Kalevala, The Land Of The Heroes Volume I Part 23

Youthful Sampsa Pellervoinen Further yet pursued his journey, And he wandered, deeply pondering, In the region to the southward, 70 Till he found an oak-tree standings Fathoms nine its boughs extended.

And he thus addressed and asked it: "O thou oak-tree, shall I take thee, For the keel to make a vessel, The foundation of a warship?"

And the oak-tree answered wisely, Answered thus the acorn-bearer: "Yes, indeed, my wood is suited For the keel to make a vessel, 80 Neither slender 'tis, nor knotted, For within its substance hollow.

Thrice already in this summer, In the brightest days of summer, Through my midst the sunbeams wandered.

On my crown the moon was shining, In my branches cried the cuckoos.

In my boughs the birds were resting."

Youthful Sampsa Pellervoinen Took the axe from off his shoulder, 90 With his axe he smote the tree-trunk, With the blade he smote the oak-tree.

Speedily he felled the oak-tree, And the beauteous tree had fallen.

First he hewed it through the summit, All the trunk he cleft in pieces, After this the keel he fashioned, Planks so many none could count them.

For the vessel of the minstrel, For the boat of Vainamoinen. 100

Then the aged Vainamoinen, He the great primeval sorcerer, Fashioned then the boat with wisdom, Built with magic songs the vessel, From the fragments of an oak-tree, Fragments of the shattered oak-tree.

With a song the keel he fashioned, With another, sides he fashioned, And he sang again a third time.

And the rudder he constructed, 110 Bound the rib-ends firm together, And the joints he fixed together.

When the boat's ribs were constructed, And the sides were fixed together, Still he found three words were wanting, Which the sides should fix securely, Fix the prow in right position, And the stern should likewise finish.

Vainamoinen, old and steadfast, He the great primeval minstrel, 120 Uttered then the words which follow: "Woe to me, my life is wretched, For my boat unlaunched remaineth, On the waves the new boat floats not!"

So he pondered and reflected How to find the words he needed, And obtain the spells of magic, From among the brains of swallows, From the heads of flocks of wild swans, From the shoulders of the goose-flocks. 130

Then he went the words to gather, And a flock of swans he slaughtered.

And a flock of geese he slaughtered, And beheaded many swallows, But the spells he needed found not.

Not a word, not e'en a half one.

So he pondered and reflected, "I shall find such words by hundreds, 'Neath the tongue of summer reindeer, In the mouth of whitest squirrel." 140

So he went the words to gather, That the spells he might discover, And a field he spread with reindeer, Loaded benches high with squirrels.

Many words he thus discovered, But they all were useless to him.

So he pondered and reflected, "I should find such words by hundreds In the dark abodes of Tuoni, In the eternal home of Mana." 150

Then to Tuonela he journeyed, Sought the words in Mana's kingdom.

And with rapid steps he hastened, Wandered for a week through bushes, Through bird-cherry for a second, And through juniper the third week, Straight to Ma.n.a.la's dread island.

And the gleaming hills of Tuoni.

Vainamoinen, old and steadfast.

Raised his voice, and shouted loudly 160 There by Tuonela's deep river, There in Ma.n.a.la's abysses: "Bring a boat, O Tuoni's daughter, Row across, O child of Mana, That the stream I may pa.s.s over.

And that I may cross the river."

Tuoni's short and stunted daughter.

She the dwarfish maid of Mana, At the time her clothes was washing, And her clothes she there was beating, 170 At the river dark of Tuoni, And in Ma.n.a.la's deep waters.

And she answered him in thiswise, And she spoke the words which follow: "Hence a boat shall come to fetch you, When you shall explain the reason Why to Ma.n.a.la you travel.

Though disease has not subdued you.

Nor has death thus overcome you, Nor some other fate o'erwhelmed you." 180

Vainamoinen, old and steadfast, Answered in the words which follow: "It was Tuoni brought me hither, Mana dragged me from my country."

Tuoni's short and stunted daughter, She the dwarfish maid of Mana, Answered in the words which follow: "Ay, indeed, I know the liar!

If 'twas Tuoni brought you hither, Mana dragged you from your country, 190 Then would Tuoni's self be with you, Ma.n.a.lainen's self conduct you, Tuoni's hat upon your shoulders.

On your hands the gloves of Mana.

Speak the truth, O Vainamoinen; What to Ma.n.a.la has brought you?"

Vainamoinen, old and steadfast, Answered in the words which follow: "Iron to Ma.n.a.la has brought me, Steel to Tuonela has dragged me." 200

Tuoni's short and stunted daughter She the dwarfish maid of Mana, Answered in the words which follow: "Now, indeed, I know the liar!

For if iron to Mana brought you, Steel to Tuonela had dragged you.

From your clothes the blood would trickle, And the blood would forth be flowing.

Speak the truth, O Vainamoinen, For the second time speak truly." 210

Vainamoinen, old and steadfast, Answered in the words which follow: "Water has to Mana brought me, Waves to Tuonela have brought me."

Tuoni's short and stunted daughter, She the dwarfish maid of Mana, Answered in the words which follow: "Ay, indeed, I know the liar!

If to Mana water brought you, Waves to Ma.n.a.la had floated, 220 From your clothes would water trickle, From the borders streaming downward.

Tell me true, without evasion, What to Ma.n.a.la has brought you?"

Then the aged Vainamoinen, Gave again a lying answer.

"Fire to Tuonela has brought me, Flame to Ma.n.a.la conveyed me."

Tuoni's short and stunted daughter.

She the dwarfish maid of Mana, 230 Once again replied in answer: "Well indeed I know the liar!

Had the fire to Tuoni brought you, Flame to Ma.n.a.la conveyed you, Would your hair be singed and frizzled, And your beard be scorched severely.

"O thou aged Vainamoinen, If you wish the boat to fetch you, Tell me true, without evasion, Make an end at last of lying, 240 Why to Ma.n.a.la you travel, Though disease has not subdued you, Nor has death thus overcome you, Nor some other fate o'erwhelmed you."

Said the aged Vainamoinen, "True it is I lied a little, And again I spoke a falsehood, But at length I answer truly.

By my art a boat I fashioned, By my songs a boat I builded, 250 And I sang one day, a second, And at length upon the third day, Broke my sledge as I was singing, Broke the shaft as I was singing, So I came for Tuoni's gimlet.

Sought in Ma.n.a.la a borer, That my sledge I thus might finish.

And with this might form my song-sledge.

Therefore bring your boat to this side, Ferry me across the water, 260 And across the straight convey me, Let me come across the river."

Tuonetar abused him roundly, Mana's maiden scolded loudly: "O thou fool, of all most foolish, Man devoid of understanding.

Tuonela, thou seekest causeless, Com'st to Mana free from sickness!

Better surely would you find it Quickly to regain your country, 270 Many truly wander hither, Few return to where they came from!"

Said the aged Vainamoinen, "This might perhaps deter old women, Not a man, how weak soever.

Not the laziest of heroes!

Bring the boat, O Tuoni's daughter, Row across, O child of Mana!"

Brought the boat then, Tuoni's daughter.

And the aged Vainamoinen 280 Quickly o'er the straight she ferried.

And across the river rowed him, And she spoke the words which follow: "Woe to thee, O Vainamoinen, For thou com'st to Mana living, Com'st to Tuonela undying!"

Tuonetar the n.o.ble matron, Ma.n.a.latar, aged woman, Fetched some beer within a tankard, And in both her hands she held it, 290 And she spoke the words which follow: "Drink, O aged Vainamoinen!"