Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v1.djvu/180

160

Fly thou in a new direction,

Over nine lakes fly thou quickly

Till thou reach a lovely island,

Where the land abounds with honey,

Where is Tuuri’s new-built dwelling,

Palvonen’s own roofless dwelling,

There is honey in profusion,

There is ointment in perfection,

Fit to bind the veins together,

And to heal the joints completely.

From the meadow bring this ointment,

And the salve from out the meadow,

For upon the wounds I’ll spread it,

And anoint the bruises with it.”

Then the bee, that active hero,

Flew again on whirring pinions,

And across nine lakes he travelled,

Half across the tenth he travelled,

On he flew one day, a second,

And at length upon the third day,

Never on the reeds reposing,

Nor upon a leaf reposing,

Came he to the lovely island,

Where the land abounds with honey,

Till he reached a furious torrent,

And a holy river’s whirlpool.

In this spot was cooked the honey,

And the ointment was made ready

In the little earthen vessels,

In the pretty little kettles,

Kettles of a thumb-size only,

And a finger-tip would fill them.

Then the bee, that active hero,

Gathered honey in the meadow,

And a little time passed over,

Very little time passed over,

When he came on whirring pinions,

Coming with his mission finished,

In his lap six cups he carried,

Seven upon his back he carried,