Chapter 12

"If this is not yet sufficient, In the air there sits a maiden, 330 In a boat adorned with copper, In a boat with stern of scarlet. From the air descend, O maiden, Virgin from the midst of heaven, Row thy boat throughout the veinlets, Through the joints, both forth and backwards, Through the broken bones, O steer thou, And throughout the joints when broken.

"Bind the veins together firmly, Lay them in the right position, 340 End to end the larger bloodveins, And the arteries fit together, Duplicate the smaller bloodveins. Join the ends of smallest veinlets.

"Take thou then thy finest needle, Thread it next with silken fibre, Sew thou with the finest needle, Stitch thou with thy tin-made needle, Sew the ends of veins together, Bind them with thy silken fibre. 350

"If this is not yet sufficient, Help me, Jumala, Eternal, Harness thou thy foal of swiftness, And equip thy mighty courser, In thy little sledge then drive thou Through the bones and joints, O drive thou, Through the flesh that all is mangled, Back and forth, throughout the veinlets, In the flesh the bone then fasten, Ends of veins knit firm together, 360 'Twixt the bones, O fix thou silver, Fix the veins with gold together.

"Where the skin is rent asunder, Let the skin be brought together; Where the veins have snapped asunder, Let the veins be knit together; Where through wounds the blood has issued, Let the blood again be flowing; Where the bones have broke to splinters, Let the bones be fixed together; 370 Where the flesh is torn asunder, Let the flesh be knit together, Fix it in the right position, In its right position fix it, Bone to bone and flesh to flesh fix, Joint to joint unite thou firmly."

Thus did Lemminkainen's mother Form the man, and shape the hero To his former life restore him, To the form he wore aforetime. 380

All the veins had now been counted, And their ends were knit together, But as yet the man was speechless, Nor the child to speak was able.

Then she spoke the words which follow, And expressed herself in thiswise: "Whence shall we obtain an ointment, Whence obtain the drops of honey That I may anoint the patient And that I may cure his weakness, 390 That the man his speech recovers, And again his songs is singing?

"O thou bee, thou bird of honey, King of all the woodland flowerets, Go thou forth to fetch me honey, Go thou forth to seek for honey, Back from Metsola's fair meadows, Tapiola, for ever cheerful, From the cup of many a flower. And the plumes of grasses many, 400 As an ointment for the patient, And to quite restore the sick one."

Then the bee, the bird so active, Flew away upon his journey, Forth to Metsola's fair meadows, Tapiola, for ever cheerful, Probed the flowers upon the meadows, With his tongue he sucked the honey From the tips of six bright flowers, From the plumes of hundred grasses, 410 Then came buzzing loud and louder, Rushing on his homeward journey, With his wings all steeped in honey, And his plumage soaked with nectar.

Then did Lemminkainen's mother, Take from him the magic ointment, That she might anoint the patient, And she thus might cure his weakness, But from this there came no healing, And as yet the man was speechless. 420 Then she spoke the words which follow: "O thou bee, my own dear birdling, Fly thou in a new direction, Over nine lakes fly thou quickly Till thou reach a lovely island, Where the land abounds with honey, Where is Tuuri's new-built dwelling, Palvonen's own roofless dwelling. There is honey in profusion, There is ointment in perfection, 430 Fit to bind the veins together, And to heal the joints completely. From the meadow bring this ointment, And the salve from out the meadow, For upon the wounds I'll spread it, And anoint the bruises with it."

Then the bee, that active hero, Flew again on whirring pinions, And across nine lakes he travelled, Half across the tenth he travelled, 440 On he flew one day, a second, And at length upon the third day, Never on the reeds reposing, Nor upon a leaf reposing, Came he to the lovely island, Where the land abounds with honey, Till he reached a furious torrent, And a holy river's whirlpool.

In this spot was cooked the honey, And the ointment was made ready 450 In the little earthen vessels, In the pretty little kettles, Kettles of a thumb-size only, And a finger-tip would fill them.

Then the bee, that active hero, Gathered honey in the meadow, And a little time passed over, Very little time passed over, When he came on whirring pinions, Coming with his mission finished, 460 In his lap six cups he carried, Seven upon his back he carried, Brimming o'er with precious ointment, With the best of ointment brimming.

Then did Lemminkainen's mother Salve him with this precious ointment, With nine kinds of ointment salved him, And ten kinds of magic ointment; Even yet there came no healing, Still her toil was unavailing. 470

Then she spoke the words which follow, And expressed herself in thiswise: "O thou bee, thou bird aerial, Fly thou forth again the third time, Fly thou up aloft to heaven, And through nine heavens fly thou swiftly. There is honey in abundance, In the wood as much as needed, Which was charmed by the Creator, By pure Jumala was breathed on, 480 When his children he anointed, Wounded by the powers of evil. In the honey dip thy pinions, Soak thy plumage in the nectar, Bring me honey on thy pinions, In thy mantle from the forest, As an ointment for the patient, And anoint the bruises with it."

But the bee, the bird of wisdom. Answered her in words that follow: 490 "How can I perform thy bidding, I a man so small and helpless?"

"Thou canst rise on high with swiftness, Fly aloft with easy effort, O'er the moon, below the daylight And amid the stars of heaven. Flying windlike on the first day Past the borders of Orion, On the second day thou soarest Even to the Great Bear's shoulders, 500 On the third day soaring higher. O'er the Seven Stars thou risest, Thence the journey is a short one, And the distance very trifling, Unto Jumala's bright dwelling, And the regions of the blessed."

From the earth the bee rose swiftly, On his honeyed wings rose whirring, And he soared on rapid pinions, On his little wings flew upward. 510 Swiftly past the moon he hurried, Past the borders of the sunlight, Rose upon the Great Bear's shoulders, O'er the Seven Stars' backs rose upward, Flew to the Creator's cellars, To the halls of the Almighty. There the drugs were well concocted, And the ointment duly tempered In the pots composed of silver, Or within the golden kettles. 520 In the midst they boiled the honey, On the sides was sweetest ointment, To the southward there was nectar, To the northward there was ointment.

Then the bee, that bird aerial, Gathered honey in abundance, Honey to his heart's contentment. And but little time passed over, Ere the bee again came buzzing, Humming loudly on his journey, 530 In his lap of horns a hundred, And a thousand other vessels, Some of honey, some of liquid, And the best of all the ointment.

Then did Lemminkainen's mother Raise it to her mouth and taste it, With her tongue the ointment tasted, With the greatest care she proved it. "'Tis the ointment that I needed, And the salve of the Almighty, 540 Used when Jumala the Highest, The Creator heals all suffering."

Then did she anoint the patient, That she thus might cure his weakness, Salved the bones along the fractures, And between the joints she salved him, Salved his head and lower portions, Rubbed him also in the middle, Then she spoke the words which follow, And expressed herself in thiswise: 550 "Rise, my son, from out thy slumber, From thy dreams do thou awaken, From this place so full of evil, And a resting-place unholy."

From his sleep arose the hero, And from out his dreams awakened, And at once his speech recovered. With his tongue these words he uttered: "Woe's me, long have I been sleeping, Long have I in pain been lying, 560 And in peaceful sleep reposing, In the deepest slumber sunken."

Then said Lemminkainen's mother. And expressed herself in thiswise: "Longer yet hadst thou been sleeping, Longer yet hadst thou been resting, But for thy unhappy mother, But for her in pain who bore thee.

"Tell me now, my son unhappy, Tell me that my ears may hear it, 570 Who to Manala has sent thee, There to drift in Tuoni's river?"

Said the lively Lemminkainen, And he answered thus his mother: "Markahattu, he the cowherd, Untamola's blind old rascal, Down to Manala has sent me, There to drift in Tuoni's river; And he raised a water-serpent, From the waves a serpent lifted, 580 Sent it forth to me unhappy, But I could not guard against it, Knowing nought of water-evil, Nor the evils of the reed-beds."

Then said Lemminkainen's mother, "Mighty man of little foresight. Boasting to enchant the sorcerers, And to ban the sons of Lapland, Knowing nought of water-evil, Nor the evils of the reed-beds! 590

"Water-snakes are born in water, On the waves among the reed-beds, From the duck's brain springs the serpent, In the head of the sea-swallow. Syöjätär spat in the water, Cast upon the waves the spittle, And the water stretched it lengthwise. And the sunlight warmed and softened. And the wind arose and tossed it, And the water-breezes rocked it, 600 On the shore the waves they drove it, And amid the breakers urged it."

Thus did Lemminkainen's mother Cause her son with all her efforts, To resume his old appearance, And ensured that in the future He should even be superior, Yet more handsome than aforetime, And she asked her son thereafter Was there anything he needed? 610

Said the lively Lemminkainen, "There is something greatly needed, For my heart is fixed for ever, And my inclination leads me To the charming maids of Pohja, With their lovely locks unbraided, But the dirty-eared old woman Has refused to give her daughter, Till I shoot the duck she asks for, And the swan shall capture for her, 620 Here in Tuonela's dark river, In the holy river's whirlpool."

Then spoke Lemminkainen's mother, And she answered him in thiswise: "Leave the poor swans unmolested, Leave the ducks a peaceful dwelling, Here on Tuoni's murky river, Here amid the raging whirlpool! Best it is to journey homeward With your most unhappy mother, 630 Praise thou now thy happy future, And to Jumala be praises, That he granted his assistance, And has thus to life awaked thee, And from Tuoni's paths hath led thee, And from Mana's realms hath brought thee! I myself had never conquered, And alone had nought accomplished, But for Jumala's compassion, And the help of the Creator." 640

Then the lively Lemminkainen, Went at once his journey homeward, With his mother, she who loved him, Homeward with the aged woman.

Here I part awhile with Kauko, Leave the lively Lemminkainen, Long from out my song I leave him, While I quickly change my subject, Turn my song in new directions, And in other furrows labour. 650

RUNO XVI.--VÄINÄMÖINEN IN TUONELA

_Argument_

Väinämöinen orders Sampsa Pellervoinen to seek for wood for boat-building. He makes a boat, but finds himself at a loss for want of three magic words (1-118). As he cannot otherwise obtain them, he goes to Tuonela hoping to procure them there (119-362). Väinämöinen finally escapes from Tuonela, and after his return warns others not to venture there, and describes what a terrible place it is and the horrible abodes in which men dwell there (363-412).

Väinämöinen, old and steadfast, He the great primeval sorcerer, Set to work a boat to build him, And upon a boat to labour, There upon the cloudy headland, On the shady island's summit. But the workman found no timber, Boards to build the boat he found not.

Who shall seek for timber for him, And shall seek an oak-tree for him, 10 For the boat of Väinämöinen, And a keel to suit the minstrel?

Pellervoinen, earth-begotten, Sampsa, youth of smallest stature, He shall seek for timber for him, And shall seek an oak-tree for him. For the boat of Väinämöinen, And a keel to suit the minstrel.

So upon his path he wandered Through the regions to the north-east, 20 Through one district, then another, Journeyed after through a third one, With his gold axe on his shoulder, With his axe, with copper handle, Till he found an aspen standing, Which in height three fathoms measured.

So he went to fell the aspen, With his axe the tree to sever, And the aspen spoke and asked him, With its tongue it spoke in thiswise: 30 "What, O man, desire you from me? Tell your need, as far as may be."

Youthful Sampsa Pellervoinen, Answered in the words which follow: "This is what I wish for from thee, This I need, and this require I, 'Tis a boat for Väinämöinen; For the minstrel's boat the timber."

And the aspen said astounded, Answered with its hundred branches: 40 "As a boat I should be leaking, And would only sink beneath you, For my branches they are hollow. Thrice already in this summer, Has a grub my heart devoured, In my roots a worm has nestled."

Youthful Sampsa Pellervoinen Wandered further on his journey, And he wandered, deeply pondering, In the region to the northward. 50

There he found a pine-tree standing, And its height was full six fathoms, And he struck it with his hatchet, On the trunk with axe-blade smote it, And he spoke the words which follow: "O thou pine-tree, shall I take thee, For the boat of Väinämöinen, And as boatwood for the minstrel?"

But the pine-tree answered quickly, And it cried in answer loudly, 60 "For a boat you cannot use me, Nor a six-ribbed boat can fashion, Full of knots you'll find the pine-tree. Thrice already in this summer, In my summit croaked a raven, Croaked a crow among my branches."

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 Väinämöinen. 100

Then the aged Väinämöinen, 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.

Väinämöinen, 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 Manala's dread island. And the gleaming hills of Tuoni.

Väinämöinen, old and steadfast. Raised his voice, and shouted loudly 160 There by Tuonela's deep river, There in Manala's abysses: "Bring a boat, O Tuoni's daughter, Row across, O child of Mana, That the stream I may pass 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 Manala'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 Manala you travel. Though disease has not subdued you. Nor has death thus overcome you, Nor some other fate o'erwhelmed you." 180

Väinämöinen, 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, Manalainen's self conduct you, Tuoni's hat upon your shoulders. On your hands the gloves of Mana. Speak the truth, O Väinämöinen; What to Manala has brought you?"

Väinämöinen, old and steadfast, Answered in the words which follow: "Iron to Manala 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 Väinämöinen, For the second time speak truly." 210

Väinämöinen, 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 Manala had floated, 220 From your clothes would water trickle, From the borders streaming downward. Tell me true, without evasion, What to Manala has brought you?"

Then the aged Väinämöinen, Gave again a lying answer. "Fire to Tuonela has brought me, Flame to Manala 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 Manala conveyed you, Would your hair be singed and frizzled, And your beard be scorched severely.

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

Said the aged Väinämöinen, "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 Manala 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 Väinämöinen, "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!"