Kalevala, The Land Of The Heroes Volume Ii Part 1

Kalevala.

Volume II.

by Anonymous.

RUNO XXVI.--LEMMINKAINEN'S JOURNEY TO POHJOLA

_Argument_

Lemminkainen, greatly offended that he was not invited to the wedding, resolves to go to Pohjola, although his mother dissuades him from it, and warns him of the many dangers that he will have to encounter (1-382). He sets forth and succeeds in pa.s.sing all the dangerous places by his skill in magic (383-776).

Ahti dwelt upon an island, By the bay near Kauko's headland, And his fields he tilled industrious, And the fields he trenched with ploughing, And his ears were of the finest, And his hearing of the keenest.

Heard he shouting in the village, From the lake came sounds of hammering, On the ice the sound of footsteps, On the heath a sledge was rattling, 10 Therefore in his mind he fancied, In his brain the notion entered, That at Pohjola was wedding, And a drinking-bout in secret.

Mouth and head awry then twisting, And his black beard all disordered, In his rage the blood departed From the cheeks of him unhappy, And at once he left his ploughing, 'Mid the field he left the ploughshare, 20 On the spot his horse he mounted, And he rode directly homeward, To his dearest mother's dwelling, To his dear and aged mother.

And he said as he approached her, And he called, as he was coming, "O my mother, aged woman, Bring thou food, and bring it quickly, That the hungry man may eat it, And the moody man devour it, 30 While they warm the bathroom for me, And the bathroom set in order, That the man may wash and cleanse him, And adorn him like a hero."

Then did Lemminkainen's mother, Bring him food, and bring it quickly, That the hungry man might eat it, And the moody man devour it, While they put the bath in order, And arranged the bathroom for him. 40

Then the lively Lemminkainen Quickly ate the food she gave him, Hurried then into the bathroom, Hastened quickly to the bathroom, There it was the finch now washed him, There the bullfinch washed and cleansed him, Washed his head to flaxen whiteness, And his throat to s.h.i.+ning whiteness.

From the bath the room he entered, And he spoke the words which follow: 50 "O my mother, aged woman, Seek the storehouse on the mountain, Bring me thence my s.h.i.+rt, the fine one, Likewise bring the finest clothing, That I now may put it on me, And may fitly clothe me in it."

But his mother asked him quickly, Asked him thus, the aged woman, "Whither goes my son, my dearest, Dost thou go to hunt the lynxes, 60 Or to chase the elk on snowshoes, Or perchance to shoot a squirrel?"

Answered lively Lemminkainen, Said the handsome Kaukomieli, "O my mother who hast borne me, Not to hunt the lynx I wander, Nor to chase the elk on snowshoes, Neither go I squirrel shooting, But I seek the feast at Pohja, And the secret drinking-party, 70 Therefore fetch my s.h.i.+rt, the fine one, Bring me, too, the finest clothing, That I hasten to the wedding, And may wander to the banquet."

But his mother would forbid him, Vainly would his wife dissuade him, Two, whose like were not created, And three daughters of Creation, Sought to hold back Lemminkainen Back from Pohjola's great banquet. 80

To her son then said the mother, And her child advised the old one, "Do not go, my son my dearest, O my dearest son, my Kauko, Go not to the feast at Pohja, To that mansion's drinking-party, For indeed they did not ask you, And 'tis plain they do not want you."

Then the lively Lemminkainen Answered in the words which follow: 90 "Only bad men go for asking; Uninvited good men dance there.

There are always invitations, Always a sufficient summons, In the sword with blade of sharpness, And the edge so brightly flas.h.i.+ng."

Still did Lemminkainen's mother Do her utmost to restrain him.

"Go not, son, to sure destruction, Unto Pohjola's great banquet. 100 Full of terrors is thy journey, On thy way are mighty wonders, Thrice indeed doth death await thee; Thrice the man with death is threatened."

Answered lively Lemminkainen, Said the handsome Kaukomieli, "Death is only for the women, Everywhere they see destruction; But a hero need not fear it, Nor need take extreme precautions. 110 But let this be as it may be, Tell me that my ears may hear it, Tell me the first death that waits me, Tell the first and tell the last one."

Then said Lemminkainen's mother, Answered then, the aged woman: "I will tell the deaths that wait you, Not as you would have me tell them; Of the first death I will tell you, And this death is first among them. 120 When a little way you've travelled On the first day of your journey, You will reach a fiery river, Flaming right across your pathway, In the stream a cataract fiery, In the fall a fiery island, On the isle a peak all fiery, On the peak a fiery eagle, One who whets his beak at night-time, And his claws in daytime sharpens, 130 For the strangers who are coming, And the people who approach him."

Answered lively Lemminkainen, Said the handsome Kaukomieli, "This is perhaps a death for women, But 'tis not a death for heroes.

For I know a plan already, And a splendid scheme to follow.

I'll create, by songs of magic, Both a man and horse of alder. 140 They shall walk along beside me, And shall wander on before me, While I like a duck am diving, Like a scoter duck am diving, 'Neath the soaring eagle's talons, Talons of the mighty eagle.

O my mother, who hast borne me, Tell me now of death the second."

Then said Lemminkainen's mother, "Such the second death that waits you: 150 When a little way you've journeyed, On the second day of travel, You will reach 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, And a hundred there have ventured, And a thousand there have perished, 160 Hundreds with their swords have perished, And a thousand steel-clad heroes."

Answered lively Lemminkainen, Said the handsome Kaukomieli, "Such a death no man will perish, Nor is this a death for heroes, For I know a trick already, Know a trick, and see a refuge; And a man of snow I'll sing me, Make of frozen snow a hero, 170 Push him in the raging fire, Push him in the glowing torment, Bathe him in the glowing bathroom, With a bath-whisk made of copper, I myself behind him pressing, Pus.h.i.+ng through the fire a pathway, That my beard unburnt remaineth, And my locks escape a singeing.

O my mother who hast borne me, Of the third death tell me truly." 180

Then said Lemminkainen's mother, "Such the third death that awaits you: When you've gone a little further, And another day have travelled, Unto Pohjola's dread gateway, Where the pathway is the narrowest, Then a wolf will rush upon you, And a bear for his companion, There in Pohjola's dread gateway, Where the pathway is the narrowest. 190 Hundreds have been there devoured, Heroes have by thousands perished; Wherefore should they not devour thee, Kill thee likewise, unprotected?"

Answered lively Lemminkainen, Said the handsome Kaukomieli, "Perhaps a young ewe might be eaten, Or a lamb be torn to pieces, Not a man, how weak soever, Not the sleepiest of the heroes! 200 With a hero's belt I'm girded, And I wear a hero's armour, Fixed with buckles of a hero, So be sure I shall not hasten, Unto Untamo's dread wolf's jaws, In the throat of that curst creature.

"'Gainst the wolf I know a refuge, 'Gainst the bear I know a method; For the wolfs mouth sing a muzzle, For the bear sing iron fetters, 210 Or to very chaff will chop them, Or to merest dust will sift them; Thus I'll clear the path before me, Reach the ending of my journey."

Then said Lemminkainen's mother, "Even yet your goal you reach not, There are still upon your pathway, On your road tremendous marvels.

Three terrific dangers wait you, Three more deaths await the hero; 220 And there even yet await you, On the spot the worst of marvels.

"When a little way you've travelled, Up to Pohjola's enclosure, There a fence is reared of iron, And a fence of steel erected, From the ground to heaven ascending, From the heavens to earth descending.

Spears they are which form the hedgestakes, And for wattles, creeping serpents, 230 Thus the fence with snakes is wattled, And among them there are lizards, And their tails are always waving, And their thick heads always swelling, And their round heads always hissing, Heads turned out, and tails turned inwards.

"On the ground are other serpents, On the path are snakes and adders, And above, their tongues are hissing, And below, their tails are waving. 240 One of all the most terrific Lies before the gate across it, Longer is he than a roof-tree, Than the roof-props is he thicker, And above, his tongue is hissing, And above, his mouth is hissing, Lifted not against another, Threatening thee, O luckless hero!"

Answered lively Lemminkainen, Said the handsome Kaukomieli: 250 "Such a death is perhaps for children; But 'tis not a death for heroes, For I can enchant the fire, And can quench a glowing furnace, And can ban away the serpents, Twist the snakes between my fingers.

Only yesterday it happened That I ploughed a field of adders; On the ground the snakes were twisting, And my hands were all uncovered. 260 With my nails I seized the vipers, In my hands I took the serpents, Ten I killed among the vipers, And the serpents black by hundreds.

Still my nails are stained with snake-blood, And my hands with slime of serpents.

Therefore will I not permit me, And by no means will I journey As a mouthful for the serpents, To the sharp fangs of the adders. 270 I myself will crush the monsters, Crush the nasty things to pieces, And will sing away the vipers, Drive the serpents from my pathway, Enter then the yard of Pohja, And into the house will force me."

Then said Lemminkainen's mother, "O my son, forbear to venture, Into Pohjola's dread castle, House of Sariola all timbered; 280 For the men with swords are girded, Heroes all equipped for battle, Men with drink of hops excited, Very furious from their drinking.

They will sing thee, most unhappy, To the swords of all the keenest; Better men their songs have vanquished, Mighty ones been overpowered."

Answered lively Lemminkainen, Said the handsome Kaukomieli: 290 "Well, but I have dwelt already There in Pohjola's dread fortress.

Not a Lapp with spells shall chain me, Forth no son of Turja drive me.

I'll enchant the Lapp by singing, Drive away the son of Turja, And in twain will sing his shoulders, From his chin his speech I'll sever, Tear his s.h.i.+rt apart by singing, And I'll break in two his breastbone." 300

Then said Lemminkainen's mother, "O alas, my son unhappy, Dost thou think of former exploits, Brag'st thou of thy former journey?

True it is thou hast resided There in Pohjola's dread fortress, But they sent thee all a-swimming, Floating overgrown with pond-weed, O'er the raging cataract driven, Down the stream in rus.h.i.+ng waters. 310 Thou hast known the Falls of Tuoni, Ma.n.a.la's dread stream hast measured, There would'st thou to-day be swimming, But for thine unhappy mother!

"Listen now to what I tell thee.

When to Pohjola thou comest, All the slope with stakes is bristling, And the yard with poles is bristling, All with heads of men surmounted, And one stake alone is vacant, 320 And to fill the stake remaining, Will they cut thy head from off thee."

Answered lively Lemminkainen, Said the handsome Kaukomieli: "Let a weakling ponder o'er it, Let the worthless find such ending!

After five or six years' warfare, Seven long summers spent in battle, Not a hero would concern him, Nor retire a step before it. 330 Therefore bring me now my mail-s.h.i.+rt, And my well-tried battle armour; I my father's sword will fetch me, And my father's sword-blade look to.

In the cold it long was lying, In a dark place long was hidden; There has it been ever weeping, For a hero who should wield it."

Thereupon he took his mail-s.h.i.+rt, Took his well-tried battle armour, 340 And his father's trusty weapon, Sword his father always wielded, And against the ground he thrust it, On the floor the point he rested, With his hand the sword he bended Like the fresh crown of the cherry, Or the juniper when growing.

Said the lively Lemminkainen, "Hard 'twill be in Pohja's castle, Rooms of Sariola the misty, 350 Such a sword as this to gaze on, Such a sword-blade to encounter."

From the wall his bow he lifted, From the peg he took a strong bow, And he spoke the words which follow, And expressed himself in thiswise: "I would hold the man deserving, And regard him as a hero, Who to bend this bow was able, And could bend it and could string it, 360 There in Pohjola's great castle, Rooms of Sariola the misty."

Then the lively Lemminkainen, He the handsome Kaukomieli, Put his s.h.i.+rt of mail upon him, Clad himself in arms of battle, And his slave he thus commanded, And he spoke the words which follow: "O my servant, bought with money, Workman, whom I got for money, 370 Harness now my horse of battle, Harness me my fiery war-horse, That unto the feast I journey, Drinking-bout at house of Lempo."

Then the prudent slave, obedient, Hastened quickly to the courtyard, And the foal at once he harnessed, And prepared the fiery red one, And he said on his returning, "I have done what you commanded, 380 And the horse have harnessed for you, And the best of foals have harnessed."