Kalevala : the Epic Poem of Finland Part 6

With one hand he raised the cross-bow But the other seemed to weaken, As he drew the cruel bow-string.

Finally these words he uttered As his bosom swelled with envy: "Let all joy forever vanish, Let earth's pleasures quickly perish, Disappear earth's sweetest music, Happiness depart forever; Shoot I will this rival minstrel, Little heeding what the end is."

Quickly now he bends his fire-bow, On his left knee rests the weapon, With his right foot firmly planted, Thus he strings his bow of envy; Takes three arrows from his quiver, Choosing well the best among them, Carefully adjusts the bow-string, Sets with care the feathered arrow, To the flaxen string he lays it, Holds the cross-bow to his shoulder, Aiming well along the margin, At the heart of Wainamoinen, Waiting till he gallops nearer; In the shadow of a thicket, Speaks these words while he is waiting "Be thou, flaxen string, elastic; Swiftly fly, thou feathered ash-wood, Swiftly speed, thou deadly missile, Quick as light, thou poisoned arrow, To the heart of Wainamoinen.

If my hand too low should hold thee, May the G.o.ds direct thee higher; If too high mine eye should aim thee, May the G.o.ds direct thee lower."

Steady now he pulls the trigger; Like the lightning flies the arrow O'er the head of Wainamoinen; To the upper sky it darteth, And the highest clouds it pierces, Scatters all the flock of lamb-clouds, On its rapid journey skyward.

Not discouraged, quick selecting, Quick adjusting, Youkahainen, Quickly aiming shoots a second.

Speeds the arrow swift as lightning; Much too low he aimed the missile, Into earth the arrow plunges, Pierces to the lower regions, Splits in two the old Sand Mountain.

Nothing daunted, Youkahainen, Quick adjusting shoots a third one.

Swift as light it speeds its journey, Strikes the steed of Wainamoinen, Strikes the light-foot, ocean-swimmer, Strikes him near his golden girdle, Through the shoulder of the racer.

Thereupon wise Wainamoinen Headlong fell upon the waters, Plunged beneath the rolling billows, From the saddle of the courser, From his dappled steed of magic.

Then arose a mighty storm-wind, Roaring wildly on the waters, Bore away old Wainamoinen Far from land upon the billows, On the high and rolling billows, On the broad sea's great expanses.

Boasted then young Youkahainen, Thinking Waino dead and buried, These the boastful words be uttered: "Nevermore, old Wainamoinen, Nevermore in all thy life-time, While the golden moonlight glistens, Nevermore wilt fix thy vision On the meadows of Wainola, On the plains of Kalevala; Full six years must swim the ocean, Tread the waves for seven summers, Eight years ride the foamy billows, In the broad expanse of water; Six long autumns as a fir-tree, Seven winters as a pebble; Eight long summers as an aspen."

Thereupon the Lapland minstrel Hastened to his room delighting, When his mother thus addressed him "Hast thou slain good Wainamoinen, Slain the son of Kalevala?"

Youkahainen thus made answer: "I have slain old Wainamoinen, Slain the son of Kalevala, That he now may plow the ocean, That he now may sweep the waters, On the billows rock and slumber.

In the salt-sea plunged he headlong, In the deep sank the magician, Sidewise turned he to the sea-sh.o.r.e On his back to rock forever, Thus the boundless sea to travel, Thus to ride the rolling billows."

This the answer of the mother: "Woe to earth for this thine action, Gone forever, joy and singing, Vanished is the wit of ages!

Thou hast slain good Wainamoinen.

Slain the ancient wisdom-singer, Slain the pride of Suwantala, Slain the hero of Wainola, Slain the joy of Kalevala."

RUNE VII.

WAINIOINEN'S RESCUE.

Wainamoinen, old and truthful, Swam through all the deep-sea waters, Floating like a branch of aspen, Like a withered twig of willow; Swam six days in summer weather, Swam six nights in golden moonlight; Still before him rose the billows, And behind him sky and ocean.

Two days more he swam undaunted, Two long nights be struggled onward.

On the evening of the eighth day, Wainamoinen grew disheartened, Felt a very great discomfort, For his feet had lost their toe-nails, And his fingers dead and dying.

Wainamoinen, ancient minstrel, Sad and weary, spake as follows: "Woe is me, my old life fated!

Woe is me, misfortune's offspring!

Fool was I when fortune, favored, To forsake my home and kindred, For a maiden fair and lovely, Here beneath the starry heavens, In this cruel waste of waters, Days and nights to swim and wander, Here to struggle with the storm-winds, To be tossed by heaving billows, In this broad sea's great expanses, In this ocean vast and boundless.

"Cold my life and sad and dreary, Painful too for me to linger Evermore within these waters, Thus to struggle for existence!

Cannot know how I can prosper, How to find me food and shelter, In these cold and lifeless waters, In these days of dire misfortune.

Build I in the winds my dwelling?

It will find no sure foundation.

Build my home upon the billows?

Surely would the waves destroy it."

Comes a bird from far Pohyola, From the occident, an eagle, Is not cla.s.sed among the largest, Nor belongs he to the smallest; One wing touches on the waters, While the other sweeps the heavens; O'er the waves he wings his body, Strikes his beak upon the sea-cliffs, Flies about, then safely perches, Looks before him, looks behind him, There beholds brave Wainamoinen, On the blue-back of the ocean, And the eagle thus accosts him: "Wherefore art thou, ancient hero, Swimming in the deep-sea billows?

Thus the water-minstrel answered: "I am ancient Wainamoinen, Friend and fellow of the waters I, the famous wisdom-singer; Went to woo a Northland maiden, Maiden from the dismal Darkland, Quickly galloped on my journey, Riding on the plain of ocean.

I arrived one morning early, At the breaking of the day-dawn.

At the bay of Luotola, Near Youkola's foaming river, Where the evil Youkahainen Slew my steed with bow and arrow, Tried to slay me with his weapons.

On the waters fell I headlong, Plunged beneath the salt-sea's surface, From the saddle of the courser, From my dappled steed of magic.

"Then arose a mighty storm-wind, From the East and West a whirlwind, Washed me seaward on the surges, Seaward, seaward, further, further, Where for many days I wandered, Swam and rocked upon the billows, Where as many nights I struggled, In the das.h.i.+ng waves and sea-foam, With the angry winds and waters.

"Woe is me, my life hard-fated!

Cannot solve this heavy problem, How to live nor how to perish In this cruel salt-sea water.

Build I in the winds my dwelling?

It will find no sure foundation.

Build my home upon the waters?

Surely will the waves destroy it.

Must I swim the sea forever, Must I live, or must I perish?

What will happen if I perish, If I sink below the billows, Perish here from cold and hunger?"

Thus the bird of Ether answered "Be not in the least disheartened, Place thyself between my shoulders, On my back be firmly seated, I will lift thee from the waters, Bear thee with my pinions upward, Bear thee wheresoe'er thou willest.

Well do I the day remember Where thou didst the eagle service, When thou didst the birds a favor.

Thou didst leave the birch-tree standing, When were cleared the Osm.o.-.f.orests, From the lands of Kalevala, As a home for weary song-birds, As a resting-place for eagles."

Then arises Wainamoinen, Lifts his head above the waters, Boldly rises from the sea-waves, Lifts his body from the billows, Seats himself upon the eagle, On the eagle's feathered shoulders.

Quick aloft the huge bird bears him, Bears the ancient Wainamoinen, Bears him on the path of zephyrs, Floating on the vernal breezes, To the distant sh.o.r.e of Northland, To the dismal Sariola, Where the eagle leaves his burden, Flies away to join his fellows.

Wainamoinen, lone and weary, Straightway fell to bitter weeping, Wept and moaned in heavy accents, On the border of the blue-sea.

On a cheerless promontory, With a hundred wounds tormented, Made by cruel winds and waters, With his hair and beard dishevelled By the surging of the billows.

Three long days he wept disheartened Wept as many nights in anguish, Did not know what way to journey, Could not find a woodland foot-print, That would point him to the highway, To his home in Kalevala, To his much-loved home and kindred.

Northland's young and slender maiden, With complexion fair and lovely, With the Sun had laid a wager, With the Sun and Moon a wager, Which should rise before the other, On the morning of the morrow.

And the maiden rose in beauty, Long before the Sun had risen, Long before the Moon bad wakened, From their beds beneath the ocean.

Ere the c.o.c.k had crowed the day-break, Ere the Sun had broken slumber She had sheared six gentle lambkins, Gathered from them six white fleeces, Hence to make the rolls for spinning, Hence to form the threads for weaving, Hence to make the softest raiment, Ere the morning dawn had broken, Ere the sleeping Sun had risen.

When this task the maid had ended, Then she scrubbed the birchen tables, Sweeps the ground-floor of the stable, With a broom of leaves and branches From the birches of the Northland, Sc.r.a.pes the sweepings well together On a shovel made of copper, Carries them beyond the stable, From the doorway to the meadow, To the meadow's distant border, Near the surges of the great-sea, Listens there and looks about her, Hears a wailing from the waters, Hears a weeping from the sea-sh.o.r.e, Hears a hero-voice lamenting.

Thereupon she hastens homeward, Hastens to her mother's dwelling, These the words the maiden utters: "I have heard a wail from ocean, Heard a weeping from the sea-coast, On the sh.o.r.e some one lamenting."

Louhi, hostess of Pohyola, Ancient, toothless dame of Northland, Hastens from her door and court-yard, Through the meadow to the sea-sh.o.r.e, Listens well for sounds of weeping, For the wail of one in sorrow; Hears the voice of one in trouble, Hears a hero-cry of anguish.

Thus the ancient Louhi answers: "This is not the wail of children, These are not the tears of women, In this way weep bearded heroes; This the hero-cry of anguish."

Quick she pushed her boat to water, To the floods her goodly vessel, Straightway rows with lightning swiftness, To the weeping Wainamoinen; Gives the hero consolation, Comfort gives she to the minstrel Wailing in a grove of willows, In his piteous condition, Mid the alder-trees and aspens, On the border of the salt-sea, Visage trembling, locks dishevelled.

Ears, and eyes, and lips of sadness.

Louhi, hostess of Pohyola, Thus addresses Wainamoinen: "Tell me what has been thy folly, That thou art in this condition."

Old and truthful Wainamoinen Lifts aloft his bead and answers: "Well I know that it is folly That has brought me all this trouble, Brought me to this land of strangers, To these regions unbefitting Happy was I with my kindred, In my distant home and country, There my name was named in honor."

Louhi, hostess of Pohyola, Thus replied to Wainamoinen: "I would gain the information, Should I be allowed to ask thee, Who thou art of ancient heroes, Who of all the host of heroes?

This is Wainamoinen's answer: "Formerly my name was mentioned, Often was I heard and honored, As a minstrel and magician, In the long and dreary winters, Called the 'Singer of the Northland, In the valleys of Wainola, On the plains of Kalevala; No one thought that such misfortune Could befall wise Wainamoinen."

Louhi, hostess of Pohyola, Thus replied in cheering accents "Rise, O hero, from discomfort, From thy bed among the willows; Enter now upon the new-way, Come with me to yonder dwelling, There relate thy strange adventures, Tell the tale of thy misfortunes."

Now she takes the hapless hero, Lifts him from his bed of sorrow, In her boat she safely seats him, And begins at once her rowing, Rows with steady hand and mighty To her home upon the sea-sh.o.r.e, To the dwellings of Pohyola.

There she feeds the starving hero, Rests the ancient Wainamoinen, Gives him warmth, and food, and shelter, And the hero soon recovers.

Then the hostess of Pohyola Questioned thus the ancient singer: "Wherefore didst thou, Wainamoinen, Friend and fellow of the waters, Weep in sad and bitter accents, On the border of the ocean, Mid the aspens and the willows?"

This is Wainamoinen's answer: Had good reason for my weeping, Cause enough for all my sorrow; Long indeed had I been swimming, Had been buffeting the billows, In the far outstretching waters.

This the reason for my weeping; I have lived in toil and torture, Since I left my home and country, Left my native land and kindred, Came to this the land of strangers, To these unfamiliar portals.

All thy trees have thorns to wound me, All thy branches, spines to pierce me, Even birches give me trouble, And the alders bring discomfort, My companions, winds and waters, Only does the Sun seem friendly, In this cold and cruel country, Near these unfamiliar portals."

Louhi thereupon made answer, Weep no longer, Wainamoinen, Grieve no more, thou friend of waters, Good for thee, that thou shouldst linger At our friendly homes and firesides; Thou shalt live with us and welcome, Thou shalt sit at all our tables, Eat the salmon from our platters, Eat the sweetest of our bacon, Eat the whiting from our waters."

Answers thus old Wainamoinen, Grateful for the invitation: "Never do I court strange tables, Though the food be rare and toothsome; One's own country is the dearest, One's own table is the sweetest, One's own home, the most attractive.

Grant, kind Ukko, G.o.d above me, Thou Creator, full of mercy, Grant that I again may visit My beloved home and country.

Better dwell in one's own country, There to drink Its healthful waters From the simple cups of birch-wood, Than in foreign lands to wander, There to drink the rarest liquors From the golden bowls of strangers."

Louhi, hostess of Pohyola, Thus replied to the magician: "What reward wilt thou award me, Should I take thee where thou willest, To thy native land and kindred, To thy much-loved home and fireside, To the meadows of Wainola, To the plains of Kalevala?"

These the words of Wainamoinen: "What would be reward sufficient, Shouldst thou take me to my people, To my home and distant country, To the borders of the Northland, There to hear the cuckoo singing, Hear the sacred cuckoo calling?

Shall I give thee golden treasures, Fill thy cups with finest silver?"

This is Louhi's simple answer: "O thou ancient Wainamoinen, Only true and wise magician, Never will I ask for riches, Never ask for gold nor silver; Gold is for the children's flowers, Silver for the stallion's jewels.

Canst thou forge for me the Sampo, Hammer me the lid in colors, From the tips of white-swan feathers From the milk of greatest virtue, From a single grain of barley, From the finest wool of lambkins?

"I will give thee too my daughter, Will reward thee through the maiden, Take thee to thy much-loved home-land, To the borders of Wainola, There to hear the cuckoo singing, Hear the sacred cuckoo calling."

Wainamoinen, much regretting, Gave this answer to her question: "Cannot forge for thee the Sampo, Cannot make the lid in colors.

Take me to my distant country, I will send thee Ilmarinen, He will forge for thee the Sampo, Hammer thee the lid in colors, He may win thy lovely maiden; Worthy smith is Ilmarinen, In this art is first and master; He, the one that forged the heavens.

Forged the air a hollow cover; Nowhere see we hammer-traces, Nowhere find a single tongs-mark."

Thus replied the hostess, Louhi: "Him alone I'll give my daughter, Promise him my child in marriage, Who for me will forge the Sampo, Hammer me the lid in colors, From the tips of white-swan feathers, From the milk of greatest virtue, From a single grain of barley, From the finest wool of lambkins."

Thereupon the hostess Louhi, Harnessed quick a dappled courser, Hitched him to her sledge of birch-wood, Placed within it Wainamoinen, Placed the hero on the cross-bench, Made him ready for his journey; Then addressed the ancient minstrel, These the words that Louhi uttered: "Do not raise thine eyes to heaven, Look not upward on thy journey, While thy steed is fresh and frisky, While the day-star lights thy pathway, Ere the evening star has risen; If thine eyes be lifted upward, While the day-star lights thy pathway, Dire misfortune will befall thee, Some sad fate will overtake thee."

Then the ancient Wainamoinen Fleetly drove upon his journey, Merrily he hastened homeward, Hastened homeward, happy-hearted From the ever-darksome Northland From the dismal Sariola.