Kalevala : the Epic Poem of Finland Part 11

Then Lylikki thus made answer, Kauppi gave this prompt decision: "Lemminkainen, reckless minstrel, Thou wilt hunt in vain the wild-moose, Thou wilt catch but pain and torture, In the Hisi fens and forests."

Little heeding, Lemminkainen Spake these measures to Lylikki "Make for me the worthy snow-shoes, Quickly work and make them ready; Go I will and catch the blue-moose Where in Tapio it browses, In the Hisi woods and snow-fields."

Then Lylikki, snow-shoe-maker, Ancient Kauppi, master artist, Whittled in the fall his show-shoes, Smoothed them in the winter evenings, One day working on the runners, All the next day making stick-rings, Till at last the shoes were finished, And the workmanship was perfect.

Then he fastened well the shoe-straps, Smooth as adder's skin the woodwork, Soft as fox-fur were the stick-rings; Oiled he well his wondrous snow-shoes With the tallow of the reindeer; When he thus soliloquizes, These the accents of Lylikki: "Is there any youth in Lapland, Any in this generation, That can travel in these snow-shoes, That can move the lower sections?"

Spake the reckless Lemminkainen, Full of hope, and life, and vigor: Surely there is one in Lapland.

In this rising generation, That can travel in these snow-shoes, That the right and left can manage."

To his back he tied the quiver, Placed the bow upon his shoulder, With both hands he grasped his snow-cane, Speaking meanwhile words as follow: "There is nothing in the woodlands, Nothing in the world of Ukko, Nothing underneath the heavens, In the uplands, in the lowlands, Nothing in the snow-fields running, Not a fleet deer of the forest, That could not be overtaken With the snow-shoes of Lylikki, With the strides of Lemminkainen."

Wicked Hisi heard these measures, Juntas listened to their echoes; Straightway Hisi called the wild-moose, Juutas fashioned soon a reindeer, And the head was made of punk-wood, Horns of naked willow branches, Feet were furnished by the rushes, And the legs, by reeds aquatic, Veins were made of withered gra.s.ses, Eyes, from daisies of the meadows, Ears were formed of water-flowers, And the skin of tawny fir-bark, Out of sappy wood, the muscles, Fair and fleet, the magic reindeer.

Juutas thus instructs the wild-moose, These the words of wicked Hisi: Flee away, thou moose of Juutas, Flee away, thou Hisi-reindeer, Like the winds, thou rapid courser, To the snow-homes of the ranger, To the ridges of the mountains, To the snow-capped hills of Lapland, That thy hunter may be worn out, Thy pursuer be tormented, Lemminkainen be exhausted."

Thereupon the Hisi-reindeer, Juutas-moose with branching antlers, Fleetly ran through fen and forest, Over Lapland's hills and valleys, Through the open fields and court-yards, Through the penthouse doors and gate-ways, Turning over tubs of water, Threw the kettles from the fire-pole, And upset the dishes cooking.

Then arose a fearful uproar, In the court-yards of Pohyola, Lapland-dogs began their barking, Lapland-children cried in terror, Lapland-women roared with laughter, And the Lapland-heroes shouted.

Fleetly followed Lemminkainen, Followed fast, and followed faster, Hastened on behind the wild-moose, Over swamps and through the woodlands, Over snow-fields vast and pathless, Over high uprising mountains, Fire out-shooting from his runners, Smoke arising from his snow-cane: Could not hear the wild-moose bounding, Could not sight the flying fleet-foot; Glided on through field and forest, Glided over lakes and rivers, Over lands beyond the smooth-sea, Through the desert plains of Hisi, Glided o'er the plains of Kalma, Through the kingdom of Tuoni, To the end of Kalma's empire, Where the jaws of Death stand open, Where the head of Kalma lowers, Ready to devour the stranger, To devour wild Lemminkainen; But Tuoni cannot reach him, Kalma cannot overtake him.

Distant woods are yet untraveled, Far away a woodland corner Stands unsearched by Kaukomieli, In the North's extensive, borders, In the realm of dreary Lapland.

Now the hero, on his snow-shoes, Hastens to the distant woodlands, There to hunt the moose of Piru.

As he nears the woodland corner, There he bears a frightful uproar, From the Northland's distant borders, From the dreary fields of Lapland, Hears the dogs as they are barking, Hears the children loudly screaming, Hears the laughter or the women, Hears the shouting of the heroes.

Thereupon wild Lemminkainen Hastens forward on his snow-shoes, To the place where dogs are barking, To the distant woods of Lapland.

When the reckless Kaukomieli Had approached this Hisi corner, Straightway he began to question: "Why this laughter or the women, Why the screaming of the children, Why the shouting of the heroes, Why this barking of the watch-dogs?

This reply was promptly given: "This the reason for this uproar, Women laughing, children screaming, Heroes shouting, watch-dogs barking Hisi's moose came running hither, Hither came the Piru-Reindeer, Hither came with hoofs of silver, Through the open fields and court-yards, Through the penthouse doors and gate-ways, Turning over tubs or water, Threw the kettles from the fire-pole, And upset the dishes cooking."

Then the hero, Lemminkainen, Straightway summoned all his courage, Pushed ahead his mighty snow-shoes, Swift as adders in the stubble, Levelled bushes in the marshes, Like the swift and fiery serpents, Spake these words of magic import, Keeping balance with his snow-staff: Come thou might of Lapland heroes, Bring to me the moose of Juutas; Come thou strength of Lapland-women, And prepare the boiling caldron; Come, thou might of Lapland children, Bring together fire and fuel; Come, thou strength of Lapland-kettles, Help to boil the Hisi wild-moose."

Then with mighty force and courage, Lemminkainen hastened onward, Striking backward, shooting forward; With a long sweep of his snow-shoe, Disappeared from view the hero; With the second, shooting further, Was the hunter out of hearing, With the third the hero glided On the shoulders of the wild-moose; Took a pole of stoutest oak-wood, Took some bark-strings from the willow, Wherewithal to bind the moose-deer, Bind him to his oaken hurdle.

To the moose he spake as follows: "Here remain, thou moose of Juutas Skip about, my bounding courser, In my hurdle jump and frolic, Captive from the fields of Piru, From the Hisi glens and mountains."

Then he stroked the captured wild-moose, Patted him upon his forehead, Spake again in measured accents: "I would like awhile to linger, I would love to rest a moment In the cottage of my maiden, With my virgin, young and lovely."

Then the Hisi-moose grew angry, Stamped his feet and shook his antlers, Spake these words to Lemminkainen: "Surely Lempo soon will got thee, Shouldst thou sit beside the maiden, Shouldst thou linger by the virgin."

Now the wild-moose stamps and rushes, Tears in two the bands of willow, Breaks the oak-wood pole in pieces, And upturns the hunter's hurdle, Quickly leaping from his captor, Bounds away with strength of freedom, Over hills and over lowlands, Over swamps and over snow-fields, Over mountains clothed in heather, That the eye may not behold him, Nor the hero's ear detect him.

Thereupon the mighty hunter Angry grows, and much disheartened, Starts again the moose to capture, Gliding off behind the courser.

With his might he plunges forward; At the instep breaks his snow-shoe, Breaks the runners into fragments, On the mountings breaks his javelins, In the centre breaks his snow-staff, And the moose bounds on before him, Through the Hisi-woods and snow-fields, Out of reach of Lemminkainen.

Then the reckless Kaukomieli Looked with bended head, ill-humored, One by one upon the fragments, Speaking words of ancient wisdom: "Northland hunters, never, never, Go defiant to thy forests, In the Hisi vales and mountains, There to hunt the moose of Juutas, Like this senseless, reckless hero; I have wrecked my magic snow-shoes, Ruined too my useful snow-staff, And my javelins I have broken, While the wild-moose runs in safety Through the Hisi fields and forests."

RUNE XIV.

DEATH OF LEMMINKAINEN.

Lemminkainen, much disheartened, Deeply thought and long considered, What to do, what course to follow, Whether best to leave the wild-moose In the fastnesses of Hisi, And return to Kalevala, Or a third time hunt the ranger, Hoping thus to bring him captive, Thus return at last a victor To the forest home of Louhi, To the joy of all her daughters, To the wood-nymph's happy fireside.

Taking courage Lemminkainen Spake these words in supplication: "Ukko, thou O G.o.d above me, Thou Creator of the heavens, Put my snow-shoes well in order, And endow them both with swiftness, That I rapidly may journey Over marshes, over snow-fields, Over lowlands, over highlands, Through the realms of wicked Hisi, Through the distant plains of Lapland, Through the paths of Lempo's wild-moose, To the forest hills of Juutas.

To the snow-fields shall I journey, Leave the heroes to the woodlands, On the way to Tapiola, Into Tapio's wild dwellings.

"Greeting bring I to the mountains, Greeting to the vales and uplands, Greet ye, heights with forests covered, Greet ye, ever-verdant fir-trees, Greet ye, groves of whitened aspen, Greetings bring to those that greet you, Fields, and streams, and woods of Lapland.

Bring me favor, mountain-woodlands, Lapland-deserts, show me kindness, Mighty Tapio, be gracious, Let me wander through thy forests, Let me glide along thy rivers, Let this hunter search thy snow-fields, Where the wild-moose herds in numbers Where the bounding reindeer lingers.

"O Nyrikki, mountain hero, Son of Tapio of forests, Hero with the scarlet head-gear, Notches make along the pathway, Landmarks upward to the mountains, That this hunter may not wander, May not fall, and falling perish In the snow-fields of thy kingdom, Hunting for the moose of Hisi, Dowry for the pride of Northland.

"Mistress of the woods, Mielikki, Forest-mother, formed in beauty, Let thy gold flow out abundant, Let thy silver onward wander, For the hero that is seeking For the wild-moose of thy kingdom; Bring me here thy keys of silver, From the golden girdle round thee; Open Tapio's rich chambers, And unlock the forest fortress, While I here await the booty, While I hunt the moose of Lempo.

"Should this service be too menial Give the order to thy servants, Send at once thy servant-maidens, And command it to thy people.

Thou wilt never seem a hostess, If thou hast not in thy service, Maidens ready by the hundreds, Thousands that await thy bidding, Who thy herds may watch and nurture, Tend the game of thy dominions.

"Tall and slender forest-virgin, Tapio's beloved daughter, Blow thou now thy honey flute-notes, Play upon thy forest-whistle, For the hearing of thy mistress, For thy charming woodland-mistress, Make her hear thy sweet-toned playing, That she may arise from slumber.

Should thy mistress not awaken At the calling of thy flute-notes, Play again, and play unceasing, Make the golden tongue re-echo."

Wild and daring Lemminkainen Steadfast prays upon his journey, Calling on the G.o.ds for succor, Hastens off through fields and moorlands, Pa.s.ses on through cruel brush-wood, To the colliery of Hisi, To the burning fields of Lempo; Glided one day, then a second, Glided all the next day onward, Till he came to Big-stone mountain, Climbed upon its rocky summit, Turned his glances to the north-west, Toward the Northland moors and marshes; There appeared the Tapio-mansion.

All the doors were golden-colored, Shining in the gleam of sunlight Through the thickets on the mountains, Through the distant fields of Northland.

Lemminkainen, much encouraged, Hastens onward from his station Through the lowlands, o'er the uplands, Over snow-fields vast and vacant, Under snow-robed firs and aspens, Hastens forward, happy-hearted, Quickly reaches Tapio's court-yards, Halts without at Tapio's windows, Slyly looks into her mansion, Spies within some kindly women, Forest-dames outstretched before him, All are clad in scanty raiment, Dressed in soiled and ragged linens.

Spake the stranger Lemminkainen: "Wherefore sit ye, forest-mothers, In your old and simple garments, In your soiled and ragged linen?

Ye, forsooth! are too untidy, Too unsightly your appearance In your tattered gowns appareled.

When I lived within the forest, There were then three mountain castles, One of horn and one of ivory, And the third of wood constructed; In their walls were golden windows, Six the windows in each castle, Through these windows I discovered All the host of Tapio's mansion, Saw its fair and stately hostess; Saw great Tapio's lovely daughter, Saw Tellervo in her beauty, With her train of charming maidens; All were dressed in golden raiment, Rustled all in gold and silver.

Then the forest's queenly hostess, Still the hostess of these woodlands, On her arms wore golden bracelets, Golden rings upon her fingers, In her hair were sparkling, jewels, On her bead were golden fillets, In her ears were golden ear-rings, On her neck a pearly necklace, And her braidlets, silver-tinselled.

"Lovely hostess of the forest, Metsola's enchanting mistress, Fling aside thine ugly straw-shoes, Cast away the shoes of birch-bark, Doff thy soiled and ragged linen, Doff thy gown of shabby fabric, Don the bright and festive raiment, Don the gown of merry-making, While I stay within thy borders, While I seek my forest-booty, Hunt the moose of evil Hisi.

Here my visit will be irksome, Here thy guest will be ill-humored, Waiting in thy fields and woodlands, Hunting here the moose of Lempo, Finding not the Hisi-ranger, Shouldst thou give me no enjoyment, Should I find no joy, nor respite.

Long the eve that gives no pleasure, Long the day that brings no guerdon!

"Sable-bearded G.o.d of forests, In thy hat and coat of ermine, Robe thy trees in finest fibers, Deck thy groves in richest fabrics, Give the fir-trees shining silver, Deck with gold the slender balsams, Give the spruces copper belting, And the pine-trees silver girdles, Give the birches golden flowers, Deck their stems with silver fret-work, This their garb in former ages, When the days and nights were brighter, When the fir-trees shone like sunlight, And the birches like the moonbeams; Honey breathed throughout the forest, Settled in the glens and highlands Spices in the meadow-borders, Oil out-pouring from the lowlands.

"Forest daughter, lovely virgin, Golden maiden, fair Tulikki, Second of the Tapio-daughters, Drive the game within these borders, To these far-extending snow-fields.

Should the reindeer be too sluggish, Should the moose-deer move too slowly Cut a birch-rod from the thicket, Whip them hither in their beauty, Drive the wild-moose to my hurdle, Hither drive the long-sought booty To the hunter who is watching, Waiting in the Hisi-forests.

"When the game has started hither, Keep them in the proper highway, Hold thy magic hands before them, Guard them well on either road-side, That the elk may not escape thee, May not dart adown some by-path.

Should, perchance, the moose-deer wander Through some by-way of the forest, Take him by the ears and antlers, Hither lead the pride of Lempo.

"If the path be filled with brush-wood Cast the brush-wood to the road-side; If the branches cross his pathway, Break the branches into fragments; Should a fence of fir or alder Cross the way that leads him hither.

Make an opening within it, Open nine obstructing fences; If the way be crossed by streamlets, If the path be stopped by rivers, Make a bridge of silken fabric, Weaving webs of scarlet color, Drive the deer-herd gently over, Lead them gently o'er the waters, O'er the rivers of thy forests, O'er the streams of thy dominions.

"Thou, the host of Tapio's mansion, Gracious host of Tapiola, Sable-bearded G.o.d of woodlands, Golden lord of Northland forests, Thou, O Tapio's worthy hostess, Queen of snowy woods, Mimerkki, Ancient dame in sky-blue vesture, Fenland-queen in scarlet ribbons, Come I to exchange my silver, To exchange my gold and silver; Gold I have, as old as moonlight, Silver of the age of sunshine, In the first of years was gathered, In the heat and pain of battle; It will rust within my pouches, Soon will wear away and perish, If it be not used in trading."

Long the hunter, Lemminkainen, Glided through the fen and forest, Sang his songs throughout the woodlands, Through three mountain glens be sang them, Sang the forest hostess friendly, Sang he, also, Tapio friendly, Friendly, all the forest virgins, All of Metsola's fair daughters.

Now they start the herds of Lempo, Start the wild-moose from his shelter, In the realms of evil Hisi, Tapio's highest mountain-region; Now they drive the ranger homeward, To the open courts of Piru, To the hero that is waiting, Hunting for the moose of Juutas.

When the herd had reached the castle, Lemminkainen threw his la.s.so O'er the antlers of the blue-moose, Settled on the neck and shoulders Of the mighty moose of Hisi.

Then the hunter, Kaukomieli, Stroked his captive's neck in safety, For the moose was well-imprisoned.

Thereupon gay Lemminkainen Filled with joyance spake as follows: "Pride of forests, queen of woodlands, Metsola's enchanted hostess, Lovely forest dame, Mielikki, Mother-donor of the mountains, Take the gold that I have promised, Come and take away the silver; Spread thy kerchief well before me, Spread out here thy silken neck-wrap, Underneath the golden treasure, Underneath the shining silver, that to earth it may not settle, Scattered on the snows of winter."

Then the hero went a victor To the dwellings of Pohyola, And addressed these words to Louhi: "I have caught the moose of Hisi, In the Metsola-dominions, Give, O hostess, give thy daughter, Give to me thy fairest virgin, Bride of mine to be hereafter."

Louhi, hostess of the Northland, Gave this answer to the suitor: "I will give to thee my daughter, For thy wife my fairest maiden, When for me thou'lt put a bridle On the flaming horse of Hisi, Rapid messenger of Lempo, On the Hisi-plains and pastures."

Nothing daunted, Lemminkainen Hastened forward to accomplish Louhi's second test of heroes, On the cultivated lowlands, On the sacred fields and forests.

Everywhere he sought the racer, Sought the fire-expiring stallion, Fire out-shooting from his nostrils.

Lemminkainen, fearless hunter, Bearing in his belt his bridle, On his shoulders, reins and halter, Sought one day, and then a second, Finally, upon the third day, Went he to the Hisi-mountain, Climbed, and struggled to the summit; To the east he turned his glances, Cast his eyes upon the sunrise, There beheld the flaming courser, On the heath among the far-trees.

Lempo's fire-expiring stallion Fire and mingled smoke, out-shooting From his mouth, and eyes, and nostrils.

Spake the daring Lemminkainen, This the hero's supplication: "Ukko, thou O G.o.d above me, Thou that rulest all the storm-clouds, Open thou the vault of heaven, Open windows through the ether, Let the icy rain come falling, Lot the heavy hailstones shower On the flaming horse of Hisi, On the fire-expiring stallion."

Ukko, the benign Creator, Heard the prayer of Lemminkainen, Broke apart the dome of heaven, Rent the heights of heaven asunder, Sent the iron-hail in showers, Smaller than the heads of horses, Larger than the heads of heroes, On the flaming steed of Lempo, On the fire-expiring stallion, On the terror of the Northland.

Lemminkainen, drawing nearer, Looked with care upon the courser, Then he spake the words that follow: "Wonder-steed of mighty Hisi, Flaming horse of Lempo's mountain, Bring thy mouth of gold, a.s.senting, Gently place thy head of silver In this bright and golden halter, In this silver-mounted bridle.

I shall never harshly treat thee, Never make thee fly too fleetly, On the way to Sariola, On the tracks of long duration, To the hostess of Pohyola, To her magic courts and stables, Will not lash thee on thy journey; I shall lead thee gently forward, Drive thee with the reins of kindness, Cover thee with silken blankets."

Then the fire-haired steed of Juutas, Flaming horse of mighty Hisi, Put his bead of shining silver, In the bright and golden bead-stall, In the silver-mounted bridle.

Thus the hero, Lemminkainen, Easy bridles Lempo's stallion, Flaming horse of evil Piru; Lays the bits within his fire-mouth, On his silver head, the halter, Mounts the fire-expiring courser, Brandishes his whip of willow, Hastens forward on his journey, Bounding o'er the hills and mountains, Dashing through the valleys northward, O'er the snow-capped hills of Lapland, To the courts of Sariola.

Then the hero, quick dismounting, Stepped within the court of Louhi, Thus addressed the Northland hostess: "I have bridled Lempo's fire-horse, I have caught the Hisi-racer, Caught the fire-expiring stallion, In the Piru plains and pastures, Ridden him within thy borders; I have caught the moose of Lempo, I have done what thou demandest; Give, I pray thee, now thy daughter, Give to me thy fairest maiden, Bride of mine to be forever."

Louhi, hostess of Pohyola, Made this answer to the suitor: "I will only give my daughter, Give to thee my fairest virgin, Bride of thine to be forever, When for me the swan thou killest In the river of Tuoni, Swimming in the black death-river, In the sacred stream and whirlpool; Thou canst try one cross-bow only, But one arrow from thy quiver."

Then the reckless Lemminkainen, Handsome hero, Kaukomieli, Braved the third test of the hero, Started out to hunt the wild-swan, Hunt the long-necked, graceful swimmer, In Tuoni's coal-black river, In Ma.n.a.la's lower regions.

Quick the daring hunter journeyed, Hastened off with fearless footsteps, To the river of Tuoni, To the sacred stream and whirlpool, With his bow upon his shoulder, With his quiver and one arrow.

Na.s.shut, blind and crippled shepherd, Wretched shepherd of Pohyola, Stood beside the death-land river, Near the sacred stream and whirlpool, Guarding Tuonela's waters, Waiting there for Lemminkainen, Listening there for Kaukomieli, Waiting long the hero's coming.

Finally he hears the footsteps Of the hero on his journey, Hears the tread of Lemminkainen, As he journeys nearer, nearer, To the river of Tuoni, To the cataract of death-land, To the sacred stream and whirlpool.

Quick the wretched shepherd, Na.s.shut, From the death-stream sends a serpent, Like an arrow from a cross-bow, To the heart of Lemminkainen, Through the vitals of the hero.

Lemminkainen, little conscious, Hardly knew that be was injured, Spake these measures as he perished.

"Ah! unworthy is my conduct, Ah! unwisely have I acted, That I did not heed my mother, Did not take her goodly counsel, Did not learn her words of magic.

Oh I for three words with my mother, How to live, and bow to suffer, In this time of dire misfortune, How to bear the stings of serpents, Tortures of the reed of waters, From the stream of Tuonela!

"Ancient mother who hast borne me, Who hast trained me from my childhood, Learn, I pray thee, where I linger, Where alas! thy son is lying, Where thy reckless hero suffers.

Come, I pray thee, faithful mother, Come thou quickly, thou art needed, Come deliver me from torture, From the death-jaws of Tuoni, From the sacred stream and whirlpool."

Northland's old and wretched shepherd, Na.s.shut, the despised protector Of the flocks of Sariola, Throws the dying Lemminkainen, Throws the hero of the islands, Into Tuonela's river, To the blackest stream of death-land, To the worst of fatal whirlpools.

Lemminkainen, wild and daring, Helpless falls upon the waters, Floating down the coal-black current, Through the cataract and rapids To the tombs of Tuonela.

There the blood-stained son of death-land, There Tuoni's son and hero, Cuts in pieces Lemminkainen, Chops him with his mighty hatchet, Till the sharpened axe strikes flint-sparks From the rocks within his chamber, Chops the hero into fragments, Into five unequal portions, Throws each portion to Tuoni, In Ma.n.a.la's lowest kingdom, Speaks these words when he has ended: "Swim thou there, wild Lemminkainen, Flow thou onward in this river, Hunt forever in these waters, With thy cross-bow and thine arrow, Shoot the swan within this empire, Shoot our water-birds in welcome!"

Thus the hero, Lemminkainen, Thus the handsome Kaukomieli, The untiring suitor, dieth In the river of Tuoni, In the death-realm of Ma.n.a.la.