Chapter 11

Now the minstrel, Lemminkainen, Changes both his form and stature, Passes through the inner door-ways, Enters he the spacious court-hall, And these words the hero utters: “Fine the singing quickly ending, Good the song that quickly ceases; Better far to keep thy wisdom Than to sing it on the house-tops.”

Comes the hostess of Pohyola, Fleetly rushing through the door-way, To the centre of the court-room, And addresses thus the stranger: “Formerly a dog lay watching, Was a cur of iron-color, Fond of flesh, a bone-devourer, Loved to lick the blood of strangers. Who then art thou of the heroes, Who of all the host of heroes, That thou art within my court-rooms, That thou comest to my dwelling, Was not seen without my portals, Was not scented by my watch-dogs?” Spake the reckless Lemminkainen: “Do not think that I come hither Having neither wit nor wisdom, Having neither art nor power, Wanting in ancestral knowledge, Lacking prudence of the fathers, That thy watch-dogs may devour me.

“My devoted mother washed me, When a frail and tender baby, Three times in the nights of summer, Nine times in the nights of autumn, That upon my journeys northward I might sing the ancient wisdom, Thus protect myself from danger; When at home I sing as wisely As the minstrels of thy hamlet.”

Then the singer, Lemminkainen, Ancient hero, Kaukomieli, Quick began his incantations, Straightway sang the songs of witchcraft, From his fur-robe darts the lightning, Flames outshooting from his eye-balls, From the magic of his singing, From his wonderful enchantment. Sang the very best of singers To the very worst of minstrels, Filled their mouths with dust and ashes, Piled the rocks upon their shoulders, Stilled the best of Lapland witches, Stilled the sorcerers and wizards. Then he banished all their heroes, Banished all their proudest minstrels, This one hither, that one thither, To the lowlands poor in verdure, To the unproductive uplands, To the oceans wanting whiting, To the waterfalls of Rutya, To the whirlpool hot and flaming, To the waters decked with sea-foam, Into fires and boiling waters, Into everlasting torment.

Then the hero, Lemminkainen, Sang the foemen with their broadswords, Sang the heroes with their weapons, Sang the eldest, sang the youngest, Sang the middle-aged, enchanted; Only one he left his senses, He a poor, defenseless shepherd, Old and sightless, halt and wretched, And the old man’s name was Nasshut. Spake the miserable shepherd: “Thou hast old and young enchanted, Thou hast banished all our heroes, Why hast spared this wretched shepherd?” This is Lemminkainen’s answer: “Therefore have I not bewitched thee: Thou art old, and blind, and wretched Feeble-minded thou, and harmless, Loathsome now without my magic. Thou didst, in thy better life-time, When a shepherd filled with malice, Ruin all thy mother’s berries, Make thy sister, too unworthy, Ruin all thy brother’s cattle, Drive to death thy father’s stallions, Through the marshes, o’er the meadows, Through the lowlands, o’er the mountains, Heeding not thy mother’s counsel.”

Thereupon the wretched Nasshut, Angry grew and swore for vengeance, Straightway limping through the door-way, Hobbled on beyond the court-yard, O’er the meadow-lands and pastures, To the river of the death-land, To the holy stream and whirlpool, To the kingdom of Tuoni, To the islands of Manala; Waited there for Kaukomieli, Listened long for Lemminkainen, Thinking he must pass this river On his journey to his country, On the highway to the islands, From the upper shores of Pohya, From the dreary Sariola.

RUNE XIII. LEMMINIKAINEN’S SECOND WOOING.

Spake the ancient Lemminkainen To the hostess of Pohyola: “Give to me thy lovely daughter, Bring me now thy winsome maiden, Bring the best of Lapland virgins, Fairest virgin of the Northland.”

Louhi, hostess of Pohyola, Answered thus the wild magician: “I shall never give my daughter, Never give my fairest maiden, Not the best one, nor the worst one, Not the largest, nor the smallest; Thou hast now one wife-companion, Thou has taken hence one hostess, Carried off the fair Kyllikki.”

This is Lemminkainen’s answer: “To my home I took Kyllikki, To my cottage on the island, To my entry-gates and kindred; Now I wish a better hostess, Straightway bring thy fairest daughter, Worthiest of all thy virgins, Fairest maid with sable tresses.” Spake the hostess of Pohyola: “Never will I give my daughter To a hero false and worthless, To a minstrel vain and evil; Therefore, pray thou for my maiden, Therefore, woo the sweet-faced flower, When thou bringest me the wild-moose From the Hisi fields and forests.”

Then the artful Lemminkainen Deftly whittled out his javelins, Quickly made his leathern bow-string, And prepared his bow and arrows, And soliloquized as follows: “Now my javelins are made ready, All my arrows too are ready, And my oaken cross-bow bended, But my snow-shoes are not builded, Who will make me worthy snow-shoes?”

Lemminkainen, grave and thoughtful, Long reflected, well considered, Where the snow-shoes could be fashioned, Who the artist that could make them; Hastened to the Kauppi-smithy, To the smithy of Lylikki, Thus addressed the snow-shoe artist: “O thou skilful Woyalander, Kauppi, ablest smith of Lapland, Make me quick two worthy snow-shoes, Smooth them well and make them hardy, That in Tapio the wild-moose, Roaming through the Hisi-forests, I may catch and bring to Louhi, As a dowry for her daughter.”

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, Juutas 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 grasses, 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 hears 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 of 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 of 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 of 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 God 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 gods for succor, Hastens off through fields and moorlands, Passes 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 head 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 god 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 god 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 he 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 lasso 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.”