Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v1.djvu/197

Runo XVII]

, old and steadfast,

Had not found the words he wanted

In the dark abode of Tuoni,

In the eternal realms of Mana,

And for evermore he pondered,

In his head reflected ever,

Where the words he might discover,

And obtain the charms he needed.

Once a shepherd came to meet him,

And he spoke the words which follow:

“You can find a hundred phrases,

And a thousand words discover,

Known to Antero Vipunen only,

In his monstrous mouth and body,

And there is a path which leads there,

And a cross-road must be traversed,

Not the best among the pathways,

Nor the very worst of any.

Firstly you must leap along it

O’er the points of women’s needles,

And another stage must traverse

O’er the points of heroes’ sword-blades,

And a third course must be traversed

O’er the blades of heroes’ axes.”

Väinämöinen, old and steadfast,

Pondered deeply o’er the journey,

Rh