Part 2

With his whip he struck the courser, With the beaded whip he struck him, 500 And the horse sped quickly onward, And the steed sprang lightly forward.

Then he drove a little further, But a little way had travelled, When the horse again was shying, And again the steed was neighing. From the sledge again he raised him, And he strove to gaze around him, And he saw, as said his mother, As his aged mother warned him, 510 Right in front a trench of fire, Right across the path extending, Ever to the east extending, North-west endlessly extending, Full of stones to redness heated, Full of blocks of stone all glowing.

Little troubled Lemminkainen, But he raised a prayer to Ukko. "Ukko, thou, of Gods the highest, Ukko, thou, our Heavenly Father, 520 Send thou now a cloud from north-west, Send thou from the west a second, And a third to east establish.

"In the north-east let them gather, Push their borders all together, Drive them edge to edge together, Let the snow fall staff-deep round me, Deep as is the length of spear-shaft, On these stones to redness heated, Blocks of stone all fiery glowing." 530

Ukko, then, of Gods the highest, He the aged Heavenly Father, Sent a cloud from out the north-west, From the west he sent a second, In the east a cloud let gather, Let them gather in the north-east; And he heaped them all together, And he closed the gaps between them, Let the snow fall staff-deep downward, Deep as is the length of spear-shaft, 540 On the stones to redness heated, Blocks of stone all fiery glowing. From the snow a pond was fashioned, And a lake with icy waters. Then the lively Lemminkainen Sang a bridge of ice together, Stretching right across the snow-pond, From the one bank to the other, O'er the fiery trench passed safely, Passed the second day in safety. 550

With his whip he urged the courser, Cracked the whip all bead-embroidered, And began to travel quickly, As the courser trotted onward.

Quick he ran a verst, a second, For a short space well proceeded, When he suddenly stopped standing, Would not stir from his position.

Then the lively Lemminkainen Started up to gaze around him. 560 In the gate the wolf was standing, And the bear before the passage, There in Pohjola's dread gateway, At the end of a long passage. Then the lively Lemminkainen, He the handsome Kaukomieli, Quickly felt into his pocket, What his pouch contained exploring, And he took some ewe's wool from it, And until 'twas soft he rubbed it, 570 And between his palms he rubbed it, 'Twixt his fingers ten in number.

On his palms then gently breathing, Ewes ran bleating forth between them, Quite a flock of sheep he fashioned, And a flock of lambs among them, And the wolf rushed straight upon them, And the bear rushed after likewise, While the lively Lemminkainen, Further drove upon his journey. 580

Yet a little space he journeyed, Unto Pohjola's enclosure. There a fence was raised of iron, Fenced with steel the whole enclosure, In the ground a hundred fathoms, In the sky a thousand fathoms, Spears they were which formed the hedgestakes, And for wattles creeping serpents, Thus the fence with snakes was wattled And among them there were lizards, 590 And their tails were always waving, And their thick heads always swelling, Rows of heads erected always, Heads turned out and tails turned inwards.

Then the lively Lemminkainen Gave himself to his reflections. "This is what my mother told me, This is what my mother dreaded; Here I find a fence tremendous Reared aloft from earth to heaven, 600 Down below there creeps a viper, Deeper yet the fence is sunken, Up aloft a bird is flying, But the fence is builded higher."

Natheless was not Lemminkainen Greatly troubled or uneasy; From the sheath he drew his knife out, From the sheath an iron weapon, And he hewed the fence to pieces, And in twain he clove the hedgestakes; 610 Thus he breached the fence of iron, And he drove away the serpents From the space between five hedgestakes, Likewise from the space 'twixt seven, And himself pursued his journey, On to Pohjola's dark portal.

In the path a snake was twisting, Just in front across the doorway, Even longer than the roof-tree, Thicker than the hall's great pillars, 620 And the snake had eyes a hundred, And the snake had tongues a thousand, And his eyes than sieves were larger, And his tongues were long as spear-shafts, And his fangs were like rake-handles; Seven boats' length his back extended. Then the lively Lemminkainen Would not instantly move onward To the snake with eyes a hundred, And the snake with tongues a thousand. 630

Spoke the lively Lemminkainen, Said the handsome Kaukomieli: "Serpent black and subterranean, Worm whose hue is that of Tuoni, Thou amidst the grass who lurkest, At the roots of Lempo's foliage, Gliding all among the hillocks, Creeping all among the tree-roots, Who has brought thee from the stubble, From the grass-roots has aroused thee, 640 Creeping here on ground all open, Creeping there upon the pathway? Who has sent thee from thy nettles, Who has ordered and provoked thee That thy head thou liftest threatening, And thy neck thou stiffly raisest? Was't thy father or thy mother, Or the eldest of thy brothers, Or the youngest of thy sisters, Or some other near relation? 650

"Close thy mouth, thy head conceal thou, Hide thou quick thy tongue within it, Coil thyself together tightly, Roll thyself into a circle, Give me way, though but a half-way, Let the traveller make his journey, Or begone from out the pathway. Creep, thou vile one, in the bushes, In the holes among the heathland, And among the moss conceal thee, 660 Glide away, like ball of worsted, Like a withered stick of aspen. Hide thy head among the grass-roots, Hide thyself among the hillocks, 'Neath the turf thy mouth conceal thou, Make thy dwelling in a hillock. If you lift your head from out it, Ukko surely will destroy it, With his nails, all steely-pointed, With a mighty hail of iron." 670

Thus was Lemminkainen talking, But the serpent heeded nothing, And continued always hissing, Darting out its tongue for ever, And its mouth was always hissing At the head of Lemminkainen. Then the lively Lemminkainen Of an ancient spell bethought him, Which the old crone once had taught him, Which his mother once had taught him. 680

Said the lively Lemminkainen, Spoke the handsome Kaukomieli, "If you do not heed my singing, And it is not quite sufficient, Still you will swell up with anguish When an ill day comes upon you. Thou wilt burst in two, O vile one, O thou toad, in three will burst thou, If I should seek out your mother, And should search for your ancestress. 690 Well I know thy birth, vile creature, Whence thou comest, earthly horror, For Syöjätär was your mother, And the sea-fiend was your parent.

"Syöjätär she spat in water, In the waves she left the spittle, By the wind 'twas rocked thereafter, Tossed upon the water-current, Thus for six years it was shaken, Thus for seven whole summers drifted, 700 On the ocean's shining surface, And upon the swelling billows. Thus for long the water stretched it, By the sun 'twas warmed and softened, To the land the billows drove it, On the beach a wave upcast it.

"Walked three Daughters of Creation On the beach of stormy ocean, On the beach, the waves that bounded, On the beach they saw the spittle, 710 And they spoke the words which follow: 'What might perhaps of this be fashioned, If a life by the Creator, And if eyes were granted to it?'

"This was heard by the Creator, And he spoke the words which follow: 'Evil only comes from evil, And a toad from toad's foul vomit, If I gave a life unto it, And if eyes were granted to it.' 720

"But the words were heard by Hiisi, One for mischief always ready, And he set about creating; Hiisi gave a life unto it, Of the slime of toad disgusting, From Syöjätär's filthy spittle, Formed from this a twisting serpent, To a black snake he transformed it.

"Whence the life he gave unto it? Life he brought from Hiisi's coal-heap. 730 Whence was then its heart created? Out of Syöjätär's own heartstrings. Whence the brains for this foul creature? From a mighty torrent's foaming. Whence its sense obtained the monster? From a furious cataract's foaming. Whence a head, this foul enchantment? From the bean, a bean all rotten. Whence were then its eyes created? From a seed of flax of Lempo. 740 Whence were the toad's ears created? From the leaves of Lempo's birch-tree. Whence was then its mouth constructed? Syöjätär's own mouth supplied it. Whence the tongue in mouth so evil? From the spear of Keitolainen. Teeth for such an evil creature? From the beard of Tuoni's barley. Whence its filthy gums created? From the gums of Kalma's maiden. 750 Whence was then its back constructed? Of the coals of fire of Hiisi. Whence its wriggling tail constructed? From the plaits of Pahalainen. Whence its entrails were constructed? These were drawn from Death's own girdle.

"This thy origin, O serpent, This thy honour, as reported; Black snake from the world infernal, Serpent of the hue of Tuoni, 760 Hue of earth, and hue of heather, All the colours of the rainbow. Go from out the wanderer's pathway, From before the travelling hero, Yield the pathway to the traveller, Make a way for Lemminkainen To the feast at Pohja holden, Where they hold the great carousal."

Then the snake obeyed his orders, And the hundred-eyed drew backward, 770 And the great snake twisted sideways, Turning in a new direction, Giving thus the traveller pathway, Making way for Lemminkainen To the feast at Pohja holden, And the secret-held carousal.

RUNO XXVII.--THE DUEL AT POHJOLA

_Argument_

Lemminkainen comes to Pohjola and behaves with the greatest insolence (1-204). The Lord of Pohjola grows angry, and as he can do nothing against Lemminkainen by magic, he challenges him to a duel (205-282). In the course of the duel Lemminkainen strikes off the head of the Lord of Pohjola, and to avenge this, the Mistress of Pohjola raises an army against him (283-420).

Now that I have brought my Kauko, Carried Ahto Saarelainen, Often past Death's jaw expanded, Past the very tongue of Kalma, To the banquet held at Pohja, And to the concealed carousal, Now must I relate in detail, And my tongue relate in fulness, How the lively Lemminkainen, He the handsome Kaukomieli, 10 To the homestead came of Pohja, Halls of Sariola the misty, Uninvited to the banquet, To the drinking-bout unbidden.

Thus the lively Lemminkainen, Ruddy youth, and arrant scoundrel, In the room at once came forward, Walking to the very middle; 'Neath him swayed the floor of linden, And the room of firwood rattled. 20

Spoke the lively Lemminkainen, And he said the words which follow: "Greetings to ye on my coming, Greetings also to the greeter! Hearken, Pohjola's great Master, Have you here within this dwelling, Barley for the horse's fodder, Beer to offer to the hero?"

There sat Pohjola's great Master, At the end of the long table, 30 And from thence he made his answer, In the very words which follow: "Perhaps there is within this dwelling, Standing room for your fine courser, Nor would I indeed forbid you In the room a quiet corner, Or to stand within the doorway, In the doorway, 'neath the rafters, In the space between two kettles, There where three large hoes are standing." 40

Then the lively Lemminkainen Tore his black beard in his anger, ('Twas the colour of a kettle), And he spoke the words which follow: "Lempo might perchance be willing, Thus to stand within the doorway, Where he might with soot be dirtied, While the soot falls all around him! But at no time did my father, Never did my aged father 50 Ever stand in such a station, In the doorway, 'neath the rafters! There was always room sufficient For his horse within the stable, And a clean room for the hero, And a place to put his gloves in, Pegs whereon to hang his mittens, Walls where swords may rest in order. Why should I not also find it, As my father always found it?" 60

After this he strode on further, To the end of the long table, At the bench-end then he sat him, At the end of bench of firwood, And the bench it cracked beneath him, And the bench of firwood tottered.

Said the lively Lemminkainen, "Seems to me that I'm unwelcome, As no ale is offered to me, To the guest who just has entered." 70

Ilpotar, the noble Mistress, Answered in the words which follow: "O thou boy, O Lemminkainen, Not as guest thou com'st among us, But upon my head to trample, And to make it bow before you, For our ale is still in barley. Still in malt the drink delicious, And the wheatbread still unbaken, And unboiled the meat remaineth. 80 Yesternight you should have entered, Or perchance have come to-morrow."

Then the lively Lemminkainen, Twisted mouth and turned his head round, Tore his black beard in his anger, And he spoke the words which follow: "Eaten is the feast already, Finished feast, and drunk the bride-ale, And the ale has been divided, To the men the mead been given, 90 And the cans away been carried, And the pint-pots laid in storage.

"Pohjola's illustrious Mistress, Long-toothed Mistress of Pimentola, Thou hast held the wedding badly, And in doggish fashion held it, Baked the bread in loaves enormous, Thou hast brewed the beer of barley, Six times sent thy invitations, Nine times hast thou sent a summons, 100 Thou hast asked the poor, the spectres, Asked the scum, and asked the wastrels, Asked the leanest of the loafers, Labourers with one garment only; All folks else thou hast invited, Me rejected uninvited.

"Wherefore should I thus be treated, When I sent myself the barley? Others brought it by the spoonful, Others poured it out by dishfuls, 110 But I poured it out in bushels, By the half-ton out I poured it, Of my own, the best of barley, Corn which I had sown aforetime.

"'Tis not now that Lemminkainen, Is a guest of great distinction, For no ale is offered to me, Nor the pot set on the fire. In the pot is nothing cooking, Not a pound of pork you give me, 120 Neither food nor drink you give me, Now my weary journey's ended."

Ilpotar, the noble Mistress, Uttered then the words which follow: "O my little waiting-maiden, O my ever-ready servant, Put into the pot some dinner, Bring some ale to give the stranger."

Then the girl, the child so wretched, Washed the worst of all the dishes, 130 And the spoons she then was wiping, And the ladles she was scouring, Then into the pot put dinner, Bones of meat, and heads of fishes, Very ancient stalks of turnips, Crusts of bread of stony hardness, And a pint of ale she brought him, And a can of filthy victuals, Gave it lively Lemminkainen That he should drink out the refuse, 140 And she spoke the words which follow: "If you are indeed a hero, Can you drink the ale I bring you, Nor upset the can that holds it?"

Lemminkainen, youth so lively, Looked at once into the pint-pot, And below a worm was creeping, In the midst there crept a serpent, On the edge were serpents creeping, Lizards also there were gliding. 150

Said the lively Lemminkainen, Loudly grumbled Kaukomieli, "Off to Tuonela the bearer, Quick to Manala the handmaid, Ere the moon again has risen, Or this very day is ended!"

Afterwards these words he added, "O thou beer, thou drink so nasty, In an evil hour concocted, Evil only lurks within thee! 160 Notwithstanding I will drink it, On the ground will cast the refuse, With my nameless finger lift it, With my left thumb will I lift it."

Then he felt into his pocket, And within his pouch was searching, Took an angle from his pocket, Iron hooks from out his satchel, Dropped it down into the pint-pot, In the ale began to angle, 170 Hooked the snakes upon his fish-hooks, On his hooks the evil vipers, Up he drew of toads a hundred, And of dusky snakes a thousand. Down upon the ground he threw them, Threw them all upon the planking, Thereupon a sharp knife taking, From the sheath he quickly drew it, Cut the heads from off the serpents, Broke the necks of all the serpents. 180 Then he drank the ale with gusto, Drank the black mead with enjoyment, And he spoke the words which follow: "As a guest I am not honoured, Since no ale was brought unto me Which was better worth my drinking, Offered me by hands more careful, In a larger vessel brought me; Since no sheep was slaughtered for me, No gigantic steer was slaughtered, 190 In the hall no ox they brought me, From the house of hooféd cattle."

Then did Pohjola's great Master, Answer in the words which follow: "Wherefore have you then come hither, Who invited you among us?"

Answered lively Lemminkainen, Said the handsome Kaukomieli: "Good is perhaps the guest invited, Better still if uninvited. 200 Hearken then, thou son of Pohja, Pohjola's illustrious Master, Give me ale for cash directly, Reach me here some drink for money."

Then did Pohjola's great Master, Angry grow and greatly furious, Very furious and indignant, Sang a pond upon the flooring, In the front of Lemminkainen, And he said the words which follow: 210 "Here's a river you may drink of, Here's a pond that you may splash in."

Little troubled Lemminkainen, And he spoke the words which follow: "I'm no calf by women driven, Nor a bull with tail behind me, That I drink of river-water, Or from filthy ponds the water."

Then himself began to conjure, And, himself commenced his singing, 220 Sang upon the floor a bullock, Mighty ox with horns all golden, And he soon drank up the puddle, Drank the river up with pleasure.

But the mighty son of Pohja, By his spells a wolf created, And upon the floor he sang him, To devour the fleshy bullock.

Lemminkainen, youth so lively, Sang a white hare to his presence, 230 And upon the floor 'twas leaping, Near the wolf-jaws widely opened.

But the mighty son of Pohja, Sang a dog with pointed muzzle; And the dog the hare devoured, Rent the Squint-eye into fragments.

Lemminkainen, youth so lively, On the rafters sang a squirrel, And it frolicked on the rafters, And the dog was barking at it. 240

But the mighty son of Pohja, Sang a golden-breasted marten, And the marten seized the squirrel, On the rafter's end while sitting.

Lemminkainen, youth so lively, Sang a fox of ruddy colour, And it killed the gold-breast marten, And destroyed the handsome-haired one.

But the mighty son of Pohja By his spells a hen created, 250 And upon the ground 'twas walking, Just before the fox's muzzle.

Lemminkainen, youth so lively, Thereupon a hawk created, Quickly with its claws it seized it, And it tore the hen to pieces.

Then said Pohjola's great Master, In the very words which follow: "Better will not be the banquet, Nor the guest-provision lessened. 260 House for work, the road for strangers, Unrefreshed from the carousal! Quit this place, O scamp of Hiisi, Haste away from all folks' knowledge, To thy home, O toad the basest, Forth, O scoundrel, to thy country!"

Answered lively Lemminkainen, Said the handsome Kaukomieli, "None would let himself be banished, Not a man, how bad soever, 270 From this place be ever driven, Forced to fly from such a station."

Then did Pohjola's great Master, Snatch his sword from wall where hanging, Grasped in haste the sharpened weapon, And he spoke the words which follow: "O thou Ahti Saarelainen, Or thou handsome Kaukomieli, Let us match our swords together, Match the glitter of the sword-blades, 280 Whether my sword is the better, Or is Ahti Saarelainen's."

Said the lively Lemminkainen, "Little of my sword is left me, For on bones it has been shattered, And on skulls completely broken! But let this be as it may be, If no better feast is ready, Let us struggle, and determine Which of our two swords is favoured. 290 Ne'er in former times my father In a duel has been worsted, Why should then his son be different, Or his child be like a baby?"

Sword he took, and bared his sword-blade, And he drew his sharp-edged weapon, Drew it from the leather scabbard, Hanging at his belt of lambskin. Then they measured and inspected Which of their two swords was longer, 300 And a very little longer, Was the sword of Pohja's Master, As upon the nail the blackness, Or a half-joint of a finger.

Spoke then Ahti Saarelainen, Said the handsome Kaukomieli, "As your sword is rather longer, Let the first attack be yours."

Then did Pohjola's great Master, Aim a blow, and tried to strike him, 310 Aimed his sword, but never struck it, On the head of Lemminkainen. Once indeed he struck the rafters, And the beams resounded loudly, And across the beam was shattered, And the arch in twain was broken.

Then spoke Ahti Saarelainen, Said the handsome Kaukomieli: "Well, what mischief did the rafters, And what harm the beam effected, 320 That you thus attack the rafters, And have made the arch to rattle?