Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v1.djvu/134

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Thus am I so high descended,

And I come of noblest lineage,

With my sword so keenly sharpened

Gleaming brightly in the battle.”

But the maiden sighed with anguish,

And in words like these made answer,

“O thou Ahti, son of Lempi,

If you would caress the maiden,

Keep her at your side for ever,

Dove-like in thy arms for ever,

Pledge thyself by oaths eternal,

Not again to join in battle,

Whether love of gold may lure you,

Or your wish is fixed on silver.”

Then the lively Lemminkainen

Answered in the words which follow:

“Here I swear, by oaths eternal,

Not again to join in battle,

Whether love of gold may lure me,

Or my wish is fixed on silver.

But thyself on oath must pledge thee,

Not to wander to the village,

Whether for the love of dancing,

Or to loiter in the pathways.”

Then they took the oaths between them,

And with oaths eternal bound them,

There in Jumala’s high presence,

In the sight of the Almighty,

Ahti should not go to battle,

Nor should Kylli seek the village.

Then the lively Lemminkainen

Whipped his steed to faster running,

Shook the reins to urge him onward,

And he spoke the words which follow:

“Now farewell to Saari’s meadows,

Roots of pine, and trunks of fir-trees,

Where I wandered for a summer,

Where I tramped throughout the winter,

And on cloudy nights took shelter,

Hiding from the stormy weather,