Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v1.djvu/193

Runo XVI]

Tuonela, thou seekest causeless,

Com’st to Mana free from sickness!

Better surely would you find it

Quickly to regain your country,

Many truly wander hither,

Few return to where they came from!”

Said the aged Väinämöinen,

“This might perhaps deter old women,

Not a man, how weak soever,

Not the laziest of heroes!

Bring the boat, O Tuoni’s daughter,

Row across, O child of Mana!”

Brought the boat then, Tuoni’s daughter,

And the aged Väinämöinen

Quickly o’er the straight she ferried,

And across the river rowed him,

And she spoke the words which follow:

“Woe to thee, O Väinämöinen,

For thou com’st to Mana living,

Com’st to Tuonela undying!”

Tuonetar the noble matron,

Manalatar, aged woman,

Fetched some beer within a tankard,

And in both her hands she held it,

And she spoke the words which follow:

“Drink, O aged Väinämöinen!”

Väinämöinen, old and steadfast,

Looked for long within the tankard,

And within it frogs were spawning,

At the sides the worms were wriggling,

And he spoke the words which follow:

“Surely I have not come hither,

Thus to drink from Mana’s goblets,

Or to drink from Tuoni’s tankards.

Those who drink this beer are drunken,

Drinking from such cans they perish.”

Then said Tuonela’s great mistress,

“O thou aged Väinämöinen,

Why to Manala dost travel,

Why to Tuonela hast ventured,