Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v1.djvu/295

Runo XXIII]

Let the cat not sit upon it,

Or the tomcat sleep upon it.

Of the wolves have thou no terror,

Fear thou not the forest monsters,

When thou goest to the bath-house,

Or at midnight forth must wander.

“When a stranger pays a visit,

Be not angry with the stranger,

For a well-appointed household,

Always has for guests provision:

Scraps of meat that are not needed,

Cakes of bread the very nicest.

“Ask the guest to sit and rest him,

With the guest converse in friendship,

With thy talk amuse the stranger,

Till the dinner shall be ready.

“When the house the stranger’s leaving,

And he’s taking his departure,

Do not thou go with the stranger

Any further than the housedoor,

Lest the husband should be angry,

And thy darling should be gloomy.

“If you e’er feel inclination

To the village forth to wander,

Ask permission ere thou goest,

There to gossip with the strangers.

In the time that you are absent,

Speak thy words with heedful caution,

Do not grumble at your household,

Nor thy mother-in-law abuse thou.

“If the village girls should ask you,

Any of the village women,

‘Does your mother-in-law give butter,

As at home your mother gave you?’

Never do thou make the answer,

‘No, she does not give me butter;’

Tell thou always that she gives it,

Gives it to you by the spoonful,

Though ’twas only once in summer,

And another time in winter.