" - '
Si
• •
.
i
- .."•• .
•
THE KALEYALA
THE
EPIC POEM OF FINLAND
INTO ENGLISH
BY
JOHN MARTIN CRAWFORD
• » U I
TWO VOLUMES
- . *.. « - ».,"
:;• , 'VOL.: II :
THIRD EDITION RESET
CINCINNATI
THE ROBERT CLARKE COMPANY
1910
Copyright, 1888,
BY
JOHN MARTIN CRAWFORD.
• • e c
t * e • * • • •
* < * •• • « ! . « • 1 • •
* • C«*« •«• II
c t
f C
The Frost-fiend, .,-' , -
X-XXI.
K
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
KUNE XXY.
Wainamoinen's Wedding-songs, - - 393
RUNE XXVI.
Origin of the Serpent, 414
RUNE XXVII. The Unwelcome Guest, 438
RUNE XXVIII. The Mother's Counsel, - - 451
RUNE XXIX. The Isle of Refuge, - - - 461
XXX. !',
* " - 480
Kullerwoinen, Son of EVil, '. • , 496
. . )
1&UNE XXXll.
Kullervo as a Shepherd, 508
RUNE XXXIII.
Kullervo and the Cheat-cake, 523
RUNE XXXIV.
Kullervo finds his Tribe-folk, - 532
RUNE XXXV.
Kullervo's Evil Deeds, - 540
RUNE XXXVI.
Kullerwoinen's Victory and Death, - 552
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
RUNE XXXVII.
Ilmarinen's Bride of Gold, 563
RUNE XXXVIII. Ilmarinen's Fruitless Wooing, 571
RUNE XXXIX.
Wainamoinen's Sailing, 581
RUNE XL. Birth of the Harp, - - 594
RUNE XLI. Wainamoinen's Harp-songs, 605
RUNE XLII. Capture of the Sampo, 613
RUNE XLIII.
The Sampo lost in the Sea, - 629
Birth of the
Birth of the Nine Dia&£££fl:"..' 'i 651
;.•;
: : :
»l )
Otso the Honey-eater, ' 661
RUNE XLVII. Louhi steals Sun, Moon, and Fire, 679
RUNE XLVIII. Capture of the Fire-fish, 691
RUNE XLIX.
Restoration of the Sun and Moon, 702
RUNE L.
Maria tta — Wainamoinen's Departure, 717
EPILOGUE, 734
GLOSSARY, - - 739
THE KALEVALA.
RUNE XXV.
WAINAMOINEN'S WEDDING- SONGS.
AT the home of Ilmarinen Long had they been watching, waiting, For the coming of the blacksmith, With his bride from Sariola. Weary were the eyes of watchers, Waiting from the father's portals, Looking from the mother's windows; Weary were the young knees standing At the gates of the magician ; Weary grew the feet of children, Tramping to the walls and watching ; Worn and torn, the shoes of heroes, Running on the shore to meet him.
Now at last upon a morning Of a lovely day in winter, Heard they from the woods the rumble Of a snow-sledge swiftly bounding. Lakko, hostess of Wainola, She the lovely Kalew-daughter, Spake these words in great excitement: u 'Tis the sledge of the magician, Comes at last the metal-worker Fnom the dismal Sariola,
398
394: The Kalevala.
By his side the Bride of Beauty ! Welcome, welcome, to this hamlet, Welcome to thy mother's hearth -stone, To the dwelling of thy father, By thine ancestors erected ! "
Straightway came great Ilmarinen, To his cottage drove the blacksmith, To the fireside of his father, To his mother's ancient dwelling. Hazel-birds were sweetly singing On the newly-bended collar; Sweetly called the sacred cuckoos From the summit of the break-board*, Merry, jumped the graceful squirrel On the oaken shafts and cross-bar.
Lakko, Kalew's fairest hostess, Beauteous daughter of Wainola, Spake these words of hearty welcome:] " For the new moon hopes the village, For the sun, the happy maidens, For the boat, the swelling water; I have not the moon expected, For the sun have not been waiting, I have waited for my hero, Waited for the Bride of Beauty ; Watched at morning, watched at evening^ Did not know but some misfortune, Some sad fate had overtaken Bride and bridegroom on their journey; Thought the naiden growing weary, Weary of my son's attentions, Since he faithfully had promised
Wainamoineri1 s Wedding -Songs. 395
To return to Kalevala,
Ere his foot-prints had departed
From the snow-fields of his father.
Every morn I looked and listened,
Constantly I thought and wondered
When his sledge would rumble homeward,
When it would return triumphant
To his home, renowned and ancient.
Had a blind and beggared straw-horse
Hobbled to these shores awaiting,
With a sledge of but two pieces,
Well the steed would have been lauded,
Had it brought my son beloved,
Had it brought the Bride of Beauty.
Thus I waited long, impatient,
Looking out from morn till even,
Watching with my head extended,
With my tresses streaming southward,
With my eyelids widely opened,
Waiting for my son's returning
To this modest home of heroes,
To this narrow place of resting.
Finally am I rewarded,
For the sledge has come triumphant,
Bringing home my son and hero,
By his side the Kainbow maiden,
Red her cheeks, her visage winsome,
Pride and joy of Sariola.
" Wizard -bridegroom of Wainola, Take thy courser to the stable, Lead him to the well-filled manger, To the best of grain and clover j
396 The Kalevala.
Give to us thy friendly greetings, Greetings send to all thy people. When thy greetings thou hast ended, Then relate what has befallen To our hero in his absence. Hast thou gone without adventure To the dark fields of Pohyola, Searching for the Maid of Beauty ? Didst thou scale the hostile ramparts, Didst thou take the virgin's mansion, Passing o'er her mother's threshold, Visiting the halls of Louhi ?
"But I know without the asking, See the answer to my question : Comest from the North a victor, On thy journey well contented ; Thou hast brought the Northland daughte Thou hast razed the hostile portals, Thou hast stormed the forts of Louhi, Stormed the mighty walls opposing, On thy journey to Pohyola, To the village of the father. In thy care the bride is sitting, In thine arms, the Kainbow-maiden, At thy side, the pride of Northland, Mated to the highly-gifted. Who has told the cruel story, Who the worst of news has scattered, That thy suit was unsuccessful, That in vain thy steed had journeyed? Not in vain has been thy wooing, Not in vain thy steed has travelled
Wainamoinen 's Wedding -Songs. 397
To the dismal homes of Lapland •, He has journeyed heavy laden, Shaken mane, and tail, and forelock, Dripping foam from lips and nostrils, Through the bringing of the maiden, With the burden of the husband.
" Come, thou beauty, from the snow-sledge, Come, descend thou from the cross-bench, Do not linger for assistance, Do not tarry to be carried; If too young the one that lifts thee, If too proud the one in waiting, Eise thou, graceful, like a young bird, Hither glide along the pathway, On the tan-bark scarlet- colored, That the herds of kine have evened, That the gentle lambs have trodden, Smoothened by the tails of horses. Haste thou here with gentle footsteps, Through the pathway smooth and tidy, On the tiles of even surface, On thy second father's court-yard, To thy second mother's dwelling, To thy brother's place of resting, To thy sister's silent chambers. Place thy foot within these portals, Step across this waiting threshold, Enter thou these halls of joyance, Underneath these painted rafters, Underneath this roof of ages. During all the winter evenings, Through the summer gone forever,
398 The Kalevala.
Sang the tiling made of ivory, Wishing thou wouldst walk upon it; Often sang the golden ceiling, Hoping thou wouldst walk beneath it; And the windows often whistled, Asking thee to sit beside them ; Even on this merry morning, Even on the recent evening, Sat the aged at their windows, On the sea-shore ran the children, Near the walls the maidens waited, Ran the boys upon the highway, There to watch the young bride's coming, Coming with her hero-husband.
"Hail, ye courtiers of Wainola, With the heroes of the fathers, Hail to thee, Wainola's hamlet, Hail, ye halls with heroes peopled, Hail, ye rooms with all your inmates, Hail to thee, sweet golden moonlight, Hail to thee, benignant TJkko, Hail companions of the bridegroom! Never has there been in Northland Such a wedding-train of honor, Never such a bride of beautv.
' t>
"Bridegroom, thott beloved hero, Now untie the scarlet ribbons, And remove the silken muffler, Let us see the honey-maiden, See the Daughter of the Rainbow. Seven years hast thou been wooing, Hast thou brought the maid affianced,
Wainamoinens Wedding-Songs. 399
Hast thou sought a sweeter cuckoo, Sought one fairer than the moonlight, Sought a mermaid from the ocean ? But I know without the asking, See the answer to my question: Thou hast brought the sweet-voiced ouckoo, Thou hast found the swan of beauty, Plucked the sweetest flower of Northland, Culled the fairest of the jewels, Gathered Pohya's sweetest berry!"
Sat a babe upon the matting. And the young child spake as follows : "Brother, what is this thou bringest, Aspen-log or trunlE of willow, Slender as the mountain-linden ? Bridegroom, well dost thou remember, Thou hast hoped it all thy life-time, Hoped to bring the Maid of Beauty, Thou a thousand times hast said it, Better far than any other, Not one like the croaking raven, Nor the magpie from the border, Nor the scarecrow from the corn-fields, Nor the vulture from the desert. What has this one done of credit, In the summer that has ended ? Where the gloves that she has knitted, Where the mittens she has woven ? Thou hast brought her empty-handed, Not a gift she brings thy father ; In thy chests the mice are nesting, Long-tails feeding on thy vestments,
400 The Kalevala.
And thy bride cannot repair them."
Lakko, hostess of Wainola, She the faithful Kalew-daughter, Hears the young child's speech in wondefj Speaks these words of disapproval: " Silly prattler, cease thy talking, Thou hast spoken in dishonor ; Let all others be astonished, Heap thy malice on thy kindred, Must not harm the Bride of Beauty, Kainbow-daughter of the Northland. False indeed is this thy prattle, All thy words are full of evil, Fallen from thy tongue of mischief, From the lips of one unworthy. Excellent the hero's young bride, Best of all in Sariola, Like the strawberry in summer, Like the daisy from the meadow, Like the cuckoo from the forest, Like the bluebird from the aspen, Like the redbreast from the heather, Like the martin from the linden; Never couldst thou find in Ehstland Such a virgin as this daughter, Such a graceful, beauteous maiden, With such dignity of carriage, With such arms of pearly whiteness, With a neck so fair and lovely. Neither is she empty-handed, She has brought us furs abundant, Brought us many silken garments,
Wainamoineri 's Wedding -Songs. 401
Eicliest weavings of Pohyola. Many beauteous things the maiden, With the spindle has accomplished, Spun and woven with her fingers; Dresses of the finest texture She in winter has upfolded, Bleached them in the days of spring-time, Dried them at the hour of noon-day, For our couches finest linen, For our heads the softest pillows, For our comfort woollen blankets, For our necks the silken ribbons." To the bride speaks gracious Lakko: " Goodly wife, thou Maid of Beauty, Highly wert thou praised as daughter, In thy father's distant country ; Here thou shalt be praised forever By the kindred of thy husband ; Thou shalt never suffer sorrow, Never give thy heart to grieving ; In the swamps thou wert not nurtured, Wert not fed beside the brooklets ; Thou wert born 'neath stars auspicious, Nurtured from the richest garners, Thou wert taken to the brewing Of the sweetest beer in Northland. " Beauteous bride from Sariola, Shouldst thou see me bringing hither Casks of corn, or wheat, or barley, Bringing rye in great abundance, They belong to this thy household; *jood the plowing of thy husband,
402 The Kalevala.
Good his sowing and his reaping.
" Bride of Beauty from the Northland, Thou wilt learn this home to manage, Learn to labor with thy kindred ; Good the home for thee to dwell in, Good enough for bride and daughter. At thy hand will rest the milk -pail, And the churn awaits thine order; It is well here for the maiden, Happy will the young bride labor, Easy are the resting-benches ; Here the host is like thy father, Like thy mother is the hostess, All the sons are like thy brothers, Like thy sisters are the daughters.
"Shouldst thou ever have a longing For the whiting of the ocean, For thy father's Northland salmon, For thy brother's hazel-chickens, Ask them only of thy husband, Let thy hero-husband bring them. There is not in all of Northland, Not a creature of the forest, Not a bird beneath the ether, Not a fish within the waters, Not the largest, nor the smallest, That thy husband cannot capture. It is well here for the maiden, Here the bride may live in freedom, Need not turn the heavy millstone, Need not move the iron pestle; Here the wheat is ground by water,
Wainamomeri 's Wedding -S^ngs. 403
For the rye, the swifter current, While the billows wash the vessels And the surging waters rinse them. Thou hast here a lovely village, Finest spot in all of Northland, In the lowlands sweet the verdure, In the uplands, fields of beauty, With the lake-shore near the hamlet, Near thy home the running water, Where the goslings swim and frolic, Water-birds disport in numbers."
Thereupon the bride and bridegroom Were refreshed with richest viands, Given food and drink abundant, Fed on choicest bits of reindeer, On the sweetest loaves of barley, On the best of wheaten biscuits, On the richest beer of Northland. Many things were on the table, Many dainties of Wainola, In the bowls of scarlet color, In the platters deftly painted, Many cakes with honey sweetened, To each guest was butter given, Many bits of trout and whiting, Larger salmon carved in slices, With the knives of molten silver, Eimmed with gold the silver handles, Beer of barley ceaseless flowing, Honey-drink that was not purchased, In the cellar flows profusely, Beer for all, the tongues to quicken,,
404 The Kalevala.
Mead and beer the minds to freshen. Who is there to lead the singing, Lead the songs of Kalevala ?
Wainamoinen, old and truthful, The eternal, wise enchanter, Quick begins his incantations, Straightway sings the songs that folloW* "Golden brethren, dearest kindred, Ye, my loved ones, wise and worthy Ye companions, highly -gifted, Listen to my simple sayings: Karely stand the geese together, Sisters do not mate each other, Not together stand the brothers, Nor the children of one mother, In the countries of the Northland.
" Shall we now begin the singing, Sing the songs of old tradition? Singers can but sing their wisdom, And the cuckoo call the spring-time, And the goddess of the heavens Only dyes the earth in beauty ; So the goddesses of weaving Can but weave from dawn till twilight'^ Ever sing the youth of Lapland In their straw-shoes full of gladness, When the coarse-meat of the roebuck, Or of blue-moose they have eaten. Wherefore should I not be singing, And the children not be chanting Of the biscuits of Wainola, Of the bread of Kalew-waters ?
Wainamoinen'1 s Wedding -Songs. 405
Even sing the lads of Lapland In their straw -shoes filled with joyance, Drinking but a cup of water, Eating but the bitter tan- bark. Wherefore should I not be singing, And the children not be chanting Of the beer of Kalevala, Brewed from barley in perfection, Dressed in quaint and homely costume, As they sit beside their hearth-stones. Wherefore should I not be singing, And the children too be chanting Underneath these painted rafters, In these halls renowned and ancient? This the place for men to linger, This the court-room for the maidens, Near the foaming beer of barley, Honey-brewed in great abundance, Very near, the salmon-waters, Near, the nets for trout and whiting, Here where food is never wanting, Where the beer is ever brewing. Here Wainola's sons assemble, Here Wainola's daughters gather, Here they never eat in trouble, Here they live without regretting, In the life-time of the landlord, While the hostess lives and prospers.
" Who shall first be sung and lauded? Shall it be the bride or bridegroom ? Let us praise the bridegroom's father, Let the hero -host be chanted,
406 % The Kalevala.
Him whose home is in the forest, Him who built upon the mountains, Him who brought the trunks of lindens, With their tops and slender branches, Brought them to the best of places, Joined them skilfully together, For the mansion of the nation, For this famous hero-dwelling, Walls procured upon the lowlands, Kafters from the pine and fir-tree, From the woodlands beams of oak-wood, From the berry-plains the studding, Bark was furnished by the aspen, And the mosses from the fenlands. Trimly builded is this mansion, In a haven warmly sheltered ; Here a hundred men have labored, On the roof have stood a thousand, As this spacious house was building, As this roof was tightly jointed. Here the ancient mansion-builder, When these rafters were erected, Lost in storms his locks of sable, Scattered by the winds of heaven. Often has the hero- landlord On the rocks his gloves forgotten, Left his hat upon the willows, Lost his mittens in the marshes ; Oftentimes the mansion-builder, In the early hours of morning, Ere his workmen had awakened,
Wainamoinen1 s Wedding -Songs. 407
Unperceived by all the village, Has arisen from his slumber, Left his cabin in the snow-fields, Combed his locks among the branches, Bathed his eyes in dews of morning.
" Thus obtained the pleasant landlord Friends to fill his spacious dwelling, Fill his benches with magicians, Fill his windows with enchanters, Fill his halls with wizard-singers, Fill his floors with ancient speakers, Fill his ancient court with strangers, Fill his hurdles with the needy ; Thus the Kalew-host is lauded.
" Now I praise the genial hostess, Who prepares the toothsome dinner, Fills with plenty all her tables, Bakes the honeyed loaves of barley, Kneads the dough with magic fingers, With her arms of strength and beauty, Bakes her bread in copper ovens, Feeds her guests and bids them welcome, Feeds them on the toothsome bacon, On the trout, and pike, and whiting, On the rarest fish in ocean, On the dainties of Wainola.
" Often has the faithful hostess Eisen from her couch in silence, Ere the crowing of the watcher, To prepare the wedding-banquet, Make her tables look attractive, Brew the honey-beer of wedlock.
The Kalevala.
Excellently lias the housewife, Has the hostess filled with wisdom, Brewed the beer from hops and barley, From the corn of Kalevala, From the wheat-malt honey-seasoned, Stirred the beer with graceful fingers, At the oven in the penthouse, In the chamber swept and polished. Neither did the prudent hostess, Beautiful, and full of wisdom, Let the barley sprout too freely, Lest the beer should taste of black-earth, Be too bitter in the brewing; Often went she to the garners, Went alone at hour of midnight, Was not frightened by the black- wolf, Did not fear the beasts of woodlands.
"Now the hostess I have lauded, Let me praise the favored suitor, Now the honored hero-bridegroom, Best of all the village-masters. Clothed in purple is the hero, Kaiment brought from distant nations, Tightly fitting to his body; Snugly sets his coat of ermine, To the floor it hangs in beauty, Trailing from his neck and shoulders, Little of his vest appearing, Peeping through his outer raiment, Woven by the Moon's fair daughters, And his vestment silver-tinselled. Dressed in neatness is the suitor,
Wainamoinen 's Wedding -Songs. 409
Pound his waist a belt of copper, Hammered by the Sun's sweet maidens, Ere the early fires were lighted, Ere the fire had been discovered. Dressed in richness is the bridegroom, On his feet are silken stockings, Silken ribbons on his ankles, Gold and silver interwoven. Dressed in beauty is the bridegroom, On his feet are shoes of deer-skin, Like the swans upon the water, Like the blue-duck on the sea-waves, Like the thrush among the willows, Like the water-birds of Northland. Well adorned the hero-suitor, With his locks of golden color, With his gold-beard finely braided, Hero- hat upon his forehead, Piercing through the forest branches, Beaching to the clouds of heaven, Bought with countless gold and silver, Priceless is the suitor's head -gear.
" Now the bridegroom has been lauded, I will praise the young bride's playmate, Day- companion in her childhood, In the maiden's magic mansion. Whence was brought the merry maiden, From the village of Tanikka? Thence was never brought the playmate, Playmate of the bride in childhood. Has she come from distant nations,
/
From the waters of the Dwina,
410 The Kalevala.
O'er the ocean far-outstretching ?
Not from Dwina came the maiden,
Did not sail across the waters ;
Grew as berry in the mountains,
As a strawberry of sweetness,
On the fields the child of beauty,
In the glens the golden flower.
Thence has come the young bride's playmate,
Thence arose her fair companion.
Tiny are her feet and fingers,
Small her lips of scarlet color,
Like the maiden's loom of Suomi ;
Eyes that shine in kindly beauty
Like the twinkling stars of heaven;
Beam the playmate's throbbing temples
Like the moonlight on the waters.
Trinkets has the bride's companion,
On her neck a golden necklace,
In her tresses, silken ribbons,
On her arms are golden bracelets,
Golden rings upon her fingers,
Pearls are set in golden ear-rings,
Loops of gold upon her temples,
And with pearls her brow is studded.
Northland thought the Moon was shining
When her jeweled ear-rings glistened ;
Thought the Sun had left his station
When her girdle shone in beauty ;
Thought a ship was homeward sailing
When her colored head-gear fluttered.
Thus is praised the bride's companion,
Playmate of the Eainbow-maiden.
Wainamoineri's Wedding -Songs.
<( Now I praise the friends assembled, All appear in graceful manners ; If the old are wise and silent, All the youth are free and merry, All the guests are fair and worthy. Never was there in Wainola, Never will there be in Northland, Such a company assembled ; All the children speak in joyance, All the aged move sedately ; Dressed in white are all the maidens, Like the hoar-frost of the morning, Like the welcome dawn of spring-time, Like the rising of the daylight. Silver then was more abundant, Gold among the guests in plenty, On the hills were money -pockets, Money-bags along the valleys, For the friends that were invited, For the guests in joy assembled. All the friends have now been lauded, Each has gained his meed of honor."
Wainamoinen, old and truthful, Song-deliverer of Northland, Swung himself upon the fur-bench Of his magic sledge of copper, Straightway hastened to his hamlet, Singing as he journeyed onward, Singing charms and incantations, Singing one day, then a second, All the third day chanting legends. On the rocks the runners rattled,
412 The Kalevala.
Hung the sledge upon a birch -stump, Broke it into many pieces, With the magic of his singing ; Double were the runners bended, All the parts were torn asunder, And his magic sledge was ruined.
Then the good, old Wainamoinen Spake these words in meditation : " Is there one among this number, In this rising generation, Or perchance among the aged, In the passing generation, That will go to Mana's kingdom, To the empire of Tuoni, There to get the magic auger From the master of Manala, That I may repair my snow-sledge. Or a second sledge may fashion ? '
What the younger people answered Was the answer of the aged : " Not among the youth of Northland, Nor among the aged heroes, Is there one of ample courage, That has bravery sufficient, To attempt the reckless journey To the kingdom of Tuoni, To Manala's fields and castles, Thence to bring Tuoni's auger, Wherewithal to mend thy snow -sledge, Build anew thy sledge of magic."
Thereupon old Wainamoinen, The eternal wisdom-singer,
Wainamomen's Wedding-Songs. 413
Went again to Mana's empire,
To the kingdom of Tuoni,
Crossed the sable stream of Deathland,
To the castles of Manala,
Found the auger of Tuoni,
Brought the instrument in safety.
Straightway sings old Wainamoinen,
Sings to life a purple forest,
In the forest, slender birches,
And beside them, mighty oak-trees,
Shapes them into shafts and runners,
Moulds them by his will and power,
Makes anew his sledge of magic.
On his steed he lays the harness, Binds him to his sledge securely, Seats himself upon the cross-bench, And the racer gallops homeward, To the manger filled and waiting, To the stable of his master; Brings the ancient Wainamoinen, Famous bard and wise enchanter, To the threshold of his dwelling, To his home in Kalevala.
RUNE XXVI.
ORIGIN OF THE SERPENT.
AHTI, living on the island, Near the Kauko-point and harbor, Plowed his fields for rye and barley, Furrowed his extensive pastures, Heard with quickened ears an uproar, Heard the village in commotion, Heard a noise along the sea-shore, Heard the foot- steps on the ice-plain, Heard the rattle of the sledges ; Quick his mind divined the reason, Knew it was Pohyola's wedding, Wedding of the Kainbow- virgin. Quick he stopped in disappointment, Shook his sable locks in envy, Turned his hero-head in anger, While the scarlet blood ceased flowing Through his pallid face and temples; Ceased his plowing and his sowing, On the field he left the furrows ; On his steed he lightly mounted, Straightway galloped fleetly homeward To his well-beloved mother, To his mother old and golden, Gave his mother these directions, These the words of Lemminkainen : "My beloved, faithful mother, Quickly bring me beer and viands,
Origin of the Serpent. 415
Bring me food for I am hungry, Food and drink for me abundant, Have my bath-room quickly heated, Quickly set the room in order. That I may refresh my body, Dress myself in hero-raiment."
Lemminkainen's aged mother Brings her hero food in plenty, Beer and viands for the hungry, For her thirsting son and hero ; Quick she heats the ancient bath-room, Quickly sets his bath in order.
Then the reckless Lemminkainen Ate his meat with beer inspiring, Hastened to his bath awaiting ; Only was the bullfinch bathing, With the many-colored bunting; Quick the hero laved his temples, Laved himself to flaxen whiteness, Quick returning to his mother, Spake in haste the words that follow: " My beloved, helpful mother,
Go at once to vonder mountain, j
To the store-house on the hill-top, Bring my vest of finest texture, Bring my hero-coat of purple, Bring my suit of magic colors, Thus to make me look attractive, Thus to robe myself in beauty."
First the ancient mother asked him, Asked her son this simple question: " Whither dost thou go, my hero ?
416 The Kalevala.
Dost tliou go to hunt the roebuck, Chase the lynx upon the mountains, Shoot the squirrel in the woodlands ? n
Spake the reckless Lemminkainen, Also known as Kaukomieli : '' Worthy mother of my being, Go I not to hunt the roebuck, Chase the lynx upon the mountains, Shoot the squirrel on the tree -tops ; I am going to Pohyola, To the feasting of her people. Bring at once my purple vestments, Straightway bring my nuptial outfit, Let me don it for the marriage Of the maiden of the Northland."
But the ancient dame dissented, And the wife forebade the husband ; Two of all the best of heroes, Three of nature's fairest daughters, Strongly urged wild Lemminkainen Not to go to Sariola, To Pohyola's great carousal, To the marriage-feast of Northland, " Since thou hast not been invited, Since they do not wish thy presence.17
Spake the reckless Lemminkainen, These the words of Kaukomieli : " Where the wicked are invited, There the good are always welcome, Herein lies my invitation ; I am constantly reminded By this sword of sharpened edges.
Origin of the Serpent. 417
By this magic blade and scabbard, That Pohyola needs my presence."
Lemminkainen's aged mother Sought again to stay her hero : "Do not go, my son beloved, To the feasting in Pohyola ; Full of horrors are the highways, On the road are many wonders, Three times Death appears to frighten, Thrice destruction hovers over ! '
Spake the reckless Lemminkainen, These the words of Kaukomieli : " Death is seen by aged people, Everywhere they see perdition, Death can never frighten heroes, Heroes do not fear the spectre ; Be that as it may, dear mother, Tell that I may understand thee, Name the first of all destructions, Name the first and last destroyers!" Lemminkainen's mother answered: " I will tell thee, son and hero, Not because I wish to speak it, But because the truth is worthy ; I will name the chief destruction, Name the first of the destroyers. When thou hast a distance journeyed, Only one day hast thou travelled, Comes a stream along the highway, Stream of fire of wondrous beauty, In the stream a mighty fire -spout, In the spout a rock uprising, 27
418 The Kalevala.
On the rock a fiery hillock, On the top a flaming eagle, And his crooked beak he sharpens, Sharpens too his bloody talons, For the coming of the stranger, For the people that approach him."
Spake the reckless Lemminkainen, Handsome hero, Kaukomieli : " Women die beneath the eagle, Such is not the death of heroes ; Know I well a magic lotion, That will heal the wounds of eagles ; Make myself a steed of alders, That will walk as my companion, That will stride ahead majestic; As a duck I'll drive behind him, Drive him o'er the fatal waters, Underneath the flaming eagle, With his bloody beak and talons. Worthy mother of my being, Name the second of destroyers." Lemminkainen's mother answered : " This the second of destroyers : When thou hast a distance wandered, Only two days hast thou travelled, Comes a pit of fire to meet thee, In the centre of the highway , Eastward far the pit extending, Stretches endless to the westward, Filled with burning coals and pebbles, Glowing with the heat of ages ; Hundreds has this monster swallowed,
Origin of the Serpent. 419
In his jaws have thousands perished, Hundreds with their trusty broadswords, Thousands on their fiery chargers."
Spake the reckless Lemminkainen, Handsome hero, Kaukomieli : " Never will the hero perish In the jaws of such a monster; Know I well the means of safety, Know a remedy efficient: I will make of snow a master, On the snow-clad fields, a hero, Drive the snow-man on before me, Drive him through the flaming vortex, Drive him through the fiery furnace, With my magic broom of copper ; I will follow in his shadow, Follow close the magic image, Thus escape the frightful monster, With my golden locks uninjured, With my flowing beard untangled. Ancient mother of my being, Name the last of the destructions, Name the third of the destroyers.1* Lemminkainen's mother answered : " This the third of fatal dangers : Hast thou gone a greater distance, Hast thou travelled one day longer, To the portals of Pohyola, To the narrowest of gate- ways, There a wolf will rise to meet thee, There the black-bear sneak upon thcej In Pohyola's darksome portals,
420 The Kakvala.
Hundreds in their jaws have perished, Have devoured a thousand heroes; Wherefore will they not destroy thee, Since thy form is unprotected?'
Spake the reckless Lemminkainen, Handsome hero, Kaukomieli : "Let them eat the gentle lambkins, Feed upon their tender tissues, They cannot devour this hero; I am girded with my buckler, Girded with my belt of copper, Armlets wear I of the master, From the wolf and bear protected^. Will not hasten to Untamo. I can meet the wolf of Lempo, For the bear I have a balsam, For his mouth I conjure bridles, For the wolf, forge chains of iron ; I will smite them as the willow, Chop them into little fragments, Thus I'll gain the open court-yard, Thus triumphant end my journey." Lemminkainen's mother answered: "Then thy journey is not ended, Greater dangers still await thee, Great the wonders yet before thee, Horrors three within thy pathway; Three great dangers of the hero Still await thy reckless footsteps, These the worst of all thy dangers : When thou hast still farther wandered, Thou wilt reach the Court of Pohya,
Origin of the Serpent. 421
Where the walls are forged from iron, And from steel the outer bulwark; Rises from the earth to heaven, Back again to earth returning; Double spears are used for railings, On each spear are serpents winding, On each rail are stinging adders; Lizards too adorn the bulwarks, Play their long tails in the sunlight, Hissing lizards, venomed serpents, Jump and writhe upon the rampart, Turn their horrid heads to meet thee; On the greensward lie the monsters, On the ground the things of evil, With their pliant tongues of venom, Hissing, striking, crawling, writhing; One more horrid than the others, Lies before the fatal gate- way, Longer than the longest rafters, Larger than the largest portals ; Hisses with the tongue of anger, Lifts his head in awful menace, Raises it to strike none other Than the hero of the islands."
Spake the warlike Lemminkainen, Handsome hero, Kaukomieli : " By such things the children perish, Such is not the death of heroes ; Know I well the fire to manage, I can quench the flames of passion, I can meet the prowling wild-beasts, Can appease the wrath of serpents,
422 The Kalevala.
I can heal the sting of adders,
I have plowed the serpent- pastures,
Plowed the adder-fields of Northland ;
While my hands were unprotected,
Held the serpents in my fingers,
Drove the adders to Mauala,
On my hands the blood of serpents,
On my feet the fat of adders.
Never will thy hero stumble
On the serpents of the Northland ;
With my heel I'll crush the monsters.
Stamp the horrid things to atoms ;
I will banish them from Pohya,
Drive them to Manala's kingdom,
Step within Pohyola's mansion,
Walk the halls of Sariola! "
Lemminkainen's mother answered :
" Do not go, my son beloved,
To the firesides of Pohyola,
Through the Northland fields and fallows ;
There are warriors with broadswords,
Heroes clad in mail of copper,
Are on beer intoxicated,
By the beer are much embittered;
They will charm thee, hapless creature,
On the tips of swords of magic ;
Greater heroes have been conjured,
Stronger ones have been outwitted.'7
Spake the reckless Lemminkainen :
" Formerly thy son resided
In the hamlets of Pohyola ;
Laplanders cannot enchant me,
Origin of the Serpent. 423
Nor the Turyalanders harm me ;
I the Laplander will conjure,
Charm him with my magic powers,
Sing his shoulders wide asunder,
In his chin I'll sing a fissure,
Sing his collar-bone to pieces,
Sing his breast to thousand fragments."
Lemminkainen's mother answered :
" Foolish son, ungrateful wizard,
Boasting of thy former visit,
Boasting of thy fatal journey !
Once in Northland thou wert living,
In the homesteads of Pohyola ;
There thou tried to swim the whirlpool,
Tasted there the dog- tongue waters,
Floated down the fatal current,
Sank beneath its angry billows;
Thou hast seen Tuoni's river,
Thou hast measured Mana's waters,
There to-day thou wouldst be sleeping,
Had it not been for thy mother !
What 1 tell thee well remember,
Shouldst thou gain Pohyola's chambers,
Filled with stakes thou'lt find the court-yard,
These to hold the heads of heroes ;
There thy head will rest forever,
Shouldst thou go to Sariola."
Spake the warlike Lemminkainen :
"Fools indeed may heed thy counsel,
Cowards too may give attention ;
Those of seven conquest-summers
Cannot heed such weak advising.
424 The Kalevala.
Bring to me my battle-armor. Bring my magic mail of copper. Bring me too my father's broads woni, Keep the old man's blade from rusting; Long it has been cold and idle, Long has lain in secret places, Long and constantly been weeping, Long been asking for a bearer."
Then he took his mail of copper, Took his ancient battle-armor, Took his father's sword of magic, Tried its point against the oak-wood, Tried its edge upon the sorb-tree ; In his band the blade was bended, Like the limber boughs of willow, Like the juniper in summer. Spake the hero, Lemminkainen : " There is none in Pohya's hamlets, In the courts of Sariola, That with me can measure broadswords, That can meet this blade ancestral."
From the nail he took a cross-bow, Took the strongest from the rafters, Spake these words in meditation : " I shall recognize as worthy, Recognize that one a hero That can bend this mighty cross-bow, That can break its magic sinews, In the hamlets of Pohyola."
Lemminkainen, filled with courage, Girds himself in suit of battle, Dons his mighty mail of copper,
Origin of the Serpent. 425
To his servant speaks as follows :
" Trusty slave, and whom I purchased,
Whom I bought with gold and silver,
Quick prepare my fiery charger,
Harness well my steed of battle ;
I am going to the feasting,
To the banquet-fields of Lempo."
Quick obeys the faithful servant, Hitches well the noble war-horse, Quick prepares the fire-red stallion, Speaks these words when all is ready: "I have done what thou hast bidden, Ready harnessed is the charger, Waiting to obey his master."
Comes the hour of the departing Of the hero, Lemminkainen, Right hand ready, left unwilling, All his anxious fingers pain him, Till at last in full obedience, All his members give permission; Starts the hero on his journey, While the mother gives him counsel, At the threshold of the dwelling, At the highway of the court-yard : " Child of courage, my beloved, Son of strength, my wisdom -hero, If thou goest to the feasting, Shouldst thou reach the great carousal, Drink thou only a half a cupful, Drink the goblet to the middle, Always give the half remaining, Give the worse half to another,
426 The Kalevala.
To another more unworthy; In the lower half are serpents, "Worms, and frogs, and hissing lizards^ Feeding on the slimy bottom."
Furthermors she tells her hero, Gives her son these sage directions, On the border of the court-yard, At the portals farthest distant : " If thou goest to the banquet, Shouldst thou reach the great carousal, Occupy but half the settle, Take but half a stride in walking, Give the second half to others, To another less deserving; Only thus thou'lt be a hero, Thus become a son immortal ; In the guest-rooms look courageous, Bravely move about the chambers, In the gatherings of heroes, With the hosts of magic valor."
Thereupon wild Lemminkainen Quickly leaped upon the cross-bench Of his battle -sledge of wonder, Eaised his pearl -enamelled birch-rod, Snapped his whip above his charger, And the steed flew onward fleetly, Galloped on his distant journey.
He had travelled little distance, When a flight of hazel -chickens Quick arose before his coming, Flew before the foaming racer. There were left some feathers lying,
Origin of the Serpent. 427
Feathers of the hazel- chickens,
Lying in the hero's pathway.
These the reckless Lemminkainen
Gathered for their magic virtues,
Put them in his pouch of leather,
Did not know what things might happen
On his journey to Pohyola ;
All things have some little value,
In a strait all things are useful.
Then he drove a little distance, Galloped farther on the highway, When his courser neighed in danger, And the fleet-foot ceased his running. Then the stout-heart, Lemminkainen, Handsome hero, Kaukomieli, Kose upon his seat in wonder, Craned his neck and looked about him. Found it as his mother told him, Found a stream of fire opposing ; Ean the fire-stream like a river, Ean across the hero's pathway. In the river was a fire-fall, In the cataract a fire-rock, On the rock a fiery hillock, On its summit perched an eagle, From his throat the fire was streaming To the crater far below him, Fire out-shooting from his feathers, Glowing with a fiery splendor ; Long he looked upon the hero, Long he gazed on Lemminkainen, Then the eagle thus addressed him :
428 The Kalevala.
" Whither art thou driving, Ahti, Whither going, Lemminkainen ? ' Kaukomieli spake in answer : " To the feastings of Pohyola, To the drinking-halls of Louhi, To the banquet of her people ; Move aside and let me journey, Move a little from my pathway, Let this wanderer pass by thee, I am warlike Lemminkainen."
This the answer of the eagle, Screaming from his throat of splendor : "Though thou art wild Lemminkainen, I shall let thee wander onward, Through my fire -throat let thee journey, Through these flames shall be thy passage To the banquet-halls of Louhi, To Pohyola's great carousal ! '
Little heeding, Kaukomieli Thinks himself in little trouble, Thrusts his fingers in his pockets, Searches in his pouch of leather, Quickly takes the magic feathers, Feathers from the hazel- chickens, Kubs them into finest powder, Eubs them with his magic fingers, Whence a flight of birds arises, Hazel-chickens from the feathers, Large the bevy of the young birds. Quick the wizard, Lemminkainen, Drives them to the eagle's fire-mouth, Thus to satisfy his hunger,
Origin of the Serpent. 429
Thus to quench the fire out- streaming. Thus escapes the reckless hero, Thus escapes the first of dangers, Passes thus the first destroyer, On his journey to Pohyola.
With his whip he strikes his courser, With his birch-whip, pearl-enamelled; Straightway speeds the fiery charger, Noiselessly upon his journey, Gallops fast and gallops faster, Till the flying steed in terror Neighs again and ceases running. Lemminkainen, quickly rising, Cranes his neck and looks about him, Sees his mother's words were truthful, Sees her augury well-taken. Lo ! before him yawned a fire-gulf, Stretching crosswise through his pathway; Far to east the gulf extending, To the west an endless distance, Filled with stones and burning pebbles, Running streams of burning matter.
Little heeding, Lemminkainen Cries aloud in prayer to Ukko: "Ukko, thou 0 God above me, Dear Creator, omnipresent, From the north-west send a storm-cloud, From the east, dispatch a second, From the south send forth a third one ; Let them gather from the south-west, Sew their edges well together, Fill thou well the interspaces,
430 The Kalevala.
Send a snow-fall high as heaven, Let it fall from upper ether, Fall upon the flaming fire-pit, On the cataract and whirlpool ! ':
Mighty Ukko, the Creator, Ukko, father omnipresent, Dwelling in the courts of heaven, Sent a storm-cloud from the north-west, From the east he sent a second, From the south despatched a third one, Let them gather from the south-west, Sewed their edges well together, Filled their many interspaces, Sent a snow-fall high as heaven, From the giddy heights of ether, Sent it seething to the fire-pit, On the streams of burning matter; From the snow-fall in the fire-pond, Grows a lake with rolling billows. Quick the hero, Lemminkainen, Conjures there of ice a passage From one border to the other, Thus escapes his second danger, Thus his second trouble passes.
Then the reckless Lemminkainen Raised his pearl-enamelled birch-rod, Snapped his whip above his racer, And the steed flew onward swiftly, Galloped on his distant journey O'er the highway to Pohyola ; Galloped fast and galloped faster, Galloped on a greater distance,
Origin of the Serpent. 431
When the stallion loudly neighing, Stopped and trembled on the highway. Then the lively Lemminkainen Raised himself upon the cross-bench, Looked to see what else had happened ; Lo ! a wolf stands at the portals, In the passage-way a black-bear, At the high-gate of Pohyola, At the ending of the journey.
Thereupon young Lemminkainen, Handsome hero, Kaukomieli, Thrusts his fingers in his pockets, Seeks his magic pouch of leather, Pulls therefrom a lock of ewe -wool, Rubs it firmly in his fingers, In his hands it falls to powder ; Breathes the breath of life upon it, When a flock of sheep arises, Goats and sheep of sable color ; On the flock the black- wolf pounces, And the wild-bear aids the slaughter, While the reckless Lemminkaineii Rushes by them on his journey ; Gallops on a little distance, To the court of Sariola, Finds the fence of molten iron, And of steel the rods and pickets, In the earth a hundred fathoms, To the azure sky, a thousand, Double-pointed spears projecting ; On each spear were serpents twisted, Adders coiled in countless numbers,
432 The Kalevala.
Lizards mingled with the serpents, Tails entangled pointing earthward, While their heads were skyward whirling, Writhing, hissing mass of evil.
Then the stout-heart, Kaukomieli, Deeply thought and long considered : " It is as my mother told me, This the wall that she predicted, Stretching from the earth to heaven ; Downward deep are serpents creeping, Deeper still the rails extending ; High as highest flight of eagles, Higher still the wall shoots upward."
But the hero, Lemminkainen, Little cares, nor feels disheartened, Draws his broadsword from its scabbard, Draws his mighty blade ancestral, Hews the wall with might of magic, Breaks the palisade in pieces, Hews to atoms seven pickets, Chops the serpent- wall to fragments ; Through the breach he quickly passes To the portals of Pohyola.
In the way, a serpent lying, Lying crosswise in the entry, Longer than the longest rafters, Larger than the posts of oak-wood ; Hundred-eyed, the heinous serpent, And a thousand tongues, the monster, Eyes as large as sifting vessels, Tongues as long as shafts of javelins, Teeth as large as hatchet-handles,
Origin of the Serpent. 433
Back as broad as skiffs of ocean.
Lemminkainen does not venture
Straightway through this host opposing,
Through the hundred heads of adders,
Through the thousand tongues of serpents.
Spake the magic Lemminkainen :
" Yenomed viper, thing of evil,
Ancient adder of Tuoni,
Thou that crawlest in the stubble,
Through the flower-roots of Lempo,
Who has sent thee from thy kingdom,
Sent thee from thine evil coverts,
Sent thee hither, crawling, writhing,
In the pathway I would travel?
Who bestowed thy mouth of venom,
Who insisted, who commanded,
Thou shouldst raise thy head toward heavefi,
Who thy tail has given action?
Was this given by the father,
Did the mother give this power,
Or the eldest of the brothers,
Or the youngest of the sisters,
Or some other of thy kindred ?
" Close thy moutn, thou thing of evil, Hide thy pliant tongue of venom, In a circle wrap thy body, Coil thou like a shield in silence, Give to me one-half the pathway, Let this wanderer pass by thee, Or remove thyself entirely ; Get thee hence to yonder heather, Quick retreat to bog and stubble, 28
434 The Kalevala.
Hide thyself in reeds and rushes, In the brambles of the lowlands. Like a ball of flax enfolding, Like a sphere of aspen- branches, With thy head and tail together, Eoll thyself to yonder mountain; In the heather is thy dwelling, Underneath the sod thy caverns. Shouldst thou raise thy head in anger, Mighty Ukko will destroy it, Pierce it with his steel- tipped arrows, With his death-balls made of iron!"
Hardly had the hero ended, When the monster, little heeding, Hissing with his tongue in anger, Plying like the forked lightning, Pounces with his mouth of venom At the head of Lemminkainen ; But the hero, quick recalling, Speaks the master-words of knowledge, Words that came from distant ages, Words his ancestors had taught him, Words his mother learned in childhood, These the words of Lemminkainen: "Since thou wilt not heed mine order, Since thou wilt not leave the highway, Puffed with pride of thine own greatness, Thou shall burst in triple pieces. Leave thy station for the borders, I will hunt thine ancient mother, Sing thine origin of evil, How arose thy head of horror;
Origin of the Serpent. 435
Suoyatar, thine ancient mother, Thing of evil, thy creator 1
" Suoyatar once let her spittle Fall upon the waves of ocean ; This was rocked by winds and waters, Shaken by the ocean- currents, Six years rocked upon the billows, Rocked in water seven summers, On the blue-back of the ocean, On the billows high as heaven ; Lengthwise did the billows draw it, And the sunshine gave it softness, To the shore the billows washed it, On the coast the waters left it.
"Then appeared Creation's daughters, Three the daughters thus appearing, On the roaring shore of ocean, There beheld the spittle lying, And the daughters spake as follows: 'What would happen from this spittle^ Should the breath of the Creator Fall upon 'the writhing matter, Breathe the breath of life upon it, Give the thing the sense of vision ?
" The Creator heard these measures, Spake himself the words that follow: ' Evil only comes from evil, This is the expectoration Of fell Suoyatar, its mother ; Therefore would the thing be evil, Should I breathe a soul within :t, Should I give it sense of vision,'
436 The Kalevala.
"Hisi heard this conversation, Ever ready with his mischief, Made himself to be creator, Breathed a soul into the spittle, To fell Suoyatar's fierce anger. Thus arose the poison-monster, Thus was born the evil serpent, This the origin of evil.
" Whence the life that gave her action? From the carbon-pile of Hisi. Whence then was her heart created? From the heart-throbs of her mother Whence arose her brain of evil ? From the foam of rolling waters. Whence was consciousness awakened? From tke waterfall's commotion. Whence arose her head of venom ? From the seed- germs of the ivy. Whence then came her eyes of fury? From the flaxen seeds of Lempo. Whence the evil ears for hearing? From the foliage of Hisi. Whence then was her mouth created ? This from Suoyatar's foam-currenta Whence arose thy tongue of anger f From the spear of Keitolainen. Whence arose thy fangs of poison? From the teeth of Mana's daughter. Whence then was thy back created ? From the carbon-posts of Piru. How then was thy tail created ? From the brain of the hobgoblin.
Origin of the Serpent. 437
Whence arose thy writhing entrails? From the death-belt of Tuoni.
" This thine origin, 0 Serpent, This thy charm of evil import, Vilest thing of God's creation, Writhing, hissing thing of evil, With the color of Tuoni, With the shade of earth and heaven, With the darkness of the storm-cloud. Get thee hence, thou loathsome monstei^ Clear the pathway of this hero. I am mighty Lemminkainen, On my journey to Pohyola, To the feastings and carousals, In the halls of darksome Northland.*
Thereupon the snake uncoiling, Hundred-eyed and heinous monstei Crawled away to other portals, That the hero, Kaukomieli, Might proceed upon his errand, To the dismal Sariola, To the feastings and carousals In the banquet- halls of Pohya
RUNE XXVIL
THE UNWELCOME GUEST.
I HAVE brought young Kaukomieli, Brought the Islander and hero, Also known as Lemminkainen, Through the jaws of death and ruin, Through the darkling deeps of Kalma, To the homesteads of Pohyola, To the dismal courts of Louhi ; Now must I relate his doings, Must relate to all my hearers, How the merry Lemminkainen, Handsome hero, Kaukomieli, Wandered through Pohyola's chambers^ Through the halls of Sariola, How the hero went unbidden To the feasting and carousal, Uninvited to the banquet.
Lemminkainen full of courage, Full of life, and strength, and magia Stepped across the ancient threshold, To the centre of the court-room, And the floors of linwood trembled, Walls and ceilings creaked and murmured
Spake the reckless Lemminkainen, These the words that Ahti uttered : u Be ye greeted on my coming, Ye that greet, be likewise greeted! Listen, all ye hosts of Pohya;
The Unwelcome Quest. 439
Is there food about this homestead, Barley for my hungry courser, Beer to give a thirsty stranger ? '
Sat the host of Sariola At the east end of the table, Gave this answer to the questions: " Surely is there in this homestead, For thy steed an open stable, Never will this host refuse thee, Shouldst thou act a part becoming, Worthy, coming to these portals, Waiting near the birchen rafters, In the spaces by the kettles, By the triple hooks of iron."
Then the reckless Lemminkainen Shook his sable locks and answered : " Lempo may perchance come hither, Let him fill this lowly station, Let him stand between the kettles, That with soot he may be blackened. Never has my ancient father, Never has the dear old hero, Stood upon a spot unworthy, At the portals near the rafters ; For his steed the best of stables, Food and shelter gladly furnished, And a room for his attendants, Corners furnished for his mittens, Hooks provided for his snow-shoes, Halls in waiting for his helmet. Wherefore then should I not find here What my father found before me?"
440 The Kalevala.
To the centre walked the hero, Walked around the dining table, Sat upon a bench and waited, On a bench of polished fir- wood, And the kettle creaked beneath him. Spake the reckless Lemminkainen : " As a guest am I unwelcome, Since the waiters bring no viands, Bring no dishes to the stranger ? '
Ilpotar, the Northland hostess, Then addressed the words that follow: " Lemminkainen, thou art evil, Thou art here, but not invited, Thou hast not the look of kindness, Thou wilt give me throbbing temples, Thou art bringing pain and sorrow. All our beer is in the barley, All the malt is in the kernel, All our grain is still ungarnered, And our dinner has been eaten ; Yesterday thou shouldst have been here, Come again some future season."
Whereupon wild Lemminkainen Pulled his mouth awry in anger, Shook his coal-black locks and answered: " All the tables here are empty, And the feasting- time is over ; All the beer has left the goblets, Empty too are all the pitchers, Empty are the larger vessels. O thou hostess of Pohyola, Toothless dame of dismal Northland,
The Unwelcome Quest. 441
Badly managed is thy wedding, And thy feast is ill-conducted, Like the dogs hast thou invited; Thou hast baked the honey-buscuit, Wheaten loaves of greatest virtue, Brewed thy beer from hops and barley, Sent abroad thine invitations, Six the hamlets thou hast honored, Nine the villages invited By thy merry wedding-callers. Thou hast asked the poor and lowly, Asked the hosts of common people, Asked the blind, and deaf, and crippled, Asked a multitude of beggars, Toilers by the day, and hirelings ; Asked the men of evil habits, Asked the maids with braided tresses, I alone was not invited. How could such a slight be given, Since I sent thee kegs of barley? Others sent thee grain in cupfuls, Brought it sparingly in dippers, While I sent thee fullest measure, Sent the half of all my garners, Of the richest of my harvest, Of the grain that I had gathered. Even now young Lemminkainen, Though a guest of name and station, Has no beer, no food, no welcome, Naught for him art thou preparing, Nothing cooking in thy kettles, Nothing brewing in thy cellars
The Kalevala,
For the hero of the Islands, At the closing of his journey."
Ilpotar, the ancient hostess, Gave this order to her servants: "Come, my pretty maiden- waiter, Servant-girl to me belonging, Lay some salmon to the broiling, Bring some beer to give the stranger I M
Small of stature was the maiden, Washer of the banquet-platters, Rinser of the dinner-ladles, Polisher of spoons of silver, And she laid some food in kettles, Only bones and heads of whiting, Turnip-stalks and withered cabbage, Crusts of bread and bits of biscuit. Then she brought some beer in pitchers, Brought of common drink the vilest, That the stranger, Lemminkainen, Might have drink, and meat in welcome, Thus to still his thirst and hunger. Then the maiden spake as follows: " Thou art sure a mighty hero, Here to drink the beer of Pohya, Here to empty all our vessels ! '
Then the minstrel, Lemminkainen, Closely handled all the pitchers, Looking to the very bottoms ; There beheld he writhing serpents, In the centre adders swimming, On the borders worms and lizards. Then the hero, Lemminkainen,
The Unwelcome Guest. 443
Filled with auger, spake as follows: " Get je hence, ye things of evil, Get ye hence to Tuonela, With the bearer of these pitchers, With the maid that brought ye hither, Ere the evening moon has risen, Ere the day-star seeks the ocean ! O thou wretched beer of barley, Thou hast met with great dishonor, Into disrepute hast fallen, But I'll drink thee, notwithstanding, And the rubbish cast fa* from me."
Then the hero to his pockets Thrust his first and unnamed finger, Searching in his pouch of leather; Quick withdraws a hook fov fishing, Drops it to the pitcher's bottom, Through the worthless beer of barley ; On his fish-hook hang the serpents, Catches many hissing adders, Catches frogs in magic numbers, Catches blackened worms in thousands, Casts them to the floor before him, Quickly draws his heavy broad sword, And decapitates the serpents.
Now he drinks the beer remaining, When the wizard speaks as follows : " As a guest am I unwelcome, Since no beer to me is given That is worthy of a hero ; Neither has a ram been butchered,
444 The Kalevala.
Nor a fattened calf been slaughtered, Worthy food for Lemminkainen."
Then the landlord of Pohyola Answered thus the Island-minstrel: " Wherefore hast thou journeyed hither, Who has asked thee for thy presence? ' Spake in answer Lemminkainen: " Happy is the guest invited, Happier when not expected ; Listen, son of Pohylander, Host of Sariola, listen: Give me beer for ready payment, Give me worthy drink for money 1"
Then the landlord of Pohyola, In bad humor, full of anger, Conjured in the earth a lakelet, At the feet of Kaukomieli, Thus addressed the Island-hero: " Quench thy thirst from yonder lakelet, There, the beer that thou deservest!"
Little heeding, Lemminkainen To this insolence made answer : " I am neither bear nor roebuck, That should drink this filthy water, Drink the water of this lakelet."
Ahti then began to conjure, Conjured he a bull before him, Bull with horns of gold and silver, And the bull drank from the lakelet, Drank he from the pool in pleasure. Then the landlord of Pohyola There a savage wolf created,
The Unwelcome Guest. 445
Set him on the floor before him To destroy the bull of magic. Lemminkainen, full of courage, Conjured up a snow-white rabbit, Set him on the floor before him To attract the wolf's attention. Then the landlord of Pohyola Conjured there a dog of Lempo, Set him on the floor before him To destroy the magic rabbit. Lemminkainen, full of mischief, Conjured on the roof a squirrel, That by jumping on the rafters He might catch the dog's attention. But the master of the Northland Conjured there a golden marten, And he drove the magic squirrel From his seat upon the rafters. Lemminkainen, full of mischief, Made a fox of scarlet color, And it ate the golden marten. Then the master of Pohyola Conjured there a hen to flutter Near the fox of scarlet color. Lemminkainen, full of mischief, Thereupon a hawk created, That with beak and crooked talons He might tear the hen to pieces. Spake the landlord of Pohyola, These the words the tall man uttered : " Never will this feast be bettered Till the guests are less in number j
44.6 The Kalevala.
I must do my work as landlord, Get thee hence, thou evil stranger, Cease thy conjurings of evil, Leave this banqnet of my people, Haste away, thou wicked wizard, To thine Island-home and people ! ' Spake the reckless Lemminkainen : " Thus no hero will be driven, Not a son of any courage Will be frightened by thy presence, Will be driven from thy banquet."
Then the landlord of Pohyola Snatched his broadsword from the rafters^ Drew it rashly from the scabbard, Thus addressing Lemminkainen : " Ahti, Islander of evil, Thou the handsome Kaukomieli, Let us measure then our broadswords, Let our skill be fully tested ; Surely is my broadsword better Than the blade within thy scabbard." Spake the hero, Lemminkainen : " That my blade is good and trusty, Has been proved on heads of heroes, Has on many bones been tested; Be that as it may, my fellow, Since thine order is commanding, Let our swords be fully tested, Let us see whose blade is better. Long ago my hero-father Tested well this sword in battle,
The Unwelcome Guest. 447
failing in a conflict. Should his son be found less worthy ? "
Then he grasped his mighty broadsword. Drew the fire- blade from the scabbard Hanging from his belt of copper. Standing on their hilts their broadswords, Carefully their blades were measured, Found the sword of Northland's master Longer than the sword of Ahti By the half- link of a finger. Spake the reckless Lemminkainen . "Since thou hast the longer broadsword, Thou shalt make the first advances, I am ready for thy weapon."
Thereupon Pohyola's landlord With the wondrous strength of anger, Tried in vain to slay the hero, Strike the crown of Lemminkainen; Chipped the splinters from the rafters, Cut the ceiling into fragments, Could not touch the Island-hero.
Thereupon brave Kaukomieli, Thus addressed Pohyola's master : " Have the rafters thee offended ? What the crimes they have committed, Since thou newest them in pieces? Listen now, thou host of Northland, Eeckless landlord of Pohyola, Little room there is for swordsmen In these chambers filled with women ; We shall stain these painted rafters, Stain with blood these floors and ceilings;
448 The Kalevala.
Let us go without the mansion, In the field is room for combat, On the plain is space sufficient ; Blood looks fairer in the court -yard, Better in the open spaces, Let it dye the snow -fields scarlet."
To the yard the heroes hasten, There they find a monstrous ox-skin, Spread it on the field of battle ; On the ox-skin stand the swordsmen. Spake the hero, Lemminkainen : " Listen well, thou host of Northland, Though thy broadsword is the longer, Though thy blade is full of horror, Thou shalt have the first advantage ; Use with skill thy boasted broadsword Ere the final bout is given, Ere thy head be chopped in pieces; Strike with skill, or thou wilt perish, Strike, and do thy best for Northland."
Thereupon Pohyola's landlord Raised on high his blade of battle, Struck a heavy blow in anger, Struck a second, then a third time, But he could not touch his rival, Could not draw a single blood-drop From the veins of Lemminkainen, Skillful Islander and hero. Spake the handsome Kaukomieli : " Let me try my skill at fencing, Let me swing my father's broadsword, Let my honored blade be tested 1 "
Tlie Unwelcome Guest. 449
But the landlord of Pohyola, Does not heed the words of Ahti, Strikes in fury, strikes unceasing, Ever aiming, ever missing. When the skillful Lemminkainen Swings his mighty blade of magic, Fire disports along his weapon, Flashes from his sword of honor, Glistens from the hero's broadsword, Balls of fire disporting, dancing, On the blade of mighty Ahti, Overflow upon the shoulders Of the landlord of Pohyola. Spake the hero, Lemminkainen : " 0 thou son of Sariola, See ! indeed thy neck is glowing Like the dawning of the morning, Like the rising Sun in ocean ! '
Quickly turned Pohyola's landlord, Thoughtless host of darksome Northland, To behold the fiery splendor Playing on his neck and shoulders. Quick as lightning, Lemminkainen, With his father's blade of battle, With a single blow of broadsword, With united skill and power, Lopped the head of Pohya's master ; As one cleaves the stalks of turnips, As the ear falls from the corn-stalk, As one strikes the fins from salmon, Thus the head rolled from the shoulders 29
45$ The Kalevala.
Of the landlord of Pohyola, Like a ball it rolled and circled.
In the yard were pickets standing, Hundreds were the sharpened pillars, And a head on every picket, Only one was left un-headed. Quick the victor, Lemminkainen, Took the head of Pohya's landlord. Spiked it on the empty picket.
Then the Islander, rejoicing, Handsome hero, Kaukomieli, Quick returning to the chambers, Gave this order to the hostess : 11 Evil maiden, bring me water, Wherewithal to cleanse my fingers From the blood of Northland's master, Wicked host of Sariola."
Ilpotar, the Northland hostess, Fired with anger, threatened vengeance, Conjured men with heavy broadswords, Heroes clad in copper- armor, Hundred warriors with their javelins, And a thousand bearing cross-bows, To destroy the Island-hero, For the death of Lemminkainen. Kaukomieli soon discovered That the time had come for leaving, That his presence was unwelcome At the feasting of Pohyola, At the banquet of her people.
RUNE XXVIII THE MOTHER'S COUNSEL.
AHTI, hero of the Islands, Wild magician, Lemminkainen, Also known as Kaukomieli, Hastened from the great carousal, From the banquet-halls of Louhi, From the ever-darksome Northland, From the dismal Sariola. Stormful strode he from the mansion^ Hastened like the smoke of battle, From the court -yard of Pohyola, Left his crimes and misdemeanors In the halls of ancient Louhi. Then he looked in all directions, Seeking for his tethered courser, Anxious looked in field and stable, But he did not find his racer ; Found a black thing in the fallow, Proved to be a clump of willows. Who will well advise the hero, Who will give him wise directions, Guide the wizard out of trouble, Give his hero-locks protection, Keep his magic head from danger From the warriors of Northland?
Noise is heard within the village^ And a din from other homesteads,
From the battle-hosts of Louhi,
451
4:52 The Kalevala.
Streaming from the doors and Of the homesteads of Pohyola.
Thereupon young Lemminkainen, Handsome Islander and hero, Changing both his form and features, Clad himself in other raiment, Changing to another body, Quick became a mighty eagle, Soared aloft on wings of magic, Tried to fly to highest heaven, But the moonlight burned his temples, And the sunshine singed his feathers.
Then entreating, Lemminkainen, Island-hero, turned to Ukko, This the prayer that Ahti uttered: " Ukko, God of love and mercy, Thou the Wisdom of the heavens, Wise Director of the lightning, Thou the Author of the thunder, Thou the Guide of all the cloudlets, Give to me thy cloak of vapor, Throw a silver cloud around me, That I may in its protection Hasten to my native country, To my mother's Island-dwelling, Fly to her that waits my coming, With a mother's grave forebodings."
Farther, farther, Lemminkainen Flew and soared on eagle-pinions, Looked about him, backwards, forwards, Spied a gray-hawk soaring near him, In his eyes the fire of splendor,
The Mother's Counsel. 463
Like the eyes of Pohyalanders, Like the eyes of Pohya's spearmen, And the gray-hawk thus addressed him: "Ho! there I hero, Lemminkainen, Art thou thinking of our combat With the hero-heads of Northland ? "
Thus the Islander made answer, These the words of Kaukomieli: " O thou gray -hawk, bird of beauty, Fly direct to Sariola, Fly as fast as wings can bear thee ; When thou hast arrived in safety, On the plains of darksome Northland, Tell the archers and the spearmen, They will never catch the eagle, In his journey from Pohyola, To his Island-home and fortress."
Then the Ahti-eagle hastened Straightway to his mother's cottage, In his face the look of trouble, In his heart the pangs of sorrow. Ahti's mother ran to meet him, When she spied him in the pathway, Walking toward her island-dwelling ; These the words the mother uttered: " Of my sons thou art the bravest, Art the strongest of my children ; Wherefore then comes thine annoyance,
On returning from Pohvola?
«/
Wert thou worsted at the banquet, At the feast and great carousal? At thy cups, if thou wert injured,
454 The Kalevala.
Thou shalt here have better treatment,
Thou shalt have the cup thy father
Brought me from the hero-castle."
Spake the reckless Lemminkainen :
" Worthy mother, thou that nursed me,
If I had been maimed at drinking,
I the landlord would have worsted,
Would have slain a thousand heroes,
Would have taught them useful lessons.'*
Lemminkainen's mother answered :
" Wherefore then art thou indignant,
Didst thou meet disgrace and insult,
Did they rob thee of thy courser?
Buy thou then a better courser
With the riches of thy mother,
With thy father's horded treasures.'7
Spake the hero, Lemminkainen :
" Faithful mother of my being,
If my steed had been insulted,
If for him my heart was injured,
I the landlord would have punished,
Would have punished all the horsemen,
All of Pohya's strongest riders."
Lemminkainen's mother answered:
" Tell me then thy dire misfortune,
What has happened to my hero,
On his journey to Pohyola?
Have the Northland maidens scorned thee,
Have the women ridiculed thee ?
If the maidens scorned thy presence.
If the women gave derision,
The Mother's Counsel. 455
There are others thou canst laugh at, Thou canst scorn a thousand women." Said the reckless Lemminkainen : " Honored mother, fond and faithful, If the Northland dames had scorned me Or the maidens laughed derision, I the maidens would have punished, Would have scorned a thousand women." Lemminkainen's mother answered : u Wherefore then are thou indignant, Thus annoyed, and heavy-hearted, On returning from Pohyola? Was thy feasting out of season, Was the banquet-beer unworthy, Were thy dreams of evil import When asleep in darksome Northland ? " This is Lemminkainen's answer : " Aged women may remember What they dream on beds of trouble ; I have seen some wondrous visions, Since I left my Island -cottage. My beloved, helpful mother, Fill my bag with good provisions, Flour and salt in great abundance, Farther must thy hero wander, He must leave his home behind him, Leave his pleasant Island-dwelling, Journey from this home of ages ; Men are sharpening their broadswords, Sharpening their spears and lances, For the death of Lemminkainen." Then again the mother questioned,
456 The Kalevala.
Hurriedly she asked the reason:
" Why the men their swords were whetting,
Why their spears are being sharpened."
Spake the reckless Lemminkainen, Handsome hero, Kaukomieli : " Therefore do they whet their broadswords, Therefore sharpen they their lances : It is for thy son's destruction, At his heart are aimed their lances. In the court -yard of Pohyola, There arose a great contention, Fierce the battle waged against me ; But I slew the Northland hero, Killed the host of Sariola ; Quick to arms rose Louhi's people, All the spears and swords of Northland Were directed at thy hero ; All of Pohya turned against me, Turned against a single foeman." This the answer of the mother : " I had told thee this beforehand, I had warned thee of this danger, And forbidden thee to journey To the hostile fields of Northland. Here my hero could have lingered, Passed his life in full contentment, Lived forever with his mother, With his mother for protection, In the court-yard with his kindred; Here no war would have arisen, No contention would have followed. Whither wilt thou go, my hero,
TJie Mother's Counsel. 457
Whither will my loved one hasten, To escape thy fierce pursuers, To escape from thy misdoings, From thy sins to hide in safety, From thy crimes and misdemeanors, That thy head be not endangered, That thy body be not mangled, That thy locks be not outrooted?' Spake the reckless Lemminkainen: " Know I not a spot befitting, Do not know a place of safety, Where to hide from my pursuers, That will give me sure protection From the crimes by me committed. Helpful mother of my being, Where to flee wilt thou advise me?' This the answer of the mother : "Do not know where I can send thee; Be a pine-tree on the mountain, Or a juniper in lowlands? Then misfortune may befall thee; Often is the mountain pine-tree Cut in splints for candle-lighters; And the juniper is often Peeled for fence-posts for the pastures. Go a birch-tree to the valleys, Or an elm-tree to the glen wood? Even then may trouble find thee, Misery may overtake thee; Often is the lowland birch-tree Cut to pieces in the ware-house j Often is the elm- wood forest
458 The Kalevala.
Cleared away for other plantings. Be a berry on the highlands, Cranberry upon the heather, Strawberry upon the mountains, Blackberry along the fences ? Even there will trouble find thee, There misfortune overtake thee, For the berry-maids would pluck thee, Silver- tinsel led girls would get thee. Be a pike then in the ocean, Or a troutlet in the rivers? Then would trouble overtake thee, Would become thy life-companion; Then the fisherman would catch thee, Catch thee in his net of flax-thread, Catch thee with his cruel fish-hook. Be a wolf then in the forest, Or a black-bear in the thickets? Even then would trouble find thee, And disaster cross thy pathway ; Sable hunters of the Northland Have their spears and cross-bows ready To destroy the wolf and black -bear." Spake the reckless LemmiDkainen : "Know I well the worst of places, Know where Death will surely follow, Where misfortune's eye would find me; Since thou gavest me existence, Gavest nourishment in childhood, Whither shall I flee for safety, Whither hide from death and danger? la my view is fell destruction,
The Mother's Counsel 459
Dire misfortune hovers o'er me ; On the morrow come the spearmen, Countless warriors from Pohya, Ahti's head their satisfaction." This the answer of the mother: " I can name a goodly refuge, Name a land of small dimensions, Name a distant ocean-island, Where my son may live in safety. Thither archers never wander, There thy head cannot be severed ; But an oath as strong as heaven, Thou must swear before thy mother; Thou wilt not for sixty summers Join in war or deadly combat, Even though thou wishest silver, Wishest gold and silver treasures." Spake the grateful Lemminkainen : " I will swear an oath of honor, That I'll not in sixty summers Draw my sword in the arena, Test the warrior in battle ; I have wounds upon my shoulders, On my breast two scars of broadsword, Of my former battles, relics, Kelics of my last encounters, On the battle-fields of Northland, In the wa*s with men and heroes." Lemminkainen's mother answered : " Go thou, take thy father's vessel, Go and hide thyself in safety, Travel far across nine oceans ;
460 The Kalevala.
In the tenth, sail to the centre, To the island, forest- covered, To the cliffs above the waters, Where thy father went before thee, Where he hid from his pursuers^ In the times of summer conquests, In the darksome days of battle ; Good the isle for thee to dwell in, Goodly place to live and linger ; Hide one year, and then a second, In the third return in safety To thy mother's island dwelling, To thy father's ancient mansion, To my hero's place of resting."
RUNE XXIX.
THE ISLE OF REFUGE.
LEMMINKAINEN, full of joy an ce,
Handsome hero, Kaukomieli,
Took provisions in abundance,
Fish and butter, bread and bacon,
Hastened to the Isle of Refuge,
Sailed away across the oceans,
Spake these measures on departing :
"Fare thee well, mine Island-dwelling,
I must sail to other borders,
To an island more protective,
Till the second summer passes ;
Let the serpents keep the island,
Lynxes rest within the glen- wood,
Let the blue-moose roam the mountains,
Let the wild-geese eat the barley.
Fare thee well, my helpful mother !
When the warriors of the Northland,
From the dismal Sariola,
Come with swords, and spears, and cross-bows,
Asking for my head in vengeance,
Say that I have long departed,
Left my mother's Island-dwelling,
When the barley had been garnered."
Then he launched his boat of copper, Threw the vessel to the waters, From the iron-banded rollers, From the cylinders of oak-wood,
461
462 The Kalevala.
On the masts the sails lie hoisted, Spread the magic sails of linen, In the stern the hero settled And prepared to sail his vessel, One hand resting on the rudder.
Then the sailor spake as follows, These the words of Lemminkainen : " Blow, ye winds, and drive me onward, Blow ye steady, winds of heaven, Toward the island in the ocean, That my bark may fly in safety To my father's place of refuge, To the far and nameless island ! "
Soon the winds arose as bidden, Rocked the vessel o'er the billows, O'er the blue-back of the waters, O'er the vast expanse of ocean ; Blew two months and blew unceasing, Blew a third month toward the island, Toward his father's Isle of Refuge.
Sat some maidens on the seaside, On the sandy beach of ocean, Turned about in all directions, Looking out upon the billows ; One was waiting for her brother, And a second for her father, And a third one, anxious, waited For the coming of her suitor ; There they spied young Lemminkainen, There perceived the hero's vessel Sailing o'er the bounding billows ;
The Isle of Refuge.
It was like a hanging cloudlet, Hanging twixt the earth and heaven.
Thus the island-maidens wondered, Thus they spake to one another: " What this stranger on the ocean, What is this upon the waters? Art thou one of our sea- vessels ? Wert thou builded on this island ? Sail thou straightway to the harbor, To the island-point of landing, That thy tribe may be discovered."
Onward did the waves propel it, Rocked his vessel o'er the billows, Drove it to the magic island, Safely landed Lemminkainen On the sandy shore and harbor.
Spake he thus when he had landed, These the words that Ahti uttered : " Is there room upon this island, Is there space within this harbor, Where my bark may lie at anchor, Where the sun may dry my vessel ? '
This the answer of the virgins, Dwellers on the Isle of Refuge : " There is room within this harbor, On this island, space abundant, Where thy bark may lie at anchor, Where the sun may dry thy vessel ; Lying ready are the rollers, Cylinders adorned with copper ; If thou hadst a hundred vessels,
464 The Kalevala.
Shouldst thou come witli boats a thousand^ We would give them room in welcome."
Thereupon wild Lemminkainen Eolled his vessel in the harbor, On the cylinders of copper, Spake these words when he had ended : u Is there room upon this island, Or a spot within these forests, Where a hero may be hidden From the coming din of battle, From the play of spears and arrows ? ' Thus replied the Island-maidens : " There are places on this island, On these plains a spot befitting, Where to hide thyself in safety, Hero- son of little valor. Here are many, many castles, Many courts upon this island ; Though there come a thousand heroes, Though a thousand spearmen follow, Thou canst hide thyself in safety." Spake the hero, Lemminkainen: " Is there room upon this island, Where the birch-tree grows abundant, Where this son may fell the forest, And may cultivate the fallow ? ' Answered thus the Island- maidens: " There is not a spot befitting, Not a place upon the island, Where to rest thy wearied members, Not the smallest patch of birch- wood, Thou canst bring to cultivation.
The Isle of Refuge. 465
All our fields have been divided,
All these woods have been apportioned,
Fields and forests have their owners."
Lemminkainen asked this question, These the words of Kaukomieli : " Is there room upon this island, Worthy spot in field or forest, Where to sing my songs of magic, Chant my gathered store of wisdom, Sing mine ancient songs and legends ? ' Answered thus the Island-maidens: " There is room upon this island, Worthy place in these dominions, Thou canst sing thy garnered wisdom, Thou canst chant thine ancient legends, Legends of the times primeval, In the forest, in the castle, On the island-plains and pastures."
Then began the reckless minstrel To intone his wizard-sayings ; Sang he alders to the waysides, Sang the oaks upon the mountains, On the oak-trees sang he branches, On each branch he sang an acorn, On the acorns, golden rollers, On each roller, sang a cuckoo • Then began the cuckoos, calling, Gold from every throat came streaming, Copper fell from every feather, And each wing emitted silver, Filled the isle with precious metals. Sang again young Lemminkainen, 30
466 The Kalevala.
Conjured on, and sang, and chanted, Sang to precious stones the sea-sands, Sang the stones to pearls resplendent, Eobsd the groves in iridescence, Sang the island full of flowers, Many-colored as the rainbow. Sang again the magic minstrel, In the court a well he conjured, On the well a golden cover, On the lid a silver dipper, That the boys might drink the water, That the maids might lave their eyelids. On the plains he conjured lakelets, Sang the duck upon the waters, Golden- cheeked and silver- headed, Sang the feet from shining copper ; And the Island-maidens wondered, Stood entranced at Ahti's wisdom, At the songs of Lemminkainen, At the hero's magic power.
Spake the singer, Lemminkainen, Handsome hero, Kaukomieli : " I would sing a wondrous legend, Sing in miracles of sweetness, If within some ball or chamber, I were seated at the table. If I sing not in the castle, In some spot by walls surrounded, Then I sing my songs to zephyrs, Fling them to the fields and forests." Answered thus the Island -maidens t u On this isle are castle-chambers,
The Isle of Refuge. 467
Halls for use of magic singers, Courts complete for chanting legends, Where thy singing will be welcome, Where thy songs will not be scattered To the forests of the island, Nor thy wisdom lost in ether."
Straightway Lemminkainen journeyed With the maidens to the castle ; There he sang and conjured pitchers On the borders of the tables, Sang and conjured golden goblets Foaming with the beer of barley ; Sang he many well-filled vessels, Bowls of honey-drink abundant, Sweetest butter, toothsome biscuit, Bacon, fish, and veal, and venison, All the dainties of the Northland, Wherewithal to still his hunger. But the proud-heart, Lemminkainen, Was not ready for the banquet, Did not yet begin his feasting, Waited for a knife of silver, For a knife of golden handle • Quick he sang the precious metals, Sang a blade from purest silver, To the blade a golden handle, Straightway then began his feasting, Quenched his thirst and stilled his hunge^ Charmed the maidens on the island.
Then the minstrelr Lemminkainen, Eoamed throughout the islan To the joy of all the virgins,
468 The Kalevala.
All tlie maids of braided tresses ; Wheresoe'er he turned his footsteps, There appeared a maid to greet him ; When his hand was kindly offered, There his hand was kindly taken; When he wandered out at evening, Even in the darksome places, There the maidens bade him welcome ; There was not an island-village Where there were not seven castles, In each castle seven daughters, And the daughters stood in waiting, Gave the hero joyful greetings, Only one of all the maidens Whom he did not greet with pleasure.
Thus the merry Lemminkainen Spent three summers in the ocean, Spent a merry time in refuge, In the hamlets on the island, To the pleasure of the maidens, To the joy of all the daughters ; Only one was left neglected, She a poor and graceless spinster^ On the isle's remotest border, In the smallest of the hamlets.
Then he thought about his journey O'er the ocean to his mother, To the cottage of his father. There appeared the slighted spinster, To the Northland son departing, Spake these words to Lemminkainen: " O, thou handsome Kaukomieli,
The Isle of Refuge. 469
Wisdom-bard, and magic singer, Since this maiden thou hast slighted, May the winds destroy thy vessel, Dash thy bark to countless fragments On the ocean-rocks and ledges ! '
Lemminkainen's thoughts were homeward, Did not heed the maiden's murmurs, Did not ri?e before the dawning Of the morning on the island, To the pleasure of the maiden Of the much -neglected hamlet. Finally at close of evening, He resolved to leave the island, He resolved to waken early, Long before the dawn of morning; Long before the time appointed, He arose that he might wander Through the hamlets of the island, Bid adieu to all the maidens, On the morn of his departure. As he wandered hither, thither, Walking through the village path- ways To the last of all the hamlets ; Saw he none of all the castle-^. Where three dwellings were not standing; Saw he none of all the dwellings Where three heroes were not watching ; Saw he none of all the heroes. Who was not engaged in grinding Swords, and spears, and battle-axes, For the death of Lemminkainen. And these words the hero uttered:
470 The Kalevala.
" Now alas ! the Sun arises From his couch within the ocean, On the frailest of the heroes, On the saddest child of Northland; On my neck the cloak of Lempo Might protect me from all evil, Though a hundred foes assail me, Though a thousand archers follow." Then he left the maids ungreeted, Left his longing for the daughters Of the nameless Isle of Kefuge, With his fare well- words unspoken, Hastened toward the island-harbor, Toward his magic bark at anchor; But he found it burned to ashes, Sweet revenge had fired his vessel, Lighted by the slighted spinster. Then he saw the dawn of evil, Saw misfortune hanging over, Saw destruction round about him. Straightway he began rebuilding Him a magic sailing-vessel, New and wondrous, full of beauty ; But the hero needed timber, Boards, and planks, and beams, and braces, Found the smallest bit of lumber, Found of boards but seven fragments, Of a spool he found three pieces, Found six pieces of the distaff; With these fragments builds his vessel, Builds a ship of magic virtue, Builds the bark with secret knowledge,
The Isle of Refuge. 471
Through, the will of the magician; Strikes one blow, and builds the first part, Strikes a second, builds the centre, Strikes a third with wondrous power, And the vessel is completed.
Thereupon the ship he launches, Sings the vessel to the ocean, And these words the hero utters : " Like a bubble swim these waters, Like a flower ride the billows; Loan me of thy magic feathers, Three, O eagle, four, 0 raven, For protection to my vessel, Lest it flounder in the ocean ! '
Now the sailor, Lemminkainen, Seats himself upon the bottom Of the vessel he has builded, Hastens on his journey homeward, Head depressed and evil-humored, Cap awry upon his forehead, Mind dejected, heavy-hearted, That he could not dwell forever In the castles of the daughters Of the nameless Isle of Eefuge.
Spake the minstrel, Lemminkainen, Handsome hero, Kaukomieli : " Leave I must this merry island, Leave her many joys and pleasures, Leave her maids with braided tresses, Leave her dances and her daughters, To the joys of other heroes ; But I take this comfort with me:
472 Tlie Kalevala.
All the maidens on the island, Save the spinster who was slighted, Will bemoan my loss for ages, Will regret my quick departure ; They will miss me at the dances. In the halls of mirth and joyance, In the homes of merry maidens, On my father's Isle of Refuge."
Wept the maidens on the island, Long lamenting, loudly calling To the hero sailing homeward: " Whither goest, Lemminkainen, Why depart, thou best of heroes ? Dost thou leave from inattention, Is there here a dearth of maidens, Have our greetings been unworthy?"
Sang the magic Lemminkainen To the maids as he was sailing, This in answer to their calling : " Leaving not for want of pleasure, Do not go from dearth of women ; Beautiful the island-maidens, Countless as the sands their virtues, This the reason of my going, I am longing for my home-land, Longing for my mother's cabins, For the strawberries of Northland, For the raspberries of Kalew, For the maidens of my childhood,
For the children of mv mother."
ti
Then the merry Lemminkainea Bade farewell to all the island ;
The Isle of Refuge.
Winds arose and drove his vessel On the blue-back of the ocean, O'er the far-extending waters, Toward the island of his mother. On the shore were grouped the daughters Of the magic Isle of Refuge, On the rocks sat the forsaken, Weeping stood the island-maidens, Golden daughters, loud-lamenting. Weep the maidens of the island While the sail-yards greet their vision, While the copper-beltings glisten; Do not weep to lose the sail -yards, Nor to lose the copper-beltings ; Weep they for the loss of Ahti, For the fleeing Kaukomieli Guiding the departing vessel. Also weeps young Lemminkainen, Sorely weeps, and loud-lamenting, Weeps while he can see the island, While the island hill-tops glisten; Does not mourn the island-mountains, Weeps he only for the maidens, Left upon the Isle of Refuge.
Thereupon sailed Kaukomieli On the blue-back of the ocean ; Sailed one day, and then a second, But, alas ! upon the third day, There arose a mighty storm- wind, And the aky was black with fury. Blew the black winds from the north-west, From the south-east came the whirlwind,
474 The Kalevala.
Tore away the ship's forecastle, Tore away the vessel's rudder, Dashed the wooden hull to pieces. Thereupon wild Lemminkainen Headlong fell upon the waters ; With his head he did the steering, With his hands and feet, the rowing ; Swam whole days and nights unceasing, Swam with hope and strength united, Till at last appeared a cloudlet, Growing cloudlet to the westward, Changing to a promontory, Into land within the ocean.
Swiftly to the shore swam Ahti, Hastened to a magic castle, Found therein a hostess baking, And her daughters kneading barley, And these words the hero uttered: " O, thou hostess, filled with kindness, Couldst thou know my pangs of hunger, Couldst thou guess my name and station, Thou wouldst hasten to the storehouse, Bring me beer and foaming liquor, Bring the best of thy provisions, Bring me fish, and veal? and bacon, Butter, bread, and honeyed biscuits, Set for me a wholesome dinner, Wherewithal to still my hunger, Quench the thirst of Lemminkainen. Days and nights have I been swimming, Buffeting the waves of ocean,
The Isle of Eefuge. 475
Seemed as if the wind protected, And the billows gave me shelter."
Then the hostess, filled with kindness, Hastened to the mountain storehouse, Cut some butter, veal, and bacon, Bread, and fish, and honeyed biscuit, Brought the best of her provisions, Brought the mead and beer of barley, Set for him a toothsome dinner, Wherewithal to still his hunger, Quench the thirst of Lemminkainen.
When the hero's feast had ended, Straightway was a magic vessel Given by the kindly hostess To the wear}'' Kaukomieli, Bark of beauty, new and hardy, Wherewithal to aid the stranger In his journey to his home-land, To the cottage of his mother.
Quickly sailed wild Lemminkainen On the blue-back of the ocean ; Sailed he days and nights unceasing, Till at last he reached the borders Of his own loved home and country; There beheld he scenes familiar, Saw the islands, capes, and rivers, Saw his former shipping-stations, Saw he many ancient landmarks, Saw the mountains with their fir-trees, Saw the pine-trees on the hill- tops, Saw the willows in the lowlands ; Did not see his father's cottage,
476 The Kalevala.
Nor the dwellings of his mother. Where a mansion once had risen, There the alder- trees were growing, Shrubs were growing on the homestead, Junipers within the court-yard. Spake the reckless Lemminkainen : " In this glen I played and wandered, On these stones I rocked for ages, On this lawn I rolled and tumbled, Frolicked on these woodland -borders, When a child of little stature. Where then is my mother's dwelling, Where the castles of my father ? Fire, I fear, has found the hamlet, And the winds dispersed the ashes."
Then he fell to bitter weeping, Wept one day and then a second, Wept the third day without ceasing ; Did not mourn the ancient homestead, Nor the dwellings of his father ; Wept he for his darling mother, Wept he for the dear departed, For the loved ones of the island.
Then he saw the bird of heaven, Saw an eagle flying near him, And he asked the bird this question : " Mighty eagle, bird majestic, Grant to me the information, Where my mother may have wandered, Whither I may go and find her ! "
But the eagle knew but little, Only knew that Ahti's people
The Isle of Refuge. 477
Long ago together perished ; And the raven also answered That his people had been scattered By the swords, and spears, and arrows, Of his enemies from Pohya. Spake the hero, Lemminkainen : " Faithful mother, dear departed, Thou who nursed me in my childhood, Art thou dead and turned to ashes, Didst thou perish for my follies, O'er thy head are willows weeping, Junipers above thy body, Alders watching o'er thy slumbers ? This my punishment for evil, This the recompense of folly ! Fool was I, a son unworthy, That I measured swords in Northland With the landlord ofPohyola, To my tribe came fell destruction, And the death of my dear mother, Through my crimes and misdemeanors." Then the ministrel looked about him, Anxious, looked in all directions, And beheld some gentle foot- prints, Saw a pathway lightly trodden Where the heather had been beaten. Quick as thought the path he followed, Through the meadows, through the brambles, O'er the hills, and through the valleys, To a forest, vast and cheerless ; Travelled far and travelled farther, Still a greater distance travelled,
478 The Kalevala.
To a dense and hidden glenwood, In the middle of the island; Found therein a sheltered cabin, Found a small and darksome dwelling Built between the rocky ledges, In the midst of triple pine-trees; And within he spied his mother, Found Ms gray-haired mother weeping.
Lemminkainen loud rejoices, Cries in tones of joyful greetings, These the words that Ahti utters : u Faithful mother, well-beloved, Thou that gavest me existence, Happy I, that thou art living, That thou hast not yet departed To the kingdom of Tuoni, To the islands of the blessed, I had thought that thou hadst perished, Hadst been murdered by my foemen, Hadst been slain with bows and arrows. Heavy are mine eyes from weeping, And my cheeks are white with sorrow, Since I thought my mother slaughtered For the sins I had committed ! ' Lemminkainen's mother answered : " Long, indeed, hast thou been absent, Long, my son, hast thou been living In thy father's Isle of Eefuge, Roaming on the secret island, Living at the doors of strangers, Living in a nameless country, Refuge from the Northland foemen."
The Isle of Refuge. 479
Spake the hero, Lemminkainen : " Charming is that spot for living, Beautiful the magic island, Rainbow-colored was the forest, Blue the glimmer of the meadows, Silvered were the pine-tree branches, Golden were the heather-blossoms ; All the woodlands dripped with honey, Eggs in every rock and crevice, Honey flowed from birch and sorb-tree Milk in streams from fir and aspen, Beer-foam dripping from the willows, Charming there to live and linger, All their edibles delicious. This their only source of trouble : Great the fear for all the maidens, All the heroes filled with envy, Feared the coming of the stranger ; Thought that all the island-maidens, Thought that all the wives and daughters, All the good, and all the evil, Gave thy son too much attention ; Thought the stranger, Lemminkainen, Saw the Island -maids too often ; Yet the virgins I avoided, Shunned the good and shunned the evil, Shunned the host of charming daughters, As the black- wolf shuns the sheep-fold, As the hawk neglects the chickens."
KTJNE XXX.
THE FEOST-FIEND.
LEMMINKAINEN, reckless ministrel, Handsome hero, Kaukomieli, Hastens as the dawn is breaking, At the dawning of the morning, To the resting-place of vessels, To the harbor of the island, Finds the vessels sorely weeping, Hears the wailing of the rigging, And the ships intone this chorus : " Must we wretched lie forever In the harbor of this island, Here to dry and fall in pieces ? Ahti wars no more in Northland, Wars no more for sixty summers, Even should he thirst for silver, Should he wish the gold of battle."
Lemminkainen struck his vessels With his gloves adorned with copper, And addressed the ships as follows : 11 Mourn no more, my ships of fir-wood, Strong and hardy is your rigging, To the wars ye soon may hasten, Hasten to the seas of battle ; Warriors may swarm your cabins Ere to-morrow's morn has risen/'
Then the reckless Lemminkainen Hastened to his aged mother,
480
The Frost Fiend. 43!
Spake to her the words that follow : " Weep no longer, faithful mother, Do not sorrow for thy hero, Should he leave for scenes of battle, For the hostile fields of Pohya ; Sweet revenge has fired my spirit, And my soul is well determined, To avenge the shameful insult That the warriors of Northland Gave to thee, defenseless woman."
To restrain him seeks his mother, Warns her son again of danger : " Do not go, my son beloved, To the wars in Sariola ; There the jaws of Death await thee, Fell destruction lies before thee ! "
Lemminkainen, little heeding, Still determined, speaks as follows : " Where may I secure a swordsman, Worthy of my race of heroes, To assist me in the combat ? Often I have heard of Tiera, Heard of Kura of the islands, This one I will take to help me, Magic hero of the broadsword ; He will aid me in the combat, Will protect me from destruction."
Then he wandered to the islands, On the way to Tiera's hamlet, These the words that Ahti utters As he nears the ancient dwellings: " Dearest friend, my noble Tiera, 31
482 The Kalevala.
My beloved hero -brother,
Dost thou other times remember,
When we fought and bled together,
On the battle-fields of Northland ?
There was not an island -village
Where there were not seven mansions,
In each mansion seven heroes,
And not one of all these foemen
Whom we did not slay with broadsword^
Victims of our skill and valor."
Near the window sat the father Whittling out a javelin-handle ; Near the threshold sat the mother Skimming cream and making butter ; Near the portal stood the brother Working on a sledge of birch-wood ; Near the bridge-pass were the sisters Washing out their varied garments.
Spake the father from the window, From the threshold spake the mother, From the portals spake the brother, And the sisters from the bridge-pass : " Tiera has no time for combat, And his broadsword cannot battle ; Tiera is but late a bridegroom, Still unveiled his bride awaits him."
Near the hearth was Tiera lying, Lying by the fire was Kura, Hastily one foot was shoeing, While the other lay in waiting. From the hook he takes his girdle, Buckles it around his body,
The Frost Fiend. 48S
Takes a javelin from its resting, Not the largest, nor the smallest, Buckles on his mighty scabbard, Dons his heavy mail of copper ; On each javelin pranced a charger, Wolves were howling from his helmet, On the rings the bears were growling. Tiera poised his mighty javelin, Launched the spear upon its errand ; Hurled the shaft across the pasture, To the border of the forest, O'er the clay-fields of Pohyola, O'er the green and fragrant meadows, Through the distant hills of Northland. Then great Tiera touched his javelin To the mighty spear of Ahti, Pledged his aid to Lemminkainen, As his combatant and comrade. Thereupon wild Kaukomieli Pushed his boat upon the waters ; Like the serpent through the heather, Like the creeping of the adder, Sails the boat away to Pohya, O'er the seas of Sariola.
Quick the wicked hostess, Louhi, Sends the black-frost of the heavens To the waters of Pohyola, O'er the far-extending sea-plains, Gave the black-frost these directions : " Much-loved Frost, my son and hero, Whom thv mother has instructed,
v i
Hasten whither I may send thee,
484 The Kalevala.
Go wherever I command thee, Freeze the vessel of this hero, Lemminkainen's bark of magic, On the broad back of the ocean, On the far- extending waters ; Freeze the wizard in his vessel, Freeze to ice the wicked Ahti, That he never more may wander, Never waken while thou livest, Or at least till I shall free him, Wake him from his icy slumber! r Frost, the son of wicked parents, Hero-son of evil manners, Hastens off to freeze the ocean, Goes to fasten down the flood-gates, Goes to still the ocean- currents. As he hastens on his journey, Takes the leaves from all the forest, Strips the meadows of their verdure, Eobs the flowers of their colors. "When his journey he had ended, Gained the border of the ocean, Gained the sea-shore curved and endless, On the first night of his visit, Freezes he the lakes and rivers, Freezes too the shore of ocean, Freezes not the ocean-billows, Does not check the ocean- currents. On the sea a finch is resting, Bird of song upon the waters, But his feet are not yet frozen, Neither is his head endangered.
The Frost-Fiend. 485
When the second night Frost lingered, He began to grow important, He became a fierce intruder, Fearless grew in his invasions, Freezes everything before him ; Sends the fiercest cold of Northland, Turns to ice the boundless waters. Ever thicker, thicker, thicker, Grew the ice on sea and ocean, Ever deeper, deeper, deeper, Fell the snow on field and forest, Froze the hero's ship of beauty, Cold and lifeless bark of Ahti ; Sought to freeze wild Lemminkainen, Freeze him lifeless as his vessel, Asked the minstrel for his life-blood, For his ears, and feet, and fingers. Then the hero, Lemminkainen, Angry grew and filled with magic, Hurled the black-frost to the fire-god, Threw him to the fiery furnace, Held him in his forge of iron, Then addressed the frost as follows : " Frost, thou evil son of Northland, Dire and only son of Winter, Let my members not be stiffened, Neither ears, nor feet, nor fingers. Neither let my head be frozen. Thou hast other things to feed on, Many other heads to stiffen ; Leave in peace the flesh of heroes, Let this minstrel pass in safety 7
486 The Kalevala.
Freeze tlie swamps, and lakes, and rivers^ Fens and forests, hills and valleys ; Let the cold stones grow still colder, Freeze the willows in the waters, Let the aspens freeze and suffer, Let the bark peel from the birch-trees, Let the pines burst on the mountains, Let this hero pass in safety, Do not let his locks be stiffened.
" If all these prove insufficient, Feed on other worthy matters; Let the hot stones freeze asunder, Let the flaming rocks be frozen, Freeze the fiery blocks of iron, Freeze to ice the iron mountains ; Stiffen well the mighty Wuoksi, Let Imatra freeze to silence ; Freeze the sacred stream aud whirlpool, Let their boiling billows stiffen, Or thine origin I'll sing thee, Tell thy lineage of evil. Well I know thine evil nature, Know thine origin and power, Whence thou earnest, where thou goest, Know thine ancestry of evil. Thou wert born upon the aspen, Wert conceived upon the willows, Near the borders of Pohyola, In the courts of dismal Northland; Sin-begotten was thy father, And thy mother was Dishonor.
" While in infancy who fed thee
The Frost-Fiend. 487
While thy mother could not nurse thee ? Surely thou wert fed by adders, Nursed by foul and slimy serpents ; North-winds rocked thee into slumber, Cradled thee in roughest weather, In the worst of willow-marshes, In the springs forever flowing, Evil-born and evil-nurtured, Grew to be an evil genius, Evil was thy mind and spirit , And the infant still was nameless, Till the name of Frost was given To the progeny of evil.
" Then the young lad lived in hedges, Dwelt among the weeds and willows, Lived in springs in days of summer, On the borders of the marshes, Tore the lindens in the winter, Stormed among the glens and forests, Kaged among the sacred birch-trees, Battled in the alder-branches, Froze the trees, the shoots, the grasses, Evened all the plains and prairies, Ate the leaves within the woodlands, Made the stalks drop down their blossoms, Peeled the bark on weeds and willows.
" Thou hast grown to large proportions, Hast become too tall and mighty ; Dost thou labor to benumb me, Dost thou wish mine ears and fingers, Of my feet wouldst thou deprive me? Do not strive to freeze this hero,
488 The Kalevala.
In his anguish and misfortune ; In my stockings I shall kindle Fire to drive thee from my presence, In my shoes lay flaming faggots, Coals of fire in every garment, Heated sandstones in my rigging ; Thus will hold thee at a distance. Then thine evil form I'll banish To the farthest Northland borders ; When thy journey is completed, When thy home is reached in safety, Freeze the caldrons in the castle, Freeze the coal upon the hearthstone, In the dough, the hands of women, On its mother's lap, the infant, Freeze the colt beside its mother.
" If thou shouldst not heed this order, I shall banish thee still farther, To the carbon-piles of Hisi, To the chimney-hearth of Lempo, Hurl thee to his fiery furnace, Lay thee on the iron anvil, That thy body may be hammered With the sledges of the blacksmith, May be pounded into atoms, Twixt the anvil and the hammer.
" If thou shouldst not heed this order, Shouldst not leave me to my freedom, Know I still another kingdom, Know another spot of resting; I shall drive thee to the summer, Lead thy tongue to warmer climates,
The Frost-Fiend. 489
There a prisoner to suffer, Never to obtain thy freedom Till thy spirit I deliver, Till I go myself and free thee."
Wicked Frost, the son of Winter, Saw the magic bird of evil Hovering above his spirit, Straightway prayed for Ahti's mercy, These the words the Frost-fiend uttered : "Let us now agree together, Neither one to harm the other, Never in the course of ages, Never while the moonlight glimmers On the snow-capped hills of Northland. If thou hearest that I bring thee Cold to freeze thy feet and fingers, Hurl me to the fiery furnace, Hammer me upon the anvil Of the blacksmith, Ilmarinen ; Lead my tongue to warmer climates, Banish me to lands of summer, There a prisoner to suffer, Nevermore to gain my freedom."
Thereupon wild Lemminkainen Left his vessel in the ocean, Frozen in the ice of Northland, Left his warlike boat forever, Started on his cheerless journey To the borders of Pohyola, And the mighty Tiera followed In the tracks of his companion. On the ice they journeyed northward
490 The Kalevala.
Briskly walked upon the ice-plain, "Walked one day, and then a second, Till the closing 'of the third day, When the Hunger-land approached them, When appeared Starvation-island,
Here the hardy Lemminkainen Hastened forward to the castle, This the hero's prayer and question: " Is there food within this castle, Fish or fowl within its larders, To refresh us on our journey, Mighty heroes, cold and weary ? '
When the hero, Lemminkainen, Found no food within the castle, Neither fish, nor fowl, nor bacon, Thus he cursed it and departed : "May the fire destroy these chambers, May the waters flood this dwelling, Wash it to the seas of Mana ! r
Then they hastened onward, onward, Hastened on through field and forest, Over by-ways long untrodden, Over unknown paths aod snow-fields; Here the hardy Lemminkainen, Eeckless hero, Kaukomieli, Pulled the soft wool from the ledges, Gathered lichens from the tree-trunks, Wove them into magic stockings, Wove them into shoes and mittens, On the settles of the hoar-frost, In the stinging cold of Northland.
Then he sought to find some pathway,
The Frost-Fiend. 491
That would guide their wayward footsteps,
And the hero spake as follows :
" O thou Tiera, friend beloved,
Shall we reach our destination,
Wandering for days together,
Through these Northland fields and forests?"
Kura thus replies to Ahti :
" We, alas! have come for vengeance,
Come for blood and retribution,
To the battle-fields of Northland,
To the dismal Sariola,
Here to leave our souls and bodies,
Here to starve, and freeze, and perish,
In the dreariest of places,
In this sun-forsaken country !
Never shall we gain the knowledge,
Never learn it, never tell it,
Which the pathway that can guide us
To the forest-beds to suffer,
To the Pohya-plains to perish,
In the home-land of the ravens,
Fitting food for crows and eagles.
Often do the Northland vultures
Hither come to feed their fledgelings;
Hither bring the birds of heaven
Bits of flesh and blood of heroes ;
Often do the beaks of ravens
Tear the flesh of kindred corpses ,
Often do the eagle's talons
Carry bones and trembling vitals,
Such as ours, to feed their nestlings,
In their rocky homes and ledges.
492 The Kalevala.
" Oh ! my mother can but wonder, Never can divine the answer, Where her reckless son is roaming, Where her hero's blood is flowing, Whether in the swamps and lowlands Whether in the heat of battle, Or upon the waves of the ocean, Or upon the hop-field mountains, Or along some forest by-way. Nothing can her mind discover Of the frailest of her heroes, Only think that he has perished. Thus the hoary-headed mother Weeps and murmurs in her chambers: ( Where is DOW my son beloved, In the kingdom of Manala? Sow thy crops, thou dread Tuoni, Harrow well the fields of Kalma ! Now the bow receives its respite From the fingers of my Tiera ; Bow and arrow now are useless, Now the merry birds can fatten In the fields, and fens, and forests; Bears may live in dens of freedom, On the fields may sport the elk-herds.'" Spake the reckless Lemminkainen : " Thus it is, mine aged mother, Thou that gavest me existence! Thou hast reared thy broods of chickens, Hatched and reared thy flights of white- swansj. All of them the winds have scattered, Or the evil Lempo frightened ;
The Frost-Fiend. 493
One flew hither, and one thither, And a third one, lost forever! Think thou of our former pleasures, Of our better days together, When I wandered like the flowers, Like the berry in the meadows. Many saw my form majestic, Many thought me well-proportioned. Now is not as then with Ahti, Into evil days have fallen, Since I see but storms and darkness ! Then my eyes beheld but sunshine, Then we did not weep and murmur, Did not fill our hearts with sorrow, When the maids in joy were singing, When the virgins twined their tresses; Then the women joined in joyance, Whether brides were happy-wedded, Whether bridegrooms choose discreetly, Whether they were wise or unwise.
" But we must not grow disheartened, Let the Island-maidens cheer us ; Here we are not yet enchanted, Not bewitched by magic singing, On the paths not left to perish, Sink and perish on our journey. Full of youth we should not suffer, Strong, we should not die unworthy, Whom the wizards have enchanted, Have bewitched with songs of magic; Sorcerers may charm and conquer, Bury them within their dungeons,
494 The Kalevala.
Hide them spell -bound in their cabins. Let the wizards charm each other, And bewitch their magic offspring, Bring their tribes to fell destruction. Never did my gray-haired father Bow submission to a wizard, Offer worship to magicians. These the words my father uttered, These the thoughts his son advances: 'Guard us, thou 0 great Creator, Shield us, thou 0 God of mercy, With thine arms of grace protect us, Help us with thy strength and wisdom, Guide the minds of all thy heroes, Keep aright the thoughts of women, Keep the old from speaking evil, Keep the young from sin and folly, Be to us a help forever, Be our Guardian and our Father, That our children may not wander From the ways of their Creator, From the path that God has given!7"
Then the hero Lemminkainen, Made from cares the fleetest racers, Sable racers from his sorrows, Reins he made from days of evil, From his sacred pains made saddles. To the saddle, quickly springing, Galloped he away from trouble, To his dear and aged mother ; And his comrade, faithful Tiera, Galloped to his Island-dwelling.
The Frost-Fiend. 495
Now departs wild Lemminkainen, Brave and reckless Kaukomieli, From these ancient songs and legends; Only guides his faithful Kura To his waiting bride and kindred, While these lays and incantations Shall be turned to other heroes.
RUNE XXXI.
KULLERWOINEN SON OF EVIL.
IN the ancient times a mother Hatched and raised some swans and chickens, Placed the chickens in the brushwood, Placed her swans upon the river; Came an eagle, hawk, and falcon, Scattered all her swans and chickens, One was carried to Karyala, And a second into Ehstland, Left a third at home in Pohya. And the one to Ehstland taken Soon became a thriving merchant; He that journeyed to Karyala Flourished and was called Kalervo; He that hid away in Pohya Took the name of Untamoinen, Flourished to his father's sorrow, To the heart-pain of his mother. Untamoinen sets his fish-nets In the waters of Kalervo ; Kullerwoinen sees the fish-nets, Takes the fish home in his basket. Then Untamo, evil-minded, Angry grew and sighed for vengeance, Clutched his fingers for the combat, Bared his mighty arms for battle, For the stealing of his salmon, For the robbing of his fish-nets.
496
Kullerwoinen Son of Evil. 497
Long they battled, fierce the struggle, Neither one could prove the victor ; Should one beat the other fiercely, He himself was fiercely beaten.
Then arose a second trouble ; On the second and the third days, Kalerwoinen sowed some barley Near the barns of Untamoinen ; Untamoinen's sheep in hunger Ate the crop of Kullerwoinen ; Kullerwoinen's dog in malice Tore Untamo's sheep in pieces ; Then Untamo sorely threatened To annihilate the people Of his brother, Kalerwoinen, To exterminate his tribe-folk, To destroy the young and aged, To out-root his race and kingdom ; Conjures men with broadswords girded, For the war he fashions heroes, Fashions youth with spears adjusted, Bearing axes on their shoulders ; Conjures thus a mighty army, Hastens to begin a battle, Bring a war upon his brother.
Kalerwoinen's wife in beauty Sat beside her chamber-window, Looking out along the highway, Spake these words in wonder guessing: " Do I see some smoke arising, Or perchance a heavy storm-cloud, Near the border of the forest,
498 The Kalevala.
Near the ending of the prairie? " It was not some smoke arising, Nor indeed a heavy storm-cloud, It was Untamoinen's soldiers Marching to the place of battle. "Warriors of Untamoinen Came equipped with spears and arrows, Killed the people of Kalervo, Slew his tribe and all his kindred, Burned to ashes many dwellings, Levelled many courts and cabins, Only left Kalervo's daughter, With her unborn child, survivors Of the slaughter of Untamo ; And she led the hostile army To her father's halls and mansion, Swept the rooms and made them cheery, Gave the heroes home-attentions.
Time had gone but little distance, Ere a boy was born in magic Of the virgin, Untamala, Of a mother, trouble -laden, Him the mother named Kullervo, " Pearl of Combat," said Untamo. Then they laid the child of wonder, Fatherless, the magic infant, In the cradle of attention, To be rocked, and fed, and guarded; But he rocked himself at pleasure, Rocked until his locks stood endwise ; Rocked one day, and then a second, Rocked the third from morn till noontide;
Kullerwoinen Son of Evil. 499
But before the third day ended,
Kicks the boy with might of magic,
Forwards, backwards, upwards, downwards,
Kicks in miracles of power,
Bursts with might his swaddling garments*
Creeping from beneath his blankets,
Knocks his cradle into fragments,
Tears to tatters all his raiment.
Seemed that he would grow a hero ,
And his mother, Untamala,
Thought that he, when full of stature,
When he found his strength and reason,
Would become a great magician,
First among a thousand heroes.
When three months the boy had thrivtec, He began to speak as follows : " When my form is full of stature, Whet these arms grow strong and hardj, Then will I avenge th<a murder Of Kalervo and his people!"
Untamoinen hears the saying, Speaks these words to those about him; " To my tribe he brings destruction, In him grows a new Kalervo!"
Then the heroes well considered, And the women gave their counsel, How to kill the magic infant, That their tribe may live in safety. It appeared the boy would prosper; Finally, they all consenting, He was placed within a basket, And with willows firmly fastened,
500 The Kaleval*
Taken to the reeds and rushes, Lowered to the deepest waters, In his basket there to perish.
When three nights had circled over,
M
Messengers of Untamoinen Went to see if he had perished In his basket in the waters ; But the prodigy was living, Had not perished in the rushes; He had left his willow-basket, Sat in triumph on a billow, In his hand a rod of copper, On the rod a golden fish-line, Fishing for the silver whiting, Measuring the deeps beneath him; In the sea was little water, Scarcely would it fill three measures.
Untamoinen then reflected, This the language of the wizard : " Whither shall we take this wonder, Lay this prodigy of evil, That destruction may o'ertake him, Where the boy will sink and perish ? l*
Then his messengers he ordered To collect dried poles of brushwood, Birch-trees with their hundred branches Pine-trees full of pitch and resin, Ordered that a pyre be builded, That the boy might be cremated, That Kullervo thus might perish. High they piled the arid branches, Dried limbs from the sacred birch-tree,
Kullerwoinen >&'tfn o Evil. 601
Branches from a hundred fir -trees, Knots and branches full of resign ; Filled with bark a thousand sledges, Seasoned oak, a hundred measures ; Piled the brushwood to the tree-tops, Set the boy upon the summit, Set on fire the pile of brushwood, Burned one day, and then a second, Burned the third from morn till evening.
Wnen Untamo sent his heralds To inspect the pyre and wizard, There to learn if young Kullervo Had been burned to dust and ashes, There they saw the young boy sitting On a pyramid of embers, In his hand a rod of copper, Baking coals of fire about him, To increase their heat and power; Not a hair was burned nor injured, Not a ringlet singed nor shrivelled.
Then Untamo, evil-humored, Thus addressed his trusted heralds : " Whither shall the boy be taken, To what place this thing of evil, That destruction may o'ertake him. That the boy may sink and perish ? "
Then they hung him to an oak-tree, Crucified him in the branches. That the wizard there might perish.
When three days and nights had endedj Untamoinen spake as follows : " It is time to send mv heralds
502 Tte Kale.vala<
To inspect the mighty oak-tree, There to learn if young Kullervo Lives or dies among the branches."
Thereupon he sent his servants, And the heralds brought this message: " Young Kullervo has not perished, Has not died among the branches Of the oak-tree where we hung him. In the oak he maketh pictures With a wand between his fingers ; Pictures hang from all the branches, Carved and painted by Kullervo ; And the heroes, thick as acorns, With their swords and spears adjusted, Fill the branches of the oak-tree, Every leaf becomes a soldier."
Who can help the grave Untamo Kill the boy that threatens evil To Untamo's tribe and country, Since he will not die by water, Nor by fire, nor crucifixion ? Finally it was decided That his body was immortal, Could not suffer death nor torture.
In despair grave Untamoinen Thus addressed the boy, Kullervo : 41 Wilt thou live a life becoming, Always do my people honor, Should I keep thee in my dwelling? Shouldst thou render servant's duty, Then thou wilt receive thy wages, Reaping whatsoe'er thou so west ;
Kullerwoinen, Son of Evil
Thou canst wear the golden girdle, Or endure the tongue of censure."
When the boy had grown a little, Had increased in strength and stature, He was given occupation, He was made to tend an infant, Made to rock the infant's cradle. Tiiese the words of Untamoinen: u Often look upon the young child, Feed him well and guard from danger, Wash his linen in the river, Give the infant good attention."
Young Kullervo, wicked wizard, Nurses one day then a second ; On the morning of the third day, Gives the infant cruel treatment, Blinds its eyes and breaks its fingers ; And when evening shadows gather, Kills the young child while it slumbers, Throws its body to the waters, Breaks and burns the infant's cradle. Untamoinen thus reflected : " Never will this fell Kullervo Be a worthy nurse for children, Cannot rock a babe in safety ; Do not know how I can use him, What employment I can give him ! "
Then he told the young magician He must fell the standing forest, And Kullervo gave this answer : " Only will I be a hero, When I wield the magic hatchet ,
504: The Kalevala.
I am young, and fair, and mighty, Far more beautiful than others, Have the skill of six magicians."
Thereupon he sought the blacksmith, This the order of Kullervo: "Listen, O thou metal-artist, Forge for me an axe of copper, Forge the mighty axe of heroes, Wherewith I may fell the forest, Fell the birch, and oak, and aspen."
This behest the blacksmith honors, Forges him an axe of copper, Wonderful the blade he forges. Kullerwoinen grinds his hatchet, Grinds his blade from morn till evening, And the next day makes the handle; Then he hastens to the forest, To the upward-sloping mountain, To the tallest of the birches, To the mightiest of oak-trees; There he swings his axe of copper, Swings his blade with might of magic, Cuts with sharpened edge the aspen, With one blow he fells the oak-tree, With a second blow, the linden ; Many trees have quickly fallen, By the hatchet of Kullervo. Then the wizard spake as follows: ''This the proper work of Lempo, Let dire Hisi fell the forest!"
In the birch he sank his hatchet, Made an uproar in the woodlands,
Kullerwoinen Son of Evil. 505
Called aloud in tones of thunder, Whistled to the distant mountains, Till they echoed to his calling, When Kullervo spake as follows: " May the forest, in the circle Where my voice rings, fall and perish, In the earth be lost forever ! May no tree remain unlevelled, May no saplings grow in spring-time, Ne^er while the moonlight glimmers, Where Kullervo's voice has echoed, Where the forest hears my calling ; Where the ground with seed is planted, And the grain shall sprout and flourish, May it never come to ripeness, Mar the ears of corn be blasted ! '
"When the strong man, Untamoinen, Went to look at early evening, How Kullervo was progressing, In his labors in the forest ; Little was the work accomplished, Was not worthy of a hero ; Untamoinen thus reflected: K You no; Kullervo is not fitted
o
For the work of clearing forests, Wastes the best of all the timber, To my lands he brings destruction ; I shall set him making fences."
Then the youth began the building Of a fence for Untamoinen : Took the trunks of stately fir- trees, IHimmed them with his blade for fence -posts,
506 The Kalevala,
Cut the tallest in the woodlands, For the railing of his fences ;
v^ 7
Made the smaller poles and cross-bam From the longest of the lindens ; Made the fence without a pass- way, Made no wicket in his fences, And Kullervo spake these measures.- " He that does not rise as eagles, Does not sail on wings through ethei. Cannot cross Kullervo's pickets, Nor the fences he has builded."
Untamoinien left his mansion To inspect the young boy's labors, View the fences of Kullervo ; Saw the fence without a pass- way, Not a wicket in his fences ; From the earth the fence extended To the highest clouds of heaven. These the words of Untamoinen : " For this work he is not fitted, Useless is the fence thus builded ; Is so high that none can cross it, And there is no passage through it; He shall thresh the rye and barley."
Young Kullervo, quick preparing. Made an oaken flail for threshing, Threshed the rye to finest powder^ Threshed the barley into atoms, And the straw to worthless fragments.
Untamoinen went at evening, Went to see Kullervo's threshing, View the work of Kullerwoinen ;
Kullerwoinen Son of Evil. 50'
Found the rye was ground to powder, Grains of barley crushed to atoms, And the straw to worthless rubbish.
Untamoinen then grew angry, Spake these words in bitter accents: "Kullerwoinen as a workman Is a miserable failure ; Whatsoever work he touches Is but ruined by his witchcraft ; I shall carry him to Ehstland, In Karyala I shall sell him To the blacksmith, Ilmarinen, There to swing the heavy hammer."
Untamoinen sells Kullervo, Trades him off in far Karyala, To the blacksmith, Ilmarinen, To the master of the metals, This the sum received in payment: Seven worn and worthless sickles, Three old caldrons worse than* useless, Three old scythes, and hoes, and axes, Recompense, indeed, sufficient For a boy that will not labor For the good of his employer.
RUNE XXXII.
KULLERVO AS A SHEPHERD.
KULLERWOINEN, wizard -ssrvant Of the blacksmith, Ilmarinen, Purchased slave from Untamoine^, Magic son with sky-blue stockings, With a head of golden ringlets, In his shoes of marten-leather, "Waiting little, asked the blacksmith, Asked the host for work at morning, In the evening asked the hostess, These the words of Kullerwoinen : " Give me work at early morning, In the evening, occupation, Labor worthy of thy servant." Then the wife of Ilmarinen, Once the Maiden of the Rainbow, Thinking long, and long debating, How to give the youth employment, How the purchased slave could labor; Finally a shepherd made him, Made him keeper of her pastures ; But the over-scornful hostess, Baked a biscuit for the herdsman, Baked a loaf of wondrous thickness, Baked the lower- half of oat-meal, And the upper-half of barley, Baked a flint-stone in the centre, Poured around it liquid butter,
508
Kullervo as a Shepherd. 509
Then she gave it to the shepherd, Food to still the herdsman's hunger; Thus she gave the youth instructions : " Do not eat the bread in hunger, Till the herd is in the woodlands ! '
Then the wife of Ilmarinen Sent her cattle to the pasture, Thus addressing Kullerwoinen : " Drive the cows to yonder bowers, To the birch -trees and the aspens, That they there may feed and fatten, Fill themselves with milk and butter, In the open forest- pastures, On the distant hills and mountains, In the glens among the birch-trees, In the lowlands with the aspens, In the golden pine-tree forests, In the thickets silver-laden.
" Guard them, thou O kind Creator, Shield them, omnipresent Ukko, Shelter them from every danger, And protect them from all evil, That they may not want, nor wander From the paths of peace and plenty. As at home Thou didst protect them In the shelters and the hurdles, Guard them now beneath the heavens, Shelter them in woodland pastures, That the herds may live and prosper To the joy of Northland's hostess, And against the will of Lempo.
" If ray herdsman prove unworthy,
510 The Kalevala.
If the shepherd-maids seem evil, Let the pastures be their shepherds, Let the alders guard the cattle, Make the birch -tree their protector, Let the willow drive them homeward, Ere the hostess go to seek them, Ere the milkmaids wait and worry. Should the birch -tree not protect them, Nor the aspen lend assistance, Nor the linden be their keeper, Nor the willow drive them homeward, Wilt thou give them better herdsmen, Let Creation's beauteous daughters Be their kindly shepherdesses. Thou hast many lovely maidens, Many hundreds that obey thee, In the Ether's spacious circles, Beauteous daughters of creation.
"Summer-daughter, magic maiden, Southern mother of the woodlands, Pine-tree daughter, Kateyatar, Pihlayatar, of the aspen, Alder- maiden, Tapio's daughter, Daughter of the glen, Millikki, And the mountain-maid, Tellervo, Of my herds be ye protectors, Keep them from the evil-minded, Keep them safe in days of summer, In the times of fragrant flowers, While the tender leaves are whispering, While the Earth is verdure-laden.
" Summer-daughter, charming maiden,
Kullervo as a Shepherd. 511
Southern mother of the woodlands, Spread abroad thy robes of safety, Spread thine apron o'er the forest, Let it cover all my cattle, And protect the unprotected, That no evil winds may harm them, May not suffer from the storm-clouds. Guard my flocks from every danger, Keep them from the hands of wild-beasts, From the swamps with sinking pathways, From the springs that bubble trouble, From the swiftly running waters, From the bottom of the whirlpool, That they may not find misfortune, Mav not wander to destruction,
*/
In the marshes sink and perish, Though against God's best intentions. Though against the will of Ukko.
"From a distance bring a bugle, Bring a shepherd's horn from heaven, Bring the honey-flute of Ukko, Play the music of creation, Blow the pipes of the magician, Play the flowers on the highlands, Charm the hills, and dales, and mountains^ Charm the borders of the forest, Fill the forest-trees with honey, Fill with spice the fountain-borders.
" For my herds give food and shelter, Feed them all on honeyed pastures, Give them drink at honeyed fountains Feed them on thy golden grasses,
512 The Kalevala.
On tli e leaves of silver saplings, From the springs of life and beauty, From the crystal- waters flowing, From the waterfalls of Rutya, From the uplands green and golden, From the glens enriched in silver. Dig thou also golden fountains On the four sides of the willow, That the cows may drink in sweetness, And their udders swell with honey, That their milk may flow in streamlets; Let the milk be caught in vessels, Let the cow's gift be not wasted, Be not given to Manala.
" Many are the sons of evil, That to Mana take their milkings, Give their milk to evil-doers, Waste it in Tuoni's empire; Few there are, and they the worthy, That can get the milk from Mana; Never did my ancient mother Ask for counsel in the village, Never in the courts for wisdom ; She obtained her milk from Mana, Took the sour-milk from the dealers, Sweet-milk from the greater distance, From the kingdom of Manala, From Tuoni's fields and pastures; Brought it in the dusk of evening, Through the by-ways in the darkness, That the wicked should not know it, That it should not find destruction.
Kullervo as a Shepherd. 513
" This the language of my mother, And these words I also echo: 4 Whither does the cow's gift wander, Whither has the milk departed? Has it gone to feed the strangers, Banished to the distant village, Gone to feed the hamlet-lover, Or perchance to feed the forest, Disappeared within the woodlands, Scattered o'er the hills and mountains. Mingled with the lakes and rivers? It shall never go to Mana, Never go to feed the stranger, Never to the village-lover; Neither shall it feed the forest, Nor be lost upon the mountains, Neither sprinkled in the woodlands, Nor be mingled with the waters ; It is needed for our tables, Worthy food for all our children.'
" Summer-daughter, maid of beauty, Southern daughter of Creation, Give Suotikki tender fodder, To Watikki, give pure water, To Hermikki milk abundant, Fresh provisions to Tuorikki, From Mairikki let the milk flow, Fresh milk from my cows in plenty, Coming from the tips of grasses, From the tender herbs and leaflets, From the meadows rich in honey, From the mother of the forest,
514 The Kalevala.
From the meadows sweetly dripping, From the berry-laden branches, From the heath of flower-maidens, From the verdure -maiden bowers, From the clouds of milk-providers, From the virgin of the heavens, That the milk may flow abundant From the cows that I have given To the keeping of Kullervo.
" Else thou virgin of the valley, From the springs arise in beauty, Kise thou maiden of the fountain, Beautiful, arise in ether, Take the waters from the cloudlets, And my roaming herds besprinkle, That my cows may drink and flourish, May be ready for the coming Of the shepherdess of evening.
" 0 Millikki, forest-hostess, Mother of the herds at pasture, Send the tallest of thy servants, Send the best of thine assistants, That my herds may well be guarded, Through the pleasant days of summer, Given us by our Creator.
" Beauteous virgin of the woodlands, Tapio's most charming daughter, Fair Tellervo, forest- maiden, Softly clad in silken raiment, Beautiful in golden ringlets, Do thou give my herds protection, In the Metsola dominions,
Kullervo as a Shepherd. 515
On the hills of Tapiola;
Shield them with thy hands of beauty,
Stroke them gently with thy fingers,
Give to them a golden lustre,
Make them shine like fins of salmon,
Grow them robes as soft as ermine.
" When the evening star brings darkness, When appears the hour of twilight, Send my lowing cattle homeward, Milk within their vessels coursing, Water on their backs in lakelets. When the Sun has set in ocean, When the evening-bird is singing, Thus address my herds of cattle :
" Ye that carry horns, now hasten To the sheds of Ilmarinen ; Ye enriched in milk go homeward, To the hostess now in waiting, Home, the better place for sleeping, Forest-beds are full of danger ; When the evening comes in darkness, Straightway journey to the milkmaids Building fires to light the pathway On the turf enriched in honey, ID the pasture's berry-laden !
" Thou, 0 Tapio's son, Nyrikki, Forest-son, enrobed in purple, Cut the fir-trees on the mountains, Cut the pines with cones of beauty, Lay them o'er the streams for bridges, Cover well the Sioughs of quicksand, In the swamps and in the lowlands,
516 The Kalevala.
That my herd may pass in safety, On their long and dismal journey, To the clouds of smoke may hasten, Where the milkmaids wait their coming. If the cows heed not this order, Do not hasten home at evening, Then, O service-berry maiden, Cut a birch-rod from the glenwood, From the juniper, a whip-stick, Near to Tapio's spacious mansion, Standing on the ash-tree mountain, Drive my wayward, lowing cattle, Into Metsola's wide milk-yards, When the evening-star is rising.
" Thou, 0 Otso, forest-apple, Woodland bear, with honeyed fingers, Let us make a lasting treaty, Make a vow for future ages, That thou wilt not kill my cattle, Wilt not eat my milk -providers ; That I will not send my hunters To destroy thee and thy kindred, Never in the days of summer, The Creator's warmest season.
" Dost thou hear the tones of cow-bells^ Hear the calling of the bugles, Hide thyself within the meadow, Sink upon the turf in slumber, Bury both thine ears in clover, Crouch within some alder-thicket, Climb between the mossy ledgea Visit thou some rocky caveri*,
Kullervo as a Shepherd, 5 IT
Flee away to other mountains.
Till thou canst not hear the cow-bells^
Nor the calling of the herdsmen.
" Listen, Otso of the woodlands, Sacred bear with honeyed ringers, To approach the herd of cattle Thou thyself art not forbidden, But thy tongue, and teeth, and fingers, Must not touch my herd in summer, Must not harm my harmless creatures. Go around the scented meadows, Amble through the milky pastures, From the tones of bells and shepherds. Should the herd be on the mountain, Go thou quickly to the marshes ; Should my cattle browse the lowlands, Sleep thou then within the thicket ; Should they feed upon the uplands, Thou must hasten to the valley ; Should the herd graze at the bottom, Thou must feed upon the summit.
" Wander like the golden cuckoo, Like the dove of silver brightness, Like a little fish in ocean ; Hide thy claws within thy hair-foot, Shut thy wicked teeth in darkness, That my herd may not be frightened, May not think themselves in danger. Leave my cows in peace and plenty, Let them journey home in order, Through the vales and mountain by-ways, Over plains and through the forest,
618 The Kalevala.
Harming not my harmless creatures. " Call to mind our former pledges, At the river of Tuoni, Near the waterfall and whirlpool, In the ears of our Creator. Thrice to Otso was it granted, In the circuit of the summer, To approach the land of cow-bells, Where the herdsmen's voices echo j But to thee it was not granted, Otso never had permission To attempt a wicked action, To begin a work of evil. Should the blinding thing of malice Come upon thee in thy roamings, Should thy bloody teeth feel hunger, Throw thy malice to the mountains, And thy hunger to the pine-trees, Sink thy teeth within the aspens, In the dead limbs of the birches, Prune the dry stalks from the willows. Should thy hunger still impel thee, Go thou to the berry-mountain, Eat the fungus of the forest, Feed thy hunger on the ant-hills, Eat the red roots of the bear- tree, Metsola's rich cakes of honey, Not the grass my herd would feed on. Or if Metsola's rich honey Should ferment before the eating, On the hills of golden color, On the mountains filled with silver,
Kullervo as a Shepherd. 51£
There is other food for hunger, Other drink for thirsting Otso, Everlasting will the food be, And the drink be never wanting.
" Let us now agree in honor, And conclude a lasting treaty That our lives may end in pleasure, May be merry in the summer, Both enjoy the woods in common, Though our food must be distinctive. Shouldst thou still desire to fight me, Let our contests be in winter, Let our wars be on the snow-fields. Swamps will thaw in days of summer, Warm, the water in the rivers. Therefore shouldst thou break this treaty,, Shouldst thou come where golden cattle Roam these woodland hills and valleys, We will slay thee with our cross-bows ; Should our arrow- men be absent, We have here some archer- women, And among them is the hostess, That can use the fatal weapon, That can bring thee to destruction, Thus will end the days of trouble That thou bringest to our people, And against the will of Ukko.
" Ukko, ruler in the heavens, Lend an ear to my entreaty, Metamorphose all my cattle, Through the mighty force of magic, Into stumps and stones convert them,
520 The Kalevala.
If the enemy should wander, Near my herd in days of summer.
" If I had been born an Otso, I would never stride and amble At the feet of aged women ; Elsewhere there are hills and valleys, Farther on are honey -pastures, Where the lazy bear may wander, Where the indolent may linger ; Sneak away to yonder mountain, That thy tender flesh may lessen, In the blue-glen's deep recesses, In the bear- dens of the forest. Thou canst move through fields of acorns, Through the sand and ocean-pebbles, There for thee is tracked a pathway, Through the woodlands on the sea-coast, To the Northland's farthest limits, To the dismal plains of Lapland, There 'tis well for thee to lumber, There to live will be a pleasure. Shoeless there to walk in summer, Stockingless in days of autumn, On the blue-back of the mountain, Through the swamps and fertile lowlands.
" If thou canst not journey thither, Canst not find the Lapland-highway, Hasten on a little distance, In the bear- path leading northward. To the grove of Tuonela, To the honey-plains of Kalma, Swamps there are in which to wander,
Kullervo as a Shepherd. 521
Heaths in which to roam at pleasure, There are Kiryos, there are Karyos, And of beasts a countless number, "With their fetters strong ^ iron, Fattening within the forest. Be ye gracious, groves and mountains, Full of grace, ye darksome thickets, Peace and plenty to my cattle, Through the pleasant days of summer, The Creator's warmest season.
" Knippana, 0 King of forests, Thou the gray-beard of the woodlands, Watch thy dogs in fen and fallow, Lay a sponge within one nostril, And an acorn in the other, That they may not scent my cattle ; Tie their eyes with silken fillets, That they may not see my herdlings, May not see my cattle grazing.
" Should all this seem inefficient. Drive away thy barking children, Let them run to other forests, Let them hunt in other marshes, From these verdant strips of meadow, From these far outstretching borders, Hide thy dogs within thy caverns, Firmly tie thy yelping children, Tie them with thy golden fetters, With thy chains adorned with silver, That they may not do me damage,^ May not do a deed of mischief.
" Should all this prove inefficient,
522 The Kalevala.
Thou, 0 Ukko, King of heaven. Wise director, full of mercy, Hear the golden words I utter, Hear a voice that breathes affection From the alder make a muzzle, For each dog within the kennel ; Should the alder prove too feeble, Cast a band of purest copper ; Should the copper prove a failure, Forge a band of ductile iron ; Should the iron snap asunder, In each nose a4 small-ring fasten, Made of molten gold and silver, Chain thy dogs in forest -caverns, That my herd may not be injured. "
Then the wife of Ilmarinen, Life-companion of the blacksmith, Opened all her yards and stables, Led her herd across the meadow, Placed them in the herdman's keeping, In the care of Kullerwoinen.
RUNE XXXIII.
KULLERVO AND THE CHEAT-CAKE.
THEREUPON the lad, Kullervo, Laid his luncheon in his basket, Drove the herd to mountain-pastures, O'er the hills and through the marshes, To their grazings in the woodlands, Speaking as he careless wandered : <k Of the youth am I the poorest, Hapless lad and full of trouble, Evil luck to me befallen ! I, alas! must idly wander 9'er the hills and through the valleys, As a watch-dog for the cattle! '
Then she sat upon the greensward, In a sunny spot selected, Singing, chanting words as follow : " Shine, O shine, thou Sun of heaven, Cast thy rays, thou fire of Ukko, On the herdsman of the blacksmith, On the head of Kullerwoinen, On this poor and luckless shepherd, Not in Ilmarinen's smithy, Nor the dwellings of his people ; Good the table of the hostess, Cuts the best of wheaten biscuit, Honey-cakes she cuts in slices, Spreading each with golden butter; Only dry bread has the herdsman,
523
524 The Kalevala.
* Eats with pain the oaten bread-crusts/
Filled with chaff his arid biscuit, Feeds upon the worst of straw-bread, Pine-tree bark, the bread he feeds on, Sipping water from the birch-bark, Drinking from the tips of grasses ! Go, 0 Sun, and go, 0 barley, Haste away, thou light of Ukko, Hide within the mountain pine-trees, Go, 0 wheat, to yonder thickets, To the trees of purple berries, To the jumpers and alders, Safely lead the herdsman homeward To the biscuit golden -buttered, To the honeyed cakes and viands!"
While the shepherd lad was singing Kuller women's song and echo, Ilmarinen's wife was feasting On the sweetest bread of Northland, On the toothsome cakes of barley, On the richest of provisions ; Only laid aside some cabbage, For the herdsman, Kullerwoinen ; Set apart some wasted fragments, Leavings of the dogs at dinner, For the shepherd, home returning.
From the woods a bird came flying, Sang this song to Kullerwoinen : " ' Tis the time for forest- dinners, For the fatherless companion Of the herds to eat Ms viands, Eat the good things from his basket ! "
Kullervo and the Cheat- Cake. 525
Kullerwoinen heard the songster,
CZ> J
Looked upon the Sun's long shadow, Straightway spake the words that follow: " True, the singing of the song-bird, It is time indeed for feasting, Time to eat my basket-dinner."
Thereupon young Kullerwoinen Called his herd to rest in safety, Sat upon a grassy hillock, Took his basket from his shoulders, Took therefrom the arid oat-loaf, Turned it over in his fingers, Carefully the loaf inspected, Spake these words of ancient wisdom: " Many loaves are fine to look on, On the outside seem delicious, On the inside, chaff and tan-bark ! "
Then the shepherd, Kullerwoinen, Drew his knife to cut his oat-loaf, Cut the hard and arid biscuit ; Cuts against a stone imprisoned, Well imbedded in the centre, Breaks his ancient knife in pieces ; When the shepherd youth, Kullervo, Saw his magic knife had broken, Weeping sore, he spake as follows : " This, the blade that I hold sacred, This the one thing that I honor, Relic of my mother's people ! On the stone within this oat-loaf, On this cheat-cake of the hostess, I my precious knife have broken.
626 The Kalevala.
How shall I repay this insult, How avenge this woman's malice, What the wages for deception ? " From a tree the raven answered : " 0 thou little silver buckle, Only son of old Kalervo, Why art thou in evil humor, Wherefore sad in thy demeanor? Take a young shoot from the thicket, Take a birch-rod from the valley, Drive thy herd across the lowlands, Through the quicksands of the marshes j To the wolves let one half wander, To the bear- dens, lead the other ; Sing the forest wolves together, Sing the bears down from the mountains, Call the wolves thy little children, And the bears thy standard-bearers ; Drive them like a cow-herd homeward, Drive them home like spotted cattle, Drive them to thy master's milk-yards; Thus thou wilt repay the hostess For her malice and derision."
Thereupon the wizard answered, These the words of Kullerwoinen : " Wait, yea wait, thou bride of Hisi ! Do I mourn my mother's relic, Mcurn the keep-sake thou hast broken? Thou thyself shalt mourn as sorely When thy cows come home at evening P
From the tree he cuts a birch- wand, From the juniper a whip-stick,
Kullervo and the Cheat-Cake. 527
•
Drives the herd across the lowlands, Through the quicksands of the marshes, To the wolves lets one half wander, To the bear-dens leads the other ; Calls the wolves his little children, Calls the bears his standard-bearers, Changes all his herd of cattle Into wolves and bears by magic.
In the west the Sun is shining, Telling that the night is coming. Quick the wizard, Kullerwoinen, Wanders o'er the pine-tree mountain, Hastens through the forest homeward, Drives the wolves and bears before him Toward the milk-yards of the hostess ; To the herd he speaks as follows, As they journey on together: " Tear and kill the wicked hostess, Tear her guilty flesh in pieces, When she comes to view her cattle, When she stoops to do her milking ! r
Then the wizard, Kullerwoinen, From an ox-bone makes a bugle, Makes it from Tuonikki's cow-horn, Makes a flute from Kiryo's shin-bone, Plays a song upon his bugle, Plays upon his flute of magic, Thrice upon the home-land hill-tops, Six times near the coming gate -ways.
Ilmarinen's wife and hostess Long had waited for the coming Of her herd with Kullerwoinen,
528 The Kalevala.
Waited for the milk at evening, Waited for the new-made butter, Heard the footsteps in the cow-path, On the heath she heard the bustle, Spake these joyous words of welcome: " Be thou praised, O gracious Ukko, That my herd is home returning ! But I hear a bugle sounding, 'Tis the playing of my herdsman, Playing on a magic cow-horn, Bursting all our ears with music ! '
Kullerwoinen, drawing nearer, To the hostess spake as follows : " Found the bugle in the woodlands, And the flute among the rushes ; All thy herd are in the passage, All thy cows within the hurdles, This the time to build the camp-fire, This the time to do the milking! "
Ilmarinen's wife, the hostess, Thus addressed an aged servant : " Go, thou old one, to the milking, Have the care of all my cattle, Do not ask for mine assistance, Since I have to knead the biscuit." Kullerwoinen spake as follows: " Always does the worthy hostess, Ever does the wisdom -mother Go herself and do the milking, Tend the cows within the hurdles ! "
Then the wife of Ilmarinen Built a field-fire in the passage,
Kullervo and the CJieat- Cake. 529
Went to milk her cows awaiting, Looked upon her herd in wonder, Spake these happy words of greeting : " Beautiful, my herd of cattle, Glistening like the skins of lynxes, Hair as soft as fur of ermine. Peaceful waiting for the milk-pail ! "
On the milk-stool sits the hostess, Milks one moment, then a second, Then a third time milks and ceases ; When the bloody wolves disguising, Quick attack the hostess milking, And the bears lend their assistance, Tear and mutilate her body With their teeth and sharpened fingers. Kullerwomen; cruel wizard, Thus repaid the wicked hostess, Thus repaid her evil treatment.
Quick the wife of Ilmarinen Cried aloud in bitter anguish, Thus addressed the youth, Kullervo : " Evil son, thou bloody herdsman, Thou hast brought me wolves in malice. Driven bears within my hurdles! " These the words of Kullerwoinen : " Have I evil done as shepherd, Worse the conduct of the hostess ; Baked a stone inside my oat-cake, On the inside, rock and tan-bark, On the stone my knife was broken, Treasure of my mother's household, Broken virtue of my people 1 "
530 The Kalevala.
Ilmarinen's wife made answer : " Noble herdsman, Kullerwoinen, Change, I pray thee, thine opinion, Take away thine incantations, From the bears and wolves release me, Save me from this spell of torture ; I will give thee better raiment, Give the best of milk and butter, Set for thee the sweetest table ; Thou shalt live with me in welcome, Need not labor for thy keeping. If thou dost not free me quickly, Dost not break this spell of magic, I shall sink into the Death-land, Shall return to Tuonela." This is Kullerwoinen's answer: " It is best that thou shouldst perish, Let destruction overtake thee, There is ample room in Mana, Koom for all the dead in Kalma, There the worthiest must slumber, There must rest the good and evil." Ilmarinen's wife made answer: " Ukko, thou 0 God in heaven, Span the strongest of thy cross-bows, Test the weapon by thy wisdom, Lay an arrow forged from copper, On the cross-bow of thy forging ; Eightly aim thy flaming arrow, With thy magic hurl the missile, Shoot this wizard through the vitals, Pierce the heart of Kullerwoinen
Kullervo and the Cheat-Cake. 531
With the lightning of the heavens,
With thine arrows tipped with copper."
Kullerwoinen prays as follows :
"Ukko, God of truth and justice.
Do not slay thy magic servant,
Slay the wife of Ilmarinen,
Kill in her the worst of women,
In these hurdles let her perish,
Lest she wander hence in freedom,
To perform some other mischief,
Do some greater deed of malice! '
Quick as lightning fell the hostess, Quick the wife of Ilmarinen Fell and perished in the hurdles, On the ground before her cottage ; Thus the death of Northland's hostess, Cherished wife of Ilmarinen, Once the Maiden of the Rainbow, Wooed and watched for many summers, Pride and joy of Kalevalal
RUNE XXXIV.
KULLERVO FINDS HIS TRIBE-FOLK.
KULLERWOINEN, young magician, In his beauteous, golden ringlets, In his magic shoes of deer-skin, Left the home of Ilmarinen Wandered forth upon his journey, Ere the blacksmith heard the tidings Of the cruel death and torture Of his wife and joy-companion, Lest a bloody fight should follow.
Kullerwoinen left the smithy, Blowing on his magic bugle, Joyful left the lands of lima, Blowing blithely on the heather, Made the distant hills re-echo, Made the swamps and mountains tremble^ Made the heather-blossoms answer To the music of his cow-horn, In its wild reverberations, To the magic of his playing. Songs were heard within the smithy, And the blacksmith stopped and listened, Hastened to the door and window, Hastened to the open court-yard, If perchance he might discover What was playing on the heather, What was sounding through the forest. Quick he learned the cruel story,
532
Kullervo finds his Tribe-Folk. 533
Learned the cause of the rejoicing, Saw the hostess dead before him, Knew his beauteous wife had perished, Saw the lifeless form extended, In the court-yard of his dwelling. Thereupon the metal-artist Fell to bitcer tears and wailings, "Wept through all the dreary night-time, Deep the grief that settled o'er him, Black as night his darkened future, Could not stay his tears of sorrow.
Kullerwoinen hastened onward, Straying, roaming, hither, thither, Wandered on through field and forest, O'er the Hisi-plains and woodlands. When the darkness settled o'er him, When the bird of night was flitting, Sat the fatherless at evening, The forsaken sat and rested On a hillock of the forest. Thus he murmured, heavy-hearted: " Why was I, alas ! created, Why was I so ill-begotten, Since for months and years I wander, Lost among the ether-spaces? Others have their homes to dwell in, Others hasten to their firesides As the evening gathers round them ; But my home is in the forest, And my bed upon the heather, And my bath-room is the rain-cloud.
"Never didst thou, God of mercy,
534 The Kalevala.
Never in the course of ages, Give an infant birth unwisely ; Wherefore then was I created, Fatherless to roam in ether, Motherless and lone to wander? Thou, O Ukko, art my father, Thou hast given me form and feature; As the sea-gull on the ocean, As the duck upon the waters, Shines the Sun upon the swallow, Shines as bright upon the sparrow, Gives the joy -birds song and gladness, Does not shine on me unhappy ; Nevermore will shine the sunlight, Never will the moonlight glimmer On this hapless son and orphan; Do not know my hero-father, Cannot tell who was my mother ; On the shore, perhaps the gray -duck Left me in the sand to perish. Young was I and small of stature, When my mother left me orphaned ; Dead, my father and my mother, Dead, my honored tribe of heroes ; Shoes they left me that are icy, Stockings filled with frosts of ages, Let me on the freezing ice-plains Fall to perish in the rushes ; From the giddy heights of mountains Let me tumble to destruction.
" O, thou wise and good Creator, Why my birth and what my service ?
Kullervo finds his Tribe- Folk. 635
I shall never fall and perish On the ice- plains, in the marshes, Never be a bridge in swamp-land, Not while I have arms of virtue That can serve my honored kindred 1 r
Then Kullervo thought to journey To the village of Untamo, To avenge his father's murder, To avenge his mother's tortures, And the troubles of his tribe -folk. These the words of Kullerwoinen : " Wait, yea wait, thou Untamoinen, Thou destroyer of my people ; When I meet thee in the combat, I will slay thee and thy kindred, I will burn thy homes to ashes ! "
Came a woman on the highway, Pressed in blue, the aged mother, To Kullervo spake as follows : " Whither goest, Kullerwoinen, Whither hastes the wayward hero? ' Kullerwoinen gave this answer : " I have thought that I would journey To the far-off land of strangers, To the village of Untamo, To avenge my father's murder, To avenge my mother's tortures, And the troubles of my tribe -folk." Thus the gray-haired woman answered: " Surely thou dost rest in error, For thy tribe has never perished, And thy mother still is living
536 The Kalevala.
With thy father in the Northland, Living with the old Kalervo."
" O. thou ancient dame beloved, Worthy mother of the woodlands, Tell me where my father liveth, Where my loving mother lingers ! "
" Yonder lives thine aged father, And thy loving mother with him, On the farthest shore of Northland, On the long-point of the fish-lake ! '
" Tell me, 0 thou woodland -mother, How to journey to my people, How to find mine honored tribe-folk."
" Easy is the way for strangers: Thou must journey through the forest, Hasten to the river-border, Travel one day, then a second, And the third from morn till even, To the north-west, thou must journey. If a mountain comes to meet thee, Go around the nearing mountain, Westward hold thy weary journey, Till thou comest to a river, On thy right hand flowing eastward ; Travel to the river border, Where three water-falls will greet thee; When thou comest to a headland, On the point thou'lt see a cottage Where the fishermen assemble ; In this cottage is thy father, With thy mother and her daughters, Beautiful thy maiden sisters."
Kullervo finds his Tribe- Folk. 537
Kullerwoinen, the magician, Hastens northward on his journey, Walks one day, and then a second, Walks the third from morn till evening ; To the north-west walks Kullervo, Till a mountain comes to meet him, Walks around the nearing mountain; Westward, westward, holds his journey, Till he sees a river coming; Hastens to the river border, Walks along the stream and rapids Till three waterfalls accost him; Travels till he meets a headland, On the point he spies a cottage, Where the fishermen assemble.
Quick he journeys to the cabin, Quick he passes through the portals Of the cottage on the headland, Where he finds his long-lost kindred; No one knows the youth, Kullervo, No one knows whence comes the stranger, Where his home, nor where he goeth. These the words of young Kullervo : u Dost thou know me not, my mother, Dost thou know me not, my father? I am hapless Kullerwoinen, Whom the heroes of Untamo Carried to their distant country, When my height was but a hand-breadth." Quick the hopeful mother answers : "O my worthy son, beloved, O my precious silver-buckle,
538 The Kalevala.
Hast thou with thy mind of magic, Wandered through the fields of Northland Searching for thy home and kindred ? As one dead I long have mourned thee, Had supposed thee in Manala. Once I had two sons and heroes, Had two good and beauteous daughters, Two of these have long been absent, Elder son and elder daughter ; For the wars my son departed, While my daughter strayed and perished ; If my son is home returning, Yet my daughter still is absent. r Kullerwoinen asked his mother: "Whither did my sister wander, What direction did she journey?" This the answer of the mother : " This the story of thy sister : Went for berries to the woodlands, To the mountains went my daughter, Where the lovely maiden vanished, Where my pretty berry perished, Died some death beyond my knowledge, Nameless is the death she suffered. Who is mourning for the daughter? No one mourns her as her mother, Walks and wanders, mourns and searches, For her fairest child and daughter; Therefore did the mother wander, Searching for thy lovely sister, Like the bear she roamed the forest, Ran the glenways like the adder,
Kullervo finds his Tribe- Folk. 539
Searched one day and then a second, Searched the third from morn till even, Till she reached the mountain-summit, There she called and called her daughter, Till the distant mountains answered, Called to her who had departed : ' Where art thou, my lovely maiden, Come my daughter to thy mother ! '
" Thus I called, and sought thy sister, This the answer of the mountains, Thus the hills and valleys echoed : ' Call no more, thou weeping mother, Weep no more for the departed ; Nevermore in all thy lifetime, Never in the course of ages, Will she join again her kindred, At her brother's landing-places, In her father's humble dwelling. ' "
RUNE XXXV.
KULLERVO'S EVIL DEEDS.
KULLERWOINEN, youthful wizard, In his blue and scarlet stockings, Henceforth lingered with his parents ; But he could not change his nature, Could not gain a higher wisdom, Could not win a better judgment; As a child he was ill -nurtured, Early rocked in stupid cradles, By a nurse of many follies, By a minister of evil.
To his work went Kullerwoinen, Strove to make his labors worthy; First, Kullervo went a-fishing, Set his fishing-nets in ocean; With his hands upon the row-locks, Kullerwoinen spake as follows: " Shall I pull with all my forces, Pull with strength of youthful heroes, Or with weakness of the aged?"
From the stern arose a gray-beard, And he answered thus Kullervo : "Pull with all thy youthful vigor ; Shouldst thou row with magic power, Thou couldst not destroy this vessel, Couldst not row this boat to fragments.1
Thereupon the youth, Kullervo, Rowed with all his youthful vigor,
540
Kullervo's Evil Deeds. 541
With the mighty force of magic, Bowed the bindings from the vessel, Eibs of juniper he shattered, Rowed the aspen-oars to pieces.
When the aged sire, Kalervo, Saw the work of Kullerwoinen, He addressed his son as follows : " Dost not understand the rowing ; Thou hast burst the bands asunder, Bands of juniper and willow, Rowed my aspen-boat to pieces ; To the fish- nets drive the salmon, This, perchance, will suit thee better."
Thereupon the son, Kullervo, Hastened to his work as bidden, Drove the salmon to the fish -nets, Spake in innocence as follows : " Shall I with my youthful vigor Scare the salmon to the fish -nets, Or with little magic vigor Shall I drive them to their capture? ' Spake the master of the fish -nets: " That would be but work of women, Shouldst thou use but little power In the frighting of the salmon ! '
Kullerwoinen does as bidden, Scares the salmon with the forces Of his mighty arms and shoulders, With the strength of youth and magic, Stirs the water thick with black-earth, Beats the scare-net into pieces, Into pulp he beats the salmon.
542 The Kalevala.
When tlie aged sire, Kalervo, Saw tlie work of Kullerwoinen, To his son these words he uttered: " Dost not understand this labor, For this work thou art not suited, Canst not scare the perch and salmon To the fish-nets of thy father ; Thou hast ruined all my fish-nets, Torn my scare-net into tatters, Beaten into pulp the whiting, Torn my net-props into fragments, Beaten into bits my wedges. Leave the fishing to another ; See if thou canst pay the tribute, Pay my yearly contribution ; See if thou canst better travel, On the way show better judgment!"
Thereupon the son, Kullervo, Hapless youth in purple vestments, In his magic shoes of deer- skin, In his locks of golden color, Sallied forth to pay the taxes, Pay the tribute for his people. When the youth had paid the tribute^ Paid the yearly contribution, He returned to join the snow- sledge, Took his place upon the cross-bench, Snapped his whip above the courser, And began his journey homeward ; Battled on along the highway, Measured as he galloped onward
Kullervtfs Evil Deeds. 643
Wainamoinen's hills and valleys, And his fields in cultivation.
Came a golden maid to meet him, On her snow-shoes came a virgin, O'er the hills of Wainamoinen, O'er his cultivated lowlands.
Quick the wizard-son, Kullervo, Checked the motion of his racer, Thus addressed the charming maiden : " Come, sweet maiden, to my snow-sledge, In my fur- robes rest and linger I " As she ran, the maiden answered : "Let the Death-maid sit beside thee, Eest and linger in thy fur- robes ! '
Thereupon the youth, Kullervo, Snapped his whip above the courser ; Fleet as wind he gallops homeward, Dashes down along the highway ; With the roar of falling waters, Gallops onward, onward, onward, O'er the broad-back of the ocean, O'er the icy plains of Lapland.
Comes a winsome maid to meet him, Golden-haired, and wearing snow-shoes, On the far outstretching ice-plains; Quick the wizard checks his racer, Charmingly accosts the maiden, Chanting carefully these measures : " Come, thou beauty, to my snow-sledge, Hither come, and rest, and linger [ " Tauntingly the maiden answered : " Take Tuoni to thy snow-sledge,
544: The Kalevala.
At thy side let Manalainen
Sit with thee, and rest, and linger ! "
Quick the wizard, Kullerwoinen, Struck his fiery, prancing racer, With the birch-whip of his father. Like the lightning flew the fleet-foot, Galloped on the highway homeward ; O'er the hills the snow-sledge bounded, And the coming mountains trembled. Kullerwoinen, wild magician, Measures, on his journey homeward, Northland's far-extending borders, And the fertile plains of Pohya. Comes a beauteous maid to meet him, "With a tin-pin on her bosom, On the heather of Pohyola, O'er the Pohya-hills and moorlands.
Quick the wizard son, Kullervo, Holds the bridle of his courser, Charmingly intones these measures : " Come, fair maiden, to my snow-sledge, In these fur-robes rest, and linger ; Eat with me the golden apples, Eat the hazel-nut in joyance, Drink with me the beer delicious, Eat the dainties that I give thee."
This the answer of the maiden "With the tin-pin on her bosom : " I have scorn to give thy snow-sledge, Scorn for thee, thou wicked wizard ; Cold is it beneath thy fur-robes, And thy sledge is chill and cheerless.
Kullervo's Evil Deeds. 545
Thereupon the youth, Kullervo, Wicked wizard of the Northland, Drew the maiden to his snow-sledge, Drew her to a seat beside him, Quickly in his furs enwrapped her; And the tin-adorned made answer, These the accents of the maiden: "Loose me from thy magic power, Let me leave at once thy presence, Lest I speak in wicked accents, Lest I say the prayer of evil ; Free me now as I command thee, Or I'll tear thy sledge to pieces, Throw these fur-robes to the north-winds."
Straightway wicked Kullerwoinen, Evil wizard and magician, Opens all his treasure-boxes, Shows the maiden gold and silver, Shows her silken wraps of beauty, Silken hose with golden borders, Golden belts with silver buckles, Jewelry that dims the vision, Blunts the conscience of the virgin. Silver leads one to destruction, Gold entices from uprightness. Kullerwoinen, wicked wizard, Flatters lovingly the maiden, One hand on the reins of leather, One upon the maiden's shoulder; Thus they journey through the evening, Pass the night in merry-making.
When the day-star led the morning,
546 The Kalevala.
When the second day was dawning, Then the maid addressed Kullervo, Questioned thus the wicked wizard: "Of what tribe art thou descended, Of what race thy hero-father? Tell thy lineage and kindred. r This, Kullervo's truthful answer: "Am not from a mighty nation, Not the greatest, nor the smallest, But my lineage is worthy : Am Kalervo's son of folly, Am a child of contradictions, Hapless son of cold misfortune. Tell me of thy race of heroes, Tell thine origin and kindred." This the answer of the maiden : "Came not from a race primeval, Not the largest, nor the smallest, But my lineage is worthy; Am Kalervo's wretched daughter, Am his long-lost child of error, Am a maid of contradictions, Hapless daughter of misfortune.
"When a child I lived in plenty In the dwellings of my mother ; To the woods I went for berries, Went for raspberries to uplands, Gathered strawberries on mountains, Gathered one day then a second ; But, alas! upon the third day, Could not find the pathway homeward, Forestward the highways led me,
Kullervo's Evil Deeds. 547
All the footpaths, to the woodlands. Long I sat in bitter weeping, Wept one day and then a second, Wept the third from morn till even. Then I climbed a lofty mountain, There I called in wailing accents, And the woodlands gave this answer, Thus the distant hills re-echoed: 'Call no longer, foolish virgin, All thy calls and tears are useless; There is none to give thee answer, Far away, thy home and people/
U0n the third and on the fourth days, On the fifth, and sixth, and seventh, Constantly I sought to perish;
But in vain were all mv efforts,
t/ '
Could not die upon the mountains. If this wretched maid had perished, In the summer of the third year, She had fed earth's vegetation. She had blossomed as a flower, Knowing neither pain nor sorrow." Scarcely had the maiden spoken, When she bounded from the snow-sledge, Rushed upon the rolling river, To the cataract's commotion, To the fiery stream and whirlpool. Thus Kullervo's lovely sister Hastened to her own destruction, To her death bv fire and water,
*/ /
Found her peace in Tuonela, In the sacred stream of Mana.
548 The Kalevala.
Then the wicked Kullerwoinen Fell to weeping, sorely troubled, Wailed, and wept, and heavy-hearted, Spake these words in bitter sorrow: "Woe is me, my life hard-fated! I have slain my virgin-sister, Shamed the daughter of my mother; Woe to thee, my ancient father! Woe to thee, my gray-haired mother ! Wherefore was I born and nurtured, AVhy this hapless child's existence? Better fate to Kullerwoinen, Had he never seen the daylight, Or, if born, had never thriven In these mournful days of evil! Death has failed to do his duty, Sickness sinned in passing by me, Should have slain me in the cradle, When the seventh day had ended !"
Thereupon he slips the collar Of his prancing royal racer, Mounts the silver-headed fleet-foot, Gallops like the lightning homeward; Gallops only for a moment, When he halts his foaming courser At the cabin of his father. In the court-yard stood the mother, Thus the wicked son addressed her : "Faithful mother, fond and tender, Hadst thou slain me when an infant, Smoked my life out in the chamber, In a winding-sheet hadst thrown me
JLullervo's 'Evil Deeds. 549
To the cataract and whirlpool, In the fire hadst set my cradle, After seven nights had ended, Worthy would have been thy service. Had the village-maidens asked thee: 'Where is now the little cradle, Wherefore is the bath-room empty?' This had been a worthy answer: 'I have burned the wizard's cradle, Cast the infant to the fire-dogs; In the bath-room corn is sprouting, From the barley malt is brewing.'
Thereupon the aged mother Asks her wizard-son these questions: "What has happened to my hero, What new fate has overcome thee ? Comest thou as from Tuoni, From the castles of Manala?" This, Kullervo's frank confession: "Infamous the tale I bring thee, My confession is dishonor: On the way I met a maiden, Met thy long-lost, wayward daughter, Did not recognize my sister, Fatal was the sin committed ! When the taxes had been settled, When the tribute had been gathered, Came a matchless maid to meet me, Whom I witless led to sorrow, This my mother's long-lost daughter. When she saw in me her brother, Quick she bounded from the snow-sledge,
550 The Kalevala.
Hastened to the roaring waters, To the cataract's commotion, To the fiery stream and whirlpool, Hastened to her full destruction.
"Now, alas ! must I determine, Now must find a spot befitting, Where thy sinful son may perish; Tell me, all-forgiving mother, Where to end my life of trouble; Let me stop the black-wolf's howling, Let me satisfy the hunger Of the vicious bear of Northland; Let the shark or hungry sea-dog Be my dwelling-place hereafter !" This the answer of the mother: "Do not go to stop the howling Of the hungry wolf of Northland; Do not haste to still the black-bear Growling in his forest-cavern; Let not shark, nor vicious sea-dog Be thy dwelling-place hereafter. Spacious are the rooms of Suomi, Limitless the Sawa-borders, Large enough to hide transgression, Man's misdeeds to hide for ages, With his sins and evil actions. Six long years man's sins lie hidden In the border-land of Raima, Even nine for magic heroes, Till the years bring consolation, Till they quiet all his mourning."
Kullerwoinen, wicked wizard,
Kullervo's Evil Deeds. 551
Answers thus his grieving mother: "I can never hide from sorrow, Cannot flee from my misconduct; To the jaws of death I hasten, To the open courts of Kalma, To the hunting-grounds of Pohva, To the battle-fields of heroes. Untamoinen still is living, Unmolested roams the wicked, Unavenged my father's grievance, Unavenged my mother's tortures, Unavenged the wrongs I suffer !"
KUJSTE XXXVI.
KULLERWOINEN'S VICTORY AND DEATH.
KULLERWOINEN, wicked wizard, In his purple-colored stockings, ]^ow prepares himself for battle ; Grinds a long time on his broadsword, Sharpens well his trusty weapon, And his mother speaks as follows: "Do not go, my son beloved, Go not to the wars, my hero, Struggle not with hostile spearsmen. Whoso goes to war for nothing, Undertakes a fearful combat, Undertakes a fatal issue; Those that war without a reason Will be slaughtered for their folly, Easy prey to bows and arrows. Go thou with a goat to battle, Shouldst thou go to fight the roebuck, 'Tis the goat that will be vanquished, And the roebuck will be slaughtered; With a frog thou'lt journey homeward, Victor, with but little honor !" These the words of Kullerwoinen : " Shall not journey through the marshes, Shall not sink upon the heather, On the home-land of the raven, Where the eagles scream at day-break. When I yield my life forever,
552
Kullerwoinens Victory and Death. 553
Bravely will I fall in battle, Fall upon the field of glory ; Beautiful to die in armor, Mid the clang and clash of armies, Beautiful the strife for conquest! Thus Kullervo soon will hasten To the kingdom of Tuoni, To the realm of the departed, Undefonned by wasting sickness. " This the answer of the mother: "If thou diest in the conflict, Who will stay to guard thy father, Who will give thy sire protection 2" These the words of Xullerwoinen : "Let him die upon the court-yard, Sleeping out his life of sorrow !"
"Who then will protect thy mother, Be her shield in times of danger ?"
"Let her die within the stable, Or the cabin where she lingers !"
"Who then will defend thy brother, Give him aid in times of trouble ?"
"Let him die within the forest, Sleep his life away unheeded!"
"Who will comfort then thy sister, Who will aid her in affliction ?"
"Let her sink beneath the waters, Perish in the crystal fountain, Where the brook flows on in beauty, Like a silver serpent winding Through the valley to the ocean!"
Thereupon the wild Kullervo
'554 The Kalevala.
Hastens from his home to battle,
To his father speaks, departing:
"Fare thou well, my aged father!
Wilt thou weep for me, thy hero,
When thou hearest I have perished,
Fallen from thy tribe forever,
Perished on the field of glory?"
Thus the father speaks in answer: .
"I shall never mourn the downfall
Of my evil son, Kullervo;
Shall not weep when thou hast perished;
Shall beget a second hero
That will do rne better service,
That will think and act in wisdom."
Kullerwoinen gives this answer :
"Neither shall I mourn thy downfall,
Shall not weep when thou hast perished ;
I shall make a second father,
Make the head from loam and sandstone,
Make the eyes from swamp-land berries,
Make the beard from withered sea-grass,
Make the feet from roots of willow,
Make the form from birch-wood fungus."
Thereupon the youth, Kullervo, To his brother speaks as follows : "Fare thou well, beloved brother! Wilt thou weep for me departed, Shouldst thou hear that I have perished, Fallen on the field of battle I" This the answer of the brother: "I shall never mourn the downfall Of my brother, Kullerwoinen,
Eullerwoineris Victory and Death. 555
Shall not weep when thou hast perished ; I shall find a second brother, Find one worthier and wiser !" This is Kullerwoinen's answer: "Neither shall I mourn thy downfall, Shall not weep when thou hast perished; I shall form a second brother, Make the head from dust and ashes, Make the eyes from pearls of ocean, Make the beard from withered verdure, Make the form from pulp of birch- wood." To his sister speaks Kullervo: "Fare thou well, beloved sister! Surely thou wilt mourn my downfall, Weep for me when I have perished, When thou hearest I have fallen In the heat and din of battle, Fallen from thy race forever!" But the sister makes this answer: "Never shall I mourn thy downfall, Shall not weep when thou hast perished ; I shall seek a second brother, Seek a brother, purer, better, One that will not shame his sister !" Kullerwoinen thus makes answer : "Neither shall I mourn thee fallen, Shall not weep when thou hast perished; I shall form a second sister, Make the head from whitened marble, Make the eyes from golden moonbeams, Make the tresses from the rainbow, Make the ears from ocean-flowers,
556 The Kalevala.
And her form from gold and silver.
"Pare tliou well, beloved mother, Mother, beautiful and faithful! Wilt thou weep when I have perished, Fallen on the field of glory, Fallen from thy race forever ?" Thus the mother speaks in answer: "Canst not fathom love maternal, Canst not smother her affection; Bitterly I'll mourn thy downfall, I would weep if thou shouldst perish, Shouldst thou leave my race forever; I would weep in court or cabin, Sprinkle all these fields with tear-drops, Weep great rivers to the ocean, Weep to melt the snows of Northland, Make the hillocks green with weeping, Weep at morning, weep at evening, Weep three years in bitter sorrow O'er the death of Kullerwoinen !"
Thereupon the wicked wizard Went rejoicing to the combat; In delight to war he hastened O'er the fields, and fens, and fallows, Shouting loudly on the heather, Singing o'er the hills and mountains, Kushing through the glens and forests, Blowing war upon his bugle.
Time had gone but little distance, When a messenger appearing, Spake these words to Kullerwoinen: "Lo ! thine aged sire has perished,
Kullerwoinen' s Victory and Death. 557
Fallen from thy race forever; Hasten home and do him honor, Lay him in the lap of Kalma." Kullerwoinen made this answer: "Has my aged father perished, There is home a sable stallion That will take him to his slumber, Lay him in the lap of Kalma."
Then Kullervo journeyed onward, Calling war upon his bugle, Till a messenger appearing, Brought this word to Kullerwoinen: "Lo! thy brother too has perished, Dead he lies within the forest, Manalainen's trumpet called him; Home return and do him honor, Lay him in the lap of Kalma." Kullerwoinen thus replying: "Has my hero-brother perished, There is home a sable stallion That will take him to his slumber, Lay him in the lap of Kalma."
Young Kullervo journeyed onward Over vale and over mountain, Playing on his reed of battle, Till a messenger appearing Brought the warrior these tidings: "Lo ! thy sister too has perished, Perished in the crystal fountain, Where the waters flow in beauty, Like a silver serpent winding Through the valley to the ocean;
558 The Ealevala.
Home return and do her honor, Lay her in the lap of Kalma." These the words of Kullerwoinen : "Has my beauteous sister perished, Fallen from my race forever, There is home a sable filly That will take her to her resting, Lay her in the lap of Kalma."
Still Kullervo journeyed onward, Through the fens he went rejoicing, Sounding war upon his bugle, Till a messenger appearing Brought to him these words of sorrow: "Lo! thy mother too has perished, Died in anguish, broken-hearted; Home return and do her honor, Lay her in the lap of Kalma." These the measures of Kullervo: "Woe is me, my life hard-fated, That my mother too has perished, She that nursed me in my cradle, Made my couch a golden cover, Twirled for me the spool and spindle! Lo ! Kullervo was not present When his mother's life departed; May have died upon the mountains, Perished there from cold and hunger. Lave the dead form of my mother In the crystal waters flowing; Wrap her in the robes of ermine, Tie her hands with silken ribbon, Take her to the grave of ages,
Kuller women's Victory and Death. 559
Lay her in the lap of Kalma. Bury her with songs of mourning, Let the singers chant my sorrow; Cannot leave the fields of battle While Untarno goes unpunished, Fell destroyer of my people."
Kullerwoinen journeyed onward, Still rejoicing, to the combat, Sang these songs in supplication: "Ukko, mightiest of rulers, Loan to me thy sword of battle, Grant to me thy matchless weapon, And against a thousand armies I will war and ever conquer."
Ukko gave the youth his broadsword, Gave his blade of magic powers To the wizard, Kullerwoinen. Thus equipped, the mighty hero Slew the people of Untamo, Burned their villages to ashes; Only left the stones and ovens, And the chimneys of their hamlets.
Then the conqueror, Kullervo, Turned his footsteps to his home-land, To the cabin of his father, To his ancient fields and forests. Empty did he find the cabin, And the forests were deserted; ISTo one came to give him greeting, None to give the hand of welcome; Laid his fingers on the oven, But he found it cold and lifeless ;
560 The Kalevala.
Then he knew to satisfaction That his mother lived no longer; Laid his hand upon the fire-place, Cold and lifeless were the hearth-stones; Then he knew to satisfaction That his sister too had perished; Then he sought the landing-places, Found no boats upon the rollers; Then he knew to satisfaction That his brother too had perished; Then he looked upon the fish-nets, And he found them torn and tangled ; And he knew to satisfaction That his father too had perished.
Bitterly he wept and murmured, Wept one day, and then a second, On the third day spake as follows : "Faithful mother, fond and tender, Why hast left me here to sorrow In this wilderness of trouble ? But thou dost not hear my calling, Though I sing in magic accents, Though my tear-drops speak lamenting, Though my heart bemoans thine absence.
From her grave awakes the mother, To Kullervo speaks these measures: "Thou has still the dog remaining, He will lead thee to the forest ; Follow thou the faithful watcher, Let him lead thee to the woodlands, To the farthest woodland border, To the caverns of the wood-nymphs ;
Kullerwoinen^ s Victory and Death 661
There the forest maidens linger, They will give thee food and shelter, Give my hero joyful greetings."
Kullerwoinen, with his watch-dog, Hastens onward through the forest, Journeys on through fields and fallows; Journeys but a little distance, Till he comes upon the summit Where he met his long-lost sister ; Finds the turf itself is weeping, Finds the glen- wood filled with sorrow, Finds the heather shedding tear-drops, Weeping are the meadow-flowers, O'er the ruin of his sister.
Kullerwoinen, wicked wizard^ Grasps the handle of his broadsword, Asks the blade this simple question: " Tell me, O my blade of honor, Dost thou wish to drink my life-blood, Drink the blood of Kullerwoinen ? '
Thus his trusty sword makes answer, Well divining his intentions : " Why should I not drink thy life-blood, Blood of guilty Kullerwoinen, Since I feast upon the worthy, Drink the life-blood of the righteous ? "
Thereupon the youth, Kullervo, Wicked wizard of the Northland, Lifts the mighty sword of Ukko, Bids adieu to earth and heaven ; Firmly thrusts the hilt in heather, To his heart he points the weapon, 36
o62 The Kalevala.
Throws his weight upon his broadsword, Pouring out his wicked life-blood, Ere he journeys to Manala. Thus the wizard finds destruction, This the end of Kullerwoinen, Born in sin, and nursed in folly.
Wainamoinen, ancient minstrel, As he hears the joyful tidings, Learns the death of fell Kullervo, Speaks these words of ancient wisdom : " O, ye many unborn nations, Never evil nurse your children, Never give them out to strangers, Never trust them to the foolish I If the child is not well nurtured, Is not rocked and led uprightly, Though he grow to years of manhood, Bear a strong and shapely body He will never know discretion, Never eat the bread of honor, Never drink the cup of wisdom."
RUNE XXXVII.
ILMAKINEN'S BRIDE OF GOLD.
ILMARINEN, metal-worker, Wept one day, and then a second, Wept the third from morn till evening, O'er the death of his companion, Once the Maiden of the Rainbow ; Did not swing his heavy hammer, Did not touch its copper handle, Made no sound within his smithy, Made no blow upon his anvil, Till three months had circled over ; Then the blacksmith spake as follows s " Woe is me, unhappy hero ! Do not know how I can prosper; Long the days, and cold, and dreary, Longer still the nights, and colder ; I am weary in the evening, In the morning still am weary, Have no longing for the morning, And the evening is unwelcome ; Have no pleasure in the future, All my pleasures gone forever, With my faithful life-companion Slaughtered by the hand of witchcraft! Often will my heart-strings quiver When I rest within my chamber, When I wake at dreamy midnight, Half- unconscious, vainly searching
563
564 The Kalevala.
For my noble wife departed."
Wifeless lived the mourning blacksmith, Altered in his form and features ; Wept one month and then another, Wept three months in full succession. Then the magic metal-worker Gathered gold from deeps of ocean, Gathered silver from the mountains, Gathered many heaps of birch -wo«4» Filled with faggots thirty sledges, Burned the birch- wood into ashefc^ Put the ashes in the furnace, Laid the gold upon the embers, Lengthwise laid a piece of silver Of the size of lambs in autumn, Or the fleet-foot hare in winter; Places servants at the bellows, Thus to melt the magic metals. Eagerly the servants labor, Gloveless, hatless, do the workmel Fan the flames within the furnace.
Ilmarinen, magic blacksmith, Works unceasing at his forging, Thus to mould a golden image, Mould a bride from gold and silver; But the workmen fail their master, Faithless stand they at the bellows, ^ow the artist, Ilmarinen, Fans the flame with force of magic, Blows one day, and then a second, Blows the third from morn till even; Then he looks within the furnace,
Ilmarinen,' s Bride of Gold. 565
Looks around the oven-border, Hoping there to see an image Rising from the molten metals.
Comes a lambkin from the furnace, Rising from the fire of magic, Wearing hair of gold and copper, Laced with many threads of silver; All rejoice but Ilmarinen At the beauty of the image. This the language of the blacksmith: "May the wolf admire thy graces ; I desire a bride of beauty Born from molten gold and silver !"
Ilmarinen, the magician, To the furnace threw the lambkin; Added gold in great abundance, And increased the mass of silver, Added other magic metals, Set the workmen at the bellows; Zealously the servants labor, Gloveless, hatless, do the workmen Fan the flames within the furnace.
Ilmarinen, wizard-forgenaan, Works unceasing with his metals, Moulding well a golden image, Wife of molten gold and silver ; But the workmen fail their master, Faithless do they ply the bellows.
Now the artist, Ilmarinen, Fans the flames by force of magic ; Blows one day, and then a second, Blows a third from morn till evening,
566 The Kalevala.
When he looks within the furnace, Looks around the oven- border, Hoping there to see an image Rising from the molten metals. From the flames a colt arises, Golden-maned and silver-headed, Hoofs are formed of shining copper. All rejoice but Ilmarinen At the wonderful creation; This the language of the blacksmith: " Let the bears admire thy graces ; I desire a bride of beauty Born of many magic metals."
Thereupon the wonder-forger Drives the colt back to the furnace, Adds a greater mass of silver, And of gold the rightful measure, Sets the workmen at the bellows. Eagerly the servants labor, Grloveless, hatless, do the workmen Fan the flames within the furnace.
Ilmarinen, the magician, Works unceasing at his witchcraft, Moulding well a golden maiden, Bride of molten gold and silver ; But the workmen fail their master, Faithlessly they ply the bellows.
Now the blacksmith, Ilmarinen, Fans the flames with magic powerSj Blows one day, and then a second, Blows a third from morn till even; Then he looks within his furnace?
Ilmarinen 's Bride of Gold. 567
Looks around the oven-border, Trusting there to see a maiden Coming from the molten metals. From the fire a virgin rises, Golden-haired and silver-headed, Beautiful in form and feature. All are filled with awe and wonder, But the artist and magician. Ilmarinen, metal-worker, Forges nights and days unceasing. On the bride of his creation; Feet he forges for the maiden, Hands and arms, of gold and silver ; But her feet are not for walking, Neither can her arms embrace him. Ears he forges for the virgin, But her ears are not for hearing ; Forges her a mouth of beauty, Eyes he forges bright and sparkling; But the magic mouth is speechless, And the eyes are not for seeing. Spake the artist, Ilmarinen: " This, indeed, a priceless maiden, Could ±ke only speak in wisdom, Could she breathe the breath of Ukko 1 1f
Thereupon he lays the virgin On his silken couch of slumber, On his downy place of resting. Ilmarinen heats his bath-room, Makes it ready for his service, Binds together silken brushes, Brings three cans of crystal water,
668 The Kalevala.
"Wherewithal to lave the image. Lave the golden maid of beauty. When this task had been completed, Ilmarinen, hoping, trusting, Laid his golden bride to slumber, On his downy couch of resting; Ordered many silken wrappings, Ordered bear-skins, three in number, Ordered seven lambs- wool blankets. Thus to keep him warm in slumber, Sleeping by the golden image He had forged from magic metals. Warm the side of Ilmarinen That was wrapped in furs and blanket*: Chill the parts beside the maiden, By his bride of gold and silver ; One side warm, the other lifeless, Turning into ice from coldness. Spake the artist, Ilmarinen : " Not for me was born this virgin From the magic molten metals ; I shall take her to Wainola, Give her to old Wainamoinen, As a bride and life-companion, Comfort to him in his dotage."
Ilmarinen, much disheartened, Takes the virgin to Wainola, To the plains of Kalevala, To his brother speaks as follows : " 0, thou ancient Wainamoinen, Look with favor on this image; the maiden fair and lovely,
Ilmarmen's Bride of Gold. 569
Beautiful in form and feature, Suited to thy years declining ! '
Wainamoinen, old and truthful, Looked in wonder on the virgin, On the golden bride of beauty, Spake these words to Ilmarinen : "Wherefore dost thou bring this maiden, Wherefore bring to Wainamoinen Bride of molten gold and silver? " Spake in answer Ilmarinen : " Wherefore should I bring this image. But for purposes the noblest ? I have brought her as companion To thy life in years declining, As a joy and consolation, When thy days are full of trouble 1 " Spake the good, old Wainamoinen: " Magic brother, wonder -forger, Throw the virgin to the furnace, To the flames, thy golden image, Forge from her a thousand trinkets. Take the image into Ehstland, Take her to the plains of Pohya, That for her the mighty powers May engage in deadly contest, Worthy trophy for the victor ; Not for me this bride of wonder, Neither for my worthy people. I shall never wed an image Born from many magic metals, Never wed a silver maiden, Never wed a golden virgin."
670 The Kakvala.
Then the hero of the waters Called together all his people, Spake these words of ancient wisdom : " Every child of Northland, listen, Whether poor, or fortune -favored : Never bow before an image Born of molten gold and silver : Never while the sunlight brightens, Never while the moonlight glimmers, Choose a maiden of the metals, Choose a bride from gold created *, Cold the lips of golden maidens, Silver breathes the breath of sorrow.11
RUNE XXXVIII.
ILMARINEN'S FRUITLESS WOOING.
ILMARINEN, the magician, The eternal metal- artist, Lays aside the golden image, Beauteous maid of magic metals; Throws the harness on his courser, Binds him to his sledge of birch -wood, Seats himself upon the cross-bench, Snaps the whip above the racer, Thinking once again to journey To the mansions of Pohyola, There to woo a bride in honor, Second daughter of the Northland.
On he journeyed, restless, northward, Journeyed one day, then a second, So the third from morn till evening, When he reached a Northland-village On the plains of Sariola.
Louhi, hostess of Pohyola, Standing in the open court-yard, Spied the hero, Ilmarinen, Thus addressed the metal-worker : " Tell me how my child is living, How the Bride of Beauty prospers, As a daughter to thy mother."
Then the blacksmith, Ilmarinen, Head bent down and brow dejected, Thus addressed the Northland hostess:
571
572 The Kalevala.
" O, thou dame of Sariola, Do not ask me of thy daughter Since, alas ! in Tuonela Sleeps the Maiden of the Kambow, Sleeps in death the Bride of Beauty, Underneath the fragrant heather, In the kingdom of Manala. Come I for a second daughter, For the fairest of thy virgins. Beauteous hostess of Pohyola, Give to me thy youngest maiden, For my former wife's compartment^ For the