Chapter 14

"Need you horses for your journey, Or there's aught you need for driving, Horses I will give in plenty, Plenty I can give for riding. 450 Hiisi has a horse of beauty, With a red mane, on the mountain. Fire is flashing from his muzzle, And his nostrils brightly shining, And his hoofs are all of iron, And of steel are they constructed. He can climb upon a mountain, Climb the sloping sides of valleys, If his rider mounts him boldly, Urges him to show his mettle. 460

"But if this is not sufficient, Then may Hiisi make thee snowshoes. Take the alder-shoes of Lempo, Where the thick smoke is the foulest, Skate thou to the land of Hiisi, Rushing through the woods of Lempo, Dashing through the land of Hiisi, Gliding through the evil country. If a stone impedes thy pathway, Crash and scatter it asunder; 470 Lies a branch across thy pathway, Break the branch in twain when passing; If a hero bar thy passage, Drive him boldly from thy pathway. Go thy way, thou lazy creature, Go thou forth, thou man of evil, Now, before the day is dawning, Or the morning twilight glimmer, Or as yet the sun has risen, Or thou yet hast heard the cockcrow! 480 Thou delay'st too long to leave me, Take thy flight, O evil creature, Fare thee forth Into the moonlight, Wander forth amid its brightness.

"If thou wilt not leave me quickly, O thou dog without a mother, I will take the eagles' talons And the claws of the blood-suckers, And of birds of prey the talons, And of hawks the talons likewise, 490 That I thus may seize the demons, Utterly o'ercome these wretches, That my head may ache no longer, Nor my breathing more oppress me.

"Once did Lempo's self flee from me, When he wandered from his mother, When was aid from Jumala granted, Gave his aid, the Great Creator. Wander forth without thy mother, O thou uncreated creature, 500 Wretched dog without a master, Forth, O whelp without a mother, Even while the time is passing, Even while the moon is waning."

Väinämöinen, old and steadfast, Answered in the words which follow: "Here I find a pleasant dwelling, Here I dwell in much contentment, And for bread the liver serves me, And the fat with drink supplies me, 510 And the lungs are good for cooking, And the fat is best for eating.

"Therefore will I sink my smithy In thy heart for ever deeper, And will strike my hammer harder, Pounding on the tenderest places, That in all thy life thou never Freedom from the ill may'st hope for, If thy spells thou dost not teach me, All thy magic spells shalt teach me, 520 Till thy spells I learn in fulness, And a thousand spells have gathered; Till no spells are hidden from me, Nor the spells of magic hidden, That in caves their power is lost not, Even though the wizards perish."

Vipunen, in songs so famous, He the sage so old in wisdom, In whose mouth was mighty magic, Power unbounded in his bosom, 530 Opened then his mouth of wisdom, Of his spells the casket opened, Sang his mighty spells of magic, Chanted forth of all the greatest, Magic songs of the Creation, From the very earliest ages, Songs that all the children sing not, Even heroes understand not, In these dreary days of evil, In the days that now are passing. 540

Words of origin he chanted, All his spells he sang in order, At the will of the Creator, At behest of the Almighty, How himself the air he fashioned, And from air the water parted, And the earth was formed from water, And from earth all herbage sprouted.

Then he sang the moon's creation, Likewise how the sun was fashioned, 550 How the air was raised on pillars, How the stars were placed in heaven.

Vipunen, in songs the wisest, Sang in part, and sang in fulness. Never yet was heard or witnessed, Never while the world existed, One who was a better singer, One who was a wiser wizard. From his mouth the words were flowing, And his tongue sent forth his sayings, 560 Quick as legs of foals are moving, Or the feet of rapid courser.

Through the days he sang unceasing, Through the nights without cessation. To his songs the sun gave hearing, And the golden moon stayed listening, Waves stood still on ocean's surface, Billows sank upon its margin, Rivers halted in their courses, Rutja's furious cataract halted, 570 Vuoksi's cataract ceased its flowing, Likewise, too, the river Jordan.

When the aged Väinämöinen Unto all the spells had listened, And had learned the charms in fulness, All the magic spells creative, He prepared himself to travel From the widespread jaws of Vipunen; From the belly of the wise one, From within his monstrous body. 580

Said the aged Väinämöinen, "O thou Antero Vipunen hugest, Open thou thy mouth gigantic, And thy jaws extend more widely. I would quit for earth thy body, And would take my journey homeward."

Vipunen then, in songs the wisest, Answered in the words which follow: "Much I've drunk, and much have eaten, And consumed a thousand dainties, 590 But before I never swallowed Aught like aged Väinämöinen. Good indeed has been thy coming, Better 'tis when thou departest."

Then did Antero Vipunen open Wide expanding gums grimacing, Open wide his mouth gigantic, And his jaws extended widely, While the aged Väinämöinen To his mouth made lengthened journey, 600 From the belly of the wise one, From within his monstrous body. From his mouth he glided swiftly, O'er the heath he bounded swiftly, Very like a golden squirrel, Or a golden-breasted marten.

Further on his path he journeyed, Till at length he reached the smithy. Said the smith, e'en Ilmarinen, "Have you found the words you wanted, 610 Have you learned the spells creative, That the boat-sides you can fashion, Spells to fix the stern together, And the bows to deftly fashion?"

Väinämöinen, old and steadfast, Answered in the words which follow: "Spells a hundred have I gathered, And a thousand spells of magic, Secret spells were opened to me, Hidden charms were all laid open." 620

To his boat he hastened quickly, And he set to work most wisely, Set to work the boat to finish, And he fixed the sides together, And the stern he fixed together, And the bows he deftly fashioned, But the boat he built unhammered, Nor a chip he severed from it.

RUNO XVIII.--VÄINÄMÖINEN AND ILMARINEN TRAVEL TO POHJOLA

_Argument_

Väinämöinen sets sail in his new boat to woo the Maiden of Pohja (1-40). Ilmarinen's sister sees him, calls to him from the shore, learns the object of his journey, and hastens to warn her brother that a rival has set forth to Pohjola to claim the bride (41-266). Ilmarinen makes ready, and rides on horseback to Pohjola along the shore (267-470). The Mistress of Pohjola sees the suitors approaching, and advises her daughter to choose Väinämöinen (471-634). But the daughter herself prefers Ilmarinen, the forger of the Sampo, and tells Väinämöinen, who is first to arrive, that she will not marry him (635-706).

Väinämöinen, old and steadfast, Pondered deeply and reflected How he best should woo the maiden, Hasten to the long-haired maiden, In the gloomy land of Pohja, Sariola, for ever misty, She the far-famed Maid of Pohja, She the peerless Bride of Pohja.

There the pale-grey boat was lying, And the boat with red he painted, 10 And adorned the prow with gilding, And with silver overlaid it; Then upon the morning after, Very early in the morning, Pushed his boat into the water, In the waves the hundred-boarded, Pushed it from the barkless rollers, From the rounded logs of pine-tree.

Then he raised a mast upon it, On the masts the sails he hoisted, 20 Raised a red sail on the vessel, And another blue in colour, Then the boat himself he boarded, And he walked upon the planking, And upon the sea he steered it, O'er the blue and plashing billows.

Then he spoke the words which follow, And in words like these expressed him: "Enter, Jumala, my vessel, Enter here, O thorn most gracious, 30 Strengthen thou the hero's weakness, And the weakling do thou cherish, On these far-extending waters, On the wide expanse of billows.

"Breathe, O wind, upon the vessel, Drive, O wave, the boat before thee, That I need not row with fingers, Nor may thus disturb the waters, On the wide expanse of ocean, Out upon the open ocean." 40

Annikki, the ever-famous, Night's fair daughter, maid of twilight, Long before the day had risen, Early in the morn had wakened, And had washed her clothes and spread them, And had rinsed and wrung the clothing, Where the red steps reach the furthest, Where the planking is the broadest, Out upon the misty headland, On the shady island's ending. 50

Then she turned and gazed around her, In the cloudless air surrounding, And she gazed aloft to heaven, And from shore across the water, And above the sun was shining, And below the waves were gleaming.

O'er the waves her eyes were glancing, To the south her head was turning, To the mouth of Suomi's river, Where the stream of Väinölä opens. 60 On the sea a blotch she sighted, Something blue among the billows.

Then she spoke the words which follow, And in terms like these expressed her: "What's this speck upon the ocean, What this blue upon the billows? If it be a flock of wild geese, Or of other beauteous birdies, Let them on their rushing pinions Soar aloft amid the heavens. 70

"If it be a shoal of salmon, Or a shoal of other fishes, Let them leap as they are swimming, Plunging then beneath the water.

"If it be a rocky island, Or a stump amid the water, Let the billows rise above it, Or the waters drive it forward."

Now the boat came gliding onward, And the new boat sailed on swiftly 80 Forward to the misty headland, And the shady island's ending.

Annikki, the ever-famous, Saw the vessel fast approaching, Saw the hundred-boarded passing, And she spoke the words which follow: "If thou art my brother's vessels Or the vessel of my father, Then direct thy journey homeward, To the shore the prow directing, 90 Where the landing-stage is stationed, While the stern is pointing from it. If thou art a stranger vessel, May'st thou swim at greater distance, Towards another stage then hasten, With the stern to this directed."

'Twas no vessel of her household, Nor a boat from foreign regions, But the boat of Väinämöinen, Built by him, the bard primeval, 100 And the boat approached quite closely, Onward sailed in hailing distance, Till a word, and then a second, And a third were heard distinctly.

Annikki, the ever-famous, Night's fair daughter, maid of twilight, Hailed the boat as it approached her: "Whither goest thou, Väinämöinen, Whither, hero of the waters, Wherefore, pride of all the country?" 110

Then the aged Väinämöinen From the boat made ready answer: "I am going salmon-fishing, Where the salmon-trout are spawning, In the gloomy stream of Tuoni, In the deep reed-bordered river."

Annikki, the ever-famous, Answered in the words which follow: "Tell me not such idle falsehoods! Well I know the spawning season, 120 For aforetime oft my father And my grandsire; too, before him, Often went a salmon-fishing, And the salmon-trout to capture. In the boats the nets were lying, And the boats were full of tackle, Here lay nets, here lines were resting, And the beating-poles beside them; And beneath the seats were tridents, In the stern, long staves were lying. 130 Whither goest thou, Väinämöinen, Wherefore, O Uvantolainen?"

Said the aged Väinämöinen, "Forth in search of geese I wander, Where the bright-winged birds are sporting, And the slimy fish are catching, In the deep sound of the Saxons, Where the sea is wide and open."

Annikki, the ever-famous, Answered in the words which follow: 140 "Well I know who speaks me truly, And can soon detect the liar, For aforetime oft my father, And my grandsire, too, before him, Went abroad the geese to capture, And to chase the red-beaked quarry, And his bow was great, and tight-strung, And the bow he drew was splendid, And a black dog leashed securely, In the stern was tightly tethered, 150 On the strand the hounds were running, And the whelps across the shingle; Speak the truth, O Väinämöinen, Whither do you take your journey?"

Said the aged Väinämöinen, "Wherefore take I not my journey, Where a mighty fight is raging, There to fight among my equals, Where the greaves with blood are spattered, Even to the knees all crimsoned?" 160

Annikki again insisted, Loudly cried the tin-adorned one: "Well I know the ways of battle, For aforetime went my father Where a mighty fight was raging, There to fight among his equals, And a hundred men were rowing, And a thousand men were standing. In the prow their bows were lying, And beneath the seats their sword-blades. 170 Speak the truth, and tell me truly, Cease to lie, and speak sincerely. Whither goest thou, Väinämöinen, Wherefore, O Suvantolainen?"

Then the aged Väinämöinen Answered in the words which follow: "Come thou in my boat, O maiden, In my boat, O maiden seat thee, And the truth I then will tell thee, Cease to lie, and speak sincerely." 180

Annikki, the tin-adorned one, Cried aloud in indignation: "May the wind assail thy vessel, And the east wind fall upon it, May thy boat capsize beneath thee, And the prow sink down beneath thee, If you will not tell me truly Where you mean to take your journey, If the truth you will not tell me, And at last will end your lying." 190

Then the aged Väinämöinen, Answered in the words which follow: "All the truth I now will tell you, Though at first I lied a little. Forth I fare to woo a maiden, Seek the favour of a maiden, In the gloomy land of Pohja, Sariola, for ever misty, In the land where men are eaten, Where they even drown the heroes." 200

Annikki, the ever-famous, Night's fair daughter, maid of twilight, When she knew the truth for certain, All the truth, without evasion, Down she threw her caps unwashen, And unrinsed she left the clothing, On the bench she left them lying, Where the red bridge has its ending, In her hand her gown she gathered, In her hand the folds collecting, 210 And began from thence to hasten, And with rapid pace she hurried, Till at length she reached the smithy. To the forge at once she hastened.

There she found smith Ilmarinen, He the great primeval craftsman. And he forged a bench of iron, And adorned it all with silver. Cubit-high his head was sooted, On his shoulders ash by fathoms. 220

Annikki the door then entered, And she spoke the words which follow: "Smith and brother Ilmarinen, Thou the great primeval craftsman, Forge me now a weaver's shuttle, Pretty rings to deck my fingers, Golden earrings, two or three pairs, Five or six linked girdles make me, For most weighty truth I'll tell you, All the truth without evasion." 230

Said the smith, said Ilmarinen, "If you tell me news important, Then a shuttle will I forge you, Pretty rings to deck your fingers, And a cross upon your bosom, And the finest head-dress forge you. If the words you speak are evil, All your ornaments I'll shatter, Tear them off to feed the furnace, And beneath the forge will thrust them." 240

Annikki, the ever-famous, Answered in the words which follow: "O thou smith, O Ilmarinen, Do you still propose to marry Her, the bride who once was promised, And as wife was pledged unto you?

"While you weld and hammer always, Ever working with your hammer, Making horseshoes in the summer, Iron horseshoes for the winter, 250 Working at your sledge at night-time, And its frame in daytime shaping, Forth to journey to your wooing, And to Pohjola to travel, One more cunning goes before you, And another speeds beyond you, And your own will capture from you, And your love will ravish from you, Whom two years ago thou sawest, Whom two years agone thou wooed'st. 260 Know that Väinämöinen journeys O'er the blue waves of the ocean, In a boat with prow all golden, Steering with his copper rudder, To the gloomy land of Pohja, Sariola, for ever misty."

To the smith came grievous trouble. To the iron-worker sorrow. From his grasp the tongs slid downward, From his hand he dropped the hammer. 270

Said the smith, said Ilmarinen, "Annikki, my little sister, I will forge you now a shuttle. Pretty rings to deck your fingers, Golden earrings, two or three pairs, Five or six linked girdles make you. Warm for me the pleasant bathroom, Fill the room with fragrant vapour, Let the logs you burn be small ones, And the fire with chips be kindled, 280 And prepare me too some ashes, And some soap in haste provide me, That I wash my head and cleanse it, And I may make white my body From the coal-dust of the autumn, From the forge throughout the winter."

Annikki, whose name was famous, Heated secretly the bathroom, With the boughs the wind had broken, And the thunderbolt had shattered. 290 Stones she gathered from the river, Heated them till they were ready, Cheerfully she fetched the water, From the holy well she brought it, Broke some bath-whisks from the bushes, Charming bath-whisks from the thickets, And she warmed the honeyed bath-whisks, On the honeyed stones she warmed them, Then with milk she mixed the ashes, And she made him soap of marrow, 300 And she worked the soap to lather, Kneaded then the soap to lather, That his head might cleanse the bridegroom, And might cleanse himself completely.

Then the smith, e'en Ilmarinen, He the great primeval craftsman, Wrought the maiden what she wished for, And he wrought a splendid head-dress, While she made the bathroom ready, And she put the bath in order. 310 In her hands he placed the trinkets, And the maiden thus addressed him: "Now the bathroom's filled with vapour, And the vapour-bath I've heated, And have steeped the bath-whisks nicely, Choosing out the best among them. Bathe, O brother, at your pleasures, Pouring water as you need it, Wash your head to flaxen colour, Till your eyes shine out like snowflakes." 320

Then the smith, e'en Ilmarinen, Went to take the bath he needed, There he bathed himself at pleasure, And he washed himself to whiteness, Washed his eyes until they sparkled, And his temples till they glistened, And his neck to hen's-egg whiteness, And his body all was shining. From the bath the room he entered, Changed so much they scarcely knew him, 330 For his face it shone with beauty, And his cheeks were cleansed and rosy.

Then he spoke the words which follow: "Annikki, my little sister, Bring me now a shirt of linen, And the best of raiment bring me, That I robe myself completely, And may deck me like a bridegroom."

Annikki, the ever-famous, Brought him then a shirt of linen, 340 For his limbs no longer sweating, For his body all uncovered. Then she brought well-fitting trousers, Which his mother had been sewing, For his hips, no longer sooty, And his legs were fully covered.

Then she brought him finest stockings, Which, as maid, had wove his mother, And with these his shins he covered, And his calves were hidden by them. 350 Then she brought him shoes that fitted, Best of Saxon boots she brought him, And with these the stockings covered Which his mother sewed as maiden; Then a coat of blue she chose him, With a liver-coloured lining, Covering thus the shirt of linen, Which of finest flax was fashioned, Then an overcoat of woollen, Of four kinds of cloth constructed, 360 O'er the coat of bluish colour, Of the very latest fashion, And a new fur, thousand-buttoned, And a hundredfold more splendid, O'er the overcoat of woollen, And the cloth completely hiding; Round his waist a belt she fastened, And the belt was gold-embroidered, Which his mother wrought as maiden, Wrought it when a fair-haired maiden, 370 Brightly-coloured gloves she brought him, Gold-embroidered, for his fingers, Which the Lapland children fashioned; On his handsome hands he drew them, Then a high-crowned hat she brought him (On his golden locks she placed it) Which his father once had purchased, When as bridegroom he adorned him.

Thus the smith, e'en Ilmarinen, Clothed himself, and made him ready, 380 Robed himself, and made him handsome, And his servant he commanded: "Yoke me now a rapid courser, In the sledge adorned so finely, That I start upon my journey, And to Pohjola may travel."

Thereupon the servant answered, "Horses six are in the stable, Horses six, on oats that fatten; Which among them shall I yoke you?" 390

Said the smith, e'en Ilmarinen, "Take the best of all the stallions, Put the foal into the harness, Yoke before the sledge the chestnut, Then provide me with six cuckoos, Seven blue birds at once provide me, That upon the frame they perch them, And may sing their cheerful music, That the fair ones may behold them, And the maidens be delighted. 400 Then provide me with a bearskin, That I seat myself upon it, And a second hide of walrus, That the bright-hued sledge is covered."