Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v1.djvu/130

110

Little troubled Lemminkainen,

And he spoke the words which follow:

“Is there not a place in Saari,

On the firm ground of the island,

For the sport that I will show you,

And for dancing on the greensward,

With the joyous girls of Saari,

With their fair unbraided tresses?

Then the Saari maidens answered,

Spoke the maidens of the headland:

“There is room enough in Saari,

On the firm ground of the island,

For the sport that you shall show us,

And for dancing on the greensward,

For the milkmaids in the meadows,

And the herd-boys in their dances;

Very lean are Saari’s children,

But the foals are sleek and fattened.”

Little troubled Lemminkainen,

But engaged himself as herd-boy,

Passed his days among the meadows,

And his nights ’mid lively maidens,

Sporting with the charming maidens,

Toying with their unbound tresses.

Thus the lively Lemminkainen,

He the handsome Kaukomieli,

Ended soon the women’s laughter,

And the joking of the maidens.

There was not a single daughter,

Not a maid, however modest,

But he did not soon embrace her,

And remain awhile beside her.

One alone of all the maidens,

Of the mighty race of Saari,

Would not list to any lover,

Not the greatest man among them;

Kyllikki, the fairest maiden,

Loveliest flower of all in Saari.

Then the lively Lemminkainen,

He the handsome Kaukomieli,