Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v1.djvu/133

Runo XI]

Answered lively Lemminkainen,

Said the handsome Kaukomieli:

“Kyllikki, my dearest heart-core,

Thou my sweetest little berry,

Do not vex yourself so sorely,

Do not thus give way to sadness.

I will cherish you when eating,

And caress you on my journeys,

Whether sitting, whether standing,

Always near when I am resting.

“Wherefore then should you be troubled,

Wherefore should you sigh for sorrow?

Are you therefore grieved so sorely,

Therefore do you sigh for trouble,

Lest the cows or bread might fail you,

Or provisions be deficient?

“Do not vex yourself so sorely,

I have cows enough and plenty,

Plenty are there, milk to yield me,

Some, Muurikkis, in the marshes,

Some, Mansikkis, on the hillsides,

Some, Puolukkas, on the clearing.

Sleek they are, although unfoddered.

Fine they are, although untended.

In the evening none need bind them,

In the evening none need loose them,

No one need provide them fodder,

Nor give salt in morning hours.

Or perchance are you lamenting,

Sighing thus so full of trouble,

That I am not high descended,

Nor was born of noble lineage?

“If I am not high descended,

Nor was born of noble lineage,

Yet have I a sword of keenness,

Gleaming brightly in the battle.

This is surely high descended,

And has come of noble lineage,

For the blade was forged by Hiisi,

And by Jumala ’twas polished,

Rh