Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v1.djvu/287

Runo XXIII]

Heedfulness will much be needed

In a house of doubtful morals;

Steadiness will much be wanting

In a man’s of doubtful morals.

“Is the old man a wolf in corner,

By the hearth the crone a she-bear,

Brother-in-law on step a viper,

In the yard like nail the sister,

Equal honour must thou give them,

Deeper must thou then incline thee,

Than thou bowed before thy mother,

In the house of thine own father,

Than thou bowed before thy father,

Or before thy dearest mother.

“Thou wilt always need in future

Ready wit and clear perception,

And thy thoughts must all be prudent,

Firmly fixed thy understanding,

Eyes of keenness in the evening,

That the fire is always brilliant,

Ears of sharpness in the morning,

Thus to listen for the cockcrow.

If the cockcrow once has sounded,

Though the second has not sounded,

It becomes the young to rouse them,

Though the old folk still are resting.

“If the cock should not be crowing,

Nor the master’s bird be crowing,

Let the moon for cockcrow serve thee,

Take the Great Bear for thy guidance.

Often thou should’st seek the open,

Often go the moon to gaxe on,

From the Great Bear seek instruction,

And the distant stars to gaxe on.

“If you see the Great Bear clearly,

With his front to south directed,

And his tail extending northward,

Then ’tis time for thee to rouse thee

From the side of thy young husband,

Leaving him asleep and ruddy,