Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v1.djvu/147

Runo XII]

But no person there observed him,

So that no one present knew it.

Out of doors he heard a singing,

Through the moss he heard them speaking,

Through the walls heard music playing,

Through the shutters heard a singing.

In the house he cast his glances,

Gazed into the room in secret,

And the house was full of wizards,

And the benches full of singers,

By the walls there sat musicians.

Seers were sitting in the doorway,

On the upper benches sorcerers,

By the hearth were soothsayers seated,

There a Lapland bard was singing,

Hoarsely singing songs of Hiisi.

Then the lively Lemminkainen

Thought it wise to change his figure,

To another shape transformed him,

Left his hiding place, and entered,

Thrust himself into the chamber,

And he spoke the words which follow:

“Fine a song may be when ended,

Grandest are the shortest verses,

Wisdom better when unspoken,

Than in midmost interrupted.”

Then came Pohjola’s old Mistress,

On the floor advancing swiftly,

Till she reached the chamber’s middle,

And she spoke these words in answer:

“Once there was a dog among us,

And a shaggy iron-haired puppy,

Eating flesh, of bones a biter,

One who licked the blood when freshest.

Who among mankind may you be,

Who among the list of heroes,

Boldly thus the house to enter,

Pushing right into the chamber,

Yet the dogs have never heard you,

Nor have warned us with their barking?”