Kalevala : the Epic Poem of Finland Part 24

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 beard within the village, And a din from other homesteads, From the battle-hosts of Louhi, Streaming from the doors and window, 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, G.o.d 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, Like the eyes of Pohyalanders, Like the eyes of Pohya's spearmen, And the gray-hawk thus addressed him: "Ho! There! 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-borne 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 Pohyola?

Wert thou worsted at the banquet, At the feast and great carousal?

At thy cups, if thou wert injured, 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."

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 hors.e.m.e.n, 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, 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: "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, 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, Pa.s.sed 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, Whither will my loved one hasten, To escape thy fierce pursuers, To escape from thy misdoings, From thy sins to bide 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: "I 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 glenwood?

Even then may trouble find thee, Misery may overtake thee; Often is the lowland birch-tree Cut to pieces in the ware-house; Often is the elm-wood forest 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-tinselled 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 Lemminkainen: "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?

In my view is fell destruction, 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, relies, Relies of my last encounters, On the battle-fields of Northland, In the wars with men and heroes."

Lemminkainen's mother answered: "Go thou, take thy father's vessel, Go and bide thyself in safety, Travel far across nine oceans; 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 joyance, Handsome hero, Kaukomieli, Took provisions in abundance, Fish and b.u.t.ter, 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 pa.s.ses; Let the serpents keep the island, Lynxes rest within the glen-wood, Let the blue-moose roam the mountains, Let the wild-geese cat 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, On the masts the sails he 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; 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 sh.o.r.e and harbor.

Spake he thus when he had landed, These the words that Ahti uttered: "Is there room upon this island, Is there s.p.a.ce 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, s.p.a.ce 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, Shouldst thou come with boats a thousand, We would give them room in welcome."

Thereupon wild Lemminkainen Rolled his vessel in the harbor, On the cylinders of copper, Spake these words when he had ended: "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.

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 be 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, Conjured on, and sang, and chanted, Sang to precious stones the sea-sands, Sang the stones to pearls resplendent, Robed 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 hall 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: "On this isle are castle-chambers, 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 b.u.t.ter, 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 hunger, Charmed the maidens on the island.

Then the minstrel, Lemminkainen, Roamed throughout the island-hamlets, To the joy of all the virgins, All the 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 band 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, 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 rise 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: "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 a.s.sail me, Though a thousand archers follow."