Part 5

With his hands the Frost then seized he, Grasped him in his fists securely, And he spoke the words which follow, And in words like these expressed him: "Pakkanen, Puhuri's offspring, Thou, the son of cold of winter, Do not make my fingers frozen, Nor my little toes thus stiffen. Let my ears remain unhandled, Do not freeze my head upon me. 190

"There's enough that may be frozen, Much is left you for your freezing, Though the skins of men you freeze not, Nor the forms of mother's children. Be the plains and marshes frozen, Freeze the stones to frozen coldness, Freeze the willows near the water, Grasp the aspen till it murmurs, Peel the bark from off the birch-tree, And the pine-trees break to pieces, 200 But the men you shall not trouble, Nor the hair of mother's children.

"If this is not yet sufficient, Other things remain for freezing. Thou may'st freeze the stones when heated, And the slabs of stone when glowing, Thou may'st freeze the iron mountains, And the rocks of steely hardness, And the mighty river Vuoksi, Or the Imatra terrific, 210 Stop the course of raging whirlpool, Foaming in its utmost fury.

"Shall I tell you of your lineage, And shall I make known your honours? Surely do I know thy lineage, All I know of thine uprearing; For the Frost was born 'mid willows, Nurtured in the sharpest weather, Near to Pohjola's great homestead, Near the hall of Pimentola, 220 Sprung from father, ever crime-stained, And from a most wicked mother.

"Who was it the Frost who suckled, Bathed him in the glowing weather? Milkless wholly was his mother, And his mother wholly breastless.

"Adders 'twas the Frost who suckled, Adders suckled, serpents fed him, Suckled with their pointless nipples, Suckled with their dried-up udders, 230 And the Northwind rocked his cradle, And to rest the cold air soothed him, In the wretched willow-thicket, In the midst of quaking marshes.

"And the boy was reared up vicious, Led an evil life destructive, But as yet no name was given, To a boy so wholly worthless; When at length a name was given, Frost it was they called the scoundrel. 240

"Then he wandered by the hedges, Always dancing in the bushes, Wading through the swamps in summer On the broadest of the marshes, Roaring through the pines in winter, Crying out among the fir-trees, Crashing through the woods of birch-trees, Sweeping through the alder-thickets, Freezing all the trees and grasses, Making level all the meadows. 250 From the trees he bit the foliage, From the heather bit the blossoms, Cracked the bark from off the pine-trees, And the twigs from off the fir-trees.

"Now that thou hast grown to greatness, And attained thy fullest stature, Dar'st thou me with cold to threaten, And to seize my ears attemptest, To attack my feet beneath me, And my finger-tips attacking? 260

"But I shall not let you freeze me. Not to miserably freeze me, Fire I'll thrust into my stockings, In my boots thrust burning firebrands, In the seams thrust burning embers, Fire will thrust beneath my shoestrings, That the Frost may never freeze me, Nor the sharpest weather harm me.

"Thither will I now condemn thee, To the furthest bounds of Pohja, 270 To the place from whence thou camest, To the home from whence thou camest. Freeze upon the fire the kettles, And the coals upon the hearthstone, In the dough the hands of women, And the boy in young wife's bosom, In the ewes the milk congeal thou, And in mares let foals be frozen.

"If to this thou pay'st no heeding, Then indeed will I condemn thee 280 To the midst of coals of Hiisi, Even to the hearth of Lempo, Thrust thee there into the furnace, Lay thee down upon the anvil, Unprotected from the hammer, From the pounding of the hammer, That the hammer beat thee helpless, And the hammer beat thee sorely.

"If this will not overcome thee, And my spells are insufficient, 290 Still I know another station, Know a fitting station for thee. I will lead thy mouth to summer, And thy tongue to home of summer, Whence thou never canst release thee, In the course of all thy lifetime, If I do not give thee freedom, And I should myself release thee."

Then the Frost, the son of Northwind, Felt that he was near destruction, 300 Whereupon he prayed for mercy, And he spoke the words which follow: "Let us understand each other, Nor the one the other injure, In the course of all our lifetime, While the golden moon is shining.

"Should'st thou hear that I would freeze you, Or again should misbehave me, Thrust me then into the furnace, Sink me in the blazing fire, 310 In the smith's coals do thou sink me, Under Ilmarinen's anvil, Or my mouth to summer turn thou, And my tongue to home of summer, Never more release to hope for, In the course of all my lifetime."

Then the lively Lemminkainen Left his vessel in the ice-floes, Left his captured ship of battle, And proceeded on his journey; 320 Tiera too, the other hero, Followed in his comrade's footsteps.

O'er the level ice they wandered, 'Neath their feet the smooth ice crunching, And they walked one day, a second, And at length upon the third day, Then they saw a cape of hunger, And afar a wretched village.

'Neath the cape there stood a castle, And they spoke the words which follow: 330 "Is there meat within the castle, Is there fish within the household, For the worn and weary heroes, And the men who faint with hunger?" Meat was none within the castle, Nor was fish within the household.

Spoke the lively Lemminkainen, Said the handsome Kaukomieli: "Fire consume this wretched castle, Water sweep away such castles!" 340

He himself pursued his journey, Pushing onward through the forest, On a path with houses nowhere, On a pathway that he knew not.

Then the lively Lemminkainen, He the handsome Kaukomieli, Shore the wool from stones in passing, From the rocks the hair he gathered, And he wove it into stockings, Into mittens quickly wrought it, 350 In the mighty cold's dominion, Where the Frost was freezing all things.

On he went to seek a pathway, Searching for the right direction. Through the wood the pathway led him, Led him in the right direction.

Spoke the lively Lemminkainen, Said the handsome Kaukomieli, "O my dearest brother Tiera, Now at length we're coming somewhere, 360 Now that days and months we've wandered, In the open air for ever."

Then did Tiera make him answer, And he spoke the words which follow: "We unhappy sought for vengeance, Recklessly we sought for vengeance, Rushing forth to mighty conflict In the gloomy land of Pohja, There our lives to bring in danger, Rushing to our own destruction, 370 In this miserable country, On a pathway that we knew not.

"Never is it known unto us, Never known and never guessed at, What the pathway is that leads us, Or the road that may conduct us To our death at edge of forest, Or on heath to meet destruction, Here in the abode of ravens, In the fields by crows frequented. 380

"And the ravens here are flocking, And the evil birds are croaking, And the flesh the birds are tearing, And with blood the crows are sated, And the ravens' beaks are moistened In the wounds of us, the wretched, To the rocks our bones they carry, And upon the stones they cast them.

"Ah, my hapless mother knows not, Never she, with pain who bore me, 390 Where her flesh may now be carried, And her blood may now be flowing, Whether in the furious battle, In the equal strife of foemen, Or upon a lake's broad surface, On the far-extending billows, Or on hills with pine-cones loaded, Wandering 'mid the fallen branches.

"And my mother can know nothing Of her son, the most unhappy, 400 Only know that he has perished, Only know that he has fallen; And my mother thus will weep me, Thus lament, the aged woman:

"'Thus my hapless son has perished, And the wretched one has fallen; He has sown the seed of Tuoni, Harrows now in Kalma's country. Perhaps the son I love so dearly, Perhaps my son, O me unhappy, 410 Leaves his bows untouched for ever, Leaves his handsome bows to stiffen. Now the birds may live securely, In the leaves the grouse may flutter, Bears may live their lives of rapine, In the fields the reindeer roll them.'"

Answered lively Lemminkainen, Said the handsome Kaukomieli: "Thus it is, unhappy mother, Thou unhappy, who hast borne me! 420 Thou a flight of doves hast nurtured, Quite a flock of swans hast nurtured, Rose the wind, and all were scattered, Lempo came, and he dispersed them, One in one place, one in other, And a third in yet another.

"I remember times aforetime, And the better days remember, How like flowers we gathered round thee, In one homeland, just like berries. 430 Many gazed upon our figures, And admired our forms so handsome, Otherwise than in the present, In this time so full of evil. Once the wind was our acquaintance, And the sun was gazing on us: Now the clouds are gathering round us, And the rain has overwhelmed us. But we let not trouble vex us, Even in our greatest sorrow, 440 Though the girls were living happy, And the braidless maids were jesting, And the women all were laughing, And the brides were sweet as honey, Tearless, spite of all vexation, And unshaken when in trouble.

"But we are not here enchanted, Not bewitched, and not enchanted, Here upon the paths to perish, Sinking down upon our journey, 450 In our youth to sadly perish, In our bloom to meet destruction.

"Let those whom the sorcerers harassed And bewitched with eyes of evil, Let them make their journey homeward, And regain their native country. Be the sorcerers' selves enchanted, And with songs bewitched their children; Let their race for ever perish, And their race be brought to ruin. 460

"Ne'er in former times my father, Never has my aged father Yielded to a sorcerer's orders, Or the wiles of Lapland's children. Thus my father spoke aforetime, And I now repeat his sayings: 'Guard me, O thou kind Creator, Guard me, Jumala most gracious, Aid me with thy hand of mercy, With thy mighty power protect me, 470 From the plots of men of evil, And the thoughts of aged women, And the curses of the bearded, And the curses of the beardless. Grant us now thy aid eternal, Be our ever-faithful guardian, That no child be taken from us, And no mother's child shall wander From the path of the Creator, Which by Jumala was fashioned.'" 480

Then the lively Lemminkainen, He the handsome Kaukomieli, From his care constructed horses, Coursers black composed from trouble, Reins from evil days he fashioned, Saddles from his secret sorrows, Then his horse's back he mounted, On his white-front courser mounted, And he rode upon his journey, At his side his faithful Tiera, 490 And along the shores he journeyed, On the sandy shores proceeded, Till he reached his tender mother, Reached the very aged woman.

Now will I abandon Kauko, Long from out my song will leave him; But he showed the way to Tiera, Sent him on his homeward journey. Now my song aside will wander, While I turn to other matters. 500

RUNO XXXI.--UNTAMO AND KULLERVO

_Argument_

Untamo wages war against his brother Kalervo, overthrows Kalervo and his army, sparing only a single pregnant woman of the whole clan. She is carried away to Untamo's people, and gives birth to her son Kullervo (1-82). Kullervo resolves in his cradle to take revenge on Untamo, and Untamo attempts several times to put him to death, but without success (83-202). When Kullervo grows up, he spoils all his work, and therefore Untamo sells him as a slave to Ilmarinen (203-374).

'Twas a mother reared her chickens, Large the flock of swans she nurtured; By the hedge she placed the chickens, Sent the swans into the river, And an eagle came and scared them, And a hawk that came dispersed them, And a flying bird dispersed them. One he carried to Carelia, Into Russia bore the second, In its home he left the third one. 10

Whom the bird to Russia carried Soon grew up into a merchant; Whom he carried to Carelia, Kalervo was called by others, While the third at home remaining, Bore the name of Untamoinen, For his father's lifelong anguish, And his mother's deep affliction.

Untamoinen laid his netting Down in Kalervo's fish-waters: 20 Kalervoinen saw the netting, In his bag he put the fishes. Untamo of hasty temper Then became both vexed and angry, And his fingers turned to battle, With his open palms he urged it, Making strife for fishes' entrails, And for perch-fry made a quarrel.

Thus they fought and thus contended, Neither overcame the other, 30 And though one might smite the other, He himself again was smitten.

At another time it happened, On the next and third day after, Kalervoinen oats was sowing, Back of Untamoinen's dwelling.

Sheep of Untamo most reckless Browsed the oats of Kalervoinen, Whereupon his dog ferocious Tore the sheep of Untamoinen. 40

Untamo began to threaten Kalervo, his very brother; Kalervo's race vowed to slaughter, Smite the great, and smite the little, And to fall on all the people, And their houses burn to ashes.

Men with swords in belt he mustered, Weapons for their hands provided, Little boys with spears in girdle, Handsome youths who shouldered axes, 50 And he marched to furious battle, Thus to fight his very brother.

Kalervoinen's son's fair consort Then was sitting near the window, And she looked from out the window, And she spoke the words which follow: "Is it smoke I see arising, Or a gloomy cloud that rises, On the borders of the cornfields, Just beyond the new-made pathway?" 60

But no dark cloud there was rising, Nor was smoke ascending thickly, But 'twas Untamo's assemblage Marching onward to the battle.

On came Untamo's assemblage, In their belts their swords were hanging, Kalervo's folk overwhelming, And his mighty race they slaughtered, And they burned his house to ashes, Like a level field they made it. 70

Left of Kalervo's folk only But one girl, and she was pregnant; Then did Untamo's assemblage Lead her homeward on their journey, That she there might sweep the chamber, And the floor might sweep from litter.

But a little time passed over, When a little boy was born her, From a most unhappy mother, So by what name should they call him? 80 Kullervo his mother called him, Untamo, the Battle-hero.

Then the little boy they swaddled, And the orphan child they rested In the cradle made for rocking, That it might be rocked to lull him.

So they rocked the child in cradle, Rocked it till his hair was tossing, Rocked him for one day, a second, Rocked him on the third day likewise, 90 When the boy began his kicking, And he kicked and pushed about him, Tore his swaddling clothes to pieces, Freed himself from all his clothing, Then he broke the lime-wood cradle, All his rags he tore from off him.

And it seemed that he would prosper, And become a man of mettle. Untamola thought already That when he was grown to manhood, 100 He would grow both wise and mighty, And become a famous hero, As a servant worth a hundred, Equal to a thousand servants. Thus he grew for two and three months, But already in the third month, When a boy no more than knee-high, He began to speak in thiswise: "Presently when I am bigger, And my body shall be stronger, 110 I'll avenge my father's slaughter, And my mother's tears atone for."

This was heard by Untamoinen, And he spoke the words which follow: "He will bring my race to ruin, Kalervo reborn is in him." Thereupon the heroes pondered And the old crones all considered How to bring the boy to ruin, So that death might come upon him. 120

Then they put him in a barrel, In a barrel did they thrust him, And they pushed it to the water, Pushed it out upon the billows.

Then they went to look about them, After two nights, after three nights, If the boy had sunk in water, Or had perished in the barrel.

In the waves he was not sunken, Nor had perished in the barrel, 130 He had 'scaped from out the barrel, And upon the waves was sitting, In his hand a rod of copper, At the end a line all silken, And for lake-fish he was fishing, As he floated on the water. There was water in the lakelet, Which perchance might fill two ladles, Or if more exactly measured, Partly was a third filled also. 140

Untamo again reflected, "How can we o'ercome the infant, That destruction come upon him, And that death may overtake him?"

Then he bade his servants gather First a large supply of birch-trees, Pine-trees with their hundred needles, Trees from which the pitch was oozing, For the burning of the infant, And for Kullervo's destruction. 150

So they gathered and collected First a large supply of birch-trees, Pine-trees with their hundred needles, Trees from which the pitch was oozing, And of bark a thousand sledgefuls, Ash-trees, long a hundred fathoms. Fire beneath the wood they kindled, And the pyre began to crackle, And the boy they cast upon it, 'Mid the glowing fire they cast him. 160 Burned the fire a day, a second, Burning likewise on the third day, When they went to look about them. Knee-deep sat the boy in ashes, In the embers to his elbows. In his hand he held the coal-rake, And was stirring up the fire, And he raked the coals together. Not a hair was singed upon him, Not a lock was even tangled. 170

Then did Untamo grow angry. "Where then can I place the infant, That we bring him to destruction, And that death may overtake him?" So upon a tree they hanged him, Strung him up upon an oak-tree.

Two nights and a third passed over, And upon the dawn thereafter, Untamo again reflected: "Time it is to look around us, 180 Whether Kullervo has fallen, Or is dead upon the gallows."

Then he sent a servant forward, Back he came, and thus reported: "Kullervo not yet has perished, Nor has died upon the gallows. Pictures on the tree he's carving, In his hands he holds a graver. All the tree is filled with pictures, All the oak-tree filled with carvings; 190 Here are men, and here are sword-blades, And the spears are leaning by them."

Where should Untamo seek aidance, 'Gainst this boy, the most unhappy? Whatsoever deaths he planned him, Or he planned for his destruction, In the jaws of death he fell not, Nor could he be brought to ruin.

And at length he grew full weary Of his efforts to destroy him, 200 So he reared up Kullervoinen As a slave beneath his orders.

Thereupon said Untamoinen, And he spoke the words which follow: "If you live as it is fitting, Always acting as is proper, In my house I will retain you, And the work of servants give you. I will pay you wages for it, As I think that you deserve it, 210 For your waist a pretty girdle, Or upon your ear a buffet."

So when Kullervo was taller, And had grown about a span-length, Then he found some work to give him, That he should prepare to labour. 'Twas to rock a little infant, Rock a child with little fingers. "Watch with every care the infant, Give it food, and eat some also, 220 Wash his napkins in the river, Wash his little clothes and cleanse them."

So he watched one day, a second, Broke his hands, and gouged his eyes out, And at length upon the third day, Let the infant die of sickness, Cast the napkins in the river, And he burned the baby's cradle.

Untamo thereon reflected, "Such a one is quite unfitted 230 To attend to little children, Rock the babes with little fingers. Now I know not where to send him, Nor what work I ought to give him. Perhaps he ought to clear the forest?" So he went to clear the forest.

Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring Answered in the words which follow: "Now I first a man can deem me, When my hands the axe are wielding. 240 I am handsomer to gaze on, Far more noble than aforetime, Five men's strength I feel within me And I equal six in valour."

Then he went into the smithy, And he spoke the words which follow: "O thou smith, my dearest brother, Forge me now a little hatchet, Such an axe as fits a hero, Iron tool for skilful workman, 250 For I go to clear the forest, And to fell the slender birch-trees."

So the smith forged what he needed, And an axe he forged him quickly; Such an axe as fits a hero, Iron tool for skilful workman.

Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, Set to work the axe to sharpen, And he ground it in the daytime, And at evening made a handle. 260

Then he went into the forest, High upon the wooded mountains, There to seek the best of planking, And to seek the best of timber. With his axe he smote the tree-trunks, With the blade of steel he felled them, At a stroke the best he severed, And the bad ones at a half-stroke.

Five large trees at length had fallen, Eight in all he felled before him, 270 And he spoke the words which follow, And in words like these expressed him: "Lempo may the work accomplish, Hiisi now may shape the timber!"

In a stump he struck his axe-blade, And began to shout full loudly, And he piped, and then he whistled, And he said the words which follow: "Let the wood be felled around me, Overthrown the slender birch-trees, 280 Far as sounds my voice resounding, Far as I can send my whistle.