Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v1.djvu/29

Runo I]

Through the portal that I know not,

Through the unaccustomed passage.

From the little nest that holds me,

From a dwelling-place so narrow,

To the land conduct the roamer,

To the open air conduct me,

To behold the moon in heaven,

And the splendour of the sunlight;

See the Great Bear’s stars above me,

And the shining stars in heaven.”

When the moon no freedom gave him,

Neither did the sun release him,

Then he wearied of existence,

And his life became a burden.

Thereupon he moved the portal,

With his finger, fourth in number,

Opened quick the bony gateway,

With the toes upon his left foot,

With his nails beyond the threshold,

With his knees beyond the gateway.

Headlong in the water falling,

With his hands the waves repelling,

Thus the man remained in ocean,

And the hero on the billows.

In the sea five years he sojourned,

Waited five years, waited six years,

Seven years also, even eight years,

On the surface of the ocean,

By a nameless promontory,

Near a barren, treeless country.

On the land his knees he planted,

And upon his arms he rested,

Rose that he might view the moonbeams,

And enjoy the pleasant sunlight,

See the Great Bear’s stars above him,

And the shining stars in heaven.

Thus was ancient Väinämöinen,

He, the ever famous minstrel,

Born of the divine Creatrix,

Born of Ilmatar, his mother.