Part 9
After this smith Ilmarinen, Even on the very first night, Asked for coverlets in plenty, And for blankets to protect him, Also two and three of bearskins, Five or six of woollen mantles, All upon one side to lay him, That towards the golden image.
And one side had warmth sufficient Which was covered by the bedclothes; 190 That beside the youthful damsel, Turned towards the golden image, All that side was fully frozen, And with frost was quite contracted, Like the ice on lake when frozen, Frozen into stony hardness.
Said the smith, said Ilmarinen, "This is not so pleasant for me. I will take the maid to Väinö, Pass her on to Väinämöinen, 200 On his knee as wife to seat her, Dovelike in his arms to nestle."
So to Väinölä he took her, And he said upon his coming, In the very words which follow: "O thou aged Väinämöinen, Here I bring a damsel for you, And a damsel fair to gaze on, And her mouth gapes not too widely, And her chin is not too broadened." 210
Väinämöinen, old and steadfast, Looked upon the golden image, Looked upon her head all golden, And he spoke the words which follow: "Wherefore have you brought her to me, Brought to me this golden spectre?"
Said the smith, said Ilmarinen, "With the best intent I brought her, On your knee as wife to rest her, Dovelike in your arms to nestle." 220
Said the aged Väinämöinen, "O thou smith, my dearest brother, Thrust the damsel in the furnace, Forge all sorts of objects from her, Or convey her hence to Russia, Take your image to the Saxons, Since they wed the spoils of battle, And they woo in fiercest combat; But it suits not my position, Nor to me myself is suited, 230 Thus to woo a bride all golden, Or distress myself for silver."
Then dissuaded Väinämöinen, And forbade the wave-sprung hero, All the rising generation, Likewise those upgrown already, For the sake of gold to bow them, Or debase themselves for silver, And he spoke the words which follow, And in words like these expressed him: 240 "Never, youths, however wretched, Nor in future, upgrown heroes, Whether you have large possessions, Or are poor in your possessions, In the course of all your lifetime, While the golden moon is shining, May you woo a golden woman, Or distress yourselves for silver, For the gleam of gold is freezing, Only frost is breathed by silver." 250
RUNO XXXVIII.--ILMARINEN'S NEW BRIDE FROM POHJOLA
_Argument_
Ilmarinen goes to Pohjola to woo the younger sister of his first wife, but as he receives only insulting words in reply, he becomes angry, seizes the maiden, and starts on his homeward journey (1-124). On the way the maiden treats Ilmarinen with contempt, and provokes him till he changes her into a seagull (125-286). When Ilmarinen comes home, he relates to Väinämöinen how the inhabitants of Pohjola live free from care since they possessed the Sampo; and also tells him how badly his wooing has prospered (287-328).
Thereupon smith Ilmarinen, He the great primeval craftsman, Cast away the golden image, Cast away the silver damsel, Afterwards his horse he harnessed, Yoked before the sledge the chestnut, On the sledge himself he mounted, And within the sledge he sat him, And departed on his journey, And proposed, as he was driving, 10 He to Pohjola would travel, There to ask another daughter.
So he drove for one day onward, Journeyed also on the second, And at length upon the third day, Came to Pohjola's broad courtyard.
Louhi, Pohjola's old Mistress Came into the yard to meet him, And began the conversation, And she turned to him and asked him 20 How her child's health was at present, If her daughter was contented, As the daughter-in-law of master, And the daughter-in-law of mistress.
Thereupon smith Ilmarinen, Head bowed down, and deeply grieving, And his cap all sloping sideways, Answered in the words which follow: "Do thou not, O mother, ask me, Do not question me in thiswise 30 How your daughter may be living, How your dear one now is dwelling! Death has borne her off already, Grisly death has seized upon her. In the ground is now my berry, On the heath is now my fair one, And her dark locks 'neath the stubble, 'Neath the grass my silver-fair one. Give me now your second daughter, Give me now that youthful maiden, 40 Give her to me, dearest mother, Give me now your second daughter, Thus to occupy the dwelling, And the station of her sister."
Louhi, Pohjola's old Mistress, Answered in the words which follow: "Ill have I, unhappy, acted, And it was a sad misfortune When to thee my child I promised, And I gave to thee the other, 50 In her early youth to slumber, For the rosy-cheeked one perished. To the mouth of wolf I gave her, To the jaws of bear when growling.
"No more daughters will I give you, Nor my daughter will I give you, That she wash the soot from off you, And she scratch the soot from off you, Sooner would I give my daughter, And would give my tender daughter, 60 To the fiercely-foaming cataract, To the ever-seething whirlpool, As a prey to worms of Mana, To the teeth of pike of Tuoni."
Thereupon smith Ilmarinen, Mouth and head both turning sideways, With his black hair in disorder, As his head he shook in anger, Pushed his way into the chamber, And beneath the roof he entered, 70 And he spoke the words which follow: "Come thou now with me, O maiden, In the station of thy sister, And to occupy her dwelling, Cakes of honey there to bake me, And the best of ale to brew me."
From the floor there sang a baby, Thus he sang, and thus made answer: "Quit our castle, guest unwelcome, From our doors, O stranger, hasten! 80 Thou before hast harmed our castle, Evil much hast wrought our castle, When the first time here thou camest, And within our doors hast entered.
"Maiden, O my dearest sister, O rejoice not in this lover, Neither in his mouth so subtle, Neither in his feet well-shapen, For his gums are like a wolf's gums, Curved his claws like those of foxes, 90 And the claws of bears conceals he, And his belt-knife blood is drinking, 'Tis with this that heads he severs, And with this the backs lays open."
Then the maiden's self made answer, Thus she spoke to Ilmarinen: "I myself will not go with you, Trouble not for such a scoundrel, For your first wife you have murdered, And my sister you have slaughtered. 100 You perchance would also slay me, Murder me, as her you murdered. Such a maiden is deserving Of a man of greater standing, And whose form is far more handsome, In a finer sledge to take me, To a larger, finer dwelling, To a better home than thou hast, Not unto a smith's black coalhouse, To a stupid husband's homestead." 110
Thereupon smith Ilmarinen, He the great primeval craftsman, Mouth and head both turning sideways, And his black hair in disorder, Seized without ado the maiden, In his grasp he seized the maiden, From the room he rushed like snowstorm, Dragged her where his sledge was standing, In the sledge he pushed the maiden, And within the sledge he cast her, 120 Started quickly on his journey, And prepared him for his journey, With one hand the horse he guided, On the girl's breast laid the other.
Wept the maiden and lamented, And she spoke the words which follow: "Now I come where grow the cranberries, To the swamps where grow the arums, Now the dove approaches ruin, And the bird is near destruction. 130
"Hear me now, smith Ilmarinen, If you will not now release me, I will smash your sledge to pieces, And will break it into fragments, Break it with my knees asunder, Break it with my legs to fragments."
Thereupon smith Ilmarinen Answered in the words that follow: "Know, the sledge by smith was fashioned, And the boards are bound with iron, 140 And it can withstand the pushing, And the noble maiden's struggles."
Then the hapless girl lamented, And bewailed, the copper-belted, Struggled till she broke her fingers, Struggled till her hands were twisted, And she spoke the words which follow: "If you will not now release me, To a lake-fish I'll transform me, In the deepest waves a powan." 150
Thereupon smith Ilmarinen Answered in the words which follow: "Even so you will not 'scape me, I myself as pike will follow."
Then the hapless girl lamented, And bewailed, the copper-belted, Struggled till she broke her fingers, Struggled till her hands were twisted, And she spoke the words which follow: "If you will not now release me, 160 To the wood will I betake me, Hiding in the rocks like ermine."
Thereupon smith Ilmarinen Answered in the words which follow: "Even thus you will not 'scape me, For as otter I'll pursue you."
Then the hapless girl lamented, And bewailed, the copper-belted, Struggled till she broke her fingers, Struggled till her hands were twisted, 170 And she spoke the words which follow: "If you will not now release me, As a lark I'll soar above you, And behind the clouds will hide me."
Thereupon smith Ilmarinen, Answered in the words which follow: "Even thus you will not 'scape me, For as eagle I'll pursue you."
But a little way they journeyed, Short the distance they had traversed, 180 When the horse pricked ears to listen, And the long-eared steed was shying.
Then her head the maiden lifted, In the snow she saw fresh footprints, And she thereupon inquired, "What has passed across our pathway?"
Said the smith, said Ilmarinen, "'Twas a hare that ran across it."
Then the hapless girl was sighing, Much she sobbed, and much was sighing, 190 And she spoke the words which follow: "Woe to me, unhappy creature! Better surely had I found it, And my lot were surely better If the hare's track I could follow, In the traces of the Crook-leg. Than in sledge of such a suitor, 'Neath the rug of one so wrinkled, For the hairs of hare are finer, And his mouth-cleft is more handsome." 200
Thereupon smith Ilmarinen, Bit his lips, his head turned sideways, And the sledge drove rattling onward, And a little way they journeyed, When the horse pricked ears to listen, And the long-eared steed was shying.
Then her head the maiden lifted, In the snow she saw fresh footprints, And she thereupon inquired, "What has passed across our pathway?" 210
Said the smith, said Ilmarinen, "'Twas a fox that ran across it."
Then the hapless girl was sighing, Much she sobbed, and much was sighing, And she spoke the words which follow: "Woe to me, unhappy creature, Better surely had I found it, And my lot were surely better, Were I riding in a fox-sledge, And in Lapland sledge were fleeing, 220 Than in sledge of such a suitor, 'Neath the rug of one so wrinkled, For the hairs of fox are finer, And his mouth-cleft is more handsome."
Thereupon smith Ilmarinen Bit his lips, his head turned sideways, And the sledge drove rattling onward, And a little way they journeyed, When the horse pricked ears to listen, And the long-eared steed was shying. 230
Then her head the maiden lifted, In the snow she saw fresh footprints, And she thereupon inquired, "What has passed across our pathway?"
Said the smith, said Ilmarinen, "'Twas a wolf that ran across it."
Then the hapless girl was sighing, Much she sobbed, and much was sighing, And she spoke the words which follow: "Woe to me, unhappy creature! 240 Better surely had I found it, And my lot were surely better If a growling wolf I followed, Tracked the pathway of the Snouted, Than in sledge of such a suitor, 'Neath the rug of one so wrinkled, For the hair of wolf is finer, And his mouth-cleft is more handsome."
Thereupon smith Ilmarinen Bit his lips, his head turned sideways, 250 And the sledge drove rattling onwards, And at night they reached a village.
With the journey overwearied, Slept the smith, and slept profoundly, And another than her husband Made the girl laugh as he slept there.
Thereupon smith Ilmarinen In the morning when he wakened, Mouth and head both twisted sideways, Tossed his black hair in disorder. 260
After this, smith Ilmarinen Pondered till he spoke as follows: "Shall I now commence my singing, Shall I sing a bride like this one, To a creature of the forest, Or a creature of the water?
"Not to forest beast I'll sing her, All the forest would be troubled; Neither to a water-creature, Lest the fishes all should shun her; 270 Better slay her with my hanger, With my sword will I despatch her."
But the sword perceived his object, Understood the hero's language, And it spoke the words which follow: "Not for this was I constructed, That I should despatch the women, And the weak I thus should slaughter."
Thereupon smith Ilmarinen Presently commenced his singing, 280 And began to speak in anger, Sung his wife into a seamew, Thenceforth round the cliffs to clamour, Scream upon the rocks in water, Moan around the jutting headlands, Struggle with the winds against her.
After this smith Ilmarinen In his sledge again dashed forward, And the sledge drove rattling onward, Head bowed down in great depression, 290 Back he journeyed to his country, Till he reached the well-known regions.
Väinämöinen, old and steadfast, Came upon the road to meet him, And began to speak as follows: "Ilmarinen, smith and brother, Wherefore is your mood so gloomy, Wherefore is your cap pushed sideways, As from Pohjola thou comest? How at Pohjola exist they?" 300
Said the smith, said Ilmarinen, "How at Pohjola exist they? There the Sampo grinds for ever, And revolves the pictured cover, And one day it grinds provisions, Grinds for sale upon the second, On the third what needs the household.
"Thus I speak, and tell you truly, And again repeat it to you, How at Pohjola exist they, 310 When at Pohjola's the Sampo! There is ploughing, there is sowing, There is every kind of increase, And their welfare is eternal."
Said the aged Väinämöinen, "Ilmarinen, smith and brother, Where hast thou thy wife abandoned, Where thy youthful bride so famous, That you here return without her, Ever driving homeward wifeless?" 320
Thereupon smith Ilmarinen, Answered in the words which follow: "Such a wife she was, I sang her To the sea-cliffs as a seamew; Now she screams aloud as seagull, Shrieks aloud without cessation, Moans about the rocks in water, And around the cliffs she clamours."
RUNO XXXIX.--THE EXPEDITION AGAINST POHJOLA
_Argument_
Väinämöinen persuades Ilmarinen to go with him to Pohjola to bring away the Sampo. Ilmarinen consents, and the heroes start off on their journey in a boat (1-330). Lemminkainen hails them from the shore, and on hearing where they are going, proposes to join them, and is accepted as a third comrade (331-426).
Väinämöinen, old and steadfast, Uttered then the words which follow: "O thou smith, O Ilmarinen, Unto Pohjola we'll travel, And will seize this splendid Sampo, And behold its pictured cover."
Thereupon smith Ilmarinen Answered in the words which follow: "No, we cannot seize the Sampo, Cannot bring the pictured cover, 10 From the gloomy land of Pohja, Sariola for ever misty. There the Sampo has been carried, And removed the pictured cover Unto Pohjola's stone mountain, And within the hill of copper. There by nine locks is it fastened, And three roots have sprouted from it, Firmly fixed, nine fathoms deeply. In the earth the first is rooted, 20 By the water's edge the second, And the third within the home-hill."
Said the aged Väinämöinen, "O thou smith, my dearest brother, Unto Pohjola we'll travel, And will carry off the Sampo. Let us build a ship enormous, Fit to carry off the Sampo, And convey the pictured cover, Forth from Pohjola's stone mountain, 30 From within the hill of copper, And the ninefold locks that hold it."
Said the smith, said Ilmarinen, "Safest is by land the journey. Lempo on the lake is brooding, Death upon its mighty surface, And the wind might drive us onward, And the tempest might o'erturn us; We might have to row with fingers, And to use our hands for steering." 40
Said the aged Väinämöinen, "Safest is by land the journey, Safest, but the most fatiguing, And moreover, full of windings. Pleasant 'tis in boat on water, Swaying as the boat glides onward, Gliding o'er the sparkling water, Driving o'er its shining surface, While the wind the boat is rocking, And the waves drive on the vessel, 50 While the west-wind rocks it gently, And the south-wind drives it onward, But let this be as it may be, If you do not like the lake-voyage, We by land can journey thither, And along the shore can journey.
"First a new sword do you forge me, Make me now a keen-edged weapon, So that I with beasts can struggle, Chase away the folks of Pohja. 60 Forth I go to seize the Sampo, From the cold and dismal village, From the gloomy land of Pohja, Sariola for ever misty."
Thereupon smith Ilmarinen He the great primeval craftsman, Cast some iron in the fire, Steel upon the glowing charcoal, And of gold he took a handful, And of silver took a handful, 70 Set the slaves to work the bellows, And he made the labourers press them.
Worked the slaves the bellows strongly, Well the labourers pressed the bellows, Till like soup spread out the iron, And like dough the steel was yielding, And the silver shone like water, And the gold swelled up like billows.
Thereupon smith Ilmarinen, He the great primeval craftsman, 80 Stooped to look into the furnace, At the edges of the bellows, And he saw a sword was forming, With a hilt of gold constructed.
From the fire he took the weapon, Took the work so finely fashioned, From the furnace to the anvil, To the hammer and the mallet, Forged the sword as he would wish it, And a blade the best of any, 90 And with finest gold inlaid it, And with silver he adorned it.
Väinämöinen, old and steadfast, Entered then to view the weapon, And he found a keen-edged sword-blade. Straightway in his hand he raised it, And he turned it and surveyed it, And he spoke the words which follow: "Does this sword befit a hero, Is the sword to bearer suited?" 100 And the sword the hero suited.
Well did it befit the bearer. On its point the moon was shining, On its side the sun was shining, On the haft the stars were gleaming, At the tip a horse was neighing, On the knob a cat was mewing, On the sheath a dog was barking.
After this the sword he brandished, And he cleft an iron mountain, 110 And he spoke the words which follow: "Thus, with such a blade as this is, Can I cleave the mountains open, Cleave the rocky hills asunder."
After this did Ilmarinen Speak aloud the words which follow: "How shall I myself, unhappy, How shall I, the weak, defend me, And shall armour me, and belt me, 'Gainst the risks of land and water? 120 Shall I clothe myself in armour, In a coat of mail the strongest, Gird a belt of steel around me? Stronger is a man in armour, In a coat of mail is better, With a belt of steel more mighty."
Then arrived the time for starting, And preparing for departure; First the aged Väinämöinen, Secondly smith Ilmarinen, 130 And they went to seek the courser, And to find the yellow-maned one, And the one-year old to bridle, And to see the foal was rough-shod. Then they went to seek the courser, Went to seek him in the forest, And they gazed around them keenly, And they sought around the blue wood, Found the horse among the bushes, Found the yellow-maned in firwood. 140
Väinämöinen, old and steadfast, Secondly smith Ilmarinen, On his head the bit adjusted, And the one-year old they bridled, And they drove upon their journey. On the shore drove both the heroes, On the shore they heard lamenting, From the haven heard complaining.
Then the aged Väinämöinen Spoke aloud the words which follow: 150 "Perhaps it is a girl complaining, Or perchance a dove lamenting. Shall we go to look about us, Shall we nearer go to listen?"
Therefore to the spot they sauntered, Nearer went to gaze around them, But no maiden there was weeping, And no dove was there lamenting, But they found a vessel weeping, And a boat was there lamenting. 160
Said the aged Väinämöinen As he went towards the vessel, "Wherefore weep, O wooden vessel, Boat with rowlocks, why lamentest? Dost thou weep that thou art clumsy, And art dreaming at thy moorings?"
Then the wooden boat made answer, Thus replied the boat with rowlocks: "Know, a vessel longs for water, And its tarry sides desire it, 170 As a maiden may be longing For the fine home of a husband. Therefore weeps the boat unhappy, And the hapless boat lamenteth, And I weep to speed through water, And to float upon the billows.
"It was said when I was fashioned, When my boards were sung together, That I should become a warship, And should be employed for warboat, 180 And should bear the plunder homeward, In my hold should carry treasure, But I have not been in battle, Neither have been stored with plunder.
"Other boats, and even bad ones, Always wander forth to battle, And are led to battle-struggle Three times in the course of summer, And return with money loaded, In their hold they carry treasure, 190 But for me, though well constructed, Of a hundred boards constructed, Here upon my rests I'm rotting, Lying idly at my moorings, And the worst worms of the country Underneath my ribs are lurking, While the birds, of all most horrid, In my masts their nests are building, All the toads from out the forest Over all my deck are leaping. 200 Twice it had been better for me, Two or three times were it better Had I been a mountain pine-tree, Or upon the heath a fir-tree, With a squirrel in my branches, Underneath my boughs a puppy."
Väinämöinen, old and steadfast, Answered in the words which follow: "Do not weep, O wooden vessel, Fret thyself, O boat with rowlocks! 210 Soon shalt thou go forth to battle, There to mix in furious conflict. Boat, who wast by builder fashioned, 'Twas this gift the builder gave thee, That thy prow should reach the water, And thy sides the billows traverse, Even though no hand should touch thee, Neither arm be thrust against thee, Though no shoulder should direct thee, And although no arm should guide thee." 220
Then replied the wooden vessel, Answered thus the boat with rowlocks: "None of all my race so mighty, Neither will the boats, my brothers, Move unpushed into the water, Nor unrowed upon the billows, If no hand is laid upon us, And no arm should urge us forward."
Said the aged Väinämöinen, "If I push you in the water, 230 Will you make, unrowed, your journey, Unassisted by the oars, By the rudder undirected, When the sails no breeze is filling?"