Chapter 17

"Then the bee, that bird so nimble, Flew away, and hastened onward, And his journey soon accomplished, Speeding o'er the open spaces, First across the sea, along it, Then in an oblique direction, To an isle on ocean's surface, Where the reefs arise from ocean. There he saw the maiden sleeping, With a tin brooch on her bosom, 370 Resting in an unmowed meadow, All among the fields of honey; By her side grew golden grasses, At her belt sprang silver grasses.

"Then he soaked his wings with honey, Plunged his plumes in liquid honey, From the brightest of the herbage, From the tips of golden flowerets; To the maiden's hands he brought it, To the noble damsel's fingers. 380

"In the ale the maiden cast it, In the beer she poured it likewise, And the beer at length fermented, And the fresh drink now foamed upward, From within the new-made barrels, From within the tubs of birchwood, Foaming upward to the handles, Rushing over all the edges; To the ground it wished to trickle, And upon the floor ran downward. 390

"But a little time passed over, Very little time passed over, When the heroes flocked to drink it, Chief among them Lemminkainen. Drunk was Ahti, drunk was Kauko, Drunken was the ruddy rascal, With the ale of Osmo's daughter, And the beer of Kalevatar.

"Osmotar, the ale-preparer, She, the maid who beer concocted, 400 Uttered then the words which follow: 'Woe is me, my day is wretched, For I brewed the ale so badly And the beer so ill concocted, That from out the tubs 'tis flowing, And upon the floor is gushing.'

"From a tree there sang a bullfinch. From the roof-tree sang a throstle, 'No, the ale is not so worthless; 'Tis the best of ale for drinking; 410 If into the casks you pour it, And should store it in the cellar, Store it in the casks of oakwood, And within the hoops of copper.'

"Thus was ale at first created, Beer of Kaleva concocted, Therefore is it praised so highly, Therefore held in greatest honour, For the ale is of the finest, Best of drinks for prudent people; 420 Women soon it brings to laughter, Men it warms into good humour, And it makes the prudent merry, But it brings the fools to raving."

Then did Pohjola's old Mistress, When she heard how ale was fashioned, Water pour in tubs the largest, Half she filled the new-made barrels, Adding barley as 'twas needed, Shoots of hop enough she added, 430 And the ale began she brewing, And the beer began its working, In the new tubs that contained it, And within the tubs of birch wood.

'Twas for months the stones were glowing, And for summers water boiling, Trees were burning on the islands, Water from the wells was carried. Bare of trees they left the islands, And the lakes were greatly shrunken, 440 For the ale was in the barrels, And the beer was stored securely For the mighty feast of Pohja, For carousing at the mansion.

From the island smoke was rising, On the headland fire was glowing; Thick the clouds of smoke were rising, In the air there rose the vapour. For the fire was burning fiercely, And the fire was brightly glowing, 450 Half it filled the land of Pohja, Over all Carelia spreading.

All the people gazed upon it, Gazed, and then they asked each other, "Wherefore is the smoke arising, In the air the vapour rising? 'Tis too small for smoke of battle, 'Tis too large for herdsman's bonfire."

Then rose Lemminkainen's mother, At the earliest dawn of morning, 460 And she went to fetch some water. Clouds of smoke she saw arising, Up from Pohjola's dominions, And she spoke the words which follow: "Perhaps it is the smoke of combat, Perhaps it is the fire of battle."

Ahti, dweller on the island, He the handsome Kaukomieli, Wandered round and gazed about him, And he pondered and reflected, 470 "I must go and look upon it, From a nearer spot examine, Whence the smoke is thus ascending Filling all the air with vapour, If it be the smoke of combat, If it be the fire of battle."

Kauko went to gaze about him, And to learn whence smoke was rising, But it was not fire of battle, Neither was it fire of combat, 480 But 'twas fire where ale was brewing, Likewise where the beer was brewing, Near where Sound of Sariola spreads, Out upon the jutting headland.

Then did Kauko gaze around him, And one eye he rolled obliquely, And he squinted with the other, And his mouth he pursed up slowly, And at last he spoke, while gazing, And across the sound he shouted, 490 "O my dearest foster-mother, Pohjola's most gracious Mistress! Brew thou ale of extra goodness, Brew thou beer the best of any, For carousing at the mansion, Specially for Lemminkainen, At my wedding, now preparing, With thy young and lovely daughter."

Now the ale was quite fermented, And the drink of men was ripened, 500 And the red ale stored they safely, And the good beer stored securely. Underneath the ground they stored it, Stored it in the rocky cellars, In the casks of oak constructed, And behind the taps of copper.

Then did Pohjola's old Mistress All the food provide for feasting, And the kettles all were singing, And the stewpans all were hissing, 510 And large loaves of bread were baking, And she stirred great pots of porridge, Thus to feed the crowds of people, At the banquet at the mansion, At the mighty feast of Pohja, The carouse at Sariola dim.

Now the bread they baked was ready, And were stirred the pots of porridges, And a little time passed over, Very little time passed over, 520 When the ale worked in the barrels, And the beer foamed in the cellars, "Now must some one come to drink me, Now must some one come to taste me, That my fame may be reported, And that they may sing my praises."

Then they went to seek a minstrel, Went to seek a famous singer, One whose voice was of the strongest, One who knew the finest legends. 530 First to sing they tried a salmon, If the voice of trout was strongest; Singing is not work for salmon, And the pike recites no legends. Crooked are the jaws of salmon, And the teeth of pike spread widely.

Yet again they sought a singer, Went to seek a famous singer, One whose voice was of the strongest, One who knew the finest legends, 540 And they took a child for singer, Thought a boy might sing the strongest. Singing is not work for children. Nor are splutterers fit for shouting. Crooked are the tongues of children, And the roots thereof are crooked.

Then the red ale grew indignant, And the fresh drink fell to cursing, Pent within the oaken barrels, And behind the taps of copper. 550 "If you do not find a minstrel, Do not find a famous singer, One whose voice is of the strongest, One who knows the finest legends, Then the hoops I'll burst asunder, And among the dust will trickle."

Then did Pohjola's old Mistress Send the guests their invitations, Sent her messengers to journey, And she spoke the words which follow: 560 "O my maid, of all the smallest, O my waiting-maid obedient, Call the people all together, To the great carouse invite them, Call the poor, and call the needy, Call the blind, and call the wretched, Call the lame, and call the cripples; In the boat row thou the blind men; Bring the lame ones here on horseback, And in sledges bring the cripples. 570

"Ask thou all the folk of Pohja, And of Kaleva the people: Ask the aged Väinämöinen, Greatest he of all the minstrels, Only ask not Lemminkainen, Ask not Ahti Saarelainen."

Then the maid, of all the smallest, Answered In the words which follow: "Wherefore ask not Lemminkainen, Only Ahti Saarelainen?" 580

Then did Pohjola's old Mistress, In these very words make answer: "Therefore ask not Kaukomieli, Not the reckless Lemminkainen. He is always quick to quarrel, And to fight is always ready. And at weddings works he mischief, And at banquets grievous scandal, Brings to shame the modest maidens, Clad in all their festive garments." 590

Then the maid, of all the smallest, Answered in the words which follow: "How shall I know Kaukomieli That I leave him uninvited? For I know not Ahti's dwelling, Nor the house of Kaukomieli."

Then did Pohjola's old Mistress, Answer in the words which follow: "Easy may you hear of Kauko, Learn of Ahti Saarelainen. 600 Ahti dwells upon an island, Dwells the rascal near the water, Where the bay outspreads the broadest, At the curve of Kauko's headland."

Then the maid, of all the smallest, She the handmaid hired for money, Bid the guests from six directions, And in eight the news she carried; All she asked of Pohja's people, And of Kaleva the people, 610 Of the householders the poorest, And the poorest clad amongst them, Only not the youth named Ahti, For she left him uninvited.

RUNO XXI.--THE WEDDING FEAST AT POHJOLA

_Argument_

The bridegroom and his party are received at Pohjola (1-226). The guests are hospitably entertained with abundance of food and drink (227-252). Väinämöinen sings and praises the people of the house (253-438).

Then did Pohjola's old Mistress, Crone of Sariola the misty, Sometimes out of doors employ her, Sometimes in the house was busied; And she heard how whips were cracking, On the shore heard sledges rattling, And her eyes she turned to northward, Towards the sun her head then turning, And she pondered and reflected, "Wherefore are these people coming 10 On my shore, to me unhappy? Is it perhaps a hostile army?"

So she went to gaze around her, And observe the portent nearer; It was not a hostile army, But of guests a great assembly, And her son-in-law amid them, With a mighty host of people.

Then did Pohjola's old Mistress, Crone of Sariola the misty, 20 When she saw the bridegroom's party, Speak aloud the words which follow: "As I thought, the wind was blowing And a faggot-stack overthrowing, On the beach the billows breaking, On the strand the shingle rattling. So I went to gaze around me, And observe the portent nearer; But I found no wind was blowing, Nor the faggot-stack was falling, 30 On the beach no waves were breaking, On the strand no shingle rattling. 'Twas my son-in-law's assemblage, Twice a hundred men in number.

"How shall I detect the bridegroom In the concourse of the people? He is known among the people, As in clumps of trees the cherry, Like an oak-tree in the thickets, Or the moon, 'mid stars in heaven. 40

"Black the steed that he is driving; Which a ravenous wolf resembles; Or a raven, keen for quarry, Or a lark, with fluttering pinions. Six there are of golden song-birds, On his shafts all sweetly singing, And of blue birds, seven are singing Sitting on the sledge's traces."

From the road was heard a clatter, Past the well the runners rattled, 50 In the court arrived the bridegroom, In the yard the people with him, In the midst appeared the bridegroom, With the greatest of the party. He was not the first among them, But by no means last among them.

"Off, ye youths, and out ye heroes, To the court, O ye who loiter, That ye may remove the breastbands, And the traces ye may loosen, 60 That the shafts may quick be lowered: Lead into the house the bridegroom."

Then the bridegroom's horse sped onward, And the bright-hued sledge drew forward Through the courtyard of the Master, When said Pohjola's old Mistress: "O my man, whom I have hired, Best among the village servants, Take the horse that brought the bridegroom, With the white mark on his frontlet, 70 From the copper-plated harness, From the tin-decked breastband likewise, From the best of reins of leather, And from harness of the finest, Lead the courser of the bridegroom, And with greatest care conduct him By the reins, of silken fabric, By the bridle, decked with silver, To the softest place for rolling, Where the meadow is the smoothest, 80 Where the drifted snow is finest, And the land of milky whiteness.

"Lead the bridegroom's horse to water, To the spring that flows the nearest, Where the water all unfrozen, Gushes forth; like milk the sweetest, 'Neath the roots of golden pine-trees, Underneath the bushy fir-trees.

"Fodder thou the bridegroom's courser, From the golden bowl of fodder, 90 From the bow! adorned with copper, With the choicest meal of barley, And with well-boiled wheat of summer, And with pounded rye of summer.

"Then conduct the bridegroom's courser To the best of all the stables, To the best of resting-places, To the hindmost of the stables. Tether there the bridegroom's courser, To the ring of gold constructed, 100 To the smaller ring of iron, To the post of curving birchwood, Place before the bridegroom's courser, Next a tray with oats overloaded, And with softest hay another, And a third with chaff the finest.

"Curry then the bridegroom's courser, With the comb of bones of walrus, That the hair remain uninjured, Nor his handsome tail be twisted; 110 Cover then the bridegroom's courser With a cloth of silver fabric, And a mat of golden texture, And a horse-wrap decked with copper.

"Now my little village laddies, To the house conduct the bridegroom, Gently lift his hat from off him, From his hands his gloves take likewise.

"I would fain see if the bridegroom Presently the house can enter, 120 Ere the doors are lifted from it, And they have removed the doorposts, And have lifted up the crossbars, And the threshold has been sunken, And the nearer walls are broken, And the floor-planks have been shifted.

"But the house suits not the bridegroom, Nor the great gift suits the dwelling, Till the doors are lifted from it, And they have removed the doorposts, 130 And have lifted up the crossbars, And the threshold has been sunken, And the nearer walls been broken, And the flooring-planks been shifted, For the bridegroom's head is longer, And the bridegroom's ears are higher.

"Let the crossbars then be lifted, That his head the roof may touch not, Let the threshold now be sunken, That his footsoles may not touch it, 140 Let them now set back the doorposts, That the doors may open widely, When at length the bridegroom enters, When the noble youth approaches.

"Praise, O Jumala most gracious, For the bridegroom now has entered. I would now the house examine, Cast my gaze around within it, See that washed are all the tables, And the benches swabbed with water, 150 Scoured the smooth planks of the boarding, And the flooring swept and polished.

"Now that I the house examine, 'Tis so changed I scarcely know it, From what wood the room was fashioned, How the roof has been constructed, And the walls have been erected, And the flooring been constructed.

"Side-walls are of bones of hedgehog, Hinder-walls of bones of reindeer, 160 Front-walls of the bones of glutton, And of bones of lamb the crossbar. All the beams are wood of apple, And the posts of curving birchwood, Round the stove rest water-lilies, Scales of bream compose the ceiling.

"And one bench is formed of iron, Others made from Saxon timber, Gold-inlaid are all the tables; Floor o'erspread with silken carpets. 170

"And the stove is bright with copper, And the stove-bench stone-constructed, And the hearth composed of boulders, And with Kaleva's tree is boarded."

Then the house the bridegroom entered, Hastened on beneath the roof-tree, And he spoke the words which follow: "Grant, O Jumala, thy blessing Underneath this noble roof-tree, Underneath this roof so splendid." 180

Then said Pohjola's old Mistress, "Hail, all hail, to thee, who enters In this room of small dimensions, In this very lowly cottage, In this wretched house of firwood, In this house of pine constructed.

"O my little waiting-maiden, Thou the village maid I hired, Bring a piece of lighted birchbark, To a tarry torch apply it, 190 That I may behold the bridegroom, And the bridegroom's eyes examine, Whether they are blue or reddish; Whether they are white as linen."

Then the little waiting-maiden, She, the little village maiden, Brought a piece of lighted birchbark, To a tarry torch applied it. "From the bark the flame springs spluttering, From the tar black smoke's ascending, 200 So his eyes might perhaps be sooted, And his handsome face be blackened, Therefore bring a torch all flaming, Of the whitest wax constructed."

Then the little waiting-maiden, She the little village maiden, Lit a torch, and brought it flaming, Of the whitest wax constructed.

White like wax the smoke was rising, And the flame ascended brightly, 210 And the bridegroom's eyes were shining, And his face was all illumined. "Now the bridegroom's eyes I gaze on! They are neither blue nor reddish, Neither are they white like linen, But his eyes they shine like lake-foam, Like the lake-reed are they brownish, And as lovely as the bulrush.

"Now my little village laddies, Hasten to conduct the bridegroom 220 To a seat among the highest, To a place the most distinguished, With his back towards the blue wall, With his face towards the red board, There among the guests invited, Facing all the shouting people."

Then did Pohjola's old Mistress, Feast her guests in noble fashion, Feast them on the best of butter, And with cream-cakes in abundance; 230 Thus she served the guests invited, And among them first the bridegroom.

On the plates was placed the salmon, At the sides the pork was stationed, Dishes filled to overflowing, Laden to the very utmost, Thus to feast the guests invited; And among them first the bridegroom.

Then said Pohjola's old Mistress, "O my little waiting-maiden, 240 Bring me now the ale in measures, Bring it in the jugs two-handled, For the guests we have invited, And the bridegroom chief among them."

Then the little waiting-maiden, She, the servant hired for money, Brought the measures as directed, Handed round the five-hooped tankards, Till, with ale from hops concocted, All the beards with foam were whitened; 250 All the beards of guests invited; And among them most the bridegroom's.

What about the ale was spoken, Of the ale in five-hooped tankards, When at length it reached the minstrel, Reached the greatest of the singers, He the aged Väinämöinen, First and oldest of the singers, He the minstrel most illustrious, He the greatest of the Sages? 260

First of all the ale he lifted, Then he spoke the words which follow: "O thou ale, thou drink delicious, Let the drinkers not be moody! Urge the people on to singing, Let them shout, with mouth all golden, Till our lords shall wonder at it, And our ladies ponder o'er it, For the songs already falter, And the joyous tongues are silenced. 270 When the ale is ill-concocted, And bad drink is set before us, Then the minstrels fail in singing, And the best of songs they sing not, And our cherished guests are silent, And the cuckoos call no longer.

"Therefore who shall chant unto us, And whose tongue shall sing unto us, At the wedding feast of Pohja, This carouse at Sariola held? 280 Benches will not sing unto us, Save when people sit upon them, Nor will floors hold cheerful converse, Save when people walk upon them, Neither are the windows joyful, If the lords should gaze not from them, Nor resound the table's edges, If men sit not round the tables, Neither do the smoke-holes echo, If men sit not 'neath the smoke-holes." 290

On the floor a child was sitting, On the stove-bench sat a milkbeard, From the floor exclaimed the infant, And the boy spoke from the stove-bench: "I am not in years a father, Undeveloped yet my body, But however small I may be, If the other big ones sing not, And the stouter men will shout not, And the rosier cheeked will sing not, 300 Then I'll sing, although a lean boy, Though a thin boy, I will whistle, I will sing, though weak and meagre, Though my stomach is not rounded, That the evening may be cheerful, And the day may be more honoured."

By the stove there sat an old man, And he spoke the words which follow: "That the children sing befits not, Nor these feeble folk should carol. 310 Children's songs are only falsehoods, And the songs of girls are foolish. Let the wisest sing among us, Who upon the bench is seated."

Then the aged Väinämöinen, Answered in the words which follow: "Are there any who are youthful, Of the noblest of the people, Who will clasp their hands together, Hook their hands in one another, 320 And begin to speak unto us, Swaying back and forth in singing, That the day may be more joyful, And the evening be more blessed?"

From the stove there spoke the old man, "Never was it heard among us, Never heard or seen among us, Nor so long as time existed, That there lived a better minstrel, One more skilled in all enchantment, 330 Than myself when I was warbling, As a child when I was singing, Singing sweetly by the water, Making all the heath re-echo, Chanting loudly in the firwood, Talking likewise In the forest.