Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v1.djvu/229

Runo XVIII]

“Therefore if the room they enter,

Bring them then the mead in tankard,

In the two-eared tankard bring it,

And in his hands place the tankard

Whom thou dost desire to follow;

Choose thou Väinöla’s great hero,

He whose boat with wealth is loaded,

And of treasures brings a cargo.”

But the lovely maid of Pohja,

Thus made answer to her mother:

“O my mother who hast borne me,

O my mother who hast reared me,

Nothing do I care for riches,

Nor a man profound in wisdom,

But a man of lofty forehead,

One whose every limb is handsome.

Never once in former ages,

Gave a maid her life in thiswise.

I, a maid undowered, will follow

Ilmarinen, skilful craftsman,

He it was who forged the Sampo,

And the coloured cover welded.”

Then said Pohja’s aged Mistress,

“O indeed, my child, my lambkin,

If you go with Ilmarinen,

From whose brow the sweat falls freely.

You must wash the blacksmith’s aprons,

And the blacksmith’s head wash likewise.”

But the daughter gave her answer,

In the very words which follow:

“Him from Väinöla I choose not,

Nor an aged man will care for,

For an old man is a nuisance,

And an aged man would vex me.”

Then did aged Väinämöinen

Reach his journey’s end the soonest,

And he steered his crimson vessel.

Brought his boat of bluish colour

To the rollers steel-constructed,

To the landing-stage of copper.

Rh