the site of his dear mother, + On the borders of the ocean, + On the points of promontories. + Ahti fed upon the salmon, + Fed upon the ocean whiting, + Thus became a mighty hero, + In his veins the blood of ages, + Read erect and form commanding, + Growth of mind and body perfect + But alas! he had his failings, + Bad indeed his heart and morals, + Roaming in unworthy places, + Staying days and nights in sequences + At the homes of merry maidens, + At the dances of the virgins, + With the maids of braided tresses. + Up in Sahri lived a maiden, + Lived the fair and winsome Kulli, + Lovely as a summer-flower, + From a kingly house descended, + Grew to perfect form and beauty, + Living in her father's cottage, + Home of many ancient heroes, + Beautiful was she and queenly, + Praised throughout the whole of Ehstland; + From afar men came to woo her, + To the birthplace of the virgin, + To the household of her mother. + For his son the Day-star wooes her, + But she will not go to Sun-land, + Will not shine beside the Day-star, + In his haste to bring the summer. + For her son, the bright Moon wooes her, + But she will not go to Moon-land, + By the bright Moon will not glimmer, + Will not run through boundless ether. + For his son the Night-star wooes her, + But she will not go to Star-land, + Will not twinkle in the starlight, + Through the dreary nights in winter. + Lovers come from distant Ehstlaud, + Others come from far-off Ingern, + But they cannot win the maiden, + This the answer that she gives them + "Vainly are your praises lavished + Vainly is your silver offered, + Wealth and praise are no temptation; + Never shall I go to Ehstland, + Never shall I go a-rowing + On the waters of the Ingern, + Shall not cross the Sahri-waters, + Never eat the fish of Ehstland, + Never taste the Ehstland viands. + Ingerland shall never see me, + Will not row upon her rivers, + Will not step within her borders; + Hunger there, and fell starvation, + Wood is absent, fuel wanting, + Neither water, wheat, nor barley, + Even rye is not abundant." + Lemminkainen of the islands, + Warlike hero, Kaukomieli, + Undertakes to win the maiden, + Woo and win the Sahri-flower, + Win a bride so highly honored, + Win the maid with golden tresses, + Win the Sahri maid of beauty; + But his mother gives him warning: + "Nay," replies his gray-haired mother, + "Do not woo, my son beloved, + Maiden of a higher station; + She will never make thee happy + With her lineage of Sahri." + Spake the hero, Lemminkainen, + These the words of Kaukomieli: + "Should I come from lowly station, + Though my tribe is not the highest, + I shall woo to please my fancy, + Woo the maiden fair and lovely, + Choose a wife for worth and beauty." + This the anxious mother's answer: + "Lemminkainen, son beloved, + Listen to advice maternal: + Do not go to distant Sahri, + To her tribe of many branches; + All the maidens there will taunt thee, + All the women will deride thee." + Lemminkainen, little hearing, + Answers thus his mother's pleading: + "I will still the sneers of women, + Silence all the taunts of maidens, + I will crush their haughty bosoms, + Smite the hands and cheeks of infants; + Surely this will check their insults, + Fitting ending to derision!" + This the answer of' the mother: + "Woe is me, my son beloved! + Woe is me, my life hard-fated! + Shouldst thou taunt the Sahri daughters. + Or insult the maids of virtue, + Shouldst thou laugh them to derision, + There will rise a great contention, + Fierce the battle that will follow. + All the hosts of Sahri-suitors, + Armed in thousands will attack thee, + And will slay thee for thy folly." + Nothing listing, Lemminkainen, + Heeding not his mother's warning, + Led his war-horse from the stables, + Quickly hitched the fiery charger, + Fleetly drove upon his journey, + To the distant Sahri-village, + There to woo the Sahri-flower, + There to win the Bride of Beauty. + All the aged Sahri-women, + All the young and lovely maidens + Laughed to scorn the coming stranger + Driving careless through the alleys, + Wildly driving through the court-yard, + Now upsetting in the gate-way, + Breaking shaft, and hame, and runner. + Then the fearless Lemminkainen, + Mouth awry and visage wrinkled, + Shook his sable locks and answered: + "Never in my recollection + Have I heard or seen such treatment, + Never have I been derided, + Never suffered sneers of women, + Never suffered scorn of virgins, + Not in my immortal life-time. + Is there any place befitting + On the Sahri-plains and pastures, + Where to join in songs and dances? + Is there here a hall for pleasure, + Where the Sahri-maidens linger, + Merry maids with braided tresses?" + Thereupon the Sahri-maidens + Answered from their promontory., + "Room enough is there in Sahri, + Room upon the Sahri-pastures, + Room for pleasure-halls and dances; + Sing and dance upon our meadows, + Be a shepherd on the mountains, + Shepherd-boys have room for dancing; + Indolent the Sahri-children, + But the colts are fat and frisky." + Little caring, Lemminkainen + Entered service there as shepherd, + In the daytime on the pastures, + In the evening, making merry + At the games of lively maidens, + At the dances with the virgins, + With the maids with braided tresses. + Thus it was that Lemminkainen, + Thus the shepherd, Kaukomieli, + Quickly hushed the women's laughter, + Quickly quenched the taunts of maidens, + Quickly silenced their derision. + All the dames and Sahri-daughters + Soon were feasting Lemminkainen, + At his side they danced and lingered. + Only was there one among them, + One among the Sahri-virgins, + Harbored neither love nor wooers, + Favored neither gods nor heroes, + This the lovely maid Kyllikki, + This the Sahri's fairest flower. + Lemminkainen, full of pleasure, + Handsome hero, Kaukomieli, + Rowed a hundred boats in pieces, + Pulled a thousand oars to fragments, + While he wooed the Maid of Beauty, + Tried to win the fair Kyllikki. + Finally the lovely maiden, + Fairest daughter of the Northland, + Thus addresses Lemminkainen: + "Why dost linger here, thou weak one, + Why dost murmur on these borders, + Why come wooing at my fireside, + Wooing me in belt of copper? + Have no time to waste upon thee, + Rather give this stone its polish, + Rather would I turn the pestle + In the heavy sandstone mortar; + Rather sit beside my mother + In the dwellings of my father. + Never shall I heed thy wooing, + Neither wights nor whisks I care for, + Sooner have a slender husband + Since I have a slender body; + Wish to have him fine of figure, + Since perchance I am well-shapen; + Wish to have him tall and stately, + Since my form perchance is queenly; + Never waste thy time in wooing + Saliri's maid and favored flower." + Time had gone but little distance, + Scarcely had a month passed over, + When upon a merry evening, + Where the maidens meet for dancing, + In the glen beyond the meadow, + On a level patch of verdure, + Came too soon the maid Kyllikki, + Sahri's pride, the Maid of Beauty; + Quickly followed Lemminkainen, + With his stallion proudly prancing, + Fleetest racer of the Northland, + Fleetly drives beyond the meadow, + Where the maidens meet for dancing, + Snatches quick the maid Kyllikki, + On the settle seats the maiden, + Quickly draws the leathern cover, + And adjusts the brichen cross-bar, + Whips his courser to a gallop. + With a rush, and roar, and rattle, + Speeds he homeward like the storm-wind, + Speaks these words to those that listen: + "Never, never, anxious maidens, + Must ye give the information, + That I carried off Kyllikki + To my distant home and kindred. + If ye do not heed this order, + Ye shall badly fare as maidens; + I shall sing to war your suitors, + Sing them under spear and broadsword, + That for months, and years, and ages, + Never ye will see their faces, + Never hear their merry voices, + Never will they tread these uplands, + Never will they join these dances, + Never will they drive these highways." + Sad the wailing of Kyllikki, + Sad the weeping flower of Sahri! + Listen to her tearful pleading: + "Give, O give me back my freedom, + Free me from the throes of thralldom, + Let this maiden wander homeward, + By some foot-path let me wander + To my father who is grieving, + To my mother who is weeping; + Let me go or I will curse thee! + If thou wilt not give me freedom, + Wilt not let me wander homeward, + Where my loved ones wait my coming, + I have seven stalwart brothers, + Seven sons of father's brother, + Seven sons of mother's sister, + Who pursue the tracks of red-deer, + Hunt the hare upon the heather; + They will follow thee and slay thee, + Thus I'll gain my wished-for freedom." + Lemminkainen, little heeding, + Would not grant the maiden's wishes, + Would not heed her plea for mercy. + Spake again the waiting virgin, + Pride and beauty of the Northland: + "Joyful was I with my kindred, + Joyful born and softly nurtured + Merrily I spent my childhood, + Happy I, in virgin-freedom, + In the dwelling of my father, + By the bedside of my mother, + With my lineage in Sahri; + But alas! all joy has vanished, + All my happiness departed, + All my maiden beauty waneth + Since I met thine evil spirit, + Shameless hero of dishonor, + Cruel fighter of the islands, + Merciless in civil combat." + Spake the hero, Lemminkainen, + These the words of Kaukomieli: + "Dearest maiden, fair Kyllikki, + My sweet strawberry of Pohya, + Still thine anguish, cease thy weeping, + Be thou free from care and sorrow, + Never shall I do thee evil, + Never will my hands maltreat thee, + Never will mine arms abuse thee, + Never will my tongue revile thee, + Never will my heart deceive thee. + "Tell me why thou hast this anguish, + Why thou hast this bitter sorrow, + Why this sighing and lamenting, + Tell me why this wail of sadness? + Banish all thy cares and sorrows, + Dry thy tears and still thine anguish, + I have cattle, food, and shelter, + I have home, and friends, and kindred, + Kine upon the plains and uplands, + In the marshes berries plenty, + Strawberries upon the mountains + I have kine that need no milking, + Handsome kine that need no feeding, + Beautiful if not well-tended; + Need not tie them up at evening, + Need not free them in the morning, + Need not hunt them, need not feed them, + Need not give them salt nor water. + "Thinkest thou my race is lowly, + Dost thou think me born ignoble, + Does my lineage agrieve thee? + Was not born in lofty station, + From a tribe of noble heroes, + From a worthy race descended; + But I have a sword of fervor, + And a spear yet filled with courage, + Surely these are well descended, + These were born from hero-races, + Sharpened by the mighty Hisi, + By the gods were forged and burnished; + Therefore will I give thee greatness, + Greatness of my race and nation, + With my broadsword filled with fervor, + With my spear still filled with courage." + Anxiously the sighing maiden + Thus addresses Lemminkainen: + "O thou Ahti, son of Lempo, + Wilt thou take this trusting virgin, + As thy faithful life-companion, + Take me under thy protection, + Be to me a faithful husband, + Swear to me an oath of honor, + That thou wilt not go to battle, + When for gold thou hast a longing, + When thou wishest gold and silver?" + This is Lemminkainen's answer: + I will swear an oath of honor, + That I'll never go to battle, + When for gold I feel a longing, + When I wish for gold and silver. + Swear thou also on thine honor, + Thou wilt go not to the village, + When desire for dance impels thee, + Wilt not visit village-dances." + Thus the two made oath together, + Registered their vows in heaven, + Vowed before omniscient Ukko, + Ne'er to go to war vowed Ahti, + Never to the dance, Kyllikki. + Lemminkainen, full of joyance, + Snapped his whip above his courser, + Whipped his racer to a gallop, + And these words the hero uttered: + "Fare ye well, ye Sahri-meadows, + Roots of firs, and stumps of birch-trees. + That I wandered through in summer, + That I travelled o'er in winter, + Where ofttimes in rainy seasons, + At the evening hour I lingered, + When I sought to win the virgin, + Sought to win the Maid of Beauty, + Fairest of the Sahri-flowers. + Fare ye well, ye Sahri-woodlands, + Seas and oceans, lakes and rivers, + Vales and mountains, isles and inlets, + Once the home of fair Kyllikki!" + Quick the racer galloped homeward, + Galloped on along the highway, + Toward the meadows of Wainola, + To the plains of Kalevala. + As they neared the Ahti-dwellings, + Thus Kyllikki spake in sorrow: + "Cold and drear is thy cottage, + Seeming like a place deserted; + Who may own this dismal cabin, + Who the one so little honored?" + Spake the hero, Lemminkainen, + These the words that Ahti uttered: + "Do not grieve about my cottage, + Have no care about my chambers; + I shall build thee other dwellings, + I shall fashion them much better, + Beams, and posts, and sills, and rafters, + Fashioned from the sacred birch-wood." + Now they reach the home of Ahti, + Lemminkainen's home and birthplace, + Enter they his mother's cottage; + There they meet his aged mother, + These the words the mother uses: + "Long indeed hast thou been absent, + Long in foreign lands hast wandered, + Long in Sahri thou hast lingered!" + This is Lemminkainen's answer: + "All the host of Sahri-women, + All the chaste and lovely maidens, + All the maids with braided tresses, + Well have paid for their derision, + For their scorn and for their laughter, + That they basely heaped upon me. + I have brought the best among them + In my sledge to this thy cottage; + Well I wrapped her in my fur-robes, + Kept her warm enwrapped in bear-skin, + Brought her to my mother's dwelling, + As my faithful life-companion; + Thus I paid the scornful maidens, + Paid them well for their derision. + "Cherished mother of my being, + I have found the long-sought jewel, + I have won the Maid of Beauty. + Spread our couch with finest linen, + For our heads the softest pillows, + On our table rarest viands, + So that I may dwell in pleasure + With my spouse, the bride of honor, + With the pride of distant Sahri." + This the answer of the mother: + "Be thou praised, O gracious Ukko, + Loudly praised, O thou Creator, + Since thou givest me a daughter, + Ahti's bride, my second daughter, + Who can stir the fire at evening, + Who can weave me finest fabrics, + Who can twirl the useful spindle, + Who can rinse my silken ribbons, + Who can full the richest garments. + "Son beloved, praise thy Maker, + For the winning of this virgin, + Pride and joy of distant Sahri + Kind indeed is thy Creator, + Wise the ever-knowing Ukko! + Pure the snow upon the mountains, + Purer still thy Bride of Beauty; + White the foam upon the ocean, + Whiter still her virgin-spirit; + Graceful on the lakes, the white-swan, + Still more graceful, thy companion: + Beautiful the stars in heaven, + Still more beautiful, Kyllikki. + Larger make our humble cottage, + Wider build the doors and windows, + Fashion thou the ceilings higher, + Decorate the walls in beauty, + Now that thou a bride hast taken + From a tribe of higher station, + Purest maiden of creation, + From the meadow-lands of Sahri, + From the upper shores of Northland." + + + + +RUNE XII. + + + + KYLLIKKI'S BROKEN VOW. + + + Lemminkainen, artful husband, + Reckless hero, Kaukomieli, + Constantly beside his young wife., + Passed his life in sweet contentment, + And the years rolled swiftly onward; + Ahti thought not of the battles, + Nor Kyllikki of the dances. + Once upon a time it happened + That the hero, Lemminkainen, + Went upon the lake a-fishing, + Was not home at early evening, + As the cruel night descended; + To the village went Kyllikki, + To the dance of merry maidens. + Who will tell the evil story, + Who will bear the information + To the husband, Lemminkainen? + Ahti's sister tells the story, + And the sister's name, Ainikki. + Soon she spreads the cruel tidings, + Straightway gives the information, + Of Kyllikki's perjured honor, + These the words Ainikki utters: + "Ahti, my beloved brother, + To the village went Kyllikki, + To the hall of many strangers, + To the plays and village dances, + With the young men and the maidens, + With the maids of braided tresses, + To the halls of joy and pleasure." + Lemminkainen, much dejected, + Broken-hearted, flushed with anger, + Spake these words in measured accents: + "Mother dear, my gray-haired mother, + Wilt thou straightway wash my linen + In the blood of poison-serpents, + In the black blood of the adder? + I must hasten to the combat, + To the camp-fires of the Northland, + To the battle-fields of Lapland; + To the village went Kyllikki, + To the play of merry maidens, + To the games and village dances, + With the maids of braided tresses." + Straightway speaks the wife, Kyllikki: + "My beloved husband, Ahti, + Do not go to war, I pray thee. + In the evening I lay sleeping, + Slumbering I saw in dream-land + Fire upshooting from the chimney, + Flames arising, mounting skyward, + From the windows of this dwelling, + From the summits of these rafters, + Piercing through our upper chambers, + Roaring like the fall of waters, + Leaping from the floor and ceiling, + Darting from the halls and doorways." + But the doubting Lemminkainen + Makes this answer to Kyllikki: + "I discredit dreams or women, + Have no faith in vows of maidens! + Faithful mother of my being, + Hither bring my mail of copper; + Strong desire is stirring in me + For the cup of deadly combat, + For the mead of martial conquest." + This the pleading mother's answer: + "Lemminkainen, son beloved, + Do not go to war I pray thee; + We have foaming beer abundant, + In our vessels beer of barley, + Held in casks by oaken spigots; + Drink this beer of peace and pleasure, + Let us drink of it together." + Spake the hero, Lemminkainen: + "I shall taste no more the viands, + In the home of false Kyllikki; + Rather would I drink the water + From the painted tips of birch-oars; + Sweeter far to me the water, + Than the beverage of dishonor, + At my mother's home and fireside! + "Hither bring my martial doublet, + Bring me now the sword of battle, + Bring my father's sword of honor; + I must go to upper Northland, + To the battle-fields of Lapland, + There to win me gold and silver." + This the anxious mother's answer: + "My beloved Kaukomieli, + We have gold in great abundance, + Gold and silver in the store-room; + Recently upon the uplands, + In the early hours of morning, + Toiled the workmen in the corn-fields, + Plowed the meadows filled with serpents, + When the plowshare raised the cover + From a chest of gold and silver, + Countless was the gold uncovered, + Hid beneath the grassy meadow; + This the treasure I have brought thee, + Take the countless gold in welcome." + Spake the hero, Lemminkainen: + "Do not wish thy household silver, + From the wars I'll earn my silver; + Gold and silver from the combat + Are to me of greater value + Than the wealth thou hast discovered. + Bring me now my heavy armor, + Bring me too my spear and broadsword; + To the Northland I must hasten, + To the bloody wars of Lapland, + Thither does my pride impel me, + Thitherward my heart is turning. + "I have heard a tale of Lapland, + Some believe the wondrous story, + That a maid in Pimentola + Lives that does not care for suitors, + Does not care for bearded heroes." + This the aged mother's answer: + "Warlike Athi, son beloved, + In thy home thou hast Kyllikki, + Fairest wife of all the islands; + Strange to see two wives abiding + In the home of but one husband." + Spake the hero, Lemminkainen: + "To the village runs Kyllikki; + Let her run to village dances, + Let her sleep in other dwellings, + With the village youth find pleasure, + With the maids of braided tresses." + Seeks the mother to detain him, + Thus the anxious mother answers: + "Do not go, my son beloved, + Ignorant of Pohya-witchcraft, + To the distant homes of Northland + Till thou hast the art of magic, + Till thou hast some little wisdom + Do not go to fields of battle, + To the fires of Northland's children, + To the slaughter-fields of Lapland, + Till of magic thou art master. + There the Lapland maids will charm thee, + Turyalanders will bewitch thee, + Sing thy visage into charcoal, + Head and shoulders to the furnace, + Into ashes sing thy fore-arm, + Into fire direct thy footsteps." + Spake the warlike Lemminkainen: + Wizards often have bewitched me, + And the fascinating serpents; + Lapland wizards, three in number, + On an eve in time of summer, + Sitting on a rock at twilight, + Not a garment to protect them, + Once bewitched me with their magic; + This much they have taken from me, + This the sum of all my losses: + What the hatchet gains from flint-stone, + What the auger bores from granite, + What the heel chips from the iceberg, + And what death purloins from tomb-stones. + "Horribly the wizards threatened, + Tried to sink me with their magic, + In the water of the marshes, + In the mud and treacherous quicksand, + To my chin in mire and water; + But I too was born a hero, + Born a hero and magician, + Was not troubled by their magic. + "Straightway I began my singing, + Sang the archers with their arrows, + Sang the spearmen with their weapons, + Sang the swordsmen with their poniards, + Sang the singers with their singing, + The enchanters with their magic, + To the rapids of the rivers, + To the highest fall of waters, + To the all-devouring whirlpool, + To the deepest depths of ocean, + Where the wizards still are sleeping, + Sleeping till the grass shoots upward + Through the beards and wrinkled faces, + Through the locks of the enchanters, + As they sleep beneath the billows." + Still entreats the anxious mother, + Still beseeches Lemminkainen, + Trying to restrain the hero, + While Kyllikki begs forgiveness; + This the language of the mother: + "Do not go, my son beloved, + To the villages of Northland, + Nor to Lapland's frigid borders; + Dire misfortune will befall thee, + Star of evil settle o'er thee, + Lemminkainen's end, destruction. + "Couldst thou speak in tongues a hundred, + I could not believe thee able, + Through the magic of thy singing, + To enchant the sons of Lapland + To the bottom of the ocean, + Dost not know the Tury-language, + Canst but speak the tongue of Suomi, + Canst not win by witless magic." + Lemminkainen, reckless hero, + Also known as Kaukomieli, + Stood beside his mother, combing + Out his sable locks and musing, + Brushing down his beard, debating, + Steadfast still in his decision, + Quickly hurls his brush in anger, + Hurls it to the wall opposing, + Gives his mother final answer, + These the words that Ahti uses: + "Dire misfortune will befall me, + Some sad fate will overtake me, + Evil come to Lemminkainen, + When the blood flows from that hair-brush, + When blood oozes from those bristles." + Thus the warlike Lemminkainen + Goes to never-pleasant Lapland, + Heeding not his mother's warning, + Heeding not her prohibition. + Thus the hero, Kaukomieli, + Quick equips himself for warfare, + On his head a copper helmet, + On his shoulders caps of copper, + On his body iron armor, + Steel, the belt around his body; + As he girds himself for battle, + Ahti thus soliloquizing: + "Strong the hero in his armor, + Strong indeed in copper helmet, + Powerful in mail of iron, + Stronger far than any hero + On the dismal shores of Lapland, + Need not fear their wise enchanters, + Need not fear their strongest foemen, + Need not fear a war with wizards." + Grasped he then the sword of battle, + Firmly grasped the heavy broadsword + That Tuoni had been grinding, + That the gods had brightly burnished, + Thrust it in the leathern scabbard, + Tied the scabbard to his armor. + How do heroes guard from danger, + Where protect themselves from evil? + Heroes guard their homes and firesides, + Guard their doors, and roofs, and windows, + Guard the posts that bold the torch-lights, + Guard the highways to the court-yard, + Guard the ends of all the gate-ways. + Heroes guard themselves from women, + Carefully from merry maidens; + If in this their strength be wanting, + Easy fall the heroes, victims + To the snares of the enchanters. + Furthermore are heroes watchful + Of the tribes of warlike giants, + Where the highway doubly branches, + On the borders of the blue-rock, + On the marshes filled with evil, + Near the mighty fall of waters, + Near the circling of the whirlpool, + Near the fiery springs and rapids. + Spake the stout-heart, Lemminkainen: + "Rise ye heroes of the broadsword, + Ye, the earth's eternal heroes, + From the deeps, ye sickle-bearers, + From the brooks, ye crossbow-shooters, + Come, thou forest, with thine archers, + Come, ye thickets, with your armies, + Mountain spirits, with your powers, + Come, fell Hisi, with thy horrors, + Water-mother, with thy dangers, + Come, Wellamo, with thy mermaids, + Come, ye maidens from the valleys, + Come, ye nymphs from winding rivers, + Be protection to this hero, + Be his day-and-night companions, + Body-guard to Lemminkainen, + Thus to blunt the spears of wizards, + Thus to dull their pointed arrows, + That the spears of the enchanters, + That the arrows of the archers, + That the weapons of the foemen, + May not harm this bearded hero. + "Should this force be insufficient, + I can call on other powers, + I can call the gods above me, + Call the great god of the heavens, + Him who gives the clouds their courses, + Him who rules through boundless ether, + Who directs the march of storm-winds. + "Ukko, thou O God above me, + Thou the father of creation, + Thou that speakest through the thunder, + Thou whose weapon is the lightning, + Thou whose voice is borne by ether, + Grant me now thy mighty fire-sword, + Give me here thy burning arrows, + Lightning arrows for my quiver, + Thus protect me from all danger, + Guard me from the wiles of witches, + Guide my feet from every evil, + Help me conquer the enchanters, + Help me drive them from the Northland; + Those that stand in front of battle, + Those that fill the ranks behind me, + Those around me, those above me, + Those beneath me, help me banish,. + With their knives, and swords, and cross-bows, + With their spears of keenest temper, + With their tongues of evil magic; + Help me drive these Lapland wizards + To the deepest depths of ocean, + There to wrestle with Wellamo." + Then the reckless Lemminkainen + Whistled loudly for his stallion, + Called the racer from the hurdles, + Called his brown steed from the pasture, + Threw the harness on the courser, + Hitched the fleet-foot to the snow-sledge, + Leaped upon the highest cross-bench, + Cracked his whip above the racer, + And the steed flies onward swiftly, + Bounds the sleigh upon its journey, + And the golden plain re-echoes; + Travels one day, then a second, + Travels all the next day northward, + Till the third day evening brings him + To a sorry Northland village, + On the dismal shores of Lapland. + Here the hero, Lemminkainen, + Drove along the lowest highway, + Through the streets along the border, + To a court-yard in the hamlet, + Asked one standing in the doorway: + "Is there one within this dwelling, + That can loose my stallion's breastplate, + That can lift his heavy collar, + That these shafts can rightly lower?" + On the floor a babe was playing, + And the young child gave this answer: + "There is no one in this dwelling + That can loose thy stallion's breastplate, + That can lift his heavy collar, + That the shafts can rightly lower." + Lemminkainen, not discouraged, + Whips his racer to a gallop, + Rushes forward through the village, + On the middle of the highways, + To the court-yard in the centre, + Asks one standing in the threshold, + Leaning on the penthouse door-posts: + "Is there any one here dwelling + That can slip my stallion's bridle, + That can loose his leathern breast-straps, + That can tend my royal racer?" + From the fire-place spake a wizard, + From her bench the witch made answer: + "Thou canst find one in this dwelling, + That can slip thy courser's bridle, + That can loose his heavy breastplate, + That can tend thy royal racer. + There are here a thousand heroes + That can make thee hasten homeward, + That can give thee fleet-foot stallions, + That can chase thee to thy country, + Reckless rascal and magician, + To thy home and fellow minstrels, + To the uplands of thy father, + To the cabins of thy mother, + To the work-bench of thy brother, + To the dairy or thy sister, + Ere the evening star has risen, + Ere the sun retires to slumber." + Lemminkainen, little fearing, + Gives this answer to the wizard: + "I should slay thee for thy pertness, + That thy clatter might be silenced." + Then he whipped his fiery charger, + And the steed flew onward swiftly, + On the upper of the highways, + To the court-yard on the summit. + When the reckless Lemminkainen + Had approached the upper court-yard, + Uttered he the words that follow: + "O thou Hisi, stuff this watch-dog, + Lempo, stuff his throat and nostrils, + Close the mouth of this wild barker, + Bridle well the vicious canine, + That the watcher may be silent + While the hero passes by him." + Then he stepped within the court-room, + With his whip he struck the flooring, + From the floor arose a vapor, + In the fog appeared a pigmy, + Who unhitched the royal racer, + From his back removed the harness, + Gave the weary steed attention. + Then the hero, Lemminkainen, + Carefully advanced and listened. + No one saw the strange magician, + No one heard his cautious footsteps; + Heard he songs within the dwelling, + Through the moss-stuffed chinks heard voices. + Through the walls he beard them singing, + Through the doors the peals of laughter. + Then he spied within the court-rooms, + Lurking slyly in the hall-ways, + Found the court-rooms filled with singers, + By the walls were players seated, + Near the doors the wise men hovered, + Skilful ones upon the benches, + Near the fires the wicked wizards; + All were singing songs of Lapland, + Singing songs of evil Hisi. + Now the minstrel, Lemminkainen, + Changes both his form and stature, + Passes through the inner door-ways, + Enters he the spacious court-hall, + And these words the hero utters: + "Fine the singing quickly ending, + Good the song that quickly ceases; + Better far to keep thy wisdom + Than to sing it on the house-tops." + Comes the hostess of Pohyola, + Fleetly rushing through the door-way, + To the centre of the court-room, + And addresses thus the stranger: + Formerly a dog lay watching, + Was a cur of iron-color, + Fond of flesh, a bone-devourer, + Loved to lick the blood of strangers. + Who then art thou of the heroes, + Who of all the host of heroes, + That thou art within my court-rooms, + That thou comest to my dwelling, + Was not seen without my portals, + Was not scented by my watch-dogs? + Spake the reckless Lemminkainen: + "Do not think that I come hither + Having neither wit nor wisdom, + Having neither art nor power, + Wanting in ancestral knowledge, + Lacking prudence of the fathers, + That thy watch-dogs may devour me. + "My devoted mother washed me, + When a frail and tender baby, + Three times in the nights of summer, + Nine times in the nights of autumn, + That upon my journeys northward + I might sing the ancient wisdom, + Thus protect myself from danger; + When at home I sing as wisely + As the minstrels of thy hamlet." + Then the singer, Lemminkainen, + Ancient hero, Kaukomieli, + Quick began his incantations, + Straightway sang the songs of witchcraft, + From his fur-robe darts the lightning, + Flames outshooting from his eye-balls, + From the magic of his singing + From his wonderful enchantment. + Sang the very best of singers + To the very worst of minstrels, + Filled their mouths with dust and ashes, + Piled the rocks upon their shoulders, + Stilled the best of Lapland witches, + Stilled the sorcerers and wizards. + Then he banished all their heroes, + Banished all their proudest minstrels, + This one hither, that one thither, + To the lowlands poor in verdure, + To the unproductive uplands, + To the oceans wanting whiting, + To the waterfalls of Rutya, + To the whirlpool hot and flaming, + To the waters decked with sea-foam, + Into fires and boiling waters, + Into everlasting torment. + Then the hero, Lemminkainen, + Sang the foemen with their broadswords? + Sang the heroes with their weapons, + Sang the eldest, sang the youngest, + Sang the middle-aged, enchanted; + Only one he left his senses, + He a poor, defenseless shepherd, + Old and sightless, halt and wretched, + And the old man's name was Nasshut. + Spake the miserable shepherd: + "Thou hast old and young enchanted, + Thou hast banished all our heroes, + Why hast spared this wretched shepherd?" + This is Lemminkainen's answer: + "Therefore have I not bewitched thee: + Thou art old, and blind, and wretched + Feeble-minded thou, and harmless, + Loathsome now without my magic. + Thou didst, in thy better life-time, + When a shepherd filled with malice, + Ruin all thy mother's berries, + Make thy sister, too unworthy, + Ruin all thy brother's cattle, + Drive to death thy father's stallions, + Through the marshes, o'er the meadows, + Through the lowlands, o'er the mountains, + Heeding not thy mother's counsel." + Thereupon the wretched Nasshut, + Angry grew and swore for vengeance, + Straightway limping through the door-way, + Hobbled on beyond the court-yard, + O'er the meadow-lands and pastures, + To the river of the death-land, + To the holy stream and whirlpool, + To the kingdom of Tuoni, + To the islands of Manala; + Waited there for Kaukomieli, + Listened long for Lemminkainen, + Thinking he must pass this river + On his journey to his country, + On. the highway to the islands, + From the upper shores of Pohya, + From the dreary Sariola. + + + + +RUNE XIII. + + + + LEMMINIKAINEN'S SECOND WOOING. + + + Spake the ancient Lemminkainen + To the hostess of Pohyola: + "Give to me thy lovely daughter, + Bring me now thy winsome maiden, + Bring the best of Lapland virgins, + Fairest virgin of the Northland." + Louhi, hostess of Pohyola, + Answered thus the wild magician: + "I shall never give my daughter, + Never give my fairest maiden, + Not the best one, nor the worst one, + Not the largest, nor the smallest; + Thou hast now one wife-companion, + Thou has taken hence one hostess, + Carried off the fair Kyllikki." + This is Lemminkainen's answer: + To my home I took Kyllikki, + To my cottage on the island, + To my entry-gates and kindred; + Now I wish a better hostess, + Straightway bring thy fairest daughter, + Worthiest of all thy virgins, + Fairest maid with sable tresses." + Spake the hostess of Pohyola: + "Never will I give my daughter + To a hero false and worthless, + To a minstrel vain and evil; + Therefore, pray thou for my maiden, + Therefore, woo the sweet-faced flower, + When thou bringest me the wild-moose + From the Hisi fields and forests." + Then the artful Lemminkainen + Deftly whittled out his javelins, + Quickly made his leathern bow-string, + And prepared his bow and arrows, + And soliloquized as follows: + "Now my javelins are made ready, + All my arrows too are ready, + And my oaken cross-bow bended, + But my snow-shoes are not builded, + Who will make me worthy snow-shoes?" + Lemminkainen, grave and thoughtful, + Long reflected, well considered, + Where the snow-shoes could be fashioned, + Who the artist that could make them; + Hastened to the Kauppi-smithy, + To the smithy of Lylikki, + Thus addressed the snow-shoe artist: + "O thou skilful Woyalander, + Kauppi, ablest smith of Lapland, + Make me quick two worthy snow-shoes, + Smooth them well and make them hardy, + That in Tapio the wild-moose, + Roaming through the Hisi-forests, + I may catch and bring to Louhi, + As a dowry for her daughter." + Then Lylikki thus made answer, + Kauppi gave this prompt decision: + "Lemminkainen, reckless minstrel, + Thou wilt hunt in vain the wild-moose, + Thou wilt catch but pain and torture, + In the Hisi fens and forests." + Little heeding, Lemminkainen + Spake these measures to Lylikki + "Make for me the worthy snow-shoes, + Quickly work and make them ready; + Go I will and catch the blue-moose + Where in Tapio it browses, + In the Hisi woods and snow-fields." + Then Lylikki, snow-shoe-maker, + Ancient Kauppi, master artist, + Whittled in the fall his show-shoes, + Smoothed them in the winter evenings, + One day working on the runners, + All the next day making stick-rings, + Till at last the shoes were finished, + And the workmanship was perfect. + Then he fastened well the shoe-straps, + Smooth as adder's skin the woodwork, + Soft as fox-fur were the stick-rings; + Oiled he well his wondrous snow-shoes + With the tallow of the reindeer; + When he thus soliloquizes, + These the accents of Lylikki: + "Is there any youth in Lapland, + Any in this generation, + That can travel in these snow-shoes, + That can move the lower sections?" + Spake the reckless Lemminkainen, + Full of hope, and life, and vigor: + Surely there is one in Lapland. + In this rising generation, + That can travel in these snow-shoes, + That the right and left can manage." + To his back he tied the quiver, + Placed the bow upon his shoulder, + With both hands he grasped his snow-cane, + Speaking meanwhile words as follow: + "There is nothing in the woodlands, + Nothing in the world of Ukko, + Nothing underneath the heavens, + In the uplands, in the lowlands, + Nothing in the snow-fields running, + Not a fleet deer of the forest, + That could not be overtaken + With the snow-shoes of Lylikki, + With the strides of Lemminkainen." + Wicked Hisi heard these measures, + Juntas listened to their echoes; + Straightway Hisi called the wild-moose, + Juutas fashioned soon a reindeer, + And the head was made of punk-wood, + Horns of naked willow branches, + Feet were furnished by the rushes, + And the legs, by reeds aquatic, + Veins were made of withered grasses, + Eyes, from daisies of the meadows, + Ears were formed of water-flowers, + And the skin of tawny fir-bark, + Out of sappy wood, the muscles, + Fair and fleet, the magic reindeer. + Juutas thus instructs the wild-moose, + These the words of wicked Hisi: + Flee away, thou moose of Juutas, + Flee away, thou Hisi-reindeer, + Like the winds, thou rapid courser, + To the snow-homes of the ranger, + To the ridges of the mountains, + To the snow-capped hills of Lapland, + That thy hunter may be worn out, + Thy pursuer be tormented, + Lemminkainen be exhausted." + Thereupon the Hisi-reindeer, + Juutas-moose with branching antlers, + Fleetly ran through fen and forest, + Over Lapland's hills and valleys, + Through the open fields and court-yards, + Through the penthouse doors and gate-ways, + Turning over tubs of water, + Threw the kettles from the fire-pole, + And upset the dishes cooking. + Then arose a fearful uproar, + In the court-yards of Pohyola, + Lapland-dogs began their barking, + Lapland-children cried in terror, + Lapland-women roared with laughter, + And the Lapland-heroes shouted. + Fleetly followed Lemminkainen, + Followed fast, and followed faster, + Hastened on behind the wild-moose, + Over swamps and through the woodlands, + Over snow-fields vast and pathless, + Over high uprising mountains, + Fire out-shooting from his runners, + Smoke arising from his snow-cane: + Could not hear the wild-moose bounding, + Could not sight the flying fleet-foot; + Glided on through field and forest, + Glided over lakes and rivers, + Over lands beyond the smooth-sea, + Through the desert plains of Hisi, + Glided o'er the plains of Kalma, + Through the kingdom of Tuoni, + To the end of Kalma's empire, + Where the jaws of Death stand open, + Where the head of Kalma lowers, + Ready to devour the stranger, + To devour wild Lemminkainen; + But Tuoni cannot reach him, + Kalma cannot overtake him. + Distant woods are yet untraveled, + Far away a woodland corner + Stands unsearched by Kaukomieli, + In the North's extensive, borders, + In the realm of dreary Lapland. + Now the hero, on his snow-shoes, + Hastens to the distant woodlands, + There to hunt the moose of Piru. + As he nears the woodland corner, + There he bears a frightful uproar, + From the Northland's distant borders, + From the dreary fields of Lapland, + Hears the dogs as they are barking, + Hears the children loudly screaming, + Hears the laughter or the women, + Hears the shouting of the heroes. + Thereupon wild Lemminkainen + Hastens forward on his snow-shoes, + To the place where dogs are barking, + To the distant woods of Lapland. + When the reckless Kaukomieli + Had approached this Hisi corner, + Straightway he began to question: + "Why this laughter or the women, + Why the screaming of the children, + Why the shouting of the heroes, + Why this barking of the watch-dogs? + This reply was promptly given: + "This the reason for this uproar, + Women laughing, children screaming, + Heroes shouting, watch-dogs barking + Hisi's moose came running hither, + Hither came the Piru-Reindeer, + Hither came with hoofs of silver, + Through the open fields and court-yards, + Through the penthouse doors and gate-ways, + Turning over tubs or water, + Threw the kettles from the fire-pole, + And upset the dishes cooking." + Then the hero, Lemminkainen, + Straightway summoned all his courage, + Pushed ahead his mighty snow-shoes, + Swift as adders in the stubble, + Levelled bushes in the marshes, + Like the swift and fiery serpents, + Spake these words of magic import, + Keeping balance with his snow-staff: + Come thou might of Lapland heroes, + Bring to me the moose of Juutas; + Come thou strength of Lapland-women, + And prepare the boiling caldron; + Come, thou might of Lapland children, + Bring together fire and fuel; + Come, thou strength of Lapland-kettles, + Help to boil the Hisi wild-moose." + Then with mighty force and courage, + Lemminkainen hastened onward, + Striking backward, shooting forward; + With a long sweep of his snow-shoe, + Disappeared from view the hero; + With the second, shooting further, + Was the hunter out of hearing, + With the third the hero glided + On the shoulders of the wild-moose; + Took a pole of stoutest oak-wood, + Took some bark-strings from the willow, + Wherewithal to bind the moose-deer, + Bind him to his oaken hurdle. + To the moose he spake as follows: + "Here remain, thou moose of Juutas + Skip about, my bounding courser, + In my hurdle jump and frolic, + Captive from the fields of Piru, + From the Hisi glens and mountains." + Then he stroked the captured wild-moose, + Patted him upon his forehead, + Spake again in measured accents: + "I would like awhile to linger, + I would love to rest a moment + In the cottage of my maiden, + With my virgin, young and lovely." + Then the Hisi-moose grew angry, + Stamped his feet and shook his antlers, + Spake these words to Lemminkainen: + "Surely Lempo soon will got thee, + Shouldst thou sit beside the maiden, + Shouldst thou linger by the virgin." + Now the wild-moose stamps and rushes, + Tears in two the bands of willow, + Breaks the oak-wood pole in pieces, + And upturns the hunter's hurdle, + Quickly leaping from his captor, + Bounds away with strength of freedom, + Over hills and over lowlands, + Over swamps and over snow-fields, + Over mountains clothed in heather, + That the eye may not behold him, + Nor the hero's ear detect him. + Thereupon the mighty hunter + Angry grows, and much disheartened, + Starts again the moose to capture, + Gliding off behind the courser. + With his might he plunges forward; + At the instep breaks his snow-shoe, + Breaks the runners into fragments, + On the mountings breaks his javelins, + In the centre breaks his snow-staff, + And the moose bounds on before him, + Through the Hisi-woods and snow-fields, + Out of reach of Lemminkainen. + Then the reckless Kaukomieli + Looked with bended head, ill-humored, + One by one upon the fragments, + Speaking words of ancient wisdom: + "Northland hunters, never, never, + Go defiant to thy forests, + In the Hisi vales and mountains, + There to hunt the moose of Juutas, + Like this senseless, reckless hero; + I have wrecked my magic snow-shoes, + Ruined too my useful snow-staff, + And my javelins I have broken, + While the wild-moose runs in safety + Through the Hisi fields and forests." + + + + +RUNE XIV. + + + + DEATH OF LEMMINKAINEN. + + + Lemminkainen, much disheartened, + Deeply thought and long considered, + What to do, what course to follow, + Whether best to leave the wild-moose + In the fastnesses of Hisi, + And return to Kalevala, + Or a third time hunt the ranger, + Hoping thus to bring him captive, + Thus return at last a victor + To the forest home of Louhi, + To the joy of all her daughters, + To the wood-nymph's happy fireside. + Taking courage Lemminkainen + Spake these words in supplication: + "Ukko, thou O God above me, + Thou Creator of the heavens, + Put my snow-shoes well in order, + And endow them both with swiftness, + That I rapidly may journey + Over marshes, over snow-fields, + Over lowlands, over highlands, + Through the realms of wicked Hisi, + Through the distant plains of Lapland, + Through the paths of Lempo's wild-moose, + To the forest hills of Juutas. + To the snow-fields shall I journey, + Leave the heroes to the woodlands, + On the way to Tapiola, + Into Tapio's wild dwellings. + "Greeting bring I to the mountains, + Greeting to the vales and uplands, + Greet ye, heights with forests covered, + Greet ye, ever-verdant fir-trees, + Greet ye, groves of whitened aspen, + Greetings bring to those that greet you, + Fields, and streams, and woods of Lapland. + Bring me favor, mountain-woodlands, + Lapland-deserts, show me kindness, + Mighty Tapio, be gracious, + Let me wander through thy forests, + Let me glide along thy rivers, + Let this hunter search thy snow-fields, + Where the wild-moose herds in numbers + Where the bounding reindeer lingers. + "O Nyrikki, mountain hero, + Son of Tapio of forests, + Hero with the scarlet head-gear, + Notches make along the pathway, + Landmarks upward to the mountains, + That this hunter may not wander, + May not fall, and falling perish + In the snow-fields of thy kingdom, + Hunting for the moose of Hisi, + Dowry for the pride of Northland. + "Mistress of the woods, Mielikki, + Forest-mother, formed in beauty, + Let thy gold flow out abundant, + Let thy silver onward wander, + For the hero that is seeking + For the wild-moose of thy kingdom; + Bring me here thy keys of silver, + From the golden girdle round thee; + Open Tapio's rich chambers, + And unlock the forest fortress, + While I here await the booty, + While I hunt the moose of Lempo. + "Should this service be too menial + Give the order to thy servants, + Send at once thy servant-maidens, + And command it to thy people. + Thou wilt never seem a hostess, + If thou hast not in thy service, + Maidens ready by the hundreds, + Thousands that await thy bidding, + Who thy herds may watch and nurture, + Tend the game of thy dominions. + "Tall and slender forest-virgin, + Tapio's beloved daughter, + Blow thou now thy honey flute-notes, + Play upon thy forest-whistle, + For the hearing of thy mistress, + For thy charming woodland-mistress, + Make her hear thy sweet-toned playing, + That she may arise from slumber. + Should thy mistress not awaken + At the calling of thy flute-notes, + Play again, and play unceasing, + Make the golden tongue re-echo." + Wild and daring Lemminkainen + Steadfast prays upon his journey, + Calling on the gods for succor, + Hastens off through fields and moorlands, + Passes on through cruel brush-wood, + To the colliery of Hisi, + To the burning fields of Lempo; + Glided one day, then a second, + Glided all the next day onward, + Till he came to Big-stone mountain, + Climbed upon its rocky summit, + Turned his glances to the north-west, + Toward the Northland moors and marshes; + There appeared the Tapio-mansion. + All the doors were golden-colored, + Shining in the gleam of sunlight + Through the thickets on the mountains, + Through the distant fields of Northland. + Lemminkainen, much encouraged, + Hastens onward from his station + Through the lowlands, o'er the uplands, + Over snow-fields vast and vacant, + Under snow-robed firs and aspens, + Hastens forward, happy-hearted, + Quickly reaches Tapio's court-yards, + Halts without at Tapio's windows, + Slyly looks into her mansion, + Spies within some kindly women, + Forest-dames outstretched before him, + All are clad in scanty raiment, + Dressed in soiled and ragged linens. + Spake the stranger Lemminkainen: + "Wherefore sit ye, forest-mothers, + In your old and simple garments, + In your soiled and ragged linen? + Ye, forsooth! are too untidy, + Too unsightly your appearance + In your tattered gowns appareled. + When I lived within the forest, + There were then three mountain castles, + One of horn and one of ivory, + And the third of wood constructed; + In their walls were golden windows, + Six the windows in each castle, + Through these windows I discovered + All the host of Tapio's mansion, + Saw its fair and stately hostess; + Saw great Tapio's lovely daughter, + Saw Tellervo in her beauty, + With her train of charming maidens; + All were dressed in golden raiment, + Rustled all in gold and silver. + Then the forest's queenly hostess, + Still the hostess of these woodlands, + On her arms wore golden bracelets, + Golden rings upon her fingers, + In her hair were sparkling, jewels, + On her bead were golden fillets, + In her ears were golden ear-rings, + On her neck a pearly necklace, + And her braidlets, silver-tinselled. + "Lovely hostess of the forest, + Metsola's enchanting mistress, + Fling aside thine ugly straw-shoes, + Cast away the shoes of birch-bark, + Doff thy soiled and ragged linen, + Doff thy gown of shabby fabric, + Don the bright and festive raiment, + Don the gown of merry-making, + While I stay within thy borders, + While I seek my forest-booty, + Hunt the moose of evil Hisi. + Here my visit will be irksome, + Here thy guest will be ill-humored, + Waiting in thy fields and woodlands, + Hunting here the moose of Lempo, + Finding not the Hisi-ranger, + Shouldst thou give me no enjoyment, + Should I find no joy, nor respite. + Long the eve that gives no pleasure, + Long the day that brings no guerdon! + "Sable-bearded god of forests, + In thy hat and coat of ermine, + Robe thy trees in finest fibers, + Deck thy groves in richest fabrics, + Give the fir-trees shining silver, + Deck with gold the slender balsams, + Give the spruces copper belting, + And the pine-trees silver girdles, + Give the birches golden flowers, + Deck their stems with silver fret-work, + This their garb in former ages, + When the days and nights were brighter, + When the fir-trees shone like sunlight, + And the birches like the moonbeams; + Honey breathed throughout the forest, + Settled in the glens and highlands + Spices in the meadow-borders, + Oil out-pouring from the lowlands. + "Forest daughter, lovely virgin, + Golden maiden, fair Tulikki, + Second of the Tapio-daughters, + Drive the game within these borders, + To these far-extending snow-fields. + Should the reindeer be too sluggish, + Should the moose-deer move too slowly + Cut a birch-rod from the thicket, + Whip them hither in their beauty, + Drive the wild-moose to my hurdle, + Hither drive the long-sought booty + To the hunter who is watching, + Waiting in the Hisi-forests. + "When the game has started hither, + Keep them in the proper highway, + Hold thy magic hands before them, + Guard them well on either road-side, + That the elk may not escape thee, + May not dart adown some by-path. + Should, perchance, the moose-deer wander + Through some by-way of the forest, + Take him by the ears and antlers, + Hither lead the pride of Lempo. + "If the path be filled with brush-wood + Cast the brush-wood to the road-side; + If the branches cross his pathway, + Break the branches into fragments; + Should a fence of fir or alder + Cross the way that leads him hither. + Make an opening within it, + Open nine obstructing fences; + If the way be crossed by streamlets, + If the path be stopped by rivers, + Make a bridge of silken fabric, + Weaving webs of scarlet color, + Drive the deer-herd gently over, + Lead them gently o'er the waters, + O'er the rivers of thy forests, + O'er the streams of thy dominions. + "Thou, the host of Tapio's mansion, + Gracious host of Tapiola, + Sable-bearded god of woodlands, + Golden lord of Northland forests, + Thou, O Tapio's worthy hostess, + Queen of snowy woods, Mimerkki, + Ancient dame in sky-blue vesture, + Fenland-queen in scarlet ribbons, + Come I to exchange my silver, + To exchange my gold and silver; + Gold I have, as old as moonlight, + Silver of the age of sunshine, + In the first of years was gathered, + In the heat and pain of battle; + It will rust within my pouches, + Soon will wear away and perish, + If it be not used in trading." + Long the hunter, Lemminkainen, + Glided through the fen and forest, + Sang his songs throughout the woodlands, + Through three mountain glens be sang them, + Sang the forest hostess friendly, + Sang he, also, Tapio friendly, + Friendly, all the forest virgins, + All of Metsola's fair daughters. + Now they start the herds of Lempo, + Start the wild-moose from his shelter, + In the realms of evil Hisi, + Tapio's highest mountain-region; + Now they drive the ranger homeward, + To the open courts of Piru, + To the hero that is waiting, + Hunting for the moose of Juutas. + When the herd had reached the castle, + Lemminkainen threw his lasso + O'er the antlers of the blue-moose, + Settled on the neck and shoulders + Of the mighty moose of Hisi. + Then the hunter, Kaukomieli, + Stroked his captive's neck in safety, + For the moose was well-imprisoned. + Thereupon gay Lemminkainen + Filled with joyance spake as follows: + "Pride of forests, queen of woodlands, + Metsola's enchanted hostess, + Lovely forest dame, Mielikki, + Mother-donor of the mountains, + Take the gold that I have promised, + Come and take away the silver; + Spread thy kerchief well before me, + Spread out here thy silken neck-wrap, + Underneath the golden treasure, + Underneath the shining silver, + that to earth it may not settle, + Scattered on the snows of winter." + Then the hero went a victor + To the dwellings of Pohyola, + And addressed these words to Louhi: + "I have caught the moose of Hisi, + In the Metsola-dominions, + Give, O hostess, give thy daughter, + Give to me thy fairest virgin, + Bride of mine to be hereafter." + Louhi, hostess of the Northland, + Gave this answer to the suitor: + "I will give to thee my daughter, + For thy wife my fairest maiden, + When for me thou'lt put a bridle + On the flaming horse of Hisi, + Rapid messenger of Lempo, + On the Hisi-plains and pastures." + Nothing daunted, Lemminkainen + Hastened forward to accomplish + Louhi's second test of heroes, + On the cultivated lowlands, + On the sacred fields and forests. + Everywhere he sought the racer, + Sought the fire-expiring stallion, + Fire out-shooting from his nostrils. + Lemminkainen, fearless hunter, + Bearing in his belt his bridle, + On his shoulders, reins and halter, + Sought one day, and then a second, + Finally, upon the third day, + Went he to the Hisi-mountain, + Climbed, and struggled to the summit; + To the east he turned his glances, + Cast his eyes upon the sunrise, + There beheld the flaming courser, + On the heath among the far-trees. + Lempo's fire-expiring stallion + Fire and mingled smoke, out-shooting + From his mouth, and eyes, and nostrils. + Spake the daring Lemminkainen, + This the hero's supplication: + "Ukko, thou O God above me, + Thou that rulest all the storm-clouds, + Open thou the vault of heaven, + Open windows through the ether, + Let the icy rain come falling, + Lot the heavy hailstones shower + On the flaming horse of Hisi, + On the fire-expiring stallion." + Ukko, the benign Creator, + Heard the prayer of Lemminkainen, + Broke apart the dome of heaven, + Rent the heights of heaven asunder, + Sent the iron-hail in showers, + Smaller than the heads of horses, + Larger than the heads of heroes, + On the flaming steed of Lempo, + On the fire-expiring stallion, + On the terror of the Northland. + Lemminkainen, drawing nearer, + Looked with care upon the courser, + Then he spake the words that follow: + "Wonder-steed of mighty Hisi, + Flaming horse of Lempo's mountain, + Bring thy mouth of gold, assenting, + Gently place thy head of silver + In this bright and golden halter, + In this silver-mounted bridle. + I shall never harshly treat thee, + Never make thee fly too fleetly, + On the way to Sariola, + On the tracks of long duration, + To the hostess of Pohyola, + To her magic courts and stables, + Will not lash thee on thy journey; + I shall lead thee gently forward, + Drive thee with the reins of kindness, + Cover thee with silken blankets." + Then the fire-haired steed of Juutas, + Flaming horse of mighty Hisi, + Put his bead of shining silver, + In the bright and golden bead-stall, + In the silver-mounted bridle. + Thus the hero, Lemminkainen, + Easy bridles Lempo's stallion, + Flaming horse of evil Piru; + Lays the bits within his fire-mouth, + On his silver head, the halter, + Mounts the fire-expiring courser, + Brandishes his whip of willow, + Hastens forward on his journey, + Bounding o'er the hills and mountains, + Dashing through the valleys northward, + O'er the snow-capped hills of Lapland, + To the courts of Sariola. + Then the hero, quick dismounting, + Stepped within the court of Louhi, + Thus addressed the Northland hostess: + "I have bridled Lempo's fire-horse, + I have caught the Hisi-racer, + Caught the fire-expiring stallion, + In the Piru plains and pastures, + Ridden him within thy borders; + I have caught the moose of Lempo, + I have done what thou demandest; + Give, I pray thee, now thy daughter, + Give to me thy fairest maiden, + Bride of mine to be forever." + Louhi, hostess of Pohyola, + Made this answer to the suitor: + "I will only give my daughter, + Give to thee my fairest virgin, + Bride of thine to be forever, + When for me the swan thou killest + In the river of Tuoni, + Swimming in the black death-river, + In the sacred stream and whirlpool; + Thou canst try one cross-bow only, + But one arrow from thy quiver." + Then the reckless Lemminkainen, + Handsome hero, Kaukomieli, + Braved the third test of the hero, + Started out to hunt the wild-swan, + Hunt the long-necked, graceful swimmer, + In Tuoni's coal-black river, + In Manala's lower regions. + Quick the daring hunter journeyed, + Hastened off with fearless footsteps, + To the river of Tuoni, + To the sacred stream and whirlpool, + With his bow upon his shoulder, + With his quiver and one arrow. + Nasshut, blind and crippled shepherd, + Wretched shepherd of Pohyola, + Stood beside the death-land river, + Near the sacred stream and whirlpool, + Guarding Tuonela's waters, + Waiting there for Lemminkainen, + Listening there for Kaukomieli, + Waiting long the hero's coming. + Finally he hears the footsteps + Of the hero on his journey, + Hears the tread of Lemminkainen, + As he journeys nearer, nearer, + To the river of Tuoni, + To the cataract of death-land, + To the sacred stream and whirlpool. + Quick the wretched shepherd, Nasshut, + From the death-stream sends a serpent, + Like an arrow from a cross-bow, + To the heart of Lemminkainen, + Through the vitals of the hero. + Lemminkainen, little conscious, + Hardly knew that be was injured, + Spake these measures as he perished. + "Ah! unworthy is my conduct, + Ah! unwisely have I acted, + That I did not heed my mother, + Did not take her goodly counsel, + Did not learn her words of magic. + Oh I for three words with my mother, + How to live, and bow to suffer, + In this time of dire misfortune, + How to bear the stings of serpents, + Tortures of the reed of waters, + From the stream of Tuonela! + "Ancient mother who hast borne me, + Who hast trained me from my childhood, + Learn, I pray thee, where I linger, + Where alas! thy son is lying, + Where thy reckless hero suffers. + Come, I pray thee, faithful mother, + Come thou quickly, thou art needed, + Come deliver me from torture, + From the death-jaws of Tuoni, + From the sacred stream and whirlpool." + Northland's old and wretched shepherd, + Nasshut, the despised protector + Of the flocks of Sariola, + Throws the dying Lemminkainen, + Throws the hero of the islands, + Into Tuonela's river, + To the blackest stream of death-land, + To the worst of fatal whirlpools. + Lemminkainen, wild and daring, + Helpless falls upon the waters, + Floating down the coal-black current, + Through the cataract and rapids + To the tombs of Tuonela. + There the blood-stained son of death-land, + There Tuoni's son and hero, + Cuts in pieces Lemminkainen, + Chops him with his mighty hatchet, + Till the sharpened axe strikes flint-sparks + From the rocks within his chamber, + Chops the hero into fragments, + Into five unequal portions, + Throws each portion to Tuoni, + In Manala's lowest kingdom, + Speaks these words when he has ended: + "Swim thou there, wild Lemminkainen, + Flow thou onward in this river, + Hunt forever in these waters, + With thy cross-bow and thine arrow, + Shoot the swan within this empire, + Shoot our water-birds in welcome!" + Thus the hero, Lemminkainen, + Thus the handsome Kaukomieli, + The untiring suitor, dieth + In the river of Tuoni, + In the death-realm of Manala. + + + + +RUNE XV. + + + + LEMMINKAINEN'S RESTORATION. + + + Lemminkainen's aged mother + Anxious roams about the islands, + Anxious wonders in her chambers, + What the fate of Lemminkainen, + Why her son so long has tarried; + Thinks that something ill has happened + To her hero in Pohyola. + Sad, indeed, the mother's anguish, + As in vain she waits his coming, + As in vain she asks the question, + Where her daring son is roaming, + Whether to the fir-tree mountain, + Whether to the distant heath-land, + Or upon the broad-sea's ridges, + On the floods and rolling waters, + To the war's contending armies, + To the heat and din of battle, + Steeped in blood of valiant heroes, + Evidence of fatal warfare. + Daily does the wife Kyllikki + Look about her vacant chamber, + In the home of Lemminkainen, + At the court of Kaukomieli; + Looks at evening, looks at morning, + Looks, perchance, upon his hair-brush, + Sees alas! the blood-drops oozing, + Oozing from the golden bristles, + And the blood-drops, scarlet-colored. + Then the beauteous wife, Kyllikki, + Spake these words in deeps of anguish: + "Dead or wounded is my husband, + Or at best is filled with trouble, + Lost perhaps in Northland forests, + In some glen unknown to heroes, + Since alas! the blood is flowing + From the brush of Lemminkainen, + Red drops oozing from the bristles." + Thereupon the anxious mother + Looks upon the bleeding hair-brush + And begins this wail of anguish: + "Woe is me, my life hard-fated, + Woe is me, all joy departed! + For alas! my son and hero, + Valiant hero of the islands, + Son of trouble and misfortune! + Some sad fate has overtaken + My ill-fated Lemminkainen! + Blood is flowing from his hair-brush, + Oozing from its golden bristles, + And the drops are scarlet-colored." + Quick her garment's hem she clutches, + On her arm she throws her long-robes, + Fleetly flies upon her journey; + With her might she hastens northward, + Mountains tremble from her footsteps, + Valleys rise and heights are lowered, + Highlands soon become as lowlands, + All the hills and valleys levelled. + Soon she gains the Northland village, + Quickly asks about her hero, + These the words the mother utters: + "O thou hostess of Pohyola, + Where hast thou my Lemminkainen? + Tell me of my son and hero!" + Louhi, hostess of the Northland, + Gives this answer to the mother: + "Nothing know I of thy hero, + Of the hero of the islands; + Where thy son may be I know not, + Cannot lend the information; + Once I gave thy son a courser, + Hitched the racer to his snow-sledge, + This the last of Lemminkainen; + May perchance be drowned in Wuhne, + Frozen In the icy ocean, + Fallen prey to wolves in hunger, + In a bear's den may have perished." + Lemminkainen's mother answers: + "Thou art only speaking falsehoods, + Northland wolves cannot devour us, + Nor the bears kill Kaukomieli; + He can slay the wolves of Pohya + With the fingers of his left hand; + Bears of Northland he would silence + With the magic of his singing. + "Hostess of Pohyola, tell me + Whither thou hast sent my hero; + I shall burst thy many garners, + Shall destroy the magic Sampo, + If thou dost not tell me truly + Where to find my Lemminkainen." + Spake the hostess of Pohyola: + "I have well thy hero treated, + Well my court has entertained him, + Gave him of my rarest viands, + Fed him at my well-filled tables, + Placed him in a boat of copper, + Thus to float adown the current, + This the last of Lemminkainen; + Cannot tell where he has wandered. + Whether in the foam of waters, + Whether in the boiling torrent, + Whether in the drowning whirlpool." + Lemminkainen's mother answers: + Thou again art speaking falsely; + Tell me now the truth I pray thee, + Make an end of thy deception, + Where is now my Lemminkainen, + Whither hast thou sent my hero, + Young and daring son of Kalew? + If a third time thou deceivest, + I will send thee plagues, unnumbered, + I will send thee fell destruction, + Certain death will overtake thee." + Spake the hostess of Pohyola: + "This the third time that I answer, + This the truth that I shall tell thee: + I have sent the Kalew-hero + To the Hisi-fields and forests, + There to hunt the moose of Lempo; + Sent him then to catch the fire-horse, + Catch the fire-expiring stallion, + On the distant plains of Juutas, + In the realm of cruel Hisi. + Then I sent him to the Death-stream, + In the kingdom of Tuoni, + With his bow and but one arrow, + There to shoot the swan as dowry + For my best and fairest daughter; + Have not heard about thy hero + Since he left for Tuonela; + May in misery have fallen, + May have perished in Manala; + Has not come to ask my daughter, + Has not come to woo the maiden, + Since he left to hunt the death-swan." + Now the mother seeks her lost one, + For her son she weeps and trembles, + Like the wolf she bounds through fenlands, + Like the bear, through forest thickets, + Like the wild-boar, through the marshes, + Like the hare, along the sea-coast, + To the sea-point, like the hedgehog + Like the wild-duck swims the waters, + Casts the rubbish from her pathway, + Tramples down opposing brush-wood, + Stops at nothing in her journey + Seeks a long time for her hero, + Seeks, and seeks, and does not find him. + Now she asks the trees the question, + And the forest gives this answer: + "We have care enough already, + Cannot think about thy matters; + Cruel fates have we to battle, + Pitiful our own misfortunes! + We are felled and chopped in pieces, + Cut in blocks for hero-fancy, + We are burned to death as fuel, + No one cares how much we suffer." + Now again the mother wanders, + Seeks again her long-lost hero, + Seeks, and seeks, and does not find him. + Paths arise and come to meet her, + And she questions thus the pathways: + "Paths of hope that God has fashioned, + Have ye seen my Lemminkainen, + Has my son and golden hero + Travelled through thy many kingdoms?" + Sad, the many pathways answer: + "We ourselves have cares sufficient, + Cannot watch thy son and hero, + Wretched are the lives of pathways, + Deep indeed our own misfortunes; + We are trodden by, the red-deer, + By the wolves, and bears, and roebucks, + Driven o'er by heavy cart-wheels, + By the feet of dogs are trodden, + Trodden under foot of heroes, + Foot-paths for contending armies." + Seeks again the frantic mother, + Seeks her long-lost son and hero, + Seeks, and seeks, and does not find him; + Finds the Moon within her orbit, + Asks the Moon in pleading measures: + "Golden Moon, whom God has stationed + In the heavens, the Sun's companion, + Hast thou seen my Kaukomieli, + Hast thou seen my silver apple, + Anywhere in thy dominions? " + Thus the golden Moon makes answer: + "I have trouble all-sufficient, + Cannot watch thy daring hero; + Long the journey I must travel, + Sad the fate to me befallen, + Pitiful mine own misfortunes, + All alone the nights to wander, + Shine alone without a respite, + In the winter ever watching, + In the summer sink and perish." + Still the mother seeks, and wanders, + Seeks, and does not find her hero, + Sees the Sun in the horizon, + And the mother thus entreats him: + Silver Sun, whom God has fashioned, + Thou that giveth warmth and comfort, + Hast thou lately seen my hero, + Hast thou seen my Lemminkainen, + Wandering in thy dominions?" + Thus the Sun in kindness answers: + "Surely has thy hero perished, + To ingratitude a victim; + Lemminkainen died and vanished + In Tuoni's fatal river, + In the waters of Manala, + In the sacred stream and whirlpool, + In the cataract and rapids, + Sank within the drowning current + To the realm of Tuonela, + To Manala's lower regions." + Lemminkainen's mother weeping, + Wailing in the deeps of anguish, + Mourns the fate of Kaukomieli, + Hastens to the Northland smithy, + To the forge of Ilmarinen, + These the words the mother utters: + "Ilmarinen, metal-artist, + Thou that long ago wert forging, + Forging earth a concave cover, + Yesterday wert forging wonders, + Forge thou now, immortal blacksmith, + Forge a rake with shaft of copper, + Forge the teeth of strongest metal, + Teeth in length a hundred fathoms, + And five hundred long the handle." + Ilmarinen does as bidden, + Makes the rake in full perfection. + Lemminkainen's anxious mother + Takes the magic rake and hastens + To the river of Tuoni, + Praying to the Sun as follows: + "Thou, O Sun, by God created, + Thou that shinest on thy Maker, + Shine for me in heat of magic, + Give me warmth, and strength, and courage, + Shine a third time full of power, + Lull to sleep the wicked people, + Still the people of Manala, + Quiet all Tuoni's empire." + Thereupon the sun of Ukko, + Dearest child of the Creator, + Flying through the groves of Northland, + Sitting on a curving birch-tree, + Shines a little while in ardor, + Shines again in greater fervor, + Shines a third time full of power, + Lulls to sleep the wicked people + In the Manala home and kingdom, + Still the heroes with their broadswords, + Makes the lancers halt and totter, + Stills the stoutest of the spearmen, + Quiets Tuoni's ghastly empire. + Now the Sun retires in magic, + Hovers here and there a moment + Over Tuoni's hapless sleepers, + Hastens upward to his station, + To his Jumala home and kingdom. + Lemminkainen's faithful mother + Takes the rake of magic metals, + Rakes the Tuoni river bottoms, + Rakes the cataract and whirlpool, + Rakes the swift and boiling current + Of the sacred stream of death-land, + In the Manala home and kingdom. + Searching for her long-lost hero, + Rakes a long time, finding nothing; + Now she wades the river deeper, + To her belt in mud and water, + Deeper, deeper, rakes the death-stream, + Rakes the river's deepest caverns, + Raking up and down the current, + Till at last she finds his tunic, + Heavy-hearted, finds his jacket; + Rakes again and rakes unceasing, + Finds the hero's shoes and stockings, + Sorely troubled, finds these relies; + Now she wades the river deeper, + Rakes the Manala shoals and shallows, + Rakes the deeps at every angle; + As she draws the rake the third time + From the Tuoni shores and waters, + In the rake she finds the body + Of her long-lost Lemminkainen, + In the metal teeth entangled, + In the rake with copper handle. + Thus the reckless Lemminkainen, + Thus the son of Kalevala, + Was recovered from the bottom + Of the Manala lake and river. + There were wanting many fragments, + Half the head, a hand, a fore-arm, + Many other smaller portions, + Life, above all else, was missing. + Then the mother, well reflecting, + Spake these words in bitter weeping: + "From these fragments, with my magic, + I will bring to life my hero." + Hearing this, the raven answered, + Spake these measures to the mother: + "There is not in these a hero, + Thou canst not revive these fragments; + Eels have fed upon his body, + On his eyes have fed the whiting; + Cast the dead upon the waters, + On the streams of Tuonela, + Let him there become a walrus, + Or a seal, or whale, or porpoise." + Lemminkainen's mother does not + Cast the dead upon the waters, + On the streams of Tuonela, + She again with hope and courage, + Rakes the river lengthwise, crosswise, + Through the Manala pools and caverns, + Rakes up half the head, a fore-arm, + Finds a hand and half the back-bone, + Many other smaller portions; + Shapes her son from all the fragments, + Shapes anew her Lemminkainen, + Flesh to flesh with skill she places, + Gives the bones their proper stations, + Binds one member to the other, + Joins the ends of severed vessels, + Counts the threads of all the venules, + Knits the parts in apposition; + Then this prayer the mother offers: + "Suonetar, thou slender virgin, + Goddess of the veins of heroes, + Skilful spinner of the vessels, + With thy slender, silver spindle, + With thy spinning-wheel of copper, + Set in frame of molten silver, + Come thou hither, thou art needed; + Bring the instruments for mending, + Firmly knit the veins together, + At the end join well the venules, + In the wounds that still are open, + In the members that are injured. + "Should this aid be inefficient; + There is living in the ether, + In a boat enriched with silver, + In a copper boat, a maiden, + That can bring to thee assistance. + Come, O maiden, from the ether, + Virgin from the belt of heaven, + Row throughout these veins, O maiden, + Row through all these lifeless members, + Through the channels of the long-bones, + Row through every form of tissue. + Set the vessels in their places, + Lay the heart in right position, + Make the pulses beat together, + Join the smallest of the veinlets, + And unite with skill the sinews. + Take thou now a slender needle, + Silken thread within its eyelet, + Ply the silver needle gently, + Sew with care the wounds together. + "Should this aid be inefficient, + Thou, O God, that knowest all things, + Come and give us thine assistance, + Harness thou thy fleetest racer + Call to aid thy strongest courser, + In thy scarlet sledge come swiftly, + Drive through all the bones and channels, + Drive throughout these lifeless tissues, + Drive thy courser through each vessel, + Bind the flesh and bones securely, + In the joints put finest silver, + Purest gold in all the fissures. + "Where the skin is broken open, + Where the veins are torn asunder, + Mend these injuries with magic; + Where the blood has left the body, + There make new blood flow abundant; + Where the bones are rudely broken, + Set the parts in full perfection; + Where the flesh is bruised and loosened, + Touch the wounds with magic balsam, + Do not leave a part imperfect; + Bone, and vein, and nerve, and sinew, + Heart, and brain, and gland, and vessel, + Heal as Thou alone canst heal them." + These the means the mother uses, + Thus she joins the lifeless members, + Thus she heals the death-like tissues, + Thus restores her son and hero + To his former life and likeness; + All his veins are knit together, + All their ends are firmly fastened, + All the parts in apposition, + Life returns, but speech is wanting, + Deaf and dumb, and blind, and senseless. + Now the mother speaks as follows: + "Where may I procure the balsam, + Where the drops of magic honey, + To anoint my son and hero, + Thus to heal my Lemminkainen, + That again his month may open, + May again begin his singing, + Speak again in words of wonder, + Sing again his incantations? + "Tiny bee, thou honey-birdling, + Lord of all the forest flowers, + Fly away and gather honey, + Bring to me the forest-sweetness, + Found in Metsola's rich gardens, + And in Tapio's fragrant meadows, + From the petals of the flowers, + From the blooming herbs and grasses, + Thus to heal my hero's anguish, + Thus to heal his wounds of evil." + Thereupon the honey-birdling + Flies away on wings of swiftness, + Into Metsola's rich gardens, + Into Tapio's flowery meadows, + Gathers sweetness from the meadows, + With the tongue distills the honey + From the cups of seven flowers, + From the bloom of countless grasses; + Quick from Metsola returning, + Flying, humming darting onward, + With his winglets honey-laden, + With the store of sweetest odors, + To the mother brings the balsam. + Lemminkainen's anxious mother + Takes the balm of magic virtues, + And anoints the injured hero, + Heals his wounds and stills his anguish; + But the balm is inefficient, + For her son is deaf and speechless. + Then again out-speaks the mother: + Lemminkainen's Restoration. + "Little bee, my honey-birdling, + Fly away in one direction, + Fly across the seven oceans, + In the eighth, a magic island, + Where the honey is enchanted, + To the distant Turi-castles, + To the chambers of Palwoinen; + There the honey is effective, + There, the wonder-working balsam, + This may heal the wounded hero; + Bring me of this magic ointment, + That I may anoint his eyelids, + May restore his injured senses." + Thereupon the honey-birdling + Flew away o'er seven oceans, + To the old enchanted island; + Flies one day, and then a second, + On the verdure does not settle, + Does not rest upon the flowers; + Flies a third day, fleetly onward, + Till a third day evening brings him + To the island in the ocean, + To the meadows rich in honey, + To the cataract and fire-flow, + To the sacred stream and whirlpool. + There the honey was preparing, + There the magic balm distilling + In the tiny earthen vessels, + In the burnished copper kettles, + Smaller than a maiden's thimble, + Smaller than the tips of fingers. + Faithfully the busy insect + Gathers the enchanted honey + From the magic Turi-cuplets + In the chambers of Palwoinen. + Time had gone but little distance, + Ere the bee came loudly humming + Flying fleetly, honey-laden; + In his arms were seven vessels, + Seven, the vessels on each shoulder; + All were filled with honey-balsam, + With the balm of magic virtues. + Lemminkainen's tireless mother + Quick anoints her speechless hero, + With the magic Turi-balsam, + With the balm of seven virtues; + Nine the times that she anoints him + With the honey of Palwoinen, + With the wonder-working balsam; + But the balm is inefficient, + For the hero still is speechless. + Then again out-speaks the mother: + "Honey-bee, thou ether birdling, + Fly a third time on thy journey, + Fly away to high Jumala, + Fly thou to the seventh heaven, + Honey there thou'lt find abundant, + Balsam of the highest virtue, + Only used by the Creator, + Only made from the breath of Ukko. + God anoints his faithful children, + With the honey of his wisdom, + When they feel the pangs of sorrow, + When they meet the powers of evil. + Dip thy winglets in this honey, + Steep thy plumage in His sweetness, + Hither bring the all-sufficient + Balsam of the great Creator; + This will still my hero's anguish, + This will heal his wounded tissues, + This restore his long-lost vision, + Make the Northland hills re-echo + With the magic of his singing, + With his wonderful enchantment." + Thus the honey-bee made answer: + "I can never fly to heaven, + To the seventh of the heavens, + To the distant home of Ukko, + With these wings of little virtue." + Lemminkainen's mother answered: + "Thou canst surely fly to heaven, + To the seventh of the heavens, + O'er the Moon, beneath the sunshine, + Through the dim and distant starlight. + On the first day, flying upward, + Thou wilt near the Moon in heaven, + Fan the brow of Kootamoinen; + On the second thou canst rest thee + On the shoulders of Otava; + On the third day, flying higher, + Rest upon the seven starlets, + On the heads of Hetewane; + Short the journey that is left thee, + Inconsiderable the distance + To the home of mighty Ukko, + To the dwellings of the blessed." + Thereupon the bee arising, + From the earth flies swiftly upward, + Hastens on with graceful motion, + By his tiny wings borne heavenward, + In the paths of golden moonbeams, + Touches on the Moon's bright borders, + Fans the brow of Kootamoinen, + Rests upon Otava's shoulders, + Hastens to the seven starlets., + To the heads of Hetewane, + Flies to the Creator's castle, + To the home of generous Ukko, + Finds the remedy preparing, + Finds the balm of life distilling, + In the silver-tinted caldrons, + In the purest golden kettles; + On one side, heart-easing honey, + On a second, balm of joyance, + On the third, life-giving balsam. + Here the magic bee, selecting, + Culls the sweet, life-giving balsam, + Gathers too, heart-easing honey, + Heavy-laden hastens homeward. + Time had traveled little distance, + Ere the busy bee came humming + To the anxious mother waiting, + In his arms a hundred cuplets, + And a thousand other vessels, + Filled with honey, filled with balsam, + Filled with the balm of the Creator. + Lemminkainen's mother quickly + Takes them on her, tongue and tests them, + Finds a balsam all-sufficient. + Then the mother spake as follows: + "I have found the long-sought balsam, + Found the remedy of Ukko, + Where-with God anoints his people, + Gives them life, and faith, and wisdom, + Heals their wounds and stills their anguish, + Makes them strong against temptation, + Guards them from the evil-doers." + Now the mother well anointing, + Heals her son, the magic singer, + Eyes, and ears, and tongue, and temples, + Breaks, and cuts, and seams, anointing, + Touching well the life-blood centres, + Speaks these words of magic import + To the sleeping Lemminkainen: + "Wake, arise from out thy slumber, + From the worst of low conditions, + From thy state of dire misfortune!" + Slowly wakes the son and hero, + Rises from the depths of slumber, + Speaks again in magic accents, + These the first words of the singer: + "Long, indeed, have I been sleeping, + Long unconscious of existence, + But my sleep was full of sweetness, + Sweet the sleep in Tuonela, + Knowing neither joy nor sorrow!" + This the answer of his mother: + "Longer still thou wouldst have slumbered, + Were it not for me, thy, mother; + Tell me now, my son beloved, + Tell me that I well may hear thee, + Who enticed thee to Manala, + To the river of Tuoni, + To the fatal stream and whirlpool?" + Then the hero, Lemminkainen, + Gave this answer to his mother: + "Nasshut, the decrepit shepherd + Of the flocks of Sariola, + Blind, and halt, and poor, and wretched, + And to whom I did a favor; + From the slumber-land of envy + Nasshut sent me to Manala, + To the river of Tuoni; + Sent a serpent from the waters, + Sent an adder from the death-stream, + Through the heart of Lemminkainen; + Did not recognize the serpent, + Could not speak the serpent-language, + Did not know the sting of adders." + Spake again the ancient mother: + "O thou son of little insight, + Senseless hero, fool-magician, + Thou didst boast betimes thy magic + To enchant the wise enchanters, + On the dismal shores of Lapland, + Thou didst think to banish heroes, + From the borders of Pohyola; + Didst not know the sting of serpents, + Didst not know the reed of waters, + Nor the magic word-protector! + Learn the origin of serpents, + Whence the poison of the adder. + "In the floods was born the serpent, + From the marrow of the gray-duck, + From the brain of ocean-swallows; + Suoyatar had made saliva, + Cast it on the waves of ocean, + Currents drove it outward, onward, + Softly shone the sun upon it, + By the winds 'twas gently cradled, + Gently nursed by winds and waters, + By the waves was driven shoreward, + Landed by the surging billows. + Thus the serpent, thing of evil, + Filling all the world with trouble, + Was created in the waters + Born from Suoyatar, its maker." + Then the mother of the hero + Rocked her son to rest and comfort, + Rocked him to his former being, + To his former life and spirit, + Into greater magic powers; + Wiser, handsomer than ever + Grew the hero of the islands; + But his heart was full of trouble, + And his mother, ever watchful, + Asked the cause of his dejection. + This is Lemminkainen's answer: + "This the cause of all my sorrow; + Far away my heart is roaming, + All my thoughts forever wander + To the Northland's blooming virgins, + To the maids of braided tresses. + Northland's ugly hostess, Louhi, + Will not give to me her daughter, + Fairest maiden of Pohyola, + Till I kill the swan of Mana, + With my bow and but one arrow, + In the river of Tuoni. + Lemminkainen's mother answers, + In the sacred stream and whirlpool. + "Let the swan swim on in safety, + Give the water-bird his freedom, + In the river of Manala, + In the whirlpool of Tuoni; + Leave the maiden in the Northland., + With her charms and fading beauty; + With thy fond and faithful mother, + Go at once to Kalevala, + To thy native fields and fallows. + Praise thy fortune, all sufficient, + Praise, above all else, thy Maker. + Ukko gave thee aid when needed, + Thou wert saved by thy Creator, + From thy long and hopeless slumber, + In the waters of Tuoni, + In the chambers of Manala. + I unaided could not save thee, + Could not give the least assistance; + God alone, omniscient Ukko, + First and last of the creators, + Can revive the dead and dying, + Can protect his worthy people + From the waters of Manala, . + From the fatal stream and whirlpool, + In the kingdom of Tuoni." + Lemminkainen, filled with wisdom, + With his fond and faithful mother, + Hastened straightway on his journey + To his distant home and kindred, + To the Wainola fields and meadows, + To the plains of Kalevala. + * * * * * + Here I leave my Kaukomieli, + Leave my hero Lemminkainen, + Long I leave him from my singing, + Turn my song to other heroes, + Send it forth on other pathways, + Sing some other golden legend. + + + + +RUNE XVI. + + + + WAINAMOINEN'S BOAT-BUILDING. + + + Wainamoinen, ancient minstrel, + The eternal wisdom-singer, + For his boat was working lumber, + Working long upon his vessel, + On a fog-point jutting seaward, + On an island, forest-covered; + But the lumber failed the master, + Beams were wanting for his vessel, + Beams and scantling, ribs and flooring. + Who will find for him the lumber, + Who procure the timber needed + For the boat of Wainamoinen, + For the bottom of his vessel? + Pellerwoinen of the prairies, + Sampsa, slender-grown and ancient, + He will seek the needful timber, + He procure the beams of oak-wood + For the boat of Wainamoinen, + For the bottom of his vessel. + Soon he starts upon his journey + To the eastern fields and forests, + Hunts throughout the Northland mountain + To a second mountain wanders, + To a third he hastens, searching, + Golden axe upon his shoulder, + In his hand a copper hatchet. + Comes an aspen-tree to meet him + Of the height of seven fathoms. + Sampsa takes his axe of copper, + Starts to fell the stately aspen, + But the aspen quickly halting, + Speaks these words to Pellerwoinen: + "Tell me, hero, what thou wishest, + What the service thou art needing?" + Sampsa Pellerwoinen answers: + "This indeed, the needed service + That I ask of thee, O aspen: + Need thy lumber for a vessel, + For the boat of Wainamoinen, + Wisest of the wisdom-singers." + Quick and wisely speaks the aspen, + Thus its hundred branches answer: + "All the boats that have been fashioned + From my wood have proved but failures; + Such a vessel floats a distance, + Then it sinks upon the bottom + Of the waters it should travel. + All my trunk is filled with hollows, + Three times in the summer seasons + Worms devour my stem and branches, + Feed upon my heart and tissues." + Pellerwoinen leaves the aspen, + Hunts again through all the forest, + Wanders through the woods of Northland, + Where a pine-tree comes to meet him, + Of the height of fourteen fathoms. + With his axe he chops the pine-tree, + Strikes it with his axe of copper, + As he asks the pine this question: + "Will thy trunk give worthy timber + For the boat of Wainamoinen, + Wisest of the wisdom-singers?" + Loudly does the pine-tree answer: + "All the ships that have been fashioned + From my body are unworthy; + I am full of imperfections, + Cannot give thee needed timber + Wherewithal to build thy vessel; + Ravens live within ray branches, + Build their nests and hatch their younglings + Three times in my trunk in summer." + Sampsa leaves the lofty pine-tree, + Wanders onward, onward, onward, + To the woods of gladsome summer, + Where an oak-tree comes to meet him, + In circumference, three fathoms, + And the oak he thus addresses: + "Ancient oak-tree, will thy body + Furnish wood to build a vessel, + Build a boat for Wainamoinen, + Master-boat for the magician, + Wisest of the wisdom-singers?" + Thus the oak replies to Sampsa: + "I for thee will gladly furnish + Wood to build the hero's vessel; + I am tall, and sound, and hardy, + Have no flaws within my body; + Three times in the months of summer, + In the warmest of the seasons, + Does the sun dwell in my tree-top, + On my trunk the moonlight glimmers, + In my branches sings the cuckoo, + In my top her nestlings slumber." + Now the ancient Pellerwoinen + Takes the hatchet from his shoulder, + Takes his axe with copper handle, + Chops the body of the oak-tree; + Well he knows the art of chopping. + Soon he fells the tree majestic, + Fells the mighty forest-monarch, + With his magic axe and power. + From the stems he lops the branches, + Splits the trunk in many pieces, + Fashions lumber for the bottom, + Countless boards, and ribs, and braces, + For the singer's magic vessel, + For the boat of the magician. + Wainamoinen, old and skilful, + The eternal wonder-worker, + Builds his vessel with enchantment, + Builds his boat by art of magic, + From the timber of the oak-tree, + From its posts, and planks, and flooring. + Sings a song, and joins the frame-work; + Sings a second, sets the siding; + Sings a third time, sets the row-locks; + Fashions oars, and ribs, and rudder, + Joins the sides and ribs together. + When the ribs were firmly fastened, + When the sides were tightly jointed, + Then alas! three words were wanting, + Lost the words of master-magic, + How to fasten in the ledges, + How the stern should be completed, + How complete the boat's forecastle. + Then the ancient Wainamoinen, + Wise and wonderful enchanter, + Heavy-hearted spake as follows: + "Woe is me, my life hard-fated! + Never will this magic vessel + Pass in safety o'er the water, + Never ride the rough sea-billows." + Then he thought and long considered, + Where to find these words of magic, + Find the lost-words of the Master: + "From the brains of countless swallows, + From the heads of swans in dying, + From the plumage of the gray-duck?" + For these words the hero searches, + Kills of swans a goodly number, + Kills a flock of fattened gray-duck, + Kills of swallows countless numbers, + Cannot find the words of magic, + Not the lost-words of the Master. + Wainamoinen, wisdom-singer, + Still reflected and debated: + "I perchance may find the lost-words + On the tongue of summer-reindeer, + In the mouth of the white squirrel." + Now again he hunts the lost-words, + Hastes to find the magic sayings, + Kills a countless host of reindeer, + Kills a rafterful of squirrels, + Finds of words a goodly number, + But they are of little value, + Cannot find the magic lost-word. + Long he thought and well considered: + "I can find of words a hundred + In the dwellings of Tuoni, + In the Manala fields and castles." + Wainamoinen quickly journeys + To the kingdom of Tuoni, + There to find the ancient wisdom, + There to learn the secret doctrine; + Hastens on through fen and forest, + Over meads and over marshes, + Through the ever-rising woodlands, + Journeys one week through the brambles, + And a second through the hazels, + Through the junipers the third week, + When appear Tuoni's islands, + And the Manala fields and castles. + Wainamoinen, brave and ancient, + Calls aloud in tones of thunder, + To the Tuonela deeps and dungeons, + And to Manala's magic castle: + "Bring a boat, Tuoni's daughter, + Bring a ferry-boat, O maiden, + That may bear me o'er this channel, + O'er this black and fatal river." + Quick the daughter of Tuoni, + Magic maid of little stature, + Tiny virgin of Manala, + Tiny washer of the linen, + Tiny cleaner of the dresses, + At the river of Tuoni, + In Manala's ancient castles, + Speaks these words to Wainamoinen, + Gives this answer to his calling: + "Straightway will I bring the row-boat, + When the reasons thou hast given + Why thou comest to Manala + In a hale and active body." + Wainamoinen, old and artful., + Gives this answer to the maiden: + "I was brought here by Tuoni, + Mana raised me from the coffin." + Speaks the maiden of Manala: + "This a tale of wretched liars; + Had Tuoni brought thee hither, + Mana raised thee from the coffin, + Then Tuoni would be with thee, + Manalainen too would lead thee, + With Tuoni's hat upon thee, + On thy hands, the gloves of Mana; + Tell the truth now, Wainamoinen, + What has brought thee to Manala?" + Wainamoinen, artful hero, + Gives this answer, still finessing: + "Iron brought me to Manala, + To the kingdom of Tuoni." + Speaks the virgin of the death-land, + Mana's wise and tiny daughter: + "Well I know that this is falsehood, + Had the iron brought thee hither, + Brought thee to Tuoni's kingdom, + Blood would trickle from thy vesture, + And the blood-drops, scarlet-colored. + Speak the truth now, Wainamoinen, + This the third time that I ask thee." + Wainamoinen, little heeding, + Still finesses to the daughter: + "Water brought me to Manala, + To the kingdom of Tuoui." + This the tiny maiden's answer: + "Well I know thou speakest falsely; + If the waters of Manala, + If the cataract and whirlpool, + Or the waves had brought thee hither, + From thy robes the drops would trickle, + Water drip from all thy raiment. + Tell the truth and I will serve thee, + What has brought thee to Manala?" + Then the wilful Wainamoinen + Told this falsehood to the maiden: + "Fire has brought me to Manala, + To the kingdom of Tuoni." + Spake again Tuoni's daughter: + "Well I know the voice of falsehood. + If the fire had brought thee hither, + Brought thee to Tuoni's empire, + Singed would be thy locks and eyebrows, + And thy beard be crisped and tangled. + O, thou foolish Wainamoinen, + If I row thee o'er the ferry, + Thou must speak the truth in answer, + This the last time I will ask thee; + Make an end of thy deception. + What has brought thee to Manala, + Still unharmed by pain or sickness, + Still untouched by Death's dark angel + Spake the ancient Wainamoinen: + "At the first I spake, not truly, + Now I give thee rightful answer: + I a boat with ancient wisdom, + Fashioned with my powers of magic, + Sang one day and then a second, + Sang the third day until evening, + When I broke the magic main-spring, + Broke my magic sledge in pieces, + Of my song the fleetest runners; + Then I come to Mana's kingdom, + Came to borrow here a hatchet, + Thus to mend my sledge of magic, + Thus to join the parts together. + Send the boat now quickly over, + Send me, quick, Tuoni's row-boat, + Help me cross this fatal river, + Cross the channel of Manala." + Spake the daughter of Tuoni, + Mana's maiden thus replying: + "Thou art sure a stupid fellow, + Foresight wanting, judgment lacking, + Having neither wit nor wisdom, + Coming here without a reason, + Coming to Tuoni's empire; + Better far if thou shouldst journey + To thy distant home and kindred; + Man they that visit Mana, + Few return from Maria's kingdom." + Spake the good old Wainamoinen: + "Women old retreat from danger, + Not a man of any courage, + Not the weakest of the heroes. + Bring thy boat, Tuoni's daughter, + Tiny maiden of Manala, + Come and row me o'er the ferry." + Mana's daughter does as bidden, + Brings her boat to Wainamoinen, + Quickly rows him through the channel, + O'er the black and fatal river, + To the kingdom of Manala, + Speaks these words to the magician: + "Woe to thee! O Wainamoinen! + Wonderful indeed, thy magic, + Since thou comest to Manala, + Comest neither dead nor dying." + Tuonetar, the death-land hostess, + Ancient hostess of Tuoni, + Brings him pitchers filled with strong-beer, + Fills her massive golden goblets, + Speaks these measures to the stranger: + "Drink, thou ancient Wainamoinen, + Drink the beer of king Tuoni!" + Wainamoinen, wise and cautious, + Carefully inspects the liquor, + Looks a long time in the pitchers, + Sees the spawning of the black-frogs, + Sees the young of poison-serpents, + Lizards, worms, and writhing adders, + Thus addresses Tuonetar: + "Have not come with this intention, + Have not come to drink thy poisons, + Drink the beer of Tuonela; + Those that drink Tuoni's liquors, + Those that sip the cups of Mana, + Court the Devil and destruction, + End their lives in want and ruin." + Tuonetar makes this answer: + "Ancient minstrel, Wainamoinen, + Tell me what has brought thee hither, + Brought thee to the, realm of Mana, + To the courts of Tuonela, + Ere Tuoni sent his angels + To thy home in Kalevala, + There to cut thy magic life-thread." + Spake the singer, Wainamoinen: + "I was building me a vessel, + At my craft was working, singing, + Needed three words of the Master, + How to fasten in the ledges, + How the stern should be completed, + How complete the boat's forecastle. + This the reason of my coming + To the empire of Tuoni, + To the castles of Manala: + Came to learn these magic sayings, + Learn the lost-words of the Master." + Spake the hostess, Tuonetar: + "Mana never gives these sayings, + Canst not learn them from Tuoni, + Not the lost-words of the Master; + Thou shalt never leave this kingdom, + Never in thy magic life-time, + Never go to Kalevala, + To Wainola's peaceful meadows. + To thy distant home and country." + Quick the hostess, Tuonetar, + Waves her magic wand of slumber + O'er the head of Wainamoinen, + Puts to rest the wisdom-hero, + Lays him on the couch of Mana, + In the robes of living heroes, + Deep the sleep that settles o'er him. + In Manala lived a woman, + In the kingdom of Tuoni, + Evil witch and toothless wizard, + Spinner of the threads of iron, + Moulder of the bands of copper, + Weaver of a hundred fish-nets, + Of a thousand nets of copper, + Spinning in the days of summer, + Weaving in the winter evenings, + Seated on a rock in water. + In the kingdom of Tuoni + Lived a man, a wicked wizard, + Three the fingers of the hero, + Spinner he of iron meshes, + Maker too of nets of copper, + Countless were his nets of metal, + Moulded on a rock in water, + Through the many days of summer. + Mana's son with crooked fingers, + Iron-pointed, copper fingers, + Pulls of nets, at least a thousand, + Through the river of Tuoni, + Sets them lengthwise, sets them crosswise, + In the fatal, darksome river, + That the sleeping Wainamomen, + Friend and brother of the waters, + May not leave the isle of Mana, + Never in the course of ages, + Never leave the death-land castles, + Never while the moonlight glimmers + On the empire of Tuoni. + Wainamoinen, wise and wary, + Rising from his couch of slumber, + Speaks these words as he is waking: + "Is there not some mischief brewing, + Am I not at last in danger, + In the chambers of Tuoni, + In the Manala home and household?" + Quick he changes his complexion, + Changes too his form and feature, + Slips into another body; + Like a serpent in a circle, + Rolls black-dyed upon the waters; + Like a snake among the willows, + Crawls he like a worm of magic, + Like an adder through the grasses, + Through the coal-black stream of death-land, + Through a thousand nets of copper + Interlaced with threads of iron, + From the kingdom of Tuoni, + From the castles of Manala. + Mana's son, the wicked wizard, + With his iron-pointed fingers, + In the early morning hastens + To his thousand nets of copper, + Set within the Tuoni river, + Finds therein a countless number + Of the death-stream fish and serpents; + Does not find old Wainamoinen, + Wainamoinen, wise and wary, + Friend and fellow of the waters. + When the wonder-working hero + Had escaped from Tuonela, + Spake he thus in supplication: + "Gratitude to thee, O Ukko, + Do I bring for thy protection! + Never suffer other heroes, + Of thy heroes not the wisest, + To transgress the laws of nature; + Never let another singer, + While he lives within the body, + Cross the river of Tuoni, + As thou lovest thy creations. + Many heroes cross the channel, + Cross the fatal stream of Mana, + Few return to tell the story, + Few return from Tuonela, + From Manala's courts and castles." + Wainamoinen calls his people, + On the plains of Kalevala, + Speaks these words of ancient wisdom, + To the young men, to the maidens, + To the rising generation: + "Every child of Northland, listen: + If thou wishest joy eternal, + Never disobey thy parents, + Never evil treat the guiltless, + Never wrong the feeble-minded, + Never harm thy weakest fellow, + Never stain thy lips with falsehood, + Never cheat thy trusting neighbor, + Never injure thy companion, + Lest thou surely payest penance + In the kingdom of Tuoni, + In the prison of Manala; + There, the home of all the wicked, + There the couch of the unworthy, + There the chambers of the guilty. + Underneath Manala's fire-rock + Are their ever-flaming couches, + For their pillows hissing serpents, + Vipers green their writhing covers, + For their drink the blood of adders, + For their food the pangs of hunger, + Pain and agony their solace; + If thou wishest joy eternal, + Shun the kingdom of Tuoui!" + + + + +RUNE XVII. + + + + WAINAMOINEN FINDS THE LOST-WORD. + + + Wainamoinen, old and truthful, + Did not learn the words of magic + In Tuoni's gloomy regions, + In the kingdom of Manala. + Thereupon he long debated, + Well considered, long reflected, + Where to find the magic sayings; + When a shepherd came to meet him, + Speaking thus to Wainamoinen: + "Thou canst find of words a hundred, + Find a thousand wisdom-sayings, + In the mouth of wise Wipunen, + In the body of the hero; + To the spot I know the foot-path, + To his tomb the magic highway, + Trodden by a host of heroes; + Long the distance thou must travel, + On the sharpened points of needles; + Then a long way thou must journey + On the edges of the broadswords; + Thirdly thou must travel farther + On the edges of the hatchets." + Wainamoinen, old and trustful, + Well considered all these journeys, + Travelled to the forge and smithy, + Thus addressed the metal-worker: + "Ilmarinen, worthy blacksmith, + Make a shoe for me of iron, + Forge me gloves of burnished copper, + Mold a staff of strongest metal, + Lay the steel upon the inside, + Forge within the might of magic; + I am going on a journey + To procure the magic sayings, + Find the lost-words of the Master, + From the mouth of the magician, + From the tongue of wise Wipunen." + Spake the artist, Ilmarinen: + "Long ago died wise Wipunen, + Disappeared these many ages, + Lays no more his snares of copper, + Sets no longer traps of iron, + Cannot learn from him the wisdom, + Cannot find in him the lost-words." + Wainamoinen, old and hopeful, + Little heeding, not discouraged, + In his metal shoes and armor, + Hastens forward on his journey, + Runs the first day fleetly onward, + On the sharpened points of needles; + 'Wearily he strides the second, + On the edges of the broadswords + Swings himself the third day forward, + On the edges of the hatchets. + Wise Wipunen, wisdom-singer, + Ancient bard, and great magician, + With his magic songs lay yonder, + Stretched beside him, lay his sayings, + On his shoulder grew the aspen, + On each temple grew the birch-tree, + On his mighty chin the alder, + From his beard grew willow-bushes, + From his mouth the dark green fir-tree, + And the oak-tree from his forehead. + Wainamoinen, coming closer, + Draws his sword, lays bare his hatchet + From his magic leathern scabbard, + Fells the aspen from his shoulder, + Fells the birch-tree from his temples, + From his chin he fells the alder, + From his beard, the branching willows, + From his mouth the dark-green fir-tree, + Fells the oak-tree from his forehead. + Now he thrusts his staff of iron + Through the mouth of wise Wipunen, + Pries his mighty jaws asunder, + Speaks these words of master-magic: + "Rise, thou master of magicians, + From the sleep of Tuonela, + From thine everlasting slumber!" + Wise Wipunen, ancient singer, + Quickly wakens from his sleeping, + Keenly feels the pangs of torture, + From the cruel staff of iron; + Bites with mighty force the metal, + Bites in twain the softer iron, + Cannot bite the steel asunder, + Opens wide his mouth in anguish. + Wainamoinen of Wainola, + In his iron-shoes and armor, + Careless walking, headlong stumbles + In the spacious mouth and fauces + Of the magic bard, Wipunen. + Wise Wipunen, full of song-charms, + Opens wide his mouth and swallows + Wainamoinen and his magic, + Shoes, and staff, and iron armor. + Then outspeaks the wise Wipunen: + "Many things before I've eaten, + Dined on goat, and sheep, and reindeer, + Bear, and ox, and wolf, and wild-boar, + Never in my recollection, + Have I tasted sweeter morsels!" + Spake the ancient Wainamoinen: + "Now I see the evil symbols, + See misfortune hanging o'er me, + In the darksome Hisi-hurdles, + In the catacombs of Kalma." + Wainamoinen long considered + How to live and how to prosper, + How to conquer this condition. + In his belt he wore a poniard, + With a handle hewn from birch-wood, + From the handle builds a vessel, + Builds a boat through magic science; + In this vessel rows he swiftly + Through the entrails of the hero, + Rows through every gland and vessel + Of the wisest of magicians. + Old Wipunen, master-singer, + Barely feels the hero's presence, + Gives no heed to Wainamoinen. + Then the artist of Wainola + Straightway sets himself to forging, + Sets at work to hammer metals; + Makes a smithy from his armor, + Of his sleeves he makes the bellows, + Makes the air-valve from his fur-coat, + From his stockings, makes the muzzle, + Uses knees instead of anvil, + Makes a hammer of his fore-arm; + Like the storm-wind roars the bellows, + Like the thunder rings the anvil; + Forges one day, then a second, + Forges till the third day closes, + In the body of Wipunen, + In the sorcerer's abdomen. + Old Wipunen, full of magic, + Speaks these words in wonder, guessing: + "Who art thou of ancient heroes, + Who of all the host of heroes? + Many heroes I have eaten, + And of men a countless number, + Have not eaten such as thou art; + Smoke arises from my nostrils, + From my mouth the fire is streaming, + In my throat are iron-clinkers. + "Go, thou monster, hence to wander, + Flee this place, thou plague of Northland, + Ere I go to seek thy mother, + Tell the ancient dame thy mischief; + She shall bear thine evil conduct, + Great the burden she shall carry; + Great a mother's pain and anguish, + When her child runs wild and lawless; + Cannot comprehend the meaning, + Nor this mystery unravel, + Why thou camest here, O monster, + Camest here to give me torture. + Art thou Hisi sent from heaven, + Some calamity from Ukko? + Art, perchance, some new creation, + Ordered here to do me evil? + If thou art some evil genius, + Some calamity from Ukko, + Sent to me by my Creator, + Then am I resigned to suffer + God does not forsake the worthy, + Does not ruin those that trust him, + Never are the good forsaken. + If by man thou wert created, + If some hero sent thee hither, + I shall learn thy race of evil, + Shall destroy thy wicked tribe-folk. + "Thence arose the violation, + Thence arose the first destruction, + Thence came all the evil-doings: + From the neighborhood of wizards, + From the homes of the magicians, + From the eaves of vicious spirits, + From the haunts of fortune-tellers, + From the cabins of the witches, + From the castles of Tuoni, + From the bottom of Manala, + From the ground with envy swollen, + From Ingratitude's dominions, + From the rocky shoals and quicksands, + From the marshes filled with danger, + From the cataract's commotion, + From the bear-caves in the mountains, + From the wolves within the thickets, + From the roarings of the pine-tree, + From the burrows of the fox-dog, + From the woodlands of the reindeer, + From the eaves and Hisi-hurdles, + From the battles of the giants, + From uncultivated pastures, + From the billows of the oceans, + From the streams of boiling waters, + From the waterfalls of Rutya, + From the limits of the storm-clouds, + From the pathways of the thunders, + From the flashings of the lightnings, + From the distant plains of Pohya, + From the fatal stream and whirlpool, + From the birthplace of Tuoni. + "Art thou coming from these places? + Hast thou, evil, hastened hither, + To the heart of sinless hero, + To devour my guiltless body, + To destroy this wisdom-singer? + Get thee hence, thou dog of Lempo, + Leave, thou monster from Manala, + Flee from mine immortal body, + Leave my liver, thing of evil, + In my body cease thy forging, + Cease this torture of my vitals, + Let me rest in peace and slumber. + "Should I want in means efficient, + Should I lack the magic power + To outroot thine evil genius, + I shall call a better hero, + Call upon a higher power, + To remove this dire misfortune, + To annihilate this monster. + I shall call the will of woman, + From the fields, the old-time heroes? + Mounted heroes from the sand-hills, + Thus to rescue me from danger, + From these pains and ceaseless tortures. + "If this force prove inefficient, + Should not drive thee from my body, + Come, thou forest, with thy heroes, + Come, ye junipers and pine-trees, + With your messengers of power, + Come, ye mountains, with your wood-nymphs, + Come, ye lakes, with all your mermaids, + Come, ye hundred ocean-spearmen, + Come, torment this son of Hisi, + Come and kill this evil monster. + "If this call is inefficient, + Does not drive thee from my vitals, + Rise, thou ancient water-mother, + With thy blue-cap from the ocean, + From the seas, the lakes, the rivers, + Bring protection to thy hero, + Comfort bring and full assistance, + That I guiltless may not suffer, + May not perish prematurely. + "Shouldst thou brave this invocation, + Kape, daughter of Creation, + Come, thou beauteous, golden maiden, + Oldest of the race of women, + Come and witness my misfortunes, + Come and turn away this evil, + Come, remove this biting torment, + Take away this plague of Piru. + "If this call be disregarded, + If thou wilt not leave me guiltless, + Ukko, on the arch of heaven, + In the thunder-cloud dominions, + Come thou quickly, thou art needed, + Come, protect thy tortured hero, + Drive away this magic demon, + Banish ever his enchantment, + With his sword and flaming furnace, + With his fire-enkindling bellows. + "Go, thou demon, hence to wander, + Flee, thou plague of Northland heroes; + Never come again for shelter, + Nevermore build thou thy dwelling + In the body of Wipunen; + Take at once thy habitation + To the regions of thy kindred, + To thy distant fields and firesides; + When thy journey thou hast ended, + Gained the borders of thy country, + Gained the meads of thy Creator, + Give a signal of thy coming, + Rumble like the peals of thunder, + Glisten like the gleam of lightning, + Knock upon the outer portals, + Enter through the open windows, + Glide about the many chambers, + Seize the host and seize the hostess, + Knock their evil beads together, + Wring their necks and hurl their bodies + To the black-dogs of the forest. + "Should this prove of little value, + Hover like the bird of battle, + O'er the dwellings of the master, + Scare the horses from the mangers, + From the troughs affright the cattle, + Twist their tails, and horns, and forelocks, + Hurl their carcasses to Lempo. + "If some scourge the winds have sent me, + Sent me on the air of spring-tide, + Brought me by the frosts of winter, + Quickly journey whence thou camest, + On the air-path of the heavens, + Perching not upon some aspen, + Resting not upon the birch-tree; + Fly away to copper mountains, + That the copper-winds may nurse thee, + Waves of ether, thy protection. + "Didst those come from high Jumala, + From the hems of ragged snow-clouds, + Quick ascend beyond the cloud-space, + Quickly journey whence thou camest, + To the snow-clouds, crystal-sprinkled, + To the twinkling stars of heaven + There thy fire may burn forever, + There may flash thy forked lightnings, + In the Sun's undying furnace. + "Wert thou sent here by the spring-floods, + Driven here by river-torrents? + Quickly journey whence thou camest, + Quickly hasten to the waters, + To the borders of the rivers, + To the ancient water-mountain, + That the floods again may rock thee, + And thy water-mother nurse thee. + "Didst thou come from Kalma's kingdom, + From the castles of the death-land? + Haste thou back to thine own country, + To the Kalma-halls and castles, + To the fields with envy swollen, + Where contending armies perish. + "Art thou from the Hisi-woodlands, + From ravines in Lempo's forest, + From the thickets of the pine-wood, + From the dwellings of the fir-glen? + Quick retrace thine evil footsteps + To the dwellings of thy master, + To the thickets of thy kindred; + There thou mayest dwell at pleasure, + Till thy house decays about thee, + Till thy walls shall mould and crumble. + Evil genius, thee I banish, + Got thee hence, thou horrid monster, + To the caverns of the white-bear, + To the deep abysm of serpents, + To the vales, and swamps, and fenlands, + To the ever-silent waters, + To the hot-springs of the mountains, + To the dead-seas of the Northland, + To the lifeless lakes and rivers, + To the sacred stream and whirlpool. + "Shouldst thou find no place of resting, + I will banish thee still farther, + To the Northland's distant borders, + To the broad expanse of Lapland, + To the ever-lifeless deserts, + To the unproductive prairies, + Sunless, moonless, starless, lifeless, + In the dark abyss of Northland; + This for thee, a place befitting, + Pitch thy tents and feast forever + On the dead plains of Pohyola. + "Shouldst thou find no means of living, + I will banish thee still farther, + To the cataract of Rutya, + To the fire-emitting whirlpool, + Where the firs are ever falling, + To the windfalls of the forest; + Swim hereafter in the waters + Of the fire-emitting whirlpool, + Whirl thou ever in the current + Of the cataract's commotion, + In its foam and boiling waters. + Should this place be unbefitting, + I will drive thee farther onward, + To Tuoni's coal-black river, + To the endless stream of Mana, + Where thou shalt forever linger; + Thou canst never leave Manala, + Should I not thy head deliver, + Should I never pay thy ransom; + Thou canst never safely journey + Through nine brother-rams abutting, + Through nine brother-bulls opposing + Through nine brother-stallions thwarting, + Thou canst not re-cross Death-river + Thickly set with iron netting, + Interlaced with threads of copper. + "Shouldst thou ask for steeds for saddle, + Shouldst thou need a fleet-foot courser, + I will give thee worthy racers, + I will give thee saddle-horses; + Evil Hisi has a charger, + Crimson mane, and tail, and foretop, + Fire emitting from his nostrils, + As he prances through his pastures; + Hoofs are made of strongest iron, + Legs are made of steel and copper, + Quickly scales the highest mountains, + Darts like lightning through the valleys, + When a skilful master rides him. + "Should this steed be insufficient, + I will give thee Lempo's snow-shoes, + Give thee Hisi's shoes of elm-wood, + Give to thee the staff of Piru, + That with these thou mayest journey + Into Hisi's courts and castles, + To the woods and fields of Juutas; + If the rocks should rise before thee, + Dash the flinty rocks in pieces, + Hurl the fragments to the heavens; + If the branches cross thy pathway, + Make them turn aside in greeting; + If some mighty hero hail thee, + Hurl him headlong to the woodlands. + "Hasten hence, thou thing of evil, + Heinous monster, leave my body, + Ere the breaking of the morning + Ere the Sun awakes from slumber, + Ere the sinning of the cuckoo; + Haste away, thou plague of Northland, + Haste along the track of' moonbeams, + Wander hence, forever wander, + To the darksome fields or Pohya. + "If at once thou dost not leave me, + I will send the eagle's talons, + Send to thee the beaks of vultures, + To devour thine evil body, + Hurl thy skeleton to Hisi. + Much more quickly cruel Lempo + Left my vitals when commanded, + When I called the aid of Ukko, + Called the help of my Creator. + Flee, thou motherless offendant, + Flee, thou fiend of Sariola, + Flee, thou hound without a master, + Ere the morning sun arises, + Ere the Moon withdraws to slumber!" + Wainamoinen, ancient hero, + Speaks at last to old Wipunen: + "Satisfied am I to linger + In these old and spacious caverns, + Pleasant here my home and dwelling; + For my meat I have thy tissues, + Have thy heart, and spleen, and liver, + For my drink the blood of ages, + Goodly home for Wainamoinen. + "I shall set my forge and bellows + Deeper, deeper in thy vitals; + I shall swing my heavy hammer, + Swing it with a greater power + On thy heart, and lungs, and liver; + I shall never, never leave thee + Till I learn thine incantations, + Learn thy many wisdom-sayings, + Learn the lost-words of the Master; + Never must these words be bidden, + Earth must never lose this wisdom, + Though the wisdom-singers perish." + Old Wipunen, wise magician, + Ancient prophet, filled with power, + Opens fall his store of knowledge, + Lifts the covers from his cases, + Filled with old-time incantations, + Filled with songs of times primeval, + Filled with ancient wit and wisdom; + Sings the very oldest folk-songs, + Sings the origin of witchcraft, + Sings of Earth and its beginning + Sings the first of all creations, + Sings the source of good and evil + Sung alas! by youth no longer, + Only sung in part by heroes + In these days of sin and sorrow. + Evil days our land befallen. + Sings the orders of enchantment. + How, upon the will of Ukko, + By command of the Creator, + How the air was first divided, + How the water came from ether, + How the earth arose from water, + How from earth came vegetation, + Fish, and fowl, and man, and hero. + Sings again the wise Wipunen, + How the Moon was first created, + How the Sun was set in heaven, + Whence the colors of the rainbow, + Whence the ether's crystal pillars, + How the skies with stars were sprinkled. + Then again sings wise Wipunen, + Sings in miracles of concord, + Sings in magic tones of wisdom, + Never was there heard such singing; + Songs he sings in countless numbers, + Swift his notes as tongues of serpents, + All the distant hills re-echo; + Sings one day, and then a second, + Sings a third from dawn till evening, + Sings from evening till the morning; + Listen all the stars of heaven, + And the Moon stands still and listens + Fall the waves upon the deep-sea, + In the bay the tides cease rising, + Stop the rivers in their courses, + Stops the waterfall of Rutya, + Even Jordan ceases flowing, + And the Wuoksen stops and listens. + When the ancient Wainamoinen + Well had learned the magic sayings, + Learned the ancient songs and legends, + Learned the words of ancient wisdom, + Learned the lost-words of the Master, + Well had learned the secret doctrine, + He prepared to leave the body + Of the wisdom-bard, Wipunen, + Leave the bosom of the master, + Leave the wonderful enchanter. + Spake the hero, Wainamoinen: + "O, thou Antero Wipunen, + Open wide thy mouth and fauces, + I have found the magic lost-words, + I will leave thee now forever, + Leave thee and thy wondrous singing, + Will return to Kalevala, + To Wainola's fields and firesides." + Thus Wipunen spake in answer: + "Many are the things I've eaten, + Eaten bear, and elk, and reindeer, + Eaten ox, and wolf, and wild-boar, + Eaten man, and eaten hero, + Never, never have I eaten + Such a thing as Wainamoinen; + Thou hast found what thou desirest, + Found the three words of the Master; + Go in peace, and ne'er returning, + Take my blessing on thy going." + Thereupon the bard Wipunen + Opens wide his mouth, and wider; + And the good, old Wainamoinen + Straightway leaves the wise enchanter, + Leaves Wipunen's great abdomen; + From the mouth he glides and journeys + O'er the hills and vales of Northland, + Swift as red-deer or the forest, + Swift as yellow-breasted marten, + To the firesides of Wainola, + To the plains of Kalevala. + Straightway hastes he to the smithy + Of his brother, Ilmarinen, + Thus the iron-artist greets him: + Hast thou found the long-lost wisdom, + Hast thou heard the secret doctrine, + Hast thou learned the master magic, + How to fasten in the ledges, + How the stern should be completed, + How complete the ship's forecastle? + Wainamoinen thus made answer: + "I have learned of words a hundred, + Learned a thousand incantations, + Hidden deep for many ages, + Learned the words of ancient wisdom, + Found the keys of secret doctrine, + Found the lost-words of the Master." + Wainamoinen, magic-builder, + Straightway journeys to his vessel, + To the spot of magic labor, + Quickly fastens in the ledges, + Firmly binds the stern together + And completes the boat's forecastle. + Thus the ancient Wainamoinen + Built the boat with magic only, + And with magic launched his vessel, + Using not the hand to touch it, + Using not the foot to move it, + Using not the knee to turn it, + Using nothing to propel it. + Thus the third task was completed, + For the hostess of Pohyola, + Dowry for the Maid of Beauty + Sitting on the arch of heaven, + On the bow of many colors. + + + + +RUNE XVIII. + + + + THE RIVAL SUITORS + + + Wainamoinen, old and truthful, + Long considered, long debated, + How to woo and win the daughter + Of the hostess of Pohyola, + How to lead the Bride of Beauty, + Fairy maiden of the rainbow, + To the meadows of Wainola, + From the dismal Sariola. + Now he decks his magic vessel, + Paints the boat in blue and scarlet, + Trims in gold the ship's forecastle, + Decks the prow in molten silver; + Sings his magic ship down gliding, + On the cylinders of fir-tree: + Now erects the masts of pine-wood, + On each mast the sails of linen, + Sails of blue, and white, and scarlet, + Woven into finest fabric. + Wainamoinen, the magician, + Steps aboard his wondrous vessel, + Steers the bark across the waters, + On the blue back of the broad-sea, + Speaks these words in sailing northward, + Sailing to the dark Pohyola: + "Come aboard my ship, O Ukko, + Come with me, thou God of mercy, + To protect thine ancient hero, + To support thy trusting servant, + On the breasts of raging billows, + On the far out-stretching waters. + "Rock, O winds, this wondrous vessel, + Causing not a single ripple; + Rolling waves, bear ye me northward, + That the oar may not be needed + In my journey to Pohyola, + O'er this mighty waste of waters." + Ilmarinen's beauteous sister, + Fair and goodly maid, Annikki, + Of the Night and Dawn, the daughter, + Who awakes each morning early, + Rises long before the daylight, + Stood one morning on the sea-shore, + Washing in the foam her dresses, + Rinsing out her silken ribbons, + On the bridge of scarlet color, + On the border of the highway, + On a headland jutting seaward, + On the forest-covered island. + Here Annikki, looking round her, + Looking through the fog and ether, + Looking through the clouds of heaven, + Gazing far out on the blue-sea, + Sees the morning sun arising, + Glimmering along the billows, + Looks with eyes of distant vision + Toward the sunrise on the waters, + Toward the winding streams of Suomi, + Where the Wina-waves were flowing. + There she sees, on the horizon, + Something darkle in the sunlight, + Something blue upon the billows, + Speaks these words in wonder guessing: + What is this upon the surges, + What this blue upon the waters, + What this darkling in the sunlight? + 'Tis perhaps a flock of wild-geese, + Or perchance the blue-duck flying; + Then upon thy wings arising, + Fly away to highest heaven. + "Art thou then a shoal of sea-trout, + Or perchance a school of salmon? + Dive then to the deep sea-bottom, + In the waters swim and frolic. + "Art thou then a cliff of granite, + Or perchance a mighty oak-tree, + Floating on the rough sea-billows? + May the floods then wash and beat thee + Break thee to a thousand fragments." + Wainamoinen, sailing northward, + Steers his wondrous ship of magic + Toward the headland jutting seaward, + Toward the island forest-covered. + Now Annikki, goodly maiden, + Sees it is the magic vessel + Of a wonderful enchanter, + Of a mighty bard and hero, + And she asks this simple question: + "Art thou then my father's vessel, + Or my brother's ship of magic? + Haste away then to thy harbor, + To thy refuge in Wainola. + Hast thou come a goodly distance? + Sail then farther on thy journey, + Point thy prow to other waters." + It was not her father's vessel, + Not a sail-boat from the distance, + 'Twas the ship of Wainamoinen, + Bark of the eternal singer; + Sails within a hailing distance, + Swims still nearer o'er the waters, + Brings one word and takes another, + Brings a third of magic import. + Speaks the goodly maid, Annikki, + Of the Night and Dawn, the daughter, + To the sailor of the vessel: + "Whither sailest, Wainamoinen, + Whither bound, thou friend of waters, + Pride and joy of Kalevala?" + From the vessel Wainamomen + Gives this answer to the maiden: + "I have come to catch some sea-trout, + Catch the young and toothsome whiting, + Hiding in tbese-reeds and rushes." + This the answer of Annikki: + "Do not speak to me in falsehood, + Know I well the times of fishing; + Long ago my honored father + Was a fisherman in Northland, + Came to catch the trout and whiting, + Fished within these seas and rivers. + Very well do I remember + How the fisherman disposes, + How he rigs his fishing vessel, + Lines, and gaffs, and poles, and fish-nets; + Hast not come a-fishing hither. + Whither goest, Wainamoinen, + Whither sailest, friend of waters? + Spake the ancient Wainamoinen: + "I have come to catch some wild-geese, + Catch the hissing birds of Suomi, + In these far-extending borders, + In the Sachsensund dominions." + Good Annikki gives this answer: + "Know I well a truthful speaker, + Easily detect a falsehood; + Formerly my aged father + Often came a-hunting hither, + Came to hunt the hissing wild-geese, + Hunt the red-bill of these waters. + Very well do I remember + How the hunter rigs his vessel, + Bows, and arrows, knives, and quiver, + Dogs enchained within the vessel, + Pointers hunting on the sea-shore, + Setters seeking in the marshes, + Tell the truth now Wainamoinen, + Whither is thy vessel sailing?" + Spake the hero of the Northland: + "To the wars my ship is sailing, + To the bloody fields of battle, + Where the streams run scarlet-colored, + Where the paths are paved with bodies!' + These the words of fair Annikki: + "Know I well the paths to battle. + Formerly my aged father + Often sounded war's alarum, + Often led the hosts to conquest; + In each ship a hundred rowers, + And in arms a thousand heroes, + Oil the prow a thousand cross-bows, + Swords, and spears, and battle-axes; + Know I well the ship of battle. + Speak Do longer fruitless falsehoods, + Whither sailest, Wainamoinen, + Whither steerest, friend of waters? + These the words of Wainamoinen: + "Come, O maiden, to my vessel, + In my magic ship be seated, + Then I'll give thee truthful answer." + Thus Annikki, silver-tinselled, + Answers ancient Wainamoinen: + "With the winds I'll fill thy vessel, + To thy bark I'll send the storm-winds + And capsize thy ship of magic, + Break in pieces its forecastle, + If the truth thou dost not tell me, + If thou dost not cease thy falsehoods, + If thou dost not tell me truly + Whither sails thy magic vessel." + These the words of Wainamoinen: + "Now I make thee truthful answer, + Though at first I spake deception: + I am sailing to the Northland + To the dismal Sariola, + Where the ogres live and flourish, + Where they drown the worthy heroes, + There to woo the Maid of Beauty + Sitting on the bow of heaven, + Woo and win the fairy virgin, + Bring her to my home and kindred, + To the firesides of Walnola." + Then Aunikki, graceful maiden, + Of the Night and Dawn, the daughter, + As she heard the rightful answer, + Knew the truth was fully spoken, + Straightway left her coats unbeaten, + Left unwashed her linen garments, + Left unrinsed her silks and ribbons + On the highway by the sea-shore, + On the bridge of scarlet color + On her arm she threw her long-robes, + Hastened off with speed of roebuck + To the shops of Ilmarinen, + To the iron-forger's furnace, + To the blacksmith's home and smithy, + Here she found the hero-artist, + Forging out a bench of iron, + And adorning it with silver. + Soot lay thick upon his forehead, + Soot and coal upon his shoulders. + On the threshold speaks Annikki, + These the words his sister uses: + "Ilmarinen, dearest brother, + Thou eternal artist-forger, + Forge me now a loom of silver, + Golden rings to grace my fingers, + Forge me gold and silver ear-rings, + Six or seven golden girdles, + Golden crosslets for my bosom, + For my head forge golden trinkets, + And I'll tell a tale surprising, + Tell a story that concerns thee + Truthfully I'll tell the story." + Then the blacksmith Ilmarinen + Spake and these the words he uttered: + "If thou'lt tell the tale sincerely, + I will forge the loom of silver, + Golden rings to grace thy fingers, + Forge thee gold and silver ear-rings, + Six or seven golden girdles, + Golden crosslets for thy bosom, + For thy head forge golden trinkets; + But if thou shouldst tell me falsely, + I shall break thy beauteous jewels, + Break thine ornaments in pieces, + Hurl them to the fire and furnace, + Never forge thee other trinkets." + This the answer of Annikki: + "Ancient blacksmith, Ilmarinen, + Dost thou ever think to marry + Her already thine affianced, + Beauteous Maiden of the Rainbow, + Fairest virgin of the Northland, + Chosen bride of Sariola? + Shouldst thou wish the Maid of Beauty, + Thou must forge, and forge unceasing, + Hammering the days and nights through; + Forge the summer hoofs for horses, + Forge them iron hoofs for winter, + In the long nights forge the snow-sledge, + Gaily trim it in the daytime, + Haste thou then upon thy journey + To thy wooing in the Northland, + To the dismal Sariola; + Thither journeys one more clever, + Sails another now before thee, + There to woo thy bride affianced, + Thence to lead thy chosen virgin, + Woo and win the Maid of Beauty; + Three long years thou hast been wooing. + Wainamoinen now is sailing + On the blue back of the waters, + Sitting at his helm of copper; + On the prow are golden carvings, + Beautiful his boat of magic, + Sailing fleetly o'er the billows, + To the never-pleasant Northland, + To the dismal Sariola." + Ilmarinen stood in wonder, + Stood a statue at the story; + Silent grief had settled o'er him, + Settled o'er the iron-artist; + From one hand the tongs descended, + From the other fell the hammer, + As the blacksmith made this answer: + "Good Annikki, worthy sister, + I shall forge the loom of silver, + Golden rings to grace thy fingers, + Forge thee gold and silver ear-rings, + Six or seven golden girdles, + Golden crosslets for thy bosom; + Go and heat for me the bath-room, + Fill with heat the honey-chambers, + Lay the faggots on the fire-place, + Lay the smaller woods around them, + Pour some water through the ashes, + Make a soap of magic virtue, + Thus to cleanse my blackened visage, + Thus to cleanse the blacksmith's body, + Thus remove the soot and ashes." + Then Annikki, kindly sister, + Quickly warmed her brother's bath-room, + Warmed it with the knots of fir-trees, + That the thunder-winds had broken; + Gathered pebbles from the fire-stream, + Threw them in the heating waters; + Broke the tassels from the birch-trees, + Steeped the foliage in honey, + Made a lye from milk and ashes, + Made of these a strong decoction, + Mixed it with the fat and marrow + Of the reindeer of the mountains, + Made a soap of magic virtue, + Thus to cleanse the iron-artist, + Thus to beautify the suitor, + Thus to make the hero worthy. + Ilmarinen, ancient blacksmith, + The eternal metal-worker, + Forged the wishes of his sister, + Ornaments for fair Annikki, + Rings, and bracelets, pins and ear-drops, + Forged for her six golden girdles, + Forged a weaving loom of silver, + While the maid prepared the bath-room, + Set his toilet-room in order. + To the maid he gave the trinkets, + Gave the loom of molten silver, + And the sister thus made answer: + "I have heated well thy bath-room, + Have thy toilet-things in order, + Everything as thou desirest; + Go prepare thyself for wooing, + Lave thy bead to flaxen whiteness, + Make thy cheeks look fresh and ruddy, + Lave thyself in Love's aroma, + That thy wooing prove successful." + Ilmarinen, magic artist, + Quick repairing to his bath-room, + Bathed his head to flaxen whiteness, + Made his cheeks look fresh and ruddy, + Laved his eyes until they sparkled + Like the moonlight on the waters; + Wondrous were his form and features, + And his cheeks like ruddy berries. + These the words of Ilmarinen: + "Fair Annikki, lovely sister, + Bring me now my silken raiment, + Bring my best and richest vesture, + Bring me now my softest linen, + That my wooing prove successful." + Straightway did the helpful sister + Bring the finest of his raiment, + Bring the softest of his linen, + Raiment fashioned by his mother; + Brought to him his silken stockings, + Brought him shoes of marten-leather, + Brought a vest of sky-blue color, + Brought him scarlet-colored trousers, + Brought a coat with scarlet trimming, + Brought a red shawl trimmed in ermine + Fourfold wrapped about his body; + Brought a fur-coat made of seal-skin, + Fastened with a thousand bottons, + And adorned with countless jewels; + Brought for him his magic girdle, + Fastened well with golden buckles, + That his artist-mother fashioned; + Brought him gloves with golden wristlets, + That the Laplanders had woven + For a head of many ringlets; + Brought the finest cap in Northland, + That his ancient father purchased + When he first began his wooing. + Ilmarinen, blacksmith-artist, + Clad himself to look his finest, + When he thus addressed a servant: + "Hitch for me a fleet-foot racer, + Hitch him to my willing snow-sledge, + For I start upon a journey + To the distant shores of Pohya, + To the dismal Sariola." + Spake the servant thus in answer: + "Thou hast seven fleet-foot racers, + Munching grain within their mangers, + Which of these shall I make ready?" + Spake the blacksmith, Ilmarinen: + "Take the fleetest of my coursers, + Put the gray steed in the harness, + Hitch him to my sledge of magic; + Place six cuckoos on the break-board, + Seven bluebirds on the cross-bars, + Thus to charm the Northland maidens, + Thus to make them look and listen, + As the cuckoos call and echo. + Bring me too my largest bear-skin, + Fold it warm about the cross-bench; + Bring me then my marten fur-robes, + As a cover and protection." + Straightway then the trusty servant + Of the blacksmith, Ilmarinen, + Put the gray steed in the harness, + Hitched the racer to the snow-sledge, + Placed six cuckoos on the break-board, + Seven bluebirds on the cross-bars, + On the front to sing and twitter; + Then he brought the largest bear-skin, + Folded it upon the cross-bench; + Brought the finest robes of marten, + Warm protection for the master. + Ilmarinen, forger-artist, + The eternal metal-worker, + Earnestly entreated Ukko: + "Send thy snow-flakes, Ukko, father, + Let them gently fall from heaven, + Let them cover all the heather, + Let them hide the berry-bushes, + That my sledge may glide in freedom + O'er the hills to Sariola!" + Ukko sent the snow from heaven, + Gently dropped the crystal snow-flakes, + Lending thus his kind assistance + To the hero, Ilmarinen, + On his journey to the Northland. + Reins in hand, the ancient artist + Seats him in his metal snow-sledge, + And beseeches thus his Master: + "Good luck to my reins and traces, + Good luck to my shafts and runners! + God protect my magic snow-sledge, + Be my safeguard on my journey + To the dismal Sariola!" + Now the ancient Ilmarinen + Draws the reins upon the racer, + Snaps his whip above the courser, + To the gray steed gives this order, + And the charger plunges northward: + "Haste away, my flaxen stallion, + Haste thee onward, noble white-face, + To the never-pleasant Pohya, + To the dreary Sariola!" + Fast and faster flies the fleet-foot, + On the curving snow-capped sea-coast, + On the borders of the lowlands, + O'er the alder-hills and mountains. + Merrily the steed flies onward, + Bluebirds singing, cuckoos calling, + On the sea-shore looking northward, + Through the sand and falling snow-flakes + Blinding winds, and snow, and sea-foam, + Cloud the hero, Ilmarinen, + As he glides upon his journey, + Looking seaward for the vessel + Of the ancient Wainamoinen; + Travels one day, then a second, + Travels all the next day northward, + Till the third day Ilmarinen + Overtakes old Wainamoinen, + Rails him in his magic vessel, + And addresses thus the minstrel: + "O thou ancient Wainamoinen, + Let us woo in peace the maiden, + Fairest daughter or the Northland, + Sitting on the bow of heaven, + Let each labor long to win her, + Let her wed the one she chooses, + Him selecting, let her follow." + Wainamoinen thus makes answer: + "I agree to thy proposal, + Let us woo in peace the maiden, + Not by force, nor faithless measures, + Shall we woo the Maid of Beauty, + Let her follow him she chooses; + Let the unsuccessful suitor + Harbor neither wrath nor envy + For the hero that she follows." + Thus agreeing, on they journey, + Each according to his pleasure; + Fleetly does the steed fly onward, + Quickly flies the magic vessel, + Sailing on the broad-sea northward; + Ilmarinen's fleet-foot racer + Makes the hills of Northland tremble, + As he gallops on his journey + To the dismal Sariola. + Wainamoinen calls the South-winds, + And they fly to his assistance; + Swiftly sails his ship of beauty, + Swiftly plows the rough sea-billows + In her pathway to Pohyola. + Time had gone but little distance, + Scarce a moment had passed over, + Ere the dogs began their barking, + In the mansions of the Northland, + In the courts of Sariola, + Watch-dogs of the court of Louhi; + Never had they growled so fiercely, + Never had they barked so loudly, + Never with their tails had beaten + Northland into such an uproar. + Spake the master of Pohyola: + "Go and learn, my worthy daughter, + Why the watch-dogs have been barking, + Why the black-dog signals danger." + Quickly does the daughter answer: + "I am occupied, dear father, + I have work of more importance, + I must tend my flock of lambkins, + I must turn the nether millstone, + Grind to flour the grains of barley, + Run the grindings through the sifter, + Only have I time for grinding." + Lowly growls the faithful watch-dog, + Seldom does he growl so strangely. + Spake the master of Pohyola: + "Go and learn, my trusted consort, + Why the Northland dogs are barking, + Why the black-dog signals danger." + Thus his aged wife makes answer; + "Have no time, nor inclination, + I must feed my hungry household, + Must prepare a worthy dinner, + I must bake the toothsome biscuit, + Knead the dough till it is ready, + Only have I strength for kneading." + Spake the master of Pohyola: + "Dames are always in a hurry, + Maidens too are ever busy, + Whether warming at the oven, + Or asleep upon their couches; + Go my son, and learn the danger, + Why the black-dog growls displeasure," + Quickly does the son give answer: + "Have no time, nor inclination, + Am in haste to grind my hatchet; + I must chop this log to cordwood, + For the fire must cut the faggots, + I must split the wood in fragments, + Large the pile and small the fire-wood, + Only have I strength for chopping." + Still the watch-dog growls in anger, + Growl the whelps within the mansion, + Growl the dogs chained in the kennel, + Growls the black-dog on the hill-top, + Setting Northland in an uproar. + Spake the master of Pohyola: + "Never, never does my black-dog + Growl like this without a reason; + Never does he bark for nothing, + Does not growl at angry billows, + Nor the sighing of the pine-trees." + Then the master of Pohyola + Went himself to learn the reason + For the barking of the watch-dogs; + Strode he through the spacious court-yard, + Through the open fields beyond it, + To the summit of the uplands. + Looking toward his black-dog barking, + He beholds the muzzle pointed + To a distant, stormy hill-top, + To a mound with alders covered; + There he learned the rightful reason, + Why his dogs had barked so loudly, + Why had growled the wool-tail bearer, + Why his whelps had signalled danger. + At full sail, he saw a vessel, + And the ship was scarlet-colored, + Entering the bay of Lempo; + Saw a sledge of magic colors, + Gliding up the curving sea-shore, + O'er the snow-fields of Pohyola. + Then the master of the Northland + Hastened straightway to his dwelling, + Hastened forward to his court-room, + These the accents of the master: + "Often strangers journey hither, + On the blue back of the ocean, + Sailing in a scarlet vessel, + Rocking in the bay of Lempo; + Often strangers come in sledges + To the honey-lands of Louhi." + Spake the hostess of Pohyola: + How shall we obtain a token + Why these strangers journey hither? + My beloved, faithful daughter, + Lay a branch upon the fire-place, + Let it burn with fire of magic + If it trickle drops of scarlet, + War and bloodshed do they bring us; + If it trickle drops of water, + Peace and plenty bring the strangers." + Northland's fair and slender maiden, + Beautiful and modest daughter, + Lays a sorb-branch on the fire-place, + Lights it with the fire of magic; + Does not trickle drops of scarlet, + Trickles neither blood, nor water, + From the wand come drops of honey. + From the corner spake Suowakko, + This the language of the wizard: + "If the wand is dripping honey, + Then the strangers that are coming + Are but worthy friends and suitors." + Then the hostess of the Northland, + With the daughter of the hostess, + Straightway left their work, and hastened + From their dwelling to the court-yard; + Looked about in all directions, + Turned their eyes upon the waters, + Saw a magic-colored vessel + Rocking slowly in the harbor, + Having sailed the bay of Lempo, + Triple sails, and masts, and rigging, + Sable was the nether portion, + And the upper, scarlet-colored, + At the helm an ancient hero + Leaning on his oars of copper; + Saw a fleet-foot racer running, + Saw a red sledge lightly follow, + Saw the magic sledge emblazoned, + Guided toward the courts of Louhi; + Saw and heard six golden cuckoos + Sitting on the break-board, calling, + Seven bluebirds richly colored + Singing from the yoke and cross-bar; + In the sledge a magic hero, + Young, and strong, and proud, and handsome, + Holding reins upon the courser. + Spake the hostess of Pohyola: + "Dearest daughter, winsome maiden, + Dost thou wish a noble suitor? + Should these heroes come to woo thee, + Wouldst thou leave thy home and country, + Be the bride of him that pleases, + Be his faithful life-companion? + "He that comes upon the waters, + Sailing in a magic vessel, + Having sailed the bay of Lempo, + Is the good, old Wainamoinen; + In his ship are countless treasures, + Richest presents from Wainola. + "He that rides here in his snow-sledge + In his sledge of magic beauty, + With the cuckoos and the bluebirds, + Is the blacksmith, Ilmarinen, + Cometh hither empty-handed, + Only brings some wisdom-sayings. + When they come within the dwelling, + Bring a bowl of honeyed viands, + Bring a pitcher with two handles, + Give to him that thou wouldst follow + Give it to old Wainamoinen, + Him that brings thee countless treasures, + Costly presents in his vessel, + Priceless gems from Kalevala." + Spake the Northland's lovely daughter, + This the language of the maiden + "Good, indeed, advice maternal, + But I will not wed for riches, + Wed no man for countless treasures; + For his worth I'll choose a husband, + For his youth and fine appearance, + For his noble form and features; + In the olden times the maidens + Were not sold by anxious mothers + To the suitors that they loved not. + I shall choose without his treasures + Ilmarinen for his wisdom, + For his worth and good behavior, + Him that forged the wondrous Sampo, + Hammered thee the lid in colors." + Spake the hostess of Pohyola: + "Senseless daughter, child of folly, + Thus to choose the ancient blacksmith, + From whose brow drips perspiration, + Evermore to rinse his linen, + Lave his hands, and eyes, and forehead, + Keep his ancient house in order; + Little use his wit and wisdom + When compared with gold and silver." + This the answer of the daughter: + "I will never, never, never, + Wed the ancient Wainamoinen + With his gold and priceless jewels; + Never will I be a helpmate + To a hero in his dotage, + Little thanks my compensation." + Wainamoinen, safely landing + In advance of Ilmarinen, + Pulls his gaily-covered vessel + From the waves upon the sea-beach, + On the cylinders of birch-wood, + On the rollers copper-banded, + Straightway hastens to the guest-room + Of the hostess of Pohyola, + Of the master of the Northland, + Speaks these words upon the threshold + To the famous Maid of Beauty: + "Come with me, thou lovely virgin, + Be my bride and life-companion, + Share with me my joys and sorrows, + Be my honored wife hereafter!" + This the answer of the maiden: + "Hast thou built for me the vessel, + Built for me the ship of magic + From the fragments of the distaff, + From the splinters of the spindle?" + Wainamoinen thus replying: + "I have built the promised vessel, + Built the wondrous ship for sailing, + Firmly joined the parts by magic; + It will weather roughest billows, + Will outlive the winds and waters, + Swiftly glide upon the blue-back + Of the deep and boundless ocean + It will ride the waves in beauty, + Like an airy bubble rising, + Like a cork on lake and river, + Through the angry seas of Northland, + Through Pohyola's peaceful waters." + Northland's fair and slender daughter + Gives this answer to her suitor: + "Will not wed a sea-born hero, + Do not care to rock the billows, + Cannot live with such a husband + Storms would bring us pain and trouble, + Winds would rack our hearts and temples; + Therefore thee I cannot follow, + Cannot keep thy home in order, + Cannot be thy life-companion, + Cannot wed old Wainamoinen." + + + + +RUNE XIX. + + + + ILMARINEN'S WOOING. + + + Ilmarinen, hero-blacksmith, + The eternal metal-worker, + Hastens forward to the court-room + Of the hostess of Pohyola, + Of the master of the Northland, + Hastens through the open portals + Into Louhi's home and presence. + Servants come with silver pitchers, + Filled with Northland's richest brewing; + Honey-drink is brought and offered + To the blacksmith of Wainola, + Ilmarinen thus replying: + "I shall not in all my life-time + Taste the drink that thou hast brought me, + Till I see the Maid of Beauty, + Fairy Maiden of the Rainbow; + I will drink with her in gladness, + For whose hand I journey hither." + Spake the hostess of Pohyola: + "Trouble does the one selected + Give to him that wooes and watches; + Not yet are her feet in sandals, + Thine affianced is not ready. + Only canst thou woo my daughter, + Only canst thou win the maiden, + When thou hast by aid of magic + Plowed the serpent-field of Hisi, + Plowed the field of hissing vipers, + Touching neither beam nor handles. + Once this field was plowed by Piru, + Lempo furrowed it with horses, + With a plowshare made of copper, + With a beam of flaming iron; + Never since has any hero + Brought this field to cultivation." + Ilmarinen of Wainola + Straightway hastens to the chamber + Of the Maiden of the Rainbow, + Speaks these words in hesitation: + "Thou of Night and Dawn the daughter, + Tell me, dost thou not remember + When for thee I forged the Sampo, + Hammered thee the lid in colors? + Thou didst swear by oath the strougest, + By the forge and by the anvil, + By the tongs and by the hammer, + In the ears of the Almighty, + And before omniscient Ukko, + Thou wouldst follow me hereafter, + Be my bride, my life-companion, + Be my honored wife forever. + Now thy mother is exacting, + Will not give to me her daughter, + Till by means of magic only, + I have plowed the field of serpents, + Plowed the hissing soil of Hisi." + The affianced Bride of Beauty + Gives this answer to the suitor: + "O, thou blacksmith, Ilmarinen, + The eternal wonder-forger, + Forge thyself a golden plowshare, + Forge the beam of shining silver, + And of copper forge the handles; + Then with ease, by aid of magic, + Thou canst plow the field of serpents, + Plow the hissing soil of Hisi." + Ilmarinen, welcome suitor, + Straightway builds a forge and smithy, + Places gold within the furnace, + In the forge he lays the silver, + Forges then a golden plowshare, + Forges, too, a beam of silver, + Forges handles out of copper, + Forges boots and gloves of iron, + Forges him a mail of metal, + For his limbs a safe protection, + Safe protection for his body. + Then a horse of fire selecting, + Harnesses the flaming stallion, + Goes to plow the field of serpents, + Plow the viper-lands of Hisi. + In the field were countless vipers, + Serpents there of every species, + Crawling, writhing, hissing, stinging, + Harmless all against the hero, + Thus he stills the snakes of Lempo: + "Vipers, ye by God created, + Neither best nor worst of creatures, + Ye whose wisdom comes from Ukko, + And whose venom comes from Hisi, + Ukko is your greater Master, + By His will your heads are lifted; + Get ye hence before my plowing, + Writ-he ye through the grass and stubble, + Crawl ye to the nearest thicket, + Keep your heads beneath the heather, + Hunt our holes to Mana's kingdom + If your poison-heads be lifted, + Then will mighty Ukko smite them + 'With his iron-pointed arrows, + With the lightning of his anger." + Thus the blacksmith, Ilmarinen, + Safely plows the field of serpents, + Lifts the vipers in his plowing, + Buries them beneath the furrow, + Harmless all against his magic. + When the task had been completed, + Ilmarinen, quick returning, + Thus addressed Pohyola's hostess: + "I have plowed the field of Hisi, + Plowed the field of hissing serpents, + Stilled and banished all the vipers; + Give me, ancient dame, thy daughter, + Fairest maiden of the Northland. + Spake the hostess of Pohyola: + "Shall not grant to thee my daughter, + Shall not give my lovely virgin, + Till Tuoni's bear is muzzled, + Till Manala's wolf is conquered, + In the forests of the Death-land, + In the boundaries of Mana. + Hundreds have been sent to hunt him, + So one yet has been successful, + All have perished in Manala." + Thereupon young Ilmarinen + To the maiden's chamber hastens, + Thus addresses his affianced: + "Still another test demanded, + I must go to Tuonela, + Bridle there the bear of Mana, + Bring him from the Death-land forests, + From Tuoni's grove and empire! + This advice the maiden gives him: + "O thou artist, Ilmarinen, + The eternal metal-worker, + Forge of steel a magic bridle, + On a rock beneath the water, + In the foaming triple currents; + Make the straps of steel and copper, + Bridle then the bear of Mana, + Lead him from Tuoni's forests." + Then the blacksmith, Ilmarinen, + Forged of steel a magic bridle, + On a rock beneath the water, + In the foam of triple currents; + Made the straps of steel and copper, + Straightway went the bear to muzzle, + In the forests of the Death-land, + Spake these words in supplication: + "Terhenetar, ether-maiden, + Daughter of the fog and snow-flake, + Sift the fog and let it settle + O'er the bills and lowland thickets, + Where the wild-bear feeds and lingers, + That he may not see my coming, + May not hear my stealthy footsteps!" + Terhenetar hears his praying, + Makes the fog and snow-flake settle + On the coverts of the wild-beasts; + Thus the bear he safely bridles, + Fetters him in chains of magic, + In the forests of Tuoni, + In the blue groves of Manala. + When this task had been completed, + Ilmarinen, quick returning, + Thus addressed the ancient Louhi: + "Give me, worthy dame, thy daughter, + Give me now my bride affianced, + I have brought the bear of Mana + From Tuoni's fields and forests." + Spake the hostess of Pohyola + To the blacksmith, Ilmarinen: + "I will only give my daughter, + Give to thee the Maid of Beauty, + When the monster-pike thou catchest + In the river of Tuoni, + In Manala's fatal waters, + Using neither hooks, nor fish-nets, + Neither boat, nor fishing-tackle; + Hundreds have been sent to catch him, + No one yet has been successful, + All have perished in Manala." + Much disheartened, Ilmarinen + Hastened to the maiden's chamber, + Thus addressed the rainbow-maiden: + "Now a third test is demanded, + Much more difficult than ever; + I must catch the pike of Mana, + In the river of Tuoni, + And without my fishing-tackle, + Hard the third test of the hero! + This advice the maiden gives him: + "O thou hero, Ilmarinen, + Never, never be discouraged: + In thy furnace, forge an eagle, + From the fire of ancient magic; + He will catch the pike of Mana, + Catch the monster-fish in safety, + From the death-stream of Tuoni, + From Manala's fatal waters." + Then the suitor, Ilmarinen, + The eternal artist-forgeman, + In the furnace forged an eagle + From the fire of ancient wisdom; + For this giant bird of magic + Forged he talons out of iron, + And his beak of steel and copper; + Seats himself upon the eagle, + On his back between the wing-bones, + Thus addresses he his creature, + Gives the bird of fire, this order: + "Mighty eagle, bird of beauty, + Fly thou whither I direct thee, + To Tuoni's coal-black river, + To the blue deeps of the Death-stream, + Seize the mighty fish of Mana, + Catch for me this water-monster." + Swiftly flies the magic eagle, + Giant-bird of worth and wonder, + To the river of Tuoni, + There to catch the pike of Mana; + One wing brushes on the waters, + While the other sweeps the heavens; + In the ocean dips his talons, + Whets his beak on mountain-ledges. + Safely landing, Ilmarinen, + The immortal artist-forger, + Hunts the monster of the Death-stream, + While the eagle hunts and fishes + In the waters of Manala. + From the river rose a monster, + Grasped the blacksmith, Ilmarinen, + Tried to drag him to his sea-cave; + Quick the eagle pounced upon him, + With his metal-beak he seized him, + Wrenched his head, and rent his body, + Hurled him back upon the bottom + Of the deep and fatal river, + Freed his master, Ilmarinen. + Then arose the pike of Mana, + Came the water-dog in silence, + Of the pikes was not the largest, + Nor belonged he to the smallest; + Tongue the length of double hatchets, + Teeth as long as fen-rake handles, + Mouth as broad as triple streamlets, + Back as wide as seven sea-boats, + Tried to snap the magic blacksmith, + Tried to swallow Ilmarinen. + Swiftly swoops the mighty eagle, + Of the birds was not the largest, + Nor belonged he to the smallest; + Mouth as wide as seven streamlets, + Tongue as long as seven javelins, + Like five crooked scythes his talons; + Swoops upon the pike of Mana. + Quick the giant fish endangered, + Darts and flounders in the river, + Dragging down the mighty eagle, + Lashing up the very bottom + To the surface of the river; + When the mighty bird uprising + Leaves the wounded pike in water, + Soars aloft on worsted pinions + To his home in upper ether; + Soars awhile, and sails, and circles, + Circles o'er the reddened waters, + Swoops again on lightning-pinions, + Strikes with mighty force his talons + Into the shoulder of his victim; + Strikes the second of his talons + On the flinty mountain-ledges, + On the rocks with iron hardened; + From the cliffs rebound his talons, + Slip the flinty rocks o'erhanging, + And the monster-pike resisting + Dives again beneath the surface + To the bottom of the river, + From the talons of the eagle; + Deep, the wounds upon the body + Of the monster of Tuoni. + Still a third time soars the eagle, + Soars, and sails, and quickly circles, + Swoops again upon the monster, + Fire out-shooting from his pinoins, + Both his eyeballs flashing lightning; + With his beak of steel and copper + Grasps again the pike of Mana + Firmly planted are his talons + In the rocks and in his victim, + Drags the monster from the river, + Lifts the pike above the waters, + From Tuoni's coal-black river, + From the blue-back of Manala. + Thus the third time does the eagle + Bring success from former failures; + Thus at last the eagle catches + Mana's pike, the worst of fishes, + Swiftest swimmer of the waters, + From the river of Tuoni; + None could see Manala's river, + For the myriad of fish-scales; + Hardly could one see through ether, + For the feathers of the eagle, + Relicts of the mighty contest. + Then the bird of copper talons + Took the pike, with scales of silver, + To the pine-tree's topmost branches, + To the fir-tree plumed with needles, + Tore the monster-fish in pieces, + Ate the body of his victim, + Left the head for Ilmarinen. + Spake the blacksmith to the eagle: + "O thou bird of evil nature, + What thy thought and what thy motive? + Thou hast eaten what I needed, + Evidence of my successes; + Thoughtless eagle, witless instinct, + Thus to mar the spoils of conquest!" + But the bird of metal talons + Hastened onward, soaring upward, + Rising higher into ether, + Rising, flying, soaring, sailing, + To the borders of the long-clouds, + Made the vault of ether tremble, + Split apart the dome of heaven, + Broke the colored bow of Ukko, + Tore the Moon-horns from their sockets, + Disappeared beyond the Sun-land, + To the home of the triumphant. + Then the blacksmith, Ilmarinen, + Took the pike-head to the hostess + Of the ever-dismal Northland, + Thus addressed the ancient Louhi: + "Let this head forever serve thee + As a guest-bench for thy dwelling, + Evidence of hero-triumphs; + I have caught the pike of Mana, + I have done as thou demandest, + Three my victories in Death-land, + Three the tests of magic heroes; + Wilt thou give me now thy daughter, + Give to me the Maid of Beauty?" + Spake the hostess of Pohyola: + "Badly is the test accomplished, + Thou has torn the pike in pieces, + From his neck the head is severed, + Of his body thou hast eaten, + Brought to me this worthless relic! + These the words of Ilmarinen: + "When the victory is greatest, + Do we suffer greatest losses! + From the river of Tuoni, + From the kingdom of Manala, + I have brought to thee this trophy, + Thus the third task is completed. + Tell me is the maiden ready, + Wilt thou give the bride affianced? + Spake the hostess of Pohyola: + "I will give to thee my daughter, + Will prepare my snow-white virgin, + For the suitor, Ilmarinen; + Thou hast won the Maid of Beauty, + Bride is she of thine hereafter, + Fit companion of thy fireside, + Help and joy of all thy lifetime." + On the floor a child was sitting, + And the babe this tale related. + "There appeared within this dwelling, + Came a bird within the castle, + From the East came flying hither, + From the East, a monstrous eagle, + One wing touched the vault of heaven, + While the other swept the ocean; + With his tail upon the waters, + Reached his beak beyond the cloudlets, + Looked about, and eager watching, + Flew around, and sailing, soaring, + Flew away to hero-castle, + Knocked three times with beak of copper + On the castle-roof of iron; + But the eagle could not enter. + "Then the eagle, looking round him, + Flew again, and sailed, and circled, + Flew then to the mothers' castle, + Loudly rapped with heavy knocking + On the mothers' roof of copper; + But the eagle could not enter. + "Then the eagle, looking round him, + Flew a third time, sailing, soaring, + Flew then to the virgins' castle, + Knocked again with beak of copper, + On the virgins' roof of linen, + Easy for him there to enter; + Flew upon the castle-chimney, + Quick descending to the chamber, + Pulled the clapboards from the studding, + Tore the linen from the rafters, + Perched upon the chamber-window, + Near the walls of many colors, + On the cross-bars gaily-feathered, + Looked upon the curly-beaded, + Looked upon their golden ringlets, + Looked upon the snow-white virgins, + On the purest of the maidens, + On the fairest of the daughters, + On the maid with pearly necklace, + On the maiden wreathed in flowers; + Perched awhile, and looked, admiring, + Swooped upon the Maid of Beauty, + On the purest of the virgins, + On the whitest, on the fairest, + On the stateliest and grandest, + Swooped upon the rainbow-daughter + Of the dismal Sariola; + Grasped her in his mighty talons, + Bore away the Maid of Beauty, + Maid of fairest form and feature, + Maid adorned with pearly necklace, + Decked in feathers iridescent, + Fragrant flowers upon her bosom, + Scarlet band around her forehead, + Golden rings upon her fingers, + Fairest maiden of the Northland." + Spake the hostess of Pohyola, + When the babe his tale had ended: + "Tell me bow, my child beloved, + Thou hast learned about the maiden, + Hast obtained the information, + How her flaxen ringlets nestled, + How the maiden's silver glistened, + How the virgin's gold was lauded. + Shone the silver Sun upon thee, + Did the moonbeams bring this knowledge?" + From the floor the child made answer: + "Thus I gained the information, + Moles of good-luck led me hither, + To the home, of the distinguished, + To the guest-room of the maiden, + Good-name bore her worthy father, + He that sailed the magic vessel; + Better-name enjoyed the mother, + She that baked the bread of barley, + She that kneaded wheaten biscuits, + Fed her many guests in Northland. + "Thus the information reached me, + Thus the distant stranger heard it, + Heard the virgin had arisen: + Once I walked within the court-yard, + Stepping near the virgin's chamber, + At an early hour of morning, + Ere the Sun had broken slumber + Whirling rose the soot in cloudlets, + Blackened wreaths of smoke came rising + From the chamber of the maiden, + From thy daughter's lofty chimney; + There the maid was busy grinding, + Moved the handles of the millstone + Making voices like the cuckoo, + Like the ducks the side-holes sounded, + And the sifter like the goldfinch, + Like the sea-pearls sang the grindstones. + "Then a second time I wandered + To the border of the meadow + In the forest was the maiden + Rocking on a fragrant hillock, + Dyeing red in iron vessels, + And in copper kettles, yellow. + "Then a third time did I wander + To the lovely maiden's window; + There I saw thy daughter weaving, + Heard the flying of her shuttle, + Heard the beating of her loom-lathe, + Heard the rattling of her treddles, + Heard the whirring of her yarn-reel." + Spake the hostess of Pohyola: + "Now alas! beloved daughter, + I have often taught this lesson: + 'Do not sing among the pine-trees, + Do not call adown the valleys, + Do not hang thy head in walking, + Do not bare thine arms, nor shoulders, + Keep the secrets of thy bosom, + Hide thy beauty and thy power.' + "This I told thee in the autumn, + Taught thee in the summer season, + Sang thee in the budding spring-time, + Sang thee when the snows were falling: + 'Let us build a place for hiding, + Let us build the smallest windows, + Where may weave my fairest daughter, + Where my maid may ply her shuttle, + Where my joy may work unnoticed + By the heroes of the Northland, + By the suitors of Wainola.'" + From the floor the child made answer, + Fourteen days the young child numbered; + "Easy 'tis to hide a war-horse + In the Northland fields and stables; + Hard indeed to hide a maiden, + Having lovely form and features! + Build of stone a distant castle + In the middle of the ocean, + Keep within thy lovely maiden, + Train thou there thy winsome daughter, + Not long hidden canst thou keep her. + Maidens will not grow and flourish, + Kept apart from men and heroes, + Will not live without their suitors, + Will not thrive without their wooers; + Thou canst never hide a maiden, + Neither on the land nor water." + Now the ancient Wainamoinen, + Head down-bent and heavy-hearted, + Wanders to his native country, + To Wainola's peaceful meadows, + To the plains of Kalevala, + Chanting as he journeys homeward: + "I have passed the age for wooing, + Woe is me, rejected suitor, + Woe is me, a witless minstrel, + That I did not woo and marry, + When my face was young and winsome, + When my hand was warm and welcome! + Youth dethrones my age and station, + Wealth is nothing, wisdom worthless, + When a hero goes a-wooing + With a poor but younger brother. + Fatal error that a hero + Does not wed in early manhood, + In his youth does not be master + Of a worthy wife and household." + Thus the ancient Wainamoinen + Sends the edict to his people: + "Old men must not go a-wooing, + Must not swim the sea of anger, + Must not row upon a wager, + Must not run a race for glory, + With the younger sons of Northland." + + + + +RUNE XX. + + + + THE BREWING OF BEER. + + + Now we sing the wondrous legends, + Songs of wedding-feasts and dances, + Sing the melodies of wedlock, + Sing the songs of old tradition; + Sing of Ilmarinen's marriage + To the Maiden of the Rainbow, + Fairest daughter of the Northland, + Sing the drinking-songs of Pohya. + Long prepared they for the wedding + In Pohyola's halls and chambers, + In the courts of Sariola; + Many things that Louhi ordered, + Great indeed the preparations + For the marriage of the daughter, + For the feasting of the heroes, + For the drinking of the strangers, + For the feeding of the poor-folk, + For the people's entertainment. + Grew an ox in far Karjala, + Not the largest, nor the smallest, + Was the ox that grew in Suomi; + But his size was all-sufficient, + For his tail was sweeping Jamen, + And his head was over Kemi, + Horns in length a hundred fathoms, + Longer than the horns his mouth was; + Seven days it took a weasel + To encircle neck and shoulders; + One whole day a swallow journeyed + From one horn-tip to the other, + Did not stop between for resting. + Thirty days the squirrel travelled + From the tail to reach the shoulders, + But he could not gain the horn-tip + Till the Moon had long passed over. + This young ox of huge dimensions, + This great calf of distant Suomi, + Was conducted from Karjala + To the meadows of Pohyola; + At each horn a hundred heroes, + At his head and neck a thousand. + When the mighty ox was lassoed, + Led away to Northland pastures, + Peacefully the monster journeyed + By the bays of Sariola, + Ate the pasture on the borders; + To the clouds arose his shoulders, + And his horns to highest heaven. + Not in all of Sariola + Could a butcher be discovered + That could kill the ox for Louhi, + None of all the sons of Northland, + In her hosts of giant people, + In her rising generation, + In the hosts of those grown older. + Came a hero from a distance, + Wirokannas from Karelen, + And these words the gray-beard uttered: + "Wait, O wait, thou ox of Suomi, + Till I bring my ancient war-club; + Then I'll smite thee on thy forehead, + Break thy skull, thou willing victim! + Nevermore wilt thou in summer + Browse the woods of Sariola, + Bare our pastures, fields, and forests; + Thou, O ox, wilt feed no longer + Through the length and breadth of Northland, + On the borders of this ocean!" + When the ancient Wirokannas + Started out the ox to slaughter, + When Palwoinen swung his war-club, + Quick the victim turned his forehead, + Flashed his flaming eyes upon him; + To the fir-tree leaped the hero, + In the thicket hid Palwoinen, + Hid the gray-haired Wirokannas. + Everywhere they seek a butcher, + One to kill the ox of Suomi, + In the country of Karelen, + And among the Suomi-giants, + In the quiet fields of Ehstland, + On the battle-fields of Sweden, + Mid the mountaineers of Lapland, + In the magic fens of Turya; + Seek him in Tuoni's empire, + In the death-courts of Manala. + Long the search, and unsuccessful, + On the blue back of the ocean, + On the far-outstretching pastures. + There arose from out the sea-waves, + Rose a hero from the waters, + On the white-capped, roaring breakers, + From the water's broad expanses; + Nor belonged he to the largest, + Nor belonged he to the smallest; + Made his bed within a sea-shell, + Stood erect beneath a flour-sieve, + Hero old, with hands of iron, + And his face was copper-colored; + Quick the hero full unfolded, + Like the full corn from the kernel. + On his head a hat of flint-stone, + On his feet were sandstone-sandals, + In his hand a golden cleaver, + And the blade was copper-handled. + Thus at last they found a butcher, + Found the magic ox a slayer. + Nothing has been found so mighty + That it has not found a master. + As the sea-god saw his booty, + Quickly rushed he on his victim, + Hurled him to his knees before him, + Quickly felled the calf of Suomi, + Felled the young ox of Karelen. + Bountifully meat was furnished; + Filled at least a thousand hogsheads + Of his blood were seven boatfuls, + And a thousand weight of suet, + For the banquet of Pohyola, + For the marriage-feast of Northland. + In Pohyola was a guest-room, + Ample was the hall of Louhi, + Was in length a hundred furlongs, + And in breadth was nearly fifty; + When upon the roof a rooster + Crowed at break of early morning, + No one on the earth could hear him; + When the dog barked at one entrance, + None could hear him at the other. + Louhi, hostess of Pohyola, + Hastens to the hall and court-room, + In the centre speaks as follows: + "Whence indeed will come the liquor, + Who will brew me beer from barley, + Who will make the mead abundant, + For the people of the Northland, + Coming to my daughter's marriage, + To her drinking-feast and nuptials? + Cannot comprehend the malting, + Never have I learned the secret, + Nor the origin of brewing." + Spake an old man from his corner: + "Beer arises from the barley, + Comes from barley, hops, and water, + And the fire gives no assistance. + Hop-vine was the son of Remu, + Small the seed in earth was planted, + Cultivated in the loose soil, + Scattered like the evil serpents + On the brink of Kalew-waters, + On the Osmo-fields and borders. + There the young plant grew and flourished, + There arose the climbing hop-vine, + Clinging to the rocks and alders. + "Man of good-luck sowed the barley + On the Osmo hills and lowlands, + And the barley grew and flourished, + Grew and spread in rich abundance, + Fed upon the air and water, + On the Osmo plains and highlands, + On the fields of Kalew-heroes. + "Time had travelled little distance, + Ere the hops in trees were humming, + Barley in the fields was singing, + And from Kalew's well the water, + This the language of the trio: + 'Let us join our triple forces, + Join to each the other's powers; + Sad alone to live and struggle, + Little use in working singly, + Better we should toil together.' + "Osmotar, the beer-preparer, + Brewer of the drink refreshing, + Takes the golden grains of barley, + Taking six of barley-kernels, + Taking seven tips of hop-fruit, + Filling seven cups with water, + On the fire she sets the caldron, + Boils the barley, hops, and water, + Lets them steep, and seethe, and bubble + Brewing thus the beer delicious, + In the hottest days of summer, + On the foggy promontory, + On the island forest-covered; + Poured it into birch-wood barrels, + Into hogsheads made of oak-wood. + "Thus did Osmotar of Kalew + Brew together hops and barley, + Could not generate the ferment. + Thinking long and long debating, + Thus she spake in troubled accents: + 'What will bring the effervescence, + Who will add the needed factor, + That the beer may foam and sparkle, + May ferment and be delightful?' + Kalevatar, magic maiden, + Grace and beauty in her fingers, + Swiftly moving, lightly stepping, + In her trimly-buckled sandals, + Steps upon the birch-wood bottom, + Turns one way, and then another, + In the centre of the caldron; + Finds within a splinter lying + From the bottom lifts the fragment, + Turns it in her fingers, musing: + 'What may come of this I know not, + In the hands of magic maidens, + In the virgin hands of Kapo, + Snowy virgin of the Northland!' + "Kalevatar took the splinter + To the magic virgin, Kapo, + Who by unknown force and insight. + Rubbed her hands and knees together, + And produced a snow-white squirrel; + Thus instructed she her creature, + Gave the squirrel these directions: + 'Snow-white squirrel, mountain-jewel, + Flower of the field and forest, + Haste thee whither I would send thee, + Into Metsola's wide limits, + Into Tapio's seat of wisdom; + Hasten through the heavy tree-tops, + Wisely through the thickest branches, + That the eagle may not seize thee, + Thus escape the bird of heaven. + Bring me ripe cones from the fir-tree, + From the pine-tree bring me seedlings, + Bring them to the hands of Kapo, + For the beer of Osmo's daughter.' + Quickly hastened forth the squirrel, + Quickly sped the nimble broad-tail, + Swiftly hopping on its journey + From one thicket to another, + From the birch-tree to the aspen, + From the pine-tree to the willow, + From the sorb-tree to the alder, + Jumping here and there with method, + Crossed the eagle-woods in safety, + Into Metsola's wide limits, + Into Tapio's seat of wisdom; + There perceived three magic pine-trees, + There perceived three smaller fir-trees, + Quickly climbed the dark-green branches, + Was not captured by the eagle, + Was not mangled in his talons; + Broke the young cones from the fir-tree, + Cut the shoots of pine-tree branches, + Hid the cones within his pouches, + Wrapped them in his fur-grown mittens + Brought them to the hands of Kapo, + To the magic virgin's fingers. + Kapo took the cones selected, + Laid them in the beer for ferment, + But it brought no effervescence, + And the beer was cold and lifeless. + "Osmotar, the beer-preparer, + Kapo, brewer of the liquor, + Deeply thought and long considered: + 'What will bring the effervescence, + Who will lend me aid efficient, + That the beer may foam and sparkle, + May ferment and be refreshing?' + "Kalevatar, sparkling maiden, + Grace and beauty in her fingers, + Softly moving, lightly stepping, + In her trimly-buckled sandals, + Steps again upon the bottom, + Turns one way and then another, + In the centre of the caldron, + Sees a chip upon the bottom, + Takes it from its place of resting, + Looks upon the chip and muses + 'What may come of this I know not, + In the hands of mystic maidens, + In the hands of magic Kapo, + In the virgin's snow-white fingers.' + "Kalevatar took the birch-chip + To the magic maiden, Kapo, + Gave it to the white-faced maiden. + Kapo, by the aid of magic, + Rubbed her hands and knees together, + And produced a magic marten, + And the marten, golden-breasted; + Thus instructed she her creature, + Gave the marten these directions. + 'Thou, my golden-breasted marten, + Thou my son of golden color, + Haste thou whither I may send thee, + To the bear-dens of the mountain, + To the grottoes of the growler, + Gather yeast upon thy fingers, + Gather foam from lips of anger, + From the lips of bears in battle, + Bring it to the hands of Kapo, + To the hands of Osmo's daughter.' + "Then the marten golden-breasted, + Full consenting, hastened onward, + Quickly bounding on his journey, + Lightly leaping through the distance + Leaping o'er the widest rivers, + Leaping over rocky fissures, + To the bear-dens of the mountain, + To the grottoes of the growler, + Where the wild-bears fight each other, + Where they pass a dread existence, + Iron rocks, their softest pillows, + In the fastnesses of mountains; + From their lips the foam was dripping, + From their tongues the froth of anger; + This the marten deftly gathered, + Brought it to the maiden, Kapo, + Laid it in her dainty fingers. + "Osmotar, the beer-preparer, + Brewer of the beer of barley, + Used the beer-foam as a ferment; + But it brought no effervescence, + Did not make the liquor sparkle. + "Osmotar, the beer-preparer, + Thought again, and long debated: + 'Who or what will bring the ferment, + Th at my beer may not be lifeless?' + "Kalevatar, magic maiden, + Grace and beauty in her fingers, + Softly moving, lightly stepping, + In her trimly-buckled sandals, + Steps again upon the bottom, + Turns one way and then another, + In the centre of the caldron, + Sees a pod upon the bottom, + Lifts it in her snow-white fingers, + Turns it o'er and o'er, and muses: + 'What may come of this I know not, + In the hands of magic maidens, + In the hands of mystic Kapo, + In the snowy virgin's fingers?' + "Kalevatar, sparkling maiden, + Gave the pod to magic Kapo; + Kapo, by the aid of magic, + Rubbed the pod upon her knee-cap, + And a honey-bee came flying + From the pod within her fingers, + Kapo thus addressed her birdling: + 'Little bee with honeyed winglets, + King of all the fragrant flowers, + Fly thou whither I direct thee, + To the islands in the ocean, + To the water-cliffs and grottoes, + Where asleep a maid has fallen, + Girdled with a belt of copper + By her side are honey-grasses, + By her lips are fragrant flowers, + Herbs and flowers honey-laden; + Gather there the sweetened juices, + Gather honey on thy winglets, + From the calyces of flowers, + From the tips of seven petals, + Bring it to the hands of Kapo, + To the hands of Osmo's daughter.' + "Then the bee, the swift-winged birdling, + Flew away with lightning-swiftness + On his journey to the islands, + O'er the high waves of the ocean; + Journeyed one day, then a second, + Journeyed all the next day onward, + Till the third day evening brought him + To the islands in the ocean, + To the water-cliffs and grottoes; + Found the maiden sweetly sleeping, + In her silver-tinselled raiment, + Girdled with a belt of copper, + In a nameless meadow, sleeping, + In the honey-fields of magic; + By her side were honeyed grasses, + By her lips were fragrant flowers, + Silver stalks with golden petals; + Dipped its winglets in the honey, + Dipped its fingers in the juices + Of the sweetest of the flowers, + Brought the honey back to Kapo, + To the mystic maiden's fingers. + "Osmotar, the beer-preparer, + Placed the honey in the liquor; + Kapo mixed the beer and honey, + And the wedding-beer fermented; + Rose the live beer upward, upward, + From the bottom of the vessels, + Upward in the tubs of birch-wood, + Foaming higher, higher, higher, + Till it touched the oaken handles, + Overflowing all the caldrons; + To the ground it foamed and sparkled, + Sank away in sand and gravel. + "Time had gone but little distance, + Scarce a moment had passed over, + Ere the heroes came in numbers + To the foaming beer of Northland, + Rushed to drink the sparkling liquor. + Ere all others Lemminkainen + Drank, and grew intoxicated + On the beer of Osmo's daughter, + On the honey-drink of Kalew. + "Osmotar, the beer-preparer, + Kapo, brewer of the barley, + Spake these words in saddened accents: + 'Woe is me, my life hard-fated, + Badly have I brewed the liquor, + Have not brewed the beer in wisdom, + Will not live within its vessels, + Overflows and fills Pohyola!' + "From a tree-top sings the redbreast, + From the aspen calls the robin: + 'Do not grieve, thy beer is worthy, + Put it into oaken vessels, + Into strong and willing barrels + Firmly bound with hoops of copper.' + "Thus was brewed the beer or Northland, + At the hands of Osmo's daughter; + This the origin of brewing + Beer from Kalew-hops and barley; + Great indeed the reputation + Of the ancient beer of Kalew, + Said to make the feeble hardy, + Famed to dry the tears of women, + Famed to cheer the broken-hearted, + Make the aged young and supple, + Make the timid brave and mighty, + Make the brave men ever braver, + Fill the heart with joy and gladness, + Fill the mind with wisdom-sayings, + Fill the tongue with ancient legends, + Only makes the fool more foolish." + When the hostess of Pohyola + Heard how beer was first fermented, + Heard the origin of brewing, + Straightway did she fill with water + Many oaken tubs and barrels; + Filled but half the largest vessels, + Mixed the barley with the water, + Added also hops abundant; + Well she mixed the triple forces + In her tubs of oak and birch-wood, + Heated stones for months succeeding, + Thus to boil the magic mixture, + Steeped it through the days of summer, + Burned the wood of many forests, + Emptied all the, springs of Pohya; + Daily did the, forests lesson, + And the wells gave up their waters, + Thus to aid the hostess, Louhi, + In the brewing of the liquors, + From the water, hops, and barley, + And from honey of the islands, + For the wedding-feast of Northland, + For Pohyola's great carousal + And rejoicings at the marriage + Of the Malden of the Rainbow + To the blacksmith, Ilmarinen, + Metal-worker of Wainola. + Smoke is seen upon the island, + Fire, upon the promontory, + Black smoke rising to the heavens + From the fire upon the island; + Fills with clouds the half of Pohya, + Fills Karelen's many hamlets; + All the people look and wonder, + This the chorus of the women: + "Whence are rising all these smoke-clouds, + Why this dreadful fire in Northland? + Is not like the smoke of camp-fires, + Is too large for fires of shepherds!" + Lemminkainen's ancient mother + Journeyed in the early morning + For some water to the fountain, + Saw the smoke arise to heaven, + In the region of Pohyola, + These the words the mother uttered: + "'Tis the smoke of battle-heroes, + From the beat of warring armies!" + Even Ahti, island-hero, + Ancient wizard, Lemminkainen, + Also known as Kaukomieli, + Looked upon the scene in wonder, + Thought awhile and spake as follows: + "I would like to see this nearer, + Learn the cause of all this trouble, + Whence this smoke and great confusion, + Whether smoke from heat of battle, + Or the bonfires of the shepherds." + Kaukomieli gazed and pondered, + Studied long the rising smoke-clouds; + Came not from the heat of battle, + Came not from the shepherd bonfires; + Heard they were the fires of Louhi + Brewing beer in Sariola, + On Pohyola's promontory; + Long and oft looked Lemminkainen, + Strained in eagerness his vision, + Stared, and peered, and thought, and wondered, + Looked abashed and envy-swollen, + "O beloved, second mother, + Northland's well-intentioned hostess, + Brew thy beer of honey-flavor, + Make thy liquors foam and sparkle, + For thy many friends invited, + Brew it well for Lemminkainen, + For his marriage in Pohyola + With the Maiden of the Rainbow." + Finally the beer was ready, + Beverage of noble heroes, + Stored away in casks and barrels, + There to rest awhile in silence, + In the cellars of the Northland, + In the copper-banded vessels, + In the magic oaken hogsheads, + Plugs and faucets made of copper. + Then the hostess of Pohyola + Skilfully prepared the dishes, + Laid them all with careful fingers + In the boiling-pans and kettles, + Ordered countless loaves of barley, + Ordered many liquid dishes, + All the delicacies of Northland, + For the feasting of her people, + For their richest entertainment, + For the nuptial songs and dances, + At the marriage of her daughter + With the blacksmith, Ilmarinen. + When the loaves were baked and ready. + When the dishes all were seasoned, + Time had gone but little distance, + Scarce a moment had passed over, + Ere the beer, in casks imprisoned, + Loudly rapped, and sang, and murmured: + "Come, ye heroes, come and take me, + Come and let me cheer your spirits, + Make you sing the songs of wisdom, + That with honor ye may praise me, + Sing the songs of beer immortal!" + Straightway Louhi sought a minstrel, + Magic bard and artist-singer, + That the beer might well be lauded, + Might be praised in song and honor. + First as bard they brought a salmon, + Also brought a pike from ocean, + But the salmon had no talent, + And the pike had little wisdom; + Teeth of pike and gills of salmon + Were not made for singing legends. + Then again they sought a singer, + Magic minstrel, beer-enchanter, + Thus to praise the drink of heroes, + Sing the songs of joy and gladness; + And a boy was brought for singing; + But the boy had little knowledge, + Could not praise the beer in honor; + Children's tongues are filled with questions, + Children cannot speak in wisdom, + Cannot sing the ancient legends. + Stronger grew the beer imprisoned + In the copper-banded vessels, + Locked behind the copper faucets, + Boiled, and foamed, and sang, and murmured: + "If ye do not bring a singer, + That will sing my worth immortal, + That will sing my praise deserving, + I will burst these bands of copper, + Burst the heads of all these barrels; + Will not serve the best of heroes + Till he sings my many virtues." + Louhi, hostess of Pohyola, + Called a trusted maiden-servant, + Sent her to invite the people + To the marriage of her daughter, + These the words that Louhi uttered: + "O my trusted, truthful maiden, + Servant-maid to me belonging, + Call together all my people, + Call the heroes to my banquet, + Ask the rich, and ask the needy, + Ask the blind and deaf, and crippled, + Ask the young, and ask the aged; + Go thou to the hills, and hedges, + To the highways, and the by-ways, + Urge them to my daughter's wedding; + Bring the blind, and sorely troubled, + In my boats upon the waters, + In my sledges bring the halting, + With the old, and sick, and needy; + Ask the whole of Sariola, + Ask the people of Karelen, + Ask the ancient Wainamoinen, + Famous bard and wisdom-singer; + But I give command explicit + Not to ask wild Lemminkainen, + Not the island-dweller, Ahti!" + This the question of the servant: + "Why not ask wild Lemminkainen, + Ancient islander and minstrel?" + Louhi gave this simple answer: + "Good the reasons that I give thee + Why the wizard, Lemminkainen, + Must not have an invitation + To my daughter's feast and marriage + Ahti courts the heat of battle, + Lemminkainen fosters trouble, + Skilful fighter of the virtues; + Evil thinking, acting evil, + He would bring but pain and sorrow, + He would jest and jeer at maidens + In their trimly buckled raiment, + Cannot ask the evil-minded!" + Thus again the servant questions: + "Tell me how to know this Ahti, + Also known as Lemminkainen, + That I may not ask him hither; + Do not know the isle of Ahti, + Nor the home of Kaukomieli + Spake the hostess of Pohyola: + "Easy 'tis to know the wizard, + Easy find the Ahti-dwelling: + Ahti lives on yonder island, + On that point dwells Lemminkainen, + In his mansion near the water, + Far at sea his home and dwelling." + Thereupon the trusted maiden + Spread the wedding-invitations + To the people of Pohyola, + To the tribes of Kalevala; + Asked the friendless, asked the homeless + Asked the laborers and shepherds, + Asked the fishermen and hunters, + Asked the deaf, the dumb, the crippled, + Asked the young, and asked the aged, + Asked the rich, and asked the needy; + Did not give an invitation + To the reckless Lemminkainen, + Island-dweller of the ocean. + + + + +RUNE XXI. + + + + ILMARINEN'S WEDDING-FEAST. + + + Louhi, hostess of the Northland, + Ancient dame of Sariola, + While at work within her dwelling, + Heard the whips crack on the fenlands, + Heard the rattle of the sledges; + To the northward turned her glances, + Turned her vision to the sunlight, + And her thoughts ran on as follow: + "Who are these in bright apparel, + On the banks of Pohya-waters, + Are they friends or hostile armies?" + Then the hostess of the Northland + Looked again and well considered, + Drew much nearer to examine, + Found they were not hostile armies, + Found that they were friends and suitors. + In the midst was Ilmarinen, + Son-in-law to ancient Louhi. + When the hostess of Pohyola + Saw the son-in-law approaching + She addressed the words that follow: + "I had thought the winds were raging, + That the piles of wood were falling, + Thought the pebbles in commotion, + Or perchance the ocean roaring; + Then I hastened nearer, nearer, + Drew still nearer and examined, + Found the winds were not in battle, + Found the piles of wood unshaken, + Found the ocean was not roaring, + Nor the pebbles in commotion, + Found my son-in-law was coming + With his heroes and attendants, + Heroes counted by the hundreds. + "Should you ask of me the question, + How I recognized the bridegroom + Mid the hosts of men and heroes, + I should answer, I should tell you: + 'As the hazel-bush in copses, + As the oak-tree in the forest, + As the Moon among the planets; + Drives the groom a coal-black courser, + Running like the famished black-dog, + Flying like the hungry raven, + Graceful as the lark at morning, + Golden cuckoos, six in number, + Twitter on the birchen cross-bow; + There are seven bluebirds singing + On the racer's hame and collar." + Noises hear they in the court-yard, + On the highway hear the sledges, + To the court comes Ilmarinen, + With his body-guard of heroes; + In the midst the chosen suitor, + Not too far in front of others, + Not too far behind his fellows. + Spake the hostess of Pohyola: + "Hie ye hither, men and heroes, + Haste, ye watchers, to the stables, + There unhitch the suitor's stallion, + Lower well the racer's breast-plate, + There undo the straps and buckles, + Loosen well the shafts and traces, + And conduct the suitor hither, + Give my son-in-law good welcome!" + Ilmarinen turned his racer + Into Louhi's yard and stables, + And descended from his snow-sledge. + Spake the hostess of Pohyola: + "Come, thou servant of my bidding, + Best of all my trusted servants, + Take at once the bridegroom's courser + From the shafts adorned with silver, + From the curving arch of willow, + Lift the harness trimmed in copper, + Tie the white-face to the manger, + Treat the suitor's steed with kindness, + Lead him carefully to shelter + By his soft and shining bridle, + By his halter tipped with silver; + Let him roll among the sand-hills, + On the bottoms soft and even, + On the borders of the snow-banks, + In the fields of milky color. + "Lead the hero's steed to water, + Lead him to the Pohya-fountains, + Where the living streams are flowing, + Sweet as milk of human kindness, + From the roots of silvery birches, + Underneath the shade of aspens. + "Feed the courser of the suitor, + On the sweetest corn and barley, + On the summer-wheat and clover, + In the caldron steeped in sweetness; + Feed him at the golden manger, + In the boxes lined with copper, + At my manger richly furnished, + In the warmest of the stables; + Tie him with a silk-like halter, + To the golden rings and staples, + To the hooks of purest silver, + Set in beams of birch and oak-wood; + Feed him on the hay the sweetest, + Feed him on the corn nutritious, + Give the best my barns can furnish. + "Curry well the suitor's courser + With the curry-comb of fish-bone, + Brush his hair with silken brushes, + Put his mane and tail in order, + Cover well with flannel blankets, + Blankets wrought in gold and silver, + Buckles forged from shining copper. + "Come, ye small lads of the village, + Lead the suitor to my chambers, + With your auburn locks uncovered, + From your hands remove your mittens, + See if ye can lead the hero + Through the door without his stooping, + Lifting not the upper cross-bar, + Lowering not the oaken threshold, + Moving not the birchen casings, + Great the hero who must enter. + "Ilmarinen is too stately, + Cannot enter through the portals, + Not the son-in-law and bridegroom, + Till the portals have been heightened; + Taller by a head the suitor + Than the door-ways of the mansion." + Quick the servants of Pohyola + Tore away the upper cross-bar, + That his cap might not be lifted; + Made the oaken threshold lower + That the hero might not stumble; + Made the birch-wood portals wider, + Opened full the door of welcome, + Easy entrance for the suitor. + Speaks the hostess of the Northland + As the bridegroom freely passes + Through the doorway of her dwelling: + "Thanks are due to thee, O Ukko, + That my son-in-law has entered! + Let me now my halls examine; + Make the bridal chambers ready, + Finest linen on my tables, + Softest furs upon my benches, + Birchen flooring scrubbed to whiteness, + All my rooms in perfect order." + Then the hostess of Pohyola + Visited her spacious dwelling, + Did not recognize her chambers; + Every room had been remodeled, + Changed by force of mighty magic; + All the halls were newly burnished, + Hedge-hog bones were used for ceilings, + Bones of reindeer for foundations, + Bones of wolverine for door-sills, + For the cross-bars bones of roebuck, + Apple-wood were all the rafters, + Alder-wood, the window-casings, + Scales of trout adorned the windows, + And the fires were set in flowers. + All the seats were made of silver, + All the floors of copper-tiling, + Gold-adorned were all the tables, + On the floor were silken mattings, + Every fire-place set in copper, + Every hearth-stone cut from marble, + On each shelf were colored sea-shells, + Kalew's tree was their protection. + To the court-room came the hero, + Chosen suitor from Wainola, + These the words of Ilmarinen: + "Send, O Ukko, health and pleasure + To this ancient home and dwelling, + To this mansion richly fashioned!" + Spake the hostess of Pohyola: + "Let thy coming be auspicious + To these halls of thee unworthy, + To the home of thine affianced, + To this dwelling lowly fashioned, + Mid the lindens and the aspens. + "Come, ye maidens that should serve me, + Come, ye fellows from the village, + Bring me fire upon the birch-bark, + Light the fagots of the fir-tree, + That I may behold the bridegroom, + Chosen suitor of my daughter, + Fairy Maiden of the Rainbow, + See the color of his eyeballs, + Whether they are blue or sable, + See if they are warm and faithful." + Quick the young lads from the village + Brought the fire upon the birch-bark, + Brought it on the tips of pine-wood; + And the fire and smoke commingled + Roll and roar about the hero, + Blackening the suitor's visage, + And the hostess speaks as follows; + "Bring the fire upon a taper, + On the waxen tapers bring it!" + Then the maidens did as bidden, + Quickly brought the lighted tapers, + Made the suitor's eyeballs glisten, + Made his cheeks look fresh and ruddy; + Made his eyes of sable color + Sparkle like the foam of waters, + Like the reed-grass on the margin, + Colored as the ocean jewels, + Iridescent as the rainbow. + "Come, ye fellows of the hamlet, + Lead my son-in-law and hero + To the highest seat at table, + To the seat of greatest honor, + With his back upon the blue-wall, + Looking on my bounteous tables, + Facing all the guests of Northland." + Then the hostess of Pohyola + Served her guests in great abundance, + Richest drinks and rarest viands, + First of all she, served the bridegroom + On his platters, honeyed biscuit, + And the sweetest river salmon, + Seasoned butter, roasted bacon, + All the dainties of Pohyola. + Then the helpers served the others, + Filled the plates of all invited + With the varied food of Northland. + Spake the hostess of Pohyola: + "Come, ye maidens from the village, + Hither bring the beer in pitchers, + In the urns with double handles, + To the many guests in-gathered, + Ere all others, serve the bridegroom." + Thereupon the merry maidens + Brought the beer in silver pitchers + From the copper-banded vessels, + For the wedding-guests assembled; + And the beer, fermenting, sparkled + On the beard of Ilmarinen, + On the beards of many heroes. + When the guests had all partaken + Of the wondrous beer of barley, + Spake the beer in merry accents + Through the tongues of the magicians, + Through the tongue of many a hero, + Through the tongue of Wainamoinen, + Famed to be the sweetest singer + Of the Northland bards and minstrels, + These the words of the enchanter: + "O thou beer of honeyed flavor, + Let us not imbibe in silence, + Let some hero sing thy praises, + Sing thy worth in golden measures; + Let the hostess start the singing, + Let the bridegroom sound thy virtues! + Have our songs thus quickly vanished, + Have our joyful tongues grown silent? + Evil then has been the brewing, + Then the beer must be unworthy, + That it does not cheer the singer, + Does not move the merry minstrel, + That the golden guests are joyless, + And the cuckoo is not singing. + Never will these benches echo + Till the bench-guests chant thy virtues; + Nor the floor resound thy praises + Till the floor-guests sing in concord; + Nor the windows join the chorus + Till the window-guests have spoken; + All the tables will keep silence + Till the heroes toast thy virtues; + Little singing from the chimney + Till the chimney-guests have chanted." + On the floor a child was sitting, + Thus the little boy made answer: + "I am small and young in singing, + Have perchance but little wisdom; + Be that as it may, my seniors, + Since the elder minstrels sing not, + Nor the heroes chant their legends, + Nor the hostess lead the singing, + I will sing my simple stories, + Sing my little store of knowledge, + To the pleasure of the evening, + To the joy of the invited." + Near the fire reclined an old man, + And the gray-beard thus made answer: + "Not the time for children's singing, + Children's wisdom is too ready, + Children's songs are filled with trifles, + Filled with shrewd and vain deceptions, + Maiden-songs are full of follies; + Leave the songs and incantations + To the ancient wizard-singers; + Leave the tales of times primeval + To the minstrel of Wainola, + To the hero of the Northland, + To the, ancient Wainamoinen." + Thereupon Osmoinen answered: + "Are there not some sweeter singers + In this honored congregation, + That will clasp their hands together, + Sing the ancient songs unbroken, + Thus begin the incantations, + Make these ancient halls re-echo + For the pleasure of the evening, + For the joy of the in-gathered?" + From the hearth-stone spake, the gray-beard + "Not a singer of Pohyola, + Not a minstrel, nor magician, + That was better skilled in chanting + Legends of the days departed, + Than was I when I was singing, + In my years of vain ambition; + Then I chanted tales of heroes, + On the blue back of the waters, + Sang the ballads of my people, + In the vales and on the mountains, + Through the verdant fields and forests; + Sweet my voice and skilled my singing, + All my songs were highly lauded, + Rippled like the quiet rivers, + Easy-flowing like the waters, + Easy-gliding as the snow-shoes, + Like the ship upon the ocean. + "Woe is me, my days are ended, + Would not recognize my singing, + All its sweetness gone to others, + Flows no more like rippling waters, + Makes no more the hills re-echo! + Now my songs are full of discord, + Like the rake upon the stubble, + Like the sledge upon the gravel, + Like the boat upon the sea-shore!" + Then the ancient Wainamoinen + Spake these words in magic measures: + "Since no other bard appeareth + That will clasp my hand in singing, + I will sing some simple legends, + Sing my, garnered store of wisdom, + Make these magic halls re-echo + With my tales of ancient story, + Since a bard I was created, + Born an orator and singer; + Do not ask the ways of others, + Follow not the paths of strangers." + Wainamoinen, famous minstrel, + Song's eternal, wise supporter, + Then began the songs of pleasure, + Made the halls resound with joyance, + Filled the rooms with wondrous singing; + Sang the ancient bard-magician + All the oldest wisdom-sayings, + Did not fail in voice nor legends, + All the wisest thoughts remembered. + Thus the ancient Wainamoinen + Sang the joy of all assembled, + To the pleasure of the evening, + To the merriment of maidens, + To the happiness of heroes; + All the guests were stilled in wonder + At the magic of his singing, + At the songs of the magician. + Spake again wise Wainamoinen, + When his wonder-tales had ended: + "l have little worth or power, + Am a bard of little value, + Little consequence my singing, + Mine abilities as nothing, + If but Ukko, my Creator, + Should intone his wisdom-sayings, + Sing the source of good and evil, + Sing the origin of matter, + Sing the legends of omniscience, + Sing his songs in full perfection. + God could sing the floods to honey, + Sing the sands to ruddy berries, + Sing the pebbles into barley, + Sing to beer the running waters, + Sing to salt the rocks of ocean, + Into corn-fields sing the forests, + Into gold the forest-fruitage, + Sing to bread the hills and mountains, + Sing to eggs the rounded sandstones; + He could touch the springs of magic, + He could turn the keys of nature, + And produce within thy pastures, + Hurdles filled with sheep and reindeer, + Stables filled with fleet-foot stallions, + Kine in every field and fallow; + Sing a fur-robe for the bridegroom, + For the bride a coat of ermine, + For the hostess, shoes of silver, + For the hero, mail of copper. + "Grant O Ukko, my Creator, + God of love, and truth, and justice, + Grant thy blessing on our feasting, + Bless this company assembled, + For the good of Sariola, + For the happiness of Northland! + May this bread and beer bring joyance, + May they come in rich abundance, + May they carry full contentment + To the people of Pohyola, + To the cabin and the mansion; + May the hours we spend in singing, + In the morning, in the evening, + Fill our hearts with joy and gladness! + Hear us in our supplications, + Grant to us thy needed blessings, + Send enjoyment, health, and comfort, + To the people here assembled, + To the host and to the hostess, + To the bride and to the bridegroom, + To the sons upon the waters, + To the daughters at their weavings, + To the hunters on the mountains, + To the shepherds in the fenlands, + That our lives may end in honor, + That we may recall with pleasure + Ilmarinen's magic marriage + To the Maiden of the Rainbow, + Snow-white virgin of the Northland." + + + + +RUNE XXII. + + + + THE BRIDE S FAREWELL. + + + When the marriage was completed, + When the many guests had feasted, + At the wedding of the Northland, + At the Dismal-land carousal, + Spake the hostess of Pohyola + To the blacksmith, Ilmarinen: + "Wherefore, bridegroom, dost thou linger, + Why art waiting, Northland hero? + Sittest for the father's pleasure, + For affection of the mother, + For the splendor of the maidens, + For the beauty of the daughter? + Noble son-in-law and brother, + Wait thou longer, having waited + Long already for the virgin, + Thine affianced is not ready, + Not prepared, thy life-companion, + Only are her tresses braided. + "Chosen bridegroom, pride of Pohya, + Wait thou longer, having waited + Long already for the virgin, + Thy beloved is preparing, + Only is one hand made ready. + "Famous artist, Ilmarinen, + Wait still longer, having waited + Long already for the virgin, + Thy beloved is not ready, + Only is one foot in fur-shoes," + Spake again the ancient Louhi: + "Chosen suitor of my daughter, + Thou hast thrice in kindness waited, + Wait no longer for the virgin, + Thy beloved now is ready, + Well prepared thy life-companion, + Fairy Maiden of the Rainbow. + "Beauteous daughter, join thy suitor, + Follow him, thy chosen husband, + Very near is the uniting, + Near indeed thy separation. + At thy hand the honored bridegroom, + Near the door he waits to lead thee, + Guide thee to his home and kindred; + At the gate his steed is waiting, + Restless champs his silver bridle, + And the sledge awaits thy presence. + "Thou wert anxious for a suitor, + Ready to accept his offer, + Wert in haste to take his jewels, + Place his rings upon thy fingers; + Now, fair daughter, keep thy promise; + To his sledge, with happy footsteps, + Hie in haste to join the bridegroom, + Gaily journey to the village + With thy chosen life-companion, + With thy suitor, Ilmarinen. + Little hast thou looked about thee, + Hast not raised thine eyes above thee, + Beauteous maiden of the Northland, + Hast thou made a rueful bargain, + Full of wailing thine engagement, + And thy marriage full of sorrow, + That thy father's ancient cottage + Thou art leaving now forever, + Leaving also friends and kindred, + For the, blacksmith, Ilmarinen? + "O how beautiful thy childhood, + In thy father's dwelling-places, + Nurtured like a tender flower, + Like the strawberry in spring-time + Soft thy couch and sweet thy slumber, + Warm thy fires and rich thy table; + From the fields came corn in plenty, + From the highlands, milk and berries, + Wheat and barley in abundance, + Fish, and fowl, and hare, and bacon, + From thy father's fields and forests. + "Never wert thou, child, in sorrow, + Never hadst thou grief nor trouble, + All thy cares were left to fir-trees, + All thy worry to the copses, + All thy weeping to the willows, + All thy sighing to the lindens, + All thy thinking to the aspens + And the birches on the mountains, + Light and airy as the leaflet, + As a butterfly in summer, + Ruddy as a mountain-berry, + Beautiful as vernal flowers. + "Now thou leavest home and kindred, + Wanderest to other firesides, + Goest to another mother, + Other sisters, other brothers, + Goest to a second father, + To the servant-folk of strangers, + From thy native hills and lowlands. + There and here the homes will differ, + Happier thy mother's hearth-stone; + Other horns will there be sounded, + Other portals there swing open, + Other hinges there be creaking; + There the doors thou canst not enter + Like the daughters of Wainola, + Canst not tend the fires and ovens + As will please the minds of strangers. + "Didst thou think, my fairest maiden, + Thou couldst wed and on the morrow + Couldst return, if thou shouldst wish it, + To thy father's court and dwelling? + Not for one, nor two, nor three days, + Wilt thou leave thy mother's chambers, + Leave thy sisters and thy brothers, + Leave thy father's hills and lowlands. + Long the time the wife must wander, + Many months and years must wander, + Work, and struggle, all her life long, + Even though the mother liveth. + Great, indeed, must be the changes + When thou comest back to Pohya, + Changed, thy friends and nearest kindred, + Changed, thy father's ancient dwellings, + Changed, the valleys and the mountains, + Other birds will sing thy praises!" + When the mother thus had spoken, + Then the daughter spake, departing: + "In my early days of childhood + Often I intoned these measures: + 'Art a virgin, yet no virgin, + Guided by an aged mother, + In a brother's fields and forests, + In the mansion of a father! + Only wilt become a virgin, + Only when thou hast a suitor, + Only when thou wedst a hero, + One foot on the father's threshold, + And the other for the snow-sledge + That will speed thee and thy husband + To his native vales and highlands!' + "I have wished thus many summers, + Sang it often in my childhood, + Hoped for this as for the flowers, + Welcome as the birds of spring-time. + Thus fulfilled are all my wishes, + Very near is my departure, + One foot on my father's threshold, + And the, other for the journey + With my husband to his people; + Cannot understand the reason + That has changed my former feelings, + Cannot leave thee now with gladness, + Cannot go with great rejoicing + From my dear, old home and kindred, + Where as maiden I have lingered, + From the courts where I was nurtured, + From my father's band and guidance, + From my faithful mother's counsel. + Now I go, a maid of sorrow, + Heavy-hearted to the bridegroom, + Like the bride of Night in winter, + Like the ice upon the rivers. + "Such is not the mind of others, + Other brides of Northland heroes; + Others do not leave unhappy, + Have no tears, nor cares, nor sorrows, + I alas! must weep and murmur, + Carry to my grave great sadness, + Heart as dark as Death's black river. + "Such the feelings of the happy, + Such the minds of merry maidens: + Like the early dawn of spring-time, + Like the rising Sun in summer + No such radiance awaits me, + With my young heart filled with terror; + Happiness is not my portion, + Like the flat-shore of the ocean, + Like the dark rift of the storm-cloud, + Like the cheerless nights of winter! + Dreary is the day in autumn, + Dreary too the autumn evening, + Still more dreary is my future!" + An industrious old maiden, + Ever guarding home and kindred, + Spake these words of doubtful comfort: + "Dost thou, beauteous bride, remember, + Canst thou not recall my counsels? + These the words that I have taught thee: + 'Look not joyfully for suitors, + Never heed the tongues of wooers, + Look not in the eyes of charmers, + At their feet let fall thy vision. + He that hath a mouth for sweetness, + He that hath an eye for beauty, + Offers little that will comfort; + Lempo sits upon his forehead, + In his mouth dwells dire Tuoni.' + "Thus, fair bride, did I advise thee, + Thus advised my sister's daughter: + Should there come the best of suitors, + Noblest wooers, proudest lovers, + Give to all these wisdom-sayings, + Let thine answer be as follows: + 'Never will I think it wisdom, + Never will it be my pleasure, + To become a second daughter, + Linger with my husband's mother; + Never shall I leave my father, + Never wander forth to bondage, + At the bidding of a bridegroom: + Never shall I be a servant, + Wife and slave to any hero, + Never will I be submissive + To the orders of a husband.' + "Fairest bride, thou didst not heed me, + Gav'st no thought to my advices, + Didst not listen to my counsel; + Wittingly thy feet have wandered + Into boiling tar and water, + Hastened to thy suitor's snow-sledge, + To the bear-dens of thy husband, + On his sledge to be ill-treated, + Carried to his native country, + To the bondage of his people, + There, a subject to his mother. + Thou hast left thy mother's dwelling, + To the schooling of the master; + Hard indeed the master's teachings, + Little else than constant torture; + Ready for thee are his bridles, + Ready for thy bands the shackles, + Were not forged for any other; + Soon, indeed, thou'lt feel the hardness, + Feel the weight of thy misfortune, + Feel thy second father's censure, + And his wife's inhuman treatment, + Hear the cold words or thy brother, + Quail before thy haughty sister. + "Listen, bride, to what I tell thee: + In thy home thou wert a jewel, + Wert thy father's pride and pleasure, + 'Moonlight,' did thy father call thee, + And thy mother called thee 'Sunshine,' + 'Sea-foam' did thy brother call thee, + And thy sister called thee 'Flower.' + When thou leavest home and kindred + Goest to a second mother, + Often she will give thee censure, + Never treat thee as her daughter, + Rarely will she give thee counsel, + Never will she sound thy praises. + 'Brush-wood,' will the father call thee, + 'Sledge of Rags,' thy husband's mother, + 'Flight of Stairs,' thy stranger brother, + 'Scare-crow,' will the sister call thee, + Sister of thy blacksmith-husband; + Then wilt think of my good counsels, + Then wilt wish in tears and murmurs, + That as steam thou hadst ascended, + That as smoke thy soul had risen, + That as sparks thy life had vanished. + As a bird thou canst not wander + From thy nest to circle homeward, + Canst not fall and die like leaflets, + As the sparks thou canst not perish, + Like the smoke thou canst not vanish. + "Youthful bride, and darling sister, + Thou hast bartered all thy friendships, + Hast exchanged thy loving father, + Thou hast left thy faithful mother + For the mother of thy husband; + Hast exchanged thy loving brother, + Hast renounced thy gentle sister, + For the kindred of thy suitor; + Hast exchanged thy snow-white covers + For the rocky couch of sorrow; + Hast exchanged these crystal waters + For the waters of Wainola; + Hast renounced these sandy sea-shores + For the muddy banks of Kalew; + Northland glens thou hast forsaken + For thy husband's barren meadows; + Thou hast left thy berry-mountains + For the stubble-fields and deserts. + "Thou, O maiden, hast been thinking + Thou wouldst happy be in wedlock; + Neither work, nor care, nor sorrow, + From this night would be thy portion, + With thy husband for protection. + Not to sleep art thou conducted, + Not to happiness, nor joyance, + Wakefulness, thy night-companion, + And thy day-attendant, trouble; + Often thou wilt drink of sorrow, + Often long for vanished pleasures. + "When at home thou hadst no head-gear, + Thou hadst also little sadness; + When thy couch was not of linen, + No unhappiness came nigh thee; + Head-gear brings but pain and sorrow, + Linen breeds bad dispositions, + Linen brings but deeps of anguish, + And the flax untimely mourning. + "Happy in her home, the maiden, + Happy at her father's fireside, + Like the master in his mansion, + Happy with her bows and arrows. + 'Tis not thus with married women; + Brides of heroes may be likened + To the prisoners of Moskva, + Held in bondage by their masters. + "As a wife, must weep and labor, + Carry trouble on both shoulders; + When the next hour passes over, + Thou must tend the fire and oven, + Must prepare thy husband's dinner, + Must direct thy master's servants. + When thine evening meal is ready, + Thou must search for bidden wisdom + In the brain of perch and salmon, + In the mouths of ocean whiting, + Gather wisdom from the cuckoo, + Canst not learn it from thy mother, + Mother dear of seven daughters; + Cannot find among her treasures + Where were born the human instincts, + Where were born the minds of heroes, + Whence arose the maiden's beauty, + Whence the beauty of her tresses, + Why all life revives in spring-time. + "Weep, O weep, my pretty young bride. + When thou weepest, weep sincerely, + Weep great rivers from thine eyelids, + Floods of tears in field and fallow, + Lakelets in thy father's dwelling; + Weep thy rooms to overflowing, + Shed thy tears in great abundance, + Lest thou weepest on returning + To thy native hills and valleys, + When thou visitest thy father + In the smoke of waning glory, + On his arm a withered tassel. + "Weep, O weep, my lovely maiden, + When thou weepest, weep in earnest, + Weep great rivers from thine eyelids; + If thou dost not weep sincerely, + Thou wilt weep on thy returning + To thy Northland home and kindred, + When thou visitest thy mother + Old and breathless near the hurdles, + In her arms a barley-bundle. + "Weep, O weep, sweet bride of beauty, + When thou weepest, weep profusely; + If thou dost not weep in earnest, + Thou wilt weep on thy returning + To thy native vales and highlands, + When thou visitest thy brother + Lying wounded by the way-side, + In his hand but empty honors. + "Weep, O weep, my sister's daughter, + Weep great rivers from thine eyelids; + If thou dost not weep sufficient, + Thou wilt weep on thy returning + To the scenes of happy childhood, + When thou visitest thy sister + Lying, prostrate in the meadow, + In her hand a birch-wood mallet." + When the ancient maid had ended, + Then the young bride sighed in anguish, + Straightway fell to bitter weeping, + Spake these words in deeps of sorrow: + "O, ye sisters, my beloved, + Ye companions of my childhood, + Playmates of my early summers, + Listen to your sister's counsel: + Cannot comprehend the reason, + Why my mind is so dejected, + Why this weariness and sadness, + This untold and unseen torture, + Cannot understand the meaning + Of this mighty weight of sorrow! + Differently I had thought it, + I had hoped for greater pleasures, + I had hoped to sing as cuckoos, + On the hill-tops call and echo, + When I had attained this station, + Reached at last the goal expectant; + But I am not like the cuckoo, + Singing, merry on the hill-tops; + I am like the songless blue-duck, + As she swims upon the waters, + Swims upon the cold, cold ocean, + Icicles upon her pinions. + "Ancient father, gray-haired mother, + Whither do ye wish to lead me, + Whither take this bride, thy daughter, + That this sorrow may pass over, + Where this heavy heart may lighten, + Where this grief may turn to gladness? + Better it had been, O mother, + Hadst thou nursed a block of birch-wood, + Hadst thou clothed the colored sandstone, + Rather than this hapless maiden, + For the fulness of these sorrows, + For this keen and killing trouble. + Many sympathizers tell me: + 'Foolish bride, thou art ungrateful, + Do not grieve, thou child of sorrow, + Thou hast little cause for weeping.' + "O, deceive me not, my people, + Do not argue with me falsely, + For alas! I have more troubles + Than the waterfalls have pebbles, + Than the Ingerland has willows, + Than the Suomi-hills have berries; + Never could the Pohya plow-horse + Pull this mighty weight of sorrow, + Shaking not his birchen cross-bar, + Breaking not his heavy collar; + Never could the Northland reindeer + Heavy shod and stoutly harnessed, + Draw this load of care and trouble." + By the stove a babe was playing, + And the young child spake as follows: + "Why, O fair bride, art thou weeping, + Why these tears of pain and sadness? + Leave thy troubles to the elk-herds, + And thy grief to sable fillies, + Let the steeds of iron bridles + Bear the burden of thine anguish, + Horses have much larger foreheads, + Larger shoulders, stronger sinews, + And their necks are made for labor, + Stronger are their bones and muscles, + Let them bear thy heavy burdens. + There is little good in weeping, + Useless are thy tears of sorrow; + Art not led to swamps and lowlands, + Nor to banks of little rivers; + Thou art led to fields of flowers, + Led to fruitful trees and forests, + Led away from beer of Pohya + To the sweeter mead of Kalew. + At thy shoulder waits thy husband, + On thy right side, Ilmarinen, + Constant friend and life-protector, + He will guard thee from all evil; + Husband ready, steed in waiting, + Gold-and-silver-mounted harness, + Hazel-birds that sing and flutter + On the courser's yoke and cross-bar; + Thrushes also sing and twitter + Merrily on hame and collar, + Seven bluebirds, seven cuckoos, + Sing thy wedding-march in concord. + "Be no longer full of sorrow, + Dry thy tears, thou bride of beauty, + Thou hast found a noble husband, + Better wilt thou fare than ever, + By the side of Ilmarinen, + Artist husband, metal-master, + Bread-provider of thy table, + On the arm of the fish-catcher, + On the breast of the elk-hunter, + By the side of the bear-killer. + Thou hast won the best of suitors, + Hast obtained a mighty hero; + Never idle is his cross-bow, + On the nails his quivers hang not, + Neither are his dogs in kennel, + Active agents is his bunting. + Thrice within the budding spring-time + In the early hours of morning + He arises from his fare-couch, + From his slumber in the brush-wood, + Thrice within the sowing season, + On his eyes the deer has fallen, + And the branches brushed his vesture, + And his locks been combed by fir-boughs. + Hasten homeward with thy husband, + Where thy hero's friends await thee, + Where his forests sing thy welcome. + "Ilmarinen there possesses + All the birds that fly in mid-air, + All the beasts that haunt the woodlands, + All that feed upon the mountains, + All that graze on hill and valley, + Sheep and cattle by the thousands; + Sweet the grass upon his meadows, + Sweet the barley in his uplands, + In the lowlands corn abundant, + Wheat upon the elm-wood fallows, + Near the streamlets rye is waving, + Waving grain on many acres, + On his mountains gold and silver, + Rich his mines of shining copper, + Highlands filled with magic metals, + Chests of jewels in his store-house, + All the wealth of Kalevala." + + + + +RUNE XXIII. + + + + OSMOTAR THE BRIDE-ADVISER + + + Now the bride must be instructed, + Who will teach the Maid of Beauty, + Who instruct the Rainbow-daughter? + Osmotar, the wisdom-maiden, + Kalew's fair and lovely virgin, + Osmotar will give instructions + To the bride of Ilmarinen, + To the orphaned bride of Pohya, + Teach her how to live in pleasure, + How to live and reign in glory, + Win her second mother's praises, + Joyful in her husband's dwelling. + Osmotar in modest accents + Thus the anxious bride addresses; + "Maid of Beauty, lovely sister, + Tender plant of Louhi's gardens, + Hear thou what thy sister teaches, + Listen to her sage instructions: + Go thou hence, my much beloved, + Wander far away, my flower, + Travel on enwrapped in colors, + Glide away in silks and ribbons, + From this house renowned and ancient, + From thy father's halls and court-yards + Haste thee to thy husband's village, + Hasten to his mother's household; + Strange, the rooms in other dwellings, + Strange, the modes in other hamlets. + "Full of thought must be thy going, + And thy work be well considered, + Quite unlike thy home in Northland, + On the meadows of thy father, + On the high-lands of thy brother, + Singing through thy mother's fenlands, + Culling daisies with thy sister. + "When thou goest from thy father + Thou canst take whatever pleases, + Only three things leave behind thee: + Leave thy day-dreams to thy sister, + Leave thou kindness for thy mother, + To thy brother leave thy labors, + Take all else that thou desirest. + Throw away thine incantations, + Cast thy sighing to the pine-trees, + And thy maidenhood to zephyrs, + Thy rejoicings to the couches, + Cast thy trinkets to the children, + And thy leisure to the gray-beards, + Cast all pleasures to thy playmates, + Let them take them to the woodlands, + Bury them beneath the mountain. + "Thou must hence acquire new habits, + Must forget thy former customs, + Mother-love must be forsaken, + Thou must love thy husband's mother, + Lower must thy head be bended, + Kind words only must thou utter. + "Thou must hence acquire new habits, + Must forget thy former customs, + Father-love must be forsaken, + Thou must love thy husband's father, + Lower must thy head be bended, + Kind words only must thou utter. + "Thou must hence acquire new habits, + Must forget thy former customs, + Brother-love must be forsaken, + Thou must love thy husband's brother, + Lower must thy head be bended, + Kind words only must thou utter. + "Thou must hence acquire new habits + Must forget thy former customs, + Sister-love must be forsaken, + Thou must love thy husband's sister, + Lower must thy head be bended, + Kind words only must thou utter. + "Never in the course of ages, + Never while the moonlight glimmers, + Wickedly approach thy household, + Nor unworthily, thy servants, + Nor thy courts with indiscretion; + Let thy dwellings sing good manners, + And thy walls re-echo virtue. + After mind the hero searches. + And the best of men seek honor, + Seek for honesty and wisdom; + If thy home should be immoral, + If thine inmates fail in virtue, + Then thy gray-beards would be black-dogs + In sheep's clothing at thy firesides; + All thy women would be witches, + Wicked witches in thy chambers, + And thy brothers be as serpents + Crawling through thy husband's mansion; + All thy sisters would be famous + For their evil thoughts and conduct. + "Equal honors must be given + To thy husband's friends and kindred; + Lower must thy head be bended, + Than within thy mother's dwelling, + Than within thy father's guest-room, + When thou didst thy kindred honor. + Ever strive to give good counsel, + Wear a countenance of sunshine, + Bear a head upon thy shoulders + Filled with wise and ancient sayings; + Open bright thine eyes at morning + To behold the silver sunrise, + Sharpen well thine ears at evening, + Thus to hear the rooster crowing; + When he makes his second calling, + Straightway thou must rise from slumber, + Let the aged sleep in quiet; + Should the rooster fail to call thee, + Let the moonbeams touch thine eyelids, + Let the Great Bear be thy keeper + Often go thou and consult them, + Call upon the Moon for counsel, + Ask the Bear for ancient wisdom, + From the stars divine thy future; + When the Great Bear faces southward, + When his tail is pointing northward, + This is time to break with slumber, + Seek for fire within the ashes, + Place a spark upon the tinder, + Blow the fire through all the fuel. + If no spark is in the ashes, + Then go wake thy hero-husband, + Speak these words to him on waking: + 'Give me fire, O my beloved, + Give a single spark, my husband, + Strike a little fire from flintstone, + Let it fall upon my tinder.' + "From the spark, O Bride of Beauty, + Light thy fires, and heat thine ovens, + In the holder, place the torch-light, + Find thy pathway to the stables, + There to fill the empty mangers; + If thy husband's cows be lowing, + If thy brother's steeds be neighing, + Then the cows await thy coming, + And the steeds for thee are calling, + Hasten, stooping through the hurdles, + Hasten through the yards and stables, + Feed thy husband's cows with pleasure, + Feed with care the gentle lambkins, + Give the cows the best of clover, + Hay, and barley, to the horses, + Feed the calves of lowing mothers, + Feed the fowl that fly to meet thee. + "Never rest upon the haymow, + Never sleep within the hurdles, + When the kine are fed and tended, + When the flocks have all been watered; + Hasten thence, my pretty matron, + Like the snow-flakes to thy dwelling, + There a crying babe awaits thee, + Weeping in his couch neglected, + Cannot speak and tell his troubles, + Speechless babe, and weeping infant, + Cannot say that he is hungry, + Whether pain or cold distresses, + Greets with joy his mother's footsteps. + Afterward repair in silence + To thy husband's rooms and presence, + Early visit thou his chambers, + In thy hand a golden pitcher, + On thine arm a broom of birch-wood, + In thy teeth a lighted taper, + And thyself the fourth in order. + Sweep thou then thy hero's dwelling, + Dust his benches and his tables, + Wash the flooring well with water. + "If the baby of thy sister + Play alone within his corner, + Show the little child attention, + Bathe his eyes and smoothe his ringlets, + Give the infant needed comforts; + Shouldst thou have no bread of barley, + In his hand adjust some trinket. + "Lastly, when the week has ended, + Give thy house a thorough cleansing, + Benches, tables, walls, and ceilings; + What of dust is on the windows, + Sweep away with broom of birch-twigs, + All thy rooms must first be sprinkled, + at the dust may not be scattered, + May not fill the halls and chambers. + Sweep the dust from every crevice, + Leave thou not a single atom; + Also sweep the chimney-corners, + Do not then forget the rafters, + Lest thy home should seem untidy, + Lest thy dwelling seem neglected. + "Hear, O maiden, what I tell thee, + Learn the tenor of my teaching: + Never dress in scanty raiment, + Let thy robes be plain and comely, + Ever wear the whitest linen, + On thy feet wear tidy fur-shoes, + For the glory of thy husband, + For the honor of thy hero. + Tend thou well the sacred sorb-tree, + Guard the mountain-ashes planted + In the court-yard, widely branching; + Beautiful the mountain-ashes, + Beautiful their leaves and flowers, + Still more beautiful the berries. + Thus the exiled one demonstrates + That she lives to please her husband, + Tries to make her hero happy. + "Like the mouse, have ears for hearing, + Like the hare, have feet for running, + Bend thy neck and turn thy visage + Like the juniper and aspen, + Thus to watch with care thy goings, + Thus to guard thy feet from stumbling, + That thou mayest walk in safety. + "When thy brother comes from plowing, + And thy father from his garners, + And thy husband from the woodlands, + From his chopping, thy beloved, + Give to each a water-basin, + Give to each a linen-towel, + Speak to each some pleasant greeting. + "When thy second mother hastens + To thy husband's home and kindred, + In her hand a corn-meal measure, + Haste thou to the court to meet her, + Happy-hearted, bow before her, + Take the measure from her fingers, + Happy, bear it to thy husband. + "If thou shouldst not see distinctly + What demands thy next attention, + Ask at once thy hero's mother: + 'Second mother, my beloved, + Name the task to be accomplished + By thy willing second daughter, + Tell me how to best perform it.' + "This should be the mother's answer: + 'This the manner of thy workings, + Thus thy daily work accomplish: + Stamp with diligence and courage, + Grind with will and great endurance, + Set the millstones well in order, + Fill the barley-pans with water, + Knead with strength the dough for baking, + Place the fagots on the fire-place, + That thy ovens may be heated, + Bake in love the honey-biscuit, + Bake the larger loaves of barley, + Rinse to cleanliness thy platters, + Polish well thy drinking-vessels. + "If thou hearest from the mother, + From the mother of thy husband, + That the cask for meal is empty, + Take the barley from the garners, + Hasten to the rooms for grinding. + When thou grindest in the chambers, + Do not sing in glee and joyance, + Turn the grinding-stones in silence, + To the mill give up thy singing, + Let the side-holes furnish music; + Do not sigh as if unhappy, + Do not groan as if in trouble, + Lest the father think thee weary, + Lest thy husband's mother fancy + That thy groans mean discontentment, + That thy sighing means displeasure. + Quickly sift the flour thou grindest, + Take it to the casks in buckets, + Bake thy hero's bread with pleasure, + Knead the dough with care and patience, + That thy biscuits may be worthy, + That the dough be light and airy. + "Shouldst thou see a bucket empty, + Take the bucket on thy shoulder, + On thine arm a silver-dipper, + Hasten off to fill with water + From the crystal river flowing; + Gracefully thy bucket carry, + Bear it firmly by the handles, + Hasten houseward like the zephyrs, + Hasten like the air of autumn; + Do not tarry near the streamlet, + At the waters do not linger, + That the father may not fancy, + Nor the ancient dame imagine, + That thou hast beheld thine image, + Hast admired thy form and features, + Hast admired thy grace and beauty + In the mirror of the fountain, + In the crystal streamlet's eddies. + "Shouldst thou journey to the woodlands, + There to gather aspen-fagots, + Do not go with noise and bustle, + Gather all thy sticks in silence, + Gather quietly the birch-wood, + That the father may not fancy, + And the mother not imagine, + That thy calling came from anger, + And thy noise from discontentment. + "If thou goest to the store-house + To obtain the flour of barley, + Do not tarry on thy journey, + On the threshold do not linger, + That the father may not fancy, + And the mother not imagine, + That the meal thou hast divided + With the women of the village. + "If thou goest to the river, + There to wash thy birchen platters, + There to cleanse thy pans and buckets, + Lest thy work be done in neatness, + Rinse the sides, and rinse the handles, + Rinse thy pitchers to perfection, + Spoons, and forks, and knives, and goblets, + Rinse with care thy cooking-vessels, + Closely watch the food-utensils, + That the dogs may not deface them, + That the kittens may not mar them, + That the eagles may not steal them, + That the children may not break them; + Many children in the village, + Many little heads and fingers, + That will need thy careful watching, + Lest they steal the things of value. + "When thou goest to thy bathing, + Have the brushes ready lying + In the bath-room clean and smokeless; + Do not, linger in the water, + At thy bathing do not tarry, + That the father may not fancy, + And the mother not imagine, + Thou art sleeping on the benches, + Rolling in the laps of comfort. + "From thy bath, when thou returnest, + To his bathing tempt the father, + Speak to him the words that follow: + 'Father of my hero-husband, + Clean are all the bath-room benches, + Everything in perfect order; + Go and bathe for thine enjoyment, + Pour the water all-sufficient, + I will lend thee needed service.' + "When the time has come for spinning, + When the hours arrive for weaving, + Do not ask the help of others, + Look not in the stream for knowledge, + For advice ask not the servants, + Nor the spindle from the sisters, + Nor the weaving-comb from strangers. + Thou thyself must do the spinning, + With thine own hand ply the shuttle, + Loosely wind the skeins of wool-yarn, + Tightly wind the balls of flax-thread, + Wind them deftly in the shuttle + Fit the warp upon the rollers, + Beat the woof and warp together, + Swiftly ply the weaver's shuttle, + Weave good cloth for all thy vestments, + Weave of woolen, webs for dresses + From the finest wool of lambkins, + One thread only in thy weaving. + "Hear thou what I now advise thee: + Brew thy beer from early barley, + From the barley's new-grown kernels, + Brew it with the magic virtues, + Malt it with the sweets of honey, + Do not stir it with the birch-rod, + Stir it with thy skilful fingers; + When thou goest to the garners, + Do not let the seed bring evil, + Keep the dogs outside the brew-house, + Have no fear of wolves in hunger, + Nor the wild-beasts of the mountains, + When thou goest to thy brewing, + Shouldst thou wander forth at midnight. + "Should some stranger come to see thee, + Do not worry for his comfort; + Ever does the worthy household + Have provisions for the stranger, + Bits of meat, and bread, and biscuit, + Ample for the dinner-table; + Seat the stranger in thy dwelling, + Speak with him in friendly accents, + Entertain the guest with kindness, + While his dinner is preparing. + When the stranger leaves thy threshold, + When his farewell has been spoken, + Lead him only to the portals, + Do not step without the doorway, + That thy husband may not fancy, + And the mother not imagine, + Thou hast interest in strangers. + "Shouldst thou ever make a journey + To the centre of the village, + There to gain some needed object, + While thou speakest in the hamlet, + Let thy words be full of wisdom, + That thou shamest not thy kindred, + Nor disgrace thy husband's household. + "Village-maidens oft will ask thee, + Mothers of the hamlet question: + 'Does thy husband's mother greet thee + As in childhood thou wert greeted, + In thy happy home in Pohya?' + Do not answer in negation, + Say that she has always given + Thee the best of her provisions, + Given thee the kindest greetings, + Though it be but once a season. + "Listen well to what I tell thee: + As thou goest from thy father + To thy husband's distant dwelling, + Thou must not forget thy mother, + Her that gave thee life and beauty, + Her that nurtured thee in childhood, + Many sleepless nights she nursed thee; + Often were her wants neglected, + Numberless the times she rocked thee; + Tender, true, and ever faithful, + Is the mother to her daughter. + She that can forget her mother, + Can neglect the one that nursed her, + Should not visit Mana's castle, + In the kingdom of Tuoni; + In Manala she would suffer, + Suffer frightful retribution, + Should her mother be forgotten; + Should her dear one be neglected, + Mana's daughters will torment her, + And Tuoni's sons revile her, + They will ask her much as follows: + 'How couldst thou forget thy mother, + How neglect the one that nursed thee? + Great the pain thy mother suffered, + Great the trouble that thou gavest + When thy loving mother brought thee + Into life for good or evil, + When she gave thee earth-existence, + When she nursed thee but an infant, + When she fed thee in thy childhood, + When she taught thee what thou knowest, + Mana's punishments upon thee, + Since thy mother is forgotten!'" + On the floor a witch was sitting, + Near the fire a beggar-woman, + One that knew the ways of people, + These the words the woman uttered: + "Thus the crow calls in the winter: + 'Would that I could be a singer, + And my voice be full of sweetness, + But, alas! my songs are worthless, + Cannot charm the weakest creature; + I must live without the singing + Leave the songs to the musicians, + Those that live in golden houses, + In the homes of the beloved; + Homeless therefore I must wander, + Like a beggar in the corn-fields, + And with none to do me honor.' + "Hear now, sister, what I tell thee, + Enter thou thy husband's dwelling, + Follow not his mind, nor fancies, + As my husband's mind I followed; + As a flower was I when budding, + Sprouting like a rose in spring-time, + Growing like a slender maiden, + Like the honey-gem of glory, + Like the playmates of my childhood, + Like the goslings of my father, + Like the blue-ducks of my mother, + Like my brother's water-younglings, + Like the bullfinch of my sister; + Grew I like the heather-flower, + Like the berry of the meadow, + Played upon the sandy sea-shore, + Rocked upon the fragrant upland, + Sang all day adown the valley, + Thrilled with song the hill and mountain, + Filled with mirth the glen and forest, + Lived and frolicked in the woodlands. + "Into traps are foxes driven + By the cruel pangs of hunger, + Into traps, the cunning ermine; + Thus are maidens wooed and wedded, + In their hunger for a husband. + Thus created is the virgin, + Thus intended is the daughter, + Subject to her hero-husband, + Subject also to his mother. + "Then to other fields I hastened, + Like a berry from the border, + Like a cranberry for roasting, + Like a strawberry for dinner; + All the elm-trees seemed to wound me, + All the aspens tried to cut me, + All the willows tried to seize me, + All the forest tried to slay me. + Thus I journeyed to my husband, + Thus I travelled to his dwelling, + Was conducted to his mother. + Then there were, as was reported, + Six compartments built of pine-wood, + Twelve the number of the chambers, + And the mansion filled with garrets, + Studding all the forest border, + Every by-way filled with flowers + Streamlets bordered fields of barley, + Filled with wheat and corn, the islands, + Grain in plenty in the garners, + Rye unthrashed in great abundance, + Countless sums of gold and silver, + Other treasures without number. + When my journey I had ended, + When my hand at last was given, + Six supports were in his cabin, + Seven poles as rails for fencing. + Filled with anger were the bushes, + All the glens disfavor showing, + All the walks were lined with trouble, + Evil-tempered were the forests, + Hundred words of evil import, + Hundred others of unkindness. + Did not let this bring me sorrow, + Long I sought to merit praises, + Long I hoped to find some favor, + Strove most earnestly for kindness; + When they led me to the cottage, + There I tried some chips to gather, + Knocked my head against the portals + Of my husband's lowly dwelling. + "At the door were eyes of strangers, + Sable eyes at the partition, + Green with envy in his cabin, + Evil heroes in the back-ground, + From each mouth the fire was streaming, + From each tongue the sparks out-flying, + Flying from my second father, + From his eyeballs of unkindness. + Did not let this bring me trouble, + Tried to live in peace and pleasure, + In the homestead of my husband + In humility I suffered, + Skipped about with feet of rabbit, + Flew along with steps of ermine, + Late I laid my head to slumber, + Early rose as if a servant, + Could not win a touch of kindness, + Could not merit love nor honor, + Though I had dislodged the mountains, + Though the rocks had I torn open. + "Then I turned the heavy millstone, + Ground the flour with care and trouble, + Ground the barley-grains in patience, + That the mother might be nourished, + That her fury-throat might swallow + What might please her taste and fancy,. + From her gold-enamelled platters, + From the corner of her table. + "As for me, the hapless daughter, + All my flour was from the siftings + On the table near the oven, + Ate I from the birchen ladle; + Oftentimes I brought the mosses + Gathered in the lowland meadows, + Baked them into loaves for eating; + Brought the water from the river, + Thirsty, sipped it from the dipper, + Ate of fish the worst in Northland, + Only smelts, and worthless swimmers, + Rocking in my boat of birch-bark + Never ate I fish or biscuit + From my second mother's fingers. + "Blades I gathered in the summers, + Twisted barley-stalks in winter, + Like the laborers of heroes, + Like the servants sold in bondage. + In the thresh-house of my husband, + Evermore to me was given + Flail the heaviest and longest, + And to me the longest lever, + On the shore the strongest beater, + And the largest rake in haying; + No one thought my burden heavy, + No one thought that I could suffer, + Though the best of heroes faltered, + And the strongest women weakened. + "Thus did I, a youthful housewife, + At the right time, all my duties, + Drenched myself in perspiration, + Hoped for better times to follow; + But I only rose to labor, + Knowing neither rest nor pleasure. + I was blamed by all the household, + With ungrateful tongues derided, + Now about my awkward manners, + Now about my reputation, + Censuring my name and station. + Words unkind were heaped upon me, + Fell like hail on me unhappy, + Like the frightful flash of lightning, + Like the heavy hail of spring-time. + I did not despair entirely, + Would have lived to labor longer + Underneath the tongue of malice, + But the old-one spoiled Lay temper, + Roused my deepest ire and hatred + Then my husband grew a wild-bear, + Grew a savage wolf of Hisi. + "Only then I turned to weeping, + And reflected in my chamber, + Thought of all my former pleasures + Of the happy days of childhood, + Of my father's joyful firesides, + Of my mother's peaceful cottage, + Then began I thus to murmur: + 'Well thou knowest, ancient mother, + How to make thy sweet bud blossom, + How to train thy tender shootlet; + Did not know where to ingraft it, + Placed, alas! the little scion + In the very worst of places, + On an unproductive hillock, + In the hardest limb of cherry, + Where it could not grow and flourish, + There to waste its life, in weeping, + Hapless in her lasting sorrow. + Worthier had been my conduct + In the regions that are better, + In the court-yards that are wider, + In compartments that are larger, + Living with a loving husband, + Living with a stronger hero. + Shoe of birch-bark was my suitor, + Shoe of Laplanders, my husband; + Had the body of a raven, + Voice and visage like the jackdaw, + Mouth and claws were from the black-wolf, + The remainder from the wild-bear. + Had I known that mine affianced + Was a fount of pain and evil, + To the hill-side I had wandered, + Been a pine-tree on the highway, + Been a linden on the border, + Like the black-earth made my visage, + Grown a beard of ugly bristles, + Head of loam and eyes of lightning, + For my ears the knots of birches, + For my limbs the trunks of aspens.' + "This the manner of my singing + In the hearing of my husband, + Thus I sang my cares and murmurs + Thus my hero near the portals + Heard the wail of my displeasure, + Then he hastened to my chamber; + Straightway knew I by his footsteps, + Well concluded be was angry, + 'Knew it by his steps implanted; + All the winds were still in slumber, + Yet his sable locks stood endwise, + Fluttered round his bead in fury, + While his horrid mouth stood open; + To and fro his eyes were rolling, + In one hand a branch of willow, + In the other, club of alder; + Struck at me with might of malice, + Aimed the cudgel at my forehead. + "When the evening had descended, + When my husband thought of slumber + Took he in his hand a whip-stalk, + With a whip-lash made of deer-skin, + Was not made for any other, + Only made for me unhappy. + "When at last I begged for mercy, + When I sought a place for resting, + By his side I courted slumber, + Merciless, my husband seized me, + Struck me with his arm of envy, + Beat me with the whip of torture, + Deer-skin-lash and stalk of birch-wood. + From his couch I leaped impulsive, + In the coldest night of winter, + But the husband fleetly followed, + Caught me at the outer portals, + Grasped me by my streaming tresses, + Tore my ringlets from my forehead, + Cast in curls upon the night-winds + To the freezing winds of winter. + What the aid that I could ask for, + Who could free me from my torment? + Made I shoes of magic metals, + Made the straps of steel and copper, + Waited long without the dwelling, + Long I listened at the portals, + Hoping he would end his ravings, + Hoping he would sink to slumber, + But he did not seek for resting, + Did not wish to still his fury. + Finally the cold benumbed me; + As an outcast from his cabin, + I was forced to walk and wander, + When I, freezing, well reflected, + This the substance of my thinking: + 'I will not endure this torture, + Will not bear this thing forever, + Will not bear this cruel treatment, + Such contempt I will not suffer + In the wicked tribe of Hisi, + In this nest of evil Piru.' + "Then I said, 'Farewell forever!' + To my husband's home and kindred, + To my much-loved home and husband; + Started forth upon a journey + To my father's distant hamlet, + Over swamps and over snow-fields, + Wandered over towering mountains, + Over hills and through the valleys, + To my brother's welcome meadows, + To my sister's home and birthplace. + "There were rustling withered pine-trees. + Finely-feathered firs were fading, + Countless ravens there were cawing, + All the jackdaws harshly singing, + This the chorus of the ravens: + 'Thou hast here a home no longer, + This is not the happy homestead + Of thy merry days of childhood.' + "Heeding not this woodland chorus, + Straight I journeyed to the dwelling + Of my childhood's friend and brother, + Where the portals spake in concord, + And the hills and valleys answered, + This their saddened song and echo: + 'Wherefore dost thou journey hither, + Comest thou for joy or sorrow, + To thy father's old dominions? + Here unhappiness awaits thee, + Long departed is thy father, + Dead and gone to visit Ukko, + Dead and gone thy faithful mother, + And thy brother is a stranger, + While his wife is chill and heartless!' + "Heeding not these many warnings, + Straightway to my brother's cottage + Were my weary feet directed, + Laid my hand upon the door-latch + Of my brother's dismal cottage, + But the latch was cold and lifeless. + When I wandered to the chamber, + When I waited at the doorway, + There I saw the heartless hostess, + But she did not give me greeting, + Did not give her hand in welcome; + Proud, alas! was I unhappy, + Did not make the first advances, + Did not offer her my friendship, + And my hand I did not proffer; + Laid my hand upon the oven, + All its former warmth departed! + On the coal I laid my fingers, + All the latent heat had left it. + On the rest-bench lay my brother, + Lay outstretched before the fire-place, + Heaps of soot upon his shoulders, + Heaps of ashes on his forehead. + Thus the brother asked the stranger, + Questioned thus his guest politely: + 'Tell me what thy name and station, + Whence thou comest o'er the waters!' + This the answer that I gave him: + Hast thou then forgot thy sister, + Does my brother not remember, + Not recall his mother's daughter + We are children of one mother, + Of one bird were we the fledgelings, + In one nest were hatched and nurtured.' + "Then the brother fell to weeping, + From his eyes great tear-drops flowing, + To his wife the brother whispered, + Whispered thus unto the housewife. + 'Bring thou beer to give my sister, + Quench her thirst and cheer her spirits.' + "Full of envy, brought the sister + Only water filled with evil, + Water for the infant's eyelids, + Soap and water from the bath-room. + "To his wife the brother whispered, + Whispered thus unto the housewife: + 'Bring thou salmon for my sister, + For my sister so long absent, + Thus to still her pangs of hunger.' + "Thereupon the wife obeying, + Brought, in envy, only cabbage + That the children had been eating, + And the house-dogs had been licking, + Leavings of the black-dog's breakfast. + "Then I left my brother's dwelling, + Hastened to the ancient homestead, + To my mother's home deserted; + Onward, onward did I wander, + Hastened onward by the cold-sea, + Dragged my body on in anguish, + To the cottage-doors of strangers, + To the unfamiliar portals, + For the care of the neglected, + For the needy of the village, + For the children poor and orphaned. + "There are many wicked people, + Many slanderers of women, + Many women evil-minded, + That malign their sex through envy. + Many they with lips of evil, + That belie the best of maidens, + Prove the innocent are guilty + Of the worst of misdemeanors, + Speak aloud in tones unceasing, + Speak, alas! with wicked motives, + Spread the follies of their neighbors + Through the tongues of self-pollution. + Very few, indeed, the people + That will feed the poor and hungry, + That will bid the stranger welcome; + Very few to treat her kindly, + Innocent, and lone, and needy, + Few to offer her a shelter + From the chilling storms of winter, + When her skirts with ice are stiffened, + Coats of ice her only raiment! + "Never in my days of childhood, + Never in my maiden life-time, + Never would believe the story + Though a hundred tongues had told + Though a thousand voices sang it, + That such evil things could happen, + That such misery could follow, + Such misfortune could befall one + Who has tried to do her duty, + Who has tried to live uprightly, + Tried to make her people happy." + Thus the young bride was instructed, + Beauteous Maiden of the Rainbow, + Thus by Osmotar, the teacher. + + + + +RUNE XXIV. + + + + THE BRIDE'S FAREWELL. + + + Osmotar, the bride-instructor, + Gives the wedding-guests this counsel, + Speaks these measures to the bridegroom: + "Ilmarinen, artist-brother, + Best of all my hero-brothers, + Of my mother's sons the dearest, + Gentlest, truest, bravest, grandest, + Listen well to what I tell thee + Of the Maiden of the Rainbow, + Of thy beauteous life-companion + Bridegroom, praise thy fate hereafter, + Praise forever thy good fortune; + If thou praisest, praise sincerely, + Good the maiden thou hast wedded, + Good the bride that Ukko gives thee, + Graciously has God bestowed her. + Sound her praises to thy father, + Praise her virtues to thy mother, + Let thy heart rejoice in secret, + That thou hast the Bride of Beauty, + Lovely Maiden of the Rainbow! + "Brilliant near thee stands the maiden, + At thy shoulder thy companion, + Happy under thy protection, + Beautiful as golden moonlight, + Beautiful upon thy bosom, + Strong to do thy kindly bidding, + Labor with thee as thou wishest, + Rake the hay upon thy meadows, + Keep thy home in full perfection, + Spin for thee the finest linen, + Weave for thee the richest fabrics, + Make for thee the softest raiment, + Make thy weaver's loom as merry + As the cuckoo of the forest; + Make the shuttle glide in beauty + Like the ermine of the woodlands; + Make the spindle twirl as deftly + As the squirrel spins the acorn; + Village-maidens will not slumber + While thy young bride's loom is humming, + While she plies the graceful shuttle. + "Bridegroom of the Bride of Beauty, + Noblest of the Northland heroes, + Forge thyself a scythe for mowing, + Furnish it with oaken handle, + Carve it in thine ancient smithy, + Hammer it upon thine anvil, + Have it ready for the summer, + For the merry days of sunshine; + Take thy bride then to the lowlands, + Mow the grass upon thy meadows, + Rake the hay when it is ready, + Make the reeds and grasses rustle, + Toss the fragrant heads of clover, + Make thy hay in Kalevala + When the silver sun is shining. + "When the time has come for weaving, + To the loom attract the weaver, + Give to her the spools and shuttles, + Let the willing loom be worthy, + Beautiful the frame and settle; + Give to her what may be needed, + That the weaver's song may echo, + That the lathe may swing and rattle, + Ma y be heard within the village, + That the aged may remark it, + And the village-maidens question: + 'Who is she that now is weaving, + What new power now plies the shuttle?' + "Make this answer to the question: + 'It is my beloved weaving, + My young bride that plies the shuttle.' + "Shall the weaver's weft be loosened, + Shall the young bride's loom be tightened? + Do not let the weft be loosened, + Nor the weaver's loom be tightened; + Such the weaving of the daughters + Of the Moon beyond the cloudlets; + Such the spinning of the maidens + Of the Sun in high Jumala, + Of the daughters of the Great Bear, + Of the daughters of the Evening. + Bridegroom, thou beloved hero, + Brave descendant of thy fathers, + When thou goest on a journey, + When thou drivest on the highway, + Driving with the Rainbow-daughter, + Fairest bride of Sariola, + Do not lead her as a titmouse, + As a cuckoo of the forest, + Into unfrequented places, + Into copses of the borders, + Into brier-fields and brambles, + Into unproductive marshes; + Let her wander not, nor stumble + On opposing rocks and rubbish. + Never in her father's dwelling, + Never in her mother's court-yard, + Has she fallen into ditches, + Stumbled hard against the fences, + Run through brier-fields, nor brambles, + Fallen over rocks, nor rubbish. + "Magic bridegroom of Wainola, + Wise descendant of the heroes, + Never let thy young wife suffer, + Never let her be neglected, + Never let her sit in darkness, + Never leave her unattended. + Never in her father's mansion, + In the chambers of her mother, + Has she sat alone in darkness, + Has she suffered for attention; + Sat she by the crystal window, + Sat and rocked, in peace and plenty, + Evenings for her father's pleasure, + Mornings for her mother's sunshine. + Never mayest thou, O bridegroom, + Lead the Maiden of the Rainbow + To the mortar filled with sea-grass, + There to grind the bark for cooking, + There to bake her bread from stubble, + There to knead her dough from tan-bark + Never in her father's dwelling, + Never in her mother's mansion, + Was she taken to the mortar, + There to bake her bread from sea-grass. + Thou shouldst lead the Bride of Beauty + To the garner's rich abundance, + There to draw the till of barley, + Grind the flour and knead for baking, + There to brew the beer for drinking, + Wheaten flour for honey-biscuits. + "Hero-bridegroom of Wainola, + Never cause thy Bride of Beauty + To regret her day of marriage; + Never make her shed a tear-drop, + Never fill her cup with sorrow. + Should there ever come an evening + When thy wife shall feel unhappy, + Put the harness on thy racer, + Hitch the fleet-foot to the snow-sled; + Take her to her father's dwelling, + To the household of her mother; + Never in thy hero-lifetime, + Never while the moonbeams glimmer, + Give thy fair spouse evil treatment, + Never treat her as thy servant; + Do not bar her from the cellar, + Do not lock thy best provisions + Never in her father's mansion, + Never by her faithful mother + Was she treated as a hireling. + Honored bridegroom of the Northland, + Proud descendant of the fathers, + If thou treatest well thy young wife, + Worthily wilt thou be treated; + When thou goest to her homestead, + When thou visitest her father, + Thou shalt meet a cordial welcome. + "Censure not the Bride of Beauty, + Never grieve thy Rainbow-maiden, + Never say in tones reproachful, + She was born in lowly station, + That her father was unworthy; + Honored are thy bride's relations, + From an old-time tribe, her kindred; + When of corn they sowed a measure, + Each one's portion was a kernel; + When they sowed a cask of flax-seed, + Each received a thread of linen. + Never, never, magic husband, + Treat thy beauty-bride unkindly, + Teach her not with lash of servants, + Strike her not with thongs of leather; + Never has she wept in anguish + From the birch-whip of her mother. + Stand before her like a rampart, + Be to her a strong protection, + Do not let thy mother chide her, + Let thy father not upbraid her, + Never let thy guests offend her; + Should thy servants bring annoyance, + They may need the master's censure; + Do not harm the Bride of Beauty, + Never injure her thou lovest; + Three long years hast thou been wooing, + Hoping every mouth to win her. + "Counsel with the bride of heaven, + To thy young wife give instruction, + Kindly teach thy bride in secret, + In the long and dreary evenings, + When thou sittest at the fireside; + Teach one year, in words of kindness, + Teach with eyes of love a second, + In the third year teach with firmness. + If she should not heed thy teaching, + Should not hear thy kindly counsel + After three long years of effort, + Cut a reed upon the lowlands, + Cut a nettle from the border, + Teach thy wife with harder measures. + In the fourth year, if she heed not, + Threaten her with sterner treatment, + With the stalks of rougher edges, + Use not yet the thongs of leather, + Do not touch her with the birch-whip. + If she does not heed this warning, + Should she pay thee no attention, + Cut a rod upon the mountains, + Or a willow in the valleys, + Hide it underneath thy mantle, + That the stranger may not see it, + Show it to thy wife in secret, + Shame her thus to do her duty, + Strike not yet, though disobeying. + Should she disregard this warning, + Still refuse to heed thy wishes, + Then instruct her with the willow, + Use the birch-rod from the mountains + In the closet of thy dwelling, + In the attic of thy mansion; + Strike, her not upon the common, + Do not conquer her in public, + Lest the villagers should see thee, + Lest the neighbors hear her weeping, + And the forests learn thy troubles. + Touch thy wife upon the shoulders, + Let her stiffened back be softened. + Do not touch her on the forehead, + Nor upon the ears, nor visage; + If a ridge be on her forehead, + Or a blue mark on her eyelids, + Then her mother would perceive it, + And her father would take notice, + All the village-workmen see it, + And the village-women ask her + 'Hast thou been in heat of battle, + Hast thou struggled in a conflict, + Or perchance the wolves have torn thee, + Or the forest-bears embraced thee, + Or the black-wolf be thy husband, + And the bear be thy protector?'" + By the fire-place lay a gray-beard, + On the hearth-stone lay a beggar, + And the old man spake as follows: + "Never, never, hero-husband, + Follow thou thy young wife's wishes, + Follow not her inclinations, + As, alas! I did, regretful; + Bought my bride the bread of barley, + Veal, and beer, and best of butter, + Fish and fowl of all descriptions, + Beer I bought, home-brewed and sparkling, + Wheat from all the distant nations, + All the dainties of the Northland; + All of this was unavailing, + Gave my wife no satisfaction, + Often came she to my chamber, + Tore my sable locks in frenzy, + With a visage fierce and frightful, + With her eyeballs flashing anger, + Scolding on and scolding ever, + Ever speaking words of evil, + Using epithets the vilest, + Thought me but a block for chopping. + Then I sought for other measures, + Used on her my last resources, + Cut a birch-whip in the forest, + And she spake in tones endearing; + Cut a juniper or willow, + And she called me 'hero-darling'; + When with lash my wife I threatened, + Hung she on my neck with kisses." + Thus the bridegroom was instructed, + Thus the last advices given. + Then the Maiden of the Rainbow, + Beauteous bride of Ilmarinen, + Sighing heavily and moaning, + Fell to weeping, heavy-hearted, + Spake these words from depths of sorrow: + "Near, indeed, the separation, + Near, alas! the time for parting, + Near the time for my departure; + O the anguish of the parting, + O the pain of separation, + From these walls renowned and ancient, + From this village of the Northland, + From these scenes of peace and plenty, + Where my faithful mother taught me, + Where my father gave instruction + To me in my happy childhood, + When my years were few and tender! + As a child I did not fancy, + Never thought of separation + From the confines of this cottage, + From these dear old hills and mountains, + But, alas! I now must journey, + Since I now cannot escape it; + Empty is the bowl of parting, + All the farewell-beer is taken, + And my husband's sledge is waiting, + With the break-board looking southward, + Looking from my father's dwelling. + "How shall I give compensation, + How repay, on my departure, + All the kindness of my mother, + All the counsel of my father, + All the friendship of my brother, + All my sister's warm affection? + Gratitude to thee, dear father, + For my former-life and blessings, + For the comforts of thy table, + For the pleasures of my childhood! + Gratitude to thee, dear mother, + For thy tender care and guidance, + For my birth and for my culture, + Nurtured by thy purest life-blood! + Gratitude to thee, dear brother, + Gratitude to thee, sweet sister, + To the servants of my childhood, + To my many friends and playmates! + "Never, never, aged father, + Never, thou, beloved mother, + Never, ye, my kindred spirits, + Never harbor care, nor sorrow, + Never fall to bitter weeping, + Since thy child has gone to others, + To the distant home of strangers, + To the meadows of Wainola, + From her father's fields and firesides. + Shines the Sun of the Creator, + Shines the golden Moon of Ukko, + Glitter all the stars of heaven, + In the firmament of ether, + Full as bright on other homesteads; + Not upon my father's uplands, + Not upon my home in childhood, + Shines the Star of Joyance only. + "Now the time has come for parting + From my father's golden firesides, + From my brother's welcome hearth-stone, + From the chambers of my sister, + From my mother's happy dwelling; + Now I leave the swamps and lowlands, + Leave the grassy vales and mountains, + Leave the crystal lakes and rivers, + Leave the shores and sandy shallows, + Leave the white-capped surging billows, + Where the maidens swim and linger, + Where the mermaids sing and frolic; + Leave the swamps to those that wander, + Leave the corn-fields to the plowman, + Leave the forests to the weary, + Leave the heather to the rover, + Leave the copses to the stranger, + Leave the alleys to the beggar, + Leave the court-yards to the rambler, + Leave the portals to the servant, + Leave the matting to the sweeper, + Leave the highways to the roebuck, + Leave the woodland-glens to lynxes, + Leave the lowlands to the wild-geese, + And the birch-tree to the cuckoo. + Now I leave these friends of childhood, + Journey southward with my husband, + To the arms of Night and Winter, + O'er the ice-grown seas of Northland. + "Should I once again, returning, + Pay a visit to my tribe-folk, + Mother would not hear me calling, + Father would not see me weeping, + Calling at my mother's grave-stone, + 'Weeping o'er my buried father, + On their graves the fragrant flowers, + Junipers and mournful willows, + Verdure from my mother's tresses, + From the gray-beard of my father. + "Should I visit Sariola, + Visit once again these borders, + No one here would bid me welcome. + Nothing in these hills would greet me, + Save perchance a few things only, + By the fence a clump of osiers, + And a land-mark at the corner, + Which in early youth I planted, + When a child of little stature. + "Mother's kine perhaps will know me, + Which so often I have watered, + Which I oft have fed and tended, + Lowing now at my departure, + In the pasture cold and cheerless; + Sure my mother's kine will welcome + Northland's daughter home returning. + Father's steeds may not forget me, + Steeds that I have often ridden, + When a maiden free and happy, + Neighing now for me departing, + In the pasture of my brother, + In the stable of my father; + Sure my father's steeds will know me, + Bid Pohyola's daughter welcome. + Brother's faithful dogs may know me, + That I oft have fed and petted, + Dogs that I have taught to frolic, + That now mourn for me departing, + In their kennels in the court-yard, + In their kennels cold and cheerless; + Sure my brother's dogs will welcome + Pohya's daughter home returning. + But the people will not know me, + When I come these scenes to visit, + Though the fords remain as ever, + Though unchanged remain the rivers, + Though untouched the flaxen fish-nets + On the shores await my coming. + "Fare thou well, my dear old homestead, + Fare ye well, my native bowers; + It would give me joy unceasing + Could I linger here forever. + Now farewell, ye halls and portals, + Leading to my father's mansion; + It would give me joy unceasing + Could I linger here forever. + Fare ye well, familiar gardens + Filled with trees and fragrant flowers; + It would give me joy unceasing, + Could I linger here forever. + Send to all my farewell greetings, + To the fields, and groves, and berries; + Greet the meadows with their daisies, + Greet the borders with their fences, + Greet the lakelets with their islands, + Greet the streams with trout disporting, + Greet the hills with stately pine-trees, + And the valleys with their birches. + Fare ye well, ye streams and lakelets, + Fertile fields, and shores of ocean, + All ye aspens on the mountains, + All ye lindens of the valleys, + All ye beautiful stone-lindens, + All ye shade-trees by the cottage, + All ye junipers and willows, + All ye shrubs with berries laden, + Waving grass and fields of barley, + Arms of elms, and oaks, and alders, + Fare ye well, dear scenes of childhood, + Happiness of days departed!" + Ending thus, Pohyola's daughter + Left her native fields and fallows, + Left the darksome Sariola, + With her husband, Ilmarinen, + Famous son of Kalevala. + But the youth remained for singing, + This the chorus of the children: + "Hither came a bird of evil' + Flew in fleetness from the forest, + Came to steal away our virgin, + Came to win the Maid of Beauty; + Took away our fairest flower, + Took our mermaid from the waters, + Won her with his youth and beauty, + With his keys of ancient wisdom. + Who will lead us to the sea-beach, + Who conduct us to the rivers? + Now the buckets will be idle, + On the hooks will rest the fish-poles, + Now unswept will lie the matting, + And unswept the halls of birch-wood, + Copper goblets be unburnished, + Dark the handles of the pitchers, + Fare thou well, dear Rainbow Maiden." + Ilmarinen, happy bridegroom, + Hastened homeward with the daughter + Of the hostess of Pohyola, + With the beauty of the Northland + Fleetly flew the hero's snow-sledge, + Loudly creaked, and roared, and rattled + Down the banks of Northland waters, + By the side of Honey-inlet, + On the back of Sandy Mountain. + Stones went rolling from the highway, + Like the winds the sledge flew onward, + On the yoke rang hoops of iron, + Loud the spotted wood resounded, + Loudly creaked the bands of willow, + All the birchen cross-bars trembled, + And the copper-bells rang music, + In the racing of the fleet-foot, + In the courser's gallop homeward; + Journeyed one day, then a second, + Journeyed still the third day onward, + In one hand the reins of magic, + While the other grasped the maiden, + One foot resting on the cross-bar, + And the other in the fur-robes. + Merrily the steed flew homeward, + Quickly did the highways shorten, + Till at last upon the third day, + As the sun was fast declining, + There appeared the blacksmith's furnace, + Nearer, Ilmarinen's dwelling, + Smoke arising high in ether, + Clouds of smoke to lofty heaven, + From the village of Wainola, + From the suitor's forge and smithy, + From the chimneys of the hero, + From the home of the successful. + + + +GLOSSARY. + + + Aar'ni (Ar'ni). The guardian of hidden treasures. + A-ha'va. The West-wind; the father of the swift dogs. + Ah'ti. The same as Lemminkainen. + Ah'to. The great god of the waters. + Ah'to-la. The water-castle of Ahto and his people. + Ah'to-lai'set. The inhabitants of Ahtola. + Ai-nik'ki. A sister of Ahti. + Ai'no (i'no). Youkahainen's sister. + An'te-ro. A goddess of the waves. + Ai'ue-lake. The lake into which the Fire-child falls. + An-nik'ki. Ilmarinen's sister. + An'te-ro. Another name for Wipanen, or Antero Wipunen. + Dus'ter-land. The Northland; Pimentola. + Et'e-le'tar. A daugter of the South-wind. + Fire-Child. A synonym of Panu. + Frost. The English for Pakkanen. + Hal'lap-yo'ra. A lake in Finland. + Hal'ti-a (plural Haltiat). The Genius of Finnish mythology. + Het'e-wa'ne. The Finnish name of the Pleiades. + Hi'si (original Hiisi). The Evil Principle; also called Jutas, Lempo, + and Piru. + Mon'ja-tar. The daughter of the Pine-tree. + Hor'na. A sacred rock in Finland. + I'ku-Tur'so. An evil giant of the sea. + Il'ma-ri'nem. The worker of the metals; a brother of Wainamoinen. + Il'ma-tar. Daughter of the Air, and mother of Wainamoinen. + Il'po-tar. Believed to be the daughter of the Snow flake; the same as + Louhi. + Im-a'tra. A celebrated waterfall near Wiborg. + In'ger-land. The present St. Petersburg. + Ja'men (Ya'men). A river of Finland. + Jor'dan. Curiously, the river of Palestine. + Jou'ka-hai'nen (You-ka-hai'nen). A celebrated minstrel of Pohyola. + Jou-ko'la (You-ko'la). The home or dwelling of Youkahainen. + Ju-ma'la (You-ma'la). Originally the heavens, then the god of the + heavens, and finally God. + Ju'tas (yu'tas). The Evil Principle; Hisi, Piru, and Lempo are + synonyms, + Kai'to-lai'nen. A son of the god of metals; from his spear came the + tongue of the serpent. + Ka-ler'vo. The father of Kullervo. + Ka-le'va (Kalewai'nen). The father of heroes; a hero in general. + Kal'e-va'la (kaleva, hero, and la, the place of). The land of heroes; + the name of the epic poem of Finland. + Kal'e-va'tar (Kalewa'tar). Daughter of Kaleva. + Kal-e'vo. The same as Kaleva. + Ka'lew. Often used for Kaleva. + Kal'ma. The god of death. + Kam'mo. The father of Kimmo. + Kan'ka-hat'ta-ret. The goddesses of weaving. + Ka'pe. A synonym of Ilmatar, the mother of Wainamoinen. + Ka'po. A synonym of Osmotar. + Ka-re'len. A province of Finland. + Kar-ja'la, (karya'la). The seat of the waterfall, Kaatrakoski. + Kat'e-ja'tar (kataya'tar). The daughter of the Pine-tree. + Kat'ra-kos'ki (Kaatrakos'ki). A waterfall in Karjala. + Kau'ko. The same as Kaukomieli. + Kau'ko-miel'li. The same as Lemminkainen. + Kaup'pi. The Snowshoe-builder; Lylikki. + Ke'mi. A river of Finland. + Kim'mo. A name for the cow; the daughter of Kammo, the patron of the + rocks. + Ki'pu-ki'vi. The name of the rock at Hell-river, beneath which the + spirits of all diseases are imprisoned. + Kir'kon-Woe'ki. Church dwarfs living under altars. + Knik'ka-no. Same as Knippana. + Knip'pa-no. Same as Tapio. + Koot'a-moi'nen. The Moon. + Kos'ken-nei'ti. The goddess of the cataract. + Kul-ler'vo. The vicious son of Kalervo. + Kul'ler-woi'nen. The same as Kullervo. + Kul'li. A beautiful daughter of Sahri. + Kun. The Moon, and the Moon-god. + Kun'tar. One of the daughters of the Moon. + Ku'ra (Kuura). The Hoar-frost; also called Tiera, a ball of ice. + Kul-lik'ki (also Kyl'li). The Sahri-maiden whom Lemminkainen + kidnapped. + Lak'ka. Mother of Ilmarinen. + Lak-ko. The hostess of Kalevala. + Lem'min-kai'nen. One of the brothers of Wainamoinen; a son of Lempi. + Lem'pi-bay. A bay of Finland. + Lem'po. The Evil Principle; same as Hisi, Piru, and Jutas. + Lin'nun-ra'ta (Bird-way). The Milky-way. + Lou'hi. The hostess of Pohyola. + Low-ya'tar. Tuoni's blind daughter, and the originator of the Plagues. + Lu'on-no'tar. One of the mystic maidens, and the nurse of Wainamoinen. + Lu'o-to'la. A bay of Finland, named with Joukola. + Ly-lik'ki (Lyylik'ki). Maker of the snow-shoe. + Maan-e'mo (man-e'mo). The mother of the Earth. + Ma'hi-set (Maa'hi-set). The invisibly small deities of Finnish + mythology. + Mam'me-lai'nen. The goddess of hidden treasures. + Ma'na. A synonym of Tuoni, the god of death. + Man'a-lai'nen. The same as Mana. + Masr'i-at'ta (marja, berry). The Virgin Mary of Finnish mythology. + Mat'ka-Tep'po. The road-god. + Meh'i-lai'nen. The honey-bee. + Mel'a-tar. The goddess of the helm. + Met'so-la. The same as Tapiola, the abode of the god of the forest, + Mie-lik'ki. The hostess of the forest. + Mi-merk'ki. A synonym of Mielikki. + Mosk'va. A province of Suomi. + Mu-rik'ki (Muurik'ki). The name of the cow. + Ne'wa. A river of Finland. + Ny-rik'ki. A son of Tapio. + Os'mo. The same as Osmoinen. + Os-noi'nen. A synonym of Wainola's hero. + Os'mo-tar. The daughter of Osmo; she directs the brewing of the beer + for Ilmarinen's wedding-feast. + O-ta'va. The Great Bear of the heavens. + Ot'so. The bear of Finland. + Poe'ivoe. The Sun, and the Sun god. + Pai'va-tar. The goddess of the summer. + Pak'ka-nen. A synonym of Kura. + Pal-woi'nen. A synonym of Turi, and also of Wirokannas. + Pa'nu. The Fire-Child, born from the sword of Ukko. + Pa'ra. A tripod-deity, presiding over milk and cheese. + Pel'ler-woi'nen. The sower of the forests. + Pen'i-tar. A blind witch of Pohyola; and the mother of the dog. + Pik'ku Mies. The water-pigmy that felled the over-spreading oak-tree + for Wainamoinen. + Pil'a-ya'tar (Pilaja'tar). The daughter of the Aspen; and the goddess + of the Mountain-ash. + Pilt'ti. The maid-servant of Mariatta. + Pi'men-to'la. A province of Finland; another name for Pohyola. + Pi'ru. The same as Lempo, Jutas, and Hisi. + Pi'sa. A mountain of Finland. + Poh'ya (Poh'ja). An abbreviated form for Pohyola. + Poh-yo'la (Poh-jo'la). The Northland; Lapland. + Pok-ka'nen. The Frost, the son of Puhuri; a synonym of Tiera. + Puh-hu'ri. The North-wind; the father of Pokkanen. + Rem'men. The father of the hop-vine. + Re'mu. The same as Remmen. + Ru-o'tus. A persecutor of the Virgin Mariatta. + Rut'ya (Rut'ja). A waterfall of Northland. + Sah'ri (Saari). The home of Kyllikki. + Sam'po. The jewel that Ilmarinen forges from the magic metals; a + talisman of success to the possessor; a continual source of strife + between the tribes of the North. + Samp'sa. A synonym of Pellerwoinen. + Sa'ra. The same as Sariola. + Sar'i-o'la. The same as Pohyola. + Sat'ka. A goddess of the sea. + Sa'wa (Sa'wo). The eastern part of Finland. + Sim'a Pil'li (Honey-flute). The flute of Sima-suu. + Sim'a-Suu. One of the maidens of Tapio. + Sin'e-tar. The goddess of the blue sky. + Si-net'ta-ret. The goddesses of dyeing. + Suk'ka-mie'li. The goddess of love. + Suo'mi (swo'mi). The ancient abode of the Finns. + Suo'ne-tar (swone-tar). The goddess of the veins. + Suo-wak'ko. An old wizard of Pohyola. + Suo'ya-tar (Syo'jatar). The mother of the serpent. + Su've-tar (Suve, summer). Goddess of the South-wind + Su-wan'to-lai'nen. Another name for Wainamoinen. + Taeh'ti. The Polar Star. + Ta-he'tar. The daughter of the Stars. + Tai'vas. The firmament in general. + Ta-ni'ka. A magic mansion of Pohja. + Ta'pi-o. The god of the forest. + Tel-le'rvo. A daughter of Tapio. + Ter'he-ne'tar. Daughter of the Fog. + Tie'ra. Same as Kura; the Hoar-frost. + Tont'tu. A little house-spirit. + Tu'a-me'tar. Daughter of the Alder-tree. + Tu-le'tar (Tuule'tar). A goddess of the winds. + Tu-lik'ki (Tuullk'ki). One of the daughters of Tapio. + Tu'o-ne'la. The abode of Tuoni. + Tuo'nen Poi'ka. The son of Tuoni. + Tu'o-ne'tar. The hostess of Death-land; a daughter of Tuoni. + Tu-o'ni. The god of death. + Tu'ri (Tuuri). The god of the Honey-land. + Turja (tur'ya). Another name for Pohya. + Tur'ya-lan'der. An epithet for one of the tribe of Louhi. + Tur'ya (Tyrja). A name for the waterfall of Rutya. + Uk'ko. The Great Spirit of Finnish mythology; his abode is in Jumala. + Uk'on-koi'va (Ukko's dog). The messenger of Ukko; the butterfly. + U'lap-pa'la. Another term for the abode of Tuoni. + Un'du-tar. Goddess of the fog. + U'ni. The god of sleep. + Un'ta-ma'la. A synonym for "the dismal Sariola." + Un-ta'mo. The god of dreams; the dreamer; a brother of Kalervo, and + his enemy. + Un'tar. The same as Undutar. + Un'to. The same as Untamo. + Utu-tyt'to. The same as Undutar. + Wai'nam-oi'nen (Vainamoinen). The chief hero of the Kalevala; the + hero of Wainola, whose mother, Ilmatar, fell from the air into the + ocean. + Wai'no (Vai'no). The same as Wainamoinen. + Wai-no'la. The home of Wainamoinen and his people; a synonym of + Kalevala. + Wel-la'mo. The hostess of the waters. + Wet'e-hi'nen. An evil god of the sea. + Wi-pu'nen (Vipu'nen). An old song-giant that swallowed Wainamoinen + searching for the "lost words." + Wi'ro-kan'nas (Virokan'nas). Ruler of the wilderness; the slayer of + the huge bull of Suomi; the priest that baptizes the son of Mariatta. + Wo'ya-lan'der (Vuojalan'der). An epithet for Laplander. + Wuok'sen (Vuo'ksen). A river in the east of Finland. + Wuok'si. The same as Wuoksen. + + + + +THE END. + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Kalevala: the Epic Poem of Finland -- +Volume 01, by Elias Loennrot + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK KALEVALA: EPIC POEM OF FINLAND *** + +***** This file should be named 5184.txt or 5184.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/5/1/8/5184/ + +Produced by John B. Hare and Carrie R. 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Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4511050 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #5184 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/5184) diff --git a/old/kale110.txt b/old/kale110.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..06645cd --- /dev/null +++ b/old/kale110.txt @@ -0,0 +1,13952 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Kalevala book 1, +John Martin Crawford, trans. + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: The Kalevala book 1 + +Author: John Martin Crawford, trans. + +Release Date: February, 2004 [EBook #5184] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on May 31, 2002] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE KALEVALA BOOK 1*** + + + + +This eBook was produced by John B. Hare and Carrie R. Lorenz. + + + +THE KALEVALA + +THE + +EPIC POEM OF FINLAND + +INTO ENGLISH + +BY + +JOHN MARTIN CRAWFORD + +[1888] + + +TO + +DR. J.D. BUCK, + +AN ENCOURAGING AND UNSELFISH FRIEND, +AND TO +HIS AFFECTIONATE FAMILY, + +THESE PAGES +ARE GRATEFULLY INSCRIBED. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + +PREFACE + +PROEM +RUNE I. Birth of Wainamoinen +RUNE II. Wainamoinen's Sowing +RUNE III. Wainamoinen and Youkahainen +RUNE IV. The Fate of Aino +RUNE V. Wainamoinen's Lamentation +RUNE VI. Wainamoinen's Hapless Journey +RUNE VII. Wainamoinen's Rescue +RUNE VIII. Maiden of the Rainbow +RUNE IX. Origin of Iron +RUNE X. Ilmarinen forges the Sampo +RUNE XI. Lemminkainen's Lament +RUNE XII. Kyllikki's Broken Vow +RUNE XIII. Lemminkainen's Second Wooing +RUNE XIV. Death of Lemminkainen +RUNE XV. Lemminkainen's Restoration +RUNE XVI. Wainainoinen's Boat-building +RUNE XVII. Wainamoinen finds the Lost Word +RUNE XVIII. The Rival Suitors +RUNE XIX. Ilmarinen's Wooing +RUNE XX. The Brewing of Beer +RUNE XXI. Ilmarinen's Wedding-feast +RUNE XXII. The Bride's Farewell +RUNE XXIII. Osmotar, the Bride-adviser +RUNE XXIV. The Bride's Farewell +RUNE XXV. Wainamoinen's Wedding-songs +RUNE XXVI. Origin of the Serpent +RUNE XXVII. The Unwelcome Guest +RUNE XXVIII. The Mother's Counsel +RUNE XXIX. The Isle of Refuge +RUNE XXX. The Frost-fiend +RUNE XXXI. Kullerwoinen, Son of Evil +RUNE XXXII. Kullervo as a Shepherd +RUNE XXXIII. Kullervo and the Cheat-cake +RUNE XXXIV. Kullervo finds his Tribe-folk +RUNE XXXV. Kullervo's Evil Deeds +RUNE XXXVI. Kullerwoinen's Victory and Death +RUNE XXXVII Ilmarinen's Bride of Gold +RUNE XXXVIII. Ilmarinen's Fruitless Wooing +RUNE XXXIX. Wainamoinen's Sailing +RUNE XL. Birth of the Harp +RUNE XLI. Wainamoinen's Harp-songs +RUNE XLII. Capture of the Sampo +RUNE XLIII. The Sampo lost in the Sea +RUNE XLIV. Birth of the Second Harp +RUNE XLV. Birth of the Nine Diseases +RUNE XLVI. Otso the Honey-eater +RUNE XLVII. Louhi steals Sun, Moon, and Fire +RUNE XLVIII. Capture of the Fire-fish +RUNE XLIX. Restoration of the Sun and Moon +RUNE L. Mariatta--Wainamoinen's Departure + +EPILOGUE + + + + +PREFACE. + + +The following translation was undertaken from a desire to lay before +the English-speaking people the full treasury of epical beauty, +folklore, and mythology comprised in The Kalevala, the national epic of +the Finns. A brief description of this peculiar people, and of their +ethical, linguistic, social, and religious life, seems to be called for +here in order that the following poem may be the better understood. + +Finland (Finnish, Suomi or Suomenmaa, the swampy region, of which +Finland, or Fen-land is said to be a Swedish translation,) is at +present a Grand-Duchy in the north-western part of the Russian empire, +bordering on Olenetz, Archangel, Sweden, Norway, and the Baltic Sea, +its area being more than 144,000 square miles, and inhabited by some +2,000,000 of people, the last remnants of a race driven back from the +East, at a very early day, by advancing tribes. The Finlanders live in +a land of marshes and mountains, lakes and rivers, seas, gulfs, +islands, and inlets, and they call themselves Suomilainen, +Fen-dwellers. The climate is more severe than that of Sweden. The +mean yearly temperature in the north is about 270ºF., and about 38ºF., at +Helsingfors, the capital of Finland. In the southern districts the +winter is seven months long, and in the northern provinces the sun +disappears entirely during the months of December and January. + +The inhabitants are strong and hardy, with bright, intelligent faces, +high cheek-bones, yellow hair in early life, and with brown hair in +mature age. With regard to their social habits, morals, and manners, +all travellers are unanimous in speaking well of them. Their temper is +universally mild; they are slow to anger, and when angry they keep +silence. They are happy-hearted, affectionate to one another, and +honorable and honest in their dealings with strangers. They are a +cleanly people, being much given to the use of vapor-baths. This trait +is a conspicuous note of their character from their earliest history to +the present day. Often in the runes of The Kalevala reference is made +to the "cleansing and healing virtues of the vapors of the heated +bathroom." + +The skull of the Finn belongs to the brachycephalic (short-headed) +class of Retzius. Indeed the Finn-organization has generally been +regarded as Mongol, though Mongol of a modified type. His color is +swarthy, and his eyes are gray. He is not inhospitable, but not +over-easy of access; nor is he a friend of new fashions. Steady, +careful, laborious, he is valuable in the mine, valuable in the field, +valuable oil shipboard, and, withal, a brave soldier on land. + +The Finns are a very ancient people. It is claimed, too, that they +began earlier than any other European nation to collect and preserve +their ancient folk-lore. Tacitus, writing in the very beginning of the +second century of the Christian era, mentions the Fenni, as he calls +them, in the 46th chapter of his De Moribus Germanoram. He says of +them: "The Finns are extremely wild, and live in abject poverty. They +have no arms, no horses, no dwellings; they live on herbs, they clothe +themselves in skins, and they sleep on the ground. Their only +resources are their arrows, which for the lack of iron are tipped with +bone." Strabo and the great geographer, Ptolemy, also mention this +curious people. There is evidence that at one time they were spread +over large portions of Europe and western Asia. + +Perhaps it should be stated here that the copper, so often mentioned in +The Kalevala, when taken literally, was probably bronze, or "hardened +copper," the amount and quality of the alloy used being not now known. +The prehistoric races of Europe were acquainted with bronze implements. + +It may be interesting to note in this connection that Canon Isaac +Taylor, and Professor Sayce have but very recently awakened great +interest in this question, in Europe especially, by the reading of +papers before the British Philological Association, in which they argue +in favor of the Finnic origin of the Aryans. For this new theory these +scholars present exceedingly strong evidence, and they conclude that +the time of the separation of the Aryan from the Finnic stock must have +been more than five thousand years ago. + +The Finnish nation has one of the most sonorous and flexible of +languages. Of the cultivated tongues of Europe, the Magyar, or +Hungarian, bears the most positive signs of a deep-rooted similarity to +the Finnish. Both belong to the Ugrian stock of agglutinative +languages, i.e., those which preserve the root most carefully, and +effect all changes of grammar by suffixes attached to the original +stein. Grimin has shown that both Gothic and Icelandic present traces +of Finnish influence. + +The musical element of a language, the vowels, are well developed in +Finnish, and their due sequence is subject to strict rules of euphony. +The dotted o; (equivalent to the French eu) of the first syllable must +be followed by an e or an i. The Finnish, like all Ugrian tongues, +admits rhyme, but with reluctance, and prefers alliteration. Their +alphabet consists of but nineteen letters, and of these, b, c, d, f, g, +are found only in a few foreign words, and many others are never found +initial. + +One of the characteristic features of this language, and one that is +likewise characteristic of the Magyar, Turkish, Mordvin, and other +kindred tongues, consists in the frequent use of endearing diminutives. + By a series of suffixes to the names of human beings, birds, fishes, +trees, plants, stones, metals, and even actions, events, and feelings, +diminutives are obtained, which by their form, present the names so +made in different colors; they become more naive, more childlike, +eventually more roguish, or humorous, or pungent. These traits can +scarcely be rendered in English; for, as Robert Ferguson remarks: "The +English language is not strong in diminutives, and therefore it lacks +some of the most effective means for the expression of affectionate, +tender, and familiar relations." In this respect all translations from +the Finnish into English necessarily must fall short of the original. +The same might be said of the many emotional interjections in which the +Finnish, in common with all Ugrian dialects, abounds. With the +exception of these two characteristics of the Ugrian languages, the +chief beauties of the Finnish verse admit of an apt rendering into +English. The structure of the sentences is very simple indeed, and +adverbs and adjectives are used sparingly. + +Finnish is the language of a people who live pre-eminently close to +nature, and are at home amongst the animals of the wilderness, beasts +and birds, winds, and woods, and waters, falling snows, and flying +sands, and rolling rocks, and these are carefully distinguished by +corresponding verbs of ever-changing acoustic import. Conscious of the +fact that, in a people like the Finns where nature and nature-worship +form the centre of all their life, every word connected with the powers +and elements of nature must be given its fall value, great care has +been taken in rendering these finely shaded verbs. A glance at the +mythology of this interesting people will place the import of this +remark in better view. + +In the earliest age of Suomi, it appears that the people worshiped the +conspicuous objects in nature under their respective, sensible forms. +All beings were persons. The Sun, Moon, Stars, the Earth, the Air, and +the Sea, were to the ancient Finns, living, self-conscious beings. +Gradually the existence of invisible agencies and energies was +recognized, and these were attributed to superior persons who lived +independent of these visible entities, but at the same time were +connected with them. The basic idea in Finnish mythology seems to lie +in this: that all objects in nature are governed by invisible deities, +termed haltiat, regents or genii. These haltiat, like members of the +human family, have distinctive bodies and spirits; but the minor ones +are somewhat immaterial and formless, and their existences are entirely +independent of the objects in which they are particularly interested. +They are all immortal, but they rank according to the relative +importance of their respective charges. The lower grades of the +Finnish gods are sometimes subservient to the deities of greater +powers, especially to those who rule respectively the air, the water, +the field, and the forest. Thus, Pilajatar, the daughter of the aspen, +although as divine as Tapio, the god of the woodlands, is necessarily +his servant. + One of the most notable characteristics of the Finnish mythology is +the interdependence among the gods. "Every deity", says Castren, +"however petty he may be, rules in his own sphere as a substantial, +independent power, or, to speak in the spirit of The Kalevala, as a +self-ruling householder. The god of the Polar-star only governs an +insignificant spot in the vault of the sky, but on this spot he knows +no master." + +The Finnish deities, like the ancient gods of Italy and Greece, are +generally represented in pairs, and all the gods are probably wedded. +They have their individual abodes and are surrounded by their +respective families. The Primary object of worship among the early +Finns was most probably the visible sky with its sun, moon, and stars, +its aurora-lights, its thunders and its lightnings. The heavens +themselves were thought divine. Then a personal deity of the heavens, +coupled with the name of his abode, was the next conception; finally +this sky-god was chosen to represent the supreme Ruler. To the sky, +the sky-god, and the supreme God, the term Jumala (thunder-home) was +given. + +In course of time, however, when the Finns came to have more purified +ideas about religion, they called the sky Taivas and the sky-god Ukko. +The word, Ukko, seems related to the Magyar Agg, old, and meant, +therefore, an old being, a grandfather; but ultimately it came to be +used exclusively as the name of the highest of the Finnish deities. +Frost, snow, hail, ice, wind and rain, sunshine and shadow, are thought +to come from the hands of Ukko. He controls the clouds; he is called +in The Kalevala, "The Leader of the Clouds," "The Shepherd of the +Lamb-Clouds," "The God of the Breezes," "The Golden King," "The Silvern +Ruler of the Air," and "The Father of the Heavens." He wields the +thunder-bolts, striking down the spirits of evil on the mountains, and +is therefore termed, "The Thunderer," like the Greek Zeus, and his +abode is called, "The Thunder-Home." Ukko is often represented as +sitting upon a cloud in the vault of the sky, and bearing on his +shoulders the firmament, and therefore he is termed, "The Pivot of the +Heavens." He is armed as an omnipotent warrior; his fiery arrows are +forged from copper, the lightning is his sword, and the rainbow his +bow, still called Ukkon Kaari. Like the German god, Thor, Ukko swings +a hammer; and, finally, we find, in a vein of familiar symbolism, that +his skirt sparkles with fire, that his stockings are blue, and his +shoes, crimson colored. + +In the following runes, Ukko here and there interposes. Thus, when the +Sun and Moon were stolen from the heavens, and hidden away in a cave of +the copper-bearing mountain, by the wicked hostess of the dismal +Sariola, he, like Atlas in the mythology of Greece, relinquishes the +support of the heavens, thunders along the borders of the darkened +clouds, and strikes fire from his sword to kindle a new sun and a new +moon. Again, when Lemminkainen is hunting the fire-breathing horse of +Piru, Ukko, invoked by the reckless hero, checks the speed of the +mighty courser by opening the windows of heaven, and showering upon him +flakes of snow, balls of ice, and hailstones of iron. Usually, +however, Ukko prefers to encourage a spirit of independence among his +worshipers. Often we find him, in the runes, refusing to heed the call +of his people for help, as when Ilmatar, the daughter of the air, +vainly invoked him to her aid, that Wainamoinen, already seven hundred +years unborn, might be delivered. So also Wainamoinen beseeches Ukko +in vain to check the crimson streamlet flowing from his knee wounded by +an axe in the hands of Hisi. Ukko, however, with all his power, is by +no means superior to the Sun, Moon, and other bodies dwelling in the +heavens; they are uninfluenced by him, and are considered deities in +their own right. Thus, Paeivae means both sun and sun-god; Kun means +moon and moon-god; and Taehti and Ottava designate the Polar-star and +the Great Bear respectively, as well as the deities of these bodies. + +The Sun and the Moon have each a consort, and sons, and daughters. Two +sons only of Paeivae appear in The Kalevala, one comes to aid +Wainamoinen in his efforts to destroy the mystic Fire-fish, by throwing +from the heavens to the girdle of the hero, a "magic knife, +silver-edged, and golden-handled;" the other son, Panu, the Fire-child, +brings back to Kalevala the fire that bad been stolen by Louhi, the +wicked hostess of Pohyola. From this myth Castren argues that the +ancient Finns regarded fire as a direct emanation from the Sun. The +daughters of the Sun, Moon, Great Bear, Polar-star, and of the other +heavenly dignitaries, are represented as ever-young and beautiful +maidens, sometimes seated on the bending branches of the forest-trees, +sometimes on the crimson rims of the clouds, sometimes on the rainbow, +sometimes on the dome of heaven. These daughters are believed to be +skilled to perfection in the arts of spinning and weaving, +accomplishments probably attributed to them from the fanciful likeness +of the rays of light to the warp of the weaver's web. + +The Sun's career of usefulness and beneficence in bringing light and +life to Northland is seldom varied. Occasionally he steps from his +accustomed path to give important information to his suffering +worshipers. For example, when the Star and the Moon refuse the +information, the Sun tells the Virgin Mariatta, where her golden infant +lies bidden. + + +"Yonder is thy golden infant, +There thy holy babe lies sleeping, +Hidden to his belt in water, +Hidden in the reeds and rushes." + + +Again when the devoted mother of the reckless hero, Lemminkainen, +(chopped to pieces by the Sons Of Nana, as in the myth of Osiris) was +raking together the fragments of his body from the river of Tuoui, and +fearing that the sprites of the Death-stream might resent her +intrusion, the Sun, in answer to her entreaties, throws his Powerful +rays upon the dreaded Shades, and sinks them into a deep sleep, while +the mother gathers up the fragments of her son's body in safety. This +rune of the Kalevala is particularly interesting as showing the belief +that the dead can be restored to life through the blissful light of +heaven. + +Among the other deities of the air are the Luonnotars, mystic maidens, +three of whom were created by the rubbing of Ukko's hands upon his left +knee. They forthwith walk the crimson borders of the clouds, and one +sprinkles white milk, one sprinkles red milk, and the third sprinkles +black milk over the hills and mountains; thus they become the "mothers +of iron," as related in the ninth rune of The Kalevala. In the highest +regions of the heavens, Untar, or Undutar, has her abode, and presides +over mists and fogs. These she passes through a silver sieve before +sending them to the earth. There are also goddesses of the winds, one +especially noteworthy, Suvetar (suve, south, summer), the goddess of +the south-wind. She is represented as a kind-hearted deity, healing +her sick and afflicted followers with honey, which she lets drop from +the clouds, and she also keeps watch over the herds grazing in the +fields and forests. +Second only to air, water is the element held most in reverence by the +Finns and their kindred tribes. "It could hardly be otherwise," says +Castren, "for as soon as the soul of the savage began to suspect that +the godlike is spiritual, super-sensual, then, even though he continues +to pay reverence to matter, he in general values it the more highly the +less compact it is. He sees on the one hand how easy it is to lose his +life on the surging waves, and on the other, he sees that from these +same waters he is nurtured, and his life prolonged." Thus it is that +the map of Finland is to this day full of names like Pyhojarvi (sacred +lake) and Pyhajoki (sacred river). Some of the Finlanders still offer +goats and calves to these sacred waters; and many of the Ugrian clans +still sacrifice the reindeer to the river Ob. In Esthonia is a +rivulet, Vohanda, held in such reverence that until very recently, none +dared to fell a tree or cut a shrub in its immediate vicinity, lest +death should overtake the offender within a year, in punishment for his +sacrilege. The lake, Eim, is still held sacred by the Esthonians, and +the Eim-legend is thus told by F. Thiersch, quoted also by Grimm and by +Mace da Charda: + + +"Savage, evil men dwelt by its borders. They neither mowed the meadows +which it watered, nor sowed the fields which it made fruitful, but +robbed and murdered, insomuch that its clear waves grew dark with the +blood of the slaughtered men. Then did the lake Him mourn, and one +evening it called together all its fishes, and rose aloft with them +into the air. When the robbers heard the sound, they exclaimed: 'Eim +hath arisen; let us gather its fishes and treasures.' But the fishes +had departed with the lake, and nothing was found on the bottom but +snakes, and lizards, and toads. And Eim rose higher, and higher, and +hastened through the air like a white cloud. And the hunters in the +forest said: 'What bad weather is coming on!' The herdsmen said: 'What +a white swan is flying above there!' For the whole night the lake +hovered among the stars, and in the morning the reapers beheld it +sinking. And from the swan grew a white ship, and from the ship a dark +train of clouds; and a voice came from the waters: 'Get thee hence with +thy harvest, for I will dwell beside thee.' Then they bade the lake +welcome, if it would only bedew their fields and meadows; and it sank +down and spread itself out in its home to the full limits. Then the +lake made all the neighborhood fruitful, and the fields became green, +and the people danced around it, so that the old men grew joyous as the +youth." + + +The chief water-god is Ahto, on the etymology of which the Finnish +language throws little light. It is curiously like Ahti, another name +for the reckless Lemminkainen. This water-god, or "Wave-host," as he +is called, lives with his "cold and cruel-hearted spouse," Wellamo, at +the bottom of the sea, in the chasms of the Salmon-rocks, where his +palace, Ahtola, is constructed. Besides the fish that swim in his +dominions, particularly the salmon, the trout, the whiting, the perch, +the herring, and the white-fish, he possesses a priceless treasure in +the Sampo, the talisman of success, which Louhi, the hostess of +Pohyola, dragged into the sea in her efforts to regain it from the +heroes of Kalevala. Ever eager for the treasures of others, and +generally unwilling to return any that come into his possession, Ahto +is not incapable of generosity. For example, once when a shepherd lad +was whittling a stick on the bank of a river, he dropped his knife into +the stream. Ahto, as in the fable, "Mercury and the Woodman," moved by +the tears of the unfortunate lad, swam to the scene, dived to the +bottom, brought up a knife of gold, and gave it to the young shepherd. +Innocent and honest, the herd-boy said the knife was not his. Then +Ahto dived again, and brought up a knife of silver, which he gave to +the lad, but this in turn was not accepted. Thereupon the Wave-host +dived again, and the third time brought the right knife to the boy who +gladly recognized his own, and received it with gratitude. To the +shepherd-lad Ahto gave the three knives as a reward for his honesty. + +A general term for the other water-hosts living not only in the sea, +but also in the rivers, lakes, cataracts, and fountains, is Ahtolaiset +(inhabitants of Ahtola), "Water-people," "People of the Foam and +Billow," "Wellamo's Eternal People." Of these, some have specific +names; as Allotar (wave-goddess), Koskenneiti (cataract-maiden), +Melatar (goddess of the helm), and in The Kalevala these are sometimes +personally invoked. Of these minor deities, Pikku Mies (the Pigmy) is +the most noteworthy. Once when the far-outspreading branches of the +primitive oak-tree shut out the light of the sun from Northland, Pikku +Mies, moved by the entreaties of Wainamoinen, emerged from the sea in a +suit of copper, with a copper hatchet in his belt, quickly grew from a +pigmy to a gigantic hero, and felled the mighty oak with the third +stroke of his axe. In general the water-deities are helpful and full +of kindness; some, however, as Wetehilien and Iku-Turso, find their +greatest pleasure in annoying and destroying their fellow-beings. + +Originally the Finlanders regarded the earth as a godlike existence +with personal powers, and represented as a beneficent mother bestowing +peace and plenty on all her worthy worshipers. In evidence of this we +find the names, Maa-emae (mother-earth), and Maan-emo (mother of the +earth), given to the Finnish Demeter. She is always represented as a +goddess of great powers, and, after suitable invocation, is ever +willing and able to help her helpless sufferers. She is according to +some mythologists espoused to Ukko, who bestows upon her children the +blessings of sunshine and rain, as Ge is wedded to Ouranos, Jordh to +Odhin, and Papa to Rangi. + +Of the minor deities of the earth, who severally govern the plants, +such as trees, rye, flax, and barley, Wirokannas only is mentioned in +The Kalevala. Once, for example, this "green robed Priest of the +Forest" abandoned for a time his presidency over the cereals in order +to baptize the infant-son of the Virgin Mariatta. Once again +Wirokannas left his native sphere of action, this time making a most +miserable and ludicrous failure, when he emerged from the wilderness +and attempted to slay the Finnish Taurus, as described in the runes +that follow. The agricultural deities, however, receive but little +attention from the Finns, who, with their cold and cruel winters, and +their short but delightful summers, naturally neglect the cultivation +of the fields, for cattle-raising, fishing, and hunting. + +The forest deities proper, however, are held in high veneration. Of +these the chief is Tapio, "The Forest-Friend," "The Gracious God of the +Woodlands." He is represented as a very tall and slender divinity, +wearing a long, brown board, a coat of tree-moss, and a high-crowned +hat of fir-leaves. His consort is Mielikki, "The Honey-rich Mother of +the Woodland," "The Hostess of the Glen and Forest." When the hunters +were successful she was represented as beautiful and benignant, her +hands glittering with gold and silver ornaments, wearing ear-rings and +garlands of gold, with hair-bands silver-tinseled, on her forehead +strings of pearls, and with blue stockings on her feet, and red strings +in her shoes. But if the game-bag came back empty, she was described +as a hateful, hideous thing, robed in untidy rags, and shod with straw. + She carries the keys to the treasury of Metsola, her husband's abode, +and her bountiful chest of honey, the food of all the forest-deities, +is earnestly sought for by all the weary hunters of Suomi. These +deities are invariably described as gracious and tender-hearted, +probably because they are all females with the exception of Tapio and +his son, Nyrikki, a tall and stately youth who is engaged in building +bridges over marshes and forest-streams, through which the herds must +pass on their way to the woodland-pastures. Nyrikki also busies +himself in blazing the rocks and the trees to guide the heroes to their +favorite hunting-grounds. Sima-suu (honey-mouth), one of the tiny +daughters of Tapio, by playing on her Sima-pilli (honey-flute), also +acts as guide to the deserving hunters. + +Hiisi, the Finnish devil, bearing also the epithets, Juntas, Piru, and +Lempo, is the chief of the forest-demons, and is inconceivably wicked. +He was brought into the world consentaneously with Suoyatar, from whose +spittle, as sung in The Kalevala, he formed the serpent. This demon is +described as cruel, horrible, hideous, and bloodthirsty, and all the +most painful diseases and misfortunes that ever afflict mortals are +supposed to emanate from him. This demon, too, is thought by the +Finlanders to have a hand in all the evil done in the world. + +Turning from the outer world to man, we find deities whose energies are +used only in the domain of human existence. "These deities," says +Castren, "have no dealings with the higher, spiritual nature of man. +All that they do concerns man solely as an object in nature. Wisdom +and law, virtue and justice, find in Finnish mythology no protector +among the gods, who trouble themselves only about the temporal wants of +humanity." The Love-goddess was Sukkamieli (stocking-lover). +"Stockings," says Castren gravely, "are soft and tender things, and the +goddess of love was so called because she interests herself in the +softest and tenderest feelings of the heart." This conception, +however, is as farfetched as it is modern. The Love-deity of the +ancient Finns was Lempo, the evil-demon. It is more reasonable +therefore to suppose that the Finns chose the son of Evil to look after +the feelings of the human heart, because they regarded love as an +insufferable passion, or frenzy, that bordered on insanity, and incited +in some mysterious manner by an evil enchanter. + +Uni is the god of sleep, and is described as a kind-hearted and welcome +deity. Untamo is the god of dreams, and is always spoken of as the +personification of indolence. Munu tenderly looks after the welfare of +the human eye. This deity, to say the least is an oculist of long and +varied experience, in all probability often consulted in Finland +because of the blinding snows and piercing winds of the north. Lemmas +is a goddess in the mythology of the Finns who dresses the wounds of +her faithful sufferers, and subdues their pains. Suonetar is another +goddess of the human frame, and plays a curious and important part in +the restoration to life of the reckless Lemminkainen, as described in +the following runes. She busies herself in spinning veins, and in +sewing up the wounded tissues of such deserving worshipers as need her +surgical skill. + +Other deities associated with the welfare of mankind are the Sinettaret +and Kankahattaret, the goddesses respectively of dyeing and weaving. +Matka-Teppo is their road-god, and busies himself in caring for horses +that are over-worked, and in looking after the interests of weary +travellers. Aarni is the guardian of hidden treasures. This important +office is also filled by a hideous old deity named Mammelainen, whom +Renwall, the Finnish lexicographer, describes as "femina maligna, +matrix serpentis, divitiarum subterranearum custos," a malignant woman, +the mother of the snake, and the guardian of subterranean treasures. +From this conception it is evident that the idea of a kinship between +serpents and hidden treasures frequently met with in the myths of the +Hungarians, Germans, and Slavs, is not foreign to the Finns. + +Nowhere are the inconsistencies of human theory and practice more +curiously and forcibly shown than in the custom in vogue among the +clans of Finland who are not believers in a future life, but, +notwithstanding, perform such funereal ceremonies as the burying in the +graves of the dead, knives, hatchets, spears, bows, and arrows, +kettles, food, clothing, sledges and snow-shoes, thus bearing witness +to their practical recognition of some form of life beyond the grave. +The ancient Finns occasionally craved advice and assistance from the +dead. Thus, as described in The Kalevala, when the hero of Wainola +needed three words of master-magic wherewith to finish the boat in +which he was to sail to win the mystic maiden of Sariola, he first +looked in the brain of the white squirrel, then in the mouth of the +white-swan when dying, but all in vain; then he journeyed to the +kingdom of Tuoni, and failing there, he "struggled over the points of +needles, over the blades of swords, over the edges of hatchets" to the +grave of the ancient wisdom-bard, Antero Wipunen, where he "found the +lost-words of the Master." In this legend of The Kalevala, exceedingly +interesting, instructive, and curious, are found, apparently, the +remote vestiges of ancient Masonry. + +It would seem that the earliest beliefs of the Finns regarding the dead +centred in this: that their spirits remained in their graves until +after the complete disintegration of their bodies, over which Kalma, +the god of the tombs, with his black and evil daughter, presided. +After their spirits had been fully purified, they were then admitted to +the Kingdom of Manala in the under world. Those journeying to Tuonela +were required to voyage over nine seas, and over one river, the Finnish +Styx, black, deep, and violent, and filled with hungry whirlpools, and +angry waterfalls. + +Like Helheim of Scandinavian mythology, Manala, or Tuonela, was +considered as corresponding to the upper world. The Sun and the Moon +visited there; fen and forest gave a home to the wolf, the bear, the +elk, the serpent, and the songbird; the salmon, the whiting, the perch, +and the pike were sheltered in the "coal-black waters of Manala." From +the seed-grains of the death-land fields and forests, the Tuoni-worm +(the serpent) had taken its teeth. Tuoui, or Mana, the god of the +under world, is represented as a hard-hearted, and frightful, old +personage with three iron-pointed fingers on each hand, and wearing a +hat drawn down to his shoulders. As in the original conception of +Hades, Tuoni was thought to be the leader of the dead to their +subterranean home, as well as their counsellor, guardian, and ruler. +In the capacity of ruler he was assisted by his wife, a hideous, +horrible, old witch with "crooked, copper-fingers iron-pointed," with +deformed head and distorted features, and uniformly spoken of in irony +in the Kalevala as "hyva emanta," the good hostess; she feasted her +guests on lizards, worms, toads, and writhing serpents. Tuouen Poika, +"The God of the Red Cheeks," so called because of his bloodthirstiness +and constant cruelties, is the son and accomplice of this merciless and +hideous pair. + +Three daughters of Tuoni are mentioned in the runes, the first of whom, +a tiny, black maiden, but great in wickedness, once at least showed a +touch of human kindness when she vainly urged Wainamoinen not to cross +the river of Tuoui, assuring the hero that while many visit Manala, few +return, because of their inability to brave her father's wrath. +Finally, after much entreaty, she ferried him over the Finnish Styx, +like Charon, the son of Erebus and Nox, in the mythology of Greece. +The second daughter of Tuoni is Lowyatar, black and blind, and is +described as still more malignant and loathsome than the first. +Through the East-wind's impregnation she brought forth the spirits of +the nine diseases most dreaded by mankind, as described in the 45th +Rune of the Kalevala: + + +"Colic, Pleurisy, and Fever. +Ulcer, Plague, and dread Consumption, +Gout, Sterility, and Cancer." + + +The third daughter of Tuoni combines the malevolent and repugnant +attributes of her two sisters, and is represented as the mother and +hostess of the impersonal diseases of mankind. The Finns regarded all +human ailments as evil spirits or indwelling devils, some formless, +others taking the shapes of the most odious forms of animal life, as +worms and mites; the nine, however, described above, were conceived to +have human forms. + +Where the three arms of the Tuoni river meet a frightful rock arises, +called Kipu-Kivi, or Kipuvuori, in a dungeon beneath which the spirits +of all diseases are imprisoned. On this rock the third daughter of +Tuoui sits, constantly whirling it round like a millstone, grinding her +subjects until they escape and go forth to torture and slay the +children of men; as in Hindu mythology, Kali (black) sits in judgment +on the dead. + +Various other spiritual powers than gods and goddesses are held in high +reverence by the Finns. Tontu is represented as a kind-hearted +house-spirit, a sort of diminutive Cyclops, and offerings of bread and +broth are made to him every morning. Putting a mare's collar on one's +neck and walking nine times around a church is thought to be a certain +means of attracting one to the place desired. Para is a mystical, +three-legged being, constructed in many ways, and which, according to +Castren, attains life and action when its possessor, cutting the little +finger of his left hand, lets three drops of blood fall upon it, and at +the same time pronouncing the proper magic word. The possessor, by +whatever means, of this mystic being, is always supplied with abundance +of milk and cheese. The Maahiset are the dwarfs of Finnish mythology. +Their abode is under stumps, trees, blocks, thresholds and +hearth-stones. Though exceedingly minute and invisible to man they +have human forms. They are irritable and resentful, and they punish +with ulcers, tetter, ringworms, pimples, and other cutaneous +affections, all those who neglect them at brewings, bakings, and +feastings. They punish in a similar manner those who enter new houses +without making obeisance to the four corners, and paying them other +kindly attentions; those who live in untidy houses are also likewise +punished. The Kirkonwaeki (church-folk) are little deformed beings +living under the altars of churches. These misshapen things are +supposed to be able to aid their sorrowing and suffering worshipers. + +Certain beasts, and birds, and trees, are held sacred in Finland. In +the Kalevala are evident traces of arctolatry, bear-worship, once very +common among the tribes of the north, Otso, the bear, according to +Finnish mythology, was born on the shoulders of Otava, in the regions +of the sun and moon, and "nursed by a goddess of the woodlands in a +cradle swung by bands of gold between the bending branches of budding +fir-trees." His nurse would not give him teeth and claws until he had +promised never to engage in bloody strife, or deeds of violence. Otso, +however, does not always keep his pledge, and accordingly the hunters +of Finland find it comparatively easy to reconcile their consciences to +his destruction. Otso is called in the runes by many endearing titles +as "The Honey-Eater," "Golden Light-Foot," "The Forest-Apple," +"Honey-Paw of the Mountains," "ThePride of the Thicket," "The Fur-robed +Forest-Friend." Ahava, the West-wind, and Penitar, a blind old witch +of Sariola, are the parents of the swift dogs of Finland, just as the +horses of Achilles, Xanthos and Belios, sprang from Zephyros and the +harpy Podarge. + +As to birds, the duck, according to the Kalevala, the eagle, according +to other traditions, lays the mundane egg, thus taking part in the +creation of the world. Puhuri, the north-wind, the father of Pakkanen +(frost) is sometimes personified as a gigantic eagle. The didapper is +reverenced because it foretells the approach of rain. Linnunrata +(bird-path) is the name given to the Milky-way, due probably to a myth +like those of the Swedes and Slavs, in which liberated songs take the +form of snow-white dovelets. The cuckoo to this day is sacred, and is +believed to have fertilized the earth with his songs. As to insects, +honey-bees, called by the Finns, Mehilainen, are especially sacred, as +in the mythologies of many other nations. Ukkon-koiva (Ukko's dog) is +the Finnish name for the butterfly, and is looked upon as a messenger +of the Supreme Deity. It may be interesting to observe here that the +Bretons in reverence called butterflies, "feathers from the wings of +God." + +As to inanimate nature, certain lakes, rivers, springs, and fountains, +are held in high reverence. In the Kalevala the oak is called Pun +Jumalan (God's tree). The mountain-ash even to this day, and the +birch-tree, are held sacred, and peasants plant them by their cottages +with reverence. + +Respecting the giants of Finnish mythology, Castren is silent, and the +following notes are gleaned from the Kalevala, and from Grimm's +Teutonic Mythology. "The giants," says Grimm, "are distinguished by +their cunning and ferocity from the stupid, good-natured monsters of +Germany and Scandinavia." Soini, for example a synonym of Kullervo, +the here of the saddest episode of the Kalevala when only three days +old, tore his swaddling clothes to tatters. When sold to a forgeman of +Karelia, he was ordered to nurse an infant, but he dug out the eyes of +the child, killed it, and burned its cradle. Ordered to fence the +fields, he built a fence from earth to heaven, using entire pine-trees +for fencing materials, and interweaving their branches with venomous +serpents. Ordered to tend the herds in the woodlands, he changed the +cattle to wolves and bears, and drove them home to destroy his mistress +because she had baked a stone in the centre of his oat-loaf, causing +him to break his knife, the only keepsake of his people. + +Regarding the heroes of the Kalevala, much discussion has arisen as to +their place in Finnish mythology. The Finns proper regard the chief +heroes of the Suomi epic, Wainamoinen, Ilmarinen, and Lemminkainen, as +descendants of the Celestial Virgin, Ilmatar, impregnated by the winds +when Ilma (air), Light, and Water were the only material existences. +In harmony with this conception we find in the Kalevala, a description +of the birth of Wainamoinen, or Vaino, as he is sometimes called in the +original, a word probably akin to the Magyar Ven, old. The Esthonians +regard these heroes as sons of the Great Spirit, begotten before the +earth was created, and dwelling with their Supreme Ruler in Jumala. + +The poetry of a people with such an elaborate mythology and with such a +keen and appreciative sense of nature and of her various phenomena, was +certain, sooner or later, to attract the attention of scholars. And, +in fact, as early as the seventeenth century, we meet men of literary +tastes who tried to collect and interpret the various national songs of +the Finns. Among these were Palmskold and Peter Bang. They collected +portions of the national poetry, consisting chiefly of +wizard-incantations, and all kinds of pagan folk-lore. Gabriel +Maxenius, however, was the first to publish a work on Finnish national +poetry, which brought to light the beauties of the Kalevala. It +appeared in 1733, and bore the title: De Effectibus Naturalibus. The +book contains a quaint collection of Finnish poems in lyric forms, +chiefly incantations; but the author was entirely at a loss how to +account for them, or how to appreciate them. He failed to see their +intimate connection with the religious worship of the Finns in paganism. + +The next to study the Finnish poetry and language was Daniel Juslenius, +a celebrated bishop, and a highly-gifted scholar. In a dissertation, +published as early as 1700, entitled, Aboa vetus et nova, he discussed +the origin and nature of the Finnish language; and in another work of +his, printed in 1745, he treated of Finnish incantations, displaying +withal a thorough understanding of the Finnish folk-lore, and of the +importance of the Finnish language and national poetry. With great +care he began to collect the songs of Suomi, but this precious +collection was unfortunately burned. + +Porthan, a Finnish scholar of great attainments, born in 1766, +continuing the work of Juslenius, accumulated a great number of +national songs and poems, and by his profound enthusiasm for the +promotion of Finnish literature, succeeded in founding the Society of +the Fennophils, which to the present day, forms the literary centre of +Finland. Among his pupils were E. Lenquist, and Chr. Ganander, whose +works on Finnish mythology are among the references used in preparing +this preface. These indefatigable scholars were joined by Reinhold +Becker and others, who were industriously searching for more and more +fragments of what evidently was a great epic of the Finns. For +certainly neither of the scholars just mentioned, nor earlier +investigators, could fail to see that the runes they collected, +gathered round two or three chief heroes, but more especially around +the central figure of Wainamoinen, the hero of the following epic. + +The Kalevala proper was collected by two great Finnish scholars, +Zacharias Topelius and Elias Lonnrot. Both were practicing physicians, +and in this capacity came into frequent contact with the people of +Finland. Topelius, who collected eighty epical fragments of the +Kalevala, spent the last eleven years of his life in bed, afflicted +with a fatal disease. But this sad and trying circumstance did not +dampen his enthusiasm. His manner of collecting these songs was as +follows: Knowing that the Finns of Russia preserved most of the +national poetry, and that they came annually to Finland proper, which +at that time did not belong to Russia, he invited these itinerant +Finnish merchants to his bedside, and induced them to sing their heroic +poems, which he copied as they were uttered. And, when he heard of a +renowned Finnish singer, or minstrel, he did all in his power to bring +the song-man to his house, in order that he might gather new fragments +of the national epic. Thus the first glory of collecting the fragments +of the Kalevala and of rescuing it from literary oblivion, belongs to +Topelius. In 1822 he published his first collections, and in 18317 his +last. + +Elias Lonnrot, who brought the whole work to a glorious completion, was +born April 9, 1802. He entered the University of Abo in 1822, and in +1832, received the degree of Doctor of Medicine from the University of +Helsingfors. After the death of Castren in 1850, Lonnrot was appointed +professor of the Suomi (Finnish) language and literature in the +University, where he remained until 1862, at which time he withdrew +from his academical activity and devoted himself exclusively to the +study of his native language, and its epical productions. Dr. Lonnrot +had already published a scholarly treatise, in 1827, on the chief hero +of the Kalevala, before he went to Sava and Karjala to glean the songs +and parts of songs front the lips of the people. This work was +entitled: De Wainainoine priscorum Fennorum numine. In the year 1828, +he travelled as far as Kajan, collecting poems and songs of the Finnish +people, sitting by the fireside of the aged, rowing on the lakes with +the fishermen, and following the flocks with the shepherds. In 1829 he +published at Helsingfors a work under the following title: Kantele +taikka Suomee Kansan sek vazhoja etta nykysempia Runoja ja Lauluja +(Lyre, or Old and New Songs and Lays of the Finnish Nation). In +another work edited in 1832, written in Swedish, entitled: Om Finnarues +Magiska Medicin (On the Magic Medicine of the Finns), he dwells on the +incantations so frequent in Finnish poetry, notably in the Kalevala. A +few years later he travelled in the province of Archangel, and so +ingratiated himself into the hearts of the simple-minded people that +they most willingly aided him in collecting these songs. These +journeys were made through wild fens, forests, marshes, and ice-plains, +on horseback, in sledges drawn by the reindeer, in canoes, or in some +other forms of primitive conveyance. The enthusiastic physician +described his journeyings and difficulties faithfully in a paper +published at Helsingfors in Swedish in 1834. He had the peculiar good +luck to meet an old peasant, one of the oldest of the runolainen in the +Russian province of Wuokiniem, who was by far the most renowned +minstrel of the country, and with whose closely impending death, +numerous very precious runes would have been irrevocably lost. + +The happy result of his travels throughout Finland, Dr. Lonnrot now +commenced to arrange under the central idea of a great epic, called +Kalevala, and in February, 1835, the manuscript was transmitted to the +Finnish Literary Society, which had it published in two parts. +Lonnrot, however, did not stop here; he went on searching and +collecting, and, in 1840, had brought together more than one thousand +fragments of epical poetry, national ballads, and proverbs. These he +published in two works, respectively entitled, Kanteletar (Lyre-charm), +and The Proverbs of the Suomi People, the latter containing over 1700 +proverbs, adages, gnomic sentences, and songs. + +His example was followed by many of his enthusiastic countrymen, the +more prominent of whom are Castren, Europaeus, Polen and Reniholm. +Through the collections of these scholars so many additional parts of +the epical treasure of Finland were made public that a new edition of +the Kalevala soon became an imperative necessity. The task of sifting, +arranging, and organizing the extensive material, was again allotted to +Dr. Lonnrot, and in his second editions of the Kalevala, which appeared +in 1849, the epic, embracing fifty runes and 22,793 lines, had reached +its mature form. The Kalevala was no sooner published than it +attracted the attention of the leading scholars of Europe. Men of such +world-wide fame as Jacob Grimm, Steinthal, Uhland, Carrière and Max Müller +hastened to acknowledge its surpassing value and intrinsic beauty. +Jacob Grimm, in a separate treatise, published in his Kleinere +Schriften, said that the genuineness and extraordinary value of the +Kalevala is easily proved by the fact that from its mythological ideas +we can frequently interpret the mythological conceptions of the ancient +Germans, whereas the poems of Ossian manifest their modern origin by +their inability to clear up questions of old Saxon or German mythology. + Grimm, furthermore, shows that both the Gothic and Icelandic +literatures display unmistakable features of Finnish influence. + +Max Müller places the Kalevala on a level with the greatest epics of the +world. These are his words: + + +"From the mouths of the aged an epic poem has been collected equalling +the Iliad in length and completeness; nay, if we can forget for a +moment, all that we in our youth learned to call beautiful, not less +beautiful. A Finn is not a Greek, and Wainamoinen was not a Homer +[Achilles?]; but if the poet may take his colors from that nature by +which he is surrounded, if he may depict the men with whom he lives, +the Kalevala possesses merits not dissimilar from those of the Illiad, +and will claim its place as the fifth national epic of the world, side +by side with the Ionian Songs, with the Mahabharata, the Shalinameth, +and the Nibelunge." + + +Steinthal recognizes but four great national epics, viz., the Iliad, +Kalevala, Nibelunge and the Roland Songs. + +The Kalevala describes Finnish nature very minutely and very +beautifully. Grimm says that no poem is to be compared with it in this +respect, unless it be some of the epics of India. It has been +translated into several European languages; into Swedish by Alex. +Castren, in 1844; into French prose by L. LeDuc, in 1845; into German +by Anton Schiefuer, in 1852; into Hungarian by Ferdinand Barna, in +1871; and a very small portion of it--the legend of Aino--into English, +in 1868, by the late Prof. John A. Porter, of Yale College. It must +remain a matter of universal regret to the English-speaking people that +Prof. Porter's life could not have been spared to finish the great work +he had so beautifully begun. + +Some of the most convincing evidences of the genuineness and great age +of the Kalevala have been supplied by the Hungarian translator. The +Hungarians, as is well known, are closely related to the Finns, and +their language, the Magyar dialect, has the same characteristic +features as the Finnish tongue. Barna's translation, accordingly, is +the best rendering of the original. In order to show the genuineness +and antiquity of the Kalevala, Barna adduces a Hungarian book written +by a certain Peter Bornemissza, in 1578, entitled ordogi Kisertetekrol +(on Satanic Specters), the unique copy of which he found in the library +of the University of Budapest. In this book Bornemissza collected all +the incantations (raolvasasok) in use among Hungarian country-people of +his day for the expulsion of diseases and misfortunes. These +incantations, forming the common stock of all Ugrian peoples, of which +the Finns and Hungarians are branches, display a most satisfactory +sameness with the numerous incantations of the Kalevala used for the +same purpose. Barna published an elaborate treatise on this subject; +it appeared in the, Transactions of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, +Philological Department, for 1870. Again, in 1868, twenty-two +Hungarian deeds, dating from 1616-1660, were sent to the Hungarian +Academy of Sciences, as having been found in the Hegyalja, where the +celebrated wine of Tokay is made. These deeds contained several +contracts for the sale of vineyards, and at the end of each deed the +customary cup of wine was said to have been emptied by both parties to +the contract. This cup of wine, in the deeds, was termed, "Ukkon's +cup." Ukko, however, is the chief God according to Finnish mythology, +and thus the coincidence of the Magyar Ukkon and the Finnish Ukko was +placed beyond doubt. + +The Kalevala (the Land of Heroes) relates the ever-varying contests +between the Finns and the "darksome Laplanders", just as the Iliad +relates the contests between the Greeks and the Trojans. Castren is of +the opinion that the enmity between the Finns and the Lapps was sung +long before the Finns had left their Asiatic birth-place. + +A deeper and more esoteric meaning of the Kalevala, however, points to +a contest between Light and Darkness, Good and Evil; the Finns +representing the Light and the Good, and the Lapps, the Darkness and +the Evil. Like the Niebelungs, the heroes of the Finns woo for brides +the beauteous maidens of the North; and the similarity is rendered +still more striking by their frequent inroads into the country of the +Lapps, in order to possess themselves of the envied treasure of +Lapland, the mysterious Sampo, evidently the Golden Fleece of the +Argonautic expedition. Curiously enough public opinion is often +expressed in the runes, in the words of an infant; often too the +unexpected is introduced after the manner of the Greek dramas, by a +young child, or an old man. + +The whole poem is replete with the most fascinating folk-lore about the +mysteries of nature, the origin of things, the enigmas of human tears, +and, true to the character of a national epic, it represents not only +the poetry, but the entire wisdom and accumulated experience of a +nation. Among others, there is a profoundly philosophical trait in the +poem, indicative of a deep insight into the workings of the human mind, +and into the forces of nature. Whenever one of the heroes of the +Kalevala wishes to overcome the aggressive power of an evil force, as a +wound, a disease, a ferocious beast, or a venomous serpent, he achieves +his purpose by chanting the origin of the inimical force. The thought +underlying this idea evidently is that all evil could be obviated had +we but the knowledge of whence and how it came. + +The numerous myths of the poem are likewise full of significance and +beauty, and the Kalevala should be read between the lines, in order +that the fall meaning of this great epic may be comprehended. Even +such a hideous impersonation as that of Kullerwoinen, is rich with +pointed meaning, showing as it does, the incorrigibility of ingrained +evil. This legend, like all others of the poem, has its deep-running +stream of esoteric interpretation. The Kalevala, perhaps, more than +any other, uses its lines on the surface in symbolism to point the +human mind to the brighter gems of truth beneath. + +The three main personages, Wainamoinen, the ancient singer, Ilmarinen, +the eternal forgeman, and Lemminkainen, the reckless wizard, as +mentioned above, are conceived as being of divine origin. In fact, the +acting characters of the Kalevala are mostly superhuman, magic beings. +Even the female actors are powerful sorceresses, and the hostess of +Pohyola, especially, braves the might of all the enchanters of Wainola +combined. The power of magic is a striking feature of the poem. Here, +as in the legends of no other people, do the heroes and demi-gods +accomplish nearly everything by magic. The songs of Wainamoinen disarm +his opponents; they quiet the angry sea; they give warmth to the new +sun and the new moon which his brother, Ilmarinen, forges from the +magic metals; they give life to the spouse of Ilmarinen, which the +"eternal metal-artist" forges from gold, silver, and copper. In fact +we are among a people that endows everything with life, and with human +and divine attributes. Birds, and beasts, and fishes, and serpents, as +well as the Sun, the Moon, the Great Bear, and the stars, are either +kind or unkind. Drops of blood find speech; men and maidens transform +themselves into other shapes and resume again their native forms at +will; ships, and trees, and waters, have magic powers; in short, all +nature speaks in human tongues. + +The Kalevala dates back to an enormous antiquity. One reason for +believing this, lies in the silence of the Kalevala about Russians, +Germans, or Swedes, their neighbors. This evidently shows that the +poem must have been composed at a time when these nations had but very +little or no intercourse with the Finns. The coincidence between the +incantations adduced above, proves that these witch-songs date from a +time when the Hungarians and the Finns were still united as one people; +in other words, to a time at least 3000 years ago. The whole poem +betrays no important signs of foreign influence, and in its entire +tenor is a thoroughly pagan epic. There are excellent reasons for +believing that the story of Mariatta, recited in the 50th Rune, is an +ante-Christian legend. + +An additional proof of the originality and independent rise of the +Kalevala is to be found in its metre. All genuine poetry must have its +peculiar verse, just as snow-flakes cannot exist without their peculiar +crystalizations. It is thus that the Iliad is inseparably united, and, +as it were, immersed in the stately hexametre, and the French epics, in +the graceful Alexandrine verse. The metre of the Kalevala is the +"eight-syllabled trochaic, with the part-line echo," and is the +characteristic verse of the Finns. The natural speech of this people +is poetry. The young men and maidens, the old men and matrons, in +their interchange of ideas, unwittingly fall into verse. The genius of +their language aids to this end, inasmuch as their words are strongly +trochaic. + +This wonderfully versatile metre admits of keeping the right medium +between the dignified, almost prancing hexameter, and the shorter +metres of the lyrics. Its feet are nimble and fleet, but yet full of +vigor and expressiveness. In addition, the Kalevala uses alliteration, +and thus varies the rhythm of time with the rhythm of sound. This +metre is especially fit for the numerous expressions of endearment in +which the Finnish epic abounds. It is more especially the love of the +mother for her children, and the love of the children for their mother, +that find frequent and ever-tender expression in the sonorous lines of +the Kalevala. The Swedish translation by Castren, the German, by +Schiefner, and the Hungarian, by Barna, as well as the following +English translation, are in the original metre of the Kalevala. + +To prove that this peculiar and fascinating style of verse is of very +ancient origin, the following lines have been accurately copied from +the first edition in Finnish of the Kalevala, collated by Dr. Lonnrot, +and published in 1835 at Helsingfors, the quotation beginning with the +150th line of the 2nd Rune: + + +Louhi Pohjolan emanta +Sanan wirkko, noin nimesi: +"Niin mita minulleannat, +Kun saatan omille maille, +Oman pellon pientarelle, +Oman pihan rikkasille?" +Sano wanha Wainamoinen: +"Mitapa kysyt minulta, +Kun saatat omille maille, +Oman kaën kukkumille, +Oman kukon kukkluwille, +Oman saunan lampimille?" +Sano Pohjolan emanta: +"Ohoh wiisas Wainamoinen! +Taiatko takoa sammon, +Kirjokannen kirjaëlla, +Yhen joukkosen sulasta, +Yhen willan kylkyesta, +Yhen otrasen jywasta, +Yhen warttinan muruista." + + +As to the architecture of the Kalevala, it stands midway between the +epical ballads of the Servians and the purely epical structure of the +Iliad. Though a continuous whole, it contains several almost +independent parts, as the contest of Youkahainen, the Kullervo episode, +and the legend of Mariatta. + +By language-masters this epic of Suomi, descending unwritten from the +mythical age to the present day, kept alive from generation to +generation by minstrels, or song-men, is regarded as one of the most +precious contributions to the literature of the world, made since the +time of Milton and the German classics. + +Acknowledgment is hereby made to the following sources of information +used in the preparation of this work: to E. Lenquist's De Superstitione +veterum Fennorum theoretica et practica; to Chr. Ganander's Mythologia +Fennica; to Becker's De Vainamoine; to Max Müller's Oxford Essays; to +Prof. John A. Porter's Selections from the Kalevala; to the writings of +the two Grimms; to Latham's Native Races of the Russian Empire; to the +translations of the Kalevala by Alex. Castren, Anton Schieffier, L. +LeDuc and Ferdinand Barna; and especially to the excellent treatises on +the Kalevala, and on the Mythology of the Finns, by Mace Da Charda and +Alex. Castren; to Prof. Helena Klingner, of Cincinnati, a linguist of +high rank, and who has compared very conscientiously the manuscript of +the following pages with the German translation of the Kalevala by +Anton Schiefner; to Dr. Emil Reich, a native Hungarian, a close student +of the Ugrian tongues, who, in a most thorough manner, has compared +this translation with the Hungarian by Ferdinand Barna, and who, +familiar with the habits, customs, and religious notions of the Finns, +has furnished much valuable material used in the preparation of this +preface; and, finally, to Prof. Thomas C. Porter, D.D., LL.D., of +Lafayette College, who has become an authority on the Kalevala through +his own researches for many years, aided by a long and intimate +acquaintance with Prof. A. F. Soldan, a Finn by birth, an enthusiastic +lover of his country, a scholar of great attainments, acquainted with +many languages, and once at the head of the Imperial Mint at +Helsingfors, the capital of Finland. Prof. Porter has very kindly +placed in the hands of the author of these pages, all the literature on +this subject at his command, including his own writings; he has watched +the growth of this translation with unusual interest; and, with the eye +of a gifted poet and scholar, he has made two careful and critical +examinations of the entire manuscript, making annotations, emendations, +and corrections, by which this work has been greatly improved. + +With this prolonged introduction, this, the first English translation +of the Kalevala, with its many imperfections, is hesitatingly given to +the public. + + +JOHN MARTIN CRAWFORD. +October 1, 1887. + + + + +THE KALEVALA. + + + +PROEM. + + +MASTERED by desire impulsive, +By a mighty inward urging, +I am ready now for singing, +Ready to begin the chanting +Of our nation's ancient folk-song +Handed down from by-gone ages. +In my mouth the words are melting, +From my lips the tones are gliding, +From my tongue they wish to hasten; +When my willing teeth are parted, +When my ready mouth is opened, +Songs of ancient wit and wisdom +Hasten from me not unwilling. +Golden friend, and dearest brother, +Brother dear of mine in childhood, +Come and sing with me the stories, +Come and chant with me the legends, +Legends of the times forgotten, +Since we now are here together, +Come together from our roamings. +Seldom do we come for singing, +Seldom to the one, the other, +O'er this cold and cruel country, +O'er the poor soil of the Northland. +Let us clasp our hands together +That we thus may best remember. +Join we now in merry singing, +Chant we now the oldest folk-lore, +That the dear ones all may hear them, +That the well-inclined may hear them, +Of this rising generation. +These are words in childhood taught me, +Songs preserved from distant ages, +Legends they that once were taken +From the belt of Wainamoinen, +From the forge of Ilmarinen, +From the sword of Kaukomieli, +From the bow of Youkahainen, +From the pastures of the Northland, +From the meads of Kalevala. +These my dear old father sang me +When at work with knife and hatchet +These my tender mother taught me +When she twirled the flying spindle, +When a child upon the matting +By her feet I rolled and tumbled. +Incantations were not wanting +Over Sampo and o'er Louhi, +Sampo growing old in singing, +Louhi ceasing her enchantment. +In the songs died wise Wipunen, +At the games died Lemminkainen. +There are many other legends, +Incantations that were taught me, +That I found along the wayside, +Gathered in the fragrant copses, +Blown me from the forest branches, +Culled among the plumes of pine-trees, +Scented from the vines and flowers, +Whispered to me as I followed +Flocks in land of honeyed meadows, +Over hillocks green and golden, +After sable-haired Murikki, +And the many-colored Kimmo. +Many runes the cold has told me, +Many lays the rain has brought me, +Other songs the winds have sung me; +Many birds from many forests, +Oft have sung me lays n concord +Waves of sea, and ocean billows, +Music from the many waters, +Music from the whole creation, +Oft have been my guide and master. +Sentences the trees created, +Rolled together into bundles, +Moved them to my ancient dwelling, +On the sledges to my cottage, +Tied them to my garret rafters, +Hung them on my dwelling-portals, +Laid them in a chest of boxes, +Boxes lined with shining copper. +Long they lay within my dwelling +Through the chilling winds of winter, +In my dwelling-place for ages. +Shall I bring these songs together +From the cold and frost collect them? +Shall I bring this nest of boxes, +Keepers of these golden legends, +To the table in my cabin, +Underneath the painted rafters, +In this house renowned and ancient? +Shall I now these boxes open, +Boxes filled with wondrous stories? +Shall I now the end unfasten +Of this ball of ancient wisdom, +These ancestral lays unravel? +Let me sing an old-time legend, +That shall echo forth the praises +Of the beer that I have tasted, +Of the sparkling beer of barley. +Bring to me a foaming goblet +Of the barley of my fathers, +Lest my singing grow too weary, +Singing from the water only. +Bring me too a cup of strong-beer, +It will add to our enchantment, +To the pleasure of the evening, +Northland's long and dreary evening, +For the beauty of the day-dawn, +For the pleasure of the morning, +The beginning of the new-day. +Often I have heard them chanting, +Often I have heard them singing, +That the nights come to us singly, +That the Moon beams on us singly, +That the Sun shines on us singly; +Singly also, Wainamoinen, +The renowned and wise enchanter, +Born from everlasting Ether +Of his mother, Ether's daughter. + + + + +RUNE I. + + + +BIRTH OF WAINAMOINEN. + + +In primeval times, a maiden, +Beauteous Daughter of the Ether, +Passed for ages her existence +In the great expanse of heaven, +O'er the prairies yet enfolded. +Wearisome the maiden growing, +Her existence sad and hopeless, +Thus alone to live for ages +In the infinite expanses +Of the air above the sea-foam, +In the far outstretching spaces, +In a solitude of ether, +She descended to the ocean, +Waves her coach, and waves her pillow. +Thereupon the rising storm-wind +Flying from the East in fierceness, +Whips the ocean into surges, +Strikes the stars with sprays of ocean +Till the waves are white with fervor. +To and fro they toss the maiden, +Storm-encircled, hapless maiden; +With her sport the rolling billows, +With her play the storm-wind forces, +On the blue back of the waters; +On the white-wreathed waves of ocean, +Play the forces of the salt-sea, +With the lone and helpless maiden; +Till at last in full conception, +Union now of force and beauty, +Sink the storm-winds into slumber; +Overburdened now the maiden +Cannot rise above the surface; +Seven hundred years she wandered, +Ages nine of man's existence, +Swam the ocean hither, thither, +Could not rise above the waters, +Conscious only of her travail; +Seven hundred years she labored +Ere her first-born was delivered. +Thus she swam as water-mother, +Toward the east, and also southward, +Toward the west, and also northward; +Swam the sea in all directions, +Frightened at the strife of storm-winds, +Swam in travail, swam unceasing, +Ere her first-born was delivered. +Then began she gently weeping, +Spake these measures, heavy-hearted: +"Woe is me, my life hard-fated! +Woe is me, in this my travail! +Into what have I now fallen? +Woe is me, that I unhappy, +Left my home in subtle ether, +Came to dwell amid the sea-foam, +To be tossed by rolling billows, +To be rocked by winds and waters, +On the far outstretching waters, +In the salt-sea's vast expanses, +Knowing only pain and trouble! +Better far for me, O Ukko! +Were I maiden in the Ether, +Than within these ocean-spaces, +To become a water-mother! +All this life is cold and dreary, +Painful here is every motion, +As I linger in the waters, +As I wander through the ocean. +Ukko, thou O God, up yonder, +Thou the ruler of the heavens, +Come thou hither, thou art needed, +Come thou hither, I implore thee, +To deliver me from trouble, +To deliver me in travail. +Come I pray thee, hither hasten, +Hasten more that thou art needed, +Haste and help this helpless maiden!" +When she ceased her supplications, +Scarce a moment onward passes, +Ere a beauteous duck descending, +Hastens toward the water-mother, +Comes a-flying hither, thither, +Seeks herself a place for nesting. +Flies she eastward, flies she westward, +Circles northward, circles southward, +Cannot find a grassy hillock, +Not the smallest bit of verdure; +Cannot find a spot protected, +Cannot find a place befitting, +Where to make her nest in safety. +Flying slowly, looking round her, +She descries no place for resting, +Thinking loud and long debating, +And her words are such as follow: +"Build I in the winds my dwelling, +On the floods my place of nesting? +Surely would the winds destroy it, +Far away the waves would wash it." +Then the daughter of the Ether, +Now the hapless water-mother, +Raised her shoulders out of water, +Raised her knees above the ocean, +That the duck might build her dwelling, +Build her nesting-place in safety. +Thereupon the duck in beauty, +Flying slowly, looking round her, +Spies the shoulders of the maiden, +Sees the knees of Ether's daughter, +Now the hapless water-mother, +Thinks them to be grassy hillocks, +On the blue back of the ocean. +Thence she flies and hovers slowly, +Lightly on the knee she settles, +Finds a nesting-place befitting, +Where to lay her eggs in safety. +Here she builds her humble dwelling, +Lays her eggs within, at pleasure, +Six, the golden eggs she lays there, +Then a seventh, an egg of iron; +Sits upon her eggs to hatch them, +Quickly warms them on the knee-cap +Of the hapless water-mother; +Hatches one day, then a second, +Then a third day sits and hatches. +Warmer grows the water round her, +Warmer is her bed in ocean, +While her knee with fire is kindled, +And her shoulders too are burning, +Fire in every vein is coursing. +Quick the maiden moves her shoulders, +Shakes her members in succession, +Shakes the nest from its foundation, +And the eggs fall into ocean, +Dash in pieces on the bottom +Of the deep and boundless waters. +In the sand they do not perish, +Not the pieces in the ocean; +But transformed, in wondrous beauty +All the fragments come together +Forming pieces two in number, +One the upper, one the lower, +Equal to the one, the other. +From one half the egg, the lower, +Grows the nether vault of Terra: +From the upper half remaining, +Grows the upper vault of Heaven; +From the white part come the moonbeams, +From the yellow part the sunshine, +From the motley part the starlight, +From the dark part grows the cloudage; +And the days speed onward swiftly, +Quickly do the years fly over, +From the shining of the new sun +From the lighting of the full moon. +Still the daughter of the Ether, +Swims the sea as water-mother, +With the floods outstretched before her, +And behind her sky and ocean. +Finally about the ninth year, +In the summer of the tenth year, +Lifts her head above the surface, +Lifts her forehead from the waters, +And begins at last her workings, +Now commences her creations, +On the azure water-ridges, +On the mighty waste before her. +Where her hand she turned in water, +There arose a fertile hillock; +Wheresoe'er her foot she rested, +There she made a hole for fishes; +Where she dived beneath the waters, +Fell the many deeps of ocean; +Where upon her side she turned her, +There the level banks have risen; +Where her head was pointed landward, +There appeared wide bays and inlets; +When from shore she swam a distance, +And upon her back she rested, +There the rocks she made and fashioned, +And the hidden reefs created, +Where the ships are wrecked so often, +Where so many lives have perished. +Thus created were the islands, +Rocks were fastened in the ocean, +Pillars of the sky were planted, +Fields and forests were created, +Checkered stones of many colors, +Gleaming in the silver sunlight, +All the rocks stood well established; +But the singer, Wainamoinen, +Had not yet beheld the sunshine, +Had not seen the golden moonlight, +Still remaining undelivered. +Wainamoinen, old and trusty, +Lingering within his dungeon +Thirty summers altogether, +And of winters, also thirty, +Peaceful on the waste of waters, +On the broad-sea's yielding bosom, +Well reflected, long considered, +How unborn to live and flourish +In the spaces wrapped in darkness, +In uncomfortable limits, +Where he had not seen the moonlight, +Had not seen the silver sunshine. +Thereupon these words be uttered, +Let himself be heard in this wise: +"Take, O Moon, I pray thee, take me, +Take me, thou, O Sun above me, +Take me, thou O Bear of heaven, +From this dark and dreary prison, +From these unbefitting portals, +From this narrow place of resting, +From this dark and gloomy dwelling, +Hence to wander from the ocean, +Hence to walk upon the islands, +On the dry land walk and wander, +Like an ancient hero wander, +Walk in open air and breathe it, +Thus to see the moon at evening, +Thus to see the silver sunlight, +Thus to see the Bear in heaven, +That the stars I may consider." +Since the Moon refused to free him, +And the Sun would not deliver, +Nor the Great Bear give assistance, +His existence growing weary, +And his life but an annoyance, +Bursts he then the outer portals +Of his dark and dismal fortress; +With his strong, but unnamed finger, +Opens he the lock resisting; +With the toes upon his left foot, +With the fingers of his right hand, +Creeps he through the yielding portals +To the threshold of his dwelling; +On his knees across the threshold, +Throws himself head foremost, forward +Plunges into deeps of ocean, +Plunges hither, plunges thither, +Turning with his hands the water; +Swims he northward, swims he southward, +Swims he eastward, swims he westward, +Studying his new surroundings. +Thus our hero reached the water, +Rested five years in the ocean, +Six long years, and even seven years, +Till the autumn of the eighth year, +When at last he leaves the waters, +Stops upon a promontory, +On a coast bereft of verdure; +On his knees he leaves the ocean, +On the land he plants his right foot, +On the solid ground his left foot, +Quickly turns his hands about him, +Stands erect to see the sunshine, +Stands to see the golden moonlight, +That he may behold the Great Bear, +That he may the stars consider. +Thus our hero, Wainamoinen, +Thus the wonderful enchanter +Was delivered from his mother, +Ilmatar, the Ether's daughter. + + + + +RUNE II. + + + +WAINAMOINEN'S SOWING. + + +Then arose old Wainamoinen, +With his feet upon the island, +On the island washed by ocean, +Broad expanse devoid of verdure; +There remained be many summers, +There he lived as many winters, +On the island vast and vacant, +well considered, long reflected, +Who for him should sow the island, +Who for him the seeds should scatter; +Thought at last of Pellerwoinen, +First-born of the plains and prairies, +When a slender boy, called Sampsa, +Who should sow the vacant island, +Who the forest seeds should scatter. +Pellerwoinen, thus consenting, +Sows with diligence the island, +Seeds upon the lands he scatters, +Seeds in every swamp and lowland, +Forest seeds upon the loose earth, +On the firm soil sows the acorns, +Fir-trees sows he on the mountains, +Pine-trees also on the hill-tops, +Many shrubs in every valley, +Birches sows he in the marshes, +In the loose soil sows the alders, +In the lowlands sows the lindens, +In the moist earth sows the willow, +Mountain-ash in virgin places, +On the banks of streams the hawthorn, +Junipers in hilly regions; +This the work of Pellerwoinen, +Slender Sampsa, in his childhood. +Soon the fertile seeds were sprouting, +Soon the forest trees were growing, +Soon appeared the tops of fir-trees, +And the pines were far outspreading; +Birches rose from all the marshes, +In the loose soil grew the alders, +In the mellow soil the lindens; +Junipers were also growing, +Junipers with clustered berries, +Berries on the hawthorn branches. +Now the hero, Wainamoinen, +Stands aloft to look about him, +How the Sampsa-seeds are growing, +How the crop of Pellerwoinen; +Sees the young trees thickly spreading, +Sees the forest rise in beauty; +But the oak-tree has not sprouted, +Tree of heaven is not growing, +Still within the acorn sleeping, +Its own happiness enjoying. +Then he waited three nights longer, +And as many days he waited, +Waited till a week had vanished, +Then again the work examined; +But the oak-tree was not growing, +Had not left her acorn-dwelling. +Wainamoinen, ancient hero, +Spies four maidens in the distance, +Water-brides, he spies a fifth-one, +On the soft and sandy sea-shore, +In the dewy grass and flowers, +On a point extending seaward, +Near the forests of the island. +Some were mowing, some were raking, +Raking what was mown together, +In a windrow on the meadow. +From the ocean rose a giant, +Mighty Tursas, tall and hardy, +Pressed compactly all the grasses, +That the maidens had been raking, +When a fire within them kindles, +And the flames shot up to heaven, +Till the windrows burned to ashes, +Only ashes now remaining +Of the grasses raked together. +In the ashes of the windrows, +Tender leaves the giant places, +In the leaves he plants an acorn, +From the acorn, quickly sprouting, +Grows the oak-tree, tall and stately, +From the ground enriched by ashes, +Newly raked by water-maidens; +Spread the oak-tree's many branches, +Rounds itself a broad corona, +Raises it above the storm-clouds; +Far it stretches out its branches, +Stops the white-clouds in their courses, +With its branches hides the sunlight, +With its many leaves, the moonbeams, +And the starlight dies in heaven. +Wainamoinen, old and trusty, +Thought awhile, and well considered, +How to kill the mighty oak-tree, +First created for his pleasure, +How to fell the tree majestic, +How to lop its hundred branches. +Sad the lives of man and hero, +Sad the homes of ocean-dwellers, +If the sun shines not upon them, +If the moonlight does not cheer them +Is there not some mighty hero, +Was there never born a giant, +That can fell the mighty oak-tree, +That can lop its hundred branches? +Wainamoinen, deeply thinking, +Spake these words soliloquizing: +"Kape, daughter of the Ether, +Ancient mother of my being, +Luonnotar, my nurse and helper, +Loan to me the water-forces, +Great the powers of the waters; +Loan to me the strength of oceans, +To upset this mighty oak-tree, +To uproot this tree of evil, +That again may shine the sunlight, +That the moon once more may glimmer." +Straightway rose a form from oceans, +Rose a hero from the waters, +Nor belonged he to the largest, +Nor belonged he to the smallest, +Long was he as man's forefinger, +Taller than the hand of woman; +On his head a cap of copper, +Boots upon his feet were copper, +Gloves upon his hands were copper, +And its stripes were copper-colored, +Belt around him made of copper, +Hatchet in his belt was copper; +And the handle of his hatchet +Was as long as hand of woman, +Of a finger's breadth the blade was. +Then the trusty Wainamoinen +Thought awhile and well considered, +And his measures are as follow: +"Art thou, sir, divine or human? +Which of these thou only knowest; +Tell me what thy name and station. +Very like a man thou lookest, +Hast the bearing of a hero, +Though the length of man's first finger, +Scarce as tall as hoof of reindeer." +Then again spake Wainamoinen +To the form from out the ocean: +"Verily I think thee human, +Of the race of pigmy-heroes, +Might as well be dead or dying, +Fit for nothing but to perish." +Answered thus the pigmy-hero, +Spake the small one from the ocean +To the valiant Wainamoinen +"Truly am I god and hero, +From the tribes that rule the ocean; +Come I here to fell the oak-tree, +Lop its branches with my hatchet." +Wainamoinen, old and trusty, +Answers thus the sea-born hero: +"Never hast thou force sufficient, +Not to thee has strength been given, +To uproot this mighty oak-tree, +To upset this thing of evil, +Nor to lop its hundred branches." +Scarcely had he finished speaking, +Scarcely had he moved his eyelids, +Ere the pigmy full unfolding, +Quick becomes a mighty giant. +With one step he leaves the ocean, +Plants himself, a mighty hero, +On the forest-fields surrounding; +With his head the clouds he pierces, +To his knees his beard extending, +And his locks fall to his ankles; +Far apart appear his eyeballs, +Far apart his feet are stationed. +Farther still his mighty shoulders. +Now begins his axe to sharpen, +Quickly to an edge he whets it, +Using six hard blocks of sandstone, +And of softer whetstones, seven. +Straightway to the oak-tree turning, +Thither stalks the mighty giant, +In his raiment long and roomy, +Flapping in the winds of heaven; +With his second step he totters +On the land of darker color; +With his third stop firmly planted, +Reaches he the oak-tree's branches, +Strikes the trunk with sharpened hatchet, +With one mighty swing he strikes it, +With a second blow he cuts it; +As his blade descends the third time, +From his axe the sparks fly upward, +From the oak-tree fire outshooting; +Ere the axe descends a fourth time, +Yields the oak with hundred branches, +Shaking earth and heaven in falling. +Eastward far the trunk extending, +Far to westward flew the tree-tops, +To the South the leaves were scattered, +To the North its hundred branches. +Whosoe'er a branch has taken, +Has obtained eternal welfare; +Who secures himself a tree-top, +He has gained the master magic; +Who the foliage has gathered, +Has delight that never ceases. +Of the chips some had been scattered, +Scattered also many splinters, +On the blue back of the ocean, +Of the ocean smooth and mirrored, +Rocked there by the winds and waters, +Like a boat upon the billows; +Storm-winds blew them to the Northland, +Some the ocean currents carried. +Northland's fair and slender maiden, +Washing on the shore a head-dress, +Beating on the rocks her garments, +Rinsing there her silken raiment, +In the waters of Pohyola, +There beheld the chips and splinters, +Carried by the winds and waters. +In a bag the chips she gathered, +Took them to the ancient court-yard, +There to make enchanted arrows, +Arrows for the great magician, +There to shape them into weapons, +Weapons for the skilful archer, +Since the mighty oak has fallen, +Now has lost its hundred branches, +That the North may see the sunshine, +See the gentle gleam of moonlight, +That the clouds may keep their courses, +May extend the vault of heaven +Over every lake and river, +O'er the banks of every island. +Groves arose in varied beauty, +Beautifully grew the forests, +And again, the vines and flowers. +Birds again sang in the tree-tops, +Noisily the merry thrushes, +And the cuckoos in the birch-trees; +On the mountains grew the berries, +Golden flowers in the meadows, +And the herbs of many colors, +Many kinds of vegetation; +But the barley is not growing. +Wainamoinen, old and trusty, +Goes away and well considers, +By the borders of the waters, +On the ocean's sandy margin, +Finds six seeds of golden barley, +Even seven ripened kernels, +On the shore of upper Northland, +In the sand upon the sea-shore, +Hides them in his trusty pouches, +Fashioned from the skin of squirrel, +Some were made from skin of marten; +Hastens forth the seeds to scatter, +Quickly sows the barley kernels, +On the brinks of Kalew-waters, +On the Osma-hills and lowlands. +Hark! the titmouse wildly crying, +From the aspen, words as follow: +"Osma's barley will not flourish, +Not the barley of Wainola, +If the soil be not made ready, +If the forest be not levelled, +And the branches burned to ashes." +Wainamoinen, wise and ancient, +Made himself an axe for chopping, +Then began to clear the forest, +Then began the trees to level, +Felled the trees of all descriptions, +Only left the birch-tree standing +For the birds a place of resting, +Where might sing the sweet-voiced cuckoo, +Sacred bird in sacred branches. +Down from heaven came the eagle, +Through the air be came a-flying, +That he might this thing consider; +And he spake the words that follow: +"Wherefore, ancient Wainamoinen, +Hast thou left the slender birch-tree, +Left the birch-tree only standing?" +Wainamoinen thus made answer: +"Therefore is the birch left standing, +That the birds may liest within it, +That the eagle there may rest him, +There may sing the sacred cuckoo." +Spake the eagle, thus replying: +Good indeed, thy hero-judgment, +That the birch-tree thou hast left us, +Left the sacred birch-tree standing, +As a resting-place for eagles, +And for birds of every feather, +Even I may rest upon it." +Quickly then this bird of heaven, +Kindled fire among the branches; +Soon the flames are fanned by north-winds, +And the east-winds lend their forces, +Burn the trees of all descriptions, +Burn them all to dust and ashes, +Only is the birch left standing. +Wainamoinen, wise and ancient, +Brings his magic grains of barley, +Brings he forth his seven seed-grains, +Brings them from his trusty pouches, +Fashioned from the skin of squirrel, +Some were made from skin of marten. +Thence to sow his seeds he hastens, +Hastes the barley-grains to scatter, +Speaks unto himself these measures: +"I the seeds of life am sowing, +Sowing through my open fingers, +From the hand of my Creator, +In this soil enriched with ashes, +In this soil to sprout and flourish. +Ancient mother, thou that livest +Far below the earth and ocean, +Mother of the fields and forests, +Bring the rich soil to producing, +Bring the seed-grains to the sprouting, +That the barley well may flourish. +Never will the earth unaided, +Yield the ripe nutritious barley; +Never will her force be wanting, +If the givers give assistance, +If the givers grace the sowing, +Grace the daughters of creation. +Rise, O earth, from out thy slumber, +From the slumber-land of ages, +Let the barley-grains be sprouting, +Let the blades themselves be starting, +Let the verdant stalks be rising, +Let the ears themselves be growing, +And a hundredfold producing, +From my plowing and my sowing, +From my skilled and honest labor. +Ukko, thou O God, up yonder, +Thou O Father of the heavens, +Thou that livest high in Ether, +Curbest all the clouds of heaven, +Holdest in the air thy counsel, +Holdest in the clouds good counsel, +From the East dispatch a cloudlet, +From the North-east send a rain-cloud, +From the West another send us, +From the North-west, still another, +Quickly from the South a warm-cloud, +That the rain may fall from heaven, +That the clouds may drop their honey, +That the ears may fill and ripen, +That the barley-fields may rustle." +Thereupon benignant Ukko, +Ukko, father of the heavens, +Held his counsel in the cloud-space, +Held good counsel in the Ether; +From the East, he sent a cloudlet, +From the North-east, sent a rain-cloud, +From the West another sent he, +From the North-west, still another, +Quickly from the South a warm-cloud; +Joined in seams the clouds together, +Sewed together all their edges, +Grasped the cloud, and hurled it earthward. +Quick the rain-cloud drops her honey, +Quick the rain-drops fall from heaven, +That the ears may quickly ripen, +That the barley crop may rustle. +Straightway grow the seeds of barley, +From the germ the blade unfolding, +Richly colored ears arising, +From the rich soil of the fallow, +From the work of Wainamoinen. +Here a few days pass unnoted +And as many nights fly over. +When the seventh day had journeyed, +On the morning of the eighth day, +Wainamoinen, wise and ancient, +Went to view his crop of barley, +How his plowing, how his sowing, +How his labors were resulting; +Found his crop of barley growing, +Found the blades were triple-knotted, +And the ears he found six-sided. +Wainamoinen, old and trusty, +Turned his face, and looked about him, +Lo! there comes a spring-time cuckoo, +Spying out the slender birch-tree, +Rests upon it, sweetly singing: +"Wherefore is the silver birch-tree +Left unharmed of all the forest? " +Spake the ancient Wainamoinen: +"Therefore I have left the birch-tree, +Left the birch-tree only growing, +Home for thee for joyful singing. +Call thou here, O sweet-voiced cuckoo, +Sing thou here from throat of velvet, +Sing thou here with voice of silver, +Sing the cuckoo's golden flute-notes; +Call at morning, call at evening, +Call within the hour of noontide, +For the better growth of forests, +For the ripening of the barley, +For the richness of, the Northland, +For the joy of Kalevala." + + + + +RUNE III. + + + +WAINAMOINEN AND YOUKAHAINEN. + + +Wainamoinen, ancient minstrel, +Passed his years in full contentment, +On the meadows of Wainola, +On the plains of Kalevala, +Singing ever wondrous legends, +Songs of ancient wit and wisdom, +Chanting one day, then a second, +Singing in the dusk of evening, +Singing till the dawn of morning, +Now the tales of old-time heroes, +Tales of ages long forgotten, +Now the legends of creation, +Once familiar to the children, +By our children sung no longer, +Sung in part by many heroes, +In these mournful days of evil, +Evil days our race befallen. +Far and wide the story travelled, +Far away men spread the knowledge +Of the chanting of the hero, +Of the song of Wainamoinen; +To the South were heard the echoes, +All of Northland heard the story. +Far away in dismal Northland, +Lived the singer, Youkahainen, +Lapland's young and reckless minstrel, +Once upon a time when feasting, +Dining with his friends and fellows, +Came upon his ears the story +That there lived a sweeter singer, +On the meadows of Wainola, +On the plains of Kalevala, +Better skilled in chanting legends, +Better skilled than Youkahainen, +Better than the one that taught him. +Straightway then the bard grew angry, +Envy rose within his bosom, +Envy of this Wainamoinen, +Famed to be a sweeter singer; +Hastes he angry to his mother, +To his mother, full of wisdom, +Vows that he will southward hasten, +Hie him southward and betake him +To the dwellings of Wainola, +To the cabins of the Northland, +There as bard to vie in battle, +With the famous Wainamoinen. +"Nay," replies the anxious father, +"Do not go to Kalevala." +"Nay," replies the fearful mother, +"Go not hence to Wainamoinen, +There with him to offer battle; +He will charm thee with his singing +Will bewitch thee in his anger, +He will drive thee back dishonored, +Sink thee in the fatal snow-drift, +Turn to ice thy pliant fingers, +Turn to ice thy feet and ankles." +These the words of Youkahainen: +Good the judgement of a father, +Better still, a mother's counsel, +Best of all one's own decision. +I will go and face the minstrel, +Challenge him to sing in contest, +Challenge him as bard to battle, +Sing to him my sweet-toned measures, +Chant to him my oldest legends, +Chant to him my garnered wisdom, +That this best of boasted singers, +That this famous bard of Suomi, +Shall be worsted in the contest, +Shall become a hapless minstrel; +By my songs shall I transform him, +That his feet shall be as flint-stone, +And as oak his nether raiment; +And this famous, best of singers, +Thus bewitched, shall carry ever, +In his heart a stony burden, +On his shoulder bow of marble, +On his hand a flint-stone gauntlet, +On his brow a stony visor." +Then the wizard, Youkahainen, +Heeding not advice paternal, +Heeding not his mother's counsel, +Leads his courser from his stable, +Fire outstreaming from his nostrils, +From his hoofs, the sparks outshooting, +Hitches to his sledge, the fleet-foot, +To his golden sledge, the courser, +Mounts impetuous his snow-sledge, +Leaps upon the hindmost cross-bench, +Strikes his courser with his birch-whip, +With his birch-whip, pearl-enamelled. +Instantly the prancing racer +Springs away upon his journey; +On he, restless, plunges northward, +All day long be onward gallops, +All the next day, onward, onward, +So the third from morn till evening, +Till the third day twilight brings him +To the meadows of Wainola, +To the plains of Kalevala. +As it happened, Wainamoinen, +Wainamoinen, the magician, +Rode that sunset on the highway, +Silently for pleasure driving +Down Wainola's peaceful meadows, +O'er the plains of Kalevala. +Youkahainen, young and fiery, +Urging still his foaming courser, +Dashes down upon the singer, +Does not turn aside in meeting, +Meeting thus in full collision; +Shafts are driven tight together, +Hames and collars wedged and tangled, +Tangled are the reins and traces. +Thus perforce they make a stand-still, +Thus remain and well consider; +Water drips from hame and collar, +Vapors rise from both their horses. +Speaks the minstrel, Wainamoinen: +"Who art thou, and whence? Thou comest +Driving like a stupid stripling, +Wainamoinen and Youkahainen. +Careless, dashing down upon me. +Thou hast ruined shafts and traces; +And the collar of my racer +Thou hast shattered into ruin, +And my golden sleigh is broken, +Box and runners dashed to pieces." +Youkahainen then make answer, +Spake at last the words that follow: +"I am youthful Youkahainen, +But make answer first, who thou art, +Whence thou comest, where thou goest, +From what lowly tribe descended?" +Wainamolinen, wise and ancient, +Answered thus the youthful minstrel: +"If thou art but Youkahainen, +Thou shouldst give me all the highway; +I am many years thy senior." +Then the boastful Youkahainen +Spake again to Wainamoinen: +"Young or ancient, little matter, +Little consequence the age is; +He that higher stands in wisdom, +He whose knowledge is the greater, +He that is the sweeter singer, +He alone shall keep the highway, +And the other take the roadside. +Art thou ancient Wainamoinen, +Famous sorcerer and minstrel? +Let us then begin our singing, +Let us sing our ancient legends, +Let us chant our garnered wisdom, +That the one may hear the other, +That the one may judge the other, +In a war of wizard sayings." +Wainamoinen, wise and ancient, +Thus replied in modest accents: +"What I know is very little, +Hardly is it worth the singing, +Neither is my singing wondrous: +All my days I have resided +In the cold and dreary Northland, +In a desert land enchanted, +In my cottage home for ayes; +All the songs that I have gathered, +Are the cuckoo's simple measures, +Some of these I may remember; +But since thou perforce demandest, +I accept thy boastful challenge. +Tell me now, my golden youngster, +What thou knowest more than others, +Open now thy store of wisdom." +Thus made answer Youkahainen, +Lapland's young and fiery minstrel: +"Know I many bits of learning +This I know in perfect clearness: +Every roof must have a chimney, +Every fire-place have a hearth-stone; +Lives of seal are free and merry, +Merry is the life of walrus, +Feeding on incautious salmon, +Daily eating perch and whiting; +Whitings live in quiet shallows, +Salmon love the level bottoms; +Spawns the pike in coldest weather, +And defies the storms of winter. +Slowly perches swim in Autumn, +Wry-backed, hunting deeper water, +Spawn in shallows in the summer, +Bounding on the shore of ocean. +Should this wisdom seem too little, +I can tell thee other matters, +Sing thee other wizard sayings: +All the Northmen plow with reindeer, +Mother-horses plow the Southland, +Inner Lapland plows with oxen; +All the trees on Pisa-mountain, +Know I well in all their grandeur; +On the Horna-rock are fir-trees, +Fir-trees growing tall and slender; +Slender grow the trees on mountains. +Three, the water-falls in number, +Three in number, inland oceans, +Three in number, lofty mountains, +Shooting to the vault of heaven. +Hallapyora's near to Yaemen, +Katrakoski in Karyala; +Imatra, the falling water, +Tumbles, roaring, into Wuoksi." +Then the ancient Wainimoinen: +"Women's tales and children's wisdom +Do not please a bearded hero, +Hero, old enough for wedlock; +Tell the story of creation, +Tell me of the world's beginning, +Tell me of the creatures in it, +And philosophize a little." +Then the youthful Youkahainen +Thus replied to Wainamoinen: +"Know I well the titmouse-fountains, +Pretty birdling is the titmouse; +And the viper, green, a serpent; +Whitings live in brackish waters; +Perches swim in every river; +Iron rusts, and rusting weakens; +Bitter is the taste of umber; +Boiling water is malicious; +Fire is ever full of danger; +First physician, the Creator; +Remedy the oldest, water; +Magic is the child of sea-foam; +God the first and best adviser; +Waters gush from every mountain; +Fire descended first from heaven; +Iron from the rust was fashioned; +Copper from the rocks created; +Marshes are of lands the oldest; +First of all the trees, the willow; +Fir-trees were the first of houses; +Hollowed stones the first of kettles." +Now the ancient Wainamoinen +Thus addresses Youkahainen: +"Canst thou give me now some wisdom, +Is this nonsense all thou knowest?" +Youkahainen thus made answer: +"I can tell thee still a trifle, +Tell thee of the times primeval, +When I plowed the salt-sea's bosom, +When I raked the sea-girt islands, +When I dug the salmon-grottoes, +Hollowed out the deepest caverns, +When I all the lakes created, +When I heaped the mountains round them, +When I piled the rocks about them. +I was present as a hero, +Sixth of wise and ancient heroes, +Seventh of all primeval heroes, +When the heavens were created, +When were formed the ether-spaces, +When the sky was crystal-pillared, +When was arched the beauteous rainbow, +When the Moon was placed in orbit, +When the silver Sun was planted, +When the Bear was firmly stationed, +And with stars the heavens were sprinkled." +Spake the ancient Wainamoinen: +"Thou art surely prince of liars, +Lord of all the host of liars; +Never wert thou in existence, +Surely wert thou never present, +When was plowed the salt-sea's bosom, +When were raked the sea-girt islands, +When were dug the salmon-grottoes, +When were hollowed out the caverns, +When the lakes were all created, +When were heaped the mountains round them, +When the rocks were piled about them. +Thou wert never seen or heard of +When the earth was first created, +When were made the ether-spaces, +When the air was crystal-pillared, +When the Moon was placed in orbit, +When the silver Sun was planted, +When the Bear was firmly stationed, +When the skies with stars were sprinkled." +Then in anger Youkahainen +Answered ancient Wainamoinen: +"Then, sir, since I fail in wisdom, +With the sword I offer battle; +Come thou, famous bard and minstrel, +Thou the ancient wonder-singer, +Let us try our strength with broadswords, +let our blades be fully tested." +Spake the ancient Wainamoinen: +"Not thy sword and not thy wisdom, +Not thy prudence, nor thy cunning, +Do I fear a single moment. +Let who may accept thy challenge, +Not with thee, a puny braggart, +Not with one so vain and paltry, +Will I ever measure broadswords." +Then the youthful Youkahainen, +Mouth awry and visage sneering, +Shook his golden locks and answered: +"Whoso fears his blade to measure, +Fears to test his strength at broadswords, +Into wild-boar of the forest, +Swine at heart and swine in visage, +Singing I will thus transform him; +I will hurl such hero-cowards, +This one hither, that one thither, +Stamp him in the mire and bedding, +In the rubbish of the stable." +Angry then grew Wainamoinen, +Wrathful waxed, and fiercely frowning, +Self-composed he broke his silence, +And began his wondrous singing. +Sang he not the tales of childhood, +Children's nonsense, wit of women, +Sang he rather bearded heroes, +That the children never heard of, +That the boys and maidens knew not +Known but half by bride and bridegroom, +Known in part by many heroes, +In these mournful days of evil, +Evil times our race befallen. +Grandly sang wise Wainamoinen, +Till the copper-bearing mountains, +And the flinty rocks and ledges +Heard his magic tones and trembled; +Mountain cliffs were torn to pieces, +All the ocean heaved and tumbled; +And the distant hills re-echoed. +Lo! the boastful Youkahainen +Is transfixed in silent wonder, +And his sledge with golden trimmings +Floats like brushwood on the billows; +Sings his braces into reed-grass, +Sings his reins to twigs of willow, +And to shrubs his golden cross-bench. +Lo! his birch-whip, pearl-enameled, +Floats a reed upon the border; +Lo! his steed with golden forehead, +Stands a statue on the waters; +Hames and traces are as fir-boughs, +And his collar, straw and sea-grass. +Still the minstrel sings enchantment, +Sings his sword with golden handle, +Sings it into gleam of lightning, +Hangs it in the sky above him; +Sings his cross-bow, gaily painted, +To a rainbow o'er the ocean; +Sings his quick and feathered arrows +Into hawks and screaming eagles; +Sings his dog with bended muzzle, +Into block of stone beside him; +Sings his cap from off his forehead, +Sings it into wreaths of vapor; +From his hands he sings his gauntlets +Into rushes on the waters; +Sings his vesture, purple-colored, +Into white clouds in the heavens; +Sings his girdle, set with jewels, +Into twinkling stars around him; +And alas! for Youkahainen, +Sings him into deeps of quick-sand; +Ever deeper, deeper, deeper, +In his torture, sinks the wizard, +To his belt in mud and water. +Now it was that Youkahainen +Comprehended but too clearly +What his folly, what the end was, +Of the journey he had ventured, +Vainly he had undertaken +For the glory of a contest +With the grand, old Wainamoinen. +When at last young Youkahainen, +Pohyola's old and sorry stripling, +Strives his best to move his right foot, +But alas! the foot obeys not; +When he strives to move his left foot, +Lo! he finds it turned to flint-stone. +Thereupon sad Youkahainen, +In the deeps of desperation, +And in earnest supplication, +Thus addresses Wainamoinen: +"O thou wise and worthy minstrel, +Thou the only true, magician, +Cease I pray thee thine enchantment,. +Only turn away thy magic, +Let me leave this slough of horror, +Loose me from this stony prison, +Free me from this killing torment, +I will pay a golden ransom." +Spake the ancient Wainamoinen: +"What the ransom thou wilt give me +If I cease from mine enchantment, +If I turn away my magic, +Lift thee from thy slough of horror, +Loose thee from thy stony prison, +Free thee from thy killing torment?" +Answered youthful Youkahainen: +"Have at home two magic cross-bows, +Pair of bows of wondrous power, +One so light a child can bend it, +Only strength can bend the other, +Take of these the one that pleases." +Then the ancient Wainamoinen: +"Do not wish thy magic cross-bows, +Have a few of such already, +Thine to me are worse than useless +I have bows in great abundance, +Bows on every nail and rafter, +Bows that laugh at all the hunters, +Bows that go themselves a-hunting." +Then the ancient Wainamoinen +Sang alas! poor Youkahainen +Deeper into mud and water, +Deeper in the slough of torment. +Youkahainen thus made answer: +"Have at home two magic shallops, +Beautiful the boats and wondrous; +One rides light upon the ocean, +One is made for heavy burdens; +Take of these the one that pleases." +Spake the ancient Wainamoinen: +"Do not wish thy magic shallops, +Have enough of such already; +All my bays are full of shallops, +All my shores are lined with shallops, +Some before the winds are sailors, +Some were built to sail against them." +Still the Wainola bard and minstrel +Sings again poor Youkahainen +Deeper, deeper into torment, +Into quicksand to his girdle, +Till the Lapland bard in anguish +Speaks again to Wainamoinen: +"Have at home two magic stallions, +One a racer, fleet as lightning, +One was born for heavy burdens; +Take of these the one that pleases." +Spake the ancient Wainamoinen: +"Neither do I wish thy stallions, +Do not need thy hawk-limbed stallions, +Have enough of these already; +Magic stallions swarm my stables, +Eating corn at every manger, +Broad of back to hold the water, +Water on each croup in lakelets." +Still the bard of Kalevala +Sings the hapless Lapland minstrel +Deeper, deeper into torment, +To his shoulders into water. +Spake again young Youkahainen: +"O thou ancient Wainamoinen, +Thou the only true magician, +Cease I pray thee thine enchantment, +Only turn away thy magic, +I will give thee gold abundant, +Countless stores of shining silver; +From the wars my father brought it, +Brought it from the hard-fought battles." +Spake the wise, old Wainamoinen: +"For thy gold I have no longing, +Neither do I wish thy silver, +Have enough of each already; +Gold abundant fills my chambers, +On each nail hang bags of silver, +Gold that glitters in the sunshine, +Silver shining in the moonlight." +Sank the braggart, Youkahainen, +Deeper in his slough of torment, +To his chin in mud and water, +Ever praying, thus beseeching: +"O thou ancient Wainamoinen, +Greatest of the old magicians, +Lift me from this pit of horror, +From this prison-house of torture; +I will give thee all my corn-fields, +Give thee all my corn in garners, +Thus my hapless life to ransom, +Thus to gain eternal freedom." +Wainamoinen thus made answer: +"Take thy corn to other markets, +Give thy garners to the needy; +I have corn in great abundance, +Fields have I in every quarter, +Corn in all my fields is growing; +One's own fields are always richer, +One's own grain is much the sweeter." +Lapland's young and reckless minstrel, +Sorrow-laden, thus enchanted, +Deeper sinks in mud and water, +Fear-enchained and full of anguish, +In the mire, his beard bedrabbled, +Mouth once boastful filled with sea-weed, +In the grass his teeth entangled, +Youkahainen thus beseeches: +"O thou ancient Wainamoinen, +Wisest of the wisdom-singers, +Cease at last thine incantations, +Only turn away thy magic, +And my former life restore me, +Lift me from this stifling torment, +Free mine eyes from sand and water, +I will give thee sister, Aino, +Fairest daughter of my mother, +Bride of thine to be forever, +Bride of thine to do thy pleasure, +Sweep the rooms within thy cottage, +Keep thy dwelling-place in order, +Rinse for thee the golden platters, +Spread thy couch with finest linens, +For thy bed, weave golden covers, +Bake for thee the honey-biscuit." +Wainamoinen, old and truthful, +Finds at last the wished-for ransom, +Lapland's young and fairest daughter, +Sister dear of Youkahainen; +Happy he, that he has won him, +In his age a beauteous maiden, +Bride of his to be forever, +Pride and joy of Kalevala. +Now the happy Wainamoinen, +Sits upon the rock of gladness, +Joyful on the rock of music, +Sings a little, sings and ceases, +Sings again, and sings a third time, +Thus to break the spell of magic, +Thus to lessen the enchantment, +Thus the potent charm to banish. +As the magic spell is broken, +Youkahainen, sad, but wiser, +Drags his feet from out the quicksand, +Lifts his beard from out the water, +From the rocks leads forth his courser, +Brings his sledge back from the rushes, +Calls his whip back from the ocean, +Sets his golden sledge in order, +Throws himself upon the cross-bench, +Snaps his whip and hies him homeward, +Hastens homeward, heavy-hearted, +Sad indeed to meet his mother, +Aino's mother, gray and aged. +Careless thus be hastens homeward, +Nears his home with noise and bustle, +Reckless drives against the pent-house, +Breaks the shafts against the portals, +Breaks his handsome sledge in pieces. +Then his mother, quickly guessing, +Would have chided him for rashness, +But the father interrupted: +"Wherefore dost thou break thy snow-sledge, +Wherefore dash thy thills in fragments, +Wherefore comest home so strangely, +Why this rude and wild behavior?" +Now alas! poor Youkahainen, +Cap awry upon his forehead, +Falls to weeping, broken-hearted, +Head depressed and mind dejected, +Eyes and lips expressing sadness, +Answers not his anxious father. +Then the mother quickly asked him, +Sought to find his cause for sorrow: +"Tell me, first-born, why thou weepest, +Why thou weepest, heavy-hearted, +Why thy mind is so dejected, +Why thine eyes express such sadness." +Youkahainen then made answer: +"Golden mother, ever faithful, +Cause there is to me sufficient, +Cause enough in what has happened, +Bitter cause for this my sorrow, +Cause for bitter tears and murmurs: +All my days will pass unhappy, +Since, O mother of my being, +I have promised beauteous Aino, +Aino, thy beloved daughter, +Aino, my devoted sister, +To decrepit Wainamoinen, +Bride to be to him forever, +Roof above him, prop beneath him, +Fair companion at his fire-side." +Joyful then arose the mother, +Clapped her hands in glee together, +Thus addressing Youkahainen: +"Weep no more, my son beloved, +Thou hast naught to cause thy weeping, +Hast no reason for thy sorrow, +Often I this hope have cherished; +Many years have I been praying +That this mighty bard and hero, +Wise and valiant Wainamoinen, +Spouse should be to beauteous Aino, +Son-in-law to me, her mother." +But the fair and lovely maiden, +Sister dear of Youkahainen, +Straightway fell to bitter weeping, +On the threshold wept and lingered, +Wept all day and all the night long, +Wept a second, then a third day, +Wept because a bitter sorrow +On her youthful heart had fallen. +Then the gray-haired mother asked her: +"Why this weeping, lovely Aino? +Thou hast found a noble suitor, +Thou wilt rule his spacious dwelling, +At his window sit and rest thee, +Rinse betimes his golden platters, +Walk a queen within his dwelling." +Thus replied the tearful Aino: +"Mother dear, and all-forgiving, +Cause enough for this my sorrow, +Cause enough for bitter weeping: +I must loose my sunny tresses, +Tresses beautiful and golden, +Cannot deck my hair with jewels, +Cannot bind my head with ribbons, +All to be hereafter hidden +Underneath the linen bonnet +That the wife. must wear forever; +Weep at morning, weep at evening, +Weep alas! for waning beauty, +Childhood vanished, youth departed, +Silver sunshine, golden moonlight, +Hope and pleasure of my childhood, +Taken from me now forever, +And so soon to be forgotten +At the tool-bench of my brother, +At the window of my sister, +In the cottage of my father." +Spake again the gray-haired mother +To her wailing daughter Aino: +"Cease thy sorrow, foolish maiden, +By thy tears thou art ungrateful, +Reason none for thy repining, +Not the slightest cause for weeping; +Everywhere the silver sunshine +Falls as bright on other households; +Not alone the moonlight glimmers +Through thy father's open windows, +On the work-bench of thy brother; +Flowers bloom in every meadow, +Berries grow on every mountain; +Thou canst go thyself and find them, +All the day long go and find them; +Not alone thy brother's meadows +Grow the beauteous vines and flowers; +Not alone thy father's mountains +Yield the ripe, nutritious berries; +Flowers bloom in other meadows, +Berries grow on other mountains, +There as here, my lovely Aino." + + + + +RUNE IV. + + + +THE FATE OF AINO. + + +When the night had passed, the maiden, +Sister fair of Youkahainen, +Hastened early to the forest, +Birchen shoots for brooms to gather, +Went to gather birchen tassels; +Bound a bundle for her father, +Bound a birch-broom for her mother, +Silken tassels for her sister. +Straightway then she hastened homeward, +By a foot-path left the forest; +As she neared the woodland border, +Lo! the ancient Wainamoinen, +Quickly spying out the maiden, +As she left the birchen woodland, +Trimly dressed in costly raiment, +And the minstrel thus addressed her: +"Aino, beauty of the Northland, +Wear not, lovely maid, for others, +Only wear for me, sweet maiden, +Golden cross upon thy bosom, +Shining pearls upon thy shoulders; +Bind for me thine auburn tresses, +Wear for me thy golden braidlets." +Thus the maiden quickly answered: +"Not for thee and not for others, +Hang I from my neck the crosslet, +Deck my hair with silken ribbons; +Need no more the many trinkets +Brought to me by ship or shallop; +Sooner wear the simplest raiment, +Feed upon the barley bread-crust, +Dwell forever with my mother +In the cabin with my father." +Then she threw the gold cross from her, +Tore the jewels from her fingers, +Quickly loosed her shining necklace, +Quick untied her silken ribbons, +Cast them all away indignant +Into forest ferns and flowers. +Thereupon the maiden, Aino, +Hastened to her mother's cottage. +At the window sat her father +Whittling on an oaken ax-helve: +"Wherefore weepest, beauteous Aino, +Aino, my beloved daughter? +"Cause enough for weeping, father, +Good the reasons for my mourning, +This, the reason for my weeping, +This, the cause of all my sorrow: +From my breast I tore the crosslet, +From my belt, the clasp of copper, +From my waist, the belt of silver, +Golden was my pretty crosslet." +Near the door-way sat her brother, +Carving out a birchen ox-bow: +"Why art weeping, lovely Aino, +Aino, my devoted sister?" +"Cause enough for weeping, brother, +Good the reasons for my mourning +Therefore come I as thou seest, +Rings no longer on my fingers, +On my neck no pretty necklace; +Golden were the rings thou gavest, +And the necklace, pearls and silver!" +On the threshold sat her sister, +Weaving her a golden girdle: +"Why art weeping, beauteous Aino, +Aino, my beloved sister?" +"Cause enough for weeping, sister, +Good the reasons for my sorrow: +Therefore come I as thou seest, +On my head no scarlet fillet, +In my hair no braids of silver, +On mine arms no purple ribbons, +Round my neck no shining necklace, +On my breast no golden crosslet, +In mine ears no golden ear-rings." +Near the door-way of the dairy, +Skimming cream, sat Aino's mother. +"Why art weeping, lovely Aino, +Aino, my devoted daughter?" +Thus the sobbing maiden answered; +"Loving mother, all-forgiving, +Cause enough for this my weeping, +Good the reasons for my sorrow, +Therefore do I weep, dear mother: +I have been within the forest, +Brooms to bind and shoots to gather, +There to pluck some birchen tassels; +Bound a bundle for my father, +Bound a second for my mother, +Bound a third one for my brother, +For my sister silken tassels. +Straightway then I hastened homeward, +By a foot-path left the forest; +As I reached the woodland border +Spake Osmoinen from the cornfield, +Spake the ancient Wainamoinen: +'Wear not, beauteous maid, for others, +Only wear for me, sweet maiden, +On thy breast a golden crosslet, +Shining pearls upon thy shoulders, +Bind for me thine auburn tresses, +Weave for me thy silver braidlets.' +Then I threw the gold-cross from me, +Tore the jewels from my fingers, +Quickly loosed my shining necklace, +Quick untied my silken ribbons, +Cast them all away indignant, +Into forest ferns and flowers. +Then I thus addressed the singer: +'Not for thee and not for others, +Hang I from my neck the crosslet, +Deck my hair with silken ribbons; +Need no more the many trinkets, +Brought to me by ship and shallop; +Sooner wear the simplest raiment, +Feed upon the barley bread-crust, +Dwell forever with my mother +In the cabin with my father.'" +Thus the gray-haired mother answered +Aino, her beloved daughter: +"Weep no more, my lovely maiden, +Waste no more of thy sweet young-life; +One year eat thou my sweet butter, +It will make thee strong and ruddy; +Eat another year fresh bacon, +It will make thee tall and queenly; +Eat a third year only dainties, +It will make thee fair and lovely. +Now make haste to yonder hill-top, +To the store-house on the mountain, +Open there the large compartment, +Thou will find it filled with boxes, +Chests and cases, trunks and boxes; +Open thou the box, the largest, +Lift away the gaudy cover, +Thou will find six golden girdles, +Seven rainbow-tinted dresses, +Woven by the Moon's fair daughters, +Fashioned by the Sun's sweet virgins. +In my young years once I wandered, +As a maiden on the mountains, +In the happy days of childhood, +Hunting berries in the coppice; +There by chance I heard the daughters +Of the Moon as they were weaving; +There I also heard the daughters +Of the Sun as they were spinning +On the red rims of the cloudlets, +O'er the blue edge of the forest, +On the border of the pine-wood, +On a high and distant mountain. +I approached them, drawing nearer, +Stole myself within their hearing, +Then began I to entreat them, +Thus besought them, gently pleading: +'Give thy silver, Moon's fair daughters, +To a poor, but worthy maiden; +Give thy gold, O Sun's sweet virgins, +To this maiden, young and needy.' +Thereupon the Moon's fair daughters +Gave me silver from their coffers; +And the Sun's sweet shining virgins +Gave me gold from their abundance, +Gold to deck my throbbing temples, +For my hair the shining silver. +Then I hastened joyful homeward, +Richly laden with my treasures, +Happy to my mother's cottage; +Wore them one day, than a second, +Then a third day also wore them, +Took the gold then from my temples, +From my hair I took the silver, +Careful laid them in their boxes, +Many seasons have they lain there, +Have not seen them since my childhood. +Deck thy brow with silken ribbon, +Trim with gold thy throbbing temples, +And thy neck with pearly necklace, +Hang the gold-cross on thy bosom, +Robe thyself in pure, white linen +Spun from flax of finest fiber; +Wear withal the richest short-frock, +Fasten it with golden girdle; +On thy feet, put silken stockings, +With the shoes of finest leather; +Deck thy hair with golden braidlets, +Bind it well with threads of silver; +Trim with rings thy fairy fingers, +And thy hands with dainty ruffles; +Come bedecked then to thy chamber, +Thus return to this thy household, +To the greeting of thy kindred, +To the joy of all that know thee, +Flushed thy cheeks as ruddy berries, +Coming as thy father's sunbeam, +Walking beautiful and queenly, +Far more beautiful than moonlight." +Thus she spake to weeping Aino, +Thus the mother to her daughter; +But the maiden, little bearing, +Does not heed her mother's wishes; +Straightway hastens to the court-yard, +There to weep in bitter sorrow, +All alone to weep in anguish. +Waiting long the wailing Aino +Thus at last soliloquizes: +"Unto what can I now liken +Happy homes and joys of fortune? +Like the waters in the river, +Like the waves in yonder lakelet, +Like the crystal waters flowing. +Unto what, the biting sorrow +Of the child of cold misfortune? +Like the spirit of the sea-duck, +Like the icicle in winter, +Water in the well imprisoned. +Often roamed my mind in childhood, +When a maiden free and merry, +Happily through fen and fallow, +Gamboled on the meads with lambkins, +Lingered with the ferns and flowers, +Knowing neither pain nor trouble; +Now my mind is filled with sorrow, +Wanders though the bog and stubble, +Wanders weary through the brambles, +Roams throughout the dismal forest, +Till my life is filled with darkness, +And my spirit white with anguish. +Better had it been for Aino +Had she never seen the sunlight, +Or if born had died an infant, +Had not lived to be a maiden +In these days of sin and sorrow, +Underneath a star so luckless. +Better had it been for Aino, +Had she died upon the eighth day +After seven nights had vanished; +Needed then but little linen, +Needed but a little coffin, +And a grave of smallest measure; +Mother would have mourned a little, +Father too perhaps a trifle, +Sister would have wept the day through, +Brother might have shed a tear-drop, +Thus had ended all the mourning." +Thus poor Aino wept and murmured, +Wept one day, and then a second, +Wept a third from morn till even, +When again her mother asked her: +"Why this weeping, fairest daughter, +Darling daughter, why this grieving? +Thus the tearful maiden answered: +Therefore do I weep and sorrow, +Wretched maiden all my life long, +Since poor Aino, thou hast given, +Since thy daughter thou hast promised +To the aged Wainamoinen, +Comfort to his years declining +Prop to stay him when he totters, +In the storm a roof above him, +In his home a cloak around him; +Better far if thou hadst sent me +Far below the salt-sea surges, +To become the whiting's sister, +And the friend of perch and salmon; +Better far to ride the billows, +Swim the sea-foam as a mermaid, +And the friend of nimble fishes, +Than to be an old man's solace, +Prop to stay him when be totters, +Hand to aid him when he trembles, +Arm to guide him when he falters, +Strength to give him when he weakens; +Better be the whiting's sister +And the friend of perch and salmon, +Than an old man's slave and darling." +Ending thus she left her mother, +Straightway hastened to the mountain? +To the store-house on the summit, +Opened there the box the largest, +From the box six lids she lifted, +Found therein six golden girdles, +Silken dresses seven in number. +Choosing such as pleased her fancy, +She adorned herself as bidden, +Robed herself to look her fairest, +Gold upon her throbbing temples, +In her hair the shining silver, +On her shoulders purple ribbons, +Band of blue around her forehead, +Golden cross, and rings, and jewels, +Fitting ornaments to beauty. +Now she leaves her many treasures, +Leaves the store-house on the mountain, +Filled with gold and silver trinkets, +Wanders over field and meadow, +Over stone-fields waste and barren, +Wanders on through fen and forest, +Through the forest vast and cheerless, +Wanders hither, wanders thither, +Singing careless as she wanders, +This her mournful song and echo: +"Woe is me, my life hard-fated! +Woe to Aino, broken-hearted! +Torture racks my heart and temples, +Yet the sting would not be deeper, +Nor the pain and anguish greater, +If beneath this weight of sorrow, +In my saddened heart's dejection, +I should yield my life forever, +Now unhappy, I should perish! +Lo! the time has come for Aino +From this cruel world to hasten, +To the kingdom of Tuoni, +To the realm of the departed, +To the isle of the hereafter. +Weep no more for me, O Father, +Mother dear, withhold thy censure, +Lovely sister, dry thine eyelids, +Do not mourn me, dearest brother, +When I sink beneath the sea-foam, +Make my home in salmon-grottoes, +Make my bed in crystal waters, +Water-ferns my couch and pillow." +All day long poor Aino wandered, +All the next day, sad and weary, +So the third from morn till evening, +Till the cruel night enwrapped her, +As she reached the sandy margin, +Reached the cold and dismal sea-shore, +Sat upon the rock of sorrow, +Sat alone in cold and darkness, +Listened only to the music +Of the winds and rolling billows, +Singing all the dirge of Aino. +All that night the weary maiden +Wept and wandered on the border +Through the sand and sea-washed pebbles. +As the day dawns, looking round her, +She beholds three water-maidens, +On a headland jutting seaward, +Water-maidens four in number, +Sitting on the wave-lashed ledges, +Swimming now upon the billows, +Now upon the rocks reposing. +Quick the weeping maiden, Aino, +Hastens there to join the mermaids, +Fairy maidens of the waters. +Weeping Aino, now disrobing, +Lays aside with care her garments, +Hangs her silk robes on the alders, +Drops her gold-cross on the sea-shore, +On the aspen hangs her ribbons, +On the rocks her silken stockings, +On the grass her shoes of deer-skin, +In the sand her shining necklace, +With her rings and other jewels. +Out at sea a goodly distance, +Stood a rock of rainbow colors, +Glittering in silver sunlight. +Toward it springs the hapless maiden, +Thither swims the lovely Aino, +Up the standing-stone has clambered, +Wishing there to rest a moment, +Rest upon the rock of beauty; +When upon a sudden swaying +To and fro among the billows, +With a crash and roar of waters +Falls the stone of many colors, +Falls upon the very bottom +Of the deep and boundless blue-sea. +With the stone of rainbow colors, +Falls the weeping maiden, Aino, +Clinging to its craggy edges, +Sinking far below the surface, +To the bottom of the blue-sea. +Thus the weeping maiden vanished. +Thus poor Aino sank and perished, +Singing as the stone descended, +Chanting thus as she departed: +Once to swim I sought the sea-side, +There to sport among the billows; +With the stone or many colors +Sank poor Aino to the bottom +Of the deep and boundless blue-sea, +Like a pretty son-bird. perished. +Never come a-fishing, father, +To the borders of these waters, +Never during all thy life-time, +As thou lovest daughter Aino. +"Mother dear, I sought the sea-side, +There to sport among the billows; +With the stone of many colors, +Sank poor Aino to the bottom +Of the deep and boundless blue-sea, +Like a pretty song-bird perished. +Never mix thy bread, dear mother, +With the blue-sea's foam and waters, +Never during all thy life-time, +As thou lovest daughter Aino. +Brother dear, I sought the sea-side, +There to sport among the billows; +With the stone of many colors +Sank poor Aino to the bottom +Of the deep and boundless blue-sea, +Like a pretty song-bird perished. +Never bring thy prancing war-horse, +Never bring thy royal racer, +Never bring thy steeds to water, +To the borders of the blue-sea, +Never during all thy life-time, +As thou lovest sister Aino. +"Sister dear, I sought the sea-side, +There to sport among the billows; +With the stone of many colors +Sank poor Aino to the bottom +Of the deep and boundless blue-sea, +Like a pretty song-bird perished. +Never come to lave thine eyelids +In this rolling wave and sea-foam, +Never during all thy life-time, +As thou lovest sister Aino. +All the waters in the blue-sea +Shall be blood of Aino's body; +All the fish that swim these waters +Shall be Aino's flesh forever; +All the willows on the sea-side +Shall be Aino's ribs hereafter; +All the sea-grass on the margin +Will have grown from Aino's tresses." +Thus at last the maiden vanished, +Thus the lovely Aino perished. +Who will tell the cruel story, +Who will bear the evil tidings +To the cottage of her mother, +Once the home of lovely Aino? +Will the bear repeat the story, +Tell the tidings to her mother? +Nay, the bear must not be herald, +He would slay the herds of cattle. +Who then tell the cruel story, +Who will bear the evil tidings +To the cottage of her father, +Once the home of lovely Aino? +Shall the wolf repeat the story, +Tell the sad news to her father? +Nay, the wolf must not be herald, +He would eat the gentle lambkins. +Who then tell the cruel story, +Who will bear the evil tidings. +To the cottage of her sister? +'Will the fox repeat the story +Tell the tidings to her sister? +Nay, the fox must not be herald, +He would eat the ducks and chickens. +Who then tell the cruel story, +Who will bear the evil tidings +To the cottage of her brother, +Once the home of lovely Aino? +Shall the hare repeat the story, +Bear the sad news to her brother? +Yea, the hare shall be the herald, +Tell to all the cruel story. +Thus the harmless hare makes answer: +"I will bear the evil tidings +To the former home of Aino, +Tell the story to her kindred." +Swiftly flew the long-eared herald, +Like the winds be hastened onward, +Galloped swift as flight of eagles; +Neck awry he bounded forward +Till he gained the wished-for cottage, +Once the home of lovely Aino. +Silent was the home, and vacant; +So he hastened to the bath-house, +Found therein a group of maidens, +Working each upon a birch-broom. +Sat the hare upon the threshold, +And the maidens thus addressed him: +"Hie e there, Long-legs, or we'll roast thee, +Hie there, Big-eye, or we'll stew thee, +Roast thee for our lady's breakfast, +Stew thee for our master's dinner, +Make of thee a meal for Aino, +And her brother, Youkahainen! +Better therefore thou shouldst gallop +To thy burrow in the mountains, +Than be roasted for our dinners." +Then the haughty hare made answer, +Chanting thus the fate of Aino: +"Think ye not I journey hither, +To be roasted in the skillet, +To be stewed in yonder kettle +Let fell Lempo fill thy tables! +I have come with evil tidings, +Come to tell the cruel story +Of the flight and death of Aino, +Sister dear of Youkahainen. +With the stone of many colors +Sank poor Aino to the bottom +Of the deep and boundless waters, +Like a pretty song-bird perished; +Hung her ribbons on the aspen, +Left her gold-cross on the sea-shore, +Silken robes upon the alders, +On the rocks her silken stockings, +On the grass her shoes of deer-skin, +In the sand her shining necklace, +In the sand her rings and jewels; +In the waves, the lovely Aino, +Sleeping on the very bottom +Of the deep and boundless blue-sea, +In the caverns of the salmon, +There to be the whiting's sister +And the friend of nimble fishes." +Sadly weeps the ancient mother +From her blue-eyes bitter tear-drops, +As in sad and wailing measures, +Broken-hearted thus she answers: +"Listen, all ye mothers, listen, +Learn from me a tale of wisdom: +Never urge unwilling daughters +From the dwellings of their fathers, +To the bridegrooms that they love not, +Not as I, inhuman mother, +Drove away my lovely Aino, +Fairest daughter of the Northland." +Sadly weeps the gray-haired mother, +And the tears that fall are bitter, +Flowing down her wrinkled visage, +Till they trickle on her bosom; +Then across her heaving bosom, +Till they reach her garment's border; +Then adown her silken stockings, +Till they touch her shoes of deer-skin; +Then beneath her shoes of deer-skin, +Flowing on and flowing ever, +Part to earth as its possession, +Part to water as its portion. +As the tear-drops fall and mingle, +Form they streamlets three in number, +And their source, the mother's eyelids, +Streamlets formed from pearly tear-drops, +Flowing on like little rivers, +And each streamlet larger growing, +Soon becomes a rushing torrent +In each rushing, roaring torrent +There a cataract is foaming, +Foaming in the silver sunlight; +From the cataract's commotion +Rise three pillared rocks in grandeur; +From each rock, upon the summit, +Grow three hillocks clothed in verdure; +From each hillock, speckled birches, +Three in number, struggle skyward; +On the summit of each birch-tree +Sits a golden cuckoo calling, +And the three sing, all in concord: +"Love! O Love! the first one calleth; +Sings the second, Suitor! Suitor! +And the third one calls and echoes, +"Consolation! Consolation!" +He that "Love! O Love!" is calling, +Calls three moons and calls unceasing, +For the love-rejecting maiden +Sleeping in the deep sea-castles. +He that "Suitor! Suitor!" singeth, +Sings six moons and sings unceasing +For the suitor that forever +Sings and sues without a hearing. +He that sadly sings and echoes, +"Consolation! Consolation!" +Sings unceasing all his life long +For the broken-hearted mother +That must mourn and weep forever. +When the lone and wretched mother +Heard the sacred cuckoo singing, +Spake she thus, and sorely weeping: +"When I hear the cuckoo calling, +Then my heart is filled with sorrow; +Tears unlock my heavy eyelids, +Flow adown my, furrowed visage, +Tears as large as silver sea pearls; +Older grow my wearied elbows, +Weaker ply my aged fingers, +Wearily, in all its members, +Does my body shake in palsy, +When I hear the cuckoo singing, +Hear the sacred cuckoo calling." + + + + +RUNE V. + + + +WAINAVOINEN'S LAMENTATION. + + +Far and wide the tidings travelled, +Far away men heard the story +Of the flight and death of Aino, +Sister dear of Youkahainen, +Fairest daughter of creation. +Wainamoinen, brave and truthful, +Straightway fell to bitter weeping, +Wept at morning, wept at evening, +Sleepless, wept the dreary night long, +That his Aino had departed, +That the maiden thus had vanished, +Thus had sunk upon the bottom +Of the blue-sea, deep and boundless. +Filled with grief, the ancient singer, +Wainamoinen of the Northland, +Heavy-hearted, sorely weeping, +Hastened to the restless waters, +This the suitor's prayer and question: +"Tell, Untamo, tell me, dreamer, +Tell me, Indolence, thy visions, +Where the water-gods may linger, +Where may rest Wellamo's maidens?" +Then Untamo, thus made answer, +Lazily he told his dreamings: +"Over there, the mermaid-dwellings, +Yonder live Wellamo's maidens, +On the headland robed in verdure, +On the forest-covered island, +In the deep, pellucid waters, +On the purple-colored sea-shore; +Yonder is the home or sea-maids, +There the maidens of Wellamo, +Live there in their sea-side chambers, +Rest within their water-caverns, +On the rocks of rainbow colors, +On the juttings of the sea-cliffs." +Straightway hastens Wainamoinen +To a boat-house on the sea-shore, +Looks with care upon the fish-hooks, +And the lines he well considers; +Lines, and hooks, and poles, arid fish-nets, +Places in a boat of copper, +Then begins he swiftly rowing +To the forest-covered island, +To the point enrobed In verdure, +To the purple-colored headland, +Where the sea-nymphs live and linger. +Hardly does he reach the island +Ere the minstrel starts to angle; +Far away he throws his fish-hook, +Trolls it quickly through the waters, +Turning on a copper swivel +Dangling from a silver fish-line, +Golden is the hook he uses. +Now he tries his silken fish-net, +Angles long, and angles longer, +Angles one day, then a second, +In the morning, in the evening, +Angles at the hour of noontide, +Many days and nights he angles, +Till at last, one sunny morning, +Strikes a fish of magic powers, +Plays like salmon on his fish-line, +Lashing waves across the waters, +Till at length the fish exhausted +Falls a victim to the angler, +Safely landed in the bottom +Of the hero's boat of copper. +Wainamoinen, proudly viewing, +Speaks these words in wonder guessing: +"This the fairest of all sea-fish, +Never have I seen its equal, +Smoother surely than the salmon, +Brighter-spotted than the trout is, +Grayer than the pike of Suomi, +Has less fins than any female, +Not the fins of any male fish, +Not the stripes of sea-born maidens, +Not the belt of any mermaid, +Not the ears of any song-bird, +Somewhat like our Northland salmon +From the blue-sea's deepest caverns." +In his belt the ancient hero +Wore a knife insheathed with silver; +From its case he drew the fish-knife, +Thus to carve the fish in pieces, +Dress the nameless fish for roasting, +Make of it a dainty breakfast, +Make of it a meal at noon-day, +Make for him a toothsome supper, +Make the later meal at evening. +Straightway as the fish he touches, +Touches with his knife of silver, +Quick it leaps upon the waters, +Dives beneath the sea's smooth surface, +From the boat with copper bottom, +From the skiff of Wainamoinen. +In the waves at goodly distance, +Quickly from the sea it rises +On the sixth and seventh billows, +Lifts its head above the waters, +Out of reach of fishing-tackle, +Then addresses Wainamoinen, +Chiding thus the ancient hero: +"Wainamoinen, ancient minstrel, +Do not think that I came hither +To be fished for as a salmon, +Only to be chopped in pieces, +Dressed and eaten like a whiting +Make for thee a dainty breakfast, +Make for thee a meal at midday, +Make for thee a toothsome supper, +Make the fourth meal of the Northland." +Spake the ancient Wainamoinen: +"Wherefore didst thou then come hither, +If it be not for my dinner?" +Thus the nameless fish made answer: +"Hither have I come, O minstrel, +In thine arms to rest and linger, +And thyself to love and cherish, +At thy side a life-companion, +And thy wife to be forever; +Deck thy couch with snowy linen, +Smooth thy head upon the pillow, +Sweep thy rooms and make them cheery, +Keep thy dwelling-place in order, +Build a fire for thee when needed, +Bake for thee the honey-biscuit, +Fill thy cup with barley-water, +Do for thee whatever pleases. +"I am not a scaly sea-fish, +Not a trout of Northland rivers, +Not a whiting from the waters, +Not a salmon of the North-seas, +I, a young and merry maiden, +Friend and sister of the fishes, +Youkahainen's youngest sister, +I, the one that thou dost fish for, +I am Aino whom thou lovest. +"Once thou wert the wise-tongued hero, +Now the foolish Wainamoinen, +Scant of insight, scant of judgment, +Didst not know enough to keep me, +Cruel-hearted, bloody-handed, +Tried to kill me with thy fish-knife, +So to roast me for thy dinner; +I, a mermaid of Wellamo, +Once the fair and lovely Aino, +Sister dear of Youkahainen." +Spake the ancient Wainamoinen, +Filled with sorrow, much regretting: +"Since thou'rt Youkahainen's sister, +Beauteous Aino of Pohyola, +Come to me again I pray thee!" +Thus the mermaid wisely answered; +Nevermore will Aino's spirit +Fly to thee and be ill-treated." +Quickly dived the water-maiden +From the surface of the billow +To the many-colored pebbles, +To the rainbow-tinted grottoes +Where the mermaids live and linger. +Wainamoinen, not discouraged, +Thought afresh and well reflected, +How to live, and work, and win her; +Drew with care his silken fish-net, +To and fro through foam and billow, +Through the bays and winding channels, +Drew it through the placid waters, +Drew it through the salmon-dwellings, +Through the homes of water-maidens, +Through the waters of Wainola, +Through the blue-back of the ocean, +Through the lakes of distant Lapland, +Through the rivers of Youkola, +Through the seas of Kalevala, +Hoping thus to find his Aino. +Many were the fish be landed, +Every form of fish-like creatures, +But be did not catch the sea-maid, +Not Wellamo's water-maiden, +Fairest daughter of the Northland. +Finally the ancient minstrel, +Mind depressed, and heart discouraged, +Spake these words, immersed in sorrow: +"Fool am I, and great my folly, +Having neither wit nor judgment; +Surely once I had some knowledge, +Had some insight into wisdom, +Had at least a bit of instinct; +But my virtues all have left me +In these mournful days of evil, +Vanished with my youth and vigor, +Insight gone, and sense departed, +All my prudence gone to others! +Aino, whom I love and cherish, +All these years have sought to honor, +Aino, now Wellamo's maiden, +Promised friend of mine when needed, +Promised bride of mine forever, +Once I had within my power, +Caught her in Wellamo's grottoes, +Led her to my boat of copper, +With my fish-line made of silver; +But alas! I could not keep her, +Did not know that I had caught her +Till too late to woo and win her; +Let her slip between my fingers +To the home of water-maidens, +To the kingdom of Wellamo." +Wainamoinen then departed, +Empty-handed, heavy-hearted, +Straightway hastened to his country, +To his home in Kalevala, +Spake these words upon his journey: +"What has happened to the cuckoo, +Once the cuckoo bringing gladness, +In the morning, in the evening, +Often bringing joy at noontide? +What has stilled the cuckoo's singing, +What has changed the cuckoo's calling? +Sorrow must have stilled his singing, +And compassion changed his calling, +As I hear him sing no longer, +For my pleasure in the morning, +For my happiness at evening. +Never shall I learn the secret, +How to live and how to prosper, +How upon the earth to rest me, +How upon the seas to wander! +Only were my ancient mother +Living on the face of Northland, +Surely she would well advise me, +What my thought and what my action, +That this cup of grief might pass me, +That this sorrow might escape me, +And this darkened cloud pass over." +In the deep awoke his mother, +From her tomb she spake as follows: +"Only sleeping was thy mother, +Now awakes to give thee answer, +What thy thought and what thine action, +That this cup of grief may pass thee, +That this sorrow may escape thee, +And this darkened cloud pass over. +Hie thee straightway to the Northland, +Visit thou the Suomi daughters; +Thou wilt find them wise and lovely, +Far more beautiful than Aino, +Far more worthy of a husband, +Not such silly chatter-boxes, +As the fickle Lapland maidens. +Take for thee a life-companion, +From the honest homes of Suomi, +One of Northland's honest daughters; +She will charm thee with her sweetness, +Make thee happy through her goodness, +Form perfection, manners easy, +Every step and movement graceful, +Full of wit and good behavior, +Honor to thy home and kindred." + + + + +RUNE VI. + + + +WAINAMOINEN'S HAPLESS JOURNEY. + + +Wainamoinen, old and truthful, +Now arranges for a journey +To the village of the Northland, +To the land of cruel winters, +To the land of little sunshine, +To the land of worthy women; +Takes his light-foot, royal racer, +Then adjusts the golden bridle, +Lays upon his back the saddle, +Silver-buckled, copper-stirruped, +Seats himself upon his courser, +And begins his journey northward; +Plunges onward, onward, onward, +Galloping along the highway, +In his saddle, gaily fashioned, +On his dappled steed of magic, +Plunging through Wainola's meadows, +O'er the plains of Kalevala. +Fast and far he galloped onward, +Galloped far beyond Wainola, +Bounded o'er the waste of waters, +Till he reached the blue-sea's margin, +Wetting not the hoofs in running. +But the evil Youkahainen +Nursed a grudge within his bosom, +In his heart the worm of envy, +Envy of this Wainamoinen, +Of this wonderful enchanter. +He prepares a cruel cross-bow, +Made of steel and other metals, +Paints the bow in many colors, +Molds the top-piece out or copper, +Trims his bow with snowy silver, +Gold he uses too in trimming, +Then he hunts for strongest sinews, +Finds them in the stag of Hisi, +Interweaves the flax of Lempo. +Ready is the cruel cross-bow, +String, and shaft, and ends are finished, +Beautiful the bow and mighty, +Surely cost it not a trifle; +On the back a painted courser, +On each end a colt of beauty, +Near the curve a maiden sleeping +Near the notch a hare is bounding, +Wonderful the bow thus fashioned; +Cuts some arrows for his quiver, +Covers them with finest feathers, +From the oak the shafts be fashions, +Makes the tips of keenest metal. +As the rods and points are finished, +Then he feathers well his arrows +From the plumage of the swallow, +From the wing-quills of the sparrow; +Hardens well his feathered arrows, +And imparts to each new virtues, +Steeps them in the blood of serpents, +In the virus of the adder. +Ready now are all his arrows, +Ready strung, his cruel cross-bow. +Waiting for wise Wainamoinen. +Youkahainen, Lapland's minstrel, +Waits a long time, is not weary, +Hopes to spy the ancient singer; +Spies at day-dawn, spies at evening, +Spies he ceaselessly at noontide, +Lies in wait for the magician, +Waits, and watches, as in envy; +Sits he at the open window, +Stands behind the hedge, and watches +In the foot-path waits, and listens, +Spies along the balks of meadows; +On his back he hangs his quiver, +In his quiver, feathered arrows +Dipped in virus of the viper, +On his arm the mighty cross-bow, +Waits, and watches, and unwearied, +Listens from the boat-house window, +Lingers at the end of Fog-point, +By the river flowing seaward, +Near the holy stream and whirlpool, +Near the sacred river's fire-fall. +Finally the Lapland minstrel, +Youkahainen of Pohyola, +At the breaking of the day-dawn, +At the early hour of morning, +Fixed his gaze upon the North-east, +Turned his eyes upon the sunrise, +Saw a black cloud on the ocean, +Something blue upon the waters, +And soliloquized as follows: +"Are those clouds on the horizon, +Or perchance the dawn of morning? +Neither clouds on the horizon, +Nor the dawning of the morning; +It is ancient Wainamoinen, +The renowned and wise enchanter, +Riding on his way to Northland; +On his steed, the royal racer, +Magic courser of Wainola." +Quickly now young Youkahainen, +Lapland's vain and evil minstrel, +Filled with envy, grasps his cross-bow, +Makes his bow and arrows ready +For the death of Wainamoinen. +Quick his aged mother asked him, +Spake these words to Youkahainen: +"For whose slaughter is thy cross-bow, +For whose heart thy poisoned arrows?" +Youkahainen thus made answer: +"I have made this mighty cross-bow, +Fashioned bow and poisoned arrows +For the death of Wainamoinen, +Thus to slay the friend of waters; +I must shoot the old magician, +The eternal bard and hero, +Through the heart, and through the liver, +Through the head, and through the shoulders, +With this bow and feathered arrows +Thus destroy my rival minstrel." +Then the aged mother answered, +Thus reproving, thus forbidding. +Do not slay good Wainamoinen, +Ancient hero of the Northland, +From a noble tribe descended, +He, my sister's son, my nephew. +If thou slayest Wainamoinen, +Ancient son of Kalevala, +Then alas! all joy will vanish, +Perish all our wondrous singing; +Better on the earth the gladness, +Better here the magic music, +Than within the nether regions, +In the kingdom of Tuoni, +In the realm of the departed, +In the land of the hereafter." +Then the youthful Youkahainen +Thought awhile and well considered, +Ere he made a final answer. +With one hand he raised the cross-bow +But the other seemed to weaken, +As he drew the cruel bow-string. +Finally these words he uttered +As his bosom swelled with envy: +"Let all joy forever vanish, +Let earth's pleasures quickly perish, +Disappear earth's sweetest music, +Happiness depart forever; +Shoot I will this rival minstrel, +Little heeding what the end is." +Quickly now he bends his fire-bow, +On his left knee rests the weapon, +With his right foot firmly planted, +Thus he strings his bow of envy; +Takes three arrows from his quiver, +Choosing well the best among them, +Carefully adjusts the bow-string, +Sets with care the feathered arrow, +To the flaxen string he lays it, +Holds the cross-bow to his shoulder, +Aiming well along the margin, +At the heart of Wainamoinen, +Waiting till he gallops nearer; +In the shadow of a thicket, +Speaks these words while he is waiting +"Be thou, flaxen string, elastic; +Swiftly fly, thou feathered ash-wood, +Swiftly speed, thou deadly missile, +Quick as light, thou poisoned arrow, +To the heart of Wainamoinen. +If my hand too low should hold thee, +May the gods direct thee higher; +If too high mine eye should aim thee, +May the gods direct thee lower." +Steady now he pulls the trigger; +Like the lightning flies the arrow +O'er the head of Wainamoinen; +To the upper sky it darteth, +And the highest clouds it pierces, +Scatters all the flock of lamb-clouds, +On its rapid journey skyward. +Not discouraged, quick selecting, +Quick adjusting, Youkahainen, +Quickly aiming shoots a second. +Speeds the arrow swift as lightning; +Much too low he aimed the missile, +Into earth the arrow plunges, +Pierces to the lower regions, +Splits in two the old Sand Mountain. +Nothing daunted, Youkahainen, +Quick adjusting shoots a third one. +Swift as light it speeds its journey, +Strikes the steed of Wainamoinen, +Strikes the light-foot, ocean-swimmer, +Strikes him near his golden girdle, +Through the shoulder of the racer. +Thereupon wise Wainamoinen +Headlong fell upon the waters, +Plunged beneath the rolling billows, +From the saddle of the courser, +From his dappled steed of magic. +Then arose a mighty storm-wind, +Roaring wildly on the waters, +Bore away old Wainamoinen +Far from land upon the billows, +On the high and rolling billows, +On the broad sea's great expanses. +Boasted then young Youkahainen, +Thinking Waino dead and buried, +These the boastful words be uttered: +"Nevermore, old Wainamoinen, +Nevermore in all thy life-time, +While the golden moonlight glistens, +Nevermore wilt fix thy vision +On the meadows of Wainola, +On the plains of Kalevala; +Full six years must swim the ocean, +Tread the waves for seven summers, +Eight years ride the foamy billows, +In the broad expanse of water; +Six long autumns as a fir-tree, +Seven winters as a pebble; +Eight long summers as an aspen." +Thereupon the Lapland minstrel +Hastened to his room delighting, +When his mother thus addressed him +"Hast thou slain good Wainamoinen, +Slain the son of Kalevala?" +Youkahainen thus made answer: +"I have slain old Wainamoinen, +Slain the son of Kalevala, +That he now may plow the ocean, +That he now may sweep the waters, +On the billows rock and slumber. +In the salt-sea plunged he headlong, +In the deep sank the magician, +Sidewise turned he to the sea-shore +On his back to rock forever, +Thus the boundless sea to travel, +Thus to ride the rolling billows." +This the answer of the mother: +"Woe to earth for this thine action, +Gone forever, joy and singing, +Vanished is the wit of ages! +Thou hast slain good Wainamoinen. +Slain the ancient wisdom-singer, +Slain the pride of Suwantala, +Slain the hero of Wainola, +Slain the joy of Kalevala." + + + + +RUNE VII. + + + +WAINIOINEN'S RESCUE. + + +Wainamoinen, old and truthful, +Swam through all the deep-sea waters, +Floating like a branch of aspen, +Like a withered twig of willow; +Swam six days in summer weather, +Swam six nights in golden moonlight; +Still before him rose the billows, +And behind him sky and ocean. +Two days more he swam undaunted, +Two long nights be struggled onward. +On the evening of the eighth day, +Wainamoinen grew disheartened, +Felt a very great discomfort, +For his feet had lost their toe-nails, +And his fingers dead and dying. +Wainamoinen, ancient minstrel, +Sad and weary, spake as follows: +"Woe is me, my old life fated! +Woe is me, misfortune's offspring! +Fool was I when fortune, favored, +To forsake my home and kindred, +For a maiden fair and lovely, +Here beneath the starry heavens, +In this cruel waste of waters, +Days and nights to swim and wander, +Here to struggle with the storm-winds, +To be tossed by heaving billows, +In this broad sea's great expanses, +In this ocean vast and boundless. +"Cold my life and sad and dreary, +Painful too for me to linger +Evermore within these waters, +Thus to struggle for existence! +Cannot know how I can prosper, +How to find me food and shelter, +In these cold and lifeless waters, +In these days of dire misfortune. +Build I in the winds my dwelling? +It will find no sure foundation. +Build my home upon the billows? +Surely would the waves destroy it." +Comes a bird from far Pohyola, +From the occident, an eagle, +Is not classed among the largest, +Nor belongs he to the smallest; +One wing touches on the waters, +While the other sweeps the heavens; +O'er the waves he wings his body, +Strikes his beak upon the sea-cliffs, +Flies about, then safely perches, +Looks before him, looks behind him, +There beholds brave Wainamoinen, +On the blue-back of the ocean, +And the eagle thus accosts him: +"Wherefore art thou, ancient hero, +Swimming in the deep-sea billows? +Thus the water-minstrel answered: +"I am ancient Wainamoinen, +Friend and fellow of the waters +I, the famous wisdom-singer; +Went to woo a Northland maiden, +Maiden from the dismal Darkland, +Quickly galloped on my journey, +Riding on the plain of ocean. +I arrived one morning early, +At the breaking of the day-dawn. +At the bay of Luotola, +Near Youkola's foaming river, +Where the evil Youkahainen +Slew my steed with bow and arrow, +Tried to slay me with his weapons. +On the waters fell I headlong, +Plunged beneath the salt-sea's surface, +From the saddle of the courser, +From my dappled steed of magic. +"Then arose a mighty storm-wind, +From the East and West a whirlwind, +Washed me seaward on the surges, +Seaward, seaward, further, further, +Where for many days I wandered, +Swam and rocked upon the billows, +Where as many nights I struggled, +In the dashing waves and sea-foam, +With the angry winds and waters. +"Woe is me, my life hard-fated! +Cannot solve this heavy problem, +How to live nor how to perish +In this cruel salt-sea water. +Build I in the winds my dwelling? +It will find no sure foundation. +Build my home upon the waters? +Surely will the waves destroy it. +Must I swim the sea forever, +Must I live, or must I perish? +What will happen if I perish, +If I sink below the billows, +Perish here from cold and hunger?" +Thus the bird of Ether answered +"Be not in the least disheartened, +Place thyself between my shoulders, +On my back be firmly seated, +I will lift thee from the waters, +Bear thee with my pinions upward, +Bear thee wheresoe'er thou willest. +Well do I the day remember +Where thou didst the eagle service, +When thou didst the birds a favor. +Thou didst leave the birch-tree standing, +When were cleared the Osmo-forests, +From the lands of Kalevala, +As a home for weary song-birds, +As a resting-place for eagles." +Then arises Wainamoinen, +Lifts his head above the waters, +Boldly rises from the sea-waves, +Lifts his body from the billows, +Seats himself upon the eagle, +On the eagle's feathered shoulders. +Quick aloft the huge bird bears him, +Bears the ancient Wainamoinen, +Bears him on the path of zephyrs, +Floating on the vernal breezes, +To the distant shore of Northland, +To the dismal Sariola, +Where the eagle leaves his burden, +Flies away to join his fellows. +Wainamoinen, lone and weary, +Straightway fell to bitter weeping, +Wept and moaned in heavy accents, +On the border of the blue-sea. +On a cheerless promontory, +With a hundred wounds tormented, +Made by cruel winds and waters, +With his hair and beard dishevelled +By the surging of the billows. +Three long days he wept disheartened +Wept as many nights in anguish, +Did not know what way to journey, +Could not find a woodland foot-print, +That would point him to the highway, +To his home in Kalevala, +To his much-loved home and kindred. +Northland's young and slender maiden, +With complexion fair and lovely, +With the Sun had laid a wager, +With the Sun and Moon a wager, +Which should rise before the other, +On the morning of the morrow. +And the maiden rose in beauty, +Long before the Sun had risen, +Long before the Moon bad wakened, +From their beds beneath the ocean. +Ere the cock had crowed the day-break, +Ere the Sun had broken slumber +She had sheared six gentle lambkins, +Gathered from them six white fleeces, +Hence to make the rolls for spinning, +Hence to form the threads for weaving, +Hence to make the softest raiment, +Ere the morning dawn had broken, +Ere the sleeping Sun had risen. +When this task the maid had ended, +Then she scrubbed the birchen tables, +Sweeps the ground-floor of the stable, +With a broom of leaves and branches +From the birches of the Northland, +Scrapes the sweepings well together +On a shovel made of copper, +Carries them beyond the stable, +From the doorway to the meadow, +To the meadow's distant border, +Near the surges of the great-sea, +Listens there and looks about her, +Hears a wailing from the waters, +Hears a weeping from the sea-shore, +Hears a hero-voice lamenting. +Thereupon she hastens homeward, +Hastens to her mother's dwelling, +These the words the maiden utters: +"I have heard a wail from ocean, +Heard a weeping from the sea-coast, +On the shore some one lamenting." +Louhi, hostess of Pohyola, +Ancient, toothless dame of Northland, +Hastens from her door and court-yard, +Through the meadow to the sea-shore, +Listens well for sounds of weeping, +For the wail of one in sorrow; +Hears the voice of one in trouble, +Hears a hero-cry of anguish. +Thus the ancient Louhi answers: +"This is not the wail of children, +These are not the tears of women, +In this way weep bearded heroes; +This the hero-cry of anguish." +Quick she pushed her boat to water, +To the floods her goodly vessel, +Straightway rows with lightning swiftness, +To the weeping Wainamoinen; +Gives the hero consolation, +Comfort gives she to the minstrel +Wailing in a grove of willows, +In his piteous condition, +Mid the alder-trees and aspens, +On the border of the salt-sea, +Visage trembling, locks dishevelled. +Ears, and eyes, and lips of sadness. +Louhi, hostess of Pohyola, +Thus addresses Wainamoinen: +"Tell me what has been thy folly, +That thou art in this condition." +Old and truthful Wainamoinen +Lifts aloft his bead and answers: +"Well I know that it is folly +That has brought me all this trouble, +Brought me to this land of strangers, +To these regions unbefitting +Happy was I with my kindred, +In my distant home and country, +There my name was named in honor." +Louhi, hostess of Pohyola, +Thus replied to Wainamoinen: +"I would gain the information, +Should I be allowed to ask thee, +Who thou art of ancient heroes, +Who of all the host of heroes? +This is Wainamoinen's answer: +"Formerly my name was mentioned, +Often was I heard and honored, +As a minstrel and magician, +In the long and dreary winters, +Called the 'Singer of the Northland, +In the valleys of Wainola, +On the plains of Kalevala; +No one thought that such misfortune +Could befall wise Wainamoinen." +Louhi, hostess of Pohyola, +Thus replied in cheering accents +"Rise, O hero, from discomfort, +From thy bed among the willows; +Enter now upon the new-way, +Come with me to yonder dwelling, +There relate thy strange adventures, +Tell the tale of thy misfortunes." +Now she takes the hapless hero, +Lifts him from his bed of sorrow, +In her boat she safely seats him, +And begins at once her rowing, +Rows with steady hand and mighty +To her home upon the sea-shore, +To the dwellings of Pohyola. +There she feeds the starving hero, +Rests the ancient Wainamoinen, +Gives him warmth, and food, and shelter, +And the hero soon recovers. +Then the hostess of Pohyola +Questioned thus the ancient singer: +"Wherefore didst thou, Wainamoinen, +Friend and fellow of the waters, +Weep in sad and bitter accents, +On the border of the ocean, +Mid the aspens and the willows?" +This is Wainamoinen's answer: +Had good reason for my weeping, +Cause enough for all my sorrow; +Long indeed had I been swimming, +Had been buffeting the billows, +In the far outstretching waters. +This the reason for my weeping; +I have lived in toil and torture, +Since I left my home and country, +Left my native land and kindred, +Came to this the land of strangers, +To these unfamiliar portals. +All thy trees have thorns to wound me, +All thy branches, spines to pierce me, +Even birches give me trouble, +And the alders bring discomfort, +My companions, winds and waters, +Only does the Sun seem friendly, +In this cold and cruel country, +Near these unfamiliar portals." +Louhi thereupon made answer, +Weep no longer, Wainamoinen, +Grieve no more, thou friend of waters, +Good for thee, that thou shouldst linger +At our friendly homes and firesides; +Thou shalt live with us and welcome, +Thou shalt sit at all our tables, +Eat the salmon from our platters, +Eat the sweetest of our bacon, +Eat the whiting from our waters." +Answers thus old Wainamoinen, +Grateful for the invitation: +"Never do I court strange tables, +Though the food be rare and toothsome; +One's own country is the dearest, +One's own table is the sweetest, +One's own home, the most attractive. +Grant, kind Ukko, God above me, +Thou Creator, full of mercy, +Grant that I again may visit +My beloved home and country. +Better dwell in one's own country, +There to drink Its healthful waters +From the simple cups of birch-wood, +Than in foreign lands to wander, +There to drink the rarest liquors +From the golden bowls of strangers." +Louhi, hostess of Pohyola, +Thus replied to the magician: +"What reward wilt thou award me, +Should I take thee where thou willest, +To thy native land and kindred, +To thy much-loved home and fireside, +To the meadows of Wainola, +To the plains of Kalevala?" +These the words of Wainamoinen: +"What would be reward sufficient, +Shouldst thou take me to my people, +To my home and distant country, +To the borders of the Northland, +There to hear the cuckoo singing, +Hear the sacred cuckoo calling? +Shall I give thee golden treasures, +Fill thy cups with finest silver?" +This is Louhi's simple answer: +"O thou ancient Wainamoinen, +Only true and wise magician, +Never will I ask for riches, +Never ask for gold nor silver; +Gold is for the children's flowers, +Silver for the stallion's jewels. +Canst thou forge for me the Sampo, +Hammer me the lid in colors, +From the tips of white-swan feathers +From the milk of greatest virtue, +From a single grain of barley, +From the finest wool of lambkins? +"I will give thee too my daughter, +Will reward thee through the maiden, +Take thee to thy much-loved home-land, +To the borders of Wainola, +There to hear the cuckoo singing, +Hear the sacred cuckoo calling." +Wainamoinen, much regretting, +Gave this answer to her question: +"Cannot forge for thee the Sampo, +Cannot make the lid in colors. +Take me to my distant country, +I will send thee Ilmarinen, +He will forge for thee the Sampo, +Hammer thee the lid in colors, +He may win thy lovely maiden; +Worthy smith is Ilmarinen, +In this art is first and master; +He, the one that forged the heavens. +Forged the air a hollow cover; +Nowhere see we hammer-traces, +Nowhere find a single tongs-mark." +Thus replied the hostess, Louhi: +"Him alone I'll give my daughter, +Promise him my child in marriage, +Who for me will forge the Sampo, +Hammer me the lid in colors, +From the tips of white-swan feathers, +From the milk of greatest virtue, +From a single grain of barley, +From the finest wool of lambkins." +Thereupon the hostess Louhi, +Harnessed quick a dappled courser, +Hitched him to her sledge of birch-wood, +Placed within it Wainamoinen, +Placed the hero on the cross-bench, +Made him ready for his journey; +Then addressed the ancient minstrel, +These the words that Louhi uttered: +"Do not raise thine eyes to heaven, +Look not upward on thy journey, +While thy steed is fresh and frisky, +While the day-star lights thy pathway, +Ere the evening star has risen; +If thine eyes be lifted upward, +While the day-star lights thy pathway, +Dire misfortune will befall thee, +Some sad fate will overtake thee." +Then the ancient Wainamoinen +Fleetly drove upon his journey, +Merrily he hastened homeward, +Hastened homeward, happy-hearted +From the ever-darksome Northland +From the dismal Sariola. + + + + +RUNE VIII. + + + +MAIDEN OF THE RAINBOW. + + +Pohyola's fair and winsome daughter, +Glory of the land and water, +Sat upon the bow of heaven, +On its highest arch resplendent, +In a gown of richest fabric, +In a gold and silver air-gown, +Weaving webs of golden texture, +Interlacing threads of silver; +Weaving with a golden shuttle, +With a weaving-comb of silver; +Merrily flies the golden shuttle, +From the maiden's nimble fingers, +Briskly swings the lathe in weaving, +Swiftly flies the comb of silver, +From the sky-born maiden's fingers, +Weaving webs of wondrous beauty. +Came the ancient Wainamoinen, +Driving down the highway homeward, +From the ever sunless Northland, +From the dismal Sariola; +Few the furlongs he had driven, +Driven but a little distance, +When he heard the sky-loom buzzing, +As the maiden plied the shuttle. +Quick the thoughtless Wainamoinen +Lifts his eyes aloft in wonder, +Looks upon the vault of heaven, +There beholds the bow of beauty, +On the bow the maiden sitting, +Beauteous Maiden of the Rainbow, +Glory of the earth and ocean, +Weaving there a golden fabric, +Working with the rustling silver. +Wainamoinen, ancient minstrel, +Quickly checks his fleet-foot racer, +Looks upon the charming maiden, +Then addresses her as follows: +"Come, fair maiden, to my snow-sledge, +By my side I wish thee seated." +Thus the Maid of Beauty answers: +"Tell me what thou wishest of me, +Should I join thee in the snow-sledge." +Speaks the ancient Wainamoinen, +Answers thus the Maid of Beauty: +"This the reason for thy coming: +Thou shalt bake me honey-biscuit, +Shalt prepare me barley-water, +Thou shalt fill my foaming beer-cups, +Thou shalt sing beside my table, +Shalt rejoice within my portals, +Walk a queen within my dwelling, +In the Wainola halls and chambers, +In the courts of Kalevala." +Thus the Maid of Beauty answered +From her throne amid the heavens: +"Yesterday at hour of twilight, +Went I to the flowery meadows, +There to rock upon the common, +Where the Sun retires to slumber; +There I heard a song-bird singing, +Heard the thrush simple measures, +Singing sweetly thoughts of maidens, +And the minds of anxious mothers. +"Then I asked the pretty songster, +Asked the thrush this simple question: +'Sing to me, thou pretty song-bird, +Sing that I may understand thee, +Sing to me in truthful accents, +How to live in greatest pleasure, +And in happiness the sweetest, +As a maiden with her father, +Or as wife beside her husband.' +"Thus the song-bird gave me answer, +Sang the thrush this information: +'Bright and warm are days of summer, +Warmer still is maiden-freedom; +Cold is iron in the winter, +Thus the lives of married women; +Maidens living with their mothers +Are like ripe and ruddy berries; +Married women, far too many, +Are like dogs enchained in kennel, +Rarely do they ask for favors, +Not to wives are favors given.'" +Wainamoinen, old and truthful, +Answers thus the Maid of Beauty: +"Foolish is the thrush thus singing, +Nonsense is the song-bird's twitter; +Like to babes are maidens treated, +Wives are queens and highly honored. +Come, sweet maiden, to my snow-sledge, +I am not despised as hero, +Not the meanest of magicians; +Come with me and I will make thee +Wife and queen in Kalevala." +Thus the Maid of Beauty answered-- +"Would consider thee a hero, +Mighty hero, I would call thee, +When a golden hair thou splittest, +Using knives that have no edges; +When thou snarest me a bird's egg +With a snare that I can see not." +Wainamoinen, skilled and ancient, +Split a golden hair exactly, +Using knives that had no edges; +And he snared an egg as nicely +With a snare the maiden saw not. +"Come, sweet maiden, to my snow-sledge, +I have done what thou desirest." +Thus the maiden wisely answered: +"Never enter I thy snow-sledge, +Till thou peelest me the sandstone, +Till thou cuttest me a whip-stick +From the ice, and make no splinters, +Losing not the smallest fragment." +Wainamoinen, true magician, +Nothing daunted, not discouraged, +Deftly peeled the rounded sandstone, +Deftly cut from ice a whip-stick, +Cutting not the finest splinter, +Losing not the smallest fragment. +Then again be called the maiden, +To a seat within his snow-sledge. +But the Maid or Beauty answered, +Answered thus the great magician: +I will go with that one only +That will make me ship or shallop, +From the splinters of my spindle, +From the fragments of my distaff, +In the waters launch the vessel, +Set the little ship a-floating, +Using not the knee to push it, +Using not the arm to move it, +Using not the hand to touch it, +Using not the foot to turn it, +Using nothing to propel it." +Spake the skilful Wainamoinen, +These the words the hero uttered: +"There is no one in the Northland, +No one under vault of heaven, +Who like me can build a vessel, +From the fragments of the distaff, +From the splinters of the spindle." +Then he took the distaff-fragments, +Took the splinters of the spindle, +Hastened off the boat to fashion, +Hastened to an iron mountain, +There to join the many fragments. +Full of zeal be plies the hammer, +Swings the hammer and the hatchet; +Nothing daunted, builds the vessel, +Works one day and then a second, +Works with steady hand the third day; +On the evening of the third day, +Evil Hisi grasps the hatchet, +Lempo takes the crooked handle, +Turns aside the axe in falling, +Strikes the rocks and breaks to pieces; +From the rocks rebound the fragments, +Pierce the flesh of the magician, +Cut the knee of Wainamoinen. +Lempo guides the sharpened hatchet, +And the veins fell Hisi severs. +Quickly gushes forth a blood-stream, +And the stream is crimson-colored. +Wainamoinen, old and truthful, +The renowned and wise enchanter, +Thus outspeaks in measured accents: +"O thou keen and cruel hatchet, +O thou axe of sharpened metal, +Thou shouldst cut the trees to fragments, +Cut the pine-tree and the willow, +Cut the alder and the birch-tree, +Cut the juniper and aspen, +Shouldst not cut my knee to pieces, +Shouldst not tear my veins asunder." +Then the ancient Wainamoinen +Thus begins his incantations, +Thus begins his magic singing, +Of the origin of evil; +Every word in perfect order, +Makes no effort to remember, +Sings the origin of iron, +That a bolt he well may fashion, +Thus prepare a look for surety, +For the wounds the axe has given, +That the hatchet has torn open. +But the stream flows like a brooklet, +Rushing like a maddened torrent, +Stains the herbs upon the meadows, +Scarcely is a bit of verdure +That the blood-stream does not cover +As it flows and rushes onward +From the knee of the magician, +From the veins of Wainamoinen. +Now the wise and ancient minstrel +Gathers lichens from the sandstone, +Picks them from the trunks of birches, +Gathers moss within the marshes, +Pulls the grasses from the meadows, +Thus to stop the crimson streamlet, +Thus to close the wounds laid open; +But his work is unsuccessful, +And the crimson stream flows onward. +Wainamoinen, ancient minstrel, +Feeling pain and fearing languor, +Falls to weeping, heavy-hearted; +Quickly now his steed he hitches, +Hitches to the sledge of birch-wood, +Climbs with pain upon the cross-bench, +Strikes his steed in quick succession, +Snaps his whip above the racer, +And the steed flies onward swiftly; +Like the winds he sweeps the highway, +Till be nears a Northland village, +Where the way is triple-parted. +Wainamoinen, old and truthful, +Takes the lowest of the highways, +Quickly nears a spacious cottage, +Quickly asks before the doorway: +"Is there any one here dwelling, +That can know the pain I suffer, +That can heal this wound of hatchet. +That can check this crimson streamlet?" +Sat a boy within a corner, +On a bench beside a baby, +And he answered thus the hero: +"There is no one in this dwelling +That can know the pain thou feelest, +That can heal the wounds of hatchet, +That can check the crimson streamlet; +Some one lives in yonder cottage, +That perchance can do thee service." +Wainamoinen, ancient minstrel, +Whips his courser to a gallop, +Dashes on along the highway; +Only drives a little distance, +On the middle of the highways, +To a cabin on the road-side, +Asks one standing on the threshold, +Questions all through open windows, +These the words the hero uses: +"Is there no one in this cabin, +That can know the pain I suffer, +That can heal this wound of hatchet, +That can check this crimson streamlet?" +On the floor a witch was lying, +Near the fire-place lay the beldame, +Thus she spake to Wainamoinen, +Through her rattling teeth she answered. +"There is no one in this cabin +That can know the pain thou feelest, +That can heal the wounds of hatchets, +That can check the crimson streamlet; +Some one lives in yonder cottage, +That perchance can do thee service." +Wainamoinen, nothing daunted, +Whips his racer to a gallop, +Dashes on along the highway; +Only drives a little distance, +On the upper of the highways, +Gallops to a humble cottage, +Asks one standing near the penthouse, +Sitting on the penthouse-doorsill: +"Is there no one in this cottage, +That can know the pain I suffer, +That can heal this wound of hatchet, +That can check this crimson streamlet?" +Near the fireplace sat an old man, +On the hearthstone sat the gray-beard, +Thus he answered Wainamoinen: +"Greater things have been accomplished, +Much more wondrous things effected, +Through but three words of the master; +Through the telling of the causes, +Streams and oceans have been tempered, +River cataracts been lessened, +Bays been made of promontories, +Islands raised from deep sea-bottoms." + + + + +RUNE IX. + + + +ORIGIN OF IRON. + + +Wainamoinen, thus encouraged, +Quickly rises in his snow-sledge, +Asking no one for assistance, +Straightway hastens to the cottage, +Takes a seat within the dwelling. +Come two maids with silver pitchers, +Bringing also golden goblets; +Dip they up a very little, +But the very smallest measure +Of the blood of the magician, +From the wounds of Wainamoinen. +From the fire-place calls the old man, +Thus the gray-beard asks the minstrel: +"Tell me who thou art of heroes, +Who of all the great magicians? +Lo! thy blood fills seven sea-boats, +Eight of largest birchen vessels, +Flowing from some hero's veinlets, +From the wounds of some magician. +Other matters I would ask thee; +Sing the cause of this thy trouble, +Sing to me the source of metals, +Sing the origin of iron, +How at first it was created." +Then the ancient Wainamoinen +Made this answer to the gray-beard: +"Know I well the source of metals, +Know the origin of iron; +f can tell bow steel is fashioned. +Of the mothers air is oldest, +Water is the oldest brother, +And the fire is second brother, +And the youngest brother, iron; +Ukko is the first creator. +Ukko, maker of the heavens, +Cut apart the air and water, +Ere was born the metal, iron. +Ukko, maker of the heavens, +Firmly rubbed his hands together, +Firmly pressed them on his knee-cap, +Then arose three lovely maidens, +Three most beautiful of daughters; +These were mothers of the iron, +And of steel of bright-blue color. +Tremblingly they walked the heavens, +Walked the clouds with silver linings, +With their bosoms overflowing +With the milk of future iron, +Flowing on and flowing ever, +From the bright rims of the cloudlets +To the earth, the valleys filling, +To the slumber-calling waters. +"Ukko's eldest daughter sprinkled +Black milk over river channels +And the second daughter sprinkled +White milk over hills and mountains, +While the youngest daughter sprinkled +Red milk over seas and oceans. +Whero the black milk had been sprinked, +Grew the dark and ductile iron; +Where the white milk had been sprinkled. +Grew the iron, lighter-colored; +Where the red milk had been sprinkled, +Grew the red and brittle iron. +"After Time had gone a distance, +Iron hastened Fire to visit, +His beloved elder brother, +Thus to know his brother better. +Straightway Fire began his roarings, +Labored to consume his brother, +His beloved younger brother. +Straightway Iron sees his danger, +Saves himself by fleetly fleeing, +From the fiery flame's advances, +Fleeing hither, fleeing thither, +Fleeing still and taking shelter +In the swamps and in the valleys, +In the springs that loudly bubble, +By the rivers winding seaward, +On the broad backs of the marshes, +Where the swans their nests have builded, +Where the wild geese hatch their goslings. +"Thus is iron in the swamp-lands, +Stretching by the water-courses, +Hidden well for many ages, +Hidden in the birchen forests, +But he could not hide forever +From the searchings of his brother; +Here and there the fire has caught him, +Caught and brought him to his furnace, +That the spears, and swords, and axes, +Might be forged and duly hammered. +In the swamps ran blackened waters, +From the heath the bears came ambling, +And the wolves ran through the marshes. +Iron then made his appearance, +Where the feet of wolves had trodden, +Where the paws of bears had trampled. +"Then the blacksmith, Ilmarinen, +Came to earth to work the metal; +He was born upon the Coal-mount, +Skilled and nurtured in the coal-fields; +In one hand, a copper hammer, +In the other, tongs of iron; +In the night was born the blacksmith, +In the morn he built his smithy, +Sought with care a favored hillock, +Where the winds might fill his bellows; +Found a hillock in the swamp-lands, +Where the iron hid abundant; +There he built his smelting furnace, +There he laid his leathern bellows, +Hastened where the wolves had travelled, +Followed where the bears had trampled, +Found the iron's young formations, +In the wolf-tracks of the marshes, +In the foot-prints of the gray-bear. +"Then the blacksmith, Ilmarinen, +'Thus addressed the sleeping iron: +Thou most useful of the metals, +Thou art sleeping in the marshes, +Thou art hid in low conditions, +Where the wolf treads in the swamp-lands, +Where the bear sleeps in the thickets. +Hast thou thought and well considered, +What would be thy future station, +Should I place thee in the furnace, +Thus to make thee free and useful?' +"Then was Iron sorely frightened, +Much distressed and filled with horror, +When of Fire he heard the mention, +Mention of his fell destroyer. +"Then again speaks Ilmarinen, +Thus the smith addresses Iron: +'Be not frightened, useful metal, +Surely Fire will not consume thee, +Will not burn his youngest brother, +Will not harm his nearest kindred. +Come thou to my room and furnace, +Where the fire is freely burning, +Thou wilt live, and grow, and prosper, +Wilt become the swords of heroes, +Buckles for the belts of women.' +"Ere arose the star of evening, +Iron ore had left the marshes, +From the water-beds had risen, +Had been carried to the furnace, +In the fire the smith had laid it, +Laid it in his smelting furnace. +Ilmarinen starts the bellows, +Gives three motions of the handle, +And the iron flows in streamlets +From the forge of the magician, +Soon becomes like baker's leaven, +Soft as dough for bread of barley. +Then out-screamed the metal, Iron: +'Wondrous blacksmith, Ilmarinen, +Take, O take me from thy furnace, +From this fire and cruel torture.' +"Ilmarinen thus made answer: +'I will take thee from my furnace, +'Thou art but a little frightened, +Thou shalt be a mighty power, +Thou shalt slay the best of heroes, +Thou shalt wound thy dearest brother.' +"Straightway Iron made this promise, +Vowed and swore in strongest accents, +By the furnace, by the anvil, +By the tongs, and by the hammer, +These the words he vowed and uttered: +'Many trees that I shall injure, +Shall devour the hearts of mountains, +Shall not slay my nearest kindred, +Shall not kill the best of heroes, +Shall not wound my dearest brother; +Better live in civil freedom, +Happier would be my life-time, +Should I serve my fellow-beings, +Serve as tools for their convenience, +Than as implements of warfare, +Slay my friends and nearest. kindred, +Wound the children of my mother.' +"Now the master, Ilmarinen, +The renowned and skilful blacksmith, +From the fire removes the iron, +Places it upon the anvil, +Hammers well until it softens, +Hammers many fine utensils, +Hammers spears, and swords, and axes, +Hammers knives, and forks, and hatchets, +Hammers tools of all descriptions. +"Many things the blacksmith needed, +Many things he could not fashion, +Could not make the tongue of iron, +Could not hammer steel from iron, +Could not make the iron harden. +Well considered Ilmarinen, +Deeply thought and long reflected. +Then he gathered birchen ashes, +Steeped the ashes in the water, +Made a lye to harden iron, +Thus to form the steel most needful. +With his tongue he tests the mixture, +Weighs it long and well considers, +And the blacksmith speaks as follows: +'All this labor is for nothing, +Will not fashion steel from iron, +Will not make the soft ore harden.' +"Now a bee flies from the meadow, +Blue-wing coming from the flowers, +Flies about, then safely settles +Near the furnace of the smithy. +"'Thus the smith the bee addresses, +These the words of Ilmarinen: +'Little bee, thou tiny birdling, +Bring me honey on thy winglets, +On thy tongue, I pray thee, bring me +Sweetness from the fragrant meadows, +From the little cups of flowers, +From the tips of seven petals, +That we thus may aid the water +To produce the steel from iron.' +"Evil Hisi's bird, the hornet, +Heard these words of Ilmarinen, +Looking from the cottage gable, +Flying to the bark of birch-trees, +While the iron bars were heating +While the steel was being tempered; +Swiftly flew the stinging hornet, +Scattered all the Hisi horrors, +Brought the blessing of the serpent, +Brought the venom of the adder, +Brought the poison of the spider, +Brought the stings of all the insects, +Mixed them with the ore and water, +While the steel was being, tempered. +"Ilmarinen, skilful blacksmith, +First of all the iron-workers, +Thought the bee had surely brought him +Honey from the fragrant meadows, +From the little cups of flowers, +From the tips of seven petals, +And he spake the words that follow: +'Welcome, welcome, is thy coming, +Honeyed sweetness from the flowers +Thou hast brought to aid the water, +Thus to form the steel from iron!' +"Ilmarinen, ancient blacksmith, +Dipped the iron into water, +Water mixed with many poisons, +Thought it but the wild bee's honey; +Thus he formed the steel from iron. +When he plunged it into water, +Water mixed with many poisons, +When be placed it in the furnace, +Angry grew the hardened iron, +Broke the vow that he had taken, +Ate his words like dogs and devils, +Mercilessly cut his brother, +Madly raged against his kindred, +Caused the blood to flow in streamlets +From the wounds of man and hero. +This, the origin of iron, +And of steel of light blue color." +From the hearth arose the gray-beard, +Shook his heavy looks and answered: +"Now I know the source of iron, +Whence the steel and whence its evils; +Curses on thee, cruel iron, +Curses on the steel thou givest, +Curses on thee, tongue of evil, +Cursed be thy life forever! +Once thou wert of little value, +Having neither form nor beauty, +Neither strength nor great importance, +When in form of milk thou rested, +When for ages thou wert hidden +In the breasts of God's three daughters, +Hidden in their heaving bosoms, +On the borders of the cloudlets, +In the blue vault of the heavens. +"Thou wert once of little value, +Having neither form nor beauty, +Neither strength nor great importance, +When like water thou wert resting +On the broad back of the marshes, +On the steep declines of mountains, +When thou wert but formless matter, +Only dust of rusty color. +"Surely thou wert void of greatness, +Having neither strength nor beauty, +When the moose was trampling on thee, +When the roebuck trod upon thee, +When the tracks of wolves were in thee, +And the bear-paws scratched thy body. +Surely thou hadst little value +When the skilful Ilmarinen, +First of all the iron-workers, +Brought thee from the blackened swamp-lands, +Took thee to his ancient smithy, +Placed thee in his fiery furnace. +Truly thou hadst little vigor, +Little strength, and little danger, +When thou in the fire wert hissing, +Rolling forth like seething water, +From the furnace of the smithy, +When thou gavest oath the strongest, +By the furnace, by the anvil, +By the tongs, and by the hammer, +By the dwelling of the blacksmith, +By the fire within the furnace. +"Now forsooth thou hast grown mighty, +Thou canst rage in wildest fury; +Thou hast broken all thy pledges, +All thy solemn vows hast broken, +Like the dogs thou shamest honor, +Shamest both thyself and kindred, +Tainted all with breath of evil. +Tell who drove thee to this mischief, +Tell who taught thee all thy malice, +Tell who gavest thee thine evil! +Did thy father, or thy mother, +Did the eldest of thy brothers, +Did the youngest of thy sisters, +Did the worst of all thy kindred +Give to thee thine evil nature? +Not thy father, nor thy mother, +Not the eldest of thy brothers, +Not the youngest of thy sisters, +Not the worst of all thy kindred, +But thyself hast done this mischief, +Thou the cause of all our trouble. +Come and view thine evil doings, +And amend this flood of damage, +Ere I tell thy gray-haired mother, +Ere I tell thine aged father. +Great indeed a mother's anguish, +Great indeed a father's sorrow, +When a son does something evil, +When a child runs wild and lawless. +"Crimson streamlet, cease thy flowing +From the wounds of Wainamoinen; +Blood of ages, stop thy coursing +From the veins of the magician; +Stand like heaven's crystal pillars, +Stand like columns in the ocean, +Stand like birch-trees in the forest, +Like the tall reeds in the marshes, +Like the high-rocks on the sea-coast, +Stand by power of mighty magic! +"Should perforce thy will impel thee, +Flow thou on thine endless circuit, +Through the veins of Wainamoinen, +Through the bones, and through the muscles, +Through the lungs, and heart, and liver, +Of the mighty sage and singer; +Better be the food of heroes, +Than to waste thy strength and virtue +On the meadows and the woodlands, +And be lost in dust and ashes. +Flow forever in thy circle; +Thou must cease this crimson out-flow; +Stain no more the grass and flowers, +Stain no more these golden hill-tops, +Pride and beauty of our heroes. +In the veins of the magician, +In the heart of Wainamoinen, +Is thy rightful home and storehouse. +Thither now withdraw thy forces, +Thither hasten, swiftly flowing; +Flow no more as crimson currents, +Fill no longer crimson lakelets, +Must not rush like brooks in spring-tide, +Nor meander like the rivers. +"Cease thy flow, by word of magic, +Cease as did the falls of Tyrya, +As the rivers of Tuoni, +When the sky withheld her rain-drops, +When the sea gave up her waters, +In the famine of the seasons, +In the years of fire and torture. +If thou heedest not this order, +I shall offer other measures, +Know I well of other forces; +I shall call the Hisi irons, +In them I shall boil and roast thee, +Thus to check thy crimson flowing, +Thus to save the wounded hero. +"If these means be inefficient, +Should these measures prove unworthy, +I shall call omniscient Ukko, +Mightiest of the creators, +Stronger than all ancient heroes, +Wiser than the world-magicians; +He will check the crimson out-flow, +He will heal this wound of hatchet. +"Ukko, God of love and mercy, +God and Master Of the heavens, +Come thou hither, thou art needed, +Come thou quickly I beseech thee, +Lend thy hand to aid thy children, +Touch this wound with healing fingers, +Stop this hero's streaming life-blood, +Bind this wound with tender leaflets, +Mingle with them healing flowers, +Thus to check this crimson current, +Thus to save this great magician, +Save the life of Wainamoinen." +Thus at last the blood-stream ended, +As the magic words were spoken. +Then the gray-beard, much rejoicing, +Sent his young son to the smithy, +There to make a healing balsam, +From the herbs of tender fibre, +From the healing plants and flowers, +From the stalks secreting honey, +From the roots, and leaves, and blossoms. +On the way he meets an oak-tree, +And the oak the son addresses: +"Hast thou honey in thy branches, +Does thy sap run full of sweetness?" +Thus the oak-tree wisely answers: +"Yea, but last night dripped the honey +Down upon my spreading branches, +And the clouds their fragrance sifted, +Sifted honey on my leaflets, +From their home within the heavens." +Then the son takes oak-wood splinters, +Takes the youngest oak-tree branches, +Gathers many healing grasses, +Gathers many herbs and flowers, +Rarest herbs that grow in Northland, +Places them within the furnace +In a kettle made of copper; +Lets them steep and boil together, +Bits of bark chipped from the oak-tree, +Many herbs of healing virtues; +Steeps them one day, then a second, +Three long days of summer weather, +Days and nights in quick succession; +Then he tries his magic balsam, +Looks to see if it is ready, +If his remedy is finished; +But the balsam is unworthy. +Then he added other grasses, +Herbs of every healing virtue, +That were brought from distant nations, +Many hundred leagues from Northland, +Gathered by the wisest minstrels, +Thither brought by nine enchanters. +Three days more be steeped the balsam, +Three nights more the fire be tended, +Nine the days and nights be watched it, +Then again be tried the ointment, +Viewed it carefully and tested, +Found at last that it was ready, +Found the magic balm was finished. +Near by stood a branching birch-tree. +On the border of the meadow, +Wickedly it had been broken, +Broken down by evil Hisi; +Quick he takes his balm of healing, +And anoints the broken branches, +Rubs the balsam in the fractures, +Thus addresses then the birch-tree: +"With this balsam I anoint thee, +With this salve thy wounds I cover, +Cover well thine injured places; +Now the birch-tree shall recover, +Grow more beautiful than ever." +True, the birch-tree soon recovered, +Grew more beautiful than ever, +Grew more uniform its branches, +And its bole more strong and stately. +Thus it was be tried the balsam, +Thus the magic salve he tested, +Touched with it the splintered sandstone, +Touched the broken blocks of granite, +Touched the fissures in the mountains, +And the broken parts united, +All the fragments grew together. +Then the young boy quick returning +With the balsam he had finished, +To the gray-beard gave the ointment, +And the boy these measures uttered +"Here I bring the balm of healing, +Wonderful the salve I bring thee; +It will join the broken granite, +Make the fragments grow together, +Heat the fissures in the mountains, +And restore the injured birch-tree." +With his tongue the old man tested, +Tested thus the magic balsam, +Found the remedy effective, +Found the balm had magic virtues; +Then anointed he the minstrel, +Touched the wounds of Wainamoinen, +Touched them with his magic balsam, +With the balm of many virtues; +Speaking words of ancient wisdom, +These the words the gray-beard uttered: +"Do not walk in thine own virtue, +Do not work in thine own power, +Walk in strength of thy Creator; +Do not speak in thine own wisdom, +Speak with tongue of mighty Ukko. +In my mouth, if there be sweetness, +It has come from my Creator; +If my bands are filled with beauty, +All the beauty comes from Ukko." +When the wounds had been anointed, +When the magic salve had touched them, +Straightway ancient Wainamoinen +Suffered fearful pain and anguish, +Sank upon the floor in torment, +Turning one way, then another, +Sought for rest and found it nowhere, +Till his pain the gray-beard banished, +Banished by the aid of magic, +Drove away his killing torment +To the court of all our trouble, +To the highest hill of torture, +To the distant rocks and ledges, +To the evil-bearing mountains, +To the realm of wicked Hisi. +Then be took some silken fabric, +Quick he tore the silk asunder, +Making equal strips for wrapping, +Tied the ends with silken ribbons, +Making thus a healing bandage; +Then he wrapped with skilful fingers +Wainamoinen's knee and ankle, +Wrapped the wounds of the magician, +And this prayer the gray-beard uttered +"Ukko's fabric is the bandage, +Ukko's science is the surgeon, +These have served the wounded hero, +Wrapped the wounds of the magician. +Look upon us, God of mercy, +Come and guard us, kind Creator, +And protect us from all evil! +Guide our feet lest they may stumble, +Guard our lives from every danger, +From the wicked wilds of Hisi." +Wainamoinen, old and truthful, +Felt the mighty aid of magic, +Felt the help of gracious Ukko, +Straightway stronger grew in body, +Straightway were the wounds united, +Quick the fearful pain departed. +Strong and hardy grew the hero, +Straightway walked in perfect freedom, +Turned his knee in all directions, +Knowing neither pain nor trouble. +Then the ancient Wainamoinen +Raised his eyes to high Jumala, +Looked with gratitude to heaven, +Looked on high, in joy and gladness, +Then addressed omniscient Ukko, +This the prayer the minstrel uttered: +"O be praised, thou God of mercy, +Let me praise thee, my Creator, +Since thou gavest me assistance, +And vouchsafed me thy protection, +Healed my wounds and stilled mine anguish, +Banished all my pain and trouble, +Caused by Iron and by Hisi. +O, ye people of Wainola, +People of this generation, +And the folk of future ages, +Fashion not in emulation, +River boat, nor ocean shallop, +Boasting of its fine appearance, +God alone can work completion, +Give to cause its perfect ending, +Never hand of man can find it, +Never can the hero give it, +Ukko is the only Master." + + + + +RUNE X. + + + +ILMARINEN FORGES THE SAMPO. + + +Wainamoinen, the magician, +Takes his steed of copper color, +Hitches quick his fleet-foot courser, +Puts his racer to the snow-sledge, +Straightway springs upon the cross-seat, +Snaps his whip adorned with jewels. +Like the winds the steed flies onward, +Like a lightning flash, the racer +Makes the snow-sledge creak and rattle, +Makes the highway quickly vanish, +Dashes on through fen and forest, +Over hills and through the valleys, +Over marshes, over mountains, +Over fertile plains and meadows; +Journeys one day, then a second, +So a third from morn till evening, +Till the third day evening brings him +To the endless bridge of Osmo, +To the Osmo-fields and pastures, +To the plains of Kalevala; +When the hero spake as follows: +"May the wolves devour the dreamer, +Eat the Laplander for dinner, +May disease destroy the braggart, +Him who said that I should never +See again my much-loved home-land, +Nevermore behold my kindred, +Never during all my life-time, +Never while the sunshine brightens, +Never while the moonlight glimmers +On the meadows of Wainola, +On the plains of Kalevala." +Then began old Wainamoinen, +Ancient bard and famous singer, +To renew his incantations; +Sang aloft a wondrous pine-tree, +Till it pierced the clouds in growing +With its golden top and branches, +Till it touched the very heavens, +Spread its branches in the ether, +In the ever-shining sunlight. +Now he sings again enchanting, +Sings the Moon to shine forever +In the fir-tree's emerald branches; +In its top he sings the Great Bear. +Then be quickly journeys homeward, +Hastens to his golden portals, +Head awry and visage wrinkled, +Crooked cap upon his forehead, +Since as ransom he had promised +Ilmarinen, magic artist, +Thus to save his life from torture +On the distant fields of Northland +In the dismal Sariola. +When his stallion he had halted +On the Osmo-field and meadow, +Quickly rising in his snow-sledge, +The magician heard one knocking, +Breaking coal within the smithy, +Beating with a heavy hammer. +Wainamoinen, famous minstrel, +Entering the smithy straightway, +Found the blacksmith, Ilmarinen, +Knocking with his copper hammer. +Ilmarinen spake as follows: +"Welcome, brother Wainamoinen, +Old and worthy Wainamoinen! +Why so long hast thou been absent, +Where hast thou so long been hiding?" +Wainamoinen then made answer, +These the words of the magician: +"Long indeed have I been living, +Many dreary days have wandered, +Many cheerless nights have lingered, +Floating on the cruel ocean, +Weeping in the fens and woodlands +Of the never-pleasant Northland, +In the dismal Sariola; +With the Laplanders I've wandered, +With the people filled with witchcraft." +Promptly answers Ilmarinen, +These the words the blacksmith uses: +"O thou ancient Wainamoinen, +Famous and eternal singer, +Tell me of thy journey northward, +Of thy wanderings in Lapland, +Of thy dismal journey homeward." +Spake the minstrel, Wainamoinen: +"I have much to tell thee, brother, +Listen to my wondrous story: +In the Northland lives a virgin, +In a village there, a maiden, +That will not accept a lover, +That a hero's hand refuses, +That a wizard's heart disdaineth; +All of Northland sings her praises, +Sings her worth and magic beauty, +Fairest maiden of Pohyola, +Daughter of the earth and ocean. +From her temples beams the moonlight, +From her breast, the gleam of sunshine, +From her forehead shines the rainbow, +On her neck, the seven starlets, +And the Great Bear from her shoulder. +"Ilmarinen, worthy brother, +Thou the only skilful blacksmith, +Go and see her wondrous beauty, +See her gold and silver garments, +See her robed in finest raiment, +See her sitting on the rainbow, +Walking on the clouds of purple. +Forge for her the magic Sampo, +Forge the lid in many colors, +Thy reward shall be the virgin, +Thou shalt win this bride of beauty; +Go and bring the lovely maiden +To thy home in Kalevala." +Spake the brother, Ilmarinen: +O thou cunning Wainamoinen, +Thou hast promised me already +To the ever-darksome Northland, +Thy devoted head to ransom, +Thus to rescue thee from trouble. +I shall never visit Northland, +Shall not go to see thy maiden, +Do not love the Bride of Beauty; +Never while the moonlight glimmers, +Shall I go to dreary Pohya, +To the plains of Sariola, +Where the people eat each other, +Sink their heroes in the ocean, +Not for all the maids of Lapland." +Spake the brother, Wainamoinen: +"I can tell thee greater wonders, +Listen to my wondrous story: +I have seen the fir-tree blossom, +Seen its flowers with emerald branches, +On the Osmo-fields and woodlands; +In its top, there shines the moonlight, +And the Bear lives in its branches." +Ilmarinen thus made answer: +"I cannot believe thy story, +Cannot trust thy tale of wonder, +Till I see the blooming fir-tree, +With its many emerald branches, +With its Bear and golden moonlight." +This is Wainamoinen's answer: +"Wilt thou not believe my story? +Come with me and I will show thee +If my lips speak fact or fiction." +Quick they journey to discover, +Haste to view the wondrous fir-tree; +Wainamoinen leads the journey, +Ilmarinen closely follows. +As they near the Osmo-borders, +Ilmarinen hastens forward +That be may behold the wonder, +Spies the Bear Within the fir-top, +Sitting on its emerald branches, +Spies the gleam of golden moonlight. +Spake the ancient Wainamoinen, +These the words the singer uttered: +Climb this tree, dear Ilmarinen, +And bring down the golden moonbeams, +Bring the Moon and Bear down with thee +From the fir-tree's lofty branches." +Ilmarinen, full consenting, +Straightway climbed the golden fir-tree, +High upon the bow of heaven, +Thence to bring the golden moonbeams, +Thence to bring the Bear of heaven, +From the fir-tree's topmost branches. +Thereupon the blooming fir-tree +Spake these words to Ilmarinen: +"O thou senseless, thoughtless hero, +Thou hast neither wit nor instinct; +Thou dost climb my golden branches, +Like a thing of little judgment, +Thus to get my pictured moonbeams, +Take away my silver starlight, +Steal my Bear and blooming branches." +Quick as thought old Wainamoinen +Sang again in magic accents, +Sang a storm-wind in the heavens, +Sang the wild winds into fury, +And the singer spake as follows: +`Take, O storm-wind, take the forgeman, +Carry him within thy vessel, +Quickly hence, and land the hero +On the ever-darksome Northland, +On the dismal Sariola." +Now the storm-wind quickly darkens, +Quickly piles the air together, +Makes of air a sailing vessel, +Takes the blacksmith, Ilmarinen, +Fleetly from the fir-tree branches, +Toward the never-pleasant Northland, +Toward the dismal Sariola. +Through the air sailed Ilmarinen, +Fast and far the hero travelled, +Sweeping onward, sailing northward, +Riding in the track of storm-winds, +O'er the Moon, beneath the sunshine, +On the broad back of the Great Bear, +Till he neared Pohyola's woodlands, +Neared the homes of Sariola, +And alighted undiscovered, +Was Dot noticed by the hunters, +Was not scented by the watch-dogs. +Louhi, hostess of Pohyola, +Ancient, toothless dame of Northland, +Standing in the open court-yard, +Thus addresses Ilmarinen, +As she spies the hero-stranger: +"Who art thou of ancient heroes, +Who of all the host of heroes, +Coming here upon the storm-wind, +O'er the sledge-path of the ether, +Scented not by Pohya's watch-dogs? +This is Ilmarinen's answer: +"I have surely not come hither +To be barked at by the watch-dogs, +At these unfamiliar portals, +At the gates of Sariola." +Thereupon the Northland hostess +Asks again the hero-stranger: +"Hast thou ever been acquainted +With the blacksmith of Wainola, +With the hero, Ilmarinen, +With the skilful smith and artist? +Long I've waited for his coming, +Long this one has been expected, +On the borders of the Northland, +Here to forge for me the Sampo." +Spake the hero, Ilmarinen: +"Well indeed am I acquainted +With the blacksmith, Ilmarinen, +I myself am Ilmarinen, +I, the skilful smith and artist." +Louhi, hostess of the Northland, +Toothless dame of Sariola, +Straightway rushes to her dwelling, +These the words that Louhi utters: +"Come, thou youngest of my daughters, +Come, thou fairest of my maidens, +Dress thyself in finest raiment, +Deck thy hair with rarest jewels, +Pearls upon thy swelling bosom, +On thy neck, a golden necklace, +Bind thy head with silken ribbons, +Make thy cheeks look fresh and ruddy, +And thy visage fair and winsome, +Since the artist, Ilmarinen, +Hither comes from Kalevala, +Here to forge for us the Sampo, +Hammer us the lid in colors." +Now the daughter of the Northland, +Honored by the land and water, +Straightway takes her choicest raiment, +Takes her dresses rich in beauty, +Finest of her silken wardrobe, +Now adjusts her silken fillet, +On her brow a band of copper, +Round her waist a golden girdle, +Round her neck a pearly necklace, +Shining gold upon her bosom, +In her hair the threads of silver. +From her dressing-room she hastens, +To the hall she bastes and listens, +Full of beauty, full of joyance, +Ears erect and eyes bright-beaming, +Ruddy cheeks and charming visage, +Waiting for the hero-stranger. +Louhi, hostess of Pohyola, +Leads the hero, Ilmarinen, +To her dwelling-rooms in Northland, +To her home in Sariola, +Seats him at her well-filled table, +Gives to him the finest viands, +Gives him every needed comfort, +Then addresses him as follows: +"O thou blacksmith, Ilmarinen, +Master of the forge and smithy, +Canst thou forge for me the Sampo, +Hammer me the lid in colors, +From the tips of white-swan feathers, +From the milk of greatest virtue, +From a single grain of barley, +From the finest wool of lambkins? +Thou shalt have my fairest daughter, +Recompense for this thy service." +These the words of Ilmarinen: +"I will forge for thee the Sampo, +Hammer thee the lid in colors, +From the tips of white-swan feathers, +From the milk of greatest virtue, +From a single grain of barley, +From the finest wool of lambkins? +Since I forged the arch of heaven, +Forged the air a concave cover, +Ere the earth had a beginning." +Thereupon the magic blacksmith +Went to forge the wondrous Sampo, +Went to find a blacksmith's workshop, +Went to find the tools to work with; +But he found no place for forging, +Found no smithy, found no bellows, +Found no chimney, found no anvil, +Found no tongs, and found no hammer. +Then the-artist, Ilmarinen. +Spake these words, soliloquizing: +"Only women grow discouraged, +Only knaves leave work unfinished, +Not the devils, nor the heroes, +Nor the Gods of greater knowledge." +Then the blacksmith, Ilmarinen, +Sought a place to build a smithy, +Sought a place to plant a bellows, +On the borders of the Northland, +On the Pohya-hills and meadows; +Searched one day, and then a second; +Ere the evening of the third day, +Came a rock within his vision, +Came a stone with rainbow-colors. +There the blacksmith, Ilmarinen, +Set at work to build his smithy, +Built a fire and raised a chimney; +On the next day laid his bellows, +On the third day built his furnace, +And began to forge the Sampo. +The eternal magic artist, +Ancient blacksmith, Ilmarinen, +First of all the iron-workers, +Mixed together certain metals, +Put the mixture in the caldron, +Laid it deep within the furnace, +Called the hirelings to the forging. +Skilfully they work the bellows, +Tend the fire and add the fuel, +Three most lovely days of summer, +Three short nights of bright midsummer, +Till the rocks begin to blossom, +In the foot-prints of the workmen, +From the magic heat and furnace. +On the first day, Ilmarinen +Downward bent and well examined, +On the bottom of his furnace, +Thus to see what might be forming +From the magic fire and metals. +From the fire arose a cross-bow, +"With the brightness of the moonbeams, +Golden bow with tips of silver; +On the shaft was shining copper, +And the bow was strong and wondrous, +But alas! it was ill-natured, +Asking for a hero daily, +Two the heads it asked on feast-days. +Ilmarinen, skilful artist, +Was not pleased with this creation, +Broke the bow in many pieces, +Threw them back within the furnace, +Kept the workmen at the bellows, +Tried to forge the magic Sampo. +On the second day, the blacksmith +Downward bent and well examined, +On the bottom of the furnace; +From the fire, a skiff of metals, +Came a boat of purple color, +All the ribs were colored golden, +And the oars were forged from copper; +Thus the skiff was full of beauty, +But alas! a thing of evil; +Forth it rushes into trouble, +Hastens into every quarrel, +Hastes without a provocation +Into every evil combat. +Ilmarinen, metal artist, +Is not pleased with this creation, +Breaks the skiff in many fragments, +Throws them back within the furnace, +Keeps the workmen at the bellows, +Thus to forge the magic Sampo. +On the third day, Ilmarinen, +First of all the metal-workers, +Downward bent and well examined, +On the bottom of the furnace; +There be saw a heifer rising, +Golden were the horns of Kimmo, +On her head the Bear of heaven, +On her brow a disc of sunshine, +Beautiful the cow of magic; +But alas! she is ill-tempered, +Rushes headlong through the forest, +Rushes through the swamps and meadows, +Wasting all her milk in running. +Ilmarinen, the magician. +Is not pleased with this creation, +Cuts the magic cow in pieces, +Throws them in the fiery furnace, +Sets the workmen at the bellows, +Thus to forge the magic Sampo. +On the fourth day, Ilmarinen +Downward bent and well examined, +To the bottom of the furnace; +There beheld a plow in beauty +Rising from the fire of metals, +Golden was the point and plowshare, +And the beam was forged from copper, +And the handles, molten silver, +Beautiful the plow and wondrous; +But alas! it is ill-mannered, +Plows up fields of corn and barley, +Furrows through the richest meadows. +Ilmarinen, metal artist, +Is not pleased with this creation, +Quickly breaks the plow in pieces, +Throws them back within the furnace, +Lets the winds attend the bellows, +Lets the storm-winds fire the metals. +Fiercely vie the winds of heaven, +East-wind rushing, West-wind roaring, +South-wind crying, North-wind howling, +Blow one day and then a second, +Blow the third from morn till even, +When the fire leaps through the windows, +Through the door the sparks fly upward, +Clouds of smoke arise to heaven; +With the clouds the black smoke mingles, +As the storm-winds ply the bellows. +On the third night Ilmarinen, +Bending low to view his metals, +On the bottom of the furnace, +Sees the magic Sampo rising, +Sees the lid in many colors. +Quick the artist of Wainola +Forges with the tongs and anvil, +Knocking with a heavy hammer, +Forges skilfully the Sampo; +On one side the flour is grinding, +On another salt is making, +On a third is money forging, +And the lid is many-colored. +Well the Sampo grinds when finished, +To and fro the lid in rocking, +Grinds one measure at the day-break, +Grinds a measure fit for eating, +Grinds a second for the market, +Grinds a third one for the store-house. +Joyfully the dame of Northland, +Louhi, hostess of Pohyola, +Takes away the magic Sampo, +To the hills of Sariola, +To the copper-bearing mountains, +Puts nine locks upon the wonder, +Makes three strong roots creep around it; +In the earth they grow nine fathoms, +One large root beneath the mountain, +One beneath the sandy sea-bed, +One beneath the mountain-dwelling. +Modestly pleads Ilmarinen +For the maiden's willing answer, +These the words of the magician: +"Wilt thou come with me, fair maiden, +Be my wife and queen forever? +I have forged for thee the Sampo, +Forged the lid in many colors." +Northland's fair and lovely daughter +Answers thus the metal-worker: +"Who will in the coming spring-time, +Who will in the second summer, +Guide the cuckoo's song and echo? +Who will listen to his calling, +Who will sing with him in autumn, +Should I go to distant regions, +Should this cheery maiden vanish +From the fields of Sariola, +From Pohyola's fens and forests, +Where the cuckoo sings and echoes? +Should I leave my father's dwelling, +Should my mother's berry vanish, +Should these mountains lose their cherry, +Then the cuckoo too would vanish, +All the birds would leave the forest, +Leave the summit of the mountain, +Leave my native fields and woodlands, +Never shall I, in my life-time, +Say farewell to maiden freedom, +Nor to summer cares and labors, +Lest the harvest be ungarnered, +Lest the berries be ungathered, +Lest the song-birds leave the forest, +Lest the mermaids leave the waters, +Lest I sing with them no longer." +Ilmarinen, the magician, +The eternal metal-forger, +Cap awry and head dejected, +Disappointed, heavy-hearted, +Empty-handed, well considers, +How to reach his distant country, +Reach his much-loved home and kinded, +Gain the meadows of Wainola, +From the never-pleasant Northland, +From the darksome Sariola. +Louhi thus addressed the suitor: +"O thou blacksmith, Ilmarinen, +Why art thou so heavy-hearted, +Why thy visage so dejected? +Hast thou in thy mind to journey +From the vales and hills of Pohya, +To the meadows of Wainola, +To thy home in Kalevala? +This is Ilmarinen's answer: +"Thitherward my mind is tending, +To my home-land let me journey, +With my kindred let me linger, +Be at rest in mine own country." +Straightway Louhi, dame of Northland, +Gave the hero every comfort, +Gave him food and rarest viands, +Placed him in a boat of copper, +In a copper-banded vessel, +Called the winds to his assistance, +Made the North-wind guide him homeward. +Thus the skilful Ilmarinen +Travels toward his native country, +On the blue back of the waters, +Travels one day, then a second, +Till the third day evening brings him +To Wainola's peaceful meadows, +To his home in Kalevala. +Straightway ancient Wainamoinen +Thus addresses Ilmarinen: +"O my brother, metal-artist, +Thou eternal wonder-worker, +Didst thou forge the magic Sampo, +Forge the lid in many colors?" +Spake the brother, Ilmarinen, +These the words the master uttered: +"Yea, I forged the magic Sampo, +Forged the lid in many colors; +To and fro the lid in rocking +Grinds one measure at the day-dawn, +Grinds a measure fit for eating, +Grinds a second for the market, +Grinds a third one for the store-house. +Louhi has the wondrous Sampo, +I have not the Bride of Beauty." + + + + +RUNE XI. + + + +LEMMINKAINEN'S LAMENT. + + +This the time to sing of Ahti, +Son of Lempo, Kaukomieli, +Also known as Lemminkainen. +Ahti was the king of islands, +Grew amid the island-dwellings, +At the site of his dear mother, +On the borders of the ocean, +On the points of promontories. +Ahti fed upon the salmon, +Fed upon the ocean whiting, +Thus became a mighty hero, +In his veins the blood of ages, +Read erect and form commanding, +Growth of mind and body perfect +But alas! he had his failings, +Bad indeed his heart and morals, +Roaming in unworthy places, +Staying days and nights in sequences +At the homes of merry maidens, +At the dances of the virgins, +With the maids of braided tresses. +Up in Sahri lived a maiden, +Lived the fair and winsome Kulli, +Lovely as a summer-flower, +From a kingly house descended, +Grew to perfect form and beauty, +Living in her father's cottage, +Home of many ancient heroes, +Beautiful was she and queenly, +Praised throughout the whole of Ehstland; +From afar men came to woo her, +To the birthplace of the virgin, +To the household of her mother. +For his son the Day-star wooes her, +But she will not go to Sun-land, +Will not shine beside the Day-star, +In his haste to bring the summer. +For her son, the bright Moon wooes her, +But she will not go to Moon-land, +By the bright Moon will not glimmer, +Will not run through boundless ether. +For his son the Night-star wooes her, +But she will not go to Star-land, +Will not twinkle in the starlight, +Through the dreary nights in winter. +Lovers come from distant Ehstlaud, +Others come from far-off Ingern, +But they cannot win the maiden, +This the answer that she gives them +"Vainly are your praises lavished +Vainly is your silver offered, +Wealth and praise are no temptation; +Never shall I go to Ehstland, +Never shall I go a-rowing +On the waters of the Ingern, +Shall not cross the Sahri-waters, +Never eat the fish of Ehstland, +Never taste the Ehstland viands. +Ingerland shall never see me, +Will not row upon her rivers, +Will not step within her borders; +Hunger there, and fell starvation, +Wood is absent, fuel wanting, +Neither water, wheat, nor barley, +Even rye is not abundant." +Lemminkainen of the islands, +Warlike hero, Kaukomieli, +Undertakes to win the maiden, +Woo and win the Sahri-flower, +Win a bride so highly honored, +Win the maid with golden tresses, +Win the Sahri maid of beauty; +But his mother gives him warning: +"Nay," replies his gray-haired mother, +"Do not woo, my son beloved, +Maiden of a higher station; +She will never make thee happy +With her lineage of Sahri." +Spake the hero, Lemminkainen, +These the words of Kaukomieli: +"Should I come from lowly station, +Though my tribe is not the highest, +I shall woo to please my fancy, +Woo the maiden fair and lovely, +Choose a wife for worth and beauty." +This the anxious mother's answer: +"Lemminkainen, son beloved, +Listen to advice maternal: +Do not go to distant Sahri, +To her tribe of many branches; +All the maidens there will taunt thee, +All the women will deride thee." +Lemminkainen, little hearing, +Answers thus his mother's pleading: +"I will still the sneers of women, +Silence all the taunts of maidens, +I will crush their haughty bosoms, +Smite the hands and cheeks of infants; +Surely this will check their insults, +Fitting ending to derision!" +This the answer of' the mother: +"Woe is me, my son beloved! +Woe is me, my life hard-fated! +Shouldst thou taunt the Sahri daughters. +Or insult the maids of virtue, +Shouldst thou laugh them to derision, +There will rise a great contention, +Fierce the battle that will follow. +All the hosts of Sahri-suitors, +Armed in thousands will attack thee, +And will slay thee for thy folly." +Nothing listing, Lemminkainen, +Heeding not his mother's warning, +Led his war-horse from the stables, +Quickly hitched the fiery charger, +Fleetly drove upon his journey, +To the distant Sahri-village, +There to woo the Sahri-flower, +There to win the Bride of Beauty. +All the aged Sahri-women, +All the young and lovely maidens +Laughed to scorn the coming stranger +Driving careless through the alleys, +Wildly driving through the court-yard, +Now upsetting in the gate-way, +Breaking shaft, and hame, and runner. +Then the fearless Lemminkainen, +Mouth awry and visage wrinkled, +Shook his sable locks and answered: +"Never in my recollection +Have I heard or seen such treatment, +Never have I been derided, +Never suffered sneers of women, +Never suffered scorn of virgins, +Not in my immortal life-time. +Is there any place befitting +On the Sahri-plains and pastures, +Where to join in songs and dances? +Is there here a hall for pleasure, +Where the Sahri-maidens linger, +Merry maids with braided tresses?" +Thereupon the Sahri-maidens +Answered from their promontory., +"Room enough is there in Sahri, +Room upon the Sahri-pastures, +Room for pleasure-halls and dances; +Sing and dance upon our meadows, +Be a shepherd on the mountains, +Shepherd-boys have room for dancing; +Indolent the Sahri-children, +But the colts are fat and frisky." +Little caring, Lemminkainen +Entered service there as shepherd, +In the daytime on the pastures, +In the evening, making merry +At the games of lively maidens, +At the dances with the virgins, +With the maids with braided tresses. +Thus it was that Lemminkainen, +Thus the shepherd, Kaukomieli, +Quickly hushed the women's laughter, +Quickly quenched the taunts of maidens, +Quickly silenced their derision. +All the dames and Sahri-daughters +Soon were feasting Lemminkainen, +At his side they danced and lingered. +Only was there one among them, +One among the Sahri-virgins, +Harbored neither love nor wooers, +Favored neither gods nor heroes, +This the lovely maid Kyllikki, +This the Sahri's fairest flower. +Lemminkainen, full of pleasure, +Handsome hero, Kaukomieli, +Rowed a hundred boats in pieces, +Pulled a thousand oars to fragments, +While he wooed the Maid of Beauty, +Tried to win the fair Kyllikki. +Finally the lovely maiden, +Fairest daughter of the Northland, +Thus addresses Lemminkainen: +"Why dost linger here, thou weak one, +Why dost murmur on these borders, +Why come wooing at my fireside, +Wooing me in belt of copper? +Have no time to waste upon thee, +Rather give this stone its polish, +Rather would I turn the pestle +In the heavy sandstone mortar; +Rather sit beside my mother +In the dwellings of my father. +Never shall I heed thy wooing, +Neither wights nor whisks I care for, +Sooner have a slender husband +Since I have a slender body; +Wish to have him fine of figure, +Since perchance I am well-shapen; +Wish to have him tall and stately, +Since my form perchance is queenly; +Never waste thy time in wooing +Saliri's maid and favored flower." +Time had gone but little distance, +Scarcely had a month passed over, +When upon a merry evening, +Where the maidens meet for dancing, +In the glen beyond the meadow, +On a level patch of verdure, +Came too soon the maid Kyllikki, +Sahri's pride, the Maid of Beauty; +Quickly followed Lemminkainen, +With his stallion proudly prancing, +Fleetest racer of the Northland, +Fleetly drives beyond the meadow, +Where the maidens meet for dancing, +Snatches quick the maid Kyllikki, +On the settle seats the maiden, +Quickly draws the leathern cover, +And adjusts the brichen cross-bar, +Whips his courser to a gallop. +With a rush, and roar, and rattle, +Speeds he homeward like the storm-wind, +Speaks these words to those that listen: +"Never, never, anxious maidens, +Must ye give the information, +That I carried off Kyllikki +To my distant home and kindred. +If ye do not heed this order, +Ye shall badly fare as maidens; +I shall sing to war your suitors, +Sing them under spear and broadsword, +That for months, and years, and ages, +Never ye will see their faces, +Never hear their merry voices, +Never will they tread these uplands, +Never will they join these dances, +Never will they drive these highways." +Sad the wailing of Kyllikki, +Sad the weeping flower of Sahri! +Listen to her tearful pleading: +"Give, O give me back my freedom, +Free me from the throes of thralldom, +Let this maiden wander homeward, +By some foot-path let me wander +To my father who is grieving, +To my mother who is weeping; +Let me go or I will curse thee! +If thou wilt not give me freedom, +Wilt not let me wander homeward, +Where my loved ones wait my coming, +I have seven stalwart brothers, +Seven sons of father's brother, +Seven sons of mother's sister, +Who pursue the tracks of red-deer, +Hunt the hare upon the heather; +They will follow thee and slay thee, +Thus I'll gain my wished-for freedom." +Lemminkainen, little heeding, +Would not grant the maiden's wishes, +Would not heed her plea for mercy. +Spake again the waiting virgin, +Pride and beauty of the Northland: +"Joyful was I with my kindred, +Joyful born and softly nurtured +Merrily I spent my childhood, +Happy I, in virgin-freedom, +In the dwelling of my father, +By the bedside of my mother, +With my lineage in Sahri; +But alas! all joy has vanished, +All my happiness departed, +All my maiden beauty waneth +Since I met thine evil spirit, +Shameless hero of dishonor, +Cruel fighter of the islands, +Merciless in civil combat." +Spake the hero, Lemminkainen, +These the words of Kaukomieli: +"Dearest maiden, fair Kyllikki, +My sweet strawberry of Pohya, +Still thine anguish, cease thy weeping, +Be thou free from care and sorrow, +Never shall I do thee evil, +Never will my hands maltreat thee, +Never will mine arms abuse thee, +Never will my tongue revile thee, +Never will my heart deceive thee. +"Tell me why thou hast this anguish, +Why thou hast this bitter sorrow, +Why this sighing and lamenting, +Tell me why this wail of sadness? +Banish all thy cares and sorrows, +Dry thy tears and still thine anguish, +I have cattle, food, and shelter, +I have home, and friends, and kindred, +Kine upon the plains and uplands, +In the marshes berries plenty, +Strawberries upon the mountains +I have kine that need no milking, +Handsome kine that need no feeding, +Beautiful if not well-tended; +Need not tie them up at evening, +Need not free them in the morning, +Need not hunt them, need not feed them, +Need not give them salt nor water. +"Thinkest thou my race is lowly, +Dost thou think me born ignoble, +Does my lineage agrieve thee? +Was not born in lofty station, +From a tribe of noble heroes, +From a worthy race descended; +But I have a sword of fervor, +And a spear yet filled with courage, +Surely these are well descended, +These were born from hero-races, +Sharpened by the mighty Hisi, +By the gods were forged and burnished; +Therefore will I give thee greatness, +Greatness of my race and nation, +With my broadsword filled with fervor, +With my spear still filled with courage." +Anxiously the sighing maiden +Thus addresses Lemminkainen: +"O thou Ahti, son of Lempo, +Wilt thou take this trusting virgin, +As thy faithful life-companion, +Take me under thy protection, +Be to me a faithful husband, +Swear to me an oath of honor, +That thou wilt not go to battle, +When for gold thou hast a longing, +When thou wishest gold and silver?" +This is Lemminkainen's answer: +I will swear an oath of honor, +That I'll never go to battle, +When for gold I feel a longing, +When I wish for gold and silver. +Swear thou also on thine honor, +Thou wilt go not to the village, +When desire for dance impels thee, +Wilt not visit village-dances." +Thus the two made oath together, +Registered their vows in heaven, +Vowed before omniscient Ukko, +Ne'er to go to war vowed Ahti, +Never to the dance, Kyllikki. +Lemminkainen, full of joyance, +Snapped his whip above his courser, +Whipped his racer to a gallop, +And these words the hero uttered: +"Fare ye well, ye Sahri-meadows, +Roots of firs, and stumps of birch-trees. +That I wandered through in summer, +That I travelled o'er in winter, +Where ofttimes in rainy seasons, +At the evening hour I lingered, +When I sought to win the virgin, +Sought to win the Maid of Beauty, +Fairest of the Sahri-flowers. +Fare ye well, ye Sahri-woodlands, +Seas and oceans, lakes and rivers, +Vales and mountains, isles and inlets, +Once the home of fair Kyllikki!" +Quick the racer galloped homeward, +Galloped on along the highway, +Toward the meadows of Wainola, +To the plains of Kalevala. +As they neared the Ahti-dwellings, +Thus Kyllikki spake in sorrow: +"Cold and drear is thy cottage, +Seeming like a place deserted; +Who may own this dismal cabin, +Who the one so little honored?" +Spake the hero, Lemminkainen, +These the words that Ahti uttered: +"Do not grieve about my cottage, +Have no care about my chambers; +I shall build thee other dwellings, +I shall fashion them much better, +Beams, and posts, and sills, and rafters, +Fashioned from the sacred birch-wood." +Now they reach the home of Ahti, +Lemminkainen's home and birthplace, +Enter they his mother's cottage; +There they meet his aged mother, +These the words the mother uses: +"Long indeed hast thou been absent, +Long in foreign lands hast wandered, +Long in Sahri thou hast lingered!" +This is Lemminkainen's answer: +"All the host of Sahri-women, +All the chaste and lovely maidens, +All the maids with braided tresses, +Well have paid for their derision, +For their scorn and for their laughter, +That they basely heaped upon me. +I have brought the best among them +In my sledge to this thy cottage; +Well I wrapped her in my fur-robes, +Kept her warm enwrapped in bear-skin, +Brought her to my mother's dwelling, +As my faithful life-companion; +Thus I paid the scornful maidens, +Paid them well for their derision. +"Cherished mother of my being, +I have found the long-sought jewel, +I have won the Maid of Beauty. +Spread our couch with finest linen, +For our heads the softest pillows, +On our table rarest viands, +So that I may dwell in pleasure +With my spouse, the bride of honor, +With the pride of distant Sahri." +This the answer of the mother: +"Be thou praised, O gracious Ukko, +Loudly praised, O thou Creator, +Since thou givest me a daughter, +Ahti's bride, my second daughter, +Who can stir the fire at evening, +Who can weave me finest fabrics, +Who can twirl the useful spindle, +Who can rinse my silken ribbons, +Who can full the richest garments. +"Son beloved, praise thy Maker, +For the winning of this virgin, +Pride and joy of distant Sahri +Kind indeed is thy Creator, +Wise the ever-knowing Ukko! +Pure the snow upon the mountains, +Purer still thy Bride of Beauty; +White the foam upon the ocean, +Whiter still her virgin-spirit; +Graceful on the lakes, the white-swan, +Still more graceful, thy companion: +Beautiful the stars in heaven, +Still more beautiful, Kyllikki. +Larger make our humble cottage, +Wider build the doors and windows, +Fashion thou the ceilings higher, +Decorate the walls in beauty, +Now that thou a bride hast taken +From a tribe of higher station, +Purest maiden of creation, +From the meadow-lands of Sahri, +From the upper shores of Northland." + + + + +RUNE XII. + + + +KYLLIKKI'S BROKEN VOW. + + +Lemminkainen, artful husband, +Reckless hero, Kaukomieli, +Constantly beside his young wife., +Passed his life in sweet contentment, +And the years rolled swiftly onward; +Ahti thought not of the battles, +Nor Kyllikki of the dances. +Once upon a time it happened +That the hero, Lemminkainen, +Went upon the lake a-fishing, +Was not home at early evening, +As the cruel night descended; +To the village went Kyllikki, +To the dance of merry maidens. +Who will tell the evil story, +Who will bear the information +To the husband, Lemminkainen? +Ahti's sister tells the story, +And the sister's name, Ainikki. +Soon she spreads the cruel tidings, +Straightway gives the information, +Of Kyllikki's perjured honor, +These the words Ainikki utters: +"Ahti, my beloved brother, +To the village went Kyllikki, +To the hall of many strangers, +To the plays and village dances, +With the young men and the maidens, +With the maids of braided tresses, +To the halls of joy and pleasure." +Lemminkainen, much dejected, +Broken-hearted, flushed with anger, +Spake these words in measured accents: +"Mother dear, my gray-haired mother, +Wilt thou straightway wash my linen +In the blood of poison-serpents, +In the black blood of the adder? +I must hasten to the combat, +To the camp-fires of the Northland, +To the battle-fields of Lapland; +To the village went Kyllikki, +To the play of merry maidens, +To the games and village dances, +With the maids of braided tresses." +Straightway speaks the wife, Kyllikki: +"My beloved husband, Ahti, +Do not go to war, I pray thee. +In the evening I lay sleeping, +Slumbering I saw in dream-land +Fire upshooting from the chimney, +Flames arising, mounting skyward, +From the windows of this dwelling, +From the summits of these rafters, +Piercing through our upper chambers, +Roaring like the fall of waters, +Leaping from the floor and ceiling, +Darting from the halls and doorways." +But the doubting Lemminkainen +Makes this answer to Kyllikki: +"I discredit dreams or women, +Have no faith in vows of maidens! +Faithful mother of my being, +Hither bring my mail of copper; +Strong desire is stirring in me +For the cup of deadly combat, +For the mead of martial conquest." +This the pleading mother's answer: +"Lemminkainen, son beloved, +Do not go to war I pray thee; +We have foaming beer abundant, +In our vessels beer of barley, +Held in casks by oaken spigots; +Drink this beer of peace and pleasure, +Let us drink of it together." +Spake the hero, Lemminkainen: +"I shall taste no more the viands, +In the home of false Kyllikki; +Rather would I drink the water +From the painted tips of birch-oars; +Sweeter far to me the water, +Than the beverage of dishonor, +At my mother's home and fireside! +"Hither bring my martial doublet, +Bring me now the sword of battle, +Bring my father's sword of honor; +I must go to upper Northland, +To the battle-fields of Lapland, +There to win me gold and silver." +This the anxious mother's answer: +"My beloved Kaukomieli, +We have gold in great abundance, +Gold and silver in the store-room; +Recently upon the uplands, +In the early hours of morning, +Toiled the workmen in the corn-fields, +Plowed the meadows filled with serpents, +When the plowshare raised the cover +From a chest of gold and silver, +Countless was the gold uncovered, +Hid beneath the grassy meadow; +This the treasure I have brought thee, +Take the countless gold in welcome." +Spake the hero, Lemminkainen: +"Do not wish thy household silver, +From the wars I'll earn my silver; +Gold and silver from the combat +Are to me of greater value +Than the wealth thou hast discovered. +Bring me now my heavy armor, +Bring me too my spear and broadsword; +To the Northland I must hasten, +To the bloody wars of Lapland, +Thither does my pride impel me, +Thitherward my heart is turning. +"I have heard a tale of Lapland, +Some believe the wondrous story, +That a maid in Pimentola +Lives that does not care for suitors, +Does not care for bearded heroes." +This the aged mother's answer: +"Warlike Athi, son beloved, +In thy home thou hast Kyllikki, +Fairest wife of all the islands; +Strange to see two wives abiding +In the home of but one husband." +Spake the hero, Lemminkainen: +"To the village runs Kyllikki; +Let her run to village dances, +Let her sleep in other dwellings, +With the village youth find pleasure, +With the maids of braided tresses." +Seeks the mother to detain him, +Thus the anxious mother answers: +"Do not go, my son beloved, +Ignorant of Pohya-witchcraft, +To the distant homes of Northland +Till thou hast the art of magic, +Till thou hast some little wisdom +Do not go to fields of battle, +To the fires of Northland's children, +To the slaughter-fields of Lapland, +Till of magic thou art master. +There the Lapland maids will charm thee, +Turyalanders will bewitch thee, +Sing thy visage into charcoal, +Head and shoulders to the furnace, +Into ashes sing thy fore-arm, +Into fire direct thy footsteps." +Spake the warlike Lemminkainen: +Wizards often have bewitched me, +And the fascinating serpents; +Lapland wizards, three in number, +On an eve in time of summer, +Sitting on a rock at twilight, +Not a garment to protect them, +Once bewitched me with their magic; +This much they have taken from me, +This the sum of all my losses: +What the hatchet gains from flint-stone, +What the auger bores from granite, +What the heel chips from the iceberg, +And what death purloins from tomb-stones. +"Horribly the wizards threatened, +Tried to sink me with their magic, +In the water of the marshes, +In the mud and treacherous quicksand, +To my chin in mire and water; +But I too was born a hero, +Born a hero and magician, +Was not troubled by their magic. +"Straightway I began my singing, +Sang the archers with their arrows, +Sang the spearmen with their weapons, +Sang the swordsmen with their poniards, +Sang the singers with their singing, +The enchanters with their magic, +To the rapids of the rivers, +To the highest fall of waters, +To the all-devouring whirlpool, +To the deepest depths of ocean, +Where the wizards still are sleeping, +Sleeping till the grass shoots upward +Through the beards and wrinkled faces, +Through the locks of the enchanters, +As they sleep beneath the billows." +Still entreats the anxious mother, +Still beseeches Lemminkainen, +Trying to restrain the hero, +While Kyllikki begs forgiveness; +This the language of the mother: +"Do not go, my son beloved, +To the villages of Northland, +Nor to Lapland's frigid borders; +Dire misfortune will befall thee, +Star of evil settle o'er thee, +Lemminkainen's end, destruction. +"Couldst thou speak in tongues a hundred, +I could not believe thee able, +Through the magic of thy singing, +To enchant the sons of Lapland +To the bottom of the ocean, +Dost not know the Tury-language, +Canst but speak the tongue of Suomi, +Canst not win by witless magic." +Lemminkainen, reckless hero, +Also known as Kaukomieli, +Stood beside his mother, combing +Out his sable locks and musing, +Brushing down his beard, debating, +Steadfast still in his decision, +Quickly hurls his brush in anger, +Hurls it to the wall opposing, +Gives his mother final answer, +These the words that Ahti uses: +"Dire misfortune will befall me, +Some sad fate will overtake me, +Evil come to Lemminkainen, +When the blood flows from that hair-brush, +When blood oozes from those bristles." +Thus the warlike Lemminkainen +Goes to never-pleasant Lapland, +Heeding not his mother's warning, +Heeding not her prohibition. +Thus the hero, Kaukomieli, +Quick equips himself for warfare, +On his head a copper helmet, +On his shoulders caps of copper, +On his body iron armor, +Steel, the belt around his body; +As he girds himself for battle, +Ahti thus soliloquizing: +"Strong the hero in his armor, +Strong indeed in copper helmet, +Powerful in mail of iron, +Stronger far than any hero +On the dismal shores of Lapland, +Need not fear their wise enchanters, +Need not fear their strongest foemen, +Need not fear a war with wizards." +Grasped he then the sword of battle, +Firmly grasped the heavy broadsword +That Tuoni had been grinding, +That the gods had brightly burnished, +Thrust it in the leathern scabbard, +Tied the scabbard to his armor. +How do heroes guard from danger, +Where protect themselves from evil? +Heroes guard their homes and firesides, +Guard their doors, and roofs, and windows, +Guard the posts that bold the torch-lights, +Guard the highways to the court-yard, +Guard the ends of all the gate-ways. +Heroes guard themselves from women, +Carefully from merry maidens; +If in this their strength be wanting, +Easy fall the heroes, victims +To the snares of the enchanters. +Furthermore are heroes watchful +Of the tribes of warlike giants, +Where the highway doubly branches, +On the borders of the blue-rock, +On the marshes filled with evil, +Near the mighty fall of waters, +Near the circling of the whirlpool, +Near the fiery springs and rapids. +Spake the stout-heart, Lemminkainen: +"Rise ye heroes of the broadsword, +Ye, the earth's eternal heroes, +From the deeps, ye sickle-bearers, +From the brooks, ye crossbow-shooters, +Come, thou forest, with thine archers, +Come, ye thickets, with your armies, +Mountain spirits, with your powers, +Come, fell Hisi, with thy horrors, +Water-mother, with thy dangers, +Come, Wellamo, with thy mermaids, +Come, ye maidens from the valleys, +Come, ye nymphs from winding rivers, +Be protection to this hero, +Be his day-and-night companions, +Body-guard to Lemminkainen, +Thus to blunt the spears of wizards, +Thus to dull their pointed arrows, +That the spears of the enchanters, +That the arrows of the archers, +That the weapons of the foemen, +May not harm this bearded hero. +"Should this force be insufficient, +I can call on other powers, +I can call the gods above me, +Call the great god of the heavens, +Him who gives the clouds their courses, +Him who rules through boundless ether, +Who directs the march of storm-winds. +"Ukko, thou O God above me, +Thou the father of creation, +Thou that speakest through the thunder, +Thou whose weapon is the lightning, +Thou whose voice is borne by ether, +Grant me now thy mighty fire-sword, +Give me here thy burning arrows, +Lightning arrows for my quiver, +Thus protect me from all danger, +Guard me from the wiles of witches, +Guide my feet from every evil, +Help me conquer the enchanters, +Help me drive them from the Northland; +Those that stand in front of battle, +Those that fill the ranks behind me, +Those around me, those above me, +Those beneath me, help me banish,. +With their knives, and swords, and cross-bows, +With their spears of keenest temper, +With their tongues of evil magic; +Help me drive these Lapland wizards +To the deepest depths of ocean, +There to wrestle with Wellamo." +Then the reckless Lemminkainen +Whistled loudly for his stallion, +Called the racer from the hurdles, +Called his brown steed from the pasture, +Threw the harness on the courser, +Hitched the fleet-foot to the snow-sledge, +Leaped upon the highest cross-bench, +Cracked his whip above the racer, +And the steed flies onward swiftly, +Bounds the sleigh upon its journey, +And the golden plain re-echoes; +Travels one day, then a second, +Travels all the next day northward, +Till the third day evening brings him +To a sorry Northland village, +On the dismal shores of Lapland. +Here the hero, Lemminkainen, +Drove along the lowest highway, +Through the streets along the border, +To a court-yard in the hamlet, +Asked one standing in the doorway: +"Is there one within this dwelling, +That can loose my stallion's breastplate, +That can lift his heavy collar, +That these shafts can rightly lower?" +On the floor a babe was playing, +And the young child gave this answer: +"There is no one in this dwelling +That can loose thy stallion's breastplate, +That can lift his heavy collar, +That the shafts can rightly lower." +Lemminkainen, not discouraged, +Whips his racer to a gallop, +Rushes forward through the village, +On the middle of the highways, +To the court-yard in the centre, +Asks one standing in the threshold, +Leaning on the penthouse door-posts: +"Is there any one here dwelling +That can slip my stallion's bridle, +That can loose his leathern breast-straps, +That can tend my royal racer?" +From the fire-place spake a wizard, +From her bench the witch made answer: +"Thou canst find one in this dwelling, +That can slip thy courser's bridle, +That can loose his heavy breastplate, +That can tend thy royal racer. +There are here a thousand heroes +That can make thee hasten homeward, +That can give thee fleet-foot stallions, +That can chase thee to thy country, +Reckless rascal and magician, +To thy home and fellow minstrels, +To the uplands of thy father, +To the cabins of thy mother, +To the work-bench of thy brother, +To the dairy or thy sister, +Ere the evening star has risen, +Ere the sun retires to slumber." +Lemminkainen, little fearing, +Gives this answer to the wizard: +"I should slay thee for thy pertness, +That thy clatter might be silenced." +Then he whipped his fiery charger, +And the steed flew onward swiftly, +On the upper of the highways, +To the court-yard on the summit. +When the reckless Lemminkainen +Had approached the upper court-yard, +Uttered he the words that follow: +"O thou Hisi, stuff this watch-dog, +Lempo, stuff his throat and nostrils, +Close the mouth of this wild barker, +Bridle well the vicious canine, +That the watcher may be silent +While the hero passes by him." +Then he stepped within the court-room, +With his whip he struck the flooring, +From the floor arose a vapor, +In the fog appeared a pigmy, +Who unhitched the royal racer, +From his back removed the harness, +Gave the weary steed attention. +Then the hero, Lemminkainen, +Carefully advanced and listened. +No one saw the strange magician, +No one heard his cautious footsteps; +Heard he songs within the dwelling, +Through the moss-stuffed chinks heard voices. +Through the walls he beard them singing, +Through the doors the peals of laughter. +Then he spied within the court-rooms, +Lurking slyly in the hall-ways, +Found the court-rooms filled with singers, +By the walls were players seated, +Near the doors the wise men hovered, +Skilful ones upon the benches, +Near the fires the wicked wizards; +All were singing songs of Lapland, +Singing songs of evil Hisi. +Now the minstrel, Lemminkainen, +Changes both his form and stature, +Passes through the inner door-ways, +Enters he the spacious court-hall, +And these words the hero utters: +"Fine the singing quickly ending, +Good the song that quickly ceases; +Better far to keep thy wisdom +Than to sing it on the house-tops." +Comes the hostess of Pohyola, +Fleetly rushing through the door-way, +To the centre of the court-room, +And addresses thus the stranger: +Formerly a dog lay watching, +Was a cur of iron-color, +Fond of flesh, a bone-devourer, +Loved to lick the blood of strangers. +Who then art thou of the heroes, +Who of all the host of heroes, +That thou art within my court-rooms, +That thou comest to my dwelling, +Was not seen without my portals, +Was not scented by my watch-dogs? +Spake the reckless Lemminkainen: +"Do not think that I come hither +Having neither wit nor wisdom, +Having neither art nor power, +Wanting in ancestral knowledge, +Lacking prudence of the fathers, +That thy watch-dogs may devour me. +"My devoted mother washed me, +When a frail and tender baby, +Three times in the nights of summer, +Nine times in the nights of autumn, +That upon my journeys northward +I might sing the ancient wisdom, +Thus protect myself from danger; +When at home I sing as wisely +As the minstrels of thy hamlet." +Then the singer, Lemminkainen, +Ancient hero, Kaukomieli, +Quick began his incantations, +Straightway sang the songs of witchcraft, +From his fur-robe darts the lightning, +Flames outshooting from his eye-balls, +From the magic of his singing +From his wonderful enchantment. +Sang the very best of singers +To the very worst of minstrels, +Filled their mouths with dust and ashes, +Piled the rocks upon their shoulders, +Stilled the best of Lapland witches, +Stilled the sorcerers and wizards. +Then he banished all their heroes, +Banished all their proudest minstrels, +This one hither, that one thither, +To the lowlands poor in verdure, +To the unproductive uplands, +To the oceans wanting whiting, +To the waterfalls of Rutya, +To the whirlpool hot and flaming, +To the waters decked with sea-foam, +Into fires and boiling waters, +Into everlasting torment. +Then the hero, Lemminkainen, +Sang the foemen with their broadswords? +Sang the heroes with their weapons, +Sang the eldest, sang the youngest, +Sang the middle-aged, enchanted; +Only one he left his senses, +He a poor, defenseless shepherd, +Old and sightless, halt and wretched, +And the old man's name was Nasshut. +Spake the miserable shepherd: +"Thou hast old and young enchanted, +Thou hast banished all our heroes, +Why hast spared this wretched shepherd?" +This is Lemminkainen's answer: +"Therefore have I not bewitched thee: +Thou art old, and blind, and wretched +Feeble-minded thou, and harmless, +Loathsome now without my magic. +Thou didst, in thy better life-time, +When a shepherd filled with malice, +Ruin all thy mother's berries, +Make thy sister, too unworthy, +Ruin all thy brother's cattle, +Drive to death thy father's stallions, +Through the marshes, o'er the meadows, +Through the lowlands, o'er the mountains, +Heeding not thy mother's counsel." +Thereupon the wretched Nasshut, +Angry grew and swore for vengeance, +Straightway limping through the door-way, +Hobbled on beyond the court-yard, +O'er the meadow-lands and pastures, +To the river of the death-land, +To the holy stream and whirlpool, +To the kingdom of Tuoni, +To the islands of Manala; +Waited there for Kaukomieli, +Listened long for Lemminkainen, +Thinking he must pass this river +On his journey to his country, +On. the highway to the islands, +From the upper shores of Pohya, +From the dreary Sariola. + + + + +RUNE XIII. + + + +LEMMINIKAINEN'S SECOND WOOING. + + +Spake the ancient Lemminkainen +To the hostess of Pohyola: +"Give to me thy lovely daughter, +Bring me now thy winsome maiden, +Bring the best of Lapland virgins, +Fairest virgin of the Northland." +Louhi, hostess of Pohyola, +Answered thus the wild magician: +"I shall never give my daughter, +Never give my fairest maiden, +Not the best one, nor the worst one, +Not the largest, nor the smallest; +Thou hast now one wife-companion, +Thou has taken hence one hostess, +Carried off the fair Kyllikki." +This is Lemminkainen's answer: +To my home I took Kyllikki, +To my cottage on the island, +To my entry-gates and kindred; +Now I wish a better hostess, +Straightway bring thy fairest daughter, +Worthiest of all thy virgins, +Fairest maid with sable tresses." +Spake the hostess of Pohyola: +"Never will I give my daughter +To a hero false and worthless, +To a minstrel vain and evil; +Therefore, pray thou for my maiden, +Therefore, woo the sweet-faced flower, +When thou bringest me the wild-moose +From the Hisi fields and forests." +Then the artful Lemminkainen +Deftly whittled out his javelins, +Quickly made his leathern bow-string, +And prepared his bow and arrows, +And soliloquized as follows: +"Now my javelins are made ready, +All my arrows too are ready, +And my oaken cross-bow bended, +But my snow-shoes are not builded, +Who will make me worthy snow-shoes?" +Lemminkainen, grave and thoughtful, +Long reflected, well considered, +Where the snow-shoes could be fashioned, +Who the artist that could make them; +Hastened to the Kauppi-smithy, +To the smithy of Lylikki, +Thus addressed the snow-shoe artist: +"O thou skilful Woyalander, +Kauppi, ablest smith of Lapland, +Make me quick two worthy snow-shoes, +Smooth them well and make them hardy, +That in Tapio the wild-moose, +Roaming through the Hisi-forests, +I may catch and bring to Louhi, +As a dowry for her daughter." +Then Lylikki thus made answer, +Kauppi gave this prompt decision: +"Lemminkainen, reckless minstrel, +Thou wilt hunt in vain the wild-moose, +Thou wilt catch but pain and torture, +In the Hisi fens and forests." +Little heeding, Lemminkainen +Spake these measures to Lylikki +"Make for me the worthy snow-shoes, +Quickly work and make them ready; +Go I will and catch the blue-moose +Where in Tapio it browses, +In the Hisi woods and snow-fields." +Then Lylikki, snow-shoe-maker, +Ancient Kauppi, master artist, +Whittled in the fall his show-shoes, +Smoothed them in the winter evenings, +One day working on the runners, +All the next day making stick-rings, +Till at last the shoes were finished, +And the workmanship was perfect. +Then he fastened well the shoe-straps, +Smooth as adder's skin the woodwork, +Soft as fox-fur were the stick-rings; +Oiled he well his wondrous snow-shoes +With the tallow of the reindeer; +When he thus soliloquizes, +These the accents of Lylikki: +"Is there any youth in Lapland, +Any in this generation, +That can travel in these snow-shoes, +That can move the lower sections?" +Spake the reckless Lemminkainen, +Full of hope, and life, and vigor: +Surely there is one in Lapland. +In this rising generation, +That can travel in these snow-shoes, +That the right and left can manage." +To his back he tied the quiver, +Placed the bow upon his shoulder, +With both hands he grasped his snow-cane, +Speaking meanwhile words as follow: +"There is nothing in the woodlands, +Nothing in the world of Ukko, +Nothing underneath the heavens, +In the uplands, in the lowlands, +Nothing in the snow-fields running, +Not a fleet deer of the forest, +That could not be overtaken +With the snow-shoes of Lylikki, +With the strides of Lemminkainen." +Wicked Hisi heard these measures, +Juntas listened to their echoes; +Straightway Hisi called the wild-moose, +Juutas fashioned soon a reindeer, +And the head was made of punk-wood, +Horns of naked willow branches, +Feet were furnished by the rushes, +And the legs, by reeds aquatic, +Veins were made of withered grasses, +Eyes, from daisies of the meadows, +Ears were formed of water-flowers, +And the skin of tawny fir-bark, +Out of sappy wood, the muscles, +Fair and fleet, the magic reindeer. +Juutas thus instructs the wild-moose, +These the words of wicked Hisi: +Flee away, thou moose of Juutas, +Flee away, thou Hisi-reindeer, +Like the winds, thou rapid courser, +To the snow-homes of the ranger, +To the ridges of the mountains, +To the snow-capped hills of Lapland, +That thy hunter may be worn out, +Thy pursuer be tormented, +Lemminkainen be exhausted." +Thereupon the Hisi-reindeer, +Juutas-moose with branching antlers, +Fleetly ran through fen and forest, +Over Lapland's hills and valleys, +Through the open fields and court-yards, +Through the penthouse doors and gate-ways, +Turning over tubs of water, +Threw the kettles from the fire-pole, +And upset the dishes cooking. +Then arose a fearful uproar, +In the court-yards of Pohyola, +Lapland-dogs began their barking, +Lapland-children cried in terror, +Lapland-women roared with laughter, +And the Lapland-heroes shouted. +Fleetly followed Lemminkainen, +Followed fast, and followed faster, +Hastened on behind the wild-moose, +Over swamps and through the woodlands, +Over snow-fields vast and pathless, +Over high uprising mountains, +Fire out-shooting from his runners, +Smoke arising from his snow-cane: +Could not hear the wild-moose bounding, +Could not sight the flying fleet-foot; +Glided on through field and forest, +Glided over lakes and rivers, +Over lands beyond the smooth-sea, +Through the desert plains of Hisi, +Glided o'er the plains of Kalma, +Through the kingdom of Tuoni, +To the end of Kalma's empire, +Where the jaws of Death stand open, +Where the head of Kalma lowers, +Ready to devour the stranger, +To devour wild Lemminkainen; +But Tuoni cannot reach him, +Kalma cannot overtake him. +Distant woods are yet untraveled, +Far away a woodland corner +Stands unsearched by Kaukomieli, +In the North's extensive, borders, +In the realm of dreary Lapland. +Now the hero, on his snow-shoes, +Hastens to the distant woodlands, +There to hunt the moose of Piru. +As he nears the woodland corner, +There he bears a frightful uproar, +From the Northland's distant borders, +From the dreary fields of Lapland, +Hears the dogs as they are barking, +Hears the children loudly screaming, +Hears the laughter or the women, +Hears the shouting of the heroes. +Thereupon wild Lemminkainen +Hastens forward on his snow-shoes, +To the place where dogs are barking, +To the distant woods of Lapland. +When the reckless Kaukomieli +Had approached this Hisi corner, +Straightway he began to question: +"Why this laughter or the women, +Why the screaming of the children, +Why the shouting of the heroes, +Why this barking of the watch-dogs? +This reply was promptly given: +"This the reason for this uproar, +Women laughing, children screaming, +Heroes shouting, watch-dogs barking +Hisi's moose came running hither, +Hither came the Piru-Reindeer, +Hither came with hoofs of silver, +Through the open fields and court-yards, +Through the penthouse doors and gate-ways, +Turning over tubs or water, +Threw the kettles from the fire-pole, +And upset the dishes cooking." +Then the hero, Lemminkainen, +Straightway summoned all his courage, +Pushed ahead his mighty snow-shoes, +Swift as adders in the stubble, +Levelled bushes in the marshes, +Like the swift and fiery serpents, +Spake these words of magic import, +Keeping balance with his snow-staff: +Come thou might of Lapland heroes, +Bring to me the moose of Juutas; +Come thou strength of Lapland-women, +And prepare the boiling caldron; +Come, thou might of Lapland children, +Bring together fire and fuel; +Come, thou strength of Lapland-kettles, +Help to boil the Hisi wild-moose." +Then with mighty force and courage, +Lemminkainen hastened onward, +Striking backward, shooting forward; +With a long sweep of his snow-shoe, +Disappeared from view the hero; +With the second, shooting further, +Was the hunter out of hearing, +With the third the hero glided +On the shoulders of the wild-moose; +Took a pole of stoutest oak-wood, +Took some bark-strings from the willow, +Wherewithal to bind the moose-deer, +Bind him to his oaken hurdle. +To the moose he spake as follows: +"Here remain, thou moose of Juutas +Skip about, my bounding courser, +In my hurdle jump and frolic, +Captive from the fields of Piru, +From the Hisi glens and mountains." +Then he stroked the captured wild-moose, +Patted him upon his forehead, +Spake again in measured accents: +"I would like awhile to linger, +I would love to rest a moment +In the cottage of my maiden, +With my virgin, young and lovely." +Then the Hisi-moose grew angry, +Stamped his feet and shook his antlers, +Spake these words to Lemminkainen: +"Surely Lempo soon will got thee, +Shouldst thou sit beside the maiden, +Shouldst thou linger by the virgin." +Now the wild-moose stamps and rushes, +Tears in two the bands of willow, +Breaks the oak-wood pole in pieces, +And upturns the hunter's hurdle, +Quickly leaping from his captor, +Bounds away with strength of freedom, +Over hills and over lowlands, +Over swamps and over snow-fields, +Over mountains clothed in heather, +That the eye may not behold him, +Nor the hero's ear detect him. +Thereupon the mighty hunter +Angry grows, and much disheartened, +Starts again the moose to capture, +Gliding off behind the courser. +With his might he plunges forward; +At the instep breaks his snow-shoe, +Breaks the runners into fragments, +On the mountings breaks his javelins, +In the centre breaks his snow-staff, +And the moose bounds on before him, +Through the Hisi-woods and snow-fields, +Out of reach of Lemminkainen. +Then the reckless Kaukomieli +Looked with bended head, ill-humored, +One by one upon the fragments, +Speaking words of ancient wisdom: +"Northland hunters, never, never, +Go defiant to thy forests, +In the Hisi vales and mountains, +There to hunt the moose of Juutas, +Like this senseless, reckless hero; +I have wrecked my magic snow-shoes, +Ruined too my useful snow-staff, +And my javelins I have broken, +While the wild-moose runs in safety +Through the Hisi fields and forests." + + + + +RUNE XIV. + + + +DEATH OF LEMMINKAINEN. + + +Lemminkainen, much disheartened, +Deeply thought and long considered, +What to do, what course to follow, +Whether best to leave the wild-moose +In the fastnesses of Hisi, +And return to Kalevala, +Or a third time hunt the ranger, +Hoping thus to bring him captive, +Thus return at last a victor +To the forest home of Louhi, +To the joy of all her daughters, +To the wood-nymph's happy fireside. +Taking courage Lemminkainen +Spake these words in supplication: +"Ukko, thou O God above me, +Thou Creator of the heavens, +Put my snow-shoes well in order, +And endow them both with swiftness, +That I rapidly may journey +Over marshes, over snow-fields, +Over lowlands, over highlands, +Through the realms of wicked Hisi, +Through the distant plains of Lapland, +Through the paths of Lempo's wild-moose, +To the forest hills of Juutas. +To the snow-fields shall I journey, +Leave the heroes to the woodlands, +On the way to Tapiola, +Into Tapio's wild dwellings. +"Greeting bring I to the mountains, +Greeting to the vales and uplands, +Greet ye, heights with forests covered, +Greet ye, ever-verdant fir-trees, +Greet ye, groves of whitened aspen, +Greetings bring to those that greet you, +Fields, and streams, and woods of Lapland. +Bring me favor, mountain-woodlands, +Lapland-deserts, show me kindness, +Mighty Tapio, be gracious, +Let me wander through thy forests, +Let me glide along thy rivers, +Let this hunter search thy snow-fields, +Where the wild-moose herds in numbers +Where the bounding reindeer lingers. +"O Nyrikki, mountain hero, +Son of Tapio of forests, +Hero with the scarlet head-gear, +Notches make along the pathway, +Landmarks upward to the mountains, +That this hunter may not wander, +May not fall, and falling perish +In the snow-fields of thy kingdom, +Hunting for the moose of Hisi, +Dowry for the pride of Northland. +"Mistress of the woods, Mielikki, +Forest-mother, formed in beauty, +Let thy gold flow out abundant, +Let thy silver onward wander, +For the hero that is seeking +For the wild-moose of thy kingdom; +Bring me here thy keys of silver, +From the golden girdle round thee; +Open Tapio's rich chambers, +And unlock the forest fortress, +While I here await the booty, +While I hunt the moose of Lempo. +"Should this service be too menial +Give the order to thy servants, +Send at once thy servant-maidens, +And command it to thy people. +Thou wilt never seem a hostess, +If thou hast not in thy service, +Maidens ready by the hundreds, +Thousands that await thy bidding, +Who thy herds may watch and nurture, +Tend the game of thy dominions. +"Tall and slender forest-virgin, +Tapio's beloved daughter, +Blow thou now thy honey flute-notes, +Play upon thy forest-whistle, +For the hearing of thy mistress, +For thy charming woodland-mistress, +Make her hear thy sweet-toned playing, +That she may arise from slumber. +Should thy mistress not awaken +At the calling of thy flute-notes, +Play again, and play unceasing, +Make the golden tongue re-echo." +Wild and daring Lemminkainen +Steadfast prays upon his journey, +Calling on the gods for succor, +Hastens off through fields and moorlands, +Passes on through cruel brush-wood, +To the colliery of Hisi, +To the burning fields of Lempo; +Glided one day, then a second, +Glided all the next day onward, +Till he came to Big-stone mountain, +Climbed upon its rocky summit, +Turned his glances to the north-west, +Toward the Northland moors and marshes; +There appeared the Tapio-mansion. +All the doors were golden-colored, +Shining in the gleam of sunlight +Through the thickets on the mountains, +Through the distant fields of Northland. +Lemminkainen, much encouraged, +Hastens onward from his station +Through the lowlands, o'er the uplands, +Over snow-fields vast and vacant, +Under snow-robed firs and aspens, +Hastens forward, happy-hearted, +Quickly reaches Tapio's court-yards, +Halts without at Tapio's windows, +Slyly looks into her mansion, +Spies within some kindly women, +Forest-dames outstretched before him, +All are clad in scanty raiment, +Dressed in soiled and ragged linens. +Spake the stranger Lemminkainen: +"Wherefore sit ye, forest-mothers, +In your old and simple garments, +In your soiled and ragged linen? +Ye, forsooth! are too untidy, +Too unsightly your appearance +In your tattered gowns appareled. +When I lived within the forest, +There were then three mountain castles, +One of horn and one of ivory, +And the third of wood constructed; +In their walls were golden windows, +Six the windows in each castle, +Through these windows I discovered +All the host of Tapio's mansion, +Saw its fair and stately hostess; +Saw great Tapio's lovely daughter, +Saw Tellervo in her beauty, +With her train of charming maidens; +All were dressed in golden raiment, +Rustled all in gold and silver. +Then the forest's queenly hostess, +Still the hostess of these woodlands, +On her arms wore golden bracelets, +Golden rings upon her fingers, +In her hair were sparkling, jewels, +On her bead were golden fillets, +In her ears were golden ear-rings, +On her neck a pearly necklace, +And her braidlets, silver-tinselled. +"Lovely hostess of the forest, +Metsola's enchanting mistress, +Fling aside thine ugly straw-shoes, +Cast away the shoes of birch-bark, +Doff thy soiled and ragged linen, +Doff thy gown of shabby fabric, +Don the bright and festive raiment, +Don the gown of merry-making, +While I stay within thy borders, +While I seek my forest-booty, +Hunt the moose of evil Hisi. +Here my visit will be irksome, +Here thy guest will be ill-humored, +Waiting in thy fields and woodlands, +Hunting here the moose of Lempo, +Finding not the Hisi-ranger, +Shouldst thou give me no enjoyment, +Should I find no joy, nor respite. +Long the eve that gives no pleasure, +Long the day that brings no guerdon! +"Sable-bearded god of forests, +In thy hat and coat of ermine, +Robe thy trees in finest fibers, +Deck thy groves in richest fabrics, +Give the fir-trees shining silver, +Deck with gold the slender balsams, +Give the spruces copper belting, +And the pine-trees silver girdles, +Give the birches golden flowers, +Deck their stems with silver fret-work, +This their garb in former ages, +When the days and nights were brighter, +When the fir-trees shone like sunlight, +And the birches like the moonbeams; +Honey breathed throughout the forest, +Settled in the glens and highlands +Spices in the meadow-borders, +Oil out-pouring from the lowlands. +"Forest daughter, lovely virgin, +Golden maiden, fair Tulikki, +Second of the Tapio-daughters, +Drive the game within these borders, +To these far-extending snow-fields. +Should the reindeer be too sluggish, +Should the moose-deer move too slowly +Cut a birch-rod from the thicket, +Whip them hither in their beauty, +Drive the wild-moose to my hurdle, +Hither drive the long-sought booty +To the hunter who is watching, +Waiting in the Hisi-forests. +"When the game has started hither, +Keep them in the proper highway, +Hold thy magic hands before them, +Guard them well on either road-side, +That the elk may not escape thee, +May not dart adown some by-path. +Should, perchance, the moose-deer wander +Through some by-way of the forest, +Take him by the ears and antlers, +Hither lead the pride of Lempo. +"If the path be filled with brush-wood +Cast the brush-wood to the road-side; +If the branches cross his pathway, +Break the branches into fragments; +Should a fence of fir or alder +Cross the way that leads him hither. +Make an opening within it, +Open nine obstructing fences; +If the way be crossed by streamlets, +If the path be stopped by rivers, +Make a bridge of silken fabric, +Weaving webs of scarlet color, +Drive the deer-herd gently over, +Lead them gently o'er the waters, +O'er the rivers of thy forests, +O'er the streams of thy dominions. +"Thou, the host of Tapio's mansion, +Gracious host of Tapiola, +Sable-bearded god of woodlands, +Golden lord of Northland forests, +Thou, O Tapio's worthy hostess, +Queen of snowy woods, Mimerkki, +Ancient dame in sky-blue vesture, +Fenland-queen in scarlet ribbons, +Come I to exchange my silver, +To exchange my gold and silver; +Gold I have, as old as moonlight, +Silver of the age of sunshine, +In the first of years was gathered, +In the heat and pain of battle; +It will rust within my pouches, +Soon will wear away and perish, +If it be not used in trading." +Long the hunter, Lemminkainen, +Glided through the fen and forest, +Sang his songs throughout the woodlands, +Through three mountain glens be sang them, +Sang the forest hostess friendly, +Sang he, also, Tapio friendly, +Friendly, all the forest virgins, +All of Metsola's fair daughters. +Now they start the herds of Lempo, +Start the wild-moose from his shelter, +In the realms of evil Hisi, +Tapio's highest mountain-region; +Now they drive the ranger homeward, +To the open courts of Piru, +To the hero that is waiting, +Hunting for the moose of Juutas. +When the herd had reached the castle, +Lemminkainen threw his lasso +O'er the antlers of the blue-moose, +Settled on the neck and shoulders +Of the mighty moose of Hisi. +Then the hunter, Kaukomieli, +Stroked his captive's neck in safety, +For the moose was well-imprisoned. +Thereupon gay Lemminkainen +Filled with joyance spake as follows: +"Pride of forests, queen of woodlands, +Metsola's enchanted hostess, +Lovely forest dame, Mielikki, +Mother-donor of the mountains, +Take the gold that I have promised, +Come and take away the silver; +Spread thy kerchief well before me, +Spread out here thy silken neck-wrap, +Underneath the golden treasure, +Underneath the shining silver, +that to earth it may not settle, +Scattered on the snows of winter." +Then the hero went a victor +To the dwellings of Pohyola, +And addressed these words to Louhi: +"I have caught the moose of Hisi, +In the Metsola-dominions, +Give, O hostess, give thy daughter, +Give to me thy fairest virgin, +Bride of mine to be hereafter." +Louhi, hostess of the Northland, +Gave this answer to the suitor: +"I will give to thee my daughter, +For thy wife my fairest maiden, +When for me thou'lt put a bridle +On the flaming horse of Hisi, +Rapid messenger of Lempo, +On the Hisi-plains and pastures." +Nothing daunted, Lemminkainen +Hastened forward to accomplish +Louhi's second test of heroes, +On the cultivated lowlands, +On the sacred fields and forests. +Everywhere he sought the racer, +Sought the fire-expiring stallion, +Fire out-shooting from his nostrils. +Lemminkainen, fearless hunter, +Bearing in his belt his bridle, +On his shoulders, reins and halter, +Sought one day, and then a second, +Finally, upon the third day, +Went he to the Hisi-mountain, +Climbed, and struggled to the summit; +To the east he turned his glances, +Cast his eyes upon the sunrise, +There beheld the flaming courser, +On the heath among the far-trees. +Lempo's fire-expiring stallion +Fire and mingled smoke, out-shooting +From his mouth, and eyes, and nostrils. +Spake the daring Lemminkainen, +This the hero's supplication: +"Ukko, thou O God above me, +Thou that rulest all the storm-clouds, +Open thou the vault of heaven, +Open windows through the ether, +Let the icy rain come falling, +Lot the heavy hailstones shower +On the flaming horse of Hisi, +On the fire-expiring stallion." +Ukko, the benign Creator, +Heard the prayer of Lemminkainen, +Broke apart the dome of heaven, +Rent the heights of heaven asunder, +Sent the iron-hail in showers, +Smaller than the heads of horses, +Larger than the heads of heroes, +On the flaming steed of Lempo, +On the fire-expiring stallion, +On the terror of the Northland. +Lemminkainen, drawing nearer, +Looked with care upon the courser, +Then he spake the words that follow: +"Wonder-steed of mighty Hisi, +Flaming horse of Lempo's mountain, +Bring thy mouth of gold, assenting, +Gently place thy head of silver +In this bright and golden halter, +In this silver-mounted bridle. +I shall never harshly treat thee, +Never make thee fly too fleetly, +On the way to Sariola, +On the tracks of long duration, +To the hostess of Pohyola, +To her magic courts and stables, +Will not lash thee on thy journey; +I shall lead thee gently forward, +Drive thee with the reins of kindness, +Cover thee with silken blankets." +Then the fire-haired steed of Juutas, +Flaming horse of mighty Hisi, +Put his bead of shining silver, +In the bright and golden bead-stall, +In the silver-mounted bridle. +Thus the hero, Lemminkainen, +Easy bridles Lempo's stallion, +Flaming horse of evil Piru; +Lays the bits within his fire-mouth, +On his silver head, the halter, +Mounts the fire-expiring courser, +Brandishes his whip of willow, +Hastens forward on his journey, +Bounding o'er the hills and mountains, +Dashing through the valleys northward, +O'er the snow-capped hills of Lapland, +To the courts of Sariola. +Then the hero, quick dismounting, +Stepped within the court of Louhi, +Thus addressed the Northland hostess: +"I have bridled Lempo's fire-horse, +I have caught the Hisi-racer, +Caught the fire-expiring stallion, +In the Piru plains and pastures, +Ridden him within thy borders; +I have caught the moose of Lempo, +I have done what thou demandest; +Give, I pray thee, now thy daughter, +Give to me thy fairest maiden, +Bride of mine to be forever." +Louhi, hostess of Pohyola, +Made this answer to the suitor: +"I will only give my daughter, +Give to thee my fairest virgin, +Bride of thine to be forever, +When for me the swan thou killest +In the river of Tuoni, +Swimming in the black death-river, +In the sacred stream and whirlpool; +Thou canst try one cross-bow only, +But one arrow from thy quiver." +Then the reckless Lemminkainen, +Handsome hero, Kaukomieli, +Braved the third test of the hero, +Started out to hunt the wild-swan, +Hunt the long-necked, graceful swimmer, +In Tuoni's coal-black river, +In Manala's lower regions. +Quick the daring hunter journeyed, +Hastened off with fearless footsteps, +To the river of Tuoni, +To the sacred stream and whirlpool, +With his bow upon his shoulder, +With his quiver and one arrow. +Nasshut, blind and crippled shepherd, +Wretched shepherd of Pohyola, +Stood beside the death-land river, +Near the sacred stream and whirlpool, +Guarding Tuonela's waters, +Waiting there for Lemminkainen, +Listening there for Kaukomieli, +Waiting long the hero's coming. +Finally he hears the footsteps +Of the hero on his journey, +Hears the tread of Lemminkainen, +As he journeys nearer, nearer, +To the river of Tuoni, +To the cataract of death-land, +To the sacred stream and whirlpool. +Quick the wretched shepherd, Nasshut, +From the death-stream sends a serpent, +Like an arrow from a cross-bow, +To the heart of Lemminkainen, +Through the vitals of the hero. +Lemminkainen, little conscious, +Hardly knew that be was injured, +Spake these measures as he perished. +"Ah! unworthy is my conduct, +Ah! unwisely have I acted, +That I did not heed my mother, +Did not take her goodly counsel, +Did not learn her words of magic. +Oh I for three words with my mother, +How to live, and bow to suffer, +In this time of dire misfortune, +How to bear the stings of serpents, +Tortures of the reed of waters, +From the stream of Tuonela! +"Ancient mother who hast borne me, +Who hast trained me from my childhood, +Learn, I pray thee, where I linger, +Where alas! thy son is lying, +Where thy reckless hero suffers. +Come, I pray thee, faithful mother, +Come thou quickly, thou art needed, +Come deliver me from torture, +From the death-jaws of Tuoni, +From the sacred stream and whirlpool." +Northland's old and wretched shepherd, +Nasshut, the despised protector +Of the flocks of Sariola, +Throws the dying Lemminkainen, +Throws the hero of the islands, +Into Tuonela's river, +To the blackest stream of death-land, +To the worst of fatal whirlpools. +Lemminkainen, wild and daring, +Helpless falls upon the waters, +Floating down the coal-black current, +Through the cataract and rapids +To the tombs of Tuonela. +There the blood-stained son of death-land, +There Tuoni's son and hero, +Cuts in pieces Lemminkainen, +Chops him with his mighty hatchet, +Till the sharpened axe strikes flint-sparks +From the rocks within his chamber, +Chops the hero into fragments, +Into five unequal portions, +Throws each portion to Tuoni, +In Manala's lowest kingdom, +Speaks these words when he has ended: +"Swim thou there, wild Lemminkainen, +Flow thou onward in this river, +Hunt forever in these waters, +With thy cross-bow and thine arrow, +Shoot the swan within this empire, +Shoot our water-birds in welcome!" +Thus the hero, Lemminkainen, +Thus the handsome Kaukomieli, +The untiring suitor, dieth +In the river of Tuoni, +In the death-realm of Manala. + + + + +RUNE XV. + + + +LEMMINKAINEN'S RESTORATION. + + +Lemminkainen's aged mother +Anxious roams about the islands, +Anxious wonders in her chambers, +What the fate of Lemminkainen, +Why her son so long has tarried; +Thinks that something ill has happened +To her hero in Pohyola. +Sad, indeed, the mother's anguish, +As in vain she waits his coming, +As in vain she asks the question, +Where her daring son is roaming, +Whether to the fir-tree mountain, +Whether to the distant heath-land, +Or upon the broad-sea's ridges, +On the floods and rolling waters, +To the war's contending armies, +To the heat and din of battle, +Steeped in blood of valiant heroes, +Evidence of fatal warfare. +Daily does the wife Kyllikki +Look about her vacant chamber, +In the home of Lemminkainen, +At the court of Kaukomieli; +Looks at evening, looks at morning, +Looks, perchance, upon his hair-brush, +Sees alas! the blood-drops oozing, +Oozing from the golden bristles, +And the blood-drops, scarlet-colored. +Then the beauteous wife, Kyllikki, +Spake these words in deeps of anguish: +"Dead or wounded is my husband, +Or at best is filled with trouble, +Lost perhaps in Northland forests, +In some glen unknown to heroes, +Since alas! the blood is flowing +From the brush of Lemminkainen, +Red drops oozing from the bristles." +Thereupon the anxious mother +Looks upon the bleeding hair-brush +And begins this wail of anguish: +"Woe is me, my life hard-fated, +Woe is me, all joy departed! +For alas! my son and hero, +Valiant hero of the islands, +Son of trouble and misfortune! +Some sad fate has overtaken +My ill-fated Lemminkainen! +Blood is flowing from his hair-brush, +Oozing from its golden bristles, +And the drops are scarlet-colored." +Quick her garment's hem she clutches, +On her arm she throws her long-robes, +Fleetly flies upon her journey; +With her might she hastens northward, +Mountains tremble from her footsteps, +Valleys rise and heights are lowered, +Highlands soon become as lowlands, +All the hills and valleys levelled. +Soon she gains the Northland village, +Quickly asks about her hero, +These the words the mother utters: +"O thou hostess of Pohyola, +Where hast thou my Lemminkainen? +Tell me of my son and hero!" +Louhi, hostess of the Northland, +Gives this answer to the mother: +"Nothing know I of thy hero, +Of the hero of the islands; +Where thy son may be I know not, +Cannot lend the information; +Once I gave thy son a courser, +Hitched the racer to his snow-sledge, +This the last of Lemminkainen; +May perchance be drowned in Wuhne, +Frozen In the icy ocean, +Fallen prey to wolves in hunger, +In a bear's den may have perished." +Lemminkainen's mother answers: +"Thou art only speaking falsehoods, +Northland wolves cannot devour us, +Nor the bears kill Kaukomieli; +He can slay the wolves of Pohya +With the fingers of his left hand; +Bears of Northland he would silence +With the magic of his singing. +"Hostess of Pohyola, tell me +Whither thou hast sent my hero; +I shall burst thy many garners, +Shall destroy the magic Sampo, +If thou dost not tell me truly +Where to find my Lemminkainen." +Spake the hostess of Pohyola: +"I have well thy hero treated, +Well my court has entertained him, +Gave him of my rarest viands, +Fed him at my well-filled tables, +Placed him in a boat of copper, +Thus to float adown the current, +This the last of Lemminkainen; +Cannot tell where he has wandered. +Whether in the foam of waters, +Whether in the boiling torrent, +Whether in the drowning whirlpool." +Lemminkainen's mother answers: +Thou again art speaking falsely; +Tell me now the truth I pray thee, +Make an end of thy deception, +Where is now my Lemminkainen, +Whither hast thou sent my hero, +Young and daring son of Kalew? +If a third time thou deceivest, +I will send thee plagues, unnumbered, +I will send thee fell destruction, +Certain death will overtake thee." +Spake the hostess of Pohyola: +"This the third time that I answer, +This the truth that I shall tell thee: +I have sent the Kalew-hero +To the Hisi-fields and forests, +There to hunt the moose of Lempo; +Sent him then to catch the fire-horse, +Catch the fire-expiring stallion, +On the distant plains of Juutas, +In the realm of cruel Hisi. +Then I sent him to the Death-stream, +In the kingdom of Tuoni, +With his bow and but one arrow, +There to shoot the swan as dowry +For my best and fairest daughter; +Have not heard about thy hero +Since he left for Tuonela; +May in misery have fallen, +May have perished in Manala; +Has not come to ask my daughter, +Has not come to woo the maiden, +Since he left to hunt the death-swan." +Now the mother seeks her lost one, +For her son she weeps and trembles, +Like the wolf she bounds through fenlands, +Like the bear, through forest thickets, +Like the wild-boar, through the marshes, +Like the hare, along the sea-coast, +To the sea-point, like the hedgehog +Like the wild-duck swims the waters, +Casts the rubbish from her pathway, +Tramples down opposing brush-wood, +Stops at nothing in her journey +Seeks a long time for her hero, +Seeks, and seeks, and does not find him. +Now she asks the trees the question, +And the forest gives this answer: +"We have care enough already, +Cannot think about thy matters; +Cruel fates have we to battle, +Pitiful our own misfortunes! +We are felled and chopped in pieces, +Cut in blocks for hero-fancy, +We are burned to death as fuel, +No one cares how much we suffer." +Now again the mother wanders, +Seeks again her long-lost hero, +Seeks, and seeks, and does not find him. +Paths arise and come to meet her, +And she questions thus the pathways: +"Paths of hope that God has fashioned, +Have ye seen my Lemminkainen, +Has my son and golden hero +Travelled through thy many kingdoms?" +Sad, the many pathways answer: +"We ourselves have cares sufficient, +Cannot watch thy son and hero, +Wretched are the lives of pathways, +Deep indeed our own misfortunes; +We are trodden by, the red-deer, +By the wolves, and bears, and roebucks, +Driven o'er by heavy cart-wheels, +By the feet of dogs are trodden, +Trodden under foot of heroes, +Foot-paths for contending armies." +Seeks again the frantic mother, +Seeks her long-lost son and hero, +Seeks, and seeks, and does not find him; +Finds the Moon within her orbit, +Asks the Moon in pleading measures: +"Golden Moon, whom God has stationed +In the heavens, the Sun's companion, +Hast thou seen my Kaukomieli, +Hast thou seen my silver apple, +Anywhere in thy dominions? " +Thus the golden Moon makes answer: +"I have trouble all-sufficient, +Cannot watch thy daring hero; +Long the journey I must travel, +Sad the fate to me befallen, +Pitiful mine own misfortunes, +All alone the nights to wander, +Shine alone without a respite, +In the winter ever watching, +In the summer sink and perish." +Still the mother seeks, and wanders, +Seeks, and does not find her hero, +Sees the Sun in the horizon, +And the mother thus entreats him: +Silver Sun, whom God has fashioned, +Thou that giveth warmth and comfort, +Hast thou lately seen my hero, +Hast thou seen my Lemminkainen, +Wandering in thy dominions?" +Thus the Sun in kindness answers: +"Surely has thy hero perished, +To ingratitude a victim; +Lemminkainen died and vanished +In Tuoni's fatal river, +In the waters of Manala, +In the sacred stream and whirlpool, +In the cataract and rapids, +Sank within the drowning current +To the realm of Tuonela, +To Manala's lower regions." +Lemminkainen's mother weeping, +Wailing in the deeps of anguish, +Mourns the fate of Kaukomieli, +Hastens to the Northland smithy, +To the forge of Ilmarinen, +These the words the mother utters: +"Ilmarinen, metal-artist, +Thou that long ago wert forging, +Forging earth a concave cover, +Yesterday wert forging wonders, +Forge thou now, immortal blacksmith, +Forge a rake with shaft of copper, +Forge the teeth of strongest metal, +Teeth in length a hundred fathoms, +And five hundred long the handle." +Ilmarinen does as bidden, +Makes the rake in full perfection. +Lemminkainen's anxious mother +Takes the magic rake and hastens +To the river of Tuoni, +Praying to the Sun as follows: +"Thou, O Sun, by God created, +Thou that shinest on thy Maker, +Shine for me in heat of magic, +Give me warmth, and strength, and courage, +Shine a third time full of power, +Lull to sleep the wicked people, +Still the people of Manala, +Quiet all Tuoni's empire." +Thereupon the sun of Ukko, +Dearest child of the Creator, +Flying through the groves of Northland, +Sitting on a curving birch-tree, +Shines a little while in ardor, +Shines again in greater fervor, +Shines a third time full of power, +Lulls to sleep the wicked people +In the Manala home and kingdom, +Still the heroes with their broadswords, +Makes the lancers halt and totter, +Stills the stoutest of the spearmen, +Quiets Tuoni's ghastly empire. +Now the Sun retires in magic, +Hovers here and there a moment +Over Tuoni's hapless sleepers, +Hastens upward to his station, +To his Jumala home and kingdom. +Lemminkainen's faithful mother +Takes the rake of magic metals, +Rakes the Tuoni river bottoms, +Rakes the cataract and whirlpool, +Rakes the swift and boiling current +Of the sacred stream of death-land, +In the Manala home and kingdom. +Searching for her long-lost hero, +Rakes a long time, finding nothing; +Now she wades the river deeper, +To her belt in mud and water, +Deeper, deeper, rakes the death-stream, +Rakes the river's deepest caverns, +Raking up and down the current, +Till at last she finds his tunic, +Heavy-hearted, finds his jacket; +Rakes again and rakes unceasing, +Finds the hero's shoes and stockings, +Sorely troubled, finds these relies; +Now she wades the river deeper, +Rakes the Manala shoals and shallows, +Rakes the deeps at every angle; +As she draws the rake the third time +From the Tuoni shores and waters, +In the rake she finds the body +Of her long-lost Lemminkainen, +In the metal teeth entangled, +In the rake with copper handle. +Thus the reckless Lemminkainen, +Thus the son of Kalevala, +Was recovered from the bottom +Of the Manala lake and river. +There were wanting many fragments, +Half the head, a hand, a fore-arm, +Many other smaller portions, +Life, above all else, was missing. +Then the mother, well reflecting, +Spake these words in bitter weeping: +"From these fragments, with my magic, +I will bring to life my hero." +Hearing this, the raven answered, +Spake these measures to the mother: +"There is not in these a hero, +Thou canst not revive these fragments; +Eels have fed upon his body, +On his eyes have fed the whiting; +Cast the dead upon the waters, +On the streams of Tuonela, +Let him there become a walrus, +Or a seal, or whale, or porpoise." +Lemminkainen's mother does not +Cast the dead upon the waters, +On the streams of Tuonela, +She again with hope and courage, +Rakes the river lengthwise, crosswise, +Through the Manala pools and caverns, +Rakes up half the head, a fore-arm, +Finds a hand and half the back-bone, +Many other smaller portions; +Shapes her son from all the fragments, +Shapes anew her Lemminkainen, +Flesh to flesh with skill she places, +Gives the bones their proper stations, +Binds one member to the other, +Joins the ends of severed vessels, +Counts the threads of all the venules, +Knits the parts in apposition; +Then this prayer the mother offers: +"Suonetar, thou slender virgin, +Goddess of the veins of heroes, +Skilful spinner of the vessels, +With thy slender, silver spindle, +With thy spinning-wheel of copper, +Set in frame of molten silver, +Come thou hither, thou art needed; +Bring the instruments for mending, +Firmly knit the veins together, +At the end join well the venules, +In the wounds that still are open, +In the members that are injured. +"Should this aid be inefficient; +There is living in the ether, +In a boat enriched with silver, +In a copper boat, a maiden, +That can bring to thee assistance. +Come, O maiden, from the ether, +Virgin from the belt of heaven, +Row throughout these veins, O maiden, +Row through all these lifeless members, +Through the channels of the long-bones, +Row through every form of tissue. +Set the vessels in their places, +Lay the heart in right position, +Make the pulses beat together, +Join the smallest of the veinlets, +And unite with skill the sinews. +Take thou now a slender needle, +Silken thread within its eyelet, +Ply the silver needle gently, +Sew with care the wounds together. +"Should this aid be inefficient, +Thou, O God, that knowest all things, +Come and give us thine assistance, +Harness thou thy fleetest racer +Call to aid thy strongest courser, +In thy scarlet sledge come swiftly, +Drive through all the bones and channels, +Drive throughout these lifeless tissues, +Drive thy courser through each vessel, +Bind the flesh and bones securely, +In the joints put finest silver, +Purest gold in all the fissures. +"Where the skin is broken open, +Where the veins are torn asunder, +Mend these injuries with magic; +Where the blood has left the body, +There make new blood flow abundant; +Where the bones are rudely broken, +Set the parts in full perfection; +Where the flesh is bruised and loosened, +Touch the wounds with magic balsam, +Do not leave a part imperfect; +Bone, and vein, and nerve, and sinew, +Heart, and brain, and gland, and vessel, +Heal as Thou alone canst heal them." +These the means the mother uses, +Thus she joins the lifeless members, +Thus she heals the death-like tissues, +Thus restores her son and hero +To his former life and likeness; +All his veins are knit together, +All their ends are firmly fastened, +All the parts in apposition, +Life returns, but speech is wanting, +Deaf and dumb, and blind, and senseless. +Now the mother speaks as follows: +"Where may I procure the balsam, +Where the drops of magic honey, +To anoint my son and hero, +Thus to heal my Lemminkainen, +That again his month may open, +May again begin his singing, +Speak again in words of wonder, +Sing again his incantations? +"Tiny bee, thou honey-birdling, +Lord of all the forest flowers, +Fly away and gather honey, +Bring to me the forest-sweetness, +Found in Metsola's rich gardens, +And in Tapio's fragrant meadows, +From the petals of the flowers, +From the blooming herbs and grasses, +Thus to heal my hero's anguish, +Thus to heal his wounds of evil." +Thereupon the honey-birdling +Flies away on wings of swiftness, +Into Metsola's rich gardens, +Into Tapio's flowery meadows, +Gathers sweetness from the meadows, +With the tongue distills the honey +From the cups of seven flowers, +From the bloom of countless grasses; +Quick from Metsola returning, +Flying, humming darting onward, +With his winglets honey-laden, +With the store of sweetest odors, +To the mother brings the balsam. +Lemminkainen's anxious mother +Takes the balm of magic virtues, +And anoints the injured hero, +Heals his wounds and stills his anguish; +But the balm is inefficient, +For her son is deaf and speechless. +Then again out-speaks the mother: +Lemminkainen's Restoration. +"Little bee, my honey-birdling, +Fly away in one direction, +Fly across the seven oceans, +In the eighth, a magic island, +Where the honey is enchanted, +To the distant Turi-castles, +To the chambers of Palwoinen; +There the honey is effective, +There, the wonder-working balsam, +This may heal the wounded hero; +Bring me of this magic ointment, +That I may anoint his eyelids, +May restore his injured senses." +Thereupon the honey-birdling +Flew away o'er seven oceans, +To the old enchanted island; +Flies one day, and then a second, +On the verdure does not settle, +Does not rest upon the flowers; +Flies a third day, fleetly onward, +Till a third day evening brings him +To the island in the ocean, +To the meadows rich in honey, +To the cataract and fire-flow, +To the sacred stream and whirlpool. +There the honey was preparing, +There the magic balm distilling +In the tiny earthen vessels, +In the burnished copper kettles, +Smaller than a maiden's thimble, +Smaller than the tips of fingers. +Faithfully the busy insect +Gathers the enchanted honey +From the magic Turi-cuplets +In the chambers of Palwoinen. +Time had gone but little distance, +Ere the bee came loudly humming +Flying fleetly, honey-laden; +In his arms were seven vessels, +Seven, the vessels on each shoulder; +All were filled with honey-balsam, +With the balm of magic virtues. +Lemminkainen's tireless mother +Quick anoints her speechless hero, +With the magic Turi-balsam, +With the balm of seven virtues; +Nine the times that she anoints him +With the honey of Palwoinen, +With the wonder-working balsam; +But the balm is inefficient, +For the hero still is speechless. +Then again out-speaks the mother: +"Honey-bee, thou ether birdling, +Fly a third time on thy journey, +Fly away to high Jumala, +Fly thou to the seventh heaven, +Honey there thou'lt find abundant, +Balsam of the highest virtue, +Only used by the Creator, +Only made from the breath of Ukko. +God anoints his faithful children, +With the honey of his wisdom, +When they feel the pangs of sorrow, +When they meet the powers of evil. +Dip thy winglets in this honey, +Steep thy plumage in His sweetness, +Hither bring the all-sufficient +Balsam of the great Creator; +This will still my hero's anguish, +This will heal his wounded tissues, +This restore his long-lost vision, +Make the Northland hills re-echo +With the magic of his singing, +With his wonderful enchantment." +Thus the honey-bee made answer: +"I can never fly to heaven, +To the seventh of the heavens, +To the distant home of Ukko, +With these wings of little virtue." +Lemminkainen's mother answered: +"Thou canst surely fly to heaven, +To the seventh of the heavens, +O'er the Moon, beneath the sunshine, +Through the dim and distant starlight. +On the first day, flying upward, +Thou wilt near the Moon in heaven, +Fan the brow of Kootamoinen; +On the second thou canst rest thee +On the shoulders of Otava; +On the third day, flying higher, +Rest upon the seven starlets, +On the heads of Hetewanè; +Short the journey that is left thee, +Inconsiderable the distance +To the home of mighty Ukko, +To the dwellings of the blessed." +Thereupon the bee arising, +From the earth flies swiftly upward, +Hastens on with graceful motion, +By his tiny wings borne heavenward, +In the paths of golden moonbeams, +Touches on the Moon's bright borders, +Fans the brow of Kootamoinen, +Rests upon Otava's shoulders, +Hastens to the seven starlets., +To the heads of Hetewanè, +Flies to the Creator's castle, +To the home of generous Ukko, +Finds the remedy preparing, +Finds the balm of life distilling, +In the silver-tinted caldrons, +In the purest golden kettles; +On one side, heart-easing honey, +On a second, balm of joyance, +On the third, life-giving balsam. +Here the magic bee, selecting, +Culls the sweet, life-giving balsam, +Gathers too, heart-easing honey, +Heavy-laden hastens homeward. +Time had traveled little distance, +Ere the busy bee came humming +To the anxious mother waiting, +In his arms a hundred cuplets, +And a thousand other vessels, +Filled with honey, filled with balsam, +Filled with the balm of the Creator. +Lemminkainen's mother quickly +Takes them on her, tongue and tests them, +Finds a balsam all-sufficient. +Then the mother spake as follows: +"I have found the long-sought balsam, +Found the remedy of Ukko, +Where-with God anoints his people, +Gives them life, and faith, and wisdom, +Heals their wounds and stills their anguish, +Makes them strong against temptation, +Guards them from the evil-doers." +Now the mother well anointing, +Heals her son, the magic singer, +Eyes, and ears, and tongue, and temples, +Breaks, and cuts, and seams, anointing, +Touching well the life-blood centres, +Speaks these words of magic import +To the sleeping Lemminkainen: +"Wake, arise from out thy slumber, +From the worst of low conditions, +From thy state of dire misfortune!" +Slowly wakes the son and hero, +Rises from the depths of slumber, +Speaks again in magic accents, +These the first words of the singer: +"Long, indeed, have I been sleeping, +Long unconscious of existence, +But my sleep was full of sweetness, +Sweet the sleep in Tuonela, +Knowing neither joy nor sorrow!" +This the answer of his mother: +"Longer still thou wouldst have slumbered, +Were it not for me, thy, mother; +Tell me now, my son beloved, +Tell me that I well may hear thee, +Who enticed thee to Manala, +To the river of Tuoni, +To the fatal stream and whirlpool?" +Then the hero, Lemminkainen, +Gave this answer to his mother: +"Nasshut, the decrepit shepherd +Of the flocks of Sariola, +Blind, and halt, and poor, and wretched, +And to whom I did a favor; +From the slumber-land of envy +Nasshut sent me to Manala, +To the river of Tuoni; +Sent a serpent from the waters, +Sent an adder from the death-stream, +Through the heart of Lemminkainen; +Did not recognize the serpent, +Could not speak the serpent-language, +Did not know the sting of adders." +Spake again the ancient mother: +"O thou son of little insight, +Senseless hero, fool-magician, +Thou didst boast betimes thy magic +To enchant the wise enchanters, +On the dismal shores of Lapland, +Thou didst think to banish heroes, +From the borders of Pohyola; +Didst not know the sting of serpents, +Didst not know the reed of waters, +Nor the magic word-protector! +Learn the origin of serpents, +Whence the poison of the adder. +"In the floods was born the serpent, +From the marrow of the gray-duck, +From the brain of ocean-swallows; +Suoyatar had made saliva, +Cast it on the waves of ocean, +Currents drove it outward, onward, +Softly shone the sun upon it, +By the winds 'twas gently cradled, +Gently nursed by winds and waters, +By the waves was driven shoreward, +Landed by the surging billows. +Thus the serpent, thing of evil, +Filling all the world with trouble, +Was created in the waters +Born from Suoyatar, its maker." +Then the mother of the hero +Rocked her son to rest and comfort, +Rocked him to his former being, +To his former life and spirit, +Into greater magic powers; +Wiser, handsomer than ever +Grew the hero of the islands; +But his heart was full of trouble, +And his mother, ever watchful, +Asked the cause of his dejection. +This is Lemminkainen's answer: +"This the cause of all my sorrow; +Far away my heart is roaming, +All my thoughts forever wander +To the Northland's blooming virgins, +To the maids of braided tresses. +Northland's ugly hostess, Louhi, +Will not give to me her daughter, +Fairest maiden of Pohyola, +Till I kill the swan of Mana, +With my bow and but one arrow, +In the river of Tuoni. +Lemminkainen's mother answers, +In the sacred stream and whirlpool. +"Let the swan swim on in safety, +Give the water-bird his freedom, +In the river of Manala, +In the whirlpool of Tuoni; +Leave the maiden in the Northland., +With her charms and fading beauty; +With thy fond and faithful mother, +Go at once to Kalevala, +To thy native fields and fallows. +Praise thy fortune, all sufficient, +Praise, above all else, thy Maker. +Ukko gave thee aid when needed, +Thou wert saved by thy Creator, +From thy long and hopeless slumber, +In the waters of Tuoni, +In the chambers of Manala. +I unaided could not save thee, +Could not give the least assistance; +God alone, omniscient Ukko, +First and last of the creators, +Can revive the dead and dying, +Can protect his worthy people +From the waters of Manala, . +From the fatal stream and whirlpool, +In the kingdom of Tuoni." +Lemminkainen, filled with wisdom, +With his fond and faithful mother, +Hastened straightway on his journey +To his distant home and kindred, +To the Wainola fields and meadows, +To the plains of Kalevala. +* * * * * +Here I leave my Kaukomieli, +Leave my hero Lemminkainen, +Long I leave him from my singing, +Turn my song to other heroes, +Send it forth on other pathways, +Sing some other golden legend. + + + + +RUNE XVI. + + + +WAINAMOINEN'S BOAT-BUILDING. + + +Wainamoinen, ancient minstrel, +The eternal wisdom-singer, +For his boat was working lumber, +Working long upon his vessel, +On a fog-point jutting seaward, +On an island, forest-covered; +But the lumber failed the master, +Beams were wanting for his vessel, +Beams and scantling, ribs and flooring. +Who will find for him the lumber, +Who procure the timber needed +For the boat of Wainamoinen, +For the bottom of his vessel? +Pellerwoinen of the prairies, +Sampsa, slender-grown and ancient, +He will seek the needful timber, +He procure the beams of oak-wood +For the boat of Wainamoinen, +For the bottom of his vessel. +Soon he starts upon his journey +To the eastern fields and forests, +Hunts throughout the Northland mountain +To a second mountain wanders, +To a third he hastens, searching, +Golden axe upon his shoulder, +In his hand a copper hatchet. +Comes an aspen-tree to meet him +Of the height of seven fathoms. +Sampsa takes his axe of copper, +Starts to fell the stately aspen, +But the aspen quickly halting, +Speaks these words to Pellerwoinen: +"Tell me, hero, what thou wishest, +What the service thou art needing?" +Sampsa Pellerwoinen answers: +"This indeed, the needed service +That I ask of thee, O aspen: +Need thy lumber for a vessel, +For the boat of Wainamoinen, +Wisest of the wisdom-singers." +Quick and wisely speaks the aspen, +Thus its hundred branches answer: +"All the boats that have been fashioned +From my wood have proved but failures; +Such a vessel floats a distance, +Then it sinks upon the bottom +Of the waters it should travel. +All my trunk is filled with hollows, +Three times in the summer seasons +Worms devour my stem and branches, +Feed upon my heart and tissues." +Pellerwoinen leaves the aspen, +Hunts again through all the forest, +Wanders through the woods of Northland, +Where a pine-tree comes to meet him, +Of the height of fourteen fathoms. +With his axe he chops the pine-tree, +Strikes it with his axe of copper, +As he asks the pine this question: +"Will thy trunk give worthy timber +For the boat of Wainamoinen, +Wisest of the wisdom-singers?" +Loudly does the pine-tree answer: +"All the ships that have been fashioned +From my body are unworthy; +I am full of imperfections, +Cannot give thee needed timber +Wherewithal to build thy vessel; +Ravens live within ray branches, +Build their nests and hatch their younglings +Three times in my trunk in summer." +Sampsa leaves the lofty pine-tree, +Wanders onward, onward, onward, +To the woods of gladsome summer, +Where an oak-tree comes to meet him, +In circumference, three fathoms, +And the oak he thus addresses: +"Ancient oak-tree, will thy body +Furnish wood to build a vessel, +Build a boat for Wainamoinen, +Master-boat for the magician, +Wisest of the wisdom-singers?" +Thus the oak replies to Sampsa: +"I for thee will gladly furnish +Wood to build the hero's vessel; +I am tall, and sound, and hardy, +Have no flaws within my body; +Three times in the months of summer, +In the warmest of the seasons, +Does the sun dwell in my tree-top, +On my trunk the moonlight glimmers, +In my branches sings the cuckoo, +In my top her nestlings slumber." +Now the ancient Pellerwoinen +Takes the hatchet from his shoulder, +Takes his axe with copper handle, +Chops the body of the oak-tree; +Well he knows the art of chopping. +Soon he fells the tree majestic, +Fells the mighty forest-monarch, +With his magic axe and power. +From the stems he lops the branches, +Splits the trunk in many pieces, +Fashions lumber for the bottom, +Countless boards, and ribs, and braces, +For the singer's magic vessel, +For the boat of the magician. +Wainamoinen, old and skilful, +The eternal wonder-worker, +Builds his vessel with enchantment, +Builds his boat by art of magic, +From the timber of the oak-tree, +From its posts, and planks, and flooring. +Sings a song, and joins the frame-work; +Sings a second, sets the siding; +Sings a third time, sets the row-locks; +Fashions oars, and ribs, and rudder, +Joins the sides and ribs together. +When the ribs were firmly fastened, +When the sides were tightly jointed, +Then alas! three words were wanting, +Lost the words of master-magic, +How to fasten in the ledges, +How the stern should be completed, +How complete the boat's forecastle. +Then the ancient Wainamoinen, +Wise and wonderful enchanter, +Heavy-hearted spake as follows: +"Woe is me, my life hard-fated! +Never will this magic vessel +Pass in safety o'er the water, +Never ride the rough sea-billows." +Then he thought and long considered, +Where to find these words of magic, +Find the lost-words of the Master: +"From the brains of countless swallows, +From the heads of swans in dying, +From the plumage of the gray-duck?" +For these words the hero searches, +Kills of swans a goodly number, +Kills a flock of fattened gray-duck, +Kills of swallows countless numbers, +Cannot find the words of magic, +Not the lost-words of the Master. +Wainamoinen, wisdom-singer, +Still reflected and debated: +"I perchance may find the lost-words +On the tongue of summer-reindeer, +In the mouth of the white squirrel." +Now again he hunts the lost-words, +Hastes to find the magic sayings, +Kills a countless host of reindeer, +Kills a rafterful of squirrels, +Finds of words a goodly number, +But they are of little value, +Cannot find the magic lost-word. +Long he thought and well considered: +"I can find of words a hundred +In the dwellings of Tuoni, +In the Manala fields and castles." +Wainamoinen quickly journeys +To the kingdom of Tuoni, +There to find the ancient wisdom, +There to learn the secret doctrine; +Hastens on through fen and forest, +Over meads and over marshes, +Through the ever-rising woodlands, +Journeys one week through the brambles, +And a second through the hazels, +Through the junipers the third week, +When appear Tuoni's islands, +And the Manala fields and castles. +Wainamoinen, brave and ancient, +Calls aloud in tones of thunder, +To the Tuonela deeps and dungeons, +And to Manala's magic castle: +"Bring a boat, Tuoni's daughter, +Bring a ferry-boat, O maiden, +That may bear me o'er this channel, +O'er this black and fatal river." +Quick the daughter of Tuoni, +Magic maid of little stature, +Tiny virgin of Manala, +Tiny washer of the linen, +Tiny cleaner of the dresses, +At the river of Tuoni, +In Manala's ancient castles, +Speaks these words to Wainamoinen, +Gives this answer to his calling: +"Straightway will I bring the row-boat, +When the reasons thou hast given +Why thou comest to Manala +In a hale and active body." +Wainamoinen, old and artful., +Gives this answer to the maiden: +"I was brought here by Tuoni, +Mana raised me from the coffin." +Speaks the maiden of Manala: +"This a tale of wretched liars; +Had Tuoni brought thee hither, +Mana raised thee from the coffin, +Then Tuoni would be with thee, +Manalainen too would lead thee, +With Tuoni's hat upon thee, +On thy hands, the gloves of Mana; +Tell the truth now, Wainamoinen, +What has brought thee to Manala?" +Wainamoinen, artful hero, +Gives this answer, still finessing: +"Iron brought me to Manala, +To the kingdom of Tuoni." +Speaks the virgin of the death-land, +Mana's wise and tiny daughter: +"Well I know that this is falsehood, +Had the iron brought thee hither, +Brought thee to Tuoni's kingdom, +Blood would trickle from thy vesture, +And the blood-drops, scarlet-colored. +Speak the truth now, Wainamoinen, +This the third time that I ask thee." +Wainamoinen, little heeding, +Still finesses to the daughter: +"Water brought me to Manala, +To the kingdom of Tuoui." +This the tiny maiden's answer: +"Well I know thou speakest falsely; +If the waters of Manala, +If the cataract and whirlpool, +Or the waves had brought thee hither, +From thy robes the drops would trickle, +Water drip from all thy raiment. +Tell the truth and I will serve thee, +What has brought thee to Manala?" +Then the wilful Wainamoinen +Told this falsehood to the maiden: +"Fire has brought me to Manala, +To the kingdom of Tuoni." +Spake again Tuoni's daughter: +"Well I know the voice of falsehood. +If the fire had brought thee hither, +Brought thee to Tuoni's empire, +Singed would be thy locks and eyebrows, +And thy beard be crisped and tangled. +O, thou foolish Wainamoinen, +If I row thee o'er the ferry, +Thou must speak the truth in answer, +This the last time I will ask thee; +Make an end of thy deception. +What has brought thee to Manala, +Still unharmed by pain or sickness, +Still untouched by Death's dark angel +Spake the ancient Wainamoinen: +"At the first I spake, not truly, +Now I give thee rightful answer: +I a boat with ancient wisdom, +Fashioned with my powers of magic, +Sang one day and then a second, +Sang the third day until evening, +When I broke the magic main-spring, +Broke my magic sledge in pieces, +Of my song the fleetest runners; +Then I come to Mana's kingdom, +Came to borrow here a hatchet, +Thus to mend my sledge of magic, +Thus to join the parts together. +Send the boat now quickly over, +Send me, quick, Tuoni's row-boat, +Help me cross this fatal river, +Cross the channel of Manala." +Spake the daughter of Tuoni, +Mana's maiden thus replying: +"Thou art sure a stupid fellow, +Foresight wanting, judgment lacking, +Having neither wit nor wisdom, +Coming here without a reason, +Coming to Tuoni's empire; +Better far if thou shouldst journey +To thy distant home and kindred; +Man they that visit Mana, +Few return from Maria's kingdom." +Spake the good old Wainamoinen: +"Women old retreat from danger, +Not a man of any courage, +Not the weakest of the heroes. +Bring thy boat, Tuoni's daughter, +Tiny maiden of Manala, +Come and row me o'er the ferry." +Mana's daughter does as bidden, +Brings her boat to Wainamoinen, +Quickly rows him through the channel, +O'er the black and fatal river, +To the kingdom of Manala, +Speaks these words to the magician: +"Woe to thee! O Wainamoinen! +Wonderful indeed, thy magic, +Since thou comest to Manala, +Comest neither dead nor dying." +Tuonetar, the death-land hostess, +Ancient hostess of Tuoni, +Brings him pitchers filled with strong-beer, +Fills her massive golden goblets, +Speaks these measures to the stranger: +"Drink, thou ancient Wainamoinen, +Drink the beer of king Tuoni!" +Wainamoinen, wise and cautious, +Carefully inspects the liquor, +Looks a long time in the pitchers, +Sees the spawning of the black-frogs, +Sees the young of poison-serpents, +Lizards, worms, and writhing adders, +Thus addresses Tuonetar: +"Have not come with this intention, +Have not come to drink thy poisons, +Drink the beer of Tuonela; +Those that drink Tuoni's liquors, +Those that sip the cups of Mana, +Court the Devil and destruction, +End their lives in want and ruin." +Tuonetar makes this answer: +"Ancient minstrel, Wainamoinen, +Tell me what has brought thee hither, +Brought thee to the, realm of Mana, +To the courts of Tuonela, +Ere Tuoni sent his angels +To thy home in Kalevala, +There to cut thy magic life-thread." +Spake the singer, Wainamoinen: +"I was building me a vessel, +At my craft was working, singing, +Needed three words of the Master, +How to fasten in the ledges, +How the stern should be completed, +How complete the boat's forecastle. +This the reason of my coming +To the empire of Tuoni, +To the castles of Manala: +Came to learn these magic sayings, +Learn the lost-words of the Master." +Spake the hostess, Tuonetar: +"Mana never gives these sayings, +Canst not learn them from Tuoni, +Not the lost-words of the Master; +Thou shalt never leave this kingdom, +Never in thy magic life-time, +Never go to Kalevala, +To Wainola's peaceful meadows. +To thy distant home and country." +Quick the hostess, Tuonetar, +Waves her magic wand of slumber +O'er the head of Wainamoinen, +Puts to rest the wisdom-hero, +Lays him on the couch of Mana, +In the robes of living heroes, +Deep the sleep that settles o'er him. +In Manala lived a woman, +In the kingdom of Tuoni, +Evil witch and toothless wizard, +Spinner of the threads of iron, +Moulder of the bands of copper, +Weaver of a hundred fish-nets, +Of a thousand nets of copper, +Spinning in the days of summer, +Weaving in the winter evenings, +Seated on a rock in water. +In the kingdom of Tuoni +Lived a man, a wicked wizard, +Three the fingers of the hero, +Spinner he of iron meshes, +Maker too of nets of copper, +Countless were his nets of metal, +Moulded on a rock in water, +Through the many days of summer. +Mana's son with crooked fingers, +Iron-pointed, copper fingers, +Pulls of nets, at least a thousand, +Through the river of Tuoni, +Sets them lengthwise, sets them crosswise, +In the fatal, darksome river, +That the sleeping Wainamomen, +Friend and brother of the waters, +May not leave the isle of Mana, +Never in the course of ages, +Never leave the death-land castles, +Never while the moonlight glimmers +On the empire of Tuoni. +Wainamoinen, wise and wary, +Rising from his couch of slumber, +Speaks these words as he is waking: +"Is there not some mischief brewing, +Am I not at last in danger, +In the chambers of Tuoni, +In the Manala home and household?" +Quick he changes his complexion, +Changes too his form and feature, +Slips into another body; +Like a serpent in a circle, +Rolls black-dyed upon the waters; +Like a snake among the willows, +Crawls he like a worm of magic, +Like an adder through the grasses, +Through the coal-black stream of death-land, +Through a thousand nets of copper +Interlaced with threads of iron, +From the kingdom of Tuoni, +From the castles of Manala. +Mana's son, the wicked wizard, +With his iron-pointed fingers, +In the early morning hastens +To his thousand nets of copper, +Set within the Tuoni river, +Finds therein a countless number +Of the death-stream fish and serpents; +Does not find old Wainamoinen, +Wainamoinen, wise and wary, +Friend and fellow of the waters. +When the wonder-working hero +Had escaped from Tuonela, +Spake he thus in supplication: +"Gratitude to thee, O Ukko, +Do I bring for thy protection! +Never suffer other heroes, +Of thy heroes not the wisest, +To transgress the laws of nature; +Never let another singer, +While he lives within the body, +Cross the river of Tuoni, +As thou lovest thy creations. +Many heroes cross the channel, +Cross the fatal stream of Mana, +Few return to tell the story, +Few return from Tuonela, +From Manala's courts and castles." +Wainamoinen calls his people, +On the plains of Kalevala, +Speaks these words of ancient wisdom, +To the young men, to the maidens, +To the rising generation: +"Every child of Northland, listen: +If thou wishest joy eternal, +Never disobey thy parents, +Never evil treat the guiltless, +Never wrong the feeble-minded, +Never harm thy weakest fellow, +Never stain thy lips with falsehood, +Never cheat thy trusting neighbor, +Never injure thy companion, +Lest thou surely payest penance +In the kingdom of Tuoni, +In the prison of Manala; +There, the home of all the wicked, +There the couch of the unworthy, +There the chambers of the guilty. +Underneath Manala's fire-rock +Are their ever-flaming couches, +For their pillows hissing serpents, +Vipers green their writhing covers, +For their drink the blood of adders, +For their food the pangs of hunger, +Pain and agony their solace; +If thou wishest joy eternal, +Shun the kingdom of Tuoui!" + + + + +RUNE XVII. + + + +WAINAMOINEN FINDS THE LOST-WORD. + + +Wainamoinen, old and truthful, +Did not learn the words of magic +In Tuoni's gloomy regions, +In the kingdom of Manala. +Thereupon he long debated, +Well considered, long reflected, +Where to find the magic sayings; +When a shepherd came to meet him, +Speaking thus to Wainamoinen: +"Thou canst find of words a hundred, +Find a thousand wisdom-sayings, +In the mouth of wise Wipunen, +In the body of the hero; +To the spot I know the foot-path, +To his tomb the magic highway, +Trodden by a host of heroes; +Long the distance thou must travel, +On the sharpened points of needles; +Then a long way thou must journey +On the edges of the broadswords; +Thirdly thou must travel farther +On the edges of the hatchets." +Wainamoinen, old and trustful, +Well considered all these journeys, +Travelled to the forge and smithy, +Thus addressed the metal-worker: +"Ilmarinen, worthy blacksmith, +Make a shoe for me of iron, +Forge me gloves of burnished copper, +Mold a staff of strongest metal, +Lay the steel upon the inside, +Forge within the might of magic; +I am going on a journey +To procure the magic sayings, +Find the lost-words of the Master, +From the mouth of the magician, +From the tongue of wise Wipunen." +Spake the artist, Ilmarinen: +"Long ago died wise Wipunen, +Disappeared these many ages, +Lays no more his snares of copper, +Sets no longer traps of iron, +Cannot learn from him the wisdom, +Cannot find in him the lost-words." +Wainamoinen, old and hopeful, +Little heeding, not discouraged, +In his metal shoes and armor, +Hastens forward on his journey, +Runs the first day fleetly onward, +On the sharpened points of needles; +'Wearily he strides the second, +On the edges of the broadswords +Swings himself the third day forward, +On the edges of the hatchets. +Wise Wipunen, wisdom-singer, +Ancient bard, and great magician, +With his magic songs lay yonder, +Stretched beside him, lay his sayings, +On his shoulder grew the aspen, +On each temple grew the birch-tree, +On his mighty chin the alder, +From his beard grew willow-bushes, +From his mouth the dark green fir-tree, +And the oak-tree from his forehead. +Wainamoinen, coming closer, +Draws his sword, lays bare his hatchet +From his magic leathern scabbard, +Fells the aspen from his shoulder, +Fells the birch-tree from his temples, +From his chin he fells the alder, +From his beard, the branching willows, +From his mouth the dark-green fir-tree, +Fells the oak-tree from his forehead. +Now he thrusts his staff of iron +Through the mouth of wise Wipunen, +Pries his mighty jaws asunder, +Speaks these words of master-magic: +"Rise, thou master of magicians, +From the sleep of Tuonela, +From thine everlasting slumber!" +Wise Wipunen, ancient singer, +Quickly wakens from his sleeping, +Keenly feels the pangs of torture, +From the cruel staff of iron; +Bites with mighty force the metal, +Bites in twain the softer iron, +Cannot bite the steel asunder, +Opens wide his mouth in anguish. +Wainamoinen of Wainola, +In his iron-shoes and armor, +Careless walking, headlong stumbles +In the spacious mouth and fauces +Of the magic bard, Wipunen. +Wise Wipunen, full of song-charms, +Opens wide his mouth and swallows +Wainamoinen and his magic, +Shoes, and staff, and iron armor. +Then outspeaks the wise Wipunen: +"Many things before I've eaten, +Dined on goat, and sheep, and reindeer, +Bear, and ox, and wolf, and wild-boar, +Never in my recollection, +Have I tasted sweeter morsels!" +Spake the ancient Wainamoinen: +"Now I see the evil symbols, +See misfortune hanging o'er me, +In the darksome Hisi-hurdles, +In the catacombs of Kalma." +Wainamoinen long considered +How to live and how to prosper, +How to conquer this condition. +In his belt he wore a poniard, +With a handle hewn from birch-wood, +From the handle builds a vessel, +Builds a boat through magic science; +In this vessel rows he swiftly +Through the entrails of the hero, +Rows through every gland and vessel +Of the wisest of magicians. +Old Wipunen, master-singer, +Barely feels the hero's presence, +Gives no heed to Wainamoinen. +Then the artist of Wainola +Straightway sets himself to forging, +Sets at work to hammer metals; +Makes a smithy from his armor, +Of his sleeves he makes the bellows, +Makes the air-valve from his fur-coat, +From his stockings, makes the muzzle, +Uses knees instead of anvil, +Makes a hammer of his fore-arm; +Like the storm-wind roars the bellows, +Like the thunder rings the anvil; +Forges one day, then a second, +Forges till the third day closes, +In the body of Wipunen, +In the sorcerer's abdomen. +Old Wipunen, full of magic, +Speaks these words in wonder, guessing: +"Who art thou of ancient heroes, +Who of all the host of heroes? +Many heroes I have eaten, +And of men a countless number, +Have not eaten such as thou art; +Smoke arises from my nostrils, +From my mouth the fire is streaming, +In my throat are iron-clinkers. +"Go, thou monster, hence to wander, +Flee this place, thou plague of Northland, +Ere I go to seek thy mother, +Tell the ancient dame thy mischief; +She shall bear thine evil conduct, +Great the burden she shall carry; +Great a mother's pain and anguish, +When her child runs wild and lawless; +Cannot comprehend the meaning, +Nor this mystery unravel, +Why thou camest here, O monster, +Camest here to give me torture. +Art thou Hisi sent from heaven, +Some calamity from Ukko? +Art, perchance, some new creation, +Ordered here to do me evil? +If thou art some evil genius, +Some calamity from Ukko, +Sent to me by my Creator, +Then am I resigned to suffer +God does not forsake the worthy, +Does not ruin those that trust him, +Never are the good forsaken. +If by man thou wert created, +If some hero sent thee hither, +I shall learn thy race of evil, +Shall destroy thy wicked tribe-folk. +"Thence arose the violation, +Thence arose the first destruction, +Thence came all the evil-doings: +From the neighborhood of wizards, +From the homes of the magicians, +From the eaves of vicious spirits, +From the haunts of fortune-tellers, +From the cabins of the witches, +From the castles of Tuoni, +From the bottom of Manala, +From the ground with envy swollen, +From Ingratitude's dominions, +From the rocky shoals and quicksands, +From the marshes filled with danger, +From the cataract's commotion, +From the bear-caves in the mountains, +From the wolves within the thickets, +From the roarings of the pine-tree, +From the burrows of the fox-dog, +From the woodlands of the reindeer, +From the eaves and Hisi-hurdles, +From the battles of the giants, +From uncultivated pastures, +From the billows of the oceans, +From the streams of boiling waters, +From the waterfalls of Rutya, +From the limits of the storm-clouds, +From the pathways of the thunders, +From the flashings of the lightnings, +From the distant plains of Pohya, +From the fatal stream and whirlpool, +From the birthplace of Tuoni. +"Art thou coming from these places? +Hast thou, evil, hastened hither, +To the heart of sinless hero, +To devour my guiltless body, +To destroy this wisdom-singer? +Get thee hence, thou dog of Lempo, +Leave, thou monster from Manala, +Flee from mine immortal body, +Leave my liver, thing of evil, +In my body cease thy forging, +Cease this torture of my vitals, +Let me rest in peace and slumber. +"Should I want in means efficient, +Should I lack the magic power +To outroot thine evil genius, +I shall call a better hero, +Call upon a higher power, +To remove this dire misfortune, +To annihilate this monster. +I shall call the will of woman, +From the fields, the old-time heroes? +Mounted heroes from the sand-hills, +Thus to rescue me from danger, +From these pains and ceaseless tortures. +"If this force prove inefficient, +Should not drive thee from my body, +Come, thou forest, with thy heroes, +Come, ye junipers and pine-trees, +With your messengers of power, +Come, ye mountains, with your wood-nymphs, +Come, ye lakes, with all your mermaids, +Come, ye hundred ocean-spearmen, +Come, torment this son of Hisi, +Come and kill this evil monster. +"If this call is inefficient, +Does not drive thee from my vitals, +Rise, thou ancient water-mother, +With thy blue-cap from the ocean, +From the seas, the lakes, the rivers, +Bring protection to thy hero, +Comfort bring and full assistance, +That I guiltless may not suffer, +May not perish prematurely. +"Shouldst thou brave this invocation, +Kapè, daughter of Creation, +Come, thou beauteous, golden maiden, +Oldest of the race of women, +Come and witness my misfortunes, +Come and turn away this evil, +Come, remove this biting torment, +Take away this plague of Piru. +"If this call be disregarded, +If thou wilt not leave me guiltless, +Ukko, on the arch of heaven, +In the thunder-cloud dominions, +Come thou quickly, thou art needed, +Come, protect thy tortured hero, +Drive away this magic demon, +Banish ever his enchantment, +With his sword and flaming furnace, +With his fire-enkindling bellows. +"Go, thou demon, hence to wander, +Flee, thou plague of Northland heroes; +Never come again for shelter, +Nevermore build thou thy dwelling +In the body of Wipunen; +Take at once thy habitation +To the regions of thy kindred, +To thy distant fields and firesides; +When thy journey thou hast ended, +Gained the borders of thy country, +Gained the meads of thy Creator, +Give a signal of thy coming, +Rumble like the peals of thunder, +Glisten like the gleam of lightning, +Knock upon the outer portals, +Enter through the open windows, +Glide about the many chambers, +Seize the host and seize the hostess, +Knock their evil beads together, +Wring their necks and hurl their bodies +To the black-dogs of the forest. +"Should this prove of little value, +Hover like the bird of battle, +O'er the dwellings of the master, +Scare the horses from the mangers, +From the troughs affright the cattle, +Twist their tails, and horns, and forelocks, +Hurl their carcasses to Lempo. +"If some scourge the winds have sent me, +Sent me on the air of spring-tide, +Brought me by the frosts of winter, +Quickly journey whence thou camest, +On the air-path of the heavens, +Perching not upon some aspen, +Resting not upon the birch-tree; +Fly away to copper mountains, +That the copper-winds may nurse thee, +Waves of ether, thy protection. +"Didst those come from high Jumala, +From the hems of ragged snow-clouds, +Quick ascend beyond the cloud-space, +Quickly journey whence thou camest, +To the snow-clouds, crystal-sprinkled, +To the twinkling stars of heaven +There thy fire may burn forever, +There may flash thy forked lightnings, +In the Sun's undying furnace. +"Wert thou sent here by the spring-floods, +Driven here by river-torrents? +Quickly journey whence thou camest, +Quickly hasten to the waters, +To the borders of the rivers, +To the ancient water-mountain, +That the floods again may rock thee, +And thy water-mother nurse thee. +"Didst thou come from Kalma's kingdom, +From the castles of the death-land? +Haste thou back to thine own country, +To the Kalma-halls and castles, +To the fields with envy swollen, +Where contending armies perish. +"Art thou from the Hisi-woodlands, +From ravines in Lempo's forest, +From the thickets of the pine-wood, +From the dwellings of the fir-glen? +Quick retrace thine evil footsteps +To the dwellings of thy master, +To the thickets of thy kindred; +There thou mayest dwell at pleasure, +Till thy house decays about thee, +Till thy walls shall mould and crumble. +Evil genius, thee I banish, +Got thee hence, thou horrid monster, +To the caverns of the white-bear, +To the deep abysm of serpents, +To the vales, and swamps, and fenlands, +To the ever-silent waters, +To the hot-springs of the mountains, +To the dead-seas of the Northland, +To the lifeless lakes and rivers, +To the sacred stream and whirlpool. +"Shouldst thou find no place of resting, +I will banish thee still farther, +To the Northland's distant borders, +To the broad expanse of Lapland, +To the ever-lifeless deserts, +To the unproductive prairies, +Sunless, moonless, starless, lifeless, +In the dark abyss of Northland; +This for thee, a place befitting, +Pitch thy tents and feast forever +On the dead plains of Pohyola. +"Shouldst thou find no means of living, +I will banish thee still farther, +To the cataract of Rutya, +To the fire-emitting whirlpool, +Where the firs are ever falling, +To the windfalls of the forest; +Swim hereafter in the waters +Of the fire-emitting whirlpool, +Whirl thou ever in the current +Of the cataract's commotion, +In its foam and boiling waters. +Should this place be unbefitting, +I will drive thee farther onward, +To Tuoni's coal-black river, +To the endless stream of Mana, +Where thou shalt forever linger; +Thou canst never leave Manala, +Should I not thy head deliver, +Should I never pay thy ransom; +Thou canst never safely journey +Through nine brother-rams abutting, +Through nine brother-bulls opposing +Through nine brother-stallions thwarting, +Thou canst not re-cross Death-river +Thickly set with iron netting, +Interlaced with threads of copper. +"Shouldst thou ask for steeds for saddle, +Shouldst thou need a fleet-foot courser, +I will give thee worthy racers, +I will give thee saddle-horses; +Evil Hisi has a charger, +Crimson mane, and tail, and foretop, +Fire emitting from his nostrils, +As he prances through his pastures; +Hoofs are made of strongest iron, +Legs are made of steel and copper, +Quickly scales the highest mountains, +Darts like lightning through the valleys, +When a skilful master rides him. +"Should this steed be insufficient, +I will give thee Lempo's snow-shoes, +Give thee Hisi's shoes of elm-wood, +Give to thee the staff of Piru, +That with these thou mayest journey +Into Hisi's courts and castles, +To the woods and fields of Juutas; +If the rocks should rise before thee, +Dash the flinty rocks in pieces, +Hurl the fragments to the heavens; +If the branches cross thy pathway, +Make them turn aside in greeting; +If some mighty hero hail thee, +Hurl him headlong to the woodlands. +"Hasten hence, thou thing of evil, +Heinous monster, leave my body, +Ere the breaking of the morning +Ere the Sun awakes from slumber, +Ere the sinning of the cuckoo; +Haste away, thou plague of Northland, +Haste along the track of' moonbeams, +Wander hence, forever wander, +To the darksome fields or Pohya. +"If at once thou dost not leave me, +I will send the eagle's talons, +Send to thee the beaks of vultures, +To devour thine evil body, +Hurl thy skeleton to Hisi. +Much more quickly cruel Lempo +Left my vitals when commanded, +When I called the aid of Ukko, +Called the help of my Creator. +Flee, thou motherless offendant, +Flee, thou fiend of Sariola, +Flee, thou hound without a master, +Ere the morning sun arises, +Ere the Moon withdraws to slumber!" +Wainamoinen, ancient hero, +Speaks at last to old Wipunen: +"Satisfied am I to linger +In these old and spacious caverns, +Pleasant here my home and dwelling; +For my meat I have thy tissues, +Have thy heart, and spleen, and liver, +For my drink the blood of ages, +Goodly home for Wainamoinen. +"I shall set my forge and bellows +Deeper, deeper in thy vitals; +I shall swing my heavy hammer, +Swing it with a greater power +On thy heart, and lungs, and liver; +I shall never, never leave thee +Till I learn thine incantations, +Learn thy many wisdom-sayings, +Learn the lost-words of the Master; +Never must these words be bidden, +Earth must never lose this wisdom, +Though the wisdom-singers perish." +Old Wipunen, wise magician, +Ancient prophet, filled with power, +Opens fall his store of knowledge, +Lifts the covers from his cases, +Filled with old-time incantations, +Filled with songs of times primeval, +Filled with ancient wit and wisdom; +Sings the very oldest folk-songs, +Sings the origin of witchcraft, +Sings of Earth and its beginning +Sings the first of all creations, +Sings the source of good and evil +Sung alas! by youth no longer, +Only sung in part by heroes +In these days of sin and sorrow. +Evil days our land befallen. +Sings the orders of enchantment. +How, upon the will of Ukko, +By command of the Creator, +How the air was first divided, +How the water came from ether, +How the earth arose from water, +How from earth came vegetation, +Fish, and fowl, and man, and hero. +Sings again the wise Wipunen, +How the Moon was first created, +How the Sun was set in heaven, +Whence the colors of the rainbow, +Whence the ether's crystal pillars, +How the skies with stars were sprinkled. +Then again sings wise Wipunen, +Sings in miracles of concord, +Sings in magic tones of wisdom, +Never was there heard such singing; +Songs he sings in countless numbers, +Swift his notes as tongues of serpents, +All the distant hills re-echo; +Sings one day, and then a second, +Sings a third from dawn till evening, +Sings from evening till the morning; +Listen all the stars of heaven, +And the Moon stands still and listens +Fall the waves upon the deep-sea, +In the bay the tides cease rising, +Stop the rivers in their courses, +Stops the waterfall of Rutya, +Even Jordan ceases flowing, +And the Wuoksen stops and listens. +When the ancient Wainamoinen +Well had learned the magic sayings, +Learned the ancient songs and legends, +Learned the words of ancient wisdom, +Learned the lost-words of the Master, +Well had learned the secret doctrine, +He prepared to leave the body +Of the wisdom-bard, Wipunen, +Leave the bosom of the master, +Leave the wonderful enchanter. +Spake the hero, Wainamoinen: +"O, thou Antero Wipunen, +Open wide thy mouth and fauces, +I have found the magic lost-words, +I will leave thee now forever, +Leave thee and thy wondrous singing, +Will return to Kalevala, +To Wainola's fields and firesides." +Thus Wipunen spake in answer: +"Many are the things I've eaten, +Eaten bear, and elk, and reindeer, +Eaten ox, and wolf, and wild-boar, +Eaten man, and eaten hero, +Never, never have I eaten +Such a thing as Wainamoinen; +Thou hast found what thou desirest, +Found the three words of the Master; +Go in peace, and ne'er returning, +Take my blessing on thy going." +Thereupon the bard Wipunen +Opens wide his mouth, and wider; +And the good, old Wainamoinen +Straightway leaves the wise enchanter, +Leaves Wipunen's great abdomen; +From the mouth he glides and journeys +O'er the hills and vales of Northland, +Swift as red-deer or the forest, +Swift as yellow-breasted marten, +To the firesides of Wainola, +To the plains of Kalevala. +Straightway hastes he to the smithy +Of his brother, Ilmarinen, +Thus the iron-artist greets him: +Hast thou found the long-lost wisdom, +Hast thou heard the secret doctrine, +Hast thou learned the master magic, +How to fasten in the ledges, +How the stern should be completed, +How complete the ship's forecastle? +Wainamoinen thus made answer: +"I have learned of words a hundred, +Learned a thousand incantations, +Hidden deep for many ages, +Learned the words of ancient wisdom, +Found the keys of secret doctrine, +Found the lost-words of the Master." +Wainamoinen, magic-builder, +Straightway journeys to his vessel, +To the spot of magic labor, +Quickly fastens in the ledges, +Firmly binds the stern together +And completes the boat's forecastle. +Thus the ancient Wainamoinen +Built the boat with magic only, +And with magic launched his vessel, +Using not the hand to touch it, +Using not the foot to move it, +Using not the knee to turn it, +Using nothing to propel it. +Thus the third task was completed, +For the hostess of Pohyola, +Dowry for the Maid of Beauty +Sitting on the arch of heaven, +On the bow of many colors. + + + + +RUNE XVIII. + + + +THE RIVAL SUITORS + + +Wainamoinen, old and truthful, +Long considered, long debated, +How to woo and win the daughter +Of the hostess of Pohyola, +How to lead the Bride of Beauty, +Fairy maiden of the rainbow, +To the meadows of Wainola, +From the dismal Sariola. +Now he decks his magic vessel, +Paints the boat in blue and scarlet, +Trims in gold the ship's forecastle, +Decks the prow in molten silver; +Sings his magic ship down gliding, +On the cylinders of fir-tree: +Now erects the masts of pine-wood, +On each mast the sails of linen, +Sails of blue, and white, and scarlet, +Woven into finest fabric. +Wainamoinen, the magician, +Steps aboard his wondrous vessel, +Steers the bark across the waters, +On the blue back of the broad-sea, +Speaks these words in sailing northward, +Sailing to the dark Pohyola: +"Come aboard my ship, O Ukko, +Come with me, thou God of mercy, +To protect thine ancient hero, +To support thy trusting servant, +On the breasts of raging billows, +On the far out-stretching waters. +"Rock, O winds, this wondrous vessel, +Causing not a single ripple; +Rolling waves, bear ye me northward, +That the oar may not be needed +In my journey to Pohyola, +O'er this mighty waste of waters." +Ilmarinen's beauteous sister, +Fair and goodly maid, Annikki, +Of the Night and Dawn, the daughter, +Who awakes each morning early, +Rises long before the daylight, +Stood one morning on the sea-shore, +Washing in the foam her dresses, +Rinsing out her silken ribbons, +On the bridge of scarlet color, +On the border of the highway, +On a headland jutting seaward, +On the forest-covered island. +Here Annikki, looking round her, +Looking through the fog and ether, +Looking through the clouds of heaven, +Gazing far out on the blue-sea, +Sees the morning sun arising, +Glimmering along the billows, +Looks with eyes of distant vision +Toward the sunrise on the waters, +Toward the winding streams of Suomi, +Where the Wina-waves were flowing. +There she sees, on the horizon, +Something darkle in the sunlight, +Something blue upon the billows, +Speaks these words in wonder guessing: +What is this upon the surges, +What this blue upon the waters, +What this darkling in the sunlight? +'Tis perhaps a flock of wild-geese, +Or perchance the blue-duck flying; +Then upon thy wings arising, +Fly away to highest heaven. +"Art thou then a shoal of sea-trout, +Or perchance a school of salmon? +Dive then to the deep sea-bottom, +In the waters swim and frolic. +"Art thou then a cliff of granite, +Or perchance a mighty oak-tree, +Floating on the rough sea-billows? +May the floods then wash and beat thee +Break thee to a thousand fragments." +Wainamoinen, sailing northward, +Steers his wondrous ship of magic +Toward the headland jutting seaward, +Toward the island forest-covered. +Now Annikki, goodly maiden, +Sees it is the magic vessel +Of a wonderful enchanter, +Of a mighty bard and hero, +And she asks this simple question: +"Art thou then my father's vessel, +Or my brother's ship of magic? +Haste away then to thy harbor, +To thy refuge in Wainola. +Hast thou come a goodly distance? +Sail then farther on thy journey, +Point thy prow to other waters." +It was not her father's vessel, +Not a sail-boat from the distance, +'Twas the ship of Wainamoinen, +Bark of the eternal singer; +Sails within a hailing distance, +Swims still nearer o'er the waters, +Brings one word and takes another, +Brings a third of magic import. +Speaks the goodly maid, Annikki, +Of the Night and Dawn, the daughter, +To the sailor of the vessel: +"Whither sailest, Wainamoinen, +Whither bound, thou friend of waters, +Pride and joy of Kalevala?" +From the vessel Wainamomen +Gives this answer to the maiden: +"I have come to catch some sea-trout, +Catch the young and toothsome whiting, +Hiding in tbese-reeds and rushes." +This the answer of Annikki: +"Do not speak to me in falsehood, +Know I well the times of fishing; +Long ago my honored father +Was a fisherman in Northland, +Came to catch the trout and whiting, +Fished within these seas and rivers. +Very well do I remember +How the fisherman disposes, +How he rigs his fishing vessel, +Lines, and gaffs, and poles, and fish-nets; +Hast not come a-fishing hither. +Whither goest, Wainamoinen, +Whither sailest, friend of waters? +Spake the ancient Wainamoinen: +"I have come to catch some wild-geese, +Catch the hissing birds of Suomi, +In these far-extending borders, +In the Sachsensund dominions." +Good Annikki gives this answer: +"Know I well a truthful speaker, +Easily detect a falsehood; +Formerly my aged father +Often came a-hunting hither, +Came to hunt the hissing wild-geese, +Hunt the red-bill of these waters. +Very well do I remember +How the hunter rigs his vessel, +Bows, and arrows, knives, and quiver, +Dogs enchained within the vessel, +Pointers hunting on the sea-shore, +Setters seeking in the marshes, +Tell the truth now Wainamoinen, +Whither is thy vessel sailing?" +Spake the hero of the Northland: +"To the wars my ship is sailing, +To the bloody fields of battle, +Where the streams run scarlet-colored, +Where the paths are paved with bodies!' +These the words of fair Annikki: +"Know I well the paths to battle. +Formerly my aged father +Often sounded war's alarum, +Often led the hosts to conquest; +In each ship a hundred rowers, +And in arms a thousand heroes, +Oil the prow a thousand cross-bows, +Swords, and spears, and battle-axes; +Know I well the ship of battle. +Speak Do longer fruitless falsehoods, +Whither sailest, Wainamoinen, +Whither steerest, friend of waters? +These the words of Wainamoinen: +"Come, O maiden, to my vessel, +In my magic ship be seated, +Then I'll give thee truthful answer." +Thus Annikki, silver-tinselled, +Answers ancient Wainamoinen: +"With the winds I'll fill thy vessel, +To thy bark I'll send the storm-winds +And capsize thy ship of magic, +Break in pieces its forecastle, +If the truth thou dost not tell me, +If thou dost not cease thy falsehoods, +If thou dost not tell me truly +Whither sails thy magic vessel." +These the words of Wainamoinen: +"Now I make thee truthful answer, +Though at first I spake deception: +I am sailing to the Northland +To the dismal Sariola, +Where the ogres live and flourish, +Where they drown the worthy heroes, +There to woo the Maid of Beauty +Sitting on the bow of heaven, +Woo and win the fairy virgin, +Bring her to my home and kindred, +To the firesides of Walnola." +Then Aunikki, graceful maiden, +Of the Night and Dawn, the daughter, +As she heard the rightful answer, +Knew the truth was fully spoken, +Straightway left her coats unbeaten, +Left unwashed her linen garments, +Left unrinsed her silks and ribbons +On the highway by the sea-shore, +On the bridge of scarlet color +On her arm she threw her long-robes, +Hastened off with speed of roebuck +To the shops of Ilmarinen, +To the iron-forger's furnace, +To the blacksmith's home and smithy, +Here she found the hero-artist, +Forging out a bench of iron, +And adorning it with silver. +Soot lay thick upon his forehead, +Soot and coal upon his shoulders. +On the threshold speaks Annikki, +These the words his sister uses: +"Ilmarinen, dearest brother, +Thou eternal artist-forger, +Forge me now a loom of silver, +Golden rings to grace my fingers, +Forge me gold and silver ear-rings, +Six or seven golden girdles, +Golden crosslets for my bosom, +For my head forge golden trinkets, +And I'll tell a tale surprising, +Tell a story that concerns thee +Truthfully I'll tell the story." +Then the blacksmith Ilmarinen +Spake and these the words he uttered: +"If thou'lt tell the tale sincerely, +I will forge the loom of silver, +Golden rings to grace thy fingers, +Forge thee gold and silver ear-rings, +Six or seven golden girdles, +Golden crosslets for thy bosom, +For thy head forge golden trinkets; +But if thou shouldst tell me falsely, +I shall break thy beauteous jewels, +Break thine ornaments in pieces, +Hurl them to the fire and furnace, +Never forge thee other trinkets." +This the answer of Annikki: +"Ancient blacksmith, Ilmarinen, +Dost thou ever think to marry +Her already thine affianced, +Beauteous Maiden of the Rainbow, +Fairest virgin of the Northland, +Chosen bride of Sariola? +Shouldst thou wish the Maid of Beauty, +Thou must forge, and forge unceasing, +Hammering the days and nights through; +Forge the summer hoofs for horses, +Forge them iron hoofs for winter, +In the long nights forge the snow-sledge, +Gaily trim it in the daytime, +Haste thou then upon thy journey +To thy wooing in the Northland, +To the dismal Sariola; +Thither journeys one more clever, +Sails another now before thee, +There to woo thy bride affianced, +Thence to lead thy chosen virgin, +Woo and win the Maid of Beauty; +Three long years thou hast been wooing. +Wainamoinen now is sailing +On the blue back of the waters, +Sitting at his helm of copper; +On the prow are golden carvings, +Beautiful his boat of magic, +Sailing fleetly o'er the billows, +To the never-pleasant Northland, +To the dismal Sariola." +Ilmarinen stood in wonder, +Stood a statue at the story; +Silent grief had settled o'er him, +Settled o'er the iron-artist; +From one hand the tongs descended, +From the other fell the hammer, +As the blacksmith made this answer: +"Good Annikki, worthy sister, +I shall forge the loom of silver, +Golden rings to grace thy fingers, +Forge thee gold and silver ear-rings, +Six or seven golden girdles, +Golden crosslets for thy bosom; +Go and heat for me the bath-room, +Fill with heat the honey-chambers, +Lay the faggots on the fire-place, +Lay the smaller woods around them, +Pour some water through the ashes, +Make a soap of magic virtue, +Thus to cleanse my blackened visage, +Thus to cleanse the blacksmith's body, +Thus remove the soot and ashes." +Then Annikki, kindly sister, +Quickly warmed her brother's bath-room, +Warmed it with the knots of fir-trees, +That the thunder-winds had broken; +Gathered pebbles from the fire-stream, +Threw them in the heating waters; +Broke the tassels from the birch-trees, +Steeped the foliage in honey, +Made a lye from milk and ashes, +Made of these a strong decoction, +Mixed it with the fat and marrow +Of the reindeer of the mountains, +Made a soap of magic virtue, +Thus to cleanse the iron-artist, +Thus to beautify the suitor, +Thus to make the hero worthy. +Ilmarinen, ancient blacksmith, +The eternal metal-worker, +Forged the wishes of his sister, +Ornaments for fair Annikki, +Rings, and bracelets, pins and ear-drops, +Forged for her six golden girdles, +Forged a weaving loom of silver, +While the maid prepared the bath-room, +Set his toilet-room in order. +To the maid he gave the trinkets, +Gave the loom of molten silver, +And the sister thus made answer: +"I have heated well thy bath-room, +Have thy toilet-things in order, +Everything as thou desirest; +Go prepare thyself for wooing, +Lave thy bead to flaxen whiteness, +Make thy cheeks look fresh and ruddy, +Lave thyself in Love's aroma, +That thy wooing prove successful." +Ilmarinen, magic artist, +Quick repairing to his bath-room, +Bathed his head to flaxen whiteness, +Made his cheeks look fresh and ruddy, +Laved his eyes until they sparkled +Like the moonlight on the waters; +Wondrous were his form and features, +And his cheeks like ruddy berries. +These the words of Ilmarinen: +"Fair Annikki, lovely sister, +Bring me now my silken raiment, +Bring my best and richest vesture, +Bring me now my softest linen, +That my wooing prove successful." +Straightway did the helpful sister +Bring the finest of his raiment, +Bring the softest of his linen, +Raiment fashioned by his mother; +Brought to him his silken stockings, +Brought him shoes of marten-leather, +Brought a vest of sky-blue color, +Brought him scarlet-colored trousers, +Brought a coat with scarlet trimming, +Brought a red shawl trimmed in ermine +Fourfold wrapped about his body; +Brought a fur-coat made of seal-skin, +Fastened with a thousand bottons, +And adorned with countless jewels; +Brought for him his magic girdle, +Fastened well with golden buckles, +That his artist-mother fashioned; +Brought him gloves with golden wristlets, +That the Laplanders had woven +For a head of many ringlets; +Brought the finest cap in Northland, +That his ancient father purchased +When he first began his wooing. +Ilmarinen, blacksmith-artist, +Clad himself to look his finest, +When he thus addressed a servant: +"Hitch for me a fleet-foot racer, +Hitch him to my willing snow-sledge, +For I start upon a journey +To the distant shores of Pohya, +To the dismal Sariola." +Spake the servant thus in answer: +"Thou hast seven fleet-foot racers, +Munching grain within their mangers, +Which of these shall I make ready?" +Spake the blacksmith, Ilmarinen: +"Take the fleetest of my coursers, +Put the gray steed in the harness, +Hitch him to my sledge of magic; +Place six cuckoos on the break-board, +Seven bluebirds on the cross-bars, +Thus to charm the Northland maidens, +Thus to make them look and listen, +As the cuckoos call and echo. +Bring me too my largest bear-skin, +Fold it warm about the cross-bench; +Bring me then my marten fur-robes, +As a cover and protection." +Straightway then the trusty servant +Of the blacksmith, Ilmarinen, +Put the gray steed in the harness, +Hitched the racer to the snow-sledge, +Placed six cuckoos on the break-board, +Seven bluebirds on the cross-bars, +On the front to sing and twitter; +Then he brought the largest bear-skin, +Folded it upon the cross-bench; +Brought the finest robes of marten, +Warm protection for the master. +Ilmarinen, forger-artist, +The eternal metal-worker, +Earnestly entreated Ukko: +"Send thy snow-flakes, Ukko, father, +Let them gently fall from heaven, +Let them cover all the heather, +Let them hide the berry-bushes, +That my sledge may glide in freedom +O'er the hills to Sariola!" +Ukko sent the snow from heaven, +Gently dropped the crystal snow-flakes, +Lending thus his kind assistance +To the hero, Ilmarinen, +On his journey to the Northland. +Reins in hand, the ancient artist +Seats him in his metal snow-sledge, +And beseeches thus his Master: +"Good luck to my reins and traces, +Good luck to my shafts and runners! +God protect my magic snow-sledge, +Be my safeguard on my journey +To the dismal Sariola!" +Now the ancient Ilmarinen +Draws the reins upon the racer, +Snaps his whip above the courser, +To the gray steed gives this order, +And the charger plunges northward: +"Haste away, my flaxen stallion, +Haste thee onward, noble white-face, +To the never-pleasant Pohya, +To the dreary Sariola!" +Fast and faster flies the fleet-foot, +On the curving snow-capped sea-coast, +On the borders of the lowlands, +O'er the alder-hills and mountains. +Merrily the steed flies onward, +Bluebirds singing, cuckoos calling, +On the sea-shore looking northward, +Through the sand and falling snow-flakes +Blinding winds, and snow, and sea-foam, +Cloud the hero, Ilmarinen, +As he glides upon his journey, +Looking seaward for the vessel +Of the ancient Wainamoinen; +Travels one day, then a second, +Travels all the next day northward, +Till the third day Ilmarinen +Overtakes old Wainamoinen, +Rails him in his magic vessel, +And addresses thus the minstrel: +"O thou ancient Wainamoinen, +Let us woo in peace the maiden, +Fairest daughter or the Northland, +Sitting on the bow of heaven, +Let each labor long to win her, +Let her wed the one she chooses, +Him selecting, let her follow." +Wainamoinen thus makes answer: +"I agree to thy proposal, +Let us woo in peace the maiden, +Not by force, nor faithless measures, +Shall we woo the Maid of Beauty, +Let her follow him she chooses; +Let the unsuccessful suitor +Harbor neither wrath nor envy +For the hero that she follows." +Thus agreeing, on they journey, +Each according to his pleasure; +Fleetly does the steed fly onward, +Quickly flies the magic vessel, +Sailing on the broad-sea northward; +Ilmarinen's fleet-foot racer +Makes the hills of Northland tremble, +As he gallops on his journey +To the dismal Sariola. +Wainamoinen calls the South-winds, +And they fly to his assistance; +Swiftly sails his ship of beauty, +Swiftly plows the rough sea-billows +In her pathway to Pohyola. +Time had gone but little distance, +Scarce a moment had passed over, +Ere the dogs began their barking, +In the mansions of the Northland, +In the courts of Sariola, +Watch-dogs of the court of Louhi; +Never had they growled so fiercely, +Never had they barked so loudly, +Never with their tails had beaten +Northland into such an uproar. +Spake the master of Pohyola: +"Go and learn, my worthy daughter, +Why the watch-dogs have been barking, +Why the black-dog signals danger." +Quickly does the daughter answer: +"I am occupied, dear father, +I have work of more importance, +I must tend my flock of lambkins, +I must turn the nether millstone, +Grind to flour the grains of barley, +Run the grindings through the sifter, +Only have I time for grinding." +Lowly growls the faithful watch-dog, +Seldom does he growl so strangely. +Spake the master of Pohyola: +"Go and learn, my trusted consort, +Why the Northland dogs are barking, +Why the black-dog signals danger." +Thus his aged wife makes answer; +"Have no time, nor inclination, +I must feed my hungry household, +Must prepare a worthy dinner, +I must bake the toothsome biscuit, +Knead the dough till it is ready, +Only have I strength for kneading." +Spake the master of Pohyola: +"Dames are always in a hurry, +Maidens too are ever busy, +Whether warming at the oven, +Or asleep upon their couches; +Go my son, and learn the danger, +Why the black-dog growls displeasure," +Quickly does the son give answer: +"Have no time, nor inclination, +Am in haste to grind my hatchet; +I must chop this log to cordwood, +For the fire must cut the faggots, +I must split the wood in fragments, +Large the pile and small the fire-wood, +Only have I strength for chopping." +Still the watch-dog growls in anger, +Growl the whelps within the mansion, +Growl the dogs chained in the kennel, +Growls the black-dog on the hill-top, +Setting Northland in an uproar. +Spake the master of Pohyola: +"Never, never does my black-dog +Growl like this without a reason; +Never does he bark for nothing, +Does not growl at angry billows, +Nor the sighing of the pine-trees." +Then the master of Pohyola +Went himself to learn the reason +For the barking of the watch-dogs; +Strode he through the spacious court-yard, +Through the open fields beyond it, +To the summit of the uplands. +Looking toward his black-dog barking, +He beholds the muzzle pointed +To a distant, stormy hill-top, +To a mound with alders covered; +There he learned the rightful reason, +Why his dogs had barked so loudly, +Why had growled the wool-tail bearer, +Why his whelps had signalled danger. +At full sail, he saw a vessel, +And the ship was scarlet-colored, +Entering the bay of Lempo; +Saw a sledge of magic colors, +Gliding up the curving sea-shore, +O'er the snow-fields of Pohyola. +Then the master of the Northland +Hastened straightway to his dwelling, +Hastened forward to his court-room, +These the accents of the master: +"Often strangers journey hither, +On the blue back of the ocean, +Sailing in a scarlet vessel, +Rocking in the bay of Lempo; +Often strangers come in sledges +To the honey-lands of Louhi." +Spake the hostess of Pohyola: +How shall we obtain a token +Why these strangers journey hither? +My beloved, faithful daughter, +Lay a branch upon the fire-place, +Let it burn with fire of magic +If it trickle drops of scarlet, +War and bloodshed do they bring us; +If it trickle drops of water, +Peace and plenty bring the strangers." +Northland's fair and slender maiden, +Beautiful and modest daughter, +Lays a sorb-branch on the fire-place, +Lights it with the fire of magic; +Does not trickle drops of scarlet, +Trickles neither blood, nor water, +From the wand come drops of honey. +From the corner spake Suowakko, +This the language of the wizard: +"If the wand is dripping honey, +Then the strangers that are coming +Are but worthy friends and suitors." +Then the hostess of the Northland, +With the daughter of the hostess, +Straightway left their work, and hastened +From their dwelling to the court-yard; +Looked about in all directions, +Turned their eyes upon the waters, +Saw a magic-colored vessel +Rocking slowly in the harbor, +Having sailed the bay of Lempo, +Triple sails, and masts, and rigging, +Sable was the nether portion, +And the upper, scarlet-colored, +At the helm an ancient hero +Leaning on his oars of copper; +Saw a fleet-foot racer running, +Saw a red sledge lightly follow, +Saw the magic sledge emblazoned, +Guided toward the courts of Louhi; +Saw and heard six golden cuckoos +Sitting on the break-board, calling, +Seven bluebirds richly colored +Singing from the yoke and cross-bar; +In the sledge a magic hero, +Young, and strong, and proud, and handsome, +Holding reins upon the courser. +Spake the hostess of Pohyola: +"Dearest daughter, winsome maiden, +Dost thou wish a noble suitor? +Should these heroes come to woo thee, +Wouldst thou leave thy home and country, +Be the bride of him that pleases, +Be his faithful life-companion? +"He that comes upon the waters, +Sailing in a magic vessel, +Having sailed the bay of Lempo, +Is the good, old Wainamoinen; +In his ship are countless treasures, +Richest presents from Wainola. +"He that rides here in his snow-sledge +In his sledge of magic beauty, +With the cuckoos and the bluebirds, +Is the blacksmith, Ilmarinen, +Cometh hither empty-handed, +Only brings some wisdom-sayings. +When they come within the dwelling, +Bring a bowl of honeyed viands, +Bring a pitcher with two handles, +Give to him that thou wouldst follow +Give it to old Wainamoinen, +Him that brings thee countless treasures, +Costly presents in his vessel, +Priceless gems from Kalevala." +Spake the Northland's lovely daughter, +This the language of the maiden +"Good, indeed, advice maternal, +But I will not wed for riches, +Wed no man for countless treasures; +For his worth I'll choose a husband, +For his youth and fine appearance, +For his noble form and features; +In the olden times the maidens +Were not sold by anxious mothers +To the suitors that they loved not. +I shall choose without his treasures +Ilmarinen for his wisdom, +For his worth and good behavior, +Him that forged the wondrous Sampo, +Hammered thee the lid in colors." +Spake the hostess of Pohyola: +"Senseless daughter, child of folly, +Thus to choose the ancient blacksmith, +From whose brow drips perspiration, +Evermore to rinse his linen, +Lave his hands, and eyes, and forehead, +Keep his ancient house in order; +Little use his wit and wisdom +When compared with gold and silver." +This the answer of the daughter: +"I will never, never, never, +Wed the ancient Wainamoinen +With his gold and priceless jewels; +Never will I be a helpmate +To a hero in his dotage, +Little thanks my compensation." +Wainamoinen, safely landing +In advance of Ilmarinen, +Pulls his gaily-covered vessel +From the waves upon the sea-beach, +On the cylinders of birch-wood, +On the rollers copper-banded, +Straightway hastens to the guest-room +Of the hostess of Pohyola, +Of the master of the Northland, +Speaks these words upon the threshold +To the famous Maid of Beauty: +"Come with me, thou lovely virgin, +Be my bride and life-companion, +Share with me my joys and sorrows, +Be my honored wife hereafter!" +This the answer of the maiden: +"Hast thou built for me the vessel, +Built for me the ship of magic +From the fragments of the distaff, +From the splinters of the spindle?" +Wainamoinen thus replying: +"I have built the promised vessel, +Built the wondrous ship for sailing, +Firmly joined the parts by magic; +It will weather roughest billows, +Will outlive the winds and waters, +Swiftly glide upon the blue-back +Of the deep and boundless ocean +It will ride the waves in beauty, +Like an airy bubble rising, +Like a cork on lake and river, +Through the angry seas of Northland, +Through Pohyola's peaceful waters." +Northland's fair and slender daughter +Gives this answer to her suitor: +"Will not wed a sea-born hero, +Do not care to rock the billows, +Cannot live with such a husband +Storms would bring us pain and trouble, +Winds would rack our hearts and temples; +Therefore thee I cannot follow, +Cannot keep thy home in order, +Cannot be thy life-companion, +Cannot wed old Wainamoinen." + + + + +RUNE XIX. + + + +ILMARINEN'S WOOING. + + +Ilmarinen, hero-blacksmith, +The eternal metal-worker, +Hastens forward to the court-room +Of the hostess of Pohyola, +Of the master of the Northland, +Hastens through the open portals +Into Louhi's home and presence. +Servants come with silver pitchers, +Filled with Northland's richest brewing; +Honey-drink is brought and offered +To the blacksmith of Wainola, +Ilmarinen thus replying: +"I shall not in all my life-time +Taste the drink that thou hast brought me, +Till I see the Maid of Beauty, +Fairy Maiden of the Rainbow; +I will drink with her in gladness, +For whose hand I journey hither." +Spake the hostess of Pohyola: +"Trouble does the one selected +Give to him that wooes and watches; +Not yet are her feet in sandals, +Thine affianced is not ready. +Only canst thou woo my daughter, +Only canst thou win the maiden, +When thou hast by aid of magic +Plowed the serpent-field of Hisi, +Plowed the field of hissing vipers, +Touching neither beam nor handles. +Once this field was plowed by Piru, +Lempo furrowed it with horses, +With a plowshare made of copper, +With a beam of flaming iron; +Never since has any hero +Brought this field to cultivation." +Ilmarinen of Wainola +Straightway hastens to the chamber +Of the Maiden of the Rainbow, +Speaks these words in hesitation: +"Thou of Night and Dawn the daughter, +Tell me, dost thou not remember +When for thee I forged the Sampo, +Hammered thee the lid in colors? +Thou didst swear by oath the strougest, +By the forge and by the anvil, +By the tongs and by the hammer, +In the ears of the Almighty, +And before omniscient Ukko, +Thou wouldst follow me hereafter, +Be my bride, my life-companion, +Be my honored wife forever. +Now thy mother is exacting, +Will not give to me her daughter, +Till by means of magic only, +I have plowed the field of serpents, +Plowed the hissing soil of Hisi." +The affianced Bride of Beauty +Gives this answer to the suitor: +"O, thou blacksmith, Ilmarinen, +The eternal wonder-forger, +Forge thyself a golden plowshare, +Forge the beam of shining silver, +And of copper forge the handles; +Then with ease, by aid of magic, +Thou canst plow the field of serpents, +Plow the hissing soil of Hisi." +Ilmarinen, welcome suitor, +Straightway builds a forge and smithy, +Places gold within the furnace, +In the forge he lays the silver, +Forges then a golden plowshare, +Forges, too, a beam of silver, +Forges handles out of copper, +Forges boots and gloves of iron, +Forges him a mail of metal, +For his limbs a safe protection, +Safe protection for his body. +Then a horse of fire selecting, +Harnesses the flaming stallion, +Goes to plow the field of serpents, +Plow the viper-lands of Hisi. +In the field were countless vipers, +Serpents there of every species, +Crawling, writhing, hissing, stinging, +Harmless all against the hero, +Thus he stills the snakes of Lempo: +"Vipers, ye by God created, +Neither best nor worst of creatures, +Ye whose wisdom comes from Ukko, +And whose venom comes from Hisi, +Ukko is your greater Master, +By His will your heads are lifted; +Get ye hence before my plowing, +Writ-he ye through the grass and stubble, +Crawl ye to the nearest thicket, +Keep your heads beneath the heather, +Hunt our holes to Mana's kingdom +If your poison-heads be lifted, +Then will mighty Ukko smite them +'With his iron-pointed arrows, +With the lightning of his anger." +Thus the blacksmith, Ilmarinen, +Safely plows the field of serpents, +Lifts the vipers in his plowing, +Buries them beneath the furrow, +Harmless all against his magic. +When the task had been completed, +Ilmarinen, quick returning, +Thus addressed Pohyola's hostess: +"I have plowed the field of Hisi, +Plowed the field of hissing serpents, +Stilled and banished all the vipers; +Give me, ancient dame, thy daughter, +Fairest maiden of the Northland. +Spake the hostess of Pohyola: +"Shall not grant to thee my daughter, +Shall not give my lovely virgin, +Till Tuoni's bear is muzzled, +Till Manala's wolf is conquered, +In the forests of the Death-land, +In the boundaries of Mana. +Hundreds have been sent to hunt him, +So one yet has been successful, +All have perished in Manala." +Thereupon young Ilmarinen +To the maiden's chamber hastens, +Thus addresses his affianced: +"Still another test demanded, +I must go to Tuonela, +Bridle there the bear of Mana, +Bring him from the Death-land forests, +From Tuoni's grove and empire! +This advice the maiden gives him: +"O thou artist, Ilmarinen, +The eternal metal-worker, +Forge of steel a magic bridle, +On a rock beneath the water, +In the foaming triple currents; +Make the straps of steel and copper, +Bridle then the bear of Mana, +Lead him from Tuoni's forests." +Then the blacksmith, Ilmarinen, +Forged of steel a magic bridle, +On a rock beneath the water, +In the foam of triple currents; +Made the straps of steel and copper, +Straightway went the bear to muzzle, +In the forests of the Death-land, +Spake these words in supplication: +"Terhenetar, ether-maiden, +Daughter of the fog and snow-flake, +Sift the fog and let it settle +O'er the bills and lowland thickets, +Where the wild-bear feeds and lingers, +That he may not see my coming, +May not hear my stealthy footsteps!" +Terhenetar hears his praying, +Makes the fog and snow-flake settle +On the coverts of the wild-beasts; +Thus the bear he safely bridles, +Fetters him in chains of magic, +In the forests of Tuoni, +In the blue groves of Manala. +When this task had been completed, +Ilmarinen, quick returning, +Thus addressed the ancient Louhi: +"Give me, worthy dame, thy daughter, +Give me now my bride affianced, +I have brought the bear of Mana +From Tuoni's fields and forests." +Spake the hostess of Pohyola +To the blacksmith, Ilmarinen: +"I will only give my daughter, +Give to thee the Maid of Beauty, +When the monster-pike thou catchest +In the river of Tuoni, +In Manala's fatal waters, +Using neither hooks, nor fish-nets, +Neither boat, nor fishing-tackle; +Hundreds have been sent to catch him, +No one yet has been successful, +All have perished in Manala." +Much disheartened, Ilmarinen +Hastened to the maiden's chamber, +Thus addressed the rainbow-maiden: +"Now a third test is demanded, +Much more difficult than ever; +I must catch the pike of Mana, +In the river of Tuoni, +And without my fishing-tackle, +Hard the third test of the hero! +This advice the maiden gives him: +"O thou hero, Ilmarinen, +Never, never be discouraged: +In thy furnace, forge an eagle, +From the fire of ancient magic; +He will catch the pike of Mana, +Catch the monster-fish in safety, +From the death-stream of Tuoni, +From Manala's fatal waters." +Then the suitor, Ilmarinen, +The eternal artist-forgeman, +In the furnace forged an eagle +From the fire of ancient wisdom; +For this giant bird of magic +Forged he talons out of iron, +And his beak of steel and copper; +Seats himself upon the eagle, +On his back between the wing-bones, +Thus addresses he his creature, +Gives the bird of fire, this order: +"Mighty eagle, bird of beauty, +Fly thou whither I direct thee, +To Tuoni's coal-black river, +To the blue deeps of the Death-stream, +Seize the mighty fish of Mana, +Catch for me this water-monster." +Swiftly flies the magic eagle, +Giant-bird of worth and wonder, +To the river of Tuoni, +There to catch the pike of Mana; +One wing brushes on the waters, +While the other sweeps the heavens; +In the ocean dips his talons, +Whets his beak on mountain-ledges. +Safely landing, Ilmarinen, +The immortal artist-forger, +Hunts the monster of the Death-stream, +While the eagle hunts and fishes +In the waters of Manala. +From the river rose a monster, +Grasped the blacksmith, Ilmarinen, +Tried to drag him to his sea-cave; +Quick the eagle pounced upon him, +With his metal-beak he seized him, +Wrenched his head, and rent his body, +Hurled him back upon the bottom +Of the deep and fatal river, +Freed his master, Ilmarinen. +Then arose the pike of Mana, +Came the water-dog in silence, +Of the pikes was not the largest, +Nor belonged he to the smallest; +Tongue the length of double hatchets, +Teeth as long as fen-rake handles, +Mouth as broad as triple streamlets, +Back as wide as seven sea-boats, +Tried to snap the magic blacksmith, +Tried to swallow Ilmarinen. +Swiftly swoops the mighty eagle, +Of the birds was not the largest, +Nor belonged he to the smallest; +Mouth as wide as seven streamlets, +Tongue as long as seven javelins, +Like five crooked scythes his talons; +Swoops upon the pike of Mana. +Quick the giant fish endangered, +Darts and flounders in the river, +Dragging down the mighty eagle, +Lashing up the very bottom +To the surface of the river; +When the mighty bird uprising +Leaves the wounded pike in water, +Soars aloft on worsted pinions +To his home in upper ether; +Soars awhile, and sails, and circles, +Circles o'er the reddened waters, +Swoops again on lightning-pinions, +Strikes with mighty force his talons +Into the shoulder of his victim; +Strikes the second of his talons +On the flinty mountain-ledges, +On the rocks with iron hardened; +From the cliffs rebound his talons, +Slip the flinty rocks o'erhanging, +And the monster-pike resisting +Dives again beneath the surface +To the bottom of the river, +From the talons of the eagle; +Deep, the wounds upon the body +Of the monster of Tuoni. +Still a third time soars the eagle, +Soars, and sails, and quickly circles, +Swoops again upon the monster, +Fire out-shooting from his pinoins, +Both his eyeballs flashing lightning; +With his beak of steel and copper +Grasps again the pike of Mana +Firmly planted are his talons +In the rocks and in his victim, +Drags the monster from the river, +Lifts the pike above the waters, +From Tuoni's coal-black river, +From the blue-back of Manala. +Thus the third time does the eagle +Bring success from former failures; +Thus at last the eagle catches +Mana's pike, the worst of fishes, +Swiftest swimmer of the waters, +From the river of Tuoni; +None could see Manala's river, +For the myriad of fish-scales; +Hardly could one see through ether, +For the feathers of the eagle, +Relicts of the mighty contest. +Then the bird of copper talons +Took the pike, with scales of silver, +To the pine-tree's topmost branches, +To the fir-tree plumed with needles, +Tore the monster-fish in pieces, +Ate the body of his victim, +Left the head for Ilmarinen. +Spake the blacksmith to the eagle: +"O thou bird of evil nature, +What thy thought and what thy motive? +Thou hast eaten what I needed, +Evidence of my successes; +Thoughtless eagle, witless instinct, +Thus to mar the spoils of conquest!" +But the bird of metal talons +Hastened onward, soaring upward, +Rising higher into ether, +Rising, flying, soaring, sailing, +To the borders of the long-clouds, +Made the vault of ether tremble, +Split apart the dome of heaven, +Broke the colored bow of Ukko, +Tore the Moon-horns from their sockets, +Disappeared beyond the Sun-land, +To the home of the triumphant. +Then the blacksmith, Ilmarinen, +Took the pike-head to the hostess +Of the ever-dismal Northland, +Thus addressed the ancient Louhi: +"Let this head forever serve thee +As a guest-bench for thy dwelling, +Evidence of hero-triumphs; +I have caught the pike of Mana, +I have done as thou demandest, +Three my victories in Death-land, +Three the tests of magic heroes; +Wilt thou give me now thy daughter, +Give to me the Maid of Beauty?" +Spake the hostess of Pohyola: +"Badly is the test accomplished, +Thou has torn the pike in pieces, +From his neck the head is severed, +Of his body thou hast eaten, +Brought to me this worthless relic! +These the words of Ilmarinen: +"When the victory is greatest, +Do we suffer greatest losses! +From the river of Tuoni, +From the kingdom of Manala, +I have brought to thee this trophy, +Thus the third task is completed. +Tell me is the maiden ready, +Wilt thou give the bride affianced? +Spake the hostess of Pohyola: +"I will give to thee my daughter, +Will prepare my snow-white virgin, +For the suitor, Ilmarinen; +Thou hast won the Maid of Beauty, +Bride is she of thine hereafter, +Fit companion of thy fireside, +Help and joy of all thy lifetime." +On the floor a child was sitting, +And the babe this tale related. +"There appeared within this dwelling, +Came a bird within the castle, +From the East came flying hither, +From the East, a monstrous eagle, +One wing touched the vault of heaven, +While the other swept the ocean; +With his tail upon the waters, +Reached his beak beyond the cloudlets, +Looked about, and eager watching, +Flew around, and sailing, soaring, +Flew away to hero-castle, +Knocked three times with beak of copper +On the castle-roof of iron; +But the eagle could not enter. +"Then the eagle, looking round him, +Flew again, and sailed, and circled, +Flew then to the mothers' castle, +Loudly rapped with heavy knocking +On the mothers' roof of copper; +But the eagle could not enter. +"Then the eagle, looking round him, +Flew a third time, sailing, soaring, +Flew then to the virgins' castle, +Knocked again with beak of copper, +On the virgins' roof of linen, +Easy for him there to enter; +Flew upon the castle-chimney, +Quick descending to the chamber, +Pulled the clapboards from the studding, +Tore the linen from the rafters, +Perched upon the chamber-window, +Near the walls of many colors, +On the cross-bars gaily-feathered, +Looked upon the curly-beaded, +Looked upon their golden ringlets, +Looked upon the snow-white virgins, +On the purest of the maidens, +On the fairest of the daughters, +On the maid with pearly necklace, +On the maiden wreathed in flowers; +Perched awhile, and looked, admiring, +Swooped upon the Maid of Beauty, +On the purest of the virgins, +On the whitest, on the fairest, +On the stateliest and grandest, +Swooped upon the rainbow-daughter +Of the dismal Sariola; +Grasped her in his mighty talons, +Bore away the Maid of Beauty, +Maid of fairest form and feature, +Maid adorned with pearly necklace, +Decked in feathers iridescent, +Fragrant flowers upon her bosom, +Scarlet band around her forehead, +Golden rings upon her fingers, +Fairest maiden of the Northland." +Spake the hostess of Pohyola, +When the babe his tale had ended: +"Tell me bow, my child beloved, +Thou hast learned about the maiden, +Hast obtained the information, +How her flaxen ringlets nestled, +How the maiden's silver glistened, +How the virgin's gold was lauded. +Shone the silver Sun upon thee, +Did the moonbeams bring this knowledge?" +From the floor the child made answer: +"Thus I gained the information, +Moles of good-luck led me hither, +To the home, of the distinguished, +To the guest-room of the maiden, +Good-name bore her worthy father, +He that sailed the magic vessel; +Better-name enjoyed the mother, +She that baked the bread of barley, +She that kneaded wheaten biscuits, +Fed her many guests in Northland. +"Thus the information reached me, +Thus the distant stranger heard it, +Heard the virgin had arisen: +Once I walked within the court-yard, +Stepping near the virgin's chamber, +At an early hour of morning, +Ere the Sun had broken slumber +Whirling rose the soot in cloudlets, +Blackened wreaths of smoke came rising +From the chamber of the maiden, +From thy daughter's lofty chimney; +There the maid was busy grinding, +Moved the handles of the millstone +Making voices like the cuckoo, +Like the ducks the side-holes sounded, +And the sifter like the goldfinch, +Like the sea-pearls sang the grindstones. +"Then a second time I wandered +To the border of the meadow +In the forest was the maiden +Rocking on a fragrant hillock, +Dyeing red in iron vessels, +And in copper kettles, yellow. +"Then a third time did I wander +To the lovely maiden's window; +There I saw thy daughter weaving, +Heard the flying of her shuttle, +Heard the beating of her loom-lathe, +Heard the rattling of her treddles, +Heard the whirring of her yarn-reel." +Spake the hostess of Pohyola: +"Now alas! beloved daughter, +I have often taught this lesson: +'Do not sing among the pine-trees, +Do not call adown the valleys, +Do not hang thy head in walking, +Do not bare thine arms, nor shoulders, +Keep the secrets of thy bosom, +Hide thy beauty and thy power.' +"This I told thee in the autumn, +Taught thee in the summer season, +Sang thee in the budding spring-time, +Sang thee when the snows were falling: +'Let us build a place for hiding, +Let us build the smallest windows, +Where may weave my fairest daughter, +Where my maid may ply her shuttle, +Where my joy may work unnoticed +By the heroes of the Northland, +By the suitors of Wainola.'" +From the floor the child made answer, +Fourteen days the young child numbered; +"Easy 'tis to hide a war-horse +In the Northland fields and stables; +Hard indeed to hide a maiden, +Having lovely form and features! +Build of stone a distant castle +In the middle of the ocean, +Keep within thy lovely maiden, +Train thou there thy winsome daughter, +Not long hidden canst thou keep her. +Maidens will not grow and flourish, +Kept apart from men and heroes, +Will not live without their suitors, +Will not thrive without their wooers; +Thou canst never hide a maiden, +Neither on the land nor water." +Now the ancient Wainamoinen, +Head down-bent and heavy-hearted, +Wanders to his native country, +To Wainola's peaceful meadows, +To the plains of Kalevala, +Chanting as he journeys homeward: +"I have passed the age for wooing, +Woe is me, rejected suitor, +Woe is me, a witless minstrel, +That I did not woo and marry, +When my face was young and winsome, +When my hand was warm and welcome! +Youth dethrones my age and station, +Wealth is nothing, wisdom worthless, +When a hero goes a-wooing +With a poor but younger brother. +Fatal error that a hero +Does not wed in early manhood, +In his youth does not be master +Of a worthy wife and household." +Thus the ancient Wainamoinen +Sends the edict to his people: +"Old men must not go a-wooing, +Must not swim the sea of anger, +Must not row upon a wager, +Must not run a race for glory, +With the younger sons of Northland." + + + + +RUNE XX. + + + +THE BREWING OF BEER. + + +Now we sing the wondrous legends, +Songs of wedding-feasts and dances, +Sing the melodies of wedlock, +Sing the songs of old tradition; +Sing of Ilmarinen's marriage +To the Maiden of the Rainbow, +Fairest daughter of the Northland, +Sing the drinking-songs of Pohya. +Long prepared they for the wedding +In Pohyola's halls and chambers, +In the courts of Sariola; +Many things that Louhi ordered, +Great indeed the preparations +For the marriage of the daughter, +For the feasting of the heroes, +For the drinking of the strangers, +For the feeding of the poor-folk, +For the people's entertainment. +Grew an ox in far Karjala, +Not the largest, nor the smallest, +Was the ox that grew in Suomi; +But his size was all-sufficient, +For his tail was sweeping Jamen, +And his head was over Kemi, +Horns in length a hundred fathoms, +Longer than the horns his mouth was; +Seven days it took a weasel +To encircle neck and shoulders; +One whole day a swallow journeyed +From one horn-tip to the other, +Did not stop between for resting. +Thirty days the squirrel travelled +From the tail to reach the shoulders, +But he could not gain the horn-tip +Till the Moon had long passed over. +This young ox of huge dimensions, +This great calf of distant Suomi, +Was conducted from Karjala +To the meadows of Pohyola; +At each horn a hundred heroes, +At his head and neck a thousand. +When the mighty ox was lassoed, +Led away to Northland pastures, +Peacefully the monster journeyed +By the bays of Sariola, +Ate the pasture on the borders; +To the clouds arose his shoulders, +And his horns to highest heaven. +Not in all of Sariola +Could a butcher be discovered +That could kill the ox for Louhi, +None of all the sons of Northland, +In her hosts of giant people, +In her rising generation, +In the hosts of those grown older. +Came a hero from a distance, +Wirokannas from Karelen, +And these words the gray-beard uttered: +"Wait, O wait, thou ox of Suomi, +Till I bring my ancient war-club; +Then I'll smite thee on thy forehead, +Break thy skull, thou willing victim! +Nevermore wilt thou in summer +Browse the woods of Sariola, +Bare our pastures, fields, and forests; +Thou, O ox, wilt feed no longer +Through the length and breadth of Northland, +On the borders of this ocean!" +When the ancient Wirokannas +Started out the ox to slaughter, +When Palwoinen swung his war-club, +Quick the victim turned his forehead, +Flashed his flaming eyes upon him; +To the fir-tree leaped the hero, +In the thicket hid Palwoinen, +Hid the gray-haired Wirokannas. +Everywhere they seek a butcher, +One to kill the ox of Suomi, +In the country of Karelen, +And among the Suomi-giants, +In the quiet fields of Ehstland, +On the battle-fields of Sweden, +Mid the mountaineers of Lapland, +In the magic fens of Turya; +Seek him in Tuoni's empire, +In the death-courts of Manala. +Long the search, and unsuccessful, +On the blue back of the ocean, +On the far-outstretching pastures. +There arose from out the sea-waves, +Rose a hero from the waters, +On the white-capped, roaring breakers, +From the water's broad expanses; +Nor belonged he to the largest, +Nor belonged he to the smallest; +Made his bed within a sea-shell, +Stood erect beneath a flour-sieve, +Hero old, with hands of iron, +And his face was copper-colored; +Quick the hero full unfolded, +Like the full corn from the kernel. +On his head a hat of flint-stone, +On his feet were sandstone-sandals, +In his hand a golden cleaver, +And the blade was copper-handled. +Thus at last they found a butcher, +Found the magic ox a slayer. +Nothing has been found so mighty +That it has not found a master. +As the sea-god saw his booty, +Quickly rushed he on his victim, +Hurled him to his knees before him, +Quickly felled the calf of Suomi, +Felled the young ox of Karelen. +Bountifully meat was furnished; +Filled at least a thousand hogsheads +Of his blood were seven boatfuls, +And a thousand weight of suet, +For the banquet of Pohyola, +For the marriage-feast of Northland. +In Pohyola was a guest-room, +Ample was the hall of Louhi, +Was in length a hundred furlongs, +And in breadth was nearly fifty; +When upon the roof a rooster +Crowed at break of early morning, +No one on the earth could hear him; +When the dog barked at one entrance, +None could hear him at the other. +Louhi, hostess of Pohyola, +Hastens to the hall and court-room, +In the centre speaks as follows: +"Whence indeed will come the liquor, +Who will brew me beer from barley, +Who will make the mead abundant, +For the people of the Northland, +Coming to my daughter's marriage, +To her drinking-feast and nuptials? +Cannot comprehend the malting, +Never have I learned the secret, +Nor the origin of brewing." +Spake an old man from his corner: +"Beer arises from the barley, +Comes from barley, hops, and water, +And the fire gives no assistance. +Hop-vine was the son of Remu, +Small the seed in earth was planted, +Cultivated in the loose soil, +Scattered like the evil serpents +On the brink of Kalew-waters, +On the Osmo-fields and borders. +There the young plant grew and flourished, +There arose the climbing hop-vine, +Clinging to the rocks and alders. +"Man of good-luck sowed the barley +On the Osmo hills and lowlands, +And the barley grew and flourished, +Grew and spread in rich abundance, +Fed upon the air and water, +On the Osmo plains and highlands, +On the fields of Kalew-heroes. +"Time had travelled little distance, +Ere the hops in trees were humming, +Barley in the fields was singing, +And from Kalew's well the water, +This the language of the trio: +'Let us join our triple forces, +Join to each the other's powers; +Sad alone to live and struggle, +Little use in working singly, +Better we should toil together.' +"Osmotar, the beer-preparer, +Brewer of the drink refreshing, +Takes the golden grains of barley, +Taking six of barley-kernels, +Taking seven tips of hop-fruit, +Filling seven cups with water, +On the fire she sets the caldron, +Boils the barley, hops, and water, +Lets them steep, and seethe, and bubble +Brewing thus the beer delicious, +In the hottest days of summer, +On the foggy promontory, +On the island forest-covered; +Poured it into birch-wood barrels, +Into hogsheads made of oak-wood. +"Thus did Osmotar of Kalew +Brew together hops and barley, +Could not generate the ferment. +Thinking long and long debating, +Thus she spake in troubled accents: +'What will bring the effervescence, +Who will add the needed factor, +That the beer may foam and sparkle, +May ferment and be delightful?' +Kalevatar, magic maiden, +Grace and beauty in her fingers, +Swiftly moving, lightly stepping, +In her trimly-buckled sandals, +Steps upon the birch-wood bottom, +Turns one way, and then another, +In the centre of the caldron; +Finds within a splinter lying +From the bottom lifts the fragment, +Turns it in her fingers, musing: +'What may come of this I know not, +In the hands of magic maidens, +In the virgin hands of Kapo, +Snowy virgin of the Northland!' +"Kalevatar took the splinter +To the magic virgin, Kapo, +Who by unknown force and insight. +Rubbed her hands and knees together, +And produced a snow-white squirrel; +Thus instructed she her creature, +Gave the squirrel these directions: +'Snow-white squirrel, mountain-jewel, +Flower of the field and forest, +Haste thee whither I would send thee, +Into Metsola's wide limits, +Into Tapio's seat of wisdom; +Hasten through the heavy tree-tops, +Wisely through the thickest branches, +That the eagle may not seize thee, +Thus escape the bird of heaven. +Bring me ripe cones from the fir-tree, +From the pine-tree bring me seedlings, +Bring them to the hands of Kapo, +For the beer of Osmo's daughter.' +Quickly hastened forth the squirrel, +Quickly sped the nimble broad-tail, +Swiftly hopping on its journey +From one thicket to another, +From the birch-tree to the aspen, +From the pine-tree to the willow, +From the sorb-tree to the alder, +Jumping here and there with method, +Crossed the eagle-woods in safety, +Into Metsola's wide limits, +Into Tapio's seat of wisdom; +There perceived three magic pine-trees, +There perceived three smaller fir-trees, +Quickly climbed the dark-green branches, +Was not captured by the eagle, +Was not mangled in his talons; +Broke the young cones from the fir-tree, +Cut the shoots of pine-tree branches, +Hid the cones within his pouches, +Wrapped them in his fur-grown mittens +Brought them to the hands of Kapo, +To the magic virgin's fingers. +Kapo took the cones selected, +Laid them in the beer for ferment, +But it brought no effervescence, +And the beer was cold and lifeless. +"Osmotar, the beer-preparer, +Kapo, brewer of the liquor, +Deeply thought and long considered: +'What will bring the effervescence, +Who will lend me aid efficient, +That the beer may foam and sparkle, +May ferment and be refreshing?' +"Kalevatar, sparkling maiden, +Grace and beauty in her fingers, +Softly moving, lightly stepping, +In her trimly-buckled sandals, +Steps again upon the bottom, +Turns one way and then another, +In the centre of the caldron, +Sees a chip upon the bottom, +Takes it from its place of resting, +Looks upon the chip and muses +'What may come of this I know not, +In the hands of mystic maidens, +In the hands of magic Kapo, +In the virgin's snow-white fingers.' +"Kalevatar took the birch-chip +To the magic maiden, Kapo, +Gave it to the white-faced maiden. +Kapo, by the aid of magic, +Rubbed her hands and knees together, +And produced a magic marten, +And the marten, golden-breasted; +Thus instructed she her creature, +Gave the marten these directions. +'Thou, my golden-breasted marten, +Thou my son of golden color, +Haste thou whither I may send thee, +To the bear-dens of the mountain, +To the grottoes of the growler, +Gather yeast upon thy fingers, +Gather foam from lips of anger, +From the lips of bears in battle, +Bring it to the hands of Kapo, +To the hands of Osmo's daughter.' +"Then the marten golden-breasted, +Full consenting, hastened onward, +Quickly bounding on his journey, +Lightly leaping through the distance +Leaping o'er the widest rivers, +Leaping over rocky fissures, +To the bear-dens of the mountain, +To the grottoes of the growler, +Where the wild-bears fight each other, +Where they pass a dread existence, +Iron rocks, their softest pillows, +In the fastnesses of mountains; +From their lips the foam was dripping, +From their tongues the froth of anger; +This the marten deftly gathered, +Brought it to the maiden, Kapo, +Laid it in her dainty fingers. +"Osmotar, the beer-preparer, +Brewer of the beer of barley, +Used the beer-foam as a ferment; +But it brought no effervescence, +Did not make the liquor sparkle. +"Osmotar, the beer-preparer, +Thought again, and long debated: +'Who or what will bring the ferment, +Th at my beer may not be lifeless?' +"Kalevatar, magic maiden, +Grace and beauty in her fingers, +Softly moving, lightly stepping, +In her trimly-buckled sandals, +Steps again upon the bottom, +Turns one way and then another, +In the centre of the caldron, +Sees a pod upon the bottom, +Lifts it in her snow-white fingers, +Turns it o'er and o'er, and muses: +'What may come of this I know not, +In the hands of magic maidens, +In the hands of mystic Kapo, +In the snowy virgin's fingers?' +"Kalevatar, sparkling maiden, +Gave the pod to magic Kapo; +Kapo, by the aid of magic, +Rubbed the pod upon her knee-cap, +And a honey-bee came flying +From the pod within her fingers, +Kapo thus addressed her birdling: +'Little bee with honeyed winglets, +King of all the fragrant flowers, +Fly thou whither I direct thee, +To the islands in the ocean, +To the water-cliffs and grottoes, +Where asleep a maid has fallen, +Girdled with a belt of copper +By her side are honey-grasses, +By her lips are fragrant flowers, +Herbs and flowers honey-laden; +Gather there the sweetened juices, +Gather honey on thy winglets, +From the calyces of flowers, +From the tips of seven petals, +Bring it to the hands of Kapo, +To the hands of Osmo's daughter.' +"Then the bee, the swift-winged birdling, +Flew away with lightning-swiftness +On his journey to the islands, +O'er the high waves of the ocean; +Journeyed one day, then a second, +Journeyed all the next day onward, +Till the third day evening brought him +To the islands in the ocean, +To the water-cliffs and grottoes; +Found the maiden sweetly sleeping, +In her silver-tinselled raiment, +Girdled with a belt of copper, +In a nameless meadow, sleeping, +In the honey-fields of magic; +By her side were honeyed grasses, +By her lips were fragrant flowers, +Silver stalks with golden petals; +Dipped its winglets in the honey, +Dipped its fingers in the juices +Of the sweetest of the flowers, +Brought the honey back to Kapo, +To the mystic maiden's fingers. +"Osmotar, the beer-preparer, +Placed the honey in the liquor; +Kapo mixed the beer and honey, +And the wedding-beer fermented; +Rose the live beer upward, upward, +From the bottom of the vessels, +Upward in the tubs of birch-wood, +Foaming higher, higher, higher, +Till it touched the oaken handles, +Overflowing all the caldrons; +To the ground it foamed and sparkled, +Sank away in sand and gravel. +"Time had gone but little distance, +Scarce a moment had passed over, +Ere the heroes came in numbers +To the foaming beer of Northland, +Rushed to drink the sparkling liquor. +Ere all others Lemminkainen +Drank, and grew intoxicated +On the beer of Osmo's daughter, +On the honey-drink of Kalew. +"Osmotar, the beer-preparer, +Kapo, brewer of the barley, +Spake these words in saddened accents: +'Woe is me, my life hard-fated, +Badly have I brewed the liquor, +Have not brewed the beer in wisdom, +Will not live within its vessels, +Overflows and fills Pohyola!' +"From a tree-top sings the redbreast, +From the aspen calls the robin: +'Do not grieve, thy beer is worthy, +Put it into oaken vessels, +Into strong and willing barrels +Firmly bound with hoops of copper.' +"Thus was brewed the beer or Northland, +At the hands of Osmo's daughter; +This the origin of brewing +Beer from Kalew-hops and barley; +Great indeed the reputation +Of the ancient beer of Kalew, +Said to make the feeble hardy, +Famed to dry the tears of women, +Famed to cheer the broken-hearted, +Make the aged young and supple, +Make the timid brave and mighty, +Make the brave men ever braver, +Fill the heart with joy and gladness, +Fill the mind with wisdom-sayings, +Fill the tongue with ancient legends, +Only makes the fool more foolish." +When the hostess of Pohyola +Heard how beer was first fermented, +Heard the origin of brewing, +Straightway did she fill with water +Many oaken tubs and barrels; +Filled but half the largest vessels, +Mixed the barley with the water, +Added also hops abundant; +Well she mixed the triple forces +In her tubs of oak and birch-wood, +Heated stones for months succeeding, +Thus to boil the magic mixture, +Steeped it through the days of summer, +Burned the wood of many forests, +Emptied all the, springs of Pohya; +Daily did the, forests lesson, +And the wells gave up their waters, +Thus to aid the hostess, Louhi, +In the brewing of the liquors, +From the water, hops, and barley, +And from honey of the islands, +For the wedding-feast of Northland, +For Pohyola's great carousal +And rejoicings at the marriage +Of the Malden of the Rainbow +To the blacksmith, Ilmarinen, +Metal-worker of Wainola. +Smoke is seen upon the island, +Fire, upon the promontory, +Black smoke rising to the heavens +From the fire upon the island; +Fills with clouds the half of Pohya, +Fills Karelen's many hamlets; +All the people look and wonder, +This the chorus of the women: +"Whence are rising all these smoke-clouds, +Why this dreadful fire in Northland? +Is not like the smoke of camp-fires, +Is too large for fires of shepherds!" +Lemminkainen's ancient mother +Journeyed in the early morning +For some water to the fountain, +Saw the smoke arise to heaven, +In the region of Pohyola, +These the words the mother uttered: +"'Tis the smoke of battle-heroes, +From the beat of warring armies!" +Even Ahti, island-hero, +Ancient wizard, Lemminkainen, +Also known as Kaukomieli, +Looked upon the scene in wonder, +Thought awhile and spake as follows: +"I would like to see this nearer, +Learn the cause of all this trouble, +Whence this smoke and great confusion, +Whether smoke from heat of battle, +Or the bonfires of the shepherds." +Kaukomieli gazed and pondered, +Studied long the rising smoke-clouds; +Came not from the heat of battle, +Came not from the shepherd bonfires; +Heard they were the fires of Louhi +Brewing beer in Sariola, +On Pohyola's promontory; +Long and oft looked Lemminkainen, +Strained in eagerness his vision, +Stared, and peered, and thought, and wondered, +Looked abashed and envy-swollen, +"O beloved, second mother, +Northland's well-intentioned hostess, +Brew thy beer of honey-flavor, +Make thy liquors foam and sparkle, +For thy many friends invited, +Brew it well for Lemminkainen, +For his marriage in Pohyola +With the Maiden of the Rainbow." +Finally the beer was ready, +Beverage of noble heroes, +Stored away in casks and barrels, +There to rest awhile in silence, +In the cellars of the Northland, +In the copper-banded vessels, +In the magic oaken hogsheads, +Plugs and faucets made of copper. +Then the hostess of Pohyola +Skilfully prepared the dishes, +Laid them all with careful fingers +In the boiling-pans and kettles, +Ordered countless loaves of barley, +Ordered many liquid dishes, +All the delicacies of Northland, +For the feasting of her people, +For their richest entertainment, +For the nuptial songs and dances, +At the marriage of her daughter +With the blacksmith, Ilmarinen. +When the loaves were baked and ready. +When the dishes all were seasoned, +Time had gone but little distance, +Scarce a moment had passed over, +Ere the beer, in casks imprisoned, +Loudly rapped, and sang, and murmured: +"Come, ye heroes, come and take me, +Come and let me cheer your spirits, +Make you sing the songs of wisdom, +That with honor ye may praise me, +Sing the songs of beer immortal!" +Straightway Louhi sought a minstrel, +Magic bard and artist-singer, +That the beer might well be lauded, +Might be praised in song and honor. +First as bard they brought a salmon, +Also brought a pike from ocean, +But the salmon had no talent, +And the pike had little wisdom; +Teeth of pike and gills of salmon +Were not made for singing legends. +Then again they sought a singer, +Magic minstrel, beer-enchanter, +Thus to praise the drink of heroes, +Sing the songs of joy and gladness; +And a boy was brought for singing; +But the boy had little knowledge, +Could not praise the beer in honor; +Children's tongues are filled with questions, +Children cannot speak in wisdom, +Cannot sing the ancient legends. +Stronger grew the beer imprisoned +In the copper-banded vessels, +Locked behind the copper faucets, +Boiled, and foamed, and sang, and murmured: +"If ye do not bring a singer, +That will sing my worth immortal, +That will sing my praise deserving, +I will burst these bands of copper, +Burst the heads of all these barrels; +Will not serve the best of heroes +Till he sings my many virtues." +Louhi, hostess of Pohyola, +Called a trusted maiden-servant, +Sent her to invite the people +To the marriage of her daughter, +These the words that Louhi uttered: +"O my trusted, truthful maiden, +Servant-maid to me belonging, +Call together all my people, +Call the heroes to my banquet, +Ask the rich, and ask the needy, +Ask the blind and deaf, and crippled, +Ask the young, and ask the aged; +Go thou to the hills, and hedges, +To the highways, and the by-ways, +Urge them to my daughter's wedding; +Bring the blind, and sorely troubled, +In my boats upon the waters, +In my sledges bring the halting, +With the old, and sick, and needy; +Ask the whole of Sariola, +Ask the people of Karelen, +Ask the ancient Wainamoinen, +Famous bard and wisdom-singer; +But I give command explicit +Not to ask wild Lemminkainen, +Not the island-dweller, Ahti!" +This the question of the servant: +"Why not ask wild Lemminkainen, +Ancient islander and minstrel?" +Louhi gave this simple answer: +"Good the reasons that I give thee +Why the wizard, Lemminkainen, +Must not have an invitation +To my daughter's feast and marriage +Ahti courts the heat of battle, +Lemminkainen fosters trouble, +Skilful fighter of the virtues; +Evil thinking, acting evil, +He would bring but pain and sorrow, +He would jest and jeer at maidens +In their trimly buckled raiment, +Cannot ask the evil-minded!" +Thus again the servant questions: +"Tell me how to know this Ahti, +Also known as Lemminkainen, +That I may not ask him hither; +Do not know the isle of Ahti, +Nor the home of Kaukomieli +Spake the hostess of Pohyola: +"Easy 'tis to know the wizard, +Easy find the Ahti-dwelling: +Ahti lives on yonder island, +On that point dwells Lemminkainen, +In his mansion near the water, +Far at sea his home and dwelling." +Thereupon the trusted maiden +Spread the wedding-invitations +To the people of Pohyola, +To the tribes of Kalevala; +Asked the friendless, asked the homeless +Asked the laborers and shepherds, +Asked the fishermen and hunters, +Asked the deaf, the dumb, the crippled, +Asked the young, and asked the aged, +Asked the rich, and asked the needy; +Did not give an invitation +To the reckless Lemminkainen, +Island-dweller of the ocean. + + + + +RUNE XXI. + + + +ILMARINEN'S WEDDING-FEAST. + + +Louhi, hostess of the Northland, +Ancient dame of Sariola, +While at work within her dwelling, +Heard the whips crack on the fenlands, +Heard the rattle of the sledges; +To the northward turned her glances, +Turned her vision to the sunlight, +And her thoughts ran on as follow: +"Who are these in bright apparel, +On the banks of Pohya-waters, +Are they friends or hostile armies?" +Then the hostess of the Northland +Looked again and well considered, +Drew much nearer to examine, +Found they were not hostile armies, +Found that they were friends and suitors. +In the midst was Ilmarinen, +Son-in-law to ancient Louhi. +When the hostess of Pohyola +Saw the son-in-law approaching +She addressed the words that follow: +"I had thought the winds were raging, +That the piles of wood were falling, +Thought the pebbles in commotion, +Or perchance the ocean roaring; +Then I hastened nearer, nearer, +Drew still nearer and examined, +Found the winds were not in battle, +Found the piles of wood unshaken, +Found the ocean was not roaring, +Nor the pebbles in commotion, +Found my son-in-law was coming +With his heroes and attendants, +Heroes counted by the hundreds. +"Should you ask of me the question, +How I recognized the bridegroom +Mid the hosts of men and heroes, +I should answer, I should tell you: +'As the hazel-bush in copses, +As the oak-tree in the forest, +As the Moon among the planets; +Drives the groom a coal-black courser, +Running like the famished black-dog, +Flying like the hungry raven, +Graceful as the lark at morning, +Golden cuckoos, six in number, +Twitter on the birchen cross-bow; +There are seven bluebirds singing +On the racer's hame and collar." +Noises hear they in the court-yard, +On the highway hear the sledges, +To the court comes Ilmarinen, +With his body-guard of heroes; +In the midst the chosen suitor, +Not too far in front of others, +Not too far behind his fellows. +Spake the hostess of Pohyola: +"Hie ye hither, men and heroes, +Haste, ye watchers, to the stables, +There unhitch the suitor's stallion, +Lower well the racer's breast-plate, +There undo the straps and buckles, +Loosen well the shafts and traces, +And conduct the suitor hither, +Give my son-in-law good welcome!" +Ilmarinen turned his racer +Into Louhi's yard and stables, +And descended from his snow-sledge. +Spake the hostess of Pohyola: +"Come, thou servant of my bidding, +Best of all my trusted servants, +Take at once the bridegroom's courser +From the shafts adorned with silver, +From the curving arch of willow, +Lift the harness trimmed in copper, +Tie the white-face to the manger, +Treat the suitor's steed with kindness, +Lead him carefully to shelter +By his soft and shining bridle, +By his halter tipped with silver; +Let him roll among the sand-hills, +On the bottoms soft and even, +On the borders of the snow-banks, +In the fields of milky color. +"Lead the hero's steed to water, +Lead him to the Pohya-fountains, +Where the living streams are flowing, +Sweet as milk of human kindness, +From the roots of silvery birches, +Underneath the shade of aspens. +"Feed the courser of the suitor, +On the sweetest corn and barley, +On the summer-wheat and clover, +In the caldron steeped in sweetness; +Feed him at the golden manger, +In the boxes lined with copper, +At my manger richly furnished, +In the warmest of the stables; +Tie him with a silk-like halter, +To the golden rings and staples, +To the hooks of purest silver, +Set in beams of birch and oak-wood; +Feed him on the hay the sweetest, +Feed him on the corn nutritious, +Give the best my barns can furnish. +"Curry well the suitor's courser +With the curry-comb of fish-bone, +Brush his hair with silken brushes, +Put his mane and tail in order, +Cover well with flannel blankets, +Blankets wrought in gold and silver, +Buckles forged from shining copper. +"Come, ye small lads of the village, +Lead the suitor to my chambers, +With your auburn locks uncovered, +From your hands remove your mittens, +See if ye can lead the hero +Through the door without his stooping, +Lifting not the upper cross-bar, +Lowering not the oaken threshold, +Moving not the birchen casings, +Great the hero who must enter. +"Ilmarinen is too stately, +Cannot enter through the portals, +Not the son-in-law and bridegroom, +Till the portals have been heightened; +Taller by a head the suitor +Than the door-ways of the mansion." +Quick the servants of Pohyola +Tore away the upper cross-bar, +That his cap might not be lifted; +Made the oaken threshold lower +That the hero might not stumble; +Made the birch-wood portals wider, +Opened full the door of welcome, +Easy entrance for the suitor. +Speaks the hostess of the Northland +As the bridegroom freely passes +Through the doorway of her dwelling: +"Thanks are due to thee, O Ukko, +That my son-in-law has entered! +Let me now my halls examine; +Make the bridal chambers ready, +Finest linen on my tables, +Softest furs upon my benches, +Birchen flooring scrubbed to whiteness, +All my rooms in perfect order." +Then the hostess of Pohyola +Visited her spacious dwelling, +Did not recognize her chambers; +Every room had been remodeled, +Changed by force of mighty magic; +All the halls were newly burnished, +Hedge-hog bones were used for ceilings, +Bones of reindeer for foundations, +Bones of wolverine for door-sills, +For the cross-bars bones of roebuck, +Apple-wood were all the rafters, +Alder-wood, the window-casings, +Scales of trout adorned the windows, +And the fires were set in flowers. +All the seats were made of silver, +All the floors of copper-tiling, +Gold-adorned were all the tables, +On the floor were silken mattings, +Every fire-place set in copper, +Every hearth-stone cut from marble, +On each shelf were colored sea-shells, +Kalew's tree was their protection. +To the court-room came the hero, +Chosen suitor from Wainola, +These the words of Ilmarinen: +"Send, O Ukko, health and pleasure +To this ancient home and dwelling, +To this mansion richly fashioned!" +Spake the hostess of Pohyola: +"Let thy coming be auspicious +To these halls of thee unworthy, +To the home of thine affianced, +To this dwelling lowly fashioned, +Mid the lindens and the aspens. +"Come, ye maidens that should serve me, +Come, ye fellows from the village, +Bring me fire upon the birch-bark, +Light the fagots of the fir-tree, +That I may behold the bridegroom, +Chosen suitor of my daughter, +Fairy Maiden of the Rainbow, +See the color of his eyeballs, +Whether they are blue or sable, +See if they are warm and faithful." +Quick the young lads from the village +Brought the fire upon the birch-bark, +Brought it on the tips of pine-wood; +And the fire and smoke commingled +Roll and roar about the hero, +Blackening the suitor's visage, +And the hostess speaks as follows; +"Bring the fire upon a taper, +On the waxen tapers bring it!" +Then the maidens did as bidden, +Quickly brought the lighted tapers, +Made the suitor's eyeballs glisten, +Made his cheeks look fresh and ruddy; +Made his eyes of sable color +Sparkle like the foam of waters, +Like the reed-grass on the margin, +Colored as the ocean jewels, +Iridescent as the rainbow. +"Come, ye fellows of the hamlet, +Lead my son-in-law and hero +To the highest seat at table, +To the seat of greatest honor, +With his back upon the blue-wall, +Looking on my bounteous tables, +Facing all the guests of Northland." +Then the hostess of Pohyola +Served her guests in great abundance, +Richest drinks and rarest viands, +First of all she, served the bridegroom +On his platters, honeyed biscuit, +And the sweetest river salmon, +Seasoned butter, roasted bacon, +All the dainties of Pohyola. +Then the helpers served the others, +Filled the plates of all invited +With the varied food of Northland. +Spake the hostess of Pohyola: +"Come, ye maidens from the village, +Hither bring the beer in pitchers, +In the urns with double handles, +To the many guests in-gathered, +Ere all others, serve the bridegroom." +Thereupon the merry maidens +Brought the beer in silver pitchers +From the copper-banded vessels, +For the wedding-guests assembled; +And the beer, fermenting, sparkled +On the beard of Ilmarinen, +On the beards of many heroes. +When the guests had all partaken +Of the wondrous beer of barley, +Spake the beer in merry accents +Through the tongues of the magicians, +Through the tongue of many a hero, +Through the tongue of Wainamoinen, +Famed to be the sweetest singer +Of the Northland bards and minstrels, +These the words of the enchanter: +"O thou beer of honeyed flavor, +Let us not imbibe in silence, +Let some hero sing thy praises, +Sing thy worth in golden measures; +Let the hostess start the singing, +Let the bridegroom sound thy virtues! +Have our songs thus quickly vanished, +Have our joyful tongues grown silent? +Evil then has been the brewing, +Then the beer must be unworthy, +That it does not cheer the singer, +Does not move the merry minstrel, +That the golden guests are joyless, +And the cuckoo is not singing. +Never will these benches echo +Till the bench-guests chant thy virtues; +Nor the floor resound thy praises +Till the floor-guests sing in concord; +Nor the windows join the chorus +Till the window-guests have spoken; +All the tables will keep silence +Till the heroes toast thy virtues; +Little singing from the chimney +Till the chimney-guests have chanted." +On the floor a child was sitting, +Thus the little boy made answer: +"I am small and young in singing, +Have perchance but little wisdom; +Be that as it may, my seniors, +Since the elder minstrels sing not, +Nor the heroes chant their legends, +Nor the hostess lead the singing, +I will sing my simple stories, +Sing my little store of knowledge, +To the pleasure of the evening, +To the joy of the invited." +Near the fire reclined an old man, +And the gray-beard thus made answer: +"Not the time for children's singing, +Children's wisdom is too ready, +Children's songs are filled with trifles, +Filled with shrewd and vain deceptions, +Maiden-songs are full of follies; +Leave the songs and incantations +To the ancient wizard-singers; +Leave the tales of times primeval +To the minstrel of Wainola, +To the hero of the Northland, +To the, ancient Wainamoinen." +Thereupon Osmoinen answered: +"Are there not some sweeter singers +In this honored congregation, +That will clasp their hands together, +Sing the ancient songs unbroken, +Thus begin the incantations, +Make these ancient halls re-echo +For the pleasure of the evening, +For the joy of the in-gathered?" +From the hearth-stone spake, the gray-beard +"Not a singer of Pohyola, +Not a minstrel, nor magician, +That was better skilled in chanting +Legends of the days departed, +Than was I when I was singing, +In my years of vain ambition; +Then I chanted tales of heroes, +On the blue back of the waters, +Sang the ballads of my people, +In the vales and on the mountains, +Through the verdant fields and forests; +Sweet my voice and skilled my singing, +All my songs were highly lauded, +Rippled like the quiet rivers, +Easy-flowing like the waters, +Easy-gliding as the snow-shoes, +Like the ship upon the ocean. +"Woe is me, my days are ended, +Would not recognize my singing, +All its sweetness gone to others, +Flows no more like rippling waters, +Makes no more the hills re-echo! +Now my songs are full of discord, +Like the rake upon the stubble, +Like the sledge upon the gravel, +Like the boat upon the sea-shore!" +Then the ancient Wainamoinen +Spake these words in magic measures: +"Since no other bard appeareth +That will clasp my hand in singing, +I will sing some simple legends, +Sing my, garnered store of wisdom, +Make these magic halls re-echo +With my tales of ancient story, +Since a bard I was created, +Born an orator and singer; +Do not ask the ways of others, +Follow not the paths of strangers." +Wainamoinen, famous minstrel, +Song's eternal, wise supporter, +Then began the songs of pleasure, +Made the halls resound with joyance, +Filled the rooms with wondrous singing; +Sang the ancient bard-magician +All the oldest wisdom-sayings, +Did not fail in voice nor legends, +All the wisest thoughts remembered. +Thus the ancient Wainamoinen +Sang the joy of all assembled, +To the pleasure of the evening, +To the merriment of maidens, +To the happiness of heroes; +All the guests were stilled in wonder +At the magic of his singing, +At the songs of the magician. +Spake again wise Wainamoinen, +When his wonder-tales had ended: +"l have little worth or power, +Am a bard of little value, +Little consequence my singing, +Mine abilities as nothing, +If but Ukko, my Creator, +Should intone his wisdom-sayings, +Sing the source of good and evil, +Sing the origin of matter, +Sing the legends of omniscience, +Sing his songs in full perfection. +God could sing the floods to honey, +Sing the sands to ruddy berries, +Sing the pebbles into barley, +Sing to beer the running waters, +Sing to salt the rocks of ocean, +Into corn-fields sing the forests, +Into gold the forest-fruitage, +Sing to bread the hills and mountains, +Sing to eggs the rounded sandstones; +He could touch the springs of magic, +He could turn the keys of nature, +And produce within thy pastures, +Hurdles filled with sheep and reindeer, +Stables filled with fleet-foot stallions, +Kine in every field and fallow; +Sing a fur-robe for the bridegroom, +For the bride a coat of ermine, +For the hostess, shoes of silver, +For the hero, mail of copper. +"Grant O Ukko, my Creator, +God of love, and truth, and justice, +Grant thy blessing on our feasting, +Bless this company assembled, +For the good of Sariola, +For the happiness of Northland! +May this bread and beer bring joyance, +May they come in rich abundance, +May they carry full contentment +To the people of Pohyola, +To the cabin and the mansion; +May the hours we spend in singing, +In the morning, in the evening, +Fill our hearts with joy and gladness! +Hear us in our supplications, +Grant to us thy needed blessings, +Send enjoyment, health, and comfort, +To the people here assembled, +To the host and to the hostess, +To the bride and to the bridegroom, +To the sons upon the waters, +To the daughters at their weavings, +To the hunters on the mountains, +To the shepherds in the fenlands, +That our lives may end in honor, +That we may recall with pleasure +Ilmarinen's magic marriage +To the Maiden of the Rainbow, +Snow-white virgin of the Northland." + + + + +RUNE XXII. + + + +THE BRIDE S FAREWELL. + + +When the marriage was completed, +When the many guests had feasted, +At the wedding of the Northland, +At the Dismal-land carousal, +Spake the hostess of Pohyola +To the blacksmith, Ilmarinen: +"Wherefore, bridegroom, dost thou linger, +Why art waiting, Northland hero? +Sittest for the father's pleasure, +For affection of the mother, +For the splendor of the maidens, +For the beauty of the daughter? +Noble son-in-law and brother, +Wait thou longer, having waited +Long already for the virgin, +Thine affianced is not ready, +Not prepared, thy life-companion, +Only are her tresses braided. +"Chosen bridegroom, pride of Pohya, +Wait thou longer, having waited +Long already for the virgin, +Thy beloved is preparing, +Only is one hand made ready. +"Famous artist, Ilmarinen, +Wait still longer, having waited +Long already for the virgin, +Thy beloved is not ready, +Only is one foot in fur-shoes," +Spake again the ancient Louhi: +"Chosen suitor of my daughter, +Thou hast thrice in kindness waited, +Wait no longer for the virgin, +Thy beloved now is ready, +Well prepared thy life-companion, +Fairy Maiden of the Rainbow. +"Beauteous daughter, join thy suitor, +Follow him, thy chosen husband, +Very near is the uniting, +Near indeed thy separation. +At thy hand the honored bridegroom, +Near the door he waits to lead thee, +Guide thee to his home and kindred; +At the gate his steed is waiting, +Restless champs his silver bridle, +And the sledge awaits thy presence. +"Thou wert anxious for a suitor, +Ready to accept his offer, +Wert in haste to take his jewels, +Place his rings upon thy fingers; +Now, fair daughter, keep thy promise; +To his sledge, with happy footsteps, +Hie in haste to join the bridegroom, +Gaily journey to the village +With thy chosen life-companion, +With thy suitor, Ilmarinen. +Little hast thou looked about thee, +Hast not raised thine eyes above thee, +Beauteous maiden of the Northland, +Hast thou made a rueful bargain, +Full of wailing thine engagement, +And thy marriage full of sorrow, +That thy father's ancient cottage +Thou art leaving now forever, +Leaving also friends and kindred, +For the, blacksmith, Ilmarinen? +"O how beautiful thy childhood, +In thy father's dwelling-places, +Nurtured like a tender flower, +Like the strawberry in spring-time +Soft thy couch and sweet thy slumber, +Warm thy fires and rich thy table; +From the fields came corn in plenty, +From the highlands, milk and berries, +Wheat and barley in abundance, +Fish, and fowl, and hare, and bacon, +From thy father's fields and forests. +"Never wert thou, child, in sorrow, +Never hadst thou grief nor trouble, +All thy cares were left to fir-trees, +All thy worry to the copses, +All thy weeping to the willows, +All thy sighing to the lindens, +All thy thinking to the aspens +And the birches on the mountains, +Light and airy as the leaflet, +As a butterfly in summer, +Ruddy as a mountain-berry, +Beautiful as vernal flowers. +"Now thou leavest home and kindred, +Wanderest to other firesides, +Goest to another mother, +Other sisters, other brothers, +Goest to a second father, +To the servant-folk of strangers, +From thy native hills and lowlands. +There and here the homes will differ, +Happier thy mother's hearth-stone; +Other horns will there be sounded, +Other portals there swing open, +Other hinges there be creaking; +There the doors thou canst not enter +Like the daughters of Wainola, +Canst not tend the fires and ovens +As will please the minds of strangers. +"Didst thou think, my fairest maiden, +Thou couldst wed and on the morrow +Couldst return, if thou shouldst wish it, +To thy father's court and dwelling? +Not for one, nor two, nor three days, +Wilt thou leave thy mother's chambers, +Leave thy sisters and thy brothers, +Leave thy father's hills and lowlands. +Long the time the wife must wander, +Many months and years must wander, +Work, and struggle, all her life long, +Even though the mother liveth. +Great, indeed, must be the changes +When thou comest back to Pohya, +Changed, thy friends and nearest kindred, +Changed, thy father's ancient dwellings, +Changed, the valleys and the mountains, +Other birds will sing thy praises!" +When the mother thus had spoken, +Then the daughter spake, departing: +"In my early days of childhood +Often I intoned these measures: +'Art a virgin, yet no virgin, +Guided by an aged mother, +In a brother's fields and forests, +In the mansion of a father! +Only wilt become a virgin, +Only when thou hast a suitor, +Only when thou wedst a hero, +One foot on the father's threshold, +And the other for the snow-sledge +That will speed thee and thy husband +To his native vales and highlands!' +"I have wished thus many summers, +Sang it often in my childhood, +Hoped for this as for the flowers, +Welcome as the birds of spring-time. +Thus fulfilled are all my wishes, +Very near is my departure, +One foot on my father's threshold, +And the, other for the journey +With my husband to his people; +Cannot understand the reason +That has changed my former feelings, +Cannot leave thee now with gladness, +Cannot go with great rejoicing +From my dear, old home and kindred, +Where as maiden I have lingered, +From the courts where I was nurtured, +From my father's band and guidance, +From my faithful mother's counsel. +Now I go, a maid of sorrow, +Heavy-hearted to the bridegroom, +Like the bride of Night in winter, +Like the ice upon the rivers. +"Such is not the mind of others, +Other brides of Northland heroes; +Others do not leave unhappy, +Have no tears, nor cares, nor sorrows, +I alas! must weep and murmur, +Carry to my grave great sadness, +Heart as dark as Death's black river. +"Such the feelings of the happy, +Such the minds of merry maidens: +Like the early dawn of spring-time, +Like the rising Sun in summer +No such radiance awaits me, +With my young heart filled with terror; +Happiness is not my portion, +Like the flat-shore of the ocean, +Like the dark rift of the storm-cloud, +Like the cheerless nights of winter! +Dreary is the day in autumn, +Dreary too the autumn evening, +Still more dreary is my future!" +An industrious old maiden, +Ever guarding home and kindred, +Spake these words of doubtful comfort: +"Dost thou, beauteous bride, remember, +Canst thou not recall my counsels? +These the words that I have taught thee: +'Look not joyfully for suitors, +Never heed the tongues of wooers, +Look not in the eyes of charmers, +At their feet let fall thy vision. +He that hath a mouth for sweetness, +He that hath an eye for beauty, +Offers little that will comfort; +Lempo sits upon his forehead, +In his mouth dwells dire Tuoni.' +"Thus, fair bride, did I advise thee, +Thus advised my sister's daughter: +Should there come the best of suitors, +Noblest wooers, proudest lovers, +Give to all these wisdom-sayings, +Let thine answer be as follows: +'Never will I think it wisdom, +Never will it be my pleasure, +To become a second daughter, +Linger with my husband's mother; +Never shall I leave my father, +Never wander forth to bondage, +At the bidding of a bridegroom: +Never shall I be a servant, +Wife and slave to any hero, +Never will I be submissive +To the orders of a husband.' +"Fairest bride, thou didst not heed me, +Gav'st no thought to my advices, +Didst not listen to my counsel; +Wittingly thy feet have wandered +Into boiling tar and water, +Hastened to thy suitor's snow-sledge, +To the bear-dens of thy husband, +On his sledge to be ill-treated, +Carried to his native country, +To the bondage of his people, +There, a subject to his mother. +Thou hast left thy mother's dwelling, +To the schooling of the master; +Hard indeed the master's teachings, +Little else than constant torture; +Ready for thee are his bridles, +Ready for thy bands the shackles, +Were not forged for any other; +Soon, indeed, thou'lt feel the hardness, +Feel the weight of thy misfortune, +Feel thy second father's censure, +And his wife's inhuman treatment, +Hear the cold words or thy brother, +Quail before thy haughty sister. +"Listen, bride, to what I tell thee: +In thy home thou wert a jewel, +Wert thy father's pride and pleasure, +'Moonlight,' did thy father call thee, +And thy mother called thee 'Sunshine,' +'Sea-foam' did thy brother call thee, +And thy sister called thee 'Flower.' +When thou leavest home and kindred +Goest to a second mother, +Often she will give thee censure, +Never treat thee as her daughter, +Rarely will she give thee counsel, +Never will she sound thy praises. +'Brush-wood,' will the father call thee, +'Sledge of Rags,' thy husband's mother, +'Flight of Stairs,' thy stranger brother, +'Scare-crow,' will the sister call thee, +Sister of thy blacksmith-husband; +Then wilt think of my good counsels, +Then wilt wish in tears and murmurs, +That as steam thou hadst ascended, +That as smoke thy soul had risen, +That as sparks thy life had vanished. +As a bird thou canst not wander +From thy nest to circle homeward, +Canst not fall and die like leaflets, +As the sparks thou canst not perish, +Like the smoke thou canst not vanish. +"Youthful bride, and darling sister, +Thou hast bartered all thy friendships, +Hast exchanged thy loving father, +Thou hast left thy faithful mother +For the mother of thy husband; +Hast exchanged thy loving brother, +Hast renounced thy gentle sister, +For the kindred of thy suitor; +Hast exchanged thy snow-white covers +For the rocky couch of sorrow; +Hast exchanged these crystal waters +For the waters of Wainola; +Hast renounced these sandy sea-shores +For the muddy banks of Kalew; +Northland glens thou hast forsaken +For thy husband's barren meadows; +Thou hast left thy berry-mountains +For the stubble-fields and deserts. +"Thou, O maiden, hast been thinking +Thou wouldst happy be in wedlock; +Neither work, nor care, nor sorrow, +From this night would be thy portion, +With thy husband for protection. +Not to sleep art thou conducted, +Not to happiness, nor joyance, +Wakefulness, thy night-companion, +And thy day-attendant, trouble; +Often thou wilt drink of sorrow, +Often long for vanished pleasures. +"When at home thou hadst no head-gear, +Thou hadst also little sadness; +When thy couch was not of linen, +No unhappiness came nigh thee; +Head-gear brings but pain and sorrow, +Linen breeds bad dispositions, +Linen brings but deeps of anguish, +And the flax untimely mourning. +"Happy in her home, the maiden, +Happy at her father's fireside, +Like the master in his mansion, +Happy with her bows and arrows. +'Tis not thus with married women; +Brides of heroes may be likened +To the prisoners of Moskva, +Held in bondage by their masters. +"As a wife, must weep and labor, +Carry trouble on both shoulders; +When the next hour passes over, +Thou must tend the fire and oven, +Must prepare thy husband's dinner, +Must direct thy master's servants. +When thine evening meal is ready, +Thou must search for bidden wisdom +In the brain of perch and salmon, +In the mouths of ocean whiting, +Gather wisdom from the cuckoo, +Canst not learn it from thy mother, +Mother dear of seven daughters; +Cannot find among her treasures +Where were born the human instincts, +Where were born the minds of heroes, +Whence arose the maiden's beauty, +Whence the beauty of her tresses, +Why all life revives in spring-time. +"Weep, O weep, my pretty young bride. +When thou weepest, weep sincerely, +Weep great rivers from thine eyelids, +Floods of tears in field and fallow, +Lakelets in thy father's dwelling; +Weep thy rooms to overflowing, +Shed thy tears in great abundance, +Lest thou weepest on returning +To thy native hills and valleys, +When thou visitest thy father +In the smoke of waning glory, +On his arm a withered tassel. +"Weep, O weep, my lovely maiden, +When thou weepest, weep in earnest, +Weep great rivers from thine eyelids; +If thou dost not weep sincerely, +Thou wilt weep on thy returning +To thy Northland home and kindred, +When thou visitest thy mother +Old and breathless near the hurdles, +In her arms a barley-bundle. +"Weep, O weep, sweet bride of beauty, +When thou weepest, weep profusely; +If thou dost not weep in earnest, +Thou wilt weep on thy returning +To thy native vales and highlands, +When thou visitest thy brother +Lying wounded by the way-side, +In his hand but empty honors. +"Weep, O weep, my sister's daughter, +Weep great rivers from thine eyelids; +If thou dost not weep sufficient, +Thou wilt weep on thy returning +To the scenes of happy childhood, +When thou visitest thy sister +Lying, prostrate in the meadow, +In her hand a birch-wood mallet." +When the ancient maid had ended, +Then the young bride sighed in anguish, +Straightway fell to bitter weeping, +Spake these words in deeps of sorrow: +"O, ye sisters, my beloved, +Ye companions of my childhood, +Playmates of my early summers, +Listen to your sister's counsel: +Cannot comprehend the reason, +Why my mind is so dejected, +Why this weariness and sadness, +This untold and unseen torture, +Cannot understand the meaning +Of this mighty weight of sorrow! +Differently I had thought it, +I had hoped for greater pleasures, +I had hoped to sing as cuckoos, +On the hill-tops call and echo, +When I had attained this station, +Reached at last the goal expectant; +But I am not like the cuckoo, +Singing, merry on the hill-tops; +I am like the songless blue-duck, +As she swims upon the waters, +Swims upon the cold, cold ocean, +Icicles upon her pinions. +"Ancient father, gray-haired mother, +Whither do ye wish to lead me, +Whither take this bride, thy daughter, +That this sorrow may pass over, +Where this heavy heart may lighten, +Where this grief may turn to gladness? +Better it had been, O mother, +Hadst thou nursed a block of birch-wood, +Hadst thou clothed the colored sandstone, +Rather than this hapless maiden, +For the fulness of these sorrows, +For this keen and killing trouble. +Many sympathizers tell me: +'Foolish bride, thou art ungrateful, +Do not grieve, thou child of sorrow, +Thou hast little cause for weeping.' +"O, deceive me not, my people, +Do not argue with me falsely, +For alas! I have more troubles +Than the waterfalls have pebbles, +Than the Ingerland has willows, +Than the Suomi-hills have berries; +Never could the Pohya plow-horse +Pull this mighty weight of sorrow, +Shaking not his birchen cross-bar, +Breaking not his heavy collar; +Never could the Northland reindeer +Heavy shod and stoutly harnessed, +Draw this load of care and trouble." +By the stove a babe was playing, +And the young child spake as follows: +"Why, O fair bride, art thou weeping, +Why these tears of pain and sadness? +Leave thy troubles to the elk-herds, +And thy grief to sable fillies, +Let the steeds of iron bridles +Bear the burden of thine anguish, +Horses have much larger foreheads, +Larger shoulders, stronger sinews, +And their necks are made for labor, +Stronger are their bones and muscles, +Let them bear thy heavy burdens. +There is little good in weeping, +Useless are thy tears of sorrow; +Art not led to swamps and lowlands, +Nor to banks of little rivers; +Thou art led to fields of flowers, +Led to fruitful trees and forests, +Led away from beer of Pohya +To the sweeter mead of Kalew. +At thy shoulder waits thy husband, +On thy right side, Ilmarinen, +Constant friend and life-protector, +He will guard thee from all evil; +Husband ready, steed in waiting, +Gold-and-silver-mounted harness, +Hazel-birds that sing and flutter +On the courser's yoke and cross-bar; +Thrushes also sing and twitter +Merrily on hame and collar, +Seven bluebirds, seven cuckoos, +Sing thy wedding-march in concord. +"Be no longer full of sorrow, +Dry thy tears, thou bride of beauty, +Thou hast found a noble husband, +Better wilt thou fare than ever, +By the side of Ilmarinen, +Artist husband, metal-master, +Bread-provider of thy table, +On the arm of the fish-catcher, +On the breast of the elk-hunter, +By the side of the bear-killer. +Thou hast won the best of suitors, +Hast obtained a mighty hero; +Never idle is his cross-bow, +On the nails his quivers hang not, +Neither are his dogs in kennel, +Active agents is his bunting. +Thrice within the budding spring-time +In the early hours of morning +He arises from his fare-couch, +From his slumber in the brush-wood, +Thrice within the sowing season, +On his eyes the deer has fallen, +And the branches brushed his vesture, +And his locks been combed by fir-boughs. +Hasten homeward with thy husband, +Where thy hero's friends await thee, +Where his forests sing thy welcome. +"Ilmarinen there possesses +All the birds that fly in mid-air, +All the beasts that haunt the woodlands, +All that feed upon the mountains, +All that graze on hill and valley, +Sheep and cattle by the thousands; +Sweet the grass upon his meadows, +Sweet the barley in his uplands, +In the lowlands corn abundant, +Wheat upon the elm-wood fallows, +Near the streamlets rye is waving, +Waving grain on many acres, +On his mountains gold and silver, +Rich his mines of shining copper, +Highlands filled with magic metals, +Chests of jewels in his store-house, +All the wealth of Kalevala." + + + + +RUNE XXIII. + + + +OSMOTAR THE BRIDE-ADVISER + + +Now the bride must be instructed, +Who will teach the Maid of Beauty, +Who instruct the Rainbow-daughter? +Osmotar, the wisdom-maiden, +Kalew's fair and lovely virgin, +Osmotar will give instructions +To the bride of Ilmarinen, +To the orphaned bride of Pohya, +Teach her how to live in pleasure, +How to live and reign in glory, +Win her second mother's praises, +Joyful in her husband's dwelling. +Osmotar in modest accents +Thus the anxious bride addresses; +"Maid of Beauty, lovely sister, +Tender plant of Louhi's gardens, +Hear thou what thy sister teaches, +Listen to her sage instructions: +Go thou hence, my much beloved, +Wander far away, my flower, +Travel on enwrapped in colors, +Glide away in silks and ribbons, +From this house renowned and ancient, +From thy father's halls and court-yards +Haste thee to thy husband's village, +Hasten to his mother's household; +Strange, the rooms in other dwellings, +Strange, the modes in other hamlets. +"Full of thought must be thy going, +And thy work be well considered, +Quite unlike thy home in Northland, +On the meadows of thy father, +On the high-lands of thy brother, +Singing through thy mother's fenlands, +Culling daisies with thy sister. +"When thou goest from thy father +Thou canst take whatever pleases, +Only three things leave behind thee: +Leave thy day-dreams to thy sister, +Leave thou kindness for thy mother, +To thy brother leave thy labors, +Take all else that thou desirest. +Throw away thine incantations, +Cast thy sighing to the pine-trees, +And thy maidenhood to zephyrs, +Thy rejoicings to the couches, +Cast thy trinkets to the children, +And thy leisure to the gray-beards, +Cast all pleasures to thy playmates, +Let them take them to the woodlands, +Bury them beneath the mountain. +"Thou must hence acquire new habits, +Must forget thy former customs, +Mother-love must be forsaken, +Thou must love thy husband's mother, +Lower must thy head be bended, +Kind words only must thou utter. +"Thou must hence acquire new habits, +Must forget thy former customs, +Father-love must be forsaken, +Thou must love thy husband's father, +Lower must thy head be bended, +Kind words only must thou utter. +"Thou must hence acquire new habits, +Must forget thy former customs, +Brother-love must be forsaken, +Thou must love thy husband's brother, +Lower must thy head be bended, +Kind words only must thou utter. +"Thou must hence acquire new habits +Must forget thy former customs, +Sister-love must be forsaken, +Thou must love thy husband's sister, +Lower must thy head be bended, +Kind words only must thou utter. +"Never in the course of ages, +Never while the moonlight glimmers, +Wickedly approach thy household, +Nor unworthily, thy servants, +Nor thy courts with indiscretion; +Let thy dwellings sing good manners, +And thy walls re-echo virtue. +After mind the hero searches. +And the best of men seek honor, +Seek for honesty and wisdom; +If thy home should be immoral, +If thine inmates fail in virtue, +Then thy gray-beards would be black-dogs +In sheep's clothing at thy firesides; +All thy women would be witches, +Wicked witches in thy chambers, +And thy brothers be as serpents +Crawling through thy husband's mansion; +All thy sisters would be famous +For their evil thoughts and conduct. +"Equal honors must be given +To thy husband's friends and kindred; +Lower must thy head be bended, +Than within thy mother's dwelling, +Than within thy father's guest-room, +When thou didst thy kindred honor. +Ever strive to give good counsel, +Wear a countenance of sunshine, +Bear a head upon thy shoulders +Filled with wise and ancient sayings; +Open bright thine eyes at morning +To behold the silver sunrise, +Sharpen well thine ears at evening, +Thus to hear the rooster crowing; +When he makes his second calling, +Straightway thou must rise from slumber, +Let the aged sleep in quiet; +Should the rooster fail to call thee, +Let the moonbeams touch thine eyelids, +Let the Great Bear be thy keeper +Often go thou and consult them, +Call upon the Moon for counsel, +Ask the Bear for ancient wisdom, +From the stars divine thy future; +When the Great Bear faces southward, +When his tail is pointing northward, +This is time to break with slumber, +Seek for fire within the ashes, +Place a spark upon the tinder, +Blow the fire through all the fuel. +If no spark is in the ashes, +Then go wake thy hero-husband, +Speak these words to him on waking: +'Give me fire, O my beloved, +Give a single spark, my husband, +Strike a little fire from flintstone, +Let it fall upon my tinder.' +"From the spark, O Bride of Beauty, +Light thy fires, and heat thine ovens, +In the holder, place the torch-light, +Find thy pathway to the stables, +There to fill the empty mangers; +If thy husband's cows be lowing, +If thy brother's steeds be neighing, +Then the cows await thy coming, +And the steeds for thee are calling, +Hasten, stooping through the hurdles, +Hasten through the yards and stables, +Feed thy husband's cows with pleasure, +Feed with care the gentle lambkins, +Give the cows the best of clover, +Hay, and barley, to the horses, +Feed the calves of lowing mothers, +Feed the fowl that fly to meet thee. +"Never rest upon the haymow, +Never sleep within the hurdles, +When the kine are fed and tended, +When the flocks have all been watered; +Hasten thence, my pretty matron, +Like the snow-flakes to thy dwelling, +There a crying babe awaits thee, +Weeping in his couch neglected, +Cannot speak and tell his troubles, +Speechless babe, and weeping infant, +Cannot say that he is hungry, +Whether pain or cold distresses, +Greets with joy his mother's footsteps. +Afterward repair in silence +To thy husband's rooms and presence, +Early visit thou his chambers, +In thy hand a golden pitcher, +On thine arm a broom of birch-wood, +In thy teeth a lighted taper, +And thyself the fourth in order. +Sweep thou then thy hero's dwelling, +Dust his benches and his tables, +Wash the flooring well with water. +"If the baby of thy sister +Play alone within his corner, +Show the little child attention, +Bathe his eyes and smoothe his ringlets, +Give the infant needed comforts; +Shouldst thou have no bread of barley, +In his hand adjust some trinket. +"Lastly, when the week has ended, +Give thy house a thorough cleansing, +Benches, tables, walls, and ceilings; +What of dust is on the windows, +Sweep away with broom of birch-twigs, +All thy rooms must first be sprinkled, +at the dust may not be scattered, +May not fill the halls and chambers. +Sweep the dust from every crevice, +Leave thou not a single atom; +Also sweep the chimney-corners, +Do not then forget the rafters, +Lest thy home should seem untidy, +Lest thy dwelling seem neglected. +"Hear, O maiden, what I tell thee, +Learn the tenor of my teaching: +Never dress in scanty raiment, +Let thy robes be plain and comely, +Ever wear the whitest linen, +On thy feet wear tidy fur-shoes, +For the glory of thy husband, +For the honor of thy hero. +Tend thou well the sacred sorb-tree, +Guard the mountain-ashes planted +In the court-yard, widely branching; +Beautiful the mountain-ashes, +Beautiful their leaves and flowers, +Still more beautiful the berries. +Thus the exiled one demonstrates +That she lives to please her husband, +Tries to make her hero happy. +"Like the mouse, have ears for hearing, +Like the hare, have feet for running, +Bend thy neck and turn thy visage +Like the juniper and aspen, +Thus to watch with care thy goings, +Thus to guard thy feet from stumbling, +That thou mayest walk in safety. +"When thy brother comes from plowing, +And thy father from his garners, +And thy husband from the woodlands, +From his chopping, thy beloved, +Give to each a water-basin, +Give to each a linen-towel, +Speak to each some pleasant greeting. +"When thy second mother hastens +To thy husband's home and kindred, +In her hand a corn-meal measure, +Haste thou to the court to meet her, +Happy-hearted, bow before her, +Take the measure from her fingers, +Happy, bear it to thy husband. +"If thou shouldst not see distinctly +What demands thy next attention, +Ask at once thy hero's mother: +'Second mother, my beloved, +Name the task to be accomplished +By thy willing second daughter, +Tell me how to best perform it.' +"This should be the mother's answer: +'This the manner of thy workings, +Thus thy daily work accomplish: +Stamp with diligence and courage, +Grind with will and great endurance, +Set the millstones well in order, +Fill the barley-pans with water, +Knead with strength the dough for baking, +Place the fagots on the fire-place, +That thy ovens may be heated, +Bake in love the honey-biscuit, +Bake the larger loaves of barley, +Rinse to cleanliness thy platters, +Polish well thy drinking-vessels. +"If thou hearest from the mother, +From the mother of thy husband, +That the cask for meal is empty, +Take the barley from the garners, +Hasten to the rooms for grinding. +When thou grindest in the chambers, +Do not sing in glee and joyance, +Turn the grinding-stones in silence, +To the mill give up thy singing, +Let the side-holes furnish music; +Do not sigh as if unhappy, +Do not groan as if in trouble, +Lest the father think thee weary, +Lest thy husband's mother fancy +That thy groans mean discontentment, +That thy sighing means displeasure. +Quickly sift the flour thou grindest, +Take it to the casks in buckets, +Bake thy hero's bread with pleasure, +Knead the dough with care and patience, +That thy biscuits may be worthy, +That the dough be light and airy. +"Shouldst thou see a bucket empty, +Take the bucket on thy shoulder, +On thine arm a silver-dipper, +Hasten off to fill with water +From the crystal river flowing; +Gracefully thy bucket carry, +Bear it firmly by the handles, +Hasten houseward like the zephyrs, +Hasten like the air of autumn; +Do not tarry near the streamlet, +At the waters do not linger, +That the father may not fancy, +Nor the ancient dame imagine, +That thou hast beheld thine image, +Hast admired thy form and features, +Hast admired thy grace and beauty +In the mirror of the fountain, +In the crystal streamlet's eddies. +"Shouldst thou journey to the woodlands, +There to gather aspen-fagots, +Do not go with noise and bustle, +Gather all thy sticks in silence, +Gather quietly the birch-wood, +That the father may not fancy, +And the mother not imagine, +That thy calling came from anger, +And thy noise from discontentment. +"If thou goest to the store-house +To obtain the flour of barley, +Do not tarry on thy journey, +On the threshold do not linger, +That the father may not fancy, +And the mother not imagine, +That the meal thou hast divided +With the women of the village. +"If thou goest to the river, +There to wash thy birchen platters, +There to cleanse thy pans and buckets, +Lest thy work be done in neatness, +Rinse the sides, and rinse the handles, +Rinse thy pitchers to perfection, +Spoons, and forks, and knives, and goblets, +Rinse with care thy cooking-vessels, +Closely watch the food-utensils, +That the dogs may not deface them, +That the kittens may not mar them, +That the eagles may not steal them, +That the children may not break them; +Many children in the village, +Many little heads and fingers, +That will need thy careful watching, +Lest they steal the things of value. +"When thou goest to thy bathing, +Have the brushes ready lying +In the bath-room clean and smokeless; +Do not, linger in the water, +At thy bathing do not tarry, +That the father may not fancy, +And the mother not imagine, +Thou art sleeping on the benches, +Rolling in the laps of comfort. +"From thy bath, when thou returnest, +To his bathing tempt the father, +Speak to him the words that follow: +'Father of my hero-husband, +Clean are all the bath-room benches, +Everything in perfect order; +Go and bathe for thine enjoyment, +Pour the water all-sufficient, +I will lend thee needed service.' +"When the time has come for spinning, +When the hours arrive for weaving, +Do not ask the help of others, +Look not in the stream for knowledge, +For advice ask not the servants, +Nor the spindle from the sisters, +Nor the weaving-comb from strangers. +Thou thyself must do the spinning, +With thine own hand ply the shuttle, +Loosely wind the skeins of wool-yarn, +Tightly wind the balls of flax-thread, +Wind them deftly in the shuttle +Fit the warp upon the rollers, +Beat the woof and warp together, +Swiftly ply the weaver's shuttle, +Weave good cloth for all thy vestments, +Weave of woolen, webs for dresses +From the finest wool of lambkins, +One thread only in thy weaving. +"Hear thou what I now advise thee: +Brew thy beer from early barley, +From the barley's new-grown kernels, +Brew it with the magic virtues, +Malt it with the sweets of honey, +Do not stir it with the birch-rod, +Stir it with thy skilful fingers; +When thou goest to the garners, +Do not let the seed bring evil, +Keep the dogs outside the brew-house, +Have no fear of wolves in hunger, +Nor the wild-beasts of the mountains, +When thou goest to thy brewing, +Shouldst thou wander forth at midnight. +"Should some stranger come to see thee, +Do not worry for his comfort; +Ever does the worthy household +Have provisions for the stranger, +Bits of meat, and bread, and biscuit, +Ample for the dinner-table; +Seat the stranger in thy dwelling, +Speak with him in friendly accents, +Entertain the guest with kindness, +While his dinner is preparing. +When the stranger leaves thy threshold, +When his farewell has been spoken, +Lead him only to the portals, +Do not step without the doorway, +That thy husband may not fancy, +And the mother not imagine, +Thou hast interest in strangers. +"Shouldst thou ever make a journey +To the centre of the village, +There to gain some needed object, +While thou speakest in the hamlet, +Let thy words be full of wisdom, +That thou shamest not thy kindred, +Nor disgrace thy husband's household. +"Village-maidens oft will ask thee, +Mothers of the hamlet question: +'Does thy husband's mother greet thee +As in childhood thou wert greeted, +In thy happy home in Pohya?' +Do not answer in negation, +Say that she has always given +Thee the best of her provisions, +Given thee the kindest greetings, +Though it be but once a season. +"Listen well to what I tell thee: +As thou goest from thy father +To thy husband's distant dwelling, +Thou must not forget thy mother, +Her that gave thee life and beauty, +Her that nurtured thee in childhood, +Many sleepless nights she nursed thee; +Often were her wants neglected, +Numberless the times she rocked thee; +Tender, true, and ever faithful, +Is the mother to her daughter. +She that can forget her mother, +Can neglect the one that nursed her, +Should not visit Mana's castle, +In the kingdom of Tuoni; +In Manala she would suffer, +Suffer frightful retribution, +Should her mother be forgotten; +Should her dear one be neglected, +Mana's daughters will torment her, +And Tuoni's sons revile her, +They will ask her much as follows: +'How couldst thou forget thy mother, +How neglect the one that nursed thee? +Great the pain thy mother suffered, +Great the trouble that thou gavest +When thy loving mother brought thee +Into life for good or evil, +When she gave thee earth-existence, +When she nursed thee but an infant, +When she fed thee in thy childhood, +When she taught thee what thou knowest, +Mana's punishments upon thee, +Since thy mother is forgotten!'" +On the floor a witch was sitting, +Near the fire a beggar-woman, +One that knew the ways of people, +These the words the woman uttered: +"Thus the crow calls in the winter: +'Would that I could be a singer, +And my voice be full of sweetness, +But, alas! my songs are worthless, +Cannot charm the weakest creature; +I must live without the singing +Leave the songs to the musicians, +Those that live in golden houses, +In the homes of the beloved; +Homeless therefore I must wander, +Like a beggar in the corn-fields, +And with none to do me honor.' +"Hear now, sister, what I tell thee, +Enter thou thy husband's dwelling, +Follow not his mind, nor fancies, +As my husband's mind I followed; +As a flower was I when budding, +Sprouting like a rose in spring-time, +Growing like a slender maiden, +Like the honey-gem of glory, +Like the playmates of my childhood, +Like the goslings of my father, +Like the blue-ducks of my mother, +Like my brother's water-younglings, +Like the bullfinch of my sister; +Grew I like the heather-flower, +Like the berry of the meadow, +Played upon the sandy sea-shore, +Rocked upon the fragrant upland, +Sang all day adown the valley, +Thrilled with song the hill and mountain, +Filled with mirth the glen and forest, +Lived and frolicked in the woodlands. +"Into traps are foxes driven +By the cruel pangs of hunger, +Into traps, the cunning ermine; +Thus are maidens wooed and wedded, +In their hunger for a husband. +Thus created is the virgin, +Thus intended is the daughter, +Subject to her hero-husband, +Subject also to his mother. +"Then to other fields I hastened, +Like a berry from the border, +Like a cranberry for roasting, +Like a strawberry for dinner; +All the elm-trees seemed to wound me, +All the aspens tried to cut me, +All the willows tried to seize me, +All the forest tried to slay me. +Thus I journeyed to my husband, +Thus I travelled to his dwelling, +Was conducted to his mother. +Then there were, as was reported, +Six compartments built of pine-wood, +Twelve the number of the chambers, +And the mansion filled with garrets, +Studding all the forest border, +Every by-way filled with flowers +Streamlets bordered fields of barley, +Filled with wheat and corn, the islands, +Grain in plenty in the garners, +Rye unthrashed in great abundance, +Countless sums of gold and silver, +Other treasures without number. +When my journey I had ended, +When my hand at last was given, +Six supports were in his cabin, +Seven poles as rails for fencing. +Filled with anger were the bushes, +All the glens disfavor showing, +All the walks were lined with trouble, +Evil-tempered were the forests, +Hundred words of evil import, +Hundred others of unkindness. +Did not let this bring me sorrow, +Long I sought to merit praises, +Long I hoped to find some favor, +Strove most earnestly for kindness; +When they led me to the cottage, +There I tried some chips to gather, +Knocked my head against the portals +Of my husband's lowly dwelling. +"At the door were eyes of strangers, +Sable eyes at the partition, +Green with envy in his cabin, +Evil heroes in the back-ground, +From each mouth the fire was streaming, +From each tongue the sparks out-flying, +Flying from my second father, +From his eyeballs of unkindness. +Did not let this bring me trouble, +Tried to live in peace and pleasure, +In the homestead of my husband +In humility I suffered, +Skipped about with feet of rabbit, +Flew along with steps of ermine, +Late I laid my head to slumber, +Early rose as if a servant, +Could not win a touch of kindness, +Could not merit love nor honor, +Though I had dislodged the mountains, +Though the rocks had I torn open. +"Then I turned the heavy millstone, +Ground the flour with care and trouble, +Ground the barley-grains in patience, +That the mother might be nourished, +That her fury-throat might swallow +What might please her taste and fancy,. +From her gold-enamelled platters, +From the corner of her table. +"As for me, the hapless daughter, +All my flour was from the siftings +On the table near the oven, +Ate I from the birchen ladle; +Oftentimes I brought the mosses +Gathered in the lowland meadows, +Baked them into loaves for eating; +Brought the water from the river, +Thirsty, sipped it from the dipper, +Ate of fish the worst in Northland, +Only smelts, and worthless swimmers, +Rocking in my boat of birch-bark +Never ate I fish or biscuit +From my second mother's fingers. +"Blades I gathered in the summers, +Twisted barley-stalks in winter, +Like the laborers of heroes, +Like the servants sold in bondage. +In the thresh-house of my husband, +Evermore to me was given +Flail the heaviest and longest, +And to me the longest lever, +On the shore the strongest beater, +And the largest rake in haying; +No one thought my burden heavy, +No one thought that I could suffer, +Though the best of heroes faltered, +And the strongest women weakened. +"Thus did I, a youthful housewife, +At the right time, all my duties, +Drenched myself in perspiration, +Hoped for better times to follow; +But I only rose to labor, +Knowing neither rest nor pleasure. +I was blamed by all the household, +With ungrateful tongues derided, +Now about my awkward manners, +Now about my reputation, +Censuring my name and station. +Words unkind were heaped upon me, +Fell like hail on me unhappy, +Like the frightful flash of lightning, +Like the heavy hail of spring-time. +I did not despair entirely, +Would have lived to labor longer +Underneath the tongue of malice, +But the old-one spoiled Lay temper, +Roused my deepest ire and hatred +Then my husband grew a wild-bear, +Grew a savage wolf of Hisi. +"Only then I turned to weeping, +And reflected in my chamber, +Thought of all my former pleasures +Of the happy days of childhood, +Of my father's joyful firesides, +Of my mother's peaceful cottage, +Then began I thus to murmur: +'Well thou knowest, ancient mother, +How to make thy sweet bud blossom, +How to train thy tender shootlet; +Did not know where to ingraft it, +Placed, alas! the little scion +In the very worst of places, +On an unproductive hillock, +In the hardest limb of cherry, +Where it could not grow and flourish, +There to waste its life, in weeping, +Hapless in her lasting sorrow. +Worthier had been my conduct +In the regions that are better, +In the court-yards that are wider, +In compartments that are larger, +Living with a loving husband, +Living with a stronger hero. +Shoe of birch-bark was my suitor, +Shoe of Laplanders, my husband; +Had the body of a raven, +Voice and visage like the jackdaw, +Mouth and claws were from the black-wolf, +The remainder from the wild-bear. +Had I known that mine affianced +Was a fount of pain and evil, +To the hill-side I had wandered, +Been a pine-tree on the highway, +Been a linden on the border, +Like the black-earth made my visage, +Grown a beard of ugly bristles, +Head of loam and eyes of lightning, +For my ears the knots of birches, +For my limbs the trunks of aspens.' +"This the manner of my singing +In the hearing of my husband, +Thus I sang my cares and murmurs +Thus my hero near the portals +Heard the wail of my displeasure, +Then he hastened to my chamber; +Straightway knew I by his footsteps, +Well concluded be was angry, +'Knew it by his steps implanted; +All the winds were still in slumber, +Yet his sable locks stood endwise, +Fluttered round his bead in fury, +While his horrid mouth stood open; +To and fro his eyes were rolling, +In one hand a branch of willow, +In the other, club of alder; +Struck at me with might of malice, +Aimed the cudgel at my forehead. +"When the evening had descended, +When my husband thought of slumber +Took he in his hand a whip-stalk, +With a whip-lash made of deer-skin, +Was not made for any other, +Only made for me unhappy. +"When at last I begged for mercy, +When I sought a place for resting, +By his side I courted slumber, +Merciless, my husband seized me, +Struck me with his arm of envy, +Beat me with the whip of torture, +Deer-skin-lash and stalk of birch-wood. +From his couch I leaped impulsive, +In the coldest night of winter, +But the husband fleetly followed, +Caught me at the outer portals, +Grasped me by my streaming tresses, +Tore my ringlets from my forehead, +Cast in curls upon the night-winds +To the freezing winds of winter. +What the aid that I could ask for, +Who could free me from my torment? +Made I shoes of magic metals, +Made the straps of steel and copper, +Waited long without the dwelling, +Long I listened at the portals, +Hoping he would end his ravings, +Hoping he would sink to slumber, +But he did not seek for resting, +Did not wish to still his fury. +Finally the cold benumbed me; +As an outcast from his cabin, +I was forced to walk and wander, +When I, freezing, well reflected, +This the substance of my thinking: +'I will not endure this torture, +Will not bear this thing forever, +Will not bear this cruel treatment, +Such contempt I will not suffer +In the wicked tribe of Hisi, +In this nest of evil Piru.' +"Then I said, 'Farewell forever!' +To my husband's home and kindred, +To my much-loved home and husband; +Started forth upon a journey +To my father's distant hamlet, +Over swamps and over snow-fields, +Wandered over towering mountains, +Over hills and through the valleys, +To my brother's welcome meadows, +To my sister's home and birthplace. +"There were rustling withered pine-trees. +Finely-feathered firs were fading, +Countless ravens there were cawing, +All the jackdaws harshly singing, +This the chorus of the ravens: +'Thou hast here a home no longer, +This is not the happy homestead +Of thy merry days of childhood.' +"Heeding not this woodland chorus, +Straight I journeyed to the dwelling +Of my childhood's friend and brother, +Where the portals spake in concord, +And the hills and valleys answered, +This their saddened song and echo: +'Wherefore dost thou journey hither, +Comest thou for joy or sorrow, +To thy father's old dominions? +Here unhappiness awaits thee, +Long departed is thy father, +Dead and gone to visit Ukko, +Dead and gone thy faithful mother, +And thy brother is a stranger, +While his wife is chill and heartless!' +"Heeding not these many warnings, +Straightway to my brother's cottage +Were my weary feet directed, +Laid my hand upon the door-latch +Of my brother's dismal cottage, +But the latch was cold and lifeless. +When I wandered to the chamber, +When I waited at the doorway, +There I saw the heartless hostess, +But she did not give me greeting, +Did not give her hand in welcome; +Proud, alas! was I unhappy, +Did not make the first advances, +Did not offer her my friendship, +And my hand I did not proffer; +Laid my hand upon the oven, +All its former warmth departed! +On the coal I laid my fingers, +All the latent heat had left it. +On the rest-bench lay my brother, +Lay outstretched before the fire-place, +Heaps of soot upon his shoulders, +Heaps of ashes on his forehead. +Thus the brother asked the stranger, +Questioned thus his guest politely: +'Tell me what thy name and station, +Whence thou comest o'er the waters!' +This the answer that I gave him: +Hast thou then forgot thy sister, +Does my brother not remember, +Not recall his mother's daughter +We are children of one mother, +Of one bird were we the fledgelings, +In one nest were hatched and nurtured.' +"Then the brother fell to weeping, +From his eyes great tear-drops flowing, +To his wife the brother whispered, +Whispered thus unto the housewife. +'Bring thou beer to give my sister, +Quench her thirst and cheer her spirits.' +"Full of envy, brought the sister +Only water filled with evil, +Water for the infant's eyelids, +Soap and water from the bath-room. +"To his wife the brother whispered, +Whispered thus unto the housewife: +'Bring thou salmon for my sister, +For my sister so long absent, +Thus to still her pangs of hunger.' +"Thereupon the wife obeying, +Brought, in envy, only cabbage +That the children had been eating, +And the house-dogs had been licking, +Leavings of the black-dog's breakfast. +"Then I left my brother's dwelling, +Hastened to the ancient homestead, +To my mother's home deserted; +Onward, onward did I wander, +Hastened onward by the cold-sea, +Dragged my body on in anguish, +To the cottage-doors of strangers, +To the unfamiliar portals, +For the care of the neglected, +For the needy of the village, +For the children poor and orphaned. +"There are many wicked people, +Many slanderers of women, +Many women evil-minded, +That malign their sex through envy. +Many they with lips of evil, +That belie the best of maidens, +Prove the innocent are guilty +Of the worst of misdemeanors, +Speak aloud in tones unceasing, +Speak, alas! with wicked motives, +Spread the follies of their neighbors +Through the tongues of self-pollution. +Very few, indeed, the people +That will feed the poor and hungry, +That will bid the stranger welcome; +Very few to treat her kindly, +Innocent, and lone, and needy, +Few to offer her a shelter +From the chilling storms of winter, +When her skirts with ice are stiffened, +Coats of ice her only raiment! +"Never in my days of childhood, +Never in my maiden life-time, +Never would believe the story +Though a hundred tongues had told +Though a thousand voices sang it, +That such evil things could happen, +That such misery could follow, +Such misfortune could befall one +Who has tried to do her duty, +Who has tried to live uprightly, +Tried to make her people happy." +Thus the young bride was instructed, +Beauteous Maiden of the Rainbow, +Thus by Osmotar, the teacher. + + + + +RUNE XXIV. + + + +THE BRIDE'S FAREWELL. + + +Osmotar, the bride-instructor, +Gives the wedding-guests this counsel, +Speaks these measures to the bridegroom: +"Ilmarinen, artist-brother, +Best of all my hero-brothers, +Of my mother's sons the dearest, +Gentlest, truest, bravest, grandest, +Listen well to what I tell thee +Of the Maiden of the Rainbow, +Of thy beauteous life-companion +Bridegroom, praise thy fate hereafter, +Praise forever thy good fortune; +If thou praisest, praise sincerely, +Good the maiden thou hast wedded, +Good the bride that Ukko gives thee, +Graciously has God bestowed her. +Sound her praises to thy father, +Praise her virtues to thy mother, +Let thy heart rejoice in secret, +That thou hast the Bride of Beauty, +Lovely Maiden of the Rainbow! +"Brilliant near thee stands the maiden, +At thy shoulder thy companion, +Happy under thy protection, +Beautiful as golden moonlight, +Beautiful upon thy bosom, +Strong to do thy kindly bidding, +Labor with thee as thou wishest, +Rake the hay upon thy meadows, +Keep thy home in full perfection, +Spin for thee the finest linen, +Weave for thee the richest fabrics, +Make for thee the softest raiment, +Make thy weaver's loom as merry +As the cuckoo of the forest; +Make the shuttle glide in beauty +Like the ermine of the woodlands; +Make the spindle twirl as deftly +As the squirrel spins the acorn; +Village-maidens will not slumber +While thy young bride's loom is humming, +While she plies the graceful shuttle. +"Bridegroom of the Bride of Beauty, +Noblest of the Northland heroes, +Forge thyself a scythe for mowing, +Furnish it with oaken handle, +Carve it in thine ancient smithy, +Hammer it upon thine anvil, +Have it ready for the summer, +For the merry days of sunshine; +Take thy bride then to the lowlands, +Mow the grass upon thy meadows, +Rake the hay when it is ready, +Make the reeds and grasses rustle, +Toss the fragrant heads of clover, +Make thy hay in Kalevala +When the silver sun is shining. +"When the time has come for weaving, +To the loom attract the weaver, +Give to her the spools and shuttles, +Let the willing loom be worthy, +Beautiful the frame and settle; +Give to her what may be needed, +That the weaver's song may echo, +That the lathe may swing and rattle, +Ma y be heard within the village, +That the aged may remark it, +And the village-maidens question: +'Who is she that now is weaving, +What new power now plies the shuttle?' +"Make this answer to the question: +'It is my beloved weaving, +My young bride that plies the shuttle.' +"Shall the weaver's weft be loosened, +Shall the young bride's loom be tightened? +Do not let the weft be loosened, +Nor the weaver's loom be tightened; +Such the weaving of the daughters +Of the Moon beyond the cloudlets; +Such the spinning of the maidens +Of the Sun in high Jumala, +Of the daughters of the Great Bear, +Of the daughters of the Evening. +Bridegroom, thou beloved hero, +Brave descendant of thy fathers, +When thou goest on a journey, +When thou drivest on the highway, +Driving with the Rainbow-daughter, +Fairest bride of Sariola, +Do not lead her as a titmouse, +As a cuckoo of the forest, +Into unfrequented places, +Into copses of the borders, +Into brier-fields and brambles, +Into unproductive marshes; +Let her wander not, nor stumble +On opposing rocks and rubbish. +Never in her father's dwelling, +Never in her mother's court-yard, +Has she fallen into ditches, +Stumbled hard against the fences, +Run through brier-fields, nor brambles, +Fallen over rocks, nor rubbish. +"Magic bridegroom of Wainola, +Wise descendant of the heroes, +Never let thy young wife suffer, +Never let her be neglected, +Never let her sit in darkness, +Never leave her unattended. +Never in her father's mansion, +In the chambers of her mother, +Has she sat alone in darkness, +Has she suffered for attention; +Sat she by the crystal window, +Sat and rocked, in peace and plenty, +Evenings for her father's pleasure, +Mornings for her mother's sunshine. +Never mayest thou, O bridegroom, +Lead the Maiden of the Rainbow +To the mortar filled with sea-grass, +There to grind the bark for cooking, +There to bake her bread from stubble, +There to knead her dough from tan-bark +Never in her father's dwelling, +Never in her mother's mansion, +Was she taken to the mortar, +There to bake her bread from sea-grass. +Thou shouldst lead the Bride of Beauty +To the garner's rich abundance, +There to draw the till of barley, +Grind the flour and knead for baking, +There to brew the beer for drinking, +Wheaten flour for honey-biscuits. +"Hero-bridegroom of Wainola, +Never cause thy Bride of Beauty +To regret her day of marriage; +Never make her shed a tear-drop, +Never fill her cup with sorrow. +Should there ever come an evening +When thy wife shall feel unhappy, +Put the harness on thy racer, +Hitch the fleet-foot to the snow-sled; +Take her to her father's dwelling, +To the household of her mother; +Never in thy hero-lifetime, +Never while the moonbeams glimmer, +Give thy fair spouse evil treatment, +Never treat her as thy servant; +Do not bar her from the cellar, +Do not lock thy best provisions +Never in her father's mansion, +Never by her faithful mother +Was she treated as a hireling. +Honored bridegroom of the Northland, +Proud descendant of the fathers, +If thou treatest well thy young wife, +Worthily wilt thou be treated; +When thou goest to her homestead, +When thou visitest her father, +Thou shalt meet a cordial welcome. +"Censure not the Bride of Beauty, +Never grieve thy Rainbow-maiden, +Never say in tones reproachful, +She was born in lowly station, +That her father was unworthy; +Honored are thy bride's relations, +From an old-time tribe, her kindred; +When of corn they sowed a measure, +Each one's portion was a kernel; +When they sowed a cask of flax-seed, +Each received a thread of linen. +Never, never, magic husband, +Treat thy beauty-bride unkindly, +Teach her not with lash of servants, +Strike her not with thongs of leather; +Never has she wept in anguish +From the birch-whip of her mother. +Stand before her like a rampart, +Be to her a strong protection, +Do not let thy mother chide her, +Let thy father not upbraid her, +Never let thy guests offend her; +Should thy servants bring annoyance, +They may need the master's censure; +Do not harm the Bride of Beauty, +Never injure her thou lovest; +Three long years hast thou been wooing, +Hoping every mouth to win her. +"Counsel with the bride of heaven, +To thy young wife give instruction, +Kindly teach thy bride in secret, +In the long and dreary evenings, +When thou sittest at the fireside; +Teach one year, in words of kindness, +Teach with eyes of love a second, +In the third year teach with firmness. +If she should not heed thy teaching, +Should not hear thy kindly counsel +After three long years of effort, +Cut a reed upon the lowlands, +Cut a nettle from the border, +Teach thy wife with harder measures. +In the fourth year, if she heed not, +Threaten her with sterner treatment, +With the stalks of rougher edges, +Use not yet the thongs of leather, +Do not touch her with the birch-whip. +If she does not heed this warning, +Should she pay thee no attention, +Cut a rod upon the mountains, +Or a willow in the valleys, +Hide it underneath thy mantle, +That the stranger may not see it, +Show it to thy wife in secret, +Shame her thus to do her duty, +Strike not yet, though disobeying. +Should she disregard this warning, +Still refuse to heed thy wishes, +Then instruct her with the willow, +Use the birch-rod from the mountains +In the closet of thy dwelling, +In the attic of thy mansion; +Strike, her not upon the common, +Do not conquer her in public, +Lest the villagers should see thee, +Lest the neighbors hear her weeping, +And the forests learn thy troubles. +Touch thy wife upon the shoulders, +Let her stiffened back be softened. +Do not touch her on the forehead, +Nor upon the ears, nor visage; +If a ridge be on her forehead, +Or a blue mark on her eyelids, +Then her mother would perceive it, +And her father would take notice, +All the village-workmen see it, +And the village-women ask her +'Hast thou been in heat of battle, +Hast thou struggled in a conflict, +Or perchance the wolves have torn thee, +Or the forest-bears embraced thee, +Or the black-wolf be thy husband, +And the bear be thy protector?'" +By the fire-place lay a gray-beard, +On the hearth-stone lay a beggar, +And the old man spake as follows: +"Never, never, hero-husband, +Follow thou thy young wife's wishes, +Follow not her inclinations, +As, alas! I did, regretful; +Bought my bride the bread of barley, +Veal, and beer, and best of butter, +Fish and fowl of all descriptions, +Beer I bought, home-brewed and sparkling, +Wheat from all the distant nations, +All the dainties of the Northland; +All of this was unavailing, +Gave my wife no satisfaction, +Often came she to my chamber, +Tore my sable locks in frenzy, +With a visage fierce and frightful, +With her eyeballs flashing anger, +Scolding on and scolding ever, +Ever speaking words of evil, +Using epithets the vilest, +Thought me but a block for chopping. +Then I sought for other measures, +Used on her my last resources, +Cut a birch-whip in the forest, +And she spake in tones endearing; +Cut a juniper or willow, +And she called me 'hero-darling'; +When with lash my wife I threatened, +Hung she on my neck with kisses." +Thus the bridegroom was instructed, +Thus the last advices given. +Then the Maiden of the Rainbow, +Beauteous bride of Ilmarinen, +Sighing heavily and moaning, +Fell to weeping, heavy-hearted, +Spake these words from depths of sorrow: +"Near, indeed, the separation, +Near, alas! the time for parting, +Near the time for my departure; +O the anguish of the parting, +O the pain of separation, +From these walls renowned and ancient, +From this village of the Northland, +From these scenes of peace and plenty, +Where my faithful mother taught me, +Where my father gave instruction +To me in my happy childhood, +When my years were few and tender! +As a child I did not fancy, +Never thought of separation +From the confines of this cottage, +From these dear old hills and mountains, +But, alas! I now must journey, +Since I now cannot escape it; +Empty is the bowl of parting, +All the farewell-beer is taken, +And my husband's sledge is waiting, +With the break-board looking southward, +Looking from my father's dwelling. +"How shall I give compensation, +How repay, on my departure, +All the kindness of my mother, +All the counsel of my father, +All the friendship of my brother, +All my sister's warm affection? +Gratitude to thee, dear father, +For my former-life and blessings, +For the comforts of thy table, +For the pleasures of my childhood! +Gratitude to thee, dear mother, +For thy tender care and guidance, +For my birth and for my culture, +Nurtured by thy purest life-blood! +Gratitude to thee, dear brother, +Gratitude to thee, sweet sister, +To the servants of my childhood, +To my many friends and playmates! +"Never, never, aged father, +Never, thou, beloved mother, +Never, ye, my kindred spirits, +Never harbor care, nor sorrow, +Never fall to bitter weeping, +Since thy child has gone to others, +To the distant home of strangers, +To the meadows of Wainola, +From her father's fields and firesides. +Shines the Sun of the Creator, +Shines the golden Moon of Ukko, +Glitter all the stars of heaven, +In the firmament of ether, +Full as bright on other homesteads; +Not upon my father's uplands, +Not upon my home in childhood, +Shines the Star of Joyance only. +"Now the time has come for parting +From my father's golden firesides, +From my brother's welcome hearth-stone, +From the chambers of my sister, +From my mother's happy dwelling; +Now I leave the swamps and lowlands, +Leave the grassy vales and mountains, +Leave the crystal lakes and rivers, +Leave the shores and sandy shallows, +Leave the white-capped surging billows, +Where the maidens swim and linger, +Where the mermaids sing and frolic; +Leave the swamps to those that wander, +Leave the corn-fields to the plowman, +Leave the forests to the weary, +Leave the heather to the rover, +Leave the copses to the stranger, +Leave the alleys to the beggar, +Leave the court-yards to the rambler, +Leave the portals to the servant, +Leave the matting to the sweeper, +Leave the highways to the roebuck, +Leave the woodland-glens to lynxes, +Leave the lowlands to the wild-geese, +And the birch-tree to the cuckoo. +Now I leave these friends of childhood, +Journey southward with my husband, +To the arms of Night and Winter, +O'er the ice-grown seas of Northland. +"Should I once again, returning, +Pay a visit to my tribe-folk, +Mother would not hear me calling, +Father would not see me weeping, +Calling at my mother's grave-stone, +'Weeping o'er my buried father, +On their graves the fragrant flowers, +Junipers and mournful willows, +Verdure from my mother's tresses, +From the gray-beard of my father. +"Should I visit Sariola, +Visit once again these borders, +No one here would bid me welcome. +Nothing in these hills would greet me, +Save perchance a few things only, +By the fence a clump of osiers, +And a land-mark at the corner, +Which in early youth I planted, +When a child of little stature. +"Mother's kine perhaps will know me, +Which so often I have watered, +Which I oft have fed and tended, +Lowing now at my departure, +In the pasture cold and cheerless; +Sure my mother's kine will welcome +Northland's daughter home returning. +Father's steeds may not forget me, +Steeds that I have often ridden, +When a maiden free and happy, +Neighing now for me departing, +In the pasture of my brother, +In the stable of my father; +Sure my father's steeds will know me, +Bid Pohyola's daughter welcome. +Brother's faithful dogs may know me, +That I oft have fed and petted, +Dogs that I have taught to frolic, +That now mourn for me departing, +In their kennels in the court-yard, +In their kennels cold and cheerless; +Sure my brother's dogs will welcome +Pohya's daughter home returning. +But the people will not know me, +When I come these scenes to visit, +Though the fords remain as ever, +Though unchanged remain the rivers, +Though untouched the flaxen fish-nets +On the shores await my coming. +"Fare thou well, my dear old homestead, +Fare ye well, my native bowers; +It would give me joy unceasing +Could I linger here forever. +Now farewell, ye halls and portals, +Leading to my father's mansion; +It would give me joy unceasing +Could I linger here forever. +Fare ye well, familiar gardens +Filled with trees and fragrant flowers; +It would give me joy unceasing, +Could I linger here forever. +Send to all my farewell greetings, +To the fields, and groves, and berries; +Greet the meadows with their daisies, +Greet the borders with their fences, +Greet the lakelets with their islands, +Greet the streams with trout disporting, +Greet the hills with stately pine-trees, +And the valleys with their birches. +Fare ye well, ye streams and lakelets, +Fertile fields, and shores of ocean, +All ye aspens on the mountains, +All ye lindens of the valleys, +All ye beautiful stone-lindens, +All ye shade-trees by the cottage, +All ye junipers and willows, +All ye shrubs with berries laden, +Waving grass and fields of barley, +Arms of elms, and oaks, and alders, +Fare ye well, dear scenes of childhood, +Happiness of days departed!" +Ending thus, Pohyola's daughter +Left her native fields and fallows, +Left the darksome Sariola, +With her husband, Ilmarinen, +Famous son of Kalevala. +But the youth remained for singing, +This the chorus of the children: +"Hither came a bird of evil ' +Flew in fleetness from the forest, +Came to steal away our virgin, +Came to win the Maid of Beauty; +Took away our fairest flower, +Took our mermaid from the waters, +Won her with his youth and beauty, +With his keys of ancient wisdom. +Who will lead us to the sea-beach, +Who conduct us to the rivers? +Now the buckets will be idle, +On the hooks will rest the fish-poles, +Now unswept will lie the matting, +And unswept the halls of birch-wood, +Copper goblets be unburnished, +Dark the handles of the pitchers, +Fare thou well, dear Rainbow Maiden." +Ilmarinen, happy bridegroom, +Hastened homeward with the daughter +Of the hostess of Pohyola, +With the beauty of the Northland +Fleetly flew the hero's snow-sledge, +Loudly creaked, and roared, and rattled +Down the banks of Northland waters, +By the side of Honey-inlet, +On the back of Sandy Mountain. +Stones went rolling from the highway, +Like the winds the sledge flew onward, +On the yoke rang hoops of iron, +Loud the spotted wood resounded, +Loudly creaked the bands of willow, +All the birchen cross-bars trembled, +And the copper-bells rang music, +In the racing of the fleet-foot, +In the courser's gallop homeward; +Journeyed one day, then a second, +Journeyed still the third day onward, +In one hand the reins of magic, +While the other grasped the maiden, +One foot resting on the cross-bar, +And the other in the fur-robes. +Merrily the steed flew homeward, +Quickly did the highways shorten, +Till at last upon the third day, +As the sun was fast declining, +There appeared the blacksmith's furnace, +Nearer, Ilmarinen's dwelling, +Smoke arising high in ether, +Clouds of smoke to lofty heaven, +From the village of Wainola, +From the suitor's forge and smithy, +From the chimneys of the hero, +From the home of the successful. + + + +GLOSSARY. + + +Aar'ni (Ar'ni). The guardian of hidden treasures. +A-ha'va. The West-wind; the father of the swift dogs. +Ah'ti. The same as Lemminkainen. +Ah'to. The great god of the waters. +Ah'to-la. The water-castle of Ahto and his people. +Ah'to-lai'set. The inhabitants of Ahtola. +Ai-nik'ki. A sister of Ahti. +Ai'no (i'no). Youkahainen's sister. +An'te-ro. A goddess of the waves. +Ai'ue-lake. The lake into which the Fire-child falls. +An-nik'ki. Ilmarinen's sister. +An'te-ro. Another name for Wipanen, or Antero Wipunen. +Dus'ter-land. The Northland; Pimentola. +Et'e-le'tar. A daugter of the South-wind. +Fire-Child. A synonym of Panu. +Frost. The English for Pakkanen. +Hal'lap-yo'ra. A lake in Finland. +Hal'ti-a (plural Haltiat). The Genius of Finnish mythology. +Het'e-wa'ne. The Finnish name of the Pleiades. +Hi'si (original Hiisi). The Evil Principle; also called Jutas, Lempo, +and Piru. +Mon'ja-tar. The daughter of the Pine-tree. +Hor'na. A sacred rock in Finland. +I'ku-Tur'so. An evil giant of the sea. +Il'ma-ri'nem. The worker of the metals; a brother of Wainamoinen. +Il'ma-tar. Daughter of the Air, and mother of Wainamoinen. +Il'po-tar. Believed to be the daughter of the Snow flake; the same as +Louhi. +Im-a'tra. A celebrated waterfall near Wiborg. +In'ger-land. The present St. Petersburg. +Ja'men (Ya'men). A river of Finland. +Jor'dan. Curiously, the river of Palestine. +Jou'ka-hai'nen (You-ka-hai'nen). A celebrated minstrel of Pohyola. +Jou-ko'la (You-ko'la). The home or dwelling of Youkahainen. +Ju-ma'la (You-ma'la). Originally the heavens, then the god of the +heavens, and finally God. +Ju'tas (yu'tas). The Evil Principle; Hisi, Piru, and Lempo are +synonyms, +Kai'to-lai'nen. A son of the god of metals; from his spear came the +tongue of the serpent. +Ka-ler'vo. The father of Kullervo. +Ka-le'va (Kalewai'nen). The father of heroes; a hero in general. +Kal'e-va'la (kaleva, hero, and la, the place of). The land of heroes; +the name of the epic poem of Finland. +Kal'e-va'tar (Kalewa'tar). Daughter of Kaleva. +Kal-e'vo. The same as Kaleva. +Ka'lew. Often used for Kaleva. +Kal'ma. The god of death. +Kam'mo. The father of Kimmo. +Kan'ka-hat'ta-ret. The goddesses of weaving. +Ka'pe. A synonym of Ilmatar, the mother of Wainamoinen. +Ka'po. A synonym of Osmotar. +Ka-re'len. A province of Finland. +Kar-ja'la, (karya'la). The seat of the waterfall, Kaatrakoski. +Kat'e-ja'tar (kataya'tar). The daughter of the Pine-tree. +Kat'ra-kos'ki (Kaatrakos'ki). A waterfall in Karjala. +Kau'ko. The same as Kaukomieli. +Kau'ko-miel'li. The same as Lemminkainen. +Kaup'pi. The Snowshoe-builder; Lylikki. +Ke'mi. A river of Finland. +Kim'mo. A name for the cow; the daughter of Kammo, the patron of the +rocks. +Ki'pu-ki'vi. The name of the rock at Hell-river, beneath which the +spirits of all diseases are imprisoned. +Kir'kon-Woe'ki. Church dwarfs living under altars. +Knik'ka-no. Same as Knippana. +Knip'pa-no. Same as Tapio. +Koot'a-moi'nen. The Moon. +Kos'ken-nei'ti. The goddess of the cataract. +Kul-ler'vo. The vicious son of Kalervo. +Kul'ler-woi'nen. The same as Kullervo. +Kul'li. A beautiful daughter of Sahri. +Kun. The Moon, and the Moon-god. +Kun'tar. One of the daughters of the Moon. +Ku'ra (Kuura). The Hoar-frost; also called Tiera, a ball of ice. +Kul-lik'ki (also Kyl'li). The Sahri-maiden whom Lemminkainen +kidnapped. +Lak'ka. Mother of Ilmarinen. +Lak-ko. The hostess of Kalevala. +Lem'min-kai'nen. One of the brothers of Wainamoinen; a son of Lempi. +Lem'pi-bay. A bay of Finland. +Lem'po. The Evil Principle; same as Hisi, Piru, and Jutas. +Lin'nun-ra'ta (Bird-way). The Milky-way. +Lou'hi. The hostess of Pohyola. +Low-ya'tar. Tuoni's blind daughter, and the originator of the Plagues. +Lu'on-no'tar. One of the mystic maidens, and the nurse of Wainamoinen. +Lu'o-to'la. A bay of Finland, named with Joukola. +Ly-lik'ki (Lyylik'ki). Maker of the snow-shoe. +Maan-e'mo (man-e'mo). The mother of the Earth. +Ma'hi-set (Maa'hi-set). The invisibly small deities of Finnish +mythology. +Mam'me-lai'nen. The goddess of hidden treasures. +Ma'na. A synonym of Tuoni, the god of death. +Man'a-lai'nen. The same as Mana. +Masr'i-at'ta (marja, berry). The Virgin Mary of Finnish mythology. +Mat'ka-Tep'po. The road-god. +Meh'i-lai'nen. The honey-bee. +Mel'a-tar. The goddess of the helm. +Met'so-la. The same as Tapiola, the abode of the god of the forest, +Mie-lik'ki. The hostess of the forest. +Mi-merk'ki. A synonym of Mielikki. +Mosk'va. A province of Suomi. +Mu-rik'ki (Muurik'ki). The name of the cow. +Ne'wa. A river of Finland. +Ny-rik'ki. A son of Tapio. +0s'mo. The same as Osmoinen. +Os-noi'nen. A synonym of Wainola's hero. +Os'mo-tar. The daughter of Osmo; she directs the brewing of the beer +for Ilmarinen's wedding-feast. +O-ta'va. The Great Bear of the heavens. +Ot'so. The bear of Finland. +Poe'ivoe. The Sun, and the Sun god. +Pai'va-tar. The goddess of the summer. +Pak'ka-nen. A synonym of Kura. +Pal-woi'nen. A synonym of Turi, and also of Wirokannas. +Pa'nu. The Fire-Child, born from the sword of Ukko. +Pa'ra. A tripod-deity, presiding over milk and cheese. +Pel'ler-woi'nen. The sower of the forests. +Pen'i-tar. A blind witch of Pohyola; and the mother of the dog. +Pik'ku Mies. The water-pigmy that felled the over-spreading oak-tree +for Wainamoinen. +Pil'a-ya'tar (Pilaja'tar). The daughter of the Aspen; and the goddess +of the Mountain-ash. +Pilt'ti. The maid-servant of Mariatta. +Pi'men-to'la. A province of Finland; another name for Pohyola. +Pi'ru. The same as Lempo, Jutas, and Hisi. +Pi'sa. A mountain of Finland. +Poh'ya (Poh'ja). An abbreviated form for Pohyola. +Poh-yo'la (Poh-jo'la). The Northland; Lapland. +Pok-ka'nen. The Frost, the son of Puhuri; a synonym of Tiera. +Puh-hu'ri. The North-wind; the father of Pokkanen. +Rem'men. The father of the hop-vine. +Re'mu. The same as Remmen. +Ru-o'tus. A persecutor of the Virgin Mariatta. +Rut'ya (Rut'ja). A waterfall of Northland. +Sah'ri (Saari). The home of Kyllikki. +Sam'po. The jewel that Ilmarinen forges from the magic metals; a +talisman of success to the possessor; a continual source of strife +between the tribes of the North. +Samp'sa. A synonym of Pellerwoinen. +Sa'ra. The same as Sariola. +Sar'i-o'la. The same as Pohyola. +Sat'ka. A goddess of the sea. +Sa'wa (Sa'wo). The eastern part of Finland. +Sim'a Pil'li (Honey-flute). The flute of Sima-suu. +Sim'a-Suu. One of the maidens of Tapio. +Sin'e-tar. The goddess of the blue sky. +Si-net'ta-ret. The goddesses of dyeing. +Suk'ka-mie'li. The goddess of love. +Suo'mi (swo'mi). The ancient abode of the Finns. +Suo'ne-tar (swone-tar). The goddess of the veins. +Suo-wak'ko. An old wizard of Pohyola. +Suo'ya-tar (Syo'jatar). The mother of the serpent. +Su've-tar (Suve, summer). Goddess of the South-wind +Su-wan'to-lai'nen. Another name for Wainamoinen. +Taeh'ti. The Polar Star. +Ta-he'tar. The daughter of the Stars. +Tai'vas. The firmament in general. +Ta-ni'ka. A magic mansion of Pohja. +Ta'pi-o. The god of the forest. +Tel-le'rvo. A daughter of Tapio. +Ter'he-ne'tar. Daughter of the Fog. +Tie'ra. Same as Kura; the Hoar-frost. +Tont'tu. A little house-spirit. +Tu'a-me'tar. Daughter of the Alder-tree. +Tu-le'tar (Tuule'tar). A goddess of the winds. +Tu-lik'ki (Tuullk'ki). One of the daughters of Tapio. +Tu'o-ne'la. The abode of Tuoni. +Tuo'nen Poi'ka. The son of Tuoni. +Tu'o-ne'tar. The hostess of Death-land; a daughter of Tuoni. +Tu-o'ni. The god of death. +Tu'ri (Tuuri). The god of the Honey-land. +Turja (tur'ya). Another name for Pohya. +Tur'ya-lan'der. An epithet for one of the tribe of Louhi. +Tur'ya (Tyrja). A name for the waterfall of Rutya. +Uk'ko. The Great Spirit of Finnish mythology; his abode is in Jumala. +Uk'on-koi'va (Ukko's dog). The messenger of Ukko; the butterfly. +U'lap-pa'la. Another term for the abode of Tuoni. +Un'du-tar. Goddess of the fog. +U'ni. The god of sleep. +Un'ta-ma'la. A synonym for "the dismal Sariola." +Un-ta'mo. The god of dreams; the dreamer; a brother of Kalervo, and +his enemy. +Un'tar. The same as Undutar. +Un'to. The same as Untamo. +Utu-tyt'to. The same as Undutar. +Wai'nam-oi'nen (Vainamoinen). The chief hero of the Kalevala; the +hero of Wainola, whose mother, Ilmatar, fell from the air into the +ocean. +Wai'no (Vai'no). The same as Wainamoinen. +Wai-no'la. The home of Wainamoinen and his people; a synonym of +Kalevala. +Wel-la'mo. The hostess of the waters. +Wet'e-hi'nen. An evil god of the sea. +Wi-pu'nen (Vipu'nen). An old song-giant that swallowed Wainamoinen +searching for the "lost words." +Wi'ro-kan'nas (Virokan'nas). Ruler of the wilderness; the slayer of +the huge bull of Suomi; the priest that baptizes the son of Mariatta. +Wo'ya-lan'der (Vuojalan'der). An epithet for Laplander. +Wuok'sen (Vuo'ksen). A river in the east of Finland. +Wuok'si. The same as Wuoksen. + + +THE END. + + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE KALEVALA BOOK 1*** + +This file should be named kale110.txt or kale110.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, kale111.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, kale110a.txt + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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