Kalevala, The Land Of The Heroes Volume I Part 3

Like the boats on ocean's surface, Like the ships amid the sea-waves.

Northward drove the wind the fragments, Where the little maid of Pohja, Stood on beach, and washed her head-dress, And she washed her clothes and rinsed them, On the shingle by the ocean, On a tongue of land projecting. 210

On the waves she saw the fragments, Put them in her birchbark wallet, In her wallet took them homeward; In the well-closed yard she stored them, For the arrows of the sorcerer, For the chase to furnish weapons.

When the oak at last had fallen, And the evil tree was levelled, Once again the sun shone brightly, And the pleasant moonlight glimmered, 220 And the clouds extended widely, And the rainbow spanned the heavens, O'er the cloud-encompa.s.sed headland, And the island's misty summit.

Then the wastes were clothed with verdure, And the woods grew up and flourished; Leaves on trees and gra.s.s in meadows.

In the trees the birds were singing, Loudly sang the cheery throstle; In the tree-tops called the cuckoo. 230

Then the earth brought forth her berries; Shone the fields with golden blossoms; Herbs of every species flourished; Plants and trees of all descriptions; But the barley would not flourish, Nor the precious seed would ripen.

Then the aged Vainamoinen, Walked around, and deeply pondered, By the blue waves' sandy margin, On the mighty ocean's border, 240 And six grains of corn he found there, Seven fine seeds of corn he found there, On the borders of the ocean, On the yielding sandy margin.

In a marten's skin he placed them, From the leg of summer squirrel.

Then he went to sow the fallows; On the ground the seeds to scatter, Near to Kaleva's own fountain, And upon the field of Osmo. 250

From a tree there chirped the t.i.tmouse: "Osmo's barley will not flourish, Nor will Kaleva's oats prosper, While untilled remains the country, And uncleared remains the forest, Nor the fire has burned it over."

Vainamoinen, old and steadfast, Ground his axe-blade edge to sharpness And began to fell the forest, Toiling hard to clear the country. 260 All the lovely trees he levelled, Sparing but a single birch-tree, That the birds might rest upon it, And from thence might call the cuckoo.

In the sky there soared an eagle, Of the birds of air the greatest, And he came and gazed around him.

"Wherefore is the work unfinished, And the birch-tree still unfallen?

Wherefore spare the beauteous birch-tree?"

Said the aged Vainamoinen, 270 "Therefore is the birch left standing, That the birds may perch upon it; All the birds of air may rest there."

Said the bird of air, the eagle, "Very wisely hast thou acted, Thus to leave the birch-tree standing And the lovely tree unfallen, That the birds may perch upon it, And that I myself may rest there."

Then the bird of air struck fire, 280 And the flames rose up in brightness, While the north wind fanned the forest, And the north-east wind blew fiercely.

All the trees were burned to ashes, Till the sparks were quite extinguished.

Then the aged Vainamoinen, Took the six seeds from his satchel, And he took the seven small kernels, From the marten's skin he took them, From the leg of summer squirrel, 290 From the leg of summer ermine.

Then he went to sow the country, And to scatter seeds around him, And he spoke the words which follow; "Now I stoop the seeds to scatter, As from the Creator's fingers, From the hand of Him Almighty, That the country may be fertile, And the corn may grow and flourish.

"Patroness of lowland country, 300 Old one of the plains; Earth-Mother, Let the tender blade spring upward, Let the earth support and cherish.

Might of earth will never fail us, Never while the earth existeth, When the Givers are propitious.

And Creation's daughters aid us.

"Rise, O earth; from out thy slumber, Field of the Creator, rouse thee, Make the blade arise and flourish. 310 Let the stalks grow up and lengthen, That the ears may grow by thousands, Yet a hundredfold increasing, By my ploughing and my sowing, In return for all my labour.

"Ukko, thou of G.o.ds the highest.

Father, thou in heaven abiding, Thou to whom the clouds are subject.

Of the scattered clouds the ruler, 320 All thy clouds do thou a.s.semble, In the light make clear thy counsel, Send thou forth a cloud from eastwards In the north-west let one gather, Send thou others from the westward, Let them drive along from southward.

Send the light rain forth from heaven, Let the clouds distil with honey, That the corn may sprout up strongly, And the stalks may wave and rustle." 330

Ukko, then, of G.o.ds the highest, Father of the highest heaven, Heard, and all the clouds a.s.sembled.

In the light made clear his counsel, And he sent a cloud from eastward.

In the north-west let one gather, Others, too, he sent from westward, Let them drive along from southward, Linked them edge to edge together, And he closed the rifts between them. 340 Then he sent the rain from heaven, And the clouds distilled sweet honey, That the corn might sprout up stronger, And the stalks might wave and rustle.

Thus the sprouting germ was nourished, And the rustling stalks grew upward, From the soft earth of the cornfield.

Through the toil of Vainamoinen.

After this, two days pa.s.sed over, After two nights, after three nights, 350 When the week was full completed, Vainamoinen, old and steadfast, Wandered forth to see the progress; How his ploughing and his sowing And his labours had resulted.

There he found the barley growing, And the ears were all six-cornered, And the stalks were all three-knotted.

Then the aged Vainamoinen Wandered on and gazed around him, 360 And the cuckoo, bird of springtime, Came and saw the birch-tree growing.

"Wherefore is the birch left standing, And unfelled the slender birch-tree?"

Said the aged Vainamoinen, "Therefore is the birch left standing, And unfelled the slender birch-tree, As a perch for thee, O Cuckoo; Whence the cuckoo's cry may echo.

From thy sand-hued throat cry sweetly, 370 With thy silver voice call loudly, With thy tin-like voice cry clearly, Call at morning, call at evening, And at noontide call thou likewise, To rejoice my plains surrounding, That my woods may grow more cheerful, That my coast may grow more wealthy, And my region grow more fruitful."

RUNO III.--VaINaMoINEN AND JOUKAHAINEN

_Argument_

Vainamoinen increases in wisdom and composes songs (1-20). Joukahainen sets out to contend with him in wisdom; but as he cannot overcome him, he challenges him to a duel, whereupon Vainamoinen grows angry, and sinks him in a swamp by his magic songs (21-330). Joukahainen, in great distress, finally offers his sister Aino in marriage to Vainamoinen, who accepts the offer and releases him (331-476). Joukahainen returns home discomfited, and relates his misfortunes to his mother (477-524). The mother rejoices at the prospect of such an alliance, but the daughter laments and weeps (525-580).

Vainamoinen, old and steadfast Pa.s.sed the days of his existence Where lie Vainola's sweet meadows, Kalevala's extended heathlands: There he sang his songs of sweetness Sang his songs and proved his wisdom.

Day by day he sang unwearied, Night by night discoursed unceasing, Sang the songs of by-gone ages, Hidden words of ancient wisdom, 10 Songs which all the children sing not.

All beyond men's comprehension, In these ages of misfortune, When the race is near Its ending.

Far away the news was carried, Far abroad was spread the tidings Of the songs of Vainamoinen, Of the wisdom of the hero; In the south was spread the rumour; Reached to Pohjola the tidings. 20

Here dwelt youthful Joukahainen, He, the meagre youth of Lapland; And, when visiting the village, Wondrous tales he heard related, How there dwelt another minstrel, And that better songs were carolled.

Far in Vainola's sweet meadows, Kalevala's extended heathlands; Better songs than he could compa.s.s; Better than his father taught him. 30

This he heard with great displeasure, And his heart was filled with envy That the songs of Vainamoinen Better than his own were reckoned.

Then he went to seek his mother; Sought her out, the aged woman, And declared that he would journey, And was eager to betake him, Unto Vainola's far dwellings, That he might contend with Vaino. 40

But his father straight forbade him.

Both his father and his mother, Thence to Vainola to journey, That he might contend with Vaino.

"He will surely sing against you, Sing against you, and will ban you, Sink your mouth and head in snow-drifts, And your hands in bitter tempest: Till your hands and feet are stiffened, And incapable of motion." 50

Said the youthful Joukahainen, "Good the counsel of my father, And my mother's counsel better; Best of all my own opinion.

I will set myself against him, And defy him to a contest, I myself my songs will sing him, I myself will speak my mantras; Sing until the best of minstrels Shall become the worst of singers. 60 Shoes of stone will I provide him, Wooden trousers on his haunches; On his breast a stony burden, And a rock upon his shoulders; Stony gloves his hands shall cover.

And his head a stony helmet."

Then he went his way unheeding, Went his way, and fetched his gelding, From whose mouth the fire was flashing, 'Neath whose legs the sparks were flying. 70 Then the fiery steed he harnessed, To the golden sledge he yoked him, In the sledge himself he mounted, And upon the seat he sat him, O'er the horse his whip he brandished, With the beaded whip he smote him, From the place the horse sprang quickly, And he darted lightly forwards.

On he drove with thundering clatter, As he drove a day, a second, 80 Driving also on the third day, And at length upon the third day, Came to Vainola's sweet meadows, Kalevala's extended heathlands.

Vainamoinen, old and steadfast, He, the oldest of magicians, As it chanced was driving onward, Peacefully his course pursuing On through Vainola's sweet meadows, Kalevala's extended heathlands. 90