Kalevala : the Epic Poem of Finland Part 38

Let us form a sacred compact: If thou speakest me a falsehood, I will hurl thee to Ma.n.a.la, Let the nether fires consume thee, That thine evil signs may perish."

Thereupon the alder answered, Spake these words of truthful import: "Verily the Sun lies hidden And the golden Moon is sleeping In the stone-berg of Pohyola, In the copper-bearing mountain."

These the words of Wainamoinen: "I shall go at once to Northland, To the cold and dark Pohyola, Bring the Sun and Moon to gladden All Wainola's fields and forests."

Forth he hastens on his journey, To the dismal Sariola, To the Northland cold and dreary; Travels one day, then a second, So the third from morn till evening, When appear the gates of Pohya, With her snow-clad hills and mountains.

Wainamoinen, the magician, At the river of Pohyola, Loudly calls the ferry-maiden: Bring a boat, O Pohya-daughter, Bring a strong and trusty vessel, Row me o'er these chilling waters, O'er this rough and rapid river!"

But the Ferry-maiden heard not, Did not listen to his calling.

Thereupon old Wainamoinen, Laid a pile of well-dried brush-wood, Knots and needles of the fir-tree, Made a fire beside the river, Sent the black smoke into heaven Curling to the home of Ukko.

Louhi, hostess of the Northland, Hastened to her chamber window, Looked upon the bay and river, Spake these words to her attendants: "Why the fire across the river Where the current meets the deep-sea, Smaller than the fires of foemen, Larger than the flames of hunters?"

Thereupon a Pohyalander Hastened from the court of Louhi That the cause he might discover,'

Bring the sought-for information To the hostess of Pohyola; Saw upon the river-border Some great hero from Wainola.

Wainamoinen saw the stranger, Called again in tones of thunder: "Bring a skiff; thou son of Northland, For the minstrel, Wainamoinen!

Thus the Pohyalander answered: "Here no skiffs are lying idle, Row thyself across the waters, Use thine arms, and feet, and fingers, To propel thee o'er the river, O'er the sacred stream of Pohya."

Wainamoinen, long reflecting, Bravely thus soliloquizes: "I will change my form and features, Will a.s.sume a second body, Neither man, nor ancient minstrel, Master of the Northland waters!"

Then the singer, Wainamoinen, Leaped, a pike, upon the waters, Quickly swam the rapid river, Gained the frigid Pohya-border.

There his native form resuming, Walked he as a mighty hero, On the dismal isle of Louhi, Spake the wicked sons of Northland: Come thou to Pohyola's court-room."

To Pohyola's, court he hastened.

Spake again the sons of evil: Come thou to the halls of Louhi!"

To Pohyola's halls he hastened.

On the latch he laid his fingers, Set his foot within the fore-hall, Hastened to the inner chamber, Underneath the painted rafters, Where the Northland-heroes gather.

There he found the Pohya-masters Girded with their swords of battle, With their spears and battle-axes, With their fatal bows and arrows, For the death of Wainamoinen, Ancient bard, Suwantolainen.

Thus they asked the hero-stranger.

"Magic swimmer of the Northland, Son of evil, what the message That thou bringest from thy people, What thy mission to Pohyola?"

Wainamoinen, old and truthful, Thus addressed the hosts of Louhi: "For the Sun I come to Northland, Come to seek the Moon in Pohya; Tell me where the Sun lies hidden, Where the golden Moon is sleeping."

Spake the evil sons of Pohya: "Both the Sun and Moon are hidden In the rock of many colors, In the copper-bearing mountain, In a cavern iron-banded, In the stone-berg of Pohyola, Nevermore to gain their freedom, Nevermore to s.h.i.+ne in Northland!"

Spake the hero, Wainamoinen: "If the Sun be not uncovered, If the Moon leave not her dungeon, I will challenge all Pohyola To the test of spear or broadsword, Let us now our weapons measure!"

Quick the hero of Wainola Drew his mighty sword of magic; On its border shone the moonlight, On its hilt the Sun was s.h.i.+ning, On its back, a neighing stallion, On its face a cat was mewing, Beautiful his magic weapon.

Quick the hero-swords are tested, And the blades are rightly measured Wainamoinen's sword is longest By a single grain of barley, By a blade of straw, the widest.

To the court-yard rushed the heroes, Hastened to the deadly combat, On the plains of Sariola.

Wainamoinen, the magician, Strikes one blow, and then a second, Strikes a third time, cuts and conquers.

As the house-maids slice the turnips, As they lop the heads of cabbage, As the stalks of flax are broken, So the heads of Louhi's heroes Fall before the magic broadsword Of the ancient Wainamoinen.

Then victor from Wainola, Ancient bard and great magician, Went to find the Sun in slumber, And the golden Moon discover, In the copper-bearing Mountains, In the cavern iron-banded, In the stone-berg of Pohyola.

He had gone but little distance, When he found a sea-green island; On the island stood a birch-tree, Near the birch-tree stood a pillar Carved in stone of many colors; In the pillar, nine large portals Bolted in a hundred places; In the rock he found a crevice Sending forth a gleam of sunlight.

Quick he drew his mighty broadsword, From the pillar struck three colors, From the magic of his weapon; And the pillar fell asunder, Three the number of the fragments.

Wainamoinen, old and faithful, Through the crevice looked and wondered.

In the center of the pillar, From a scarlet-colored basin, Noxious serpents beer were drinking, And the adders eating spices.

Spake the ancient Wainamoinen: "Therefore has Pohyola's hostess Little drink to give to strangers, Since her beer is drank by serpents, And her spices given to adders."

Quick he draws his magic fire-blade, Cuts the vipers green in pieces, Lops the heads off all the adders, Speaks these words of master-magic: Thus, hereafter, let the serpent Drink the famous beer of barley, Feed upon the Northland-spices!"

Wainamoinen, the magician, The eternal wizard-singer, Sought to open wide the portals With the hands and words of magic; But his hands had lost their cunning, And his magic gone to others.

Thereupon the ancient minstrel Quick returning, heavy-hearted, To his native halls and hamlets, Thus addressed his brother-heroes: "Woman, he without his weapons, With no implements, a weakling!

Sun and Moon have I discovered, But I could not force the Portals Leading to their rocky cavern In the copper bearing mountain.

Spake the reckless Lemminkainen "O thou ancient Wainamoinen, Why was I not taken with thee To become, thy war-companion?

Would have been of goodly service, Would have drawn the bolts or broken, All the portals to the cavern, Where the Sun and Moon lie hidden In the copper-bearing mountain!"

Wainamoinen, ancient minstrel, Thus replied to Lemminkainen: "Empty Words will break no portals, Draw no bolts of any moment; Locks and bolts are never broken.

With the words of little wisdom!

Greater means than thou commandest Must be used to free the suns.h.i.+ne, Free the moonlight from her dungeon."

Wainamoinen, not discouraged, Hastened to the forge and smithy, Spake these words to Ilmarinen: "O thou famous metal-artist, Forge for me a magic trident, Forge from steel a dozen stout-rings, Master-keys, a goodly number, Iron bars and heavy hammers, That the Sun we may uncover In the copper-bearing mountain, In the stone-berg of Pohyola."

Then the blacksmith, Ilmarinen, The eternal metal-worker, Forged the needs of Wainamoinen, Forged for him the magic trident, Forged from steel a dozen stout-rings, Master-keys a goodly number, Iron bars and heavy hammers, Not the largest, nor the smallest, Forged them of the right dimensions.

Louhi, hostess of Pohyola, Northland's old and toothless wizard, Fastened wings upon her shoulders, As an eagle, sailed the heavens, Over field, and fen, and forest, Over Pohya's many, waters, To the hamlets of Wainola, To the forge of Ilmarinen.

Quick the famous metal-worker Went to see if winds were blowing; Found the winds at peace and silent, Found an eagle, sable-colored, Perched upon his window-cas.e.m.e.nt.

Spake the artist, Ilmarinen: "Magic bird, whom art thou seeking, Why art sitting at my window?"

This the answer of the eagle: "Art thou blacksmith, Ilmarinen, The eternal iron-forger, Master of the magic metals, Northland's wonder-working artist?"

Ilmarinen gave this answer: "There is nothing here of wonder, Since I forged the dome of heaven, Forged the earth a concave cover!"

Spake again the magic eagle: Why this ringing of thine anvil, Why this knocking of thy hammer, Tell me what thy hands are forging?"

This the answer of the blacksmith: "'Tis a collar I am forging For the neck of wicked Louhi, Toothless witch of Sariola, Stealer of the silver suns.h.i.+ne, Stealer of the golden moonlight; With this collar I shall bind her To the iron-rock of Ehstland!"

Louhi, hostess of Pohyola, Saw misfortune fast approaching, Saw destruction flying over, Saw the signs of bad-luck lower; Quickly winged her way through ether To her native halls and chambers, To the darksome Sariola, There unlocked the ma.s.sive portals Where the Sun and Moon were hidden, In the rock of many colors, In the cavern iron-banded, In the copper-bearing mountain.

Then again the wicked Louhi Changed her withered form and features, And became a dove of good-luck; Straightway winged the starry heavens, Over field, and fen, and forest, To the meadows of Wainola, To the plains of Kalevala, To the forge of Ilmarinen.

This the question of the blacksmith "Wherefore comest, dove of good-luck, What the tidings that thou bringest?"

Thus the magic bird made answer: "Wherefore come I to thy smithy?

Come to bring the joyful tidings That the Sun has left his cavern, Left the rock of many colors, Left the stone-berg of Pohyola; That the Moon no more is hidden In the copper-bearing mountains, In the caverns iron-banded."

Straightway hastened Ilmarinen To the threshold of his smithy, Quickly scanned the far horizon, Saw again the silver suns.h.i.+ne, Saw once more the golden moonlight, Bringing peace, and joy, and plenty, To the homes of Kalevala.

Thereupon the blacksmith hastened To his brother, Wainamoinen, Spake these words to the magician: "O thou ancient bard and minstrel, The eternal wizard-singer See, the Sun again is s.h.i.+ning, And the golden Moon is beaming From their long-neglected places, From their stations in the sky-vault!"

Wainamoinen, old and faithful, Straightway hastened to the court-yard, Looked upon the far horizon, Saw once more the silver suns.h.i.+ne, Saw again the golden moonlight, Bringing peace, and joy, and plenty, To the people of the Northland, And the minstrel spake these measures: "Greetings to thee, Sun of fortune, Greetings to thee, Moon of good-luck, Welcome suns.h.i.+ne, welcome moonlight, Golden is the dawn of morning!

Free art thou, O Sun of silver, Free again, O Moon beloved, As the sacred cuckoo's singing, As the ring-dove's liquid cooings.

"Rise, thou silver Sun, each Morning, Source of light and life hereafter, Bring us, daily, joyful greetings, Fill our homes with peace and plenty, That our sowing, fis.h.i.+ng, hunting, May be prospered by thy coming.

Travel on thy daily journey, Let the Moon be ever with thee; Glide along thy way rejoicing, End thy journeyings in slumber; Rest at evening in the ocean, When the daily cares have ended, To the good of all thy people, To the pleasure Of Wainoloa, To the joy of Kalevala!"

RUNE L.

MARIATTA--WAINAMOINEN'S DEPARTURE.

Mariatta, child of beauty, Grew to maidenhood in Northland, In the cabin of her father, In the chambers of her mother, Golden ringlets, silver girdles, Worn against the keys paternal, Glittering upon her bosom; Wore away the father's threshold With the long robes of her garments; Wore away the painted rafters With her beauteous silken ribbons; Wore away the gilded pillars With the touching of her fingers; Wore away the birchen flooring With the tramping of her fur-shoes.

Mariatta, child of beauty, Magic maid of little stature, Guarded well her sacred virtue, Her sincerity and honor, Fed upon the dainty whiting, On the inner bark of birch-wood, On the tender flesh of lambkins.

When she hastened in the evening To her milking in the hurdles, Spake in innocence as follows: "Never will the snow-white virgin Milk the kine of one unworthy!"

When she journeyed over snow-fields, On the seat beside her father, Spake in purity as follows: "Not behind a steed unworthy Will I ever ride the snow-sledge!"

Mariatta, child of beauty, Lived a virgin with her mother, As a maiden highly honored, Lived in innocence and beauty, Daily drove her flocks to pasture, Walking with the gentle lambkins.

When the lambkins climbed the mountains, When they gamboled on the hill-tops, Stepped the virgin to the meadow, Skipping through a grove of lindens, At the calling of the cuckoo, To the songster's golden measures.

Mariatta, child of beauty, Looked about, intently listened, Sat upon the berry-meadow Sat awhile, and meditated On a hillock by the forest, And soliloquized as follows: "Call to me, thou golden cuckoo, Sing, thou sacred bird of Northland, Sing, thou silver breasted songster, Speak, thou strawberry of Ehstland, Tell bow long must I unmarried, As a shepherdess neglected, Wander o'er these bills and mountains, Through these flowery fens and fallows.

Tell me, cuckoo of the woodlands, Sing to me how many summers I must live without a husband, As a shepherdess neglected!"

Mariatta, child of beauty, Lived a shepherd-maid for ages, As a virgin with her mother.

Wretched are the lives of shepherds, Lives of maidens still more wretched, Guarding flocks upon the mountains; Serpents creep in bog and stubble, On the greensward dart the lizards; But it was no serpent singing, Nor a sacred lizard calling, It was but the mountain-berry Calling to the lonely maiden: "Come, O virgin, come and pluck me, Come and take me to thy bosom, Take me, tinsel-breasted virgin, Take me, maiden, copper-belted, Ere the slimy snail devours me, Ere the black-worm feeds upon me.

Hundreds pa.s.s my way unmindful, Thousands come within my hearing, Berry-maidens swarm about me, Children come in countless numbers, None of these has come to gather, Come to pluck this ruddy berry."

Mariatta, child of beauty, Listened to its gentle pleading, Ran to pick the berry, calling, With her fair and dainty fingers,.

Saw it smiling near the meadow, Like a cranberry in feature, Like a strawberry in flavor; But be Virgin, Mariatta, Could not pluck the woodland-stranger, Thereupon she cut a charm-stick, Downward pressed upon the berry, When it rose as if by magic, Rose above her shoes of ermine, Then above her copper girdle, Darted upward to her bosom, Leaped upon the maiden's shoulder, On her dimpled chin it rested, On her lips it perched a moment, Hastened to her tongue expectant To and fro it rocked and lingered, Thence it hastened on its journey, Settled in the maiden's bosom.

Mariatta, child of beauty, Thus became a bride impregnate, Wedded to the mountain-berry; Lingered in her room at morning, Sat at midday in the darkness, Hastened to her couch at evening.

Thus the watchful mother wonders: "What has happened to our Mary, To our virgin, Mariatta, That she throws aside her girdle, Shyly slips through hall and chamber, Lingers in her room at morning, Hastens to her couch at evening, Sits at midday in the darkness?"

On the floor a babe was playing, And the young child thus made answer: "This has happened to our Mary, To our virgin, Mariatta, This misfortune to the maiden: She has lingered by the meadows, Played too long among the lambkins, Tasted of the mountain-berry."

Long the virgin watched and waited, Anxiously the days she counted, Waiting for the dawn of trouble.

Finally she asked her mother, These the words of Mariatta: "Faithful mother, fond and tender, Mother whom I love and cherish, Make for me a place befitting, Where my troubles may be lessened, And my heavy burdens lightened."

This the answer of the mother: "Woe to thee, thou Hisi-maiden, Since thou art a bride unworthy, Wedded only to dishonor!"

Mariatta, child of beauty, Thus replied in truthful measures: "I am not a maid of Hisi, I am not a bride unworthy, Am not wedded to dishonor; As a shepherdess I wandered With the lambkins to the glen-wood, Wandered to the berry-mountain, Where the strawberry had ripened; Quick as thought I plucked the berry, On my tongue I gently laid it, To and fro it rocked and lingered, Settled in my heaving bosom.

This the source of all my trouble, Only cause of my dishonor!"

As the mother was relentless, Asked the maiden of her father, This the virgin-mother's pleading: O my father, full of pity, Source of both my good and evil, Build for me a place befitting, Where my troubles may be lessened, And my heavy burdens lightened."

This the answer of the father, Of the father unforgiving: "Go, thou evil child of Hisi, Go, thou child of sin and sorrow, Wedded only to dishonor, To the Great Bear's rocky chamber, To the stone-cave of the growler, There to lessen all thy troubles, There to cast thy heavy burdens!"

Mariatta, child of beauty, Thus made answer to her father: "I am not a child of Hisi, I am not a bride unworthy, Am not wedded to dishonor; I shall bear a n.o.ble hero, I shall bear a son immortal, Who will rule among the mighty, Rule the ancient Wainamoinen."