Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v1.djvu/159

Runo XIV]

“Little maiden of the forest,

Tapio’s girl, with mouth of honey,

Play upon thy flute of honey,

Whistle through thy pipe of honey,

In thy noble mistress’ hearing,

Gracious queen of all the forest,

That she soon may hear the music,

And from her repose may rouse her,

For she does not hear at present,

And she but awakens rarely,

Though I supplicate for ever,

With my golden tongue imploring!”

Then the lively Lemminkainen

Wandered on, but found no booty,

Glided through the plains and marshes,

Glided through the trackless forests,

Where has Jumala his soot-hills,

To the charcoal heaths of Hiisi.

Thus he skated one day, two days,

And at length upon the third day,

Came he to a lofty mountain,

Where he climbed a rock stupendous,

And he turned his eyes to north-west,

To the north across the marshes,

And he saw the farms of Tapio,

With the doors all golden shining,

To the north, across the marshes,

On the slope among the thickets.

Then the lively Lemminkainen

Quickly to the spot approaching,

Pushed his way through all obstructions,

Under Tapio’s very windows.

And he looked while stooping forward,

In the sixth among the windows.

There were resting game-dispensers,

Matrons of the woods reposing,

All were in their work-day garments,

And with filthy rags were covered.

Said the lively Lemminkainen,

“Wherefore, Mistress of the Forest,