Kalevala, The Land Of The Heroes Volume Ii Part 33

617. This description recalls the serpents of Indian mythology, such as those described in the first book of the _Mahabharata_.

619. Such a pa.s.sage might have suggested to Longfellow the following:

"Bigger than the Big-Sea-Water, Broader than the Gitche Gumee."

_Hiawatha_, xxi.

RUNO XXVII

208. Here commences a magical contest somewhat resembling the transformation scenes in the stories of the Second Calendar, and of Nooreddin and Bedreddin, in the _1001 Nights_.

326. "I don't want to have a mess made upon my floor here, or any noise or shooting." (Tanta Coetzee, in Rider Haggard's _Jess_.)

RUNO XXVIII.

15, 16. His horse and sledge seem to have been transformed, like those of Joukahainen in Runo III.

195. In Finnish and Esthonian tales we often find persons transformed into trees and flowers; sometimes for purposes of concealment.

RUNO XXIX

242. "Gra.s.s-widows" are probably intended.

253-268. Even this old woman did not appeal to him in vain. We might compare with this pa.s.sage Byron's _Don Juan_, VIII., cx.x.xi., cx.x.xii.

RUNO x.x.x

175, 187. Literally, "nails."

185. Pakkanen, Puhurin poika. Frost, the son of the North Wind.

389. The unmanly lamentations of the heroes over a fate that has not befallen them may remind us of Grimm's story of "Die kluge Else." It will also be noticed that the heroes are only concerned about their mothers; and Tiera has as little thought for his virgin bride as Lemminkainen has for Kyllikki.

RUNO x.x.xI

1. The tragedy of Kullervo is the favourite episode of the _Kalevala_ in Finland, next to that of Aino. The preamble (lines 1-10) is the same as the opening of the Esthonian _Kalevipoeg_. The story of the Esthonian hero, though he was a king and not a slave, resembles that of Kullervo in so many respects that he must have been the same character originally.

19. I think the change of style, indicative of different authors.h.i.+p, in this episode is sufficiently obvious even in a translation. Many words used here do not occur earlier in the poem.

91-96. The same story is told of the infant Kalevipoeg.

107. Esthonians call dwarfs "Ox-knee people"; _i. e._ people as high as an ox's knee.

137. Like Simple Simon.

337. It is obvious that some of the youthful exploits of Kwasind (slightly varied, after Longfellow's manner) are imitated from those of Kullervo. (Compare also Runo x.x.xV., 11-68.)

RUNO x.x.xII

24. The rye-bread, on which the Finnish peasants largely subsist, is described as baked in very hard round loaves, like quoits, which are strung on a pole. But Kullervo's cake seems to have been prepared to look nice on the outside.

156-162. Does this refer to stories of witches milking cattle?

206. Of juniper wood.

498. Literally, an apple-berry. Probably a small crab-apple is intended.

513. I think wolves are here intended, not dogs.

533. In the Esthonian story of the Northern Frog, the monster is secured by an iron stake driven through the jaws. (Kirby's _Hero of Esthonia_, II., 253, 256.)

542. These elaborate and ineffectual prayers and incantations may be compared with the prayers of Achilles for the safety of Patroclus, in _Iliad_, XVI.

RUNO x.x.xIII

40. Wheat is used in the folk-songs as a term of endearment. (K. K.)

61, 62. The Esthonian Kalevipoeg was constantly instructed by the voice of birds.

285-290. In Esthonia this episode occurs in the story of the Royal Herdboy. (_Hero of Esthonia_, I., pp. 279-305.)

RUNO x.x.xV

2. Are blue stockings supposed to be an emblem of strength? Ukko is also represented as wearing them.

29. "All with incredible stupendous force, None daring to appear antagonist." (Milton.)

65. As Kalervo appears to have been a chief in his own right, it not very clear why, or to whom, he had to pay taxes.

107, 108. The lake of course was frozen.

153. As in several other instances in the _Kalevala_, this does not appear to be abduction in the modern sense, but merely marriage by capture.

214. There is another celebrated poem written by a Finn, but in Swedish, Runeberg's _Kong_ (King) _Fjalar_, in which a similar chance meeting between a brother and sister forms the princ.i.p.al subject.

343. Sea-beasts are very rarely mentioned in the _Kalevala_, for nearly all aquatic animals referred to are lake- or river-fish. Here the allusion is probably to the story of Jonah.

RUNO x.x.xVI