Chapter 9

But a little time thereafter, Scarce had half a month passed over, On a certain day it happened. As was usual in the evenings, 190 All the girls had met for pleasure, And the beauteous maids were dancing; In a grove near open country, On a lovely space of heathland. Kyllikki was first among them, She the far-famed Flower of Saari. Thither came the ruddy scoundrel, There drove lively Lemminkainen, With the best among his horses, With the horse that he had chosen, 200 Right into the green arena Where the beauteous maids were dancing. Kyllikki he seized and lifted, Then into the sledge he pushed her, And upon the bearskin sat her, That upon the sledge was lying.

With his whip he lashed the stallion, And he cracked the lash above him, And he started on his journey, And he cried while driving onward: 210 "O ye maidens, may ye never In your lives betray the secret, Speak of how I drove among you. And have carried off the maiden.

"But if you will not obey me, You will fall into misfortune; To the war I'll sing your lovers, And the youths beneath the sword-blades, That you hear no more about them, See them not in all your lifetime, 220 Either in the streets when walking. Or across the fields when driving."

Kyllikki lamented sorely, Sobbed the beauteous Flower of Saari: "Let me but depart in safety, Let the child depart in safety, Set me free to journey homeward To console my weeping mother.

"If you will not now release me, Set me free to journey homeward, 230 O then I have five strong brothers, And my uncle's sons are seven, Who can run with hare-like swiftness, And will haste the maid to rescue."

When she could not gain her freedom, She began to weep profusely, And she spoke the words which follow: "I, poor maid, was born for nothing, And for nought was born and fostered, And my life was lived for nothing, 240 Since I fall to one unworthy, In a worthless fellow's clutches, One for battle always ready, And a rude ferocious warrior."

Answered lively Lemminkainen, Said the handsome Kaukomieli: "Kyllikki, my dearest heart-core, Thou my sweetest little berry, Do not vex yourself so sorely, Do not thus give way to sadness. 250 I will cherish you when eating, And caress you on my journeys, Whether sitting, whether standing, Always near when I am resting.

"Wherefore then should you be troubled, Wherefore should you sigh for sorrow? Are you therefore grieved so sorely, Therefore do you sigh for trouble, Lest the cows or bread might fail you, Or provisions be deficient? 260

"Do not vex yourself so sorely, I have cows enough and plenty, Plenty are there, milk to yield me, Some, Muurikkis, in the marshes, Some, Mansikkis, on the hill-sides, Some, Puolukkas, on the clearing, Sleek they are, although unfoddered. Fine they are, although untended. In the evening none need bind them, In the evening none need loose them, 270 No one need provide them fodder, Nor give salt in morning hours.

"Or perchance are you lamenting, Sighing thus so full of trouble, That I am not high descended, Nor was born of noble lineage?

"If I am not high descended, Nor was born of noble lineage, Yet have I a sword of keenness, Gleaming brightly in the battle. 280 This is surely high descended, And has come of noble lineage, For the blade was forged by Hiisi And by Jumala 'twas polished, Thus am I so high descended. And I come of noblest lineage, With my sword so keenly sharpened Gleaming brightly in the battle."

But the maiden sighed with anguish, And in words like these made answer, 290 "O thou Ahti, son of Lempi, If you would caress the maiden, Keep her at your side for ever. Dove-like in thy arms for ever, Pledge thyself by oaths eternal, Not again to join in battle, Whether love of gold may lure you, Or your wish is fixed on silver."

Then the lively Lemminkainen Answered in the words which follow: 300 "Here I swear, by oaths eternal, Not again to join in battle, Whether love of gold may lure me, Or my wish is fixed on silver. But thyself on oath must pledge thee, Not to wander to the village, Whether for the love of dancing, Or to loiter in the pathways."

Then they took the oaths between them, And with oaths eternal bound them, 310 There in Jumala's high presence, In the sight of the Almighty, Ahti should not go to battle, Nor should Kylli seek the village.

Then the lively Lemminkainen Whipped his steed to faster running, Shook the reins to urge him onward, And he spoke the words which follow: "Now farewell to Saari's meadows, Roots of pine, and trunks of fir-trees, 320 Where I wandered for a summer, Where I tramped throughout the winter, And on cloudy nights took shelter, Hiding from the stormy weather, While I waited for my dear one, And to bear away my darling."

On he urged his prancing courser, Till he saw his home before him, And the maiden spoke as follows, And in words like these addressed him: 330 "Lo, I see a hut before us, Looking like a place of famine. Tell me whose may be the cottage, Whose may be this wretched dwelling?"

Then the lively Lemminkainen Answered in the words which follow: "Do not grieve about the hovel, Sigh not for the hut before you. We will build us other houses, And establish better dwellings, 340 Built of all the best of timber, With the very best of planking."

Thus the lively Lemminkainen Reached again his home in safety, Finding there his dearest mother, She, his old and much-loved mother.

And his mother spoke as follows, And expressed herself in thiswise: "Long, my son, have you been absent, Long in foreign lands been roaming." 350

Said the lively Lemminkainen, And he spoke the words which follow: "I have brought to shame the women, With the modest girls have sported, And have well repaid the laughter, And the jests they heaped upon me. To my sledge the best I carried, And upon the rug I sat her, And between the runners laid her, And beneath the rug I hid her; 360 Thus repaid the laughing women, And the joking of the maidens.

"O my mother, who hast borne me, O my mother, who hast reared me, I have gained what I have sought for, And have won what most I longed for. Now prepare the best of bolsters, And the softest of the cushions, In my native land to rest me. With the young and lovely maiden." 370

Then his mother spoke as follows, And in words like these expressed her: "Now to Jumala be praises, Praise to thee, O great Creator For the daughter thou hast sent me, Who can fan the flames up brightly, Who can work at weaving deftly, And is skilful, too, in spinning, And accomplished, too, in washing, And can bleach the clothes to whiteness. 380

"For thy own weal thank him also; Good is won, and good brought homeward: Good decreed by the Creator, Good that's granted by his mercy. On the snow is fair the bunting, Fairer yet is she beside thee; White the foam upon the water, Whiter yet this noble lady: On the lake the duck is lovely, Lovelier yet thy cherished darling; 390 Brilliant is a star in heaven, Brighter yet thy promised fair one.

"Let the floors be wide expanded, And the windows widened greatly, Let new walls be now erected, All the house be greatly bettered, And the threshold new-constructed, Place new doors upon the threshold, For the youthful bride beside you, She, of all the very fairest, 400 She, the best of all the maidens, And the noblest in her lineage."

RUNO XII.--LEMMINKAINEN'S FIRST EXPEDITION TO POHJOLA

_Argument_

Kyllikki forgets her oath and goes to the village, whereupon Lemminkainen is enraged and resolves to divorce her immediately, and to set forth to woo the Maiden of Pohja (1-128). His mother does her utmost to dissuade him, telling him that he will very probably be killed. Lemminkainen, who is brushing his hair, throws the brush angrily out of his hand and declares that blood shall flow from the brush if he should come to harm (129-212). He makes ready, starts on his journey, comes to Pohjola, and sings all the men out of the homestead of Pohjola; and only neglects to enchant one wicked cowherd (213-504).

Then did Ahti Lemminkainen, He the handsome Kaukolainen Live awhile a life of quiet With the young bride he had chosen, And he went not forth to battle, Nor went Kylli to the village.

But at length one day it happened In the early morning hours, Forth went Ahti Lemminkainen To the place where spawn the fishes, 10 And he came not home at evening, And at nightfall he returned not. Kyllikki then sought the village, There to dance with sportive maidens.

Who shall now the tidings carry, Who will now convey a message? Ainikki 'twas, Ahti's sister, She it was who brought the tidings, She it was conveyed the message. "Ahti, O my dearest brother, 20 Kyllikki has sought the village, Entered there the doors of strangers, Where the village girls are sporting, Dancing with unbraided tresses."

Ahti then, for ever boyish, He the lively Lemminkainen, Grew both sorrowful and angry, And for long was wild with fury, And he spoke the words which follow: "O my mother, aged woman, 30 Wash my shirt, and wash it quickly In the black snake's deadly venom, Dry it then, and dry it quickly That I may go forth to battle, And contend with youths of Pohja, And o'erthrow the youths of Lapland. Kyllikki has sought the village, Entered there the doors of strangers, There to dance with sportive maidens, With their tresses all unbraided." 40

Kyllikki made answer promptly, She his favoured bride responded: "Ahti, O my dearest husband, Do not now depart to battle! I beheld while I was sleeping, While my slumber was the deepest, From the hearth the flames were flashing, Flashing forth with dazzling brightness, Leaping up below the windows, To the furthest walls extending, 50 Then throughout the house blazed fiercely, Like a cataract in its fury, O'er the surface of the flooring, And from window unto window."

But the lively Lemminkainen Answered in the words which follow: "Nought I trust in dreams of women, Nor rely on woman's insight. O my mother who hast borne me, Bring me here my war-shirt quickly, 60 Bring me, too, my mail for battle, For my inclination leads me Hence to drink the beer of battle, And to taste the mead of combat."

Then his mother spoke in answer: "O my son, my dearest Ahti, Do thou not go forth to battle! In the house is beer in plenty, In the barrels made of alder. And behind the taps of oakwood. 70 It is seasoned now for drinking, And all day canst thou be singing."

Said the lively Lemminkainen, "But for home-brewed ale I care not, Rather would I drink stream-water, From the end of tarry rudder, And this drink were sweeter to me Than the beer in all our cellars. Bring me here my war-shirt quickly, Bring me, too, my mail for battle. 80 I will seek the homes of Pohja, And o'erthrow the youths of Lapland, And for gold will ask the people, And I will demand their silver."

Then said Lemminkainen's mother, "O my son, my dearest Ahti, We ourselves have gold in plenty, Silver plenty in the storeroom. Only yesterday it happened, In the early hours of morning, 90 Ploughed the slave a field of vipers, Full of twining, twisting serpents, And a chest-lid raised the ploughshare, And the chest was full of money. Coins by hundreds there were hidden, Thousands there were squeezed together, To our stores the chest was carried, In the loft we stored it safely."

Said the lively Lemminkainen, "Nought I care for home-stored treasures. 100 I will win me marks in battle, Treasures won by far are better, Than the gold in all our storerooms, Or the silver found in ploughing. Bring me here my war-shirt quickly, Bring me, too, my mail for battle, I will go to war in Pohja, To destroy the sons of Lapland.

"There my inclination leads me And my understanding drives me, 110 And my own ears shall inform me, And my own eyes show me truly, If in Pohjola a maiden, In Pimentola a maiden, Is not longing for a lover, For the best of men desirous."

Then said Lemminkainen's mother, "O my son, my dearest Ahti, Kyllikki at home is with thee, Fairest she of all the housewives. 120 Strange it were to see two women In a bed beside one husband."

Said the lively Lemminkainen, "Kyllikki has sought the village. Let her go to all the dances, Let her sleep in all the houses, Where the village girls are sporting, Dancing with unbraided tresses."

Still his mother would dissuade him, And the aged woman warned him: 130 "Yet beware, my son, and go not Unto Pohjola's dread homestead, Destitute of magic knowledge, Destitute of all experience, There to meet the youths of Pohja, And to conquer Lapland's children! There the Laplanders will sing you, And the Turja men will thrust you, Head in clay, and mouth in charcoal, With your arms where sparks are flying, 140 And your hands in glowing embers, There upon the burning hearthstones."

Lemminkainen heard and answered: "Once some sorcerers would enchant me, Wizards charm, and snakes would blast me. As three Laplanders attempted Through the night in time of summer, On a rock all naked standing, Wearing neither clothes nor waistband; Not a rag was twisted round them, 150 But they got what I could give them, Like the miserable codfish, Like the axe on stone that's battered, Or against the rock the auger, Or on slippery ice a sabot, Or like Death in empty houses.

"Otherwise indeed they threatened, Otherwise events had happened, For they wanted to o'erthrow me, Threatened they would sink me deeply 160 In the swamp when I was walking, That in mire I might be sunken, In the mud my chin pushed downward, And my beard in filthy places. But indeed a man they found me, And they did not greatly fright me, I myself put forth my magic, And began my spells to mutter, Sang the wizards with their arrows, And the archers with their weapons, 170 Sorcerers with their knives of iron, Soothsayers with their pointed weapons, Under Tuoni's mighty Cataract, Where the surge is most terrific, Underneath the highest cataract, 'Neath the worst of all the whirlpools. There the sorcerers now may slumber, There repose beneath their blankets, Till the grass may spring above them, Through their heads and caps sprout upward, 180 Through the arm-pits of the sorcerers, Piercing through their shoulder-muscles, While the wizards sleep in soundness, Sleeping there without protection."

Still his mother would restrain him, Hinder Lemminkainen's journey, Once again her son dissuaded, And the dame held back the hero. "Do not go, O do not venture To that cold and dreary village, 190 To the gloomy land of Pohja. There destruction sure awaits you, Evil waits for thee, unhappy, Ruin, lively Lemminkainen! Hadst thou hundred mouths to speak with, Even so, one could not think it, Nor that by thy songs of magic Lapland's sons would be confounded. For you know not Turja's language, Not the tongue they speak in Lapland." 200

Then the lively Lemminkainen, He the handsome Kaukomieli, As it chanced, his hair was brushing, And with greatest neatness brushed it. To the wall his brush then cast he, To the stove the comb flung after, And again he spoke and answered, In the very words which follow: "Ruin falls on Lemminkainen, Evil waits for him unhappy, 210 When the brush with blood is running, And the comb with blood is streaming."

Then went lively Lemminkainen, To the gloomy land of Pohja, 'Spite the warnings of his mother, 'Gainst the aged woman's counsel. First he armed him, and he girt him. In his coat of mail he clad him, With a belt of steel encompassed, And he spoke the words which follow: 220 "Stronger feels a man in armour, In the best of iron mail-coats, And of steel a magic girdle, As a wizard 'gainst magicians. Then no trouble need alarm him, Nor the greatest evil fright him."

Then he grasped his sword so trusty, Took his blade, like flame that glittered, Which by Hiisi's self was whetted. And by Jumala was polished. 230 By his side the hero girt it, Thrust in sheath with leather lining.

How shall now the man conceal him, And the mighty hero hide him? There a little time he hid him, And the mighty one concealed him, 'Neath the beam above the doorway, By the doorpost of the chamber. In the courtyard by the hayloft, By the gate of all the furthest. 240

Thus it was the hero hid him From the sight of all the women, But such art is not sufficient, And such caution would not serve him, For he likewise must protect him From the heroes of the people, There where two roads have their parting. On a blue rock's lofty summit, And upon the quaking marshes, Where the waves are swiftly coursing, 250 Where the waterfall is rushing, In the winding of the rapids.

Then the lively Lemminkainen Spoke the very words which follow: "Rise ye up from earth, O swordsmen, You, the earth's primeval heroes, From the wells arise, ye warriors, From the rivers rise, ye bowmen! With thy dwarfs arise, O woodlands Forest, come with all thy people, 260 Mountain-Ancient, with thy forces, Water-Hiisi, with thy terrors, Water-Mistress, with thy people, With thy scouts, O Water-Father, All ye maidens from the valleys, Richly robed, among the marshes, Come ye to protect a hero, Comrades of a youth most famous, That the sorcerers' arrows strike not, Nor the swords of the magicians, 270 Nor the knife-blades of enchanters, Nor the weapons of the archers.

"If this be not yet sufficient, Still I know of other measures, And implore the very Highest, Even Ukko in the heavens, He of all the clouds the ruler, Of the scattered clouds conductor.

"Ukko, thou of Gods the highest, Aged Father in the heavens, 280 Thou amidst the clouds who breathest, Thou amid the air who speakest, Give me here a sword of fire, By a sheath of fire protected, That I may resist misfortune, And I may avoid destruction, Overthrow the powers infernal, Overcome the water-sorcerers, That all foes that stand before me, And the foes who stand behind me, 290 And above me and beside me, May be forced to own my power. Crush the sorcerers, with their arrows, The magicians, with their knife-blades, And the wizards with their sword-blades, All the scoundrels with their weapons."

Then the lively Lemminkainen, He the handsome Kaukomieli, From the bush his courser whistled, From the grass, the gold-maned courser. 300 Thereupon the horse he harnessed, In the shafts the fiery courser, In the sledge himself he seated, And the sledge began to rattle. O'er the horse his whip he flourished, Cracked the whip, and urged him onward, Started quickly on his journey. Rocked the sledge, the way grew shorten And the silver sand was scattered, And the golden heather crackled. 310

Thus he drove one day, a second; Drove upon the third day likewise, And at length upon the third day Came the hero to a village. Then the lively Lemminkainen Drove the rattling sledge straight onward Forth along the furthest pathway. To the furthest of the houses, And he asked upon the thresholds Speaking from behind the window: 320 "Is there some one in this household Who can loose my horse's harness, And can sink the shaft-poles for me, And can loose the horse's collar?"

From the floor a child made answer. And a boy from out the doorway: "There is no one in this threshold, Who can loose your horse's harness, Or can sink the shaft-poles for you. Or can loose the horse's collar." 330

Little troubled Lemminkainen, O'er the horse his whip he brandished, With the beaded whip he smote him, Drove the rattling sledge straight onward, On the midmost of the pathways To the midmost of the houses, And he asked upon the threshold, And beneath the eaves he shouted: "Is there no one in this household Who will hold the horse-reins for me, 340 And the chest-bands will unloosen, That the foaming steed may rest him?"

From the stove a crone responded From the stove-bench cried a gossip: "There are plenty in this household Who can hold the horse-reins for you, And the chest-bands can unloosen, And can sink the shaft-poles for you. Perhaps ten men may be sufficient. Or a hundred If you need them, 350 Who would raise their sticks against you, Give you, too, a beast of burden, And would drive you homeward, rascal, To your country, wretched creature, To the household of your father, To the dwelling of your mother, To the gateway of your brother, To the threshold of your sister, Ere this very day is ended, Ere the sun has reached its setting." 360

Little heeded Lemminkainen, And he spoke the words which follow: "May they shoot the crone, and club her, On her pointed chin, and kill her." Then again he hurried onward, Thundering on upon his journey, On the highest of the pathways, To the highest of the houses.

Then the lively Lemminkainen Reached the house to which he journeyed, 370 And he spoke the words which follow, And expressed himself in thiswise: "Stop the barker's mouth, O Hiisi, And the dog's jaws close, O Lempo, And his mouth securely muzzle, That his gagged teeth may be harmless, That he may not bark a warning When a man is passing by him."