Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v1.djvu/218

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If you will not tell me truly

Where you mean to take your journey,

If the truth you will not tell me,

And at last will end your lying!”

Then the aged Väinämöinen,

Answered in the words which follow:

“All the truth I now will tell you,

Though at first I lied a little.

Forth I fare to woo a maiden,

Seek the favour of a maiden,

In the gloomy land of Pohja,

Sariola, for ever misty,

In the land where men are eaten,

Where they even drown the heroes.”

Annikki, the ever-famous,

Night’s fair daughter, maid of twilight,

When she knew the truth for certain.

All the truth, without evasion,

Down she threw her caps unwashen,

And unrinsed she left the clothing,

On the bench she left them lying,

Where the red bridge has its ending,

In her hand her gown she gathered,

In her hand the folds collecting,

And began from thence to hasten,

And with rapid pace she hurried,

Till at length she reached the smithy.

To the forge at once she hastened.

There she found smith Ilmarinen,

He the great primeval craftsman.

And he forged a bench of iron,

And adorned it all with silver.

Cubit-high his head was sooted,

On his shoulders ash by fathoms.

Annikki the door then entered,

And she spoke the words which follow:

“Smith and brother Ilmarinen,

Thou the great primeval craftsman,

Forge me now a weaver’s shuttle,

Pretty rings to deck my fingers,